From: Monalisa Chinda < monalisachindaone@gmail.com > Sent: Tue, Feb 2, 2016 2:24 pm Subject: I would like you to help me transfer my $5.9m. into your account Hello my dear, I hope the sunrise if you're smiling and you are enjoying your time, My name is Monalisa Flynn, I currently live in Accra, Ghana, as a refugee, I am originally from South-Sudan. I am the only daughter of the late Mr. Flynn Chinda, My late father was an international business man and have an Oil well in South Sudan, Unfortunately, it was closed perversely by the Militants during the war longing in my country, I was a second year student of medicine at the University of Benghazi before the death of my beloved father, When I was about to try to see this irreparable loss in my life, Satan was released again and civil war broke out in my country, Civil massacre became uncontrollable and my dear mother was also a victim, is only me that is alive now and I managed to make my way to a West African country Ghana where I am living now as a refugee, I would like to know more about you, your likes and dislikes, your hobbies and what you are currently doing, In this field not allowed to leave the field anyway, sometimes used to take permission, Its just like one staying in the prison and I hope by God's grace I will come here soon, l do not have any relatives now whom I can go to all my relatives ran away in the middle of the war. My phone numberis 00233.265826635 You can call me or send me SMS. Because of my refugee status here, the bank refused me access to the fund, because it is against the law of that country as a refugee, I want to go back to my studies because i only attended my first year before the tragic incident that lead to me being in this situation now took place, I like you to call me by your office, with this number so I can tell you more about myself, Please listen to this, I have my late father's deposit certificate and death certificate here with me which I will send you later, because when he was alive he deposited some amount of money in a leading bank which he used my name as the next of kin, the amount in question is $ 5.9Millions Dollars So I would like you to help me transfer this money to your account and from it you can send some money for me to get my traveling documents and air ticket to come to meet you, I kept this secret to people here the camp the only person that knows about it is the Reverend because he is like a father to me, you will have 25% of the total money in helping me out, and 10% for expenses, I will also need your helps to manage the money on my behalf since I'm too young to deal with that money. In the light of above i will like you to keep it to yourself and do not tell anyone that I am afraid of loosing my life and the money if people gets to know about it, remember I'm giving you all this information due to the trust i deposed on you, I like honest and understanding people, truthful and a man of vision, truth and hardworking, My favorite language is English l speak very fluently, meanwhile I will like you to call me like I said I have a lot to say. I'll be pleased to see your photo. Have a nice day and think about me, waiting to hear from you Yours in love, Your Monalisa From: Monalisa Chinda < monalisachindaone@gmail.com > Sent: Thu, Feb 4, 2016 1:02 pm Subject: i will like to spend the rest of my life with you after the transfer Dearest one, Dear, i am living a miserable life here and it's becoming unbearable to me,i find it very difficult to feed two times a day, i encourage myself anytime i remember this money that was left for me by my late father. Dear, you are God sent to me now, you are my only hope and my savior now, i need your unconditional assistance in this process please. I am unable to access this money because of my political status as a refugee,the only problem i have is to get someone who i will trust and who will be willing to help me retrieve this money back,not someone who will betray me once this money comes to his possession. The bank here promise me that they will process the money and transfer to the account of the person whom i will present to them as my partner in this transaction. Now i leave my full hope and trust in you believing that your help to me will bring something good to me,i am going to forward every details and contact of the bank where the money is been deposited which you are to contact to know their possibility of transferring the money to your possession,but before i do that,kindly send me your full name,phone number and your address for my full confidence in you please. honestly i will like to spend the rest of my life with you after the transfer. I need your help, I wait to hear from you, With love, Monalisa From: Monalisa Chinda Sent: Wed, May 4, 2016 10:29 am Subject: From Monalisa with love , , Monalisa , , , -. Chinda , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 00233265826635 SMS, , , , , , , , , , $ 5.9Millions ) , , , 25% , -10% , " , , , , , l , , , , , Monalisa From: Monalisa Chinda < monalisachindaone@gmail.com > Sent: Wed, May 4, 2016 4:34 pm Subject: I will give you the bank contact Thank you so much for your concern.I will be happy if you can help me.I will give you the bank contact so that you can contact the bank immediately I am open to relationship with you I am waiting to hear from you Monalisa From: Monalisa Chinda < monalisachindaone@gmail.com > Sent: Thu, May 5, 2016 2:39 pm Subject: Please my love, i want you to send a letter to this bank today My love, Now i want to give you the details of my father's bank and deposit, and i want you to send a mail to the bank, mail conversation will be the best of option in this business and i am sure that once they receive your message, they will attend to it and tell you what we must do to retrieve the $5.900.000.00 which was the account balance, they also have to tell us how much is the interest added to the fund as i want all the fund to be transferred to any account you will give the bank, So i want you to send a mail to the bank once you get this message, tell them that you are my partner and want to know the process of transferring the fund which was deposited by my late father to your account, like i told you before, i have the certificate of Deposit and the death certificate of my late father with me, when we hear from the bank we will know exactly what to do, now here is the bank details, ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND. Address; St Andrew Square Edinburgh SCO EH2 2YB P. GLASGOW-SCOTLAND. Tel: 00447053822718 Tel. 00441189639698 Fax: 00448447748322 Contact Person: Mr Peter Ward rbs.co.uk@scotlandmail.com Here is the account details of my late father, Name of the account owner. . Mr Flynn Chinda Account Number. . . .RBS-0065444487 Amount left in the bank. . . . . US$5.9 million US Dollars Next of kin. . . . . . Miss Monalisa Chinda So please my love i want you to send immediately a letter to the bank by email, and do let me know when you have done that so that i can persuade them for immediate respond, Here is the account details of my late father,Name of the account owner. . Mr Flynn ChindaAccount Number. . . .RBS-0065444487Amount left in the bank. . . . . US$5.9 million US DollarsNext of kin. . . . . . Miss Monalisa ChindaSo please my love i want you to send immediately a letter to the bank by email, and do let me know when you have done that so that i can persuade them for immediate respond, With love, From your, Monalisa From: RBS RBS < rbs.co.uk@scotlandmail.com > Sent: Tue, May 31, 2016 11:12 am Subject: Application to release your fund Welcome to The Royal Bank of Scotland Address; St Andrew SquareEdinburgh SCO EH2 2YB P. GLASGOW-SCOTLAND. Tel: +447053822718 Tel. + 441189639698 Fax: +448447748322 Welcome to The Royal Bank of Scotland rbs. co.uk@scotlandmail.com YOUR REF: RBS/LDNUK/16 YOUR REF:DATE: 31/05/2016 Warning. . . . : This Message is an Official property of Royal Bank of Scotland, it is highly confidential and only issued to the next of kin to deceased customers of this bank proving their genuine towards such claims. Any alteration,cancellation or wrong information/mistakes mas as a result of providing this requirements will make such claim invalid and not genuine. We hereby acknowledged the receipt of your applicationto release of this fund as the nominee/trustee to YOUR REF: RBS/LDNUK/16YOUR REF:DATE: 31/05/2016Warning. . . . :This Message is an Official property of Royal Bank of Scotland, it is highly confidential and only issued to the next of kin to deceased customers of this bank proving their genuine towards such claims. Any alteration,cancellation or wrong information/mistakes mas as a result of providing this requirements will make such claim invalid and not genuine.We hereby acknowledged the receipt of your applicationto release of this fund as the nominee/trustee to monalisachindaone@gmail.com Miss Monalisa Chinda : monalisachinda@ymail.com who is the next of kin to our deceased customer Late Mr Flynn Chinda , Already we have been informed by the young lady that you are her trustee by presentation of a nomination letter on your behalf. Inline with our security measures and allied administration matters, Your application is going under secularization by the executive management board of this bank and the fund will be approved and release to any of your chosen account number upon the fulfillment of our official obligation after certifying that you are the original nominee/trustee to the next of kin to our deceased customer Late Mr Flynn Chinda by forwarding the following documents to this bank. 1, A copy of the Deposit Certificate issued to the deceased customer. (Original Copy) 2, A copy of the Death Certificate of Late Mr Flynn Chinda confirming his death. (Original Copy) 3, An affidavit of oath sworn on your favor by the high court in Ghana as your partner is currently residing in Ghana which she can help you to get one.(Original Copy) 4, Your complete account details where the fund will be re-transferred to, such as, the account name,account number,swift code,Iban Number, name and address of the bank. The above mentioned Item 3 of this official requirements is the Article edict No 45 sub-section 13C of banking terms in UK since 1828, This Documents are compulsory and are needed to protect our interest,yours and the next of kin, this shall also ensure that a successful and smooth transfer of this fund is made to your account within 48 hours(2 banking days) We are sorry for any inconvenient this may as we promise to give our customers the best of our service. Yours in Service, Mr Peter Ward Managing Director Royal Bank of Scotland Tel: +447053822718 Tel. + 441189639698 Fax: +448447748322 rbs. co.uk@scotlandmail.com Regulated by theFinancial Services Authority Online Banking C? 2016 Royal Bank of Scotland. All Rights Reserve - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Confidentiality Note:- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The information contained in this message is confidential and/or privileged. 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Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Conversation at the library "A Conversation With Interesting People" will begin at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. The event will feature Becky Pugsley, who served on Air Force One; 1971 Masters winner Charles Coody; former actor Lance Voorhees; and former Merkel mayor and NASA engineer Lou David Allen. Free admission. Harlem Globetrotters The Harlem Globetrotters will perform at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Moody Coliseum at Abilene Christian University. Tickets start at $23. For tickets, or for more information, contact harlemglobetrotters.com, acusports.com/tickets, or 888-695-0888. Legos at the library A Lego building program will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar St. Legos will be provided, and projects will be dismantled after the program. Free admission. Grace After Dark Screenings of several short films will be presented during Grace After Dark at 7 p.m. Thursday on the roof of The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Food trucks will open at 6 p.m., and a cash bar will be available. Admission will be free, but will be limited to 100 viewers. Participants must be 18 or older. Music at the Neon Parrot Lounge Happy Fat will perform at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Neon Parrot Lounge, 181 Pine St. 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' As part of the Paramount Film Series, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" will be shown at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St. Film historian Robert Holladay will present a lecture on the movie at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 12. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students, seniors, military and children. For more information, visit paramount-abilene.org. Movie at the library A showing of a 2013 PG-rated animated movie about a villain whose evil machinations come undone with the arrival of a trio of orphans will begin at 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the South Branch of the Abilene Public Library, 1401 S. Danville Drive. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. Free admission. Family Fun Saturday The Family Fun Saturday art program will be presented from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 13 at the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St. Free admission. Smorgasbord The biennial Swedish Smorgasbord will be served at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Ericksdahl, near Avoca. Tickets are $25, and must be purchased in advance. For tickets, call 325-773-3757. Chamber music The MAPS Trio will present a chamber music concert at 5 p.m. Feb. 14 at Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St. For more information, call 325-677-2091 or go to www.heavenlyrestabilene.org. Despite how people like to stick rapper Lecrae into a box labeled "Christian rapper," the Houston-born music artist refuses to be locked down. "I'm not a Christian rapper as pertains to genre," he said in a recent phone interview. "I'm a music artist, but I'm a Christian." Lecrae will perform Thursday at Moody Coliseum at Abilene Christian University as part of his Higher Learning Tour. The name of the tour refers to the fact that most of the stops will be at colleges and universities. It's also because Lecrae hopes to offer perspective on what it's like to live and develop life skills and a career. Though he was born in Texas, Lecrae's family moved around, including some time in San Diego. He moved back to the Lone Star State and attended high school near Plano, then went to the University of North Texas. Though he's now based in Atlanta, the tour brings him back through Texas. "Greatest country in the world," he said with a laugh. Lecrae said he tries to share a message through his songs and performances. "I think, ultimately, I'd like to inspire people to be the people they should be," he said. "I think music is full of similar perspectives, like pain and turmoil. I think that's helpful. "Music can teach you about life." He said he's come a long way from the message he was shouting five years ago. "Now I know who I am," Lecrae said. "There's no need for screaming." Surprisingly, his music isn't the thing of which he's most proud. "I just finished writing a book ('Unashamed'). It comes out May 3," he said. "It's a way to chronicle a lot more than my music." IF YOU GO What: Concert by Lecrae (rapper) When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday Where: Moody Coliseum at Abilene Christian University Admission: Tickets cost $20, $25 or $45, depending on seating. The $30 deluxe add-on includes early entry for a meet and greet, a photo opportunity with Lecrae, a laminated tour badge, a poster and a cinch bag. To order tickets, go to www.liveatthepark.org. Smokey, Winnie the Pooh, Teddy and Yogi bears, every one of them. Humans love to anthropomorphize animals. We make them sweeter and cuter and dress them up in clothes. We make movies about them and give them voices. But in reality, bears aren't cuddly or sweet or friendly. The tendency to turn wild creatures into stuffed animals intrigues San Antonio artist Carol Cunningham. "I think a lot of it is a distortion of reality," Cunningham said in a phone interview from San Antonio. "The first representation of animals for a child is a stuffed animal." Cunningham works in the education department of the San Antonio Zoo and has worked with children. She'll ask them if they want to touch the real fur or the artificial fur. Most children pick the artificial fur. It's the familiarity of it. Her installation piece, "Honey, Smoke and Gold: The Tale of Bears" opens Tuesday at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St., along with four other exhibits in various galleries. The items in Cunningham's exhibit include at least 10 live trees, a neon sign saying "Bears Bears Bears" in the front window, and more. "I'm going to have a series of almost scientific jars, with bears submerged in them," she said. "It's the dystopian coming out. "All these synthetic plastics will last longer than bones and skin." Her previous projects include the "Northern White Rhino Countdown," which addressed the pending extinction of the white rhino. When Cunningham started the project in 2014, one of the six white rhinoceroses left in the world had died. Now, there are three. Her illustrations use simple math to share the message. "There's nothing you can do," she said of the rhinos. The last virile male died in 2014. Two days before she started installing the bears exhibit, Cunningham wasn't sure just what the final exhibit would look like. A lot depends on what items she brings and the floor plan of the Jane Breed Gallery. All four of the other CCA galleries also are welcoming new exhibits. In Gallery 4, on the first floor, Katy Presswood's show, "Flat Planes and Open Spaces," features canvases mounted on canvases, painted in monochromatic tones. The variation in colors and brush strokes aren't apparent when walking into the gallery, but closer examination reveals more detail. The eye almost sees faces and figures. Maybe they are there, maybe not. The exhibit in the first-floor Bill and Alice Wright Photo Gallery, "Every Picture Tells a Story," features CCA members Jill Geeslin, Ellie Hamby, Cara Hines, Jennifer Nichols, Bird Thomas, Pamela Gilbreth Watkins, Kathie Walker-Millar and Bill Wright. An interesting aspect of the exhibit is that visitors are asked to interpret the photographs and write down what they think the story behind the photograph is and leave it in the gallery. Once they've written down their thoughts, visitors can lift a card next to the photo to read the photographer's back story of the image. Upstairs in Gallery 2, it's the annual Intercollegiate Student Art Competition, featuring the work of students from McMurry, Hardin-Simmons and Abilene Christian universities and Texas State Technical College. This marks the seventh year the CCA has hosted the competition. A group of member artists from museum serve as the jury. The varied pieces of work including paintings, drawings, photography and sculpture offer a peek into the collegiate mind. "Glimpse" is an intriguing little sculpture that looks like a mask, with eyes made of flowers and a nose peeking out from the petals. Another interesting piece, "Family of Four," features four individually framed photos. What makes it stand out is that the artist added embroidery to elevate each image. In the Emerging Artist Gallery, also on the second floor, artist member Jana Cross' "Drips" will hang through March 5. Cross has been working on pieces in which she uses a heavy hand with the paint and uses the movement of the paint across the canvas as her "brush." A joint opening reception will take place from 4-7 p.m. Feb. 13. Cunningham will give an informal artist's talk during the free event. IF YOU GO What: Honey, Smoke and Gold: The Tale of Bears, plus four other exhibits When: Opening Tuesday; gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; opening reception 4-7 p.m. Feb. 13 Where: The Center for Contemporary Arts, 220 Cypress St. Admission: Free For nearly a century, Latino life centered on McCulloch County dancehall La Plataforma Jimenez, a former gathering place popular with the region's Latino community is being restored as a nonprofit. Holland Medical Early College High School and Hardin-Simmons University will host the Area V Health Occupations Students of America conference and competition this weekend, according to a statement by the Abilene Independent School District. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday, about 1,000 high school students and faculty, from as far away as Fort Worth, Lewisville and Denton to the east, to Wichita Falls and Gainesville to the north, and to San Angelo, Temple and Waco to the south, will compete in about 50 events relating to health science education. Competitions include biomedical debate, clinical nursing, medical assisting and medical spelling. An opening ceremony will precede events Friday at 2 p.m. in HSU's Behrens Auditorium. Competition will continue at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by a closing ceremony, where winners will be revealed, at 3 p.m. at Behrens Auditorium. Winners of the area competition will be invited to the state HOSA conference, set for April 14-16 in Galveston. Probably no one was happier than Jim Bartee when the results of a brainstorming session were announced Thursday during a town hall meeting hosted by the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature. Bartee, a Korean War veteran who retired from the Army in 1975, had talked at his table about the importance of veterans affairs to older people. 'I'd sure put that down as No. 1,' he said. As it turned out, many of the 200-plus people at the meeting, held at Abilene Christian University, agreed. Participants were seated at tables of eight. Each table was asked to come up with two concerns for the Silver-Haired Legislature to consider, with the goal of adopting resolutions based on those concerns in April to present to the Texas Legislature when it convenes in January. The cost of medical care, including prescriptions, and veterans affairs were among the most popular topics. The fact that those issues are more a concern of the federal government than the state Legislature didn't faze participants. 'That's where we have to be creative,' said Chris Kyker, of Abilene, who served as speaker of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature from 2002 to 2006 and who remains active in the organization. One creative idea, Kyker said, is a proposal to ask the state to fund stipends for medical students to serve internships in rural areas to address health care shortages. Another idea, she said, might be to ask large retailers with pharmacies to give discounts to the elderly. As for veterans affairs, Kyker said that on Wednesday, the day before the town hall meeting, TSHL leadership had agreed to assign veterans affairs to the State Affairs Committee, which Kyker chairs. Previously, she said, veterans issues were touched on in various committees. Assigning them to one committee will place more emphasis on their importance, she said. Within the next two weeks, Kyker said, some of the college students who attended the town hall meeting will compile the concerns mentioned Thursday. The Silver-Haired Legislature will meet April 4-8 to go over them and then craft resolutions to present to the Texas Legislature. A similar process in 2014 yielded 92 issues, Kyker said, although not all of them were presented to the Texas Legislature. Walter Graham, speaker pro tem of the Silver-Haired Legislature, said at the beginning of the meeting that since 2007, 88 resolutions adopted by the group had been enacted into state law. Thursday's meeting was the second intergenerational town hall forum sponsored by the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, with six generations represented. The youngest were ACU students who attended for class credit and to help with the survey process. 'Aging is going to impact every profession they go into,' Kyker said, and she is hopeful that other universities in the state will host similar intergenerational town hall forums. Among the ACU students present Thursday were Mattison Miranda, a junior psychology major, with a sociology minor, and Emily Adams, a sophomore speech pathology major, with a minor in psychology. Neither plans a career with the elderly. In fact, both students are planning to work with children but were interested in hearing firsthand about issues facing older people, rather than just reading about them in textbooks. 'I want to be able to reach out to all age groups,' Adams said. The leader of a gun lobby group said Thursday he "absolutely" plans to file a complaint with the attorney general's office against Taylor County for prohibiting firearms inside the courthouse, a decision expected by both parties. Terry Holcomb, executive director of Texas Carry, said county officials decided to keep a sign banning the carrying of handguns posted "in violation of the law" at the entrance of the multipurpose courthouse in the response he received to the letter of complaint he sent to County Judge Downing Bolls on Jan. 22. Holcomb said he had expected that response after sending his initial letter of complaint requesting the county remove the signs. Bolls received the letter Jan. 25. Bolls said Thursday that the county replied to Holcomb's complaint on Jan. 27 with a letter expressing its belief that it did not post any signs in violation of the open carry law. The sign posted at the courthouse entrance designates the entire facility as offices of the court, an exception to places where licensed Texans can carry handguns, the judge said. Holcomb said, however, that the sign is not in compliance with the law because the building houses offices other than courts and Attorney General Ken Paxton has issued an opinion stating that handguns should be permitted in multipurpose courthouses but not in courtrooms or offices deemed essential to a court's operation. "It's a multipurpose building," Holcomb said. "Nobody denies that." He said his biggest concern was the safety of Texas residents who may be confused by the law and where they can legally carry their handguns. "That puts citizens at risk, not the government," he said. Both Bolls and Holcomb said they plan to see the process through with the attorney general once Holcomb files his official complaint with Paxton's office. Bolls said the county would make its case before the attorney general if Paxton finds the county in violation of the law. As of Jan. 1, licensed Texans can openly carry holstered handguns in many public places and in private businesses that permit it. Firearms still are prohibited in schools, election sites, racetracks, courtrooms and correctional facilities. Municipalities also can ban handguns in rooms where government officials, such as city councils and county commissioners, meet. Twitter: BrookeCrum_ARN With help from the community, Texas State Technical College wants to build a brand new industrial training facility in Abilene, the school system's chancellor announced Friday in a meeting with city officials. The technical college system based in Waco is requesting the Abilene private sector join with the Development Corporation of Abilene and the city to contribute $6 million to the project over an 8- to 10-year period, or about $600,000 per year, said Michael Reeser, chancellor and CEO. The Texas Legislature already authorized $12 million in bonding capacity for the state-operated two-year college system to construct a new industrial training campus in the city, Reeser said. TSTC is ready to issue those bonds this spring and break ground soon afterward, but there is one glitch. That is where the city comes in, he said. "What we need from the community is some help for some other things," Reeser said. "We need a tract of land to put it on, and we weren't successful in getting all the operating funds we need. We need a few years of commitment ... to help us with working to get going." Councilman Bruce Kreitler, the only council member other than Steve Savage to attend the meeting, said he had more questions for TSTC he needed answered before he could commit to the project. "$6 million is a lot of money," he said. "$6 million can fix a lot of potholes." Larry Gill, grants administrator with the Dodge Jones Foundation, said fixing potholes would not produce jobs or a skilled workforce that could propel the local economy forward for years to come. For instance, welding spans many fields and would give a worker plenty of employment opportunities, he said. "It's a heck of a return on investment," Gill said after the meeting. "Families would be able to double their salaries, and more people would be on the payroll." Reeser said the new facility would fulfill an "underdeveloped portion" of the region's workforce mix, which is middle-skill workers. TSTC commissioned The Perryman Group, a Waco-based economic research and analysis firm, to conduct an study of the city, and it found that Abilene needs more industrial training in the area. "The needs of Abilene are bigger than we have the ability to serve right out of the box," he said, "but we can grow into what it needs." If the project comes to fruition, it would begin with two programs but could add more as the campus expands. The first programs would be welding and industrial systems, which prepare workers for advanced manufacturing by covering an array of skills, Reeser said. Ideally, each program would start with 100 students and in time potentially increase to thousands of students, he said. This project has been in the works for more than two years now, the chancellor said. TSTC has been in discussions with the mayor and other elected officials, the DCOA staff and various private foundations that could help fund the new campus. The current TSTC campus in Abilene has three facilities: a main campus on East Highway 80, a culinary program in downtown and a hangar at the Abilene Regional Airport. Twitter: BrookeCrum_ARN No topic at the Hispanic Leadership Council's candidate forum for Texas House District 71 separated the candidates more than the question of expanding Medicaid in the state. All five Republican candidates and the lone Democratic candidate took part in the forum Thursday night at the Mockingbird Branch of the Abilene Public Library. The candidates took turns answering six questions, none of which provided more varied and impassioned responses than the one asking whether they would be in favor of expanding Medicaid to help insure the 5 million Texans, including more than 780,000 children, without insurance. Pierce LoPachin, the Democratic candidate, said the Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010, was similar to the 1994 plan put forward by the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, that mandated that all Americans have health insurance. 'I'm puzzled why Republicans have been so opposed to a plan that was theirs,' LoPachin said. 'We have to expand Medicaid. It is the right thing to do.' Not surprisingly, the Republicans on the panel, especially Isaac Castro and Chris Carnohan, disagreed. 'I'm not bothered by Obamacare, I'm livid about it,' Castro said. 'I don't like being lied to. Obamacare was sold to the American people on a pack of lies.' Castro said it was important to make a distinction between health care and health insurance. 'Insurance is business,' he said. 'If you want to talk about getting health care for children, that's something else.' Carnohan said it was not the responsibility of the public to fund health care for people who can't afford it. 'Do you know the expression, there's no free lunch?' he asked. 'That's what we're talking about. For those who need it and can't afford it, there's a social network. In the good old days, we had churches and nonprofits who helped people who needed help.' Carnohan recommended drug screening for people who received public assistance. Among the other Republicans, Stan Lambert acknowledged that he would be open to discussion on expanding Medicaid to help insure children. 'When the governor (Rick Perry) turned down expanding Medicaid, oil was at about $100 a barrel,' he said. 'It's not now.' The falling price of oil was addressed in a question concerning the shortfall of $2.6 billion in taxes due to oil prices falling $10 below the budgeted price of $50 per barrel. LoPachin recommended legalizing marijuana so it could be taxed and regulated. Although none of the other candidates expressed support of the idea, no one spoke against it. Castro, Carnohan, Brian Scalf and Stacey Scaief all said they supported budget cuts. Scalf said money had to be saved when oil prices were higher. Scaief and Carnohan said the state shouldn't spend money it doesn't have. 'I don't run my family that way,' Scaief said. Carnohan blamed Keynesian economics for the budget problems. 'We can't spend our way into prosperity,' he said. The other questions concerned preparing students for the workforce and communicating with constituents. For the most part, there were few differences between the candidates, particularly among the Republicans. Each made the case that their experience would make them a solid representative. Scaief touted being retired as an asset, saying she would be able to spend more time representing the district. Lambert, meanwhile, talked about his public service as a school board member and as a mayor, and emphasized his willingness to reach across the aisle. Carnohan and Scalf mentioned their experience in running small businesses, while LoPachin said being a millennial gave him insight into the problems facing the next generation. After an anti-abortion group released several videos alleging that the Gulf Coast Planned Parenthood office was breaking federal law by selling parts of aborted fetuses, Gov. Greg Abbott told the anti-choice posse to saddle up. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Atty. Gen. Ken Paxton already were headed for their horses. Patrick demanded that his hometown DA, fellow Republican and Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson, perform a criminal investigation of the lawbreakers. Anderson dutifully got law enforcement hot on the investigation her office, the Texas Rangers and the Houston police. The results were presented to a grand jury. After two months of deliberation, the grand jury said Planned Parenthood did nothing wrong. Instead, it indicted the folks who had carried out the video sting operation. '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. All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury. I respect their decision on this difficult case.' Indicted were David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt, of a bogus medical research group, Center for Medical Progress, on charges of tampering with a government record, by providing fake California driver's licenses when visiting Planned Parenthood's office in Houston. That's a second-degree felony. Daleiden also was indicted for a Class A misdemeanor for attempted purchase and sale of human organs, by offering to pay well above conveyance costs for body parts donated for research. (Under federal law, selling fetal tissue is illegal. But it is legal for a consenting patient to donate fetal tissue to be used in medical research. The law allows clinics to collect reimbursement for the costs of 'transportation, implantation, processing preservation, quality control, or storage of human fetal tissue' used for research.) So, since the investigation didn't turn out as Patrick, Abbott and Paxton had anticipated, they accepted the situation, right? Wrong. They doubled down, if not tripled if that's possible. They're still saddled up. Gov. Abbott: 'The Health and Human Service Commission's Inspector General and the Attorney General's office have an ongoing investigation into Planned Parenthood's actions. Nothing about today's announcement in Harris County impacts the state's ongoing investigation. The State of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue.' Lt. Gov. Patrick: 'The horrific nature of these videos demand scrutiny and investigation. The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services will continue to examine the practices of abortion providers and whether state law adequately protects the sanctity of life ... I will never be deterred from standing up to fight to protect the unborn.' Atty. Gen. Paxton: 'The fact remains that the videos exposed the horrific nature of abortion and the shameful disregard for human life of the abortion industry. The state's investigation of Planned Parenthood is ongoing.' Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (and daughter of the late Gov. Ann Richards): 'I haven't seen any indication that the governor or lieutenant governor of Texas cares what happens to women at all,' Richards told the Texas Tribune. 'It seems to me their entire campaign against women here has been based upon their political beliefs and not about the well being of the people of Texas.' Email Dave McNeely at davemcneely111@gmail.com. Gary Grubbs, Abilene I am writing this letter to encourage voters in the 19th Congressional District of Texas to vote for Col. (ret.) Michael Bob Starr as our next congressman on March 1. It has been my honor to get to know Michael Bob during two of his four tours at Dyess Air Force Base through the Military Affairs Committee. I feel he is clearly the best and most qualified candidate to represent us in Washington. As 7th Bomb Wing Commander, he was responsible for providing support for over 12,000 military personnel and their families, equal to the fifth largest town in the district. He was responsible for a large budget, assessing needs and allocating those resources. During his distinguished 23-year career in the Air Force, he earned high recognition while defending our way of life and providing for the general welfare of his airmen. During that time, he and his wife, Kim, raised two sons and were committed to instilling strong Christian values in their family. I am voting for Michael Bob because he is the right person for the 19th District. Col Starr has practical experience, not just political talk, to address the issues we face in our country and our region. Michael Bob has demonstrated strong leadership, integrity and the ability to assess different situations and move toward a positive outcome. I encourage voters to visit StarrForCongress.com to learn more about this incredible leader and his abilities to represent the 19th District of Texas. J.E. James, Stamford On Jan. 26, the Reporter-News reported that GOP candidates claim the U.S. military is a disaster and that Obama has 'gutted' our forces. Administration defenders point out that Obama has spent as much on defense modernization as Bush. Who is right? Perhaps both sides are. There is no denying the military has shrunk dramatically in recent decades. When Reagan left office, the Navy had nearly 600 ships, 15 active carriers and 15 active air wings. Today, it has fewer than 300 ships, and just 10 carriers and air wings. Clearly, the Navy has been gutted, as have the other services. But this has not been solely or even primarily Obama's fault. It started with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Congress went into a bipartisan frenzy to cut defense spending in favor of more social spending (Democrats) or reduced taxes (Republicans). It was called the 'peace dividend.' In the run-up to Desert Storm, the Navy was actually refusing re-enlistment for career sailors while calling up reservists to fight the impending conflict. Why? When you re-enlist a sailor he will be on the payroll for another 4-6 years. A reservist can be sent home when no longer needed. Obama may be spending megabucks on modernization, but that doesn't buy what it used to. We bought 4,000 F-4 fighters for around $64 billion in today's dollars. Today, $64 billion will buy just 425 F-35 fighters. One might say the skyrocketing cost of modern weaponry is doing as much to 'gut' our military as Obama. Note all articles are independently researched and written by myself. However, if you buy via one of the links it may be an affiliate and I may earn a small commission. We are big fans of Herb Lester Associates maps and if you are too, you might want to add the latest to your collection Punk London. The subject matter is pretty self-explanatory. Produced in association with cultural commentator Paul Gorman (the man responsible for the wonderful Englands Dreaming), this is a guide to the London locations made famous by the punk explosion of 40 years ago. In total, there are 111 locations featured across the city: Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwoods shop at 430 Kings Road; the Hampstead flat shared by Johnny Rotten and Sid Vicious; Saint Martins School Of Art, where the Sex Pistols made their debut performance; Pathway Studios in Canonbury, where The Damned recorded New Rose (the first UK punk release); The Clashs Camden Town rehearsal space and many more everything from the squats to the shops. If you want a nostalgic tour of London four decades ago, this is the map for you. Designed by Mike Haddad, it is A6 (148x210mm), with 28 pages in total. The map is Litho-printed in England on recycled paper and is available to pre-order now for just 6. Find out more at the Herb Lester Associates website Advertisement - Continue Reading Below This just in... Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) sat down with reporter Chun Chanboth of Radio Free Asias Khmer Service at RFAs headquarters in Washington to discuss the countrys upcoming general elections in 2018, the impact of social media particularly Facebook on Cambodias body politic and the nature of dictatorship and the individual. Rainsy has delayed his return to Cambodia, following his removal from parliament on Nov. 16 by the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) because of a warrant issued for his arrest in a seven-year-old defamation case. Cambodia is ramping up for local elections in 2017 and national elections the year after. RFA: You and Prime Minister Hun Sun seem to have different styles and are in a battle to win the hearts and minds of people who use Facebook. At the same time, Prime Minister Hun Sen also says hes overtaken you as Facebook Prime Minister. How do you feel about that? Sam Rainsy: First, whats important is that its not the style, the body, the look, the shape or the gestures or photos posted on Facebook. The important thing is the ideas. The ideas on how to manage the country, protect the country and offer jobs to youth. Loving the nations youth is not just about taking pictures. If [we] love the young people, [we] have to find ways to create jobs for them and to raise the pay of workers and empower the livelihoods of the people. The real work for the prime minister is not just taking photos and posting them on Facebook. It is supposed to solve real issues for the people. RFA: So, you dont care about losing the position of Facebook Prime Minister? Sam Rainsy: I am actually happy. The more people come to check Facebook, the better because they will have the ability to compare. They can learn from the information. They can have other ideas. The more ideas, the more information, the better for democracy. RFA: What will you do if the CNRP loses the 2018 general elections? Sam Rainsy: I believe that the circumstances are very good. They are favorable for the Cambodian people who want to decide their destiny by themselves not the outsiders, foreigners or any group who uses authoritarian power to decide for the people. RFA: You once accused Tep Nitha, the head of the National Elections Committee (NEC), of being a thief who stole your votes. But he is still secretary general of the NEC. What do you base your allegations on, and what would you do to prevent him from stealing votes again? Sam Rainsy: My belief is about whats important. It is not about the individual. It is the institution that is important. It is the way the institutions work, the methods, the procedures and their respect for the law. If we make the proper laws, and the institutions are well managed, and we make sure that all individuals respect the law, then our work will go smoothly. RFA: If you believe that, then it means you believe that if the new NEC has appropriate procedures, then no matter who is leading the body, it wont be able to do the same things as before? Sam Rainsy: Yes, because democratic principles must be respected. Now, as we have seen, the members of the NEC consist of four people from the CPP and four from the CNRP and one who is independent from civil society. It must be according to the majority. If [you] have good practices, then they will be supported by the majority. Then if there is any party who tries to persuade others among them to do something wrong, there wont be anyone following along. Translated by Pagnawath Khun. The ruling Chinese Communist Party has issued new guidelines banning its members from following any religion, even after they retire from official life, official media reported on Friday. "Amid rapid economic and social development and an aging population, we have seen ... the numbers of retired officials grow every year," an "opinion" issued recently by the party's personnel arm said. "We have seen a number of new issues and problems emerging to do with the outlook, actions and the management of services linked to retired officials," an explanation of the opinion posted on the website of party mouthpiece the People's Daily said. "We need to respond to and manage those problems." It added: "There is an urgent need to grasp accurately the overall situation and trends among retired officials." Retired military personnel have long been cited by officials and activists as a highly sensitive sector of the population, who might swing a tide of public opinion in their favor and against the party, because of their proven loyalty to their country. President Xi Jinping has also launched an ideological campaign targeting any activity seen as "importing" values and cultural practices from overseas. Xi has cited religion in particular as a means by which "hostile foreign forces" seek to exert a subversive influence in China. Turning to religion Beijing-based democracy activist Zha Jianguo said the party is probably reinforcing its requirement that its members in particular remain atheists in the face of a growing number of religious believers within its own ranks. "From the point of view of the Communist Party, it's traditional for the party to require that its members not follow any religion," Zha told RFA. "But in the past couple of decades, more and more of them have been turning to religion," he said. He said the party in particular fears religious believers as "the enemy within." "There are more and more underground churches and house churches, which they see as a threat," Zha said. "If they are to control this threat outside the party, then they also have to control their own members and officials." But a retired party member and former government official who asked to remain anonymous said the "opinion" reflects a crisis of faith at the heart of the party. "If you are a party member, then it's reasonable to expect you to follow its leaders," he said. "But the party itself is having a crisis of faith [in its own ideology], so it can't afford to allow these people to go off and believe in other faiths." "If this wasn't the case, then they would just let people believe what they want to believe, the former official said. They are only trying to hold onto [their atheism] because it's in crisis." Demolishing crosses The "opinion" comes on the heels of a months-long campaign by religious affairs officials in the eastern province of Zhejiang to tear down publicly visible crosses from churches in the region, which is known as "China's Jerusalem" for its high concentration of Protestant believers. Associate professor Ying Fuk Tsang of the Chinese University of Hong Kong divinity school said the party carried out an extensive survey of religious practices around the country, which yielded some worrying results. "They found the numbers of party members holding religious beliefs or taking part in religious activities to be of great concern," Ying told RFA on Friday. "At the same time that they were demolishing crosses, they also did a lot of atheist ideological work among party members and retired officials." "They also held inquisition-style meetings, so they have a record of who the believers are," he said. "Then, they told them that they wouldn't be punished if they renounced their faith." "[If they refused], they forced them to resign from the party, Ying said. They were demolishing external crosses, but also demolishing symbolic crosses from within party ranks." Ying said that many of the Communist Party's 80 million members have no faith in its political ideology. "They didn't join the party because they believed in communism; they did it to be part of a privileged group," he said, saying the campaign is similar to the purges of the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement carried out by former president Jiang Zemin. "That's why so many of them have wavered and started to get religion, and it's that process that the party sees as a threat, because it has created a situation where you have conflicted loyalties," Ying said. Reported by Yang Fan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Ho Si-yuen for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. Magazines about Chinese politics displayed in a bookstore in the Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong, Jan. 5, 2016. Another Hong Kong book store that sold political titles banned in China closed its doors this week in the wake of the suspicious disappearances of five booksellers in the former British colony. A Hong Kong newspaper, meanwhile, quoted police in Chinas Guangdong province as confirming that three of the five booksellers who had not been accounted for since disappearing last year were also being held in Guangdong, which borders Hong Kong. 1908 Books, a book store located in Hong Kongs Tsim Sha Tsui that specialized in selling books banned in China, closed on Feb. 1, a source familiar with the matter told RFAs Mandarin Service. "The 1908 bookstore owner has not officially released the public announcement of its closure, but it was in fact closed on Feb. 1, the source said. In recent years, it had few customers, and was operating at a loss, added the source, who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity. Under pressure from the communist mainland, which took over Hong Kong in 1997 and promised the territory autonomy and no change to its policies for 50 years, Hong Kongs tour remind the mainland tourists not to carry banned books or magazines back to China. This was hurting business even before co-owners Lee Bo and Gui Minhai and three other staff of Causeway Books were snatched and taken back to China beginning late last year, he said. Many people are concerned whether the closure is related to Lee Bo and Gui Minhai. In fact after the Causeway Bay books incident, even fewer mainland people come to buy books. So it has a kind of impact," said the source. 1908 is not as influential as Causeway Bay Books. It sells many banned books written by authors inside China, but published in Hong Kong, he added. Causeway Bay Books store manager Lee Bo, 65, was last seen at work on Dec. 30, while four of his associates, publisher Gui Minhai, general manager Lui Bo, and colleagues Cheung Jiping and Lam Wing-kei have gone missing since October. There is no record of Lee Bo leaving Hong Kong, prompting fears that he was spirited across the internal immigration border by Chinese police, while Gui holds a Swedish passport and was apparently detained while on vacation in Thailand. Three confirmed detained in China Gui was paraded on state-run CCTV in January, "confessing" to having killed a woman in a hit-and-run car accident some years earlier. Lee has repeatedly said he is "assisting in an investigation" as a witness and his wife Sophie Choi has declined to reveal his location, but many fear the couple is being manipulated by police to avoid harsher reprisals. The South China Morning Post, an English-language daily, on Friday that Guangdong police confirmed that Lui Bo, Cheung Jiping and Lam Wing-kei were being held and investigated in mainland China. The Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department disclosed on Thursday night that three colleagues were suspected to be involved in Guis case and were also involved in illegal activities on the mainland, the Post said. Criminal compulsory measures were imposed on them and they were under investigation, the newspaper quoted Guangdong police as saying in a letter to their Hong Kong counterparts. Concerns for Hong Kong's once-freewheeling publishing industry have been growing following a report last month in London's Sunday Times newspaper that the ruling Chinese Communist Party is explicitly targeting "forbidden books" from Hong Kong, which has traditionally enjoyed freedom of the press and of publication. The report cited a leaked Communist Party document as saying that officials should aim to "wipe out banned publications at source." It said banned publications included pornographic material and "illegal" books. Reported by Xin Lin for RFAs Mandarin Service. Translated by Ping Chen. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Authorities in the Chinese capital have effectively denied permission to veteran journalist Gao Yu to go to Germany for medical treatment, even though she is being allowed to serve her sentence outside of jail. Gao, whose seven-year jail term for "leaking state secrets overseas" was cut on appeal to five years by the Beijing High People's Courtlast November, has suffered heart attacks in detention. She also suffers from high blood pressure, and has signs of a growth on a lymph node that could be malignant, her lawyers said in her applications for medical parole before her release. Since leaving detention, Gao has been granted a visa to travel to Germany, but the Chinese authorities have denied her permission to leave the country, her lawyer Shang Baojun told RFA. Government fails to keep promise He said the government has also left her with no income. "Since Gao Yu was released for medical reasons a few months ago, the authorities have always said that they would pay her medical bills and retirement pension," Shang said. "But they haven't made good on these promises so far." He said Gao lacks any basic retirement income or medical insurance, and her health is in "a worrying state." "The German government is very concerned about this, and the German chancellor and the German ambassador to China went to a lot of trouble to get this visa for her to go to Germany for treatment," Shang said. "Except that now, the Chinese government won't allow it." Shang said Gao had applied several times for an exit permit from her local police station, but had received no reply from them. "We don't even know who is in charge of this decision," he said. "We call on the relevant authorities to approve Gao's trip to Germany to seek medical treatment." According to Germany-based journalist Su Yutong, Gao has also been turned away from every hospital in China where she has sought treatment since her release from detention. Gao was initially sentenced to a seven-year jail term by the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People's Court in April 2015 for "leaking state secrets overseas, but denied breaking Chinese law, saying that a televised "confession" on which the prosecution based its case was obtained under duress. Health deteriorates Gao's lawyers and relatives repeatedly warned of her deteriorating health during a prolonged stay in a police-run Beijing jail. Gao had been held in the jail since her initial detention in April 2014, as she planned to mark the 26th anniversary of 1989 student-led pro-democracy movement on Tiananmen Square, that culminated in a military crackdown by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on the night of June 3-4, 1989. During her November 2014 trial, Gao Yu was accused of leaking party policy Document No. 9 to a Hong Kong-based media outlet. Document No. 9 lists "seven taboos" to be avoided in public debate, online and in China's schools and universities that include democracy, freedom of the press, judicial independence and criticism of the party's historical record. Her defense team argued that the document was already available online, and that the media organization in question could easily have downloaded it elsewhere. Gao's sentencing sparked an outcry among rights groups and fellow activists, who said there was no evidence that she broke Chinese law. Reported by Gao Shan for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wen Yuqing for the Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie. A court in Long An province in southern Vietnam on Friday rejected an appeal for the temporary release of a teenager serving a prison sentence for injuring police officers when they evicted his family from their home last year. Authorities often let prisoners out of jail during the annual Tet holiday, the Vietnamese version of the Lunar New Year, so they can spend the most important celebration in countrys culture with their families. The holiday falls on Feb. 8 this year. The provincial Peoples Court rejected the appeal filed by the lawyer of Nguyen Mai Trung Tuan, who is serving a 4.5-year sentence for his involvement in blocking and injuring police who tried to evict his family from their home last April, his attorney Nguyen Van Mieng told RFAs Vietnamese Service. After the urgent appeal, we appreciated the prompt response from the judge at the Long An court during this busy time of Tet, he said. However, the response was not what we had expected. The judge denied the request because Tuan had tried to escape after his case was submitted to the court, Mieng said. Tuan had left home on April 29, 2015, to find work in Binh Thuan province on the south central coast of Vietnam, before the court issued a decision on his case on June 12. Besides the jail sentence, the court ordered Tuan to pay a 42.6 million dong (U.S. $1,880) fine. What the judge said was not correct, Mieng said. That was the only reason he had to reject the appeal. When news of the rejection of the appeal was posted on Facebook, everybody was upset about the decision because the judge based it on an illegitimate reason and did not let a teenager have some time with his family during the most precious time of the year, he said. This separation violates childrens rights and precious feelings of the Vietnamese people on the first days of the Lunar New Year, he said. In the meantime, the court has postponed Tuans appeal trial without allowing him to apply for bail. Thanh Hai Ngo, a Vietnamese senator from Canadas Conservative Party who represents the province of Ontario, issued a statement on Friday, condemning the Long An court, saying that he was concerned about the unreasonable trial process that followed the unfair arrest and harsh sentence Tuan had received. The Peoples Court of Long An provinces decision to further postpone Nguyen Mai Trung Tuans appeal trial without allowing him to apply for bail is another indication that the Peoples Court system fails to follow its own proper procedures and respect the rights of a juvenile defendant, he said. Ngo called on international human rights agencies and the international community to challenge the courts decision and take legal action to ensure Tuans immediate release, protect the rights of minors, and uphold the land ownership rights of Vietnamese citizens. Forced eviction Police first arrested Tuan last April 14 along with his parents, Nguyen Trung Can and Mai Thi Kim Huong, at their home in Thach Hoa district, where they allegedly resisted and attacked authorities who were trying to forcibly evict them and take their farmland. When the family refused to let police enter their home, a clash ensued, resulting in injuries on both sides in which several people were burned by acid. Police arrested 12 people, including all family members and others at the scene who opposed their eviction, severely beating some of them. Tuan, who was 15 at the time, was later released because he was a minor. Those who had witnessed the event did not cite a reason for the familys eviction, although authorities in Vietnam frequently force people out of their homes to make way for development projects. Vietnamese authorities arrested Tuan a second time last August, when about 10 plainclothes police officers apprehended him at his uncles home in Ninh Thuan province and turned him over to authorities at a detention center in Long An province, according to his sister Nguyen Mai Thao Vy. Vy, the familys only child who was not arrested, lives with an aunt. Tuans mother is serving a 3.5-year sentence, and his father a three-year sentence. Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Viet Ha. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Tajik authorities have accused Kyrgyzstan of violating cease-fire agreements near disputed segments of their shared border after dozens of people were killed from both sides during clashes last month. Tajikistan's Border Guard Service stated on October 19 that Kyrgyz authorities are implementing "premeditated actions aimed at escalating the situation in districts close to the state border." "The provocative actions of some Kyrgyz citizens to destabilize the situation, preparation of assault points, digging of trenches, continuation of concentration of military equipment, and regular violations of the air space of the Republic of Tajikistan clearly confirm the Kyrgyz side's malign plans," the statement said. Kyrgyz authorities rejected the Tajik statement, saying it "absolutely does not correspond to the real situation." In a statement, the Kyrgyz State Border Guard Service accused the Tajiks of using a photo of Kyrgyz military trucks taken last month as they were withdrawing from the border area, and falsely portraying it as a new photo to make it look as though Kyrgyzstan was concentrating its military equipment in the border area. The statement said it was the Tajik authorities who are violating cease-fire agreements by leaving deadly mines on the disputed territories and digging trenches there. Earlier in the day, Kyrgyz Defense Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov told reporters that Bishkek had asked the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to provide a limited contingent of troops at disputed segments of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. "An independent mediator must stay between us, such as a limited group of CSTO troops, with the goal of maintaining a cease-fire and the withdrawal of heavy weaponry from the border. If they solve these two issues, then the political goals on the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border can start being discussed," Bekbolotov said. Both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, along with Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, are CSTO members. Bekbolotov's statement comes two days after Kyrgyz Security Council Secretary Marat Imankulov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to provide Bishkek with archived Soviet-era maps to help solve the ongoing border dispute between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Putin has said that there is more "true" information about borders between the former Soviet republics available in the archives in Moscow than in the republics themselves. Putin and the Kyrgyz and Tajik presidents, Sadyr Japarov and Emomali Rahmon, discussed border problems between the two Central Asian nations on October 13 in the Kazakh capital, Astana. In September, Kyrgyz and Tajik authorities accused each other of aggression after the two sides used heavy artillery and mortars in clashes near a disputed part of border. Kyrgyz officials said 63 of its citizens died in the violence, and more than 200 others were injured. Tajikistan has put its death toll at 41, but correspondents from RFE/RL's Tajik Service reported a higher number after talking to relatives and friends of the people killed during the clashes. They concluded that 81 people, about half of whom were civilians, lost their lives. Many border areas in Central Asia have been disputed since the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991. The situation is particularly complicated near the numerous exclaves in the volatile Ferghana Valley, where the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan meet. Almost half of the 970-kilometer Kyrgyz-Tajik border has yet to be demarcated, leading to repeated tensions since the two countries gained independence more than three decades ago. Denmark's foreign minister has said that if Ukraine does not implement modernization reforms it risks undermining European Union support for maintaining sanctions against Russia. In an exclusive interview with Reuters on February 5, Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen said Ukraine must fully carry out the reforms outlined by the Minsk process for regulating the conflict between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Otherwise, "it will be very difficult for Europe to continue united in support of sanctions against Russia." The European Union is concerned about political infighting in Kyiv and its failure to implement serious reforms, a failure that was highlighted by the resignation this week of Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius. The European Union imposed targeted sanctions against Russia's energy, banking, and defense sectors in July 2014. The sanctions are scheduled to expire in July, but could be extended. Under the Minsk process, Kyiv has agreed to adopt constitutional amendments to decentralize power. Based on reporting by Reuters International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde said she is concerned about the sudden resignation this week of Ukraine's reformist economy minister, citing government corruption. "I would like to pay tribute to his efforts. His recently announced resignation is of concern," Lagarde said on February 4 when questioned about the resignation of Aivaras Abromavicius to protest alleged influence-peddling and graft by a top ally of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, among others. "If the allegations that he makes in his resignation are correct, then it's obviously an indication that the anticorruption measures that were committed by the government are not yet working," the IMF managing director said. The IMF is the main source of rescue financing for Ukraine as the cash-strapped country contends with crises ranging from falling commodity prices to a new trade embargo by Russia, its main market for agricultural and industrial goods in the past. The fund has a $17.5 billion bailout program for Ukraine that is conditioned on the government enacting free-market economic reforms and fighting corruption. "There's more progress to be had in this area," Lagarde said. "A lot of work needs to be done, and it has to be implemented vigorously because the Ukrainian authorities are not only accountable to the Ukrainian people but also to the international community." While Lagarde did not discuss the status of its loan program for Ukraine, Kyiv is hoping the IMF will decide soon on disbursing a third tranche of loans of $1.7 billion, which has been delayed since October. Ukraine is battling an economic depression which saw the economy shrink by more than 10 percent last year, a downturn made worse by its war against pro-Russian separatists, who have taken control over parts of the country's eastern industrial heartland. The IMF and other western lenders in Europe and the United States are apprehensive about Ukraine's instability amidst war and recession. Abromavicius is the fourth reform-minded minister to tender his resignation since Ukraine's 2014 break in ties with Russia and shift toward Europe. Last-Ditch Talks "The consequences of his announcement are hard to predict, but it's clear that they are very negative," a Kyiv lawmaker from Poroshenko's faction told the Reuters news agency. "It could lead to the postponement of the IMF tranche." Poroshenko held last-ditch talks with the Lithuanian-born Abromavicius on February 3 in a bid to change his mind and reassure him that all his charges would be investigated in full. But there was no indication afterwards that the minister had changed his mind, although the government announced that three other Ukrainian cabinet members who had previously tendered their resignations said they would remain in their posts. Poroshenko arranged a meeting with ambassadors from the Group of Seven economic powers on February 4 to reassure them, while Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk held an emergency cabinet meeting to try to repair the damage and demonstrate unity in the deeply divided government. Yatsenyuk said the government was determined not to stray from its reform drive. "Our principle is one for all and all for one. We came as a united team and we will work as a united team," he said. "We demand...an end to blackmail, political pressure, [and] under-the-table dealings for positions of ministers, their deputies, or the heads of state companies," he said. The health, agriculture, and infrastructure ministers, who had previously tendered their resignations after Abromavicius's announcement, said they would continue to work provided they were allowed to pass reform initiatives without political interference. But Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Groysman said Ukraine was entering a "deep political crisis" and called for a government reshuffle. One legislator raised the prospect of holding a vote of no confidence in the government. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP Iran and Russia have initialed contracts worth around $40 billion for nuclear power construction, railways, and other projects, the top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on February 4. Ali Akbar Velayati, at the end of a visit to Moscow, said he discussed some projects with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Tehran was interested in obtaining a loan from Russia for the railways and nuclear power projects. The package of projects was signed in the past few months and they "are ready for implementation," he said. Iran is also discussing purchasing additional weapons from Russia and selling oil to Russia's biggest oil company, state-owned Rosneft, Velayati said. "On the Iranian side, there is a willingness to supply this company corresponding volumes of oil daily," he said, adding that such sales "may become an additional source of financing" for joint projects. Despite those plans, Reuters trading sources said Litasco, the trading arm of privately owned Lukoil, looked set to become the first post-sanctions buyer of Iranian oil in Europe. Based on reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS The Islamic State (IS) militant group is growing weaker in Iraq and Syria but has gained strength in Libya, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment. The new estimates, revealed by the White House on February 4, found that the number of IS fighters has fallen to about 25,000 in Syria and Iraq, the group's so-called "caliphate," down from a previous estimate of about 31,000. The roughly 20 percent decline was due to battlefield casualties and desertions, as well as progress in the U.S.-led campaign to crush IS through a combination of air strikes and supporting Iraqi and Kurdish forces on the ground. "ISIS has sustained significant casualties," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest, using another widely known acronym for the extremist group. He gave credit to ground-fighting efforts by Syrian opposition groups as well as coalition partners, including Iraq's military and tribal forces and Kurdish Peshmerga troops. No mention was made of Russian air strikes directed in part at IS since September. The U.S.-led air campaign, which has hit IS with more than 10,000 strikes since 2014, has had an impact, as have international efforts to stem the flow of foreigners seeking to join the movement, Earnest said. "[IS] is having more difficulty than they've had before in replenishing their ranks," he said. The U.S. intelligence community now estimates that IS troops number between 19,000 and 25,000 in Iraq and Syria, down from 20,000 to 31,000 in 2014. "The decrease reflects the combined effects of battlefield deaths, desertions, internal disciplinary actions, recruiting shortfalls, and difficulties that foreign fighters face traveling to Syria," said Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. But IS's dwindling numbers in the Middle East may also reflect in part some North African militants heading to Libya rather than traveling to Syria to join the group as they did in previous years, officials found. IS has taken advantage of political chaos in Libya to expand its grip on territory around Sirte and the Mediterranean coast. U.S. estimates of IS forces in Libya now range between 3,000 and 6,000, about double what they were in previous years. The Pentagon has been monitoring IS growth in Libya and is developing a range of possible U.S. responses at the White House's request, including the option of taking military action. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said he doesn't want to see Libya become like Iraq or Syria, where IS took advantage of a vacuum created by political chaos and internal conflict to quickly gain control over wide swaths of territory in 2014. The United States has already taken some limited steps in Libya. In November, a U.S. air strike killed top IS leader Abu Nabil, an Iraqi. And in December, the Pentagon acknowledged that a group of U.S. special operations troops who traveled to Libya to "foster relationships" was kicked out of the country soon after arriving. "We're going to continue to watch how the threat in Libya evolves and we're going to continue to be prepared to take action," Earnest said. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill will hold a historic first meeting of the heads of the two largest Christian churches next week, getting together for talks in Cuba on February 12. The meeting will be first between a pope and a head of the Russian Orthodox Church since the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity split in the Great Schism of 1054. The branches have remained estranged over issues including Orthodoxy's refusal to recognize the primacy of the pope. The Great Schism Explained The Great Schism Explained What Happened In 1054? That was the year that Christianity split into two branches -- Orthodox and Catholic. The split was formalized when the spiritual leaders of the two competing branches excommunicated each other and their respective churches. What Led To The Split? The move followed centuries of worsening ties. Things went downhill in 800 when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, who was king of the Franks, as holy Roman emperor. That angered the Byzantine Empire because it made their emperor redundant. Moreover, the move was a slight to the Byzantine Empire, which after Rome fell in 476 had withstood barbarian invasions and upheld the faith for centuries. The Great Schism split Christianity into two competing branches, one in the east, based in Byzantium, and the other in the west, based in Rome. For this reason it is also often referred to as the East-West Schism. So What Are The Differences? Many of the differences between the eastern and western branches of Christianity can be traced to their origins. Eastern theology is rooted in Greek philosophy, while much of Western theology was based on Roman law. The result was theological disputes, for example, over the use of unleavened bread for the ceremony of communion. For the east, using leavened bread symbolized the Risen Christ, but for the Latins in the west unleavened bread was used just as Jesus had at the Last Supper. There were also disputes over whether the authority of the pope, the spiritual leader in Rome, extended to the patriarchs, religious leaders in the east. Chances Of Reconciliation Mutual excommunications had happened before, but had never ended in permanent schisms. Early hopes to mend the rift faded as time went on. In particular, the Greeks were outraged by the Latin capture of Constantinople in 1204. Western pleas for reunion (on western terms), such as those at the Council of Lyon (1274) or the Council of Ferrara-Florence (1439), were rejected by the Byzantines. More than 900 years later, in 1965, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople removed the mutual excommunications, but the two branches of Christianity remain split today. Where The Two Branches Stand Today Catholicism is the single largest Christian denomination, with more than a billion followers around the world, most of them Roman Catholic. The Eastern Rite Catholics, who follow eastern rites but are under the Holy See, include the Byzantine and Ukrainian Greek Catholics. Among others there are Maronite, Coptic, or Chaldean Catholic Churches. Eastern Orthodoxy is the second-largest Christian denomination, with more than 200 million followers, most of them under the Moscow Patriarchate. Aside from the Russian Church, other Eastern Orthodox branches include the Ruthenian, Ukrainian, Melkite, Romanian, and Italo-Albanian Byzantine Churches. -- Written by Tony Wesolowsky There has been rancor between the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, which has the biggest flock in Orthodox Christianity, over property in Ukraine and over the Russian churchs accusations that the Catholic Church seeks to poach converts. The meeting will occur as Pope Francis stops over in Cuba on his way to a previously scheduled visit to Mexico at the same time Kirill makes an official visit to Havana. A joint statement from the two churches on February 5 said Francis and Kirill would hold a "personal conversation" at Havana's airport that would conclude with the signing of a joint declaration. It did not specify the subject of the declaration. The Russian Orthodox Church said separately that Kirill will meet with the pope because of what it called the need for a joint response to the persecution of Christian minorities in the Middle East and elsewhere. A senior Russian Orthodox cleric, Metropolitan Illarion, said in Moscow that "the situation shaping up today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa, and in some other regions where extremists are carrying out a genuine genocide of the Christian population demands urgent measures and even closer cooperation between Christian churches." Both the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church have been outspoken in denouncing attacks on Christians and the destruction of Christian monuments, particularly in Syria. In Syria, where Christians have historically made up 10 percent of the population, the minority has been targeted by extremist groups seeking to create an Islamist state. Thousands of Christians, including members of both the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity, have fled to neighboring countries as refugees. The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian congregation, with some 1.2 billion members worldwide. The Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, is considered first among equals within Orthodox Christianity, but the Russian Orthodox Church is the largest single Eastern Christian congregation, with some 165 million adherents -- most of them in Russia. A meeting with the Russian Orthodox Church chief eluded Francis's two immediate predecessors, Benedict and John Paul II, who both tried but failed to reach agreement with Kirill and previous patriarchs to hold talks on the prospects for eventual Christian unity. Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill are also expected to discuss long-standing tensions between their two churches, including disputes over church property in Ukraine and over the Catholic Church's activities in Russia. The Russian Orthodox Church has accused Catholics of trying to convert people from Orthodoxy after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. The Vatican denies the charge, saying it is simply ministering to the small Catholic community in the majority Orthodox country. The two churches are also at odds over the status of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, which follows Orthodox rites but is allied with Rome. One point of tension is the status of those congregations' properties that Soviet dictator Josef Stalin confiscated in Ukraine and gave to the Russian Orthodox Church. After the fall of communism, many of those properties were unilaterally taken back by the congregations that lost them, leaving the dispute simmering. The meeting in Havana was brokered by Cuban President Raul Castro, who hosted the pope in Cuba last year. The choice of Cuba as the meeting site appears to recognize the unique status of the communist island country as an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic nation but with long political ties to Moscow. The site also offers a neutral venue far from Europe, where most disputes between the two churches have occurred. Metropolitan Illarion, who is the foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, said on February 4 that Patriarch Kirill has always objected to meeting in Europe because "it is namely Europe with which this tragic history of divisions and conflicts among Christians is linked." With reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP Hazrat Juraev was 36 years old the last time he saw Uzbekistan. He really didn't want to leave the country then, and now he's afraid to return. Juraev was detained in Pakistan's southern Balochistan Province last month, and he told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik, that the Pakistani authorities wanted to send him back to Uzbekistan, where he almost certainly faces imprisonment or worse. Juraev tells a curious tale, and we have only his word for the events he describes. But it is quite a story. Juraev was speaking to Ozodlik from a detention facility in Balochistan, where he had been living and working as an imam. Juraev has been a religious man for a long time. In the late 1990s he was spreading the teachings of Islam in his native Bukhara region of Uzbekistan, exhibiting the sort of piety that is bound to attract the attention of the Uzbek authorities. On February 16, 1999, a number of bombs exploded in Tashkent. Many kilometers away in Bukhara, Juraev was not a suspect; but that didn't stop local authorities from bringing him in for questioning, several times. "During the last [session of] questioning, the police chief told me, 'If something [like the Tashkent bombings] happens in Bukhara, you will be the first person we will bring in.'" Juraev decided to flee the country, so he was nowhere near Bukhara when bombings did happen in late March 2004. Juraev departed Uzbekistan shortly after his conversation with the police chief and fled first to Tajikistan but eventually made his way to Afghanistan. He said that in a mosque in Kabul he met people from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). By that time the IMU, allies of both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, had already staged armed incursions into southern Kyrgyzstan with the stated goal of overthrowing the Uzbek government. Juraev told Ozodlik that he decided then to join the IMU, though he claims he never participated in any fighting. His membership in the IMU was short, he said. After the group was decimated by U.S. air strikes in northern Afghanistan in late 2001, Juraev moved on -- this time to Iran, where he was granted UN refugee status. Juraev lived for some 10 years in Zahedan, but when his UN status expired in 2010, the Iranian authorities ordered him to leave the country. That is reportedly how Juraev ended up in Balochistan. He said he had not been in Uzbekistan for a decade and a half. For the first few years after he left Uzbekistan, he kept in contact with his wife and three children back in the Bukhara area; but at their request he ceased phoning them because they feared problems with the Uzbek authorities. Juraev is being held in the city of Gwadar. His Pakistani jailers say they intend to send him back to Uzbekistan. "I asked them not to do that," Juraev said. "I said that in Uzbekistan it is very hard, but they didn't believe me. They said, 'Uzbekistan is a democratic country, everyone is a Muslim there, and you must have done something there and escaped.'" Juraev has not been given access to a lawyer. Ozodlik contacted local rights defenders who promised to take up his case with the Pakistani authorities. However, due to the presence of IMU militants in Pakistan's tribal areas since 2001, Pakistani officials and the Pakistani media have been depicting Uzbeks as militants for several years now to the point where the word "Uzbek" is practically synonymous with "militant." Public sentiment in Pakistan would therefore suggest Juraev has good reason to be concerned that he will be sent back to Uzbekistan. Sirojiddin Tolibov of Ozodlik helped in preparing this report WASHINGTON -- On February 5, RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova will mark 14 months behind bars in an Azeri prison, despite widespread condemnation of her case and high-profile demands for her release. The day also marks the 38th birthday of RFE/RL Turkmen contributor Saparmamed Nepeskuliev, who has been held incommunicado by Turkmen authorities since July 2015. In the latest appeal on her behalf, U.S. Representative Ed Royce (R-Calif), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, wrote a letter to Azerbaijans president on January 28, calling the charges against Ismayilova dubious and warning that her continued detention, and the imprisonment of other journalists, "will harm relations between our two countries." Royces letter followed the introduction in December of H.R.4264, the Azerbaijan Democracy Act, a bill sponsored by U.S. Representative Christopher Smith (R-N.J.), the chairman of the Committee for Security and Cooperation in Europe and co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.). The proposed legislation would deny U.S. visas to senior Azeri officials found to have participated in, or have benefitted from, policies or actions that undermine democratic institutions or impede the transition to democracy in Azerbaijan. In another expression of international support, prominent human rights lawyer Amal Clooney announced she would represent Ismayilova when her case comes before the European Court of Human Rights. Ismayilova was detained by Azerbaijani law enforcement on December 5, 2014, and sentenced to 7.5 years in prison in September 2015 on charges widely viewed as retaliation for her reporting linking members of President Ilham Aliyevs family members to massive foreign real estate holdings, controlling stakes in the countrys telecom and airline industries, and ownership of Azeri gold mines. Unlike Ismayilovas case, which has generated interest in part because of Azerbaijans well-publicized efforts to cultivate international respectability, Nepeskulievs case is far less known. There is scant documentation available about his alleged crimes, trial, and conviction, and his whereabouts are uncertain. Says RFE/RL Turkmen Service Director Muhammad Tahir, We have heard nothing about him since his arrest six months ago. We have had no access to his family, and cannot even confirm that he is alive. The UNs Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued an opinion on Nepeskulievs case in December, finding his deprivation of liberty to be arbitrary. Before he disappeared, Nepeskuliev contributed video reports to RFE/RL's Turkmen Service and worked as a correspondent for Alternative Turkmenistan News. In September 2015, Nepeskuliev was apparently sentenced to serve a prison term, prompting the media defense organization Reporters Without Borders to comment, Where exactly is Nepeskuliev now? Has he or has he not been sentenced to three years in jail? Has he had a lawyer? All of these questions remain unanswered. In April 2015, the commander of Russia's military base in Tajikistan said its size would swell to 9,000 troops by 2020. But Russia reversed course last week, saying it will opt for fewer boots on the ground in a country the Kremlin sees as its bulwark against Islamic militants across Tajikistan's long and vulnerable border with Afghanistan. The troop presence at the 201st Military Base, Russia's biggest non-naval military facility beyond its borders, will be downsized from a division to a brigade, a senior Russian general said on January 30. The about-face may seem counterintuitive, coming against the backdrop of repeated Russian warnings that the threat from Afghanistan has grown since the rise of the Islamic State militant group and the pullout of most U.S. and NATO troops. But analysts say it reflects a struggle by the Russian military to build or maintain strength on several fronts while contending with the need to keep costs under control at a time when the collapse in world prices for oil, the country's key export, has hit the economy hard. The effects of Western sanctions imposed to punish Russia for its interference in Ukraine -- including the military occupation and subsequent seizure of Crimea and what Kyiv and NATO say has been ample military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine -- have added to the economic woes. "Running an entire division is too excessive as Russia is facing an economic crisis," Russian military analyst Vladimir Mukhin tells RFE/RL. The military has revealed no numbers and said last week it had not yet decided how many troops would remain in Tajikistan. But Aleksandr Golts and other Russian military analysts say a brigade normally consists of 3,000 to 5,000 military personnel. Not Enough To Go Around It's not just a matter of money, according to Golts. Russia's military is overstretched with its involvement in conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, he says. After supporting the Syrian government with weapons and advisers throughout its war against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia stepped up its military presence in the Middle East state last year and began a bombing campaign on September 30. President Vladimir Putin has put no time limit on Russia's biggest operation outside the former Soviet Union in decades. Kyiv and NATO say that Russia has sent heavy weapons and thousands of troops to eastern Ukraine to support separatists in a war that has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014. Russia denies it despite a growing body of evidence. The seizure of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine have sent tension between Russia and the West skyrocketing. The atmosphere of confrontation is stoked by Kremlin assertions that the United States and NATO are out to weaken Russia or even oust Putin from power. Golts says Russia is focusing more military power in its western borderlands. In January, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would create three new military divisions on its western flank, calling it one of the most important tasks for his ministry in 2016. Keeping Boots On The Ground The new array of imperatives does not mean Russia will forget about Tajikistan, where a contract signed in 2012 allows it to keep the base through 2042, or the surrounding region. Golts says that Central Asia will remain a priority for the Russian military -- a point that the Russian authorities have been at pains to make. The officer who announced the plans to reduce the 201st base to brigade size, General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, was quick to add that "its role as Russia's outpost and as guarantor of peace and stability in the region will remain unchanged." He also announced organizational changes in Russia's smaller military presence in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, where it has an air base, but announced no reductions there. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a security alliance that is one of several groupings Moscow uses to maintain influence in the former Soviet Union and a buffer zone in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. Zarudnitsky said the changes in the two countries were part of broader measures "to optimize the organizational structure" of the military, including its bases abroad. Russia has already pulled its 149th Motorized Rifle Regiment back from the Tajik town of Kulob, just over 40 kilometers from the Afghan border, to the capital, Dushanbe. Mark Galeotti, a professor at New York University and expert on Russian security issues, says the reorganization does not mean Russia has stopped worrying about Afghanistan. "Here in Moscow security circles seem very aware of the potential and growing risks from Afghanistan," Galeotti says by e-mail from the Russian capital. "I suspect it is a combination of a rationalization of assets and also a sense that -- not that they would admit it openly -- maybe Tajikistan is hard to defend and that they also need to be thinking more seriously about a second line of defense along Russia's southern border," he adds. That would fit in with statements made by Zarudnitsky when he announced the shift. He said that in 2015, Russia formed a motorized mountain brigade in the Tuva Republic, an antiaircraft regiment in Krasnodar Krai, and a tank division in Chelyabinsk Oblast. All three regions are on Russia's southern border. Close Ties A smaller, more consolidated Russian military presence in Tajikistan could also reduce the risk of violent incidents -- such as attacks on Tajik civilians by Russian soldiers -- that have added to tensions between the two countries, whose interdependence is sometimes a source of friction. Russia relies on Tajikistan as a buffer, while remittances from Tajik migrants working in Russia have been a key source of money in the much poorer Central Asian country -- though that cash flow has dwindled during the Russian economic downturn. Galeotti says how many troops Russia will maintain in Tajikistan remains to be seen. "I suspect that this plan to shift to brigade strength means [the Russian authorities] may simply say they will not be adding the extra 2,000 troops, claiming they need fewer administrative and command staff, especially with the shutting of Kulob base," he says. Galeotti says that "the deployment to Tajikistan of extra Mi-24P attack and Mi-8MTV assault helicopters last year, and the plans to reequip this brigade, not least with BTR-82A personnel carriers" mean that "even with cuts the Russian force will be more effective." Russia will also help equip and train Tajik troops, part of what Russian media have reported are plans to grant Tajikistan $1.2 billion in military aid in the next few years. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, who has called Tajikistan "an outpost of the CSTO" and said Moscow was "greatly troubled by the situation on the southern frontiers" of the alliance, visited Tajikistan this month and reaffirmed Russia's interest in the country. Tajik Defense Ministry spokesman Faridun Mahmadaliev told reporters that Russian military assistance to Tajikistan and the situation in the Tajik-Afghan border dominated the agenda of February 3 meetings with Antonov. Russia has long voiced alarm about the potential for violence in Afghanistan -- where the Soviet Union fought a disastrous war of occupation for nearly a decade before withdrawing in 1988 -- to spill over into the mostly Muslim countries of former Soviet Central Asia. Inroads by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan and a militant offensive in the country's north last year have added to the concerns. In October, when Taliban militants briefly took over the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, whose province borders Tajikistan, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said he would not rule out reestablishing Russian control over the Tajik-Afghan border. Russian border guards patrolled the mountainous, 1,300-kilometer frontier until 2005. WASHINGTON -- A top U.S. security officer has called on Russia to resume negotiations to further reduce nuclear arsenals. White House national security adviser Susan Rice made the call February 5, on the fifth anniversary of the last arms control treaty to be signed between the two nuclear powers, called New START. The deal, signed by President Barack Obama and then-President Dmitry Medvedev, put a cap of 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed delivery vehicles for both sides. "[We] continue to call on Russia to answer the president's invitation five years ago to begin talks on further reductions to our nuclear arsenals," Rice said in a statement. With tensions between Moscow and Washington at lows not seen since the Cold War, it's unlikely that the two sides would be willing to open negotiations or reach a new deal. Russia and the United States also have major disagreements over other key arms control agreements, such as the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty. NATO says Russian air strikes in Syria are "undermining" UN-mediated peace talks aimed at finding a political solution to end the nearly five-year conflict. "The intense Russia air strikes, mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria, [are] undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on February 5 as he arrived for an EU defense ministers meeting in Amsterdam. "The increased Russia presence, the air activity in Syria, is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace ... violations of NATO airspace," he said. "This creates risks." The peace talks in Geneva broke down earlier this week as Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, launched a new offensive against rebel forces in the northern city of Aleppo. The Syrian army has made significant advances against the rebels around Aleppo and is advancing on the country's largest city. Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP The Moscow offices of TASS, the Russian government news agency, have been searched by unknown law-enforcement officials. TASS spokesman Dmitry Pertsev said the February 5 searches by police were connected to the previous professional activities of one of the agency's employees, but did not disclose the employee's name. Another TASS representative, Natalya Akafyeva, said the searches had nothing to do with the agency's activities. Media reports in Russia cited employees of the Moscow-based Mikhailov and Partners Communications Agency (M&P) as saying that company's offices were raided on February 5 as well. M&P was founded by Sergei Mikhailov, who has been the director of TASS since 2012. In 2004-06, Mikhailov worked as an adviser to Vladimir Yakunin, when he was the president of the state-owned Russian Railways company. Yakunin is a longtime intimate associate and business partner of President Vladimir Putin He is also believed to have worked for the KGB during Soviet times. Yakunin's resignation as head of Russian Railways in August has been seen as a sign of a possible conflict within the Kremlin. Based on reporting by Vedomosti, Business-Gazeta, Rusnovosti and versia.ru Turkish Prime Minister Ahmed Davutoglu will start his two-day visit to Kazakhstan on February 5 amid the ongoing standoff between Turkey and Russia. The diplomatic feud has put Kazakhstan in an awkward position, with Astana enjoying close ties with both countries. The Kazakh presidential press service said Davutoglu is scheduled to discuss bilateral trade, energy issues, and "some important international matters" with Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbaev on February 6. Kazakhstan is a member of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. The Turkish prime minister's visit to Kazakhstan is the first since Ankara-Moscow relations plunged to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War. Turkey shot down a Russian military plane on November 24, resulting in the death of a pilot, after the jet briefly entered Turkish airspace from Syria. Ankara says the pilot ignored several warnings from Turkish ground control about its position. The incident drew strong reaction from Moscow and has led to a breakdown in relations between the two countries. Based on reporting by akorda.kz and KazTag Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Russia of trying to set up a "boutique state" in Syria. Speaking to journalists in Istanbul on February 5, Erdogan said Moscow "must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders." He added that Moscow and Damascus are collectively responsible for 400,000 deaths in Syria. According to UN figures, some 260,000 people have been killed since the civil war in Syria began. Erdogan also said that a recent statement from Moscow that Turkey was planning to invade Syria was "laughable." Meanwhile, the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said the same day that some 15,000 refugees from northern Aleppo have massed on the Turkey-Syria border. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on February 4 that as many as 70,000 refugees from Aleppo are now headed toward Turkey. Tens of thousands of people have fled the city after days of fierce fighting in which government forces cut off the main supply line to the rebels in Aleppo. Russia launched a campaign of air strikes on September 30 that has helped Assad's forces to take control of several key rebel strongholds and has bolstered their assault on Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city. Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters The two U.S. Democratic candidates for president sparred over foreign policy during a debate February 4, and showed particularly sharp differences over Iran. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took issue with socialist Senator Bernie Sanders on restoring diplomatic relations with Tehran now that many economic sanctions have been lifted. Clinton said Sanders is wrong to support normalizing relations with what she called a state sponsor of terrorism that is "destabilizing the region." Normalizing relations immediately would remove one of the biggest levers the United States has to pry concessions from Iran in the future, she said. "You have to get action for action." Sanders said he wouldn't restore relations "tomorrow" but would move toward them. On Russia, Sanders dismissed assessments by the Obama administration that Moscow now poses a graver threat to U.S. security than any other nation. Though he said he dislikes Russia's "military adventurism," he said North Korea poses a bigger threat, calling Korea "an isolated, paranoid country with atomic bombs" that makes it more dangerous than Russia or China. Clinton said "NATO must do more for the common defense" against Russia. The candidates agreed they do not want to see American ground troops deployed to fight in Iraq or Syria. Based on reporting by AP and USA Today Three U.S. Republican lawmakers who are highly critical of Iran applied for visas to visit Tehran and observe this month's elections, inspect nuclear sites, and meet with the Revolutionary Guards. U.S. House members Mike Pompeo, Lee Zeldin and Frank LoBiondo, even as they called Tehran a "fanatical"and "depraved" regime, hand-delivered their applications to the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, and wrote to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, seeking their assistance. "We look forward to seeing Iranian democracy in action" during the February 26 parliamentary elections, they said. Tensions have risen over the elections, with President Hassan Rouhani criticizing moves by hard-liners to exclude thousands of reformist candidates. The U.S. lawmakers said they are seeking to "inspect" sensitive nuclear sites at Parchin, Fordow, and Arak, and requested a briefing by the Revolutionary Guards over the January detention of 10 U.S. Navy sailors. The lawmakers also sought "unmonitored" meetings with Americans still jailed in Iran, and a briefing on recent ballistic missile tests which have prompted U.S. sanctions. No sitting member of Congress is believed to have travelled to Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Based on reporting by AFP and Centre Daily Times The planned withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan will hurt efforts to train Afghan forces, the top NATO military commander in the war-torn country said on February 4. U.S. Army General John Campbell, who is near the end of his tour in Afghanistan and is expected to retire, said plans to draw the U.S. presence of 9,800 troops down to 5,500 would leave "very limited" capacity to support local forces. "To continue to build on the Afghan security forces...we'd have to make some adjustments to that number," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee. Committee chairman John McCain said the reductions would not leave enough troops to train Afghan soldiers as well as perform counterterrorism operations. Campbell said much will depend on how quickly the Afghan forces improve. If they don't, he said, the number of American troops will most likely need to increase. Campbell acknowledged that publicly revealing the troop cuts could allow the enemy to "wait us out." The committee on February 4 approved Campbell's replacement, Army Lieutenant General John Nicholson, and he was later confirmed by the full Senate. Based on reporting by AP and AFP The state Senate voted 27-13 Thursday to back a bill to restore concealed weapon reciprocity, a key part of the gun deal between Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican leaders. Six Democrats voted to back Senate Bill 610, sponsored by Sen. Bryce E. Reeves, R-Spotsylvania. The six are Sens. George L. Barker, D-Fairfax; R. Creigh Deeds, D-Bath; John S. Edwards, D-Roanoke; Lynwood W. Lewis Jr., D-Accomack; J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen, D-Fairfax City and Richard L. Saslaw, D-Fairfax. "The decision by the Attorney General to rescind these reciprocity agreements directly put into jeopardy the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Virginians, particularly the 421,000 Virginians who hold concealed carry handgun permits," Reeves said in a statement. Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced in December that Virginia would stop recognizing concealed carry permits from 25 states. He said those states had weaker laws that did not meet Virginia's standards. Following the Senate vote Thursday on Reeves' bill, Herring said in a statement: "We can make real progress to remove guns from the hands of domestic abusers, but it should not need to come at the price of dangerous or irresponsible people carrying concealed handguns in Virginia. The urgent work of reducing gun violence must continue." Last week two dozen Republican and Democratic officials formally announced the deal that would reverse course on the states plan to sever the concealed carry reciprocity agreements, while taking steps to expand background checks at gun shows and prevent gun-related domestic violence. McAuliffe called the deal - which requires passage of several pieces of legislation - a win for the state that will save lives. Advocates against gun violence, including Andy Parker, the father of slain Roanoke-area television journalist Alison Parker, have criticized the governor over the deal. The deal restores the reciprocity agreements that would have ended Feb. 1. The pact also requires the Virginia State Police to be available at all gun shows to perform voluntary background checks for unlicensed sellers who lack access to the federal background database. The deal also would require anyone subject to a permanent protective order to sell or transfer guns in their possession within 24 hours, a policy aimed at removing guns from domestic violence situations. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. The year was 1901. Queen Victoria died after more than 63 years on the throne. The Wright Brothers had yet to pilot the first powered flight at Kill Devil Hills. Vice President Theodore Roosevelt famously uttered the phrase, Speak softly and carry a big stick, shortly before he succeeded to the presidency following William McKinleys death from an assassins bullet. 1901 was also the last year the Virginia General Assembly failed to elect a Virginia Supreme Court justice who had been previously appointed by a governor of Virginia. As the fracas over Gov. Terry McAuliffes appointment of Justice Jane Marum Roush enters its seventh month, I am hopeful that those who carry a big stick in the General Assembly will pause for a moment and consider the historical significance of ousting a sitting justice from the Virginia Supreme Court for the first time in more than a century. Article VI of the Virginia Constitution reserves for the General Assembly the unique power to elect Supreme Court justices to a full term. Nevertheless, since 1901 the governors of Virginia have made 31 straight interim appointments to the Supreme Court that were all subsequently elected to full terms until Roush. Out of respect for the Virginia tradition of merit-based selection of justices, the independence and stability of the Virginia Supreme Court, and the quality of the individual appointees, political disagreements between governors and the General Assembly have not, heretofore, resulted in any sitting justice being removed from the court. For more than a century, even when control of the General Assembly and the Executive Mansion were held by different parties, the governors appointments to the Supreme Court were all subsequently elected to full terms by the legislature. These gubernatorial appointees include some of Virginias finest justices. Respected observers unanimously agree that Roush is more than qualified to serve, with many contending she is either the best or eminently qualified. But unlike the 31 gubernatorial appointees before her, Roush may lose her seat on the court because of partisan differences between the General Assembly and the governor issues entirely unrelated to her qualifications, conduct and lengthy service to the commonwealth. I find it difficult to believe that the current partisan climate in Richmond is now more contentious and uncivil than at any time over the past 115 years. Roush has had a distinguished 22-year career on the Fairfax Circuit Court, as well as nearly seven months of service on Supreme Court. Her record is lauded on a bipartisan basis, and she is generally considered one of Virginias finest jurists and a strong, hardworking colleague. Given her years of outstanding judicial service (outside the circles of partisan politics), Roush reasonably expected that she would be able to keep the job to which she was appointed, just like every other justice appointed by the governor since 1901. Failing to elect a highly qualified justice already sitting on the court undermines the dignity of the court and the value of service on the bench. It would be a tremendous waste to jettison an experienced and highly regarded jurist. Furthermore, what talented or respected lawyer or jurist would consider accepting a future interim gubernatorial appointment to the Supreme Court after the travails of this episode? This past weekend the General Assembly held a special commemorative session at the capitol building in Colonial Williamsburg. The joint session of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates was the 26th in a series of ceremonial assemblies that began in 1934 with the dedication of the reconstructed capitol on its Colonial-era foundation. In his remarks at the General Assembly session, William & Mary President Taylor Reveley noted, (I)nstitutions that prevail usually take strength from their past. ... The importance of the past as a source of confidence and poise grows with the turmoil of the present. As the General Assembly contemplates the fate of Justice Roush, I hope for a careful consideration of the balance between the prerogative of the legislature and respect for an independent judiciary that best serves the commonwealth and attracts the finest lawyers to public service. If the General Assembly and previous Virginia governors have found common ground on similar appointments since before men flew on planes, lets take strength from that past and elect Roush to a full term on the Supreme Court of Virginia. The last draftees opened the momentous letters in 1972: You are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States. Since then, generations of young men have registered with the Selective Service System, starting when they turn 18 through age 25. Its the law. Young women cant register for the draft even if they want to. A consensus is growing that its time, finally, for women to register. Equality demands it. With all jobs in the military including combat now open to women, its unfair to conscript only men in a national emergency. The Obama administration has not yet decided about changing policy, but two top generals said they personally believe women should register. Senator, I think that all eligible and qualified men and women should register for the draft, Gen. Mark A. Milley, chief of staff of the Army, said Tuesday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. Gen. Robert B. Neller, the Marine Corps commandant, agreed. I do too, said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who had asked the generals opinion. She suggested that if women were required to register, more might see the military as a career option. The all-volunteer force relies on a relatively small group. Only one in four young Americans 18 to 24 qualifies for the military; three in four fail to meet education or physical standards or have disqualifying criminal records. To shrink that pool deprives us of a lot of talent, Neller said. Whether the Pentagons decision to open 220,000 jobs to women could hurt the military is a concern in some quarters. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., fears standards will be lowered if women fail rigorous training programs. For example, 29 female Marine officers have attempted, but not passed, the infantry officer course. I dont see how we can guarantee that in the future, these standards will not be diminished, Wicker said. While most people hope the draft will never again be needed, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., a Korean War combat veteran in the Army, favors reinstating it. Others on Capitol Hill favor abolishing the Selective Service and registration altogether. Congress has been cool to both. President Bill Clinton, who worked to avoid the draft as a young man, in 1995 called the Selective Service a relatively low-cost insurance policy. The idea is to deter threats and show that the United States has the means and will to defend itself. Whether women should be conscripted, though, has long been debated. Near the end of World War II, when nearly 400,000 women enlisted in the military, a nurse shortage prompted President Franklin Roosevelt to call for a bill to draft nurses. The House approved but the Senate balked. The war ended, making the subject moot. After Vietnam, peacetime draft registration stopped. On Feb. 8, 1980, President Jimmy Carter, reacting to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, announced that he was sending Congress a plan to register men and women for the draft, should one become necessary. There is no distinction possible, on the basis of ability or performance, that would allow me to exclude women from an obligation to register, Carter said. He stressed that women were not in units likely to experience close combat and he had no intention of changing that policy. Congress restarted registration for men only. A case challenging the exclusion of women went to the Supreme Court. In Rostker v. Goldberg, the court upheld the policy, saying it did not violate the Due Process Clause. With women restricted from combat, men and women were not similarly situated with regard to registration, the court ruled. Other cases challenging men-only registration are currently making their way through the courts. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter expects Congress to decide whether women should register for the draft. It goes back to the need to think generations ahead, he said Wednesday. The best military in the future will need to reach into the largest pool of people. Resistance to registering women for the draft likely will come from both the left and the right. Of course, the idea of parity probably sounds great until youre putting your daughter on a bus to boot camp, Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council, wrote on the groups site. During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama tried to have it both ways. He favored registering women for military service, he said, although, I dont agree with the draft. But it never hurts to be prepared and to share the burden of service. It looks like nothing was found at this location. Maybe try a search? Search for: Search A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. This Position Is Closed to New Applicants This position is no longer open for new applications. Either the position has expired or was removed because it was filled. However, there are thousands of other great jobs to be found on Rigzone. Cox Communications and Nexstar Broadcasting Group reached an agreement Thursday after a weeklong battle over how much money Cox must pay to carry Nexstar stations across the country. Cox and Nexstar, the Texas-based company that owns two Roanoke TV stations, couldnt agree on a contract extension, so Cox could not carry Nexstar stations in markets that include Roanoke, Las Vegas and Phoenix, as well as stations in Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida. Now that the bitter impasse is over, 13 stations across nine markets were expected to be back on air late Thursday. Viewers in the Roanoke-Lynchburg market tuning into shows such as American Idol or The Flash on television stations WWCW/WXFR (channels 21 and 27) have been left in the dark. Cox customers lost access to Nexstar stations programming when an agreement expired. Nexstar wanted the cable giant to pay more to carry its programming, but Atlanta-based Cox balked at the costs. Before this weeks rare deadlock, Nexstar successfully negotiated more than 1,200 retransmission agreements over the past 11 years without a material disruption of service in that time, the company said in a statement Thursday. The companies did not disclose the terms of the agreement. The face of Glenvar High School may have changed, but the feeling of community within its walls has not. After a lengthy renovation, made more difficult by inclement weather over the last year, the school is now finished. Nearly 18 months of planning went into designing and modernizing the school. The architects met with teachers a little over a year ago and gave them an opportunity to share ideas they had for their space, said Principal Joe Hafey. The architects really listened to the teachers input and incorporated many of these suggestions into their designs." A lot of attention to detail went into planning Glenvars new special education wing. An example of this is seen in the cork flooring that runs throughout the classroom, chosen to lessen the impact of bumps and stumbles. Life skills are vital to the core curriculum for these dozen students so the two education suites were designed with that in mind. In addition to the standard classroom setting, a full kitchen and designated laundry area was added to assist with teaching home-keeping skills. A large, handicapped-accessible bathroom now has showers large enough to accommodate not only the student, but also their teacher or aide, if needed. The best part of this room is outside access, said Hafey, pointing to the door leading to a gated and protected courtyard in which the students can play and ride their bikes. In the spring, landscaping will be done and include small shade trees. The special education teachers were given the green light to move into the space at noon on a Monday and by 1:30 p.m. were teaching there. English teacher Tara Rowland, also the adviser over the yearbook staff, is not only thrilled with her roomy new classroom, but also the attached computer lab created to accommodate the extracurricular activity. Its so nice for the [yearbook] staff to have their own space, said Rowland. The hallway entrance allows students to come and go without interrupting a class in session. Senior and yearbook co-editor Hannah Truslow said with a laugh, Its great not be shoved in the back of the English room anymore; we have our own work space. The consumer sciences department also got an impressive overhaul. Four kitchen areas, complete with modern stainless steel appliances and spacious work areas were designed so the teacher could stand in the center of the room and provide instruction and supervision. Overhead retractable electrical outlets were installed in the other half of the room so that many students could use home-keeping appliances, such as sewing machines, without the hazard of tripping over cords. The science department is impressive in its own right. Six modern labs are divided into classroom/lecture space and experimental work space. This not only allows students to work independently, but also for lab experiments to be set up all day. Each lab is fitted with a fume hood that exhausts toxic fumes and gasses and provides for a larger spectrum of experimentation. A prep room is shared between two labs. Each prep room has ample storage, a refrigerator to keep necessary elements cool and a dishwasher to properly sanitize tools and equipment. Since much science is learned from being outside, a gated outdoor classroom has been added, complete with landscaped raised beds, giving students the opportunity to get their hands dirty for the sake of learning. Likewise, a state-of-the-art greenhouse has been added to give students the opportunity to learn everything from botany to hydroponics. Teacher work space has also been given an upgrade. Each academic department has its own workroom, complete with a printer/copier a necessary convenience for teachers today. A kitchenette with modern, stainless steel appliances allows teachers to have a brief respite for lunch or planning. The arts band, choir and theater are now grouped together and located in close proximity to the new auditorium. The spacious band room, formerly the boiler room, now has double doors that lead directly to the outside for marching band practice or game performances. Storage rooms have been added to house instruments, uniforms and music. The choir room, once part of the old cafeteria, was designed with acoustics in mind, making even conversation melodic. Hidden, retractable wall storage was installed to keep music organized and out of sight. The theater department was given a most professional upgrade. Now located directly off the auditorium stage is a classroom and storage space for costuming. Youll have to excuse our mess, said theater teacher Steve Franco. We are trying to unbox two years! Newly added dressing rooms, complete with the traditional lighted mirrors, give students the feeling of really being on Broadway. Principal Hafey praised his staff, saying, Our teaching staff has spent an inordinate amount of time here over Christmas break; they really have gone above and beyond! He noted also that students were wide-eyed upon arriving back to school. They really have been respectful of the space, said Hafey. The students, too, have been active in the move, volunteering to carry boxes and help unpack, among other jobs. Glenvar High School is about 99 percent complete, with only small cosmetic finishes such as painting and landscaping left to do. An open house in being planned for the community at large in the spring when everything is completed. This truly has been a labor of love; everybody has been so invested in this process, said Hafey, himself a 1974 Glenvar graduate. This is more than a building; this is about preserving a culture for generations of students to come. COVID-19 drove a dramatic increase in the number of women who died from pregnancy or childbirth complications in the U.S. last year, a crisis that has disproportionately claimed Black and Hispanic women as victims. A government report released Wednesday lays out grim trends across the country for expectant mothers and their newborn babies. It finds that pregnancy-related deaths have spiked nearly 80 percent since 2018, with COVID-19 being a factor in a quarter of the 1,178 deaths reported last year. The percentage of preterm and low birthweight babies also went up last year, after holding steady for years. And more pregnant or postpartum women are reporting symptoms of depression. On Sunday, First Presbyterian Church will change its moniker to First Evangelical Presbyterian Church after finalizing negotiations with the branchs previous denomination, which members voted to leave in October. The name change is part of the congregations formal alignment with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. First Presbyterian is among hundreds of churches that decided to leave the mainline Presbyterian Church (USA) because of progressive policies adopted by the national Presbyterian church. Such issues include allowing pastors to conduct ceremonies for same-sex couples, ordaining gay clergy, and reproductive rights. About 80 percent of the churchs active members who voted on Oct. 18 were in favor of leaving. The vote was accepted by the churchs governing elders and later approved by Presbytery of the Peaks. As yet, we arent certain the exact number of those who were opposed whether they will continue with the majority or seek membership elsewhere, pastor Bob Smith said in a written statement Friday. Over the course of our 165 years of ministry in the valley First church planted nine other congregations, six of whom remain within the PCUSA fold. So, there are several options available for those who desire to stay within the denomination. Negotiations for the historic churchs gracious dismissal went on for more than two years, according to a news release from the church. As part of the settlement, First Presbyterian will maintain control of its church building but will pay the Presbytery of the Peaks $800,000 over the next 10 years and surrender the title to the churchs manse. There is a great sense of relief throughout the entire congregation that this very long process has come to an amicable conclusion, Smith wrote. It was four years ago that our elders began to weigh the issue of realignment and three years ago this Sunday that we began to interact with Presbytery representatives towards reaching that goal. Smith said attendees would notice few changes to the service Sunday, as the churchs theological mission has remained much the same. It has long been our goal in worship to do all within our power to lead people to the throne of God and to teach them how to offer to Him all of the honor and glory due to His Name, to keep the proclamation of the infallible Word of God central and to call people to a life-changing commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord, Smith wrote. We will continue to focus on doing that to the best of our ability. RICHMOND Legislation to establish a state policy on where tolls may be imposed and how they are collected cruised through a House committee Thursday, but an attempt to find a compromise over tolls on a portion of Interstate 66 remains under construction. The House Transportation Committee voted 15-4 to approve legislation proposed by House Appropriations Chairman Chris Jones, R-Suffolk, whose committee will consider it next for potential effects on the state budget. The committee also voted unanimously to approve a companion bill that would authorize Virginia to negotiate reciprocity agreements with Maryland and other states to collect an estimated $21 million in unpaid tolls by motorists using the multistate E-ZPass system. Four Northern Virginia Republicans voted against the tolling policy bill, citing the position taken by Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford County, and the House GOP caucus during political campaigning last fall to oppose any tolls on I-66 inside of the Capital Beltway without widen-ing a portion of the road first. My concern is not what the bill does; its what it doesnt do, said Del. Jim LeMunyon, R-Fairfax County, who introduced H.B. 1 last year to block tolls on I-66 inside the Beltway. LeMunyons bill continues to idle in the Transportation Committee as he searches for a compromise with Jones and state transportation officials concerned about the proposed prohibitions harm to the states top transportation priority to widen I-66 outside of the Beltway. If the bill survives scrutiny in the Transportation Committee, it too is likely to end up in Appropriations, where its supporters fear for its fate. Should LeMunyons bill die, there is nothing to stop tolling inside the Beltway, warned Del. Tim Hugo, R-Fairfax County, who voted against the state toll legislation, H.B. 1069, because the prohibition was not part of it. Some do die along the way, and some get better with age, responded Jones, who also reminded the committee that bills often are referred to Appropriations because you have to pay for them. The battle over tolls in Northern Virginia has implications for the entire state, especially Hampton Roads, which is still smarting from a deal that Gov. Bob McDonnell cut in 2012 with a private partnership to expand and renovate the Midtown and Downtown tunnels between Norfolk and Portsmouth with escalating tolls that would have begun before construction. The Midtown-Downtown tunnel deal was the impetus for Jones proposal, which generally would prohibit tolls on highways without General Assembly approval, but Hugo contended that the legislation would allow the same thing to happen on lanes of I-66 and other Northern Virginia interstates. Jones disagreed because the pending state plan to relieve congestion on I-66 inside the Beltway would apply tolls only to drivers of single-occupant vehicles that cant use the road now during rush hour unless they are driving hybrid vehicles that are currently exempt. In contrast, access to the Downtown and Midtown tunnels was unrestricted and untolled prior to the state public-private partnership deal with Elizabeth River Crossings, Jones said. Jones called his toll legislation part of a natural progression in reforming the states transportation funding system. It began with the passage of a landmark package of state and regional transportation taxes in 2013, followed the next year by legislation to require strict grading of proposed projects by need instead of political influence, and last year by sweeping reforms of the public-private transportation partnership law and the state funding formula. Washington and Lee University has settled a lawsuit filed by a former student who claimed he was unfairly kicked out of school based on an allegation of sexual assault. The student, who was identified only as John Doe in court records, had challenged a campus judicial proceeding that led to his expulsion. W&L and the student have compromised and settled all matters in controversy, according to a motion filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Lynchburg. Both sides are asking Judge Norman Moon to dismiss the case. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Last April, Moon denied a motion by the university to throw the case out, saying that the allegations made in the lawsuit, if taken as true, suggest that W&Ls disciplinary procedures, at least when it comes to charges of sexual misconduct, amount to a practice of railroading accused students. In a statement posted Friday on its website, W&L defended its in-house judicial system as fair and equitable. Does lawsuit asserted that the odds were stacked against him during a hearing before the Student Faculty Hearing Board a process that he argued was slanted to favor female accusers over male defendants. For one thing, he claimed, a university administrator who handled the investigation in November 2014 recently had given a talk on campus about regret equals rape, or the argument that what first passes for a consensual sexual experience later can be called a rape by a woman who has second thoughts. Does alleged victim heard those comments, the lawsuit alleged, and was influenced by them in her decision to bring charges seven months after their sexual encounter. And in alleging a rush to judgment by the disciplinary board, Doe pointed out that the decision to expel him was made one day after the publication of a Rolling Stone story since discredited about an alleged gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity house. The article prompted a national outcry against what it portrayed as UVas culture of indifference to rape victims. The negative impact of the Rolling Stone article on UVa influenced W&Ls decision to find the plaintiff responsible for sexual assault so as to avoid a similar fate, the lawsuit alleged. The case had been scheduled to go to trial in April. In a statement posted to its website, W&Ls general counsel wrote that the school has maintained that its officials adhered to its policies and procedures and did not conduct a gender-biased investigation or process with respect to the complaint against John Doe. After extensive discovery, the parties acknowledge that Lauren Kozak, the Universitys Title IX coordinator who also served as one of the investigators for the allegations against John Doe, discharged her obligations professionally at all times in this matter and did nothing to the prejudice of John Doe, either by her statements or actions, the statement read. The lawsuit claimed that Kozak was the school official who made the regret equals rape comment an allegation that she denied through court filings. Washington and Lee University is committed to providing fair and equitable policies and procedures for all students in the context of Title IX and federal regulations and guidance, the statement read. Lawyers for Doe did not return calls Friday. Doe has maintained that he and the student had sex that not only was consensual, but was initiated by her after they met at a party and wound up back in his room. His lawsuit states that she never complained about the sexual encounter, or a second one a month later, until after he began dating another woman later in the school year. The lawsuit was filed amid heightened awareness of sexual assaults on U.S. college campuses and how they are handled by in-house disciplinary systems. Such tribunals are governed by Title IX, a federal law that prohibits gender-based discrimination, harassment or assault against students at schools and universities that receive federal funding. While there has been a push to better protect victims of sexual assault, some critics say that has produced a backlash against male students. At least 110 lawsuits have been brought nationwide claiming that campus disciplinary systems are biased or otherwise flawed, according to A Voice for Male Students, an advocacy group. In addition to seeking an unspecified sum of money, Doe asked in his lawsuit that he be reinstated to W&L. Craig Wood, an attorney who represented the school, said privacy laws prevented him from saying whether that request was granted as part of the settlement. When the lawsuit was first filed, the student was allowed to proceed under the pseudonym of John Doe. Making his name public would have caused additional harm to his reputation, his lawyers said at the time. The alleged victim never pursued criminal charges in the case, which would have publicly identified Doe. W&Ls campus judicial proceedings are confidential. It was unclear Friday how Does anonymity would have been maintained had his civil case gone to trial. January 26 was a day I have been waiting decades to see. Botetourt County granted a permit allowing Apex Energy to proceed with plans for Virginias first wind farm ("Botetourt Co. OKs wind farm permit," Jan. 27 news story). The North Mountain site, named Rocky Forge, is as close to perfect as it gets. Viewshed impact is a concern of some. If we are to benefit from any of the vast wind resource available on the higher ridge tops of the Appalachians, visibility cannot outweigh the more pressing issues of environmental stewardship and economics. It is time for Virginia to enter the modern age, and it is time to celebrate and express our support and gratitude to Botetourt County and Apex Energy. Lets look at the big picture. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), in its U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter Market Report tells us we now have enough wind power online in the U.S. to generate electricity for 19 million typical homes. We ended the year with 74,472 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity installed, edging closer to powering 5 percent of the whole U.S. grid. The fourth quarter of 2015 was the second strongest quarter in history, seeing more wind power installations in those three months than in all of 2014. Future prospects are very encouraging. Over 9,400 MW of wind power are already under construction, and another 4,900 MW are in advanced stages of development. Wind power is on track to create many thousands more jobs, deliver the low-cost solution to cutting carbon pollution and help states meet the Clean Power Plan while saving families money on their electric bills. DAN CRAWFORD ROANOKE Theyre listening to these patients, and the people who stand to gain a lot financially from opiates, instead of taking notice of the evidence, said Jane Ballantyne, a University of Washington physician and expert in pain medicine whos president of the advocacy group Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing. Ever since the FDA first approved the powerful and addictive painkiller OxyContin in 1995, the drug has been controversial because of its potential for abuse. Last year, the agency generated concern and comment again when it approved the drug for use in patients as young as 11 years old. That decision was the driving force behind the holds on Califfs nomination by Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Democratic Sen. Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Joe Manchin III of West Virginia. The issue also factored into a hold by Democratic presidential contender Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt. The FDA last week announced changes to its system for evaluating opioids, including convening independent advisory committees for new opioid drugs that do not have abuse-deterrent properties, strengthening its post-market reporting requirements for manufacturers and adding warnings and safety information to labeling requirements. LORRAINE Hansberrys play boils with the angry politics of class and race at a time when the United States stood on the edge of the civil rights movement being born in the 1960s. The title comes from a poem by black American poet Langston Hughes, who captured perfectly the tension in a society where people's hopes and ideals are constantly frustrated: What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore - And then run? Does it stink like rotten mat? Or crust and sugar over like a syprupy sweet. Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. Or does it explode? Set in Southside, Chicago in 1959, Hansberry, who died tragically young, was the first to write about black working class people. We really care about her characters as we switch from the comedy to the impending, inevitable, disaster before the upliftingly defiant ending. Both acting and direction in Eclipse Theatre Companys touring production is superb. The Youngers live in a small cockroach-infested apartment where three generations crowd together. Walter Lee (Ashley Zhangazha) works long dreary hours as a chauffeur and wants to open a liquor store. His wife Ruth (Alisha Bailey) is worn out cleaning other peoples houses and wants her marriage to be as happy as it once was. Their son Travis is trapped between their anxieties and love, their not wanting him under their feet and not wanting him out on the street. Beneatha (Susan Wokoma), Walters sister, is a wonderfully independent young woman. She is heading for medical school and is so strong and self-assured she wants to take on the world. She talks about Africa, knows its colonial history and rejects god and the assimilationist music, jazz and doo-wop on the radio. The whole family is waiting for a 10,000 dollar insurance payout their mother, Lena (Angela Winter), is to receive from the death of her husband. She can see that Walter Lee is getting desperate and believes that she can save her family by buying a house. She also knows that the only one they can afford is in a white neighbourhood and the welcoming committee wants to keep them out. Hansberry was the person for whom the expression young, gifted and black was coined and her play was the first by a black woman to reach Broadway. Her own well-off family had moved into a white neighbourhood, forcing and winning an anti-segregation case. The writer who worked on Paul Robesons newspaper Freedom and met her white Jewish activist husband on a picket line clearly sets out the case for social justice. Its an explosive mix which still resonates powerfully today. ALL THE blood, sweat and tears of the Great Miners Strike are captured magnificently by Rotherham actor Danny Mellor in his stunning one-man play. Powerful and uncompromising, Undermined, which lasts just 50 minutes, is based on true stories and directed by Ben Butcher. Its a tribute to the calibre of both writing and acting that the young Wath-born Mellor earned a deserved standing ovation from former striking miners and activists at the end of this benefit performance for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. Undermined is told through young miner Dale. The 27-year-old Mellors grandad was a miner and his portrayal of Dale and his striking mates is compellingly authentic and totally believable. The tightly-worded script reflects the hours of research Mellor spent talking to ex-miners about their experiences at Orgreave and colliery picket lines during the epic, roller-coaster 12-month strike, which for many is still remembered as the best year of their life. Mellor, who studied drama at Hull University then acting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, understands what the strike was about and manages to bring to life all the vivid reality of the human drama that unfolded. Men and women united to fight for their jobs and communities, contrasting that unique pit humour and wit with moments of sadness and poignancy. The play cleverly switches sharply from comedy to tragedy. So amidst the vicious police attacks on miners at the Battle of Orgreave, Dale realises the redness dripping from him is not blood but a paintbomb brought by one of his group as part of a daft plan. And when one of them is chased by police through Asda, he retorts: Never shopping there again. But when Dale returns home he is appalled by news reports biased against the pickets. Like many children or grandchildren of striking miners, Mellor shows a visceral anger at Margaret Thatcher - who branded miners the enemy within - and disgust at the medias coverage of the strike. He says he wrote Undermined because he has always been fascinated how this once strong industry that was mining could just disappear from sight. The set is bare and Mellor simply uses a denim jacket to indicate the time of year or location, while the 80s music tells its own story of changing times and shifts in mood from the excitement at the start of the strike to the emotion of the return to work at the end. Minor quibbles are that the role of women is not developed and its not shown how close the strike came to winning. But Mellor triumphs in his final rhyming monologue which sees Dale staring into the audience to ask: When its your turn will you answer the call? Belgiums polished diamond exports dropped 9.4 percent to $13.07 billion in 2015 as the global trade took a beating during the year, according to the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC). By volume, exports fell 7.1 percent to 6 million carats, while the average price dipped 2.4 percent to $2,251 per carat. Among Belgiums main trading partners, polished exports to the U.S. declined 9.5 percent to $3.59 billion and to Hong Kong exports slid by 2.7 percent to $3.46 billion. Exports to Israel slumped 23 percent to $1.25 billion and shipments to India dived 27 percent to $476.7 million. The global diamond industry took a beating this year, AWDC chief executive officer Ari Epstein said in a statement February 1. Thanks to our strong foundations and ability to be agile and adopt innovative new technologies, Antwerp has succeeded in safeguarding its world-leading position with regard to rough as well as polished diamonds. Antwerp will consequently emerge from this downturn in a position of strength, poised for a profitable year ahead. Total polished imports to Belgium declined 8.4 percent to $12.65 billion during the year as net polished exports, representing exports minus imports, dived 31 percent to $415.8 million. Rough imports slumped 25 percent to $11.13 billion and rough exports declined 27 percent to $11.5 billion. Net rough imports, representing imports minus exports, went from negative $744.3 million to negative $371.6 million during the year. Belgiums 2015 net diamond account, representing total polished and rough exports minus total imports, declined 41 percent to $787.4 million. The net diamond account represents the estimated value addition that the diamond trade provided the country's economy. During December, polished exports declined 8.3 percent to $995.3 million, while polished imports fell 11 percent to $819.6 million. Rough imports fell 18 percent to $844.7 million, while rough exports dropped 9.5 percent to $1.1 billion. Belgiums net diamond account grew 24 percent to $430.5 million during the month. World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) President Ernie Blom has congratulated Honorary WFDB President Shmuel Schnitzer on his election this week as the new Chairman of the Israel Diamond Institute (IDI). Blom said it is critical during challenging times for the global industry that experienced and well-known industry figures continue to play a role in leading its major organisations. "I would like to congratulate Shmuel not only on his election, but also for his willingness to continue to provide his vast knowledge and experience of our industry for the benefit of the trade," said Blom. "Shmuel has only just finished his fourth term overall as President of the Israel Diamond Exchange and has also served as WFDB President. He is now serving as the Chairman of the WFDB's Trade and Business Committee and his knowledge of the issues is invaluable. It is not always easy to find the time to serve the industry, but Shmuel has the concept of public service built into him and has always been willing to help the Israeli and global diamond trade." "It is all the more important for diamond industry figures like Shmuel to continue to play a role as head of a trade body due to the challenging conditions facing the diamond business. I look forward to being able to call on Shmuel's assistance in the coming years and I applaud him for taking on another big industry challenge. The Israeli diamond industry will benefit hugely from having him as head of the IDI," Blom added. Botswana said that it recorded a trade deficit of BWP 1,9 billion last November due to the low exportation of rough diamonds from the aggregation process. Diamonds contribute about 30 percent of Botswanas GDP and 75 percent of its export revenues. Statistics Botswana said that total exports were valued at BWP 2,3 billion during the period under review, a decrease of 50.3 percent from the previous months BWP4, 7 billion. As a result of rough diamonds from the aggregation process not being exported on a monthly basis, fluctuations in the value of total exports are observed. Values are high during the months when rough diamonds from the aggregation process are exported and are low when there is insignificant exportation from the aggregation process, it said. Meanwhile, data presented by Statistics Botswana, showed that the country exported diamonds worth BWP1,4 billion during the month of November compared to BWP 5 billion realized a year earlier. Botswana Finance Minister Kenneth Matambo indicated beginning of this month that the countrys budget deficit had widened to 3.8 percent of gross domestic product in the fiscal year beginning April 1 due to weak diamond exports. The shortfall of 6.05 billion pula ($530 million) compares with a deficit of 4.2 billion pula, or 2.8 percent of GDP in the year ending March 31. This was the first deficit in four years, according to Bloomberg. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Lucara Diamond, which indicated last month that Botswana citizens will be given an opportunity to name the 1,100+ carat Type IIa diamond recovered from Karowe mine last November, said the naming is set for the second week of February. The gem quality diamond was the largest diamond ever recovered in Botswana and the second largest ever in the world. It measures 65mm x 56mm x 40mm in size and was the largest ever to be recovered in Botswana. Lucara said in a brief statement emailed to Rough & Polished that the contest had attracted over 11,000 entries. Company chief executive William Lamb said last month that Botswanas minister of minerals energy and water resources, Kitso Mokaila had suggested that Batswana should name the stone. He said then that this was an opportunity for every Botswana citizen to come up with a name that was significant and meaningful both in terms of the stone and the peculiarity of its discovery. Lamb said the unearthing of the gemstone emphasises the quality of mineral resource which Botswana has. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in some other regions where extremists are perpetrating genocide of Christians, requires immediate action and even closer cooperation between Christian churches.In the current tragic situation, we need to put aside internal disagreements and join efforts to save Christianity in the regions where it is subjected to most severe persecution, Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the Russian Orthodox Churchs Foreign Relations Department said. The meeting has been in preparation for two decades and both Moscow and the Vatican agreed that some neutral country would be most suited for it. Francis will fly to Cuba before traveling on to Mexico for a six-day tour of the country. Patriarch Kirill is scheduled to arrive next Thursday in Havana for an 11-day tour of South America. News Corp. (NWS) announced earnings for the second quarter that fell sharply from last year. Results at the media giant were hurt by a challenging market for print advertising. The company reported net income of $62 million, or $0.15 per share. This was down from $142 million, or $0.27 per share, in the same period last year. Revenues for the quarter slipped 4 percent to $2.16 billion compared to $2.26 billion in the same period last year. The slide was led by an 8 percent retreat in its news and information services unit. The company blamed negative foreign currency exchange fluctuations and a decline in revenues at its News America Marketing unit for a significant portion of the decline. The top-line slide was partially offset by a sharp rise at its digital real estate services division, where revenues were up 35 percent. However, this is relatively small part of the company, bringing in about one-seventh of the revenue of the news unit. Along with the growth of the real estate , anchored by realtor.com, the company said it is focused on cost reductions to streamline operations at its newspapers in Australia and the U.K. "News Corp is evolving rapidly into a more digital and increasingly global company with a diverse revenue mix that we believe will drive long-term growth in profits and shareholder returns," Chief Executive Robert Thomson said in response to the latest results. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Cabinet office is set to release Japan's leading economic indicators data for December at 12:00 am ET Friday. The leading index is expected to show a flash score of 102.7, down from 103.5 in November. Ahead of the data, the yen rose against its major rivals. As of 11:55 pm ET in the Asian deals, the yen was trading at 130.63 against the euro, 169.97 against the pound, 117.37 against the Swiss franc and 116.69 against the U.S. dollar. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Forex News Just days before the New Hampshire primary, the results of a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll show Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., holding on to a big lead over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The poll found that 58 percent of likely Democratic primary voters support Sanders, while 38 percent favor Clinton. The 20-point advantage for Sanders is essentially unchanged from a poll released last week showing the Senator with a 57 percent to 38 percent lead. Marist said Sanders is ahead among almost all key voting groups, with particularly strong support among the state's younger likely Democratic primary voters. "As their rivalry intensifies, Sanders and Clinton are turning up the heat," said Dr. Lee M. Miringoff, Director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion. "But, so far in New Hampshire, it's all Sanders as Clinton faces an uphill fight." The poll results were released ahead of Thursday night's debate between Sanders and Clinton, which saw the candidates step up their attacks on one another following a virtual dead heat in the Iowa caucuses. The NBC/WSJ/Marist survey of 567 likely Democratic primary voters was conducted February 2nd and 3rd and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. (Photo Credit: Michael Vadon) For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Colonel Sanders. Deion Sanders. Bernie Sanders. It's hard to keep track of these guys. In an awkward situation, Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former president Bill Clinton and presidential candidate Hilary Clinton, made a verbal slip when she accidentally referred to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as "President Sanders." Clinton was speaking at a campaign event in Eden Prairie with her mother's supporters in Minnesota when she made the slip. She was persuading the supporters that her mother Hilary Clinton was a superior democratic candidate. "I hope not 'President' Sanders!' " Clinton said. But she quickly corrected herself after a roar of laughter from the audience. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com More Political Blogs After the Iowa Democratic caucuses finished in a virtual dead heat earlier this week, the results of a new Quinnipiac University poll show former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in a statistical tie nationally. The poll found that 44 percent of Democrats support Clinton, while 42 percent prefer Sanders. Clinton's slim two-point lead is well within the poll's margin of error. The latest results compare to a Quinnipiac poll conducted in December that showed Clinton with a 61 percent to 30 percent lead. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. However, it is worth noting the new Quinnipiac poll is the only major survey to thus far show such a close national race. The RealClearPolitics average of national polls shows Clinton with a much more substantial 50.5 percent to 37.2 percent lead. Political observers will be looking to other national polls conducted after the Iowa caucuses to see if they back up the surge in support for Sanders. On the Republican side, the Quinnipiac poll showed real estate tycoon Donald Trump remains in the lead nationally at 31 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., comes in second at 22 percent, followed closely by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., at 19 percent. Six percent support Dr. Ben Carson, but no other candidate tops 3 percent. The results are similar to the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, which show Trump at 33.2 percent, Cruz at 20.7 percent and Rubio at 13.3 percent. Meanwhile, Quinnipiac said the results show Sanders and Rubio are the strongest candidates in potential general election matchups. "In mano a mano, or mano a womano, face-offs with all contenders, Sanders and Rubio would be the candidates left standing," Malloy said. The Quinnipiac poll of 1,125 registered voters was conducted February 2nd through 4th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The survey included 507 Republicans with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points and 484 Democrats with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. (Photo Credit: Marc Nozell) For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News : . 506 505 701 . 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 ... 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 Ex-officer was a churchgoer, family man. Police say he may be a serial rapist. The Allen family lived on the northwest side of Hutchinson, less than two miles from Rice Park, where several women said they were accosted. How many voices in our materialist society tell us that happiness is to be found by acquiring as many possessions and luxuries as we can? But this is to make possessions into a false god. Instead of bringing life, they bring death. - Pope Benedict XVI "This past Wednesday I was in part of the hospital that was devoted to people who have memory problems like my father. The people here may have no idea who I am but they light up at the sight of a collar. People who cannot carry on a conversation click on and join in prayer as if there were little wrong with them, their faces relaxing in this moment of peace amidst the chaos of illness." - Fr. Valencheck "The priest's life is not his own. He does not live it for himself and his personal fulfillment, but for the salvation of souls." - Fr. Richtsteig "I am convinced that if we simply follow the liturgical books, say the texts and carry out the gestures properly, in a style continuous with our tradition, the Churchs liturgy has power the capture minds and hearts and transform them. I starting forming this conviction before I became a Catholic through my experience of Novus Ordo Masses done in an entirely Roman traditional style, closely following the books. The late Msgr. Richard Schuler would eventually articulate to me in words what I was experiencing in the church. "Just do what the Council asked do what the Church asks." Why is worship well executed according to the mind of the Church so effective? Christ is the true Actor in the sacred action of the Churchs worship. He makes our hands and voices His own as He raises our petitions and offerings to the Father for His glory and our salvation. Christs Holy Church has determined the way by which we may have this encounter with mystery in the liturgy, be taken up in the sacred action. Pope Benedict addresses this in his highly ignored Sacramentum caritatis. He teaches sacred ministers about ars celebrandi, our purpose and comportment. We must learn to get out of His way. Although we have the right to our Rite celebrated as the Church desires, liturgy is not about me or us or even you in the pews." - Fr. 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and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe By Peggy Kelly Santa Paula News Santa Paula Police arrested an area man Saturday for allegedly carrying a knife, loaded handgun, methamphetamine and a pipe known commonly used to smoke the illegal substance. According to SPPD Sgt. Jeremy Watson, the January 30 incident occurred about 9:50 p.m. when an officer observed a Male subject riding a bicycle on the wrong side of the roadway in the 100 block of East Ventura Street The man was riding the bicycle also without a properly mounted white headlamp, both violations of the California Vehicle Code, which also governs bicyclists. Watson said the officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on the subject, later identified as Jose Antonio Vargas, 28, of Santa Paula. The officer found Vargas was in possession of a knife, which Watson said the officer retrieved for safety purposes. Santa Paula News The Ventura County Area Agency on Aging has named Jannette Jauregui as public information officer. Jauregui began her duties on January 4 at the Agencys Ventura office. A native of Santa Paula, Jauregui comes to the VCAAA with 15 years of experience in the field of journalism. She began her career writing for the Ventura County Star in 2001. She published her first story at just 19, beginning a 12-year relationship with the newspaper as the author of a column titled, Of War and Life. The column led Jauregui to the publication of two of her three books, Ventura County Veterans: World War II to Vietnam, and Of War and Life: A Decade of Stories. In 2007, Jauregui travelled to Normandy, France, to participate in an independent film production, Let Freedom Ring, which focused on the first-hand accounts of the American and French experience of the D-Day invasion. In 2013, she designed an exhibit for the California Oil Museum in Santa Paula. Named for her second book, Of War and Life: A Decade of Stories, the exhibit featured original memorabilia from World War II, the Korean conflict, and Vietnam. In addition to her work as a columnist, Jauregui has held positions in media relations at California Lutheran University, as writer and editor for the Pepperdine University School of Law, and as an adjunct lecturer in CLUs Communication Department. She spent two years working as an intern, production assistant, and associate producer for NBCs TODAY in both the New York and Los Angeles bureaus, assisting with the production and coverage of a variety of segments including Tom Brokaws 2008 D-Day special, the death of Michael Jackson, and the 2010 Academy Awards. Glen Dale, WV -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/05/2016 -- Best Business Strategies, a Sage North America business partner specializing in the sales, installation, and support of Sage 50 Accounting software, has been named to the Sage North America President's Circle for the 2014-2015 business year. President's Circle award winners are the top performing business partners for Sage products. Sage recognizes Shirley Byard, Diamond Master Certified Consultant and owner of Best Business Strategies, and all President's Circle winners for their outstanding contributions in 2014-2015. "We recognize Best Business Strategies for their commitment to being customer-centric, which has deservedly earned them the Sage North America President's Circle Award," said Rich Spring, executive vice president and chief revenue officer for Sage North America. "Congratulations to the entire team at Best Business Strategies for this feat!" Shirley recently returned from the Phoenician resort in Scottsdale, Arizona where a ceremony was held to honor her outstanding commitment and customer service. Shirley would like to see more small businesses open in the Ohio Valley. "Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. As a resident of the Ohio Valley, I feel it is important for small businesses to prosper because they contribute to the local economy by generating growth, innovation, and employment. My goal is to provide local businesses the tools and expertise to grow and succeed," says Mrs. Byard. About Best Business Strategies Best Business Strategies has been located in the Ohio Valley since 2005. They sell Sage 50 Accounting and offer on-site support in the Tri-State area, as well as remote support in all fifty states. Additionally, Best Business Strategies provides business software solutions and support services including checks and forms, Microsoft Office, computers, credit card processing, cloud hosting, customer relation management software, e-marketing and more. Canton, GA -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/05/2016 -- Dental Assisting School of Georgia is a dental assistant school in GA that is offering an 8 weeks Dental Assisting Certification program licensed by the Non-Public Post-Secondary Education Commission to fast track aspiring dental assistant careers. The program has been developed to provide training to students under the watchful eyes of trained, skilled and professional dental assistants and instructors that will take place in a dental office to provide students the maximum opportunity to gain hands-on experience. Dental Assisting School of Georgia spokesperson said: "At Dental Assisting School of Georgia, you will get the education and training needed to begin working as a professional dental assistant. Our classes combine traditional classroom lectures and hands-on training in a real dental office setting. You will be trained in valuable clinical, radiographic and administrative procedures. Our state-of-the-art dental assisting training provides students the training and hands-on experience required to pursue successful careers in the exciting field of Dentistry." The less traditional method of teaching in the dental office has been adopted by the school to ensure that by the end of the dental assistant programs in GA students are comfortable with the demands of a Dental Assisting job which may include setting up equipment, interacting with patients and preparing a patient for treatment and also keeping records. About Dental Assisting School of Georgia Dental Assisting School of Georgia's goal is to prepare students with the real-life skills that they will need in the dental office. Hands-on learning with dentists in a dental office is what separates us from the other schools. Their students train side-by-side with experienced dental assistants to prepare them for an exciting career in dental office. Students will gain knowledge of the basic dental sciences, proficiency in laboratory and clinical skills, and practical experience. For more information, please visit: http://dasgeorgia.com/ Email: info@dasgeorgia.com Phone: 770-599-7169 Address: 3395 Sixes Rd Ste 120 Canton, GA 30115 State and country: Canton, GA Lewes, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/05/2016 -- The global market is currently in its fourth year of surplus of natural rubber. The excess supply situation has caused stocks to pile high and prices are falling steadily. It is expected that global surplus by the year 2020 will be approximately 1 million tons of natural rubber and 3 million tons of synthetic rubber.World demand for natural rubber, which is primarily used to manufacture tires, is cooling down due to the economic downturn in China. Asia accounts for 93% of the world natural rubber production with Thailand being the largest producer followed by Indonesia and Vietnam. Other large rubber producers in the region include India, China and Malaysia. China is the world's largest consumer of natural rubber followed by India and the United States. Increasing consumption of tyres and industrial rubber products is expected to boost the global demand for natural rubbers. Indonesia is the second largest rubber producer globally behind Thailand. While the industry is faced with challenges such as low production and poor infrastructure, growing rubber demand from developing economies is expected to boost the market in 2015. Indonesia is the second largest natural rubber producer globally. The industry is currently experiencing oversupply with demand having slowed down particularly from China which is the largest buyer of rubber in the world. Sumatra is the key natural rubber producing area in Indonesia accounting for two-thirds of the rubber latex harvested followed by Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Java. 85% of the rubber producers are smallholders and they contribute 81% to the national output. Actively supporting the sector, the International Rubber Consortium, which is a body representing rubber producers Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, has recently recommended the commodity not be sold at the current low prices. Why should the report be purchased? The report 'Assessment of Indonesia's Rubber Industry Analysis 2015' highlights key dynamics ofIndonesia's rubber sector. The potential of the sector has been investigated along with key challenges.The current market scenario and future prospects of the sector has also been studied. The report contains profiles of key players including Bridgestone Corp, Michelin, Goodyear, Continental A.G. and Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd.The report contains latest verbatim of industry experts. Spanning over 40 pages "Assessment of Indonesia's Rubber Industry Analysis 2015" report covers Global Rubber Industry, Indonesia Rubber Industry, Competitive Landscape, Research Methodology. The report covered companies are - Bridgestone Cor, Continental A.G., Goodyear, Michelin, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. For more information Visit at: http://www.marketresearchreports.com/smart-research-insights/assessment-indonesias-rubber-industry-analysis-2015 Find all Rubber Report at: http://www.marketresearchreports.com/rubber About Market Research Reports, Inc. Market Research Reports, Inc. is the world's leading source for market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest market research reports on global markets, key industries, leading companies, new products and latest industry analysis & trends. Yearly/Quarterly Report Subscription: http://www.marketresearchreports.com/subscriptions Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/05/2016 -- Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled "Sulfuric Acid Market for Fertilizers, Chemical Synthesis, Wastewater Treatment, Metal & Mining, and Other Applications Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 20152023." According to the report, the global market for sulfuric acid was valued at US$67.99 bn in 2014 and is projected to reach US$85.40 bn by 2023, expanding at a CAGR of 2.6% between 2015 and 2023. Asia Pacific accounted for the largest volume share of more than 50% of the global sulfuric acid market in 2014. The sulfuric acid market in this region is primarily driven by high consumption of sulfuric acid in fertilizers, chemical synthesis, wastewater treatment, metal & mining, and other industrial applications. Furthermore, the market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period. China, Japan, India, and countries in ASEAN are expected to drive the sulfuric acid market by 2023. In terms of demand, Europe held the second-largest share of the sulfuric acid market in 2014. However, volatility in prices of crude oil and natural gas coupled with rising governmental regulations regarding airborne emissions are estimated to hamper demand for sulfuric acid in the region. The market in North America and Europe is likely to exhibit diminishing growth during the forecast period, while the market in Latin America and Middle East & Africa is expected to witness steady growth by the end of 2023. Get FREE Sample PDF file of Sulfuric Acid Market : http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=8911 China, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Japan are some of the key countries in Asia Pacific that are anticipated to be the major consumers of sulfuric acid during the forecast period. China constituted the largest share of the sulfuric acid market in Asia Pacific in 2014. Increasing foreign investments, broad production base, and growing population are some of the key factors anticipated to drive sulfuric acid market demand in China between 2015 and 2023. In terms of demand, China is estimated to witness the fastest volume growth among other countries in Asia Pacific by the end of 2023. Germany, Spain, and France dominated the demand for sulfuric acid in Europe in 2014. Fertilizers and chemical synthesis were the major applications of sulfuric acid in the region. The market share of Europe is estimated to decline in the next few years owing to stringent regulations on emissions from sulfur as well as its derivatives. However, countries in Eastern Europe, especially Russia and Bulgaria, are likely to experience stable growth owing to the current improvement in economy and rising trade relations with countries in Asia Pacific. The U.S. dominated the market for sulfuric acid in North America in 2014. However, the sulfuric acid market in the country is projected to witness stagnant growth in the near future, as key end-user markets of sulfuric acid have reached saturation. Brazil constituted the largest share of the sulfuric acid market in Latin America in 2014. Substantial increase in the production of fertilizers is the major driver of the sulfuric acid market in the region. The sulfuric acid market in Middle East & Africa is anticipated to expand akin to that in Latin America in the near future. Rising metal mining operations coupled with development of fertilizers industry in GCC is estimated to boost the demand for sulfuric acid in Middle East & Africa by the end of 2023. Browse The Full Sulfuric Acid Market Report At : http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sulfuric-acid-market.html The Report segments the Global Sulfuric Acid Market as follows: Sulfuric Acid Market Application Analysis -Fertilizers -Chemical synthesis -Wastewater treatment -Metal & mining -Others (Including paper & pulp, pharmaceutical, etc.) Sulfuric Acid Market Regional Analysis North America -U.S. -Rest of North America Europe -Germany -France -U.K. -Italy -Spain -Rest of Europe Asia Pacific -China -Japan -ASEAN -Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America -Brazil -Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa (MEA) -GCC -South Africa -Rest of Middle East & Africa About Transparency Market Research (TMR) Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Mr. Sudip. S Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Visit Blog : http://globalresearchanalysis.blogspot.in/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/05/2016 -- The explosive growth of over-the-top (OTT) services has disrupted the telecommunications market by boosting competition and by creating a phenomenal traffic load on the transport pipes of ISPs. Network providers are using traffic differentiation to manage the increased volume and distribute the cost of additional capacity, which has raised equal-access concerns among online content and service providers and consumers. As many governments around the world strive to address the issue, regulators are grappling with how to maintain Internet equality without discouraging sector growth. Click To Download Sample Copy Of This Report @ http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/556305 Key Findings The rapid uptake of OTT services globally is a major driver of the growth in data traffic for broadband providers. Popular OTT applications have disrupted the traffic management models of ISPs by exponentially expanding the volume of content carried over the Internet. The increased data load has created challenges for ISPs, which are coming up with methods for managing congestion. Traffic management by ISPs has prompted governments to intervene to ensure Internet traffic equality. The need for government intervention to achieve a neutral Internet has been debated for a long time. Since the rise of the public Internet, governments have been weighing the merits of regulating such an expansive space against the risks of curtailing freedom. Regulators must recognize the factors that enable a sustainable net neutrality program. A concerted implementation plan is needed to push forward the net neutrality agenda and attain sustainable progress. Some key enablers are identified based on each country's level of stakeholder cooperation and its progress in averting neutrality breaches. Network operators must seek ways to partner with OTT content and app providers. In the past few years, a number of MNOs have chosen to partner with OTT service and app providers, as an alternative or parallel strategy to rolling out proprietary Internet applications. OTT partnerships reduce the time to market for the operators aiming to launch new Internet-based services. Participation in multi-stakeholder initiatives can help ISPs engage in the policy-setting process of their respective countries. By participating in such initiatives, broadband operators can boost their influence and make sure their technical and economic interests are considered in the development of net neutrality rules. View This Report @ http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/analysis/556305 Synopsis The explosive growth of over-the-top (OTT) services has disrupted the telecommunications market by boosting competition and by creating a phenomenal traffic load on the transport pipes of ISPs. Network providers are using traffic differentiation to manage the increased volume and distribute the cost of additional capacity, which has raised equal-access concerns among online content and service providers and consumers. As many governments around the world strive to address the issue, regulators are grappling with how to maintain Internet equality without discouraging sector growth."OTT Services: Collaborative Regulation Can Promote Internet Neutrality" offers an in-depth examination of the main regulatory models and strategies adopted around the world to safeguard the neutrality of the Internet, highlighting the interests and viewpoints of the different stakeholders in the debate and the challenges facing regulators in establishing a system that works for all. The Report's analysis provides specific examples of prevalent regulatory models through case studies of Brazil, Chile, the European Union, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States, with a focus on the particular developments and challenges of each market. The Report is structured as follows: Section 1: Dynamics shaping the OTT environment. This section provides an overview of the three key growth segments within the OTT services sector as well as the threats and opportunities that OTT services present for network operators. Section 2: Ecosystem player views Here we explore the perspectives of the various stakeholders in the global net neutrality debate, focusing on their views on what net neutrality means and the government's role in ensuring an open and neutral Internet. Section 3: Case studies Approaches to regulating net neutrality. Seven jurisdictions are examined more closely: the European Union, Brazil, Chile, France, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each case study offers detailed analysis of the trajectory and approach taken toward net neutrality regulation, the progress made in recent years and the challenges going forward. Section 4: Key findings and recommendations. We conclude with a summary of our findings on the impetus for net neutrality and key regulatory models being adopted around the world, as well as specific recommendations for network operators looking to increase their participation in the net neutrality policymaking process and the OTT market. Browse More Telecommunications Market Research Reports @ http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/category/95 Reasons To Buy OTT Services: Collaborative Regulation Can Promote Internet Neutrality' provides a comprehensive analysis of key regulatory models for Internet neutrality that are being adopted across the world, helping executives at MNOs, fixed telcos and pay-TV providers make informed strategic decisions and develop effective partnerships in the OTT arena. The Report's forward-looking analysis of key trends in OTT services helps providers assess the potential impact of OTTs on their business and identify related opportunities. The case studies focus on how governments and other stakeholders in seven developed and emerging markets have approached the net neutrality debate, allowing executives to refine their expectations for regulatory outcomes. By understanding the interests and positions of the main stakeholders in the net neutrality debate government, end users, content providers and ISPs telecom professionals can develop strategies to ensure their respective needs are addressed in upcoming regulatory cycles. The Report's recommendations are based on real strategies employed by network operators to position themselves to influence more effectively the net neutrality laws in their respective markets, and to increase their participation in the ever-growing OTT services market. Network operators can benefit from strategies such as partnering with OTT players, collaborating with regulators, joining multi-stakeholder initiatives and forging coalitions with consumer and content provider advocacy groups. A team of researchers, directed by Dr. Chris Hamilton of the Auburn University Museum of Natural History, has discovered a previously unknown species of tarantula that lives in the plains and foothills of the western Sierra Nevada Mountains, the United States, and named it after the famed American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author Johnny Cash. The newly-discovered species, Aphonopelma johnnycashi, has a distribution running along the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California and can be found inhabiting the following regions: Sierra Nevada, Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains, and Central California Valley. The specific epithet, johnnycashi, is in honor of the country music legend, Johnny Cash, Dr. Hamilton and co-authors explained in a paper in the journal ZooKeys. This species can be found near the area of Folsom Prison in California (famous for Cashs song Folsom Prison Blues), and like Cashs distinctive style of dress, where he was referred to as the man in black, mature males of this species are generally black in color. The breeding season of Aphonopelma johnnycashi, when mature males abandon their burrows in search of females, occurs during the fall (generally September-November). More than 50 different species of tarantulas had been previously reported from the United States, but that many of them were poorly defined and actually belonged to the same species, Dr. Hamilton said. To gain a better understanding of the diversity and distributions of these spiders, he and his colleagues spent more than a decade searching for tarantulas throughout scorching deserts, frigid mountains, and other locations in the American Southwest. The team studied nearly 3,000 specimens, undertaking the most comprehensive taxonomic study ever performed on a group of tarantulas. Because most species of tarantula in the United States are very similar in appearance and cannot be distinguished from each other using anatomical features alone, the researchers implemented a modern approach to taxonomy by employing anatomical, behavioral, distributional, and genetic data. Their results indicate there are 29 species in the United States, among which Aphonopelma johnnycashi and other 13 species are new to science. _____ Hamilton C.A. et al. 2016. Taxonomic revision of the tarantula genus Aphonopelma Pocock, 1901 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) within the United States. ZooKeys 560: 1-340; doi: 10.3897/zookeys.560.6264 Large national parks that are home to gorillas, chimpanzees and other great apes are focal points for much of the field research conducted in tropical Africa and Asia, resulting in crucial knowledge gaps and a biased view of broader conservation needs in those regions. Those are key findings from a new study by University of Michigan anthropologist Andrew Marshall and several colleagues. They used Google Scholar to determine what effect the presence of great apes has on the amount and types of research done in protected areas in tropical Africa and Asia. They found that 31 percent of the papers published about research in national parks and other protected areas focused on four groups of great apes: gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans and bonobos. Seventy-one percent of the studies targeted mammals, a group that includes the great apes. At the same time, a third of African protected areas have received no research attention whatsoever, Marshall said. The findings suggest that a disproportionate focus on the charismatic great apes and their home turf reduces attention to equally important -- though less well known -- animal and plant species. "Our results highlight major gaps in the allocation of research effort," said Marshall, associate professor of anthropology, and natural resources and environment. "Our current understanding of tropical protected areas is limited and heavily biased toward a handful of sites that are probably not representative of protected areas more generally. This preoccupation with great apes may distract from broader conservation needs in the region." The team's findings are scheduled for online publication Feb. 2 in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. advertisement Google Scholar is an online tool used to search for scholarly literature. Marshall and three colleagues used it to determine the number of published studies done in all 565 of the protected areas in the 23 African and Asian countries that contain gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans or bonobos. They used the number of Google Scholar returned citations, which they call "hits," as a proxy for research effort in each protected area. For a random sample of 20 percent of those protected areas, they also searched for keywords in study titles -- including the words "primates," "mammals," "birds" and "plants," as well as the common or scientific name of any organism within those groups -- to determine the "taxonomic focus" of each project. They hypothesized that larger and older protected areas, as well as those officially designated as national parks, would be home to more research studies. The authors also suspected that the presence of great apes would increase research interest "because they are iconic and threatened, and because their distribution is relatively well known." Overall, sites with great apes returned 3.1 times more hits than protected areas without them -- and the presence of gorillas had the strongest effect. The presence of gorillas was associated with a 35.2-fold increase in the number of hits, followed by orangutans (3.85-fold increase), chimpanzees (2.34-fold increase) and bonobos (1.42-fold increase). advertisement Great apes also scored highest in keyword searches for the names of various plants and animals, scoring an unexpectedly high 30.7 percent of all the taxon-related hits, according to the authors. About 71 percent of the hits were related to mammals, as compared with 5.9 percent for birds, 11.3 percent for plants, and 11.7 percent for other groups. The researchers caution that the number of protected sites with gorillas (four) and bonobos (two) is small, so the observed effects of those groups should be interpreted with caution. As expected, national parks showed consistently higher numbers of hits than did other types of protected areas. The size of the protected area was also positively correlated with the number of research studies, while the age of the park showed only a small positive effect. The heavy emphasis on national parks with great apes leads to a skewed focus on areas that contain higher-quality habitats, that have experienced less degradation, and that are better funded and managed than other types of protected areas and unprotected areas, Marshall said. "This leads to unrealistically optimistic assessments of the status of threatened taxa and results in crucial gaps in our knowledge of how these species function in nonprotected or suboptimal habitats," he said. The public defunding of Planned Parenthood in Texas may have led to a decrease in highly effective forms of contraceptive services and an increase in Medicaid-paid childbirths among women who previously used injectable contraception, according to a peer-reviewed study by University of Texas at Austin researchers. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Feb. 3, used administrative records to assess rates of the provision of contraceptives, as well as deliveries (childbirth) covered by Medicaid from 2011 through 2014 -- before and after Texas excluded Planned Parenthood affiliates from a publicly funded women's health program. The researchers found that since the exclusion, 35 percent fewer claims were made for long-acting, reversible contraceptives, such as implants and intrauterine devices; and 31 percent fewer claims were made for injectable contraceptives, such as Depo-Provera. In contrast, no significant changes were found in the provision of short-acting hormonal contraceptives, such as contraceptive pills, patches and rings. "Providers who are mission-driven and have the requisite experience and knowledge are critical in providing the most effective methods of contraception -- IUDs, implants and injectables," said Joseph Potter, director of the Texas Policy Evaluation Project and professor in the university's Population Research Center. "From a demographic perspective, this is important because these methods dramatically decrease unintended pregnancy. We also have accumulating evidence of an unmet demand for these methods in Texas." The study also noted a 27 percent increase in the rate of deliveries paid for by Medicaid among women who received injectable contraceptives prior to funding being barred for Planned Parenthood. "This study isolates the effect of the exclusion not only on the delivery of services, but also on subsequent deliveries paid by Medicaid," said lead author Amanda Stevenson, a Ph.D. candidate in sociology. "We examined differences between counties that had Planned Parenthood affiliates versus those that did not to determine how the public was affected once affiliates could no longer use public funds to provide contraceptive services." In 2013, the Women's Health Program -- which was 90 percent federally funded as a Medicaid waiver program -- was replaced by the wholly state-funded Texas Women's Health Program. Both programs provided services to female, legal Texas residents ages 18 to 44 who had incomes at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level. "The U.S. continues to have higher rates of unintended pregnancies than most rich nations, and we know that U.S. and Texas women face barriers as they try to access preventative services," Stevenson said. "It's a public health issue that Texas women struggle to achieve their reproductive goals." Stevenson and Potter co-authored the study, "Effect of removal of Planned Parenthood from Texas women's health program," with Imelda Flores-Vazquez and Richard Allgeyer from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, and attorney Pete Schenkkan of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon and Moody, with funding provided by the Susan T. Buffett Foundation. Millions of people are expected to tune in to tonight's ABC broadcast of a miniseries about Bernie Madoff, who is serving a 150-year sentence for running one of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history. Among them will be Noah Stoffman, an associate professor of finance in Indiana University's Kelley School of Business, who suspects that some of Madoff's victims will be watching as well. Like other successful Ponzi schemes, Madoff's took advantage of what researchers call an "affinity relationship." Madoff is Jewish, and nearly everyone who was "invited" to invest with his firm was Jewish. Many were active within the Jewish philanthropic community. In a new paper, Stoffman and two co-authors set out to study where Madoff's fraud case left its deepest impact and on whom -- not just among his direct victims, but also on how others viewed the trustworthiness of financial markets. "The cost of a fraud like this is much larger than just the money that was lost by the victims," Stoffman said. "We showed that about $430 billion was moved out of risky assets and into bank accounts as a result of this fraud. That has a huge potential economic impact." In other words, because of what happened to Madoff's victims, their neighbors, friends and others in the same "affinity group" may have left perfectly good investments, costing themselves higher financial returns, at a time when returns potentially were very high. advertisement Stoffman and associates, Umit Gurun of the University of Texas at Dallas and Scott Yonker of Cornell University, used court documents to get a complete list of Madoff's victims and then created a map of affected areas. That was then used to perform a statistical comparison of outcomes, in terms of who invested in riskier assets versus cash deposits in banks. In areas of the country where many of Madoff's victims resided -- such as the Northeast, South Florida and Southern California -- they found a precipitous decline in the use of registered investment advisors, people who provide service to access financial markets. At the same time, using data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Stoffman and his colleagues found higher levels of bank deposit activity in those same areas. "We saw this shift in areas that were more affected by the Madoff shock," said Stoffman, who studies the role of social interactions in investment decisions. "We saw a shift from risky investments to safe investments. Among those people who somehow are more exposed to the fraud, it affects their investment behavior. "We can't track person by person to see what they did with their money, but we have a sense in the aggregate that this money was shifted from risky assets to cash and probably ended up earning lower returns than it would have." The paper, "Trust Busting: The Effect of Fraud on Investor Behavior," will be presented in March at the Conference on Financial Decisions and Asset Markets, hosted by the Wharton School's Rodney L. White Center for Financial Research. It also was presented recently at a meeting of the National Bureau of Economic Research's Behavioral Finance working group. advertisement They did find that the same people had more trust in investment advisors, who provide additional services -- such as financial planning and tax services -- face to face, and thus build a deeper relationship with clients. In the past two decades, the Securities and Exchange Commission has investigated more than 360 Ponzi schemes, but the Madoff scheme dwarfed them all and provided the researchers with a good "testing ground" to study trust. The Madoff case directly affected many geographically dispersed investors whose trust was shaken -- as shown in the 113 victim impact statements, which mention "trust" 45 times. Because the fraud targeted a particular group of investors, Stoffman and his colleagues were able to study how trust shock was transmitted through social networks. Stoffman suspects that the miniseries starring Richard Dreyfuss and Blythe Danner may lead some to revisit the emotions they had in 2008, when Madoff's actions came to light. "It's entirely possible that people who either had previously been affected, whose trust was diminished in the past, may be reminded now of this event, and it may well have another effect in that more people may want to shift their assets to something that's less risky now," he said. DNA evidence lifted from the ancient bones and teeth of people who lived in Europe from the Late Pleistocene to the early Holocene -- spanning almost 30,000 years of European prehistory -- has offered some surprises, according to researchers who report their findings in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on Feb. 4, 2016. Perhaps most notably, the evidence shows a major shift in the population around 14,500 years ago, during a period of severe climatic instability. "We uncovered a completely unknown chapter of human history: a major population turnover in Europe at the end of the last Ice Age," says leading author Johannes Krause of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. The researchers pieced this missing history together by reconstructing the mitochondrial genomes of 35 hunter-gatherer individuals who lived in Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, and Romania from 35,000 to 7,000 years ago. Mitochondria are organelles within cells that carry their own DNA and can be used to infer patterns of maternal ancestry. "There has been a real lack of genetic data from this time period, so consequently we knew very little about the population structure or dynamics of the first modern humans in Europe," Krause says. The new data show that the mitochondrial DNA of three individuals who lived in present-day Belgium and France before the coldest period in the last Ice Age -- the Last Glacial Maximum -- belonged to haplogroup M. This is remarkable because the M haplogroup is effectively absent in modern Europeans but is extremely common in modern Asian, Australasian, and Native American populations. The absence of the M haplogroup and its presence in other parts of the world had previously led to the argument that non-African people dispersed on multiple occasions to spread across Eurasia and Australasia. The researchers say the discovery of this maternal lineage in Europe in the ancient past now suggests instead that all non-Africans dispersed rapidly from a single population, at a time they place around 50,000 years ago. Then, at some later stage, the M haplogroup was apparently lost from Europe. "When the Last Glacial Maximum began around 25,000 years ago, hunter-gatherer populations retreated south to a number of putative refugia, and the consequent genetic bottleneck probably resulted in the loss of this haplogroup," explains first author of the study Cosimo Posth of Germany's University of Tubingen. The researchers say their biggest surprise, however, was evidence of a major turnover of the population in Europe around 14,500 years ago, as the climate began to warm. "Our model suggests that during this period of climatic upheaval, the descendants of the hunter-gatherers who survived through the Last Glacial Maximum were largely replaced by a population from another source," says Adam Powell, another senior author at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. The researchers say the next step is to construct a more comprehensive picture of the past by analyzing the complete genomes of these ancient individuals along with additional specimens representing more times and places. The researchers received support from the Baden-Wurttemberg Foundation, the DFG, the European Research Council, the Wenner-Gren Foundation, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences of CSUN, and the RBINS. Scientists have created the first map that shows how the Greenland Ice Sheet has moved over time, revealing that ice in the interior is moving more slowly toward the edges than it has, on average, during the past 9,000 years. The findings, which researchers said don't change the fact that the ice sheet is losing mass overall and contributing to sea level rise, are published in the Feb. 5 issue of Science. Along Greenland's periphery, many glaciers are rapidly thinning. However, the vast interior of Greenland is slowly thickening, a process the new study clarifies. "Scientists are very interested in understanding how ice sheets flow and how that flow may have been different in the past. Our paleo-velocity map for Greenland allows us to assess the flow of the ice sheet right now in the context of the last several thousand years," said lead author Joe MacGregor of The University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Geophysics (UTIG), a research unit of the Jackson School of Geosciences. The study builds on earlier UTIG-led research that developed a database of the many layers within Greenland's ice sheet. Using this database, the scientists determined the flow pattern for the past 9,000 years -- in effect creating a "paleo-velocity" map. In comparing the paleo-velocity map with modern flow rates, researchers found that the ice sheet's interior is moving more slowly now than during most of the Holocene, a geological period that began about 11,700 years ago and runs to the present. "Like many others, I had in mind the ongoing dramatic retreat and speedup along the edges of the ice sheet, so I'd assumed that the interior was faster now too. But it wasn't," said MacGregor. advertisement The authors identified three causes for this deceleration. First is that snowfall rates were generally higher during the past 9,000 years, second is the slow stiffening of the ice sheet over time, and third is the collapse of an "ice bridge" that used to connect Greenland's ice to that on nearby Ellesmere Island. Of most interest were the last two. "The ice that formed from snow that fell in Greenland during the last ice age is about three times softer than the ice being formed today," according to William Colgan of York University's Lassonde School of Engineering, a co-author of the study. Because of this difference, the ice sheet is slowly becoming stiffer. As a consequence, the ice sheet is flowing more slowly and getting thicker over time. This effect is most important in southern Greenland, where higher snowfall rates have led to rapid replacement of ice from the last glacial period with more modern Holocene ice. "But that didn't explain what was happening elsewhere in Greenland, particularly the northwest, where there isn't as much snowfall, so the stiffening effect isn't as important," said MacGregor. The explanation of deceleration in the northwest lies in the collapse 10,000 years ago of an "ice bridge" across Nares Strait, which used to connect Greenland's ice to that on Ellesmere Island. The collapse of the ice bridge at the end of the last ice age led to acceleration in the northwest, but the ice sheet has since returned to a slower pace. These changes, which started thousands of years ago, affect our understanding of the changing Greenland Ice Sheet even today. Scientists often use GPS and altimeters aboard satellites to measure the elevation of the ice surface and study how much mass is being lost or gained across the ice sheet. When correcting for other known effects on the surface elevation, any leftover thickening is assumed to be due to increasing snowfall, but this study shows that may not be the case. "We're saying that recent increases in snowfall do not necessarily explain present-day interior thickening," said Colgan. "If you're using a satellite altimeter to figure out how much mass Greenland is losing, you're going to get the answer slightly wrong unless you account for these very long-term signals that are evident in its interior." UTIG researcher Ginny Catania and scientists from University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of California Irvine and The University of Kansas worked on the study. This study was supported by the National Science Foundation's Arctic Natural Sciences Program, the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets, and NASA's Operation IceBridge. A new study by researchers at Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York (CCMC) found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to wander away from an adult or caregiver than those without a behavioral health issue than those without the health problem. New findings published in the journal PLOS ONE examined elopement based on data from a 2011 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of parents and guardians, which included over 4,000 children between the ages of 6 and 17 with special health care needs. The children were divided into three groups, including those with ASD only, ASD with an intellectual disability (ID) and/or developmental delay (DD); and just ID and/or DD. "Wandering has become a greater concern," said Andrew Adesman, MD, chief of developmental pediatrics at CCMC and senior investigator of the study, in a news release. "Not only does it pose a significant risk to the safety and well-being of children with developmental disabilities, but fear of wandering can be a daily source of stress and anxiety for parents of affected children." The study showed that over 26 percent of children with special needs in the study had wandered away from a safe environment within the past 12 months-with public places being the most common location. This was also more common of participants between the ages of 6 to 11 than those between the ages of 12 to 17. Researchers found that children with ASD--including those with and without cognitive delays--were more likely to wander off than children with cognitive impairment but no ASD. These children were also more likely to not recognize that they were in danger. "The kids who are most likely to wander are the kids who are least likely to respond appropriately to police or rescue personnel - potentially further jeopardizing their safety;" added Dr. Adesman. "First responders need to recognize that children or young adults with an autism spectrum disorder may over-react to some well-intentioned interventions and may be unresponsive to simple commands or questions." Related Articles 'Social Brain' Impaired In Children With Autism For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN). 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... In an extension of an existing service the new RCL Haiphong Yangon service will call Singapore Pasir Gudang Haiphong Qingzhou Hong Kong Singapore Yangon Pasir Gudang Singapore. There will be four 1,000 teu vessels deployed on the service with RCL providing three vessels and Yang Ming one. This is the first service in the market connecting South China and Haiphong with Yangon, said Sumate Tanthuwanit, president of RCL. Myanmars imports have grown by 20 to 30% year on year in the past five years and imports from South PRC has ranked amongst the largest as well. With political stability in Myanmar, Myanmars growth potential will be even greater. The service will call at Myanmar International Port in Yangon, with the first service starting on 6 March from Qingzhou. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2016-24 The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged an executive at Stamford, Conn.-based electronics company Harman International Industries with insider trading in the companys stock. The SEC alleges that Dennis Wayne Hamilton made more than $130,000 in illegal profits by trading on nonpublic information he learned on the job in advance of Harmans release of its fiscal year 2014 first quarter earnings. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut today announced criminal charges against Hamilton. We allege that Hamilton traded on details known only to company insiders and took advantage of the stock markets fair and level playing field, said Sharon B. Binger, Director of the Philadelphia Regional Office. According to the SECs complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut: In his role as Harmans vice president of tax, Hamilton reviewed Harmans earnings and learned the company would report stronger-than-expected results for its FY14 first quarter, which spanned from July 1 to Sept. 30, 2013. The day before Harman publicly released the financial results, Hamilton purchased 17,000 shares of Harman stock at a cost of more than $1.2 million. He liquidated his position when the quarterly results were publicly announced. Harmans stock price rose more than 12 percent on the news and Hamiltons illicit trading produced one-day profits in excess of $130,000. The SECs continuing investigation is being conducted by Suzanne C. Abt, Jacquelyn King, Daniel Koster, and Scott A. Thompson of the Philadelphia Regional Office. The case is being supervised by G. Jeffrey Boujoukos. The SECs litigation will be led by David L. Axelrod and Mark Sylvester. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Press Release February 5, 2016 Bam: Increased Benefits for Public School Teachers During Elections Nears Law Election service benefits will soon increase for public school teachers once the Election Service Reform Act (ESRA) principally authored by Sen. Bam Aquino is signed into law. In last week's bicameral conference committee, the House has adopted the Senate version of the measure, which will now be transmitted to Malacanang for President Aquino's signature. The measure makes election service optional for public school teachers and increases honoraria for board of election inspector (BEI) and their support staff that will take effect in this year's elections. Sen. Bam said compensation for BEI chairman will be increased to P6,000 from P3,000 while BEI members will receive P5,000 from P3,000. From P3,000, Department of Education (DepEd) supervisor/official will earn P4,000 while support staff will receive P2,000 from P1,500. The teachers and all persons who rendered election service would also be entitled to a travel allowance of P1,000 each. Sen. Bam said any person who causes the delay in the payment due to the BEI members beyond the prescribed period of 15 days from the election date will be liable for an election offense. The measure also gives five days of service credit instead of three to all government officials and employees serving as members of the electoral boards, DepEd supervisor/official and support staff. The ESRA also seeks to increase the death benefits from P200,000 to P500,000 and the medical assistance in such amount as may be "sufficient to cover for medical and hospitalization expenses until recovery" of injuries sustained while in the performance of election duties. In case of lack of personnel, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) may appoint any registered voter to the BEI in the following order of preference: private school teachers, national government employees (DepEd non-teaching personnel), other national government officials and employees holding regular or permanent positions, excluding uniformed personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP). Members of Comelec-accredited citizen's arms and other civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations can also do election duties in lieu of public school teachers who opt not to participate in the electoral process. Press Release February 5, 2016 Senate approves bill to help out-of-school youth find jobs The Senate approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to establish a job assistance program for out-of-school youths to help them find gainful employment. The bill was passed two days before session adjourned on Wednesday. Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Committee on Labor, Employment and Human Resources Development, said Senate Bill No. 3091 or the JobsStart Philippines Act, aimed to develop lifetime skills among out-of-school youths by providing them with trainings and on-the-job apprenticeships with companies. Senate President Franklin M. Drilon said that the measure is part of the Senate's efforts to help increase employment of the country's burgeoning young population and help them become productive members of the country's workforce. Angara also cited an April 2015 Labor Force survey which showed that youth unemployment contributed to half of the total 2.68 million unemployed Filipinos. The figure translates to about 1.35 million unemployed Filipino youth aged 15 to 24. Angara then explained in his sponsorship speech, "the targeted beneficiaries of JobStart are unemployed or out-of-school youth who are 18 to 24 years of age reaching at least high school level, with none to less than a year of work experience and are not employed." Angara said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), in cooperation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Canadian government, had piloted the JobStart Philippines program in selected local government units (LGUs) in May, 2014. Under the proposed measure, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall establish a JobStart Unit at the Bureau of Labor and Employment and (BLE) and in every DOLE regional office. The BLE shall provide the necessary technical and administrative assistance to concerned regional and field offices and to the Public Employment Service Offices (PESO) nationwide. PESO is a non-fee charging multi-employment service facility responsible for implementing a variety of labor market programs, including job search assistance, training and placement for the unemployed, particularly the young jobseekers. According to DOLE data, the 1,925 PESO offices nationwide are credited for around 5.66 million job placements since 2010. Angara said trainees undertaking the JobStart program would first have to undergo a 10-day life skills development phase where they would be introduced to work ethics like professionalism and time management. He said the second component of the program would require trainees to undergo a technical training period of three months or less, depending on the trainees' ability to learn the needed skills required by the employer and the industry. After acquiring the needed skills for work, trainees will be required to go on an internship program lasting no more than three months to 600 hours. "Upon entry into the internship stage, the participating employer shall provide the JobStart trainees with a daily stipend of not less than 75 percent of the prevailing minimum wage in the city or municipality where the establishment is located," according to the proposed bill. Angara said JobStart trainees would be protected with basic accident insurance for the duration of the program, which will be paid by the DOLE. He said trainees would be qualified to get a National Certificate or Certificate of Competency (COC) upon completion of the program with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) setting the mechanisms and guidelines for the evaluation of competencies not covered by existing training regulations. Press Release February 5, 2016 Villar hopeful PNoy will prioritize law against agricultural smuggling Sen. Cynthia Villar said she is hopeful the enactment of the bill declaring large-scale agricultural smuggling as economic sabotage will be prioritized by Pres. Benigno Aquino. Senate Bill No. 2923 or the Anti Large-Scale Agricultural Smuggling Act, principally sponsored by Villar as chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, has hurdled Congress deliberation and now awaiting the President's signature. "For years, we have seen how the snail-paced prosecution of smugglers has hindered our campaign against smugglers. And because the charge is bailable, the wealthy smugglers were not intimidated," Villar said. "To ensure food security and stability, a law making agricultural smuggling a non-bailable offense of economic sabotage should be enacted. A mere slap on the wrist will never scare smugglers away," she added. The Nacionalista Party senator said while some acts of smuggling are already punishable under the Tariff and Customs Code, a law should be enacted to impose stiffer penalty against large-scale agricultural smuggling. Under the proposed law, the amount of smuggled agricultural product subject to economic sabotage is equal or more than P10 million for rice, and equal or more than P1 million for other agricultural products such as sugar, corn, pork, poultry, garlic, onion, carrots, fish, and cruciferous vegetables. Violators will face a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of twice the fair value of the smuggled agricultural product and the aggregate amount of the taxes, duties and other charges avoided. Villar said it has been three years since she presided over the Senate inquiry which exposed alleged big-time smugglers David Bangayan and Leah Cruz. Until now, the Department of Justice has not filed formal charges against them. "Economic saboteurs deserve to be severely punished under this new law. They threaten the livelihood of small and subsistence farmers because the presence of smuggled products unjustly lowers market price, making it almost impossible for locally-produced goods to compete," Villar added. The senator said smuggling is more serious than the pork barrel scam with about 600,000 metric tons of rice smuggled each year and about P200-450 billion lost to agricultural smuggling alone. "Kung hindi natin hihigpitan ang penalties sa smuggling, mawawalan ng saysay ang ating mga hakbang para palaguin ang agrikultura sa ating bansa, kung saan nakadepende ang maraming Filipino," Villar said. The high-end home furnishing retailer Restoration Hardware will become the first tenant at Pier 70, the sprawling redevelopment project that over the next decade will transform 66 acres of waterfront land just east of the Dogpatch neighborhood with 1,000 units of housing, offices and waterfront parks. The Corte Madera furniture company, which has a cult-like following in the interior decorating business, will open a five-story, 60,000-square-foot showroom in the historic Bethlehem Steel administrative building on the corner of Illinois and 20th streets. Restoration Hardware, which plans to open in 2017, will be a subtenant of Orton Development, which master-leased eight buildings along 20th Street that make up the core of Pier 70. The buildings, dating to 1885, once served as the West Coast headquarters for Union Ironworks and, later, Bethlehem Steel. Orton partner James Madsen said more leases will follow quickly. He said his group is in advanced negotiations to lease a building to a restaurant operator and another for light manufacturing and office space. And the city is getting ready to break ground on the 9-acre, $25 million Crane Cove Park, which includes the restoration of two historic cranes and a slipway within the Pier 70 boundaries. With great admiration and respect for its architectural heritage, we could not be more honored to re-establish this historic landmarks relevance, Restoration Hardware CEO Gary Friedman said. This is a rare opportunity to help render the whole neighborhood more valuable, re-energizing our surroundings and creating a lasting gift to our hometown. The restoration of the historic building is at the core of the larger redevelopment at Pier 70, which will eventually include at least 1,100 housing units and as much as 2 million square feet of commercial space. Forest City, which is doing the bulk of the development at Pier 70, is hoping to win approvals this year and begin the first phase of construction next year. Pier 70 also is home to BAE Systems San Francisco, which operates the largest floating dry dock on the West Coast. Friedman will collaborate with design architect James Gillam of Backen, Gillam & Kroeger, the architect who worked with Restoration Hardware to restore other landmark buildings, including the former Museum of Natural History in Bostons Back Bay and the Three Arts Club in Chicagos Gold Coast. The Union Iron Works Historic District at Pier 70 is on the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed in 1917 and designed in the Classical Revival style by San Francisco architect Frederick H. Meyer, the structure known as Building 101 has been looted of some of its architectural ornamentation, and many of the wood-paneled and marble-clad surfaces have been marred by graffiti. Still, there is much left worth preserving. The front doors open onto a circular entryway with a stairway featuring ornamental metal railings and an octagonal bronze and glass pendant chandelier. Throughout the first-floor executive suites are cast stone walls over pink marble wainscoting, herringbone-patterned woods and coffered plaster ceilings. Madsen and Port of San Francisco Director of Development Byron Rhett said its been a struggle to keep thieves and vandals at bay. Some of the graffiti is removable, some of it may not be. It depends on the type of spray paint that has been used. Madsen said. Its going to be a lot of work. While the interior of the buildings will be transformed, the exteriors will remain very much the same. We are trying very hard to save the existing patina, Madsen said. Were fixing the windows as we go, but the idea is that the district will really have that historic feeling that it has now. The hope is that the historic buildings along 20th Street will become part of the Dogpatch neighborhood, said Phil Williamson, who heads up the project for the port. The public will be able to access that building in a way it has never been able to in its 150-year history, he said. These were all industrial buildings that you could not go into. While Restoration Hardware will do very little cash and carry business at the site, the fact that a retailer is moving into Building 101 fuels criticism that that use is not in keeping with the areas M-2 zoning, which calls for light and heavy industry. Matt Holmes, a principal with the retail brokerage Retail West, said he was under the impression that big retail, especially chains, was off-limits. (Restoration Hardware) is an incredible store, one of the best retailers in the country, but it seems like a radical departure from Pier 70s initial stated intention, he said. It was viewed as off-limits to formula retail. It was supposed to have significant manufacturing component. Janet Carpinelli of the Dogpatch Neighborhood Association said she looks forward to a rejuvenated Pier 70. I just want to see things happening so that the public can have access to a lot of the spaces, Carpinelli said. I want to see a mixed bag of big and small uses so that its really mixed-use and that Orton is not putting all their eggs in one basket. I have confidence that they will do a good job. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen Evan Sernoffsky A Sonoma man was killed Thursday night when he crashed his motorcycle on Highway 12 in Santa Rosa and was struck by a hit-and-run driver as he lay helpless in the road, police said. Brian Michel Johnson, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene of the 7:52 p.m. wreck on Highway 12 at Calistoga Road, said Sgt. Ryan Corcoran of the Santa Rosa Police Department. VirnetX Holding Corp. soared 47 percent after a federal jury in Texas said it was owed $625.6 million by Apple Inc. over patented technology related to secure communications. Shares rose $2.27 to close at $7.06 on trading of about 17 million shares, more than 22 times the three-month daily average. VirnetXs share price reached its highest since April 2015. Cupertinos Apple has pledged to appeal Wednesdays jury finding that its FaceTime, iMessage and newer VPN on Demand services infringe on VirnetX patents, as well as the high damage award. Even before the jury reached its decision, Apple had filed for a mistrial, claiming VirnetX lawyers made improper arguments to confuse, mislead and inflame the jury. The jury in Tyler, Texas, found that the infringement was willful, meaning Apple knew of the patents and used the technology anyway. That would enable District Judge Robert Schroeder to increase the award by as much as three times. Judges normally increase awards by less than that amount. The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up the issue of when patent owners are entitled to increased awards. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has made preliminary findings that two of the VirnetX patents are probably invalid, and invalidated other VirnetX patents. That will set up a sort of race between the district court case and the patent office review, though all of the patent issues will ultimately wind up before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The dispute is over private networks, through which a website owner can interact with customers, employees can work at home and access company files, or people can see each other as they talk over the phone. VirnetX had previously won a $368.2 million verdict against Apple only to see it thrown out by the appellate court. The court did uphold the infringing finding regarding VPN on Demand and ordered a new trial on damages for that. The jury said that was worth $334.9 million. Separately, the jury had to find if newer versions of VPN on Demand, FaceTime and iMessage infringed on the patents. The jury said they did, and valued that at $290.7 million. VirnetX can ask that Apple be ordered to remove any infringing features, a request thats hard to win. It also can ask that Apple be ordered to pay additional money for continued infringement. VirnetXs lawyer in the case, Brad Caldwell of Caldwell Cassady, said the company is considering its options. Susan Decker is a Bloomberg writer. E-mail: sdecker1@bloomberg.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A 22-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of killing a popular DJ and Apple data analyst during a frenzied mob attack last week in front of a San Francisco nightclub, police said Friday. The suspect, Nestor Canchola, was arrested Wednesday evening during a traffic stop by San Francisco police in the Excelsior district, said Sgt. Dennis Toomer, a police spokesman. Detectives suspect Canchola stabbed Joseph Razo, 29, and his friend in the early hours of Jan. 25 outside the Cellar nightclub at Sutter and Taylor streets. Razo died Tuesday at San Francisco General Hospital, where he underwent several surgeries as doctors fought for days to save his life. Police believe Canchola was among a group of seven people who attacked Razos friends outside the nightclub, prompting Razo to try to intervene and help his buddies. Following Cancholas arrest, police obtained a search warrant for his residence on Lydia Avenue in Portola Place, a section of the Bayview neighborhood. Officers seized evidence, but would not specify what was found linking him to the crime. Canchola was booked at San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder, Toomer said. Razo suffered knife wounds to his aorta, liver and intestine in the 1:45 a.m. attack, friends and relatives told The Chronicle. He was my beautiful man, Razos girlfriend, Rhian Humphries, said. Its beyond surreal. You dont expect something like this to happen to someone you care about. Razo, who grew up in Brooklyn and Atlanta, graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, where he studied media technology and Spanish. He later moved to San Francisco, where he shot instructional videos for Academy of Art University. In April 2014, he began to contract for Apple as a bilingual data analyst, commuting to the companys Cupertino campus from his home in the citys Western Addition. Razo moonlighted as a DJ at several bars and nightclubs in San Francisco, garnering a large following of friends and fans. He was a really wonderful, beautiful and progressive kid, said Razos uncle, Engels Souffrant of New York City. Razos friend who was stabbed in the attack was discharged from the hospital last week. Police said that the investigation is continuing and that other suspects could be arrested. They urged anyone with information about the stabbing to contact detectives at (415) 575-4444 or send text messages to TIP-411. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate About a dozen uniformed California Highway Patrol officers sat in the back of a San Francisco courtroom Thursday, watching as the man accused of slashing a fellow officer in the neck was led in wearing shackles and a red jumpsuit indicating a high-security inmate. Noel Corpuz, 45, made his first court appearance in Tuesdays alleged attack on the officer, who was identified Thursday as Andre Sirenko. CHP and hospital officials said the seven-year agency veteran required surgery and is in serious condition, but is also in good spirits and able to eat soft foods. Corpuz faces charges including attempted murder and assault of a peace officer, and is being held on $5 million bail. Though Corpuz did not enter a plea before being ushered away after a brief hearing, CHP Officer Vu Williams said the officers in court wanted to show support for Sirenko, who was nearly killed for reasons that remain unknown. Sirenko was stabbed just after 10 a.m. while investigating a report of a pedestrian walking on the Interstate 80 on-ramp near Essex Street in the citys Rincon Hill neighborhood. He and his partner encountered Corpuz, who was apparently homeless, near a tent encampment along the roadway. Authorities said Corpuz suddenly slashed Sirenko across his neck and left arm with a knife before fleeing. Sirenkos partner started to chase after the attacker before realizing what happened to his partner and hurrying to provide aid. He made a distress call to San Francisco police requesting backup, and city Fire Department personnel rushed Sirenko to the hospital. We were very fortunate that the injuries werent worse, that he wasnt slashed several centimeters up or down, said Williams, a CHP spokesman. We were also very fortunate that a medic unit was on scene so quickly and was able to get him into the ambulance and get him to the hospital. That, coupled with his partners efforts to stanch that bleeding, served to save that officers life. Williams said he knew Sirenko and that he was not the kind of guy who is going to sit around in a hospital bed. He wants to get going, but obviously we need to let the healing take its course. Corpuz was arrested by San Francisco police who reported finding him inside a nearby Wells Fargo branch. Police said he tried to take an officers gun from the holster before he could be taken into custody. A black backpack and a large knife believed to have been used in the stabbing were found in the bank parking lot, police said. San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, whose office is representing Corpuz, said Thursday that he could not comment on the allegations until his attorneys learn more. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VivianHo California Highway Patrol A San Francisco man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after he crashed into a car stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 880, killing a 28-year-old Hayward man who was fixing a flat tire, officials said Thursday. Ulysses Grant Wortham, 62, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter after the wreck Tuesday night in Hayward, California Highway Patrol officials said. A 20-year-old Sacramento woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon in an undercover prostitution sting involving a 17-year-old girl in Milpitas. The operation was part of a larger effort by the Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office to catch those who solicit prostitutes or assist in their trafficking, which Bay Area officials say is on the rise as Sundays Super Bowl approaches. The same task force that arrested the woman, Tekera Taco Scott, on suspicion of human trafficking a minor and pandering also detained and questioned Denver Broncos safety Ryan Murphy on Tuesday. In Wednesdays sting, detectives scheduled a rendezvous with a female who had posted escort service advertisements online, according to Sgt. James Jensen. When they arrived at a motel in Milpitas about 1:30 p.m., they found the female pictured in the ad, a teenager from out of town, along with two other women and a loaded firearm. Detectives said the oldest of the three, Scott, was sexually exploiting the teenager and placing prostitution ads for her. She was booked at the Santa Clara County Main Jail. Officials placed the teenager in the care of the countys Department of Family and Childrens Services. Jensen said the task force which includes FBI agents and members of the district attorneys office has seen an increasing number of ads soliciting and offering prostitution in recent weeks. Officials in the county have carried out more than eight stings in the last three weeks. We just want to make sure that the public is aware that our task force is out there, Jensen said. The detectives do not typically cite the women, but offer them county resources, he said. More than 20 women were found in the prostitution stings in recent months. Its not necessarily the criminal aspect of prostitution, Jensen said. Its someones life were trying to change. Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov When we see records being broken and unprecedented events such as this, the onus is on those who deny any connection to climate change to prove their case. Global warming has fundamentally altered the background conditions that give rise to all weather. In the strictest sense, all weather is now connected to climate change. Kevin Trenberth HIT THE PAGE DOWN KEY TO SEE THE POSTS Now at 8,800+ articles. HIT THE PAGE DOWN KEY TO SEE THE POSTS This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Forget Miller time: Today marks the start of Pliny time for Santa Rosas Russian River Valley Brewing Company. A cult favorite among beer lovers, for the past 12 years on the first Friday in February, for just two weeks, the brewery releases a limited amount of its ultra-fresh, super hoppy and high-in-alcohol (10.25%) triple IPA, Pliny the Younger. This year, the beer will be available Feb. 5-18. The coveted seasonal winter brew is a riff on the brewerys easier to find, yet also highly popular, Pliny the Elder. The hops that went into making this years batch are Simcoe, Warrior, Chinook, Centennial, Amarillo and Tomahawk. A limited amount available only on draft (no bottles or growlers) will be served each day on-site. In years past, devotees have been known to wait up to eight hours in line for a taste of the special beer. Happily, last year the brewery implemented a new rule limiting guests to a three-hour/three Pliny the Younger cutoff. According to the brewery, this move should cut the wait time down by about half so now guests can expect to wait four hours in line. The release will be rain or shine, and given this winters El Nino weather, be sure to bring an umbrella and rain gear. If you plan to stay overnight (you will be drinking, after all), two nearby hotels offer special Pliny the Younger rates during the two-week period. Premium SFChronicle.com: Study up on Pliny's 12-year run to greatness If you dont feel like driving up to Wine Country and waiting hours for a beer, in addition to serving Pliny the Younger at the brewery, a limited number of kegs will be allotted to a handful of lucky (and unnamed) bars around the Bay Area. However, youll have to do some searching to find them. Let the hunt begin. Russian River Valley Brewing Company, 725 4th St., Santa Rosa. (707) 545-2337. russianriverbrewing.com Sarah Fritsche is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: sfritsche@sfchronicle.com DURHAM, N.H. Their race newly energized, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders head into the first one-on-one debate of the Democratic presidential contest Thursday night in a tussle over their very political identities. The two candidates are sparring over who is the best standard-bearer for progressive values and who can actually deliver on a liberal agenda of providing universal health care access, reducing income inequality, protecting worker rights and more. Good ideas on paper are important, but youve got to be able to translate them into action, Clinton declared on the eve of the debate. Sanders, for his part, said Clintons record is just not progressive on any number of issues, given her vote as a senator to authorize the war in Iraq and her campaigns reliance on money from Wall Street and drug companies. The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, intensified this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowas leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary-season schedule, including Thursdays face-off in Durham. The debate is the last before Tuesdays first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary, and Sanders holds a big lead in polls in the state. In fresh evidence of the tightening race, Clinton reported that her campaign had raised $15 million in January $5 million less than Sanders and the first time shes been outraised by her opponent. Her finance director called the numbers a very loud wake-up call in a fundraising e-mail to supporters. Heading into the debate, Sanders was eager to lower expectations for his finish in New Hampshire, casting himself as an underdog against the most powerful political organization in the country. Clinton, for her part, signaled her determination to at least narrow the gap before Tuesdays vote in the state, where her husband in 1992 placed second and styled himself the Comeback Kid. Her prospects are much stronger in primaries and caucuses after New Hampshire, as the race moves on to states with more diverse electorates that are to her advantage. The two campaigns have even skirmished this week over why Sanders is doing so well in New Hampshire polls. His campaign accused Clintons of insulting New Hampshire voters by suggesting they only support the Vermont senator because hes from a neighboring state. That was after Clintons campaign manager referred to New Hampshire as Sanders backyard. On a broader issue, Clinton offers herself to voters as a progressive who gets things done, part of her pitch that shes the one with the practical skills to implement a progressive agenda. The Democrats debate again on Feb. 11. LANSING, Mich. High-ranking officials in Michigan Gov. Rick Snyders administration were aware of a surge in Legionnaires disease potentially linked to Flints water long before the governor reported the increase to the public last month, internal e-mails show. When he disclosed the spike in Legionnaires cases on Jan. 13, Snyder said he had learned about it just a couple of days earlier. But e-mails obtained by the liberal group Progress Michigan through public-records requests show Snyders own office was aware of the outbreak since March. At the time, others in the administration were scrambling to respond to suggestions that bacteria in the citys new water source, the Flint River, could be the culprit. 1 Stabbing death: Two Virginia Tech students carefully planned the kidnapping and killing of a 13-year-old girl, arranging a predawn rendezvous online after buying cleaning supplies and a shovel at separate Walmart stores, a prosecutor alleged on Thursday. Montgomery County Commonwealth authorities believe David Eisenhauer and Natalie Keepers plotted the stabbing death of Nicole Lovell, a seventh-grader who used social media to escape from bullying after surviving a liver transplant and other health scares. 2 Corruption case: The mayor and almost every other top official in a tiny South Texas city are under federal indictment, accused of taking kickbacks from contractors and someone trying to set up illegal gaming rooms. The U.S. attorneys office in San Antonio said Thursday that it had arrested most of the leadership of Crystal City. Prosecutors say Mayor Ricardo Lopez, City Attorney William James Jonas and others took payments and favors to ease city inspections and approve permits for construction. WASHINGTON President Obama will propose a $10-per-barrel tax on oil in next years budget to modernize the U.S. transportation system, using the fossil fuels tax to pay for a transition to clean energy, administration officials said Thursday. A leading California Republican immediately said the plan, to be included in Obamas final budget proposal Tuesday, will go nowhere in Congress. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, whose district produces oil, said the tax would undoubtedly be passed along to consumers, adding that much more to every energy bill and trip to the gas station. ... It goes without saying that the House has no intention of adding more costs on the American people. The administrations proposal includes another run at making high-speed rail a viable alternative to flying in major regional corridors, a big element of Obamas 2009 stimulus known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. California was one of the few states to accept the stimulus money for high-speed rail and moved forward with a plan to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles by bullet train. But Republicans have cut off further funding to the project, which is two years behind schedule. National Economic Council Director Jeff Zients said Obamas overall proposal reflects his promise to tackle problems that have been simmering for decades, in this case, chronic transportation underinvestment that loads businesses with higher freight expenses and costs Americans 7 billion hours in wasted time as they sit in cars and trucks snarled in traffic. Zients called these costs a hidden $160 billion annual tax, $960 for each commuter, that is harming U.S. competitiveness. The $10-per-barrel fee on oil, levied on imports but not exports, represents a limited version of a carbon tax that would discourage greenhouse gas emissions and encourage cleaner fuels. The fee, to be paid by oil companies, would be much broader than the current gasoline tax paid by drivers. Reluctance by both parties in Congress to raise the gas tax has led to chronic funding shortfalls for highways and transit. The plan calls for big new investments in rail and other non-car options for urban commuters, technologies to support driverless cars, and regional refueling systems for low-carbon vehicles. Over five years, the Obama plan would boost investment by 50 percent over the bipartisan transportation bill that Congress passed last year after 36 short-term extensions. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the plan would change federal funding programs by rewarding states that cut carbon pollution from transportation, a provision that would aid California disproportionately since the state has more electric vehicles than the other 49 states combined. The program would also reward such things as better land-use planning and investments in transit. Foxx called the proposal a bold new plan that will create a clean transportation system and increase overall investment in ways that give American communities more climate friendly choices. Carolyn Lochhead is the San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. E-mail: clochhead@sfchronicle.com London With no end in sight to Syria's five-year-old civil war, rich nations pledged more than $10 billion Thursday to help millions of people who have been displaced by the conflict and to prepare for new waves of refugees expected this year. The pledges of aid at a donor's conference here slightly exceeded the meeting's goal, avoiding the failure of a similar conference last year, when cutbacks in aid helped spur mass migration of refugees to Europe. Still, it was unclear whether the new aid pledged Thursday would be sufficient to meet the need, which seems likely to grow substantially as more Syrians flee to Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan and as more asylum-seekers attempt the perilous trip to Europe with the coming of warmer weather. Just one day before the conference, U.N.-led talks in Geneva aimed at achieving a cease-fire in Syria were abruptly suspended. The conflict has claimed more than 250,000 lives and displaced another 11 million Syrians from their homes, including 4 million who have fled the country. "Our message to the people of Syria and the region is clear," Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain said at the conference. "We will stand with you, and we still support you for as long as it takes to secure peace in Syria, to restore stability to the region, and to give Syrian refugees a chance to go back and rebuild their homes and their country." Cameron was one of the hosts of the conference, along with the leaders of Germany, Kuwait and Norway and the U.N. secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon. Ban called the meeting a "great success" and said, "Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis." Almost $6 billion of the new pledges was for this year, while $5 billion was committed for 2017 through 2020. The United States, represented at the conference by Secretary of State John Kerry, pledged about $600 million in new aid. In all, the United States has now committed $5.1 billion in aid since 2011, the most of any nation. The suffering of Syria's people "should tear at the conscience of all civilized people, and we all have a responsibility to respond to it," Kerry said. Britain pledged an added $1.8 billion over the next four years, doubling its contributions, while Germany promised $2.6 billion by 2018, including $1.2 billion this year. There was broad agreement at the conference, though, that the only enduring way to address the humanitarian crisis was to end the fighting in Syria between the forces of President Bashar Assad, and a fragmented array of opposition groups, some of whom are also fighting one another. The first Saturday in February is World Pisco Sour Day. The cocktail is made from Pisco, a non-aged brandy, and while you may not have a bottle in your home bar just yet, it's high time you get one. Pisco is smooth and slightly fruity spirit and many Piscos have no added sugar or additives, unlike some other spirits and wines. In addition they are gluten-free and low in calories. And since we are on the cusp of a cocktail resurgence, be the innovator that you are and start to use this spirit the next time you have clients over. Pisco Particulars Pisco is made from a grape, which is grown on the Pacific coast of South America, solely in Peru and Chile. The grapes are first made into wine, then the wine goes through a distillation process, just like other spirits. Pisco wine is distilled in copper pots -- never -- so that no flavor is infused. The grape skins and stems are removed (unlike Grappa were all that stuff is left in because nothing goes to waste in Italy), so the remaining liquid has clarity and purity. Pisco does have natural flavor, though. There are eight different kinds of Pisco grapes and they each have different taste profiles, so depending on how they are blended, you can find many different flavors of Pisco. The Pisco grape dates back to the 1500s when the Spanish conquistadores brought the vines to South America to make wine. They got industrious and decided to distill the leftover grapes that they couldnt use to make wine. And Pisco was born. It is named after the city of Pisco in the Ica-Valley where the grapes were first grown, and no other country in the world can produce a brandy called Pisco. Related: Why the American Wine Industry Needs a Shakeup Peru In a Glass Peru's production of Pisco remains more artisanal since they dont alter the chemical or organic properties before bottling. And the Peruvians have been slightly more active about selling their heritage, tradition, and quality to the world. That may be why Peru currently exports around 151,000 cases of Pisco, which is three times more than Chile. About 47,000 of those Peruvian cases come to the U.S., via several producers. Diego Loret De Mola is one of them. He grew up in Peru but went to college in the States. He became a minerals and metals trader and ended up traveling back and forth to his homeland. In 2000, he was ready for a career change and on his farewell trip to see his clients, he tasted artisanal Pisco made by a local family and was blown away. We had a ton of Pisco growing up, but it wasnt great, says Loret De Mola. (I get that. As a Sicilian, we only drank my grandfathers homemade wine, which tasted like gasoline.) In addition, the country was finally beginning to see steps of an agricultural renaissance after being suppressed for so many years, thanks to a military coup that occurred from 1968 through 1980, says Loret De Mola. So he decided to take a shot. He made his first Pisco in 2001 at friends distillery and by 2002, he launched his company Barsol. He became a member of United States Bartenders Guild and began flying around the world trying to sell his product, because, to him, it was about educating bartenders. Today he ships about 15,000 to 17,000 cases to the U.S., making him the second-largest exporter of the Peruvian Pisco Related: How South Africa Built a Booming Wine Business Loret De Mola changed the Pisco game, says Jamie Johel, the bar manager at The National, in Greenwich, Conn., and a Peru native. He would say, I'm not giving you Pisco! I'm giving you Peru in a glass! Johel says. Loret De Mola is one of Piscos biggest cheerleaders. He is a firm believer in selling an experience. When you have a margarita you think of Mexico, drink a Chianti and you are back in Tuscany," he says. He, and Johel, want people to be transported back to the homeland theyre so proud of when they drink their spirit. And their homeland is benefitting. We are still working with the same 15 families we started out with and we have watched them now be able to afford to send their kids, says Loret De Mola. So Start Using Pisco We are in the midst of a cocktail resurgence, says Oliver Kroll, managing partner at the Gerber Group, which runs famous bars like Whiskey Blue and the W Lounge, and has three locations in Santiago, Chile. And with that, the Pisco Sour is reappearing on bar menus everywhere. Victor Morris, a bar owner in Lima, Peru, during the 1920s is credited with creating the drink. Recovered documents, like printed advertisements or his bars register, show that Pisco Sours were being served at the Morris Bar before anywhere else. So well tip our hat to him. And then it became the signature cocktail of Peru. Here at home, the demand is growing and good bartenders know how to make it properly and are suggesting it to their customers. Loret De Mola says, Remember 311 -- 3 parts Pisco, 1 part fresh squeezed lime juice, 1 part simple syrup. The best part is the half-ounce of whipped egg whites and the dash of bitters on top. Egg white? Citrus? #proteininaglass, says Johel. I had the pleasure of tasting one of Joehls Pisco Sours with Loret De Mola recently and the texture from the egg whites was amazing. But Pisco is being used in many different cocktails. Gerber Bars offers a Pisco Green, made with Chilean Pisco, basil and cucumber, says Kroll, who is a fan of Pisco Control C. For other Pisco recipes check here. Loret De Mola says, It makes me sad that many people will go through life and die and never taste this beautiful spirit. So try a good Pisco Sour this Saturday. It just might become your new favorite drink. Related: The Top Wine Trends Expected in 2016 Related: How Pisco Went From Obscure South American Drink to American Sensation Why the American Wine Industry Needs a Shakeup 3 Mobile Apps to Enhance Your After-Work Life Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved 1 Drone strike: A Yemeni al Qaeda leader was killed in a drone strike overnight in the southern province of Abin, Yemeni tribal officials said Thursday. Jalal Baliedy headed al Qaeda in the province and had led several major attacks, including the beheading of soldiers. Three other people were killed in the strike, the officials said. Washington considers al Qaedas Yemen branch to be the most dangerous offshoot of the network. 2 Saudi ground troops: A Saudi military spokesman says the kingdom is ready to send ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State group provided coalition leaders agree during an upcoming meeting in Brussels. Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri said on Thursday that Saudi Arabia has taken part in coalition air strikes against Islamic State since the U.S.-led campaign began in September 2014, but would now provide ground troops. He didnt elaborate on how many troops the kingdom would send. Saudi Arabia is deeply involved in Yemens civil war, where it is fighting Iranian-backed Shiite rebels. San Jose Police Department A suspected serial flasher accused of trolling high schools in the San Jose area and exposing himself to at least 14 girls in a month was arrested and jailed this week, police said. John Ha, 37, was taken into custody Tuesday when cops tracked him down at his job in Milpitas, said Officer Albert Morales, a San Jose police spokesman. Reconciliation retreat slated SCHUYLER -- The Gift of Reconciliation will be a weekend retreat held today through Sunday at the St. Benedict Center, led by Prior Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, Ph.D. The weekend will focus on unresolved conflicts and hanging on to past hurts. There will be time for those attending to examine their conscience and look for ways to accept reconciliation through Jesus Christ. There will also be an opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. The retreat begins at 7:30 p.m. today and ends after lunch Sunday. For more information, call 402-352-8819 or visit www.StBenedictCenter.com. Fish fries at St. Anthony COLUMBUS St. Anthony Catholic Church is hosting its weekly all-you-can-eat fish fries during the Lenten season. The fish fries will be held from 5:30-8 p.m. each Friday until March 18 at the Parish Center, located in the lower level of St. Anthony Elementary School, 1719 Sixth St. The event includes deep-fried and baked fish, along with coleslaw, scalloped potatoes and dessert. Cost is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors over 60 years, $4 for children ages 5-11 and free for children 4 and under. The fish fries are sponsored by the St. Anthony Knights of Columbus Council 9264. Spaghetti supper, bake sale slated COLUMBUS -- St. Anthony Church will hold a spaghetti supper and bake sale from 4-8 p.m. Saturday in the church social hall, 1719 6th St. The meal will include spaghetti with meatballs, garlic bread, lettuce salad, dessert, beverage and coffee, and beer and wine will be available. Cost is $7.50 for adults, $3 for kids 6-10 years, and free for children five and under. This fundraiser is sponsored by St. Theresa Sodality, and proceeds will go toward furnishings for the new parish center. Shrove Tuesday event at church SCHUYLER -- St. Johns Lutheran Church will hold a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper from 4:30-7 p.m. Tuesday at 821 Denver St. The menu will include pancakes, breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs. The all-you-can-eat meal is $6.50 for adults, $4 for kids ages 6-12, and free for kids five and under. Proceeds will benefit the Christian Education Programs at St. Johns. Tickets will be available at the door. There will also be raffle tickets sold by the Women of the ELCA for a quilt to be given away at the pancake supper. Proceeds from the drawing will be used to purchase food for the Schuyler Food Pantry. This event is handicap accessible. Faith conference at St. Benedict STROMSBURG -- Living Word Church Intl., 120 East 3rd St., is hosting its eighth annual Build Your Faith Weekend Conference Feb. 12-14. Speakers for this conference are Pastor Michael Ploen of St. Louis, Missouri, and Pastor Mitch Stroda of Kearney. Services times are 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12; 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Feb. 13; and 10 a.m. Feb. 14. The conference is open to the public. For more information, call Pastor Mike or Mary Ulffers at 402-366-4000 or visit www.lwcint.com. KC breakfast at St. Isidore COLUMBUS -- The St. Isidore Knights of Columbus Council 12086 will host a French toast and pancake breakfast from 7:30-11 a.m. Feb. 14 in the school cafeteria. They will also serve scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and drinks. The cost is $7 for adults and $4 for kids. Valentines Day dinner Feb. 14 SCHUYLER -- St. Benedict Center will hold a Valentines Day dinner on Feb. 14. Married couples are invited for a 5 p.m. Mass at the chapel of St. Benedict Center followed at 6 p.m. by a four-course dinner prepared by Mark and Patty Bosh. Advance reservations and pre-payment are required. For more information, call 402-352-8819 or visit www.StBenedictCenter.com. Workshop at St. Benedict SCHUYLER -- "Finding God in Troubled Times" is a Lenten workshop, led by Fr. Richard Houser, SJ, Ph.D., scheduled for Feb. 26-27 at St. Benedict Center. Attendees will be invited to reflect on their faith and how suffering hurts or enhances the relationship with God and with Jesus. Participants are encouraged to prepare for the workshop by reflecting on Fr. Hausers book "Finding God in Troubled Times." The retreat will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26, and close with Mass at 4 p.m. Feb. 27. For more information, call 402-352-8819 or visit www.StBenedictCenter.com. Pope reaches out to China VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis has expressed admiration for China and has declined to criticize its longtime one-child policy in a bid to heal decades of estrangement between Beijing and the Holy See and open a new era of dialogue. Francis expressed both respect for and awe of China, its culture and its role in the world in an interview with the Hong Kong online daily Asia Times. It was published Tuesday in advance of next Monday's Chinese New Year. The pope explained that his view of dialogue is one in which neither side compromises or carves out its foothold, but both decide to "walk together" respecting differences. Francis has continued a Vatican's outreach to China that started under Pope Benedict XVI. Relations were severed in 1951 when the Communists took over. Conviction of pastor upheld MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) A Mennonite pastor who was convicted of helping a former Vermont woman flee the country rather than share custody of her child with her former same-sex partner has been ordered to prison. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York issued a mandate Monday upholding the conviction of Kenneth Miller, of Stuarts Draft, Virginia, for his role in helping Lisa Miller flee the country in 2009 with her daughter Isabella. The Millers are not related. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge William Sessions ordered Kenneth Miller to surrender to prison on March 1 to begin serving a 27-month prison sentence that had been delayed pending his appeal. Lisa Miller and her daughter Isabella fled the country rather than share custody with her former Vermont civil union partner Janet Jenkins. Scholar notes global issues WASHINGTON (AP) A Christian scholar says the world's future will hinge on how three religious questions are answered. Author Os Guinness, founder of the Trinity Forum, took part in a panel Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington. He said the first question is whether Islam will modernize peacefully. The second is "which faith or ideology" will ultimately replace communism in China, and the third is whether Western civilization will return to its roots. Guinness said, "Religious freedom is absolutely pivotal to each of the answers to those questions if they're to come out constructively." Guinness was joined by former Congressman Frank Wolf and international religious freedom advocate Nina Shea (NEE'-nah shay), who cited what she called "genocide" against Christians and other religious minorities by Islamist radicals. Wolf highlighted the rise in religious oppression in China and other nations, and called for a stronger U.S. response. COLUMBUS The search for the next superintendent at Lakeview Community Schools has been narrowed to four candidates. The districts board of education met Wednesday night to select the finalists, who emerged from a list of more than 20 applicants for the position currently held by Russ Freeman. Freeman, who has been Lakeviews superintendent since July 2009, announced in December he is stepping down June 30. Among the finalists to replace him is Daryl Schrunk, the current elementary principal at Lakeview. Schrunk, who is in his fifth year with the district, served as principal at Platte Center Elementary before the districtwide elementary principal position was created for the 2015-16 school year. The other remaining candidates are Wahoo High School Principal Jason Libal, Maxwell Public Schools Superintendent and Elementary Principal Todd Rhodes and Aaron Plas, assistant principal and activities director at York High School. Lakeview school board President Keith Runge said interviews with the finalists will be conducted Monday and Tuesday and a decision on the preferred candidate could come during a meeting Wednesday night. Search committee groups that include teachers and other district staff, principals and community members will also meet with the candidates before providing feedback to the board. Runge said the board is looking for a superintendent who will carry on Lakeviews traditions and strong educational values. They want a leader whos focused on doing whats best for the students while also taking a sharp pencil to district expenses and budgets, he said. Runge said the next superintendent should be involved in the community and a good team leader. Lakeview paid $5,000 plus expenses to the Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association to assist with the superintendent search. Food drive slated today, Saturday COLUMBUS -- A Super Bowl Food Drive will be held today and Saturday at Super Saver and Hy-Vee. All food collected will be donated to the Platte County Food Pantry, Columbus Rescue Mission, Simon House and Salvation Army. Mardi Gras at Eagles Club COLUMBUS -- The Columbus Eagles Club will host a Mardis Gras on Saturday, 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. Book sale set today-Sunday COLUMBUS -- The Friends of Columbus Public Library is holding a book sale today through Sunday in the library. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. today, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 1:30-5 p.m. Sunday. All remaining items will be sold for a buck a bag. Those attending can bring their own bag. Most hard-backed books will be $1, with paperbacks and childrens books sold for 25 cents. There will also be some CDs, record albums, DVDs and VHS tapes available. Harolds Squares dance Sunday COLUMBUS -- Harolds Squares Square Dance Club of Columbus will hold a dance from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday at the VFW Hall. The dance will have a Valentine Royalty theme and the caller/cuer will be Mary Channer Paul from Belgrade. Lunch will be served after the dance. Spectators are always welcome to stop by and see what square dancing is all about. Wagner Lakes fry Wednesday COLUMBUS -- The Wagner Lakes Habitat Association fish fry will be held from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 3115 Sixth St. Price for all-you-can-eat is $9 (free for children under 6). The public is welcome to attend. Shrimp peel set Feb. 26 COLUMBUS -- The 18th annual St. Isidore Elementary School Lenten Shrimp Peel will be held from 6-11 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Scotus Central Catholic cafeteria. The meal will include shrimp, beverage, salads and desserts. Tickets are $15 each and must be purchased in advance. No children are allowed at this event as there will be alcohol present. Proceeds will go to assist with technology upgrades at the school. For more information or tickets, call Nicole at 402-606-4115 or stop by the St. Isidore school office and church rectory. Eagles to host weekly fish fries COLUMBUS -- The Fraternal Order of Eagles, 3205 12th St., will host fish fries from 5:30-8 p.m. every Friday from Feb. 12 through March 25. All-you-can-eat buffet style meal of fish and side dishes will be served. Paw and Claws garage sale set COLUMBUS -- Reservations are now being accepted for booth spaces for the annual Barkin Bargains Garage Sale to be held April 9 indoors at Platte County Agricultural Park. This event is sponsored by the Erna R. Badstieber Paws and Claws Adoption Center. For more information, call 402-562-5683, or to download a vendor contract, visit www.pawsandclawsne.org. Cell Phones for Soldiers project COLUMBUS -- The VFW Club, 2720 23rd St., is still accepting used cell phones to be donated to the Cell Phones for Soldiers project. Phones can be dropped off from 411 p.m. WednesdaySunday. For every cell phone valued at $5, calling cards are issued to deployed troops giving them 2 1/2 hours of free talk time. Since 2004, more than 11.6 million phones have been recycled or repurposed. Approximately half of the phones processed are reconditioned and reused. Phones and components that cannot be refurbished are dismantled and responsibly recycled to reclaim materials. For more information about this program, visit www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When "legal rape" blogger Daryush Valizadeh (also known as Roosh V) invited devoted readers to an international meetup day, the announcement wasn't exactly met with open arms. Actually, in one instance, it was met with boxing gloves. But the threat of physical pain wasn't the only thing that scared the group into cancelling its event. Valizadeh told members, known as "tribesmen," to be careful after the meetup announcement caught the eyes of hacktivist group Anonymous. >> Click the gallery above to see some of the worst things Return of Kings has said. For years, Return of Kings has been called the "worst blog on the Internet" and a "vile troll site." They were even dubbed misogynistic "garbage" by the Ottawa mayor on Wednesday. With its fat shaming, racist commentary and degrading write-ups about women, the site's aggressive reputation preceded its meet-up announcement, prompting the hashtag #TurnAwayReturnofKings. More Information - See More Collapse "Heads up to all forum members: change your emails immediately," Valizadeh tweeted to his nearly 19,000 Twitter followers on Wednesday. "Hacking group that works for media is incoming." The tweet has since been deleted. Apparently, it takes more than a few email changes to protect someone from an elite group of hackers. The group posted the address of Valizadeh's family to Facebook, along with other exposing information. "Anonymous doxxed by family's address. Whatever I've done in life, they don't deserve to be harassed or harmed," he tweeted. Followers of the site were scheduled to meet 8 p.m. Saturday in more than 150 cities including Austin, Dallas, Denton, El Paso, Houston, Nederland and San Antonio. The Houston meetup was set to be near the arch of the Sam Houston Monument. LINCOLN An incident involving Cambridge High School students, doughnuts and alleged intimidation has led a Nebraska state senator to attempt to broaden the state's hazing law. The bill (LB710), introduced by Sen. Dan Hughes of Venango, grew out of a case in which Cambridge upperclassmen reportedly hazed younger students during a wrestling camp at Hastings College. The older boys placed doughnuts on their genitals and made the younger boys eat the doughnuts while others watched, according to multiple sources. Hughes said similar incidents have occurred both in the state and around the country. It seems hazing incidents are growing in number, he said, although that's hard to document, because young people don't like to testify against, or "rat out," their friends. Nebraska's hazing law now applies to postsecondary organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, and does not include sexually related incidents in the definition of hazing. Hughes said Adams County Attorney Donna Fegler Daiss told him she did not feel Nebraska law allowed her to prosecute the Cambridge case, and so she did not. "That's why I decided we'd take a look at the law and try to expand it to give law enforcement an opportunity to prosecute to make hazing incidents a civil case for high school-age students, or for younger students," he said. The current law says hazing activities include whipping, branding, forced and prolonged calisthenics, prolonged exposure to the elements, forced consumption of food, drinks, drugs or harmful substances, sleep deprivation or brutal treatment. With the bill, activities would broaden to include sexual penetration, exposing one's genitals in order to intimidate or alarm another person, or lewd fondling or caressing of another person. In the Cambridge incident, students were disciplined by the school. Hughes said his intent is to protect kids rather than to punish them. Virginia Moon, representing the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, said schools see the horrible effects of hazing and cyberbullying that goes on in schools, or off grounds. Sometimes situations meant to be funny or harmless turn dangerous, or cause humiliation some students never really recover from in their high school careers, she said. School personnel are torn or confused about what they can or cannot do to intervene, because the law does not apply to younger students. Bobby Truhe, attorney with KSB School Law, also said schools struggle to deal with incidents of hazing, which can include such activities as forcing students to eat hot peppers, chug water until they throw up, strip naked and dance against each other, or "goose" each other. The questions schools consider are whether they have the authority to impose consequences on those students and whether the incidents should be reported to law enforcement. Hughes said the Cambridge Public Schools superintendent, who was to be his star witness at Thursday's hearing, could not testify because the school district is being sued by parents of one of the students disciplined in the alleged hazing incident. The other boy accepted the school's sanction, he said. The lawsuit, filed in Furnas County District Court, says the teen "engaged in immature conduct" and the event wasn't school-sponsored. The parents are asking the court to make the school district take the expulsion off the student's record and to not bring any more sanctions against him. The court documents said, at no time did the student engage in public indecency, assaultive, threatening or coercive behavior nor sexual contact as defined by law." No one showed up at the hearing to oppose the bill or testify in a neutral position. LINCOLN Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon closed Nebraska's same-sex marriage case on Thursday, permanently blocking officials here from enforcing the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The email notification in the case, Waters et al v. Ricketts, came just before 4 p.m. "PERMANENT INJUNCTION: Pursuant to the Memorandum and Order entered this date, IT IS ORDERED that all relevant state officials are ordered to treat same-sex couples the same as different-sex couples in the context of processing a marriage license or determining the rights, protections, obligations or benefits of marriage." In issuing the order, Bataillon ruled that Section 29 of the Nebraska Constitution is unconstitutional. Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that similar state bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee were unconstitutional. That dictated the result in the Nebraska case, Bataillon wrote in his order. But Obergefell didn't specifically declare the state's ban unconstitutional and thus didn't fully resolve concerns of the six same-sex couples who filed the lawsuit, he wrote. Further issues have arisen, including allegations that state workers have refused to issue birth certificates to same-sex couples and instead listed the baby's biological mother as the only parent on the document, he said. "The Court finds (the) plaintiffs are at risk of more and additional deprivations until Section 29 is declared unconstitutional and its enforcement enjoined," the judge wrote. Bataillon said he believes his order will resolve any lingering problems. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson's office is reviewing Bataillon's decision, spokeswoman Suzanne Gage said in a statement. "The State of Nebraska is in full compliance with the Supreme Courts decision in Obergefell v. Hodges and has been since that decision was issued," she said. A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, which represented the couples, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday evening. Omaha Sen. Burke Harr has proposed a legislative resolution that would ask Nebraska voters in November 2016 to repeal the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. That resolution is pending. Is California being governed by apocalyptic French philosophy? Oui. But its not the end of the world. Indeed, apocalyptic French philosophy may finally provide a resolution to that age-old California mystery: What is the meaning of Jerry Brown? In recent years, our governors statements have taken an end-of-days turn, Jerry channeling Jeremiah, with the governor warning of nuclear holocaust, apocalyptic wildfires, the collapse of Silicon Valley if his water plans arent adopted, and Armageddon if we dont reduce carbon emissions. Where is he getting all this angst? Heres one answer: Brown is a longtime friend of the French techno-philosopher Jean-Pierre Dupuy, who practices what is called enlightened doomsaying from perches at Stanford University and Paris Ecole Polytechnique. Dupuys long-running conversations with Brown have become high-profile, with Dupuy joining him at events in Paris during Decembers climate change talks. I am neither French nor a philosopher. But Ive been reading everything Dupuy has published in English. Im glad I did. Dupuys work doesnt just provide reassurance that there is a coherent philosophy behind our governors ramblings. The work itself is irresistibly thought-provoking, brilliantly connecting history, science, religion, economics and art in an open spirit. Id recommend that all Californians as citizens of a global hub for apocalyptic and utopian thinking read his most accessible book, The Mark of the Sacred. It should be required for state workers. Heres a summary: We are doomed to destroy ourselves because humanity has lost touch with its sacred origins not just faith but also rituals and traditions that remind us how many things are beyond human control. This hubris creates two problems. First, we no longer understand our own limits, and recklessly reshape the world without anticipating the consequences. Second, without a respect for the sacred, we cant convert our knowledge about the threats weve created to our own existence from nuclear weapons to climate change into the visceral belief necessary to galvanize humanity to save itself. It is my profound belief that humanity is on a suicidal course, headed straight for catastrophe, Dupuy writes. Dupuys solution: enlightened doomsaying. We must imagine ourselves in the unthinkable future, peering into the black hole of nonexistence so that we might understand our limits and sacred origins. To believe in fate is to prevent it from happening, he writes. That may sound awfully French, but he grounds his philosophy in a California classic: Alfred Hitchcocks film Vertigo, a tale of humans falling, from Fort Point to Mission San Juan Bautista. Dupuy calls the film the womb from which I am issued, and sees humanitys delusions in the fictions within that movies fictions, particularly Jimmy Stewarts imposition of a false reality on Kim Novaks character. So now at the risk of repeating Jimmy Stewarts mistake I will read Dupuy onto Brown. Browns famous skepticism of new programs makes sense if you believe, as Dupuy argues, that man is blind to the consequences of his own belief in progress. Browns focus on avoiding catastrophes from his rainy-day fund to his prioritization of climate change reflects Dupuys prophet of doom calls to focus on postponing the apocalypse. Browns criticism of desire echoes Dupuy, who argues that as we lose our sense of the sacred, we fill the void with individual desires that produce conflict. Heres Brown in a recent speech: California is so full of low-priority needs. First we get a desire, and then the desire is transmogrified into a need, and then we get a law, and then we get a right;,and then we get a lawsuit. Of course, Dupuy, as philosopher, poses questions youll never hear on the stump in Stockton: Has Christianity obliterated it by replacing so many traditional religions and rituals? What are the virtues of scapegoating? And which would be worse: the annihilation of the human race, or the totalitarianism that might be necessary to prevent said annihilation? There are obvious objections to Brown, and to Dupuy. There is a dissonance between their respect for the unknown and the certainty with which they predict Armageddon. I find it unsettling to be governed by someone so focused on the apocalypse. (Of course, my anxiety may be the reaction doomsayers want.) But Im also comforted that our governors warnings have deep philosophical foundations. Dupuy writes that we should think in the future perfect tense as in, by tomorrow, the apocalypse will have happened. From there, we work backward to find the limits that might save us. While there are happier ways to confront the dangers ahead, there may not be a smarter one. Joe Mathews writes the Connecting California column for Zocalo Public Square. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at www.sfgate.com/submissions. How do you say poetic justice in Spanish? You got me. The nativists who nest in both parties are wrong that Latinos arent learning English. More often, by the third generation, weve lost Spanish. This part needs no translation: Donald Trump, who launched his presidential bid nearly eight months ago with a Mexican-bashing screed that united Latinos and generated anger throughout Latin America, limped out of Iowa this week after being roughed up by a couple of Cuban-Americans. Political analysts say its likely that Marco Rubio, who came in third with 23 percent of the vote, siphoned off support from Trump, who wound up with 24 percent. And both Rubio and Trump wound up losing to Ted Cruz, who garnered 28 percent. Just think of it. Trump started his campaign last summer by tapping into the anxiety that many Americans feel about immigration and the fact that the United States is becoming more Hispanic. But, in the Hawkeye State, he was crowded out by the sons of Cuban immigrants. If Hollywood liberals still made movies about people of color, this story would make a great film even if it didnt get any Oscar nominations. The color of the optics was not lost on Ann Coulter. The Trump supporter, and relentless nativist, marked the final returns by tweeting: Trump is the leading GOP vote-getter tonight, among natural-born-American candidates. This again? It must be especially bothersome for Coulter that Trump lost to Cruz. After all, she must see the senator as something of a double foreigner since he was born in Canada. Even so, entrance polls showed that when asked which candidate shared their values, only 5 percent of Iowans named Trump but 38 percent picked Cruz. The Texas senators attack on Trumps New York values might have angered the Manhattan press corps, but Iowans seem to have understood what he meant. Democrats are always quick to note political firsts, and this year many hope to elect the first woman president. Well, Cruz made history this week in Iowa, becoming the first Hispanic candidate to win a presidential caucus or primary. This was all very confusing for many Latino liberals, who refuse to acknowledge Cruzs victory as a legitimate breakthrough because they dont consider Cruz to be a legitimate Hispanic. Rubio also has reason to be proud. He nearly tied Trump for second place. My favorite line from Monday night was an outburst from one of his backers. The senator said to a group of supporters: They told me I needed to wait my turn. A woman in the audience shouted: It is your turn! We shall see if voters in the next three states New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada agree. And what about Trump? The mesmerizing political outsider, who promised voters in Iowa that, if he is elected president, America will never stop winning, exited the state as a loser. That raises questions. Trump knows how to win, but does he know how to lose with dignity? His concession speech in Iowa was gracious enough. Before the pundits could gloat about the one-time GOP front-runner coming in second, Trump was out in front of the story gushing his affection for Iowans. But how long will this kinder, gentler Trump be with us? If he loses New Hampshire, will he still be as magnanimous as he saunters into South Carolina? The Palmetto State is Trumps to lose, judging from the polls. His Make America Great Again populism is a good fit in the South. But the businessman could still snatch defeat from the clutches of victory if he loses the first two contests and appears angry and bitter. No one wants to see a billionaire play the victim. Perhaps some personal rebranding is in order. Trump likes to brag about having rescued dozens of distressed companies over the years and breathing new life into them. Coming off his defeat in Iowa, it might be Trump who needs rescuing. If his old brand is now associated with losing, hell need a new marketing plan when he gets to New Hampshire. Because if he loses there, Americans might conclude that the candidate who perfected the art of the deal cant close one with voters. ruben@rubennavarrette.com California has its first weed czar otherwise known as chief of its Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation and its a Republican, Lori Ajax, who is now chief deputy director of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The job which insiders have nicknamed the chief BuMMR (as in Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation) pays $150,636 a year. Gov. Jerry Browns appointment Thursday of Ajax requires confirmation by the state Senate. If Ajax, 50, is approved, she will get the rare opportunity in Sacramento to create a state agency. The marijuana czar will hire 40 to 50 people, whose salary would be paid for with the stream of new cannabis licensing fees created by Californias recently passed medical marijuana law. But much of the job will involve the routine of administration, such as creating information technology systems and crafting regulation policy. Cannabis activists were guardedly optimistic about the choice Thursday, noting Ajax previously handled alcohol licensing for 20 northern California counties, giving her contacts with local officials in the part of the state where 60 percent of the nations marijuana is produced. Steve DeAngelo, owner of the Harborside Health Center in Oakland, which is Californias largest medical cannabis dispensary, was cautiously optimistic Thursday. He was impressed that Ajax led a delegation to visit Harborside in April 2014. For me, thats reassuring because it showed me that she has an interest in learning about the industry, DeAngelo said. And shes a woman, which is great, because the cannabis industry needs some more diversity. Others in the business had asked Brown to appoint someone with no ties to the cannabis industry who would be able to navigate state bureaucracy. Lori comes to us as a relative unknown, which is a good thing from our perspective, said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. She is a very skilled bureaucrat, Allen said. And she doesnt have a horse in the race as far as how this comes out in terms of issuing cannabis-related licenses. Somebody from L.A. could have a hard time understanding what it looks like in the northern counties. Sean Donahoe, a top marijuana industry consultant who knows Sacramento and has worked on political campaigns unrelated to cannabis in California, said Ajaxs Republican affiliation a rarity in marijuana circles might help her in this job. There might be greater confidence in some of the rural counties in a Republican czar, Donahoe said. Ajax has been chief deputy director at the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control since she was appointed 2014. She had previously served in several positions in the department since 1995. Joe Garofoli is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BALLYMENA, Northern Ireland (AP) It has no windows but offers unrestricted views of Armageddon. Northern Ireland is selling its Cold War-era nuclear bunker, an underground installation with room for 235 beds that sellers imagine could be transformed into a tourist attraction or blast-proof storage facility. Journalists took a tour Thursday of one of Northern Ireland's strangest real estate offerings. For 575,000 pounds ($850,000), the successful buyer could acquire a 46,363-square-foot (4,300-square-meter) grass-topped building discretely situated on 3.74 acres (1.51 hectares) of rolling fields northwest of Belfast. Northern Ireland's leaders have decided they can survive without the bunker, which was built in the 1980s to protect key government and legal figures from a Russian nuclear strike. The facility includes a conference room and broadcasting suite. Its existence was a state secret until 2007. LONDON It started more than five years ago as what appeared to be a fairly simple sex crime case: two women in Sweden came forward to accuse Julian Assange of sexual misconduct. Now the case has mutated into a complicated international drama involving Britain, Sweden, the United States, Ecuador, a host of human rights lawyers and the United Nations. But when the dust settles from an unexpected U.N. working groups finding Friday that Assange has been unlawfully detained, the painful stalemate is expected to continue, and Assange though claiming full vindication will most likely remain cooped up in the Ecuadoran Embassy in London. The panel said his stay at the embassy which he entered voluntarily in 2012 constitutes arbitrary detention and that he should be set free and compensated for lost time. Lawyer and legal blogger Carl Gardner said the finding beggars belief and pointed out it isnt legally binding. The sex crime allegations came at the height of Assanges fame as the founder of WikiLeaks, an organization that had made a name for itself by releasing hundreds of thousands of pages of classified government documents. He had challenged, and embarrassed, U.S. officials with his disclosures, and feared a secret indictment in U.S. courts that could lead to prosecution there. One woman said Assange intentionally damaged a condom and pinned her down while having sex. A second woman said Assange had sex with her without a condom while she was asleep. In Sweden, having sex with an unconscious, drunk or sleeping person can lead to a rape conviction punishable by up to six years in prison. A Swedish investigation into the crimes was launched, then dropped for lack of evidence, and then started again as prosecutors sought to question Assange about possible molestation and rape. The computer hacker facing no criminal charges left Sweden for Britain, and the legal palaver begun. When prosecutors decided they needed to question him about the womens allegations, they sought an international arrest warrant for him that was issued in November, 2010. By then, Assange was in London, where he was seen by many as a hero in a David versus Goliath struggle pitting scrappy WikiLeaks against the mighty U.S. government. Assange repeatedly said his resistance was based on the overriding fear that once he was in the hands of British or Swedish authorities, he would be extradited to the U.S. to face trial there on charges related to his WikiLeaks work. A politically disparate, influential group of thought-heavyweights has its eye on New Mexico for a clampdown on government prosecutions of people for crimes they didn't know they'd committed. Last week, the Charles Koch Institute and the Rio Grande Foundation, New Mexico's libertarian think tank, co-sponsored a discussion in Albuquerque about what they call "over-criminalization." At their side was the executive director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Kicking off the event, Indy car racing legend and New Mexico icon Bobby Unser described in florid detail his tangle with the federal government over an obscure law it used to charge him 20 years ago. As Unser explained it, he survived a harrowing trek through the mountains in blizzard conditions, only to be slapped with a fine once he emerged. Politics have not made strange bedfellows of the Koch brothers, billionaire standard bearers for conservative and corporate America, and the criminal defense lawyers association, a traditionally liberal organization. Rather, criminal justice reform has. Increasingly, the left-right divide is vanishing on topics from mandatory minimum sentences to civil asset forfeiture to heavy-handed police tactics. The issue on the stage at the Hotel Albuquerque last week: "mens rea reform," also known as "intent reform." "Mens rea" means "guilty mind," and it is the immediate sibling of actus reus, or "guilty act." Together, as any first-year law student could attest, they form the basis of what the government is supposed to prove to convict someone of a crime: that a defendant committed an illegal act, and that the defendant intended to do so. The problem, according to the forum's participants: Policymakers have fatted the statute books with laws long on the act, but short on the mind. Legislators have passed too many laws without a clear standard of intent, they say. In 2010, the criminal defense lawyers group and the conservative Heritage Foundation coauthored a report on what they called the erosion of intent requirements in federal law. Panelists at last week's forum pointed out that there are more than 4,400 federal laws on the books and hundreds more enshrined in New Mexico statutes. They asked: Would it be reasonable for citizens to know them all? And would it be reasonable for the government to prosecute people under a law they didn't know existed let alone intended to break? Their short answer is no, it is not reasonable. And New Mexico could be the perfect place for ensuring mens rea requirements are specified in criminal law. After all, this is a state with a tough-on-crime former prosecutor for a governor who, to the surprise of many, signed into law last year one of the nation's most sweeping sets of restrictions on the practice of law enforcement confiscating people's property prior to conviction. The Charles Koch Institute's Vikrant Reddy said in a telephone interview that he believes Gov. Susana Martinez's willingness to move forward on civil asset forfeiture reformand the state's "thoughtful, serious" approach to complex criminal justice issuesmay signal an opening for mens rea changes here as well. Martinez has been linked to the Kochs before. In 2013, she attended a secret confab of wealthy donors hosted by the Koch brothers at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort in Bernalillo. And between 2010 and 2014, Koch Industries donated more than $20,000 to her political campaigns. About 75 people attended the Albuquerque event. The assemblage included local lawyers whose political bents range from dyed-in-the-wool libertarian to left of Bernie Sanders. There were shaggy-haired hipsters in jeans and tweed jackets, other folks in three-piece suits. There were people in their 70s or 80s. A girl of 9 or 10 attended with her parents. Seated near the center of the room was a fellow with a gray, thinning ponytail who wore a black cowboy hat, a bowler's shirt emblazoned with the logo of a Rio Rancho Masonic lodge and an open-carry pistol on his hip. The panelists told the crowd that change in New Mexico might mirror legislation passed in Ohio in 2014. The Buckeye State's law requires legislators to include in newly created laws a base level of intent that the government must prove to convict someone. The mens rea law in Ohio also requires more precision from the state for convictions under existing laws as well. "The intent requirement in criminal statute is the moral anchor in our law," Norman Reimer, executive director of the NACDL, said at the forum. "Intent makes criminal law fair and reasonable." Before any of that, Unser took the stage. He regaled the crowd in a gravelly tone scraped from the pits of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway with his oft-told tale of big government run amok. Twenty years ago at Christmastime, Unser and a friend were stranded in the South San Juan Wilderness near the New Mexico-Colorado border, after their snowmobiles broke down during a blizzard. It took the pair two grueling days to hike out of the wilderness. Unser mentioned snow caves, tissue paper, matches, mothballs and the kicking down of a barn door in a florid Q and A with Reddy that was more A than Q. After his escape from the would-be frozen death sentence, Unser was cited for violating the federal Wilderness Act by driving a snowmobile into a wilderness area. The infraction carried a $75 fine. There were no signposts marking the wilderness area. There were white-out conditions besides, and Unser said he didn't know snowmobiling in the South San Juan was illegal. "Mens reaI don't know what that is," he said to a roomful of approving nods. "All I know is I had no intention of doing something wrong. My intention was to stay alive." Later, his intention was to fight the federal government, which he did in US District Court in Denver. His trial there coincided with that of Timothy McVeigh, who bombed a federal building in Oklahoma City. Unser lost. And he lost again on appeal. But his story lent a personal feel to the forum. Skepticism abides of the Koch brothers' increasingly public push for criminal justice reform. Just last week, journalist Jane Mayer reported in The New Yorker on whether it is part of a skillful rebranding campaign meant to distance the brothers from their dark-money, puppet master image. Mens rea reform is not without controversy, either. It appears to be a potential sticking point in the national criminal justice reform debate, and its inclusion could derail bipartisan efforts in Congress to amend sentencing laws and other aspects of the system. Critics have wondered aloud whether bolstering intent requirements would open the door for corporations to claim ignorance of the law or benign motives and thus avoid liability for criminal acts. Environmental crimes often come to mind for those suspicious of the real intent behind "intent reform." The panelists at last week's forum in Albuquerque seemed aware of the criticism. They told horror stories of people in Florida facing charges for contraband that didn't belong to them in the trunks of rental cars. And they gave Unser 45 minutes to describe his tangle with the feds over the obscure law they charged him with breaking. CKI's Reddy told New Mexico In Depth that he understands the concerns about loosening restrictions on corporate crime. But disagreeing with mens rea reform efforts "is not the way to address the corporate malfeasance they're concerned about." Further, he said there's plenty in mens rea reform for average New Mexicans. Reddy gave the hypothetical example of someone whose boat leaks oil into a river. Was the boater purposefully polluting the river? Was it a reckless act, an act of negligence? Or was it a freak accident? Laws that don't differentiate between levels of intent can criminalize behavior that would not otherwise rise to the level of a crime. "Those levels matter," he said. "It's a mistake to say it's either [a crime] or [it's not]. Mens rea protections have for a thousand years been protections for defendants, all defendants. Anyone in the US could be a defendant, especially now, because there are so many laws." Whether New Mexico will become the next battleground for stricter intent requirements remains to be seen. The Rio Grande Foundation's Paul Gessing said he hopes to build interest and support for mens rea reform this year and potentially put it before the Legislature in 2017. This story by Jeff Proctor was published by New Mexico In Depth as part of its "Justice Project." Santa Fe Reporter LINCOLN Nebraska will shed its unique ban on meatpacking corporations owning hogs following a contentious round of voting Friday in the Legislature. Supporters of the measure (LB176), sponsored by state Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala, said opening up Nebraska's hog market to companies like Smithfield and Tyson Foods will make the state more competitive with its neighbors and lessen the risk for new pig farmers. Opponents warned the change could have a devastating effect on the state's local pork producers and harm the environment by resulting in more big hog confinement facilities. They also accused lawmakers of buckling under influence from lobbyists backed by corporate agriculture. "Money wins over the will of the people. Money won this," John Hansen of the Nebraska Farmers Union said after the vote. Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill following two hours of debate Friday, first ending a filibuster of the measure, then passing it, both on 34-14 votes. The measure had already advanced through two rounds of debate. When it takes effect, the change will undo the pig portion of the 1999 law which makes it illegal for packers to own swine or cattle in Nebraska for more than five days before slaughter. Other Midwestern states had adopted similar measures but have since repealed them. Nebraska will now join those states in allowing meat processors like Chinese-owned Smithfield to contract with farmers to raise pigs in large concentrated operations. That helps the packers control product consistency, minimize costs and squeeze out more profit. "I'm glad it passed; it's the right thing to have happen," Schilz said. Groups opposed to the bill had waged a publicity war in the weeks leading up to Friday's vote. Hansen said the overwhelming majority of Nebraskans who wrote letters, sent emails and called lawmakers about the bill asked them to oppose it. But some senators bristled at the suggestion that campaign contributions, especially from Smithfield, had impacted their votes. "Don't demonize someone who is on a different side," said Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, who supported the bill. Horticulture New Zealand says the memorandum of understanding signed today between former foes Zespri and T&G Global is an example of how the horticultural industry will achieve a planned doubling in value by 2020. Kiwifruit marketer Zespri and NZX-listed produce company T&G have committed to developing market opportunities together to grow export sales and kicked that off with a collaborative marketing partnership in four south east Asian countries Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos, in the 2016 season - involving both kiwifruit and apples. The industry strategy released last year aims to have a $10 billion horticulture industry by 2020 and says for that to happen, market players have to collaborate and focus on markets with the greatest potential. Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Mike Chapman said the Zespri/T&G collaboration illustrates two key aspects identified in the strategy scale and expertise. This is exactly what needs to happen and is a great example to other horticultural exporters to try to develop similar collaborations, he said. While there were already a number of collaborations in the industry, most were still small scale, Chapman said. Kiwifruit is New Zealands second-largest horticultural export behind wine, with exports of just over $1 billion in the 2015 year, and remains subject to a legislated export monopoly regime except in the Australian market, where Zespri is planning to reposition kiwifruit as a higher margin product. Under the new deal, T&G will open an office in Bangkok to support the two companies sales of both Zespri kiwifruit and T&G branded products such as Jazz and Envy apples into the region. It hopes to boost Zespris current sales of 670,000 trays of kiwifruit into the four countries to 1 million trays this year. BayWa bought 73 percent of T&G for $158 million in 2012 soon after T&G dropped an appeal against a 2010 High Court ruling that upheld Zespris monopoly rights. Dave Courtney, Zespris general manager of grower & government relations, said the collaboration could be the first of many with T&G where it had a stronger footprint in a market and better distribution than Zespri. Its the first of its kind to be approved by regulator Kiwifruit NZ, which under the regulations setting up Zespris single-desk marketing status has to authorise any collaborative marketing deals. Kiwifruit New Zealands 2014/15 annual report shows collaborative marketing returns have risen to $16.4 million from $10.8 million in the past decade but by volume still represent only a small portion of the industry. New Zealands avocado industry has doubled the value of the industry to $135 million in the past four years, in part due to more collaboration. Jen Scoular, chief executive of industry group NZ Avocado, said its Primary Growth Partnership, NZ Avocados Go Global, aims to triple productivity to 12 tonnes per hectare and quadruple returns to $280 million annually by 2023. Five years ago, the top three avocado exporters representing 85 percent of the industry set up a marketing entity, Avanza, setting aside their traditional rivalries to collaboratively market the fruit outside New Zealand and Australia. Since then two of them, Southern Produce and Primor Produce, have also set up Avoco to do the same thing in the Australian market. Scoular says while the industry doesnt have the single-desk status of Zespri, collaboration on everything but pricing is working in growers interests and that experience could have application in other horticultural industries. T&G shares last traded at $2.10 on the NZX. 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Related News: October 21st Morning Report Air New Zealand Limited Retail Bond Offer Books Close Spark welcomes C-band spectrum allocation AIA - 2022 Annual Meeting Chair & Chief Executive Addresses MOVE Completes Purchase of Vessel for Trans-Tasman Service Heartland to purchase Challenger Bank in Australia, and provides lending growth update October 20th Morning Report VTL - Director Resignation - Reg Barrett Infratil 2022 Sydney Investor Day Rua Bioscience Confirms First International Order Nicht Ihr Computer? Dann konnen Sie fur die Anmeldung ein Fenster zum privaten Surfen offnen. Weitere Informationen 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. WASHINGTON: The U.S. has launched anti-dumping investigations into a certain category of tyres from China, India and Sri Lanka that might have harmed the domestic industry. This is for the first time that anti-dumping investigations have been launched into the tyres coming to the US from India, while Chinese tyres have faced a similar investigation in the past. In a statement, the US department of commerce said the investigations cover certain new pneumatic off-the-road tyres designed for off-the-road (OTR) and off-highway use such as in agricultural fields, forests, construction sites, factory and warehouse interiors, airport tarmacs, ports and harbors, mines, quarries, gravel yards and steel mills. The investigations against China cover only off road tyres that are mounted to wheels or rims as Commerce currently has antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) orders on new pneumatic off-the-road tyres from China that have been in place since September 2008. Countervailing is when a foreign government provides financial subsidies to a company for the manufacturing of products and ties those subsidies to export performance. For India and Sri Lanka, the scope of these new investigations not only covers the same scope of merchandise as the ongoing orders against China, but it also covers tyres whether or not they are mounted to wheels or rims The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before February 22. Reputed International trade attorney Dharmendra N Choudhary warned that more anti-dumping cases against Indian tyres may be coming soon. "Going forward, the Indian producers and exporters of passenger vehicle and light truck tyres as well as truck and bus tyres could likely face anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigation in USA, should they succeed in significantly increasing their market share," Choudhary told PTI. "Indian OTR tyre exporters would need to stay within 10 per cent combined anti-dumping and countervailing duty rate based on the fact that in the last concluded AD proceeding on Chinese OTR tyres, the AD duty rate on top Chinese exporters was only 11.34 per cent and the CVD rates on leading Chinese OTR tyre exporters were generally in low single digits," Choudhary said. In its statement, the US department of commerce said if ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports of certain new pneumatic off-the-road tyres from China, India, and/or Sri Lanka materially injure, or threaten material injury to the domestic off road tyre industry, the investigations will continue, and Commerce will be scheduled to make its preliminary CVD determinations in April and its preliminary AD determinations in June 2016. Also Read: Chip Powers Wearable Device To Guide Visually-Impaired Government Targets 50 Per Cent Reduction in Road Accidents in Next 5 Years CALIFORNIA: At a time when the world is bracing itself against the growing Zika virus, social networking giant Facebook has partnered with Brazils non-profit Abrasco Divulga to help combat the disease that has spread to more than 20 countries. In a Facebook post, its founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that as a community, we can help fight the Zika virus by raising awareness. The Zika virus is one of the biggest public health challenges right now. For pregnant women who get the virus, it has been linked to brain damage for their babies, the 31-year-old billionaire posted. The virus is carried by mosquitoes. There are no medicines to treat or prevent the virus yet, so right now the most important thing is to try to avoid mosquito bites, he added. Zuckerberg also posted a video link from their campaign that, he hopes, will provide valuable information to expectant mothers. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international emergency over the Zika virus. The mosquito-transmitted Zika virus outbreak in some countries of the Americas, notably Brazil, has been linked to cases of microcephaly, which causes underdeveloped brains in babies. The causal relation between the Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected. Over 1.5 million Brazilians are estimated to have been infected by the virus over the past few months. Also Read: Scientists Replicate Folding Human Brain in 3D in Lab 'Balancing Act for India to Fund Stem Cell Research, Fight Poverty' Sunday's Super Bowl is almost here. We've given you plenty of ideas for what to serve at your party. So what will you be sipping? There's always beer and wine. But do it up right with three special cocktails, inspired by the Carolina Panthers, the Denver Broncos, and the city of San Francisco, which is hosting the big game. The Carolinas are known for good barbecue, washed down with sweet tea. Carolina Front Porch Tea is a good match for a lot of the sauce-driven snacks that are common at Super Bowl parties. It's easy to make - no cocktail shakers necessary - by adding in order peach schnapps, sweet tea and bourbon, garnished with a lemon wedge. Recipes included with this story: Carolina Front Porch Tea; Rocky Mountain Blast; San Francisco Cocktail. Nothing cuts through the bone-chilling cold of a Denver winter like a blast of whiskey, though the Amaretto and lime juice in the Rocky Mountain Blast cocktail soften the blow. Serve ice cold in a large shot glass or cordial glass with a wedge of lime. Want a cocktail to go with Super Bowl desserts? The San Francisco Cocktail is made with sloe gin, a liqueur that combines gin and sweet sloe berries. It's paired with equal amounts of sweet and dry vermouth, plus dashes of two types of bitters, all dressed up with a maraschino cherry. As always, pace yourself and drink responsibly on Super Bowl Sunday. And raise a toast to your favorite team! -- Grant Butler gbutler@oregonian.com 503-221-8566; @grantbutler NYPD Officers Shot Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) (Julio Cortez) NEW YORK -- One of the officers shot while patrolling a New York public housing complex will be released from the hospital. Officer Patrick Espeut was struck in the cheek. Authorities say he will be go home Friday afternoon. Police say three officers encountered two people in a stairwell Thursday night when one of them pulled a gun and opened fire. Two officers were struck. Police say the shooter fled into an apartment where officers found him dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities say 23-year-old Malik Chavis had at least 16 prior arrests and told witnesses he didn't want to go back to jail. The other injured officer, Diara Cruz, remains hospitalized with a torso wound. UPDATE: The officers are in stable condition and one suspect is dead, according to police. A city official says two New York City police officers have been shot in the Bronx. It happened around 8 p.m. Thursday near E. 156th Street in the Melrose section. NBC New York reports that the officers were inside a city housing complex when they were shot in a hallway. Despite earlier reports that the officers were critically or gravely injured, the NYPD has reported that the injuries are not life-threatening. The official was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. The official said one of the officers was shot in the face; the other was shot in the arm. The officers, both from the 40th Precinct, were taken to Lincoln Hospital. The shooting happened less than five miles from where Mayor Bill de Blasio is delivering his State of the City speech. A spokeswoman for the New York City Police Department said she did not immediately have information on the shooting. Cusick Assemblyman Michael Cusick on the Assembly floor explains his bill to combine the September state primaries with the federal primaries in June. (Photo courtesy of Assemblyman Cusick's office) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Why not have three elections this year instead of four and save some money? That's what Assemblyman Michael Cusick is arguing with his bill to move the September state and local primaries to coincide with the scheduled June federal primaries. His bill overwhelmingly passed the Assembly on Tuesday, while the Senate bill, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, has not yet been voted on. In the past, the Senate Republican majority has balked at moving the September primaries to June and is expected to oppose the bill again this year. It has argued it would be difficult for lawmakers facing primaries to run campaigns while they're busy in Albany. There are no primary challenges in the offing to either Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) or U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York), but if they do face in-party competition, it would take place during the federal primaries on June 28, with general elections on Nov. 8. Primaries for state and local elections, including any of the Senate and Assembly races on the Nov. 8 ballot, would fall on Sept. 13, the date Cusick is hoping to eliminate by moving them to June. The city Board of Elections is amenable to the idea of combining the June and September primaries, executive director Michael Ryan said. But "we're not endorsing a date," he said. "It doesn't necessarily have to be either/or, it could be somewhere in the middle." November would be the general elections for president, U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and state legislative seats. Cusick (D-Mid-Island) estimates combining the June and September elections would save municipalities $25 million across the state and encourage higher voter turnout by eliminating another trip to the polls. "Put simply, combining the federal and state primary election date just makes sense," Cusick said in a statement. "Many Staten Islanders and New Yorkers from across the state were going to head to the polls four times this year alone. As the chair of the Committee on Election Law, I am always looking for ways to make our electoral process as fair and easy for voters as possible. Eliminating one of these election dates eases the burden of getting to the polls during a normal work day, and will increase voter turnout in these critical elections." Ryan estimates up to $13 million could be saved in the five boroughs if there are primaries throughout the city. "It always going to be fluid because you never know whether for a special election it's going to be a full blown citywide election or not," he said. "We have to plan for primaries in every jurisdiction because they may happen." On April 19, registered Republicans and Democrats will vote in the presidential primaries, and voters in the 62nd Assembly District will choose a candidate in a recently-set special election to fill the vacant seat of the former assemblyman, now-Councilman Joe Borelli. Having both a state special election and two presidential primaries creates a complicated scenario for the Board of Elections, but not as complicated as initially thought. A couple weeks ago, Ryan said for polling places in the 62nd AD, the Board of Elections would set up double the number of scanning machines normally used in elections. That would accommodate the separate ballots for the federal primaries and the state special election. While the separate ballots will remain, the design of the Assembly ballot will shift so that the machines can read all three types of ballots. Also, voters in the 62nd AD will only sign the voting book once, with space for two ballots stub numbers next to their names, instead of signing twice. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The following are Mayor Bill de Blasio's remarks to media on the shooting of two police officers in the Bronx, delivered at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, also in the Bronx: "Thank you very much, Commissioner. Our brave officers were doing their jobs tonight in our public housing, on patrol, keeping the residents safe, when they confronted an armed assailant. You'll hear more momentarily but thank God so far, in both cases, their condition is good. We have more that has to play out this evening. And they're getting very fine care here at Lincoln Hospital and I want to thank everyone at Lincoln Hospital. "I'm pleased to say both officers have been alert and communicating. So, we are praying for the best here, and of course, our hearts and our prayers are with their families. We met with the family of one of the officers. The other family is on the way. We'll let them know the officers are getting very good care and a lot of attention to help them through this trying moment. It's another example of what our officers confront every single day, keeping us safe not only on the streets of New York City, but in the stairwells and the hallways of our public housing developments. "I want to thank all the leaders of the NYPD who are here. I want to thank Pat Lynch of the PBA. And I want to thank all of the elected officials who are here in solidarity with these officers and their families, including: Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Public Advocate Tish James, Bronx DA Darcel Clark, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Assembly Member Michael Blake. I also want to thank the President of the Health and Hospitals Corporation, which runs this hospital - Ram Raju - and the Chair of the Housing Authority, Shola Olatoye. "These officers - again, getting fine care here. Both - very early in their work on the force. Both - two years on the job, but doing their job, going out there, keeping people safe, and running into some bad guys, but, thank God that first responders came to their aid. The hospital is standing by them, taking care of them. And, again, our thoughts, our prayers, our hearts are with them and their family." 2 cops wounded in public housing shooting; 1 suspect dead Mayor Bill de Blasio, State of the City 2016, Lehman College, #OURCITY Mayor Bill de Blasio delivers his State of the City address at Lehman College in the Bronx on Thursday, February 4, 2016. ( Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office) CITY HALL -- Improving the quality of life in neighborhoods across the five boroughs was the focus of Mayor Bill de Blasio's third annual State of the City address on Thursday. The mayor used the speech, called "One New York, Working for Our Neighborhoods," as an opportunity to detail progress during the first half of de Blasio's term and explore ways to combat remaining challenges through new initiatives and effective management. "New Yorkers deserve strong neighborhoods. Safe neighborhoods. Clean neighborhoods," de Blasio said in closing his speech at Lehman College in the Bronx. As the mayor spoke, two police officers were shot at a Bronx public housing project a few miles away. De Blasio left his address and headed to the hospital where both were in stable condition. The mayor had highlighted heroic acts from several police officers during his speech. "It feels good to thank people who have saved lives," he said. Most of the address concentrated on efforts for New Yorkers living in denser parts of the city, as is generally the case with the mayor's core initiatives. But Staten Islanders will still benefit from several new policies outlined Thursday. De Blasio said the city is working to create a retirement savings program for private-sector employees. Full-speed broadband service at public housing will expand to the Stapleton Houses in 2017. Shoulders and ramps on the Staten Island Expressway, dirty Hylan Boulevard sidewalks and graffiti across the borough will be targeted under a new cleaning initiative. The city will install 100 countdown clocks at Staten Island bus routes and work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to add traffic-signal priority for buses on Victory Boulevard. Drivers will be able to pay for parking on their mobile phones by the end of the year. "The mayor laid out past accomplishments and a future vision that continues to chip away at the tale of two cities," Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) said. De Blasio also backed construction of a $2.5 billion Brooklyn-Queens streetcar line, angering Rose and other Staten Island elected officials who believe not enough investment has been made on new mass transit for the borough. Some of those local officials saw that same blind spot throughout the speech. "Although the name Staten Island was mentioned a few times, there was a deafening silence on new initiatives or plans to address Staten Island's various needs," Borough President James Oddo said. He had also expected to hear about progress the city made on several borough projects, including a St. George innovation hub and a request for private investment at Freshkills Park. While new investment for Far Rockaway in Queens, the South Bronx and Brooklyn's Brownsville were discussed heavily, no neighborhoods on Staten Island got the same treatment in de Blasio's speech. "My district is roughly the same size as the borough of Manhattan, with unique challenges from transportation to opioid addition, and nothing is mentioned for us," Councilman Joseph Borelli (R-South Shore) said. "Nothing." Minority Leader Steven Matteo (R-Mid-Island) also called out such an "omission." "I am disappointed that in an address that was supposed to lay out how this administration intends to help all New Yorkers , there were no announcements, no plans, no proposed studies, no show of support for the projects and programs which could meaningfully improve the lives of the residents of Staten Island," Matteo said. Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon was the borough's only city-elected official who traveled up to the Bronx for the address. Matteo and Borelli were attending a meeting of the Republican County Committee to select a South Shore state Assembly special election. Oddo had a prior commitment. And Rose couldn't attend because she is still recovering from knee surgery. The speech was delivered at night as part of an effort to increase engagement. The focus also broke from previous years -- de Blaiso's first two annual addresses centered on his push for universal pre-K and longterm affordable housing plan. De Blasio spent the first part of this year's address outlining what has happened in his first two years in office, with an emphasis on housing, homelessness and education. Lori Honor of Honor Wines in St. George was the first person featured in a promotional video played before the speech where New Yorkers shared how city initiatives impacted them. She spoke about running a small business. "For small businesses, time is money -- am I right, Lori?" de Blasio said to the audience. "Yes, sir," Honor shouted back. The mayor pointed to half-hour Staten Island Ferry service and plans to replace three aging vessels over the next four years. One of those boats will be named after Army Staff Sgt. Michael Ollis, a New Dorp native who died in Afghanistan in 2013. Rob and Linda Ollis, Michael's parents, attended the address and got a standing ovation when de Blasio mentioned them. The mayor used Burbank Avenue, where Ollis grew up and his parents still live, as an example of how city residents come through for each other. "That's what New York City is for all of us," de Blasio said. "A great city of small towns that we call neighborhoods, where people stand by each other and have a love for their community that often stretches back generations." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Several inches of snow may be headed our way early next week, according to a meteorologist with AccuWeather. "Plowable snow is possible Monday night into Tuesday," according to Andy Mussoline, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, who added that "several inches may be possible." Snow could fall throughout the day on Tuesday with temperatures near or above freezing, he said. The high for both Monday and Tuesday is expected to be 36 degrees, with lows in the 20s. While there is a "good chance" that there will be snow, the timing and the amount are uncertain this far ahead of the storm, he said. A storm tracking now from the central Great Lakes eastward toward the mid-Atlantic coast is expected to develop into a coastal storm that heads northeastward parallel to the New England coast. The relatively warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean may cause the storm to strengthen as it barrels north toward Staten Island and the rest of New York City. "It will be a situation that warrants keeping an eye on it," Mussoline said of the storm, but he added, "How much snow can fall out of that storm still is in question." BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- A Staten Island man had just gotten off the express bus in lower Manhattan Friday morning when he heard the crane collapse in Tribeca. "I heard a loud metal wrenching sound," said Sunnyside resident Michael Arvanites. "It must have been when the crane hit a building and that was sound of the bricks coming off." Arvanities, who is president of the Safety Professional Association that represents thousands of construction safety managers, got off his stop near Church Street and walked two blocks to the scene on Worth Street. When he got there, he said, the site was flooded with cops and emergency personnel. He saw three people injured by the debris taken away in ambulances. "It's a tragedy," he said. The huge construction crane being lowered to safety plummeted into a Lower Manhattan street, killing a 38-year-old man and injuring three people, officials said. David Wichs, of Manhattan, was sitting in a parked car when the crane fell near 60 Worth St., police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people suffered serious injuries, but were in stable condition. EMS transported a 45-year-old woman with leg injury and head laceration to Beekman Hospital and a 73-year-old man with a head laceration was taken to Bellevue Hospital, police said. None of the workers at the site were injured, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The boom landed across an intersection, smashed several car roofs and stretched much of a block after the accident around 8:24 a.m. at a historic building about 10 blocks north of the World Trade Center. In the aftermath, the crane's big cab lay upside-down in the snow with its tank-like tracks pointed at the sky. Red metal from the boom jutted up in an intersection next to a green street sign for the Brooklyn Bridge. According to the Associated Press, the accident happened as workers were trying to secure the mobile crane against winds around 20 mph by lowering the boom, which had been extended to as long as 565 feet the day before. Because the crane was being lowered, workers were directing pedestrians away from it on a street that otherwise would likely have been busy with people, officials said. "Thank God we didn't have more injuries and lose more people," de Blasio said. "It's something of a miracle that there was not more of an impact." Officials were working to determine why the crane fell. The rig had been working for about a week to replace air conditioning equipment and generators on the roof of 60 Hudson Street, a 425-foot-tall, Jazz Age skyscraper that once housed Western Union and takes up an entire block, officials said. City building inspectors had been at the site only Thursday because the boom was being extended so it could reach farther onto the roof, de Blasio said. Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler said inspectors found no problems then with the crane, "but obviously, it requires investigation in terms of the way this was done," he said. -- Associated Press material was used in this report. NWS MICROSFT.JPG City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced a partnership with the Microsoft Corp. Thursday, Feb. 4, that would give the city's 1.1 million public school students and families free at-home access to Microsoft software. (Staten Island Advance) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A partnership between the city, the Department of Education and the Microsoft Corp. will allow students and families in city schools to have free access to Microsoft software at home. Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina and City Council President Melissa Mark-Viverito announced the collaborative initiative Thursday, hours before Mayor Bill de Blasio was due to give his State of the City address. Under the initiative, the city's 1.1 million public school students and families will be able to download Office 2016, Office for Mac 2016, and the Office 365 mobile apps available for Windows 10 tablets, iPhone, iPad and Android devices. All of these are part of Microsoft's Office 365 Education and available to download from the website https://studentoffice.net/. There is no cost for up to five downloads on personal computers, Windows or Mac, up to five tablets and up to five smart phones. "This initiative is about providing students with the tools they need to succeed," said Mark-Viverito. "Technology like Microsoft software enhances the educational experience and infuses learning with crucial hands-on computer skills - skills that will be an asset as students prepare for college and the workforce," she said. "We are committed to using technology as a tool to facilitate better instruction and engage students and families," said Farina. "This exciting new initiative is going to help us do just that. "I thank Speaker Mark-Viverito, the New York City Council, and Microsoft for their partnership." "We are proud to join with the New York City Department of Education to support educators in preparing students for college and careers," said Margo Day, vice president for education at Microsoft. According to the DOE the software is meant to be used as a learning tool by students and teachers. Students, for example, can create e-notebooks. Teachers can distribute assignments or quizzes to the e-notebooks, and students can connect to each other's e-notebooks and work together on projects. Students will also have out-of-school access to word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software that they can use to complete schoolwork and skills in these areas will also support them in college and careers. City University students also have free access to Microsoft software under a similar partnership between the city and Microsoft. SMACKING children should be banned from all areas of life in France, including the heart of the family, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has urged. The lack of a law to ban smacking children is part of a number of criticisms of human rights, in particular those of children, in a new report on France by the UN body. Discrimination against gypsies and the poor treatment of disabled children were also highlighted. The report asks that France ban corporal punishment in all areas including the heart of the family, from schools, nurseries and in alternative healthcare. In March last year, France was criticised by the Council of Europe for the lack of a ban on smacking, but seven out of ten people in the country are opposed to such a measure. See also: France must be tough on smacking French say "non" to smacking ban The organisation said it was particularly concerned about the treatment of disabled children in institutions in France, and called for a ban on packing - the practice of tightly wrapping autistic children in cold wet cloth. It also asked that France remove legal obstacles to children knowing the identities of their biological parents in the cases where they were immediately given up for adoption. The law currently allows for children to be born ne sous X, allowing the mother to guard her anonymity, something that cannot be lifted without her consent. The report also highlighted the persistence of racial discrimination and stigmatisation of Roma children and the worrying condition of migrant children, particularly those living in the Jungle camp in Calais. A member of the UN group Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi told a press conference that there was a gap between the behaviour being ordered by the State and what was being carried out on the ground. Photo:Flickr/Emily Lighting up the American flags When Simi Valley resident Hayden Kelly was in elementary school, she learned the proper etiquette when it comes to the American flag. She enjoyed looking at flags around town and... Local racer makes a winning pass at auto championship Storied track pushes drivers to their limits James Landry of Simi Valley., won the Honda Challenge 4 class championship Sept. 18 at the 2022 National Auto Sport Association Championships. Landry captured the title by making a pass... Fall is a festive time of year at the farm READY FOR AUTUMN At right, 7-year-old Martin Segura of South Gate, drives a peddle tractor Oct. 9 during the Fall Harvest Festival at Underwood Farms in Moorpark. The festival runs... Prost to the good times and fundraising Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise recently held Oktoberfest on Oct. 8 at Lemon Park (Rancho Tapo Community Park) in Simi Valley, More than 1,200 attendees spent an afternoon with music,... The African Network for Environmental Sustainability (ANFES) aims to ensure that environmental sustainability research agenda and commercial exploitation of local communities natural resources benefit local communities by responding to their needs and aspirations and by improving their livelihoods opportunities. By clicking Agree, you consent to Slates Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and the use of technologies such as cookies by Slate and our partners to deliver relevant advertising on our iOS app to personalize content and perform site analytics. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information about our use of data, your rights, and how to withdraw consent. Agree FRIDAY, Feb. 5, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- The booster shot given to pre-teens to ward off whooping cough only works for a short time -- a fact that has played a big role in recent outbreaks in California, a new study finds. The study, of children in one large California health plan, found that the whooping cough booster shot offered "moderate" protection for about a year. But that immunity waned so quickly that little protection remained after two or three years. Experts said the findings, reported online Feb. 5 and in the March print issue of Pediatrics, underscore the limits of today's whooping cough vaccines. It's been clear for years that cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, are rising in the United States. In 2012, more than 48,000 cases were reported nationwide -- the highest number since 1955, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What's more, the agency says, older children and teenagers are accounting for a growing proportion of cases. A major reason, experts believe, is that in the 1990s, U.S. health officials switched from the traditional whooping cough vaccine to a new one known as DTaP -- which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus. DTaP works well in the short term, the CDC says, but slowly wanes each year after a child's final dose, which is given around age 5. So a booster shot, called Tdap, is routinely given to kids at age 11 or 12. But that shot doesn't last long either. "The issue is, the old vaccine against whooping cough had a difficult safety profile," explained Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and a professor of infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It could cause high fevers and seizures in young children, he said -- which understandably worried parents. There were also concerns about possible, albeit rare, neurological effects, Offit added. That led to the development of DTaP, which has far fewer antigens than the old vaccine, Offit said. Antigens are proteins that trigger an immune system response; with fewer antigens, DTaP is much less likely to cause side effects. But it also offers shorter-lived immunity. "Basically, we traded effectiveness for safety," Offit said. For the new study, researchers with Kaiser Permanente Northern California used information on all kids in their health system, aged 10 and up, who'd received DTaP vaccination. Nearly all -- over 96 percent -- also had the Tdap by their 14th birthday. Just over 1,200 children and teens were diagnosed with whooping cough between 2006 and 2015. Most fell ill during two statewide epidemics, in 2010 and 2014, the research found. Based on those cases, the researchers estimated that the Tdap vaccine was about 69 percent effective in the first year after it was given. After that, immunity faded fast -- so that by year three, little protection remained, the study authors said. The fact that Tdap immunity wanes is nothing new, said lead researcher Dr. Nicola Klein, co-director of Kaiser's Vaccine Study Center, in Oakland, Calif. "But," she said, "I was surprised to see how much disease occurred, even in this vaccinated group." The bottom line, according to Klein, is that the current vaccines are not enough to prevent epidemics. "I think waning immunity -- primarily from the DTaP but also Tdap -- are the main drivers of these outbreaks," Klein said. Offit agreed. "These vaccines are not as good as they should be," he said. There's probably no chance that health officials would go back to the old whooping cough shot, according to Offit. But, he said, manufacturers could make a better one. For now, he and Klein both said that the current vaccines provide fairly good shorter-term protection. And they stressed that it's essential for pregnant women to get a Tdap booster during each pregnancy. That way, babies are born with some of their mom's immune system antibodies against whooping cough. That's critical, Offit explained, because young infants are most at risk of becoming severely ill with whooping cough. Whooping cough typically causes cold-like symptoms, followed by bouts of coughing that can go on for weeks. For infants, that can lead to dangerous breathing problems, lung infection or convulsions. Of babies younger than 1 year who get whooping cough, half end up in the hospital, according to the CDC. Short of more effective vaccines, Klein said health officials may want to think about how the Tdap is given. Instead of routinely giving it to preteens, for example, it might be more effective to give it in "anticipation" of an outbreak, she said. "I think we need to open the discussion on how to best utilize the vaccine," Klein said. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on whooping cough. Would you like to win a trip abroad? The International Travel sweepstakes list is full of chances for you to win trips overseas. If you want to take a free trip to Italy, the Caribbean, Canada, or other locations outside of the US, this is the place to start. Win free international travel with these sweepstakes! If you're looking for chances to win trips within the US, visit the US Vacation Sweepstakes list, or try to win trips to popular destinations with the Hawaii Sweepstakes List and the Las Vegas Sweepstakes List. You can also win free Disney vacations with the Disney Sweepstakes list. If you'd like to win a free cruise, visit the Cruise Sweepstakes list. 1. CruiseOne - Cruise Vacation Giveaway Here's your chance to win a Norwegian Cruise Line sailing of your choice. Entry Frequency: One time per person/email End Date: October 16th, 2022 Eligibility: Open to the U.S. and Canada (void in PQ) More Information about this Sweepstakes Enter Sweepstakes Directly 2. Expedia Cruises - Win a Dream Vacation 2022 Sweepstakes Enter for your chance to win a seven-night Caribbean cruise for two people. Entry Frequency: One time per person/email End Date: November 14th, 2022 Eligibility: Open to residents of the United States, Canada, and Mexico More Information about this Sweepstakes Enter Sweepstakes Directly 3. Viking Cruises - Q1 River Voyage & Highclere Castle Sweepstakes Enter for your chance to win an eight-day river cruise for two people, a prize worth over $22,000. Entry Frequency: One time per person End Date: April 30th, 2023 Eligibility: Open to the U.S. and Canada (void in PQ) More Information about this Sweepstakes Enter Sweepstakes Directly Greenville, NC police announced in a police report that BMX and X-Games superstar and passionate triathlete Dave Mirra died of an apparent suicide, and that they are investigating the case. Police were called to the 200 block of Pineville Road where upon arrival officers discovered Dave Mirra sitting in a truck with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the report Mirra had been visiting friends in the area a short time before the incident. "We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift. He called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon," said Allen Thomas, the mayor of Greenville. The terrible news has hit the folks around the world very hard, and several professional triathletes have already shared their thoughts on social media. "Thoughts with @davemirra wife & daughters. Everyone has their demons. Hard to make any sense of this because it doesn't make any..." tweeted Jordan Rapp. "Absolutely shocked to hear this horrible news. Dave was certainly an incredibly athlete and an awesome role model. I suppose you never know what is going on behind closed doors, but there is always another way..." said AJ Baucco on Facebook. "Very heavy heart tonight and feel for his family and friends. RIP man." "Shocked and terribly saddened to hear of the passing of Dave Mirra. My interactions with Dave revealed nothing but a kind, caring, charismatic and generous family man. For all he had accomplished I was most impressed by his humility and down to earth nature. Thoughts and prayers with his family. RIP." said Jesse Thomas on Facebook. Refugees Go Clubbing In Russia, Harass Girls, Wake Up In Hospital The Next Morning The refugees tried to flee but were quickly captured by the Russians. They then took them out to the street and gave them a beating they will remember. Police arrived to break up the fight but locals report that they threw a few punches at the refugees before arresting 33 of them. Eighteen refugees were in such bad condition they had to be take to the hospital. h/t Lev, who adds; As luck would have it, the last link in the article can be translated by your agent. Here are some excerpts: Migrants from the Near East in a nightclub in Murmansk begun to bother girls. By the time they realized that they are not in the European Union it was too late. Earlier the media informed about a 50 member group that was deported from Norway back to Russia due to "bad behaviour". This group apparently passed though Russia on their way to Norway. After returning to Russia, the refugees decided to go have some good time in a nightclub, forgetting that they were no longer in Norway, they decided to have fun with some girls. As it was they had a problem, in the region of Murmansk, tolerance toward immigrants is not up to the standard of good old, light of the world Europe. From the comments in the local social media, it appears, that the migrants, after the local boys decided to give them lessons in local behaviour, wanted to hide in private residences. The migrants would have ended up in bad shape, if the police did not show up on time. It is rather cold in Murmansk at this time of the year. The police, after arriving, attempted to cool the hot heads of the locals and pacify them to prevent lynching of the migrants. Locals though insist that even the police did not have much tolerance for the migrants and with a good measure added to the result of 18 migrants ending in a hospital and 33 in a cell block of the local constabulary. 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Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01db978)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0202000)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01db978)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0202000)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01eb650)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0202000)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0202000)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573f10)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02b6e88)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02b6e88)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0271360)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0124928)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0271360)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0124928)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0271180)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0124928)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0124928)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573dd8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f00d3250)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f00d3250)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f025a958)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01b27b0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f025a958)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01b27b0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612e877b3f8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01b27b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01b27b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573e08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f025ad60)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f025ad60)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f013ff78)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0285000)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f013ff78)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0285000)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f0272a40)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0285000)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0285000)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573270)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02a4348)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02a4348)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01e15c8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0125ef0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01e15c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0125ef0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f028bf28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0125ef0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f0125ef0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573bb0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f00d49b0)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f00d49b0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe32138)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f034e7b0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe32138)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f034e7b0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612efe70b28)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f034e7b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f034e7b0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573e08)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612effcf478)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612effcf478)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28:
29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:948 /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 125 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 157 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f02025e0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 948 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01da798)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/2011159162/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f02025e0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1302 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 955 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01da798)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 135 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x5612f01edca0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1300 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1292 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 481 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 433 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01da798)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612f01da798)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x5612e2573be0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02989d8)') called at (eval 592) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x5612f02989d8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0 The world's least productive airline has lost track of passengers that may be stranded anywhere from New York to Beijing. Workers at Pakistan International Airlines Corp have been on strike over the past week, prompting the national carrier to cancel more than 200 flights. Each of its 15,000 full-time employees earns the airline 61,000 rupees a year ($US584), the lowest among 72 global peers tracked by Bloomberg - making it the world's most overstaffed by this measure. PIA has made efforts to find all of its stranded passengers. "We have no data available on how many and where passengers with confirmed PIA tickets are waiting, because the entire system is shut, servers are down and no booking is being done," spokesman Danyal Gilani said by phone. The airline, known as PIA, flies regularly to overseas destinations, including Toronto, Birmingham and Riyadh. The crisis at the state-owned airline shows no sign of abating as labor leaders pressure Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to halt plans to sell a 26 per cent stake. Despite deadly protests this week, the airline's shares have risen after Sharif vowed to press ahead with the sale, which is key to meet conditions under a $US6.6 billion International Monetary Fund loan. Exploited 7-Eleven workers are still being forced to hand pay back to their bosses and at least one has been beaten for complaining, prompting former competition tsar Alan Fels to tell a Senate inquiry he has lost confidence in the company's ability to deal with the scandal. Deloitte partner Siobhan Hennessy, a member of the Fels Wage Fairness Panel set up by the company to investigate the scandal, told senators in Canberra that a worker had been beaten for contacting the panel, saying that "the intimidation has gone to levels that are very worrying". The hearing also heard testimony from former 7-Eleven chairman Russ Withers, current chairman Mike Smith and interim chief executive Bob Baily that up to 500 current workers were still being underpaid. Back-pay claims related to the scandal were on track to reach up to $50 million in what Senator Sue Lines described as the largest back-pay claim in Australia's history. Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird created the series in Dover, New Hampshire. The negatives for that first comic, printed in 1984, have surfaced and the owner, a Colorado collector, came to Biddeford In September to look around. Philip Pels, an independent hydrogeologist, who warned about the risks of drilling CSG in a fractured basin such as Gloucester's, said the state relied on evaluations by private consultants hired by proponents of CSG, coal mines and other projects "to show that they were not going to bugger up the environment". "Consultants, even with the best will in the world, are going to bend to the [company's wishes] or they would not get the next project," Dr Pels said. "It's kind of a fatal flaw in the system." A spokesman for Anthony Roberts, Minister for Industry, Resources and Energy, said the Liberals and Nationals government had put "independent scientific analysis and information at the forefront" of regulation of the sector. "The independent NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, Professor Mary O'Kane, delivered a report into the CSG industry with its recommendations now either in place or in the process of being implemented," he said. "As outlined in the [new] Gas Plan, we have introduced a Strategic Release Framework that will examine economic, environmental and social factors, with community consultation conducted upfront, before a proposed exploration area is released for expressions of interest," the spokesman said. Australia risks returning asylum seekers to countries where they face torture, family violence and honour killings under planned reforms, lawyers say. Asylum seekers who are not found to be refugees can still qualify for a complementary protection visa if they can prove they face a significant risk of harm if they are returned to their country of origin. Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has told Parliament that the changes are needed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Turnbull government plans to restrict complementary protection to those who face harm in all parts of their country, under a bill introduced last year. If passed, decision-makers would no longer be able to consider if it is "reasonable" for the person to relocate to another part of the country. The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia. The reports were scrutinised at a Senate hearing on Friday. The government does not deny it made the alleged payments, which would have involved taxpayer money funding a potentially illegal practice, which critics say would have put lives at risk. An infamous murderer who has spent more than 42 years in jail for his crimes has been denied leave to appeal against his life sentence by the state's highest court. Kevin Crump, 66, has been in jail since 1973 for the rape, torture and conspiracy to murder of housewife Virginia Morse, 35, and the shooting murder of itinerant worker Ian Lamb, 43. Kevin Crump during his arrest in 1974. Crump and his co-offender Allan Baker were sentenced before the so-called "life means life" legal reforms in NSW - a time when criminals sentenced to life in prison were generally released on parole after serving an average of 11 to 12 years. She said she had had a "very positive" meeting on Thursday with Ms Bishop, who was "very open" to their requests. Julian Assange, pictured on the balcony of Ecuador's London embassy, holds the UN report that says he is being 'arbitrarily detained' by Britain and Sweden. Credit:Kirsty Wigglesworth "We have requested they release his passport or immediately issue him a new passport and that Australia take positive steps to help to negotiate the resolution of this case," she said. "Australia is vying for a place on the Human Rights Council, the body responsible for implementing this decision, and we think in light of our international obligations (they should) help facilitate this decision." WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange addresses the media via video link on Friday. Credit:AP Ms Robinson said Mr Assange was thrilled with the UN result and felt completely vindicated. "He hopes and expects that this will be a turning point in the case and will lead to the resolution of the case and his freedom," she said. A demonstrator outside Ecuador's London embassy. Credit:AP She said Ecuador would now negotiate with the Swedish and British governments to seek to implement the UN group's decision. If that did not happen then Mr Assange's lawyers would hope to take it to the UN Human Rights Council and consider further legal action. A panel of WikiLeaks representitives sit in front of Julian Assange as he speaks to the press. Credit:Chris Ratcliffe "This decision dispels the myth that (Assange) is either a fugitive from justice or that he could just walk out the embassy," said Mr Assange's lawyer Melinda Taylor, who argued the case to the UN group. "It is a damning indictment of the manner in which this case has been handled. Mr Assange is the victim of a significant miscarriage of justice attributed to the actions and inaction of Sweden and the UK. "Detention is not about bricks and mortar and bars, what matters is that you are severely deprived of your liberty." She warned that if Britain and Sweden did not comply with the UN working group's conclusion, then they would set a dangerous precedent for rogue states to likewise ignore the UN. Former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon said Mr Assange's lack of freedom was worse than prison and to detain him further could amount to torture. 'Only viable option is to cancel arrest warrant' Mr Garzon, who represents the WikiLeaks founder, said "every right that could be violated was violated" and the UN group's decision was one of the strongest they had issued. He said the "only viable solution" was for Sweden to cancel the arrest warrant, which was rendered "empty and void" by the UN opinion. Speaking over a video link from the embassy, Mr Assange said considered the result in the case to be "vindication" by an expert body in understanding the law on arbitrary detention. Mr Assange later gave an emotional appeal on behalf of his children in a brief appearance on the balcony of the Ecuador embassy in Knightsbridge. "How sweet it is, this is a victory that cannot be denied," he told the crowd of journalists and supporters. "In some ways it doesn't come as a shock to see the type of injustice I have been in the business of exposing inflicted on myself. "I am tough I am hardened by this process and I can take it. However what right does this government or the US government or the Swedish government have to deny my children their father for five-and-a-half years without any charges in any country? "That is a fact that I will never forget and which must be addressed My children are completely innocent parties to what has happened. "It is time that they had their father back. And that will happen one way or the other. One way or the other it will happen." Mr Assange was backed by fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden, who tweeted that Britain rejecting the UN opinion would "write a pass for every dictatorship to reject UN rulings". And Australian human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC said the UN report showed that "the real villain is Sweden". Sweden had misused the European arrest warrant system, he said. "The United Kingdom should now ask Sweden to withdraw that arrest warrant," Mr Robertson said. "It can in fact refuse to act upon it because it has been declared unlawful by this UN tribunal. I think that would be the proper way." In a statement addressed to the UN Working Group, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs said it disagreed with their opinion. "He is not being deprived of his liberty (at the embassy) due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities," they said, adding that the government could not in any case interfere with an ongoing case handled by a Swedish public prosecutor. UK calls UN Assange report 'ridiculous' A spokesman for British prime minister David Cameron called the UN panel's opinion "ridiculous". "He has never been arbitrarily detained in this country," the spokesman said. "It is entirely his choice to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy and he is avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain there." He added that the UN panel was made up of lay people, not lawyers, and that Mr Assange had lost every legal challenge to the proceedings against him. And the British Foreign Office said the UN panel opinion "changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention." The spokesman said: "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden." He said it was up to Ecuador to resolve the situation by negotiating with Sweden. But Assange is unlikely to walk out of Ecuador's London embassy on Friday. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2014. Credit:Getty Images He might, of course. All he has to do is walk through two doors, and he'll be breathing the crisp, February, Knightsbridge air. Just before he's grabbed by plain-clothes police and bundled into a van, to be extradited to Sweden. British Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood shows her passport to the media as she arrives outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London on Thursday. Credit:AP Whether you think this is a desirable outcome is a matter of (many, many) opinions. But the fact remains: it's not likely. Because one of the people who least desires this outcome is Assange himself. A protester outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London on Thursday. Credit:Getty Images He has stated repeatedly that he believes shortly after arriving Sweden he will then be bundled into another van and end up in the US, facing the same fate as WikiLeaker Chelsea Manning. This was his publicly-stated reason for seeking asylum in the embassy in 2012. Others say he is trying to avoid official questioning over a rape allegation made in Sweden in 2010 (he has not been charged). A man photographs the sign on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London on Thursday. Credit:Getty Images Whichever reason, it is now well-established that he does not want to go to Sweden, despite conditions in the embassy which his legal team described as "no access to fresh air or sunlight, his communications are restricted and often interfered with, he does not have access to adequate medical facilities, (and) he is subjected to a continuous and pervasive form of round-the-clock surveillance". A European arrest warrant has been issued against Assange by Stockholm's District Court, and British police say they will enforce it at the first opportunity. The building housing the Ecuadorian embassy where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange continues to seek asylum. Credit:Getty Images Another Swedish court has ordered that he should be detained on arrival in Sweden. Assange has exhausted most legal avenues in the UK and Sweden to challenge the legal validity of the warrant or the consequent extradition. So why is there a sudden flurry of reports that Assange may leave the embassy, as early as Friday? On Friday evening, Australian time, a United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) will release what it calls an 'Opinion', agreed by a panel of legal experts in Geneva, which is expected to find that Assange is under arbitrary detention in contravention of international law. It is expected to agree that, although technically Assange can walk out of the building, the fact that he would immediately be put under arrest makes it an illusory freedom. International law is, like most law, up for debate. The right to personal liberty the right not to be arbitrarily detained - is one of the most fundamental of all human rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by the UN general assembly in 1966 and to which Australia is a signatory, says "no-one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention". It is a binding treaty. But then who has the power to determine whether detention is arbitrary? And who enforces that decision? If these were easy questions to answer many lawyers would be much less well-off than they are today. The 'Justice 4 Assange' group claims that the WGAD would "order that he be released immediately and compensated". "In this case the UK and Sweden must immediately release and compensate him," they said on their website. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (the Working Group's boss) appears to agree. On Thursday it released a video in which OHCHR official Christophe Peschoux said if the group concludes a person's rights have been violated then "the decision is indirectly, but still legally binding on the relevant authorities and states". Others disagree, of course. Including for example Assange's own lawyer, Per Samuelson, who the New York Times quoted saying "(the Opinion) is not legally binding, but I would take it for granted that Sweden would follow it". Others in the 'not binding' camp include, crucially, the UK government, the British police, and the Swedish government and prosecutors. So how can this question be tested? One way would be for Assange to walk out of the embassy and see what happens. But Fairfax understands that, instead of just assuming the decision is binding and roll the dice, Assange's legal team will probably seek to test it in a court of law. They want to force the UK government to guarantee one simple thing: that Assange can leave the embassy, get into a car, go to the airport and fly to Ecuador. This appears quite an unlikely thing for the British government to agree to, unless they are forced by a judge. And you can bet they'd probably appeal if they lost. So we are back at (almost) square one. Assange has won a PR battle. He has reminded everyone of his quandary. He has some new, influential allies. But if he wants legally - and practically - enforceable freedom he has a lot of hurdles yet to jump. He has form on hinting at a sudden emergence. At a press conference in August 2014 he said he would "leave the embassy soon, but perhaps not for the reasons the Murdoch press are saying". Australian of the Year David Morrison has donated the use of a gifted luxury car to Canberra organisation Karinya House which supports vulnerable pregnant women and new mothers. Canberra car dealer, philanthropist and 2014 Australian of the Year ACT finalist, Richard Rolfe, gave all four winners in this year's Australian of the Year awards use of an Audi A4 for the 12 months they would hold their positions. The cars are due to be delivered to each winner over the next week. The others due to receive the cars for the year will be Senior Australian of the Year Professor Gordian Fulde, Local Hero of the Year Catherine Keenan and Young Australian of the Year joint winners Nic Marchesi and Lucas Patchett, who will share their car. A former soldier extradited to the ACT on charges of harassing and threatening a female psychologist who found him unfit for service has been refused bail. Kingsley John Kraschnefski, 46, appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday facing 29 charges relating to harassing and threatening phone calls and text messages. Kraschnefski represented himself in the bail application, telling the court he was a trained sniper but "while I have the capability, I don't have the intent" to harm the woman. He said he lived on a station 40 kilometres outside of Coonamble, NSW, but a police informant gave evidence that Kraschnefski was no longer welcome at that address. The court heard he was receiving treatment for post-traumatic stress. Removing illegal graffiti costs the ACT government more than $500,000 a year so it has appointed the territory's first graffiti co-ordinator to help reduce that cost. The new co-ordinator, Louise Emberson, 32, originally from England, has been in Australia for the past two years. She has a masters in art and a background in working with the arts and the community. The ACT's new graffiti co-ordinator Louise Emberson with legal street art in Tocumwal Lane off Garema Place. Credit:Rohan Thomson She will be reviewing the city's 23 legal graffiti sites and identifying new ones in an attempt to get illegal artists to divert their energy to those areas. An interactive map of the sites is expected to be released soon by Territory and Municipal Services. New ANZ Bank boss Shayne Elliott is recruiting for a head of digital banking, who will be told to partner with start-up technology companies that can teach the 180 year old bank how to improve its customer service. The bank is set to acquire and invest in emerging companies with technology that is disrupting the financial services sector, but more critically Mr Elliott wants to forge partnerships to improve ANZ's in-house capabilities. ANZ Bank chief Shayne Elliott is looking for 'fintech' start-ups to partner with. Credit:Chris Hopkins "Investing in start-ups is not hard for banks, we have lots of money to write cheques, the difficult thing is figuring out how we can internalise that intellectual capital," he said. "We are currently recruiting for a newly created role of head of digital banking, reporting directly to me, and I will be asking them to think a lot about the role partnering can play." Bellamy's Organic has told investors it expects to deliver a 331 per cent lift in earnings before interest and tax, thanks to surging demand for infant formula. The company's formula was one of several brands that is frequently sold out across Australian supermarkets and onsold to China's lucrative grey market. Bellamy' Organic expects earnings will continue to improve throughout 2016 and beyond. Credit:Wayne Taylor Company secretary Brian Green said unaudited accounts showed earnings before interest and tax surged to $19 million for the six months to December 31. This compares with $4.4 million for the same period in FY15. Revenue meanwhile is expected to jump more than 80 per cent to $105 million. The private equity firm that transformed Dick Smith from a $94 million, middle-market electronics chain into a $520 million stockmarket star will have to front a Senate inquiry to answer questions over its role in the chain's subsequent demise. South Australian senator Nick Xenophon said it would be up to the Senate committee to decide who will appear before its inquiry into the collapse of listed retailers in Australia, but he expected Anchorage Capital Partners would be questioned. Anchorage Capital Partners managing director Phil Cave rings the bell with Dick Smith CEO Nick Abboud at the retailer's stock market debut. Credit:Louise Kennerley Mr Xenophon said there were questions that needed to be answered in relation to the acquisition price and float price for Dick Smith as well as the material that was presented to shareholders in the float prospectus. "The collapse of Dick Smith has raised some fundamental questions about private equity and I'm sure private equity will defend its position vigorously," Senator Xenophon said. The first tuatara reptile to be hatched outside its native New Zealand in decades has been born in an English zoo. Tuatara are believed to have been on Earth for 225 million years, before most dinosaur species existed, but until now had only been bred in New Zealand's offshore islands or in a handful of its mainland zoos. A tuatara at the Southland Museum at Invercargill, New Zealand. Credit:AP Chester Zoo keeper Isolde McGeorge has spent 38 years trying to encourage the reptiles to reproduce. The new arrival came on December 5, weighing 4.21 grams, following a 238-day incubation period. Lebanese Australians have expressed fury over a leaked federal government document that singles them out as prone to extremism, calling it "dangerous and divisive". The draft cabinet document obtained by Fairfax Media says Australia's Lebanese community is the "most prominent ethnic group amongst Australian Sunni extremists". It says the Australian "extremism landscape" has been significantly influenced by the refugee intake, pointing in particular to the Lebanese people who came under the humanitarian program between 1975 and 1990, and subsequent family migration. Terrorism and migration experts have warned that radicalisation is "more complex than where you live" in response to a draft cabinet document that suggests refugees should be settled outside of major cities to reduce the risk they will be radicalised. Deakin University professor Greg Barton said young people could become lonely and alienated in both country and urban settings, stressing that radicalisation was a "very social process". "In the age of the internet, you can be in the most ideal physical location, but if you don't have any friends [then you're vulnerable]," the counterterrorism researcher said. Labor senator Sam Dastyari has warned there is something "fundamentally wrong and rotten" with Australia's entire political system, claiming there are 10 huge companies with so much power and influence they have killed proper democratic process at the federal level in this country. In a firebrand speech in Canberra this week, delivered with the enthusiasm of someone with their eye on the party leadership, Mr Dastyari told a Politics in the Pub audience that he thought he understood power before coming to Canberra as a senator. But his time in Parliament House has opened his eyes to the realities of the political-business nexus in Australia in a way he could not have anticipated. "You will not find somebody who came more from the ALP machine than me," Mr Dastyari told the audience, in a recording obtained by Fairfax Media. Armed police have removed the Australian crew of the bulk alumina carrier, CSL Melbourne, and escorted aboard a foreign crew to sail the ship out of Australian waters. A large contingent of police raided the ship in Newcastle, NSW, at 8.45am Friday, telling the five Australian crew members they must leave their vessel immediately. "About 18 police came on board and ordered us to leave," said crew member Jason Donnellan. "It was very intimidating. I'd estimate they were about 50 police altogether, with lots of them on the wharf, in paddy wagons and in two boats circling the ship. The long-overdue defence white paper will reset the relationship between the military and Australian defence industry contractors. Defence Minister Marise Payne signalled a new era in relations between the government and the local industry when she opened CEA Technologies' $1.8 million extension in Fyshwick on Friday. CEA Technologies co-founder David Gaul, Defence Minister Marise Payne, technical director and co-founder Ian Croser, and chief executive Merv Davis. CEA, which employs 320 people and expects to employ 400 by 2018, turns over $120 million annually producing its revolutionary CEAFAR phased-array radar system, which has already been fitted to four of the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac-class frigates. The company's new building is one of the larger investments in Australian defence industry capability in half a decade due to the uncertainty over the future of some projects, and what critics have described as an "off-the-shelf" acquisition mentality that rewarded foreign suppliers at the expense of local innovators. The long overdue defence white paper will reset the relationship between the military and Australian defence industry contractors. Defence Minister Marise Payne signalled a new era in relations between the government and the local industry when she opened CEA Technologies' $1.8 million extension in Fyshwick on Friday. (l-r) Mr David Gaul, Co-Founder of CEA Technologies, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Defence, Mr Ian Croser, Technical Director and Co-Founder and Mr Merv Davis, Chief Executive Officer of CEA Technologies and the Official Opening of the company's new premises in Canberra. . CEA, which employs 320 people and expects to employ 400 by 2018, turns over $120 million annually producing its revolutionary CEAFAR phased array radar system which has already been fitted to four of the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac class frigates. The company's new building is one of the larger investments in Australian defence industry capability in half a decade due to the uncertainty over the future of some projects and what critics have described as an "off the shelf" acquisition mentality that rewarded foreign suppliers at the expense of local innovators. Former Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Peter Shergold said the Australian public service needed the "Hollywood model" of employment. Professor Shergold outlined his frustrations with the federal bureaucracy while detailing the best way forward for public administration at a speech in Canberra on Friday. Former Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Peter Shergold. Credit:Wayne Taylor While foreshadowing the findings of his soon-to-be-released Learning from Failure report he said the public service should increasingly pull together teams of people to get jobs done. Young eastern long-necked turtles may be allowed the odd cautious smile after a "head start" from scientists in Sydney's north west. With a rapidly ageing population and minute chances of surviving beyond the nest, the native fresh water turtle is the focus of a Western Sydney University team that is setting out to protect the species from foxes, cars and pollution. Baby eastern long-necked turtles were released in Richmond by Western Sydney University researchers on Friday. Credit:Peter Rae Dr Ricky Spencer, zoology lecturer and head of WildLabs, led a group of scientists in releasing 14 one- to two-year-old turtles into Hawkesbury wetlands on Friday. With transmitters mounted on their backs, the creatures, which act as "vacuum cleaners" of fresh water systems, will be monitored for six months. Foxes destroy 95 per cent of turtle nests, while others fall prey to busy roads and polluted waterways. Dr Spencer regularly comes across turtles between 30 and 50 years of age and some live for as long as 100 years but said that few babies survive long enough to go on to produce young of their own. The first Muslim elected to the NSW Parliament is threatening defamation action against The Australian newspaper and reporter Sharri Markson if they do not apologise for an article branding his comments racist. Lawyers for Labor MLC Shaoquett Moselmane have written to Markson and the newspaper's editor-in-chief, Paul Whittaker, demanding an apology over a comment piece published on Tuesday. Threatening defamation action: Shaoquett Moselmane. Credit:James Alcock In it, Markson attacked a 2013 speech by Mr Moselmane speech in the NSW Parliament which criticised reporting by reporters at The Australian on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The speech also slammed "the power of a political lobby group that is cancerous and malicious and seeks to deny, misinform and scaremonger." When Nicholas Cole was in his 20s, his father Graham said he had an idea about creating a swimming event. At the time Nick just rolled his eyes but little did he know how big his father's vision could grow. This Sunday, The Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic open water swimming event will celebrate its 33rd year. Nicholas Cole, son of Graham Cole, the founder of the original Cole Classic in 1983. Credit:Peter Rae Late founder Graham Cole was a keen ocean swimmer who regularly swam and body surfed at Bondi Beach. In 1981, he travelled to Hawaii to compete in the Waikiki Roughwater competition. He returned with a desire to establish an event in Sydney where people could challenge their bodies and minds to swim a reasonable distance through surf. More Victorian schools have been targeted with hoax threats following similar incidents nationwide over the past week. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said threatening phone calls had been made to a number of schools on Friday. Parents take their children from a school in Craigieburn after a threat was made this week. Credit:Wayne Taylor She said they were similar in nature to threats that have led to scores of school evacuations since last Friday. Parents at Wembley Primary School in Yarraville received an email warning them that the school's emergency evacuation plan had been activated at 12.50pm on Friday. The number of people affected by a "serious outbreak" of salmonella linked to popular pre-packaged supermarket salads has almost doubled and is expected to keep rising, while the cause of the health emergency remains a mystery. The Victorian producer of the salads Tripod Farmers has been allowed to continue supplying its entire range to supermarkets after providing assurances to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services that its plant was clear of contamination. The confirmed cases of the rare Salmonella anatum strain, of which authorities would usually only see a handful of each year, has risen to 54 in Victoria, the department's senior medical adviser Dr Finn Romanes said on Friday. Authorities launched an investigation after becoming aware of a spike of 28 cases of the rare infection on Tuesday, since then 26 more cases have been confirmed. Dr Romanes said Tripod Farmers had undertaken a "cleanup" of its facility on Tuesday night after some of its products tested positive to the salmonella strain. Police at the scene of the crash of a plane which killed four people. Credit:Alan Barber Some cancelled the trip after hearing about the crash. Others pressed on unaware of what had happened to the plane, which was owned by Mr Chamberlain and recognisable for its red and white livery. One convoy member flew on about 30 minutes behind the Cherokee in his own Piper Arrow, oblivious of what had unfolded ahead and apparently untroubled by the poor weather that may have played a part in the crash. Donald Hateley, who died in the plane crash. "It does affect them, there were people who were going down on Saturday that pulled the pin," said Royal Victorian Aero Club president Stuart Rushton, who was not part of the group. "There were others who decided to put their passengers on King Island Airlines and come back." Visibilty was 'really bad' on the water off Barwon Heads when the plane went down. Credit:Channel Nine As the tight-knit small plane community comes to grips with the crash, bad conditions have stalled dive crews from accessing the sunken wreckage which sits on the bottom of the ocean floor about 2km off Collendina Beach in Ocean Grove. Water Police have loaded a barge at Williamstown and hope to begin the salvage on Sunday. Police are preparing a report for the coroner, while the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigates what may have led to the crash. Many are asking why a plane carrying three pilots would fly into what appeared to be deteriorating weather conditions. Witnesses on the day reported bad weather, including pouring rain and low visibility, factors which the ATSB will investigate as well as the pilot's training and maintenance records. Peter Lewry was fishing off Swan Bay, near Queenscliff, when he saw the plane flying low, maybe even as low as 100 metres above the ocean, and heading straight towards bad weather. "It didn't sound like the plane was in any trouble at all, but they were flying into some really heavy weather, they were heading right into it; terrible sky and lots and lots of heavy rain," Mr Lewry said. Aviation expert Neil Hansford, chair of Strategic Aviation Solutions, said the most common cause of plane crashes is pilot error. "Certainly disorientation in cloud is a major contributor," he said. "Having all that fluffy white stuff around, you can't identify things around you and the sea makes it more complicated; there's no roads or road maps." The condition, called spatial disorientation, can happen to even the most experienced pilots. According to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, spatial disorientation occurs when "your senses are telling you something that isn't true - typically that you are flying straight and level when in fact you are in a spiral dive". Who was at the controls of the Piper Cherokee when it hit the water has not been made public. Mr Handford said a big question that needs answering is whether the pilot was trained to fly with instruments such as GPS and not solely by visual cues. "If he's instrument rated, you feed into the GPS, no different than GPS navigation in your car," he said. "It doesn't matter if you're flying in cloud or not." "If he wasn't flying on instruments and he was doing VFR [visual flight rules] and he was in cloud, he'll obviously try to get out of the cloud and you've got to get below it." In an odd coincidence, the ATSB has confirmed that the same plane, manufactured in 1967, was involved in another crash more than 25 years ago. On a windy day in October 1988, according to an investigation report, the pilot made a rough landing after a faster-than-normal approach to the runway at Melton Airport. There were no serious injuries in that crash but the plane, registered VH-PXD, did sustain a broken wheel assembly which allowed the propeller to strike the ground. The ATSB says it will release the initial findings of its latest investigation in the coming months, perhaps providing some answers to families and friends. In the meantime, a small tribute has been set up at the Point Lonsdale lighthouse: "For a second you were flying like you all loved to do," it begins. There's no worse combination than a heatwave, hot kids and a water park that doesn't work. And with four consecutive days of 40-plus temperatures expected from Sunday, a fix for the Elizabeth Quay water feature might want to be in the pipeline soon. Those hoping to cool off at Perth's new foreshore development are still hot under the collar, with the water park still not working after WAtoday broke the news of its malfunction yesterday. Cottesloe children Harriet, 12, Thea, 10, Romily, 5 and Griffith, 7, were among those hoping to cool off on Friday, only to find the water park bone dry and two workers in high-vis scratching their heads. Rio de Janeiro: Scientists identified the Zika virus in the saliva and urine of two infected patients, a top Brazilian biomedical research institution said on Friday, prompting its president to urge pregnant women not to kiss strangers just as local carnival celebrations begin. The discovery added to the rising concern over Zika, which is spreading rapidly in the Americans and has been linked to thousands of severe birth defects in Brazil. They said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in saliva and urine samples from two patients who had symptoms caused by Zika infection, and determined that the virus was active, meaning it had the potential to cause infection, scientists at the public Oswaldo Cruz Foundation said. Seoul: The United States has deployed missile defence systems that will work with the Japanese and South Korean militaries to track a rocket North Korea says it will launch some time over an 18-day period from today. China, the North's sole major ally but opposed to Pyongyang's nuclear programme, has appealed for calm. North Korea say this month's rocket launch will help develop its space program. Credit:AP North Korea has notified UN agencies it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an "Earth observation satellite" some time between February 8 and February 25, triggering international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme, but it is barred under UN Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology. Beijing: The journey home to spend the week-long Chinese New Year holiday with family is often a feat of logistics. This year, an estimated record 2.9 billion passenger trips will be made as the rush to get home before the New Year begins on Monday. A crush of humanity descends on the nation's train stations, long-haul bus depots and airports; highway traffic is snarled for tens of kilometres as the mass exodus of migrant workers leave big capital cities eerily empty. Online ticketing, a crackdown on scalpers, and an ever-expanding high-speed rail network has made getting home easier, but delays can cascade dramatically. Delays brought on by bad weather saw more than 100,000 travellers stranded outside Guangzhou's main railway station this week, and another 30,000 at Shanghai's Hongqiao. For many blue-collar and peasant workers doing grinding factory or construction jobs in the cities, it is the only time they get off each year to return home to see loved ones. With China's economic growth slowing, and pay conditions deteriorating in those industries, many may decide not to venture back out to the cities again after the new year. Durham, New Hampshire: One on one in a debate for the first time after their only Democratic rival dropped out, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders finally took the gloves off, with the former secretary of state denouncing her opponent for what she said was a campaign of "innuendo" and "insinuation". In Thursday night's debate, Mrs Clinton delivered a spirited rebuke to the charge Senator Sanders has been making on the campaign trail that she is not a genuine progressive. Senator Sanders called his rival the candidate of "the establishment", citing contributions that a political action committee supporting Mrs Clinton has received from Wall Street. "Big money controls the political process in this country," he said. Marco Rubio, with back to camera, autographs a Time magazine with his image on the cover. Credit:Reuters Indeed swoon is a term you often hear associated with Rubio. "When Marco Rubio speaks, young women swoon, old women faint and toilets flush themselves," Dan Gelber, a prominent Democratic politician in Rubio's home state of Florida once told colleagues, The New Yorker recently reported. Marco Rubio holds up his son Anthony while his wife Jeanette looks on after announcing his run for the Republican presidential nomination. He is in many ways a traditional Republican. Credit:AP Three nights later Senator Ted Cruz beat the favourite Trump, but the story of the night was Rubio's surge. He smashed all expectations to secure 23 per cent of the vote, just a single percentage point behind Trump. And so the swooning broke out again. This time it was the Republican establishment and sympathetic media. For months the GOP and its donor class have stood by helpless as Trump and Cruz hijacked their primary election, sweeping aside all the candidates they had expected to dominate the race men like Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, John Kasich and Chris Christie. Marco Rubio waits to speak at a caucus site in Clive, Iowa, on Monday. Credit:Paul Sancya Fear and loathing turned to outright panic after Christmas when it started to dawn on them that one of these two outsiders might win the nomination and stuff up their plans for the presidential election. Finally though Rubio appeared to have broken away from the pack of second-tier candidates and taken the fight to Cruz and Trump. This was a man they could work with, a man who could even beat Hillary Clinton the candidate they expect to face in the November presidential election. Marco Rubio acknowledges the crowd after addressing supporters at a caucus night party in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday. Credit:Getty Images The party elders did not fall in behind Rubio when he launched his campaign last year because it was not his turn. Rubio, now 44, was a freshman senator from Florida who had been mentored by Jeb Bush, and this was Bush's year. Everyone said so. The party elders said so and so did donors, who poured $US100 million ($140 million) into Bush's campaign in the opening weeks in a bid to warn off other challengers. Marco Rubio speaks as Jeb Bush, left, listens during a debate of Republican presidential hopefuls at the University of Colorado in Boulder in October. Credit:New York Times But outside the party dispassionate observers always thought Rubio was a likely contender. All last year PredictWise, which aggregates polling and betting market data, considered Rubio to be the eventual Republican nominee. And it is not so hard to see why, especially when you compare Rubio's perceived strengths and weaknesses with Jeb Bush's and Clinton's. By simply appearing on stage he makes the case for generational change. As a Cuban American he is a rebuke to those who claim that the Republican Party has become the last redoubt for angry white America. He is articulate and charismatic in public, smart and nimble in debate, engaged and compelling in his Senate committee work. And where Bush seems to sometimes bore even himself on the hustings, pure ambition shivers about Rubio's person. He might not enjoy the benefits of the Bush family's enormous political machine, but nor is he encumbered by the legacy of George W. Bush's disastrous invasion of Iraq. Unlike both Bush and Clinton, Rubio is free of the taint of dynasty. Rubio by inclination, by resume and by circumstance, appears to straddle the divides that have torn apart his party. He is a product of both the Tea Party revolution that swept the nation after the election of Barack Obama and the Republican establishment of Florida. There are those though who worry that he might too easily shift from one shape to the next. As he moves onto the centre stage of the Republican campaign, this mercurial quality of Rubio's is coming into sharper focus. Rubio burst onto the national political stage in 2010 when he won a Senate seat that party elders had set aside for a former governor. In his victory speech he declared: "No matter where I go or what title I may achieve, I will always be the son of exiles." Rubio understood America's greatness, he said, because the nation had given a home to millions of Cubans who fled Fidel Castro's regime in Cuba and let them prosper in freedom. It was a year or so before investigative reporters discovered this was not quite true, even though it was the story that Rubio had always told as he made his way up through the ranks in Florida. The Washington Post managed to dig up the Rubio family's naturalisation papers. It turned out his family had arrived in the US two years before Castro took power. This meant the family had fled the Batista regime, not Castro's. To understand the significance about this you need to know a little about Florida politics. Cuba's exile community settled around Miami after the revolution and soon dominated local politics. After that the community spread its reach and took power in the State House in Tallahassee. This gave them outsized power in Washington DC, because Florida is the largest swing state in the nation. Their significance was amplified by Cuba's central role in the Cold War. But the Cubans who shaped Miami's politics were exiles of Castro, rather than economic refugees of Batista's Cuba. This had political and class implications. The exiles tended to be richer, whiter, more reliably conservative. When this contradiction was revealed Rubio said he had simply misunderstood the family's oral history. "I don't buy that and no one buys that," Alfredo Jose Estrada, editor of Latino magazine, told Politico recently. "We know when we left and why. To the day and to the minute and what we took with us and what fit into that suitcase. It's part of the Cuban exile mythology. It defines us as Cuban exiles." In America Rubio's parents worked hard in low-paid jobs and eventually prospered. Rubio himself recalls being an indifferent high school student, but he became politically active early. As a 21-year old student he volunteered in the office of the Cuban-American state senator Lincoln Diaz-Balart during his first Congressional race and in 1996 as a law graduate Rubio found work in a law firm run by Bush ally Al Cardenas, a central figure in the Cuban-American political scene. By 2000 Rubio landed a seat in the Florida House of Representatives and graduated, in Gelber's words, from being a foot soldier to a lieutenant in the army of then governor Jeb Bush. As a representative Rubio became known for his efforts to soften tough state anti-immigration legislation, and for his energetic and creative gerrymandering while serving on a boundaries committee. He built on his close relationship with Bush, who in 2005 presented him with a ceremonial sword and anointed him as the next Speaker of the House, the first Cuban American to hold that position. "I'm going to bestow to you the sword of a great conservative warrior," he said, as a crowd of Republican faithful cheered. In 2010 he fought the former Florida governor for a vacant Senate seat. During this contest Rubio abandoned his progressive immigration stances to fall in line with the prevailing hardline mood among the nascent far-right Tea Party movement. It worked, and upon his victory the Weekly Standard, the journal of the neoconservative movement, anointed him as the important incoming conservative. A recent New Yorker profile of him entitled The Opportunist notes that one Latino activist group ran a campaign the motto "No Somos Rubios" (We're not Rubios). But even this position was to change again. Shocked by the party's second loss to Obama in the 2012 presidential race Republican strategists identified the party's poor standing among America's Latino community as a long-term existential threat. For the first time in a generation it appeared there was significant bipartisan support for sweeping immigration reform that would include a "pathway to citizenship" for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the US. Rubio spied a way to attach his name to significant legislation and joined the so-called "gang of eight" Congress members championing the package. It didn't work out. A wave of unaccompanied children driven from their homes due to gang violence in central America hit the southern border fuelling right-wing fears of a tide of unregulated immigration, even though statistics showed undocumented movement across the border to be at near record lows. Ted Cruz harnessed the anger and led a campaign against the reform that swept up the angry Republican base. Rubio dropped the reform and has been distancing himself from it ever since. In matters of faith though Rubio has found himself more in line with the insurgent right. Baptised a Catholic; Rubio abandoned the Church as a teenager to become a Mormon when his family moved for a time to Nevada, before returning to it as a young man. These days he attends an evangelical Protestant service on Saturdays and a Catholic Mass on Sundays. He has been an outspoken opponent of abortion, including in cases of rape and incest, Though he presents himself as an agent of generational change, Rubio's politics in Congress have proved to be more in line with the recent past. His policies are largely in line with George W. Bush's, but more to the right. Rubio soon secured a seat on the Senate foreign relations committee a plum post for a man wanting to establish himself as a presidential contender. On the committee he has been a consistent voice in support of Israel's Likud government and for aggressive US military action in both the Middle East and Ukraine, positions that place him firmly within the neoconservative movement. He has taken policy advice from champions of the Iraq War, including the Weekly Standard editor William Kristol and another leading neocon intellectual, Robert Kagan. Rubio advocates cutting the number of tax brackets from seven to two and reducing the tax rate for those in the higher tier. According to Politifact the effect would be to direct 55 per cent of all new income gains to the top 20 per cent of Americans. In keeping with current Republican orthodoxy he would abolish the Affordable Care Act, rejects action on climate change and is steadfastly opposed to any form of gun control. Despite the clear evidence of his overwhelming ambition, Rubio's announcement last April that he was standing for president raised eyebrows. Bush had been his mentor, and now the Cuban-American political machine in Florida was going to have to take sides. "Marco was a bright young man, at a time when no Cuban Americans had been elected, Jeb was our ambassador. Jeb was our ombudsman with Washington from early on. People don't forget that ... You could say that anyone in office in Florida today from their 30s to their 60s has a debt to Jeb Bush," the regional kingmaker Al Cardenas told Politico. Many stuck by Bush at first, but Jeb's campaign has caused despondency. In the early debates the two were wary of attacking one another. Rubio stuck to constant reminders that he was the future rather than direct assaults on his mentor. That time has passed, and when they have tussled recently, Rubio has won. In one recent debate exchange Bush limply condemned Rubio for failing to attend key Senate votes while campaigning for the presidential nomination. Bush watched awkwardly as Rubio demolished him before a cheering audience. "The only reason you're [attacking me] is because we're running for the same position. Someone convinced you attacking me is going to help you," he said. As Trump began to surge in polls last summer Republican elders reassured themselves that the infatuation with the showman would blow itself out. It never did. Trump continued to soar through autumn and winter and Bush's numbers slipped from low double to single digits. He failed to crack 3 per cent support in Iowa. As the decline continued serious attention began to quietly shift to Rubio. He assiduously courted big donors like Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate concerned with smashing union power and entrenching support for Israel, and the Koch brothers, the industrialists who champion deregulation and shackling of the Environmental Protection Agency. Rubio is now said to be winning what are known as the Adelson and Koch primaries. He has secured more endorsements from fellow members of Congress than any other candidate a measure that is often a telling predictor of the eventual nomination outcome. The Clinton camp is watching with trepidation. "There is no question that Rubio is the Republican that Democrats fear most," the former White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer wrote for CNN. "He is a skilled messenger and could very credibly run a change v more of the same campaign against Clinton. "Rubio is also the most broadly appealing GOP candidate and would have the best shot to close the non-white vote gap with the Democrats." A December MSNBC/Telemundo/Marist poll found that Clinton led when matched against all the Republican candidates, but her margin against Rubio three points among all voters, 19 points among Latinos was the lowest. Tuesday's New Hampshire primary has become critical. Trump is still streets ahead in the polls and is expected to win. Rubio is now leading Cruz though. And if the party's establishment candidates Bush, Kasich and Christie are to survive to fight on into the spring, they are going to have to do far better than they did in Iowa. If they don't pressure will begin to mount for them to fall in behind Rubio. It is hard to imagine how Bush feels about his former protege, but it is clear that Rubio is wasting little time thinking of the feelings of his political godfather. POINTE BLANCHE:--- The Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority, a company of Port St. Maarten, is assisting with the removal of a boat wreck along the shoreline of the Simpson Bay Beach near Karakter Beach Bar & Restaurant. Ministry Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI) requested the assistance of the Lagoon Authority. An excavator has been contracted to see what sections of the wreckage can be removed. An assessment was carried out on Thursday morning by representatives of the Lagoon Authority with respect to the wreckage. A diver was used to direct the works of the excavator which was operating from the beach. Some small debris has been removed, but the wreckage measures approximately 120 feet and large sections of it remain under the sand in the water. The Lagoon Authority will discuss further with stakeholders with respect to the removal of the heavier pieces. One of the proposals is to drag those larger sections (if possible) out into the bay where they would become a natural reef and a fish and coral habitat. The beaches are an essential part of the destinations product, and any hazards that pose a threat must be dealt with. According to the Nature Foundation, the boat wreckage is the former Golden Fleece, a yacht that broke anchor in Simpson Bay several years ago. A number of complaints were made about swimmers getting cut from the underwater wreckage while swimming in the area. The foundation placed a buoy marker warning swimmers about the underwater danger and to refrain from swimming in that particular area. GREAT BAY, Sint Maarten (DCOMM) Testing of targeted fogging as a mosquito vector control measure will commence on Friday afternoon as the Government prepares to step up its anti-mosquito control measures, the Collective Preventive Services (CPS), a government department under the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, announced on Thursday. Targeted fogging is a mythology to control the mosquito population by knocking down the adult mosquitoes. The CPS vector control surveillance team will determine the continuation of the targeted fogging based on established indicators eg. High mosquito population and/or suspected cases mosquito-borne disease in a particular area. The targeted fogging approach should not to be associated with an island-wide campaign as in the past. The targeted test approach will commence at two border crossings. The fogging will take place on Friday from 5.00pm to 7.00pm in Oyster Pond and will cover the areas of Defiance Haven road, Dawn Beach, the French border area and up to Bishop Hill. The second fogging control measure is scheduled for Saturday, February 6 from 5.00am to 7.00am, and will cover the following areas: French Quarter border area, Belvedere Round-a-bout, Bishop Hill, Defiance Haven road, and Middle Region. The timelines chosen is when mosquito presence is the highest and it is considered the most effective time to carry out fogging. During the fogging campaign, residents should open doors and windows to give the insecticide maximum penetration in order to incapacitate mosquitoes. Food establishments, medical facilities, should take the appropriate measures to protect their produce and medicines. Zoo, pet shops, should take measures to protect their animals. Parents and guardians should cover toys from insecticides. Persons with respiratory diseases should take precautions to avoid breathing in the insecticides (chemical) during the fogging. Fogging is destined to kill adult mosquitoes that mostly are outside. Fogging will not reach behind walls, in corners and in dark places where the female mosquitoes are hiding. The community is therefore encouraged to primarily remove all receptacles like old cans, tires, and make sure cisterns are inaccessible to mosquitoes. Every member of the community has a role to play in keeping the mosquito population down. Secondly during the fogging cycle(s) the public can spray inside their home with a commercial home spray (never spray on food, always ventilate sprayed area(s), never spray on toys, never spray on animals or people). In the event it's too windy or raining the fogging mosquito vector control will not take place and will be rescheduled. CPS is appealing to the community to step up measures to eliminate mosquito breeding sites in and around homes and businesses. The community has a role to play in eliminating mosquitoes and with everybody playing their role, a successful war on the mosquito can take place. Government cannot do it alone, but with everybody in the community taking measures, the mosquito has no chance to breed. Dengue fever, zika and chikungunya are transmitted by the female vector Aedes aegypti mosquito. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is distinguished by its markings. The body of the mosquito has alternate black and white horizontal stripes. The Aedes aegypti mosquito lays her eggs in clear (clean) stagnant water. Within eight days the mosquito can complete its life cycle from egg, to larvae to pupae and to adult mosquito. Mosquitoes can be kept out of the home by keeping windows, doors and porches tightly screened (16-18 mesh). Those insects that do get into structures can be eliminated with a fly swatter or an aerosol space spray containing synergized pyrethrum. It is very important to screen off cistern outlets, cover and screen septic tanks properly. The aforementioned measures should also be taken in and around the workplace, social gatherings and living quarters to eliminate mosquito breeding sources. An increase in the mosquito population puts residents and visitors at risk. For information about dengue fever, zika and chikungunya prevention measures, you can call CPS 542-2078 or 542-3003. Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Rain and snow give way to sunny skies over weekend in Michiana Parts of Michiana saw very early snowfalls earlier this week, but temperatures should rise into the 70s this weekend. Oak Creek to host outdoor 2022 World Cup watch party A partnership between Morans Pub in South Milwaukee and the city of Oak Creek will offer residents food, drinks, music and games on Nov. 25. Welcome to SwanseaOnline - your home for the best news, sports and what's on coverage of the city. Never miss a Swansea story with our daily newsletter Sign up to comment on our stories here Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Swansea City news | Ospreys news | InYourArea The Dark Ages Radio Explorer would orbit the moon, taking readings with a radio telescope while it was shielded from Earth in order to probe the universe's early "dark ages." A proposed spacecraft would orbit the moon, sheltering in its shadow to gaze uninterrupted into the early days of the universe. The Dark Ages Radio Explorer (DARE) mission would dodge Earth's noisy, disruptive environment to peer back into the universe's dark ages and cosmic dawn the mysterious epoch just as the first stars and galaxies began to shine with a little help from the moon. "The moon, in this case, is just a big blocking disk," said Jack Burns, director of the Lunar University Network for Astrophysics Research at University of Colorado, Boulder and DARE's principal investigator. [How the DARE Dark Ages Moon Orbiter Will Work (Infographic)] "We've argued that this is a unique way, and may turn out to be effectively the only way, of probing these first stars and galaxies that occurred in our universe that led to galaxies like the Milky Way, stars like our sun, several generations later," he told Space.com. QUIET! DARE is a proposed lunar satellite that would study the early era of the universe when the stars first starting turning on. See how the DARE satellite works in our full infographic here (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics artist) Research suggests the universe formed in the Big Bang about 13.8 billion years ago, and the earliest light astronomers can detect, called the cosmic microwave background (CMB), dates from about 400,000 years later. But soon after that, until about 1 billion years after the Big Bang, the universe was filled with a haze of neutral hydrogen atoms with one proton and one electron each. That haze muffled the signals of the first stars' formation so they are not detectable today. Burns and his collaborators plan to measure the neutral hydrogen itself, which surrounded and was heated by the very first stars and galaxies, to learn about that long-ago epoch. The signal neutral hydrogen gives off is easy to detect when it's relatively close by; researchers have measured its 21-centimeter-long wavelength (about 8 inches) since the 1950s to learn about the diffuse gas that lies between stars. But when the signal is coming from the universe's far reaches, things get more complicated: the farther away the source is, the more stretched out the signal gets, because the source is moving away from Earth faster and faster. That "redshift" effect means that, because the universe is expanding, light will always appear redder when it comes from farther away (which also means earlier in time). With the time periods DARE is dealing with, and the distance the light has to travel, those easily measured 21 cm waves can get very stretched out the researchers plan to look for wavelengths from 8.2 feet (2.5 meters) to 24.6 feet (7.5 m) long, Burns said. Plus, he added, they shine incredibly faintly. This raises two main problems. First, the charged layer of Earth's atmosphere, the ionosphere, "wreaks havoc" with the radio waves that come through, Burns said, absorbing and refracting them until they're too difficult to interpret. And many of the wavelengths he's interested in run up against a major Earth emission FM radio, which uses the same wavelengths of light and overwhelms the faint signal. [The Universe: Big Bang to Now in 10 Easy Steps] "We've concluded that these observations are best done from a very quiet place that has no ionosphere," Burns said. "And in the local part of our solar system nearest the Earth, that would correspond to the far side of the moon." DARE would take observations during the portion of its 2-hour orbit when the moon shields it from Earth's radio waves, while it's on the moon's far side. When shielded from the sun as well, the spacecraft could collect higher-quality data; the best possible time is during the full moon, DARE materials said. Blasting off Burns hopes to submit a proposal to NASA's Explorer program in December if selected to do a concept study and chosen for flight after that, the mission could launch somewhere around 2021 or 2022, he said. The DARE team has partnered with Ball Aerospace, which is also based in Boulder, to develop plans to repurpose one of the company's smaller spacecraft to deliver the probe to lunar orbit. "One of the main differences between this mission and most other satellite missions is the lunar orbit," Lisa Hardaway, the lead for Ball Aerospace on the DARE spacecraft, told Space.com in an email. "We used a motor that acts as a third stage, similar to when Apollo was launched. There have been a few missions to the moon that have used similar techniques, but most of our launches are for Earth orbit, so this is anything but routine." A separate mission partner will be in charge of the rocket and booster, she added. Once in place around the moon, isolated from Earth's noise, measuring the faint signals will still be a challenge, Burns said. For instance, radiation from the spacecraft itself can distort the sensitive measurements if it's not properly shielded. The mission will also need to rule out the much brighter "foreground" radiation in the Milky Way itself. "The telescope and spacecraft have to work together to collect the needed data, yet be isolated from each other so that spacecraft signals do not interfere with instrument signals," Hardaway said. "To that end, instrument electronics are buried within the spacecraft except for those highly sensitive electronics that need to be directly with the antenna." Undiscovered worlds Other projects are in progress, on the ground, to look at slightly later periods in the universe's history with the same neutral-hydrogen signal. For instance, the proposed Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array, HERA, would look at the "reionization period," when ultraviolet light from newly forming stars destroyed the neutral hydrogen and eventually rendered the universe visible at high wavelengths again. Projects like HERA require similarly sensitive antennas to pick out the signals they're searching for. "The biggest challenge is not unique to DARE," said HERA project leader Aaron Parsons, an astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley. "There's a lot of other stuff in the sky that's bright, that is emitting light at these frequencies. It's maybe 100,000 times brighter than the signal that we'd like to see in the early universe." [Amazing Photos from Giant Radio Telescope ALMA] DARE makes some aspects of detecting faint signals easier by getting away from interference, and certain signals can only be detected from space, Parsons told Space.com, but designing precise-enough antennas will still be difficult. In fact, Parsons said, strides made in ground-based radio telescopes could make missions like DARE more plausible in the long run. "Once you've shown the science capabilities of [detecting the signal], then the stage will be really set for something like DARE, where you bring this out into space," he said. For both DARE and ground-based radio telescope projects, neutral hydrogen is the key to seeing what the universe was like long ago giving a perspective that no earlier astronomy has been able to give, the researchers said. "It's only been in the last, let's say 30 years that we've been able to answer quantitative questions about cosmology; where our universe came from, what it was like long ago, how did we get to where we are, what's the ultimate fate of the universe," Parsons said, adding that this knowledge has all come from measuring a tiny snippet of the universe's early history, when the cosmic background radiation was emitted. "One little slice, and we've learned all this incredible stuff about cosmology." Projects such as DARE and HERA would extend our sight into the vital moments after the universe went dark, and as it transitioned to being light again, Parsons said. "Rather than just having this thin shell that we're learning from, we can be learning from the whole volume of the universe," he said. "And that's really incredible." Email Sarah Lewin at slewin@space.com or follow her @SarahExplains. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Title screen for the BBC documentary, Cosmonauts: How Russia Won the Space Race, airing on KCET in California on Feb. 5, 2016. Fifty-five years after Yuri Gagarin became the first human to launch into space, a documentary about the Soviet space program seeks to reveal how Russia actually "won the space race." "Cosmonauts," airing on KCET in Southern California tonight (Feb. 5), presents, in an hour and a half, the history of Russia's space efforts, using interviews with some of the Soviet-era spacemen and footage unearthed from the country's rarely seen archives. Originally produced by the BBC for broadcast in the U.K., "Cosmonauts" looks at the first half century of space exploration from a different perspective than most American-made retrospectives. "We all think we know the story of space that it was conquered by the Americans," narrator Paul McGann, a British actor perhaps best known for his role as the eighth Doctor in the British sci-fi TV series "Doctor Who," states as "Cosmonauts" opens. "But that is not the real story. The actual conquerors of space were a group of men, and women, from the other side of the Iron Curtain." [The Top 10 Russian and Soviet Space Missions] "After decades of secrecy, they are now free to tell the extraordinary stories of how they risked everything to take the first steps into space," McGann continues. "This is the remarkable, and at times terrifying, story of the cosmonauts." The launch of an early Soviet R7 rocket from "Cosmonauts: How Russia Won the Space Race," airing on KCET in California on Feb. 5, 2016. (Image credit: BBC/KCET) As the documentary recounts, the Soviet Union successfully beat the United States to many of the first milestones during the first eight years of the space race. Russia put the first satellite into Earth orbit, Sputnik, in 1957, followed by the first living creature to do so, a dog named Laika. Gagarin's April 12, 1961, Vostok 1 mission was succeeded by the first concurrent spaceflights by two cosmonauts, and then the launch of the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963. Finally, cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first person to walk in space, in March 1965. "I was above the Earth and could look at whatever I wanted," Leonov recalls during the program. "And yet my place in the universe was so small. It is hard to imagine. Only there you can feel the greatness, the enormity of all that is around you." The Soviets' ability to do so much so quickly, the documentary explains, is in large part attributed to two factors: the country's post-World War II development of much heavier bombs required a much larger rocket, and the leadership of Sergei Korolev, who, due to concerns for his safety, was publicly known only as the "Chief Designer" until his sudden death in 1966. "All the spaceflights made in my father's lifetime had one thing in common: Each successive flight involved something new," Natalya Koroleva, Korolev's daughter, says in "Cosmonauts." Cosmonaut Alexei Leonov performed the world's first spacewalk in 1965 in this video still from the documentary "Cosmonauts: How Russia Won the Space Race.' (Image credit: KCET) But even Korolev was not able to overcome a mounting problem in the race with the U.S. to the moon: the budget. "Korolev said, 'We have to build a new launcher, and it will be expensive,'" Sergei Khrushchev, son of late Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, says in the documentary. "And my father asked how much. And Korolev told him, 'I don't know, but it is not important.'" "My father answered, 'It is not important for you, but it is very important for me. We in the Soviet Union have other priorities. We need to increase production of food; still we have shortages. We need to build more and more homes. And I don't want to spend all this money to beat Americans on the race to the moon,'" Khrushchev recounts his father saying. Ultimately, Korolev would design a larger, much more powerful rocket to reach the moon, the N1 rocket, but he would not live long enough to see it fail. Nor would he see the tragedies that would come for the Soviet space program in the years to follow, including the loss of cosmonauts on the first Soyuz and Salyut space station flights. But despite that and other setbacks, the Soviets, and then Russia's newfound focus on orbiting space laboratories, would ultimately influence not just the course of their own space program, but NASA's and the rest of the world's. Today, the International Space Station is a product of the lessons learned by Russia after decades of launching and operating space stations. "The Soviets may have lost the race to the moon, but our continued presence in orbit owes everything to the Russians' determination to conquer space," McGann states toward the end of "Cosmonauts." The documentary, which is also available for streaming online through PBS stationsacross the United States, also features interviews with cosmonauts Georgi Grechko, Alexander Laveikin and Alexander Lazutkin, as well as British-born NASA astronaut Michael Foale and historian Asif Siddiqi, whose 2011 book, "Challenge to Apollo (opens in new tab)" is widely considered the definitive story of the Soviets' attempt to beat the Americans to the moon. For more details about "Cosmonauts" and for additional broadcast times, see KCET's website. Robert Z. Pearlman is a contributing writer and the editor of collectSPACE.com, a Space.com partner site and the leading space history-focused news publication. Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. After the longest midseason hiatus in its history, ABC's Castle returns this Monday night with an episode that does not disappoint. "Tone Death" was written by newcomer Robert Bella and directed by Hanelle Culpepper, her second time in the role. More than ten weeks since Season 8's midseason finale, a case hits especially close to home for Martha, when a body is found atop a set to be used in an upcoming performance. Naturally, Martha insists his son handles the case personally. Alexis joins him at times, and while the case has a few neat twists, it takes a bit of a back seat when compared with the other elements that feature. Our public fights have made our private time so much more... If you want, we should throw him down a flight of stairs. About the Author - Jimmy Ryan Jimmy Ryan lives in New Zealand, and works in the IT industry. He is an avid follower of drama television and has a keen interest for television ratings and statistics. Some of his favorite shows right now are Person of Interest, Scandal, House of Cards, Orphan Black, Mr. Robot, Suits, The 100, How To Get Away With Murder, Elementary and Castle. You can visit his television ratings website, www.seriesmonitor.com or follow him on Twitter, @SeriesMonitor All Articles by Jimmy) Recent Articles by Jimmy ABC have gone to great lengths to promote this episode as a reunion of sorts between the main characters, Rick and Kate, and I have to say they are right on the money. Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic left nothing on the set with this installment, and their performances, along with the other cast members, are outstanding.In short, Rick and Kate are back together, though very much on the down-low. No one at the precinct is supposed to know this, so there's a bit of sneaking around and pretend conversations, which generates plenty of well written, quality banter. Detectives Ryan and Esposito don't miss a beat either, and it isn't long until they corner Rick and accuse him of cheating.alum Corbin Bleu picks up a guest starring role in this episode and does a pretty darn good job. A big part of this episode is the music, and it is really good. Bleu stars as a member of an acapella group, and is first introduced when Rick and Alexis go exploring some abandoned buildings. Some hilarity ensues moments later.As well as hearing Bleu's voice in action, Jon Huertas joins the party too, and the pair perform an impressive impromptu duet which helps to crack the case. Kate also manages to deck Corbin Bleu's character when he attempts to flee. No soaring or flying away from the law here. The title sequence tune gets a special acapella makeover too.While the Locksat conspiracy is still hanging over television's best crime fighting couple (the word is ushered just once), "Tone Death" gets everything right. Whilehas the unique ability to pull off stunning drama-intense storylines, it's the comedy which has always been the best aspect of the series. There's no shortage of that, and the musical theme fits right in with everything. It brings out the best in the cast, and is one of the best episodes to air this season.That's all I'll reveal for now! Drop any further questions in the comments below and I'll see if I can answer them. Your thoughts and theories are always welcome too. To check out's ratings, episode guide and more, check out www.seriesmonitor.com/castle . The MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22Josh and I Work on a Case! (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (TV-14, DL) (HDTV)REBECCA TAKES A CASE SHE THINKS WILL REDEEM HER WITH JOSH After the texting debacle, Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) attempts to recover by pursuing a case she thinks will bring her closer to Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III). Darryl (Pete Gardner) tries to reconcile his feelings for White Josh (guest star David Hull), while Greg (Santino Fontana) is obsessed with trying to uncover Rebeccas real motives for taking on the case. Donna Lynne Champlin and Vella Lovell also star. Steven Tsuchida directed the episode written by Aline Brosh McKenna and Rachel Bloom (#112). Original airdate 2/22/16.Chapter Thirty-Four (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)SHOULD SHE OR SHOULDNT SHE? Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is considering whether or not to take her relationship with Jonathan (guest star Adam Rodriguez) to the next level and turns to Xo (andrea Navedo) for advice. Xo and Rogelio (Jaime Camil) have their own relationship issues to work out. Meanwhile, as a favor to Rafael (Justin Baldoni), Jane agrees to help Petra (Yael Grobglas) by throwing her a baby shower. Luisa (guest star Yara Martinez) is in a terrible car accident, but all is not as it seems. Michael (Brett Dier) comes to a realization he must share with Jane. Ivonne Coll also stars. Howard Deutch directed the episode written by Madeline Hendricks. (#212). Original airdate 2/22/16.TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23King Shark (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)ARROWS DIGGLE (DAVID RAMSEY) AND LILA (AUDREY MARIE ANDERSON) CROSS OVER TO THE FLASH TO TAKE ON KING SHARK When King Shark escapes from an A.R.G.U.S. holding tank, Lila (guest star Audrey Marie Anderson) and Diggle (David Ramsey) travel to Central City to warn The Flash (Grant Gustin). King Shark shows up at the West house and attacks Joe (Jesse L. Martin), Iris (Candice Patton), Wally (Keiynan Lonsdale) and Barry. Hanelle Culpepper directed the episode written by Benjamin Raab & Deric A. Hughes (#215). Original airdate 2/23/16.Eternal Sunshine of the Caffeinated Mind (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)ENRICO COLANTONI (VERONICA MARS) GUEST STARS When an incredibly optimistic coffee-shop owner is murdered, Liv (Rose McIver) uses her sunny outlook to help Clive (Malcolm Goodwin) solve the murder. Meanwhile, things begin to go from bad to worse for Blaine (David Anders), and Drake (guest star Greg Finley) is forced to cancel plans with Liv due to a run in with Seattles finest. Robert Buckley and Rahul Kohli also star. Jason Bloom directed the episode written by Kit Boss (#214). Original airdate 2/23/16.WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24Taken (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)VIXEN JOINS TEAM ARROW Oliver (Stephen Amell) realizes he needs help battling Darhk (guest star Neal McDonough) so he calls in an old friend Vixen (guest star Megalyn E.K.). Using her magical ability to summon animal powers, Vixen gets a lock on Darhks location and the team goes to war. Meanwhile, Thea (Willa Holland) has a heart-to-heart talk with Malcolm (John Barrowman). Gregory Smith directed the episode with story by Marc Guggenheim and teleplay by Keto Shimizu & Brian Ford Sullivan (#415). Original airdate 2/24/16.Beyond the Mat (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)WWE CHAMPION MIKE THE MIZ MIZANIN GUEST STARS Dean (Jensen Ackles) sees an obituary notice for a wrestler he and Sam (Jared Padalecki) used to watch when they were kids. Deciding they need a break from tracking the Darkness, the brothers decide to attend the funeral to pay their respects. The funeral is full of wrestlers, including Shawn Harley (guest star Mike The Miz Mizanin), a hot shot new wrestler with a fiery temper who pushes everyones buttons, and veteran wrestler Gunner Lawless (guest star Aleks Paunovic). Sam and Dean attend the next match to re-live one of their fondest childhood memories but when another wrestler turns up dead, play time quickly turns to work. Jerry Wanek directed the episode written by John Bring & Andrew Dabb (#1115). Original airdate 2/24/16.THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25Star City 2046 (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (TV-14, LV) (HDTV)THE TEAM ENCOUNTERS A VERY DIFFERENT OLIVER QUEEN When a malfunction sends the Waverider crashing into 2046 Star City, our heroes face a startling version of their own future where they never stop Savage (guest star Casper Crump) and never return home. The city is in ruins and overrun by criminals, which thrills Rory (Dominic Purcell). Sara (Caity Lotz) is despondent over the destruction of her home and stunned when she learns what happened to her old friend, Oliver Queen (guest star Stephen Amell). Steve Shill directed the episode written by Marc Guggenheim & Ray Utarnachitt (#106). Original airdate 2/25/16.Bitter Harvest (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (TV-14, V) (HDTV)A QUIET AND MYSTERIOUS THREAT IS BREWING Clarke (Eliza Taylor) is torn between vengeance and mercy. Meanwhile, Kane (Henry Ian Cusick) and Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos) work together to avert a disaster, and Abby (Paige Turco) continues to worry about Raven (Lindsey Morgan). Isaiah Washington, Bob Morley, Devon Bostick, Christopher Larkin, Richard Harmon, Ricky Whittle also star. Dean White directed the episode written by Kira Snyder (#306). Original airdate 2/25/16.FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26Moonlight on the Bayou (8:00-9:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)AN EXCITING CROSSOVER WITH THE ORIGINALS In order to lure a vengeful vampire hunter named Rayna Cruz (guest star Leslie-Anne Huff) away from his friends in Mystic Falls, Stefan (Paul Wesley) heads to New Orleans, where Valerie (guest star Elizabeth Blackmore) has learned of a safe house that can protect him. Once there, he comes face to face with Klaus Mikaelson (guest star Joseph Morgan), who soon becomes suspicious of his old friends unexpected arrival in his city. Meanwhile, Enzo (Michael Malarkey), who is working on behalf of a mysterious organization called The Armory, approaches Damon (Ian Somerhalder) and Bonnie (Kat Graham) with a plan that could protect Stefan from Rayna. Finally, after learning that Alaric (Matt Davis) has decided to leave for Dallas with the twins immediately, Caroline (Candice King) offers to accompany them on the trip and finds herself contemplating her own future in Mystic Falls. Zach Roerig also stars. Jeffrey Hunt directed the episode written by Caroline Dries & Brett Matthews (#714). Original airdate 2/26/16.A Streetcar Named Desire (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET) (Content Rating TBD) (HDTV)AN EXCITING CROSSOVER WITH THE VAMPIRE DIARIES With the threat of the prophecy looming over their heads, Klaus (Joseph Morgan) and Elijah (Daniel Gillies) find themselves rendered useless inside a magical trap, while Aya (guest star Tracy Ifeachor) and The Strixs coven of witches move forward with a risky spell that could take one of them down for good. Elsewhere, Freya (Riley Voelkel) leads the charge to get her brothers back and enlists the help of Marcel (Charles Michael Davis), Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) and Stefan Salvatore (guest star Paul Wesley), an old friend of Klaus, whose unexpected arrival may be the key to their survival. Finally, Davina (Danielle Campbell) moves forward with a dangerous plan that brings her one step closer to reuniting with Kol. Matt Hastings directed the episode written by Beau DeMayo & Diane Ademu-John (#314). Original airdate 2/26/16. We run various sites in defense of human rights and need support to pay for more powerful servers. Thank you. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Even as its distribution and assembly manufacturing moves to New Jersey at a cost of some 40 jobs, Omega Group has committed to keeping its headquarters offices in Connecticut, eyeing locations in Stamford where it has long been based as well as Norwalk. Omega Group, currently housed at One Omega Drive in Stamfords Riverbend commercial park, makes thermocouples a temperature gauge used in applications ranging from household thermostats to gas turbines as well as sensors to measure pressure, flows of liquids and gases. The company was acquired in August 2011 by Spectris, a U.K.-based controls and instruments maker, for $475 million. Omegas decision to keep its base in Connecticut comes even as the state absorbs the ramifications of General Electrics headquarters departure, with Gov. Dannel P. Malloy telling state lawmakers Wednesday the state must intensify efforts to deal with its fiscal crisis and by extension build confidence by corporations to maintain their operations here. In an interview with the Advocate, CEO Jim Dale confirmed the companys plans to consolidate distribution and remaining assembly work in southern New Jersey, where he resides, saying it was inefficient to run mirror distribution operations in both states. With two major (distribution) locations in the Northeast, its a lot of coordination, Dale said. We find ourselves shipping parts back and forth (and) we carry thousands of parts. You want to optimize investment. Despite all that, Omega plans to stay in Connecticut, where the company employs about 140 office personnel. Weve been in this area for 50 years and are very committed to staying here, Dale said. Omegas late founder Betty Hollander was a minor local legend after starting the company in 1962 at her kitchen table and building it into a major manufacturer, while also serving on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards. She is the only woman among more than 50 people inducted into IndustryWeeks Manufacturing Hall of Fame. At a time when women faced pervasive discrimination in many industries, Betty utilized her steady work ethic and sharp business acumen to grow Omega from a firm focused on manufacturing a single line of thermocouples to a globally recognized business that produces over 100,000 state-of-the-art products for measurement and control, former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman wrote in a blog after Hollanders passing in April 2011. One long-time employee in Omega's shipping department remembers that, no matter how busy she was as CEO, Betty would always take the time out to get to know all of her employees personally. Betty was just incredible, said Sandy Goldstein, CEO of the Stamford Downtown Special Services District. There were very few (causes) she didnt touch. Omega has maintained its headquarters in Stamford to this day, building Riverbend Center in the mid-1990s in the citys Springdale neighborhood, eventually totaling 12 buildings and more than 600,000 square feet of space on 40 acres. In addition to Omegas corporate headquarters, tenants today include the Advocate and satellite campuses for Sacred Heart University and the University of Bridgeport. Alongside its Spectris sibling instrument manufacturers Microscan and Red Lion Controls, Omega contributed $78.4 million in revenue to the parent company in the first half of 2015, a 6 percent increase from a year earlier (excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates, sales were down slightly) and accounting for 20 percent of total Spectris sales. Omega spent much of the past year implementing a new software system to better track operations and inventory. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-964-2236; www.twitter.com/casoulman This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Governor Dannel P. Malloy warned Connecticut residents of possible snowfall overnight that could make for a dangerous Friday morning commute. Gov. Malloy said roads, particularly during the morning rush hour commute, may experience hazardous conditions with areas expecting differing levels of snowfall. "We are monitoring the fast-changing weather forecast closely and will continue to do so throughout the night," Gov. Malloy said in a release. "We are urging motorists to be cautious during their morning commutes tomorrow the timing of the snow could create slick road conditions." We encourage everyone to be safe, allow extra time to travel to and from work, and reduce speeds as conditions warrant," Gov. Malloy said. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory Thursday for southwest Fairfield County and western Long Island from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, with 3-5 inches of snow and morning rain expected in some areas. The NWS also said wind speeds will reach 10-20 miles per hour, with gusts up to 30 mph. Visibility may be limited to a quarter to a half a mile at certain times. Periods of sleet or freezing rain will be a factor in morning travel before snow sets in during the day. WTNH is anticipating overnight rain to change to snow for many areas of Connecticut between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. Friday and anywhere between 1-3 inches of snow throughout the morning for southwestern Connecticut. STAMFORD A young woman died Thursday night after she fell from the roof of her apartment complex, police said. The 28-year-old Turkish woman was found on the ground outside her Bedford Street apartment building at around 10:20 p.m. Capt. Richard Conklin said the three-story fall may been a suicide. An official cause of death has not yet been made, he said. The woman was found alive and rushed to Stamford Hospital, but at 11:15 p.m. she was pronounced dead. Conklin said the woman came to the United States from Turkey about two months ago. Although no one witnessed the fall, Conklin said there were signs the woman was on the roof before she either fell or jumped. A renter in the building heard a noise at about 10:20 p.m. and looked out his window. He saw the woman lying on the ground and called 911. Conklin said the woman was living in an apartment where the lease holder was renting out individual rooms. The lease holder told police the woman approached him the day before on Wednesday and asked for a reduction in rent, which he refused. The womans body is being sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. jnickerson@scni.com STAMFORD Victims rights activists, police and pretty much anyone with a mother, daughter or sister can relax, now that a blogger who called for legalizing rape has canceled a meetup that was planned for Stamford Saturday night. The blogger, who promotes a most extreme version of male superiority and a caustic anti-feminist philosophy, caught the attention of law enforcement officials and stoked the ire of womens rights activists with his social media call to like-minded tribesman to get together. The blogger, known as Roosh V., claimed that 165 such meetups were scheduled in 43 countries by his followers. One such event was supposed to take place on tiny corner of the University of Connecticut Stamford campus. I thought it was just some dumb joke, until I realized that the articles on the blog went back two years and these people were serious, said Stamford High School senior Mary Corrigan. Corrigan said she became aware of the blog when women began warning others over social media that the meetings were going to be taking place. It is so medieval. There is just no way to explain it, said Corrigan, who is applying to the University of California at Berkeley to study psychology or political science. It is a really archaic way of thinking about the relationships between men and women. I cant believe that people still feel that way about equality between the genders. Downtown police supervisor Capt. Sue Bretthauer said the department became aware after warnings were sent to them via Facebook and calls to the police tip line. Say what? All that we know is they say rape is OK and there is no rape if it happens on private property, Bretthauer said. Ive never heard of anything like this before. When the item came up before the command staff meeting, everybody looked dumbfounded, she said. The department contacted UCONN when it became aware the meeting was planned on campus property. She said police officers were going to be told to monitor the area, while not abridging anyones rights to their views. Bretthauer said the departments largest concern was that others with a different point of view may appear and a conflict would arise. Each side has a right to voice their opinions, she said. Center for Sexual Assault Crisis Counseling and Education Executive Director Ivonne Zucco said that as much as the blogs desire to legalize rape scared her, it was even more chilling to learn that the blog seems to have followers. Its strange in this day and age that we still have people that are having movements around something so illogical, Zucco said. We have worked so many years to find justice on the issue of abuse not only for women but for children or anyone who is a victim. She was curious to see if the meet-up was going to attract anyone. Now she may never know, on Thursday the Return of Kings blog noted that the events would be canceled. While it is disturbing, it is an interesting phenomenon and could tell us about the number of men who feel the way they do, she said. Rape awareness backlash The issue comes up at a time when focus on campus rape has caused states across the country to adopt affirmative sexual consent laws requiring colleges to teach students that yes means yes. Connecticut considered similar legislation and a bill requiring all college students in the state to be trained to the yes means yes standard passed the senate, but the General Assembly took no action on the bill in the previous session. Following campus rape scandals, UCONN and Yale already have implemented such standards for intimacy. One proponent of the legislation remarked, for too long the onus has been on the victim to prove that she resisted. The policy is expected to change that narrative. The question now becomes, Did you get to yes and how did that happen? The fellow tribesmen who might have been interested in the Saturday meet-up were instructed to show up at the corner of Franklin and Broad streets at 8 p.m., look around for anyone who appeared to be there for the meet up and ask, Do you know where I can find a pet shop. Or, if someone asked them the question, to reply, Yes, its right here, and they would then be told where to proceed for the real meeting to be held at 8:20 p.m. No one seems to know where the real meeting was supposed to be or what might have been discussed there, but if the blog is any indication, it would have something to do with the innate deficiencies of females. UCONN spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said the meetup would have been legal on the property, the L.C. Heist Park, because the pocket square is public property. Campus police were made aware of the neo-masculinist meeting and were planning to monitor the square. Our primary object was to have police there only to ensure safety of all and we would not interfere with anybodys rights of assembly or free speech, she said. jnickerson@scni.com; This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KENT Town selectmen have asked the Board of Education to consider adopting a school safety program that includes arming teachers and other school staffers with guns. By a 2-1 vote earlier this week, the Board of Selectmen agreed to recommend the FASTER Saves Lives program, which was developed by Ohios Buckeye Firearms Association in the aftermath of Sandy Hook and other school shootings. The program pays tuition, and room and board for teachers and other school personnel while they are being trained to carry firearms in schools, and offers help to school districts with legal and other issues involved in implimenting the program. School Board Chairman Paul Cortese said Thursday the board has no plans to discuss the proposal. Cortese told two parents who raised concerns at Thursday nights Board of Education meeting the selectmens suggestion has gotten blown out of proportion. The selectmen are making a suggestion, Cortese said. That doesnt mean the board will take it up or vote on it. If it does go on the agenda, there will be a presentation. But because someone asks for something to go on the agenda does not guarantee it will or when it will. Cortese assured parents, The children are safe in this school. We have a superintendent and administration that we pay a lot of money to decide on the training of our staff, Cortese said. Parent Susan Schullery told the school board Thursday night she opposed the idea of teachers carrying guns. These are my neighbors, Schullery said. I dont have guns in the house. I am careful about whose home my children go to regarding guns. I cant imagine being a teacher and not a trained police officer and carrying a gun. Jessica Smeller told the school board she was upset that many people first heard about this through the media. The damage done by our kids seeing the news vans in town and coming home and having to have it explained to them, why this could happen, Smeller said. My concern is the breakdown in the system. Why we as parents had to hear this through the news. Cortese and other board members declined to discuss the merits of the proposal. But Gov. Dannel P. Malloy left no doubt he considers the idea a bad one. If any board of education would approve this, Id be shocked, frightened and disappointed, the governor said. It makes no sense. And no school system in the state of Connecticut should be allowed to do this. Malloy said if school districts want properly trained security, such as former police officers, its their decision. The idea that were going to have a volunteer receive 26 hours of training or teachers and principals receive 26 hours of training, thats just unacceptable, Malloy said. It puts children in more danger, not less. Kent Selectman Jeffrey Parkin, who brought up the matter with selectmen, said he learned about the program at a conference and thought it might be a good fit for a small town like Kent, which lacks a police force of its own and relies for its safety on a resident state trooper and state police. It can take (state) police 25 to 30 minutes or so to arrive, given their proximity to Kent Center School, Parkin said. We have a resident trooper, but he cant be everyplace all the time. If an active shooter shows up at a school, the way they are stopped is with a firearm, Parkin said. If someone on staff is properly trained, they have the ability to stop and neutralize the attack until police can arrive on scene. Parkin and Selectman Michael VanValkenburg voted to present information on the program to the school board, but First Selectman Bruce Adams opposed, saying he was anti-guns. Parkin said Thursday reaction to the proposal has gotten out of hand. Its being suggested that teachers would be walking around the school visibly packing guns, Parkin said. But if Kent went into this program, the gun or guns would be concealed. It would be up to the Board of Education how the gun would be kept, possibly in a safe with access for trained staff. Its not for me to say. But the program would be totally opaque. No one would know staff had access to guns. Parkin said he dropped off a packet of information at school board offices and requested the board discuss the issue at its March meeting. The FASTER Saves Lives program FASTER stands for Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response has been active in Ohio since 2013. The sponsoring Buckeye firearms group is an affiliate of the National Rifle Association. According to the program website, training includes use of firearms, crisis management and emergency medical response. Several Ohio school districts, many of them in rural areas, have adopted the FASTER program. Jeff Staggs, superintendent of schools in Newcomerstown, about 100 miles south of Cleveland, said his staff was trained in the program three years ago. After the Sandy Hook tragedy, parents came to me asking to form a safety committee, Staggs said. They knew the Ohio Legislature allows teachers to carry firearms with a permit. We have had armed staff for three years now. It has worked outstandingly for our district. Another Ohio superintendent, who asked his district not be identified, said two staff members have been trained through FASTER Saves Lives to protect the communitys one school. He said the gun is kept in a biometric safe in a secure area that is quickly accessible to two staffers. If there is reason to believe the school is at high risk, the staff members carry the guns. The district hopes to have more staff trained soon, the superintendent said, and regular follow-up training is done with the local sheriffs office. The FASTER Saves Lives organization has been a great resource to schools across Ohio in providing the highest level of training and resources needed to implement a program, he said. Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance, which was founded after Sandy Hook to push for stricter gun laws, said Thursday she is not surprised that an NRA affiliate would promote such a program. Its alarming that they would push for teachers carrying guns in school, Murray said. I have spoken to a number of Newtown teachers, and they are not in support of guns in schools. The Associated Press contributed to this report. stuz@newstimes.com; 203-731-3352 porttitor V irgin Media today threw its hat into the ring as the potential fourth force in the UK mobile phone market if Hutchisons Three were to be allowed to complete its 10.5 billion takeover of O2. The bid is in front of the EUs competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who has sent Hutchison a so-called statement of objections running to several hundred pages. She and regulator Ofcoms Sharon White have expressed worries over any reduction of mobile operators in the UK. Yesterday Threes chairman Canning Fok made several pledges including a five-year price freeze, 5 billion of investment and opening Three and O2s networks to other meaningful competitors. Tom Mockridge, chief executive of Virgin Media, said Virgin already had experience in mobilesand could provide serious extra competition. Any competition concerns can be addressed without blocking the proposed O2-Three transaction, he said. The commission has previously cleared mobile mergers which resulted in a reduction in the number of mobile operators from four to three, subject to wholesale remedies. In two of these cases, Austria and Ireland, Virgin Medias parent company Liberty Global provides vigorous competition and consumer choice as a result of taking EU remedies. Virgin said it would not rule anything in or out and would await a final outcome from Brussels before deciding. But if it were to acquire network capacity from a merged Three/O2 it would be the first time it has owned any part of the network in the UK since Sir Richard Branson launched Virgin Mobile as the worlds first virtual operator in 1999. O ne of the most cheering pieces of pathos lately has been seeing actors from Shakespeares Globe going to the Jungle refugee camp near Calais to perform Hamlet on a makeshift stage to a few hundred slightly baffled refugees. A day or so later the Daily Mail, whose views on Europe and Britains membership of the EU are robust, carried the front-page headline WHO WILL SPEAK FOR ENGLAND? This was not a reference to Shakespeare in the Jungle but to the In-Out referendum. Shakespeare, though, has already been invoked when it comes to this issue. Earlier this week European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: To be, or not to be together, that is the question. In response, Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, a long-time Eurosceptic, alluded on the Guardian website to Macbeth: So much sound and fury, so little outcome. The Daily Mail is looking for some public figure to emerge to make the case that Britain wishes to be independent of Brussels, free to control its own borders and make its own laws. You do not have to be a clairvoyant to guess that it was thinking of the Honourable Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip our Boris, in other words. By coincidence, Boris is hard at work writing a book on Shakespeare to mark 400 years since the Bard died. So he has the rhetoric at his fingertips if he wants to speak for England. If this is true, and if Boris also answers the call to lead Britain out of the EU, he will find that the two jobs, of speaking for England and writing about Shakespeare, go easily hand in hand. Cant you hear him now, quoting John of Gaunts great speech in Richard II This royal throne of kings, this sceptred isle/ This earth of thingummy-bob, this seat of Mars,/This other Eden, crikey, good stuff, eh?... Can we not hear Boris exclaiming the words of Philip the Bastard at the end of King John: This England never did, nor never shall/Lie at the proud foot of a conqueror? One can almost hear Boris in Henry V mode rallying the Eurosceptic troops. The British Europhiles, and shilly-shalliers such as the Prime Minister, will be compared, to use the words of Talbot in Henry VI Part I, with A little herd of Englands timorous deer,/Mazed with the yelping kennel of French curs. There are no doubts, then, about Shakespeares credentials as one who spoke for England. Strangely, though, his greatest admirers in European history, and those Europeans who claimed to be inspired by Shakespeare, saw him not as a petty patriot but as a great liberator of the human spirit. Johann Goethe, Germanys universal genius, tells us that when he first read Shakespeare in the 18th century the first page made me his for life. I stood like one born blind, on whom a miraculous hand bestows sight in a moment. Victor Hugo, in the following century in France, literally started a riot at La Comedie-Francaise, the theatre in Paris devoted to classical drama, when he staged his supposedly Shakespearean drama Hernani in 1830. The Battle of Hernani was seen not merely as a revolution in literature but as a prelude, later that year, to the revolutionary collapse of the Bourbon monarchy. Continentals saw Shakespeare not as a little-Englander but as a liberator, one who belonged to all mankind. Hugo even went so far as to think the British had not really ever understood their national poet. It took 300 years, he wrote, for England to catch those two words that the whole world shouted in her ear William Shakespeare. At this point, pedants might pick nits. They might be so ungallant as to point out that in 1830 Hugo had not actually read any Shakespeare: he only did so properly years later when one of his sons translated the Bard into French. 'Continentals saw Shakespeare not as a little-Englander but as a liberator, one who belonged to all mankind' Goethe does not tell us that the first page of Shakespeare which changed his life was not from a play but from a selection made by a clergyman called Dodd called Beauties of Shakespeare. (Poor Dodd he was hanged for fraud. He got Dr Johnson to ghost-write his address from the scaffold, prompting Johnsons famous remark that when a man knows he is to be hanged in a fortnight it concentrates his mind wonderfully.) So on the one hand you have all the stirring anti-European propaganda in Shakespeares history plays, and on the other the European intellectuals praising Shakespeare even though they had not read him. They might seem ridiculous but I am on their side. Someone who really had read Shakespeare, over and over again, was the young John Keats, one of the greatest of English poets. The quality he most praised in Shakespeare was one lacking in todays Eurosceptics. When he was 22 Keats wrote to his brothers that, after seeing the great actor Edmund Kean performing, it struck me what quality went to a Man of Achievement which Shakespeare possessed so enormously I mean Negative Capability, that is when a man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, without any irritable reaching after fact and reason ... Shakespeares plays teem with varied characters, throb with passion, pulsate with intellectual energy precisely because of this quality that Shakespeare did not attach himself to ideology. People have tried to persuade themselves he was a Catholic, an agnostic, a fascist or communist before his time ... Perhaps he was all these things inside his head? Ideologues think it is not possible to hold incompatible opinions Shakespeare shows that it is more than possible. It is a positive virtue. So are you in or out of Europe? Where do you stand on our fisheries quota? Having firm views on such matters might make sense to fanatics but to the rest of us its the start of madness. At the beginning of every Hamlet the audience wonders: Why cant he simply make up his mind? By the end, if the play has worked, the confusion and ambiguity of what it means to be human will make decisive figures such as Claudius and Fortinbras seem the weirdos. The confused, doubting prince has become our friend. When we were thinking about launching London Collections Men, Londons first self-contained mens fashion week, we knew we had to make it fun. Sure, we knew we had to create a global platform for our young menswear designers, and we had to try to encourage some of our bigger designer names to return home from Milan, Paris and New York but we also knew that people would be expecting London to do what it does best - not take ourselves too seriously. So when superstar male model David Gandy, one of the ambassadors of LCM, suggested getting everyone to practise their best Blue Steel in aid of charity, we leapt at the chance. For four days you couldnt walk through the catwalk shows, presentations, parties and dinners without seeing a fashion journalist, department-store buyer or fashion designer gurning for the camera as they desperately - extremely desperately in some cases - tried to look as much like Derek Zoolander as possible. The problem with films about fashion is that usually they are so wide of the mark. The most heinous example is probably Robert Altmans Pret-A-Porter in 1994, primarily because, in its attempt to parody the fashion industry, it simply threw into harsh relief the fact that the industry itself is so much more extreme than most people realise. The reason why Zoolander works, and the reason why it struck a chord with those of us who work in the industry, is that it played it strictly for laughs. It didnt try to turn it into a sardonic parody, it simply turned it into a spoof. Zoolander 2 London Premiere 1 /20 Zoolander 2 London Premiere Cast and crew Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Penelope Cruz, Christine Taylor, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig and Justin Theroux Dave Benett Leading the glamour Penelope Cruz on the red carpet Dave Benett Suited and booted Ben Stiller arrives at the London premiere Dave Benett Braving the cold The Zoolander team don't seem bothered by the chilly weather Dave Benett Star style Penelope Cruz looks glam in a shiny silver gown Dave Benett Posing for the cameras Kristen Wiig poses on the red carpet Dave Benett Blue Steel Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson give their trademark pose Dave Benett All that glitters Penelope Cruz head in to see the film Natalie Dormer attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Neelam Gill attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Zoolander 2 twitter feed showing the picture taken at the film's UK premiere in London of Ben Stiller's successful bid to break the record for a photo taken by the world's longest selfie stick Ben Stiller Myleene Klass, Lara Stone, Camilla Rutherford, Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Will Ferrell, Valentino Garavani, Matt Johnson, Christine Taylor, Penelope Cruz, Owen Wilson and guests break the longest selfie stick world record at a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Will Ferrell attending the Zoolander 2 UK premiere, held at the Empire, Leicester Square, London Ian West/PA Myleene Klass attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Millie Mackintosh attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Ben Stillers Derek Zoolander wasnt an extreme interpretation of a male model, in the same way that Will Ferrells high-energy Mugatu wasnt a veiled composite of various fashion designers. His character works because he is totally ridiculous. Funny, ridiculous, but nothing like the real thing. For years Spinal Tap was the default DVD of choice on tour buses worldwide but the heavy-metal spoof has been replaced by Zoolander because it is a very similar film, with similar archetypes. Only this time the musicians lolling about in the back of the bus are not laughing at OTT musicians, theyre laughing at OTT models, designers and journalists. Not only this but the film has as much to say about the aspirations of the wannabe celebrity as it does about anyone involved in the fashion industry. The first film also benefitted from the supreme endorsement of David Bowie, who judges the nail-biting walk-off between Derek and Owen Wilsons Hansel at the end of the first film. And who wouldnt love a film that includes pitch-perfect lines such as: Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty? Oh, and in case youre interested, I do a pretty good Blue Steel. And, as it happens, a damn good Magnum. But the important thing is, everybody does. Review at a glance B ad idea #237: make a brand new full-length feature film of Dads Army. We are, happily, not short of original Dads Army episodes. Between 1968 and 1977 there were nine series broadcast on the BBC, a total of 80 episodes, of which only three, from the second series, have been lost due to the BBCs infamous policy of videotape wiping for re-use set in place to help its hard-pressed executives feel more economically efficient. So thats plenty to be going on with all but the first two series were in colour too, for those who care about that. There are also still available three chunky unabridged boxed CD sets of the excellent radio versions that were made in the early Seventies, running to 70-odd episodes, perfect for bath-time, in my experience. So Dads Army famine is rarely felt, especially as many of us, as the years wander by, find that we have pretty much forgotten the best bits of earlier episodes by the time they come around again, pleasingly tickling dim but fond memories. So why make a movie now, now that the classic cast has disappeared, now that we are so much further from the original production (48 years from its start, 39 from its finish) than it was itself from the Second World War at the time (29 and 32 years, respectively)? Especially since a full-length film had already been made, back in 1971, with the original cast and scriptwriters Jimmy Perry and David Croft, that was widely felt, including by Perry and Croft themselves, to have been a mistake, untrue to its sitcom origins? TODO: define component type brightcove So why? O why? The film produced by Damian Jones, whose credits include The Iron Lady, the biopic about Mrs Thatcher, and the Alan Bennett shows, The History Boys and The Lady in the Van, and directed by Oliver Parker, who worked on the two St Trinians films provides no answer at all. Perhaps a public enquiry is needed, although preferably not one chaired by Sir John Chilcot. They have assembled an eminent cast. Toby Jones plays Captain Mainwaring. Bill Nighy plays Sergeant Wilson, Tom Courtenay plays Corporal Jones, Michael Gambon plays Private Godfrey, while Private Pike is played by Blake Harrison from The Inbetweeners, Ian Lavender having moved on, 40 years later, to play the local top brass Brigadier Pritchard. Except they dont. You stupid boys: Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring with his men All the main actors play not their parts how could they? What an impertinence that would be! but the great actors who created them first. So Toby Jones, excellent though he may be, plays Arthur Lowe playing Captain Mainwaring; Bill Nighy, lovely as ever, does John Le Mesurier almost as well as John Le Mesurier, and so forth, right around the shop. Of course these actors are good but by the same token they are all highly recognisable as themselves, so you constantly think: why is Michael Gambon trying to be Arnold Ridley, who was and forever will be Godfrey? What good does Tom Courtenay think he can do by impersonating Clive Dunn being Corporal Jones? Such recoil is not just outraged conservatism about who first created and defined these roles, as it would be if one always resisted the re-casting of any great play or film. Even defining performances can always be outdone or at least re-worked for another age. But Dads Army cant, not possibly. It was a sitcom, which is to say habitual and since it is still frequently broadcast and enjoyed, it is with us as much as it ever was. And we dont enjoy our favourite habits being changed for us. Dad's Army Clip - Camouflage Stripping off the double period patina it enjoys being both set in that ever more distant war era and made in quite a different time feels like cultural vandalism, not loving renovation. Its rude. They may try to be a little tactful, giving us, for example, partial teasers only of the great catchphrases Stupid..., They dont like it... before we get the full line. But the film is tonally off, inevitably. To make it into a movie rather than a bundle of sketches, an overarching plot has been provided. We are later on in the war, leading up to D-Day, and the Nazis have sent over a secret agent, Catherine Zeta-Jones, codenamed Cobra, to try to find out if the invasion is planned for the Pas-de-Calais or Normandy. She has headed straight for Walmington-on-Sea, pretending to be a journalist called Rose Winters, writing for The Lady, to exploit the gullible locals. TODO: define component type brightcove For the whole platoon, from Mainwaring to Wilson, naive Pike to spivvy Joe Walker, being male and therefore sex-addled, are instantly infatuated and led a merry dance, even the cameraman having a special soft- touch lens for Zeta-Jones, perhaps to compensate for the strange fixity of her features. I wonder if shes had vitamin B? Even when they are told by MI5 that they have detected transmissions from a German spy in Walmington, the troop cant conceive that it could be a woman, probably not having seen Gone Girl or anything like that. What? A spy? A real one? I intend to catch him, says Mainwaring, blinding himself to the possibility. 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 However, for that modern touch, the women of Walmington save the day, Godfreys elderly sisters, rather resembling the old dears in Fawlty Towers, perform some prime detective work, ringing up Chanel in Paris to find where Rose got her flashy clothes delivered (Berlin). And Mrs Mainwaring, dreaded but never seen in the original version but here forcefully incarnated by Felicity Montagu (Lynn in Im Alan Partridge), leads a womens army troop, including Alison Steadman as Mrs Fox, which is far better organised than the men. When the shooting starts, they prove the decisive factor. TODO: define component type brightcove So theres a good lesson for those of us floundering haplessly under the cisgender male yoke. What the antique, unimproved Dads Army was about was, of course, being British, class the great joke being that the diffident Wilson was infinitely more aristocratic than the striving Mainwaring, his superior both at the bank and in the corps. An element of this survives but obviously no longer suffices. Two performances stand out. The wonderful Frank Williams, now 84, the huffy vicar in the original, appears again, delightfully, in the same role, suddenly bringing authenticity. And contrariwise, weedy Pike has been equipped with a girlfriend here, an entirely new character called Vera, fetchingly played by Holli Dempsey, with a freshness and reality made easier by her not being any kind of re-vamp. But making the film ever so slightly more genuinely about the Second World War even showing the Nazis, including possibly Hitler himself, in the Reich Chancellery, ordering the Cobra mission stirs an unease the original never did. That was a genuine period piece, this is a fake. Think even a little about the realities of that war now and any laughter, even at the most harmless pratfalls, sticks in the throat. Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout Review at a glance B ryan Breaking Bad Cranston resembles a used teabag. Aged 59, he makes Terry-Thomas look like Justin Bieber. His first big-screen lead role never runs from this awkward truth. Nor does it involve him wooing a kewpie doll half his age. This is the story of Dalton Trumbo, the real-life communist who wrote Roman Holiday, and how he beat the Red-baiters and their famous blacklist. Its not as subtle or bold as Breaking Bad (director Jay Roach and scriptwriter John McNamara are happy to trundle through events, rather than fly) but its fitfully fun, and with Donald Trump currently using the anti-commie card against Bernie Sanders, definitely relevant. Cranston (nominated for an Oscar) itches with life as the brilliant, beleaguered screenwriter. Critics have claimed this version of Trumbo is too saintly. Actually, the father-of-three is pretty human: arrogant under pressure, condescending to the one black man he meets and obsessed with winning (like most celebrities, hes a praise-a-holic). The only reason he takes on the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) is because he thinks the Supreme Court will come to his rescue. In prison, stripped of his clothes and forced to undergo a body search, (Grab your sack and skin it back! yells the guard), hes too stunned even to cry. TODO: define component type brightcove Helen Mirren plays Hedda Hopper, the witty, anti-Semitic gossip columnist who, like a modern-day Instagram queen, uses her many followers to turn herself into a player. Dressed in an array of colourful hats, shes all sparkle and spite. In 1956, Trumbo wins an Oscar for The Brave One (penned under the pseudonym Robert Rich). Hoppers fury lights up the screen. Her dinner date with Trumbo-ally Kirk Douglas (jauntily played by Dean OGorman) is similarly vital. As the film makes clear, Hopper and her colleagues came very close to winning the day. They had big and beautiful friends, including John Wayne and Robert Taylor (black-and-white footage from the time shows Taylor testifying in court, slick-haired and all-but-levitating with smugness). Unfortunately for these guys, the real glamour and zip belonged to their foes. I wish McNamara had found a way to include Marilyn Monroes take on the HUAC. When Arthur Miller was subpoenaed, she said, Hes got to tell them to go f*** themselves. Only in better language! One day, perhaps, an HBO mini-series will tackle this cultural face-off and blow our minds. In the meantime, check out Trumbo. Cert 15, 124 mins Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout T wo years ago, in the heat of the Syrian summer, Mohammed Emwazi ordered some free computer software and with a few taps of his laptop keyboard exposed his identity as the hooded executioner of the Islamic State known until then as Jihadi John. The video imagery of Emwazis gruesome murders of British, American and Japanese hostages had spearheaded the IS campaign of shock and terror across Syria, Iraq and cyberspace. Emwazi had revealed himself by using his code and number as a former student at the University of Westminster in order to download the new software for free. In doing so he not only revealed the true identity of Jihadi John thus lifting the mystique of demonic anonymity but signed his own death warrant. The US and British intelligence services now knew their man and pretty much where he lived. Diligent human intelligence work revealed that Emwazi, a Kuwaiti raised in Maida Vale, had a wife and baby son living in a flat close to the media centre in the heart of the IS capital, Raqqa. As he was getting into a pick-up truck after visiting the flat, Emwazi and a companion were killed vaporised according to a US spook by a Hellfire missile launched from an American Reaper drone. The Reaper, backed by a British unmanned aerial vehicle, had been called onto the target from the ground, a piquant detail hitherto given no further elaboration nor likely to be. The exposing of Emwazi as Jihadi John hardly registered at first with Robert Verkaik, an experienced journalist on the terrorism beat for The Independent and then the Mail. It took some time for him to realise he had interviewed Emwazi in 2009 when the terrorist claimed to be one of a group of Muslims suffering unwarranted harassment by MI5. An email correspondence followed. This is the point of departure for the new book, an outstanding pulling together of the fractured career of one of the most notorious terrorist psychopathic killers of this or any other age. The book is exceptional because its author makes no false claims for what he doesnt know and never confuses explanation with explaining away, the besetting flaw of so many of the human rights lobby for violent Islamists. Emwazi emerges as a misfit through his schooldays in St Johns Wood to studying computer science at Westminster University, where he first encountered radical Islamic preaching. Increasing travel restrictions after journeys to Tanzania and Kuwait led to a fixation about being persecuted by MI5, which may or may not have tried to recruit him. In January 2013 he gave the authorities the slip to get to Syria, where he became the classic victim-aggressor, displaying genuine symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia. The author, however, never quite manages to plumb the depths of Emwazis psychotic behaviour. More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review Much of the context and human geography of IS is described lucidly and succinctly. Less satisfying is the analysis of what Britains security services and judges should or should not do to face down the Islamist terrorist challenge. Perhaps the most chilling detail in this excellent and thought-provoking book comes at the end. No sooner was Jihadi John named than the IS hierarchy dumped him, and found another nameless British psychopath to don the black hood and become its new lead video murderer. H enning Mankell, Swedens most celebrated crime writer, died last October at the age of 67. Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2013, he underwent chemotherapy but saw no reason to keep his illness a secret from his thousands of fans. As the creator of the notoriously gloomy Detective Inspector Wallander, Mankell talks of his encroaching death as something of a release. Quicksand, a hybrid of essay and memoir, reflects knowledgeably on art, religion, childhood and the final insensibility that is our dying. Rarely has a writer contemplated the mystery of the end of life with such a wide-ranging curiosity. Mankell, a distempered presence, has a bone to pick with life. There has been a shift of prudery in our time from sex to death, he complains. With death banished to the private space of the hospital, it has become our last, most pervasive taboo, rather as sex had been for the Victorians. In place of the draped urns and keening angels of 19th-century cemeteries, the body is disposed of as swiftly as possible. To ignore death in this way is, says Mankell, a gross cultural lapse. The meaning of life is everywhere connected to what it means to die. In pages of lucid prose Mankell contemplates 17th-century counter-Reformation painters such as Caravaggio, who fixedly divined the skull beneath the skin. Baroque representations of death as a scythe-wielding skeleton are viewed now as part of an obsolete cult of mortality. Wallander, with his lugubrious talk of his (and humanitys) demise, at least embodied what Mankell calls the tragic conditions inherent in human life. Not only is the Swedish gumshoe increasingly alcoholic, he is miserably divorced, diabetic, overweight, clinically depressed and hooked on fatty takeaways. With his cancer diagnosis, Mankell returns to childhood memories. Born in Stockholm in 1948 into a comfortably bourgeois household, disappointment came to him early. A year after his birth, his mother left home and, wretchedly unhappy, sought a divorce. Raised by his father, a judge, the boy Henning became interested in the justice system and especially murder cases. In his fathers flat above a courtroom in remote central Sweden, Mankell and his sister explored the lakes and pine forests of Harjedalen province, later the setting for Mankells fiction. Though Mankell upbraids his mother for rejecting him as a child, he recognises aspects of himself in her restless, discontented personality. In 1998, having had four sons by previous relationships, Mankell married the Swedish film director Ingmar Bergmans daughter Eva; Bergmans death-fixated movies are an acknowledged influence. More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review Mankell had not smoked in 25 years when his cancer was detected: had his lungs incubated a malignancy for decades? The predator sees you, but you dont see the predator, he comments resignedly. In the absence of any visible sign of the illness (Ive got scars that cant be seen, David Bowie sings on Lazarus), Mankell spends his last days on earth listening to Miles Davis and the liturgical music of the Estonian composer Arvo Part. Increasingly, the chemotherapy leaves him fear-ridden and confused. Memories return of the time he spent on a Swedish ship in the Sixties delivering coal to Bristol and Middlesbrough, but time is running out and not only for Mankell. His superb English translator Laurie Thompson had no sooner finished this translation than he too died of cancer. With its glancing, essayistic reflections on, among other things, God, slavery, Napoleon and the Renaissance, Quicksand is a meandering if absorbing addition to the work of Swedens most internationally famous writer since August Strindberg. Nordic crime took a mortal blow with Mankells death in a cold climate. P eace, or the lack of it, not place is the real subject of Jean Steins map to the stars. The addresses featured 905 Loma Vista Drive, say, or 1400 Tower Grove Road will mean nothing to most British readers but their location, Beverly Hills, will raise more than an eyebrow, for the plots that interest Stein are part of LA lore. The once-desirable residences that tourists are shown around allowed Hollywood hotshots to escape from their adoring fans but not their inner demons. The owners Edward Doheny, Jack Warner, Jane Garland, David Selznick and Jules Stein needed mega-mansions to house their monstrous egos. The story of Doheny, once the richest man in America, will be familiar to anyone who has seen There Will Be Blood. And, yes, we do get to see the pink and black marble ballroom and the bowling alley The consumption of caviar, champagne and beef Wellington on the beach is suitably conspicuous. So is the bad behaviour. For a man in the business of show, studio head Warner was hopeless at keeping up appearances. His control-freakery at home made him an appalling father sometimes doting, sometimes distant. Jennifer Jones, made and unmade by producer-hubby Selznick she won an Academy Award for The Song of Bernadette spent four hours having her hair and make-up done every day whether or not she was working. No surprise she was a neglectful mother. She did remember, though, to call her shrink before attempting to drown herself in the Pacific. But then she was sleeping with him. Jones, apparently, never wore panties, a failing also of Jane Garland. The daughter of a failed actress who lived at 22368 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Garland liked performing knickerless handstands in restaurants. She may have been bipolar. When she felt a turn coming on she would cry: Theres a rat in the refrigerator, or even better, mice in the icebox! More book reviews 1 /24 More book reviews Recovery by Russell Brand Will Russells brand of self-help prove quite so addictive? By Nicholas Lezard. Read review A Life in Questions by Jeremy Paxman Paxo refuses to answer all the really good questions, says David Sexton. Read review Politics: Between: The Extremes by Nick Clegg The basis of this book makes it impossible not to warm to Clegg, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review Serious Sweet by A L Kennedy Thank heavens for London in this tale of self-obsessed lovers. Read review The Last Royal Rebel: The Life and Death of James, Duke of Monmouth by Anna Keay Born a kings b****** and destined for a traitors death. Read review Man Up: Boys, Men and Breaking the Male Rules by Rebecca Asher Getting to the bottom of why boys will be boys. Read review The Course of Love by Alain de Botton A philosophical novel that does run smooth, says Johanna Thomas-Corr. Read review The Tree Climbers Guide: Adventures in the Urban Canopy by Jack Cooke How I gave this book a proper test and ended up with a broken ankle. Read review Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre Brontes classic tale in the imaginations of other writers, says Claire Harman. Read review Moranifesto by Caitlin Moran Caitlin comes clean about politics the world according to our funniest feminist. By Rosamund Urwin. Read review Spark Joy An Illustrated Guide to the Japanese Art of Tidying by Marie Kondo Theres no messing wih Marie, says Katie Law. Read review Cockfosters Stories by Helen Simpson After 50, a womans life gets better not worse. By Katie Law. Read review Stalins Englishman: The Lives of Guy Burgess by Andrew Lownie Joker in the spying pack. By Richard Bassett. Read review Even Dogs in the Wild by Ian Rankin The darkness that lies at the heart of the novel is offset by a lightness of touch, says Mark Sanderson. Read review Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello Elvis proves not quite so lyrical on the page, says Nick Curtis. Read review The Importance of Elsewhere: Philip Larkins Photographs by Richard Bradford His poetry paints better pictures than any camera, says David Sexton. Read review Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith Morality wins out over macabre murders, says Melanie McDonagh. Read review The Grownup by Gillian Flynn Calling all Flynnies: the con girl whos like gone girl. Read review Jean Stein grew up at 1330 Angelo Drive. Her father founded the talent agency MCA. Previous owners of Misty Mountain include Katharine Hepburn, who used to shoot snakes in the living room. Rupert Murdoch owns it now. West of Eden is a patchwork of undated testimony from relatives, friends and employees, all blithely ignoring the convention that one shouldnt speak ill of the dead. Thank God they do. Here is Cary Grant in gold lame loafers, Dennis Hopper partying with Jane Fonda and The Byrds, Ronald Reagan as an FBI fink. The anecdotes come so thick and fast its like being machine-gunned with marshmallows. Gradually, though, the mood darkens, the catalogue of vulgarity, cruelty and insanity takes its toll. While the Technicolor tour is relentlessly fascinating, it is reassuring to be shown in black and white that, in La-La Land at least, with the millions comes endless misery. T he fashion crowd is notoriously challenging to win over, but one sure-fire way to ingratiate yourself is with Blue Steel. Last night the worlds most beautiful people gathered on the blue carpet in Leicester Square for the comeback of the century, Zoolanders return or should that be 2oolander? After 15 years of leaving us hanging, still attempting the perfect pout, the sequel to the all-action fashion caper lands in cinemas next Friday. Last time we met Zoolander, people still ate gluten and Instagram hadnt been invented, but these fine specimens havent aged a bit. In fact they look younger perhaps orange mocha frappucinos are the secret to eternal wellness. The film is already setting records. Ben Stiller was awarded a Guinness World Record certificate for taking a picture with the longest selfie stick. It was a proud moment. He held the 27ft device over his crew, and Valentino, Anais Gallagher, Kristen Wiig and Penelope Cruz craned their necks to make history, and the shot. The afterparty at the W Hotel was full of people asking the big question: is there more to life than being really, really, really ridiculously good-looking? In the new film, those blessed with attractive genes are in danger of assassination. There are only two people who can help, formerly famous male model Derek Zoolander and his ex-rival Hansel McDonald. Zoolander made $60.7 million worldwide in 2001. Its sequel is set to be bigger Justin Bieber and an eyebrowless Benedict Cumberbatch are involved. The trailer has already been viewed more than 17 million times on YouTube. Before its out, let us be of service and tell you what you need to know so you can focus on the important things in life practising your walk-offs. Cool story, bro. The cast The original gang is back together, in new outfits. As they say fashion has changed, but they are the same: Ben Stiller says that the trademark Zoolander pout has become his mirror face. He wrote the film with Justin Theroux (they worked together on Tropic Thunder and Theroux has a cameo here as an evil DJ) but Therouxs wife, Jennifer Aniston, is absent. Instead, Zoolander (Stiller) is reunited with Hansel (Owen Wilson) and their taskmaster is Interpol agent Valentina (Penelope Cruz). Shes hot, I trust her, says Hansel when she chooses them to investigate a death plot against the worlds most beautiful people. But before that, they need to sort some catsuits. Will Ferrell returns as the bad to the core Mugatu. He has two fetching peroxide-blond horns of hair, a piano-tie tattoo and hes still having issues with his goddamn latte. It has a picture of him drawn in the foam. His accomplice is Alexanya Atoz, played by Kristen KWiigz Wiig, in a range of fine wigs and layers of make up that took four hours to apply every day. They filmed between April and July last year in Rome and there are plenty of videos of them larking around during the making of the movie. The cameos The first instalment set the bar for cameos high, with appearances from Claudia Schiffer, David Bowie, Gwen Stefani, Heidi Klum and, er, Donald Trump. No one draws in the celebrities like Zoolander. This time, Julian Assange was Stillers first choice for a bit part. See, Zoolander has designs as a freedom fighter. He wanted Assange to be part of an orgy scene, tuning in via satellite link as an observer. Mr Wikileaks was keen too he usually turns down film collaborations, even when Benedict Cumberbatch tried to charm him into one for the Wikileaks drama The Fifth Estate, but for Zoolander he made an exception. Wikileaks gave this statement: Julians a fan of Bens films. But the pallid hacker couldnt leave the Ecuadorian embassy for fear of arrest. Instead, they had to make do with Justin Bieber, who says the experience was pretty cool. The trailer shows him trying to escape assassins. Oh fudge, he says, before doing his best Blue Steel for a selfie with the words peace out, world. He barely has time to upload it to Instagram and choose a filter before he is killed. Traj. The only person who isnt convinced by his performance is Stiller and Christine Taylors daughter Ella, 14. She said: I get it, everyone loves Bieber but Im not one of them. Other musical stylings come from Bieber collaborator Skrillex, and A$AP Rocky, who spits: Hansel and Derek, Im handsome, you jealous on the song Relax. Rocky got his favourite actress Susan Sarandon on board for a scene and Willie Nelson, aged 82, has come out of retirement. He and Owen Wilson are neighbours in Maui, Hawaii, and play dominoes together. Kanye West is involved too, and he brought along his wife. Also look out for Anna Wintours moment if anyone can put the dastardly Mugatu in his place its her. Surely all this will give Karl Lagerfeld fomo. He turned down an appearance because Im not an actor. Star appearance: Justin Bieber The controversy Some LGBT activists do not want you to see this film. After a trailer was leaked in August they began a petition calling on people to boycott Zoolander 2 because of offensive representation of non-binary individuals. It has 24,200 signatures. They object to Benedict Cumberbatchs character, a supermodel called All. When Zoolander asks, Are you like a male model or a female model?, Cumberbatchs character replies, All is All. Hansel explains: I think hes asking, do you have a hot dog or a bun? The petition calls All an over-the-top, cartoonish mockery of androgyne/trans/non-binary individuals, and the modern equivalent of using blackface to represent a minority. Controversial character: Benedict Cumberbatch The parties So you think you can walk? Its a walk-off at Upstairs at The Ritzys Zoolander Partay next Friday. Gird your loins for the heat of Phoenix Fagbutts live performance. In (Kanye) West London, The Little Yellow Door is hosting Magatus House Party. There will be a showing of the film, a yellow carpet to work your Blue Steel on and really, really ridiculously good-looking guests dancing to Relax every hour, on the hour. If you cant get a goddamn latte, make do with Cirocs limited- edition tribute Blue Steel vodka and drink every time theres a celebrity cameo or someone does the Magnum look. Mix with water because as the Z-man says: Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty. Zoolander 2 London Premiere 1 /20 Zoolander 2 London Premiere Cast and crew Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Penelope Cruz, Christine Taylor, Owen Wilson, Kristen Wiig and Justin Theroux Dave Benett Leading the glamour Penelope Cruz on the red carpet Dave Benett Suited and booted Ben Stiller arrives at the London premiere Dave Benett Braving the cold The Zoolander team don't seem bothered by the chilly weather Dave Benett Star style Penelope Cruz looks glam in a shiny silver gown Dave Benett Posing for the cameras Kristen Wiig poses on the red carpet Dave Benett Blue Steel Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson give their trademark pose Dave Benett All that glitters Penelope Cruz head in to see the film Natalie Dormer attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Neelam Gill attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Zoolander 2 twitter feed showing the picture taken at the film's UK premiere in London of Ben Stiller's successful bid to break the record for a photo taken by the world's longest selfie stick Ben Stiller Myleene Klass, Lara Stone, Camilla Rutherford, Ben Stiller, Justin Theroux, Will Ferrell, Valentino Garavani, Matt Johnson, Christine Taylor, Penelope Cruz, Owen Wilson and guests break the longest selfie stick world record at a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Will Ferrell attending the Zoolander 2 UK premiere, held at the Empire, Leicester Square, London Ian West/PA Myleene Klass attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett Millie Mackintosh attends a Fashionable Screening of the Paramount Pictures film "Zoolander No. 2" at Empire Leicester Square Dave Benett The fans Vogue magazine appreciates DZ they put VH1s three-time male model of the year on the cover of this months American issue. He gives them a tour of his winter apartment and really opens up, telling them why he doesnt sweat or text and revealing his thoughts about Brooklyn (I really hope they find a cure), why diversity is the best thing about living in New York (You have really good-looking people, and also really attractive people) to his favourite holiday (my faith is very important to me, so Id have to say, my birthday). He poses for the Vogue shoot with fellow members of modelling royalty: Joan Smalls, Jourdan Dunn and Gigi Hadid but says it was too awks for Cara Delevingne to join in after their three-hour relationship on Saturday. They wooed each other with a walk-off under the Eiffel Tower and took plenty of selfies. She captioned one #nevertouchedhisbutthole as a tribute to Kanye Wests spat with Amber Rose. Zoolander showed off: Exclusive: Der-vigne are now a thing. In the coming months and years, Ill be live-gramming my relationship. Shes a beautiful girl, not just on the outside. But also on the side side. Like in profile. They really speak to each other, like Cara speaks and he speaks back. Designers are into it too. Check out Marc Jacobss homage to the orange mocha frappuccino scene, filmed on a recent jolly in St Barts. It makes life easier. Follow Susannah Butter on Twitter: @susannahbutter Y ou cant stay anywhere cheaper in the Alps, says Jack Walker, a 53-year-old veteran snowboarder from Birmingham over a beer at The Rude Lodge. Walker is sharing a dormitory room with three of his spritely but equally grey-haired mates, and as we chat Im wondering if the lodge has an anti-ageing pool, like in the movie Cocoon. We are here primarily to snowboard, and then enjoy apres-ski and dinner. We just sleep in the room, so are happy to bunk in together. Unlike most accommodation in the Alps where you have to book week-long stays, at the Rude Lodge you can stay for as few or as many nights as you please. There is a choice of traditional twins, or four- or six-bunk dorm rooms. Walker and his friends are here for three midweek nights, which suited their tight schedules and helped with booking cheaper flights to Geneva, about a 90-minute drive away. The building is one of Morzines oldest and was completely refurbished in time to open last winter. The mixed-dorm-style accommodation is no backpacking ordeal: rooms are clean, functional and rates start at just 35 per person per night. Committed boarders and skiers work the bar and office, offering expert advice on everything from the best tree runs (off the Combe a Floret and Les Tannes pistes) to Morzines most popular traditional restaurant (La Rotonde) and the tastiest takeaway in town (Mammas). Of course, the Alps being the Alps, a few apres beers lead to a few more and I decide it might be time to hit a nightclub. Walker and his gang sensibly decline on account of the falling snow and the prospect of a day out on fresh powder. Infinitely less wise, I cant resist the temptation of the lodges own club, which is next door. Lodge guests receive free entry, so I take a few steps into what was once Morzines most infamous nightspot, the Paradis, now called the Tiki. The previous owner was a Moulin Rouge dancer in the Fifties, Rhianna Cook, the lodges head of business development, explains over the music. When I first saw it I couldnt believe it. The animal print chaise-longues, the stripper poles and the neon-lit dance floor were like walking through a discotheque time machine. We knew we had to renovate but we had to keep the original vibe. Horse-drawn carriages are the norm in car-free Avoriaz / Alamy True to their word the original features have been restored and updated with a banging new sound system. This winter, the venue is hosting a roster of rock bands, DJs and comedians. The extensive soundproofing means the subterranean fun doesnt affect the lodgers upstairs. However, with easy access to the massive Portes du Soleil ski area with its 199 lifts and 450 miles of piste its soon time to leave the neon dance floor behind and think about the job at hand. The next morning Im not surprised to see Walker and his gang suited, booted and fresh as daisies. A basic coffee-and- croissant-style breakfast is included, but if like me you need extra ammunition you can order from the extensive menu. Like the eggs, I scramble after the lads who are heading out of the door chasing fresh tracks. Its less than 200 metres into the centre of Morzine a charming French village and market town and a further 400-metre walk to the Super Morzine Telecabine. This gondola accesses the Super Morzines great family and intermediate pistes. Take it easy: the Rude Lodge bar I, however, fall in line with the snow veterans and hop on the public bus that takes us up to the Prodains chair, the quickest route to Avoriazs loftier slopes. The lift drops us a couple of hundred metres above the purpose-built resort, with its modernist high-rise towers and acute angles covered in distinctive red cedar. From up here I can just about spy the car-free resorts horse-drawn carriages. Thirty minutes later, we are bounding down Avoriazs Stash, a natural-terrain park designed by Jake Burton. Walker and his cohort hoot through and around the huge tree rides, wooden rails and other natural obstacles that snake through the Lindarets forest, all of which I carefully manage to avoid. In line with the its-all-about-the-snowboarding ethos of the crew, we hit Les Barmettes, a creperie and burger bar bustling with ski instructors for a quick lunch to refuel for the afternoons riding. For me that means multiple runs down to the pretty hamlet of La Lindarets, before cruising the 1,100 metres of vertical all the way back to Super Morzine and the gondola to town. Back at the lodge bar, live music pumps over the assembled apres guests. Too tired and too comfortable to move, I enjoy a steak from the Lodges La Coupe French-American restaurant. The snow is still falling and I know Ive explored only a tiny fraction of the vast ski area on offer. On the other hand, I know just 20 metres away theres a neon dance floor with my name on it. I decide to have a beer and think on it. Details: Morzine The Rude Lodge, 60 Route des Udrezants, Morzine, France (0870 068 7030; rudechalets.com). Prices start at 35 per person per night with a choice of twin, bunk, four-bed or six-bed dorm rooms, all en suite. Rude offers complimentary transfers from Geneva airport. Geneva is served from Stansted, Gatwick and Luton by easyJet (0843 104 5000; easyJet.com), British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) and Swiss (0845 601 0956; swiss.com) from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City. Portes du Soleil (portesdusoleil.com) daily ski passes start at 49.50. A burglary victim has spent more than 1,000 converting his family house into one of Londons best- connected smart homes. Father-of-two Ian Mayo returned from a holiday to find his house stripped out by burglars, prompting him to invest in the Smart-i system. Now his home in Croydon has been connected so almost everything with a plug socket can be operated remotely from anywhere in the world via a smartphone app. Mr Mayo said the system has already helped him deter would-be car thieves spotted on CCTV in the early hours by yelling at them through the intercom hooked up to his smartphone, despite him being miles away. Its everyday uses are more practical, such as flicking the kettle on or turning up the thermostat. His plugs have on/off sensors and everything connects via the internet router, which is protected by an proprietary secure encryption algorithm and includes an eight-hour battery back-up in case of a power cut. The system sends him an alert if any movement is detected inside his house. Mr Mayo, a financial director, said he chose to convert his home as no one takes any notice if an alarm goes off. The system, which cost him a total of 1,200, includes a 130 night vision camera, 250 solar-powered movement sensors, a 100 indoor CCTV camera, 20 window contact sensors and a 100 baby monitor camera. Smart controls turn on the lights, television and stereo system. Mr Mayo said: The Smart-i system sends notifications to my phone if anyone walks up my drive and I can then view who is there and record video of them if it looks suspicious. There are smoke, heat and carbon monoxide alarms which act as an early warning system and alert you via smartphone wherever you are. I can also speak to anyone who calls at the house via the intercom, so if its a delivery I can tell them where to leave the package so I dont have to wait in. The system has already saved me from getting one of my cars stolen. Three men came on my drive at about 3am a couple of weeks ago and were looking at ways of getting into the car. My phone alerted me and I could see them via the external night vision camera. I spoke to them via the intercom saying I could see where they were and that the police had been called they ran off immediately. M arco Pierre White's estranged wife has been charged with assault after an incident at her home in west London. Mathilde Conejero, 51, known as Mati, who married the chef in 2000, is due to appear in court next month charged with assaulting a 21-year-old man. The alleged assault is thought to have taken place in a block in Chiswick where Conejero and her eldest son, Luciano Pierre White, share adjoining flats. Conejero and the restaurateur separated after seven years of marriage, and she filed for divorce on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour. But proceedings were halted after the couple reportedly ran up legal bills of an estimated 3 million. They remain married. In a statement today Scotland Yard said Conejero was due to appear at Uxbridge magistrates court on March 7 charged with two counts of assault against a 21-year-old man at an address in Chiswick last September. Police were called to an alleged altercation at an address in Chiswick High Road on September 20. Officers attended and parties were spoken to before one made an allegation of assault. Officers from Hounslow opened an investigation and Conejero was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm after attending a west London police station in October. She was bailed pending further enquiries and was charged on February 4. The couple, who married in 2000, have two sons; Luciano, centre, and Marco Junior, right The Met said in a statement today: Mathilde Conejero, 51, unemployed, of Chiswick High Road appears on bail at Uxbridge magistrates court on 7 March charged with two counts of assault against a 21-year-old man at an address in Chiswick on 20 September 2015. Conejero and Pierre White have three children together Luciano, 22, Marco Jr, 20, and Mirabelle, 13. Pierre White, who has been married three times, was in a relationship with Silent Witness star Emilia Fox for three years. Now 54, he was the youngest chef to be awarded three Michelin stars, and has run a string of renowned restaurants in London as well as a number of country gastro pubs. He still owns several restaurants in the UK and Ireland and is also known as the TV face of Knorr. Relations between Pierre White and Conejero began to break down in 2005 when she accused him of cheating with financier Robin Saunders. The chef spent 14 hours in a police cell after he and his wife had a row. A prisoner who beat his cellmate to death with a television while awaiting trial over a random attack on a walker has had his sentencing adjourned for more psychiatric treatment. Taras Nykolyn, 46, was placed in custody at Wandsworth prison after he attacked Roger Maxwell on Wimbledon Common in June 2014. Mr Maxwell, 51, was accused of being a terrorist as Nykolyn forced him to the ground before battering his face and head. The attack lasted 45 minutes and left Mr Maxwell with a broken wrist and fractured nose. The random attack took place near the Windmill at Wimbledon Common / Roy Robart Last May, while waiting for his trial, the Ukrainian national smashed cellmate Wadid Barsoum over the head with a television set, killing him. He is thought to have carried out the attack because he was angry with the 66-year-old Egyptian national for keeping him awake at night. Prosecutor Simon Denison QC told the Old Bailey both attacks were "extremely violent" and "apparently motiveless". Concerns were raised about Nykolyns behaviour in the weeks leading up to the prison attack but he had been deemed a "standard risk and fit to share with others" at the prison, Mr Denison said. Nykolyns defence lawyer Diana Ellis QC said her client was suffering from psychotic episodes during both attacks and has since been assessed at Broadmoor hospital for a mental health disorder. Forensic psychiatrist Dr Philip Joseph concluded the defendant was "probably suffering from paranoid psychosis" and paranoid delusions when he carried out the offences, and continues to suffer from a mental disorder. Nykolyn pleaded guilty to GBH in June and manslaughter by way of diminished responsibility over the killing in May. The pleas have been accepted by the prosecution. However, sentencing was adjourned at the Old Bailey on Friday for more psychiatric tests. The Recorder of London, Nicholas Hilliard QC, imposed a 12-week interim hospital order under Section 38 of the Mental Health Act 1983. He said: "I am satisfied on the basis of the evidence that the defendant is suffering from a mental disorder and there is reason to suspect that it may be appropriate for a hospital order to be made." A sentencing date has not yet been set. A rapist Tube driver who attacked two women 20 years ago has finally been jailed after DNA taken last year identified him as the culprit of the crimes. Russell Simon Chandler, 41, from Watford, raped a 34-year-old woman on May 9, 1994 and attempted to rape a 22-year-old woman two days later. His DNA was left at both crime scenes but he was only traced when he was arrested last June. DNA taken when he was arrested matched traces left at the crime scenes. On Friday, Chandler was jailed for 13 years at Harrow Crown Court. His first victim was attacked and raped as she walked through an underpass at Watford Way, Mill Hill and the second was also attacked in Mill Hill as she walked home from a leisure centre. The attacks were linked but no suspect was identified. When it was investigated as a cold case in 2005, no new leads appeared. It was only when Chandler was arrested last June for a different offence that his DNA was taken and loaded onto a national database. Police arrested him 10 days later after his records matched those left at both scenes in 1994. At court Chandler pleaded guilty to two sexual assaults but was found guilty of rape and attempted rape at his trial. Kay Scudder, Crown Prosecution Service London reviewing lawyer, said: "Russell Chandler may have thought he had got away with these terrible crimes but he has now been convicted. "He pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the two women but was not prepared to admit that he had raped one of them and attempted to rape the other. "We were determined that he would be held responsible for the full extent of his crimes and proceeded with the case to trial. "More than 20 years after their terrifying ordeals the victims showed great bravery in giving evidence against their attacker in court. "I would like to thank them for their support of the prosecution and I hope that they finally feel that they have some sense of justice." Chandler was sentenced to 13 years for the rape and nine and a half years for the attempted rape, to run concurrently, and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life. T he family of a man who was shot dead during an attempted robbery in Birmingham have said the "loving father" was planning a move back to London when he was killed. Akhtar Javeed, 56, from West Ham, was killed as masked men attempted to rob his warehouse in Digbeth. Mr Javeed was fatally shot when the raiders targeted Direct Source 3 Ltd in Rea Road South just before 6.40pm on Wednesday. On Friday his family described him as an honest man who valued his family more than anything else, and said he had moved to Birmingham to provide for his children. They issued a heartfelt plea for anyone with information about Mr Javeed's death to help police with their investigation. Police at Mr Javeed's business, where the shooting took place Joe Giddens/PA Wire / Joe Giddens/PA Wire In a statement they said: Hes left behind a wife, a daughter and three younger sons, two of which are still so young and in school. He was a loving grandfather and his grandchild was the apple of his eye. He was an honest man who valued his family more than anything else. Thats why he was up here, he moved to Birmingham to run this warehouse so that he could provide for his family and he was planning to move back very soon. He was very hard-working, loved by many, always treated everyone kindly, and was a good man who avoided conflict. He was a loving father and we were all incredibly close. So please, if you have any information at all, come forward. Please help bring closure to our family and justice for him. He was cruelly taken away from us and his young children who will now have to grow up without their father. Please help us. Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the botched robbery, and have urged anyone with information to contact police. Forensics officers at the scene Joe Giddens/PA Wire / Joe Giddens/PA Wire Acting Detective Chief Inspector Martin Slevin, from Force CID, said: We believe this was a targeted robbery attempt at the business premises in Rea Street South, near to the junction with MacDonald Street. It happened at a time when other people may have been leaving work for the day and someone may have seen what happened or have important information about the suspects. If you have any information that could help our investigation, please get in touch as soon as possible." Any witnesses should contact police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. A woman has died after being hit by a lorry at a major south London junction. The woman, a pedestrian believed to be in her 80s, was struck at about 12.35pm in New Kent Road at the Elephant and Castle roundabout - just weeks after it was overhauled by Transport for London in a bid to improve safety. Traffic was brought to a standstill as an air ambulance landed in the middle of the junction, but medics were unable to save the woman. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses said workmen did their best to help by blocking off the road so the helicopter could land, before any emergency services had arrived. Air ambulance lands in Elephant and Castle after an incident Mira Simsio, 29, a student at the nearby London College of Communication, told the Standard: "The workmen shut down the road, they blocked it off and the helicopter came down. "Everyone was running around. I just thought 'Oh my god, something bad has happened'. It's very sad." Another witness, Paul Brocklehurst, tweeted earlier: "Construction workers at Elephant and Castle helping emergency services after road collision. Everyone pitching in." Collision on the bend at Elephant and Castle pic.twitter.com/ENCGOgo6Il Clare (@clogsilk) February 5, 2016 The lorry driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is being held at a police station. Drivers were being warned to avoid the area, with closures at New Kent Road and Newington Causeway. Elephant & Castle junction New Kent Road closed both directions due to serious accident. Please avoid area. ^BL pic.twitter.com/ArwCYar9zF MPS Southwark (@MPSSouthwark) February 5, 2016 The Elephant and Castle junction was converted from a roundabout into a two-way system by TfL in December. TfL said the work was aimed at making "the area safer for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists". The project included changes to pedestrian crossings and is about 70 per cent complete, with work expected to be finished in the coming weeks. Witnesses are being asked to call police on 101 or to call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 to remain anonymous. T wo men dressed as Spiderman and Superman scaled the roof of a south London mosque today as part of a protest. The pair kicked off their stunt just before afternoon prayers at the South London Islamic Centre in Mitcham Lane, Streatham, at around 11.40am. Once on the roof, they unveiled a banner complaining about parental alienation in the family courts and another one which read pray for jihadi daddies. Supporter Archi Ssan said there had been a crowd of around 150 people watching the protest at one stage. He told the Standard: Some members of the public have thrown up some hot food. I saw six chicken pieces go up. Mr Ssan claimed that more than a dozen police had turned up and cordoned off the road. We've finished prayers now and they are still up there, with 'suicidal' attempt to gain attention. Interesting. pic.twitter.com/m0z4QwwUVr Purview (@abdul_semi) February 5, 2016 The 54-year-old said: They went up just before Friday prayers and have continued with it. They engaged with some of the worshippers as they went in. A staff member at the mosque said the men had turned up before Friday prayers and had stayed up there ever since. The Met Police confirmed they were called to the mosque at midday after initial reports of "an altercation". A spokesman said: "Officers attended and established that two men in their 40s had scaled the roof of the building. Police negotiators are on the scene." In November, a similar protest saw two men climb on to the Queens Gallery roof at Buckingham Palace. The pair remained there for eight hours until they were arrested. O ne of David Cameron's key anti-extremism advisors has been placed on a database of potential terrorists. Maajid Nawaz, a former Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in Hampstead and Kilburn, and chair of anti-extremism organisation Quilliam, appears on a list of names on a database used by banks to blacklist potential customers. In a series of tweets Mr Nawaz said that being listed on World-Check, which is owned by Thomson Reuters, has had a material impact on his life. He wrote: I can now confirm for first time that the existence of this McCarthyist list has had material impact on my life. List authors don't even know difference between Muslim/ex-Islamist/Islamist (all legal) and a terrorist (illegal). I can now confirm for first time that the existence of this McCarthyist list has had material impact on my life @VICEUK @nshabibi @benbryant maajid nawaz (@MaajidNawaz) February 4, 2016 The secret database, which was made public by Vice News, is reportedly used by 300 state agencies around the world and 49 of the 50 biggest banks. Other names on the list include Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) executive Nihad Awad and former World Bank and Bank of England economist Mohamed Iqbal Asaria, who was awarded a CBE for services to international development. Mr Nawaz has advised every British prime minister since Tony Blair on tackling Islamic extremism. He has admitted to holding "Islamic extremist" views in his youth, but has since changed his outlook dramatically. A book Mr Nawaz wrote on the subject, Radical: My Journey out of Islamist Extremism, has been endorsed by Tony Blair. Mr Nawaz is seeking to make contact with anyone on the list who is considering legal action. A leading London tech entrepreneur has been appointed as an ambassador for the governments GREAT Britain campaign to promote British innovation around the world. Ambarish Mitra, founder and chief executive of London Bridge-based augmented reality company Blippar, is one of the first tech bosses to be signed up. The companys app allows smart phones and tablets to be used as real world browsers by recognising objects when their cameras are pointed at them. The users can then access information from the internet about the object or brand. Blippar, founded in 2012, has also been selected by financial news service Bloomberg as one of the UKs most innovative businesses in its inaugural Bloomberg Business Innovators list Mr Mitra said: It is always good to represent the country and be an ambassasador for all the good stuff Britain has to offer in the worlds of culture and business. Other ambassadors include designer Kelly Hoppen, opera singer Katherine Jenkins and McLaren motor racing boss Ron Dennis. A rmed police stormed a London-bound train in Kent last night as part of a major manhunt which is still under way following a woman's death. Dozens of firearms officers descended on a train at Gillingham at about 9pm on Thursday after a woman was found dead in Benenden. Police are still looking for a man in connection with the death, which is being treated as suspicious. Passengers were reportedly kept on the train for 90 minutes as officers combed the carriages. The station was put on lockdown and a police helicopter was scrambled to help the search. British Transport Police said officers also scoured trains at St Pancras, but the man was not found. Police kept the train at Gillingham for 1hr 30 mins looking for the suspect and weapon. We're STILL HERE pic.twitter.com/s8dMGItYaY yeside fawehinmi (@lyriah_yesistar) February 4, 2016 The manhunt was continuing this morning. Kent police confirmed at 10.30am that the man was wanted in connection with the woman's death, and that the two were known to each other. No further details were given about the woman or the cause of her death. A Kent spokeswoman said police were initially called several hours before the train searches. She said: "Police were called at 4.20pm following the death of a woman in The Street, Benenden. The death is being treated as suspicious and efforts are ongoing to trace the man in connection with the incident. "The woman and man were known to each other and searches are being carried out throughout parts of Kent, as well as the rail network. "Next of kin have been notified of death." Railway worker Wesley Tabi was at Gillingham station when armed police descended at about 9pm. He told Kent Online: Suddenly a load of old bill flooded the station. There must have been 30 of them with their machine guns. It was like SWAT. They started walking up and down the train and there were some on the platform with dogs. I read online that a man was missing, but they were looking under the seats, in bins, everywhere. T he Old Bailey's most senior judge today honoured The Evening Standard's own veteran court reporter on his final day ahead of retirement. Since joining the paper in 1988, Paul Cheston has covered some of the UK's biggest court stories including the Soham murders, James Bulger killing and Jeffrey Archer trial. He is hanging up his notepad after 23 years working at the Old Bailey. In open court today in front of a gallery packed with senior judges, barristers and news reporters, the Recorder of London, Nicholas Hilliard QC thanked Mr Cheston, 59, for his "commitment to open justice" and said he was an "exemplar" for court reporting. He said: "Any court, particularly the Old Bailey, is dependent on so many people if we are to function at our best and the press have a particularly important role to play to let the public know what is going on and bear the responsibility to ensure it is fair and accurate. "No one has delivered that better than Paul." Paul Cheston, pictured in 1989 shortly after joining the Evening Standard / Clive Howes In a speech delivered at a valedictory ceremony at the Old Bailey, Mr Cheston said: "This is an astonishing honour and a great privilege for a simple newspaperman. "In fact it is probably my proudest achievement since I was 21 and passed the 100 words per minute shorthand exam - and I had to cheat to do that. "I must confess to some trepidation today as the last time I stood before a judge in these courts was to be seriously dressed down by a judge who is now in high office in another part of the court system. He was very angry that the Evening Standard had broken some court order. "In my defence I should say that it was a story that I had neither written nor knew anything about. Then I made the mistake of trying to tell him so. As the judicial storm crashed around my head, I did think: I dont really deserve this." Barrister Brian Altman QC added: "I cannot think of this place without you being around, notebook and pen in hand, asking for the lowdown on a case about to be opened to the jury and hoping you would get your headline before the 12 o'clock deadline. This is your West End final." Addressing the court earlier, Mr Cheston said: ""What happens in Her Majesty's courts and in Her Majesty's name should be of paramount importance to everyone in the land. "Not only in legal and penal terms but in news values and - it just happens to be - cracking everyday drama. "But only my paper and the Financial Times have a specialist court reporter. Partly I fear because they are expensive to train and difficult to find someone with what used to be basic skills - a grasp of the law and fast shorthand." He told the lawyers that thankfully there were still a number of "highly talented" agency reporters at the court. He took the opportunity to appeal for the return of the most important cases to the Old Bailey so its "great judges" were not hearing "comparative trivia". He said: "I have nothing against other courts but only the Old Bailey has the full weight and majesty of the law. It is the most famous court in the world and that should be reflected in the trials that take place here." Mr Cheston began his career on the Diss Express and worked at the Press Association from 1982 before joining the Evening Standard in 1988 and becoming its specialist court reporter in 1993. J ulian Assange has appeared on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy to declare the UN ruling "a victory that can't be denied." He made the rare appearance after launching an attack against the Government for its "insulting" response to a UN working group report on his detention. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group's findings on the "arbitrary detention" of Mr Assange as "frankly ridiculous" and said the Australian was "a fugitive from justice," who is "voluntarily hiding in the Ecuadorian Embassy." He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" in the embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation. Mr Assange, who is wanted in Sweden on rape allegations, and was UK arrested in the UK in 2010, claimed asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2012. He claims that if he leaves the embassy, he could be extradited to the United States and face the death penalty over allegations of revealing government secrets through his site, WikiLeaks. Hammond on Assange However, Assange claimed the UN decision was "legally binding," calling it a "victory of historic importance." He said: "How sweet it is this is a victory that cannot be denied. It is a victory of historical importance, not just for me, my family, my children but the independence of the UN system. "I'm tough, I'm hardened by this process and I can take it. However, what right does this government or the US government or the Swedish government have to deny my children their father for five and a half years without any charges in any country? "That is a fact I will never forget." Mr Assange said Sweden and the UK had opportunities in the past few weeks to appeal against the decision but had not taken any action, so the matter was now a "settled law". He said: "It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over. "It is now the task of the states of the UK and Sweden to implement the verdict. They cannot pretend to look tough." He finished his comments by saying he missed his family, adding: "We have a really strong victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well." Melinda Taylor, part of Mr Assange's legal team, said the UN report made clear that the WikiLeaks founder was neither a fugitive from justice, nor could he just walk out of the embassy. She called it a "damning indictment" of the way Mr Assange has been treated and showed his willingness to co-operate with the Swedish investigation. But Mr Hammond said: "I reject the decision of this Working Group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers. "Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy. "He can come out any time he chooses ... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. "This is, frankly, a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, shines a much-needed spotlight on public drinking water quality. Public outrage surrounding this crisis is understandable when regulations and standards intended to protect public health are sacrificed to save money. In this case, lead is causing irreparable harm to 10,000 Flint children with developing brains and will continue to impact the unborn, infants and children for the foreseeable future. We may not know the full costs for years as the ripple effect could result in a generation in need of increased social services and broad social costs as well as a less-productive workforce. The World Health Organization links lead poisoning to impaired mental development (including lower IQ), behavioral problems (such as hyperactivity, shortened attention span and antisocial behavior) and physical effects (like stunted growth, kidney damage, hypertension, hearing problems, and anemia). A recent Vox review of Pennsylvania Department of Health data reveals 17 cities in the state where more than 10 percent of children tested positive for dangerously elevated levels of lead in their blood. While the whole story has yet to be written, it is abundantly clear that we cannot wait to reexamine procedures. We must increase protections at the local, state, and federal levels. There is, however, a related issue affecting much of our state, especially suburban and rural communities. Pennsylvania is one of just two states with no construction standards for private water wells. According to the Penn State Extension, 3.5 million residents, mostly in rural areas, rely on well water. That is 34 times the population of Flint. Coupled with the 20,000 new wells drilled each year, unsafe well water can quickly become a major statewide public health concern. A recent study by the Pennsylvania General Assemblys Center for Rural Pennsylvania notes that 40 percent of wells have at least one water quality issue due to poor construction, including bacteria, lead, arsenic, and radon contamination. Improperly constructed water wells and old uncapped wells can provide easy access for polluted surface runoff, contaminants and bacteria from septic systems to get into a residents, or even a neighbors, drinking water supply. Unfortunately and seemingly without reason, efforts to improve water well safety have stalled time and time again in the state legislature for decades. House Bill 48, sponsored by state Rep. Robert Godshall (R, Montgomery), addresses many of the known issues with well water safety by ordering the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protections Environmental Quality Board to create rules identical or similar to recommendations by the National Ground Water Association. The legislation employs national best practices by advancing new well construction standards, advancing abandoned well decommissioning standards, providing general assembly oversight, authorizing penalties against those who fail to adhere to the aforementioned standards and keeping water well regulations separate from oil and gas well pad regulations, which are covered under different legislation. Who better than Rep. Godshall to stand up for this issue impacting suburban and rural Pennsylvania than someone who was personally sickened by contaminated well water? Godshall has bone cancer and took up this issue after being severely sickened after drinking from well water at his Tioga County cabin. The newly drilled well was contaminated with e coli and coliform bacteria. We support his effort to protect public health and bring all well water to the safe standards. This legislation doesnt comprehensively address all lead poisoning, nor would it have averted a crisis like that in Flint. But HB 48 is a necessary step to protect the commonwealths groundwater supply one that nearly every other state has already taken. This bill currently is under second consideration before the House of Representatives and deserves a full vote. As legislators return to session, join me in a renewed call for clean, safe drinking water for all Pennsylvanians because we all rich, poor, urban and rural deserve safe drinking water. Larry J. Schweiger is president and CEO of PennFuture. F oreign Secretary Philip Hammond today dismissed as frankly ridiculous a UN panel ruling that Julian Assange should be paid compensation, which could run into six figures, for being arbitrarily detained in Britain. Mr Hammond said the WikiLeaks founder who is holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London was a fugitive from justice and bluntly rejected the call from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention for him to be freed immediately. The UN bodys opinion opened the way for Mr Assange to take court action over the deprivation of his liberty. Lawyers said that if successful, he could gain a six-figure sum in compensation. However, he would have to prove that he had been unlawfully detained under British common law or Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which might prove difficult. Mr Assange, 44, has been living at the Knightsbridge embassy for more than three years after being granted political asylum by Ecuadors government. Scotland Yards bill for police posted outside to stop him going on the run climbed to at least 10 million and a 24-hour guard ended last year. Mr Assange is wanted for questioning over an alleged sex offence in Sweden, which he denies. He believes that if he is extradited there he will be sent to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks as there is an espionage case against him. Mr Assange filed a complaint against Sweden and Britain in September 2014 which has been considered by the UN human right officials. Seong-Phil Hong, who heads the UN panel, said: The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention. The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. One of Mr Assanges legal team said he would now push for compensation, according to the BBC. The Government said the ruling changes nothing and vowed to contest the findings. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy, said a spokesman. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. T he mayor of New York has unveiled plans for a 1.7 billion tram system as the city embraces streetcars for the first time since the Fifties. Bill de Blasio said the Brooklyn Queens Connector would run for 16 miles and change the lives of 400,000 people in the boroughs. Speaking at his third State of the City address, the mayor said the tram would generate 17 billion in revenue from extra business and tourism. Mr de Blasio has not made transport a focus since taking office in 2014 but faces an election next year and is looking towards his legacy. New York had a wide range of trams in the 19th century. But car manufacturers are said to have conspired to buy the lines and shut them down. By the Fifties they were all gone. The new tram will travel at about 12mph, north to south between Astoria in Queens to Sunset Park in Brooklyn, separated from traffic by a barrier. New York mayor Bill de Blasio / Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images Journey times between Greenpoint and Dumbo in north and south Brooklyn would be cut to half an hour. If the city grants approval, work will start in 2019 and be completed in 2024. Critics, however, said specialised buses and more cycle lanes are cheaper and just as effective. Veronica Vanterpool, director of the Tri-State Transportation Campaign said: The glitzy and the flashy are inspirational, but often they are not practical. Recent tram projects have not always run smoothly. By the time it opened three years late in 2014, Edinburghs was double its budget and covered less than half the planned network. N ew Zealands economic development minister was hit by a sex toy while speaking at an event for the countrys Waitangi Day. Nurse Josie Butler shouted Thats for raping our sovereignty when she threw the large rubber penis at Steven Joyces face. She said it was a protest against the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, signed in Auckland on Thursday. Mr Butler was unhurt and later joked on Twitter: Well theres always something new in politics. #TPP protester boldly chucks dildo at NZ Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce. https://t.co/555Aslqj8n pic.twitter.com/grq2I1ubfd ONE News (@ONENewsNZ) February 5, 2016 Tomorrow is Waitangi Day - New Zealand's national day, which marks the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi making New Zealand a part of the British Empire. The official ceremony at Waitangi, in the country's north, traditionally draws protests by Maori. This year Prime Minister John Key had pulled out of attending the official event following protests by Maori about the signing of the TPP. F or almost 50 years, Elton John has rolled out a steady stream of hits, with an attempt to choose ones favourite an almost impossible pursuit: no karaoke session is complete without a rendition of Dont Go Breaking My Heart and Crocodile Rock cant fail to fill the dance floor. The decision is made even more difficult with todays release of the new album Wonderful Crazy Night, an upbeat blend of a little bit of country and a little bit of rock n roll. But with it comes a reminder that Eltons reach goes far beyond his recording career. Behind those distinctive spectacles lies a very influential man. Sticking with the piano but straying from the concert tours, Elton John is one of the few pop stars to make an impressive transition into film and stage success. His partnership with Tim Rice of Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar fame led to The Lion King, arguably one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time that, inevitably and lucratively, was transformed into a stage musical that has become the biggest earner in history. Later, the pair collaborated on the underrated yet epically romantic Broadway show Aida, but it is Billy Elliot at Victorias Palace Theatre for the past decade which has proved Eltons worth. His score is moving, energetic and guiltlessly emotional, and the show celebrated the combined misery and joy of youth long before the capital began its love affair with Tim Minchins Matilda. So crowd-pleasing is his music that no one can resist offering covers, with varying success. Ironik and Chipmunk put a rap spin on Tiny Dancer, The Who offered a rendition of Saturday Nights Alright for Fighting, and Kate Bush gave us Rocket Man. Your Song, that ultra-romantic love ode, was recycled as a showstopper in Baz Luhrmanns Moulin Rouge and even provided The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their first dance at their wedding, performed at Buckingham Palace by Ellie Goulding. Presumably Elton had other plans. Elton John playing piano at St Pancras station But with great power, as the superhero adage goes, comes great responsibility, and Elton has never shied away from using his fame to raise awareness of more important things. The Elton John Aids Foundation may have been placed at the forefront of the public consciousness through its glittering parties but it has raised more than $200 million in the fight against the disease. He has also been vocal in his defence of his right to a family, speaking out against designers Dolce & Gabbana when they made controversial comments against gay parents. Eminem acknowledges him for getting him off drugs, and even Russian President Vladimir Putin holds him in high enough regard to drop him a line over LGBTI rights. Elton John has come a long way since his humble, Pinner beginnings as Reginald Kenneth Dwight. But his approach to music, his indomitable work ethic and his unique style one could credit his love of a decorative blazer for many a catwalk trend prove that he has never been anything but extraordinary. The most anticipated albums of 2016 1 /13 The most anticipated albums of 2016 Sia - This Is Acting The wig-happy singer is airing songs she originally wrote for other people. Due on January 29 Christopher Polk/Getty Elton John - Wonderful Crazy Night The legendary songwriter is releasing his new album on February 5 Tasso Marcelo/AFP/Getty Kanye West - SWISH The rapper's long-awaited 8th album is due on February 11 Christopher Polk/Getty The 1975 - I Like It When You Sleep, for You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It Matt Healy and co return with a tongue-twisting second album on February 26 Jesse Grant/Getty The Last Shadow Puppets - Everything You've Come To Expect Miles Kane and Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner have re-teamed for a second album from their side project, arriving in April Lady Gaga The pop icon is expected to make a huge comeback with her fifth album - and has been working with Elton John Kevin Winter/Getty Rihanna - ANTI The R&B star's new record has been a long time coming - and despite having an album cover and title, it seems Rihanna is still working on it in the studio Christopher Polk/Getty Images Radiohead It looks like the Oxford band's 9th LP might finally be ready this year - though little is known about it Getty Images Frank Ocean - Boys Don't Cry It was supposed to arrive last June, but Frank Ocean's Boys Don't Cry hasn't surfaced yet - fingers crossed for 2016 Karl Walter/Getty LCD Soundsystem James Murphy's cult band LCD Soundsystem have reunited, and confirmed that a new album is on the way Mark Metcalfe/Getty Follow @StandardShowbiz for more entertainment news. W ar and Peace Now that the masterpiece that is War and Peace (BBC iPlayer) is almost over, we are entitled to ask what kind of masterpiece it was. Certainly, it looked like one, in that it featured beautifully dressed characters in historic locations that were foreign and yet familiar. It examined eternal dilemmas brusquely, finding pain and doubt in the adolescent questions of love, loyalty and patriotism. War was shown to be unforgiving, idiotic and almost random in its outcomes, though there may yet be some tactical jiggery-pokery in this weekends concluding episode. It was, as period masterpieces tend to be, both quick and slow: the effect of condensing Tolstoys epic carcass of a text into breaded nuggets heightened the shock when Things Happened but the drama was best when it paused to entertain nuance. Perhaps it was a matter of acting but the older characters carried more emotional heft than the young ones, and the peace was better than the war. Better the scenes with Stephen Rea and Gillian Anderson arching their eyebrows at a society function than the dramatic tragedy of Paul Dano wandering around the battlefield of Borodino looking like a dummy in search of a ventriloquist. Did it feel Russian? Thats a question for a Russian. But it didnt feel as fraught with intellect as Tolstoys book, and the enforced brevity meant that moments of great import seemed casual, if not comic. It felt English, certainly. That moment where poor Pierre, whose intellectual journey this is, donned his purple cape and turned up to see whats going on at the front line may have been designed to demonstrate his fecklessness but it wasnt even faintly plausible. (Pierre, of course, still has some distance to travel before he finds himself, though he will have to get on with it.) There is an argument that to criticise this version of War and Peace is an act of snobbery (an argument which is an act of snobbery in itself). Its obviously true that a six-part TV series will distort a 500,000-word novel. That can be good. But sometimes accessibility undermines seriousness, and you end up with Napoleon glamping. Vera And so to Vera (ITV Player). This dramatisation of Ann Cleevess sturdy detective series is into its sixth series, and it knows what it is. It is Columbo played by Brenda Blethyn in Northumberland. This is not a bad thing. Blethyn is a natural as the everywoman in a waxed raincoat who unpicks murders by asking the questions of every viewer while her colleagues stand around looking intrigued. This week there was a body on the moors. Wasnt dressed for the moors, was she? said Vera. Wheres her shoes? Then: So what killed her? Then, as if chiding the viewer for glancing at a copy of The Puzzler: Come on! She didnt walk here, did she? So wheres her car? Vera drives a Land Rover Defender because shes practical, and they dont make detectives like that any more. But she does get to go volcanic as things turn tragic. A small clue: her glamorous assistant Bethany is played by Cush Jumbo, who has replaced Kung Fu Kalinda as the exotic beauty on The Good Life. Thats why she found herself on the moors with an armed crazyhorse. World War Three: Inside The War Room Meanwhile, World War Three: Inside The War Room (BBC iPlayer) assembled a group of diplomatic experts to consider their response to fictional acts of Russian aggression. The most inspiring aspect of the British response to a possible armageddon was the use of the word conniptions in the mannered discussions of the end of the world. 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 @AHMcKay The Chadron Police Department announces three arrests as the result of drug investigation that began with a traffic stop. Chadron Police Chief Tim Lordino outlined in a press release that a drug investigation began with a Jan. 31 stop of Wyatt Eickbush, of Colorado. During the stop, a Chadron Police officer allegedly smelled the odor of burnt marijuana and searched Eickbushs vehicle.Police cited Eickbush after drug parahernalia and blue capsules, identified as Dextroamphetamine, were located in his vehicle. Dextroamphetamine, a schedule II controlled substance, which is a potent central nervous system stimulant used in the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy, Lordino said in the release. Investigators with the Western Nebraska Intelligence and Narcotics Group task force continued an investigation and investigators conducted three controlled purchases of suspected marijuana and arrested two people, 19-year-old Brandon T. Mills and an unidentified 17-year-old male, accused of selling controlled substances. Police arrested Mills on charges of one count of distribution of a controlled substance (marijuana). Police arrested the 17-year-old male on two counts of distribution of a controlled substance (marijuana), possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, being an accessory to a felony and felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). He has been jailed at the Western Nebraska Juvenile Detention Center in Scottsbluff. A third man, Jarrod W. Briggs was arrested, accused of transporting the 17-year-old male and marijuana, to one of the controlled buys at Wilson Park in Chadron. Briggs has been arrested on charges of aiding and abetting the distribution of a controlled sbustance. Briggs and Mills have both been jailed at the Dawes County Jail. As part of the investigation, investigators served two search warrants, searching Mills college dorm room and a residence at 201 Pine Street $6 in Chadron. During the search of Mills dorm room, investigators allegedly located one ounce of marijuana. During the search of the Pine Street residence, investigators allegedly located drug paraphernalia, to include plastic baggies with right residue and a light bulb pipe with white residue. The pipe tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Lordino commented on the arrests: Even though the arrests last night (Thursday) involve students from two different campuses here in Chadron, we stand committed to helping our educational partners ensure the safety of all students. We also enjoy the full cooperation from both institutions related to the use or distribution of illegal drugs. The Chadron Police Department received assistance from the WING, the Nebraska State Patrol and the Dawes County Attorneys Office. A Scotts Bluff County District Court jury has acquitted a former Gering businessman of charges that he conspired with his father and an employee to profit by illegally selling materials from the business. A jury deliberated for about three hours in the case against Allen Beitel, 34, of Fort Worth, Texas. Beitel had been charged with conspiracy to commit theft, a Class III felony. In previous stories, Beitel was cited as Alan Beitel, based on the spelling used in court documents, but Beitels names had been misspelled in court filings. Attorney Stacy Bach had sought to have charges against Beitel dismissed on Thursday, citing the misspelling, but Judge Leo Dobrovolny denied the motion. In closing arguments, prosecutor Doug Warner outlined that Beitel, his father Roger Beitel and a former employee, Eric Longoria, illegally profited by selling scrape railroad batteries from the Omega Capital LLC business. The Beitels operated the business, which they had previously operated as Advanced Technology Repairs, or ATR, and sold it in May 2010 for $2 million and a 40 percent dividend. At that point, Warner said, the Beitels earned a salary and were operating the business for the corporation, Omega Capital LLC. The company contracted with Burlington Northern Santa Fe and its business of refurbishing locomotive batteries increased significantly. Warner compared the Beitels ownership stake in the business to having stock in a corporation, such as Safeway. Do you have a right to shoplift at Safeway because you are an owner?, he asked the jury. No. Prior to the sale of the company, Warner said, Allen Beitel had regularly sold locomotive batteries to a Colorado man who visited the area for scrape. However, he alleged, employee Eric Longoria asked Beitel if could handle selling the batteries and was able to get a price that was significantly more and he alleged they launched a conspiracy to sell the batteries and pocket the cash. Longoria sold batteries to the Gering business for nearly three years, splitting the cash with Allen Beitel and Roger Beitel, in excess of $260,000. Warner called Longoria the fall guy, as he was the one established to sell the batteries, take checks from the company, cash them and distribute the proceeds. When investigators questioned him and the Beitels, they all said that Longoria had been given the batteries for free. Later, Longoria said the Beitels also profited from the sale of the batteries. Warner said that Beitel who told investigators that he gave the batteries to Longoria or the scrape collector because they had no value knew that the batteries had value. He had been involved in the sale of scrape batteries to another business and had told others that he sold the batteries to the Colorado scrap collector, according to testimony, Warner said. Warner said that further evidence of the scheme was that it halted when the two men were fired in July 2013 and Longoria stopped selling batteries and attempted to conceal that batteries were being sold when the company launched an investigation. After the Beitels were terminated, Warner said, the company became aware of mismanagement of the company, including safety and environmental violations. Company officials learned of the sale of the scrape batteries after the two men were terminated when the Colorado scrap collector came to the business and they hired a private investigator. Eventually, the crime was reported and the Nebraska State Patrol investigated. Beitels attorney Stacy Bach said that Beitel and his father had done nothing wrong. The two men were only disposing of batteries, and werent profiting from the disposal of the batteries. Bach said that Longoria profited from the sale of the batteries, without telling the Beitels, and nothing changed in the operations of the company after the Beitels sold assets of the company, she said. She said that the Beitels were suddenly terminated in July 2013 and that Omega Capital LLC closed the Gering business eight months later. The company had also filed a civil lawsuit against the Beitels and Longoria, she said. Under pressure from a Nebraska State Patrol investigator and in the face of a civil lawsuit, she said, Longoria told them what they wanted to hear, that the Beitels were involved in illegally selling the batteries and got a get out of jail free card when he agreed to a plea agreement. However, she said, no one was trying to hide that Longoria was disposing of the batteries. He used a company vehicle and trailer and the Gering scrape company was contacted when the Beitels were asked to provide documentation that the railroad batteries were being properly disposed of. No one asked the Beitels how the batteries were being disposed of, she said. A BNSF official had inquired about companies that would charge Omega Capital to dispose of the batteries, but no one questioned that the company was not incurring a cost for disposal of batteries or the methods that they were disposing of them. If the Beitels had known the value of selling the batteries, she claimed, they would not have refurbished batteries, but would have just disposed of them. Though Warner urged jurors to look beyond records that only showed Longoria involved in the scheme, Bach highlighted that the prosecution had not presented bank records, cell phone records or texts, emails or any documentation that demonstrated even one transaction that involved Longoria and the Beitels. Beitels father, Roger Beitel, 55, of Gering, has also been charged of the same offense and is currently pending trial. Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol Troop E- Scottsbluff will be conducting late night, early morning vehicle checks in the Nebraska Panhandle thanks in part to a $4,400 grant from the Region 1 Panhandle Prevention Coalition. The vehicle checks, which will take place on various weekends through July, are designed to reduce the potential for serious injury and fatality crashes by removing impaired drivers from our roadways. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the national average for alcohol-related traffic deaths is 31 percent. Through efforts of the Nebraska State Patrol, allied agencies and the Panhandle Prevention Coalition, alcohol-related traffic deaths in the Panhandle are below the national average, reduced to 18 percent in 2015. Sometime on Friday, Feb. 5, the Nebraska Legislature will take a vote on a bill that could have a major impact on our state. LB 176, or what weve been calling in the newsroom the Hog Bill, would change the Competitive Livestock Markets Act and provisions relating to contract swine operations. As it stands now, the law prohibits Nebraska packers who process more than 150,000 animals per year from practicing vertical integration. Vertical integration in this instance means ownership of an animal from birth to slaughter. The ban came about in 1999, when the state passed the Competitive Livestock Markets Act to try to protect farmers after livestock prices collapsed. Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala introduced the bill for the third time in January of 2015. So why is this bill so significant? Nebraskas pork production gross state product is $665 million a year. Pork production supports more than an 11,000 jobs. The state makes more than $80 million a year in pork exports. Nebraskas swine consume nearly 4 million pounds of corn per year. The impact of pork production on our agriculture economy, and therefore our entire state economy, is substantial. Proponents of the bill point to our neighbors to the east, Iowa, who have a hog inventory of 20 million; Nebraskas hog inventory is a little over 3 million. They complain that Nebraskas hog production is not keeping pace with our regional neighbors, as our state doesnt allow vertical integration. Nebraska transports 1.25 million feeder pigs to other states to be fed for slaughter because of the ban. They assert that from 1997 to 2007 Nebraska lost 63 percent of its hog farms and another 25 percent from 2007 to 2012. Our state has fallen from 6th to 8th in pork production. Iowa ranks number 1. Another key point from proponents is that if packing plants in Nebraska closed and moved to Iowa, Kansas or Missouri, they could own hogs in Nebraska. Proponents say its a matter of economic development and a boost to the agriculture industry. The bill is supported by Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Pork Producers and Nebraska Corn and Soybeans Associations, among others. On the other side, opponents of the bill say the increase in pork production will threaten the states water resources. They attribute water problems in the Des Moines area to high nitrate levels caused by hog farming. They say that the bill would hurt small farmers who are already struggling to compete with major corporate operations. This would also hurt small towns that are already hurt by corporate farming, they say. Those in opposition also say that not allowing the farmers to own hogs will allow the corporations to control prices. Smithfield, the largest pork packer in the world and one of three major corporate operations in Nebraska, is now owned by a Chinese company, and some are uncomfortable with a foreign company owning U.S. livestock. Others worry that the bill would lead to a similar fate for the cattle industry. The bill is opposed by the Center for Rural Affairs, the Nebraska Farmers Union and Bold Nebraska, among others. If the bill passes, it ends up on Gov. Pete Ricketts desk for his signature. Farmers are divided. Nebraska state senators are divided. Its a thorny, complicated issue. Thats why this column is all about the opposing views and not an opinion. There are too many competing factors to say one or the other will be better for the people of this state. Nebraskas environment is crucial, but so too is its economy. We want to hear from you. We want to know your opinion about the bill as letters to the editor. Email them to news@starherald.com. This page is archived. Data published after 5 April 2022 can be found on the renewed website. Go to the new statistics page Published: 5 February 2016 Trips to the Mediterranean and Estonia increased in September to December 2015 According to Statistics Finland's preliminary data, Finnish residents made more domestic trips with paid accommodation in late 2015 than in the year before. Cruises to Sweden and same-day cruises to Estonia also increased from the corresponding period of the previous year. In the Mediterranean, Greece particularly increased its popularity, but Turkey did not attract Finnish tourists in the same way as in the previous year. Considerably more Finnish residents travelled to Asia than in the autumn before. Finns' leisure trips in September to December 2003 to 2015* In the last four months of 2015, Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 made 12 million trips when all domestic and foreign leisure trips, as well as business and professional trips are included. In addition to trips with overnight stay, the number also includes same-day trips abroad. Altogether 7.8 million domestic leisure trips with overnight stay were made in the September to December period. Of these, six million were trips with free accommodation. Leisure trips with overnight stay at paid accommodation numbered 1.8 million and their most population destinations were located in Uusimaa, Lapland, Pirkanmaa and North Ostrobothnia. At paid accommodation, a tourist stays at a rented cottage, hotel or campsite. In these leisure trips, overnight stays were mainly in hotels. The number of hotel stays was 2.5 million, which is 59 per cent of paid accommodation. Rented cottages also popular in the autumn and in the early part of winter. The number of stays at rented cottages was 1.2 million, which is 29 per cent of all paid accommodation. The number of trips with paid accommodation recorded in the statistics in September to December was 11 per cent higher than in the corresponding period of the previous year. December was the most popular month for domestic travelling towards the end of the year as then 487,000 trips with paid overnight stay were made. Uusimaa kept its top position as the region of travel. The numbers of trips to Lapland went down from the previous year's autumn season. In contrast, trips to North Ostrobothnia increased by 11 per cent from the corresponding period of the previous year. Inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips, leisure trips abroad numbered 2.5 million in the September to December period. The number of leisure trips abroad went up by eight per cent from the previous year's autumn season. October was the most popular month for overnight and same-day cruises. Leisure trips to Estonia increased from autumn 2014. Trips with overnight stay in the destination country to our southern neighbour numbered 459,000, overnight cruises 116,000 and same-day cruises 208,000. Trips with stay in the destination country, cruises with overnight stay on board and same-day cruises to Estonia increased. September was the most popular month of the period to visit Estonia. Leisure trips to Sweden decreased from autumn 2014. The number of trips with overnight stay in the destination country to our western neighbour was 166,000 and overnight cruises 272,000 in September to December. The most favoured month for travelling to Sweden in late 2015 was December. The total number of leisure trips to Russia continued to contract. Trips with overnight stay in the destination country increased, but the numbers of same-day trips to Russia decreased considerably from the corresponding period of last year. Spain is a long-standing favourite for Finns during the autumn months as well, and three per cent more trips were made to Spain than in the corresponding period in 2014. The destination of 116,000 of these trips was the Canary Islands. Continental Spain has also established its place as a destination for Finnish travel in the last four months of the year, and a total of 133,000 trips were made to Continental Spain and the Balearic Islands in September to December. December was the most popular of the four months to travel to the Canary Islands and October to Continental Spain. Altogether, 87,000 trips were made to Greece, which is 66 per cent more than one year earlier. September was clearly the most popular month for travelling to Greece. In all, 72,000 trips were made in the autumn period to Turkey, which is 18 per cent lower than in the same period in the year before. In Central Europe, Germany increased its popularity. The number of trips made there was 111,000, which is 24 per cent more than in September to December 2014. Of long-distance destinations, Asia increased its popularity considerably. The number of trips to the American continent also went up from the previous year's autumn. If we examine only leisure trips with overnight stay in the destination country, ten per cent more trips, or 1.9 million, were made than in September to December 2014. September was the most popular month for these, as then the number of trips abroad with overnight stay in the destination country was 511,000. One-quarter of the trips with overnight stay in the destination country were headed to Estonia and one-fifth to the northern coast of the Mediterranean. In addition to leisure trips, 1.4 million domestic business or professional trips were made. Business or professional trips abroad (inclusive of trips with overnight stay in the destination country, cruises and same-day trips) numbered 0.7 million. The number of domestic business trips went down by seven per cent and that of business trips abroad by three per cent. These data derive from Statistics Finland's Finnish Travel survey, for which altogether 5,022 Finnish residents aged 15 to 84 were interviewed in October, November and December 2015 and in January 2016. Until 2011, data were collected from those aged 15 to 74. Source: Finnish Travel, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Taru Tamminen 029 551 2243, Teemu Okkonen 029 551 2634, liikenne.matkailu@stat.fi Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko Publication in pdf-format (286.8 kB) Updated 5.2.2016 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Finnish Travel [e-publication]. ISSN=1798-9027. Summer (1.9.-31.12) 2015. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 21.10.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/smat/2015/15/smat_2015_15_2016-02-05_tie_001_en.html This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable. To help you find what you are looking for: Enter Search Term(s): Still cant find what youre looking for? Send us a message using our contact us form. 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The theme (tagline) for year 2016 WCD is We can. I can. It reflects on what everyone can do to raise awareness of cancer and asks to take pledge and action in fight against cancer. The World Cancer Day 2016-2018 will seeks to explore how everyone- as individuals or as a collective can do their part to reduce the burden of cancer globally. About World Cancer Day The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) had founded the WCD in 2008 by formally writing the goals of the World Cancer Declaration. The primary goal of observing the day is to reduce illness and death caused by it by 2020. UICC: It is Geneva based leading international non-governmental organisation (NGO) founded in 1933. Its purpose is to help the global health community to accelerate the fight against cancer. It has a membership of over 800 organisations spread across 155 countries. Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016 Topics: Current Affairs 2016 Observances Public health World Cancer Day Latest E-Books India becomes Associate Member of European Molecular Biology Organisation Published: February 5, 2016 India officially became the Associate Member State of European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO). In this regard, Union Ministry of Science and Technology has signed an agreement to acquire the status of Associate Member of EMBO. India is second country outside the European region to be an Associate Member State of EMBO. First one being Singapore which had signed such agreement with European Molecular Biology Conference (EMBC) in 2015. Benefits This move will strengthen interaction and collaborative research between India and Europe in the field of molecular biology. Indian Researchers will now be eligible to participate in all EMBO programmes and activities taking place across the world. Indian scientists now can apply for its programmes, such as long-term fellowships for postdoctoral researchers, courses, short-term fellowships and workshops etc. About European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) EMBO is a professional organization of life scientists in Europe. Presently, it has more than 1700 leading researchers. Founded: 1964 1964 Headquarters: Heidelberg, Germany. Heidelberg, Germany. Functions: It promotes research in life science and enables international exchange of scientific information between scientists. It promotes research in life science and enables international exchange of scientific information between scientists. Support talented researchers at all stages of their careers and also stimulate scientific information exchange. It organizes courses, conferences and workshops, publishes four international scientific journals and supports projects of individual scientists. Month: Current Affairs - February, 2016 Topics: Current Affairs 2016 EMBO International Science and Technology Latest E-Books In 2015, China s overall finished steel exports amounted to 109.6 million mt, up 20 percent, with 9.4 million metric tons of this volume arriving in Latin America, rising by one percent, both on year-on-year basis, according to Alacero, the Latin American steel association. Accordingly, in the given period Latin Americas share in China s finished steel exports decreased from 10.3 percent to 8.6 percent year on year. Friday, 05 February 2016 14:03:27 (GMT+3) | Istanbul Turkish rebar offers to the export markets have remained unchanged over the past week at $320-345/mt FOB. As import scrap prices in Turkey have continued their downward movement during the past week and with demand being at low levels in the same period, overseas buyers have continued to exert pressure on Turkish rebar prices. After UAE-based steelmaker Conares reduced its rebar prices this week, traders in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have also adjusted their rebar prices downwards. Market sources state that, in line with the decreases seen in import scrap prices in Turkey, UAE-based buyers are targeting lower prices compared to the price levels seen in January bookings and are unwilling to conclude new deals above the price levels of $320-325/mt CFR UAE, instead exerting additional pressure on Turkish rebar offers following the adjustments seen in their domestic rebar market. SteelOrbis has been informed that a Turkish steel producer has concluded a deal to Bahrain for 10,000 mt of rebar at $350/mt CFR, on theoretical weight basis. Also, according to market sources, several Turkish rebar exporters have given offers to Israel at $345-350/mt CFR LO, while Turkish rebar offers to Saudi Arabia are currently in the range of $340-345/mt CFR, both on theoretical weight basis. - : , ; Monsanto must feel like a wallflower at its own party. It touched off the current round of mergers among big agricultural companies with a bid last year for Swiss company Syngenta. The offer altered the way other seed and crop chemical providers thought about scale, and forced everyone in the industry to begin a round of high-stakes conversations. Then rivals Dow Chemical and DuPont agreed to merge in December, and this week China National Chemical Corp. swooped in to buy Syngenta for $43 billion. The buyer, known as ChemChina, is paying very close to the price Monsanto offered in August, but its offer has a couple of advantages for Syngenta shareholders. Its all in cash, compared with Monsantos cash-and-stock offer, and it poses no significant competitive issues. When it rejected Monsanto, Syngenta said it didnt think the deal would pass antitrust muster. Theres also an advantage for Syngenta management: They can keep their jobs as a semi-autonomous Swiss subsidiary of ChemChina. Monsanto would have swept aside much of the top brass to cut costs. With all those things working against it, Monsanto is unlikely to re-enter the bidding for Syngenta. Its a different ballgame than it was six months ago in the capital markets, says Ray Saleeby, president of Saleeby and Associates in Creve Coeur, and youd have to raise a lot of debt to do an all-cash deal. Monsanto went after Syngenta because it wanted to beef up its crop-chemical business, which has shrunk to less than one-third of total revenue. Thats still on Chief Executive Hugh Grants to-do list. Monsanto has made abundantly clear that they are interested in building a crop-protection capability, and well probably continue to hear news about it, said Matt Arnold, an analyst at Edward Jones. With its preferred target gone, though, we may not see a headline-grabbing deal with a price tag in the tens of billions. Two German companies, BASF and Bayer, have sat out the recent merger frenzy, but they are known for taking a patient, long-term approach. Even if the German firms were willing to sell, they might not want to do so while crop prices, and ag-company profits, are depressed. It takes a willing buyer and a willing seller, Arnold said. Right now, a seller would probably feel like they are getting a bad deal. If BASF and Bayer arent interested in dealmaking, Monsanto can build its crop chemical business through a combination of small acquisitions and licensing deals. Saleeby thinks FMC, a Philadelphia chemical company with a market capitalization of $5 billion, would make an attractive acquisition. I do think there will be more consolidation, and Monsanto is going to have to do something, he said. Arnold, on the other hand, thinks Monsanto can be patient as it waits to see how its competitors deals work out. Its not a panic situation, he says. For the next several years they have a lot of their destiny in their hands. They have a very visible suite of product introductions that should drive above-average results. In Arnolds opinion, shareholders should be relieved that Monsanto wasnt willing to overpay for Syngenta. Still, it must be galling for Monsanto executives to see a state-owned Chinese company land the prize they coveted. After its initial offer was rejected, Monsanto contacted Syngenta investors in hopes that they would pressure management to sell the company. Ultimately, thats exactly what happened but not with the result Monsanto had in mind. Its anybodys guess whether Noranda Aluminums smelter in southeastern Missouri will survive the winter. But no matter what happens to Ameren Missouris largest customer, Norandas struggles appear likely to affect electric rates for other customers and could well prompt a revamp of the states utility laws. The states largest power customers came to Norandas aid this week, requesting an emergency rate cut that they argue will prevent an even larger price spike should the smelter fail. Meanwhile, Missouri lawmakers have introduced legislation to change how the state regulates electric rates, and the sponsor of the bill says a change in utility law appears more likely than ever. Driving it all is Noranda, which at full production buys about 10 percent of Amerens power, about as much as the city of Springfield, Mo. The Franklin, Tenn., company has been battered by low aluminum prices, and last month it shut down two of its three aluminum production lines after an electric equipment failure. The company is laying off more than half of its 850 workers. Without a lower price for electricity, which generally makes up about one third of its costs, Noranda says it will shut down the plant entirely by March 12. This week, the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers filed a petition with the Missouri Public Service Commission to cut Norandas electric rate by about 20 percent and to do it before March 12. Though Noranda is usually part of the groups actions, this time the MIEC says its acting independently of the aluminum smelter. The big power users argue that the emergency rate theyre requesting for Noranda will still be above the price Ameren could fetch selling electricity into the wholesale power grid. While the cut will increase the future power costs of other Ameren customers, it wouldnt drive them up as much as losing Noranda, the MIEC said in its filing. Ameren, in a statement, said it was committed to finding a path forward for Noranda. The MIEC filing offers a temporary solution in recommending the Missouri Public Service Commission order a lower rate for Noranda, the utility said. Ameren Missouri supports a long-term solution through the Missouri Legislature to ensure rate stability for Noranda and more predictable energy costs for other customers. Comprehensive electricity legislation has more traction than usual, said Sen. Ryan Silvey, R-Kansas City. He introduced a bill this week to begin discussions about Norandas electric rate and electric utility regulation. For the first time in my memory, its a very comprehensive conversation, Silvey said. You usually have two warring factions. Those factions Noranda allies and electric utilities have put down their swords, he said. There are no specifics in the bill yet, but Silvey said the broad goal was to make electric rates more predictable for consumers and utilities and to give large power users more competitive rates. Electric rates have increased nearly 75 percent in the Kansas City area over the last decade, he said, and he wants to bend the cost curve lower. The bill also says it would encourage investment in the grid and give utilities the chance to recover costs on a timely basis. He has support for the effort: Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, has signed on as a co-sponsor as have three other state senators. But John Coffman, an attorney for the Consumers Council of Missouri, worries customers may not get a good deal out of the legislation. Some proposals hes heard discussed would shift more risk to customers from utilities. Ive seen a lot of bad ideas in draft form so far, Coffman said. But Noranda, historically an ally of the Consumers Council, appears to favor the legislation over the rate cut proposed by the big industrials. It said that it appreciated the MIECs proposal but that the plan does not provide the sustainable long-term structure the smelter requires. We are convinced that a legislative approach such as the framework proposed by Senator Silvey is the best path to a sustainable power rate, Noranda said in a statement. St. Louis County customers of Missouri American Water will have a chance to weigh in next week on a proposed rate increase that could boost residential water bills by about 8 percent. But some say the two St. Louis County public meetings one scheduled in Ferguson and the other planned on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus wont allow many people to have a say. These locations and the timing of the hearings totally discount attendance or participation of citizens in central, south, and west (St. Louis County), Missouri Rep. Sue Allen, R-Town and Country, said in a letter provided to the Post-Dispatch. Missouri American Water, which serves nearly all of St. Louis Countys 1 million residents and about 30,000 people in St. Charles County, filed for a $51 million rate increase in July. Its expected to boost quarterly bills in St. Louis County by less than $10, according to the Missouri Public Service Commission, which regulates the investor-owned water utility. The average household uses about 19,200 gallons of water per quarter, which costs $101.84, or about $34 per month. If approved in full, the rate increase would raise residential water bills to an average of $110.32 per quarter, or $37 per month. The water utility is collecting as much as it can from a special infrastructure charge on St. Louis County customers. As part of the rate increase, the infrastructure surcharge they pay will be reset to zero and rolled into base water rates. That will allow the utility to again raise the infrastructure surcharge. It can be raised by a few cents at a time without going through the full ratemaking process in front of the PSC. The average St. Louis County household pays about $15 per quarter for the separate infrastructure charge. The PSC has been holding public hearings on the rate case since last week outside of the metro area, where Missouri American also has water customers. The PSCs two St. Louis County meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday a start time that Doug Hartman of Chesterfield says will keep many people who work from attending. Without any hearings in central or west St. Louis County, the Missouri American customer also suspects many of those people wont drive that far out of the way for the hearing. They put them in ridiculous places at ridiculous times to stifle public participation, Hartman said. The Office of Public Counsel, which advocates for ratepayers in front of the PSC, did suggest a meeting at St. Louis County Librarys Thornhill Branch in West County. It also suggested the UMSL location. But the commission instead opted to host the second meeting at St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley in Ferguson. Allen, the state representative, said in her letter the PSC told her there wasnt enough time to find alternate locations. She is looking into legal means to require PSC public hearings on rate cases to be held in all Missouri House districts. A Missouri American Water spokeswoman said the meeting dates are set by the PSC. A PSC spokesman said in a statement that the Thornhill Branch Library wasn't available on the dates it tried to reserve meeting space. Trying to schedule a hearing this late in the process "could be logistically impossible" and might "cause significant additional expense" for Missouri American Water customers. Utilities are sometimes allowed to recoup a portion of rate case expenses through customer charges. The PSC said it was "open to discussing our process with anyone in order to be sure concerns can be addressed in future cases." There is a third meeting in Arnold on Tuesday afternoon, but that will mainly discuss Missouri American Waters sewer services there. Average residential sewer rates in Arnold would increase about $6 per month to $30.50. The company bought Arnolds publicly owned sewer system last year. Those who are unable to attend the meetings can send comments on the rate case by calling the commission at 1-800-392-4211 or emailing pscinfo@psc.mo.gov. The PSC is expected to rule on the rate increase this spring. Editor's Note: This story has been updated with a response from the PSC about its public hearing scheduling process. Anyone who loves chocolate and shopping will be interested in the Chocolate Walk on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in historic downtown Ste. Genevieve. The event is sponsored by the Ste. Genevieve Downtown Renewal Project. If you love shopping and chocolate, this event is perfect for you, said Sandra Cabot, director of Ste. Genevieve Tourism. Chocolate lovers simply follow the balloons to find participating merchants to sample a luscious chocolate treat at each establishment while shopping Ste. Genevieve's unique downtown district. Participants can then work off those extra calories at the Queens Ball held at the VFW Hall, located at 852 Memorial Dr., beginning at 7 p.m. Its held every year, said Cabot, always the first Saturday in February. Its an evening of traditional French dancing Its called the Kings Ball, but actually every leap year its a Queens Ball. Instead of a gentleman finding the baby in the cake and picking a queen, the woman who finds the baby is crowned queen and gets to pick her king. All ladies present will be treated to piece of La Galette des Reine (Queens Cake) and the lucky lady who finds a special baby charm in her piece will be crowned Queen of the Ball. The queen will select her king and together they reign over Ste. Genevieve festivities throughout the year. Special attendants will also be selected to assist the queen and king. In recent years, the honorary titles of La Dame or Le Chevalier of Ste. Genevieve have been awarded to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the local community. The King's Ball is another of Ste. Genevieve's old French settlers traditions that has been celebrated annually for more than 250 years. Attendees are encouraged but not required to dress in French Colonial attire and participate in the traditional music and dance. Come learn to promenade and do the broom dance while a live band plays traditional French dance songs and calls out the instructions in English so all can learn, Cabot said. The musical group, Cash Rebates, will provide music and instructions in the traditional dance. The AAA Midwest Traveler Magazine chose the Ste. Genevieve Queens Ball as a Midwest Travel Treasure, Cabot said, which was featured in the magazines January edition. Tables for eight to 10 persons may be reserved. Guests are welcome to bring snacks for their enjoyment and there will be a cash bar available for refreshments. Doors to the ball will open at 7 p.m. with singing of traditional French songs by Les Petits Chanteurs. Guests may be formally introduced beginning at 7:30 p.m. and the music and dancing will begin at 8 p.m. Admission to the Queens Ball is $10 for adults and $5 for children and students. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Proceeds from the event will benefit the non-profit Ste. Genevieve Museum. For more information or to make table reservations, call 573-883-5850 or 573-883-2099 in the evening or email queensball@historicstegen.org Tickets for the Chocolate Walk are $10 per person and can be purchased the day of the event at the Ste. Genevieve Welcome Center located at 66 S. Main St. Everyone must have a ticket to sample the chocolates. For more information, visit visitstegen.com or call 800-373-7007 or 573-883-7097. WASHINGTON Barack Obama might seem an unlikely investor in the firearms industry. But the U.S. president, a fierce advocate for gun regulation, has money in a pension fund that holds stock in gun and ammunition companies. Although Obamas stake is minuscule, worth no more than $30, it reflects a much larger surge of investment. The president is among millions of Americans buying into gun companies often unwittingly as mutual funds have increased such holdings to record levels, according to a Reuters analysis of institutional investment in firearms companies. Since Obama was elected in 2009, mutual funds have raised their stakes to about $510 million from $30 million in the nations two largest gun manufacturers with publicly traded shares, Smith & Wesson Corp. and Sturm, Ruger & Co. That means such stocks are now common in retirement and college savings plans. The influx has helped to boost both companies' shares by more than 750 percent during the Obama presidency; each now has a market value of about $1 billion. Beyond mutual funds, such investments also are held in the portfolios of hedge funds and public pension plans, which are harder to track. The White House declined to comment on Obamas holdings in the Illinois General Assemblys pension plan, which he earned while serving in that states senate. The president has disclosed between $50,000 and $100,000 in the plan. Other indirect investors in firearms companies include advocates for gun regulation in the U.S. Congress and several parents of children who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut site of the 2012 massacre of 20 students and six staff members. Fund managers are drawn to the stocks by surging sales. Buyers are arming themselves, analysts said, in response to mass shootings and calls for tougher gun laws. By the end of 2015, more than 150 mutual funds owned Smith & Wesson shares, up from 53 at the end of 2008, and nearly 130 held stock in Ruger, up from 52, according to data from Morningstar Inc. It would have taken investors "minimal due diligence" to see massive profit potential in Ruger stock when Obama was first elected, said Ruger Chief Executive Mike Fifer. Shares hit a low of $4.50 the Friday after that Tuesday election; the stock was changing hands today at $61.61. "Orders at every level of the distribution channel exploded" the week of Obama's election, Fifer recalled. "And continued to do so for months afterward." AMMO RUSH Americas leading ammunition maker, Vista Outdoor Inc., has drawn investments from 319 funds in its first year of public trading and now has a market value of $2.9 billion. Its bonds are owned by a who's-who of U.S. investment and insurance companies. Such investments can be hard to identify within large funds, even with concerted effort. Eric Milgram, a corporate research analyst whose two children were at Sandy Hook Elementary during the rampage, tried to purge his portfolio of firearms holdings. But he gave up after a frustrating search through mutual fund stock lists, holding companies and subsidiaries. Im disgusted with this industry; I dont want to be invested in it, said Milgram. But, he added, There are only so many hours in the day. Vanguard Group, the nations largest fund company, said it was unrealistic to balance political sensibilities with obligations to meet performance benchmarks. It would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill these obligations while managing portfolios that reflect the social concerns of all our clients, said Vanguard spokeswoman Arianna Stefanoni Sherlock. Vanguard does, however, offer a Social Index fund with about $2 billion in assets out of Vanguards total of about $3.4 trillion that excludes firearms companies along with other stocks involved in an array of ethically sensitive industries. Smith & Wesson declined to comment for this story. Vista Outdoor did not respond to requests for comment. SMALL STAKES, BIG IMPACT Obama and his tiny stake are typical of most Americans with holdings in firearms investments: They are invested in funds that buy shares of the relatively small part of the firearms industry that is publicly traded. But collectively, their investments are a boon to the gun industry and amount to a sizable stake in major gun and ammo makers. For some gun safety advocates, the amounts are less important than the principle. Po Murray, who put four children through Sandy Hook Elementary, has also struggled to determine whether her investments include firearms companies. Its a real surprise: You find out you could be invested indirectly in Smith & Wesson, said Murray, who chairs the Newtown Action Alliance, a gun safety group. I dont want to be invested in gun companies. The $16 billion Illinois pension fund that includes Obamas investment holds at least $4.8 million in shares of gun industry stocks, including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Vista and ammunition maker Olin Corp. Until 2014, the pension fund owned about $1.5 million of the debt of Remington Outdoors, another gun manufacturer. Remington did not respond to requests for comment. The Illinois pension plan also invests in at least one mutual fund with gun industry exposure. The $1.1 billion Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund owned $9.5 million of Smith & Wesson stock at the end of December, fund disclosures show. Obama and other plan participants have no say in how the money is invested. Thats controlled by the Illinois State Board of Investment, which said it has no policy on investing in firearm and ammo companies. In its analysis, Reuters used mutual fund holdings data from Morningstar and Lipper Inc., a Thomson Reuters company, to examine firearms investments during the Obama presidency. The list of funds holding such stocks includes some of the biggest and most prominent, such as Vanguard and the second-largest fund group, Fidelity Investments. It extends to BlackRock Inc., and Dimensional Fund Advisors. The analysis is based on disclosures made by individual funds. Some of the gun stockholders are passively managed index funds. But many are actively managed, such as Fidelitys $40 billion Low-Priced Stock Fund, which has become Smith & Wessons second-largest mutual fund investor under storied stock-picker Joel Tillinghast. The fund held about 1.1 million shares worth $20 million as of Oct. 31, according to fund disclosures. Fidelity and Dimensional declined to comment. BlackRock the worlds largest asset manager with $4.6 trillion under management manages $200 billion of that total in investment options that screen out certain stocks, including companies involved in firearms, tobacco and alcohol businesses, spokesman Peter McKillop said. GUN INVESTMENTS IN CONGRESS Obama isnt the only gun-regulation advocate with gun-industry holdings. Former congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy elected after her husband was killed in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting pushed relentlessly for gun safety legislation. While in office, she held shares worth between $3,003 and $45,000 in at least three exchange-traded funds with stakes in gun and ammo companies, according to her last financial disclosure before retiring last year. She also invested between $2,002 and $30,000 for two grandchildren in so-called 529 college-savings plans that include a Vanguard fund holding firearms stocks, disclosures show. The New York Democrat could not be reached for comment. As a federal retirement benefit, members of the U.S. Congress can participate in a Thrift Savings Plan, which offers an investment option the S Fund that holds stock in firearms companies. Financial disclosures show that S Fund investors include U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Senate Democrat and a leading advocate for stricter background checks for gun buyers. Durbin disclosed an S Fund investment of about $115,000. Durbin's office declined to comment. Some members of Congress welcome the investment option. Im just grateful the fund managers are investing in something thats making money, said Representative Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican who opposes gun restrictions and has a small investment in the S fund. GOOD FOR BUSINESS For all the debate, Obama has made no progress in passing tougher gun laws. Measures such as universal background checks have withered in Congress, where the number of anti-gun control Republicans has grown. Calls for tighter controls have been met with bursts of gun sales, according to U.S. background-check data on gun purchasers. Gun store owners attribute the extra sales to consumers who fear the president will make it harder to buy arms. Lets just say hes been good for business, Jack Lesher, manager of Chucks Firearms in Atlanta, said of Obama. Gun sales jumped again recently after the president blasted congressional inaction on gun control and vowed to use executive powers to expand background checks for buyers and bolster licensing requirements for dealers. His announcement followed yet another mass shooting, on Dec. 2 in San Bernardino, Calif., where a couple pledging allegiance to Islamic State killed 14 people. For the week that ended Dec. 20, firearms background checks a proxy for guns sales totaled 839,109, the second-highest week since 1998. Only the week after the Sandy Hook shootings was higher, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Vistas main factories have churned out bullets 24 hours, seven days a week for at least two years, Vista Chief Financial Officer Stephen Nolan told investors in November. Now the industry is ready for an election-year surge. The politics of gun control could stay in the headlines, which we believe could lead to a record year, wrote Chris Krueger, senior research analyst at Lake Street Capital Markets, in a note to investors in January. Ruger is boosting inventories to prepare, after learning a costly lesson going into the last presidential election. Demand peaked that year, based on the number of FBI background checks sought for new gun purchases. The surge followed Obamas re-election and the Sandy Hook shooting. When we went into late 2011, we got cleaned out of inventory even though we increased production dramatically, company CEO Fifer told investors during a November conference call. The company, he said, probably left money on the table. Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras, a top adviser to Pope Francis, has denounced the idea of therapeutic abortions which are carried out because of fetal abnormalities as a response to birth defects caused by the mosquito-borne Zika virus that is setting off alarms throughout Latin America. Rodriguezs comments, which came at Mass on Wednesday in the pilgrimage city of Suyapa, are some of the most direct from church leaders in the heavily Catholic region and may reflect a growing concern in the hierarchy about the ramifications of the public health debate over how to deal with the potential epidemic. Although all forms of abortion are illegal in Honduras, Rodriguez said he was saddened to read a medical professionals writing apparently in support of therapeutic abortion, which is one that is carried out if the life of the mother is in danger or if there is risk of fetal abnormality. We should never talk about therapeutic abortion, the cardinal said in his homily, according to Honduran media reports. Therapeutic abortion doesnt exist, he said. Therapeutic means curing, and abortion cures nothing. It takes innocent lives. The Zika virus, which health officials say can also be transmitted by sex in some cases, is blamed for an apparent spike in the number of babies diagnosed with microcephaly. Infants with microcephaly have small heads and abnormal brain growth and suffer from a range of other health problems. While its not clear how widespread the virus is and how likely it is that a fetus will develop abnormalities if exposed to the virus, the World Health Organization declared an international public health emergency on Monday, and the first Zika transmission in the U.S. was reported on Tuesday in Texas. But since December, government officials in various Latin American countries have been warning women to delay pregnancy until the virus is brought under control. In El Salvador, one health official said women should avoid getting pregnant this year and next year. The advice to delay pregnancy raises questions for Catholics about using artificial birth control, which is against church teaching except in certain circumstances. Because discerning those circumstances is like threading a fine theological needle, as one theologian told CNN, the bishops in many countries have so far largely avoided making blanket statements on the issue. The question of aborting fetuses with abnormalities, however, takes the issue to another level. Abortion rights supporters have been using the crisis as an argument for liberalizing the regions generally strict abortion laws, and that is putting pressure on church leaders to remind the flock that direct abortion is never acceptable. This is just a way to push laws for the legalization of abortion, Danelia Cardona, head of the pro-life office of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Colombia, said in an interview published Thursday. Cardona said some would like to make pregnancies affected by the virus eligible for termination by categorizing them as high risk, but added that such abortions would still not be allowed under Colombias current tough abortion law. Evangelical and Pentecostal churches are also growing fast throughout Latin America, and although Protestant denominations are generally not opposed to most forms of birth control, they do often oppose abortion as strongly as the Catholic Church does. It is not clear what message Protestant pastors are sending to their flocks in Latin America, but some in the U.S. are already providing guidance on the moral dilemmas. Scott James, a professor of pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, wrote a column this week for the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention in which he explained what the virus is and how Christians should not panic but do what they can to help those afflicted. He also said that even if a believer does not oppose birth control, Christians should beware of any moral reasoning that would lead to aborting a Zika-infected fetus. Sacrificing the life of an offspring to avoid the possibility of infection or the prospect of living with disability is a wicked trade, James wrote. The God-given dignity of human life is more valuable than having our fear of earthly suffering assuaged. YACHIYO, Japan In Japan, where communal ties to local Buddhist temples are fading, families have in recent years been able to go online to find a Buddhist monk to perform funerals and other rituals. But when Amazon Japan allowed a provider to offer Obo-san bin, or Mr. Monk Delivery, on its website, it shone a spotlight on the emerging trend and prompted a major Buddhist organization to criticize the Internet marketer of commercializing religion. A basic plan for monk, transportation and a donation offered by the Tokyo-based provider, Minrevi Co., one of dozens of emerging budget companies, costs 35,000 yen ($300). Three other options are available for more money. The monks would typically go to a home, funeral hall or a grave to perform the requested ceremony. Such a thing is allowed in no other country in the world. In this regard, we must say we are disappointed by an attitude toward religion by Amazon, Akisato Saito, director of the Japan Buddhist Association, said in a statement. Many Japanese, however, welcome the service as a consumer-friendly approach to Buddhist rituals, whose cost is often perceived as murky and overpriced. Buddhist-style memorial services offered by temples comparable to the monk delivery could cost as 100,000 yen ($830). Funerals are even more expensive and can cost well over 1 million yen ($8,500). Monk delivery services have emerged as many of Japans 75,000 temples are losing offerings and business with hereditary members in their communities which traditionally have been the main source of financial support. That is threatening the survival of many temples in rural areas. In fact, some experts predict that the majority of Japanese temples without income from tourism and other businesses are expected to close over the next several decades. Minrevi spokesman Jumpei Masano says the service seems to attract those who want to have Buddhist funerals but are uneasy about pricing system, and want to keep their distance from temples. Many people dont have ties with temples and they have no idea where and how to arrange Buddhist rituals, while monks are increasingly concerned about their declining temple membership, Masano said. We can cater to the needs on both sides and hopefully we can bring them together. Some monks acknowledge that the growing business highlight the Buddhist temples complacency and their failure to reach out and adapt to the peoples needs. We do understand there are criticisms of us as well and we take them seriously. And we must ask ourselves if and how we can change, said Hanyu Kakubo, public relations secretary for the Japan Buddhist Association. When Yutaka Uematsus 17-year-old son Kakeru died just over a month ago after battling cancer, he searched on the Internet for a funeral service provider. Uematsu didnt consider asking his fathers family temple as he had heard the prices charged for a family members funeral were outrageous. So he and his wife went to the Minrevi website and picked for their son a package at a price less than half or even cheaper than an average, conventional service. Honestly, the cost was my biggest concern, Uematsu said. I liked its price system that was simple and clear. At first, he was worried about the quality of the service he might get, but that wasnt a problem. A 24-hour customer service line was also helpful for the couple emotionally devastated by the loss of their son. While it didnt offer counseling services, representatives could be reached regarding funeral details at any time, helping them feel more at ease during a painful time. Uematsu also arranged the traditional 49th-day posthumous ritual for his son using the same service. Amazon declined to comment, saying its only renting the space to Minrevi to promote the service, which offers only for monk delivery and a separate 20,000-yen ($170) charge for a posthumous Buddhist title, not funeral packages. Minrevi, whose orders for the monk delivery service has tripled over the past five years, said Internet-based inquiries and phone calls surged after it placed the service on Amazon. More surprisingly, some 100 monks came forward to register for the delivery service. The company already has contracts with 400 monks nationwide, said Masano, the spokesman. Kaichi Watanabe, 40, the monk dispatched to a memorial ceremony for the Uematsu family recently, said he had been looking ways to perform rituals to earn a living and meet more people to share Buddhas teachings. His elder brother had succeeded the temple founded by their grandfather, also a monk, in Fukushima prefecture, so Watanabe had to go elsewhere. About a year ago, he found Minrevi and signed a contract. Today, nobody comes to temples asking for us to perform funerals for their parents, Watanabe said in an interview before the service, at which he chanted in front of an altar decorated with chrysanthemum flowers and Kakerus photo in a black frame. Im hoping that a service like this, a brainchild of the Internet age, could make Buddhist temples a more approachable place for everyone. There is no point being a monk, he said, if we cant offer a helping hand when someone needs us. ST. LOUIS COUNTY A man from Festus is facing a charge of snatching a snake from an exotic pet store in Lemay in November after Facebook friends of the stores owner identified the suspect on social media. But the snake is still missing the man charged with stealing it says he lost it inside a Lowes home improvement store in Festus, police said. Marshall J. Parsons, 20, of the 500 block of North Mill Street, was charged Wednesday with stealing an animal, a felony. Charges say Parsons was recorded by surveillance cameras taking a Brazilian rainbow boa constrictor from its case Nov. 30 at the Exotic Amphibian & Reptile Center, 343 Lemay Ferry Road, and walking out with it. The same day, store owner James Brumley posted surveillance photos to the stores Facebook page of a man Brumley suspected of taking the snake. Facebook friends then identified the man in comments as Parsons, even posting a screenshot of Parsons admitting he took the snake and complaining about being outed as the thief. I get goofballs like this who dont know theyre on camera, Brumley said in an interview. Once we put them on Facebook, nine times out of 10 they get caught. Parsons told police he had used a screwdriver to jimmy the lock on the snakes case, hid it in his jacket and left the store. Parsons also told police he no longer had the snake, claiming he lost it inside the Lowes store. A Lowes spokeswoman said three routine pest inspections since November the most recent of which was conducted Wednesday found no reptiles at the Festus store. The Brazilian boas retail value is about $250, Brumley said, stressing that its a felony in Missouri to steal animals. Brumley said he never got the snake back. Over 20 years in business, Brumley said, exotic animals have been stolen from him at least a dozen times. He said he was surprised people were bold enough to steal from him with so many surveillance cameras installed at his shop. Last March, a teen from Ballwin stole a 1-foot-long ball python from an aquarium at the store. He, too, was nabbed after Brumley posted images of the theft online. And in 2014, a man from Bel-Ridge stuffed an alligator into his shorts pocket and walked out of the store. Both received probation for their crimes, court records say. Brumley has a warning to others thinking about making off with his exotic merchandise. If you steal something and get away with it today, your picture will be on Facebook, Brumley said. Just because you walk out of here with it, doesnt mean youre gonna get away with it. Parsons bail was set at $5,000. ST. LOUIS A man jailed in Texas in a series of burglaries and sexual assaults is a longtime St. Louis resident now being investigated here for similar crimes, police said Friday. Reginald Dwayne Bond, 37, is charged in Harris County, Texas, with five counts of burglary with intent to commit sexual assault. Officials said DNA tied him to those attacks. Police in St. Louis and St. Louis County are investigating Bond as a possible suspect in several sexual assaults. He lived for many years in the 3800 block of Ashland Avenue, near Vandeventer and Natural Bridge avenues. St. Louis County police Sgt. Brian Schellman said detectives from his department had been in contact with Houston-area police for about the past month. No evidence against Bond has been presented to prosecutors here to consider charges, he said. Schellman said police suspected Bond in sexual assaults in 2008-2011 in north St. Louis County. We believe he may have been connected to three, but the possibility remains it could be more, he said. Last May, from his home on Ashland Avenue, Bond helped organize a rally in Fairground Park called 100 Hearts in the Park. The event was dubbed a positive community effort to HEAL using the power of love. There will be speech, a prayer followed by the release of sky lanterns. On the events Facebook site, Bond is listed as host, and he wrote: In a place where there is no Love (light) shown, there will be nothing but Fear (darkness)! #ShoMoLove. Bond identifies himself as a notary public. According to Missouri court records, Bond pleaded guilty in 2007 of misdemeanor assault in St. Louis and was put on probation for one year. Texas police said Bonds DNA matched evidence collected from four crimes since 2008 in the St. Louis area. In Texas, they said, he typically broke in between 3 and 5 a.m. and either woke the sleeping victim by shining a light in her face or climbed into bed before waking her. Sometimes he covered his face, other times hers, they said. Those attacks happened in Houston and the nearby suburb of Jersey Village. The earliest was in June 2014. There were three in 2015 and one this year, on Jan. 17. Bond was arrested Jan. 22 in Houston and held in jail there. WENTZVILLE A teacher-turned-state legislator is at odds with his old union over his pending bill to bar employees of one school district from serving on the school board of another. The lawmaker state Rep. Bryan Spencer, R-Wentzville says he introduced the measure last month to prevent conflicts of interest, particularly with teachers on school boards helping decide salaries of other teachers. "They're always comparing themselves to other districts when it comes to pay raises," Spencer said of teachers' groups. He said he has similar concerns about school administrators in one district serving on school boards in another. Opposing the bill is the Missouri National Education Association, the teachers union of which Spencer was a member during his career as a Francis Howell School District teacher before entering the Legislature in 2013. Dee Ann Aull, assistant executive director of the MNEA, said school boards benefit from the knowledge and experience of education issues of board members employed in other districts. Moreover, Aull said, Spencer's bill if passed would violate the rights of teachers and other employees to run for office. "We have a lot of members who work in one district and live in another," she said. "They should have the same opportunity as any other citizen in that school district" to run. Spencer said there are various examples of school employees in one district serving on boards in another. Among them: Natalie DeWeese, an elementary school principal in the Francis Howell district who's on the Wentzville School Board, and Amy McEvoy, a Maplewood-Richmond Heights teacher who serves on the Francis Howell board. DeWeese, who was elected just last year, declined to comment on Spencer's bill. McEvoy, a six-year board member who isn't seeking another term in the April 5 election, could not be reached for comment. Spencer said his bill likely is dead for this year's legislative session because it has yet to get a committee hearing. However, he said his measure has stirred discussion among legislators and that there's a possibility another lawmaker may try to add a ban to another bill with a better chance of passage. State law already keeps school workers off the boards of districts employing them. The MNEA was a focus of Spencer's unsuccessful court challenge of the Francis Howell board's refusal to give him an unpaid leave of absence while in the Legislature. Spencer's lawsuit also had argued that his firing by the board violated his free speech rights. He had complained that the Howell board for years had granted leave to teachers so they could work full time as leaders of the MNEA, a union usually allied with Democrats, and that he should be treated the same. The board said his leave was rejected because he was breaking his contract committing him to work the full school year. The board also said the MNEA officials given leaves spent their time on education-related issues. Spencer had sought the leave because of a state law barring legislators from simultaneously holding other "lucrative office or employment" in government, including teaching. He wanted the leave so he could return to his Howell teaching job when his legislative tenure ended. (Mark Schlinkmann) HOT LINKS: This report was compiled by Post-Dispatch political reporter Kevin McDermott. In 1972, 20-year-old college student John Brunner wrote glowingly about his support for the intransigent American Party in the presidential election that year the same party that, just four years earlier, had run former Alabama Gov. George Wallace for president in a campaign based on white supremacy and segregation. Brunner, 64, a Republican candidate for Missouri governor, says that his short stint as a poll watcher for the American Party in 1972 and his enthusiastic support for its avowed racist vice-presidential candidate that year, Thomas Jefferson Anderson was based on anti-establishment and religious fervor, not racism. He had absolutely zero knowledge the vice-presidential nominee harbored repugnant views on race, Brunner spokesman Mike Hafner said in a statement, after the Post-Dispatch asked the campaign about a Brunner-written essay on that candidate for his college newspaper in November 1972. Forty-four years ago in 1972 as a 20-year-old on a small college campus in rural Arkansas, John didnt have Google or access to background research on candidates. John rejects racism in all of its ugly forms, Hafner said in the statement. He added: The driving sentiment on college campuses in 1972 was that President Nixon could not be trusted, and as a 20-year-old college student John challenged the Republican establishment by volunteering as a poll watcher for the American Party for one day. Its unclear whether the revelation will have any serious impact on the campaign trail. Missouri, after all, is a state where, not that long ago, the popular Gov. Mel Carnahan, a Democrat, appeared to lose little support after pictures emerged of him performing in blackface as a young man. But the revelation could provide some fodder, or at least cover, for Brunners three opponents in the Missouri GOP primary. One of them, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, has employed an unusual strategy in the past of wooing urban African-American voters, and has hinted he will again. And candidate Eric Greitens has been criticized for the fact that he used to be a Democrat an issue that might pale next to a candidate who used to support the party of George Wallace, famous for standing in a schoolhouse door to prevent integration. Brunners Nov. 3, 1972, essay in The Harding Bison, student newspaper for Harding College in Searcy, Ark., praises the religious and conservative credentials of Anderson, the American Party vice-presidential candidate that year. There are many people today in the political arena who give a great act ... Yet, there is someone in politics today who knows the Shepherd in a very real way, Brunner wrote, referring to Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd ...) Thomas J. Anderson is a man of much faith ... My own personal words do not bring credit to such an individual as Anderson. Brunner goes on to call him a man of great character. On Oct. 29, 1972, days before Brunners essay on Anderson was published, The Tennessean newspaper of Nashville published a long feature on Anderson that included a discussion of his racial views: Anderson believes in apartheid; he is a segregationist, although he concedes with some sadness that it is a point of view which has a smaller following than it once did. I look at history, he says. The black people have never produced a superior civilization. A black civilization has never discovered the wheel. But believing in race doesnt mean that you hate them; I dont. I just dont believe there is any equality; blacks are inferior. Brunners essay in praise of Anderson, by contrast, focuses entirely on Andersons outspoken Christianity and makes no reference to the candidates racial views. Still, those views werent exactly a secret. Anderson at that point had been a well-known writer and commentator for years and prominent member of the John Birch Society a group so far right that, a decade earlier, National Review founder William F. Buckley had in effect excommunicated it from the conservative movement. Brunner also wrote, in a separate article for the student newspaper after the election, about his day as a poll-watcher for Andersons American Party. Hafner also noted that Brunner, former CEO of Vi-Jon, a soap and personal products manufacturer, kept his company in the predominantly black community of Wellston even as other companies were fleeing. That says something, said Hafner. There is no way he would ever knowingly support someone with racist views. Two Potosi woman were injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday about 3 p.m. off North State Street in Desloge. According to the Desloge Police Department, 61-year-old Gentry Gibson of Bismarck was traveling south on State street in his 1997 Toyota Tacoma when he rear-ended 18-year-old Brandi Politte of Potosi in her 2014 Chevy Cruze. Politte and her passenger were both wearing their seat belts and were both transported to the hospital by private conveyance with minor injuries. Gibson and his passenger were not wearing their seat belts. Gibson was cited for no insurance. An accident at the intersection of Routes N and NN in St. Francois County Thursday morning forced drivers to seek alternate routes after emergency personnel closed both roadways for more than three hours. The accident occurred around 8:30 a.m. No injuries were reported. In an unrelated crash, a man was seriously injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon at 12:50 p.m. on Highway 8 in Washington County. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, James Hovis, 70, of Greenville, was driving eastbound on Highway 8 just east of the Washington/Crawford County line in his 2000 Chevy Impala when he fell asleep at the wheel. Hovis crossed the center line and was struck nearly head-on by Kyle Doss, 29 of Steelville who was driving a 2007 International westbound on Highway 8. Both drivers were wearing their seat belts and Hovis was airlifted by Air Evac to Mercy Creve Coeur with serious injuries. On Saturday morning at 11:45 a.m., a New Haven man was seriously injured in a one-vehicle accident in Washington County. According to the patrol, 51-year-old Bradley Stack was driving eastbound on Highway A in his 2014 Kia Sol when the vehicle went off the right side of the roadway and struck multiple trees. Its unknown if Stack was wearing his seat belt. He was airlifted to Mercy Creve Coeur by Air Evac. Hail to the students of East St. Louis High School and union plumbers of Michigan who answered the call for volunteers to help with the water crisis. The students collected 15,000 donated bottles of water and loaded them onto a truck for distribution to homes where tap water is undrinkable because lead has leached into the Flint water system. Meanwhile, 300 union plumbers flocked en masse to Flint to help install filters on residential taps. In a single day, the 300 plumbers from across the state had supplemented the efforts of the union local and installed filters on 1,100 homes. The filters enabled residents to begin using their water faucets again instead of relying on bottled water. Itll be a long time before Flints bigger problem is solved, but the volunteer effort made an enormous difference in hundreds of families lives. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group investigating his claims decides that the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorean Embassy doesn't amount to illegal detention. Writing on WikiLeaks' Twitter account, Assange said if the U.N. panel finds he has lost his case against the United Kingdom and Sweden then he will turn himself in to police at noon on Friday. "However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," Assange added. British police said Thursday that nothing has changed regarding Assange's situation and that police will still seek to arrest him if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy. The U.N. panel based in Geneva doesn't have any binding authority to impose its findings on the British or Swedish judicial authorities, which have been involved in years of legal wrangling involving Assange. Its decision could, however, influence how aggressively Swedish prosecutors pursue Assange for questioning about allegations of sexual misconduct. Karin Rosander, a spokeswoman for Swedish prosecutors, told The Associated Press on Thursday that "we have no comment now. We are waiting for the report." FARMINGTON -- Denise Joleen (D'Eramo) Ulozas, age 63 passed, peacefully into the arms of her Lord at 11:32 p.m. on February, 3 2016, at home sounded by love and in the presence of family. A native of Youngstown, Ohio, she resided in the St. Louis area since early 1980. Denise is the daughter of Joseph and Ramona (DiCenzo) D'Eramo. She is a 1970 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School in Youngstown, Ohio, and had been a Carmelite nun, entering the convent at Germantown, New York, shortly following graduation. Denise (Sister Marie Francis O. Carm) served the Carmelite Sisters caring for the Aged and Infirm, initially at Germantown, New York, and thereafter in Joliet, Illinois. She had also been a member of the cloistered community at the Carmelite monastery in Louisville, Kentucky. She left the order in the spring of 1980, and moved to the St. Louis area. She was employed as a surgical technician, initially by Missouri Baptist and subsequently by SSM DePaul Hospital, in St. Louis. She had been a resident of Arnold and subsequently Farmington, Missouri, where she resided until the time of her death. Denise was a founding member of 3 Crosses Cowboy Church in Farmington, Missouri, and continued to serve on its board of directors with dedication and faithfulness for as long as she was able to do so. Denise loved camping, trail riding and the outdoors. She appreciated the blessed simplicity of a rural lifestyle, was a lifelong horse lover and a strong advocate for neglected animals. She often remarked that there would be many stops on her way to the gates of paradise as she knelt to greet the animals the Lord had lovingly placed in her life while here on earth. Denise was profoundly joyful, faithful, generous and compassionate. To meet her once meant that you never forgot her; from the smile that easily lit a room, to her eyes which glowed with genuine compassion, love and kindness. Her family wishes to express deep gratitude and appreciation to the members of 3 Crosses Cowboy Church; their unwavering love, fellowship and tender care shown Denise will never be forgotten. We also wish to recognize the incredible service and support provided Denise by Amy Forsythe, RN, and Natalie Mucci, MSW, of Serenity Hospice in Park Hills, Missouri. We are eternally grateful for the care and support they so lovingly and unselfishly provided. Denise having been predeceased by her husband of 21 years Robert (Bob) Ulozas is survived by her son, Joseph Joe Ulozas of Arnold, Missouri; her parents Joseph and Ramona (DiCenzo) D'Eramo; her brother Dennis (JoAnn Irwin) D'Eramo of Fines Creek, North Carolina; her sisters Renee (Joseph) DeAngelo and Michelle D'Eramo residing in Youngstown, Ohio, as well as nieces and nephews in Ohio, central Florida and Beijing, China. A celebration of Denise's life will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 3 Crosses Cowboy Church, 4560 Highway O, Farmington, MO 63640. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to 3 Crosses Cowboy Church, (address above); Serenity Hospice, PO BOX 1000, Park Hills, MO 63601; or Stray Rescue of St Louis, 2320 Pine Street, ST Louis MO 63103. For those who desire, an on-line memorial register is available at www.paulfuneral.com. LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Investors cheer as Truss chased out of No 10 Thursday, October 20, 2022 - 17:12 The FTSE 100 moved into the green on Wednesday afternoon, with sterling also rising, as investors in the UK were buoyed by Liz Truss calling an end to her disastrous six-week tenure. Truss has announced her resignation after a chaotic 44 days in office during which she lost the confidence of Tory members of Parliament and the public and oversaw economic turbulence. She is set to become the shortest serving prime minister in history after she battled an open revolt from Conservatives demanding her departure. Speaking from a lectern in Downing Street, Truss said she had told the King she was resigning as the leader of the Conservative Party as she recognised she "cannot deliver the mandate" which Tory members gave her little over six weeks ago. "To use a phrase that has no doubt been exhausted in the past few weeks, markets don As we have since July 2006, each Friday well post a mixed bag of quick cigar news and other items of interest. Below is our latest Friday Sampler. 1) Davidoff has announced Cusano Dominican Connecticut, a new line that features fine Dominican filler tobaccos and an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper. The blend is designed for aficionados seeking the daily pleasure of a great-tasting cigar at excellent value. Four sizes will be available in AprilRobusto, Toro, Churchill, and Gordoin the affordable $4.49 to $5.99 range. As part of Oettinger Davidoffs mission to meet key aficionados needs through a diverse portfolio of cigar offerings, and to be the indispensable business partner of retailers, the new Cusano Dominican Connecticut range will delight aficionados seeking to enjoy fine-quality cigars at great value, said Charles Awad, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing and Innovation at Davidoff. Davidoff purchased Cusano in 2009, about nine months after its purchase of Camacho. 2) Casa de Montecristoa successful three-location tobacconist in Chicagohas launched an online retail website, which notably includes numerous exclusive releases from brands like My Father, Tatuaje, Drew Estate, E.P. Carrillo, and more. CDMCigars.com will not only feature a fantastic selection of the finest cigars available, but will bring the consumer interactive features such as wish lists, a virtual lounge, chances to purchase extremely rare cigars, and periodic raffles, reads a press release. The newest cigar releases, limited edition products, certified aged vintage cigars, and the finest accessories will also be featured. 3) Inside the Industry: Altadis USA, whose parent company owns a major share in Habanos S.A., this week launched Exploring Cuba, a knowledge hub on the Montecristo Social Club website that includes exclusive information about Cubas culture, history, and cigar heritage and highlights everything from Cubas tobacco-growing regions to the anatomy and creation of Cuban cigars. Former Miami Cigar & Co. sales executive Rene Castaneda has been named president of Villiger Cigars North America. The oldest cigar maker in the Dominican Republic has announced La Aurora Cigar Institute, the first institution in the world to educate and teach about the world of cigars in a didactic manner. Wellesbourne Airfield Rodney says losing the airfield would not just be a blow to the flying school and the other organisations on the site, but also to the many other businesses in the surrounding area who rely on the facility to bring in custom. A former soldier and pilot, Rodney has overseen the expansion of the business to the point where it currently employs ten instructors and examiners and runs six aircraft. The South Warwickshire Flying School trains 30-35 pilots each year in addition to taking on scholarships from the Combined Cadet Force and the Air League. The flying school also provides one scholarship each year on behalf of Prince Philip, who originally flew in to officially open the airfield almost 35 years ago. In addition to this, the school, which runs seven days a week, has 170 pilot members, who are able to make use of the schools planes. The informal, professional and friendly culture at the school provides a great atmosphere for people who are trying to get their wings. Rodney said: Wellesbourne Airfield is ideal for us, its centrally located, the weather conditions are excellent and the surrounding area offers ample accommodation. If the airfield was to go it would be a loss to all these businesses too. Because the threat to the airfield has been going on for a long time, we were not really shocked to get the Section 25 notice and I wrote back to them straight away. Its a tactic which we thought they might use before. To lose the airfield would be a great loss to the community, theres no other aerodrome in the area that offers this type of facility, I think it would be the end of the business if we were forced to leave. Its saddening to see that after all these years of the airfield being here that it should come to the threat of closure just because theres currently a glut of housing being asked for. Im quite hopeful though, I think this will remain an airfield for a few years yet, maybe forever. Wellesbourne Airfield A 22- year-old woman from Stratford-upon-Avon arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday 3rd February, currently remains in police custody. Police are conducting high visibility patrols in the area to reassure the local community. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 339 of 3rd February 2016. If you don't want to speak directly to police you can contact the independent charity, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-org.uk. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court. Wellesbourne Airfield This time last year Richard envisaged a steady start and brewed on average five casks of his Stratford Gold beer each week. Come April things started to change and he found himself making even more beer to meet public demand. By August the situation had gone, as he describes it, crazy and he found himself making 50 casks a week and had to install new equipment to cope. His beer is now sold in 52 pubs across Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and the West Midlands. There has also been a lot of interest in London. Sixty-five per cent of his custom is spread by word of mouth and repeat custom, and of course, beer festivals. The brewery was the main sponsor at last years Stratford Beer Festival and continues to forge close ties with CAMRA. In addition to the new brewing machinery, he has employed a full time member of staff, brought a new van which can carry 30 casks of beer and also purchased The Norman Knight pub in Whichford. A team of five people including Richards wife Stacey are involved with the brewing side of the business and eight staff are employed at the pub. Richard has ambitious plans for The Norman Knight which means it will close temporarily for three weeks for renovation which includes incorporating bed and breakfast facilities with the addition of six bedrooms. It would be nice to own a pub in Stratford, thats my next target. I believe it makes sense to own a pub in the town where the beer is made, although I do sell to a lot of pubs in town already, Richard said. Last Christmas Richard and the team launched a special beer for the festive season called Tipsy Turkey and hes set his sights on a special beer to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeares death but hasnt chosen a name for it yet, I might open that out for a competition on social media, Richard said. Stratford-upon-Avon Brewery, in Warwick Road, uses natural resources in the production of its beer. The water used comes from a deep well on site with rain water from the nearby Welcombe Hills. It is filtered twice and tested in a treatment plant to ensure its fit for drinking. The brewery itself is even powered by solar panels because Richard wants to make sure his product is natural and eco-friendly. I love making beer and its great to know that we are doing it naturally and not harming the planet, even the pigs on the farm, where the brewery is situated, are fed on malts and hops that have been part of the brewing process, said Richard. 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Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Shares of Fannie Mae (OTC: FNMA) and Freddie Mac (OTCC: FMCC) are up by about 3% following a new GSE letter which suggests the return of the capital retention conversation, according to Compass Point's Isaac Boltansky. Boltansky noted that on February 4 Representatives Stephen Lee Fincher (R-TN) and Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Lew and FHFA Director Watt expressing their concerns about the capital position of Fannie Mae (FNMA-NC) and Freddie Mac (FMCC-NC). As a reminder, the Third Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement (PSPA) required the GSEs to send every dollar above their capital buffers to the U.S. Treasury (UST) in the form of a dividend and mandates that those capital buffers are reduced to $0 by 2018. Representatives Fincher and Mulvaney wrote: In a post-Dodd-Frank world, Fannie and Freddie will be the only significant financial institutions not voluntarily or mandatorily raising their capital standards; instead, they are being told to lower their capital -- to zero. This does not make sense. The letter requests a response on or before March 1, 2016. The firm's view: "The passage of the Jumpstart GSE Reform provision prevents the UST from disposing of its senior preferred position in the GSEs which forecloses on the recapitalize and release option until at least 2018 but it does not prevent a conversation regarding the merits of GSE capital retention. While GSE capital concerns have been dismissed by Obama Administration officials given the ~$258 billion in UST lines backing the firms, our sense is that calls for GSE capital retention from both the left and right are likely to reemerge in the months ahead. We expect a GSE capital retention bill to be released in 1H16 and while it will not become law it should serve as a notable mile marker in the GSE conversation. Our view remains that neither legislation nor administrative action recapping and releasing the GSEs are possible in 2016, but political concerns regarding the PSPA structure could lead to a consideration of changes to the bailout agreement allowing for capital retention as a means of staving off another GSE draw." NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The business-to-employee (B2E) marketing approach is arguably one of the easiest ways for small businesses to authentically build long-lasting brand advocacy. Connecting your employees with the brand is not only good for the company, but good for the employees as well. PR Toolkit contributing author, Claire Holland explores this unique marketing approach in her latest article, "Internal Communication Tips for Small Businesses" and offers the following best practices: The 3 C's of Communication: Ensure you are communicating c learly, consistently and at a cadence that your employees will benefit from. Hollands recommends utilizing such tactics as internal newsletters, a regularly scheduled all-company meeting or email announcements as ways to build your brand ambassadors starting from the inside out. Ensure you are communicating c and at a that your employees will benefit from. Hollands recommends utilizing such tactics as internal newsletters, a regularly scheduled all-company meeting or email announcements as ways to build your brand ambassadors starting from the inside out. "What does this mean for ME? ": When building out your internal communications program, you'll need to understand what your audience cares about and tailor the messages accordingly. ": When building out your internal communications program, you'll need to understand what your audience cares about and tailor the messages accordingly. Multiple channels: Just as you would for your external marketing efforts, leverage multiple channels to communicate your key messaging. Holland suggests intranets, webinars and printed collateral as ways to keep your employees engaged. For further discussion on the two remaining internal communication tips, read Holland's complete article here. PR Newswire's Small Business PR Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that provides small businesses and entrepreneurs the tools to develop an affordable public relations and marketing plan that helps generate interest from potential customers, engage with key audiences and grow their businesses. The toolkit features relevant content such as informative white papers, interactive webinars and how-to articles and premium access to educational resources, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of special offers designed specifically for small businesses. To request information on how PR Newswire can help your small business, click here. You can receive updates on new Small Business PR Toolkit content by following @prnsmallbiz on Twitter. About PR NewswirePR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry over 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- from rich media to online video to multimedia -- and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. Contact:Amanda EldridgeDirector, Strategic Channels201-360-6906[email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110831/NY59180LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/5-b2e-best-practices-for-small-businesses-300216067.html SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC EAST LANSING, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GE will renew its relationship with Michigan State University and celebrate a $200,000 gift in support of the College of Engineering during ribbon-cutting ceremonies at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. Officials from MSU and GE will dedicate the redesigned third-floor lobby in East Wilson Hall. The event features MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, MSU Engineering Dean Leo Kempel, and GE officials, who will celebrate the companys most recent gift to the colleges CoRe Experience. CoRe is MSUs first-year engineering program that integrates the academic program with a living-learning community that connects students to their engineering future. The updated lobby offers students a collaborative space that reflects GEs highly collaborative business as the worlds digital industrial company, said Mike Wagner, general manager, electronics components, controls & accessories value stream, GE Aviation. For photos and the full story, visit: http://www.egr.msu.edu/news/2016/02/04/ge-and-msu. Our goal is to encourage students to use this colorful and upbeat space to fine tune team-building skills, which are essential at our company, Wagner said. GE will also host games and networking for students all day Friday. Well bring very cool virtual-reality goggles for students to experience, and well have give-away prizes and activities to show students what GE is like, Wagner added. Kempel said the celebration is a day of significance for the college. GEs re-commitment to CoRe is even more meaningful than their original support because it shows they have seen the value of being engaged with CoRe these past three years. It benefits our students to have the strong support of engineering industry employers in the college, Kempel added. Headquartered in Fairfield, Conn., GE has offices in 175 countries and employs 305,000 people -- 136,000 in the U.S. GE created some of the worlds most important devices -- such as the X-ray machine, electronic locomotives, and the electric fan. It works in more than a dozen industries from aviation and retail to health care and food and beverages. For more, go to: http://www.ge.com/. About MSU Engineering: The Michigan State University College of Engineering has nine academic programs serving 5,000 undergraduate and more than 600 graduate students. For more, go to: www.egr.msu.edu. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160205005070/en/ Michigan State University College of Engineering Patricia Mroczek, 517-432-1303 [email protected] Source: Michigan State University College of Engineering VANCOUVER, BC -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. (TSX VENTURE: LMD) (OTCQX: LEDIF) (FRANKFURT: LME) ("LED" or the "Company") announces the grant of 3,075,000 stock options to directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company, in accordance with its stock option plan. Each option has an eight year term and is exercisable at CDN$0.18 per share. About LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, LED Medical Diagnostics Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiaries LED Dental Inc. and LED Dental Ltd, provide dentists and oral health specialists with advanced diagnostic imaging products and software, in addition to the award-winning VELscope Vx tissue fluorescence visualization technology. Backed by an experienced leadership team and dedicated to a higher level of service and support, LED Dental is committed to providing dental practitioners with the best technology available by identifying and adding leading products to its growing portfolio. The Company is currently listed on the TSX-V under the symbol "LMD", the OTCQX under the symbol "LEDIF", as well as the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "LME". For more information, call 884.952.7327 or visit www.leddental.com/investor-relations. 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: LED Medical Diagnostics Inc. The Airbus A320neo (New Engine Option) takes off during its first flight event in Colomiers near Toulouse, southwestern France, September 25, 2014. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau By Tim Hepher PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus (NYSE: AIR) is renegotiating delivery schedules for its revamped A320neo jet and has told some airlines it will be delayed by about two months, industry sources said. The European planemaker missed a 2015 target for delivering the first aircraft, an upgraded fuel-saving version of its best-selling medium-haul jet, by a few weeks due to what it described as issues with documentation for new Pratt & Whitney engines. Industry sources have pointed to delays in deliveries of the newly-developed Geared Turbofan engine from its U.S. manufacturer, a subsidiary of United Technologies (NYSE: UTX). There was no immediate word on the number of aircraft affected or the full range of expected delays. Airbus and Pratt & Whitney confirmed they were in talks over deliveries, without elaborating. "We are in talks with our customers on deliveries and once these talks will have concluded, then we'll finalize the aircraft and deliver to our customers as agreed," an Airbus spokeswoman said. "We are in talks with our operator customers on delivery schedules and once these are concluded we will finalize the schedules as agreed," said a spokeswoman for Pratt & Whitney. Although the delays are minimal compared with some all-new programs, the A320 and Boeing's competing 737 drive a large chunk of aerospace industry profits and are closely watched. Airbus has said deliveries of the A320neo will be tilted towards the second half of the year. The A320neo is designed to save 15 percent in fuel consumption. So far, Airbus has delivered one aircraft to Germany's Lufthansa . The launch customer was originally supposed to be Qatar Airways but it rejected early aircraft due to longer than expected startup times, requiring extra fuel. Speculation about last-minute fine-tuning resurfaced after the first aircraft was delivered after an unusually extensive series of 11 pre-delivery test flights, according to data from website Hamburg Finkenwerder News. In December, India's IndiGo said it would not receive its first A320neo on time for "industrial reasons" and warned of further delays. United Technologies said last month the engines needed "a software fix and a minor hardware fix" to deal with cooling problems, but were meeting performance targets. In December, it said the problem should be solved by February. The A320neo is sold with engines from either Pratt & Whitney or CFM International, owned by France's Safran (NYSE: SAF) and General Electric (NYSE: GE). CFM also powers the competing Boeing 737 family, including the revamped 737 MAX. The first CFM-powered A320neo is expected to be delivered in July. Boeing (NYSE: BA) said on Wednesday it was working to deliver the 737 MAX ahead of schedule. The Wall Street Journal reported it could be delivered up to six months before the third-quarter 2017 target. CFM said on Friday it was on course to support targets set by both planemakers as it set new production goals. (Editing by James Regan and David Clarke) By Wiktor Szary and Marcin Goettig WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's president approved new legislation to increase the government's surveillance powers, his office said on Thursday, despite fears that the new law undermines privacy. The law may fuel a row between the European Union and Poland's conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, which came to power after the October election. The EU launched an unprecedented inquiry in January into whether Poland's new government has breached the EU's rule of law standards after passing new laws that critics say rein in the constitutional court and public media. Poland's newest law expands the authorities' access to digital data and loosens the legal framework limiting surveillance by law enforcement. It comes into force on Saturday after its approval by President Andrzej Duda, a close ally of PiS. Rights group Amnesty International described the law as "a major blow to human rights" and called a protest on Friday in front of the presidential office. Last month, thousands of people across the country protested against the law. The Law and Justice (PiS) party, the first party to win an outright parliamentary majority since Poland's transition from communism in 1989, says surveillance must be expanded to counter the threat of terrorism. The government said it had amended the bill to address an earlier ruling by the constitutional court, which said the bill was imprecise and lacked sufficient legal controls. Poland's Ombudsman has said that some of the new bill may be still be unconstitutional, including parts that allow surveillance to be extended to up to 18 months, limits on court control, and a broader range of potential targets. The Ombudsman's office said on Thursday that it will challenge the new law in the constitutional court. A new PiS-sponsored law that came into force last year significantly increased the size of the majority the court needs to pass rulings. That law, and another allowing the government to directly appoint heads of public media, sparked the EU investigation. The Polish government has been defended by Hungary's eurosceptic Prime Minister Victor Orban and Syed Kamall, the leader of the conservative fraction in the European Parliament. (Editing by Katharine Houreld) Malian soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint at the entrance to Timbuktu, Mali, after unknown assailants attacked and withdrew from inside a U.N. police base in the city, February 5, 2016. REUTERS/Moulaye Chirfi By Adama Diarra and Tiemoko Diallo BAMAKO (Reuters) - Malian troops backed by U.N. helicopters stormed a U.N. police base in the city of Timbuktu and recaptured it from suspected Islamist militants who had seized it hours before on Friday, the United Nations said. Malian Defence Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly told reporters that an army commander was killed in the rescue operation as well as three of the attackers, whom he called terrorists but did not identify. A fourth assailant blew himself up while others were being sought, he added. The incident followed a series of bold attacks by al Qaeda militants in West Africa, including a hotel siege in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou last month in which 30 people including many foreigners were killed. A group of around six militants drove up to the U.N. base in the former Hotel Palmeraie at the entrance to Timbuktu at dawn and detonated a car bomb before holing up inside, security sources said. A gunbattle ensued. "It's over now," said U.N. mission spokesman Olivier Salgado. "They are now inspecting the site and looking for explosive devices." The former hotel had been taken over exclusively by a Nigerian U.N. police contingent. In an apparent lucky break for the United Nations, Salgado said the premises were empty at the time of the attack, barring a few guards, as the contingent was in the process of moving out. A military source at the site said Nigerian policemen at the site had managed to flee and were never taken hostage. Islamist militants briefly held Timbuktu, an ancient trade and cultural hub, in 2012 and other northern towns until French forces drove them out a year later. But the militants have stepped up attacks in Mali in recent months as part of a growing regional insurgency. During the invasion, Timbuktu's famous mausoleums were destroyed by Islamist jihadists and restoration work was only officially completed at the UNESCO site this week. However, residents have in recent weeks voiced concern that militants from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb known to operate in remote areas near Timbuktu are infiltrating the city. In a sign of the dangers, a Swiss missionary living in the city was kidnapped last month. "This city is infested with terrorist collaborators," a street vendor who declined to be named told a visiting Reuters reporter in late January. Malian forces launched "Operation Martine" last month to secure the area around Timbuktu, including two forests thought to be used as militant hideouts. (Additional reporting by Souleymane Ag Anara in Niamey; Writing by Emma Farge; Editing by Mark Heinrich) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities & Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 4)* KCAP Fianancial Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 500233101 (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2015 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this schedule is filed: (X) Rule 13d-1(b) ( ) Rule 13d-1(c) ( ) Rule 13d-1(d) * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes.) Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. CUSIP No. 500233101 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). Zazove Associates, LLC 36-3984373 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ( ) (b) ( ) 3. SEC Use Only ____________________________________________________________ 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Delaware Number of 5. Sole Voting Power: 1,648,216 (see item 4) Shares Bene- ficially by 6. Shared Voting Power: 0 Owned by Each Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 1,648,216 (see item 4) Person With: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,648,216 (see item 4) 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares ( ) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 4.25% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IA ----------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 500233101 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). Zazove Associates, Inc. 36-3630548 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ( ) (b) ( ) 3. SEC Use Only ____________________________________________________________ 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: Illinois Number of 5. Sole Voting Power: 1,648,216 (see item 4) Shares Bene- ficially by 6. Shared Voting Power: 0 Owned by Each Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 1,648,216 (see item 4) Person With: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,648,216 (see item 4) 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares ( ) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 4.25% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): CO, HC ---------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 500233101 1. Names of Reporting Persons. I.R.S. Identification Nos. of above persons (entities only). Gene T. Pretti 2. Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions) (a) ( ) (b) ( ) 3. SEC Use Only ____________________________________________________________ 4. Citizenship or Place of Organization: United States Number of 5. Sole Voting Power: 1,648,216 (see item 4) Shares Bene- ficially by 6. Shared Voting Power: 0 Owned by Each Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power: 1,648,216 (see item 4) Person With: 8. Shared Dispositive Power: 0 9. Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person 1,648,216 (see item 4) 10. Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares ( ) 11. Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (9): 4.25% 12. Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions): IN, HC ---------------------------------------------------------------- Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer KCAP Financial Inc. (the "Company") (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices 295 Madison Avenue 6th Floor New York, NY 10017 295 MADISON AVENUE Item 2. (a) Name of Persons Filing This Schedule 13G is being filed by Zazove Associates, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company; Zazove Associates, Inc., an Illinois corporation and Gene T. Pretti (referred to collectively as the "Reporting Persons"). (b) Residence or business address The principal address of the Reporting Persons is 1001 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village, NV 89451 (c) Citizenship Zazove Associates, LLC is organized under the laws of Delaware. Zazove Associates, Inc. is organized under the laws of Illinois. Gene T. Pretti is a citizen of the United States. (d) Title of Class of Securities Common stock (e) CUSIP Number 500233101 Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Sections 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) ( ) Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) ( ) Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C 78c). (c) ( ) Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) ( ) Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) (X ) An investment adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) ( ) An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) (X ) A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) ( ) A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) ( ) A church plan the is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company act of 1940 (15 U.S.C.) (j) ( ) Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1) (ii)(J). Item 4. Ownership Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1. (a) Amount beneficially owned: 1,648,216 shares of common stock, which includes 1,648,216 shares issuable upon the conversion of KCAP Financial Inc. 8.75% convertible Notes Due 03-15-2016 (the "Convertible Securities"). (b) Percent of class: 4.25%, calculated based on 38,749,041 shares of common stock outstanding, which number is calculated by adding (i) 37,100,825 (the number of shares of common stock outstanding as reported on the Company's most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC) and (ii) 1,648,216 (the number of shares of common stock deemed held under Rule 240.13d-3(d)(1) as a result of the beneficial ownership of the Convertible Securities). (c) Number of shares as to which the person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 1,648,216 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 1,648,216 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0 Instruction. For computations regarding securities which represents a right to acquire an underlying security see Section 240.13d-3(d)(1). Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following ( ). Instruction: Dissolution of a group requires a response to this item. Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. If any other person is known to have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities, a statement to that effect should be included in response to this item and, if such interest relates to more than five percent of the class, such person should be identified. A listing of shareholders of an investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or the beneficiaries of employee benefit plan, pension fund or endowment fund is not required. Zazove Associates, LLC is registered as an investment advisor under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (15 USC 80b-3) and has discretionary authority with regard to certain accounts that hold the Convertible Securities. No single account has a more than 5% interest of any class of the Issuer's equity securities. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company Not applicable. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule, pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b)(ii)(G), so indicate under Item 3(g) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and the Item 3 classification of the relevant subsidiary. If a parent holding company has filed this schedule pursuant to Rule 13d-1(c) or Rule 13d-1(d), attach an exhibit stating the identity of each member of the group. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group Not applicable. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Section 240.13d- 1(b)(1)(ii)(J), so indicate under Item 3(j) and attach an exhibit stating the identity and Item 3 classification of each member of the group. If a group has filed this schedule pursuant to Section 240.13d-1(c) or Section 240.13d-1(d), attached an exhibit stating the identity of each member of the group. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Notice of dissolution of a group may be furnished as an exhibit stating the date of the dissolution and that all further filings with respect to transactions in the security reported on will be filed, if required, by members of the group, in their individual capacity. See Item 5. Item 10. Certifications Item 10 (a) By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. Item 10 (b) Not Applicable. SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. February 5, 2016 Date Zazove Associates, LLC /s/ Steven M. Kleiman Signature Steven M. Kleiman, COO Name/Title Zazove Associates, Inc. /s/ Steven M. Kleiman Signature Steven M. Kleiman, CFO Name/Title /s/ Gene T. Pretti UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.1)* TrueCar, Inc. ----------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ----------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 89785L107 ----------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) December 31, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------- (Date Of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [x] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 1745 (3-06) CUSIP No.89785L107 13G Page 2 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON: Morgan Stanley I.R.S. #36-3145972 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) [ ] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: The state of organization is Delaware. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER: SHARES 6,227,398 BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER: EACH 18,808 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: WITH: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------- 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 6,246,206 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON: 6,246,206 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES: [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.6% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: HC, CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No.89785L107 13G Page 3 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON: I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON: Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC I.R.S. #13-3292567 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP: (a) [ ] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. SEC USE ONLY: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION: The state of organization is Delaware. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NUMBER OF 5. SOLE VOTING POWER: SHARES 6,203,730 BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6. SHARED VOTING POWER: EACH 0 REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------- PERSON 7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER: WITH: 0 -------------------------------------------------------------- 8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER: 6,203,730 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON: 6,203,730 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES: [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9): 7.5% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON: CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No.89785L107 13G Page 4 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 1. (a) Name of Issuer: TrueCar, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 225 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD 12TH FLOOR SANTA MONICA, CA 90401 -------------------------------------------------------------- Item 2. (a) Name of Person Filing: (1) Morgan Stanley (2) Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC -------------------------------------------------------------- (b) Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence: (1) 1585 Broadway New York, NY 10036 (2) 1585 Broadway New York, NY 10036 -------------------------------------------------------------- (c) Citizenship: (1) The state of organization is Delaware. (2) The state of organization is Delaware. -------------------------------------------------------------- (d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock -------------------------------------------------------------- (e) CUSIP Number: 89785L107 -------------------------------------------------------------- Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Sections 240.13d-1(b) or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o). (b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c). (d) [ ] Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8). (e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). CUSIP No.89785L107 13-G Page 5 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Item 4. Ownership as of December 31, 2015.* (a) Amount beneficially owned: See the response(s) to Item 9 on the attached cover page(s). (b) Percent of Class: See the response(s) to Item 11 on the attached cover page(s). (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: See the response(s) to Item 5 on the attached cover page(s). (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: See the response(s) to Item 6 on the attached cover page(s). (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See the response(s) to Item 7 on the attached cover page(s). (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See the response(s) to Item 8 on the attached cover page(s). Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. Not Applicable Item 6. Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. Not Applicable Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company. See Exhibit 99.2 Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not Applicable Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not Applicable Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. * In Accordance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 34-39538 (January 12, 1998) (the "Release"), this filing reflects the securities beneficially owned, or that may be deemed to be beneficially owned, by certain operating units (collectively, the "MS Reporting Units") of Morgan Stanley and its subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively, "MS"). This filing does not reflect securities, if any, beneficially owned by any operating units of MS whose ownership of securities is disaggregated from that of the MS Reporting Units in accordance with the Release. CUSIP No.89785L107 13-G Page 6 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Signature. After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 5, 2016 Signature: /s/ Cesar Coy -------------------------------------------------------------------- Name/Title: Cesar Coy/Authorized Signatory, Morgan Stanley -------------------------------------------------------------------- MORGAN STANLEY Date: February 5, 2016 Signature: /s/ Christina Huffman -------------------------------------------------------------------- Name/Title: Christina Huffman/Authorized Signatory, Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC -------------------------------------------------------------------- MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL SERVICES LLC EXHIBIT NO. EXHIBITS PAGE ----------- ---------- ---- 99.1 Joint Filing Agreement 7 99.2 Item 7 Information 8 * Attention. Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute federal criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001). CUSIP No.89785L107 13-G Page 7 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT NO. 99.1 TO SCHEDULE 13G JOINT FILING AGREEMENT --------------------------------------------------- February 5, 2016 --------------------------------------------------- MORGAN STANLEY and MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL SERVICES LLC, hereby agree that, unless differentiated, this Schedule 13G is filed on behalf of each of the parties. MORGAN STANLEY BY: /s/ Cesar Coy --------------------------------------------------------------------- Cesar Coy/Authorized Signatory, Morgan Stanley MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL SERVICES LLC BY: /s/ Christina Huffman --------------------------------------------------------------------- Christina Huffman/Authorized Signatory, Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC * Attention. Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute federal criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001). CUSIP No.89785L107 13-G Page 8 of 8 Pages -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT NO. 99.2 ------------------ ITEM 7 INFORMATION The securities being reported on by Morgan Stanley as a parent holding company are owned, or may be deemed to be beneficially owned, by Morgan Stanley Capital Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley. An alleged gunman was arrested after a manhunt near Martinborough on Monday. A man arrested after a manhunt by armed police in rural Wairarapa has been denied bail and named. Robert James Atkinson, 30, of Martinborough, was arrested on Monday after a day-long search by local police, dog handlers, a helicopter and the Wellington armed offenders squad. They were responding to reports that two workers were forced to flee after having a firearm pointed at them in the hills south of the Wairarapa town. After searching around White Rock and Tuturumuri, they arrested Atkinson north of Martinborough. READ MORE: Man with gun arrested in Martinborough after sparking armed police callout Noone was injured. Atkinson has been in custody since then, and has pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a hunting rifle, and with pointing it at two men. He appeared for a third bail hearing in Masterton District Court on Thursday. A decision was not made at two previous hearings, with the judge needing further information. On Thursday Judge Barbara Morris denied Atkinson bail pending further assessment, and remanded him in custody until a case review hearing on March 14. His interim name suppression lapsed. Floris Van Gaalen is a name to remember. He is a Hamilton filmmaker that has made the finals in New Zealand's Tropfest competition. Tropfest is the world's largest short film festival that began in Australia in 1993. The annual competition is open to anyone who wishes to enter, and is considered the winner's ticket to a successful career in film or television. Hamilton Press Kimberly Crossman flew over from America to play the lead role in 'Natalia Rising' Sixteen finalists were selected from an entry pool of hundreds, and Van Gaalen is one of two Hamilton directors showcasing their film in New Plymouth this month. His film, Natalia Rising was made entirely in Hamilton, and was shot on-location at Basketique, a quaint store on Maeroa Rd. The budding director also got former Shortland Street star, Kimberly Crossman, to fly over from America to star as the title character. "It was planned for many months," Van Gaalen said of the six-minute-long film. Filming took place at the store over two days. Van Gaalen said he has entered short film festivals in the past, but Natalia Rising, a story about a young lady attempting to win the affection of a shopkeeper by plotting a 'fake' heist, was the first to make it to the finals. "I am punching above my weight. Everyone wants to be directors, which doesn't make it any easier," he said. "Plan B is I could go to Mongolia and give up, or I can keep making short films." Festival founder John Polson said the judging panel for Tropfest NZ will comprise of industry professionals from around the country whose identities will be revealed in the following weeks. First prize includes a five-day film immersion trip to LA, as well as a cash prize of $10,000. Van Gaalen, who recently graduated with honors in a Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies degree from the University of Waikato, said he wanted Tropfest to help get his name out there. "With such a saturation of content it's such a fight to get your content viewed. I tried the Youtube thing, it didn't work. It's a matter of persistance; if you keep making stuff and if you have good content, people will eventually see it." Tropfest New Zealand, 27 February at the TSB Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth, Taranaki. Free entry. A last minute attempt to protests against the building of pensioner units at a community reserve fell on deaf ears as contractors moved in to remove trees. An opponent to a South Waikato pensioner housing development says the safety of pensioners who move in could be at risk because residents don't want them there. A small group against the development in Tokoroa gathered on Wednesday to try to stop the nine trees at the Kindergarten St reserve site from being felled. FRANCES FERGUSON / FAIRFAXMEDIA Time ran out for Tina Lopdell, Herta Miehe and Bruce McIntyre who tried to organise a protest to save the trees at Kindergarten St Reserve. But their protests did little to deter contractors, who arrived with chainsaws and tractors and removed the trees. Richard Cruice, who led the protesters, said it was unwise to put pensioners in an area where people didn't want them. "The community does not want them taking our resource, our shade, our green space. It's in absolute contrast to putting them on a vacant section where they're actually improving the neighbourhood. "I genuinely worry for those pensioners safety." Fellow protesters Herta Miehe, 80, joined Tina Lopdell, 65, joined Cruice in showing their disgust at South Waikato District Council's move to continue with project. Peering through a 10-metre-long fence, Miehe said it was a crime to remove the trees. "I've been told the trees are between 50 to 60 years old and there is no other place like this." Protest signs were hung on the fence and the pair had plans to gather all 553 people who signed the petition against the development. Lopdell, who lives opposite the park in Clyde St, said it was a terrible day. "They're affecting the lower class. Some people go to the beach, but in my area, that's what the park means to them because they don't have cars. That's their paradise. "We in the low decile don't matter." The sound of chainsaws was too much for Lopdell who had to leave. "I was sitting with tears rolling down my face. Then you hear that thud and I thought, another one. It's just disgraceful." But fellow Kindergarten St resident Jim Bishop was pleased to see the sky from his front door. "It's opened up a bit more. We have kids hanging around here in the park, so it makes it safer. It's more visible." Deputy chief executive Ben Smit said council is preparing the site for six pensioner units with construction due to start this month. "We are very excited to be starting this project for our growing aged population." The concrete foundations should be complete by mid-March. Mike Fogarty, from Waiariki Institute of Technology, was excited to be part of the project. "Waiariki looks forward to supporting South Waikato's future carpenters, electricians and interior designers in the construction of these residential buildings." Some of the wood from the felled trees will be donated as firewood for the Lions Club to supply for pensioners. Council would retain the remaining wood to be used for new Talking Poles or wooden artwork features in Leith Pl. A Marlborough mother says she has nothing against traditional schooling, but at home her children are free to learn "what they want, when they want". Niki Boon said her children learned primarily through books and observing the world, and her son Kurt would decide whether he wanted to go to high school. Boon had home schooled all four of her children, aged between 6 and 12-years-old. DEREK FLYNN/FAIRFAX NZ Home schooling mother Niki Boon with her children, from left, Rebecca Simcic, 11, Kurt Simcic, 12, Anton Simcic, 8, and Arwen Simcic, 6. Boon and husband Rob Simcic decided home schooling suited their children better, she said. "We just preferred our kids at home." READ MORE: * Home schooling: weird or wonderful? * School's out, this time forever * 'The children decide what to learn' They had a lot of freedom in how they structured their children's day, Boon said. "They have to learn 'as much and as often' as they would at school, but it's really vague." The number of home schooled children in Marlborough climbed to 62 last year. Fifty children were educated at home in 2014, although in previous years the numbers had reached 100. The number of children enrolled in schools in Marlborough last year was more than 6600. Boon knew of some home schooling parents who kept to a rigid timetable, but she did not dictate what her children had to learn and when. The children had plenty of opportunities to socialise, sometimes with workers from all over the world who stayed on their Spring Creek property, Boon said. To home school their children, parents had to apply for a certificate of exemption from the Ministry of Education. Parents had to provide information to the ministry including a statement of their philosophy, what subjects they intended to teach, and a description of intended environmental, social and community contact. Children who were home schooled could take NCEA exams through the Correspondence School or through a "link school". Twice a year parents had to make a declaration to the Ministry of Education that the home schooling was continuing. Students were allowed to "trial" a school for up to 10 weeks, without losing their home schooling status. Fellow home schooling mother Veronika Merkle, originally from Germany, made the decision to home school her son Corbinian, 6, because she wanted him to grow up bilingual. She also felt he was too young to be separated from the family. While she hoped to home school him all the way through primary school, she would have to wait and see whether it suited him, she said. "As they grow up they might have different needs, that we might struggle to meet," she said. Marlborough Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty said occasionally students who were home schooled would come to Marlborough Boys' to do their NCEA exams. "Some will do very well. It just varies, really." Two years ago, William Irwin-Harris, who was home schooled for most of his life, became proxime accessit to the dux. "He was a very bright boy, and it was nice to see him grow in confidence," Hegarty said. William's mother Jacqui Harris said he had just won a prize for mathematics at Victoria University. Parent Smyth Brydon said her son attended Grovetown School, but her 8-year-old daughter Brooke was educated at home. She tried school for two years but decided she wanted to try learning at home. "She's a real free spirit, and I'm a real fan of following the children's lead," Brydon said. "She [experienced school], and it was good, but at the end of the day she said 'no, I still want to give this a go'," Brydon said. Brooke's preschool teacher first suggested home schooling after Brydon said she was concerned Brooke was not ready for school. Initially Brydon was reluctant, but after she did some research into it she thought it would suit the family. Brydon said she hoped Brooke would choose to keep learning at home, as she did not want her to feel the pressure to fit in as she got older. Brooke was very self-motivated, Brydon said. "If she wants to become a doctor, she'll become a doctor. If she wants to become an artist, she'll become an artist." Each year about 5500 New Zealand children were home schooled. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Page Content When you give to Stellenbosch University, you are partnering with us to create a shared future for all Maties. From bursaries and scholarships, to capacity building programmes and student success initiatives, your support sends our skilled students out into the world, prepared to contribute to a brighter future. They will make a difference because you have made a difference. We hope that the 'Partnering for Access' bursary video series celebrate the inspiring stories of donors who are a net of support for students striving to reach their highest potential. You can make your contribution to many when you give to the Maties for Maties Bursary Fund here. Whether the gift is R100 a month from an individual, that goes into a collective pool, or R100 000 from a corporate, Trust or Foundation, the impact is made: a changed life ready to transform the world. Please view, like and share our videos on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter and play your part in partnering for access. Karen Bruns Senior Director: Development and Alumni Relations Phambili (Donor Report) The second edition of Phambili is here. We have captured some of the highlights over the past three months and showcase the partnership of individual, corporate and organisational donors alike. We are proud to launch the revised quarterly donor report in the form of Phambili (the Nguni word for forward). Paying It Forward: The Amicus Fund The story of the Amicus Fund highlights the power of collective giving. Meet Mikhail Hendricks, SU Law student and recipient of an Amicus bursary, with aspirations to make a positive contribution in South Africa. He is primed to become a SU alumnus, like Aubrey Magerman, who also received a bursary during his student days and is now a sterling professional in his field. Aubrey is paying it forward as an Amicus Fund Committee Member and donor. Click here to watch the video. Leveraging a generational legacy: The Crossley Foundation This case study showcases how organisations like the Harry and Doris Crossley Foundation contribute to systemic change to societal challenges, through the support of university students engaged in creating solutions that our world needs. Meet Linda Luvuno, a GreenMatter Fellow, is one of the recent recipients of a Harry Crossley bursary. In the video, she meets Linda Witfield, Director of the Crossley Foundation, who is passionate about harnessing the power of student potential. Click here to watch the video. Investing in future talent: MMI Holdings Limited Stellenbosch University graduates are sought after in the job market. Simo Mvinjelwa, Group Lead for Skills Development at MMI Holdings, has been fishing for fresh talent in the SU student pool for over a decade now. His recent catch is smart and enterprising Catherina de Villiers, Actuarial Sciences graduate who will be making her mark at MMI. This is one example of nurturing potential in partnership with universities and simultaneously growing the talent pipeline of corporates. Click here to watch the video. Fostering Greatness: The Dippenaar Family Trust Over the past twenty years, Laurie and Estelle Dippenaar have been helping students achieve their potential through the Dippenaar Family Trust. One such student is Siyabonga Ndlovu, a budding entrepreneur himself, who wants to find ways to create real corporate social value. This example of giving showcases how families (or groups of individuals) can have a 'living' legacy by aiding student success. Click here to watch the video. Ways to Give There are various ways to get financially involved at Stellenbosch University. You can make a personal donation, corporate donation, or leave a bequest. Personal Donations Donations can be outright gifts in any amount paid in cash, cheque or credit card. A donation may also be "in kind''. The amount of the deduction is capped at 10% of a person's taxable income. Our easy to use online giving platform makes donating safe and secure. Your donation is handled by GivenGain, a secure payment gateway to process online donations. To donate via our online form click here or from the safety of your own internet banking account via electronic funds transfer. Bursaries Stellenbosch University requires funding beyond what government can give so that it can be successful in attracting the very best student talent. On average an undergraduate student needs R115,000 p.a. (for an average of 3 years) for tuition, accommodation and living expenses. On average a postgraduate student requires a minimum of R95,000 p.a (master's level) and more at PhD or postdoctoral level. Contact Nicoline Coetzer on +27 21 808 9160 or e-mail: nicoline@sun.ac.za. International Donations Donations can be outright gifts in any amount paid in cash, cheque or credit card. In the USA and UK there are options for donating to Stellenbosch University in a tax friendly way. The full Rand value of your bequest is deductible in determining your net estate duty liability. To donate via GivenGain choose one of the following options: I live in the USA I live in the UK I live elsewhere: Bank: First National Bank; Bank address: 5th Floor, Media City nr 1, Heerengracht, Foreshore, Cape Town; Account Name: Stellenbosch University Foreign income; Account Number: 621 0717 7083; Branch Code: 204 109; S.W.I.F.T. address: FIRNZAJJ796. (Send proof of payment to Joan Weyers: jhsl@sun.ac.za, or fax to either +27 21 808 3026 or +27 865 695 372.) SnapScan Scan the QR code below to make a contribution to a fellow Matie. 18 A tax certificates will be issued on request. Electronic Funds Transfer Enter the name of the initiative you wish to support in the Beneficiary Reference field (or equivalent) of your bank: Unrestricted donations Bank name: Standard Bank Branch name: Stellenbosch Branch code: 05 06 10 Account name: Stellenbosch Trust Account number: 073002437 Restricted donations Bank name: Standard Bank Branch name: Stellenbosch Branch code: 05 06 10 Account name: Universiteit van Stellenbosch Account number: 073006955 Please send confirmation of your donation to Lorenza George +27 21 808 3090, email lcg29@sun.ac.za. Corporate Donations Corporate donations can take place via your company's corporate social investment policy, sponsorship or as a philanthropic donation (philanthropic donations have tax benefits). Our development staff will advise you on the tax implications of each strategy. Tel: +27 21 808 9262 Gift in your will You can make the university a beneficiary in your will by bequeathing cash, shares or any other form of property to Stellenbosch University. The full Rand value of charitable gifts in your will is tax deductible and can reduce your estate duty liability significantly. Making a bequest is easy - simply draw up a new will or add a codicil to an existing will. E-brochure and examples of bequests to Stellenbosch University. and examples of bequests to Stellenbosch University. To find out more please contact Hugo Steyn on +27 21 808 3615 or e-mail: hugos@sun.ac.za. Matt Cowley Tauranga City Councillor Tourism in the Bay is booming. Its in part due to lots of events happening. Its also due to an eight per cent growth of international visitors arriving in NZ from last year. Once we have attracted tourists into the Bay, we need to inform them of whats available so they want to stay longer. More tourists are becoming comfortable with searching for information and purchasing over the internet Im one of them. But we cant just rely on internet not yet anyway. The retiring baby-boomer population is currently the most lucrative tourist segment. They are becoming more tech savvy, but research shows they generally still like the personal touch when making purchasing decisions. I believe physical i-Site buildings are still relevant in the short to medium future. Tourists currently spend close to $800 million per year within the coastal Bay of Plenty region. A $1 million building is a small investment to help encourage more tourism spending. Were proposing an evolution from the original i-site on Salisbury Ave in the Mount. It was closed in 2010 due to financial constraints of the global financial crisis and the urgent need to cater to the growing cruise ship market. Did you know that more than half of cruise visitors stay in the Western Bay and have not prepaid for a tour? These tourists need help finding out whats available to them soon after they step ashore. But the two shipping containers that make up the current i-port cant handle the growth of cruise visitors. Its also five years old and needs urgent repairs. Were proposing a solution to cater to both cruise visitors and general tourists. Previous i-sites have only served one or the other. Location is critical to the i-sites success. Were also proposing to better align tourism information along the coast. This will mean tourists will get the same experience whether in the Mount, Katikati, Te Puke or Whakatane. Feel free to email me your thoughts (matt.cowley@tauranga.govt.nz), call/text me on 0276989548, and follow me at www.facebook.com/a.younger.voice Police working on the investigation into the murder of Cun Xiun Tian have today charged a woman in relation to the case. The 43-year-old woman has been charged with the following; - Accessory after the fact to burglary She will appear in the Waitakere District Court at 10am on Wednesday 10 February. Police appreciate the public interest that this development will generate, however it is now before the courts and no further details are able to be released. A 19-year-old man is due to reappear in the Auckland High Court on Wednesday 10 February at 9am. He is facing charges of murder and sexual violation. Source: New Zealand Police. Kumara pits uncovered during widening of part of Maxwells Road are estimated to be 200-400 years old, and are the first evidence of a large Maori settlement there. The discovery was made while contractors were digging to relocate a gas main as part of some road works, says Tauranga City Council communications advisor Marcel Currin. Police are preparing for a perfect storm with a massive influx of visitors and atrocious weather expected to hit the Bay of Plenty this long weekend. During Waitangi Weekend of last year there were zero road fatalities in the Bay and thats exactly how Western Bay road policing acting Senior Sergeant Trinity Milham wants to keep it this year. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Good morning Sunners, well the day isnt the greatest sun wise but dont let that stop you from having a great day. Why not head down to the Arataki Markets at Grenada St Park, just of Girven Rd, Bayfair. Its always a great place to go and check out some great deals. Marie and Jorge, with Oliver (21 months) and Esmeralda (3) in their arms, while Emmanuella (6) washes up a cup at their apartment in Malaga. :: ALVARO CABRERA The earthquake, which occurred when Marie was seven months pregnant, brought Jorge, who she married and with whom she now has a family The bed in which she was having an afternoon nap slid across the floor. Marie Vania Jerome jumped up in fright and ran towards the door. When she reached the street, her grandmothers house, a small two-roomed property made of grey concrete blocks, which was about the size of her present living room, had been completely demolished. If I hadnt woken up, I would be dead, she says, six years later and a world away from the earthquake which devastated Haiti. The epicentre was in Leogane, the town in which she lived, about 15 kilometres from Port au Prince, the capital city. Marie, orphaned as a child when her parents died suddenly from TB, found herself homeless when she was 19 years old and seven months pregnant. Her grandmother also survived the earthquake, as she had been in a cousins house when it struck. Most people in Leogane lost their homes when the earth started to shake, and the few who didnt were too scared to go back because of the successive aftershocks. Marie and her grandmother spent that night, 12 January 2010, out in the open, on waste ground on the outskirts of Leogane. All around was tragedy and destruction. I started to feel ill. A woman who was a nurse went to look for saline and medical supplies, says Marie. Three days later Emmanuella was born, outdoors in the improvised refugee camp. She was so tiny, recalls Marie, who believed that she and her daughter would both die. Nor did the doctors give her much hope of survival, because she was suffering from malnutrition. When the house collapsed, I lost everything I had bought for the baby, but the people who were in the camp with me helped me and gave me clothes, bottles... she says. Today, Emmanuella is a happy, lively child, with her hair in plaits and her mothers smile. They live in the Miraflores de los Angeles district of Malaga city. At the time of the earthquake, Jorge Arevalo, who Emmanuella calls Daddy, had just completed his second degree - he studied Political Science and Law, specialising in Child Education - and begun to work for the Fundacion Proyecto Solidario por la Infancia, an NGO which saves lives in Morocco, Peru, Bolivia and the Dominican Republic and which, years before, had also saved him. Adolfo Lacuesta, the director and founder of the association, rescued Jorge at the age of 14 from a childrens centre which he had entered as an innocent boy and then learned things he should not have had to learn. I did things Im not proud of, but Adolfo came along at just the right moment. Some of my companions at that time are in prison now, he says. A difficult childhood His childhood had not been easy, either. He grew up in a small apartment in the Arganzuela district of Madrid. It was 70 square metres in size and he shared it with his two sisters, his parents, maternal grandparents and two uncles. One day, the police came and took his father away; he had been supporting the family by working sporadically in bars or on construction sites. His mother, finding herself alone, decided to take her three children to a child protection centre, and lost contact with them. It is a period of my life that I have closed off, admits Jorge. He had few possessions but was loaded down by unpleasant life experiences as he travelled halfway around the world, working on the NGOs solidarity projects. Meanwhile, 6,859 kilometres away, in the devastated Haiti where the authorities estimated that more than 300,000 people had been killed by the earthquake, Marie - who says her boyfriend had abandoned her when she became pregnant - was suriviving as best she could with her daughter, living in a tent on the waste ground, when the initial aid arrived from Venezuela. She was given a card which gave her the right to food - provided once a week, to cook herself - and she kept it when, about a month later, she moved with her aunt, uncle and cousins to a house made from concrete blocks, with no roof, over which they put a tarpaulin to keep out the cold. When they were thrown out of there, she went back to live with her grandmother. A month later, she met Jorge. My life changed completely, admits Marie with a timid smile which lights up her face, despite the signs that she has suffered in the past. Orphanage in Leogane The foundation sent Jorge to Haiti, a country which, before the earthquake, was already considered one of the poorest in America. After the earthquake, in Leogane, a town of 200,000 inhabitants, there were 30 orphanages housing 1,000 children who had no parents or whose families couldnt look after them. In March 2011, Jorge travelled to Maries devastated town with the urgent mission to build a centre which would house 50 children who were living outdoors. They also helped other orphanages by supplying materials, medical visits and hygiene items to try to stop the epidemic of cholera which was spreading over the country. Despite having travelled a good deal, Jorge was surprised by the character of a people who were already too accustomed to living from huminitarian aid. In Haiti, he says, if your car broke down in the middle of the street and you wanted people to push it, you had to pay them. Some people thought children could be a good business opportunity. They sell them, he says - they were able to confirm this by using a hidden camera - or use them to demand money. We were also able to remove some girls who were the victims of abuse. He still remembers the day he saw Marie for the first time. As does she. She went to eat with mutual friends in the house where the NGO workers were living and working. Her hair was short then, says Jorge. That was the first thing that attracted me to her. They later bumped into each other at a restaurant and then, finally, a disco. That was the definitive moment. Maries friend had gone off without her, leaving her with no way of getting home. She asked Jorge for help, although I didnt trust men much. That night they slept together although, they both stress, nothing happened. After that, they began to go out and to live together, both at the same time. Marie moved into Jorges room and he realised that she was different, a slim girl, affectionate and sensitive, although she used to shout a bit, he says. He insists he always knew he would never marry a Spanish girl, or even a European one, because he had never met one he liked enough. The girls I met were concerned with completely different things to me. They wanted a car, an apartment, nice things... I had never met anyone who shared my view of life, he says. But Marie did. The mission lasted for 18 months but, for many reasons, Jorge extended his stay. On 1 September 2012, Jorge and Marie were married in Haiti. The witnesses were a native mission worker and one of her cousins, and the guests were all the children from the orphanage and Jorges work colleagues. The wedding took place at the centre they had built. In the photos, Marie is obviously very pregnant. Eighteen days later Esmeralda, the couples daughter, was born. On 6 May 2013, Marie stepped foot in Spain for the first time after a stopover in the Dominican Republic. The couple spent a few days in Madrid, where Marie met Adolfo, her father-in-law, and one of his sisters. She loved this country from the start. When Jorge was offered work in Malaga as the head of the NGOs Child Participation section, they set up home in a small apartment in Miraflores. Marie didnt find it hard to adapt. I love the beach, paella, sardines cooked on canes - and chocolate with churros! she exclaims. The following year, on 15 March 2014, Oliver was born. He clings to his mothers legs as she recalls her past. If I have the money one day, I would like to go back to Haiti to help the street children, so they have education, a hospital, food, a roof... simply, the opportunity that life has given me, so they dont suffer the way I did when I was little. Marie says things in her country are more or less the same. The humanitarian aid has reduced, but the problems of infrastructure, education and health remain. In Syria, people flee from the war. In Haiti, from misery, she says. I dont feel that I rescued Marie and Emanuella. We just met. There are things you cant understand if you havent experienced them. There was an empathy between us, says Jorge. Actually, listening to the story of this couple, it is hard to know who saved whom. The ambassador has told expats eligible to vote to make sure they are registered, while the campaign to abolish the 15-year rule picks up steam Simon Manley launches the campaign in Javea, Alicante. :: SUR The ambassador has told expats eligible to vote to make sure they are registered, while the campaign to abolish the 15-year rule picks up steam This week saw Simon Manley, the British Ambassador in Madrid, launch a campaign to increase awareness among British expats resident in Spain about their eligibility to vote in the forthcoming UK referendum on EU membership. Manleys Spanish campaign backs a global initiative, run by the UKs Electoral Commission, to encourage Britons living abroad to vote in the referendum, which may be held as early as June this year. At the launch of the campaign in Alicante on Monday Manley told representatives of the expat community in Spain that interest among expats in the EU referendum is high, but awareness that you may be able to vote is low. We want as many expats as possible to be aware that they can have their say. Of the 283,000 Britons registered as resident in Spain, just 11,000 are currently registered to vote in the UK. In total, around two million Britons currently reside abroad in EU countries. According to the controversial 15 Year Rule, only those British expats who have been resident abroad for less than 15 years are eligible to vote in the upcoming referendum. And for such expats, Manley made clear that voting is a very straightforward process. All that is required is a visit to www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, with passport and National Insurance numbers to hand. Voters can choose how they wish to cast their vote - whether by post, proxy or in person. And do encourage your friends, family and colleagues to do the same, the Ambassador urged those expats present at the campaigns launch. The 15-year rule Manleys campaign now runs in parallel to a more established movement to abolish the 15-year rule - a rule which would currently disallow one million of the five million Britons living overseas from voting in the UKs EU referendum. The Votes for Life Bill, which would remove the 15-year restriction, was announced by the Queen last May, but since then nothing has happened to further its implementation. This is despite a repeated insistence by John Penrose, the UKs Minister for Constitutional Reform, that the rule is outdated; he recently reiterated to The Telegraph that it is the current British governments intention to allow Britons a vote for life wherever they are. The fact that the Votes for Life Bill has not even begun the laborious process of parliamentary approval, though, means that it is unlikely to be in place before a June referendum. Brexit fears Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General, has said that Brexit would render the two million Britons currently enjoying EU citizenship illegal immigrants overnight. Although many have claimed that Grieves statement is an exaggeration, a UK withdrawal from the EU could at least cause complications City of Arts and Sciences. ::SUR A taste of Valencia STAY: Palau de la Mar Elegant and serene boutique property in the centre of the city. Close to posh boutiques, adjacent to the impressive riverbed gardens of Turia, and within walking distance to the striking City of Arts and Sciences. Rooms are upscale, as to be expected from Hospes; whilst its acclaimed Ampar Restaurant serves tempting Mediterranean dishes. Theres a spa with small pool too. Hotel Balneario Las Arenas Valencia is of course a Mediterranean city and one famous for sailing. So if you love the sea, the beach and all things nautical then this could be the location for you. Built for the Americas Cup Yacht Race, this large spa hotel offers stylish accommodation overlooking La Malvarrosa beach and close to the Marina Real Juan Carlos I. Try to book a sea view room, as these have large balconies. The spa is very well equipped with hydrotherapy circuit, treatment rooms and there are indoor and outdoor pools. Bear in mind that its a few kilometres from the city centre, so you need to get a taxi to see the main sights. The Westin Valencia If you like your city centre hotels to be grand, rather than boutique, then The Westin could be for you. This classic, period building offers up-to-date accommodation, with resort style spa, pool and gym. Restaurants open out onto the hotels central garden. For something elegant and different, try its Komori Japanese restaurant. EAT: Restaurante RiFF If you love cooking as well as eating, then UEMURA, the travel designers based in Valencia, can arrange for you to have a private lunchtime masterclass with Michelin star German chef Bernd H. Knoeller. Start with a visit to the Central Market; then head back to his RiFF restaurant with fresh ingredients and learn a few of the maestros culinary secrets; and then eat the dishes! It makes for a delectable way to spend a day in Valencia. Restaurante SeuXerea Created by Brit Steve Anderson, who has been in Valencia for many years, this smart restaurant, offering Mediterranean fusion food, is found in the citys historical Old Town area of Barrio del Carmen. The friendly English-speaking team serve exceptional food this is a definite for visitors to Valencia. Ma Khin Cafe The Mercado Colon is a bit like Valencias answer to Covent Garden. Think vintage, period market building, now home to stylish restaurants and stores. Youll find here Steve Andersons latest project, the Ma Khin Cafe. A contemporary eatery serving all-day breakfasts, tasty lunches, afternoon tea, and Spanish meriendas. DO: UEMURA For a real Insider experience of Valencia, the services of a professional international travel designer might well be worth the investment. UEMURA are a new firm, based in Valencia offering a unique perspective of the city. Maybe you want to visit a genuine Barraca historic house on the Albufera lagoon and enjoy a gourmet paella; have a private masterclass with Valencias Michelin starred mixologist Ciriaco Vicente Ausinas; or maybe a hot air balloon flight across the Valencia countryside? Well, UEMURA promise to make it happen. The Spanish Thyme Traveller Brit foreign resident Patrick Waller came to Spain is 1982. Together with his Spanish wife Julia, they created The Spanish Thyme Traveller, specialising in highly personalised, bespoke trips, experiences and holidays in Valencia. Themes encompass culture, cuisine, and activities. Learn how to make the perfect paella in Valencia; or maybe take the Borgias Tour, exploring the areas linked to this infamous Valencian family, whilst celebrating the food, culture and history of the province. The Fallas Its impossible to think about Valencia without picturing the pyrotechnics of the annual Fallas festival. During this five-day street festival, each Valencian neighbourhood creates huge and elaborate combustible designs, known as fallas, which are filled with fire crackers and set alight yes its a noisy, smoky and unique festival of parades, costumes, fireworks and fun! This year it is from 15 to 19 March. Old Town & Valencia Cathedral Valencias old town is really worth exploring. Dating back to Roman times, the architecture and sights are impressive. Visit the Silk Exchange building (Lonja de la Seda) and look out for the cheeky, bawdy gargoyles! The cathedral quarter is beautiful; and its Basilica is said to be home to the Holy Grail. City of Arts & Sciences Of course no visit to Valencia would be complete without taking in the marvellous Calatrava-designed complex that celebrates the arts and sciences. Find here a Science Museum with Science on Stage interactive performances (recommended); one of Europes best aquariums, the El Oceanografic, (which re-opens on 12 February with enhanced facilities); an opera house; Imax cinema; and a submarine restaurant that feels like it is under the sea. The Central Market Experiencing destinations through local markets is the on-trend way to get an insider feel of a city. Valencias Mercado Central, a striking modernist building opened by Spains King Alfonso XIII in 1928, offers each morning a visual feast of fresh produce from over 400 local traders. Dont just look and photograph; try to spend some money in the market too if you are not tempted by the food, then there are bars and coffee shops in the main building too. Privacy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Ten-year-old Chancellor Gary of Stuart barely made it through the fifth week of "Child Genius: The Battle of the Brightest." The reality show, developed with the cooperation of American Mensa, pits children, ages 9 to 12, against each other in academic challenges for a $100,000 prize. Each week the contestant with the lowest overall score is eliminated. In Thursday's episode, the young contestants competed in rounds of literature and fine arts and vocabulary. At the halfway mark of the 10-week competition, half of the kids scored a perfect score. Chancellor's scores of eight out of 10 and seven out of 10 put the Stuart boy scout in the bottom of the pack for the third consecutive week. Chancellor is the grandson of Stuart attorney, Willie Gary, who made his first appearance on the show with several other family members. Known for defeating corporate giants in the courtroom, Gary could be seen hugging and high-fiving his grandson between rounds. The seven remaining gifted children will compete in week six of "Child Genius: The Battle of the Brightest," which airs at 10 p.m. Thursday on Lifetime. When Jim Oppenborn started placing mesh bags of oyster shells along the Indian River Lagoon shoreline at downtown Fort Pierce a year ago, a surprising thing happened. Sea grasses quickly grew up around the miniature artificial reefs. "They weren't there when we first got permitted," said Oppenborn, St. Lucie County's coastal resources supervisor. "We had to modify the permit to continue the work." Far from a problem, though, the appearance of the sea grasses was a rare but not unheard-of extra benefit of Oppenborn's effort to propagate oyster beds in the intertidal lagoon waters. "It's a great thing," he said. "Both oysters and sea grasses are very good for water quality. The sea grasses are essential fish habitat. And filter-feeding oysters help to clarify the lagoon." THEORIES No one knows exactly why sea grasses may spring up around man-made oyster beds, according to Oppenborn and Vincent Encomio, Florida Oceanographic Society's scientific research director. "It doesn't happen everywhere and we don't know when we build an oyster reef if it will happen," said Encomio, who has led volunteers on similar projects. "But it has happened in the past," particularly at the society's oyster beds placed around an Indian River Lagoon spoil island seven years ago. The best guess to explain the welcome side effect, both scientists said, is that the piles of shells donated by seafood restaurants create virtual baffle boxes. Although only 6 inches to a foot tall, they can block waves and currents and allow sediments bearing the makings of sea grass to drop out and take root in the lagoon floor. Oppenborn also said Fort Pierce's newly built breakwater islands may have been a factor too. WORK CONTINUES Working separately, Oppenborn and Encomio plan to continue building little oyster reefs in the lagoon and St. Lucie River. Oppenborn had placed more than 3,800 square feet of oyster beds when the sea grasses and a foot injury halted his progress. With the help of volunteers, he hopes to resume the project soon with another 3,000-plus square feet about 7 feet further out in the lagoon than originally planned. Encomio said his project will start again in the spring as oyster reproduction ramps up. A large bed placed in the lagoon near Indian RiverSide Park at Jensen Beach last year is already showing "good oyster recruitment," he said. Those oysters are in jeopardy, however, from recent heavy rains that resulted in a deluge of stormwater runoff and Lake Okeechobee discharges. None of the four bills U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson filed since 2012 to expedite projects caught in red tape to clean the Everglades and St. Lucie River has progressed in Congress. And it's not looking good for a fifth bill he filed Feb. 2, three days after Lake Okeechobee discharges started. The Florida Democrat's bill filed with bipartisan House sponsors would authorize a dozen projects estimated to curb discharges by about 14 percent. The odds are stacked against them: Only 3 percent of bills became law during Congress' last full legislative period from 2013 to 2015. That's 296 bills for 435 House members and 100 senators, according to data compiled by the website GovTrack. Getting any bill passed in a gridlocked Congress is hard, but even harder for a bill that affects only one region of a state, making it a low priority for other lawmakers on Capitol Hill, said Julie Hill-Gabriel, director of Everglades policy at Audubon Florida. The start of discharges, however, could draw enough attention for the bill to become law this time, she said. "I think there's just a lack of work product from Congress in general in recent years," Hill-Gabriel said. "I don't think it says anything against this particular piece of legislation." NOT ALL IS LOST There's still a chance Congress will pass a comprehensive bill that authorizes billions for water and maritime infrastructure projects across the country, including the Everglades. The House and Senate already started gathering a list of projects that qualify and plan to consider it this year. Congress is supposed to pass the Water Resource Development Act every two years, but it took seven years to pass the last one in 2014. That's why Nelson and other lawmakers, in the meantime, introduced bills to approve Everglades projects pending the congressional green-light, including the Central Everglades Planning Project. CEPP, designed to move Lake Okeechobee water south, didn't make it into the 2014 WRDA bill because the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hadn't finished a report to approve it. Nelson, Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Reps. Bill Posey and Patrick Murphy filed a joint bill last year to authorize CEPP. The corps finished its report, but Congress still hasn't heard that bill. It has until the end of this year. With the prospect that CEPP could get approved this year through WRDA anyway, Nelson filed his latest bill to expedite any projects the corps approves within the next five years to restore the Everglades and before another WRDA bill is passed. He also will push to include the language from this bill in the WRDA bill, his office said. Projects still pending corps approval, which won't make it into this year's potential WRDA bill, include the Loxahatchee River, C-111 Canal and Biscayne Bay in Miami, Hill-Gabriel said. HELP FROM SCOTT Republican Gov. Rick Scott could provide a boost by lobbying Congress members on behalf of Nelson's most recent bill, said Frank Jackalone, Florida staff director of the Sierra Club. Scott called out President Barack Obama last year to catch up on what Florida has spent on restoration. Scott's environmental platform has been to finish a multitude of projects to clean the Everglades and the St. Lucie River before considering other options to move Lake Okeechobee water south, such as buying additional land to build reservoirs. "The governor of a state has sway with the Republican leadership of Congress," Jackalone said. "This opportunity shows (Scott) is going to put muscle behind his word." Yet Scott is considering running for Nelson's Senate seat in 2018, so supporting a bill by the Democrat could go against Scott's political aspirations. The bill has a Republican sponsor in the House, Miami Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who filed it with Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Delray Beach. "He doesn't have to stand next to Nelson," Jackalone said. "He can stand next to Diaz-Balart." TALLAHASSEE For six years, a Treasure Coast lawmaker has tried, but failed, to expand renewable energy use in Florida. Sen. Thad Altman is trying again this legislative session, even though he knows his efforts probably are doomed. The Rockledge Republican, who represents part of Indian River County, filed a bill that would end a utility companies monopoly that allows only them to sell energy. He wants to help more homeowners and businesses not only use renewable energy such as solar and wind, but sell the excess power they generate by opening the market to competition. "I sponsored a lot of renewable energy bills that have pretty much gone down in flames, no pun intended," Altman said. AFFORDABLE POWER Altman's bill is similar to Floridians for Solar Choice's proposed constitutional amendment. (Scroll down to see what each would do.) Both would make solar energy more affordable because homeowners and businesses could contract with companies to install solar panels at no or low upfront costs and buy energy directly from them instead of utilities. Today, it can cost up to $20,000 to install a solar system, yet Floridians can produce solar energy only for their own use. It takes about eight years to recoup their investment through energy savings, said Doug Coward, a former St. Lucie County commissioner and current executive director of the Solar and Energy Loan Fund, a nonprofit that helps homeowners finance renewable energy alternatives. LACKS INCENTIVE A drawback to both measures, however, is they don't require municipal utilities to credit power-generators the same amount as they charge, as the federal government recommends, said Fort Pierce resident William McNeely, who has the first hybrid home in St. Lucie County, with 22 solar panels and a wind-powered generator. The Fort Pierce Utilities Authority for example, charges its customers 10 cents for electricity for the first 750 kilowatts per hour used, but credits power-generators only 6 cents. That's because the utility gives credits at the wholesale price it pays to get power through the Florida Municipal Power Agency. If the city gave credits at its retail value, non-solar customers would have to foot the difference, said FPUA Chairman Michael Perri. Investor-owned utilities, such as Florida Power & Light Co., give credits equivalent to the full retail value customers pay. That inequality undermines solar efforts, McNeely said. "Who would want to (use solar) if they don't get full credits for their extra energy?" he said. UNFAIR COMPETITION Floridians for Solar Choice's efforts prompted an utility-backed group called Consumers for Smart Solar to draft an opposing constitutional amendment that maintains the industry's monopoly. Critics say the group's name is deceptive and meant to confuse voters. (Scroll down to see what it would do.) Utilities say Floridians for Solar Choice's amendment is unfair because it: Exempts out-of-state solar companies from regulations to which utility companies are subject; and Would increase rates for non-solar customers because solar companies would sell excess power back to the grid, but wouldn't pay to maintain it. Altman's bill addresses part of that issue by allowing utilities to impose a maintenance fee, as long as it is imposed on non-solar customers as well. FREE MARKET It just makes sense for the Republican-controlled Legislature to open the solar market for competition, Altman said. "We want entrepreneurship," he said. But pro-solar activists say the influential utility industry pressures lawmakers not to enact reforms. FPL and the three other largest electric utility companies in Florida gave more than $18 million to state-level candidates, political parties and committees from 2004 to 2012, according to an analysis by government watchdog group Integrity Florida. FPL is one of the top contributors to the political committee controlled by Republican Senate President-elect Joe Negron of Stuart. Altman said he understands utilities want to protect their market share, and that change will come slowly. "It's a change in paradigm, a change in the way of thinking," Altman said. "And it's going to take some time but eventually it will happen." Graphic by Dacia Johnson/Treasure Coast Newspapers STUART Judy Mollon lost her husband to dementia in August. He was 83 years, 10 months and 3 days old. An age Judy can throw out without hesitation. She remembers the pain of losing her husband, but she also remembers the joy of their love story. Judy wasn't looking for love when she found her soul mate. She was divorced and dating someone new when she met Stewart Mollon on March 26, 1975. But that didn't deter Stewart from pursuing her. He asked her the first day they met if she would give him Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. She said yes. Stewart, known as Stu, was still finalizing his divorce, but he knew at first sight Judy was the one for him. Though the two had a non-traditional start to their fairytale, they lived quite the love story. 'I always felt unconditionally loved,' Judy said. On Dec. 5, 1975, less than 9-months after they met, the two were married at St. Paul Methodist Church in Michigan in front of 50 of their closest friends and family, including their three sons from their previous marriages. Judy was 36 and Stu was 44. For their honeymoon, the couple went to Niagara Falls, a three-day trip Judy remembers vividly. 'It was like a fairytale,' she said. 'The mist at the falls freezes in the winter, and it is beautiful.' After the wedding, the couple stayed at Judy's house for six months while they built their dream house together their first of many adventures as a couple. After Stu's retirement, the couple moved down to Stuart. Stu got the nickname Stu from Stuart and the couple began to travel the world. They went on a 31-day cruise from Athens to Singapore, traveled throughout South America and visited Kenya and Hawaii. 'We had a great life,' Judy said. In 2010, Stu went into the hospital for knee replacement surgery. After the surgery, Judy noticed changes. At first, he was treated for depression, but in September 2013 he was diagnosed with dementia. Judy said their strong faith and love is what helped them through the process. The doctors tried different medicines for dementia but it made Stu worse. Judy immediately researched everything she could. She and Stu started going to the early stage support group in Port St. Lucie hosted by the Alzheimer's Association Southeast Florida Chapter, a group she said was extremely beneficial for both her and Stu. Stu's health began to deteriorate rapidly. He no longer knew who Judy was and began to get agitated when she would visit. He was in Hospice care for three days before his death. Judy told him at his bedside that she had done everything he asked her to do. She fulfilled her promise the Saturday after Stu's death when she sent his brain to the Brain Bank for research. Stu wanted to donate anything he could to research to help those in the future. 'He was kind, caring and enjoyed people,' Judy said. 'He would have done anything to help someone else.' To find out more about Alzheimer's and other dementias, call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 helpline at 800 272-3900. Vaio on Wednesday announced Phone Biz, a Windows 10 mobile phone. The device doesnt have a SIM, leaving users free to select their own carriers. The Phone Biz lets users easily access corporate apps, Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Exchange, as well as the Azure cloud, according to Vaio. The OS is synced with the latest version of Windows 10. Users can manage settings from the same Microsoft account as their PCs. The Phone Biz incorporates Microsofts Continuum feature, which lets users connect phones to TVs or monitors, if they want to work on a larger screen. The Phone Biz supports single sign-on and connection speeds of up to 225 Mbps. The position and size of tiles are customizable, and the phone comes with the Cortana digital assistant. The phone can use encryption or a virtual private network. It includes built-in GPS and supports remote data erase and remote locking. Admins can change users access to apps and data remotely. The Phone Biz will be available on NTT DoCoMos network. It reportedly will begin selling in Japan in April for about US$430. More About the Phone Biz The Phone Biz has an aluminum body and a full high-definition tempered glass screen. It has a microUSB 2.0 port, said Vaio. Four versions will be available. Two use eight-core 1.5-GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processors. One of them has a 5.5-inch 10801920 screen and the other a 5-inch 7201280 screen. The other two are 5-inch devices with 7201280 screens. One has a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and the other a 1.1 GHz quad-core processor. RAM ranges from 1 GB to 3 GB, and internal storage from 8 GB to 16 GB. Rear cameras are 8 MP or 13 MP, depending on the model, and front cameras range from 1 to 5 MP. None of the features is particularly outstanding, said Mike Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan. However, the Continuum capability that allows the phone to serve as a platform or CPU for a desktop makes the Vaio phone better suited for business use than personal use, he told TechNewsWorld. With Sony, its all about design, so this phone is incredibly good-looking, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. Sony has a minority stake in Vaio, which it spun off in 2014. Alternative platforms often work far better in Asia than they do in the U.S., Enderle told TechNewsWorld. The Asia-Pacific region as a whole is more accepting of diversity, making it a far better geography to launch a phone like this. Fighting an Uphill Battle Worldwide smartphone shipments hit a record in Q4 2015, totaling nearly 400 million units, IDC reported. That is nearly 6 percent higher than the same quarter in 2014. As a whole, 2015 was a record year for phone shipments. However, the Windows Phone OS share of the market has been hovering around 2 percent since March, according toNetmarketshare. That hasnt deterred Microsoft, which last fall announced that several Japanese companies would be making Windows 10 phones. That said, Windows Phone never really caught on that much, because its highly dependent on a very good network connection, said Frosts Jude. With active tiles, you need a reliable data connection and, if youre roaming, that might be hard to come by. The current push in Japan indicates Microsoft is fighting for a beachhead and have found Asia a far better geography to get one, Enderle said. Microsoft isnt giving up on mobile as theSwiftKey purchase clearly showcases, he noted. Its looking for a geography to take back and use as a springboard to once again become relevant in this space. Apple has hired a team of hundreds of workers as part of a plan to develop a new set of virtual reality headsets, the Financial Times reported last week. The report came on the heels of Oculus VR finally taking preorders on its Rift virtual reality system, which it began offering for US$599 as of Jan. 6. The Rift is scheduled to begin shipping on March 28. Apple has poached a number of experts in the field from other companies, including Microsoft and Lytro, according to the FT report. Lytro last fall launched Lytro Immerge, which it billed as the worlds first professional light field solution for cinematic virtual reality. Assembling a Team Apple reportedly acquired Flyby Media, a firm that specializes in augmented reality and has developed a technology that lets mobile phones see the world around them, according to the FT. Flyby was one of the early partners with Google on Project Tango, involving research that combined 3D motion tracking with depth perception for mobile devices, which in theory would allow them to navigate the world in a way similar to humans. Flyby developed an app called Flyby Messenger, which allows people to leave messages on physical objects. Apple previously acquired smaller companies with expertise in the virtual and augmented reality field, including the AR firm Metaio, which it purchased last year. Apple reportedly also made a key new hire: Doug Bowman, a professor of computer science and the director of the Virginia Tech Center for Human Computer Interaction, has joined the company, according to the FT report. Great Expectations Although theres been no confirmation, there are plenty of signs that Apple is looking into both augmented reality and virtual reality products, said Kevin Krewell, principal analyst at Tirias Research. Apple likely will release a new virtual reality headset either later this year or by early 2017, Krewell said, noting that the company expressed an interest in the virtual reality sector in the past, prior to CEO Tim Cook making comments on the subject during last weeks Q1 conference call. In terms of virtual reality, no, I dont think its a niche, Cook said during the call. Its really cool and has some interesting applications. Apple could decide to create an iPhone headset similar to the Samsung Gear VR headset, which would not take long to develop, Krewell said. Samsung, in collaboration with Oculus, in 2014announced the Samsung Gear VR Innovator Edition, a gaming headset optimized for use with the Galaxy Note 4. The company followed the Gear VR Innovator with the 2015 release of a consumer version of the headset, which was optimized for a larger set of phones, including the Galaxy Note 5 and the Galaxy S6 series. A more powerful VR headset, in the realm of the Oculus Rift, would take a bit longer to develop, Krewell said. Apple needs to look for new market categories to conquer, suggested analyst Jeff Kagan. iPhone growth is slowing, so they need to create some new growth sectors. Thats Apples challenge today, he said. Apple throws ideas against the wall on a regular basis, Kagan told the E-Commerce Times. Only those ideas that stick does Apple start to build. Then, like we have seen with many other Apple ideas, it could be years before anything hits the marketplace. New Delhi, India, February 04, 2016: According to AIIM, most organizations are still fighting an everyday battle with paper that clogs up offices and slows down business processes. Its a widely recognized problem: 68 percent of AIIM members agree that business-at-the-speed-of-paper will be unacceptable in just a few years time. Businesses can now accelerate transactions involving paper documents faster than ever before with web-based technologies like the newest line of desktop scanners from Kodak Alaris, which enable more efficient document capture at the point of transaction. The 40 page-per-minute Kodak i1190 and i1190E Scanners deliver superior speed and data capture accuracy for multiple document types, making it an excellent solution for loan origination, case management, HR onboarding, accounts payable/receivable, and records management, among other applications. The i1190 Series is designed to process paperwork faster and closer to the point of intake to initiate or complete a business transaction, ultimately improving the speed at which decisions are made and responsiveness to customers. The Kodak i1190 and i1190E Scanners include: Increased capacity the input tray now holds up to 75 sheets allowing users to load up more customer transactions in one shot Barcode reading, enabling metadata capture directly into business applications without the processing load on the application software A card holder for drivers licenses, insurance cards and other small items, which helps users stay organized while scanning multiple document types Intelligent Document Protection (IDP), to avoid potential damage to critical customer documents caused by staples, paper clips or other blockages. In addition, the i1190E Scanner offers onboard Perfect Page technology, which eliminates the need to install image enhancement software on the connected PC. This reduction in processing overhead allows IT departments to consider PCs with lower processing power, which are less expensive, easier to manage from a central location, and popular with users of web-based applications like the Kodak Info Input Solution. The Onondaga County (New York) Department of Social Services has deployed more than 800 Kodak i1150 Scanners, the companion model of the i1190 Scanners. Onondaga County had been managing its records in hard copy format, storing tens of thousands of documents on two floors of a warehouse. After evaluating the time and money sunk into this process, the department invested in scanning technology from Kodak Alaris and created a browser-based digital workflow. Employees can now scan thousands of documents each day and electronically index and file images in a digital repository. By transitioning to a truly digital workflow, Onondaga County has made the task of retrieving documents easier, more efficient and cost effective. Businesses continue to look for ways to increase efficiency, and sometimes dont realize it can start with a simple step like creating a faster and easier way to intake hard copy documents, said Susheel John, Category Director, Distributed Capture for Kodak Alaris Information Management division. With the i1190 Series, enterprises, small businesses and government agencies can eliminate timely manual tasks and increase the speed of business, taking advantage of Web-friendly scanning technologies that make the most of cloud capture platforms. The US list price for the Kodak i1190 Scanner is $795. The i1190E Scanner has a list price of $895. Technuter.com News Service Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution that in 2013 tried to crowdfund a $32 million smartphone that could double as a PC, is back to its old tricks. The UK-based firm has announced its first-ever tablet and like its Ubuntu Edge smartphone, this new slate can also serve as a computer when peripherals are connected. Described as the first fully converged Ubuntu device, the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition tablet is simply an Aquaris M10 from Spanish manufacturer BQ. Nevertheless, it packs a 10.1-inch FHD display that's powered by a quad-core MediaTek MT8163A processor clocked at 1.5GHz alongside 2GB of RAM and 16GB of local storage (11GB of which is usable). The slate includes a microSD card slot for expansion, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, an FM radio, an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with autofocus and dual LED flash, front-mounted speakers, a micro-HDMI port and a spacious 7,280mAh battery. Hardware-wise, it's nothing to get excited about. No, the real star of the show here is the software as the Aquaris M10 can be used as a standard tablet or as a full-fledged computer when a monitor is connected. During a brief hands-on, The Verge said the transition between mobile and desktop mode was snappy but the OS didn't seem all that lively. The publication suggested this could be a result of a simple lack of processing power. Canonical says the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition tablet will go on sale during the second quarter. No official word yet on how much it'll cost although rumors suggest it'll be around 250 ($280). Back in late 2014, Nintendo's then-president Satoru Iwata revealed that the company would be releasing a sleep and fatigue monitoring device as part of its 'Quality of Life' program announced earlier that year. However, a report in 2015 suggested that the entire QOL initiative had become a low priority for the company, and now it's been confirmed that the sleep-tracking device has been put on hold indefinitely. Nintendo had said that it planned to have the device in stores by the early part of 2016, but president Tatsumi Kimishima told investors at a Q&A briefing that the project was "off the table." "In regards to the Quality of Life [device], which was not mentioned in any of today's questions, we do not have the conviction that the sleep-and-fatigue-themed [device] can enter the phase of actually becoming a product," Kimishima said in remarks translated by Wired. The device was to be created in partnership with US company ResMed, a specialist manufacturer of sleep disorder products. The hand-sized device would have sat on a bedside table and used microwave sensors monitor sleep data throughout the night. It would then interpret this data and offer advice on how to get a better night's sleep. The announcement doesn't mean that Nintendo has abandoned its Quality of Life program entirely. "We still believe there are things we can do in the general category of Quality of Life, and we will continue to study the possibility of expanding into this field," added Kimishima. Part of the reason behind the company's decision to put the project on permanent pause is likely because Nintendo has so much on its plate right now. After its profits took a dive last year, the Japanese firm will be looking at more lucrative areas for 2016, including the NX console, its move into mobile gaming, and perhaps an entry into the VR market. Google is expanding its Safe Browsing protection tool to block deceptive download buttons online. The Web is vast and full of useful information, but it's also full of traps and tricky websites that con unsuspecting users. Social engineering refers to the various ways in which some websites trick people into clicking on bad links or downloading things they don't intend to download. Google pledged to fend off social engineering scams with Safe Browsing, and it's now expanding the feature to combat fake download buttons as well. "You may have encountered social engineering in a deceptive download button, or an image ad that falsely claims your system is out of date," Google explains. "Today, we're expanding Safe Browsing protection to protect you from such deceptive embedded content, like social engineering ads." Safe Browsing is available for Google's Chrome browser and Android, displaying a warning screen to notify users when they're about to visit a harmful site. Google also shared the information security through a "safe browsing" application that works with Mozilla's Firefox and Apple's Safari, aiming to eliminate harmful browser software and protect as many Web users as possible. In addition to protecting users from malicious websites that attempt to con them into giving up their credentials or install malware disguised as something else, Google's Safe Browsing now goes after embedded content as well. Such embedded content scams target ads, and they're a bit tougher to combat because they're generally integrated right into the Web page. They replace legitimate content and look like they're the real deal, part of the page itself, but that's all just for show. Simply put, embedded content can take the form of ads and attempt to con users into installing updates or applications that don't really exist. One of the most common types of embedded content presents itself as a download button, oftentimes placed right beneath, or beside the real download button or link. When these fake download buttons also match the theme of the website in question, they're even harder to distinguish and they manage to trick more users. To reduce such risks, Google's Safe Browsing will now flag deceptive content and display obvious warnings regarding the malicious activities. At the same time, Google will also notify Web page owners of the embedded content found on their pages. If visitors regularly encounter such warnings on a website, Google will flag the whole website and owners will have to ensure everything is safe. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new report has claimed Samsung was planning on introducing a new 6-inch 'Pro' version of its Galaxy A9 phablet. The device just made its way to Zauba, an import/export tracking site. Samsung announced its largest smartphone to date when it launched the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega in 2013. The handset's design was inspired by the company's flagship smartphone at the time, the Galaxy S4, and its screen was a nod to the company's growing Galaxy Note series, which were rocking 5.5-inch displays at the time. The 6.3-inch display proved to be too large for consumers in 2013 but things are very different today, and phablets like Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ which feature 5.7-inch screens have been huge hits. The company is about to re-enter 'Mega' territory with the impending launch of the Galaxy A9 Pro, a new 6-inch phablet. We recently reported that Samsung was believed to be testing a possibly more premium version of it just launched 6-inch Galaxy A9 in the form of the Galaxy A9 Pro (SM-A9100). Now, a new report further confirms the phablet is getting closer to an actual official release. SamMobile discovered that the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro has made an appearance on Zauba, an import/export site. The smartphone is listed by its model number of SM-A9100, which matches the previous report. It also confirms the handset will include a 6-inch display. Since this is a 'Pro' version of the Galaxy A9, which boasts a 6-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD display, it's rumored that Samsung could ship the device with a 6-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad HD screen. The company has been using higher resolution Quad HD displays on all of its high-end, flagship handsets like the Galaxy S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+, Note 5, and its upcoming Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, which will be announced on Feb. 21 to kick off Mobile World Congress 2016. Zauba's entry lists the Samsung Galaxy A9 Pro (SM-A9100) with a price around $360, but it's very likely it will be priced higher since the device is also listed as being entered for "testing" purposes. In any case, it's always best to take reports of unannounced devices with a grain of salt for now. We'll keep you posted on any addition Galaxy A9 Pro details as they become available. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Facebook turns 12 years old and celebrates Friends Day, saying that an average pair of users on the social network now has only 3.57 degrees of separation between them. Friends Day Video As the name suggests, the event is to commemorate the importance of friendship. To leave a lasting memory, Facebook is greeting users with a personalized Friends Day video that consists of memories such as a previous birthday and other notable moments and pictures of them and their friends, ending it on a strong note with a Happy Friends Day greeting from the company itself. "When people connect, powerful things happen and lives are changed. We see this on Facebook every day, whether it's an exchange with an old friend that brings a smile to your face or a new connection that changes your life path, or even the world," Facebook says. Users can watch a preview of what the website automatically put together, and if they see something they don't like, they can edit and choose which photos to use and arrange their positions before sharing it to their friends. Degrees Of Separation Facebook mentioned that the community on the social network has doubled in size over the past five years and that the degrees of separation between two users have dwindled down from 3.74 in 2011 to 3.57 degrees. The company suggests that this is proof of how well-connected people all over the world have become for the 1.5 billion active users on the website at least. "Now, with twice as many people using the site, we've grown more interconnected, thus shortening the distance between any two people in the world," the research team of Facebook says on a blog post that also shows a user's own degrees of separation. Free Stickers To keep the good times going, Facebook also rolled out two sticker packs called Best Friends and Friendship free of charge. They can now be downloaded through the Messenger app or the Sticker Store, giving users a fun way to show the world how much their friends mean to them. More Friendship Celebrations Facebook also hosted an event at its Menlo Park headquarters, where they invited 18 members of the social network's community to tell stories of their friendships. The company highlighted one of them called GirlCrew, a Facebook group that started out in Dublin and grew to 22,000 members in over 40 cities across the world. The group is focused on helping women find and make friends, holding events and other similar occasions in its area. Facebook has come so far, and it's been a big part of many people's lives for about a decade now. It looked pretty great back then, and it still looks pretty good right now. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has even more plans in store to improve the social network, the company itself and the experience of users everywhere. With Friends Day, Facebook users have yet another happy way to celebrate with their friends, providing a gentle reminder about the importance of friendship. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple boss Tim Cook, along with other top Apple executives, held a town hall meeting with the company's employees at the Infinite Loop headquarters in Cupertino, speaking about several issues. Among the announcements and hints Cook talked about range from offering more Apple services for Android, Apple Watch sales, future iPad growth and more. Citing its sources in attendance at the event, 9to5Mac reports that the chief executive brought up porting more Apple services to Google's Android. Reportedly, Cook said that the company is using Apple Music on Android as a strategy for testing the waters of boosting its services via new platforms, hence, paving the way to launching more cross-platform services down the road. Speculation is rife suggesting that the Cupertino-based company could be bringing iTunes music, book and video sales to Android, plus its rumored streaming TV offering. The chief executive also underscored that he is particularly bullish on the iPad line. He went on to say that he is expecting that the sales revenue growth of iPad will return before this year ends. There is no denying that sales for Apple's iPad have been heading downward for quite a few quarters. Perhaps, this is brought about by the rise in popularity of phablets in the overcrowded market, including its iPhone 6s Plus. Furthermore, upgrade cycles for the iPad is not so quick as opposed to smartphones. The company's iPad Air 3 is believed to come out this spring, along with the highly purported 4-inch iPhone 5se plus new versions of Apple's smart timepiece. The third-generation iPad Air will allegedly come packed with a stunning 4K display, 4 GB of RAM and a humongous battery. This could help reinvigorate iPad sales. Furthermore, Cook also covered other essential matters, confirming that some of the employees must already be stepping into its Campus 2 before January 2017 ends. With regard to employees' benefits, Apple has boosted its paternity and maternity benefits must be available in other company's operating countries outside the United States. Plus, should its employees need to take care of sick family members, they are now entitled for up to four weeks of paid leave. The CEO also noted that Apple Watch is among its "hottest" holiday presents. Cook said that sales of its Apple Watch surpassed those of the original iPhone during its first holiday quarter way back 2007. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Writer-director Burr Steers' film adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith's quirk book classic "Pride + Prejudice + Zombies" was released in cinemas on Feb. 5 to mixed reviews. But that's not really surprising since, despite the success of the book, the story is still a diluted version of a literary classic, and an Austen classic, no less. The film adaptation has been in the works for a long time, with its announcement made in 2009, the same year the parody novel was released. Yet, after several changes to the production team and the cast, the project only truly began in the middle of 2014. The plot is just as the title suggests: Jane Austen's classic "Pride and Prejudice," but with the characters prepared to battle the hordes of zombies that arose due to The Black Plague thrown in. "It has to be said that the first two-thirds of Steers' film has stretches that aren't too bad. That's because it is a fairly standard, albeit cheapo version of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," Jordan Hoffman says. "[T]he third act, which splits into an original story for long sequences, is a bore." The actors pretty much did an excellent job with their respective characters, but considering the fact that two genres were meshed to appeal to a wider audience, much of the story has become a free-for-all bait that does not fully satisfy any specific audience. "The problem is that the movie offers just enough to tantalize both fan groups - the Austenites and the horror fans - but not enough to fully satisfy either," Sean Means says. Also, if you're a member of the Jane Austen or Zombie fandom, you might agree after watching it. That's not to say the production didn't try. It is just possible that the focus slipped, and instead of getting the two genres to come to terms with each other on the big screen, Steers may have focused more on bringing as many popular and excellent actors in the film to pique the interest of the audience. "The writer-director Burr Steers came prepared for battle, if not much else, with appealing actors ... But as one zombie brain after another is pulverized ... the story's lone joke and its grinding literalness grow dull," Manohla Dargis says. Now, genre mash-ups are not too bad, but it is possible that much of the negativity comes from the major chunk that belongs to Jane Austen and her much beloved novel. It is only one thing to imagine an alternative history of someone's life, since not everyone's lives are fully documented - except, perhaps, those who are addicted to selfies and social media. Grahame-Smith's "Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter" made for a good alternative universe fan fiction of the president's life. However, it is another to take an established classic from the Literary Canon and add so much chaos in it, turn it into a film and make the characters deviate from how they were constructed. "In truth, though, 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' isn't about finding space between two entities but about a perceived need to make boring old Jane Austen palatable to geek culture. ... [N]ot enough has been preserved from Austen's book to give it any presence," Scott Tobias says. "The only true zombie metaphor here is the impulse to turn everything into fodder for teenage boys," he concludes. Whether you agree or not is up to you, but we have to agree with Tobias that, perhaps, not all those leg shots were necessary to show that the Bennet sisters were capable fighters. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. There is a disease currently destroying bee populations around the world. New study found that the disease is manmade and is being driven by the honeybee populations in Europe called the Apis mellifera. The dreaded Deformed Wing Virus is destroying bee hives around the world. Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley and University of Exeter discovered that the European honeybee Apis mellifera is the source of the devastating bee disease. Furthermore, the spread is manmade and it's due to the transport and sales of bees for crop pollination. Separately, the honeybee Apis mellifera is not deadly to the bee populations. The deadly combination comes when the Varroa mite becomes the disease-carrier. The mite eats the bee larvae then the Deformed Wing Virus casts the finishing, deadly blow. The combination has resulted in major wipe outs of millions of honeybee populations in the past few decades. The situation is casting doubts on global bee populations in the future. The global bee pandemic carries major biodiversity and biosecurity impacts, which can affect human health and worldwide economies. "This is the first study to conclude that Europe is the backbone of the global spread of the bee killing combination of Deformed Wing Virus and Varroa," said study lead author Dr. Lena Wilfert from the University of Exeter's Centre for Ecology and Conservation. Wilfert added that if the disease was a naturally occurring phenomenon, it is expected that it will be transmitted largely among nearby countries. The findings support the theory that manmade transport of bees is to blame for the widespread transmission of the disease. The researchers suggested that firmer limitations on bee transportation should be maintained regardless if they are believed to be carrying the Varroa mites or not. Beekeepers across all levels should take measures to control the Varroa mites in the bee hives. The viral bee disease can also affect other pollinators. "The consequences can be devastating, both for domestic animals and for wildlife. The risk of introducing viruses or other pathogens is just one of many potential dangers," said University of Sheffield's Evolutionary Biology Professor Roger Butlin. The University of Sheffield made contributions to the study. The research was published in the journal Science. Photo: Paul Rollings | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amgen Inc, an American multinational biopharmaceutical company, is the world's biggest independent biotechnology firm. The firm created a new online platform that aims to unveil usually hidden results in biomedicine such as failed efforts to confirm other groups' published papers. Based in Thousand Oaks, California, the company hopes that the move will encourage other firms in the industry and even in the academe to shed light in their own replication attempts. This will contribute in the scientific community to help laboratories who are having trouble verifying results of studies. The Preclinical Reproducibility and Robustness Channel, an online database of journals, is hosted by F1000Research and it's designed to replicate and test experiments which are found difficult by academic researchers. This will allow companies and academic researchers to share replications to others so it will prevent them from wasting time and effort on following up flawed findings. When researchers verify others results, science advances faster especially that experts would not waste time pursuing false leads. Of course, all research studies are not considered final or concluded and they need further confirmations. Others, however, do not stand up to further study. The idea of establishing an online source of failed researches by the biotech company emerged from a meeting on improving scientific integrity in 2015 during the U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Amgen's research discovery leader, Alexander Sasha Kamb, discussed on how the company's scientists tried and failed to reproduce academic studies. The process also took so much time and effort in publishing the findings though traditional methods. Bruce Alberts, a well-known biochemist, recommended using an open-source publishing platform wherein it would be easier to submit studies. The channel will publish both data and methods from replication attempts. "I do think it's proper to show data and let people decide for themselves, and that's the plan here," Kamb said. He added that putting contradictory data in the platform will aid authors in clarifying discrepancies. The channel will give credit to the efforts of researchers conducting confirmatory experiments and provide a place for original researchers of the specific study to discuss reasons for different outcomes. The problem regarding reproducible researches emerged in Amgen when its researchers made headlines in 2012 when they announced that they were not able to reproduce the findings of 47 out of 53 researchers on cancer. "We believe that interested scientists can look at our methods and results and draw their own conclusions," Kamb added. Amgen researchers hope that the platform will draw attention from the scientific community to provide a way to hold collaborative works. They also hope other biomedical firms to follow suit. Photo: Joe Hall | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With all the new characters to introduce and 30 years of backstory to compress, it's no wonder that Star Wars: The Force Awakens felt like it was rushed for many fans, and others still can't help but point out some plot holes that they hope the new expanded universe or the upcoming films will address. Why was the former Princess, and now General Leia, for example, so wary of The New Republic? Wasn't it the very new power that she and the Rebel Alliance had fought hard to establish after taking down the Galatic Empire? It turns out Leia had a very good reason to have a beef with the New Republic, as will be established further in the upcoming Star Wars book Bloodline" - not to be confused with "Bloodlines" which deals with the now legend canon about the twins of Han and Leia. In "Bloodline," Leia grows frustrated at the new politicians ignoring the leftovers of the old Empire and the assassination attempts on her life in the years leading up to the establishment of The First Order and The Resistance did not help. According to Claudia Gray, author of Bloodline, Leia's role in the three-decade gap between Return of The Jedi and The Force Awakens has taken her on many ups and downs: family and motherhood not being the least of those changes. However, the new novel will focus on her relentless efforts as one of the most important women in the galaxy and how she continues to fight against oppressive forces until we meet her again in the seventh movie. In an exclusive first look at some passages from the book revealed to USA Today, the attempt to kill Leia along with a few influential senators is detailed. Spoilers for Star Wars: Bloodline below. In the novel, Leia attends a meeting with other senators on Hosnian Prime which she thinks will be just another day full of political drivel. They entered the banquet hall together, the entire group walking two by two. Leia knew the seat at the far end of the table would be hers, guest of honor as counterpart to the host. So she walked the length of the room, attentive to the senator at her side, before glancing down at the arrangements - sumptuous even by Varish's standards, with a velvet runner stretching along the table and delicate paper streamers lying across the tables, beneath elaborately folded napkins. Leia had to laugh. "Honestly, Varish. For breakfast?" In other words, Leia thought as she listened to someone cheerfully talk about his grandchildren, this is going wonderfully for everyone but me. However, the early morning meeting takes a drastic turn for the worst when the building is bombed. Leia barely escapes the assassination attempt due to an anonymous handwritten tip slipped to her telling nothing else but to "RUN!" Leia didn't stop. She kept running as hard as she could, never looking back, until . . . Brilliant light. A roar so loud it resonated in her skull. And hot air and debris slamming into her, knocking her down, rolling her over, erasing the world. Bloodline will also detail Leia's rivalry with Ransolm Casterfo, an ambitious young Senator who among other things enjoys collecting pro-Palpatine artifacts. The novel is available for pre-order on Amazon and will hit shelves on May 6. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Several studies that support the idea that babies feel pain- and perhaps to a greater extent than adults- have been published in the 30 years that passed after it was first discovered that surgeons do not administer any pain relief medication to babies that undergo invasive procedures. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) declared in 1987 that it is no longer ethical to perform surgeries on babies without administering an anesthetic but why is it that some medical practitioners still refuse to believe infants can feel and remember pain? A little over a decade ago, in 2003, a study showed that only a third of infants who undergo invasive procedures are given medicine to relieve pain. In 2014, another study showed that 60 percent of infants are still not given medications to ease their pain. A 2015 published study performed by researchers from Oxford University and funded by Wellcome Trust titled "fMRI reveals neural activity overlap between adult and infant pain" revealed that the unpopular opinion that babies don't feel pain is actually erroneous and fatally so. "[...] some people have argued that babies' brains are not developed enough for them to really 'feel' pain, any reaction being just a reflex - our study provides the first really strong evidence that this is not the case," Dr. Rebeccah Slater, lead author of the research, said. Dr. Slater belongs to the Department of Paediatrics in Oxford University. Isn't It Already 2016? Most recently, a medical practitioner who wished to remain anonymous revealed that some doctors still hold on the mistaken belief that infants don't feel pain. One doesn't even have to think too long about it to realize how distressing the situation is for the parents and, most especially, for the babies. "I've heard doctors say that they don't believe babies-especially premature babies-feel pain the same way as adults," the anonymous nurse revealed. To be fair, neonatal doctors have caught on and try to help infants manage pain but the doctors practicing invasive procedure are the ones who reject the idea. "[The] surgeons don't like it [...] They are of the opinion that the procedure doesn't hurt [...]," the nurse added. "I think these surgeons are not well informed about the nature of pain," Professor Kanwaljeet J. S. Anand from the Stanford University School of Medicine said. True, administering anesthesia and some other pain medications can be dangerous. Everyone knows that one wrong move by an anesthesiologist can render a full-grown adult paralyzed for life, but to completely dismiss the fact that infants do not feel pain since their bodies are still underdeveloped is an irresponsible stance all the same. Do Babies Really Not Remember Pain? Jolene Philo, a published author who experienced doctors refusing to administer pain medication to her baby first-hand says that the infants who went under the knife but received no anesthetics or pain relief medications tend to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as they grew up. This belief is corroborated by Dr. Louis Tinnin, a therapist at the Intensive Trauma Therapy Institute where Philo's son received treatment. Dr. Tinnin launched a blog about PTSD developed by adults who underwent surgery without an anesthetic as an infant and a screen caption of a portion has been embedded below since the domain is about to expire. As with everything, the issue can be taken on a case-by-case basis but it is undeniable that there is a need to discard outdated beliefs. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Body Mass Index (BMI), or the ratio of a person's height and weight, was originally invented as an economic tool but it eventually became a gauge for people's health. Individuals who are considered overweight or obese based on their BMI are often portrayed as unhealthy with high risks for a number of health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases. Findings of a new study, however, have found that obese and overweight Americans may be perfectly healthy in terms of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol level. Many thin individuals, on the other hand, are not healthy at all. For the study published in the International Journal of Obesity on Feb. 4, Janet Tomiyama from the University of California, Los Angeles, and colleagues looked at the link between BMI and a range of health markers, which include cholesterol, triglyceride, blood pressure and blood glucose levels and found that nearly half of Americans considered overweight, 29 percent of those who are considered obese and even 16 percent of obesity type II/III individuals are healthy. More than 30 percent of individuals with normal weight, on the other hand, were deemed cardiometabolically unhealthy. "The public is used to hearing 'obesity,' and they mistakenly see it as a death sentence," Tomiyama said. "But obesity is just a number based on BMI, and we think BMI is just a really crude and terrible indicator of someone's health." Tomiyama said that the findings reveal that individuals with high BMI could be unfairly saddled with high health insurance costs because of a flawed measure of actual health. Individuals with higher BMI could pay higher health insurance premiums once a rule proposed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is approved. The proposed rule would allow employers to charge higher insurance rates to individuals with BMI of 25 and higher. Tomiyama said that doctors do not use BMI as a measure of healthiness so the EEOC's proposed rules should not either. "Using BMI categories as the main indicator of health, an estimated 74 936 678 US adults are misclassified as cardiometabolically unhealthy or cardiometabolically healthy," Tomiyama and colleagues wrote. "Policymakers should consider the unintended consequences of relying solely on BMI, and researchers should seek to improve diagnostic tools related to weight and cardiometabolic health." 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nintendo is putting its "Quality of Life" (QOL) program on hold, as its anticipated sleep tracker is now delayed indefinitely. Tatsumi Kimishima, the CEO and president of Nintendo, talked to investors after the earnings release this week. He clarified that Nintendo will release the sleep-tracking device as soon as it becomes a polished consumer product, but it will take longer. "We do not have the conviction that the sleep-and-fatigue-themed [device] can enter the phase of actually becoming a product," Wired translated the statement. For Japanese-speaking readers, you may read the original transcript. The sleep-tracking device was announced in 2014 and was scheduled to hit the shelves in March 2016. The device was designed to detect and collect the sleep pattern of its users, alongside physical data such as temperature and pulse rate. Nintendo's CEO added that his company still has a word to say in the lifestyle and health department, and work on the QOL initiative will go on. Observant readers will find the sleep-tracker story similar to the notorious Vitality Sensor. Nintendo announced it at E3 2009, but Satoru Iwata, the late former leader of the company, pulled the plug on the gadget due to its unreliable functionality. To develop the sleep-tracking device, Nintendo teamed up with Resmet, an enterprise that has many years of venture experience in selling sleep-tracking devices. One reason for the delay might be that Nintendo simply cannot deal with more projects at the moment. The company is working hard to get back on its feet after the Wii U meltdown and the plunging sales of the 3DS. This year, the company announced it will out a few smartphone games, alongside an exciting new handheld device, codenamed NX. Earlier this year, a tidbit of information permeated hinting that the gaming gadget could support compatibility with more than one ecosystem. Whether or not the Nintendo NX will play nice with the PlayStation 4, Xbox One or PC remains to be seen, but the idea has great potential. The company also is also preparing a new online service, dubbed My Nintendo, which should replace the existing company's Club Nintendo rewards program. The new service will sport new features such as friend management, cloud data services and more. Nintendo hopes to see over 100 million users sign up for the service. As soon as we catch word of Nintendo's releases, you will be the first to know. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On DC's Legends of Tomorrow, the team recently learned that they only really work well together when they're actually together. However, they still feel uneasy about learning about Rip's earlier lies, but it seems that his betrayal of the Time Masters finally comes to a head in next week's episode. In "White Knights," Rip gets a visit from the Time Masters, who offer him a second chance. Of course, that second chance comes with strings attached: Rip must give up his mission of saving the world from Vandal Savage. It's likely Rip will tell the Time Masters to stuff it, particularly when the mission is much more important to him than his status with his people. Rip knows that he needs his misfit team of antiheroes to defeat Savage, save the world and potentially also save those people he cares about. "He's arrogant and he's cocky, but he's also a bit hurt," said Arthur Darvill, who portrays Rip on the series, to Collider. "He thinks that he can be the thing to change the world and right all the wrongs of his time, and then he realizes that he can't really. Only with everyone's help, can he do it." Here's a trailer previewing next week's episode. There's still a weird question raised by Thursday night's episode of the series, though: Sara mentioned her blood lust as a result of being dumped in the Lazarus Pit. However, in Wednesday night's episode of Arrow, we learned that Sara should no longer have that blood lust because John Constantine returned her soul intact to her body later on. This revelation came courtesy of Nyssa Al Ghul on Arrow, who explained that there was a way to fix Thea, who also has a blood lust because the pit resurrected her. Is Team Arrow wrong about Sara, then? Will Nyssa's fix also work on Sara (with a storyline that reunites the former lovers)? Actress Caity Lotz also recently confirmed that Sara still has the bloodlust on Legends of Tomorrow. "Yes," Lotz said to Den of Geek when asked about it. "It's something they carry on and deal with and I think we eventually will address and hopefully cure." DC's Legends of Tomorrow airs on The CW on Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A streetcar desired by Bill de Blasio. The New York City mayor used part of his State of the City speech Thursday night to propose a new streetcar line, which would connect Queens and Brooklyn. The streetcar route would start in Queens' busy Astoria section and end in Brooklyn's Sunset Park, stretching 16 miles, mostly along the East River. "We see the Tale of Two Cities transforming into one New York," de Blasio said as part of his speech Thursday night, as reported by Newsday. In between Astoria and Sunset Park would be stops at popular areas such as Long Island City, Williamsburg and Downtown Brooklyn. So, what would be the cost behind such a lofty ambition? Well, the New York Times reports that it would be an estimated $2.5 billion, which is actually less than the cost to start a new subway line. The Times adds that the streetcars would travel at about 12 miles per hour, spelling a commute from Greenpoint and Dumbo in Brooklyn to being an estimated 27 minutes. Although the Times says that de Blasio wouldn't need the approval of the New York state-operated Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), the project would still need to be thoroughly reviewed by the local communities involved with construction not likely to begin before 2019, with service to the public opening up some five-plus years after that. The streetcar isn't the only way de Blasio wants to improve the Big Apple, either. Thursday night's speech also had him announce intentions for drivers to pay for their metered parking spaces using their smartphones and also plans to add 2,500 extra Citi Bikes in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Volkswagen's emissions scandal is so massive that the automaker might not have a scope on the magnitude for how costly it even is. According to the New York Times, the embattled automaker announced Friday that it's delaying its annual earnings report and postponing its annual shareholders meeting over uncertainty about the cost of its emissions-cheating mess. The Times reports that the postponements indicate how arduous it is for VW to calculate the damages and prepare legitimate financial paperwork to support its costs to recall 11 million faulty diesel vehicles stemming from its emissions scandal the worst in the company's 78-year history. As of yet, it's unclear what VW postponing its annual earnings report presentation, which was scheduled for March 10, and annual shareholders meeting slated for April 21 means to the three-month deadline that the company's second-largest shareholder gave the automaker late last month to come clean about the origins of its emissions scandal. After the United States' Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) rejected VW's proposed fix for an estimated 580,000 vehicles affected in the country earlier last month, Stephan Weil had given the company up until April 21 to cough up the root of its emissions manipulation. Friday's announcement seemingly puts everything up in the air for an automaker that desperately needs to be as clear as can be at the time. "It shows that VW is very uncertain where to go from here," Ferdinand Dudenhoffer, a University of Duisburg-Essen professor, told the Times. "They don't know what to say to their shareholders." Volkswagen spokesperson Eric Felber tried to save face for the company, telling the Times that the decision to delay the announcement of the annual earnings report and shareholders meeting doesn't spell any new information about its scandal, adding that the company just needs more time to work on its total costs. At this point, VW's massive recall to make 11 million faulty diesel models compliant with emissions regulations could cost well over a projected $7 billion, and that's not even including the very likely regulatory fines from countries and lawsuits from drivers, which could add tens of billions onto its growing tab of damages. While the recall to repair affected vehicles is already underway in Europe, VW has yet to reach an agreement over a possible emissions-fix proposal in the U.S. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A United Nations human rights panel announced on Friday in Geneva that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being unlawfully detained by UK and Swedish authorities and should be freed immediately. Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy in London in 2012, where he has been residing since. Even though he voluntary went to the embassy, he has remained captive in fear that that if he leaves, he will be arrested and extradited to Sweden, where he is being accused of rape. However, he has not been charged with the crime. The Australian citizen also feared that, once in Sweden, he would then be extradited to the U.S., where he could face legal ramifications regarding the leak of classified government documents related to the Iraq War. The Geneva-based UN panel, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions, is calling on European and Swedish authorities to let Assange go after finding he has suffered from "deprivation of liberty," and that they should offer him compensation. "The United Nations deemed that Mr. Assange is arbitrarily detained in contravention of international commitments," spokeswoman for the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Anna Ekberg said in a statement. "We note that the Working Group's view differs from that of the Swedish authorities." The UK government said that it disagrees with the ruling, stating that Assange has not been under detention is a free to leave at any time. However, despite the ruling, the UK government said that Assange would still be arrested because of the arrest warrant. Assange's lawyers filed for an application for relief back in 2014, arguing that their client was prevented from exercising his right to asylum. "I consider the outcome in this case to be vindication," Assange said on Friday via a video webcast. "It is now the task of the United Kingdom and Sweden to implement the verdict." Source: The New York Times Photo: Espen Moe | Flickr 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Joe Garofoli, the San Francisco Chronicle California has its first weed czar -- otherwise known as chief of its Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation -- and it's a Republican, Lori Ajax, who is now chief deputy director of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The job -- which insiders have nicknamed the "chief BuMMR" (as in Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation) -- pays $150,636 a year. Gov. Jerry Brown's appointment Thursday of Ajax requires confirmation by the state Senate. If Ajax, 50, is approved, she will get the rare opportunity in Sacramento to create a state agency. The marijuana czar will hire 40 to 50 people, whose salary would be paid for with the stream of new cannabis licensing fees created by California's recently passed medical marijuana law. But much of the job will involve the routine of administration, such as creating information technology systems and crafting regulation policy. Cannabis activists were guardedly optimistic about the choice Thursday, noting Ajax previously handled alcohol licensing for 20 northern California counties, giving her contacts with local officials in the part of the state where 60 percent of the nation's marijuana is produced. Steve DeAngelo, owner of the Harborside Health Center in Oakland, which is California's largest medical cannabis dispensary, was "cautiously optimistic" Thursday. He was impressed that Ajax led a delegation to visit Harborside in April 2014. "For me, that's reassuring because it showed me that she has an interest in learning about the industry," DeAngelo said. "And she's a woman, which is great, because the cannabis industry needs some more diversity." Others in the business had asked Brown to appoint someone with no ties to the cannabis industry who would be able to navigate state bureaucracy. "Lori comes to us as a relative unknown, which is a good thing from our perspective," said Hezekiah Allen, executive director of the California Growers Association. "She is a very skilled bureaucrat," Allen said. "And she doesn't have a horse in the race as far as how this comes out" in terms of issuing cannabis-related licenses. "Somebody from L.A. could have a hard time understanding what it looks like in the northern counties." Sean Donahoe, a top marijuana industry consultant who knows Sacramento and has worked on political campaigns unrelated to cannabis in California, said Ajax's Republican affiliation -- a rarity in marijuana circles -- might help her in this job. "There might be greater confidence in some of the rural counties in a Republican czar," Donahoe said. Ajax has been chief deputy director at the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control since she was appointed 2014. She had previously served in several positions in the department since 1995. (c)2016 the San Francisco Chronicle After successful Plasma test, Germans now in hunt for Nuclear Fusion Building a true and fully functional nuclear reactor might have been one of the biggest struggles of the modern era but the Germans have finally managed to succeed in making this possible through a successful trial of plasma generation and stabilization test at the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator in Greifswald, Germany. According to the test results, the hot gas only managed to stabilize for a fraction of a second, but the test confirmed the functionality of many aspects of the system, which can now be pushed to the next stage. According to a senior scientist, Robert Wolf, who was working on the project, the process was a complete success. He went onto to say that a system that is as complex as this will require everything to be kept in check. Since they had to check each and everything and make sure that the test would end up being risk free, you can wonder why it took such a painfully long period. This latest experiment allowed researchers to test the multitude of magnets required, which must be cooled thoroughly during operation. According to these scientists, they were able to draw a ton of inspiration from the early problems with the Large Hadron Colliders magnet woes in their design of the system. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel was also present there and is it any wonder that she pressed the button herself in order to commence the hydrogen plasma test. Given below are the facts taken from the theoretical point of the view of the experiment: In theory, keeping a body of plasma stable for an extended period of time would allow scientists to harness nuclear fusion, which would allow for the harvesting of masses of energy without the pitfalls of traditional fuel sources. While those involved understand that this is just a minute step towards that goal, it is an important one, as fusion could theoretically replace almost all other forms of power generation. The German constructed Wendelstein 7-X stellarator has not been designed to produce its own energy, but it allows for the testing of many principles of fusion. Scientists hope that by 2025, they would have made it possible to stabilize plasma for up to 30 minutes at a time, which would pave the way for future research and development. Merkel holds holds a doctorate in physics, and is very keen for Germany to continue pushing this technology forward, since it is one of the most important technological breakthroughs that could be achieved this century. Google wishes that our smartphones can very soon see the way we humans do Google had made an announcement last week that it wants to put machine learning in mobile devices and to make it possible the search would be collaborating with the chip manufacturer Movidius. Considered as a branch of artificial intelligence, machine learning can be used to program computers in such a way that it can identify patterns in data based on previous sets of data. This is what part of Facebook uses to identify your face in photos, and allows IBMs Watson to diagnose cancer patients and come up with recipe ideas. But, in order to scan through all the data, most of these computations require strong internet connections to large servers. On the other hand, Movidiuss new chips do not need a lot of power to run. Without help from servers, they can do complex computations right on the device they are in, which may be able to bring AI to smartphones and tablets, and even robots and drones one day. In a video released by the two companies, Blaise Aguera y Arcas, Googles machine intelligence research head, said Instead of us adapting to computers and having to learn their language, computers are becoming more and more intelligent in the sense that they adapt to us. As part of the new partnership, Google will license Movidius chips, and aid the company with its technology. Google wasnt available immediately to provide information on how it hopes to use Movidiuss chips. However, there could soon be a Movidius-powered Android device that uses its camera not only to see and record, but to make sense of the world, just like humans do, considering smartphones are one of its few consumer products. The announcement has some pretty wide-ranging repercussions. Drones, at this point, are basically flying smartphones, and one of the biggest hindrances to drone-based home delivery is that they keep crashing into hurdles. Researchers worldwide as well as major companies like Amazon are working on low-power technology to enable a drone to see and react if something gets in its way. Drones may soon be able to make it to their destinations in one piece, if Movidiuss chips prove as energy-efficient as claimed. The first smartphone that could see the world was introduced by Lenovo at last months Consumer Electronics Show, which is the product of a partnership with Googles larger computer vision commercialization project, called Project Tango. This phone would be able measure exactly how big an object is by eyeballing it, or tell you exactly where something is in a supermarket by connecting to the supermarkets database. Still others are looking for ways to include this low-power computer vision tech into robots. We have hope that Google and Movidiuss association very soon make robots that can do much more than rolling into walls or vacuum the floor. 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. Grainger, Britain's biggest listed residential landlord, has sold a 94m loss-making German property portfolio as it continues to shift its focus towards the UK private rented sector. The sale to property investor Heitman comes after two other private equity firms, Electra and Patron Capital Partners, also bought the landlord's British equity release business in a 325m deal. FTSE 250-listed Grainger said this latest sale of 1,600 rented homes in Germany would reduce its overheads by 10pc once the deal completes next month. It frees up funds for Grainger to pour 850m into building and developing rental homes in Britain. Its plan to invest over the next four years begins with a 614-home 99m development in Salford, "Clippers Quay", due to be completed this year. An example of the traditional magisterial teaching which indicates that it is never morally licit to intentionally kill a child through abortion in order to save the life of its mother comes from the teaching of Pope Pius XII: Every human being, even the infant in the mother's womb, has the right to life immediately from God, not from the parent or any human society or authority. Therefore, there is no man, no human authority, no science, no medical, eugenic, social, economic or moral indication that can show or give valid juridical title for direct deliberate disposition concerning an innocent human life-which is to say, a disposition that aims at its destruction either as an end in itself or as the means of attaining another end that is perhaps in no way illicit itself. Thus, for example, to save the life of the mother is a most noble end, but the direct killing of the child as a means to this end is not licit. ITV, 9pm The period detail has always ensured this melodrama at least looks fantastic, and never more so than tonight when the department store becomes a movie set, as the pesky Dolly Sisters (Zoe Richards and Emma Hamilton) star in a silent comedy. Meanwhile, an increasingly bedraggled Selfridge (Jeremy Piven) sees his debt problems threaten to turn nasty. Watching a public execution in Iran (file photo) According to close sources, 2 Baluchi prisoners were hanged to death at Yazd Central Prison on drug related charges. The executions were reportedly carried out on Monday February 1. According to the Baloch Activists Campaign, the names of the prisoners are Khaled Kordi and Moslem Abarian. A relative of Khaled Kordi confirms to Iran Human Rights that both prisoners were under the age of 18 at the time of their arrests. Iranian authorities carried out the executions without informing the family members of the prisoners. The 2 prisoners were reportedly riding a bus to work when they were arrested by Iranian authorities for drug offenses. The relative tells IHR that he believes Khaled and Moslem were innocent and the drugs were planted on them by someone else on the bus. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Iran is a signatory of, bans death sentences for offenses committed under the age of 18. Source: Iran Human Rights, February 4, 2016 U.N. panel rebukes Iran for allowing sex, execution at 9 years old Iran must reform its laws that allows girls as young as nine to be executed for crimes or forced into sexual relations with older husbands, a United Nations watchdog said on Thursday. Iran continues to execute children and youth who committed a crime while under 18 years of age, in violation of international standards, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child said, after its 18 independent experts reviewed Iran and 13 other countries. "The age of criminal responsibility in Iran is discriminatory, it is lower and lower for girls, that is to say 9 lunar years while for boys it is 15. At 9 a girl can marry, even if the law sets the age at 13," said Hynd Ayoubi Idrissi, a panel member. 9 lunar years in the Iranian calendar is equivalent to 8 years and 9 months, a U.N. spokeswoman said. The age for boys having criminal responsibility is 15, but the age for girls at 9 is "extremely low", Idrissi said. The experts deplored that Iran "allows sexual intercourse with girls as young as 9 lunar years and that other forms of sexual abuse of even young children is not criminalised". They called for the age of sexual consent to be raised to 16. Shaqayeq, 15, has been in prison for almost a year on the charge of armed robbery from a Tehran chain store. Her death sentence has been issued and she must reach 18 so the verdict can be carried out. Read more... "The Committee is seriously concerned about the reports of increasing numbers of girls at the age of 10 years or younger who are subjected to child and forced marriages to much older men." Girls suffered discrimination in the family, in the criminal justice system, in property rights, and elsewhere, while a legal obligation for girls to be subject to male guardianship is "incompatible" Tehran's treaty obligations, the panel said. Iran made "positive progress" last year with a new Criminal Procedure Code that introduced juvenile courts, but nevertheless there were very serious concerns, the panel's chairman Benyam Mezmur told a news briefing. There were no figures for the number of executions of children or juvenile offenders, nor those imprisoned, due to secrecy surrounding the cases, he added. Source: Reuters, February 4, 2016 Related articles: The European Parliament has condemned the use of torture and the death penalty in Bahrain, demanding the release of a man sentenced to death after allegedly confessing under torture. In a resolution passed on Thursday, the body called on Bahraini ruler Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa to pardon 32-year-old airport guard Mohammed Ramadan. Ramadan was arrested on 18 February 2014 - allegedly without a warrant - on suspicion of involvement in a bombing that killed a member of the security forces 4 days earlier. Ramadan and Husain Ali Mossa, who had been arrested previously, reported that they were tortured into confessing to the crime, and later retracted their confessions and complained of having been coerced. Despite this, no investigation was launched and the pair were sentenced to death in December 2014. The case has already been highlighted by five UN human rights experts, who in August 2014 expressed their concerns over the fairness of the trial to the Bahraini government. A resolution was co-authored by Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, who called it "a strong message to our friends in Bahrain that we are confident Bahrain can move in the right direction. "Today, the Parliament firmly condemned the continuing use of torture by the security forces against prisoners and the use of Bahrain's anti-terrorism laws to punish citizens for their political beliefs." The resolution has been welcomed by Bahraini human rights organisations, who warned on Thursday that Ramadan had exhausted all legal avenues of appeal and stands at risk of imminent execution. Source: middleeasteye.net, Feb. 4, 2016 Arturo Murillo swindled the Bolivian state in 2019, when the U.S.-backed regime was trying to repress workers, farmers, and students. | Read More The 6th October Bridge in central Cairo, Egypt The grounds for the appeals court ruling are still unclear, but the new trial will be held in a criminal court. Egypt's Court of Cassation, the country's highest appeals court, on Wednesday ordered a retrial for 149 activists of the banned Muslim Brotherhood sentenced to death. The activists were handed capital sentences for allegedly storming a police station in 2013 and killing 11 policemen and 2 civilians in a mob attack, a judicial source said. The grounds for the appeals court ruling are still unclear, but the new trial will be held in a criminal court, and the defendants will have the right to appeal the verdict at the high court. The initial ruling took place in February 2015, amid a series of death sentences and mass trials that were criticized internationally, as the government cracked down on Muslim Brotherhood activists and supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. Mr. Morsi became Egypt's 1st democratically elected president after the downfall of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak in 2011 but was himself overthrown by the army in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. The overthrow of Morsi ushered in the worst domestic bloodshed in the country's modern history, according to human rights observers. The Egyptian government has long drawn criticism from Western governments and human rights organizations for cracking down on Morsi supporters. Since the Egyptian leader was ousted from power in July 2013, hundreds of Morsi's Islamist supporters have been killed, thousands jailed, and dozens sentenced to death. The United Nations has continually condemned the crackdowns and mass trials that have left thousands of Brotherhood members and supporters jailed, calling them "unprecedented in recent history." Despite the outcry from rights advocates, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi vowed to speed up the legal process to allow for quicker enforcement of death sentences last June after the assassination of Egypt's public prosecutor, Hisham Barakat. "The hand of justice is shackled by the law. We're not going to wait for this," Mr. Sisi said. "We're going to amend the law to allow us to implement justice as soon as possible." But since then, things have changed with the court overturning several death penalties, a move that has been widely welcome by many rights advocates. Last December, the same court overturned death sentences against Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie and 36 others who were accused of "setting up an '"operations room'" for the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in organized by Brotherhood supporters after the military toppled then-President Morsi, according to Al Jazeera. Mr. Badie is, however, facing other trials, and has been sentenced to death in a separate case along with Mr. Morsi for plotting prison breaks and attacks on police during the 2011 uprising. Last month, the Egyptian Justice Minister vowed to make sure that Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood members convicted to death sentence will be executed if the appeal court upholds the sentences, the Middle East Eye reported. Under Egyptian law, death sentences are referred to the mufti, the government's interpreter of Islamic law, who plays an advisory role. If he approves, convictions are still subject to a lengthy appeals process. Source: Christian Science Monitor, Feb. 4, 2016 Snapdeal, the online shopping portal in India, had signed a contract with Bollywood actor Aamir Khan who became the brand ambassador. The one-year contract was signed in February 2015 and is due for renewal this month. However, media reports mention that Snapdeal is in no mood to renew the contract with Aamir Khan. Aamir Khan was at the centre of a huge controversy after his comments on intolerance in India at an event in Delhi. His remarks on moving out of India started a debate and netizens showed their frustration by dragging Snapdeal into the issue. Snapdeal was affected by Aamir Khans personal comments on a topic which was not related to the online shopping website. Netizens started a campaign against Snapdeal with people uninstalling and asking others to uninstall the Snapdeal app. This caused the e-commerce website to be downgraded on Google Play as people started giving the app a one-star rating on the app store. Snapdeal said the actor had made the comment in his personal capacity and it was not connected or related in any ways with the online portal. There is is official confirmation on the Aamir-Snapdeal contract renewal as yet. Aamir Khan was also dropped as a mascot for Incredible India after the same controversy. Mumbai: Shares of Reliance Infrastructure(RInfra) today surged six per cent after the company sold its cement business arm to Birla Corporation for Rs 4,800 crore, a deal that will help the Anil Ambani-led Group lower its debt burden. The stock gained 5.59 per cent to Rs 432.80 on BSE. At NSE, shares of the company surged six per cent to Rs 433.65. "RInfra announced the signing of share purchase agreement with Birla Corporation Limited, the flagship company of the M P Birla Group, in relation to 100 per cent sale of its subsidiary RCCPL," the Reliance Group company said in a statement yesterday. "The deal values cement business at Rs 4,800 crore at USD 140/tonne," it said adding that the proceeds will be utilised for debt reduction. Airport Cops Caught Nayanatara It was just few days back superstar Rajinikanth name hits headlines due to a passport row. The actor was stopped by airport officials after he forgot the travel document before boarding to flight. Now its turn of Nayanatara to face the ire. Nayanatara had to spend a whole night at airport following the mismatch of her name in her travel documents. Nayan was on Malaysia for a movie shoot and on her return trip to India the Malaysian airport officials prevented her from boarding a flight to India. The actress photo and name did not match the one on the passport. Custom officials put several questions to the actress. Consequently, she had to stay back at the airport from Thursday evening to Friday morning. The issue was sorted out on Friday morning and she has travelled back to india. The actress original name was Diana Mariam Kurien but the passport was issued with her on screen name Nayanthara and it has caused the issue. News Posted: 5 February, 2016 KCR vows to turn Hyderabad into global city Hyderabad, Feb 5 (INN): Overwhelmed with the TRS party's historic victory in GHMC elections, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has promised to turn Hyderabad into a truly global city while making GHMC a corruption-free corporation. Addressing a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Friday night, the Chief Minister thanked all voters and said all the promises made in the TRS manifesto for GHMC elections and also the General Election 2014 would be fulfilled. He said people have assigned a major responsibility to TRS and its government in the State by giving it a landslide victory. He said it was the first time that a political party absolute majority in the municipal corporation. Therefore, he said that the TRS would leave no stone unturned to fulfil the aspirations of people. The Chief Minister said it was the promise of 2BHK houses that played the magic in favour of TRS in GHMC elections. Therefore, he said adequate funds would be allocated in the next budget to construct one lakh units of 2BHK houses in the city. He said that the Finance Department has already been directed to prepare proposals for the same. He hoped that the construction of one lakh 2BHK units would be completed in the next one year. Further, he said the city would get two water reservoirs of about 40 TMC capacity. Three new hospitals will be established in different areas while existing Osmania, Gandhi and King Koti Hospitals would be upgraded. He said all six hospitals would be on par with other corporate hospitals where poor people would get free treatment, including diagnostics and surgeries. KCR said a power island would be established to ensure uninterrupted power supply in Greater Hyderabad. He said the image of "Hyderabad Never Sleeps" would be created on par with Mumbai. The promises of multi-level flyovers, skyways, signal free city, new market yards, graveyards, multi-purpose community halls, etc., would also be fulfilled. He said there would be no compromise on Law and Order and anyone breaking the law would be dealt with an iron hand irrespective of their position. The Chief Minister defended his earlier decision to minimise the time period for holding civic polls. However, he said that the High Court orders were honoured and GHMC polls were held as per its directions. Similarly, he said there were some issues related to voting rights for ex-officio members. However, it holds no relevance now as TRS has sufficient numbers to elect its Mayor and Deputy Mayor. KCR sought the cooperation of all political parties to develop the city and said opposition leaders should play a constructive role. He said despite some sporadic incidents, the GHMC polls were very well managed elections. He said the decision on Mayor and Deputy Mayor candidates would be taken by a committee of city ministers. Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali and other ministers were also present in the press conference. News Posted: 5 February, 2016 Rs 1,000 crore healthcare city in Amaravati Hyderabad, Feb 5 (INN): Taking a giant leap in healthcare, Andhra Pradesh government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indo-UK Institute of Health (IUIH) on Thursday. A delegation from the United Kingdom met Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu here in Visakhapatnam. This comes in succession of the signing of an MoU during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Britain last year. According to MoU, a mega hospital with an expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore and 1000 bed capacity will be built in Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh capital city. Affiliated with the hospital, Medical College, medical-related departments, research and training institutions will also be set up. The state government will give a hundred acres of land to build the Health Care City. The foundation stone for the mega project regarded as 'Health Care City' will be held in July. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister affirmed that Andhra Pradesh will emerge as a healthcare destination of the world. IUIH delegation expressed willingness to the Chief Minister's suggestion to make Amaravati headquarters for their 11 medical projects in the country. The Chief Minister stressed on making medical services available to common people at reasonable prices. He pointed how costly health care is in advanced countries like the United States. In order to change this, I want to make Amaravati a mega health care city, that provides affordable medical services to all, he added. He also expressed confidence that if quality medical services are offered at reasonable prices, patients from the United States will visit Amaravati for treatment. He added that the government is giving a fillip to the healthcare sector similar to the IT sector. Apart from world-class infrastructure, I aim to make Amaravati an education and medical hub, he said. The Chief Minister added that Andhra Pradesh will play a key role in bringing India to the second position in medical tourism, after Thailand. In this regard, the Chief Minister informed that Amaravati is already making strides in health and education sectors. Apart from renowned institutes like Amity, NRM, Oxford, Cambridge evincing interest in Amaravati, the city will also have AIIMS. That apart, Shetty Group from Dubai has also come forward to construct a large hospital, he said. Meanwhile, IUIH Chairman Mike Parker said, 'We are setting up 11 mega medical units with an expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore in 11 cities across India'. He said that the construction of the mega hospital in Amaravati will be completed in 36 months. He has also agreed to rope in leading medical institutions and universities around the world for establishing the Health Care City in Amaravati. Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Advisor (Communications) Dr. Parakala Prabhakar were present. Members of the UK delegation were Andrew McAllister, British Deputy High Commissioner in Hyderabad, Mike Nithavrianakis, Vinay Singhal, Uday Munjal, Nikhil Raj and others were present. News Posted: 5 February, 2016 Mumbai: Reliance Infrastructure Ltd on Thursday said it has agreed to sell its cement business to Birla Corporation Ltd for Rs 4,800 crore ($710 million), as part of its efforts to reduce debt. Reliance Infrastructure is an affiliate of billionaire Anil Ambani's Reliance Group conglomerate. Reliance Infrastructure's cement arm has three plants with total installed production capacity of 5.6 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Another 5 MTPA plant is under construction in western Maharashtra state, according to its website. Meanwhile Birla Corp on Tuesday said it planned to take legal action against the Indian subsidiary of LafargeHolcim after a deal fell through to buy some of the Franco-Swiss group's local assets. In April last year, LafargeHolcim agreed to sell two of its Indian plants to win local regulatory approvals for the merger of Lafarge and Holcim. New Delhi: Income Tax Department on February 5, cautioned taxpayers not to share their PIN or password of mails saying it never ask for such details. In a statement, the department said it is to ensure that taxpayers are aware the department does not seek confidential or financial information of the taxpayer over email. "The Income Tax Department never asks for your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts through e-mail," it said. "The Income Tax Department appeals to taxpayers not to respond to such emails and NOT to share information relating to their credit card, bank and other financial accounts," it added. The Income Tax Department has been at the forefront of using technology in implementing its e-governance initiatives, it said, adding, most of its routine communication to taxpayers is through email and SMS. "Therefore, the department is very sensitive and alert to attempts made by fraudsters to spoof the Department's identity to send phishing emails," it said. The statement further said all taxpayer reports of phishing emails are forwarded to incident@cert-in.org.in which is a government of India agency mandated to fight against such threats. Further, the department has implemented best practices such as SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) for its email domains. Use of these protocols enables the email receiver domains such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc to determine whether or not a received email is actually from the defined sender such as the Department and block phishing emails from reaching the taxpayer, it said. Listing out dos and don'ts, it has asked the taxpayers to check for the domain name carefully as fake emails will have miss-pelt or incorrect sounding variants of websites of the Income Tax department. "Do not open such emails in spam or junk folder and do not reply to such emails. Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain malicious code," it said. Do not click on any links and even if you have clicked on links inadvertently in a suspicious e-mail or phishing website then do not enter confidential information like bank account, credit card details, it added. Two straight droughts for the first time in three decades have made India a net importer of some food products for the first time in years (Photo: Pixabay) New Delhi: Officials may decide on Friday whether to allow what could be India's first genetically modified (GM) food crop, mustard, spurred by food security concerns and as China makes a big bet on the technology with a $43 billion bid for seed firm Syngenta. Permitting GM food crops is a big call for a country that spends tens of billions of dollars importing edible oils and other food items every year. Farmers are stuck with old technology, yields are at a fraction of global levels, cultivable land is shrinking and weather patterns have become less predictable. Two straight droughts for the first time in three decades have made India a net importer of some food products for the first time in years. If a commercial launch of GM mustard is allowed, it could pave the way for other food crops such as corn varieties developed by Monsanto, in one of the world's biggest farm markets. "I see this as a test case and I am hopeful," said Deepak Pental, the lead scientist who used government grants to conduct tests on the oilseed crop over the past decade. "How can we keep on running so scared when there is so much need for improving agricultural production?" But even winning the panel's approval is no guarantee that the GM crop would be introduced. Political and public opposition to lab-altered food remains strong amid fears they could compromise food safety and biodiversity. There is also suspicion among farmers that their introduction would give foreign seed suppliers too much control. "Why is the government imposing its decision on farmers on an unsafe and unproven technology, despite the availability of good varieties of mustard in our country?" Manish Sisodia, Delhi's deputy chief minister, told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter this week. "We pray to you not to compromise our agriculture, citizens' health and the environment under pressure from a handful of foreign companies." Pressure building Friday's meeting, the third held to evaluate field trial data on GM mustard, is an indication of how serious Modi's government is about pushing technology to lift food production after an impasse under the previous government halted research on transgenic crops. A member of the GM approval committee comprising government and independent experts said they had already discussed the mustard in the past two meetings this year, and the next gathering would be crucial to deciding its future. He declined to be named and did not give more details. Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who advised the last government, said that China's takeover of Swiss GM seed developer Syngenta should push the government into taking quick action. "It should come as ... a wakeup call for India, which has to feed more than a billion mouths," said Gulati. "India now doesn't have the luxury to sit on the issue of GM. It just needs to take this bold and decisive step." India placed a moratorium on GM aubergine in 2010, fearing the effect on food safety and biodiversity. Field trials of other GM crops were not formally halted, but the regulatory system was brought to a deadlock after that. However, Modi, who was instrumental in making Gujarat state the leading user of GM cotton in India when he was chief minister, cleared several field trials soon after taking office in New Delhi in 2014. Some grassroots groups associated with Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have opposed GM crops because of the reliance on seeds patented by multinationals like Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical and Syngenta. But New Delhi-based Pental said the mustard variety was developed by Indian scientists, and local firms could easily supply farmers with cheap seeds. Tests reveal no problems The government's chief scientific adviser, R Chidambaram, has also asked Modi for a quick decision on the issue. A senior environment ministry official, who is a member of the GM approval committee, had said earlier that studies found no ill effects from GM foods. Pental's mustard makes use of three genes already incorporated in rapeseed hybrids in Canada, the United States and Australia and extensive biosafety tests have revealed no cause for concern, according to a copy of the field trial report submitted to the government and seen by Reuters. Additionally, oil derived from its seeds does not contain proteins linked to the three genes used, Pental said. The mustard's yield is up to 38 percent higher than normal varieties, which would help Modi slash an annual bill for vegetable oil imports of more than $10 billion. A farm ministry official said they were keen to roll out any innovation that can help farmers produce more, as long as concerns of human and soil health are addressed. Delays and high secrecy are standard operating procedure in insolvency. The lads from McGrathNichol have already spent Dick Smith's money to obtain a six month extension from the Federal Court. Illustration: Michael Mucci The second meeting of creditors is delayed till August. Seasons will pass before the beleaguered suppliers, shareholders, gift card holders and other creditors are told what is going on. Devilishly complicated business this, lament the corporate undertakers. It takes time to achieve the right outcome, they claim, as the clock ticks and their millions in fees mount up. They charge by the hour, after all. Rather than waiting another six months for the creditors report, we called Jeff Knapp, accounting academic at UNSW, to help put together the Knapp/West Truly Independent Report to Creditors of Dick Smith. Rather than charging $600 an hour per partner and taking six months, the Knapp/West partnership took two hours and 14 minutes over the telephone; that is, at least five months, 29 days, 21 hours and 46 minutes less than the McGrath/Ferrier caper. And it's free. Why would Woolworths sell the Dick Smith business for $115 million if Anchorage and its auditors, Deloitte, reckoned the fair value was $261 million? Skipping our introductory letter to creditors of Dick Smith, which begins "Dear poor, unwitting creditors, you have been hornswoggled once and are now being hornswoggled again ," we will proceed directly to the heart of the thing. Inventory at heart of issues On November 30, 2015, Dick Smith Holdings announced a $60 million write-down of inventory had become necessary. The share price tanked and the banks soon pulled the pin. Dick Smith Holdings has failed because of an inventory problem; and this inventory problem can be traced to a time before the company was floated on the ASX. On November 26, 2012, Anchorage Capital, a slick private equity mob, acquired the business from Woolworths using the entity Dick Smith Sub-Holdings Pty Ltd but the financial reports of Woolworths and Sub-Holdings for June 2013 paint a very different picture about the acquisition. The fine print in the 2013 report of Dick Smith Sub-Holdings show the inventories as having a book value of $371 million to Woolworths at the date of sale. In contrast, the Woolies' annual report records the inventories of subsidiaries as having a book value of $246 million, and these inventories include more than just the Dick Smith business. According to Anchorage, it valued the inventories down by $58 million to record a cost of acquisition of $312 million. If the Woolworths number is correct, however, then Anchorage actually valued inventories upwards by at least $66 million. It is a similar tale for plant equipment. According to Anchorage, it valued plant and equipment down by $55 million to record a cost of acquisition of $65 million. Based on the Woolworths number though, there was actually a revaluation upwards of $14 million. Was this window-dressing? Deloitte Sydney acted as auditor for Woolworths and Anchorage for 2013 not to mention, ahem, "Investigating Accountant" for the public float. If this Big Four audit firm, like its peers, was not beyond the law things would get very messy. The Woolworths financial report also shows Dick Smith's asset write-downs and restructuring costs of $420 million were booked for June 30, 2012. It appears that when Anchorage came along it bumped the inventory and plant values back up and misleadingly disclosed it had done the opposite. The most obvious thesis is that Anchorage "window-dressed" the inventory balance of Dick Smith when it acquired the business and the inventory remained window-dressed until the company failed. This suggests the inventory balance shown in the prospectus for the float is false. If this is the case, those who bought shares in the float, mostly super funds, have been played for mugs. The inventory caper only came unstuck in 2015, long after the crew from Anchorage had socked away hundreds of millions of dollars by tipping their shares into the superannuation system. That this inventory caper was afoot from the very beginning seems clear the statutory disclosures at the time of the acquisition simply do not reconcile and there is therefore scope for regulators to act without waiting for six months. Questions need to be answered There are other questions though which need to be answered. Why does Anchorage extol the value of the Dick Smith brand in the prospectus when it has not recognised an asset for that brand at acquisition date? Why would Woolworths sell the Dick Smith business for $115 million if Anchorage and its auditors, Deloitte, reckoned the fair value was $261 million? Why did Woolworths earn another $118 million for "administration" costs in the Dick Smith changeover? Is there a conflict of interest when Deloitte, the auditor of Woolworths, is also appointed as Anchorage's auditor and investigating accountant for the prospectus? Dick Smith creditors and shareholders have been wheedled once by sharp private equity types and their merchant bankers from Macquarie and Goldman. Wonderful idea, sovereignty. It conveys this reassuring sense of control; a sense that on each of our own patches, we're in charge and things happen by some exercise of our own free choice. And maybe that sense isn't an illusion. Maybe, for example, Nauru just happened to choose to open a "regional processing centre" for asylum seekers. And maybe it just happened to put an Australian government office in it. And maybe it just happened to ask the people in that office who just happen to be Australians if they could wear Australian government uniforms with the Australian coat of arms on them while they deal with the detainees in that centre. Maybe it's mere happenstance that Nauru has made visas all but impossible for journalists to obtain if they want to scrutinise these detention arrangements, in a manner eerily similar to the way the Australian government routinely denies journalists access to our own detention centres. Maybe that same happenstance accounts for the fact that the single journalist to have been the exception to this rule in the past two years is a dedicated supporter of the Australian government's asylum-seeker policies. And maybe Nauru's sudden decision to open the gates of its detention centre so its detainees could roam freely around (but not leave) Nauru had nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that the Australian government was at precisely the same time in danger of losing a case in the High Court that would bring its offshore detention regime crashing down. Melbourne's northern suburbs are absorbing thousands of new homes within existing streets, while large swaths of "green leafy" postcodes in Melbourne's inner east are being shielded from densification. New research has confirmed what was already suspected south-eastern councils including Boroondara, Bayside, Glen Eira and Whitehorse are avoiding development by locking up large swaths of their suburbs with a restrictive "neighbourhood" zone which bans medium-density housing. An extra 158,000 people will move into the eastern subregion over 15 years, bringing its total population to about 1.2 million or 20.5 per cent of Melbourne's population. Credit:James Davies The population of the eastern subregion (which includes suburbs like Ashburton and Camberwell) is now predicted to fall by almost 4 per cent by 2031 in proportion to other areas that have allocated more land to be rebuilt. An extra 158,000 people will move into the area over 15 years, bringing its total population to about 1.2 million or 20.5 per cent of Melbourne's population. Hong Kong: Chinese police have confirmed for the first time that three of five Hong Kong booksellers who went missing were being investigated for "illegal activities" in China, according to a letter sent to Hong Kong's police. The disappearances have 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. A rally in Hong Kong last month, where people are increasingly worried about mainland China's link to five missing booksellers. Credit:Getty Images The three men; Lui Por, Cheung Chi-ping and Lam Wing-kee who were linked to the Causeway Bay Books store, had had "criminal compulsory measures" imposed on them, Chinese police in the southern province of Guangdong bordering Hong Kong told Hong Kong police in the letter on Thursday. Police allege that at about 2.30am one morning last February, a CCTV camera on Dalziel Street, Gowrie, captured a gold Subaru Impreza approach a house. He was charged with arson and destroying evidence and had not yet entered a plea. The house in Gowrie at which shots were fired. Credit:Jay Cronan Harley Dean Stott, 22, appeared before the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday wearing an orange fluoro jumper, navy tracksuit pants and socks, but no shoes. A Canberra man accused of lighting a stolen car on fire has been granted bail. At about the same time, at least four shots were fired at the house, police say. Later that morning, a man driving on Mountain Creek Road saw what he described as a gold WRX parked on Sherwood Lane, Coree, and a blue hatchback 100 metres behind it. When he pulled up to the blue car he saw a man and a woman, who told him they were waiting for a friend to fix the man's car, police allege. When he returned about five minutes later, he saw the gold car on fire and called triple-zero. After the fire was extinguished, AFP Forensic Services examined the car and found a black lid ring that looked to be from a jerry can. The former staffer at the centre of a police investigation into the conduct of dumped police minister Joy Burch's office has broken her silence to slam the probe as baseless and unnecessarily slow. Ms Burch's former chief of staff, Maria Hawthorne, maintains she has not broken the law. She provided The Canberra Times with a list of 11 questions that police put to her lawyer. Dumped police minister Joy Burch. Credit:Karleen Minney Ms Hawthorne also provided an email from ACT Policing's Detective Senior Constable Grant Bluett to her lawyer, in which Senior Constable Bluett said: "At this stage of the evaluation we have not established that there was any criminal conduct. As such we do not propose to conduct an interview with Ms Hawthorne or request a witness statement from her." Instead, he requested a "discussion" with her to discuss the practices around handling of sensitive information in the former police minister's office and Ms Hawthorne's recollections of conversations with Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union boss Dean Hall. But through her lawyer, Ms Hawthorne declined the request to speak to police, telling them she would consider written questions. As a result, police put questions to her in writing, which she also subsequently refused to answer. She has now made the questions public. The pact is under consideration of the High-Powered Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary of Jharkhand. New Delhi: Adani Power is planning to set up1,600 MW thermal power plant in Jharkhand with an envisaged investment of around Rs 10,000 crore. "Adani Power had in December last year sent a proposal to the Jharkhand government for setting up 1,600 MW power plant in the state," a source privy to the development said, adding that the company plans to build two power units of 800 MW each. "They (Adani Power) want to sign a MoU with the Jharkhand government for this thermal power plant estimated at around Rs 10,000 crore," the source added. The pact is under consideration of the High-Powered Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, the source said, adding that the "Jharkhand government is actively considering the proposal of Adani Power." "The proposal is likely to come up before the High-Powered Committee in a meeting likely next week in which a final call may be taken on the same," the source said, adding that the company is in the process of identifying land for the power plant. However, Adani Power spokesperson refused to comment on the development. The Gautam Adani-led power major had reported narrowing of consolidated net loss for the September quarter at Rs 369.08 crore, helped by higher sale of electricity. The net loss after taxes and minority interest stood at Rs 369.08 crore for the said quarter compared with Rs 798.71 crore a year earlier, Adani Power had earlier said in a BSE filing. The shares of the company closed 3.77 per cent up at Rs 26.15 apiece on BSE. Before Helen Smith was diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer in 2012, she had no idea having a family history of breast cancer was linked to the disease. And she's not the only one. Helen Smith wants more people to be aware of the link between a family history of breast cancer and developing ovarian cancer. Credit:Jamila Toderas Forty-four per cent of Australians with a family history of breast and or ovarian cancer have not discussed it with their GP, a national study commissioned by Ovarian Cancer Australia found, despite up to one in five occurrences of ovarian cancer being an inherited form of the disease. Mrs Smith's mother died just nine months after being diagnosed with breast cancer aged 50 in 1972. By Neelima Choahan A range of products have been recalled following a salmonella outbreak that has infected 28 people, and hospitalised two. The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said it had identified a number of cases of the infection linked to lettuce grown and packaged by Victorian company Tripod Farmers. This prompted a national recall of pre-packaged lettuce and salad sold in Coles and Woolworths. Woolworths is threatening to unleash the competition watchdog on Mitre 10 after the Metcash-controlled hardware chain invited a group of Home Timber & Hardware's top performing franchisees to its annual summit. Mitre 10 chief Mark Laidlaw revealed Woolworths had sent the hardware chain a letter this week and warned delegates at its Gold Coast conference to keep their conversations to "non-business" matters. Woolworths has threatened to refer Mitre 10 to the ACCC after it invited top performing Home Timber & Hardware franchisees to its annual summit. Mitre 10 is believed to have invited up to 20 of Home's most successful franchisess to the summit and one attendee reported that at least a dozen attended the annual meeting. Metcash would not comment but hardware insiders suggest Woolworths sent a letter to the listed wholesaler "reminding" it of its obligations under competition law and suggesting it could be contravening them by inviting Home Timber & Hardware franchisees to its annual conference. They're abstract and minimalist, many of the works in the latest show at Harvard Art Museums, the landmark cultural institution inside of one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. But they're not the work of a modern American artist such as Mark Rothko they're by the likes of Australians including Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Rover Thomas. Vernon Ah Kee, Stephen Gilchrist, and Narayan Khandekar at the Harvard Art Museum exhibition in front of Emily Kame Kngwarreye's 1996 painting Big Yams. Credit:R. Leopoldina Torres Everywhen: The Eternal Present in Indigenous Art from Australia, which opened on Friday, is a survey of more than 70 works of contemporary Aboriginal art spanning the past 40 years, including many pieces on loan from Australian and American institutions as well as private collections. Australian curator Stephen Gilchrist, who has been working on the show for the past four years, wants viewers to abandon their preconceived ideas about contemporary Indigenous art versus the traditional and reconsider the concept of time. "A lot of my pieces reveal sounds that are always there but you aren't really aware echo, resonance ... of the nature of sound and sound waves," composer Alvin Lucier says. Six of them to be exact, brought to the front of the stage where they are connected with long rubber tubes back to the main body of the organ and "played" by performers manipulating the air that comes from them. Experimental and contemporary two ideas that don't always spring to mind when it comes to grand pipe organs. But an 84-year-old American composer has suggested something never tried before with the Melbourne Town Hall organ that challenges what we can expect from an instrument more usually associated with churches and ceremonial music. Simon James Phillips with the pipes that have been removed for the performance. Credit:Justin McManus Best known for his experiments with sound and frequency such as 1969's I am sitting in a room, in which he recorded and re-recorded his voice until it was nothing but feedback and fuzz, Lucier's Swing Bridge for the Melbourne Town Hall organ will be performed on Saturday by members of the Australian Art Orchestra for the concert Exit Ceremonies. Two other works, by Australians Austin Buckett and Simon James Phillips, will also be performed. Orchestra artistic director Peter Knight approached Lucier, who lives in Connecticut, hopeful that he might be interested in the the non-traditional possibilities of the instrument. The three pieces for Exit Ceremonies are linked by their experimental, minimal approach. "You can't get away from the historical associations of the organ and it's beautiful to imagine it in a new way," he says. "Alvin's interested in using our sense of hearing as a part of his instrument. So that the way we perceive sound actually becomes an extension of the instrument." Knight had no idea what to expect of Lucier, whose other work ranges from a piece that plays with the resonance of a long thin wire to an upcoming, out-of-the-box collaboration with indie rock group Yo La Tengo, but when he received the score for Swing Bridge he was momentarily stopped. Vesey, who was unhappy when Fairfax Media revealed the secret meetings in August, was not available for comment. He declared in May that AGL Australia's biggest greenhouse gas emitter by far will shut all existing coal-fired power by 2050. Drilling equipment at AGL's now defunct Waukivory CSG project. Credit:Ryan Osland Lyford likens the fight with AGL and its unswerving allies in the O'Farrell and Baird governments to a David and Goliath struggle: "Truth, research, science and a grave sense of injustice were in our sling." As with the biblical allegory, the giant's ultimate failure owned much to arrogance. Scenery along Buckets Way, near Gloucester. Credit:Jonathan Carroll A standout event in what Lyford calls "a comedy of errors" was AGL's comic attempt to conceal how it would dispose of its waste, particularly flowback water. Flowback is the fluid that reaches the surface during and after hydraulic fracturing - or fracking. Fracking is the process used to inject a mixture of water and chemicals into the rock under pressure to fracture it and free up gas so it can flow to the well. Vesey said 'You need to build a golden bridge for your enemy to retreat over' John Watts, Groundswell Gloucester To discover what AGL was doing with the waste water - since the company and government agencies refused to say - the dogged local residents resorted to high-speed pursuits of tanker trucks down narrow country roads. "I had my ears pinned back keeping up as they were doing over 100km/h in places," Katrina Pearson told Fairfax in January 2015. The tankers were bound for Transpacific's waste-treatment site at Kooragang Island, near Newcastle. Intrigued, the activists informed Hunter Water, a state utility, which not only had no idea of the disposal activities but had warned the companies in letters and phone calls to take their waste elsewhere. Hunter Water's worry was Transpacific did not have appropriate facilities to treat the waste a hunch that proved accurate. After initially refusing to co-operate, Transpacific handed over data on what it had discharged into Hunter Water's sewage network. The company had released BTEX chemicals benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes elements that can kill bacteria sewage works rely on to break down human and other waste. AGL's response to Hunter Water's inquiries included legal threats to sue Hunter Water and even a Freedom of Information demand for emails sent to the Sydney Morning Herald to determine if utility officials harboured an "ideological" position against CSG, Fairfax has learned. By the time AGL and Transpacific's ruse was exposed in December 2014, the two had disposed of 600,000 litres of the flowback water. Blocked at Hunter, AGL then trucked its waste all the way south to Windsor, on the Hawkesbury River before local opposition cut off that avenue. Brisbane ended up as plan C, a 1300 km round trip for the tankers. "They'd be very slow learners if they every tried to discharge something to our sewer networks without approval again," Jeremy Bath, interim chief executive at Hunter Water, says. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) investigated and cleared AGL of any offence without consulting Hunter Water - just one of many instances Groundswell Gloucester say pointed to weak or even collusive oversight by regulators. "The government at every stage was prepared to approve this project," Watts says. "[They] always looked for how to get AGL off the hook if there was a problem." A prime example was the government rushing through an amendment to the State Environmental Planning Policy so that AGL could proceed with its drilling program without requiring a full environmental impact study (EIS). AGL's decision to target Gloucester itself made little sense even to some senior government members aware of the region's unusual and complex geology. Philip Pells, an independent hydrogeologist who briefed Vesey at the two secret meetings, had long called for AGL to divulge its groundwater modelling for Gloucester. Unlike Pilliga where Santos is trying to develop a gasfield, the Gloucester coal seams are at angles to the surface. "They would have had to drill wells down through 10-15 [seams], hydraulically fracturing at each coal seam level," he says. The seams are "fractured as all hell" with consequent risk of connectivity between them and aquifers. By contrast, the single seam under the proposed Narrabri Gas Project by Santos runs horizontally, making it better suited to horizontal fracking to extract the gas. However, a layer of Pilliga sandstone sits several hundred metres above the coal seam, making the region a recharge site for the Great Artesian Basin that accounts for more than one-fifth of Australia's land. The nearby Namoi valley is also one of NSW's biggest irrigation areas, and farmers could have "significant impacts" if water levels in the region were affected, he says. "[Santos says] they have done a lot of modelling but no one has seen it because the EIS has never come out," Pells says. Santos says it is determined to press on with its Narrabri Gas Project - which will be the state's only CSG venture now that AGL is abandoning Gloucester and winding up its Camden field by 2023. Lyford, though, predicts the anti-CSG campaign will now shift its focus to Santos, not least because of the lessons learned from Gloucester. [Gageler's judgment, in partial dissent, should be read by every politician and public servant as a general statement of how everything done by parliament and the executive is ultimately examinable by the courts. It's a great, and for the gung ho, foreboding, affirmation of the limits of official action. But Gageler, like five of the other judges, found that sovereign Australia was entitled by any number of constitutional heads of power to enter into agreements with "sovereign" Nauru. Such agreements can, it seems, erase words of our constitution.] At the High Court in Canberra Susan Wood calls for asylum seekers, including Australian born children to remain in Australia. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Australian public servants are entitled to detain boat people and to deliver them "to the Nauran authorities". Once there, it seems, what happens to them has nothing to do with us, even if the those doing it are Australian public servants, or people carrying out their orders. Nauru pretends to give the prisoners we send a special visa (paid for, at exorbitant rates, by the Australian government after an Australian government application.) In Nauru, boat people are under the complete practical control of APS officers and contractors hired for "garrison" and other duties paid for and arranged by Australia. Only the deniability and accountability are exported, for rubber stamping by the High Court. "Samuel" is one of 90 children, including 37 babies, who may be sent back to Nauru. Nauru, under Australian guidance, has adopted a few laws to which detainees, like other residents, are subject, allowing our ministers to disclaim most responsibility for what happens in our name, at our instance, and, usually, by our hands. The poor living conditions, official indifference to maltreatment and mental decline of many of those indefinitely incarcerated are the gift of, and generally at the hand of Australians. In more recent times, partly so as to close off a potential gap in the defence to this action, most detainees have had free run of the island. They are no longer confined behind a fence, even if, in practice, they must sleep inside the tents in the camps. The "freedom" this affords to those involved must be experienced in the face of a hostile population, a corrupted and incompetent government and police force, and the knowledge that there is no escape, certainly to Australia, ever. Those looking for something to console themselves will discover that the High Court has an expansive, and not (at least in this field, very critical) view of the limits of executive power and of the scope of the appropriation power to authorise spending on pretty much anything the Commonwealth wants, provided it is within power, somehow. This expansive role of Commonwealth central power represents the socialist dream, were there any socialists still around. I should think, for example, that an inventive Federal Treasurer could solve all of the problems of international tax dodging, whether by transnational and local profit shifters, or by wealthy Australians having funny, tax reducing, transactions abroad. All we need are a few international memorandums of understanding. Few of the judges any longer exhibit much interest in the substance of things. But what a cheek that a few Australian bleeding hearts should think that they had the right to have the court overturn, as beyond power or being unjust, laws passed through the Australian parliament with the consent of both major parties. Or arrangements made by successive governments over more than a decade. Such interfering busybodies hunt around until they find a suitable horrible example of injustice in action in this case a case a woman in Australia for medical treatment unavailable in Nauru, who did not want to be returned there. Australia has no Bill of Rights. Some may think this wrong, but the omission, by our founding fathers, was deliberate. They thought the freedom-loving instincts of our wise politicians, bureaucrats and judges would be more effective than a possibly limiting formula of words. Politicians who went too far in oppressing others would be punished by our wise citizens at the next election. Real Australians could never be a lynch mob. It takes an imaginative judge to divine much more than a right to due process and judicial scrutiny from the Constitution. Those who would have it otherwise would be better focused on agitating for a Bill of Rights than on impeaching judges for timidity or gutlessness. The objections to the use of Papua New Guinea and Nauru for Australian concentration camps are well known, and, of course, sincerely held. For some it is a moral issue. One does not feels one cannot accept a majority decision if it is wicked or wrong. Majority rules cannot justify racism, murder or an immoral war. For others, the boat people issue is, ultimately, just a pragmatic issue. It's about saving boat people from evil people smuggling gangs. Or from drowning. Or, perhaps, from making a convenience of our continent by exercising an international civil right of running away from war and oppression to the refuge of a country pledged to help genuine refugees. About two-thirds of the population supports the policy. In Canberra, the proportions seem to be reversed. The policy has been a major election issue on a number of occasions, and the present coalition government has an undoubted political mandate for it. The first task of those of us opposed to the policy is to mobilise public opinion, or other pressure, in an effort to persuade government to change it, or the electorate to force it to. There are many ways of making the argument. One can tell people about the appalling conditions involved in the policy, and the terrible misery on innocent people, including children, that Government seems to think is necessary in order to deter others from getting on a boat. The Human Rights Commission, human rights groups, doctors and influential citizens have done just that. But their arguments have had little effect, and not for want of being heard. The politicians know about the misery. Most do not act because they know that most of the public also knows, and that it doesn't care. Or positively approves. The ranks of the indifferent include people simply opposed to a refugee intake, or to a Muslim or Asian one. But they also include people persuaded that it is necessary to be cruel to be kind to boat people, if only to prevent more drownings. The idea that ours is a wise, if harsh, policy, is magnified, for some, by the problems Europe is having in coping with an "invasion" of tens of thousands of people fleeing Syria. Many think that the particularly generous response by Angela Merkel of Germany comes from German war guilt over the fate of millions of Jews, Gypsies, Poles and Russians. Post-war generations of Germans judged their parents very harshly. Perhaps. I suspect that 20 years hence most Australians will judge today's politicians, and the bureaucrats (and soldiers) who devised and carried out our national policies very harshly indeed. High school students will study and be asked to analyse the speeches of Philip Ruddock about not humanising boat people, the vainglory of Kevin Rudd, and the calm coldness and indifference of Peter Dutton. Others will comment on how ADF officers provided cover for a policy of concealment. Others will ask why most of their parents, and grandparents, were so willing to persuade themselves that there was no practical alternative. That some will seek to excuse themselves by pointing out their loud and practical opposition may be of little more account than the claims of many white apartheid South Africans that they themselves were liberal on race matters and kind to their black servants. It won't quite cut it. It's effective opposition that matters. Australia's participation in the Vietnam War was initially very popular with the electorate and overwhelmingly endorsed at an election in 1966. By 1970, it was distinctly unpopular. This was no matter of the war dragging on. It was because of a lot of campaigning and persuasion, and not merely in the streets, but in all sorts of public forums, societies, churches and parliaments. It took similar campaigns to make apartheid unpopular although a good many Australians of conservative persuasion were practical good friends, and defenders, of apartheid South Africa almost to the end. Using the law to cut off a serious practical evil can be, in the right circumstances, a quick way to get results. But it often has its costs. US politics lives with the legacy of abortion rights coming from the judges, via an imaginative extrapolation of the right to privacy, rather than through the legislatures. It would have happened there, if more slowly, and then might have "taken" - even if some were invincibly opposed. For many of the more turbulent Christian right, that judicial decision was an immoral deal breaker that stripped not only the courts, but the very social fabric and national government, of moral authority and legitimacy. A major reason for the modern US revolt against national politicians is because a significant number of Americans no longer respect or assent to the system. Likewise, Canadian politics has suffered because progressive courts have anticipated human rights and been prepared to impose them on sometimes unwilling and dissenting subjects. I fear that the movement for constitutional recognition of Aborigines faces this problem. If Aborigines, other than privileged insiders are to have any enthusiasm for it, they must be persuaded that it means something. Many generally apathetic Australians will vote for it only if they are persuaded that it is legally meaningless, a feel-good exercise. It can't be both. In the background is the fact that Aborigines have had some great short-cut victories in the High Court, not least in Koowarta, Mabo and Wik. But sometimes, I wonder any of this judicial benevolence has had the slightest impact on the quality of Aboriginal lives. The moral authority of government practice, as much as of its legislation, depends on the consent of the governed. It might be active, after lively debate. It might be passive consent, where the citizen did not feel involved in the debate, but knew the debate occurred. Talking people into change is a necessary part of how change "takes". On many issues one starts from the unpopular, sometimes very unpopular position. One has to argue, over and over. Sometimes move forward, sometimes retreat. Widen and sometimes narrow one's front. Make deals. Compromise. It takes time. It takes energy. Usually money. The capacity to raise money is often a measure of whether people really care, or are just along for the ride. Only rarely are there short cuts, or victories achieved by oblique action, such as through judges. Even more rarely will the tools of modern information technology substitute for talking to actual people in real interchanges, rather than an amorphous and unaccountable ether. The courts, usually, are a detour, not a substitute for effective politics. That so many of us hold the processes and the players in such low regard is the crisis of our age. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has been told Cardinal George Pell's health could be at risk if he travelled to Australia to give evidence. His doctors in Rome had advised against a long-haul flight as it would present a "serious risk to his health". Cardinal Pell at the Vatican. Credit:AP Their two-page medical report was tendered to the commission. But the full contents remain confidential at present. Allan Myers, QC, representing the Cardinal, said the medical report should not be released because it would prompt media speculation and there was no public interest to be served. There is little support in blue-ribbon Coalition electorates for using any extra revenue raised from a 15 per cent GST to cut company taxes, new polling shows. Reducing company tax rates was by far the least popular option when voters in four coalition-held electorates were asked to choose between four alternative ways to use extra revenue if the GST rate is lifted to 15 per cent. Only 2.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent opted to use the money to cut company taxes. Support for Mike Baird's proposed increase in GST is low. Credit:Katherine Griffiths The most popular way to use additional GST revenue was boosting health, education and other government services. Other options more popular than cutting company tax rates was reducing Australia's debt and compensating low-income households. The electorates surveyed were New England, Page and Warringah in NSW along with the seat of Dickson in Queensland. A tax reform plan announced by NSW Premier Mike Baird on Monday proposed increasing the rate of the GST to 15 per cent and using about a quarter of the proceeds to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent from 30 per cent. Business groups are also pushing for a reduction in corporate taxes, saying it will boost economic growth. But even among Liberal and Nationals voters in the Coalition-held seats surveyed, support for using additional GST proceeds to cut corporate taxes was low. In the seat of New England, held by Deputy Nationals Leader Barnaby Joyce, just 1.9 per cent of Nationals voters opted for the corporate tax cut option. In the Sydney seat of Warringah, held by former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, 5.6 per cent of Liberal voters favoured extra GST revenue being used to cut corporate taxes. The ReachTEL poll, commissioned by the Australia Institute, showed a clear majority of voters opposed lifting the rate of the GST to 15 per cent in the electorates of Page (64.8 per cent), Dickson (58.3 per cent) and New England (55.9 per cent). In the seat of Warringah, 46.5 per cent of voters were opposed an increase to the GST compared with 39.4 per cent in support of the increase. Under Mr Baird's proposal the federal government would keep almost all the $32.5 billion in extra revenue raised each year by a 15 per cent GST from 2017-18 to 2019-20. This could be used to fund company tax cuts, personal income tax reductions and to compensation low income earners. In return the states would be allocated an extra $7 billion in the period to cover cuts to schools and hospitals funding revealed in the 2014 federal budget. Funding for state services beyond 2020 would then be re-negotiated. Mr Baird said the proposed tax revamp is a "consensus position" that aims to place a "secure foundation under our health and education system." But the Executive Director of The Australia Institute, Ben Oquist, questioned why Mr Baird would settle for states receiving such a small portion of the additional GST revenue. Teen killer Bronson Blessington should be shown mercy and freed from prison, according to the former NSW director of public prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery, QC. Mr Cowdery currently a member of the independent body that advises NSW Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton on sentencing said the imprisonment of a juvenile for an indefinite term was "objectionable" and motivated by "pure revenge". Moreover, the retrospective laws from the NSW parliament that stripped Blessington of his appeal rights and any prospect of parole until he is at death's door were "deplorable", he said. Blessington was 14 years old when he took part in the abduction, rape and murder of Janine Balding in September 1988, one of the state's most notorious crimes. Bengaluru: Tata group doyen Ratan Tata and the University of Californias investment arm on Thursday announced they were partnering to invest in Indian start-ups, although they did not specify what quantum of funds were available for such investments. Mr. Tata has been in the news recently for his private investments through RNT Associates in some 25 Indian start-ups so far, mostly in the e-commerce domain. In late January, he partnered with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to launch an online learning initiative, Clix, in government schools across rural India. UC Investments, led by its Chief Investment Officer Jagdeep Singh Bachher, manages close to $100 billion, some $2 billion of it invested in start-ups in the US. What we are hoping to do is to provide an ability for some of these new start-ups to be partly funded, to see if through University of California systems, great assistance can come to the entrepreneurs that they themselves might not be able to arrange, Mr. Tata said. We havent a pre-judgment on what the funds will go into. What we do have is a joint view to encourage entrepreneurship which is promising. We will recognise the ability of founding groups and support them in a manner that makes a difference. Later, answering questions, Mr. Tata said he saw far greater risks in investing in large companies that had big money tied up in a projects than in start-ups. The challenge in investing in start-ups is less than investing in the stock markets. The risk profile of start-ups could be higher, but the risks involved, the difficulties involved are much less in magnitude compared to investing in a major company that has tens of hundreds of crores tied up in a project, he said, adding however that quality and character of founders is more important in a start-up than in an established company with processes and systems in place. Asked how he decided on which companies to invest in, he said that he relied more on how exciting he found and idea and being able to look the founders in the eye to gauge their passion, seriousness and innovativeness and whether they had laid out a path that they could achieve, rather than on researching into their financials and projections. Gut feel and intuition led him to decisions, although he would look into the numbers, too, when they got too big to rely only on intuition. Mr. Tatas start-up investments have aroused much curiosity about his investing philosophy and what he was seeking to achieve. He revealed his secret in answer to a question on how he viewed start-up valuations. It is true that net profit doesnt seem to be dictating valuations, rather these are based more intuitively on the last investment (made into the company), he said, But I do not invest like a Private Equity company. I have nothing to do with those valuations. I look at whether it has growth potential and that potential could be export potential, medical potential and I ask if I am supporting it. Asked if he had a success mantra to give entrepreneurs, he said, I wish I knew, adding that he saw an investors success in being able to take a visionary, long-term view of where a company could go, even if sometimes the founder himself could not envision it. A multi-vehicle crash on the M1 Pacific Highway has northbound traffic banked up six kilometres on Friday afternoon. Sydney motorists who left early for a weekend up the coast hit the traffic jam just after 3pm after the crash closed two of three northbound lanes, one kilometre north of Jolls Bridge, just past Mooney Mooney. A multi-vehicle crash on the M1 Pacific Highway has caused chaos for northbound traffic. Credit:Seven News All lanes have now been reopened, but traffic is extremely heavy. At its heaviest, the traffic jam was 13 kilometres long. The final days of a near-century-old World War I German tank could be partially relived through advanced 3D technology, thanks to research conducted by a Queensland scientist. German tank Mephisto, which fought its first battle nearly 98 years ago, has been on loan to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra from the Queensland Museum since last year, where it will remain until mid-2017. Mephisto is on loan to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Credit:Karleen Minney It was the last surviving original German A7V tank and was captured by Australian troops in 1918, when it was found abandoned at Monument Wood, near Villers-Bretonneux in France. Mephisto was brought back to Queensland as a war trophy and had been on display at the Queensland Museum for about 70 years. Arts student Joshua Hardy, who died after allegedly being violently attacked for just six seconds outside a McDonald's, had been drunk on the night but was not angry or aggressive, a court has heard. Close friend Christopher "Kip" Davey told the Supreme Court on Friday that Mr Hardy could be argumentative and irrational after having too much to drink but he had never seen him get involved in any physical violence. Kyle Zandipour arrives at the Supreme Court of Victoria this week. Credit:Josh Robenstone Mr Davey said that the last time he saw Mr Hardy, 21, a third-year arts student who lived at the University of Melbourne's Trinity College, was when he helped put him in a taxi in St Kilda after a night out and told the taxi driver to take him home. Another friend described Mr Hardy as a "very friendly, outgoing, gregarious sort of guy". Police were involved in a dramatic pursuit in Hazelmere on Thursday night where a vehicle caught on fire and a police dog was kicked in the head by an alleged offender. Two men and a woman have subsequently been charged, with a fourth being questioned, after they allegedly attempted to evade police. Police were involved two pursuits that ended in a number of arrests. File image. Credit:photos@smh.com.au Police say they saw a Ford Mondeo driving erratically on Reid Highway around 10pm, heading east from Beechboro Road before they tried to stop the vehicle on Lord Street in Brabham. Police then allege the vehicle's driver led them on a chase through several suburbs, at times driving on the wrong side of the road and beyond the speed limit. A man has been found guilty of importing five kilograms of cocaine into Australia from Mexico. Hector Munar Mayor was on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court this week, accused of importing and exporting commercial quantities of border controlled drugs and trafficking commercial quantities of controlled drugs. A man has been found guilty of importing 5kg of cocaine into Perth. Credit:Canberra Times Prosecutor Darren Renton told the court Mayor exchanged text messages with another person in January 2014 to arrange delivery of the drugs, but US officials intercepted the packages - one containing 2.4kg and the other 2.6kg. An Australian Federal Police officer then posed as a delivery driver and brought the packages, which had a listening device concealed inside, to a home in East Perth. "Worst in the nation" is the opposition's damning assessment of a national report on the effectiveness of WA policing. Opposition spokeswoman Michelle Roberts said the productivity commission's annual report into government services found that WA had some of the highest crime rates in the country and laid the blame at the door of police minister Liza Harvey. National crime statistics have cast WA in an unflattering light. Credit:Janie Barrett But Mrs Harvey fired back citing statistics that crime - especially burglaries and car theft - had dropped significantly under the Barnett government. Ms Roberts, however, maintained that the crime slide on the minister's watch had been dramatic. The Department of Foreign Affairs says it is "aware" of a video from a militant group that says it will release an Australian woman kidnapped in Burkina Faso in January. The group has claimed responsibility for the January 15 kidnapping of two Australians in northern Burkina Faso, according to an audio statement. Dr Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn were abducted following an attack on the Burkina Faso capital of Ouagadougou that killed 28 people. London: When Noel Santillan typed the word Laugarvegur instead of Laugavegur into his rental car's GPS, the New Jersey resident couldn't have imagined that the extra "r" would make him something of a celebrity in Iceland. Santillan, 28, arrived at Keflavik International Airport on Monday morning after a five-hour flight from New York and was eager to get to the Hotel Fron on Laugavegur, a main street in Reykjavik, Iceland's capital, local media reported. But the spelling error got in his way, according to Visir, an Icelandic news website. Route 1 in north-west Iceland - much of rural Iceland is sparsley populated. While driving nearly six hours over icy roads, Santillan, who works in retail marketing, had an inkling that something might be wrong, local news reports said. A powerful quake struck southern Taiwan before dawn on Saturday near the city of Tainan, toppling a 17-story apartment building where more than 100 people are feared trapped. A baby girl and a 40-year-old man have been confirmed dead, according to a government official. Media reported a third death. Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the wreckage and pluck more than 120 survivors to safety, with at least 26 taken to hospital, a fire brigade official said. "I was watching TV and after a sudden burst of shaking, I heard a boom. I opened my metal door and saw the building opposite fall down," said a 71-year-old neighbour who gave his name as Chang. Mumbai: Blaming multinational corporations squarely for tax controversies, Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan on Thursday said their indulgence in avoidance and evasion results in prolonged legal battles. Addressing the issue of tax havens, Rajan wondered aloud as to what makes a bulk of intellectual property reside in Cayman Islands, quipping that no one has seen scientists in so large numbers in the Caribbean isles. "Occasionally, there is government excess, but they are not the only ones who commit excesses," he said, delivering the 13th Nani Palkhivala lecture on 'Strengthening the Free Enterprise in India' here. "Multinational corporations complain all the time of excessive demand about excessive taxation, but it is also true that MNCs across the world tend to find tax avoidance and sometimes tax evasion as an appropriate technique and therefore, there is a constant fight between governments and MNCs," he said. In remarks that come within a week of Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring all retrospective taxation such as the Vodafone case being an issue of the past, Rajan said the movement on taxation within the country has been "positive and in right direction". "The movement has been positive and in right direction, including the great debate on retrospective taxation which has allowed us to clarify our thinking on this issue and the government has stated its position very clearly on the way forward." The academic-turned central banker expressed hopes the Bankruptcy Code gets passed in the upcoming Budget session of Parliament. "It would make it much easier for the smaller firm to get credit and also allow the large firm to get credit because now there is a way for the lenders to recover the money in the Bankruptcy Code," he said. Rajan said the government is also working on a plan to have unique IDs for businesses on the lines of the ambitious Aadhar programme for individuals, which will help establish credit histories and make it easier for the better-behaved firms access credit. "The government is in the process of creating a unique firm ID, the same way as Aadhaar, which will help us identify firms and who is the promoter and thereby get a sense of the antecedents of firms that will give credit histories, which will allow banks to lend to them," Rajan said. He called the notion giving credit to smaller businesses for job creation in the economy as a "myth", saying it is the large-scale firms alone which do the task effectively. Welcoming the government's start-up India plan, he said there is a need to have a large number of smaller firms which are growing to become big businesses, and one should avoid creating a tendency where the entrepreneur prefers to remain small. The RBI governor said it is essential to evolve into a place where money does the talking rather than other elements like one's caste or religion, and added that businesses should also stop looking for special dispensations. Stressing on the need for skilling people, he said "capitalism starts at the age 21" and one should not force children to undergo excessive competition before that. Rajan said he is very optimistic about India of the present, despite the many problems it faces, saying "we have always found our way to fight the ills and emerge stronger". "Yes, we have our weaknesses and our excesses, but our democracy is self-correcting, and even while some institutions weaken, others come to the fore. India's is a dynamic society, ever changing, ever rejuvenating," he said. Speaking before Rajan, former RBI board member Y H Malegam flagged the growing instances of trouble caused by fringe elements which are threatening the very idea of India, comparing it with the situation where a little man is causing a long shadow during what looks like a sunset. Rajan quipped, "Even though little men cast long shadows at sunset, the sun does rise in our country." "In the spirit of what Palkhivala (the late eminent jurist) said, India always seems to find a way, perhaps not quickly, perhaps not linearly, but eventually in due course." Broken Car? Buying A Car? Auto Enthusiast? - Let's Talk About It, Auto Lab Live Saturday February 6, 2016 Car Question? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 Auto Lab is a 27 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice. Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format. 8 to 9 am on WMCA Radio Listen Live on WMCA Radio 9 to 10 am on WNYM Radio Listen on WNYM Radio After listening to the first hour on WMCA, you will need to close that window and click the link to listen to the second hour on WNYM. Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com. Listen - Auto Lab Page (Includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures February 6, 2016 - Car Question? Straight Answers From These In-Studio Auto Lab Experts Harold Bendell- Major Auto Fred Bordoff-Bronx Community College, CUNY Tim Cacace-Master Mechanix David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Auto Repairs Charles Dazzo- Tottenville High School Staten Island, New York -Team Adviser Advanced Division Solar Car Challenge Gerard Dambrosio, Auto Shop Teacher/Solar Car Adviser-Tottenville High School Staten Island, New York Joseph Demarest-Student-Tottenville High School, Staten Island, New York Brendon McKenna-Student -Tottenville High School, Staten Island, New York Irakly ZakerishviliStudent -Tottenville High School, Staten Island, New York Joanne Porcelli, Esq Michael Porcelli - Central Avenue Auto Repairs & I-CAR Nicholas Prague- MTA and Rockland Community College, SUNY February 6, 2016 - Correspondent Reports - Car Reviews, Opinion and Other Automotive News and Information Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England MEGUIAR'S KEEPING CARS YOUNG FOR 115 YEARS Robert Sinclair-AAA Northeast THE AAA NORTHEAST GASOLINE REPORT Russ Rader, Vice President-Insurance Institute for Highway Safety CRASH AVOIDED-FRONT CRASH PREVENTION SLASHES POLICE-REPORTED REAR-END CRASHES Charles Dazzo & Joseph Demarest TOTTENVILLE HS SOLAR PIRATES IFB2016 heads to Downing Street A DOWNING Street reception has been held to celebrate the upcoming International Festival for Business 2016. The event, hosted by IFB2016 and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, welcomed business, government and diplomatic representatives from more than 50 of the UKs most important trading nations and marked the governments recognition of the festival as a major global platform for international trade and investment. International government figures attended the gathering at 11 Downing Street, representing nations that will take part in this years festival with more than 100 overseas delegations expected over the three weeks. Max Steinberg CBE, chair of IFB2016, said: Bringing together the London international diplomatic and business community is a powerful demonstration of the reach and impact that IFB2016 will have. I am delighted with this very positive response from the representatives of many countries who are very keen to participate in the festival. With more than 100 overseas delegations expected, it will be a global marketplace where connections are made and deals are done. IFB2016 also used the occasion to unveil communications giant BT as a major headline partner for this years festival, having previously supported the inaugural festival in 2014. Graham Sutherland, chief executive of BT Business, said: The event provides the perfect opportunity for businesses of all sizes to network, learn and explore how they can grow their business at home and abroad. Relationships are at the heart of doing business and communications technology enables business to build quicker and more effective relationships, as well as maximize potential opportunities beyond the UK. BT joins HSBC as a festival partner and festival supporters Arup, DLA Piper, Dong Energy, Heathrow, PwC, Siemens and Virgin Trains. The three week business festival commences on 13 June 2016 and will focus on three key sectors that are transforming the business landscape of Britain and beyond: manufacturing; creative & digital; and energy and environment. PLANS to build 205 residential units at Leeds South Bank will be presented to Leeds City Council for the first time next week. Leeds-based developer Citu is behind the proposal for the Clarence Road site, which is very close to Leeds Dock and on the banks of the River Aire. It is next to Liberty Dock student accommodation, pictured, and will cover a four-acre site. The brownfield site has not been in use since the Hydro Aluminium Foundry closed and it has subsequently been demolished. Citus scheme is for 205 dwellings, arranged in 13 blocks, made up of a mixture of flats, live-work units and houses. Leeds City Councils chief planning officer Tim Hill described the scheme as a significant regeneration opportunity that will contribute to the delivery of the Councils vision for the South Bank. Planning permission was previously granted for a larger scheme, on both sides of Clarence Road. That was for 625 residential units, a hotel, offices and leisure and was approved more than six years ago but the permission has now expired. Grant advances CSUCI research Cal State Channel Islands assistant professor of computer science Scott Feister and assistant professor of mathematics Alona Kryshchenko recently received $112,480 from the National Science Foundation to continue a grant to support their research project, Enhancing Laser Based Ion Sources... Healthcare agency recommends flu shots The Ventura County Health Care Agency offers options for the community to receive flu shots through its Ambulatory Care Clinic system, public health clinics and pop-up clinics. Although seasonal influenza viruses are detected year-round in the United States, they are... Early detection is the best way to survive breast cancer Every October, we celebrate those men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. But what is breast cancer and how can it be diagnosed and managed? There are five basic warning signs that breast cancer may be present:... Cal Lutheran University hosts Heart Walk The American Heart Association will host a Heart Walk Sat., Oct. 8 at Cal Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks. The event is expected to draw hundreds of people. Activities include a 2-mile walk, drum circle performances, Zumba demonstrations, live music and... New Delhi: Hardselling Indian Railways as "the perfect destination", Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu On February 5: said its revenue would rise by 50 per cent over the next five years as it scouted for foreign investment. Addressing India Investment Summit 2016 here, he said India is the "most happening country" in the world at a time when major economies are witnessing a slowdown, which he said makes it all the more compelling to invest in railway. The Railways, the Minister said, is trying to create a fund, with the World Bank as anchor and pension and sovereign wealth funds as co-investors. "The Railways is the perfect destination... stream of income is guaranteed. The Railways is being owned by the Government of India. So, the capital is definitely completely safe," Prabhu told the investors. On revenue growth, the minister is "sure that in next five years, (it) will increase at least by 50 per cent... so, revenues will rise and that will also provide some sort of comfort to investors". The total earnings of the Indian Railways during in 2014-15 came in at Rs 1,57,880.5 crore as against Rs 1,40,761.27 crore in the previous year, an increase of 12.16 per cent. The proposed fund would invest in projects selected by a professional fund managers, he added. The funds would be used for modernisation of railway as well. Prabhu laid a premium on infrastructure as the best investment destination in India. "Infrastructure deficiency in India is pretty large. We have to cover lots of ground, we have not still reached the desired destination of at least 10 per cent of GDP going into infrastructure investment and therefore... we need to put money in infrastructure, maybe even for the next two decades minimum," the minister said. Investment in railway, Prabhu added, would spur economic growth in India, which means benefits for the global economy as well. She struck it rich with a $1 million lotto jackpot almost a decade ago, then got stuck in legal limbo when her ex-beau claimed he was entitled to half. A fourth trial on the fate of the lottery cash has wrapped up Thursday in Sanford, Florida, where a jury deliberated for four hours to put a period on the drawn-out and costly civil litigation. (The couples row went all the way to the state Supreme Court before getting kicked back to where the saga began, in Seminole County.) Today, jurors decided that Lynn Poirier, a schoolteacher, wasnt justified in keeping her fortune and is on the hook to shell out $291,000 plus interest to former handyman lover Howard Browning, backing his beef that he was robbed of his fair share. Dogging the proceedings during the four-day trial was the mystery elephant in the courtroom: just how much is left of the $750,000 (the final sum minus the taxes) that Poirier collected back in 2007? Thats the million-dollar question, Brownings attorney, Sean Sheppard, told The Daily Beast. Here we are, nine years down the road, and thats the big question: Is there anything left? After the verdict came down Sheppard remained confident theres plenty of unspent cash. They fought really hard to avoid this position and we think theres something there to collect, he said. Browning, now 62 years old, says hes in the poorhouse and has been forced to live at his parents house. Hes been left devastated because he hasnt had his half of the money, Sheppard said. On Wednesday the retired 62-year-old teacher testified there was no such deal to divvy up their lottery riches. Never under any condition, any place, anywhere did I say I would split lottery winnings with Howard Browning, said Poirier. Up until todays decision the civil case has been a slog. It was initially dismissed in 2012 over a judges determination that any lottery agreement had to be in writing to be valid. That cleared Poirier of wrongdoing. Then a Fifth District court reversed that decision to side with Browning, who in a 2009 amended complaint had accused his former flame of engaging in conduct that amounts to stealing, larceny...fraud or deception...when she improperly and unlawfully obtained and carried away the winning lottery ticket that belonged in part to [him]. The district court decision allowed the case to be heard before the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee, which supported the reversal last year but also sent the case back to be tried again in Seminole County. The first day of the latest trial was Monday and by 4 p.m. today the jury sided with Browning. We felt the longer they deliberated the better chance we had, Shepperd said. Because of the lapsed years since the first lawsuit was filed in 2008, Brownings fourth round in court may amount to playing legal roulettebecause even with a victorious outcome, he may only get squat. She had to pay an attorney hourly and after all of the trials and appeals I would be shocked if it wasnt a six-figure bill ... deep six figures, Sheppard said. When asked if Poirier, also 62, has burned through the money, her attorney, Mark Sessums, couldnt say. I think they both incurred substantial legal fees but I cant get into the amounts, he said. Nobody disputes that Poirier bought a Millionaire Firecracker Raffle lottery ticket on June 2, 2007, late at night at a Sunoco gas station convenience store in Oviedo, Florida. In fact, both she and Browning each bought $20 tickets that very night. Browning has submitted bank records showing he withdrew $400 cash from his account just before he bought his ticket. Yet only Poiriers hit. While who bought the golden ticket isnt in dispute, some other details of that night are. For instance, during a March 23, 2010, deposition, Poirier said she was on my way from my mothers house to Millwee Middle School, where she worked, and which is in Longwood, Florida. She said she pit-stopped at the Sunoco gas station to fill up and buy the ticket with my own money. But if this is true, then she was heading to school and stopped to purchase the ticket at around 10 p.m. on June 2, 2007the first day of summer break, which also happened to be a Saturday. Theres no way a teacher is going to school at 10 oclock or on her way from school on a Saturday to buy a lottery ticket, Sheppard said. Poiriers lawyer Sessums says thats not a smoking gun. He counters that Poirier had been working on her lesson plan for the upcoming school year and routinely kept odd hours so the late Saturday night wasnt special. She had been at school that evening till about 8 or 8:30 and then had gone to dinner alone, he said, of her stag meal at Sonnys BBQ. Then she went to the Sunoco and bought her ticket, and walked out as Howard [Browning] was coming in. Somebodys not telling the truth, Sessums said. Also under scrutiny is whether the couple were actually a couple at the time of the lotto ticket purchase; and what the exact terms were of the alleged verbal agreement theyd forged back when they got together in 1992. That was when Howard Browning, a former city worker, had convinced Poirier to hire him to work on a century-old farm home shed bought in Lake Geneva, Florida. Browning initially started accepting payments for making repairs. But once they began their romance, he bartered with Poirier to permit him to live in the homewhich housed numerous animals she cared for, including rabbits and pigsin exchange for performing maintenance, and plumbing and construction work. Each played the lottery religiously. And given they both had the Lady Luck bugeven driving to North Carolina and Georgia to try to get richthey decided to join forces. There was also an agreement. At least, Browning testified there was, at one of the appeal trials back in 2013. It made sense, he said, that since we were buying tickets that we would go in and buy them together and we would play together and that if we win we would split the money. However, in a March 23, 2010, deposition, Poirier said there was never any agreement any kind to buy any lottery tickets and jointly share any money from them at any time, in any state, in any place. It didnt help that their romantic flame apparently dimmed. Poirier, according to Sessums, hadnt been living with Browning for years by the time she bought the golden ticket and stressed that they werent intimate when she picked the winner. The last time they had sexual relations was back in 2003, to put it bluntly, he said. And, according to Sessums, they had both moved on to other partners: Browning was dating a woman named Debbie Swaitkowski and Poirier was planning to wed a man from Arkansas named Michael Jenkins. He was already involved with another woman when she won the ticket, Sessums said, and pointed out that Poirier was wearing an engagement ring. That meant even if they had some sort of lottery split, it was clearly null once they went their separate ways, he said. They each were involved with other people, so their agreement [from] 14 years before wasnt effective, Sessums said. But Browning says he and Poirier remained lovers long after the lotto ticket purchase. Poirier finally returned to [their] shared residence and resumed living with Browning. Their romantic relationship continued, the civil lawsuits complaint states. Brownings lawyer said the pair continued to have sex that very night and that Poirier continued to have sex with him up until 2008, when he started asking her to pay me half. The homeowner then allegedly sought to evict Browning for being a shoddy fix-it man who was also love-scorned. But Sessums suggests he was simply a sore loser when he lodged a lawsuit. Eventually this house got knocked downnot only did the house get into such deplorable shape that she stopped going there, and their relationship fell apart, Sessums said, describing the 2008 stalemate. There were rabbits in the house All the interior walls were turned out, there were wires hanging and floorboards missing. Brownings attorney says the house was hopeless and too tall an order for a handyman to handle in his spare time. What this house needed was a general contractor and $150,000 with 10 guys on the job for 18 months but instead she had this guy do it bit by bit. Poirier apparently managed to keep the lotto prize secret for over a month and was allegedly ducking Browning by relocating to her mothers home. Browning made numerous attempts to contact Poirier by telephone, however, Poirier refused to either accept or return his phone calls, according to the original civil complaint filed against Poirier back on Jan. 22, 2008. Browning says it wasnt until Poirier pulled up to his driveway in a brand new Chevy pickup that he realized something was up. It was then that he put two and two together, his attorney Sheppard said. He said, We both won and wheres my half of the money? Not so, Poiriers lawyer Sessums said. Eventually she comes by the house she owns because she has animals to feed there. They run into each other and they talk about it. Sessums claimed that the two had each come into money before the $1 million ticket and didnt make any hay about it. Browning received a $78,000 wrongful termination lawsuit against the city of Winter Springs, Florida, in the early 1990s when he and Poirier became intimately involved. Sessums said he didnt give her any part of that money. Same goes for when Browning scored a Ford Mustang in another lotto drawing. When he hocked the car, Sessums said, he kept that money for himself. But Brownings camp feels Poirier reneged on a promise. He thought she would honor this agreement and since then he has barely been keeping his head above water, Sheppard said. Hes 60 years old. Hes not a young guy. Its not something youre going to walk away from after all this time, he added, before the rendered verdict. Were confident we will prevail but we just have to see whats at the end of the rainbow. While six jurors have decided in favor of the former handyman, what remains is whether theres a pot of gold to splitor thin air. Evidence has emerged strongly suggesting that U.S.-armed rebels have used an American-supplied weapons system to kill a handful of senior Russian military officials in Syria. Video footage, circulated by a known CIA-backed Free Syrian Army militia, shows a wire-guided BGM-71 TOWs anti-tank missile fired at a rooftop where unidentified uniformed personnel had gathered. The location of the building under attack is likely Latakia province, where the rebels have lately suffered setbacks as a result of intensified Russian airstrikes and artillery shelling aiding forces loyal to Bashar al-Assads regime. Everything is based on open-source intelligence and reporting from Syrian opposition, Turkish, and Russian sources, all of which agree that at least one high-ranking Russian was killed in action in Syria. As of Thursday evening, U.S. officials would neither confirm nor deny to The Daily Beast whether an increase in resupplies to U.S.-backed rebel militias was in the offing as a result of the complete and utter breakdown of Syrian peace negotiations in Geneva. But if the FSA is indeed taking out Russian commanders with American materiel, then two former Cold War adversaries would find themselves in a miniature replay of the Soviet-Afghan proxy warexactly the sort of geopolitical brinkmanship that President Obama has repeatedly forsworn. More significantly, such a contingency could derail any creeping efforts at diplomatic reconciliation between Washington and Moscow after a severe breakdown of relations following Russias invasion and annexation of Ukraine in 2014. On Wednesday, the FSAs Northern Division, one of the 39 anti-Assad militias backed by the CIA, uploaded a video showing one of its soldiers firing a TOW missile at half a dozen or so unidentified uniformed men gathered on a rooftop of a building. The video, uploaded at 5:57 GMT, named the targets as Russian officers but gave no details about the exact location of the attack apart from noting that it was somewhere near Syrias coastthe region of the country where Russia has recently constructed forward operating bases and airfields. There was little doubt that whoever was on that roof didnt survive the resulting blast. About an hour later, Russias state-owned TASS news agency reported that a Russian officer who had been advising the Assads army had indeed been killed in Syrianot by U.S.-backed rebels but by ISIS, which allegedly hit a military garrison with mortars on Monday. No location for this attack was given. By 7:23 p.m. Wednesday, an opposition group known as the Revolutionary Forces of Syria appeared to corroborate the Northern Divisions claim and isolated the rooftop blast to the Jabal al-Akrad mountain region of northern Latakia, Assads ancestral home where pro-regime forceshelped considerably by Russian airpower and artilleryrecently scored a major victory in pushing the rebels out of their main provincial stronghold of Salma. By 8:19, a precise coordinate arrived by way of the pro-opposition Local Coordination Committees, which reported that 15 militants, including 3 Russian officers and 4 Assads forces officers [sic] had been killed by a TOW in Marj Khawkha. This is a village just outside of Salma, where the presence of Russian troops has been confirmed by independent media. Turkeys Anadolu Agency then picked up the story, specifying that four Russian generals were among 15 officials killed in the Jabal al-Akrad hit. One of the generals was identified only as Yuri. All of Anadolus claims were attributed to anonymous Syrian opposition sources. At 8:30 p.m., Aleksandr Kots and Dmitry Steshin, two reporters from the pro-Kremlin newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravdaboth of whom gained notoriety for their propagandistic dispatches from the war in Ukrainecited unofficial reports that a Russian officer acting as a military adviser to the Syrian regime had died from multiple shrapnel wounds sustained during a mortar attack outside Salma. This article, however, attributed the attack to Turkish armed forces, relying on what the Syrian Foreign Ministry had evidently told Kots and Steshin. Another Komsomolskaya Pravda journalist gave the unnamed dead Russians rank as lieutenant colonel and added that hed been working in Syria since 2012, training the Syrian military in the use of heavy equipment. Ever since Turkish F-16s shot down a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 bomber that had briefly entered Turkish airspace on Nov. 24, Moscow has retaliated with information warfare (Putin has accused the NATO member of buying oil from ISIS, something his client in Damascus continues to do), sanctions, canceled pipeline talks, and a high-octane form of deterrence. Russias most sophisticated air defense system, the S-400, arrived in Syria not long thereafter. Part of the impetus for retaking Salma was to deliver a hammer-blow to Ankaras preferred proxy, ethnic Turkmen rebels who have operated in mountain ranges of Latakia and Idlib provinces. This week, Russia accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Mass population displacement also appears part of the Kremlins strategy. Seventy thousand Syrian civilians have fled Aleppos countryside for the Turkish border since Russias sorties intensified in the last few days. The Komsomolskaya Pravda accusation seems consistent with a coordinated anti-Turkish messaging campaign. Complicating matters further, however, was a report in Russias independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta that Igor Konashenkov, the chief spokesman for Russias Ministry of Defense, said the officer had died in a hospital Monday from ISIS mortar fire, which also killed four Syrian military trainees. Konashenkov gave no date for the attack, but unnamed sources told the paper that it occurred over a week ago, on Jan. 26. Also, it was at a training center nowhere near Latakia but in Homs City. (There is no known ISIS presence in that city, or within striking mortar range of it.) This isnt the first time a Russian serviceman has been killed in combat in Syria. Following the downing of the Russian Su-24 (the pilot of which was killed), a Russian military helicopter, searching for the surviving navigator, was brought down in the mountains of Latakia. Rebel fighters claimed that they had used a TOW missile to strike the helicopter. One Russian marine was killed. The final piece of evidence was furnished again on Thursday by the Northern Division, which posted a follow-up video interspersing statements from the TOW gunner seen in the original with the raw footage of the attack. An officer from the Northern Division stated on camera: The Anti-Aircraft Battalion affiliated with the Northern Division got information from the battalion commander that some Russians were scouting in the Turkmen Mountains. We took the [TOW] base and, following the reconnaissance mission, we found a number of Russian soldiers gathered on the rooftop of a building. I dealt with them and one of the dead was a high-ranking Russian officer, alongside some Russian officers and Syrian officers. This appeared to conform to what the Local Coordination Committees and Anadolu Agency had earlier published. Qalaat al-Mudiq, a pseudonymous military analyst who studies the Syria conflict, told The Daily Beast that videographic evidence of TOW use on the battlefield had trickled off in the last months of 2015 and totally vanished in the first two weeks of 2016. The decrease happened after the record number of 115 TOWs recorded in October, al-Mudiq said. There were 73 in November and 49 in December. There were no recorded TOW launches in January until the 12th, and that entire month saw only 22 in total. February has already been a return to prior use frequency. In the first three days of this month, al-Mudiq has already found videos of 16 TOW launchesincluding the one that purportedly killed one or more Russians in Latakia. The provision of this munition is both limited and highly regulated. The TOWs are supplied directly by Saudi Arabia, from stocks purchased from the United States, and with an end-user agreement that allows a U.S. veto on where they are used and by whom. According to multiple FSA sources, who spoke to The Daily Beast on the condition of anonymity, rebels are trained in teams of 50 in Jordan, Qatar, Turkey, or Saudi Arabia, but mainly in the first two countries. After this training, they get back to the border, they get inside Syria, and then they get their gear, one Jordan-based rebel liaison familiar with the TOW supply chain said. With the TOW, each 50-man team gets one launcher and five missiles. Theyre told to make a video verifying the missiles use and bring the spent missile casings to show they havent sold them or whatever. Approximately 4,000 anti-Assad rebels have gone through this ostensibly clandestine program, the source added, meaning that the total number of TOWs that have already circulated throughout Syria is roughly 400. TOW recipients are part of a CIA-spearheaded program, featuring 39 select rebel groups, dedicated to fighting the Assad regime and its manifold proxies. The program is coordinated in two joint operations centers, based in Turkey and Jordan, and administered by the intelligence agencies of several Western and regional countries. TOWs have been shown to render the regimes dwindling stock of Soviet-era armored vehicles into fiery gnarls of metal. Recently, however, these vehicles have been photographed outfitted with a panoramic turret that many observers believe is a missile detection mechanism, which would itself be an indicator of the high toll the weapon has taken on the Syrian Arab Army. Russian T-90 tanks equipped with active anti-missile protection systems also have appeared lately on the frontlines with both Syrian soldiers and Hezbollah paramilitaries. Rebel recipients of the wire-guided munition have also killed generals and lower-ranking officers from Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hezbollah, and Assads National Defense Forces, an Iranian-built militia of Shia and Alawite loyalists, under as-yet-undetermined circumstances. Forty IRGC officers were killed in Aleppo in a single month during the regimes first offensive last November. Yet the recent influx of Russian military advisers and now, reportedly, Spetsnaz commandos, has made it all but certain that American proxies would eventually rack up Russian casualties with American-made hardware. There are an estimated 4,000 Russian military personnel stationed in Syria. The CIA program predates and was always distinct from the now-defunct Pentagon-run train and equip mission, which, at a price of $500 million, envisaged a strictly anti-ISIS counterterrorism squad made up of Sunni Arabs and Sunni Turkmen fighters, collectively known as the New Syrian Forces. Train and equips recruits all came from U.S.-approved FSA groups, but the program ended in calamity last October after The Daily Beast reported that American military gear including M4 rifles and gun-mounted pickup trucks supplied to the New Syrian Forces second graduating class had been passed along to al Qaedas Syria franchise Jabhat al Nusra. The commander responsible, Abu Zayd, from the Division 30 rebel group, had himself been vetted but not trained by the Pentagon, as U.S. Central Command confirmed. While the TOW is a signature of Americas involvement in the anti-Assad rebellion, its value to rebels on the battlefield is considered secondary to other known anti-tank systemsall of them, ironically, Russian-made. The TOW missiles are not a big deal, said Isam El Rayyes, the spokesman for the FSAs Southern Front, a umbrella organization of 35,000 fighters, many of whom are TOW recipients. Its less sophisticated than other weapons we have, but its gotten a lot of media attention because its American. The TOWs, El Rayyes noted, are mostly used in Syrias rural areas against tanks and BMPs parked on country roads, the reason being their limited range. The TOWs given to rebels can travel a maximum of 3.7 kilometers. The fighters consider the Russian Konkur and Kornet missile more effective because missile resupplies for these systems are more readily availableeasily seized from regime stockpilesand they fly farther. The Konkurs rebels have confiscated from Syrian army warehouses can reach up to 5 kilometers. The Southern Front is supplied by several Western and regional intelligence agencies, all coordinating in the Military Operations Command, or MOC, in Amman. El Rayyes denies that the groups stream of armaments has dwindled to a trickle as a result of renewed diplomatic pressure to cajole the Southern Front into attending peace talks in Switzerland, as has been reported mainly in the pro-Assad media. Rather, he says, MOC-licensed resupplies have remained as low as they ever were. The Southern Front has never been adequately equipped by its backers for fear that it might actually succeed in achieving a military solution to a conflict that Washington insists has only a political terminus. But the fronts constituent militias have suffered heavily from Russian airstrikes in the last two months. Since Nov. 28, the Russians have carried out more than 800 sorties in Deraa province alone, forcing the rebels loss of the town of Sheikh al-Maskeen. The indiscriminate bombing campaign, analyzed and denounced by human-rights monitors, has displaced an estimated 150,000 civilians. These airstrikes are like hell, El Rayyes said, adding that theres now a new pro-regime offensive being pressed in Atman, a town just north of Deraa City. Weve had 60 Russian bombing raids in 24 hours. The FSA controls Atman exclusively. There is no Nusra or Islamist groups here. The last 48 hours has seen one of the worst setbacks for the Free Syrian Army since the armed uprising against Assad began almost five years ago. Backed by Russian airpower, loyalist forces led by Hezbollah and Shia militias have managed to sack several strategically crucial settlements in northern Aleppo province, including Hardatnin, Bashkoy, and Mayer, thereby cutting off FSA supply lines from southern Turkey to Syrias industrial heartland. Aleppo City is all but encircled. They have not stopped bombing, a rebel leader withdrawing from Hardatnin told the Guardian on Thursday. All the hospitals have been destroyed. We have around seven attacks an hour every day for a week. There were more than 120 on Tuesday alone. On Wednesday, Pentagon spokesman Col. Steve Warren told reporters that a mere 10 percent of all Russian airstrikes have gone after ISIS targetsand then only when ISIS has come into direct confrontation with pro-regime forces. The Russians at this point have made it very clear that their offensive operations are in support of Bashar al-Assad and his regime. So when the regime is fighting, whoever the regime is fighting, thats who gets struck. Well, that was great. That was one of the best debates Ive ever watched. The questions were (mostly) good and tough and not stupid, and Chuck Todd and Rachel Maddow did a really good job of steering it without getting in the way. Both candidates were good. Very good. There were a few tough moments, a few tender moments. It was real. I dont know if it changed the dynamic in New Hampshire, but it did suggest one possible path for Hillary Clinton to narrow Bernie Sanderss huge lead so that we might see some drama next Tuesday after all. The debate had three sections. Section One, about the first 50 minutes, was on the economy, the special interests, the 1 percent, and whats a progressive. That was fought on Sanderss terrain, and any debate fought on Candidate As terrain is hard for Candidate B to win. Sanders was good. He made his points very well. Clinton had her moments. As I write this theyre talking a lot on TV about her use of the phrase artful smear, referring to the Sanders camps suggestion that Clinton was bought and paid for because of her speaking fees and contributions from Wall Street. That was the one moment when the crowd went ooooh. And then she said to Sanders, basically, I challenge you to name one matter on which I changed a position because of any contributions I took. He punted on thathe went into generalizations about the evils of big money, but he had nothing to say about Clinton herself. At the same time, she failed to point that out! She should have said hey, I notice youre railing against the system, but youre not saying a word about me. So she missed that opportunity for a huge applause line. Part two was the foreign policy section, which took about half an hour. Here, frankly, Sanders looked out of his depth. Todd asked him what hed do to draw down in Afghanistan. He talked about Iraq, ISIS, every place in the world except Afghanistan. It came across almost as if he didnt know what was happening there. Clinton didnt exactly blow him out of the water to the extent she might have, but she very clearly showed that she knows whats going on out there in the big bad world and he does not. Twitter, during that half-hour, was full of people saying OMG, Bernie is in disaster land here. The third segment, which lasted about 40 minutes, was the Everything Else segment, which included Flint, her emails, the death penalty, a few other matters. This was interesting, because the debate went from highly combative in Section One to merely combative in Section Two to kind of a kumbayah situation in Section Three. On the emails, Clinton said she hadnt the remotest worry that it was going to debilitate her candidacy. Sanders said he would not attack Clinton on it. Maddow asked Sanders an interesting question about electability, comparing him to Barry Goldwater in 1964 and George McGovern in 1972. Sanders had a pretty good answer, that hes talking about core economic issues that those two were not, and Clinton didnt press the case of Sanderss un-electability nearly as aggressively as one might have expected. Flint came up; Clinton took the lead, and Sanders agreed. On the death penalty, they did disagree, with Clinton saying she still supported it for certain exceptionally heinous crimes, citing Tim McVeigh. Sanders said he was against it, but he didnt try to whack Clinton for her position. Sanders knows what to say; he knows how to connect emotionally. On Flint, he was done with his answer, and then it occurred to him, but let me just addFlint is a poor black city, and it never would have been treated this way if it were a middle-class white city. Applause! Clinton is less good at that. She aims for the head. He aims for the heart. Thats their DNA. Heart almost always wins. But heres Clintons possible opening. Sanderss foreign policy problems were real. He had no chops beyond saying I voted against Iraq. So Clinton can get at him on that. But: She should not make it a foreign policy argument explicitly. If she goes out there Friday and says Senator Sanders isnt prepared to deal with our complex world, itll fall flat, because most Democratic primary voters dont care about our complex world one-tenth as much as they care about evil banks and Wall Street. However, they do care, being good liberals, about basic competence and levels of knowledge. So she needs to disguise her foreign policy argument (because most people feel kind of intimidated about foreign policy) as a ready-to-be-president argument. Because ready-to-be-president is code for Sanderss lack of knowledge about foreign policy, but other things as well: the fact that he hasnt ever had to take on the right in the way she has, the fact that hes never been through the media grist mill in the way she has, and so on. Its not an electability argument. Its different. Its about who can handle the job. Foreign policy is the avenue into it. Thats the way she can tighten this New Hampshire race, I think. I dont really think she can, because Sanders is very good at what he does, and this is just his state. But hey, let this go on: This is good. This is a conversation. This is democracy. When a rattled, aghast Macbeth staggers into Act II of Shakespeares great tragedy, moments after stabbing the slumbering Duncan to death, he gives voice to one of the Bards most startling lines: Macbeth does murder sleep. Then, as the doomed Scot eulogizes the innocent sleep he has just slaughtered, his words grow elegiac. Sleep, he says, is the balm of hurt minds, the chief nourisher in lifes feast and, most famously, it knits up the ravelld sleeve of care. Infusing every word is Macbeths mournful realization that, as a murderer, he will never again know any of those gifts. Hes screwed. Four hundred years later, while Americans might not be murdering sleep outright, we seem to be doing our damnedest to bludgeon it into a kind of permanent, sluggish wakefulness. Thirty percent of adults in the U.S. enjoy six or fewer hours of sleep each night. According to the CDC, people who sleep less than five to six hours a night are up to 45 percent more likely to be obese than those who get the recommended seven to nine hours. More than 85 percent of high schoolers, meanwhile, get far less than their recommended eight to 10 hours of shuteyea shortfall that constitutes a serious threat to their health, safety, and academic success. Enter Drew Ackerman, a 41-year-old librarian in the Bay Area and the man behind the odd, wonderful and, if a thousand or so overwhelmingly positive reviews on iTunes are any indication, the enormously effective podcast, Sleep With Me, which Ackerman himself calls a lulling, droning, boring bedtime story to distract your racing mind. To characterize what Ackerman puts together three times a week as a mere bedtime story, though, is a bit like calling the Odyssey a tale of a guy who got lost on his way home. What Ackerman has created since airing his first episode in October of 2013 is in some ways closer, in intent and in kind, to a mammoth, stream-of-consciousness novel (comprised of, by now, well over 300 chapters) narrated by his slow-talking alter ego, Scooter. And all of it, every minute, is crafted with one aim in mind: to put people to sleep. Ackermans pithy written summations of the episodes probably provide as clear an indication of the sort of engaging weirdness a curious listener can expect to encounter during any given podcast. (The episodes runtimes are, roughly, anywhere from 45 to 90 minutesand yet, somehow, they all feel to be pretty much the same length.) For example, heres Ackermans teaser for a recent installment: Unwind with me with a night of knocks and a round of broccoli races. Sleep as my respite is interrupted by my childhood piano teacher. Its apology time and I have a feeling Judy Garland is upset with me. As you sink deep into your cushiony bed I will float into the clouds on a piano carried by eagles. Aesops fables, it aint. The stories are delivered in Scooters assiduously unmodulated drawl; he sounds more than a little like the actor Owen Wilson, if Wilson recorded surreal fairy tales for a 33 1/3 rpm record meant to be played back at around, say, 28 1/2 rpm. But perhaps the most unusual element of the entire Sleep With Me venture is, as Ackerman sees it, the paradoxical nature of his effort. His goal, after all, is to help people fall asleep, to distract the listeners racing mind. If hes doing his job, the vast majority of his listeners will never hear a full episodemuch less the entire, ever-unfolding Scooterology opus. Theyll be asleep long before any given episode ends. At the same time, being a storyteller, Ackerman wants every episode, as seemingly disjointed and haywire as it might seem, to feel complete. I dont really have rules for myself when writing, Ackerman says of his approach to the notes and sometimes carefully drawn scenarios that serve as narrative guides to the episodes. The vast majority of my listeners simply expect me to help them fall asleep, and the feedback I get suggests that my moving from topic to unrelated topic to unrelated topic does just that. But I also have an enormous freedom when writing. Most people arent going to hear full episodes, so even though Im driven to make each one feel whole, I still have all of this room to play around. I can take an episode wherever I feel like taking it, because Ive learned over the past two years that I have to meander if Im going to help people fall sleep. There are, of course, a slew of insomnia-fighting podcasts and other digital sleep aids out there, from the ingenious, gamelan-like Listen to Wikipedia, which plays a never-repeating series of bells, strings, and other notes, all of which represent edits to Wikipedia pages in real time, to the countlessand, to some people, profoundly creepyautonomous sensory meridian response, or ASMR, videos found on YouTube. (If youve always dreamed of encountering strangers who earnestly whisper random nothings to you while they cut fabric with scissors, try on hats, or scrape their fingernails slowly across a microphone, youre in luck. ASMR is for you.) But none of the myriad efforts to help people battle insomnia have taken as unlikelyor as entertaining, even when heard for just a few minutesan approach as that enacted by Sleep With Me. Whether hes reading aloud, with wry asides, from a Washington Post column on feminism and Game of Thrones; riffing on battery-life issues in the spirit world; or mulling over why Drake is probably a better name to call out than Super Dave Osborne if you find yourself in trouble in a dream, Ackerman/Scooter moves with evident ease not only between topics, but between landscapes and entire worlds. And as Scooter wanders down that winding, undulating, occasionally switchback road of his own devising, the listener quickly begins to feel that its OK to hang back, to wander off, to hear Scooters voice growing distant, and not to worry about it. Five or 10 minutes later comes blessed sleepaccording to a rigorously unscientific poll conducted with friends and family members who swear by Sleep With Me. (Disclosure: This writer does not suffer from insomnia. He does sometimes listen to Scooter, though.) For Drew Ackerman, the seeds of what would become Sleep With Me were planted decades ago in upstate New York, where he grew up. In the bedroom they shared, he and his younger brother would take turns telling incredibly boring and stupid stories to one anotherstories about gum balls, or walking around townon those nights when neither of them could fall asleep. But perhaps the strongest inspiration for what has become destination podcasting for tens of thousands of listeners every week was the old, syndicated Dr. Demento radio show out of Los Angeles. When I was in fifth and sixth grade, I had trouble in school and Sunday nights before the school week started again were always terrible, Ackerman recalls. But I would listen to Dr. Demento for two solid hours every Sunday night, and I loved it. It didnt help me sleep, but the silliness of it helped all of that anxiety just fall away. And thats something I want Sleep With Me to give to peoplesome reassurance that they have this podcast to turn to. Its a safe place where they can just stop worrying about everything for a while. And how does Drew Ackerman, who admits to being way more spastic, awkward, and caffeinated than Scooter, manage to get to sleep? Turns out, its the old-fashioned way. I start slowing down an hour before I go to bed. If I take an hour and sit quietly, maybe do a little writing and then read for half an hour, Id say theres a 90 percent chance Ill fall asleep. Like the old song says: Whatever gets you through the night. After more than a decade of fighting to keep them out of public view, the Pentagon released 198 photographs on Friday, mostly showing close-ups of tiny cuts, bruises, and scars on a series of anonymous men. But the real story is what the Obama administration decided to keep hidden. Fridays photos are an innocuous fraction of a much larger cache of 2,000 images, detailing the abuse of detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Some of the most graphic images are said to show American troops posing with corpses. Others depict U.S. forces holding guns to peoples heads or simulating forced sodomization. In one, a large man rides an elderly woman as if she were an animal and whips her with a stick. The mistreatment of corpses and prisoners are widely considered to be violations of the international rules of war. Those grotesque photos arent any closer to seeing the light of day, thanks to persistent efforts by Obama administration officials to prevent their release. The Pentagon has for years insisted that those images would incite violence against U.S. troops and potentially endanger Americans overseas. And officials had also argued that even the anodyne pics released today could inspire the same backlasha claim that seemed hard for even the secretary of defense to believe. While the abuse occurred under the administration of George W. Bush, the Obama administration has successfully kept this evidence of possible war crimes buried. President Obama himself, who took office in 2009 promising a new era of transparency and accountability for torture and other abuses, was prepared at the time to release some of the photos. But at the urging of his top military commander in Iraq, he pulled back, persuaded by military leaders that the graphic images would incite violence. But seven years later, with Obama nearing the end of his presidency, the risk to troops has diminished, a fact that the Pentagon implicitly acknowledged in agreeing to release the nearly 200 photos this week. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter personally signed off on the photos release after determining that they would not jeopardize the safety of U.S. forces, defense officials told The Daily Beast. That was a notable shift in the position of his predecessors, who had used their authority under law to keep all the photos out of public view. Carter reached his decision after consulting with combatant commanders around the world, whose forces might be targeted in any backlash, officials said. They concluded that the risk was less now than in years past because there are fewer troops leaving their bases overseas and potentially coming into contact with people who might be angry about the photos. In Afghanistan, there are at least 12,300 U.S. troopsless than a 10th of the total in the early years of the Obama administration. And in Iraq, there are a relative handful of U.S. forces compared to the hundreds of thousands stationed there in 2004, when graphic and disturbing photos emerged of the U.S. militarys treatment of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison. Many of those troops were conducting daily patrols outside the base. Inside the Pentagon, there was not a widespread concern that the photos threatened troops safety. As a matter of policy, we do not discuss force protection changes. While we are not aware of any specific threats related to this matter, we take the safety and security of U.S. forces seriously wherever they serve and always encourage a high level of vigilance among our personnel, Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, told The Daily Beast. But it was unlikely that Carters decision heralded a new era of openness. There was no indication that the secretary has changed his mind that photos showing mock executions or soldiers beating prisoners still pose a risk to U.S. troops. Its shameful that the government continues to keep secret the most powerful evidence of misconduct that it has, Alex Abdo, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been fighting in court for more than a decade to release the photos, told The Daily Beast. Democracies disclose misconduct, and they account for it. These photos came from independent criminal investigations into allegations of misconduct by U.S. military personnel. Based on those allegations, 65 service members received discipline ranging from letters of reprimand to life imprisonment. Twenty-six personnel were convicted at courts-martial. Under the Geneva Conventions, mutilation, cruel treatment, and torture of prisoners is forbidden. The disclosure of these photos is long overdue, but more important than the disclosure is the fact that hundreds of photographs are still being withheld, ACLU Deputy Legal Director Jameel Jaffer said in a statement. The still-secret pictures are the best evidence of the serious abuses that took place in military detention centers. The governments selective disclosure risks misleading the public about the true extent of the abuse. While critics said the administration hadnt gone far enough, others saw the Pentagons decision as a judicious, cautious step in trying to provide some accountability for abuses that even those who dont want the photos released will not defend. I think the presidents calculation earlier [in 2009] that releasing all these photos could endanger American troops is exactly right, Peter Margulies, a professor at the Roger Williams University School of Law who has written extensively on national security legal issues, told The Daily Beast. I think weve known since 2004 that some detainees were treated terribly. We rightly now regard much of that treatment as being in violation of international law and U.S. law. But weve had an abundant record thats been developed on that dismal situation, including most recently the Senate Intelligence Committee report on torture. The photos were are a reminder of a period when U.S. military personnel detained thousands of local residentsoften for ambiguous reasonsand as the photos suggest, provided them uneven care. The question of whether the sins of the past can be fully reconciled without visual evidence has been at the heart of the legal fight over the photos. The ACLU first filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in 2004, demanding government information on both the militarys treatment of detainee treatment and on detainees who died in U.S. custody. The case wound its way through the judicial system. And in September 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit ordered the release of a 21-photo subset. By April 2009, Obama was preparing to disclose those images. An ACLU lawyer at the time called it a sign that [the Obama administration] is committed to more transparency. Obama seemed willing, even though the photo trove contained horrors, according to former administration officials, military records, and news accounts at the time. In May, however, the president had an abrupt change of heart. Obama went to the South Lawn of the White House and told reporters, The publication of these photos would not add any additional benefit to our understanding of what was carried out in the past by a small number of individuals. In fact, the most direct consequence of releasing them, I believe, would be to further inflame anti-American opinion and to put our troops in greater danger. But in March 2015, a district court ruled (PDF) that the Pentagons blanket ban on releasing the photos was inadequate and that the photos must be released in full. But in November, Carter used his authority under law to block the photos, except not the 197 released now. The department said in court filings that all the photos were being subjected to a new review process. The legal fight for the remaining photos continues. And, said the ACLUs Abdo, without them, that chapter of history cannot be fully closed. Abdo argued that absent the photos of abuse at Abu Ghraib, where prisoners were shown hooked up to electrical cords and made to stand in humiliating positions, the public debate over torture wouldnt have been as consequential. Photographic evidence is uniquely powerful and can sway public opinion and inform public policy, he said. The photos are available in a PDF hosted by the Department of Defense. Its silly to pretend otherwise: As a Democrat, Id rather run against Ted Cruz than Marco Rubio. But thats like saying Id rather run against herpes than Marco Rubio. Of course I would. I dont care that Ted Cruz may be smart and strategic. Hes also creepy and cruel, according to just about everyone whos ever had the misfortune of knowing him for longer than 10 minutes. Id also rather run against Donald Trump than Marco Rubio. Again, obvious. But for me, less so than Cruz. Trump isnt quite as easily caricatured as a cartoon villain. Before his current role as Americas most overexposed xenophobe, he was a celebrity con man whose job was getting people to like and trust him against all odds. Trump is a loser now after Iowa, and perhaps for good, but he is also unpredictable, unscripted, and unafraid to torch the establishment of which he was once a member. Theres no zealot like a convert in search of voters. Rubio is none of these thingswhich is why the more I think about him as a potential GOP nominee, the less scared I get. Rubio would certainly start with some strengths. His youth, background, story, and ability to tell that story will generate another round of fawning media coverage of Rubio as the Republican Obama (hence the echoes of Obamas Iowa speech in Rubios). He will be called the Democrats Worst Nightmare by so many annoying pundits, who will quote from the latest Gravis Marketing/Insider Advantage/Outback Steakhouse poll that shows Rubio capturing 85.5 percent of the Latino vote and all Americans under 30. Because Trump and Cruz have moved the goalposts on what it means to be bat-shit crazy in a primary, the press will confuse Rubios moderate temperament with moderate policies, of which he has none. Rubio was once described as the crown prince of the Tea Party. He has a 100 percent rating from the NRA. Hell appoint justices who will overturn the Supreme Courts gay marriage decision. He opposes abortion with no exception for rape or incest. He opposes stem cell research and doesnt believe in climate change. Hed send ground troops to Syria and trillions in tax cuts to the rich. On immigration, who knows what Rubio will do nextand thats kind of the point. In the primary, his experimentation with legalization has been an issue of loyalty to the Republican base. If he makes it to the general, it will be a character issue. When he ran for Senate, Rubio said he opposed citizenship for undocumented immigrants. When he got to the Senate, Rubio helped write a bill that supported citizenship for undocumented immigrants. When Rubios presidential ambitions were then threatened by a conservative revolt, he renounced his own bill. This is such an easy story to tell. Its such an easy story to understand. Its not so different from when John Kerry voted for the $87 billion before he voted against ita flip-flop that helped sink his 2004 campaign. Beyond Washington, Rubios dance on immigration wont be seen as shrewd, it will be seen as cowardly and self-servingbasically, what people have come to expect from establishment politicians. And thats who Rubio really is, isnt he? Hes been in elected office for most of his life. Hes not just cozy with lobbyistshe was registered as one. Hes cautious and guarded, a little too slick and overly rehearsed. Chris Christie has taken to calling him bubble boy for avoiding questions in favor of his stump speech. Then there was a New Hampshire reporters brutal description of Rubios interview with The Conway Daily Sun: It was like watching a computer algorithm designed to cover talking points. He said a lot but at the same time said nothing. It was like someone wound him up, pointed him toward the doors and pushed play. If there was a human side to the senator, a soul, it didnt come across. Rubios campaign is based on the premise that hes a new kind of leader for the next generation in a New American Century. And certainly, he looks the part and knows the lines. Hes young, charismatic, and never misses a chance to tell us how much cool rap music is on his iPad, even if no one asked (also, Pitbull isnt cool). But as a general election candidate, Rubio would combine everything people hate about Washington politics with everything they hate about Republican policies. He may be more formidable and disciplined than some of his nuttier rivals, but he will also be utterly predictable and conventional. We Democrats have won that kind of election before. We can do it again. Tiger will be playing a role of a rebel, who goes to great lengths to revolt against his love. Mumbai: The makers of 'Baaghi', who had fiercely guarded the sets may have let it a bit loose as a picture of Shraddha Kapoor from the film has surfaced on the internet. The actress will be sharing screen space with Tiger Shroff in Sabbir Khan's directorial. The trio Sajid-Sabbir-Tiger will be seen again after the movie 'Heropanti'. In this movie, Tiger will be playing a role of a rebel, who goes to great lengths to revolt against his love. Recently, the director took to microblogging site Twitter to appreciate Tiger and Shraddha's hard work over an 18-hour-long crazy shoot for the movie. The film produced by Sajid Nadiadwala also stars Paras Arora and is scheduled to release on April 29, 2016. New expression from Longmorn distillery Longmorn has launched The Distillers Choice, a smooth, triple-cask matured single malt Scotch whisky, offering a new interpretation of the brands renowned classic toffee flavours. The expression is a new release from Longmorn as part of a renewed focus by Chivas Brothers on the Speyside distillery established by John Duff in 1894. He installed the broad, smooth-shouldered stills that allow a lower fill level thus increasing contact with the copper during distillation. These same stills are used today. He also constructed a railway for the transportation of barrels to and from the distillery, which is depicted on the label. Longmorn The Distillers Choice is presented in distinct, luxury packaging that befits its exceptional quality; the glass bottle has high, broad shoulders, a long pouring neck and is largely transparent to showcase the quality of the whisky inside. The two labels pay homage to the founders railway station by replicating the style of a train ticket and inclusion of a steam train as part of the updated logo. Modern luxury cues pay homage to the golden age of progress in the late 1800s, with the striking purple colour evoking The Mauve Decade, which saw the increased availability of purple clothing, previously only available to the aristocracy. Longmorn The Distillers Choice is described as a well-balanced single malt with incredible depth of flavour, presenting notes of delicate spice, sweet treacle toffee and caramel the result of maturation in a range of American oak, ex-Oloroso sherry and traditional oak casks. Clarisse Daniels, global marketing manager for single malts at Chivas Brothers, comments: For more than a century, Longmorn single malt has been one of the best-kept secrets in Scotland, so we are very excited to be releasing The Distillers Choice. What better single malt than Longmorn, created in the Golden Era of Luxury, to delight discerning drinkers looking for quality, heritage and pedigree. Longmorn The Distillers Choice, with its soft, creamy and rich flavour profile, will be the perfect addition to the repertoire of knowledgeable Scotch whisky drinkers around the world. Bottled at 40% ABV, Longmorn The Distillers Choice is available in 27 markets, including UK, Canada and France, at the RRP of US$94 per litre in the US. 5 February 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor Mumbai: With just few days to go for Sonam Kapoors Neerja, fans are extremely excited for the film. The films trailer, story behind it and songs have already given us enough reasons to not miss the film, the makers recently released films making video. The video shows how a replica of Pan Am Flight was built from the scratch. Right from the length to the finest details to the audiences, everything was sketched down and laid out with perfection. The film directed by Ram Madhvani features Sonam as Neerja, a Pan Am chief purser who was gunned down by terrorists when Flight 73 was hijacked to Karachi in 1986. She saved a number of lives but lost her own. Rating: Director: Sunny Deol Cast: Sunny Deol, Om Puri, Soha Ali Khan, Narendra Jha, Tisca Chopra For most part of this film, as a viewer you are constantly thinking about how Ajay Mehra (Sunny Deol) will end up fighting against the most powerful man Raj Bansal ( Narendra Jha) in the country, which in a way is a good seat to be in. Anyways, coming to Raj Bansal, he is a powerful and an influential businessman who has all the ministers, police commissioner on his speed dial. They take his calls as an order and no one dares to refuse him, even if it means seizing Ajays business without even questioning why. Except when he makes a panic call to a security official in Delhi asking for an access to the live feeds of CCTVs in Mumbai, and he is told a no and is also ridiculed. So it is established that his power lies within Mumbai city limits only even if the tagline in the promo says most powerful man in the country. He has a son; a waste, druggie, short tempered, who ends up killing an RTI activist played (Om Puri) escalated by a heated discussion. Too bad for him as bunch of 4 teens, on a field day to shoot a short film, end up recording this crime. This brings in Ajay Mehra to ensure Raj Bansal is exposed but he has to make sure he also protects Rohan ( Shivam Patil), Anushka (Aachal Munjal) and the other 2. All hell breaks loose when Raj takes charge to do whatever it takes for his wasted son to not land in prison. Sunny Deols performance is top notch and even at this age, he can still move fast and perform action and pack a punch with ease. As a director, he does get the viewer involved with the tight storyline. The car chase sequence, which is elaborately shot, is the highlight and it also keeps you at the edge of the seat. Hollywood action director Dan Bradley has designed the action and it is definitely international standards. There are portions in the film that appears cliche but they are those in which Sunny Deol is not in the frame. Once he is there, he ensures you enjoy all the dramatic scenes with his convincing larger than life persona. For the Sunny Deol fans who like to watch his punches and dialogues, make sure you dont miss this one. For the others, many action junkie scenes may be laughable affair. Figure this, the bad guy tries a head shot on Sunny Deol. Sunny falls down but the bullet brushes his forehead leaving a scar. Imagine this scene in slow-mo? Game for it? If not then leave it. As for the film, being a remake of 90s blockbuster Ghayal, the story line does bring in some relevance from the old plot. This makes the situations in which Ajay Mehra has been operating appear more realistic. Baring few shots, which appear like a work of an amateur, the VFX could have been better. New lamps for old Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell understand this. Solidarity and social inclusion are part of their DNA. What isn't clear is whether this understanding amounts to an alternative plan. McDonnell has been shrewd. His advisory panel of Nobel Prize winning economists invites Osborne to plunge way beyond his depth. No wonder the Chancellor has stuck to shallower waters. McDonnell has been smart, too, in taking discussions into the heart of the business community. What he will discover, however, is that (like Labour) many are hostages to the short-term. Only the insurance industry bucks the trend. Corbyn looks equally constrained. No one doubts his compassion, his openness or altruism. But Jeremy has yet to assemble a team that can can lead rather than respond - a team that, as most of his supporters hope, will change the whole landscape of political debate. Climate must be at the centre of this. Paris in the spring The Paris Summit made it clear that we cannot survive in a world of reckless over-consumption. Britain's winter floods reinforced the message. Turbulent weather (and the 1.5bn of insurance claims) has become a major disruptor of conventional economics. To borrow a thought from Naomi Klein: climate change changes everything. Corbyn's manifesto acknowledged this and promised something radically different. With a Chancellor who increasingly looks like the 'ebola of environmentalism', the coming Budget must be Labour's moment to outline the different shape of a sustainable economics. Osborne is obsessed with Big Energy. He throws seven times the level of subsidies at fossil fuels as he gives to renewables. He ditches democracy in support of a 'Freedom to Frack'. He promises everlasting subsidies to the peddlers of a nuclear delusion. He sabotages the (clean) community energy movement in favour of oil exploration. He dumps Britain's commitment to zero-carbon homes, gives farmers the right to flood towns and cities, lets developers build on flood plains, and barely gives a stuff about the number of post-2009 homes ineligible for flood insurance. Labour has to pick a fight with each and every one of these; beginning by pulling the plug on the nuclear debacle. Simply saying 'No' is a start, but not an answer. The challenge is to platform an economics that lives more lightly with itself. Some 6,500 European towns and cities are already heading in this direction; setting targets for carbon reduction, energy saving and clean generation, often ahead of their national governments. But the real pioneers run with political support rather than despite it. This is where Labour needs its visionaries, and at the moment it hasn't found them. The challenge is for Corbyn to define the ends, and for McDonnell to deliver the means. News from somewhere else Germany's Energiewende is far from perfect, but the lesson it offers is refreshingly clear. Politicians define what the country's energy policy has to deliver (within a 10 and 20 year framework), engineers and localities drive the changes, and tax policies (along with low interest loans) incentivise the process. When Germany says it is coming out of nuclear, that's what it does. When it decides to incentivise renewables, it does that too. National targets become local duties. Localities argue about the best ways of delivering these, but this is a 'how' debate, not a 'why' one. Moreover, today's debate is not about individual technologies. It is about the shape of tomorrow's integrated energy 'systems'. Three quarters of Germany's energy jobs are now in energy saving (or energy services) rather than in power generation. Storing, balancing and sharing become key elements in which localities redefine both job security and energy security. The energy efficiency of our homes and the air quality of our transport systems become integral parts of this process. Democratising markets, putting clean before dirty, using less to deliver more, and restoring in preference to exploiting, become centrepieces of a different economics. But the pivotal change must come from a 'One Planet' Treasury. When world Leaders acknowledged that, to avoid climate catastrophe, we have to live within a global carbon 'budget' of 350ppm it took us one step closer to national carbon budgets too. National carbon budgets will then become local ones. It isn't at all clear that the current Treasury even grasps the concept, let alone believes in it. But if the Treasury cannot make this transformation then the Treasury itself may be the first thing that has to go ... and both Corbyn and McDonnell should be saying so. At the moment, Britain faces a series of crises it has neither the skills nor the strategies to deal with. This is the challenge facing Labour. We live in a fragile moment, shrouded in both insecurity and opportunity. It is a moment that calls for courage and clarity. Of course compassion is important. So too is fairness and justice. But if humanity is heading towards an ecological and existential crisis, we all need a bigger plan. 'A budget for the planet' is the place to start. Alan Simpson was a Labour MP until 2010. He is an independent advisor and campaigner on energy and climate policies. Alan is a member of two community energy co-ops and lives in an Eco-house in Nottingham. He is a net exporter of electricity to the grid). 90. The Working Group also views that Mr. Assange's stay at the Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in London to this date should be considered as a prolongation of the already continued deprivation of liberty that had been conducted in breach of the principles of reasonableness, necessity and proportionality. 91. The Working Group, in its Deliberation No. 9, had already confirmed its position on the definition of arbitrary detention. What matters in the expression arbitrary detention' is essentially the word 'arbitrary', i.e., the elimination, in all its forms, of arbitrariness, whatever the phase of deprivation of liberty concerned (para. 56). Placing individuals in temporary custody in stations, ports and airports or any other facilities where they remain under constant surveillance may not only amount to restrictions to personal freedom of movement, but also constitute a de facto deprivation of liberty (para. 59). The notion of 'arbitrary' stricto sensu includes both the requirement that a particular form of deprivation of liberty is taken in accordance with the applicable law and procedure and that it is proportional to the aim sought, reasonable and necessary (para. 61). 92. The Human Rights Committee, in its General Comment No. 35 on Article 9 also stated that "An arrest or detention may be authorized by domestic law and nonetheless be arbitrary. The notion of 'arbitrariness' is not to be equated with 'against law', but must be interpreted more broadly to include elements of inappropriateness, injustice, lack of predictability and due process of law, as well as elements of reasonableness, necessity, and proportionality." 93. The Working Group is concerned that the only basis of the deprivation of liberty of Mr. Assange appears to be the European Arrest Warrant issued by the Swedish prosecution based on a criminal allegation. Until the date of the adoption of this Opinion, Mr. Assange has never been formally indicted in Sweden. The European Arrest Warrant was issued for the purpose of conducting preliminary investigation in order to determine whether it will lead to an indictment or not. 94. In its reply, the Swedish Government indicated that according to Swedish law, a suspect is entitled to examine all the investigation material upon which the allegation is based. The Working Group notes in this regard that Mr. Assange has not been granted access to any material of such which is in violation of article 14 of ICCPR. 95. At this point, it is noteworthy that the Working Group, while examining the essential safeguards for the prevention of torture, stressed that prompt and regular access should be given to independent medical personnel and lawyers and, under appropriate supervision when the legitimate purpose of the detention so requires, to family members (para. 58, the Deliberation No. 9). The right to personal security in article 9, paragraph 1 of the ICCPR, is relevant to the treatment of both detained and non-detained persons. The appropriateness of the conditions prevailing in detention to the purpose of detention is sometimes a factor in determining whether detention is arbitrary within the meaning of article 9 of the ICCPR. Certain conditions of detention (such as access to counsel and family) may result in procedural violations of paragraphs 3 and 4 of article 9 (para. 59, the Deliberation 9). 96. With regard to the application of the principle of proportionality, it is also worth mentioning that Lord Reed of the UK Supreme Court (Bank Mellat v Her Majesty's Treasury [2013] UKSC 39, per Lord Reeds, para. 74) set out that it is necessary to determine: (1) whether the objective of the measure is sufficiently important to justify the limitation of a protected rights; (2) whether the measure is rationally connected to the objective; (3) whether a less intrusive measure could have been used without unacceptably compromising the achievement of the objective; (4) whether, balancing the severity of the measure's effects on the rights of the persons to whom it apples against the importance of the objective, to the extent that the measure will contribute to its achievement, the former outweighs the latter. 97. The Working Group also views that there has been a substantial failure to exercise due diligence on the part of the concerned States with regard to the performance of the criminal administration, given the following factual elements: (1) in the case of Mr. Assange, after more than five years' of time lapse, he is still left even before the stage of preliminary investigation with no predictability as to whether and when a formal process of any judicial dealing would commence; (2) despite that it is left to the initial choice of the Swedish prosecution as to what mode of investigation would best suit the purpose of criminal justice, the exercise and implementation of the investigation method should be conducted in compliance with the rule of proportionality, including undertaking to explore alternative ways of administering justice; (3) unlike other suspects in general whose whereabouts are either unknown or unidentifiable and whose spirit of cooperation is non-existent, Mr. Assange, while staying under constant and highly intrusive surveillance, has continued to express his willingness to participate in the criminal investigation; (4) as a consequence, his situation now has become both excessive and unnecessary. From a time perspective, it is worse than if he had appeared in Sweden for questioning and possible legal proceeding when first summoned to do so; (5) irrespective of whether the grant of the asylum by the Republic of Ecuador to Mr. Assange should be acknowledged by the concerned States and whether the concerned States could have endorsed the decision and wish of the Republic of Ecuador, as they had previously done on the humanitarian grounds, the grant itself and the fear of persecution on the part of Mr. Assange based on the possibility of extradition, should have been given fuller consideration in the determination and the exercise of criminal administration, instead of being subjected to a sweeping judgment as defining either merely hypothetical or irrelevant; (6) it defeats the purpose and efficiency of justice and the interest of the concerned victims to put this matter of investigation to a state of indefinite procrastination . 98. The Working Group is convinced once again that, among others, the current situation of Mr. Assange staying within the confines of the Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in London, United Kingdom, has become a state of an arbitrary deprivation of liberty. The factual elements and the totality of the circumstances that have led to this conclusion include the followings: (1) Mr. Assange has been denied the opportunity to provide a statement, which is a fundamental aspect of the audi alteram partem principle, the access to exculpatory evidence, and thus the opportunity to defend himself against the allegations; (2) the duration of such detention is ipso facto incompatible with the presumption of innocence. Mr. Assange has been denied the right to contest the continued necessity and proportionality of the arrest warrant in light of the length of this detention, i.e. his confinement in the Ecuadorian Embassy; (3) the indefinite nature of this detention, and the absence of an effective form of judicial review or remedy concerning the prolonged confinement and the highly intrusive surveillance, to which Mr. Assange has been subjected; (4) the Embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in London is not and far less than a house or detention centre equipped for prolonged pre-trial detention and lacks appropriate and necessary medical equipment or facilities. It is valid to assume, after 5 years of deprivation of liberty, Mr. Assange's health could have been deteriorated to a level that anything more than a superficial illness would put his health at a serious risk and he was denied his access to a medical institution for a proper diagnosis, including taking a MRI test; (5) with regard to the legality of the EAW, since the final decision by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in Mr. Assange's case, UK domestic law on the determinative issues had been drastically changed, including as a result of perceived abuses raised by Sweden's EAW, so that if requested, Mr. Assange's extradition would not have been permitted by the UK. Nevertheless, the Government of the United Kingdom has stated in relation to Mr. Assange that these changes are "not retrospective" and so may not benefit him. A position is maintained in which his confinement within the Ecuadorian Embassy is likely to continue indefinitely. The corrective UK legislation addressed the court's inability to conduct a proportionality assessment of the Swedish prosecutor's international arrest warrant (corrected by s. 157 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, in force since July 2014). The corrective legislation also barred extradition where no decision to bring a person to trial had been made (s. 156). The deprivation of liberty of Mr. Assange is arbitrary and in contravention of Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 99. In the light of the foregoing, the Working Group renders the following opinion: The deprivation of liberty of Mr. Assange is arbitrary and in contravention of articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 7, 9(1), 9(3), 9(4), 10 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It falls within category III of the categories applicable to the consideration of the cases submitted to the Working Group. 100. Consequent upon the opinion rendered, the Working Group requests the Government of Sweden and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to assess the situation of Mr. Assange, to ensure his safety and physical integrity, to facilitate the exercise of his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner, and to ensure the full enjoyment of his rights guaranteed by the international norms on detention. 101. The Working Group considers that, taking into account all the circumstances of the case, the adequate remedy would be to ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation, in accordance with article 9(5) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The full ruling: 'Opinion No. 54/2015 concerning Julian Assange (Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland' (DOCX file). Including the dissenting opinion of Mr Tochilovsky. Press release: 'Julian Assange arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the UK, UN expert panel finds'. Members of the Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention: Mr. Seong-Phil Hong (Republic of Korea) is the Chairman-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Other members of the Working Group are Ms. Leigh Toomey (Australia); Mr. Jose Antonio Guevara Bermudez (Mexico); Mr. Roland Adjovi Setondji (Benin) and Mr. Vladimir Tochilovsky (Ukraine). The UN Working Groups are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council's independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures' experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity. Rating: Cast: Mawra Hocane, Harshvardhan Rane, Manish Choudhary, Divyetta, Murli Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Sudesh Berry Director: Radhika Rao, Vinay Sapru Bechara Erich Segal. Ek story kya likhi ki poori duniya usi story ke peeche pad gayi. Every few years we get a retake of that same story and though none of them have been even one-tenth as charming and moving as the original film starring Ryan ONeal and Ali MacGraw, yet it keeps on coming, with one slight change here and one silly addition there The two geniuses responsible for this version of Love Story, i.e. writer-director Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, have tried to give their film some rather idiotic newness. For starters, they have imported the girl from Pakistan. Having done that, they have given her a very desi, bechari-ki-shaadi-nahin-hoti characterisation. This doesnt just make their film very annoying, but also very asinine. But at least she gets some character. The boy doesnt even get that. Harshvardhan Rane plays Inder who is very strange. Alarmingly primitive, actually. Hes all body, no words. But, my, what a body! Its the sort idiot and intelligent girls are fatally attracted to. But hes strange. Consider this: A) Inder is always drinking either milk, which he shares with a stray cat, or beer, which he thankfully doesnt share with the stray cat, sometimes vodka, Gatorade, or bhaang but is always drinking. B) He feeds stray cat and doesnt mind drinking her jhootha. This is presented as a sign of being one happy member of mother natures extended family and all, but its the sort of thing that will make all middle class mothers faint instantly. C) In his drawing room there is a TV set but no sofa. Instead there is one, horizontal exercise danda from which he jerks up and down while watching TV. And from his sharply sliced abs, it seems he watches a lot of TV. D) Inder is tattooed. Not a few tattoos. But is inked like some boys are before maths exams. When their body is their farrey. E) Inder is silent and seething because he may be a murderer and may have serious daddy issues. His neighbour is a cutie pie, Mohtarma Mawra Hocane from Pakistan who, it seems, hasnt irked Shiv Sena by singing the same four ghazals since the Seventies. She doesnt sing at all, in fact. She weeps. Copiously. All the time. Any time. Well her character Saraswati Parthasarthy, Saru, a South Indian Brahmin, does. You see, she must quickly marry a Brahmin IIT/IIM guy, because if she doesnt, her younger sister, who has been controlling her shaadi ka jor se-wala susu, will elope. Now thats something good Saru cant allow. It will destroy her strict dad (Manish Choudhary) whom she loves. But the problem is that boys keep rejecting her. She thinks shes ugly. Shes not. She just dresses like all our mothers and mother superiors wished we would using our clothes as an emphatic declaration of our chastity. Saru and Inder meet, instead of in between Harvard and Radcliff, in the library where Saru works. Thats when, one by one, the films three absolutely stunning lines follow. Kapde utaarna bannd karo, please, she says to him. Thank god he doesnt. Thats why, when she goes to him to seek some neighbourly help, it turns into the ultimate nightmare of every girl with a crotchety, hyperbolic father. But before father sees her on the wrong side of Lakshman Rekha, there it is, the films second great line: Jitna lamba kurta, utni zyada sex drive. Pious father who values his values deeply and is a drama queen, does his daughters full and final rituals and ceremonies. This is bad, very bad. Because, it seems, God says Tathasthu to whatever parents say about their children. The film malingers, courtesy evil society members, a mean guard, an emotional cop, a mostly silent hero, a reluctant groom, a creepy and bizarre Vijay Raaz and complete lack of common sense. All the time weeping everybody weeps one by one and then they weep in unison and then again they weep some more, solo, till we come to the point where some intense, quivering sort of love happens that makes us want to slip into the final death throes while screaming, Abe yaar Inder, shaadi kar le na, please. Otherwise well marry her and put her out of her misery. Mawra Hocane is cute. Much cuter before the so-called makeover. And she can act, act up, and weep. Poor Harshvardhan Rane. They didnt write a role for him. They just gave him a long lasting sulk and told him to mumble every now and then. He does as instructed. Third great line? Haha. I have suffered. You must too if you want to know. Upon hearing the term rural healthcare, several images are likely to run through a readers mind. Its possible the phrase elicits images of days gone by, when doctors would wear out the pavement and gravel roads in some counties, going from one community to the next in the form of house calls. These house calls have long since passed into lore in most areas, yet it goes without saying the need for rural healthcare, particularly for older residents who depend on some sort of assistance to receive said healthcare, remains vitally important. We all know someone who lives in hard-to-reach places, particularly in the hills and mountainous areas of Franklin County. The rewards of living in far-flung locales can be many, but so are the challenges. Thats especially true for those in need of consistent healthcare. While some of us may take for granted our ability to visit the doctor the second something seems amiss, such isnt the case for many. Thats why potential legislation proposed last week by Sen. Bill Stanley (R Franklin County) seems too important. It is also remarkably interesting. The reform of rural healthcare is an important issue for our area, and I continue to propose legislation in Richmond that will ensure quality healthcare for the people of our region, Stanley said. Stanley, who introduced several bills in an effort to reform rural healthcare during this session of the Virginia Assembly, supported bills that are both ambitious in scope and filled with common sense. The first piece of legislation proposed by Stanley, SB19, would establish a telemedicine pilot program for rural areas. While the name itself almost sounds like a phrase right out of science fiction, its really quite simple. The program would allow healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat and manage the healthcare needs of patients at the patients home using tele-communications, such as via the internet or through phone calls. Stanley believes this would improve healthcare outcomes for the patients, including mental health patients, at lower costs to both the patient and the healthcare provider. The bill passed in committee by a 12 to 3 vote. A second piece of legislation, SB369, would help patients in rural areas get better access to nurse practitioners. Any bill that improves the ability for the services of a nurse practitioner to reach those in need makes sense to us. The bill would authorize nurse practitioners to participate as part of a physician team or through an electronic practice agreement with a physician in clinics located in a medically underserved area of the state or areas with high unemployment rates. This will allow patients in areas such as ours to receive quality basic primary care from highly-skilled nurse practitioners at low cost for the service, Stanley said. A third bill supported by Stanley might be the most interesting of the lot. It would require medical schools to require students to participate in at least one clinical rotation in a hospital or clinic that is located in a rural, medically under-served area of the state. Simply put: It will help give future doctors a wealth of experience dealing with those away from big locales, offering a chance to practice medicine in rural areas to help those who need the extra help the most. Taken individually, none of these bills seem earth-shattering. But for residents of a mostly rural county, these issues are important. And any time you are talking about medical care, you are talking about something that affects every single resident of Franklin County. We applaud the support of these bills as a positive step in the right direction. A North Carolina woman has been indicted on charges of manslaughter and DUI following the November traffic death of a Rocky Mount Elementary School teacher. Lesley Conner Wildasin, 56, of Eden was indicted Monday by a grand jury in Franklin County, court records show. She faces one count of reckless involuntary DUI manslaughter and one count of DUI as a first offense. Wildasin was one of the drivers in a Nov. 3 crash on U.S. 220 that claimed the life of 49-year-old Dona Minnick. Minnick, a third-grade teacher in Rocky Mount for more than 25 years, was headed south in her Nissan Versa about 4 p.m. when, according to Virginia State Police, Wildasins Dodge Journey crossed the center line and struck her vehicle head-on. Wildasin was taken to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening; Minnick died at the scene. A search warrant filed that week in Franklin County Circuit Court said a trooper seized several cups from inside Wildasins Dodge. They also found a box of wine in the front passenger floorboard. It was nearly empty, according to the warrant, which said the 3-liter container of Franzia White Zinfandel did not appear to have spilled in the vehicle. Wildasin told the trooper that she had consumed two glasses of wine within hours of the accident and that she was on unspecified medication, the warrant said. Police also seized a pill container with six unidentified pills inside. SHARE By Gleaner Staff Henderson Community College is hosting a ribbon-cutting at 8:30 a.m. Monday for the new welding building. "The new welding building is a $1.4 million project with 20 welding stations and a technology-enabled classroom, replacing a 12-station classroom downtown," said HCC President Kris Williams. "The project was funded through support made available by Michael McCall and Jay Box, past and current presidents of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System," she said. "The new building will also be supported through the sale of the downtown Industrial and Engineering Technology building sometime after March 1 of this year." Classes began in the new building last month. The welding building is behind the Sullivan Technology Center on HCC's campus. Tours will be available following the ceremony. SHARE By Erin Schmitt of The Gleaner Kentucky colleges are expected to take a severe funding hit with Gov. Matt Bevin's proposed state budget. In the governor's budget proposal, all state agencies, including universities and colleges, would need to return 4.5 percent in state appropriated funds before the fiscal year ends June 30. An additional 9 percent would then be cut during the next biennium, beginning in July. If the budget passes through the state Senate and House as proposed, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System would need to return about $8.6 million by June 30. Henderson Community College, one of the 16 KCTCS colleges, would need to return about $175,000 in funding by that same date, said HCC President Kris Williams. "The governor's budget is not the final budget. It is certainly a strong starting budget, but things can change between now and April," said Williams. Still, the college is looking at how to cut funds to give the money back that was appropriated. "We have a team looking at where we can economize more," Williams said. "We have received cuts since 2008 so we've been economizing all the way along but we are looking at how best to fund that." The team is led by the chief officers, but faculty and staff are also looking at ways to cut expenditures. Enrollment is one factor that affects costs. "For a couple of years our enrollment has been a little bit less as the unemployment has dropped and people have gone back to work," Williams said. "We haven't had as many students. So, for a couple of years, we've been very carefully balancing our college facilities and staff and programs against the community's need." No final decisions have been made yet for HCC's fiscal year 2016-17 budget, although college administrators are already working on it. The college budget and the governor's proposed cuts are part of a two-pronged discussion. Williams has been an administrator at colleges in both Kentucky and Florida. While she doesn't remember her Florida college having to return state appropriated funds, it's happened several times since she moved to the bluegrass state. Since 2008, more than $56 million in state appropriation funds have been cut from KCTCS. The college is funded mainly through state appropriation each year and through tuition paid from students. Williams is not sure if the proposed budget would affect tuition rates. The Council on Postsecondary Education set tuition guidelines for any kind of percentage increase. Then the KCTCS Board of Regents would make any final tuition determination in June. KCTCS did not raise tuition rates last year. "We held steady because we wanted to support our students and communities," she said. "That said, this is a large loss of money and so we don't know yet what the decision will be about tuition." HCC offers a lot of practical fields of study, like Nursing, medical laboratory technician, industrial maintenance mechanic, welding, computer information and science and general business are all fields that can help train people for the workforce. "I appreciate our community, our business champions, understanding the value that HCC brings to developing their work force," said Williams. "We have a lot of great students that graduate from here with very practical degrees." She added that she's grateful for the business and community members who have stepped up to speak on the college's behalf. Fuel the Force is a business advocacy group that maintains investing in KCTCS is an investment in the workforce. For more information about Fuel the Force, visit fueltheforceky.com. "Our message to the governor and the Legislature is still that we are, as a system, the engine that develops the work force," Williams said, adding that not cutting funds and reinstating some of that state appropriation would help move colleges forward. Bevin has stated that, after Fiscal Year 2018, state appropriation for colleges and universities could be performance-based depending on certain measures. The governor has expressed interest in working with the Council on Postsecondary Education to determine that criteria. "We hold ourselves to goals and outcomes," she said. "We are ready to work with the governor on performance-based funding, just as we were already in the proposal that was put forward from the Council on Postsecondary Education before the governor's budget. We would ask that he look at our role and the role of all the higher ed institutions of developing the work force for Kentucky. We ask the legislators to do the same." Williams and some of her fellow college administrators will be traveling to Frankfort on Thursday as part of the West Kentucky Showcase Day and West Kentucky Thank You Night. This is essentially an event hosted by all Western Kentucky chambers of commerce and colleges that focuses on the region's needs. She also plans to attend KCTCS Day on Feb. 18 in Frankfort. Bevin's proposed budget does not affect HCC's BuildSmart Campaign since it was part of a different legislative process. This past fall, the college successfully sought $1.25 million in donations for the campaign. BuildSmart has a 3:1 guaranteed state match, which means the college will actually receive $5 million to renovate its facilities. Construction should start later this year and be finished by December, Williams said. "Doing the renovations on the buildings will help us with long term maintenance costs," she said. "It's a real blessing to the college to have those projects moving forward." Most Iowans disapprove of Biden, believe US is on the wrong track WESTPORT -- Over more than 50 years, veteran pianist Mark Naftalin has had a deep and multifaceted engagement with the blues. After leaving the seminal Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1968, Naftalin produced myriad blues concerts and festivals in the Bay Area, founded the Winner Records label and clocked over a thousand hours of airtime as a DJ on various radio stations in the San Francisco area -- all while continuing piano work on hundreds of sessions with blues greats like John Lee Hooker and Percy Mayfield as well as Sixties pop icons including Van Morrison and Peter, Paul and Mary. "Part of being a musician is being involved with music," said Naftalin, who lives in Westport and will debut "The Mark Naftalin Show" Feb. 10 on WPKN Bridgeport. "This is how I relate to the communities that I live in. I present things," he added. Programming for will draw on the thousands of LPs and 45s he began collecting soon after he quit touring in the late Sixties -- blues, gospel, R & B, classic country, jazz, pop and reggae will be among the eclectic mix of genres Naftalin says he plans to play during the new show, which will air once a month. Having studied classical piano from childhood, Naftalin discovered the blues as a preteen in his home city of Minneapolis. "I started working on making my own music in about fifth grade," after discovering early rock 'n' roll from the likes of Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry, Naftalin told The Hour. "I had gotten just old enough that I would be inspired by the music that I heard." Galvanized by the musicianship of Domino and Lewis, who he cites as major influences, in the eighth grade Naftalin persuaded his mother to let him quit his classical piano lessons and began to focus obsessively on the blues, joining his first band a year later, at age 14. "I would play piano before I went to school in the morning," Naftalin remembered. "There's no way to explain a motivation for something like that." "I wanted to (play the blues), and nobody stopped me," Naftalin added. "So that's just something about America, you know?" Another early influence was Naftalin's close friend and classmate Barry Hansen, famous for preserving and broadcasting bizarre, obscure music as his radio alter ego, Dr. Demento. "He was an influence on the whole school," Naftalin said of Hansen, who was three years older and would play Chuck Berry B-sides, Bo Diddley and hard-to-find doo wop numbers at school dances and sock hops. Naftalin first connected with fellow blues musician Paul Butterfield in Chicago after moving there to attend college; in 2015, his work with the Butterfield Blues Band would secure Naftalin a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "So that's my big feather in my cap now," Naftalin said of his Hall of Fame induction. "All based on what I did 50 years ago." After he quit touring in the late Sixties, Naftalin began producing blues concerts, and founded Winner Records, which he operates with his wife Ellen, nee Barker, a Westport native. His weekly Blue Monday Party concert and radio broadcast series led to an award-winning radio show, "Mark Naftalin's Blues Power Hour", and a 20-year stint as producer of the Marin County Blues Festival. Among countless other festivals and concerts, Naftalin also produced two iterations of the Westport Blues Festival in 1993 and 1994, in collaboration with Barker. In 1983, Naftalin co-founded the Blue Monday Foundation, a non-profit "dedicated to furthering the appreciation and understanding of indigenous American music." "This all added up to a huge amount of activity, and I was lucky enough to be in that position where I was able to reach out to a lot of artists," Naftalin told The Hour. "It was tremendous education for me as a musician -- and, you might say, as a person, because these great artists have tremendous wisdom." One such musician was Percy Mayfield, a multi-talented player and songwriter perhaps best known for penning the R & B classic "Hit the Road Jack". On Winner, Naftalin and Baker released Mayfield recordings in audio and video formats, and Naftalin often pays homage to Mayfield in concert. "He adopted me. He called me Mark Naftalin Mayfield," Naftalin said of Mayfield, who died in 1984. "He referred to me as his 'son.' We had a very good bond." When asked to describe his emotional connection with music, Naftalin grappled with the question before concluding that a musician's relationship with music is ineffable. "I'm trying to say it should be obvious: I connect to it," Naftalin told The Hour. "Music is not a verbal language." "The Mark Naftalin Show" debuts Wednesday, Feb. 10 on WPKN 89.5 Bridgeport. Mark Naftalin & Friends will perform live at the Pequot Library's Mid-Winter Book Sale Feb. 13 and 14 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.; both performances will be broadcast live on WPKN. RIO DE JANEIRO -- U.N. and U.S. health officials tell The Associated Press that Brazil has yet to share enough samples and disease data needed to answer the most worrying question about the Zika outbreak: whether the virus is actually responsible for the increase in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads in Brazil. The lack of data is frustrating efforts to develop diagnostic tests, drugs and vaccines. Laboratories in the United States and Europe are relying on samples from previous outbreaks. Scientists say having so little to work with is hampering their ability to track the virus' evolution. One major problem appears to be Brazilian law. At the moment, it is technically illegal for Brazilian researchers and institutes to share genetic material, including blood samples containing Zika and other viruses. "It's a very delicate issue, this sharing of samples. Lawyers have to be involved," said Dr. Marcos Espinal, director of communicable diseases in the World Health Organization's regional office in Washington. Espinal said he hoped the issue might be resolved after discussions between the U.S. and Brazilian presidents. He said WHO's role was mainly to be a broker to encourage countries to share. When asked whether the estimate of other scientists that Brazil had provided fewer than 20 samples was true, he agreed it probably was. "There is no way this should not be solved in the foreseeable future," he said. "Waiting is always risky during an emergency." Last May, as the first cases of Zika in Brazil were emerging, President Dilma Rousseff signed a new law to regulate how researchers use the country's genetic resources. But the regulatory framework hasn't yet been drafted, leaving scientists in legal limbo. "Until the law is implemented, we're legally prohibited from sending samples abroad," said Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil's premier state-run research institute for tropical diseases. "Even if we wanted to send this material abroad, we can't because it's considered a crime." The ban does not necessarily mean foreign researchers can't access samples. Some were shared with the United States, including tissue samples from two newborns who died and two fetuses recently examined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a U.S. official said that wasn't enough to develop accurate tests for the virus or help determine whether Zika is in fact behind the recent jump in the number of congenital defects. The spike in cases prompted WHO to declare an international emergency Monday. Given the drought of Brazilian samples, public health officials across the world are falling back on older viruses -- or discreetly taking them from private patients. The U.S. official, who shared the information on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak publicly, said the CDC was relying on a strain taken from a 2013 outbreak in French Polynesia to perfect its Zika tests. U.S. researchers trying to sequence Zika's genetic code have been forced to rely on virus samples from Puerto Rico for the same reason, he said. In England, researchers are using samples drawn from Micronesia, the site of an outbreak in 2007. The French are relying on samples from Polynesia and Martinique. In Spain, scientists have a Ugandan strain of Zika supplied by the United States. Even Portugal, Brazil's former colonial master, doesn't have the Brazilian strain; the National Health Institute in Lisbon said its tests relied on a U.S. sample from the 1980s, among others. Some researchers are bypassing Brazil's bureaucracy by getting samples sent to them for testing by a private lab, said Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, an expert on mosquito-borne diseases at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg. "It's almost impossible to get samples from the country," Schmidt-Chanasit told AP, referring to Brazil. "It's not going via official government channels. Our source is simply the rich people who want a diagnosis." In public, health leaders have been eager to boast about their excellent collaboration. WHO's chief, Dr. Margaret Chan, said after Monday's meeting that Brazil and the United States were working "very closely" on studies. When asked about sample sharing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told AP: "I don't think it's an issue." Behind-the-scenes, it was another story. Four officials at the World Health Organization told AP the Brazilians were starving international partners of up-to-date information. "WHO has gotten zero from them, no clinical or lab findings," one of the officials said. All four spoke on condition of anonymity because they were talking without authorization. Ben Neuman, a virologist at Reading University in England, said thousands of samples -- or hundreds at a minimum -- were needed to track the virus and determine how it's changing. "Science only works when we share," he said. The virus sharing problems aren't limited to Brazil, said Gadelha of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. "This isn't a unilateral issue; it's a global problem," he said, adding he hoped the current crisis would speed efforts at international cooperation, which has long been an issue in outbreak response efforts. More than a decade ago, WHO faced a similar problem when Indonesia refused to hand over bird flu samples, arguing that Western scientists would use them to make drugs and vaccines the country couldn't afford. At the time, Brazil had a leading role in ending the impasse, helping to broker an agreement ensuring developing countries were guaranteed access to products developed from shared viruses. Lawrence Gostin, director of WHO's Collaborating Center on Public Health Law and Human Rights at Georgetown University, said there are no rules that force governments to hand over viruses, tissue samples or other information. "If countries don't share, the only repercussions they face are public condemnation," he said. Associated Press writer Maria Cheng and Raphael Satter reported this story from London and AP writer Joshua Goodman reported in Rio de Janeiro. AP writers Mike Stobbe in New York, Frank Jordans in Berlin, Ciaran Giles in Madrid, Barry Hatton in Lisbon and Jenny Barchfield in Rio de Janeiro contributed to this report. WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are in a tug-of-war over who's the best standard-bearer for progressive values as they road test lines of argument for the first one-on-one debate of the Democratic campaign. The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, took on new vigor this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp this week, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary season schedule, including Thursday's faceoff in Durham, New Hampshire. In a tussle over their very political identities, the two candidates are engaged in an ongoing argument over who is more committed to -- and capable of -- carrying out a liberal agenda on health care, income inequality, worker rights and more. Sanders, favored in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, said Wednesday that Clinton's record is "just not progressive" on any number of issues, including her vote as a senator to authorize the war in Iraq. Clinton called that a "low blow" and pressed her counterpoint that she's the candidate with the ability to actually implement progressive changes. "Good ideas on paper are important, but you've got to be able to translate them into action," she said. The two made their rival cases in interviews and appearances around New Hampshire and in back-to-back appearances at a town-hall style forum on CNN on Wednesday night. Polls find Sanders holding a commanding lead over Clinton in New Hampshire, and he was eager to lower expectations for how he would finish. He cast himself as an underdog going up against "the most powerful political organization in the country." Clinton, for her part, has signaled her determination at least to narrow the gap before Tuesday's vote. And her prospects are much stronger after Iowa, as the race moves on to states with more diverse electorates that are to her advantage. The two campaigns even skirmished over why Sanders was doing so well in New Hampshire polls. Sanders' campaign accused Clinton's of insulting New Hampshire voters by suggesting that they only support the Vermont senator because he's from a neighboring state. That was after Clinton's campaign manager referred to New Hampshire as Sanders' "backyard." On the broader issue, Clinton offers herself to voters as "a progressive who gets things done," part of her pitch that she's the one with the practical skills to implement a progressive agenda. Sanders counter-argument is that it will take a "political revolution" to achieve goals such as universal health care, a fairer tax system and an incorruptible campaign finance system. Asked earlier in the week if Clinton was a progressive, he said: "Some days, yes. Except when she announces that she is a proud moderate. Then I guess she is not a progressive." Sanders added that it was hard to take on the establishment "when you become as dependent as she has through her super PAC and in other ways on Wall Street or drug company money." Clinton said she found it amusing that the senator thinks he can be the "gatekeeper" of who's progressive. The Durham debate will be the first faceoff for Clinton and Sanders since former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. Clinton's razor-thin win in Iowa was the latest twist in an election campaign that, until recently, had been overtaken by the unusually crowded Republican field. GOP candidates, who are scheduled to meet again in a debate Saturday, took New Hampshire by storm ahead of the primary. Donald Trump, who finished second in the Iowa caucuses, took fresh aim Wednesday at caucus winner Ted Cruz, the firebrand Texas senator who appears to be running behind in the Granite State, and is hoping for momentum to carry him into South Carolina later this month. For other Republicans like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, New Hampshire may be their last stand as they try to chisel establishment support away from Florida's junior Sen. Marco Rubio, who finished a strong third in Iowa. The Democrats meet again on Feb. 11, then on March 9 for a debate that has long been on the schedule. Under an agreement announced Wednesday, there will also be a March debate in Flint, Michigan, where the city's water contamination crisis has been attracting national attention, and two debates in April and May on dates still to be determined. ___ Associated Press reporter Scott Bauer contributed from Madison. ___ Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nbenac WASHINGTON (AP) -- Michigan should have required the city of Flint to treat its water for corrosion-causing elements after elevated lead levels were first discovered in the city's water a year ago, the state's top environmental regulator told Congress Wednesday. State officials "relied on technical compliance (with the law) instead of assuring safe drinking water," said Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. He called that a mistake. The hearing was the first on Capitol Hill since the lead contamination crisis in Flint made national news last year, and frustrated Democrats complained that the Republican-led committee didn't ask the state's GOP governor to explain what happened. Flint is under a public health emergency after its drinking water became tainted when the city switched from the Detroit system and began drawing from the Flint River in April 2014 to save money. The city was under state management at the time. Water was not properly treated to keep lead from pipes from leaching into the supply. Some children's blood has tested positive for lead, a potent neurotoxin linked to learning disabilities, lower IQ and behavioral problems. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has apologized repeatedly for the state's role in the crisis. Snyder and state legislators have enacted $28 million in emergency Flint funding for the current fiscal year. Snyder is expected to propose an additional $30 million in state funding to help Flint residents pay their water bills. The crisis has taken on partisan overtones, as Democrats blame the Republican governor and some Republicans target the federal Environmental Protection Agency for failing to intervene sooner. State officials are not the only ones who made mistakes in Flint, Creagh testified. All levels of government deserve blame in the Flint crisis, he says. City officials did not follow proper protocol in conducting lead sampling of homes and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "did not display the sense of urgency that the situation demanded," Creagh told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. "What happened in Flint was avoidable and never should have happened," said Joel Beauvais, acting chief of the EPA's water office. EPA's regional staff urged Michigan officials "to address the lack of corrosion control, but was met with resistance," Beauvais said. State delays in responding to the lead crisis "and in informing the public of ongoing health risks raise very serious concerns," he said. Rep. Brenda Lawrence, D-Mich., said government at all levels failed Flint in providing a basic need. "We have also failed their most basic trust," Lawrence said. While Lawrence applauded Wednesday's hearing, she and other Democrat renewed their call for Snyder and other state officials to testify. The oversight panel's Republican majority did not call Snyder to testify Wednesday. Creagh, in his testimony, focused on a June 2015 memo by an employee in EPA's Midwest regional office that outlined problems with Flint's water. The memo was not formally delivered to state environmental officials until November -- after the state had begun taking actions to address the lead problem, Creagh said. "Legitimate concerns raised by EPA's own expert staff were not elevated or provided to either the city or the state for review and action until after the state's response was well underway," Creagh said. While immediate treatment of the water was not required after lead was first discovered in January 2015, "corrosion treatment should have been required by the MDEQ," said Creagh, who took over as head of the state agency last month following the resignation of Dan Wyant. Detroit schools emergency manager Darnell Earley, who was state-appointed emergency manager for Flint when its water source was switched, had been asked to testify at Wednesday's hearing but declined. The oversight committee issued a subpoena to Earley on Tuesday, but his lawyer refused service, a committee staffer said. In the Senate, Democrats have proposed a $600 million package of federal aid for Flint, but face opposition from some Republicans who don't want to add to the federal deficit. Democrats hoped to include the package in a bipartisan energy bill. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said Wednesday she was negotiating on the issue and thought she had an agreement, but now faces resistance. "We want this fixed," Stabenow said on the Senate floor. "We're not going to let procedural issues get in the way." Nandamuri Balakrishna was the surprise guest at the recent promotion of the small film Guntur Talkies. The actor-politician is supporting the film because of the films two female leads, Shraddha Das and Rashmi Goutham. Shraddha worked with Balakrishna in his recent film Dictator in which she did a special song and Rashmi anchored a cancer charity event in Dubai a few years back. The other reason for Balakrishna to support this film is that most of it has been shot in Hindupur, Balakrishnas constituency. When I heard the title Guntur Talkies, I remembered my old days and the old theatre artistes. The audience loves different kind of films and after watching the promo I am sure that this film too will do well, said Balakrishna. He also praised director Praveen Sattaru who got a National Award for Chandamama Kathalu. I can see the passion in him for films, said Balayya. Lakshmi Manchu also attended the event as a special guest and was all praises for Balayya for attending the function. This weeks blizzard has prompted the city of Grand Island and Hall County to declare a local disaster. These declarations are a result of the severe interruption of transportation and the endangerment of health and safety of the residents of the city of Grand Island and Hall County within the disaster area, says a Thursday news release from the city. The disaster declarations were signed by Grand Island Mayor Jeremy Jensen and Scott Arnold, chairman of the Hall County Board of Supervisors, as well as Hall County Clerk Marla Conley and City Clerk RaNae Edwards. The declaration will allow local authorities to execute for and on behalf of the city of Grand Island and Hall County, the expenditure of emergency funds from all available sources and the invoking of mutual aid agreements, the release says. The steps will also allow local authorities to apply to the State of Nebraska for assistance from the Governors Emergency Fund and any other resources deemed necessary in the fulfillment of local response, the release says. CENTRAL CITY Shirley Ilene Blase, 89, of Central City died on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016, at Litzenberg Long Term Care in Central City. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church near Polk with the Rev. Kevin McReynolds officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Burial will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Shirley Ilene was born on Feb. 25, 1926, in Peoria, Ill., to Harold Robert and Dorothy Edith (Dale) Thomas. Shirley grew up in East Peoria, Ill., and following her schooling she began working at the Caterpillar Plant. In 1944, she met a soldier by the name of Harold Blase, and they were then married on Oct. 21, 1944, in El Paso, Texas. Following his service, Shirley and Harold moved back to Peoria and remained there until 1947. They then moved their family to various places around Hordville, eventually settling on their home place, which they purchased in 1965. Shirley and Harold sold their farm in 1972 and moved to Hordville. She then began working at Bethesda in Central City as a nurses aide until 1984. Shirley took a lot of pride in her work at Bethesda. In 2001, they moved to Central City, where she would remain until her death. Shirley was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Polk, as well as being a member of the Ladies Aid at her church for many years. She had a special gift in her ability to crochet. She made many afghans over the years for all of her family and many friends. She also enjoyed putting together puzzles, doing ceramics, playing board games with her grandchildren, as well as going to all their sporting events and other activities they were involved in. Shirley enjoyed going on trips with Harold, especially to his Army reunions. Her greatest love was definitely for her family, as she was definitely the glue that held them all together. Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Sandy and Duane DeMers of Hordville, Bob and Avis Blase of Osceola, Randy and Jan Blase of Central City and Rod and Cindy Blase of Hordville; 13 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; her son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Sherri Blase; her sister, Betty Badorek; and infant sister, Donna Dale. Each week, I have the privilege of traveling Nebraska. Over the past several months, I conducted 20 town halls, held 10 community visits recently following my State of the State address, and just this week I was in Chadron meeting with farmers and ranchers as well as community and business leaders. The number one concern I hear from Nebraskans, urban and rural, is that our property tax burden is too high. Property taxes on agricultural land have increased 66 percent in the last five years. Property taxes on residential and commercial properties have also increased. This is why Nebraskans are demanding relief. My approach to property tax relief, and taxes in general, is anchored in a few foundational principles. First, state tax dollars are your hard-earned dollars. Second, the only way to deliver sustainable tax relief is by exercising fiscal restraint with your taxpayer dollars. Third, we must be transparent and accountable to our constituents. Fourth and finally, local control is good governance. State government in Nebraska does not levy property taxes. The state, however, is responsible for setting the rules for how local governments levy property taxes including levy limits, bonding authority, reserve levels, and budget authority among others. This year, Im focused on delivering structural, long-term property tax relief by incentivizing fiscal restraint and accountability in the rules governing how local government collects property taxes. To this end, I have joined forces with Sen. Kate Sullivan, chairwoman of the Education Committee, and Sen. Mike Gloor, chairman of the Revenue Committee, to bring a property tax reform package that encourages local governments to restrain growth in spending to the same target rate as the state around 3 percent. Our property tax relief package consists of two bills, one in the Education Committee and one in the Revenue Committee. In this column, I will share with you a little bit about LB958, which is the Revenue Committee bill. LB958 encourages fiscal restraint and accountability by political subdivisions like cities, counties, and natural resource districts. Additionally, it limits the increase in statewide agricultural and horticultural land valuations. It does this in three ways. First, it limits the budgeted growth of restricted funds. Restricted funds are essentially property taxes, local sales taxes, motor vehicle taxes, surpluses from user fees, county occupation taxes, etc. To do this, the bill eliminates exclusions to the spending limits including capital improvements, sinking funds for equipment purchases, and expenditures in support of interlocal agreements. Second, the bill reduces the number of exclusions to the property tax levy limit and imposes a new requirement for bonds issued after July 1, 2016. These bonds would now need to be approved by the voters to be excluded from the levy limits. The bill also requires that votes to exceed the levy limits must be made by a vote of the people. LB958 would repeal the power some local governments currently have to exceed the levy limits with a vote at a town hall meeting that may be attended by as few as 10 percent of the registered voters. By requiring voter approval more frequently, this bill increases transparency and voter involvement in local spending decisions. Finally, LB958 limits the statewide increase in agricultural and horticultural land valuation to an aggregate of 3 percent. If the statewide aggregate increase exceeds 3 percent, the property tax administrator will determine the factor needed to uniformly and proportionately reduce the value of every parcel of agricultural and horticultural land so the statewide aggregate does not exceed 3 percent. This is an aggregate adjustment factor of 3 percent, not a hard cap, meaning that adjustments to individual tax bills will vary across the state. Ag land will still see valuation increases with this adjustment factor, but future valuation increases will be moderated. This tax relief package maintains local control and preserves existing funding mechanisms for local government. Under this package, our cities, counties, and other local governments can still ask for a vote of the people if they need additional budget authority. For example, if your city wants to build a new gym, they can seek voter approval to use restricted funds. While Nebraskans like you desperately want property tax relief, special interest groups and their lobbyists are blocking reform. Last year, the Legislature and I successfully delivered $408 million in direct dollar-for-dollar property tax relief to all property owners across the state. This year, we are looking to make structural changes that will encourage fiscal restraint among local governments, increase accountability to taxpayers, and limit ag land valuations in aggregate across the state to 3 percent annually. If you believe in property tax relief, your senators need to hear from you about why delivering property tax relief is critical to your family budget this year. You can be assured they will hear from special interest lobbyists. You can find information on how to contact your senator at www.NebraskaLegislature.gov. LB 176 supporters question the constitutionality of prohibiting Nebraska meatpacking corporations from owning livestock. They argue the ban violates the equal protection clause. Similar arguments were lodged against Initiative 300, Nebraskas anti-corporate farming law, but those challenges were unsuccessful. I-300 fell to a 2006 court challenge on a dormant commerce clause argument. Claiming that I-300 fell in court, therefore, the packer ban is also unconstitutional overlooks this critical legal distinction. We believe current law is constitutional, and urge opposition to LB 176 on final reading. Legislators worried about constitutionality could amend LB 176 to include cattle. We surmise they wont because they (rightly) fear political backlash from cattle country. But we have other concerns about LB 176. The bill strikes the legislative finding for the original Competitive Markets Act, including The Legislature further finds that packer concentration, vertical integration, and contractual arrangements are undermining the system of price discovery. In the absence of any meaningful federal response to the conditions described, the purpose of the Competitive Livestock Markets Act is to increase livestock market price transparency, ensuring that producers can compete in a free and open market. If the ban on packer ownership of cattle is drawn into court, removing legislative intent could weaken the case for independent cattle producers. The Center for Rural Affairs has long believed hogs and cattle should be owned by farmers and ranchers, not by multinational corporations. We urge Nebraska senators to stand with independent farmers and ranchers by opposing LB 176 on final reading. Previous research found that people tan due to needs stemming from their mood and appearance. (Photo: Flickr) Women who use indoor tanning salons are more likely to have mood or body issues than the average person, suggests new research. Compared to the general population, women who reported tanning at least 10 times in the last year were more likely to be obsessed with real or imaginary flaws in their appearance, to have episodes of depression related to changes in seasons and to have high stress levels. "It may be the case in clinical settings that when we see people who do a lot of tanning, it may be a flag to look at other mental health issues," said senior author Sherry Pagoto of the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. Previous research found that people tan due to needs stemming from their mood and appearance, the researchers write in a letter in JAMA Dermatology. "We see sometimes with tanners an effort to get tanner and tanner and a feeling that youre never tan enough," Pagoto told Reuters Health. That type of behavior is not unlike body dysmorphic disorder, which is when people feel there is an issue with their appearance that can't be fixed. Past research also suggests that people who tan may be at an increased risk of elevated stress and seasonal affective disorder - or SAD. "We looked at these three things and we wanted to see if we found elevated rates among people who tan," Pagoto said. The researchers recruited 74 women, ages 19 to 63 years, who had been tanning at least 10 times in the past year and at least four times in the past two months. They surveyed the women with questions that would help detect body dysmorphic disorder, SAD and elevated stress and then compared the women's scores to what would be expected in the general population. Overall, 39 percent of the women scored high enough to likely have body dysmorphic disorder, which is typically found in about 2 percent of all people. About one in 10 people in the general population would be diagnosed with SAD, but more than half of the study participants scored high enough to be diagnosed with that condition. Elevated stress was also found in about a third of the participants, but would only be expected in about 13 percent of the general population. "Its definitely the case that were seeing more of these psychiatric disorders," said Pagoto. People should be cautious about interpreting the results, which are drawn from only 74 people, said Erin Bonar, who was not involved in the new research but has studied the mental health of people who tan. "I would be cautious with regard to the findings of co-morbidity since these participants were not formally diagnosed," said Bonar, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. But the new findings are consistent with previous results, she said. Pagoto said the new study suggests tanning may be a sign of a much deeper problem that requires more attention. "For parents who have teenage and college-age daughters who tan, this may be something to think about," she said. Looking for the big games to watch in Week 9? We have them right here. football Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Ministries are pooling their efforts to save 126 Indonesian migrant workers facing the death penalty in Malaysia for drug-related offences, an official said on Thursday. The government has used consultations, legal aid and a diplomatic approach to try to save the workers, director for the protection of Indonesians and legal aid at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Lalu Muhammad Iqbal said. All the defendants are currently undergoing legal proceedings in Malaysian courts. "We are still looking for the right method for addressing this issue," Iqbal said in Ponorogo regency, East Java, as quoted by tempo.co on Thursday. The ministry has long cooperated with the Manpower Ministry and non-governmental organizations to try to save migrant workers who faced the death penalty abroad. That synergy has resulted in 282 Indonesian migrant workers being saved from the death penalty in Malaysia from 2013 to 2015, Iqbal added. Meanwhile, Migrant Institute executive director Adi Candra Utama said the drug cases of the migrant workers were caused by domestic problems. The Migrant Institute reports that such problems include manipulation of the workers' personal data like their ages. "The [problems at the] grassroots level should be first resolved, so that we can ensure the [protection of] migrant workers," Adi said, adding that internal factors accounted for 80 percent of the causes of migrant workers' problems. There are 429,872 Indonesian migrant workers abroad with the highest number, 127,827 people, working in Malaysia according to the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) in 2014. (afr/rin)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Jakarta Police will deploy 3,300 officers in anticipation of Chinese New Year holiday traffic congestion from Saturday to Monday, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Friday. The deployment of the high number of police personnel is due to the expected increase in vehicles during the long weekend, both those that will depart Jakarta and those that will visit or return to the capital, Tito said. "We don't want heavy traffic congestion to occur as it did [during the New Year's holiday]," Tito said as quoted by tempo.co. The Jakarta Police held a coordination meeting with the National Police, the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Jakarta city administration in anticipation of a surge in vehicles. Police personnel will be put on standby to guard toll roads such as Cikampek, Cipali, Jagorawi ' the roads that connect Jakarta to several areas in West Java -- as well as the Jakarta-Merak toll connecting Jakarta to Banten. Meanwhile, during Chinese New Year on Monday, police personnel will guard a number of viharas (Buddhist monastery). "We will strengthen security to keep track of people and potential threats such as a terrorist attack," Tito said. He called on citizens to fill their cars with petrol prior to entering the toll roads to avoid creating traffic congestion and emphasized that people should not park on the side of the road, adding that he hoped the flow of traffic would not be heavy during this holiday. (afr/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marcel Thee (The Jakarta Post) Fri, February 5, 2016 Originally released in 2006, The Monophones' debut ' and so far only ' album was a record chock-filled with whimsical instrumentations and '50s to '60s throwback pop flourishes and a whole dose of seventh and suspended chords. A Voyage to the Velvet Sun accomplishes what its sets out to do, namely to bring to life the dancehall soundtrack depicted on its retro-futurist album cover. It is big band meets doo-wop meets the always-cherished obsession with all things retro the Indonesian music audience laps up so willingly. Voyage is being re-released by local independent label Ivy League Music (home to somewhat-similar sounding artists Mondo Gascaro and Darryl Wezy) in cassette form. It is a tribute by the label to a band they consider was too ahead of its time and which deserved plenty more recognition ' from music fans, the media and their peers. The label's assessment is correct, at least regarding the high probability of the album finding a more receptive audience today, when the world of retro continues to shine brighter than ever. Opening with the title track, 'Voyage' sets its best foot forward; fluid rhythm sections intersect with plucked electric pianos and funked-up guitars, all layered nicely over trading-off male and female vocals. The song's jumpy rhythms and extended coda, which features a bass solo, also showcases the instrumental mastery of the band members: vocalist Alexandria Deni, bass player Petrus Bayu, drummer-percussionist Taufan Darudriyo and pianist-organist Fajar Dewa. The same instrumental accomplishment is again in display on 'Fantastic Retro Machine', the album's best track and a big band owing instrumental track that only finds room for some 'pa pa pa' vocalizing. It is speedy like a mix of a spy movie's action scene score and an obscure British invasion B-side, with a touch of jazz on the side. 'At The Beginning' is similar, with more flute at its center, countering the melodies of Petrus' runny bass lines. The acoustic hush of 'Mentari' (Sun) hops through comfortably, sweet as candy and playful as bell-bottom pants on a bop-haired girl, with love-lorn lyrics, vocal-doubling flute playing and skipping beats. While 'Rain of July' opens up like long-lost Paul McCartney track with harpsichord-like organs before peeling through its Beatles-aping obsession with a good dose of baroque and a quasi-noir sense of somber melancholy in its melodies. Voyage serves up a fine dish of retro pop with a somewhat particular sense of aesthetic that would have benefitted from being more fully formed. To be fair, the record did come out almost 10 years ago and it is safe to say that the current band should certainly manage to complete the album's themes more thoroughly today. Similarly, the record's age shows through a questionable balance between vocals and instrumentation, jumping between songs awkwardly ' sometimes with drums that sound un-equalized and too upfront and vocals that conduct the same awkwardness. A good dose of reverbial flourish would have gained the album some of the spaced-out whimsicality its music sets out to achieve, but for what it is, Voyage is a nice memento of a band that had promise it should be able to complete today. Bengaluru: A day after the DC expose on the plight of the Tanzanian girl student who was stripped off her clothes and humiliated by an angry mob after an accident in Hesaraghatta in which the girl and her four friends were not involved, the city police went into damage control mode. Read: Bengaluru: Mob strips Tanzanian girl, torches her car as police watch While responding to the External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's queries, city police said that a criminal case had been registered and four people arrested, but failed to clarify that the four men in detention were charged with arson and were not part of the mob that had beaten up the young African woman from Dar es Salaam. Read: Africa angry, demands justice after mob strips Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru On Wednesday, police picked up the five Tanzanian students from their homes and took them to Peenya police station, where they recorded their statements before taking them to Sapthagiri Hospital for medical examination. The swift action by the police was carried out when the four victims including the girl were on their way to go public with their side of the story at the Alternative Law Forum. Read: Road rage gets a foreign face According to Mr Bosco Kaweesi, the legal adviser of the All African Student Association, the police took all the students to the hospital and kept them in a locked room for hours together with their phones switched off, while their fellow students along with journalists waited outside the hospital. "When our student leaders along with journalists reached the hospital, they were denied permission to interact with the victim students," said Mr Kaweesi. Read: Bengaluru mob violence: 4 arrested, Sushma asks CM to take strict action "The police are in damage control mode now," he said, adding, "The police had taken the statements from the victims on how they were all thrashed and the girl was stripped and shoved around but they have conveniently omitted the part where the girl approached the police to lodge a complaint on that fateful night and was turned away." "If the police can take her complaint on Wednesday, why didn't they do it on Sunday night," he asked. Read: Bengaluru police 'hijack' African victim students of hate crime from scribes Meanwhile, speaking to Deccan Chronicle, T.R. Suresh, DCP, North Division Claimed, "We have recorded the statement of the victim in which she has mentioned that her top was torn off and she was physically assaulted and humiliated by the mob. We have added the appropriate IPC section along with the arson case that has been registered at the Soladevanahalli police station." When asked why the police did not register the girl's complaint on Sunday night, the DCP said, "The police had rushed to the spot and rescued two African students, one of them was the driver of the second car and took them to NRR Hospital and then subsequently to the police station." Read: Tanzanian girl assault in Bengaluru: Cops toned down victims complaints The DCP did not comment on the condition of the Tanzanian woman who was stripped, humiliated and standing with the torn clothes and her other friends who were left to the mercy of the mob, seeking to revenge the death of Shabana Taj, the 35-year-old who was walking on the street in Hesaraghatta with her husband when she was run over by a car driven by a Sudanese student. Read: Tanzania issues note verbale after mob strips girl in Bengaluru Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 An international-standard warehouse and logistics complex has been officially launched at Bali's Ngurah Rai International Airport to boost logistics services and tourism in general on the Island of the Gods. The new logistics complex is called the Bali Logistics Park and will facilitate the distribution of goods in Bali, president director of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura I Sulistyo Wimbo Hardjito said in Tuban, Bali. 'This initiative will be the foundation for building other logistics parks to intensify logistics distribution in the eastern part of Indonesia,' he said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com. PT Angkasa Pura Logistic, a subsidiary of PT Angkasa Pura that runs an international-standard supply-chain business, will operate the logistics park. Bali Logistics Park is equipped with a 24-hour security system, a fire-prevention system, more than 150 CCTV cameras, a cafeteria, a spacious parking lot and a loading area able to cater for a 40-foot truck. The presence of the logistics service is expected to provide added value to Angkasa Pura I especially at the Ngurah Rai airport, Angkasa Pura property president director Miduk Situmorang said. "I hope this new facility will be the answer to the warehousing needs of our customers and business players,' he said as quoted by kompas.com. The facility is built on a 7,200-square-meter site and consists of eight storage units of 969 sq m each, a 150 sq m mezzanine level and a management office. The facility will be operated using warehouse-management technology to facilitate accurate goods storage and organization. (nov/rin)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Giant paper producer Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) is rebranding itself as an environmental champion by announcing its successful efforts in forest conservation and peatland restoration. That comes after more than 100 Singaporean companies last November boycotted products of numerous companies, such as APP, that were accused of allowing fires in their concession areas. APP sustainability managing director Aida Greenbury on Thursday said the company had conserved 600,000 hectares (ha) of natural forests in the past three years and restored 7,000 ha of peatland since August. 'We are working on a landscape concept of restoration, so it's not only for our areas, but others as well, because the recent forest and land fires were [the result of] not only one perpetrator, but many,' she said at the launch of the third Forest Conservation Policy report. The company initiated the Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) on Feb. 5, 2013, in response to calls for sustainable business practices. Some of APP's raw material suppliers were accused of setting forest fires last year and almost every year for the past 10 years. However, the company said the fires had not originated in its area but had come from the surroundings. The company added that since 1996 all suppliers practiced non-burning methods to clear land for acacia and eucalyptus trees, which provide the material for paper. 'That's why to stop future fires we need holistic measures that involve not only APP but all the country's stakeholders,' Aida said. The company is currently creating a 1:5,000-scale map of 1-2 million ha of peatland to track conditions not only on its areas, but also others in Sumatra and Kalimantan. 'Once it's done, it'll be published for all, so that we can restore peatland together, as this big environmental problem will not be resolved by a single fighter,' she said. The country currently has no high-resolution map of peatland areas useful for devising a proper restoration strategy. The company, which has use permits for more than 1 million ha of industrial forest and 600,000 ha of natural forest concessions, all in Sumatra and Kalimantan, also provided US$10 million to set up the Belantara Foundation last December. Belantara, which means jungle, aims to collect funds from various sources and focuses on empowering tribespeople and locals around concession and conservation areas across the country to be economically sustainable, so that they refrain from using the forest irresponsibly. All the above efforts are part of the group's move to improve its image tainted by allegations of environmental destruction in recent years. Greenpeace recently lauded APP's environmental measures. 'We have to admit that FCP has shown progress. We've noted some real steps, such as the restoration of 7,000 ha of its peatland and its effort to really push suppliers into doing good practices,' the NGO's forestry campaigner Kiki Taufik said over the phone. He added that the public was waiting to see the results this year and whether the company could really reduce fires from recurring. (rbk) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Brussels Fri, February 5, 2016 The Belgian government has approved a plan to combat Islamic radicalism and the threat of extremist violence by hiring 1,000 new police officers over the next four years. The plan, presented Friday to reporters by Interior Minister Jan Jambon, calls for adding 300 officers this year, and more than 500 by 2017. Jambon says 300 new officers will be added in Molenbeek and other neighborhoods with a history of radical Islamist activity. Ninety-six police investigators will be hired, and 260 TV cameras positioned to monitor movements on the highways. Earlier reports spoke of just 100 new officers being hired. The November attacks that killed 130 people in Paris were staged from neighboring Belgium, and a subsequent official investigation revealed how ineffective the surveillance of suspected radicals in the country has often been. Four of the Paris attackers, including suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaooud, lived in the Brussels commune of Molenbeek, one of eight areas covered by the government's initiative. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Amid rising concerns about drug smugglers' increasingly innovative ways to distribute illicit substances, a lawmaker has called on the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) to become more creative in catching perpetrators. Regular approaches would not solve the drug problems in the country, as authorities would be outwitted by the drug criminals, Akbar Faisal, a member of House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs, said on Thursday. "In America, drug smugglers already use submarines; the point is they're creative. Therefore, by using a regular approach, we would be two, three steps behind the drug lords," the NasDem Party Politician said at a meeting with the BNN, as quoted by kompas.com. The agency needed to increase the competence of its human resources and should use unexpected strategies in facing drug smugglers, Akbar added. Another member of Commission III, Dwi Ria Latifa from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), pointed out that drug smugglers were already employing novel methods in Riau Islands. One such method would see smugglers send packages of drugs by placing them in plastic bags in the middle of the ocean. The receiver would then fetch the package from the same spot using traditional boats. Smugglers would use small islands that were not guarded by the police to distribute drugs, she added. Responding to the issue, BNN chief Comr. Gen. Budi Waseso vowed to be more creative in discovering and dismantling drug distribution networks. He named plans to build a prison on an island guarded by crocodiles to prevent death row drug convicts from getting out as an example of innovation. "For drug lords, we cannot apply normal approaches. We must think outside the norm, we need breakthroughs and innovation, because they always get new ideas," Budi said. (liz/rin)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Indonesia's economy has a better outlook this year than its peers in the emerging markets despite facing ongoing global risks and domestic challenges, CIMB Niaga's top executives have said. CIMB Niaga president director Tigor Siahaan said the domestic banking industry had a more positive outlook this year as global investors were showing positive sentiments lately, which was indicated by high inflows to the country's financial markets. He said, for instance, at leastRp 20 trillion (US$1.47 billion) flowed into government bonds in 2015 alone, which also helped the rupiah appreciate slightly. As the government commits to boosting spending and continues to deregulate this year, investors see that Indonesia's 'story' is centered on infrastructure development, which is a long-term investment, he said. 'We see that the positive sentiment from global investors is already there and they want to invest here. However, they see Indonesia as a long-term investment that will keep going for around 20 to 50 years to come,' Tigor said after the bank's economic forum on Thursday. Tigor said positive sentiment in industries also increased gradually in the first and third quarters last year as shown by upticks in some sectors that became the country's leading indicators for economic growth, such as cement manufacturing. Positive growth in major industries, he said, could create trickle-down effects for other sectors and sub-sectors in the periphery, which in turn would help boost the economy. According to Tigor, such domestic improvements may help the country to avoid external risks caused by global economic issues, including China's slowing economic growth and its yuan depreciation, which could trigger more turbulence in the future. 'From a banking point of view, I'm cautiously optimistic, because there are a lot of global issues, but I feel that the government is doing the right thing now,' he said. CIMB Group economist Arup Raha said in the event that China's changing economic structure, from investment-driven to consumption-driven, reshaped the global economy, the question would be could we expect a 'soft or hard landing'. However, Raha said Indonesia had the potential to grow better than the average emerging market this year as the government and Bank Indonesia were working on comfortable interest-rate levels as well as current account and budget deficits. 'Indonesia has a good story and is still attractive as the government is changing many regulations and is very active in inviting foreign direct investment. We are optimistic with the focus on infrastructure development,' he said. CIMB Niaga strategy and finance director Wan Razly Abdullah said the bank would direct its focus toward growing small and medium enterprises and consumer segments, while being 'selective' on corporate loans due to lingering effects of the weak economy. The bank saw profit decline from 2014 to third quarter last year due to sharp increases in non-performing loans caused by a plunge in commodity prices and a slow economy. CIMB Niaga predicts that its loans will see growth of below 10 percent this year, or rather flat compared to around 9 to 10 percent targeted by the end of last year. 'The first half of this year will still feel a slowdown, but we're optimistic about the second half, because the government's incentives will start to take effect,' Wan Razly said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko and Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Semarang/Denpasar Fri, February 5, 2016 Dengue fever (DBD) continues to spread throughout a number of regions in Indonesia, with at least 70 people reported to have been killed by the mosquito-borne disease during the first five weeks of the year. On Thursday, the Central Java Health Agency reported that the disease had claimed the lives of 15 local residents and hospitalized 1,080 others in January alone. Agency head Yulianto Prabowo said his office had called on local physicians, particularly those in regions that have reported a high prevalence of DBD, including Jepara regency, and the municipalities of Semarang and Magelang, to stay alert and provide immediate treatment to those patients that they suspect may have contracted the disease. 'Unlike highland regions whose cold weather prevents mosquitoes from breeding well, lowland regions such as Semarang and Jepara are highly prone to the viral disease,' he said. In Bali, the province's Health Agency head I Ketut Suarjaya said that the disease had killed three people in January. At least 370 people had been hospitalized due to the disease, he said, a significant increase from the 230 cases recorded in December last year. Ketut blames the delayed rainy season for the outbreak. 'We worry that the disease outbreak has just started and that infection numbers will increase significantly within the next few months,' he said. To help prevent the disease from spreading, he said, his office had been disseminating information about DBD to local residents. The agency will also intensify fogging in DBD-prone areas and urge locals to get involved in the government-sponsored mosquito nest eradication (PSN) campaign program. DBD is a disease carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. After a person has been bitten by a disease-carrying mosquito it takes between four and 10 days for symptoms to manifest. The most common signs are high fever, severe headache, nausea, swollen glands and joint pain. The disease can be deadly when a patient experiences plasma leaking, fluid accumulation, respiratory distress, severe bleeding or organ impairment. With the absence of a vaccine to protect against DBD, vector control has so far been the only method available for the prevention and control of DBD. Earlier this week, the Tangerang regional administration in Banten reported that more than a dozen people had died as a result of DBD in the regency over the last month. In South Sulawesi, 530 people are reported to have contracted DBD as of Thursday, eight did not survive. South Sulawesi Health Agency's disease control and environmental health division head Nurul Amin confirmed that the disease had spread throughout the province's 24 regions, with Bulukumba, Pangkajene Islands, Gowa, North Luwu and Wajo, declaring extraordinary occurrence (KLB) status. Agency head Rachmat Latief, meanwhile, is calling on local residents to see a doctor quickly if they suffer from fever. 'Many DBD patients fail to survive as they are admitted to the hospital too late,' he said. In North Sulawesi, the province's Health Agency head Jimmy Lampus said DBD had killed one person and hospitalized 144 local residents. Last year, the province recorded 489 DBD cases with five fatalities. Health Ministry data shows that Indonesia recorded a total of 100,347 DBD cases last year, with 907 fatalities. Meanwhile, the highest number of recorded DBD fatalities occurred in 2007 when 1,599 people died as a result of the disease. Andi Hajramurni in Makassar and Lita Aruperes in Manado contributed to the article Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Fri, February 5, 2016 Indonesia, arguably the world's largest archipelagic country with a vast diversity of cultures, rich in natural attractions and historical heritage, logged a mere 9.73 million foreign tourist arrivals last year, compared to its neighbors Malaysia and Thailand, which each saw more than 29 million foreign visitors and Singapore with 16.2 million. What an utterly dismal performance. Travelers could actually visit Indonesia every year without ever having to go back to the same tourist destination, as there are dozens of fairly accessible tourist attractions in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and the Maluku Islands, apart from the world-famous island of Bali. Yet, due to a lack of well-designed promotional programs and poor policy coordination, Indonesia remains among the least favorite destinations in the ASEAN region. This deficiency is quite damaging because a lack of coordination, either of policies or of activities in the sectors related to tourism, has become one of the biggest barriers to wooing foreign tourists to Indonesia. The more important pillars of the travel and tourism business such as transportation infrastructure, health and hygiene, security and regulatory requirements lie completely beyond its control as they come under the jurisdiction of a variety of ministries. The 2009 Tourism Law does stipulate the strategic importance and imperative need for strategic coordination of policies and activities in the various sectors related to travel and tourism such as customs, immigration, quarantine, security and order, physical infrastructure, health and promotional activities. But it does not elaborate on how this policy coordination should be institutionalized and managed on a day-to-day basis, only saying that the coordination will be led by the President and Vice President and technical details on the coordination will be formulated in a presidential decree. It is encouraging, however, to learn that the government is finalizing programs to set up a single administrative authority and single management for developing and promoting each of 10 new major destinations across the archipelago. The single-authority concept and management, if properly implemented, is an effective means of strengthening coordination in meeting the needs of international tourists because, administratively, the tourism sector and its related businesses are now under the jurisdiction of many different ministries. Other good news is that the number of countries granted the visa-waiver facility will be increased this year to more than 170 from 90. This facility, combined with smooth and seamless customs checks at airports, will be a great incentive for international tourists to come to Indonesia. Indeed as an industry based on nature and culture, tourism should be one of the most suitable businesses for Indonesia to develop because of the multiplier effect and labor-intensive nature of its operations. Travel-related businesses such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, handicraft and cultural shows are all labor intensive, the very kind of businesses needed to absorb the huge pool of job seekers. Coordinated promotion programs for the 10 new major destinations in Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Papua and other major islands should enable the country to double its tourist arrivals to 20 million in 2019. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Safrin La Batu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Members of the former Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) at the Bina Insan Rehabilitation Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, are facing uncertain futures as they have nowhere to return to. Most of them sold their houses before joining the others in Kalimantan. Forty-seven-year-old Dedy and 45-year-old Supriyanto, from Bogor of West Java and Cilandak of South Jakarta respectively, said they wanted to leave the center, but none of their families in Greater Jakarta have come to pick them up. They said they had been rejected by their families and people in their hometowns because they are ex-members of Gafatar. The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) on Wednesday declared Gafatar a heretical movement as it is reported to have attempted to combine the teachings of Islam, Christianity and Judaism and because it declared Ahmad Mussadeq, the founder of the banned Al-Qiyadah al-Islamiyah organization, a prophet. 'I will get a headache here because I have nothing to do. I miss my life in Samarinda [in East Kalimantan] where I could take care of my farm every day,' Dedy told The Jakarta Post. Supriyanto, who stays at the center with his wife and two children, said that while their children could cheerfully play during activities scheduled by the center, parents could only wander around the center complex since there was nothing for them to do. The center's head, Harjanto, said that one of the obstacles facing the ex-Gafatar members was that the majority of them no longer had homes. Hence they had to rely on relatives. 'We are currently communicating with authorities from areas where they belong. The authorities help us identify their families before we return them,' he said. He added that out of 600 people relocated to Bina Insan, around 350 people are still waiting for their families. The government evacuated hundreds of former Gafatar families, including Dedy's and Supriyanto's, to their hometowns following a recent mob attack against them in Mempawah regency, West Kalimantan. Coming from Greater Jakarta, Dedy's and Supriyanto's families, who migrated to Kalimantan to start farming several months ago, were subsequently forced to return to Jakarta. According to Dedy, he became interested in farming after he joined Gafatar several years ago while he was still in Bogor. The organization was disbanded in August last year, but he and other ex-members of Gafatar continued their agricultural activities. 'So we did not farm as Gafatar members. The organization had long been disbanded. We were there as a farming community,' he explained. Dedy, who used to work as a trader, said he had decided to sell his house and other properties in Bogor and moved to Samarinda three months ago to start a new life on a farm. 'Indonesia has a huge amount of land, but almost every staple food we have here is imported. Rice is imported. If this country wants to gain food security it should encourage its citizens to work as farmers, or at least it should not limit their farming. The fact is that the majority of Indonesian youth today no longer see farming as an interesting profession,' he explained. In Samarinda, Dedy started from scratch with the money he got from selling his home. He began to cultivate a plot of land a local resident had lent him for three years. 'I planted cassava and other types of vegetables on just one hectare of land. The cassava was about to be harvested, but I left it all because I was forced to go,' he said, adding that the relocation order came despite the fact that the ex-Gafatar members where he lived did not experience any conflicts with local residents. 'Some neighbors even cried when we went because we had become very close. Some of them even said they were ready to accommodate us in their houses,' Dedy said. Similarly, Supriyanto, who once worked as an electrician in Cilandak, also said he sold his house and properties to go to Melawi in West Kalimantan to start a farm. He said he and hundreds of his friends, also ex-members of Gafatar, had already started cultivating about 100 hectares of land borrowed from local residents when government officials told them to leave the area. 'There was no compensation from the government. We just left the land and came here,' he said. Supriyanto and Dedy said living in a farming community was more than just about earning a living. They said they could easily control and educate their children in the community. 'In the community, my children were also the children of other families. Everyone took care of my children just like I took care of theirs,' Dedy said. _____________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Fri, February 5, 2016 The government will consider a request for an amnesty and living assistance from 10 former members of a Papuan separatist group known as the Free Papua Movement (OPM). If granting amnesty was deemed a peaceful resolution and persuasive of separatist groups to allow a ceasefire, then the government may fulfil the request, said Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Panjaitan in Jakarta on Friday. "We will see. If the request is a solution, the President himself will grant it," Luhut said as quoted by tribunnews.com. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo gave an instruction in January to prioritize a soft approach in addressing separatism, instead of a hard approach involving force and firearms. In an attempt to create peace in regions of conflict, Luhut said, the government would begin to adopt a more holistic approach that involved various measures, such as engaging in negotiation and dialogue, in order to realize a lasting peace. "Peace is holistic; it can't stand alone. Until now [efforts] have been partial, but now we want to be holistic,' Luhut said, adding that any solution for former separatists who had surrendered would be made in accordance with the law and its limitations. Luhut, however, said that he was aware of rebel groups that would end their fighting to obtain amnesty. Last week, 10 former members of the OPM met with National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso in Jakarta to ask for an amnesty and living assistance such as public housing from the government. Sutiyoso said the local administration of Papua itself had already made plans regarding their requests. In May 2015, during Jokowi's second visit to Papua, the President granted clemency to five prisoners as part of efforts to foster peace in the province. At the time, Jokowi called on security personnel to promote dialogue with Papuan people to build mutual trust, in order to change the repressive security approach to a development and welfare approach. The government said it was also preparing an amnesty requested by former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) combatant Nurdin bin Ismail, popularly known as Din Minimi, and his group members, following their surrender in late December, 2015. (afr/bbn)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Raras Cahyafitri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 The government is exploring the possibility of withdrawing state-owned electricity company PLN from operating in six provinces in the eastern part of the country in order to speed up the construction of new power plants in the regions. Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said explained the government would then name local administration-owned companies or other state'owned companies to replace PLN, which at present controls electricity distribution in the country. He hoped that the change would be able to boost the supply and electrification ratios in those areas, which are mostly archipelagic and less attractive for big investments. The six provinces are Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. The provinces are the 'darkest' areas in the country as they host 70 percent of the total 12,699 villages in the country that have no electricity supply, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said explained. 'Therefore, we are planning to discharge the electricity operation [from PLN]. If it is necessary, we will appoint [other] state-owned enterprises or local administration-owned firms to manage electricity. Those areas have distinct characters and geography, meaning that they will need different approaches [for development],' Sudirman said. The country has an installed power generation capacity of around 55,000 megawatts (MW), with an electrification ratio of 88 percent. However, there are numerous areas with a lower ratio, including the six provinces. Papua province has the lowest electrification ratio in the country at only 44.4 percent. Meanwhile, East Nusa Tenggara is the second lowest with about 57 percent. 'The plan will cut short the chain in the decision-making process so that development will be more focused and can be accelerated,' said Jarman, the ministry's director general for electricity. He pointed at the electricity operation in the Batam area, which is currently managed by PLN Batam. 'There are various models currently in consideration, such as appointing a PLN subsidiary like PLN Batam, or name other companies to take over PLN's jobs,' he said. Jarman added that the government was also considering involving private entities in the electricity operation. 'However, we cannot fully give the business to private firms. The government has to be in control,' he said, adding that pricing would be regulated by the central government if local administrations could not carry out the duty. The government plans to build a number of major power plants in order to meet its ambitious target to add at least 35,000 MW to the power supply by 2019. However, most of them are located on big islands, particularly Java and Sumatra. According to the plan, many of the power plants, which are designed to have a combined generation capacity of 30,000 MW, will be built by independent power producers. PLN is expected to build plants with only about a total 5,000 MW capacity so that the company can focus on transmission projects, according to Sudirman. PLN, which has long dominated electricity distribution and transmission, reported sluggish growth in power sales last year: only 2.1 percent to 200.6 terrawatt hours (TWh) compared to 196.42 TWh in 2014. The company is expecting to see around 6 percent growth in sales this year. After being released from a correction home recently, he targeted the 65-year-old widow. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: A 17-year-old boy was apprehended on Thursday for allegedly strangulating an elderly widow and robbing her of cash, jewellery and other items from her residence in south Delhi's B K Dutt colony. The juvenile, along with his girlfriend, had last year allegedly abducted and murdered a 13-year-old boy for money which he needed for participating in a popular reality dance show, police said. After being released from a correction home recently, he targeted the 65-year-old widow, Mithilesh Jain, who lived alone in a first-floor residence in B K Dutt colony, police said. The woman was found dead on Monday by her son-in-law but the police had then claimed that it was a case of natural death. Things took a turn when Jain's relatives informed police that some jewellery, cash and expensive items, including two mobile phones, were missing from her residence. The post mortem report also suggested that she was strangulated, following which police registered a case. Police traced the boy when he switched on one of the phones, which he had allegedly robbed from Jain and apprehended him today from his residence at Faridabad. On being questioned, he told the police that he had targeted the woman as he needed money to participate in a popular reality dance show. On Sunday night, he went to Jain's house, where he allegedly strangulated her and then placed the body on the bed to make it look like a case of natural death, before he fled with cash, jewellery and other belongings, police said. Jain, who had retired from her job at Safdarjung Hospital, which she got after her husband's death, is survived by her son who lives in Singapore, a daughter settled in US, and another daughter who lives with her chartered accountant husband in elsewhere in Delhi, police said. She was planning to leave for Singapore in a few days. The accused is a professional dancer and takes training in choreographer. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 A box found under a bench on the footpath in front of the Pullman Hotel on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta has turned out to be just a box of cakes. Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Mohammad Iqbal said on Thursday that bomb squad officers examined the box and determined that it did not pose a threat. 'The bomb squad confirmed the box just contained some kue bolu [cakes],' he said. Iqbal said the suspicious box was first discovered at 10:20 a.m. by a pedestrian who then reported it to a security officer at the hotel. 'The hotel then checked a surveillance camera,' he said. From the camera footage, it was found that a man wearing a brown jacket with a black backpack had placed the box under the bench at 9:47 a.m., Iqbal said. 'The man sat on the bench and put the box on the sidewalk in front of him. He then moved the box under the bench with his right foot before he walked away,' he explained, adding that the hotel reported their discovery to the Jakarta Police after checking the camera footage. The Jakarta Police are currently looking into possible reasons for why the package was placed there. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mirna Nurasri Praptini (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Internists are doctors with greater considerations in decision-making than most other specialists. That is why in many places, internists, despite their capabilities, do not treat cancer patients by prescribing chemo or radiotherapy. Newly graduated internists have been taught how to be semi-oncologists, general internists who can provide chemotherapy. At the end of oncology rotation, they are asked whether they will provide chemotherapy in their practices. Most, like me, agree to do so. But after graduation and general internist practice, that confidence tended to fade as I no longer met cancer patients anymore. This was the case even with my fellow internists in rural areas. There is a gap between general and oncology internists but even when there are bridges between them, through oncology workshops etc., there are some things that general internists will not do. All my colleagues that finally opted for oncology as their sub-specialty had at least considered it long before they finally chose it. The rest of my fellow internists choose not to take oncology workshops because chemo is provided in their hospitals. They chose to deepen their sub-specialties of choice, because in the end general internists are not so general after all. They all have interests that can only be mastered if they study them throughout their careers. Oncology in Indonesia must thrive and finally flourish in spite of this. As a science and practice, oncology is badly needed in this country given the fact that cancer is increasing over time. But the field is notoriously hard to master. We have heard stories about doctors who spend years longer than they should have until finally being deemed worthy of the title of oncologist. Practitioners who are already in this field understand the reasoning behind all the 'hardship'. But even after becoming an oncologist, he or she cannot do much without the support of other people. Cancer treatment requires teamwork. The team should at least consist of an oncology internist, a surgeon, a pathologist and a radiologist who are able to diagnose and perform radiation treatment, not to forget nurses and pharmacists trained in handling toxic substances. Without those people, cancer patients will be let down. Patient treatment should not be compromised. Can an internist prescribe chemotherapy but leave people who handle the drugs partly clueless about what they are handling? Even in our work as residents, we have had to concoct chemotherapy drugs in a place with people passing by, not adequately ventilated and without proper sanitation equipment. What about the hospitals currently treating cancer? As an ordinary citizen I once met a patient with a malignancy that as a result of complicated bureaucracy had not been operated upon and who went home without medication or reference to any oncology internist. In the end, the young patient died without receiving cancer medication but his family felt that eventually some treatment was at least given before he died, in the form of palliative care, analgesia. Not only was this patient not treated accordingly by the first doctor but also time had beaten him. Time is a crucial factor in cancer management and in most cases we simply do not have it. Time in cancer means a choice between life and death. Most cancers in Indonesia are diagnosed at an advanced stage as we lack national programs to screen cancers in their earlier forms. There are no surveys on how often primary care physicians remind their patients to undergo prostate, breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, or even the much-debated lung cancer, screenings. And if they do remember, how many patients have their screenings covered by medical insurance? It is time for the government to do these kinds of surveys in order to finally make this screening available, at least to people with a high risk of cancer. The information on cancer screening is so scarce that not even daughters and sisters of breast cancer patients know that they should be screened and take genetic tests to determine their risks. The time from diagnosis to treatment can last weeks and even months. While patients wait for treatment, the chance of the cancer reaching more advanced stages also increases. Cancer treatment is expensive, unaffordable by most people and not all treatments will be covered by insurers, since full cycles of treatment can cost hundreds of millions (even billions) of rupiah and our current government healthcare scheme is still understandably unable to bear all the costs. Even the much-vaunted Obamacare in the US could not provide universal coverage as promised, as insurance premiums have become higher and higher. But alas, Indonesia promises to provide universal coverage with premiums much lower than those in the US. The future of cancer treatment lies in the people who make regulations. We need better facilities, better screening, a better referral system and all of this should come hand-in-hand with better coverage that not only covers medication but training and appropriate incentives for healthcare personnel. We all need to see these through if we ever want to form a team. If we want Indonesia's cancer treatment to be great then we cannot and should not make compromises by treating cancer half-heartedly as the situation dictates. Call me a perfectionist, but shouldn't we all be? __________________________ The writer is an internist Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Indonesian lovebirds cherish Valentine's Day and other romantic moments more than people of many other countries, according to a Southeast Asian survey conducted by Japanese internet firm Rakuten. Indonesians are big spenders on Valentine's Day and on purchases for other romantic occassions, such as wedding anniversaries or their partner's birthday. The greatest items that Indonesians splash out on is wedding anniversary gifts for their partners, spending on average US$50.7 per person, according to Rakuten's second annual Valentine's Day Survey, which recorded the responses of 2,500 consumers between 20 and 60 years of age from Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, with some 500 respondents from Indonesia. Twenty-nine percent of Indonesian respondents said wedding anniversaries were the most romantic occasion of all, followed by birthdays and Valentine's Day. For Valentine's Day, which only 6 percent consider the most romantic day of the year, an Indonesian would spend an average of $29 on their partner or object of affection. Rakuten Belanja Online director Yasunobu Hashimoto explained that Indonesian respondents were likely to expect gifts from their partners on such occasions, more so than their Southeast Asian peers. Fifty-six percent of Indonesian respondents said they always expected a gift from their partner on Valentine's Day or for other romantic occasions. That is the highest proportion from the five surveyed countries, with Thailand coming in a close second with 55 percent, and Singapore coming last with only 36 percent. The average regional 'expectation' is 50 percent. Yasunobu saw the Valentine's Day season as a good opportunity for e-commerce platforms such as Rakuten Belanja Online merchants to boost their sales. 'This expectation held by the Indonesian respondents would also increase the amount of money they would spend online to buy gifts for their partners,' he said. Indonesians' taste for gifts seems to drift into the expensive side, with most respondents believing vacations, jewelry, cars and apartments are the gifts that best convey the words 'I Love You', said Yasunobu. 'But thankfully, some respondents said they preferred gifts that were deemed priceless, such as their partner's time or even the simple declaration of love,' he said. 'Indonesians are also likely to spend more than others on their spouses, with an average of $43.30 per person, and also on themselves, averaging at $38.00,' he added. However, Indonesia came last in terms of online shopping out of the five countries. Only 37 percent of Indonesian respondents said they go online to purchase gifts, compared to 45 percent in Thailand. Regarding that discrepancy, Yasunobu said Indonesians still tended to use traditional methods when shopping for presents. About 2,000 Indonesian vendors are active on the Rakuten Belanja Online e-commerce platform. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Fri, February 5, 2016 Iraqi officials say a string of roadside bombs and a shooting have left nine people dead and 33 wounded across the capital. Thursday's violence comes one day after Iraqi authorities announced that construction had begun on a wall and trench around Baghdad to prevent militants and explosive-laden cars from entering the capital, where bombings and suicide attacks have been commonplace for over a decade. Most attacks on Baghdad are linked to Sunni militants and tend to target members of the Shiite-dominated security forces and civilians. The security and hospital officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lolita C. Baldor (The Jakarta Post) Washington Fri, February 5, 2016 New intelligence assessments show that the number of Islamic State group fighters has dropped in Iraq and Syria but is rising in Libya, a senior U.S. defense official said Thursday. According to the official, reports suggest there are 19,000 to 25,000 IS fighters in Iraq and Syria, compared to an earlier range of 20,000 to more than 30,000. The newly declassified numbers back up recent comments from military commanders and other defense officials who have argued that the U.S.-led coalition airstrikes are having an impact on Islamic State militants and causing them to lose ground in both countries. The decrease in Iraq and Syria, however, may explain some of the increase of IS in Libya from a couple thousand to about 5,000. The official said that military operations in Iraq and Syria have killed IS fighters and made it more difficult for them to move into the region or recruit others. As a result, some appear to be going into Libya, where wide swaths of territory are ungoverned. The official also said that the intelligence community's ability to accurately count the number of militants has improved, as the U.S. and its partners get more troops on the ground and surveillance in the skies. The official was not authorized to discuss the numbers publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Fri, February 5, 2016 Five ministries are combining forces to jack up domestic consumption of natural rubber with the issue of a joint ministerial decree (SKB) on mandatory rubber utilization across several sectors, targeting an increase of at least 100,000 kilograms of natural rubber consumption this year. The five ministries are the Trade Ministry, the Industry Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Transportation Ministry and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry. "Previously, the rule has been issued as a presidential instruction. But it needs a quicker process, prompting us to change it to a joint ministerial decree from related ministries," said Trade Ministry agricultural and forestry export director Nurlaila Nur Muhammad as quoted by kompas.com on Thursday. Under the new measure, rubber consumption will be directed to uses such as road pavements and dock fenders. Malaysia and Thailand have already mixed asphalt with rubber for paving roads, she explained. Global demand for natural rubber has declined due to falling tire production amid decreasing automotive sales. The oil price slump worsened the situation as the price of synthetic rubber got cheaper. Despite Indonesia's strategic position as one of the biggest producers of natural rubber, domestic consumption in the country is very low, absorbing only 18 percent of production. From last year's production of 3.2 million tons, domestic consumption came to only 600,000 kg. "We must push rubber usage outside tire manufacturing. Beside asphalt-mix, rubber can be used in construction too, especially for cushions in bridges, railways and earthquake resistant houses," director of the Indonesian Rubber Research Institute Karyudi told thejakartapost.com. (ags)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Erika Anindita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo asked for the help of Islamic groups on Friday in order to tackle the spread of radical ideology in Indonesia, in the wake of last month's terrorist attack in the capital city. Jokowi met with representatives of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and the Islamic Dakwah Indonesia Institution (LDII) at separate times at the State Palace on Friday to discuss deradicalization programs. NU executive council chairman Said Aqil Siradj said Jokowi asked the NU clerics to intensify preaching aimed at curbing the dissemination of radical teachings in Indonesia. "The President asked us to always assert the issues of terrorism, radicalism and drugs in our preaching," Agil said as quoted by kompas.com. The biggest Muslim organization has long preached about peaceful Islam and is involved in deradicalization programs throughout the country. Deradicalization in Indonesia was important to prevent the escalation of tension between Sunnis and Shiites, as is occurring in the Middle East, taking place in Indonesia, Agil added. Similarly, LDII chairman Abdullah Syam expressed the organization's support for deradicalization, saying it also strongly rejected radical ideology, terrorism and drug misuse. "We are against everything that contradicts Pancasila [national ideology] and Islam's 'rahmatan lil alamin' [blessing for the universe]," he said as quoted by kompas.com. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin accompanied Jokowi when he received the visits from both organizations' representatives. Luhut said Jokowi wanted to develop cooperation with Islamic community organizations to help the socialization of deradicalization and prevent drug misuse, as quoted by tempo.co, adding that Jokowi would invite other Islamic community organizations in the near future. Government is strengthening the deradicalization programs after the terrorist attack in Jakarta last month that left eight people dead, four civilians and four terrorists, and injured dozens more. One of the dead terrorists had been sent to prison for terrorism acts in the past. (afr/rin) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 The National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has described as a violation of human rights recent statements made by public officials vilifying the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community. Komnas HAM described the vilification of LGBT members by several political figures as contradictory to the fundamental principles of the nation, according to a statement received from Komnas HAM by thejakartapost.com. Technology, Research, and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir argued in January for the prohibition of LGBT students from university campuses describing them as morally corrupt. The statement was followed by various statements by other officials, including Culture and Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Anies Baswedan, People's Consultative Assembly chairman Zulkifli Hasan, House of Representatives member Reni Marliawati and Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil, who all made similar discriminatory statements regarding LGBT people. The commission says that such statements are also not in line with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's development principles of Nawa Cita in which the government affirms Indonesia's pluralism and intends to strengthen social restoration through policies aimed at strengthening education in favor of diversity and creating space for dialogue among citizens. Disparaging comments fueled discrimination and triggered violence toward the LGBT community, Konmas HAM stated. According to research conducted by the commission in 2015, the LGBT community especially have difficulty in fulfilling its right to health, work, fair legal treatment and freedom of expression. The research also found that the media played a large role in helping the public understand LGBT issues. Komnas HAM urged public officals to put a stop to negative comments that violated human rights and incited violence toward the LGBT community. The commission also called for law enforcement agencies to curb abuse instigated by community organizations or individuals toward LGBT people and referred to the Social Affairs Ministry Regulation No. 8/2012 on minority groups in which LGBT people are included, as well as Home Ministry Regulation no. 27/2014 on the guidelines for the planning, control and job evaluation work plan for regional development in 2015 that is also inclusive of gays, transsexuals and lesbians. Furthermore, the commission emphasized the importance of applying the 2006 Yogyakarta Principles, a set of international human rights principles relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. (bbn)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tama Salim and Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 The House of Representatives has been forced to cancel a crucial first meeting to deliberate a rough draft of the 2002 Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Law revision, after the antigraft body's commissioners failed to show up for the session on Thursday. For the meeting, the KPK only sent its spokesperson Yuyuk Andriati, its information department deputy Hary Budiarto, legal department head Setiadi and members of its legal team Nur Chusniah and Anatomi. Soon after the afternoon session kicked off, Golkar lawmaker Firman Soebagyo called for the meeting to be adjourned due to the absence of KPK leaders. Firman's call was met by protest from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Hendrawan Supratikno, who urged the chairman to allow the KPK officials to give an explanation regarding their commissioners' absence. 'This is an important meeting [for KPK commissioners to miss]. We don't need to occupy ourselves with any further explanation ' the meeting should be called off so we can continue with the next step of meeting antigraft experts on Tuesday,' Firman said. Chairman of the session, lawmaker Totok Daryanto of National Mandate Party (PAN), proceeded to ask the KPK to submit a written statement to the House legislative body (Baleg) regarding the no-show. 'With the submission of the written response, this meeting is adjourned,' Totok said, ending the session. 'This meeting is cancelled not because we don't want to listen to what the KPK has to say. We just want to have an open discussion.' The KPK Law revision has been a point of contention between legislators and the government for the past few years. Following months of a back-and-forth, the House finally included the bill in this year's Priority Legislation Program (Prolegnas). Last year, in spite of the potential that the amendment could weaken the KPK, then acting KPK chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki gave the green light for legislators to amend the KPK Law, which would allow for the curtailing for the agency's authority. KPK spokesperson Yuyuk said leaders of the KPK declined to attend the meeting as a protest against the revision plan. She said that KPK leaders argued that current provisions were still a suitable backing for the antigraft body's operations. 'The KPK leaders did not attend the meeting for a number of reasons, so today we are here to submit a letter to the Baleg chairman underlining our rejection of the KPK Law revision,' Yuyuk told reporters after the meeting at the House compound in Central Jakarta. Yuyuk said the antigraft body had yet to report to President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo regarding their stance on the KPK Law revision, although it was not the first time it had voiced its opinion on the issue. She said however that KPK commissioners could still attend future meetings with the House. In the letter addressed to lawmakers, KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo urged both the House and the government to prioritize the deliberation and drafting of other laws related to corruption eradication, including the consolidation of articles in Law No. 31/1999 on graft crimes. Agus also urged legislators to prepare the draft bill for assets confiscation as an implementation of Indonesia's commitment to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and consolidate the draft for revising the Criminal Code (KUHP) and the Criminal Code Procedures (KUHAP). Separately, the Presidential Palace reiterated its stance on Thursday on the controversial plan to revise the KPK law, with President Jokowi remaining consistent in his support of the KPK in its anticorruption campaign. ____________________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ni Komang Erviani (The Jakarta Post) Denpasar Fri, February 5, 2016 A team of prosecutors demanded on Thursday that the Denpasar District Court in Bali sentence Margriet Christina Megawe, 60, to life imprisonment for allegedly murdering 8-year-old Engeline Margriet Megawe. Speaking to the panel of judges led by Edward Harris Sinaga in a hearing, lead prosecutor Purwanta Sudarmaji said evidence and testimonies from witnesses and experts presented during the trial were already enough to prove that Margriet was guilty of violating Article 340 of the Criminal Code on premeditated murder, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. Purwanta added that Margriet was also proven guilty of violating multiple articles in the 2002 Child Protection Law as she had physically harmed and abandoned the victim. 'During the trial, [we] did not find any mitigating factors or justifying reasons that can eliminate the defendant's mistake. Thus, the defendant deserves to get an equal punishment for her act,' he said. Engeline's body was found buried in the backyard of Margriet's house in June last year after she was declared missing several weeks beforehand. Engeline's disappearance attracted public attention as the family created a Facebook page for Engeline called 'Find Angeline ' Bali's Missing Child'. However, a police investigation later led to accusations that Margriet had killed Engeline by slamming her head into the floor and afterwards ordered Agustay Handa May, then her domestic worker, to bury the corpse. The police named Agustay a suspect immediately after they found Engeline's body. They named Margriet the main suspect a couple of weeks later. Both suspects have been undergoing separate trials in the murder case since October last year. When testifying as a witness in Margriet's trial, Agustay said his employer had tortured Engeline by pulling her hair and repeatedly slamming her head into the floor prior to her death. He said Margriet ordered him to cover Engeline's body, along with her doll, with bed linen and a curtain and that she burned Engeline's back with a cigarette to ascertain whether she was dead. After he took Engeline's body to the backyard and buried her there, Agustay testified that Margriet told him to cover the spot with a big red basket and put some chicken food on it to avoid suspicion. However, Agustay said that before Margriet told him to bury the dead girl, his employer also ordered him to sexually abuse the body. Agustay, however, said he refused to do so. 'The defendant's act was sadistic,' Purwanta said. The prosecutors claimed Margriet had also exploited Engeline for economic interest as she told the girl to take care of hundreds of chickens in her backyard. The chickens were then sold by Margriet to people who came to her house. The lawyers also said they considered that Margriet's act had tarnished Balinese tradition. 'The defendant never confessed that she is guilty and never showed any remorse,' Purwanta said. As the demand was read out, Margriet was seen to be crying. 'I ask for justice because I never killed my daughter Engeline, but I have been accused of killing her,' Margriet said through tears. The trial will continue on Feb. 15 when the defendant is scheduled to deliver her defence plea. Earlier on Tuesday, another team of prosecutors demanded the same court sentence Agustay to 12 years in prison and to pay Rp 1 billion (US$73,000) in fines, or serve an additional six months in prison. The prosecutors said that Agustay had been proven guilty of helping Margriet bury Engeline's body, thus charging him with violating Article 181 of the Criminal Code for concealing evidence and Article 76 and 80 of the Child Protection Law. Prosecutors, however, declared that Agustay had not been proven guilty of premeditated murder. The court is scheduled to announce the verdicts for both defendants on Feb. 29. The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control (LoC) ends. (Photo: AP) Srinagar: Ten Army soldiers including a junior commissioned officer were buried alive when a massive avalanche swept through their post in Siachen glacier area at a height of 19,600 feet in eastern Ladakh on Wednesday morning. Defence spokesman at Armys Northern Command. Colonel S.D. Goswami, said in garrison town of Udhampur, Rescue operations by specialized teams from Army and Air Force are underway. He added that these operations are being closely monitored from Leh and Udhampur. Army sources said that the avalanche hit the post located in the southern side of the Siachen glacier at dawn. Col. Goswami said that the post was being manned by the JCO and nine soldiers when the incident occurred. The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control (LoC) ends. As both India and Pakistan have claim over it, the stretch of snow is dubbed as the worlds highest battlefield. As many as 869 Indian Army personnel have lost their lives on the Siachen due to climatic conditions and environmental and other factors since the Army launched Operation Meghdoot to take the control of the strategically vital glacier in 1984 till December 2015. In a recent such incident, four soldiers were killed by an avalanche in January this year. Prior to 1984, neither India nor Pakistan had any military forces in this area. In spite of avalanches and landslides claiming lives of the soldier routinely in the area particularly during the winter when temperatures can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius, the Indian military authorities maintain that the Army will stay in the region for strategic advantages. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mike Corder (The Jakarta Post) Den Haag Fri, February 5, 2016 A man accused of killing a former Dutch health minister admitted the slaying at a court hearing Thursday, claiming it was an "order from God" because she was responsible for the Netherlands' euthanasia law. The suspect, identified only as Bart van U. because of privacy rules, made the confession during a closed hearing, Rotterdam Court spokesman Pelle Biesmeijer said in a telephone interview. Former health minister Els Borst, who drafted the nation's landmark 2002 law legalizing euthanasia, was stabbed to death at her home two years ago. News of the motive behind her death sent shockwaves through Borst's former political party, D66. "My worst fears have been realized," said current party leader Alexander Pechtold. "The suspect's motive is shocking and confrontational. Els was killed because of her socially and politically groundbreaking work on euthanasia." Prosecution spokeswoman Jeichien de Graaff said Van U.'s statement in court would be taken into account in a psychiatric assessment that aims to help judges decide if he can be held criminally responsible for his actions. Van U. was arrested last year on suspicion of stabbing his sister to death, De Graaff said. Prosecutors say that during the investigation into that slaying, he gave DNA samples that were found to match traces of DNA found at the scene of Borst's slaying. Van U. is charged with murder or, alternatively, manslaughter in both slayings. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Fri, February 5, 2016 Secretary-general of the Golkar Party Idrus Marham will run for chairmanship of the country's second-biggest party, to replace Aburizal Bakrie. "I will run for Golkar Party chairman," Idrus told reporters after Golkar's daily board meeting, in Jakarta. But the party's treasurer Setya Novanto has denied knowledge of the claim, saying that he has no idea about it. "I know nothing about his candidacy," Setya said at the same event in Jakarta, on Thursday. Acceptance as a candidate depends on the stances of both the party's provincial executive boards (DPD I) and regional executive boards (DPD II). "If they believe in me, of course I, as a party official, would prepare as best I could for any task," Setya said. The Golkar Party is preparing for a national meeting, which will take place between March and May. Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie said Golkar would hold discussions about the meeting's organization in late February. (erk/dan)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani said on Thursday that the government should take legal action to follow up the recent Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) edict declaring the Fajar Nusantara Movement (Gafatar) a heretical organization. The daughter of ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Party (PDI-P) chief Megawati Soekarnoputri said that the National Police should bring former leaders of Gafatar to justice for spreading controversial teachings. 'There should not be generalization [regarding Gafatar members]. [The investigation] should clearly separate those who are ordinary followers, the victims, from those who are leaders,' Puan told The Jakarta Post after holding a meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Thursday at the vice presidential palace. The MUI declared the mass organization as heretical on Wednesday but called on the People not to spread prejudice or take action against members. There has yet to be an official response from the government as a follow up to the edict, which is not legally binding. There is no obligation for the government to follow up the edict with formal regulation or legal action. MUI chairman Ma'ruf Amin said the Gafatar movement had been close to treason as the group members had begun to move from their hometowns to Mempawah regency in West Kalimantan to start what they allegedly claimed to be a new state. 'We'll never tolerate such a mission because, for MUI, it is the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia [NKRI] to which we have made our commitment. We will let the government handle the case,' Ma'ruf said during the edict announcement. Gafatar hit the headlines when it was revealed that a number of people reported missing were found to have joined the group. Thousands of people from across the country left their homes to join the group's community in Mempawah, the putative capital of Gafatar's caliphate, but were displaced after a mob ransacked and razed the community property on Jan. 19. Many of the members have now been returned to their respective hometowns. Puan called on the Religious Affairs Ministry to purge the minds of Gafatar members, saying that they had been indoctrinated by Gafatar leaders and urged people across the country to welcome and nurture them during the rehabilitation period after their return. Many Gafatar members deny that they had been forced by the group's leaders to leave their hometown to join the caliphate movement, saying that they moved to Mempawah because they wanted to develop an independent farming method away from home. Human rights campaigners lambasted the government for evacuating Gafatar members from Mempawah instead of finding the perpetrators that had violated and ransacked the properties. In response to the criticism, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa said that, if Gafatar members really wanted to continue their independent farming practice outside Java, the government would involve them in a transmigration program after they complete a re-education program. Khofifah said that many of Gafatar's members had been returned to their homes, adding that the government did not provide extra security for them because it believed that people in their respective residents would welcome their return and would not harm them. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Aldrin Rocky Sampeliling (The Jakarta Post) Depok Fri, February 5, 2016 Depok city administration recently found out that five natural lakes, or situ, had been transformed into a restaurant, a park and three houses. Kania Parwanti, head of the Depok Land Use and Settlement Agency, told The Jakarta Post that the five lakes had been converted prior to 1999, when Depok split from Bogor regency and set up their own administration. 'The five lakes had all changed ownership and already been converted before Depok's split from Bogor in 1999,' she said. Kania said the restaurant and the houses were owned by individuals and the owners had their proper ownership documents. The park is recorded as a public facility of state-owned housing developer Perum Perumnas. 'Each of the owners were given permits by the government of Bogor regency,' she added. The five lakes were Situ Ciming in Sukma Jaya district, Situ Bunder in Cimanggis, Situ Telaga Subur and Situ Lembah Gurame in Pancoranmas and Situ Cinere in Cinere. Last month, a West Java councillor, Hasbullah Rahmad, raised the missing lakes for discussion. He found a discrepancy between data from West Java provincial administration and the Depok city administration. West Java's data showed that Depok had 31 lakes, but they could not find five of them. 'The five missing lakes have to be restored,' Hasbullah said as quoted by tempo.co. 'They are important as open green space as well as water retention,' he said. Hasbullah said there was no use in playing a blame game but he would propose that Depok and West Java administrations as well as the central government sit together and talk about restoring the lakes. 'Depok has to record details about the five lakes, including their size. Let us not talk about who made them disappear, but record them,' he said. Kania said West Java administration had written a letter to the Public Works and Housing Ministry about the discrepancy in the data. Taufiq DS, the leader of Depok Ciliwung Community, applauded the West Java Council initiative to restore the five lakes. 'The five lakes initially functioned as water retention basins. Restoring them will prevent future floods,' Taufiq said. 'We deplore the increasing conversions of dams and swamps to build offices and housing complexes across the city,' he told the Post. 'I don't know whether the five lakes are connected to the Ciliwung River or not, but most of the reservoirs in Depok are. A decrease in the number of retention basins will indeed affect Jakarta as well,' he added. However, he said he was skeptical about the plan restore the lakes because he found a caveat in Depok's 2012-2032 spatial planning bylaw that stated that the Depok administration was not responsible for the five lakes. He questioned the bylaw and argued that the five lakes should have been under Depok's authority. Taufiq said Depok's rapid pace of urban development had threatened the environment. One of the problems, he said, was the lack of serious supervision from the administration. _____________________________ The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Silangit Airport in North Sumatra will be modernized and expanded to support the government's vision of turning Lake Toba and its surroundings into a prominent tourist destination. After the renovation, the airport will be able to accommodate medium-bodied aircraft like the Airbus A320 Neo. Located in North Tapanuli district, Silangit Airport is the closest airport to Lake Toba, which could be reached in 30 minutes to one hour of driving, said Budi Karya Sumadi, president director of state-owned airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II. While the airport would feature a modern look, it would also uphold traditional elements, he said. "This can be seen in the terminal design, which is inspired by bolon Toba, the traditional house of North Tapanuli," Bayu said in a statement received by thejakartapost.com on Friday. "We are optimistic that through this development, more airlines will be interested in opening direct flights to help local and foreign tourists travel to Lake Toba," he added. The first phase of the upgrade will see the runway extended to 2,450 x 45 meters, allowing larger aircraft to land at the airport. As a result, direct flights to and from the airport should become more affordable. Angkasa Pura II would then develop a cargo terminal and parking area; to support safety at the airport, rescue and fire-fighting facilities would be expanded, Budi added. The government earlier revealed plans to make Lake Toba the country's first single-authority tourism site in a bid to simplify infrastructure development and the management of tourism facilities. 'The government aims to make Lake Toba the Monaco of Asia,' Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Rizal Ramli said. Another measure to facilitate Lake Toba tourism was to [improve infrastructure] to cut down the journey time to and from Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang regency from four hours to just one and a half, he added. (bbn)(+) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Edith M. Lederer (The Jakarta Post) UN Fri, February 5, 2016 A human rights group alleged Thursday that at least eight women and girls were raped or sexually exploited by U.N. peacekeepers late last year in Central African Republic, and the world body announced that more than 100 troops would be sent home. Human Rights Watch said a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old alleged that peacekeepers gang-raped them near the airport in Bambari, the country's second-largest city. The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Central African Republic said later Thursday it had identified seven new possible victims in Bambari in cases that Human Rights Watch brought to its attention. The U.N. said the soldiers implicated in the cases are from the Republic of Congo and Congo. The mission said 120 soldiers from the Republic of Congo who were deployed to Bambari from Sept. 17 to Dec. 14 will be repatriated after an investigation is carried out. In the meantime, it said, they will be confined to barracks. A fact-finding expert sent to Bambari found "sufficient initial evidence" that five alleged victims were minors and had been sexually abused, and that one adult had been sexually exploited, the mission said. The expert was unable to interview the seventh alleged victim. One allegation by Human Rights Watch had been previously reported and is currently under investigation, the mission said. Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, the U.N. envoy for Central African Republic who traveled to Bambari on Thursday, expressed outrage and shame at the latest allegations, saying it is "a double crime" to attack vulnerable women and children that peacekeepers were sent to protect. The new cases highlight concerns about peacekeeper abuse beyond the chaotic country's capital. The U.N. mission in Central African Republic tweeted that there have been 13 cases of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers in Bambari since September 2014. The U.N. has been unable to explain why so many rapes and other sexual abuse by peacekeepers have been alleged in Central African Republic, which has been gripped by deadly violence between Christians and Muslims since late 2013. Thousands of U.N. and other peacekeepers have been in the country since then. On Friday, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General Anthony Banbury came close to tears as he described four new child sex abuse cases in the country involving U.N. troops and police from Bangladesh, Congo, Niger and Senegal. It was the first time the world body had publicly named countries whose U.N. personnel are accused, as part of a new policy. For all of 2015, Banbury said, there are likely to be 22 confirmed allegations of sexual abuse or exploitation in the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission in CAR, though that may rise as a result of Thursday's allegations. Human Rights Watch said it documented the latest eight cases of sexual exploitation and abuse during research in Bambari from Jan. 16-30. The organization said the temporary deployment of Republic of Congo peacekeepers to protect the city's airport corresponds with most of the cases. The group quoted a 14-year-old saying that in November, two armed peacekeepers attacked her as she walked by the base at the airport. "They pulled me into the tall grass and one held my arms while the other one pinned down my legs and raped me," she was quoted as saying. "The soldier holding my arms tried to hold my mouth, but I was still able to scream. Because of that they had to run away before the second soldier could rape me." An 18-year-old was quoted as saying that when she visited the Republic of Congo troops' base near the airport seeking food or money, three armed peacekeepers forced her into the bush and gang-raped her. "They said if I resisted they would kill me." (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 National Narcotics Agency (BNN) head Budi Waseso believes that the narcotics lord and death row convict Freddy Budiman is running his business from behind bars. Freddy was sentenced to death in 2013 for importing ecstasy after police officers raided a truck containing 1.4 million ecstasy pills in Cengkareng, West Jakarta. 'Freddy Budiman still runs his business from behind bars. We should implement [the execution] soon,' he said on Thursday as quoted by tribunnews.com. Declaring a national war on drugs, the President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo administration executed two groups of death row convicts, a total of 14 people, in January and April last year. Most were drug traffickers. Two of the convicts executed in April were Australian drug smugglers Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, a move that caused enough tension between Australia and Indonesia for the Australian government to temporarily recall its ambassador from Indonesia. The government would like to see tougher measures introduced against offenders ' both addicts and traffickers ' including establishing special correctional facilities for narcotics-related offenses. Budi, however, said that he will consider supporting clemency pleas for those with light sentences in a move to reduce the country's overcrowded penitentiaries. 'More than 62 percent of drug-related inmates are addicts,' he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 The National Police raided Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital on Thursday due to allegations that the hospital might be involved in organ trade. The police scrutinized several rooms in the state-owned hospital, searching for documents that may lead to donors or victims of illegal organ transplants. 'We are looking for case-related documents and seeking clarification of a previous report that a victim had been operated on in the hospital to remove his kidney,' said the National Police anti-human trafficking division head Adj. Sr. Comr. Arie Darmanto, as quoted by tribunnews.com. The police have named and detained three male suspects on allegations of harvesting and selling kidneys to hospitals, a practice that is in violation of Law No. 36/2009 on health and Law No. 21/2007 on human trafficking. Besides wooing others to sell their kidneys, two of the suspects, Yana Priatna alias Amang and Dedi Supriadi bin Oman Rahman, are reported to have sold their kidneys for Rp 70 million. Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) chairman Slamet Budiarto said that although organ transplants are a common practice across the country, it is illegal to trade in organs. 'As far as I know, kidney donors should be sincere, so if money is given [to a donor] it should be voluntary, not by force,' he said. Article 64 Point 2 and 3 of the health law stipulate that one can donate his or her organs for the sake of humanity, without any monetary exchange. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Duncan Evans and Retno Darsi Iswandari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 'Every woman who chooses to combine full-time work with children knows that it's a challenge. It can be tough sometimes, but if you get the right support, you can do what you really want to do.' So says Juliet Maric Capeling. Capeling is the deputy head of mission at the British Embassy in Jakarta and Britain's consul general for Indonesia. She is also the mother of three children. As consul-general, Capeling bears many responsibilities. In addition to the day-to-day responsibilites of providing a secure and functional work environment for those employed at the British Embassy, she is involved in extending and deepening the political and security relationship between Britain and Indonesia. At times, as deputy head of mission, Capeling represents British Ambassador Moazzam Malik when Ambassador Malik is outside of Indonesia. Capeling, acknowledges that without the right support from her family, such a career would be all but impossible. Capeling believes that things are improving for women in the workforce, but nonetheless, it is still very difficult for women to successfully combine full-time employment with children. This is especially true in Indonesia, where women are usually obliged to fulfill all the domestic functions of life while receiving little if any support to extend themselves outside of the home. Sometimes Indonesian women complain about this condition, but in Capeling's mind, it is a better and more effective thing to fight for change. Capeling argues that a change in Indonesia giving women more support to fulfill their ambitions outside of domestic life would not only be a good thing for women, but also for the Indonesian economy. 'It's 50 percent of your workforce, and if that 50 percent can't contribute equally, because they have too big a burden in the home, then Indonesia's potentially losing out on a big chunk of talent for its workforce.' Such a change, however, if it is going to come about, must come about through deeper cultural pressures rather than the pen-strokes of well-meaning legislators. One cannot, she argues, legislate what goes on in the home. Capeling works in Indonesia while her children live in Spain and her husband travels the globe for business. Asked whether she enjoys living in Indonesia, Capeling eagerly replies that she does because Indonesians seem to balance Capeling's two favorite cultures; those of Spain and Britain. To her mind, Indonesia combines the politeness of British culture with the friendliness of Spanish society. The embassy demands that some of its staff learn Bahasa Indonesia to a sufficiently advanced level in order to expand the ability of its representatives to conduct and transact business in both English and Indonesian. For Capeling, however, such a decree was not necessary to compel her to take up the language. To live in a foreign country and understand it, Capeling believes that one must know something of the language. 'Learning the language is also about learning the culture. And learning how people use the language is about how to understand the country. And it's polite in a way where you're in someone's home you speak the language that they use. The relationship can be so much better if you can communicate in the language of the country.' Capeling has always been interested in languages and travel. To date, she has learned French, German, Spanish, Dutch and Arabic to varying degrees of competency. When asked to compare these languages with Indonesian, Capeling notes that while it is comparatively easy to reach a basic level in Indonesian to the point where one can conduct a conversation, to attain an advanced competency in Indonesian is very difficult, just as it is in any other language. 'But it's a really logical language, especially because it's phonetic. If you can read, you can spell, and if you can write you can speak easily. But then you have some tricky grammar,' she laughs. Capeling moved into the foreign office to satisfy a desire within her to give back to society. 'I guess it sounds cliche I know, but I reached that stage.' Her services rendered to Britons abroad earned her the title of Order of the British Empire. The title was conferred on her last year in November. Prince William presented her with the honor, and Capeling credits it as one of the most precious moments in her life. Capeling is an avid reader and has had a love of books and an incessant need to read since she was a small child. She remarked that she would sometimes dress for school as a girl with one hand organizing her shoes and clothes and the other hand propping up a book. She lists Ford Madox Ford's magnum opus, Parade's End, as her favorite book and claims that Ford has not received the attention he is due. Capeling also lists Thomas Hardy's Far From the Madding Crowd and Jane Austen novels as books that have excited and inspired her. 'Sometimes the story pulls you in a lot of different directions. And it challenges your own kind of values.' Capeling believes that books can have a deep and lasting influence on a person's thoughts and behavior. Indeed, Capeling says that she has learned nearly everything she knows from books. It is little surprise then, that Capeling advises her children to read as much as possible, and like a true believer, has resisted the blasphemy of Kindle. Capeling says that the times spent shopping for books with her children have been among the happiest moments in her life. Capeling's life has been a full one to date. She has built up an impressive career and has raised children while doing so. Capeling does not declare herself a feminist, but she proves that a woman can work as hard as a man, and even harder, when she gets the right kind of support. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lori Hinnant (The Jakarta Post) Paris Fri, February 5, 2016 The Belgian who led the Nov. 13 attacks on Paris bragged that he slipped into France with a group of 90 extremists from Europe and the Middle East, according to testimony from the woman who tipped police to his location. In an interview aired Thursday by RMC television and confirmed by her lawyer, the woman identified only as Sonia said Abdelhamid Abaaoud was proud of the attack that killed 130 people. The 42-year-old woman was with Abaaoud's female cousin on Nov. 15 when the younger woman got a call from a Belgian number. It was Abaaoud, asking for a hideout. The two women drove to a deserted industrial road outside Paris and Abaaoud came out of a bush. It was at that moment she realized who he was, according to her testimony. What followed is Abaaoud's only known conversation about the attacks and their aftermath ' with a woman so horrified and angered by the bloodshed that she challenged him repeatedly. She said the Islamic State group commander told her he had entered France without documents, among a group of 90 people that had scattered around the Paris region. She accused him of killing innocent people, which he denied, and challenged the deaths of Muslims that night. Those, she said, he described as "collateral damage." "He was proud of himself. That was the worst," she said. "He appeared to fear no one, a superman. He talked about it as though he was shopping and had gotten a bargain on a box of detergent." She asked him whether he had come in with Syrian refugees and he told her he came in a group without any documents. "There are Syrians, Iraqis, French, Germans, British. We came in a group of 90 and we're a little bit everywhere around Paris." She asked him why he needed the help of his cousin, her friend Hasna Ait Boulahcen, who ultimately died in the Saint-Denis apartment with him and another of the gunmen who attacked customers at bars and restaurants in central Paris. "He told me no, they left a lot of traces and they'll be identified quickly. And that it's not over," she said. His description of the triple suicide bombings at the French national stadium, which claimed only one victim amid a night of carnage: "The exact words of his response were: 'There were some failures. I am here to make sure that there will be no more.'" At that point, Abaaoud told Ait Boulahcen to find a hideout, buy a pair of business suits for him and his accomplice and return without wearing the full Islamic dress. As the two women drove away, the Belgian number rang again, this time threatening Sonia if she spoke. As soon as Ait Boulahcen left her apartment the next morning ' Monday, Nov. 16 ' Sonia called police and got a response instead from the top intelligence services. All that evening, she tried to persuade the younger woman to abandon her cousin, who she said planned an attack that Thursday on a nursery school, a shopping mall and a police station in the La Defense business district. Finally, the younger woman gave her the address where she was going to hide Abaaoud. "She's not a victim of terrorism. She chose to help her cousin, which means he was stronger than me," she told RMC. Sonia's lawyer said she came forward because she felt ill protected by France. "She is in a state of permanent fear," Patrick Baudouin told The Associated Press. He wants a new identity for her ' until now, he said, she has simply been advised to revert to her maiden name. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said she was under protection. "My responsibility is to avoid risking this person's life," he told Europe 1 radio. But the French magazine Le Point said investigators themselves had already left her vulnerable, by revealing her name and her role during the interrogations of people linked to the Saint Denis hideout. Baudouin said in any event the government did far too little to protect witnesses. "We do not have witness protection in France," Baudouin said. "My fight is larger, so that the public understands the need to protect these witnesses, so any future potential witnesses are not dissuaded from coming forward when they decide it's too risky. It is important for the future." (ags) Srinagar: Army on Friday released the names of ten soldiers presumed killed in a deadly avalanche that swept through their post in Siachen glacier area at a height of 19,600 feet in eastern Ladakh on Wednesday morning. Four of them are from Tamil Nadu, three including a Junior Commissioned Officer from Karnataka and one each from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. They are Subedar Nagesha TT, a resident of Tejur, Hassan district of Karnataka, Havildar Elumalai M from Dukkam Parai, Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, Lance Havildar S. Kumar of Kumanan Thozhu, Teni district (also in Tamil Nadu), Lance Naik Sudheesh B, of Monroethuruth, Kollam district of Kerala, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad of Betadur, Dharwad district of Karnataka, Sepoy Mahesha PN of HD Kote, Mysore district of Karnataka, Sepoy Ganesan G of village Chokkathevan Patti, Madurai district of Tamil Nadu, Sepoy Rama Moorthy N of Gudisatana Palli , Krishna Giri district of Tamil Nadu, Sepoy Mushtaq Ahmed S of Parnapalle, Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh and Sepoy (Nursing Assistant) Suryawanshi SV of Maskarwadi, Satara district of Maharashtra. Defence spokesman Colonel S.D. Goswami said that the rescue operation "is continuing with additional specialised equipment and teams deployed at the site of avalanche". However, there is no hope of finding any survivors from the avalanche which buried these ten Army jawans at their post at dawn on Wednesday. In fact, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, Jammu and Kashmir Governor, N.N. Vohra and several Army commanders including Northern Command chief Lt. Gen. DS Hooda, have expressed their grief over the loss of precious lives and saluted the soldiers for their bravery. Army has also said that finding any survivors is a remote possibility now even though desperate search operation has continued with specialised teams of the Army and the Air Force along with sniffer dogs carving through massive chunks of frost. As already reported, a kilometer wide and 600 feet high wall of snow and ice bore down on the Army camp. The glaciated area presents temperatures ranging from a minimum of minus 42 degrees in the night to maximum of minus 25 degrees during the day. The rescue teams have been in vain braving adverse weather and effects of rarified atmosphere to locate the victims, reports said. The massive avalanche hit the post located in the southern side of the Siachen glacier at dawn on Wednesday. The post was being manned by the JCO and nine soldiers when the incident occurred. The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, just northeast of the point NJ9842 where the Line of Control (LoC) ends. As both India and Pakistan have claim over it, the stretch of snow is dubbed as the worlds highest battlefield. As many as 869 Indian Army personnel have lost their lives on the Siachen due to climatic conditions and environmental and other factors since the Army launched Operation Meghdoot to take the control of the strategically vital glacier in 1984 till December 2015. In a recent such incident, four soldiers were killed by an avalanche in January this year. The worst, however, occurred in April 2012 when an entire Army location was swept in a massive avalanche in the area killing as many as 135 soldiers. Prior to 1984, neither India nor Pakistan had any military forces in this area. In spite of avalanches and landslides claiming lives of the soldiers routinely in the area particularly during the winter when temperatures can drop as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius, the Indian military authorities maintain that the Army will stay in the region for strategic advantages. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hans Nicholas Jong (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Customers will have to pay for plastic bags when they shop at shopping malls, department stores, supermarkets and other retail outlets throughout 23 of the country's major cities starting Feb. 21. In an effort to reduce plastic waste, Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo) chairman Roy Mandey said on Thursday that all modern retailers in 23 of the country's major cities were ready to implement the policy set by the Environment and Forestry Ministry last year. 'All retailers in these cities have been targeted to implement the education program. We will start doing this to show that the retail industry have made a commitment to support the government's program,' he told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. The 23 major cities are Ambon, Balikpapan, Banda Aceh, Bandung, Banjarmasin, Bekasi, Bogor, Denpasar, Depok, Jakarta, Jayapura, Kendari, Makassar, Medan, Palembang, Papua, Pekanbaru, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Tangerang, South Tangerang and Yogyakarta. The association chose Feb. 21 as the date to kick off the campaign so as to coincide with National Waste Awareness Day. The ministry's director general for dangerous toxic material and waste management, Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih, said that the government has yet to confirm the price to be charged to customers for plastic shopping bags. The ministry has proposed a charge of Rp 500 per plastic bag and suggested that customers could get Rp 200 back if they return the plastic bags to the retailers. But Tuti said that, through local ordinances, regional governments would have the final say on how much shoppers will be charged. She expected that the price will vary between regions and are likely to be between Rp 500 and Rp 5,000. 'So [the prices] will be flexible, depending on the agreement between regions and retailers themselves,' Tuti said. Aprindo, meanwhile, has proposed a Rp 200 charge for each plastic bag. 'Under the assumption that such a price will be affordable to the public,' Roy said. 'But we're just hoping for the best decision. We will leave it to the regional governments [to decide]'. The ministry considers Rp 200 to be too low and is thus unlikely to deter people from using plastic bags. 'This is still a trial period, from February to June, so Aprindo should have nothing to worry about,' she said. Banda Aceh Mayor Illiza Sa'aduddin Djamal said on Thursday that his administration would likely apply a reasonable price. 'It could be around Rp 500 [I suppose], based on what the ministry ask,' she said. Banjarmasin Mayor H. Muhidin said that his administration was currently in talks with local retailers and the city's environment agency, adding that the city was ready to implement the policy by Feb. 21. Indonesia is following in the footsteps of others in the region by implementing a curb on the use of plastic bags. Last year, Hong Kong started charging people 50 cents per plastic bag, a move that resulted in a 73 percent decrease in plastic bag consumption. Data from the ministry shows that people consume up to 9.8 billion plastic bags every year in Indonesia, with 95 percent of the bags made with plastics that take considerable time to break down naturally. Plastic shopping bags are so resilient, pervasive and toxic that we have arrived at a tipping point, the entire ecosystem is off balance, with tens of thousands of turtles, whales, other marine creatures and sea birds dying each year after having ingested plastic material. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Moscow Fri, February 5, 2016 The Russian military said Thursday that it has "reasonable grounds" to suspect that Turkey is making intensive preparations for a military invasion of neighboring Syria. Images of a checkpoint on the border between the Turkish town of Reyhanli and the town of Sarmada in Syrian taken in late October and late January show a buildup of transportation infrastructure that could be used for moving in troops, ammunition and weapons, spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in an English-language written statement. He said these were among growing signs of "hidden preparation of the Turkish armed forces for active actions on the territory of Syria. "Maybe, in peacetime, these facts would indicate the expectation of trade turnover growth between the neighboring countries," Konashenkov said. "However, during wartime, in such a way the transport infrastructure is preparing on the eve of military intervention." A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said the ministry would have no immediate comment. Konashenkov's accusations came a day after Russia accused Turkey of violating an international treaty by barring a previously arranged surveillance flight over Turkish territory adjacent to Syria and also over air bases used by NATO warplanes. The Treaty on Open Skies allows unarmed observation flights over the entire territory of its three dozen participants, which include the U.S., Russia and Turkey. The Russian military regards this "as a dangerous precedent and an attempt to hide the illegal military activity near the Syrian border," the spokesman said. He said Russia has extensive intelligence sources in the Middle East, so if Turkey thinks that the prohibition of the observer flight will allow it to hide something, "it is unprofessional." The Turkish official declined comment on the Russian claims. The official could not be named in line with government rules that bar officials from speaking to reporters without prior authorization. Ties between the two countries remain extremely tense following Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane at the border with Syria in November. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fedina S. Sundaryani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto has maintained that he played no part in an alleged conspiracy involving gold and copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia (Freeport). Following a seven-hour questioning session conducted by investigators from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) in South Jakarta on Thursday, Setya denied that he had promised to help with the extension of Freeport's mining contract, set to expire in 2021, in exchange for shares in the company. 'What is clear is that I never asked for any shares and never abused the President or Vice-President's name. Such accusations are untrue. Everything now is in the hands of the investigators, to whom I have already told everything,' he told reporters on Thursday. Setya resigned last month from his leadership position at the House to avoid political embarrassment after a report filed by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said to the House's ethics council accused the former speaker of involvement in the conspiracy. A recorded conversation Sudirman submitted along with the report gave details of a meeting Setya had with then Indonesia president director of Freeport Maroef Sjamsoeddin and tycoon Riza Chalid. A voice believed to be that of Setya's was heard asking for an 11 percent share for President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and a nine percent share for Vice President Jusuf Kalla. Setya also said that he was ready to meet a future summons from prosecutors. 'Yes, I am always prepared [for another summons],' he said. On Monday, House Commission III overseeing legal affairs established a working committee to assist the AGO's investigation into Setya with Democratic Party lawmaker Benny K. Harman serving as its chairman. Benny said the committee would not interfere with the criminal investigation already being conducted by the AGO, and would instead oversee how the AGO would handle the conspiracy case. Meanwhile, the AGO's junior attorney for special crimes Arminsyah said that Setya had confirmed during the questioning session that a meeting with Maroef and Riza had occurred but the senior Golkar politician continued to deny that the voice on the recording was his. 'Setya denied that it was his voice on that recording, and it's within his rights to do so. We are still looking for other evidence and we have already asked an expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology [ITB] to analyze the recording and see if it matches with Maroef's testimony,' he said, referring to Maroef's confirmation at a prior questioning session that the voice on the recording was that of Setya's. Arminsyah said that based on findings from the forensics expert, there was no doubt that Setya's voice was the voice heard on the recording. Although the AGO's preliminary investigation has led prosecutors to believe that a conspiracy did occur during the meeting, Arminsyah acknowledged that they had yet to gather enough evidence to move forward with the investigation and name suspects. 'We need at least two pieces of evidence [before we name a suspect] and at present we only have one and that is Maroef's testimony. We will be more resolute once we collect all the evidence,' he said. Arminsyah said that Setya had asked to leave the questioning session early on Thursday because he had to leave for West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) to join a Golkar Party meeting there. 'He will be questioned again either on Tuesday or Wednesday,' he said, adding that Setya had pledged to attend the next session. ____________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karin Laub (The Jakarta Post) Beirut Fri, February 5, 2016 The Syrian military and allied fighters, backed by Russian airstrikes, on Friday pushed ahead with a major offensive in the north of the country, capturing another village and moving a step closer to encircling contested Aleppo, Syria's largest city. The offensive near the Turkish border, which began earlier this week, has sent tens of thousands of residents fleeing. Turkey has said about 10,000 Syrians have amassed on the Syrian side of the Turkish border and that about 70,000 more were on their way. The government also scored gains in southern Syria on Friday, capturing a town near the provincial capital of Daraa, state media said. Daraa was the scene of some of the first protests against Syrian President Bashar Assad in 2011 and holds symbolic value in the narrative of the uprising that has since collapsed into a vicious civil war. The advance of pro-government fighters in both the north and the south was backed by an intensive Russian bombing campaign. The Russian Defense Ministry said its warplanes hit 875 targets in Syria this week, including in the area of the government offensive. The West has sharply criticized Russia's military support for its ally, President Assad. Russian airstrikes in Syria that mainly target opposition forces are "undermining efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday. Russian air force activity in Syria has also led to increased violations of Turkish airspace, Stoltenberg said in Amsterdam on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defense ministers. "This creates risks, heightened tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO because they're violations of NATO's airspace," he said. The Syrian government offensive comes while hopes for a peace deal are increasingly dim, amid signs of possible further foreign military intervention. Earlier this week, a UN-led attempt to launch indirect talks between a government delegation and opposition representatives in Geneva was adjourned after several days of acrimonious bickering. At the same time, the Russian military said Thursday it had "reasonable grounds" to suspect that Turkey is making intensive preparations for a military invasion of neighboring Syria, while a Saudi military spokesman said the kingdom is ready, in principle, to send ground troops to Syria to fight Islamic State group extremists. In Friday's fighting, pro-government troops retook the village of Rityan north of Aleppo, one of several communities they captured in the area this week, according to the state news agency SANA and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory, an opposition monitoring group, said pro-government troops were backed by Russian airstrikes. It said that by taking Rityan, the government secured a road that links the predominantly Shiite villages of Nubl and Zahraa. These villages had been encircled by rebels for more than three years, but government troops broke the siege earlier this week. In capturing another community Friday, the government also moved a step closer toward surrounding Aleppo. The city, Syria's one-time commercial center, has been carved up between government and rebel-held districts since the summer of 2012. A government siege of Aleppo and its rebel strongholds would deal a potentially devastating blow. Also Friday, the Syrian army and allied militias retook the town of Atman near the southern city of Daraa, located between the capital Damascus and the Jordanian border, according to the Observatory and Syrian state media. The Observatory said the capture opened several supply routes to Daraa, which is divided between government and opposition fighters. Troops advanced under the cover of heavy artillery bombardment and air power, the Observatory said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Maggie Michael & Brian Rohan (The Jakarta Post) Cairo Fri, February 5, 2016 The body of an Italian graduate student who disappeared last month has been found with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture and a "slow death" on a roadside on the outskirts of Cairo, an Egyptian prosecutor said Thursday. Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University PhD candidate who had been researching labor rights in Egypt, went missing on Jan. 25, the fifth anniversary of the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. His body was found Wednesday. News of the slaying and evidence of torture spurred diplomatic tensions. An Italian government delegation cut short a visit to Cairo and Italy summoned the Egyptian ambassador in Rome, calling for a full investigation with participation by Italian experts. Regeni's disappearance came at a time when Egyptian officials and media have often depicted foreigners as plotting against Egypt ' and particularly as seeking to foment unrest surrounding the Jan. 25 anniversary. In the days leading up to the anniversary, police were on high alert, conducting sweeps aimed at preventing any possible protest. Pro-democracy activists were arrested and some foreigners whose visas had expired were deported. Egypt is also battling an insurgency by militants who have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group. The militants are mainly active in the Sinai Peninsula but have also carried out attacks in Cairo and elsewhere, including kidnapping and beheading a Croatian oil worker last year and setting off a bomb outside the Italian consulate in Cairo. On Thursday, Egyptian media accused "evil hands" of orchestrating Regeni's killing to damage Egyptian-Italian relations. The term is usually used to refer to Islamists, who have been targeted by a ferocious crackdown since the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Authorities justify the campaign by pointing to the fight against the militants, who have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers over the past four years. The Italian media pointed fingers at the Egyptian security forces. A business daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, said "the strong suspicion" was that Regeni was "killed by Egypt ... by the system, by the security apparatus." Regeni had been in Egypt since September conducting research on workers and labor rights ' a sensitive topic, since disgruntled workers were among the forces in the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising and authorities still worry about worker discontent. The left-wing Italian newspaper il Manifesto said Regeni had been writing for it about labor issues, signing his articles under a pseudonym. "I imagine it was for security because the articles were about workers and unions," said foreign desk editor Simone Pieranni. "It's clear that when you speak about social rights and workers' rights in Egypt you are implicitly denouncing the lack of freedom." Pieranni said the newspaper would publish a final piece critical of the lack of press and other freedoms in Egypt under Regeni's own name on Friday. Regeni was last seen on Jan. 25 heading from his apartment to meet a friend in downtown Cairo. He entered the subway, which was packed with security personnel scanning bags and checking commuter's IDs. In the days following his disappearance, friends and colleagues launched a search, circulating Regeni's picture widely on social media. His body was found Wednesday in an empty lot along a highway in the 6th of October suburb on Cairo's western outskirts. He was identified by his Egyptian roommate, said prosecutor Ahmed Nagi, who heads the investigation team in the case. "All of his body, including his face" had bruises, cuts from stabbings and burns from cigarettes, Nagi said, adding Regeni appeared to have suffered a "slow death." Later Thursday, Nagi said an autopsy showed the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. Asked about possible police involvement, he said: "We don't rule out any possibility." "Car accident" Earlier, the deputy head of criminal investigations in Cairo's twin province of Giza, Alaa Azmi, had cited initial findings he said indicated Regeni was killed in a car accident. For years, rights groups have accused Egyptian police of regularly torturing detainees. Over the past year, they have also accused them of using "forced disappearances" ' detaining suspected activists or Islamists in secret without reporting their arrest. The Egyptian Association for Rights and Freedoms documented 314 cases of forced disappearances in 2015, said lawyer Halem Henish. Most later turned up in prison, but at least five were found at the morgue, including one with signs of torture like burns and electric shocks. He said the group has documented 35 disappearances so far in 2016, including at least two of whom died. Meanwhile, in Regeni's hometown of Fiumicello in northeastern Italy, townspeople were "destroyed" by the news of his death, said Mayor Ennio Scridel. The town of 5,000 declared Sunday a day of mourning. "If you go into a bar, you see dark faces, silences, looks that let escape all the sadness of a small community like ours," Scridel told Sky Tg24. He described Regeni as "an extraordinary person, who comes from a good family." News of Regeni's death prompted Italy's economic development minister, Federica Guidi, to cut short a visit to Cairo and head home. Guidi had been heading a delegation of 60 business people to help companies set up business in Egypt. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi by telephone and pledged to coordinate efforts with Italian authorities to "unravel the mystery" surrounding Regini's death, el-Sissi's office said. The Italian news agency ANSA said a seven-person team of Italian and Interpol investigators was heading to Cairo on Friday to participate in the inquiry. Egyptian authorities have come under criticism for lack of transparency in several investigations, particularly the Oct. 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula and the September killing of eight Mexican tourists and four Egyptian guides by a security forces helicopter that opened fire on their desert safari. In both cases, authorities banned media reports on the investigations. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Haeril Halim and Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 Following an order from President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo to prevent the fast-spreading Zika virus from entering the country, the Health Ministry on Thursday issued a travel advisory for Indonesians planning to go abroad, especially to Zika-affected countries. In its most recently-updated travel advisory, the ministry encouraged Indonesians to take extra precautions should they have to visit countries most affected by the Zika virus such as Brazil, Cape Verde, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Martinique, Panama and Suriname. The government also issued travel warnings for Indonesians who wished to travel to countries considered to have 'active transmission' status, namely Barbados, Bolivia, Curacao, The Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, French Guiana, Guadalope, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Mexico, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Saint Martin, Samoa, Tonga, Thailand, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela. Health Minister Nila Djuwita Anfasa Moeloek said that Indonesian travelers visiting the countries on the list must always put on long-sleeved clothing and bring with them mosquito repellent and sleep on beds that have mosquito nets. 'In addition, if they feel sick, it is highly recommended that they go to see nearby doctors right away,' Nila told reporters at the vice presidential palace on Thursday. Nila said she encouraged pregnant women to cancel or postpone their travel plans to the affected countries until local authorities there had contained the outbreak. 'If they have no choice but to visit the countries then pregnant women should carefully guard themselves from the possibility of being bitten by mosquitoes,' Nila said. For incoming travelers or ones who have recently arrived from the affected-countries, the ministry said that they should all should undergo a medical checkup within 14 days of their arrival. 'They should directly visit doctors if they get any indications of fever, rashes, joint and muscle pain or headaches and eye redness. Also don't forget to inform medical officers with regard to their travel history to the affected countries,' Nila said. Indonesia has a history of Zika infections dating back to 1981. According to several studies, Zika was found in Indonesia in 1981 and in 2005. The Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology warned in a recent report that the virus had been spreading for some time. A Zika infection was found among 103 blood samples that the institute had taken during a dengue fever outbreak in Jambi between December 2014 and April 2015. The fast-spreading Zika virus is likely under-diagnosed in Southeast Asia, infectious disease experts have warned in several reports. In addition, the government has also intensified efforts to step up preventative measures by deploying more officers at ports and airports where the traffic of men and goods from abroad takes place. Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir confirmed the issuance of a travel warning related to the outbreak of the Zika virus in South America. Arrmanatha said although the health ministry was in charge of issuing health-related warnings, the foreign ministry was responsible for distributing the information to Indonesian nationals abroad through its website and offices around the world. 'We will send out the information to all our offices abroad to help notify the people who might be spending their holidays in the Latin American region,' Arrmanatha told a press briefing on Thursday. The ministry has yet to receive any information from its representatives in Brazil regarding Indonesian nationals possibly infected by the Zika virus. 'In Ecuador and several other countries we have also not received any information regarding Zika virus infections,' he said. Data from the ministry shows that at least 345 Indonesian nationals are in Brazil, working in the service sector and as business owners, mostly in Rio de Janeiro. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the virus will likely spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Farida Susanty (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, February 5, 2016 The development of Indonesia's first high-speed railway, which is to connect Jakarta and Bandung in West Java, might see further delays, as the Chinese-led consortium has refused to meet some of the government's requirements contained in the concession agreement. Although the consortium, led by the China Railway Corporation, agreed that the government would only provide a political guarantee instead of a financial guarantee as earlier demanded, it had asked the Indonesian government to give it an exclusive right to use the route. PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) president director Hanggoro Budi Wiryawan said in Jakarta on Thursday that if another high-speed railway could be built near or along its Jakarta-Bandung route, it would hurt the financial viability of the consortium. 'A demand for exclusivity is fair,' he said, adding that with an investment of up to US$5.5 billion, a consortium not only needed legal but also business certainty. He insisted that such an exclusive right should be part of the political guarantee promised by the government and it should be clearly stated as part of the concession agreement. The Transportation Ministry pledged on Wednesday it would provide a political guarantee to the consortium to ensure that the rail project would not be affected by any future changes in legislation. Hangoro said that the political guarantee should also include the exclusive right to use the route and the track. The ministry's director general for railways, Hermanto Dwiatmoko, said that the government was considering building a Jakarta-Surabaya railway next to the Jakarta-Bandung line. Hanggoro suggested the government just merge both railway projects by using Karawang in West Java as the starting point for the Jakarta-Surabaya rail line. From Karawang to Jakarta, he said, it can use the consortium's track. If in the future another railway operator wants to use the track, it should be the consortium that will decide whether to allow it, he said. The Transportation Ministry has proposed nine points of agreement to be stipulated in the concession. The consortium has in principle agreed with most of the proposals, except those related to the starting point of the 50-year concession and the government's ability to allow other high-speed rail operators in the same corridor. The consortium wants the starting point of the concession to be calculated from the launch of the commercial operation of the train, not from the issuance of the concession, as proposed by the government. The groundbreaking for the development of the high-speed railway was held on Jan. 21 in the presence of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, but the construction work could not be continued because of licensing problems. The consortium needs to secure three more permits from the Transportation Ministry to go ahead with the project: the concession agreement, the railway infrastructure operational permit and the building permit. Jokowi recently issued a regulation that included the high-speed railway as a priority project that should receive special treatment from the government. The decision to include the railway development in the list of priority projects has raised some concerns. Observers are worried that by categorizing it that way, the government can skip the tight environmental issues and other requirements that are currently hampering progress. State-Owned Enterprises Ministry special staff member Sahala Lumban Gaol, who is also a commissioner in the consortium, said that the project should be treated like a toll road project in which the concession starts after the operational permit is issued. 'How can you make a concession of something that has not even been built?' he said. Sahala said the China Development Bank (CDB), which was slated to lend 75 percent of the estimated project cost of US$5.5 billion, was concerned about the uncertainty in the concession agreement. 'They need to be sure that this concession agreement gives certainty and protection for their loan. They would think again because of the unclear parts of the concession,' he added. In response to the firm request on the concession, Hermanto said that the ministry would have a talk with the consortium about its request. The railway, which is to span 142.3 kilometers, will have four intermediary station-stops at Halim, Walini, Karawang and Tegalluar. The railway construction is slated to begin this year and trains are expected to start operating by 2019. ________________________________________ To receive comprehensive and earlier access to The Jakarta Post print edition, please subscribe to our epaper through iOS' iTunes, Android's Google Play, Blackberry World or Microsoft's Windows Store. Subscription includes free daily editions of The Nation, The Star Malaysia, the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Asia News. For print subscription, please contact our call center at (+6221) 5360014 or subscription@thejakartapost.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Edith M. Lederer (The Jakarta Post) UN Fri, February 5, 2016 At least 200 million girls and women in 30 countries are estimated to have undergone female circumcision ' half of them in Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia, the U.N. children's agency said in a report released Thursday night. The UNICEF statistical report said the global figure includes nearly 70 million more girls and women than it estimated in 2014. It said this is due to population growth in some countries and new data from Indonesia. The U.N. General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution in December 2012 calling for a global ban on female genital mutilation, a centuries-old practice stemming from the belief that circumcising girls controls women's sexuality and enhances fertility. One of the targets in the new U.N. goals adopted last September calls for the practice to be eliminated by 2030. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Geeta Rao Gupta said in a statement coinciding with the new report that "determining the magnitude of female genital mutilation is essential to eliminating the practice." While there has been an overall decline in the prevalence of female genital mutilation over the last three decades, UNICEF said it isn't enough to keep up with increasing population growth. If current trends continue, it warned that the number of girls and women undergoing FGM "will rise significantly over the next 15 years." UNICEF statistical expert Claudia Cappa, lead author of the report, said the estimate of 200 million circumcisions comes from household surveys on the prevalence of female genital mutilation, and statistical modeling. The 30 countries, mainly in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, "have large-scale representative data," she told AP. "We still think this is a conservative estimate because we know there are many more countries where the practice exists, but we couldn't report on it with the same level of care because we don't have available data." Cappa said the practice exists in other countries not in the study, where large-scale data was not available, like India, Malaysia, Oman, Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, as well as in pockets in Australia, North America and Europe where immigrants from countries with a large number of female circumcisions live. In the 30 countries, UNICEF said the majority of girls were circumcised before reaching their fifth birthdays. "In Yemen, 85 percent of girls experienced the practice within their first week of life," the agency said. According to the data, girls under the age of 14 represent an estimated 44 million of those who have been cut, with the highest prevalence in this age group in Gambia at 56 percent, Mauritania at 54 percent and Indonesia where about half of girls aged 11 or under have undergone the practice. Countries with the highest prevalence among girls and women aged 15 to 49 are Somalia at 98 percent, Guinea at 97 percent and Djibouti at 93 percent, UNICEF said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karel Janicek (The Jakarta Post) Prague Fri, February 5, 2016 The U.S. embassy in Prague on Thursday blasted a decision by the Czech Republic's justice minister not to extradite a Lebanese national to the U.S. to face weapons charges. The move came on the same day that five Czech citizens who went missing in Lebanon in July returned home, leading to speculation that the Czech government did a deal for their release. Prague's Municipal Court allowed the extradition of Ali Taan Fayad, also known as Ali Amin, and two citizens of Ivory Coast last year but Justice Minister Robert Pelikan has the final say and on Thursday refused to extradite them. The three were arrested in Prague 2014 while allegedly trying to sell weapons to undercover U.S. law enforcement agents who pretended to be from a Colombian terrorist group. "We are dismayed by the Czech government decision to release Ali Fayad and Khaled El Merebi," the embassy said in a statement. Court spokeswoman Marketa Puci said Fayad and Ivoirian El Merebi were released from detention following the minister's decision. The minister still has to decide on the other Ivoirian. "These men were indicted in the United States federal court for conspiring to kill officers and employees of the United States," the embassy said, adding the move harms the relations of the two allies. "There's no justification for the release of these dangerous individuals, which deals a blow to the cooperative relationship of our two countries' law enforcement agencies," the statement said. Pelikan said information from the spy services contributed to his decision but declined to give details. He said he talked to U.S. ambassador Andrew Shapiro about the case. The announcement came hours after five Czech nationals missing since July boarded a Czech government plane in Beirut. They landed in Prague later Thursday. Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek denied that Fayad was released in exchange for the Czechs, saying the government doesn't do business with terrorists. However, Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky previously linked the two cases in an interview for Thursday's edition of the Hospodarske Noviny business daily. "Five people will return fine on condition Fayad is not extradited to the United States," Stropnicky was quoted as saying. "It is linked." Later Thursday, Stropnicky released a statement saying it was a simplification "that cannot describe the complex nature of the case." The case is surrounded by a lot of unanswered questions as Fayad's Czech lawyer was among the five Czechs who went missing, and their Lebanese driver was identified by Lebanese media as Fayad's close relative. "It is necessary to investigate, why they traveled (to Lebanon)," Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said. (ags) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin The Jakarta Post Fri, February 5, 2016 The Lunar New Year festival is just around the corner, Chinese-Indonesians in the capital are gearing up to say goodbye to the Year of the Sheep and welcome the Year of the Monkey that starts on Feb. 8. Most of them stick to the traditions and myths that have long belonged to Indonesians of Chinese-descent families. In order to have a lucky and more prosperous life in the coming year, here are some of the traditions and myths behind the rituals to welcome the new year: Sticking 'Fu' labels Numerous Chinese-Indonesian families have a tradition of sticking labels of the Chinese character Fu ' meaning good fortune ' to items in their houses. One such family is that of Ericko Sanders, 23, an employee in a private company. Ericko said that to welcome the Chinese New Year, his family had bought hundreds of Fu stickers to be attached to every item in his house, including bookshelves, the refrigerator and the washing machine. 'With the stickers, we hope that all items in our house will bring good fortune for us,' Ericko said. 'We usually stick the biggest sticker on the front window of our house.' Ericko further said that his family chose to stick the labels horizontally. Nonetheless, he said some Chinese-Indonesian families prefer to stick the labels vertically. Ericko said that according to those families, vertical stickers were set to show the gods the way to reach their houses. Therefore, the gods would not miss their houses when they send good fortune to humans. New looks before the new year Almost all Chinese'Indonesians undergo makeovers to their bodies or give a new look to their houses prior to the Chinese New Year. They usually cut their hair or nails, and buy new clothes or underclothes. Employee Natasha Christi, 33, said that with such actions, these people wanted to throw away their bad luck in the passing year while welcoming good fortune for the new year. Tasha further said that in her family the members did not cut their hair or nails. Instead, they bought new clothes, as well as colorful bed and pillow sheets. They avoid clothes or sheets in black and white. 'We believe that colorful clothes and sheets will make our lives in the upcoming year as cheerful as the items. We view black and white items as representing sadness,' Tasha said. She added that based on her knowledge, Chinese'Indonesian families used to throw away old items in exchange for new ones. Her family, however, did not do that because of financial reasons. Clean up houses before the new year 'Chinese-Indonesians usually do not sweep their houses from the first day to the third day of Chinese New Year. They do the cleaning prior to those days, instead,' said graduate student Diana Chandra. Diana explained that for Chinese'Indonesians, sweeping floors in Chinese New Year would likely sweep away good fortune from their houses. Thus, many families usually cleaned house before the new year celebration. Diana, however, said that they could sweep floors during the new year celebration as long as the dirt did not pass through the front door. Moreover, they should throw away the dust or trash using a dustpan. 'Many families prefer to use wet cloths when they want to clean house during the new year celebrations,' Diana said. Eat sweet foods During the new year celebration, Chinese'Indonesians have an obligatory food that they believe will bring prosperity and fortune in the upcoming year. In Tasha's family, for example, they always serve sweet desserts to eat. Tasha said that her family believed eating sweet food during the new year celebration would make their lives in the upcoming year as sweet as the food. 'With the tradition, we hope our lives in the new year will be kept away from difficulties,' Tasha said. Like Tasha, Ericko also said that he and his family always eat kue keranjang (glutinous sweet rice cakes) so that their lives will be full of good fortune in the next year. Give 'angpao' Giving angpao (a gift of money) is a tradition of Chinese New Year. Chinese'Indonesians, however, believe only those who have a settled life can give out angpao. 'I usually get angpao from relatives who have married and settled lives. In my family, those who are jobless should not give angpao as it will only bring difficulty to the givers' lives,' Diana said. She added that this year she would get angpao like in previous years because she was still studying and did not have a job. Gurdaspur: The ban on movement of civilians from dusk to dawn along the International border with Pakistan in Gurdaspur district was extended by two months, a senior district official said on Thursday. District Magistrate Abhinav Trikha said the movement of the civilians within the 500 metre of fencing and 1000 metre of the Indo-Pak border would be banned from 8 pm to 5 am. However, the ban would not apply on the Army, BSF, CRPF, Home Guard and staff deployed on the border for special duty, the DM said in an official release. The ban, which was earlier imposed on October 6, was in force until December 4 and later it was extended till February 3 this year. The new orders will remain in force until April 3, he said. Trikha also imposed a ban on burning of any type of flaming material and construction within the area of 1000 metre of Army storage of Indian Army in Shikar Machhian, Dera Baba Nanak and Tibbri cantonment. Republicans have lined up Lester Chang to run against the Democratic nominee for Sheldon Silvers old Assembly seat, reports the New York Post. NYC Dems will meet on Sunday to pick among several candidates. One of those candidates, You-Line Niou, has been endorsed by City Comptroller Scott Stringer and State Sen. Brad Hoylman. Community groups are asking the City Council to delay consideration of Mayor de Blasios controversial zoning proposals, reports the Daily News. On Stellar Rays, an art pioneer in this neighborhood, is expanding its Lower East Side universe, reports the Times. Northern Spy, the beloved East Village restaurant, is calling it quits, according to Grub Street. The Ninth Ward bar on 2nd Avenue is closing, says EV Grieve. Bengaluru: State home minister G. Parameshwar has strongly refuted the claim that the mob fury that was directed at the 21 year old Tanzanian student was racist, saying that it was only a spillover of the peoples anger over a local woman being run over by a car driven by an inebriated African. This is definitely not a racial attack. This is just a response to an accident caused by a Sudanese student. I do not think Bengalureans have got that kind of a mindset, Dr. G. Parameshwar told reporters on Thursday, counselling foreign students to abide by the law and not drink and drive. Taking cognizance of the Deccan Chronicle report on the battering that the Tanzanian student received at the hands of an angry mob, Home Minister Parameshwar said that he will take the investigation to a logical conclusion even as the city police were asked to submit a report on the shocking incident that has been condemned across the world, and brought shame to a city that prides itself on being cosmopolitan. Dr Parameshwar insisted that it was a case of road rage and mob fury and not a case of racism, despite Bosco Kaweesi, the lawyer for the African students in the city saying that the victim, Linah, the 21 year old student of architecture at a local college had been roundly abused and her clothes ripped off by a mob that rained racial abuse on her. The police have arrested five suspects, who were part of the mob and said some more arrests were likely to follow. IG-DGP, Om Prakash and city police commissioner N.S. Megharikh on Thursday morning visited the Hesaraghatta suburb where the Tanzanians victims and other African students live and reassured them of their safety in the city. The two cases - road accident and the arson and rioting registered at Soladevanahalli police station in Hesaraghatta have been transferred to the CCB to investigate under the supervision of Additional Commissioner of Police West, Charan Reddy who will submit a report within 48 hours to the state government. The state government has communicated to the ministry of external affairs in Delhi about the case developments, Dr. G. Parameshwar told reporters reiterating "If we found any lapses on the part of any officials in the police department, we will definitely take severe action including suspension, once the report is submitted to us." The Congress government has been asked by Congress party vice president Rahul Gandhi to submit a report. State govt erred on many counts: BJP State BJP spokesperson and former minister S. Suresh Kumar has accused the state government of mishandling the attacks on African students in Bengaluru last week and claimed the government had erred on many counts. The government was trying to hush up the case to avoid embarrassment. The Congress Party is in power in Karnataka but party vice-president Rahul Gandhi has asked for a detailed report from his government only after four days after the incident, he said. Mr Suresh Kumar also said that Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar had committed a mistake by disclosing the identity of the victim. The incident happened due to the dereliction of duty on the part of the police. The home minister's reply on the incident was not convincing, he said adding that the need of the hour is to hold special meetings in places where more foreign students reside to instill confidence in them. The unfortunate incident has happened when the city was hosting the Global Investors Meeting to woo investors from all over the world. The government should take precaution to avoid such incidents in future. The accused who are involved in this incident should be punished, he added. New Delhi: Under severe pressure from the fallout of the barbaric attack on a young Tanzanian woman by a mob in Bengaluru in which she was allegedly beaten up and stripped, the Narendra Modi government, which has condemned the incident, sought and received a report from the Karnataka government on the incident on Thursday and decided to dispatch a team of senior external affairs ministry officials to Bengaluru on Friday, that will include the Tanzanian high commissioner to India. Sources said the Centre was unhappy with the initial explanation of the Karnataka government and told it clearly that stringent action should be taken to prevent fear and panic from spreading among African students in India. Indicating how seriously the Centre was taking the matter, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj held a high-level meeting on Thursday to discuss all aspects. Anxious to avoid panic, the MEA said it was an isolated incident but added India had assured its African friends strong legal action would be taken, including stringent action against the culprits responsible. Tanzania also urged India to reinforce security in localities where African students live. The Africans are reportedly of the view that it was definitely a racist attack. Voicing concern, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi sought a report from the Congress-run state government immediately. Rahul Gandhi asks Karnataka Government to explain and send report immediately, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said in a series of tweets. Strongly condemn incident with Tanzanian lady in Bangalore. Police must act strongly against the culprits, Mr Singh, who is in-charge of Karnataka affairs, said. In New Delhi, Tanzanian high commissioner John W.H. Kijazi reportedly said he had sent a complaint to the government and sought prompt action against those behind the unfortunate incident. He urged the government to reinforce security in localities where African students live. We request the Government of India to ensure the safety and security of our students in Bengaluru and all other places in India, he was quoted by news agencies as saying. He was also quoted by TV channels as saying such incidents should not happen in the 21st century. Condemning the incident, MoS home Kiren Rijiju urged all Indians to remember their colonial past and become sensitive about racial discrimination. He said it was a serious issue and there was no question of defending it. The MEA has received a report from the Bengaluru police commissioner after Ms Swaraj took up the matter with the Karnataka government. The Congress-ruled Karnataka government had apparently argued the incident took place after a road accident and the situation got out of hand, that resulted in a chain reaction. The Karnataka government told the Centre the police complaint was filed only two days after the incident, but MEA sources said this may have happened as the young Tanzanian woman was obviously traumatised by the incident. The Karnataka government also said five people had been arrested so far. With the Modi government hosting a successful India-Africa Forum Summit just two months back in New Delhi, the government is wary of facing the combined fury of all African nations if it fails to act swiftly. Incidentally, the Tanzanian high commissioner is also the dean of the African diplomatic corps in India. The MEA also said the purpose of the Central teams visit to Bengaluru on Friday was to reassure African students and other Africans living in the country. Over 5,000 Africans are studying in India. The BJP targeted the Congress for its hypocrisy in not initiating action against the culprits in Bengaluru swiftly, and also questioned Rahul Gandhis silence over the matter (a few hours before Mr Gandhi issued a statement). The party accused the Congress government in Karnataka of covering up the incident and said its inaction had brought disrepute to Bengaluru. It demanded immediate action, including the transfer of the DGP and suspension of police officers involved. Refusing to comment on speculation whether it was a racist attack or not, Mr Kiren Rijiju said the police was probing the matter and the government had taken serious note. Whenever such an incident happens, the first thing to do is condemn the attack, not defend it. Whether racist attack or not, whether stripped or not, these are matters to be investigated by officials when they are asked to do it. The police is supposed to act suo moto in such kinds of serious incidents. We should not jump on defending the case whether it is racial discrimination or not. But an incident related to the woman is in itself a serious matter. So there is no question of defending it, he said. Second, during British rule, our country has seen and faced how we were discriminated on the basis of racial profiles. A lot of Indians did face racial abuse in foreign countries. We should be very careful as we were victims of it. So any kind of racial abuse or any discrimination on racial lines has to be taken up with seriousness, he said. Hyderabad: Four of the seven MIM MLAs have cases against them with floor leader in the Telangana Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi leading with nine cases, including the Tuesdays case registered at Chandrayangutta. Charminar MLA Pasha Quadri faces seven cases.Party chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has two cases against him. Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, representing Chandrayangutta, faces eight cases including hate speeches, rioting, unlawful assembly and a case under the Arms Act. A case of disobedience to public servants order (188 IPC) and promoting enmity (125 of RP Act) between classes, registered at Chandrayangutta police station, is pending for 11 years as the decision to prosecute is pending with the government. Two cases registered at Hussaini Alam and Chatrinaka police stations are also pending. An SC/ST Atrocities case was registered on Tuesday at Chandra-yangutta police station. Of the six cases against Mr Abdul Pasha Qadri, one was registered at Falak-numa police station six years back on charges of criminal intimidation, causing hurt to deter a public servant from his duty, unlawful assembly etc. Yakutpura MLA Mumtaz Ahmed Khan has two cases against him at Bhavaninagar police station. Mr Ahmed Bin Balala, the MLA from Malakpet, has three cases against him, including the one registered on Tuesday for alleged attack on the deputy CMs son Azam Ali and MBT leader Amjedullah Khan. Earlier, the Supreme Court had given clear instructions that once a court takes cognisance of cases concerning MPs and MLAs after the police file a chargesheet, the trial court should dispose it in a year. This is not happening and the condition that the government should give permission to prosecute legislators is also causing delay, said Mr Padmanabha Reddy, secretary, Forum for Good Governance. Bengaluru: Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar has said that it was an Iranian boy who came to the rescue of the mob assault victim Linah and took her to a friends place, where she spent two days without coming out due to shock and fear. Mr Parameshwar also read out the complaint to the media written by Linah on Wednesday As we were leaving, the Indians started beating my friends and me and started pulling our clothes and tore them leaving me without top and left me like that. We went into a bus, but the driver did not want to move and the people in the bus started to beat us and pushed us outside and I fell outside the bus. And the Indians outside pulled me and friend outside and they continued to beat us. Then we ran to one of the shops and sat there, but still they followed us until one Iranian came and helped us. We went to a friend's house where we stayed without going out for two days. The Minister said, There are 12,000 foreign students in the city and it is the governments duty to provide them protection and the home department is committed to it, he added. German couple injured as motorbike slams into Phuket tour bus PHUKET: A German man and woman were taken to hospital this morning (Feb 5) after the motorbike they were riding crashed into the back of the tour bus in Rawai. accidentstransporttourismpolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 5 February 2016, 06:02PM The tour bus driver said he was forced to brake heavily after a motorbike cut in front of him. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Both the German man driving the motorbike and his female passenger escaped serious injury. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Both the German man driving the motorbike and his female passenger escaped serious injury. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub The accident occurred near the Family Mart convenience store on the Rawai beach road at about 10:20am, said Maj Patiwat Yodkhawn of the Chalong Police. By the time we arrived, rescue workers had already taken both victims to Phuket International Hospital, he said. We were told that the motorbike driver suffered injuries to his right leg while his female passenger suffered minor injuries. Somporn Tonbanchod 42, driver of the ARS Tour Co bus involved in the accident, told police that he was heading to Chalong Circle when the accident happened. He said that a motorbike suddenly cut in front of his bus, so he braked heavily to avoid a collision, said Maj Patiwat. That caused the Honda PCX motorbike behind him to crash into the back of the bus, he said. At 5pm, Maj Patiwat. told The Phuket News that both victims who the police declined to name had been discharged from hospital and had arrived at Chalong Police Station to discuss the damages. Phuket officials start marking off public walkway for sea gypsies PHUKET: Vice Governor Dr Prajiad Aksornthammakul has inspected the Rawai beachfront and begun having a three-metre wide section of land marked off so that Rawai sea gypsies will have access to their boats following the violent clash with workers from Baron World Trade Co Ltd last week. propertylandconstructionculturepolicepoliticsmilitary By Suthicha Sirirat Friday 5 February 2016, 11:47AM Rawai sea gypsies need to cross the land in order to access their boat so that they can earn a living. Photo: Suthicha Srirat Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos (centre) points out where the sea gypsies walk in order to reach their boats. Photo: Suthicha Srirat Military security personnel were called in after workers blocked off the sea gypsies access to a sacred site, leading to violent clashes with the villagers. (See story here.) The dispute forced Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada to call high-level meeting on Tuesday (Feb 2), at which a provincial committee headed by Dr Prajiad was tasked with creating a the public pathway as part of the attempts to resolve the impasse. (See story here.) Gov Chamroen gave Dr Prajiad seven days to have the public pathway installed, for which he ordered that a NorSorLor land document be issued to affirm that the pathway is on public land. Meanwhile, we have asked the developer Baron World Trade Co Ltd to give the villagers access to the area without being accused of trespassing until the survey is completed. In the future, whether the villagers will use the new route or not is up to them, he said. Police hunting for serial snatch thief PHUKET: Police are looking for a what they believe is a serial snatch-and-grab thief who got away with over 20,500 baht in personal belongings and cash robbed from a woman in central Phuket yesterday (Feb 4). crimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 5 February 2016, 02:39PM Lt Suporn said that police believe the thief is local teenager either from Cherng Talay or Srisoonthorn. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Cherng Talay Police were called to investigate the snatch-and-grab at 3:30pm. They arrived at the scene, in front of Moo Baan Tawan Place in Srisoonthorn, to find Ms Rattimaphon Piachim, 23, from Pattalung standing with her motorbike waiting for them. Ms Rattimaphon said that the thief snatched her purse in front of Tawan Place residence, said case investigator Lt Suporn Muangkhai of the Thalang Police. All she could recall was that the thief was wearing a black T-shirt and a cap, and riding a Honda Wave motorbike. She could not remember the license plate numbers, he said. Ms Rattimaphon explained that she was heading home to Baan Pasak in Cherng Talay after dropping off her sister in Koh Kaew when she noticed a young man who had been following her from the Heroines Monument. When they reached in front of Tawan Place, the man pulled alongside and snatched her purse from her, said Lt Suporn. She followed the thief, but he dumped her empty purse near Super Cheap in Baan Bangjo, he added. While fleeing with Ms Rattimaphon in pursuit, the thief removed her iPhone 5, B5,500 in cash and her bank cards from her poures, he added. Lt Suporn said that police believe the thief is local teenager either from Cherng Talay or Srisoonthorn. And this probably is not his first theft. We are checking CCTV along the route from the Heroines Monument to Baan Bangjo, where he disappeared, he said. Police say body parts belong to missing Spaniard BANGKOK: Police have confirmed seven human body parts found in the Chao Phraya River belong to a Spanish national who disappeared from his apartment in Klong Toey last month. crimehomicide By Bangkok Post Friday 5 February 2016, 08:59AM Rescue workers for several days have recovered body parts spotted by residents along the Chao Phraya River, and not believed to be the remains of missing 40-year-old Spanish visitor David Bernat (inset). The parts, including a head, hand, torso, feet and parts of a leg, were found in several locations in the river in Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi over the past week. Pol Lt Gen Panya Mamen, a senior police adviser who is lead investigator in the case, said Thursday (Feb 4) forensic results have confirmed that fingerprints taken from the dismembered hand matched prints belonging to David Bernat, 40, a Spanish national who was reported missing from Nantiruj Tower in Sukhumvit Soi 8 in Klong Toey where he had stayed since Jan 20. Bernat was an adviser to a foreign company and had travelled to Thailand several times. The most recent visit was on Jan 19 when he arrived in Bangkok after travelling from Tehran, police said. He was last seen riding a motorcycle from the apartment he was staying at on the night of Jan 20, police said. Bernats relatives reported him missing to police in Spain after they could not get in touch with him, Pol Lt Gen Panya said. When his colleagues in Thailand heard about the discovery of human body parts in the river, they lodged a complaint with Lumpini police about Bernat's disappearance on Wednesday, police said. Acting Metropolitan Police Bureau chief Sanit Mahathaworn said Thursday it was a rare case in that police had never found a victim who has been killed and dismembered with a saw in this manner. According to autopsy results, Pol Gen Sanit said the cause of his death was suffocation. Police believe based on an initial investigation that Bernat was detained somewhere and coerced into doing something before he was killed, cut into parts between Jan 25-27, then dumped into the river. He cited forensic results showing no food was found in Bernats stomach, suggesting that he might not have eaten for a couple of days before he was killed. Police said they are seeking assistance from the Spanish embassy to contact Bernats relatives to confirm forensic results. Meanwhile, a team of investigators, Lumpini police and forensic officials searched Bernats room on the 10th floor of the apartment. There was a keycard inserted in the door when the police team arrived. Police searched the room and found money transfer documents showing Bernat had made several transactions to people in Thailand, Spain and Singapore, police said. Police believe several suspects were involved in the killing and are still in the country lying low, Pol Lt Gen Panya said. He said it is too early to say whether suspects are part of a multinational crime syndicate or a criminal gang. Pol Lt Gen Panya said Thais could have been involved in the killing although he could not confirm that at this point. He said the case was outrageous and the body parts were thrown away separately. He said Bernat might have been forced to do something and after he did it the culprits brutally killed him to conceal what was done. Pol Lt Gen Panya vowed to arrest suspects within the next 48 hours. Read original story here. Shabeer and his friend were taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries (Photo: Video grab) Thiruvananthapuram: Evening news bulletins on Monday showing the fatal bludgeoning of a Muslim youth, were ripe stuff for a communal flare-up. But the youth had lived as if he belonged to no particular community. He was a member of the Bodeswaram temple festival executive committee at Puthen Nada, Vakkom, 35 km from here, for two years. The police was aware that 23- year-old M V Shabeer, was not the victim of a communal clash though assassins were non-Muslims. He paid with his life for standing up to the mischief of the main assailant, who had pricked the tail of an elephant at the Bodeswaram temple festival last March. Shabeer believed it was his duty to ensure nothing untoward happened at the festival. Also read: Kerala temple cancels daily rituals to mourn death of Muslim youth Another youth, seriously injured along with Shabeer, was Unnikrishnan. But the police didnt want to take chances at a time when drunken brawls and petty squabbles acquired communal overtones. Police pickets were already in place even before the visuals had gone viral. The local people mounted a vigil along with the police and cautioned politicians and other sectarian elements against misreading the situation. Temple committee members took the lead in carrying the body from the ambulance to the victims residence near the temple. The temple suspended pujas for two days to mourn the death. B Sathyan, MLA, told DC that Shabeers house was so close to the temple that the sole access was through the temple premises. Shabeer used to be an active organizer of the festival and ran errands for whoever had a need. Hindus, Muslims, Christians and other communities and sub-castes share the land and mundane responsibilities. The States secular ethos prevails against communal inroads. Village temples are not sectarian enclaves. Hindus make offerings at church processions and Muslim families line up the temple processions to pay obeisance. Shabeer lived this tradition. New Delhi: As the strike by the MCD workers entered its tenth day, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday made a unilateral offer of Rs 300 crores loan to the North and East Corporations from the DDA. This offer would help pay the workers till March 31. Jung has also assured the three mayors of the MCD that he would speak to the government on implementation of the fourth Finance Commission to find a long-term solution to the problems of the workers. "The step-motherly treatment by the Aam Aadmi Party Government towards us is condemnable. The MCD should get a permanent solution which the Delhi Government is not giving," said North Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta. He also requested the MCD workers to get back to work for the people of Delhi. "We are warning the Delhi Government that they need to provide the people of the city with better good governance. And they also need to find a permanent solution to the problems of the Municipal Corporation," he added. Voicing similar opinions, East Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Harshdeep Malhotra said, "After the intervention by Arvind Kejriwal, we promised to give the MCD workers their salaries till January 31. After the intervention of the LG, we can assure workers their salaries till March 31. They must now return to work." He added that the pending arrears of the workers can be paid only after the implementation of the Fourth Pay Commission. Adding to the information, South Delhi Municipal Corporation Mayor Subhash Arya said, "The LG has said that he would write to the Delhi Government." Earlier today, the Delhi High Court issued a notice to all the unions in view of the strike. The court observed that common people in the city are suffering owing to the ongoing tussle between the BJP-ruled MCD and the AAP-ruled Delhi Government. The counsels for all the four MCDs told the court that salaries till January 31 have been paid and added that the workers were now on strike for arrears. South Dakota high school football playoffs scores and schedule: Oct. 20 The South Dakota high school football playoffs start tonight with the Class 11B and 9-man teams facing off in the first round. Students from various colleges take part in the candlelight vigil against the attack on a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru on Thursday (Photo: Satish.B) BENGALURU: The roads leading to Acharaya Institute situated on the citys outskirt was brimming with activity on Thursday morning following the visit of Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash and city Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik to Ganapathi Nagar, where the arson and mob attacks took place on Sunday night. The two senior police officers sought details on the progress of the case and also visited Soladevanahalli police station to supervise the investigation. Tension prevailed in Ganpathipura after the area witnessed deployment of police personnel in large numbers. While patrolling has been intensified in the area to ensure law and order, good number of policemen have been asked to keep a vigil on the nearby areas, as there are hundreds of foreign students staying in and around Soladevanahalli, as many educational institutions are located nearby. Meanwhile an eerie silence prevailed in Acharya Institute campus situated in Hesaraghatta remained after Sunday night attack, where a 21-year-old Tanzanian architecture student was mobbed and stripped after she became the target of mob fury. The jurisdictional police held a brief meeting with the foreign students on Thursday morning and they were assured of their security. Bwalya Mugala, a foreign student with Acharya Institute of Technology told this newspaper, We were advised by the college authorities to stay indoors for two days following Sunday night. We were shaken and scared to step out of our houses and hostels. But, after the assurance from senior police officials, we are little relieved. Ever since the attack happened the institute has recorded a low attendance of African students. There are around 3,000 African students in and around Hesaraghatta, studying in the three colleges - Sapthagiri College, Sri Krishna Institute of Technology and Acharya Institute. Call from PMO Dr H.D. Maheshappa, Principal, Acharya Institute of Technology said, The Institute received a call from Prime Minister Office and from the officials of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Thursday morning sought details regarding the assault on Tanzanian student. An official from Tanzanian High Commission and a team of officials from Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) met with the students and urged them to rejoin classes. Steve Yang, Features Editor yangstev17@grinnell.edu As part of an ongoing effort to highlight and appreciate different parts of Hollywood and American media, the Cultural Films Committee will be showcasing a collection of films during the next two upcoming weekends that will be open for all students to attend. On Saturday, Feb. 6 at noon in JRC 101, the committee will show Bound: Africans vs. African Americans, a documentary released in 2014 that looks at the conflict and community between these groups. Next weekend, on Saturday, Feb. 13, the committee will play Shanghai Express and Anna May Wong: In Her Own Words, a feature film and a documentary, respectively, dedicated to exploring the representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood and the history of Asian American cinema. The latter event has been titled Celebrating Anna May Wong, and will take place in the JRC 101 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Chaired by Professor Katya Gibel Mevorach, Anthropology and American Studies, the Cultural Films Committee is interested in creating different coalitions with student groups on campus, with the ultimate goal of bringing together a wider group of people through film, specifically within the international student community. This is an opportunity to highlight the fact that boundaries are very fluid on this campus, Gibel Mevorach said. Gibel Mevorach stated that she was interested in getting ahead of controversy, with the intention of moving beyond reactive events towards more proactive events. You lead, instead of being led, she said. To me, being proactive is to attend this event and then having another event that students organize. Thats not waiting for a crisis. The Cultural Films Committee hopes to use the screenings as an assessment of campus interest in African, African American, Asian, Asian American and international themes. Gibel Mevorach noted that JRC 101 was thus chosen for its prime location on campus and to better showcase different interactions in a space that fosters and nurtures relationships. We want to be able to see interest, and thats why its really important why students turn up, Gibel Mevorach noted. I am firmly convinced that it is extremely strategically important from a political perspective that students who show up to events like this underline the way in which studying about cultures is not the same thing as engaging with each other and with cultural products. Consequently, the showcased films were selected as a way of remembering forgotten parts of history, particularly of non-white actors in Hollywood. Anna May Wong, according to Gibel Mevorach, is now being remembered as a central figure who was recognizable by all the people in Hollywood, even at a time when California state law expressly forbid relationships between a white person and a Chinese person. In Gibel Mevorachs opinion, to look at Anna May Wong is to look at the sacrifices the actress made in order to make it in Hollywood and what life looked like at the racial margins of 1930s society. Its not just a story of victims. When the story is being told as if you were on the margins, its a different story as if youre on the center, Gibel Mevorach said. The most important goal of these screenings, however, is to inspire conversation: both over a small dinner offered between the two showings during Celebrating Anna May Wong and afterwards. The committee hopes that students will find an interesting tension between what it meant to be African American and what it meant to be Asian American during the pre-WWII period: one for Black History Month, and the other set to coincide with Chinese New Year. For example, famous black actor and scholar Paul Robeson was once photographed with Anna May Wong, and Gibel Mevorach feels that this cohesion is just one of many fascinating examples of what was and wasnt possible for non-white actors in Hollywood at the time. Its important to continue to disrupt the boundaries and the categories and the classifications, she said. I would like students to have an engagement that lets us think about questions like whose stories are told and how theyre told, whose stories are written out and how theyre written out. Lily Bohlke, Staff Writer bohlkeli@grinnell.edu On Monday, Feb. 1, the Iowa Caucuses took place across the state. In Grinnell, the caucuses were full of excitement, whether voters paper balloted at the Republican caucus or organized bodies into support groups at the Democratic caucus. On caucus night, precincts across the state of Iowa voted to determine how 11,065 democratic delegates would be divided up at county conventions. Over the course of county and state conventions in the coming months, these 11,065 delegates will be narrowed to the 44 delegates that will represent Iowa at the National Democratic Convention. The Harris Center appointed nineteen delegates to Bernie Sanders and seven to Hillary Clinton. Ultimately, however, Clinton won with 701 state delegate equivalents compared to 697 for Sanders and eight for OMalley. These state delegate equivalents represent the corresponding proportion of precinct delegates at the state level. The Republican caucus appoints delegates in a similar fashion. In one of the Republican Precincts at Grinnell High School, Grinnell students and townspeople awarded 27 delegates to Marco Rubio and 11 to Ted Cruz. Ultimately, Cruz won Iowa with 27.6 percent of the popular vote, Donald Trump winning 24.3 percent, and Rubio winning 23.1 percent. Many students went out to caucus for the first time and had a chance to participate in the political sphere in an engaging way. [Voting] is how you let politicians know you exist and that your interests matter, said Jackson Lea 19. The Republican precinct in Grinnell had a higher voter turnout than ever before, largely because the Republicans in town want their voices to be heard. The most people I have ever seen come out was about 40 people. But last night I had 142, because people want their voices to be heard, said Tammy Kriegel, Poweshiek county leader for Marco Rubio. Kriegel also expressed that Republican voter turnout in Grinnell is extremely important because there tends to be a Democratic lean. Many other townspeople agreed. The College brings a lot of people from elsewhere to our town. We dont really reflect anything other than Democratic values, said Grinnell community member Rachel Mahaffey. Kriegel was especially pleased that her voice and the Republican votes resulted in Rubios majority in her precinct. [Rubio] relates to the middle class, he comes from nothing, and he is a good example, Kreigel said. I think people are finally getting to the point to appreciate that. The Rubio support group majority was surprising, especially because recent polls that suggested Donald Trump would win. In further primaries, however, Kriegel said that she expects Cruz and Rubio to lead over Trump. With all thats going on in the Middle East and with our economy, we need someone with a political background to take care of the situation at hand, she said. At the Democratic caucus at the Harris Center, 925 people gathered to create support groups for candidates. After Martin OMalleys support group did not reach the required 15 percent to be viable, voters from both the Clinton and Bernie support groups tried to convince OMalley supporters and undecided voters to join each respective support group. Arguments for Sanders and Clinton filled caucus sites during the realignment period. Arguments in favor of Sanders included income justice and revolution, while those in favor of Clinton included womens rights and electability. Despite the potential for the United States to make history with Clinton as the first female president, many students felt that policy should be favored over identity. Obamas presidency made it very clear that just because someone in a marginalized group is president, that doesnt actually mean that will make a difference at the bottom, said Sandy Barnard 17, Bernie Sanders preference group captain. As for electability, Barnard said that voting for Clinton not because a voter agrees with her ideas but because a voter thinks that Sanders will not be elected goes against the ideals of democracy. Democracy is like money. It only works if you believe in it. Go with what you want, not what you begrudgingly think you should do, Barnard said. Both Barnard and Professor Barbara Trish, Political Science, said that although it is likely Sanders will win the New Hampshire primary, it is hard to predict what is going to happen long-term. Youve got all these contests and each one is different, Trish said. The outcome of the previous contest affects the expectations for the next one. Trish added that a caucus is a way to bring out the passion in voting citizens. A Party meeting rather than a primary ballot forces a community to join together in support, even though it is hard to create efficiency when there are so many people. I think its mystifying, said townsperson Joan Brand-Landkammer. But Im enjoying it very much. Rajnath Singh reviewed the coastal security apparatus, a coastal police station and an operational detachment in Daman and Diu. (Photo: PTI) Diu: Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the security along the coast in Daman and Diu and asked the authorities to ensure further enhancement of protection of seas off the union territory. Singh, who is on a two-day visit here, had a detailed meeting with the Daman and Diu administration regarding various aspects of coastal security. The Home Minister reviewed the coastal security apparatus, a coastal police station and an operational detachment in Daman and Diu, a Home Ministry official said. He asked all concerned to ensure further enhancement of coastal security, the official said. The Daman and Diu coasts are guarded by four coastal boats and foot patrol. One coastal police jetty at Daman is already operational while construction of a jetty at Diu is in advanced stage. The Home Minister inaugurated a new coastal police station at Diu while construction of another one is at an advanced stage in Daman. Singh also discussed various development and governance issues of the Union Territories (UTs) of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli located along the Arabian sea. The UT administrator expressed his gratitude to the Home Minister for the creation of 114 posts for coastal police and assured that recruitment will be completed soon and both the new coastal police stations will start working in full capacity within six months. The Home minister expressed satisfaction on the progress made by the Union Territory for strengthening and upgrading the infrastructure and called for creating greater synergies amongst all agencies involved in this endeavour. During the visit, Rajnath Singh inaugurated a newly-constructed 60-bedded district hospital with different speciality services built at a cost of Rs 27 crore. A three-MW solar power plant was dedicated and foundation stone of a six-MW plant was laid by. The commissioning of the plant will make Diu the first district in the country to meet its entire energy requirement from solar energy. The Home Minister also laid the foundation stone of a government polytechnic college and inaugurated an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 people. Singh said time has come to give a greater push to tourism in conjunction with the neighbouring state of Gujarat and develop Diu-Gir-Somnath and Daman-Sanjan-Udwada as tourist circuits. The Home Minister said he would ask the Civil Aviation Minister to launch air connectivity on the Ahmadabad-Diu sector at the earliest and will also urge the Shipping Minister to start Catamaran services between Mumbai, Daman and Diu for improving the sea connectivity between them. Lily Bohlke, Staff Writer bohlkeli@grinnell.edu President Raynard Kington announced that Grinnell will not accept Posse Scholars from New Orleans in Fall 2016, due to administrative issues between the College and the Posse Foundation, in a December campus memo to students, faculty, staff and alumni. The Posse Foundation selects public school high school students with academic and leadership potential and awards them full tuition scholarships to colleges across the United States. In the last several years, Grinnell has accepted Posse Scholars from Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and, more recently, New Orleans. According to Dean Mike Latham, this decision was made to facilitate discussion between the College and the Posse Foundation about whether the relationship is mutually beneficial. Any long-standing partnership like ours periodically needs to be reviewed, especially when the two organizations involved are dynamic and continually evolving, Latham wrote in an email to The S&B. Current Posse Scholars worry about the implications of a decision like this, both for the students in New Orleans who were hoping to be selected to receive a full tuition scholarship and for the Colleges commitment to diversity. The Posse selection process includes three rounds. Since the College announced this decision during the selection process, 19 New Orleans Posse Scholars who had committed to Grinnell had already withdrawn any early action or early decision applications to other universities. That makes a huge difference for students, particularly ones of disadvantaged backgrounds, so this was a big blow to their chances of going to other schools, said Bailey Bagneris 19, a New Orleans Posse Scholar. Grinnells withdrawal of support for New Orleans Posse also raises questions about the Colleges commitment to diversity. Diversity has been increasing recently but I just feel like taking away Posse is taking a step back from what you could potentially be getting, said New Orleans Posse Scholar Hassan Thompson 19. I feel like what they call diversity is more international diversity rather than domestic kids of color. Bagneris agreed, adding that not only do Posse students bring diversity, but also the Posse Foundations emphasis on leadership and achievement allows Posse students to have a large presence on campus. Theres an assumption that if youre meeting a student of color on campus theyre either Posse, QuestBridge or from Chicago, Bagneris said. Additionally, Posse scholars like Bagneris and Thompson feel at fault for the Colleges decision to sever ties with Posse New Orleans. Our Posse was sitting in a room with all the other Posses when we were told, Thompson said. Everyone was looking at us like, What did they do? and we were feeling that waywe were feeling like it was our fault. Latham confirmed, however, that this decision was made independently of the performance of current Posse students. We are proud that [Posse Scholars] chose to come to Grinnell, and right now they need and deserve our support, Latham wrote. In order to have productive and respectful conversations about their respective goals, both Grinnell and Posse have agreed to disclose limited information, according to Latham. However, according to New Orleans Posse mentor and Professor Mark Levandoski, Chemistry, Posse Scholars are chosen partially for their desire to be involved in important conversations, so the private nature of the decision may explain some student dissatisfaction. Students will respect the decision more if they have more information, Levandoski said. New Orleans Posse Scholars reinforced this claim by organizing a meeting with the College administration to address their concerns, according to Latham. Such discussions help us learn what the specific challenges are for certain students, so that we can be responsive and make the changes that will make Grinnell a better place for everyone, Latham wrote. Although the Campus memo states the Colleges goals are to support current Posse Scholars, Bagneris said that the best way to help current students would be to keep up the relationship with the New Orleans Posse Foundation. Its kind of a paradox to say, Worry about the scholars on campus, when its the scholars coming to campus who provide a sense of motivation, Bagneris said. I cant stress enough what kind of opportunity [Posse] is for people in New Orleans. Michael Cummings, Copy Editor cummings@grinnell.edu Over winter break, President Raynard Kington wrote a special campus memo that Vice President for Communications Jim Reische will be leaving his position at the College effective on March 21. Reische, who first came to Grinnell in 2011, dedicated the four years he has spent at Grinnell to making needed improvements to the College. The resulting improvements [from Reisches work] in our financial sustainability were central to the Trustees October 2015 vote continuing our need-blind policies, Kington wrote in the memo. Reische was selected Vice President for Communications at Grinnell during a nationwide search in 2012. Previously, the same person headed the Communications department and the Development and Alumni Relations department, but the office of Vice President of Communications role was established as part of a growing trend among colleges across the country. Reische has accepted a position as the Chief Communications Officer for St. Johns College in Annapolis, Md., a small liberal arts college dedicated to the reading of the Great Books of Western Civilization. Reische cited family as the main reason for his move. My parents, who live in New Hampshire, are getting older, Reische said. I want to be able to spend some time with them. Its not easy to get back and forth from Iowa to New Hampshire. Our daughter is at college in Pennsylvania I want to be closer to people who I want to be able to see. Reische said he has a hard time picking out what he will miss the most about Grinnell. One of the things I really like about Grinnell is the incredible intellectual vibrancy, Reische said. Anybodys willing to try anything, and people are willing to discuss and debate and really engage at a really intense level, and so thats something that Ive loved. He added that he especially values the relationships he has formed in his time here. I really have a lot of good friendships with people on campus, and not just administrators but faculty and staff and students, which is a pretty rare thing in my world. Sam Han hansungs17@grinnell.edu On Jan. 29, Grinnell Colleges Student Health and Counseling Services (SHACS) sent a college memo detailing changes in the services available to students. With the departure of two counselors and an inability to provide necessary care, the department decided to rework its model as part of an ongoing effort to re-evaluate health services offered at the College in the face of dissatisfaction of students over recent years. The memo highlighted a few changes. The College will hire two Grinnell Regional Medical Center (GRMC) counselors to work at SHACS as well as a new outside hire. They are also invested in working with a University of Iowa Doctoral student, who will work part time to treat students. We are working to strengthen our collaboration with the University of Iowas doctoral program with the hopes of expanding this program, in addition to hiring and increasing our own providers in house, wrote Deborah Shill, Director of SHACS in an email to The S&B. Shill also detailed specific administrative changes that will help keep the new system running smoothly. We now have our team in place, she wrote. I will oversee all operations for both the health and mental health services here at SHACS. In addition, Beth Gallegos, Assistant Director of SHACS, will help to coordinate and oversee the mental health services in collaboration with [me]. We also have a new Medical Director who has taken over for Dr. Jerome Wehr who retired at the end of the fall term. Dr. Jeffrey Knobloch is our new Medical Director effective Jan. 1. Along with the new changes, Andrea Connor, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, insisted that the College will continue searching for more permanent solutions. We will be posting and searching for a full-time counselor to be hired as a Grinnell College employee, she wrote in an email to The S&B. SHACS is also hoping to improve in its tele-psychiatry program, to provide students with assistance in medication management. In the past, these services have been provided through the GRMC by nurse practitioner, Megan Berryhill, who recently retired from her position. SHACS plans to continue this practice but hopes to begin a program with these services on campus. Andrea Conner, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, also clarified the change. Berryhill provided prescribing services off campus at GRMC, wrote Andrea Connor, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, in an email to The S&B. We hope to bring a tele-psychiatry program to SHACS which would mean on-site prescriber services free of charge to students. This would be an added resource for students in need of prescription medication management for mental health needs, in addition to the off-campus prescribers. Overall, staff is confident that the new changes will help increase access to and improve the quality of mental health care available to students. With increased providers, we will be able to provide more services both within SHACS and out on campus to include more outreach and trainings, wrote Shill. Ian Stout stoutian17@grinnell.edu Since this is my last issue of The Food Chain, Im making this column a double special, featuring two fiendishly quick food options: Tacopocalypse and Powered by Fries. Both are located in Des Moines, and youll notice from my past reviews that Des Moines is the happening place to be if you cant choose between two types of foodnot to mention the obsession over apocalypses, but who doesnt love a good doomsday fantasy? Tacopocalypse is no such exception, a restaurant priding itself on Asian-inspired tacos including the Korean chicken, Bulgogi (Korean beef) and Korean tofu. The restaurants sign declares that it is Devastatingly Good, a call to action for any food critic. I came in suspicious, but after trying their end-of-the-world good food Im already making doomsday plans. I hope Tacopocalypse doesnt mind me living in its basement. Every taco comes prepared with house-made corn tortillas, and every little bundle of joy is assembled right in front of your eyes by a server whos just as happy to be there as you are. The tortillas are strong enough to hold all of the delicious contents, while still tender enough to chew easily. The meat in each taco is savory and cooked to perfection, especially the Korean chicken taco which has a sweet spice that holds true to its multicultural elements. The Bulgogi taco was true to its name: straight fire beef seasoned to a mouth-watering taste. My personal favorite is the bacon chorizo taco, which sounds like an unusual blend but is an ingenious combination of seasonings that leaves you wanting more. The bacon is grilled to a greasy sizzle and mixed with zesty Italian sausage, all served in the delicious corn tortilla thats both soft and never breaks. I found myself stuffed after five tacos, since each one is fairly small. Its relatively expensive for the size, but just right for the taste. The only critique I have for Tacopocalypse is the shady, two-dollar taco joint lighting and interior decorating that doesnt do the five star food any justice. Im guessing Zombie Burger stole all the decorators after the apocalypse, but heres hoping a few survivors will make it to the door. If youre stopping by for a top notch taco and dont care about the dining experience, Id highly recommend Tacopocalypse. Powered by Fries is both stylish and delicious, with each package of its patented Golden Sticks of Happiness sold in food trucks throughout Des Moines. The trucks sell fresh cut Belgian fries with specialty sauces and boast that each fry is crispy outside, fluffy inside. Willie Wonka must have designed these fries because they break the realm of culinary possibility in the most delectable way. I ordered the kimchi fries covered with orange sauce, Korean BBQ beef, kimchi onion/cilantro relish, shredded cheese, pepper creme and sriracha. Even with all these toppings piled on, the fries stayed crispy and crunchy on the outside and didnt even get soggy. Witchcraft! Powered by Fries is obviously conspiring with the devil to tempt me into some unholy pact with the Golden Sticks of Happiness. Im told the fries are fried twice to get the effect, but Im still convinced theyre magic, or can turn me into a blueberry any minute now. The first and last bites were equally satisfyingexactly how fries should beand prepared in a fraction of the time a restaurant usually takes. One of my favorite parts of eating at Powered by Fries was the portion size. The fries were served in a large basket with forks and napkins to spare and share. Im a big guy, and a seven-dollar meal that fills me is both impressive and rare. The service was friendly and personable, each server was quipping with me about how I would need the largest serving size. I obliged them. An extra-large thanks to everyone whos been following my column and given me feedback. In the future, I might be writing about food, politics, who knows? Anything that will keep me writing for the fabulous self-gov community that is Grinnell. In little more than a year as director, Benjamin Millepied shook up the Paris Opera Ballet, in some ways for the better. He brought in Pilates and Gyrotonic classes to help reduce injuries. He showcased corps de ballet dancers in his new works (though that meant pushing aside the stars). With his Oscar-winning wife, actress Natalie Portman, adding to his glamour quotient, Millepied raised the companys global profile. Fundraising spiked. Now hes leaving, having announced Thursday that he is quitting his post at one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world to return to a small start-up in Los Angeles called L.A. Dance Project. His announcement comes at an awkward time, halfway through his second season, and on the eve of unveiling his brand-new ballet. It premieres Friday. Millepieds successes may have been too much, too soon. He tried to do too much at once, at every level, said Laura Cappelle, a Paris-based journalist who covers the Paris Opera Ballet for the Financial Times, Dance Magazine and other publications. She has spent a decade watching the company, and says that the perception in some reports that the Paris Opera is old-fashioned and resistant to change is wrong. When Millepied came in, the company was quite happy with the idea of change. They wanted change, she said. But the way he brought it was not the right one. Millepied, who was a New York City Ballet principal for 10 years, has complained in interviews about his dancers not being good enough, and he has bemoaned the companys strict system of promoting dancers only after gruelling contests. He brought in new choreography, but ignored works by choreographers important to the companys heritage and beloved by the French, such as Serge Lifar, Roland Petit and Maurice Bejart. For every positive change he brought, it seems, there was a negative. Hed been criticizing the company publicly since he came in, said Cappelle, and he did it in the middle of the run of La Bayadere. The dancers were very upset by that. Referring to the ballerinas in the technically challenging vision scene from La Bayadere, he told Le Figaro in December: Being a dancer is to express, not to look like a wallpaper pattern! Millepied is French, and trained as a child in Lyon, but he was never part of the Paris Opera system. He didnt study at its school, nor did he dance with the company. He left France as a teenager for the School of American Ballet in New York, then spent his career with New York City Ballet. He met Portman while both were acting in the film Black Swan, which he also choreographed. I think he remained an outsider to the company instead of integrating into it, and taking responsibility for the company, said Cappelle. I dont think he had the patience and persistence to go all the way through with it. The situation is in some ways similar to the Royal Ballets appointment of Australian dancer Ross Stretton as director in 2001. He, too, favoured new works over the heritage pieces, and he proved a controversial and short-term pick who left after a year. He was succeeded by former ballerina Monica Mason. Similarly, Aurelie Dupont, a former Paris Opera principal, will take over from Millepied, in a clear message of continuity. SHARE: The Art Museum at the University of Toronto likes to hit the ground running. Right out of the gate, at its inauguration last month, it made the point, and strenuously, that its collection and exhibition space was second in the city only to that megalithic structure the Art Gallery of Ontario. Among its other distinctions? Its almost surely the only museum in the city where you have to put your coat on and cross the road to get from one side to the other. Its a bit of an issue, sighed Barbara Fischer, the newly minted institutions director and driving force. I hope people will be patient with us on that. If anyone has built enough goodwill in the citys art scene to merit a double coat check, its Fischer. To be clear: the Art Museum isnt so much new as reimagined. Last year, Fischer, a stalwart professor and curator at U of Ts department of visual studies, marshalled her forces. She had been director of the Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, on campus at Hart House, for more than a decade and built it into perhaps the most vital space for artists working in Toronto. Kitty-corner on the quad, the University of Toronto Art Centre, an expanse of gallery space tucked into the corner of the gothic confines of University College, carried on its own program. Two galleries, two programs and rarely did the twain meet. Fischer, whos been a curator at such heavyweight institutions as the National Gallery and the Power Plant, saw an opportunity. I felt like, if we could put the two together, we could really have an impact, she said. We could do something that was really museum scale. Those ambitions in place, UTAC and Barnicke began their slow merging last year and the Art Museum was born with Fischer as executive director. It may have barely opened its first exhibition under the new name was launched Jan. 22 but its building on a solid foundation, and its inaugural show reflects Fischers long-held primary concern. Called Showroom, its a deliberate take on a perpetual concern in real estate-mad Toronto: the ongoing shuffle of ad hoc artists colonies from one transitional neighbourhood to the next, chased by a frenzy of property developers like a mail truck with a pack of dogs in pursuit. Artists have the ingenuity to find these interstitial spaces; they have no obvious value, but they also have no rules, says Sarah Robayo Sheridan, who curated Showroom, filled to the brim with 48 artists, all from Toronto, with a very specific story to tell. Every time you go to a studio in this city, you wonder: Will this still be here in five years? Or even in two? Sheridan is stewarding the program at the Art Museum, and she and Fischer share both an affection for the city and a concern. There really wasnt a better way of launching this new entity than with Sarahs show, Fischer says. Were saying to artists and to the whole city, really that we value how they understand this place and what they can show us about this current situation. More than anything, it seems to show how past, present and more than likely future are gloomily more alike than different. Showroom looks back to 2000 with works like Adrian Blackwells Evicted series: the artist/architect/activist used a pinhole camera to shoot makeshift, not-quite-legal live/work studios on Hanna Ave. in Liberty Village, just as their occupants were turfed, himself included. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Spiking rent this month on Sterling Road seems poised to complete the same process Blackwell captured, transposed to a different locale. That it seems to come in anticipation of the arrival of the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art to the street crystallizes how little progress weve made. Showroom isnt often a literalists view. Works here, like a rough, do-it-yourself gym by VSVSVS, or Jesse Harriss YOUVE CHANGED, a big, ambiguous mural on a Queen West wall, tease out ideas about have and have not without laying specific blame or crying foul. It celebrates artistic ingenuity who does more with less and less than artists here? but an undertone of inequity and a widening gap between have and have-not reigns. As far as Fischers concerned, thats just telling it like it is and always has been. And ultimately, if thats the story of art in Toronto, then thats the story shell continue to tell. I feel like this is the mission weve always been on, she says. Its important for us to take note of the artistic community here: to focus and show why their work is important to this place. Showroom continues at the Art Museum to March 5. SHARE: Chennai: Of the 13 people arrested for their alleged ISIS links by the NIA in the last week of January during a nationwide operation, two turned out be from Tamil Nadu with their roots in Gumudipoondi near Chennai and Coimbatore, intelligence sources from Delhi disclosed. The two from Tamil Nadu were identified as Asif Ali alias Arman Saani, 21, native of Ukkadam, Coimbatore and Mohammed Abdul Ahad, alias Suliaman, 46, from Gumudipoondi, Thiruvallur. Both of them were arrested in Bengaluru on January 23. The 13 men held by NIA were part of the group that set up Junood Ul Kilafa Fil Hind the Indian arm of ISIS with a Syrian handler who was closely monitoring and funding them with branches across the nation including in Chennai, sources in Delhi said. According to their plans, the Junood Ul Kilafa Fil Hind wanted to set up bases in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Allahabad, West Bengal, Hyderabad and Gujarat besides Chennai. The outfit is believed to have identified explosive experts and contacts to procure guns including AK 47s. The Indian security agencies, including IB and NIA had been trailing the group in the virtual world for many weeks before swooping down on them in Bengaluru, Tumkur, Mangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Lucknow on January 22. Asif Ali, had reportedly left Coimbatore to Bengaluru with his parents after finishing his plus 2 in Coimbatore and now working in a IT firm there. Abul Ahad, who had graduated from a Chennai college, is working in Bengaluru but his family members are back in Gumudipoondi, sources added. The two men were part of the bigger network of ISIS sympathisers, lured by internet dossiers and handled by a man named Yusuf alias Gumnam, believed to be an Indian operating from Syria. All the arrested persons were well versed with internet and computers besides latest communication tools and apps. A majority of those arrested were found to be committed to the ideology of ISIS and the concept of bringing the world under its caliphate. Though they were based in different locations, they met in Lucknow a couple of months ago. Those who participated in that meet were given different tasks. A man from Hyderabad was found to be an expert in explosive making, which he reportedly learnt from internet links sent by IS handler in Syria. Commandants alias Amirs for different functions finance, communications, media, operations were also decided in the meeting, sources added. The NIA sleuths are looking for more members of the group, which floated Junood Ul Kilafa Fil Hind, the Indian arm of ISIS. The ISIS sympathisers were also found to be well versed with dark web and Tor, software for anonymous communication. Before the arrest of the two men from TN in Bengaluru, the NIA in December last had arrested a Chennai youth who was working in Dubai and deported to Delhi from Sudan after he was allegedly found trying to establish contact with IS handlers to go to Libya. City council voted Thursday evening to push the federal government to uphold a ruling in favour of competition for internet providers. But that overwhelming support, 28 to 5, contradicts the position of Mayor John Tory who still holds at least $5 million in shares of large telecom Rogers, where he was previously an executive after he sent a letter in favour of an appeal for big telecom companies. A Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) ruling last summer ordered large companies like Rogers and Bell to provide smaller internet companies access to their high-speed fibre networks. Bell is currently appealing that ruling to cabinet. Councillor Mike Layton asked council to support the original CRTC ruling as a city issue equitable access to high-speed internet. I think Toronto made a good decision. I hope it sends a message to cabinet that they should uphold the CRTC decision to have more competition in the internet marketplace. That hopefully will provide more affordability so more families can access the internet, he told the Star following the vote. Really, the mayor shouldnt have sent a letter without the voice of council behind it. Im unsure why he would have. Tory was away during the vote while he meets with other big city mayors in Ottawa. At press time Thursday night, Tory had not responded to a request to his office for reaction to council's vote. But he defended his letter in support of Bells appeal during an earlier news conference. If you put politics aside, there are a lot of people who would agree with me on the issue of principle, which is that when people make these investments, they have to be able to garner proper return on them, otherwise they just wont make them. And I think that would be very damaging for the city, Tory said, arguing the city needs those companys high-speed infrastructure investments. While Tory's letter is in support of only Bell, reversing the CRTC decision would also benefit Rogers because it owns a network. Asked why he would wade into the debate considering he has a financial stake in Rogers, Tory denied any wrongdoing. I think that Ive conducted myself in office, on every issue, Ive handled in a way that I think is straight up and honest and in this case Im speaking to an issue of principle, he said. I just have a view with respect to the need we have to get these companies to make these investments for the people of Toronto and for our economy and for our future, and I think that when youre in a position of leadership you have a responsibility to say that. Apart from his stock holdings, Tory is still a member of the advisory committee of the Rogers Control Trust, which oversees significant transactions related to Rogers assets, according to company documents. Though he resigned from the Rogers board as promised when he was elected, he refused to step away from the advisory committee, saying he made a promise to former boss and friend, the late Ted Rogers. In his letter, on his official letterhead dated Dec. 17, Tory said he was writing to express concern about the CRTC ruling, noting Bells $1-billion fibre project announced last year and arguing those companies deserve to be treated fairly. I would urge you take the necessary action to protect Torontos global competitiveness and future economic prospects. Small internet providers, who benefit from the CRTC ruling that allows them greater access to the internet service marketplace, questioned Torys stance Thursday. Internet service is, in our opinion, as essential as water, said George Burger, an advisor for VMedia Inc. which offers internet, home phone and television services to about 18,000 homes, mostly in the GTA. Mayor Tory is essentially saying a private entity should control water. Though Rogers is not named in the appeal, Burger said the petition submitted by Bell is a proxy for Rogers as well. Bram Abramson, chief legal and regulatory officer for TekSavvy Solutions Inc., which provides internet and phone services to more than 250,000 homes, said the CRTC decision came after a public process that lasted two years. Torontonians clearly like having multiple players to choose from and the CRTC said thats good. Thats consistent with Canadas telecommunications policy, he said, adding the larger telecoms are well compensated for sharing their fibre networks. Were really surprised to see the mayor of Toronto asking cabinet to overrule the CRTC on that. Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson also submitted a letter similar to Torys saying he was concerned about the CRTC ruling and the impact on both the business community and residents. Unlike Toronto and Ottawa, the City of Calgary submitted a 28-page letter defending the CRTC decision, saying it struck a careful balance that advances multiple goals. That letter, asking cabinet reject Bells appeal, was sent on behalf of Calgary city council. Responding to a tweet from Layton on Thursday, Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Calgary has a very deep expertise in this area... It is vital that cities get this right. Councillors John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Mark Grimes, Stephen Holyday and Jim Karygiannis voted against Laytons motion. All of Torys executive members who were at their seats voted in favour of the motion. Read more about: SHARE: Narcissist. Swellhead. Egomaniac. Prima donna. Fetishist. None of these are legal terms so I dont have to use the alleged qualifier in describing Jian Ghomeshi, to avoid libel. A dim-wattage celebrity, beyond the navel-gazing orbit of CBC personalities. Admission: Id never heard of Ghomeshi until his self-penned alternate-lifestyle Facebook posting the consensual bondage stuff went viral as pre-emptive swipe at the employer he feared might fire him over BDSM tastes. Which Mother Corp. did, subsequently. But I dont move in Can-Cult circles. Dont attend entertainment industry parties. Dont hang out at the bars CBC glitterati frequent. What a small and insular world that is. Actress-producer Lucy DeCoutere wasnt up on the Ghomeshi File either, apparently, when first she met the CBC host at a 2003 TV conference in Banff. Actually at a karaoke contest, briefly, then a barbecue which was a big mixer event. He asked if I was American, I think because I did not know a lot about his work at that point, DeCoutere told court Thursday, taking the stand as the second accuser against Ghomeshi at his sexual assault trial. The fact he asked me if I was American made me feel maybe I should have known a little bit more about him. While his vanity may have been bruised, Ghomeshi certainly seemed intrigued by the attractive and cheerful DeCoutere best known, in the years since, for her role in Trailer Park Boys, though shes now a training and development officer as captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Extremely friendly, with flirtatious undertones that were a bit cheeky, DeCoutere said of their BBQ conversation. He gave her his business card. I was flattered that he wanted to stay in touch. In the following weeks they communicated mostly by email, she in Halifax, he in Toronto. I thought he was cute and interesting, DeCoutere the only complainant (from among three in this trial) who has waived the right to a publication ban on her name told Crown attorney Corie Langdon. I wanted to explore his personality a little more, to see if he was somebody I might want to spend more time with. The email exchange was occasionally lewd. Anyone who knows me knows I have a sense of humour that falls into the bawdy scale . . . banter thats a little bit lascivious and cheeky. As a witness awaiting her turn on the stand, DeCoutere had been warned by the prosecution not to follow reports about this trial, in either mainstream or social media. So I wont say that she was aware of what had befallen the first complainant who testified earlier this week, caught flat-footed by the coy emails (one with a bikini pic attached) shed sent to Ghomeshi after the night hed allegedly punched her three times in the head. But under direct questioning, DeCoutere put the content of those emails on the record, presumably before defence lawyer Marie Henein had the opportunity to pounce. Thus we heard about Rusty Trombone a sex act the witness said was mentioned as a joke. She added: In this environment Im feeling its not so funny, but at the time it was. Ghomeshi suggested phone sex; DeCoutere said no. But by July, a month after Banff, she was in Toronto, partly to see friends and partly to explore the potential of a romantic relationship with Ghomeshi. They met for dinner on the Friday night at Pan, a Danforth restaurant. He was annoyed that she didnt eat cheese. If I didnt like spicy food either, that would be a deal-breaker. Ghomeshi, as the witness recalls it, wanted to quash some rumours, in case theyd reached DeCouteres ears: He was not gay and he had never been funded by the PLO. Mostly he was keen on talking about his career successes and impressing her with his celeb status: That hed picked Pan because everyone knew him and the restaurant had even put on extra staff when it was learned he was coming that night; that, in younger and poorer days hed dreamed about having the money to dine at Pan. He got angry at me during dinner because I didnt show more interest in his career. Afterwards they went to his Riverdale home, so Ghomeshi could get a sweater and theyd take a walk. DeCoutere had no concerns. Its not like he was gonna kill me if we go back to his house. Lots of people had seen us (together). I knew there was a chance that he might want to be intimate but I knew that would only go to a certain point because I had no interest in having sex with him. They did kiss. And big deal to that. During a tour of the residence, he presented his walk-in closet showoff-y. She noticed all the shirts were hung according to range of colours. It was, like, perfect. Abruptly: He started kissing me. Then he took me by the throat, pushed me up against the wall, cutting off my breath and choking me. There was no build-up, it was like suddenly. The way I remember it, he hit me a couple of times. And just stared at her afterwards, neither saying anything. The open-mouth kissing was consensual, DeCoutere acknowledged. The rest of it, no way. I was not able to consent to the choking or slapping. I was just receiving it. A thumb on one side, his palm on the front of my throat and his fingers on the other side of my throat . . . hard enough that I couldnt breathe. Slap-slap. Pause. Slap. Hard enough that it got my attention. Not hard enough to leave a mark. Its pretty shocking when someone slaps your face. Ive never really had that happen before. Yet they didnt speak of it. DeCoutere stayed for a while longer. I didnt want to be rude, which I know sounds weird after what had just happened to me. Its a ridiculous concern. There was more smooching and a kiss goodnight. She wondered if the alleged attack had somehow been her fault, because of my pleasing personality. And, well, everybody makes gaffes. Further: I kind of had compassion for him. But he didnt have compassion for me . . . Also, I wasnt in a relationship (with him) so was this intimate-partner violence? I didnt know how to process it. Despite the alleged assault, DeCoutere (with a mutual friend) met Ghomeshi the following day at a Danforth patio for brunch, went to an art show. At some point that weekend there was a walk in the park, though DeCoutere had no memory of that until defence lawyer Marie Henein, during cross-examination, produced photographs taken of them, cuddling up. On the Sunday, Ghomeshi took her to a barbecue. But first, when DeCoutere came by the house to hook up with him, she accidentally stepped on Ghomeshis glasses, breaking them. He was on the verge of tears. Later, Ghomeshi fell into a grumpy mood because DeCoutere declined to accompany him on what sounded very much like a late date with another woman. DeCoutere returned to Halifax on the Monday and sent Ghomeshi flowers. I knew I didnt want to have a romantic relationship with Mr. Ghomeshi. I did want to stay in touch with him. Charismatic, DeCoutere described Ghomeshi, charming when he wasnt smacking her in the face. Full of himself, though. Nobody loves Jian more than Jian. A year later, back in Banff, they were on the karaoke stage together, performing (Hit Me) . . . Baby One More Time. Rosie DiManno usually appears Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Read more about: SHARE: Why move a town? The centre of Kiruna, home to the worlds largest iron mine in northern Sweden, has to slowly move 3.2 kilometres east or risk disappearing into the ground. Mining in Kiruna by the state-owned company LKAB Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag began more than 100 years ago. By 2004, LKAB was considering expanding to further depths. A study showed that fractures, which are caused by earth collapsing into underground cavities after iron ore extraction, were already approaching the town and would eventually destabilize hydro and gas lines as well as buildings. The fracture in this photo appeared in a residential area of town called On, which no longer exists. In 2009, workers began the monumental task of moving the railway so that it skirted the town to the south instead of travelling through Kiruna near the mine. An 18-kilometre stretch was completed in three years. The old train station and a street, both close to the mine, were closed in 2013. In 2011-12, engineers drained Lake Luossajarvi to stop water from seeping into the mine after LKAB decided to mine at deeper depths. Engineers built a 12-metre-high by 1,800-metre-long earthen dam at the south end of the lake and drained more than a third of it. One of the first residential areas affected was in the Ullspiran neighbourhood, where an 80-unit apartment complex, shown in this photo, was demolished in May 2015. Tenants were relocated. The area is being turned into a green buffer zone between the mine and the community and is now called Gruvstadsparken Park. It will serve as a year-round recreational area with a skating rink in winter and sheep grazing in summer. Hjalmar Lundbohmsgarden, built between 1895 and 1909, was the home of Hjalmar Lundbohm, the first director of LKABs Kiruna operation. It will be one of about 20 historical buildings that will be dismantled and moved to a new location. Kiruna Church: The church, which was voted Swedens most beautiful building in 2001, will be dismantled and rebuilt in a park close to the new centre of town. The wooden structure, designed by architect Gustav Wickman, was constructed between 1909 and 1912 and modelled after teepees used by the Sami, the indigenous people of the north. A historic iron clock tower that was on top of Kirunas city hall, which dates from 1958, will be moved to the new civic square. The tower will be adjacent to a new city hall called The Crystal (the round building in this illustration) and surrounded by a 10-block shopping district. The architectural plan also calls for neighbourhoods to extend from the central square like fingers into the nearby arctic landscape. Building materials from homes and businesses that are demolished in the old town will be recycled in the Portal, a recycling depot where residents can pick up wood, metal and glass for rebuilding. Expansion of the mine to a depth of 1,365 metres guarantees production to about year 2033, when fractures are expected to reach the church, shown at the far right of photo. (The old city hall, with its iron clock tower, is visible in the foreground.) By then, more than 2,500 apartments, 200,000 square metres of retail, schools, and office and health care space, as well as hotels and hostels, will have been affected. LKAB say they will stop mining at that depth, but if the iron ore body goes deeper, fractures could reach the new town by 2100. SHARE: RIO DE JANEIROBrazilian Carnival could be called a hungry mosquitos dream five days of non-stop street parties that bring together millions of revelers in an inviting mass of bare ankles, uncovered legs and denuded torsos. So the mosquito-borne Zika virus might be expected to dampen this years debauchery. But despite warnings to cover up and slather on repellent, many insist the show will go on as it always has, in just a sprinkling of sequins and a few puffs of feather. Pants, long-sleeve shirts and bug spray, they say, are antithetical to the hedonistic, out-of-control spirit of Carnival. We need joy, said Angela Pessanha, a self-described Carnival nut and owner of a home furnishings store. And Carnival is the easiest way of doling out a stiff dose of joy to everyone. This years celebrations, which began Friday, come at a time when Brazil has little to celebrate. Latin Americas largest country is mired in its worst recession in generations, impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff are looming, a snowballing corruption investigation of the state oil company has taken down key political figures and rising unemployment and inflation are hurting the pocketbooks of average people. And then there is Zika, a virus that researchers here have linked to a birth defect that can affect the development of fetuses brains, leaving newborns with long-lasting health and developmental problems. But, many Brazilians say they are inured to the vagaries of a boom-and-bust economy, unfazed by the near constant stream of corruption scandals and have long lived amid outbreaks of dengue, another virus transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads Zika. Ive put it all out of my mind, said college student Pedro Maciel, as he filled up a shopping cart with 12-packs of beer and bottle after bottle of the cheapest domestic vodka fuel he hoped would see his group of 16 friends, visiting Rio de Janeiro from southern Brazil, through at least the first day of the festivities. Of course these are all important issues that as a Brazilian I care about, but I wont give them a second thought till the day Carnival ends. The worlds Carnival capital, Rio, has been less hard-hit by the Zika outbreak than the countrys poor northeastern region, where most cases both of the virus and the birth defect microcephaly have been concentrated. Still, epidemiologists have called Carnival an explosive cocktail for the spread of Zika due to the potent combination of heat, crowds and exposed skin. This has prompted Rio authorities to step up their efforts against the mosquito. Fumigators have been plying the Sambadrome, where thousands of dancers in ensembles consisting of platform heels, a few strategically placed spandex triangles and sparkly body paint will mesmerize during this weekends samba school parades. Health workers will be deployed to many of the citys more than 500 street parties, or blocos, where thousands of revelers defy the Southern Hemisphere midsummer sun to drink, dance, sweat and rub shoulders and other body parts. Theyre also urging revelers to cover up, but those admonitions appear to be falling on deaf ears, judging by the amount of bare skin on display at the pre-Carnival blocos that have flooded the streets in recent days. Tuesdays announcement by health officials that a person in Texas has become infected with Zika through sex may put another kink into Carnival, where promiscuity is held as a core value. Competitions to see who can rack up the most make-out partners are common, and things often get more hot and heavy than simple snogging. Worries grew stronger Friday with the announcement that scientists at Brazils Fiocruz research institute had found live Zika virus in saliva samples. Institute chief Paulo Gadelha suggested pregnant women adopt the very un-Carnival-like practice of shunning kisses from anybody other than a regular partner. The party wont be happening everywhere. The 50,000-strong municipality of Capivari in Sao Paulo state has cancelled the City Hall-funded Carnival celebrations, saying it intends to invest the $35,000 in savings into efforts to stamp out Aedes. Official Carnival festivities have also been nixed in dozens of other cities nationwide due to budget constraints. Even in places where Carnival is rolling on, apparently unscathed by the chaos afflicting the country, this years festivities are shaping up to be leaner than usual. Regina Rodrigues Alves, who hawks kitty-ear tiaras, pirate eye patches, made-in-China plastic crowns and other Carnival essentials at a stand in Rios beachfront Ipanema neighbourhood, says sales have been appreciably down from last year. You can tell people are trying to scrimp and save. Theyre now trying to bargain you down, or not even buying at all, said 58-year-old Alves, adding shes seen revelers dragging along their own portable coolers to save on alcohol. Read more about: SHARE: Noela Rukundo sat in a car outside her home, watching as the last few mourners filed out. They were leaving a funeral her funeral. Finally, she spotted the man shed been waiting for. She stepped out of her car, and her husband put his hands on his head in horror. Is it my eyes? she recalled him saying. Is it a ghost? Surprise! Im still alive! she replied. Far from being elated, the man looked terrified. Five days ago, he had ordered a team of hit men to kill Rukundo, his partner of 10 years. And they did well, they told him they did. They even got him to pay an extra few thousand dollars for carrying out the crime. Now here was his wife, standing before him. In an interview with the BBC Thursday, Rukundo recalled how he touched her shoulder to find it unnervingly solid. He jumped. Then he started screaming. Im sorry for everything, he wailed. But it was far too late for apologies; Rukundo called the police. The husband, Balenga Kalala, ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison for incitement to murder, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the ABC). The happy ending or, as happy as can be expected to cap a saga in which a man tries to have his wife killed was made possible by three unusually principled hit men, a helpful pastor and one incredibly gutsy woman: Rukundo herself. Here is how she pulled it off. Rukundos ordeal began almost exactly a year ago, when she flew from her home in Melbourne with her husband, Kalala, to attend a funeral in her native Burundi. Her stepmother had died and the service left her saddened and stressed. She retreated to her hotel room in Bujumbura, the capital, early in the evening; despondent after the events of the day, she lay down in bed. Then her husband called. He told me to go outside for fresh air, she told the BBC. But the minute Rukundo stepped out of her hotel, a man charged forward, pointing a gun right at her. Dont scream, she recalled him saying. If you start screaming, I will shoot you. Theyre going to catch me, but you? You will already be dead. Rukundo, terrified, did as she was told. She was ushered into a car and blindfolded so she couldnt see where she was being taken. After 30 or 40 minutes, the car came to a stop, and Rukundo was pushed into a building and tied to a chair. She could hear male voices, she told the ABC. One asked her, You woman, what did you do for this man to pay us to kill you? What are you talking about? Rukundo demanded. Balenga sent us to kill you. They were lying. She told them so. And they laughed. Youre a fool, they told her. There was the sound of a dial tone, and a male voice coming through a speakerphone. It was her husbands voice. Kill her, he said. And Rukundo fainted. Rukundo had met her husband 11 years earlier, right after she arrived in Australia from Burundi, according to the BBC. He was a recent refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and they had the same social worker at the resettlement agency that helped them get on their feet. Since Kalala already knew English, their social worker often recruited him to translate for Rukundo, who spoke Swahili. They fell in love, moved in together in the Melbourne suburb of Kings Park, and had three children (Rukundo also had five kids from a previous relationship). She learned more about her husbands past he had fled a rebel army that had ransacked his village, killing his wife and young son. She also learned more about his character. I knew he was a violent man, Rukundo told the BBC. But I didnt believe he can kill me. But, it appeared, he could. Rukundo came to in the strange building somewhere near Bujumbura. The kidnappers were still there, she told the ABC. They werent going to kill her, the men then explained they didnt believe in killing women, and they knew her brother. But they would keep her husbands money and tell him that she was dead. After two days, they set her free on the side of a road, but not before giving her a mobile phone, recordings of their phone conversations with Kalala, and receipts for the $7,000 Australian (approximately the same in Canadian dollars) they allegedly received in payment, according to Australias The Age. We just want you to go back, to tell other stupid women like you what happened, Rukundo said she was told before the gang members drove away. Shaken, but alive and doggedly determined, Rukundo began plotting her next move. She sought help from the Kenyan and Belgian embassies to return to Australia, according to The Age. Then she called the pastor of her church in Melbourne, she told the BBC, and explained to him what had happened. Without alerting Kalala, the pastor helped her get back home to her neighbourhood near Melbourne. Meanwhile, her husband had told everyone she had died in a tragic accident and the entire community mourned her at her funeral at the family home. On the night of Feb. 22, 2015, just as the widower Kalala waved goodbye to neighbours who had come to comfort him, Rukundo approached him, the very man whose voice shed heard over the phone five days earlier, ordering that she be killed. I felt like somebody who had risen again, she told the BBC. Though Kalala initially denied all involvement, Rukundo got him to confess to the crime during a phone conversation that was secretly recorded by police, according to The Age. Sometimes Devil can come into someone, to do something, but after they do it they start thinking, Why I did that thing? later, he said, as he begged her to forgive him. Kalala eventually pleaded guilty to the scheme. He was sentenced to nine years in prison by a judge in Melbourne. Had Ms. Rukundos kidnappers completed the job, eight children would have lost their mother, Chief Justice Marilyn Warren said, according to the ABC. It was premeditated and motivated by unfounded jealousy, anger and a desire to punish Ms. Rukundo. Rukundo said that Kalala tried to kill her because he thought she was going to leave him for another man an accusation she denies. But her trials are not yet over. Rukundo told the ABC shes gotten backlash from Melbournes Congolese community for reporting Kalala to the police. Someone left threatening messages for her, and she returned home one day to find her back door broken. She now has eight children to raise alone, and has asked the Department of Human Services to help her find a new place to live. And lying in bed at night, Kalalas voice still comes to her: Kill her, kill her, she told the BBC. Every night, I see what was happening in those two days with the kidnappers. Despite all that, I will stand up like a strong woman, she said. My situation, my past life? That is gone. Im starting a new life now. SHARE: Canadians are a generous people. In the late 1970s, we welcomed 50,000 Vietnamese boat people who were fleeing the horrific aftermath of the Vietnam War. Community groups and non-profit organizations played a key role in helping to settle these refugee families and easing their transition to a new life. More than 25 years later, Canadians want to be generous again. Last October, we elected a federal government committed to bringing 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada. But a lack of affordable housing has left hundreds of refugees stuck in hostels and hotels, delaying their opportunity to settle into Canadian life. Earlier this month, settlement agencies in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa asked for a break in the arrival of refugees until permanent housing could be found for the refugees who had already arrived. The shortage of affordable homes isnt just a problem for newcomers. The urgent need of Syrian refugees shines a light on a much larger housing crisis. Across Canada, 40 per cent of renter households spend much more than they can afford on housing. Families struggle to pay rent and put food on the table. Even in a country as wealthy as ours, 235,000 people experience homelessness each year. The private sector hasnt built the homes needed by low and moderate-income Canadians. Since 2001, rental housing has accounted for only 10 per cent of annual housing starts in Canadian cities. At the same time, the few rental units that are built may not be appropriate for families. For incoming refugee families of up to 10 people, for example, finding a home that is affordable and a decent size is especially challenging. When the private market doesnt respond, its the governments job to step in and help families find a safe and secure place to live. But over the past 25 years, the federal government has decreased funding for affordable housing by 46 per cent. The result: in Ontario alone, more than 168,000 households are on waiting lists for affordable housing. Many of these families will wait as long as 10 years. Ensuring every Canadian has access to an affordable home requires transformative change. Our federal and provincial governments must commit to flexible, long-term funding for affordable housing that will create a range of options for Canadians. The Trudeau government has said it will invest $20 billion in social infrastructure over the next decade. We believe that the creation of new affordable housing units must be a priority for investment. Homelessness costs our economy an estimated $7 billion each year, while the high cost of housing keeps families in poverty, limiting growth by $25 billion annually. A safe and affordable home is a prerequisite for healthy people and communities. Access to affordable housing helps students perform better at school and makes it possible for parents to upgrade their skills and education. It reduces family stress and improves mental health and well-being. It helps lower health-care costs and provides security and peace of mind for seniors on fixed incomes. And it stimulates local economies, improving worker productivity and creating thousands of jobs in construction and renovation. Thats why the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association has joined housing organizations across Canada in calling on the federal government to commit to building 100,000 new affordable homes over the next five years. Through an annual investment of $1.5 billion, the government will help reduce homelessness, decrease wait times for affordable housing units, and stimulate economic growth through housing construction. At the same time, many of the affordable homes that ONPHAs members operate are more than 40 years old and badly in need of repair. In Ontario alone, the capital needs of the social and affordable housing sector total more than $2.6 billion. If the federal and provincial governments dont commit to preserving these community assets, we will lose the few affordable homes we have left. Investing in capital repairs and improvements will also help create job opportunities and revitalize neighbourhoods. A well-funded housing system would have the resources and flexibility to respond to emergencies and ongoing demand, at home and abroad. Non-profit housing providers operate in communities across Canada and are well-suited to helping families integrate into the community. These organizations stand ready to provide permanent, affordable homes to newly arrived refugees and to families that have lived in Canada for decades. But without the governments help, their generosity can only go so far. Sharad Kerur is the Executive Director of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association, whose 740 member organizations provide housing to more than 400,000 people in 220 communities across Ontario. SHARE: Students from different colleges hold protests against the attack on a Tanzanian girl by a mob in Bengaluru. (Photo: PTI) Bengaluru: Four more persons have been arrested and two police officials suspended in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student that has triggered a nationwide outrage. With this, nine persons have been arrested so far since the incident happened on Sunday night. Read: Bengaluru: Mob strips Tanzanian girl, torches her car as police watch Deccan Chronicle had exclusively reported on Wednesday that the 21-year-old Tanzanian girl, who is a second year BBA student of Acharya College, had absolutely nothing to do with the car that ran over and killed a 35-year-old Hesaraghatta resident on Sunday night. Yet, while the local police stood by and watched, she was repeatedly beaten and then stripped of all her clothes and made to parade around naked. Read: Bengaluru mob violence: 4 arrested, Sushma asks CM to take strict action Inspector Pravin Babu and Constable Manjunath have been suspended, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said. Babu has been suspended for dereliction of duty and Manjunath for not taking action even though he was present at the spot, he added. The four accused were arrested last night, Megharkh said and added that they have been booked for assault, unlawful assembly, arson, rioting and outraging a womans modesty. Read: She asked cops for help, they threw her to the mob: Tanzanian girls friend Megharikh said police have been interrogating the suspects and there are chances of arresting some more people. Asked whether one of the arrested is a member of BJP, Megharikh said, He is a panchayat member. A team from Delhi comprising the Tanzanian High Commissioner John W H Kijazi and External Affairs Ministry officials will meet the students here and get the assessment of the state government on the incident. Read: Bengaluru cops rescued drivers, left stripped Tanzanian girl to mobs mercy The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of a car by few people when she was passing the accident spot with three friends. The mob mistook them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has denied that the Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked, claiming that it was not a racial attack. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi on Friday said strict action will be taken. "I condemn 100 per cent this type of action," the Congress Vice President told reporters, adding that he spoke to the party General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka to look into the matter and speak to the Chief Minister. Earlier, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara denied that the Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked, claiming that it was not a racial attack. A woman of French Navy tries to know about the traditional Indian roti-making at IFR Village set up at AU Engineering College Grounds in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. DC Visakhapatnam: The IFR Village has united all the States bringing their tradition and culture together on the Andhra University North Campus ground. The Village, with about 100 stalls, is showcasing the crafts with varieties of art works of wood, pottery, handloom and handicraft, including live stalls of saree weaving and bamboo work by talented youth of India. People from across India, besides the delegates, are making a beeline soon after it was thrown open to public. On entering the Village, one can see a woman from Rajasthan making potteries, like toys and dishes of different shapes and design, surrounded with people curiously looking at her. There are also some other women drawing folk art - Sanjhi-using cow dung, clay and white chalk. Another stall depicting Madhubani painting works from Bihar is also drawing huge crowd. The painting on paper and canvas has been done using colours prepared from leaf, flower and other natural substances. The sola-pith craft from West Bengal has brought in variety of Durga idols including the small ones that are used to decorate homes with the belief that they augur well for the household. Besides, there are wood carvings of various goddesses from Tirupati. The traditional jewellery stalls are a major attraction for girls and women, that of Rajashtan, selling jewels made of gemstones is a big hit. "People are liking the Mina, Thewa and Kundan jewellery. I am happy that people are valuing our art and craft. The jewellery pieces also carry the designs carved on different palaces and Sheesh Mahal. One person bought jewellery worth Rs 12,000 today," said Abdul Rehman, the jewellery stall owner. Among others, leather puppets (Andhra Pradesh), Banarasi sarees, embroidery works (Gujarat), puja utensils have been depicted at various stalls. The navy also opened a stall to sell IFR curios on mugs, sippers, memorabilia. Soumya, from Bengal-uru, said the IFR Village had given a chance to all States to showcase their art and culture. Proposals invited to record cultural resources Visakhapatnam: With a view to build up cultural cohesion in the country, promote and preserve the culture, the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) has invited proposals for the documentation of Tangible and Intangible Cultural Resources of six States-- AP, Karnataka, MP, Chhatisgarh, Maha-rashtra and Telangana. The SCZCC is also coordinating the cultural programmes of the IFR. SCZCC director Dr. Piush Kumar said, Many of the traditional ways of life are being lost or diluted with increased modernisation. The applicant is required to submit a bio-data highlighting experience, samples of their writings, photographs, films or audio work along with minimum expected lump sum honorarium on or before March 7. The project proposal should not be more than 300 words, the director said. The expert committee comprising Shayam Benegal, Amol Palekar and Sudhir Kakar would look into the proposals and would award the deserving person and also decide the honorarium. Bengaluru: If some states have brand ambassadors promoting their tourism, Karnataka could have its very own brand ambassador promoting its image as an industrial destination. The last day of Invest Karnataka 2016 saw the state government mulling the possibility. Medium and Large Scale Industry Minister, R. V. Deshpande said there could be a brand ambassador pitching for industrial investment in the state. He would have to be a known face from industry, who would play a crucial role in attracting investors to Karnataka and help its industrial growth. But the state has not done badly even now. The investors meet, which took Rs 40 crore to organize, saw Karnataka entering into a Memorandum of Understanding with several companies , mopping up an investment of Rs 1.33 lakh crore in just two days (February 3 and 4) and a total investment of Rs 3.08 lakh crore since April 2015. While the energy sector bagged the lions share, the automobiles sector had no takers. The last day saw over a 100 delegates who had registered online for site visits, travel to various industrial parks like Devanahalli Industrial Park, Narasapura industrial Area in Kolar and Electronic City. A trip to Mysore was also organised for interested delegates. Over 400 students from different schools and colleges across the city visited the exhibition where over 400 stalls were open to the public. As many as 30 stalls were of women owned businesses. Ten members of AWAKE, COWE, WEConnect and FKCCI exhibited their products at the exhibition. They were visited by Additional Chief Secretary, Ratnaprabha. The products ranged from injection moulded plastics, resistors and transformers to food processing gadgets and textiles . While Shell Apparels , a large manufacturer of jeans for various brands like Lee and Levis, launched its own brand, American Bull, Udupi Ruchi launched its brand of ready-to-eat mixes and proved a big crowd-puller on the last day. Precision Engineering, manufacturers of injection moulded plastics for the Railways, L&T and ABB and electronic component manufacturers, RMC Electronics and Magnatech also displayed their hi-tech products. Investors cool towards infra projects With both state and city infrastructure in bad shape, the cash strapped government was hoping to attract investors during the Invest Karnataka 2016 global summit to execute some of the projects. However, a close look at the investments that came through in the last two days reveals that there were not many takers for infrastructure projects across the city. The investors have evinced interest for less that 20 per cent of the projects. The state government had displayed a slew of infrastructure projects, worth over Rs 40,000 crore, including elevated corridor which alone estimated to cost Rs 18,000 crore. Other major projects included peripheral ring road, construction of public toilets, skywalks and bus shelters. The BBMP and state government had also wished to attract investors for Solid Waste Management (SWM), which has turned into a major crisis. Unfortunately, the response was poor. Only, one company, Essel group, has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government. The global summit could receive only responses from five companies for an investment opportunity of Rs 7,300 crore hoping to generate 21,170 jobs. The energy sector got a good a good support from various investors including Adani. Investments worth Rs 57,038 crore is expected for power sector. Sources in Urban Development Department said that some of the projects have been already tendered. The summit helped the civic stakeholders to bring investment opportunities to the notice of investors. They can either participate in the tender process or offer their model for the project to be taken up on Swiss challenge method. What is Swiss challenge method? It is a new process of awarding contracts. Any person with credentials can submit a development proposal to the government. That proposal will be made online and a second person can provide suggestions to improve and beat that proposal. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is elated as reports of TRS victory in the GHMC elections pour in at the Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Thursday. (Photo: P. SURENDRA) Hyderabad: It was a Paripoorna Vijayam (total victory) as claimed by minister KT Rama Rao for the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti on Friday as the party swept the GHMC polls and is set to bag the mayors seat on its own. Be it the IT corridor, the settler-dominated surrounding colonies, the new city or the old city (except the MIM bastion), the TRS on Friday emerged as the single largest party, creating history in the GHMC elections by winning 99 seats. Mr Rama Rao called Fridays victory universal acceptance of the TRS by all sections of society in the capital city, while the opposition TD-BJP combine and the Congress received a drubbing. Read: GHMC poll results: Seemandhra voters choose TRS While the Opposition parties were restricted to single digits, the TRS won (99) divisions and MIM won (44) divisions out of the 150 seats. This was the first GHMC elections after the formation of a separate Telangana state. The TRS had no representation in the previous body, where the Congress shared power with the MIM after their victory in 2009 elections. In the first GHMC, the Congress had 52 seats and MIM 43. Read: GHMC election results: TRS sweeps IT corridor, Chandrababu Naidus pride The TD had bagged 45 seats while the BJP had five corporators. This time, the Congress suffered a total washout and managed to bag only two wards Patancheru and Bodhunagar. The TD-BJP combine won 5 seats, down from the earlier 50 seats in 2009 held by the parties together. The prime factors for TRS sweep has been attributed to the partys two bedroom scheme, water supply in face of a severe crisis, fewer power cuts, better law and order, the partys approach towards settlers and forthcoming projects for the city. Mr Rama Raos charm was also a big winning factor for the TRS. Read: GHMC election results: TRS win is complete TRS loses KPHB, TD-BJP win 5 seats The TRS not only won in the core city, which was once the winning grounds of the Congress and the TD-BJP combine, but also in areas dominated by settlers. However, the TRS could not win at the KPHB Colony ward, which is a bastion of the Kamma community. The TD which won 45 seats in the 2009 elections could manage to win only one seat this time the KPHB Colony ward. In all, the BJP-TD combine won five seats, with the BJP winning four seats. Meanwhile, the Congress which won 52 seats in 2009 managed to win only two wards in this elections Patancheru and Boudhanagar. But the clean sweep in Hyderabad has effectively shut the door on the TD and is an indicator for the future as even Andhra Pradesh settlers voted for the TRS. To everyones surprise, the TRS won in wards that fall under Assembly seats held by TD MLAs, such as Quthbullapur, Kukatpally, Serilingampally and Uppal. Read: Hyderabad loves us: K Chandrasekhar Rao None of the independent candidates won this time. The win will also be a major boost to Mr Rama Rao who is set to take over the Municipal Administration and Urban Development ministry. The first Tweet came from Mr Rama Rao who spearheaded the partys campaign: Humbled & deeply grateful for your tremendous vote of confidence. Lets make Hyderabad cleaner, greener, safer & smarter. Counting started at 3 pm Friday and the results started pouring in by 5 pm. And the TRS was in the lead right from the beginning. Wipeout for Congress, BJP-TD Fridays GHMC results were an unprecedented shock for the two national parties, the Congress and the BJP, and for the TD which aspires to be one. All of them received their worst drubbing ever. It was a total loss of face for the Congress which in 2014 could not win a single Assembly seat out of the 24 in the GHMC area. The party ended up with two wards out of 150 in the GHMC. It has lost deposits in the Medak and Warangal bypolls held after the formation of Telangana state, and several MLC elections held subsequently. The humiliation for the Congress was such that neither TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy or party leader Shabbir Ali, who spearheaded the campaign, took calls from the media. Read: TRS is an unchallenged political force: KT Rama Rao Like in earlier elections, the Congress did not bother to put up an united fight, failed to stop party cadres making a beeline to the TRS and made mistakes in the selection of candidates. The TD, which had won 10 Assembly seats in 2014, believed it had the 30-lakh strong Seemaandhra vote in its pocket. It got its estimates, both public and private, all wrong. TS TD president L. Ramana said, people changed their minds completely which we failed to gauge. We concentrated on localities with elite voters whereas the TRS focused on basti voters. We believed that the Hyderabad voter would be with us, but things changed unexpectedly. He said the TD was affected by MLAs and leaders defecting to the TRS and said the results warranted a change in party strategies. The TD had mobilised 12 ministers and 42 MLAs from AP, and allotted them a division each. AP CM N. Chandrababu Naidu and his son Lokesh toured the city extensively. TD, which had won 45 divisions in 2009, failed to convince voters and landed up with one. The BJP contested 68 divisions and ended up with four. It had won five Assembly seats in 2014, and five divisions in the 2009 GHMC elections. Senior leader and MLC N. Ramachandra Rao said, When the TD or the Congress was in power earlier, they had won majority in the GHMC. The trend has repeated this time too. But we need to analyse the debacle and take corrective steps. New Delhi: Making the fifth arrest in the Islamic State Roorkee module it has been tracking, the Delhi Police special cell on Friday arrested a 28-year-old suspect who was preparing to leave for Syria. Special commissioner of police (special cell) Arvind Deep said the man, identified as Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed, was arrested from Kashmere Gate ISBT in north Delhi on Thursday night after Central security agencies tipped them off about his meeting with an associate. He was remanded to police custody till February 10 by a Delhi court. Hailing from Malad, Mumbai, Mohsin is a muezzin there, the police said. From his interrogation so far, the police claimed that he was assisting other suspects by acting as a conduit to deliver money packets in central and northern parts of the country. Last month, the special cell claimed to have foiled a terror plot to attack the Ardh Kumbh Mela and VIP installations in new Delhi with the arrest of four suspects from Hardwar with alleged links to ISIS. It was also learnt that Mohsin was allegedly in touch with one of the 14 men arrested by the National Investigation Agency in its countrywide crackdown on ISIS last month. It's probably not a hot topic of dinner conversation, but there is a firestorm in Washington surrounding a Labor Department proposal that could have a big impact on Americans' retirement savings. And the controversy over this proposed rule change can tell you a lot about the financial services industry and its friends on Capitol Hill. It started last year, just seconds it seems, after the Labor Department proposed the new rule, which is aimed making financial advisers more accountable and transparent. The industry's response was fast and furious. The rancor built through the summer and into the fall, and by Thanksgiving, industry leaders were predicting that the rule would cause investment firms to collapse and punish small investors. Cohorts of lobbyists patrolled, and industry-friendly congressmen fired up bills to protect their contributors. You may have missed some of the nastier bits, so let us catch you up. The Department of Labor wants to impose both accountability and transparency on the industry that manages some $3 trillion in investor retirement funds. Despite the uproar, the proposed fiduciary rule change would establish two surprisingly humble requirements: Brokers must act in the best interests of their clients. All the fees collected by brokers must be disclosed. Now, you can be forgiven for thinking "your guy" at Raymond James or "your pal" at UBS was already doing that. The industry does its level best to convince the buying public that it puts our needs first. Check the Web sites. Wells Fargo wants to give you a financial adviser "dedicated to doing what's right for you," while RBC aims it will "put clients' goals, aspirations and priorities first" and Bank of America'sMerrill Lynch says "getting to know you is your financial advisor's primary goal ... to put your needs and priorities front and center." Seductive language obscures some facts. For example, as things stand now if "your guy" at Merrill is a "financial adviser" or a "financial planner" or a "stock broker" or any of a number of titles that look impressive when embossed on heavy vellum business cards, that person is only required to put your IRA or 401(k) dollars into suitable investments. Suitability sounds better than it is. It will probably keep you out of emerging-market debt traps but may well land you in high-fee instruments. The 90% of advisers who are not fiduciaries are entitled to put retirees in high-fee funds rather than into comparable lower fee funds. Why would they do that? Because, while the fund is suitable, the adviser shares in the fee. The higher the fee, the better for the adviser. On the other hand, a fiduciary (from the Latin fidere, to trust), is required to put the investors' interest before his own. As things stand now, only a small subset of advisers -- Registered Investment Advisers, or RIAs -- are fiduciaries. They are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Investment Adviser's Act and can face substantial penalties if they stray front the best practices ethic. So, first the Department of Labor wants anyone benefiting from your retirement investments to be working in your interests, that is, to be a fiduciary. And keep in mind, we're only talking about retirement funds. The wealth management industry would still have a free hand when it comes to collecting rich fees on nonretirement dollars. The DOL also wants the firms to tell you -- in plain English -- how much you are paying, how often, and for what. Simply put, the new rule demands the firms tell you how much of your money becomes their money. The current fee structures are layered into a dense custard of impenetrable language and strategies. (The Department of Labor estimates investors pay $17 billion annually in conflicted fees, that is, fees that result from conflicts of interest. Some argue even that robust number understates the problem as the $17 billion only refers to mutual funds in IRAs.) On the other side of the ledger, Morningstar estimates the rule change will affect some $3 trillion of retirement assets currently under management. Its analysis projects that just implementing the rule would cost the industry $2.4 billion. So, it is hardly surprising that efforts to defeat this proposal have been aggressive. Arguments against the fiduciary rule change range from the claim that the new rule will make financial advice so expensive that small investors will be shut out, to claims that the Department of Labor's proposal is just another example of the Obama administration's attempt to govern by fiat. The political rhetoric aside, there are plenty of money management firms, RIAs and trust companies that make a profit while conforming to the "best interest" fiduciary standard. Many of their customers are small investors. Congressional efforts, driven by Wall Street-funded lobbyists, to declaw, defund, or delay the rule change are essentially "kill bills." They got a lot of play in December. Of those, Rep. Peter Roskam's (R., Ill.) bill to amend the tax code and Rep. Phil Roe's (R., Tenn.) bill to amend federal retirement law, were prominent. But, with the new year, proponents of the rule change were surprised and delighted to see it come through the end-of-year scramble that resulted in the Omnibus bill unscathed by any debilitating riders. Today, while the retirement wealth industry, and it's friends on Capitol Hill, continue to lobby against the proposed investor protections and insist the investor-friendly DOL Fiduciary Rule is still in play, it is instructive to look at what the industry is doing rather than what it is saying. Investment News, a newsletter for financial advisers, reports some IBDs (independent broker dealers) "are preparing for the reality of advising clients in individual retirement accounts under the new rule." Kate McBride, a CEFEX analyst with the Centre for Fiduciary Excellence, says: "What has been interesting is that progressive firms of all types are seeking and getting fiduciary training and putting fiduciary processes in place, so that they can make this transition to fiduciary care of retirement investors." Amy Webber, president of Cambridge Investment Research told Investment News: "It is time to stop feeling sorry for ourselves and get proactive on it, otherwise, we're going to get behind the eight ball." Pershing, a clearing and custody services provider owned by Bank of New York Mellon has held more than two dozen meetings on the rule with brokers and advisers. At WeathManagement.com, Terry Dunne, is among those making lists of winners and losers after the rule takes effect. Morningstar's Stephen Ellis concludes the rule could "drastically alter the profits and business models of investment product manufacturers like BlackRock and wealth management firms like Morgan Stanley." He projects the "full service firms like Morgan and Merrill and Wells Fargo will adjust and be winners." Ellis sees life insurance groups as losers here. Whatever the case, the industry at large seems to be preparing to adjust to the rule. The timeline going forward has all the caveats you would expect in a bureaucratic move of this magnitude. The Department of Labor rule change lives in the agency, that is to say, the executive branch of government. The Department has moved the rule change through the public comment process and the Hill hearing process and submitted the proposal for review to the Office of Management and the Budget on Jan. 28. The OMB has 90 days for the review, but it's likely to expedite the process. Once OMB signs off, Congress will have 60 legislative days to review it. And that's the kicker -- the double-twisting Tsukahara that is our Washington process. This Congress has 60 legislative days to review it. Given all the available recesses and adjournments and gamesmanship ploys available, speculation is rampant that the administration is expediting the process because there is some magic date in April or May by which it has to be received or this Congress can kick it to a new administration, thereby killing it. This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. The crowd on the first day, first show of Marathi Tigers at Shinoli village in Maharashtra, 15 km from Belagavi. Belagavi: Controversial Marathi film Marathi Tigers was screened amidst tight security at Shinoli village in Maharashtra, close to Karnataka border, on Friday after theatre owners refused to screen it in Belagavi. Although pro-Maharashtra groups arrived in massive numbers to see the film, only 500 could watch it as the Kolhapur district administration has allowed just one show a day in Shinoli starting Friday and the makeshift theatre, especially erected to screen it here, can accommodate only this number. Some of the locals who watched the film in the makeshift theatre, said it re-enacted several violent incidents of the past on the border in which activists and leaders of the MES were at the receiving end. The violence in which many pro-Maharashtra activists were injured during the removal of a Maharashtra state board at Yellur is the highlight of the film. It claims that Marathi people on the border are being mistreated by the Karnataka government and describing them as Marathi Tigers, says they will continue their struggle for merger of several areas on Karnataka's border with Maharashtra. But the film's producers are in a dilemma with the Kolhapur district administration not allowing them to screen it the whole day at Shinoli as they had hoped to reach out to a larger audience. Sources said the authorities had taken the decision to limit screenings to prevent a huge gathering of people and a law and order situation. They appear to have succeeded as they have put a spoke in the plans of pro-Maharashtra groups to take people in large numbers from Belagavi to Shinoli to view the film. Activists are now reportedly trying to screen the film in Belagavi despite the obvious risks involved in such a move. Editors' pick: Originally published Feb. 5. Hillary Clinton, champion of women's issues like equal pay and the right to choose, is, unbelievably, losing among younger women to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. And there's a good reason why. Clinton never mentioned the word "women" during her debate Thursday with Sanders. That's a conspicuous omission, considering Clinton's history working on women's issues -- and that women comprise more than half of the electorate, that there are a host economic issues particular to women, especially young millennial women. It's particularly noteworthy given that in Democratic primaries that have large blocs of minority voters, South Carolina for example, women comprise more than 60% of the electorate. Nationally, women account for about 55% of Democratic primary voters. Thus far in the 2016 presidential campaign, millennial women, those aged 18 to 34, are by-passing Clinton for the Vermont senator's message of economic populism. In Iowa, Sanders all but obliterated Clinton among voters ages 17 to 29 by 70 percentage points, according to NBCNews exit polls. (The gap narrows to 21% among those 30 to 44). If Clinton is to cut into Sanders's support among women under 30, she needs to emphasize issues that arguably defined her political career, says Anna Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, a Democratic strategist and public opinion research firm. That equates to equal pay, family leave, flexible workplace scheduling and affordable childcare that uniquely confront women, especially older millennials who may have already started a family, have a job and are seeking ways to balance the two. "The level of economic anxiety among younger women, in particular, is really high," Greenberg said in a phone interview from Washington. "It's a combination of not having enough money to pay bills but also not being able to save for your next stage in life. These concerns are really palpable. In a recent survey, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner found that unmarried women expressed a "strong willingness" to back candidates who will address economic concerns. Some 80% said they're "much or somewhat more likely" to support a candidate who takes a strong position in favor of pay equity. Requiring employers to provide paid leave and medical leave generated 72% support along those same lines. Clinton's lukewarm support among women is shaping into one of the campaign's most complicated questions. Writing in The New York Times, the columnist Gail Sheehy, a supporter and Clinton contemporary, acknowledged that "Polls don't quantify doubts, but anecdotally, enthusiasm for her is anemic." For good measure, Sheehy cited Clinton's pollster Joel Benenson as arguing that all is fine: "Her women peers are still her strongest supporters and why she's leading in every single state polled, by significant margins." But the reality on the ground is that Clinton is losing young voters, men and women, to Sanders. In a CNN Town Hall on Wednesday, Clinton did tailor some of her comments to economic issues that effect women. "I am a progressive who gets results," Clinton told the moderator Anderson Cooper. "And I will be a progressive president who gets results. And the final thing I would say is, it is still the case that there are challenges and obstacles to young women's ambitions." She added later: "We need to set big goals again. I am all for that. I have big, ambitious goals. Affordable college, early childhood education, making sure that we are on the path to paid family leave, all of which will help your daughters." Whether Clinton is reticent about focusing on women for fear of alienating male voters is unclear. Greenberg disputes the notion that Clinton would appear to be playing identity politics were she to emphasize women's economic issues. "Her identity group is the majority of the population," Greenberg said. "These aren't narrow issues." Nonetheless, she recognized that such assumptions die hard. "There is, in the political consulting class, a tendency to talk about 'women's issues' very narrowly or think they a narrow special interest agenda," Greenberg said. "Which is patently false if you look at who actually votes in elections in this country." Truth be told, Clinton didn't fare well with young people in 2008 when she faced Barack Obama. And in that election, her positions on issues of importance to young people weren't much different than those taken by the Illinois senator, but he still beat Clinton among young people by 43 percentage points. As a former first lady, New York senator and secretary of state, Clinton was always going to be the "establishment candidate," a charge she incredulously denied at Thursday's MSNBC debate. But in a race with a highly focused liberal populist, Clinton's impressive resume has arguably become more of a burden than a blessing. Then as now, Clinton has referenced years working for the Children's Defense Fund in the 1970s, helping to create the Children's Health Insurance Program as First Lady and leading the U.S. delegation to Beijing for the United Nations 4th World Conference on Women. As secretary of state, Clinton put more women into positions of power than ever before while advancing U.S.-funded social initiatives around the world. The next hurdle is the New Hampshire primary, where Sanders holds a comfortable lead. The South Carolina primary is Feb. 27 followed by Super Tuesday on March, featuring contests in Georgia, Texas, Virginia and Massachusetts. Not all stocks endured a bad start to 2015. For toy giant Mattel (MAT) , stellar fourth-quarter results announced recently laid the foundation for a spike in the stock's price, up by 19% in a matter of two days, as the company beat street expectations on earnings and showcased a 43% spike over the same quarter a year ago. Read what TheStreet's Real Money Pro had to say about Mattel earnings, for free, only this weekend, at TheStreet's Open House. MAT data by YCharts Barbie, Fisher-Price, and Hot Wheels were the stars of the quarter recording robust holiday season sales. But for a company battling falling sales amid changes in consumer preferences for their kids' toys, is Mattel out of the woods yet? Can it rely on traditional toys such as Barbie to return to its lost glory? Barbie to the Rescue, For Now The maker of Barbie has constantly faced flak for the unrealistic physical aspirations it set among children through its dolls. The fact that this belief was gaining followers was evident in numbers of previous two years - Barbie's sales had declined at a double-digit rate for the previous eight quarters. Consumers apparently preferred dolls from Walt Disney's Frozen collection or even some relatively unknown brand. But for the December quarter, Barbie sales climbed 8% worldwide, helped largely by the interactive Hello Barbie doll and the Fashionista line of dolls featuring several ethnicities and skin tones. In a bid to prop up sales further and appeal to millennial parents who wish for their children to embrace the concept that people are physically different from one another, the El Segundo, Calif.-based company has recently announced that it would release Barbie dolls in three different body shapes -- curvy, petite, and tall. Mattel is clearly pulling out all the stops to ensure that Barbie can once again find favor among retailers and customers alike and be its growth driver. It's an example of how innovative, adaptable companies make the best investments. However, Barbie too has to face headwinds that would likely extend to the rest of the toy sector. A rising dollar will add downside pressure on sales and profits, and demand may also be hurt from markets like China which are currently facing economic distress. Finally, Barbie, along with other well-performing ranges of toys including Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, and Thomas the Tank Engine, faces the heavy burden of offsetting the impact of the loss from the Disney Princesses property. Hasbro Whisks Away Disney Princesses In a new deal that kicks off in 2016, Mattel will now make way for Hasbro to produce toys based on some of Disney's most iconic princesses such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, among others. According to Mattel, this line of toys contributed about 7% of its 2015 annual sales of $6.28 billion, translating to a potential loss of $440 million in annual revenues. Mattel is also witnessing trouble at some of its other properties. While the sales of American Girl brand dolls were disappointing this holiday season, the Monster High doll line continued to struggle. Apart from its reliance on the new range of Barbie dolls, Mattel plans to capitalize on its renewed contracts of toy franchisees for Cars 3 and Toy Story 4, set to release in 2017 and 2018 respectively. Cars 3 alone could rake in $350 million for the company. Its Star Wars-themed Hot Wheels cars also suggest that all is not lost with Disney, just yet. However, after the glittering fourth-quarter performance, Mattel's management itself has highlighted that it will face headwinds in the first half of fiscal-year 2016. Also, if short interest is anything to go by, according to the most recent data from Nasdaq, Mattel is now the second most shorted stock, suggesting extreme bearishness among investors. While the recent data from Mattel is encouraging, we must remember that holiday season demand for toys and the like is bound to be higher than usual. In addition, the potential of Mattel's other properties is in question. Mattel is a good bet, but not for risk-averse investors. We've found a small-cap biotech "rocket stock" that's about to take off. UCLA researchers are stunned by a Nobel Prize-winning cancer breakthrough that's proven in clinical trials to eliminate lethal forms of cancer with a single dose. One small company owns the patent to this life-saving treatment. Now trading at about $5 a share, the stock of this innovative company is projected to surge 2,700% on an imminent FDA announcement. To download the full report, click here. This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. Editors' pick: Originally published Feb. 5. Come November, will Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders be on the ballot together for the Democratic party? You might have thought so, given the way Thursday evening's Democratic debate ended. The conversation in New Hampshire Thursday night certainly became heated at points, mirroring the increasingly tough competition in the race itself. The pair butted heads on issues like Sanders' progressive litmus test and Clinton's ties to Wall Street more than once. But they also at various moments appeared to be complementary figures. Might we see Clinton-Sanders -- or Sanders-Clinton -- '16? The New Hampshire debate certainly planted the seed of the idea. MSNBC moderator Chuck Todd floated the idea near the end of the contest, asking the former secretary of state whether she would try to unite the party by picking the Vermont Senator as her vice president. "If I'm so fortunate as to be the nominee, the first person I will call to talk about where we go and how we get it done will be Senator Sanders," she said, though she clarified ahead of time that she didn't want to be too presumptuous in discussing VP choices. Sanders agreed that it was too early to call but echoed Clinton's sentiment. "Sometimes in these campaigns, things get a little bit out of hand," he said. "I happen to respect the secretary very much, I hope it's mutual." And then, Sanders delivered a potential campaign slogan for the pair: "On our worst days...we are 100 times better than any Republican candidate." As the lofty ideas guy calling for a political revolution, Sanders has generated a massive following, and his message has resonated with young voters. He made the case that if he's on the ticket, more Americans will come to the polls, a good thing for Democrats. "Democrats win when there is a large voter turnout; when people are excited; when working people, middle class and young people are prepared to engage in the political process," he said. But while his ideas have generated buzz, his execution of them, once in the White House, may be complicated. And that's where deal-maker Clinton comes in. "I am a progressive who gets things done," she said Thursday. While the rhetoric was heated at times, especially around Clinton's Wall Street ties and record on the Iraq war and Sanders' claim on "progressive" principles, both sides pulled punches, perhaps in preparation for working together. Moderator Rachel Maddow prodded Sanders about some bad behavior on the part of his staffers -- a database breach, union member impersonations and a misleading ad about an endorsement. But Clinton declined to push the issue further. When asked by Maddow if she wanted 30 seconds to discuss the matter, she replied, simply, "No." Sanders did her a similar favor on the ongoing inquiry into her use of a personal email address and server as secretary of state. He channeled his take on the Clinton email scandal from the first Democratic debate, when he said the American people are sick and tired of hearing about Clinton's "damn emails," but this time around kept it a bit more PG-13. "I am feeling exactly the way I felt at the first debate. There's a process under way. I will not politicize it," he said. Of course, the two would have a fair share of hurdles to climb to reach an agreement and once in the Oval Office would be rivals as much as partners. For instance, Clinton wants to build on the Affordable Care Act, on Thursday saying getting rid of it would be a "great mistake" and criticizing Sanders for suggesting it be replaced with his Medicare for all plan. The senator shot back that he was on the committee that wrote the act and that the idea that he would dismantle it while waiting to pass his proposal is "just not accurate." But in the end, both agreed the end goal is universal health care, even if they do diverge in their proposed paths to getting there. Will we soon be seeing Hillary-Bernie '16 signs peppering neighborhood lawns? The #100xBetter hashtag certainly has a nice ring to it. LinkedIn (LNKD) and Tableau (DATA) saw their stocks crushed in premarket trading. LinkedIn fell 31% and Tableau dived 39%. Investors should resist the temptation to catch these falling knives. Last night we saw some pretty sharp reactions to lowered guidance. For example, shares of LinkedIn plunged when the company beat the current quarter, but guided first quarter 2016 well below Street estimates. Fourth-quarter revenues rose to $862 million, up 32%. Earnings of 94 cents per share were 16 cents better than expected. Cumulative members jumped 19% to 414 million and page views increased 17%. Mobile grew three times faster than overall traffic and now represents 57% of all traffic to LinkedIn. On the conference call, management issued downside guidance for the first quarter. The company sees earnings per share of 55 cents vs. the consensus estimate of 74 cents. Revenue of $820 million is $46.5 million below the consensus estimate of $866.50 million. To make matters worse, the company slashed its full fiscal 2016 guidance. Management now sees revenue between $3.6 billion and $3.65 billion vs. the Wall Street estimate of $3.91 billion. Look, I know some people will say management gave conservative guidance and LinkedIn is simply setting us up for a bunch of surprises in 2016. But who cares? The stock has underperformed the S&P 500 (SPY) for the past two years. And, looking at the reaction in the premarket, 2016 isn't getting off to a great start. On Real Money, Jim Cramer wrote that LinkedIn is "one of those episodic stocks where the company periodically just plain disappoints." But he added that LinkedIn "is a unique property that everyone uses" so it lures back investors. And the cycle repeats. For more from Real Money, check out TheStreet's free Open House, through 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 8. Here's how to get your free pass to the Open House. It really bugs me that a company with over $3 billion in revenue from free content can't seem to make a profit. LinkedIn has an 86% gross margin. With free content, Facebook (FB) prints money faster than the Fed. Why can't LinkedIn make money? To me, LinkedIn is an "insider" stock designed to enrich insiders, and public investors will never make money in the stock. I would avoid LinkedIn. Tableau reported a blowout quarter, but the stock fell off a cliff. Revenue rose 42% to $202.8 million and it earned 33 cents per share. License revenue rose 31% to $133.1 million. The company added 3,600 new customers for a total of 39,000. On the conference call, Tableau management said it expects license revenue of $160 million to $165 million, well below the consensus of $179.5 million. For the full year, the company slashed its revenue forecast to $830 to $850 million, down from the prior forecast of $845 million to $865 million and below the consensus of $871.5 million. This stock has been under pressure since July, when investors began to become concerned about competition from Microsoft's (MSFT) Business Intelligence platform, Salesforce's (CRM) Wave and Amazon's (AMZN) QuickStart platform. While Tableau continues to perform well, investors are freaked out about slowing license growth. Licenses grew 75% in 2014. Licenses grew in the mid 50%s this year; next year, it looks like licenses will be up just 30%. It's pretty disappointing how fast the company has slowed down. Investors have viewed Tableau as a "one-trick pony" and the pressure is on management to dispel that impression. I think Tableau's analytics software is the best in the business, but it seems their software is becoming a feature of someone else's cloud computing platform. Management needs to find a few fast-growing products, go on a massive acquisition spree and take out some competitors or someone else will acquire Tableau. I would stay away from Tableau until it becomes clear what direction the company is headed. Jim Cramer agrees -- he described Tableau as "now a tainted growth stock of unbelievable proportions." When former momentum names melt down, investors have to resist the temptation to catch falling knives. Otherwise you could get cut. This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned. NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Honeywell International (HON) announced it will buy smoke detection and visual security company Xtralis for $480 million. The Morris Plains, NJ-based diversified technology and manufacturing company provides customers with aerospace products and services, control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry, turbochargers and performance materials. "This acquisition fits perfectly with Honeywell's technology innovation and leadership," Alex Ismail, CEO of Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions, said in a statement yesterday after the market close. "Xtralis' early smoke detection and advanced security technologies and video analytics software complement our growing Security and Fire business, and show our commitment to making the world safer and more secure," he added. Dublin-based Xtralis' smoke detection solutions provide early warning technology that can detect smoke in a facility at the early stage of a fire, the company noted. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter, but is still subject to regulatory approvals. Shares of Honeywell closed at $102.55 on Thursday. Separately, TheStreet Ratings Team has a "buy" rating with a score of A- on the stock. This is based on the convergence of positive investment measures, which should help this stock outperform the majority of stocks rated by the team. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, good cash flow from operations, solid stock price performance and largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures. The team feels its strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. 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. You can view the full analysis from the report here: HON HON data by YCharts Hyderabad/Tirupati: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said that it had come to his notice that the 2BHK house scheme had been the most-sought-after by the poor in Hyderabad and hence the government would sanction one lakh houses on the lines of IDH Colony in the ensuing Budget and complete the same in one year. Another one lakh houses would be constructed in rural areas. Thanking Hyderabadis for the unprecedented victory, he said the TRS would implement its election manifesto 100 per cent. Dismissing the Oppositions allegations of harassment to settlers, he said all those living in Hyderabad, including those from other states and regions were Hyderabadis and would be treated equally. GHMC polls have created a history of sorts. No party in the past has won such a huge majority of 99 seats. The maximum that parties had touched was 52 seats. Its not a victory of an individual but a combined effort. It has proved peoples immense confidence in the TRS and we will stand up to their confidence. Corporators should not have egos due to such a big win. The Opposition should give constructive suggestions and not indulge in personal attacks, he said. Mr Rao said peace should prevail in Hyderabad to ensure rapid development and new investments, adding that barring some sporadic incidents it had been a very well managed election. Apart from a long list of promises made in the manifesto, Mr Rao revealed that three more 1,000-bedded multispecialty hospitals would be constructed around the city, besides upgrading the King Kothi Hospital into a 1,000-bed one. For the last 50 years, the OGH and Gandhi were the only two hospitals and they are not able to cope with the rush, he said. These government hospitals will provide modern medicare, as the poor are facing huge hardships in the present hospitals. You will have one hospital catering to the needs of Quthbullapur, Kukatpally and surrounding areas, another for Rajendranagar, Serilingampally etc. and a third one for residents of Malkajgiri, Uppal and surrounding areas, he said. KCR to worship at Tirumala soon TS Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will visit Tirumala for the first time after assuming office to worship the Lord of Seven Hills before the end of this month. TS endowment minister A. Indrakaran Reddy revealed this to the media at Tirumala after worshipping at the holy shrine on Friday. Referring to amenities being provided by the TTD to the scores of devotees thronging the temple town, Mr Reddy said that the TS government plans to request the TTD to provide land so that it can build an amenities centre for the benefit of the multitude of devotees from Telangana. He said that Kerala government has allotted five acres of land to TS near Pampa as per its request to build a pilgrim amenities centre and other facilities for the benefit of TS pilgrims visiting Sabarimala. Trade-Ideas LLC identified Symantec ( SYMC ) as an unusual social activity candidate. In addition to specific proprietary factors, Trade-Ideas identified Symantec as such a stock due to the following factors: SYMC has more that 20x the normal benchmarked social activity for this time of the day compared to its average of 2.94 mentions/day. SYMC has an average dollar-volume (as measured by average daily share volume multiplied by share price) of $152.9 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. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Get the inside scoop on opportunities in SYMC with the Ticky from Trade-Ideas. See the FREE profile for SYMC NOW at Trade-Ideas More details on SYMC: Symantec Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides security, backup, and availability solutions worldwide. Its products and services protect people and information in various environments from the mobile device and enterprise data center and to cloud-based systems. The stock currently has a dividend yield of 3.1%. SYMC has a PE ratio of 12. Currently there is 1 analyst that rates Symantec a buy, 2 analysts rate it a sell, and 15 rate it a hold. The average volume for Symantec has been 6.8 million shares per day over the past 30 days. Symantec has a market cap of $13.0 billion and is part of the technology sector and computer software & services industry. The stock has a beta of 1.01 and a short float of 1.7% with 1.35 days to cover. Shares are down 8.2% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: See inside Jim Cramer's multi-million dollar charitable trust portfolio to see the stocks he thinks could be potential winners. Click here to see his holdings for 14-days FREE. TheStreetRatings.com Analysis: TheStreet Quant Ratings rates Symantec as a hold . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures, reasonable valuation levels and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity and weak operating cash flow. Highlights from the ratings report include: SYMC's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.30 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.10, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems. The gross profit margin for SYMANTEC CORP is currently very high, coming in at 87.92%. Regardless of SYMC's high profit margin, it has managed to decrease from the same period last year. Despite the mixed results of the gross profit margin, SYMC's net profit margin of 10.41% is significantly lower than the industry average. Net operating cash flow has decreased to $134.00 million or 22.54% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing the cash generation rate to the industry average, the firm's growth is significantly lower. Current return on equity is lower than its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a clear sign of weakness within the company. When compared to other companies in the Software industry and the overall market, SYMANTEC CORP's return on equity is below that of both the industry average and the S&P 500. You can view the full Symantec Ratings Report. EXCLUSIVE OFFER: See inside Jim Cramer's multi-million dollar charitable trust portfolio to see the stocks he thinks could be potential winners. Click here to see his holdings for 14-days FREE. China National Chemical's Sfr44.6 billion ($43.8 billion) agreement to buy Swiss agrichemicals company Syngenta (SYT) will raise a host of national security issues that U.S. regulators will have to grapple with, many of them novel ones that could be a harbinger of concerns that government officials face as buyers from China continue branching into areas beyond the energy, computing and telecommunications realms that have dominated the country's acquisition targets over the past decade. ChemChina, as the buyer is generally known, is attempting to carry out China's largest ever overseas takeover. The deal comes on the heels of an unsuccessful attempt by Monsanto (MON) to buy its Swiss-based rival in the agricultural chemicals and seeds business. Acquisitions by Chinese buyers are among the most scrutinized by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., the Treasury Department-led panel charged with reviewing foreign buyers' acquisitions of U.S. assets for national security threats. A handful of acquisitions by Chinese buyers have been opposed or conditioned by Cfius but many more have been cleared without issue. Nevertheless, Chinese officials have complained that the process is unfairly skewed against acquirers from their country. The acquisition of Syngenta, which has extensive operations in the U.S., will touch on a wide variety of areas of concern to national security: chemicals, proximity of Syngenta operations to U.S. military bases, access to GMO technology and food distribution in this country and whether Syngenta does any business with the U.S. military or other government branches. In one sense, this transaction is reminiscent of Shuanghui International Holdings's 2013 takeover of Smithfield Foods, which Cfius approved with no mitigation conditions despite critics' warnings that the $7.1 billion deal could create U.S. food safety risks. However, the Syngenta deal would raise concerns in addition to food safety. As a result it will necessitate a much more in-depth review and may result in Cfius needing more time that the 75 days it is granted under federal statute. To give itself more time the agency can ask the parties to delay formal notification of the merger to the panel, which would give Cfius a chance to start its review before the clock starts ticking. Also the panel could ask the merging companies to voluntarily withdraw and refile their notification papers if it looks like one 75-day cycle isn't long enough to complete a review. All the Cfius experts contacted for this story predicted the deal would be subjected, at a minimum, to one full 75-day review. Under federal law mergers submitted for Cfius review are subject to an initial 30-day review and then a 45-day formal investigation if the panel's members believe the added scrutiny is warranted. At then end of the second phase of the review Cfius must either approve the deal, recommend that the President block it, or reach a settlement with the buyer that will allow the deal to go through with conditions aimed a resolving any national security concerns. Proximity of Syngenta sites to U.S. military bases as well as Syngenta's distribution chain are likely to interest Cfius. Michael Barba, head of BDO Consulting's National Security Compliance practice, said the level of Cfius interest in the distribution chain will depend on how many people or how wide a geographic area any particular facility serves. This transaction will be heavily watched by international dealmakers because it strays outside the traditional areas that have been Cfius's chief areas of concern, such as acquisitions of military hardware, telecom equipment or energy assets. ""Cfius is aware of what constitutes critical infrastructure and how there may be concerns when foreign deals are negotiated," Barba said. "Something like this can be considered part of critical infrastructure because it does have an impact on the people of the United States. From a high level we can see where Cfius would be coming from in wanting to review a deal such as this." Daniel Bitton of Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider LLP said that, aside from Cfius review, there may be a substantive antitrust review of some competitive overlaps between Syngenta and ChemChina's Adama subsidiary. In addition, he pointed out that it will inevitably take some time to secure the sheer number of approvals likely required from competition regulators around the globe to get the ChemChina's acquisition of Syngenta done. "They are both big companies with operations in many countries," he said. "That will take time. They will have to make filings in many countries and each regulator will undertake a significant effort to find overlaps or determine if the companies have vertical supply relationships with each other." Bengaluru: Refusing to harp on the issue of racism, Tanzanian envoy and High Commissioner in India, John W.H. Kijazi, who arrived in the city on Friday to meet African students in the backdrop of the recent brutal attack on a Tanzanian girl student here, said it was time to move forward. I dont want to delve too much into racism. You media people are too interested in it. We are not here to discuss the issue of racism, he asserted, speaking to reporters. Mr Kijazi had remarked in Delhi that the girl was attacked because she was black like the guy who caused the accident. But taking a more conciliatory stand now, he said, We believe that the local communities can live in harmony. We must look at the future and build confidence on both sides. We understand that friction between communities exists everywhere and we need to work together to institute a system where locals and students can interact more often. If we dont do that, the friction will continue. He also had a message for the African community in Bengaluru: Follow the law of the land. Live in harmony with its people. And respect leadership of the locals. Besides Mr Kijazi ,officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and Second Secretary immigration, Zambian High Commission, Mwitumwa Namunda Lubinda arrived in Bengaluru Friday afternoon to meet the students and representatives of the police and government. They met Home Minister, D. G. Parameshwar, who promised to hold peace committee meetings with locals and the African community and said all colleges would have to submit details of their foreign students to the government. Also present at the meeting in Vikas Soudha were IG-DGP, Om Prakash and city police commissioner, N.S. Megharikh, who gave a report on the lynching of the Tanza-nian student by an angry mob after a speeding car driven by another African student ran over a local woman, killing her. Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat [COMMUNICATED CONTENT] Historic Crowd Funding Campaign Be A Part of Saving Orlando Torah Academy From Losing Its Building!! The first ever of its kind crowd funding campaign kicks into high gear to help this essential school buy its building by March 15 and avoid the risk of losing its home and closing down. Torah Umesorah and Eastern Union join forces to create the vehicle so that Klal Yisroel can help Orlando Torah Academy continue doing their chashuva work for the Jewish community of Orlando. Crowd funding is all the rage these days, but it has never before been used to help a yeshiva buy its building and secure its future. UNTIL TODAY. Historically, if a yeshiva needed a loan for their building, they would go to a bank, or to a small group of wealthy people who would lend the yeshiva the money at agreed upon terms. A different way to borrow money is by crowd funding, where tens, hundreds or thousands of people combine small amounts to form one big loan. Prior to 2010, the Jewish children of Orlando had no local choice but to attend public school, as there was no Jewish day school. That all changed when Rabbi Yehuda Schepansky and Rabbi Avraham Wachsman, two young, idealistic Musmachim of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, moved to Orlando with their families to found Orlando Torah Academy and lay the foundation for a Torah community. They were just 28 and 32 years old, respectively, when they embarked on their mission. six short years ago, OTA opened its doors with just 12 children enrolled. Today, OTA, a member of Torah Umesorahs vast network of Jewish day schools, has grown to almost 60 students with a bright future for continued growth ahead. OTA rents space within an office building, and students come from homes spanning the spectrum of Jewish backgrounds and traditions. The future seemed promising, until OTA-and with it the very cornerstone of the community-found itself facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The landlord of the building OTA occupies was about to go into contract to sell it to a company that wanted to occupy the whole building, and therefore would not have renewed the schools lease. The Rabbis successfully convinced the owner to sell the building to them instead, at the same price of $1.8 million. Although the building is worth that amount, OTA has only been given until March 15th to raise the entire $1.8 million needed to purchase the building. Although we didnt have an exact plan when we went into contract, we felt that we didnt have a choice but to proceed, said Rabbi Schepansky. We need this building to continue the work we started, and we know that as long as we do our hishtadlus, the Ribbono Shel Olam will take care of the rest. Yitzchok Rowe runs Hatzalah in Queens, NY and owns a business in Orlando. He spends time in the community twice a month. This is a challenge far beyond the capabilities of Orlandos small Jewish community, and the responsibility now rests on the shoulders of all of Klal Yisroel, he says. R Rowe continues: Rabbis Wachsman and Schepansky have not just built a yeshiva in the midbar of Orlando; they are saving lives and rejuvenating yiddishkeit! Layer upon layer of hashgacha pratis led to Rabbis Wachsman and Schepansky meeting Ira Zlotowitz, President of Eastern Union, a national commercial mortgage brokerage. This past Shabbos, Ira and his family were guests of their warm and vibrant Orlando community. My wife and I were blown away by what these two dynamic leaders accomplished and what the community is doing, said Ira Zlotowitz. We were inspired and knew that if others heard their story they would be inspired too. This past Motzei Shabbos they launched a crowd funding campaign called 40 for $40k. Duvy Perkowski of Duvys Media has created a user-friendly and secure crowd-funding platform and website, pro-bono, and an LLC has been created to act as the vehicle for this campaign. Crowd Lending OTA, LLC will be run by Rabbi Zvi Bloom, Executive Director of Torah Umesorah, Ira Zlotowitz, President of Eastern Union Funding, David Goldis, a tax accountant based in Ft. Lauderdale, and Yitzchok Rowe, CEO of BSD Health Care Consultants and head of Hatzalah in Queens. As the name of the campaign suggests, OTA is looking for 40 ambassadors to commit to lend $40k. But in order to make the campaign as successful as possible and as easy as possible for many people to participate in this great mitzvah, any loan $1,200 or above will be accepted and appreciated. The ambassadors will each commit to lending the balance remaining by the March 15th deadline, up to $40k per ambassador. It was truly amazing that within minutes after Shabbos all the pieces came together, and by Sunday night almost $300k in new loans had been pledged, said Rabbi Wachsman. In the previous 6 weeks all we had was $275k in total donations for the building. None of us are embarking on this worthy campaign to make a profit; we are confident that this is an endeavor that will be blessed by Hakadosh Baruch Hu and that our profits will manifest themselves in the neshamos of the Jewish children of Orlando, says Ira Zlotowitz. Jeffrey Zwick, a prominent commercial real estate transactional attorney in NY, will be creating, pro-bono, all of the legal documents to ensure that anyone that wants to be part of this historic crowd funding event will be protected. This endeavor will be handled in the most professional manner, says David Goldis, President of CG Accounting Corp, a Ft. Lauderdale, FL based tax accounting and consulting firm. It will prove to be a win-win for everyone involved. These are Hashems children, just like the children of New York, New Jersey, Chicago or Yerushalayim. Klal Yisroel cant turn away and say its not our town. The call must be answered today! says Rabbi Zvi Bloom. Torah Umesorah is proud to be part of this crowd funding initiative. To donate, lend or become one of the 40 ambassadors, click HERE. Firefighters on Thursday morning 25 Shevat were summoned to Beit Shemesh as a youth was stuck in an exhaust shaft. The call was received during the predawn hours for a 20-year-old stuck in the shaft in a Beit Shemesh commercial center. Upon their arrival, fireman saw the man was stuck in the shaft which was about 50cm (19.5 inches) in diameter and 3.5 (11.5 feet) meters deep. The rescuers began setting up their equipment, using a rope system to haul the young man out of the exhaust shaft. When they arrived the man explained he was in a significant pain and felt he was about to pass out. EMS personnel were standing by and he was transported to a Jerusalem hospital after being extricated (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Beit Shemesh Fire & Rescue via Media Resource Group) The locals set ablaze the car that mowed down 35-year-old Shabana Taj and caught hold of one man and thrashed him mercilessly while the other one managed to escape. Q&A with Sanaullah Khan, Shabana Tajs husband Bengaluru: With the attack on the Tanzanian student hogging limelight, the plight of the family members of the road accident victim has been forgotten. Deccan Chronicle catches up with Sanaullah Khan, whose wife Shabana Taj died after being hit by a car driven by Sudanese student. Did you receive the compensation after the accident? Not even a single rupee was given. But my main demand is to release those villagers arrested after the incident. They are all innocent. Compensation can come later. What do you want state government and city police to do? Following this incident the police were and under pressure and they have arrested several villagers, who are all innocent. I want the police to release them immediately. How is your family coping with the tragedy? My fingers are broken and my children keep crying for their mother. No one has taken any measures to provide us compensation. What is happening in the village after the accident? There is tension in the village. An old woman has fallen ill after her son went missing. He has been arrested by the police. Who is responsible for the present crisis? Did any locals create problems for the foreign students? Foreign students have created the problems for themselves. They often drink and drive and create problems for local residents. Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates fell for the fifth straight week amid volatility in world financial markets. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slid to 3.72 percent this week, down from 3.79 percent last week and the lowest since it averaged 3.68 percent in April 2015. The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage slid to 3.01 percent from 3.07 percent last week. Mortgage rates have continued to fall despite the Federal Reserves decision in December to raise the short-term rate it controls for the first time since 2006. Global markets have been rattled this year by signs of a global slowdown and big drops in the price of commodities, including oil. Investors have sought refuge in U.S. Treasurys, pushing down long-term U.S. rates. To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country at the beginning of each week. The average doesnt include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was unchanged at 0.6 point. The fee for a 15-year loan was also unchanged at 0.5 point. The average rate on five-year adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 2.85 percent this week from 2.90 percent last week; the fee slid to 0.4 point from 0.5 point last week. (AP) Following the Palestinian terror attack at Shar Shechem involving guns, explosives and knives, MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Avigdor Lieberman spoke with Channel 2 TV News. The former foreign minister explained that the government is simply paralyzed and is doing nothing as the wave of Arab terror continues. Lieberman pointed out that during his tenure on the cabinet in the last government, a decision was made not to return the bodies of the terrorists for burial, yet this administration continues to return them, at times, in a matter of hours. He questioned the wisdom of this policy in light of ongoing and escalating terrorism. Lieberman questions why when Jerusalem Arabs are the perpetrators, why heir residency or citizenship is not canceled and the family evicted. Are we waiting for the next abduction in Gaza or until the [terror] tunnels are completely operational? The government is acting the same regarding Gaza, doing nothing! Channel 2 What can be done? After all, this is a right-wing government. Lieberman This is a weak government and it has nothing to do with being right-wing, which it is not. Channel 2 What would you do today to stop attacks? Lieberman If I was the defense minister today, I would resume targeted assassinations. I cannot understand how the heinous [Gaza Prime Minister] Ismail Haniyeh can publically speak on Friday and nothing occurs. There is no connection to right wing in this govt. if I was defense minister I would resume targeted assassinations Ismail Haniyeh cannot continue to appear at a Friday speaking event and walk away. He should be afraid to come out into public. Channel 2 How do we stop a 15 or 16-year-old terrorist? We are not talking about loners. Today we saw well-armed terrorists, three in number. For terrorism one does not need a two-way radio or a system, as the social networking is sufficient. The PA (Palestinian Authority) continues to pay the families of these terrorists monthly stipends, from money passed to them by Israel. This should have bene halted a long time ago. Why must we fund terror? The PA will now begin funding the families of the three terrorists killed in the latest attack and Israel continues to pass funds to the PA. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times One of the latest trends in Shabbos day meals is to go simple. Just serve fish, cholent, make your own salad, and dessert. The procedure for the salad is as follows: The hostess prepares a table adjacent to the dining room table with a wide variety of items to place in a salad. There is lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives, pickles, chicken cutlet, cut up turkey breast, hearts of palm, baby corn, pickled tomatoes you get the picture. Oh yes, and a few choices of salad dressing. Recently, a Rosh Yeshiva from Eretz Yisroel was asked by the hostess housing him if he had any preferences to include or exclude from the salad being prepared for him. He responded, Put anything inside except for the olives. The astute observer will, of course, notice that the Rosh Yeshivas animadversion toward the inclusion of olives in his salad was not because of a taste bud aversion to olives. Rather, it most probably had to do with the Gemorah about olive consumption. The Gemorah (Horios 13b) lists five things that cause one to forget ones studies: Eating from mouse and cat leftovers, eating the heart of an animal (the Afarkasta DAnya of Rabbi Klonymus Sperber extends this to chickens too), if one regularly consumes olives, if one drinks leftover bathwater, and washing feet one on top of the other. A sixth item is listed as a possibility using ones clothing as a pillow. The Gemorah later lists five things that restore ones studies. One of them is consuming olive oil. The Mogain Avrohom 170:19 cites this Gemorah as authoritative Halacha. The Aruch HaShulchan 2:5, the HaGaos Rabbi Akiva Eiger (OC 2), Shla, Ben Ish Chai, and Kaf HaChaim mention it as well. The guilt began to set in. Why are so many people eating olives? Should olives not be served? Are there heterim reasons to allow the masses to ignore this mandatory avoiding of Chazal? And how do we give a hechsher on the item without, say, adding a bit of olive oil? Is there a difference between green olives and black olives? What about that olive spread growing weekly in popularity? Guilt forces one to look for answers. So here we go. The Yaavatz in his Hagaos to that very Gemorah writes that the Talmud only refers to raw olives but if the olives are marinated there is nothing wrong. Our olives, of course, are marinated. But the Yaavetzs ruling may be a bit out in left field for a number of reasons. Firstly, where does he get it from? Secondly, why is there no mention of it in the Talmud? Botanists have shown that many of the olive trees that are still around in the middle east are between 1500 and 2000 years old these were always consumed marinated why then does the Gemorah not qualify it? Also how come none of the Poskim cite the Yaavetz? In his Mor UKetziya he does cite a number of instances where Rabbis did eat salted olives for example Rabbi Yochanan in Brachos 38b. It could be that this is his source and that the Gemorah does not distinguish the two forms of olives, raw or marinated, because it was an obvious truth. Now, of course, it is not so obvious. The Meiri on Horios, however, writes that salted olives also cause one to forget ones studies. Clearly, using the Yaavetz alone will not suffice. Rabbi Yoseph Chaim Sonenfeld (Salmas Chaim Vol. I #41) writes that if one consumes it with olive oil there is no problem. This solution is indicated in the rest of the Gemorah where it seems that the olive oil consumption makes up for the olive consumption. Which brings us to the next few questions how much olive oil covers how many olives? Also, will the olive oil in the salad dressing be considered good enough to count as olive oil? And is it only olive oil or will another oil do? All these questions, of course, bring us to another question too. Is the Gemorah informing us of a scientific truth or is it something to do with Torah and purity and impurity? Is it Halacha or is it just good advice? Also what does it cause you to forget? Does it cause one to forget secular knowledge too? Should the secular college professors be warned? Addressing this latter question, we may make the following inference. The Mogain Avrohom 170:19 cited earlier differentiates between when one eats them with intent where one does not forget ones learning and a case where one eats them casually where one does forget ones studies. The issue of intent seems to indicate that what is being discussed is an issue of impurity or purity rather than a scientific issue because intent would have no impact on things otherwise. This is also borne out by the fact that the scientific record does not record any repercussions of forgetting things when one consumes olives. Thus the secular college professors and their knowledge are safe. Is it Halacha or just good advice? Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal is cited in the Halichos Shlomo that it is not absolute halacha just good advice. For these items we also do not apply the principle of dangers are more stringent than prohibitions either. Nonetheless, though, it still remains good advice. As far as how much oil covers how much olives Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zatzal also indicated that any amount would suffice. This too is found in the Halichos Shlomo. There is no indication, however, that another oil is effective. Would the olive oil in the salad dressing work? One may apply the principle of Achshavei since olive oil is much more expensive than other types of oil so it would still be considered extant even in a mixture with other products. Another angle might lie in the very wording of the Talmud itself. If one regularly consumes olives indicates that one may consume them and one would remain unaffected it is just regular and habitual consumption that causes one to lose ones studies. So perhaps another leniency might be if we only occasionally consume these olives. The Otzer HaTeshuvos (R. S.D. Klein 118:4) quotes Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita who cites the Talmud Brachos 40a regarding lentils that if one consumes them once in thirty days that is called regular consumption. Rav Kanievsky rules that if it is longer than once in thirty days then that is not considered regular consumption. In summation then, we have the following three leniencies: [1] If one adds any dressing containing olive oil or even a bit of olive oil to it then it would be permitted. [2] Some authorities rule that the fact that the olives are marinated is a significant leniency in and of itself. [3] If we do not make it a habit of having it every time that might be considered irregular. The fact that it is good advice can also combine with the above factors to create a leniency too. May Hashem allow us not only to retain our past Torah knowledge but to ever increase our acquisition of it too. The author can be reached at [email protected] The head of the airline whose jetliner was damaged in an explosion shortly after takeoff from Somalia said Thursday that investigators have found what appears to be residue from explosives, though he cautioned that the findings were inconclusive. Still, the preliminary discovery lends weight to the possibility that a bomb was to blame for the blast that tore through the Airbus 321 shortly after takeoff from the Somali capital Mogadishu. Theres a residue, theyre saying, of explosives. Theres a trace, Daallo Airlines CEO Mohammed Ibrahim Yassin said during an interview with The Associated Press at the carriers corporate office in Dubai. But that cannot really make 100 percent that its a bomb, he added, saying that he expects initial findings to be released in a matter of days. The planes pilot, Capt. Vlatko Vodopivec, has said previously that he and others were told the explosion was caused by a bomb. Yassin too acknowledged that a bomb could have been to blame, saying we cannot exclude anything right now. He declined to speculate who might be responsible. Somalias government confirmed Thursday that a passenger who had been missing since the explosion had died. It identified him as Abdullahi Abdisalam Borle, but gave no details about how he died. In a statement issued after a Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed Omar Arteh said the government would tighten the airports security to prevent security threats. Local police have previously said residents of Balad, a town 30 kilometers (about 18 miles) north of Mogadishu, found the body of a man who might have been blown out of the Airbus 321 in the blast. Somalias transport minister, Ali Jama Jangali, said preliminary information from an ongoing investigation had produced what he called a suspicious finding, although he added that it required further investigation in collaboration with international experts. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast. Somalia faces an insurgency from the Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, which has carried out deadly attacks in Somalia and neighboring countries. The Airbus A321 was carrying 74 passengers when the explosion struck. All but four of the passengers originally had tickets with Turkish Airways and were rebooked on the Daallo flight after cancelled flights left them stranded in the Somali capital, Yassin said. He suggested the Turkish Airlines decision to scrap two flights may have been linked to intelligence it received about a possible security threat. We think, you know, Turkish airlines got a sort of security alert that they havent passed to us, he said. He added that it is not unusual for flights in and out of Mogadishu to be cancelled at short notice. A Turkish Airlines official said a number of flights out of Turkey were canceled this week, including on Tuesday, due to bad weather, and said there were no cancellations for security reasons. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Turkish Airlines spokesman Yahya Ustun also said the cancellations were because of the weather, saying an unspecified number of flights were grounded due to operational reasons required in the framework of bad weather conditions. Daallo has temporarily suspended its operations in the Somali capital following Tuesdays incident but hopes to restart them soon, said Yassin, the airlines chief executive. He described security at Mogadishu airport as good and multilayered, and much better than it used to be. Authorities and the airline will nonetheless intensify security checks in the wake of Tuesdays incident, he said. Daallo typically operates around 15 flights a week to Mogadishu from Somali and nearby international destinations. Its flight Tuesday was operated by Hermes Airlines, which is based in Athens, Greece, under a lease agreement. Hermes officials have not commented on the incident. Experts from Somalia and Greece are involved in the investigation into the blast. (AP) [VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE] On Tuesday afternoon, Hatzalah and Chaveirim members from Rockland County / New Square, New York, were searching for a missing man on the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge, when suddenly they heard a splash near them. They then heard a woman yelling, Help me, help me!. The group rushed to pull the 25-year-old woman out of the freezing water. The young woman had miraculously survived the 200-foot plunge, after making a death leap into the Hudson. Just last year there were 18 reported suicide jumps from the same bridge, and an additional four this year and no one but this woman had survived. The young woman was miraculously conscious as rescuers pulled her out of the water. She was sent to the hospital with a badly broken leg, but otherwise she was healthy. The rescue team happened to be at the spot the lady had jumped at the exact right moment, and she would have not have survived without them, as there were no other boats around at that time. The crew says the search for the missing New Square man body is still ongoing, so they can have a proper funeral for him. They say they wont stop until his body is found. The following is via New Square: Its almost a week and a body of a yid is still not recovered and not able to come to its final rest, there are askunim working day and night with private companies to look for the body and it already costed thousands of dollars please if you can donate to help out with the search Gofundme.com/neshamah, thanks in advance Watch the video below: The State Department watchdog has found that former Secretary of State Colin Powell and the immediate staff of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also received classified national security information on their personal email accounts, a senior House Democrat said Thursday. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons use of a personal email server has dogged her presidential campaign, and news that her predecessors in Republican administrations might have received such information on nonsecure servers could help her blunt the criticism. The State Department inspector general has told Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., that it has determined that two emails sent to Powell and 10 others sent to Rices staff also contained classified national security information. Powell and Rice were top diplomats under Republican President George W. Bush. My concern has been that Republicans are spending millions of taxpayer dollars singling out Secretary Clinton because she is running for president often leaking inaccurate information while at the same time disregarding the actions of Republican secretaries of state, Cummings said in a statement in which he accused the GOP of using congressional committees to mar Clintons candidacy. In a statement, Powell said the emails were from his executive assistant. He said they were forwarded messages that two U.S. ambassadors sent to members of the State Departments staff. My executive assistant thought I should see them in a timely manner so sent them to my personal account, he said. He said that while the department now has said they are confidential, which is a low level of classification, both messages were unclassified at the time and that there was no reason not to forward them to his personal account. I have reviewed the messages and I do not see what makes them classified, Powell said. The ambassadors did not believe the contents were confidential at the time and they were sent as unclassified. Powell said. While they have not yet clarified this point, the State Department cannot now say they were classified then because they werent. If the department wishes to say a dozen years later they should have been classified, that is an opinion of the department that I do not share. Georgia Godfrey, chief of staff for Rice, said she did not use email as secretary nor have a personal email account. She said its her understanding that the emails in question were sent to Rices assistant, reporting diplomatic conversations and they contained no intelligence information. Clinton, meantime, is facing new scrutiny from congressional Republicans as a fourth committee is pressing for general information about the handling of government documents, use of personal emails and the response to Freedom of Information requests during her time at the State Department. Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a Jan. 19 letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking for information and documents, citing the panels jurisdiction over implementation of FOIA requests. His request included material from the tenures of current and former secretaries of State. In an interview with the Politico news organization, Chaffetz said Clintons use of a private email server for government business could ensnare her in his inquiry. Three other committees are already focused on the former secretary of state and her tenure the special House panel on the attacks in Benghazi, Libya, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee. House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday he respects the FBI investigation, but gave no indication that he would stop Chaffetz from also conducting an inquiry. The FBI director, James Comey, is in the middle of an investigation. They have the tools to do it. So we will be respecting that investigation, Ryan told journalists. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi told journalists the congressional probes are a waste of time. Lets have a discussion of ideas and not politics of personal destruction, which is what some of them seem to be about, she said. Cummings has written Secretary of State John Kerry seeking more information about the latest revelations about emails from Powell and Rices tenure at the State Department. According to Cummings letter to Kerry, the IG is reviewing the records preservation practices of five former secretaries of state and their immediate staffs. The IG said the 12 emails were sent between February 2003 and June 2008. None of them were marked classified, but the State Department has advised the inspector general that the 12 contained classified national security information. Kerry himself used a private account when he was a senator to send information now deemed classified to Clinton when she was secretary of state, spokesman John Kirby has said. (AP) A snow alert has been issued for the five boroughs ahead of an overnight storm thats expected to affect the Friday morning commute, the New York City Department of Sanitation said. The storm is expected to bring light amounts of snow to the area, but its timing could snarl traffic and make traveling more treacherous than usual. The alert goes into effect at 12 a.m. Friday, the agency said. A snow alert is not a weather forecast but rather a call to city sanitation crews to prepare for possible precipitation accumulating on the boroughs 6,500 miles of streets. The AccuWeather forecast calls for up to 3 inches of snow in the city, 3-6 inches on eastern Long Island and parts of Connecticut, and 1-3 inches in areas north and west. The precipitation will arrive as rain Thursday night, changing over to snow during the overnight hours. It will be at its heaviest from 4 a.m. to 9 a.m. A winter weather advisory has been issued through late Friday morning for parts of central and southern New Jersey. The snow will clear out by Friday afternoon, and the weekend is expected to be mostly sunny with highs in the mid-40s. (Sources: WPIX / WABC) Senior police and ISA officials are certain the terrorists who perpetrated the Shar Shechem terror attack on Wednesday, 24 Shevat were planning a much larger attack and Bchasdei Hashem, it did not end worse than it dead. One border policewoman was killed in the attack, 19-year-old Hadar Cohen HYD, who was only in the service for two months. A second border policewoman was wounded. Officials explain the fact the three terrorists were armed with automatic weapons, explosives and knives point to a different scenario. Had the border police unit not decided to stop the terrorists and instruct them to identify themselves, they would likely have continued until they would find a group of civilians to target in what may have been a major attack with a far worse outcome. Deputy Jerusalem Police Chief Avshalom Feld told Channel 1 News the attack was likely not intended against police but others. He added that had the terrorists weapon not jammed after firing two shots, many others would have likely been killed or wounded. Police Commissioner Roni Alsheich praised the response of border police, whom he stated preformed exactly how they should have Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Wednesday evening convened an emergency meeting with his most senior security and intelligence commanders seeking to determine if the attack demonstrates a new stage in the ongoing Palestinian wave of terror or an isolated incident that included three terrorists. PM Netanyahu has instructed legal and military officials to probe the possibility of canceling work permits for family members of terrorists as another step towards restoring deterrence against future attacks. Photos: Zaka volunteers operating at the scene of the Shar Shechem attack. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem / Photos: Zaka) Following the shooting/stabbing attack at Shar Shechem on Wednesday, 24 Shevat, many are questioning if and how such acts of Palestinian terrorism can be prevented. Channel 2 senior Arab affairs correspondent Ehud Yaari explains that one of the terrorists posted to his Facebook page about a month ago that he plans to join a friend, a fellow terrorist who was killed in an attack in November 2015. He wrote we are coming to join you in Gan Edan with gunfire. The hallways to martyrdom are lined with gunfire, pointing to an attack involving guns. However, Yaari is quick to add there are thousands or tens of thousands of such postings on social media and therefore, one should understand that acting on social media post alone is not an effective means of preventing such attacks. Yaari feels this attack does not represent a shift to a new level of attacks despite the fact it involved guns and explosives in addition to knives. He feels the attack does not have the signs of being backed by any major terrorist organization. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) Housing Minister (Kulanu) Yoav Gallant announces his ministry is working on a plan to address the nationwide housing shortage. He announced the plan will resolve the shortage in the chareidi sector within the next 20 years. The plan calls for the construction of 200,000 apartments for the chareidi tzibur alone. The minister revealed the plan in response to a Knesset query from MK Uri Maklev, who asked what is being done regarding the apartment shortage in the chareidi sector. Maklev explained the shortage in the chareidi community is worsening by the day and the Housing Ministry seems to be short on answers. In his response, Gallant explained that when he assumed his post he met with the experts, instructing them to formulate a plan to address the growing apartment shortage in the chareidi sector and he recently received the plan on his desk. The plan calls for massive building for the chareidi sector in the coming years and the plan addresses resolving the shortage within the next two decades. Gallant hopes to address the plan, which calls for affordable apartments and he promises to expedite obtaining the necessary approval to begin acting on the plan. He assured Maklev and his colleagues that the matter of the chareidi apartment shortage has not slipped his mind, but quite the contrary, he is tenaciously working to resolve the matter. He added that he ordered subsidizing NIS 200 million to lower the cost of the apartments as much as possible. Maklev later told Gallant the chareidi tzibur needs 5,500 new apartments annually without beginning to address the shortage, explaining previous ministry plans do not address the crisis in the chareidi tzibur. (YWN Israel Desk, Jerusalem) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday sought the assistance of the Attorney General Muklul Rohatgi to examine the rights of Muslim woman to claim equality in issues concerning marriage, divorce and maintenance under the Muslim Personal law. A three-judge bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices A.K. Sikri and Ms. R. Banumathi asked the A-G to render assistance in the matter and posted the matter for further hearing after six weeks. The apex court in October last in a suo motu writ petition decided to examine various issues on the ground that Muslim Personal law is discriminatory to Muslim women and whether the current practices under Muslim Personal Law regarding marriage, divorce and maintenance are violative of fundamental rights of the Constitution. A two-judge bench had referred the issue to the CJI for posting before a larger bench. Accordingly the matter came today before a three-judge bench. Meanwhile Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind an organisation working for the welfare of Muslims in an impleadment application stating that since the present matter involves a question of Muslim Personal Laws, the view of the Muslim Community must also be considered. It pointed out that the SC on earlier occasions had considered the issues, Whether Muslim Personal Law which allows polygamy is void as offending Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution; Whether Muslim Personal Law which enables a Muslim male to give unilateral Talaq to his wife without her consent and without resort to judicial process of courts, is void as it offends Articles 13, 14 and 15 of the Constitution and whether the mere fact that a Muslim Husband takes more than one wife is an act of cruelty and declined to entertain these issues stating that these were matters wholly involving issues of State Policies with which the Court will not ordinarily have any concern. The apex Court had also held that these issues are matters which are to be dealt with by the legislature. The applicant said Mohammedan law is founded essentially on the Quran and thus cannot fall within the purview of the expression laws in force as mentioned in Article 13 of the Constitution, and hence its validity cannot be tested on a challenge based on Part III of the Constitution. In view of such clear provisions, if this Court frames fresh provisions, it will amount to judicial legislation and will be violative of the doctrine of separation of powers, it said. Two police officers patrolling a housing project were shot and wounded by a gunman who apparently later killed himself with the same weapon a few miles from where Mayor Bill de Blasio was delivering his State of the City address on Thursday. The officers were on the sixth floor of an apartment building in the Melrose Houses complex in the Bronx when they encountered two people in a stairwell, police said. One of the people pulled a gun and opened fire, and both officers were struck, one in the face and the other in the abdomen, police said. The gunman fled into an apartment on the seventh floor, New York Police Department First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker said. Officers responding to the scene found the gunman in the apartment dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun and a shotgun were found inside the apartment, police said. The second person who encountered the officers in the stairwell was in custody, and three people in the apartment were being questioned, Tucker said. De Blasio, a Democrat, was told about the shooting as he finished his speech and left the stage. He met with the family of one of the officers at the hospital where they were being treated. Our brave officers were doing their jobs tonight in our public housing on patrol keeping residents safe, de Blasio said. Both officers are alert and communicating, and we are praying for the best here. The shooting happened about 5 miles from where de Blasio was delivering his speech, much of which was dedicated to praising the work of police officers. One of the officers is a 29-year-old man, and the other is a 24-year-old woman, said Robert Boyce, the police departments chief of detectives. The officers, who are assigned to the Housing Bureau, have been on the force for about two years. Police would not provide the names of the officers or the person who was in custody. The officers were shot while they were conducting a vertical patrol, where pairs of officers start in the lobby of a public housing project and walk the stairwells up to the roof and back down, Tucker said. The head of the police officers union, Patrick Lynch, said the shooting shows the dangerous nature of the job. We need your support to teach our young folks that pulling a gun on a police officer works for no one, he said. This goes to show the dangers police officers face each and every day. He said the shooting shows the difficulty and danger of vertical patrols. A police officer is on trial for manslaughter in Brooklyn after shooting an unarmed man during a similar patrol in November 2014. Rookie officer Peter Liang had his gun drawn in a pitch-black stairwell at the Louis Pink Houses in Brooklyn when he accidentally fired a shot. Akai Gurley was on a lower floor walking to the lobby and was struck and killed. Prosecutors say Liang was reckless and shouldnt have had his finger on the guns trigger. Liang has pleaded not guilty, and his defense has suggested he had his gun drawn because of the dangerous nature of the assignment. In January, a police officer responding to a large street fight in the Bronx was shot in an ankle. And in October, a police officer responding to a report of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint in Manhattans East Harlem neighborhood was killed. (AP) First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker, NYPD: Okay, so, good evening, everyone. I will give you a preliminary background on the events this evening. At around 8:00 pm this evening, two of our police officers were shot and wounded inside a stairwell at 320 East 156th Street within the Melrose Housing Development in the South Bronx. Three officers were conducting a vertical patrol in the sixth floor stairwell area when they encountered two individuals, one of whom produced a firearm and shot at our officers. The suspect then fled into an apartment on the seventh floor. Responding officers gained access to the apartment where they discovered several individuals as well as the suspect who was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. A semiautomatic firearm and a shotgun were recovered inside the apartment. Several individuals have been taken to the 4-0 Precinct for investigation. The second individual who the officers encountered in the stairwell is also in custody. There are two injured officers have been transported to this hospital Lincoln Hospital. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of their family members. The officers are both assigned to Housing Bureau PSA 7. They both have two years on the force. The name of the deceased suspect is being withheld pending family notification. At this time, Ill turn it over to the mayor. Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you very much, Commissioner. Our brave officers were doing their jobs tonight in our public housing, on patrol, keeping the residents safe, when they confronted an armed assailant. Youll hear more momentarily but thank God so far, in both cases, their condition is good. We have more that has to play out this evening. And theyre getting very fine care here at Lincoln Hospital and I want to thank everyone at Lincoln Hospital. Im pleased to say both officers have been alert and communicating. So, we are praying for the best here, and of course, our hearts and our prayers are with their families. We met with the family of one of the officers. The other family is on the way. Well let them know the officers are getting very good care and a lot of attention to help them through this trying moment. Its another example of what our officers confront every single day, keeping us safe not only on the streets of New York City, but in the stairwells and the hallways of our public housing developments. I want to thank all the leaders of the NYPD who are here. I want to thank Pat Lynch of the PBA. And I want to thank all of the elected officials who are here in solidarity with these officers and their families, including: Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Public Advocate Tish James, Bronx DA Darcel Clark, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Assembly Member Michael Blake. I also want to thank the President of the Health and Hospitals Corporation, which runs this hospital Ram Raju and the Chair of the Housing Authority, Shola Olatoye. These officers again, getting fine care here. Both very early in their work on the force. Both two years on the job, but doing their job, going out there, keeping people safe, and running into some bad guys, but, thank God that first responders came to their aid. The hospital is standing by them, taking care of them. And, again, our thoughts, our prayers, our hearts are with them and their family. Thank you, Commissioner. First Deputy Commissioner Tucker: Okay. Pat, would you like to say a few words? [PBA President Patrick Lynch delivers remarks] Unknown: Alright folks, as you know, we can take just a quick, few preliminary questions. Question: Chief, what is the basis for holding the other folks? First Deputy Commissioner Tucker: I didnt catch your question. Question: If the shooter is dead, what is the basis for holding the other folks? What have they allegedly done? Robert Boyce, Chief of Detectives, NYPD: They have allegedly done nothing. Right now were interviewing them. As we go forward, one male was with this individual, the shooter, in the hallway and in the stairwell. So were speaking to him and we have three others in the apartment, were getting statements from them. Theyre not being held for anything than purely giving information. Question: Was the stairwell dark? Chief Boyce: No. The stairwell I was in afterwards was not dark. Question: Chief, does the suspect live there? [inaudible] Chief Boyce: Unknown at this time. Question: And so, the apartment that he went to was it his family members, or we dont know? Chief Boyce: He knew someone in the apartment, they let him in. Question: Chief is it clear what happened [inaudible] that they asked them for their ID? Chief Boyce: We have not talked to the officers involved. Were speaking to one of the persons who was with the shooter the perpetrator. We did recover a 32-caliber gun inside the apartment while rendering aid to the perpetrator. We also recovered a shotgun in that apartment as well. Were getting a search warrant to do the rest of the apartment as we stand now. Question: [inaudible] or looking for anything specific? Chief Boyce: Pardon me? Question: Was it routine patrol or were they looking for anything specific? Chief Boyce: Routine patrol, we do this every day in the City of New York. Question: Can you tell us more about the officers? If theyve said anything tonight, how theyre feeling right now? Unknown: No, no. Its much too early for that. Their families havent been notified yet. Question: What is the genders of the officers? Unknown: One is a female, one is a male, they both have two years on the job. And well get more details [inaudible], but at this point thats more than we can say right now. Thank you. Question: One more question, what are your thoughts on the inherent danger of these vertical patrols? Unknown: Pat Lynch has spoken about that already. Question: Were they wearing a vest? Unknown: I will check, but I imagine they were. Question: Can you say where they were hit? Unknown: One has a face wound, and one has an abdomen wound. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) YWN regrets to inform you that the man killed in this mornings crane collapse in Lower Manhattan is an Orthodox Jewish man. Sources confirm to YWN that the man has been identified as David Wichs, 38-years-old. He lived on West 81st Street in the Upper West Side, and reportedly Davens at Rabbi Looksteins Shul. He is he son of Dr. Thomas and Dr. Adela Wichs of Flatbush, Brooklyn. Misaskim Volunteers are currently working with the NYC Medical Examiner to ensure proper Kavod HaNiftar is given. The Niftar is expected to be released before Shabbos. Additionally, Misaskim volunteers are on the scene at the collapse. Lisa Guttman told The Associated Press on Friday her brother-in-law David Wichs was the most brilliant person ever. She says Wichs was born in Prague, immigrated to the U.S. as a teenager and took every opportunity he could, graduating with a degree in mathematics from Harvard University. David was killed in Lower Manhattan while sitting in his car when a giant crane collapsed as workers were lowering it amid a snow squall. Wichs worked at the New York-based computerized financial trading firm Tower Research Capital. Additional information will be published shortly. Boruch Dayan HaEmmes (Dov Gordon YWN) Londoners are the biggest savers in Great Britain, a new survey suggests, with regular savers putting away 1,096 each month on average. However regular savers in Wales and Yorkshire and Humber are outdoing those in the South East as a whole, the survey from challenger bank Charter Savings Bank revealed. The bank found the amount amount put away by regular savers in the capital is 'significantly higher than the rest of the UK and is nearly five times as much as people in the North East, who are saving just 221 each month'. Savers in Wales take second spot in the savings rankings, with 671 per person being put away each month - though this is just over half of what savers in London put away. Get in the habit of saving not spending: Regular savers in London put away nearly 1,100 each on average In third spot is the Yorkshire and Humber region, where residents save 574 a month on average. But savers in Wales and Yorkshire and Humber are still saving more than the more affluent South East, where savers put away 552 a month on average. However the challenger bank found that a significant number of people do not have any savings at all. If the survey factored in savers and non-savers alike, the average amount saved in each region would be considerably lower. Only those considered 'regular savers' were polled in the survey, in which savings were defined as 'all savings and investments in any accounts (current accounts, Isas, etc.), investments, shares, any properties owned outright and pension funds'. It found that 27 per cent of residents of the North East, 24 per cent in the North West and South West and 22 per cent in the West Midlands who don't have any savings at all. Paul Whitlock, director of Savings at Charter Savings Bank, said: 'While it may come as little surprise that Londoners are saving more each month than most, it is encouraging to see that in every region across the UK people are getting into the savings habit. 'With people up and down the country demonstrably putting money away each month, savers must take this opportunity to ensure that their money is working as hard as possible.' How does your region fare? London, Wales are Yorkshire and Humber are leading the way Earlier this year the Prime Minister hinted at a scheme soon to be launched designed to encourage people to save. In a speech, the Prime Minister announced that a national 'help to save' scheme will launch later this year - most likely at the start of the new tax year on 6 April - for those on low incomes with the aim of encouraging them to build up a rainy day fund. He also said primary schoolchildren learning about how to manage money and save is a 'vital area' and so the Government will be expanding a Church of England project to ensure the next generation are clued up about their finances. More details about schemes are expected to be announced by the Chancellor in his Budget on March 16. Savers have had to put up with years of rock-bottom returns on their cash, with rates falling even further in recent months. Since 2011, the average rate on a two-year fixed bond has almost halved, according to Moneyfacts, with the average rate on a two-year fixed bond almost halved, down from 3.20 per cent five years ago to just 1.72 per cent today. The picture is not much better for those happy to lock away their cash for longer, with five-year fixed rates recording a drop from 4.01 per cent to just 2.59 per cent over the same period. Goldman Sachs was accused of hysterical scaremongering last night after it warned the pound would collapse in value if Britain votes to leave the EU. The US bank, which is pouring money into the campaign to keep Britain a member, claimed Brexit could see sterling collapse by 20 per cent overnight, driving the pound to its lowest for more than 30 years. Steve Baker, co-chairman of Conservatives for Britain, rejected the claim last night and accused Goldmans of trying to whip up unfounded fears. US bank Goldman Sachs has been told to stop scaremongering about the impact of possible Brexit on sterling The MP, a Commons Treasury committee member, said: It was exactly this kind of hysterical scaremongering which the Norwegians rejected when they sensibly decided not to join the EU. The Goldman Sachs claim was further undermined yesterday by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who gave an upbeat assessment of business confidence. He acknowledged investors were insuring themselves against a possible fall in sterling but appeared to play down the threat to the wider economy and said confidence among businesses and households remained strong despite the looming referendum and the slight slowing in the pace of UK growth last year. Mr Carney was also upbeat about the outlook for business investment which plays a crucial role in boosting productivity and economic growth in Britain. Goldmans faced criticism during the Eurozone crisis, including claims that it helped Greece hide towering debts before its banking collapse shattered the country and led to years of recession in the zone. It is now helping to bankroll the Britain Stronger in Europe group, which is leading the campaign to stay part of the EU. Analysts at the Goldmans yesterday said Brexit could push the pound down from around $1.46 to between $1.15 and $1.20. That would be the currencys lowest level since 1985, when Mrs Thatcher was in No 10 and Ronald Reagan ran the White House. Rival bank Barclays last week said quitting the EU could be good for the UK economy turning Britain into a safe-haven as Europe falls apart. In a note to clients, Goldman analysts led by chief currency strategist Robin Brooks said: A vote for the UK to exit from the EU is an event that would increase uncertainty. They warned that Brexit would weigh on the UK outlook and raise concerns of foreign investors potentially interrupting the flow of capital to the UK, sending the pound much lower. The claim came as a report by the Bank of England warned that although the vote was a potential risk for the UK, businesses were continuing to invest in areas such as machinery, warehouses and IT. Uncertainty relating to the pending referendum on the United Kingdoms membership of the European Union could present a downside risk to near-term business spending, the Bank said. It was notable, however, that companies reported investment intentions had not softened significantly, and relatively high rates of return on capital could support this component of spending as the economy continued to normalise. Bengaluru: Four police officers, including a police inspector, were suspended on Friday after City Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh reviewed a report submitted by Additional Commissioner of Police, West, Charan Reddy on the alleged policemens laxity even as mob at Hesaraghatta went on the rampage, stripped a Tanzanian girl student and burnt two cars on Sunday night. Read: Bengaluru: Mob strips Tanzanian girl, torches her car as police watch The suspended officials have been identified as Praveen Babu, the police inspector, Manjunath, a constable, attached to the Peenya police station, V. Jagdish, constable attached to Soladevanahalli police station, and C.K. Honnesh, a traffic police constable with the Jalahalli traffic police station. The report revealed that Constables Manjunath and Jagdish were at the spot when the Tanzanian girl was stripped and assaulted, but failed to protect the victim. They could have alerted their senior officials about the seriousness of the incident, or called for more backup so that it could have been sent to avert the incident. Read: She asked cops for help, they threw her to the mob: Tanzanian girls friend It was a clear dereliction of duty as they failed to control the mob when it went berserk. The victim, too, who has given a statement to the police that the two constables did not protect her from the mob and stood watching despite she running towards them seeking help and intervention, the report stated. The two constables statements corroborated with that of the victims version, and the two were placed under suspension. Read: Release the arrested first: Deceased womans husband Inspector G. Praveen Babu not only failed to handle the situation, but also did not follow up the case, leading to a major embarrassment for the state government. Honnesh, who was deputed on duty at the accident spot, failed to alert his seniors about the rampaging mob and failed to perform his duties as per the standard operating procedure, the report stated. The state government submitted a report to the officials of Ministry of External Affairs, who arrived in the city on Friday. Trying to brush it off as a case of road rage and mob fury, the state officials refused to term it a racist attack. Read: Not here to discuss racism: Tanzanian High Commissioner in India Meanwhile, the police arrested four more accused on Friday in the arson and rioting case, bringing the total number of arrested to nine. They have been identified as Parvez, 28, Aslam Pasha, 24, Thahir Pasha, 21, and Rajanna alias Gas Rajanna 44, all residents of Ganapathi Nagar and surrounding areas in Hesaraghatta. The police carried out the arrests based on the CCTV footage from the police and other commercial establishments in the area. The arrested four were being interrogated to extract details and information on the others involved in the arson, rioting, stripping and mobbing incident, police sources said. The police said more arrests are likely to continue, while the local residents approached politicians to save the innocent. Read: Will work for peace: African students The furious villagers gathered to protest against the police, who swung into action after the state government applied pressure on them. We are born and brought up here. We have been tolerating these students, despite their nuisance and brazen behaviour. Nobody seems to care about a mother of two who was killed in an accident by a drunk African student. Everybody is supporting the African woman, who alleged that she was stripped and assaulted by a mob, a villager said. Hyderabad: Describing TRS as a Tiruguleni Rajakiya Shakti, an unchallenged political force, panchayat raj minister K.T. Rama Rao on Friday said the partys unprecedented victory in the GHMC polls has ensured that history has been rewritten once again under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister and TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao. The unprecedented victory in Hyderabad civic polls proved KCRs mettle, leadership, administrative skills and blessings of Hyderabadis. We won every election with a thumping majority under KCRs leadership. Todays victory has once again proved the confidence approval of the people in KCRs leadership, Mr Rama Rao said He said that the victory means increased responsibility. We will not ditch the people who reposed such confidence on us, he said. Mr Rama Rao, who led the TRS campaign, had continuously maintained that the party will win around a 100 seats, and was promised the additional portfolio of municipal administration. The impressive victory has led to some TRS leaders saying that Mr Rama Rao has not only proved his mettle in Hyderabad, but is not far off from stepping into the shoes of his father. Saying that he would humbly bow his head before the people for giving the TRS an unparallel majority, he asserted that the party would fulfill and implement every promise it made. We will do what we promised in our manifesto. There will be no deviation from what we have said, he said. Mr Rama Rao said Hyderabad would be developed as desired by people of Hyderabad and the TRS would strive for their welfare in all aspects, thanking all those who strived for the partys victory For nearly one month, they toiled for the party day and night. More than that people of Hyderabad, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, blessed us with an unprecedented majority, he said. The IT minister said that the Opposition spoke about many things during the election campaign, but with the results, the TRS dominance was now total in the State. The victory is now total, public endorsement is now total, he said When asked about the challenge thrown by the Opposition, Mr Rama Rao said, KCR always told us that as we grow, we should be more humble. People are aware of who have made the challenges and their promises. I leave it to their wisdom. Bengaluru: The Second Secretary Immigration, Zambian High Commissioner, Mwitumwa Namunda Lubinda was in Bengaluru to meet the African students to reassure them at Acharya Institute, while a section of media in Zambia is playing up news that there was bloodshed in Bengaluru. They said Indian locals were assaulting African nationals after an accident involving a Sudanese student that happened on Sunday night. A staff from the management of Acharya College on Monday had called up Soladevanahalli police station to enquire about how many Africans were either killed, injured, or have gone missing, after Sunday nights incident, as the Zambia media had stated that seven Africans were killed by Indian locals after the accident. We had to clarify them that it was not the Africans, but an Indian woman who died in an accident, involving a Sudanese student, who was later arrested, said a police source. DC had reported this in its February 2 edition. "The students expressed concerns over security. I will take up these concerns with Indian Ministry of External Affairs officials and the state government during a meeting, said Mr Mwitumwa Namunda Lubinda, as he met African students at Acharya Institute in Hesaraghatta, on Friday. Mr Lubinda, who arrived in the city along with Ministry of External Affairs officials and Tanzanian envoy and High Commissioner of Tanzania to India, John W.H. Kijazi, later brought a busload of students to the police commissioner N.S. Megharikhs office, where a closed door meeting was held between the MEA officials, DG&IGP Om Prakash, and the African student representatives. The student leaders made it clear that their safety was compromised, and gave a list of clashes between African students and local residents. As MEA officials and the diplomat ruled out racism in the incident, the African student representatives said they understood their concerns and would work on them diplomatically. MBABANE The long-awaited Woza AGOA stage play, which opens at the Swaziland Theatre Club on March 10, 2016, will tour SADC region throughout the year, following interest from several promoters. In an interview, the shows publicist, Bongani Dube, said the play had been initially earmarked for Swaziland and South Africa only, but promoters and theatre establishments in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia have indicated interest in bringing the show to tour the said countries. You will appreciate that the shows playwright, Pedzisayi Sithole, has vast networks in film and theatre across the region, hence a lot of his regional counterparts have been calling to express interest of hosting the Swazi-originated showpiece, said Dube. Dube said the show was likely to take place at the Amakhosi Theatre Arena in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, this winter, and at the United World Colleges hall in Botswana, around the same time. Dates for the regional tour will be confirmed when logistics get finalised. So far, we are certain about its debut at the Swaziland Theatre Club, where it will show for three nights, starting March 10, he said. Woza AGOA, as reported, features Swazilands top actors based in South Africa, Thembinkosi Mthethwa and Nqaba Tsela, together with award winning actress Setsabile Masina. Mthethwa, a model and clothing label owner, works for eTV as a voice artist and has featured on several theatre productions in South Africa, while Tsela featured on a Leon Schuster production; Mad buddies. Masina, on the other hand, featured on Ubizo, a drama series that showed on SABC1. Described as a comical satire, the show addresses some topical issues in an artistic and humorous approach, and will change the landscape of local theatre productions. For a very long time, we have come to concentrate on the development and growth of music, but last year, we saw other arts, like comedy, being discovered and promoted. In the same spirit, Woza AGOA is set to revive theatre productions, with the hope that artists will eventually make a living out of this, as is the case elsewhere, said Dube. MBABANE A Manzini businessman has been arrested by the police for assaulting two men for fishing in a river. The businessman was arrested yesterday morning by the Matsapha Police officers under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), led by Inspector Mphatsi Shabangu. The businessman will only be named when he appears in court. Reliable sources revealed that Jeremiah Mabuza (49) and his son, Mbongiseni Mabuza (29), were fishing in the river when the businessman socialite allegedly questioned them about their act and enquired why they were fishing in his river. When the two asked him who he was and why he was ordering them to move from the river, he allegedly insulted them and called a group of men to sort them out. Mbongiseni was allegedly thrown inside the said river after sustaining serious injuries. When his father intervened, the businessman allegedly drew a knife and threatened to stab him. During the scuffle, the police arrived and arrested the businessman together with two of his friends. Jeremiah and Mbongiseni were taken to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital where they were treated and discharged yesterday. Meanwhile, Mbongiseni is said to have sustained serious injuries all over the body and was recuperating at home, near Mfabantfu. The three suspects have been detained at the Matsapha Police Station (Sigodvweni), pending their appearance in court this morning. Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba confirmed the incident. MBABANE Swaziland Post and Telecommunications Corporation (SPTC) staff has petitioned SPTC management regarding the handling of the desciplinary proceedings against dismissed senior manager, Charles Ndlovu. The employees, through separate bodies, have petitioned the Board and management over the disciplinary proceedings which subsequently led to Ndlovus dismissal. Ndlovu was the Sales and Marketing Manager at SPTC. The workers bodies are SPTC Staff Association (SPTSA) and SPTC Workers Union (SPTCWU). The two wrote separate letters to the management and Board of the parastatal. The SPTC Workers Union wrote to the General Manager Corporate Services. Information gathered by this publication was to the effect that the letter was copied to the Managing Director, Petros Dlamini, and to the Board Chairperson, Simon Mthunzi. SPTC Workers Union Secretary General Mduduzi Zwane confirmed that they wrote a letter to the Acting General Manager Corporate Services. dismissal We now fear for our jobs as Charless dismissal could be used as a precedent in future should a similar case like the one Charles was implicated in arise. In cases of disciplinary proceedings, the company has laid down procedures, which were not followed and were flouted by management. We are also deeply concerned why the company had to review a decision of its own independent chairman. This clearly shows that management had ulterior motives by suspending Charles and taking him to a disciplinary hearing, the union said. When Zwane was asked what the response of management to their letter was, he said: Their response was not satisfactory at all. Management acknowledged receipt of the letter and told us that it was the employers prerogative to dismiss any employer from work. We were appalled by such a response as this means anyone can be fired anytime and anyhow, without following the laid down policies, he said. separate In a separate letter, the SPTSA wrote: We, as the SPTC Staff Association executive, have noted with grave concern the following issues with respect to Charles Ndlovus disciplinary hearing, a process which we believe should have come to conclusion. At the very initiation of his suspension from employment pending an investigation that was to be conducted by the employer, we noted that the notice to suspend him was sent to the staff association executive only after the insistence of Charles. We view this as an anomally given that the recognition agreement defines that in the event a member of the executive is to be put on suspension and/or have charges of alleged misconduct preferred against him, it is required of the corporation to give same notice to the members association, reads the letter in part. The SPTSA further submitted that SPTC elected to ignore it in the letter dated January 19, 2016, a letter which it said speaks about findings of the independent chairman and the opposing stance that the employer adopted by writing to Charles and not copying same to the association. New Delhi: The Law Commission's report favouring legalising of passive euthanasia with certain safeguards is being examined and a bill will be drafted thereafter, the government told the Supreme Court on Friday. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice A R Dave, which is awaiting the government's stand in its endeavour to examine a plea to legalise passive euthanasia by means of withdrawal of life support system to terminally-ill patients, was informed that on receiving the report from the Law Ministry, a Bill will be drafted. The statement to this effect was made by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Patwalia before the bench, which also comprises Justices Kurian Joseph, Shiva Kirti Singh, A K Goel and R F Nariman, which will also peruse the Centre's latest affidavit on the issue. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Common Cause, which has filed the PIL for legalising passive euthanasia, said the affidavit "does not take us anywhere." After a brief hearing, the ASG sought that the matter be deferred for a week so that the Law Ministry comes out with its stand on the Law Commission's report. Accepting his request, the bench posted the next hearing on February 12. The Centre in its recent affidavit said it has framed a legislation on the issue but would await the apex court's verdict on it. "Based on the recommendations of the expert committee, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has proposed formulation of legislation on passive euthanasia. The expert committee has further suggested certain changes in the draft bill. "The committee has not agreed to active euthanasia since it has more potential for misuse and, as on date, it is prevalent in very few countries worldwide," the ASG said. The apex court on January 15 had asked the government to make its stand clear in a reasonable time. The law officer apprised the bench about the 241st report of the Law Commission which has stated that passive euthanasia should be allowed with certain safeguards and there was a proposed law -- Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patient (Protection of Patients and Medical Practioners) Bill, 2006. The ASG had said his contention will also be based on 6.7 regulation of 2002 under Medical Council of India Act which says that practicing euthanasia shall constitute an unethical conduct. However on specific occasions, the question of withdrawing supporting devices to sustain cardio-pulmonary function even after brain death, shall be decided only by a doctors' team and not by the treating physician alone. The bench was hearing a PIL filed in 2005 by NGO Common Cause which said when a medical expert opines that the person afflicted with a terminal disease has reached a point of no return, then he should be given the right to refuse being put on life support system, as otherwise it would only prolong his agony. The apex court had two years ago issued notices to states and Union Territories on the issue, even as the Centre had strongly opposed the petition saying it was a form of suicide which cannot be allowed. At that time, another five-judge bench had said that states must also be heard as the issue pertained not only to the Constitution, but involves morality, religion and medical science. The NGO had prayed for declaring the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and sought a direction to the government to adopt suitable procedures to ensure that those with deteriorating health or the terminally ill should be able to execute a living Will and attorney authorisation for termination of life. The NGO had explained that there were three types of euthanasia -- positive, passive and living Will. It said the emphasis was on the category of living Will in which a person makes an advance declaration that if during his treatment, it becomes clear that there is no chance of revival, he should not be put on life support system or ventilator. While referring to 6.7 regulation of 2002 under Medical Council of India, the bench wanted to know about implication of the regulation if the four words 'even after brain death' is deleted from it. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had submitted that the issue should be debated and decided by the legislature and it was not a matter to be adjudicated by the court. The bench had appointed senior lawyer and former Solicitor General T R Andhyarujina as amicus curiae to assist it in the case relating to legalising euthanasia. The Constitution Bench, hearing the matter, was set up after a three-judge bench had on February 25, 2014 referred the matter to a larger bench saying it was extremely important to have a clear enunciation of law in view of inconsistent opinions in its previous judgement. It had said that its verdict of 2011 allowing passive euthanasia was delivered on a "wrong premise". "In view of the inconsistent opinions rendered in Aruna Shanbaug case and considering the important question of law involved which needs to be reflected in the light of social, legal, medical and constitutional perspective, it becomes extremely important to have a clear enunciation of the law. "Thus, in our cogent opinion, the question of law involved requires careful consideration by a Constitution Bench of this court for the benefit of humanity as a whole," the court had said. It had said that its earlier Constitution Bench verdict, which was wrongly relied in Aruna Shanbaug case, had held that the right to live with dignity will be inclusive of the right to die with dignity, but the judgement did not arrive at a conclusion on validity of euthanasia. The present PIL has contended that a person whose life was ebbing out should be allowed to die as the continuance of the life with the support system was an unnatural extension of the natural life span. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Tammy Scileppi As a highly skilled calligrapher, you could say Simon Xianwen Zeng paints his soul on paper with brush strokes of black ink. Inspired by nature, his paintings have an organic quality and are sometimes whimsical. His hand-carved, Han Dynasty-inspired chops, or seal engravings, embody a style of classical strength. I use brush, ink, color and oil on canvas and express my rich imagination, my childhood memory and my love for nature through my works, Zeng said. I transform what I see into something that might seem different from the reality, but in the form of my imagination. Since he moved into his home studio in Flushing almost 20 years ago, Zeng has enjoyed living and working in the vibrant area, which in some ways reminds him of his childhood home in the historic town of Jinzhou of Dalian City, in the Liaoning Province of southern China. He started painting and writing calligraphy when he was 12, and learned the ancient art forms passed down by the masters. Eventually, he won national awards. But he yearned for more. At that time, China was going through a very tough phase when people werent allowed to engage with the traditional culture, and a lot of books and artworks were destroyed due to political reasons, Zeng said. Just like everybody else at that time, I struggled to live and grow, but those memories became the nutrition of my art that made me want to pursue the pure, true, and beauty of art. In 1996, Zeng traveled to the United States. After experiencing temporary culture shock, he embraced a Western way of life but held on to some Chinese customs and beliefs. He said he and his family will be celebrating the Year of the Monkey by having a traditional dinner. We eat fish, dumplings and vegetables, he said. Some of them have special meanings, like the fish means wealth, and the New Year cake made of steamed glutinous rice, means new improvements in the next year. When he arrived in New York back in the 90s, Zengs artistic pursuits led him to the Art Students League of NY, where he met artists who had a totally different way of expressing themselves. More recently, Zeng, 48, was nominated one of the 100 best calligraphers in New York City in 2015, and samples of his aesthetic calligraphy pieces grace the pages of a new book titled, 100 New York Calligraphers by Cynthia Maris Dantzic. Emphasizing energy and motion two important elements of Chinese calligraphy the artists works seem charged with dynamic life. In his pieces you can see an intermingling of light, harmony and open space. His work resonates with American audiences, young and old. Simplicity and an aesthetic balance lend a contemporary feel to all his creations. And its no wonder. In Chinese culture, the traditional art of Chinese calligraphy Shu fa, or the way of writing is deeply rooted in aesthetic beauty. Shu fa is more than the simple depiction of words or ideas. It encompasses Chinas rich history and culture. Zeng hopes to convey this concept through his work, and in so doing, provide curious viewers with a glimpse into Chinas past, across the centuries, and present. Known as the Four Treasures, paper, ink, inkstone, and brushes make up the essential elements for Chinese calligraphy. As an art there are certain guidelines that viewers are encouraged to consider. According to New York-based Chinese artist Fang Mei Chen, these are strokes, harmony and contrast, characters and the soul. Strokes must feel alive, varying in thickness and flair, Chen writes. Characters must be beautiful and balanced, as well as executed with the calligraphers own touch. Zengs Happiness and Longevity poem in calligraphy is a great example. Encompassing both art and functionality, Chinese calligraphy has been described as the art thought to embody more directly and more vividly than any other, the unique physical presence and the creative personality of the individual writer. Look closely and you can find that special quality within Zengs calligraphy pieces and ink and wash paintings. They may appear closely related, since theyre created using similar tools and techniques. Ancient calligraphers believed that the soul is the expression of the artists emotions that appears in a work. And the script, which can be traditional or not, can be stylized to achieve a flowing energy. That energy is very apparent in Zengs artwork. His individuality, spontaneity and deep-felt emotions are expressed in one of his favorite calligraphy pieces. The dispersed clouds and mist clear the regret in the world. The rolling waves wash away the sadness since time immemorial, he said. Regardless of whether the piece is Oriental or Western, good artwork should express the truth, virtue, and beauty of humanity, Zeng said, instilling within the viewer a sense of joy and happiness and provoking deep contemplation and reflection. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Lenore Skenazy In New York, our lives overlap on many fronts. Your car alarm goes off, your street wakes up. You overcook your fish, your neighbors gag. You hold the subway door open, you have saved the guy behind yous job. We are densely, intensely interconnected, but no place more so than on the sidewalk. And no time more so than after a snowstorm. As I waited my turn to traipse single-file through the Kilimanjaro of snow at my corner last week, my teeth gritted in fury even as I attempted a cheery, Were all in this together! grin. (Hard on the jaw.) The truth is, we are all in this together, but our sidewalks are like L.A.s freeways: a place wed all love to gun past absolutely everyone else, if only we could. I hate slow people, says substitute teacher Elizabeth Atkinson Cuccia. Her strategy for avoiding them is the same used by NASCAR drivers. My eyes are always scanning for a potential opening so I can scoot around them. Im good at finding holes that I can worm my way through. Its not that Cuccia, of College Point, feels no empathy for the slow. Her mother uses a walker and she herself broke her foot a few years back, hobbling so pitifully that strangers stopped to offer her a ride. (See? We may be impatient but were not heartless.) (Were scary people who offer rides to strangers who cant run away once we start driving them to the Jamaica Wildlife Refuge.) Now, however, Cuccia is back to fighting trim, and when those in front of her are busy gaping at tall buildings, or wearing headphones, ambling in time with Adele, her sympathy gets displacedas do those slow pedestrians. Whoosh! Shes on her way. Then, unable to stop herself, she turns around to see just how far behind they are. Ive done that, too. We all have our favorite techniques for passing the pokeys. On the street, I usually walk along the curb to go around the slow people. Or I huff and squeeze past them, sometimes with a little extra shoulder check action, says Kate Schliebin, a Brooklyn mom not to be messed with. There are times when I will sneeze a big sneeze so they get grossed out and move out of the way, reports resourceful Freddy S. Zalta, an author. Another guy I know walks as loudly as possible. Me? I whistle, aggressively. Its part of that cheerful thing againWere all in this together! (But you are in the way.) About five years ago the group Improv Everywhere went down to the Flatiron District and painted a line down the middle of the sidewalk. They labeled one lane, Tourists and the other New Yorkers. Then, wearing official-looking vests, they queried pedestrians, Are you a tourist or New Yorker? directing the amazingly compliant folks to the right lane or left. Excuse me, mam, one of the actors said (you can watch it on YouTube. Look for Tourist Lane), are you just going to stand there? Stand in the tourist lane. Thats for slow people. A woman directed to the fast lane said, As a New Yorker, I appreciate this! The Improv folks told her to thank the mayorBloomberg at the time, who later declared the project a nice thing to do. (Does he count as a New Yorker, considering hes from Boston?) Another Improv Everywhere participant held a clipboard as she explained to passersby deadpan that, There are a lot of pedestrian accidents between New Yorkers and tourists. This lane initiative, she said, was just one possible way to keep everyone a little safer. The lanes remained on the sidewalk for four days before they were removed. One wiseacre on the groups website suggested that next time, they should create a smartphone lane to make for a safe, obstacle-less, continuous walk. But I guess its no surprise that the Improv folks had already tackled that problem: In another project they provided Seeing Eye People to help people text-and-walk safely. Improv participants in bright orange vests cleared the way as people holding on with leashes followed behind them, texting. Watch out! Texter coming through! the guide-people shouted. Its all really funnyexcept when Im texting. Or gawking, or gaping, or totally confused as to where Im going or where Ive gotten out of the subway. Then Im the speed bump and youre the New Yorker who cant give me one single second to get my bearings. And I go home and overcook my fish. Lenore Skenazy is a keynote speaker and the author and founder of the book and blog Free-Range Kids. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Bill Parry Long Island City is known for its shiny steel and glass residential towers on Center Boulevard, its three dozen arts and cultural institutions and venues, and its waterfront parks along the East River. Its also known for its broken roadways, a remnant of the neighborhoods industrial past. Now the streets of the Hunters Point section of Long Island City will get a $40 million makeover as part of Mayor Bill de Blasios citywide Vision Zero initiative. City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) called it an unprecedented investment by the de Blasio administration and the City Council that will include infrastructure and traffic safety upgrades from the Sunnyside Rail Yards to the East River. Most of the roadways in the neighborhood have not been reconstructed since the beginning of the 20th century, according to Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg, and the explosion of residential and commercial growth, required a makeover. This neighborhood is hot, Trottenberg said Monday. As buildings are going up, obviously the infrastructure is straining. The improvements we are announcing today will help keep Long Island City safe, update its aging infrastructure and maintain its status as one of New York Citys jewels. The project will repair roads, curbs and sidewalks; upgrade the stormwater drainage and sewer systems; enhance public open space; create a safer, more inviting streetscape; and address climate resiliency for the waterfront neighborhood, which was hit hard by flooding during Hurricane Sandy. Van Bramer hosted a public meeting in December to discuss the project and solicit feedback from Long Island City residents. Were going to make sure that all of these streets are safe for every single person, Van Bramer said. Our push to end pedestrian fatalities on our streets continues. This is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city and everyone wants to live and work here. Few things are as important, given the increase in traffic, pedestrians and cyclists. He said the DOT would complete a preliminary design for the project by June and while there is no timetable for when construction begins, four dangerous intersection will have priority: Vernon Boulevard and Jackson Avenue, 23rd Street and Jackson Avenue, 21st Street and Jackson Avenue, and 44th Drive and Vernon Boulevard. Dr. Feniosky Pena-Mora, the commissioner of the city Department of Design, said the work would be staggered once it begins. This will not be done all at once, he said. Think of it as an operation on a patient that still has to get up and go to work. People have to be able to live their daily lives with minimal impact. Pena-Mora would not say how long the project would last. When a reporter asked if construction would take two years, he laughed and said, You havent been around construction, have you? Meanwhile, Van Bramer hailed the citys record investment across the board in this community that was presented in de Blasios preliminary budget. In addition to the Hunters Point reconstruction project, $200 million has been set aside for four new schools in his district, three of which will be located in Long Island City. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams By Madina Toure Public Advocate Letitia James and community leaders commemorated the first year of the Lunar New Year school holiday Friday morning at the Queens Library in Flushing as the celebration approached. Lunar New Year will start Feb. 8. The last time Lunar New Year fell on a weekday in 2012, about 15 percent of the public school student population missed school, or 146,434 students, according to James. In 2012 62 schools recorded their lowest attendance of the year, including 16 schools in Queens, James said. This victory did not happen by itself and did not happen overnight, she said on the third floor of the library at 41-17 Main St. It was a long struggle. In June 2015, New York City announced that public schools will now be closed on Lunar New Year and added it to the official list of public school holidays. Lunar New Year joins the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr as the most recent additions to the list. Speakers included Christopher Kui, executive director of Asian Americans for Equality; Mitchel Wu, program manager for the Coalition for Asian American Children & Families; Alex Bennett, community outreach assistant for U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing); and Michelle Wang, president of the New York chapter of Asian Pacific-Islander American Public Affairs Association. Shabeer and his friend were taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries (Photo: Video grab) Thiruvananthapuram: In a rare gesture, a temple in Thiruvananthapuram decided to put its daily rituals on hold for 2 days to mourn the death of a Muslim youth, who was beaten to death here earlier last week. 23- year-old M V Shabeer was an active member of the local Shiva temple at Puthennada near Attingal, and was the executive member of the festival committee in the temple. In a gruesome incident that was captured in video and shared widely in Facebook, Shabeer was beaten to death by four men last week following a dispute regarding an elephant running amok during last years festival. Read: Caught on camera: Kerala youth beaten to death in broad daylight The temple has also decided to do away with the annadanam and procession for the ten-day festival, that is set top begin on February 9. Since the priest wanted the temple to be opened, we did so on Monday and Tuesday but suspended the pujas. There was no blowing of the conch or the ringing of bells in those days. In the evenings too, the temple opened but did not offer any puja, The Indian Express quoted the convenor of the festival committee, C Gouri Chandra, as saying. According to local residents, Shabeer had been struggling to provide for his family- a mother and two younger brothers - after his father abandoned them. He even discontinued his education to support them, the report said, and added that the mosque that Shabeer was linked to never had any issues with him being a member of the temple committee. Summing up, N Unni, another member of the temple committee said, It was a friendship beyond religion. We never considered Shabeer as a Muslim in the temple committee. Fighting flu starts with a shot, and it's time for Texans to get one Wichita Falls skyline SHARE By John Ingle of the Times Record News Corporations often enlist the services of consultants to help develop a road map to lead them down a path to success. The Wichita Falls Economic Development Corp. heard four presentations Thursday afternoon from groups hoping to win a contract from the organization that would develop a plan for the WFEDC to recruit the aerospace industry to North Texas. The presentations came as a result of a request for qualifications developed after six months of deliberations on the possibility of hiring a consulting firm to aid the group. "The main thing here is we're really in the aerospace industry right now," said Dick Bundy, chairman of the WFEDC. "What we need to do is see where we really are in that industry and how we compare to other communities and see what we need to do (and) develop a plan. We've been in the aerospace industry, in the flight industry for almost 100 years. "We've got some great manufacturers here, some people in the industry right here. We've got the greatest Air Force base in the world for pilot training, so it just makes sense that we need to assess where we are and develop a plan to move forward and really concentrate on aerospace." The groups pitching their services to the WFEDC on Thursday include: Teal Group out of Fairfax, Virginia; Bruce Facility Planning Consultants from the Atlanta, Georgia, area; Solomon Bruce Consulting LLC out of Fort Worth, with marketing services provided by J.O. Designs, also in Fort Worth; Barber Business Advisors in Dallas, with other services provided by Hamman Consulting Group in Vermilion, Ohio, and Heard Technical Services. Henry Florsheim, president and CEO of the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said there was a significant amount of economic development and aerospace expertise knowledge represented by all of the presenters Tuesday that he has possibly seen during his career. He said he is confident that one of the presenters provided the information needed for the WFEDC to select one and point the city in the direction of success. But, it's not just about being handed a plan. It's acting on it. "The whole point of this is to really figure out what our strengths are and how to best market our community to this very specific market that we've already identified as our primary target," he said. "The real important piece is not during this relationship with a consultant, and not that they're guaranteed to bring us a prospect, but, what do we do with information after this marketing strategy that's built out of this process." The WFEDC will meet in City Council chambers Feb. 18 to discuss and possibly vote on a consulting firm. Bundy said he thinks the cap on the cost of the services should be about $150,000. (Left to right) Lakewood Brewing Co.'s Temptress, BBT (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Temptress) and Herman Marshall's Texas Bourbon Whiskey. SHARE With craft beer's presence in Wichita Falls growing at a rapid rate, it can be tricky to differentiate beers and find something worth drinking. Times Record News' Brew Review hopes to change that. With an emphasis on showcasing some of the best craft beers locally, our video series will also serve as an educational guide for people unsure of IPAs, stouts and various ales. Garland, Texas Lakewood Brewing Co. has made a name for itself in Wichita Falls, debuting its signature Temptress imperial milk stout during a tap night in November at Back Porch Draft House (BPDH). The brewery is expanding their territory announcing in early January their availability in cities west of Garland including Amarillo, Abilene and Wichita Falls. This means youll be able to get more of their beers at more locations in town, which is a good thing for local craft beer lovers. On Jan. 27, Lakewood lived up to the unique, new ideas of their mission statement by hosting a pint night at Back Porch for BBT (Bourbon Barrel Temptress) its December seasonal. Back Porch also had the Temptress on a nitro tap to give tasters a comparison, and debuted Herman Marshalls Texas Bourbon Whiskey, which BPDH bar manager Megan Irwin said has a unique tie to Lakewood. Herman Marshall Texas Bourbon Whiskey 92 Proof (46 percent alcohol content) Orlandos & Megans rating: Mugs up Available: At various bars, restaurants and stores in Wichita Falls Im not going to pretend to know much about bourbon, but I can tell you Herman Marshalls Texas Bourbon Whiskey is one of the smoothest and tasteful bourbons Ive had. The Brew Review doesnt usually focus on non-beer beverages, but the tie that binds Herman Marshall to this review is its recipe. The bourbon uses Lakewoods Temptress as its unique strain of yeast in its distilling process. The result is rather nice after getting past the strength of the alcohol (which doesnt take long). Its very smooth and hits some similar notes of vanilla, toasted toffee and the general roasted flavor associated with the Temptress. While Megan suggests whiskey newbies or those not found of the bourbon burn use it as a mixer, Herman Marshalls Texas Bourbon Whiskey is a great, mugs-up-worthy spirit to order neat (by itself, no ice) sipping slowly, of course. Lakewood Temptress Nitro Imperial Milk Stout ABV: 9.1 percent IBUs: 56 Orlando & Megans rating: Mugs up Available: Year-round at various bars, restaurants and stores in Wichita Falls After trying the Temptress in November when it premiered in Wichita Falls, it was nice to get the nitro experience from it. Beer Term to Know: Nitro or nitrogenated beer A Nitro beer refers to the type of gas used on the tap line for it. In this instance, its a mixture of nitrogen (N2) and carbon dixoxide at a mixture or 70 percent N2 and 30 percent CO2. The purpose of this, as noted by Randy Mosher in his book, Tasting Beer, is to give an easier-to-implement version of a traditional real-ale cask. Mosher says when forced into a beer, nitrogen will jump out of it and release a large number of tiny bubbles (as Megan mentioned), leaving the beer lightly carbonated compared to using just CO2 and creating a creamy texture and foamy head. This is because nitrogen has a very low solubility in beer. The result is a less acidic and more rounded out flavor to the beer, as Megan noted in this episode. In The Oxford Companion to Beer, renowned brewmaster and beer critic Garrett Oliver says nitrogenated beer is most closely associated with Irish stouts, and the first mass marketed Nitro beer was by Guinness in 1959 during its 200th anniversary celebration. Compared to the original, the Temptress Nitro tastes smoother, more flavorful and extra creamy. The coffee flavors were front and center with this take on the imperial milk stout, but equally balanced by the vanilla and toffee present in the beer. This was a nice change of pace compared to other milk stouts Ive had, and made all that much better by the creamy texture heightened by the use of nitrogen. At 56 IBUs, theres a slight bitterness to the beer, but its overpowered by the sweetness of the lactose milk sugars and the various flavor profiles. This, however, is not to say the Temptress is tame by any means. At 9.1 percent ABV, the beer is stout, for lack of a better term, but not to the point that it leaves it undrinkable. Lakewood BBT Barrel-Aged Imperial Milk Stout ABV: 11.3 percent IBUs: 56 Orlando & Megans rating: Mugs up Available: December release; limited availability in various bars, restaurants and stores in Wichita Falls In the Brew Review Ugly Sweater Pint Night episode, I briefly mentioned Rahrs Winter Warmer being my favorite beer, and it was primarily due to its bourbon barrel-aged version. During filming, I told our crew that the bourbon barrel-aged version of that beer is the best beer Ive ever had, for reasons both nostalgic and taste-wise. Lakewoods BBT has changed that statement. To be fair, this isnt based off a one-time, gut- reaction tasting. I was previously able to grab a few half-pints of the BBT in late December when the Iron Horse Pub had it available for what felt like 30 seconds. What Ive concluded is this is a very well-made beer thats equal parts smooth and strong. Lakewood ages the Temptress for 6-10 months in freshly emptied oak bourbon barrels, and its evident from the first whiff of the beer. Theres a very boozy scent to it, so much that my first thought was it would taste like I dropped a shot of bourbon into it. The first sip changed that thought. The glass I had while filming tasted as if the aging process intensified the flavors of the original beer, taking the coffee, toffee and vanilla flavors to the next level. The real kicker, however, is the beers smoothness. Plenty of bourbon barrel-aged brews tend to have a slight whiskey-burn after taste. This is not present with the BBT, and Lakewood even describes the beer as a dangerously smooth treat. Again, dont let the smoothness fool you. 11.3 percent ABV is nothing to take lightly. While Megan and I both give this beer an emphatic mugs up, it is best to sip slowly and know your limit. Those hoping to still find a 22-ounce bomber in stores or get a pint on draft will be a little disappointed. The BBTs seasonal availability is basically over at this point following its December release. The good news? The original Temptress is a year-round offering from Lakewood, and can be found easily locally. SCREEN GEMS Actor Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) goes missing in Hail, Caesar! The Coen brothers film opens in theaters this weekend. SHARE SCREEN GEMS Lily James and Bella Heathcote star in Pride, Prejudice and Zombies, an undead twist on the Jane Austen classic. The film opens in theaters this weekend. Travis (Benjamin Walker) falls for Gabby (Teresa Palmer) in The Choice, new in theaters this weekend. LIONSGATE NEW IN THEATERS "ANOMALISA" An author getting ready to speak at a customer service conference in Cincinnati lives a crippling life of monotony but finds his negative view drastically changing after he meets an extraordinary stranger. This film, which features stop-motion animation and puppets, stars David Thewlis and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman. Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity and language. "THE CHOICE" Based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, Travis (Benjamin Walker) and Gabby (Teresa Palmer) are neighbors in a small town who fall for each other but whose relationship is tested. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some thematic issues. "HAIL, CAESAR!" The Coen brothers return in this comedy that follows a day in the life of Eddie Mannix, a Hollywood studio fixer in the 1950s. He discovers a star on a "Ben Hur"-type film has mysteriously disappeared. With Josh Brolin, Scarlett Johansson, George Clooney, Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum. Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and smoking. "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES" This isn't quite the proper Jane Austen tale we all know. In this version, Elizabeth, Jane and her sisters are all trained to fight zombies, which have taken over the pleasant English countryside Lizzy loves. Starring Lily James, Lena Headey, Douglas Booth and Charles Dance. Rated PG-13 for zombie violence and action, and brief suggestive material. "ROOM" A 5-year-old boy (Jacob Tremblay) discovers the world for the first time after being trapped in a small room his whole life one his mother (Brie Larson) has struggled to make a happy place. Rated R for language. ALSO SHOWING 'ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP' Alvin, Simon and Theodore think Dave (Jason Lee) is going to propose to his girlfriend and forget them, so it's time for a road trip to Miami to break up the couple. With the voice talent of Kaley Cuoco, Ana Faris, Christina Applegate, Justin Long. Rated PG for some mild rude humor. 'THE BIG SHORT' This film focuses on the credit and housing bubble collapse of the mid-2000s and four men who decide to take on the big banks for their greed and lack of foresight. Starring Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Christian Bale. Rated R for pervasive language and some sexuality/nudity. "THE BOY" An American nanny finds it strange that the family she is working for refers to a life-size doll as their son. She comes to discover that the doll really is alive. Starring Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans and Ben Robson. Rated PG-13 for violence and terror, and for some thematic material. "DIRTY GRANDPA" Robert De Niro is the dirty grandpa in this scenario. His character, a former Army general, tricks his uptight grandson (Zac Efron) into taking him on a trip to Florida for spring break. Shenanigans ensue. Rated R for crude sexual content throughout, graphic nudity, and for language and drug use "THE 5TH WAVE" Chloe Grace Moretz plays Cassie, who goes to rescue her brother from alien invaders that have decimated the human population and taken over the Earth. Rated PG-13 for violence and destruction, some sci-fi thematic elements, language and brief teen partying. "FIFTY SHADES OF BLACK" This is a comedy spoof of "Fifty Shades of Grey." With Marlon Wayans, Mike Epps and Jane Seymour. Rated R for strong crude sexual content including some graphic nudity, and for language throughout. "THE FINEST HOURS" It's Feb. 18, 1952, and the SS Pendleton has been ripped in half by a massive storm. U.S. Coast Guard Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a rescue of the stranded men. Capt. Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) leads the seemingly impossible mission. The film co-stars Casey Affleck. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of peril. "JANE GOT A GUN" Natalie Portman plays a woman who asks a man from her past to help her save her outlaw husband from a gang that wants him dead. With Joel Edgerton and Ewan McGregor. Rated R for violence and some language. "KUNG FU PANDA 3" Po (voiced by Jack Black) must teach his panda family how to fight when a supernatural villain threatens to defeat all kung fu masters. Rated PG for martial arts action and some mild rude humor. 'NORM OF THE NORTH' Norm the polar bear and his three lemming friends end up in New York, where Norm becomes the mascot of a company but soon finds out the company is tied to the fate of his homeland. Featuring the voices of Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong. Rated PG for mild rude humor and action. 'THE revenant' A frontiersman in the 1820s (Leonardo DiCaprio) struggles for survival in the harsh winter after being mauled by a bear, then goes on a quest for revenge. Also starring Tom Hardy. Rated R for strong frontier combat and violence, including gory images, a sexual assault, language and brief nudity. 'RIDE ALONG 2' Ben (Kevin Hart) heads to Miami with his future brother-in-law (Ice Cube) to bring down a drug dealer. Co-starring Ken Jeong. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence, sexual content, language and some drug material. 'STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS' Thirty years after the defeat of the Empire, a new threat arises in this continuation of the pop culture phenomenon "Star Wars" series. Starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill. Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence. '13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI' In this Michael Bay film, an American ambassador is killed during an attack on a U.S. compound in Libya. The film follows the security team left in the chaos. Starring John Krasinski and Freddie Stroma. Rated R for strong combat violence throughout, bloody images, and language. New Delhi: In an embarrassment to Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Supreme Court on Friday rejected his plea against the Delhi High Court order asking him to vacate the government bungalow. In an unusual order, the apex court rejected the plea of Chowdhury when his counsel mentioned the matter for urgent hearing and said that it is not going to list it and rather dismissed it at the threshold. "Taken on board and dismissed," a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur said, adding, "You are an MP and you want to stay in a bungalow to which you are not entitled. What kind of petition is this. You just vacate." The bench, also comprising justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, took a strong note of the submission that Chowdhury was earlier never asked to vacate the premises and has been paying the market rent to the government. "Do you mean to say that you will vacate only when they ask you to do so," the bench said. The high court had on February 3 rejected Chowdhury's plea, saying he will have to vacate the property forthwith. It had also turned down the MP's oral prayer for alternative arrangement for the interim period, saying the new residence alloted to him at Humayun Road in Lutyen's Delhi will take another 10-15 days to get ready for use. The high court had refused to stay Chowdhury's eviction, while upholding the single-judge bench order of February 1. Chowdhury, a Lok Sabha member, had moved the court against the February 1 order dismissing his plea against the eviction, following which the authorities concerned had disconnected water and power supply to his bungalow at 14, New Moti Bagh here, even as they started eviction proceedings against him. Thereafter, Chowdhury rushed to court, which had earlier directed that status quo be maintained with regard to the eviction till February 3. According to the Directorate of Estates, the MP has been allotted another house on Humayun Road and given sufficient time to vacate the ministerial bungalow, which, it said, he was not entitled to. But Chowdhury did not vacate despite several reminders in the past, it had alleged. Chowdhury, who was minister in the UPA dispensation, had contended that it was nothing but out of "political vendetta against the opposition by the government". Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, who had appeared in the high court on behalf of the Directorate of Estates, had said the government was trying to accommodate the MP but he was not satisfied with the housing options being given to him. The MP's counsel had submitted that there was a security threat to his client as well as his family at the new premises. Defending the eviction move, Urban Development Ministry had said that Chowdhury was offered three Type VI bungalows after cancellation of Type VIII bungalow at New Moti Bagh but he refused. The allotment of the bungalow was cancelled in 2014 by the ministry since he ceased to be a minister at the Centre after the 2014 general elections. As a member of Lok Sabha, he is entitled for a Type-6 accommodation. He was allotted an alternative accommodation at C-1/99, Moti Bagh by the House Committee of Lok Sabha in January, 2015 which was not accepted by him. Sheppard Air Force Base SHARE By Claire Kowalick of the Times Record News Sheppard Air Force Base officials said they went above and beyond proper procedures to divert aircraft from closed runways Jan. 21. Base personnel met with media to discuss the incident, which was the second event in recent months where an airliner went back to Dallas because of allegations of darkened runways. On Jan. 21, American Airlines flight 3339 departed from Dallas-Fort Worth airport at 9:41 p.m. and was in airspace above Wichita Falls Regional Airport at 10:04 p.m. AA spokespeople claim the pilot did not see any illuminated runways and returned the plane to DFW. There are four runways at the joint SAFB-Wichita Falls Regional airfield. Three runways belong to the Air Force and one, 17-35, is leased to the city. During the base's operating hours, there are at least five personnel directing air and ground traffic for all of the runways. "Normal operating hours are 0600 to 2100 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m.) Monday through Friday and 12 to 5 Sunday," Capt. Charles Chapot said. Base staff continuously leaves the lights on for Runway 17-35, the city-leased runway closest to the airport. A Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) alert was sent out Jan. 21 informing pilots that two of the base's runways were closed for observation. NOTAMs are available through the Federal Aviation Administration website for military and civilian pilots to inform them about any safety or procedural changes at each airfield. "NOTAMs are supposed to be checked by every pilot before every flight," Keeton said. Keeton said Jan. 21, SAFB Airfield Operations sent out notice of the closed runways in at least three different ways; they released a NOTAM, notified the airport dispatcher and called the Fort Worth aviation control center. Airfield Manager Tommy Hoover said that night two runways had obstructions so they were closed with the lights turned off. A NOTAM instructed pilots to use Runway 17-35. No SAFB staff was at the tower at the time of the incident. An investigation by both base and Wichita Falls personnel determined the runway lights for Runway 1735 were illuminated the night of Jan. 21. A similar incident that happened in April was attributed to pilot error. During that incident, an ExpressJet pilot, a subcontractor for American Eagle, attempted to land on a Sunday night using pilot-controlled lighting on a NOTAM-closed runway. After an investigation into that incident, Keeton said lights for Runway 17-35 were on Friday when staff left for the weekend and were still on when they came back Monday morning. Burrus said it is not uncommon for a runway at the airfield to be closed, and each time there was a closure, a NOTAM was always filed with the national aviation database. "We are all professionals here. We go by the books and there is a stringent set of rules and regulations to follow," Keeton said. Having a joint military-civilian airfield can be a challenge at times, but SAFB staff said they have a good working relationship with the city and try to be good neighbors. Cause of the most recent incident has not yet been determined. NOTAMs for Sheppard's airfield can be viewed at www. notams.jcs.mil/ with the airfield code KSPS. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Saratoga Springs A Republican Air Force veteran from Mechanicville is picking up support to challenge Democratic Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner in the state's light-red 113th Assembly District. Chris Boyark, 37, has won key endorsements from Saratoga Springs and Malta Republicans the last few weeks over Gerard Moser, 48, a small-businessman from Malta, who is also running to be the Republican candidate. The Assembly district stretches from central Saratoga County to western Washington County. The Saratoga County Republican Committee will vote to endorse a candidate on Feb. 29, while Washington County Republicans will back a candidate next month. "We're in pretty good shape," Boyark said Thursday. The Desert Storm veteran and former Mechanicville GOP chairman said he's running to clean up a culture of corruption in the Democratic-controlled Assembly. Moser, a self-described political outsider, promised a fight for the party's line to run against Woerner, a well-funded Democrat from Round Lake who won the seat two years ago. "I am forcing a primary, there is no question," Moser said Thursday. He said he was disgusted by suggestions from others that he had to wait his turn to run. On Thursday, Saratoga County Republican Chairman John Herrick said Boyark was the front-runner to challenge Woerner. He warned against intraparty quarrels. "I think if we are united behind one candidate and that candidate can go out and raise money between now and the general election, we can do well," Herrick said. "If there's a primary, I don't think there would be enough money to run a competitive race in the general." More than 133,000 people live in the 113th Assembly District, which comprises Saratoga Springs, Mechanicville, Malta, Moreau, Wilton, Northumberland, Saratoga, Stillwater, Salem, Jackson, Greenwich, Easton, Argyle, Fort Edward, Kingsbury and Hartford. It has 32,931 Republicans, 22,283 Democrats and 17,833 voters who are not affiliated with a party, according to boards of elections in the two counties. "I would describe this district as fundamentally conservative," said Boyark, who owns a restaurant in Malta and manages a jewelry store in Clifton Park. He ran for finance commissioner and city supervisor in Mechanicville, which had been controlled by Democrats for years. Woerner, 53, managed a computer software company. She lost to Republican Tony Jordan in her first run for the Assembly in 2012. Voters in 2014 elected her to a two-year term over Republican Steve Stallmer of Saratoga Springs. Woerner spent $528,181 in 2014, more than twice as much as Stallmer, according to the state Board of Elections. The post carries a $79,500 salary. dyusko@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @DAYusko This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Portland, Ore. The four remaining occupiers at an Oregon wildlife refuge are facing charges, according to court documents released Thursday that say more than a dozen armed activists threatened violence against federal authorities and used social media to urge others to join them. A newly unsealed indictment names 16 defendants, including the holdouts, standoff leader Ammon Bundy and other occupiers arrested last week. Also named is Kenneth Medenbach, who was arrested after being caught driving a government vehicle to a supermarket. A federal grand jury charged all with felony conspiracy, accusing them of using intimidation to prevent federal officers from doing their work at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The holdouts have said they are not leaving without a guarantee they won't be arrested. If they stay true to their word, the indictment buries any chance they will surrender on their own. The U.S. Attorney's Office and the FBI declined comment Thursday, but the lack of movement in recent days indicates negotiators were not offering amnesty. The remaining occupiers are: David Fry, 27, of Blanchester, Ohio; Jeff Banta, 46, of Elko, Nevada; and Sean Anderson, 48, and Sandy Anderson, 47, a married couple from Riggins, Idaho. Fry's father, William Fry, was disappointed that his son has been charged, saying in an email: "We were hoping for a more positive outcome." He said his son is no different than those who believe "our country is heading in the wrong direction." "He believes it so strongly he is willing to stand up with the hope that these actions might wake the nation up and lead others to get involved to change our country's course," the father said. William Fry said he is still "hoping and praying to welcome our son home safely." Responding to the grand jury indictment, Ammon Bundy on Thursday struck a defiant tone in an audio recording and a written statement from the county jail in Portland where he is being held. "Taking over the refuge was not only right, it was the duty of the people to do," Bundy said in the audio recording, which was released by his family. Bundy called his jailed followers "political prisoners" who were just trying to educate ranchers and others about their constitutional rights on federal lands and abuses by federal authorities. Bundy made reference to the death last week of one of the lead occupiers, Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, who died in a confrontation with FBI agents and Oregon state troopers that also resulted in the arrest of Bundy and others. Bundy said in the recording "Go home, Oregon State Police, you have already killed enough" and "Go home, FBI, it is time to end this." FBI agents, Oregon State Police and other law enforcement officers are deployed around the refuge as the last four occupiers continue to refuse to leave. The standoff began Jan. 2, with Bundy's group demanding the federal government turn public lands over to local control and free two ranchers imprisoned for setting fires. Two conspirators traveled to the sparsely populated area of southeastern Oregon last October to warn the local sheriff of "extreme civil unrest" if certain demands were not met, according to the indictment. Once the occupation began, the group brandished firearms to keep officials from carrying out their duties, threatened violence and intimidated locals "to effectuate the goals of the conspiracy," the documents say. Defense attorneys have said at court hearings that their clients engaged in civil disobedience and are being punished for political speech. They say the only use of force was by police who shot and killed Finicum during a Jan. 26 traffic stop. Finicum's death led to protests this week by those supporting the occupation, while local residents rallied to urge the holdouts to leave, further dividing the strained community. Federal authorities fear those tensions could pop up elsewhere and have increased security at national wildlife refuges in southern Oregon, Northern California and Nevada and put the rest of the preserves nationwide on heightened alert. The additional security measures are in place at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which straddles the Oregon-California border; Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada; and Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California. Preserves and other national sites run by the Fish and Wildlife Service are being extra vigilant, said Gavin Shire, the agency's chief of public affairs. "Due to the evolving situation in eastern Oregon, all service stations are on alert and being advised to take appropriate caution," Shire said in a statement. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Washington Infuriating members of Congress, a smirking Martin Shkreli took the Fifth at a Capitol Hill hearing Thursday when asked about his jacking up of drug prices, then promptly went on Twitter and insulted his questioners as "imbeciles." The brash, 32-year-old entrepreneur who has been vilified as the new face of pharmaceutical-industry greed was summoned by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which is investigating soaring prices for critical medicines. Four times, he intoned: "On the advice of counsel, I invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question." Lawmakers erupted. Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the top Democrat on the committee, all but told Shkreli to wipe the smile off his face. "I call this money blood money ... coming out of the pockets of hardworking Americans," he said as Shkreli sat through the lecture. "I know you are smiling, but I am very serious, sir," Cummings said. "I truly believe you can become a force of tremendous good. All I ask is that you reflect on it. No, I don't ask, I beg that you reflect on it. " The former hedge fund manager with a frat-boy swagger has been reviled in recent months for buying Daraprim, the only approved drug for a rare and sometimes deadly parasitic infection, and unapologetically raising its price more than fiftyfold. Shkreli is out on $5 million bail after being arrested in New York in December on securities-fraud charges unrelated to the price increase. Lawmakers took turns denouncing his conduct and attitude. After he left and even before the hearing had ended Shkreli thumbed his nose at the committee. "Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government," the former CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals tweeted. Shkreli's attorney Benjamin Brafman later said: "He meant no disrespect, but in truth, statements made by some of the members of the committee were wrong, unfair and difficult to listen to without responding." Shkreli calls himself "the world's most eligible bachelor" and "the most successful Albanian to ever walk the face of this Earth." He strums his guitar on YouTube and paid a reported $2 million for the only known copy of a Wu-Tang Clan album. Later, Turing's chief commercial officer of Canada's largest drugmaker, Valeant Pharmaceuticals, received a bipartisan lashing from lawmakers. Documents show that Valeant and Turing have made a practice of buying and then dramatically raising prices for low-cost drugs given to patients with life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, AIDS and cancer. Albany Here is a statistic that might shock you. In 1790, there were 217 households in Albany County that owned five or more slaves of African descent, a portion of the county's 3,722 slaves, the most of any county among New York state's 21,193 slaves counted in that year's census. History textbooks and conventional wisdom tend to relegate slavery as an issue of the Southern states, a shameful narrative bracketed by President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and the grim toll of the Civil War. But new research at the State Museum and an exhibit at Fort Crailo, a state historic site in Rensselaer, titled "A Dishonorable Trade: Human Trafficking in the Dutch Atlantic World," is bringing slavery out of the shadows and directly onto the front stoops of Albany across three centuries. More Information Related stories: Ultimate payoff for slaves freedom Remains of Schuyler slaves to be reburied Exhibition What: Fort Crailo exhibit, "A Dishonorable Trade," on Dutch slave trade in colonial Albany. When: By appointment during winter months. Regular tours begin May 11. Where: Crailo State Historic Site, 9 River Ave., Rensselaer. Info.: $5 adults, $4 seniors and students, free 12 and under. 463-8738. www.nysparks.com. See More Collapse Through historical research and archaeology, the emerging scholarship is painting a fresh portrait of a deeply ingrained system of wealthy Dutch families in Albany and the Capital Region who owned human beings and subjugated them to their will during the17th,18th and19th centuries. "Slavery was an unfortunate fact of the Dutch colonial period and it's something people might not be aware of, but they should be," said Charles Gehring, director of the New Netherland Research Center at the State Library. He's translated thousands of 17th-century Dutch documents over the past four decades and the only mentions he finds of slaves are in wills, when a wealthy Dutchman bequeathed slaves and other personal property to descendants. The slaves are typically not named and slave families are often split up among descendants. Slaves in Fort Orange and Beverwyck settlements, precursors to Albany, were used for loading and unloading ships, carpentry repairs, farming and livestock care and domestic chores. "It was an accepted part of the culture at the time, slaves were considered another aspect of doing business and everyone was involved in it," Gehring said. "The Dutch don't really like to talk about it, but it can't be ignored." Gehring has seen the Fort Crailo exhibit and recommends it. "It's a real eye-opener," he said. The slaves of Albany the preferred term is now enslaved people are a kind of lost sub-culture because they have vanished from the historical record with barely a trace. Virtually no documentation remains for the thousands of them who lived, worked and died here. "We know almost nothing about how the slaves lived and worked, where they were buried, or information about their daily lives. We're using archaeological tools to try to tell the social history of slavery in and around Albany," said Michael Lucas, curator of historical archaeology at the State Museum, who presented a talk on his new research at the museum last month. He hopes to replicate at Schuyler Flatts the sprawling riverside estate of the prominent Schuyler family along Broadway in Menands a few miles north of downtown Albany the sort of archaeology he completed on early 19th-century slave quarters during many years working for the National Park Service in Maryland. This spring, Lucas and colleagues will use a magnetometer, ground-penetrating radar and other low-impact technologies to try to locate long-disintegrated outbuildings that Lucas surmised may have been where more than a dozen slaves owned by the Schuylers lived while working at the Flatts. The Schuyler family lived in the Schuyler Mansion, a state historic site in Albany's South End. The family patriarch, Gen. Philip Schuyler, was a Revolutionary War hero and the father-in-law of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, the country's first treasury secretary whose story is told in the Broadway hit musical "Hamilton." Lucas came to his new post about 18 months ago and the Schuyler Flatts research was spurred, in part, by the 2005 unearthing of skeletal remains of 14 slaves during a construction project across Broadway from the Flatts. The bones rested on a shelf at the State Museum for the past 10 years while researchers pieced together what limited information they could using DNA analysis. Their names were never recorded and virtually nothing is known about their history. "We found out as much as we could, but it's still an incomplete picture," conceded Lisa Anderson, curator of bioarchaeology at the State Museum who led the research. The slave remains will be honored at a special reburial ceremony at Schuyler Mansion on June 17 and they will be reburied the next day in a multicultural, ecumenical ceremony at Saint Agnes, the Albany Roman Catholic diocesan cemetery in Menands. Lucas will also use the technology to try to locate what he believes is a much larger slave burial ground at Schuyler Flatts. "The Schuylers owned that property for more than two centuries, so it's likely there were far more slave burials than the 14 that were unearthed," Lucas said. The Schuylers bought the land from the Van Rensselaer family, descendants of the first patroon, in 1692 and they occupied the working farm across many generations until 1910. The site is now jointly owned by the Open Space Institute and the town of Colonie and is open to the public as the Schuyler Flatts Historical Cultural Park. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. It was a meeting place and trade center for Native American tribes and a resting area for troops and settlers in colonial times. Numerous ancient artifacts were discovered in digs during the 1970s by Paul Huey, a retired state archaeologist who is consulting with Lucas. One area Lucas plans to probe is a site about two miles west of the Flatts that may have been the home of a mixed-race slave named Chalk, the offspring of an affair between a male member of the Schuyler family and a female African slave at the Flatts. The affair and the home of Chalk so named because of his white-hued skin is described in Ann Grant's "Memoirs of An American Lady," which recounts her time as a friend and guest of Margarita Schuyler in the 1760s. Meanwhile, across the Hudson River in Rensselaer, at Fort Crailo, slaves were also a part of life at the homestead built in the early 18th century by Hendrick Van Rensselaer, grandson of the first patroon, and generations of the wealthy Dutch family. Consider Andries, a slave whose story is told in the new exhibit at Fort Crailo. He was taken most likely from the coast of West Africa and shipped to the Caribbean island of Curacao, where the Dutch traded in slaves who were forced to work on island sugar plantations. Andries worked as a slave on Curacao for 13 years until the Dutch West India Company, who owned him, brought him to New Amsterdam, today's Manhattan, in 1655. Jan Baptist van Rensselaer sent his younger brother Jeremias from Albany to Manhattan to select a slave for their farm and homestead in 1657. His brother wrote back and said he had purchased for 50 beaver pelts "a tall, quick fellow who can work well." His name was Andries. Andries worked for both brothers. Jan Baptist headed back to the Netherlands in 1659 and later asked his brother to ship Andries across the Atlantic. The brothers argued. "It would be nothing but foolishness to try to have him serve you in a free country," Jeremias wrote. After an angry exchange of letters, Jan Baptist told his younger brother he could keep Andries, but he expected compensation. They haggled over the price and the younger man eventually sent 45 beaver pelts as pay. There is no record of what happened to Andries after 1660. The exhibit "A Dishonorable Trade" was created by Crailo staff members, including three who won a prestigious grant to study at the Yale Public History Institute in the summer of 2013. "We can no longer deny or ignore the extent of slavery right here in Albany," said Heidi Hill, historic site manager at both the state-run Fort Crailo and Schuyler Mansion. "We are committed to telling this untold history. We want a lot of people to see this exhibit, especially school children." When Hendrick Van Rensselaer died at Fort Crailo in 1740, he bequeathed his 16 slaves to his wife and children. It was the only known written mention of his slaves. Slavery was gradually abolished in New York state and ended completely by statute on July 4, 1827, when the last of the remaining slaves were freed. Blacks took to the streets in large numbers and celebrated Emancipation Day on July 5. pgrondahl@timesunion.com 518-454-5623 @PaulGrondahl This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Albany The state's most high-tech efforts to combat bad weather and bad people will be housed in a 236,000-square-foot building to be built on the southwest corner of the Gov. W. Averell Harriman State Office Campus. The 12-acre, $184 million Emerging Technology and Entrepreneurship Complex will house the new College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, an arm of the state University at Albany that is under development, and the hub of the New York State Mesonet, a network of weather monitors designed to better prepare the state for dangerous storms. The building, known as E-TEC, will also house several entities devoted to "tech transfer," the process by which the fruits of academic research are brought to market. "This new complex will help keep New York on the cutting edge of technological innovation, as well as help ensure we are prepared for emerging threats, such as extreme weather and terrorism that are increasingly becoming the new normal," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. The cost of the development will be split between previously appropriated state capital funds and UAlbany funding. The administration said the project would create 1,600 construction jobs; the finished facility is expected to house 1,000 daily occupants, from faculty and researchers to students. Construction on the building shown in initial renderings as three linked structures arranged in a stair-step design is expected to begin next year, with completion anticipated in 2020. E-TEC will be adjacent to the main UAlbany campus as well as the headquarters of two state agencies related to its double-barreled mission, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and the State Police. RoAnn Destito, commissioner of the state Office of General Services New York's property manager said the location "will foster relationships and guide research in ways that would not be possible in a purely academic setting." To boost tech transfer, the building will be the base for the new Office of Innovation and Commercialization Services, UAlbany's Technology Transfer Office (which works to streamline patents and licenses), the Office of Business Development and Economic Partnerships (which supports the START-UP NY system), and the City of Albany's Small Business Development Center. UAlbany will run the process of selecting a builder. The school proposed bringing the threat-themed programs and tech-investment offerings under the same roof last year. First proposed by Cuomo a year ago, the College of Emergency Preparedness is designed to foster better responses to "terrorism, disease, and weather through data analysis, and best practices for crisis management," the administration said. The cycle of classes for students wishing to pursue a major within the program is slated to begin this fall at UAlbany. The state Mesonet, a wing of the state Homeland Security agency, is a two-year-old network of 125 weather stations linked across the state to measure data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and soil information. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and features with our afternoon newsletter. The development of the Harriman campus has in recent years been a subject of much back-and-forth between the state and local leaders, who perennially bemoan the high percentage of Albany's acreage that is state-owned and therefore off the property tax rolls. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan is seeking $12.5 million in state aid to help the city close a looming budget gap. None of those funds were included in the governor's executive budget proposal. Last year, the Cuomo administration announced that 30 acres at the east end of the office campus would be made available for private development. While the land would remain state property, the developer would have to reach a payment in lieu of taxes with Albany's Industrial Development Authority that could add millions to city coffers. OGS spokeswoman Heather Groll said a "request for proposal" process for the development of that tract was being drawn up, and is expected to be released this spring. Other buildings on the campus are undergoing parts of a planned $250 million program of capital improvements, including the imminent demolition of Building 2 to clear the way for private development. Five other buildings are either midway through or slated to undergo work ranging from asbestos removal to wholesale renovation. cseiler@timesunion.com 518-454-5619 @CaseySeiler You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Bollywood actor Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in prison by a trial court, a ruling that was overturned by the Bombay High Court later (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Salman Khan's acquittal in a 2002 hit-and-run case is a miscarriage of justice, the Maharashtra government argued in the Supreme Court on Friday and sought reversal of the Bombay High Courts order. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the State, described as "perverse" and travesty of justice the High Court order in December last, overturning the trail courts verdict sentencing him to five years imprisonment. Tracing through the history of the case, the AG submitted before a Bench of Justices J.S. Khehar and C. Nagappan that Salman Khan had consumed liquor and was drunk, he was driving the Land Cruiser that killed a person sleeping on the pavement. He knew he should not be driving under the influence of alcohol," Mr Rohatgi said. He also said the theory that the car was being driven by Mr Khan's driver, who surfaced after 13 years, should be discarded. He pointed that for 13 years, his family had maintained that the driver was at home when the incident occurred. The High Courts finding that Salman Khan was not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident is suspicious. In May last, a trial court had ruled that the actor was guilty of running over a man sleeping on the pavement outside a bakery in Mumbai after a night out drinking on September 28, 2002. The High Court quashed the order holding that the prosecution had failed to establish reasonable beyond doubt that the actor was driving and was drunk at the time of the accident. The High Court did not accept the testimony of a key prosecution witness - the actor's bodyguard Ravindra Patil - who had said that the Mr Khan was driving drunk and had ignored his repeated warnings. Mr Patil died of tuberculosis in 2007. Justice Khehar told the AG that since this was a case of acquittal, we want to look into the entire evidence before we decide to issue notice to the actor. The AG said he will take the court through the entire evidence to drive home the point that the intervention of the apex court is called for reversing the High Courts order. Salman Khans senior counsel Kapil Sibal told the court that he would produce translated version of the FIR and the court posted the matter for further hearing on February 12. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly's budget session began on a stormy note on Friday as the LDF raised slogans and held up placards against the Congress-led UDF government, prompting Governor P Sathasivam to ask them to "sit quietly or leave". As soon as the governor began his customary address at the beginning of the session, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan stood up and said the government was 'neck deep' in corruption. The veteran CPI(M) leader wanted the governor to intervene in the matter amidst the row in the state over the alleged bar and solar scams. Reacting to that, the governor said, "You have raised your democratic protest. You are opposing this government. That is enough. You should allow me to do my constitutional duty. I am noting all your objections." As the governor continued with his address, opposition members were up on their feet, holding up placards and banners seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other ministers over corruption allegations. As Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the deputy leader of CPI(M) in the House, stood up, the governor said, "Mr Balakrishnan, this may happen to you also. If you have a right to protest, I am bound by the Constitution to deliver the address... better sit quietly or leave the House. "I am aware (your) protest is not against me but the government. The entire nation is watching you. People are noting your objections... You have made your point and I have also noted it." But the protesting LDF members thereafter trooped out of the House. The opposition members raised slogans and held up banners saying, "Don't want tainted ministry's policy." The 14-day sitting is politically significant as this is the last session of the 13th Kerala Assembly before the state goes to polls later this year. LDF had met the governor two days ago asking him to not deliver his customary address as the Chandy government was facing various corruption charges. Solar scam accused Saritha S Nair, deposing before the Justice Sivarajan commission, had alleged that Rs 1.90 crore had been paid to a close aide of the Chief Minister and Rs 40 lakh to Power Minister Aryadan Muhammed for securing favourable decisions for their solar company. Both Chandy and Muhammed have denied the allegations. Former Finance Minister K M Mani had to resign in the wake of bribery allegations levelled against him by hotelier Biju Ramesh. Excise Minister K Babu, too, resigned after the vigilance court ordered the registration of an FIR against him the bar case. However, after high court stayed the decision for two months, Babu returned to the Cabinet after the Chief Minister refused to accept the resignation. The Budget session is expected to conclude on February 25. Describing the tenure of the UDF government as a "golden phase", the governor listed the achievements of the present Chandy dispensation, including the kick-starting of the Kochi Metro, Light metro and Kannur airport projects. Over 25,000 tribals were given 'pattayams' (title deeds), Sathasivam said. Opposition members, including Achuthanandan, who trooped out of the House, held a protest in front of the war memorial at Palayam. The Left leaders undertook a march to the Assembly demanding the resignation of Chandy and the other ministers who are facing allegations in the solar and bar scams. Kicking off the march at the memorial, Achuthanandan said the Left parties will continue with their protests until Chandy, Aryadan Muhammed and Excise Minister Babu quit their posts. Modi in his speech also batted for a new development model for north- eastern states (Photo: Twitter) Guwahati: Taking pot-shots at the Congress lead government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he was fortunate to unveil the Brahmaputra Cracker & Polymers plant, something that his predecessor could not. Inaugurating the Rs 9,965-crore gas cracker project at Lepetkota in eastern Assams Dibrugarh district, Modi said, It appears I am destined to give shape to all unfinished projects. I don't think I should have the opportunity to inaugurate these projects. This should have been done long ago. Claiming that the delay has cost the exchequer much, he continued, Had this gas cracker project completed 25 years ago, the second generation of people in Assam could have found employment. We have had this tendency to delay so much that a project that should have cost Rs 500-crore instead of Rs 10-11,000-crore. Taking credit, Modi said that his government had fast-tracked the gas cracker project as part of its Act East policy to ensure Assam and the northeast keep pace with development elsewhere in the country. I dont mind (giving credit for UPA projects) as long as the country benefits, he added. Modi was speaking with reference to remark of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who in his speech said that Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar should have ideally have given credit to former PM Manmohan Singh and the state government for facilitating the project. Kumar had earlier insisted that Modis vision had made the gas cracker project, in the making for years, possible. Projects of such magnitude are not built in a day, and subsidies of 53 per cent ensured by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh helped the gas cracker plant come up. Ananth Kumar perhaps does not like us, Gogoi had said. Earlier, Prime Minister reiterated that development of eastern parts of India was a core priority for his government as that was the only way to ensure all round development of the country. The prosperity of the nation is linked to the development of Northeast. And it is our priority, said Modi. The Prime Minister in his speech also batted for a new development model for the north- eastern states to enable the harnessing of the "collective strength" of the region along with the neighbouring countries as part of the Centre's 'Act East Policy'. TRS party workers celebrating the sweeping victory of their party in the GHMC polls on Friday. (Photo: DC) Hyderabad: The TRS swept all 10 divisions in the IT corridor, the apple in the eye of TD president and AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Voters from divisions like Miyapur, Chandanagar, Vivekanandanagar and Allwyn Colony voted for the TRS. IT professionals welcomed the results. IT employee S. Vijay Kumar said that the initiatives taken by IT minister K.T. Rama Rao had attracted the voters. Read: GHMC election results: TRS marks landslide victory with 99 seats Hitech City gave IT students an opportunity in software companies whereas T-Hub is encouraging them to establish their own IT companies. The government is fulfilling their dreams by providing incubators, he said. TS IT Association president Sundeep Kumar Maktala said the initiatives taken up by the government on security and womens protection had led to the TRS victory. We are travelling in cabs which have My car is safe stickers. The Society for Cyberabad Security Council in the IT corridor, SHE teams to prevent eve-teasing and special security for the IT corridor have reassured IT employees, he said. Read: GHMC poll results: Seemandhra voters choose TRS No votes from native wards Most of the defeated candidates from the 10 divisions in the IT corridor could not swing the votes in their native wards. Gachibowli division was bagged by TRS K. Saibaba, a native of Khajaguda. His opponent Ch Rama Rao of the BJP got got less than 15 per cent votes at his native Rayadurgam. Read: GHMC election results: TRS win is complete Gachibowli recorded 47.21 per cent voting but the native places of the two contenders topped 60 per cent. Voters from Congress strongholds including Anjaiah Nagar, Siddiq Nagar, Rajivnagar Vaddera Basti voted for the TRS. In Kondapur, TRS winner Shaik Hameed Patel is a native of Kondapur located near the UoH. His rival, Telugu Desam ex-corporator Neelam Ravinder Mudiraj, is a native of Kothaguda. Mr Mudiraj got just 25 per cent of votes in his native booths. Read: Hyderabad loves us: K Chandrasekhar Rao Madhapur, the heart of the IT corridor, had three contenders: Locals V. Jagadeeswar Goud (TRS) and E. Srinivas Yadav (TD) and Mr G. Narasimha Yadav (Congress) from Izzathnagar near Hitech. Mr Narsimha Yadav, who was a key leader of Serilingampally constituency, got less than 15 per cent votes at his native place. The Telugu Desam gained more votes with the help of Mr Yadavs cousin G. Jangaiah Yadav. Read: TRS is an unchallenged political force: KT Rama Rao Mr Srinivas Yadav of the TD got fewer votes in his native polling booths. In Hafeezpet division, TD candidate Shahanaz Begums husband and senior local leader Mohammad Akther played key role in Telugu Desam winning the erstwhile Serilingampally municipality. Although Hafeezpet is a Telugu Desam stronghold where the party has a Muslim votebank, Ms Shahanaz Begum got less than 20 per cent votes at her native polling booths. TRS winner Pujitha Jagadeeswar got 45 per cent of votes from the division. Hyderabad: With its famous victory, the TRS demolished pre-poll expectations and analysis that it would find it difficult to win municipal divisions dominated by Seemandhra voters. Divisions such as LB Nagar, AS Rao Nagar, Tarnaka, Kukatpally, Kondapur, Chandanagar, Miyapur, Allwyn Colony, Ameerpet, Sanathnagar, Malkajgiri, Neredmet, Madhapur, Hayathnagar, Kapra, Meerpet, Nagole, Mansurabad, Vanasthalipuram, Hasthinapuram, Saroornagar, Moosarambagh, Santhoshnagar, Attapur, Vijayanagar Colony are known to have large number of voters from Seemandhra. The TD-BJP combine was confident of securing these divisions, believing that the Seemandhra voters viewed the TRS as their enemy because it was responsible for the bifurcation of the state. The GHMC poll results showed how wrong they were. IT minister K.T. Rama Rao said, This verdict proves beyond doubt that all people living in Hyderabad irrespective of region or state have utmost confidence that the TRS would not discriminate against anyone. The government has proved this during its 20-month rule. Naidus election plan goes awry Fridays GHMC results dealt a huge blow to the TDP-BJP combine. The alliance had performed superbly in the 2014 general elections by bagging 14 Assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats in the GHMC limits, indicating that they were still a force to reckon with in GHMC even after the states bifurcation. The TRS, which had traditionally been weak in the city since its inception in 2001, had to be satisfied with just two Assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat (Chevella) in 2014. Two years later, the scenario is completely different. The TDP-BJP combine suffered a humiliating defeat, which they perhaps hadnt anticipated even in their wildest dreams. Both parties had banked on their MPs and MLAs in GHMC limits and were confident of securing a respectable number of seats in the GHMC elections. But shockingly, the two parties put together were confined to a single digit out of the 150 seats they had contested for. Earlier, leaders of both parties were of the opinion that even in the worst scenario, they would easily bag 17 seats assuming that each of their MLAs and MPs would guarantee one seat. But all their calculation went awry with their tally not even getting into double digits. Meanwhile, the ruling TRS made history by scoring a century. Though the TDP had lost four of its MLAs in the GHMC limits to the TRS due to defections, the BJP MLAs had stayed put. In 2014, the TDP had won nine MLA seats Sanathnagar, Jubilee Hills, Serilingampally, Rajendranagar, Maheshwaram, Secunderabad Cantonment, LB Nagar, Kukatpally and Quthbullapur while BJP had won five Goshamahal, Khairatabad, Musheerabad, Amberpet and Uppal. However, the TDP MLAs from Sanathnagar, Maheshwaram, Kukatpally and Secunderabad Cantonment later defected to the TRS. BJP, meanwhile, only faced dissent from Goshamal MLA Mr T. Raja Singh, but there were no defections. The TRS had only won Secunderabad and Malkajgiri MLA seats in 2014. In the GHMC polls, the TDP-BJP leaders had banked on the Seemandhra settlers around 16 lakh out of the 70 lakh voters in GHMC to vote for them as they presumably viewed the TRS as their enemy given that TRS leaders had abused Seemandhra people during the Telangana statehood agitation days and for taking away Hyderabad. But all their expectations and calculations were proved wrong. Koppal/ Bengaluru: One more leader of minorities and JD(S) legislator from Gangavati, Iqbal Ansari, hoisted the banner of revolt against party patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda and challenged him to expel him from the party, on Friday. He told the media here Mr Gowda always says that he will take action against me at an appropriate time. Let him initiate action now. I will bow my head to whatever decision he takes. Taking a dig at state JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy, Mr Ansari, once considered a confidante of Mr Kumaraswamy, alleged that the former chief minister was conspiring to finish off minorities in the party. He stated that he has difference of opinion with the former chief minister, and is no more interested to be associated with the party. Moving a step closer to Congress, he said he was working out a strategy to field his supporters on Congress ticket in taluk and ZP polls. He said that he had supported the Congress in Lok Sabha polls in 2014 as well as recent elections to the Council from local bodies constituencies. I spoke to CM Siddaramaiah for Congress party ticket for my supporters and he responded positively, he added. Meanwhile, sources said Koppal district JD(S) too was preparing a list of party-loyalists likely to contest zilla and taluk panchayat polls, leaving out supporters of Mr Ansari in the process. Mr Gowdas problems with minorities in his party commenced with former minister Zameer Ahamed Khan deciding not to campaign for the party candidate in Hebbal Assembly constituency and even alleged that the leader forced his decision on party men because he wanted to help the BJP in Hebbal and Bidar constituencies by splitting the votes of Muslims. In both these Assembly segments, the ruling Congress has given tickets to Muslim candidates. Mr Zameer Ahamed Khans decision to adopt such a stand prompted his die-hard supporter and president of the minorities unit of JD (S), Mr Shakeel Ahamed Nawaz, to submit his resignation of Mr Gowda. He was also upset with Mr Gowdas outbursts against Mr Zameer Ahamed Khan on whether the legislator belonged to Congress or Janata Dal (Secular). Mr Nawaz subsequently withdrew his resignation letter after a meeting with Mr Gowda. Siddaramaiah under pressure from aides for ticket Followers of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are putting pressure on their 'political mentor' to give them ticket to contest the coming zilla panchayat and taluk panchayat polls to be held in two phases on February 13 and 20. Party sources told DC that many have informally launched their campaign in their respective ZP constituencies with thehope of getting ticket. A few ticket aspirants have formed a brigade of their supporters to exhibit their popularity before the CM, who is launching the election campaign in Mysuru on Saturday. Sources said the party has finalised the list and it is likely to be announced on Sunday to prevent rebels from entering the fray. Mysuru is going to polls with 15 other districts on February 20 in the second phase. Monday is the last day to file nominations. The B form will be issued a few hours before the deadline for filing nominations to check dissidence in the party over distribution of ticket. Demand for Congress ticket is more this time since the party is in power in the State. Many aspirants are wooing party legislators who have been authorised to select candidates. Sources did not rule out rebels entering the fray if they were denied ticket and this may pose problems for party candidates. Dharmendra, a nephew of Public Works Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, has sought ticket to contest from Varuna, the constituency of CM Siddaramaiah. However, there are other local leaders who have been nurturing the constituency for many years. The grotesque and sickening attack on a female Tanzanian student in Bengaluru has once again shown us for the bigots and racists we are. Bosco Kaweesi, legal adviser of the All African Students Union, mentioned that the victim is under tremendous pressure and doesnt know who to trust. Its really that line (Doesnt know who to trust...), we need to focus on. Why? Because it pretty much says it all. If possible, switch the stranger who was brutally attacked with your own family member... I thought of one of my daughters. I imagined her studying in a foreign country. And the same ghastly incident happening to her. Yes, of course, our children too face racial attacks. And they also confront discrimination at various levels while studying overseas. They have been beaten up, even murdered on campuses and streets across the world. From Australia to America, our kids have been forced to endure the worst sort of humiliation. Some for wearing turbans, others for choosing headscarves, still others for not being White. And that has been their biggest crime not being White! Each time weve heard of such an attack, we have reacted with hurt and pain. And our embassies have issued the standard statements to their counterparts in the host countries. Despite that, our students continue to flock overseas. The reason is easy to understand: they want a superior level of education. And they believe they can get it in colleges abroad. Never mind the killer costs involved. Never mind that our own educational institutions are world class. Same story in Africa. Which is why we should better understand the horror of what the Tanzanian woman went through, and show solidarity... display basic decency.... empathise... not shun. Every anxious parent dreams of better prospects for the children. And a life that promises more prosperity than the one they themselves have experienced. So it is for all the African students who apply to universities in India. What they are not warned about when African parents send their children here is how nauseatingly colour-conscious India is and has always been. Our national obsession with fair skin doesnt end with our own. It literally colours every aspect of global social interactions. I have witnessed airline passengers requesting for a change of seats if the person next to them is African! Ignorant, insensitive and crude comments are loudly passed about Kallus. One Kallu is the same as any other dark skinned person. It is shameful... but no attempt has ever been made to change our disgusting attitude. Fair is beautiful and Black is evil... this is what average Indians think. It is a deeply ingrained prejudice, reinforced by elders since childhood. It starts with mythology all demons have black faces. The devil is projected as a dark individual. Inevitably victims such as the Tanzanian, student, suffer the brunt of mob attacks. That this incident took place in Bengaluru, a city that calls itself young and likes to believe it represents the Silicon Valley of India, makes a spate of similar racist attacks on foreign students, that much more condemnable. The timing couldnt have been worse, either! After the success of Prime Minister Narendra Modis India-Africa Forum Summit 2015, India was expected to further consolidate ties with leaders representing African nations. In March 2015, four African nationals were attacked in Bengaluru with locals accusing them of creating a nuisance. Since no real action was taken against perpetrators back then, it must have encouraged this weeks mob from going ahead and attacking the hapless woman. Whats worse is that she was pushed out of a bus in which she sought refuge, hoping to escape the fury of the louts who had stripped and beaten her up earlier. Compound that with the indifference of the local police who had the cheek to ask her, Why do you need a lawyer? and you have a highly combustible situation on your hands. So far, official response to the attack has been shockingly indifferent. This is not an isolated incident. Its happening in cities across India which attract African students. In Mumbai, cops think twice before intervening in brawls involving Africans. Every such person is called Nigerian and assumed to be a drug dealer. Instead of such arbitrary and often unfair assumptions, why not insist on better procedures, greater scrutiny before issuing visas? Five people have been arrested in Bengaluru following widespread protests across India. This may escalate into a serious diplomatic incident if it isnt immediately dealt with, adopting maturity and tact at the highest level. But before we swing into action against those five brutes, let us ask ourselves how we can handle our own racism. Why not consider regulating matrimonial ads that specifically state a preference for fair brides and grooms? Why not ban fairness creams altogether? Its not difficult. For years we ignored the dangers of gutka consumption. Today, with better awareness, there is a widespread move against paan masalas. We have made smoking in public places a real no-no. It has taken time and effort. But for the most part, these campaigns have worked. So will the movement against discrimination based on the lightness of skin. Its the thickness of skin that counts, not lightness! Once that key message percolates into our heads and hearts, perhaps the next wave of students from Tanzania, Congo, Burundi and any other African state, will come to our shores and go back armed with more than just a college degree. Hopefully, India will also offer a warm embrace along with a good education. Durham: Fireworks flying in their first one-on-one debate, Hillary Clinton accused Bernie Sanders on Thursday of subjecting her to an "artful smear" while Sanders suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of the political establishment. It was a markedly more contentious tone than the two candidates set when they last debated before the presidential voting began in Iowa, and it signaled how the race has tightened five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary next Tuesday. The two argued over ideas, over tactics and over who has the liberal credentials to deliver on an agenda of better access to health care, more affordable college and more. The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, intensified this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary season schedule, including Thursday's faceoff in Durham. The debate is the last before Tuesday's first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary, and Sanders holds a big lead in polls in the state. It was Clinton who went on the offensive, saying he could never achieve his proposals. Then she took after the Vermont senator for his efforts to cast her as beholden to Wall Street interests because of the campaign donations and speaking fees she's accepted from the financial sector. "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out," she said. Sanders, for his part, suggested her loyalties were colored by a reliance on big corporate donors. "Secretary Clinton does represent the establishment," he said. "I represent - I hope - ordinary Americans." Clinton may say the right things, he suggested, but "one of the things we should do is not only talk the talk but walk the walk." On policy matters, Clinton called Sanders' proposals "just not achievable," while Sanders countered that Clinton was willing to settle for less than Americans deserve. "I do not accept the belief that the United States of America can't do that," Sanders said of his plan for universal health care and of his efforts to take on "the rip-offs of the pharmaceutical industry." Clinton insisted they both wanted the same thing; "the disagreement is where do we start from and where do we end up." In fresh evidence of the tightening race, Clinton reported that her campaign had raised $15 million in January - $5 million less than Sanders and the first time she's been outraised by her opponent. Her finance director called the numbers "a very loud wake-up call" in a fundraising email to supporters. They were a staple of triple j and widely cited as one of the best live bands in the country. A beacon for rock pigs nationwide and part of a new wave of bands like The Avalanches and the Modular stable that were making Aussie music cool again. But then, as these things often go, it all fell apart. Music is almost like gambling, says Johnny Mackay. Youre rolling the dice with your life if youre making music. Its fun while youre doing it, and its possible it may pay off, but in the end it probably wont. In the case of Children Collide, the band that Mackay fronted for seven years, the investment paid dividends, including a top five ARIA chart debut for their second album, 2010s critically acclaimed Theory Of Everything. However, as the Sydney Morning Herald notes in a recent profile on Mackay, as the band went on, the frontman found himself growing tired of the upheaval involved, spending tours absorbed in his headphones, making electronic music. Mackay received encouragement from Darren Seltmann of the Avalanches in his electronic pursuits, turning the experimental tracks into a new side-project, which he dubbed Fascinator. After a move to New York in 2012, Fascinator became his sole project. I didnt really think Children Collide was going to go the way it did. And officially it hasnt, but, whatever, Mackay told Fairfax. The second I left the country, everyone else was sort of like well, I guess the bands not happening any more. The end of Children Collide can be traced back to 2012 and the departure of drummer Ryan Caesar, who quit the band just weeks before they were due to launch their third album, Monument, and embark on a national tour. The fourth man to sit behind the kit for the Melbourne band, Ryan left the band with a refreshingly frank and honest statement in which he explained that his relationship with Mackay had deteriorated to the point where touring as a unit is no longer pleasant. And that is that. [include_post id=458042] Ceasar had already formed Pearls, the three-piece he continues to front to this day. Meanwhile, Mackay still resides in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, close to iconic venue Babys All Right, where he DJs regularly. Hes worked on two Fascinator EPs and a full-length album from his New York apartment and is currently prepping a second LP as he continues to perform the project live, with Fascinators theatrical, whimsical live shows garnering acclaim. However, Mackay hasnt exactly turned his back on Children Collide. The frontman, Caesar, and bassist Heath Crawley returned to the stage as a unit for two reunion shows back in 2014, giving fans a chance to relive the days when the band were Australias resident mosh kings. To be a Guitar Hero, praised by legions of fans and fellow guitarists alike, is something sought by many and achieved by few who play the six-string these days. How do you separate yourself from the thousands upon thousands of other axemen and women also vying for the title? More than that, how do you convince people to stop fawning over the guitar gods the Jimmy Pages, Angus Youngs and Slashs and give you their attention for long enough to see what you can do? Fortunately for young guitar nuts such as myself searching for someone from our own generation to look up to, its still possible for guitarists to rise to prominence in modern music. Here are six six-stringers that have emerged this decade that are contributing something original to the thoroughly saturated landscape of electric guitar music. Joe Bonamassa It might be a stretch to say Bonamassas a guitarist that has emerged this decade he opened for the late BB King as a 12-year old, after all! But its been in this decade that the New York-born blues rocker has asserted himself as a guitar titan. Bonamassa has lent his lightning fast licks and emotionally-charged phrasing to a dozen albums since 2010, including four of his own, three as part of rock supergroup Black Country Communion and the Grammy-nominated Seesaw with LA songstress Beth Hart. Scott Holiday (Rival Sons) Taking his cue from contemporaries Jack White and The Black Keys Dan Auerbach, Holiday incorporates generous serves of fuzz and slide into his ear-splitting lead playing. The spectacularly-moustachioed guitarists penchant for bombastic, meaty riffs also have many in the classic rock community excited Rival Sons are now being hailed as the band that will give rock and roll the kickstart it needs to endure in the 21st century. Gary Clark Jr. Speaking of keeping an established genre of music alive, this lanky guitar luminary out of Austin has been called The Future of Texan Blues by none other than Barack Obama. Clark can shred it with the best blues guitarists out there past and present, but is celebrated for the restraint he exercises in playing by feel, and for pushing the Blues into new territory, blending it with his more modern Urban and RnB influences. A star on the rise, Clark has shared the stage with the Rolling Stones and appeared on the Foo Fighters Sonic Highways in the past year. Harts Lead guitarists arent limited to Blues and Rock in deciding which genre to apply their skills to in modern music, and Indian-born Melbourne-based Darren Hart is living proof. While he attacks the upper reaches of the fretboard with all the intensity and gusto of Hendrix, the 23-year old bedroom prodigy is as much a Disco or Funk as a Psychedelic rocker for the pulsing electro dance beats that form the base of most of his songs. Hes been compared to a young Prince by none other than the Purple One himself, and with such a big name in his corner we wait in anticipation of Harts conquering of global audiences. Alex Laska (Kingswood) Another Melbourne boy, Laska grew up a protege of ACDCs Angus Young, and emulates his hero through strutting power-chord rhythms and squealing solos on Kingswoods debut LP Microscopic Wars. Laska has also proven himself a versatile guitarist: witness the sexy, bluesy solo on I Can Feel That You Dont Love Me a track on which he also provides lead vocals. St Vincent/Annie Clark The phrase Oh, and shes a woman has plagued electric guitar since it first became a force in popular music, devaluing the careers of guitarists Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Joan Jett, Lita Ford and Marnie Stern alike. Hopefully this is changing, because if St Vincent is anything to go by, female guitarists are an untapped reservoir of pioneering talent. Her grammy-winning eponymous effort from 2014 sees St.Vincent use sharp-edged chords and leaping hammer-ons to punctuate her often sardonic lyrics, and she may yet become this decades ambassador for axewomen if her guitar stays at her side as her fame grows. A New Zealand journalist has come under fire after publicly naming and shaming two young men who interrupted her broadcast during a live cross at the Auckland leg of Laneway Festival. As Stuff reports, TV3s Kim Vinell had her broadcast interrupted by two drunk men, Sean Philip and Terry Insull, with one of them yelling out the viral phrase, fuck her right in the pussy. Vinnell responded to the incident by issuing a video statement the next day condemning the duos behaviour, saying, Anyone should be able to go to their place of work and not be accosted. Its kind of a right. I know that this phrase that this guy used has been popular on the internet, but it still doesnt make it okay, Vinell continued. Vinnell then tracked the men down to discuss the incident, during which Philip explained that women should not report from music festivals and dismissing the incident as a friendly joke. Next time, have a male presenter if youre going into a Laneway festival because shit like that gets pretty hectic, he said. Shockingly, the bulk of criticism surrounding the incident has been aimed at Vinnell and not at Philip and Insull, with commenters on social media slamming Vinnell for vapid reporting. Whilst Vinnell has received support, other commenters have dismissed the incident as simply a bit of humorous fun and criticising Vinnells reporting, a claim she has since responded to. For all those commenting that I only cover vapid news, where was your feedback when I was filing this, Vinnell wrote, linking to her coverage on the dangers facing women under Isis. People havent *actually* said that to you? one commenter wrote in reply. What cretins. I was so appalled at their [the Laneway louts] actions and that you had to deal with that. [include_post id=455980] Meanwhile, Philip and Insull have been celebrating their notoriety, even changing their Facebook profile pictures to screenshots from the broadcast of the incident. Vinnells partner, radio host Richie Hardcore, condemned the two men in an angry blog post, writing Why should women and girls learn to laugh it off? Why is that an even a thing, that its ok to make someone feel shitty and females should just deal with it? Why arent boys and men learning not to sexually harass and intimidate women and girls? SQUAD of SISTERS PLANS RALLY to COUNTER PRO-RAPE GROUPS MEET-UP Despite word of cancellation . . . Here's a pair of groups planning to protest a controversial organization embroiled in controversy this week . . . They'll both be at Liberty Memorial this weekend.And then this presserKansas City, Missouri- Although blogger Roosh Valizadehs followers have reportedly cancelled their planned meetup for Saturday, Squad of Sisters (SOS) is continuing plans to lead a rally at 7pm Saturday on the north side of the Liberty Memorial grounds.was formed in late 2015 to support, empower, and protect the women of Kansas City. Our duty to combat sexual assault is executed through community-level education, activism and advocacy. Our goal is to create safe spaces within our communities, to elevate an informed dialogue, and to eliminate the surrounding stigmatizations and misconceptions about rape and sexual assault.The Return of Kings public meetup day was allegedly cancelled, and very well may have been a publicity stunt to begin with, said Helen Proctor, UMKC student and Squad Member. She continued, Regardless, Squad of Sisters, our fellow allies and survivors are all here to support one another and demonstrate an active opposition to sexual and gender violence.Chatter online in Mens Rights Groups suggest that the event in Kansas City was not cancelled but possibly moved to another location. Local artist and Squad member, Ana Marcela Maldonado Morales. Either way, we dont have to hide our message. We arent cowards. We will shout what we believe. And believe me, its no skin off our backs to get together with our sisters and laugh at them.########## BROKEN WINDOWS CRIME FIGHTING THEORIES ABOUT BLIGHT AND FEAR OVER E-TAX REJECTION HAS INSPIRED KANSAS CITY TO PLAN AN EPIC SPRING CLEANING THAT SHOULD EARN A GREAT DEAL OF PUBLICITY!!! "The City of Kansas City is the largest owner of blighted property and even though this current mayor made a campaign promise to tear down problematic buildings he has done absolutely nothing. Every Kansas City voter should view: Our Divided City, prior to voting on the e-tax. Then ask yourself is Kansas City being a good steward of my hard earned cash or are they not. If they are not then you need to vote no on the e-tax." CHECK THIS E-MAIL NOTING AN UPCOMING KANSAS CITY BLIGHT FIGHT PARTNERSHIP COMING SOON!!! The City Manager has advised the City will partner with the Kansas City Community Release Center beginning May 1st to identify and cleanup overgrown brush, dumping sites etc. in public areas. This could include a public alley in a neighborhood thats overgrown with weeds, trees, etc. The program will be completely managed by the City. The City has asked the Police Department for recommendations on cleanup sites. The City Manager has also asked for suggestions for the abandoned/dangerous buildings for possible demolition/remediation. City Manager Schulte has advised that the City has funds specifically earmarked for this endeavor and has asked the Police Department for recommendations. So if your neighborhood has any overgrown public areas or buildings that need to be demolished/remediated, send the locations to me and I will forward them on to the City. I need your suggestions on the dangerous buildings by 02-10-16, and suggestions on overgrown areas by 02-24-16. Crime Prevention Officer / Community Interaction Officer ############## "It is reasonable to conclude that this project was due to the KCPT documentary and to the fact that voters are having a say on the earnings tax." voters Let's finish Kansas City Friday afternoon with a bit ofgood news about cleaning up Kansas City neighborhoods.To wit . . .Proof that public TV still holds sway . . . A groundbreaking documentary contributed to the conversation . . .Check this snippet of spirited e-mail circulating that makes the connection . . .Now here's where it gets good . . .Checkit:Analysis from our blog community . . .More to the point and a contradiction of "Kansas City Nice" curse of phony politeness enforced by so many denizens of our local discourse . . . Nothing ever gets done at City Hall without a lot of complaining fromor politicos in desperate need of cash.You decide . . . Washington: With Pakistan and Taliban hedging their bets on the planned withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a top US commander has pushed for a long-term commitment to the war-torn country arguing that it would send "a message" to both Islamabad and the militant group. "It (the long-term US commitment) sends a message to Pakistan, it sends a message to the Taliban, and it sends a message to NATO," said General John Campbell, the outgoing commander of the US forces in Afghanistan. Campbell, who is reaching the end of an 18-month tour in Afghanistan and is expected to retire soon, said plans to draw the current US presence of 9,800 troops down to 5,500 would leave "very limited" capacity to support local forces. "If we talk in terms of a long-term commitment, it does a couple things. It gives confidence to the Afghan government, to the National Unity Government, to the Afghan people, to the Afghan Security Forces," he told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday. Campbell said that publicly revealing the troop cuts could allow the enemy to "wait us out." "So again, long-term commitment, talking those kind of terms, conditions based on the ground, is the way we need to move forward to enable the Afghans to have a predictability and stability," he said. "A lot of reason you see a lot of the refugees leaving out of Afghanistan this year is because of that instability," he said. Responding to a question on safe havens in Afghanistan and Pakistan, Campbell said the US needs to continue talking to Islamabad in this regard. "We have to continue to work with Pakistan. Pakistan, Afghanistan have got to work together. They've got to talk military-to-military on how they can get after a common enemy that knows no border, knows no boundaries. Transnational terrorism does that," Campbell said. Afghan forces have just completed their first full-year leading the fight against militants, including the Taliban. US and NATO forces remained in "train, advise and assist" role. But the Afghan forces also suffered major setbacks, including a brief Taliban capture of the city of Kunduz. The fragile security situation in Afghanistan is further complicated by the emergence of Islamic State. The militant group is trying to establish a base in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. "Pakistan, Afghanistan have a lot of ungoverned space. This is going to be a problem for years and years and years... The one way that we can get after it is to continue to build upon the capability of the Afghan forces to fight this enemy," he said. President Barack Obama had said he would trim the US force in Afghanistan to 5,500 troops by the end of last year, and then further cut the presence to 1,000 by the end of 2016. But he backtracked, saying the situation remained too fragile for such a rapid withdrawal. Business networking luncheons at the newly established French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bahrain (FCCIB) have kicked off with the first in the series being held at the Capital Club Bahrain in Bahrain Financial Harbour. In the presence of French Ambassador Bernard Regnaud-Fabre, FCCIB chairman Jean-Christophe Durand told guests and members that the mission of the chamber is to enhance business and economic ties between France and Bahrain and to develop bilateral relations between both countries, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication. To read further, please visit GDNonline Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors. (Photo: AP) London: Britain on Friday said it would contest a United Nations panel opinion that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was a victim of arbitrary detention and said the computer hacker would be arrested if he left the embassy. "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion," a government spokesman said. Read: UN panel says Assange should be freed, should be entitled to compensation "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," the spokesman said. "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden." Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks speaks to the media and members of the public from a balcony at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. (Photo: AP) London/Stockholm: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he hoped a UN panels decision expected on Friday could lead to the end of his self-imposed confinement in the Ecuadorean embassy in London over a rape allegation in Sweden. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) is expected to declare that his three-and-a-half years stuck in a cramped embassy office amount to illegal detention, the Swedish foreign ministry and Assanges lawyers said on Thursday. Assange, an Australian national who has been holed up at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid arrest, said he expects the British police to call off their attempts to detain him if the panel rules in his favour. Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me, Assange said in a statement. But Swedens prosecution authority said the ruling had no impact on its investigation into a 2010 rape allegation against him, and the British government said it would have to arrest him as long as a European arrest warrant was in force. The ruling comes after WikiLeaks filed a complaint against Sweden and Britain to the UN group in September 2014, claiming his confinement in the embassy was unlawful. The Swedish foreign ministry said the government had received a copy of the panels conclusions. We can only note that the working panel has come to another conclusion than Swedish judicial authorities, a ministry spokesperson told AFP. Supporters rally Assange founded anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks in 2006, and its activities -- including the release of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables -- have infuriated the United States. The main source of the leaks, US Army soldier Chelsea Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for breaches of the Espionage Act. The UN groups report is due to be published at 0800 GMT. A demonstrator holds a banner outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. (Photo: AP) Assanges legal team will hold a press conference in London at which the 44-year-old himself will be present on Friday at 1200 GMT, WikiLeaks said in a statement, which did not detail if he would take part via video-link. Christophe Marchand, one of his lawyers from the Brussels-based law firm Jus Cogens, told AFP he hoped Britain would endeavour to free Assange after the ruling. As news of the latest development filtered through, British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood visited Assange at the embassy in Londons elite Knightsbridge district. A small group of supporters also gathered outside the building, holding up protesters reading: Free Assange and The Truth Must Never Be Silenced. Rulings by the UN group are not legally binding, although the Justice for Assange support group claimed its rulings have influenced the release of prominent figures including Myanmars Aung San Suu Kyi and former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed. Swedish prosecutors said on Thursday the panels ruling has no formal significance for the ongoing investigation under Swedish law. They are keen to make headway in the case that has been deadlocked for nearly five years by questioning Assange. He has denied the allegations against him. Fears of US extradition Assange sought refuge in the embassy in June 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, amid fears he could eventually be extradited to the US to be tried over the publication of the classified military and diplomatic documents. Ecuador has granted him asylum, but he has faced immediate arrest if he steps onto British soil and for years police were posted around the clock outside at a cost of millions of pounds. In October last year, British police ended the 24-hour guard outside the embassy but said they would strengthen a covert plan to prevent his departure. The British government said it was still under an obligation to arrest him. We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest, a spokesperson said. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden. The IMF will still have to release USD 1.1 billion of the total USD 6.7 billion loan agreed three years ago. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: The International Monetary Fund on Thursday agreed to provide a USD 497 million tranche for Pakistan as part of a bailout package agreed in 2013. The decision was made after a crucial meeting between IMF and Pakistani official this week in Dubai. "After constructive discussions, the mission and the Pakistani authorities have reached staff level agreement on the completion of the tenth review under the EFF (Extended Fund Facility) arrangement," IMF said in a statement. The disbursement of the agreed amount will be made after requirement by the IMF board approval but it will be just a formality after the agreement reached with Pakistan. The IMF will still have to release USD 1.1 billion of the total USD 6.7 billion loan agreed three years ago. The loan helped Pakistan in 2013 to avoid a default when foreign exchange reserves had depleted to a dangerous level. The privatisation of 68 state-owned companies, which include loss-making enterprises like Pakistan International Airlines, is a crucial part of the IMF deal. Swaraj, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday on her second visit to the country within a year, held talks with Wickremesinghe at the Prime Minister's Office 'Temple Trees', and the two leaders had a "fruitful exchange of views". (Photo: PTI) Colombo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who sought Indian investment and offered partnership in setting up a Special Economic Zone besides briefing her on latest political developments in the country. Swaraj, who arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday on her second visit to the country within a year, held talks with Wickremesinghe at the Prime Minister's Office 'Temple Trees', and the two leaders had a "fruitful exchange of views". During their 50-minute long meeting, the Prime Minister sought Indian investment in Sri Lanka and proposed partnership in setting up an SEZ in Trincomalee, officials said. "Their talks began with the discussion on the Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting and the Prime Minister said this is a very important forum for the two sides to advance in bilateral partnership in all areas," they said. Wickremesinghe also proposed to make the Joint Commission meeting an annual affair. The two leaders also talked about state university linkages. The joint commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January 2013. Wickremesinghe briefed Swaraj on the latest political developments in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister had last month said his government was ready to devolve power to minority Tamils under a new Constitution, aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict and achieving reconciliation with Tamils. Swaraj, who arrived here today on a two-day visit, was received by her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera at the airport. The two leaders will co-chair the 9th Joint Commission meeting to discuss key bilateral and regional issues on Friday. The talks will cover the entire gamut of relationship pertaining to economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. The fishermen issue is expected to figure during Joint Commission meeting. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while India maintains they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. Swaraj will also call on President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga besides meeting other top leaders. India-Sri Lanka relations had seen lows during last few years of the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was voted out of power, even as China had expanded its footprint in the country by building ports, highways and participating in other infrastructure projects. Ties gained momentum after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in March last year, the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in over 25 years. Swaraj had visited Sri Lanka in March 2015. Now why has this FBI investigation taken so long ???...could it be thatwe have a situation in which (a) Obama knowingly communicated with Clinton over a non-government, non-secure e-mail system; (b) Obama and Clinton almost certainly discussed matters that are automatically deemed classified under the presidents own guidelines; and (c) at least one high-ranking government official (Petraeus) has been prosecuted because he failed to maintain the security of highly sensitive intelligence that included policy-related conversations with Obama. From these facts and circumstances, we must deduce that it is possible, if not highly likely, that President Obama himself has been grossly negligent in handling classified information. He discussed sensitive matters on a non-government, non-secure e-mail system that could easily be penetrated by foreign governments (among other rogue actors). By doing so, he left an electronic- and paper-trail that was outside the governments tightly secured repositories for classified information. He also personally indulged, and thus implicitly endorsed, Clintons use of private e-mail to do government business.Read more at: Obama?s Hillary Clinton E-mail Problem When was that, and what does it have to do with this freak not giving his sources? If you are talking about that BS with TN, where I said no because the information was common knowledge and also that he would simply deny it. It was common knowledge, as proved time and again by others here in that very thread, and he did try to ignore it. I was right on both counts, and didn't have to break a nail, either. Nice name calling, again, though. Good to see you are still sniping into other people's conversations to throw around childish insults ------ and NOTHING more. Typical. imaginethat said: It's time for Sanders Medicare for all, and time to turn a deaf ear to the charge I've heard for decades that if we create a reasonable and humane healthcare system with tight controls on costs, that all the "good doctors" will go practice somewhere else ... which either is ********, or if not then let's wish those "good doctors" a bon voyage to wherever they think they'll make more money off of the misery and illness of people. Now there's a very real possibility that the darker cousins of the son of a bitch Shkreli might start talking assassination if true healthcare reform ever got past being damned as socialism and gained some real traction. Click to expand... I don't want to see this thread turned into a Bernie thread but I feel I have to respond. I believe that Medicare for all is inevitable. The hospitals, doctors, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies will price the average American right out of the health market. There is a trend amongst enterprising doctors to accept clients who meet certain financial requirements. This is a very troubling trend.That said, in my opinion, Bernie is too far ahead of the American people on this issue. The House Republicans have voted 62 times to repeal the ACA and the ACA isn't even in the same league with Medicare for all when it comes to government intervention. Both Roosevelt's understood that the only way to slay the special interest was to overwhelm Congress with citizen outrage. Now, unless you've been in hibernation for the last 7 years, the Republican base is nowhere near demanding Medicare for all. Actually, they hold the opposite opinion. This whole anti-Establishment nonsense is due in part to the fact that their politicians haven't been able to repeal the ACA. Therefore, due to gerrymandering and safe districts, Bernie would be dealing with a Republican House with a significant majority. They won't allow Medicare for all to the floor for a debate no less a vote. IMO, BERNIE IS TOO FAR OUT IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ON THIS ISSUE. Contraception Fell, Medicaid Births Rose When Texas Defunded Planned Parenthood Women stopped using the most effective types of contraception and more babies were born on the government's tab after Texas cut off funding from Planned Parenthood clinics, a team of Texas researchers said Wednesday.The number of claims for long-acting contraception plummeted by more than a third and births paid for by Medicaid rose 27 percent, the team at the University of Texas at Austin reported."This change is worrisome, since increased access to long-acting, reversible contraception methods is a priority of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and one study has indicated substantial unmet demand for long-acting, reversible contraception methods in Texas," they wrote in their report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.The team looked at Medicaid records from 2011 to 2014, as the state fought with the federal government over whether it could exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid, the joint state-federal health insurance plan for people with low incomes."After the Planned Parenthood exclusion, there were estimated reductions in the number of claims from 1,042 to 672 (a reduction of 35.5 percent) for long-acting, reversible contraceptives and from 6,832 to 4,708 (a 31 percent reduction) for injectable contraceptives," they wrote."During this period in counties with Planned Parenthood affiliates, the rate of childbirth covered by Medicaid increased by 1.9 percentage points (a relative increase of 27 percent from baseline) within 18 months after the claim," Stevenson and colleagues wrote.Another study showed that similar Texas legislation aimed at restricting abortions actually led to more home abortions. 1. THE US-JIHADI WAR WILL COME TO AN END. America will go broke within the next several decades and fall. Can't keep supporting an Empire. Too expensive. The Western vs. Jihadi War has been going on for a thousand years and wont end until Jesus comes back, World War III, or the Cubs win the World Series. 2. EUROPE WILL SUFFER. Of course, the non-whites and Muslims are invading Europe in masse, and in fifty years will be a Third World place. Whites cannot freely say, "hey, we dont like these aliens here..." or they will be branded as Nazis. It is always the white people who suffer. Whites have given the World everything and the World hates whites. 3. RUSSIA AS WE KNOW IT WONT EXIST. Why not? First no one wants Russia. It is a cold, ugly barren place with cold, angry, drunken, bitter people. It is a huge land with a large population ran by Oligarchs with a huge army and nuclear weapons. That is the thing about nuclear weapons, other countries wont mess with you. On the other hand, nuclear weapons is what is keeping Putin from invading the Baltic nations... Which comes to the point, why invade another country like Lithuania anyway? Why can't one nation leave another nation alone? 4. TURKEY WILL EMERGE POWERFUL Turkey basically has one foot in Europe and the other in the Middle East. It is also more or less bordered to the Russian Empire. Turkey is a part of NATO which means that Russia wont invade them or risk WWIII. With all these radicalized mooks going through there, it might go Jihadist in the next few decades. These Muslim peoples are cranking out kids like dogs, and they will usurp the local populations already there. 5. CHINA WILL SLOW DOWN It already is. I live in China. A little secret...China is a Third World country ran by crooks. It just is. China also has problems with an aging population and not enough young people to care for them. There are too many men and not enough women. The billionaire bastards like Walmart wants more money and go "Hey, Cambodia and Indonesia pay less than Chinese workers, let's go there!" Not to mention that Americans do not have the disposable income like they did to buy crap. And Chinese make crap. Ever hear of a Chinese made car, electronics, tools, machinery, anything? 6. AMERICA WILL DISENGAGE America is going to fall as a country within the next 50 to 100 years. Fall hard. Can't have all this debt, balkanization of different peoples (diversity is not a strength at all). Look again, at the very wealthy and the vast numbers of poor people in America. Look at the morons running this country, either morons or crooks, no other way to explain it. When Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz or Donald ******* Trump will be the next President..... 7. GERMANY WILL LOSE POWER This happened in 1945. Does Germany have any military power, or are they being protected by America and NATO? 8. POLAND WILL INCREASE POWER Could be. Again, the billionaires and corporations want to find cheap workers, and possibly Poland is not that bad of a place for that. Poland doesn't need a military, not really. They could not stop a Russian invasion themselves. 9. MIDDLE EAST WILL START TO BREAK DOWN The Middle East is a mess and will always be a mess. Isreal and the Jews should leave. Wont happen. If I were the President, I would give the Jews New York City, Long Island, and South Florida. Again, wont happen. Even if there was no Isreal, the Middle East outside of Dubai would still be very screwed up because of the religion, and again, the billionaire ******** who run these places. Yes! News Oct 19th, 2022 at 15:35 The cloud-native IT will continue to be offered as a stand-alone product as well as integrated with the Guestline platform Every newspaper reporter has at one time or another woken up in the middle of the night and wondered whether or not theyd spelled a name correctly, presented a fact in proper context, or explained an issue accurately. As one fellow journalist some 12 years ago described the importance of accuracy in our business: Its all we have. Indeed. We can live and die by these things. And whether its a piece about a major criminal trial or a happy little feature about a kid who helps people adopt puppies, we all know that we can be flogged for being wrong, and we can be flogged for being right. A little over a decade ago, an error in the paper was a permanent document: a mistake stained in ink, requiring a correction. These days, waking up startled that a story may contain an error has become a matter of logging on and changing the digital document. Still, catching it before it goes to print is the final act of relief, and that does not always happen. With the new digital presence comes a connection to social media, and an entirely new form of scrutiny. Posting our work to Facebook, Twitter and other platforms keeps the news relevant and helps to drive traffic, but just as easily as we can post the news, readers can now comment on our work. On this level, the flogging can be perpetual. We get instant feedback now, and in the age of immediate and evolving news, the public forum at once reminds us we are noticed and shows us how careful we need to be. Some remark because they liked the story. Others, at the hint of an inaccuracy, perceived or otherwise, will fire off mean-headed screeds about the general incompetence of the media, or our lack of sensitivity on a particular subject. Some become so vitriolic that we elect to remove them from the forum. This is generally done to preserve a level of civility. Still, reporters are accustomed to hostility, and oddly become skeptical at praise. Maybe, though, the value of instant comments on social media is that they keep us awake. They can certainly amuse us as well. Syed Ali Ahmed Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 3 The Delhi Government has decided to sanction a loan of Rs 551 crore to two municipal corporations- North and East Delhi-for salaries to the employees who have not been paid for the last two months, though this step may affect the development in education sector. The government has also announced the sanctioning of Rs 142 crore of stamp duty to the civic bodies. The municipal employees, including 60,000 sanitation workers, have been on strike for more than one week, demanding their salaries for two months. The announcement by the government was made live by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from Bengaluru where he has gone for treatment of his cough. With the sanction of loan, development work in education department will be affected as the money has been transferred from it, the Chief Minister said Kejriwal alleged there were "massive scams" in the three BJP-ruled municipal corporations and demanded a CBI inquiry into them. He said his government does not owe any money to the civic bodies. A group of doctors' association has appealed to the Delhi Government as well as Union Government to take over the MCD hospitals. If the Centre does not take over the hospitals, the Delhi Government will think of it. If it is done, the MCD will be benefitted by Rs 800 crore, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said. He said that East Delhi MCD had shown a collection of Rs 12 crore from advertisements and Rs 2.5 crore from parking. If it is done honestly, the MCD can collect 20 times more than this amount. According to him, the DDA has collected Rs 25,000 crore for development. If this amount is handed over to the Delhi Government, two per cent share of the civic bodies will be sanctioned immediately, he reiterated. LG briefs Rajnath Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence here and apprised him of the situation. The meeting came two days after Jung had advised the Arvind Kejriwal government to extend "conditional" loans to the civic bodies so they can pay the salaries of the agitating employees. "In the meeting, the Lt Governor briefed the Union Home Minister about the situation arising out of the ongoing strike by the employees. He also apprised the minister of funds given by the Delhi Government to municipal corporations," sources said.(With PTI inputs) Ananya Panda Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 4 The AAP government has started exploring the possibility of taking over the BJP-run Delhi Municipal Corporation's seven hospitals even as both the sides today held talks to end the impasse over the issue of paying salaries to the municipal employees whose strike entered the ninth day. In the evening, the North and East municipal commissioners sent out letters to the authorities concerned asking them to resume work and assuring that pending salaries would be paid by February 15. However, the united front of the striking municipal employees pressing for some permanent arrangement will take a decision in General Body Meeting tomorrow The government's move came a day after the Municipal Corporation Doctor's Association submitted a representation to it requesting it to consider taking over the reins of the health services (barring public health) of the fund-strapped civic corporations. In a letter to Health Minister Satyendra Jain, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today asked him to work out possible ways for the same. Sanitation workers meet Lieutenant Governor A delegation of agitating sanitation workers today met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and put their position before him saying that the funds offered by the AAP government for paying their salaries were inadequate and that they want a permanent solution to the problem. Sources said a meeting is scheduled between Lt Governor and the agitating employees at 2:30 pm tomorrow. Sisodia meets mayors, LG During the day, Sisodia met the three mayors of the municipal bodies when he is understood to have asked them to see that after clearing the pending dues of the employees, the strike is called off. Later, he met Lt Governor apprising him of the developments. Sisodia told Jung that the government on its part left no stone unturned and cut the education budget and gave it to the MCD for paying the pending dues. "Met all three mayors just now. They have assured me that they are making all efforts to get the striking employees back to work," Sisodia tweeted earlier. Aparna Banerji Tribune News Service Jalandhar, February 4 A glaring gap between the number of cancer patients in the district and those actually getting benefits under the CM Cancer Relief Fund sums up the dismal follow-up and tracking of cancer patients in the district. While Jalandhar is the third most vulnerable city in the state in terms of cancer incidence after Bathinda and Ludhiana ironically, only one private hospital in the district is empanelled to treat cancer patients. Both causes and the treatment of cancer are aspects which the government has utterly left ignored. While Rs 1.5-lakh monetary help for cancer patients is a solace for many, the fact is that very few patients actually make it under the scheme. As many as 1,821 people have received treatment for cancer under the CM Cancer Relief Fund in the past five years. While as per the National Cancer Registry, the number of cancer patients in the district for the years 2012-13 as per reports from various medical centres were 3,625, interestingly, in these two years, the number of cancer patients treated under the CM Cancer Relief Fund was merely 622. Under the Cancer Relief Fund while as many as 233 patients were reported in 2011, 245 were reported in 2012, 422 in 2013, 459 in 2014, 418 in 2015 and this year as many as 44 patients have been reported so far. While the National registry statistics reveal 1,905 cancer patients from Jalandhar reported at various centres in 2012, 1,720 were reported in 2013, of whom 245 and 233, in 2012 and 2013, respectively, received treatment under the Cancer Relief Fund. While a survey carried out by the health authorities of cancer patients across Punjab districts in 2012 had pegged the total cancer patients in Jalandhar to be 1,521 back in 2012, the irony is that even after the passing of many years, the number of cancer patients who received treatment under the relief fund is a mere 1,821. As per the door-to-door surveys being conducted by Health Department teams under the campaign for cancer awareness and detection in December 1, 2012, the department had identified 1,521 confirmed cancer patients and 6,682 suspected patients (as per the 12 recognised symptoms) across the district. As many as 2,860 people had also died of cancer in the district from 2008 to 2012. Notably, despite the big gap between the actual amount of patients and those enrolling under the scheme, the Health Department has no additional funds for awareness programmes to inform people about the scheme. With an average of two to three patients applying for enrolment under the scheme per day, the empanelment of only one hospital is clearly not enough. Assistant health officer and nodal officer for the Cancer Relief Fund at the Civil Hospital Jalandhar, Dr Surinder Kumar, said, The reportage of patients under the scheme has increased with more and more becoming aware of it. While we deliberate on the scheme at seminars and during cancer awareness talks, the actual number of people turning up to seek the benefits depends on patients own awareness on the issue. As soon as the diagnosis is confirmed to be cancer, there is a prompt provision of the requisite papers and cards for the scheme. Speaking on whether any difficulties were faced by patients due to only one hospitals empanelment, he said, Thereis a considerable time between diagnosis and the start of actual treatment. So far, the one empanelled hospital is doing a smooth job and any delay or problems in the treatment of cancer patients havent been encountered. Prof Lakhbir Singh, presdient of NGO PAHAL and himself a cancer patient, said, Be it tracking, or getting to the root cause of the problem, cancer, despite a mammoth problem in the region, lies ignored. Artificial lifestyles, polluted groundwater and felling of trees are the prime problems which are contributing to cancer. Even if the plantation of trees is increased and a natural lifestyle is encouraged, the problem shall massively be countered. CM Relief Fund: 1,821 cancer patients treated in 5 yrs While as per the National Cancer Registry, the number of cancer patients in the district for the years 2012-13 as per reports from various medical centres was 3,625, interestingly, in these two years, the number of cancer patients treated under the CM Cancer Relief Fund was merely 622. The lack of proper tracking of cancer patients adds to the threat in the region from the Emperor of Maladies. Only 1,821 people have received treatment for cancer under the CM Cancer Relief Fund in the past five years Ravi Krishnan Khajuria Tribune News Service Jammu, February 4 At the Siachen Glacier, the highest battlefield in the world, hostile weather, icy terrain, sub-zero temperature, low oxygen and high-altitude sickness form a lethal mix, taking a heavy toll on men in olive green than any conflict with Indias arch-rival Pakistan. Also read: All 10 Siachen soldiers dead Pakistan has the same story of losing more men to the weather vagaries than skirmishes between the two countries. As per statistics, 869 soldiers have lost their lives since April 1984 when India initiated Operation Meghdoot, airdropping its men to pre-empt a move by Pakistan to occupy the strategic heights. With 10 more Army men falling to an avalanche, the death toll has now gone up to 879 since 1984. The Army and the Air Force have been running against time to trace and rescue survivors, if any, among the 10 soldiers who went missing after an avalanche wiped out an Army camp at a height of 19,600 feet on Wednesday morning. On Siachens significance to India and what makes it a dangerous place, Northern Commands defence spokesperson Col SD Goswami said: Siachens terrain, its strategic location and geographical importance have given it a paramount place in the annals of history. The soldiers deployed on the glacier endure the worst weather conditions throughout the year. At times, the troops have to unavoidably take up defences in the areas around steep slopes and crevices, which might send tonnes of snow and rubble crumbling down without any warning and completely obliterate the camps, communication lines, bury personnel and everything else. In such unstable conditions on the glacier, the terrain, climate or altitude can take its toll on anything. However, Colonel Goswami added that with rhythm in his steps, faith to serve the nation and prayers on his lips, a soldier goes on his way up to the glacier. An Army source said that since 1984, the Army had lost 869 of its men at the 76-km Siachen Glacier. A majority of them have died of hostile weather conditions such as avalanches, landslides and floods and in some cases due to the high-altitude sickness, he added. Indian and Pakistan have been pitted against each other at the Siachen since 1984. Loss of appetite, frostbite and high-altitude pulmonary edema (watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body) are some of the diseases to which our men are exposed. There were instances in the past when some of our men contracted Monges disease that causes loss of high-altitude tolerance after prolonged exposure, characterised by extreme polycythemia (abnormally increased concentration of haemoglobin in the blood), exaggerated hypoxaemia (abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood) and reduced mental and physical capacity, relieved by descent, he said. A defence official said both India and Pakistan had lost more men to hostile weather than conflicts between the two sides on the glacial heights. Since 2003, guns have been silent on the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line after India and Pakistan inked a ceasefire in November that year, he added. However, a senior Army officer said the past conflicts with Pakistan and China, growing proximity between China and Pakistan via the Karakoram Pass and trust deficit with Pakistan, made strategic Siachen Glacier indispensable to India and it could not afford to withdraw its troops On an average, India spends Rs 5 crore a day for replenishing supplies to its men at the Siachen. India controls about two-thirds of the glacier, besides commanding two of the three passes while Pakistan occupies the Gyong La Pass, which overlooks the Shyok and the Nubra river valleys and Indias access to the glacier from Leh district in Ladakh. Indian soldiers currently hold the strategic Saltoro Ridge which overlooks Pakistani positions. At 5,472 meters above sea level, the Siachen Glacier is located in the Karakoram mountain range, which has some of the highest peaks in the world. The northern mountains of the glacier mark the watershed between Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Bereft of vegetation, the glacier is one of the worlds most inhospitable regions, where the temperature plunges to - 40C. Colombo, February 5 India and Sri Lanka on Friday reviewed the progress made in their bilateral ties discussing various issues, including that of fishermen, a major irritant in the relations, as the two countries signed MoUs in education and health sectors. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera discussed the entire gamut of relationship during the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting here co-chaired by them. The fishermen issue was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved, officials said. India invited Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, the officials said. The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed the issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. Two MoUs were signed after the meeting one on renovating 27 schools in the Tamil-dominated Northern province and the other on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East. Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in aviation sector. Swaraj, who arrived here today on her second visit to the country within a year, earlier held talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Prime Ministers Office Temple Trees, and the two leaders had a fruitful exchange of views. During their 50-minute long meeting, the Prime Minister sought Indian investment in Sri Lanka and proposed partnership in setting up a SEZ in Trincomalee. Wickremesinghe also proposed to make the Joint Commission meeting an annual affair. The two leaders also talked about state university linkages. The Joint Commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January 2013. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermens associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. PTI Tribune News Service Amritsar, February 5 A passenger who was to board an Amritsar-Doha flight of the Qatar Airway managed to give the authorities the slip while he was being quizzed for want of some documents at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport here. The immigration authorities have lodged a complaint with the city police that have registered a case in that connection. The accused was identified as Kulwant Singh of Panchkula. A police official said a look-out circular was issued against him as he was wanted in a dowry case. When the immigration authorities stopped Kulwant and questioned him about some documents, he fled the airport. Perhaps, he wanted to escape abroad, he said. A case under Section 224 of the IPC (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) has been registered. Amaninder Pal Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 5 With less than a year before the Assembly elections, several civil society activists, scholars and politicians for the first time have joined hands and launched a campaign demanding that controlled sale of traditional drugs opium, poppy husk and cannabis should be legalised in the state. The move has come at a juncture when the Punjab Government is busy in showcasing seizures and arrests made by Punjab Police under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as its achievement at national platforms. Eminent scholars and politicians who will anchor the campaign include economist Dr SS Johal, Chancellor, Central University of Punjab; rebel Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MPs HS Khalsa and Dr Dharamvira Gandhi; Dr SS Gill, former Vice-Chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot; Prof Jagmohan Singh, nephew of martyr Bhagat Singh and general secretary of Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), RS Bains, noted human rights lawyer; and Dr Chaman Lal, former professor of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Basing their argument on controlled drug sale policies introduced by countries like Portugal, Brazil and some states of the US which had led to a lowering in drug addiction there, supporters of legalisation of the sale of traditional drugs claim that the enforcement of the NDPS Act has led to the monopoly of some illegal drug cartels. This has led to skyrocketing of prices of traditional drugs in the illegal market. This initially pushed Punjabi youth towards medical drugs and eventually to synthetic drugs, they claim. Time has come to shed the moralistic cloud surrounding the subject and demystify it through a modern and scientific approach and with the age-old empiricism of the past, said Dr Dharamvira Gandhi. As the first step, we are going to organise a big seminar in Chandigarh on February 7 to discuss the correct approach to deal with drug abuse in the state. The aim is to build a large pressure group that would force all the major parties to come up with a blueprint detailing how they would deal with the crisis. Merely accusing leaders of other parties is not the solution. We need a policy change, Gandhi added. Archit Watts Tribune News Service Khirkian Wala (Muktsar), Feb 5 A 94-year old World War-II veteran, Karnail Singh of Khirkian Wala village, claims he is still to get the gallantry award promised to him for showing exemplary courage in 1944 in Italy. A Lance Naik in the British Army, Karnail Singh was honoured with the Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM) on May 11, 1944. The award carried a medal and Rs 5,000 or 25-acre land. Though I was given Rs 2,500 by the then Deputy Commissioner of Ferozepur in 1946, the remaining amount has not been given till date, claimed Karnail Singh. Showing a bunch of documents, Karnail Singh said, I am not seeking any favour, but demanding what was promised to me. The correspondence done over the past 58 years, which I started in 1958, has so far failed to have any result. I have contacted everyone, right from top state politicians to the Army and British High Commission too. Everyone has passed the buck to another authority by forwarding a letter. Even the applications sent to the Sainik Welfare Office have failed to give me any satisfactory reply. Recalling his service days, Karnail Singh said that he served in various countries, including Iran, Africa, Sudan, Alexandria and Italy. I proved my mettle in Italy when all the soldiers except me and platoon commander were killed while fighting the enemies. Suddenly, they hurled a bomb which wounded me badly. But I continued firing and killed a number of enemy soldiers. Later, they surrendered to me. I, along with my commander, was admitted to a hospital there, he claimed. Notably, this old man was once honoured in 1998 by the district administration during the Republic Day function. Further, Kripa Shankar Saroj, the then Deputy Commissioner of Muktsar, had sent a letter on February 1, 1999 to the then Principal Secretary, Defence Services Welfare, Punjab, with his recommendation of giving the remaining amount to this former soldier. Karnail Singh now lives with his adopted son Iqbal Singh and his family at his ancestral house in the village that is located 10 km from Muktsar town. He joined the British Army in 1939 as a sepoy in Sialkot Depot and after Independence, he was shifted to 4 Sikh Regiment. He retired as a havildar in 1958 and is getting a monthly pension of nearly Rs 20,000 and Rs 1,650 annuity. Further, during a visit to the Sainik Welfare Office, Karnail Singhs framed photograph was found displayed on a wall and a huge file had been made on his name. Commander Baljinder Singh Virk (retd), District Sainik Welfare Officer, who holds the additional charge of Muktsar district, said, As per a letter received in 1997 from the Directorate, there is no provision to give cash award to pre-Independence gallantry awardees in the state. The state government gives annuity to them. But this is a very old case and we will have to find out all the related documents from Ferozepur, Faridkot offices as Muktsar was earlier part of these two districts. Besides, we will put up this case before our Director. When contacted, Brig JS Arora (retd), Director, Sainik Welfare, Punjab, said, He should meet us and we will definitely honour him. But I am not aware of this case. He should have taken up the matter with the Centre. London, February 5 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and Sweden on Friday to let him freely leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a UN panel ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and should be awarded compensation. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the US by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the UN panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assanges favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. Speaking via video link from his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, Assange called on Britain and Sweden to implement the UN panels decision. We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face, Assange said. It is now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom ... to implement the (UN) verdict. Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the accusation is a ploy that would eventually take him to the US where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, the groups head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. (It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Ecuadors Foreign Minister, Ricardo Patino, said Assange must be allowed to go free. What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error? he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. No change The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with leaks that laid bare often highly critical US appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. In 2010, the group released over 90,000 secret documents on the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, followed by almost 4,00,000 US military reports detailing operations in Iraq. Those disclosures were followed by release of millions of diplomatic cables dating back to 1973. The UN Working Group does not have the authority to order the release of a detainee and Fridays ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments. High-profile cases submitted to the UN panel include that of jailed former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American jailed in Iran until a prisoner swap last month. But governments have frequently brushed aside its findings, such as a ruling on Myanmars house arrest of Opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2008, a call in 2006 for the Iraqi government not to hang former dictator Saddam Hussein, and frequent pleas for the closure of the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay. Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy, British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond said. This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it. Swedish prosecutors said the UN decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A US Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. Reuters Geneva/London, February 5 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed, a UN panel ruled today as it called on the UK and Sweden to compensate the whistleblower for his arbitrary detention of over five years. The two countries were quick to reject the ruling, saying nothing changes as far as the whistleblowers detention is concerned. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, said Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the expert panel of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation, Hong added. However, both Sweden and the UK rejected the ruling which is non-binding saying it changes nothing. Following the ruling of the UN panel, the British government said: We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion. The opinion of the UN working group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy, it said. Swedish Prosecution Authority said the call from the UN working group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law. The 44-year-old Australian, who founded the WikiLeaks in 2006 that released 500,000 secret US military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables enraging Washington, has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in central London to avoid extradition to Sweden to face a rape investigation. Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador, which has housed him since 2012 at its embassy where he lives in a small room and has likened his confinement to living in a space station. In 2014, the computer hacker had complained to the UN against the UK and Sweden that he was being arbitrarily detained in the Ecuadorean embassy as he could not leave its premises without being arrested. Two women have accused him of sexual assault a charge he has denied. Last year, Swedish prosecutors dropped two cases of sexual assault against him and has not been formally charged by them. Assange fears he will be extradited to the US from Sweden where he faces espionage charges on account of leaking secret American papers. PTI Albany, Corvallis and Lebanon high schools are sharing in a $1.6 million grant awarded to 71 Oregon schools through the Nike Innovation Fund. The 2016-17 grants are meant to support programs that help students prepare for college and careers. They were awarded in partnership with a program called AVID, a class usually taught as an elective that, among other things, teaches study and organizational strategies. Mid-valley schools also were tapped for a series of 2015 grants, which helped West Albany High School establish its first AVID program and Lebanon and Corvallis high schools to expand ones they began three years ago. South Albany started a program last year. This year, Albany expects to receive $11,469 each from The Nike School Innovation Fund for West Albany and South Albany high schools for a total of $22,938, said Jason Hay, director of secondary curriculum and instruction. Superintendent Jim Golden said the funds will continue to be used for AVID, although it wont cover all costs for training and membership dues. I think that AVID is a very good program, and they do get results, he said. However, he added, It is indeed a big investment. Albany middle schools began planning for AVID this year and will open it to students this fall through three-year partnership grants from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation. The three-year grant is for $174,820 and will be divided among Calapooia, Memorial, North Albany and Timber Ridge middle school programs. AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, was created in San Diego more than 30 years ago. Its a private, nonprofit organization meant to provide students with the academic and social support to get to college and is focused particularly on the mid-level students who may not have considered college as a possibility for their futures. In a statement about the 2016-17 grants, Vanessa Wilkins, director of the Nike School Innovation Fund, said the fact that all 50 of last years schools reapplied for the grant partnership is a testament to the power of the program. It is an honor to continue our work with those schools while extending the opportunity to an additional 21 schools throughout the state, she wrote. New York, February 5 India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has convinced a US court to rehear an appeal to throw out his 2012 insider-trading conviction. The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan yesterday agreed to revisit its rejection of 67-year-old Gupta's appeal. Gupta in the past too had filed several appeals, including to the US Supreme Court to overturn his conviction and a two-year prison term but the courts rejected his arguments and affirmed his sentence. Gupta was convicted in 2012 of passing illegal tips about Goldman Sachs to Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam while serving on the Goldman board. Rajaratnam is serving an 11-year prison sentence after his 2011 conviction on insider-trading charges. Gupta and Rajaratnam were the most prominent people rounded up in the US government's crackdown on insider trading. Gupta, who began serving prison term in June, 2014, was freed from Federal Medical Centre Devens, a federal correctional facility in Ayer, Massachusetts, on January 5 to serve out the rest of the sentence at home after receiving credit for good behaviour. At the age of 45, Gupta became the first Indian CEO of the consulting giant McKinsey. He co-founded the prestigious Indian School of Business with fellow McKinsey executive Anil Kumar, who had pleaded guilty to insider trading and testified as a government witness against Gupta in his trial. PTI An Oregon House of Representatives committee will hold a public hearing on Friday regarding a bill that extends unemployment benefits for up to an additional six months for workers who have been locked out such as at ATI Albany Operations, the former Oremet plant. About 180 workers have been on the picket line along 34th Avenue since mid-August, and their unemployment benefits are set to expire Feb. 15, after six months of being locked out. This lockout has created serious financial stress on many families, especially in the Albany area, wrote state Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany), one of the primary sponsors of the bill, in a Wednesday email. The bill has strong bipartisan support, said State Rep. Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis), another primary sponsor. He said that locked-out workers are put in a state of limbo. Locked-out workers are folks who want to work, who would work if they could, but the employer has chosen to remove them from the workplace during the labor negotiation, Rayfield said. Its extremely difficult for locked-out workers to find new jobs, even if they want to switch careers. Other employers arent interested in hiring locked-out workers, as they believe those workers will return to their original jobs if the lockout ends, Rayfield said. No matter how good you look on a resume, they dont want to gamble, said Ken Larrabee, a locked-out ATI worker who was protesting on 34th Avenue on Thursday. A lot of the big-time employers around here, they wont touch us. The past few months have been hard for workers on the picket line, said Ron Davis, another locked-out ATI worker. I know people have put their homes on the market. Vehicles, homes, everything. My daughter cant get her braces now because of this, he added. The company is pretty much banking on us running out of our benefits, Davis said. And once that happened, ATI would try to get workers to agree to a new contract, locked-out employees said. Contract talks stalled last year because of reductions to health care benefits, changes to pensions and work rules. The lockout impacts roughly 2,200 workers at 12 facilities throughout the country. While the United Steelworkers union and ATI have returned to the negotiating table, local ATI workers hadnt heard of any progress. It looks like its still going to be a while, Davis said. An ATI spokesman was not available for comment on Thursday afternoon. House Bill 4086 is set for a public hearing and possible work session on Friday before the House Committee on Business and Labor. From there is will go to the Committee on Ways and Means, and it should be before the House and Senate for votes in late February. The bill would take effect on its passage due to an emergency clause. State Sen. Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis) also is a primary sponsor of the bill. New tire designs emerge from tire makers almost monthly. Some tires considered the cream of the crop 20 years ago would not even make todays EPA SmartWay list. Thats how much tire technology has evolved. In the 1990s, tread designs were relatively static, says Mike Manges, communications manager for commercial and off-highway tires at Goodyear. Boiled down, there were basically two designs, rib or block and variations thereof. Today, tread designs are much more sophisticated and are tailor-made to fit specific applications and wheel positions. Tread geometry has changed significantly, along with the size and design of the tire's shoulder and tread elements. Blading, for example, has become more sophisticated, helping primarily to improve traction, not only when the tire is new, but through the life of the tire, Manges notes. New manufacturing processes have made advanced siping possible. These provide additional traction in a tread designed for low rolling resistance. And todays casings are generally more retreadable than previous designs, adding real savings to a tires overall lifecycle cost. Perhaps the biggest improvement to come along is one you cant even see: rubber compounding. Advances in rubber chemistry and the ability to blend different compounds for specific areas of the tire have allowed tire makers to optimize tire designs. Dual Energy compounds contain a top layer to provide exceptional removal mileage and a bottom layer which allows the tread to run cool, minimizing internal casing temperatures for low rolling resistance and extended casing life, says Paul Crehan, director of product marketing at Michelin Americas Truck Tires. Unique Energy compounds incorporated into [Michelins] fuel-efficient tire sidewall designs have helped reduce rolling resistance and delivered significant reduction in irregular wear for up to 15% improvement in removal mileage. Todays fuel-efficient treads The hot commodity in truck tires today, especially in the longhaul sector, is fuel efficiency. Thats often referred to by a measure of the tires rolling resistance. Tire makers and SmartWay use a rolling resistance index to rank tires for fuel savings potential, but those numbers are never shared with tire consumers. So what does a fleet have to go on during the specing process other than the tire makers word and any internal testing they might do? For this months feature we asked for plain-English remarks from five tire manufacturers describing their latest tire and tread designs. Here they are, in alphabetical order. Bridgestone Bandag TR4.1 retread New tires arent the only place that has seen huge advances in tread technology. Retreads have, as well. According to the company, the Bandag TR4.1 retread provides affordable and dependable tread wear and overall life performance for small to medium truckload, less-than-truckload and pick-up and delivery fleets. The TR4.1 retread features include: Smooth and continuous shoulder to promote uniform wear; Bandags proven tread compound contributes to long life and even wear; Circumferential grooves help to evacuate water which improves traction in wet conditions; and Diagonal tread block edges to promote traction on wet and dry surfaces. The TR 4.1 is available in sizes 210mm through 240mm to fit most casings commonly used in the recommended applications. The retread rounds out the Bandag portfolio for trailer applications, offering a balance of price and performance. Continental Hybrid HS3 Prosser Carnegie, product development manager of Continental Truck Tires for NAFTA, says the HS3 is an all-position tire aimed at the hybrid market for fleets with mixed long-haul and regional operations. The Conti Hybrid HS3 was designed with a five-rib pattern to equalize pressure across the footprint while improving mileage given its operating conditions, he says. Within the grooves lay specialized stone bumpers to prevent the trapping of rocks and stones during regional type of applications. In order to address the conflict between fuel efficiency and overall removal mileage, Conti relies on its innovative Fuel Saving Edge. As with all of Continentals 3rd Generation products, the Conti Hybrid HS3 was engineered for the 3G casing. The 3G casing increases fuel efficiency by reducing overall deflection of the casing to minimize heat build-up and rolling resistance. Also, the casing is physically wider so tread patterns can to be tuned to their maximum width potential for optimized mileage and traction. The 3G casing is a standardized platform found in all of Contis 3rd generation lines and wheel positions. This makes casing management easier because they are all consolidated to a single retread width. Goodyear Fuel Max RSA Norberto Flores, marketing manager, Goodyear, says the companys new SmartWay-compliant Fuel Max RSA delivers excellent fuel economy for regional/long haul driving with enhanced toughness for urban environments. The Fuel Max RSAs tread is non-evolving, which helps maintain traction throughout the life of the tire, says Flores. We are confident that the new Fuel Max RSA will be enthusiastically embraced by fleets that are looking for an excellent all-around regional tire to help enhance their operational efficiency and ultimately lower their cost-per-mile. Elements of the Goodyear Fuel Max RSAs tread design include: Robust and wide shoulder rib design to help improve curb impact resistance; Goodyears exclusive IntelliMax Rib Technology, which provides a stiffer tread to help deliver lower rolling resistance, higher mileage and even wear in combined highway and urban driving applications. Biting sipes to help deliver good snow traction by increasing the number of edges that are in contact with the road. By varying sipe orientation, traction can be improved during acceleration and braking, or for grip when cornering. Optimized blade geometry and sequence of the sipes to enhance wet grip; and A 20/32-inch tread depth to help boost fuel efficiency. Michelin X Multi Energy Z Paul Crehan, director of product marketing for Michelin Americas Truck Tires, describes the Michelin X Multi Energy Z as an all-position tire suitable for steer, drive and trailer axles in regional and emerging super-regional applications. Its aimed at package delivery, dry van LTL, food and beverage delivery and P&D operations, he says. It is engineered for SmartWay-verified fuel efficiency, long tread life and durability. Fuel efficiency and mileage are delivered using Michelins Dual Compound Tread technology, featuring a top wear layer of tread over a fuel and durability bottom layer. The top layer is designed to be resistant to scrubbing, tearing, etc., while the bottom layer, low in rolling resistance, runs cooler. The Michelin X Multi Energy Z achieves durability and fuel efficiency because of the dual compound tread. The two main elements are the use of any energy casing and the two-layer tread compounding. Casing life is extended with curb guards to protect the sidewalls from impacts and abrasions, while groove bottom protectors help prevent stone-drilling and a full width elastic protector ply offers casing protection. Crehan claims the X Multi Energy Z has up to a 15% reduction in rolling resistance compared to previous Michelin products. Handling is improved with inter-locking Matrix sipes. Yokohama 709ZL Rick Phillips, vice president of sales, Yokohama Tire Corp., calls the 709ZL a unique commercial tire product. At first glance you might not even associate the 709ZL with a drive tire because of its tame appearance, he notes. But when you understand the engineering that went into the tread design and actually look below the surface, you know its anything but tame. Some of the key features in the tread design include: By NuclearVacuum [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons The International Trade Commission is looking into whether it should impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties, or tariffs, on truck and bus tires made in China. The investigation was initiated by a Jan. 29 petition from the United Steelworkers Union, according to a report in HDT sister publication Modern Tire Dealer. The petition cites import data from the International Trade Commission pointing to an increase of more than 650,000 tires imported in the first nine months of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014. As the petition notes, "the volume of subject imports from China is significant by any measure. "From 2012 to 2014, the U.S. imported from 6.3 million to 8.4 million truck and bus tires a year from China, valued at close to over a billion dollars each year. China exported more tires to the U.S. than all other countries combined throughout the period." In the latest Modern Tire Dealer Facts Issue, published in January 2016, MTD estimated U.S. truck tire imports from China for 2015 at 9.4 million, up 14.6% from the previous year. The petition covers all truck and bus tires with a TR, MH or HC suffix, as well as all tires listed in the Truck-Bus section of the Tire and Rim Association Year Book. The truck and bus petition includes tires whether or not theyre mounted on wheels. The only truck or bus tires excluded from the petition are recycled and retreaded tires, and non-pneumatic tires, such as solid rubber tires. Unless the U.S. Department of Commerce issues an extension, by March 14, the ITC must reach a preliminary determination of whether tires were dumped and if manufacturers and importers received incentives to flood the U.S. market. Then, the ITC is required to forward its determination to the DOC within five days, or by March 21. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 19. Bob Ulrich, editor of Modern Tire Dealer, notes that retreaders generally support such tariffs, because many new tires coming in from China are priced less than a retreaded truck tire. The USW is asking the ITC to gather and compare prices on four sizes of tires: 11R22.5 (14 or 16 plies, load range G or H, any speed rating) 11R24.5 (14 or 16 plies, load range G or H, any speed rating) 295/75R22.5 (14 plies, load range G, any speed rating) 285/75R24.5 (14 plies, load range G, any speed rating) In its petition, the USW says it represents workers at truck and bus tire production facilities in the U.S. Those plants are operated by Bridgestone Americas Inc. and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Additional truck and bus tires are produced by non-union workforces for Continental Tire the Americas in Mount Vernon, Ill., General/Yokohama in Mount Vernon, Ill., and Michelin North America Inc. in Spartanburg, S.C. The truck tire investigation began just weeks after the USW initiated an investigation on off-the-road tires made in China, India and Sri Lanka. The USW successfully appealed for tariffs on passenger tires from China, and those tariffs were put in place in 2015. Last year's Fleet Safety Award winners recieving their awards. Photo: TCA The Truckload Carriers Association has selected the division winners for its National Fleet Safety Awards, which honor trucking companies that demonstrate a commitment to safety and accident reduction. The divisions are based on how many miles each fleet drove and winners were selected based on their accident frequency per million miles driven. The numbers were verified by an audit conducted by an independent expert. The division winners will compete for two grand prizes in two mileage categories: less than 25 million annual miles and 25 million or more annual miles. Companies will be judged on their overall safety programs both on-and off-highway. This includes employee driver and independent contractor selection procedures, training, supervision, accident investigation, inspection and maintenance of equipment and outside activities. The top fleets in each division, as chosen by the TCA, are: Division I Winners (under 5 million miles) Stageline Express, Coopersville, Michigan FTC Transportation, Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Rocha Transportation, Modesto, California Division II Winners (5-14.99 million miles) MacKinnon Transport Inc, Guelph, Ontario Hi-Tech Express, Inc., Roseville, Minnesota Landstar Express America, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida Division III Winners (15-24.99 million miles) Smokey Point Distributing, Arlington, Washington High Country Transportation, Midlothian, Texas Division IV Winners (25-49.99 million miles) Halvor Lines, Inc., Superior, Wisconsin Trans-West, Lachine, Quebec Erb International, Inc., New Hamburg, Ontario Division V Winners (50-99.99 million miles) Groupe Robert Inc., Rougemont, Quebec May Trucking Co., Salem, Oregon Cargo Transporters, Inc., Claremont, North Carolina Division VI Winners (100+ million miles) Bison Transport Inc, Winnipeg, Manitoba Interstate Distributor, Tacoma, Washington Landstar Ranger, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida The grand prize winners and division winners will be recognized at awards ceremonies to be held during TCAs Annual Convention, March 6-9, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nev. They will also be recognized during TCAs Safety & Security Division Annual Meeting, to be held May 22-24, 2016 in Fort Worth, Texas. Lazy Magnolia Brewing Companys brewmaster and co-founder Leslie Henderson visited Tulsa to promote her beers and also to be a part of the YWCAs Pinnacle awards, to be held Friday at the Cox Business Center. The awards ceremony honors women of the year and will serve from the nations top women-owned or women-made beverage companies. Henderson has seen lots of hardship in her home state of Mississippi. One of the hardships was a law against brewing beer above 6.2 percent Alcohol by Volume. Luckily in 2012, that law was abolished. Mississippi and Oklahoma are similar in a lot of ways with their archaic alcohol laws. Oklahoma can brew stronger beer, but its breweries cant sell it on site neither can Mississippi breweries. Henderson started brewing in 2000 when she bought her husband, Mark, a brew kit for Christmas. Leslie Henderson jumped right in while he was brewing his second batch of homebrew. In 2005, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company started as a business. Lazy Magnolias best-seller is the Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale, featuring roasted pecans added during the brewing process. Also available in Oklahoma are Timber Beast, Jeff Stout with sweet potato, Lazy Saison and Southern Hops pitality. If you look at all of our beers, we are showcasing wonderful ingredients, we are showcasing a part or our culture, we are trying to pair with the wonderful food we have in our state, she said. There are so many ways to make fun of Mississippi, we are taking the harder road and look at all the great things we have. Come visit, come stay awhile. You are gonna love our hospitality; you will love our beer and food. Amber Hilberling screamed that her husband was a coward during an argument with him in 2011, which led to the altercation that ended with his fatal fall from a window at a Tulsa apartment complex, she told the host of Dr. Phil during a TV interview that aired Thursday. He reached out and grabbed me. And I was pregnant. And he didnt care, Hilberling said. She went on to say that when he did so, I pushed him off me. The window wasnt supposed to happen. Phillip Phil McGraw traveled in December to Mabel Bassett Correctional Center in McLoud to interview Hilberling, who has spoken to national media outlets multiple times since being convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Josh Hilberling. Amber Hilberling, now 24, was seven months pregnant when 23-year-old Josh Hilberling fell 17 stories from the University Club Tower on June 7, 2011. Recalling their relationship, she told McGraw, Obviously our priorities were different, and I wasnt going to get him to see that. The psychologist, in the first few minutes of the interview, told Hilberling that there appeared to be something she had not yet shared about what happened that day. I think youre here because your story didnt get told in an effective way, he said. On Thursdays broadcast, Hilberling discussed information she believes the jury should have heard centering primarily on allegations of domestic abuse as well as her attorneys lack of experience in criminal cases. The following are some highlights of statements she gave during her interview. On whether she intended to push her husband out the window: No, I didnt. The injuries that were shown in the pictures speak for themselves. There was an altercation in which I defended myself. Hilberling rejected a deal to plead no contest in exchange for a five-year sentence ahead of her trial, in which a jury found her guilty. She was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with credit for time served and must serve 85 percent, or 21 years and three months, before becoming eligible for parole. On the statements she made to her grandmother in a police interrogation room before her interview. Prosecutors showed video of those statements at her trial: I couldnt believe what had just happened. You expect that things like that are gonna just completely shut you down, like youre going to stop breathing. And then you dont, and youre trying to catch up with reality. And, I mean, theres always going to be a level of guilt because Im alive and hes not. In the video, she called herself a horrible person and asked what kind of person would push her husband to make him fall out of a window. She told McGraw that she could see how that could be viewed as a confession but maintained theres so much people dont know about the couples volatile relationship. On her claims she had been subject to abuse during her 11-month marriage and covered it up: I was really good at lying. That was our relationship: Josh getting in trouble over and over again and me saying, Oh, no, its not his fault. Thats my fault. I did that. McGraw detailed an incident documented in Josh Hiberlings U.S. Air Force file in which authorities reported he threw a plate and attempted to pop one of his wifes breast implants. He was a member of the military but was released due in part to what Amber Hilberling said were drug-related issues. He loved to break my phone all the time so I wouldnt have any way of communicating if he wasnt home, she said. When asked why she didnt report every abusive incident, she said, I loved Josh very much. I stayed with him for as long as I could. They painted me as a monster. It was breaking my heart just to have him leave. So to intend to kill somebody that you love that much, it couldnt be plausible. On her defense attorney having no experience with criminal cases: I understood when my parents bailed me out initially that he had been a friend of theirs. He was not originally supposed to represent me solely, but ended up taking a personal approach to the case. And he put in his best efforts. When asked why she put her trust in that attorney, Jasen Corns, she said: I thought that I could trust Mr. Corns because I saw how interested he was and how hard he seemed to work before all of this. I didnt know how jails worked and courthouses. It was all gibberish to me. Ive never been in trouble before. Corns surrendered his law license last April amid an Oklahoma Bar Association probe into his conduct and cannot apply for reinstatement for five years. He was accused of developing a personal relationship with an elderly client in 2010 that went far beyond the professional attorney-client structure and accepting $1 million in gifts and loans from her. Her parents told McGraw during the shows Wednesday broadcast that they could not fire him as counsel because their daughter was legally an adult. My parents tried to get me several times over the course of the two years that we were fighting the case to fire him because they didnt believe that he was competent, Hiberling said. But I didnt have the heart to do that. BOW, N.H. Marco Rubio is in an enviable position among mainstream Republican presidential candidates after his strong finish in Iowa. Yet the man is running scared. The young Floridian is stumping through New Hampshire as if hes campaigning to win the Cautious Caucus. He gives the same speech everywhere. The most tightly managed candidate in the race, he shuns risk and appears to live in mortal terror of mentioning the man who dominates the race. At a town hall event here in central New Hampshire on Wednesday morning, Rubio, as usual, didnt mention Donald Trump in his speech. But the first questioner, a businesswoman, practically begged the candidate to trash Trump, asking him to comment on Trumps very definite views of the disabled, including calling people stupid and attempting to remove disabled veterans from one of his properties. Rubio demurred, saying only that he had already called out Donald for his distasteful mocking of a disabled reporter at an event. He then dropped the Trump talk and moved on. Rival Chris Christie mocked Rubio on Tuesday as the boy in the bubble managed by his handlers. This criticism apparently smoked Rubio out, because he took a few questions from reporters before his event in Laconia, N.H., on Wednesday afternoon. The first questioner noted that Rubio had poked other candidates, but not Mr. Trump. Why? Donald hasnt really outlined any position on policies, Rubio reasoned. So when the time comes and its appropriate, well do so. Why do you deliver the same speech wherever you go? the second questioner asked. Cause its my message, he said. Its the reason Im running for president. Rubios determination not to be taken off of this bland message, or to engage Trump, may give the impression that he is above the fray. But it also can make him look weak and callow. While other candidates, particularly Jeb Bush, have denounced Trumps outrages, Rubio and allied groups have spent upward of $30 million on ads so far some of them targeting Bush, Christie and Ted Cruz, but none targeting Trump. Rubio has mentioned Trump a couple of times on Twitter. In debates, he has frequently deflected questions about the mogul. After the December debate, in which Rubio declined a chance to take on Trumps proposed ban on Muslims entering the country, Fox News asked Rubio why he hadnt gone after Trump. Rubio said he wasnt going to spend a valuable 75 seconds on a debate stage talking about something thats never going to happen. Likewise, asked to comment on Trumps qualifications as a conservative, Rubio said that the billionaire is running as someone whos a populist whos upset about the direction of this country, as am I, as are millions of Americans. On other occasions, Rubio declined to talk about Trumps mosque-closing ideas (well, I think we need to target radicalism) and Trumps plan for mass deportation of illegal immigrants (both sides have points to make here that are valid). Asked back in September whether he would engage Trump, Rubio replied: No, Im ready to talk about who I am and why Im running. Its not as if Trump returns the politeness. Ann Coulter, warming up a Trump crowd Tuesday night, called Rubio a Cuban boy who wears high heels and has big ears. (Ever-cautious Rubio, ridiculed last month for wearing booties with thick heels, quickly retired the offending footwear.) Rubios strong Iowa finish has brought new attention and overcapacity crowds in New Hampshire. But the would-be supporters are greeted by a robot. The closest Rubio gets to Trump in his stump speech is observing, as he did here in Bow, that you have a right to be angry, but anger is not a plan. What exactly do you want to do? Or, as he put it in Laconia a few hours later: Anger is not a plan. Frustration is not a plan. You have a right to be frustrated. You have a right to be angry. ... But what exactly are you going to do about it? Voters questions, rather than spurring spontaneity, inspire more caution. Asked Wednesday what hed do about the millions of illegal immigrants who otherwise havent broken any law, Rubio said, Well figure something out. The logic behind Rubios candidacy, recited in his speeches, is that, as he put it in Bow: I give us the best chance to win, and if you dont believe me, ask a Democrat. They do not want to run against me. If he keeps playing the boy in the bubble, they may reconsider. When he dropped out of the presidential race in 2011, Herman Cain tells his audience, it did not mean I was going to be quiet. It did not mean I was going to shut up. So the erstwhile Republican presidential candidate kept talking, now mostly on his syndicated radio program out of Atlanta, but also on Fox News, with which he has an exclusive television contract, and through books and written commentaries. On Thursday, he tried something new. For the first time, Cains radio program broadcast live from an affiliate Tulsas KRMG outside his home turf. More than 100 people in two shifts crowded into a meeting room at Cox Radios Tulsa offices to see and hear Cains three-hour program. I came to see the voice of America, said Bob Hastings of Broken Arrow. I like the way he talks, said Hastings neighbor, Chuck Hanna. He explains things. I like the way he can talk without getting carried away. Theres not a lot of fog, Hastings said. Cain took over the Neal Boortz program almost three years ago and continues to tout Boortz favorite theme replacing the federal income tax with a national consumption tax called the Fair Tax. Replacing the nations tax code, Cain says, should be the No. 1 priority. Cain also reminds his studio audience and his radio listeners he has a new book, The Right Problems, and that copies can be ordered individually or by the case so you can give it away. Thats how we save the saveable. During breaks, Cain maintained running conversations with the live audience on subjects ranging from the Super Bowl to why Black Lives Matter is a phony movement. GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, he says, need to stop going after each other over inside Senate crap. Who voted which way on this bill. We dont care! We dont care about that crap. He also revealed that Greta Van Sustern is his preferred Fox television host. She asks good, direct questions and then she shuts up and lets me answer, Cain said in response to an audience question. They dont all do that. Ive only been on (Bill) OReilly once and I dont really have a strong desire to go back. He doesnt let you answer the question. The Fox and Friends morning program, Cain said, is stressful because they have three people throwing things at you. Cain has not taken sides in the fight for the Republican presidential nomination, but said he expects Ben Carson to drop out before much longer, based on Carsons actions in recent days. He said Cruzs backers should not have spread reports that Carson had dropped out on the day of the Iowa caucuses, but doesnt think it made any difference in the outcome. And Donald Trumps call to throw out the Iowa results are without foundation, he said. Hell dominate the news cycle for a few days because (the media) loves him throwing grenades and flares. But all that is just noise, Cain said. OKLAHOMA CITY An initiative petition to make abortion illegal will not withstand legal scrutiny, said Ryan Kiesel, ACLU of Oklahoma executive director. It is abundantly clear that any measure that would interfere with a womans constitutionally protected reproductive rights, including the legal right to have access to abortion, is unconstitutional, Kiesel said Friday. Thomas R. Hunter on Jan. 27 filed paperwork with the Secretary of States office indicating he wanted to circulate an initiative petition to make abortion illegal. His petition would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to add a new section. The measure prohibits abortion, according to the ballot title. The measure would not prohibit contraception that merely prevents fertilization, but does not cause the death of an unborn human being. The measure would prohibit contraception that causes the death of an unborn human being. The measure would also prohibit the deliberate destruction of unborn human beings created in a laboratory. The measure would not prohibit practices such as in vitro fertilization, but any unborn human beings created as a result of such procedure could not be deliberately destroyed. Kiesel said his organization could launch a protest before the signatures are gathered to keep it off the ballot or challenge it later should the necessary signatures be collected to get it on the ballot. The landmark but controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, legalized abortion but allowed state regulations. Hunter, 35, of Norman, said he recognizes the legal argument, but disagrees. The question is whether or not the Supreme Court ruling that born people have the right to kill unborn people was, in fact, constitutional in the first place, Hunter said. That is what needs to be challenged. You can search day and night through the Constitution and you will never find one line supporting the idea that human beings can be deprived of the right to live simply because they are small, weak and unwanted. Hunter said he is an evangelical and missionary who uses graphic design to produce materials to spread the gospel and teach people about loving one another. He said he has not raised any money to collect signatures or to promote his cause. He said the idea is to prohibit abortion as murder instead of regulating as a right. A ballot initiative to ban abortion and some forms of contraception in Oklahoma would mean that Oklahomans constitutional rights are up to a public vote thats not how our U.S. Constitution works, said Kelly Baden, director of state advocacy for the Center for Reproductive Rights, which has successfully challenged Oklahoma laws that put restrictions on abortion. We are all guaranteed these rights, no matter where we live, Baden said. Fortunately, voters in other states have rejected similar extreme measures when given the chance in places like South Dakota, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Colorado and I am sure Oklahomans would do the same. To get the measure on the ballot in November, 123,725 signatures are required. Signatures could be collected following a protest period. The measure is State Question 782. Tulsas leaders from law enforcement and social services convened Friday for the citys third in a series of summits to address public-safety issues. The focus of Fridays summit was on alcohol awareness and Oklahomas poor ranking among states in the number of binge-drinking adults and youth consumption. What we have here are people that are leaders of various institutions that when they go back to where they come from they can say, Theres a problem here and we can address it very publicly, Mayor Dewey Bartlett said. People should leave here and go back to their respective sphere of influence, and theyll be able to bring this up as a subject. Bartlett said drinking is a part of our society, especially in Oklahoma, and it should be treated more responsibly. He said he wants to apply the same level of awareness and education in Tulsa that has affected other societal norms in the past. As a society, weve dealt with these type of issues numerous times in the past where society has changed their predominant opinion, Bartlett said. We used to not wear seat belts, for example. Now, when anybody gets in a car they pretty much wear a seat belt especially those of younger age. Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Commissioner Terri White said Oklahoma should continue to focus on legislation that upholds liquor laws restricting alcohol to adults older than 21. White said studies show alcohol directly affects future abuse issues on underdeveloped brains, and Oklahoma is a leader in the country of teens and youths who have consumed alcohol before 21. The most significant issue facing Tulsa County as it relates to substance abuse is alcohol, and we often forget that because it is a legal substance, White said. White said addressing alcohol abuse affects many societal areas, including workplace productivity and the cost of the criminal justice system. It (alcohol abuse) is the largest contributor to our criminal justice system here in Tulsa, White said. We have a significantly high DUI rate. White said Tulsa County is above the rest of the state by 20 percent in driving-under-the-influence violations. The summit also featured KOTV anchor Lori Fullbright, who spoke about her familys tragedy after losing her brother in a drunk-driving accident. After an introduction, attendees broke into several groups to learn more about the ways alcohol affects the Tulsa community. After the summit is over, our goal is to help build a coalition of community leaders that will take action to address the gaps in our system and help individuals obtain services they need, Bartlett said. About 600 fifth-graders listened to James Madison give an account of his life, laughed as Benjamin Franklin recounted his electricity experiments, and tried to adjust to wearing breeches and full-skirted gowns during an immersive history event Thursday at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian. The students, from several area districts, were participating in the seventh annual Revolutionary Day, an event organized by two Tulsa Public Schools teachers. Beth Howard and Dessa Weber started the event after attending the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute, a weeklong professional development session that brings the Revolutionary War period to life and provides teachers with interactive techniques for teaching history. Weber, a fifth-grade social studies teacher at Kendall-Whittier, said they specifically started Revolutionary Day for students in northeast Oklahoma who were not always able to attend a similar event provided at the state Capitol for Oklahoma City-area students. I think Americas children are losing passion for our history, Weber said. We need to make history come alive. She said history, and the event, are a way for students to learn from past mistakes. Difficult topics like slavery and the treatment of Native Americans are among the subjects discussed, in addition to the lead-up to the Revolutionary War and life after American independence. Howard, an art teacher at Mark Twain Elementary, said she grew up in an era when children were expected to memorize and remember facts after reading them from a textbook. I did not like history at all, she said. After her immersive experience at Colonial Williamsburg, Howard said she fell in love with American history. Thats what the teachers hope to do for the students who attend Revolutionary Day. It infuses it into their memory, Weber said. The event has grown from 200 students in its first year to 600 students, the capacity imposed by the church. Schools are charged a $75 fee to bring students, and Weber and Howard seek out grants annually to fund the event. In addition to learning historical facts from figures like Madison, Franklin and Paul Revere, students also spend time learning about and playing Colonial-era games. A Colonial dancing session and an African Rhythm presentation were also part of the schedule. Madison Ewing, 10, was dressed up as Martha Washington for the event. I love history, and I like to listen to all the actors because they know the history of their characters, Ewing said. She also enjoyed being dressed in costume for the event, particularly because her outfit was more reflective of the gentry and higher-class society of the time. Dalton Casey, 10, was dressed up as a minuteman, or a member of the militia. Casey said as a minuteman, he would be on the front lines, and first to shoot in the event of battle. Casey said he enjoyed the event because of the way it taught social studies. Its way more better than staying in school, he said. One of the requirements for attending the event is for teachers and students to be dressed in Colonial costumes. Weber said it helps the students stay in character. When girls are in dresses, they act like young ladies, she said. In fact, more than one fifth-grade girl could be heard complaining to her friends that she couldnt run in her skirt. Howard said being in costume or having a prop helps some students become less shy and more engaged in the lesson. Bryan Austin, a full-time employee at Colonial Williamsburg, plays James Madison, who is is known as the Father of the Constitution and served as the fourth president of the U.S. Austin said he and others who perform at the Institute study the period intensely, including things like political theory of the time. It helps them provide as exact an experience as possible to their audiences. Austin, who joined Colonial Williamsburg about four years ago, said this is his first time participating in the Oklahoma event. The professional actor was looking for opportunities that would allow him to have more interaction with his audience, and was studying to be a clown when the opportunity at the institute came up. Its kind of providence, he said. Im a great lover of stories. And his work allows him to tell Madisons story firsthand, talking to students about hard topics and giving them a more rounded picture of reality. They can see the complexity of things, he said. Weber said in addition to helping students better understand the lessons they learn in school, Revolutionary Day serves another purpose for the kids. Its a whole heck of a lot of fun, she said. An e-cigarette in a student's backpack malfunctioned and caused a small fire in a Broken Arrow High School classroom early Friday afternoon. Students were evacuated from the Vo-Ag Building as emergency personnel were called to the scene. The fire has been contained. A district spokeswoman said all students are safe and the fire marshal is investigating the incident. "School personnel will take the appropriate action to prevent similar issues in the future," a written statement from the district said. Its still unclear who allowed career criminal Cedric Lamont Norris to be released to the street, where he robbed the Bank of Eufaula, killed its president, Randy Peterson, and wounded two others before dying in a Jan. 21 shootout. Norris, 39, should not have been out, under any circumstances. His rap sheet dates back to at least 1993, when he was a teenager in Creek County. A long list of felonies, some of them violent in Texas and Oklahoma, followed and he has a history of serious mental illness while in jail custody. Texas twice paroled him on offenses there. Texas says there was not a completed Oklahoma detainer on him, an issue that continues to unfold. What is clear is that he was not transferred to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections to begin serving 60 years in sentences from Tulsa County and for a Sapulpa jewelry store robbery. Norris is exactly the type of criminal for whom our limited prison space should be reserved. Only someone wasnt taking care of business. That is beyond troubling. Its an outrage to the grieving family of Randy Peterson, a pillar of the Eufaula community. Even Norris, whos often served as his own attorney, knew something was amiss. Five years ago, he sent a letter to a Creek County judge requesting that Oklahoma put a detainer on him so he could begin serving his sentence here when the time came. No action was taken on the letter, and Texas paroled Norris in 2012. He apparently remained free, seeing his parole officer in Texas only a week before Peterson was shot. Mistakes happen, but in this case, according to the reporting of the Tulsa Worlds Samantha Vicent and Anna Codutti, several red flags should have alerted officials that documentation needed to be in place to transfer Norris seamlessly to Oklahoma. Nothing can bring Randy Peterson back to his family, but lets make sure this does not happen again. A thorough investigation by an independent party is called for to get to the bottom of this fatal mistake. American presidential politics will not be having a libertarian moment after all. Sixteen months after Time magazine branded Republican Sen. Rand Paul (Kentucky) The Most Interesting Man in Politics, Paul has suspended his campaign for the White House due to lack of interest. Paul got a mere 4.5 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses, underperforming his dad Ron Pauls 2012 result by 17 points. At the time he quit, Rand Paul was polling at about 2 percent in New Hampshire, the Live Free or Die state that was once thought to be receptive to his message. What went wrong? The Paul phenomenon was always overblown. The theory, believed or at least entertained by a surprisingly large number of people, was that young voters and minorities could be attracted to the GOP by Pauls heterodox policy mix free-market economics, drug-war relaxation, defense budget shrinkage and international nonintervention. But this was hype, for three reasons: First, much of Pauls agenda could just as easily be offered by Democrats, and was. Second, as a messenger, the dour Paul managed to make freedom seem like it would be no fun. Third, and most fundamentally, the American people, including many if not most GOP primary voters, do not really want small government. Or, to be more precise, their expressed concerns imply demand for greater government action, not less. In the Pew Research Centers annual January survey of public concerns, only three issues both registered as top priorities among at least 50 percent of the public and increased their share of the responses over last year. Those three issues were defending the country from terrorism, reducing crime and dealing with the issue of immigration. Forty-nine percent cited strengthening the military, up eight points since the start of President Obamas second term. Of course, Republicans were much more likely than Democrats to emphasize each of these issues; 87 percent of them cited fighting terrorism as a top priority, while only 32 percent cited Pauls signature issue, criminal justice reform. The era of Islamic State-organized or -inspired massacres in Paris and San Bernardino, California, was not a propitious period for a candidate who expressed some sympathy for National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden and grandstanded on the Senate floor against the unlikely threat of domestic drone strikes. Nor was Pauls soft-on-drugs stance perfectly in tune with the times. Legalization of marijuana may be gaining acceptance, but heroin and opioid addiction are causing middle-class angst across the nation. Polls show drug abuse is the top concern of voters in New Hampshire. Yes, many agree with Paul that drug addiction treatment is a more appropriate response than law enforcement, but they may not trust an anti-government guy to organize and pay for it. In New Hampshire, 39 percent of Republicans and 50 percent of independents (who can vote in the GOP primary) said government should spend more to combat heroin. If anything, the country may be experiencing a surge in big-government sentiment, with a vaguely authoritarian accent. Paul himself spotted this; his finest moments in the campaign came when he called out Donald Trumps dictatorial tendencies. Anti-establishment primary voters in both parties say theyre angry at government, but part of the reason theyre angry at it, apparently, is that its not using its muscle to protect them against various malefactors illegal immigrants and terrorists for Republicans; Wall Street crooks and fossil-fuel companies for Democrats. The only thing Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, agree on, meanwhile, is that Social Security should be sacrosanct. Come to think of it, the young people of Iowa flocked to the Berns socialist banner, not Rands libertarian one. What remains of libertarianism? Not nothing, perhaps. Less punitive attitudes toward drug use and even crime seem to have taken root, and Paul can plausibly claim to have helped make them mainstream. More important, the publics demand for government action coexists with near-record-low levels of trust in Washington: just 19 percent, according to the latest Pew Research Center survey. At its worst, as in the more paranoid ruminations of Paul pere, libertarianism has given skepticism about the state a bad name. At its best, however the school choice movement, for example libertarianism reminds us of the spontaneous wisdom of markets and the limits of bureaucratic competence. If Americans expect more from government but dont trust it to deliver, one way to square that circle could be to apply more market-based thinking to how government carries out its various functions. We may never get rid of big government, but we might subject it to structural reforms that incorporate libertarian ideas. At the very least, it would be interesting. Charles Lane writes for Bloomberg View. OKLAHOMA CITY - Checotah native Carrie Underwoods Storyteller Tour - Stories in the Round launched Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla., and continued Monday in Atlanta, both to sold-out 360-degree crowds. The tour's 17 semi-trucks and eight buses rolled into Greensboro, N.C., for the third show Wednesday night to continue its highly-successful 2016 run. Already, fans and critics are raving about her stand-out performances coupled with the dramatic in-the-round stage production, according to a news release. The show "is a no-expense-spared spectacle that highlights her approachable beauty, her roar of a voice and a substantive set of songs that have commanded the charts since her 'American Idol' victory a long decade ago," expressed the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "The in-the-round setup commissioned by Underwood allows for unparalleled vantage points- and even those in the arena's highest peaks could watch one of four oval video screens situated above each side of the stage." And says the Florida Times-Union, "Lasers and swaying spotlights and fireworks and explosions all added to the spectacle. But make no mistake, Underwood was the star of the show." Underwood, known for her vocal prowess and the ability to create stellar performance moments in any realm, concert, television, or recordings, spent much of 2015 working with her team to create her most spectacular concert tour to date. Barry Lather (Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Usher, Michael Jackson) is the tours creative director and Butch Allen (Metallica, The Eagles, Eric Church, No Doubt) is production and lighting designer. "The Storyteller Tour required many weeks of technical planning and rehearsing to program lighting cues, automation, and special effects, followed by numerous full-on performance rehearsals with Underwood and her band. Texas has a message for $30 crude doomsayers: Bring it on. A handful of shale patches in the state, which would be the worlds sixth-largest oil producer if it were a country, are profitable with crude below $30 a barrel, according to an analysis by Bloomberg Intelligence. In DeWitt County, which produced more than 100,000 barrels a day in November from the Eagle Ford formation, the average well can be profitable with U.S. benchmark crude at $22.52 a barrel, $4 below the lowest level this year. Drive 200 miles southwest to Dimmit County, and drillers need $58 oil. The wide range of break-evens, a term for the price at which a well goes from unprofitable to profitable, illustrates one reason why shale production from exploration and production companies has been more resilient than expected, filling storage tanks in the U.S. to levels not seen in 85 years. It may be harder to kill many U.S. E&Ps than analysts originally thought, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst William Foiles said in the report. The wide range of break-evens undermines efforts to come up with a single threshold for U.S. shale producers. Since oil started falling in June 2014, U.S. shale drillers have survived by cutting costs, experimenting with new techniques and technology and boosting output to keep their wells competitive. West Texas Intermediate crude settled at $31.72 a barrel Thursday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Still, the big picture isnt pretty. Two out of every three drilling rigs in the U.S. have been idled and scores of roughnecks who worked them laid off. Law firm Haynes and Boone says 42 companies filed for bankruptcy as of Jan. 6. On the other hand, U.S. crude output last week was 9.2 million barrels, the highest January level since 1971 and just 5 percent down from last years peak. Its easier to survive low prices in some places than in others. Bloomberg Intelligence analyzed everything from average output per well to the level of local school taxes to calculate break-even costs to drill in different rock formations across Texass two big shale regions, the Eagle Ford in south Texas and the Permian Basin. Nine areas had break-even costs at $30 or below. Those include counties in Texas such as DeWitt, Midland, Martin and Reeves, with combined output of 430,000 barrels a day in November, according to the Texas Railroad Commission.Oil prices can be even lower to justify completing wells that have already been drilled but havent yet been hydraulically fractured, or fracked, the last step before production begins. There are more than 4,000 of those wells in the U.S. It makes economic sense to complete wells in 18 areas in the Permian and Eagle Ford at sub-$30 oil. In Reeves County in the Permian, oil prices above $14 justify fracking an already-drilled well. Even within counties, break-even costs can vary widely depending on which company is drilling and the richness of the rocks theyre tapping, said Kathryn Downey Miller, a principal at Lakewood, Colorado-based energy research firm BTU Analytics. In DeWitt, for example, about 45 percent of wells drilled in 2014 would have been profitable with oil below $20. Another 5 percent would need $70 oil. You see a great amount of variability between operators, even in a small geographic area like a county, she said by phone. That variability makes it difficult to tell when companies will give up drilling. Companies reduced the number of new wells in Dimmit County to 65 in the third quarter last year from 226 in the first quarter, while boosting activity in DeWitt County by 77 percent. For shale drillers that have been battered during the price downturn, there may be a silver lining. Those that can maintain the cost reductions and productivity improvements when prices eventually rise may be stronger than before the crash. The good news is were primed and ready for when we need to see a return to activity in North America, said Miller. This lower price environment is making companies defer big oil projects, so there will be an opportunity for U.S. shale producers to contribute to production growth, and theyll be better able to compete than theyve ever been. This Morning Edition, we are joined live on set by Kenneth Butcher, one of the candidates fo Insiders is back for 2016 tomorrow with Barrie Cassidy. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gives his first in-depth television interview of the year. On the panel to discuss the first week back of Parliament will be Niki Savva from The Australian, and Laura Tingle and Phil Coorey from the Australian Financial Review. And Mike Bowers talks pictures with The Australians Strewth columnist, James Jeffrey. Insiders has become the highest rating morning program on Australian television on any day of the week, and with an election looming around the corner theres never been a more exciting time to watch! 9am Sunday on ABC. Insight returns to SBS next week with a Valentines Day question: Can love really conquer all? Jenny Brockie speaks to successful and unsuccessful couples who have experienced lifes biggest challenges from cultural and religious clashes, to loss and infidelity. Sydney convenience store worker Nisarg Patel, 22, has been secretly dating a girl back in India for two years. He says he wants to marry her but will have great difficulty they are both Patels, but her parents are very rich, and he is from a lower caste. Nisargs whole family knows about his love interest, but her family do not know about him. He hopes to finish his degree and use it as a way of convincing her parents to let them marry. But Nisargs girlfriend is almost of marriage age, and he fears her family may arrange for her to marry someone in India before he gets his chance. In the lead up to Valentines Day Insight asks can love really conquer all? Host Jenny Brockie speaks to successful and unsuccessful couples who have experienced lifes biggest challenges from cultural and religious clashes, to loss and infidelity. The program will also speak to experts about what love does to the brain and if it can sustain a relationship against all odds. Nisarg Patel is 22 and in love with a girl in India, who he has been dating in secret for two years. He has left her back home to study in Australia, hoping to eventually impress her parents so they will give them permission to marry. In the meantime, if they find out they have been together, their relationship will be forced to end. Her parents are rich and Nisargs father is a farmer, so the chances of convincing them to allow inter-caste marriage are slim. They speak every day on Skype and hes working three jobs on four hours sleep a night to make it happen. Lyndall and Andrew Coon were on our Infidelity show in 2010, discussing how just weeks into parenthood, Lyndall discovered Andrew was having sexual relations with other men. The plus side was it opened up their relationship to communication and ultimately, the permission to sexually engage with people outside of their marriage. And they insist it was love that got them through. Six years later and neither one has been with anyone else for over ten years. But Lyndall has since suffered mercury poisoning which gave her stroke-like symptoms, forcing Andrew to become her primary carer while she wasnt able to speak for over six months. Lisa and Philip Gelbart have been married for 30 years, since they were merely 18 (Lisa) and 21 (Philip). Five years into their marriage, they had twin girls who were nine weeks premature. Three years later, they gave birth to a baby boy who died two weeks later in their arms, succeeded by another stillborn, five miscarriages and, when they finally had two more successful births, both boys were born with special needs. After years of separately bottling up their grief while caring for a unique family, they finally began to channel their disturbances into helping other bereaved parents through SIDS and Kids. Meg Foley, 30, a Roman Catholic girl was married to Abdul, a Muslim from Afghanistan for almost ten years. Meg was 16 when she sent letters to underage refugees in migration detention centres. Abdul replied. For two years they sent letters to each other and spoke on the phone. They physically met for the first time when Meg was 18. They got married while Abdul was still in a detention centre. Unfortunately their cultural differences, religious differences and Abduls mental illness resulted in their divorce. Meg and Abdul are still friends; they call each other on their birthdays. Dr Trisha Stratford is a clinical neuro-psychotherapist. When we fall in love the brain fires chemicals that make us want to see our partner more, only see their positive side and have passionate sex all the time. That phase can last up to 18 months. Once the chemicals are settled, the reality kicks in. We then have a choice to stay or leave. Research demonstrates that people who are in long term relationship make a choice of seeing only the positive side of their partner. Love is not accidental. Trish appears on Channel 9s Married at First Sight. Tuesday at 8.30pm on SBS. SKY News turns 20 this year. It recently launched weekly discussion show, Speers Tonight, with Political Editor David Speers talking to key political players, analysts and policy thinkers. Screening at 8:00pm Thursdays it includes analysis of the major political events of the week. SKY News, Australias unrivalled leader in 24 hour television news, will mark its 20th year in 2016 with the biggest line-up yet of exclusive locally produced Live news and current affairs programming. Australia turns to SKY News Live (Channel 601) for the most informed analysis and agenda-setting commentary from a stellar line-up of contributors, commentators and politicians shaping the national and current affairs debate. New to SKY News Live in 2016: Monday-Thursdays at 7:00pm SKY News anchor and political reporter Laura Jayes takes a fresh look at the days news, covering some of the stories missed by the mainstream media on The Latest with Laura Jayes. Thursdays at 8:00pm SKY News Political Editor David Speers talks to key political players, analysts and policy thinkers in a new discussion program Speers Tonight. The Walkley award-winning journalist engages in conversation with key national figures to explore and challenge their ideas, followed by analysis of the major political events of the week. Saturdays at 8.30am its groundbreaking television as senior MPs and opposing front benchers Christopher Pyne and Richard Marles go head to head debating the big political issues of the week in a no holds barred Live discussion program Pyne & Marles premiering Saturday 6 February. Sundays at 7:00pm Live from Melbourne, Patricia Karvelas brings her unique take on politics and insights into the week ahead in a new weekly political and national affairs program Karvelas. As the Prime Minister prepares to deliver his first closing the gap statement, this Sunday Patricia will be joined on the program by special guests including Jackie Huggins, Co-Chair of peak Indigenous body the National Congress of Australias First Peoples and Warren Mundine, Chairman of the Prime Ministers Indigenous Advisory Council to debate the issues. Returning to SKY News Live in 2016: Weekdays from 5:00am in First Edition Kieran Gilbert and new co-anchor Brooke Corte deliver unrivalled national affairs coverage first. Providing Australias most comprehensive and in-depth political news coverage are SKY News flagship political programs AM Agenda (8:30am weekdays), PM Agenda (4:00pm Monday-Thursday), The Last Word (5:30pm Monday-Thursday) and Australian Agenda (8:30am Sundays). As a federal election looms the SKY News political team report Live every hour across the day from Parliament House in Canberra. Monday-Thursday from 12:00pm 4:00pm Peter van Onselen brings the latest in news, sport and business with live coverage of key events and analysis from the SKY News team in Canberra on PVO NewsDay. Kristina Keneally joins Peter at 1:30pm for To the Point as they examine politics with a critical eye. Monday-Thursday at 6:00pm Reporting Live with Stan Grant connects the audience to the days biggest stories taking place around the world, anchored by multiple award-winning journalist Stan Grant. Mondays at 8:00pm Helen Dalley is joined by the big names in politics helping drive the national affairs debate in The Dalley Edition. Tuesdays at 8:00pm televisions most dynamic duo, Alan Jones and Graham Richardson come together to battle the issues shaping Australia in Richo + Jones. Then on Wednesdays at 8:00pm the ultimate political insider Graham Richardson tackles politics and the issues of the day in Richo. No one has contacts like Richo and hell use them to cover all sides of the story. Fridays at 4:00pm Janine Perrett takes an alternative look at the weeks news including interviews with newsmakers and plenty of irreverent asides on The Friday Show. Viewpoint with Chris Kenny returns to Fridays and Sundays at 8:00pm, incisive, controversial and always up to the minute. Weeknights at 9:00pm Paul Murray Live is back with a fresh new set anchoring a fast-paced discussion on politics, social issues and everything in between, offering an alternative look at the days news. Then weeknights at 10:00pm the new-look SportsNight with James Bracey sees James and his panel examine the latest action, results and controversies in the world of sports. Rounding off the week is Hinch Live Sundays at 9:00pm. Derryn Hinch delves into the news with special guests and commentators. No topic will be off limit, no opinion spared. 10:42 a.m., Feb. 5, 2016--For the Record provides information about recent professional activities of University of Delaware faculty, staff, students and alumni. Recent honors, presentations and publications include the following: Honors A paper co-written by Uma Velury, professor of accounting, has been named as Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory (AJPT)s Best Paper. The winning paper, Audit Quality: Insights from the Academic Literature, was selected by AJPT editors as the best paper published in AJPT in the past three years. Papers were assessed on factors like timeliness, importance, creativity and potential impact on the practice of auditing. I am very excited and honored to accept this award given by the auditing section of the American Accounting Association, said Velury, who accepted the award at the associations 2016 Midyear Meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. The issue of audit quality is extremely important to the accounting profession, she continued. I look forward to continuing my research in this area and contributing to a greater understanding of the various issues related to audit quality. Presentations Bahira Trask, chair of the Department of Human Development and Family Studies, has been invited to speak at the United Nations on a panel organized by the Permanent Mission of the state of Qatar, in collaboration with Doha International Family Institute. On Feb. 9, Trask will provide the academic perspective on Work-Family Balance, Social Development, and the United Nations 2030 Agenda: The Recognition, Need, and Implementation of Culturally Specific Policies, addressing the UNs Sustainable Development Target Goal 5.4. Curtis Small, assistant librarian, Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, presented his experiences as an IMLS-RBS Fellow at a meeting of the Board of the Rare Book School, New York City, on Jan. 30. Publications Rudi Matthee, John and Dorothy Munroe Chair of History, published "Poverty and Perseverance: The Jesuit Mission of Isfahan and Shamakhi in Late Safavid Iran," Al-Qantara 36:2 (2015): 463-501. Margaret D. Stetz, Mae and Robert Carter Professor of Women's Studies and professor of humanities, has reviewed The Frankaus: Prejudice and Principles within a London Literary Family by Timothy d'Arch Smith. This 2015 study of the influential multi-generational family of British Jewish authors provides new information about Julia Davis Frankau, noted for her 1906 novel featuring a character based on Oscar Wilde. Stetz's review appears in Oscholars, an electronic resource dedicated to scholarship about Oscar Wilde and his world. Click here to read the review in a Word document. To submit information to be included in For the Record, write to publicaffairs@udel.edu. Meredith Chapman and Holly Norton of UDs Communications and Public Affairs serve as instructors in the Social Media Marketing Strategy Certificate. UDs Lori Mayhew (right) accepts the Outstanding Program Award for the Social Media Marketing Strategy Certificate from Shelley Hintz of the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) Mid-Atlantic region. 12:46 p.m., Feb. 5, 2016--The University of Delawares Social Media Marketing Strategy Certificate recently won an Outstanding Program Award from the University Professional and Continuing Education Association (UPCEA) Mid-Atlantic region. The UD program was highlighted for its win-win partnerships with area nonprofit organizations each semester, resulting in hands-on learning opportunities for program participants and pro-bono social media consulting for the nonprofit. Last semester, the class partnered with Girls on the Run Delaware to help promote the groups annual 5K run and 10th anniversary event. Students final projects proposed yearlong strategies encompassing future Girls on the Run events and addressed the organizations broader goal of expanding participation throughout the state. The Social Media Marketing Strategy Certificate has previously partnered w ith Friends of Newark K-9 Officers, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Delaware, Bellevue Community Center in Wilmington and the dropout prevention program Communities In Schools of Delaware. The Outstanding Program Award also cited the programs partnership with social media experts from within the UD community. The programs lead instructor and program director is Meredith Chapman, UDs director for digital communication. Chapman also teaches public relations, social media strategy and digital marketing at UD, and has been nationally recognized for her initiatives and accomplishments in the field. The opportunity to tap UD social media expertise has been ideal for this program, said Lori Mayhew, then program coordinator for Professional and Continuing Studies. When Meredith agreed to develop and lead this program, we were thrilled to benefit from her vast experience. Additional UD instructors include Holly Norton, social media manager in Communications and Public Affairs; and Matthieu Plourde, educational technologist with IT Academic Technology Services. Joining them is UD alumna Lisa Ford, a director of digital marketing at Capital One. Offered through UDs Professional and Continuing Studies, the next Social Media Marketing Strategy Certificate starts Feb. 16 and can be completed in four months. Another UD program was recognized with UPCEAs Engagement Award, the Christiana Care Certificate in Healthcare Leadership, an executive education program resulting from a partnership between UDs Division of Professional and Continuing Studies and Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics, and Christiana Care Health System. Subscribe to Our Posts via Email We Will Blow Up The Oil Ship & The Crew Members If Nnamdi Kanu Isnt Freed In 31 Days Militants Threatens FGA group of Niger Delta militants in support of the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has claimed responsibility for the hijack of a ship on Friday along the Bakassi Pennisula Nigeria coastal line.The group, which recently gave the Federal Government a 31-day ultimatum to release Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader and Director of Radio Biafra, said the concerned Niger Delta agitators were abreast with the incarceration of Kanu.Spokesperson of the group, who gave his name as General Ben, threatened that they would blow up the vessel with the expatriates onboard, if the government continues to dilly-dally over Kanus release.Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday, the groups spokesperson declared that they would not wait till the end of the ultimatum, before showing their seriousness.Ben stated: We cannot wait till the end of the 31 days to tell the Federal Government that we are serious. The vessel and the crew are under custody.And any noise, any delay from government, we will blow up everything. We will blow the vessel and everybody in the vessel will go down. We are not interested in the country that owns the vessel. What we know is that the vessel was coming to Nigeria to lift oil. We are not interested;; once it is blown up, let the country and Nigeria resolve the matter.We are in touch with everything happening around the IPOB leader.Now, court has denied him bail, saying because of his dual citizenship, he might jump bail. We also heard that the judge said he would rather give the matter an accelerated hearing.This is provocative;; hence we did not waste time to go into action. We are in support of the Biafra struggle.We will not retreat or surrender. The federal government might have taken our ultimatum as an empty threat. But, we will surprise them, he stated.Also, the group reacted to the Supreme Court verdict, which upheld the appeal filed by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, saying that it saved the state from bloodshed.Ben said the state would have been overwhelmed by crisis, warning any government against sabotaging the IPOB agitation of the consequences. When an upcoming book The Man Who Dared To Think Beyond, is the showcasing of Mithila at the global level. Vivekanand Jha Ranchi: It was in the year 2009-... The European Parliament has called on Russia to withdraw its military forces from Ukraine, including the territory of Crimea. It is stated in a resolution, adopted by the European Parliament in Strasburg on Thursday, on the situation in Crimea, in particular of the Crimean Tatars, an own Ukrinform correspondent reports. The European Parliament again calls on withdrawing Russian forces from Crimea and eastern Ukraine, reads the resolution. MEPs discussed the militarization of Crimean peninsula, which has a significant negative influence on the economic and social life. In addition, the European Parliament condemned Russias threats to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea, what will pose a significant threat to regional, European and global safety. iy Ukrainian MPs have approved a law on ratifying agreement between the Ukrainian government and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on the status of NATO representative office in Ukraine. A total of 251 MPs voted on a relevant decision, an Ukrinform correspondent report. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that the agreement formalizes a diplomatic status of NATO representative office in Ukraine, which is created on the basis of the NATO Liaison Office (NLO) and the NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine. For the first time NATO as an international organization will open its consolidating representative office in Ukraine. And this is an additional evidence of special partnership between Ukraine and NATO, he noted. iy Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Volodymyr Groysman at a meeting with the G7 ambassadors have told them about a consolidating position on carrying out reforms in the country. Ambassador of Japan to Ukraine Shigeki Sumi told reporters following the meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The president, the prime minister and the parliaments speaker have assured us that they will jointly work on carrying out reforms in Ukraine. They asked us not to worry, The ambassador also noted that Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavichus, who submitted a letter of resignation yesterday, didnt attend the meeting. iy | By Chris Zang The limitless range of young voices and the sage wisdom of experience combined to delight the audience at the University of Maryland, Baltimores Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./Black History Month event on Feb. 3. The Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy School Choir, comprised of kindergartners to fifth-graders from UMBs West Baltimore neighborhood, set the tone by performing Lift Evry Voice And Sing. Then keynote speaker Robert M. Bell, JD, former chief judge of the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the states highest court, began his remarks with lyrics from the same song, which he called the Negro National Anthem. In a wide-ranging, 25-minute speech, Bell, the first African-American to be named the states chief jurist, gave a history lesson, constitutional overview, and civics tutorial to those assembled at the School of Medicines Medical School Teaching Facility. He spoke of how some question the need for Black History Month since it is really American history. But he pointed out it was celebrations like these that as a child taught him about inventors like Charles Drew, intellectuals like W.E.B. Du Bois, scientists like George Washington Carver, and athletes like Joe Louis. It was during these weeks that I also learned of the hardships they endured, said Bell, a Baltimorean who attended Dunbar High School and Morgan State College before earning his law degree at Harvard. While at Dunbar in 1960, Bell joined in a protest against segregation that proved historic when the group sat down at Hoopers restaurant and was denied service and arrested. Who would ever have thought 27 years after being acquitted of trespassing by the Court of Appeals that I would be sitting on the very same court that originally upheld my conviction, said a smiling Bell, who in 1975 began his nearly four decades of service on the Maryland bench at the District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland, and the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Bell v. Maryland, which grew out of the Hoopers incident, wasnt the only case he discussed. He cited Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 as the most important legal decision of the 20th century and perhaps of all time. He added, No longer was it just voices denouncing segregation. It was voices backed by the highest court in the land. But with rights come responsibilities, Bell reminded the UMB audience. The civic engagement of the people is essential to the vitality and health and continuation of our democracy. That requires some effort. There has to be a commitment to remaining informed. He also stressed upholding and honoring the U.S. Constitution. If Dr. King was the drum major for peace, he would have required us to be drum majors for justice. Dr. Kings work is not done. It continues so long as African-Americans, people of color, women, the disabled anyone facing discrimination continue to pursue justice and civil parity. His closing thought? Build a bridge. University President Jay A. Perman, MD, who began the assembly by saying diversity is our strength, equality is our aim, and service is our obligation, thanked Bell with a donation to the Access to Justice Commission. A sharp dresser, Bell also received a UMB bow tie, which he deftly tied and wore to the crowds delight. Then he joined Perman in giving out UMBs MLK Diversity Awards, which included: Outstanding UMB Faculty Award: Tanya L. Sharpe, PhD, MSW As the School of Social Works senior-most African-American female faculty member, she has led countless efforts to advance equality and social justice. She stepped up during the unrest in Baltimore last spring to guide the Universitys Conversation About Race and is among a handful of scholars nationwide focusing on African-American survivors of the homicide epidemic. Said Perman: In her research, teaching, and advocacy, Dr. Sharpe is what we as an institution strive, every day, to be. Outstanding UMB Staff Award: Brian Sturdivant, MSW Called the mayor of West Baltimore by Perman, Sturdivant, a 2000 alumnus of the School of Social Work, is director of strategic initiatives and community partnerships at UMB. Said Perman, There is no one at UMB who can claim more responsibility than he for assembling the platform on which weve built our community engagement efforts. That includes programs such as Club UMB, which last year saw students from the Southwest Baltimore Charter School, under Sturdivants guidance, medal in the Maryland Science Olympiad. School of Dentistry Dean Mark Reynolds with members of the Hispanic Dental Association Outstanding UMB Student Award: Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) HDA students conduct exams for oral cancer and dental disease, while providing oral health education, basic preventive services, and access to follow-up care to Hispanic community members. For instance, the group has logged the number of students at Wolfe Street Academy in Baltimore who require follow-up treatment with a dentist a number thats dropped by an incredible 75 percent since 2008, Perman said. There also was a special recognition award given to Carey School of Law faculty members who, after Aprils protests, led efforts to design an eight-week course Freddie Gray's Baltimore: Past, Present and Moving Forward that explored the causes of, and possible solutions for, the unrest and ways in which students could become engaged. After a summer of intense planning and preparation with partners at the School of Social Work, the eight-week course was offered in fall 2015 and now is being repeated at both UMB and the University of Maryland, College Park. Said Perman: Its success is a testament to what we can do and the speed with which we can do it when we harness the passion, the dedication, and the commitment of this UMB community. Then it was time to give the Black History Month program back to the children. Dating back to his inauguration in 2010, Perman, a pediatric gastroenterologist, has often featured children at his events. The Furman L. Templeton Preparatory Academy is one of the neighboring schools UMB reaches out to with its Promise Heights initiative. Its self-supported choir, formed five years ago when the charter school lost its music program, is renowned, having performed at places like Disney World in Orlando and The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville with a date next summer at the famed Harlem Childrens Zone School. Its choir, under the direction of Kristine Rose, LCSW (a field instructor at the School of Social Work who is aided by parent volunteers), filled the UMB stage and belted out Oh Happy Day with soloist Marquel Russell and The Greatest Love of All to close the program on a high note. I thank all of you for sharing in our celebration today, Perman told the crowd. For honoring the memory of Dr. King and the humane principles to which he dedicated his life. A new call centre in Sana'a provides an essential bridge between Yemenis and the humanitarian community. UNHCR/A.Alsayaghi SANA'A, Yemen, Feb 5 (UNHCR) - Fleeing airstrikes near his home in Haradh, near the border with Saudi Arabia, Yemeni father of 10 Ahmed* sought shelter in the capital Sana'a - where he found help was only a phone call away. "We lost everything and wherever I go I am humiliated," he told an operator he called at Tawasul, an innovative new call centre set up to link Yemenis in need with those in those in the humanitarian community who are there to assist. "When I ask people for help they call me names and refuse to give me a hand. I am sorry but this is what people are saying and how they are treating me," he added. Ahmed went on to explain that his family needed help paying for rented accommodation and food, and gave the operator his contact details so the appropriate humanitarian agency could reach out to him and directly assess his situation and respond accordingly. Tawasul - which means "dialogue" in Arabic - is a partnership between UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and non-profit AMIDEAST. Set up in December, it provides a much-needed bridge between millions of people of concern across war-ravaged Yemen, and a range of humanitarian agencies. Trained, Arabic-speaking operators at the centre in Sana'a take down details from callers and note their needs, and then advise them how, when and where they can access the services. "Tawasul is the first of its kind in Yemen and goes a step further in firmly anchoring the protection obligation of the humanitarian community to the people of Yemen," said Johannes van der Klaauw, UNHCR's representative in the country. Since war broke out in Yemen last March, more than 2.5 million people have become internally displaced. Many have lost their livelihoods and are seeking shelter with relatives and friends in schools, public and abandoned buildings, makeshift shelters or in the open with little to no protection. In a bid to help vulnerable displaced people find the help they need, UNHCR and AMIDEAST have invited numerous other humanitarian agencies at work in Yemen to use Tawasul to disseminate information concerning their programmes and services. Despite severely restricted humanitarian access and security constraints, UNHCR reached over 280,000 internally displaced Yemenis with essential household items such as bedding, kitchen utensils and shelter material in 2015. The UN Refugee Agency has continued to provide protection services such as psychosocial support, together with legal and cash assistance through outreach to communities with large concentrations of displaced persons. So as to ensure high standards of accountability, Tawasul operators also gather complaints and other feedback to be referred to the relevant agency for subsequent follow up. "Tawasul reinforces the accountability of the humanitarian community to persons of concern," van der Klaauw added. "By providing an avenue for complaints, criticism and feedback on the quality and impact of services that are being provided, Tawasul is providing an essential service for the people of Yemen and the humanitarian actors operating in the country." Yemenis can contact Tawasul toll-free at 800-3030 on Sunday to Thursday from 09:00 to 15:00 local time. By Teddy Leposky in Sana'a, Yemen A young boy lights a fire outside his tent in the Grande Synthe Jungle. UNHCR/F.Scoppa GENEVA, Feb 5 (UNHCR) - The UN Refugee Agency is concerned about some 4,000 refugees and migrants currently reported to be living in the Calais "jungle" and almost 2,500 in Grande-Synthe, on the edges of Dunkerque, often in dire circumstances, aggravated by the winter conditions. Of particular concern are hundreds of children, many of them traveling by themselves, who arrive at the informal camps in northern France in need of both shelter and adequate protection. At present there are limited facilities that attend to the specific protection needs of children, including those under the age of 15. Among the few is the Maison du jeune refugie centre in St Omer, which is run by France terre d'asile. "UNHCR is specifically concerned about the living conditions of children - in particular unaccompanied and separated children - and would welcome the establishment of additional emergency reception places," UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler told reporters at a briefing in Geneva. Spindler also highlighted the urgent need to explore other options for simplifying child protection procedures, particularly for those children with relatives in another EU Member State. He went on to welcome various steps taken by French authorities to provide emergency assistance to the refugees and migrants living in Calais and Grande-Synthe, and address their urgent humanitarian needs. These measures include the decision to establish a temporary centre called Centre d'Accueil Provisoire (CAP) in Calais, run by La Vie Active, and to organize the voluntary relocation of refugees and migrants to accommodation centres called "Centres d'Accueil et Orientation" (CAO) throughout the country. The centres provide emergency reception for those willing to avail themselves of it regardless of whether or not they have applied for asylum. As of early February, more than 700 people were hosted in the CAP in Calais and 2,431 people had chosen to go to one of 92 CAOs since the initiative started on 22 October 2015. "In our assessment, the refugees and migrants living in Calais and Dunkerque would benefit from the intensified provision of information and legal advice. In the current situation, residents of the Calais 'jungle' receive mixed, sometimes inaccurate and conflicting information from a variety of different sources," Spindler said. "Strengthening the coordination among all actors for the provision of assistance, as well as accurate and objective information, would be key, including to people residing in CAOs," he added. He noted that at best, the humanitarian assistance provided in these locations is a stop-gap intervention to alleviate the worst suffering. Fundamentally, the individuals concerned need information about their options in France, and those in need of international protection need to be strongly encouraged to seek asylum in France. "They also need to be informed of the possible consequences if they do not do so," he said. "Another important measure would be ensuring adequate reception facilities, support - including legal assistance - as well as psycho-social care." Another step is the use of existing legal provisions for those with relatives in other EU Member States to enable them to join their family members quickly. The recent UK court decision where the asylum tribunal judges ruled that three unaccompanied and separated children and an older brother - a dependent of one of the children - should be allowed to join their relatives in the UK while their asylum claims are considered by the Home Office, is a step towards achieving this. UNHCR has long advocated for the pro-active application of the Dublin III Regulation and urges States to use the opportunity to develop an expedited procedure for unaccompanied and separated children in one EU Member State to join their relatives in another. UNHCR is prepared to support the authorities in all these measures, including, as of February 8, through an enhanced presence in the Calais region. Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless. A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true. Martin Luther King Jr. No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Nelson Mandela We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist James Baldwin There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence. Newton Lee The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything. Albert Einstein You've got to be taughtTo hateAnd fearYou've got to be taughtFrom yearTo yearIts got toBe drummed in your dear little earYou've got toBe carefullyTaughtYou've got to be taughtTo beAfraidOf peopleWho's eyes are oddly madeAnd people who's skin is a different shade South Pacific Songwriters: Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rogers Looks like my old stomping grounds in Montana are heating up. People there are not taking Obamas plan to force refugees on them lying down. There was a protest in Missoula, Montana at 10 a.m. this morning over that very issue. It is just one of many battles brewing out there in small town America. Small towns in the sparsely populated parts of America are the perfect place to relocate these refugees. Especially if your agenda includes politically terraforming the country. The West is historically conservative in their politics. Many are Republicans and Libertarians. Even the Democrats hearken back to an earlier time when they were more conservative in nature. Obama and the Democrats cant have that. They need to have an entire country willing to submit to Marxist diktats. They need areas seeded with those who will vote Democrat and ensure that they stay in power no matter what. And its not just voting demographics that are pushing this move either. I personally believe that there is a warped logic to all of this. That if Islam can be made the predominant religion in America, people will be more easily controlled. Thats insane of course and wont work, but there you have it. Instead, Shariah law will be implemented and you will see the same atrocities occurring in Europe happen here. The big difference being, that at least for now, Americans are armed and will use those weapons to protect their neighbors, loved ones and country. Bringing in the refugees also moves forward the Cloward and Piven strategy to overwhelm the system so it will collapse and cause chaos in the streets. These people want to tear the system apart, so they can replace it with something truly heinous. The Obama administration will never admit that this is the plan, but can you honestly look at what is going on today and tell me it isnt? Our borders are wide open. We are not vetting anyone to speak of and security here in the US is worse than before 9/11. Communities in states such as Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and Kansas are being infused with Muslim refugees even though they are not wanted by the residents or the local law enforcement. The feds and their leaders are not giving them a choice. Wyoming is the only state currently not participating in the program, but even the governor there wants to jump in it. Living in large cities would be too costly for the refugees and more can be accomplished with seeding them across the plains. In a small town, they can turn everything to their advantage in short order. Since many of our larger cities are already flooded with immigrants from south of the border and from Muslim nations, in many respects they have at least partially fallen to the ploy already. This is the fundamental transformation of America in play. South Carolina, Idaho, Minnesota, North Dakota and Michigan are vigorously fighting against this program and Obamas change. The same entitlements, jobs, lodging and freebies will be given to these refugees in small town America. But that will mean taking more and more away from locals in these same communities. These immigrants bring crime and disease with them. As crime rises, people will leave which will hasten the take over of these towns. At least that is what Obama and his friends hope for. I pray that people dig in and decide to stay and fight if they can. Which brings me back to Missoula where they had a protest this morning in front of the county courthouse. Refugees are being brought into Helena and Missoula and the people there dont want them. Were talking about hundreds of Muslims. Other rallies in Twin Falls, Idaho and Fargo, North Dakota are planned as well. I have friends in Idaho that just wont stand for this invasion. Its the same old story here. NGOs with lots of money and a pro-immigrant agenda are seeking out politicians who can be bought basically, or that can be forced into compliance one way or the other. These individuals, such as Sand Point, Idaho, Mayor Shelby Rognstad, conspire against their constituency until they are forced by the people to back down. The politicians in Missoula seem to have sold out to this movement. Oh, what I wouldnt give to find out what each of them was offered in exchange for their support in resettling large number of Islamic refugees in their areas. Witness the great sellout: Here in Big Sky Country local politicians in Missoula, working with pro-immigrant NGOs, are inviting the federal government to begin sending Syrians, comparing them to the Hmong refugees who fled Vietnams communists in the late 1970s. They have not been deterred by the fact that 98 percent of Syrian refugees are Sunni Muslims, the vast majority of whom FBI Director James Comey admits are impossible to vet for ties to terrorism. Despite Comeys warnings, the Missoula Board of County Commissioners sent a letter on Jan. 13 to the U.S. State Department requesting Syrian refuges. We look forward to seeing approximately 100 refugees per year resettled in Missoula, the letter states. Missoula is an ideal city for resettling refugees, the letter continues. Our community enjoys good schools, incredible natural beauty, and a low unemployment rate, among other factors. Not for long if you bring these transplants in. We havent learned a damned thing from watching what is going on over in Europe. How do you justify the rapefugees in Germany and Sweden, who treat rape as game for a large number of players at a given event? How can you ignore the violence, the murders, the depravity that is the Ummah? Whats wrong with these people? Do money and power mean so much to them that they dont care that they are selling America out to a hellish nightmare movement? Imagine your wives, daughters, mothers, neighbors little children subjected to these beasts. What would you do? I lived in Coeur dAlene, Idaho. My daughter still lives up that way. Sandpoint, Idaho is not far from there. The good people there are making a stand against politicians who would bring in these refugees. And they are winning. Just last week they voted to withdraw a resolution supporting refugee resettlement; stopping, at least for now, a bitter war between the residents and the politicians. The people at that meeting were enthusiastically victorious and cheered as newly elected (and probably short-lived) Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad asked the council to withdraw the resolution from consideration. A measure meant to counter statements from Bonner County commissioners and Sheriff Darryl Wheeler opposing the resettlement of refugees, the resolution was intended to restate Sandpoints commitments to human rights, according to Rognstad. This resolution has only served to divide us and this community, said Rognstad, as he requested the withdrawal. That saddens me. Ill bet it does because his bread was probably buttered with goodies if he played ball. He was roundly lambasted by the audience over his moronic, treacherous statements. Twin Falls, Idaho has also been fighting the refugee resettlement program tooth and nail. But they are not having nearly as much success as Sandpoint has unfortunately. The Twin Falls Times is now reporting that starting on October 1st, approximately 300 Muslim refugees, mostly from Syria, will arrive there. There are 45,000 people in Twin Falls. I lived there for a while when I was little. It was idyllic. Not for long thats just the first wave. There are more on the way from Iraq, Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Community leaders were told at a recent Boise State University conference held for stakeholders including church groups and social service providers that a couple of thousand refugees are planned to a arrive statewide soon. This is nothing less than an invasion and a displacement of the people who have lived in these areas for generations. It is the redistribution of a religious demographic and this will not end well. Over 90% of the refugees from Syria alone are Sunni Muslims. And in their midst are terrorists, I guarantee it. They will move in and begin converting whole communities to Islam using sweet talk and threats. Many, many more mosques will pop up that are funded by the likes of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The call to prayer will be heard where the buffalo roam and the antelope play. Shariah law will worm its tentacles into each community. Im not being dramatic. Im telling you this will happen if this keeps up. This is how countries fall and slaves are made. This is the Caliphate moving into our midst and those who support ISIS will set up house in these small towns. What do you think will happen? And it wont take that long either. It didnt in Germany, France, Norway or Sweden. Why would it be different here? We are being lied to by the Obama administration and by our leaders. They claim they will bring in 10,000 a year. Dont make me laugh. You can look for a minimum of 100,000 to 200,000 a year to come in once the floodgates are opened. Obama himself has said this and he means it. All of these refugees will come from Islamic countries and the vast majority will be Muslim. Almost none of them will be Christians. They do not assimilate they do not integrate. Instead, they force communities to conform to how they wish to live. People need to check into what is going on and what is about to happen where they live. Your politicians will not willingly tell you. Why is this happening? Its simply a political agenda. One that wants more power and money for those in control and one that wants to get rid of our pesky constitutional rights and subjugate Americans. Obama acts more like a proxy for the mullahs of Iran these days than President of the United States. We each need to fight this in our communities before it is too late. This is the beginning of the Hijrah migration here in the US and it is the ultimate enemy within. UNICEF Executive Board The Executive Board is the governing body of UNICEF, providing intergovernmental support and oversight to the organization, in accordance with the overall policy guidance of the United Nations General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Server dump reveals Clinton confidants savaging Prime Minister and plotting against Israel Earlier this week, I wrote about Hillary Clintons interactions with Sid Blumenthal and her troubling praise of his son, Max Blumenthals anti-Israel agenda. Mr. Blumenthal, one of her most trusted advisers, sent her dozens of anti-Israel articles, ideas and advice during her time as Secretary of State. But the stream of anti-Israel advice received by Ms. Clinton was much more comprehensive. Now, we see emails between Ms. Clinton and other advisors and the results are equally appalling. In the entire forced dump of her emails, you will be hard-pressed to find a single note that is sympathetic toward the Jewish state from any of the people she trusted. The negative, poisonous approach Ms. Clinton established demonstrates that a huge segment of her close advisers and confidants were attacking Israel, condemning Netanyahu, and strategizing how to force Israel to withdraw from Judea and Samaria at all costs. Take a look at a sampling of the advice sent to Ms. Clinton from her many advisers, to which we have now become privy. There would also be a certain shaming effect re Israelis, who would be building settlements in the face of a pledge for peace. Sandy Berger was Ms. Clintons foreign policy adviser during her 2008 presidential campaign, and had some choice advice in September 2010 when he sent Ms. Clinton ideas on how to pressure Israel to make concessions for peace. Mr. Berger acknowledged how fragile is Abbass political position, and how Palestinians are in disarray, and Failure is a real possibility. Mr. Berger was well aware, and informed Ms. Clinton, of the very real possibility that Israel would be placing its national security at grave risk in a deal that would very likely fail and lead to a Hamas takeover. But Mr. Berger felt the risks to Israeli lives were worth it. He advised making Netanyahu feel uneasy about incurring our displeasure. Mr. Berger emphasized the need to convince the prime ministerthrough various forms of overt persuasion and implicit pressureto make the necessary compromises and talked of the possibilityto turn his position against him. Astoundingly, Mr. Berger seemed to accuse the Jews in America of racism toward Obama. At a political level, the past year has clearly demonstrated the degree to which the U.S. has been hamstrung by its low ratings in Israel and among important segments of the domestic Jewish constituency, he writes. Domestically, he faces a reservoir of skepticism on this issue which reflects many factors, including inexcusable prejudice. Anne Marie Slaughter was Ms. Clintons director of policy planning from 2009 to 2011. She wrote Ms. Clinton in September 2010, devising a scheme to encourage wealthy philanthropists to pledge millions to the Palestinians (which no doubt would have been embezzled by Abbas and his cronies as were other funds). Mr. Pickering felt this extreme risk was worth taking, even if it meant violence breaking out across the West Bank, leading to a third intifada and the murder of countless Jews. Ms. Slaughter writes, This may be a crazy idea Suppose we launched a Pledge for Palestine campaign Such a campaign among billionaires/multi-millionaires around the world would reflect a strong vote of confidence in the building of a Palestinian state. She adds, There would also be a certain shaming effect re Israelis, who would be building settlements in the face of a pledge for peace. Ms. Clinton responded: I am very interested-pls flesh out. Thx. Robert Russo, one of Ms. Clintons aides and currently her campaigns Director of Correspondence and Briefings sent an email in April 2012 informing Ms. Clinton of Netanyahus father passing, advising her to give him a condolence call. Included with Mr. Russos email is an extremely biased article attacking both Netanyahu and his fatherdescribing them as virulently racist warmongers, and calling the elder Netanyahu a behind-the-scenes adviser to his son, the most powerful person in Israel. The article notes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeatedly denied that his father was a one-dimensional ideologue. He further emphasized that he himself was a different person from his father. But then it goes on to say, without providing any proof whatsoever, Israelis seemed in the dark about the extent of paternal influence on their leader, and to understand Bibi, you have to understand the father. One might be forgiven if they were to question the sympathy and sincerity when Ms. Clinton later placed the call and gave Netanyahu her condolences. Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel wrote Ms. Clinton on December 18, 2011, suggesting a secret plan to stir up major Palestinian protests in an attempt to force the Israeli government into peace negotiations. He stated that the protests must be all and only women. Why? On the Palestinian side the male culture is to use force. Mr. Pickerings goal was to ignite protests that would engulf the West Bank, just like Tahrir square. He adds that the Palestinian leadership has shied away from this idea because they cant control it, and they are afraid of being replaced. This idiotic reasoning that somehow only women would participate and things would stay peaceful is obviously absurd. As Mr. Pickering himself notes, Palestinian men will not for long patiently demonstratethey will be inclined over time and much too soon to be frustrated and use force. Their male culture comes close to requiring it. Regardless, Mr. Pickering writes that the protests could be used against Israel to influence the political leadership. The idea was as dangerous for the Palestinians as it was for Israel. As Mr. Pickering admits, widespread protests could overthrow Abbas government, and if Palestinian men joined in, widespread violence would inevitably break out. It would obviously be impossible to prevent men from participating in these demonstrations, yet Mr. Pickering felt this extreme risk was worth taking, even if it meant the replacement of Abbas with another Hamas-styled governmenteven if it meant violence breaking out across the West Bank, leading to a third intifada and the murder of countless Jews. He emphasized the need to hide all U.S. involvement in this plot. Ms. Clinton forwarded the email to Monica Hanley and asked her to pls print. Clandestinely stirring up potentially violent protests in an attempt to force Israel to go against its best interests? Advice like this was par for the course when it came to Ms. Clintons advisers. In a follow-up column well illuminate even more anti-Israel advice that was given the then-Secretary of State. Sadly, there is just so much of it. Scientists have for the first time sequenced the genome of New York City bed bugs, a discovery that could pave the way to develop insecticides to kill the bed bugs, Discovery News reports. One group of researchers, led by the American Museum of Natural History's Jeffrey Rosenfeld, in a Nature Communications study, discovered that the genes in the bedbug, Cimex lectularius, are expressed the most after it feeds on blood for the first time. The group found that bugs from different parts of the city had different genetic makeups. Another group of scientists, also writing in Nature Communications, found that the bed bugs have 187 potential genes that allow them to repeatedly feed on humans without causing pain. The researchers also identified genes that make the bed bugs resistant to insecticide. They discovered that the proteins in the animals' cuticle prevent insecticide penetration and enzymes that detoxify the chemicals. "Bedbugs are one of New York City's most iconic living fossils, along with cockroaches, meaning that their outward appearance has hardly changed throughout their long lineage," said one of the paper's corresponding authors George Amato, director of the Museum's Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics. "But despite their static look, we know that they continue to evolve, mostly in ways that make it harder for humans to dissociate with them. This work gives us the genetic basis to explore the bedbug's basic biology and its adaptation to dense human environments." Researchers are hopeful that the discovered genome will help discover better insecticides for bed bugs and also help to better identify allergens associated with their infestation. "Having this resources opens up a lot of potential new rounds of research in dealing with bed bugs," said the University of Cincinnati's Joshua Benoit, who was a co-author on the second paper and is part of the International Bed Bug Genome Project Collaboration, said in a statement. "In a year or two, we might actually develop better ways to control bed bugs." For the study, the researchers extracted DNA and RNA from preserved and living collections, including samples from a population that was first collected in 1973 and has been maintained by American Museum of Natural History. "It's not enough to just sequence a genome, because by itself it does not tell the full story," said Mark Siddall, one of the paper's corresponding authors and a curator in the Museum's Division of Invertebrate Zoology and Sackler Institute for Comparative Genomics. "In addition to the DNA, you want to get the RNA, or the expressed genes, and you want that not just from a single bedbug, but from both males and females at each part of the life cycle. Then you can really start asking questions about how certain genes relate to blood-feeding, insecticide resistance, and other vital functions." Europe may be inadvertently encouraging global warming by increasing the amount of dark green conifers it is planting. According to Reuters, Europe upped its tree-planting efforts based on research that suggested more forestation was better for slowing climate change. But a new study published in the journal Science suggests the darker trees did not help in the way Europe thought it would. "Even well managed forests today store less carbon than their natural counterparts in 1750," study lead author Kim Naudts, of the Laboratory of Climate Science and Environment in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, told BBC News. "Due to the shift to conifer species, there was a warming over Europe of almost 0.12 degrees and that is caused because the conifers are darker and absorb more solar radiation." For the study, the researchers examined average temperatures in Europe during the summer and found a 0.12 degree Celsius rise since 1750. They also found the more global-warming-preventative lighter trees were decreasing at the hands of the conifers, which are known to grow quickly. "Obviously forest loss and forest degradation strongly contributed to greenhouse gas emissions until the 1950s," Marcus Lindner, head of the Sustainability and Climate Change Research Programme at the European Forest Institute, told The Washington Post. "I find it not credible to combine 200 years of suspected negative contribution to climate change mitigation with 60 years of positive climate change mitigation through management and then claim that (based on combined 260 years) forest management does not work." Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is a chronic debilitating condition that is characterised by suprapubic pain and urinary symptoms such as urgency, nocturia and urinary frequency. The prevalence of the condition is increasing due to more inclusive diagnostic criteria. Herein, we review the evolving epidemiology of IC/PBS and investigate health seeking behaviour for the condition through Internet search activity. Study selection was performed in accordance with PRISMA. In addition, global search trends for the terms 'Interstitial Cystitis' and 'Painful Bladder Syndrome' from 2005 to 2015 were also evaluated using the 'Google Trends' search application. The mean search activity per month was recorded and mean activity at annual intervals calculated. Regional search activity by country and city was also measured. Prevalence rates for IC/PBS vary according to diagnostic criteria and range from 2% to 17. 3% among the general population. Increased prevalence is associated with female gender and females with one first-degree relative affected. There has been an increase in global mean search activity for IC/PBS on an annual basis since 2005. The greatest increase in search activity was in USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland and India respectively. The top five cities for search activity for IC/PBS were in the USA. As diagnostic criteria for IC/PBS continues to become more inclusive it is likely that the prevalence will continue to increase. This is particularly true for the USA and Canada as these regions have demonstrated the greatest increase in Internet search activity for IC/ PBS. Translational andrology and urology. 2015 Oct [Epub] Niall F Davis, Sanjith Gnanappiragasam, John A Thornhill Department of Urology, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. , Department of Urology, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. , Department of Urology, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. PubMed Full Text Article Intravesical therapy has previously shown to be effective in delaying or preventing recurrence of superficial bladder cancer. This local route of drug administration is now demonstrating promise in the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) with the benefit of minimal systemic side effects. Liposomes (LPs) are lipid vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers surrounding an aqueous core. They can incorporate drug molecules, both hydrophobic and hydrophilic, and vastly improve cellular uptake of these drug molecules via endocytosis. Intravesical LPs have therapeutic effects on IC/BPS patients, mainly due to their ability to form a protective lipid film on the urothelial surface and repair the damaged urothelium. This review considers the current status of intravesical LPs and LP mediated drug delivery for the treatment of IC/BPS. Translational andrology and urology. 2015 Oct [Epub] Joseph J Janicki, Michele A Gruber, Michael B Chancellor Lipella Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA 15208, USA. , Lipella Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA 15208, USA. , Lipella Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA 15208, USA. PubMed Full Text Article Aug. 19, 2022 Fitness. When the average citizen thinks of being fit, it is easy for cardio and strength training to come to mind. That is not the case for those serving in the Air Force and Space Force. Comprehensive Airman Fitness teaches that to have overarching fitness and resilience, one must work on his or Cadet 2nd Class Schaeffer McHenry is political science major, a cadet athlete and an element leader for Cadet Squadron 01. As an element leader, I am responsible for six subordinates, their wellbeing and success throughout the spring semester. It is a lot of responsibility, but something I deeply enjoy. Its a position where I have a direct effect on the lives of the cadets under my leadership. I am also a squadron PEER, essentially a counselor for the squadron. Im the person in the squadron who other cadets turn to when they are stressed out, sad or having issues or just want to talk. It can be a very busy job and requires me to keep my eyes and ears open at all times, but it is a job I love." Hometown: Naples, Florida Favorite aspect of being a cadet: The opportunities the Academy provides. I have participated in the soaring program, which drove me to want to be a pilot; the Cadet for a Day Program; traveled to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi to learned more about the operational Air Force; and many others. This summer, I will travel to Nerja, Spain as part of the Academys cultural immersion program. This is another opportunity that had I not attended the Academy, I would miss out on. There are so many amazing things to get involved in at the Academy. Hobbies/interests: Intercollegiate fencing, serving as cadet in charge of the Cadet for a Day Program, volunteer support for the less-fortunate. Advice to cadets: No matter what, keep pushing through. There were times I wanted to quit, but if I had, I would have missed out on a lifetime of opportunity. Cling to your classmates during the toughest times and they will push you to keep going. Never forget why you wanted to come to the Academy in the first place. Even when you want to give up, never forget this. I promise you, it will all be worth it. Air officer commanding quote: The tremendous qualities of Cadet McHenry are known throughout the Cadet Wing. Her reputation precedes her and I cannot tell you how many individuals, from the Dean of Faulty and other units, including the 306th Flying Training Group, tell me what an amazing job she does as a cadet leader and for a variety of programs, including Cadet for a Day. Maj. David Pouska New Report Suggests Strategic Land-Use Planning Can Increase Firefighting Efficiency Building houses far apart and in locales beyond town -- the wildland-urban interface -- increases firefighting costs in the Rocky Mountain West, according to a new report from the Open Spaces Initiative at the University of Wyoming. The authors suggest strategic land-use planning can reduce wildfire suppression costs by increasing firefighting efficiency. Residential Development Effects on Firefighting Costs in the Wildland-Urban Interface lead author Anna Scofield spent 10 years as a wildland firefighter before taking up the research at UW. According to the report, available from UW Extension at www.bit.ly/Firedevelopmentcost, the dramatic rise in firefighting costs over the last decade is due, in part, to the growth of residential development in the wildland-urban interface. Protecting homes from fire is dangerous and expensive. Solutions to rising costs must address that reality, Scofield says. Costs are higher in the wildland-urban interface because firefighters shift from simple fire containment to structure protection, she says, adding that the cost of full suppression is significantly higher. Widely dispersed developments and isolated homes also require more resources to protect than homes clustered in one area. Scofield says land-use decisions at the town and county levels have major consequences for federal wildland fire management. Our research offers local governments a middle ground between legislation that ignores the increased suppression costs of development in the wildland-urban interface and policies that exclude that development altogether, she says. Using data from 291 wildfires in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming from 2002-2011, researchers found a single isolated home can add $225,000 to overall firefighting costs, while a home within a dense cluster can contribute as little as $100. The Wyoming Open Spaces Initiative supports Wyoming citizens conservation of open spaces through research, information, education and decision-making assistance, according to its website. Its research explores agricultural sustainability, community planning and development, wildlife and other cultural, economic and environmental issues. The initiative is a collaborative effort of the UW Ruckelshaus Institute of Environment and Natural Resources, the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center, the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, the Department of Geography, UW Extension and the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database. Residential Development Effects on Firefighting Costs in the Wildland-Urban Interface also is available for download from the Ruckelshaus Institute at www.bit.ly/haubfirecosts. To request a hard copy, email ruckelshaus@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-5146. Wyoming Business Tips for Feb. 14-20 A weekly look at Wyoming business questions from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (WSBDC), part of WyomingEntrepreneur.Biz, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming. By John Privette, SBDC regional director What is the foreign market potential for my product? Dale, Cheyenne If you are currently exporting or thinking of exporting, one of the first steps is to validate what foreign market offers the best opportunity for your product. Gathering and evaluating export statistics is a proactive approach. However, your business may already be exporting without conducting any market research; your company responded to an unsolicited order from a foreign buyer. Many firms take a reactive market selection approach that is based on an unsolicited foreign order, a pattern of past export sales inquiries or how a competitors product is selling in a foreign market. This approach is appealing, for it is a relatively low-cost method in selecting a foreign market. A few reactive market selection approaches include: -- Sales Leads -- Leads received from foreign markets generated through your firms domestic marketing efforts are excellent indicators. Its important to focus on the trends such as what foreign countries are generating the most leads. The pattern is a good indicator to direct additional information-gathering efforts. -- Domestic Trade Shows -- An industry-specific trade show is an excellent way to investigate foreign market potential. Many industry trade shows have foreign visitors or exhibitors. This forum allows you to talk to participants, visit booths of foreign firms offering similar or competing products, or participate in organized match-making events sponsored at the show. -- Network with Industry Experts -- Develop contacts within your industry such as with publication editors and marketing directors of companies that sell similar products into the international market. These relationships developed over time can provide valuable insights into country, customer and market dynamics. The task to gather and evaluate export statistics may seem daunting, but a proactive approach places a greater emphasis on your firms independent market potential analysis rather than placing total reliance on the accidental export sale, sales made by the competition or other reactive information-gathering approaches. Combining the benefits of reactive and proactive foreign market selection methods will better prepare your firm for exporting success. The Wyoming Entrepreneur Small Business Development Center is available to assist your efforts to identify the best foreign market opportunity for your product. We have access to export statistical resources that can help your company screen potential foreign markets. A blog version of this article and an opportunity to post comments are available at http://wyen.biz/blog1/. The WSBDC is a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Business Council and the University of Wyoming. To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY, 82071-3922. In the video above, the establishment candidate for the Pennsylvania Democratic Senate nomination, Katie McGinty, is very clear that she didn't accept any money from the oil and gas industry. That's what Democrats expect from their nominees since the oil and gas industry seeks to bribe politicians with funding. Pennsylvania Democrats ended the sleazy career of pro-fracking Blue Dog Tim Holden in 2012 when progressive insurgent Matt Cartwright called him out for his ties to Big Oil. Although Holden was heavily backed by the same corrupt Pennsylvania establishment that backs McGinty, Cartwright beat him 57-43%. It's worth noting that although Holden was the dean of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and had been in Congress for two decades starting in 1993, McGinty has never been elected to anything anywhere and her one try for elected office-- in 2014-- resulted in complete rejection by Democratic primary voters, only 7.66% backing her on election day. Despite her claim to not be taking Oil and Gas money, it turns out her FEC disclosure shows the worst of the fracking industry has pumped over $125,000 into her Senate campaign in the last few months, not to mention thousands more from fracking industry lobbyists. This is especially ironic since McGinty has been instructed by Schumer to falsely claim that she's an environmentalist-- just as he has done with Florida Schumercrat Patrick Murphy despite Murphy's lock-step votes for the Keystone XL Pipeline and for oil drilling off Florida's pristine beaches. McGinty hates her claim on having worked as an environmental advisor to conservative administrations that always played footsie with Big Oil-- Bill Clinton's and Ed Rendell's. A few days ago we talked about how right-wing Democrat Gene Green has been taking oil money and pushing their agenda for a very long time. He was elected in 1992, the same year as Holden. Although the Energy Sector contributes primarily to Republicans, since he's been in Congress he's taken $1,221,738 from the sector, more than any other Democrat in the House other than Majority Whip Steny Hoyer. In return, Green protects their interests from his perch on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy. He is widely considered one of the worst of the pro-pollution Democrats in Congress and consistently takes the side of special interests rather than consumers and working families in his Houston area district. Blue America has endorsed Adrian Garcia, his progressive primary opponent, and if you'd like to help his campaign, you can do so here This page has found a new home The European Commission has announced that 2.9 million will be redistributed under the EU school scheme to support displaced Ukrainian children. Jon Heyman of MLB Network now reports that it is a major league deal in which the Toronto Blue Jays have reached with Floyd for one-year which includes a base salary of $1MM plus another $1MM in incentives based on days on the club's active roster. RHP Chad Jenkins has been designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Toronto Blue Jays are said to be progressing towards a deal with veteran right-hander Gavin Floyd, as according to a report from Jon Heyman of MLB Network on Thursday evening. As reported by Chris Cotillo of SB Nation, the two sides are in agreement as a deal is currently pending a physical on what would appear to be minor-league based. As noted by MLBTradeRumors, the Baltimore Orioles were said to have interest in the 33 year old earlier in the offseason, however, talks never intensified to a point of which the signing would materialize. Floyd has faced his ups and downs over the course of the past three seasons and he has seen minimal playing time. The fact is he's injury prone to a certain extent of which his most recent absence was due to Tommy John surgery most recently in 2014 while fresh into a clean slate with the Atlanta Braves. The news came not long after he was activated from the DL where he had gone in for a previous round of the same operation in 2013 after suffering an injury with the Chicago White Sox. Once he became healthy, he joined the Cleveland Indians on a minor league deal for 2015 where he has remained healthy ever since. Over the time he played with the Braves, he pitched with an ERA of 2.65 alongside a record of 2-2 in 54 1/3 innings pitched while healthy before concluding his season to undergo yet another operation. Floyd has been at the top of the starting rotation before, however, over the years has proven to be a better fit for a middle spot in the order. He looks to work his way back to form in Toronto, trying to put a rocky couple of seasons behind him. This would be the second time in which Floyd is signed by a team under the management of president Mark Shapiro and GM Ross Atkins as they brought him to Cleveland in 2015. The two of them must think highly of him to bring him in for another tour of duty with a new city. Floyd played in 7 total games this past season where he had pitched with an ERA of 2.70 ERA alongside a 0-0 record of in just over 13 innings of work. Over that time span, he recorded just seven strikeouts. Given the club's internal options heading into 2016, Floyd will have to prove himself in what hopefully does not lead to another upcoming surgery which would then be his first full season since 2012. It seems as if he will start off the regular season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. Floyd is a former first round draft pick (4th overall) of the Philadelphia Phillies back in 2001 where he spent three seasons before being traded to Chicago in 2006 alongside LHP Gio Gonzalez in exchange for RHP Freddy Garcia. He made his major league debut in 2004. Looking back at his best season in the majors, that would be 2008 when he went 17-8 in 33 starts where he threw 206.1 innings. Analysis of how the world economy works Salesfloor the e-commerce platform closed $3 million seed fund, led by BDC Capital IT Venture Fund and two London-based angel investors Jamie True and Jon Claydon. Salesfloor will use the fund to enter global market. The company created a platform that enable associates in retail ecommerce site to fully personalize their online store. Up to now, ecommerce site only provide a little personalized service. Salesfloor provide a customization in a Saas (software-as-a-service) platform for retail web stores to create their personalized storefront. Salesfloor CEO Oscar Sachs told PE Hub Network regarding the technology ,"We call it People Powered Ecommerce." He further explained "We are redefining the role of today's retail associate so they can drive online business. That's how online shopping will grow to the next level and make retail jobs more exciting and rewarding than ever. " Up to now, Salesfloor has been used by some of the big retailers such as Saks, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Stuart Weitzman and Harry Rosen. Even Toys "R" Us uses Salesfloor in its desktop and mobile products to create a unique environment for its shoppers. It is reported that with Salesfloor, retailers experienced a ten times increase in conversions and a 75% surge in average order value (AOV). Saks Senior Vice President Digital Retail Joe Milano told Business Wire regarding the improvement it has with the customers service, "Today's all-channel customer wants a high level of service, regardless of channel." Saks is one of prominent client of Salesfloor and mr. Milano said, "Salesfloor helped us address that opportunity and our associates are seeing real success." On Tuesday, BDC Capital IT Venture Fund and two London-based angels Jamie True and Jon Claydon raised a $3 million seed fund to Salesfloor. Jamie True is the founder of Work Angel Technology, a social network platform for companies that integrate all communications within the companies in one place. While Jon Claydon is the chairman of Work Angel Technology, and also chairman in Havas Work Club, a digital marketing agency and YunoJuno, a freelancer talent platform and marketplace. Venture Beat reported that the investment will be used to enhance the product, penetrate the global market and hires aces for its team. Product enhancement will be done by developing new features and module that cater specific industry needs. In order to prepare the company to enter global market, Salesfloor hired Alistair Crane as Chief Revenue Officer, and leading the company's global sales. He was a former Chief Sales Officer of Monitise, the London-based online payment service provider. With the $3 million seed funding from BDC Capital IT Venture Fund and two angel investors, Salesforce prepares to enter the global market. The company has also formulated its global sales team and hiring a new leader for leading the team. Toyota Motor Corp. is conducting feasibility study on introducing Daihatsu small car brand in India. If the approach appears true, Suzuki Motor Co., the market leader of small car segment is believed to witness a huge blow. Daihatsu has been witnessing huge competition with Suzuki in Japan's mini car market. Suzuki dominates in India through Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. However, introducing Daihatsu in India will require all new models aiming to offer small cars at competitive and affordable price, reports Bloomberg quoting Naomi Ishii, managing director of Toyota's India unit, while narrating the entry barriers in an interview at the New Delhi Auto Show. Suzuki has already won approval from shareholders in December to set up its first wholly owned car plant in its biggest market, bypassing local unit. India may leave behind China, US, Germany and Japan to become the world's third-biggest buyer of new vehicles in 2019, according to a research conducted by HIS Automotive. Morocco launched a massive solar power plant in the Sahara Desert on Thursday, inaugurated by the king, Mohammed VI of Morocco. The power plant, called Noor 1, is only the first phase of the grand plan that would result in the largest solar power production facility in the world once completed. There are still two remaining phases, Noor 2 and Noor 3 until the whole plant is finished. The Noor 1 alone is capable of generating 160 megawatts of power of the 580 megawatts capacity. That makes the first phase alone the world's biggest solar thermal power plants, and it's sufficient to account for solar electricity for 650,000 local people. And once all the phases are finished, the facility would be adequate to provide electricity for 1.1 million people. On Thursday, King Mohammed VI turned the switch on, and the plant will start functioning. At the same event, the King will also lay the foundations for the second phase, Noor 2. The Noor 1 is expected to launch in December but was delayed. The third and final stage, Noor 3, is planned to finish in 2018. This project is a move made by Morocco to achieve its long-term goal in the energy aspect. The country plans to generate 42 percent of its energy from renewables including solar, wind and hydropower by 2020. The shift in energy sources will also help Morocco save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions annually. Climate Investment Funds (CIF) and the World Bank are also involved in funding this massive project. The manager of CIF Mafalda Duarte told The Guardian about the importance of the project, "It's a very, very significant project in Africa. Morocco is showing real leadership and bringing the cost of technology down in the process." CIF also stated that Morocco is chosen for this project because of its political stability. Duarte added, as quoted by US News, "Morocco was more advanced in terms of regulatory framework and having the building blocks in place, whereas Tunisia and Egypt went through the Arab Spring. The World Bank, according to NPR, also considered this move highly important for Morocco. The project will make Morocco less reliant on imported energy sources. Last year, 97 percent of the country's energy consumption was imported. The power plant facility project would benefit millions of people in Morocco as well as reducing emission and supporting the country's development directly and indirectly. Once completed, this facility consisting of three stages would be the world's largest solar power production. FILE PHOTO SHARE By Staff Reports A for-profit Simi Valley beauty school is one of dozens that are closing nationwide after being charged with improprieties in requesting federal financial aid for students. The Marinello School of Beauty announced the closures earlier this week, after the U.S. Department of Education said it could no longer provide federal financial aid. The company "knowingly" requested the aid based on invalid high school diplomas and misrepresented itself to students, the department said in a news release. In an online letter Thursday, Marinello said it will host meetings on its campuses to give students paperwork and information on their options. The Simi Valley campus is at 1125 E. Los Angeles Ave. The school did not return phone calls. Contributed Photos/Ed Krieger Larry Raben (left) and Nick Santa Maria perform in Cabrillo Music Theatres A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza through Feb. 14. Rita Moran Columnist SHARE Santa Maria (from left), Raben, David Ruprecht and Andrew Metzger perform in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. You really dont have to understand the plot to notice the outstanding cast. Contributed Photo/Ed Krieger Matt Merchant, center, and the cast of Cabrillo Music Theatres A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum perform at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza through Feb. 14. Contributed Photo/Ed Krieger Nick Santa Maria, left, and Amy Lenhardt perform in Cabrillo Music Theatres A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza through Feb. 14. "Forum" is at the Forum, and that's a funny thing. The Larry Gelbart-Burt Shevelove slapstick comedy, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, is on stage at the Scherr Forum, the smaller theater at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Center, through Feb. 14. It might not be the perfect Valentine gift, unless old-fashioned buffoonery, laced with cleverly updated dialogue and nonstop silliness is your dish. But it's hard to imagine than anyone could sit through this Cabrillo Music Theatre version of the 1962 show and not burst into unexpected laughter or giggles, many stirred by contemporary references. Helming the show is artistic director Lewis Wilkenfeld, whose work with Cabrillo over the years has garnered 52 Ovation nominations and eight wins. John Charron is choreographer and musical direction of the company's orchestra is by Lloyd Cooper. The zany plot is set "200 years before the Christian era" on a street in Rome where the houses of Erronius, Senex and Lycus sit as peculiar next-door neighbors. The white-bearded Erronius, played with dogged goofiness by Tom Hall, a longtime local talent most often seen in Shakespeare's works, early on leaves his house to trek repeatedly around the city at the suggestion of a sooth-saying fraud. Senex also takes off for a trip with his domineering wife, Domina (get it?), leaving his slaves to run the roost. As for the house of Marcus Lycus, it's fully packed with available women of multiple talents. What could possibly go wrong? In the absence of Senex, his naive young son Hero is in charge. He swiftly falls in love from a distance with Philia, who's been sold to a prominent warrior, Miles Gloriosus (Matt Merchant), by Lycus and is at his house ostensibly learning the tricks of the trade. The young would-be lovers are both virgins, which can't be said about anyone else around, with the possible exception of the eunuchs. Hero's slave Pseudolus is determined to be free so offers to earn his escape by guaranteeing Hero his beloved. Hysterium, another slave, reluctantly agrees to help Pseudolus. A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM Cabrillo Music Theatres presentation of the Larry Gelbart and Burt Shevelove slapstick comedy, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, through Feb. 14 in the Scherr Forum at the Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. An additional performance has been added at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. $30-$69. 449-2787. Soon Miles Gloriosus returns from battle, looking at the world as something to conquer, now a fine military leader with a compatibly commanding voice, as he sings "Bring Me My Bride." Commotion ensues. An array of exotically distracting residents of Lycus' house takes the stage to lure Miles away from Philia: Beth Alison (Vibrata), Julie Auxier (Tintinabula), Kai Chubb and Janelle Loren (paired Geminae), Amy Lenhardt (Panacea) and Anne Montavon (Gymnasia). The agile and extremely talented crew shakes up everybody, except Miles, who still demands his virgin. Chaos abounds. But you really don't have to understand the plot to notice the outstanding cast. Nick Santa Maria as Pseudolus is the central plotter who never lets a joke die, even if it takes a bit of nudging; Larry Raben is an equally funny, and more sophisticated comic who endures "becoming" a dead Philia to forward the plot; David Ruprecht is Senex looking for one last fling before he fades; and Andrew Metzger is the comically crafty Lycus. Elise Dewsberry nails the character of Domina, Tyler Miclean is the amusingly clueless Hero and Claire Adams is the even more clueless Philia. Both are recent USC graduates. Not to be forgotten are the proteans, who play multiple roles with synchronization and pizazz: Marcus S. Daniel, Jake Novak and Pablo Rossil. Sensibilities have morphed considerably since the 1960s, especially about depiction of women, but in "Funny Thing" the men are clearly not rocket scientists, while some of the women could be, had there been rockets at the time. Contributed Photo/Zachary Andrew From left, Lily Nicksay, Clarinda Ross, Erik Odom and Sharon Sharth admire the iconic birdhouse in the porch drama See Rock City by Arlene Hutton. Rita Moran Columnist SHARE Contributed Photo/Zachary Andrew Lily Nicksay, left, and Erik Odom reprise their roles as May and Raleigh in See Rock City. Performances run through Feb. 14 at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura. Contributed Photo/Zachary Andrew Lily Nicksay, right, and Erik Odom reprise their roles as May and Raleigh in See Rock City. Contributed Photo/Zachary Andrew Lily Nicksay, left, and Erik Odom reprise their roles as May and Raleigh in See Rock City. Performances run through Feb. 14 at the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura. There's a special art to taking everyday moments and transforming them into utterly fascinating theater. Recognizing that gift in playwright Arlene Hutton, Rubicon Theatre Company has embraced her three compact plays, "Nibroc Trilogy," which glow with the gentle fire of the simple truths, and struggles, of ordinary people. On the Rubicon's stage through Feb. 14 is the second of those plays, "See Rock City," following on the company's production last season of the first, "Last Train to Nibroc." Rubicon promises to bring the final of the three, "Gulf View Drive," to its stage next season. The serendipity of it all is a combination of Rubicon leaders' recognition of the quality of Hutton's work, the skills of director Katharine Farmer, who was just 21 when she directed the first Nibroc drama at Rubicon and has returned to lend her special touch to the second, and the warmth and humor of the leads, Erik Odom as Raleigh and Lily Nicksay as May. In the first segment of the trilogy, which was set in the 1940s while World War II was still being waged, the audience finds Raleigh and May incidentally meeting on that train. It seems an unlikely couple given her goal of becoming a missionary and his still-searing disappointment at being released from the Army he had so eagerly joined a few months earlier. Eventually he tells her that it was a medical discharge for his tendency to have occasional "fits," later diagnosed as a form of epilepsy. SEE ROCK CITY Rubicon Theatre Company presentation of Arlene Huttons sequel to Last Train to Nibroc, staged by the company last season; through Feb. 14 at 1006 E. Main St., Ventura. 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. $25-$54. 667-2900, www.rubicontheatre.org. But the bond between them gradually strengthens and in "See Rock City" they are happy newlyweds, living with her parents in the small Kentucky town of Corbin. The setting and characters for the plays are drawn from Hutton's own background, with the rural Appalachian folks reflecting elements of the lives of her parents and grandmothers. As the couple's bond grows and subtly changes, two new characters reflect their backgrounds. May's mother, Mrs. Gill, is played with quiet grace and wisdom by Sharon Sharth. And Raleigh's mother, Mrs. Brummett, bristling with bad humor and a dour view of life, gets a zesty performance from Clarinda Ross. But it's Odom and Nicksay who continue to make the story intensely moving. Hutton's colloquial dialogue, salted with humor, is so natural and so effortlessly delivered that it seems the audience isn't simply watching a well-spun drama but has become part of the family. Major changes come in May's and Raleigh's lives, her successes and disappointments as a teacher, his encouraging recognition as a writer among them. But the lure of the play is being there to experience it with the characters. You might feel you're part of the family too, sitting on the front porch and sipping lemonade with Raleigh and May. COURTESY PHOTO Images of breaching humpback whales taken during research activities permitted under National Marine Fisheries Service permit No. 17845. SHARE By READER SUBMITTED CONTENT | Kristin Steiner Camarillo, Calif., Feb. 4, 2016 A whale surging up from the ocean and splashing back into the waves is one of the oceans most magnificent sights, but scientists have never understood exactly why whales put on this spectacular show, called breaching. After five years of study, CSU Channel Islands (CI) Biology lecturer Rachel Cartwright, Ph.D., has an answer as to why whales breach specifically, young whales. Her findings were published at the end of January in the Public Library of Science, an open-access, peer-reviewed online journal at http://www.plosone.org. Scientists had long theorized that whales breached as a form of play or socialization, but Cartwrights research conducted with Biology lecturer Cori Newton, Ph.D., six CI undergraduate researchers, and five supporting organizations, shows that breaching actually strengthens a young whales diving capacity. Our research clearly demonstrates that extreme exercise, such as breaching, has an important role in the development of the ability to breath-hold for young baleen whales, allowing them to make longer dives, Cartwright said. Baleen whales describe the approximately 14 species of whale whose mouths are equipped with plates of baleen, a substance similar to keratin. The plates allow them to strain plankton. The humpback and gray whales common in the Santa Barbara Channel are examples of baleen whales. Cartwright and her team of researchers studied muscle tissue from whales that had died after being stranded. The researchers determined that the exertion required to leap out of the ocean increases the level of myoglobin levels in young whales. Like hemoglobin in humans, myoglobin carries oxygen in the muscles of whales. Cartwright said breaching is a very specific activity that resembles a somersault starting underwater and rising out of the waves until the whale turns and lands on its back. Exercise releases calcium in the muscle cells and that calcium is a trigger to this molecular pathway, she said. When older whales breach, it may be more social in nature, she said. Undergraduate researchers like Biology major/Chemistry minor Lila Hernandez, 22, were thrilled to be involved in a groundbreaking research project, a privilege often enjoyed just by graduate students. Hernandez said undergraduate opportunities like this one are part of what drew her to enroll at CI. Because its a smaller school, it gives students the opportunity to actually interact with the professor rather than sit in a class of 500 and just interact with the teachers assistant, she said. The role Hernandez and the other undergraduate researchers played was to analyze muscle tissue samples in the lab. She hopes to get involved with a career in wildlife management after she graduates in May. Adding new perspective to the research was an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV, which the team got permission to operate off the coast of Maui this year. CI Business lecturer Alan Jaeger and his brother Ryan Jaeger operated the UAVs. Both teach classes in UAV operation through the Ventura County Office of Education. The UAV we used was specifically designed to be waterproof so we can operate it safely in the water, Alan Jaeger said. Once we locate where the young whale is, we work with Dr. Cartwright and her team to hover the UAV at a safe and specific altitude so we can get the best imagery for aerial measurements. Alan Jaeger said he looks forward to further developing this novel use of the UAV technology with help from the students. Cartwright says she plans to use the aerial photos to assess the body condition and growth rates of humpback whale calves as she continues her research. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Ventura County Medical Examiners Office lies near the county hospital in Ventura. By Kathleen Wilson and Cheri Carlson County managers said Thursday they expect to decide shortly on whether to reinstate an investigator in the medical examiner's office who performed postmortem exams without a license to do so. After an eight-month investigation, District Attorney Greg Totten said this week that the practice was highly inappropriate. But prosecutors say they found insufficient evidence to warrant criminal charges against former Chief Medical Examiner Jon Smith or Armando Chavez, the investigator who performed exams under Smith's direction, because the law was unclear. "We're reviewing the report and we will determine a course of action (on Chavez) based on that report," county Assistant Executive Officer Shawn Atin said Thursday. Chavez's attorney Steven Welch has declined to comment on whether his client will seek reinstatement. Smith, 44, and Chavez, 41, a supervising medical examiner investigator, were placed on administrative leave by county officials in June. The action came within days of the DA's Office conducting a search and seizing documents at the medical examiner's office. Smith, an at-will employee, was terminated effective at the end of August. But Chavez has additional job protections as a regular employee and has remained on the county payroll pending the conclusion of the DA's investigation. Atin expected a decision on Chavez's job status would be made within a matter of days now that the DA's report has been issued. Totten has called for legislative hearings to clarify laws governing autopsies and who can perform the exams, saying current statutes are deficient. Prosecutors found five cases four men and one woman in which Chavez conducted postmortem exams. The Star earlier reported that four of those exams were conducted while Smith was on vacation in Florida and abroad in May 2015. Emails exchanged between Smith and staff members show he directed Chavez to perform procedures on the men's bodies. Chavez, a 19-year employee, was trained on the job. He has no medical license or certification to do autopsies, the DA's report said. Prosecutors, however, say with no clear standard in the law and no clear consensus on what constitutes an autopsy and who can perform one, criminal charges could not be filed. The report also cleared Smith of violating laws related to his work for outside agencies. He performed 170 postmortem exams for Santa Barbara County from 2011-15, but it appeared he could do so without exceeding the time his Ventura County boss found acceptable, the report said. After taking over the top job, Smith decided to cut back the number of days autopsies would be performed in Ventura County, officials said. In hindsight, Janice Maurizi, a chief assistant to Totten who oversaw the inquiry, said that should have raised concerns to prosecutors. People die seven days a week, she said. "That should have been a red flag," Maurizi said Thursday. "We thought it was unusual. We never got a clear answer." Barry Fisher, chief of the county Health Care Agency, said he understood that Smith's predecessor, Dr. Ronald O'Halloran, scheduled autopsies seven days a week. Police say they often need to know the results of autopsies quickly because it can aid their criminal investigations. "Dr. Smith came in and said we don't need to do that unless law enforcement or the DA's Office has a particular need," Fisher said. Smith explained it by saying he needed Tuesdays and Thursdays to do administrative duties, Fisher said, and did not mention the outside work in Santa Barbara as the reason. The DA investigation, however, showed he generally performed autopsies in Santa Barbara on those two days. Fisher said he was confident there would not be a repeat of the autopsy issues. He pointed to the appointment of Dr. Ann Bucholtz as the chief medical examiner and her policy stipulating that only state-licensed physicians with training in forensic pathology may do exams to determine cause of death. Employees are receiving training on how to report concerns anonymously, county managers say. The managers realize staff members may not have felt comfortable complaining directly to Smith because he was their boss. In May 2015, a witness to Chavez performing postmortem exams contacted the DA's Office, prompting its investigation. Chavez apparently had told the unnamed witness to "keep your mouth shut and do not discuss this with anyone," the DA's report said. Then, under the direction of DA investigators, the witness called Chavez, who said nothing illegal was being done. "We're just doing what we need to do right now to save money from our budget because we're almost out of money," Chavez was quoted as saying in the report. Fisher said that was absolutely untrue because Smith could have easily asked for more money in his budget if the need existed. "If we need more money for pathologists, we would go to the (county Board of Supervisors) like we do every week," Fisher said. "(Chavez) doesn't know what he is talking about. We have to provide the service." SHARE Roseann Mikos By Michele Willer-Allred Plans for the widening of Princeton Avenue in Moorpark has been a top priority for the city for at least seven years, but no construction has been completed on it yet. City officials said Wednesday that construction hopefully will start sometime after this year. Princeton Avenue is a main route for many drivers in the city, though the curvy, two-lane road is often considered a dangerous place for both drivers and pedestrians. City officials said the $3.7 million Princeton project is expected to improve safety. Councilwoman Roseann Mikos said she always gets a lot of questions from residents about when it's going to be fixed. "People have almost given up because they think we're never going to do it," said Mikos. On Wednesday, during a discussion on the city's goals and objectives, city staff provided an update on the project. City Manager Steve Kueny said the grading and retaining wall plans are still being worked on. A consultant also is working on a relocation plan for a water and sewer line, as well as relocation of overhead utilities. In addition, the city is working on obtaining a right-of-way from one remaining property owner. The California Department of Transportation also has to approve the plans because a freeway bridge runs over Princeton Avenue. Kueny said the Princeton Avenue widening, as well as the widening of Los Angeles Ave, will be the top priorities for a new city engineer to complete. In other action, the council voted 3-2, with Mayor Janice Parvin and Councilwoman Mikos dissenting, to change the start time for council meetings to 6:30 p.m. The meeting time change will take place around the first meeting in May, which would give staff enough time to prepare for the adjustment and to make sure no public hearings have already been scheduled at the current time. Councilman Mark Van Dam said the current start time at 7 p.m. doesn't benefit the public or city staff. He said other cities have earlier start times than Moorpark. "It's a long day for staff. It's a long day for the public coming to our meetings. It ends up being a long day for everyone involved," said Van Dam. Moorpark council meetings at one time began at 6:30 p.m., but were changed to 7 p.m. in 2003. Councilman Keith Millhouse said Moorpark doesn't typically have large hearing items and the city is well run, so meetings tend to run shorter than in other cities. Mikos said she opposed the time change because other city meetings on the same day would have to start earlier and it would conflict with her work schedule. MIKE HARRIS/THE STAR Hasan Ikhrata, executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments, urged the Ventura County Transportation Commission on Friday to place a transit sales tax measure on the November ballot. SHARE By Mike Harris mharris@vcstar.com 805-4370-0323 The executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments on Friday urged the Ventura County Transportation Commission to place a half-cent transportation sales tax measure on the county's November ballot. "SCAG is not in the business of telling you what to do, but ... you need it (a sales tax)," Hasan Ikhrata told the commission's board at its monthly meeting at Camarillo City Hall. SCAG is the regional planning agency for Ventura County and five other Southern California counties. Ikhrata said in an interview that the county's transportation infrastructure could really use the revenue from a transportation sales tax. "If you drive on the streets of Ventura County, you know that they're not maintained up to par," he said. "So you have to have resources just to maintain them. It is the right thing to do for Ventura County." Ventura County voters rejected a half-cent transportation sales tax measure in 2004, 59 percent to 41 percent. Buoyed by encouraging polling of likely voters last year, the commission's board is expected to decide in April or May whether to place a new such measure on the November ballot. A half-cent transportation sales tax is estimated to raise $70 million a year for local transportation improvements, said Darren Kettle, the commission's executive director. According to a commission draft report, improvements would include widening highways 101 and 118, repairing city streets, bus and rail transit, and bicycle and pedestrian improvements, he said. Nineteen of California's 58 counties, including the five other SCAG counties, have a transit sales tax. The 39 other counties do not. Under current law, Ventura County's measure would need to be approved by at least two-thirds of voters. But Kettle said there is an outside chance that a constitutional amendment lowering the voter threshold for such initiatives to 55 percent could be placed on the state ballot in November. If the amendment were approved by a simple majority of voters, the 55 percent threshold could apply to the Ventura County measure, Kettle said. None of the transportation commissioners said from the dais Friday whether they favored placing the sales tax measure on the November ballot. But one of them, Steve Bennett, a county supervisor, said "it would be essential for us to have a unanimous vote in this group" to do so. "If we're divided, we have no chance of getting a two-thirds vote." In an interview, Bennett said he supports placing the measure on the ballot, agreeing with Ikhrata that the funds are primarily needed to maintain the current infrastructure. "If we don't, it's going to become impossible to ever have the money to fix it if it gets deteriorated too badly," he said. Kettle said only nine of the 17 commissioners need to vote in favor of placing the measure on the ballot for it to move ahead. In the weeks leading up to the vote, the commission will continue to do more community outreach and expects to conduct more polling in late March, he said. If the commission approves placing the measure on the ballot, the measure then will need at least six of the 11 jurisdictions in the county 10 cities and the county representing a majority of the county's population to authorize it, Kettle said. The final step would be for the county Board of Supervisors to vote to place the measure on the ballot by early August, he said. Ikhrata made his remarks during a presentation on SCAG's draft 2016-2040 Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy, a $555.4 billion, 24-year plan to improve the region's transportation network and create more than a half-million jobs a year. He conceded that Ventura County having a transit sales tax would help the plan to be implemented locally. The plan assumes Ventura County voters will approve the sales tax measure. "It would also help bring more federal and state money into the region and into the county," Ikhrata said. "So there is a plus everywhere for Ventura County not being the only county in the SCAG region without a sales tax." Welcome, Akwaaba This blog offers to serve as an authentic source of information, and contains articles by Edmund Mingle in The Ghanaian Times, and articles from other authentic sources. SHARE A frustrated Los Angeles assemblyman has stepped up the pressure against the California Public Utilities Commission by calling for its constitutional dismantling, spreading out its duties among a number of other government agencies. The idea by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, D-Los Angeles, quickly won the backing of several other members of the Legislature, including Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, who represents Simi Valley. But they are a long way from the two-thirds legislative approval it would require to then put the idea on the November ballot for voters. We hope the Gatto legislation brings necessary attention to the problems at the PUC, with subsequent reforms, but is not approved. We are simply not convinced, at this point, that blowing up the PUC is the answer and are concerned that it would create even greater problems as the Legislature tries to figure out how to regulate and control the vast utilities now under the PUC umbrella. The Aliso Canyon gas leak over the hill from Ventura County was the last straw in a long line of PUC disasters. Many consumers have felt for years that the PUC favored the utilities over the public when it came to accepting rate increases and utility-related issues. That favored treatment became public after the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, which prompted a state investigation that showed improper behind-the-scenes communications between the former PUC president and officials of the pipeline's owner, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The 2012 closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station was another black eye for the PUC and prompted more criminal investigations by the state and federal officials. Now comes Aliso Canyon, where thousands of San Fernando Valley residents have been forced out of their homes for months. Southern California Gas Co. told the PUC in 2014 that it feared "major failures" unless it was allowed to raise rates to fund comprehensive inspections of the natural gas storage wells. Faced with this self-reported potential disaster (state inspectors did not identify the issue), the bureaucratic PUC studied the rate request for more than a year, without any action, rather than immediately following up on the report to identify and solve a potential risk to the public. Gov. Jerry Brown has been aware of issues with the PUC and promised to work with legislators to solve the problems, but those promises have so far gone unfulfilled. When tainted PUC President Michael Peevey left office, Gov. Brown named his former adviser Michael Picker to the job with a promise of reforms. But they have been few and mostly ineffective. Legislation last year to require more transparency in the agency was vetoed by the governor who promised instead to work with legislators. The time has come for that work to begin. Gatto's legislation, we hope, stimulates real and constructive discussions among the PUC, Gov. Brown and lawmakers on ways to re-establish the PUC as an agency that protects California's utility users rather than California's utility owners. By: Dezan Shira & Associates Editor: Anais Robin & Maxfield Brown Under previous versions of Vietnamese labor code, all foreign entities were required to engage the services of recruiting agencies when searching for employees within the country. While these requirements have largely been scrapped as part of a revised labor code released in 2012, certain sectors must still abide by this process; thus creating confusions and opening the possibility for non-compliance. In an effort to clarify uncertainty surrounding lingering recruitment requirements, the following article focuses on existing legislation and supporting guidance that has been issued on the subject. We highlight entities that must use recruiting services; discuss which types of recruiters may be engaged by these organizations; and finally, we outline the process that should be followed to recruit and employ workers within Vietnam. Vietnamese Employment Law & Recruitment Helping to elucidate regulations on recruitment agencies in Vietnam are several pieces of legislation that have been issued over the past several years all of which guide or direct the implementation of Vietnams current labor code. Decree No. 75/2014/ND-CP is the main piece of legislation that should be referenced and as it details the implementation of various articles of the Labor Code with regard to recruitment and management of Vietnamese employees by foreign organizations within Vietnam. The scope of this decree spans the recruitment, use, and management of Vietnamese employees by their foreign counterparts. In recent months, however, Decree No.75 has been complimented with guidance issued under Circular No. 16/2015/ TT-BLDTBXH. What Types of Foreign Offices are Required to Utilize Recruiting Services? Pursuant to the labor code and pertinent guidance outlined above, the following foreign organizations are required to engage the services of government approved recruiting agencies as a means of hiring Vietnamese nationals in Vietnam: Foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices, representative offices of international organizations of the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations of regions & sub regions Representative offices of foreign news agencies and foreign broadcasting and television organizations International, intergovernmental and foreign governmental organizations Permitted foreign non-governmental organizations Foreign non-profit representative offices of organizations What Types of Recruiting Agencies Can Be Used in Vietnam? While many companies listed above or not may choose to engage the services of a recruiter when relocating operations to Vietnam, those individuals or organization listed above are limited to the use of a select group of recruitment firms. To be utilized, recruitment services must be appointed, authorized or established by one of the governmental bodies outlined below: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: can appoint or authorize organization to recruit Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs: can establish employment service center Chairman of a provincial Peoples Committee: can establish employment service centers Which Workers Are Eligible for Employment Through Vietnamese Recruiting Agencies? According to Decree 75, Vietnamese citizens who are 18 years-old or older and have full legal capacity to engage in civil acts are permitted to work for foreign organizations in Vietnam. Exceptions to Decree 75 include any Vietnamese citizen currently employed in occupations or otherwise legally prohibit from working for foreign interests. Occupations within this category largely include but are not limited staff working at agencies related to public defense. How to Hire Vietnamese Workers Through a Recruiting Service? Step 1 Employment Request Foreign employers must submit a written request to hire Vietnamese employees to Vietnamese employee recruiting agencies. Once agencies have submitted requests to governmental agencies, these agencies have 20 days to reply. Upon receipt of a successful reply, agencies are required to post a given entities information to the public by day 30. If there are specific employees that a foreign entity would like to hire, the best way to engage their services through the proper channels would be to register these individuals with the recruiting system using form No. 01 provided within Circular N0.16/2015/TT-BLDTBXH Step 2 Recruitment Within 15 working days of posting information, authorized agencies must select the appropriate Vietnamese employees and introduce them to the foreign employer. Foreign organizations or individuals in Vietnam are entitled to recruit Vietnamese employees without the use of a recruiter if authorized agencies fail to do so within the time-limit. Step 3 Contract & Notification After the signing of the labor contract with the Vietnamese employee, the foreign employers must inform in writing and enclose a copy of the labor contract to Vietnamese employee recruiting agencies within 7 working days. Step 4 Compliance In addition, foreign employers must provide biannual, annual or unscheduled reports (upon request) concerning the recruitment of Vietnamese employees to Vietnamese employee recruiting agencies and other relevant governmental bodies. Pursuant to compliance with Circular No.16, these reports should be submitted no later than June 10th and December 10th.Form 2, provided by circular No.16/2015/TT-BLDTBXH, should be used to fulfill relevant reporting requirements Further Support from Dezan Shira & Associates With over 23 years of experience helping foreign businesses succeed across Asia, the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates are well placed to advise on aspects related to staffing in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. For further information please contact Vietnam@dezshira.com. 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 Vietnam@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. The 2015 Asia Tax Comparator In this issue, we compare and contrast the most relevant tax laws applicable for businesses with a presence in Asia. We analyze the different tax rates of 13 jurisdictions in the region, including India, China, Hong Kong, and the 10 member states of ASEAN. We also take a look at some of the most important compliance issues that businesses should be aware of, and conclude by discussing some of the most important tax and finance concerns companies will face when entering Asia. Manufacturing Hubs Across Emerging Asia In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we explore several of the regions most competitive and promising manufacturing locales including India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Exploring a wide variety of factors such as key industries, investment regulations, and labor, shipping, and operational costs, we delineate the cost competitiveness and ease of investment in each while highlighting Indonesia, Vietnam and Indias exceptional potential as the manufacturing leaders of the future. An Introduction to Tax Treaties Throughout Asia In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we take a look at the various types of trade and tax treaties that exist between Asian nations. These include bilateral investment treaties, double tax treaties and free trade agreements all of which directly affect businesses operating in Asia. The tourism brand development strategy aims to firmly attach company logos to the national tourism logo in to coming times. What is the reason behind this shift? The strategy content has yet to be completed, but basically, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will directly provide direct technical support to businesses through introducing a guidance set, and, as a second step to follow a step behind, will consult businesses about what tourism products Vietnam need to be developed. Simultaneously, the national tourism brand will be linked to company logos to help/facilitate parallel image promotion during the whole development process. VNAT is also willing to provide consultation to individual businesses to optimise operation efficiency. What role will businesses play in the implementation of the strategy? VNAT continually repeats that businesses will take a central role in the strategys deployment. Satisfying businesses demands in a timely manner means to elevate the position of Vietnamese tourism. In 2015, when presenting the new slogan Vietnam Timeless Charm, VNAT has introduced a set of instructions on the use of the Vietnamese tourism brand identity. We have scaled up efforts to promote this new brand identity nationwide. Through surveys, we have learnt that businesses have strong aspirations to be supported via concrete and effective methods, thus clarifying the orientation of national tourism brand development provides them immense help to bring it to life. Therefore, the general development orientation and that of businesses must have a unity to create adequate synergy. Is this the right time to introduce the strategy? The demand has existed for many years and it is high time to present a strategy to boost the quality of promotion activities for the development of tourism products and associated services. Accordingly, the strategy will introduce a basic development orientation for tourism products and specific markets. The national tourism development strategy to 2020 with vision towards 2030 identified tourism brand development as key to boost the sector competitiveness. Each strategy and plan must have concrete targets. Relative to brand development, it is a continuous process. It is important to develop the countrys image in the way we want to, truly demonstrating Vietnams values and identity. Having regular assessments of key tourism markets is also a must. Can we expect the strategy to improve marketing activities in the near future and what do you see as Vietnams key tourism markets? We have determined that promoting the public-private partnership model is important when the strategy is deployed in 2016. Accordingly, VNAT will be in charge of branding activities. We will cooperate with localities in promoting tourism destinations. To synergise brand, products, and destinations with VNAT will be the responsibility of each business. This way, the resources for promotion activities will not be as limited as in the previous years. The tourism development fund for 2016 will also be established. Designating major markets in the national promotion programme will be conducted through consultation with the business community. In the foreseeable future, key tourism markets will be Northeast Asian countries, such as China and Japan, which currently account for half of the international visitors coming to Vietnam annually. Our target markets in the upcoming time continue to be the five West European countries which have just become members to the visa exemption scheme, and North European countries that already enjoy it. Some other target markets are ASEAN countries, like India, Russia, and other Russian-speaking countries. Do Chi Thanh, deputy general director of PetroVietnam (PVN), during a monthly meeting with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) noted that if the price of oil dives below $30 a barrel, PVN may have to consider shutting down or suspending a number of its oil fields. Thanh said that the plunging oil prices had an acute effect on the groups revenue and profit targets. PVNs revenue in January only met 74 per cent of its monthly target. Previously, in order to cope with falling oil prices PVN designed/compiled several back-up plans for 2016, with scenarios covering prices ranging from $35-65 a barrel. At $65 a barrel, PVNs consolidated revenues are expected to reach VND275.3 billion ($12.6 billion), with a VND22.8 trillion ($1.04 billion) post-tax profit. However, in case prices plummet to $30 a barrel, the expected consolidated revenues and post-tax profit would only be VND141 trillion ($6.46 billion) and VND10.4 trillion, respectively, half of the figures applicable to the scenario with $65 a barrel. According to CEO Tu Thanh Nghia at Vietsovpetro (VSP), a joint-venture between PVN and Russia's Zarubezhneft, VSPs production costs in 2015 sat at $23.7 a barrel, while its break-even cost was approximately $37 a barrel and its average selling price stood at $56 a barrel. When the selling price goes below $35 a barrel, or below our break-even cost, VSP may have to consider cutting production costs to below $20 a barrel to ensure profitability for both PVN and its Russian partner, Nghia said. PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP)s general director Ngo Huu Hai shared that PVEPs average production cost and selling price were at $26.6 and $54 a barrel in 2015, making a raw profit of $18 a barrel. Factoring in a 20 per cent corporate income tax and other levies, the production cost added up to $45.5 a barrel, resulting in a net gain of $8.5 a barrel. If all taxes are calculated, however, the cost can hike up to $54.7 a barrel, bringing PVEP to produce at an actual loss. Hai explained that as soon as oil has been extracted from the well, it is subject to tax right away, usually taking away around 45 per cent of the total oil volume. At an oil price under $35 a barrel, there will only be a handful of wells in Vietnam capable of operating at a profit, such as Bach Ho, Hoang Long-Hoan Vu or Rang Dong. While the shutting down of oil fields might be inevitable necessity for some companies, other investors are looking to invest in oil and gas, eyeing the slumping market as a good opportunity. Bitexco Group and Sovico Holdings, for instance, are waiting for approval from the competent authorities to invest in the oil and gas sector. PVNs report noted that PVN has lately proposed the MoIT to approve its plan for Sovico Holdings to join its Block 16-1/14. Sovico Holdings has also expressed desire to participate/become a member of PVNs Block. The participation of Vietnamese private enterprises in the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas resources when the price is nearing a record low could be indicating a good business prospect for the sector. PVEP has once gone through tens of opportunities to be able to purchase a well at an exorbitant price amidst fierce competition. The current low price gives a good chance to negotiate a more favourable contract, PVENs Hai said. Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday rebuked critics who say Cambodia leans more toward China than the US in its international relations, while firmly staying neutral on the South China Sea dispute. Some political analysts say Foreign Minister Hor Namhong flew to China this week to discuss last weeks visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry, though Hor Namhong has said the meeting was scheduled well in advance. Hun Sen, who will meet with other Asean leaders and US President Barack Obama later this month, said in a public speech Friday Cambodias foreign policy is aimed at independence and neutrality. Hun Sen also said he had been involved in international diplomacy for decades, when he was made a foreign minister at the age of 27, when some of his critics were still running naked as children. Cambodian foreign policy is not aimed at isolating the country from potential allies, he said, adding, its not necessary to reveal a nations foreign policy. Hor Namhong is in China to discuss bilateral trade and security issues, with both sides aiming to reach $5 billion in trade by 2017, and with China embroiled in the contentious South China Sea issue with four of Cambodias fellow members of AseanBrunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Following Hor Namhongs meeting with State Councilor Yang Jiechia on Thursday, the Xinhua news agency said both sides continued to push for a settlement of the issue. Xinhua quoted Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin as saying the issue should be addressed through a dual track approach, with China seeking settlements with individual countries but with Asean working to maintain peace and stability in the sea in the meantime. Hun Sen said Friday Cambodia has a similar stance, one that he reiterated with Kerry last week. I told Kerry, We should not add fuel to the fire concerning the South China Sea disputes, Hun Sen said. We should let the dispute parties find their own resolutions. That would be a good thing, because with or without a Code of Conduct, Asean has no authority to share the territory among anybody. Vietnam, China and the Philippines should solve the issue together. Cambodia has been criticized in the past for advancing Chinas position in the dispute, particularly in 2012, when Cambodia was the chair of Asean and failed to bring around a joint statement from the regional block on the issue. Hun Sen said Friday that no other Asean chair has been able to bring about a resolution to the tensions in the South China Sea and that Cambodia is owed an apology. In the tiny coastal Philippine town of Bahile in Palawan province, fishermen drop off the nights catch with the local fish distributor. On the one main road that bisects the town, fish sorters load plastic tubs with the catch while children play on the shore during the sunny late morning. But the idyllic scene is set against a back drop of tension and conflict brewing off shore in the South China Sea. US troops Here and elsewhere in the Philippines, some who will be directly affected by a recent Supreme Court decision clearing the way for more U.S. troop visits are having mixed reactions. The increased rotations come at a time when the Philippines is trying to build up its military in the face of growing maritime assertiveness from China. Nicolas Ellis, a local fisherman, has been living here for more than 25 years and he said he likes this quiet life. Besides, he said, tensions between neighboring countries over who claims what in the South China Sea have not touched this small town. For decades scores of small fishing boats from Bahile have passed a naval station along the way to Ulugan Bay, less than a kilometer away. But in the past year or two, Ellis said, going to Ulugan has been nerve-wracking. The Philippines two Hamilton-class cutters that were converted into its largest warships patrol the countrys South China Sea shores and dock near a planned outpost in Oyster Bay, inside Ulugan. Affects fishermen Ellis said it happens about once a month and small boats cannot get near. They should give us a passageway, he said. Of course if the ship suddenly shines a light on you, you feel like, Why are you doing this? We are not bad people. We havent done anything wrong. But military activity in the area is expected to increase. In the next year, the Philippines is acquiring a third cutter and a research ship, both from the United States. And, under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement approved by the Supreme Court last month, more U.S. troops will visit and house equipment at local bases, including the one planned in Oyster Bay. The Philippine military has said the United States needs easy access to materiel used during times of disaster, especially in a country battered by an average of 20 typhoons per year. The U.S. has talked about the need to be here in broader terms, stating the agreement allows the ability to provide rapid humanitarian assistance and supports the Philippines military modernization program. Deterrent to China But analysts have said having the U.S. military around also serves as a deterrent to Chinas increasing assertion of its claim to practically the entire South China Sea. Apart from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also have competing claims in the resource-rich sea. In the past two years, China has built up contested outcroppings in the sea turning them into artificial islands. And in recent months the United States has carried out freedom of navigation rotations getting within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) of some of the contested outcroppings. Subic Bay, about 900 kilometers northeast of Bahile, is also anticipating the additional rotations. The fast-growing international port, where a projected 120,000 containers docked in 2015, has seen its use triple in the past three years, and that trend is expected to continue. Subic, which once housed a massive U.S. navy base, is still a regular stop for U.S. ships and submarines. Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority Chairman Roberto Garcia said those visits can contribute up to $500 million per stop to the local economy. Garcia said there is room for the Philippine warships, while Subic Bay airport, which is largely unutilized, will be a staging ground for military jets. He did not specify whether those would be only for Philippine jets or whether American military aircraft would also be using the space there. I could lease it out for large amounts of money, but, well, for me, whats important is the national security of the country. So Im willing to forego that, he said. But in Bahile, fishermen like Nicolas Ellis said keeping their quiet life is more important than the money that comes with big ships and more troops. The leader of Cambodias opposition, Sam Rainsy, is currently in the US to seek support for his party and to ask the US to mediate Cambodian politics, which have devolved over the last year. In an interview at VOA Khmers office in Washington this week, Sam Rainsy said countries like the US can push for reconciliation and mediation, as well as free and fair elections. Sam Rainsy is in exile abroad, facing jail time on criminal defamation charges should he return to Cambodia, in what his supporters say is a political case. Meanwhile, his Cambodia National Rescue Party is girding for local elections in 2017 and national elections the year after. Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer that the new National Election Committee, comprised of members chosen by the opposition and ruling party, should be considered credible and will provide a better election process. But the NEC is also operating in a political environment that has seen opposition activists and lawmakers beaten and jailed and where senior leaders of the Rescue Party have been the targets of political and legal attacks. Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer Wednesday a mediator like the US could help the two sides abide by political deals they have made already, ensuring more fair elections. We need witnesses and we need assurances, as well, ensuring that what we have discussed, what we agreed on, we will respect together in the future, he said. Sam Rainsy is in the US ahead of scheduled talks between US President Barack Obama and the leaders of Asean countries, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, in California on Feb. 16 and Feb. 17. Sam Rainsys trip follows the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Cambodia, where Kerry emphasized the importance of human rights and democracy to ties with the United States. Schanly Kuch, a political analyst who lives in Maryland, said the US is unlikely to get involved diplomatically on behalf of one party or another. However, he said, a meeting between Sam Rainsy and Hun Sen in California could help bring about reconciliation. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said at a recent Rome meeting of the coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) group that the challenge now is to push ahead with a strategy that will work, giving the militants "no time to regroup, no place to run, no safe havens in which to hide. Accelerating the military campaign is key to curbing IS's global ambitions, said David DesRoches, an associate professor at the Center for Strategic Studies of the National Defense University in Washington. For one thing, he said, strangling the terrorist group undermines its claim that is always growing. In military movements, momentum builds on momentum, and once the progress of Daesh is arrested and turned back, people would move away from the tarnished brand, DesRoches said, using a common name for the IS organization, which also goes by ISIS and ISIL. Alberto Fernandez, former director of the State Departments Center for Counterterrorism, said the global strategy has to take into account the aftermath of military acceleration against IS in Syria. The question is what happens as Daesh is pushed back, who benefits, who replaces them," he said. The coalition says it has pushed Daesh out of 40 percent of the territory it had gained in Iraq and 20 percent in Syria. Expansion in Libya But Fernandez said consideration must also be given to Libya, "which is becoming the second option for its recruits if they cant make to Syria or Iraq. DesRoches said Libya has to be taken into account in any anti-IS strategy. The continued political division in Libya is a real challenge to any global strategy to contain and destroy Daesh, he said. Without a unified government in Libya, there is no way to build an effective local force to fight Daesh expansion in the country. DesRoches noted that the concluding statement from the Rome meeting ignored some root causes of violent extremism, such as political exclusion and poor governance throughout the region. What is needed is emphasis on governance, because people join Daesh when they feel desperate and have no other option, he said. "At the end of the day, poor governance is the magnet for Daesh recruiting. He said that was the case in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and it is looming in Egypt, where a harsh crackdown is becoming counterproductive. Growth claim DesRoches noted that Daesh has been playing a game of expanding to other countries so it can claim the caliphate is growing. The group is adopting a model of taking an existing extremist group like Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, a jihadist group based in Egypt, and getting its members to pledge allegiance to IS. IS has recruited thousands of fighters, relying on its savvy use of propaganda and social media. IS's ideological message sounds the alarm that Muslims are being slaughtered. It tells Muslims that they have a role to play in fighting for a utopian Islamic caliphate. In remarks made during his visit this week to the Islamic Society of Baltimore, President Barack Obama warned young American Muslims about the false claims of the group. Groups like ISIL are desperate for legitimacy," Obama said. "They try to portray themselves as religious leaders and holy warriors who speak for Islam. I refuse to give them legitimacy. We must never give them that. Experts say a global strategy to counter IS's message would require a massive effort by Muslims around the world. You need Muslims who are people of conviction, who are eloquent people in social media space, challenging the discourse of the extremists, Fernandez said. There should be professionals who actually engage these people and seek to sway them from the path they have taken, he added. Massive response urged Fernandez noted that volume has value and IS either itself or with its networks still has the advantage in numbers. He recommended a massive response to counter IS propaganda on all sorts of social media platforms. He advocated "flooding the space with material by others, realizing that one of the most powerful messages is the power of an individual to individuals. But DesRoches argued that there is a need to do more than just challenge the false claims of IS. People who have been involved with the group and have seen the reality and became disillusioned those are the most powerful voices we can put on social media, he said. In an ancient streambed on Kenya's Rusinga Island, scientists have unearthed fossils of a wildebeest-like creature named Rusingoryx that boasted a weird nasal structure more befitting of a dinosaur than a mammal. Researchers said Thursday the crescent-shaped protrusion atop the head of Rusingoryx, which roamed Africa's savannas tens of thousands of years ago, was unlike anything on any other mammal, past or present. Instead, it resembled the head crests of a group of duckbilled dinosaurs called hadrosaurs. The hollow structure may have enabled the horned, hoofed grass-eater to produce a low trumpeting sound to communicate over long distances with others in its herd, said Ohio University paleontologist Haley O'Brien. "This structure was incredibly surprising," O'Brien said. "To see a hollow nasal crest outside of dinosaurs and in a mammal that lived so recently is very bizarre." The fossils of Rusingoryx, about the size of its close cousin the wildebeest, date from about 55,000 to 75,000 years ago. Hadrosaurs with similar nasal structures, Lambeosaurus and Corythosaurus, lived about 75 million years ago. O'Brien said the structure was an example of "convergent evolution" in which disparate organisms independently evolve similar features, like the wings of birds, bats and the extinct flying reptiles called pterosaurs, to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches. Secret communication Rusingoryx led a lifestyle similar to hadrosaurs: herbivores both likely traveling in herds. Many scientists think hadrosaurs also used their crests to communicate vocally with one another. The researchers said Rusingoryx's nasal apparatus may have allowed it to deepen its normal vocal calls into "infrasound" levels other species may not have been able to hear. "Vocalizations can alert predators, and moving their calls into a new frequency could have made communication safer," O'Brien said. The researchers examined six adult and juvenile Rusingoryx skulls. The bony crest, laying on the top and front of the skull, was mostly hollow inside. It contained nasal passages that followed the outside of the structure then took an S-shaped pathway down into the soft tissue part of the airway. The nasal passage then sat atop of a pair of large sinuses. At least 24 Rusingoryx individuals were found at the site. University of Minnesota paleoanthropologist Kirsten Jenkins said butchered bones and stone tools there indicated humans may have caused their deaths. Jenkins said hunters may have driven a herd into the stream for an ambush. The research was published in the journal Current Biology. The U.N. mission in Mali says U.N. and Malian forces have retaken a police base in Timbuktu that was briefly seized by unknown assailants Friday morning. Mission spokesman Olivier Salgado fighting at the site has ended and that security forces are searching the area for explosive devices. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Northern Mali has been wracked with violence in recent years, including insurgencies by Islamist militant groups and ethnic Tuareg militias. The U.N. established its peacekeeping force in Mali in 2013. Last year, the government in Canberra said it would accept 12,000 people fleeing the conflict in Syria, and Australias hospitality industry is offering to help train them. Sharon and Carol Salloums parents arrived from Syria 40 years ago, and the menu at their restaurant in Sydney is inspired by the flavors of the Middle East. The sisters say they feel an obligation to help those displaced by fighting. Our parents still have so much family still in Syria that could be our parents families that were coming here as refugees," Sharon Salloum said. "Were lucky enough that is not the case, but that could very well have been one of the many aunties and uncles that we still have - or cousins that we still have - over there at the moment, so why wouldnt we help? 'They want to work' Her sister Carol said, A lot of people who come from overseas and work in Australia, that is all they want to do. They want to work, they want to create a life for themselves. They are not lazy, theyll take on any jobs that they can. "You can see that from the migrants that are already here and that weve employed. I dont doubt that it is good business for anyone, especially in the hospitality industry where these people are passionate about food and hospitality," she added. Hospitality can be hot and hard work, but it could give migrants the start they need to prosper in Australia. Training will be offered to Syrian refugees at various restaurants under a program devised by professional refugee resettlement services. It is hoped the skills that are passed on will lead to a productive future. Sharon Salloum says the hospitality industry could be a natural fit for Syrian migrants. We obviously will make the reality of working in hospitality clear to people, but at the same time I think it is quite an innate part of us growing up in a Middle Eastern household -- in a Syrian household -- we were taught to be hospitable to anyone," she said. Newly arrived refugees Iymen Baerlie and his family are from the Syrian city of Homs. Fled conflict Fearing for their lives, they fled to Egypt and flew into Sydney at the end of December. Speaking through an interpreter, Baerlie said his dream was to set up a catering business. Of course, it is very important for me to find a good job and I have started from now looking to establish my own job, my own business. But now I am depending on my relatives to train me how to establish my own business," Baerlie said. After just a few weeks in Australia, Baerlie is being supported by his brother-in-law, who runs a bakery in Sydney. But he is desperate to make his own way in his adopted homeland. I am very thankful to the Australian government for everything it did to me, but I dont want to depend on the Australian government," he said. "I want to establish my own business for my own sake and for my familys sake, and I want to create [a] good income for me." Baerlie would certainly benefit from the sort of help offered by the Salloum sisters and their industry colleagues, including Hugh Foster, who has run Middle Eastern restaurants in Sydney for more than 20 years. What were trying to do is make this a good experience for people, so that when they do arrive they feel, maybe, in 20, 30 years time Wow, that was a great thing that happened to us and look what this country has done for us and look what we can give back to this country, you know," Foster said. Campaigners have urged the Australian government to offer sanctuary to more Syrians above the current allocation of 12,000. Some business leaders believe Australia has the capacity to accept up to 30,000. The leader of Cambodias opposition, Sam Rainsy, is currently in the U.S. to seek support for his party and to ask the U.S. to mediate Cambodian politics, which have devolved over the last year. In an interview with VOA Khmer in Washington this week, Sam Rainsy said countries like the U.S. can push for reconciliation and mediation, as well as free and fair elections. Sam Rainsy is in exile abroad, facing jail time on criminal defamation charges should he return to Cambodia, in what his supporters say is a political case. Meanwhile, his Cambodia National Rescue Party is girding for local elections in 2017 and national elections the year after. Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer that the new National Election Committee (NEC), comprising members chosen by the opposition and ruling party, should be considered credible and will provide a better election process. But the NEC is also operating in a political environment that has seen opposition activists and lawmakers beaten and jailed, and where senior leaders of the Rescue Party have been the targets of political and legal attacks. Sam Rainsy told VOA Khmer Wednesday a mediator like the U.S. could help the two sides abide by political deals they have made already, ensuring more fair elections. We need witnesses and we need assurances, as well, ensuring that what we have discussed, what we agreed on, we will respect together in the future, he said. Sam Rainsy is in the U.S. ahead of scheduled talks between President Barack Obama and the leaders of ASEAN countries, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, in California on Feb. 16 and 17. Sam Rainsys trip follows the visit of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to Cambodia, where Kerry emphasized the importance of human rights and democracy to ties with the United States. Schanly Kuch, a political analyst who lives in Maryland, said the U.S. is unlikely to get involved diplomatically on behalf of one party or another. However, he said, a meeting between Sam Rainsy and Hun Sen in California could help bring about reconciliation. Police in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have confirmed the arrest of three missing Hong Kong booksellers who mainland authorities said are under investigation for "illegal activities." Analysts said the official confirmation spells bad news for the trio's fate, as it indicates their low level of cooperation in building up a legal case against their employer, Gui Minhai. He allegedly riled Chinese authorities by intending to publish a book about the private life of Chinese President Xi Jinping, including purported love affairs. In a letter responding to Hong Kong police, mainland authorities stated that Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee were suspected of involvement in a case relating to Gui. Hence, "criminal compulsory measures were imposed on them," according to a press statement released by Hong Kong police late Thursday night. The official explanation came more than three months after the trio's disappearance in late October, without specifying the charges on which theyre being held. Pressuring Gui The latest development showed that Chinese authorities are not satisfied with the three men in terms of implicating their boss, said political analyst Willy Lam, a well-connected columnist. What the [mainland] police want is some incriminating evidence against Mr. Gui, who was kidnapped in silence in October. So, Gui is the main target of these investigations, Lam said. A Swedish national, Gui owner of the Hong Kong publishing firm Mighty Current disappeared in Thailand in late October. On January 17, he was shown on state-run CCTV confessing to a drunk-driving accident in 2004 and asking the Swedish embassy to respect his decision to turn himself in. But Lam argued that the real reason behind Guis detention was his close connection with Xis rivals within the Communist Party, who were likely the sources behind his yet-to-be-published book. Its said to detail the unknown life of Xi. "The Chinese wanted to find out who provided these juicy stories about Xi Jinpings lovers or other embarrassing facts, perhaps about the business activities of the Xi family and so forth," the Hong Kong-based analyst said. Apparently, Guis three employees havent been a big help in identifying Guis sources. As a result, the trio may be held for a longer-than-expected time or even given a jail term, Lam speculated. Another disappearance The disappearances go beyond Gui and his three employees. Lee Bo, husband of another Mighty Current shareholder, also vanished from a Hong Kong warehouse in late December. Three weeks later, Chinese police confirmed that the British national was in China cooperating with an investigation. Guangdong police on Thursday presented a letter handwritten by Lee, who said he didnt need to meet with the Hong Kong police at the moment and would contact Hong Kong authorities if necessary. Lees wife confirmed the letter's authenticity. Nonetheless, Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kongs chief executive, told reporters on Friday that his administration would continue to seek a meeting with Lee, who appeared to be arrested in Hong Kong. The former British colony was guaranteed autonomy under the framework of "one country, two systems" after its return to China in 1997. In early January, Leung claimed that Chinese authorities have no rights to enforce laws in Hong Kong, which is viewed as a blunt violation of the Basic Law. Leung criticized Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Ho said he doubted Lee had made his decision freely, lambasting what he said was the chief executives failure to safeguard Hong Kong citizens basic rights. "We regret that he has not done [enough] to allay concerns of Hong Kong people," Ho said. Leung "should have liaised directly with the Hong Kong police office or even up to a higher level. I think he has failed his duty." Ho vowed to take the case to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Chilling effect The five booksellers' disappearances have sparked outrage in Hong Kong. "Dont ever believe [Chinas promise] that nothing change[s] in Hong Kong over the next 50 years," one user of the Weibo social media website wrote in a post Friday. Another wrote, "The claws are crossed, [the citys] civilization will experience a regression by 500 years." The arrests also is likely to have a chilling effect on many of the city's publishers, one observer said. "Some of them might self-censor out of fear, but some of them are going to worry about their own personal safety, and worry more about the future of Hong Kong," said William Nee, China researcher for the Amnesty International human rights organization. "So, it really would make sense strategically for the mainland government to resolve this case in a way that is transparent and on international law standards," Nee said. He urged China to clarify doubts surrounding the five mens detention and their rightful access to family members and lawyers. The U.S. State Department has determined that emails containing classified information were sent to the personal email accounts of former Secretary of State Colin Powell and aides to his successor, Condoleezza Rice. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a personal email server has dogged her presidential campaign, and news that her predecessors in a Republican administration might have received such information on nonsecure servers could help her blunt the criticism that Republicans have leveled at her, hoping to impede her presidential campaign. The State Department inspector general has determined that two emails sent to Powell and 10 others sent to Rice's staff also contained classified national security information. Those emails have now been classified as confidential or secret as part of a review process that has resulted in similar upgrades of information sent through the personal email server that Clinton used while she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Powell and Rice were top diplomats under Republican President George W. Bush. In a statement, Powell said the emails in question were not judged to contain confidential information at the time they were sent to him. A representative for Rice said the emails sent to her aide did not contain intelligence information. The news came less than a week after the Obama administration confirmed for the first time that Clinton's unsecured home server when she was secretary of state contained 22 top-secret emails, which the State Department said would not be released. State Department officials have said that using a private email account was not prohibited, and that Clinton never shared classified information over the account. But critics said the private account might have permitted her to hide her communications and that use of the unsecured server at her home outside New York City left it vulnerable to overseas hackers. Clinton initially said that setting up the private server was a matter of convenience, but later conceded it was a mistake. The two remaining Democratic presidential candidates, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, held a tense and angry debate Thursday night in New Hampshire, days before the Northeastern state holds the nation's first presidential primary. Clinton trails Sanders by 16 percentage points in the polls after barely beating him in the Iowa caucuses. Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. Now that voter preference actually starts to count toward who gets nominated, the cordial campaign is becoming heated, with Clinton and Sanders bickering over who is the true progressive in the race and who is beholden to big-money interests. Clinton called herself a "progressive who gets things done," saying the senator's proposals for free college and health care are promises that cannot be kept. She said such ideas will raise taxes and make it hard for Americans to get ahead and stay ahead. Sanders said these are not radical ideas. He said just about every other developed nation has free public college and single-payer health care for its citizens. The senator said Clinton once called herself a moderate. Sanders said no one can be a moderate and a progressive at the same time. Clinton seemed also genuinely offended when Sanders pointed out that she has received high speaking fees from large Wall Street financial firms. He said big money in politics and Congress is one major reason for high drug prices and energy policies that rely on fossil fuels and big oil. Clinton called it an "artful smear" and rejected accusations that anyone getting big money is being "bought." She said she had never changed a view or a vote because of any donation. Sanders again boasted that he had raised millions of dollars from small contributors and that he was the only candidate in the race, Democrat or Republican, without a super PAC a political action committee that raises unlimited sums from mainly wealthy donors. In his address to the American Muslim community Wednesday, President Barack Obama warned young American Muslims against the false claims of the Islamic State (IS) terror group, which is also known by the acronyms ISIS or ISIL. Groups like ISIL are desperate for legitimacy," Obama said in his address at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. "They try to portray themselves as religious leaders and holy warriors who speak for Islam. I refuse to give them legitimacy. We must never give them that. The militant group has recruited thousands of fighters from around the world using propaganda and social media. The group called on all Muslims to join the fight for a utopian Islamic caliphate they claim to have established in Iraq and Syria. President Obama noted that the majority of the people killed by IS are innocent Muslim men, women and children. Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, the former director of the U.S. State Departments Center for Counterterrorism Communications, said Muslims must come together to counter IS's messages. He suggested social media as the best platform to counter the group's messages aimed at potential recruits. You need Muslims who are people of conviction, who are eloquent people in social media space, challenging the discourse of the extremists," he said. "There should be professionals who actually engage these people and seek to sway them from the path they are taking. Fernandez added that the military campaign that managed to push IS out of about 40 percent of the territory it once controlled in Iraq is crucial in denting its appeal - breaking the myth that it is an Islamic state which is always expanding. The Fire Department of New York City has confirmed that one person is dead after a crane collapsed in Lower Manhattan during the busy morning rush hour. Three other people were injured - two of them seriously. Friday's accident occurred in the Tribeca neighborhood, while workers were in the process of securing the crane, because winds were in the 30-kilometer per hour range, according to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. Speaking to reporters, de Blasio said he ordered all construction cranes similar to the one that collapsed into a safety position while police investigate the accident. "So this type of crane is called a crawler crane," de Blasio said. "It is not the largest type of crane, which is called a tower crane, but the crawler cranes in this city that are registered with the Department of Buildings, 376 of them, all potentially active today but not necessarily active today - it all depends on the work site; but, we are instructing right now all 376 crawler cranes to be secured - whatever is the most secure position for them in a wind condition - they've all been ordered to be secured immediately." The crane landed across an intersection and stretched about two blocks on top of several parked cars, smashing their roofs. Tribeca is known for its industrial buildings converted into expensive homes and lofts. Originally written as TriBeCa for Triangle Below Canal Street, the neighborhood was known as an inexpensive residential area for young artists and their families in the late 1960's and 1970's. The two remaining Democratic presidential candidates -- former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders -- held a tense and angry debate Thursday night in New Hampshire, days before the northeastern state holds the nation's first presidential primary. Clinton trails Sanders by 20 points in the polls after barely beating him in the Iowa caucus. This is the first one-on-one debate between the two candidates; former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. Now that voter preference actually starts to count toward who gets nominated, the cordial campaign is becoming heated and tense, with Clinton and Sanders bickering over who is the true progressive in the race, who is beholden to big money interests, and what is the biggest threat facing America. Progressive title Clinton, 68, called herself a "progressive who gets things done," saying the senator's proposals for free college and health care are promises that cannot be kept. "The numbers just don't add up," she said, adding such ideas will raise taxes and make it hard for Americans to get ahead and stay ahead. Sanders, 74, said these are not radical ideas. He said just about every other developed nation has free public college and single-payer health care for its citizens. He added that his proposal for free tuition would be paid with a tax on Wall Street speculation, saying: "The middle class bailed out Wall Street in their time of need. Now, it is Wall Street's time to help the middle class." The senator said Clinton once called herself a moderate. Sanders said no one can be a moderate and a progressive at the same time. Wall Street influence Clinton seemed also genuinely offended when Sanders pointed out that she has received high speaking fees from large Wall Street financial firms. He said big money in politics and Congress is one major reason for high drug prices and energy policies that rely on fossil fuels and big oil. Clinton called it an "artful smear" and rejected accusations that anyone getting big money is being "bought." Clinton said she has never changed a view or a vote because of any donation. Although she stopped short when asked to release transcripts of speeches she has given to Wall Street firms. She told MSNBC moderators she would "look into it." Stipulations in her contracts, written by her own team, have called for limited public coverage of comments made in her speeches, The Associated Press reported. Media organizations have been rebuffed in their attempts to obtain copies of the speeches. Sanders again boasted of raising millions from small contributors and that he is the only candidate in the race -- Democrat or Republican -- without a Super Pac -- a political action committee that raises unlimited sums from mainly wealthy donors. Iraq, IS On foreign policy, Sanders agreed that Clinton has more experience. But he added that judgment is necessary, too, again raising that Clinton, during her term as a New York senator, voted to support the invasion of Iraq, while he did not. Clinton responded to his comment by saying, "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS," an acronym for the Islamic State group. "We have to look at the threats we face right now," she added. She then showed that foreign policy is her strength, offering a view of the world's toughest diplomatic disputes. The two also split when questioned whether the U.S. should restore diplomatic relations with Iran. Clinton said it would remove any leverage the U.S. had in negotiating. Sanders, while saying the U.S. shouldn't normalize relations "tomorrow," said the country should try to "move forward." Clinton, who only recently came out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, said she hopes the final version of the trade deal puts to rest her concerns for American workers. Sanders, saying he believes in trade, said he opposes any existing U.S. trade deals, including the TPP and North American Free Trade Agreement. US troops In one area of agreement, both candidates said they would want U.S. troops in the Middle East only in advisory or assistance roles. Clinton said large numbers of U.S. ground troops "is off the table," while Sanders said that "Muslim troops on the ground" would ultimately destroy the Islamic State group. When faced with the issues of immigration, gun control and climate change, the candidates were asked which would be their top priority as president. Clinton said she would not narrow her choices, instead offering she would work on an "ambitious, bold agenda" that included those three issues as well as health care and education. Sanders instead said campaign finance reform needed to be a top priority for the next president, as well as making changes to health care and fixing "the broken criminal justice system." Despite heated exchanges over issues, the two stated their mutual respect for one another. At one point, moderator Chuck Todd asked if Clinton, should she win the nomination, would consider Sanders as her running mate. She said it was presumptuous to pose such a question, but, if so, Sanders would be her first call. Sanders agreed and said, "Sometimes in these campaigns things get out of hand. I respect the secretary, I hope it's mutual." He added, "On our worst days, we are 100 times better than any Republican candidate," referring to the personal attacks often levied by the opposing party's candidates. The two then shook hands. Lively crowd MSNBC hosted the 90-minute event Thursday at the University of New Hampshire in the small college town of Durham, before an oftentimes raucous and cheering crowd. Sanders, who lives in the adjoining state of Vermont, has held a double-digit lead in polling over Clinton. A recent NBC/WSJ/Marist poll showed Sanders receiving the support of 58 percent of likely Democratic primary voters, while Clinton trailed, with 38 percent. New Hampshire's presidential primary will be held Tuesday. In addition, the two candidates have five more debates through the primary season. They are to debate in Wisconsin and Florida, and have debates lined up in April and May. They also agreed to add a debate in March in Flint, Michigan, to draw attention to the city's contaminated water crisis ahead of the state primary on March 8. During the debate, Clinton, who plans to visit Flint on Sunday, said the federal government needs to hold Michigan responsible for the "terrible burden" they have placed on the people in Flint, and should agree to pay their health care costs. Sanders called for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to resign, saying Flint's "children are being poisoned." He also questioned whether the toxic water issue in Flint, which has a large African-American population, would have occurred in a white suburban community. An expansion of Europe's forests toward dark green conifers has stoked global warming, according to a study Thursday at odds with a widespread view that planting more trees helps human efforts to slow rising temperatures. Forest changes have nudged Europe's summer temperatures up by 0.12 degree Celsius (0.2 Fahrenheit) since 1750, largely because many nations have planted conifers such as pines and spruce whose dark color traps the sun's heat, the scientists said. Lighter-colored broad-leafed trees, such as oak or birch, reflect more sunlight back into space but have lost ground to fast-growing conifers, used for everything from building materials to pulp. Overall, the area of Europe's forests has expanded by 10 percent since 1750. "Two-and-a-half centuries of forest management in Europe have not cooled the climate," the team led by France's Laboratoiredes Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement wrote in the journal Science. Not all about carbon They said the changes in the makeup of Europe's forests outweighed trees' role in curbing global warming. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas from burning fossil fuels, from the air as they grow. "It's not all about carbon," lead author Kim Naudts told Reuters, saying government policies to favor forests should be re-thought to take account of factors such as their color and changes to moisture and soils. A Paris agreement among 195 nations in December, meant as a turning point from fossil fuels, promotes forests to help limit a rise in temperatures, blamed for causing more floods, heatwaves and rising sea levels. Average world temperatures have risen by 0.9C (1.6F) since the Industrial Revolution. Europe, the world Since 1750, Europe's forests have gained 196,000 square kilometers (76,000 sq. miles) an area bigger than Greece to reach 2.13 million square kilometers in 2010, the study said. In the same period, conifer forests expanded by 633,000 square kilometers, while broad-leaved forests shrank by 436,000 square kilometers. Over the period, Europeans have harvested ever more wood from the forests, reducing their role in storing carbon. Thursday's study was restricted to Europe but said similar effects were likely in other parts of the world with big forest planting programs such as China, the United States and Russia. Another study in Science, by experts at a European Commission research center in Ispra, Italy, also linked a loss of forests worldwide to an increase in average and maximum temperatures, especially in arid and tropical regions. When North Korea notified international organizations of its plan to launch a long-range rocket this month, it said the move is part of its "space development program." The communist country said Tuesday that it plans to "launch Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong pursuant to the national space development program" in a letter sent to the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO) this week. The announcement is raising concerns in the United States and neighboring countries that the planned launch is a cover for a test of a long-range missile. "Given North Korea's openly stated intention of pursuing the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, any satellite launch can only be viewed as furthering the development of these programs," Francois Lasalle, a spokesperson for Canada's Foreign Ministry, told VOA by email. Extended range Pyongyang's last long-range rocket launch showed that the country had made some progress in its effort to extend the range of its rocket. "Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America," said the North American Aerospace Defense Command in a statement after Pyongyang fired a long-range rocket in December 2012. U.S. military analysts say Washington's primary concern is whether Pyongyang has the capability to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the U.S. mainland. "Our assessment is that they have the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland," Admiral William Gortney, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, told reporters in April 2015, referring to North Korea's new road-mobile missile. U.S. officials say Pyongyang has not yet tested the missile believed to be an ICBM. Many analysts, however, remain doubtful that Pyongyang has such a missile. Joseph Bermudez, a chief analytical officer at AllSource Analysis, says Pyongyang lacks a proven capability to miniaturize a nuclear bomb that could fit atop an ICBM. "If you look at the state of their technology, they should in theory be able to do it. Whether they can is a different story all together. We simply don't know at this point," Bermudez said. Bermudez said Pyongyang may need more tests to possess full ICBM capability. ICBM accuracy unclear Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said Pyongyang might have improved the capability to guide a missile to its target since the test in 2012. The newly announced launch plan calls for areas where a rocket is expected to fall to be smaller than those of the previous test, according to the astrophysicist. "It may be they think they've tuned the guidance system a bit so that it's a bit more accurate," McDowell said. Despite the apparent improvement, it appears North Korea has not acquired re-entry vehicle technology to deliver a weapon from space through the atmosphere to detonate, another hurdle for Pyongyang in its pursuit of the long-range missile. "The missiles that North Koreans have right now entered the earth atmosphere quite fast, but not nearly as fast as a long-range intercontinental missile would do," McDowell said. Bruce Bechtol, an associate professor at Angelo State University in Texas, warned that Pyongyang might have already acquired the re-entry vehicle technology, given that it has conducted tests of short- and medium-range missiles multiple times. Rising tensions On Thursday, South Korea and Japan said they will shoot down any debris that falls on their soils from a long-range rocket that North Korea plans to fire. South Korea's Defense Ministry said North Korea appears to be preparing the launch at its west coast launch site. Pyongyang told the IMO that it will conduct the launch between February 8 and 25. The move follows the country's fourth nuclear test last month. Washington condemned the plan, calling it "another destabilizing provocation on the part of North Koreans." U.N. sanctions ban the North from conducting nuclear tests or any launches using ballistic missile technology. Much of the fireworks at Thursday's Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire focused on money: Hillary Clinton's acceptance of donations and speaking fees from Wall Street and Bernie Sanders' definition of wealth and the top 1 percent in the U.S. Former Secretary of State Clinton and Vermont Senator Sanders had several heated exchanges regarding her ties to the financial sector. When Sanders pointed out Clinton has received high speaking fees from large Wall Street financial firms, she accused Sanders of conducting an "artful smear" by alleging that anyone getting big money is being "bought." Wall Street influence Clinton argued that Wall Street is "trying to beat me in this primary," saying that they had spent as much as $6 million to defeat her. However, a super political action committee supporting her campaign received more than $17 million from people in the securities and investment industry last year, according to campaign finance watchdog OpenSecrets.org. They also donated nearly $3 million directly to her campaign, the website reported. For even more perspective, Clinton has received more money from the financial sector during her Senate and presidential campaigns than her husband, former President Bill Clinton, did in his 25-year political career, The Washington Post reported Thursday. Clinton, who called herself a "progressive who gets things done," said Sanders' proposals for free college and health care are promises that cannot be kept. "I am not going to talk about big ideas ... and then not level with people about how much it will cost," she said. "The numbers just don't add up." Cost of proposals An analysis by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget seemed to bolster her argument. The analysis found that the tax increases in Sanders' plan would only cover about 75 percent of the estimated spending under the plan, creating at least a $3 trillion hole over 10 years. Sanders also repeated a phrase he uses often: "Almost all new income and wealth is going to the top 1 percent." However, the numbers he uses -- research by University of California ecnomist Emmanuel Saez -- is outdated, AP reports. Saez's research found from 2009-2014 that the richest 1 percent captured 58 percent of income growth, which doesn't qualify as "almost all." However, from 2009-2012, the richest 1 percent did capture 91 percent of the growth in income. Yet part of that gain reflected an accounting maneuver as the wealthiest pulled income forward to 2012 in advance of tax increases that took effect in 2013 on the biggest earners, AP reported. Trade deal questions On the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, MSNBC moderator Chuck Todd asked Clinton about the timing of her opposition to the agreement, saying she only recently opposed it, yet supported it in 2012 while secretary of state. Clinton said Thursday night she "was holding out hope" that the deal would be one she could support. But once she saw the final version, "I opposed it." However, as secretary of state, she often spoke highly of the agreement, even calling it "the gold standard in trade agreements" in 2012. And on the subject of trade agreements, Sanders said he is open to fair trade, but opposes any existing U.S. trade deals, including NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement). He claimed Thursday night that existing deals have cost "millions" of U.S. jobs. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, lobbied for the deal and signed it. A 2015 report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service also stated the net overall effect of the trade deal was minimal on the U.S. economy, primarily "because trade with Canada and Mexico accounts for a small percentage of U.S. GDP." Some U.S. officials are heralding new intelligence on the number of Islamic State (IS) fighters as a sign the tide is starting to turn in the battle against the terror group but there are concerns the self-declared caliphates larger, global strategy remains very well intact. The terror group, also known as ISIL or ISIS, now has a force in Iraq and Syria of just 19,000 to 25,000 fighters according to the most recent assessment, the White House said Thursday. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne called it the lowest assessed range since we began conducting rigorous reviews of the groups manpower. Earlier estimates had put the number of IS frontline fighters at anywhere from 20,000 to 32,000, including what defense officials said were about 17,500 hardcore members. The new, lower estimate reflects a variety of factors, including battlefield deaths, desertions and recruiting shortfalls. They continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined, said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. ISIL is having more difficulty than theyve had before in replenishing their ranks. No 'Knockout' Punch The downgrade of the IS force in Iraq and Syria comes almost a year-and-a-half after the U.S. and its coalition partners began launching airstrikes against the group, credited with killing as many as 28,000 fighters. But until recently, U.S. officials had said IS was able to replenish its ranks, in large part due to a constant influx of about 1,000 foreign fighters a month, many coming across the porous Turkish-Syrian border. Thats a testament to the efforts of our partners on the ground, said Earnest, who credited Turkey with cracking down on the border. It also is a testament to the success that were having in starting to staunch the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and in Syria. Still, there is a high degree of wariness. ISIL is not likely to go down by a single knockout punch, a U.S. official told VOA on condition of anonymity. But he added, The coalitions repeated body blows against ISIL are wearing on the group." On the Rise in Libya Yet even as ISs numbers appear to be on the decline in Iraq and Syria, the groups numbers in Libya are on the rise. Pentagon officials Thursday confirmed figures previously reported by VOA that IS is now up to about 5,000 fighters in Libya - and growing. Included in that number, officials say, are numerous key military commanders and officials, including Abu Ali al-Anbari, a top deputy who previously reported directly to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in Syria. Such direct linkage to ISs core leadership is unique among the groups many self-declared provinces. Thats what fundamentally different about Libya, says a U.S. official also speaking on condition of anonymity. Libya is a true branch. At the White House Thursday, spokesman Josh Earnest tried to downplay concerns about the growing IS presence there, saying it is dangerous but its different from the groups self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq. Weve been mindful of these other places, he said. Were going to continue to watch how the threat in Libya evolves and were going to continue to be prepared to take action. Tightening its Grip in Libya Already, the Pentagon has put special forces on the ground in Libya to look for groups who might be worthy of U.S. support while U.S. and European diplomats work to support a potential unity government. But there are fears, the longer it takes for the U.S. and its European allies to act, the stronger ISs grip on Libya will become. The situation in Libya grows much more grave by the day, said Nathaniel Barr, a research manager at Valens Global, who cautions the drop in ISs force size in Iraq and Syria is not entirely due to U.S. and coalition efforts. A large part of that is the Islamic State redirecting foreign fighters, specifically foreign fighters from the Sahel, North Africa and parts of east Africa as well to Libya rather than Syria and Iraq, he said. This is a long term approach, Barr added. Sirte could be the third capital of the Islamic State after Raqqa and Mosul. Smaller Force May Be Strategic Officials and analysts also warn against reading too much into the smaller IS fighting force in Iraq and Syria, saying the groups leadership is showing few signs of conceding. ISIS can actually survive even if it loses its terrain inside Iraq and Syria, says to Harleen Gambhir, a counterterrorism analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. U.S. officials estimate IS has lost 40 percent of the territory it held at its peak in Iraq and anywhere from five to 30 percent of the territory it once claimed in Syria. But Gambhir says how much territory has been lost is not as important as where that territory is. That pressure is on the edges of its core areas of control, she said. No one is forcing Isis to defend its core areas of control along the Iraqi-Syrian border, along the Euphrates River Valley. There are also concerns that the ongoing civil war in Syria could play to the terror groups advantage, as Russia targets the multitude of opposition groups arrayed against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad Its unlikely any party will try to expel ISIS from eastern Syria or try to hold that terrain because so many actors are focused on the fight in Western Syria, Gambhir warned. And the U.S. and its allies could see their options dwindle. As Russia slowly wears down and radicalizes the Syrian opposition, its really taking away any kind of anti-ISIS force that we would want to deploy, she said. A former U.S. pharmaceutical business executive has angered lawmakers by refusing to explain why he raised the price of a life-saving pill by 5,000 percent. Martin Shkreli was removed from a congressional hearing on Thursday after citing his Fifth Amendment right to stay silent. The 32-year-old received a subpoena to appear before the hearing after his former company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, raised the price of Daraprim, the drug used for treating AIDS and certain types of cancer, from $13.50 to $750 per pill. When the price for Daraprim went up sharply in August of last year, the general public, politicians and even industry officials reacted with outrage. The price was increased shortly after Turing, under Shkreli's leadership, bought the patent for the drug. U.S. lawmakers and the Federal Trade Commission are now investigating whether the company violated anti-trust laws. Fifth Amendment On Wednesday, Shkreli refused to cooperate. "On the advice of counsel, I invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question," Shkreli said. Furthermore, the former hedge fund manager appeared to be smirking at lawmakers, which prompted his removal from the hearing. Shkreli's lawyer later tried to justify his behavior. "Some of what you saw was nervous energy by an individual who very much would like to explain what happened, but has agreed to listen to his lawyer," Shkreli's attorny, Ben Brafman, said. But Shkreli's Twitter message later in the day showed only contempt for Congress. "He had a wonderful opportunity to do what he said he wanted to do, which was educate Congress on drug pricing and he skipped it. So, I guess he wasn't all that interested in educating us after all," Representative Trey Gowdy of South Carolina said. Turing and other companies selling expensive drugs say much of the revenues are invested in research and development of new life-saving drugs. Asked about the morality of making the Daraprim price unaffordable to many critically ill patients, a Truing representative said the company also invests in "patient access programs." "We didn't want the price increase to disadvantage patients in any way," Turing's Nancy Retzlaff said. Rejected claims But some lawmakers came well prepared to reject such claims. "They (the pharmaceutical companies) will downplay their massive profits by claiming that they help patients who can't afford their exorbitant prices. The testimony from the drug companies today will be the same. But the difference now is that we've seen behind their smoke screen," Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland said. Analysts say Shkreli's behavior will hurt the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. "I think it definitely angered a lot of people. And, what's unfortunate is this is going to raise calls for price control in pharmaceuticals more generally," said Yevgeniy Feyman of the Manhattan Institute. Shkreli is facing charges of securities fraud in two other companies. Nearly three months after the November terrorist attacks in Paris and after weeks of debates and protests, French lawmakers began Friday to examine legislation to beef up security laws, including hotly-disputed proposals to amend the countrys constitution. National Assembly deputies are expected to vote on some of the proposed reforms next Wednesday. If passed, they will then be taken up by the Senate. But the outcome of the package is far from certain. Two of the most controversial measures writing the state of emergency into the constitution along with text to strip French nationality from convicted terrorists and others who threaten the nations interests have sparked a firestorm of protest and bitterly split French President Francois Hollandes Socialist party. In a National Assembly address Friday morning, Prime Minister Manuel Valls argued forcefully in favor or the measures, noting the two major terrorist attacks in Paris last year that together killed nearly 150 people. The fight against radicalization will be the task of a generation, Valls said, adding the French public are demanding their elected officials to do everything for their protection. Put in place on the night of the November 13 attacks, Frances state of emergency has already been extended once and is set to expire on February 26. Experts expect it will be extended, giving time to pass the proposed reforms. Among other things, the emergency powers allow French police to carry out raids and put people under house arrest without prior authorization by a judge. Supporters argue the governments push to write the emergency powers into the constitution would make it easier for authorities to respond to current and future threats. On Friday, Valls said the emergency powers have helped authorities to destabilize jihadist networks and thwart at least one recent planned attack. But they have also unleashed public protests and harsh criticism by rights groups. Angry objections Reports released this week by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International France assert that the several thousand raids carried out by police since the November attacks have trampled on basic rights and made little difference in fighting terrorism. Muslims in particular have been unfairly targeted, the groups say, citing interviews of people who described having their homes looted, getting hit by police and being unfairly confined to house arrest. Some people said they were targeted because they were wearing beards or because they were praying too much, said Amnesty campaigner Dominique Curis, who called the measures completely disproportionate. Even more controversial, perhaps, is a second proposal to strip the nationality from French people convicted of terrorism and other crimes that threatened the fundamental interests of the French nation. The measure sparked last weeks resignation of Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, who tweeted that sometimes resisting means leaving. She was replaced by Jean-Jacques Urvoas, considered a supporter of the reform. Under current law, convicted terrorists who acquired French nationality within the past 15 years can lose it. The draft legislation would go further and theoretically apply to all French citizens in a messy bid to appear even-handed and win support from leftist critics. Yet since the government says nobody should be made stateless, it would ultimately apply only to those with dual citizenship. Polls suggest most French broadly back the measure, which has also drawn support from some leading conservative lawmakers, including former president Nicolas Sarkozy. Yet it has also sparked alarm by many leading politicians and academics. In an open letter published in Le Monde newspaper this week, more than a dozen of them urged lawmakers to reject the proposed amendment, arguing it was useless, vague, inept and would encourage racism. Indeed, media reports suggest only two of the terrorists who attacked France in recent years would be qualified to lose their citizenship under the reform. This proposal is absurd. It doesnt deter any terrorist, said historian Patrick Weil, who helped to spearhead the open letter. It divides society when its exactly the opposite that we need. Will the measures pass? The citizenship measure has also deeply divided Hollandes own governing party. I hope the stripping of nationality will not be written into the constitution, former minister Taubira told Le Monde, adding that she sensed a dynamic among leftist lawmakers to reject it. Even some conservative lawmakers have reservations about the proposed reform, adding to doubts about its passage. The debates in France have echoes in other countries. In December, Australia also passed new laws stripping citizenship from dual nationals convicted or suspected of terrorism. Canadas previous conservative government passed a similar bill, although the Liberals now in power want to repeal it. What we are seeing now unfortunately is the continuation of a very global trend, said Amnestys Curis. Its about saying that for more security we have to give up freedom and human rights. But freedom and human rights are part of security. With an electorate largely worried about jobs and the stuttering economy, toughened security measures also may not help boost Hollandes chances of winning next years presidential vote. A pair of polls published this week found his support among leftist voters had dropped sharply in recent weeks. Roughly three-quarters of all French said they had no confidence the President could resolve the nations problems. Members of the political opposition in Ivory Coast are accusing President Alassane Ouattara of trying to protect his supporters from being prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Ouattaras predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo and his former youth minister Charles Ble Goude, are currently on trial at the ICC for their alleged roles in the 2010 post-election violence that devastated the country. More than 3,000 people were killed in five months of unrest, after Gbagbo refused to concede defeat to Ouattara. None of Ouattara's supporters have so far been charged by the ICC, prompting accusations by Gbagbo's camp of "victor's justice." Amnesty International said this month the ICC should hold all those who committed crimes accountable, including Ouattaras supporters. While Gbagbo and his former minister of youth Charles Ble Goude earned being tried, its important that national and international courts look at the suspected perpetrators of violence and other crimes committed during the martial law of the President Ouattara side to make sure that justice is even-handed, said Stephen Cockburn, Amnesty's deputy regional director for West and Central Africa. International demands But Boubacar Kone, interim spokesman of the opposition Ivorian Popular Front Party, said President Ouattara is trying to neutralize mounting international demands for some of his supporters to also be prosecuted by the ICC. My understanding is that Mr. Ouattara doesnt want reconciliation and that he is just simply trying to protect his own people from being prosecuted by the ICC because people around the world have been critical about the ICC being unfair because they are investigating only one side of the conflict," said Kone. During a meeting with French President Francois Hollande in Paris Thursday, Ouattara reportedly said he will not send any more Ivorians to the ICC because theres now an operational justice system in Ivory Coast. But Kone said its one thing to say a justice system is working. Its another for it to be fair. The judicial system in our country is very unfair, and we dont have the sign of true reconciliation there. Hes just trying to hide his people from being judged fairly. To tell you the truth, his people are in power and he is trying to protect them, Kone said. Governments, courts and media organizations must do more to prevent violence against journalists covering war, crime or corruption, news industry leaders insisted Friday. "Whether by murder, violence, arrest or intimidation, the crimes taking place against journalists have become far too common. In fact, they've become normalized,'' John Daniszewski, The Associated Press vice president of international news, remarked at a conference on journalist safety, which AP covered. The international conference was organized by UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, at its Paris headquarters. UNESCO member governments should uphold the concept of press freedom and "stop looking at us [journalists] as the enemy. Then we can deal with the bad guys," CNN special correspondent Christiane Amanpour told the group, according to the AP. In tandem with the conference, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) released a new report showing at least 2,297 journalists and media staff have been killed since 1990. Of those, 112 were killed last year, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists reported. Its website indicates at least three journalists already have been killed this year. One is Almigdad Mojalli, a freelance Yemeni reporter who was killed during an air raid by the Saudi-led coalition while he was on assignment for Voice of America. Without the institutional backing of a business entity, freelancers confront additional risks in dangerous settings. Theyre "cannon fodder," the AP reported Diane Foley as saying at the conference. Shes the mother of James Foley, a freelance American journalist who was kidnapped in Syria and beheaded by Islamic State in 2014. Major news organizations that use freelancers in conflict zones are sharing security information and also are discussing the creation of insurance options for these stringers, the AP said. Conference speakers said that, when journalists experience harassment or worse, governments and the public should exert more pressure to ensure their safety and free speech critical to freely functioning societies. In Ukraine, where five journalists and two media workers have been killed since May 2014, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has begun training media professionals on how to operate in hostile environments, its website says. It says it did so at the behest of Ukraine's government. 'Shared responsibility' The IFJ also noted that journalists and their employers have "a shared responsibility" to "educate themselves in risk assessment, avoid reckless assignments and take all necessary precautions while working in dangerous environments." In tandem with the conference, UNESCO and the group Reporters Without Borders on Friday released a new edition of Safety Guide for Journalists. This version of the field guide, first issued in 1992, includes a chapter on digital safety. Its available online, too, in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. The IFJ report said the deadliest year on record for journalists was 2006, when 155 were killed. The crime spree of a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde ended in a car chase and shootout with law enforcement officers that left the man dead and the woman wounded and under arrest in Florida. Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Harper allegedly committed a string of armed robberies similar to those of Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, the infamous couple who were responsible for a series of robberies and killings in the 1930's. Fitzgerald and Harper were from the state of Missouri. It is alleged their crime spree extended across southern U.S. states such as Florida, Georgia and Alabama and that they would rob and kidnap people, then let them go and stealing their vehicles. The couple were also suspected of breaking into a house in Missouri and two robberies in Florida. Law enforcement had offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the couples arrest. Police caught up with the couple in Pensacola, Florida, which led to a car chase from Escambia County to Santa Rosa County, where the shootout reportedly occurred. The couple also were charged with robbing and abducting a hotel clerk in Alabama. Authorities say the two took the clerks car after letting him go. The clerk told Al.com that he was with the couple for about two hours, driving with them from Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, Alabama. He said the couple told him they wanted to make it to Florida where they planned to get married. The man told the clerk he did not want to go back to jail. Soon after releasing the clerk, the couple allegedly abducted a woman and took her car after releasing her. On Monday night, the couple allegedly held up a gas station worker in Georgia, stealing money and taking cigarettes. They then kidnapped the clerk and took his car, releasing him 24 kilometers away, officials said. The Inter-Religious Council of Uganda says the last presidential debate ahead of the February 18 general election will proceed as planned on February 13, despite local media reports that incumbent President Yoweri Museveni will not be available to participate. IRCU officials said they were negotiating with the governing National Resistance Movement to try to ensure that Museveni is part of the debate. The debate, they said, is aimed at giving voters the chance to decide which candidate presents the best policy options for resolving the country's challenges. The discussion will cover foreign policy, regional integration, peace and security, and international trade and investment. All eight presidential candidates have been invited to take part. Joshua Kitakule, secretary general of the IRCU, said his organization received positive feedback after the first debate, which led to its decision to organize one more debate. VOAs Shaka Ssali is expected to be one of the moderators. Seven candidates have confirmed their participation, and plans are under way to reach the eighth candidate. Hopefully, by the end of tomorrow or Monday, we should have reached the eighth candidate and we are praying that the eighth candidate also confirms his participation in the debate, Kitakule said. Ours is a platform given to the presidential candidates to take advantage of. It is nonpartisan; it is impartial; its an independent space," he said. "So it is not a space where we are forcing anybody to come. Any candidate that finds value, that finds benefits from it will definitely come to that debate. ... We are trying to negotiate with [Museveni] so that he is able to find benefits to take advantage of this space. Citizens felt deprived Ugandans expressed dissatisfaction with Musevenis decision to skip the first debate. They said it deprived them of the opportunity to hear from the leader, who has been in power for the last 30 years. Critics said the debate did not meet expectations because Museveni was not there to answer pointed questions, including why he wants another mandate after being in power for so long. Local media later quoted him as saying he participated in debates when he was in primary and secondary schools. His statement led opposition and civil society groups to accuse him of showing disrespect to voters by refusing to be held accountable for his leadership and to outline his plans for improving citizens' lives. Kitakule said Ugandans were excited about and were "looking forward to the second debate. Why? Because they find value when the leaders who are offering themselves are able to come together, share the same platform to talk about what they want to do for this country at the same time. So it is exciting." Critics also said some Ugandans were left out because the debate was conducted only in English, with no translation into some of the local dialects, despite promises by organizers to do so. What we are doing is to make sure that this time round we get another television [station] that would broadcast this debate through translation into vernacular into Luganda, which is spoken widely in this country, Kitakule said. Taxi drivers in Nairobi have become frustrated with Uber, the American app-based taxi service that came to the Kenyan capital in January 2015, which they say is undercutting fares and causing them to lose business. Taxi operators Wednesday asked Kenyas government to stop Uber, a service that has risen in popularity here due to its cheaper fares. Fredrick Kyalo is one of those Nairobi taxi drivers who said Uber is responsible for his declining business. Since the end of last year and the start of this year, totally, we dont have any business, said Kyalo. We are spending most of the time standing, not serving any client. Kyalo and many of his colleagues argue that they just want a fair playing field and Ubers cheaper pricing model serves to undercut them. Its not that I dont like them being in Nairobi, because competition is allowed everywhere, Kyalo said. But the problem is the way they enter into this business. You know, when you enter the business, you have to adhere to their tariff. Their tariff is quite different from all other stake-holders in Kenya. Other taxi drivers, like Peter Karanja, say its not Ubers pricing model that bothers him the most, its the fees he insists they are not paying. We like fair competition, said Karanja. What theyre doing is not fair actually. Because we do not think that they are paying taxes as we are doing. Karanja was referring to the charges he has to pay to stay in business legally. This includes a police inspection sticker costing $88 per year, a public service vehicle drivers license, at about $30 per year, and insurance, which is calculated at 5.5 percent of his vehicles value. But Taha Mohamedali, who owns several cars that are used for Uber, said Uber drivers must pay these same fees. If Uber drivers are found to not be in compliance, he said they are automatically deactivated in the system when their documents expire. Mohamedali added that taxi drivers in Nairobi have attacked four of his Uber drivers over the past 20 days. He said "they just see Uber as this big evil, evil thing out there which is taking over, but its not." "Its actually enabling," he said. "Its enabling all these people because the amount of people using taxis has just gone up so high after Uber because normally people have like, one taxi driver or two taxi drivers who theyve used, or theyve been referred to by a friend. And if those guys are busy, they just wont use a taxi." But now, you know that you can just open the Uber app and call any Uber, and you know that its safe and its cheap and you dont have to think about bargaining, everything is tracked and its just perfect, he added. In a written statement, Uber said our technology is open and pro-choice and we are keen to offer it to a broad number of taxi drivers to boost their occupancy rates and chances for profit. Kenyas spokesman for the Interior Ministry, Mwenda Njoka, issued a statement Tuesday saying that there had been reports of attacks on Uber drivers during the week. He urged claimants to use established legal mechanisms to resolve disputes instead of attacks. But so far, taxi drivers are not mollified. On Wednesday, the drivers issued a seven-day ultimatum to the government to kick Uber out of Nairobi. Failure to do so, they say, will lead to them protesting and paralyzing traffic. American experts on northeast Asia say North Koreas abduction program in the 1970s, which targeted thousands of South Koreans and Japanese, was a way for Pyongyang to address its depletion of intellectuals and visionaries. Robert Boynton, director of New York Universitys Literary Reportage Concentration, discussed the historical context of Pyongyangs systematic abductions Wednesday at the Washington-based think tank Korea Economic Institute. I discovered the story was stranger than I had imagined, Boynton said. The veteran journalist has been following the issue since 2002, when five abducted Japanese returned home. They had spent decades in the Norths so-called Invitation Only Zone, where foreigners who had either been kidnapped or come voluntarily to the communist country resided. The North abducted an estimated 3,800 South Koreans and more than a dozen Japanese nationals in the late 1970s. Famed South Korean film director Shin Sang-ok and his actress wife, Choi Eun-hee, are the most well-known examples of the Norths kidnapping for talents the communist country lacked. The couple was abducted in 1978 by then-leader Kim Il Sung. After two failed attempts, the pair escaped in 1986 while on a trip to Vienna, Austria. In a secretly recorded dialogue with Shin, the enigmatic Kim lamented that he was grappling with the dilemma of teaching North Korean filmmakers new techniques and skills when he could not send them farther than Eastern Europe. Voluntary returns In addition to abduction, Pyongyang actively encouraged ethnic Koreans in Japan to return to the motherland. What ethnic Koreans endured in Japan after World War ll sometimes prompted them to return to North Korea, said Kathy Moon, chair of Korea studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington research-and-policy group. They are referred to as Zainichi in Japan, which means foreign resident, despite being born and raised there for generations. Sheila Smith, senior fellow in Japanese studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized the importance of creating a level of activism in Japanese society around the abductee issue. There has been a long debate since then about the inability or the unwillingness of the government to really take this issue seriously, she said. For years, the Japanese public had dismissed rumors of abductions as right-wing conspiracy theories, Smith said. Maybe an alien abduction is a close parallel. When the five abductees returned to Japanese soil in 2002, Smith said there was an awakening of Japanese popular consciousness about the behavior and threat of the North. The Japanese government recognizes only that 17 of its citizens were abducted by North Korean agents during the six years beginning with 1977. The North, for its part, officially admitted abducting 13 Japanese citizens. Some historians claim there may have been hundreds of victims from the coastal regions of Japan. President Barack Obama promised Thursday to provide more financial aid and other support for Colombia as its government prepares to finalize a peace deal with left-wing guerrillas it has battled for more than 50 years. After meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the White House, Obama announced additional funding and other measures he said would help Colombia rebuild after reaching a peace accord with the Marxist rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC. Negotiations have entered the final stages, and if an agreement is reached, it will end Latin Americas longest-running insurgency. White House officials predict a deal will be finalized in this first part of the year. After meeting in the Oval Office, the two leaders spoke at a reception to mark the 15-year anniversary of Plan Colombia, a joint initiative started to help end the armed conflict and drug trade in Colombia. The effort, which spanned presidencies and party lines, has reached a tipping point, Obama said. A country that was on the brink of collapse is now on the brink of peace. He announced a framework, called Peace Colombia, marking a new era of partnership. The U.S. leader proposed that more than $450 million be devoted to reinforcing security gains in Colombia, reintegrating former combatants into society and extending the rule of law and opportunities into areas where they had not existed. He also vowed to continue supporting efforts to fight drug trafficking and its effects in both countries. Removal of mines As part of global de-mining efforts, the U.S. will also support Colombia as it works to remove every land mine in the country within five years, Obama said. Santos told the audience, including members of the Colombian delegation and U.S. lawmakers from both parties, Today, we see the future with hope. Santos recalled how 15 years ago, Colombia was in the throes of the worst economic recession in decades and had lost nearly two-thirds of its territory to paramilitary and guerrilla fighters, both supported by drug trafficking. We were very close to being declared a failed state, the Colombian leader said. We had a very dark and uncertain future. He thanked the U.S. for its partnership and noted that Colombia is enjoying economic growth, job creation, reduced poverty, a rising middle class and falling crime rates. White House officials have said the U.S. still has concerns about human rights, justice for victims and the drug trade in Colombia. The Obama administration has said it will ask Congress for additional funding in its 2017 budget to help Colombia recover after a peace accord is reached. This request will demonstrate our intention to help Colombia successfully implement its peace agreement, said Mark Feierstein, the National Security Council senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs. In Colombia, both government and rebel negotiators have been meeting in Havana for months to close in on a peace deal during talks sponsored by Norway and Cuba. Santos has set a March deadline for reaching a treaty. The White House said the relationship developed under Plan Colombia had allowed the two nations to expand collaboration in new areas of mutual interest, including the fight against the spread of the Zika virus. The two nations agreed to intensify collaboration, speed up probes into the effects of the Zika virus, and conduct joint research to help diagnose, treat and control the virus. The following Local EU STATEMENT was issued by the European Union Delegation in agreement with the EU Heads of Mission in Zambia, and reflected in several newspapers. The year 2016 is an important year for Zambia, characterized by a number of challenges, and opportunities as well. This is the year where, after having passed into Law the Constitutional Amendment Bill, Zambia has the opportunity to complete the Constitutional review process, and where Zambia can further consolidate its tradition and reputation for democratic elections. The year 2016 can also be the year where Zambia capitalises on its status as a regional role model for peace and stability and engages further on the regional and international scene. The European Union and its Member States very much value the close and friendly relationship with Zambia, and we confirm our commitment to support Zambia in its endeavours to address its current challenges, such as the economic situation and the energy crisis which have hit the country. We confirm our confidence in the Electoral Commission and its capacity to successfully organise the upcoming elections on 11 August which we hope, in accordance with Zambia's tradition, will be free from violence and fully respecting fundamental democratic rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. These are fundamental principles we share and which are amongst the priorities of the European Union's foreign policy in the world. We are always interested in a level playing-field and never support any partisan position. The European Union looks forward to continuing its strong partnership with Zambia, and to further enrich it in the fields of development cooperation, trade & investment, as well to pursue our fruitful political dialogue with all stakeholders among them Government, opposition parties, civil society organizations in the mutual interest of Zambia and the European Union. - Ends- Pakistan is hosting a new round of four-party discussions to help advance the Afghanistan government's hope for peace talks with the Taliban. While all sides hope for progress in Saturdays meeting in Islamabad, Taliban insurgents have not yet signaled whether they will cease hostilities and join the process. The so-called Quadrilateral Coordination Group, or QCG, is made up of senior Afghan, Pakistani, American and Chinese diplomats. They are reconvening in Islamabad for their third meeting since the group was launched last month. The diplomats are trying to prepare a road map for a sustainable and productive peace process, and studying what to do about Taliban factions that oppose the talks and refuse to end hostilities. Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis attempts to conduct peace talks with the Taliban could not move beyond a preliminary round last July, after it became known the insurgent groups longtime leader, Mullah Omar, had been dead for two years a revelation that disrupted political unity within the Taliban. Despite the lack of progress in recent months, the Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ahmad Shakeeb Mustaghani, says he expects a road map for peace negotiations with the Taliban will be finalized at the Islamabad meeting. Critics like Ahmad Rashid, author of several books on Afghanistan, remain skeptical about the chances for progress. The public needs to know what is happening," he said. "We have the secret meetings between these four states; we have all sorts of things going on. The public is totally unaware of what is going on. What is this four-nation grouping that is talking about the Taliban? The Taliban last week restated its demands for joining the peace process. They include the release of its imprisoned members, removal United Nations travel and financial restrictions on senior insurgent leaders and withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan. The skepticism about success of the four-nation talks also stems from the increase in Taliban attacks across Afghanistan and the group's unprecedented territorial gains over the past year, positioning the insurgents to launch an even stronger spring offensive beginning in April. The outgoing commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, General John Campbell, acknowledged the insurgent gains during testimony Thursday before the Senate Armed Services committee. In fact," he added, "as of last week, the units we have on the ground throughout the country report that of the 407 district centers, eight or 2 percent are under insurgent control. We assess that another 18 or just under 4 percent [of district centers] are under what we call insurgent influence. General Campbell warned that up to 94 district centers are at risk of falling to the Taliban, in his view. He said the Kabul government controls approximately 70 percent of the inhabited parts of Afghanistan. Diplomatic sources say most of the deliberations the four-nation group has held until now have focused on bridging the "trust deficit" that exists between Pakistan and Afghanistan for a sustainable Afghan peace process. Intelligence agencies of the two countries blame each other for harboring militant groups and sponsoring cross-border terrorist attacks. Pakistani opposition lawmaker Shireen Mazari said both sides need to stop covertly supporting the violence if there is to be a lasting settlement of the Afghan conflict. She said militancy on both sides of the border cannot be tackled unless there is cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan. "We have to find the means of isolating those [Taliban] who are not prepared to lay down their arms and dialogue," she said. "Unless there is some intel sharing, some cooperation between the NDS [Afghanistan's intellligence agency] and the Pakistani equivalent, the problem will continue to haunt us. Despite months of military and intelligence exchanges between Afghanistan and Pakistan, Mazari said no formal bilateral agreement exists to tackle terrorism and determine who is violating the terms of such a pact. General Campbell in his testimony this week cited militant sanctuaries on both sides of the border as a major U.S. worry. I am concerned about what is going across both from Pakistan into Afghanistan and, quite frankly, as [Pakistan Army chief] General Raheel [Sharif] has talked to me about potential stuff going from Afghanistan into Pakistan, said Campbell. The American commander told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee that U.S. counterterrorism operations are not effective against or aimed at the Taliban: What I would tell you is that our country has made the decision that we are not at war with the Taliban, he said. Officials with knowledge of the discussions the four-nation group has held so far say that all sides are pushing President Ghani to come up with political and other incentives to encourage the Taliban to come to the table for talks. Ghani said recently that he views the insurgency as a political opposition movement. General Campbell's comments about the Taliban are seen by observers in Islamabad and Kabul as concessions to encourage the insurgent group to join the peace process. Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, and its subsequent support for armed separatists in the eastern part of the country, has been accompanied by a major Russian information campaign in support of those actions. That campaign has targeted not only Russia's domestic audience but also audiences in neighboring states that receive Russian media and, because of having once been part of the Soviet Union, are home to a significant number of Russian-language speakers. A group of experts held a conference Thursday in Washington to assess whether Russia is winning the battle for influence in neighboring countries. One of those experts, from a leading polling organization, stated unequivocally that it is. The conference, "Assessing Russia's Influence in Its Periphery: Is Russia Really Winning an Information War?" was organized by the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the independent U.S. government agency that oversees all government-supported U.S. civilian international media, including Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; and by Gallup, the international polling and management consulting organization. Presentations at the conference were based on what the organizers described as "the latest media consumption and attitudinal findings from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Moldova," along with Gallup 2014 World Poll data from 12 countries that once were part of the Soviet Union. The 2014 Gallup World Poll found that "a vast majority" of people in 12 countries that were part of the Soviet Union were following the news about the situation in Ukraine and Crimea very closely during the conflict in 2014, with more people considering Russian media as a more reliable source than Western media. Majorities of the respondents in Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Armenia and Uzbekistan deemed Russian media "reliable" for news about the situation in Ukraine and Crimea. Warning to West Gallup found that majorities in most of the former Soviet states supported Crimea becoming part of Russia, and that respondents who used Western media in addition to Russian media were even more likely to support Crimea becoming part of Russia than those who only used Russian media. Neli Esipova, Gallup's director of research for global migration and the Gallup World Poll's regional director for 29 Eastern European and former Soviet countries, said at Thursday's conference that those 2014 Gallup World Poll respondents in the 12 former Soviet states who lived in urban areas and were better educated tended to be more supportive of Russia's policy in regard to Crimea. "If the West wants to participate in forming the opinion of people in this region, it will clearly need to makes some changes in its communications strategy," Esipova said. "And those changes have to be made not only in the content, but in the tone of how people present information, how the West presents information. The uniqueness of this region is that people in this region have very strong ties to Russia, and the Russian media knows its audience, and knows how to appeal to it." Esipova concluded: "In this round of the information war, the Russian media have won." Another conference participant, Jeffrey Trimble, deputy director of the BBG's International Broadcasting Bureau, said the West must formulate a response to the enhanced media capabilities of both authoritarian states and terrorist organizations. "The 21st century is seeing a new intensity and scale of media manipulation, psychological warfare and disinformation," he said. "The increasingly sophisticated use of media by authoritarian regimes, the advances in information war by Russia, China, ISIS, are throwing up new challenges, from technical questions about the power of social media through to deeply philosophical issues about the nature of truth and reality." Pope Francis, leader of the Roman Catholic Church and Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, will meet next week in Cuba, both churches announced Friday. The February 12 meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be the first ever between the heads of the two churches and has been hailed by both denominations as an historic step toward healing the 1,000-year-old schism between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity. The Argentine-born pope is due to visit Mexico from February 12 to 18. He will stop in Cuba on the way and meet with the patriarch at Havanas Jose Marti International Airport. Kirill will be in Cuba on an official visit, his first to Latin America as patriarch. The summit was arranged by Cuban President Raul Castro, who hosted Francis in Cuba last year. Francis and Kirill will talk privately for about two hours and then sign a joint declaration, the Vatican said, adding that the meeting is "a sign of hope for all people of good will." Speaking to reporters about the significance of the meeting, the Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi said that the event has extraordinary importance in the path of ecumenical relations and the dialogue among Christian confessions, adding that Cuba was chosen because it is certainly a crossroad in the world of today. "Cuba is a place which follows the theme of the past years when there was talk about a meeting between the pope and the patriarch - where the aim was always to hold it in a neutral place - so not in the Vatican or Russia but in a different location. Those who are familiar with Vatican history will know that there were many propositions in the past for a meeting between Pope John Paul II and the Russian patriarch, most likely to be held in Europe. Neutral places that would have significance for both parties were always considered as the venue for the meeting. Now, Cuba is of course outside Europe, which is an interesting aspect, but it is certainly a crossroads in the world of today," said Lombardi. In November 2014, Francis had said he had told Kirill: I will go wherever you want. You call me and I will go. Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, the Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Illarion said that long-standing differences between the two churches would remain, mainly a dispute over the Eastern Rite church in Ukraine that is allied with Rome, but they are put aside for Kirill and Francis to work together against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. The meeting of the primates of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church will mark an important stage in the relations between the two churches,Illarion said. "The meeting of the primates of Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches which have been prepared for a long time will become the first one in history and will mark an important stage in the relations between the two churches," said Illarion. Roman Catholic popes have previously met with Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church, which split with Rome in 1054, but not with the head of the Moscow Patriarchate, which is the most influential of the worldwide Orthodox churches. The Russian Orthodox Church has 165 million of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians. The Russian Church has accused Catholics of trying to convert people from Orthodoxy after the break-up of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, a charge the Vatican has denied. A senior United Nations official warned that Europe's hardening attitude toward refugees and migrants is threatening the unity of the European alliance. Peter Sutherland, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for international migration, said he is alarmed at the growing hostility and xenophobic sentiments European politicians have expressed about people fleeing war and persecution. The nationalistic and racist slogans heard since refugees began sweeping across Europe are deplorable, he said. After the collapse of the Iron Curtain a quarter-century ago, seen at the time as the end of a Europe divided by borders, the U.N. official said it is particularly sad to see razor-wire fences reappearing at some border areas to bar immigrants. "The recreation of borders challenges the whole integration of the European Union, Sutherland said. More particularly, it challenges the moral responsibility of states to help refugees to provide asylum." Far-reaching concerns Sutherlands concerns extend to the wider migrant community, since focusing exclusively on refugees overlooks the desperate needs of what he calls "survival migrants." These include people escaping famine, poverty, natural disasters and other severe challenges that are putting their lives at risk. These people, too, deserve asylum, the migration chief said. Sutherland said he was astonished that a conference for Syrian refugees in London on Thursday brought in pledges of $10 billion in assistance. That money, he said, will provide better health, education and, in many cases, jobs for many thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. The pledges of international support will make life more tolerable for the four million Syrians living in these frontline states, but Sutherland told VOA he does not believe it will stem the flow of refugees seeking sanctuary in Europe. "I do not think that the flow of migrants into Greece from Turkey or from other points in the Mediterranean is going to be substantially altered, he said. That flow will continue. So there are people many who will want to get to Europe." Benefit of influx New estimates from the International Organization of Migration bear this out: More than 74,500 Mediterranean migrants so far have arrived in Italy and Greece, a record number for this time of year. With a population of more than one-half billion, Sutherland said Europe can easily absorb more than one million refugees and migrants. Furthermore, he added, given falling birth rates in Europe, a tide of migrants could benefit the entire region. While polls show that most Iowans had the U.S. economy on their minds when they participated in Monday's caucuses to choose a candidate for president, one group of caucus watchers was picking candidates with a different issue in mind. Five thousand of Iowa's National Guard troops have served in Afghanistan since the U.S. went to war there after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. And it has changed the perspective of many of them. Sergeant Devin Burgett served in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011 with Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment of the Iowa National Guard. He was stationed in the east of the country in Torkham Gate, an area close to the Pakistani border. He also served in eastern Laghman province. Burgett, who lives in Iowa City, said he would back a candidate who supports staying in Afghanistan to try to help the Afghan people. I would be happy to see a candidate who would win that shows appreciation to Afghans," he said, "because a lot of Afghans helped the U.S. and I think we owe it to them. I would be happy to see someone who would show a little gratitude to the people who fought alongside us in Afghanistan. Last year in October, President Barack Obama announced that American troops would remain in Afghanistan at the current level of 9,800 throughout 2016 as part of Resolute Support Mission. The plan had been to reduce that number this year, but because of Taliban advances, Obama postponed cutting troops to 5,500 until 2017. Listening to generals Sergeant Clayton Embre, who served alongside Burgett in Afghanistan, identified himself as a Republican. I am a Republican and will vote for the Republican Party. I like John Kasich and Ben Carson, Embre told VOA. He said national security and the economy were the most important things for him during the election season. On the issue of fighting the Islamic State group and terrorism, he said neither of his favorite GOP candidates has the necessary solutions to deal with that problem. Neither one of them knows exactly what to do and what they should do, Embre said. Obviously, they are smart enough to listen to generals and other people, and they will surround themselves with intelligent and smart people and do what they say. Sayed Monib, an Afghan interpreter who served with Embres unit in Afghanistan, lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He found the primary process in Iowa interesting and told VOA that he was looking forward to being able to vote one day. Only U.S. citizens can vote, and it can be a long process to become a citizen. Serving with the National Guard offers expedited citizenship. Awaiting citizenship Another interpreter who served with Iowa National Guards 168th Infantry Regiment told VOA that he is closely following the elections in the U.S. I would like to vote as an American one day. I consider myself part of America and am looking forward to my citizenship. I have a green card now and will soon vote, Nabi Mohammadi said. He drew a comparison between U.S. and Afghan elections: Unlike Afghanistan, its a very transparent and clear process here. You get the results quicker here. Mohammadi has survived four attacks on his life two improvised explosive device attacks and two rocket attacks while serving with the U.S military in Afghanistan. He was in short-term disability for four months when the vehicle he was traveling in ran over an IED in Afghanistan. Now he is living what he considers the American dream in Des Moines, Iowa, with his two kids and wife. He bought a house and studies information technology at Des Moines Area Community College. Another Afghan, Sayed Mansoor Afzali, is a Fulbright student at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, where he now lives. He told VOA that he was very excited about the primary process as voters energy and enthusiasm reminded him of Afghanistans 2014 presidential elections, where he said Afghanistan demonstrated the same level of passion. Afzali added that I am truly lucky to be living in the U.S. at such an important and eventful time. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's airstrikes in Syria are undermining efforts to find a non-military solution to the conflict. Stoltenberg made the comment Friday as he arrived in Amsterdam for a meeting of European Union defense ministers. He said the "intense" Russian airstrikes are mainly targeting opposition groups and are causing increased tensions, as well as violations of NATO airspace and Turkish airspace. In another development, Syrian government forces supported by Russian warplanes recaptured a rebel-held town near Deraa, according to Hezbollah's Al Manar television and a Syrian monitoring group Friday. That news came a day after a U.N.-led donor conference pledged $10 billion for Syria humanitarian relief. Syrian forces seized Ataman, about 3 kilometers north of Deraa in the country's south. The assault was aided by dozens of airstrikes believed to have been carried out by Russian planes, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. In recent days, the Syrian army and its allies have also made significant advances against rebels in the northern province of Aleppo. The Russian-backed assaults were in part responsible for derailing peace talks in Geneva earlier this week, with Syrian government officials walking away from the talks after claiming that they had ended the rebel siege of two Shi'ite villages in Aleppo, handing President Bashar al-Assad's government a major victory. Meanwhile, Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday up to 70,000 people were headed toward his country to escape a Russian-backed offensive led by government troops around Aleppo. The U.N. Security Council is scheduled to meet Friday for consultations with U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura over the breakdown in negotiations, which were suspended until February 25. With its vast semicircular terminal, Tempelhof airport in Germany made famous during the Cold War was said to be the largest building in the world when it was built by the Nazis. Now, Berlin authorities have brought it back into service. Three-thousand refugees occupy four cavernous former aircraft hangars. Simple boards have been erected to give some degree of privacy, and side rooms have been converted to nurseries and dining halls. "We are an emergency accommodation, said Maria Kipp, a spokesperson for Tamaja, the agency providing the refugee housing. But what happens in reality is that we have people who should already be in long-term accommodations and should have way higher standards than we can actually provide here. City authorities admit that the accommodation is far from ideal, but say the numbers arriving in the city require urgent solutions. The cramped conditions mean new migrants are submitted to strict health screenings. Outside, VOA spoke to Hussein Alawayeh, who fled Damascus last year with his wife and daughter. He said they have been suffering in the German refugee camps for five months, and are hoping to find something anything better than what they have. But Zahir Ahmed of Pakistan praised the staff. The atmosphere here is very nice, Ahmed said. People are showing respect and care. Airports origins, controversy Tempelhof was a lifeline for West Berlin when the Soviet Union blockaded the city at the beginning of the Cold War, and American aircraft flew daily sorties to bring in supplies. The airport was closed in 2008, triggering a battle over its future. Berlin city officials recently voted to extend emergency housing onto the vast airfield in front of the airport; but, just two years ago in a referendum, Berlin residents voted against any development. Others disagree with that vote. Georg Classen of the Berlin Refugee Advisory Board wants to see money spent on proper apartments for the refugees, instead of on these shabby shelters." And so what began as a powerful symbol of the Cold War has become a battleground for rival visions of how to solve Berlin's migrant crisis. As forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pressed home an offensive in the country's northern Aleppo countryside, tens of thousands of desperate civilians headed to the border with Turkey, swelling the thousands already camped there. "People are dying on the border and nobody cares about them," said Mohammad Ali, a student from the town of Al-Bab who is studying in southern Turkey and has been trying to get family members across. "In this cold, people are desperate, and the Turkish authorities are not allowing anyone to enter illegally. There are snipers everywhere." A young girl from the Al-Bab area was killed Thursday when Turkish border guards opened fire on refugees trying to sneak into Turkey, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based monitoring group that receives reports from activists on the ground. The surge of civilians heading to the border started when heavy fighting erupted to the northwest and north of the city of Aleppo, Turkish officials and activists said. The numbers have increased dramatically as Russian airstrikes pound villages, backing one of the biggest regime offensives in the area in the past three years. Rebel commanders have confirmed to VOA that the regime has severed the main rebel supply route to insurgent-held districts in Aleppo, Syria's one-time commercial capital and most populous city. "They are isolated," said Abu Muhammed, an insurgent fighter. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu estimated as many as 70,000 civilians may be heading to the border, while the Syrian Observatory put the number at about 40,000. Rebels say more than 500 Russian airstrikes since Monday have helped regime troops alongside Shi'ite militiamen from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement and Afghanistan, as well as Iranian Revolutionary Guards, to execute the offensive around Aleppo. Insurgents still control a narrow corridor west of the city they can use for small groups of fighters to enter and exit, but it cannot be used to ferry in large amounts of supplies. Checkpoints along it are being monitored by al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra, rebel commanders said. Coming humanitarian disaster The Assad regime's offensive the most significant since Russia started its military intervention in Syria in September overshadowed an international donor conference for Syria this past week in London, where $10 billion was pledged in aid for Syrian refugees. David Evans, a spokesman for international aid group Mercy Corps, warned of a coming humanitarian disaster. "It feels like a siege of Aleppo is about to begin," he said. Most of the civilians heading for the border are not from the city but surrounding villages and towns caught up in the heavy fighting, according to activists. In a statement Friday, the United Nations' refugee agency said it estimated about 15,000 Syrians had left Aleppo due to attacks by Syrian government forces. The U.N. officials say Turkish authorities informed them that the border with Syria will remain closed for civilians, except for those who need medical attention in Turkish clinics. The civilians heading to the border must also dodge other players, including Islamic State, which has been exploiting the Assad offensive to resume bombardments of towns held by moderate and Islamist militias half an hour from the border crossing at Kilis, a Turkish border town. Syrian Kurds have also launched attacks on villages near the Kurdish enclave of Afrin. The Kurdish Peoples' Protection Units, or YPG, have been fighting non-Islamic State rebels and Jabhat al-Nusra along the border for weeks. Harrowing journey Syrians who have managed to cross into Turkey, often by bribing Turkish border guards by paying $1,200 a person or paying people smugglers, say their journey was an ever-more-frightening trek with airstrikes following them from town to town. The Syrian Observatory said it documented the deaths of 21 civilians killed in Russian strikes in the last 24 hours. Other activist groups put the number of civilian deaths at 25. None of the estimates can be verified by VOA. Aleppo came under renewed airstrikes Friday, and there were reports of five civilians killed in raids on its al-Mashehad neighborhood. Two of them were children. In a statement issued Friday, the Syrian Coalition the main Western-backed political opposition group said, "Increasingly intensive Russian airstrikes are pushing tens of thousands of Syrians from northern rural Aleppo toward the Turkish border." The coalition said 2,000 families had fled from the towns of Anadan, Huraytan and Bayanoun. "The Assad regime and Russia's airstrikes have so far killed 436 civilians in Syria since the launch of the Geneva III Conference on January 29, the coalition said. The Syrian Network for Human Rights said it had documented 131 civilians killed by their full names over the past five days. According to the report issued Wednesday, 58 were killed in Aleppo due to Russian strikes, 24 in Deir Ezzor, 13 in Dara'a, 10 in each of Raqqa and Homs, and 8 in each of rural Damascus and Idlib." Refugee flood unlikely to slow Speaking Thursday in London at the donors' conference, the Turkish prime minister said his heart was "with my country's border." "I am thinking of how and where we will need to locate the people coming from Syria," he said. Turkey is already hosting an estimated 2 million Syrian refugees. The Turkish government has increased security measures at the border. In Kilis, all scheduled leave for police and military officers has been canceled. This latest refugee flood is unlikely to slow in the coming days. The regime's offensive shows no signs of abating. A last-stand defense of the town mounted mainly by al Nusra, which this week sent nearly 800 fighters from the neighboring province of Idlib, failed to repel government forces Thursday, although rebel commanders say clashes are continuing to the west of the town. Rebel commanders are appealing to the United States for more assistance and to the international community to use any pressure it can to halt the Russian airstrikes. Zakaria Malahefji, political officer of the 3,000-strong Fastaqim Kama Umirt, a brigade aligned to the rebel alliance Jaish al-Mujahideen, or Army of Holy Warriors, told VOA a major humanitarian disaster is unfolding and that he found it ironic the United Nations is trying to resume peace talks at this time. "International negotiations in Geneva are talking about ending sieges across the country, but here at the same time Assad and Russia are aiming to besiege Aleppo," he said. Peace talks The United Nations Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, said he is trying to gauge whether there is international support, chiefly from the United States, Russia and Iran, for resuming the peace talks he had started this week in Geneva only to quickly halt the contentious gathering until February 25. De Mistura said he would resume the talks if there is a chance to make progress, but only if that is the case. "I repeat: I won't talk for the sake of talking, it's not acceptable," de Mistura said. "We negotiate in order to find an agreement." NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's airstrikes in Syria are undermining efforts to find a non-military solution to the conflict. Stoltenberg made the comment Friday as he arrived in Amsterdam for a meeting of European Union defense ministers. He said the intense Russian airstrikes are causing increased tensions, as well as violations of NATO airspace and Turkish airspace. The Russian-backed assaults were in part responsible for derailing the Geneva peace talks, with Syrian government officials walking away from the talks after claiming that they had ended the rebel siege of two Shi'ite villages in Aleppo, handing Assad's government a major victory. A U.N. panel's finding that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained is a "vindication," said the WikiLeaks founder Friday from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been living to avoid extradition. Speaking by video from inside the embassy, Assange said it is "now a matter of settled law" that he has been wrongly detained. The panel ruled Assange has been arbitrarily detained since 2012. Assange wants to leave the embassy where he has sought refuge for nearly four years, but faces arrest by British police. Sweden wants him for investigation of rape, an allegation he denies. WATCH: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange reaction to ruling: British officials have dismissed the U.N. ruling and say it will arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a panel of independent experts, issued a statement early Friday, saying, The various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention." Not legally binding The panel called for him to be released and compensated for time lost; but, the ruling Friday is not legally binding. Sweden says it plans to keep up its investigation of him. Britain and Sweden on Friday said Assange sought refuge at the embassy of his own accord and has not been detained. Britains foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, dismissed the U.N. panels ruling, saying it was frankly ridiculous. Assange earlier said he intended to leave the Ecuadorian embassy on Friday. His supporters said he would hold a news conference at the Frontline Club, a London press club. Instead, he spoke from the embassy, where hundreds of reporters monitored his remarks from the street. Later, he emerged onto the embassys balcony and read a statement to his supporters, calling the ruling a historic victory. Assange, an Australian national, has said he wants his passport returned and a termination of all attempts to arrest him. Release of secret U.S. govt. files The former computer hacker angered the United States by releasing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. government files. He has since been linked in Sweden with a number of crimes, including one of rape in 2010. The statute of limitations has run out on the other allegations, but the one on rape stands and Swedish officials have said a U.N. ruling would have no impact on their investigation. His supporters say the Swedish woman in the rape case has said Swedish police railroaded her into accusing him. That is not the view of the womans lawyer, who called Fridays ruling insulting and offensive. In a statement, Elisabeth Massi Fritz criticized the U.N. ruling, saying the panel appeared to not understand that rape is one of the most serious abuses and violations of human rights. She said she is relieved that the ruling is not legally binding. She said Assange should "pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor." Among the secret files that his website published were hundreds of thousands of documents detailing U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also released a video of a 2007 U.S. helicopter gunship attack in Baghdad that killed 12 people, including two staff members of the Reuters news agency. WikiLeaks back story Documents leaked included thousands of diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies around the world dating back several decades. Those cables, in some cases, contained details of what U.S. diplomats were saying about other world leaders; revelations that embarrassed U.S. officials. In the United States, a grand jury is still investigating the leaks. White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday said Britain and Sweden would have to resolve Assanges case. Its unclear to me exactly what impact a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on this situation," Earnest said. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed on Thursday a Saudi offer to participate in any ground operations in Syria launched by the U.S.-led coalition. Carter said increased activity by other countries would make it easier for the United States to accelerate its fight against Islamic State militants. "That kind of news is very welcome," he told reporters while on a visit to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Carter said he looks forward to discussing the offer of ground troops with Saudi officials in Brussels next week. He said the Saudi government has indicated a willingness to do more in the fight against Islamic State, which controls vast swaths of Syria and Iraq. The Pentagon chief also said the United States was watching events in Libya very carefully but had made no decision on expanding its role there. Islamic State forces have attacked Libya's oil infrastructure and established a foothold in the city of Sirte, exploiting a power vacuum in the country where two rival governments have been battling for supremacy. Carter said the focus was now on political change in Libya, where the warring administrations are expected to form a unity government. Brazilian health officials said Friday that they had found live samples of the Zika virus in saliva and urine samples. Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a biomedical research institution in Rio de Janeiro, said at a news conference that casual kissing "increases the risk" of being infected with the virus. He said, however, that there should be no anti-kissing policy. Scientists at research institution said they were trying to determine whether body fluids could spread Zika to new patients. Brazil entered the Carnival season Friday, a time when people commonly kiss strangers they meet at massive street parties. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization advised officials not to accept blood donations from people who recently returned from countries affected by the Zika virus. The mosquito-borne virus is most prevalent in Latin America, particularly Brazil, and poses its greatest danger to pregnant women. "With the risk of incidence of new infections of Zika virus in many countries ... it is estimated as an appropriate precautionary measure to defer donors who return from areas with Zika virus outbreaks," the WHO told the French news agency AFP on Thursday. Microcephaly Doctors suspect the Zika virus is linked to a rare neurological condition called microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads. Brazil reports more than 4,000 microcephaly cases since October. But experts are puzzled about why it is nearly nonexistent in other Latin American countries where the Zika virus is present. Spain confirmed the virus Thursday in a pregnant woman who had recently traveled to Colombia. It was the first known pregnancy-related Zika case in Europe. There is currently no treatment for Zika. But a number of global pharmaceutical houses are rapidly working on a vaccine. Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff said Thursday that Brazil and the United States were working together to develop a vaccine for the Zika virus, but warned it might take some time. Panama research Meanwhile, officials in Panama said they were focusing their fight against Zika on the mosquito that carries the virus. Experts told AFP they were looking at releasing millions of genetically modified male Aedes mosquitoes, who would mate with the females and result in offspring that die at the larval stage. Panama carried out such an experiment near Panama City in 2014, nearly wiping out a town's entire mosquito population. Tonga confirms 5 cases In another development Friday, the tiny South Pacific kingdom of Tonga reported it had five confirmed cases of Zika and more than 250 other people suspected of having the virus. Tongan officials began spraying for mosquitoes in schools and other places where people gather. WATCH: Dr. Anthony Fauci on unlikeliness of Zika outbreak in US They are beautiful, talented and fiercely competitive. Many of this years Academy Award nominees in the categories of Best Actress in a Leading Role and Supporting Role are young, prolific thespians who are making their way into the Hollywood establishment. Saoirse Ronan belongs to a new generation of actresses getting Hollywood's attention. The 21-year-old received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her delicately complex and understated performance as Eilis in the film drama "Brooklyn." Eilis is an Irish single woman who immigrates to Brooklyn in the in 1950s hoping for a better life. After a hard adjustment , Eilis falls in love with Italian-American Tony and starts over but she has to return to Ireland after her sisters sudden death. There, her lonely mother and an attractive Irish man force her to choose between her two lives. At 21 years old, Saoirse has already made more than 20 movies. She was first nominated for an Academy award at age 13, for her role in the period drama Atonement. But Saoirse is facing stiff competition at the Oscars from another young peer. Brie Larson offers a riveting performance in the film "Room," as an abducted woman, imprisoned in a small shack with her five-year-old son, a product of rape by her abductor. Larson is considered by many the Oscar frontrunner for Best Actress. And like Ronan, Larson at 26 comes with a film portfolio of more than 20 feature movies. The other three nominees in the Best Actress Category are Cate Blanchett for her role in "Carol" Charlotte Rampling in the film "45 Years." And Jennifer Lawrence starring in "Joy." Best Supporting Actress Alicia Vikander is just a year older than Larson. Her career took off with her portrayal of enigmatic AVA, a humanoid robot in the film "Ex Machina." She has a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her portrayal of 1930s artist Gerda Wegener in "The Danish Girl," starring alongside Eddie Redmayne. She plays the wife of a pioneering transgender man. She also received a BAFTA, the British equivalent to the Oscars. She is becoming one of the most sought after young actresses today. But she is facing a serious opponent at the Oscars. Rooney Mara is already a known entity in Hollywood. She is nominated for an Oscar in a supporting role in the lesbian romantic drama "Carol" for playing innocent and unassuming Therese opposite her older love interest, Carol, played by Kate Blanchett. Mara received her first Oscar nomination in 2012 for her cutting edge interpretation of a young sociopath, a homeless computer hacker in the American version of the Scandinavian thriller "The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo." She also delivered a memorable performance as Mark Zuckerberg's girlfriend in "The Social Network." They are joined by Jennifer Jason Leigh in "The Hateful Eight," Kate Winslet for her part in Steve Jobs, and Rachel McAdams from "Spotlight." Special mention should be given to another 20-something, Jennifer Lawrence, an Oscar nominee in the category of Lead Actress for her title role in the romantic dramedy "Joy." At 25 years old, Lawrence has acted in well over 20 films, including the Blockbuster "Hunger Games" series. She has already won an Oscar and is, according to Forbes magazine, the highest paid actress in Hollywood today. Lawrence's meteoric rise signals her young peers that edgy intelligent roles, unassuming talent and hard work are valued by wide audiences and critics alike. Somali officials investigating an apparent bomb blast that forced a passenger jet to make an emergency landing in Mogadishu say the explosion was likely the work of militant group al-Shabab. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior security official told VOA's Somali Service that investigators have evidence that al-Shabab was behind the blast and that they will present their conclusions soon. Somalia's former national intelligence director, Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, said the nature of the incident and the evidence available so far both indicate it was "a planned bomb attack." Local authorities in the Balad District north of Mogadishu found the dismembered body of a man believed to have fallen from the plane soon after it landed at Mogadishu International Airport on Tuesday. One of the passengers was missing and there was a hole on the right side of the fuselage. Investigators suspect the blast sucked the man out of the plane through the hole. Fiqi said he received information that the suspected bomber intentionally placed himself at that spot in the plane, near a fuel tank. We are getting reliable [intelligence] information that the suspected bomber disputed with another passenger who was sitting [in] the seat above the center wing tank of the airliner, saying it was his seat," said Fiqi. "Another passenger mediated [between] them, letting the suspected bomber sit there of course with purpose." He said the intention of the suspected bomber was likely to cause a huge explosion that could break the plane into pieces. The plane was a commercial flight chartered by the Somali airline Daallo. Somali aviation official Ali Ibrahim said they estimate the plane was at an altitude of more than 12,000 feet when the blast occurred, about 15 minutes after the plane took off from the Mogadishu airport, bound for Djibouti. Daallo said 74 passengers were on board. President Robert Mugabe has declared a state of national disaster in Zimbabwe following a devastating drought that has killed thousands of cattle, withered crops and left more than a million people needing food aid. The United States lifts targeted sanctions against Agribank and the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe, giving Americans the right to do transactions with the entities. War Veterans Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa claims that Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo is allegedly the son of Zanu founding president, Ndabaningi Sithole. Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says opposition parties have not yet started discussing coalition talks. And South Sudan is seeking 20,000 Zimbabwean graduates at a time the southern African country is failing to create jobs for millions of school leavers. 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 Blessing Zulu and Gibbs Dube will be talking with listeners and experts about the drought situation in Zimbabwe. Send us your numbers on our WhatsApp number 001 202 465 0318. The number again 001 202 465 0318. Stay tuned!!!!!! President Barack Obamas visit to a U.S. mosque Wednesday sent a strong message of support to American Muslims and, according to one scholar, continued a long tradition of U.S. presidents defending religious freedom. For much of Obamas presidency, now in its eighth year, Muslim community leaders have urged him to visit a mosque in the United States, just as he has overseas. His stop at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, "as overdue as it is, is symbolically quite important," Omid Safi, director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center in North Carolina, said in an email to VOA. "In an age where [Republican] presidential candidates are talking about national registries for Muslims, of shutting down mosques and banning Muslim refugees," Safi continued, the presidents visit "is a simple but powerful affirmation of the fact that American Muslims are a part of the mosaic of American society. Hopefully, it will serve as a reminder of the need to affirm the full rights of all of us, regardless of faith and ethnicity." Gary Scott Smith, historian and author of the 2015 book "Religion in the Oval Office," said he thinks the mosque visit was "a good move on [Obama's] part and shows some solidarity with Muslims to speak out on religious freedom." Religious defender in chief Smith described the role of U.S. president as "our interpreter in chief, our spiritual leader in some ways," defending the nations founding principles of religious liberty and tolerance. "Thats happened throughout our history." "In the absence of a national church and therefore someone to function as the Archbishop of Canterbury or the pope we often look to the president not only as a national spokesperson" but also as "a religious spokesperson on important civil matters," said Smith, history department chairman at Grove City College in western Pennsylvania. Often, those civil matters involve tragedy, such as the terrorist plane attacks of September 11, 2001, or a radicalized couples mass shooting attack in San Bernardino, California in December. Muslim extremists have been blamed in those incidents and others and after each, Muslim American communities have reported experiencing hate crimes and bias. Obama, in public comments, has resisted using the phrase "radical Islam." He explained his avoidance of the term at a conference last February, saying, "We are not at war with Islam. We are at war with people who have perverted Islam." Obama has described himself as a Christian of deep faith, one who, through his upbringing in Hawaii and Indonesia, also has been exposed to Eastern and Muslim influences. Yet some persist in wrongly identifying him as Muslim, insinuating hes somehow un-American and, by extension, that other U.S. practitioners of the faith are, too. A CNN/ORC poll last year showed 29 percent of Americans and 43 percent of Republicans believe the president is a Muslim. A new Pew Research Center poll shows 49 percent of Americans believe "at least 'some' U.S. Muslims are anti-American, including 11 percent who say 'most' or 'almost all'" fit that category. The United States has an estimated 3.3 million Muslims, representing roughly 1 percent of the U.S. population, according to Pew. But because Muslims have the nations highest fertility rate, by 2050 they could become the nations second most-populous faith group after Christianity. The new Pew poll shows half of Americans want the next president to refrain from criticizing Islam as a whole. But another 40 percent of Americans want blunt, tough talk about Islamist extremists. That percentage rises to two-thirds (65 percent) of Republicans and those leaning toward the GOP. Another new survey, conducted by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, shows American Muslims favor Democrats in upcoming presidential primary elections. A history of complaints Historian Smith pointed out that Muslims arent the only faith group to feel besieged at times. "Weve had all kinds of religious groups saying their rights have been impinged upon," he said, noting that, for decades, theres been "this perception that Christianity is being pushed out of the public square. ... Its not just Muslims who are concerned about their freedom to worship." Even the countrys first chief executive, George Washington, felt compelled to send "letters to various groups, including Jews, basically promising them that, as long as he was president, they were free to worship God as they chose," Smith said. But, especially since the 20th century, "theres been this trend toward ecumenicism," Smith added, citing presidents such as John F. Kennedy, a Catholic, and Jimmy Carter, a Southern Baptist, deliberately avoiding any show of favoritism. " Weve gotten more inclusive over time as weve had more religious communities in the United States." Correction: Grove City College is in western Pennsylvania, not in Philadelphia, as initially reported. WATCH: Visiting Mosque, Obama Condemns Violence Against Muslim Americans South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance party says its case against President Jacob Zuma's private house upgrade will proceed next week as originally planned, despite the president's offer to pay back some of the public funds used for the upgrade. South Africa's public prosecutor, Thuli Madonsela, ruled in 2014 that Zuma benefited from the security upgrade of his house in Nkandla, which cost the public $23 million. The changes made to the home include a visitors center, swimming pool, helipad and cattle enclosure. Zuma was directed to pay back a reasonable amount of the upgrade, which Madonsela said should be determined by the treasury with assistance from the police. In a letter, Zuma proposed to refund some of the funds, but challenged who determines that amount. Local media quoted a statement from his office as saying, "To achieve an end to the drawn-out dispute in a manner that meets the public protector's recommendations and is beyond political reproach, the president proposes that the determination of the amount he is to pay should be independently and impartially determined. Given the objection by one of the parties to the involvement of SAPS [South African Police Service], as the public protector herself had required, the auditor general and minister of finance be requested by the court, through appropriate designees, to conduct the exercise directed by the public protector." Accountability, vindication Parliamentarian Jordan Lewis says his party the Democratic Alliance as well as civil society groups and South Africans who demanded accountability have been vindicated. "It's a reflection of the profound political pressure that the president finds himself under at the beginning of 2016, Lewis said. He knows that the pressure on him is absolutely mounting and that he has got to do something to reposition himself more positively with the voters. So, after five years of trying to avoid any accountability of the huge multimillion-rand [local currency] upgrade to his house, he has finally admitted some accountability to pay back some of that money." Arguments at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday will focus on the supremacy and the validity of the public protector's report and on forcing the president to comply with that report, Lewis said. "He has left his party in a very embarrassing position, he added, because they have been defending him for years and have been holding the line. They are now left with the egg on their face." Who decides? Lewis says the party will not be deterred in seeking proper legal redress regarding the upgrade. Lewis says it is unacceptable for Zuma not to abide by the report specifying who determines the payment amount. "There is an important legal principle at stake here, Lewis said. The legal principle is that three years ago, there was an official investigation by the public protector and the public protector found that he did unduly benefit and that he should be made to pay back some of the money. "Even now in his settlement letter, still he will not use the determination made by the public protector. His offer is that the auditor general should determine how much he must pay back. We are not happy with that. The public protector's ruling must stand and we are going to court to enforce that ruling." War Veterans Minister Christopher Mutsvangwa has made a sensational claim that Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo is allegedly the son of Zanu founding president, the late veteran nationalist, Ndabaningi Sithole. His remarks come at a time when the two are engaged in a bitter war of words over succession battles in the ruling party. Mutsvangwa recently told the local press that Moyo, who accused him of allegedly stealing and selling womens underwear during the war of liberation of the 1970s, was Sitholes nephew. But now Mutsvangwa alleges that the Tsholotsho-born Moyo is a love child of the late veteran politician. Moyo and members of the Sithole family were not reachable for comment. Mutsvangwa made the claims Thursday in Zimbabwes second largest city, Bulawayo, at a workshop designed to realign the war veterans constitution. The war veterans minister, who was guest of honour, deviated from his prepared speech and attacked Moyo, accusing him of allegedly being used by some unnamed Western countries to destroy President Robert Mugabes ruling Zanu PF party. Mutsvangwa claimed the he has evidence that the Higher Education Minister is the son of the late Sithole and challenged him to go for a DNA test if he is denying these allegations. Pressed by journalists to clarify his assertions on the sidelines of the workshop, Mutsvangwa said he stood by his remarks and was prepared to meet Moyo in court. He further alleged that Moyo is said to have fleeced his stepmother, he identified as Venor, of some radio receivers. Close associates of the Sitholes claim that there is no one with that name in their family. Sithole was married to the late Vestor. Political analyst, Butlter Tambo, said the conflict between these senior government officials is part of the succession battle in the ruling party. Mutsvangwas claims follow Moyos recent attack on him, alleging that the war veterans leader was a rogue successionist and was a quote - petticoat thief during the liberation struggle. Moyo has claimed that Mutsvangwa is a close associate of presidential spokesman, George Charamba, whom he attacked recently for allegedly supporting so-called successionists he said were attempting to topple President Mugabe. Charamba and Mutsvangwa are believed to be close associates of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is allegedly habouring presidential ambitions and is engaged in a bitter war with Young Turks calling themselves the Generation 40 or G40, backing First Lady Grace Mugabe for Zimbabwes top most political post. The spat between Mutsvangwa and Moyo typifies the factional fights within the ruling party as the battle to succeed President Mugabe intensifies. But Mutsvangwa dismissed the observation that the infighting could ultimately destroy Zanu PF, saying the ruling party had weathered bigger storms in the past. President Mugabe, who is expected to be the ruling partys presidential candidate in 2018, turns 92 this month, making him the oldest president in the world. The United States Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has removed four Zimbabwean individuals and three Zimbabwean entities from its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. Among the five individuals removed, three are deceased - former cabinet ministers Amos Bernard Muvenga Midzi and Sikhanyiso Duke Ndlovu and former Zanu PF Politburo member Stanley Sakupwanya. Ndlovus widow, Rose Jaele Ndlovu, and one individual and Thai national Nalinee Taveesin petitioned for removal and was determined to no longer meet the Specially Designated Nationals criteria. Taveesin is a former Thailand government minister. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Nalinee in 2008, was designated as one of four Mugabe regime cronies by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The OFACs 2008 statement was strongly worded, particularly in reference to Taveesin. Ironically, it said, Nalinee Taveesin has participated in a number of initiatives on corruption and growth challenges in Africa and Southeast Asia while secretly supporting the kleptocratic practices of one of Africa's most corrupt regimes. The OFAC statement became a point of controversy in Thailand when Taveesin was appointed minister for the prime ministers office in January 2012. She strongly denied the allegations, saying that her relationship with the Mugabe's is strictly social and that she is a victim of guilt by association. A senior official from the Treasury Department told VOA that, The United States regularly reviews and updates its SDN list, including those listings related to Zimbabwe. The removals were based on the determination that circumstances no longer warrant the inclusion of the individuals and entities on the SDN List. Following the removal of these five individuals and three entities, the Treasury Department says 98 individuals and 66 entities related to Zimbabwe remain on the SDN list. We're proud to present our new volcano calendar 2016: 13 different and attractive images of volcanoes, volcanic landscapes and phenomena taken during volcano tours over the past few years. Volcanic activity worldwide 5 Feb 2016: Fuego volcano, Bardarbunga, Sinabung, Sakurajima Fri, 5 Feb 2016, 21:00 21:00 PM | 21:00 PM | Earthquakes under and near Bardarbunga volcano since Jan 2016 (yellow circles = older than 2 days, red = past 48 hours) Eruption of Sakurajima volcano this morning (NHK) Explosion at Sinabung volcano yesterday (image: Endro Lewa / facebook) Glowing avalanches after an explosion of Fuego this morning Another cluster of small earthquakes concentrates along the 2014-15 eruptive dyke 20 km to the NE of the volcano. ... [ show less Another cluster of small earthquakes concentrates along the 2014-15 eruptive dyke 20 km to the NE of the volcano. Volcano Activity Summary for 5 Feb 2016: : Over the past few months, seismic activity at the volcano, mainly under the volcano's large, ice-covered caldera has been increasing again, suggesting that magma might be filling the volcano's reservoir underneath the caldera.Since the beginning of the year, more than 300 shallow earthquakes of magnitudes up to 3.8 on the Richter scale were recorded, clustered in areas near the southern and northeastern caldera rim.: After several months of unusual calm, the volcano had a moderately strong vulcanian explosion from the Showa crater this morning. An ash plume rose to approx. 10,000 ft (3 km) altitude.Until the end of Sep 2015, Sakurajima had been producing such explosions, of varying intensity, at rates of typically 3-5 or more per day. This activity ceased around 28 Sep 2015 and until now, the volcano had only manifested surface activity in the form of minor ash emissions, degassing, as well as, very rarely, minor explosions. Whether the volcano is back to its previously typical behavior with more frequent and stronger explosions, as it had been during most of the recent years, remains to be seen.: Recently, explosions from the active summit lava dome have become more frequent, producing ash plumes that rose 1-2 km above the summit. Extrusion of viscous lava also continues at slow pace, generating small to moderate pyroclastic flows from time to time.: Activity at the volcano is again increasing and seems to be heading towards another (the 3rd in 2016) paroxysm.Explosions have become stronger, and possibly, one or several short lava flows are active on the upper flanks. The thermal output of the volcano, measured by NASA's satellite-based MODIS spectroradiometer, also shows a clear increasing trend. According to a sensational article by The Telegraph, the US director of National Intelligence was recently instructed by Congress to conduct a major review into Russian clandestine funding of European parties over the last decade. [1] This disclosure a classic controlled leak is intended to warn disobedient yet popular political entities across Europe to scale back their ambitions to rebalance the roles and weight of their nation states within the European Union. Hungarys Jobbik, Greeces Golden Dawn, Italys Lega Nord, and Frances Front National are explicitly included in the US warning list, while other unnamed parties in Austria, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands are being advised that they are under a US security probe. Even the new British Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is suspected of flirting with the Russians. So, according to the sponsor of The Telegraphs story, any European politician who dares to question NATOs eastward expansion, the policy of anti-Russian sanctions, or the current European stance on the Ukrainian conflict is essentially a witting or unwitting tool of Russias hybrid warfare. Well, that would be funny if it werent so dangerous. In fact, any impartial observer would pose some simple questions: Why the hell do US intelligence agencies care about challenges to Europes internal security? Arent they the same agents who finance, recruit, and control countless political organizations, individuals, and media outlets on the European continent? Why are they so brazenly revealing their dominion over Europe? A politically correct challenger would argue that the United States saved Europe from the Communist threat after the end of WWII, facilitated its speedy economic recovery, and is still safeguarding the continent under its nuclear umbrella. Perhaps. But a review of the historical background should not begin with the Marshall Plan. First of all, that was launched in April 1948. Since the Nazis capitulated in May 1945, a misinformed reader might deduce that the United States had been drafting a massive investment program for Europe for as long as three years, and he would be wrong. At the Second Octagon Quebec Conference in September 1944, President Roosevelt and US Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr. submitted to the British PM Winston Churchill their Post-Surrender Program for Germany [2]. That strictly confidential document envisaged the partition and complete deindustrialization of the German state. According to the plan, Germany was to be divided into two independent states. Its epicenters of mining and industry, including the Saar Protectorate, the Ruhr Valley, and Upper Silesia were to be internationalized or annexed by France and Poland. Following are a few excerpts: The [US] military forces upon entry into [German] industrial areas shall destroy all plants and equipment which cannot be removed immediately. No longer than 6 months after the cessation of hostilities, all industrial plants and equipment not destroyed by military action shall either be completely dismantled and removed from the area or completely destroyed. All people within the area should be made to understand that this area will not again be allowed to become an industrial area. Accordingly, all people and their families within the area having special skills or technical training should be encouraged to migrate permanently from the area and should be as widely dispersed as possible. All German radio stations and newspapers, magazines, weeklies, etc. shall be discontinued until adequate controls are established and an appropriate program formulated. That was the original postwar recovery program for Germany, known as the Morgenthau Plan. The notorious Joint Chiefs of Staff Directive 1067 (JCS 1067) addressed to the Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Occupation Forces in Germany, which was officially issued in April 1945, was fully in line with that document [3]. The Morgenthau Plan very quickly proved to be a strategic mistake. The United States underestimated the ideological and cultural impact the Soviets would have on European societies. Left to their own judgment, American strategists failed to understand the attraction that a socialist system held for the majority of the population of the liberated nations. A vast spectrum of pro-socialist and pro-communist politicians began winning democratic elections and gaining political influence not only in Eastern Europe, but also in Greece, Italy, France, and other European states (Palmiro Togliatti and Maurice Thorez are just a few who could be named here). Thus Washington came to understand that its forced de-industrialization of Europe could result in Soviet-style reindustrialization and eventual Russian dominance of the continent Therefore the US had to promptly replace the Morgenthau Plan with one named after Secretary of State George Marshall Over the course of four years it provided Europe with $12 billion USD in credits, donations, leases, etc., for the purpose of buying American machinery and other goods. Although the plan undoubtedly revived the economies of Europe, its biggest positive effect was on the US economy itself! Simultaneously a wave of political repression was launched throughout Europe, most notably in Germany. The media has largely forgotten about a Soviet initiative, proposed in 1950, to withdraw from the GDR and to reunify a neutral, non-aligned, demilitarized Germany within one year of the conclusion of a peace treaty. As a matter of fact, the resolution adopted at the Prague meeting of the foreign ministers of the Soviet Bloc on Oct. 21, 1950 proposed the establishment of an all-German Constituent Council, with equal representation from East and West Germany to prepare for the formation of an all-German, sovereign, democratic, and peace-loving provisional government. Needless to say, the US government and West German administration in Bonn strongly opposed the initiative [4]. While a plebiscite on the issue Are you against the remilitarization of Germany and in favor of the conclusion of a Peace Treaty in 1951? was announced in both halves of the divided state, that referendum was held and officially acknowledged only in East Germany (with 96% voting yes).vtek The authorities in US-controlled West Germany failed to respond in a truly democratic manner. They refused to recognize the preliminary results of the referendum that had been held since February 1951 (of the 6.2 million federal citizens who had taken part by June 1951, 94.4% also voted yes) [5] and introduced the draconian cautious Criminal Law Amendment Act (the 1951 Blitzgesetz) on July 11. According to that legislation, anyone guilty of importing prohibited literature, criticizing the government, or having unreported contacts with representatives of the GDR, etc. was to be prosecuted for state treason, which was punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison. Consequently, between 1951 and 1968, 200,000 charges were brought against 500,000 members of the Communist Party and other left-wing groups in Germany under this law. Ten thousand people were sent to prison, and most of those who were cleared of charges never resumed their political activities. Additional legal amendments in 1953 actually abolished the right to freely hold gatherings and demonstrations, and in 1956 the Communist Party of Germany was banned. More details can be found in Daniel Burkholzs 2012 documentary Verboten Verfolgt Vergessen (Forbidden-Followed-Forgotten. Half a Million Public Enemies), which is surprisingly unavailable on YouTube. The political repression that occurred in Germany from the 1950s to the 1980s, compared to similar events in other European countries during the same period, is a very taboo topic. Operation Gladio in Italy, the crimes of the regime of the Black Colonels in Greece, and the controversial assassinations of realistic European politicians who openly advocated for historical compromise with the Soviet bloc such as Italian PM Aldo Moro (1978) and Swedish PM Olof Palme (1986) all received far more media attention. The revelations made by a former correspondent for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Udo Ulfkotte, in his book Gekaufte Journalisten (Purchased Journalists) about the mechanism of media control in Germany (remember the Morgenthau Plan?) represent only the tip of the iceberg. The almost complete lack of reaction seen in Berlin after Edward Snowdens disclosure of the blanket electronic espionage routinely conducted against German leaders by the NSA means that in reality, Germany has acknowledged its loss of sovereignty over its own country and thus has nothing to lose. So, after taking all these facts into account and rereading the article in The Telegraph, are you still so sure that the United States is truly the guardian of Europes sovereignty? Is it not more likely that by using the alleged Russian threat to control and harass the political establishment and civil society in Europe, Washington is making headway toward a simple and primitive goal that of merely keeping its sheep within the fold? In tonights chronicle of the worlds most serious clown, we step outside the rodeo and enter the realm where Chip Baskets truly becomes his most unintentionally clownish: marriage. We first met Chips French wife Penelope in the pilot, when she agreed to marry this doughy man as her ticket to America. I dont love you. I dont find you very attractive, she told him. At least she was up front about her intentions. But Chip is ever an optimist or, if you will, a sucker. As his financial and personal situation craters around him, he still harbors hope of a reconciliation with Penelope. (Even that term seems misplaced, though, since there doesnt appear to have been any, ahem, conciliation.) After scoring a plump insurance check from that time Martha destroyed his scooter Chips only thought is how to impress Penelope. And if you thought being kicked in the head by a bull was humiliating, well, that was nothing compared to what happens in Strays. Chips obliviousness/willful ignorance of his wifes total disinterest proves to be great fodder for comedy, particularly in a hilarious bit where he buys her a TV with 4K resolution, only to watch the same 4K demo footage over and over again. (The technology hasnt caught up yet.) And all the while, the hunky, shirtless farmer boy (Shel Rasten) whos been, er, cultivating Penelope stays cheerful and friendly with Chip, even offering him a homegrown nectarine after Chip tries and fails to slash his trucks giant, he-man tires. Sabina Sciubba still doesnt have much to do as Penelope, since the show has yet to truly explore the comic potential of a snooty French bohemian marooned in Bakersfield. Even when Strays focuses on her, shes mainly around to be the impervious ice queen. This makes the final scene, where Penelope invites Chip to take a dip in the pool with her in a very leading fashion, all the more befuddling. The fun of her character, until this point, stemmed from just how utterly uninterested in Chip she is: not just as a romantic interest, but at the concept of his very existence. Hinting that there could be something in the air between them seems to undermine that entire point. How far will the Baskets team go with this romance-that-isnt? Does anyone believe that these two will work it out? If so, you might be a better audience for this show than I am. Meanwhile, the ever-hapless Martha has taken in an abandoned dog, assuming its been mistreated by its former owners. She believes its incumbent on her to show this animal that a bright spot does exist in humanity. Having met some dog owners who had no business owning dogs, the barbs at Marthas expense gave me a chuckle: She names him Boots and is then surprised when he doesnt respond to her calls, and ascribes human motivations where simple animal instincts would be more useful. The fact that this dog goes on to utterly wreck her apartment and then turns out to not be a dog at all, but a vicious coyote doesnt register to her as anything grander than an annoyance. (Its strangely soothing to hear her whine, Oh, nooo!) But this is also a savage dig at well-meaning but inept animal people: Martha knows nothing about animal behavior and cant even distinguish between species, so her apartment paid the price. The scene where Chip yells at the coyote, discovering the parallels between himself and the wild animal (they both love a lady, yet have no business in her world) is oddly touching. Its effectiveness is due to a combination of Galifianakiss fully committed performance and the ominous desert-night setting yet another great choice made by director Jonathan Krisel, whose work has been outstanding throughout the series. Most sitcoms bathe every scene in light, and Baskets tends towards a more shadow-heavy, dynamic look. This is clearly a show that aims to make its lead characters look as unflattering as possible, so it helps to know a confident hand is steering the ship. The shows deliberate pacing is also on display during the concluding scene between Chip and Penelope at the swimming pool, with those slow-motion, languorous shots of Chip cleansing himself in the water. Sure, this kind of stuff is done on film anytime someone jumps into a pool with their clothes on, but the sequence feels nicely off-rhythm. Every beat of a half-hour comedy is usually calibrated to the second, and characters rarely catch their breath. Patience is a virtue, and especially so in comedy though as Chip has learned, too much patience is an invitation for your own kind of defeat. Clowning Around The occupations leadership has assumed an unmistakably theologian order: Proxy Snyder sees the citys new hosts as no less than gods, and fancies himself a prophet of sorts, happy to command the rank-and-file Red Hats and instill fear on his lordships behalf. He even assures Phyllis that he communicates directly with the Raps or, at least, he receives their instructions second-hand from Helena. (Per Hollywood Reporter, we should become acquainted with this mysterious authoritarian soon enough.) Ugh, how emasculating. No wonder he enjoys needling hunky FBI vet Will. Phyllis, for her part, is of moderate faith. You might even say shes a mainstream occupier. She gravitates toward strong leadership and clear objectives, so shes managed to find her place amid this dubious reich. She also seems to accept bureaucratic service as atonement for being unfaithful, pre-Arrival, to her kindly husband Ed. Will, as we know, signed on with the occupation as a means to find his son, Charlie. As the days go by, though, hes increasingly lulled by the familiarity of police work. And as he witnesses the Resistances violent tactics firsthand e.g. Justins execution he struggles to discern which side of the wall (literal and otherwise) he really belongs to. And as Katie quickly discovers, the Resistances Achilles heel is its own sectarianism. Geronimos philosophy, while rooted in the ideals of activists like Frederick Douglass, is still nascent and emotional. Its forming in real-time, as fast and loose and reactionary as the nimble pirate DJs edicts of rebellion. (Not to mention those encoded details of upcoming broadcasts on the backs of anarchist posters.) Varying pockets of peons living outside the Green Zone endorse their own interpretations of these orations, stoking urgent outrage that Broussard and Quayle let alone the occupation simply cant contain to one central movement. For all intents and purposes, Colony is imagining what it might look like if a new society were painfully parceled out from the still-smoldering ashes of our established, civilized surroundings. Its a fantasy that begs reflection on our nations volatile history of settlement and sacrifice, but it also mimics latter-day efforts to remake overseas territories in Americas image complete with shadowy authoritarian omniscience, youthful militias, and no shortage of menacing drones. The fragmented Los Angeles envisioned by creators Carlton Cuse and Ryan Condal is less a sci-fi foretelling of karmic comeuppance than a mirror held up to the world were in. (Okay, except for Katies Jedi-esque dress during the house-fire scene. That was pretty sci-fi.) Nonetheless, lets take comfort in the fact that for now Red Hats arent barging into actual U.S. classrooms, smashing young female teachers heads into desks. Thats the shocking brutality leveled against Marla Nelson for clandestinely featuring Ray Bradburys Fahrenheit 451 in her curriculum. And thats saying nothing of an outspoken student who took the butt end of a rifle to his temple. At first blush, your eyes roll at Nelsons on-the-nose selection for anti-authority literature, but the ensuing violence stuns, leaving you breathless and enraged. Ditto for Phylliss fate in the closing moments of Blind Spot. The second Katie unmasked her to Broussard as Wills boss, her assassination was fait accompli nevermind when Phyllis outed Katie and recruited her as a triple agent, which would have ventured into absurdity. Even so, it was hard to swallow when Broussard executed her with prejudice in her Green Zone home. At least he had the decency to heed her request and kill long-suffering Ed in the other room, giving her a measure of cold comfort before she collapsed in a heap. Hopefully for Wills sake, she was equally conscientious about destroying Brams confiscated radio tapes. Bram is sufficiently bummed that his recordings have been snatched by the Red Hats. Soon, resistance sympathizers citywide are in disbelief that their voice of reason has finally been cuffed by Will and interrogated read: tortured by other members of the force. They shouldnt fret, though. As Will immediately intuits, this mobile DJ is no Geronimo. And its more than likely that another righteous reformer will take his place. The beat will go on. They might even be thrilled to know that their fallen speechifier gave apparently solid intel about how he receives his scripts. As it happens, theyre sent through a reservoir, one whose entry point lies squarely in the Green Zone. If Geronimo is flesh and blood, followers and foils alike may be one step closer to finding him. Whats unclear just yet is how Maddy (may we call her Maddy?) will get entangled in all this. And oh, will she. From the outset, shes had the most frequent access to the Green Zone, thanks to the myriad day labor she gets assigned by the occupation. And shes desperate to insinuate herself further, if for no other reason than scoring insulin for her son, Hudson. But she misses the cultured world, one where her eye for art as a former gallery employer is valued. Its almost conspicuously convenient, then, that she gets tasked with helping curator Charlotte (Kathryn Morris) plunder vacated homes for valuable art. The gigs a bit unsavory, but thats all relative post-Arrival. When Charlotte buddies up to Maddy over a glass of white, offers her a full-time assistant job, and guarantees unlimited meds for Hudson, whos she to beg off? Shes no different than Phyllis, or Will, or anyone else searching for something beyond answers to the unanswerable. For Katie, however, her obsession with the truth the truth of what happened to Charlie, who or what it is holding humanity under its sway, and which version of virtuousness will get her family closer to freedom has led her into an underworld that demands transparency but pursues it with unsettling vigilance. Following Resistance directives, she sets her living room on fire under the auspices of an insurgent bomb threat, which gets her a meet-and-greet with Phyllis. But it carries heavy costs: Her hands are now stained with Phylliss blood, and her tactical indelicacy finally rouses Wills suspicions. Though his wife is faithful, shes not necessarily honest. This is where Colony presents its humane side, articulating the matters of trust that ground other dramas The Americans and Homeland, in particular and make this dystopian nightmare intimately relatable, if a bit contrived. Neither Will nor Katie has even fathomed that Broussard pulls day duty as a Red Hat. Broussard and Quayles assurances of safety for the Bowmans feel as ephemeral as the authorities. Were left to anxiously wonder what evil-babysitter Lindsey has up her sleeve, and if Wills instincts about Jennifer are legit. The Arrival was an unwelcome and abrupt disturbance, but it may have only hastened the inevitable rupture of societal discord. Apart From All That: Dave Mirra. Photo: Christian Petersen/2008 Getty Images Dave Mirra, the near-peerless proBMX biker who went on to become one of the X Games winningest competitors, as well as a TV host, was found dead Thursday of an apparent suicide. Greenville authorities in North Carolina discovered the 41-year-old athlete in his parked truck there earlier in the day, with what theyre calling a self-inflicted gunshot wound. We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift, Greenvilles mayor said in a statement. [Mirra] called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon. The New York natives passion for extreme sports began at the age of five. It would persist until his death in the form of a lengthy, two-decade-plus career, punctuated by 24 X Games medals (14 gold), the first-ever double backflip in a contest, and a late switch to RallyCross and triathlons, among numerous other feats. Similar to the impact Mark Gonzalez, Rodney Mullen, and Tony Hawk had on skateboarding, Mirra became one of the global faces synonymous with BMX. Dave Mirra, your courage, determination and natural skill in everything you pursued pushed the world of action sports to become a better place. From all of us at X Games and ESPN, we salute your contributions, ESPN said in a statement published late Thursday. As a dominant park and vert force, Mirra ultimately helped bring BMX more into the mainstream, and pushed the limits of what was doable. Off the bike, Mirra served a brief stint as the host of MTVs Real World/Road Rules Challenge, lent his name to a popular video-game series, and reinforced Greenvilles (a.k.a. Pro Town) status as a major BMX hub for top-tier riders. He also appeared on other such shows as Nitro Circus, Fantasy Factory, Punkd, and George Lopez. Mirra is survived by his wife and two children. This post has been updated throughout. Betrayal! Scandal! Photo: Getty Images Okay, people, time to refresh! Since last time, the Mexican authorities recaptured the infamous drug lord Joaquin Guzman, better known as El Chapo, in part because he wanted to meet Mexican telenovela star Kate del Castillo, who brought along Sean Penn, who later wrote about the meeting for Rolling Stone. Well, the Mexican government wants to question del Castillo for her ties with El Chapo, but she failed to turn up at the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles, where she lives. Uh-oh! Not so fast! Del Castillos lawyer, Harland Braun, said that his client is willing to talk about El Chapo. But what she really wants to talk about, gentle souls, is betrayal. She didnt know Penn was going to write for Rolling Stone. Braun said. After the interview she had no choice about it. Once Penn and Guzman agreed on the article, what was she going to do? She signed off after they had done so. Thats what made her feel really betrayed by these people, Braun said, referring to Penn and the two people with him. The three of them go together and basically used her and didnt tell her. Meanwhile, at least one U.S.-government official thinks Penn is using the entire Rolling Stone article as a cover. Under U.S. law, no American citizen can discuss business with a known drug lord (yes, theres a list), so they believe Penn is using the First Amendment to avoid prosecution. Sean Penn seems to be bending over backward to say it was purely journalistic, but the info we were given about the trip, there was never any reference to an interview for a Rolling Stone article until he met with El Chapo, a government source told Fox News. I think this was a very calculated move on the part of Sean Penn based on legal counsel to try and hide behind the freedom of the press and the First Amendment to avoid prosecution. Whats more, both U.S. and Mexican agents had been monitoring the meet-up between El Chapo, del Castillo, and Penn. Mexican agents wanted to go in, but the U.S. didnt want to endanger Penn. The Mexican military wanted to go in and get El Chapo, but the State Department did not want them to, because it would put Americans in danger. The State Department applied pressure to delay the siege until Penn and his crew were gone, a source told Fox. So the U.S. government held off on capturing an international criminal so that Sean Penn could do an article? Oh my, theres so much tension! TV is expensive, everyone. Photo: LouisCK.net With almost no warning, Louis C.K. released the first episode of Horace and Pete, a web series starring himself and Steve Buscemi, on his website last Saturday. In an email to subscribers Thursday, also posted to his website, C.K. went into more detail on the series, which, true to form, he is producing, directing, writing, distributing, and financing on his own. The next episode of Horace and Pete will drop this Saturday; unlike the first episode, which cost $5 to view, the second will be available for $2, and future episodes will be available for $3. Were no economists, but we think that means the second episode is less than half as good as the first, and two-thirds as good as the ones to come. As an explanation for the fee, C.K. pointed to the cost of production. Unlike a comedy special, Horace and Pete requires a full crew and has an expensive cast including Steve Buscemi, Alan Alda, Edie Falco, Aidy Bryant, and Jessica Lange. Every second the cameras are rolling, C.K. wrote, money is shooting out of my asshole like your mothers worst diarrhea. (This is true of all TV, though the producers of something like Grease: Live might choose different language.) Horace and Pete stars C.K. and Buscemi as the titular Horace and Pete, who manage a dive bar in Brooklyn together, with Alan Alda as barkeep Uncle Pete. The first episode starts to dig into the familys complicated and dark history, while also letting visitors to the bar chat about current events, such as the Iowa primary. The episodes are shot in a multi-cam format, in the vein of sitcoms like Cheers, and each will be posted soon after it is filmed. C.K. writes that he avoided publicity so that viewers would get the chance to experience the joy of finding something completely new. Im always delighted when I can see a thing without knowing anything about it because of the promotion, he wrote. So making this show and just posting it out of the blue gave me the rare opportunity to give you that experience of discovery. Michael Pitt, not currently a laughing man. Photo: Danny Martindale/2014 Danny Martindale A good sci-fi movie is nothing without a good villain (just ask Eddie Redmayne), and luckily, Dreamworks long-gestating Ghost in the Shell remake has found an actor eerie enough for the part. Michael Pitt, of Boardwalk Empire and, briefly, Hannibal, will play the villain in film version of the 1989 Japanese manga, which later became a critically acclaimed 1995 anime film. Scarlett Johansson is set to star as a cyborg in a special-ops team that targets cyberterrorism, while Pitt will play the Laughing Man, an expert hacker and cyberterrorist, described as a bad guy filtered through the lens of a street artist. Technically, the Ghost in the Shell world features an even bigger bad, the mysterious Puppeteer or Puppet Master, but lets just table that discussion for a separate, more contentious web forum. Snow White and the Huntsmans Rupert Sanders is directing the film, which is set for a March 31, 2017 release, just 12 years before the animes 2029 setting. (Get to work on those cyborgs, people.) Eleanor Tomlinson (left) and Aidan Turner in Poldark. Photo: BBC Poldark first aired on PBS in the U.S. last summer to muted applause, but proved a huge hit in the U.K. the final episode of the period drama attracted 10 million viewers to the BBC. Put in context, thats roughly one in six people in the country checking out a series based on a series of novels by Winston Graham. You normally have to bake a really good cake to make that many British people watch you on TV. What was it about this series that made it such a success? The show arrived on Amazon Prime this week, so heres your spoiler-free introduction. Its got a great story. Ross Poldark, our hero, returns to his beloved Cornwall in 1783 after fighting in the American war of independence. He comes home to find his father has died, the woman he loves is marrying his cousin, and both his family estate and the local area in the grips of a recession. Betrayed and desolate, Poldark begins a new business, tries to find love, and ends up making enemies along the way as he rebuilds his life from the ground up. Its all about the (arms and abs of) leading man Aidan Turner. Brits love a period drama, but it takes more than rigorous displays of the class system to pull in the big viewers. Lets not pretend that Poldarks popularity lies anywhere but firmly at the arms-and-abs combo of its leading man. Come for the lesson in postRevolutionary War life, sure, but stay for scenes of Aidan Turner topless as he scythes down crops or takes a naked bath in a nearby lake. Turner, who previously starred in Being Human and The Hobbit, was banned from enjoying the local food while shooting in order to keep him in shape. I wasnt allowed any Cornish pasties, cos Id get fat, he said in an interview before the series began. And I have to take my top off so much. Thats commitment. The supporting cast is also strong. Poldark may be named after Ross Poldark, but the supporting players are just as interesting. Heida Reed leads a powerful female cast as his first love, Elizabeth Poldark, nee Chynoweth, who is now married to drunken cousin Francis. Eleanor Tomlinson is Demelza Carne, the shows romantic lead, who enjoys a slow-burning romance with Ross. Poldarks family rounds out an impressive ensemble. Its basically a soap. There are corsets and horses and talk of war, but lets be honest: Poldark is a soap, and thats not a bad thing. The series manages to tackle personal growth, redemption, men struggling to handle their masculinity and follow in their fathers footsteps, the class system, and financial hardship in a way that is both straightforward and entertaining. The scenery is incredible. Cornwall isnt the most glamorous place in the world its most famous former resident is arguably Mick Fleetwood from Fleetwood Mac but Poldark transformed it into a stunning rush of scenery porn. Bodmin Moor, Porthgwarra, and other areas of the county make for a beautiful backdrop while the sandy beach at Church Cove provides the setting for a dramatic late-night shipwreck scene. If you can ignore the fact that it rains all the time (factually pretty accurate), then this quaint corner of the British isles will jump up your to visit list quickly. Its short. This being the product of a thrifty British TV industry, Poldark is a cost-effective eight episodes long. This makes it ideal for binge-watching, and youll be racing through episodes faster than Poldark races across the fields of Cornwall. The second series is already on the way. You wont have to wait long to find out what happens next. A new series was commissioned straight away and began filming in September. Plus, season one ends on a proper cliff-hanger (theyre literally on a cliff), and youre going to want answers. * A previous version of this piece misidentified Aidan Turner as Aidan Lewis. Apply now START DATE: Ongoing CONTRACT LENGTH: 1 Year (Extendible) Are you a TOEFL, TESOL, CELTA, ESL, EAL or ESOL holder? Are you are a primary school or secondary school teacher? Would you like to work overseas? Would you like to work in a private school, public school or University? Would you like to work in Malaysia? Spanning the South China Sea, from the Malay Peninsula to the legendary island of Borneo, Malaysia reflects the many faces of Asia. Take a stroll through the old streets of Kuala Lumpur, Penang, or Malacca, and observe firsthand how centuries of trading among Malay, Arabian, Indian, Chinese, and Dutch seafarers played a part in creating the multi-faceted Malaysia of today. Here you will encounter an enticing blend of cultures, religions, and cuisines. Within several city blocks, you can visit temples, pagodas, churches, and mosques before deciding whether you wish to dine on world-class Chinese, Indian, or Malaysian fare. We have started making contact with lots of schools in Malaysia who are interested in employing British trained teachers. There is an increasing demand for TOEFL, TESOL, CELTA, ESL, EAL, ESOL holders and primary school and secondary school teachers in Malaysia. British is known to have one of the best education systems in the world and the demand for British trained teachers is huge around the world especially as more International schools are being built. Due to this increasing demand we have approached schools who are interested in British TOEFL, TESOL, CELTA, ESL, EAL and ESOL holders. They are also interested in employing British qualified teachers in subjects such as Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Humanities. We are approaching both public schools, private schools and Universities for now and for September 2016. The job market for English teachers in East and South-East Asia is the largest in the world. Qualified Subject Teachers in subjects such as Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Biology and Humanities are also welcomed. Malaysia has the second highest GDP in Southeast Asia, behind Singapore. It is a fantastic place to work as a teacher. Your salary usually far exceeds the cost of living and hence if you are cost conscious you will be able to make significant savings. In most cases, English teachers can expect to save 30-50% of their salary. Qualifications and Skills English teachers must have a bachelors degree to teach English, and TEFL or TESOL certification or equivalent is required. Citizenship from a recognized English-speaking nation: U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa. Bachelors degree/diploma from an accredited college or university (4 years in US/3 years in UK). Remuneration Package Salary between $1200 $2300 USD monthly (dependant on qualifications & experience) Note that Subject Teachers could be paid higher than the amount stated here HOW TO APPLY SEND your CV to us immediately so that we send it to the schools. You will be interviewed if they like your CV. WHO CAN APPLY Due to visa restrictions, applications are only accepted from the following native English speaking countries: UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. An attorney representing a biker arrested in the May 17 Twin Peaks shootout is seeking to move his clients felony case from McLennan County. Dallas attorney Clint Broden, who represents Hewitt resident Matthew Clendennen, filed a change of venue motion Friday that seeks to try the case in another county because of what he describes as pervasive, prejudicial and inflammatory publicity about the unique case. The motion asks 54th State District Judge Matt Johnson to move the trial to Travis, Dallas or Harris counties. Brodens motion cites quotes attributed in the local media to McLennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton and McLennan County Justice of the Peace W.H. Pete Peterson in an attempt to justify moving the trial. The motion says the Tribune-Herald has published 219 news stories about the Twin Peaks incident and 71 editorials or letters to the editor. The motion says more than 50 stories appeared on KXXV-TV, 45 on KWKT and about 100 on KCEN. Many of the articles and television stories have adopted the prosecution narrative of calling the motorcycle clubs biker gangs and presuming Mr. Clendennens guilt by referring to those in his position as members of a biker gang, Brodens motion states. Clendennen is a member of the Scimitars motorcycle group. The guilt-presuming comments by Reyna made on local television alone would be enough to justify a change of venue in this case, the motion says. Johnson has not set a date for the change of venue hearing. These televised events smacked of political opportunism and allowed Reyna to show his gang was tough on crime, Brodens motion claims. Meanwhile, Swanton would use his time in the limelight to plant the seeds for his entry into the 2016 race for the office of sheriff of McLennan County. Broden charges that Swanton began his prejudicial narrative from the beginning. In his first press conference, he used the term gang approximately 17 times in 19 minutes, the motion states. In another, he used the term gang approximately 17 times in 17 minutes. Indeed, Swanton would have made a communications professor proud. The Texas Department of Public Safetys Gang Threat Assessment lists the Bandidos as a Tier 2 gang, the same classification as the Bloods, Crips and Aryan Brotherhood in the state. The Cossacks are not listed as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 gang, but are mentioned in the most recent assessment released last August as having an ongoing conflict with the Bandidos. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Allen Smith drew on his experiences in war, graduating as the only black man in his flight school, and from lessons his parents taught him, to inspire a crowd that turned out to hear him at an event to kick off Black History Month on Thursday. You make up your mind, you go and you do it, Smith said, repeating his parents words. Smith has taken this advice to heart for all 86 years of his life, and he passed it on to more than 100 people at the Bledsoe-Miller Recreation Center. Speaking orally is very much a part of the African-American experience, said Peaches Henry, president of the Waco-McLennan County chapter of the NAACP. Its something we used to do regularly on an informal basis. Weve lost that in the community for all kinds of reasons. So when we can have an opportunity to listen to an elder tell his story, it is very important and meaningful. The Central Texas African American Heritage Foundation presented the event, which was led by Smiths son, Michael Smith. He interviewed his dad, who told stories with pinpoint accuracy. Smith described the speed of aircraft he flew, the lessons he learned while training and the conversations he had with military superiors. The NAACP sponsored the event with the City of Waco, the Community Race Relations Coalition, Cultural Arts of Waco and James A. Edmond American Legion Post 121. Smith was a U.S. Air Force officer in the Korean and Vietnam wars, defying a time of racism around the nation. Smith described a specific training flight in 1955. His superior told him it was one of the best flights he had ever had, and he would guarantee Smiths graduation. Michael Smith noted that only two months later, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. I am taken aback at the response that the public has had to his story, Michael Smith said. Hes 86 and he had done what all soldiers do. He did his duty. I am so moved at the response. Allen Smith was glad to share the stage with his son and send a clear message to the community. I spent 21 years in the Air Force, he said. Everywhere I went, I didnt see color. I was given a job, and I did the job, regardless of the other people. Dont look at color. Look at the character. He remembered an encouraging word he received during harsh times in April 1968 in Vietnam. Carry on, Smith. Michael Smith contrasted that with the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. at the beginning of that month. Allen Smith also received an honorary membership to American Legion Post 121. Danny Anderson, 1st Vice Commander of the post, realized Smiths service was special after seeing his medals. Hands down, as soon as we presented it, people started hearing what we had to say, Anderson said of the suggestion to honor Smith. Despite not having a mentor during his military days, Smith said he was most inspired by his parents, who led the family of 13 children in Mississippi. He said his father gave him advice he will not forget. He told me, do what you want to do. Put your mind to it and do it. Dont let nothing stop you. Job Description: Great opportunity to work as a CRA III / Senior Clinical Research Associate at a leading CRO JOB TITLE Senior Clinical Research Associate / SCRA / CRA III LOCATION Kuala Lumpur / Malaysia (Office-based, however, flexiblity to work some days at home) BENEFITS Competitive salary and benefits package on offer for the right candidate Continuous training and support provided Ongoing career development opportunities Flexible working environment Chance to work at a highly recognised CRO with global offices all over the APAC Region ROLE Plan, prepare and arrange follow-up routine monitoring and close out visits in accordance with the relevant study plan Complies with, and adheres to local rules and regulations, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) / International Conference of Harmonization (ICH) and GCP guidelines, and Company and Sponsor SOPs. Management of site location and performance of junior CRAs (CRA I) Be actively involved in motivating and guiding investigators and site staff to ensure obligations in regards to study timelines Refers to contractual requirements when performing source data verifications Timely completion and submission of Case Report Forms in accordance with the Clinical Monitoring Plan/Data Management Plan EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED BA/BS in Science/Health Care field, or Nursing degree, or a combination of education and experience equivalent to. Clinical research experience (4 year+), as well as advanced independent field monitoring experience. Knowledge of SOPs, FDA, WI, and other local regulations, additionally, an understanding of ICH GCP guidelines. Appropriate level of understanding and application of relevant standards for therapeutic areas and indications. Bilingual in both Malaysian and English to a business proficiency level ABOUT i-PHARM consulting i-Pharm Consulting is a leading global Pharmaceutical Recruitment Company. We service our clients across the APAC region from offices in Singapore and Sydney. We always have a wide range of positions available in Malaysia. If this role is not suitable, Shirley Kim is also available to discuss other possible positions or answer any general questions regarding your career and the current market. TO APPLY If you would like to discuss this vacancy further, please call Talent Acquisition Specialist for the APAC market, Shirley Kim on +65 (0) 3163 3100, or email skim@i-pharmconsulting.com. Police are investigating after a 29-year-old woman was found dead in a vehicle parked in front of a house at 1917 N. 15th St. on Thursday afternoon. Officers were called to the house at about 12:45 p.m. and found a black Ford Explorer parked in front with the dead woman sitting in the drivers seat, Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said. The woman was slumped over the middle console when officers arrived, but no trauma was found on the body. There are no obvious signs of foul play, Swanton said, adding that special crimes and crime scene investigators were also called to the home. We are working this as a questionable death. Officers were able to identify the woman in the vehicle as a large crowd of spectators gathered around the neighborhood. The womans second cousin, Donald Childress, said another family member who was watching the womans two kids asked him and his mother to go check on the woman as she hasnt been heard from in a few days. She hadnt come to pick her kids up for like two days, but she works at night and doesnt get off until 11 p.m., Childress said. I got out of the car, going to the door and I looked over at the car and I (saw) her leaning over. Childress said he walked to the drivers side of the SUV and knocked on the window. He said he saw something questionable, and the woman did not respond. She only had one leg in her pants, and her blouse was ripped, he said. She didnt look to be breathing. Childress said he and his mother drove back to a family members home to call police. Swanton said the body will be taken to Dallas for an autopsy. The investigation is ongoing. Being a presidential election year, 2016 promises to bring much more talk about many political hot topics, but not near enough talk about one of the greatest threats to our economy the endangerment of community banks. Since the financial crisis in 2008, a bright line of distinction has been created between community banks and too-big-to-fail banks. Community banks meaning local banks that invest in local communities are saddled with many new regulations as a result of the misdeeds of the too-big-to-fail banks. While lawmakers in Washington have proposed many regulatory relief initiatives in the 114th Congress, only a handful of minor measures have actually been enacted. The need for community bank regulatory relief has garnered bipartisan support, but as often is the case in Washington, behind-the-scenes politics have stymied constituent and industry efforts. Its ironic that the continuous wave of onerous new banking regulations created to address Wall Streets misdeeds better known as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act is actually helping the megabanks gain market share at the expense of the nations nearly 6,000 community banks. Community banks are vanishing which is exactly what the Institute for Local Self-Reliance found in a recent report. This groups research shows that one in four community banks has disappeared since 2008. The report noted that in 1995 megabanks with assets of $100 billion or more controlled 17 percent of all banking assets. By 2005, their market share reached 41 percent and today, it is an astonishing 59 percent. Despite this onslaught, community banks continue to provide critical local lending support that accounts for more than 60 percent of all small-business loans under $1 million and more than 75 percent of all agricultural loans. Community banks strive to serve customers and do so responsibly. Take mortgage loans, for example. Between 2009 and 2012, the default rate on home loans across all banks was sixteen times higher than for residential mortgages held by community banks. Why? Because community banks know their customers. They specialize in relationship banking as opposed to transactional banking, which the large banks have mastered through economies of scale. Relationship banking allows bankers to make decisions based on customer needs. Here in Texas, we have been blessed with a strong community banking industry that is the backbone of local economies. But we have not escaped bank consolidation. Almost 150 community banks have disappeared from the Texas landscape in the past five years. That means many cities and towns lack a hometown bank. So whats the solution? Policymakers need to pass regulatory reform now and work long term to abandon the current one-size-fits-all approach to regulatory oversight. We need sensible regulation that protects the safety and soundness of bank depositors consistent with the banks own risk profile. Or, simply stated, we need proportionate regulations that represent two distinct banking models one for community banks and one for the Wall Street banks. Our nations financial system is arguably the best in the world, built largely by the entrepreneurial spirit of local shareholders who understood the importance of starting and preserving independent banks to sustain local economies. Lets hope lawmakers in D.C. can put aside the partisan bickering and remove the regulatory shackles from our community banks to allow them to help local folks and small businesses thrive and prosper once again. And do it before it is too late to save one of this countrys most important institutions. Chris Williston is the president and chief executive officer of the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, the largest state community banking association in the nation. Shooting straight In the Jan. 21 letters, B. Locher of Waco states that people should refuse to patronize businesses that allow the open carrying of firearms. The writer states that the city of Waco has a competent police force. I have a question for B. Locher: Have you ever been robbed? Have you ever been in a business that was being robbed? I believe that, with open-carry, its everyones right to choose how he or she wants to carry. However, I personally believe that a criminal is more likely to rob someone who isnt necessarily carrying than someone who is openly carrying and thus far less likely to be a victim. When I think about the awful events in Paris, I bet some Parisians would have loved for some of the victims to have been openly carrying. I would have to disagree that Waco has a competent police force. I believe the police try but are simply overwhelmed. Yes, businesses have the legal right to refuse open-carry, but many of us have the individual right to refuse doing business with them. Sounds as if the writer of the Jan. 21 letter should return to Europe. David Carlisle, Waco Vote for Jones Will Jones is running for re-election as our county commissioner. Will has brought integrity, transparency and solutions to this position in this last term. This position is very important to provide services to our citizens, protect taxpayers and continue to work with other leaders to grow our economy. He has proven he can do this and I believe with his continued service in this position, we will continue to grow as a community. We need a man of his caliber and honesty in this position to keep spending in the right places that benefit the health of our city. He is a businessman and his expertise has made us better. Lets keep building on the progress he has made and vote for him in the primary. Susan Peters, Executive Director, Unboundnow.org, Waco Vote for Flores In the March 1 Republican Primary, I shall continue to support our congressman, Bill Flores. After all, we elect people for their judgment. I trust Bill Flores judgment. Only he and other elected officials can have all the information on pending matters. Bill has the business sense and strong character to make sound judgments. We are very lucky to have him serve us. He is always attentive to our thoughts, feelings and needs. A vote for Bill Flores is a vote for common sense and solid values. Virginia Taylor, Waco EDITORS NOTE: Mrs. Taylor is the widow of the late M.A. Taylor, a former state representative and former McLennan County Republican Party chairman. Quite the luck Wow! Hillary won six out of six coin flips in the Democratic Iowa primary. Thats the luckiest thing since, oh I dont know, turning $1,000 into $100,000 in one year of trading cattle futures! Marty Esposito, Robinson HOT on the heels of Waterford City being named the Best Place To Live, it was announced this week that 27m is to be... IMAGINING Arts was about all we could do over the last 18 months or so, but now we need imagine no more. Celebrating its 20th... Valentines Day is a time to reflect and appreciate the relationships in our lives. However, it can also be a time to reflect on... Waterford Fine Gael Senator John Cummins has described the progress which has been made on the purchase of the former Waterford Crystal site for... ELY The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Ely District is scheduled on Monday to begin gathering and removing approximately 100 excess wild horses from public and private lands adjacent to U.S. Highway 93 and State Route 322 in and outside the Caliente Herd Areas Complex and Eagle Herd Management Area in eastern Nevada. The helicopter gather is necessary to provide for public and animal safety, according to the agency The District will remove up to 50 wild horses from between Pioche and Eagle Valley that have moved outside the Eagle HMA in search of forage. Appropriate Management Level for the Eagle HMA is 100-210 wild horses. The current population is 1,370 wild horses. The District will remove up to 50 wild horses from Oak Spring Summit west of Caliente that have moved outside the Caliente Complex in search of forage. The Caliente Complex is managed for zero wild horses. The current population is 796 wild horses. The gather is expected to take four to six days to complete. A veterinarian will be on site during gather operations, which will be conducted by a contractor. The gathered animals will be transported to the Axtell Contract Off-Range Corrals in Axtell, Utah, where they will be offered for adoption to qualified individuals. Un-adopted horses will be placed in long-term pastures where they will be humanely cared for and treated, and retain their wild status and protection under the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The BLM does not sell or send any horses to slaughter. The Eagle-Caliente Complex Emergency Gather and impacts are described and analyzed in the Ely District Public Safety and Nuisance Gather Environmental Assessment available at http://1.usa.gov/23ws5je. A Gather Information Hotline has been established at 775-861-6700. A recorded message will provide updated gather activities. Gather reports will be posted on the BLM Ely District website at http://on.doi.gov/1lGnDYC. For more information, contact Chris Hanefeld, BLM Ely District public affairs specialist, at 775-289-1842 or chanefel@blm.gov. When you buy online, you have the right to the same protections under consumer law as buying in a shop. Online shopping is at an... WHILE there is no guarantee of sunshine on the Sunny South East as we move into the autumn/winter season, revellers will nonetheless be thrilled... THIS June, Waterford will see its first Pride march in over a decade as part of the Pride of the Deise festival. Taking place over... THE average rent in Waterford has now soared to 1,148, up 102% from its lowest point. The increase in rents around the country reflects an... AN Animal Welfare Inspector with the ISPCA has described how defenceless dogs that were saved from an illegal puppy farm in Waterford have been... Canberrans paid the highest costs in the country for long-day childcare last year while the staff caring for children were the least qualified. According to the latest findings from the Productivity Commission's Report on Government Services 2016, Canberra families paid an average of $493 a week for long-day care in 2015, compared with a national average of $400. Queensland families paid an average of just $363 while the second-most expensive rate was in NSW at $425 a week still $3536 a year cheaper than the ACT. Childcare costs have been escalating nationally, with the median weekly cost for 50 hours of government-approved long-day care increasing in real terms to $400 in 2015 from $381 in 2014 and $310 in 2010. While ACT families paid more than 20 per cent above the average costs, the report found that the ACT had the lowest proportion of qualified staff. The heated politics of the Joy Burch affair are set to overshadow the first Assembly sitting period, as the opposition seeks to block the dumped minister from committee positions and the deputy speakership. Chief Minister Andrew Barr accused Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson of playing rank politics, weeks after Ms Burch quit the ministry and as police continue an investigation into her office and former chief of staff. Dumped minister Joy Burch with Chief Minister Andrew Barr. Credit:Rohan Thomson The opposition will try to use its numbers to stop Ms Burch replacing retiring backbencher Mary Porter as deputy speaker and say it is inappropriate for her to serve as deputy chair of a number of Assembly committees, including on justice and community safety committee. In response, Mr Barr said Labor would use its numbers in the full chamber to overrule the opposition's blocking tactics in committee hearings. He warned Labor might retaliate against the Liberals. The Australian domestic aviation market had weaker demand than any other major region of the world last year, with the number of passengers up just 0.4 per cent and capacity down by 0.2 per cent, according to new data from the International Air Transport Association. The subdued conditions in the Australian market, which has been hit by a downturn in flying in the mining and oil and gas sectors, compared with an average 6.3 per cent rise in demand and 5.2 per cent rise in capacity across major domestic markets such as the United States, Russia, India, China, Brazil and Japan. Qantas and Virgin Australia added little capacity last year, in a move that led to rising domestic airfares. Credit:Brendon Thorne Qantas and Virgin Australia have been cutting capacity in their mainline divisions as a result of weak demand, although they have been boosting capacity at low-cost carriers Jetstar and Tigerair Australia. Qantas in particular has been shifting capacity from Western Australian mining towns to east coast leisure spots to take advantage of a rising number of international tourists and increased domestic holiday travel resulting from the lower Australian dollar. ANZ has followed NAB in raising interest rates for business customers, also increasing rates on some lines of credit mortgage products. Blaming higher funding costs and tougher regulation, ANZ is raising rates on various business overdraft and term loans by 0.21 percentage points. The move will affect small to medium businesses, and the actual rate customers pay will depend on the exact loan product they have. Interest rates for lines of credit secured against residential property - loans that are often used by home owners to fund renovations - will increase by 0.27 percentage points, to 5.98 per cent. "Bank funding costs have been rising since May last year in anticipation of an increase in US interest rates by Federal Reserve," ANZ said. "With the increase in US interest rates ... these higher funding costs are now locked in for the foreseeable future and while we have worked hard to absorb as much as possible, we now have no choice but to pass on some of the higher cost." And while we're with ANZ, here's a good story on how the bank is fingering other banks in its defence against a $30 million claim from a sacked trader, saying traders from other banks were part of the allegedly 'toxic' culture. We are on the threshold of major significant decision: that of choosing who will lead our country for the next four years. Everyone yearns for another Reagan, but memories are short. Yes, he cut taxes, increased federal revenue throu gh supply-side economics, but Congress couldnt wait to spend it: the budget grew by one-third during his administration. A better role-model by far is Calvin Coolidge, who sustained a budget surplus, jobs proliferated, wages grew, the standard of living increased dramatically and the country enjoyed a 3-4 percent annual economic growth. How? By believing in the efficient administration of our proven system, no carelessness in the expenditure of public money, and that it was better to kill bad bills than to pass good ones; he vetoed 50 bills including farming subsidies even though he was from farming country. He opposed disaster relief spending, believing the states should recover without federal intervention. His consistency was attributed to sheer discipline, meeting every Friday morning with his budget director to discuss how to say NO to his cabinet members. He developed competitions between the various agencies to see who could consistently reduce their annual budgets the most. Today Congress is vacated Mondays and Fridays as these are travel days. Of course, $1,000 per actual workdays a year and automatic annual cost of living raises, unless voted against, is in direct contrast to the cut imposed in our Social Security benefits for 2016 due to the 15 percent increase in Medicare. But also, their health care is paid by us. Our Founders declared that we are all equal with unalienable rights that come from God, giving us a blueprint for a government for a free society: our Constitution. It is our North Star. Some, (Wilson/ Roosevelt/ Obama Bernie Sanders, Hillary etc.) believe it to be obsolete, that our self-government should give way to technical expertise, to professional bureaucrats who govern according to centralized plans. In other words, a government which reaches further and further into our lives and shrinks our liberty and scope of civil society. Our big bloated government has reached such a size that they can no longer provide quality of service as evidenced by our postal service, Amtrak, IRS, Homeland Security, repetitive welfare agencies, Obamacare, Immigration just to name a few. Our Congress neither obeys nor breaks the rules: they simply change them. This is the epitome of cronyism, aka legal cheating: campaign contributions on one side, policy changes on the other, creating a hodgepodge of boards, agencies and commissions, most with uncertain responsibilities and unaccountable decision-making which undermines every aspect of self-government. Obama declared he would usher in a fundamental transformation of America and did so by wiping away many traces of American exceptionalism and turning our country into a facsimile of a Socialistic-Democracy, paving the road for the destruction of our republic. The Socialist-Democratic party (with the help of some Republicans) is becoming more and more the party of redistribution by constantly claiming the filthy rich never pay their fair share of taxes. What standard of fairness dictates that the top 10 percent of income earners pay 71 percent of the Federal tax burden while 47 percent of Americans pay absolutely nothing? This is a confiscatory policy that reduces growth and opportunity and keeps more people in poverty. Both Sanders and Hillary want to expand Obamas hope and change. It is not the Presidents or the Federal governments duty to provide services not authorized in our Constitution: not Obamacare, welfare, free college education, subsidies or grants, mortgage relief, amnesty bailout of private companies or anything that displaces our entrepreneurial spirit with one of dependency and helplessness. The Founders approach to equal rights and the right of freedom to prosper was to guarantee equal protection of everyones rights. There should be no special penalty for getting rich; some will prosper more than others, either by talent, good fortune, inheritance or hard work. Even the poor can lift themselves up by education and individual effort. The key is not to provide equal things, but to protect equal rights. No constitutional authority exists for the government to participate in charity or welfare and it is disingenuous for political candidates to provide encouragement for the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government made possible only through the use of confiscatory tax policies. It weakens the sturdiness of our national character; we end up with an economy of debt instead of wealth. Socialist nations, both democratic and communistic, drift into trouble, verging on economic collapse. Power, money and benefits beyond the reach of many of us are now the basis for many politicians and revolving-door appointees staying in office. We the People have had enough! We want less regulation, less government; we want our public servants to cease violating their oath of office. Let us hope the tide will change. May the voters of this country come to their senses before it is too late. This is a call to action! Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has flagged further cost cutting across its newspapers in Australia and the United Kingdom as the media giant's profit more than halved in its latest quarter. News Corp reported a 56 per cent drop in net income to $US63 million ($87.52 million) for the three months ended December 31, from $US143 million in the previous corresponding period. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp is seeing growth in digital advertising while that in print remains challenged. Credit:Uli Seit Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation for New Corp's news and information arm, which includes newspapers such as The Sun, The Wall Street Journal and The Australian, dropped 27 per cent to $US158 million in the second quarter. Revenue in its news division slipped 8 per cent to $1.4 billion. News shares fell 3.7 per cent to $17.34, down from a 12-month high of $21.83 hit last November. Former prime minister Paul Keating delivers a speech in Redfern, Sydney, to mark the International Year of the World's Indigenous People in 1992. Credit:Kylie Pickett In 1992, I remember my dad stopping the car on a Sydney backstreet on our way to the beach to listen to a news item about Prime Minister Paul Keating's Redfern Park speech. "We [non-Indigenous people] took the traditional lands and smashed the traditional way of life," he famously acknowledged. "We brought the diseases. The alcohol We took the children from their mothers." Even watching John Howard on television just before the 1996 election, when he declared that he wanted Australians to feel "comfortable and relaxed about their history", didn't mean much at the time. Looking back, of course, it was a clear response to Keating's historical lament. That recognition of history's contestation was a profound turning point in my own historical consciousness. History isn't simply something that happened, it's something we do. Anna Clark So I kept returning to questions about historical dispute and disagreement: why is Australian history so contested? Why is it so political? Why do these so-called 'history wars' play out in the media and government? You'd need to be living in a media exclusion zone to have somehow missed the debates in recent years. The nation's past has been fertile ground a battleground, no less for historical disagreement and dissent. National narratives have been contested for as long as they have been written, both in Australia and elsewhere, but it's the scale and visibility of debate here that's so striking: historians, politicians and public commentators of various persuasions have weighed into increasingly divisive disputes over the nation's past. Contests over the use of "invasion" or "settlement" to describe colonisation in history syllabuses have pulsated since the 1990s, as I discovered early on in my PhD research; the National Museum of Australia and the Australian War Memorial have wrestled publicly over their presentation of national memory; and Australia Day continues to be a contested public site of "survival" and "celebration". Fought over public commemorations, museums and school syllabuses, these "history wars" forcibly demonstrate the politics of Australia's collective memory. Such debates show that, far from being boring and irrelevant, Australian history matters, and matters deeply: the stories we tell ourselves are critical to our collective sense of self. That's why disagreement can be so fractious. Opinion pieces are commissioned by newspapers and online journals, opinionated letters and blogs are published, and politicians quickly jump into the fray, adhering versions of the past to particular partisan causes. Tag words such as "hijacked", "indoctrination", "orthodoxy", "politicised" and "political correctness" are loaded and divisive and they dominate the public discourse of these debates. Even the terminology describing these historical disputes the battlefield metaphors of war, the "black armbands", the "fabrication" of history confirms a narrow and conflicted historical sensibility. Belying that sense of contest in the history wars are repeated calls for historical unity and belonging. Just look at Keating's Redfern Park speech, where he frequently referred to "we" and "our" to explain his version of the national story and the need for reconciliation; or Howard's subsequent historical vision, where he castigated Keating's negativity and reclaimed Australian identity for the "possession of all Australians". Those collective pronouns show politicians and public commentators constantly speaking on behalf of the Australian community in public debates over the past. It goes without saying that's what politicians do they represent us. But in doing so, the history wars seem to be missing the very people over whom such contests are fought. While the history wars may have overlooked everyday historical consciousness, the contest itself has been widely absorbed and considered in the community. It's worrying that mainstream media underestimate the capabilities of mainstream Australia. More worrying is the fact that, despite an apparent critical historical awareness among ordinary Australians, a simplistic articulation of historical difference still dominates public debate. A number of participants I spoke with during my research were cynical about the role of the media in constructing this national history debate in oppositional terms. Others were also critical of the way the media shifted the debate from simply being a discussion about history to a politicised contest over the past. "Well, I think the line between history and politics is often very thin," Deborah from Chatswood observed. In Melbourne's Brimbank, Silvie was similarly suspicious. "I tend to think that if it's a politician, that they've got a hidden agenda," she explained. "So I'm always sceptical if there is a public debate with politicians or with governments involved that there is something behind it, that they're trying to convey another message, an alternative message. So I tend to listen with a hint of scepticism." Respondents in this research certainly test the assumption that ordinary people cannot, or will not, engage with multiple, contrasting historical perspectives. A conversation with members of the historical society in Rockhampton illustrates this point particularly well. When asked how they reacted to Kevin Rudd's apology to the Stolen Generations, their responses revealed the day-to-day negotiation of contrasting historical perspectives in the community: Holly: I thought it was wonderful. Stan: Long overdue. Natalie: It was just symbolism as far as I'm concerned. It did nothing. Clara: I think so too, really. Natalie: It made Kevin Rudd popular. Stan: It was a start, though. It was a start. It's got to start somewhere. Natalie: It didn't do anything. Nancy: I was very moved by it, moved by his speech, yes. Much overdue. Kathryn: I felt very pleased that someone did get up and say something. Yes, very pleased. It's interesting that even within this group we have some disagreement.. Natalie: This is the 'history wars'! Holly: Which again comes back to human nature, and our own cultural backgrounds. Their interchange clearly demonstrates the relationship between people's lived experiences and their historical understanding. In a playful aside, Natalie compares the disagreement among the group to the history wars themselves, but their discussion displays none of the polarisation so prominent in public historical debate in Australia. Let's be impudent for a moment and ponder what is the point of the Turnbull government? When that brash question was asked of the previous Abbott iteration, at roughly the same stage in its term, Coalition MPs were miffed. Yet it wasn't so long before they were asking it themselves. And we know where that led them. The Turnbull administration, installed in extremis because Abbott's narrative had ceased to exist, is sailing along altogether more agreeably. However the manner in which a deliberately ill-defined GST-slash-broader tax reform debate has been let loose on the public has insiders wondering if the government really knows as much about where it is going as it would have us believe. As with the Abbott government in early 2014, there is no panic in Coalition ranks, no existential level crisis, but the backbench fear is that the leadership might fritter away its hard-recovered goodwill on a plan so diabolically unpopular that it will be dropped before the election anyway. Clive Palmer and Lisa Wilkinson have clashed in a fiery interview as the television host verbally pummelled the federal MP and mine owner. "Look at the way you have treated me, trying to talk over me," he said during the more than five minute exchange on the Nine Network. Palmer has been in the public firing line after his Queensland Nickel business went into voluntary administration leaving the jobs of more than 200 workers on the line. While Palmer has robustly defended himself against claims he had left workers in the lurch, questions are being asked about funds directed from Queensland Nickel to his Palmer United Party and involvement in any internal corporate dealings after he resigned his directorship. The future of programs run by the $120 million RV Investigator research ship, launched amid fanfare in late 2014, are unclear. CSIRO staff were forthright in their unhappiness at the cuts at briefings at midday on Friday, describing it as a flawed strategy. Senior CSIRO scientist John Church: cuts will make it difficult for Australia to uphold its part of the Paris deal. Credit:Matthew Newton About 100 jobs are planned to go from units dedicated to research in areas including greenhouse gas levels, sea level rise, ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and assessing what is required to keep global warming to two degrees. The jobs would be replaced by new positions in other areas. Dr Church, who has worked at CSIRO since 1978 and expects to lose his job, said the cuts would make it difficult for Australia to uphold its part of the Paris deal, which agreed there should be greater investment in climate research, including improved observations and early warning systems. He said the work of CSIRO was considered particularly important because of Australia's role as the major developed country in the southern hemisphere, with a focus on Antarctica and the Pacific. "There is need for climate science there are clauses in the Paris agreement that say that. There is a clear need for ongoing sustained and enhanced observations. The science community is actually struggling to address these issues already and so further cuts mean it will be very difficult." "That's at variance with what the chief executive has been saying, that climate science is done. That's clearly not the case it's inaccurate, misleading information." He said there was a need to "reinvigorate and refocus" climate research. If CSIRO was to abandon it, this may have to be through a new body. "There's been talk for decades of a climate change research institute - maybe now is the time for an institute in which the principal body would be the Bureau of Meteorology, with support from universities." Dozens of scientists issued statements in response to Dr Marshall's announcement. Many were incensed by the former venture capitalist's suggestion that climate change science was a narrow field that had been "proven" to be a problem, and therefore no longer needed to be a focus. Dr Church said it was true climate change was proven, but more detail was needed if the world was going to adapt. "To talk about it being a narrow science is completely inaccurate it's a very broad area. It would be great if CSIRO could invest in mitigation. I don't see any signs it is doing that significantly." James Hansen, a former NASA scientist known for his testimony to US Congress in 1988 that arguably put concern about climate change on the map, said he was stunned by the announcement. "Holy shit! That is unbelievable," he said. "Is a conservative denier government in power? "This seems to be a clear-cut case of shooting the messenger with the bad news. However, the messenger is needed to figure out what to do about the problem." It is understood that the fate of the Cape Grim station, which is jointly operated with the Bureau of Meteorology, and about 20 scientist positions is not yet decided, but is on the list of possible cuts. Cape Grim is among the top sites in the world for monitoring trends in greenhouse gases because purified air reaches the Tasmanian coast having blown 20,000 kilometres across the oceans. The CSIRO has been planning celebrations to mark its 40th birthday in April. A CSIRO spokesman denied it would be closed. Scientists at the Friday briefing were told they would be notified by early March whether they had been sacked. It was expected about 110 of some 135 people employed in a unit dedicated to oceans and atmosphere research would lose their jobs. Most jobs lost would be in Tasmania. "The mood is very bad and depressed," one scientist who requested anonymity said. "People were questioning the logic of the cuts." Scientists asked whether Dr Marshall had sought board approval for the move, but did not receive a clear answer. Among the programs to go are the natural resource management unit, which last year released projections of climate change impacts for Australia out to 2050. Stefan Rahmstorf, from Germany's Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research and a visiting professorial fellow at the University of New South Wales, said Cape Grim had a unique location and was a "critical node in the global network of monitoring stations". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has begun talking up the problems with raising the GST in a sign his appetite for an increase could be waning. In a radio interview on Friday, the Prime Minister spent a good deal of time listing the pitfalls and drawbacks of raising the GST to 15 per cent. If the government was to raise the consumption tax to provide income tax relief it would also need to increase pensions, craft a complicated compensation program and make sure the country was getting a "a growth dividend that justifies the trouble and expense", he said. The government's national security legislation watchdog has called for stricter safeguards in proposed laws that would deny terrorism suspects subjected to bail-like "control orders" access to some of the evidence against them. The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor, former judge Roger Gyles, said denying people access to evidence against them in control order hearings would not honour the principles of open justice unless security-cleared lawyers known as "special advocates" were appointed to hear the evidence on the defendant's behalf. Former judge Roger Gyles says proposed terrorism laws need stricter safeguards. Credit:Brendan Esposito Under the Coalition's latest round of national security reforms, suspects facing control orders which can include tracking devices, curfews and curbs on phone and internet use could be denied access to evidence against them if the court believes it is highly sensitive on national security grounds. Mr Gyles said that under this law, "honouring the principles of open justice, a fair trial, a fair hearing and the equality of arms may not be achieved". A truck driver ignored a "clearly visible" road sign advising him to slow down before his petrol tanker crashed and exploded in a fireball, killing two people on Sydney's northern beaches, a jury has been told. Cootes truck driver Shane Day appeared in Sydney's Downing Centre Court on Thursday to defend multiple dangerous driving charges, after his exploded tanker claimed the lives of another driver, Peter Wem, 73, and one of his passengers Graham Holtfreter, 71. On the opening day of the trial, the jury heard Mr Day had been transporting almost 40,000 litres of petrol to 7-Eleven franchises in Sydney's north when his tanker clipped the curb of a roundabout on Mona Vale Road, struck a power pole, flipped and skidded into oncoming traffic, just after 3.30pm on October 1, 2013. Mr Day's barrister Grant Brady, SC, said the accident was "caused by a mechanical defect" and it was the trucking company, Cootes Transport, who should be blamed. The central Queensland town Alpha, known for its stunning town murals, is about to receive 42 parts of a new community hospital, to be delivered on the back of trucks. From Monday, 37 separate truckloads will make the 10-hour journey from a factory in Toowoomba, where the 42 modules were built, to Alpha, a small town about four hours west of Rockhampton. One of the murals created by Alpha locals to brighten the town after the 1990 floods. Credit:Gaye Schneider/Facebook Once delivered, the modules will be installed on-site, fitted out and commissioned, expected to be completed by June. The new Alpha community hospital and associated staff accommodation will service about 400 residents and will employ locals, including concrete supplier Brown Dog concreting, which will provide the equivalent of more than 120 trucks of concrete to the project. Staff at a Brisbane hospital have been told not to let at-risk patients use showers or sinks after signs of legionella were detected in the water system. The warning to Mater Private Hospital workers comes a week and a half after a patient tested positive to the potentially deadly bacteria, sparking a rigorous testing regime. Legionnaires disease under a microscope. Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young on Thursday said the hospital had run more than 200 tests throughout its water system but was still awaiting results. But in an email to staff on Wednesday, the hospital said testing had found some results which "suggest the presence of Legionella bacteria" in two of its main buildings, the Mater Hospital Brisbane and the Salmon Building. OWYHEE -- A judge stripped a Utah man of his Idaho hunting license for two years after he pleaded guilty to poaching a mule deer in Owyhee County in 2014. Mark J. Richens, 34, of Roosevelt, Utah, also must pay a fine of $665 and cannot accompany other hunters into the field or carry a gun in Idaho for two years. Hell serve 90 days in jail should he fail to comply with these conditions for the first year. Richens was originally charged in Owyhee County with misdemeanor counts of unlawfully taking a big game animal and hunting with an invalid tag. The invalid tag charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement Richens made with prosecutors in October. An investigation of Richens began with a concerned citizen, a call to Citizens Against Poaching and tips from social media, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game said in a statement. We developed a solid case thanks to citizen involvement, Fish and Game regional investigator Kurt Stieglitz said. Its gratifying to know that so many Idahoans value the states wildlife and will move quickly to defend it. In November 2014, a concerned citizen saw two men at a gas station off Interstate 84 east of Boise and reported seeing a mule deer under a tarp in the back of their new Ford Raptor pickup truck, Fish and Game said. Days later, investigators identified one of the men as Richens and determined he had just purchased a duplicate deer tag, claiming he lost his original late-season buck tag for Fish and Games Unit 40, southwest of Boise on the Oregon border. A short time later, investigators found Richens was back in Unit 40 hunting trophy mule deer. On Dec. 19, 2014, Fish and Game released case information to the media and on Facebook and the department received a tip that identified Richens as the driver of the Raptor pickup. That helped bolster its case, Fish and Game said. Anyone with information about suspected poaching activity is encouraged to call the Citizens Against Poaching hotline at 1-800-632-5999. Callers can remain anonymous and cash rewards are often paid for information leading to the successful conclusion of a case. Hundreds of protesters in Brisbane have urged the prime minister to stop the looming deportation of scores of asylum seeker families in Nauru. Holding signs plastered with slogans such as "let them stay" and "shut Nauru and Manus now", they demanded Malcolm Turnbull ensure the asylum seekers are resettled in Australia. Protesters rally in Brisbane in support of asylum seekers. Credit:Tobi Loftus The protest, outside Brisbane's immigration office on Friday, follows a High Court ruling that paves the way for 267 people brought to Australia for medical treatment, including babies, to be deported to Nauru. Three men have been charged over an Australia Day assault in Woodvale that left another man with suspected brain injuries. A police spokeswoman said the alleged offenders, aged 22, 22 and 23, were involved in an altercation with two men, both aged 20, around 8pm on January 26. Police are yet to identify the man in this photo believed to be involved in the assault. Credit:DYER Sarah [PD88513] "As a result of the incident one of the victims suffered serious injuries including lacerations to his face and suspected brain injuries," she said. "A 22 year old man from Woodvale has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, criminal damage, driver fail to stop after traffic accident and reckless driving." When City of Swan resident Betty Desmond got a glimpse of recent Swan Valley development plans she was shocked to discover that her newly renovated kitchen sat firmly on a path of destruction. Mrs Desmond is one of many residents who were blindsided by the state government after a government vision for a revamped Herne Hill Village revealed their homes would have to be demolished to make way for the development. Zelma Davey, Betty and Don Desmond and Mrs Christidis cant believe their homes will be replaced by roads and buildings in the Swan Valley Development Plan. Credit:Echo News The affected owners only realised they were earmarked for wipe-out when they saw a map in the plan showing retail, service industry and a retirement village where their homes once stood. Residents said the only information about proposed developments in the region was when they got a letter from the City of Swan about an application to open a winery restaurant on Lot 287 on Great Northern Highway. A West Australian adult has been diagnosed with the Zika virus after recently returning from central America. The WA Health Department said on Friday that it was the second case ever notified in the state, following a single case last year. Zika virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infectious Aedes mosquitoes, most commonly Aedes aegypti, the same species that transmits dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever viruses in tropical countries. Most infected people have no symptoms or experience only a mild illness, but a recent increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly - a small head with abnormal brain development - has been linked to outbreaks of Zika virus in Brazil and other countries. WA Health chief health officer Tarun Weeramanthri said there was no risk to people who had not recently travelled to a Zika-affected country. "The Zika infection is only transmitted via Aedes mosquitoes and not by human-to-human contact, except possibly, very rarely, by sexual means," Dr Weeramanthri said. "Aedes mosquitoes are not found in Western Australia, so there is no recognised risk of the virus spreading here." Since 2012, 23 cases have been reported in Australia and all were contracted overseas. AAP A German tourist who illegally scaled an ancient pyramid to take death-defying selfies has been banned from the country for life. Andrej Ciesielski caused outrage when he climbed the 4500-year-old Cheops pyramid at Giza on the outskirts of Cairo. His intention was to take photos on the top of the ancient tomb, which he did, and posted to his Instagram account. The breathtaking images show the 18-year-old sitting on top of the pyramid - once the biggest man-made structure in the world - with his feet dangling off the edge. TWIN FALLS A man who admitted to poaching a widely beloved buck that frequented Rock Creek Park last winter has reached a plea deal with prosecutors and likely wont face jail time. Jacob Frederick Pool, 34, of Twin Falls pleaded guilty last week to a felony count of killing or wasting a trophy mule deer during a closed season and a reduced misdemeanor count of destructing or concealing evidence, court records show. The county prosecutors office reduced the felony charge of concealing evidence to a misdemeanor and dropped a misdemeanor charge of hunting big game with an unlawful weapon as part of a plea deal that was reached last week. The trial had been set to start Tuesday. As part of the plea agreement, the state recommended a 90-day jail sentence for the misdemeanor charge, probation for the felony charge, a lifetime suspension of his hunting license and a fine of $3,189.73. Pool is scheduled to be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 21. While entering his guilty plea Oct. 26 to District Judge Randy Stoker, Pool admitted knowing what he did was wrong. I needed food and wasnt working, Pool said. I saw some deer and I went and killed one of them. Turned out he was the biggest one and he turned into a trophy deer. There was no intention to kill the trophy deer, I intended to kill one of the deer to provide food for my family. In all ways around it was wrong. Pool told Stoker he has been hunting since he was 3 years old but didnt fully understand what made it a trophy deer. He also told the judge that he destroyed every bit of the deer, including its two hind quarters, tenderloins, back straps, front quarters and the head and antlers. I put it all into bags and went and threw it away in the spot I thought it wouldnt be found, Pool said. I freaked out. A buddy came over and showed me a newspaper article saying theyre treating this like a homicide I hate myself for it because I respect animals a lot, I respect deer a lot. That was food for my family, I wish I would have continued packing the meat, put it in my freezer and ate it. Washington Street Pawn offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to a conviction. But manager Forrest Andersen said Monday Pools punishment doesnt fit his crime. I dont think its enough, Andersen said. If you want to stop poachers, you have to put them in jail. I have praise for the investigators, praise for the witnesses, but no praise for the punishment. Andersen, who said hes a hunter himself, said poaching game out of season is the same as killing any other animal and that punishment for poachers should have teeth. They should add animal cruelty charges for poachers, Andersen said. Imagine the outrage if someone took a fluffy poodle to the park and shot and killed it. Whats the difference? That deer wasnt given a sporting chance. If you gave poachers five years in prison, they wouldnt poach. Idaho Department of Fish and Game Regional Conservation Officer Josh Royse said he couldnt comment on specifics of the investigation, but said the case has helped raise awareness of illegal harvesting, and that the public played a huge role in helping to catch Pool. This is just one example of what goes on with some regularity, Royse said. These animals are owned by the state of Idaho. Any animal that is illegally harvested is stolen from a lawful hunter. We work to investigate and prevent these things when we can, but we need the help of the public. TWIN FALLS | A man who pleaded guilty to poaching a beloved trophy buck that frequented Rock Creek Park last winter was sentenced Monday to 90 days in county jail and a therapeutic and educational program directed by the Idaho Department of Corrections. In sentencing Jacob Frederick Pool, 34, of Twin Falls to the retained jurisdiction sentence of 90 to 120 days, District Judge Randy J. Stoker went beyond the probation sentence recommended by the prosecuting attorneys office. I do not agree with the states recommendation in this case, not at all, Stoker said. I think if I put you on probation today, it would only be a matter of time before you violated probation. Following the 90 to 120-day retained jurisdiction commonly known as a rider a judge will decide to either release Pool on probation or send him to state prison for two to four years. Part of the reason Stoker disagreed with the states probation recommendation was because there is a level of community deterrence in the harsher sentence. Pool pleaded guilty in October to a felony count of killing or wasting a trophy mule deer during a closed season and a reduced misdemeanor count of destructing or concealing evidence. He told Stoker at his plea hearing that he killed the deer to provide food for his family. He said he didnt know what made it a trophy buck and he destroyed the deer when he found out how vigorously authorities were investigating the case. Josh Royse, a regional conservation officer with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game who oversaw the investigation, testified Monday the buck was extremely rare and had non-typical antlers that could legally be sold for more than $10,000. Deputy prosecutor Jethelyn Harrington said Pool never produced the valuable rack of antlers, despite it being in his best interest to do so, and was unreliable and irresponsible during the investigation. A tear trickled down Pools face as Stoker handed down the sentence, which included a lifetime ban of his hunting license. He was also ordered to pay $3,189.73 in penalties and restitution. When given the chance to comment, Pool said he was sorry for taking away from this community. I take responsibility for my actions, Pool said. As far as Im concerned, you do not deserve to ever, ever hunt in the state of Idaho again, Stoker said while announcing the lifetime ban on Pool's hunting license. You made a big mistake in this case, Mr. Pool, and you say you want to accept responsibility. Thats how youre going to accept responsibility, youll never have the same opportunity that the rest of us Idahoans have. Harrington said Pool told the court during the pre-sentence investigation he doesnt feel bad about poaching a deer or stealing from the citizens of the state. No, he feels bad that he shot the big deer, because if he hadnt shot the big deer, this would only be a misdemeanor, Harrington said. The state takes that to mean that crime is okay, so long as you dont get caught and keep it to a misdemeanor level. Stoker agreed with the prosecution's negative interpretation of Pool's pre-sentence investigation. In my view, Mr. Pool thats like giving the middle finger to this court, because you dont care, Stoker said. Pool entered the courtroom in street clothes with his lawyer and family members, but he was taken away in handcuffs by the bailiff. I dont think youve come close to accepting responsibility, Stoker told Pool. Some who are not hunters would say, whats the big deal? I bet if I talked to avid hunters, theyd probably be outraged Im concerned about your callousness for the law in general. Funeral for the labor lawyers killed on Atocha street in January 1977. Antonio Gabriel When neo-fascists gunned down five labor lawyers inside their office in downtown Madrid on January 24, 1977, just over a year after the death of dictator General Francisco Franco, the government of Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez, along with much of the population, feared that the countrys nascent transition from dictatorship to democracy had been wrecked. Instead, there were massive and peaceful street protests against the killings, and just as importantly, the authorities response was measured. In the end the killings helped consolidate the path to democracy, says Alejandro Ruiz Huerta, a colleague of the five victims who miraculously survived thanks to a ballpoint pen in his breast pocket that deflected a bullet. The men who were sent to prison for the killings never once repented, and allegedly celebrated every January 24 with a special seafood dinner Ruiz Huerta believes that the events of that day, known in Spain as the Atocha massacre after the street where the killings took place, are now part of Spains democratic DNA. Whats more, the subsequent trial of the killers was a further opportunity for the new Spain to leave the violence of the past behind: I have always believed in reconciliation, which is why we didnt ask for the death penalty. Now, a new book by Jorge and Isabel Martinez Reverte reconstructs not just the crime itself, but also the mood in Spain almost 40 years ago. Jorge Reverte, a veteran journalist and historian, began the work as a solo project, but after suffering a stroke that left him physically disabled, he enlisted his sister, a recently retired journalist at state broadcaster RTVE. A country in turmoil Spain was in turmoil in early 1977 and many people questioned the loyalty of the security forces to the democratic transition. Meanwhile, the Basque terrorist group ETA and shady groups on the far left were pursuing a campaign of violence and kidnappings also aimed at destabilizing the state. In the immediate aftermath of the killings, the situation was so volatile that the government said it could not guarantee the safety of the survivors, or even of the funeral cortege of the five murdered lawyers. Two colleagues of the victims, Manuela Carmena, the current mayor of Madrid, along with Jose Maria Mohedano, played a key role in negotiations to ensure that the Communist Party still illegal would organize the funeral and ensure its peacefulness. Three months later, in April 1977, the Spanish Communist Party became legal, largely due to the killings and the responsible manner in which it responded. When we finally went back to work at the law firm, we organized teams of volunteers who stood guard all the way from the office down to the street. That lasted several months, and we forged some unforgettable relationships, says Carmena, who was not on the premises at the time of the killings. They were second-rate gangsters, but then this isnt Sicily Francisca Sauquillo, a retired senator and former Socialist Party member in the European Parliament, whose brother Javier was killed, recalls the sense of ever-present danger in those early days. Things were incredibly tense. It was very difficult fighting for democracy. The police and gunmen were always coming into the offices of labor lawyers. It was dangerous to attend street protests, because they could kill you. Seen in hindsight, 39 years later, it is hard to understand just how dangerous and difficult those times were. The book begins at 10.30pm on January 24, 1977 at 55 Atocha Street, which runs the half kilometer up from Atocha railway station to the Plaza Mayor. Two armed men walk into the office of labor lawyer Joaquin Navarro, who has taken on the transportation union set up by Franco and still run by supporters of the old regime. But Navarro is in the building cafeteria downstairs, so the men open fire, emptying their magazines. They kill Enrique Valdevira Ibanez, Luis Javier Benavides Orgaz and Javier Sauquillo, along with Serafin Holgado, a student, and office administrator Angel Rodriguez Leal. Miguel Sarabia Gil, Alejandro Ruiz-Huerta, Luis Ramos and Lola Gonzalez Ruiz, Sauquillos wife, are seriously wounded. Current Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena played a key role in negotiations to ensure that the Communist Party would organize the funeral and ensure its peacefulness The old labor unions were riddled with corruption, they had pistols on their desks, and they were committed to the old regime. The transportation strike in 1976 was a clear threat to them, says Isabel Martinez Reverte. The murderers, who were finally brought to trial and convicted in 1980, were Fernando Lerdo de Tejada, who managed to escape during a weekend furlough and has never been heard from since, despite a statute of limitations on the crime; Carlos Garcia Julia, who also fled Spain and is now in prison in Bolivia for drug smuggling; and Jose Fernandez Cerra, who was released on parole after 15 years behind bars. Francisco Corredera Albadalejo, a former regional transport boss under Franco, was convicted of ordering the killings. He died in jail. But the judge in charge of the investigation did little to root out the many others who were involved, says Reverte in the book. They were second-rate gangsters, but this isnt Sicily, says Jose Maria Mohedano, one of the victims lawyers and a key player in the story. They had the power of a Franco-era labor union that was still alive and working, as well as the support of some police officers and the entire far-right. It makes me laugh when people say that the transition was a piece of cake: these people had very solid structures, even if the invididuals running them were crummy. No luck with Billy the Kid Mohedano also attempted to question Antonio Gonzalez Pacheco in connection with the Atocha crimes. Better known as Billy the Kid, he was a police inspector accused of torturing opponents of the regime. More recently, an extradition request by Argentina for crimes against humanity has been denied by the Spanish High Court. Everyone interviewed for this article agreed on the importance of the efforts made in the days following the killings to prevent a spiral of violence. And as Francisca Sauquillo points out, it wasnt just the left that helped keep the transition on track. The left played a very important role, but so did the democratic right. We were prepared to talk to anyone, and we were prepared to compromise to reach agreements. But the men who were sent to prison for the killings never once repented, and allegedly celebrated every January 24 with a special seafood dinner. Pablo Ibar in 2009. John Watson Riley (EFE) More information Florida revoca la sentencia de muerte contra el espanol Pablo Ibar The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a new trial for a Spaniard who had been on death row for over 15 years after being convicted of the 1994 murders of three people. Lawyers for Pablo Ibar, 44, the son of Basque immigrants who holds dual Spanish-US citizenship, had fought for a new trial during a hearing before the state Supreme Court on April 8, 2014, arguing that mistakes were made by his defense attorney during his first trial in 2000. The key piece of evidence in the prosecutions case was a grainy, soundless home security video that showed a group of men attacking nightclub owner Casimir Butch Casey Sucharski, and two models, Sharon Anderson and Marie Rogers, whom he had brought to his home in Miramar, Florida. Simply put, we cannot and do not have confidence in the outcome of this trial The three were shot and killed during the botched robbery attempt. One of the suspects in the video appears to be Ibar but, according to his lawyers, no DNA evidence was found at the scene to connect their client with the crime. Ibar, the only Spaniard facing the death penalty in the United States, has never confessed to the crime in the almost 22 years he has spent incarcerated in Floridas state penitentiary system. Michael (left) and Tanya Ibar, brother and wife of Pablo Ibar, speak with his lawyer in 2014. T. B. (EFE) Ibar has established prejudice, given the relatively weak case against him with no physical evidence linking him to the crime, the critical role of his identification derived from the video, and the errors we previously identified in Ibars direct appeal, the justices wrote in the opinion. Simply put, we cannot and do not have confidence in the outcome of this trial. Accordingly, we reverse the trial courts denial of postconviction relief and remand for a new trial. The Ibar family had been waging public campaigns against his death sentence both in Spain and in the United States. It is not clear when Ibars new trial date will be set. State prosecutors have a month to ask the Supreme Court for a review of the sentence, according to news reports. Candido Ibar, his father, told Spanish state broadcaster RNE on Friday that he was convinced that prosecutors would appeal the decision but insisted that his sons defense team would present new evidence in his upcoming trial. The past is the past, and we have to look toward the future The past is the past, and we have to look toward the future, he said. The Supreme Court has overturned the conviction of another man, Seth Penalver, who was sentenced with Ibar and testified that he was not sure that the Spaniard was at the crime scene. Penalver, who was also sentenced to death, was acquitted during his retrial in 2012. As of October 2015, there were 2,959 inmates on death row in the United States. English version by Martin Delfin. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 05, 2016 | 04:46 PM | PADUCAH, KY The owner of a local furniture store has been arrested on several felony charges. Paducah police arrested 68-year-old Danny N. Kelley of Paducah Friday morning after a six-month investigation. He is charged with seven counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $500, one count of theft by failure to make required disposition of property over $10,000, one count of theft of services over $500 and one count of theft by deception over $500. He was also served two summonses for theft by failure to make required disposition of property under $500. Kelley was booked into the McCracken County Regional Jail on a $21,000 bond. McCracken County Attorney Sam Clymer said the charges stem from customers allegedly not receiving furniture they paid for. The theft by deception charge stems from a cold check written for merchandise at a local tire business, and the theft of services charge is related to avoiding payment for heating and air conditioning services performed at Fleming Furniture. Anyone having paid for furniture that was not received is being asked to contact the McCracken County Attorneys office. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 04, 2016 | 04:57 PM | PADUCAH, KY Beginning on Monday, those familiar orange barriers will return to I-24's Ohio River bridge for the rest of the winter. A contractor for the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to restrict traffic to one lane on the bridge between Metropolis and Paducah starting Monday, and will continue on various sections of the bridge through late May. The initial work zone lane restriction will be for eastbound traffic only. The work zone is to facilitate installation of new bearings on the bridge structure. The contractor will also close the entire bridge early this Tuesday morning between 5-6am. The closure will last about 10 minutes. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Paducah Police looking for woman accused of allegedly stealing $6,600 in merchandise from Wal-Mart By The Associated Press By The Associated Press Feb. 05, 2016 | 04:59 AM | MORGANFIELD, KY The Kentucky State Police charged a Morganfield man with murder after he allegedly hit a 17-year-old bicyclist while driving under the influence. Steven W. Freeman, 22, is being held at the Union County Detention Center. State Police said Freeman was driving under the influence on a highway in Union County around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when he hit the boy on the bicycle. Damon W. Collins, 17, was flown to a hospital in Evansville, Ind., where he died from his injuries. Freeman is charged with murder, aggravated operating a motor vehicle under the influence and driving on a suspended license. The Union County Sheriff's Office asked the Kentucky State Police to assist in the investigation. By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 04, 2016 | 09:30 PM | GILBERTSVILLE, KY Western Kentucky's Polar Plunge marks its seventh year on Saturday, February 20, when hundreds are expected to brave the frigid waters with a chilly dip into Kentucky Lake. Many individuals and teams do it in style, with unique themes and colorful costumes. Also new this year is the opportunity to dunk your (willing) boss into the drink, all part of the largest fundraising event of the year for Special Olympics athletes in western Kentucky. Last year's event brought in more than $92,000. The Plunge works just like a walk-a-thon, with Polar Bears raising a minimum of $75 ($50 for Junior Polar Bears) to earn the right to plunge. Every Polar Bear receives an official t-shirt and certificate, and the chance to earn even more rewards. Prior to the Plunge will be the third annual running of the Polar 5k, with runners and walkers traveling across the top of Kentucky Dam and along the lakefront. For more on how you can get involved in the Western Kentucky Polar Plunge or for sponsorship information, contact Laura Miller at 270-293-9054. The Western Kentucky Plunge is one of six events held in Kentucky this year, with others in Bellevue, Lake Cumberland, Lexington, Louisville and Owensboro. On the Net: More information Obama promete 450 millones para apoyar la paz en Colombia en 2017 The United States has pledged to give Colombia $450 million (more than 400 million) to help its transition to peace as the Bogota government prepares to finalize a truce with a left-wing insurgency that has been waging war for more than 50 years. Meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House on Thursday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said that the contribution will go to security, compensation to the victims of the long insurgent war, and consolidating the justice systems in his country. The money will be included in the 2017 budget that Obama will present to Congress next week. While the funds will be paid out in the long term, the new incoming US president will decide whether to continue the contributions in the future. A country that was on the brink of collapse is now on the brink of peace, Obama said, adding that the aid package will be entitled Peace Colombia and will mark a new era of partnership. A country that was on the brink of collapse is now on the brink of peace Since November 2012, the Santos government has been in tough negotiations with representatives of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC), the oldest active insurgency group in Latin America. Their talks, brokered by Cuba and Norway in Havana, have made headway in recent months despite a series of breakdowns over attacks by both sides while the meetings were taking place. Santos said that Plan Colombia the aid package instated 15 years ago by the United States to help the Bogota government both military and diplomatically battle drug cartels and guerrillas was a key factor that helped his administration initiate peace talks with the FARC. In the name of the millions of Colombians who are beginning to learn to live without fear, thank you, Santos said. In the name of the millions of Colombians who are beginning to learn to live without fear, thank you More than 200 people attended the White House ceremony where Obama unveiled his Peace Colombia framework. Among those attending were former Colombian President Andres Pastrana; former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who was held for more than six years in captivity by the insurgents; Jose Miguel Vivanco of Human Rights Watch (HRW); NASCAR race driver Juan Pablo Montoya; and Colombian-Puerto Rican Hollywood actor John Leguizamo. As part of that framework and to support the peace accord implementation, the president will request more than $390 million in FY [fiscal year] 2017 bilateral foreign assistance, the White House explained in a statement. The Administration will also request funds in FY 2017 for other ongoing programs that would contribute to Peace Colombia goals such as humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations and Department of Defense counter-narcotics programs that, if enacted by the Congress, would increase our overall level of effort to over $450 million. The United States will also contribute to Norways Global Initiative to Deactivate Mines, which aims to help Colombia clean up all minefields by 2021. The amount of aid to that program will be $33 million. Colombia and the FARC have agreed to come up with a final draft peace agreement by March 23 after more than three years of hard negotiations in Havana. Next months will hypothetically end the more than 50-year-old insurgent war, which has left more than eight million people dead. The US will contribute $33 million to help clean up mine fields The two sides are still negotiating over issues concerning where the guerrillas will be relocated and the terms of disarmament. Santos proposed on Wednesday that he was open to allowing the talks to continue past the March 23 deadline but his administration officials are trying to explain to the Colombian public the possible extension without suffering political damage. During his two-day visit, Santos met with Washington lawmakers to give them thanks for their support and explain the objectives of the peace negotiations with the FARC. Some Republican leaders are not in favor of a demand by the guerrillas to free one of its leaders, Simon Trinidad, who is serving time in a US federal prison. They are also resisting a request for the removal of the FARC from Washingtons list of terrorist organizations. English version by Martin Delfin. Rita Redmond was a true lady who felt that every pupil had something to gift to the world Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em actor Michael Crawford will return to the stage in The Go-Between, it has been announced. Crawford will play Leo Colston in the musical adaptation of the original novel by LP Hartley. The book is set during the summer of 1900 in Norfolk where a young boy acts as the go-between in a secret affair. The adaptation is by David Wood with music by Richard Taylor and lyrics by both Wood and Taylor. It first opened at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds in 2011 and is directed by Roger Haines. As well as TV and film, Olivier and Tony Award-winning Crawford has an extensive career in musical theatre, having originated the title role in The Phantom of the Opera. He starred in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium in 2011. The musical will open at the Apollo Theatre in previews on 27 May with a press night on 7 June and runs until 15 October. Hilal Mammadov v. Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan is to pay EUR 13,000 to editor-in-chief The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) pronounced its decision in the case of Hilal Mammadov v. Azerbaijan. The Court found that Azerbaijan violated the rights of Hilal Mammadov, the editor-in-chief of the Talysh newspaper . The judgment is published on the website of the court. The Court found that there was a violation of Article 3 (Prohibition of torture) of the European Convention on Human Rights as regards the applicants ill-treatment by the police and the lack of an effective investigation of his allegations. According to the judgment, at around noon on 21 June 2012, when the applicant was on his way home, six or seven plain-clothes police officers assaulted him near the Neftchilar metro station in Baku. Without showing their official identification, they restrained the applicants arms and began to hit him below the knees. They kicked him in the lower part of his right ribcage and then slipped narcotic substances into his right trouser pocket. They handcuffed him and dragged him into their car, where they continued to beat him. In the car they started to insult him, making comments about his ethnic origin, and threatened him on account of a video recording he had uploaded to the YouTube online video platform. The police officers did not inform the applicant of the reasons for his arrest. Indeed, the applicant did not even realise that he had been arrested by the police until he was taken to the Narcotics Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Court held that Mammadovs rights were violated twice: he was subjected to torture and complaints were not investigated. Taking into consideration these and other facts, the ECHR held that Azerbaijan is to pay Mammadov EUR 13,000 in respect of non-pecuniary damage and EUR 2,500 in respect of costs and expenses. Hilal Mammadov is known for the popular on the Internet video Who are you? Come on, good-by. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Google Ad Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression Welcome to my random web of succulent wine tasting and travel features, winery profiles small and large, 'wines of the moment', conversations with winemakers and atmospheric regional guides. All stamped by my take on planet vino and some of the people who populate it. There's also a hint of culinary talk, restaurant reviews and food pairing, as well as occasional insight into posh spirits (Armagnac, Calvados, marc...), craft beer and cider. The extensive 'wine words' pages, blog archive and A to Z list of featured countries and themes are highlighted in this column below, revealing hundreds of posts and articles published on WineWriting or other magazines and websites. These include many organic, biodynamic and 'natural' wine producers, but certainly not exclusively. Roussillon (delve deeper and buy my book!) and Languedoc, the southwest, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Provence, French Riviera, Corsica, Alsace, Loire Valley and Champagne. 'French Mediterranean Wine' is the mostly south of France part of the blog oozing with opinions, wines, winegrowers, places and vine-scapes across the(delve deeper and buy my book!) and Languedoc, the southwest, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone Valley, Provence, French Riviera, Corsica, Alsace, Loire Valley and Champagne. Obviously, any reviews or images of alcoholic drinks on this site are destined for those of legal drinking age, whatever that is in your part of the world. RMJ fully endorses sensible consumption of alcohol, especially with good food and company. Lecture over. SUBSCRIBERS OF UCOMS ALL TIME BEST OFFER TO ENJOY ADDITIONAL BENEFITS Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox UCOMS SPECIAL OFFER OF THE UNLIMITED INTERNET IS NOW TERMLESS There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan". UCOM AND PES-PES CONTINUE COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EDUCATIONAL PROJECT The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022 Largest Corporate Bond Program at the Securities Market of Armenia Completed Successfully Google Ad The statement of the Defender on the video of the execution of Armenian PoWs by the Azerbaijani armed forces LEVEL UP ONLY FOR STUDENTS: UCOM OFFERS X2 AND X3 MORE INTERNET STATEMENT BY SECRETARY ANTONY J. BLINKEN This criminal act is another proof that the Armenophobia policy. Tatoyan Nikol Pashinyan, Nancy Pelosi discuss a number of issues related to the Armenian-American agenda and regional developments Delegation by Nancy Pelosi Accompanied by Alen Simonyan Visits Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Yerevan Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement With 120 million drams donated by Mikael Vardanyan, the defenders of the homeland will be treated in a new building OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/02/2016 (2449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO Job prospects for women are looking increasingly bleak as the so-called fourth industrial revolution puts female-dominated industries at imminent risk. In Canada, where the traditional gender employment divide persists, that could mean a big hit to the economy given that almost half of the Canadian labour force is comprised of women. If we cant equip 50 per cent of our workforce with some of the foundational skills for where much of the market growth is going, we will be in a real economic crisis, Jane Wilson, the womens services director at Community MicroSkills Development Centre, said in a recent interview. Canada will lack talented people to fill empty job openings, she said, and will be forced to fund social services for women missing the in-demand skills who find themselves unemployed. Over the next four years, technological advances, like robotics and 3D printing, are expected to shift the employment landscape in a way that most adversely impacts traditionally female industries, according to a recent future jobs report from the World Economic Forum. Nearly 4.8 million office and administrative jobs, for example, will disappear globally by 2020. Currently, women fill more than half of those roles around the world. Meanwhile, some male-dominated industries, like architecture and engineering, stand to gain hundreds of thousands of jobs over the same time period. Overall, women can expect to lose more than five jobs for each one gained, the report found, while men will lose about three jobs for every new position created. That scenario is likely to play out in Canada, where the employment landscape reflects these historical gender divides, said Chanel Grenaway, the director of economic development for the Canadian Womens Foundation. Sadly, that hasnt changed, she said. Many Canadian women are employed in the office and administrative jobs the report projects are largely disappearing. Women make up 94 per cent or more of all medical and office administrative assistants, receptionists, court reporters, medical transcriptionists and related occupations in Canada, according to Catalyst, a non-profit organization working to improve workplace inclusion for women. In the meantime, male-dominated vocations architecture, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, manufacturing and production will grow, says the World Economic Forum. In those fields, statistics on the limited female participation can be misleading, Wilson says. Last year, for example, StatCan figures indicated about 817,000 women worked in the goods-producing sector in industries like agriculture and construction. But those numbers dont tell the whole story, said Wilson. When you get down to whos actually an apprentice and completing apprenticeships, thats where the numbers take a deep dive, she said. In 2011, women held 14 per cent of registered apprenticeships in the country, predominantly working as hair stylists or cooks. Two per cent or less of all carpentry, plumbing and heavy equipment apprentices that year were female. In those industries, womens work is often confined to more traditionally female roles, like administration, marketing or communications, she said. Despite efforts to move more women into those in-demand professions and trades, we havent seen a big shift in the dial, said Grenaway. Both Grenaway and Wilson advocate for more investment for programs geared to helping women train for and transition into such career paths particularly, programs that focus on helping women overcome unique barriers to employment, like access to affordable childcare. Otherwise, Canada will be left lacking a talented workforce to fill future job openings. Theres a downside as far as the economy goes whichever way you look at it if we dont take a harder look at the magnitude of effort and investment that will be needed to turn around the ship so that women are heading in droves towards these jobs, Wilson said. Follow @AleksSagan on Twitter Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/02/2016 (2449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Canada has formally dropped a number of the sanctions it had imposed on Iran as part of a global effort to discourage the countrys nuclear ambitions, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Friday. The changes include an end to a broad ban on financial services, imports and exports. Dion said he wants to re-open a dialogue with Iran, which effectively ended in 2012 when the Harper government severed relations, closed Canadas embassy in Tehran and expelled Iranian diplomats. The easing of sanctions reflects Irans compliance with an international agreement to curtail its nuclear research programs, he added. The changes do not mean a wide-open market, as some exports including nuclear goods and technologies, as well as goods and services that could assist in the development of ballistic missiles will still be restricted. Dion says the government will keep an eye on exports to Iran, with all applications for export permits to be vetted on a case-by-case basis. Canada will also maintain a revised list of individuals and entities tied to missile research, and transactions with such individuals and entities will still be prohibited. Dion says Iran remains a country of concern, but characterizes the Conservative decision to cut off communications entirely as wrong-headed. Canada today lifted some sanctions against Iran in conformity with the agreement concluded by other countries and Iran, Dion said. We do it in conformity with the United Nations. Well keep sanctions to ensure the proliferation of nuclear will not happen in Iran, the same with ballistic missiles. He said the government remains cautious. Well engage with Iran step-by-step, open eyes, because we still have a lot of concerns about the role of Iran in the region, including for our allies like Israel and also the record of Iran on human rights is very questionable, to say the least. The Conservative Opposition has strongly opposed easing the sanctions, saying Iran still sponsors terrorism, is deeply involved in the Syrian civil war and remains a threat to Israel. Foreign affairs critic Tony Clement said Iran still sponsors terrorism and remains a threat to Israel. Conservatives remain skeptical over Irans intentions, said Clement, who was in Halifax on Friday for the provincial Conservative partys annual general meeting. They continue to be a state sponsor of terror. They are supporting terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, who are taking innocent lives in the region and around the world. Restoring diplomatic relations with Iran sends the wrong message, he added. We want to judge Iran by their actions, not by their words. While it is important to reduce the nuclear threat, there are all these others threats that Iran is involved in that are antithetical to our interests as Canadians as well as people who want peace and non-violence in the world. Helene Laverdiere, the NDPs foreign affairs critic, welcomed the announcement. We have to remain very vigilant regarding Iran, but Iran has complied with the steps required by the UN and all our allies have lifted some of the sanctions, she said. I think its the right step. With files from Aly Thomson in Halifax Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/02/2016 (2450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Mayor Brian Bowman says hes concerned about the risks to Winnipegs water supply from the proposed Energy East pipeline project, but isnt prepared to say the city wont support the project. Bowman, in Ottawa Thursday for a meeting with the Big City Mayors Caucus of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, said pipeline discussions have come up but arent overshadowing the meeting. Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre angered Albertans, including Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, when he joined 80 other Quebec mayors last month in saying they will not support the pipeline. The issue has created tension between eastern and western Canada, as Alberta struggles with an recession in the wake of collapsing oil prices. The Canadian Press Mayor Brian Bowman The Energy East pipeline would transport one million barrels of crude a day from Alberta, Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba to refineries in Quebec and a tidewater port in New Brunswick. The 4,600-kilometre pipeline would run underneath Winnipegs aqueduct, which supplies the citys drinking water from Shoal Lake on the Manitoba-Ontario border. Opponents in Manitoba fear an oil spill from the pipeline would harm Winnipegs water supply. Bowman told the Free Press Thursday he is not without concerns but is not closing the door to the project, because he knows the value it has. I dont take an extreme view, he said. I dont think the question should be if we move oil, it should be how do we do it? Winnipeg has applied for intervenor status at the National Energy Board, which is conducting the review process that will approve or deny a licence for the pipeline. The city hasnt yet heard if that will be granted, but has hired experts to help lead the citys inquiries and represent the city if it gets intervenor status. Bowman has also met with the chair of the NEB and with Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr, where the topic of the pipeline came up. The mayors spent most of Thursday in meetings with Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett and Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi. Friday, they meet with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Bowman said he wants more detail about how the Liberals intend to roll out the promised $60 billion in infrastructure funds. Is it just shovel-ready or will it be about really smart investments? said Bowman. The last infrastructure stimulus program, under the Conservatives, aimed to get money out the door as fast as possible and only shovel-ready projects were approved. Bowman said that was before his time and he wouldnt comment on whether it was an inefficient way of doing things, but said going forward, he wants things to be done on what is best for a municipality, not what is best for politicians. Im trying to get the politics out of infrastructure decisions, he said. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 05/02/2016 (2449 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The Canadian Museum for Human Rights exceeded its own expectations in its first six months after opening but the still-unsettled tax dispute with the city of Winnipeg could put the museum more than $4 million in debt. In the 2014-15 annual report, finally tabled in the House of Commons Thursday, the museum shows an operating deficit of $200,000, pushed into the red because the tax bill came in $700,000 more than expected. However, the report, which was supposed to be tabled last fall but was delayed by the federal election, also shows own-source revenues were slightly higher than expected, and the number of people who toured the museum was more than twice the projected number of visitors. Overall were really excited about where were at and where were going, said Chief Financial Officer Susanne Robertson. Melissa Tait / Winnipeg Free Press files Clouds over the downtown skyline and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. But Robertson said a dispute with the City of Winnipeg over how much tax the museum has to pay is the number one concern hanging over the museum. As a federal institution the museum pays what is known as Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) to the City of Winnipeg. Initial planning for the museum didnt account for any tax payments at all because it was going to be a private museum which are exempt from city taxes. But national museums are not, and the city and the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada disagree on how much the building and the land is worth. The dispute over the land was settled last June. The city initially pegged the land price at $6.9 million while Public Works assessed it at $1. A dispute panel which deals with PILT disagreements sided mostly in the citys favour, valuing the land at $6.5 million. But the city has filed new appeals with the dispute panel for the assessment of the building. The city says its worth $108 million. Ottawa says its just $30.3 million. In 2015, the museum paid the city $808,023 for PILT based on the Ottawa property assessment. The city says the museum actually owes $2.7 million for 2015 based on its assessment. Going back to 2009, the museum is $6.7 million behind on its tax bills to the city. Robertson said $3.4 million of that is built into the annual report. If the dispute panel sides with the city again, as it mostly did over the land assessment, the museum is going to have a hefty tax bill to pay to catch up on the arrears and it will have to adjust its budget to reflect a bigger tax bill every year. Robertson indicated that could mean a financial gap of $4.6 million. The amount being unknown is the biggest difficulty, said Robertson. Former Heritage Minister and Manitoba MP Shelly Glover was warned in December 2014 that tax payments were becoming a major headache for national museums. The briefing note, obtained through Access to Information, said national museums have seen tax bills rising, without accompanying increases to government funding. Many agencies and departments, such as the Department of Defence and Correctional Services Canada, have automatic adjustments to their funding each year to account for tax increases. National museums do not. New Heritage Minister Melanie Joly toured the museum on a visit to Winnipeg in November, but has not yet met with museum officials to discuss funding. A sketch of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights drawn by Prime Minister Trudeau. She was not available for an interview with the Free Press but said in a statement she believes the CMHR serves an essential purpose. I am aware that Canadas national museums are under financial pressure and I plan on pursuing the discussion about the challenges encountered by these institutions as well as evaluating the solutions available to them, she said. The museum has several other looming fiscal concerns, including the fact when the museum plan was first conceived in 2006, people underestimated what the ongoing costs would be of maintaining the digital equipment. Computers, touch screens, servers and networks all have a shorter lifespan than more typical museum exhibits and will have to be replaced more often. On top of that, the museum borrowed $35 million from Ottawa against its future funding in order to come up with the cash to pay for the final construction of the building. In 2018-19, the museum has to start paying that back and will have six years to do it. All of that will be part of the negotiations the museum and Heritage Minister Melanie Joly have as the two start to work out how much the museum will get from Ottawa going forward. Its current federal appropriation is $21.7 million a year. That agreement was supposed to expire this March, but the museum was given another year at that funding level. Robertson said it will give them more time to see what the actual costs and revenues are now that the museum is open and hopefully get the PILT dispute solved. mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/02/2016 (2450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advocates for the preservation of the Parker wetlands are planning a protest next week where an open house will be staged to unveil conceptual designs for development on the controversial property. Cal Dueck, a spokesman for the Parker Wetlands Conservation Committee, said the group wants to mobilize public opinion in hopes they can stop the development. Were hoping to draw more attention to the project so Winnipeggers can show they care about their green space, Dueck, a homebuilder and area resident, said. JOE BRYKSA / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Cal Dueck, a member of the Parker Wetlands Conservation committee, walks through the Parker Land forest. Developer Andrew Marquess acquired ownership of a large, triangular-shaped parcel of property, known as the Parker lands, from city hall in a controversial land swap in 2009. Marquess had planned to develop the entire 59-acre parcel into a mixed residential development with 2,901 units. But that changed last year after city hall decided to expropriate about 25 acres of Marquesss Parker property: 16.5 acres for a giant storm retention pond, 4 acres to accommodate the relocation of Hydro transmission lines made necessary by the construction of the transit corridor; and 4.4 acres for the corridor itself. The city is proceeding with the expropriation even though a public inquiry had recommended the city consider alternative plans for the pond, after concluding various city officials had deliberately misled Marquess and withheld information from him about its plans. Marquess had hoped the city would build a smaller pond on his property to minimize the impact on his plans, but city officials said the plans are unchanged and they need all 25 acres. Flyers promoting the open house next week, Feb. 10, at the Holiday Inn South, 5-8 p.m., were distributed throughout the adjacent neighbourhood earlier this week. The residential development, by one of Marquesss firms, Gem Equities, has been dubbed Oak Grove. Marquess said next weeks open house will talk only conceptually about the residential project, adding specific designs wont be produced until a later meeting after obtaining feedback from area residents. People have a right to protest if they feel they must, Marquess said. This is a good infill development that will complement existing residential and commercial neighbourhoods using existing infrastructure. It would happen in any other city. Marquess said hes outlined areas for the different types of development: single-family homes, townhouses and higher density apartment towers but not the exact layout. Now that the boundaries have been set, well talk about how the types of housing will interact with the (planned) transit station, Marquess said. This is a broad overview. Marquess the Feb. 10 meeting will be the first in a series, adding a second meeting will be held with drawings based on feedback from the first meeting. Part of the re-zoning process is you get public input to your ideas, Marquess said. This is step one. I am sure there will be lots of questions. While Marquess presented a conceptual residential development plan to the expropriation inquiry in early October, he said those plans will have to be dramatically scaled-back and redrafted. Marquess said of his original 2,901 units, hes losing 1,159 high-density residential units where the pond will be built, leaving him with the potential for 1,742 units in a layout still to be determined. What does the planned community look like now with a smaller land base, and whats the right mix of low, medium and high density on the site, Marquess said, adding hes not certain how many residential units will be built on the site. Dozens of area residents and organizations have appealed an environmental licence issued to the city for the construction of the transit corridor, hoping to stop the project. The wetlands groups and other believe the area contains unique prairie plant life that will be destroyed with the construction of the transit corridor. The province hasnt ruled on the appeal but Manitoba Conservation has given Manitoba Hydro permission to relocate the transmission lines, as a prelude to corridor construction which is expected to start by summer. Dueck said he and the group have not given up hope that the province will intervene and stop the corridor project. Were hoping the levels of government will do what they can to get (the Parker) land back and leave it for our childrens children, Dueck said. aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca Opinion Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 04/02/2016 (2450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Hang out in Portage Places food court long enough and youre bound to see Dene elder Joseph Meconse. You cant miss him. Hes a big, silver-haired man with a commanding, magnetic presence. He may hold court in a mall food court, but it feels more like a town square when hes around. A meeting place. And last Friday, Meconse says he was asked to leave Portage Places food court. He says he had just sat down with a plate of spaghetti when a security guard tapped him on the shoulder. Apparently, it was a matter of policy; patrons are asked to get going if theyve been hanging around for more than 30 minutes. But Meconse wasnt loitering; he had just sat down to eat. On Wednesday, a flash mob convened to show support for the elder. Hundreds of people showed up. Meconse didnt pull the dont you know who I am? card because thats simply not his style. But he could have. You see, Meconse, 74, is a well-respected indigenous war vet and Order of Manitoba recipient. He led the ceremonial colour guard during the official opening of Investors Group Field. After his time with the Canadian Forces which he joined in 1962, just two years after his people were allowed to vote in this country he had a long career with Corrections Canada. Now, he dedicates his time to raising awareness about indigenous veterans and, as an elder, making himself available to those who need him. And on Thursday afternoon, I found him at Portage Place, undeterred, with a group of friends. He tells me he felt disrespected that Friday afternoon. If they had asked me to leave after I finished eating, no problem, I would have done that, he says. They arent security guards, theyre bouncers. But I didnt make any trouble. He says that the security guard who asked him to leave didnt see Joe, the elder, or Joe, the veteran. Im not a criminal. Ive worked for the public. But that dont mean nothing. To them, Im just an Indian. As we talk, various people approach him hes not kidding when he says everyone knows him here. You have my support, Joe, a man in a ball cap says, shaking the elders hand. Another friend slips in behind him and gently pats his shoulder. Your times up, the man jokes. He and Meconse laugh. Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press Joseph Meconse, 74, was kicked out of the Portage Place Mall's food court for loitering last Friday. The Sayisi Dene elder, military veteran and Order of Manitoba recipient hasn't let the issue keep him away from his usual spot in the food court. But its not funny. Yes, Portage Place is a business. But heres the thing: Meconse and his friends are customers and peaceful ones at that. More than that, theyre regulars. Most businesses worth their salt foster relationships with regulars. For Meconse, Portage Place is a logical place to meet. Hes joked that its his office. People from out of town know Portage Place, he says. Ive got friends from out of town who come here to see me. They know they can find me here instead of hunting around. They want to tell me something, spread the news about back home. Linda Beardy, who is having coffee Thursday afternoon with Meconse, tells me that whenever shes going through grief or a struggle in her life, she seeks out Joe. And she knows where to find him. To have an elder be so accessible is a gift. Listening to Robert Paul, who is also seated at their table, it would seem that one could learn a lot from the way Joe carries himself through the world. Joe was a corrections officer for 30 years and I was a prisoner for 20 years, he says. Im sitting beside the gentleman. As time progresses, peoples attitude changes we did, eh Joe? Now I can sit down here and shake his hand. Im not going to say hes going to invite me to his apartment, but we can communicate. Put another way: This was a man who locked me up at night. But we treat each other with respect. Portage Place would do well to lean into its designation as a meeting place for people all people rather than kick them out. As Beardy says, Its like a village here. That was certainly the sense I got as I was unapologetically loitering at Portage Place with a lukewarm coffee for two hours on Thursday. No one said anything to me. In addition to Joe and his friends, I met a senior lady killing time before an eye appointment with a small soda from A&W. She told me all about her daughter, who died in 2006 from cancer. She also chatted with the young man at the table over, learning that hes Somali and had come to Winnipeg a few years ago from Kenya and hey, her daughter spent some time in Kenya. He and his friend also lingered long after they rolled up the rims on their Tim Hortons cups. We were strangers, all of us, just shooting the breeze. You know, like members of a community. Treaty commissioner James Wilson agrees that this could be a valuable learning opportunity for the downtown mall. This is an opportunity for Portage Place to reach out to the fastest-growing population in Canada, he says over the phone. Even strictly from a business perspective, they need to reach out and educate themselves. Wilson and the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba would be happy to provide Portage Place with their services. Wilson knows Meconse well, and was disheartened to hear that he was asked to leave the way he was. Hes an elder I have so much respect for. To hear that he was given a time limit that itself was pretty shocking. He was happy to hear that so many people showed up to support Meconse at Wednesdays event, but adds that it shouldnt be different for anyone else. Its easy to rally behind a guy like Joe, but respect and dignity is something everyone should be awarded, he says. It shouldnt be based on your military service or the medals you have. jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press Portage Place would do well to lean into its designation as a meeting place for people all people rather than kick them out. A Winona woman has been charged with three counts of criminal vehicular operation in the wake of a Dec. 7, 2015 collision that left three people injured. According to Winona County District Court documents, a Ford van driven by Fatima Marquis Williams, 38, collided with an Oldsmobile Alero in Goodview at about 10 p.m. Two witnesses put Williams in the drivers seat at the time of the crash, but when interviewed by police she denied being the driver, according to court documents. Officers smelled alcohol on her breath and a preliminary breath test indicated she had a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit. Police the obtained a search warrant for a blood draw. The sample was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis and returned a blood-alcohol level of .094. When police spoke with Williams on Dec. 16, she changed her story and admitted to being the driver, according to court documents. The three people in the Alero suffered sprains, bruises, abrasions and other non-life threatening injuries. Winona Tuesday 8:10 a.m. Jenna Rae Eastman, 23, Winona, was cited for running a red light after a collision at Broadway and Main Street. No one was injured in the crash. 10:49 a.m. An iPad mini valued at $500 was reported missing from a location near Fifth and Center streets. 11:46 a.m. Matthew Allen Steinke, 33, Independence, Wis., was cited for no Minnesota drivers license and no proof of insurance after a collision at West Broadway and Huff Street. No one was injured in the crash. 12:31 p.m. A city of Winona bus missed a turn and ran into the ditch near Links Lane and Homer Road. No one was injured in the mishap. 12:56 p.m. Two tires were slashed on a vehicle parked on the 350 block of West Mark Street. 2:26 p.m. A vehicle pulling a skier was reported near East King and Franklin streets. 11:42 p.m. Blake Jeffrey Lara McGrew, 21, was arrested on a Monroe County, Wis., warrant by officers investigating a reported suspicious person near Wabasha Street and Druey Court. Wednesday 12:01 to 6:30 a.m. Police ticketed 21 vehicles for alternate-side parking violations. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) A Minnesota elementary school has kissed Valentines Day goodbye. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, too. Bruce Vento Elementary in St. Paul is joining other public schools in opting out of holiday celebrations as school officials strive to be more culturally sensitive and inclusive. The school has a predominantly Asian and black student body, and English is a second language for more than half of its pupils, who come from a range of faith backgrounds. In a letter to parents last week, Principal Scott Masini said his rationale was to avoid encroaching on the educational opportunities of others and threatening a culture of tolerance and respect for all. He acknowledged it would be an unpopular decision for some. I have come to the difficult decision to discontinue the celebration of the dominant holidays until we can come to a better understanding of how the dominant view will suppress someone elses view, he said. The letter drew both criticism and support as it started circulating on social media, with some people praising the policy for its sensitivity to diverse cultures and others decrying it as political correctness. The Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis ran an editorial calling the decision misguided and urged Masini to reconsider. As word spread, the school district issued a statement saying its longstanding policy discourages programs and festivities that celebrate observances unless they are required by law. That means government holidays celebrating the birthdays of President George Washington, President Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr., along with Veterans Day, are still OK. St. Paul Public Schools spokeswoman Toya Stewart Downey said Wednesday that she wasnt aware of any developments since the districts statement last week. She also said Masini was not available for an interview. Other schools across the country have also decided to forego holidays out of concern for student sensitivities, while others have adjusted their celebrations. Thomas R. Scarice, superintendent of Madison Public Schools in Connecticut, told the Star Tribune that he promotes celebrating holidays in schools while remaining inclusive. Children are predisposed to have fun, and once we take those opportunities away, learning suffers, Scarice said. Some districts have turned to generic seasonal celebrations as a way of not abandoning them entirely. Were sensitive to being inclusive but do feel that these celebrations are important for building a sense of community in our schools, said Amy Parnell, spokeswoman for the Wayzata school district in the Minneapolis suburbs. I have come to the difficult decision to discontinue the celebration of the dominant holidays until we can come to a better understanding of how the dominant view will suppress someone elses view. Principal Scott Masini Law enforcement is warning of a scam in which people are told they are the target of an Internal Revenue Service investigation. Debbie Zirzow of Baraboo said she received a message on her home phone Thursday that requested she call a number about a lawsuit that was being filed against her by the IRS. The phone call to my house phone gave me a New York number, but I was too afraid to call it back, she said, adding that she received several similar calls on her cell phone earlier in the week. The Sauk County Sheriffs Department reports that the scam hit the area Monday, when the department received more than two dozen complaints about it. People reported receiving pre-recorded messages in which the caller, purporting to be from the IRS, requested an urgent callback. Victims are being told that they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly by using a pre-loaded debit card or wire transfer, Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister said in a news release. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are often threatened with arrest, deportation or suspension of a business or drivers license. He said scam artists also sometimes tell victims they are owed a refund in order to elicit private information from them. Kristin Rucinski of Baraboo said she was given a case number and told the IRS was filing a lawsuit against her. It was their last attempt to contact her, the phone message threatened. (The same number) then proceeded to call me at least twice a day for over a week, she said. The Baraboo Police Department told her to simply hang up on the caller. Officials say anyone targeted by the scam should hang up and not share any private information with the caller. The IRS will never call to demand immediate payment, or call about taxes owed without first having sent notice by mail. The IRS also does not demand payment without giving someone an opportunity to appeal. Nor does it require the use of a specific payment method, ask for card numbers over the phone, or threaten arrest for failure to pay. Anyone who is victimized by an IRS phone scam can file a report with the Federal Trade Commission or the Tax Inspector General for Tax Administration at the U.S. Treasurys website. Today marks the 98th anniversary of the sinking of the Tuscania, a ship attacked by a German U-boat during World War I with 21 Baraboo soldiers aboard. If local activists carry out their mission, a memorial to the Baraboo 21, who managed to survive the attack, will be in place at Mary Rountree Evans Park in time for the centennial. I just think its important to honor people who deserve to be honored, said Baraboo High School history teacher Steve Argo, who has spearheaded the effort to create a memorial. He has worked with Baraboo artist Homer Daehn to design the memorial, and has devised a multifaceted fundraising offensive. The projects cost is estimated at $70,000. Argo is delivering fundraising pitches to area veterans groups and service clubs. He has created the National Tuscania Remembrance Association through the Sauk County Historical Society and designed a brochure to entice prospective donors. Commemorative bricks bearing the names of local veterans will be sold and installed around the memorial. Argo also is working to secure grants, an effort he hopes will be bolstered once Lake Delton architectural firm ADCI completes a rendering of the memorials design. He enlisted help by creating a Baraboo 21 Club at the school. In addition to raising money and awareness for the memorial, the club will develop connections with vets. Ive got such a great group of kids, Argo said. I couldnt ask for a better crew. The clubs 25-30 members plan to deliver medallions to Vietnam vets to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that conflict, and are planning a Bob Hope-style tour of a veterans hospital in Tomah this spring. I want to give veterans something immediate and tangible, Argo said. Meanwhile, efforts to create the memorial will continue. Daehn and Argo envision a 3 -by-5-foot bronze relief of the scene of the sinking, including the submerged Tuscania and Irish villagers aiding survivors. It will be affixed to a 12-foot-by-14-foot stone donated by D.L. Gasser Construction. Argo wants the memorial to feature a list of victims on one side, and a description of the incident on the other. All we have now is Homers vision, Argo said. We have to go bigger than this and imagine it on a rock. The Tuscanias sinking was the worst naval disaster of the war. The Baraboo 21 were part of the 32nd Red Arrow Division, which in February 1918 was being transported on the Tuscania to the French front line. Their ship was attacked off the coast of Ireland. Despite help from the British navy, 166 of the 2,000 Americans on board died. Upon their return to Baraboo, the local veterans became civic leaders. They formed a club, with the last survivor dying in 2001. City leaders signed off on Argos project in August, granting their blessing to placing the memorial alongside the Baraboo Riverwalk. Im jumping up and down, waving my arms around and making lots of noise. As the Verizon commercial asks, Can you hear me now? So get your pen and mark your calendar with a big, bold reminder on Feb. 16, that says VOTE. Add some exclamation marks, too. Because thats the day we will choose which two candidates will be on the November ballot for the Wisconsin Supreme Court justice seat. If you think thats not important, please reconsider. The Wisconsin Supreme Court, made up of seven justices, is the highest court in the state and its decisions affect each of us. Although theyre supposed to be impartial, there are four right-leaning justices whose campaigns were primarily financed by big business through the Republican Party, Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, and other wealthy special interest groups. Not surprisingly, they tend to vote for corporate and right-wing interests. None of the four is up for reelection this year. Two of the seven justices are more moderate, independent and fair. Both of them have voted for transparency in government and against special interests undue influence on elections. Since theyre in the minority, they dont have a lot of influence. Thats why we need more balance on the court. The seventh justice, Rebecca Bradley, was recently appointed by Gov. Scott Walker to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Patrick Crooks. Although she has only four years experience as a judge, she has contributed five times to the governors campaigns, so that apparently made her the best qualified to sit on the most powerful court in the state. Will she be biased? Well, shes a member of the Republican National Lawyers Association and the St. Thomas More Society and served as president of the right-wing Milwaukee Federalist Society whose members believe that secret contributions in campaigns are free speech. The Thomas More Society opposes marriage equality and womens reproductive rights and defends various extreme positions. As a lawyer, one of her main duties was to protect corporations from liability lawsuits. Her campaign is generously funded by the Republican Party and wealthy, right-wing groups. None of them would gain anything by supporting a non-partisan candidate. If she is elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court and has to decide between the rights of individuals or corporations, which do you think shell choose? Bradley is running against Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Joe Donald and Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg in the February primary. The two with the most votes will move on to the April general election. Both Kloppenburg and Donald have had many more years of judicial and other legal experience than Bradley. Early in her career, Judge Kloppenburg was the assistant dean at Wells College in Aurora, New York. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School after interning for Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson and clerking for United States District Court Judge Barbara Crabb. For 23 years after that, she served as assistant attorney general under four Wisconsin attorneys general, two from each political party. She also taught at the University of Wisconsin Law School and now presides on the District 4 Court of Appeals in Madison. Her varied and extensive judicial experiences make her highly qualified to be a Supreme Court justice. Judge Joseph Donald was appointed a Milwaukee County circuit judge by Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson in 1996 and has been re-elected without opposition ever since. He has almost 20 years of experience presiding over civil and criminal court cases. He is endorsed by Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett, who praises his character, integrity and temperament. Barrett stated, Our state needs a true independent justice who rejects the petty partisan politics that is poisoning our judicial system and I know Joe will be that justice. Judges Kloppenburg and Donald agreed to sign a pledge to run a clean campaign and to refuse to endorse attack ads that contain lies or misleading information. Bradley refused to take that pledge, saying it interferes with freedom of speech. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 16. If you have to leave work to vote, ask permission of your employer as soon as possible. Under the law, youre allowed to take up to three hours to vote. However, your employer may specify the hours you can be absent and you probably wont be paid for that time. Also, you can vote early at your county clerks office any time its open from now until Election Day. Anyone with questions about their photo ID, eligibility, registering or other issues can call their county clerks office during office hours. The website called www.bringit.wi.gov also provides information about the new photo ID requirements. This is an important election. Please vote. MADISON | The state Department of Public Instruction says 135 private and religious schools in Wisconsin have registered to accept voucher students. DPI says it includes 31 new private schools applying to participate in the statewide voucher program. It allows students who live outside the Milwaukee and Racine unified school districts to use a taxpayer-funded subsidy to attend a participating private or religious school. The program is limited by parental income requirements, including a level of about $45,000 a year for a family of four. The voucher for the 2016-17 school year is about $7,300 for students in grades K through 8 and nearly $8,000 for high school students. Participating schools arent required to provide transportation for choice students. The statewide voucher program includes about 2,500 students. Three local school s are among those that have registered to be a part of the program. They are: Wisconsin Academy, Columbus, Grades 9-11 Central Wisconsin Christian School, Waupun, Grades K5-12 Randolph Christian School Society, Randolph, Grades K4-8 Randolph Christian School is new to the program. This school year was the first year in which Central Wisconsin Christian School has participated. WAUPUN | Children with intellectual disabilities have a wide range of potential and abilities. Those who will function in the world, living independently and perhaps holding a job, often need help to learn the day-to-day skills that many take for granted. Although it may seem simple to some, Jen Schramms students need to learn not just how to make a bed, but how to make several sizes of bed, and how to match the right-sized sheets to the right-sized bed. Even if they may prepare food at home or make their beds, for example, performing those skills in a new situation can be daunting. The new Waupun Area School District Transition House provides a link between home, school and independent living for students with intellectual disabilities. It is up and running thanks to a partnership between Grace Lutheran Church, Waupun Area School District, and REACH (Reaching Everyone through Actions with Community Hands) Waupun. The program will allow students to utilize the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church parsonage on a daily basis. Its not a new idea, said Waupun Area Junior/Senior High School special needs instructor Jen Schramm. A lot of school districts have this kind of program, but its a new thing here in Waupun. Special education director Wendy Dawson helped organize a transitional program, which was initially to be established in The Union Youth Center, a religious-based facility at 421 Jackson St. REACH also had a hand in establishing and furnishing the transition house. Original intentions were to place the program inside The Union. There was a room in the basement that we were kind of going to transform into an apartment setting, Schramm said. When the ball started rolling I sent an email to our district staff inviting them to donate things for that purpose. All the things we collected were stored in that room. In the meantime, an aid working with the program learned that the Grace Lutheran Church parsonage at 1016 Church St. was empty. The church had gotten a new pastor who has his own home. The parsonage in Waupun will be occupied by a retired minister starting this summer, but until then the district has permission to use it. This is temporary, but now that there is backing for it we hope it will continue to help our students, Schramm said. Either we can move back to The Union, or maybe there is another, larger, space that we can use in the community. Maybe theres another vacant parsonage or someone in the community who is willing to provide a space. The current space is a five-bedroom home with plenty of space for storage, recreation and instruction. This is the Cadillac of options, Schramm said. This is my dream times 100. Even though the occupancy is for a limited time, Schramm is certain all the set-up and hard work is worth it. Well get as much as we can for as long as we can, and our students will reap the benefits, she said. The Waupun program involves all her students, not just those ages 18 to 21, as in other programs. All of our kids can participate and join in this experience, Schramm said. My thought is that you dont just start to need these skills when you become 18. Why not start building now? Although there is an established curriculum, skills have been arranged, to a certain degree, toward what is needed. Weve been cleaning and setting things up, Schramm said. We have a refrigerator coming. We have a washer and a dryer. We have to get those things here. Once those pieces are in place we really will use them. Ultimately its all about independence. Schramms dreams dont end there. Who knows, maybe sometime we can have an overnight, or something outside the normal school day, Schramm said. Then I think we would see the students in a different light Who knows? All of the eight to 11 students are involved, with a wide range of learning experiences. In addition to their transition house experiences, students help with an in-school business (a coffee shop operated by the Future Business Leaders of America), at Agnesian Hospital, at Kwik Trip and at other businesses, churches and facilities. They also have the option of joining elective classes at school, and to explore as many options as they are able to. We mainstream (include them into regular classes) as much as possible, as long as it is important and worthwhile, Schramm said. My students have a lot of unique talents that given the right opportunity can really bloom. One recently participated in the FFA speaking competition and was honored for her accomplishment. Destiny had memorized the entire FFA Creed, and the students were so blown away, Schramm said. They got her an FFA jacket and she was in tears. She said it was the best day of her life. I can really see my students abilities grow, Schramm said. Its so rewarding to be a part of their lives and their families lives. I love it. To learn more contact Schramm at jschramm@waupun.k12.wi.us. Teaching students is both an honor and a privilege. Helping students reach their academic potential and watching them grow is one of the most exciting things that can happen in a school. Ask any teacher, and he/she will tell you there is nothing better than being a part of student success. As educators we value academics. We also value the way we treat one another. Caring and kindness matter. The staff and students at Lincoln School display caring in many ways. In October, one of our crossing guards was injured while helping our students cross the street safely. Students and staff donated money for a get well gift to let her know we were thinking of her. Students made her cards and wrote letters to let her know that we cared about her. We also celebrated our grandparents in October by having them join their grandchildren for lunch. The students loved eating with their grandparents and showed appreciation for them. In November, Lincoln School participated in the district-wide food drive, and the amount of food collected was nothing short of amazing. Prior to Christmas break, the staff at Lincoln School raised money to help a family in need. Our gift was knowing we helped make someones Christmas special. In January, we showed our crossing guards that we care about them by having students deliver special treats every day, and we also invited them to have lunch at school on a day of their choice. We value the special people who are a part of our students lives. Now we are joining efforts with our PTO to make caring a priority in the month of February. Spearheaded by Jessica Michael of the PTO, the staff and students at Lincoln School are going to focus on how we can care for one another. At the beginning of the month, we provided the students with a calendar that provides many different ways students can exemplify caring in their school, at home, and in their community. The ideas presented do not need to happen in any particular order, nor are they required. The hope is that students will realize their acts of kindness positively affects the receivers of their goodwill and will then entice the students to continue their caring behaviors. The students will have the opportunity to share their good deeds with their classmates and teacher throughout the days and month. The teachers will provide opportunities for students to share how it made them feel when they showed someone else that they cared for them. Lincoln School will also celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 1619. Throughout that week there are special activities for students in which to participate. The week is another opportunity for students to show people they care by participating in the following opportunities; collecting canned goods, having a special dress-up day, and participating in a dollar hat day with donations going to the American Family Childrens Hospital Cancer Fund. As parents and teachers, we hope that students will remember how it feels to treat others with kindness and caring. Kathy Lehman Lincoln School Principal The Columbus Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet was held Thursday, Jan. 21 at Club 60 just outside of Columbus. The food and fellowship were great. Lorraine Kasmiski, Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce president, started off the evening by welcoming everyone. The Chamber then elected officers for 2016. They are president, Lorraine Kasmiski, Farmers & Merchants Union Bank; newly elected vice president, Chris Rathert, Columbus Health & Rehab; secretary, Tiffany Faust, Carol A Valley CPA; and treasurer, Jeff Koopmans, Farmers & Merchants Union Bank. Kasmiski then announced there were several new businesses in attendance and they would be receiving their First Dollars at the end of the event. The keynote speakers for the evening were Jim Oettinger, DOT project manager for Beaver Dam road construction, and Dave Pilon, DOT project manager for the 2017 James Street road reconstruction. There was a short presentation with questions and answers after. Business owners learned it is up to them to have a strategic marketing plan in place to let the public know they are open for business. There is a James Street Reconstruction meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Columbus Community Center organized by Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, City of Columbus Economic Development Office and the Columbus Public Library. Everyone at the banquet received a poster on this meeting. New businesses for 2015 presented with their First Dollar certificates included: Juliet Nowak, Angels Loving Care; Brittany Bergum, Guardian Insurance Company; Steve Hajewski, Columbus Self Storage; Will Cekosh, AAA Insurance; Mike Stadler, Big Mikes Auto; and Mike Clark, Sentry/Ace Hardware. Gov. Scott Walker stopped in Portage on Thursday to talk about what he said is an improving state economy and about what he sees as a critical need to better prepare the workforce for the future. The second-term Republican governor did not come for the food at Thursdays Portage Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon at the Best Western hotel, which attracted about 90 people, a mix of business and government leaders. For the past 26 years, Ive eaten pretty much the same thing, two ham and cheese sandwiches in a brown bag, Walker said, explaining that he ate in the car on the way over. Although that dessert looks pretty good, he quipped, pointing at an attendees plate. Walker told the gathering he had good news to share, that unemployment in Wisconsin is the lowest it has been since 2001. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Wisconsins unemployment rate has been tracking downward through the second half of 2015, from 4.6 percent to 4.3 percent. This beats the national average that went from 5.3 percent to 5 percent over the same time. Walker said the states fiscal situation is far healthier than that of Illinois, which is running an unemployment rate almost a full percent above the national average. We did all sorts of reforms over the last five or six years to help us balance the state budget we came in with a $3.6 billion budget deficit, today Im proud to continue every year that Ive been in we finished each fiscal year with a surplus, said Walker. We are proud that we have a rainy day fund that is the biggest it has ever been, 165 times bigger than when I took office. Unlike our neighbors to the south, we have a pension system that is fully funded. Walker said Thursday that innovative educational routes was one of the keys to a robust workforce, giving the example of high school students who have taken university courses starting college with a head start of a semester and a half worth of credits. He said that even students in middle school should be encouraged to pick a trajectory for their career based on where their interests and talents might be. Two initiatives that Walker highlighted were his efforts to eliminate unemployment among veterans and a program to encourage hiring of developmentally disabled adults in high-turnover positions, the Cincinnati-based Project Search. He segued from this to some of his initiatives to make receipt of government assistance conditional. There were people in the Capitol who claimed that we were taking things away or that we were making it harder to get government assistance. I said, No were not, were making it easier to get a job. As important as earning a paycheck, he said is the idea of developing the self-reliance and pride that comes with work itself. My first job was washing dishes at a place called the Countryside Restaurant and later in high school, I worked at McDonalds flipping hamburgers, said Walker, telling the room that at the same time Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was flipping burgers in the back of a Janesville McDonalds lacking the interpersonal skills to run the register, in the opinion of his then supervisor. The anecdote got a good laugh from the room. Walker said he wondered while watching President Obamas State of the Union speech on television in January, with Ryan sitting prominently behind Obama, what that supervisor might have thought. I often say it isnt about the money it doesnt hurt to save some money after school but its really about understanding a true dignity that comes with work. Unmentioned in his luncheon remarks was the state of employment in the public sector. When asked after his speech about the state of the Department of Corrections and Columbia Correctional Institution in particular, which runs (by some estimates) a 20 percent staff deficit, Walker said that it was to be expected. This is an issue that predates me and predates Act 10, said Walker. Back when I was in the Legislature, in the early 1990s, Tommy Thompson had a similar problem. Its part of the reason why for a while he looked at out-of-state contracts for holding inmates. Following the passage of Act 10, 541 employees retired from the DOC. In 2012 resignations went up 40 percent. At CCI, staff report seeing more people leaving, some recent recruits deciding not to stay along with the exit of veteran employees. In September, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, sent a letter to the co-chairs of the State Legislatures Joint-Audit Committee, requesting a vote on an audit of the DOC. In January, Erpenbach, with a group of representatives including Rep. Dave Considine and Sen. Jennifer Shilling offered a nine-part proposal for addressing the problems in the DOC, separately proposed for a more convenient a la carte consideration. CCI staff have often said that when concerns about safety and security are brought up to management, the response from Warden Mike Dittman and DOC Secretary Edward Wall is there are 1,000 people in line to take your job. In one meeting with legislators in October, Wall reportedly responded to a comment that more staff would be leaving in the next year by saying, I dont care. Let them go. I would love to see the documentation. Ive never heard him say that, said Walker. I would be interested in hearing where that is documented, rather than rumors from staff out there. Ive yet to hear that. If thats something you can document for us or show, that would be concerning to us, but Ive never heard that from the Secretary or anyone else in the administration. LODI When Gov. Scott Walker came to Lodi on Thursday, attorney Jeffrey Mayer was one of the chosen ones. It was, by Walkers count, the 11th listening session that he has held in communities around Wisconsin to seek ideas on Wisconsins direction in the next 20 years. Its called 2020 Vision, and it was announced during Walkers State of the State address Jan. 19. But the 90-minute event was by invitation only; the general public and media were not allowed to attend. Mayer accepted the invitation, conveyed to him by a friend, and used it as an occasion to talk about something in Wisconsin that he loves the states outdoor environment, something he hopes will be cared for and preserved for coming generations. I lived in Ohio for a while, he said, and what drove me back to Wisconsin was its lakes. Mayer said the approximately 50 listening session attendees who gathered in the Lodi Common Council chambers were invited to share what they like about Wisconsin and what they hope for its future. When it was his turn to talk, he mentioned the lakes and the environment, and he noted that some others in the group did, too. But Mayer said as did Walker, after the session broke at about 3:25 p.m. that the primary focus of the conversation was on business and education. Walker said he heard at Lodi something that hes heard often at previous sessions, in communities such as Prairie du Chien, Osseo, Seymour, Kewaunee and Sturgeon Bay that Wisconsin employers are having difficulty finding qualified employees. When Walker uses the word qualified, hes talking partly in terms of specific skills required for certain job fields, such as manufacturing, technology or health care. To address this issue, he said, public schools should forge more partnerships with the states technical colleges to foster skills for jobs that are available in Wisconsin skills that can sometimes be taught, Walker said, while the students are still in high school. But the conversation, he said, also focuses on fostering a work ethic, including basics like showing up for work on time and accepting available jobs. As the result of feedback he received from earlier sessions, Walker said, high school students are typically included among the invited guests, because teens have a particularly high stake in the states long-term future. There were four high school students invited to the Lodi session, he said. And, he said, he seeks to get a cross section of participants, including people who may not necessarily agree with his policies. There are people in the room who are supporters, Walker said, and there are people who probably signed the recall petition. But media are not invited to cover the sessions, he said, because the presence of a media representative even one who is there as a participant, not as a reporter causes people to behave differently, perhaps not speak as candidly, and perhaps allow one or two very outspoken people to dominate the discussion. Four Walker staff members were stationed outside the Lodi Common Council chambers during the session, and they did not allow a reporter to enter, or get closer to the doors than about 10 feet. This is the standard format, said Brian Hummel, director of external operations for the govenor. Individuals coming to these meetings might not be comfortable speaking in front of the press. Walker said most of the people at these sessions live close to where they are held. If someone wants to be invited to a session, he said, he or she may request an invitation by calling Press Secretary Laurel Patrick at 608-267-7303 who also provides, on request, lists of invitees to all the sessions. Whether a requested invitation is issued depends largely on available space, Walker said, as the sessions are limited to about 50 people each to make for easier discussion. And the discussion, rather than being on fine points of politics and policy, tends to veer toward the big picture, which Walker said is exactly what he wants. When youre talking 20 years out, he said, its going to be long-term and big-picture. And a lot more unites us than divides us. WYOCENA Contractors should be able to get the specifications for the Columbia County Highway Departments new building in Cambria by next week. Some final tweaks on the specifications were suggested Thursday during a two-hour session at the Highway Department offices in Wyocena and one of the tweaks pertained to what to call the building. The structure has been called a highway shop, and thats probably what employees will call it after its up and running, tentatively by early autumn. But Architect Paul Kardatzke of the Spring Green firm Jewell Associates Engineers suggested that the specifications refer to the building as a garage, to clarify for potential contractors that the buildings primary function is vehicle storage, not maintenance. Bids will be due at 1 p.m. March 1. At 1:15 p.m. the same day, the bids will be opened at the Columbia County Courthouse. Jewell officials expect to make their recommendations for awarding the bids when the Highway Committee meets March 3, and the County Board will hear about the bidding process on March 16. Supervisor Harlan Baumgartner of the town of Otsego, chairman of the County Boards Highway Committee, said he wondered what would happen if the bids come in higher than the $1.2 million allotted from the countys $45.51 million building project, for the garage and for the countys share of salt shed that will be shared and paid for partly by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. What if the bids come in high? Baumgartner asked. That might depend, Kadartzke said, on how much they exceed $1.2 million. If the difference is in the neighborhood of $50,000, he said, it might be resolved by talking to the contractors, who might be able to shave the cost in specific aspects of the job without compromising on its quality for example, using a less expensive brand of paint. But if the bids significantly exceed $1.2 million, there would need to be a conversation about what to do next. Unlike the two county buildings that will soon be constructed on opposite sides of the Portage Canal, the Cambria garage will not have separate bid packages for the different aspects of the construction. However, the demolition of the existing shop (built in 1939) and clearing of the debris is likely to be bid separately from the shop construction. Highway Commissioner Chris Hardy said a construction job with a turnaround time this quick would work more efficiently if one entity handled most or all of the construction, to lessen the likelihood of miscommunication between subcontractors. Hardy said demolition could probably start in early April and if the Highway Department needs to plow snow from roads after that, the work in the Cambria area could probably be done from the main shop in Wyocena while the Cambria building is out of commission. Occupancy would likely occur in mid-September. Because of the timing of the release of state money for the salt shed, work on that will likely start in late summer, with completion in late October or early November. Alice Jeanette Rihn Alice Jeanette Rihn (nee Lambert) passed away Feb. 3, 2016, at Karmenta Center Nursing Home in Madison, after a long decline brought on by a series of strokes. She would have been 82 in March. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Saint Cecilias Catholic Church in Wisconsin Dells, with the Rev. Eric Sternberg celebrating. A visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Wisconsin Dells. Alice was born March 23, 1934, near Wisconsin Dells, the second daughter of Harry Lambert and Elizabeth Beth Lambert (nee Clark). In her early life, she lived on the family farm near Wisconsin Dells with her parents, older sister Mary, and two brothers, James and John. Alice was a graduate of Wisconsin Dells High School, Class of 1951, and married schoolmate Harold E. Rihn Sr. in June 1953. They took up residence at 1032 Church St., Wisconsin Dells, where they lived for more than 50 years. Their marriage produced five children, Gregory, Harold Jr., Teresa, Michael and David. For the greatest portion of her working career, Alice was employed by Snow White Garment Company in Baraboo, a firm that made nurses uniforms. She worked cutting the fabric that was to be sewn into clothes. She was a member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, followed her husbands example in becoming a union steward, and eventually president of her local. After Harold Sr. also retired, they continued to reside in Wisconsin Dells, until increasing disability and the difficulties of managing winter cold caused them to move to a nursing home, first in Wyocena, and later to the Karmenta Center in Madison, where Harold Sr. passed away in 2010. Alice is survived by her sister, Mary Edmonds of Wisconsin Dells; five children, Gregory Rihn of Milwaukee, Harold E. Rihn Jr. of Mineral Point, Teresa Schroeder of Brookfield, Michael Rihn of Tiburon, California, and David Rihn of Madison; five grandchildren, and two great-granddaughters. Alice was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her two brothers. Alice was as good of a mother as anyone could have. She was a loving and patient wife, a dedicated and loyal worker, and a leader among her peers. She was wise, strong and caring. She will be sorely missed. Picha Funeral Home and Crematory of Wisconsin Dells assisted the family with arrangements. For online condolences and information, visit www.pichafuneralhome.com. Strike continues at Racine Case tractor factory with no clear end in sight W&M students, education experts 'collaborate to educate' Collaborate to Educate Jason Chen, assistant professor of educational psychology, was one of the guest speakers during the Saturday event. Courtesy photo Photo - of - Hide Caption Speakers and students alike gathered at the William & Mary School of Education Saturday, all with a shared passion for exceptional students who deserve additional educational opportunities. The Office of Community Engagement (OCE) hosted its first annual "Collaborate to Educate" conference, which included students from a variety of local educational aid programs. Students from Lafayette Kids, Project Phoenix, Pineapple Kids, College Partnership for Kids, Merrimac Mentors, Campus Kitchen and Head Start united to learn and share ideas. "Our hopes for C2E were two-fold. First, we wanted members of different education programs to learn more about each other's organizations and explore possibilities for collaboration" said Sherry McKinney, coordinator of education programs for OCE. In addition to finding ways to collaborate, students had the opportunity to hear from dedicated educational professionals from the area. "Through sessions with educators from the School of Ed. and WJCC Schools, participants [learned] best practices that they could apply to their work with local children and youth" said McKinney. The event, which featured opening sessions, two different breakout sessions and a group reflection, brought together 40 students from the several on campus education-based clubs. The first breakout sessions included a chance to learn about the "Big Ideas" of behavior management, the "Science of Motivation" and the ability to "Make Connections" through story and empathy. The second breakout sessions featured a presentation on better understanding students of exceptional populations, a presentation on working with English-learners and a presentation addressing the Achievement Gap. The breakout sessions gave students the opportunity to hear from many professionals in different areas of the educational field. Students heard speeches from Anya Bobrinskaya, a full-time ESL teacher at Matthew Whaley Elementary; Jason Chen, an assistant professor of educational psychology at William & Mary's School of Education; Davis Clement, who is involved in a collaborative study of school climate; Megan Tschannen-Moran, a professor of educational leadership at William & Mary's School of Education; and Debbie Ramer, a professor at William & Mary's School of Education. The speakers had a significant impact on the attendees, and students in attendance capitalized on the opportunity to interact with the presenters, said McKinney. "Groups have even talked about inviting presenters to future meetings and training sessions" she said. At the conclusion of the conference, students had an opportunity to reflect on their experiences from throughout the day. "Students left workshop sessions excited to bring what they had learned back to their organizations and explore ways to improve their work with children and youth" McKinney said. Although this was the first year that OCE hosted the event, McKinney said that the office hoped to offer the conference again next year. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page India joins nuclear liability convention 05 February 2016 Share India yesterday deposited its instrument of ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Rajiva Misra delivers the instrument of ratification to Juan Carlos Lentijo (Image: D Calma/IAEA) India's permanent representative to the IAEA, Rajiva Mistra, delivered the instrument of ratification to IAEA acting director general Juan Carlos Lentijo, who is also head of the agency's department of nuclear safety and security. Any nuclear accident has potential consequences beyond the boundaries of the country where it occurs, and national laws on liability in the case of a nuclear accident are supplemented by a number of international conventions. Liability is limited by both international conventions and by national legislation, so that beyond the limit (normally covered by insurance) the state can accept responsibility as insurer of last resort, as in all other aspects of industrial society. The CSC aims to increase the amount of compensation available in the event of a nuclear incident through public funds made available by its contracting parties on the basis of their installed nuclear capacity and United Nations rate of assessment. It also aims to establish treaty relations among states whether or not they belong to the existing nuclear liability conventions, notably the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, which entered into force in 1977, and the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy, which entered into force in 1968. The Vienna and Paris conventions, which have both been amended since first entering into force, were linked by a joint protocol in 1988. The CSC was adopted in 1997 but could only enter into force after it had been ratified by five states with a minimum of 400 GW (thermal) of installed nuclear capacity. Japan became the fifth such state to ratify the convention in January 2015, and it entered into force 90 days later, on 15 April. India signed the CSC in October 2010. The convention will enter into force for India on 4 May, 90 days after the deposition of the instrument of ratification. So far it has 19 signatories, eight of which have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval with the IAEA. India's nuclear liability regime has provided a stumbling block for would-be suppliers. In most countries nuclear plant operators are liable for any damage caused in the event of an accident, against which they take out liability insurance ,but up until 2010 - when the Indian government passed its Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act - India had been a notable exception, with reactor suppliers potentially liable for damages in the event of an accident. The 2010 legislation makes Indian operators primarily liable for any nuclear accident, but still keeps open the possibility of recourse to suppliers. India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement that its ratification of the CSC marked a "conclusive step in the addressing of issues related to civil nuclear liability in India". US energy secretary Ernest Moniz said India's membership of the convention was a "crucial step" towards facilitating the growth of nuclear energy in the country. "I welcome India to the CSC and look forward to their deployment of civil nuclear energy technologies to help provide reliable, low-cost power to millions of Indians. These efforts will help spur a low-carbon economy to combat climate change. Additionally, we are eager to work with India, and all CSC member countries, to facilitate the use of advanced nuclear technologies developed in the United States," he said. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Hair tourniquet most commonly happens with penises, fingers, toes, wrists and ankles. Scott and Jessica Walker learned about hair tourniquet in January, when their 19-week-old daughter, Molly, would not quit crying one day. Jessica fortunately removed the babys socks to cool her off, and the new parents found a strand of hair wrapped around Mollys toe. They were able to remove the hair with tweezers and the aid of a magnifying glass, but the babys skin was cut and the toe remained red and swollen 45 minutes later, as the hair had actually cut through the skin. Their doctor told them when they took Molly in to have her toe checked that it could have been much worse if they had not discovered it sooner. Scott took to Facebook to warn other new parents and his post went viral, shared more than 25,000 times and gaining more than 36,000 likes. Scott wrote It ended very well, but it was scary enough where I wouldnt want anyone else to deal with something like that. The situation happened quickly. Molly had a bath the night before, and was dressed for the day at around 9:30 a.m., at which time she was fine. The hair was discovered shortly after noon. Jessica is a Kansas Surgery and Recovery Center nurse, and knew about the condition, and was able to take care of it. Amy Seery is a pediatrician at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She said that hair tourniquet most commonly happens with penises, fingers, toes, wrists and ankles. Babies often grab onto adults hair and some of the strands can end up in places like diapers or socks. The piece of hair, or possibly a thread wraps around a body part and constricts normal blood flow, causing pain. In severe cases it can lead to infection or tissue death. Infants under 4 months of age are most at risk, since this is the time when new mothers are losing the extra hair they grew during pregnancy to hormonal changes. The hair tourniquet must be removed immediately, and may require local anesthetic or a sedative to relax the infant. The skin may actually have to be cut in order to unwrap the hair. Antibiotics may be necessary. A physician or other caregiver should be consulted immediately. Thanks to some remarkably principled hit men, Noela Rukundo survived to see her husband imprisoned for her attempted murder. It was the surprise of a lifetime for Balenga Kalala when Noela Rukundo showed up at her own funeral. Kalala had paid a team of hit men to kill his wife of 10 years. After an attack of conscience, they let her go, and told Kalala that the deed had been done. Rukundo had flown with her husband from her home in Melbourne to attend her stepmothers funeral in Burundi. Saddened and stressed, she retired to her hotel room. Her husband called and sympathetically suggested she go outside for some fresh air. That was when the hit men grabbed her. Pushed into a car and blindfolded, Rukundo was driven for 30 to 40 minutes, then was taken into a building and tied to a chair. A man asked her, You woman, what did you do for this man to pay us to kill you? When Rukundo asked what they were talking about, they told her the man was her husband. When Rukundo did not believe them, the kidnappers called her husband and put him on speakerphone so that she could hear him saying kill her. Rukundo fainted. When she regained consciousness the men were still there, but explained that they werent going to kill her because they did not believe in killing women. They planned to keep Kalalas money, $7,000 in Australian dollars, and tell him that she was dead. After two days they set her free on the side of the road. They gave her a mobile phone, along with recordings of their phone conversations and receipts for the money they had been paid. Seeking help from the Belgian and Kenyan embassies, she was able to return to Australia. She called the pastor of her church, as well as the BBC, and explained what had happened. The pastor helped her get home. Meanwhile, Kalala was telling everyone that his wife had died in a tragic accident. On Feb. 22, 2015, as he said goodbye to neighbors who had come to comfort him, Rukundo approached him, in the flesh. Her husband put his hands on his head, horrified, and said Is it my eyes? Is it a ghost? Surprise! Rukundo said. Im still alive! He touched her shoulder and found her real. Then he started screaming, wailing Im sorry for everything. Rukundo got him to admit, on tape, that he had planned the hit. Rukundo called the police, who arrested her husband. On Dec. 11, Kalala pleaded guilty and was sentenced for incitement to murder to nine years in prison. Rukundo is left with eight children to care for. She said, My situation, my past life? That is gone. Im starting a new life now. At its end-of-month meeting Jan. 26, The Wrangell City and Borough Assembly approved a list of capital budget requests for the 2017 fiscal year, which begins July 1. More than 50 projects costing over $140 million are listed and prioritized, with the city looking to the state and federal government to cover part or all of their costs. Economic development director Carol Rushmore and Public Works head Amber Al-Haddad started on the list, taking last years and updating its projects. Most of the items from the FY16 capital budget list carried over to this years, as the Legislature tried to rein in state spending. Some of the projects are immense $50 million for dam replacement is the largest single item and unlikely to materialize any time soon. Most others are more modest in scope, from $55,000 for recarpeting the library to $25,000 for fire hose replacement. Some of these smaller projects are prioritized separately in an under $100,000 listing, with an application resubmission already underway to replace two police vehicles for $70,000 using Rural Development funding. Topping the list is float construction for Shoemaker Bay Harbor, a $10.7 million project for which the city is seeking a $5,000,000 matching contribution from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Wrangells Tier 1 request was highly ranked among the departments project priorities, coming up second after a proposal by Kodiak. Under the matching program, proposals need to be fully-funded as submitted to receive any support. Because of Kodiaks higher priority request, the $5,000,000 allotted to it this year in Gov. Bill Walkers draft budget falls just short of covering it and Wrangells request, meaning Shoemaker could likely be passed over for a less-expensive project. Borough manager Jeff Jabusch explained the city will do what it can to lobby for additional funding to go to the harbor project program, though it will be a tough sell as the Legislature prioritizes a balanced budget. At the moment even the funds allotted in the governors budget are not guaranteed to make it by the time a final draft is approved and signed. Having Shoemaker as the top priority on Wrangells capital to-do list makes the case for its importance, Jabusch said. We wanted to make sure to show our number-one priority is that, Jabusch said. Similarly, second on the capital requests list is around $460,000 for the first phase of water main distribution system replacement. Wrangell is currently in the process of phasing out its ductile iron lines, which in some sections have prematurely failed. As with Cassiar Street during its renovation last year, the city will replace the iron mains with a more durable polyurethane piping. Jabusch said there is usually Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation money available for such projects, as the funds available to it are federally-sourced. At last months meeting he reported loan paperwork for the DEC was already underway. Replacing the fire departments aging pumper truck ranked number three on the capital request list, after Assembly member Stephen Prysunka lobbied for the item to be bumped up from the 18th spot. Id like to see us move it up, he told Jabusch and fellow members on the council. Where it currently was ranked, he felt the project doesnt look like much of a need. The estimated cost is $275,000, though Prysunka pointed out a new vehicle may cost more than that. Jabusch explained there are federal grant programs geared toward financing emergency vehicles, which he would look into. Bumped to fourth as a result were pool facility improvements, a $2,000,000 project which will involve roof replacement, mechanical updates and a full remodel. After that, the $35 million needed to design and construct a new hospital facility for Wrangell Medical Center comes in fifth. Other priorities are $4.2 million for final improvements to the boatyard, $950,000 for renovations to the Public Safety Building, $300,000 for ozone generator replacement, $1.6 million for phase two of water main distribution replacement, and $2.7 million for added backup diesel generation. Outside funding for these items may not be available, but Jabusch explained the list highlights the citys infrastructure needs. The inclusion of projects and their ranking is partly political, adding a little clout to proposals when vying for competitive grants. The list is a work in progress, and Jabusch said the ordering may change as a state budget begins to take shape. You keep chipping away at things and looking for grant opportunities, he said. We would go after anything we can find on the list. Anything they give us well appreciate. In addition to the facilities and improvements they yield, capital projects benefit communities by the construction activity they bring. Contracts inject money into the local economy, as do workers and specialists brought in to complete the jobs. The states renovation of Evergreen Avenue planned for later this year is one such example, though Jabusch expressed concern such projects may be in short supply in the foreseeable future. Its not going to be comfortable, but well get through it somehow, he commented. I think most communities are in the same boat we are. Crucially, one difference that sets Wrangell on a better financial footing than other communities in the state is a lack of debt. Jabusch points to the citys various reserve funds and its stable revenue base as positive signs it can weather a drought in government spending. However, several large infrastructural concerns loom ahead. In addition to Wrangells water mains and roads, an electrical systems study released last summer has shown its transmission lines and backup generation capabilities are in need of an update. The costs will be big, costing in the millions. And unlike water, waste and other utilities, Jabusch pointed out that energy projects have a particularly difficult time garnering grant assistance. My guess is well have to fund it ourselves at some time, he said. The commissioner for the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development announced the state will be replacing its Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) assessment. The exam was first administered during the 2014-15 school year, after being selected by the Legislature in 2012 to replace Alaskas previous Standards Based Assessments test. Implementation of the test encountered some problems, however, and the exam proved unpopular with school districts across the state. The commissioner felt that there was no sense struggling with this anymore, explained Eric Fry, an information officer for EED. After going over issues with superintendents he felt that they lost confidence in the test. School boards and the Alaska Superintendents Association had expressed dissatisfaction with AMP, which 72,300 students took last year. Fry explained the main criticism the department had received was that the tests score reports did not provide information that could inform lessons in the classroom. These tests arent really well-designed to tell how students are doing in detail, he said. Rather, the examination measured how well students processed information, such as interpreting technical information through reading. Ahead of releasing the first years results, the EED stressed they would not be comparable to former assessments, as AMP would feature more difficult questions and a different scoring system. Last years results were to serve as a baseline for the AMP. It was to be the first of a five-year, $25 million commitment with the Achievement & Assessment Institute of the University of Kansas, which designed and administers the test. This more rigorous examination was adopted in order to improve Alaskans post-graduation prospects. Surveys from around 2012 found roughly 20 percent of Alaskans applying for military service after high school were unable to pass the written entrance exam. Meanwhile, half of Alaskan high school graduates required some form of remedial courses when at a college or university. When AMP scores were finally released in November after several delays, only a minority of students in the state showed proficiency in mathematics and reading comprehension. At the time, Wrangell school superintendent Patrick Mayer felt the way the results were conveyed were too general to identify areas where students needed help. He had been among the school administrators who were in favor of replacing the AMP with another statewide assessment. There were just continued red flags for trying to continue and repair the AMP, Mayer commented. I think they made the right decision in scrapping it at this point. Fry noted other criticisms of the test included the time it took to administer, delays in processing results and its online administration. Some districts lacked the resources to give a fully-computerized test, which Fry said could have been an additional stressor. While the test would likely improve given time, he said education commissioner Mike Hanley decided it would be best to just start anew. Fry explained the state will need to administer the AMP once more this spring in order to comply with federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act, but that EEC will soon be sending out a request for proposals. The companies and institutes who create such assessments will have the opportunity to respond with their ideas, which Alaska will have to compare and may pick an examination from. Mayer was hopeful EEC would seek greater input from school districts about what they wanted to see in a future assessment. Theres going to be a significant solicitation of input on that, he said. Town Centre Action Plan Developed to Improve Footfall & Occupancy Levels This article is old - Published: Friday, Feb 5th, 2016 A draft Action Plan has been created in a bid to tackle issues with the general appearance, footfall and occupancy levels in Wrexham Town Centre. The action plan, which has been formulated by members of the Wrexham Town Centre Steering Group and Town Centre Manager, Isobel Garner, was announced at this months Town Centre Forum Meeting. A hard copy of the action plan was not available to view, however the meeting was told that it consists of improving the appearance of town including signage and lighting, and also creating a database of every empty property in the town centre and engaging with their landlords. Speaking at this months Town Centre Forum Meeting, Chairman Nigel Lewis said: This arose as a result of the work that Manchester University had done. They found there are 25 priorities and how we would tackle those. We had a meeting where the university attended, meeting in the council chambers. We broke up into small groups and started actioning things, such as street clean ups, street festivals and we influenced parking charges. We are recognising that the council have officers and members dealing with issues in the town centre, and we have many volunteers. We dont want to duplicate things and together we want to tackle things that need it and make sure that they are prioritised. Over the past month I have sat down with Isobel and others over the past month, there has been lots of dialogue. There are a lot of items on here, the concept brings together all the things the various groups are trying to achieve, such as the Healthy High Street campaign who have an agenda to increase footfall, reduce vacant properties and increase employment. Other ideas put forward in the plan include potentially opening a Wrexham Heritage shop, working with entrepreneurs, putting vinyl images on empty shops, using vacant properties as pop-up shops and shop shares along with an improved communications plan to market the town centre. Reference was also made to a number of initiatives being carried out within Wrexham over the next few months, including the launch of the county wide Sheep Trail and the introduction of cheaper car parking in Eagles Meadow and in the Waterworld car park from April. A final copy of the Wrexham Town Centre Partnership Action Plan is anticipated in the next few months. January saw the Belgian trade unions cancel planned anti-austerity strikes by railway workers. After having organised a 48-hour strike action which successfully shut down the Belgian rail network January 6-7, the unions wound up three others days of planned actions. The climb-down came against the vote of rail workers, and despite the support of the most vulnerable sections of society, students, youth and elderly, whose fares discounts will be hit by the new austerity plan. After having called on Employment and Economy Minister Kris Peteers to act as a mediator in the dispute, the trade unions got their feet under the table of negotiations with management and decided to cancel all remaining planned strike action. There is a framework and a schedule, said Luc Piens of the Flemish wing of the ACV Transcom trade union. We are talking and thus we are making progress. The president of the train drivers union CGSP, M. Abdissi, said, It is clear now that we are not mentioning strikes any more. Peteers tweeted, No strikes. To talk to each other around a table of negotiations is the only way to make progress. In December 2015, management of the Belgian rail company SNCB had threatened to cut off financing of the railway trade unions if strikes went ahead. Last year Belgian rail trade unions received 10 million from the railway bosses. During strikes, trade union representatives are paid from this fund. The current financing agreement between management and unions ended last December and is normally renegotiated at the start of every year. The Flemish publisher Mediahuis reported, Without progress in the negotiations, the trade unions could well be without money in January 2016. The cuts directed against railworkers and passengers are part of the productivity plan for 2016-2018 devised by the government of Prime Minister Charles Michel. It aims at cutting the budget of the SNCB by 20 percent (3 billion), through 7,000 job cuts, on top of the 7,000 jobs already destroyed with the collaboration of the trade unions over the past decade. The plan aims to increase productivity by 20 percent by 2019, to help make the Belgian rail network ripe for privatisation. The rail network is one of the best in Europe, while fares are far cheaper than in Britain, where the railways have been fully privatised. Private owners who took over the Belgian rails can be expected to raise fares significantly to make huge profits. At the end of the 1990s, the rail trade unions agreed to put rail workers on a reduced 36-hour work week, with decreased statutory holidays, without a pay rise, and an increase of accrued days in return for working over their hours. Because of a lower number of workers manning the railway, workers keep accumulating accrued days without being able to redeem them for days off, as there is no one to cover for them. In 1990 there were 45,000 rail workers transporting 130 million passengers. In 2014, there were just 33,000 workers transporting 235 million passengers. The plan aims at deepening the division of railway workers, as in all public-private partnerships across Europe. The Belgian rail infrastructure is operated by InfraBel, dealing with tracks and maintenance; operating train crews and station staff are under the current SNCB which will be hived off. The SNCB human resource department HRRail will be replaced by a private recruitment agency to increase the rate of casualisation of the workforce and undermine existing contracts and working conditions. The plan aims at shutting down all non-profitable regional routes and puts the focus on the main inter-city rail routes. It has been nearly two years since the March 16, 2014 fatal shooting of homeless camper James Boyd by Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officers Keith Sandy and Dominique Perez. If their trial for second-degree murder and other charges, scheduled for fall of this year at the earliest, is not subject to any further delays, it will be held two and a half years after the killing took place. In the meantime, there have been some developments. Last week, a Bernalillo County District Court judge ruled against a defense motion for change of venue. The defense attorneys filed the motion before Judge Alisa Hadfield in December. The attorneys, Sam Bregman and Luis Robles, claimed that the extensive media coverage of the shooting, and of the protests that followed, make it impossible for Sandy and Perez to get a fair trial in Bernalillo County. Perez and Sandys attorneys argued that, in contrast to the many media reports aired or published on the case in the region served by Albuquerque news outlets, the southern city of Las Cruces, which gets most of its news from El Paso, Texas, received only a handful. They also opposed special prosecutor Randi McGinns suggestion that the trial be moved to Santa Fe, 55 miles north, saying that it was part of the Albuquerque media region. Unmentioned by Bregman and Robles is the composition of Las Cruces. According to Wikipedia, The citys major employer is the federal government on nearby White Sands Test Facility and White Sands Missile Range. Undoubtedly, they presume that there will be more pro-military, and by extension, pro-police, sentiments in Las Cruces. McGinn argued that the Albuquerque region is populous and diverse enough to provide a fair jury pool, and that people can read the news and remain unbiased. She also mentioned that six trials of people shooting and killing police officers had been held in Albuquerque despite media coverage. On January 29, Judge Hadfield ruled that the defense failed to demonstrate that pretrial publicity had made it impossible for their clients to get a fair trial in Albuquerque. However, she told both sides to create a questionnaire next month for the prospective jury pool, leaving the door open for renewal of the change-of-venue motion if they can show that the survey validates their claim. Such a move, to a city 200 miles south of Albuquerque, apart from incurring additional expenses and inconvenience, would likely lead to further delays. During the same week, special prosecutor McGinn filed two motions. The judge ruled in favor of her motion to compel William J. Lewinski, a professional expert witness who uses pseudo-psychological explanations in court testimony to justify police misconduct, to hand over his financial records to the prosecution. Lewinskis fee for servicing the police is $1,000 an hour. McGinn also filed a motion to seal motions regarding the histories of James Boyd and of the officers. That motion is still under consideration. Meanwhile, the city and federal governments have engaged in a number of cosmetic measures, which have neither stopped officer-involved shootings nor done anything to remedy underlying conditions, as shown by a recap of events preceding and following the Boyd shooting. In 2013, Chief of Police Ray Schultz announced his retirement amid a sharp rise in police violence during his tenure, some of which brought on lawsuits against the APD and the city. The year before, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) had begun an investigation into APD violence. Schultzs cozy relationship with Taser International further undermined his credibility. He was replaced by Gorden Eden, who told reporters shortly after the James Boyd killing that video cam recordings justified the officers actions. However, the appearance, and viral spread, of a YouTube video of the incident clearly belied Edens claims and he and the citys mayor were forced to backtrack. Meanwhile, outraged citizens, including relatives of victims, held a number of protests, some of which were broken up by SWAT team officers with tear gas and batons. Undercover police have spied on demonstrators, and there is suspicion that provocateurs attended protests as well. In April 2014, the DOJ released its report, which found that APD engages in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment and that structural and systemic deficienciesincluding insufficient oversight, inadequate training, and ineffective policiescontribute to the use of unreasonable force. From a study of the 20 fatal shootings from 2009 to 2012, the report concluded that a majority of these shootings were unconstitutional. Shortly after the report, three members of the six-member independent Police Oversight Commission (POC), using terms like stymied and rubber stamp, resigned, with one ex-member saying, I cannot continue to pretend or deceive the members of our community into believing that our city has any real civilian oversight. The city dissolved the POC and set up a Police Oversight Board and a nine-member Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA), which held its first meeting in March 2015. Although the CPOA can now subpoena police officers, its function is still giving feedback and making recommendations, which APD does not have to act upon. In May 2014, the DOJ held three highly controlled public hearings in Albuquerque community centers. Prosecution of any police officers was off the table from the start. Instead, DOJ reps formed focus groups with a few crowd members to discuss formulation of a consent decree, an agreement between the feds and police departments that has proven largely toothless in other cities in the US. In July, the APD purchased 350 AR-15 assault riflesthe same type that killed James Boydat a cost of $1,000 each, with plans to purchase more in the future. In August it announced its intention to purchase two military-grade armored vehicles at a cost of $600,000. The city followed up on the DOJ damage control gambits with a series of ten community meetings stretching from October 2014 to February 2015. A contingent of APD officers was always present at these meetings, and again, focus groups were restricted to a preselected topic, with an emphasis on empathy, respect and greater understanding between citizens and the APD. November saw the reaching of a DOJ/APD settlement agreement that excluded any prosecutions and retained most of the old guard command structure. In fact, APD hired as deputy chief a man who, during his 2000-2010 stint as the SWAT team captain, had hired Keith Sandy and another officer who has shot three unarmed people. A local attorney who has been involved in officer misconduct cases said, To me it just looks like more of the same. For the first time in its history, the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office (BCDA) filed first-degree murder charges against Sandy and Perez on January 12, 2015. Under charges of conflict of interest, and allegations of bribery and witness tampering in a case involving her son, District Attorney Kari Brandenburg left the case, appointing private attorney Randi McGinn as a special prosecutor. McGinn changed the charge to second-degree murder, under the view that it would be easier to convict the officers. However, the judge has the option of suspending the sentence in such a case, and the jury could also have the option of convicting the cops on lesser charges of aggravated battery and aggravated assault. In January 2016, a former APD records custodian brought a lawsuit against the city and APD for his firing because he complained about their attempts to obstruct public records requests regarding high-profile cases, among them the James Boyd case. As the WSWS has reported time and again, this is a nationwide trend. In Texas, New York, Illinois and across the USand Canada as wella clear pattern can be seen. Just since the beginning of 2016, there have been a number of exposuresa fraction of the wholeof officers shooting, beating or otherwise committing violence against victims who posed no threat to them, and of falsifying accounts of incidents, while city governmentsDemocrat and Republican alikehave engaged in stonewalling, delays, cover-ups and repression. According to the Guardian, US police have killed at least 83 people since the beginning of this year. As outrage and denunciations of police violence have grown, ruling class institutions have been forced to go through the motions of carrying out justice, while subverting it at every chance. Highly manipulated grand jury proceedings have overwhelmingly concluded with the exoneration of the police officers. The poisoning of the population of Flint, Michigan, has provoked widespread outrage. Snowballing revelations that water quality officials had for months knowingly violated federal water safety regulations and criminally covered it up, precipitated the holding of a Congressional hearing on Flint, Wednesday. The implications of developments in Flint are vast, creating a profound political crisis for both capitalist political parties. The systematic poisoning of the entire population of a city that was once an industrial powerhouse, has garnered worldwide attention. Not only are the official environmental agencies blameworthy for this disaster, but representatives of both Republican and Democratic Parties are complicit. The hearing in Washington, DC, revealed the utter panic of the two big business parties, faced with mass opposition to their criminal policies. Virginia Tech University water expert Dr. Marc Edwards testified on the callous disregard of regulatory officials, most recently played out in Flint. He said, Residents there have been living a surreal experience. Its part 1984, part Enemy of the People [referring to George Orwells novel and Hendrik Ibsens play]. And I am personally ashamed that the profession I belong tothe drinking water industry in this countryhas allowed this to occur. While politicians mouthed empty phrases of sympathy for the plight of Flints residents before the news cameras, two busloads of residents from Flint and Detroit who traveled overnight to take part in the hearing, were immediately set upon by groups of armed guards as they entered the building. As they lined up outside of the hearing room, attendees were warned not to block the hallway or speak during the hearing, or else they would be arrested. This has never happened before, stated one Congressional staff member of the large turnout. Jammed into overflow rooms around the building, many were forced to sit on floors or stand. Workers expressed frustration and distrust for their Congressional hosts. Why did she say the behaviors of Snyder were almost criminal said one Flint resident, commenting on remarks made by Washington, DC, Democratic Representative Eleanor Holmes-Norton at the hearing. Other attendees could be heard grumbling in disbelief as Congressional Republicans and Democrats took turns attempting to shift blame for the social catastrophe from one to the other. Speaking to the World Socialist Web Site, Michael, who came to Washington with the two busloads of other Flint residents, gave his thoughts on the proceedings, I think it could be a set-up. It seems like theyre going to place the blame on somebody for the lead, but then it will just be business as usual. Speaking of his own conditions, Michael said Ive been affected by the lead poisoning. My girlfriends two-year old son has it. Its been real hard. C. Hall, a worker from Washington, DC, lived through the 2001-2004 lead-in-water crisis in the US capital. She said that she had been buying bottled water for several years, since that crisis, which had been covered up by officials even longer than they did in Flint. They did it all to save money, she said, speaking about Flint. Hall was outraged that it took two years for the contamination to be acknowledged, did they just think they could hide? I want justice to be done. If anything, you can quote me on that she concluded, adding that the public officials involved in the lead poisonings had no concern for the population. They knew about it from the beginning, interjected Markita Blanchard, a janitor from the city of Detroit who traveled overnight to attend the hearing. [Michigan Governor] Snyder refused to use Flint River water in his municipal buildings in Flint, even while he told the citys people that the water all came from the same place. The same thing happened in Detroit, she added, they shut thousands of peoples water off in the city for not paying their bills, but allowed Comerica Park, Ford Field, and other big businesses to not pay. Now theyre privatizing public housing. [Quicken Loans CEO] Dan Gilbert just bought the Martin Luther King Apartments and is going to move the poor people out of those homes. Up to 50,000 workers marched in Athens Thursday, in a one-day general strike that was one of the biggest mobilisations to protest austerity in Greece in recent years. The strike testifies to explosive anger in the working class at the austerity policies now being imposed by the Syriza (Coalition of the Radical Left) government. Just over one year after it came to power pledging to oppose the rapacious demands of the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the party hailed by pseudo-left groups internationally is an object of hatred and contempt. A rally was held in Greeces second city, Thessaloniki, and other cities and towns including Patras, Larissa and the capital of Crete, Iraklion. The strike, called by the private sector (GSEE) and public sector (Adedy) trade union federations, was in opposition to brutal pension cuts being imposed by Syriza at the behest of Greeces international creditors. Syriza is committed to slashing pension spending by one percent of GDP (1.8 billion) this year in order to receive further bailout loans from the European Union (EU). It plans to cut the maximum state pension of 2,700 a month to 2,300 and implement a minimum guaranteed basic pension of just 384. Some pensions could be cut by up to 30 percent, after successive governments have already slashed pensions 11 times since 2010. Syriza is also phasing out additional benefit payments available to pensioners by 2019. The pension cuts are a central component of the austerity programme Syriza is carrying through. This week, officials for the EU, European Central Bank and IMF troika arrived in Athens, meeting Labour Minister George Katrougalos during the strike to discuss the pension cuts at a central Athens hotel heavily guarded by police. The strike call met with a powerful response. Domestic flights were grounded, most public transport in Athens was paralyzed, with no trolley, train or suburban rail services running, and ferries remained docked in ports. The strike led to the closure of schools, courts and pharmacies, while public hospitals were operating only with emergency staff. Sailors in the PNO maritime trade union joined the strike and will not return to work until Saturday. Self-employed workers including lawyers, notaries, taxi drivers and engineers also struck. Ahead of the strike, journalists walked out, pulling all news broadcasts off the airwaves. Web sites were left without any updated news, and no print media was published Thursday. The anger felt by millions of workers, youth and pensioners was palpable at the Athens march. Speaking of his attitude to Syriza, pensioner Nikos Ghinis told Reuters, They should be strung up here, in Syntagma Square. Im getting 740 ($826.21) a month for 40 years of work. ... Im (demonstrating) here for my children and grandchildren. A delegation of public sector health workers carried a large banner depicting a hunched-over nurse with a walking stick. It read, This is retirement at 67a reference to the later retirement age Syriza is enforcing. Syriza responded to growing opposition to its austerity agenda with the same brutality as did the social democratic and conservative governments it replaced. As the march in Athens reached Syntagma Square, riot police attacked protesters with tear gas and stun grenades. The general strike is the culmination of weeks of protests, during which there have been strikes and demonstrations nearly every day. Sailors have launched a number of prolonged strikes. On January 28, local government workers occupied town halls during a strike. Earlier in the month, thousands of lawyers marched through Athens during an indefinite strike against the pension cuts. Over the last 10 days, farmers have repeatedly paralyzed major roads and dozens of others nationwide. Around 6,000 tractors have taken part in the protests, resulting in tailbacks of up to 12 miles at border crossings. Farmers will meet Sunday to discuss widening their protests with the aim of bringing the whole country to a standstill. The farmers are demanding the government withdraw draft laws on security fund cuts and punitive taxation measures. It is estimated that some farmers could lose up to 80 percent of their income. The tax hikes are being imposed to raise 350 million for Greeces creditors. Despite its powerful response to a call for opposition to Syriza, the working class still faces immense challengesabove all, drawing the political and strategic conclusions of the bankruptcy of the trade unions and existing left parties. Syriza came to power promising an end to social austerity, and change within the framework of the European Union, then betrayed its promises, imposing continued cuts despite a landslide no vote in a referendum on austerity that it had itself organised. The role of the unionswhose officials are largely affiliated to Syriza, the social-democratic Pasok party or the Stalinist Greek Communist Party (KKE)is no less cynical. Adedy said of Syrizas plans, The reactionary bill can and must be blocked though the power of an all-worker popular uprising ... The GSSE said, There is no turning back in the struggle and our demands are non-negotiable; sustainable social security benefits, without cuts, jobs and pensions for generations. These are simply lies and empty bluster. The record of the last seven years is irrefutable proof that the unions are hostile to an uprising of the working class and are ready to negotiate virtually any social attack demanded by the EU and the Greek bourgeoisie. Since the current austerity drive began in Greece, following the election of the 2009 social democratic Pasok government of George Papandreou, the trade unions have called more than 40 general strikes. Their purpose is to dissipate pent up anger, while the union bureaucracy works to ensure that the austerity measures move ahead. The result has been the greatest assault on workers living standards in Europe since World War II, apart from the economic collapse that followed the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. Workers need new organisations of struggle and, above all, new political parties in Greece and internationally that arm the working class with a perspective for a revolutionary struggle. The necessary starting point is a study of the record of the World Socialist Web Site and the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). The ICFI statement, The Political Lessons of Syrizas Betrayal in Greece (in Greek here) draws the essential lessons of the strategic experience the Greek and international working class has passed through with Syriza. To the extent that Syriza and the trade unions are successful in blocking opposition to their policies from the left, however, they are paving the way for the political right to exploit mass social desperation in Greece and create a powerful far-right movement. Greece remains mired in recession, with unemployment still at 25 percent and much higher among young people. The European Commission was forced to acknowledge this week that Greeces economy is the only one in the European Union set to shrink this year. In the case of the farmers, leadership of the protest has fallen to Kostas Alexandris, one of Greeces most successful farmers. Another key figure in the protest is Stergios Litos, the president of the Independent Farmers of Visaltia, who stood as an MP with New Democracy in January last year. In August, he was part of a delegation from the National Farmers Committee that met with fascist Golden Dawn leader Nikolaos Michloliakos in his parliamentary office. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani made a four-day visit to Italy and France last week, after the European Union (EU) and the US lifted sanctions on Iran following the signing of a deal on Tehrans nuclear programme last July. After Rouhanis visit to Italy and France, German foreign minister Frank-Walker Steinmeier visited Tehran on Wednesday of this week. After pressuring Iran to sign the nuclear deal and accept concessions proposed, the European imperialist powers are scrambling to get back into a $400 billion economy with the worlds fourth biggest oil reserves and a consumer market of nearly 80 million people. Europe was Irans largest trading partner before the imposition of sanctions. During his trip to Europe, the first by an Iranian president in 16 years, Rouhani was accompanied by a delegation of 120 officials and businessmen. Before arriving in Italy on Monday, Rouhani said, After the nuclear agreement we want to elaborate on a middle-and long-term road map for our relationship with the EU, and especially with Italy and France. I will be in Rome and Paris to speak about and possibly come to concrete results on different economic projects, like car manufacturing and the modernisation of our civil aviation. In Italy, Rouhani held talks with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and took part in an Italy-Iran business forum. Prominent Italian business executives including Eni SpAs Claudio Descalzi and Fiat Chrysler chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne were due to attend a dinner with Rouhani later on Monday. At a press conference, Rouhani and Renzi praised the deals signed between Italy and Iran; Renzi said that they were just the beginning for the two countries. Italian firms agreed to deals worth about 20 billion with Iran. The Danieli Group, one of the largest equipment suppliers, signed around $5.7 billion in deals to supply Iran with machinery and install steel and aluminum plants in Iran. The Saipem oil firm and Italian State Railway also signed a memorandum of understanding with Tehran. Shipbuilder Fincantieri signed several deals, including one to develop a new shipyard in the Persian Gulf. On Wednesday, Rouhani visited France, and met with top French officials and business leaders desperate to recoup the economic losses in Iran due to the US-led campaign to impose sanctions on Iran. Frances trade with Iran of some 4 billion 10 years ago fell to only 500 million in 2013. The Elysee presidential palace rolled out the red carpet for Iranian leader, who signed billions of euros worth of deals at a special ceremony at the palace. At a press conference, President Francois Hollande declared, A new chapter of our relations is opening today. Iran also signed a memorandum of understanding with Franco-German civil aircraft manufacturer Airbus to buy 118 Airbus planes worth about 23 billion as Tehran reestablishes commercial air travel, which had been curtailed by sanctions. Construction giant Bouygues and Aeroports de Paris (ADP) agreed to expand Tehrans airport. French oil major Total signed a deal to resume buying Iranian crude oil, and PSA Peugeot-Citroen signed a $430 million joint venture agreement with Iranian carmaker Khodro to produce cars in Iran. They will modernise a factory near Tehran and begin making cars by mid-2017, with the production target of 200,000 vehicles per year. Other agreements were signed on agriculture, health and the environment. Frances dealings with Iran underscore the reactionary character and the sudden shifts of European foreign policy. Before the nuclear deal, Paris took a particularly bellicose stance, pressuring Tehran to meet all the Western powers demands in nuclear talks and also seeking to destroy one of Irans key allies, Syrian president Bashar al-Assads regime, by backing Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militias. Now, while it continues to seek regime change in Syria, Paris is ostensibly fighting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), backing Kurdish militias also supported by Iran and another key ally of Assad, Russia, and seeking an economic rapprochement with Iran. This is because the Iranian nuclear deal is, in the final analysis, a mechanism for continuing the imperialist plunder of the region via other means. Pressure is mounting in Tehran, both from its trading partners and from within the Iranian theocracy itself, to abolish price subsidies for basic mass consumption goods, slashing Iranian workers living standards. The scramble for markets in Iran and throughout Middle East, ravaged by Western military intervention and war, is taking place amid rising geopolitical competition between the major imperialist powers over who will dominate the region. Yesterday, Germans foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, visited Tehran, inviting Rouhani to visit Germany during his next visit to Europe. With sanctions against Iran lifted, the German business community expects its exports to Iran to double in the next three years to 5 billion and to 10 billion in the next five years. After more than 10 years of icy relations with Iran, we have finally said Stop, said Volker Treier of Germanys Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The EU powers are deeply concerned that the US aggressive stance and harsh sanctions against Iran have significantly undermined their geopolitical interests. There are increasing signs that US-European rivalry over access to Iranian and Iraqi markets, which emerged in the late 1990s in the lead-up to the unilateral US invasion of Iraq in 2003, could erupt again. There is already discussion in foreign policy circles that Europe could clash with Washington, should the US government seek to re-impose sanctions on Iran in the future. In 2014, US officials openly threatened French companies planning work in Iran with sanctions. After the nuclear deal was initially ratified last year, the European Council on Foreign Relations published an article in its bulletin on August 26, 2015, titled Europe wont bow to an anti-Iran-deal US Congress. The think tank bluntly noted, Europeans are now looking beyond a nuclear-centric vision of Iran to focus on how they can use the opening up to engage Iranian President Hassan Rouhanis administration. Both Iran and Europe are eager to reignite their once-prosperous trade relations, and Europeans would also like to work with Iran to more constructively de-escalate conflicts in the Middle East. This kind of progress cant be easily undone, and if it is, European policy makers may blame Washington rather than Tehran for prematurely derailing an agreement that was given virtually global acceptance. The Europeans and the United States also face rising competition from China, whose President Xi Jinping visited Iran before Rouhani left for Europe. China and Iran are reportedly aiming to build economic ties worth up to $600 billion over the next 10 years. During Xis visit, China and Tehran signed about 17 agreements in areas including politics, the economy, security and nuclear energy. On January 23, between 5,000 and 6,000 people marched in Dublin city against the continuing imposition of water charges, with up to 30 smaller demonstrations taking place in towns and cities throughout the country. Up to 1,500 people took part in a demonstration against water charges in Cork. There was also a demonstration of around 1,000 people outside the conference of the Fine Gael party, which along with the Labour Party in government introduced the hated water charges in January 2015. This was part of a savage austerity programme that has seen a massive transfer of wealth from working people to the super-rich. The number of those attending the demonstrations was significantly down from the 30,000 who marched against the introduction of water charges. This is the end result of the way the main pseudo-left tendencies that, along with Sinn Fein, dominate the campaign and have channelled opposition to austerity away from any independent working class fight against capitalism and towards working within the Dail Eireann (Irish Parliament) and the array of inter-party committees in which they operate. The emphasis on a non-payment campaign since water charges were introduced last April has allowed individual workers to be intimidated with threats of fines and penalties, so that the government now claims two thirds of people have paid. An identical approach by trade union leaders and the pseudo-left in 2012 for a campaign of non-payment of a property tax of 100 on households was eventually defeated by the government, which later introduced payments of 1,000 for some households. This counts for little for the speakers that addressed the crowd in O Connell Street, whose main concern was to seek popular backing for their plans for a joint slate in the upcoming general election, including Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, Brendan Ogle of the Unite trade union, Richard Boyd Barrett of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP)/People Before Profit Alliance (PBPA), Joan Collins of the Anti-Austerity Alliance, and Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party (SP). The SWP/PBPA and the SP-dominated Anti-Austerity Alliance have now come together as one grouping and published a joint platform and manifesto to contest the general election due at the end of February. The Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit (AAA-PBPA) will be running 30 candidates. The aim of the alliance, according to Paul Murphy, a parliamentarian for the SP, is to offer the electorate a real alternative in order for fundamental change to take place and a left government that doesnt represent the interests of the one percent and represents the interests of the 99 per cent. Richard Boyd Barrett and Brid Smyth of the SWP/PBPA stated at the press conference launch that the AAA-PBPA would be supporting the formation of a left government against the establishment parties, which they identified as Fine Gael, Fine Fail, and the Labour Party. Some months ago, Barretts PBPA newsletter stated, We need to join with anti-austerity forces like Syriza in Greece and other similar movements in Spain and Portugal to demand a cancellation of the debts and an end to austeritya reference to Podemos and the Left Bloc. Syriza is now directly imposing austerity. The Left Bloc has joined a government with the Socialist Party and the Portuguese Communist Party that will do so, and Podemos is presently negotiating for the opportunity to do the same alongside the Socialist Party in Spain. This is the role that would be played by the SWP and SP. Just how anti-austerity the joint manifesto is can be judged by its references to the low level of corporation tax paid to the state by multinational industries functioning in Ireland, which now stands at 12.5 percent. The ruling coalitions tax policies have been criticised by other European governments, which have argued that its ultra-low rates are luring businesses away from high-tax jurisdictions. Last October, Finance Minister Michael Noonan slashed the present official rate of 12.5 percent to 6.2 percent for firms that demonstrated their profits are tied to patents and copyrighted software that were created by research and development carried out in Ireland. The joint manifesto now pathetically states, We will be fighting to transform the taxation policies of this state. To make the superrich and corporations pay their taxes we will be proposing the enforcement of 12.5 percent corporation tax rate. The SWP and SP differ on whether it would support a Sinn Fein-led government. The SWP/PBPA insisted it would support a Sinn Fein government as well as asking people for transfers from Sinn Fein and giving Sinn Fein second-preference votes under the proportional representation electoral system. Ruth Coppinger of the SP said she would have reservations about allying with Sinn Fein because that party was based on only one section of the community in Northern Ireland, and had supported and implemented cuts in that jurisdiction. Neither party had anything to say on the fact that Sinn Fein is a bourgeois, pro-capitalist formation. Both insisted that these differences would not affect the electoral pact. The record of the pseudo-left groups over the past five years of the current coalition has shown that their trajectory is based firmly on propping up capitalism and offering economic solutions that pose no threat to the power and privilege of Irelands ruling elite. The super-rich are far wealthier today than before the 2008 economic crash and the 85 billion bailout of the banks. Over the lifetime of the present government, they have increased their wealth by 75 billion. The top 250 individual capitalists have now amassed wealth equivalent to 30 percent of Irelands GDP, according to the recent Sunday Times Rich List. In a country where there are now 272,000 fewer full-time jobs compared to before the financial crash, there are now 13 billionaires. The Dails 166 TDs (members) have raked in almost 80 million in salary and expenses over a three-year period, with the Dails Ceann Comhairle (chairperson) taking home 658,000. Other figures compiled by RTE television show that Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins earned more than 410,000 over a three-year period, while Richard Boyd Barrett of the SWP/PBPA was paid 450,000. Senators accounted for a further 20 million in expenses. From the moment the present government took power in 2011, both the SP and SWP/PBPA held regular talks with the troika of the European Union (EU), European Central Bank ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF), to offer advice on where the vicious austerity measures should fall. Higgins has just completed a 14-month term on the inter-party Banking Inquiry Committee cover-up, along with members of Fine Gael, Fine Fail and Sinn Fein. The findings of the inquiry into the cause of the Irish banking crash in 2008, published this week, criticised the lack of regulation of the major banks and found that the ECB put major pressure on Ireland to accept a bailout in 2010. The chairperson of the inquiry, Ciaran Lynch of the Labour Party, stated, No one thing led to the banking crisis. When quizzed by journalists to name individuals responsible, he replied that when the coalition government set the inquiry up last year, part of its mandate was that no individuals could be prosecuted or held to account. The inquiry served as a political smokescreen, to gloss over the fact that the capitalist state and the rule of capital itself were responsible for the banking crash. The participation of Higgins and the SP acted as a cover by giving the inquiry a fake radical face. Following a protracted struggle over a period of months, the trial of elderly former SS member Hubert Z. in the city of Neubrandenburg threatens to collapse. Another court now has to make a decision on a bias petition against two of the judges in the local court. Witnesses, surviving relatives and journalists from all over the world had made plans to attend the trial of Hubert Z., which will probably be one of the last trials of individuals who took part in the Holocaust. Hubert Z. was a member of the paramedic unit at the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp at the time when 14 trains full of deportees arrived and 3,681 people were murdered. The public prosecutors office argues that Z. assisted in these killings because he supported the cooperative camp procedure as a whole. It holds that he contributed to the mass extermination in carrying out his daily work. Among their responsibilities, paramedics killed prisoners with lethal injections and doused the gas chambers with the poison gas Zyklon B. However, the accused has made outrageous claims contesting his own guilt. He claims he only administered first aid and knew nothing about trains full of prisoners. He also claims never to have seen a ramp and that he believed that the vent of the crematoria in which bodies were burned at night, and out of which the flames and smoke rose ten meters high, belonged to a heating plant. Z. is represented by the attorney Peter-Michael Diestel, who was interior minister in the last government administration of the Stalinist-ruled German Democratic Republic before reunification. Diestel claims that the trial is a violation of human rights, because his client suffers from dementia and depressive symptoms. These claims were confirmed by an evaluator brought in by the attorney for this purpose. The district court in Neubrandenburg wanted to discontinue the trial in June 2015 as a consequence, but the higher regional court in Rostock refused. Now the state court has set February 29 as the start date, but it is highly questionable whether the trial will take place, since witnesses have not been summoned and no evidence has been presented. Only three days have been set for the entire trial. Only two expert witnesses have been called to decide on the ability of the accused to stand trial. A document written by Public Prosecutor Schwerin makes serious accusations against two of the three professional judges, including the president, and has asked that they be rejected on account of bias. Attorney General Forster fears that the scheduled hearing will only serve to halt the trial as quickly as possible. The joint plaintiffs, concentration camp survivors, are also considering a plea to reject the judges. They complain that their lawyers have still not been provided with complete access to relevant documents. The court did not want to allow the concentration camp survivor, Walter Plywaskiwho arrived in Auschwitz with his family as a 15-year-old boy on August 15, 1944to be a joint plaintiff because the indictment only covers transport starting on August 16. The court wrote to Plywaski and informed him that it would not provide any evidence covering this date, but would leave it to him to do so. Plywaskis lawyer, Cornelius Nester, who also represented joint plaintiffs in the Demjaniuk trial, reacted to this suggestion with indignation. Senior Public Prosecutor Forster also asked whether the court wanted to create the impression with this action that the elucidation of the facts is the responsibility of the survivors. The proceedings against Z., as in several other cases, began 69 years after the last inmates were freed from the Nazi concentration camps. Both perpetrators and victims are at very advanced ages, making a full revelation of the murderous activities of the perpetrators and the extent of their individual participation no longer possible. This situation arises as a consequence of the scandalous history of the federal German judiciary after the Second World War. It did everything it could to allow as many perpetrators as possible to escape without any punishment. Only 900 out of 500,000 perpetrators were sentenced. This is not surprising if one considers the fact that almost the entire Nazi judicial apparatus continued its existence in the post war German Federal Republic. Only very few of the Nazi judges and state attorneyswho were responsible for brutal punishments and countless death sentenceslost their posts. The great majority were able to continue their careers unscathed. At the end of 1949, the newly elected German parliament had already passed an amnesty law for minor crimes committed during the time of Nazi rule. The majority of the documents about the Nazi past were kept under lock and key in the Berlin Document Center of the U.S. occupation. These documents include Nazi Party membership cards, personnel documents of SS and SA members, and documents of the Reich Main Security Office, Gestapo offices and peoples court. Following the Nuremberg trials against leading Nazi war criminals and during the Cold War, neither the federal government and its judiciary, nor the U.S. had an interest in taking perpetrators of the second or third rank to court. On the contrary, they did not want to do without their expert knowledge in the ministries, security agencies or the police and judicial apparatus. When there was enough evidence and sufficient witnesses with fresh memories of the misdeeds, practically no trials took place. In 1954, a law was even passed on behalf of Nazi criminals who had gone underground, which gave them amnesty and allowed them to take their old names once again. After that, no one asked why they had thought it necessary to go underground and change their names. The statute of limitations on murder in the Federal Republic was originally 20 years and the danger arose in 1965 that no more Nazi murderers could be put on trial. It was only after the extensive debates on the statute of limitations between 1969 and 1979 that this limit was extended by ten years and then completely suspended. However, in the case of murder or accessory to murder, the individual participation of the accused still had to be proven with exactness, a hurdle that every year became harder to overcome. Even during the large Auschwitz trials of the 1960s and 1970s in Frankfurt, numerous perpetrators were taken to court and sentenced, but since witnesses often could no longer remember the details of the progression of events very precisely and scarcely any other evidence was available, many got away with relatively minor punishments. German jurisprudence changed for the first time with the Demjaniuk trial between 2010 and 2011. The 91-year-old former Ukrainian volunteer in the Sobibor extermination camp in occupied Poland was sentenced to prison for five years on account of his assistance in the murder of 28,000 Jews. The jury came to the conclusion that the accused, a Red Army prisoner of war, voluntarily made himself available to the Nazi thugs for the business of extermination. After this trial, for the first time, the Ludwigshafen Central Authority for the Pursuit of National Socialist Criminals took up the task of finding the last surviving perpetrators and making it possible for them to be put on trial. The only trial that has concluded since then has been the trial against Auschwitz accountant Oskar Groning, who was sentenced to prison for four years last year. The decision has been appealed and is not yet final. Several other elderly Nazi perpetrators are currently being investigated and examined to see if they are able to stand trial. It is important that these trials are still taking place today, even if it is not possible to imprison many of the perpetrators because they are not fit to undergo detention. Given the enormous shift to the right of German official politics and the resurrection of German militarism, these trials help keep alive the historic crimes of German imperialism and its accomplices, and sensitise a new generation to this history. More than five years after first being detained under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by Sweden in relation to fabricated allegations of sexual misconduct, and after more than three and a half years holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been vindicated by a United Nations human right panel. This body has ruled that his persecution by the Swedish and British governments amounts to arbitrary detention and constitutes a violation of international law. Assanges sole crime is making public secret documents detailing the real and murderous war crimes carried out by the US government in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the conspiracies hatched by the US State Department and the CIA in countries around the world. For exposing its criminal operations, Washington is determined to silence and punish Assange, using the lies concocted by Swedish prosecutors and the complicity of the British government to achieve its aims. The Swedish Foreign Ministry Thursday acknowledged that the UNs Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) will today issue its findings that Assange has been deprived of his liberty in an arbitrary manner for an unacceptable length of time. The UN panel could only have reached such a decision based on overwhelming evidence that the charges against Assange constitute a legal frame-up mounted for political purposes. Even before the findings of the UN working group were made known, Assange issued a statement from the Ecuadorian embassy accepting the decision as the culmination of his final legal appeal. He declared that, were the panel to rule against him, he would leave the embassy on Friday to accept arrest by British police. He went on to insist that if it found that the Swedish and British governments were acting in violation of international law, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. Neither London nor Stockholm, however, have shown any similar inclination to allow international law and the human rights treaties to which both are signatories to guide their actions. A spokesman for the government of Prime Minister David Cameron issued a cynical statement insisting that Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy. Only last October did British police end a round-the-clock siege of the embassy, announcing that they were pursuing covert methods in seeking Assanges capture. At one point, the British government indicated that it would ignore international law protecting embassies and send security forces to storm the building. As for the Swedish government, the foreign ministry in Stockholm issued a brief note asserting that the UNs ruling differs from that of the Swedish authorities and would not alter its legal vendetta against the WikiLeaks founder. The British and the US governments have regularly invoked the findings of the UN panel on arbitrary detentions when they could be used to lend a human rights pretext to imperialist operations against countries like China, Russia, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Cuba. That the actions taken by London and Washington themselves should be subject to international law, however, is rejected out of hand. What they find impermissible is the exposure of their crimes, which have killed and wounded millions, while turning many millions more into homeless refugees. This is why they have not only hounded Assange, but placed Private Chelsea (formerly Bradley) Manning in prison for 35 years. Manning was convicted by a drumhead military tribunal in 2013 on charges of aiding the enemy for providing WikiLeaks with hundreds of thousands of classified documents, including the collateral murder video showing an Apache helicopters gun sight view of the 2007 massacre of 12 Iraqi civilians. Also leaked were the Afghan war diary and the Iraq war logs, exposing multiple war crimes committed by the US military, and over 250,000 secret US diplomatic cables revealing Washingtons counterrevolutionary intrigues around the globe. Meanwhile, Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who exposed the NSAs wholesale collection of every form of data on the planet, from US and non-US citizens alike, in open violation of the US Bill of Rights and international law, has been turned into a man without a country, living in forced exile in Moscow. There are a number of other such cases, including that of ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou, the only person punished in connection with the CIAs torture of detaineessent to prison for publicly exposing it. The Obama administration has prosecuted more individuals under the Espionage Act for leaking secret information to the media than all other US presidents combined. Assange can expect even worse if he falls into the clutches of the British police and the Swedish authorities, who are acting as the agents of the US military and intelligence apparatus. He has been the subject of a secret grand jury investigation for over five years and is undoubtedly charged in a sealed indictment with espionage and other crimes against the state that could bring him life in prison or even the death penalty. Meanwhile, leading political figures in the US have openly called for his assassination. Assange, Manning, Snowden and others have faced relentless persecution for daring to lift the lid on the secret operations of the US government. This witch-hunt is driven by the deepest needs of the American state, which functions as the instrument of a financial oligarchy. It defends this ruling layers vast wealth and monopoly on political power against the masses of working people in the US and around the world, while seeking to offset the economic decline of American capitalism by waging ever-more dangerous wars of aggression. Given the criminal character of these operations, a regime of secrecy and increasingly dictatorial methods is indispensable. The only genuine constituency for the defense of democratic rights is the working class. Working people must come to the defense of Assange, Snowden, Manning and other victims of state conspiracies and repression. Any attempt to arrest or extradite Assange must be answered with mass demonstrations and work actions in the UK, the US and all over the world. This campaign in defense of Assange and the other victims of state repression can go forward only as part of the struggle of the international working class against the capitalist system, whose historic crisis threatens humanity with both world war and police state dictatorship. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Licensed gun owners would be allowed to openly carry their weapons and take them on state college campuses, under two bills passed by the Florida House. Lawmakers are also moving forward with a bill that would protect churches and pastors from getting sued if they refuse to perform a same-sex marriage ceremony. WTXL ABC 27's Abbey Maurer interviewed political contributor Trimmel Gomes, also the host of the political podcast, "The Rotunda", about those bills going through the Florida Legislature. Video coming soon. Check back with www.wtxl.tv. Presidential candidates Bernie Sanders, left, and Hillary Clinton spar during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on Thursday. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Washington National Guard members practice making fire lines with controlled live fire at the Yakima Training Center last June. The Washington Department of Natural Resources helped conduct the training. (MASON TRINCA/Yakima Herald-Republic file) Trade representatives prior to the signing of the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement at the SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland, New Zealand, (AP Photo/SNPA, David Rowland) You are the owner of this article. The case against retired police chief superintendent Boaz Guttman regarding his alleged involvement in leaked legal documents has been closed with no guilt. The State Prosecutors Office closed the case against Guttman rulling there is no crime. Guttman, who founded the Israel Police's cybercrime unit, was arrested in August 2012 along with blogger Moshe Halevy, better known as Halemo, on suspicion of distributing classified information taken from the court's online computer system. The case, which was widely reported, was closed in December 2014. Guttman retired from the police in 2001. Mr. Prime Minister, we've been living under a short-term illusion that the wave of terrorism was on the decline. But it's only increasing. Desperation doesn't cause terrorism. The stagnation in talks doesn't cause terrorism. But you must not blame the UN secretary-general. I was listening to one right-winger, one who voted for you. He claimed that desperation is what leads to terrorism. You, and only you, have the power to prove these claims wrong. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter There's only one way: You have to extend a hand in peace, even if it doesn't lead to peace. Not another declaration along the lines of "I'm willing to meet with Abbas without preconditions." You can try something more daring. For example, declaring a freeze of all construction outside the main blocs. It won't stop the terror attacks, and I wish I am proven wrong on this, but it will put Israel at a far better place. There's a massive difference between going to battle believing in the righteousness of your way, to going to battle with serious doubts. Rioting near Beitunia (Photo: Reuters) A serious initiative on your part will serve to bolster the righteousness of the way. It will clarify, primarily to us, and perhaps even to the world, that the Palestinian violence is not a result of desperation. It's because of incitement, because of opposition to peace, and because of the desire to destroy Israel. And if this initiative is welcomed on the other side, then the gain is twofold. You have nothing to lose. Whatever the Palestinian reaction be, Israel will only stand to gain. So what exactly are you waiting for? Apocalypse Now Over the past week, in two different meetings, I've heard again and again that we have reached the end of the line. Apocalypse Now. And if not now, then in a week. It's true that we've been hearing that for months and it hasn't happened. It's true that the current government decided to invest billions of shekels in the Arab sector. It's true that for the first time, a decision was made to allocate a prayer space at the Western Wall for the Reforms and Conservatives, this very week. It's true that the public media, not just the private one, gives expression to all who curse the government. It's true that Army Radio, in certain hours of the day, sounds more like Meretz Radio. And I can go on and on, the list is long. It's true that the civics textbooks, not just the old one, but the updated one as well, is probably the most liberal to be found among democratic countries with similar textbooks. And it's true that there's no Law of Loyalty in any country, because there's no need for one. There is no artist who rejects the very existence of the state, or preaches racism, and is also funded by the state. And it's true that only in Israel do artists have the nerve to demand payment from the Culture Ministry for the glorification of a murderer. But nothing will change the minds of those with decisive views. The amount of reports on "fascism," and "Germany" and "the end of democracy," is so big that all of the arguments I had this week crumbled in the face of a fortified wall: Don't waste our time with facts! The town of Qabatiya in the northern Samaria region is a symbol. During the first intifada, those who collaborated with Israel were burned there. During the second intifada, suicide bombers were sent from there. During the third intifada, the first organized terror cell with an infrastructure and planning came out of there - it happened on Wednesday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter For three months now the Israeli government has been arguing over the terminology. Standing as a fortified wall in the face of the harmful influence of words and phrases. In military speak, it's called a defensive battle, perhaps a battle of withdrawal. There are those in the government who insist on calling this a "wave of terrorism," or a "violent outburst." Others are talking about institutional incitement or a "round of violence." But they're all very careful not to use the term "intifada," as if the very word can change reality. When there are no clear diplomatic goals, words have the power to move battalions, as do stone-throwers and armed terrorists. Riots in Qabatiya (Photo: AFP) I got to know Qabatiya during the second intifada. Always at night, usually through the windows of armored vehicles. Sometimes in the fresh air, at a secure area. This town has produced an amount of terrorists that any serious terror organization can be proud of. Perhaps in the daylight this place, which is spread out over a green valley, looks normal. But in my memory, this town is always dark and dangerous. On Wednesday, when the terrorists arrived at the Damascus Gate, I was only a few kilometers away. I didn't notice the sirens of the ambulances. They've become part of the day-to-day routine. The Damascus Gate is one of these places that make you feel like you're in historic Jerusalem. Ever since the renovations in the area, it has also become a nice place to visit. On regular days, there are sellers of bagels and fruit, restaurants and a post office. You can walk to the Justice Ministry, Israel's center for law, or take a tour of the Old City. It feels like being in an old, romantic movie. And then comes the intifada, and everything becomes suspicious like in Qabatiya. Jerusalem is helpless. No one is talking about its problems. We mustn't mention it. The politicians are afraid of talking about the wall that separated five neighborhoods from the city, except that it's those neighborhoods that most of the Jerusalemite terrorists came from. The mayor is busy registering voters to the Likud party, his next goal, so he must only say good things. The small businesses are losing customers and the Old City is emptying out. Riots in Qabatiya (Photo: Reuters) I attended two events this week that dealt with Jerusalem. Both took place in comfortable buildings in the western part of the city. Both had politicians in attendance. The gap between their talking and what is actually happening on the ground is headache-inducing. The Israelis feel connected to Jerusalem in theory, the politicians make vows of loyalty to it. Both are pulling away from it, full speed ahead. Leaving it with only the love of the Border Police. The day after Israel is in a Catch 22: Experience taught us that intifadas can only be resolved with military might. There are no peace talks that could reduce the fire, only the use of force. "Let the IDF win" - the slogan from the days of the second intifada - holds true despite the claims that you cannot defeat terrorism. Alongside that there's also a price. The two previous intifadas started regional moves: Oslo, and the Gaza disengagement. After those moves, the violence increased and the time between the intifadas grew shorter. Back to Qabatiya: Organized terrorism is easier to resolve with military force than the terrorism of lone wolves. The problem is the tailwind. The government ministers often speak of the incitement in the Palestinian Authority, about Abbas as an enemy. But in reality, they're keeping him alive at all costs. The same Abbas who shortly after the terror attack at the Damascus Gate hosted the families of 11 terrorists in his office. Qabatiya is in Area A, under Palestinian control. There is no intention to retake it and set up a military administration there. Qabatiya will fall no more, surely not because of us. I was among those who protested against the Oslo Accords 20 years ago. It took me a while to realize it was actually the right-wing governments that were holding onto these accords with everything they've got. There's no alternative that they would dare put on the table: A diplomatic separation, not a military one, from the Palestinians. Recognizing that this is an intifada and not just crosswind would be the first step, but after that there will still be the diplomatic catch 22. The French are organizing a peace conference, while we - instead of saying there is no partner - are talking about a vague willingness to negotiate without preconditions. What exactly will these talks be about (when even in the Labor party there are those who recognize a peace agreement is unrealistic)? There's no one who can provide an answer. The main problem with the diplomatic vagueness is that it also affects the Israelis, mostly on the right. They let out their frustration in a variety of ways. One of them is by attacking the defense minister, the most serious politician in the Likud party today. Last Saturday, an anonymous ad was printed in Makor Rishon. Its headline: "Bogie, learn from Erdan how to fight terrorism." Along with that there was an insulting drawing of a teacher and a student, and below was an explanation of how Erdan succeeded in fighting against terrorism in Jerusalem by putting pressure on the population. Several days later, the defense minister announced that he would not attend the Besheva newspaper's conference. I have no idea why. The reaction was similar. The paper printed a PR story that the defense minister will miss the conference because he is scheduled to demolish houses. These responses are an embarrassment to anyone who calls himself a patriot, certainly in war time. By the way, anyone who thinks this is personal is wrong. Any defense minister would've had to deal with the same thing, regardless of who they are. We can only assume that if Bennett was offered the job today, he'd rather replace Miri Regev as the culture minister, just so he wouldn't have to deal with this frustrating situation. The IDF will win in the end, because there is no other choice. I'm worried about the day after. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders agree that they do not want to see large numbers of American ground troops return to the Middle East. Debating Thursday in the first one-on-one Democratic debate, the two describe the US role as providing assistance, through supplies, weapons and special forces -- but not a massive ground force. Clinton says sending ground troops "is off the table." Sanders says his goal would be keeping the US from getting "sucked into never-ending perpetual warfare within the quagmire of Syria and Iraq." He adds, "It must be Muslim troops on the ground that will destroy" the Islamic State group. CALGARY - Canada will not rush to lift sanctions against Iran, despite calls to scrap the measures quickly so Canadian companies can compete for contracts, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday. Last week, Canada confirmed for the first time that it is planning to lift sanctions against Tehran, and said companies like aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there. Speaking to reporters in Calgary, where earlier in the day he met with oil industry leaders, Trudeau said the deal had helped dampen Iran's nuclear capabilities but there were still significant concerns around what he called the country's state sponsorship of terrorism and abuse of human rights. "We're going to be very careful and thoughtful, working and coordinating with our allies in the way that we move to reengage and lift sanctions on Iran," he said. "We're going to be responsible about it. I understand the need and interest in Canadian businesses ... to engage but we're going to be doing it the right way because that's what Canadians expect of us," he said. There is complete silence on the Gaza border these days, but it's mostly because both sides are focused on their work. On the one side of the border, Israel is drilling into the ground in an effort to locate tunnels that cross into Israeli territory, and on the other side Hamas is clearing out areas to dig tunnels. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "We're in a race with Hamas on who will get there first: Israel with a technological development to locate tunnels, or Hamas succeeding in crossing the border and opening an entrance into Israel for the terrorists. That is the big question, and in this race we must not lose," said MK Haim Yellin. In the wake of the collapse of two tunnels near the border area over the past week, and Hamas' admittance that the tunnel "enterprise" was working at full speed ahead, we left in an armored vehicle for a drive along the Gaza border. MK Haim Yellin (Yesh Atid), a resident of Kibbutz Nahal Oz and the former head of the Eshkol Regional Council, joined us on this trip, taken from north to south. About a year and a half after Operation Protective Edge, Hamas is once again back on its feet, and then some. The line of Hamas military posts is only dozens of meters from the border fence, about 500 meters from one another. These posts are fortified with concrete and sandbags. Opposite the Hamas posts is an IDF pillbox, currently manned by fighters from the Golani Brigade. One facing the other, at loggerheads. At loggerheads: Hamas military positions facing IDF pillbox (Photo: Roee Idan) These Hamas posts serve several functions: Primarily, they are there to observe the area. Somewhere around these posts there's a tunnel opening, that God only knows where it ends. Across the border in the central Gaza Strip, we could see a cement factory, near the fence. Right next to it is a levee between two Hamas posts. There are mounds, at the center of which there is a pit that used to be an entrance to a tunnel which was blown up by the IDF. Hamas is digging again, rebuilding, and preparing for the next round for fighting. Opposite that, the IDF is operating drills to locate tunnels and conducting tests. IDF digging, looking for tunnels (Photo: EPA) Hamas, it would seem, is showing no signs of fear. Its line of military positions along the border is part of its psychological warfare, and a way to send out a message that the organization's fighters are present on the ground. Hamas fighters are speeding between the posts on motorcycles, patrolling, and providing equipment to the guards at the posts. They're doing all of this in order to get the IDF's attention, in the hopes the IDF lookouts fail to identify their main mission - the digging of tunnels. Hamas military positions along the border (Photo: Roee Idan) On the eve of the end of Operation Protective Edge, the IDF declared that if Hamas resumes digging, it would serve as justification for ground operations. "We've lost the deterrence sooner than expected," Yellin said. "There's a policy for the rocket fire - an IAF strike for every rocket fired. But what about the tunnels? There's no response and no policy. Nor is there a policy for the rest of the threats - like the military posts. They built their positions based on our model, the same size. We can see mounds of dirt, and a factory to manufacture basic materials for iron and concrete. This is what they're using to build the tunnels. This is a completely absurd reality. They can do whatever they want, it's an absurd situation. It's all out in the open, and all of this has been developing over the past six months." ISIS flag flying next to the Palestinian flag at a military position in central Gaza (Photo: Roee Idan) And there is one threat that is already dozens of meters away from the fence in the central Gaza Strip: The Islamic State group. Opposite one of the Israeli communities on the Gaza border, a fortified post was erected with a black flag, alongside the Palestinian flag. LONDON - The number of anti-Semitic incidents reported in Britain dropped by a fifth last year, although the figure was still the third-highest on record, a Jewish advisory body said on Thursday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Community Security Trust, which advises Britain's estimated 260,000 Jews on security matters, said 924 incidents were recorded during 2015, including 86 violent assaults. The overall figure was a 22 percent reduction from the 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents in 2014, a record level which the CST had attributed to Operation Protective Edge in Gaza in the summer of that year. Police patrol the Stamford Hill area of London, which has a high concentration of Haredi Jews. (Photo: Getty Images) The number was still "unacceptably high", said David Delew, chief executive of the group. "The Jewish community has a right to expect anti-Semitism to be opposed wherever it occurs," he said in a statement. "It should have no place in our society." A second report by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which obtained statistics from every police force in Britain, said anti-Semitic crime had surged by almost 18 percent in 2015, with an increase in the number of violent crimes. But the number of crimes that had led to charges dropped by almost a quarter. Jews across Europe have warned of a rising tide of anti-Semitism, fuelled by anger at Israeli policy in the Middle East, while far-right movements have gained popularity because of tensions over immigration. Fighting against anti-Semitism in UK. (Photo: AFP) Fears were exacerbated by last year's attack on a Jewish supermarket in Paris by an Islamist gunman, which killed four people and a deadly shooting at a synagogue in Copenhagen According to a survey last January, a quarter of Jews have considered leaving Britain in the last two years and more than half feel they have no long-term future in Europe. In its report, the trust said most of the British incidents involved random verbal abuse. Three-quarters occurred in or around London or in Manchester in northwest England, home to Britain's largest Jewish communities. The group, which began recording anti-Semitic occurrences in 1984, said it suspected many incidents were still not reported to the organization or the police. "While a fall in anti-Semitic incidents should be welcomed, there are still too many cases of this type of hate crime," Home Secretary Theresa May said. "We also know that these types of crimes are often under-reported. We must give victims the confidence to coming forward to report these terrible acts." A leading American Jewish group promoting therapy it said could turn gays to heterosexuals was ordered shut in December by a New Jersey court, amid growing efforts in the US to curb the generally discredited practice. But therapists with ties to the shuttered group say they have found a haven for their work in Israel. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Health Ministry advises against so-called "gay conversion" or "reparative" therapy, calling it scientifically dubious and potentially dangerous, but no law limits it. In Israel, practitioners say their services are in demand, mostly by Orthodox Jewish men trying to reduce their same-sex attractions so they can marry women and raise a traditional family according to their conservative religious values. Clients also include Jewish teenagers from the US and other countries who attend post-high school study programs at Orthodox seminaries in Israel. Half of all such students attend seminaries that require youth who admit to having homosexual feelings to see reparative therapy practitioners, according to the Yeshiva Inclusion Project, a group that counsels gay prospective students. Jerusalem Pride Parade (Photo: AFP) Proponents in Israel say therapy does not "convert" clients, but boosts self-esteem and masculinity, which they say can reduce homosexuality. In Israel, therapists say there is greater acceptance of their work than in the US. "Since there is such a strong religious presence here, and I think political correctness isn't as prevalent, there's more openness about it, about this kind of therapy here," said Dr. Elan Karten, a US-trained psychologist and Orthodox Jew who has treated about 100 people with homosexual attractions since he opened his Jerusalem practice eight years ago. Dr. Elan Karten (Photo: AP) Some states in the US have banned such therapy for minors. JONAH, or Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing, was shut for violating New Jersey consumer fraud laws by claiming therapy could "heal" homosexuality. An estimated 20 to 30 licensed psychologists and social workers and 50 non-licensed therapists practice some form of conversion therapy in Israel, said Rabbi Ron Yosef of the Orthodox gay organization Hod, which calls for legislation against such therapy. Gays in Israel who contacted JONAH were referred to some of these therapists. "I'm extremely concerned," said Chaim Levin, a former client of JONAH in the US and a plaintiff in the lawsuit against it in New Jersey. "It's exporting hatred and junk science to Israel. People need to know." Hatred at the gay pride parade in Jerusalem: Yishai Shlissel stabs participants, murdering Shira Banki (Photo: AP) Leading medical organizations in the US say there is no proof sexual orientation change efforts are effective, and that therapy can reinforce self-hatred, depression and self-harm. The Israel Psychological Association reached similar conclusions in a 2011 position paper, which the Health Ministry adopted in late 2014. But the Association also endorsed a claim practitioners make, that "political correctness" likely prevents the funding and publication of studies examining the therapy's potential effectiveness. At least four men's support groups meet weekly in Jerusalem, said Jerusalem psychotherapist Adam Jessel, who has worked with hundreds of people looking to overcome their homosexuality. Some Israeli organizations also promote therapy. The US group People Can Change runs a seminar in Israel, the US and Europe called Journey Into Manhood, which it says helps men "resolve unwanted homosexual attractions." About 50 men participated in a seminar last month at a confidential location in northern Israel. Jerusalem Pride Parade (Photo: Reuters) One 23-year-old Orthodox Jewish student from the US said the retreat "was one of the best things that have ever happened to me. I feel like I've actually started living my life instead of just surviving it." He spoke anonymously because he said publicizing his homosexuality would hurt his chances for marriage and acceptance in his Orthodox community. He said he signed a confidentiality agreement barring him from discussing seminar activities so as not to ruin the experience for future participants. But a 20-year-old Orthodox Jew from the US who attended the retreat in Israel in 2013 called some of its activities "inappropriate." He said participants were encouraged to engage in what was called "healthy touch" exercises, including one called the "motorcycle position," in which a man would sit on the floor with legs open and another would sit behind him in the same position with arms wrapped around his torso. People Can Change says such exercises are meant to desexualize touch between men. At a follow-up support group meeting in Jerusalem facilitated by a Journey Into Manhood volunteer, African-style music was played, and men were blindfolded and told to strip if they wished, he said. The facilitator, speaking anonymously because he said his group sessions are confidential, said the exercise was designed to help men become comfortable with themselves without others seeing them and that some participants removed only their shirts. Hatred at the gay pride parade in Jerusalem: Right-wing organization Lehava protesting against the parade (Photo: GettyImages) "I look back on it with horror," the participant said of his years in reparative therapy. At the time, he said, group activities gave him a supportive community, but therapists led him to believe something was wrong with him, which he now rejects. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he said his father, an Orthodox rabbi, would face controversy if his son publicly identified as gay. In recent years, organizations of gay Orthodox Jews have formed in Israel, advocating acceptance of homosexuality and rallying against conversion therapies. Today, many rabbis in Israel shun the therapies and fewer gays seek them, Yosef of Hod said. Neta Patrick, a lawyer, co-authored a forthcoming legal article to encourage litigation in Israel against the practice. She believes there are grounds to strip professionals of their licenses if they do not educate clients about the Israeli government positions on the therapy. Karten says he tells patients he cannot guarantee therapy will succeed, but that it is not a routine part of his therapy to discuss with them the government positions. "Let's say someone's coming to me, and they're religious. They could open the position statement of the Israel Psychological Association, or they could open the Torah," he said. "They're going to probably look at what the IPA says and say, 'That's nice, but I still have this to contend with. I have dreams to be a father and a husband.'" Karten pointed to a drawer in his office where he keeps wedding invitations from former clients - "a handful," he said. BEIRUT - The commander of a US-supported Syrian rebel group said on Friday the northern countryside of Aleppo province was completely encircled by Syrian government forces and its allies and heavy Russian bombardment continued. Syrian government troops and their allies broke through rebel defenses to reach two Shi'ite villages in northern Aleppo province on Wednesday, choking opposition supply lines from Turkey to Aleppo city. The assault in northern Aleppo province, backed by hundreds of Russian air strikes there, has also prompted tens of thousands of people to flee towards the Turkish border and helped derail peace talks in Geneva. Hassan Haj Ali, the head of a prominent Free Syrian Army group called Liwa Suqour al-Jabal that has received US military training in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, said the aerial bombardment continued. "The Russian cover continues night and day, there were more than 250 air strikes on this area in one day," he told Reuters. "The regime is now trying to expand the area it has taken control of," he said. "Now the northern countryside (of Aleppo province) is totally encircled, and the humanitarian situation is very difficult." ANKARA - A high-ranking member of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and six Iranian Basij militia volunteers have been killed in fighting in Syria, semi-official Iranian media said on Friday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Islamic Republic says it has military advisers and volunteers in Syria to help President Bashar Assad's forces in their war with rebel groups including Islamic State militants. It denies having conventional armed forces in Syria. The semi-official news agency Tasnim said IRGC Brigadier General Mohsen Ghajarian was killed in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo, where there has been heavy fighting of late. Fighters from Iran's Basij volunteer militia training (Photo: AP/Archive) Tasnim did not say when he was killed but that he had been advising Assad's forces in fighting Islamic State. "Six volunteer Basij members were martyred (killed) in Syria while fighting against takfiris near Aleppo while defending Shi'ite holy shrines," Tasnim added. By "takfiri", Tasnim was using a derogatory Arabic word denoting ultra-radical Sunni Muslim militants, a clear reference to Islamic State, whose members regard Shi'ites as heretics. Iran is the Middle East's Shi'ite power. Iranian media have reported the death of over 100 members of the IRGC and Basij, an affiliated volunteer militia, in the past few months in Syria. Tasnim said public funerals would be held for the latest Iranians killed in Syria. The United Nations on Wednesday suspended the first Syria peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the start as the war continued to rage without respite. The United States said on Thursday, however, that it was hopeful the talks would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that to happen no later than Feb. 25. Dozens of fighters from the elite Duvdevan unit reinforced their friends in the Judea and Samaria Division on the night between Wednesday and Thursday, while the Menashe Territorial Brigade's troops set up roadblocks as part of the hermetic closure of the town of Qabatiya, and law enforcement authorities have been working to speed up the demolitions of terrorists' homes. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter These are the immediate measures decided on by the government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, in response to the terror attack that claimed the life of Border Policewoman Hadar Cohen As the current escalation of violence enters its fifth month, however, it appears that the defense establishment has yet to find the formula to stopping the attacks, which claimed the lives of 31 people. Scene of the combined terror attack at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem (Photo: AFP) IDF Intelligence and the Shin Bet's intelligence effort has been producing warnings about impending terror attacks, including over the last few days, and the fighters on the ground are being deployed to main roads and flashpoints, arresting hundreds of Palestinian suspects every month. The Palestinian security forces are also contributing to the effort by maintaining the security coordination and thwarting terror attacks against Israel. And yet - the government has no good solution to this new type of "grassroots terrorism," which is far from the known terror organizations. "Calming intervention could prevent escalation, like economic steps for example," IDF officials said last week, in what could be seen as a statement that military measures alone cannot stop the violence. Border Policewomen in Jerusalem (Photo: AFP) Since the murder of the Henkin couple near Nablus on October 1, 2015, the top echelons of the government and defense establishment convened several times, and made a series of decisions that seem more like a recycled collection. The decisions the Prime Minister's Office reports to journalists via text messages, such as imposing a partial closure on a small village or the intention to demolish terrorists' homes, were, until 2005, the exclusive domain of middle-ranked officers in the West Bank like a battalion commander or a brigade commander. These are the main decisions made by the government so far: Not returning terrorists' bodies At the height of the escalation, the government made a controversial decision, which raised objections from the top echelons of the defense establishment - keeping terrorists' bodies in Israel to serve as punishment and deterrence, and in an effort to avoid having funeral processions turn into a rally of incitement with calls for revenge against Israel. Funeral procession for terrorist Mutaz Ahmad Awisat. Some of the pallbearers at terrorists' funerals have turned into terrorists themselves several days later. But, eventually, very quietly, the political ranks folded on this measure and dozens of terrorists' bodies have been returned to the Palestinians in recent weeks. Imposing a closure You would be hard pressed to find a senior officer in the IDF's Central Command who supports collective punishment to the Palestinian population, mostly in the current climate, and the statements made by top IDF officers assert that the freedom of movement for Palestinians should continue on shared roads in the West Bank, like on Highway 60. The government's decision at the beginning of this escalation to impose a closure on the village or city a terrorist came from has been implemented slowly, partially, temporarily and in an inconsistent manner. Soldiers checking IDs at the exit from Ramallah (Photo: EPA) The city of Nablus, for example, produced some of the terrorists responsible for terror attacks in Jerusalem, or the Tapuach Junction area, but there was no closure on it after the attacks. The Highway 60 entrance to the village of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron, was closed for a few days, in what the media called a "closure" - in line with a statement from the prime minister - of the village of a terrorist who ran over soldiers. The rest of the entrances to the village were left open, and the closure was partial at best. Line of cars waiting to enter Ramallah during Israeli closure (Photo: AFP) A partial closure, for only a few days, was also imposed on the small village of Beit Ur al-Tahta at the foot of Route 443, where the terrorists who infiltrated Beit Horon last week came from. And the "flexible" closure of Ramallah earlier this week after the attack at the Focus checkpoint near Beit El only lasted about 10 hours. After a series of attempted attacks at the Jalamah checkpoint in the Samaria region, right at the beginning of the current escalation, the IDF closed the checkpoint, which is a critical economic artery for the area. The business owners of Qabatiya, one of the most violent towns in the West Bank, stopped the youth from leaving the village to commit terror attacks themselves. This "success" led the people of the village of Sa'ir in the Hebron area to seek advice from their friends in Qabatiya on how to stop the local youth from going out to commit attacks - because of the Israeli sanction that limited the movement of the village's residents. Clashes in Qabatiya (Photo: AFP) Nonetheless, on Thursday, a full, hermetic closure was imposed on Qabatiya, where the three terrorists who committed the Wednesday attack in Jerusalem came from. The decision on imposing a partial closure should be under the jurisdiction of the IDF commanders in the different areas, at their discretion, so the military could, for example, close off the entry to Hebron for Palestinians based on security needs, even if a terrorist hasn't come out of the city at that time. Freezing permits and expelling terrorists In November, the government declared two sanctions against the families of terrorists - revoking permits to work or stay in Israel of the extended families of terrorists, and the expulsion of these families to Gaza. In reality, these ideas remained in theory, and revoking permits of terrorists' relatives is being done only as a security measure recommended by the Shin Bet. Public Security Minister Gilard Erdan tried to promote the expulsion of terrorists' families to Gaza as deterrence, but was met with firm objections from both former attorney general Yehuda Weinstein, and new AG Mandelblit, who said the move was illegal. Three Palestinians with permits to stay or work in Israel have committed attacks over the past few months, in what has been defined the "red scenario" at the Civil Administration in the West Bank that produce these permits. It was only after the terror attack at the Panorama building in southern Tel Aviv that the decision was made to temporarily freeze 1,200 permits given to Palestinians from Hebron. The terrorist from the Panorama building attack had a work permit (Photos: ZAKA, Motti Kimchi) In an informal manner, Palestinians with work permits were barred for only a few days from entering the settlements or the industrial areas in the West Bank after attacks in the area. IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot mentioned in his speech at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) two weeks ago that the fact over 100,000 Palestinians work for Israelis, supporting hundreds of thousands of families, is important to Israel's interests and to its security. On Thursday, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) decided for the first time to freeze trade and work permits of the extended families of the three terrorists from Qabatiya, likely temporarily. Troops reinforcement Three reinforcement battalions are operating in the West Bank since the beginning of the escalation in the fall, in what seems to be one of the more effective moves taken - there is less rioting and clashes every month, and the clashes that do take place are mostly on Fridays at flashpoints. Reinforcement in the West Bank helps battle rioting (Photo: AFP) The permanent presence of fighters along the main roads, at junctions and at flashpoints, deters terrorists or creates a barrier between terrorists and civilians. In most of the cases over the past two months, the attacks were foiled without any Israelis hurt thanks to the high level of skill and vigilance of the troops. In addition, over 1,200 Palestinians have been arrested by IDF forces since the beginning of the escalation in a series of nighttime raids targeting the main instigators of riots, including minors. This policy really disrupts the ability of inciting figures in the West Bank to lead violent protests in towns and cities. Demolition of terrorists' homes One of the biggest farces among the government's decisions is the decision to demolish terrorists' homes . This controversial move is also done slowly, even after the government decided several months ago to accelerate the demolition of the homes to further bolster deterrence. A decade ago, an IDF committee raised great doubts over the efficacy of such a move, which did not stop the government from adopting it enthusiastically over the past six months. But, in reality, despite measurements made of terrorists' homes and the handing out of advance notices before demolition, the great majority of the dozens of homes of terrorists who murdered or wounded Israelis over the past few months - remain standing. New AG Avichai Mandelblit's instructions on the topic could accelerate the process, but until then the Palestinian Authority provides the terrorists' families with new homes, furniture and all, while Israel takes its time on the demolition. Public Security Ministry measures Erdan also worked to change the rules of engagement so that now, police forces can use a Ruger 10/22 non-lethal rifle when faced with stone and Molotov cocktail-throwers. He also eased the conditions to receive a license to carry arms, and some 15,000 requests for such licenses have been received so far, compared to 3,000 during the same period of time last year. The Yamam (police's counter-terrorism unit) and Special Forces are operating in the heart of the Arab neighborhoods and villages in East Jerusalem to arrest terror suspects. At the same time, mission-based headquarters that were dismantled in Jerusalem in the past have been formed anew, and police is entering sensitive areas of East Jerusalem that it was barred from entering in the past. Erdan and the government also promoted legislation for mandatory minimum punishments to anyone who participates in any violent activity, including the throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails. The Public Security Ministry is also working to increase the monitoring of social media in an effort to identify terrorists and inciters in advance. Moran Azulay contributed to this report. 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 Israel and Hamas have over the past few days exchanged messages making it clear that neither party currently seeks a conflict in the Gaza Strip, following a ramping up of tensions caused by Hamas's campaign to rebuild its attack tunnels. According to Hamas sources, messages were passed at least in part through Turkey and Qatar. In addition, a senior source in the defense establishment said on Friday that Israel does not want a conflict "as a result of an incorrect understanding of the IDF's and Israel's intentions." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Additional defense sources told Ynet that the IDF recently concluded that Hamas could mistakenly think Israel is about to assault the tunnels and thus launch a preemptive attack with rockets, tunnels and military posts along the border, all in the hopes of holding up or preventing an Israeli attack that would affect its ability to dig more tunnels. This concern has become so great on both sides that both sides felt the need to pass both public and clandestine reassurances. IDF tunnel-detection at the border (Photo: EPA) Anxiety over the possibility of an imminent conflict in Gaza spiked in the past several days because of events on both sides. In Israel, media outlets focused intensely on alleged digging noises heard underneath homes by Gaza border residents, which politicians seized upon as proof that Hamas's tunnels have crossed into Israel and must be immediately attacked. The IDF and defense establishment have investigated each report about noises and found no evidence that Hamas tunnels were reaching Israeli territory. Media outlets nevertheless continued heavy coverage of the issue, raising fears among Hamas and Islamic Jihad that Israel has deliberately been beating the drum for a potential sequel to Operation Protective Edge. Photo: EPA Questions about the tunnel-digging have grown louder in recent weeks in part because of news that Palestinians died during digging, as well as Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh's comments that Hamas was indeed digging tunnels leading to Israel east of Gaza City. Haniyeh's comment, as well as those made by other Hamas leaders, does not line up with the terror group's secrecy regarding the tunnels. But when it became clear to the group that the work could not be hidden, it decided to use it for propaganda purposes. Simultaneous media coverage in Israel and Gaza created a situation of mutual worries that a misunderstanding could spark a war. Everyone is now trying to come down from the ledge. This week, the state comptroller released his draft report on the subject of the tunnels, in which he severely criticized Prime Minister Nabil Shurafa's travel agency in Gaza was once packed with clients booking flights to London, Paris, New York or cities across the Arab world. These days, he's lucky if anyone comes in, as so few people can get out. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The posters of the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty and a map of the world look out of place on the walls, given the sense of isolation that pervades Gaza, a narrow strip of land hemmed in by Israel on two sides, Egypt to the south and the blockaded Mediterranean to the west. "Once borders are closed, things switch off," said Shurafa with a sense of resignation. A plastic model of a passenger plane stands on his desk, next to the silent phones. Palestinian travel agent Nabil Shurafa speaks on a phone at his office in Gaza City (Photo: Reuters) When Shurafa's father opened the bureau in 1952, it quickly earned a reputation as a helpful and reliable agency. Back then, Gaza was governed by Egypt and there was not much of a border to speak of. Gazans could book a plane ticket and take a four-hour bus or train to Cairo to catch their flight. The agency had a close relationship with BOAC, the forerunner of British Airways, and Air France and is general sale agent for each. It remains a member of IATA, the International Air Transport Association. "The era from 1952 to 1967 was a golden one," Shurafa, 53, told Reuters. People used to travel to Gaza as well, at least until the 1967 Six Day War. "Gaza was like a duty-free zone, with Egyptians coming to buy goods brought by merchants from Lebanon," he recalled. There was also a boom in the late 1990s, after the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians, and Gaza opened Yasser Arafat International Airport in 1998. But the years since have seen a steady decline in business as Gaza has become more and more cut off from the world. When the second intifada erupted in 2000, the airport's runway and control tower were bombed by Israel and it remains in ruins. A Palestinian boy herds sheep in front of the ruins of Yasser Arafat International Airport (Photo: Reuters) Since 2007, when the Islamist group Hamas seized control of the territory following a brief civil war with the Western-backed Fatah movement, entry to and exit from Gaza have become even more restricted, both by Egypt and by Israel. Links to the world Israel does allow around 1,000 Gazans to cross into its territory every day, for work, medical treatment or other humanitarian reasons. But it is a far cry from the thousands that could pass through the vast border terminal Israel built in the mid-2000s, before Hamas took over. Egypt meanwhile has kept its crossing with Gaza mostly closed over the past five years, citing security concerns and to put the squeeze on Hamas. Human rights groups say 95 percent of Gaza's 1.95 million people cannot get out of the enclave. Even those that are able to cross into Israel cannot easily travel from there. They need special dispensation to fly out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport or to travel to the West Bank and on to Jordan to catch a flight. Jordan, too, has started restricting visas for Palestinians from Gaza. Every few months, Egypt lets around 3,000 Gazans leave via Rafah, but the arrangements are a lottery. The crossing stays open only for two or three days, so no one can be sure they will get across. They call Shurafa once they are over the border and the agency then scrambles to book them flights or hotels. There are currently 15,000 Gazans who have registered requests to travel across Rafah, Palestinian officials say, including 3,000 who say they need medical treatment. From 1994 to 2000, after Oslo and before the second intifada, Shurafa estimates his office sold 6,000 airline tickets a year. Last year, he sold 120. He's had to let eight staff go and now mostly employs family to keep costs down. He seldom covers his $5,000 monthly rent and running costs. Mhareb Al-Burai, who runs the rival Al-Batra tourism office, has faced similar problems. Rather than flights, his agency now focuses on trying to get visas for Dubai, Turkey and China. "With Rafah largely closed, our main clients are businessmen and merchants, those who have valid permits to cross into Israel and from there travel to Jordan," said the 64-year-old. For Shurafa, the airline stickers on his glass front door may seem out of place, but he hasn't given up. "It may sound like satire to talk about a travel agency in a place like Gaza," he said. "But someone has to have hope because this is a history we can't abandon." Yossi Gurvitz thought he was being pranked. The blogger behind the Facebook page "Friends of George" recently received a message from the military censor demanding that he forward all material before it is published in order to get approval. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The skeptical blogger called the censor and discovered the message was accurate. In the past few days, chief military censor Col. Ariella Ben-Avraham has sent missives to about 30 bloggers and webmasters demanding that they seek approval for articles dealing with "subjects that obligate examination", such as those dealing with the IDF, in accordance with emergency regulations. Photo: Getty Images Gurvitz was furious. "I have no intention of meeting this demand," he wrote. "The meaning of this demand is the eradication of new media in Israel, whose core is the speed of the response. I am examining legal proceedings available to me." Sources in the military censor's office said that its legally-defined authorities "apply to every type of publication relating to national security". Ben-Avraham told Yedioth Ahronoth: "the censor's office works to monitor public online pages. It began back under the previous censor. We do not intent to apply the instructions on private profiles, but only public pages that defined themselves as dealing with news." It should be noted that the IDF can demand that bloggers submit their posts to the censor, but if they refuse, its ability to delete them is severely limited by the fact that Facebook controls the information. That said, governments around the world occasionally contact Facebook with a request to remove illegal content. The company considers the requests and does make illegal content unavailable but only in that country, which in this case means it is of limited use. On the other hand, violating the censor's rules could lead to legal proceedings. The Education Ministry has decided to take action after years of criticism regarding the fact that school curricula focus on European culture and ignore non-European Jews whose origins lie in the Middle East, North Africa, and other Muslim-majority areas (known as Mizrahi Jews). Education Minister Naftali Bennett recently appointed a public committee that is to make recommendations on adding new material to reflect the cultural richness and history of Jews who came from Muslim-majority countries. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The committee, headed by poet and Israel Prize winner Erez Biton, is to examine the existing curricula in history and literature, then make recommendations after three months to integrate Mizrahi culture and history. The committee plans to get assistance from various organizations and experts that deal with the subject, including umbrella organizations for immigrants from Muslim-majority countries, historians, literary and cultural researchers, and more. "This is a historic move," Minister Bennett said on Wednesday. "Today we are correcting a years-long injustice. The richness of eastern culture is a gift whose splendor the educational system failed to appreciate to this day, and apparently we still do not know what we do not know about this incredible culture. Israel, which is a gathering of exiles from around the world, must live with this cultural richness and not minimize it. I am certain that the Biton Committee, headed by the wonderful poet recruited for the mission, will be able to bring historic information to the students of Israel and stimulate a dialogue welcomed by the people." Rabbi Shalom Shabazi; poet, author and musician Shimon Adaf; writer Jacqueline Kahanoff; and author Mordechai Tabib. All were born with Mizrahi Jewish heritage. Artist and Literature Professor Dr. Zmira Poran-Zion said that the current Literature curriculum "is contrary to its stated goals, including deepening the affinity to our cultural heritage and Jewish identity as reflected in Hebrew literature in all its facets and layers." She emphasized the the majority of authors and poets in the required material for matriculation exams are white male Jews of European origin. "The very process of choosing these works and artists is a social, political, and cultural statement," continued Dr. Poran-Zion. "This curriculum obligates teachers to teach these works as canonical masterpieces, as inalienable assets of our society. This choice essentially defines the canon and the basics of the Israeli literary experience." Dr. Ktzia Alon, a lecturer at the Kibbitzum College's teaching school, agreed that Mizrahi heritage does not receive equal attention in school curricula, even in more peripheral subjects like music and dance. "Western culture is still considered the only culture," said Dr. Alon, adding: "Imagine the following dialogue between two people. One asks the other, 'Come on, you want to Germanize Israel?' And the answer: 'Why not? There will finally be some culture here.' This doesn't sound strange to us, right? Now change 'Germany' to 'Morocco' 'Come on, you want to Moroccanize Israel?' and the same response. It sounds funny to most of us. That is to say, our thinking that entire countries don't have high culture and I'm not talking about popular culture, but elite is automatic. Many countries' cultures are seen as a blank page." Bennett approved the makeup of the committee on Wednesday. On the committee are Professor Aharon Maman, former head of the Hebrew Languages Department at Hebrew University and vice president of the Academy of the Hebrew Language; Dr. Yehuda Maimaran, director of the Alliance Israelite Universelle; Zehava Shemesh, director of development division in the Pedagogical Secretariat, Ministry of Education; and Rabbi Dr. Moshe Amar, a professor at Bar-Ilan University. York Police Department Wednesday at 7:37 a.m., report that a vehicle was stuck in the snow and blocking a street, on W. Eighth. Wednesday at 9:13 a.m., report of a semi accident in a lot on S. Lincoln Ave. Wednesday at 9:54 a.m., report of traffic issues at E. David Drive and S. Lincoln Ave. Wednesday at 11:07 a.m., report that a man needed emergency medical care. Wednesday at 11:41 a.m., report that a beaver attacked a dog on W. Elm St. Wednesday at 12:22 p.m., report that someone was dumping snow into someone elses yard, on Duke Drive and Delaware. Wednesday at 12:31 p.m., report that a semi was stuck in the street and blocking lanes of traffic on S. Lincoln Ave. Wednesday at 1:19 p.m., report that a man needed emergency medical care. Wednesday at 2:31 p.m., assisted with traffic control on S. Lincoln Ave. Wednesday at 2:42 p.m., received a request for an officer to check a residence. Wednesday at 3:34 p.m., report of an accident on N. Platte Ave. Wednesday at 5:36 p.m., report that an unregistered vehicle had been parked on E. 10th Street for more than a month. Wednesday at 6:49 p.m., report that a man pulled into a parking stall, but there wasnt enough room because of the snow pile there. Wednesday at 11:59 p.m., report that a woman had been assaulted on N. York Ave. Thursday at 12:33 a.m., report that a person had been removed from a residence on N. Grant Ave. York County Sheriffs Department Wednesday at 7:04 a.m., report that cattle were running loose. Wednesday at 7:45 a.m., assisted a motorist in the McCool area. Wednesday at 9:30 a.m., report that an alarm was activated in the Bradshaw area. Wednesday at 12:26 p.m., assisted a motorist. Wednesday at 1:15 p.m., report of a medical emergency in the York area. Wednesday at 6:12 p.m., report of a medical emergency in the York area. Wednesday at 6:21 p.m., report of cattle running loose in the Bradshaw area. Wednesday at 8:20 p.m., report of a disturbance in the Gresham area. Wednesday at 11:14 p.m., report of an accident in the York area. For decades, Grissom has been vital to the Air Force's global reach, but more recently Grissom became another valuable asset on a different battlefield.Lt. Gen. Bill Bender, Air Force chief of information dominance and chief information officer, visited Grissom Jan. 13-14 to discuss the future of cyber security and meet the Airmen who are helping shape its future through a new pilot program."We have a number of cyber security prototype initiatives taking place, and the 434th Air Refueling Wing has been selected as one of those pathfinders," said Bender "I wanted to come out very early on and meet the individuals in charge of those programs."The 434th ARW was selected as one of two lead pilot squadrons in the Air Force Reserve Command to transition into a next generation communications squadron."The pilot program incorporates a new mission set that takes a proactive approach towards cyber security," said Capt. Dustin Schimp, 434th Communications Squadron director of operations who is spearheading the prototype. "Currently, our main goal is to ensure patches are up-to-date and computers are functioning properly, but through this pilot program we will expand the domain of what we defend into other areas that directly impact flight operations."Areas that might be incorporated into their domain include weather systems, aircraft communications, and other electronic systems that have a direct impact to the refueling mission of the Hoosier Wing."Any area that's a vital part of sustaining our refueling mission is something that has to be protected," said Maj. Denney Neace, 434th CS commander. "Right now we are identifying those vulnerabilities and creating a plan to protect those assets."After they have been identified, we will then determine what additional resources such as manpower and equipment are needed to meet the cyber security initiatives," he explained.During his visit, Bender echoed the importance of cyber security integration and lauded Grissom for leading the way."It's been a great opportunity to see the people at Grissom who are going to build our Air Force of the future to ensure we are protected from cyber security concerns," explained Bender. "We have to start viewing cyber security from as a proactive approach rather than reactive,"Bender used the 2015 Office of Personnel Management breach as an example of how reactive measures can cost a significant amount more than proactive measures."The recent OPM breach has already cost the government millions of dollars and cost the enemy nothing," said Bender. "We have to continue protecting the information technology we've been protecting for the last 20 years, but more importantly we need to take a proactive approach to identify other percentage of vulnerabilities our enemies can take advantage of."During the visit, Bender also had an opportunity to tour one of Grissom's 16 KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft and operate a KC-135 simulator, but credited the people here as the base's best asset."My impression of Grissom is that you are all such a proud team; proud of your mission, proud of each other, willing to help each other, and that's the definition of teamwork," he said. "It makes a big difference when you have so many people fully committed to the mission like you do here."The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter. Yellow Ribbon unveils new in-depth couples program The Air Force Reserve Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program has added a class aimed at couples to its weekend slate of deployment-related training options. The Couples Enrichment Program is designed to help those who are married, engaged or dating delve into their relationships to better understand themselves and their partners in a more profound way so they can build and maintain healthy unions, said Chaplain (Maj.) Joshua Kim, the instructor. He adapted the program from one aimed at civilians and taught the first version to 17 couples Jan. 30-31 at a Yellow Ribbon training weekend in Denver. Its a privilege to have a couple tell you about who they are, what their challenges are and to look for ways to become stronger as a couple, said Kim. My favorite moment is always being invited into peoples lives. The chaplain is a member of the 459th Air Refueling Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, and served the past two years as its fulltime wing representative for Yellow Ribbon, which promotes the well-being of reservists and their families by connecting them with resources before and after deployments. Kim saw the need for couples training when the spouses of two 459th reservists committed suicide in 2015. Afterward, he said, he kept trying to figure out what he and the wing could do to help reservists and their families so such deaths never happened again. "My initial thought was some type of marriage conference, Kim said. He reached out to his wing and higher headquarters, but was told there was no money to fund it. By coincidence, he talked about Air Force suicides with Mary Hill, the Yellow Ribbon program manager, and told her about his vision for a couples conference. Hill asked him to develop some breakouts for couples to provide something new for those who had previously attended several Yellow Ribbon events. Kim researched various programs for possible course material and ultimately tailored a program that the Air National Guard was already using to fit into the Yellow Ribbon agenda parameters. Seventeen couples attended his initial class. "The material is definitely pertinent to what I believe everybody in the military is going through both pre- and post-deployment," said Master Sgt. Eric Amidon of the 934th Airlift Wing, Minneapolis-St Paul Air Station, Minnesota. "I believe it could help strengthen relationships prior to leaving and also strengthen relationships after returning." Amidons wife, Lynn, liked that the material had an encouraging start. "It was about looking at what's right with you, instead of what's wrong with you," she said. The Amidons appreciated Kim's openness and ability to relate to everyone in class. "He shares his own personal stories and his own personal experiences with you so it makes you go, Oh yeah, he's a regular guy talking to us," Lynn Amidon said. "Plus he kept it positive and geared in a growth direction." Kim was impressed with the willingness of participants to open up about their marriages to him and the other couples. "I love teaching (it)," Kim exclaims. "I just explain the curriculum and the material pretty much teaches itself." The Couples Enrichment Program is aimed at pairs attending their second post-deployment Yellow Ribbon event. Kim sent them home with material to complete as a workbook and said he thinks couples who completed the course now have the tools to get their marriages where they want them to be. I couldn't have asked for more for what I was trying to accomplish," he said. Kim said he hasn't forgotten the Airmen and their families who motivated him to create the Couples Enrichment Program. "Not only do deployers and their families need this program but young Airmen who aren't deploying and their families need (it)," Kim said. "My long-termgoal would be to find a way to get some type of relationship enhancement to every local base and every traditional reservist." The training will be a permanent class for Yellow Ribbon, which began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles. Each year, the Air Force Reserve program trains 7,000 reservists and loved ones in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more through a series of weekend conferences around the nation. This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company. As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism. We hope you are equally as excited as us. This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers. Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited. In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy. Happy shootin' my friends! Buying Guides: Firearms Firearm Accessories Ammunition Gun Safes Scopes & Optics Hunting Air Rifles Best AR-15 Best AR 15 Scope Best Hunting Rifle Best Gun Safe Best AK 47 Best AR 10 Best Glock Triggers Best Glock Best Home Defense Shotgun 3M Company and 3M United Kingdom PLC announce resolution of environmental lawsuit related to fire fighting foams 3M Company and 3M United Kingdom PLC today announced that the States of Guernsey dismissed its claims against 3M Company and 3M United Kingdom PLC, with prejudice. A trial, which pertained to the purchase, use and disposal of 3M Light Water Brand Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) by Guernsey Airport, began on Jan. 18, 2016, in the High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, Commercial Court, London. The States of Guernsey also agreed to make a substantial contribution toward 3Ms legal costs. We are pleased to resolve this dispute on favorable terms for 3M, said Jean Bennington Sweeney, vice president, 3M Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability. After a full airing of the facts and circumstances through the testimony of the witnesses, it is unmistakably clear that 3M acted responsibly in the production and sale of its AFFF products. Most important, the evidence presented shows the presence of perfluorochemicals (PFCs) on Guernsey presents no harm to the community or the environment. On July 31, 2020, to resolve certain allegations made by the States of Guernsey, 3M United Kingdom PLC filed a negative declaration against the States of Guernsey in the High Court of Justice. The States of Guernsey filed its Defence and Counterclaim on Feb. 3, 2014, and added 3M Company as a third party on March 4, 2020. From 1976 to 1999, 3M United Kingdom PLC sold AFFF to the States of Guernsey, primarily for use at the Guernsey and Alderney airports. In May 2000, 3M announced that it would voluntarily phase-out the production of products containing certain PFCs, including its AFFF product line well ahead of many of its competitors and ahead of any legislation requiring such action. About 3M At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $30 billion in sales, our 90,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. For more information please visit : http://www.3m.com Click here to view the 3M profile As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More Sign up to get the latest news delivered to your inbox every week! Like fossil fuels, the planet's metal reserves have been depleted to an alarming rate. According to statistics, the supply of Antimony lead and indium, which are metals used in renewable energy solutions, will run out before 2040. Likewise, gold zinc, copper and silver would be depleted by 2060. Despite the obvious scarcity, the consumption of these metals remain at an all time high. Fortunately, a tiny country in Europe has since proposed a peculiar plan in order to supplement Earth's depleted resources. Just this week, Financial Times reported that the government of Luxembourg, a tiny country with the world's highest GDP at 100,00 per capita, is about to launch a program that aims to mine asteroids or near-earth objects for minerals. Advertisement "We know how to get to asteroids, how to drill into them and how to get samples back to Earth," explained Jean-Jacques Dordain, former director of the European Space Mission and current adviser on the asteroid project. The initiative is not the first proposal aimed to using celestial objects as a source of minerals. In 2012, entrepreneurs including Erin Anderson, Peter Diamandis, James Cameron, Larry Page and Eric Schmidt founded a company called "Planetary Resources" which aims to harvest a near-earth object by creating a fuel depot in space by 2020. More recently, Deep Space Industries founded by David Gump has announced their intention to find suitable asteroid for mining by 2015 and proceed with collecting samples this year. Despite the excitement surrounding the possibility of mining asteroids, there are several criticisms directed at the initiative. Some scientists claim that the endeavor is not financially viable. According to their estimation, a capital of $100 billion is needed to proceed with the project. Furthermore, legal guidelines surrounding the endeavor is hazy at best. According to one facet of the space law that involves the moon, the celestial body cannot be owned by any State. Such law can be extended towards other near earth objects like the satellite. Sign up to get the latest news delivered to your inbox every week! After the confirmation that Zika is transmitted through sex, Brazilian health officials confirm that Zika virus can be transmitted through blood transfusions. A gunshot victim got infected with Zika virus after getting multiple blood transfusions from donor infected with Zika vrus in April 2015. Dr. Marcelo Addas Carvalho, director of the blood center at the University of Campinas, confirmed that they have done genetic testing to reveal that the victim got infected with Zika virus through blood transfusion as the blood donor was infected with Zika virus. The gunshot victim did not develop any symptoms of the infection. Advertisement The health department of Campinas had reported earlier that a man with gunshot wounds had possibly got infected with Zika virus after blood transfusion from a man who was already infected with the virus. Carvalho had stated that it was very unusual for the victim to get the virus through mosquito bite as the patient was in hospital intensive care unit for almost three months. He had anticipated the cause of the infection to be blood transfusion from an infected individual and said that further genetic tests are necessary to prove that. The gunshot victim later succumbed to the injuries of the gunshot and not the virus. In an interview to Reuters, Carvalho said, "The two cases can be considered transmission of the virus through blood transfusion, with greater certainty in the first because we did genetic sequencing comparing the virus in the donor and to the virus in the recipient." The Brazilian health officials have given stringent instructions to blood banks to not to allow people infected with Zika or dengue to donate blood for a month after complete recovery from the active infection stage with the Zika virus. The American Association Of Blood Banks urged potential donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to defer their donation for at least 28 days. This finding can be significant to case light to delve in the Zika virus research and can help to stop spread of Zika virus. Recently, a group of researchers somewhat managed to replicate a human brain by using two layers of modelling gel. The researchers were surprised that the brain model that they've created looked so much like the real human brain. The process that the scientists followed was tricky to say the least. First they had to collect images of fetal brain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to create the exact and accurate features of a developing human brain. Then they had to layer the outside part of the brain model with a stretchy elastomer gel to imitate the cortical layer. The replica was subsequently placed in a tub of solvent. Little did the researchers know that soaking up the "mock" brain in solvent will create the expanding motion that the human brain does. Jun Young Chung, a researcher from Harvard University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences who is also the co-author of the study, has since discussed how surprised they were that the mock brain reacted the way it did. According to Chung, he expected some folding to happen however he was quite shocked with the accuracy of the model. Advertisement "When I put the model into the solvent, I knew there should be folding, but I never expected that kind of close pattern compared to [the] human brain, It looks like a real brain." A soft matter physicist at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland, Dr. Tallinen, co author and physicist at the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland has also spoken out about their discovery. He claims that their discovery would give way to more research that would lead to a deeper understanding of the brain. "The things that we saw in our model will inevitably happen in real brains as well, just as a consequence of this simple expansion" explained Tallinen. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Concurs international la Olimpia Sala Sporturilor Olimpia va gazdui, in acest weekend, cea de-a treia a editie a Rhythmic Star, competitie internationala organizata de CSM Ploiesti, cu sprijinul Primariei Municipiului Ploiesti si sub egida Federatiei Romane de Gimnastica Ritmica. Timp de trei zile, 135 de sportive din patru tari vor incerca sa-i impresioneze [citeste mai departe] Formerly "fahrenheit451" -Critical analysis ,commentary and idiosyncratic observations on all aspects of popular culture,news and politics- but now a lot pithier! They roam around in the background, sometimes in the open, but are always on call. Whoever you want: plain-clothed police officers, intelli... The Resonanz Music Studio, Pimpinan Avip Priatna. Menyediakan pendidikan kelas vokal, instrumen & choir. AVIP PRIATNA ADALAH KONDUCTOR MUDA.. BERBAKAT.. BERDISIPLIN .. PROFESIONAL.. DAN SANGAT PRODUKTIF MEMIMPIN DAN DIREKTUR JAKARTA CONCERT ORCHESTRA (JCO).. DAN BATAVIA MADRIGAL SINGERS (BMS) DAN THE RESONANZ CHILDREN CHOIRS (TRCC) DENGAN KARYA-KARYA MUSIK DUNIA DAN NASIONAL BERMUTU.. DAN MENERIMA PENGHARGARGAAN DAN KEJUARAN INTERNASUIONAL DIBERBAGAI NEGARA .. BALI INDONESIA .. RRC .. JEPANG.. EROPA.. DAN AMERIKA SERIKAT.. JADWAL KONSER MUSIK TAHUNAN DI JAKARTA DIAWAL TAHUN DENGAN TEMA-KARYA2 KOMPONIS BESAR DUNIA .. KONSER SIMFOMFONI UNTUK BANGSA DENGAN KARYA MUSISI NASIONAL .. DAN DI AKHIR TAHUN DENGAN KONSER KARYA2 MUSIK INDAH DAN PILIHAN.. DAN KONSER2 BESAR LAINNYA BERSAMA JCO-BMS-TRCC DAN SOLIS2 BERBAKAT N BERKWALITAS TINGGI Alamat: Jl. Kertanegara no. 28 Kebayoran Baru - Jak Sel Hubungi telp: 021-7201918 New Delhi: The MCD workers` protest entered its tenth day on Friday as they continued their agitation in Delhi`s Bhajanpura area over non-payment of their salaries. The agitators raised slogans against Arvind Kejriwal and also carried placards with messages denouncing the Delhi Chief Minister. The protesters have warned the Delhi Government against hiring private workers to clean the streets of the city. "Kapil Mishra is calling private workers to pick-up garbage. We will not tolerate this. We want to tell him that stop doing this otherwise we will resort to something (unpleasant)," said one the protesters. The agitators also said that the non-payment of salaries is not the only issue, but there are other issues such as pending arrears and medical benefits. They vowed to continue their protest until all their pending issues are resolved. Kejriwal on Wednesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ongoing strike by civic body workers in the national capital and accused them of embezzling the funds allocated to MCD. "I have gone through each and every figure, and thus, can say with confidence that the Delhi Government doesn`t have to pay even a penny to the MCD. There is a `big scam` in the MCD, which needs to be investigated," Kejriwal had said. "North MCD was given around Rs. 900 crore this year, which was almost double than the previous years. Where has the money gone?" he asked. BJP, on the other hand, hit back at Kejriwal for his allegations against the Centre and advised him to show interest in serious governance rather than indulging in blame game. Kejriwal had also announced a loan of Rs.551 crore for payment of salaries to striking workers of two municipal corporations in the national capital and urged them to call off their strike. With ANI inputs Beijing: China`s ministry of environmental protection (MEP) announced that overall air quality had improved in 2015, the media reported on Friday. Luo Yi, MEP head of environmental monitoring, said 338 cities were monitored in 2015. Among them, only 73 cities - mostly in Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, and Tibet - had met national standards, the Global Times reported. Luo said there were "signs of improvement". The density on PM2.5, or particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diametre, dropped 14.1 percent from the previous year in 74 key cities in 2015, and readings of PM10 fell by 11.4 percent. Of the 74 cities, Haikou, Huizhou, Lhasa, Xiamen and Zhoushan registered the best air quality, while Baoding, Hengshui, Tangshan and Xingtai - all in Hebei province - along with Zhengzhou in Henan province were the most polluted. Nationwide, the average PM10, or particles with diameters less than 10 microns, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide readings dropped by 7.4, 16.1 and 6.3 percent, respectively, in 2015. Some reef-dwelling fish are twice as likely to get gobbled up by predators in the presence of a noisy motorboat, according to a study released Friday. The research, published in Nature Communications, adds to a growing body of evidence that noise pollution -- on land and in the water -- is a serious menace for wildlife. Many mammals, birds and other animals use sound to locate food, avoid predators, navigate their environment, and even select a mate. But all of these life-essential functions can be disrupted by noise from ships and sonar probes in the sea, motor vehicles and industry on land, or airplanes. Sometimes the results are lethal. The new study shows that when damselfish -- a family of several hundred species found mostly in the tropics -- become stressed by a motorboat overhead, their ability to evade predators is compromised. The likely hunter in this case is the dusky dottyback, which likes to snack on young damselfish that have recently moved to reefs from the open sea, where they hatch. Scientists led by Stephen Simpson of the University of Exeter conducted experiments in the lab and in the wild. Whether the noise came from a recording or a real boat, the outcome was the same. The disoriented damselfish were six times less likely to dart away from an attack, and more than twice as likely to wind up as some other fish`s meal, the study found. "The combination of stress and poor responses to strikes by predators in why these fish become such easy prey," said Andy Radford, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the University of Bristol. Scientists observed that the sound-addled fish consumed 20 to 30 percent more oxygen, a sure sign of distress. Noise pollution in the ocean often occurs in areas densely populated with marine life. Shallow water coral reefs, for example, cover far less than one percent of the ocean floor, but harbour more than a quarter of it`s biodiversity. Unfortunately for much of that fauna, humans also intensively exploit coral ecosystems, which means lots of motorboats. Some 500,000 will crisscross the waters above Australia`s Great Barrier Reef by 2040, according to a government report. Aggravating the impact, sound travels five times faster in water than in air, and -- due to water`s density -- over far greater distances as well. Damselfish, a common sight in salt-water aquariums, are not the only aquatic victims of human-induced sound. Recent research has shown that pile-driving, seismic surveys and especially heavy traffic along coastal shipping lanes used by migrating whales have affected the giant sea mammals` ability to feed and communicate. It has also fingered naval sonar as a suspect in the death of beaked whales so disoriented by the noise that they beach themselves, though the link cannot be proven experimentally. On land, numerous studies have shown how noise pollution perturb animals as they gather food -- or try to avoid becoming another creature`s midnight snack. Some species of bat, for example, depend not on sonar but highly-developed hearing to detect beetles or centipedes moving through dirt and dry leaves. Woodpeckers similarly cock their heads to listen for hidden bugs after pecking at a tree branch. Commercial jets passing overhead or trucks rumbling along a nearby road may be just loud enough to mask these telltale sounds. New Delhi: Eleven suspected ISIS operatives, who were arrested from across the country for allegedly recruiting and financing people to join terror outfit Islamic State, were on Friday remanded in seven days NIA custody by a Delhi court. The accused, who had their faces muffled, were produced before District Judge Amar Nath amidst tight security and, according to lawyers who attended the in-camera proceedings, NIA had sought extension of their custodial interrogation by 10 more days. NIA said in its remand application that the accused have disclosed during their interrogation "their involvement in this case about recruiting and financing persons willing to join the Caliphate of ISIS at Syria". "They were also found to be in communication with some active members through chatting applications 'Signal', 'Trillion' and 'Skype' in order to motivate them to join ISIS in furtherance of activities of its ideologies, thereby luring youths to join this proscribed terrorist organisation. "The identity and role of such associates is being ascertained," NIA said. Advocate MS Khan, who appeared for nine out of these 11 accused, opposed NIA's plea contending that their remand application does not disclose as to whom they were in touch with in Syria. Khan also argued that his clients have been in NIA's custody for the past 10 days and there was no need to extend police custody as NIA has already quizzed them in connection with the case. The 11 accused who were remanded in seven days NIA custody are Mohd Aleem, Mohd Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohd Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohd Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid and Mohd Hussain Khan. Besides these 11 accused, four other co-accused -- Mohd Afzal, Imran, Abu Anas and Nasser Packeer -- were also produced before the court which remanded them in judicial custody. Except Nasser, who was in judicial custody, all the other 14 accused were produced before the court after expiry of their NIA custody. NIA, while seeking extension of custodial interrogation of the 11 accused, told the court that "they were involved in the conspiracy and planning with other associates and handlers of ISIS in order to motivate Indian youths" to join the terror outfit in furtherance of their activities. The agency said that laptops, external hard disks, mobile phones and SIM cards which were recovered from the possession of these accused have been sent for forensic examination and the result is awaited. "NIA has recovered voluminous incriminating electronic records from the systems of the accused persons. It is essential to cross check the version of the accused. During the interrogation, all accused persons have disclosed many facts about their involvement in this case and about recruiting and financing persons. "The accused are required to be taken for pointing and identification of scene of crime, meeting points which are far away from Delhi," the agency said, adding that these accused were in touch with some active members of ISIS through chatting applications. NIA also said that these 11 accused were required to be questioned further to ascertain the records and data and also the international ramification of their conspiracy. The agency had earlier obtained the custody of the accused, saying their custodial interrogation was needed to unearth the conspiracy of ISIS to spread its reach in India. The probe agency had informed the court that the accused were arrested for allegedly planning to carry out attacks ahead of the Republic Day. NIA had said these accused were arrested from various places including Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Aurangabad, and were produced in the respective courts and brought to Delhi on transit remand. NIA and other central agencies have arrested 15 people for allegedly planning to carry out attacks ahead of the Republic Day. They were arrested under several sections including Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC. A case was registered by NIA on December 9, 2015 against unknown and unidentified persons involved in the activities of Islamic State (IS) in India and Asian Powers in Peace with India. New Delhi: The Congress Party on Friday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the report of allotting large parcels of land to private enterprises run by business associates of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel`s daughter Anar Jayesh Patel. "A probe by no other central agencies, except for a Supreme Court-monitored SIT, would be justified," said Congress leader Anand Sharma. "When Narendra Modi ji, the Prime Minister, was the Chief Minister of Gujarat under his watch nepotism flourished, conflict of interest was encouraged and public land was plundered in a brazen manner to promote the commercial and business interest of entities closely connected to the daughter of the then Revenue Minister and present Chief Minister of Gujarat Smt. Anandiben Patel," he said. "The allotment of land near the Gir Lions Sanctuary was made on 27th of October, 2010. 250 acres was given for Rs. 15 per square metre or Rs. 60,000 rupees per acre, whereas the then notified value of land was Rs. 50 lakh per acre. So, land costing Rs. 125 crores then was given at a throwaway price of one and a half crore," he alleged. "Gir Lions Sanctuary is also an eco-sensitive zone, where commercial activity, resorts, mining are not allowed, there are Supreme Court directions. And under the Supreme Court directions, there Gujarat Government itself had come out with its first notification banning any such activity in a radius of 2 kilometers on 25th June, 2009," he said. "Now, the interesting part is that, in the intervening period between then and the second amended notification, which was done with the clear purpose to circumvent the law, procedures and notification to allow this company widen its resort to go ahead with its project. Under that time, the radius was reduced from two kilometer of the eco-sensitive zone to one kilometer on 1st July, 2015."The permission was also given to purchase 177 acres of agricultural land to the same company. And this land which was agricultural land could not have been purchased by non-agriculturists but was allowed to be purchased," he said. Sharma alleged, "There cannot be a more brazen of case of violation of laws, nepotism, conflict of interest and plundering of public land, misuse of agricultural land. The land was allotted without any auction." He sought to know whether the Prime Minister was aware that the allocation of 250 acres of public land next to the Gir Lions Sanctuary was made. "The Prime Minister should tell us whether this allocation was in public interest and in conformity with the laws, regulations and established procedures," said Sharma. Reports suggest a company run by business associates of Anandiben`s daughter reportedly owns 400 acres, of which 250 acre was allotted to the company purportedly at an official rate of Rs 15 per square metre. New Delhi: A businessman from Visakhapatnam, who had sent Rs 364 to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal to buy shoes, said on Friday that he sent him a Demand Draft since he was to embarrassed to see the French President giving a good look at Kejriwal's sandals at a presidential reception. While shaking hands with Mr. Kejriwal, French President had a good look at his sandals, I felt it was embarrassing, Sumit Agrawal, a businessman from Visakhapatnam, said. I sent a DD of Rs 364 to Kejriwalji after I observed he attended a dinner hosted for French President at President's House, wearing sandals, Sumit said. He also sent an open letter to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal along with the DD requesting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief not to embarrass India again as he tries to represent common Indian man through his choice of dressing. It broke my heart to see you like this. I'm deeply aggrieved. Its sad that the Delhi Government does not even provide proper footwear to its employees whereas even micro scale industries (such as mine), with their lifetime budgets far lesser than Delhi Governments daily budget, provide boots to their labourers free of cost! he wrote. Kejriwal was recently invited at the President's dinner at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he was spotted wearing floaters. French President Fancois Hollande was also present at the event. Sumit further wrote that he took to the streets to gather money to fund a pair of footwear for Kejriwal. 'I could only gather Rs. 364 for you. Though such a modest amount is not enough for a Chief Minister, I believe any amount is good enough for someone who claims that he has no shoes despite having a monthly salary of 'only' Rs. 2,10,000, he wrote. Colombo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here on Friday on a two-day visit during which she would attend the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting. The External Affairs Minister was received by her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera on her arrival here. "Strengthening a cherished relationship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Colombo. Is received by FM Samaraweera," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs ( MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Swaraj, who is accompanied by Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, will co-chair the ninth session of the Joint Commission meeting with her Lankan counterpart. A range of bilateral issues, including economic, trade, power and energy, technical, defence and maritime cooperation are likely to feature during Swaraj's discussion with Samaraweera. Both leaders will review India's extensive assistance to Sri Lanka in housing, health, education and training of professionals, projects to enhance social and cultural ties. The problem of fishermen is part of the agenda at the meeting. The two sides will discuss an early launch of ferry service between Thalaimannar and Rameshwaram and development of Ramayana tourist circuit in Sri Lanka and Buddhist circuit in India. Swaraj will also meet the top Sri Lankan leadership, including President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of Opposition and Chief of Tamil National Alliance, R Sampanthan. The discussions are expected to give direction to ongoing negotiations on the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA), which both sides are eager to sign by the end of this year. Swaraj will tomorrow inaugurate Digital India Exhibition, which is being organized as a part of Festival of India in Sri Lanka. Lahore: JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed Friday led a march in Islamabad and his outfit across several cities, ranting on the Kashmir issue, showing defiance in the face of India asking Pakistan to "rein in" the terror group. A day after Saeed warned of more Pathankot-style attacks, the Jamaat Ud-Dawah men took out rallies in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad to mark 'Kashmir Solidarity Day'. The JuD chief led the rally in Islamabad while his relative Hafiz Abdur Rehman Maki addressed a big gathering in Lahore. The ruling PML-N, Jamaat-i-Islami and other political and religious parties also held rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris. The JuD also held several camps in Lahore which showed videos about "atrocities" in Kashmir on big screens. Addressing a 'Solidarity Kashmir Conference' in Mirpur yesterday, Saeed said "Pakistan should be thankful" to Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council that had claimed responsibility for the Pathankot terror attack. "Syed Salahuddin is a great well-wisher of Pakistan. He has taken Pakistan out of trouble by accepting the responsibility of Pathankot airbase attack. Pakistan should be thankful to him," said the founder leader of banned Lashkar-e-Toiba. Saeed warned India that if "war" in Kashmir further prolonged it would have to pay a heavy price for it. India yesterday asked Pakistan to "rein in" the JuD chief, voicing grave concern over his activities after the Mumbai terror attack mastermind warned of more Pathankot-style attacks. The JuD chief said, "On the occasion of Kashmir Day I want more intensity in the freedom struggle. Every child in Pakistan is ready to sacrifice his life for Kashmir?s freedom." "Our Constitution also demands us to support Kashmiris in their freedom struggle," he added. Saeed asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to sever relations with India and said that there should be no relations with it "till Kashmir is freed". The UN declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. The US has already put a USD 10 million bounty on his head. Saeed, who orchestrated the November, 2008, Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan despite being a designated terrorist and has made many anti-India remarks and speeches. Bengaluru: Tanzanian Ambassador John WH Kijazi, who led a delegation on Friday to meet the officials of Karnataka government after the attack on a student of his country, said that his team is very impressed by the action taken by police and have much clear picture of what happened now. The government assured me that they are going to continue to take proper measures to make sure they (African students) are secure. We didn't want to dwell very much into discussing the issues of racism, we discussed facts of situation, Kijazi said after meeting Home Minister G Parmeshwara. Was taken through the entire situation that led to the accident. We are very much impressed by the action taken by the government, Kijazi said. What is more important is that we should look into the future, he added. Kijazi, who was accompanied by MEA officials, said that he represented his colleagues from all the African countries at the meeting. Home Minister G Parmeshwara said that the entire incident was explained to the Tanzanian Ambassador and MEA representatives. I have reassured them that such incidents wont happen again. They are convinced about the action taken. Besides the home minister, the Tanzanian delegation also met senior police officials at his office. Joint secretaries Parthasarthy and Tanmay Lal represented the MEA. Kijazi said that his message to all African students is to follow the law of country, live in harmony with local community and respect the leadership of the state. Colombo: India and Sri Lanka on Friday agreed to find an "innovative and lasting solution" to the fishermen issue, a major irritant in the bilateral ties, as the foreign ministers of the two countries reviewed the progress made in various sectors like defence, aviation and trade. The two countries also signed MoUs in education and health sectors after visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera co-chaired the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting here. The two sides also agreed that Sri Lankan fisheries minister Mahinda Amaraweera would travel to India to hold talks to resolve the fishermen issue. "There was an agreement that we need to find an innovative and lasting solution to this issue," said External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Renu Pall. "The fishermen issues was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved," she said. India has invited Sri Lankan fisheries minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, officials said. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. Under the MoUs that were signed today, India would help Sri Lanka in renovating 27 schools in the northern province. The second MoU is on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East. Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up Special Economic Zone in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in the aviation sector. New Delhi: India has ratified an international convention on nuclear energy accident liability, the government announced on Thursday, the final piece in its efforts to address the concerns of foreign nuclear suppliers and draw them into a market worth billions of dollars. Nuclear reactor makers such as General Electric have been reluctant to set up plants in India because of a 2010 liability law that makes equipment suppliers potentially accountable for accidents, not just the plant operators as is the global norm. India plans to construct about 60 nuclear reactors and has been in talks with Westinghouse Electric Co LLC, General Electric, France's Areva. Since then, India which wants to ramp up the share of nuclear power from barely 3 per cent to 25 per cent by 2050 has been trying to assuage the fears of the nuclear suppliers. In 2015 it launched an insurance pool with a liability cap of $225 million to cover the suppliers' risk of potential liability. On Thursday, the External Affairs Ministry said it had submitted the document to ratify the Convention of Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, which seeks to establish a uniform global legal regime for the compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear accident. "This marks a conclusive step in the addressing of issues related to civil nuclear liability in India," the External Affairs Ministry said after the document was handed to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Energy-starved India plans to construct about 60 nuclear reactors and has been in talks with Westinghouse Electric Co LLC, GE as well as France's Areva for setting them up at sites already selected around the country. Russia is separately building six reactors in southern India and is in talks for another six. The total size of the Indian market is estimated at $150 billion dollars, making it equal to or just behind China's. India expects to seal an agreement with Westinghouse to build six reactors by the first half of this year, a government official said in December 2015, after it ratified the international convention on compensation. New Delhi: Ever since Modi government started declassifying files related to Subhas Chandra Bose, a number of revelations with regard to Netaji have been made. The documents have confirmed that Bose's Indian National Army treasure was looted and former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru was aware of the development. As per the conversations held between Japan and India in the past, the Nehru government knew about the treasure theft but chose to keep a blind eye. The secret files made public by the BJP-led government hint that the government officials suspected two ex-aides of Netaji - Munga Ramamurti, SA Ayer in the misappropriation of INA funds. Interestingly, SA Ayer was made publicity adviser of Nehru's flagship Five Year Plans, while Ramamurti's family flourished in Japan and eventually he settled in Chennai. Earlier, Anuj Dhar, the author of 'India's Biggest Cover-Up', had maintained that secret files that our government is not willing to make public are littered with documents clearly demonstrating that the treasure was looted by the trio of Munga Ramamurti, SA Ayer and Colonel John Figges, now remembered in the UK as late Sir John Figges -- a leading authority on oriental porcelain. In 1951, Tokyo Mission head KK Chettur had raised suspicion on SA Ayer and Ramamurthi. Chettur even made clear his annoyance over the New Delhi's decision to send Ayer on a James Bond-esque mission to establish Netaji's death. Chettur, in his letter to commonwealth relations secretary BN Chakravarty, had said, "As you are no doubt aware, there have been serious allegations against Ramamurti with regard to the misappropriation of the funds of the late Indian Independence League, as also the personal property of the late Subhas Chandra Bose, consisting of considerable quantities of diamonds, jewellery, gold and other valuable articles. I have heard the most scandalous reports about the Ayer-Ramamurti link and I have no reason whatsoever to doubt their authenticity. But in view of lack of interest evinced by Government in this matter in the past, I have refrained from pursuing it." "INA treasure and their handling by Messrs Ayer and Ramamurti", a report documented by RD Sathe had raised suspicion over Iyer's activities in Japan. Sathe's report said: Suspicion regarding the improper disposal of the treasure is thickened by the comparative affluence in 1946 of Mr Ramamurti when all other Indian nationals in Tokyo were suffering the greatest hardships. Another fact which suggests that the treasures were improperly disposed of is a sudden blossoming out into an Oriental [word unclear] expert of Col Figges, the Military Attache of the British mission in Tokyo, and the reported invitation extended by the colonel to Ramamurti to settle down in UK." The note carries PM Nehru's signature with date 5/11/51 and the noting of then foreign secretary KPS Menon that "PM has seen this note". New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will from Friday (February 5) begin his three-day visit to Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. He will conclude his visit on February 07. Today, Modi will inaugurate the 12th South Asian Games at Guwahati, in which Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are participating. A Prime Minister's Office release said Modi will reach Dibrugarh on Friday and inaugurate the Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Ltd, the first petrochemical project in the entire northeast, at Lepetkata. Modi will also dedicate to the nation India's highest wax producing unit using indigenous technology in Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. He will address tea workers at Moran near Dibrugarh and deliver an address at the 85th Annual Conference of Srimanta Sankaradeva Sangha at Sibsagar. On February 6, the Prime Minister will attend the International Fleet Review at Visakhapatnam. He will also visit a maritime exhibition. Modi will reach Bhubaneswar on February 7 and will dedicate to the nation the National Institute of Science Education and Research. He will also visit the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The release said Modi will dedicate to the nation the state of the art Indian Oil Refinery at Paradip. The Paradip refinery will have a total capacity of 15 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). It said the Indane Maximization (INDMAX) unit at the refinery has been set up using indigenous technology to produce a higher quantity of LPG. "The refinery is expected to unleash a new wave of industrialisation in the hydrocarbon sector, and accelerate economic development in eastern India," the release said. It said Modi will visit the main control room and the INDMAX unit at the refinery. The release said Modi will then reach Visakhapatnam on February 07 afternoon and witness the operational demonstration and the international city parade at the International Fleet Review. He will also deliver an address. (With IANS inputs) New Delhi: Labelling Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "anti-poor, anti-farmer, anti-labourer and anti-worker", Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said he would not allow the BJP Government to run a government that acts only in the interest of three or four of their crony capitalist friends. Interacting with reporters after a meeting with Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chiefs at the All India Congress Committee ( AICC) headquarters here, Gandhi said, "As the opposition, we want to put pressure on the Government so that they pay attention to poor people, to pain of the farmers, workers and labourers. We are not going to let the BJP Government to run a government that acts only in the interest of three or four of their crony capitalist friends." He further said, "The job of the Prime Minister is to run the country, and not to make excuses. All the Prime Minister is doing for the last one and the half years is to make excuses why the economy is not running, make excuses why the farmers are not getting their dues, make excuses why labourers are not getting what they should get while the economy is not running." "India did not choose Mr. Narendra Modi to make excuses, India chose a leader, and a leader should not make excuses, a leaders should do the job that he has been elected to do. Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of this country for over one and a half years, but perhaps he is unable to understand that the work of the Prime Minister is to run the country. The Prime Minister should start running the country," he added. Divulging details of his meeting with PCC chiefs, he said, "For some time now, we have been attacking the Central Government on being anti-poor, anti-farmer, anti-labourer, and anti-worker. I wanted to get a sense from the PCC presidents about what is being done with regards to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Act (MNREGA), the Right to Food, the Tribal Bill Act in their states, and how BJP attacking and trying to destroy these Acts. They had quite a good presentation." "I have said that farmers and labourers are crying, but not only are them, today even industrialists are crying. Big industrialists come to us, and say 'Narendra Modi ji, who is running his government for us are unable to work for us.' Thus, Narendra Modi will definitely make excuses," said Gandhi. "But I want to tell him that he should start running the country, because the country has elected him for the same," he said. New Delhi: Union Minister Smriti Irani Friday did not go to an Urdu conference at Delhi University which she was scheduled to inaugurate, raising questions whether she skipped it as hundreds of students had gathered outside the venue protesting over the Rohith Vemula issue. The three-day 'World Urdu' conference has been organised by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) set up by the HRD Ministry. Irani is the chairperson of the Council. Director of NCPUL Syed Ali Karim said "the dates for the event were decided after a go ahead from the minister. However, we did not receive any information from the minister's office that she will not be coming." Minister of State, HRD, Ram Shankar Katheria, and HRD Joint Secretary S S Sandhu who were among the Chief Guests also gave the event a miss. There was, however, no official reason for cancellation of Irani's participation. Senior officials in the HRD Ministry, when asked, did not comment on the issue. Students from various varsities across Delhi, who have been protesting the alleged delay in justice to Hyderabad varsity Dalit scholar Vemula, who committed suicide last month, gathered outside the conference venue and shouted slogans demanding Irani's resignation. Strict security arrangements were in place to avoid any untoward incident in view of the protest. The event began with a keynote address by BJP MP M J Akbar on "200 years of Urdu Journalism". The journalist-turned-politician deliberated upon how one person cannot simultaneously pursue two professions and how Urdu journalism has changed over the years. The three-day conference will see paper presentations from Urdu scholars across the globe including those from Bangladesh, Mauritius, Qatar, Dubai and Canada among others. Cultural activities, including "Aalmi Mushaira" and play titles "Main Urdu Hun", will also be part of the event. Meanwhile, students from Jamia Millia Islamia also joined the ongoing movement in the capital demanding justice for the Dalit PhD scholar who was found hanging on January 17. While the students from JNU had earlier this week called off their hunger strike after 10 days, vowing to continue the protests, three students from Jamia today decided to go on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of Irani. New Delhi: As the debate over Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that calls for criminalising gay sex continues, spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has favoured making homosexuality legal. In an exclusive interview to CNBC-TV18, Sri Sri put his weight behind the campaign for decriminalisation of gay sex. Sharing his opinion on the issue, the spiritual guru said if the nation continues to hold on to the obsolete laws, it will go back to the 15th century. While describing homosexuality as an individual preference, Sri Sri opined that in order to bring in bold reforms, courage and conviction are required. There are many brave politicians while others are very much dependent on their vote bank politics, the spiritual guru told the news channel. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court referred a petition to make homosexuality legal to a five-judge bench. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court will hear curative petitions seeking re-examination of its verdict criminalising sexual activity between same sex consenting adults under Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The news has come as a ray of hope for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The SC had earlier dismissed a batch of review petitions filed by the Centre and gay rights activists against its December 2013 verdict declaring gay sex an offence with punishment up to life imprisonment. Colombo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe here on Friday, the first day of her two-day visit to this island nation. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted along with pictures of the two leaders: A warm welcome by a close neighbour. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees pic.twitter.com/Hqj8ITmdq9 Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) February 5, 2016 Earlier on Friday, she was received on her arrival here by her Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera. Strengthening a cherished relationship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Colombo. Is received by FM Samaraweera pic.twitter.com/x8HwGfYvUO Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) February 5, 2016 She is scheduled to attend the ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission which she co-chairs with Samaraweera. The joint commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation. Ahead of Swaraj`s visit, Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday`s joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries. Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. During the course of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. On Saturday, the Indian minister will inaugurate a "Rise of Digital India" exhibition as part of "Sangam - Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16". The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India. The re-framing of the Sri Lankan Constitution and the issue of Indian fishermen might also come up during the course of the discussions between the two sides. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left here on Friday on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka during which she will attend a meeting of the joint commission of the two South Asian neighbours. External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted: Leaving for Sri Lanka! EAM @SushmaSwaraj departs for the 9th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting in Colombo. pic.twitter.com/krxw7Rw7GM Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) February 5, 2016 The joint commission is co-chaired by Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation. Ahead of Swaraj`s visit, Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday`s joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries. Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. During the course of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. On Saturday, the Indian minister will inaugurate a "Rise of Digital India" exhibition as part of "Sangam - Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16". The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India. The re-framing of the Sri Lankan Constitution and the issue of Indian fishermen might also come up during the course of the discussions between the two sides. New Delhi: In a big breakthrough for the security agencies, Delhi Police' Special Cell on Friday arrested a suspected Islamic State sympathiser Mohsin from the Inter State Bus Terminal (ISBT) in national capital. Mohsin, a resident of Mumbai, was also carrying Rs 85,000 when the security officials nabbed him. The arrested ISIS sympathiser was trying to reach Syria - the stronghold of the dreaded terrorist organisation. Suspected ISIS sympathiser was detained for allegedly helping four ISIS terror suspects who were arrested in Uttarakhand last month. Giving details about the arrest, Arvind Deep, Special CP Special Cell, Delhi Police said, ''His age is around 26 years and he is a resident of Malad West, Mumbai.'' He will be produced before court today, he added. The arrest comes after days after the National Investigation Agency arrested a 24-year-old ISIS suspect from Bhopal as part of the anti-terror agency's crackdown on sympathisers of the terrorist outfit. The youth, identified as Azhar Iqbal, was the 16th person to be arrested in connection with a case registered in Delhi under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the agency on December 9 last year, a senior police officer said. According to intelligence agencies, a total of 23 Indians have so far joined the ISIS of which six were reportedly killed in different incidents. Around 150 Indians are under surveillance for their alleged online links with ISIS, the officials had said. Mumbai: Former media baron Peter Mukerjea's wife Indrani, who is the prime accused in murdering her own daughter Sheena Bora, on Friday filled a 17-page bail in the special CBI court here seeking bail on medical grounds saying that she was suffering from frequent blackouts". In the plea which has been moved through Indrani's lawyer, the former media executive said that her medical condition is deteriorating and she has lost 18 kilograms in 4 months. She further wrote in the application that she wants to live in a stress-free environment. "(Indrani) is suffering from 'chronic small vessels ischemic changes', and as a result the supply of oxygen to brain may get interrupted which may result in brain stroke and is life threatening," read her bail application, which was annexed with medical documents that ran into about 50 pages. She has also said that she gets blackouts time and again due to her condition, as per PTI. In the application, Indrani said that it takes around 45-60 minutes to reach hospital from Byculla women's prison (where she is presently lodged now). Citing an instance, she said that in October last year when she fell unconscious, it took more than six hours to commence treatment on her. "On October 2, 2015 (Indrani) was unconscious at 5 am but was treated at 11:45 am," her bail application said. The bail plea comes a day after a special court granted permission to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who is probing the case, to grill Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shaym Rain. "We wanted to question the trio in the jail and we have got permission," a CBI official said yesterday. CBI, while maintaining that financial transaction was the motive behind the murder of Sheena, had earlier said that Peter, during his interrogation, disclosed investments of crores of rupees made by him and Indrani and is expecting information from Interpol on the details of an account opened by Indrani in a bank in Hong Kong. Indrani, her ex-husband husband Sanjeev Kumar and her former driver Shyamvar Rai were arrested in August in connection with the killing of her 24-year-old daughter Sheena in April 2012 and disposal of her partly-burnt body in the forest near Raigad in Maharashtra. However, the case broke out in August 2015. Indrani's present husband Peter Mukerjea, the former CEO of Star India, was also arrested in the case earlier. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: A high-level team from New Delhi, including the Tanzanian High Commissioner to India, will leave for Bengaluru on Friday in connection with the assault on a Tanzanian woman in the Karnataka capital. The decision to send the team was taken at a high-level meeting convened by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here on Thursday that was attended by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha and other senior officials of the ministry. A team is going to Bengaluru Friday which includes the high commissioner of Tanzania, who is also the dean of the African diplomatic corps, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said at a media briefing here after the high-level meeting yesterday. The team also includes the joint secretary (states), director (east and southern Africa) in the ministry of external affairs and the regional director of ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations), which liaises with the students who come here on ICCR scholarships, he said. Meanwhile, Five people suspected of assaulting the Tanzanian woman student were arrested on Thursday, Bengalueu Police Commissioner NS Megharik said. "We have arrested the five accused after interrogating them on Wednesday night under detention in the case registered on the victim's statement in a road rage incident," Megharik was quoted as saying. The commissioner, however, did not disclose names and ages of the five accused. In a case of mistaken identity, a mob assaulted the victim suspecting her to be a friend of a Sudanese student, Mohammad Ahad, whose car ran over a woman pedestrian (Shabana Taz) injuring her fatally while driving drunk on Sunday night. We condemn this unequivocally, Swarup said at the media briefing. The external affairs minister, in her tweets yesterday, has also said that we are deeply pained over the shameful incident, he said. He said Sushma Swaraj immediately spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sought an official report. There are around 5,000 African students in India. As for the team gong to Bengaluru on Friday, Swarup said that we will extend full cooperation of the state and central governments to the investigation of this case. The ministry and the state government will also be reaching out to African students in the state to reassure them that their security and well-being is our primary concern, he added. With IANS inputs Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5 (IANS) In a new twist to the Kerala bar scam, the UDF government on Friday ordered a probe against the vigilance officer who had investigated the scam after the ruling front sought the conspiracy angle in the recent allegations be checked. A crime branch probe was ordered against Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, R Sukesan after Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala gave his nod on basis of a report to this effect submitted by vigilance director N.Shankar Reddy. Sukesan who was the probe officer in the bar scam which saw the resignation of state Finance Minister K.M.Mani last year and also led to the stepping down of Excise Minister K Babu, whose resignation was however not accepted, following a relief from the Kerala High Court. Based on the recommendation of the leaders of the ruling United Democratic Front, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, had told reporters that they will go forward to unravel the conspiracy behind the solar and bar scam. The fresh probe that has been announced against Sukesan will look into his links with the whistleblower bar owner Biju Ramesh, who was the first person to level bribery allegations first against Mani in 2014 and against Babu in 2015. Speaking to reporters, Ramesh said that he was expecting this vindictive action directed against him ever since he made the revelation. "I knew this was round the corner as the government will move against me to see that I am put behind bars," said Ramesh, who following the new liquor policy of closing more than 700 bars in the state had to close down nine of his bars in the state capital. Babu, soon after announcing his decision to resign last month, had alleged that the entire bar scam was a conspiracy hatched by the Communist Party of India-Marxist. Reacting to the move, CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan said it is done to target police officials who refuse to toe the line of the Chandy government and meant to threaten them. Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Governor P Sathasivam on Friday scripted history in the state assembly when he asked CPI(M)-led LDF Opposition members to "sit quiet or leave the House" as they tried to disrupt his address on the first day of this year's session. The former CJI's remark came when the LDF repeatedly tried to obstruct his customary policy address with slogans demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and some of his Cabinet colleagues, facing bribery allegations in the bar and solar scams. According to assembly sources, this is the first time in state assembly history that the Governor has chided the Opposition. During similar instances earlier, the Governors either used to cut short their address or place it on the table of the House, which is taken as read. As the protest continued, an annoyed Justice Sathasivam, asked the Opposition to allow him to complete his constitutional duties and requested them to "sit quiet or leave the House." The Governor kept his cool but asserted that he has to fulfil the constitutional duty. When some LDF members requested the Governor to table the address, Sathasivam quipped "I have full energy and I will read it slowly." The Governor said,"You have raised your democratic protest. Your are opposing this government. That is enough. You should allow me to do my constitutional duty. I am noting all your objections." "The entire nation is watching. People are noting your objection... I think there is some limit. Beyond a point, it cannot be tolerated," he said addressing CPI-M veteran and Opposition leader, VS Achuthanandan. At one point, the Governor even asked the Opposition to read the Constitution. Seeing no let up in the LDF protest, Sathasivam told CPI-M state secretary and deputy leader of the Opposition in the House, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan that "this may happen to you also." "I am aware whatever protest you are doing is not against me, but against the government," he said to pacify the Opposition. Later, the Opposition trooped out raising slogans against the government and Chief Minister. The Governor took over two-and-half-hours to complete his 78-page address in which he focused on the achievements of the five year rule of the UDF government after LDF boycotted it. The Governor described the 5-year-rule of Chandy government as the 'golden age of opportunities,' and said it had ensured the realisation of some of the major infrastructure projects of the state. "The first among them would be the Rs 5181-crore Kochi Metro Rail Project, the first phase of which will be over by June 2016," Sathasivam said. He also mentioned various other development projects including the proposed Light Metro Rail at Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, for which the government had signed an agreement with DMRC, Kannur International Airport and Kochi Smart City. He said the state government's Kerala Technology Start-Up Policy in 2015, the first such policy in the country, had boosted a tremendous momentum in creating a conducive atmosphere for start-ups to succeed. "So far, 405 start-ups have been incubated in the Start-Up Village in Kochi. This has become such a great role model that the entire country is following this success story," he noted. On the Vizhinjam International Deep-Sea transhipment port project, considered as one of the flagship development projects of the UDF government, he said work has already begun on the Rs 7525-crore project and it would "re-establish India's strategic supremacy in Indian Ocean." The House witnessed a minor flutter when a man sitting in the visitors gallery raised some slogans demanding representation of Dalits in the Ministry. The man, identified as one Satish of nearby Poonthura, was immediately whisked off by the watch and ward staff. The incident happened after the Governor had completed his address and left the House. As part of their plans to intensify their agitation against the government over the various scams, the Opposition had decided to take their protest inside the Assembly and had even requested the Governor to abstain from making his address. Earlier, as soon as the Governor began his customary address at the start of the session, Achuthanandan stood up and said the government was 'neck deep' in corruption and investigation against them was going on and wanted the Governor to intervene. The Opposition began shouting slogans holding the banner "Don't want tainted Ministry's policy." The 14-day sitting is politically significant as this is the last session of the 13th Kerala Assembly before the state goes to the polls in two months time. After trooping out from the House, the Opposition members, including Achuthanandan, protested in front of the war memorial at Palayam. The Left front also took out an Assembly march demanding resignation of Chandy and ministers facing allegations in the solar and bar scams. Inaugurating the march at the memorial, Achuthanandan, said the left parties will continue with their protests until Chandy, Power Minister Arayadan Mohammed and Excise Minister, K Babu, who are facing bribery allegations in solar and bar scams, resign. Mumbai: The CBI on Friday asked a special MCOCA court to order deported mafia don Rajendra S Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan to provide his voice samples for the probe in the journalist J Dey murder case of 2011. At a hearing in the special court where the mafia don was produced via video-link from Delhi's Tihar Jail, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) prosecutor Bharat Badami informed special judge SS Adkar that first, Chhota Rajan had given his consent for the voice test, but later refused it. Ar this, Adkar asked the mafia don's lawyer Anshuman Sinha to file his reply and the matter is likely to be taken up on February 11. Badami further said that an audio recording of the telephonic talks between Chhata Rajan and another person had been submitted to the court by the Mumbai police and they wanted to compare it with the voice of the mafia don. He also sought more time for investigating the murder as the CBI may required help of certain external agencies like Interpol since the mafia don was out of India for a long period. The CBI has also urged a forensic test of the mobile phone, two laptops and one computer hard-disk owned by the late Dey at the CFSL, New Delhi for retrieval of the deleted data. Friday's hearing followed the special court's permission granted to CBI on January 19 permitting it to question the mafia don for 10 days starting January 27. A veteran crime reporter and investigations editor of Mumbai tabloid, Midday, Dey was shot dead near his home in Powai on June 11, 2011, by four assailants who came on motorbikes. The murder, committed allegedly at Chhota Rajan's behest was committed near the D'Mart in the Hiranandani Complex, where Dey was also riding his bike. Chhota Rajan was nabbed from Bali Airport in Indonesia on October 25 last year and later deported to India. Besides the Dey murder case, he is facing another 70 serious cases and the Maharashtra government subsequently handed over all the cases to the CBI. New Delhi: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he aims to have five billion users by 2030, which means nearly 60 percent of the human race would be connected to the social network site if his wish comes true. Zuckerberg made the comments earlier this week during an event at the companys new Frank Gehry-designed headquarters designed to celebrate Facebooks 12th anniversary Thursday, February 4, which it has dubbed Friends Day. "We want to finish connecting everyone, we're going to do it in partnership with governments and different companies all over the world," Zuckerberg said during an event celebrating Facebook's 12th anniversary. Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, at the start of October 2012, Facebook had passed the monthly active users mark of one billion. The company's data also revealed 600 million mobile users, 140 billion friend connections since the inception of Facebook, and the median age of a user as 22 years. On Thursday, Facebook celebrated its 12 birthday as 'Friends Day' by releasing several new feautures, including a new video product for its users. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi/Kathmandu: A 5.2 magnitude earthquake on Friday evening struck close to Kathmandu, shaking much of the capital of Nepal as per the US Geological Survey (USGS). At least 15 people are reportedly injured. Due to the quake in Nepal, strong tremors were also felt in parts of India's Bihar including Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Bettiah, Darbhanga and Raxaul, ANI reported. The earthquake quake was epi-centred at Sindhupal chowk district, 55 km, north east of Nepal's capital Kathmandu according to The National Seismological Centre. Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Nepal home ministry said, "Fifteen people were injured in Kathmandu as people ran away from their houses in panic during the tremor," PTI reported. Two injured persons have been admitted to the hospital. The tremor was also felt in Pokhara, a tourist hub of western Nepal, 200 km, south-west of Kathmandu. Nine days ago, another 4.4 magnitude tremor was recorded in the same area. There has been so far 428 after shocks with 4 or more magnitude recorded across Nepal after the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015. 8500 people lad lost their lives in that massive earthquake. Many people in India also lost their lives. Lahore: Pakistan Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said that Islamabad is ready to share its expertise with the world on `counter-terrorism` as an obligation towards international peace. According to Dawn, Sharif visited the National Counter-Terrorism Training Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi on Thursday and witnessed the Pakistan-Sri Lanka-Maldives exercise. The Pakistan Army has so far conducted exercises with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, China and Jordan to enhance their combat efficiency. Pakistani troops have also imparted counter-terrorism training to police and other law-enforcement agencies of all four provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan. The Army chief congratulated the participants of the exercise for displaying high level of professionalism and combat skills. Asserting that terrorism was a global phenomenon and terrorists had no country, religion or sect, Sharif emphasised that such exercises would consolidate the special relationship among three forces and help eliminate terrorism from the region. "Pakistan had been victim of terrorism for over a decade and sacrificed a lot but in the end, the country had turned the tide primarily because of resilience displayed by the whole nation and professionalism of the armed forces. We are willing to share our experiences with the world for the benefit of humanity and as an obligation towards international peace," he said. He added that the Pakistan Army had also taken the initiative of providing counter-terrorism training to police personnel to make them capable of dealing with the menace in an efficient manner. Kathmandu: Cargo trucks drove through a border crossing in Nepal for the first time in months on Friday, police said, following a blockade that has caused a crippling shortage of fuel and vital supplies across the landlocked country. "There is no blockade at the checkpoint right now, and over 150 small and big vehicles have passed through since this afternoon," local police chief Raju Babu Shrestha told AFP. Demonstrators from Nepal`s Madhesi ethnic minority have led a blockade of the key border crossing in Birgunj, 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of Kathmandu, since September. Shrestha said that Nepali and Indian businessmen and locals had dismantled the protesters` tents and opened the blocked border. However, Shiva Patel, general secretary of the Sadbhawana political party which represents the Madhesi minority, said that protesters had not withdrawn the blockade. "Black market goons and police forced our supporters off the crossing. There was a large mass (of people) there, and it was not safe for us to return," Patel said. "We will have a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss what to do next." More than 50 people have been killed in clashes between police and people protesting against the Himalayan nation`s new constitution, which demonstrators say leaves them politically marginalised. In a bid to break the deadlock, parties tabled a bill to amend the constitution and increase the presence of the Madhesi -- who mainly live in the southern plains -- in government bodies through proportional representation. But protesters have argued that the bill, currently under discussion in parliament, is incomplete and does not address their main demand to revise the federal state borders laid out in the charter. London: Britain on Friday said it would contest a United Nations panel opinion that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was a victim of arbitrary detention and said the computer hacker would be arrested if he left the embassy. "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion," a government spokesman said. "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," the spokesman said. "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden." Toronto: Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has been heckled in Parliament with an opposition member shouting that MPs needed an "English-to-English" translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as "racist". Veteran Conservative MP Jason Kenney sparked a controversy in the question period in Parliament with the heckle directed at Sajjan while the minister was responding about the military mission against the Islamic State. Kenney, a former defence minister himself, said MPs needed an "English to English" translation of Sajjan's responses. 45-year-old Sajjan was in November named Canada's Defence Minister as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 's 30-member Liberal cabinet was sworn in. He is a combat veteran and has served in Bosnia and had three deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was born in India and moved to Canada with his family when he was five-years-old. Sajjan's fellow Liberals were quick to pounce on Kenney, describing his heckling on Monday as racist, the Huffington Post Canada reported. After question period, Liberal Kevin Lamoureux rose on a point of order asking Kenney to apologise for an "inappropriate comment" directed at the Defence Minister. Lamoureux charged that Kenney "stated from across his seat that we need to have English-to-English translation" while Sajjan was speaking. "I'm wondering if the member would do the proper thing and apologise or at the very least explain his comments," Lamoureux was quoted as saying. Indian-origin Liberal MP Ruby Sahota did not mince words, calling Kenney's refusal to apologise "unacceptable." "Shame on @jkenney for his racist remarks during today's qp toward #harjitsajjan. His refusal to apologise is unacceptable," she tweeted. Kenney rejected calls to apologise in the House of Commons. Later, he took to Twitter to explain why he made the comment, saying he found the minister's answer "totally incoherent." Another Indian-origin MP Raj Grewal said, "Kenney should apologise for his comments in question period today when Harjit Sajjan was speaking." Kenney responded to Grewal, saying he respects Sajjan -- "a fine, intelligent man" -- and featured him as "a role model in the Discover Canada Citizenship guide" when he served as immigration minister. "Unfortunately, I find his answers on ending combat against ISIS to be at best unpersuasive (and) at worst incoherent," Kenney wrote, adding he was sorry if his comment was "misconstrued in any way." Delhi: Condom makers including Ansell Ltd are offering to help Zika-affected countries after the first case of the virus being sexually transmitted added to growing concerns over the spread of the disease. The virus, which is spreading quickly across the Americas, is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. But, the first known case contracted in the United States was a person infected after having sex with someone who had returned from Venezuela. World Health Organization (WHO) spokesman Gregory Hartl stressed that "almost a 100 percent of the cases" are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. However, the possibility of Zika being sexually transmitted adds a new dimension to the threat the disease poses. "Ansell will be approaching regional associations in Brazil and other countries to offer its assistance and expertise in alleviating this major public health issue," Jeyan Heper, president and general manager of the Australian company`s sexual wellness global business unit told Reuters in an email. Ansell, which makes Skyn and Lifestyles condoms as well as industrial and surgical gloves, said it provided nearly 1 million surgical gloves to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014. Female Health Co , which makes condoms for women, said it has been in contact with various health agencies, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO, and has seen a growing number of enquiries. "We are working with the local health ministers at these countries to help provide the product that they will either be distributing or recommending to the public," Michele Greco, chief financial officer of the U.S.-based company told Reuters. Trojan condom maker Church & Dwight Co Inc said it has been in touch with various public health agencies for regular status updates and that it would continue to monitor the situation closely to determine appropriate next steps. The WHO said at least 26 countries in the Americas have a Zika outbreak, and countries such as Ireland, Australia and Canada have reported cases of travelers testing positive for the virus after visiting an infected area. Companies ranging from vaccine developers to mosquito repellant makers have come under the spotlight after the outbreak, as they work with government agencies to combat the rising threat. Durex condoms maker Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc did not respond to emails and calls seeking comment. London: Prime Minister David Cameron is playing a high-stakes game which will decide his place in political history with negotiations aimed at preventing Britain from leaving the EU in a looming referendum, experts say. Cameron landed himself in his current position by promising in 2013 to hold a referendum on Europe if he won the 2015 election. That was a bid to unite his party, long divided on the issue. Paradoxically for a leader who is arguing for Britain to stay in the European Union, Cameron has described himself as a eurosceptic. "He is a pragmatic eurosceptic," Peter Snowdon, co-author of a book about Cameron`s first term in office, "Cameron at 10", told AFP. "He is not Heath, neither Thatcher," Snowdon said, referring to two of Cameron`s Conservative predecessors, who are seen as more straightforwardly europhile and eurosceptic respectively. "He is much more pragmatic, hence his difficulty convincing eurosceptics," the author added. Since becoming leader of the centre-right Conservatives 11 years ago, Cameron has insisted that his party must become less focused on Europe, an issue which caused particular splits in the 1980s and 1990s. Cameron proposed the referendum with populist eurosceptics the UK Independence Party (UKIP) gaining popularity and sucking voters away from the Conservatives. Many analysts believe he called the vote as an attempt to try and resolve the splits for a lengthy period, allowing the Conservatives to move on. But will the former student of the prestigious Eton College and Oxford University be able to convince Britons to stay in?Fighting Cameron`s corner will be many business leaders in the City of London as well as the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who, according to French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, would see a so-called Brexit as a "drama". He will also have most of his cabinet at his side. While several are expected to campaign to leave, some key figures are set to weigh in behind him, including Home Secretary Theresa May. The eventual position of others, including London Mayor Boris Johnson, will be tied up with the leadership race to succeed Cameron, who has said he will step down before the next election in 2020. The charismatic, mop-haired Johnson has yet to declare whether he will support leaving or staying. In negotiations, Cameron is sandwiched between European leaders opposed to any change on key principles like the freedom of movement or ever-closer union and a strong strand of eurosceptic public opinion in Britain, fanned by the popular press. A draft deal for changes to Britain`s relationship with the EU has been published and it could be finalised at a Brussels summit later this month. "I think he is in a quite difficult political situation, and that is because he made the most specific demands in the area that`s most difficult to convince the other member states to agree and that`s benefits for migrants," said John Springford of think-tank the Centre for European Reform. "If he doesn`t achieve it at the summit, he is going to have a very difficult time selling his negotiation to the public at home and also to his own MPs as being some major reform package." For columnist Rafael Behr at British newspaper the Guardian, Cameron has learned to negotiate with the EU. "He was schooled in the art of cramming and to perform well under exam conditions," he added, referring to the premier`s elite education. The result of the referendum is likely to go down to the wire, with current opinion polls suggesting a narrow lead for those who want to leave the EU. A large number of voters are still undecided. The refugee crisis could complicate matters further -- with immigration a hot topic in Britain, a fresh wave of new arrivals from Syria and other conflict-hit nations to Europe could make the situation even harder for Cameron. If Britain votes for Brexit, he would almost certainly have to resign and suffer an ignominious place in history. If he wins, his legacy is sealed. But afterwards? "He is not somebody wedded to politics, not like Margaret Thatcher. He is very evenly balanced. He was very candid, very open, about the importance of his family," said Snowdon. Ankara: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday blasted as "laughable" Russia's accusation that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria. "I find this Russian statement laughable... Rather it is Russia that is currently engaged in an invasion of Syria," Erdogan said, quoted by the state-run Anatolia news agency. Russia yesterday had claimed Turkey was planning to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border with the war-torn country. "We have serious grounds to suspect Turkey is in intensive preparations for an armed invasion of the territory of a sovereign state -- the Syrian Arab Republic," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement. Ties between Moscow, which supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ankara, which is a staunch backer of the opposition, have been in tatters since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on the Syrian border in November, claiming it had entered Turkish airspace. Following a request from Assad, Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists like the Islamic State group before they cross into Russia. But air strikes have also hit the rebels opposed to Assad. Tens of thousands of Syrians were apparently streaming towards Turkey today as regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo. Bamako: At least four suspected jihadists and a Malian soldier were killed on Friday following an attack on a UN military camp in Timbuktu in Mali's restive north, a Malian security source said. The assault came just a day after the fabled city celebrated the restoration of its greatest treasures - earthen mausoleums dating to mediaeval times that were destroyed during an Islamist takeover in 2012. Hours of fighting followed the early morning attack on the camp in the south of Timbuktu, the source said, adding that the offensive against the attackers ended in the afternoon. "At least four terrorists were killed, including those who blew themselves up in their vehicle, (and) three Malian soldiers were wounded and one killed," the source said. "A Malian officer who was taking part in the hunt for the terrorists was unfortunately killed" when a wall collapsed on his armoured vehicle. "But we are continuing search-and-sweep operations and we will also continue patrolling to ensure the security of the local population." The raid was essentially a double attack with the assailants first blowing up their vehicle at a military roadblock near the camp and a second vehicle then coming in with others who started firing. It was a "carefully prepared" plan targeting the Nigerian contingent of MINUSMA, the UN's peacekeeping mission, the source said. A Nigerian peacekeeper was slightly wounded along with a civilian. The army had reports that a vehicle being used by the suspected Islamists had "infiltrated the town of Timbuktu itself," another military source added. Another Malian source said the camp had recently been evacuated by police officers from Nigeria but some soldiers had remained there. A local resident said the assailants seemed to have "really prepared their plan." "I believe that they first blew up their car so that MINUSMA forces would come out to inspect the damage, in order to attack them again," he told AFP, referring to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. A Malian soldier was killed last month in an ambush on the outskirts of Timbuktu in continuing violence in the sprawling arid north of the country. Northern Mali fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda in 2012. London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said he hoped a UN panel`s decision expected on Friday could lead to the end of his confinement in the Ecuadorean embassy in London over a rape allegation in Sweden. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) is expected to declare that his three-and-a-half years stuck in a cramped embassy office amount to illegal detention, the Swedish foreign ministry and Assange`s lawyers said Thursday. Assange, who has been holed up at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid arrest, said he expects the British police to call off their attempts to detain him if the panel rules in his favour. "Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," the Australian national said in a statement. But Swedish prosecutors said the ruling had no impact on its investigation into a 2010 rape allegation against Assange -- which he denies -- and London said it would have to arrest him as long as a European warrant was in force. Assange fears that, if detained, he could be extradited to the US be tried over the publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents. WikiLeaks filed a complaint against Sweden and Britain to the UN group in September 2014, claiming his confinement in the embassy was unlawful. The Swedish foreign ministry said the government had received a copy of the panel`s conclusions, which a spokeswoman told AFP "has come to another conclusion than Swedish judicial authorities". Founded by Assange in 2006, WikiLeaks has infuriated the United States by releasing some 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables. The main source of the leaks, US Army soldier Chelsea Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for breaches of the Espionage Act. The UN group`s report is due to be published at 0800 GMT. Assange`s legal team will hold a press conference in London at which the he "will be present" on Friday at 1200 GMT, WikiLeaks said in a statement, without detailing how.Christophe Marchand, one of his lawyers from the Brussels-based law firm Jus Cogens, told AFP he hoped Britain would "endeavour to free Assange" after the ruling. After it came to light that the UN panel is expected to rule in Assange`s favour, Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa told a news conference it "shows we were right, after so many years". "But who is going to compensate the harm that has been done to Julian Assange and to Ecuador?" Correa asked. "Do you know how much it costs to maintain security at the embassy?" As news of the latest development filtered through, British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood visited Assange at the embassy in London`s elite Knightsbridge district. A small group of supporters also gathered outside the building, holding up signs reading: "Free Assange" and "The Truth Must Never Be Silenced". Rulings by the UN group are not legally binding, although the Justice for Assange support group claimed it has influenced the release of prominent figures including Myanmar`s Aung San Suu Kyi and former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed. Swedish prosecutors said Thursday the panel`s ruling "has no formal significance for the ongoing investigation under Swedish law." Assange sought refuge in the embassy in June 2012 over fears he could be extradited and Ecuador granted him asylum. But he has faced immediate arrest if he stepped onto British soil as police maintained a 24-hour guard outside the embassy until October last year, when it scrapped it in favour of a "covert plan". The British government denied that Assange was ever arbitrarily detained, saying he was instead "voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest". "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden," a spokesman said. Mexico: Mexico`s navy said Thursday it was investigating allegations that marines sexually assaulted or tortured six women, marking the latest abuse claims against the country`s military. The announcement came after the governmental National Human Rights Commission called for an investigation and for sanctions over the claims dating back to 2012. The women were tortured or sexually abused, or both, according to the commission. One victim testified that she was having breakfast at a food stand in the eastern state of Veracruz when she was taken into a vehicle at gunpoint and driven to a navy facility without any explanation on April 13, 2012, according to the commission. There, she said, troops beat her and used electric shocks in her genitals and breasts. She was later taken to prosecutors and accused of organized crime. The same day, another victim said she was in her home in the same city, Boca del Rio, when marines entered her home and took her away. She was taken to a navy facility with four other women where she was also beaten and given electric shocks in her genitals and feet, causing her to lose a toe. The five women were sent to the attorney general`s office in Mexico City to be investigated. Mexican federal forces have faced multiple abuse accusations amid a relentless battle against drug cartels. The national rights commission says army troops extrajudicially executed between 12 and 15 gang suspects after a shootout in central Mexico in June 2014. In another case, four soldiers were arrested and accused of abducting and killing seven young people in the northern state of Zacatecas in July 2015. Mardin: Turkey all but ruled out direct talks with Kurdish militants to end one of the worst periods of bloodshed in a three-decade insurgency on Friday, saying the government would instead bring what it called civil society groups to the table. In a speech in the southeastern city of Mardin, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu unveiled what he billed as a new plan to bolster security and rebuild areas ravaged by conflict, but made clear the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group would be sidelined unless it laid down weapons. "We`re starting a new period for our national unity and brotherhood. We will talk to the the people directly. We`ll talk to everyone, except those who are holding guns in their hands," he told local officials and members of the ruling AK Party, including several cabinet ministers, at Mardin university. Davutoglu said the government`s plan includes economic measures such as interest-free loans for farmers. The PKK, which says it is fighting for Kurdish autonomy, launched an insurgency in the southeast in 1984. The conflict has since killed 40,000 people, most of them Kurds, and stunted growth in a region far less developed than western Turkey. VIOLENCE CONTINUES Ankara opened peace talks with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in late 2012. But a two-year ceasefire collapsed in July after what the government said were attacks on security forces, plunging the region into its worst violence since the 1990s. "First they will abandon arms, only then there may be an opportunity to talk to them," Davutoglu said of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union as well as by Turkey. Davutoglu was quoted by the Milliyet newspaper as saying on Thursday talks would from now on be held in Ankara, not the island prison of Imrali, where Ocalan has been held since 1999 and where previous discussions have taken place. He said Ocalan`s past instructions had been ignored by pro-Kurdish politicians, who were acting as mediators, and that there was therefore no point in talking to him. The Turkish army said it had killed 11 PKK fighters in the town of Cizre and seven in the Sur district of the main city of Diyarbakir on Thursday, bringing the militant death toll in the two areas to 700 since a security operation began in December. The conflict has stunted economic growth in the southeast. Statkraft, Europe`s largest producer of hydropower, said on Thursday it was suspending a major energy project in the region because of the insecurity. Damascus: NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that Russia`s air strikes in Syria targeting rebel forces are "undermining" efforts to find a non-military solution to the war. "What we have seen is that the intense Russian air strikes mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," Stoltenberg said as he arrived for talks in Amsterdam with EU defence ministers. Syrian peace talks in Geneva earlier this week broke up acrimoniously as long-time Moscow ally President Bashar al-Assad launched a fresh offensive against rebel forces in Aleppo with massive Russian backing. The UN Security Council is due to meet later Friday to discuss the situation, with the negotiations on hold until February 25. On Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had warned Moscow to stop targeting the Syrian opposition in what he described as a "robust" phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Stoltenberg said NATO strongly supported efforts to end the war in Syria, which has cost more than 250,000 lives and displaced half the population, many of them fleeing to Europe in its worst migrant crisis since World War II. He said the air strikes and Moscow`s military build-up in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean were a challenge for the US-led alliance and especially for key member Turkey, whose airspace Russian planes have violated. "The increased Russian presence (and) air activity in Syria is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace," he said. "This creates risks and heightens tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO," he added. Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet along its Syrian border in late November and the two sides have been engaged in a bitter war of words since. Tokyo: US satellite data suggests North Korea may have already begun fuelling a rocket it plans to launch this month in the face of international opposition, a Japanese newspaper reported on Friday, citing a US defence official. Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8-25, which is around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un. The North insists its space programme is purely scientific in nature, but the US and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland. North Korea "will finish preparations for the launch as soon as the next several days", the unidentified US Defence Department official told the Asahi Shimbun. Since today, satellite images have shown increased movement of people and equipment around the launch pad and a fuel storehouse at North Korea's Sohae satellite launch complex in the country's northwest, the official said, according to the Washington-datelined report. The United States judged that fuelling appears to have started as it has been monitoring Pyongyang's movements via military intelligence satellites which can analyse objects as small as 30 centimetres, the official was quoted as saying. Given the difficulty in stopping the process once fuelling begins, preparation work normally finishes within several days of that, the official told the Asahi. UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, and the imminent launch would amount to another major violation of UNSC resolutions following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test last month. In its formal notification sent to UN agencies, North Korea provided flight coordinates similar to its successful launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012. The separated first stage was predicted to fall in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of South Korea, followed by a second stage splashdown in the Philippine Sea. In order to avoid any possible collision, Japanese and South Korean airlines will be rerouting a number of flights during the launch window period. Japan's two biggest airlines -- All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines -- said they would be diverting planes that fly over waters off the Philippines. The change will affect three ANA flights -- from Tokyo's Haneda airport to Manila, from Manila to Tokyo's Narita International Airport, and from Jakarta in Indonesia to Narita, the airline said. Two JAL flights -- one from Jakarta to Narita and another from Narita to Manila -- will also be rerouted. VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in what could be a landmark step towards healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity. The Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate announced on Friday that Francis will stop in Cuba on Feb. 12 on his way to Mexico to hold talks with Patriarch Kirill, the first in history between a Roman Catholic pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch. There, they will appeal for an end to persecution and killing of Christians in the Middle East, the Russian side said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has aligned himself closely with the Russian Orthodox Church, making the meeting in Cuba not just a religious event but politically charged as well, especially when Russia is at odds with the West over Ukraine and Syria. Modern popes have met in the past with the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarchs, the spiritual leaders of Eastern Orthodoxy, which split with Rome in 1054. Those patriarchs play a largely symbolic role, while the rich Russian church wields real influence because it counts some 165 million of the world`s 250 million Orthodox Christians. The Vatican said the leaders would hold several hours of private talks at Havana airport, deliver public speeches and sign a joint statement. The meeting was brokered by Cuban President Raul Castro, who hosted the pope in Cuba last year. The Vatican helped arrange the rapprochement between Cuba and the United States. Such a meeting eluded Francis` two immediate predecessors, Benedict and John Paul, who both tried but failed to reach agreement with Kirill and previous patriarchs to hold talks on the prospects for eventual Christian unity. CLOSER COOPERATION Russia`s ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeyev, told TASS news agency the meeting showed Russia could play an important role in shaping Christianity. "In conditions of Western sanctions, the meeting of the two church leaders is a confirmation of the Christian civilisational role of Russia," Avdeyev said. Senior Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Hilarion said long-standing differences between the two churches would remain, most notably a row over the activity of the Eastern Rite Catholic church in Ukraine that is allied with Rome. Hilarion said the Ukraine dispute was "still on the agenda, and it remains an unhealed and a still bleeding sore thwarting normal relations between the two Churches". But he said it was being put aside so that Kirill and Francis could work together against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. They have often decried their oppression and killing by Islamist militants. A spokesman for The National Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate also welcomed the move. "It seems that Moscow is now looking for all opportunities to restore relations with the civilized world," Archbishop Yevstratiy Zoria told Reuters, stressing he was speaking in a personal capacity. "If the Pope manages to return the Kremlin to the fold of common sense, international law and civilized relations, let God help." The Russians had previously said outstanding differences had to be ironed out before any high-level meeting could be held. "The situation shaping up today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa and in some other regions where extremists are carrying out a genuine genocide of the Christian population demands urgent measures and an even closer cooperation between the Christian churches," Hilarion said. "We need to put aside internal disagreements at this tragic time and join efforts to save Christians in the regions where they are subject to the most atrocious persecution." The Russian Church has accused Catholics of trying to convert people from Orthodoxy after the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, a charge the Vatican has denied. One particularly sore point is the fate of church properties that Soviet dictator Josef Stalin confiscated from Eastern Rite Catholics in Ukraine and gave to the Russian Orthodox there. After the fall of communism, Eastern Rite Catholics took back many church properties, mostly in western Ukraine. Columbia: US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Russia Friday to implement a ceasefire in Syria, saying its bombing campaign was killing women and children in large numbers and "has to stop." "Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a ceasefire," Kerry told reporters, fresh from a trip to Europe focused on resolving the five-year Syrian conflict. "The Iranians confirmed in London just a day and a half ago they will support a ceasefire now." "We will have a much better sense in the next few days of how serious each party is," added Kerry, a day after he implicitly blamed Russia`s bombing campaign against the Syrian opposition for the collapse of peace talks in Geneva this week. Moscow, Damascus`s main ally, has stepped up bombing around the Syrian city of Aleppo in recent days, facilitating a government offensive that has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee to the Turkish border. Kerry accused the Russian military of using "dumb bombs." "They are not precision bombs, and there are civilians, including women and children, being killed in large numbers as a consequence," he said, during a joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Russian planes are also targeting hospitals and returning to bomb people rescuing those wounded in earlier air strikes, he added. "This has to stop", Kerry said. "The Russians have made some constructive ideas about how a ceasefire in fact could be implemented," he added. "But if it`s just talk for the sake of talk in order to continue the bombing, nobody is going to accept that." Kerry`s comments represent a clear shift in tone following a months-long attempt to cooperate with Russia over a way out of the Syrian crisis. Washington has accused Moscow of being "partly" responsible for torpedoing peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday that had barely begun. The US and Russia were chiefly responsible for the resumption of diplomatic efforts to end the war. After meetings in Vienna and New York in late 2015, regional and global powers within the International Syria Support Group -- including Washington, Moscow, Riyadh and Tehran -- are to meet in Munich next week to discuss a ceasefire in a war that has killed some 260,000 people and generated millions of refugees. The diplomatic process was set in motion in December by a UN Security Council resolution passed by its 15 members, including Moscow. Belgrade: Serbia`s parliament on Friday dismissed Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic over an insulting remark he made to a female journalist. Lawmakers voted to sack Gasic two months after the incident that prompted Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to immediately promise to fire him. Gasic caused public outrage in early December by making a comment about a woman television reporter who had knelt down to avoid getting in the shot while he was making a statement. "I like these female journalists who kneel down so easily," Gasic said. Serbian journalists have held protests fortnightly ever since, demanding that the minister be sacked. Prime Minister Vucic said he would propose a new minister to the parliament within two weeks. Gasic, 48, was mayor of the central town of Krusevac before taking office as defence minister in April 2014. He is one of Vucic`s closest allies and vice-president of the ruling Serbian People`s Party (SNS). Damascus: In its latest victory against militant groups, the Syrian army has fully captured the town of Ratyan in Aleppo province, the media reported on Friday. According to a report by the pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV, the capture of Ratyan is another blow to the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in the northern countryside of Aleppo, where the Syrian army backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah group have been actively progressing, cutting off rebels from key supply lines from neighbouring Turkey, Xinhua news agency reported. The report said the army is now advancing into the town of Mayer, to northwest of Ratyan. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Hezbollah and Iranian fighters of the Iranian Republican Guards were backing the Syrian troops in the latest push in northern Aleppo. It added that the control of Ratyan came after heavy shelling and continued fire cover as well as airstrikes by the Russian and Syrian warplanes. Capturing Ratyan and progressing into Mayer came after the Syrian army captured key towns in northern Aleppo, namely tDweir Zaitoun, Hardatnain, Tal Jbain, and Maraset al-Khan, all the way toward breaking the Nusra Front siege on the Shia towns of Nubbol and Zahraa. Nubbol and Zahraa had been under the militants` siege for over three years. Damascus: Tens of thousands of Syrians were apparently streaming towards Turkey on Friday as regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo, while Moscow and Ankara traded barbs over the escalating crisis. Turkey`s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking at a conference in London where donors pledged more than $10 billion in aid for Syrians, said up to 70,000 people were headed towards his country to escape the fighting. Some 300,000 people are thought to be isolated in Aleppo after the rebels` main supply route was severed by regime forces backed by Russian warplanes in an offensive that scuppered peace talks this week. The UN Security Council will meet Friday for consultations with envoy Staffan de Mistura over the breakdown of the negotiations, which had been hailed as the biggest diplomatic push to end Syria`s five-year war, which have been suspended until February 25. "The situation in the north countryside of Aleppo is catastrophic," said Maamoun al-Khateeb, an activist and journalist from nearby Marea village. "Civilians are now besieged from three sides and have just one road to the Turkish territories," he said, explaining that regime forces threatened from the south, Islamic State (IS) jihadists from the east and Kurdish fighters from the west. As the offensive raged, diplomatic tensions were also rising, with Moscow accusing opposition supporter Ankara of preparing to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border. Hours earlier Davutoglu had accused supporters of President Bashar al-Assad, which include Russia, of "committing the same war crimes" as the regime. Western nations have accused Syria`s government of torpedoing peace talks this week with its military offensive, and Washington demanded Moscow halt its campaign in support of Assad. Russian bombings killed at least 21 civilians, including three children, on Thursday, according to Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. In London for the donors conference, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had warned Moscow to stop targeting the Syrian opposition, in a "robust" phone call with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, which backs opponents of the regime, said it was ready to join any ground operation by the US-led coalition against IS in Syria. "If there is any willingness in the coalition to go in the ground operation, we will contribute positively in that," Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told AFP. More than 260,000 people have died in Syria`s conflict and more than half the country`s population have been forced from their homes, while the chaos has helped to fuel the rise of extremist groups such as IS across the region. The World Bank on Thursday estimated the war has cost Syria and its neighbours -- Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt -- some $35 billion so far. Measured by 2007 prices, that is the equivalent of Syria`s entire economic output that year. Aleppo city, Syria`s former economic powerhouse, has been divided between opposition control in the east and regime control in the west since mid-2012. The rebels` main supply line to Turkey was severed on Wednesday when regime troops broke an opposition siege of two Shiite towns, Nubol and Zahraa, on the route to the border. Regime forces entered the two towns on Thursday to the cheers of residents, who chanted pro-government slogans and showered the fighters with rice. But elsewhere in the region the advance prompted tens of thousands to flee for fear of being caught up in the fighting. Davutoglu said 60,000 to 70,000 people were "moving towards Turkey" and 10,000 were "waiting at the door" on the border because of air strikes and attacks around Aleppo. The Observatory said nearly 40,000 people in Aleppo province had fled their homes, with many massing at the border. A high-ranking Syrian government official described the Aleppo advances as important, but said the regime had even more ambitious goals. "The next objectives are to close the borders with Turkey to prevent the arrival of troops and weapons, then taking Aleppo province, then Idlib province, and finally Idlib city," he told AFP. Quito: Ecuador said Friday that Britain and Sweden must allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to walk free from its London embassy, after a UN panel ruled his confinement amounted to arbitrary detention. "It is time for both governments (Britain and Sweden) to correct their mistake, time for them to allow Julian Assange his freedom, time for them to end this arbitrary detention and furthermore compensate the damage done to this man," Ecuador`s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino told a press conference. Stockholm: Here are key dates in the five-year legal saga of Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. - November 18, 2010: A Swedish prosecutor issues a European arrest warrant for Assange on sexual assault charges involving two Swedish women. Assange denies the charges, saying the young women consented. WikiLeaks starts releasing more than 250,000 classified US diplomatic cables, revealing often frank assessments of US officials as well as the views of other governments. Some 500,000 classified military documents concerning American diplomacy and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had already been released by Wikileaks in July and October, 2010, respectively. - December 7, 2010: Assange turns himself in to police in London and is placed in custody pending a ruling on the Swedish extradition request. He is later released on bail and calls the Swedish rape allegations a smear campaign. Under the bail conditions, he must live at a supporter`s mansion in England. - February 24, 2011: A British judge rules that Assange can be extradited to Sweden. In November Britain`s High Court rejects an appeal against his extradition. Assange fears Sweden will hand him over to US authorities who could prosecute him for publishing the documents and possibly sentence him to death. - June 19, 2012: Assange requests political asylum at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. He is allowed to stay there by the government in Quito. - October 25, 2013: Ecuador demands that Britain allows Assange to fly to Quito. - July 16, 2014: A Swedish court upholds the European arrest warrant against Assange. - August 18, 2014 Assange`s lawyer says he will not leave the embassy until it is guaranteed he will avoid extradition to the United States. - November 20, 2014: Assange loses an appeal against the arrest warrant. - September 12, 2014: Assange files a complaint against Sweden and Britain with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. - February 6, 2015: WikiLeaks says the cost of policing Assange is 10 million (13 million euros, $14.5 million), the equivalent of 39,000 hospital beds. Police say they spend 11,000 euros a day on surveillance. - February 25, 2015: Assange`s lawyers ask Sweden`s Supreme Court to quash the arrest warrant. - March 13, 2015: Swedish prosecutors offer to question Assange in London. He initially accepts, but Quito demands later that an Ecuadorean prosecutor do the questioning. - February 2, 2016: Assange says he will turn himself over to British police if the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention rules that he has not been arbitrarily detained. - February 4, 2016: The UN panel rules that Assange`s confinement in the Ecuadorean embassy amounts to illegal detention, Sweden`s foreign ministry says. - February 5, 2016: The UN panel confirms its view that Assange has been "arbitrarily detained," saying he should be able to claim compensation from Britain and Sweden over his time in the embassy. Britain immediately rejects the ruling, saying it will challenge it. United Nations: Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations wants to invite the Security Council to visit war-wracked eastern Ukraine in the coming months. Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko told reporters yesterday that "ideally" the visit to the Donetsk region would take place in the summer. The envoy said Russia was "quite pessimistic" about the proposed trip, which is still in its planning stages, and he suggested that not all 15 council ambassadors might take part. Ukraine joined the Security Council in January as a non-permanent member, sitting alongside Russia which has veto power in the top UN body. The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed than 9,000 people since April 2014 and revived East-West tensions in Europe. Kiev and the West have accused Russia of supporting the insurgency in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border, claims that Moscow has repeatedly denied. Ukraine and Russia reached a ceasefire deal brokered by France and Germany in the Belarus capital of Minsk last February, but sporadic clashes still take place. Beirut: Up to 20,000 Syrians fleeing a government advance in northern Aleppo province have gathered at a border crossing with Turkey, the United Nations said on Friday. "It is estimated that up to 20,000 people have gathered at the Bab al-Salama border crossing and another 5,000 to 10,000 people have been displaced to Azaz city" nearby, said Linda Tom, a spokeswoman for the UN`s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. She said another 10,000 people were estimated to have been displaced to the Kurdish town of Afrin, elsewhere in northern Aleppo. "There is currently one IDP (internally displaced persons) camp in Afrin district and plans are under way to expand the camp," she told AFP. "The fighting has also disrupted major aid and supply routes from the Turkish border," she added. "Humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs of those displaced, but ongoing military conflict is making access to populations in need increasingly difficult." Syrian government forces backed by allied militias and Russian airpower began a major offensive in northern Aleppo on Monday, seizing a string of villages from rebels and severing their main supply route to Turkey. The advances have prompted tens of thousands of people to flee and left the opposition and civilians in rebel-held eastern Aleppo city virtually encircled. On Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned that up to 70,000 people were heading to his country, with 10,000 already waiting at the border. Turkey already hosts about 2.5 million Syrian refugees. Seoul: The United States has deployed missile defence systems that will work with the Japanese and South Korean militaries to track a rocket North Korea says it will launch some time over an 18-day period beginning Monday. China, the North`s sole major ally but opposed to Pyongyang`s nuclear programme, appealed for calm. North Korea has notified U.N. agencies it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25, triggering international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme. But it is barred under U.N. Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology. Coming so soon after North Korea`s fourth nuclear test, on Jan. 6, also barred by Security Council resolutions, a rocket launch would raise concern that it plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles, giving it the capability to strike South Korea, Japan and possibly the U.S. West Coast. China has told North Korea that it does not want to see anything happen that could further raise tension, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, describing "a serious situation", after a special envoy from China visited North Korea this week. The United States has urged China to use its influence to rein in its neighbour. Speaking to President Park Geun-hye, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he hoped all parties could bear in mind the broader picture of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and "calmly deal with the present situation", China`s Foreign Ministry said. "The peninsula cannot be nuclearised, and cannot have war or chaos," Xi said, also repeating a call for dialogue. Japan`s Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted Pentagon officials as saying that fuelling of the rocket appeared to have begun.It cited satellite footage showing increased activity around the missile launch and fuel storage areas, suggesting preparations for a launch could be completed within "a number of days" at the earliest. A launch would draw fresh U.S. calls for tougher U.N. sanctions that are already under discussion in response to the nuclear test. What would likely be an indigenous three-stage rocket will be tracked closely. South Korea and Japan have put their militaries on standby to shoot down the rocket, or its parts, if they go off course and threaten to crash on their territory. "We will, as we always do, watch carefully if there`s a launch, track the launch, (and) have our missile defence assets positioned and ready," U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Thursday. "We plan a lot about it. We and our close allies the Japanese and the South Koreans - are ready for it." South Korea has said its Aegis destroyers, its Green Pine anti-ballistic missile radar and early warning and control aircraft Peace Eye are ready. A U.S. Navy spokesman confirmed the missile tracking ship USNS Howard O. Lorenzen arrived in Japan this week but declined to say if it was in response to the North`s planned launch. Washington: US Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed on Thursday a Saudi offer to participate in any ground operations in Syria launched by the US-led coalition. Carter said increased activity by other countries would make it easier for the United States to accelerate its fight against Islamic State militants. "That kind of news is very welcome," he told reporters while on a visit to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Carter said he looked forward to discussing the offer of ground troops with the Saudi defense minister in Brussels next week. He said the Saudi government had indicated a willingness to do more in the fight against Islamic State, which controls vast swaths of Syria and Iraq. For instance, Saudi officials had said they would help marshal some Muslim countries to join in the fight, and to ensure that Iraqi and Syrian populations were able to prevent a reemergence of the military group later, Carter said. Carter said he planned to use next week`s meetings in Brussels to help encourage more broad-based support for accelerating the fight against Islamic State. The Pentagon chief said the United States was also watching events in Libya very carefully but had made no decision on expanding its role there. "The concern there is that Libya not get on a glide slope to the kind of situation that we find elsewhere, where (Islamic State), in a politically disrupted environment, seizes a foothold, gathers a piece of territory from which it is able to tyrannise people, and plot operations elsewhere," Carter said. Islamic State forces have attacked Libya`s oil infrastructure and established a foothold in the city of Sirte, exploiting a power vacuum in the country where two rival governments have been battling for supremacy. Carter said the focus was now on political change in Libya, where the warring administrations are expected to form a unity government. "The most important objective right now is to help Libyans come together and help put their government back together," he said. Once that was accomplished, the US government had said it was willing to join other countries, including Italy, in helping secure the country, he said. Tokyo: A volcano in southern Japan dramatically erupted Friday, with television footage showing fiery hot lava flowing down its slopes and smoke rising skyward. The Japan Meteorological Agency said on its website that Sakurajima in southern Kagoshima prefecture erupted at 6:56 pm (0956 GMT). There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The eruption shot out large rocks, with the agency warning debris and pyroclastic flows -- super hot and fast-moving mixture of gases and rock fragments -- could reach as far as two kilometres (1.25 miles) away from the eruption vents. But it did not affect the operation of the closest nuclear reactors, sitting some 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the mountain, but highlighted concerns among activists, media reports quoted operator Kyushu Electric as saying. The weather agency raised the 1,117-metre (3,665-foot) volcano`s alert status to Level 3, which bans entry onto the mountain, from Level 2, which limited people from going near the vents. The elevated level, however, stopped short of urging local residents to prepare for possible evacuation, according to the agency. Local police have received no immediate report of damage on the peninsula of Sakurajima, where the volcano is located, which has a population of about 4,000 people. The volcano sits about 12 kilometres across a bay from the main part of the city of Kagoshima, with a population of more than 600,000 people, on the southern main island of Kyushu. The volcano frequently spits out smoke and ash and is a major tourist attraction and one of Japan`s most famous sites. A volcano expert told NHK that the eruption happened away from residential areas, and did not expect it to have a significant impact. But it highlighted concerns that the volcano could affect nuclear reactors some 50 kilometres away, according to campaign group Greenpeace. Kyushu Electric conducted "flawed volcano risk analysis" that "underestimated the potential impacts of ash deposits on operations of the Sendai nuclear reactors following a major volcanic eruption," Greenpeace said in a statement, released shortly after the latest eruption. Sakurajima last went through a major eruption in 2013, spewing an ash plume up to 5,000 metres into the air, causing damage but no major injuries. There are scores of active volcanoes in Japan, which sits on the so-called "Ring of Fire", where a large proportion of the world`s quakes and eruptions are recorded. In September 2014, Mount Ontake in central Nagano prefecture violently erupted, leaving 58 people dead and five others missing in the nation`s deadliest eruption for almost 90 years. London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and Sweden on Friday to let him freely leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a U.N. panel ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and should be awarded compensation. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the U.N. panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange`s favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. Brandishing a copy of the U.N. panel`s decision from the balcony of the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, Assange called on Britain and Sweden to implement the ruling. "How sweet it is. This this a victory that cannot be denied," said Assange, wearing a loosened gold tie with the top button of his shirt undone "What right does this government, or the U.S. government, or the Swedish government have to deny my children their father?" he said below the yellow, blue and red Ecuadorian flag. When a heckler persistently asked whether he planned to stay for five more years in the embassy, Assange quipped: "Can someone close that person up." Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the accusation is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," the group`s head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. "(It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Ecuador`s foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said Assange must be allowed to go free. "What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?" he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. Kiev: Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Friday threatened to quit along with his entire government in the latest escalation of a political crisis rocking the former Soviet state. The warning raises the possibility of Ukraine holding snap parliamentary polls should Yatsenyuk`s replacement fail to win lawmakers` approval or the current pro-Western coalition breaks up and a new one is not formed. But analysts said the prospects of pro-Russian forces storming back to power in elections and Ukraine losing vital Western financial support made Yatsenyuk`s statement sound more like a bluff designed to reinforce his increasingly insecure position. "If it is decided that this team should be changed, then we will all leave together," the 41-year-old former banker told a televised meeting of parliament. Ukraine has been on edge since the shock resignation on Wednesday of its reformist Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius. The Lithuanian-born economy chief accused a top member of President Petro Poroshenko`s party of trying to get his own people into senior ministry posts and blocking his efforts to break the tycoons` years-long stranglehold on state industries. Abromavicius has further been quoted as saying that he would like to see US-born Economy Minister Natalie Jaresko -- a key player in restructuring Ukraine`s massive debt -- replace his foe Yatsenyuk. The resignation sparked alarm among Ukraine`s Western allies and prompted Poroshenko to hold a meeting with ambassadors from the G7 countries in a bid to allay their concerns. The president came out of Thursday`s talks promising "to continue the reforms that the Ukrainian society expects from the authorities." "For this to happen, it is essential to reset the government," the presidential website quoted him as saying. The prospects of a cabinet reshuffle in mid-February has been forecast by the Ukrainian media for some time. But Yatsenyuk`s statement appeared to be aimed directly at Poroshenko`s remarks about a government "reset". The two leaders worked closely together in the heady days that followed Ukraine`s dramatic 2014 pro-EU revolution and through the subsequent pro-Russian revolt in the separatist east. Yet disagreements between them have become more frequent and Yatsenyuk seems unwilling to let the president and his parliamentary party have more influence over the coalition government`s makeup.Some analysts said that Poroshenko and Yatsenyuk were likely to work through their immediate differences because the alternatives were too stark. An expression of "concern" about Abromavicius`s decision by IMF chief Christine Lagarde on Thursday renewed Ukrainian fears of being left without crucial aid promised by the global lender nearly a year ago. Nomura International strategist Timothy Ash wrote in the Kyiv Post that the winner of early elections "would likely be the Opposition Party formed largely from the remnants of former (Russian-backed) President Viktor Yanukovych`s Regions Party." "Yatsenyuk is not at immediate risk of losing his job, though a limited cabinet reshuffle is likely," the Eurasia Group political risk consultancy added in a research note. Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center has a special wing, 10-South, in which terrorism suspects who have been kidnapped from foreign territories are imprisoned and tortured in secret, before being given secret trials and lengthy sentences. The families and attorneys of prisoners in 10-South are subject to "special administrative measures" (SAMs) that prohibit them from discussing the conditions in the wing. Multiple terrorism suspects have been kidnapped from overseas and brought to 10-South for years of solitary confinement, a practice classed as torture by the UN and by the majority of academics who study torture. The solitary confinement and SAMs are inflicted on prisoners before they are tried or sentenced. One prisoner who was held at both 10-South and Guantanamo says the conditions in New York City's black site are worse than those in Cuba, a view that is confirmed by Joshua Dratel, an attorney who's represented clients in both facilities. Most of the prisoners tortured in MCC 10-South plead guilty, but forced confessions are simply not credible. One prisoner who recently entered into a plea bargain after two and a half years in MCC is Mahdi Hashi, a British national who was stripped of his UK passport by the British governmetn while he was in Somalia, leaving him stateless. He travelled from Djibouti to visit the UK consulate and plead his case, and according to him, was kidnapped by secret policemen who gagged and blindfolded him and beat him for hours, with assistance from FBI agents. His lawyers say his captors threatened him with physical violence and rape if he didn't cooperate. After 30 months of solitary confinement Hashi plead guilty to providing material aid to al Shabaab. He will likely spend the next nine years in solitary at a supermax prison. The judge who sentenced Hashi agreed that Hashi did not support or attempt to induce violent attacks rather, he was trying to broker a truce between al Shabaab and other forces to restore peace to Somalia. In an account to be published in a new book on solitary confinement titled Hell Is a Very Small Place a Pakistani prisoner, Uzair Paracha, gives one of the most detailed illustrations yet of incarceration at the MCC. He was held in isolation there for two-and-a-half years after he was arrested in 2003 at age 23. "The windows were huge but the glass was frosted so we had a lot of light but couldn't see a thing," he said. "It was a shade of white during the day, blue in the evening and early morning, black at night, and yellow when it snowed, as the snow reflected the streetlights. This was one way to estimate the time since they didn't allow any watches." Video cameras constantly monitored the inside of Paracha's cell, including the shower and toilet areas. Lighting was completely controlled from the outside, so that guards could deliberately leave the lights on at night to make sleeping harder. With their metallic walls, the cells were like ovens in the summer and freezing in the winter. The medical effects of Paracha's imprisonment at the MCC were severe: a weakening of his eyesight, brought about by having his entire world just a few feet away; a deterioration of physical coordination that made walking on stairs harder; and breathing problems, especially while trying to sleep. THE GUANTANAMO IN NEW YORK YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW ABOUT [Arun Kundnani/The Intercept] (via MCC New York jeh, Jim Henderson, CC-0) By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Statistics Canada said on Thursday it planned to temporarily delay the publication of economic data from media lock-ups because of recent delays in updating the federal agency's website. Statscan, which releases data precisely at 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT), said starting Friday Feb. 5, for the time being it would not open communications channels from the media lock-up until the daily release had been published on the website. Statscan announced similar plans in 2012 but backed down after Reuters and other news organizations who report on the data to financial clients complained it would be disruptive. Many banks and trading organizations use sophisticated programs that can execute trades in less than a second after data are released. Gabrielle Beaudoin, director general of the communications division at Statscan, said the agency had a duty to publish information for all users at the same time. In recent weeks, the release had hit the website a few seconds late, she said. "Our mandate is not to support the financial markets. Our mandate is to produce quality information for Canadians ... we have to be equitable to everyone in Canada," she said in a phone interview. Beaudoin said that once the technical problems had been solved, Statscan would resume the practice of releasing information from the media lock-up at 8:30 am. All communications are turned off in the lock-ups, where reporters are given the information an hour ahead of time so they can prepare their reports. A Statscan official opens the communications lines at the end of the lock-up. Statscan is due to release employment and trade data on Friday. (Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson) Sweden's foreign ministry has said a UN report concludes that Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" in a London embassy. Ministry spokeswoman Katarina Byrenius Roslund said: "Their working group has made the judgement that Assange has been arbitrarily detained in contravention of international commitments." The WikiLeaks founder, 44, has been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in west London since June 2012 and has been granted political asylum by the Ecuador government. A lawyer for the 44-year-old told Associated Press news agency that if the UN panel rules he has been arbitrarily detained, then Sweden has no other option but to revoke an arrest warrant which could allow him to walk free from the embassy. Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of sexual assault against two women in 2010. He denies the allegations. Britain has said Mr Assange would be arrested if he leaves the embassy and then extradited to Sweden. On Thursday, Mr Assange had said he would leave the embassy after more than three years if he lost his legal appeal to the UN. In a statement, he said: "(But) should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me." The Australian had filed a complaint against Sweden and the UK in September 2014, which was being considered by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Mr Assange claims if he went to Sweden he could be handed over to US authorities for prosecution over the disclosure of classified military and diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks in 2010. In the UN submission, he argued that he is the victim of a witch hunt directed by the US and his fate is a test case for freedom of expression. He also argued that he had been deprived of his fundamental liberties while staying in the embassy, including a lack of access to sunlight or fresh air, adequate medical facilities and has been subjected to legal and procedural insecurity. Story continues Vaughan Smith, a friend of Mr Assange, said he was "delighted" by reports of the UN decision. He told Sky News: "He has appealed to the highest authority available to him and they have come out in his favour completely, and I'm delighted that the Swedish government have recognised this and hopefully they'll drop the case and Julian will be able to go to Ecuador or wherever he likes. "We have failed shamefully in our human rights, in our treatment of this person. I think to disregard that sends a terrible message. "How are we going to hold our head high as a country that considers itself to be full of fair and decent people if we're not prepared to respect rafts of human rights legislation." A British government spokeswoman said: "We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy. "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden." The ruling is set to be published by the UN body on Friday. DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain is ready to commit ground troops to Syria as part of a U.-S.-led coalition against Islamic State, the Gulf island state said on Friday, a day after its larger neighbour and close ally Saudi Arabia announced a similar pledge. Bahraini ambassador to Britain Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa said in a statement that Bahrain would commit troops to operate "in concert with the Saudis" under what he called the international coalition against terrorism. He added that the United Arab Emirates, a fellow member of the Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), was also ready to commit troops, echoing an assertion made late last year by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash. Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led alliance decides to start such operations, an adviser to the Saudi defence minister said. The Bahraini ambassador said the Saudi initiative in Syria was meant to combat both Islamic State and "the brutal Assad regime", a reference to President Bashar al-Assad, a bitter foe of Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Fawaz also announced the GCC had decided to base a new unified GCC naval operations centre in Bahrain. "The establishment of a joint (Gulf Arab) force shows clearly and unequivocally that under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states are determined to take positive action within the region and globally to combat terrorism and extremism, from whatever quarter they emanate," he said. (This version of the story corrects paragraph 2 to show Bahrain troops would operate under international coalition, rather than as part of a Gulf Arab command as original statement said) (Reporting by William Maclean; Editing by Mark Potter and Dominic Evans) By Amina Ismail and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan CAIRO (Reuters) - The body of an Italian student who went missing in Cairo was found half naked by the roadside with cigarette burns and other signs of torture, a senior Egyptian prosecutor said on Thursday. In Rome, Italy's Foreign Ministry summoned the Egyptian ambassador to express concern over the death of Giulio Regeni, who disappeared on Jan. 25, the five-year anniversary of the uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. The body of the 28-year-old Cambridge University doctoral student has been taken to a Cairo morgue, a morgue worker and security officials said. Security officials said an investigation had begun. Regeni was found at the start of the highway from Cairo to Alexandria, they said. A friend said Regeni had disappeared after leaving his home in a smart district in Cairo to meet another friend downtown. Last year, Islamic State militants kidnapped a Croatian man from the outskirts of Cairo and later beheaded him, but such incidents are rare and there was a heavy police presence in downtown Cairo when Regeni went missing. Although the cause of death is still unclear, Regeni's case could hurt Egypt's efforts to project an image of stability and attract more tourism and foreign investment after years of political turmoil and Islamist militant violence. The Italian Foreign Ministry's director general, Michele Valensise, "urgently" summoned Egyptian Ambassador Amr Mostafa Kamal Helmy after Regeni's body was found on Wednesday. The ministry said it expected "maximum collaboration at all levels in light of the exceptional gravity of what happened". Italian Industry Minister Federica Guidi cut short a two-day visit to Egypt on Wednesday after Regeni's death was reported. A copy of Regeni's CV, provided by another friend, indicated he spoke four languages and had won several scholarships. His research focused on trade unions in Egypt after the 2011 uprising that ended Mubarak's 30-year rule. Human rights groups say Egyptians are often detained by police on little evidence and beaten or coerced. Scores have disappeared since 2013. Egypt denies allegations of police brutality. Islamist militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. They have also targeted Westerners. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Louise Ireland) A Carleton University legal studies professor will lead a study on sexual violence on Ontario campuses with the help of a $236,000 funding boost from the province. A rape survivor herself, Dr. Dawn Moore said her study will focus primarily on those who experience sexual violence. She said the long overdue study will also explore whether or not schools take a victim-centred approach to investigating the reports, and examine the relationship between police services and post-secondary institutions. "It should have happened 20 years ago. We've known that there was a crisis of sexual violence on campus," Moore said. "Every day that we wait on trying to implement preventative measures is one more day that another woman gets assaulted. We can't act fast enough." Moore said her research team hopes to complete a report by mid-April, so that it can inform the final draft of Bill 132, the Ontario government's anti-sexual violence bill. Reporting sexual violence Moore said her team will study the experiences of both those who report sexual violence and those who chose not to report and why they made those decisions. According to the province, an estimated one in three Canadian women experiences sexual assault but less than four per cent of sexual assaults are reported to police. Moore said the study also aims to find out if those who did report sexual violence felt supported, believed, and in the end satisfied with the result. "The million dollar question is, do they feel safer on campus after having reported? Did it have a positive effect for them?" Moore said. Last fall, a University of Ottawa student who reported to police that she was choked and raped at a party told CBC News police told her the sexual assault was a misunderstanding. After telling her story publicly, police reviewed the case and charged her accused rapist in absentia because he had returned to his home in Lebanon. Funding for other studies Story continues The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services also announced on Thursday an additional $139,000 for five other research projects on reporting, responding to and preventing sexual violence, for a total of nearly $375,000. The funding includes: - $42,000 to a Carleton-led team to research how sexual crimes are policed in the new digital world. - $6,500 to a team led by a Trent University researcher to study how the Ontario Provincial Police responds to reports of sexual assault against people with developmental disabilities. - $15,000 to a University of Ontario Institute of Technology team to research the experience students, faculty and staff have when reporting sexual assault or sexual harassment, with a focus on sexual victimization. - $25,000 to a University of Ontario Institute of Technology team to work with the Durham Regional Police Service to study how post-secondary institutions work with police services on issues of sexual violence. - Nearly $50,000 to a Wilfrid Laurier University researcher to study how to enhance collaboration between post-secondary institutions and police services. The province said that the results of the studies will be used to shape future policy and programs for survivors of sexual assault. (This version of the February 2nd corrects paragraph 2 to show Switzerland is not a task force donor; no other changes) ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) - Funding for a multinational force to combat Boko Haram's deadly Islamist insurgency in West and Central Africa remains well short of its target, an African Union official said on Tuesday. So far donors, including Nigeria and France, have pledged about $250 million to fund the 8,700-strong regional force, the African Union's Peace and Security Council said after a meeting in Addis Ababa to discuss funding. The talks followed the militia's latest attack, which killed at least 65 people in northeast Nigeria on Saturday. The $250 million includes both previous pledges and those made during Monday's conference, said Orlando Bama, communications officer for the African Union's Peace and Security Council. He did not give further details. That covers just over a third of the $700 million budget announced for the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) last year. The task force -- to be made up of regional African militaries -- has yet to mobilize. Instead, national armies are tackling Boko Haram individually, but they often cannot follow the insurgency across the region's long, porous borders. The region threatened by Boko Haram is one of the poorest in the world, and all the countries in the task force, barring Benin, are oil producers whose budgets have been battered by falling prices. Boko Haram has killed thousands of people and driven more than 2 million people from their homes during its six-year insurgency. Regional armies from Niger, Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon mounted an offensive against the insurgents last year that ousted them from many positions in northern Nigeria. The United States has also sent troops to supply intelligence and other assistance. But progress has been slow. "The answer lies in there being political will and the capability to back the force," said Imad Mesdoua, at Africa Matters consultancy in London. "This has been a regular problem with multi-national task forces in Africa." (Reporting by Aaron Maasho in Addis Ababa and Edward McAllister in Dakar; writing by Edward McAllister; editing by Katharine Houreld) By Renee Maltezou and Alkis Konstantinidis ATHENS (Reuters) - Scuffles broke out and police used teargas during a mass rally in Athens on Thursday as Greeks railed against government pension reforms needed to meet demands of international creditors. Demanding an end to austerity, about 50,000 Greeks marched peacefully on parliament in central Athens chanting for the government to ditch the proposals, which many see as a betrayal of the leftist values of the main governing party, Syriza. Public health workers carried black balloons, and a large banner depicting a hunched-over nurse with a walking stick. "This is retirement at 67," it said, a reference to the later pension age that will come from the reforms. Breaking away from the main march, black clad youths hurled stones and petrol bombs at police, who responded with rounds of teargas and stun grenades. Some of them smashed bus stops and set a car alight after the march, during a cat-and-mouse game between police and protesters in the back streets of central Athens. The angry backlash is piling pressure on leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, first elected just over a year ago. With just a three-seat majority in parliament, he is stuck between either pushing the reforms through to appease international creditors, or attracting the wrath of thousands of Greeks. "They should be strung up here, in Syntagma Square," said pensioner Nikos Ghinis as he walked along with thousands of others in central Athens. "I'm getting 740 euros ($826.21) a month for 40 years of work ... I'm (demonstrating) here for my children and grandchildren," he told Reuters. It was the second nationwide walkout since Tsipras took power in January 2015 on a pledge to end years of austerity, only to cave in under the threat of expulsion from the euro zone and sign up to new belt-tightening reforms under an EU-IMF bailout package worth up to 86 billion euros. "They are raiding our souls not just our pockets," said 70-year old George Stathopoulos. "They betrayed us." BAILOUT TALKS The 24-hour strike coincides with a major review of Greece's performance on terms of its bailout. The heads of the European Union and International Monetary Fund mission assessing Greece's progress arrived in Athens earlier this week to discuss the pension plan, tax reforms and bad loans weighing on Greek banks. In Washington, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde told reporters that Greece's pension system was not sustainable and needed to be reformed but the Fund wanted to see Greece succeed. "I really don't like it when we are portrayed as the draconian, rigorous, terrible IMF," she said. "We have said that fiscal consolidation should not be excessive, so that the economy could work and eventually expand. But it needs to add up." Greek ministers were in talks with the mission chiefs in a hotel near Syntagma square in Athens, when the clashes erupted. The government wants to conclude the review swiftly to start talks on debt relief and convince Greeks that their sacrifices are paying off after six years of austerity and a deep recession that have brought the jobless rate to 25 percent. Greece's economy will be the only one in the European Union to shrink this year, the EU Commission said on Thursday, but the fall is much smaller than previously estimated. Greece has promised to cut pension spending by 1 percent of GDP, or 1.8 billion euros, this year. To protect retired people whose pensions have been slashed 11 times already since 2010, the government plans to increase social security contributions by employees and employers. But unions say the new plan will increase unemployment as the costs for hard-pressed businesses will go up, and will force workers, mainly the self-employed, into tax evasion as it links social security contributions to declared income. Under the terms of pension reform, social security contributions will increase almost threefold in coming years. (Additional reporting Phoebe Fronista in Athens and David Lawder in Washington; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt and Chris Reese) Japan has put its military on alert over North Korean plans for a satellite launch, which are being viewed in the region as a long-range missile test. South Korea has warned Pyongyang would pay a "severe price" if it went ahead with the move, while China has also raised concerns and called on the regime to exercise restraint. Reports of the planned launch led to renewed calls by the US for tougher UN sanctions, which already being discussed following North Korea's recent nuclear test . Pyongyang informed UN agencies this week that it planned to launch an "earth observation satellite" later this month. Japan has said it will shoot down the missile if it crosses into its airspace and prime minister Shinzo Abe condemned called the plan a "serious provocation". In a statement, the government in Seoul said: "North Korea's notice of the plan to launch a long-range missile, coming at a time when there is a discussion for Security Council sanctions on its fourth nuclear test, is a direct challenge to the international community. "We strongly warn that the North will pay a severe price ...if it goes ahead with the long-range missile launch plan." US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the UN needed to "send the North Koreans a swift, firm message". However, Pyongyang has said it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme by launching rockets. US officials said last week North Korea was believed to be preparing for a test launch of a long-range rocket, after activity at its test site was observed by satellite. North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December, 2012, sending what it described as a communications satellite into orbit. Last month, North Korea claimed it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb although doubt was cast on this by the US and South Korean officials. They said the blast was too small for it to have been a full-fledged hydrogen bomb. Talks between the mayors of Canada's largest cities and Justin Trudeau's Liberal government continued today in Ottawa. "We are restarting a relationship that had been significantly neglected over the last 10 years," Justin Trudeau told reporters at the conclusion of their Friday morning meeting on Parliament Hill. From the mayors' perspective, Gregor Robertson of Vancouver said his colleagues were "thrilled" to be working with a prime minister who "gets cities." Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre echoed Robertson: "The new reality is that cities are part of the plan, part of the deal. We have to work together." The consultations and lobbying by the Big City Mayors' Caucus (BCMC) come as Trudeau's government prepares its first budget, expected late next month. Ambitious plans for municipal infrastructure spending are intended to promote economic growth across Canada at a time when the resource sector is struggling. "Obviously job losses are a continuing challenge across the country," said Trudeau. "[We need to be] responding to the very real needs for infrastructure investment that will lead to jobs and the kind of growth in our economy that that we haven't had over the past decade." Trudeau also hinted at an expansion of EI benefits in the upcoming budget for provinces suffering at the hand of low commodity prices like Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador. "There is a real need to offer support for Alberta families, many of whom are facing the first-ever experience of job losses and need for support and help." Dismal jobs numbers drive infrastructure spending In its latest labour report, Statistics Canada found Canada's economy shed 5,700 jobs in January and the unemployment rate inched up to 7.2 per cent. Alberta was hit the hardest with 10,000 fewer jobs. When asked what was holding up municipal shovel-ready projects that could get people back to work immediately, Trudeau emphasized the need for responsible spending. Story continues "Ensuring that we get the money flowing in a responsible but rapid way is a priority for all of us," said Trudeau. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said there has been a migration of Albertans crossing the border into B.C. looking for work, as many as 5,000 or 6,000 in the past few months, she estimated. "That's part of what we're doing to support Canada in growing our economy, and I think people who are hurting in other parts of the country need national help," said Clark. Vancouver's mayor also stressed the need for funding to tackle issues like poverty and climate change at the municipal level. "All of this we see as opportunity to get Canada back on track," said Robertson. "We need to up our game across the country to make sure cities are getting support." That increased investment, however, looks to draw the federal books into the red, perhaps more than advertised in the Liberal platform during last fall's election. "These projects will help create jobs and growth for Canadians. Community leaders understand this and we hope to see Trudeau come up with a plan and act on the mayors' requests as soon as possible," said Dianne Watts, the Conservative infrastructure critic. Several ministers, including Finance Minister Bill Morneau, Immigration Minister John McCallum and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, are meeting separately with the mayors later Friday to discuss issues of particular concern to their portfolios, including: - Upcoming federal budget appropriations for municipalities. - Housing issues related to Canada's efforts to help Syrian refugees. - Canada's renewed push to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Trudeau also met meeting B.C. Premier Christy Clark on Friday morning to discuss a similar list of shared priorities, including natural resource development. By Jack Kim and Nobuhiro Kubo SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - International pressure grew on North Korea to call off a planned rocket launch, seen by some governments as another missile test, while Japan put its military on alert to shoot down any rocket that threatens its territory. North Korea notified United Nations agencies on Tuesday of its plan to launch what it called an "earth observation satellite" some time between Feb. 8 and 25. Pyongyang has said it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme, although the United States and other governments suspect such rocket launches are tests of its missiles. Japan's defence minister, Gen Nakatani, told a media briefing on Wednesday he had issued an order to shoot down any "ballistic missile threat". Tension rose in East Asia last month after North Korea's fourth nuclear test, this time of what it said was a hydrogen bomb. A rocket launch coming so soon after would raise concern that North Korea plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles, giving it the capability to launch a strike against South Korea, Japan and possibly targets as far away as the U.S. West Coast. North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending an object it described as a communications satellite into orbit. South Korea warned the North it would pay a "severe price" if it goes ahead with the launch. "North Korea's notice of the plan to launch a long-range missile, coming at a time when there is a discussion for (U.N.) Security Council sanctions on its fourth nuclear test, is a direct challenge to the international community," the presidential Blue House said in a statement. Russia's Foreign Ministry said Pyongyang was demonstrating "an outrageous disregard for the universally recognised norms of international law," while France said the launch would merit a firm response from the international community. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged North Korea not to use ballistic missile technology, which is banned by Security Council resolutions. 'EXTREMELY CONCERNED' China, under U.S. pressure to use its influence to rein in the isolated North, said Pyongyang's right to space exploration was restricted under U.N. resolutions. China is North Korea's sole main ally, though Beijing disapproves of its nuclear programme. "We are extremely concerned about this," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a briefing on Wednesday. "In the present situation, we hope North Korea exercises restraint on the issue of launching satellites, acts cautiously and does not take any escalatory steps that may further raise tensions on the Korean peninsula." Reports of the planned launch also drew fresh U.S. calls for tougher U.N. sanctions that are already under discussion in response to North Korea's Jan. 6 nuclear test. A spokeswoman for the International Maritime Organization, a U.N. agency, said it had been told by North Korea of the plan to launch a satellite. The Washington-based North Korean monitoring project 38 North said commercial satellite images of North Korea's Sohae launch site taken on Monday showed activity consistent with preparations for a launch within North Korea's given timeframe, but no indications that this was imminent. North Korea said the launch would be conducted in the morning one day during the announced period, and gave the coordinates for the locations where the rocket boosters and the cover for the payload would drop. Those locations are expected to be in the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula's west coast and in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Philippines, Pyongyang said. South Korea told commercial airliners to avoid flying in areas of the rocket's possible flight path during the period. (Additional reporting by Ju-min Park in Seoul, Ben Blanchard in Beijing and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Dean Yates and Jonathan Oatis) A woman who helped lead police to the hideout of the Paris attacks ringleader has told how he warned there were 90 more jihadists across the French capital. She said she met Abdelhamid Abaaoud after the attacks at the Bataclan, Stade de France and a series of bars and restaurants that killed 130 innocent people. The woman, whose name was changed to Sonia for a French radio interview, said Abaaoud boasted about carrying out the attacks and said he had entered France without official documents as part of a large group of jihadists. Abaaoud said there were around 90 extremists in and around Paris - including Syrians, Iraqis, British, French and German citizens. Sonia met the Islamic State (IS) killer with her friend Hasna Ait Boulahcen - Abaaoud's cousin - two days after the carnage, when Boulahcen got a call from a Belgian number telling her to pick up someone from an industrial estate in Aubervilliers. Sonia said Abaaoud told his cousin he and an accomplice planned to attack a commercial centre, police station and nursery in the La Defense business district, to the west of Paris. Sonia told RMC: "She told me they were going to do it on Thursday and I said to myself I have to stop them." She dialled the emergency number that had been set up by the Ministry of Interior after the attacks and told authorities that Abaaoud was hiding in a Saint-Denis apartment. On the Wednesday morning police commando units moved in and Abaaoud and Boulahcen were killed in a firefight, while Abaaoud's accomplice blew himself up. Sonia said she lives in fear of being targeted by Islamic State sympathisers and claimed France has abandoned her after promising her protection and a new identity. She lived from hotel to hotel in the days after the attacks until a new lodging was found. After being put under pressure France's Ministry of Interior granted her financial aid, but she is still waiting for a new identity card and social security number and says she needs psychological support to help her adjust to a new life. By Ian Simpson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A winter storm that could bury parts of the U.S. Middle Atlantic region under nearly three feet of snow slammed into Washington, D.C. on Friday afternoon, threatening the nation's capital with record accumulations as it barrels up the populous East Coast. After emergency officials planned and residents scrambled for days to stock up on supplies, the blizzard started to blanket the Washington area during the early afternoon after six people had died in car crashes as a wintry mix spread across Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. The storm could dump two to two and a half feet (61 to 76 cm) of snow on the capital and bring winds of 30 to 50 mph (48 to 80 kph) before winding down late on Saturday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service. By then it would have moved over Philadelphia and New York, bringing 12 to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) of snow. Washington's western suburbs may get up to 3 feet (91 cm), forecasters said. In Falls Church, Virginia, about 8 miles (13 km) west of the capital, a thick curtain of snow was already piling up on the deserted streets on Friday evening, creating a peaceful tableau that may have disguised dangerous conditions to come. "I want to be very clear with everybody. This is a major storm," Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said as the city braced for what could turn out to be one of the worst storms in its history. "This has life-and-death implications and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way." Six fatalities have been reported so far in weather-related car crashes as of Friday afternoon. Four were in North Carolina and one each in Arkansas and Tennessee. The Weather Channel said more than 85 million people in at least 20 states were covered by a winter weather warning, watch or advisory. Airlines canceled nearly 6,300 flights for Friday and Saturday, most at airports in the New York and Philadelphia areas, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.com. Washington's snowfall could eclipse the "Snowmageddon" storm of 2010 that dropped 17.8 inches (45.2 cm), AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. If forecasts prove accurate, the storm could rival the 1922 Knickerbocker storm, which dumped a record 28 inches (71 cm) on the city. "I think its going to be a nightmare, the rates of snow were talking about," said Marisa Kritikson, 27, a nursing student at George Washington University in Washington after buying a snow shovel to dig out from her basement apartment. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio asked people to limit travel to "absolute emergencies" as he declared a winter weather emergency for the largest city in the United States. "There will be white-out conditions," he told a press conference ahead of the storm, which is expected to hit the city after midnight. New York accumulations could reach up to 18 inches (46 cm), with winds gusting to 50 miles per hour (80 kph), whipping up blizzard conditions. Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, was expecting 10 to 18 inches (25 to 46 cm). The approaching storm led New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to come home from New Hampshire, where he is vying for the Republican presidential nomination. Residents along New Jersey's coast prepared for potential flooding during high tides on Saturday and Sunday. In Ocean City, emergency management officials warned of forecasts calling for the highest flood levels since Superstorm Sandy brought heavy damage in 2012. High winds and a full moon could combine to create a high tide of nearly 8 feet (2.4 meters) in Atlantic City, officials said, still shy of the 10 feet (3 meters) that Sandy caused in Ocean City. In New York, the National Weather Service issued coastal flood warnings for the boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens as officials prepared for possible evacuations from low-lying areas. Post-Sandy reconstruction has put the area in a stronger position to face the storm, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. SCRAMBLE FOR SUPPLIESThe storm arrived in the Washington area, home to about 6 million people, after dropping 5 inches (13 cm) of snow in Arkansas and spreading a wintry mess of snow, sleet and freezing rain in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky. In addition to several inches of snow, the Charlotte, North Carolina, area could get up to a half inch (1.3 cm) of ice, causing concerns about power outages and dangerous driving conditions, officials said. Other parts of the state could get a foot of snow. Federal offices in the Washington area closed at noon on Friday to allow employees to get home before the snow began piling up. City officials said everyone except emergency workers should stay off the streets. Many residents had scrambled to prepare ahead of the storm, picking stores clean of bottled water, food and other supplies. "I have nine cases of wine, half and half and coffee, firewood and all my devices are charged. All I need now is a wing and a prayer, said Liz Scherer, 54, who works out of her home in the Washington suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, which includes the second-busiest U.S. subway system, took the rare step of suspending operations from late Friday through Sunday. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates New York City subway and commuter rail lines, expected to operate normal service, Cuomo said, as did New Jersey Transit. The forecast prompted the Virginia National Guard to bring in about 300 troops to deal with emergencies. In New York, 600 National Guard personnel were on standby. (Additional reporting by Colleen Jenkins in Winston-Salem, N.C., Suzannah Gonzales in Chicago, Barbara Goldberg and Joseph Ax in New York, Susan Heavey in Washington, Lacey Johnson in Silver Spring, Md., Steve Barnes in Little Rock, Ark. and Harriet McLeod in Charleston, S.C.; Writing by Frank McGurty; Editing by Diane Craft and James Dalgleish) Rumble This video shows the incredible behaviour of a caring mother elephant on high alert, quickly stopping her adorable baby which was curiously straying away from her towards a vehicle full of safari tourists. Going on safari in the Kruger National Park is a life changing experience. Driving around multiple tarred roads, slowly scanning a massive area of wilderness is all part of the thrill. You never know what will be around the next corner or what animal will suddenly appear from the bush onto the road. Its an exciting experience and one of the must-see animals for most tourists are elephants. Not only are they the largest land mammals on our planet and fairly intimidating, elephants are also one of the most intelligent and emotionally intelligent animals that roam this planet. Seeing these giants in the wild is always a sight to remember. The video shows an incredible moment filmed in the Kruger National Park when a safari vehicle full of tourists found a large elephant cow and her adorable calf next to the road. The safari vehicle stopped and it looked like the mother elephant and her baby wanted to cross the road. The baby elephant was the cutest thing alive in the wild right at that moment. While the elephant cow remained focussed on crossing the road, her baby took notice of the safari vehicle and curiously started straying away from its mother towards the vehicle. The caring mother elephant immediately went into high alert and quickly took her trunk and stopped her baby from going any closer to the safari vehicle. The mother elephant gently used her trunk to guide her baby back and into the right direction. It was incredible to see how quickly the elephant cow became protective over her baby. The elephant calf listened to its mother and in a well-behaved manner, walking on the opposite side of its mother, continued to focus and follow its mother as it should. This is crucial for the survival of the calf in the wild. The gestation period of an elephant is twenty-two months, so it is very understandable that an elephant calf is seen as a huge investment and there will always be a mother around, ready to protect her calf from any potential danger. Even though the tourists were not a direct threat, the mother elephant knows all to well that there are humans that still pose a danger for them in the wild. The mother of such a small calf is definitely not something to mess with at all and its best never to get too close to a mother and her calf. By Tom Perry, Jack Stubbs and Estelle Shirbon BEIRUT/MOSCOW/LONDON (Reuters) - Russia said on Thursday it suspected Turkey was preparing a military incursion into Syria, as a Syrian army source said Aleppo would soon be encircled by government forces with Russian air support. Turkey in turn accused Moscow of trying to divert attention from its own "crimes" in Syria, and said Aleppo was threatened with a "siege of starvation". It said Turkey had the right to take any measures to protect its security. In another sign of the spreading international ramifications of the five-year-old Syrian war, Saudi Arabia said it was ready to participate in ground operations against Islamic State in Syria if the U.S.-led alliance decided to launch them. The United States welcomed the Saudi offer, which together with any Turkish incursion would further embroil regional powers in a conflict that pitches Sunni-backed fighters against Damascus and forces backed by Moscow and Shi'ite Iran. The United Nations on Wednesday suspended the first peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the start as the war raged unabated. Washington said on Thursday however it was hopeful they would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that no later than Feb. 25. Donors convened in London to tackle the refugee crisis created by the conflict. British Prime Minister David Cameron said they raised $11 billion for Syrian humanitarian needs over the next four years. Turkey said at the conference up to 70,000 refugees from Aleppo were moving toward the border to escape air strikes. BORDER MARCH Footage online showed hundreds of people, mostly women, children and the elderly, marching towards Turkey's Onucpinar border gate, carrying carpets, blankets and food on their backs. Four months of Russian air strikes have tipped the momentum of the war Assad's way. With Moscow's help and allies including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, the Syrian army is regaining areas on key fronts in the west. Russia's defence ministry said it had registered "a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces for active actions on the territory of Syria". Any Turkish incursion would risk direct confrontation between Russia and a NATO member. "The Russians are trying to hide their crimes in Syria," said a senior official in Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office. "They are simply diverting attention from their attacks on civilians as a country already invading Syria. Turkey has all the rights to take any measures to protect its own security." In London, Davutoglu said the "humanitarian logistic corridor" between Turkey and Aleppo was "under the invasion of these foreign fighters and regime forces (with) the support of Russian warplanes". "What they want to do in Aleppo today is exactly what they did in Madaya before, a siege of starvation," he added. Davutoglu pledged that whatever the cost Turkey's door would remain open to all Syrians. It has already taken in more than 2.5 million. Relations between Russia and Turkey have deteriorated badly since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border in November. State Department spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on Turkish military operations on the Syrian border, saying only: "They are working to secure that stretch of border, but I'm not going to comment on specific military activities of another nation inside their borders." ALEPPO, STRATEGIC PRIZE Aleppo, just 50 km (30 miles) south of the Turkish border, is a major strategic prize in the war and is currently divided into areas of government and opposition control. Many of the rebels fighting in and around the city have close ties to Turkey. This week, three days of intensive Russian bombing helped the army and allied fighters to sever a major supply line to the northwest of the city, in the process reaching two Shi'ite towns loyal to the government for the first time in 3-1/2 years. The army source said operations to fully encircle Aleppo from the west would be launched soon. A senior, non-Syrian security source close to Damascus said Iranian fighters had played a crucial role. "Qassem Soleimani is there in the same area," said the source, referring to the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds force responsible for overseas operations. Residents thanked Assad, Iran and Hezbollah in celebratory scenes from the Shi'ite towns of Nubul and al-Zahraa broadcast by Hezbollah's al-Manar TV. The powerful Kurdish YPG militia, which controls wide areas of northern Syria, meanwhile added to the pressure on insurgents, capturing two villages near Nubul and al-Zahraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The Syrian Kurds have consistently denied opposition claims that they cooperate with Damascus. In the south, the Syrian army and its allies recaptured a town near the city of Deraa, building on gains made last week and also backed by instensive aerial bombardment. The seizure of Ataman would allow the government to reassert control over most parts of Deraa, near the Jordanian border. All diplomatic efforts towards ending the conflict have failed. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the latest steps in peace talks were undermined by increased aerial bombing. U.N. envoy Staffan de Mistura announced a three-week pause. "I think the special envoy decided to suspend the talks because the organisation did not want to be associated with the Russian escalation in Syria, which risks undermining the talks completely," a U.N. official told Reuters. Mohammad Javad Zarif, foreign minister of Iran, called in London for the talks to resume and for an immediate ceasefire. But he said later that should not mean stopping military operations against "recognised terrorist organisations", naming the Nusra Front and Islamic State. REBELS HOPE FOR MORE WEAPONS U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had agreed on the need to discuss how to implement a ceasefire in Syria during a call on Thursday. The State Department said later Kerry would travel to Munich next week to seek an agreement on a ceasefire after assurances by Lavrov that Moscow was committed to a political solution in Syria. The State Department's Kirby, however, said that Russia's pledges to end the Syria conflict through political dialogue did not match its military actions on the battlefield, where it continued to bomb opposition positions. "Were certainly seeing, at least in the very recent past, discordant messages" by Russia, Kirby added. Rebel commanders said they hoped the peace talks' collapse would convince their foreign backers, including Saudi Arabia, that it was time to send them more powerful and advanced weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles. Assad's foreign opponents have been funnelling weapons to vetted rebel groups via both Turkey and Jordan. One rebel leader said he expected "something new, God willing" after the failure of the Geneva talks. Another rebel commander said: "They are promising to continue the support. In what form, I don't yet know ... How it will crystallise, nobody knows ... We need to wait." Both spoke on condition of anonymity. While vetted "Free Syrian Army" rebels have received weapons including U.S.-made guided anti-tank missiles, their calls for anti-aircraft missiles have gone unanswered mostly because of fears they could end up in the hands of powerful jihadist groups such as the Nusra Front, which are also fighting Assad. A Russian defence ministry spokesman said a Russian military trainer was killed in a mortar attack on Feb. 1. "They (Russian military servicemen) are not taking part in ground operations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We are talking about advisers. This is linked to teaching Syrian colleagues to operate equipment which is being delivered to Syria under existing contracts." A Saudi general said the kingdom was "ready to participate in any ground operations that the (U.S.-led) coalition (against Islamic State) may agree to carry out in Syria". Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, who is also the spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Iranian-backed forces in Yemen, was speaking to Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed the Saudi offer. (Additional reporting by Istanbul, Washington and Dubai bureaux; Editing by Andrew Roche and Lisa Shumaker) Saudi Arabia says it is ready to join any ground operation the US-led coalition launches against Islamic State (IS) fighters in Syria. "If there is any willingness in the coalition to go in the ground operation, we will contribute positively in that," Brigadier General Ahmed al Assiri told Saudi-owned al Arabiya TV. Brigadier Assiri, a spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition battling Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen, said the Kingdom is an active member of the coalition fighting IS in Syria, and had carried out more than 190 bombing raids there since 2014. But he believes the only way to defeat the extremist group is to put boots on the ground. "If there was a consensus from the leadership of the coalition, the Kingdom is willing to participate in these efforts because we believe that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations," he added. :: Syria Troops Advance On Aleppo Killing Dozens Asked about the comments at a briefing, US State Department spokesman John Kirby said the coalition is supportive of partners contributing more in the fight against IS, but said he had not yet seen the Saudi proposal. "I would not want to comment specifically on this until we've had a chance to review it," he added. :: World Leaders Pledge 7bn For Syria Refugees Last month, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said several members of the coalition are doing "nothing at all" to help destroy the jihadis. America has carried out the bulk of the 9,800 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since the summer of 2014. In November, the United Arab Emirates, which is carrying out airstrikes against IS in Syria and Iraq, said it was ready to send ground troops to Syria. There have been growing calls for the anti-IS coalition to send land forces to Syria, after Russia launched airstrikes in late September. US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham have called for 100,000 soldiers, mostly from Sunni states but also including Americans, to fight IS in Syria. U.S. President Barack Obama (at the head table, 5th L) holds a meeting with Trans-Pacific Partnership leaders alongside the APEC Summit in Manila, Philippines, November 18, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst (Reuters) By Rebecca Howard WELLINGTON (Reuters) - The Trans-Pacific Partnership, one of the world's biggest multinational trade deals, was signed by 12 member nations on Thursday in New Zealand, but the massive trade pact will still require years of tough negotiations before it becomes a reality. The TPP, a deal which will cover 40 percent of the world economy, has already taken five years of negotiations to reach Thursday's signing stage. The signing is "an important step" but the agreement "is still just a piece of paper, or rather over 16,000 pieces of paper until it actually comes into force," said New Zealand Prime Minister John Key at the ceremony in Auckland. The TPP will now undergo a two-year ratification period in which at least six countries - that account for 85 percent of the combined gross domestic production of the 12 TPP nations - must approve the final text for the deal to be implemented. The 12 nations include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam. Given their size, both the United States and Japan would need to ratify the deal, which will set common standards on issues ranging from workers' rights to intellectual property protection in 12 Pacific nations. Opposition from many U.S. Democrats and some Republicans could mean a vote on the TPP is unlikely before President Barack Obama, a supporter of the TPP, leaves office early in 2017. U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman has said the current administration is doing everything in its power to move the deal and on Thursday told reporters he was confident the deal would get the necessary support in Congress. In Japan, the resignation of Economics Minister Akira Amari - Japan's main TPP negotiator - may make it more difficult to sell the deal in Japan. There is wide spread grassroots opposition to the TPP in many countries. Opponents have criticized the secrecy surrounding TPP talks, raised concerns about reduced access to things like affordable medicines, and a clause which allows foreign investors the right to sue if they feel their profits have been impacted by a law or policy in the host country. Story continues In New Zealand on Thursday more than 1,000 protesters caused traffic disruptions in and around Auckland and police said a large number of police have been deployed. Chile's Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz predicted "robust democratic discussion" in his South American nation. Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb said the agreement would be tabled next week in parliament. Opposition to the deal in Australia has been building, but Robb was confident it would be approved, despite the government not control the Senate. Canada's new government signed the deal on Thursday, but Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland has said "signing does not equal ratifying." She emphasised that the government committed itself to a wide-ranging consultation on the TPP during its election campaign and that process was currently underway. Secretary of the Economy for Mexico, Illdefonso Guajardo, said the TPP would be voted on before the end of 2016, while Malaysia said the deal had already been approved, although some legislative changes were still needed. (Reporting by Rebecca Howard; Editing by Michael Perry) By Alistair Scrutton and Sven Nordenstam STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Under huge strain from an influx of unaccompanied children seeking asylum, the Swedish government faces political pressure to undertake medical tests like X-rays to vet the age of young refugees despite opposition from doctors and lawyers. The controversy reflects tensions over surging immigration into the Nordic country of 10 million after a public backlash that saw controls reimposed on the border with Denmark, from which most migrants have entered Sweden. Sweden took in 163,000 asylum seekers last year, the most per capita in Europe. They were among more than one million who streamed into the continent, fleeing increasing conflict and deprivation in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. More than a fifth, 35,000, of those reaching Sweden have been unaccompanied children, stretching services like schools. Reports of violence and assaults at centers for minors have added to the public disquiet and hardened anti-immigrant sentiment in a country long renowned for its humanitarian open-door policy towards the wretched of the earth. Many have arrived without IDs, leaving Sweden the task of checking their real ages to ensure adults - defined as age 18 or over - were not pretending to be minors to secure asylum. Worried young adults may be swelling these ranks, many of Sweden's opposition parties are calling for medical tests. Even the government has called for more non-medical testing while it awaits reform proposals in April to break the deadlock. There is a great incentive to claim to be a minor. Applicants have greater access to housing and schools and less chance of being deported. "At the moment, very few, if any, age assessments are being done in Sweden," Fredrik Beijer, Director of Legal Affairs of Sweden's Migration Agency, told Reuters. Efforts to confirm ages have been hampered by the inability of authorities to carry out medical tests - such as X-rays of teeth and hands. The government said in November it wanted medical tests. But while such tests are not illegal, doctors have refused, saying they are inaccurate. "We believe that for a decision that has such large consequences in an individual's life, one must require higher precision," said Anders Hjern, a spokesman for the Swedish Paediatric Society. But doubts have not stopped the center right Moderates, Sweden's biggest opposition party, calling on the migration agency to hire doctors for medical checks in an effort to lower the number of children arriving without families. "Unaccompanied minors make up around 20 percent of asylum seekers but they cost about half the migration budget," said Hanif Bali, an Iranian-born lawmaker for the Moderates. Bali himself came to Sweden as an unaccompanied minor at age three. "Out of my own experience, because I have lived in these kinds of homes, the environment becomes much harsher when you have older people there. You get prison rules and many children get caught up in the older people's trouble-making." Many other European Union countries do carry out medical tests. Austria, for example, allows doctors to do "age determination reports" that include checks on teeth as well as genital development. In Italy, medical-age assessments, such as X-rays, can be carried out by court order. SWEDEN SHOCKED BY ASSAULTS The issue of refugee minors is especially sensitive in Sweden. Reports of assaults in overcrowded minors' centers - including a 22-year-old female Swedish employee of one center who was stabbed to death last week - have contributed to a sense authorities are overwhelmed. "The risk of disputes and discontent is obvious, and some small detail may trigger conflict," said Thomas Svensson, head of social affairs for the Emmaboda municipality in southeastern Sweden, where staff at a home for unaccompanied minors locked themselves in a room as 19 migrant youths rioted. The influx of minors also carries big fiscal costs. Sweden last year had to find an extra 70,000 school places due to asylum seekers, on top of the 100,000 pupils that normally enter the school system for the first time in any given year. Half of unaccompanied minors have been registered as between 16 and 17, often making age confirmation difficult and sparking accusations from the likes of the far-right Sweden Democrats - the third biggest party in parliament - that adults are taking advantage of soft controls to enter the country. Even without medical tests, some 667 minors had their age "adjusted" between January and November last year, according to the justice ministry. The data does not show if it was adjusted to above 18. That compares to 363 cases for all 2014. Proud of Sweden's decades-old tradition as a self-proclaimed "humanitarian superpower," the government regards most refugee minors as bona fide refugees fleeing war. Immigration supporters say Swedes have been unduly influenced by a media frenzy linking migrants with crime that has little to do with reality. For example, despite reports of refugees being associated with sexual assaults, reported rapes fell 12 percent last year in Sweden. Thefts were down 2 percent. The debate is part of a crisis that has cut center-left Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's support to record lows in polls due to a popular sense that his government is largely helpless to stop a migrant influx seen as threatening Sweden's generous welfare state and vaunted social stability. In a sign of mounting political frustration, Migration Minister Morgan Johansson called on Sunday for the migration agency to carry out more non-medical tests, such as interviews with children. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has claimed a "victory of historical importance" after a UN panel ruled his stay in a London embassy amounts to "arbitrary detention". Mr Assange gave a statement from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in west London, where he has been holed up since June 2012, having been granted political asylum. He thanked the UN for its ruling, adding: "How sweet it is. This is a victory that cannot be denied. "It is a victory of historical importance, not just for me, for my family, for my children, but for the independence of the UN system." Holding up a copy of the UN report, he added: "What right do the governments of the US, UK or Sweden have to deny my children their father for five and a half years?" He declined to answer questions from the world's media assembled outside, and then disappeared back into the embassy. The UK has maintained it will arrest the 44-year-old Australian should he leave the embassy - and then extradite him to Sweden, where he faces a rape claim. But the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said he was in effect being unlawfully detained and he should be granted his freedom and the right to claim compensation. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the ruling "ridiculous" and said the campaigner is "hiding from justice". Giving a news conference by video link from inside the embassy earlier, Mr Assange called on the UK and Sweden to abide by the panel's decision. He claimed the ruling was "settled law" and warned the two countries would face diplomatic consequences if they did not withdraw the threat of arrest. Mr Assange accused Mr Hammond of "insulting the UN" and said: "I found those comments to be beneath the stature that a foreign secretary should express in this situation." Melinda Taylor, a member of Mr Assange's legal team, told journalists he would not be walking out of the embassy "because of a risk (of being extradited) to the United States". Story continues Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the UN expert panel, said earlier: "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention. "The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation." The panel's Ukrainian member Vladimir Tochilovsky disagreed with his colleagues - saying the embassy should not be considered a place of detention as Mr Assange fled bail and chose to stay there to evade arrest. He said the ruling "raises serious questions as to the scope of the mandate of the working group". The panel's findings are not legally binding, but can be used to put pressure on states in human rights cases. Christophe Peschoux, a senior official at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, insisted the decision was "in effect" legally binding because it is based on international human rights law. The British Government said it would "formally contest" the UN panel's finding, while Swedish prosecutors said the ruling would have no impact on their investigation. A Foreign Office spokesman said: "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. "The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion." Human Rights Minister Dominic Raab told Sky News he had considered the report carefully but it "had the facts upside down". Mr Assange fears Sweden could hand him over to US authorities for prosecution over the disclosure of classified military and diplomatic documents by WikiLeaks in 2010. The Swedish government repeated its position on Friday that Mr Assange is not at risk of being sent to the US and there had been no extradition request. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is coming to Montreal on an official visit on Friday, Feb. 12. Ban will meet Premier Philippe Couillard and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre. He also plans to visit Montreal's Centre for the Prevention of Radicalization the first such centre in North America. For Coderre, it will be a third meeting with the UN secretary general. The Montreal mayor met Ban at the 70th anniversary celebrations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Chicago in December 2014 and again at the UN climate change talks in Paris last December. Address at McGill Ban will deliver an address at McGill University, and he'll meet the secretary general and president of ICAO, the UN's civil aviation agency, which has its headquarters in Montreal. Ban is scheduled to spend Feb. 11 in Ottawa, where he and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are to discuss a number of topics, including climate change and the Syrian refugee crisis. Trudeau and the UN secretary general will also meet young Canadians to discuss the importance of building diverse societies to promote peace and broad economic growth. "If we are to build a more peaceful and prosperous world a world where our diversity is seen as a strength then a strong United Nations is essential," Trudeau said in a statement. Ban will also meet Governor General David Johnston, tour an unspecified Ottawa high school and meet Syrian refugees who have recently arrived in Canada. By Brendan O'Brien MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - Seven Muslim workers at an eastern Wisconsin manufacturer have been fired after disregarding a break policy that did not allow them to pray at the times dictated by their faith, the company said on Wednesday. The terminated workers were among 53 Somali Muslims who walked off the job on Jan. 14 after Ariens Company, a tools and equipment maker in Brillion, Wisconsin, began requiring them to pray only during the two 10-minute breaks provided to them during the day, the company said in a statement. The seven workers were fired for taking unscheduled breaks, while 14 others have resigned since the walkout. The 32 Muslim employees who came back to work were following the break rules, the company said. Muslims are required to pray five times a day - at daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. "We would have liked for more of the employees to stay, however, we respect their faith, we respect the work they have done for Ariens Company and we respect their decisions," the company said. The former employees are working with the Council on American-Islamic Relations to determine their next steps, which could include legal action against the company, said Jaylani Hussein, the organization's executive director. "It came out of nowhere and the company did not want to listen to some suggestions and options to make the current breaks more flexible to align with the prayer schedule," he said. Ariens, which has 1,500 employees worldwide, has set up designated prayer rooms for Muslim workers in Brillion, the company said. Brillion is about 25 miles south of Green Bay. The company said letting the workers pray during unscheduled breaks disrupted production schedules. In certain circumstances, workers can be prohibited from praying during unscheduled breaks if it causes an "undue hardship" for the business, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Nearly 200 workers, mostly Somali immigrants, were fired from a Cargill Meat Solutions [CARGIL.UL] facility in Fort Morgan, Colorado, on Dec. 31 after staging a walkout to protest what they said were insufficient prayer accommodations. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Mary Wisniewski and Peter Cooney) By Stephanie Nebehay and Anthony Boadle GENEVA/BRASILIA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization voiced concern on Wednesday over the reported sexual transmission of the Zika virus in Texas amid worries that such infections could make efforts to combat the virus linked to severe birth defects in Brazil even tougher. The virus, spreading quickly across the Americas, is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. But health officials in Dallas County reported on Tuesday that the first known case contracted in the United States was a person infected after having sex with somebody who had returned from Venezuela. The WHO declared a global health emergency on Monday, citing a "strongly suspected" casual relationship between Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can cause permanent brain damage in newborns. Health ministers from across South America gathered in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, to discuss the public health emergency and how the region can coordinate its fight against the outbreak. There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika. Sexual transmission could add a new dimension to the threat Zika poses, but WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl stressed that "almost a 100 percent of the cases" are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. "This reported case in the U.S. of course raises concerns," Hartl said at the U.N. agency's headquarters in Geneva. "This needs to be further investigated to understand the conditions and how often or likely sexual transmission is." But he said that for the WHO "the most important thing to do is to control people's exposure to mosquitoes." The WHO estimates as many as 4 million people could become infected in the Americas. Hartl called the Texas case only the second worldwide linked to sexual transmission, referring to media reports about a case of an American man who returned from Senegal in 2008 and is suspected of having infected his wife. The medical literature also has a case in which the virus was detected in semen. "If you swap enough bodily fluid, most viruses can probably be sexually transmitted to some extent," said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Britains University of Reading. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in four counties with travel-related cases of the Zika virus, and ordered state officials to increase mosquito control efforts in some of the southeastern U.S. state's most heavily populated locales including Miami and Tampa. Scott directed state officials to pay special attention to mosquito spraying in residential areas. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has urged pregnant women to consider delaying travel to locations with ongoing Zika transmissions, added Jamaica and Tonga to its travel alert. The WHO said the virus has been transmitted in at least 32 countries, from South America to the Western Pacific. Late on Tuesday, the Brazilian health ministry said the number of newborns with microcephaly it suspects are linked to the virus had increased to 4,074 as of Jan. 30, from 3,718 a week earlier. Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infection in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly. WARNING FOR EUROPE The WHO warned member states in Europe on Wednesday that the risk of the virus spreading into the region increases with the onset of spring and summer. "Now is the time for countries to prepare themselves to reduce the risk to their populations," said the WHO's Europe chief, Zsuzsanna Jakab. "Every European country in which Aedes mosquitoes are present can be at risk for the spread of Zika virus disease." The Pan American Health Organization, the WHO's arm for the Americas, said it needed an estimated $8.5 million to help countries in the region respond to the Zika threat. Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Castro said U.S. experts will travel to Brazil next week to start work on the development of a Zika vaccine and come up with a timetable for the effort. A number of drug developers and universities are attempting to produce a vaccine. Experts have said a vaccine is months or even years away. Japan's leading drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd said it has created a team to investigate how it might help make a vaccine, a day after France's Sanofi SA said it would launch a Zika vaccine program. Pfizer Inc, Johnson and Johnson and Merck & Co Inc said they were evaluating their technologies or existing vaccines for their potential to combat Zika. Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech said it was working on two possible vaccines. The rising number of cases has stirred concern ahead of the Olympic Games in August in Rio de Janeiro in August when Brazil's second largest city will host tens of thousands of athletes and tourists from around the world. (Additional reporting by Malena Castaldi and Sarah Marsh in Montevideo, Kate Kelland and Ben Hirschler in London, Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai, Anthony Boadle in Brasilia, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Amrutha Penumudi and Natalie Grover in Bengaluru and Letitia Stein in Tampa; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Frances Kerry) By Maya Nikolaeva PARIS (Reuters) - BNP Paribas pledged a higher dividend payout and said its priority was to keep its return on equity at 10 percent beyond 2016 after it announced further cost cutting measures for its investment bank. BNP said it had started to cut the investment bank balance sheet earlier than European rivals and said it now hopes to win market share as they play catch up. Reporting annual results on Friday, it set out plans to cut costs in corporate and institutional banking by a further 12 percent by 2019 to bolster profitability, and sought to reassure investors about its capital buffers. BNP said it will pull back from costly activities, such as repo operations and market making in bond trading, and reinvest part of the capital in securities services, transaction banking, and advisory businesses. It declined to give the impact on jobs, adding that its "transformation plan" is in early stages. Regulatory and compliance costs, and a previously announced 900 million euro (690.10 million pound) writedown on the value of its BNL Italian unit, pushed fourth-quarter net income down 51.7 percent to 665 million euros, undershooting the average of analyst estimates of 845 million in a Reuters poll. CAPITAL RATIO TARGET BNP shares rose 2.1 percent to 41.85 euros by 1555 GMT. BNP Paribas results come after some of Europe's biggest banks, such as Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse , posted full year losses and flagged tough times in investment banking. BNP Paribas shares have been trading at a discount to the sector with a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.20 versus 7.31 for Credit Suisse and 8.49 for HSBC , according to Thomson Reuters data. France's biggest bank sought to reassure investors with a common equity tier one ratio target -- a key measure of financial health -- of 12 percent by 2018 versus 10.9 percent at the end of 2015. "The level of CET 1 is a good sign for the continued gradual increase in dividends," said Yohan Salleron, a fund manager at Mandarine Gestion. BNP Paribas chief executive office Jean-Laurent Bonnafe told analysts on a conference call that "one should assume that the payout ratio could go up", according to the new 2017-2020 strategic plan, that is currently in the works. In 2016 the actual return on equity could come at 9-9.5 percent, the bank said. Fourth-quarter revenue growth was slightly better than expected, with corporate and institutional banking (CIB) revenue up 8.4 percent, partly thanks to a sharp increase in derivatives trading. Pretax income fell 9 percent, reflecting a rise in regulatory costs. "Unlike our competitors, we already deleveraged our CIB back in 2011 and 2012," Chief Executive Jean-Laurent Bonnafe said in an interview on the bank's website. (Additional reporting by Julien Ponthus and Sudi Kar-Gupta; Editing by James Regan and Keith Weir) A health worker fumigates the cemetery of Surco to prevent Zika virus and other mosquito-borne diseases in Lima, Peru February 5, 2016. REUTERS/Mariana Bazo Earlier this week, the US confirmed its first instance of sexually transmitted Zika virus related to the recent outbreak. A man returning from Venezuela, where the virus is being locally transmitted, infected his partner in Dallas County, Texas. To address that concern, on Friday the CDC updated the rough guidelines it has released so far related to Zika and sexual transmission. CDC director Tom Frieden also said during a call with reporters on Friday that because the link between an observed birth defect and Zika virus appears to be growing stronger, their priority is addressing potential sexual transmission cases involving men who live or have recently visited areas where the virus is being locally transmitted and their partners. That defect is a brain condition called microcephaly, which has raised concerns about pregnant women contracting the virus. Researchers are also looking into the virus's potential connection to Guillan-Barre Syndrome, a temporary disorder in which the immune system attacks part of the nervous system. "We are not aware of any prior mosquito borne disease with this outcome of what seems to be occurring with Zika in Brazil. We are quite literally discovering more about it each day. Each day the link becomes stronger." In fact, Frieden said, this relationship between Zika and microcephaly is a "new phenomenon." That's because he estimates it's been 50 years since the last time a virus was associated with a birth abnormality, likely referencing rubella (also called German measles). Currently, Dallas County is reporting no cases of local transmission via mosquito, which is the main way Zika is spread. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, though the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases expects early trials of a potential vaccine to start by the end of this year. The virus is transmitted mainly via mosquitoes, which means the best way to prevent Zika infection is to prevent mosquito bites, the CDC says. Story continues Because of the recent sexual transmission, the CDC has updated its Zika guidelines: Pregnant women and their male sex partners should discuss potential Zika exposure with the woman's healthcare provider. This includes any history of Zika-like infection. Men with a pregnant sex partner who have traveled or live in areas where the virus is being locally transmitted should consistently and correctly use condoms or abstain from sex during the pregnancy. Generally, men who have traveled or live in areas with local Zika transmission who are worried about sexual transmission should consider using condoms or abstain. The CDC isn't sure how long the risk of sexually transmitted Zika lasts, but said they are looking into answering that question. Frieden said Zika virus tends to persist for about a week in blood, but it's unclear how long it persists in other bodily fluids like semen or saliva. It's even more unclear if saliva is able to transmit the virus, though there have been reports of Zika virus in saliva samples. What you need to know about Zika Once infected, only about one in five people with Zika ever shows symptoms, which most commonly include fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes. Zika is carried by mosquitoes, namely the Aedes aegypti, a tropical bug that's great at transmitting diseases like yellow fever, dengue, and Zika. They are daytime mosquitoes, which means they bite during the day and like hanging out in warm, damp, heavily-populated locations. Although the Zika virus is mostly transmitted when a mosquito bites a human infected with the virus, then goes on to bite another human, some rare cases of sexual transmission via semen have been documented in the past. In December 2013, during a Zika outbreak in French Polynesia, a patient that was seeking treatment for hematospermia (blood in the semen) was found to have Zika in his semen. And a 2011 paper documents a man who unwittingly infected his wife with Zika after they had sex upon his return from Senegal where he was studying the mosquitoes responsible for Zika transmission. NOW WATCH: An untreatable virus that's linked to birth defects is now affecting the US More From Business Insider Crude Oil News: Syrian Peace Talks Suspended, Can Black Gold Gain? (Continued from Prior Part) Syrias civil war and crude oil The UN suspended the Syrian peace talks. It was key to breaking OPECs silence. If the talks achieved the political goal, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran would be on the same platform. It could decrease the tension between the two regional powers. Saudi Arabia and Iran are fighting a proxy war to get regional leadership in the Middle East. Russia joined Iran to support Assad on political grounds. The kingdoms expenditure is increasing on the Syrian front. This pressures the kingdom to increase its revenue from crude oil. At a lower price, the higher volume can only move the revenue upward. If the producers fight among them, the price of the commodity will fall. Syria is a small oil exporter, but its civil war is impacting crude oil prices. Since Russia (ERUS) engaged in Syria, crude oil fell more than 40% from its level in October 2015. The top oil exporters were engaged in a proxy war with each other. Russia (RSX) and Iraq are supporting President Assad. In contrast, Saudi Arabia wants him to leave his leadership position. The above graph shows West Texas Intermediates performance since Russia got involved on Syrian ground. The fall in crude oil prices resulted in lower earnings for exploration and production companies like ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), and Anadarko Petroleum (APC) in 4Q15. The estimates are lower for Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) compared to the same period last year. Continue to Next Part Browse this series on Market Realist: FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 5, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Conversica, the leading provider of artificial intelligence-based lead engagement software for marketing and sales, will be exhibiting and speaking at the CBT Automotive Conference & Exposition February 9-11, in Atlanta, Georgia. On Tuesday afternoon, renowned automotive digital marketing expert Brian Pasch will be joined by Conversica's Don Crawford to spell out many of the challenges preventing dealers from maximizing the value of their sales leads -- and the best ways to address those challenges -- in their presentation "The Latest Research about Increasing Customer Engagement and Boosting Lead Closing Ratios" on February 9 at 4:00 pm. "PCG Research's Brian Pasch has helped countless dealers migrate to more modern and more profitable business processes," said Dave Marod, Vice President of Sales at Conversica. "We are excited about the results of his latest research on increasing customer engagement and boosting lead closing ratios, and are happy to be joining him onstage as he presents his results and recommendations. He will also be visiting our booth 209, so dealers interested in improving their businesses should definitely stop by to meet the man in person." PCG Research recently published a deep-dive research report on Conversica and concluded that the software is helping automotive dealers dramatically increase their email open rates by over 200% and improve their lead engagement and follow-up. PCG Research also discovered that email deliverability is a major factor hindering sales conversion because CRM emails are not being consistently delivered, and that Conversica addresses this critical need. Interested conference attendees can visit booth 209 to see how Conversica's AI automated sales assistant engages, qualifies and follows up with leads in a natural, two-way email conversation, and while there, connect with PCG Research CEO Brian Pasch. Those not attending can visit www.conversica.com for more information. About Conversica Conversica is the leading provider of lead engagement software for marketing and sales organizations. Driven by artificial intelligence technology, Conversica's virtual sales assistant automatically contacts, engages, nurtures, qualifies and follows up with leads via natural, two-way email conversations until the lead converts into an opportunity or opts out. The sales assistant interprets the lead's intention and sentiment in email replies and extracts key information, such as phone numbers and the best time to call, then expertly hands off the lead to the appropriate salesperson to close the deal. As a result, our customers find their next customers more quickly and efficiently, while ensuring no lead is left behind. Used by more than 11,000 sales representatives worldwide, Conversica maximizes sales opportunities by optimizing sales team productivity and has helped create more than US$8 billion in sales revenue. Conversica is a portfolio company of Kennet Partners and Toba Capital, and is headquartered in Foster City, California. To learn more, visit www.conversica.com and follow us on Google+, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Photos accompanying this release are available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38812 http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=38813 CONTACT:Gary Thompson Clarity Communications +1-925-768-2400 gthompson@claritycommunications.us As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to the media after attending the Supporting Syriaand the Region conference in London, Britain, Feb. 4, 2016. China will donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Wang Yi announced here Thursday. (Xinhua/Han Yan) LONDON -- China will donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syriarefugees, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced here Thursday. Speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Wang said China endorses this conference aimed at increasing humanitarian assistance to Syria, and hopes the gathering can make new efforts to realize peace and stability in Syria and help ease the humanitarian situation. Solving the humanitarian problems in Syria, Wang said, necessitates not only emergency aid, but also needs to eliminate their root causes. Currently, the most urgent task is to ensure the basic living conditions of the Syrian refugees and the displaced people, Wang noted. Different parties in Syria should implement relevant UN resolutions and provide humanitarian access to those in need and ensure the swift delivery of humanitarian supplies, said the Chinese foreign minister. Different countries should also lend a helping hand and provide emergency aid to Syria and its neighboring countries that have sheltered Syrian refugees, and take action to help the refugees find jobs and help the children receive necessary education, he said. The UN should sum up its experience, design a comprehensive roadmap and mobilize resources globally to cope with the situation, the diplomat suggested. Wang stressed that the international community should also step up efforts to seek a political solution to the Syria conflict, which is the ultimate way of solving the country's humanitarian crisis. The resumption of peace talks is a key part of this political process in Syria, and the warring parties should give priority to the overall interests of their country and their people, and seize the opportunity of peace talks to show their goodwill and sincerity, Wang continued. The foreign minister said China has been providing humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region through various channels. At the G20 summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinpingannounced an additional 100 million U.S. dollars humanitarian assistance to help improve the living conditions of the refugees and the displaced people. Xi, during a visit to the Middle East last month, also promised 230 million yuan of additional humanitarian assistance this year to the people of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Yemen. China will further donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Wang announced Thursday. China will continue to offer its help to the Syrian people and the refugees, and make positive contributions to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and play a constructive role in facilitating a political solution to the Syrian crisis, he said. Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nationsco-hosted the Supporting Syria and the Region in London Thursday to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected. 2 1 [ Editor: zyq ] Windows at the Empire State Building hallway windows celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Monkey.[Photo/IC] Bold, artistic images of monkeys are brightening up the hallway windows of the Empire State Building in New York in honor of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. Monday, New Year's Day, marks the first day of the Year of the Monkey and the iconic Manhattan landmark is enjoying the flavor of Chinese culture. 7 1 [ Editor: Xueying ] By Adrian Krajewski and William James WARSAW/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron secured the support of Poland's most powerful man on Friday for a proposed deal to keep Britain in the European Union, though an opinion poll suggested voters may still reject continued membership in a planned referendum. To win a vote expected in June on staying in the EU, Cameron says he needs a pact to curb benefits for new migrant workers from EU countries, an opt-out from moves towards political union, more powers for national parliaments and safeguards to ensure Britain is not put at a disadvantage by being one of nine EU members outside the euro currency zone. He achieved an important step towards that goal when Jaroslaw Kaczynski, leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice party and the country's top decision maker, gave his blessing to the proposed arrangements for new migrant workers. Negotiators from all 28 EU countries meanwhile held a first discussion in Brussels of the package put forward by European Council President Donald Tusk. Diplomats said the day-long meeting was broadly supportive and threw up no roadblocks. The so-called sherpas will meet again on Feb. 11 with the aim of reaching a deal at a Feb. 18-19 EU summit. "There is a lot of positive energy and dedication from all sides to arrive at an agreement. That also goes for the Brits who have been very professional about how they handle these negotiations," one participant said. Another said there were still differences on details of the proposals on welfare rights and on the relationship between euro zone and non-euro countries, but there was a strong desire to find a quick solution to keep Britain in the bloc. But a third diplomat said Kaczynski's timely endorsement of the most controversial item in the package had disarmed any strong opposition around the EU table. "Everything seemed very well pre-cooked... What kind of fierce debate do you expect re free movement if during the meeting Cameron successfully courted Kaczynski?" the envoy said. Proposals to allow British authorities to withhold in-work benefits for up to four years from EU citizens moving to work in Britain are under intense scrutiny, especially from Poland, the biggest source of Britain's migrant labour force. After meeting with Cameron in Warsaw, Kaczynski said he was satisfied because the rights of some 600,000 Poles already working in the UK would be fully preserved. "We have gained really very, very much," said Kaczynski, who is also a former prime minister and the twin brother of late president Lech Kaczynski. "Poland has ... gained here really very much, full safety, above all, for all those who are in Britain right now, but also that those who have children in Poland will continue to receive benefits, they may be adjusted, but they will get them anyway." Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said she fully endorsed Cameron's proposals on improving competitiveness, removing red tape and granting proper significance to national parliaments but wanted to discuss the question of welfare benefits. One detail yet to be finalised is whether curbs on child benefit for migrants whose children stay in their home country will apply only to newcomers or also to existing EU workers in Britain, diplomats said. Cameron said later during a visit to Denmark that any agreement with the EU would be irreversible. "There's no way we're going to agree to reverse it," Cameron said at a news conference with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, who said the proposed deal was "a solid answer". TROUBLE AT HOME Cameron's sought-after accord may be taking shape in Brussels but he still faces a deeply sceptical electorate. A new poll showed the campaign for Britain to leave the EU has taken a nine-point lead over the rival "remain" campaign. Nineteen percent said they did not know or would not vote. British polls, however, have faced questions about their methodology since they failed to predict Cameron's victory in the 2015 national election, and they have varied widely on the EU issue in recent months. A ComRes poll last week showed the "in" campaign held an 18-point lead over those who wanted out. A British exit would shake the European Union to its core, ripping away its second largest economy and one of its top two military powers. Britain's pound sterling could weaken as much as 15-20 percent against other major currencies if there is a vote to leave, according to Goldman Sachs and Citi. Pro-Europeans say an exit would damage Britain's economy by excluding it from the vast EU single market, and could trigger the break-up of the United Kingdom by prompting another independence vote by pro-EU Scotland. Opponents of EU membership say Britain would prosper outside. The survey for The Times newspaper, taken in the two days after Cameron set out a proposed deal, showed the biggest lead for the "out" campaign since the referendum wording was agreed last September. The poll showed 45 percent of Britons would vote to leave the EU against 36 percent who want to remain, well up on the four-point edge the "leave" campaign held last week. Eurosceptic members of his Conservative Party said the proposals in the outline deal were far too weak and the British press dubbed them a "farce", a "joke" or a "delusion". "The negative press has pushed 'Leave' significantly ahead," YouGov said. "It's too early to say if the lead will persist or subside after David Cameron's crunch talks in Brussels." German Chancellor Angela Merkel has repeatedly said she wants Britain to remain a member but has cautioned that Cameron must not overplay his hand. Tusk's plan to keep Britain in the EU goes "right up to the pain threshold" of what is acceptable in Germany, said Gunther Krichbaum, a member of Merkel's conservative party and chairman of the European affairs committee in parliament. (Additional reporting by Justyna Pawlak, Marcin Goettig, Marcin Goclowski and Agnieszka Barteczko in Warsaw, Kate Holton in London, Gabriela Baczynska and Alastair Macdonald in Brussels; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Paul Taylor; Editing by Ralph Boulton) By Makiko Yamazaki and J.R. Wu OSAKA, Japan/TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's Foxconn is aiming to finalize a deal to acquire Japan's Sharp Corp <6753.T> by the end of the month, after the two firms reached a consensus on most points, Foxconn Chief Executive Officer Terry Gou said. Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co <2317.TW>, has been given preferred negotiating rights and most remaining issues to be resolved were legal and regulatory, Gou said after meeting with executives of the struggling electronics maker on Friday. The Apple Inc supplier has offered to invest around 659 billion yen ($5.6 billion) in Sharp, sources familiar with the matter have said - which would make it Foxconn's biggest deal to date and the largest acquisition by a foreign company in Japan's insulated tech sector. "We have a consensus," Gou told reporters. "The rest is a process ... I don't see a problem completing this process." The meeting with Sharp executives came one day after Sharp's board decided to focus on Foxconn's offer over a rival bid from a Japanese state-backed fund. While many investors have faith in Gou's business acumen, noting he has built up the world's biggest contract maker of electronic gadgets from scratch, buying Sharp is seen as carrying as many, or more, risks than potential benefits. A deal would give Foxconn access to the Japanese display maker's cutting-edge technology at a time when clients such as Apple are likely looking ahead to more advanced flexible screens. However, key concerns include slowing global sales for smartphones as well as fierce competition from South Korea and Chinese rivals that have hammered demand for Sharp's liquid crystal displays and hindered it from making a recovery despite two major bank-led bailouts in the last four years. The macro environment is not so great," said Vincent Chen, head of regional research with Yuanta Research in Taipei. "Terry is very calculating. He has guts, but I really think there is still a big risk." Foxconn is also seen by some as overpaying for a loss-making company with the acquisition likely to weigh heavily on its balance sheet. "Foxconn's offer is expensive, which shows how desperately the company wants Sharp's technology," said Takatoshi Itoshima, chief portfolio manager at Commons Asset Management. Japan-based sources familiar with the matter have also said there was still some wariness among Sharp and its creditors toward Gou after a 2012 agreement to form a strategic alliance and capital ties broke down. But Sharp CEO Kozo Takahashi stressed on Thursday that Sharp and Foxconn had since forged a good relationship through the joint management of a plant in Japan. Shares in Sharp soared to end 10 percent higher on Friday on the news that Gou had flown in to meet Sharp executives, bringing two-day gains to 28 percent and giving it a market value of $2.6 billion. (Reporting by J.R. Wu and Ritsuko Ando; Writing by Edwina Gibbs; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and David Evans) Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - A Palestinian teenager threw a petrol bomb at Israeli soldiers in the south of the occupied West Bank and was shot dead on Friday, the Israeli military said. At least two Palestinians threw a Molotov cocktail at a military jeep on patrol close to Halhul north of the West Bank city of Hebron, a military spokeswoman said. Responding to an "immediate threat", the soldiers fired on them, killing one. The other was arrested, she said. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death, identifying him as 17-year-old Haitham al-Bau. His death brings to 165 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in four months of violence. More than half of them were alleged assailants, while others were killed during protests. Since October 1, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have also died. Elsewhere on Friday clashes erupted during a new "day of rage". Near Ramallah in the West Bank, clashes broke out as around 100 youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with live fire after using tear gas and rubber bullets, an AFP journalist said. Clashes also broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers along the Gaza-Israel border. The Palestinian health ministry said eight protesters were shot and wounded by army gunfire, including a 13-year-old boy left in critical condition by a bullet in the stomach. Protests are common on Fridays, the Muslim day of rest, in Gaza as well as the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis will meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba next week in a historic first meeting between the heads of the two largest Christian churches, the Vatican announced Friday. The gathering will be the first of its kind since a schism in the 11th Century split Christianity into Western and Eastern branches. The two wings have been estranged ever since with each maintaining for centuries that they are the true heritors of the early Christian church established by the apostles of Jesus Christ. Relations have warmed of late between Rome and other branches of the Orthodox tradition, but the Russian one, the most influential in the Eastern family, has maintained its distance, until now. With Pope Francis having adopted an "any time, any place" approach since his 2013 election, the once-in-a-millennium sitdown has been set for Havana's Jose Marti International Airport on February 12. Francis will stop over on his way to a scheduled visit to Mexico while Kirill is due on the communist island for the first leg of a February 11-22 trip to Latin America which will also take in Paraguay, Chile and Brazil. A spokesman for the Russian church said the meeting would be principally focused on the persecution of Christians around the world and that a joint declaration would be issued after a private conversation between the two leaders. - Ukraine fallout - "The current situation in the Middle East, North and Central Africa and in several other regions where extremists are conducting a veritable genocide against Christian populations, requires urgent measures and real cooperation between Christian churches," the Moscow-based Church said in a statement. "That is why, despite the obstacles, the decision to organise a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis was taken." The meeting has been on the cards for some time with Francis having said in 2014 that he had told Kirill to just "call me and I'll come." Story continues Relations between the two churches were framed by the bitter legacy of the Great Schism of 1054 and the recriminations, including mutual excommunications and the violence associated with the Crusades, that followed. The Orthodox Church's refusal to accept the authority of the Roman pontiff has long been the primary barrier to reconciliation. In the Eastern tradition, all bishops are considered equal with church governance the responsibility of synods. Culturally-rooted differences over forms of worship and observance, such as the eating of unleavened bread, contributed to the schism although many historians see it as having been primarily driven by the prevailing political forces. More recently Vatican-Moscow relations have been strained by the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. Russian Orthodox officials have accused Catholics in Ukraine, who use Eastern forms of worship but are loyal to Rome, of both evangelism and fomenting Ukrainian nationalism. There is also a festering dispute over the ownership of church properties confiscated from Eastern Rite Catholics during the reign of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, some of which were reclaimed from the Russian Orthodox church following the fall of communism. Since becoming Pope, Francis has met twice with Patriarch Bartholomew, an Istanbul-based cleric who is considered the ecumenical head of the Eastern Orthodox church but does not have the same ecclesiastical clout as Russia's Kirill. The various Orthodox churches count some 260-300 million followers, with the Russian branch accounting for 165 million of them. In comparison, the Catholic church claims 1.2 billion members around the globe. Francis has also made a priority of improving relations between Roman Catholicism and other religions. He has defended Islam as a peaceful faith and the last month has seen him visit the main synagogue in Rome and announce plans to visit Sweden in October for a ecumenical service to mark next year's 500th anniversary of the Protestant reformation in Europe. News Microsoft Previews Enterprise State Roaming for Windows 10 Devices Microsoft is promising greater organizational control over roamed Windows 10 operating system settings and application-state data when using the Azure Active Directory (AD) service. The roaming controls for Windows 10 devices are possible using a new service called "Enterprise State Roaming," which is now available for testing at the preview stage. However, the preview is just available in "supported U.S. and Europe regions" right now, Microsoft explained, in an announcement on Thursday. A future global rollout of the service is planned, though, Microsoft indicated. The Enterprise State Roaming service requires having an Azure Active Directory Premium subscription. In addition, Windows 10 version 1511 ("build 10586 or greater") is required. To use Enterprise State Roaming, the Windows 10 devices must be joined to Azure AD. Alternatively, they can be joined to a local AD instance that has "automatic registration to Azure AD," Microsoft explained, in its announcement. This sort of setup makes it possible to address some of the security, compliance and management needs that organizations may have when controlling Windows 10 devices. For instance, the service comes with a subset of the Azure Rights Management Service (RMS) that's been "restricted for Enterprise State Roaming use," Microsoft's announcement explained. Azure RMS is Microsoft's information protection service that works across various mobile devices. Typically, Azure RMS is used to do things like restrict access to documents in e-mails. In the case of the Enterprise State Roaming service, Azure RMS is used to automatically encrypt data "before leaving the user's Windows 10 device." The Enterprise State Roaming service will store settings data in Microsoft's datacenters. The data are "encrypted at rest." There's also some assurance for organizations needing to meet data sovereignty compliance requirements. For instance, the data will get "stored in an Azure region based on the country associated with the Azure AD directory," Microsoft explained. That's an attempt to address European Union criteria for data storage. IT pros can set up the Enterprise State Roaming service for Windows 10 clients using the Azure Admin Portal. After that's done, "Azure AD will automatically start syncing settings through the Azure cloud using enterprise accounts," Microsoft explained. IT pros can choose which settings to roam. Microsoft already has a consumer "settings sync" capability for Windows 8/8.1 clients, which is dependent on the use of its consumer OneDrive storage service and the use of a Microsoft account for sign-in. However, this consumer sync approach doesn't have the same protections as the Enterprise State Roaming service. The same Windows 10 device can be used for both personal and business use when using the Enterprise State Roaming service. For instance, it's possible add a Microsoft account to an Azure AD-joined Windows 10 client as a secondary account. However, in such cases, "the OS settings always roam with the primary account." Application data will get stored based on how the app was acquired -- that is, as a consumer app (in OneDrive) or as a business app (in Microsoft's datacenters). It's not clear yet when the new Enterprise State Roaming service will reach "general availability" commercial release. (Bloomberg) -- A Singapore private banker caught up in a probe related to a troubled Malaysian government fund has denied any wrongdoing. Yak Yew Chee, who since 2009 has worked at BSI Bank, a unit of Grupo BTG Pactual SA, made the claim in court documents released Friday. Yak said he didnt get any unlawful benefits from managing the accounts of 1Malaysia Development Bhd., Abu Dhabis Aabar Investments PJSC and Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, according to a declaration he made to the bank on April 27, 2015 and reproduced in the court papers. Yak, who wasnt in court for Fridays hearing, was seeking to transfer S$1.76 million ($1.25 million) from his overseas bank accounts to pay his taxes and legal fees as well as unfreeze his funds in Singapore. Yaks Singapore bank accounts with DBS Bank Ltd., Oversea- Chinese Banking Corp., CIMB Bank Bhd. and Bank of China Ltd. were frozen in September as authorities investigated whether his bonus payments were the benefits of criminal conduct, according to the documents. Prosecutor Tan Kiat Pheng said Yak, 58, was free to transfer his overseas funds for the payments. Yak, a senior vice president at BSI, is paid a monthly salary of about S$82,000, according to court papers. OCBC declined to comment. CIMB and Bank of China didnt immediately reply to a request for comment. DBS said in a statement that it was unable to comment on matters under investigation by the authorities, adding that the bank does not "have any accounts of 1MDB, nor have any of these widely- reported money flows related to 1MDB gone through DBS." From the documents, he does not appear to have done anything wrong, subject to further investigations, Yaks lawyer Roderick Martin said after the hearing. Among the claims made in the documents are that Yak sent a staggering sum of S$5.7 million overseas between May and September last year, a period that saw him placed on leave while BSI conducted investigations into unspecified certain matters. The amount was bonus payments for his work at BSI, Yak said in court papers. Story continues BSIs lawyer Cavinder Bull said at the hearing that the bank was ready to assist the court in any way. Aabar didnt immediately reply to an e-mail seeking comment. Low couldnt be reached at his Hong Kong office Jynwel Capital Ltd. Singapores central bank and white-collar police said Monday in response to queries on 1MDB that authorities had seized a large number of bank accounts in connection with possible money-laundering in the country. 1MDB, whose advisory board is headed by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, has been the subject of overlapping investigations at home and in countries including Switzerland and Hong Kong amid allegations of financial irregularities. Both the premier and 1MDB have consistently denied any wrongdoing. Najib was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysias attorney general last month. The case is Yak Yew Chee v Public Prosecutor, CM78/2015. Singapore High Court. --With assistance from Chanyaporn Chanjaroen. To contact the reporter on this story: Andrea Tan in Singapore at atan17@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Sam Mamudi at smamudi@bloomberg.net Marcus Wright, Charles W. Stevens Luxury villas in Phuket, Thailand. Expatriates in Southeast Asia are relocating their families to Phuket and commuting to work in major cities nearby such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok during the week, before returning to the tropical island on weekends, reported the Phuket Gazette. According to the article, Phukets international airport has made it easier for them to do this. Kevin Hodges, the North Branch and Investments Manager for Siam Real Estate, said that living standards, cost of living expenses and infrastructure in Phuket are a major draw for families who would otherwise be living in much smaller and more expensive properties. This is especially true in cities like Singapore and Hong Kong. The article stated that it is possible for a family to own or rent a four-plus bedroom villa with a private pool and other amenities in Phuket at close to the same price of a two-bedroom condo in Singapore. This is a major factor to consider for families who need additional space and amenities, as well as privacy. Phuket has a number of international-standard medical facilities, improving infrastructure, beaches, numerous leisure activities, a low cost of living and a growing expat community that is making it more feasible for people to live there and work further afield, noted Hodges. Another draw for families relocating to Phuket is the growing number of international schools found on the island. The newspaper reported that there are now 13 such schools on the island, with 10 established in the past decade. Demand for places in international schools from both expats and Thai families is greater than ever before and a number of these schools are expanding. With the ASEAN Economic Community going into effect soon, more expats and possibly even Thais could choose Phuket as the place to move their families to while working in Bangkok or other cities in Southeast Asia. This article was first published on DDproperty.com, Thailands leading property site. More from PropertyGuru: Govt wont let property market crash: Shanmugam JTC to launch tender for Tuas South reserve list site Slower retail sales in Singapore amid growth of multi-channel retail How do stock market losses affect property? (Bloomberg) -- Bank accounts frozen. Bankers quizzed. As offshore authorities seek to track money flows involving Malaysias troubled government investment fund, fresh questions are rising about doing business in the country. Crisscrossing countries from Switzerland to the U.S., Middle East and Singapore, investigators are chasing a trail of transactions linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd. With the probes potentially running for years, investors and analysts say it may damage the perception that Malaysia is trying to become a more transparent place. The risk is political, economic and commercial. Debt-ridden 1MDB, which is in the process of being broken up, was touted as the vehicle for the government to spur growth, investing mainly in property and power generation. Prime Minister Najib Razak -- who has faced a separate furor over a $681 million personal donation from the Saudi royal family -- sits on its advisory board. The premier was cleared of any graft, and $620 million of the funds were returned. He and 1MDB have consistently denied any wrongdoing. The scandal has thrown Malaysias governance failings - both political and economic - into sharp relief, said Nicholas Spiro, a partner at London-based Lauressa Advisory Ltd. The 1MDB scandal raises the stakes significantly. State Companies Malaysias economy has long been dominated by state-run companies like power producer Tenaga Nasional Bhd. and lender Malayan Banking Bhd., and the top 17 government-linked companies accounted for about a quarter of the nations stock market capitalization as of July 28, according to government data and Bloomberg calculations. While directors or heads of several GLCs have been associated with 1MDB, they and their companies havent been linked to alleged financial irregularities at the fund. 1MDB is currently the subject of overlapping investigations at home and abroad. Last week the Swiss Attorney Generals office said a probe revealed "serious indications" that about $4 billion may have been misappropriated from Malaysian state companies. Najib is not one of the public officials under accusation, it said. Story continues Singapore authorities said in response to queries on 1MDB that they have seized a large number of bank accounts in connection with possible money-laundering in the country. 1MDB has said it is committed to fully cooperating with any lawful authority and investigation. Game of Thrones The scandals, alongside months of political tensions for Najib, have unnerved senior figures in Malaysia. Najibs brother, CIMB Group chairman Nazir Razak, wrote on Instagram on Jan. 30 that the future for Malaysia terrifies him, likening the current environment to the HBO series Game of Thrones. Rafidah Aziz, Malaysias trade minister for more than two decades until 2008, mostly during the era of then-premier Mahathir Mohamad -- a fierce Najib critic -- said she was mentally fatigued and worried the country was on a scary downhill course. Some key parts of the system is indeed broken, Rafidah said on Facebook Jan. 30. She declined on Wednesday to comment further. The probes come amid a slowdown in growth and investment, with sliding oil prices taking a bite out of government revenue, limiting Najibs ability to both rein in a fiscal deficit and stimulate spending. The economy grew at the slowest pace in more than two years in the three months through September from a year earlier. Market Outflows Its a difficult environment that needs to be improved and we seem to be a bit stuck, said Gerald Ambrose, managing director of Aberdeen Asset Management Sdn in Kuala Lumpur. It is difficult, having lived in Malaysia myself for 25 years. That does worry me. In 2015, foreign investors sold a net $7.4 billion of Malaysia stocks and bonds and the ringgit fell 19 percent. Outflows spurred in part by the rout in oil and Chinas slowdown led Najib to announce in September hed tap state funds for as much as 20 billion ringgit to bolster government-linked shares. While it is early days for the overseas probes of 1MDB, Mixo Das, a Singapore-based strategist at Nomura Holdings Inc., says its damaged how investors perceive Malaysia. The market is pricing in a potential long-term investment climate deterioration, said Das, who has an underweight rating on Malaysia given the poor corporate earnings outlook this year. The Exception Malaysias global score worsened in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index for 2015, putting it on a ranking near Slovakia and Cuba. Issues related to 1MDB contributed to the nations fall to 54th from 50th in 2014, it said. Malaysian companies have made strides in improving transparency, Economic Planning Minister Abdul Wahid Omar said Feb. 2 in an interview with Bloomberg Television. We must remember that 1MDB is the exception, he said. The norm for government-linked companies would be the massive transformation that we undertook some eleven years ago and we have seen this group of 20 large government-linked companies, they have improved in terms of their governance, their performance and their role in nation building. Kedah Ousting Elsie Tham, a senior fund manager at Kuala Lumpur-based Manulife Asset Management Services Bhd. who oversees more than $1 billion, said investors remained focused on fundamentals. What most investors are looking for is political stability and certainty -- despite all the background noises, these two elements are still very much intact in Malaysia at this juncture, she said. I believe there are still plenty of opportunities for investors in Malaysia. The 1MDB difficulties are intermixing with political turmoil. This week Najib succeeded in replacing Mukhriz Mahathir -- the son ofMahathir -- as Kedah state minister with a ruling party ally. Najib has fired other detractors and curbed dissent. Wong Wing Keong, who owns an information security services company in Malaysia, said the streets lack a festive Chinese New Year atmosphere as citizens fret over the falling ringgit and political squabbling. Very Uncomfortable Theres a lot of uncertainty, Wong said. People are wondering if they should park their funds offshore. All these probes -- theyre making some very uncomfortable. Najib was cleared of wrongdoing by Malaysias attorney general last month. The probe found a personal contribution of $681 million from Saudi Arabias royal family that appeared in his bank accounts before a general election in 2013. His office did not respond on Thursday to requests for comment. Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy in Sydney at AMP Capital Investors Ltd., which oversees about $120 billion, said he wont be allocating more funds to the country, though some economic headwinds hitting Malaysia are beyond its control. If you go back a decade ago, emerging markets were a favorite place to invest in, but now there are issues with commodities and governance, he said. It probably doesnt change anything in Malaysia, but it does in a sort of way change the view of others towards Malaysia. It is something you need to be wary of. --With assistance from Choong En Han, Chanyaporn Chanjaroen and Shamim Adam. To contact the reporters on this story: Andrea Tan in Singapore at atan17@bloomberg.net; Chong Pooi Koon in Kuala Lumpur at pchong17@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net; Sam Mamudi at smamudi@bloomberg.net Shamim Adam The Rabbit brand is also planning to launch two additional verticals and looking to fund local Thai startups Rabbit Internet founding team Bangkok-based Rabbit Internet announced today a THB325 million (US$9.1 million) funding round led by BTS Group Holdings Plc., the majority shareholder of Bangkok Mass Transit System PLC. Rabbit Internet is a company builder and is behind Rabbit Finance Thailands top finance and digital insurance brokerage portal. The capital will go towards expanding operations within the country, meaning the development of financial, media and content enterprises aimed at the Thai market. The company is also planning to launch two additional verticals in e-commerce and content under the Rabbit brand. Furthermore, Rabbit may look to make investments in Thai startups in the range of US$50,000 to US$500,000 each. The investments would have to attract third-party funding as it grows. The investment by BTS Group Holdings is a sign of confidence for Thailands digital economy, said Johannes von Rohr, Co-founder and Managing Director at Rabbit Internet, in an official statement. Also Read: Thailands Stylhunt snags close to US$500,000 in pre-Series A round Rabbit Internet is a joint venture between BSS Holdings (a wholly-owned subsidiary of BTS Group) and Hong Kong-based investment firm Alpha Founders. In addition to Rabbit Finance, the company also runs an online publication called Rabbit Daily and a digital advertising platform, called Rabbit Connect. As for Rabbit Finance, Rabbit Internet is hoping the service can achieve a 5 per cent market share in Thailand by 2020. The companys partners in the region include The Viriyah Insurance, Bangkok Insurance and Muang Thai Insurance. The new Internet joint venture brings innovation capabilities to the group that allow us to develop high-quality services and products for the digital economy. The initiative is in line with the strategic direction of the group to improve every day [the] modern lifestyle for Thai people, said BTS Group Holdings CEO Kavin Kanjanapas. Story continues Also Read: Your first reason to attend Echelon Asia Summit this June: HubSpots Kipp Bodnar Those unfamiliar with Rabbit Internet may recognise the Rabbit card. It is an e-money smart card used for public transportation and is comparable to the assorted variations of plastic transit cards seen across many major global cities. The post Thailands Rabbit Internet raises US$9.1M; will boost domestic operations appeared first on e27. Heres Why Escaping the Country During Chinese New Year 2016 Might Not Be As Expensive As You Think There are two main reasons why youll want to get out of Singapore during Chinese New Year either you want to avoid the awkward interactions with extended family members you dont even recognise, of youre not Chinese. Either way, youll want to take advantage of the only four-day long weekend in 2016. Four-day long weekend? That means If you havent figured it out by now, and made plans to take advantage of it, that means you could technically enjoy a 9-day holiday with just 3 days of leave. Unless you work in a school, of course. Just think an overseas holiday that starts on the 6th, Saturday morning, lasting all the way till the 14th, Sunday night. Thats almost half the month of February that you can spend on a relaxing getaway or an exciting adventure. But wait, isnt travelling during Chinese New Year going to be really expensive? Yes, it is true that this is one of several peak periods for travel. According to travel search engine KAYAK.sg, 49% of their searches for February are for flights departing on the 5th or 6th of the month. This increased demand naturally resulted in higher airline ticket prices. However, here are three ways you can reduce the cost of your holiday. 1. If youre travelling within the region, find alternative departure and return dates A trip to Bangkok from the 6th to the 14th of February will set you back at least $561 per person, last I checked. But then again, which Singaporean really needs to spend so long in Thailand? Consider scheduling your flights on less popular dates. For example, if you travel from Thursday, 4th to Wednesday, 10th, youll still use 3 days of leave but your airfare will only cost a significantly lower $272 per person. Thats more than half the cost! However, itll probably be very tedious to search for multiple combinations of departure and arrival dates, even if you can save hundreds of dollars. Fortunately, several airline websites out there allow you to indicate your preference for flexible dates, including Singapore Airlines and Qantas. But if you want to be spoilt for choice, sites like STA Travel and Kayak.sg include flexible dates among their search options. Story continues 2. If youre travelling within the region, try going off the beaten path If you want to avoid the crowds that are sure to be about, how about choosing locations that are not among the popular tourist destinations this Chinese New Year? Even if you dont feel too adventurous, you can visit several cities in Vietnam and Cambodia that are slowly growing in popularity among younger Singaporeans. Flights from Singapore to cities like Da Nang in Central Vietnam and Vietnams capital Hanoi are still relatively cheap, with prices below $500 per person. Flights to Phnom Penh are even cheaper, with some as low as $239 per person. If you feel like visiting China during their month-long New Year celebrations, consider visiting Changsha, the capital of Hunan. Rich in historical and cultural attractions, its arguably most famous for being the place where Mao Zedong grew up. Flights to Changsha cost about $532 per person during this period, which is relatively low. 3. No matter where you travel, consider using a credit card that maximises savings Some credit cards offer free airport lounge access and other perks like limousine transfers to and from the airport. But the credit cards that you should be looking out for should give you significant savings when you travel. For example, the ANZ Optimum Card gives you 5% cashback for travel-related transactions including booking tickets via airline websites and online travel portals, or bookings made at travel agencies. While there is no cap on the total cashback you can earn from the ANZ Optimum Card, do note that there is a maximum cashback rebate of $30 per transaction. That means that transactions above $600 wont earn extra cashback. So if youre buying tickets, you might want to buy them individually in order to maximise your cashback earning with the ANZ Optimum Card. You can apply here for the ANZ Optimum Card. Alternatively, if you dont like cashback and want to accumulate miles instead, consider the Citi PremierMiles Visa card which gives you up to 6 miles per $1 spent on Expedia.com, and up to 10 miles per $1 spent on Kaligo.com. With this card, you normally earn 1.2 miles per $1 spent locally, and 2 miles per $1 spent overseas in foreign currencies. In addition, youre also eligible for discounts with specific hotels, as well as discounts when you rent a car from Avis and Hertz. You can apply here for the Citi PremierMiles Visa card. However, if youre travelling to Australia or New Zealand, it definitely makes sense to book with the ANZ Travel Visa Signature card. Not only does it boast the highest base earning rate of 1.4 air miles with every $1 spent locally, but you can earn 2.8 air miles per S$1 spend for direct flight bookings with Qantas and Jetstar, as well as with all retail spend in Australia and New Zealand. Do note, however, that this 2.8 miles rate is capped at 14,000 miles per month. You can apply here for the ANZ Travel Visa Signature card. Plus, with the value of the Australian dollar almost equal to the Singaporean dollar, it definitely makes sense to spend overseas with this card. Even with the additional currency conversion fees (which can come up to about 4%), 2.8 miles per $1 is a pretty unbeatable deal. Do you have any lobang for travel this Chinese New Year? Share your tips and tricks with us! The post Here's Why Escaping the Country During Chinese New Year 2016 Might Not Be As Expensive As You Think appeared first on the MoneySmart blog. MoneySmart.sg helps you maximize your money. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date with our latest news and articles. Compare and shop for the best deals on Loans, Insurance and Credit Cards on our site now! More From MoneySmart DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain is ready to commit ground troops to Syria as part of a U.-S.-led coalition against Islamic State, the Gulf island state said on Friday, a day after its larger neighbour and close ally Saudi Arabia announced a similar pledge. Bahraini ambassador to Britain Sheikh Fawaz bin Mohammed al-Khalifa said in a statement that Bahrain would commit troops to operate "in concert with the Saudis" under what he called the international coalition against terrorism. He added that the United Arab Emirates, a fellow member of the Saudi-dominated Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), was also ready to commit troops, echoing an assertion made late last year by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash. Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was ready to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the U.S.-led alliance decides to start such operations, an adviser to the Saudi defence minister said. The Bahraini ambassador said the Saudi initiative in Syria was meant to combat both Islamic State and "the brutal Assad regime", a reference to President Bashar al-Assad, a bitter foe of Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Fawaz also announced the GCC had decided to base a new unified GCC naval operations centre in Bahrain. "The establishment of a joint (Gulf Arab) force shows clearly and unequivocally that under the leadership of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states are determined to take positive action within the region and globally to combat terrorism and extremism, from whatever quarter they emanate," he said. (This version of the story corrects second paragraph to show Bahrain troops would operate under international coalition, rather than as part of a Gulf Arab command as original statement said) (Reporting by William Maclean; Editing by Mark Potter and Dominic Evans) Hillary Clinton mounted a sharp attack on White House rival Bernie Sanders, accusing her Democratic challenger of waging a smear campaign and warning his promises of revolution "don't add up." The nearly two-hour debate at the University of New Hampshire in Durham comes five days before the state votes in the first primary of the 2016 election race, after Clinton clinched the narrowest victory in Iowa caucus history against Sanders this week. While most expect Clinton to ultimately secure her party's nomination, she faces a much steeper uphill climb than once imagined as the 74-year-old senator from Vermont whips up passionate support among young voters -- earning him a double-digit poll lead in neighboring New Hampshire. In their first one-on-one duel, the former secretary of state made a play to woo Sanders's fan base by presenting herself as a battle-hardened progressive who can improve the lives of struggling Americans -- and whose experience makes her far better suited to the job. "Senator Sanders and I share some very big progressive goals," the former first lady said. "But the numbers just don't add up from what Senator Sanders has been proposing." Sanders, who identifies as a democratic socialist -- unique for a US presidential candidate -- hammered home his opposition to what he believes is the corrosive power of Wall Street on American democracy. He insisted Clinton cannot claim to be both a moderate and a progressive, criticizing her for raising $15 million from Wall Street -- and prompting some of the night's sharpest exchanges. "Enough is enough," Clinton said. I don't think these attacks are worthy of you." - 'Artful smear' - "I think it's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out in recent weeks," the 68-year-old added to a smattering of boos among the in-house audience of 600. "You will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received." Sanders hit back by insisting that billionaires undermine democracy in the United States by spending unlimited funds on election campaigns. "We need a political revolution where millions of people stand up and say loudly and clearly that our government belongs to all of us and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors," he said. Sanders presented himself throughout as a fresh voice championing a political revolution to raise the voice of working Americans and young voters, offering universal health care and free public colleges. The more moderate Clinton advocates incremental change: slow but steady reforms on Wall Street, tweaks to Obama's Affordable Care Act and expanding university scholarships. She listed her record on racial injustice, children's rights and the fight to widen American access to health care. Clinton appealed on listeners to vote next Tuesday with "their heart" but also "their head" -- and left the door open to considering Sanders as her potential running mate for vice president. "If I'm so fortunate to be the nominee, the first person I will call and talk to about where we go from here will be Senator Sanders," she said. - '100 times better' - The Vermont senator -- who has steadfastly refused to attack Clinton over her use of a personal email account as US top diplomat -- was also unfailingly polite. "I happen to respect the secretary very much. I hope it's mutual and on our worst days I think it is fair to say we are 100 times better than any Republican candidate," he said. Sanders took 49.6 percent to Clinton's 49.8 percent in the Iowa caucuses, in the first vote of the US election cycle having trailed as a distant second only months earlier. An NBC, Wall Street Journal, Marist poll released hours before the debate gave Sanders 58 percent support among likely Democratic primary voters in New Hampshire and Clinton 38 percent. Sanders leads Clinton among voters aged 18-29 by 76 to 24 percent, the poll found. Regardless of the outcome of Tuesday's primary, Clinton moves into friendlier territory later this month in Nevada and South Carolina, where she commands greater support among black and Latino voters. Republicans are also swarming to New Hampshire for the crucial February 9 vote, with Donald Trump eager to reclaim the lead after he was beaten in Iowa by arch-conservative Senator Ted Cruz. On the Republican side, Trump is firmly ahead in New Hampshire, with the telegenic Rubio moving into second place ahead of Iowa winner Ted Cruz, according to the latest University of Massachusetts/Lowell poll. (Yahoo file photo) By P N Balji I had to scratch my head to find some stimulating and refreshing speeches in the last Parliamentary session. Yes, the PM was solid, taking 90 minutes to put across his proposals for political changes. He was articulate, passionate and opportunistic as he listed proposed changes to the Non-constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP), Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and Elected Presidency (EP) schemes. It was when advocating for full voting rights to the best losers in the elections that you saw the PM in somewhat of a fighting mood. I will make the case that they should not only be allowed to speak, but to vote, he said. Perhaps, he was expecting some kind of dissent from his own MPs, like what Tan Cheng Bock did when the NCMP was introduced in 1984. There hasnt been any not yet, at least. I also liked what PAP MP Baey Yam Keng said about giving citizenship to permanent residents from Malaysia who have been living here for many, many years. This group tends to have little or no education, are about 60 years old or older and have raised children who are Singapore citizens. He asked rather poignantly: Shouldnt they be allowed to rest in peace in Singapore? That is a question not just for the government to answer. It is something the people of Singapore should ponder. Although he didnt present it that way, Baeys speech goes to the heart of what Singaporeans want Singapore to be: A society embedded in everything economic or one that will empathise with with and act on the plight of the less fortunate, like these people who have planted their roots here. The way in which the PM made his moves in the very first session of Parliament after the 2015 election offered a few clues as to what the next few years are going to be like. He is a man in a hurry wanting to quickly tie up things, both politically and economically, for the new PM. Lee has already said he doesnt want to stay on as the leader once he is 70, which is five years away. Story continues The team-in-waiting is raw, most of them having entered politics just five years ago and in the case of Ong Ye Kung just five months ago. The PM must have also calculated that the timing is right with the PAP having achieved an unexpected resounding victory in the polls and the Opposition in a weaker position. It was Lees proposals for the Presidential Election system that surprised those who were looking forward to a robust contest in 2017. Tightening the criteria for candidates and making sure that a Malay will be the head of state have raised political eyebrows. Would these have been proposed if the 2011 election had not resulted in such a razor thin victory for Tony Tan, many must have wondered. Even former President S R Nathan seemed uncomfortable when he said in an interview with The Sunday Times that the government should be careful about giving a special benefit for a certain section of society. The last Parliamentary session also showed that a resurgent PAP is not going to allow any wiggle room for the Opposition as the ruling partys MPs pounced on everything members of the Opposition camp said. The attack on WP leader Low Thia Khiangs description of NCMPs as duck weed was timed with precision and aimed to hit where it hurt most. Having got the deer in the headlights, PAP went for the kill by proposing an amendment to reflect the WPs public disdain for the NCMP post. The deer hunt might just work against the ruling party if it continues to fix its rival every step of the way with sympathy for the underdog taking root. These are early days and political winds can change dramatically as the last two elections showed how voters can switch their loyalties like they change their clothes. P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who is the former chief editor of TODAY newspaper, and a media consultant. The views expressed are his own. The first witness in the trial of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo gave a harrowing account Wednesday of coming under fire from troops loyal to the ex-leader during an unarmed march after 2010 polls. "I was dragging my leg and saw that the bone was sticking out," the first prosecution witness identified only as P547 told the International Criminal Court. His face pixellated on television screens and his voice disguised to protect his identity, the man told how he was shot in the leg during a demonstration on December 16, 2010. He was among thousands of supporters of current Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara who marched on a pro-Gbagbo television station in the economic capital of Abidjan following a disputed November, 2010 election. "We moved towards the (television station) bare-handed. We could not get very close because people were shooting at us," said the witness, adding he was a long-time Ouattara supporter. "I ran a bit, fell down, heard a gunshot and fell down again. I saw my leg had been hit," said the man, a Muslim, who worked at the time as a truck driver. Ouattara is a Muslim from the north while Gbagbo is a Christian from southern Ivory Coast, the world's top cocoa producer which was an oasis of stability in restive west Africa until 1999 when disgruntled soldiers staged a coup. That was followed by a low-level civil war in 2002 pitting Gbagbo and Ouattara on opposite sides. Gbagbo declared himself the winner of the 2010 elections, but major powers including France, the former colonial power, the United States and the United Nations backed Ouattara, who had snatched a narrow victory. The row triggered a bitter standoff that saw Gbagbo holed up in the fortified presidential palace and Abidjan turned into a war zone. Gbagbo and his former militia chief, Charles Ble Goude, deny four charges of crimes against humanity arising out of the violence which left 3,000 dead. At the demonstration, the witness told how soldiers arrived and threw injured protesters into the back of a truck. The soldiers "asked me what I was doing," said, the card-carrying member of Ouattara's RDR party, speaking through an interpreter in his native Jula language. "I answered: 'We are marching. We voted and we want justice'." The soldiers then started to beat him saying the officer had "told them to beat me to death." The soldiers eventually left and asked "shall we kill him?" but were told "no, this guy is nearly dead, he won't last." He was eventually given first aid by a Red Cross team, P547 said. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that Russia's air strikes in Syria targeting rebel forces are "undermining" efforts to find a peaceful solution to the five-year war. Syrian peace talks in Geneva earlier this week broke up acrimoniously as Moscow's long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad launched a fresh offensive against rebel forces in Aleppo with massive Russian backing. "What we have seen is that the intense Russian air strikes mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," Stoltenberg said as he arrived for talks in Amsterdam with EU defence and foreign ministers. The NATO chief also criticised Russia's military build-up in Syria and in the eastern Mediterranean as stoking regional tensions, especially with key alliance member Turkey. "This creates risks and heightens tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO," he said. Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet along its Syrian border in late November and the two sides have been engaged in a bitter war of words ever since. With the Syrian peace talks put on ice until February 25, the UN Security Council is due to take up the crisis later Friday in hopes of getting the latest peace initiative back on track. On Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had warned Moscow to stop targeting the Syrian opposition in what he described as a "robust" phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius was equally critical of Russia's role in Syria, charging Moscow with "torpedoing" the peace talks. "There cannot be political discussions if one of the parties is engaged in assassinating the other," Fabius said on his arrival at the talks in Amsterdam. The conflict in Syria has cost more than 250,000 lives and displaced half the population, many of them fleeing to Europe in its biggest migrant crisis since World War II. The deteriorating situation in Syria and its regional impact have added to EU and NATO concerns over Libya, which has been in turmoil since the alliance backed the 2011 overthrow of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Warring factions have divided up the oil-rich country, with the Islamic State group now building a presence there as EU efforts to forge a government of national unity appear stalled. Stoltenberg said NATO was "following very closely" the situation in Libya, stressing the importance of agreeing a new government "because that will be an important first step to be able to fight IS." The United States warned Thursday that there could now be 5,000 IS fighters in Libya, about double previous estimates, even as their numbers fall in Syria and Iraq. TOKYO (Reuters) - North Korea's mobile missile launcher, carrying a ballistic missile, has been seen moving near the east coast and activity has also been seen at a long-range rocket launch pad on the west coast, Japanese public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday. International pressure has grown on North Korea to call off a planned rocket launch, seen by some governments as another missile test, since Pyongyang told U.N. agencies this week it would launch what it called an "earth observation satellite". Japan has put its military on alert to shoot down any rocket that threatens its territory. The NHK report said the mobile missile launcher was thought to normally remain stationary in places such as an underground facility. North Korea fired two mid-range ballistic missiles, which appeared to be Rodong-class missiles, from the mobile launcher off its east coast into the sea towards Japan in March 2014, the report said. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Paul Tait) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed in Syria, arguing that Moscow and Damascus were together responsible for 400,000 deaths there, Dogan News Agency reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart while on a state visit to the West African country, Erdogan also said Russia was engaged in an invasion of Syria and accused it of trying to set up a "boutique state" for its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad. "Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders," Dogan quoted him as saying. "By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000." His comments are likely to further enrage Moscow. Relations between Turkey, a NATO member, and Russia hit their worst in recent memory in November after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane Ankara said had violated Turkish airspace from Syria. The two are on opposing sides of the five-year-old Syrian civil war, where Russia's intervention with airstrikes to help the Assad regime has tipped the war in Damascus' favour, reversing gains rebels made last year. Russia has accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Ankara has dismissed this as propaganda intended to conceal Russia's own "crimes". Turkey, which has taken in more than 2.5 million refugees fleeing the Syrian war, wants Assad out and says only his removal can bring long-term peace. (Reporting by Asli Kandemir; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Ralph Boulton) US military assistance to the Philippines is expected to increase to $66 million this year. However, it is not tied to the implementation of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, US embassy Press Attache Kurt Hoyer clarified yesterday. That is an increase from the original expectation of $40 million, he said. During a visit to Manila in January last year for the Fifth Philippines-US Bilateral Strategic Dialogue, US Assistant Secretary for Defense David Shear said the US was giving the Philippines $40 million for 2015 in military assistance. Shear said the US provided $40 million in foreign military financing in Fiscal Year 2015, adding that the US would do anything it could to help the Philippines make best use of the assistance. Hoyer said the US is in the process of working with the Philippines on locations and activities for the EDCA implementation. But no final decisions have been made, he said. Budget would be contingent upon the locations and activities. At a forum in Quezon City on Wednesday, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said that $66 million was allocated for military funding to the Philippines. Let me point out that we have about $66 million in foreign military funding in process for the Philippines and we expect that there will be additional sources of funds for both carrying out EDCA to military construction funds and also to increases in what we call the maritime security initiative, he said. So we will work through all of those figures and also working with our Congress, which of course you have to deal as well in terms of what the Philippines may bring to the table. Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Filipino-US EDCA proponents are eyeing Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan de Oro City, Bara Air Base in Pampanga, Mactan Air Force Base in Cebu and an area within the Armed Forces Western Command in Puerto Princesa City where US forces can put up facilities. Story continues He made the announcement yesterday during the turnover rites for 114 refurbished Armored Personnel Carriers that the government acquired through the Excess Defense Articles facility of the US to the Philippine Army Mechanized infantry Division. In a media interview in Cagayan de Oro City earlier, Gazmin said the US will put up facilities at Lumbia airfield. The three military bases are strategically located across the country: Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija and Basa Air Base in Pampanga watching over the West Philippine Sea. The Air Force, Army and Navy have bases in the Cebu. Ebuen Air Force Base and the Armed Forces Central Command are guarding the whole of the Visayas. The Philippines and the US have committed to coordinate closely on the implementation of the EDCA to enhance security and defense cooperation. Last month, the Philippines acknowledged the significant initiative of the US Senate armed services committee for introducing Maritime Security Initiative in the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act with the allocation of $50 million to help enhance the maritime security capacities of countries in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the US Senate armed services committee has demonstrated a keen interest in developments in Asia, particularly on the issue of maritime security. US President Barack Obama first unveiled the maritime assistance plan when he was in Manila last November for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting . EDCA mandates the Philippines to host a bigger number of US forces, their assets and equipment on a bigger scale and increased frequency in selected military bases, on rotation basis around the country. It forms part of a bigger US presence in the Asia- Pacific region under what it called a pivot or rotational presence. Originally, the Philippines offered Hulugan Bay in Palawan, Clark in Pampanga and Fort San Miguel in Zambales as hosts to the rotating US forces and their assets. With Jaime Laude The campaign to win China's backing for deeper sanctions against North Korea gained in intensity Friday, with the US and South Korean presidents making their case directly to Xi Jinping. Presidents Barack Obama and Park Geun-Hye spoke to their Chinese counterpart by phone in separate calls to demand punitive measures following a recent nuclear test. On January 6 Pyongyang detonated what it claimed was a powerful thermonuclear bomb. The unpredictable hermit state has followed up by threatening to launch a satellite-bearing rocket -- an operation widely seen as a covert ballistic missile test. The White House and its allies want to respond with a UN resolution that would slap more sanctions on the North. But they must first win the backing of UN veto power China, which has in the past shielded its neighbor. Despite Beijing's annoyance with North Korea's nuclear ambitions and its young maverick leader Kim Jong-Un its priority has been to prevent chaos on China's border. The White House said that Obama and president Xi agreed on the need for a "strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations," including "through an impactful UN Security Council resolution." But the terse White House statement did not indicate whether that meant agreement on specific steps. The Obama administration has long pressed China to use its influence with its neighbor, which is heavily dependent on aid from Beijing to keep the population alive. Xi received a similar message late Friday from Park, who has spent political capital to improve relations with Beijing. During a 45-minute phone call, "President Park stressed strong and effective resolutions that could force North Korea to change its course must be adopted at the UN Security Council this time," the presidential Blue House said in a press statement. The North's provocative action posed threats to peace in Northeast Asia and the world, Park said, demanding that "the international community's stern message should quickly lead to action." "In this context, President Park called for active cooperation from China," which has "leverage with various means" over the North, the statement added. China's official Xinhua state news agency said Xi stressed China was firmly committed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and insists on a solution through dialogue and consultation which meets the common interests of Northeast Asian countries. He expressed hope that "all parties concerned will... deal with the current situation in a sober-minded way," Xinhua reported. North Korea is already subject to numerous UN sanctions over previous nuclear and rocket tests, but Park said on Thursday its continued provocative behavior showed these had been ineffective. The only solution, she argued, was to impose sanctions harsh enough "to make it realize that it will not survive unless it gives up its nuclear program." WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday urged Britain to let him walk free from Ecuador's London embassy after a UN panel found that the anti-secrecy campaigner who faces a rape allegation in Sweden was "arbitrarily detained." Speaking to a handful of supporters and a media scrum in a rare appearance from the balcony of the embassy where he took refuge nearly four years ago, Assange hailed a "victory of historical importance". "How sweet it is! This is a victory that cannot be denied," he proclaimed, waving a hard copy of the legal opinion and often seeming emotional. Assange has refused to go to Sweden for questioning fearing deportation to the US over WikiLeaks' release of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Earlier, the 44-year-old Australian told journalists via video link that it was "now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom as a whole to implement the verdict". The UN panel said Assange's detention should end and that he should be able to claim compensation from Britain and Sweden. But both countries quickly dismissed the non-binding legal opinion, with Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond calling it "ridiculous". Assange walked into the embassy in June 2012 to avoid the threat of arrest and extradition to Sweden, where he still faces a rape allegation. He has lived there ever since in a small office room with a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and access to a small balcony decorated with Ecuador's flag. In a statement, the panel said it had adopted an opinion that considered Assange "arbitrarily detained by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland." It added: "The working group also considered that the detention should be brought to an end and that Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation." - Fears of imprisonment - Britain and Sweden sharply condemned the panel's findings and said they would change nothing. Hammond called Assange "a fugitive from justice." "This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it," the foreign secretary added. Sweden's foreign ministry said that it "does not agree" with the assessment. "Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point and Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay at the embassy," the ministry added. Only three of the five members of the UN panel supported the opinion -- one recused herself because she is Australian, like Assange, and another member disagreed. Christophe Peschoux, the working group's secretary, said at a briefing in Geneva that Britain and Sweden had two months to submit new information to force a review, and Britain says it will contest the opinion. Ecuador's Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said it was "time for both governments... to allow Julian Assange his freedom." Swedish authorities want to speak to Assange about a rape allegation whose statute of limitations does not expire until 2020. Elizabeth Fritz, the lawyer for the woman who has accused Assange, criticised the panel's comments. "That a man who is wanted on an arrest warrant for rape should be awarded compensation for intentionally hiding from the judicial system for more than five years is offensive to my client," she said. Swedish judicial authorities said last month that Ecuador had refused its request to let a Swedish prosecutor question Assange because Quito wanted an Ecuadorean prosecutor to do the questioning. - 'Publicity stunt' - Assange fears that if he went to Sweden for questioning, he could then be sent to the US and face prison. WikiLeaks' activities -- including the release of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq -- have infuriated the US. The main source of the leaks, US Army soldier Chelsea Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for breaches of the Espionage Act. A hero to supporters and a dangerous egocentric to detractors, the computer programmer and hacker, whose celebrity fans include fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and singer Lady Gaga, founded WikiLeaks in 2006 and has been portrayed in two movies in recent years. Britain spent over 10 million (12 million euros, $15 million) maintaining a 24-hour guard outside the embassy to immediately arrest Assange if he set foot on British soil, but withdrew it last year. The Assange case has polarised opinion in Britain and there were many criticisms of his conduct Friday. The Guardian newspaper, which has in the past worked with WikiLeaks to publish secret documents, used an editorial to condemn the latest developments as "a publicity stunt." ZAGREB (Reuters) - The Israel-based Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Croatia's government on Friday to dismiss its culture minister, saying he took a disdainful attitude towards Croatian resistance to fascism during World War Two. The Jewish human rights group expressed "shock and indignation at several actions taken and comments made" by minister Zlatko Hasanbegovic. Hasanbegovic has previously dismissed similar criticism as unfounded. He could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. During World War Two, Croatia was under Nazi control and led by local collaborators called Ustashe. Many Croats fought as partisans within the communist-led resistance movement. Croatia is now a member of the European Union. "We urge the Croatian government to replace Hasanbegovic with a person suitable for the post of minister of culture who will bring honour and prestige to the post, rather than embarrass his country before the entire world," the director of Wiesenthal Center, Efraim Zuroff, said in a statement on its website. No comment was immediately available from the Croatian government or from Hasanbegovic. Zuroff accused Hasanbegovic, a historian who is also involved in publishing, of failing to recognise the genocidal nature of the Nazi-sponsored Ustasha regime, and showing disdain for Croatians who fought against it. Hasanbegovic is a minister in Croatia's centre-right government, an alliance between the conservative HDZ party and the small reformist Most party. Croatia's centre-left opposition and several civic groups have already criticised Hasanbegovic's appointment. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) By Rujun Shen and Saeed Azhar SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A banker at Swiss wealth manager BSI Singapore withdrew a request to the Singapore High Court on Friday to release his bank accounts, frozen by authorities here as part of an investigation into money laundering related to the embattled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fund. This is the first legal case arising after Singapore authorities announced the money laundering probe linked to 1MDB last July. Yak Yew Chee, who sources said was chiefly responsible for managing accounts related to 1MDB in BSI Singapore, did not appear at Friday's hearing. His lawyer, Roderick Martin of Martin & Partners, withdrew his request after Singapore's deputy chief prosecutor raised no objection to Yak's plan to transfer $1.76 million ($1.26 million) to Singapore from overseas accounts to pay his tax and legal fees. 1MDB, whose advisory board is chaired by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, is being investigated by authorities in Malaysia, Switzerland and the United States following accusations of financial mismanagement and graft. 1MDB has denied these allegations Earlier this week, the city-state said it had seized a large number of bank accounts in recent months and is cooperating with authorities in Switzerland, Malaysia and United States on 1MDB. Court documents released on Friday in Yak's case showed Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department had seized S$9.7 million from 12 of Yak's bank accounts in Singapore. The documents showed that since 2012, Yak had transferred nearly S$8 million overseas, of which S$5.7 million was moved out of Singapore in 2015 before the accounts were seized in September. "CAD (Commercial Affairs Department) has reason to suspect that the Applicant (Yak) has substantial funds parked overseas," said Wan Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Latiff, an officer at the CAD in an affidavit. Yak argued the monies transferred out of Singapore represented only about 40 percent of his total income of S$20 million over the past seven years, according to the court documents. Yak had declared he had not engaged in unlawful conduct in respect to the accounts at BSI, which included 1MDB-linked entities such Brazen Sky Ltd and Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, the documents said. Low played a key role in setting up 1MDB in its early days as Terengganu Investment Authority. The documents also showed Yak had to go on an unpaid leave during internal and external investigation during May to September last year. Lawyers from Drew & Napier, which represents BSI, were present in the court as observers. (Reporting by Rujun Shen and Saeed Azhar. Editing by Bill Tarrant) By Daniel Flynn and Brad Haynes SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Leading researchers in Brazil are borrowing techniques used to accelerate the fight against Ebola in the hope of developing a Zika virus treatment that could be tested in humans in a year. Professor Jorge Kalil, head of the state-run Butantan Institute, told Reuters this week scientists there planned to use animals to produce antibodies to tackle the virus, which is suspected of causing brain damage in more than 4,000 infants in the South American country. A similar research path was used in the hunt for an Ebola treatment. There is no cure or vaccine for the virus, which was discovered in the Zika Forest in Uganda in 1947. It was detected in Brazil for the first time last year and has since spread to at least 26 countries in the Americas. The virus has mild effects - red eyes, fever, joint pains and a rash - and nearly 80 percent of people who are infected experience no symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday declared an emergency over Zika, lending urgency to research into whether Zika infection in pregnancy does in fact cause microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small heads, in newborns. Brazil is investigating 4,074 suspected cases of microcephaly. Kalil, an immunologist, said the institute was cultivating the virus in quantities sufficient to start tests in isolating antibodies in rodents. Researchers would then attempt to produce them in larger quantities in horses and purify the antibodies in the laboratory before starting tests on humans. "The antibodies ... could be injected into women with Zika to neutralise the virus," Kalil told Reuters in an interview. "I think we can reach that point in a year." Researchers do not have a clear model of how the virus operates in animals or humans. Several organizations are working on the problem in rodents and primates because of the urgency, Kalil said. Scientists generally prefer to use human antibodies in drugs because the immune system might react to them, but it has been done. Such was the case of early versions of Mapp Biopharmaceutical Incs ZMapp antiviral treatment for Ebola, which was developed in mouse blood cells that were exposed to samples containing Ebola virus fragments. These cells were genetically modified to make them more human. "People have to understand this is an emergency," Kalil said. "If we have an idea and a product that causes no harm, we have the obligation to test it." A second stage would be to produce a convalescent serum with neutralizing antibodies from humans, Kalil said. Kalil expressed hope the WHO's emergency declaration prompts Brazil to lift bureaucratic restrictions on the import of equipment and materials needed for producing serums and vaccines, and on the export of medical samples to the United States. "Either this emergency opens the door for a real exchange of material and chemicals between serious institutions...or we will not be able to keep to our timetable," he said. NEW TEST, VACCINE With no widely available commercial tests for the mosquito-borne virus, no one knows how many cases have occurred in Brazil. Kalil said that identifying the antibodies for Zika could allow a quicker and more effective test to be developed in three to six months. However, many scientists are concerned that the similarity of Zika to fellow flavivirus dengue, which is widespread in Brazil, could hinder the search for a fast and efficient test. That is because diagnostic tests to identify Zika antibodies also react to dengue, skewing results. The Butantan Institute hopes this similarity with dengue could help it with the hunt for a vaccine to help prevent the spread of the disease. Butantan - Brazil's largest producer of immunobiological products - has worked for nearly a decade with the U.S. National Institutes for Health (NIH) on a vaccine for dengue and believes they can piggy-back on that research to reach a solution for the Zika virus. Researchers at Butantan hope to insert genetic material from Zika into their dengue vaccine, which last month started Phase 3 clinical trials in Brazil - the final stage of testing involving human subjects on a large scale. "We believe that by taking this shortcut to Zika using the dengue virus, in a year we could start tests in humans," said Kalil, who trained in Paris under Nobel prize-winning immunologist Jean Dausset. "In three years, we could start Phase 3 testing." As private companies such as France's Sanofi SA joining the search for a vaccine, Kalil expressed hope that a breakthrough could come even sooner, noting that drug companies made the breakthrough with a vaccine for the Ebola virus. Hampering its research, Butantan has been hard-hit by two years of budget cuts as the economy slid into its worst recession for decades. But Kalil voiced hope that President Dilma Rousseff would make good on a pledge to prioritize resources for Zika. "All the projects I have requested so far have been approved and I hope that resources will be disbursed very quickly," he said. (Reporting by Daniel Flynn and Brad Haynes; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) David Cameron has insisted a finalised EU reform deal would be "irreversible" as the UK would have a veto. He was speaking after the European Parliament President Martin Schulz told Sky News that everything could be reversed, including legally binding decisions. His comments were likely to prove unhelpful to the Prime Minister as he sought to rally support for the proposed reforms. But during a visit to meet with his counterpart in Copenhagen, Mr Cameron said while it was technically reversible, Britain would need to agree to it. Mr Schulz had told Sky News: "Nothing in our lives is irreversible. "Therefore legally binding decisions are also reversible - nothing is irreversible. "But in politics, when 28 heads of states and governments and the European institutions together on the 19 February agree about a deal, the deal is done." Mr Cameron has been engaged in a frantic diplomatic efforts in Europe as he seeks to drum up support for the draft deal hammered out with Brussels. Pressed about Mr Schulz's remarks during a visit to Copenhagen, Mr Cameron said of the deal: "If it is agreed, it will be agreed as a legally binding treaty deposited at the United Nations. "It would only be reversible if all the 28 countries, including Britain, agreed to reverse it. "Given its the treaty that Britain wants there's no way we are going to agree to reverse it. "So while you can argue it's technically reversible if we agreed to reverse it, it is not in fact reversible "It will be legally binding and irreversible." An EU source told Sky's Faisal Islam that Friday's talks between EU officials were "constructive", but said "difficult negotiations" lie ahead. In his interview with Sky News, Mr Schulz also made his pitch for UK voters to back remaining in the EU. He said: "Together we are strong. "Let's organise this effectively, let's reduce bureaucracy and make the European Union more transparent. Story continues "But to survive in that worldwide competition in the 21st century...we need to combine our common power, our common strength. "Therefore, to stay in is in the national interest." While he acknowledged there were some MEPs, frustrated with Britain, who argued it should leave the EU, he said this was "a big error" and he would be fighting for it to stay. Earlier, an opinion poll indicated the PM's proposed changes to the UK's relationship with Brussels had failed to win over the public. A YouGov poll for The Times carried out two days after the outline plan was revealed found 45% intended to vote Out - up three points on the previous week. Some 36% of voters want Britain to remain in the 28-strong bloc, while 19% are undecided. This represented a record lead for the Out campaign. LONDON (Reuters) - Popular British television show "Dad's Army" gets a cinema reboot this week in a new comedy hoping to garner the same laughs the sitcom did nearly 40 years after it ended. The BBC show, running from 1968 to 1977, followed the antics of an incompetent Home Guard platoon in the fictional English town of Walmington-on-Sea during World War II. It is now a TV re-run stalwart. In the new film, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Gambon, Bill Nighy and Toby Jones, the platoon is faced with a spy threat. Jones, who plays the pompous Captain Mainwaring, said he was not originally interested in taking part in the reboot until other cast members were revealed. "'Good luck with that, I hope it all works out for you. That sounds like a really bad idea to me. That's my first response to that," he told Reuters in an interview when asked about when he first heard about the project. "(Producers later said) 'Well we have found these actors' and that's when I go 'Ah alright, hang on I want to be part of it'." Veteran actor Tom Courtenay, who plays Corporal "Don't Panic" Jones, also said he thought the movie "seemed a better idea" once he knew the likes of "Harry Potter" actor Gambon and Scottish actor Bill Paterson were on board. Oscar winner Zeta-Jones plays mysterious journalist Rose Winters who arrives unexpectedly to the seaside town. "It's always fun to play the femme fatale, and you know, on what side is she on, is she good is she bad ... you find that out in the movie," she said. "Dad's Army" is released in U.S. and UK cinemas on Friday. (Reporting By Edward Baran; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian Editing by Jeremy Gaunt) By Phil Stewart, Warren Strobel and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies are probably many weeks or even months away from launching a new military campaign against Islamic State in Libya, despite mounting concern about the group's spread there and its attacks on oil infrastructure, U.S. officials say. The Pentagon has warned in recent weeks of the dangers posed by Islamic State's growth in Libya. The U.S. is developing military options, which were discussed at an inconclusive meeting last week of President Barack Obama and his top security aides, officials said. Those options include increased air strikes, deploying U.S. special operations forces and training Libyan security forces, officials say. But the U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said enormous hurdles stand in the way of increased American military involvement. The largest is the formation of a unified Libyan government strong enough to call for and accommodate foreign military assistance. Getting some allies on board could also require a new mandate from the United Nations, they said. "We're not there yet," said one U.S. official. He and other officials with knowledge of internal deliberations cautioned that it is too soon to estimate when military action might begin, but cautioned it could take many weeks or even months. "As far as Im aware, there is no clear intention to go ahead with the military-style action. There is a lot of thinking, a lot of thinking, a lot of planning," said a Western diplomat. U.S. and European officials describe Islamic State's presence in Libya as increasingly worrisome, although not on the scale of its rule over swaths of Iraq and Syria. Islamic State forces have attacked Libya's oil infrastructure and taken control of the city of Sirte, exploiting a power vacuum in the North African country where two rival governments have been battling for supremacy. Estimates of Islamic State fighters in Libya range from 3,000 to 5,000-6,000. Officials openly worry that the group could use its Libya haven to relieve the pressure from U.S. air strikes and local forces against its home base in Iraq and Syria. POLITICAL FOCUS FOR NOW Under a U.N.-backed plan for a political transition, Libya's two warring administrations are expected to form a unity government, but more than a month after the deal was agreed in Morocco, its implementation has been dogged by infighting. Ben Fishman, a former White House aide under Obama who dealt with Libya policy, said there is concern in the Obama administration that military action now could disrupt the government formation process. It might, he said, prompt moderate forces in Libya to back away. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff, appeared to reference those concerns last month. "You want to take decisive military action to check ISILs expansion and at the same time you want to do it such a way that's supportive of a long-term political process," he said. Still, Fishman said, "I think we have to do something on the ground soon, because they (Islamic State) are pretty much acting with impunity." Forming a unified Libyan government could pave the way towards Tripoli formally requesting greater international assistance. But with Libya in chaos, it would likely take a new government some time to get on its feet, officials said, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this week that the focus of the international community on Libya is political, not military. Once a government is in place, "we have indicated a willingness, along with a number of other countries, to help them secure the country," Carter said. He noted that "the Italians have indicated that they would take the lead in that, rather than the United States, which is fine with us." The U.S. military has been laying the groundwork for greater action, sending U.S. special forces into Libya to establish contact with local armed groups to get a better picture of who the international community might be able to work with. U.S. officials also say the amount of intelligence collection about Islamic State's activities in Libya has also increased in recent weeks. They also have not ruled out more precision strikes against top Islamic State leaders like one in November in which American F-15 aircraft killed Islamic State's senior leader in Libya, known as Abu Nabil. (Editing by Clive McKeef) By Tom Perry BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon has weathered five years of Middle Eastern turmoil remarkably well but its stability should not be taken for granted and it needs long-term financial help to cope with a huge number of Syrian refugees, a senior U.N. official said. U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Sigrid Kaag, speaking before a Syria donors' conference in London, said on Wednesday that the refugee crisis must be recognised as long-term and the response must move beyond meeting humanitarian needs. "Our big message is really the need for sustainable, long-term predictable financing, and very much a focus on not only humanitarian but also what we call stabilisation support ... job creation," Kaag told Reuters. With many Syrian children stuck indefinitely in refugee camps, education is also a major priority. "The first response of humanitarians is always protect and save lives. But we are now looking at a generation that needs to go to school," she said in an interview. Lebanon, a neighbour of Syria with its own history of civil conflict, is hosting more than a million registered Syrian refugees, equal to a quarter of its population. Their arrival has been a huge strain on a tiny country with limited resources whose political stability hinges on a delicate sectarian balance. Rival Lebanese fought a civil war in the 1970s and 1980s, and conflict flared again as recently as 2008, albeit briefly. While Lebanon has avoided its own conflict since the start of the Syrian war, its politicians are struggling to agree on anything. That has left the government largely paralysed and the country without a president. "Let's really keep our eye on the ball on Lebanon, let's support Lebanon, let's be active for Lebanon, but Lebanon needs to be in the driver's seat," Kaag said. With a return of refugees to Syria unlikely for some time, Kaag said "we need to really look at the fragility and stability of Lebanon in holistic manner". "There's politics, there's security, and the socio-economic development side of Lebanon should really be propped up." "BIG STEP FORWARD" The London donors' conference builds on previous such meetings in Kuwait. U.N. agencies are appealing for a total of $7.73 billion (5.29 billion) to cope with Syria's needs this year. The Lebanese government is expected to seek donor support for plans including infrastructure investment that will create jobs, and funds to support its public schools that are taking in Syrian children. "As the economy has suffered from the crisis, unemployment has risen ... particularly in poorer areas and amongst the young people, so the debate on employment has always been very sensitive, and there was a reluctance to address it," Kaag said. She acknowledged the risk of ill-feeling if Syrian refugees compete with Lebanese people for scarce jobs. Proposals from the Lebanese government would in any case allow them to work only in labour-intensive sectors such as construction and agriculture. "But now I think six years into the crisis there is a realisation that there is a large potential workforce. It may benefit the economy and therefore Lebanon, but we need to look at job creation for Lebanese alongside vulnerable refugees." Kaag said while the debate was still in progress, an important programme allowing for the temporary employment of Syrians had been tabled for the London conference. The willingness to discuss the idea marked "a big step forward", she said, though it was still at the design stage. Lebanese Education Minister Elias Bou Saab told Reuters the government would seek grants of $4.9 billion (3.35 billion) covering education needs in addition to development and investment projects. That could result in employment for Syrians in areas where refugees were already employed, he said, highlighting the agricultural sector. But the hamstrung government still has to deliver. Kaag said she hoped that "post-London, and with new plans in mind, that the government will really rally around implementation, and making sure it delivers for Lebanon". (editing by David Stamp) By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott expanded a public health emergency over the Zika virus on Thursday, adding a fifth county to the list of areas in the state with travel-related cases. His action came as the mosquito-borne virus generates increasing concern in the United States. Zika is spreading rapidly in the Americas, and has been linked to a spike in birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil. Florida's warm climate and nearly year-round mosquito season makes it particularly vulnerable to spreading, although so far all of the state's cases were acquired abroad, officials said. Scott has directed state officials to pay special attention to mosquito control in the affected counties. They are Broward and Miami-Dade in south Florida, Hillsborough in the Tampa region, Lee County in southwest Florida and Santa Rosa County in the Florida Panhandle. "Just like a hurricane, we have to ensure Florida is safe," Scott said on Thursday, calling it prudent to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. He also called for federal health officials to provide the state with at least 1,000 Zika antibody tests so the state can test pregnant women who have travelled to affected countries and experienced symptoms of the virus. The state is also boosting its inventory of testing kits for active cases, Scott said. Meanwhile, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expanded his state's free Zika testing to include all pregnant women who have travelled to countries where people are being infected. Authorities in Texas said on Tuesday a person in Dallas had become infected with Zika after having sex with another person who had travelled in Venezuela, where the virus is circulating. Local health officials said on Thursday both those people have fully recovered from the virus. (Reporting by Letitia Stein; Editing by Bernard Orr) (Reuters) - Two days of clashes in southeastern Libya between a local armed faction and Sudanese fighters have left more than 30 people dead, a local mayor said on Friday. The commander of the Libyan Subul Assalam faction, Abdurrahman Hashim, said the Sudanese fighters were rebels from Sudan's Darfur region who had moved into the area around the town of Kufra following the uprising that toppled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. He said his group was retaliating for armed robberies and attempted attacks on Kufra, in Libya's desert south-east which shares a border with northwestern Sudan. Kufra Mayor Miftah Bou Khalil told Reuters that Subul Assalam fighters attacked an oasis 150 km north-west of Kufra on Friday, killing 10 Sudanese fighters and capturing four. He said at least 20 Sudanese fighters were killed in an attack on a checkpoint 200 km north of Kufra and further clashes to the south of the town on Thursday. Hashim said on Thursday that his men had destroyed and captured a number of vehicles. At least one of his men had been killed and six wounded in the fighting, he said. Libya has been riven by instability since Gaddafi's fall, with competing factions and loose alliances of armed groups fighting for political power and the country's oil wealth. There are two rival parliaments and governments, one based in Tripoli and the other in the east. The conflict has spread to the country's impoverished south, where there have been frequent outbreaks of fighting, often between the Tebu and Tuareg tribal groups. Kufra mayor Bou Khalil said the Subul Assalam faction included rebels who fought against Gaddafi and backed Libya's eastern government and armed forces. However, it was not clear whether the latest clashes were directly linked to Libya's wider conflict. (Reporting by Ayman al-Warfalli; Writing by Aidan Lewis; Editing by Dominic Evans) By Costas Pitas and Andy Bruce LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and Sweden on Friday to let him freely leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a U.N. panel ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and should be awarded compensation. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the U.N. panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange's favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. Brandishing a copy of the U.N. panel's decision from the balcony of the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, Assange called on Britain and Sweden to implement the ruling. "How sweet it is. This a victory that cannot be denied," said Assange, wearing a loosened gold tie with the top button of his shirt undone "What right does this government, or the U.S. government, or the Swedish government have to deny my children their father?" he said below the yellow, blue and red Ecuadorian flag. When a heckler persistently asked whether he planned to stay for five more years in the embassy, Assange quipped: "Can someone close that person up." Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the accusation is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," the group's head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. "(It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said Assange must be allowed to go free. "What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?" he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. NO CHANGE The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. In 2010, the group released over 90,000 secret documents on the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, followed by almost 400,000 U.S. military reports detailing operations in Iraq. Those disclosures were followed by release of millions of diplomatic cables dating back to 1973. The U.N. Working Group does not have the authority to order the release of a detainee - and Friday's ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange - but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments. High-profile cases submitted to the U.N. panel include that of jailed former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American jailed in Iran until a prisoner swap last month. But governments have frequently brushed aside its findings such as a ruling on Myanmar's house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2008, a call in 2006 for the Iraqi government not to hang former dictator Saddam Hussein, and frequent pleas for the closure of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. "Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy," British foreign minister Philip Hammond said. "This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." Swedish prosecutors said the U.N. decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A U.S. Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. (Additional reporting by Johan Ahlander and Simon Johnson in Stockholm, Tom Miles in Geneva, Alexandra Ulmer in Caracas; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge, Editing by Alison Williams) By Randy Fabi and Kanupriya Kapoor YOGYAKARTA/JAKARTA, Indonesia (Reuters) - A researcher sits in a laboratory in Indonesia, his arms extended over clear plastic boxes buzzing with mosquitoes: over the next 20 minutes, tiny bumps develop on his skin as the insects bite dozens of times. The voluntary "feeding", at which researchers take turns, is part of a programme in the city of Yogyakarta to try to eliminate mosquito-borne diseases like dengue fever and - scientists now hope, as concerns mount about its spread across Latin America and the Caribbean - the Zika virus too. The mosquitoes carry a bacteria called Wolbachia, which scientists introduced in earlier generations, and they will eventually be released to breed with wild mosquitoes. The bacteria, as it spreads from one insect to another, reduces the chances of the mosquitoes passing the dengue virus on to humans. Initial findings about the impact of the experiment on the spread of dengue have prompted Indonesian and Australian scientists to scale up this programme to include Zika. "We already have evidence in our labs that the method that impedes the ability of dengue to grow in the mosquito also works with the Zika virus," Scott O'Neill, director of the Eliminate Dengue Program (EDP) told Reuters, adding that the research is pending reviews from peers in the scientific community. Much remains unknown about Zika, including whether the virus causes birth defects. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak an international health emergency on Feb. 1, citing a "strongly suspected" relationship between Zika infection in pregnancy to microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size in babies that can result in developmental problems. There is no treatment or vaccine and the WHO has recommended limiting people's exposure to mosquitoes. The number of dengue cases at a test site in Yogyakarta where the bacteria method was used fell from 10 in 2015 to just one this year. However, the method has yet to show conclusive results in the field. "I don't believe there is a single magic bullet," said Adi Utarini, who heads the research in Indonesia. "The new technology that we bring in is not intended to replace all of the existing activities ... prevention is very important." Indonesian President Joko Widodo this week urged officials to step up preventive measures like health awareness campaigns and fogging with insecticide. The health ministry issued a travel warning for those planning to visit Latin America. Funded partially by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, EDP is also testing its methods in Vietnam. It is at the most advanced stage in Indonesia, a tropical country that has the world's second-highest number of annual dengue cases after Brazil. UNDER-REPORTED ZIKA CASES Limited testing capabilities and the usually mild symptoms that accompany the Zika virus have raised concern the number of people infected with the little-known disease may be hugely under-reported in Indonesia, authorities say. The only known case in recent years was that of a man who tested positive in 2015 and is suspected to have contracted the virus locally, on Sumatra island. "Systematic surveillance needs to be done to determine the prevalence of Zika and at the moment we might be underestimating the number of cases," said Herawati Sudoyo, deputy director of the government-funded Eijkman Institute in Jakarta, adding the health community in Indonesia is still investigating any links to birth defects. "The scientific community may have been caught by surprise by this outbreak. We are catching up on learning about this," she added. The Zika virus has been present in Southeast Asia for decades, but there have been no reported outbreaks. Experts say it is possible people in the region have developed an immunity to the virus, though there is no scientific evidence to support that. In Yogyakarta, the EDP scientists hope to expand the project to test for both dengue and Zika viruses among 100,000 people this year, a 25-fold increase from their pilot tests. But challenges remain, they say, including convincing the public the trials are safe and securing funding from the government to take the programme nationwide. It will be at least three years before they see any results in the field. "The challenge is not necessarily including the Zika virus (in the trial)," said Utarini. "The challenge is scaling up ... which will mean much more work in the field, communicating with the public and getting the community to agree." (Reporting by Randy Fabi in Yogyakarta and Kanupriya Kapoor in Jakarta; Editing by John Chalmers, Robert Birsel) MANAGUA/TEGUCIGALPA (Reuters) - Nicaragua and Honduras have both detected their first cases of the Zika virus in pregnant women, the Central American countries' governments said on Thursday. In Nicaragua, government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo, who is also first lady, said three women who were three to four months pregnant had been infected by the mosquito-borne virus and that the country was forging ahead with a fumigation programme. Nicaragua has detected a total of 29 cases of Zika to date. In Honduras, Health Minister Yolani Batres said on Thursday authorities had detected six cases of Zika in pregnant women, again the first such cases. Honduras has registered more than 3,200 cases of Zika overall. The World Health Organization has declared a global health emergency over the Zika virus rampaging through the Americas, saying it strongly suspected Zika infection in pregnancy causes microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size in newborns that can cause permanent brain damage. El Salvador is grappling with more than 7,000 cases, and last month urged women to avoid getting pregnant until 2018. (Reporting by Ivan Castro in Managua and Gustavo Palencia in Tegucigalpa; Writing by Simon Gardner) Storyful UK Conservative politician William Wragg told the House of Commons in London that he submitted a letter of no confidence in Prime Minister Liz Truss on Wednesday, October 19.Wragg also said that he intended to vote with the government to oppose a fracking ban, despite formerly being in favor of banning the practice, in order for his letter to remain valid.The BBC reported on Wednesday that Conservative MPs had been sent messages saying they must vote with the government and oppose the ban or risk being expelled from the parliamentary party.The fracking debate that follows has been made a confidence vote, Wragg told the House of Commons.Wragg explained that if he were to vote in favor of a fracking ban, he would no longer be a member of the Conservative Parliamentary Party.My letter lodged with my honorable friend, the member for Altrincham and Sale West [Graham Brady, the chair of the 1922 Committee], would fall, and I wish to maintain that letter with my honorable friend, Wragg said, referring to the letter of no confidence.Wragg is the vice-chair of the influental 1922 Committee group of Conservative MPs. Credit: Parliament TV via Storyful By Amina Ismail and Ahmed Mohamed Hassan CAIRO (Reuters) - The body of an Italian student who went missing in Cairo was found half naked by the roadside with cigarette burns and other signs of torture, a senior Egyptian prosecutor said on Thursday. In Rome, Italy's Foreign Ministry summoned the Egyptian ambassador to express concern over the death of Giulio Regeni, who disappeared on Jan. 25, the fifth anniversary of the uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. The body of the 28-year-old Cambridge University doctoral student has been taken to a Cairo morgue, a morgue worker and Egyptian security officials said. The officials said an investigation had begun. "What we are certainly doing is urging the Egyptian government to allow Italian authorities a joint investigation, to return the boy's body to his family as soon as possible, to collaborate. We want the truth about what happened," Italy's foreign minister, Paolo Gentiloni, told RAI state TV. Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi later repeated the request for Regeni's body be returned as soon as possible and a source from his office said an Italian police team had been sent to Cairo to join the investigation. Regeni had disappeared after leaving home in a smart district of Cairo to meet a friend, according to another friend. His body was found at the start of the main road between Cairo and Alexandria, security officials said. Last year, Islamic State militants kidnapped a Croatian man from the outskirts of Cairo and later beheaded him, but such incidents are rare and there was a heavy police presence in downtown Cairo when Regeni went missing. Rights groups say Egyptians are often detained by police on little evidence and beaten or coerced. Scores have disappeared since 2013. Egypt denies allegations of police brutality. Although the cause of death is still unclear, Regeni's case could hurt Egypt's efforts to project an image of stability and attract more tourism and foreign investment after years of political turmoil and Islamist militant violence. The Italian Foreign Ministry's director general, Michele Valensise, "urgently" summoned Egyptian Ambassador Amr Mostafa Kamal Helmy after Regeni's body was found on Wednesday. The ministry said it expected "maximum collaboration at all levels in light of the exceptional gravity of what happened". Italian Industry Minister Federica Guidi cut short a two-day visit to Egypt on Wednesday after Regeni's death was reported. A copy of Regeni's CV, provided by another friend, indicated he spoke four languages and had won several scholarships. His research focused on trade unions in Egypt after the 2011 uprising that ended Mubarak's 30-year rule. Islamist militants have killed hundreds of police and soldiers since the army toppled President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2013 after mass protests against his rule. They have also targeted Westerners. (Writing by Michael Georgy; Editing by Louise Ireland/Ruth Pitchford) BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Slovakia's ruling leftists are slowly losing support a month before a parliamentary election and will likely not reach the outright majority it currently enjoys, a second opinion poll in a row showed on Friday. Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer party scored 36.3 percent in the poll by the Focus agency released late on Thursday. That put Smer far ahead of its rivals but it has lost one percentage point in each of the past two months. The survey shows Smer would win 66 seats in the 150-seat parliament in the March 5 vote, and a coalition with the nationalist SNS party, its most likely ally, would have 79 seats. The newcomer centrist party Siet, which has sought to establish itself as the main opposition force, polled 13 percent after 13.2 percent a month ago. A strong result for Siet and other centre-right and ethnic Hungarian parties could lead to either a wider coalition led by Smer, a grand coalition of Siet with Smer or a wide coalition of opposition parties that would eject Smer from power. The make-up of parliament remains uncertain, however, given that several parties have been polling close to the 5 percent threshold for winning seats. The result shows the same trend as a separate poll by polling agency MVK, which reported on Thursday support for Smer fell to 32.1 percent from 40.0 percent in October. SUPPORT FOR SLOVAK PARTIES (PCT) DATE INSTITUTE Smer Siet KDH Most SNS OLaNO SaS Feb '16 Focus 36.3 13.0 7.1 7.7 7.3 6.4 5.5 Feb '16 MVK 32.1 14.6 8.2 6.0 10.1 5.9 3.4 Jan '16 Focus 37.0 13.2 7.0 7.0 7.2 6.1 5.1 Jan '16 Polis 41.0 13.8 6.0 8.0 7.9 6.0 4.2 Jan '16 MVK 34.5 14.7 8.6 6.5 10.1 5.0 3.4 Dec '15 Focus 38.4 13.4 7.4 6.6 6.3 6.4 5.3 Dec '15 Polis 40.0 13.0 7.1 8.9 8.2 6.0 4.0 Nov '15 Focus 39.0 12.9 7.7 7.0 6.0 6.6 5.2 Nov '15 Polis 40.1 12.6 7.7 7.8 8.5 6.6 4.0 Nov '15 MVK 36.0 14.9 10.1 6.7 6.8 6.6 3.7 Oct '15 Focus 39.1 12.6 7.1 7.3 6.1 6.7 5.2 Oct '15 Polis 38.5 12.4 7.6 7.7 8.0 6.8 4.7 Oct '15 MVK 40.0 8.3 10.8 6.9 7.6 4.3 3.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------- March 2012 election 44.4 --- 8.8 6.9 4.6 8.6 5.88 NOTE: The Focus poll was conducted between Jan. 22 and Jan. 31 among 1,009 Slovaks. The parties are: - Smer-Social Democracy - left wing, socially conservative - Siet - centrist, conservative - Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) - centre-right, socially conservative - Most-Hid - centrist, ethnic Hungarian - The Slovak National Party (SNS) - nationalist - Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) - centrist, socially conservative - SaS - liberal, euro-sceptic (Reporting By Tatiana Jancarikova) By Humeyra Pamuk ELBEYLI, Turkey (Reuters) - Slabs of concrete wall have sprung up and military patrols have intensified, but local people say this stretch of Turkey's border facing Syrian territory under Islamic State control is still far from water-tight. Ankara is under intense pressure from its NATO allies to seal off the 70 km (40 mile) strip that stretches from just east of the Turkish town of Kilis to Karkamis, long a conduit for fighters, smuggled goods and war materiel. Beyond a string of tiny villages nestled in undulating fig and olive groves lies the last stretch of Syrian territory on Turkey's southern frontier that Islamic State militants still hold, following advances by rival Kurdish rebels. European governments fear that their own citizens who have fought with the jihadists could still cross back into Turkey before heading home to stage attacks. Likewise, the United States believes Turkey, which has NATO's second largest army, must close the frontier if Islamic State is to be defeated in Syria. Soldiers patrol in armoured vehicles along a border delineated in some places by little more than razor-wire fence. Additional watchtowers and huts have appeared in recent months, and three-metre (10 foot)-high concrete slabs are being erected along some of the most vulnerable sections. But the efforts by a nation which had long been criticised for failing to do more to prevent the passage of foreign fighters appear to have come too late to stop Islamic State networks developing inside Turkey. Washington and Ankara have been discussing for months how to seal this stretch of border. Senior U.S. officials said last month they would offer Turkey technology including surveillance balloons and anti-tunnelling equipment. Border security is now undoubtedly tighter but, for those wanting to sneak over, not absolute - and help remains available for a price. "It's difficult, but not impossible," said Ismail, a 37-year old who described himself as a trader, smoking a cigarette in a tea house near the village of Akinci. "Let's say you want to cross. You tell me where and when and I can call people who will make it happen," he said. "But you would have to pay more." The military's own figures suggest attempts to cross into Islamic State-held Syrian territory have continued, showing 121 people tried over the past 10 days alone. Almost half were children, and at least a dozen were foreigners. Nevertheless, it is cracking down on those trying to spirit people over the border. "The security is very tight now, soldiers give the smugglers no respite," said Abbas, 51, a farmer near the Turkish border town of Elbeyli, as two soldiers carrying rifles passed by his house, walking towards their outpost a few hundred metres away. Last year, Abbas was so alarmed by the numbers of people crossing illicitly into Syria under his nose that he emailed a government bureau, set up years ago for citizens to register complaints, queries and concerns. It receives more than a million inquiries a year and Abbas said he never heard back. "It was literally a flood of people here," he said, describing how some in his village made a fortune shuttling people back and forth to the border fence, often doing a dozen trips a night, until the flow largely stopped about a month ago. Several residents in other border villages and towns confirmed security had been tightened, but emphasised that did not mean the two-way traffic had dried up. GRAPHIC - Areas of Syria controlled by government and rebel groups: http://reut.rs/1P61KRt KILLINGS IN TURKEY Turkey launched what it called a "synchronised war on terror" last July, opening up its Incirlik air base to countries in the U.S.-led coalition bombing Islamic State. Most of its own air strikes, however, have been against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants battling for Kurdish autonomy in its southeast. Turkish tanks and artillery bombarded Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq in the days after a suicide bomber blew himself up among groups of tourists in the heart of Istanbul last month, killing 10 Germans. The security forces have also stepped up raids against Islamic State in cities across Turkey, detaining more than 1,000 alleged members and uncovering urban cells. "We have never allowed Islamic State to use our territory to cross into Syria and we will not allow them ... We see Islamic State as an extremely serious threat and we don't want them on our border," a senior government official told Reuters. Turkey has increasingly become a target itself for the Sunni Muslim radicals. The Istanbul bombing followed a suicide attack in Ankara in October that killed more than 100 people and a bombing in the border town of Suruc last July, both of which were blamed on Islamic State fighters. Diplomats and analysts say Ankara woke up late to the threat, allowing Islamic State to develop networks of sympathisers, a charge the government rejects. "These networks are tapped into well-established al Qaeda networks inside Turkey ... They were already there and they operated with little interference until March 2015," Aaron Stein, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council said, nothing a marked increased in arrests thereafter. Aside from the high-profile suicide bombings, Islamic State sympathisers have been able to carry out targeted attacks inside Turkish territory along the border in recent months. Naji Jerf, a Syrian activist and documentary maker who made a film about Islamic State and had lived in Turkey's southeastern city of Gaziantep since 2012, was gunned down on the street in broad daylight last December. A couple of months earlier, two other Syrian activists who worked for Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), a campaign group against Islamic State, were shot in the head and beheaded in the nearby city of Sanliurfa. Jerf and the two activists had appealed to the Turkish police after they received death threats, friends and fellow activists in Istanbul and Gaziantep told Reuters. "Naji went to the police after somebody tried to break into his car," said his friend Manhal Bareesh, a journalist based in Gaziantep but originally from Syria's Idlib province. "He suspected they were trying to plant a bomb in his car. But the Turkish police wrote a report and told him not to worry," Bareesh said. Three people have been detained in Gaziantep in relation to Jerf's murder, according to local media, but the killings have alarmed the Syrian immigrant community. (Editing by Nick Tattersall and David Stamp) By Stephanie Nebehay and Anthony Boadle GENEVA/BRASILIA (Reuters) - The World Health Organization voiced concern on Wednesday over the reported sexual transmission of the Zika virus in Texas amid worries that such infections could make efforts to combat the virus linked to severe birth defects in Brazil even tougher. The virus, spreading quickly across the Americas, is usually transmitted by mosquitoes. But health officials in Dallas County reported on Tuesday that the first known case contracted in the United States was a person infected after having sex with somebody who had returned from Venezuela. The WHO declared a global health emergency on Monday, citing a "strongly suspected" casual relationship between Zika infection in pregnancy and microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can cause permanent brain damage in newborns. Health ministers from across South America gathered in Uruguay's capital, Montevideo, to discuss the public health emergency and how the region can coordinate its fight against the outbreak. There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika. Sexual transmission could add a new dimension to the threat Zika poses, but WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl stressed that "almost a 100 percent of the cases" are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. "This reported case in the U.S. of course raises concerns," Hartl said at the U.N. agency's headquarters in Geneva. "This needs to be further investigated to understand the conditions and how often or likely sexual transmission is." But he said that for the WHO "the most important thing to do is to control people's exposure to mosquitoes." The WHO estimates as many as 4 million people could become infected in the Americas. Hartl called the Texas case only the second worldwide linked to sexual transmission, referring to media reports about a case of an American man who returned from Senegal in 2008 and is suspected of having infected his wife. The medical literature also has a case in which the virus was detected in semen. "If you swap enough bodily fluid, most viruses can probably be sexually transmitted to some extent," said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Britains University of Reading. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergency in four counties with travel-related cases of the Zika virus, and ordered state officials to increase mosquito control efforts in some of the southeastern U.S. state's most heavily populated locales including Miami and Tampa. Scott directed state officials to pay special attention to mosquito spraying in residential areas. In addition, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has urged pregnant women to consider delaying travel to locations with ongoing Zika transmissions, added Jamaica and Tonga to its travel alert. The WHO said the virus has been transmitted in at least 32 countries, from South America to the Western Pacific. Late on Tuesday, the Brazilian health ministry said the number of newborns with microcephaly it suspects are linked to the virus had increased to 4,074 as of Jan. 30, from 3,718 a week earlier. Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infection in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly. WARNING FOR EUROPE The WHO warned member states in Europe on Wednesday that the risk of the virus spreading into the region increases with the onset of spring and summer. "Now is the time for countries to prepare themselves to reduce the risk to their populations," said the WHO's Europe chief, Zsuzsanna Jakab. "Every European country in which Aedes mosquitoes are present can be at risk for the spread of Zika virus disease." The Pan American Health Organization, the WHO's arm for the Americas, said it needed an estimated $8.5 million to help countries in the region respond to the Zika threat. Brazilian Health Minister Marcelo Castro said U.S. experts will travel to Brazil next week to start work on the development of a Zika vaccine and come up with a timetable for the effort. A number of drug developers and universities are attempting to produce a vaccine. Experts have said a vaccine is months or even years away. Japan's leading drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd <4502.T> said it has created a team to investigate how it might help make a vaccine, a day after France's Sanofi SA said it would launch a Zika vaccine programme. Pfizer Inc , Johnson and Johnson and Merck & Co Inc said they were evaluating their technologies or existing vaccines for their potential to combat Zika. Indian biotechnology company Bharat Biotech said it was working on two possible vaccines. The rising number of cases has stirred concern ahead of the Olympic Games in August in Rio de Janeiro in August when Brazil's second largest city will host tens of thousands of athletes and tourists from around the world. (Additional reporting by Malena Castaldi and Sarah Marsh in Montevideo, Kate Kelland and Ben Hirschler in London, Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai, Anthony Boadle in Brasilia, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Amrutha Penumudi and Natalie Grover in Bengaluru and Letitia Stein in Tampa; Writing by Will Dunham; Editing by Michele Gershberg and Frances Kerry) We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain. Three Hills Capital Partners has soared past 1bn for the final close of its fourth flagship fund, almost doubling the total it collected for its predecessor vehicle. Request Telephone Consumer Protection Act Legal Help Please complete this form to request a review of your complaint by an attorney. First Name Last Name Email Address Phone Number Zip/Postal Code Defendant (Who caused the harm?) Describe Your Complaint Send us your claim There is absolutely no cost to you to submit this form. Doing so places you under no obligations and does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Receive our weekly newsletter from our sister publication LawyersandSettlements with the latest lawsuit news and legal information. Published On Feb 05, 2016 05:21 PM By Bala Subramaniam The 2016 Auto Expo has got off to a great start with many vehicle launches from 14 manufacturers. Union Minister Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Shri Anant Geete inaugurated the India Expo Mart in Greater Noida and called for greater cooperation between the auto industry and the Government to strengthen the growth of the sector. The 2016 Auto Expo will be open for public from February 5th to 9th 2016. While Scania launched a biofuel powered citywide bus and the premium Scania G310 truck, JBM and Solaris unveiled Indias first 100% electric bus, Ecolife. UV leader Mahindra showcased its wide range of mobility solutions which included the XUV Aero and Tivoli, SsangYongs best seller model. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India launched the Punto Pure and also showcased the Linea 125s and the Avventura Urban Cross. Yamaha launched the all-new Roadster Motard - Yamaha MT-09. In the post-inauguration session, Maruti Suzuki India launched the concept models of IGNIS and Baleno RS. Triumph used the Expo to launch its new line of Triumph Bonneville motorcycles. Atul Auto launched the long-awaited CNG vehicle Atul Gemini. Tata Motors launched its new Signa range of commercial vehicles. Toyota Kirloskar Motor unveiled the Toyota Connect, telematics services for India. Renault India revealed the New Renault Duster. Indian motorcycles and Polaris showcased the Blue-Diamond Indian and Indian Chief Classic. Lohia unveiled the path-breaking range of electric vehicles. In the second half of the day, SIAM unveiled the mascot for the Anti-counterfeiting campaign Be Genuine, Buy Genuine, Asliman. SIAM has been an advocate of genuine spare-parts for the vehicles. Celebrities also made their presence known at the Expo with the like of John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee, Gul Panag, Sachin Tendulkar and Piyush Chawla. John Abraham was announced the new brand ambassador of Nissan. Like executives at many credit unions, the team at Ent likes to recognize milestones. A key record at the $4.3 billion Colorado Springs credit union serving 240,000 members has been the number of consecutive business days funding more than $1 million in indirect car loans. Up to the spring of 2014, the longest streak was nine days. In July 2014, the credit union launched an effort to win business from big direct lenders in its market area. These lenders were offering 1.99 percent for 60 months. Our rate was close to a percent higher than that, recounts CUES member Bill Vogeney, senior EVP/lending and finance. We saw the opportunity to match some of those rates, when needed, but we couldnt charge 1.99 percent and pay the normal dealer fee. Fortunately, some of Ents higher-volume dealers were willing to accept a lower flat rate in exchange for being able to match the competition. The dealers dont like it either when customers come in and say, Im going to go through USAA or Navy Fed for my car loan, Vogeney says. Were in a big military town, so those types of national lenders do big business here. And so Ent began another series of consecutive days booking more than $1 million in car loans when it introduced its low rate/low dealer fee comboa streak that was still going strong 17 months later in mid-December 2015 even though the rate had inched up to 2.25 percent. Anti-Muslim and Anti-Arab Sentiment Increases Following Paris and San Bernardino Attacks by via California Scholars for Academic Freedom Our civil liberties are being violated in the name of security again! The effect is to stir hate and fear. Since the attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, we have seen a dramatic and disturbing increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab sentiment in the United States. California Scholars for Academic Freedom is particularly concerned that Islamophobia is manifesting itself in ways that threaten the academic freedom and civil liberties of researchers, teachers, and students. These include physical threats, censorship, and termination of employment. Many of these cases involve no more than teaching basic cultural and historical information about the Middle East. Teachers who teach this basic subject matter are often either accused of being terrorist sympathizers or, in the most egregious cases, accused of being terrorists themselves. Police are called to arrest Muslim and Arab American students for suspicious-looking backpacks. Schools in Augusta County, Virginia, were closed after an Arabic calligraphy lesson prompted a disturbing anti-Muslim backlash. A Philadelphia Sunday Sun December 19 article documents the daily physical and verbal abuses and harassments Muslim children have to endure in schools across the nation. Attacks against Muslims have tripled since the Paris attacks, reaching levels not seen since the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001. All of this serves to punish those whose points of view are deemed dangerous. This danger more often than not is a grossly distorted mis-representation of ordinary lessons in history and culture. At the college-level, Islamophobia is manifested in threats to defund centers for Middle East studies if they appear to be advocating a particular point of view. Frivolous lawsuits are filed to intimidate administrations, faculty, and students. One of the most common targets for such actions are scholars and students who voice criticism of Israeli state policies. They are branded as terrorists, and in this case, as anti-Semitic. Once again, Muslims, Arabs, and Arab Americans are especially targeted for such attacks. In the first six months of 2015 alone, Palestine Legal responded to 140 incidents and 33 requests for assistance in anticipation of potential suppression. The overwhelming majority of these incidents targeted students and scholars, a reaction to the increasingly central role universities play in the movement for Palestinian rights. California Scholars for Academic Freedom, a group of close to 200 scholars from different academic institutions in California which advocates the protection of academic freedom of faculty, staff, and students, categorically rejects all forms of intolerance, any discriminatory treatment of Arabs and Muslim (citizens and non-citizens) faculty and students, and all attempts to curtail the free flow of ideas with regard to the Middle East. We call on all schools, colleges, and universities to honor and respect the academic freedom of all faculty, teachers, and students, and urge our educational leaders, not only in California but also in the whole USA, to fight Islamophobic speech and acts that might affect the academic rights of our faculty, staff, and students. California Scholars for Academic Freedom * CALIFORNIA SCHOLARS FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM (cs4af) is a group of scholars who defend academic freedom, the right of shared governance, and the First Amendment rights of faculty and students in the academy and beyond. We recognize that violations of academic freedom anywhere are threats to academic freedom everywhere. California Scholars for Academic Freedom investigates legislative and administrative infringements on freedom of speech and assembly, and it raises the consciousness of politicians, university regents and administrators, faculty, students and the public at large through open letters, press releases, petitions, statements, and articles. PORTLAND, Ore., February 4, 2016 Results from a survey of monarch butterfly overwintering sites in California show that there are more monarchs overwintering in the state this year than last. Volunteers with the Xerces Societys Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count visited 187 sites and tallied a total of 271,924 monarchs. Although more monarchs were counted, the average number of monarchs per site is not significantly different than last years count, and this years population estimate represents a 39% decline from the long term average. The number of monarchs counted this year is but a fraction of the 1.2 million monarchs recorded in the late 90s. Photo: Monarchs in Pacific Grove, CA. Credit: Carly Voight/The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Monarchs from as far away as Idaho and Arizona converge on tree groves along the California coast to spend the winter. Because so many monarchs from the western United States are clustered together on the coast, the Xerces Societys Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count provides one measurement of the health of western monarch populations.This extraordinary volunteer effort has recorded more monarchs in California this year than last year, said Sarina Jepsen, endangered species program director. However, monarch butterfly populations are far from recovered. We will still need a focused effort to address the many threats that monarchs facefrom pesticide use and habitat loss to climate change and disease.There are positive indications from this years count results. Fifteen sites that have been continuously monitored had the highest numbers of butterflies in a decade. Several sites that had not seen monarchs for years were occupied, and there were a number of sites, such as the Berkeley Aquatic Park, that hosted overwintering monarchs for the first time. In Marin County in the northern extent of the overwintering range, 11 sites had increased numbers and two new sites each supported more than 8,000 butterflies.Less positive is that in southern California, the majority of the sites surveyed had fewer monarchs than last year.The Xerces Societys Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count began in 1997 and is the longest running effort to monitor overwintering monarchs in California. The count happens during a three-week period centered on Thanksgiving. Biologists, land managers, and citizen scientists visit overwintering sites year after year to monitor the butterflies. This year, more than 100 volunteers participated.This count would not be possible without the amazing work from so many volunteers, said Emma Pelton, count coordinator for the Xerces Society. Were so grateful for their effortin particular from Mia Monroe, who spends countless hours organizing and training others.For More InformationFor information about the Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count and how to get involved, visit http://www.westernmonarchcount.org Read more about Xerces Monarch Conservation Campaign, including efforts to conserve overwintering sites in California and restore breeding habitat in key regions of the United States here: http://www.xerces.org/monarchs/ Learn about efforts to conserve western monarchs by visiting the Monarch Joint Venture website: http://monarchjointventure.org/our-work/list/category/western-monarchs The Xerces Society for Invertebrate ConservationProtecting the Life that Sustains UsThe Xerces Society has the worlds largest pollinator conservation team, with several staff currently working on monarch conservation. Efforts include conservation and management of critical habitat across central and western U.S., habitat restoration throughout the country, milkweed production best practices, restoration of overwintering sites in California, and engagement of citizens in monarch research and protection. Our staff participate in the Federal Monarch Butterfly High Level Working Group, the USGS Monarch Science Partnership, and co-chair the Monarch Joint Venture. We collaborate with many federal and state agencies or contract and work closely with university researchers and other NGOs to advance the science and practice of monarch conservation.To learn more about our work, please visit http://www.xerces.org All images below can be used by any media outlet. Please include a photo credit with any use. National Interfaith Leader to Present Illinois Wesleyan Founders' Day Address Eboo Patel Jan. 29, 2016 BLOOMINGTON, Ill. A prominent leader in the movement for interfaith cooperation will present the Founders' Day address Feb. 17 at Illinois Wesleyan University. Eboo Patel is founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), a national nonprofit working to make interfaith cooperation a social norm. Named by U.S. News & World Report as one of Americas Best Leaders in 2009, Patel served on President Barack Obamas Inaugural Faith Council. Chicago-based IFYC works with institutions of higher education to help realize a future where religion is a bridge of cooperation rather than a barrier of division. Raised in the Chicago suburb of Glen Ellyn, Patel holds a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship. He is the author of Acts of Faith (Beacon Press, 2010), Patels account of growing up Muslim in America and how he came to believe in religious pluralism. He also wrote Sacred Ground: Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America (Beacon Press, 2013) and the forthcoming Interfaith Leadership: A Primer. Patel is a regular contributor to the public conversation about religion in America, including contributions to the Washington Post, USA Today, Huffington Post, NPR and CNN. He is a frequent speaker on the topic of religious pluralism, including the Clinton Global Initiative, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum and as a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum. The interfaith leaders address at IWU is entitled Interfaith Leadership: Engaging Faith and Philosophical Diversity in the 21st Century and will begin at 11 a.m. in Presser Halls Westbrook Auditorium. The Founders' Day Convocation is free and open to the public. Founders' Day honors the 30 civic and religious leaders who came together in 1850 to establish an Institution of learning of Collegiate grade. Patels address at IWU is a Nation(s) Divided? intellectual theme event. Santa Anita Picks and Plays Saturday, February 6, 2016: Saturday features a very nice race card at Santa Anita that includes a Road to the Kentucky Derby race and a Kentucky Oaks prep race. The long-awaited two-year-old champion filly Songbird is back in the Las Virgenes Stakes, and Mor Spirit will try to become a serious Derby contender in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Additionally, the older horses can prove their potentials in the San Antonio Stakes and the San Marcos Stakes. This weekend, we are analyzing the last four races of the Santa Anita card and making some plays. 6) 10, 7, 8, 2 Rock Shandy should appreciate stretching out to one mile, a distance at which he will feel most comfortable. Rock Shandy is moving from dirt to turf, but that shouldnt be a problem because he ran very nice races on the grass, including his only win. Grachus the Hunter is always in the mix and is working very well for this race. Tuco made his U.S. debut on December 26, 2015, with just one recorded workout and finished a respectable fourth. He needed the experience of that race, so he should improve this time. Lovenseek is the speed of the speed and is literally flying in the mornings. His trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has a high winning percentage in the first race after he claims a horse. 7) 5 It is well known that Hoppertunity doesnt like to win races and always finds a way to lose, but with the absence of Dortmund, he should win this race very easily. In my opinion, Hoppertunity is facing a weaker field than he has faced in months, so this is the time to show he can win races. Last time in the San Pasqual won by California Chrome, he was off slow at the start and was rolling late. Im singling him in all my plays. 8) 7, 6 In the San Marcos (GII), Im giving the slight edge to Flamboyant because he greatly improved from his last race in October of 2015. It looks like the break has helped him to improve. Im drawing a line through Ganeshs last race, mainly because he had an uncomfortable trip and was unrecognizable that day, finishing in the back of the pack. Flavien Prat is back in the saddle, and with a clean trip, he has a shot to win at good odds. 9) 12, 5, 1 Seventh Sense is a full sibling to the nice sprinter Reneesgotzip and has been recording fast workouts for her debut. Additionally, Hollendorfer usually has his first-time starters ready to win. Mucho Chrome was a bit slow at the start and also was wide all throughout the trip, but he was able to manage a creditable fourth place in his debut. With a better trip, hes eligible to improve this time around. Storm the Shore was third in his first start after showing some speed. He is eligible to improve, and if he breaks well, he will be tough to beat. Santa Anita Picks and Plays Saturday, February 6, 2016 Pick 4 6) 10, 7, 8, 2 7) 5 8) 7, 6 9) 12, 5, 1 Daily Double 8) 7, 6 9) 12, 5, 1 Washington, DC Mary Woo is just one of some 21.5 million Americans whom the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimate were affected in some way by a massive Mary Woo is just one of some 21.5 million Americans whom the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimate were affected in some way by a massive data breach that hit the OPM, and is considered the largest hack of its kind suffered by the US Government. Disgruntled plaintiffs - Mary Woo among them - who assumed the federal government was immune to hacks given the presumed high-level security that is the bastion of the Feds, have proposed a class-action data breach lawsuit against the OPM and KeyPoint Government Solutions. The latter is a company contracted by the government to carry out background checks on job applicants and other individuals doing business with the government.The American Federation of Government Employees alleges in its proposed class-action data breach lawsuit that the federal government was negligent in providing the necessary security veils to prevent such data hacks and the subsequent breach of sensitive, personal information.According to court documents and estimates provided by the OPM itself, hackers were able to access Social Security numbers, mental health records, financial histories and other personal information belonging to 21.5 million individuals having undergone a background check through the agency since 2000.It gets worse. Federal government job applicants are also required to provide details about their immediate family members, together with personal acquaintances and business colleagues.Whats more, this past September, the OPM revealed hackers managed to obtain fingerprint data on some 5.6 million Americans.The OPM, according to court records, is the de facto gatekeeper of data associated with government employees. Plaintiffs in data breach lawsuits against the federal government - and in this case the OPM - allege that officials charged with maintaining security of data housed by the OPM failed to heed various warnings, together with failing to toe the line on security policy.Together with a previous security hack, the data breaches are considered the largest security crimes in US history.The American Federation of Government Employees is bringing the primary class-action lawsuit, which was sent to US Federal Court in Washington this past October by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. Plaintiff Mary Woos lawsuit is another, as is another lawsuit brought by the National Treasury Employees Union.Altogether there are more than a dozen data breach lawsuits in the MDL, alleging negligence against the OPM, among other defendants.The MDL is In re: US Office of Personnel Management Customer Data Security Breach Litigation, Case number 2664, before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation. - Governor allegedly collaborated with Kosovo, Turkey, Croatia and other countries - NMA believes the building of 27 new general hospitals in the state are evidences - Governor's aide says case is old and is being investigated by the DSS Ihedioha Slams Okorocha Over Sacking Of 3000 Imo Workers Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state has been accused of allegedly collaborating with Kosovo, Turkey, Croatia and other countries to carry out human organs trafficking. This accusation was made by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), through the chairman of the Private and General Medical Practitioners in the state, Dr Philip Njemanze, Nigerian Pilot reports. READ ALSO: Okorocha Sacks Over 3,000 Civil Servants In Imo State Njemanze, who spoke during a press conference after an emergency meeting of the association in Owerri, the state capital, said: "For the first time in human history, a government has declared itself an organ trafficking cartel. Imo state government is using the state health facilities to facilitate organ trafficking network. "Foreign collaborators of the state government from Turkey, Kosovo, Croatia and others are already here in Imo to perfect creation of the network. It is an international network with Rochas as its local head. A former prime minister of Kosovo is the head of organ trafficking in Europe and he is a friend of Okorocha." The aggrieved medical practitioner also alleged that Governor Okorocha's recent trips to Turkey, Kosovo, Croatia and other Latin American and Asian countries as well as the building of the new 27 general hospitals in the state, are testament to the fact that the governor is party to organ trafficking business in the state. When contacted, Sam Onwuemedo, the governor's senior media adviser explained through a text message that the allegation "is an old story that is being handled by the DSS." This allegation is coming following reports in the state that a refusal of the governor to recall the 3000 workers he allegedly sacked will lead to a total shutdown of activities in the state. According to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), there would be a total shut down of Imo state once the 14-day ultimatum issued to the state government to recall the sacked workers and tackle their unpaid salaries and other benefits expires. President of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Mr Igwe Achese, a member of the 6-man action committee set up by NLC to handle the Imo crisis, told Vanguard that all measures had been put in place for the planned action. Source: Legit.ng - Nigeria's apex court - The Supreme Court has asked that the Code of Conduct Tribunal case against Senate president, Bukola Saraki, continues. - The court ruled that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over the trial of Saraki. - Sarakis case at the tribunal borders on allegations of foreign accounts ownership when he was the governor of Kwara state The supreme court on Friday, February 5 dismissed the appeal of Bukola Saraki, the Senate president to stop his case at the code of conduct tribunal. SETBACK! Senate president Bukola Saraki's trial in the Code of Conduct Tribunal continues Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen who read the judgement said that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over the trial of Saraki. READ ALSO: Saraki Forces Senators To Accompany Him To Court? "I find no merit in the appeal, it is hereby dismissed," the court ruled. Also, the court resolved the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants against Saraki. The judgement was in the appeal of the senate president against the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Mahmud Mohammed, the chief justice of Nigeria in November 2015 led a panel of seven judges announcing today as the day of hearing on the matter after hearing the brief of the counsel to the plaintiff and the respondent. Joseph Daodu, Sarakis lawyer, argued that the CCT in Saraki's trial was not properly constituted. He also said that the tribunal was not a court of competent criminal jurisdiction. The CCT is just a disciplinary panel for public officers, he had said. READ ALSO: Ezekwesili Blasts Saraki For Closing Senate Over CCT Trial Legit.ng recalls that on November 5, 2015, Sarakis lawyers walked out of the CCT courtroom after the tribunal ruled that the trial must continue despite the pending appeal at the supreme court. Source: Legit.ng One of the Boko Haram commanders, in an interview granted to the Vice on HBO, has revealed that he knew where the missing Chibok girls are. He told to a journalist, Kaj Larsen: "I know where they are." "You want to know where they are? They are not with us. If we can get what we want, we know where they are, we will get them," the Boko Haram member, who asked for anonymity, added. READ ALSO: Chibok girls: Army makes significant arrest After being asked if the girls were being used as a bargaining chip, the commander answered that Boko Haram wants Nigeria to "commit to the teachings of Allah and the Prophet Muhammed". Watch the video of the interview below and continue reading the initial story. However, Legit.ng was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of the video. More than 200 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014 from their school in Borno state. A vast hunt for the girls involving the Nigerian army and support from the global community has so far shown no results. READ ALSO: President Buhari orders new investigation into Chibok girls' kidnap Shortly after the attack two years ago, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau unveiled a video statement saying his group was responsible for the missing schoolgirls. The Nigerian army has ramped up its operations against the insurgents over the last year, claiming a series of successes and pushing Boko Haram back from several strongholds in the northern part of the country. The administation of President Muhammadu Buhari has recently announced that the Boko Haram sect has been 'technically defeated'. However, the insurgents continue their attacks and the missing girls have not been rescued. Source: Legit.ng The special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, has announced in a statement on February 5, Friday, that President Muhammadu Buhari has begun a short vacation. According to Adesina, while Buhari is on vacation, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the president. The presidential aide said in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, Buhari had dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. READ ALSO: Photos: See what President Buhari was doing in London yesterday Buhari has arrived in London to attend a conference on the ongoing Syrian crisis. The Supporting Syria & the Region conference is co-hosted by the UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the UN and focuses on how to step up efforts to assist millions of Syrians displaced by the conflict, which started in 2011. The leader of the nation was expected back to Nigeria at the weekend. There were speculations that President Buhari visited London because he needs medical treatment. Its Buharis first vacation as the Nigerian President. Source: Legit.ng It is a well-known fact that Nigerian leaders keep their children away from the limelight partly owing to the saying that politics is a dirty game. However some children of a few Nigerian leaders have found a way to make themselves known. Legit.ng presents to you 5 of the most visible children of Nigerian presidents who have come out of their parents shadows: 1. Gumsu Abacha Gumsu Abacha Gumsu is one of the daughters of the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha. She is very vocal on social media and defends all her dad's policies during his time as Nigeria's leader. Gumsu was also one of Goodluck Jonathan's biggest critic and a friend to the Buhari family. She describes her father as Nigeria's finest Head Of State. Gumsu is married to Mohamadou Bayero Fadil, a businessman and the chief executive officer (CEO) of Group Fadil from Cameroon. They are blessed with five children. READ ALSO: Meet Obasanjo's Son, Dare Who Works For Microsoft (Photos) 2. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello is a daughter to former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Oluremi Obasanjo. She was once a commissioner of health in Ogun state under Otuba Gbenga Daniel's government, Iyabo later bacame a senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial district before her public showdown and fall out with her dad when she sent a letter lambasting him in public. She was the de-facto fist lady after the death of Stella Obasanjo. Iyabo was the Chairman of the Senate's Health Committee, and a member of the Security & Intelligence, Land Transport, Science & Technology, Education, National Planning, and Inter-Parliamentary Committees. 3. Zahra Buhari Zahra Buhari Zahra Buhari perhaps contributed in no small measure to her father's success in the 2015 general elections as her presence on Twitter practically swayed many people to her dad's side. She has been visible ever since and contributing her own quota to sthe ervice of mankind through various NGOs she has been identifying with. 4. Faith Sakwe Faith Sakwe Faith Sakwe is one of the adopted children of former President Goodluck Jonathan who actually came into the picture in year 2000, not long after Jonathan became the deputy governor of Bayelsa state. She and her siblings were adopted by the former president when her father, the then secretary of the PDP in Bayelsa, Engr Ukalizibe Sakwe died in an accident. It was after his burial Jonathan decided to take over the responsibility of the young lady, especially her education. Faith Sakwe's wedding became the talk of the town when her dad was overseeing the affairs of Nigeria. Although she is very reserved and hardly in public light, she is the most visible of Jonathan's children as her wedding brought to the consciousness of Nigerians. READ ALSO: Top 10 Most Touching Photos Of President Muhammadu Buhari 5. Zainab Yar'Adua Dakingari Zainab Yar'adua Dakingari Zainab Yar'adua Dakingari is a daughter of the late President Umaru Yar'Adua. Her wedding to the then Kebbi state governor, Usman Sa'idu Nasamu Dakingari when her father was Nigeria's president raised eyebrows. Very pretty and articulate, she immediately assumed the role of the first lady in the north western state given her dad's influence. She is the most popular of the Yaradua girls. Source: Legit.ng The presidency has announced on Friday, that Muhammadu Buhari will be on break from his official functions February 5 to February 10, 2016. President Muhammadu Buhari Buhari was sworn-in as Nigerian President on May 29, 2015. The president is currently in London, United Kingdom, where he delivered a speech at Supporting Syria conference. READ ALSO: Buhari goes on vacation The leader of the nation has been criticized for travelling a lot. Buhari has already made 23 official trips since assuming the office. The news about the presidents vacation disturbed the Nigerian society. Read some of the Nigerians comments posted on social media. Francis Akpata: Nigeria is now Nollywood where you play role and leave the next role for others to play. President Buhari has no health problem when he was campaigning 2015 for change why now. Famakinwa Helen: Whatever, I strongly believe our president needs our prayers, Nigeria is a complex nation with complex issues, that is why anybody in authority should be appreciated, everyone in our corners will always want to throw stones to the leaders at the top but it takes God. We will overcome as a nation in Jesus name. Jackson Ter: Who doesn't have health troubles, is Buhari a super human?? Amadi Justice Uchechukwu: God help this man to last more a year on that seat, he should never die now to witness Biafra freedom. Segun Akinosho: Very well deserved vacation. God bless PMB and his team. God bless Nigeria. Charles Ampitan: Where is our Buhari spending the vacation? Ok, we love him. He needs to rest for he will hit the ground running after the National Assembly pass the budget. Lanre Lot: Change has really come, have never heard of handing over to VP before in Nigeria, ...anyway, this shows that our president is not power drunk. Source: Legit.ng - Police in mufti resist arrest by NSCDC officials - Erring officer calls for backup Police officers invaded the command office of NSCDC at Railway Junction, Dugbe in Ibadan on Friday morning, February 5, following a fracas one of their officers had with an official of the NSCDC. According to Tribune, a policeman dressed in mufti resisted attempts by officials of the FRSC and NSCDC to arrest him for violating traffic laws by making calls while driving. READ ALSO: 13 things you should know about Tom Ikimi An argument however ensued following an attempt by FRSC officials to flag the police officer down. According to an eye witness account, the policeman was said to have thrown a canister of tear gas at the FRSC officials in a bid to escape. He was later accosted by NSCDC officers on patrol who arrived the scene. But the erring office called for back up, which upon arrival, beat up the NSCDC officers on ground, and seized their vehicle. The police officers than invaded the command office of NSCDC at Railway Junction causing chaos in the process. Meanwhile, the bloodbath that ensued between the Nigerian army and members of the Islamic Movement in Zaria, on December 2015, which left hundreds of Shiite members dead, has continued to spark criticism from various concerned groups. Reports Afrique has it that a Coalition of Human Rights and Pro-Democracy Based Civil Society Organizations have issued a stern warning to the Iranian government for interfering in matters that concerns Nigerias internal security. Source: Legit.ng - Ghanaian actor Christ Attoh spoke on being married to Nigerian woman - Chris Attoh is married to Nollywood actress, Damilola Adegbite - The actor walked down the aisle on February 14, 2015 Chris Attoh and wife, Damilola Adegbite-Attoh Popular Ghanaian TV presenter cum actor Chris Attoh who just finished directing his first movie One More Day, in an interview with HipTV speaks on how he feels being a movie director and his transition into being a movie director. He said: it was a very exciting experience because I have just made the transition from being an actor to being a movie director. Actually I have two projects to be released this year but my major concern on my new movie, One More Day staring myself and my wife Damilola Attoh. READ ALSO: Check Out Celebrity Weddings That Rocked In 2015 Chris Attoh who walked down the aisle with his sweetheart about a year ago was asked how he feels being married to a Nigerian woman. He said: it is absolutely exciting because I need the fire. Tinsel couple, Chris Attoh and Damilola Adegbite, had their wedding on Valentines Day, few months after the birth of their son in Ghana. Chris, a Ghanaian, had proposed to Damilola Adegbite on a boat cruise in Manhattan, New York City. Watch the interview below: Source: Legit.ng - Fresh detail have emerged from the controversial Zaria bloodbath - Political activists calim they have found the alleged mass graves dug by the army in its clash against Shiites - The graves were reportedly dug to hide the number of Shiites killed in the showdown which held in Zaria Reports filtering in suggests that the alleged mass graves dug by the Nigerian army to hide the casualties of the clash with members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, has been uncovered. According to FARS news agency, Nigeria's political activists disclosed that they have found a mass grave where hundreds of civilians who were massacred during the Nigerian army's raids on two Shiite religious centers on December 12 and 13 have been dumped. The mass grave is located in Mando Kaduma cemetery along the Birnin Gwari road near Hajj camp in Kaduna state and over 1,000 Shiites Muslims of Nigeria who were allegedly massacred by the Army have been buried there. Alleged site, where the Nigerian army buried Shiites en-mass The political activists (who could not be named for security reasons), disclosed that after massacring the Shiite people in Zaria, the Nigerian army had brought their dead bodies to Kaduna province and buried them in the mass grave. The activists further revealed that the Nigerian army forces buried and set fire on the corpses of those Shiite Muslims who had been killed during the recent raids in Zaria region. "The Nigerian army has buried in mass graves and burnt a large number of dead bodies of those Muslims who have been massacred in the recent army forces' attacks," the activists revealed. They claimed that the army was attempting to destroy every evidence of its alleged crimes against the suppressed Muslim community, adding that if it had any convincing reason for the mass-killing, it wouldnt resort to such methods to conceal its crimes. The IMN demanded the setting up of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the killings of their members in Zaria on December 12 and 13, during its meeting with House of Representatives panel. The movement also demanded for the unconditional release of their leader Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife who have been in the custody of security agencies since the incident. Members of the movement made the demand when they appeared before a House of Representatives panel investigating the matter. Although the meeting was held behind closed-door, a lawmaker at the meeting said that six members of the movement including some lawyers, chairman of their medical team, an associate professor from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the head of their education section were present. Site of the alleged mass graves discovered by some political activists It was also gathered that the movement members demanded for the corpses of their members for proper Islamic burial as well as the release of the injured for medical attention, alleging that hundreds of their members are currently detained in Kaduna prison without being charged to court. The source said they told the committee that the killings were premeditated based on the way and manner they were carried out and sustained for more than 48 hours. They said there was no reason for their leader and his wife would be held in custody for weeks without any information on his whereabouts without being charged to court. It was wrong, they added, for anybody to refer to them as a sect, but that they are a movement comprising of adherents of Shiite, Sunni, Tijjaniyya and even Christian priests. The source added that they alleged that apart from killing scores and destroying their Hussainiyya center, soldiers also went to where Zakzakys mother was buried and tried to exhume her body and also destroyed their cemetery at Darur Rahma along Jos-Zaria road. They further said that when the killings were going on, personnel of the Red Cross who attempted to render help to the injured and evacuate those killed were denied access by soldiers. After listening to their submissions, the committee chairman Rep Aminu Sani Jaji (APC, Zamfara), said his committee would do a thorough investigation. He said his committee would intervene for the release of Sheikh Zakzaky and other members of the movement in detention. The lawmaker said the committee would also visit the movement Hussainiyya, Zakzakys residence as well as the Darur Rahma, and other affected places to see for themselves. He promised that he would ensure that justice is done no matter which of the two sides is found guilty. It would be recalled that the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), an NGO in special consultative status with the economic and social council of the United Nations, affirmed that the Nigerian Army opened fire on a peaceful demonstration in Kaduna. The IHRC also affirmed claims that the existence of mass graves have been credible, saying that the army dug mass graves and filled them up with bodies of victims of ruthless military actions. Source: Legit.ng - Buhari said his govt has saved money since he introduced TSA - Buhari said TSA is Goodluck Jonathan's idea - He explained why he stopped the sale of foreign currency President Muhammadu Buhari Nigerias president, Muhammadu Buhari has revealed his administration had been able to plug leakages and save N2. 2 trillion through the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Buhari revealed the reason when he spoke on the state of the economy during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the supporting Syria conference in London. READ ALSO: Read why The Economist called ex-president Goodluck Jonathan an Ineffectual Buffoon The president said although the TSA was the initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, the immediate past government did not make use of it. When we discovered that we were already in trouble, we tried to enforce the TSA. This government did not initiate it, it was the previous government, but it was so unpopular to the previous government, he said. For its own reasons, it couldnt impose it, but when we came and we found out that we were broke, we saw that this as the way to do it. We discovered that the NNPC had more than 45 accounts, the ministry of defence and the military had more than 70 accounts; tell me which of the accounts to trace every year. So we enforced TSA, we said there must be TSA, and let me tell you by the end of December coming to January this year, last month we mopped up more than N2.2 trillion. He also revealed why his government stopped the sale of foreign exchange to bureau de change (BDC) operators. He said the sale was stopped due to fraudulent acts perpetrated by some directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). READ ALSO: Okonjo-Iweala calls Falana integrity-challenged charlatan We found out that some directors of CBN owned bureau de change and when foreign exchange comes, they take it to their bureau de change and give government the change, he said. We had to stop the federal government giving bureau the change. I am explaining this to give a tip of the ice berg of the problem we inherited. We are getting so hard because we have no other [option] than to make everybody accountable. Meanwhile, the federal governments anti-corruption war has been extended to 81 government agencies, News Agency of Nigeria is reporting. The agencies, which are revenue generating will undergo forensic audit following the approval of the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday, Thursday, January 28 in Abuja. Source: Legit.ng - Captain Abimbola Jayeola is Nigerias first female helicopter pilot - She was the captain on the Bristow Chopper that ditched in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, February 3 - Jayeola narrated how she became a pilot of the Bristow Group Captain Abimbola Jayeola Meet Nigerias first female helicopter pilot, Captain Abimbola Jayeola, who was the captain on the Bristow helocopter that ditched in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, February 3. Her split-second decision saved the lives of everyone onboard and several families linked to them. Nigeria should know its heroes, so lets get to know better this amazing young lady who was ready for everything to become the very first female helicopter pilot in the worlds most populous black nation. Captain Abimbola Jayeola and her passangers. Captain Abimbola Jayeola hails from Abeokuta in Ogun state. In 2008, she graduated from the Bristow Academy, where she learned to believe in herself. Speaking about her training in Florida, the USA, she said: From a technical perspective, my academy experience is the foundation of my success on the job today. More broadly, exposure to the rich and multicultural diversity at the academy greatly facilitated my understanding and appreciation of different cultures and the way they do things. Effective communication, establishing good interpersonal relationships, networking and sharing ideas are just some of the important soft skills I developed and honed during my Academy training. READ ALSO: Meet The First Muslim Female Pilot In Kano Coming from a part of the world where some professions are viewed as the exclusive preserve of men, I found enormous encouragement in the academy. I learned to believe in myself because I was determined in my choice of becoming a pilot. Ill always remember what one of the instructors said to me: If you have faith in yourself, other people will have no choice but to believe in you. Now Captain Jayeola is working for the Bristow Group and her base is Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital. Before joining Bristow, she worked with Geointel and Associates. Abimbola flies the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. Captain Abimbola flies the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. Bristow helicopter Meanwhile, the operations of Bristow Helicopters Limiteds Sikorsky S-76X++ type have been suspended indefinitely by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). Captain Mukhtar Usman, the director general of NCAA, noted that the suspension of operations of the company does not represent a vote of no confidence on the company but to look out for adequacy and propriety of the operating aircraft type. Source: Legit.ng The state of public joint-stock company is worsening, the enterprise is moving to bankruptcy, not privatization, former member of the National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation of Ukraine (NCER) Andriy Herus said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday. "Everything is going in the way that the company would not be put up for the privatization, and it is likely that the company will become bankrupt over the debts that are being accumulated and bought by some groups There are quantitative indicators using which one can clearly judge what was happening with the company in the past two years: if we take a look at the financial performance net profit in 2013 was UAH 487 million, and in January-September 2015 net loss is UAH 82 million. This is on the regulated market," he said. Herus added that the Centrenergo's accounts payable expanded by UAH 1.5 billion in two years. "Its obvious that one cannot speak about the efficient preparations for the privatization in these conditions," he said. He said that the value of Centrenergo could be judged by share quotations. The company's shares are listed on the Ukrainian Exchange. "In summer 2014, the company's capitalization was almost UAH 3 billion or $270 million, and today the company's capitalization fell from $270 million to $60 million," he said. He said that Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Demchyshyn did not execute the decision of the government to transfer shares in Centrenergo to the State Property Fund of Ukraine. Annemarie Manning joined Activum SG UK Advisors Ltd. in December 2015 as Head of Business Development and Investor Relations. Annemarie Manning will play an integral role in developing the business and will be responsible for ActivumSGs relationship with institutional investors globally. Cerberus... Photos: Activum SG [] Heitman LLC announced the first close of Heitman European Residential Investment Partners, a closed end, co-mingled fund with the strategy of aggregating and managing a portfolio of for-rent residential properties in Western Europe. In a related transaction, Heitman also announced that its European Residential Investment Partners fund has closed [] The Google Japan Webmaster Blog announced that they have penalized a link network there for trying to manipulate Google search results rankings. Google translate tried to translate the blog post - not too well from the looks of it: As part of this effort, Google this time, in order to operate illegally search result link program has undergone a countermeasure against some of the site network of the Japanese had done the buying and selling of participating in the link. Among this is because it was also included sites that repeatedly Webmaster Guidelines violation, was subjected to severe measures than normal in some cases. The blog post added: In addition, we tell even before, there seems to be the case that measures would be carried out, such as violation of the Webmaster Guidelines in place without the knowledge of the webmaster. Previously it introduced the example of SEO firms , but it seems there is also be generated by the outsourcing of such advertising not only SEO skilled in the art. In order to prevent this, the web master you we recommend that you check from time to time and see whether subcontractors are doing what measures. It has been some time since Google publicly claimed to go after a link network. They've done so in Germany and large agencies in Germany and penalized networks in Germany, Italy and Spain in the past. They've targeted Poland and many other countries in the past and many other link networks both in the US and worldwide. but it has been a while since we had one of these. Those in Japan, check your Google Search Console message center. Takeaki Kanaya from Google announced this on Twitter saying: Forum discussion at Twitter. After a massive outpouring of support - and more than a little heat leveled at a small-town police department in Ohio - a retired officer will get to keep his beloved canine companion after all. Matt Hickey is buying his beloved Ajax, the police dog who stood at his side for four years. The price? $1. "I'm speechless and I'm so very grateful," Hickey told NBC4, shortly after handing over the money and taking ownership of Ajax. "There's no way I can thank everybody. I'm so thankful and relieved." Dodo Shows Faith = Restored Woman Tries Every Day For A Month To Rescue This Dog "There are really good people out here. They're kind, they're considerate and they want to make things right. God bless them." That leaves, oh, let's see ... $72,050 in a GoFundMe account originally set up to help Hickey buy Ajax from the city of Marietta. When the story of the retired police officer broke earlier this month - city officials told Hickey the dog would be auctioned off - the fund was established to help him triumph at that auction. Fighting words turned into fighting dollars. Donations poured in from around the world. And instead of an auction for Ajax, the whole sordid saga turned into a learning moment for Marietta officials: Let no bureaucracy come between a man and his dog. Or else the internet is going to be really, really mad. After the story broke, the city's Facebook page was so inundated with indignation, its administrator had to write this message: Initially, the city officials dug in their heels, citing legalese as the reason the pair couldn't be together. "The dog is property of the city of Marietta," Paul Betram III, the city's law director, said in January. "Because it is personal property, it is treated like a shovel. That's just the way it is." She had nothing - but now she has a name: Kejora. When palm oil farmers discovered an infant orangutan, they took her and chained her to a door. Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Guy Falls In Love With His Little Meatball Of A Foster Dog At only a year and a half old, she's spent six months of her life like that - terrified, malnourished and in chains. The Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) Foundation - an organization that works to rehabilitate orangutans who have lost everything because palm oil farms have ravaged their natural habitat in Indonesia - came to the rescue of this baby. "The worker who was caring for her said he found her in a small forest area behind the nursery," the organization wrote on their website. "We know that an orangutan mother would never leave her baby alone, and we have no doubt that her mother must have been killed." Even though Kejora has only been with the BOS Foundation for a few days, she's already showing signs of improvement.The organization wrote on Facebook Thursday that her "appetite has been good and her belly looks fuller now." Facebook/BOS Foundation This browser does not support the video tag. Facebook/BOS Foundation The organization added that the "trauma that we previously saw etched on her tiny face has dissipated ... We can never replace her mother, but we do promise to do our utmost in providing her with all the love, care and support she will need over the coming months and years." Facebook/BOS Foundation

Glen Schallman

Did Glen Schallman have the faintest inkling that the cat he was taking home would save his life? After all, he was the one saving a life when he walked into an adoption center run by the Humane Society of North Texas about a week ago. He was looking for a very special cat. Glen Schallman Glen Schallman Schallman was born with not one, but three, potentially fatal complications: brain conditions called polymicrogyria and unilateral schizencephaly, and a rare brain tumor known as hypothalamic hamartoma. Blake the cat knew nothing about all that. Glen Schallman Dodo Shows Odd Couples Kitten Isn't Sure About His Pittie Brother At First Glen Schallman He had no idea that at 56, Schallman was defying the life expectancy for anyone with those issues. Blake didn't know Schallman suffered at least one seizure a day. And, most perilously, those seizures could kill him while he slept. No, Blake was just a cat who had been rescued from a neglectful home. Now, he was looking for a real home. And, at the adoption center, he couldn't have made it more obvious. "He just stood right out," Schallman tells The Dodo. "He was the only kitten who was jumping up and down, meowing and meowing and meowing, wanting to get out." Then Schallman got closer. "I took him out and held him, and he kissed my forehead and purred." Spell cast. Adoption complete. Glen Schallman Glen Schallman When Blake moved in, he immediately "took over the place." As in, sprawling everywhere, owning the space they shared, and demanding all the love in the world. Glen Schallman Glen Schallman He also took the utmost care to keep the man who saved him alive. Schallman says his cat has an uncanny knack for sensing when he's going to have a seizure. "Blake alerts me by nudging me before I go into a seizure to let me know to sit down or lay down," he says. Glen Schallman Glen Schallman One night, it all seemed like it would unravel into tragedy. While he was sleeping, Schallman had a seizure. But Blake was there for him - with a sharp, stern bite to his toe. "I would have probably not woken up," Schallman says. Now, it seems, they're even. Because Blake's last address, the one before he was rescued by the Humane Society of North Texas (HSNT), was a kind of hell. "Blake came from the home of an overwhelmed caregiver," Whitney Hanson of the HSNT tells The Dodo. "The number of pets she had really surpassed her ability to care for them properly. "She actually had to leave her home unexpectedly and she reached out to us for help." And so began Blake's journey from a hellish home to a battery of veterinary procedures at the humane society - he had become very ill - to the everlasting love of a certain human who really needed him. Glen Schallman Glen Schallman No stranger to the virtues of cat companionship, Schallman had owned three of them when he lived in Arizona. He describes them as having a kind of sixth sense. They always seemed to know when he was about to have a seizure. Sadly, he had to leave the cats with his sister when he left the state. He would spend too many months moving around the country to bring his cats along. When he finally settled in Fort Worth, Schallman went looking for his new best friend. At the best place anyone can look for a best friend - his local shelter. And that decision proved a lifesaver. Glen Schallman Glen Schallman Dogs have been known to detectimminent seizures. But cats have also saved a life other than one of their own nine. An orange shelter cat named Kitty made headlines back in 2011 after she was credited with saving a young girl - she stood on top of her, yowling and crying when she started having a seizure. Sound familiar? Glen Schallman Glen Schallman Residents of the town southwest of Tulsa are petitioning officials to stop the practice, alleging at least three dogs were shot dead this week alone - a claim confirmed Thursday by Bristow's mayor Leonard Bristow . An animal shelter in Bristow, Oklahoma, is reportedly putting down dogs in the worst way possible: by taking them behind the building and shooting them. Kitten Isn't Sure About His Pittie Brother At First State laws mandate shelter animals be put down in a "humane way." But by not describing what constitutes "humane," Oklahoma legislation leaves the door open for a wide range of interpretation. One such interpretation, according to the mayor, is to shoot them. He told reporters on Thursday that the practice is legal, but also promised it wouldn't happen again. "We are not going to shoot dogs anymore and we will try to work with local vets to help us," Washington said. "Shooting dogs is not a common practice, and this was a rare situation." Angry Bristow residents like Beth Roberts feel it should never happen at all. "It's not humane, period," she told The Daily Beast. "The way he's dragging them over, putting them in the hole first, then shooting them." "We need to eliminate the practice of shooting these dogs in the head. It's barbaric. It's not up to the times. People are outraged." This heroic dog was just doing her American duty. Without her sharp eyes and loud, persistent bark, the injured bald eagle she helped rescue would have died alone in the icy Minnesota wilderness. During a walk along the Sucker River, near Lake Superior, on January 20, Kenai, a 3-year-old golden retriever, saw something unusual. In typical dog fashion, she started to bark at it, alerting her owner at once. As it turns out, she had spotted a grounded bald eagle. Kerrie Burns, Kenai's owner, told GrindTV that she is trained not to chase after wildlife. Once Kenai got Burns's attention, she stopped barking. Along with her friend Pam Weber, Burns and Kenai approached the eagle. Immediately, they knew something was wrong when the bird didn't fly away. Instead, the eagle hopped along the river's shoreline. Because it was almost nighttime and the trio didn't want to scare off the eagle, they decided to leave and vowed to return the next day with help. Dodo Shows Pittie Nation The Sweetest Pittie Was Living Under A Jeep The following day, the location of the eagle became a bit of a mystery. Thankfully, the bird hadn't wandered far from where he had been first seen. He even left a few clues ... ... which led right to his location. Two individuals from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, along with Burns and Weber, worked together to round up the injured eagle. With patience and effort, the rescue effort was a success. The eagle was taken to Wildwoods Rehab, a local wildlife rehabilitation organization. Peggy Farr, a board member and rehabilitator at Wildwoods, said the eagle, an adult male, was skinny, but not emaciated. His left shoulder was swollen, but there were no signs of a fracture, which Farr said indicated the eagle may have had a soft tissue injury. His feathers were frozen and had to be thawed. While no one knows how the eagle was injured, Farr had one possible theory in mind. "Deer hunting season, rifle season, here is in the late fall and early winter," she told The Dodo. "So during and after deer hunting season, we always suspected lead poisoning. We didn't see any obvious signs of it, however ... he was alert." Signs of lead poisoning in an eagle include seizures and respiratory problems. "Because lead is a neurotoxin, it slows down their reaction time," Farr continued. "It makes them more clumsy, so they're more likely to get hit by cars when they're scavenging for roadkill. They're more likely to have a clumsy landing and injure themselves. And so at this time of year, we always suspect it as an underlying cause." At Wildwoods, the eagle was given some much-needed tender, loving care. From there, he was transferred to The Raptor Center in St. Paul, which specializes in the medical care, rehabilitation and conservation of eagles, hawks, owls and falcons. The center confirmed that the eagle was in fact poisoned by lead and had a soft tissue injury on his shoulder. According to a Facebook post on Wildwoods' page, eagles get lead poisoning from feasting on the caracasses of abandoned deer shot by lead bullets. Lead spreads from the entry point wound and into the deer's meat. When the eagle eats the infected meat, lead then enters his bloodstream and has harmful effects on his nervous system and organs - especially the brain. "Usually when eagles get lead poisoning, the levels are so high, that often times the Raptor Center ends up having no alternative but to euthanize them," Farr said. "So the fact that he may well make a recovery is really a cause for celebration. It's not very common." She said that while the Raptor Center isn't 100 percent certain that the eagle is out of the woods entirely, he has a fair chance at a full recovery and being released back out into the wild - and it's all thanks to Kenai. She's a true patriot. Facebook/Wildwoods Kinta the Shiba Inu sure has a lot to smile about these days. But that wasn't always the case. In the summer of August 2010, Kinta was found lying out in the sun, on top of a car. Michelle Proctor, a 32-year-old ER nurse, thought the cream-colored dog on top of her neighbor's car was actually a large cat at first, but upon closer inspection, confirmed that she was, in fact, a canine. It's unknown how Kinta, who was somewhere between 12 and 18 months old, ended up on top of the car in Owasso, Oklahoma, to begin with. Kinta at around 18 months old. Michelle Proctor Kinta at around 18 months old. | Michelle Proctor "She looked like she hadn't eaten in a few days, so I brought her food and water," Proctor told The Dodo. A trip to the vet revealed that the dog wasn't microchipped. Proctor said she worked her way around town, trying to see if anyone knew if this dog had a family. She even posted an ad on a local lost-and-found pets page on Facebook, but no one stepped forward to claim Kinta. Proctor learned that if Kinta had remained in animal control's care, she only had a certain number of days to be adopted before she would have been euthanized. "I'm not really a gambling girl," Proctor said. "We had high hopes of returning her to her owner, but after two months we were certain that she was probably a reject from a puppy mill since she was not yet spayed and had a genetic malformation - she has no nipples." That was how Kinta became officially adopted into the family. Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor Kinta is now around 7 to 8 years old and loves nothing more than making her forever family laugh with her funny little smiles (and winks). Michelle Proctor Dodo Shows Dodo Heroes Woman Devotes Her Life To The Stray Dogs Of Bali Michelle Proctor According to Proctor, Kinta's infamous squinty smile is definitely a learned quirk. Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor "She would make that face when she was guilty of eating our food off the table," she said. "But we would start hugging her because it was so cute," she added "So over time she realized that making that face meant we would start hugging and loving on her. She's a professional at it ... now she mostly does it when she's happy to see us." Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor Other things that Kinta loves include attention, cheese, snuggling, going to grandma's house and being the unofficial watchdog of her neighborhood. Her dislikes include school buses and the guys who mow the lawn. Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor In addition to her parents, Kinta has quite the extensive furry family - there's her big sister, a cat named Honey, and three younger guinea pig sisters named Smore, Lemon and Noodles. Last but not least, there's Kinta's big brother ... Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor ... a Chihuahua named Kilo. The two make quite the dashing duo. Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor So what's coming up next in the life of Kinta (a.k.a. Squinta)? "She has a human sibling on the way, so she has some pretty important guard dog duties to brush up on," Proctor said. We have no doubt she'll knock those duties right out of the ballpark. Michelle Proctor Michelle Proctor The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has urged parliamentarians to adopt the bill on financial restructuring. "The NBU hopes that MPs will work fruitfully and believes that the bill will be discussed and passed by the Verkhovna Rada!" the NBU wrote on its official Facebook page. The bill introduces a mechanism for financial restructuring of debtor companies that would become an important tool to settle the situation with troubled credits issued by banks, it would help rehabilitating the banking system, would promote the restoration of solvency of enterprises and retaining jobs. Finally, banks will be able to reduce the number of troubled credits and send funds to credit the economy. The adoption of bill No. 3555 would allow fulfilling Ukraine's liabilities under the memorandum signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the central bank said. As reported, in late January 2016 the parliament committee for financial policy and banking operations recommended that the parliament passes bill No. 3555 on the financial structuring registered on December 24, 2015 and passed at first reading. The parliament in late 2015 postponed the adoption of the government's bill on the financial restructuring for early 2016. Deputy Finance Minister of Ukraine Artem Shevalev said in the parliament that the bill was drawn up to overcome negative consequences in the financial sector caused by crisis in the Ukrainian economy and fulfill Ukraine's liabilities to international financial organizations (IFIs). The provisions of the document aim at creating an efficient mechanism of voluntary financial restructuring of debts of companies and their pretrial readjustment, he said.

Jeff Miller

Noah knows a thing or two about floods. First, there was the mud pit he called home that would get so overwhelmed with rainwater, he had to stand atop his shabby dog house to stay dry. THE DODO THE DODO Sympathetic workers at a construction site nearby dubbed him 'Demo' because the property where the dog lived had been scheduled for demolition. After his story appeared in The Dodo came the second flood. Calls to the city of Hendersonville, North Carolina, came in from around the world. Outraged animal lovers posted and re-posted Noah's plight on social media. THE DODO Dodo Shows Foster Diaries Guy Falls In Love With His Little Meatball Of A Foster Dog THE DODO The very next morning, Hendersonville police chief Herbert Blake, besieged by hundreds of emails, stood in the rain to oversee Noah's surrender to the Blue Ridge Humane Society. JEFF MILLER JEFF MILLER Staff mobbed Noah. Locals came to pay him a visit. And Noah soaked it all up like a dog who had been long-starved for human attention. Blue Ridge Humane Society "You have made him a rock star," city councillor Jeff Miller told The Dodo shortly after he was rescued. Blue Ridge Humane Society Noah was cleaned, polished and loved to a shine. And then...? Well, the flood has subsided. And Noah, by all accounts an exuberantly happy and profoundly grateful dog, remains at the shelter. "We've had lots of kind folks inquire about his well-being and send very generous donations for his care, but we still have yet to receive any applications for this sweet Romeo," the shelter wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. "Even after all he's been through, Noah is a just gentle mush that ignores the fact that he's really too big to really fit in most laps." Blue Ridge Humane Society Johnson Controls Inc. of Milwaukee has plans to desert the United States by combining with a previous corporate deserter, Tyco International PLC, and setting up a headquarters in Ireland. (Mauritz Antin/EPA) This column has been updated. If you want an example of how bizarre U.S. tax laws can be and how companies can game the system look no further than the recently announced deal for Johnson Controls Inc. of Milwaukee to desert our country by combining with a previous corporate deserter, Tyco International PLC. Tyco is run out of Princeton, N.J., but for tax purposes it is based in Ireland, where the combined Johnson Controls PLC will be based. This isnt your standard corporate inversion, as polite people call these kinds of tax-avoiding deals. Technically, its not even an inversion. Rather, its an especially aggressive transaction that, among other things, will let Johnson game the tax system by handing its shareholders about $3.9 billion in cash in order to get tax-free access to $8.1 billion in cash currently held overseas. You dont believe that even our absurd tax system will let Johnson PLC do this? Let me take you through the numbers and show you how it works. A brief aside: Normally, I spare you as many numbers as possible, and dont use Inc. or PLC after corporate names. But today, Im departing from that form, because you need to see the details in order to understand the transaction. Back to the main event. Under our tax laws, if a U.S. company combines with a foreign company (or a nominally foreign company such as Tyco), it can play a variety of tax games, provided that the shareholders of the U.S. company own more than 60 percent but less than 80 percent of the stock in the new, combined company. However, the company can play far more games and avoid certain kinds of embarrassment that theres no space to discuss today if the shareholders of the U.S. company own more than 50 percent of the combined company but less than 60 percent. This is where the $3.9 billion in cash comes in. Under terms of the Johnson-Tyco transaction which involves Tyco buying Johnson, although Johnsons management will run the combined company Tyco will have about 404 million shares outstanding when the deal is consummated. (Tyco has more shares than that, but each current Tyco share will become 0.955 of a Johnson PLC share.) Johnson has about 647 million shares outstanding. If the companies just combined without playing the cash game Im about to describe, Johnson holders would own about 61.5 percent of the combined company 647 million of the 1.051 billion shares. But Johnson will use the $3.9 billion of cash to buy in about 112 million of its shares. That way, Johnson Inc. holders end up with 535 million Johnson PLC shares, about 57 percent of the 939 million shares that will be outstanding. When I emailed my math, which is based on public filings, to Johnson spokesman Fraser Engerman, he answered, Not going to dispute your numbers. By being in the more-than-50-less-than-60 percent sweet spot, Johnson PLC can get its hands on its offshore cash directly, instead of having to leap through various hoops as less-aggressive deserters do. I have no idea why its legal for Johnson to buy in a chunk of its shares to make the numbers work but apparently, it is. I also have no idea why on Earth more-than-50-less-than-60 percent deals are treated so much more favorably for companies (and unfavorably to those of us who pick up the tab for the taxes they avoid) than more-than-60-less-than-80 percent transactions are. I asked tax expert Ed Kleinbard of the University of Southern Californias Gould School of Law about this. He said its because of the way Congress wrote Section 7874 of the Internal Revenue Code, which it passed about 10 years ago to try to plug loopholes through which companies squeezed in order to invert. Congress drew the 60 percent line when it enacted the statute, Kleinbard said in an email. Theres no fundamental economic explanation for that decision. . . . I am not aware of any history that explains why Congress drew the inversion line at 60 percent. Pfizer Inc. of New York, which is part of the biggest corporate desertion in history by combining with Allergan PLC of Parsippany, N.J., is also doing a stock buyback and a more-than-50-less-than-60 percent deal. But the arithmetic there isnt as clear cut as in the Johnson-Tyco deal. So there you have it. Johnson, a vendor to the taxpayer-rescued U.S. auto industry, repays us by doing not only a desertion but a mega-desertion. Thanks, guys. If U.S. vehicle makers hit the skids again, maybe Johnson PLC can ask Irish taxpayers for help. Addendum: Although I included far more technical material than usual in this column, I left out some things I should have included one of which I didnt know. As I said, technically, Tyco PLC is buying Johnson Controls Inc., and the combined company will be Johnson Controls PLC. What I didnt realize is that the $3.9 billion of cash that will be used to buy Johnson stock is coming from Tyco, not from Johnson. And in this case, that makes all the difference. The fact that Tyco rather than Johnson is buying Johnson shares for cash is why this transaction doesnt violate rules the Treasury has adopted to stop U.S. companies from skinnying down by buying in their own shares in order to make transactions like this one fit into the necessary parameters. No-skinny down would apply if Johnson were buying Johnson stock for cash. It doesnt apply here because Tyco is buying Johnson stock for cash. Its a loophole that the Treasury inadvertently, Im sure left when it wrote its no-skinny down rule. Of course, money is fungible, and after the transaction closes, the combined company can use Johnsons offshore cash to replenish the $3.9 billion that Tyco laid out. My bet is that after seeing Johnson-Tyco, the Treasury will try to tighten up no-skinny down. What this whole thing shows is how hard it is to write rules to stop big companies from doing what they want to do. This is enough intelligent reading to keep you busy with a new and highly regarded book every month for the rest of the year. Get busy! (iStock/iStock) Late last year, in a fit of pique lamenting poor financial advice in the media, I wrote a column headlined Bah humbug to ridiculous year-end financial advice. In it, I urged people to read books. I mentioned that my favorite of 2015 was Last Ape Standing: The Seven-Million-Year Story of How and Why We Survived by Chip Walter. A few readers reached out to ask for more book ideas, wondering whom I might ask for their recommendations. So I did that. I sent out a request to my favorite strategists, fund managers, economists and others, asking What was the best book you read in 2015? What follows is my lightly edited version of their answers. A few things stand out. There is a strong bias toward nonfiction, especially biographies and history. To be sure, a wistful I used to read fiction sigh can be read between the lines. But these are busy folk who want to derive the maximum benefit from their reading. Indeed, there was only one serious fiction title, not counting the response from an unnamed hedge fund manager, claiming his favorite read in 2015 was 50 Shades of Grey, now that its finally out in large print. (We know that the Kindle and iPad allow for font-size changes, so I have to assume this quant was kidding). The result of the survey is a wonderful collection of books. Vanguard Group chief executive and chairman Bill McNabbs favorite book for the year was David McCulloughs The Wright Brothers. What captivated me was that at every turn the deck seemed stacked against them, but they had this incredible drive to see their dream come to fruition, he said. The creativity, brilliance, and most importantly, grit, that they exhibited reminds us of what made this country great. I believe there are Wright Brothers among us today and that great things are still possible. By coincidence, I gave this same book to Michael Batnick (head of research in my firm) as a holiday present. He liked it as much as Bill did. Financial Engines co-founder and (recently retired) chief executive Jeff Maggioncalda selected Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Harari. Its arc spans from how we outcompeted Neanderthals to what future human life might look like as cyborgs and along the way suggests how and why our species has been such a unique phenomenon on planet Earth, he said. Fisher Investments founder and chief executive Ken Fisher liked The Intel Trinity: How Robert Noyce, Gordon Moore, and Andy Grove Built the Worlds Most Important Company by Michael S. Malone: It tells the inside story of the driver behind most of the last four decades productivity improvements how it happened and the people involved, focused foremost on Noyce, Moore and Grove, he said. But I was a semiconductor analyst temporarily in the 70s, knew two of the three and lots more people cited in the book and it was a great read about a phenomenal cadre of folk who will likely in their ilk never be reproduced in kindred spirit and soul again. Years ago, I enjoyed reading Inside Intel: Andy Grove and the Rise of the Worlds Most Powerful Chip Company, but this looks even more interesting. Charley Ellis of the Yale Foundation and Vanguard Group selected The Aspirational Investor, by Ashvin B. Chhabra. This book provides investors with a clear and compelling new way to think through their objectives in investing that will help them align all their investing with their true values, he said. Ellis also reread one the all-time classic novels, Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes; he also demonstrated how much this crew went for biographies, adding any book on Lincoln. I read three. There was only one book mentioned by more than one person, and that too was a biography: Reagan: The Life by H.W. Brands. Dimensional Funds Chairman David Booth said: I liked the new bio of Reagan, by H.W. Brands. Reagan showed how to be a leader even if the other party controls both houses. Nick Murray, who has spent the past 20 years as a consultant to financial advisers, said: I loved the book as I loved the man: a president who actually believed in America as a moral force, who had limitless faith in its future and whose own unshakable confidence empowered ordinary Americans to be optimistic. One last bio was worth mentioning: Life by Keith Richards was suggested by Liz Ann Sonders, chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab & Co. She said, Its only rock and roll, but I loved it, but was left pondering: How in the world is that guy still alive?! Jack Schwager, author of the Market Wizards books, as well as chief research officer of Fundseeder.com, enjoyed My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit. An extremely well-written, strikingly objective history of modern Israel written by an Israeli journalist, he said, which combines fascinating historical insights and human narratives. Venture capitalist Bill Janeway of Warburg Pincus and the University of Cambridge enjoyed Jonathan Levys Freaks of Fortune: The Emerging World of Capitalism and Risk in America. Consummate scholarship that transcends the boundaries of economic, financial and political history, he said. Beyond the history and biography, philosophy was a big part of the list. Stephen Roach, now of Yale University, formerly of Morgan Stanley, liked The Road to Character by David Brooks. Character is the anchor to a moral and just society that sadly appears to be adrift in our increasingly ADD world, he said. Brooks challenges our increasingly self-absorbed cultural norms with a clarion call for humility a staggering pause for thought in our hyper-kinetic era that seems to pause for nothing. Grant Williams, author of Things That Make You Go Hmmm, called Liaquat Ahameds Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World a truly exceptional read. He notes that history holds all the answers to the questions of today you just have to know where to look. Lords of Finance does that brilliantly, going back to the 1920s and 30s to examine the state of the world which was then controlled (surprise, surprise) by four central bankers. The parallels between the post-WWI world and that of today are startling. That is our top-10 list. A few other books were suggested that merit mention. University of Chicago professor Richard Thaler enjoyed Economics Rules, by Dani Rodrick, (but he noted that it was best suited for econ wonks). Meb Faber of Cambria Investment Management liked Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending by Elizabeth Dunn, noting: as money managers we spend so much time thinking about making and protecting our money, when in reality, most spend very little time thinking about how to spend it. Lastly, Rob Arnott of Research Affiliates reread on its 50th anniversary Thomas Kuhns The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Kuhn coined the expression paradigm shift. Arnott said that Kuhn challenges the standard notion that science advances incrementally, a step at a time. Instead, he demonstrates, through an examination of the history of science, that it advances by widely separated leaps, then stalls due to stubbornness and dogma. That is enough intelligent reading to keep you busy with a new and highly regarded book every month for the rest of the year. Get busy! Ritholtz is chairman and chief investment officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management. He is the author of Bailout Nation and runs a finance blog, The Big Picture. On Twitter: @Ritholtz. Emeka Ogboh, b. 1977, Nigeria, "Market Symphony," 2016, mixed-media sound installation. (Emeka Ogboh/Smithsonian National Museum of African Art) The calls of traders hawking their wares and customers bargaining for prices mix with the urban bustle of Nigerias largest city in Market Symphony, a site-specific sound art installation that opened last week at the National Museum of African Art. Commissioned by the museum, the work from contemporary artist Emeka Ogbohe vokes the vitality of the Balogun Market and the surrounding city, allowing visitors to experience Africa in an unusual way, said curator Karen E. Milbourne. Africa is such a vibrantly aural space, Milbourne said. The taxis and buses, vendors calling out their wares, the layers of language and the experience of the space. It can transport you 7,000 miles. Market Symphony is the first work of sound art to be featured at the museum, Milbourne said, adding that the work will allow the institution to engage with the visually impaired and other audiences that have less opportunity to experience its art. Speakers mounted on colorful enamelware trays traditionally found in the stalls of markets such as Balogun have been installed in the gallery, and the works 28 tracks will play when visitors enter the space. It helps us engage with our senses in ways we forget, Milbourne said. You think youre going to have an ocular epiphany at the museum. But this is wonderful because it allows you to engage more of your senses at once. Milbourne has been working with Ogboh for two years on the project, and in that time his experimental work has attracted international attention. His art was featured in the 2015 Venice Biennale, and his pieces are part of private collections around the world. Some of the most compelling artists who are working in the most innovative platforms are from Africa, Milbourne said. I would love for people to come out [of the gallery] and say, Cool. Five more to watch: This month is your last chance to see Gilbert Stuarts famous Lansdowne portrait of George Washington before the National Portrait Gallery removes it for conservation and analysis. Created in 1796, during Washingtons second term, the work is recognized for its symbolic portrait of the office of the president as well as the first man elected to serve. A highlight of the gallerys Americas Presidents exhibition, it was purchased by the museum in 2001. It is expected to return to the gallery in 18 months. Through Feb. 28 at the National Portrait Gallery, Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Eighth and F streets NW. npg.si.edu As this is an election year, the National Museum of American History focuses on the election process with Hooray for Politics. The exhibit will feature rally signs for the 2016 presidential candidates as well as examples of ballot boxes, voting booths and an automated voting machine dating to 1898. Ongoing at the National Museum of American History, Constitution Avenue between 12th and 14th streets NW. americanhistory.si.edu. Mock Tea Party in Southwest, 1973, on view at the Anacostia Community Museum. (D.C. Public Library) At the Anacostia Museum, Twelve Years That Shook and Shaped Washington: 1963-1975 examines the lasting effects of these years on the nations capital. The exhibit focuses on the arts, race, urban renewal and political protests to explore how the District evolved into a vibrant, multicultural hub. Through Oct. 23 at the Anacostia Museum, 1901 Fort Pl. SE. anacostia.si.edu. The National Archives Museum focuses on constitutional amendments in its upcoming exhibit, Amending America. Visitors can learn about some of the 11,000 proposals to amend the U.S. Constitution and why only 27 have succeeded. March 11-Sept. 4, 2017, at the National Archives, Constitution Avenue between Seventh and Ninth streets NW. archives.gov/museum . Dramatic views of lunar landscapes taken over six years by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera go on view later this month at the National Air and Space Museum. Sixty-one large prints are featured in A New Moon Rises, an exhibit that gives visitors new perspectives on the moon, from the Apollo landing sites to mountains that emerge from the dark. Opening Feb. 26 at the National Air and Space Museum, Independence Avenue and Sixth Street SW. airandspace.si.edu . READ MORE: 1 of 14 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad The small world of dollhouses, 300 years in the making View Photos Discover the stories behind some of the United Kingdoms most cherished doll houses in Small Stories: At Home in a Dollhouse when it stops at its only U.S. venue, the National Building Museum in Washington. Caption Discover the stories behind some of the United Kingdoms most cherished doll houses in Small Stories: At Home in a Dollhouse when it stops at its only U.S. venue, the National Building Museum in Washington. Tate Baby House was built in 1760 and was owned by the Tate family for 170 years. It includes original wallpaper and hand-painted paneling. One room is set up for a home birth. Pip Barnard/Copyright Victoria and Albert Museum, London Wait 1 second to continue. A Shakespeare tale with honesty and heart Maren Morris stands out on a stacked country bill at Fillmore In uncovering tensions, productions expose humor and societys fears William Cameron Menziess film work brough aesthetic to screen Artist Robert Irwins roots run deep in Southern California Rites of spring: classical concerts not to miss Jane Little began playing bass in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra when she was a teen. (Dustin Thomas Chambers/for The Washington Post) On Monday, Jane Little got her weekly chemo shot. Thursday, she gulped down five green steroid pills and reported to Symphony Hall to fight her way back to the stage. And that she did, all 98 pounds of her, stroking a D chord at 8:04 p.m. to make her comeback official. The Atlanta Symphony bassist now held the world record for longest tenure with an orchestra. Seventy-one years ago, Little sighed during intermission, overcome by emotion after a five-minute-long standing ovation. Its hard to remember when I wasnt here. She was 16 and wearing a pastel evening gown when she made her debut on Feb. 4, 1945. That same Sunday, a long way from Atlanta, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill gathered to start the Yalta Conference. Guinness does not list an official record for longest orchestra tenure, though that will change when the ASO sends documentation next week to have Littles feat registered. The unofficial record had been held by Frances Darger, a violinist in the Utah Symphony who retired in 2012 after 70 years. Just over a handful of musicians have played more than a half century in the same orchestra, including New York Philharmonic clarinetist Stanley Drucker (60), Boston Symphony Orchestra violinist Rolland Tapley (58), and San Francisco Symphony flutist Paul Renzi (52). Littles quest is even more remarkable when you consider that she plays an instrument more than a foot taller than she is. Jane Little holds roses backstage. (Dustin Thomas Chambers/for The Washington Post) Its just mind-boggling, says Timothy Cobb, the principal bassist with the New York Philharmonic. It takes a tremendous amount of physical power, frankly, and just brute force to play in a big orchestra. I have had friends who have made it into their 70s but to be pumping it out in the orchestra is really something. Little grew up in Atlanta during the Depression, her family too poor to afford a piano. But she loved music and was encouraged to try bass because, simply put, the orchestra at the Atlanta Girls High School didnt need her to play clarinet, her first choice. She made her debut in 1945 with the Atlanta Youth Symphony, which became the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 1947. Over the decades, Little has had her ups performances with Igor Stravinsky and Arthur Rubinstein and downs, none of them harder than the 2002 death of her husband, Warren Little, a longtime ASO flutist. Little has also had a number of physical setbacks. She currently has multiple myeloma, a cancer thats being managed with chemotherapy and pills. Shes broken her shoulder, elbow and pelvis over the years. Then, last August, Little was scrambling out the door to meet a friend for dinner. She slipped and fell and, despite muscling her way through an evening out, woke up the next morning unable to get out of bed. Little had to call an ambulance. She had cracked a vertebra. The pain is still there. It takes so much, to push those metal strings down against the fingerboard, says Little. When I first started practicing two months ago, I could only practice for two minutes because it hurt so bad. So this week, Little asked her doctor if she could take her steroid pills on Thursday, before the concert, instead of over the weekend, as is typical. He told her to go ahead. Truth is, Little plans to retire after this season. Shes got a house in the North Carolina mountains and wants to spend more time there. It also feels like time. In the past two years, the gang that made up the bass section has changed dramatically. Tom Thoreson and Randy Ujcich retired. Doug Sommer and Ralph Jones died. Gloria, Joness widow, hurt her shoulder falling down the stairs. Shes still on the mend and watched Thursday while wearing a sling. But Little always kept Dargers record in mind. Id thumb through the Guinness book and say, Wouldnt it be neat? A lot of people do crazy things like sitting on a flagpole for three days. I just kept on. It was just me and the lady in Utah. So finally, I said, Im going to do this. Thursday, Little played in a morning rehearsal and then had a Caesar salad at Table 1280, a restaurant in the same building. A worker wished her a happy birthday. (She had turned 87 on Tuesday.) Elizabeth Sims, after watching the open rehearsal, approached, apologized for bothering her, and then asked if Little could sign a program for her teenage grandson, Thomas, who also plays bass. Little smiled and scribbled her name. After a few hours back home and a stop at the mall, where she purchased a sheer, black blouse for the evening Little arrived backstage. She was the first musician there and started warming up. She had forgotten her resin and borrowed it from the cheerful freelancer standing next to her, Max Vaclavik, whose beard, she noted, had been recently trimmed. Before that, Little cracked, he looked like he was on Duck Dynasty. After a Brahms concerto and intermission, ASO Executive Director Jennifer Barlament walked on stage with Little and told the crowd of the historic moment. Thats when everybody stood and cheered and Little began to cry. She had regained her composure by the time ASO Music Director Robert Spano approached, backstage a few minutes later, to congratulate her. It was only intermission and the orchestra was about to launch into A Thousand Words, an ambitious, driving world premiere by bassist Michael Kurth. Little smiled and didnt make a move. Im sitting this tune out, she said. (Ping Zhu for The Washington Post ) The big guns are out in 2016: Ivan Fischer brings his Budapest Festival Orchestra to the Kennedy Center (Feb. 15); Daniil Trifonov performs Prokofiev with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (March 14); Yuri Temirkanov returns to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (March 17); and the Ring Cycle finally makes it to Washington (April 30). D.C. is in for a tremendous spring season, studded with big names, big events, and exciting work. Theres so much star power, in fact, that some of the smaller events may get overlooked. My list for spring, therefore, includes five cant-miss events that Im concerned you might miss, with my reasons why I think youll be glad you went. Mad about opera. In a spring with Wagners Ring (April 30-May 22), is there room for any other news especially when the Washington National Opera is also presenting Eric Owens in Kurt Weills Lost in the Stars (Feb. 12-20), and the Washington Concert Opera is bringing Donizettis La Favorite (March 4)? Carve out time, though, for Amleto by Franco Faccio on May 14, 20 and 22. Why should you care? Because Amleto is essentially a missing link in Italian opera between Verdi and Puccini, with a libretto by Arrigo Boito, who wrote Verdis Otello and Falstaff. Because Amleto wasnt heard from 1871 until 2014, when it was exhumed by the conductor Anthony Barrese and given a concert production in Baltimore (Barrese will conduct it here). Because its full of melody, pushes the envelope of opera convention at the time, and is well worth hearing for any lover of Italian opera. Because its going on to the festival in Bregenz, Austria, this summer and is likely to get quite a bit of attention there, and you can say you heard it before that. And because the Delaware Opera is reinventing itself as an annual festival, with Shakespeare as this years focus (theyre also doing Falstaff), following a national trend and, perhaps, re-placing itself on the operatic map. This is a great chance to be part of a discovery. www.operade.org [Forgotten Hamlet shows missing link in 19th-century opera.] Wings of song. Dont overlook the recitals, either. Vocal Arts DC is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season with what has so far been a star-studded roster, including stunning recitals by Susan Graham and Jamie Barton. This spring, its bringing the Mexican tenor Javier Camarena (March 24), who took the Met by storm a couple of years ago with singing that was at once beautiful, exciting and deeply emotional. He will be followed April 18 by Julia Bullock, whose remarkable D.C. recital two years ago blended the contemporary and the personal in a performance so distinctive as to make me want to hear anything she does. www.vocalartsdc.org [Soprano Bullock gives performance both beautiful and meaningful.] Anniversary notes. Its a good year for anniversaries: The Library of Congress and the Phillips Collections music series are celebrating theirs as well (90 and 75 years, respectively). To commemorate, the two institutions issued two commissions to one great composer: Frederic Rzewski, whose name is edging its way into the established canon, thanks not least to the increasing recognition of his masterful variations The People United Will Never Be Defeated! (which the pianist Igor Levit recently juxtaposed with Bachs Goldberg Variations and Beethovens Diabellis on a recording for Sony). The two new pieces, both for violin and piano, will have back-to-back performances by significant artists: Jennifer Koh and Benjamin Hochman will play the first at the Library of Congress on April 30, and Koh and Ursula Oppens will offer the second at the Phillips on May 1. www.loc.gov/concerts/, www.phillipscollection.org Jennifer Koh. (Juergen Frank) Ursula Oppens. (Courtesy of the artist) [Pianist Hochman explores variations in Kennedy Center debut.] Little big man. Another notable premiere, for another notable anniversary, is a new work by the composer David T. Little, a darling of the new-music scene largely because of the success of his opera Dog Days. Little, who teaches and heads the new-music program at Shenandoah University, has written a new piece for the ensemble Eighth Blackbird a group that perhaps no longer counts as a young new-music group, as it celebrates its own 20th anniversary in 2016. Ghostlight, which the composer describes as a departure, draws from interviews he conducted with members of the ensemble; it will be paired with Murder Ballades by Bryce Dessner, guitarist with the band The National and a successful alt-classical composer, and performed at the Kennedy Center on March 7. [David T. Little, rising opera composer.] The classics. Of course I have to mention at least one of the giants in the field. Mariss Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra are coming to the Kennedy Center on April 12. The program is simple: Korngolds oh-so-sweet violin concerto, played by Leonidas Kavakos, and Mahlers Fifth Symphony. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra is the BMW of classical ensembles; Jansons, one of the greatest conductors out there. Yes, they could do something more adventurous, but you wont find anyone who does this repertoire much better. www.washingtonperformingarts.org [Sleepless in Amsterdam, and Munich: a profile of Mariss Jansons.] It is probably safe to say that no single performer has done more for the cause of American piano music than Ursula Oppens. Almost 40 years ago to the day, Oppens walked onstage at the Kennedy Center to play the world premiere of The People United Will Never Be Defeated!, a piece she commissioned from American composer and pianist Frederic Rzewski. I wasnt there on that occasion, but I was in the audience when Oppens played the work for the first time in New York. I came away convinced that Id heard a fresh, vital contribution to American piano music that would probably acquire a prominent place in the repertory. That it has done. On Thursday night, Oppens again played Rzewskis compelling variations, this time at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center as part of a series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the International Piano Archives at University of Maryland. Despite her natural simplicity and modest stage demeanor, theres something heroic in Oppenss musical persona. That was evident in her program opener, Beethovens Sonata Op. 111. In a performance that spoke more from the heart than the head, the violence that sometimes characterizes this craggy, idiosyncratic late-period masterpiece disappeared and was replaced by an aura of majesty. The second and last movement, a little aria with variations, was spun out with Olympian calm, tempered by gentle but urgent yearning. Rzewski composed The People United Will Never Be Defeated! as a gigantic set of 36 variations on a song once sung by the Chilean supporters of Salvador Allende. Unfolding over about 50 minutes, it explores virtually every resource of the contemporary piano. Far beyond meeting the daunting musical and technical challenges of the score, Oppens revealed the multiple levels from which it derives its unique power and effect. Some variations seethed with revolutionary fervor; others spoke with quiet earnestness; and still others seemed focused on the promise of a better life. There were moments when the hall itself felt almost alive with shifting colors, textures and rhetorical emphases. The ease with which Oppens accomplishes all this stems, on one hand, from the depth of her musicality and, on the other, from the sheer courage of her convictions . Oppens has commissioned dozens of scores from native composers and not only premiered them but, in many cases, added them to her active repertory and recorded them. She is also an indefatigable and expert educator. But her greatest achievement is surely the eloquence of her piano playing, which exudes warmth, intelligence, contagious enthusiasm, fierce integrity and, to a great degree, the calm that emanates only from wisdom. Rucker is a freelance writer. Spring theater: Annie Bakers micro-dramatic theater style can be experienced in the upcoming The Flick at Signature Theatre. (Ping Zhu/for The Washington Post ) Dramas vitallest expression is the common day / That arise and set about us, wrote the 19th-century American poet Emily Dickinson words that would suit as a preamble to many of Annie Bakers plays. Not that Bakers work itself is common. Rather, the playwright succeeds in isolating a kind of wild, often hilarious tension in situations that seem confoundingly unremarkable: a series of theater classes in a community center (Circle Mirror Transformation); a few social misfits gathering at a picnic table behind a coffee shop (The Aliens); a young couples visit to a Gettysburg bed-and-breakfast (John). The apotheosis of Bakers micro-dramatic style can be experienced in The Flick, which Signature Theatre is mounting March 1 through April 17 under the direction of Joe Calarco. Featuring Laura C. Harris, Evan Casey, Thaddeus McCants and William Vaughan, the play takes place entirely in the empty auditorium of a Massachusetts movie house, as its skeletal staff cleans up after a showing. It is a play that takes its own sweet time, and that is all to the good, as it allows Baker to reveal all of the absorbing contours, wrinkles and secrets in the lives of its extraordinary, ordinary characters. Wisely, the Pulitzer board awarded Baker and The Flick the 2014 prize for drama, an accolade that went the previous year to another stirring work receiving its Washington-area premiere this spring Ayad Akhtars Disgraced, at Arena Stage April 22 through May 29. Laura C. Harris stars in "The Flick" at Signature Theatre. (Christopher Mueller) If the illuminating power of The Flick is refracted through an offbeat prism, Disgraced unfolds with a more laserlike focus. The play, to be directed by Timothy Douglas and with a cast that includes Nehal Joshi, Ivy Vahanian, Joe Isenberg, Felicia Curry and Samip Raval, revolves around the legal and marital troubles of Amir, an assimilated New York corporate lawyer of Pakistani Muslim descent. A cascade of work and domestic problems occurs for the lawyer, played by Joshi, after he is asked to consult on the case of a local imam accused of crimes against the state, after which he is misidentified in the media as the imams lawyer. The plays intricate plotting is framed by the timeliest of themes: the suspicions and fears being sown in some quarters over the motivations of American Muslims from every walk of life. As in the case of Bakers work, Akhtars Pulitzer recognition betokens a voice wholly deserving of a wider audience. Among the other intriguing offerings, these five are worth your special consideration: Students of Washington society will get a special charge out of seeing a longtime staple of District life the Georgetown dinner party reenacted in the footlights in The City of Conversation. Anthony Giardinas dramedy, directed by Doug Hughes, stars Margaret Colin as an influential hostess welcoming the powerful, martini-soaked Capitol Hill set into her soigne townhouse. Jan. 29-March 6 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202-488-3300. arenastage.org. Caesar Samayoa as Camilo, Christina Sajous as Carmen, and Brandon Andrus as Jose in Olney Theatre Center's production of "Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical." (Stan Barouh) Moises Kaufman, the playwright-director behind such works as The Laramie Project and Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde, brings to Montgomery County Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical, a world premiere, jazz-infused adaptation of the Georges Bizet opera. Sergio Trujillo choreographs, Eduardo Machado is co-writer and Christina Sajous stars as Carmen. Feb. 10-March 6 at Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney. 301-924-3400. olneytheatre.org. Israeli playwright Motti Lerner, author of The Murder of Isaac, Pangs of the Messiah and the explosive The Admission, reunites with Mosaic Theater Artistic Director Ari Roth for his latest play After the War. Challenging our perceptions of his country, the play concerns a celebrated pianist who returns to Israel and his estranged family. Sinai Peter directs a cast that includes Michael Tolaydo and Paul Morella. March 24-April 17 at Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. 202-399-7993, Ext. 2. mosaictheater.org. The Body of an American is a moving story, based on a real one, by Dan OBrien, that explores the relationship between a war photographer and the playwright obsessed by his prize-winning photo of a dead American soldier in the streets of Mogadishu, Somalia. Jose Carrasquillo directs; Eric Hissom and Thomas Keegan play the men who forge this intriguing bond. April 27-May 29 at Theater J, 1529 16th St. NW. 202-777-3210. theaterj.org. The prolific, trenchant Branden Jacobs-Jenkins returns to Woolly Mammoth, where he impressed audiences in 2013 with his ultra-smart Southern comedy Appropriate. Hes appropriating here again with An Octoroon, his take on an 1859 plantation melodrama, The Octoroon, and sparking another conversation, on race and identity. May 30-June 26 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D St. NW. 202-393-3939. woollymammoth.net. READ MORE: A Shakespeare tale with honesty and heart Maren Morris stands out on a stacked country bill at Fillmore National Museum of African Art brings us the sounds of a Nigerian market William Cameron Menziess film work brough aesthetic to screen Artist Robert Irwins roots run deep in Southern California Rites of spring: classical concerts not to miss The Ukroboronprom State Concern is working on a project to create an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) complex, the press service of the Ukroboronprom reported on Thursday, citing Deputy Director for Aircraft Building and Production Yuriy Paschenko. "We've proposed to the Defense Ministry to create UCAVs that are able to destroy an enemy's tank, for example," he said. He said that the main task of the UCAV will be delivery of the missile to the target, while the UCAV could be also used by intelligence. Depending on the combat task, the UCAV will be equipped with various combinations of missiles and electronic equipment, Paschenko said. The design of the new UCAV will be created in 2016 and designer's documents in 2017, the Ukroboronprom said. (Jennifer Chase /For The Washington Post) Has there ever been a better time to be a ramen lover in Washington? Fans of the Japanese noodle-and-broth bowl can now find cheap ramen, expensive ramen, chef-made ramen and only-in-the-District ramen. They can get ramen in the styles of Kyoto, Tokyo, Sapporo and Taipei, or a fusion. There are bowls topped with butter, bacon, mustard greens and even cheese. The ramen just keeps on coming. Last year, David Changs Momofuku CCDC debuted in the District and Jonah Kim began slinging bowls of broth at Yona in Ballston. It wont be long before Daikaya unleashes two more ramen-centric restaurants in the city: Haikan in Shaw and Bantam King in Chinatown. Its enough to overwhelm even the most fervent ramen followers. Which is exactly why a field guide to some of Washingtons most interesting bowls may come in handy. Just remember: When it comes to eating these noodles, dont chomp. Slurp. Where: Rens Ramen, 11403 Amherst Ave., Wheaton. 301-693-0806. $10. Broth: Tonkotsu (pork broth) seasoned with miso (fermented soybean paste). seasoned with miso. Toppings: Chashu (pork belly), ground pork, bean sprouts, menma (bamboo shoots), scallions. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) Rens Ramen can be intimidating. A sign at the door demands that you sign in. Another plastered inside warns that your car will be towed if you park in the wrong spot. Then there are the rules: No credit cards, no strollers, no changing of tables and no seats until your whole party has arrived. But once you dive into the ramen, those demands devolve from nuisances to quirks. The tonkotsu a rich, creamy broth that takes at least 18 hours to make can take most of the credit for that. The broth, slick with tiny globules of pork fat and pungent with garlic, is a welcome indulgence, especially when clouded with miso and topped with slabs of roast pork. Sourced from a supplier in Hokkaido, Japan, the wavy, medium-thick noodles hide beneath bean sprouts, scallions, ground pork and bamboo shoots called menma. You also could ask for a pat of butter, but this ramen has more than enough goodness all on its own. Emily Codik Where: Kizuna Sushi and Ramen, 8221 Leesburg Pike, Vienna. 703-442-7888. kizunatysons.com. $11. Broth: Chicken stock with a non-traditional shio (or salt) base. Toppings: Chashu, menma, bean sprouts, pickled ginger, scallions, toasted nori (seaweed). (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) The name is custom-made for confusion. The pork shio ramen at Kizuna features a broth developed without a single piece of porcine anatomy the broth is built from chicken bones and whole birds, gizzards and all. For those pork-ramen chauvinists out there guilty! Kizuna chef and partner Scott Han proves that bird-based bowls can have as much depth as their milky, porky tonkotsu counterparts. The chefs misdirection begins with his base, or tare, which is not a classic shio (or salty) mixture at the bottom of the bowl. Instead, Han cooks down ginger, garlic and apples in oil as a base, then pours the long-simmered chicken broth on top, creating one of the most distinctive and complex ramens anywhere, no matter what creature donated its bones to the cause. Not that it needs anything more, but you can juice the noodle soup with a few pinches of karashi takana, an extra condiment made with pickled mustard greens, garlic and chilis. The flavor booster releases depth charges of heat and acidity in this rich ocean of ramen. Tim Carman Where: Daikaya, 705 Sixth St. NW. 202-589-1600. daikaya.com. $12. Broth: Chintan a clear stock made with chicken, pork and beef, skimmed of fat at the end of the 16-hour process with shoyu, a very dark soy sauce with caramel undertones, and garlic-infused olive oil. Toppings: Chashu, ground pork, bean sprouts, onions, garlic, scallions, nori and nitamago, a soft egg soaked in a sweet and salty marinade. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) The shoyu lends this bowl a rich, mahogany color and bold flavor; it can be overwhelming, but at Daikaya its balanced with several ingredients that were too top-secret for co-owners Daisuke Utagawa and Katsuya Fukushima to reveal. It certainly benefits from the complex flavor of the chintan some of which has been carried over from day to day for more than three years as a kind of mother as well as the raft of stir-fried toppings and Sapporo-style noodles that enhance the soup at different times and places. Thats the fun thing about the ramen, Fukushima said. Its constantly changing. Becky Krystal Where: Marumen, 3250 Old Pickett Rd., Fairfax. 703-352-6278. marumenva.com . $12. Broth: The noodles are dipped in a cloudy tonkotsu-based sauce. Toppings: Chashu, nitamago, bean sprouts and nori. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) Repeat after me: Tsukemen is not traditional ramen. The noodles here tend to be thicker, chewier and served cold on the side, rather than submerged in broth, to preserve their essential springiness. An accompanying bowl is filled not with a standard ramen broth but with a scalding, concentrated dipping sauce, which would be a sucker punch to the palate if slurped on its own. You use chopsticks to dip a mouthful of noodles into the sauce, creating this perfect ying-yang of hot and cold extremes, soupy and springy textures. Thats the theory at least. At Marumen in Fairfax, the theory becomes complicated when the special noodles, for instance, are served with a bowl of lukewarm spicy miso dipping sauce, undercutting one of tsukemens principal pleasures. But even if the blood orange-colored Godzilla sauce dips too low in temperature, its heat index soars, inserting a chili-pepper kick within this oil-slicked liquid that coats the chewy noodles in one luxurious burn. Tim Carman Where: Oki Bowl, 1817 M St. NW. 202-750-6703. okibowldc.com. $12. Broth: Chicken stock seasoned with lemongrass, chili, garlic, onion and fish sauce. Toppings: Whole fried jumbo prawn, cilantro. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) This cuisine-defying ramen shop in Dupont Circle draws inspiration from around the world, including Thailand, from where Oki Bowl owner Metinee May Lieppert hails. The tom yum ramen is nearly identical to a soup of the same name found on almost every supper table in Thailand. The only difference is we serve it with noodles here instead of rice, Lieppert says. The only thing Japanese about this dish is the noodles. Unlike Liepperts other ramens which are pre-cooked in bulk the tom yum variety is made to order to avoid the shrimp paste from clumping, which can occur when its sitting on heat all day. The broth is made with chili paste and chicken stock, lemongrass, lime juice and whole milk. The full-bodied ramen is served with a deep-fried, head-on jumbo prawn bobbing in the broth. I want to give people a new experience, Lieppert says of the showstopper. It would be really easy to give people a peeled piece of shrimp, but it wont wow them. Holley Simmons Where: Sakuramen, 2441 18th St. NW. 202-656-5285. sakuramen.info. $12. Broth: Chicken stock seasoned with miso. Toppings: Chashu, menma, scallions, nori, naruto (fish cake) and cheese. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) Look closely at the ingredient list for Sakuramens DC Miso ramen and youll spot the outlier: cheese. Dairy, of course, is not a big part of Japanese cuisine. So you wont be surprised to learn that cheese on ramen is an American innovation, continuing our great nations proud tradition of putting it in places where it doesnt belong (e.g., aerosol cans). The dish was popularized by American soldiers stationed in Asia, and Sakuramen put it on the menu as a tribute to veterans. Each bowl of curly noodles swims in a broth of chicken stock and miso, with rafts of chashu and bamboo shoots, a pink swirl of naruto and a sail of nori. And then, in the middle, is a tidy mound of shredded Monterey Jack. Like all ramen ingredients, it is used with precision. Its not a French onion soup-style blanketing of cheese just a sprinkle on top of the noodles, melting into the broth enough to give it an added richness and slight tang. It goes together so well, you might forget some people consider it a culinary taboo. They dont know what theyre missing. Maura Judkis Where: Gaijin Ramen Shop, 3800 Lee Hwy., Arlington. 703-566-9236. gaijinramenshop.com. $11. Broth: Chicken stock seasoned with curry powder and coconut milk. Toppings: Barbecue chicken or fried chicken, scallions, fried garlic, sesame seeds. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) The broths at Gaijin Ramen Shop dont rush at you with flavor. For that, you can thank the tiny restaurants commitment to slinging from-scratch Kyoto-style ramen without the umami hit of MSG. Owners Nicole Mazkour and Tuvan Pham use only hints of bonito flakes in their stocks, instead relying on the notes coaxed from kombu and roasted pork and chicken bones. In the case of the curry chicken ramen, a poultry stock simmers in a pot for six hours and morphs into a fragrant liquid spiked with coconut milk and Japanese and Vietnamese curry powder. Wavy, egg-free noodles, which the restaurant makes in-house, snake throughout the brownish stock. Those accustomed to Sapporo-style ramens richness or Hakata-style ramens porkiness may be surprised by the bowls subtlety, but as Mazkour wisely points out, one Japanese definition of gaijin, which also means foreigner, is actually different. Emily Codik Where: Daikaya, 705 Sixth St. NW. 202-589-1600. www.daikaya.com. $13. Broth and base : Chintan seasoned with mugi-miso, which combines miso with barley (mugi) and shanso, a Japanese seasoning you may know as Sichuan pepper. Toppings: Chashu, ground pork, bean sprouts, onions, garlic, nori and scallions. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) The Daikaya team first came across mugi-miso while spending several months doing research and development in Japan. Although Sapporo (the birthplace of white miso ramen) is located in the northern reaches of the country, mugi-miso comes from southern Kyushu, Japanese native Daisuke Utagawa said. Even so, he said, You dont really see mugi-miso ramen in Japan, making this Daikaya bowl bright and slightly more acidic than its brethren not only a local, but international anomaly. Becky Krystal Where: Toki Underground, 1234 H St. NE. 202-388-3086. tokiunderground.com. $14.75. Broth: Tonkotsu seasoned with kimchi puree and kimchi hot sauce. Toppings : Pulled pork, pickled ginger, scallions, nori, a soft egg and even more kimchi. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) Before Toki Underground opened, owner Erik Bruner-Yang traveled around Asia sampling ramen. I had a ton of ramen topped with kimchi, the traditional fermented Korean cabbage, he says, especially in Japan and Taiwan. But instead of using kimchi as a finishing accent, Bruner-Yangs kimchi ramen kicks it up a notch: His kimchi infusion finds funky, sour kimchi as a puree in the broth, as a spicy hot sauce and again atop the assembled bowl. The sharp, fragrant kimchi pops out, even when its in the same bite as mellow pulled pork, soft, curly noodles or bitter greens. I dont think Toki does anything balanced, the chef says. Its not our style. Our version has always been aggressive. Fritz Hahn Where: Momofuku CCDC, 1090 I St. NW. 202-602-1832. ccdc.momofuku.com. $17. Broth: A hybrid of pork, bacon, chicken, kombu and mushrooms. Toppings: Chashu, pork shoulder, poached egg, scallions, nori and naruto. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) You probably wouldnt be reading this ramen guide if it werent for Momofuku, because this is the bowl of noodles and broth that elevated ramen to the American mainstream, leading to a ramen joint in every upscale-urban-millennial-creative neighborhood in the country. David Chang opened Momofuku Noodle Bar in New Yorks East Village in 2004. It wasnt cool to eat ramen back then, Chang wrote in Lucky Peach last year. The Momofuku broth is slightly oily and a little bit smoky, enriched by the pop of a poached egg. For those who have grown accustomed to the incredible varieties of ramen out there each shouting for your attention with more miso and layers of spice it will seem a little spartan in comparison. But in the United States, this ramen is just as much a part of the dishs past as its present, and to try it is to consider both, simultaneously. Momofuku ramen is our own story and no one elses. We borrowed but made it our own narrative, Chang wrote. And for that, we say: Thank goodness for Momofuku. Maura Judkis Where: Yona, 4000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-465-1100. yonava.com. $14. Broth: Shio vegetable broth with garlic, carrots, onions and kombu. Toppings: Snap peas, bean sprouts, pea shoots, roasted royal trumpet mushrooms and nori. (Emma McAlary /For The Washington Post) When asked if veggie ramen is native to a particular part of Japan, chef Jonah Kim laughs. They dont accommodate for vegetarians in ramen, come on! But this is the United States, where just about every menu is sprinkled with GF, DF and V. His near-vegan dish (you can thank the egg noodles for blowing it) is built from the bottom up, starting with a pool of black garlic thats been steeped in oil and pureed. Think of it as extra umami, Kim says. The oil mimics pork or chicken fat. On top of that he pours a vegetable broth and goes heavy on the soy milk to re-create the richness of pork broth. The bowl is topped with sauteed snap peas, bean sprouts and pea shoots as well as roasted royal trumpet mushrooms. Theyre pretty meaty, Kim says of the fungi. Theyre meant to be like chashu. When the bowl arrives, mix it up to disperse the pool of black garlic at the bottom. Though theres no way youd ever confuse the trumpet mushrooms for chashu, youd bet your left chopstick that theres meat in the broth. Holley Simmons A fire crackles in a gray family room in a Kalorama townhouse designed by Mary Douglas Drysdale. (Ron Blunt) Imagine the coziest spot to read a book or catch up on Instagram on a wintry afternoon: a cushy long sofa, a nice cup of tea and a crackling fireplace with real wood burning, providing a woodsy scent and a warm glow. When people imagine their dream family room, they think of a fireplace being a major part of it. Its a gathering and centering visual element, says Anthony Ankie Barnes, a partner in Barnes Vanze Architects in the District. [D.C.s coziest restaurants with fire pits and fireplaces] A Gothic-style fireplace was installed in a new Washington home designed by Barnes Vanze Architects. (Anice Hoachlander) The rustic stone fireplace in this log-and-timber home in Emmitsburg, Md., designed by Rill Architects, creates a warm and cozy dining experience. (James Ray Spahn) Fireplaces are an essential part of many American homes. They serve as a backdrop for family holiday photos; their mantels are an altar for treasured talismans. In new construction in 2014, 51 percent of new single-family houses had one or more fireplaces, according to the census. Wood-burning or gas? Thats the hot question. Homeowners are divided into two camps. Those that like to make real fires and those who just like to turn on the gas, Barnes says. Although some consumers think making a real fire is too much work or too messy, Im one of those people who thinks that if youre lucky enough to have a real indoor fireplace, you should use it as it was intended. Learning how to build a fire, stacking logs and foraging for kindling was part of my upbringing in New England. During the Districts recent Snowzilla, we had stockpiled enough wood to have fires every wintry day, which made our 1937 house seem cozy, safe and extra warm. Ive watched as a number of friends have lost interest in buying cords of wood and hauling them all in. Some have let their fireplace sit idle, filling it with candles (the dreaded firelabra), plants or a studied display of birch logs. Others have switched to gas, citing the ease factor and concerns about air pollutants or allergies. For me, gas fires are like fake plants or fake fruit. They are fake. Architect Christian Zapatka collaborated with Josepha Faley of Chatsworth Design to design this wood-burning fireplace in the Kalorama neighborhood of the District. (Gordon Beall) A fireplace in a Kalorama room by Mary Douglas Drysdale that was paneled and then given a wood-grain finish. (John Cole) Architects and designers say most clients are set on having a fireplace, but they arent always willing to put in the work, between cleaning out the ashes and having the chimney regularly inspected. It seems that most people want to believe they want wood-burning fireplaces, but they invariably default to gas when they realize how little the wood-burning fireplace would be used and how much work it is to build a fire, Washington architect Christian Zapatka wrote in an email. A number of wood-burning fireplaces have gas igniters, which helps. Romance can be a factor. A wood-burning fireplace can be looked at as a romantic novelty, right as it sucks the heat up the chimney, says Jim Rill of Bethesdas Rill Architects. But a nice big warm fire has a good ambiance to it and is much more attractive than a gas fireplace. For Washington designer Mary Douglas Drysdale, fireplaces have a lot of style importance; seating is often built around them, and they become the focal point of a room, whether they are sleek and modern or traditional. But wood-burning fireplaces bring back warm memories of childhood. Theres a lot of emotion around fireplaces, Drysdale says. I learned how to make a fire as a child, and we used to sit around it and drink hot cocoa and tell stories. Even today, I enjoy the ritual of making the fire; you dont just flip on a switch like a TV. The art of building a fire is more like writing. Its slower and more thoughtful. Erica Burns, a Bethesda designer, says that she has seen an increasing interest in old-fashioned, wood-burning fireplaces. Gas fireplaces seemed to have been big over the last 10 or 20 years. But the crackle, the smell, of burning real wood reminds people of what they had growing up, Burns says. A fireplace from 100 years ago still looks great; its a classic. Yes, its more work. But its sort of like fresh flowers. The real thing is worth it. Spring movies: The AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring presents a series that features the work of William Cameron Menzies. (Ping Zhu/for The Washington Post) You may not know the name William Cameron Menzies. But this spring, the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring will make sure that youll be able to know his work in a heartbeat. Douglas Fairbankss carpet in The Thief of Bagdad? He made it fly. Salvador Dalis dream sequence in Spellbound? He shot it. The city of Atlanta in Gone With the Wind? He built it, and then, spectacularly, he burned it down. As a film artist whose aesthetic values and embrace of bold experimentation helped define Hollywoods Golden Age, Menzies was such a creative polymath, his contributions so crucial to the movies he collaborated on, that the industry was forced to invent a brand new term for the job that he did: production designer. At its simplest, production design refers to the material culture of a film, in the form of look, style and setting; if movies are the stuff that dreams are made of, production design is the stuff of movies. A graduate of New Yorks Art Students League, Menzies swiftly made a name for himself designing sets and visual effects during Hollywoods silent era, putting his imaginative stamp on such classics as The Bat, The Dove and Sadie Thompson. In 1929, more than 10 years before Fantasia, Menzies collaborated on a series of experimental short films set to famous pieces of classical music, including The Sorcerers Apprentice. Things to Come by William Cameron Menzies. (Park Circus) Menziess most famous achievement was Gone With the Wind, whose producer, David O. Selznick, insisted that his favorite designer would be the last word on everything having to do with the visual look of the film. (Menzies reportedly drew more than 2,000 sketches meticulously outlining every shot, right down to the last camera angle.) In 1940, Menzies received a special Oscar for his mastery of Technicolor, a nascent process that achieved new expressive heights in the film. Although Menzies possessed a preternatural ability to adapt his visual style to whatever story or time period he was working with, he was at his best with lush, layered environments in which light and textures overlapped with sometimes fascinating subconscious meaning. The 1947 suspense drama Ivy, for example, is a riot of Edwardian-era frills and bevelled surfaces, their glimmering propriety given a noir-ish edge by deep Expressionistic shadows. On Feb. 19, the AFI Silver will launch a 10-week tribute to Menzies, offering a series of films that he worked on throughout his career, which was cut short in 1957 when he died. Ivy, which was directed by Menziess frequent collaborator Sam Wood, will be one of the films on offer, as well as Gone With the Wind, Invaders From Mars, Foreign Correspondent and Things to Come, which Menzies directed. Its a wonderful chance to see one of Hollywoods most undersung crafts one that Menzies literally invented at its finest. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to consider the FAA reauthorization bill, which funds the Federal Aviation Administration. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) Air travelers are about to get their best shot in four years at fixing everything thats wrong with flying or they would if theyd been invited to the party. Sometime next week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is expected to consider the FAA reauthorization bill, which funds the Federal Aviation Administration, among other things. At a markup session, where changes to the law are considered, various special interests will push to include their amendments. The bill, introduced Wednesday, spends the bulk of its 273 pages dealing with air traffic control reform issues. It also proposes rules regarding kids and seat assignments, prohibitions on voice communications, and refunds on checked baggage thats delayed. [Airplanes space wars are shifting to the human rights front] For example, the Travel Technology Association (Travel Tech) a trade group for online travel agencies, reservations systems and short-term rental companies is lobbying for a congressional commission to study the state of air competition. It contends that the recent airline mergers, which have left us with only four large domestic carriers, are bad for the marketplace. Theyre also fighting airline industry efforts to include provisions such as the Transparent Airfares Act, a law that would allow airlines to quote a base fare minus taxes and fees, which would leave passengers with the impression that their tickets are cheaper than they are. This initial deception quoting an unbookable low fare could prove costly to consumers and online agencies, they say. It would be a bad sign if language that decreases the ability for consumers to comparison shop, such as the Transparent Airfares Act, made it into the package instead of initiatives that promote airline competition and consumer choice, says Philip Minardi, a spokesman for Travel Tech. Meanwhile, airlines are preoccupied with the prospect of modernizing air traffic control, which is also on the agenda. Airlines for America (A4A), which represents the major domestic airlines, says it favors air traffic control reform, but not privatization. A4As biggest priority is persuading Congress to take action to preserve the FAAs safety oversight of air traffic control while moving the operation and funding of air traffic control to a federally chartered, nonprofit organization that would be governed and funded by the stakeholders and users of our nations aviation system, says Jean Medina, a spokeswoman for A4A. Theres some coordination between passenger advocates and their legislators. A group of congressional representatives, led by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), plans to slip the Families Flying Together Act of 2015 into the bill. The language would direct the Department of Transportation to establish a policy that a family that purchases tickets for a flight be seated together during that flight. The Family Travel Association, a trade group, is throwing its weight behind the amendment, saying it would make traveling with children easier. As an industry, we dont want to discourage parents from flying with their kids, says Rainer Jenss, the associations president. And if a family cant even sit together on a flight, they may decide not to travel at all. The bill is important because it represents the best opportunity to upgrade the flying experience since the passage of the last FAA funding bill in 2012. Travelers arent shy about sharing their wishes. [Travelers are less certain about the airport screening experience than theyve been in years] More legroom, says Joan De Palma, a retired social worker who lives in New York. Also, more lenient cancellation or change-of-date policies. It shouldnt cost $200 per ticket. That sounds simple, but it isnt. A hard rule mandating minimum seat standards is unlikely to fly through the Republican-controlled committee. But a group of consumer advocates, including FlyersRights.org and Travelers United, is openly supporting minimum seat-room standards on aircraft. It will be asking Congress to study the issue, including the safety implications of shrinking the seat sizes. FlyersRights.org and the National Consumers League have also been lobbying for caps on airline change fees. But so far, theyve found no legislative traction. Drop the silly baggage fees, says Sandy Hoboy, a teacher from Phoenix. Again, thats a complicated thing. Passengers such as Hoboy are not just upset that airlines are charging for luggage but that they also have unbundled the baggage fees from their fares. That allows them to quote a lower total price than travelers would actually pay once baggage fees are added to the total. These extra fees are often poorly disclosed when you book online some customers even allege that they are intentionally hidden so a passenger may not know how much more it will cost to bring a bag. Consumer advocates and online agents are pushing for regulations that would require airlines to more prominently disclose fees that typically are booked along with a ticket, such as a baggage fee and a seat assignment. There has even been some debate about the Department of Transportation formalizing a definition of a ticket to include these common items, but the current committee is unlikely to get involved. [Write a negative online review and get sued? It can happen, but maybe not for long.] How about regulating loyalty programs? Thats what frequent air travelers such as Ricky McIntosh, who runs an educational website in Longwood, Fla., want. In the past, 20,000 miles would get you a one-way ticket anywhere in the United States, except for Alaska and Hawaii, he says. Now, its 40,000 miles. So far, efforts to regulate loyalty programs at the federal level have failed, and for now, this issue appears not to be on any advocacy groups agenda. Which is too bad. Air travelers are being deceived by these programs every day, with apparent permission from the government. Airlines can, and almost certainly will, continue to devalue their programs as long as they are allowed to, observers say. When all else fails, you can always ask for a blanket fix or as Betty Wilkinson, a consultant from Atlanta, puts it, minimum service standards. Part of her wish has already come true. All of the major airlines have restored snacks to their flights, even in economy class. But theres no magic wand that can be waved to fix one of the most complained-about industries in America. Rather, a series of smaller amendments and rule changes that include mandating clearer fee disclosure, scrutinizing code-share agreements and future mergers, and ensuring minimum safety and comfort standards for passengers will probably add up to a better passenger experience. Elliott is a consumer advocate, journalist and co-founder of the advocacy group Travelers United. Email him at chris@elliott.org. Im not necessarily saying that the chief reason to take a long hike is a good meal at the end. But for travelers like me, the point is often the food. No, thats a lie. The point is always the food. My husband and I have friends who share our philosophy: If you havent gone to a country known for its food primarily to experience its food, youre missing the point of travel. Beyond the occasional glitch (no, I will not go into that long day on the Great Wall of China), we all travel well together and have so for years, since first meeting over moules frites in Brussels when we lived in that food-obsessed city. Take the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) along the mountain peaks above Positano on the Amalfi Coast in Italy a few years back. True, we were hiking along ancient stone pathways bleached white by the sun and put in place by ancient peoples. And true, the vistas of sea and olive trees and craggy hills were breathtaking. But for us, the ultimate joy of the Walk of the Gods was the heavenly fresh mozzarella and the clam pasta at La Cambusa on the stony beach in Positano later that day. [The London guide for chocolate lovers] Then there was hiking in the verdant hills of the Auvergne region of France, magical if muddy. Sodden weather had made the paths into shoe-sucking, manure-enhanced muck that meandered down mountainsides into villages built entirely of gray stone, medieval places where time has stopped. Despite the fairy-tale scenes, what was truly a peak at the end of the soggy day were the lentils and pork at the charming inn Les Tilleuls in Saint- Cirgues-de-Jordanne. Another holiday involved climbing the high peaks of the Andes in Patagonia. Argentina was green and fun, as was sipping mate tea on the mountainside with our cute Germanic-blond Argentine guide. But the real reward was asado grilled steak and chicken, tender and charred as we sipped malbec that evening. This years adventure took us to Santorini, Greece, the land of cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese served in a dizzying variety of ways, and yogurt thats thicker and more flavorful than any Ive ever eaten. Of course the famed 10-kilometer hike from Fira to Oia at the northern tip of the island was going to have something to do with food. At least it was in my head. But as we set off around noon on that hot and sunny September day, we were armed only with water and a bag of salty almonds I had insisted on buying in Fira. More than three hours later, after having been fried by the sun along the rim of Santorinis caldera a deep crater of lushly turquoise water encircled like a backward letter C by the rocky volcanic peaks that make up this island we finally sat down to eat in Oia. Although it was easily the 10th Greek salad I had eaten in a week, our late-afternoon lunch was still rich and satisfying, with a fat slab of feta atop a pile of deep-red tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives and slices of onion, all seasoned with olive oil and oregano. A simple meal, washed down with Mythos beer, but a fitting reward for the sweat under Platos sun. [Mushrooms, vermouth and jamon: Food-touring in Madrid] Later in the day, we made an enormous tactical error. Actually, Ill take the blame for this. I wanted to see the sunset. To do so, we made reservations at a restaurant in town with a westward- facing terrace. We also chose the place because of its appealing name, though I first thought it was Okra, like the vegetable. The name was actually Ochre, like the burnt-orange color of the setting sun. Oia, the town at the northern tip of Santorini, is famous for its spectacular sunsets. The only problem is that the towns narrow cobblestone alleys, chockablock with gift shops selling sea sponges and silver earrings and cafes serving souvlaki and baklava, become a nightmarish mass of humanity as sunset nears. The closer the orange orb gets to the horizon, the more the hordes of Chinese, German, Australian, American and French tourists crowd the lanes, selfie sticks held high, to capture the sun-over-water scene. I was swallowed into the wave of people and became separated from my husband and friends, who, it turned out, had balked at the tide of humans and turned around without telling me. They found Ochre. As they drank sparkling water with lemon and tried to call my cellphone, I was trapped, peeking around shoulders to stare at the sun as it burned my eyes and thinking of the far more beautiful sunsets in El Nido, in the Philippines, and even Nokomis, Fla., on the Gulf Coast. When I was eventually rescued and reunited with my companions at Ochre, set on a terrace above the selfie-obsessed tourists, I was rewarded with a meal better than any sunset: tender deep-fried calamari, moussaka, and some seriously alcoholic gin and tonics. As my pounding heart slowed down, I dipped my bread in olive oil and took in the remains of the day, the sky pink with wispy clouds streaking horizontal and the air cool and pleasant. All was well, though I had almost failed by violating one of my infallible rules of travel: Make it about the food and you will always be rewarded. Look to the feta. Bruno recently returned to Washington after living in Beijing for three years. She and her husband, Bob Davis, are the authors of Beijing From A to Z: An Expat Couples Adventures in China, published as an e-book by the Wall Street Journal. More from Travel: The little Burgh thats catching food critics by surprise Smart Mouth: A guesthouse that offers Italian cooking, Japanese-style Smart Mouth: Native American dining in Toronto George Washington University has stopped accepting donated bodies at its medical school because it lost track of the identities of as many as 50 cadavers, making it impossible to return remains to families as promised. The university had operated a willed body donor program for people who opted to donate their bodies to the medical school. The school uses between 30 and 40 cadavers for classroom instruction each year, and the university maintains a list of hundreds who have arranged to donate their bodies. Cadavers are a focal point of anatomy classes for medical students and are generally in use for up to two years before they are cremated; remains are either returned to families or buried by the university at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Northeast Washington. But senior officials at the medical school received a complaint in the fall from an employee about irregularities in the program, according to Anne Banner, a spokeswoman for the medical school. [Cadavers provide an intimate education as medical students first patients] The school launched an internal investigation that led to the departure of the program manager and a suspension of further donations. The programs operating procedures were inconsistently followed and there was a lack of appropriate oversight of the program, Banner wrote in an email. She would not say whether the previous manager had been fired or had resigned. The university began notifying families this week. I was shocked, said Eileen Kostaris, who had been waiting for George Washington University to return the remains of her 92-year-old grandmother so she could hold a memorial service at her grandmothers church in Rockville. I dont even know what to say. I just couldnt believe it. Its horrible. Kostaris said she was contacted by Christina Puchalski, a physician and instructor at the medical school who also directs a university program designed to integrate spirituality into medical education. She said the remains were either mislabeled or not labeled at all, Kostaris said. Its crazy. How does this happen? Kostariss grandmother, who died last spring, had arranged years ago to donate her body to the medical school, just as Kostariss late grandfather had done. Neither had a medical background but both wanted to do something to benefit society, she said. My grandmother was a lifelong Washingtonian she lived in Georgetown for the most part and then Foggy Bottom, and she and my grandfather had both chosen to do this, she said. Banner could not say how many cadavers the medical school has, or how many people have arranged to donate their bodies. Donors will have to find another program. She also could not say how long George Washington University has operated the program. Banner said that she does not think the donation program will resume but that current students will not be affected because the medical school has enough cadavers from earlier donations and on loan from other institutions to meet its needs. In a statement released Friday, medical school dean Jeffrey Akman apologized. As the dean and as a former medical student whose education benefitted greatly from the altruism of a body donor, I extend my deepest and most sincere apologies to all of the affected families and the entire [School of Medicine and Health Sciences] community, he said in the statement. [George Washington was the nations only med school on probation in 2008] Kostaris, who said she had a special bond with her grandmother, said the mix-up at George Washington has added another layer of emotion to her grief, which is still fresh. I am angry, but whats done is done, Kostaris said. I dont want to be angry over it. Thats just a wasted emotion. Theres nothing I can do. Its totally out of my control. University officials say they will try to make identifications through DNA testing of relatives. Kostaris has agreed to the testing, though she said she was cautioned by Puchalski that there are no guarantees. Even if university officials tell her theyve been able to match the DNA, Kostaris said her faith has been so shaken, shell always be unsure. My 12-year-old son said to me, Mom, youll never know they could just hand you a bag of rocks and say here it is and youll never know for sure, Kostaris said. And hes right. On its website, the medical school recommends that D.C.-area residents who wish to donate their bodies to scientific research consider Georgetown or Howard universities or consider donating their tissues for transplantation to living patients. THE DISTRICT After death, woman faces higher charge An assault charge against a woman who stabbed her boyfriend last month was upgraded to murder after the man died Sunday, D.C. police said. Sean Maichael Baker, 36, was charged Wednesday with second-degree murder while armed, police said. She had been charged with assault with intent to kill while armed. The stabbing occurred during a dispute Jan. 27 in an apartment in the 300 block of 37th Street SE, police said. The victim was identified as Robert Leroi Wiggins, 35. MARYLAND Accused killer of 2 is held without bond A man accused of fatally shooting his 2-year-old daughter and her mother after a confrontation over child support was ordered held without bond Thursday by a Prince Georges County judge. Daron Maurice Boswell-Johnson, 25, has been charged with two counts of first- and second-degree murder in the deaths of NeShante Alesha Davis, 26, and Chloe Nichole Davis-Green, 2. Davis and Chloe were shot Tuesday morning outside their home in Fort Washington. Lynh Bui D.C. man identified as shooting victim Police have identified a 19-year-old man from Southeast Washington as the victim of a shooting Wednesday in Suitland. Officers found Maurice Larnell Sinclair wounded in an apartment in the 2500 block of Darel Drive shortly after 1 p.m., Prince Georges County police said. Sinclair was pronounced dead at the scene. Lynh Bui Pedestrian struck and killed in Clinton A pedestrian died Wednesday after being hit by a car in Clinton, authorities said. Prince Georges County police said a car headed west in the 9100 block of Piscataway Road hit Abulhasan Ansari, 71, of Potomac, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car remained at the scene. Dana Hedgpeth Deputy wounds man armed with a gun A Charles County sheriffs deputy shot a man who had a gun in Waldorf on Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The deputy saw the man standing in the intersection of Post Office Road and St. Charles Parkway at 2:10 p.m., sheriffs office spokeswoman Diane Richardson said. The man was standing by the drivers window of a car stopped at a red light, Richardson said, and appeared to be arguing with the driver and trying to pull open the car door. When the deputy approached the man, the man ran away, the sheriffs office said, and he did not comply when ordered several times to stop and show his hands. The deputy fired after the man reached for his waistband and turned toward the deputy, Richardson said, hitting him twice, in a leg and the buttocks. She said the mans injuries were not considered life-threatening. Deputies later found that the man, described as in his 20s, had a handgun in his waistband. The deputy, whom the sheriffs office did not identify, was placed on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. Julie Zauzmer VIRGINIA Police: Naked man assaulted teen girl A teenager heading to school was knocked down by a naked man in Woodbridge on Wednesday, police said. Police said that Musab Mohamed El-Sheikh, 37, also assaulted a neighbor who tried to intervene and that he was charged with assault and battery, abduction and indecent exposure. Prince William County police spokesman Nathan Probus said the 16-year-old girl was walking at 6:15 a.m. to her school bus stop on Charter Court. The teen ran from the naked man, police said, and he chased her down the street. Probus said a man walking his dog tried to help her. But El-Sheikh knocked the man and the teenager to the ground, police said. Then the assailant grabbed the teen and would not let her go until police came, Probus said. El-Sheikh, of Woodbridge, was taken to a hospital for a mental-health evaluation, police said. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced Friday that he has agreed to provide $15 million in operating funds for fiscal 2017 for the Prince Georges County hospital system as part of a long-term partnership with the Baltimore-based University of Maryland Medical System. After meeting with officials from the University of Maryland Medical System, Hogan told a hastily called news conference that he would include the state aid in a supplemental budget to Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel). Under the plan, the state will contribute an additional $135 million for the construction of a new county regional medical center. That amount includes the $27.5 million already in Hogans 2017 capital budget proposal. [Funding dispute stirs uncertainty of major Prince Georges hospital project] The agreement also provides $55 million total in operating funds over the next few years to help with the transition as the Prince Georges health-care complex becomes a regional system operated by the University of Maryland Medical System. For years, many Prince Georges residents have sought medical treatment outside the county, traveling to the District and Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties to bypass the long-troubled county-owned system managed by Dimensions Healthcare. Its been a long, sad story about the [Prince Georges] hospital system, said Hogan, who was surrounded by officials from the University of Maryland Medical System. And this we believe is a tremendous solution to decades of problems there. The state agreed in 2011 to provide $15 million annually as part of the transition of the Prince Georges health-care system to one that would include a new, more expansive teaching hospital. Prince Georges Hospital Center is now jointly run by Dimensions Healthcare and the University of Maryland Medical System. The 2011 agreement, negotiated during the administration of former governor Martin OMalley (D), expired after Hogan took office last year, creating uncertainty about the health-care systems future. [Prince Georges hospital plan approved by county, awaits key state clearance] Funding for the hospital has been a point of contention between Miller and Hogan since last year, when Hogan refused to include $15 million for the hospital system in the fiscal 2016 budget. Miller and Busch introduced a bill last week that would require Hogan to provide $55 million to the county hospital system over the next several years. The announcement, which followed Miller and Buschs bill to mandate the spending, came as a surprise to state and county lawmakers who have been calling on the governor to help the financially fragile system remain viable. University of Maryland Medical System officials also were not expecting to reach an agreement with the state Friday. A spokeswoman said they were pleasantly surprised by the course of events. The University of Maryland Medical System is pleased that Governor Hogan has reaffirmed the importance of a new regional medical center in Prince Georges County, spokeswoman Karen Lancaster said in a statement. Now, as the regulatory and planning processes continue, we remain committed to working closely with state and local officials, Dimensions Healthcare and others to make this vision a reality in the spirit and framework of the original MOU [memorandum of understanding]. We believe this can be a new day for health care in Prince Georges County. The governors announcement drew a mixed reaction. Miller said that he was very pleased that Hogan decided to add funding next year but that he remained cautiously optimistic about the future of the health-care system. Now we need an MOU, Miller said. Wed like $15 million for this year and another $15 million for next year, so well see what we can do with that, but were very grateful for what the governor has done. Prince Georges County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D), who has slammed the governor in recent days for reducing state funding to the county for health care and education, was less impressed with Hogans decision. Without a signed agreement, he said, the money is not guaranteed. If he wants to have progress for us, what he could do is release the $15 million he withheld in fiscal 2016 for the system, Baker said. Sign onto the bills that are both in the House and Senate, and that will guarantee the money for this hospital. Baker said Hogan needs to do what the previous administration did. Doug Mayer, a spokesman for Hogan, said the governor has received assurances from the University of Maryland Medical System that the states commitment is more than sufficient to complete the project successfully. Del. Jay Walker (D-Prince Georges) said he was pleased with the decision by Hogan and the General Assembly to make health care in Prince Georges County a priority. He disagreed with Baker that the announcement was not a step in the right direction. Anytime you have a guy, a governor, who seemed to be reluctant and now is moving forward with it, I think thats progress, Walker said. Obviously we have to take a look at the details, but it looks like its a good day for . . . providing world-class health care [in Prince Georges County] with the University of Maryland taking over. The Maryland Senate postponed a vote to overturn Gov. Larry Hogans veto of a bill that granted voting rights to felons who are on parole and probation. Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) asked for the delay until Tuesday because two of the 33 Democratic state senators, Paul G. Pinsky (Prince Georges) and Thomas M. Middleton (Charles), were absent. The override needs 29 votes to pass. The bill is critically important, and I think every senator should have the opportunity to vote on the bill, said Sen. Joan Carter Conway (D-Baltimore City), sponsor of the original bill. Republican senators opposed the delay, arguing that the vote was scheduled and should take place as planned. The vote would be the sixth veto override by the Democratic-controlled legislature, and it is expected to send a strong message to Hogan about the power that Democrats, still grappling with the Republican governors election and popularity, continue to wield in the State House. The Senate passed the measure last year on a 29-to-18 vote, a veto-proof majority. [Md. Senate says ex-felons should be able to vote before finishing probation] The governor vetoed the bill, arguing that former inmates who are released from prison on parole and probation have not finished their sentences and should not have their right to vote restored until they do. Hogan said current law, which restores voting rights to felons who have completed parole and probation, strikes the proper balance between the repayment of obligations to society for a felony conviction and the restoration of the various restricted rights. Advocates and lawmakers who support the override have said that felons on parole and probation are expected to be productive members of society and, in turn, should play a role in the democratic process. It doesnt poll well, but its the right thing to do, Miller said earlier this week. Miller put off a vote on the override last month because there was a vacant seat in the Senate, and the body possibly would not have had the 29 votes needed for approval. Sen. Craig J. Zucker (D-Montgomery) was sworn in Thursday. [Montgomery lawmaker goes from state delegate to state senator] Zucker, who moved over from the House, will have the rare distinction of voting on a veto override as a delegate and a month later taking the same action as a senator. A librarian for the Department of Legislative Services could not find a similar instance occurring in Maryland in recent history. Miller said the state attorney general advised that Zuckers votes are constitutional. It is important for us to make sure that voters arent disenfranchised, Zucker said Thursday when asked about the critical role he will play in the override. You have people who are on track, doing the right thing, and this gives them an opportunity to vote. Last month, the General Assembly voted to override vetoes on bills that dealt with public marijuana smoking and pot paraphernalia, police seizures of criminal assets, taxation of online hotel-booking services and funding to renovate an arts center in Annapolis. [Md. legislature overturns five of Gov. Larry Hogans 2015 vetoes] Miller said that unlike the other five veto overrides, the felon voting bill is the only one that involves a philosophical difference between Hogan and the Democratic-controlled legislature. Jane Henderson, executive director of Communities United, which has pushed for the override, said advocates will be scurrying to register the nearly 44,000 felons who will be eligible to vote once the veto is overturned. The law would take effect in 30 days, giving advocates about a month to register voters before the April primary deadline. Henderson said providing felons with the right to vote sends a clear message that they count and are citizens. An oily spill or runoff of unknown size shimmered along the Virginia side of the Potomac River on Thursday as at least six government agencies scrambled to determine its source, size and composition. (Dean Naujoks/Potomac Riverkeeper Network) U.S. Coast Guard officials said Friday that the oil sheen spotted in portions of the Potomac River over the past two days, coating some wildlife, appears to have subsided. Coast Guard Lt. David Ruhlig, who is leading the multi-agency investigation into the spill, said the sheen has largely dissipated and is now limited to the area around Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary in Arlington. The oil sheen was first discovered Wednesday afternoon. The Potomac Riverkeeper Network, a nonprofit organization that monitors the river, was one of the first to sound the alarm. In a statement Friday, it said that it was extremely concerned about the spill and called on authorities to investigate and prosecute the party responsible for this ongoing pollution of our nations river. At least 18 geese and a duck have been discovered covered in oil at Roaches Run, just north of Reagan National Airport, and elsewhere in the Potomac River watershed. Virginia environmental officials said Friday that they are investigating the cause of the oil sheen. An oily spill or runoff of unknown size shimmered along the Virginia side of the Potomac River on Thursday as at least six government agencies scrambled to determine its source, size and composition. (Dean Naujoks/Potomac River Keeper) About 13,500 gallons of mineral oil leaked from a Dominion Virginia Power company transformer station late last month, but state officials said it was too early to tell whether that was the cause of the river contamination. William Hayden, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), said his department is working with the Coast Guard and Maryland environmental officials to determine the cause. We just dont know that the Dominion leak is the cause, Hayden said. Were trying to sort that out, but its taking a little time. A Dominion Power spokesman said the sheen does not appear to be connected to the earlier oil spill, most of which has been cleaned up. We have no evidence to indicate its from a recent mineral oil spill at a Dominion substation, David Botkins, the spokesman, said in a statement. We have conducted an exhaustive cleanup of the spill in coordination with local, state and federal officials. We will continue to work closely with the local, state and federal officials. A DEQ report says the storm-water systems near Roaches Run were inspected Thursday and no oil sheen was evident. However, the report states, the department received numerous calls about oil seen in various portions of both the Potomac and Anacostia rivers. [The Potomac River, in good health and bad] Arlington County Animal Control officers are searching for a fox that attacked a couple after several similar encounters in the area. Authorities are also searching for the couple a man and a woman that the animal confronted around 11 a.m. Tuesday. A witness told authorities that the pair was walking in the 4400 block of North Old Glebe Road when the fox approached. Jennifer Toussaint, the countys senior deputy animal control officer, said the woman, who was pushing a stroller, ran off when she spotted the animal. The man began kicking in the foxs direction as it lunged towards him, she said. The fox charged at him a few times, then at some point took off. Toussaint said officers have not found the fox. She said officials are asking that people contact authorities if they spot a fox acting abnormally in the area. [Possible rabid fox attacks woman in Fairfax County, authorities said] Authorities also said the man may have been bitten by the fox, which could have rabies. Toussaint added that officials want the couple to contact animal control officers to ensure that they seek appropriate medical attention. Any time that you have contact with wildlife, we always err on the side of caution, she said. We are asking that the man and the woman come forward and let us know if they had contact with the fox. Toussaint said there have been similar fox attacks in the area. Two women were attacked by a potentially rabid fox on the Custis Trail at North Nelson Street. Both victims were being treated, she said. And in neighboring Fairfax County, a woman told authorities that a fox bit and scratched her in her McLean yard Tuesday. The woman, who lives in the 1400 block of Laburnum Street, told authorities that a red fox with a bloody nose and paws attacked her around 12:40 p.m., police said. The foxes in both attacks have not been found, officials said. Toussaint said authorities believe that both Tuesday attacks could be related. These incidents happened very close to each other and about two hours (apart), she said. It could have been the same animal, but were not sure. Authorities ask that anyone with information about the fox attacks contact Arlington County Animal Control at 703-931-9241. D.C. police in the past week arrested 13 suspects in 19 robberies of people and businesses across the District, including one man who authorities said was charged in six holdups in which a gun was used or hinted at. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier highlighted the arrests at a news conference Friday to demonstrate the departments aggressive stance against a crime that is up 30 percent in the District in the first month of 2016. The announcement came the day after a female student on her way to a class at Trinity Washington University was beaten and robbed of her cellphone while walking on Michigan Avenue along the edge of the Northeast Washington campus. The school said police were looking for eight female teenagers wearing what appeared to be high school uniforms. Ann Pauley, a spokeswoman for the small private university that enrolls students mostly from the District, said the victim remained hospitalized Friday. No arrests had been made. Its sobering for this to happen right on the edge of our campus, Pauley said. We are stepping up our own security. We are in constant touch with the police. There definitely has been an increase in crime since last spring or summer, and it does not seem to have abated. [Police form task force to combat robberies] D.C. police last month set up a robbery task force involving other agencies, including the Metro Transit Police, and a prosecutor with the aim of quickly identifying patterns and individuals committing multiple offenses. Officials said the FBI helped with some of the recent cases. We have a small number of people who commit an awful lot of crime, Lanier told reporters Friday. In addition to the man charged in six cases, another man was charged in three robberies and another in two. A very small number of suspects and a very large number of crimes, Lanier said, noting that the recent arrests were for robberies in all corners of the District. The crimes, she said, have had a huge impact across the city. Lanier singled out Michael Williams, 54, of Northeast, who was charged with six counts of robbery in connection with attacks on stores from Jan. 12 to Jan. 31. [Man wanted in five robberies had escaped from half-way house] The chief said Williams was arrested on a warrant Friday morning, days after surveillance video from one of the robberies was made public. He did not appear to make a lot of effort to conceal his identity, Lanier said. In some cases, police said, Williams threatened cashiers or workers with a demand note or flashed a gun. In other cases, victims reported seeing bulges in the robbers pocket that resembled a weapon. Police said Williams robbed two stores hours apart on Jan. 12, one on Jan. 26 and three on Jan. 31, all in Northeast Washington. The three robberies on the last day of January occurred at 1:45 p.m., 2:05 p.m. and 10:20 p.m. In the three cases, police said, the robber got money when he threatened the clerks, compelling them to open their cash registers. [Police statement on arrests in 19 robberies] Other cases in which suspects were recently apprehended include robberies targeting pedestrians and cellphone stores, Lanier said. Police said an arrest also was made after a man forced his way into the attendants booth at a parking garage on 13th Street NW on Feb. 1, put a gun to the attendants head and took money. The robbery Thursday on the Trinity campus prompted university President Patricia McGuire to issue a campus-wide crime alert. The school, with about 2,000 students, is just south of Catholic University and near Edgewood and Brookland. Pauley, the spokeswoman, said the student suffered multiple cuts, bruises and scratches, and although she initially was treated at the scene, she later checked into a hospital. Pauley said the victim lives off campus and had been walking to an evening class. An Islamic State fighter waves the groups flag from inside a captured government fighter jet following the battle for the Tabqa air base in Raqqa, Syria. (AP) The way federal prosecutors told it, Jesse Morton was an inspiration for terrorists across the world. Through his Revolution Muslim website, they said, the New York City man provided justification for violence in the name of Islam, encouraged followers to support Osama bin Laden and advocated attacks on the writers of South Park in retaliation for their depiction of the prophet Muhammad in a bear suit. Morton not only endangered the lives of innocent people, prosecutors wrote, but he also contributed to the destruction of the very freedoms on which our society is based. A federal judge in 2012 agreed that Morton deserved a harsh punishment, sentencing him to 11 1/ 2 years in prison. But less than three years later, the 37-year-old is out and being paid by the FBI, according to government records and an attorney who says Morton helped federal officials build a case against a client accused of trying to join the Islamic State. Though police cooperators receiving sentencing breaks is hardly a novel practice, Mortons release is unusual in that, at least when he pleaded guilty, federal authorities billed him as particularly malevolent. [Tension grows between Calif. Muslims, FBI after informant infiltrates mosque] We may never know all of those who were inspired to engage in terrorism because of Revolution Muslim, but the string of recent terrorism cases with ties to Mortons organization demonstrates the threat it posed to our national security, then-U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride said in a statement at the time. The exact details of Mortons release remain murky. A person familiar with the case, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss court matters that largely remain secret, said prosecutors sought to reduce his sentence because they believed he had been reformed and he had cooperated fully with investigators. MacBride, who stepped down as U.S. attorney in late 2013 for a job in the private sector, said in a statement that he wasnt aware that the government had pushed for Mortons early release. I presume that they only did it because he offered substantial assistance to the FBI in other investigations, MacBride said. He said that although reductions in such cases were uncommon, they had happened in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia in 2006 for three defendants who attended terrorist training camps, then helped in other cases. Muslim leaders have long criticized the FBIs use of informants and its sometimes aggressive approach to keeping tabs on Islamic communities. Four American Muslims alleged in a recent lawsuit that their names were put on the no-fly list as part of a heavy-handed effort to coerce them to work on the FBIs behalf. (That suit was dismissed late last year, but the men were taken off the no-fly list). The New York City Police Department agreed this year to settle lawsuits that alleged that Muslims were investigated and targeted for surveillance without good reason agreeing to pay $2 million in attorney fees while admitting no wrongdoing. [The Justice Departments news release about Jesse Mortons guilty plea] Information about Mortons release and work as an informant spilled into public view Jan. 27, when an attorney for a man in Woodbridge, Va., who was charged last month with helping a friend try to join the Islamic State identified Morton using an alias in open court. The attorney, Ashraf Nubani, said a man named Younus Abdullah, who had ties to the Revolution Muslim website, was a government informant in the case against his client, Mahmoud Amin Mohamed Elhassan, 25. Younus Abdullah or Younus Abdullah Muhammad are aliases that Morton has long used. Efforts to locate Morton, a father of two who has a masters degree from Columbia University, were unsuccessful. The Bureau of Prisons website indicates that he was released in February 2015, and he appears to have announced it on the website islampolicy.com. While I am no doubt bewildered by the prospects of facing the currents of American society, labeled American Al-Qaeda, I do want to remain cognizant that this opportunity to be a freeman, a husband, a father, and citizen comes from Allah alone, he wrote. Morton did not return email and Facebook messages seeking comment. His father declined to comment, and his attorney and other family members did not respond to phone messages. The person familiar with the case noted that his release from prison was not tied directly to Elhassans case. Morton pleaded guilty in 2012 to conspiring to solicit murder, making threatening communications and using the Internet to place others in fear. In announcing his plea, federal authorities said his website helped radicalize people across the world, and he had contact with some who had specific, violent plots in mind. For example, he worked with Zachary Chesser an Oakton High School graduate who tried to join an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group in Somalia to promote attacks on the writers of South Park, according to his plea. He also was in touch with Rezwan Ferdaus, who admitted to plotting to attack the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol, and with Jose Pimentel, who was arrested in a plot to kill members of the U.S. military returning from active duty in Afghanistan. Mortons attorney at the time asserted that many of Mortons postings, while potentially offensive, were not threatening or illegal. For his part, Morton apologized and noted that he could be an asset in promoting peace once I am free. I continue to participate enthusiastically and honestly during the debriefing process, and I can honestly tell you that I have reformed and that were you to let me go today, I would work diligently and with similar passion to correct the mistakes I have made, he said, according to a transcript of his June 2012 sentencing hearing. U.S. District Judge Liam OGrady ultimately sentenced him to 11 1/ 2 years in prison. A sealed document appears in the case in June 2013, according to the courts docket, but there was more activity including a secret hearing the following year. Officials with the FBI and the U.S. attorneys office in the Eastern District of Virginia declined to comment. Federal agents arrested Elhassan and another man, Joseph Hassan Farrokh, 28, last month, charging Farrokh with trying to provide material support to terrorists and Elhassan with aiding that plot. They alleged that Farrokh intended to travel to Syria and join the Islamic State; he was arrested at Richmond International Airport, where his journey allegedly was supposed to begin. [Virginia man accused of plot to join Islamic State in Syria] Elhassan, federal authorities alleged, knew of Farrokhs plot, gave him a ride to Richmond and lied to FBI agents who questioned him after Farrokhs arrest. According to an affidavit in the case, federal agents knew about the mens whereabouts because they were unknowingly working with three government informants to help facilitate the plot. Farrokh, a U.S. citizen born in Pennsylvania, was recently married and has a baby on the way, authorities have said. Elhassan, who came to the United States from Sudan and has a green card, was attending Northern Virginia Community College and working intermittently as a cab driver before his arrest, family members and friends have said. Morton, or Younus Abdullah, is described in the affidavit only as CHS #3, someone who had been convicted of criminal offenses and received a sentence reduction for his cooperation. He was paid more than $10,000 by the FBI, according to the affidavit. [Attorney: Alleged terrorism plot involving Va. men created by government] When Nubani first invoked the name Younus Abdullah in federal court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Fitzpatrick quickly objected, saying Nubanis assertion was total speculation. A judge struck the name from the record. Later in the hearing, Nubani referenced the Revolution Muslim site. In a conversation later with a reporter, Nubani said his client was able to identify Morton, whom he knew as Younus Abdullah, as CHS #3 because the law enforcement affidavit details their interactions. The affidavit alleges Elhassan first introduced Farrokh to CHS #3, a man whom Elhassan believed to be someone who maintained connections with individuals engaged in jihad outside the United States. It alleges Farrokh asked for help getting to Syria, and Farrokh was soon set up with two other government informants, one of whom he believed to be an Islamic State facilitator. Joe Flood, an attorney for Farrokh, declined to comment. Nubani said that Elhassan knew Morton as someone who had been oppressed by the government, and that that is why he introduced him to Farrokh. He said he did not know the specifics of how Elhassan and Morton met. Nubani said Elhassan, like many other Muslims in the country, was caught up in a government-manufactured plot meant to convince the American public that the FBI was working to keep them safe. In reality, Nubani said, the governments informants controlled every aspect of the purported plot involving Elhassan and Farrokh. There was no danger to anyone, at any time, he said. Three D.C. residents caught the Zika virus while traveling in Latin America, including one pregnant woman. (WUSA9) Three D.C. residents caught the Zika virus while traveling in Latin America, including one pregnant woman. (WUSA9) Three people in the District of Columbia, including a pregnant woman, have contracted the mosquito-borne Zika virus. All three caught the virus while traveling in Latin American countries, which have been most affected by the outbreak that the World Health Organization is calling a global health emergency. The WHO has said that the virus is strongly suspected to cause the birth defect microencephaly, in which babies are born with small heads and may suffer debilitating disabilities. [What its like to live with microencephaly, the birth defect linked to Zika] D.C. Department of Health spokesman Marcus Williams told the Post on Thursday that one case of Zika was confirmed in the District in 2015 and two more, including the pregnant patient, were confirmed in 2016. (This video was updated on Feb. 2, 2016.) Authorities have confirmed more than 30 cases of Zika virus in the United States. Here's what you need to know. (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post) It is important for residents to remember that there is no immediate threat to their health and well-being if they have not travelled to the known affected areas, Williams wrote in an email. The Centers for Disease Control warned this week that in addition to mosquito transmission in affected areas, patients can contract the virus through sex. One patient was infected in Dallas by having sex with someone who had traveled in Venezuela, the CDC said. [Florida declares Zika a health emergency] Prior to disclosing the three confirmed local cases to several news outlets on Thursday, the D.C. Department of Health issued notices about the virus to health-care providers Jan. 21 and again Monday, and began circulating a fact sheet about the virus at community meetings this week. But none of those fact sheets mentioned that cases of the virus had been confirmed in the city. Asked about why the city had not initially informed the public of the three cases, Williams said the health department did not want to alarm residents. [Countries with little birth control ask families to delay pregnancy until 2018] Its February, its not mosquito season and this isnt a communicable disease, Williams said. We definitely did not want to alarm the public that there has been any immediate threat. But we definitely wanted to inform the public. Asked if from now on the District would post updates on confirmed cases of the virus, Williams said it would, but he did not indicate how or with what frequency. Williams did say that any pregnant woman who has traveled internationally and has symptoms of illness can have blood drawn by their health-care provider and have the sample sent to the CDC for testing for free. Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey, who angered the local Democratic Party by supporting an independent over a fellow Democrat in the 2014 elections and opposing the Columbia Pike streetcar project, will herself be challenged by a fellow Democrat in the June primary. Erik Gutshall, a 20-year resident of the county and a Planning Board member, has announced that he will be running to replace Garvey. Im worried by what Im hearing, that the current leadership is abandoning the notion that we can meet our challenge of today with longtime strategic investments in the future, he said in an interview. Arlington has a long tradition of good government and bold ideas, and I dont hear bold ideas coming from the leadership. Thats what I think is in jeopardy. Were moving in the opposite direction, picking apart and pulling apart ideas that come up. Gutshall, who owns and operates a home-renovation business, said he does not intend to re-litigate the streetcar decision, although I know it will be on some peoples minds. He said he wants to be sure that the county moves forward on improving transit options along Columbia Pike and that creative ideas for affordable housing be considered. Garvey is completing her first full term on the County Board. She first came to the board by winning a special election in 2012 to fill the seat of Barbara Favola, who was elected to the state Senate. Garvey then won a full four-year term in November 2012. She annoyed other board members by waiting until she was elected to begin opposing plans to bring streetcars to Columbia Pike and Crystal City. And she enraged Democrats when she supported John Vihstadt, a Republican running for the County Board as an independent, over Democrat Alan Howze in a 2014 special election and in the general election. Under pressure, she resigned from the local Democratic Partys leadership but returned to the partys good graces last year. She was elected board chair on Jan. 1, a post that traditionally rotates among the members. Gutshall said he expects a tough campaign but thinks that there are enough differences between the two to give Democrats a clear choice. He has positioned himself to the left of Garvey, and he brushed aside the notion that Arlingtons famously liberal electorate was becoming more conservative, pointing to the 2015 election that saw two Democrats elected to two open seats. Clearly there was a sentiment in the Vihstadt-Howze race that the County Board had lost its way and was out of touch, he said. Im not defending past boards, Im running for the future. But I think last years election went a long way toward healing the rift in Arlington. HEALTH Hospitals can be rural and urban The federal appeals court in New York struck down a U.S. regulation that made it harder for hospitals to provide better medical care at lower costs by claiming they were rural for some purposes and urban for others. Thursdays decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit is a victory for hospitals in urban areas, including the acute care Lawrence + Memorial Hospital of New London, Conn., which filed the lawsuit challenging the rule. Writing for the appeals court, Judge Jed Rakoff said the 2000 regulation conflicted with the plain meaning of the federal Medicare statute, and that the Department of Health and Human Services lacked authority to implement it. Medicare lets hospitals be reimbursed for the cost of providing services. It allows some hospitals to be classified simultaneously as rural to get lower drug pricing and urban to ensure they can attract and pay qualified staff. But under the HHS rule, according to Rakoff, urban hospitals classified as rural to reduce drug prices could not be deemed urban by the agencys Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board, unless they first canceled their rural status for the years in which they sought reclassification. A spokesman for U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly in Connecticut said the Justice Department and HHS are reviewing the decision. Reuters Bodies of 6 found in a Chicago home: Bodies of four men, one woman and a child were found Thursday inside a home on Chicagos South Side in what appeared to be a murder-suicide, police said. Interim police Superintendent John Escalante said police entered the house in the Gage Park neighborhood after receiving a call from a co-worker to check on a woman who lived there. She had missed two days of work. Police arriving at the single-family home just after 1 p.m. saw one body, went inside and saw five more bodies. Trial delayed for man accused of helping Calif. attack suspects: The trial for Enrique Marquez, who is accused of supplying assault weapons to the husband and wife who massacred 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif., has been postponed until July, prosecutors said Thursday. Marquez, 24, has pleaded not guilty to charges of lying about purchasing firearms that the pair later used in the December shooting rampage. U.S. District Court Judge Jesus Bernal, citing requests from the prosecution and the defense for more time to prepare, moved the start of the trial from Feb. 23 to July 19. From news services The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday amended the Customs Code (bill No. 3074) legalizing transactions reverse natural gas backhaul. An Interfax-Ukraine correspondent has reported that the document was backed by 241 MPs. Naftogaz Ukrainy has welcomed the adoption of the bill. The company in the past years campaigned for operation in this mode with gas companies of Central and Eastern Europe. The company has agreed this with Hungary's FGSZ. "In theory we will be able to receive gas without physical movement of gas," MP from Petro Poroshenko Bloc Viktor Pynzenyk said. He said that the amendments would allow saving large funds on transit and open a way to the full refusal from supplies of Russian gas for Ukraine. According to the document, Article 232 of the Customs Code of Ukraine was expanded with part 2: "Customs control and customs clearance for volumes of natural gas on natural gas backhaul transactions are carried out in line with the declared customs regime and the natural gas acceptance and transfer certificate signed between operators of gas transport systems of Ukraine and neighbor country and/or the operator of the gas transport system and the operator of the gas underground storage facility containing information on the volumes of natural gas for backhaul transactions." Ukrainian banks owned in whole or in part by the Russian state underwent stress testing in 2015, National Bank of Ukraine Governor Valeriya Gontareva said. "We have three banks with Russian state capital. These banks are being given the NBU's special attention. Our supervisors are located there. They underwent the first stress tests in 2014 and recapitalized their organizations. They underwent the second round of stress testing and signed recapitalization programs for their financial organizations," Gontareva said in the Verkhovna Rada on Friday. There have been no instances in which these banks have failed to meet their commitments to clients, she said. Israel 2 sentenced in killing of Palestinian teen A Jerusalem court handed out lengthy prison sentences Thursday to two Israeli youths found guilty of kidnapping and brutally murdering a Palestinian teenager in a revenge attack during the summer of 2014. The Israeli teens, now ages 16 and 17, were found guilty in November of murdering Mohammad Abu Khieder, 17, who was abducted from outside his family home in East Jerusalem and burned alive in a nearby forest. On Thursday, the 17-year-old was given the 25-year maximum life sentence for a minor with another three years added. The younger teen received 21 years. A few days before the murder, the bodies of three students of a yeshiva, or Jewish religious school, were found in a field in the West Bank. They had been kidnapped and killed by two Palestinians affiliated with the Islamist militant group Hamas. The teens sentenced Thursday and their ringleader, Yosef Haim Ben-David, 31, admitted to police that Abu Khieders murder was a revenge attack. Ben-David, for whom the court is considering a claim of insanity, is likely to be sentenced next week. Ruth Eglash Somalia Signs of explosives reportedly found in jet The head of the airline whose jet was damaged in an explosion shortly after takeoff from Somalia said Thursday that investigators have found what appears to be residue from explosives. The discovery furthers the possibility that a bomb caused the blast that tore through the Airbus 321 carrying 74 people shortly after takeoff from the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Theres a residue, theyre saying, of explosives, Daallo Airlines chief executive Mohammed Ibrahim Yassin said. But that cannot really make 100 percent that its a bomb. He said he expects initial findings to be released within days. Somalias government confirmed Thursday that a passenger who had been missing since the explosion had died. It did not say how he died. Associated Press Egypt Body of missing Italian man found The body of an Italian student who disappeared in Cairo was found half-clothed by the roadside with cigarette burns and other signs of torture, a senior Egyptian prosecutor said Thursday. In Rome, Italys Foreign Ministry summoned the Egyptian ambassador to express concern over the death of Giulio Regeni, 28, who disappeared on Jan. 25. The body of the Cambridge University doctoral student has been taken to a Cairo morgue, a morgue worker and Egyptian security officials said. Officials said an investigation had begun. Italys Prime Minister Matteo Renzi requested that Regenis body be returned as soon as possible; a source from his office said an Italian police team had been sent to Cairo. Regeni disappeared after leaving his home in Cairo to meet a friend, another friend said. His body was found at the start of the main road between Cairo and Alexandria, security officials said. Reuters Man admits killing former Dutch official: A man accused of killing a former Dutch health minister admitted the slaying at a court hearing Thursday, claiming that it was an order from God because the minister was responsible for the Netherlands euthanasia law. The suspect, identified as Bart van U., is accused of stabbing to death Els Borst two years ago. Borst drafted the nations 2002 law legalizing euthanasia. A prosecution spokeswoman said Van U.s statement would be taken into account in a psychiatric assessment. From news services WHEN PRESIDENT Obama visited a synagogue in Washington last May, his second time at a Jewish house of worship in this country as chief executive, there wasnt a peep from the Republican candidates seeking their partys presidential nomination. Yet when Mr. Obama turned up at the Islamic Society of Baltimore on Wednesday, his first visit to an American mosque after seven years in office, Republican presidential hopefuls Donald Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) let loose a toxic barrage of snark and sanctimony. The presidents message at the suburban Baltimore mosque was patriotic, inclusive, tolerant and empathetic it was, in short, presidential. Mindful of FBI statistics and reports of rising vandalism, threats and other hate crimes against American Muslims and mosques including the mosque in Baltimore he visited Mr. Obama delivered a timely reminder that Muslims belong in the United States and are as fully American as Christians, Jews and any other citizens. In that sense his remarks were, almost literally, all-American. Its fair to say the president waited too long to visit an American mosque, though hes been to ones overseas. Hate crimes against American Muslims and places of worship have quintupled since Sept. 11, 2001, and they jumped again in 2014 even as such crimes declined against other groups, according to the FBI. (In raw numbers, there are still more hate crimes directed at Jews than Muslims in the United States.) Since the terrorist attacks in Paris in November and in San Bernardino, Calif., the following month, there has been a new spike in hate crimes against Muslims and mosques, including vandalism, graffiti, verbal threats and assaults. They are a gift to the Islamic State and encouraged, intentionally or not, by Mr. Trump, Mr. Rubio, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), Ben Carson and other GOP luminaries, who have cynically taken the terrorists carnage as opportunities to whip up xenophobic fear and venom. So Mr. Obamas visit, even if overdue, was timely. It was a refutation of the hate-baiting on the Republican stump calls to exclude Muslim immigrants (Trump, et al.), disqualify American Muslim presidential candidates (Carson) and conflate anti-Muslim hate speech with efforts to combat terrorism (Cruz). His speech was a reminder of what makes Americans American not citizens place of worship but rather their allegiance to certain principles, including tolerance. To that positive and patriotic message, Mr. Trump responded with his trademark sneer and umpteenth intimation that Mr. Obama, a Christian, is a closet Muslim. I dont have much thought, Mr. Trump said, accurately. Maybe he feels comfortable there. . . . There are a lot of places he can go, and he chose a mosque. Mr. Rubio somehow contorted the presidents message of inclusiveness into pitting people against each other. This, the Floridian said piously, is hurting our country badly. Whats hurting the country badly are hate-mongers who would rather betray American values by appealing to bigotry than address the reality of 2 million to 3 million American Muslims, the overwhelming majority of them patriotic, who are as entitled to dignity and respect as everyone else. Prior to the privatization of Odesa port-side chemical plant the Cabinet of Ministers should decide the fate of the company's debt of $190 million to businessman Dmytro Firtash, Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) Ihor Bilous has said after a meeting with the members of the working group on privatization. "The government should weigh all the risks, taking into account the state of the market and decide whether to ignore this debt or try to carry out its restructuring," the head of the privatization agency wrote in his blog on Facebook. Bilous also urged the Cabinet as soon as possible to approve the financial plan of the plant, without which it is impossible to audit the enterprise. As reported, the working group on preparing recommendations and suggestions to the draft resolutions of the Cabinet regarding the privatization and conditions of the sale of state owned objects that are to be privatized was established in July 2015. Representatives of the EBRD, USAID, Ernst & Young also attended a meeting of the group held on February 4. PRESIDENT OBAMA has invited 10 heads of state from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to an unprecedented summit in California later this month the first between ASEAN and the United States to be held on American soil. Mr. Obamas aims are to advance his strategy of rebalancing U.S. foreign policy toward Asia and (though this is largely unspoken) to counter China and the clout it increasingly exerts over its smaller Asian neighbors. While the purposes are worthy, the result of Mr. Obamas initiative will be an unseemly parade of dictators at the Sunnylands resort, including a few long treated as too toxic to be granted the recognition that comes with an official visit to the United States. They include Hun Sen, the tyrant who has dominated Cambodia for the past 30 years; Prayuth Chan-ocha, the general who overthrew Thailands elected government in 2014 and since has dismantled its democratic institutions; and Najib Razak, the Malaysian prime minister who has carried out a massive crackdown on domestic opponents in the past year while fending off major corruption allegations. Even Burma, where the opposition recently won a democratic election, will be represented by an autocrat, since the summit was timed ahead of the departure of Thein Sein, a former general installed in power by the armed forces. Only Indonesia and the Philippines will be represented by democratic leaders. The White House has evidently judged that the strategic benefits of the meeting outweigh the spectacle of Mr. Obama hosting a crowd of strongmen. But the administration could take steps to mitigate the damage to what Mr. Obama has said is one of the priorities of the rebalancing, promoting democracy and human rights. So far there is not much sign of it. Secretary of State John F. Kerry spoke up about democracy when he visited Cambodia last month and met with an opposition parliamentarian. But Hun Sen will be welcomed in Sunnylands even though the oppositions leader, Sam Rainsy, remains in exile after being sentenced to prison on trumped-up charges. For his part, Mr. Obama said nothing about human rights when he met Mr. Najib at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur in November. Instead, he lauded a relationship between the United States and Malaysia [that] has strengthened on a whole variety of fronts. Given that Mr. Najib has been firing government ministers and jailing critics who questioned how $670 million appeared in his personal bank accounts, that was a startling omission. There should be no such silence in Sunnylands. The Cambodian, Malaysian and Thai leaders, along with those of Burma, Brunei, Laos, Singapore and Vietnam, will want to portray their appearance alongside Mr. Obama to domestic audiences as proof of their legitimacy. The president can send a different message with the words he chooses. He should mention the importance of holding fair elections in Cambodia with Sam Rainsys participation; he should talk about Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian opposition leader imprisoned a year ago. He should call for a return to democracy in Thailand and the release of political prisoners in Burma. In doing so, he can show that an invigorated U.S. engagement in Asia is based on values and is not just a contest for power with China. An activist holds stickers in Wellingborough, near London, to promote the launch of Grassroots Out, a cross-party group that will campaign for Britain to leave the European Union. (Leon Neal/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) Sebastian Mallaby is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an editor at InFacts.org. The United States is not the only place possessed by populism, and this week the results from Iowa coincided with a new lurch toward the gutter in formerly sane Britain. The country once governed by Bill Clinton-imitating centrists is now beset by its own version of Trump-Cruzery: a xenophobic nativism that would divorce Britain from Europe in defiance of ordinary good sense. For most of postwar history, the fact that U.S. and British politics have often marched in parallel has cemented the Western alliance and underpinned the global order. Now its an embarrassment. David Cameron, Britains decent and generally bland prime minister, has a curious habit of punctuating his steady stewardship with bouts of wild roulette. As a young man at Oxford, he combined a straight-arrow academic record with fits of juvenile carousing ; now, as the leader of his country, he has twice gambled its very existence on referendums. The first, on whether Scotland should separate from the United Kingdom, Cameron survived narrowly. The second, on whether Britain should separate from the European Union, is expected in June. Cameron knows perfectly well that quitting Europe would be madness. Britain might lose access to its natural trading partners; its world-class financial industry might be kept from selling services to the French and Germans. You dont hear New Yorks mayor proposing to cut off links with Texas, whatever the cultural chasm between Park Avenue and Waco. The argument that Britain should quit Europe and then renegotiate access to it is feeble, even though it is earnestly advanced by Britains noisy Europe-bashing commentariat. If Britain asked to be outside the European Union but inside the trading club, it would be forced to accept E.U. regulation as a condition, and also to contribute to the E.U. budget. Why leave the union, gain no real independence, save little or no money, and volunteer for the humiliation of being a rule-taker rather than a rule-maker? Despite all this, Cameron promised a referendum on Europe because he has a tea party problem. About half of his Conservative Partys parliamentarians have strong doubts about Europe, and they have made trouble for their centrist leaders since the early 1990s about the time that Newt Gingrich was brewing up Tea Party Version 1.0. The British tea partyers proclaim a states-rights hatred of distant federal bureaucrats, never mind that their scare stories of regulatory overreach are mostly fiction. The British tea partyers assert that too much public money goes to Europe, but they ignore the money that flows back: This is the British equivalent of telling Washington to get its hands off Medicare. Above all, the British tea partyers peddle a version of Donald Trumps wall-building fantasies. They seem to think that Syrians and Afghans could be kept out of Britain if Britain were to leave the European Union. Still, having tried to mollify his tea partyers by promising a referendum, Cameron must deliver. In preparation, he has set out to reform Europe before making the case for it, hoping to win waverers to the remain camp by offering a newer, shinier version of union. This week, after much shuttling between capitals, the provisional fruits of Camerons reform effort were published. Countries in the euro currency area will be restrained from ganging up on nonparticipants such as Britain; migrants working in Britain will face benefit restrictions. But, alarmingly for the prime minister, these largely token concessions have been met with derision. It is of course not surprising that the tea partyers belittled Cameron, accusing him of trying to celebrate a pint-sized package; he was polishing poo, another said. But the vitriol from Britains widely read tabloid newspapers was more distressing. The Daily Mail, a generally pro-Cameron outfit, declared that the prime ministers capacity for self-delusion is breathtaking. The Sun, owned by Rupert Murdoch, trumpeted a dismal failure worse than we ever imagined. It stinks, the paper said. Cameron now faces a referendum with large sections of the media sneering at him. He will have to fight, moreover, against the backdrop of Europes appalling migration crisis; and although the crisis is caused by chaos in the Muslim world, not the malevolence of European bureaucrats, the two issues are muddled in the public mind. The latest poll of polls gives the remain camp a lead of only 54 percent to 46 percent; and Britains secession could set off a domino effect. The Scots, who are pro-Europe, might quit Britain to rejoin the continent. Other dyspeptic Europeans Poles, Hungarians, Greeks, Spaniards may begin to consider exit if Britain shows how it is done. For many Americans, the rise of populism at home has been horrifying, and mesmerizing. But similar monsters stalk Europe. They may do more damage in the end. Sander M. Levin, a Democrat, represents Michigans 9th Congressional District in the House. Henry Waxman, a Democrat, represented Californias 33rd Congressional District in the House from 1975 to 2015. In all of our years promoting progressive legislative policies in Congress, no vote was more challenging or consequential than the one to pass the Affordable Care Act. As the former chairs of the two House committees that had primary jurisdiction over health-care reform when the ACA was passed in 2010, were proud to have helped realize a long-standing goal of the Democratic Party, moving our nation significantly closer to attaining universal health care. Thanks to the ACA, nearly 18 million previously uninsured Americans have health coverage. Insurance companies can no longer deny people coverage for preexisting conditions or charge them more just for being women. There are no longer annual or lifetime limits on care, and young people can remain on their parents plans through age 26. In short, the ACA stands as a historic triumph for our party and the nation. President Obama had the grit and courage to make health-care reform a top priority of his administration. And 219 House Democrats, 58 Senate Democrats and two independents including Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont stood together to forever transform health care in the United States. But this pivotal bill passed by the smallest possible margin. It wasnt easy, and we werent sure we even had the necessary votes until right before they were cast. Then, in the election that followed, Republicans succeeded in vilifying the new law, and we watched as many colleagues who had taken those courageous votes lost their seats. Since the ACA became law, we have lost majority control of the House and Senate, while opposition to the law has been constant and implacable. Republicans in Congress, backed by entrenched and ideologically driven interests, have voted to repeal or dismantle the law a mind-boggling 62 times. Until recently, these votes were merely symbolic. But weeks ago, opponents succeeded in passing a bill to overturn the ACA. Of course, the president wasnt about to sign a repeal of his signature achievement. But in 2017, a President Trump , or a President Cruz, or any other Republican would do so in a heartbeat. They promise daily to do just that. That is why we are both speaking out now, forcefully and clearly, as the Democratic presidential primary unfolds. Our party needs our nominee to emphasize what a breakthrough the ACA was, and how its working for millions of Americans and improving our health-care system. Well need to convince voters in the general election that defending the ACA is a reason to vote Democratic. The same will be true in key contests in the Senate and House. Thats why we believe that Sanderss proposal to throw away the ACA to pursue a single-payer system is counterproductive at best and dangerous at worst. After years of Democrats holding the line to defend, implement and improve the law, Sanders would surrender the ground weve fought so hard to gain to those in favor of repeal. Ron Pollack, the executive director of Families USA, has said he worries it moves us away from an effective and practical agenda. Policy-oriented progressive writers Jonathan Cohn, Matthew Yglesias and Jonathan Chait have each described Sanderss plan as vague and unrealistic. New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, has declared that for all the talk about being honest and upfront . . . Sanders ended up delivering mostly smoke and mirrors. Many worry that relying on funding from income and payroll taxes, as the Sanders plan does, means that many people who receive subsidized coverage today would end up worse off. For example, under the ACA, people on Medicaid and families on health-care exchanges get coverage with strictly limited premiums and caps on cost sharing. Under the Sanders plan, they would bear a new tax burden that, in many cases, could lead to them paying more for coverage than they do now. We know we still must work toward 100 percent coverage. We need to lower out-of-pocket costs and the price of prescription drugs. We would have liked to see a public insurance option created to increase competition and drive down prices. But the ACA is a major step forward and a foundation for further progress. So lets not go back to the drawing board. Ever since Hillary Clinton first testified before Congress in 1993 on the need for the United States to pursue universal health care, she has been fighting this battle. Today, she has put forward real and achievable ideas to keep the ACA moving forward, and that is a major reason we both support her to be our partys 2016 presidential nominee. We have confidence in her ability to help Democrats complete our great unfinished work. Pamela Newkirk is the author of Spectacle: the Astonishing Life of Ota Benga and a professor of journalism at New York University. Black America was celebrating Barack Obamas historic 2008 election when the economic recession hit. By 2011, black America had lost 53 percent of its wealth, while today 1 in 3 black children live in poverty compared with 1 in 10 white children. African Americans are still reeling from a mortgage crisis that claimed nearly a quarter-million of their homes, and from double-digit unemployment rates, hundreds of shuttered and failing schools, and the disillusionment of unrealized progress in a country presided over by a black president. Instead of becoming a hopeful post-racial nation, America has confronted a series of videotaped encounters between police and unarmed blacks that suggest the extent to which race still matters. Angry protests over racial injustice coupled with a recalcitrant Congress underscore how Obamas election failed to quell and may have actually inflamed racial tensions. Into this paradox enters Princeton professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. with his book Democracy in Black, a take-no-prisoners polemic against Americans steadfast refusal to acknowledge the elephant in the nations living room: the practices and habits of white supremacy that he says have ensured that white people would benefit and black people would struggle. Glaude, who teaches religion and African American studies, argues that neither the election of a black president nor the rise of exceptional blacks such as Oprah Winfrey has fundamentally changed the habitual valuing of white lives over others that is integral to the American character. This value gap, Glaude argues, helps explain glaring disparities between black and white schools, neighborhoods, unemployment, infant mortality and incarceration rates, and the unprosecuted killings of unarmed blacks by those charged to protect them. Equally glaring is the normalization of these disparities a silent acceptance of systemic and stark racial inequality as an indelible trait of American democracy. Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. (Crown ) When we understand American democracy and white supremacy are inextricably linked, Glaude writes, we can see how tortuous our efforts have been to accommodate the value gap. In Glaudes view, perpetual delusion about American exceptionalism and an uncanny ability to fetishize democracy while sustaining racial inequality keep many from confronting systemic forces at the very root of the American idea. Obamas election, he argues, has actually spurred the unraveling of black gains by causing many including some members of the Supreme Court to believe that racial equality has been achieved. Therefore, efforts to protect black voting rights, for example, are viewed as unnecessary. Meanwhile, many of the institutions that have long buttressed black America including historically black colleges, newspapers and churches are collapsing while Americans appear inured to black suffering. Glaude argues that the problem is not the gap between our ideals and our practices, as many liberals maintain, but rather our repeated failure to value all Americans. He does not reserve his criticism for political conservatives but also finds fault with those overwhelmingly supported by blacks who nonetheless fail to address their plight out of fear of alienating white voters. He traces the dissolution of a black liberal politics that had once unapologetically addressed black concerns to 1976, when Rep. Barbara Jordan (Tex.), while addressing the Democratic National Convention, put the twin issues of racism and sexism on the back burner to appeal for party unity. Meanwhile, in a position paper for the Democratic Party, the noted black political scientist Charles Hamilton recommended a deemphasis of race in the presidential campaign to keep whites from fleeing the party. Race, then, would have to be addressed undercover. Glaude says that even as this strategy helped facilitate the historic elections of Mayor David Dinkins in New York, Gov. Doug Wilder in Virginia and Sen. Carol Moseley Braun in Chicago, the value gap and racial habits persisted, distorting the political process. And the tactic ultimately failed: Four years later, white voters bolted to the Republican Party anyway, helping Ronald Reagan defeat Jimmy Carter. Glaude blames this same undercover strategy for Obamas reluctance to aggressively address race and the crisis engulfing black America. He calls My Brothers Keeper, the presidents most publicized initiative to address the problems of young men and boys of color, a Band-Aid for a gunshot wound. Meanwhile, he says, whites have continued to undermine the national interest by opposing measures that would help a wide swath of Americans such as steps that would address the widening income gap between the rich and the poor because they fear they would also help blacks, Muslims or immigrants. He argues that a pervasive white fear of black revenge for past sins, and a view that racial equality would reverse white advancement, have fueled the criminalization and dehumanization of blacks. He singles out President Bill Clinton whom Toni Morrison had cheekily declared Americas first black president for blaming poor blacks for their plight and signing into law a crime bill that caused incarceration rates of poor brown and black people to skyrocket to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, Clintons welfare reform policies widened the gap between the black middle class and the poor. All the while black liberal political elites, at least most of them, helped Clinton sell these policies to black voters, Glaude says. Neither is Glaude impressed with much of the civil rights establishment, who he sees as working to bring blacks into the fold of American life without uprooting white supremacy. This view enables us to hold simultaneously that the principles of freedom and liberty are already a part of American life, while we experience, over and over again, habits and practices that suggest otherwise. He favors more disruptive movements such as Black Lives Matter and the Rev. William Barber IIs Forward Together in North Carolina that openly challenge uncomfortable truths at the heart of American life without the palatable, deracialized rhetoric of party politics. Black Lives Matter eschews traditional patriarchal leadership, while Forward Together embraces queer, straight, young, old, liberal, conservative and multiracial people. Both boldly insist on an overarching moral vision that transcends party politics and disturbs the peace without sacrificing black interests. Apparently discounting Bernie Sanders as a viable candidate, Glaude argues that presidential contenders in both parties are beholden to big business, and he counsels black Americans to vote for local candidates this year while leaving the ballot for president blank. While that strategy could result in a victory for Republicans and, consequently, the appointment of more conservatives to the Supreme Court, Glaude argues that a more just and democratic society is, in the end, more important than political pragmatism. However, given an ardently conservative Republican field, some may find Glaudes presidential election strategy too risky and his critique of Obama unduly harsh, given the economy he inherited and the conservative revolt he endured. And even Glaude who at one point invokes Malcolm Xs riposte to stop sweet talking them. Tell them how you really feel concedes that Obama never betrayed the racially moderate stance responsible for his election. Likewise, Glaude is unlikely to change the hearts and minds of those determined to blame blacks and not a legacy of slavery, government-sanctioned discrimination, stereotypes and racial habits for stark racial disparities. However, it is difficult to argue with his palpable impatience with politics as usual or with his claim that racial inequality has been a permanent feature of our democracy. While Glaudes advice is primarily aimed at black Americans, others may find inspiration in his call for moral movements that challenge not only racial injustice but also the loss of livable wages, the widening gap between the rich and the rest and a bankrupt political system that represents fewer of us. Americans of all races and persuasions may find in Democracy in Black a clear path through the thicket of a dispiriting political status quo that, short of radical social movements, seems unlikely to serve a broad and noble public good. Like Obama before him, Glaude reminds us that change rests with us; that we are the leaders weve been waiting for. Amy Stewart is the author of The Drunken Botanist: The Plants that Create the Worlds Great Drinks and a new novel, Girl Waits with Gun. Do plants have agendas of their own? Do they act with agency, as animals and humans do, or are they passive bystanders? If our planet is a theater, are plants the actors or the props? British writer Richard Mabey, author of Weeds, Flora Brittanica and many other books on the natural world, proposes to answer this question in his new book, Cabaret of Plants. Given the title, you can probably guess where his allegiances lie. Plants, he argues, are entirely capable of setting their own agendas, and they do it with little concern for us. From the very beginning, Mabey gets at one of the most vexing problems any writer has when writing about plants: Theyre not interested in us. They dont do what they do to entertain us. They act, in many cases, as if we dont exist at all. To them, we probably dont. Imagine: There are creatures living on our planet, right now, who have never heard of us. And theyre not hiding in some remote jungle. Theyre in our back yards and even inside our homes. It might be a little humbling to realize that your ficus tree knows nothing about you or your kind, but its true. Plants are busy, and they dont care about our needs, even as they satisfy them. [Arresting black-and-white photos expose the beauty of ordinary vegetables] The Cabaret of Plants: Forty Thousand Years of Plant Life and the Human Imagination by Richard Mabey (W. W. Norton) One of the funniest and most refreshingly honest moments comes early in the book, in a chapter on yew trees. Mabey goes to visit the Fortingall Yew, an ancient tree that might well be the oldest living creature on the planet, with an estimated age of 5,000 years. It is surrounded by a fence to protect it from collectors, who once hacked so many pieces from the trunk that it split in the center, leaving a gap wide enough to carry a coffin through. As he stood before this ancient tree, Mabey explains, what unnerved me was how dull I was finding the Great Yew. The tree was surprisingly short not much larger than a hedgerow and was utterly lacking in panache and power and narrative fascination. He immediately realized how presumptuous it was to expect to be entertained by a tree. A tree is not at all concerned with its appearance, nor should it be, except for the fact that a magnificent specimen might be deemed more worthy of preservation or more vulnerable to souvenir hunters. In spite of this episode, Mabey goes on to organize the book according to the many ways plants have, in fact, fascinated us throughout history. He begins with a chapter on the scarcity of plant depictions in Paleolithic art, then skips ahead to a remembrance of the years he spent traveling with photographer Tony Evans, who thought nothing of sitting before a flower for 24 hours, waiting for it to bloom. From there he spends several chapters meditating on the longevity and adaptability of trees, then devotes five chapters to plant-related myths, such as the so-called vegetable lamb, a half-animal, half-plant described by several writers in the Middle Ages. After that he examines the ways plants have inspired artists, writers and scientists in other fields, then takes a turn through the history of Victorian plant collecting. If all of this sounds like a bit of a hodgepodge, thats because it is. If youre someone who thinks deeply and frequently about plants, much of this botanical history will be familiar. Its amusing to read about how Linnaeus described plant sex, shocking his peers by depicting a flowers stamens and stigmas as nine men in the same brides chamber, with one woman, and its interesting and a little horrifying to realize that terrariums and greenhouses were invented after an 18th-century scientist discovered that a mouse could survive under glass if a plant was also kept inside to revive the air. But Im not sure that stories like these advance Mabeys cause, other than to demonstrate that people are fascinated with plants and will do strange and sometimes odd things in their presence. At the end of the book, in a chapter on plant intelligence, Mabey looks ahead to new science that points to ways plants might have more autonomy and agency than we ever could have guessed. An ecologist named Monica Gagliano, for example, conducted a series of experiments with mimosa plants in 2013. The leaves snap shut anytime theyre touched, earning the plant the name sensitive plant. Gagliano tested this by dropping potted plants from a height of six inches and observing that they slammed their leaves shut as a defensive mechanism. But after being dropped several times, some of them stopped bothering to close their leaves. After related experiments, it appeared that the plants had learned that certain movements were not a threat after all and were capable of remembering this information even a month later. This comes as a powerful shock to those of us who thought that plants cant think. Other ecologists have shown that the fungi that colonize tree roots are capable of moving nutrients around an underground network made up of many different species that work together to direct food to the seedlings that need it the most. Are trees collaborating? Another recent experiment demonstrates that bean vines can grow deliberately in the direction of a pole, rather than casting aimlessly about as had been believed. Its possible that the plants are generating some sort of clicking sound and using echolocation to find their targets. Are beans listening? This new research suggests that plants might have lives beyond our current understanding. Perhaps they are capable of taking deliberate action, just as animals do. Its a shame that this topic occupies only the last 10 pages of Mabeys book, because it does more to prove his point than everything that came before, however interesting and entertaining it might have been. Heading into New Hampshire, the race for the nomination of the once-genteel Republican Party seems to have entered a kind of Mad Max phase. It is no surprise that Donald Trump is doing his best to create political mayhem. Trump was uncharacteristically subdued Monday night when he underperformed in Iowa, getting beaten by Ted Cruz and barely holding on to second place. But within 24 hours he was back in form, slashing and burning with abandon. Trump seized on Ben Carsons complaint that Cruzs representatives at the Iowa caucuses had cheated, falsely leading Carson supporters to believe that their candidate was pulling out of the race; the message was that if they wanted their votes to count, they should cast them for Cruz. Trump thundered on Twitter that the State of Iowa should nullify the results and order a do-over never mind that it is the Iowa Republican Party, not the state government, that runs the caucuses. Oh, that voter fraud, you know, these politicians are brutal, Trump said at a rally. They are a bunch of dishonest cookies, I want to tell you. Cruz accused his rival of throwing a Trumpertantrum Cruzs wordplay is never quite as sparkling as he seems to think and his campaign maintained it was guilty of nothing except the practice of big-league politics. The dispute doesnt amount to much, except in this one sense: Trump played it safe in the days before Iowa, even skipping a debate, but now he seems back to the hot-mess flamboyance that brought him this far. Polls show him with a 20-point lead in New Hampshire over all comers, according to the RealClearPolitics average. He needs to win big to remain the favorite for the nomination. Cruz is riding high, of course, and can even dream of sneaking into second place in Tuesdays primary. But New Hampshire is unfriendly turf for him. Besides being the place where Trump hopes to get his mojo back, it is the state where the lagging establishment candidates Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, John Kasich have to do well. If they dont, donors and endorsers may begin to coalesce around Marco Rubio, the only establishment hopeful who performed better in Iowa than the polls had predicted. Indeed, such movement began Thursday, after Rick Santorum, who didnt survive Iowa, gave Rubio his endorsement. Unhappily, however, Santorum struggled mightily when pressed by Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough to name one thing Rubio has accomplished in the Senate. After much hemming and hawing, Santorum acknowledged that there isnt a whole lot but protested that the question was unfair, since no one has accomplished much of anything in the Senate in recent years. It is Christie, though, who has been sharpest some would say most vicious in attacking Rubio since the Iowa vote. Christies campaign is running out of money and time, and he seems to have decided to leave it all on the field in New Hampshire. This isnt the student council election, everybody. This is an election for president of the United States, Christie said Tuesday, in an attack aimed at Rubio. Lets get the boy in the bubble out of the bubble, and lets see him play for the next week in New Hampshire. Im ready to play. The boy-in-the-bubble charge was only the beginning. Christie later said that Rubio acts like the king of England, called him the master of the drive-by town hall, accused him of being overly scripted and claimed he just doesnt have any experience. Bush is taking a more indirect approach. As we have seen in the debates, he is not exactly a master of the frontal assault. But he has been cheering Christie on, calling him a great campaigner . . . a good friend . . . an effective governor. And the Bush campaign bought a full-page ad in the Union Leader, New Hampshires biggest-circulation newspaper, in which a group of leading Florida Republicans charged that Rubio is not the best choice to serve as Commander-in-Chief. With all the slashing and bashing on the Republican side, the Democratic race in New Hampshire almost seems reduced to undercard status unless, of course, there is a surprise. If Bernie Sanders from next-door Vermont wins the primary handily, as polls predict, nothing much changes. He and Hillary Clinton seem likely to wage a long battle of attrition. For Republicans, however, New Hampshire is political life or death. Ronald Reagans Eleventh Commandment not speaking ill of a fellow Republican is being honored more in the breach than in the observance. 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 GOP front-runners who did not melt down into an oleaginous puddle of self-pity, delusion and poor sportsmanship the winners of the compos mentis caucus are more different than their similar policy views would indicate. Both Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are social and economic conservatives, and products of the tea party revolt. But they represent two entirely different approaches to the gathering and use of power. Each had a defining moment in their rapid rise. For Rubio, it was the Gang of Eights attempt to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Rubio now presents this as the ancient past, but Im old enough to remember those days of yore in 2013 and 2014. Rubio was determined to make a mark by improving a dangerously broken immigration system and, not coincidentally, by helping the GOP move past a debate it was losing in a spectacularly damaging fashion. (Under the flag of self-deportation, Mitt Romney had been recently crushed by 44 points among Latinos.) The role played by Rubio as the rightward-most member of the Gang of Eight should actually allay some conservative concerns. Rubio pushed for an enforcement-first approach and a move away from chain migration. His main Democratic partner, Chuck Schumer, was stingy with concessions that might have provided more political cover. Rubio was the last of the hated eight to sign on but decided, in the end, that the bill was an improvement. Then came the deluge: the Central American unaccompanied minor crisis, a conservative talk-radio rebellion and House Majority Leader Eric Cantors primary loss to a tea party unknown. Rubio was savaged as an example to the others. But in his ill-fated immigration reform effort, Rubio demonstrated his approach to building influence: master the policy details, work hard, push in a conservative direction, attempt to persuade even bitter critics and accept incremental progress. Cruzs main moment on the national stage was the government shutdown of 2013. Cruz and his allies argued: Congress, if it really, really wanted to if it only had the guts and principles could stop implementation of the Affordable Care Act unilaterally. So funding the government was tantamount to supporting Obamacare. There were a few problems with this strategy. First, it could not work. It is not legally possible for Congress to defund an entitlement by blocking discretionary spending. Second, anyone with a smidgen of knowledge about the legislative process knew it could not work not that it was very difficult, but that it was impossible which made Cruzs argument deceptive. Whom did this manufactured standoff benefit? Elements of conservative talk radio and the Internet that gain listeners and drive traffic by baiting the base. Tea party groups that use confrontation as a fundraising ploy. Conservative direct-mail firms that depend on a steady supply of controversy. And Cruzs email list, which swelled along with his presidential ambitions. Cruz became identified with a tea party establishment (which is also an industry) that acts as a parallel avenue of influence to the Republican Party. Together, Cruz and his tea party allies set out a false construct to make the GOP when it could not accomplish an impossibility look bad in the eyes of the conservative base. Then tea party groups ran attack ads against Republicans who opposed the shutdown, accusing them of effectively supporting Obamacare. This is the main reason, according to my conversations with top Capitol Hill Republicans, that Cruz is so intensely disliked. Those who had been in the trenches fighting Obamacare were accused of selling out by a transparently self-serving latecomer. But the problem for Republicans was more than hurt feelings. President Obama found it easy to exploit the chaos Cruz created, making the Republican majority look simultaneously weak and radical. A paralyzed caucus proved unable to offer a positive agenda. Cruz was deceptive in a way that benefited himself and was bound to hurt the conservative cause. This is not the first time a senator has grandstanded at the expense of his colleagues. But it is a measure of political character when such grandstanding is elevated to strategy, involves untruths and undermines conservative goals. Cruz has shown the ability to effectively motivate one-third of the Republican base with these niche marketing tactics. He has yet to show a talent for uniting the entire GOP (and a slice of independents) against the Democrats. Rubios loss on immigration reform spoke well of his ability to appeal broadly in the general election and govern effectively as president. Cruzs success in forcing a partial shutdown demonstrated only a talent for self-serving controversy. Read more from Michael Gersons archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook . Syrians gather at the scene of recent bombings of a predominantly Shiite Muslim suburb of the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Jan. 31. (Alexander Kots/Komsomolskaya Pravda via Associated Press) Nicholas Burns, a professor at Harvard University currently on a semester leave at Stanford University, was U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs from 2005 to 2008. James Jeffrey, a fellow at the Washington Institute, was U.S. ambassador to Iraq from 2010 to 2012. Of the critical global challenges faced by the Obama administration in its final year, Syria may be the most confounding. The brutal Syrian civil war has reached a crisis point, with more than 250,000 dead and 12 million Syrians homeless. The cancer of this war has metastasized into neighboring countries and the heart of Europe. It could destabilize the Middle East for a generation. We believe that President Obama can no longer avoid providing stronger American leadership to reverse this tidal wave of suffering and violence in the Levant. U.S. strategic interests and our humanitarian responsibilities as the worlds strongest country dictate a change of strategy, as well as of heart, in Washington. Where the administration has done well, led by Secretary of State John F. Kerry, is to launch new negotiations for elections, a transitional government and a cease-fire. Those talks will be difficult to sustain, however, and diplomacy alone is unlikely to be effective. Where the United States has fallen short is in framing a clear, consistent and forceful strategy for it to play its traditional leadership role in the Middle East. As a result, it is in an uncharacteristically weak negotiating position. The stronger party is the Russia-Iran-Hezbollah axis supporting Bashar al-Assads brutal regime through indiscriminate bombing and starvation in besieged cities. As former career diplomats, we believe diplomacy is most often effective when it is backed by clarity of purpose and military strength. Those have been noticeably absent in U.S. policy toward Syria. For that reason, the administration should take steps to reinforce U.S. strength in the difficult negotiations ahead in Geneva. It should dramatically expand funding for the moderate Sunni and Kurdish forces that pose an alternative to Assads government and the Islamic State, while asserting active, daily leadership of a strengthened coalition including Turkey, our European allies and the Sunni Arab states. As the talks proceed, Obama and Kerry must also consider stronger measures to protect millions of civilians at risk, including establishing humanitarian corridors to reach those subjected to air assaults by the government and attacks by terrorist groups on the ground. Most important, we believe the Obama team will have to reconsider what it has rejected in the past: the creation of a safe zone in northern Syria to protect civilians, along with a no-fly zone to enforce it. While the U.S. military has the experience to decide how to create such a zone, one option could be to locate it over 25 to 30 miles south of the Turkish border, with links to areas held by Syrian Kurdish rebels. Its central purpose would be to help local forces drive out the Islamic State and to provide a haven for civilians until the war can be brought to a close. The White House could press Russia, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, to help organize and protect the zone. The zone would be far more durable and credible with Russian support, and if Russia rejected the proposal as it probably would the administration and its partners would be in a much stronger position to take the initiative themselves. The benefits of a safe zone are manifold. It would be the most effective way to support Syrian civilians and to diminish the flow of refugees to neighboring countries and Europe. It would strengthen our ability to work closely with our key regional NATO ally, Turkey, which has long advocated this step. For the first time, it would restrict the operations of the rampaging Syrian air force the largest killer of civilians in the conflict. It would also hinder the use of military power by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah against the resistance. We do not minimize the extraordinary difficulty of establishing such a zone in a civil war. Defending the zone, preventing it from being overwhelmed by refugees, grounding it in a convincing legal justification and keeping out jihadist groups would be daunting tasks. The United States would also need to make sure its air operations did not conflict with those of Russia. Once a zone were established, we do not believe Russia would challenge the stronger U.S. and NATO forces, particularly if they were operating mainly from Turkey. Our experience as diplomats suggests that the United States would have to deploy U.S. soldiers on the ground inside Syria along the Turkish border in order to recruit the majority of the zones soldiers from Turkey and other NATO allies, as well as the Sunni Arab states. Those countries could also contribute air power and missiles, to be organized by NATO from Turkish territory, to police the no-fly zone. Taking the lead on this initiative would carry dangers for the United States. But critics must also weigh the risks of inaction which may include thousands more killed, millions more refugees, the spread of the war to U.S. allies such as Turkey, Jordan and Israel and a Russian-Iranian military victory. The two of us have worked for both Democratic and Republican administrations. We have observed that when the United States leads with confidence and determination, when we form big and effective coalitions, we have a much greater opportunity to be successful in complicated regions such as the Middle East. We admire Obama and his many foreign policy successes. The president is right that the United States needs to be cautious about intervening in the Middle East. But he has been far too reactive and unwilling to assert U.S. leadership in Syria over the past five years. We believe the risks of inaction are greater than the risks of a strong U.S. initiative to protect civilians. If we fail to act, the war in Syria will almost certainly grow worse. President Obama will not be able to cure all the ills afflicting Syria this year. But he could begin to turn the tide of the war and prepare the way to an eventual peace in the years ahead. People cheer as Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is declared the winner of the Iowa caucuses, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Feb. 1 in Des Moines. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) The reigning idiocy of the current political season is the incessant tossing around of establishment, an epithet now descending into meaninglessness. Its most recent abuse is by Donald Trump supporters rationalizing his Iowa defeat with the following consolation: If you tally up Trump and Ted Cruz (and throw in Ben Carson), a whopping 60 percent of the vote is anti-establishment! So what? The threat to the GOP posed by the Trump insurgency is not that hes anti-establishment. Its that hes not conservative. Trump winning the nomination would convulse the Republican Party, fracture the conservative movement and undermine the GOPs identity and role as the countrys conservative party. Theres nothing wrong with challenging the so-called establishment. Parties, like other institutions, can grow fat and soft and corrupt. If by establishment you mean the careerists, the lobbyists and the sold-out cynics, a good poke, even a major purge, is well-deserved. Thats not the problem with Trump. The problem is his, shall we say, eclectic populism. Cruz may be anti-establishment but hes a principled conservative, while Trump has no coherent political philosophy, no core beliefs, at all. Trump offers barstool eruptions and whatever contradictory idea pops into his head at the time, such as humane mass deportation, followed by mass amnesty when the immigrants are returned to the United States. Thats the reason his harebrained ideas barring all Muslims from entering the country, a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods, government-provided universal health care through a deal with existing hospitals to take care of people (why didnt I think of that?) have received such relatively little scrutiny. No one takes them seriously. His actual platform is all persona the wonders that will emanate from his own self-proclaimed strength, toughness, brilliance, money, his very yugeness. Trumps is faith-based politics of the Latin American caudillo variety. At the [Sarah] Palin rally, reports John McCormack of the Weekly Standard, Trump promised he would localize education. How? shouted one man in the crowd. Just you watch, Trump replied. Meaning: I have no idea. Just trust me. Cruz does not lack for self-confidence. And he constantly wraps himself in anti-establishment rhetoric. He reasonably calculates that his hard-edged conservatism sells best when presented not as pristine ideology but as a revolt against entrenched interests. To imagine, however, that his railing against the Washington cartel makes him a Trumpian brother-in-arms is to mistake tactics for strategy, style for substance. To be sure, its a misperception Cruz himself encouraged throughout 2015 as he drafted in Trumps wake. But thats yesterdays story. Its been over for weeks. The story since January is of a bromance blown up, clearing away the anti-establishment veneer and allowing their fundamental political differences to finally emerge: Over Trumps New York [read: liberal] values. Over government power. Cruzs most biting commercial showed Trump enlisting government to tear down the home of a little old lady standing in the way of a casino parking lot. Over ethanol, which Cruz opposed on classic small-government grounds that the state should not be picking winners and losers, and which Trump supported because it happens to be a lot of jobs for Iowa. The Iowa results clarified the dynamic of the Republican race. There are really only three candidates in the race and, as I argued last week, each represents a different politics. The result is a three-way fight between Trumps personalized strongman populism and two flavors of conservatism Marco Rubios more mainstream version and Cruzs more uncompromising take-no-prisoners version. We can now read the Iowa results as they affect the Republican future. Trumpian populism got 24 percent, conservatism (Rubio plus Cruz) got 51 percent. There will be a spirited contest between the two conservatives over who has the better chance of winning the general election and of governing effectively. But whatever the piques and preferences of various establishment party leaders, theres no denying that either Rubio or Cruz would retain the GOPs fundamental ideological identity. Trump would not. Getting thumped in Iowa does not mean that Trump is done. Hes on favorable ground in New Hampshire and leads in practically every other state. But hes in for a long fight. What Iowa confirms is that whatever beating the establishment takes during this campaign, Republicans are choosing conservatism over Trumpian populism by 2 to 1. Which means their chances of survival as the party of Reagan are very good. Read more from Charles Krauthammers archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Smoke billows after a reported airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on Feb. 3 east of the city of Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's Anbar province. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye/Agence France-Presse via Getty Images) Republican and Democratic presidential candidates should be able to agree on one stark foreign policy reality: The tide hasnt turned in the war against the Islamic State. In the 18 months that the United States has been working to degrade and ultimately destroy the group, it has grown to become a global force that can strike targets in Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The self-declared caliphate that in June 2014 was localized in Iraq and Syria now has nearly 50 affiliates or supporting groups in 21 countries. It has declared 33 official provinces in 11 of those countries. Though it has lost about 25 percent of the territory it held at its peak in Iraq and Syria, it has meanwhile established an international presence, on the ground and in cyberspace. Follow ISIS and you will see the huge momentum that the group has harnessed across the globe, says Rita Katz, co-founder of the SITE Intelligence Group, using a common shorthand for the Islamic State. The governments first step in fighting ISIS must be to stop dismissively characterizing the jihadists as a mere gang of guys in pickup trucks. It should be called what it is: a threat to global security. President Obama and his advisers have talked in recent weeks of stepping up U.S. actions, but intelligence and military officials say the additional steps are limited. The Pentagon has announced a capture/kill Special Operations force of about 200 soldiers, based in Iraq. But thats a small fraction of the Joint Special Operations Command force that was deployed there a decade ago to deal with a far smaller insurgent threat from al-Qaeda in Iraq. What seems to engage Obama most is countering the jihadists narrative that this is a war between Islam and the West. He made an eloquent presentation of his case for tolerance in a speech this week at a mosque in suburban Baltimore. But theres little evidence that this message of outreach to Muslims is checking the Islamic States growth. Libya and Indonesia illustrate the groups new, far-flung reach and the difficulty for the U.S.-led coalition in containing the growing threat to Europe and Asia. In Libya, the Islamic State has doubled its presence over the past year to between 5,000 and 6,500 fighters, according to a report Thursday in the New York Times. Opposition forces that might challenge the jihadists are unreliable, unaccountable, poorly organized and divided by region and tribe, according to the Times. Similar problems have plagued U.S. efforts to build a strong Sunni opposition in Syria and Iraq. Secretary of State John F. Kerry warned this week of the danger to oil-rich areas of Libya: The last thing in the world you want is a false caliphate with access to billions of dollars of oil revenue. But despite several years of growing U.S. concern about Libya, the American response so far has been feeble. In Indonesia, the Islamic State mounted a Paris-style terrorist operation Jan. 14. Fighters in Jakarta assaulted a traffic post on a busy downtown street, with bomb blasts occurring in multiple locations near a popular Starbucks. Eight people were killed, and more than 20 were wounded. Asian security officials say the Jakarta attack demonstrates the Islamic States appeal in normally quiescent Muslim populations, in such nations as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Indeed, the Indonesian affiliate was the first to swear allegiance after Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the caliphate in late June 2014 and changed its official name to the Islamic State. The pace of Islamic State operations, and its propaganda skill, are illustrated by the daily dispatches of its Al-Bayan online news service. Each day this week, Al-Bayan announced attacks in at least six wilayats, or regions, of the self-declared state. This weeks announced operations stretched across four countries. Often the targets were Muslim rivals or local security services. The Islamic State brags about its ability to strike the United States, too, in the opening pages of the latest issue of its slick online magazine, Dabiq. Lauding the San Bernardino, Calif., bombers who caught America off-guard, the magazine warned: As the American-led crusaders continue waging war against the [caliphate], more and more Muslims continue demonstrating their willingness to sacrifice everything precious to them. How should the United States and its allies combat the Islamic State wisely, without getting bogged down in an endless global land war? Thats the biggest foreign policy issue facing the country. The political discussion so far has been mostly sound bites and speeches, rather than analysis that would lead to sustainable actions. This problem isnt going away; its getting worse. Read more from David Ignatiuss archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has appointed Mykola Tochytskyi as Ukraine's representative to the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community concurrently. The president signed all the relevant orders, his press service said on Thursday. By another order Tochytskyi was designated as Ukraine's Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium. Tochytskyi's previous position was the permanent representative to the Council of Europe, and he was dismissed from that post by a separate order. In 2010-2015, Ukraine's mission to the European Union was headed by Kostiantyn Yeliseyev, who on July 15, 2015, was appointed deputy head of Ukraine's presidential administration. When Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) last month mocked Donald Trumps New York values, it wasnt entirely clear what he was implying. This week we got a clue: For Cruz, New York is another way of saying Jewish. At an event in New Hampshire, Cruz, the Republican Iowa caucuses winner, was asked about campaign money he and his wife borrowed from Goldman Sachs. Cruz, asserting that Trump had upward of $480 million of loans from giant Wall Street banks, said: For him to make this attack, to use a New York term, its the height of chutzpah. Cruz, pausing for laughter after the phrase New York term, exaggerated the guttural ch to more laughter and applause. But chutzpah, of course, is not a New York term. Its a Yiddish a Jewish one. And using New York as a euphemism for Jewish has long been an anti-Semitic dog whistle. I followed both Cruz and Trump this week at multiple campaign events across New Hampshire. It was, in a sense, a pleasure to see them use their prodigious skills of character assassination against each other. It was demagogue against demagogue: lie vs. lie. Both men riled their supporters with fantasies and straw men. [Jennifer Rubin: Why the Cruz campaigns dirty tricks matter] But there were discernible differences. Trump owned anger. Cruz, by contrast, had a lock on nastiness. Trump is belligerent and hyperbolic, with an authoritarian style. But while Trump fires up the masses with his nonstop epithets, Cruz has Joe McCarthys knack for false insinuation and underhandedness. What sets Cruz apart is the malice he exudes. Cruz jokes that the whole point of the campaign is that the Washington elites despise him. But Cruzs problem is that going back to his college days at Princeton, those who know him best seem to despise him most. Not a single Senate colleague has endorsed his candidacy, and Iowas Republican governor urged Cruzs defeat, then called his campaign unethical. Ben Carson, who rarely has a bad word to say about anybody in the GOP race, accused Cruz of deceit and dirty tricks and lies this week after the Texans campaign spread the false rumor during the Iowa caucuses that Carson was quitting the race. Two former rivals who also appeal to religious conservatives, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum (who endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida), have questioned Cruzs truthfulness, too. Sarah Palin, whose support for Cruz in 2012 helped get him elected to the Senate, this week denounced him after a Cruz surrogate accused her of accepting payment from Trump to back him. She, too, accused Cruzs campaign of lies, a dirty trick and typical Washington tactics. [Fareed Zakaria: The GOPs dishonesty led to the rise of Cruz and Trump] Cruz, in Nashua, slashed back at his onetime benefactor: It seems if you spend too much time with Donald Trump, strange things happen to people. Somebody in the crowd shouted Fire Palin! and the audience cheered. The Iowa secretary of state, a Republican, issued a statement before the caucuses accusing Cruzs campaign of false representation because of a mailing to voters charging them with a voting violation and assigning them and their neighbors phony grades. After Cruzs caucus-night skullduggery a campaign email to supporters and a tweet by a Cruz national co-chairman suggesting Carson was quitting the race his response continued the deception. Though he apologized to Carson, he said that our political team forwarded a news story from CNN and all the rest of it is just silly noise. But CNN said nothing about Carson dropping out. After Trump, in his overblown way, accused Cruz of stealing the election, Cruz replied, righteously, that I have no intention of insulting him or throwing mud. No? He accused Trump of a Trumpertantrum. He said Trump as president would have nuked Denmark. He said Trump doesnt have any core beliefs. He mischaracterized several of Trumps positions, saying he wants to expand Obamacare, that for his entire life, 60 years, he has been advocating for full-on socialized medicine and that Trump favors amnesty for illegal immigrants and wants to deport people that are here illegally but then let them back in immediately and become citizens. He speculated that Trump may have billions in loans and said the concept of repaying loans is novel and unfamiliar to Donald. The misrepresentation isnt limited to Trump. In a single speech in Nashua last week, he mischaracterized things said by, among others, Jimmy Carter, Chris Wallace, guests on Sean Hannitys show, Atlantas mayor, Rubio and, of course, President Obama. I asked the Cruz campaign Thursday evening to substantiate several of these claims. After this column was published online Friday afternoon, the campaign provided citations that didnt back up what Cruz had alleged. Unsurprising: Cruzs purpose is not to inform but to insinuate. Twitter: @Milbank Read more from Dana Milbanks archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, meeting Thursday night for their last debate before the New Hampshire primary, squared off fiercely on the question of whether the party should strive toward its liberal aspirations or set its sights on the achievable. The dynamic between the two contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination was far more intense and far more personal than it has been in their previous face-offs. That reflected how close their race has become in the wake of a virtual tie in Mondays Iowa caucuses. The debate was sponsored by MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader. [The Take: Clinton-Sanders battle boils over ] Clinton used her opening statement to needle the senator from Vermont, who describes himself as a democratic socialist, over what she has contended are unrealistically liberal plans for universal health care, free college and other programs. Im fighting for people who cannot wait for those changes, and Im not making promises that I cannot keep, the former secretary of state said. Sanders replied that a number of European countries had approved single-payer health-care systems. I do not accept the belief that the United States of America cannot do that, he said. As they had at a town hall forum the night before, the two remaining Democratic presidential contenders also squabbled over the modern definition of the word progressive, which has become the preferred term for the Democratic left. A progressive is someone who makes progress, Clinton said. [The Fix: Winners and losers from the fifth Democratic debate] Sanders, who enjoys enormous enthusiasm among the partys liberal base, continued to make the argument that Clinton is too heavily dependent on those who have financed her campaign and made her personally wealthy. He said that he does not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. I am very proud to be the only candidate up here that does not have a super PAC. Clinton accused Sanders of engaging in a very artful smear of her character. She insisted she had never changed her position on any issue based on having received contributions from special interests. Senator Sanders has said he wants to run a positive campaign. Ive tried to keep my disagreements over issues, as it should be. But time and time again, by innuendo, by insinuation, there is this attack that he is putting forth, Clinton said. 1 of 10 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad See Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders during the MSNBC Democratic debate in New Hampshire View Photos Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met Thursday night for their last debate before the New Hampshire primary. Caption Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders met Thursday night for their last debate before the New Hampshire primary. Feb. 4, 2016 Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders pose for a photo before debating at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. Jim Cole/AP Wait 1 second to continue. Defending the paid speeches she gave in the period between leaving the State Department and announcing her presidential campaign, Clinton said she may not have done a good job of explaining what she was doing. They wanted me to talk about the world and how she saw threats and challenges, Clinton said of the groups that paid her fees of $200,000 and more. Asked whether she would release transcripts of closed-door, paid speeches, Clinton replied, I will look into it. [Annotated transcript of the Democratic debate] The two contenders, voices raised, argued over whose plan and ideas would more effectively police Wall Street and the larger financial system. Break them up! Sanders thundered, referring to the nations biggest banks. Clinton said leading economists have judged her regulation proposals to be tougher. But Sanders kept bringing the argument back to her ties to Wall Street. Through the end of December, the financial industry had given at least $21.4 million to support Clintons 2016 presidential run more than 10 percent of the $157.8 million amassed to back her bid, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by The Washington Post. Clinton also was asked whether she could guarantee that repercussions from her use of a private email system at the State Department would not blow up her campaign. She said she is 100 percent confident that an FBI security review will come to naught. I have absolutely no concerns about it, she said. The Clinton team is expecting a loss in New Hampshire, the state that resurrected her 2008 campaign after a devastating third-place finish in Iowa. This time, she battled to the narrowest of wins in the Iowa caucuses. On Thursday, two new New Hampshire polls indicated that she has much ground to make up against Sanders before Tuesdays primary. An NBC News-Wall Street Journal-Marist College survey had Clinton running 20 points behind Sanders in New Hampshire, 58 percent to 38 percent. A tracking poll by CNN-WMUR the kind of daily gauge whose results are more volatile showed an even wider margin, with Sanders beating Clinton by better than two to one, 61 percent to 30 percent. So it was no surprise that Clintons campaign was aggressively playing down expectations. At a breakfast Wednesday morning sponsored by Bloomberg Politics, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told reporters: We face some pretty significant head winds here in New Hampshire. Senator Sanders has been leading here for some time, since the summer. Its hard to underestimate the neighboring-state advantage in this race. However resigned Clintons team may be to a loss here Tuesday, it thinks the electoral terrain will turn in her favor afterward, as the campaign moves to states with more diverse populations. The Sanders operation, however, has warned that they have been organizing in other states, including South Carolina and Nevada, and should not be underestimated. Sanders is also proving to be a fundraising powerhouse, reaping millions from small donors over the Internet, which means he has the capacity to continue his campaign for a long time. On Thursday, Clinton played up what she sees as her greater electablity in a general-election contest in November. Ive been vetted. Theres hardly anything you dont know about me, an asset in the withering scrutiny of the general election, Clinton said. Sanders brushed aside a question about his electability. He cited polls that suggest he would run stronger than Clinton against GOP front-runner Donald Trump in a number of battleground states. He also cited the enthusiasm that he is generating: Democrats win when there is a large voter turnout, when people are excited, when working-class people, middle-class people, young people are engaged in the political process. I am the strongest candidate to take it to the Republicans and win in November, Clinton said. Nonetheless, the rivals ended the debate on a note of solidarity. Clinton said that Sanders would be the first person she would consult if she won the nomination. Sanders added: On our worst days, I think its fair to say, we are 100 times better than any Republican candidate for president. Shortly before the debate, the Clinton campaign released unofficial fundraising figures for January showing she brought in $15 million, which is $5 million less than Sanders received in the same period. Clintons team has been warning supporters of a Sanders donation surge and noting that he is already outspending her in television advertising in the early-voting states. The Clinton campaign also confirmed that she will break from campaigning in New Hampshire on Sunday to visit Flint, Mich., where a cost-saving decision led to dangerous levels of lead in the city water. The crisis in the economically depressed, heavily African American city has become a cause celebre among liberals, and Clinton has been in the forefront of criticism of the states Republican leadership for falling down on the job. She claims some credit for pressuring the governor to accept federal help. Her allies have used the Flint crisis as a point of comparison with Sanders, saying that his call for the governor to resign did nothing to help the citys residents. The Flint issue and Clintons hastily scheduled trip also serve to divert attention from her falling fortunes in New Hampshire. Although she will campaign in New Hampshire for part of the day, her departure will be read as an attempt to change the subject from her tenuous position here. The Republicans running for president this year have tried to turn Sen. Charles E. Schumers name into a slur on the campaign trail, but nearly all have, at one time or another, needed to embrace the Democratic power broker from New York as an ally. From Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz on the boisterous right end of the stage, to Govs. Chris Christie and John Kasich on the mainstream flank, almost all of the Republicans have leaned on Schumer for his legislative and political acumen over the past 20 years. Most famously, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) dove into the Gang of Eight negotiations on a sweeping immigration proposal that his opponents now deride as the Rubio-Schumer amnesty plan. [Rubios past support for immigration reform haunts him on campaign trail] Trump is a longtime donor to the fellow New Yorker and even hosted Schumer at his Palm Beach club. Kasich (Ohio) worked with Schumer on a mid-1990s deficit proposal. Cruz and Schumer shook hands on a 2014 deal to block an Iranian appointment to the United Nations. And Christie (N.J.) used Schumer as a key player in lining up a more than $50 billion relief package for the New Jersey and New York coastlines. Its a sign of the political times, and a bow to the political calendar, that none of these presidential candidates is touting his bipartisan work with Schumer as evidence of his ability to occupy the Oval Office, given that Schumer is set to become Senate Democratic leader in 2017 and will play a key role in passing or blocking the next presidents agenda. Its an ironic honor, Schumer said Thursday of the attacks on him. Of the top six remaining Republican contenders, only former Florida governor Jeb Bush appears to have no personal or professional ties to Schumer. Some of the campaigns defended their candidates past work with Schumer because it advanced conservative causes, distinguishing it from immigration legislation. We are the only candidate who actually got Schumer to work on a conservative idea of saving taxpayer money, Chris Schrimpf, Kasichs spokesman, said. Catherine Frazier, Cruzs campaign spokesman, described Schumer as a champion for liberal values who would grow government and ignore the rule of law. That doesnt mean there are not issues on which we can find agreement, as Cruz has, but on issues that improve the outcome for conservative principles, Frazier said in an email. [Read how Ted Cruz and Chuck Schumer worked to block an Iranian diplomat.] Schumer said he will not let the criticism impact the way he deals with the next president, although he remained confident that his candidate, Hillary Clinton, would win. I try to reach out because getting things done is important, and no matter who is president I would try to do that without sacrificing core beliefs, he said. For now, no Republican on the debate stage Saturday night, ahead of Tuesdays crucial New Hampshire primary, is expected to talk about Schumer in similar tones. The Trump-Schumer relationship is the most predictable, given their shared love of New York, and the most steady over the years. Until he began considering this presidential bid, Trump had donated to all three of Schumers previous Senate campaigns. Moreover, Trump hosted Schumer at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla., in February 2008 for an event that raised large five-figure donations for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to Democratic aides. Thats the political vehicle Schumer chaired for four years, running up such large Democratic majorities that in 2009 and 2010 President Obamas key agenda items overcame GOP filibusters. In the weeks before and after that Mar-a-Lago event, Trump made two donations totalling $30,000 to the DSCC, federal records show. I think Ill be able to get along well with Chuck Schumer. I was always very good with Schumer. I was close to Schumer in many ways. Its important that you get along, Trump told the hosts of MSNBCs Morning Joe last week, pivoting to say that Cruz has terrible relationships in Congress. He is a guy that nobody likes and nobody trusts. Perhaps the most unusual Schumer partnership was with Cruz, the freshman tea party-inspired Texan whom Schumer has tried to brand as the face of modern Republicanism. But in 2014, the two senators interests collided. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had appointed as his ambassador to the United Nations a former member of the student group that in 1979 took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Cruz drafted legislation that would deny entry to anyone who had engaged in espionage or terrorism, and after securing support from his side of the aisle, Cruz turned to Schumer. The New York senator, long an opponent of the Iranian regime, worked with Cruz and got the bill cleared. It passed on a unanimous voice vote, and the two shook hands on the Senate floor, which Schumer described as a strange bedfellows moment in a statement. Frazier, Cruzs spokeswoman, said his campaign would continue to criticize self-described conservatives [who] partner with Schumer on policies that are contrary to conservative values, particularly amnesty, but said the Iran move was a conservative outcome. For Kasich, the Schumer connection began in the U.S. House in the early 1990s, when both were ambitious backbenchers far removed from their current powerful perches. Schumer and some other lawmakers had an idea to help trim the deficit: create a lockbox so that any time lawmakers successfully reduced funding for a federal agency in amendment votes, those dollars would pay down the debt, as opposed to just ending up in another agencys coffers. By 1994, Schumer helped bring Kasich on board. The legislation passed the House, 364 to 59, in 1995 after Kasich became chairman of the House Budget Committee, steering Schumers idea to victory. The bill stalled in the Senate and never became law, but in 2000 the lockbox idea caught on with Al Gores presidential bid and became a regular Saturday Night Live punchline. Christie has been an obvious partner for Schumer as their states share borders. Their bond peaked in late 2012 when superstorm Sandy ravaged parts of both New York and New Jersey , but the legislation providing emergency funds stalled in the House because of conservative objections. Christie and Schumer traded intelligence, as the governor worked GOP allies in Congress and Schumer worked the Senate. They talked so often that Christie and Schumer exchanged their personal mobile phone numbers to talk directly to one another without going through aides, according to Democratic aides, and by late January 2013, Congress approved a nearly $51 billion relief package. [Congress passes $50.5B Superstorm Sandy aid bill] Phone calls are Schumers mode of negotiation, and by the end of the 2013 immigration effort he had memorized the numbers of Rubio and other key players, such as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). Schumer said it doesnt bother him that Rubio, who has now distanced himself from that bill, is not touting their work together and that other candidates are cursing his name. The ironic honor is there, Schumer said, but only because of a bipartisan bill that took a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Hillary Clinton is not going down in defeat to Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire without a fight. That was the overriding message that came through when the two Democrats met for their first one-on-one debate of what has become a competitive and spirited contest for their partys nomination. For months, Clinton and Sanders had waged a relatively polite and respectful campaign against each other. Clinton originally saw no particular interest in going after Sanders, and the senator from Vermont claimed that he had never run a negative campaign in his life and wouldnt do so. In fact, the two have been edging closer and closer to outright attacks. On Thursday night, it all boiled over on the debate stage. [Democratic campaign takes on a new ferocity] Clinton, apparently carrying a sense of grievance that has been building for some time, leveled her toughest attack yet on her rival, accusing him of waging a campaign by innuendo, by insinuation that she had been corrupted by money from Wall Street interests. Its time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out, she said, adding, Lets talk about the issues that divide us. And thats what they did, arguing passionately over health care, financial institutions, money in politics, foreign policy and other issues. Irritated by Sanderss claim that she is not a true progressive, Clinton repeatedly sought to punch holes in that argument. Offended by her charges, Sanders stood his ground and fired back at her. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton argued passionately over numerous issues in their first head-to-head debate. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg) As in past debates, both candidates had moments in which they shone, although whether minds were changed among voters here wasnt obvious. Sanders reassured his supporters with a ringing defense of the big-government agenda he has championed throughout the campaign. Clinton gave hope to her nervous supporters by rising to the moment, trying to balance progressive passion with governing realism. The flash point this week has been who is the true progressive. Sanders on Tuesday questioned Clintons bona fides as a progressive, in large part because she has a super PAC and takes campaign contributions from people in the financial industry. Clinton objected to Sanders playing the role of gatekeeper in defining who is a real progressive. [The Fix: Winners and losers from the fifth Democratic debate] In a party that has shifted leftward, Clinton has the harder argument. Sanders has struck a chord with grass-roots progressives by calling for universal health care, free college, a big government jobs program and a big hike in the minimum wage. Again on Thursday night, Clinton tried to claim that she is as progressive as Sanders in her goals but by far the more realistic in what can actually be accomplished. I will not make a promise I cant keep, she said. But when she suggested that Sanders could unravel progress achieved under the Affordable Care Act by seeking a single-payer, Medicare-for-all plan, he shot back that she was misrepresenting what he intended to do. Claiming he had helped write the Affordable Care Act, he said, The idea that I would dismantle health care in America . . . is just not accurate. [Annotated transcript of the Democratic debate] The Democratic nomination contest began as a seeming mismatch between one of the worlds most recognizable and powerful women and a self-declared socialist senator who was little known outside the borders of his home state of Vermont. But the longer it has gone on, the more it has raised questions about Clinton, who has struggled to generate the same kind of passion that surrounds the Sanders candidacy and finds herself trailing badly in a state she won eight years ago. The latest polls, which show Sanders with a 20-point lead here, underscore her weaknesses with young people, with men and with voters who describe themselves as independent. Even if she prevails in the battle for the nomination, as many Democrats still expect, she may have to deal with those deficiencies in a general election. Many of the questions that dogged her in her 2008 campaign have come back again this year, questions about her ability to connect with voters, her authenticity and her message. Her candidacy offers the possibility of something historic the first female president of the United States but that alone has not been enough to generate the same kind of energy that Sanderss campaign enjoys. Part of the reason is that Sanders has proved to be a more-than-capable candidate who has learned on the job and grown the longer the campaign has gone on. Rumpled as ever, Sanders has managed to project his own quirky authenticity championing an agenda that has caught fire at the grass roots. It is an audacious agenda Clinton calls it unrealistic in its ambitiousness but it has found an audience, especially among idealistic young voters and liberal Democrats who wish President Obama had been willing to propose some of the same things. This has left Clinton in the awkward position of having to try to knock down the dreamer, never an easy argument to make, particularly in a party with pent-up desire for many of the ideas Sanders is pushing. Clintons argument against Sanders is the same one she used against Obama eight years ago, arguing that soaring oratory and grand ideals were no substitute for the hard, slogging work of making policy and enacting legislation. In that case, it did not work. Democratic voters narrowly sided with Obama. What isnt known now is whether Sanders will push Clinton as long and as hard as Obama did. He has the money to carry on for months and a passionate base of supporters who want him to do that. A victory here on Tuesday would give him a boost after the very strong showing he made against Clinton in Iowa. But Clinton is a battler when she is in trouble, and on Thursday, she let everyone know thats the case right now. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have clashed over Wall Street reforms, gun control, free trade and more. But in recent weeks, the two presidential candidates, along with their fellow Democrats on Capitol Hill, have found an issue they can all rally around: the drinking-water crisis in Flint, Mich. Clinton sent top campaign aides to Flint in mid-January and declared herself outraged by the situation. Sanders followed with an early call for the resignation of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who has acknowledged that his administration botched the issue. This week, the issue swept Capitol Hill, with House overseers grilling government officials and Senate Democrats voting Thursday to derail a major energy bill over a request for emergency aid. And it was announced Thursday that Clinton and Sanders will debate next month in the impoverished, majority-black city of 100,000, where residents continue to rely on bottled water amid fears of widespread lead poisoning. Clintons aides also said Thursday that she would take a break from campaigning in New Hampshire to visit the city Sunday. [This is how toxic Flints water really is] The House Oversight and Government Reform committee held an outrage-filled hearing on Feb. 3 about the drinking water crisis in Flint, Mich. (C-SPAN) The lawmakers who are trying to address the crisis insist they are not seeking to politicize it, but it has become clear that Democrats see Flint as a potent symbol of the perils of Republican governance one they will return to throughout the election year. The reality is, theres a philosophical difference about the appropriate role of government, and we see what happens when we dont have basic safety standards and quality standards for our water, said Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who is leading efforts to secure federal aid for the city. We will have a lot to say about that later. The emerging politics of the Flint crisis were laid bare on Capitol Hill this week, after Stabenow and Michigans other senator, fellow Democrat Gary Peters, proposed to use the energy bill as a vehicle for as much as $600 million in emergency aid to Flint. Most would be used to replace lead pipes that corroded because of state-level decisions to switch water sources; the rest would fund a center to monitor and treat victims of lead poisoning. The Democrats reached a tentative deal with the bills Republican sponsor, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, to address concerns about the cost and structure of the aid. But GOP senators raised concerns about the compromise, saying it could create a precedent for federal aid for other incidents that they see as a largely state and local responsibility. [Senate Democrats seek $600 million in Flint water crisis relief] Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, on Thursday called the Democrats proposal a $600 million earmark that seeks money that the state does not have a plan to spend. He accused Democrats of being more interested in scoring political points than in crafting a workable solution to the crisis. In the immortal words of Rahm Emanuel . . . never let a crisis go to waste, Cornyn said, quoting the Chicago mayor and former White House chief of staff. That is whats happening here. . . . Its not even a good-faith effort to solve a problem. Its just trying to put on a show vote and embarrass people. 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. A key procedural vote that would end debate on the energy bill and set up a vote on final passage failed 50 to 46, with all but five Democrats voting to block the legislation pending a deal on aid to Flint. At least one Republican senator in a close reelection contest was immediately criticized by a Democratic opponent for voting to proceed. The Democratic lawmakers inside the Capitol who have been working to forge a compromise on aid have been mostly careful not to frame the issue in terms of race or class. Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.), for instance, said in an interview that aid for Flint was a matter of basic fairness considering the disaster assistance Congress has historically rendered to areas in need. These people are just screwed. I mean, they really, really are, he said. That restraint has not been in evidence on the campaign trail. Ill tell you what: If the kids in a rich suburb of Detroit had been drinking contaminated water and being bathed in it, there wouldve been action, Clinton said at a Jan. 17 debate. [Hillary Clinton is seizing the political moment on Flint] Given the gravity of the crisis and Michigans likely status as a presidential swing state, Flint stands to remain a fixture of presidential politics for months, said Benton Strong of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, a progressive advocacy group. The crisis, he said, will remain a vivid illustration of Americas racial and economic disparities and of the effects of the fiscal austerity policies favored by GOP candidates. The whole philosophy leads to big gaps in our ability to tackle challenges, Strong said. Flint is a frustratingly obvious and predictable example of what can happen when this philosophy carries the day. In one of the few remarks on the GOP presidential trail about the issue, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) on Wednesday fingered the one-party government control of far-left Democrats. Republicans on Capitol Hill, meanwhile, have said they are committed to helping Flint but say they want to be careful in their response. You have to ascertain the facts, and then you have to see . . . which level of government is the proper level of government to take the lead, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan said Thursday. The Flint issue could play an outsize role in motivating African Americans to turn out for Democratic candidates in November. The Congressional Black Caucus delivered a letter Thursday to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) urging action on an aid package. Black voters need to understand that government matters and elected officials matter, and you do not have control of your destiny unless you are involved in the political process, and Flint is a perfect example, the caucuss chairman, Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), said Thursday. We will be using this as an example, not as an organizing tool but just as an example, of how government is very much involved in the life of every American. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the political alliance of Rep. G.K. Butterfield. He is a Democrat. Anne Gearan contributed to this report. Under Secretary Tom Vilsack, shown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has settled large class-action civil rights lawsuits brought by Native American and black farmers and ranchers. (Craig Lassig/European Pressphoto Agency) Native American farmers asked a federal judge Thursday to fix the monumental failure of a landmark civil rights settlement that has left $380 million more than half the total unclaimed after the U.S. government agreed to pay the farmers for years of official discrimination. The government in 2010 committed $680 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit by thousands of Native American farmers and ranchers. The suit filed in 1999 alleged that the Agriculture Department discriminated against Native Americans in loan programs from 1981 to 1999. Only about 3,600 successful claimants came forward after the settlement, not the more than 10,000 expected. Those who filed claims received roughly $180 million plus $60 million in tax payments on their behalf, not counting other relief on farm loan debt. About $60 million went to attorneys. But that left unclaimed the hundreds of millions set aside for the settlement and launched a battle over how to handle those funds. The scope of this failure is monumental; the reasons for it remain unclear, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan of the District wrote in July, calling the result a cautionary tale in class-action law. [Native American farmers reach historic settlement with USDA ] Experts said the inability to distribute money to more aggrieved farmers could track to several factors: the departments failure to keep records of applicants who previously had been denied loans, a history of skepticism in Indian country about federal promises and the hurdles of reaching poor and isolated Native Americans in remote areas who based on previous calculation models used in litigation were believed to have been engaged in agriculture. Sullivan rejected competing proposals last summer to split the untapped $380 million among class recipients which the government opposed or to distribute the money over 20 years through a trust led by Native Americans to charities selected by class attorneys. The dispute pit class members against one another and against lawyers who represented the overall group. Instead, Sullivan called for new talks. The original settlement cannot be changed after April 28 without agreement on what to do with the leftover funds, said John G. Dillard of Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Matz, a lawyer for lead plaintiff Marilyn Keepseagle, a North Dakota Sioux rancher. Under those original terms, now criticized by all sides, what was expected to be a small amount of leftover money would have to be distributed in equal shares to nonprofit groups chosen by class attorneys. Sullivan said that because of the larger amount left unclaimed that option could be viewed as both unjust and inefficient. Attorneys for Keepseagle, the class and the department produced a new agreement in December, to award successful claimants an additional $21,275 in cash and tax payments in their behalf about $77 million in all atop the $50,000 apiece most received initially. Another $38 million would go to nonprofit groups chosen by class counsel and the rest, would endow a Native American-led trust that could use its discretion to distribute money to nonprofit groups an arrangement that could create the largest U.S. philanthropic institution to serve Native American farmers and ranchers. About 70 percent of 300 written comments filed with the court, and several of nearly 100 people who filled Sullivans courtroom Thursday, opposed the proposal. Those who objected include individuals who had tried to collect through the settlement but were denied and those who had never filed and were left out altogether. Three of four named class representatives, including Keepseagle and Claryca Mandan, a North Dakota rancher with the Hidatsa tribe, said that they believed that they had no choice but to accept the deal that includes some added payment to people like them but also creates the large trust and donations to charities. It is with a heavy heart and great reluctance we accept this meager amount, Mandan said. It was too much to risk not getting any money at all. Another representative, Keith Mandan, Clarycas ex-husband, opposed it. Keith Mandan agreed with William H. Billy Smallwood Jr., a successful Choctaw claimant from Antlers, Okla., who filed a new lawsuit this week challenging the distribution of funds to undeserving third parties including charities with no track record formed just to capture the taxpayer-funded windfall at the expense of proven victims of discrimination. [Native American farmers and ranchers press USDA on bias complaints] Dillard said that he was cautiously optimistic the change would be approved, because time to make changes was running out for the court and for many aging farmers. Of nine original class representatives, Keepseagle is now 78, four others are deceased, and one has dementia, Dillard said. Theres real interest in going ahead and resolving this matter now, he said. Lead class attorney Joseph Sellers of Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll said the result was a compromise by all sides to serve a community that has suffered enormous poverty over centuries and has extraordinary financial needs. Sellers said that he hoped the dispute over the leftover money would not distract from the cases achievements, which in addition to funds included a systematic review of farm loan rules and the creation of a Native American advisory council for the department. President Obama welcomed Colombias leader to the White House on Thursday to celebrate one of the most successful U.S. aid efforts of the past few decades and pledge an additional $450 million in American assistance. For more than 15 years the aid to the Colombian government and security forces flowed under a program called Plan Colombia that spanned three administrations. Over the years it grew to include a counterterrorism program, democracy development and trade deals. Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in their White House appearance declared an end to that program and the beginning of a new effort called Peace Colombia. The new name reflects a major turn of events for the nation that only 15 years ago was on the verge of becoming a failed state, dominated by guerrillas, paramilitary units and drug traffickers. Americas support to Colombia, sustained by small numbers of American military advisers, offers a stark contrast to the much larger and less successful efforts to stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan over the same period. Today Colombias economy is one of the strongest in Latin America and the countrys longtime warring factions have been meeting in Cuba for peace talks. After a half-century of war the government and the countrys leftist guerrillas appear to be on the verge of historic peace deal. Santos repeatedly thanked Obama for his efforts to support the talks. He also praised Obama for his outreach to Cuba, one of the Obamas most consequential and controversial foreign policy initiatives. Thank you for your audacity in establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba, Santos said. Obama and Santos used much of their joint appearance to celebrate the successes of the last 15 years and cooperation between their two governments. Theres no denying Colombias remarkable transformation, Obama said. In short, a country that was on the brink of collapse is now on the brink of peace. . . . In Colombia today there is hope. Santos described the economic and political progress that Colombia has made in recent years as it has surged to become one of the strongest economies in Latin America. All of these advances are due in great part to the fact that 15 years ago when we were in such dire straits the Colombians received a friendly hand, he said. He thanked the United States not only for its military aid but also for its help with governance and rural development. Obama urged Colombians to seize upon the moment of peace to build a prosperous and modern economy. Despite its advances in security, Colombia is still the worlds No. 1 exporter of cocaine. The $450 million in U.S. aid will be used to help strengthen Colombian security forces, reintegrate former fighters into society and extend the rule of law to jungle areas that have been outside the governments control. The United States will also work with the Colombians to remove all of the land mines in the country over the next five years. The de-mining effort will open up land to farming and help ease poor Colombians off of their dependence on cultivating coca, the raw material of cocaine. Production of the drug has increased sharply in the recent years. We all know its easier to start conflicts than end them, Obama said. We will be your partner in waging peace. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko jointly with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk and Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Groysman have met with G7 ambassadors and the head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine to discuss the situation around the Ukrainian government. "The president emphasized that he was strongly determined to continue reforms awaited by Ukrainian society. Rapid reload of the government is essential for that. At the same time, the president believes that the reformer ministers and their teams should stay on board," the presidential press service reported on Thursday evening. The ambassadors underlined the importance of the Ukrainian authorities' unity in countering Russian aggression. The parties also discussed the implementation of the Minsk peace agreements. Russia has not been adhering to the agreements, Poroshenko said and called on the partner countries to continue pressure on Russia through sanctions. Audience members listen as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton addresses a rally in Hampton, N.H. If they happen to be independents, they are especially coveted. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Theyre unpredictable. Stubborn. Many, if not most, still dont know for whom theyre going to vote some dont even know whether itll be a Republican or a Democrat. They are the famed New Hampshire independents: a bloc of swing voters who make up 40 percent of the electorate here and who are being intensively targeted by several candidates in both parties. Cate Sides, 43, a graphic designer, is one of them. She has stopped answering the phone because of the incessant appeals, and she does not believe what she reads on all the fliers she has received. It all comes down to character to me, somebody who has a proven record and can get the job done, said Sides, who has narrowed her selection to a choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Hillary has a ton of experience. And Donald Trump, hes a businessman. He knows how to accomplish what he needs to. Sides said she will decide after having watched the two debates the Democrats on Thursday night and the Republicans on Saturday night. Granite State residents are set to vote in the nation's first presidential primary of the 2016 election on Feb. 9. (Julio Negron,Sarah Parnass/The Washington Post) Its all about trustworthiness, she said. Its all a gut feeling. Top operatives on Democratic and Republican campaigns said that Sides is typical: Even after months in which candidates have spent millions of dollars trying to analyze, dissect and appeal to the whims of independents, those voters remain a highly volatile group with just four days to go. They are unpredictable, theyre generally late deciders, and they can make emotive decisions as often as they make decisions based on practical political positioning, said John Weaver, a strategist for Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) who has decades of experience targeting New Hampshire independents. In January, a WBUR-MassInc poll found that 44 percent of undeclared voters said they were likely to vote in the Republican primary, while 35 percent said they planned to vote in the Democratic contest. Twenty-one percent were unsure of the contest in which they would vote, and many more said that they could change their minds. The survey found that on the Democratic side, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont stood to benefit the most from independents, while on the Republican side, Trump had the most support, followed by Kasich, Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.) and former Florida governor Jeb Bush. But polling, especially of independents, can be unreliable, and small changes of opinion among the group could send some candidates forward and others home. One theory here is that Sanders, who has captivated many independents across the country with his populist, outsider rhetoric, will dominate independents, just as he did in Iowa on Monday. In that race, Clinton eked out a narrow victory with the support of 56 percent of Democrats, but Sanders surged with the backing of nearly 70 percent of independents. If he repeats those numbers in New Hampshire, he would be likely to score a crushing victory over Clinton. The Bernie message the Wall Street establishment, the rigged economy is very powerful with these independent voters, and thats true on both sides of the aisle, Sanders strategist Tad Devine said. A lot of what Trump is seeing is because of that. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is reflected in a window during a news conference while a crowd waits in Milford, N.H. Undeclared voters could have a huge effect on his results. (John Tully/For The Washington Post) Another theory is that Trump the brash outsider who has rallied the frustrated and angry masses who feel silenced by the power structure of both parties will become a magnet for independent voters. Personality is something that undeclared voters focus on, said Neil Levesque, executive director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm College. I talk to a lot of groups, and they say, Im for Trump. I say, If Trump werent on the ballot, who would you vote for? And they say, Bernie Sanders. Its an anti-Washington, anti-business-as-usual vote. And then theres a counter-theory to that theory, which goes like this: Independents who might otherwise be drawn to Sanders will choose to vote in the Republican primary because they are disgusted by Trump. Does all this attention around Trump draw people who sometimes vote in Republican primaries to make sure they go to the polls, pick up a Republican ballot and keep Trump from taking over the Republican Party? It could, said Grant Bosse, editorial page editor at the Union Leader, the states largest newspaper, which has been in Trumps cross hairs for its anti-Trump editorials and its endorsement of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. The WBUR-MassInc survey found that if undeclared voters flock to the Republican primary, Trumps support could fall. Although he performs well among independents who are likely to vote in the Republican race, those who are undecided about which primary to vote in are less supportive of Trump and more supportive of Kasich and Bush. With Kasichs town-hall meetings, advertising and field organizing, he is striving to persuade these voters to lift him on the Republican side. For instance, he is highlighting his expansion of Medicaid in Ohio under President Obamas health-care law. This is considered an apostasy by many conservative Republicans, but the Kasich campaigns internal polling shows that the position is overwhelmingly popular with undeclared New Hampshire voters. They get that hes someone different than a normal Republican, Weaver said. Theyre attracted to him because they see hes a guy that cares about average Americans, the people who live in the shadows and dont have a voice. There is precedent for independent voters being determinative in New Hampshire primaries. In 2000, John McCain entranced so many of them with his anti-establishment, straight-talk campaign that independents voted overwhelmingly in the Republican primary, costing insurgent Bill Bradley enough votes in the Democratic primary to let then-Vice President Al Gore squeak by with a win. In 2008, New Hampshire independents were a critical element of McCains come-from-behind victory, which propelled him to the Republican nomination. Clinton, the national Democratic front-runner, has trailed Sanders significantly in recent polls in New Hampshire and might benefit if independents opt to vote in the Republican primary. If the Republican race turns really hot and somebody catches fire like a Kasich, for example there might be a movement of the undeclareds to vote in the Republican primary, and that would probably help Hillary, said Terry Shumaker, a prominent New Hampshire Democrat and Clinton supporter. Clintons campaign officials would not go so far in their analysis. They said that Clintons message and the campaigns outreach efforts are aimed at independent voters as well as registered Democrats. We target the whole universe of the electorate, said Mike Vlacich, Clintons New Hampshire state director. Independents will self-select where they want to go. At a rally Tuesday morning in Derry, Clinton touted her decades of advocacy for progressive policies and her agenda on pocketbook economic concerns, college affordability and gun control. Clintons advisers said these issues resonate especially with independent voters here. The reality is that we know we have an uphill climb in New Hampshire, Vlacich said. She wasnt trying to hide that. But shes also saying to folks that its worth fighting for, no matter what. Our hope is that independents will appreciate that thats the kind of candidate she is and ultimately the kind of president shell be. The Sanders campaign is trying to set up New Hampshire as a case study of both Democratic candidates ability to win over independent voters in the general election. His advisers hope that a victory by Sanders in Tuesdays primary can convince Democratic establishment leaders, who have been critical of Sanderss candidacy if not outright hostile that he could be a credible standard bearer for the party. If she loses here, it raises critical questions about her ability to attract independent voters, which will be a key to the general election, Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said. This indecision weighs on voters. Emilie Major, 25, a business owner in New London, still does not know whether she will cast a Democratic or a Republican ballot. She leans toward Republicans and would like to oppose Trump. Hes a loose cannon, she said. A pinless grenade. But Major also is drawn to Sanders and plans to attend one of his events this week to hear more from him. Im not feeling the Bern, Major said. But I think he could force a change, and that could be a good thing. Scott Clement in Washington, John Wagner in Concord, N.H., Abby Phillip in Derry, N.H., and Rosalind S. Helderman in New London, N.H., contributed to this report. A super PAC ad hitting Sen. Ted Cruz last month for supporting a Canadian style value-added tax plan piled on the insults, saying Ronald Reagan hated the idea and noting that the Wall Street Journal warned it could lead to higher taxes. The spot by Conservative Solutions PAC, a super PAC allied with Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, was posted online about a week after Rubio campaign staffers tweeted a link to a rapid-response site that made the exact same points. The close correlation of messages shows how easy it is for well-funded independent groups to decipher the needs of the candidates they are supporting. While campaigns are prohibited under federal law from coordinating their advertising strategy with super PACs and other outside groups, the narrowly written rules leave ample room for them to share information online. Open telegraphing is becoming increasingly common. Candidates routinely post raw video footage that can be used in ads by outside allies, such as the hours of b-roll interviews with Cruzs family uploaded last summer to his Senate YouTube page. Former Hewlett Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina posts her schedule to a public calendar, which her allied super PAC follows to determine where to send advance staff. The law still prohibits campaigns and super PACs from talking directly to each other, but the regulations havent kept up with modern communication technology, said GOP election law attorney Benjamin Ginsberg, who served as counsel for the presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and Mitt Romney. That means campaigns and super PACs are communicating publicly in plain view, in compliance with the wording of the existing regulation, he added. Jeffrey Sadosky, a spokesman for Conservative Solutions PAC, declined to comment on whether the group is using research from a Rubio campaign web site called 2016Facts.org. We make our decisions based on a number of factors, including polling and the actions of all the candidates and their PACs, he said. There is no one factor that drives our decision-making. When asked if tweets by campaign officials were effort to signal the super PAC, Rubio spokesman Alex Conant replied, We follow the law. [Its bold, but legal: How campaigns and their super PAC backers work together] With little action coming out of a sharply divided Federal Election Commission, the 2016 election has already seen markedly bold examples of campaigns working in concert with outside groups financed by large donations. The Democratic super PAC Correct the Record is actually coordinating directly with Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, leaning on an FEC exemption originally designed for bloggers. That helped open up the flood gates, Ginsberg said. The Rubio campaign has been posting opposition research and talking points to 2016Facts.org. The sites home page consists solely of a photo of Mount Rushmore and a folksy video of the senator answering top Google queries related to his name. Visitors are asked to sign up with their email to learn the facts about the 2016 Election! The site is identified as paid for by the Rubio campaign, but it does not provide any visible links to its contents. Conant said 2016Facts.org serves as the campaigns fact-checking site and that the research posted there is widely disseminated through press releases, Twitter and Facebook. We have taken more negative attacks and false attacks and been the subject of more false reporting, including by the Washington Post, than any other campaign, he said. This site is where we set the facts straight for our supporters and credible reporters. He declined to comment on why there were no publicly visible links to the contents of 2016Facts.org, saying, We dont discuss our digital strategy. [After Iowa, Rubio picks up steam among lobbyist donors, fundraisers] The contents of the website can be seen through links that have been tweeted by Rubio campaign officials. Get the facts on @JebBush and @r2rusa false TV ad, Rubio senior adviser Joe Pounder tweeted at 11 a.m. on Dec. 29, referring to a spot released that day by the pro-Bush super PAC Right to Rise that slammed Rubio for missing national security briefings. The Right to Rise ad had already caught the attention of strategists at Conservative Solutions PAC, who hours earlier had begun working on a response, according to a person familiar with the super PACs discussions. In his tweet, Pounder provided a link to a page on 2016Facts.org pushing back against the Right to Rise ad. Among the items highlighted on the page was an interview that Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa gave to a local TV station, in which he dismissed the idea that Rubios absence from Senate Foreign Relations Committee meetings was a big deal. A few days later, Conservative Solutions PAC rolled out an ad in Iowa defending Rubios attendance record that declared, Jeb Bush is desperate. His attacks on Marco Rubio have been dismissed and debunked by our own Sen. Grassley, says a male narrator in the spot, citing the same local Iowa TV interview with Grassley. The super PACs anti-Cruz ad in January opened with a photo of the senator from Texas in a Canadian maple leaf-shaped frame. Cruz wants a value-added tax, like they have in Canada and European socialist countries, the narrator says. The ad was uploaded a week after Rubio staffers tweeted a link to a 2016Facts.org research page headlined Senator Ted Cruz supports a large new European-style tax called a Value-Added Tax. Under an FEC regulation adopted in 2010, campaigns cannot share private strategy with their outside allies, but independent groups can draw from a publicly available source to produce ads supporting a candidate. If communications are public, its not coordination, said Kenneth Gross, a former FEC associate general counsel. It gets down to the intricacies of the communication on social media, and generally people view Twitter as a public communication. Amid growing reports of irregularities in the Iowa Democratic caucuses, Bernie Sanderss presidential campaign said late Thursday that the state party had rebuffed its initial requests for paper records tallying the votes in each precinct that were used to determine Hillary Clintons narrow victory. Sanderss supporters have complained in recent days that some caucuses, which were administered by the Iowa Democratic Party, were disorganized. In at least one case, Sanderss backers say, results were not reported accurately to the state party. We want to figure this out in the most diplomatic way possible, said Rania Batrice, Sanderss Iowa communications director. The campaign has not retained a lawyer for this matter, officials said. They declined to discuss what options they may have to protest the results. Were not contemplating a lawsuit, campaign spokesman Mike Briggs said. We are assessing the situation. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Democratic presidential candidate, speaks during a campaign stop at the Rochester Opera House Thursday in Rochester, N.H. (John Minchillo/AP) The caucus problems were first reported by the Des Moines Register. The newspaper published a scathing editorial Thursday under the headline, Something Smells in the Democratic Party. The editorial called Mondays caucuses a debacle, assailing party leaders for declining to review the results in which two-tenths of 1 percent separated Sanders from Clinton. Too many questions have been raised, the editorial asserted. Too many accounts have arisen of inconsistent counts, untrained and overwhelmed volunteers confused voters, cramped precinct locations, a lack of voter registration forms and other problems. Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, had lost a wide lead in polls in the weeks leading up to the caucuses, and a loss would have been a damaging setback. She hailed the Iowa results during an appearance in New Hampshire hours after her victory was declared. The Clinton campaigns Iowa state director, Matt Paul, said Thursday that it appeared the Sanders campaign was attempting to disparage results that dont come out in their favor. Paul said that there have been a handful of instances similar to issues raised in every previous caucus where our reporting shows Secretary Clinton should have been awarded more delegates, and we will continue to resolve them with the Iowa Democratic Party. However, he said, none of the discrepancies would alter the result of the caucus. A spokesman for the Iowa Democratic Party, Sam Lau, said Thursday that the party was reviewing the concerns of Sanders and Clinton. He said the caucuses are a unique event that involved more than 171,000 Iowans and their neighbors at a specific time and place, and thus they cannot be re-created or recounted. That being said, we are working with all campaigns on individual concerns they are bringing to us and addressing them on a case-by-case basis. Just yesterday, we met with the Sanders campaign, who brought us a small amount of specific concerns, and the Clinton campaign has also asked us a small amount of questions. We will look into these concerns and reach out to our county party leadership with any questions. Early reports of caucus problems led Sanderss campaign staff, including Batrice, to try to double- and triple-check every precinct so we can see what all the discrepancies are, Batrice said. We have found some already and are gathering that data over the next several days, and then well see where we get, Batrice said in an interview Thursday. She said the Sanders camp was disappointed that the party had so far declined to provide the campaign with official paper records that would show each precincts tally before it was entered Monday night into a computer application. In lieu of those official paper records, Batrice said the campaign is contacting every one of its precinct captains to reconstruct their records of caucus results. John Wagner in Rochester, N.H., contributed to this report. Amnesty, in the minds of many, is politically incorrect. But it could be good news for many condo s and businesses in the District. The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) has introduced an amnesty program, extending through the end of the month, allowing associations and businesses to come into full compliance with agency rules without penalty. That could save entities hundreds or thousands of dollars in fines and court fees. To legally transact business here, a business or association based in the District must register with DCRA. Once registered, the entity must file a status report every two years. Additionally, most businesses are required to obtain a basic business license. Unfortunately, businesses especially small corporations, and condominium and cooperative associations often forget to renew their status. Most corporations have a local resident serve as registered agent. That person is tasked with receiving the notice for filing the two-year report and making sure the corporation is up to date. And when someone files a lawsuit against a business, the agent is usually served with the complaint. [More Kass: When its condo board v. delinquent owner: The legal options for both sides] City law requires condominium and cooperatives, just like enterprises, to be licensed to operate. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post) However, especially with cooperative associations, registration is a low priority. Typically, when a condominium is created, the developer registers the association and selects the registered agent. But when a transition occurs and the condo residents take over, all too often, no one knows about the requirement for registration and a registered agent. A business or association with an expired basic business license or a corporate registration revoked for non-filing can become fully compliant by submitting all past due biennial reports with the accompanying late fees. This can range from $50 to $100 for every year the business was not registered. This can be a lot of money, depending on how many years the registration has lapsed. According to DCRA, the amnesty program provides business owners a unique opportunity to come into compliance with District regulations and requirements without facing associated fines or penalties accrued due to failure to obtain or renew a business license, corporate, or weights and measure device registration. However, DCRA added that notice of infractions will be excluded from this program and will not be reversed. What are the consequences of not registering or not obtaining a business license? If you are a home improvement contractor without a home improvement contractor license, you may be required to refund your customers all of the money you received for work done, regardless of the quality of your work. [More Kass: Whats wrong with D.C. condo owner bill of rights?] If you are not registered or have not updated your registered agent, you may not be able to respond to a lawsuit filed against you, and this could be costly. If notice of the lawsuit does not reach you because the plaintiff sent it to the registered agent of record and that person is no longer working with you, the court might issue a default judgment and grant the plaintiffs request for monetary damages because of your failure to file an answer in your defense. According to D.C. law, if a business license or corporate status has been revoked, the entity that was covered by that license cannot continue conducting business other than for the purpose of winding up its activities. Moreover, it can be hit with fines and penalties for noncompliance with District law. The amnesty program will end Feb. 29. All entities community associations included should confirm that they are properly registered. Many landlords do not know that they need to have business licenses. While the amnesty will not be available to any entity that has never been registered, this is a reminder that everyone doing business in Washington should be sure of being legally entitled to operate. Benny L. Kass is a Washington and Maryland lawyer. This column is not legal advice and should not be acted upon without obtaining legal counsel. For a free copy of the booklet A Guide to Settlement on Your New Home, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Benny L. Kass, 1050 17th St. NW, Suite 1100, Washington, D.C. 20036. Activists shout slogans in Kolkata, India, on Jan. 29, 2016, as they demand harsh punishment for the men convicted in a case of rape and murder. (Bikas Das/AP) Sanjeev Ojha thought his 4-year-old daughter would be safe at the neighborhood preschool. But police say a toy salesman entered the school on at least four occasions, taking the child into a nearby room and raping her. He was finally caught two years ago when the girls older sister saw him assaulting the child and told Ojha. More than 36,900 rapes were reported in India in 2014. Nearly 14,000 of the victims were children, a 151 percent increase since 2009. The crime was long shrouded in silence, but more families are reporting the sexual assault of children, another societal shift after the fatal gang rape of a young woman in New Delhi in 2012. But three years after India passed an enhanced law to combat child sexual abuse, activists say that it has been poorly implemented, often leaving families without support after they report sexual assaults. The police spoke so rudely that they made us feel as if we were the culprits, said Ojha, 35. They made us repeat what happened again and again. They asked, Why did your child wander off? After the grueling questioning and medical examination, the family walked three miles at 2 a.m. to get home, shivering on a December night. We were afraid, confused and felt humiliated, Ojha recalled. [Indian Parliament passes tough juvenile law, two days after young rapist is released] In the two years since that night, other angry parents have protested online and on the streets, demanding greater safety for their children in schools and public places. In October, lawmaker Rajeev Chandrasekhar formed a coalition of activists and began an online petition asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make child safety a priority. But many say that despite the increased activism, the system is still broken. Last week, a study of child-rape cases in New Delhi courts by the National Law School of India University said that the behavior of police, doctors and lawyers has not changed much since the law was passed. There were no courtrooms exclusively for child-abuse cases, only a few courts had separate rooms for taking witness statements, and there were no waiting rooms or toilets nearby, despite the laws provisions. The reports analysis of verdicts between April and September last year showed that only 1 in 6 cases resulted in conviction. Until October 2014, the national conviction rate under the new law on child sexual abuse was just 2.4 percent. In 67 percent of cases, the child victims gave up on the trials, changed their statements or rescinded their complaints because of threats from the families of those accused of sexual abuse. About 28 percent of cases dragged on for longer than a year. The survey said that children are often subjected to inappropriate questions by lawyers in court. All our energies and focus seem to be on demanding and passing harsher laws and harsher punishments, said Swagata Raha, senior legal researcher at the National Law School. But we are not investing much in improving the processes of investigation and justice or in training of police, judges, doctors and counselors in how they handle children and families who are traumatized. Families of victims said that police are often callous. Ojhas daughter told the police that the accused wielded a knife. Police later found a small knife in his room used for cutting vegetables. The policewoman asked us mockingly, He frightened her with this knife? Ojha recalled. My wife answered, Whether it is a knife that cuts vegetables or cuts a goat, it is enough to scare a 4-year-old child. [The shocking things judges in India say about rape] The official numbers of child rapes, experts say, do not tell the whole story. According to the government, 14 children eight of them girls disappeared every hour in 2013. They are not going missing because somebody wants to take them to a mall or to the park. They are being sexually abused and exploited, said Bhuwan Ribhu, national secretary of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement). Last month, a 13-year-old girl was kidnapped by men in a car in New Delhi when she went out to buy milk for her family at dawn. Police say she was kept in a locked room and was raped by three men repeatedly for two weeks. They shot her and threw her in a well, leaving her for dead. But she survived. I had horrible nightmares for days after that, she said. I am angry. I dont want to remain silent. I want the men hanged to death. The police arrested two of the three men within days but failed to follow guidelines of the new law. For three weeks, the police did not give the childs family a copy of the police complaint. The investigating officer stopped taking phone calls from the girls father. And no counselor visited the home, the family said. There is no sustained hand-holding or support for a majority of children or the families, said Yogita Chakraborty, an independent anti-rape volunteer who is helping the teen. The police dont bother to tell them their rights under the new law. The families are left to flounder. Obtaining financial compensation for victims is also difficult. In many cases, the family of the child victim falls into economic hardship and is forced to move, said Uzma Parveen, a counselor with Haq, an advocacy group. Activist and lawyer Gaurav Bansal said that a judge often handles terror cases, underworld crime, narcotics as well as child sexual abuse on the same day. Children come to court [and] see hardened criminals milling around in handcuffs. Ojha said he almost gave up. He would take time off from work to go to court, but often the judge or the lawyer was absent and the trial would be postponed. Once, the suspects family threatened Ojhas wife outside the court. His family would huddle in fear when mysterious strangers banged on their door at midnight and threw stones on the tin roof. Then four weeks ago, the verdict came. The judge sent the toy salesman to prison for five years and awarded Ojhas daughter about $1,800. But now Ojha wants to leave the city and return to his farming village, where no one knows of the ordeal. The village school is not very good, but that is the price my daughters have to pay for what that man did, said Ojha, who came to New Delhi in 2000. I wanted to progress in life. But now safety is more important. Read more: Indian women push back against campus curfews Why wont India criminalize marital rape? Because marriage is sacrament. In rural India, rapes are common, but justice for victims is not Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Syrian rebels battled for their survival in and around Syrias northern city of Aleppo on Thursday after a blitz of Russian airstrikes helped government loyalists sever a vital supply route and sent a new surge of refugees fleeing toward the border with Turkey. The Russian-backed onslaught against rebel positions in Aleppo coincided with the failure of peace talks in Geneva, and helped reinforce opposition suspicions that Russia and its Syrian government allies are more interested in securing a military victory over the rebels than negotiating a settlement. After two days of what rebel fighters described as the most intense airstrikes yet, government forces had succeeded on Wednesday in cutting off the rebels main supply route from the Turkish border to the portion of Aleppo city that remains under opposition control. On Thursday, the government captured several more villages in the surrounding countryside, prompting fears among residents and rebels that the city could soon be entirely surrounded. The loss of Aleppo, Syrias largest city and the most significant urban center to fall, at least partially, under rebel control, would represent a potentially decisive blow to the nearly five-year-old rebellion against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The rebels have maintained control of much of Aleppo since they surged into the city in 2012, prompting U.S. intelligence assessments that they eventually would topple the government in Damascus. Instead, Russia and Iran stepped up their assistance to the Assad regime, helping the government stem, then steadily reverse, the losses. Most of the pro-government forces now fighting in northern Aleppo province are Shiite militias from either Iraq or Afghanistan that have been recruited by Iran to help out its ally in Damascus, according to rebels and military analysts. The intervention by the Russian air force, ostensibly intended to battle the Islamic State, has mostly targeted moderate rebels, tilting the military balance in favor of Assad and enabling the governments spurt of gains in recent weeks. Residents inspect damage in the rebel-held al-Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces. (Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters) [Russias campaign in Syria is proving successful for Moscow] With the push around Aleppo, pro-government forces were able to break a rebel siege on two predominantly Shiite villages, Nubl and Zahra, which had been surrounded by rebel forces for the past three years and sustained only by government airdrops of food. In its determination to see the peace talks get underway, the United States had pressured the rebels allies, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to curtail supplies of weapons, leaving the rebels vulnerable to the new offensive, according to rebel commanders. This latest battle also has the potential to trigger a major new humanitarian crisis. The United Nations inability to deliver aid to towns besieged by government forces had emerged as a major obstacle in the stalled talks. With rebel-held Aleppo almost entirely surrounded, there is a risk that hundreds of thousands of people living there soon could be cut off entirely. Aid agencies said the airstrikes have forced an almost total suspension of aid deliveries across the Turkish border. Opposition forces are losing ground by the minute. Were looking at a nightmare humanitarian situation, said Rae McGrath, director of operations in northern Syria and Turkey for the aid agency Mercy Corps. There are a lot of people on the move, he said. This is certainly the worst situation weve seen since the beginning of the war. Rebel fighters sounded desperate as they described enduring more than 200 airstrikes in the past 24 hours alone. Commanders from a range of rebel groups, from moderates to the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra, issued urgent appeals for reinforcements from other parts of the country. We are fighting our most important battle yet. We are fighting to prevent a regime siege on Aleppo, said Abdul Salam Abdul Razzak, a spokesman for the Noureddin al-Zinki rebel movement, reached by telephone on the northern outskirts of Aleppo. In the coming days, the battle will be fierce. We will keep fighting till the last fighter, and we hope we will not let our people down. [How the battle against the Islamic State is redrawing the map of the Middle East] Speaking in London at an international conference to secure donations to aid Syrians inside and outside the country, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that some 70,000 civilians were streaming toward Turkeys borders to escape the offensive. Aid agencies said at least 10,000 had gathered along Syrias northern border with Turkey. But Turkey, which is already hosting about 2.5 million refugees and has come under pressure from the international community to halt the flow of foreign fighters, has kept its borders sealed shut to new refugee arrivals for the past year. Videos posted by activists on social media showed thousands of people clutching their possessions as they walked toward the Syrian side of the border crossing of Bab al-Salameh, but they were not allowed to cross into Turkey. The fall of Aleppo to the government would present a major challenge to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, the rebels staunchest supporters, but it was unclear what, if anything, they could do to prevent it. Turkish troops have in recent months reinforced their presence along their countrys border with Syria, and Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters in Moscow that Russia suspected Turkey was preparing to take military action in Syria. But Turkey has had limited room to maneuver in Syria since it shot down a Russian jet that had strayed briefly into Turkish airspace in December, triggering retaliatory measures by Russia. The talks in Geneva were suspended Wednesday by Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, who cited the governments refusal to submit to opposition demands for the implementation of U.N. resolutions calling for a halt to the airstrikes and the delivery of aid to besieged areas. [Surrounded by suffering, death in a besieged Syrian town] The talks also snagged on disputes over whom to define as a terrorist on the complicated Syrian battlefield. The Syrian government regards all those fighting Assad, including moderate rebels backed by the United States, as terrorists and has said it will not negotiate with the rebel groups that were represented in the opposition delegation to Geneva. Separately, a spokesman for Saudi Arabias military told the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV network that his country was prepared to send troops to join the fight against the Islamic State. But it was unclear in what capacity or where the Saudi government envisaged deploying such troops. Read more: The hidden hand behind the Islamic State militants? Saddam Husseins. Is it too late to solve the mess in the Middle East? Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world In this undated file photo made available by Google, hundreds of fans funnel hot air from the computer servers into a cooling unit to be recirculated at a Google data center in Mayes County, Okla. (Connie Zhou/AP) If U.S. and British negotiators have their way, MI5, the British domestic security service, could one day go directly to American companies such as Facebook or Google with a wiretap order for the online chats of British suspects in a counterterrorism investigation. The transatlantic allies have quietly begun negotiations this month on an agreement that would enable the British government to serve wiretap orders directly on U.S. communication firms for live intercepts in criminal and national security investigations involving its own citizens. Britain would also be able to serve orders to obtain stored data, such as emails. The previously undisclosed talks are driven by what the two sides and tech firms say is an untenable situation in which foreign governments such as Britain cannot quickly obtain data for domestic probes because it happens to be held by companies in the United States. The issue highlights how digital data increasingly ignores national borders, creating vexing challenges for national security and public safety, and new concerns about privacy. The two countries recently concluded a draft negotiating document, which will serve as the basis for the talks. The text has not been made public, but a copy was reviewed by The Washington Post. [U.S. battle over Microsoft emails could result in global free-for-all] The British government would not be able to directly obtain the records of Americans if a U.S. citizen or resident surfaced in an investigation. And it would still have to follow the countrys legal rules to obtain warrants. Any final agreement will need congressional action, through amendments to surveillance laws such as the Wiretap Act and the Stored Communications Act. Senior administration officials say that they have concluded that British rules for data requests have robust protections for privacy and that they will not seek to amend them. But British and U.S. privacy advocates argue that civil liberties safeguards in Britain are inadequate. The negotiating text was silent on the legal standard the British government must meet to obtain a wiretap order or a search warrant for stored data. Its system does not require a judge to approve search and wiretap warrants for surveillance based on probable cause, as is done in the United States. Instead, the home secretary, who oversees police and internal affairs, approves the warrant if that cabinet member finds that it is necessary for national security or to prevent serious crime and that it is proportionate to the intrusion. If U.S. officials or Congress do not seek changes in the British standards, what it means is theyre going to allow a country that doesnt require independent judicial authorization before getting a wiretap to continue that practice, which seems to be a pretty fundamental constitutional protection in the United States, said Eric King, a privacy advocate and visiting lecturer in surveillance law at Queen Mary University of London. Thats being traded away. Senior administration officials said that they are seeking to relieve the pressure on U.S. companies caught in a conflict of laws. The United States bars American firms from providing intercepts to anyone but the U.S. government after law enforcement has obtained a court order. Britain wants to directly compel the production of the data and has already passed legislation to make that happen. [Britain seeks to overhaul Web surveillance after Snowden leaks] To obtain stored emails, a foreign government must rely on a mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT) by which the country makes a formal diplomatic request for the data and the Justice Department then seeks a court order on its behalf a process that is said to take an average of 10 months. This has been an issue with the U.K. and other countries for a number of years, said one senior administration official, who like several others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations. Because of technological changes, the U.K. can no longer access data in the U.K. like they used to be able to, and more and more, U.K. nationals including criminals in their country are using providers like Google, Facebook, Hotmail. The more they are having challenges getting access to the data, the more our U.S. providers are facing a conflict of laws. Administration officials and officials from several tech firms said the stakes are high if no agreement is reached. They fear that if the trend continues, more foreign governments will force U.S. firms to host their data in those countries a practice known as data localization. They also fear passage of laws, like the one in Britain that has not yet been enforced, requiring foreign firms doing business in their country to comply with their surveillance orders, even if the orders conflict with U.S. law. Were reaching a moment where the status quo is no longer workable, said an official at a major tech firm. Were concerned about the mounting frustration and the inability of foreign governments, including the U.K., to receive responsive data in law enforcement investigations in a timely manner. Up to now, he said, U.S. firms have held their ground when pressured to turn over data or conduct wiretaps in conflict with U.S. law. Increasingly, thats not something well be able to do, he said. Just over a week ago, the White House gave the State and Justice departments the green light to begin the formal negotiations. Officials stressed that they were in the very early stages of the talks, which probably will go on for months. They said they will seek to ensure that any agreement protects civil liberties. But Gregory Nojeim, senior counsel at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a Washington-based privacy group, said allowing Britain to go to U.S. firms directly with wiretap orders would be a sea change in current law. I dont see Congress going down that road. Senior administration officials said that the goal is to help a close ally investigate serious crimes something that the United States has a shared interest in. One potential example: London police are investigating a murder-for-hire plot, and the suspects are using Hotmail to communicate, and theres no connection to the United States other than the fact that the suspects emails are on a Microsoft server in Redmond, Wash. Today, the police would have to use the MLAT process and wait months. Why should they have to do that? said the administration official. Why cant they investigate crimes in the U.K., involving U.K. nationals under their own laws, regardless of the fact that the data happens to be on a server overseas? [European and U.S. negotiators agree on new Safe Harbor data deal] Jennifer Daskal, a national security law professor at American University and a former Justice Department official, said before U.S. firms are asked to turn over data, they should be assured that the legal standard for the request is sufficiently high. It need not mimic precise U.S. standards, she said, but should at least require that requests be targeted, and subject to independent review and privacy protections that weed out irrelevant information. If not in the agreement, Congress should mandate requirements, said Daskal, who is part of a coalition of privacy groups, companies and academics working on the issue. A second administration official said that U.S. officials have concluded that Britain already [has] strong substantive and procedural protections for privacy. He added: They may not be word for word exactly what ours are, but they are equivalent in the sense of being robust protections. As a result, he said, Britains legal standards are not at issue in the talks. We are not weighing into legal process standards in the U.K., no more than we would want the U.K. to weigh in on what our orders look like, he said. The agreement is intended to be reciprocal, so that the U.S. government could directly request wiretaps or stored data of a British provider as long as the target is American and not a British citizen. Karla Adam in London contributed to this report. The Obama administration has found itself increasingly backed into a corner by Russian bombing in Syria that its diplomacy has so far appeared powerless to stop. Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Friday that he has been in continuous contact with the Russians and that the next few days will determine whether or not people are serious about a cease-fire, humanitarian access to areas besieged by fighting and the revival of peace talks suspended this week. In the meantime, he said, while civilians, including women and children, [are] being killed in large numbers and humanitarian access remains denied, the bombing is not going to stop just by whining about it. Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said publicly that his government saw no reason to stop the airstrikes, which Russia says are targeting terrorist groups, including those fighting with the Syrian opposition against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. Vitaly Churkin, Russias ambassador to the United Nations, said Friday that accusations that Russia is targeting civilians and opposition forces were in bad taste. A Syrian man comforts a boy amid the rubble of buildings following a reported airstrike on a rebel-held neighborhood in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo on Thursday. (Thaer Mohammed/AFP/Getty Images) Theyd better put the blame on those who back terrorists, Churkin said as he entered a Security Council closed-door meeting on Syria. [Russias campaign in Syria is proving successful for Moscow] State Department spokesman John Kirby characterized U.S. efforts to stop the bombing as assertive diplomacy . . . trying to avert further bloodshed, not escalate the tensions, not make it worse. I recognize that people can argue its not going fast enough or were not going far enough, Kirby said. Were all frustrated by the situation there. But we also need to be mindful of the ultimate goal here, which is an end to the conflict and not an exacerbation of it. The State Department, he said, is working very, very hard to ensure that all parties that agreed to a U.N. resolution mandating a cease-fire and peace talks meet their obligations . . . and that includes Russia. Kerry, speaking earlier at a news conference with visiting Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, indicated that Russia is not the only party at fault. Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a cease-fire, Kerry said. The Iranians confirmed . . . they will support a cease-fire now. We now have to have . . . all the other parties come to the table and acknowledge that they, too, are prepared to do that. And as of this moment, we dont have that full acknowledgment. Kerry is due to meet with Lavrov late next week in Munich, where the 20 members of the International Syria Support Group, including Russia and Assad backer Iran, will hold their fourth meeting to try to forge a cease-fire and a political transition in Syria. When first scheduled, the Munich meeting was previewed as an opportunity for stakeholders outside Syria to fine-tune peace talks between the government and the Syrian opposition that were supposed to start a week ago. Those talks quickly collapsed, however, amid a ferocious escalation of Russian bombing this week in and around Aleppo that has sent opposition fighters and tens of thousands of new refugees fleeing north toward the Turkish border. Opposition leaders have accused the Russians of trying to create new facts on the ground to bolster Assads negotiating position in anticipation of renewed talks. They have called on the international community, including the United States, to take concrete steps to enforce the U.N.-mandated cease-fire. Kerry said that a number of modalities for providing . . . humanitarian access and a cease-fire are being discussed with the Russians. If its just talk for the sake of talk in order to continue the bombing, he said, nobodys going to accept that. And we will know that in the course of the next days. What remains unclear is what international refusal to accept Russias actions, should they continue, would mean. I wont get up here and speculate about options going forward or ruling anything in or out, Kirby later told reporters. What were focused on is having everybody who signed up to those [U.N.] commitments to meet those commitments, and to stop the suffering. Among the humanitarian relief options under consideration by the Obama administration are airdrops to areas where hundreds of thousands of people have been cut off for months from food and medicine and are at risk of starvation. Administration officials emphasized that airdropped relief is in the planning stages and has not yet been approved. But U.S. forces, which have conducted similar operations in northern Iraq and Syria, could move within days to implement a decision. In August 2014, the U.S. military airdropped food and water for members of the Yazidi sect, besieged by the Islamic State and stranded on Mount Sinjar in northwestern Iraq. Similarly successful operations were carried out in and around the Syrian town of Kobane, along the Turkish border, where local Kurdish forces were fighting for survival against the militants. Approval of the airdrop plan, while a noncombat operation, would pave the way for American planes to fly directly into the contested areas of Syrias civil war for the first time. For the past 18 months, U.S. aircraft have been bombing Islamic State-held areas elsewhere in Syria, but the administration has consistently rejected any air operations related to the separate, civil conflict. A blizzard of Russian airstrikes in and around the city of Aleppo this week has cut rebel and humanitarian supply lines from Turkey. U.N. efforts to deliver relief on the ground to besieged areas around Aleppo and far beyond have been slowed to a trickle. [Syrian rebels are losing Aleppo and perhaps also the war] The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Lavrov and Kerry, in telephone conversations this week, agreed to coordinate possible measures to deliver humanitarian aid to the appropriate districts of Syria by air, using military-transport aircraft. U.S. officials, who said the Pentagon has been asked to prepare relief plans, declined to discuss in detail the closely held consideration of the issue. But they said any cooperation with Russia would be only to prevent Russian aircraft from interfering with U.S. operations. White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Friday that he wouldnt rule out humanitarian airdrops in the future. But, he said, the amount of supplies that you can include is pretty limited, and the strong preference is for a cessation of fighting and the lifting of sieges, allowing ground delivery of aid. You can move a lot more on a convoy of trucks than dropping pallets, Earnest said. In the town of Madaya, northwest of Damascus, where a rare convoy arrived last month, dozens of people have reportedly starved to death. Tragically, there are hundreds of Madayas throughout the country, U.N. Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said this week. Humanitarian conditions in besieged and hard-to-reach areas are insufferable and with time, without relief, getting even worse. An international donors conference, held in London on Thursday, pledged a record $10 billion including $900 million from the United States in additional humanitarian aid to Syria and surrounding countries hosting millions of Syrian refugees. But most donors have in the past failed to live up to their commitments. Yatseniuk says entire govt of Ukraine will resign if Rada decides to reformat it The entire Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers will resign if the Verkhovna Rada makes a decision on its full reformatting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk said. "We clearly said the following: we all came as one team, and we will continue working as one team, and if a decision is made that the team should be changed, we will leave together," Yatseniuk said at a Verkhovna Rada session during a question and answer at the government session. "But we will fight until the end," Yatseniuk said. Pope Francis delivers a speech during a meeting with scholars at the Vatican on Wednesday. (Giorgio Onorati/EPA) Pope Francis and the leader of the powerful Russian Orthodox Church will hold talks in Cuba next week, the first meeting ever between a pope and a Russian patriarch and an encounter that some experts believe may help soothe conflicts in the Middle East. It isnt clear what the agenda will be for the meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill I, the head of the largest and wealthiest branch of Orthodox Christianity. But experts predict it could be a significant step if probably symbolic toward mending a schism that has divided Christianity between East and West for nearly 1,000 years. Pope John Paul II said, The church breathes with two lungs, the Eastern churches and the Western church. This is one of those meetings of great historic importance. Its a good moment, and we need good moments, said Bishop James Massa, a former longtime head of ecumenical and interreligious affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The announcement set off debate about possible geopolitical and internal church maneuvering to explain why the meeting is happening now, after decades of overtures by the Vatican. Some experts said Patriarch Kirill is looking to elevate his global standing ahead of a rare pan-Orthodox summit slated for June. Others saw a desire by both sides to draw closer at a time of crisis for Middle Eastern Christians. The Russian wing is the largest of the 14 self-governing sections of the Orthodox Church. Catholicism and Orthodoxy have been formally estranged since the 11th century over issues such as papal authority and, more recently, disputes involving Roman Catholic reach into traditionally Orthodox regions. Popes for decades have been meeting with the spiritual leaders of the Orthodox Church. However, the Russian wing has been unwilling to do something similar until now. I told Patriarch Kirill I, we can meet wherever you want you call me and Ill come, Pope Francis told reporters on Nov. 30. [Pope also faces rifts inside the Vatican] For Francis, the brief summit in Havana will mark a milestone in his quest to forge closer ties among the worlds churches, a movement called ecumenism that is seen as a chief principle of his papacy. Chad Pecknold, a theologian at Catholic University, said the pull for Francis is obvious. Moscow has a political and ecclesial force as the largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world, he said. Such a meeting has eluded several popes before Francis, including John Paul II, who directly challenged the dominance of the former Soviet Union during the early years of his papacy and later failed to win a visit to Russia following the fall of communism. The patriarch of Russia was the prize that could not be attained, said Daniel Philpott, a professor of political science and peace studies at the University of Notre Dame. That was always a bridge too far for ecumenism. Symbolism aside, the meeting probably wont lead anytime soon to changes in the routine faith lives of Christians. Although the Orthodox constitute the second-largest church in the world, their numbers are very small in the United States. Also, the theological divides between the faiths remain enormous, centering on the Orthodox Churchs rejection of the ultimate leadership of the pope. If you cant agree on the mechanism for resolving conflict, then you cant resolve conflict, said George E. Demacopoulos, head of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. [Francis looks to the Middle East with concern] The Orthodox Church has a complicated but interconnected relationship with the Russian government, and today some former communists including Putin work closely with the church as a way to promote Russian identity. For this reason, the meeting will also be watched by those connected to the conflict in Syria. Russia seeks a wider mandate for its airstrike campaign in Syria, and because of the close relationship between the Orthodox Church and the Kremlin, the meeting carries risks for Pope Francis, Philpott said. There is a chance that Francis could seem co-opted in a sense that the Russians in both church and state are seizing the mantle of protecting Christians worldwide, he said. Meanwhile, Demacopoulos said the significance of the meeting for ecumenism is overstated. Kirill, he said, is motivated primarily by the upcoming panOrthodox synod, where he wants to be seen as a power broker. This is all internal [Orthodox] posturing over who speaks for Orthodoxy, Demacopoulos said. But Massa, the U.S. bishop, said the meeting is good for Orthodoxy. It puts pressure on the many Orthodox jurisdictions to speak with a unified voice to the Catholic Church. Boorstein reported from Washington. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: After four months, Russias campaign in Syria is proving successful for Moscow New Russian legislation could ban holding hands in public if youre gay Putin threatens Turkey for shooting down Russian warplane Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Giselle Ribeiro, 27, plays the saxophone during a bloco, a street party, in downtown Rio de Janeiro. (Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures for The Washington Post) For the next few nights, Tuane Rocha, a tall, radiant samba queen, will be dancing naked in the streets of this city, wearing only body paint. Mind you, she will take precautions. First Im going to put on a layer of repellent, she said. Then makeup. Then the paint. Rocha dances fast really fast. She figures she can keep the mosquitoes at bay if she keeps moving. Because nothing stops Carnival in this country. Not the government, nor a lousy economy, nor the Zika pandemic. Millions of Brazilians will be in the streets this coming week for one of the worlds biggest bacchanals, a dancing and drinking binge that draws revelers from all over the world. No doubt some of them will go home with Zika and spread it even more. Huge crowds at Carnival celebrations across the Americas will give the virus new opportunities to propagate by mosquito but also potentially through sexual contact. From left: Fernanda Morais, 22, Tuane Rocha, 35, and Thais Avella, 31, discuss an upcoming Carnival routine during a meeting at a samba school in Rio de Janeiro. (Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures for The Washington Post) [WHO declares Zika virus a global public health emergency] The arrival of Carnival points to one of the inherent challenges in fighting the Zika outbreak. The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a global emergency. But it doesnt quite feel like one. At least not here, despite the terrifying possibility that it is bringing into the world a wave of babies born with small heads. Pregnant women and their families are petrified. But unlike Ebola, cholera or AIDS at its advent, the Zika virus doesnt present an immediate, lethal threat to the broader population. As many as 80 percent of those infected have no symptoms. And the best really the only way to fight it is for people to do something that they should have been doing anyway: eliminating the mosquito breeding pools in their homes and yards. The mosquitoes that carry Zika flourish, too, in places that belong to no one. Rio de Janeiros spectacular urban rain forests and lush mountainsides teem with them. So do the citys vacant lots and roadsides, strewn with garbage where water collects. Carnival, which began Friday, will probably bring even more trash. Just as authorities here have bristled at calls to cancel the Summer Olympics scheduled for August, there was never any question in Brazilian minds that Carnival would go on despite Zika. Canceling it would be similar to the U.S. government trying to cancel Christmas. It is the countrys most sacred holiday, said Brazilian sociologist and columnist Luiz Simas. Its very purpose is to help people forget about their problems. People abroad might find this a little strange, he said. But in the history of Rio, at the most difficult moments, Carnival is even more intense. You dont party at Carnival because life is good, Simas said. You party at Carnival because life is difficult. In addition to its main parade, a massive, corporate-sponsored procession with thousands of dancers gyrating in elaborate costumes, Carnival also consists of hundreds of neighborhood-level street parties known as blocos, where the drumming and drinking last long into the hot nights of the Southern Hemispheres summer. Its hard to think of a better place for mosquitoes and for promiscuity. Images of Carnival revelry here may contribute to international perceptions that Brazil isnt doing enough to contain the outbreak or sound alarms, for fear of losing much-needed tourism revenue for Carnival and the Olympics. Revelers at a bloco in Rios Centro neighborhood. (Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures for The Washington Post) Fernanda Franca, 33, dances at a street party. (Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures for The Washington Post) [Brazil pushes back at Zika critics, finds new evidence of link to birth defect] This week, the countrys Health Ministry also fired back at complaints from scientists and researchers in the United States and Europe who say they are unable to properly study Zika because Brazil isnt sharing enough test samples. Authorities reject claims that they arent taking the pandemic seriously or should cancel the Summer Games. President Dilma Rousseff has urged Brazilians to mobilize against the virus, and she promised expectant mothers that the government will do everything, absolutely everything in our power to protect you. In a speech this past week, Rousseff declared war on Aedes aegypti, the mosquito that is the primary vector for the virus. She has ordered more than 220,000 soldiers to fan out across the country to hand out leaflets at 3 million homes. About 50,000 will hunt for pools of standing water where the insects breed. But not until next week. After Carnival. People here expect the government to do a lot for them, said Leandro do Nascimiento, a city health worker passing out brochures and condoms ahead of Carnival. We need them to take responsibility for this, too. He joined a large group of health and sanitation workers dancing to samba music and passing out condoms and lubricant packets near commuter trains this week. They do the event every year ahead of the festivities to encourage HIV prevention, but this year, they added Zika materials, and a few dressed up in mosquito costumes, wearing plastic wings and rubbery proboscises. Several residents said these were the first government workers they had seen talking to people about the virus. We dont know much about Zika. Only what weve heard on television, said Alessandro Tavares, speaking at Rios Central Station, alongside his wife, Vanessa Dos Santos, who is nine months pregnant. Anti-mosquito brigades that are supposedly fanning out across the city with larvicide have yet to show up in their neighborhood, he said. The city and the state government dont even have the money to keep the public hospitals open, but they still want to have the Olympic Games, said Tavares, who, like many Brazilians, expresses little faith in the ability of the countrys recession-hobbled government to confront the crisis. The couple live high up on a hillside in one of the citys favelas, where mosquitoes thrive. They keep their doors and windows closed, slather on bug repellent every day, and Dos Santos has not had Zika symptoms. But they worry about the baby they are expecting. Its in Gods hands now, Tavares said. Carnival costume pieces at a samba school in Rios Madureira neighborhood. (Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures for The Washington Post) A surge in cases [Brazilians panic as mosquito-borne virus is linked to brain damage in thousands of babies] Brazil is investigating a possible Zika connection to more than 3,000 reported cases of babies born with underdeveloped heads and brains, the condition known as microcephaly. The highest number of cases have been reported in northern Brazils Pernambuco state. Now, more cases are appearing in Rio, said Alexandra Araujo, a pediatric neurologist at the federal university hospital here. I have never seen so many in such a short time, said Araujo, who has been working at the hospital since 1983. So far, Brazil is the only country in the Americas where authorities have seen a surge of infants born with microcephaly, and Araujo acknowledged that a direct link between Zika and the birth defect has not been proved. But she has seen too much of a jump in recent weeks, she said. There are currently about 3,000 pregnant women in Rio state which has a population of 16 million who have reported Zika symptoms, she said. There were 171 newborns diagnosed with microcephaly statewide last month, after 66 in all of 2015. One of them was Luiz Felipe, born Dec. 28. His mother, Pollyana Rebello, 27, was diagnosed with Zika during her eighth month of pregnancy. For her, it is not a time for Carnival celebrations. Only with time will we know if he will improve, Rebello said, cradling the boy in her suburban home on the outskirts of Niteroi, a town near Rio. It could be that hes able to talk but not walk. To her, Luiz Felipe is a normal boy, she said. He just has a little head. But she said others in the community have stigmatized the family. People think that microcephaly is a contagious disease, and its not. Her cousin Stephani Moura, 24, who is four months pregnant, sat on the couch and fawned over Luiz Felipe. She said that she was trying to protect herself as best she could against mosquitoes.I have the fan on all day, the windows closed, and I put repellent on every two hours, Moura said. And I wear long pants. But not that day. In Rios stifling humidity, she was wearing shorts and a vest. In this heat, no one can stand it, she said. Read more: Brazil may have fewer Zika-related microcephaly cases than previously reported What is Zika? And what are the risks as it spreads? CDC: To avoid Zika exposure, consider no sex Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world Bruno Gomes Antunes shows a picture of his daughter, who was born with microcephaly, at a hospital in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday. (Lianne Milton/Panos Pictures/For the Washington Post) Brazilian researchers said Friday that they had found the active presence of the Zika virus in saliva and urine samples, raising the possibility that the infection could be spread through kissing and other contact involving bodily fluids. Until now, Zika was believed to be mostly transmitted by mosquitoes, although in some cases it is suspected of having moved from one person to another through sexual intercourse or a blood transfusion. Researchers said the latest discovery meant extra care was needed, especially in contacts with pregnant women, given the possible link of the virus to a sharp increase here in reports of the birth defect microcephaly. Specifically, authorities said pregnant women should stay away from crowds and avoid sharing cups or cutlery with anyone suspected of being infected with the virus. If such women are in touch with someone showing the symptoms of Zika, do not kiss them, obviously, said Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazils leading medical research institution. Scientists at the foundation said in a statement that they had observed for the first time in saliva and urine the destruction or modification of cells provoked by Zika, which proved viral activity. [CDC: To avoid Zika exposure, consider avoiding sex] It was already known that the virus could be present in urine and saliva. This is the first time that we showed that the virus is active in other words, with the potential to provoke infection, Myrna Bonaldo, a researcher and one of the team leaders, said in the statement. Infectious-disease specialists said the discovery should not take the focus away from the battle to control the mosquito that carries the virus. Brazil is in the midst of a Zika epidemic that the government blames for potentially thousands of cases of microcephaly, a rare congenital disorder that causes babies to be born with small heads and possible brain damage. Fridays news came at the beginning of the annual Carnival festivities here and across the Americas, when revelers often kiss strangers in the streets and casually engage in other forms of intimate contact. [Brazilian officials: Two people may have gotten Zika via blood transfusions] The World Heath Organization has declared a global public health emergency over Zika and its suspected link to complications in newborns but has not scientifically confirmed a definite connection between Zika and microcephaly. Doctors cautioned that the results released Friday are preliminary and said more testing was needed. Peter Hotez, dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, said that scientists do not know yet whether the virus actually can be transmitted through saliva or urine. Thats the big question, Hotez said. Jesse Alves, a specialist at the Emilio Ribas Institute of Infectious Diseases, a government hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, said the relevance of the findings is unclear. It is more information, but it does not necessarily mean that this is a source of contamination, he said. [Brazil pushes back at Zika critics, finds new evidence of link to birth defect] Alves added that many other viruses are also present in saliva. An example is the HIV virus, he said. You can identify it in saliva, but this does not make it a relevant transmission source. Still, the new discovery could make saliva testing a more effective way to identify the disease, Alves said. Research performed in French Polynesia during an outbreak of Zika in 2013 and 2014 found more traces of Zika in saliva than it did in blood. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation team examined samples from two patients with Zika symptoms, it said. Researchers first identified genetic material from the Zika virus. A molecular biology test was then used to confirm the results. The foundation developed the test, which could offer a weapon in Brazils battle to control the health crisis. The test can distinguish Zika from dengue and chikungunya, two similar viruses carried by the same Aedes aegypti mosquito, said Marco Krieger, a molecular biologist and technical director of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundations production facility in Curitiba, in southern Brazil. And it can do it in just four hours. Brazils Health Ministry plans to distribute 500,000 test kits by the end of the year. It could be done with blood, it can be done with urine, and it can be done with saliva as well, Krieger said. Brady Dennis and Lena H. Sun in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: What is Zika? And what are the risks as it spreads? U.S., Brazilian officials probing possible link between Zika virus, rare paralysis condition Brazilians panic as mosquito-borne virus is linked to brain damage in thousands of babies Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world Syrians fleeing the embattled northern province of Aleppo walk toward the frontier post of Bab al-Salameh bordering Turkey on February 5, 2016. (AFP/Getty Images) Thousands of people fleeing a Russian-backed offensive in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo were blocked from entering Turkey on Friday amid fears of a fresh influx of refugees. The potential new exodus from Syria began earlier this week after Syrian government loyalists backed by Russian airstrikes launched a major offensive that severed the main rebel supply line leading south from Turkey to the rebel-held portion of the city of Aleppo. The battles prompted tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, most of them to escape intense airstrikes that have reduced entire villages to rubble, according to rebel fighters and activists in the area. The fighting continued to rage Friday, with the rebels pushing back against government attempts to capture more territory in the northern Aleppo countryside that has been the main focus of the battle. The boom of distant airstrikes echoed at regular intervals through the mostly deserted border crossing at Kilis on the Turkish side of the border. [Syrian rebels are losing Aleppo and perhaps also the war] Aid agencies and the Turkish government say 70,000 to 100,000 people may have been newly displaced and are on the move seeking safety inside northern Syria. At least 20,000 of them are camped out at the Bab al-Salameh border crossing on the other side of the fence from Kilis, according to the United Nations. Most come from the areas nearest to the front lines in northern Aleppo. Turkey, which is hosting more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees, has kept its border mostly shut to new arrivals for more than a year. It is now under even more pressure to continue to do so from European countries anxious over the influx of refugees and migrants to Europe. In keeping with that policy, a Turkish aid agency erected tents and distributed food on the Syrian side of the border, said Majid Najar, a Syrian activist helping with the aid effort in Bab al-Salameh. People are still coming, and the numbers are increasing, he said, speaking by telephone. The numbers could swell dramatically if the Syrian government succeeds in its apparent goal of encircling the rebel-held portion of the city of Aleppo, where an estimated 300,000 people are living, according to the United Nations. Although the road north to Turkey has been cut, Aleppo residents still have an escape route and rebels, a supply line to the west, via the border crossing of Bab al-Hawa. [Syria is emptying] Residents of Aleppo city have mostly stayed put for now because they know that they will be prevented from entering Turkey, said Ameen al-Halabi, the nom de guerre of an activist living in Aleppo. If people had guarantees they could enter Turkey, everyone would leave, he said. I would leave. The surge in fighting contributed to the collapse of peace talks in Geneva this week and has focused growing criticism among Western allies on the role of Russia in fueling a war it had said it was seeking to solve. Intense Russian airstrikes, mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria, are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters in Amsterdam on Friday. Read more: Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and others Friday to allow his freedom after a U.N. panel declared that he has been arbitrarily detained as he remains in diplomatic sanctuary to avoid arrest. Assange, speaking by video link from his refuge inside the Ecuadoran Embassy in London, said he considered the declaration by the U.N. group to be a significant victory, but he gave no indication of whether he would attempt to end his more than three-year stay inside the diplomatic compound. He urged authorities to abide by the decision and lift orders for his arrest and extradition to Sweden, where he faces questioning on allegations including rape charges that he strongly denies. [Britain stands firm] Its now the task of Sweden and Britain to implement the verdict of the U.N. group, Assange said, calling the decision the end of the road for the arrest orders. British and Swedish officials, however, rejected the ruling and said that Assange has not been detained and is free to leave the embassy whenever he wants. If he walks out, he faces arrest under a European Arrest Warrant and for skipping bail. Hours earlier in Geneva, the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said Assange has been arbitrarily detained and urged Britain and Sweden to end his deprivation of liberty. Assange is entitled to his freedom of movement and to compensation, said a statement from the panel. Assanges supporters fear that Sweden could hand him over to the United States to face possible charges over leaked documents, including hundreds of thousands of U.S. diplomatic cables. The U.N. panel has no legal standing, but its decisions often carry moral clout in international disputes. Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the Working Group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr. Assange, the panels statement said in explaining its determination. Early in his legal wrangles, Assange was briefly held in a British jail, at times in an isolation unit. [Did Assange come to Hillary Clintons defense? Assanges lawyers called the declaration a resounding victory and urged his immediate release. Wearing a dark suit, Assange told reporters that the findings of the panel were now a matter of settled law. He described the comments of British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond, who called the panels ruling ridiculous, as insulting to the United Nations. Swedish prosecutors, meanwhile, said the ruling has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law. Mr. Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point. Thus, he is not being deprived of his liberty there due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities, the Swedish Foreign Ministry said in a letter to the panel. The statement also said Sweden has not received an extradition request for Assange from U.S. authorities. Elisabeth Massi Fritz, a lawyer for the alleged Swedish rape victim, said in a statement to the BBC that the ruling was insulting and offensive to all crime victims. A man suspected of rape should not be awarded compensation after avoiding the judicial process, she said. [Why is Assange picking a fight with academia?] British authorities say that they will contest the ruling and that Assange still faces arrest if he leaves the diplomatic compound. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system, the Foreign Office said in a statement. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, it continued. Citing spiraling costs, Londons Metropolitan Police stopped their round-the-clock policing of the embassy last year, but they continue to monitor it covertly. Late Friday afternoon, Assange stepped onto the embassys balcony to address his supporters and a phalanx of photographers and journalists gathered outside on a chilly winter day. If this illegal, immoral, unethical detention continues, he said, brandishing a copy of the U.N. statement, there will be criminal consequences. Brian Murphy in Washington contributed to this report. Read more: Europe offers Britain a deal to stay in the E.U. The country with the worlds worst breast-feeding rate will shock you David Cameron blasted for calling people in refugee camp a bunch of migrants Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world The exposure of Ezubao, a high-profile Internet lending site, as a racket that allegedly raked in $7.6 billion from some 900,000 investors has not only cast a pall over Chinas burgeoning online finance industry but raised questions about the broader stability of the countrys debt-laden financial system. The state-run Xinhua news agency announced on Monday that Chinese police had arrested 34-year-old Ezubao founder Ding Ning and 20 others associated with the company, which shut its doors in December. Police reportedly used two excavators to recover hundreds of account books that were buried deep underground. Ezubao was one of the more prominent peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sites that match lenders and borrowers over the Internet, and have branched out into other financial products. The company offered high-yield investments of between 9 and 14.6 percent and projected an image of wealth and stability. It paid out 800 million yuan ($US121 million) to staff in November to ensure they wore designer clothes and expensive jewellery. It advertised on high-speed trains and prime time on the state-owned CCTV channel, leading investors to believe that it was government-backed. In reality, Ezubao was in the words of former company executive Zhang Min, a complete Ponzi scheme. It made few real investments but relied on the constant flow of incoming funds to pay off those seeking to withdraw their money. Yong Lei, former director of the companys risk management department, was quoted by Xinhua as saying that 95 percent of Ezubaos investment projects were fake. Many of those who were duped into handing their savings over to Ezubao were reportedly small investors from rural areas. More than 1,000 sales agencies were established across China to promote the company. Angry investors began protesting in December after the company was shut down. A recent online post declared: We need to rise up across the country and let the government know that the peoples bottom line is the return of their capital. To forestall social unrest, Chinese authorities detained demonstrators and clamped down on discussion in Internet sites. At the same time, officials announced this week that Ezubao clients could register their grievances on the Ministry of Public Security web site. The government announced draft regulations for P2P lending sites in late December, limiting their operations to acting as intermediaries between borrowers and investors, and banning them from selling wealth management products, insurances and trust products. Even if the regulations come into effect, companies will have a grace period of 18 months to comply. The online finance industry boomed over the past two years as Chinas speculative property bubble stalled and investors began looking for high rates of return elsewhere. The slump in share prices last year only further fuelled the growth of P2P lending, which nearly quadrupled in 2015 to reach 982 billion yuan ($149 billion), up from 253 billion yuan in 2014. Ezubao was only launched in July 2014. According to the China Banking Regulatory Commission, as of November, 2,612 P2P lending firms were operating normally, but more than 1,000 additional lenders were considered problematic. The New China News Agency reported that around 800 Internet lenders shut down last year, three times the figure for 2014. In December alone, 106 online P2P lenders absconded, suspended business, suffered liquidity problems or were subject to investigations. In its latest report on Chinas shadow banking, the credit rating agency Moodys identified P2P lending as a fast-growing component of the sector. While downplaying its potential for posing systemic risks because of its relatively small size, the agency did note that it had attracted attention for its high default rates and because it carries the risk of social tensions given the large presence of retail investors. The highly volatile and speculative character of the online finance sector raises questions about the stability of the broader shadow banking system, which in turn is intimately connected to the banking and financial sector as a whole. According to a report last year by the US-based Brookings Institution, the size of shadow banking sector in China is estimated at anything from $769 billion to $7 trillion. P2P lending is not the only area that rests on shaky financial foundations. A UBS analysis last month highlighted the growing practice of mid-tier Chinese banks packaging loans into complex financial instruments known as Directional Asset Management Plans or Trust Beneficiary Rights that are shown on their books as low-risk loans to mask rising levels of bad debt as the economy slows. UBS estimated that the size of the shadow loan book rose by a third in the first half of 2015 to $1.8 trillion. UBS financial analyst Jason Bedford told Reuters: These are now the fastest growing assets on the balance sheets of most listed banks, excluding the Big Five [state-owned banks], not just in percentage terms but absolute terms. The concern is that the lack of transparency and mis-categorisation of credit assets potentially hide considerable non-performing loans. Shadow bankings expansion has been fuelled by the vast expansion of cheap credit by the Chinese regime following the 200809 global financial crisis. Lacking any profitable outlet in productive activity, the money was used by speculators, local and regional governments and companies to speculate in the property market, in particular. With restrictions on lending by state-owned banks, the shadow banking system facilitated the speculative binge. Now the property market is cooling, concerns are being expressed about the potential for a systemic crisis. Writing in BloombergView, commentator Noah Smith warned: This shadow banking system has enabled a large buildup of bad debt, much of it related directly or indirectly to real estate. If property prices fall, trust companies will go broke, and bankshaving invested in the trust companieswill be on the hook. That will create the conditions for a really destructive crash. While the collapse of Ezubao or other P2P lenders might not be the trigger for a meltdown, it could well be a harbinger of far deeper problems in the Chinese financial system. Photo by Daring Wanderer/Stocksy. Design by Lauren DeLuca for Yahoo Travel. Valentines Day is fast approaching, and an estimated six million people are either expecting or planning a proposal this February 14th. Once engaged, most couples then have the arduous task of planning, and paying for a wedding in order to make the whole situation official. But if that predicament fills you with utter dread, as it did with me, and the romantic whirlwind of your proposal has got you itching to seal the deal as soon as possible, then you may be toying with the idea of eloping. With the average cost of a traditional wedding now running at around $26,000, who would blame you! Luckily there are incredible places all over the country where you can get hitched quick and still have the wedding of a lifetime. Coronado Island, Calif. A wedding on the beach has never been so easy! (Photo: Hotel Del Coronado) If being barefoot in the sand with breathtaking views is what you had in mind for your intimate nuptials then Coronado Island near San Diego, Calif. is a perfect option. Central Beach boasts the historic Hotel Del Coronado as an impressive backdrop along with year round perfect weather. Also, the City of Coronado allows for up to 25 people, without a permit, at your ceremony, should you actually want to share your moment with friends and family. All you need to do is book an officiant, get your marriage license (which must be obtained within California in the past 90 days) and show up. US Virgin Islands, Caribbean For something a little more exotic, the U.S Virgin Islands are spectacular. Warm crystal clear waters, miles of white sand beaches, incredible food and impeccable weather make this locale an obvious destination. St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John are all U.S territories and therefore U.S laws apply. You dont need a passport to travel there, and there are frequent flights from multiple cities making this part of the Caribbean highly accessible, even on short notice. Plus almost all resorts offer some kind of wedding package. There is no mandatory residency limitations, as with other parts of the Caribbean, and you can fill out a form online that gets signed at your ceremony. Simple. Story continues Related: 14 Extravagant Valentines Day Hotel Experiences Las Vegas, Nev. Say your I dos with a view. (Photo: The Linq) Hosting over 114,000 weddings a year, Las Vegas is the second most popular destination on earth to get hitched (after Istanbul, Turkey), largely because of how easy the state of Nevada makes it to actually tie the knot. Marriage licenses are incredibly cheap, readily available, and there are no formalities to consider such as a waiting period or blood tests. Book a High Stakes Wedding on The High Roller - the Worlds tallest ferris wheel, where you can have a one hour ride in a private cabin providing incredible views of the Las Vegas Strip as you say your I dos. Special extras include a rose bouquet, champagne and strawberries along with pre-ride photos. Rates start at $2,300. Or in true Las Vegas fashion you could take part in the mass wedding ceremony, officiated by Elvis that is set to take place at 3pm on Valentines Day at the LINQ Promenade Fountain Stage. Couples taking part will get to enjoy a first dance sung by the King himself, followed by a champagne toast aboard The High Roller. The wedding ceremony is free, you just have to pay the cost of the marriage license and once lucky pair of newlyweds will win a two night stay at a Caesars property, including airport limo pickup and $200 dining credit. Sign up at info@fightingunited.com or by calling 702.524.8318 Reno, Nev. Located on the edge of Lake Tahoe and surrounded by the dramatic Sierra Nevada Mountains, Reno has all the accessibility of Las Vegas but with a more beautiful backdrop. In fact, you will struggle to find a wedding ceremony location without spectacular views. As with Vegas, marriage licenses are very easy to get as all courthouses are open from 8am until midnight, seven days a week. Along with dozens of quirky wedding chapels, many charging as little as $50 to perform your ceremony, and the majority of hotels offer wedding packages specifically for couples opting for more minimalist nuptials, Reno has become one of the most elopement-friendly cities in the nation. Niagara Falls, NY Get up close and personal with nature with a wedding at Niagra Falls. (Photo: iStock) Niagara Falls has been dubbed the honeymoon capital of the world and for over 200 years has been an iconic destination for proposals, weddings, and honeymoons alike. And what better place to make your marriage vows than with natures powerful wonder raging in the background. There are lots of options for eloping brides and grooms from the peace of the Niagara Falls State Park, to a post ceremony helicopter ride above the falls. Or if you are looking for the extreme romantic experience, share your first kiss in the mist of the water on board the historic Maid of the Mist tour boat. All can be arranged with little to no notice making it ideal for a last minute wedding. New Orleans, LA While a little more notice is needed in the state of Louisiana, out-of-state couples can get married there with only a 72-hour waiting period. And the wait will be worth it for a wedding in the Big Easy. The historic French Quarter has plenty of venue options, from quaint hotels to funky wedding chapels, and after saying I do, you can indulge in the vibrant nightlife and eclectic food offerings of the city. Just dont forget your beads. Related: 7 Travel GIFs Better Than a Valentines Day Card Winter Park, Colo. Elope with scenic Winter Park as your backdrop. (Photo: Wild Horse Inn) If a ceremony conducted by Elvis or a voodoo doctor isnt your thing, and you are hoping for an elopement that is more rustic and remote, you should consider Winter Park, Colorado. Not only does Colorado have no waiting period and no marriage license limitations, but you can pick one up for just $30. Hotels and lodges, such as the Wild Horse Inn, offer marriage packages, perfect for those wanting to elope on the slopes. You can also read your vows fireside in the Inn itself before indulging in champagne in the hot tub under the stars. Park City, UT Along with Nevada and Colorado, the state of Utah makes it wonderfully easy for couples to get hitched quick, with simple and cheap to obtain marriage licenses and a huge variety of location options. Park City, for example, has a lot to offer an eloping couple, from scenic alpine views and world-class amenities (widely considered to be some of the Worlds best snow!) to great restaurants and bustling boutiques. Resorts such as Deer Valley provide magnificent venues with full-service wedding packages that are perfect for those in search of a majestic mountainside event. WATCH: Best Beaches in the Caribbean Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. The constitutional reform in Ukraine is the basis for comprehensive changes in the country, Germany's Ambassador to Ukraine Christof Weil has said. "The constitutional amendments are the key to ambitious reforms launched by Ukrainians two years ago," the ambassador said in Kyiv on Friday while addressing a public forum on the constitutional reform in Ukraine. "The constitutional reform is the ground for the comprehensive changes Ukraine must pass as a state, also including from the position of society and economy," he stressed. Weil says that such constitutional reforms are needed for building a democratic state and society in Ukraine. In his words, the Ukrainians have to see the results of the reform, but "the issue of federalization, I think is very difficult to understand as a term, [it is] poisonous to perception by the Ukrainians". "We must be aware that it is the issue of subsidiarity both for citizens, and for municipalities, and this is a prerequisite for the functioning of other state institutions," Weil said. The ambassador also expressed an opinion that the reform of justice is the "be-all and end-all in the fight against corruption." "Despite the current difficult economic period, I know there are German businessmen who are willing to invest in Ukraine. I know such enterprises and businessmen," he said. According to the ambassador, "it is not the war in the [country's] east that is a major obstacle for German investors their major nightmare is the fact that they will have to deal with Ukrainian court sometime in future," he said. In this context, he stressed the importance of the reform of the judicial system as one of the elements of attracting investments to Ukraine. "The possibility of bribing a court has to be eliminated once and for all," he added. One Ukrainian soldier killed, three wounded in Donbas in last day presidential administration's spokesperson One Ukrainian soldier was killed, another three were wounded in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone in eastern Ukraine in the last day, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Presidential Administration Andriy Lysenko said. "One Ukrainian soldier was killed, another three were wounded. The soldier died amid the shelling of the village of Zaitseve. Two of the injured suffered wounds during the mortar shelling of Mayorsk, and the third one was injured when Maryinka came under mortar fire," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday. Lysenko reported about escalation of the situation in the ATO zone: militants attacked the Ukrainian positions 81 times. "The enemy used heavy weapons 12 times. The situation was calm only in the Luhansk sector not a single shot was fired there towards the Ukrainian positions," he said. Combats stretched along the entire front line in the Donetsk sector, the most difficult situation remains in Zaitseve and Mayorsk where the ATO forces were attacked by mortars of different caliber. The defense line near the ruined Donetsk airport remained unchanged. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree which approves a new military and administrative division of the territory of Ukraine. Poroshenko issued a decree which enacted a relevant resolution by the NSDC dated January 27, 2016, the president's press service reported on Friday. According to the press service, the presidential decree describes and endorses the legal division of the territory of the state into the military and administrative areas in the interests of ensuring defense of Ukraine. According to the document, the land territory of Ukraine is divided into four military land zones and a separate military land zone, which is the area of responsibility of the North, South, West and East operational commands. The airspace of Ukraine is divided into three military air zones and one separate military air zone, which is the area of responsibility of the West, South and Center air commands. The maritime space, taking into account the legal status of the temporarily occupied territories of the internal sea waters and the territorial sea of Ukraine around the Crimean peninsula and parts of Donetsk region, is divided into the areas of responsibility of the Black Sea and Azov naval commands of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As reported, on January 27, 2016, the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine considered and approved the state defense order for 2016 and a new military and administrative division of the territory of Ukraine, as well as the cyber-security strategy. On Monday, February 8, at 14.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled 'Kyrylenkogate as Manifestation of the Moral and Ethical Crisis of Ukrainian Science and Society.' NGO Tochka Rostu: Osvita i Nauka (The Point of Growth: Education and Science) is the organizer of the event. The participants will include Ph.D. (Philosophy), Professor, head of the Cultural Studies Department of the Masters Training Faculty at Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts Tetiana Parkhomenko; Ph.D. (Physics and Mathematics), head of the laboratory of the Nonlinear Physics and Condensed State Physics Department of Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics of the National Academy of Sciences Serhiy Sharapov; Cand. Sc. (Philosophy), expert in social responsibility, member of the B&U (Business and Universities) Laboratory Alla Synhayevska; Cand. Sc. (Physics and Mathematics), Senior Research Fellow of the astrophysics and elementary particles department of Bogolyubov Institute for Theoretical Physics of the National Academy of Sciences Dmytro Yakubovsky, Ph.D. (Economics), Associate Professor, NGO Tochka Rostu: Osvita i Nauka head Svitlana Blagodeteleva-Vovk (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Admission requires journalists' press cards. On Monday, February 8, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference entitled "When Housing and Utilities Refunds Will Be Cancelled?" The participants will include advisor to Energy and Coal Industry Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Porovsky; deputy chairman of the Public Council of the National Commission for Regulation in Energy Sector and Housing Utilities Oleksiy Kucherenko; Coordinator of NGO Expert Platform for Energy Efficiency Ihor Cherkashyn; Director of the NGO Public Audit Maksym Holdarb; Head of the Department of Pricing Policy of Kyiv City State Administration Vasyl Yastrubynsky; member of the National Commission for Regulation in Energy Sector and Housing Utilities Ruslan Mashliakovsky; and Deputy Director of the Department of Housing of Kyiv City State Administration Ivan Pastukhov (8/5-A Reitarska Street). Admission requires press accreditation. For more information call (044) 502 0220 (internal phone 399). Two Chinese Military Planes Enter South Koreas Air Defense Zone; Chinese Ministry Denied Alleged Intrusion Two Chinese military aircraft reportedly breached Korea's Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) Sunday after the two planes briefly entered South Korea's air defense zone in the East China Sea, which is located near Jeju Island. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) made that announcement regarding the incident Tuesday, Korea Times reported. "A Chinese military surveillance aircraft and an early warning plane flew into the KADIZ over Ioedo, a submerged rock in the East China Sea without prior notice," it said. Advertisement Reports revealed that Ieodo is the subject of territorial issue between the two countries. Ieodo is located 150 kilometers from Jeju Island. A spokesperson of JCS said the two Chinese military planes flew out of South Korea's air defense zone after the latter warned the former for allegedly intruding. "We took necessary surveillance and tactical measures adequately," said Jeon Ha Kyu, as noted by Yonhap News Agency Tuesday. Jeon revealed that the presence of the two military jets were noticed in the southern part of the peninsula. The unidentified planes were later known to be Chinese military planes. Albeit, the presence of the two Chinese military planes did not cause threat, as per Jeon. He added that the ministry has ordered fighter jets to standby in case the Chinese planes enter South Korea's air defense zone. Meanwhile, a Korean official said the alleged intrusion might have been done intentionally. "The flight must have been carried out intentionally because there is little chance that state-of-the-art military planes could mistakenly take a wrong route," the official stated. "Through the flight, China appears to be flexing its military muscle against THAAD deployment." On the other hand, the Chinese ministry denied the alleged intrusion and said in a dispatch that the accusation is "not true." Aside from that, the ministry did not give further comments regarding the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Like us and Follow us Follow @Koreaportal and 2022 Korea Portal, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- China's State Council has approved a draft of national social security fund regulations. "The national social security fund is mainly financed by central government budget, state-owned capital and the fund's investment income," said a statement issued after Wednesday's executive meeting of the State Council chaired by Premier Li Keqiang. The fund supplements and regulates social security expenditures including pension insurances. The draft explained the fund's operations and risk management while intensifying audits and openness, according to the statement. BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- Mobile apps, free pesticide detection, live broadcast of kitchens... Government agencies across China are thinking up new ways to ensure food safety during Spring Festival. Residents in north China's Hebei Province can download a mobile app to check the authenticity and quality of products and file complaints. The app is connected to a huge database of sampling information collected by the administration in the last three years. By scanning the bar code, a customer knows whether a product has passed quality inspection or how many times it failed in the past. "The app has been downloaded more than 120,000 times which effectively means we have recruited that many food and drug inspectors," said Liang Zhigang, director of the administration's sci-tech information department. At dinnertime in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, diners waiting outside a popular restaurant can watch what is going on in the kitchen on TV monitors. "Our kitchen is no longer 'staff only', as we welcome customer supervision," said manager Zhang Biao. According to Zhejiang Food Industry Association, the provincial government has spent nearly 80 million yuan (12 million U.S. dollars) installing cameras in over 4,000 school and restaurant kitchens. In Taizhou not far from Hangzhou, an LED panel at the entrance of a wet market shows inspection information for the vegetables and meat sold inside. A laboratory also offers free pesticide detection for shoppers. "Besides running a fast test on fresh vegetables and fruit, we sample at least 20 products from the market and display the result on the screen," said Lu Shanshan, a technician from the lab. Of 800 wet markets in urban Zhejiang, over 500 now have free fast test labs, said Lu Yongfu, deputy director of the provincial food and drug administration. "The labs ran five and half million tests last year," Lu said. The province plans cameras for another 2,000 kitchens this year and 200 urban wet markets will be renovated, meaning over 70 percent of these markets will have their own labs. In southern China's Guangdong, where human infections with H7N9 and H5N6 influenza were reported in the past years, the province has ordered all poultry to be butchered collectively and kept chilled before delivery. Guangdong has more than 10,000 food safety inspectors, and has recruited over 21,000 assistants from communities and villages. Last Thursday, the central government demanded most rigorous standards, strictest supervision and severe punishment for food crimes. BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) on Thursday said overall air quality had improved last year, even though only 22 percent of cities monitored met national clear air standards. According to Luo Yi, MEP head of environmental monitoring, 338 cities were monitored in 2015. Among them, only 73 cities -- mostly in Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou, Tibet and Yunnan -- had met national standards. Luo said there were also "signs of improvement." Density on PM2.5, or particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diameter, dropped 14.1 percent year on year in 74 key cities in 2015 and readings of PM10 fell 11.4 percent. Of the 74 cities, Haikou, Huizhou, Lhasa, Xiamen and Zhoushan registered the best air quality, while Baoding, Hengshui, Tangshan and Xingtai -- all in Hebei Province -- along with Zhengzhou in Henan Province were the most polluted. Nationwide, average PM10, SO2 and NO2 readings dropped by 7.4, 16.1 and 6.3 percent respectively in 2015. Chinese Foreign Ministry has said the country's top nuclear envoy has returned from a visit to North Korea. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said bilateral relations had been discussed among other issues. "During his stay in Pyongyang, Wu Dawei met with North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Ri Su-yong and First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Kim Kye-gwan. In addition, Wu held talks with Ri Yong-ho, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. Specifically, they talked about bilateral China-North Korea relations, touching every aspect; they certainly also talked about all the issues related of the situations on Korean Peninsula." Wu Dawei arrived in North Korea on Tuesday, the same day that North Korea informed UN agencies of a planned satellite launch. The plan triggered worries that the launch could be used as a cover for a long-range missile test by the country, just weeks after its fourth nuclear test on January 6. China earlier warned that it will not allow the Korean Peninsula to descend into war or chaos, calling on Pyongyang to exercise restraint. Having a life filled with romance is everyone's dream. Recently, Amazon China released a ranking of the most romantic cities on the Chinese mainland. Henan's Zhengzhou tops the list, followed by Inner Mongolia's Erdos and Baotou. The ranking is based on the entire country's sales of love-, wedding- and romance-themed books, e-books and CDs in 2014. The results show that the number of cities in northern China exceeds the cities in southern China in the ranking for the first time and the nation's smaller cities are much more passion-filled than the big ones. In terms of traditional cultural activities and romantic events, there are more going on in the big cities, but the statistics now show us that the smaller cities are in fact more romantic in heart and mind. Among the top 10 cities, none of them have been included in the top 10 GDP list and only Zhengzhou is a provincial capital. Except for the sub-provincial city of Ningbo, the remaining seven are all prefecture-level cities. The residents there simply live less stressful lives and have more time on their hands to actually enjoy life. "It shows to some extent that residents living less stressful lives are more are more willing to read romantic works, said the publisher of the list. Beijing, China's political and cultural center, Shanghai, widely regarded as a romantic city, Guangzhou, a place to enjoy life and Shenzhen, the most competitive center all failed to squeeze into the list, ranking below 40th. (Xinhua Photo) Recent reports on the 15-yuan meal boxes, which should have been available 24x7 on all high-speed and bullet trains selling out on a high-speed train from Nanjing to Shanghai within 10 minutes of its departure, triggered heated discussion among Chinese netizens. But do you know the cost of the packaged meals on high-speed trains, why the 40-yuan meal boxes are recommended to passengers at first and what proportions the differently priced meals make up of the available total on trains? From Feb. 2, two new kinds of meals, an eight-yuan sandwich and a six-yuan meat roll, were launched on trains administrated by Shanghai Railway Bureau. Sales of sandwiches accounted for 54 percent of toal supply the first day, while the meat roll took sales up to 74 percent. The highly-controversial 15 and 40-yuan meals were sold 12,052 and 12,919 times respectively. The cost of producing the 15-yuan meal is nine yuan. "We have done market research for a long time and find out that most passengers prefer the 40-yuan packaged meal, with meat, beef, shrimp or ribs. They sell relatively better", said Pan Qiang, deputy GM of Shanghai Huatie Railway Passenger Service Co. In order to meet the demands of different people, a 28-yuan vegetable meal and a 60-yuan meal have been newly added. (File Photo) We have a data platform and it shows the distribution of passengers on each railway line and sales of packaged meals, according to Pan. "For example, we will provide more meals with lower prices on the trains to Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan due to the influx of passengers returning home for Spring Festival. While on the trains along the coastal areas and heading for Beijing, we will lower the ratio of the 15-yuan meals since most of the passengers travel for business, Pan added. This Spring Festival holiday will see at least 2.91 billion people travel across the country in less than 40 days, with many of them using high-speed trains. BEIJING, Feb. 5 -- Cross-Strait affairs chiefs from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan said Friday they will continue to implement the consensus reached at a meeting between Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou last year. The remarks were made during a conversation on Friday morning between Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Andrew Hsia via a new hotline. The two also exchanged views on current relations across the Taiwan Strait. The two sides have maintained a peaceful and stable situation and seen achievements in the peaceful development of relations over the past eight years because both have adhered to the 1992 Consensus, Zhang said. The 1992 Consensus with its core implication that "both sides belong to one China" makes it possible to maintain the status quo, he added. "At present, cross-Strait relations are very sensitive and complex, with increasing uncertainty about the future," Zhang noted. He said cross-Strait affairs authorities on both sides have the responsibility for safeguarding the consensus and the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, as well as consolidating achievements. Zhang expressed his hope that both sides improve communication, control risk, and do more for the development of cross-Strait relations and people's welfare. The hotline was officially put into operation on Dec. 30 following an agreement made at the Xi-Ma meeting in Singapore on Nov. 7. WASHINGTON, Feb. 4-- The United States is seeking international support for imposing tougher sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). "We all like to see there is a strong international consensus here, to hold the North (DPRK) to account for these continuing destabilizing activities, specifically for the test in early January," State Department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing on U.S. foreign policy Thursday. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated since the DPRK conducted a hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6, which aroused international criticism. On Tuesday, the DPRK informed three UN entities of its intentions to launch an earth-observation satellite between Feb. 8 and 25. The United States condemned the DPRK's new satellite launch plan, urging the international community to swiftly respond to what it called "another irresponsible provocation." It also vowed to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang. "I will not specify what those measures ought to be," Kirby said. "We are pursuing in the U.N., the possible development of additional tougher sanctions." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called on the DPRK to refrain from using "ballistic missile technology," according to his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China was "seriously concerned" about the DPRK's plan, hoping that Pyongyang will exercise restraint on the issue and deal with it prudently to avoid possible escalation of tensions. Kirby said the United States will "continue the conversation with China" on the DPRK issue bilaterally and multilaterally through the United Nations. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was signed by ministers from its 12 member nations in New Zealand on Thursday. It will take effect after lawmakers from each of these countries ratify it. It looks like it will only be a matter of time before the process is complete. US President Barack Obama said in a statement that the TPP "would give the United States an advantage over other leading economies, namely China." He also noted that the "TPP allows America - and not countries like China - to write the rules of the road in the 21st Century, which is especially important in a region as dynamic as the Asia-Pacific." It is not the first time that Obama has publicly talked about China like this, which shows his narrow-mindedness as a leader of a world power. The 12 TPP members account for some 40 percent of the world's economy, but they only account for 25 percent of global trade volume. Analysts have been talking about its "high standards" such as the share of state-owned enterprises, criteria for environmental protection, labor rights and intellectual property rights. Another prominent feature of the TPP is that it centers on the US, with the interests of US enterprises being given the highest priority during negotiations. The US does seem to have gained the upper hand in rule-making. But the TPP only paints a picture based on US wishes for the Asia-Pacific economic landscape in the 21st century. What the 21st century really looks like and what the actual rules are will be shaped by real influencing factors, including the trade vitality of emerging economies like China and diverse demands from each country, including TPP member states. These two elements are not sufficiently reflected in the TPP. Obama has reiterated that it is the US, rather than China, that should define the rules in the 21st century, which reinforces people's impression that the TPP is aimed at excluding China. It seems that Washington is so transparent that it does not mind instigating a strategic trade rivalry between China and the US that goes beyond normal competition. If this is the case, the TPP is far from enough to secure US "domination" in the world economy in the 21st century. The TPP member nations have their own interests. The TPP cannot prevent them from trading with China and these countries will not pick sides between Beijing and Washington. Meanwhile, it is perhaps a trend that US influence is declining. It is not able to bind more countries under the TPP rules. China cannot compete with the US in rule-making and its advantage lies in whether it can push forward the country's economy. As long as the Chinese economy keeps growing, the newly emerged economic volume and trade opportunities will be so prominent that the TPP in some way has to adapt. China will be better off with its own economic performance than racking its wits to compete with the TPP. BEIJING, Feb. 4, 2016 -- Yu Zhengsheng(L front), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attends a symposium with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- Top Chinese political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Thursday called on religious groups in China to better promote Chinese culture and seek greater compatibility in socialist society. Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a symposium with leaders of national religious groups ahead of the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year. On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, Yu extended New Year greetings to religious personages and followers nationwide. Noting the sound situation of religious work and harmonious religious relations in China, Yu expressed appreciation to the work by Chinese religious groups in uniting religious circles, carrying out philanthropy, maintaining harmony and stability and promoting economic and social development in China. He called on religious groups in China to continue adding Chinese characteristics, dig into positive elements in their religions and make more effort in building a religious ideology with Chinese characteristics. Also, the top political advisor urged religious circles to better study and promote the inclusive and harmonious traits in Chinese traditional culture. He stressed the practice of rule of law in handling religious issues and solving relevant disputes, calling on religious circles to better study the country's Constitution and laws, raise their awareness of the rule of law and conduct religious activities within legal boundaries. Religious groups should play a greater role as a bridge between the Party, government and religious people, Yu said, urging them to improve their internal management as well. The interpretation of religious doctrines should be deepened to ensure healthy development of religions and more talent should be fostered, Yu said. He further required the Party and government authorities at all levels improve their work regarding religious affairs, respect and protect the legitimate rights and interests of religious circles and support the self-construction of religious groups. He stressed assistance to religious groups facing difficulties and religious people in poverty, particularly during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. He said the implementation of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan for social and economic development needs joint efforts by all people across China including those from religious circles, calling on religious people to follow the CPC Central Committee's policies and maintain solidarity. Senior CPC officials including Liu Yandong and Sun Chunlan attended Thursday's symposium. Chinese Navy soldiers observe from China's amphibious landing ship Changbaishan during an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden, Aug 26, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua] Work to start soon on facility in the Horn of Africa to aid peacekeeping China's first overseas naval logistics support outpostexpected to be built in Djiboutiis needed to handle difficulties encountered by Chinese peacekeeping fleets, the Foreign Ministry told China Daily on Thursday. The ministry's remarks came after senior Djibouti officials and Chinese experts said some media reports about the outpost had been unnecessarily hostile. Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh was quoted by Reuters on Wednesday as saying that China was expected to start work on the facility soon. The Foreign Ministry said China had sent escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia in recent years, and these fleets had experienced difficulties that affected the "rest and reorganization of servicemen and the supply of oil". "It (the outpost) is essential to implement highly efficient logistical support," the ministry said. In December, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that China and Djibouti had reached agreement on the outpost. Military bases and support facilities for countries including the United States and France have long been based in Djibouti. Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf told Reuters, "We understand that some Western countries have worries about China's willingness to have military outposts outside of China." He said that Western countries should not be concerned. Djibouti is a pivotal country in the Horn of Africa standing between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is a key transfer stop for international humanitarian missions, including those of the United Nations. Yin Zhuo, director of the People's Liberation Army Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, estimated that a Chinese fleet patrolling waters in the region has to feed about 800 staff members every day. A single mission, which lasts on average for 120 days, places a huge demand on food and water supplies. Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said Djibouti is one of the closest major ports to Somalia. Its peaceful environment makes it an ideal place to host China's support facility. Zhang said the outpost that China is expected to build there is designed to provide food, water and oil. It would be totally different from US military bases, which supply weaponry, Zhang added. Djibouti's strategic importance and logistical convenience were highlighted last year when Chinese citizens evacuated from Yemen transited there. While meeting with Djibouti's President Guelleh in Johannesburg in December, President Xi Jinping said China appreciated Djibouti's help in supporting Chinese peacekeeping fleets and in evacuating Chinese citizens from Yemen. ZHOUSHAN, Feb. 5, 2016 -- A naval officer kisses his child as he gets off board in a military port in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 5, 2016. The 152 Naval Fleet, comprised of destroyer Jinan, frigate Yiyang and supply ship Qiandaohu, returned home on Friday after escort missions in Somalian waters and a circumnavigation of the world that took them 309 days. (Xinhua/Zeng Tao) ZHOUSHAN, Zhejiang Province, Feb. 5 -- A Chinese naval fleet of three warships returned home on Friday after escort missions in Somalian waters and a circumnavigation of the world that took them 309 days. Comprised of destroyer Jinan, frigate Yiyang and supply ship Qiandaohu, the 152 Naval Fleet visited 18 ports in 16 countries, crossing three oceans and five continents and sailing 52,300 nautical miles. It set a number of records in the history of the People's Liberation Army(PLA) Navy in terms of mission duration, distance covered, numbers of countries visited, and drills held with foreign navies, said PLA Navy Commander Wu Shengli at the welcome ceremony. The fleet's achievements showed the modernization of the PLA Navy and the quality of its staff, and the voyage also deepened mutual understanding and friendship, Wu added. The 152 Naval Fleet weighed anchor on April 3, 2015. It escorted 90 Chinese and foreign ships sailing through the Gulf of Aden. After the escort mission, it crossed the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans, holding drills with navies from Egypt, Denmark, France, the United States, Australia and Indonesia. BEIJING, Feb. 4, 2016 -- Yu Zhengsheng (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 4, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, Feb. 4 -- China and Cambodia agreed on Thursday to support each other on their respective "core and major interests." The consensus was reached in Beijing during the third meeting of the China-Cambodia Inter-governmental Coordination Committee, co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Hor Namhong. The two countries will continue high-level contacts, strengthen their strategic communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, said an official press release. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told journalists after the meeting that both sides agreed to continue promotion of a proper settlement of the South China Sea issue. Liu reaffirmed that the issue should be addressed through a "dual-track" approach -- disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiation between the parties directly concerned, and China and ASEAN countries should work together to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries should jointly safeguard the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, according to Liu. He said China stands ready to work with Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries to safeguard regional peace and stability. The two sides also agreed to cooperate in trade, investment, infrastructure, agriculture and other economic fields so as to achieve common development, according to the press release. They also reached consensus on enhancing people-to-people exchanges and security cooperation. China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng also met with Hor Namhong on Thursday. Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said China attaches great importance to the relations with Cambodia. He said the third meeting of the China-Cambodia Inter-governmental Coordination Committee has achieved positive results and will lift bilateral cooperation to a new high. Hor Namhong said the two sides have reached broad consensus during the meeting, which will effectively promote the development of bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership. The first meeting of the China-Cambodia Inter-governmental Coordination Committee was co-chaired by Yang and Hor Namhong, also Cambodia's foreign minister, in Beijing in January 2014. The second meeting was held in Phnom Penh in December 2014. BEIJING, Feb. 5 -- Chinese Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun stressed China's support for anti-terrorism cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), as he met with the new head of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure on Friday. Guo congratulated Yevgeniy Sysoyev on his new post, director of the structure's executive committee, and said the body has played an big role in coordinating SCO members' cooperation in security and law enforcement. "China will support the SCO Anti-Terrorist Structure to enhance international anti-terrorism cooperation and maintain regional security and stability," he said. Sysoyev said he appreciated China's support and would push SCO members to cooperate more against terrorism. Scenery is beautiful in Thailand. (File photo) According to an official announcement from the Ministry of Tourism in Thailand, the number of foreign tourists that travel to Thailand will reach 100 million during Spring Festival. Almost half of the tourists will come from countries such as China, Singapore and Malaysia. Travel to Thailand will regain its popularity this Spring Festival. In the short nine days that make up Spring Festival, from Feb. 6 to 14, the number of foreign tourists will increase 19 percent on last year, which is predicted to generate an income of 814 million dollars for Thailand, an increase of 32 percent on 2015. It is predicted that 32 million foreign tourists will travel to Thailand this year. And Chinese are definitely one of the largest groups among them. Over 8 million Chinese people traveled in Thailand in 2015 and this number will continue to rise in 2016. To welcome the Chinese people, several hotels and restaurants in Thailand make thorough preparations. "Workers of the Ministry of Tourism in Thailand are busy making travel brochures, providing conveniences for Chinese people at every scenic spot. In Chinatown, in the west of the capital Bangkok, the hanging red lanterns present a strong atmosphere of Spring Festival. Many restaurants prepare song and dance performances in Chinese ethnic styles and traditional Chinese foods for Chinese tourists," said a spokesman of the Ministry of Tourism in Thailand. Benefiting from the continuously increasing number of Chinese tourists, Bangkok was selected as the favorite travel destination in the Asia-Pacific regions of 2015. Pretoria February 4 (People's Daily Online) - Celebration for Chinese Traditional New Year was held at the Department of Trade and Industrialization in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday. Officials from various Departments attended the event. Most of them have taken Chinese courses organized by the Confucius Classroom since 2013 and are spellbound by the Chinese culture. The venue was decorated with red lanterns, knot craft and scrolls. Zheng Wen, Cultural Councilor of the Chinese Embassy to South Africa gave a lecture on Chinese New Year, elaborating on its origin and traditions. The audience were taught to write in Chinese calligraphy on scrolls with brush pens. As a way of bringing good luck, scrolls with blessings are often stuck on doors and walls during new year celebrations. Dumplings were also served to give an insight into traditional Chinese food. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Elena Kosolapova, Anakhanum Khidayatova - Trend: The Eastern Partnership program of the European Union will continue to facilitate cooperation and strengthen relationship between the EU and its six partner countries in a flexible way, the EU spokesperson told Trend. The Eastern Partnership program envisages political association and economic integration of EU with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. It does not envisage the EU membership. Differentiation and more tailor-made relations are at the heart of the recent review of the European Neighbourhood Policy, in the broader framework of which the Eastern Partnership initiative operates, said the spokesperson. "The EU remains committed to the Eastern Partnership as a strategic and ambitious partnership, and continues to support sustained reform processes in the partner countries," the spokesperson said. At the last Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, held on May 21-22 2015, the EU and its six partner countries in this initiative agreed on four key priority areas of cooperation upon which to focus over the next years: strengthening institutions and good governance; enhancing mobility and people-to-people contacts; fostering market opportunities; and improving energy and transport interconnections, according to the EU spokesperson. This also reflects the objectives set out in the recent review of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the spokesperson said. "These four priority areas feed into one of the key aims of the Eastern Partnership, which is to strengthen the resilience of all partner countries and to bolster their ability to withstand pressures they may face," said the spokesperson. Energy and transport interconnections, including in South Caucasus, are also among the priority areas of cooperation in the Eastern Partnership program, the EU spokesperson said. At the last Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga, leaders reaffirmed their commitment to facilitate the development of strategic infrastructure, notably in relation to the Southern Gas Corridor, said the spokesperson. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. Over the past years, the Eastern Partnership program has been developed and enhanced to the benefit of both the EU and the partner countries involved, the spokesperson said. For example, citizens of the Republic of Moldova who hold a biometric passport and want to travel to the Schengen zone for a short-stay are exempt from visa requirements since April 28, 2014, according to the spokesperson. The European Commission recently adopted progress reports on the implementation of the action plans on visa liberalisation for Georgia and Ukraine respectively, the EU spokesperson said. With Azerbaijan and Armenia, Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements allow for easier access to Schengen visas and therefore increased people-to-people contact, said the spokesperson. --- Follow the authors on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova, @Anahanum Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 Trend: Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev addressed the "Education" session held as part of the "Supporting Syria and the Region Conference" in London Feb. 4. "We have a very profound sympathy for the Syrian refugees," President Aliyev said at the event. He noted that Azerbaijan itself suffered from a humanitarian disaster and crisis in the beginning of its independence, in the beginning of the 1990s when Azerbaijan's neighbor Armenia launched an aggression against the country. "As a result of that aggression almost 20 percent of our internationally recognized territory became occupied," said the president, adding Azerbaijanis were subjected to ethnic cleansing, and more than a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons. "That was a real humanitarian catastrophe. At that time, our country was very young and very poor. Million people out of the then eight million population, one of the highest per capita number of refugees, became homeless, jobless and without any means for living," he added. "We are grateful to international humanitarian organizations, particularly UNHCR, which supported us in a difficult moment of our history," noted the president. He further said that today, Azerbaijan is a donor itself. "We are providing financial assistance, including to the Syrian refugees. In 1994, the ceasefire was established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Unfortunately, since that time, there has been no significant progress on the negotiations table," said the president. He went on to add that though the United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions, demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, those resolutions have been ignored by Armenia for more than twenty years. "But having ceasefire achieved in 1994 gave us an opportunity to develop. Since that time Azerbaijan's development has been very rapid, we have managed to provide decent housing conditions for almost 250,000 refugees," he added. "We have hundred percent literacy, including among refugees. Ten years ago about 70 percent of refugees lived in poverty, now the rate of the poverty among refugees is only 12 percent, while total poverty is five percent, unemployment is five percent," he said. "I am bringing these figures for your attention because only in the condition of stability, peace a country can develop, can overcome enormous difficulties." "Today, we heard a lot of speeches and pledges," added the president. "Azerbaijan is among those countries, which already contributed and will contribute to humanitarian development in Syria, but the most important is peace." "Ceasefire, peace, finding political solutions - only after that, jobs will be created, education will be on the proper level and people will start to believe in their future," he went on to say. "We as a country, which suffered from these enormous economic and social difficulties, know how to do it. We can share our experience in job creation." President Aliyev added that during the last decade 1.5 million jobs were created in Azerbaijan. "We can share our experience in education, more than 3,000 schools were built in our country and, as I said, now literacy is hundred percent. We can share our experience in managing humanitarian crisis and we will do it," he noted. "But the most important is peace," he further said. "Therefore finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis as soon as possible is a number one issue on our agenda." "And I am sure that discussions, which we held today, will play an important role in finding that political solution," added the president. "Azerbaijan as a country with a substantial financial and economic potential managed to achieve that only in the time of not peace, but ceasefire." "And, of course, we will continue to support our brothers and sisters in Syria. We are grateful to those countries who take this enormous burden to accommodate the Syrian refugees. Once again I would like to note that we came here for peace, we came here to promote these values, and Azerbaijan will play its important role in this respect," President Aliyev said in conclusion. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 Trend: The Technology University in Azerbaijan misappropriated 1.5 million manats in 2015, said Azerbaijan's Finance Ministry in a message Feb. 5. Aside from that, the Finance Ministry's State Financial Control Service said a total of 654,360 manats were embezzled from budgetary funds in some of the country's districts. The ministry also said it submitted the materials on the embezzlement cases to Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office after facts were checked. The Director of QS World University Ranking on Eastern European and Central Asian region Zoya Zaytseva has visited Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC). UNEC Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov spoke about the goals of the University during the event attended by the representatives of the county's leading universities. Rector has delivered the information about the innovations applied in the university, speaking about UNEC's integration to the world education system. Saying that our target is to see UNEC among the world- class universities noted that they pretend to be in line with QS World University Ranking. Z. Zaytseva congratulated UNEC on the occasion of being the first among the universities of Azerbaijan in accordance with the Webometrics' Ranking. She noted that UNEC has enough students and teaching staff potential to be listed in QS Ranking. Zaytseva has also highly evaluated the official webpage of the university. Then the guest has delivered the detailed information about the necessary requirements and conditions for the universities to be included into the QS Ranking making a presentation on "World Universities Ranking". She said, QS Ranking is determined in accordance with the academic influence, ration between the teaching and student staffs, impact factors, the number of international articles, prestige of recruiters and the effectiveness of Internet resources. Noting Azerbaijan's higher educational institutions to have enough scientific potential for being included into the World Universities Ranking, Ms. Zaytseva said she is ready to support the country's universities in this direction. Simply, universities should properly present the work done to be listed in the international ranking: "Inform us about your achievements and innovations, we'll introduce you to the world". Holding the Press Conference, Z. Zaytseva noted that they have exchanged views about Azerbaijan universities' place in rating list during the conversation with the Education Minister Mikayil Jabbarov. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Samir Ali - Trend: The Nasimi District Court of Baku reviewed Feb. 5 a complaint by Taleh Baghirov, who was arrested during a special operation carried out by law enforcement authorities in Baku's Nardaran township, Nov. 26, 2015. On Nov. 26, 2015, five members of a criminal group, operating under the guise of religion, were killed during a police operation in the township of Nardaran, some 25 km northeast of Baku. Two police officers were also killed in the standoff. Fourteen members of the criminal group were arrested along with the group's ringleader Taleh Baghirov. Baghirov's complaint was reviewed at the court session chaired by Judge Babek Panahov. Taleh Baghirov himself participated in the court session. Lawyer Javad Javadov later told Trend that Baghirov was transferred to the Baku detention facility and the next court session will be held Feb. 9. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 Trend: Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR signed a contract Feb. 5 with Italy's Maire Tecnimont SpA for execution of an engineering procurement construction (EPC) contract to build a polyethylene plant. The plant is to be built as part of the SOCAR Polymer project. The contract, worth $180 million, was signed by SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev and Chairman of the Maire Tecnimont's Board Fabrizio Di Amato. During a ceremony for signing the contract in Baku Feb. 5, Abdullayev said a facility for high density polyethylene production will start operating in 2016. The contract stipulates provision of full technical services, logistics, installation and construction works before the plant's commissioning, as well as conducting performance tests. The SOCAR Polymer project is being implemented at the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park. The project will make it possible to produce 180,000 tons of polypropylene and 120,000 tons of polyethylene a year. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: The European Investment Bank (EIB) will allocate one billion euros to finance the construction of the Trans-Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) project, Bloomberg reported with reference to EIB Vice-President Pim Van Ballekom. He said that the funds will be used to finance Turkish Botas company's share in TANAP. Pim Van Ballekom added that the World Bank (WB) will also allocate some funds. "The bank is expected to approve the loan till late April 2016," he said. "The first tranche will be allocated in August." TANAP project envisages transportation of gas of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field from Georgian-Turkish border to the western borders of Turkey. The initial capacity of TANAP is expected to reach 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Around six billion cubic meters of this gas will be delivered to Turkey and the remaining volume will be supplied to Europe. Turkey will get gas in 2018 and after completing the construction of Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), it will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. Currently, the shareholders of TANAP are: the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) - 58 percent, Botas - 30 percent and BP - 12 percent. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Aygun Badalova, Anakhanum Hidayatova - Trend: The European Commission sees Iran as potential gas source for the Southern Gas Corridor, which envisages the transportation of gas from the Caspian Sea region to the European countries. The EU spokesperson told Trend that the Energy Union Strategy identifies the Southern Gas Corridor as a key project for diversifying the EU's external sources of energy by bringing gas from Azerbaijan to the EU market. "The European Commission is also endeavouring to expand the Southern Gas Corridor to access the vast gas resources of the Central Asian countries, including potentially Iran," the source said. The Southern Gas Corridor is one of the priority energy projects for the EU. At the initial stage, the gas to be produced as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field is considered as the main source for the Southern Gas Corridor projects. Other sources can also connect to this project at a later stage. As part of the Stage 2 of the Shah Deniz development, the gas will be exported to Turkey and European markets by expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline and Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. On Jan. 16, the US and the EU announced that they lifted their nuclear-related sanctions against Iran. The removal of the sanctions allows Iranian oil and gas enter the global markets. BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2015 shows that Iran possesses the world's largest proven natural gas reserves, at 34 trillion cubic meters - or 18.2 percent of the world's total proven reserves. Despite having the world's biggest gas reserves it only shared 5 percent of global natural gas production, at 172.6 billion cubic meters in 2014 (excluding recycled and flared gas), according to the report. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4 By Aygun Badalova - Trend: Iran may attach political importance to exporting gas to Europe, in a way to complicate the possible reapplication of sanctions against the country, David Koranyi, director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative and deputy director of the Atlantic Council's Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center believes. Koranyi told Trend that Iran's gas production potential is enormous, however yet the country faces formidable obstacles to gas exports. "Domestic residential demand continues to grow, and gas is needed for reinjection into oil fields to keep up production,"Koranyi told Trend. For Iran, many obstacles to foreign investment will remain even after the sanctions have been lifted, he believes. Koranyi mentioned that Iran also plans to build up a first class petrochemical industry and export electricity regionally instead of gas. The country's petrochemical output capacity currently stands at 60 million tons. The Islamic Republic hopes to bring this capacity to 120 million tons by 2020 and 180 million tons by 2025. "The current price environment in Europe does not help either, it does not seem commercially viable to bring gas all the way from South Pars to the European markets," Koranyi said. "At the same time Iran may attach political importance to exporting gas to Europe by pipeline or LNG, as it will increase its importance and complicate the reapplication of sanctions in a worst case scenario," he added. On January 16, the International Atomic Energy Agency verified Tehran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), opening the way for Iran's return to the global energy market. The same day, the US and the European Union announced that they were lifting their sanctions against Iran. Iran holds 17 percent of the world's proved natural gas reserves and more than one-third of OPEC's reserves, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). As of January 2015, Iran's estimated proved natural gas reserves were 1,201 trillion cubic feet. At the same time, Iran is the world's third-largest dry natural gas producer, after the US and Russia. In 2013, Iran became the world's largest gas-flaring country, surpassing Russia, according to the EIA. Last year Head of National Iranian Gas Exports Company Alireza Kameli said that the export of gas to Europe is uneconomical for Iran. He also said that exporting LNG to European markets is on Iranian Oil Ministry's top agenda. Speaking about the oil sector, Koranyi said that Iran's return will have profound repercussions for international markets. "Iran's barrels will add to an already oversupplied global oil markets and may drive down prices further," he said. Iran's current oil production is estimated to be around 2.8 million barrels per day (mbpd), of which about one million barrels are exported. Free of sanctions, the country plans to increase its oil export by 500,000 barrels per day, and then raise the figure by another 500,000 to two million barrels per day within a six month period at the next step. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Dalga Khatinoglu - Trend: Turkey has failed to reach its objective in its complaint against Iran for over-charging for gas supply, Iran's Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said, Shana news agency reported. Zanganeh said Turkey's first complaint was about Iran not being stable in its gas supplies, thus asking for a 25-percent reduction in price. The second complaint from Turkey was that Iran over-charges for its gas, so Turkey wanted a 37.5-percent reduction in price. The first complaint of Turkey about instability of gas exports was ruled in favor of Iran," Zanganeh said. "The second complaint had Iran to pay 13-15 percent." Zanganeh did not reveal the sum Iran will have to pay due to confidentiality, but said it was negotiable. The managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company, Hamid-Reza Araqi, said on February 2 that the International Court of Arbitration court has ruled against Iran in its gas dispute with Turkey, voting Iran should pay some $1bn in compensation for over-charging. Based on the ruling, Iran must reduce the price of gas it exported to Turkey between 2011 and 2015 by 10-15 percent. Meanwhile, Zanganeh said Turkey cannot put forward any requests by the next couple of years on reducing gas price or changing gas export formula. "In my opinion, the ruling is acceptable considering that Turkey had initially requested Iran to reduce gas price by 40 percent," he said. Iran must supply Turkey with a about 10 billion cubic meters per year under a 25-year deal signed in 1996. Last year, Iran exported 9.6 bcm to Turkey. Iran had proposed doubling exports of its natural gas for a discounted price last year, but Ankara rejected the offer. Last year Iran was its most costly gas supplier. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4 By Umid Niayesh - Trend: The EU is currently trying to balance its newly developing relations with Iran against its longer-standing relations with Turkey, Israel, and the Gulf States, John Feffer, who is director of Foreign Policy In Focus at the Institute for Policy Studies believes. "So, this is obviously a delicate issue, much depends on what happens internally in Iran, because it will be very difficult for the EU to normalize relations with a more conservative government in Tehran," Feffer told Trend Feb. 4. Iran and the P5+1 group reached a nuclear agreement last July, which curbs Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the removal of the earlier imposed economic sanctions on the country. Various EU firms have expressed interest to return to Iranian market following the removal of the sanctions as Iran's nuclear deal with world powers came into force Jan. 16. As Iran's economy develops, and it moves higher up the value chain, the EU will be a more valuable trading partner than China or Russia, which rely mostly on Iran's raw materials (energy, iron, minerals), Feffer said responding to a question about possibility for the EU to gradually replace China and Russia in Iran's market in post-sanctions era. While Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that the country is open for economic ties with the US, as well as doing business with the US entrepreneurs, Feffer believes that it will not happen any time soon mainly due to political reasons. "The obstacles are not really economic, since many US companies are very interested in Iran. They're mostly political. Opposition to economic engagement with Iran is strong within Congress. Again, many US politicians are reluctant to offend longstanding US allies, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia," he explained. Feffer, while responding to a question about the idea of Iran's cooperation with the entire West, excluding the US, in compliance with the "West minus the US" doctrine, said when it comes to economic relations, such a doctrine could have some success. The EU is, for example, moving forward more quickly on economic engagement with Iran, he said. "But on Iran's larger engagement with the international community, it will be important for Iran and the US to develop closer working relations," he remarked. In the early 1990s, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei put forward a doctrine known as the "West minus the United States". The doctrine, which envisages Iran's cooperation with the entire West excluding the US, has since then been followed by all Iranian administrations. Khamenei even banned any talks with the US beyond the nuclear issue. Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stressed redefinition of interests in the region in order to attain security, Irna reported. He made the statement during a speech followed by question-answer session in the Chatham House think-tank during which he reiterated that in the global community, no country can set up walls around itself in a bid to live in security. He termed the Iran nuclear deal an example of the redefining of common interests and said, 'In the past, west was calling for a total halt in the activity of Iran's centrifuges and this approach did not bear any results in the former round of talks.' 'However, in the new round of negotiations, we decided to take steps within (our) joint interests, and as a result we reached a conclusion,' he added. Saying that the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers is an invaluable asset, he suggested that its approach has to be generalized to other regional crises. To a question on recent tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Zarif replied, 'Saudi Arabia is required to redefine the situation in region and its interests similarly as Iran managed to turn its nuclear programs to a common issue and not an issue for completion between two rivals.' Asked on Tehran, London ties, Zarif said the prospects of ties between Iran and UK are positive. 'Both countries can cooperate on regional issues,' he added. As to the limitations posed by US sanctions as a barrier for enhanced banking relations between Iran an Europe, the Iranian foreign minister said that US secretary of state has assured him that there is no restriction for legitimate interactions between banks. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4 By Umid Niayesh- Trend: While there are certainly legitimate concerns regarding Iran's human rights record, it is unlikely to play much of a factor in limiting Western economic interests in the country, Stephen Zunes, a US expert on Middle East issues told Trend Feb. 4. At the same time, Zunes, who is professor of politics and coordinator of Middle Eastern Studies at San Francisco University, believes that the West has long sacrificed human rights principles in its support for some human rights violators in the region. He further touched upon the issue of mistrust between Tehran and Washington, saying that Iran's suspicions of US intentions are in many respects well-founded, notably in that the US has traditionally taken a harder line toward the Islamic Republic than other Western nations. In addition, the next US president will likely be more hostile towards Iran than President Obama, as both the Republican candidates and likely the Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, have taken a more hardline positions towards Iran, Zunes said. At the same time, given the importance of the US, it may not be realistic to reject any attempt to improve relations, he said. Zunes said that while Iran's relationship with the US may not be as friendly as with the European states, it would seem to be in the best interest of both countries to at least normalize diplomatic relations. Further commenting about the opportunities for the EU to gradually replace Tehran's traditional allies including China, the analyst said that though the shift may not be immediate, the EU has the potential of being both a larger market for certain Iranian products as well as a source for some important technologies. While responding to the question of whether developing the economic ties also may lead to improving political ties between Iran and West, he said that powerful economic interests can overcome ideological and political resistance to closer relations. "For example, if the US companies find they are losing potential business to European companies, they could pressure Washington to moderate its policies. As much as the United States and other Western nations oppose the Islamic Republic, the fact is that Iran is a major regional actor and cannot be ignored," Zunes said. He said there may also be hope that the less isolated Iran becomes better integrated into the global economy, and that in turn will lessen the influence of hardline elements which have been strengthened by the country's isolation. Speaking about major obstacles to the resumption of Iran-US economic ties, he said the primary obstacles remain - the US still has certain unilateral sanctions in place as well as political hostility towards a government which has long opposed US strategic interests in the region. Tehran, Iran, February 5 By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend: The US congressmen have overplayed their request to visit Iran during the upcoming elections, Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, member of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission believes. They must have sought visas through the Foreign Ministry or Iran's interest section as it is the norm with all countries on all such occasions, he told Trend February 5. Congressmen Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.), Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), and Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) on February 4 sent a letter to Iranian Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and IRGC Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari requesting their assistance with arranging agenda items that the three lawmakers hope to accomplish in Iran, including appointments with American hostages, visits to Iranian nuclear facilities, updates on Iran's recent ballistic missile tests, and an IRGC briefing on the detention of 10 U.S. Navy sailors. The request seems to be rather an inquisitive act having in mind the obstacles the Congress used to create against the making and implementation of the deal which showed their enmity to the Islamic Republic, Ardestany said. There have been zero relations on the Iran-US record and the fact that US congressmen call us enemies, the MP observed. "So, even if they visit Iran and file a report, it does not look like it's going to be a positive report. They want to say Iran is not democratic. We do not see a problem in their visit. But what is interesting is that it is congressmen who have made the request," he concluded. The recently implemented nuclear deal (aka Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) met the harshest criticism from US congressmen, who nearly brought it to a halt on occasions, giving President Barack Obama a hard time pushing it through. However, the deal's implementation was announced on February 16, a long awaited moment. Ayatollah Khamenei has on occasions cautioned the Iranian community that the nuclear deal won't be the end of US bother, adding that after the nuclear issue, the US has several other issues to criticize Iran for, including human rights, missile program, etc. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond reiterated that the visit of his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, the first in 10 years by an Iranian foreign minister, to London shows that the two countries' relations are being expanded, IRNA reported. 'The official visit by Iranian foreign minister, the first (by such high-level official of Iran) in the past 10 years is a symbol of warming (Tehran-London) relations,' Hammond wrote on his Twitter account on Friday. The British foreign secretary said that during his meeting with Zarif they discussed bilateral ties and regional developments. Earlier today, Zarif announced that Tehran and London will resume issuing visas for the two countries' citizens by March. "In a meeting I had with my British counterpart earlier today, we agreed that the two countries start issuing visa for the ordinary citizens and ordinary passports within weeks," Zarif told reporters after his over 1 hour meeting with Hammond in London on Friday. "We believe that this measure is a positive move for further exchanges between the two countries' people and we hope that it will be conducive to a better mutual understanding," he added. On August 23, the British foreign secretary reopened Britain's embassy in Iran after four years of strained relations between Tehran and London. Hammond arrived in Tehran in late August at the head of a high-ranking delegation to meet the Iranian officials and reopen the British embassy. Upon arrival, he directly went to the British embassy and announced resumption of the mission's operation in an official ceremony. Canada has rolled back most of its economic sanctions against Iran, including lifting a broad ban on financial transactions and transfer of personal funds, the Canadian foreign ministry said Friday. This followed the lifting of UN economic sanctions on Tehran after the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed on January 16, 2016 that Iran had delivered on its commitments to limit nuclear activities. "Canada has therefore amended its broad-reaching autonomous sanctions against Iran to allow for a controlled economic re-engagement, including lifting the broad ban on financial services, imports and exports," the ministry announced. Canada is looking forward to explore the newly-opened Iranian market for more trade opportunities. Its exports to the Islamic republic peaked at $772 million in 1997 before slumping over the years of sanctions. In 2014, Canada sold $67 million worth of mostly food products to Iran. Ottawa said, however, it was not entirely convinced about the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear ambition, which Tehran vowed to reign in in the July 2015 deal with world powers. Canada will therefore maintain restrictions on exports to Iran of "goods, services and technologies considered sensitive from a security perspective," as well as a revised blacklist of individuals and entities it believes are linked to Iran's ballistic missile program. Last October, Iran reportedly tested a surface-to-surface missile, prompting more sanctions from the United States. Tehran lashed back at Washington claiming its missile program was legitimate as it was not designed for carrying nuclear weapons. US President Barack Obama will propose a $10-a-barrel fee on oil in his budget plan next week, as the White House seeks to boost the nation's investments in clean transportation projects, Reuters reported with the reference to the White House. The fee, which would be paid by oil companies, is likely to fall flat in the Republican-controlled Congress. In the last year of his presidency, Obama has said the country must stop subsidizing the "dirty" fossil fuels of the past and focus on clean, renewable fuels that do not exacerbate climate change. "By placing a fee on oil, the President's plan creates a clear incentive for private sector innovation to reduce our reliance on oil and at the same time invests in clean energy technologies that will power our future," the White House said in a statement. The long-shot proposal for the oil fee, set to be announced in Obama's fiscal 2017 budget plan on Tuesday, would provide nearly $20 billion a year to help expand transit systems across the country and more than $2 billion a year to support research and development of self-driving vehicles and other low-carbon technologies. The Obama administration's energy policies have been a lightning rod for Republicans in Congress, who have blasted the White House for not doing enough to support America's oil and gas producers. Republicans have thwarted previous administration proposals to end certain tax breaks for oil producers. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The flight route over Turkey's territory, proposed by a Russian observer team, is a "speculation" on the backdrop of crisis in relations between Ankara and Moscow, said Omer Celik, a spokesman for Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Celik said that earlier a Russian observer mission wanted to fly along Turkey's border with Syria, TRT Haber news channel reported Feb. 4. Relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian SU-24 bomber on Nov. 24, 2015. Turkey said the bomber entered its airspace, while Russia denied its warplane flying into the Turkish skies. Earlier, it was reported that a Russian observer team was planning to fly over Turkey's territory, as part of the Treaty on Open Skies. But on Feb. 4, Turkey's Foreign Ministry didn't allow the team fly over the country's territory as the Turkish side didn't approve the flight route. The Treaty on Open Skies, which currently has 34 states parties, including Turkey and Russia, establishes a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the entire territory of its participants. The treaty is designed to enhance mutual understanding and confidence by giving all participants a direct role in gathering information about military forces and activities of concern to them. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 4 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davutoglu will visit Kazakhstan Feb. 6, IHA news agency reported Feb. 4. Davutoglu will be accompanied by the Turkish Minister of Transport, Shipping and Communications Binali Yildirim during his visit, the agency said. It is expected that Davutoglu will discuss the regional issues, as well as the improvement of bilateral relations with his Kazakh. Today, Turkey is the fourth country after the US, South Korea and the UK on volume of investments in Kazakhstan ($2 billion). In addition, over 1,800 Turkish companies operate in Kazakhstan, and it exceeds the number of other foreign companies, operating in the country. The total value of projects, implementing by the Turkish contractors in Kazakhstan is about $17.5 billion. The trade turnover between the two countries increased twofold - from $2 billion to $4 billion - in the past three years. It is planned to reach $10 billion within the framework of the "New Synergy" program, adopted by the heads of the two countries. It also should be noted that all Turkish satellites were launched into space from Kazakhstan's Baikonur cosmodrome. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: The EU and Turkey have all the conditions for the visa-free regime, Jose Manuel Barroso, the former head of the European Commission, said, Turkish Yeni Safak newspaper wrote Feb. 5. He said that the EU-Turkey negotiations on the visa regime abolishment are the significant achievement between the sides. Barroso said that he always made efforts to achieve the abolition of the visa regime between the EU and Turkey. Earlier, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said that the EU may introduce a visa-free regime with Turkey in the autumn of 2016, assuming Ankara implements all the necessary requirements. Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that full membership in the EU continues to remain a priority for Turkey. The Association Agreement between the EU and Turkey was signed in 1963. Ankara filed application for the EU membership in 1987. The negotiations on Ankara's joining the EU started only in 2005. Although Turkey annually conducts a series of reforms for the EU membership, Ankara still cannot become a full member of the European Union. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: More than 5,000 refugees have gathered on the Syrian-Turkish border, Turkish IHA news agency reported Feb. 5. Most of the refugees are inhabitants of the Syrian city of Aleppo, where the country's army conducts military operations with the support of the Russian Air Force. "At present, thousands of refugees trying to enter Turkey's territory are gathering on the border," Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at the 'Supporting Syria and the Region' conference in London. "This is connected with military operations in the Syrian city of Aleppo." Davutoglu also accused Russia and Iran of the deaths of civilians in Syria. The Turkish Prime Minister said that while supporting the Syrian regime, Russia is conducting ethnic cleansing in Syria, including Aleppo, which has a special significance for Turkey. Currently, Turkey is hosting more than two million Syrian refugees on its territory. The Syrian refugee camps in the country accommodate about 300,000 people. The rest of them are spread across the provinces and cities of Turkey. In Istanbul alone, there are currently 40,000 refugees from Syria. Ankara has so far spent $8 billion to upkeep the Syrian refugees. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 5 By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend: Turkmenistan and Turkey held political consultations at the foreign ministers level in Ashgabat, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry said Feb. 5. The participants discussed a wide range of issues on extending cooperation in political, trade and economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres during the consultations. In addition, regional and international issues of mutual interest were also reviewed. The sides' mutual interest in the further development of relations in the energy and transport spheres through the implementation of joint projects was also noted. In addition, the issues on intensifying cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries were also discussed. The sides expressed satisfaction about the results of the fruitful cooperation and noted the need for further intensification of mutually beneficial partnership based on the principles of mutual respect and trust. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Six militants of the IS terrorist group (ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) were detained in the Turkish province of Gaziantep as a result of special operation, the Turkish DHA news agency reported Feb. 5. The militants are Turkish citizens, and they were detained while trying to cross into Syria, according to the agency. As many as 68 people were detained during anti-terrorist operations in seven provinces of Turkey on Jan. 13. Earlier, it was reported that 450 Turkish citizens joined the terrorist group IS in Syria during 2015. Turkey's intelligence service said it had information that Turkish citizens, who underwent training with the IS militants, intend to return to the country to stage terrorist attacks there. China's First Special Fund for Cyber Security Studies (Photo : www.reuters.com) A Chinese billionaire gave the initial capital of 300 million yuan ($45.6 million) to the first special fund for cybersecurity launched by the government on Tuesday, Feb. 2, the Global Times reported. Zheng Jiachun, the president of Hong Kong-based Chow Tai Fook Jewelry Group and a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, provided the fund's initial endowment. Advertisement "The endowment shows support for the development of national cybersecurity," Wang Xiujun, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), said. According to the report, the China Internet Development Foundation (CIDF) established the fund, which will be used to provide financial assistance to experts and teachers who specialize in cybersecurity. The fund will also support promising Chinese students taking up cybersecurity, as well as training centers for cybersecurity talent. During the launch, Vice Minister of Education Lin Huiqing stressed the significance of nurturing cybersecurity talent to achieve the nation's aim to become a strong Internet power. Lin said that Chinese universities are now offering new majors on cybersecurity, information countermeasures and confidential management, with the number of such majors exceeding 120 while cyberspace-related majors will surpass 4,800. "Under the nation's goal, education of cyberspace talent has been in short supply in China and everything is at the startup stage, from educational materials to qualified teachers," Qin An, director of the China Institute of Cyberspace Strategy, told the Global Times. Qin said that students will be trained how to respond to online threats, including terrorism and cybercrimes, and defend the country in cyberspace. China has started to encourage universities to open cyberspace-related majors in 2015, which indicated the progress made toward a standardized education model, Fang Binxing, an expert on network information security at the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said. He also noted that over 30 universities now offer cyberspace-related majors. A Xinhua News Agency report quoted Zhao Zeliang, a CAC official, as saying that more than 8,000 students graduate with cyberspace-related degrees every year, and 700 million people in China have access to the Internet. Scientists from the Korea Meteorological Administration point at the screen showing seismic waves near Seoul, South Korea, caused by a North Korean hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6, 2016. (Photo : Getty Images) North Korea has issued a shipping warning of a satellite launch between Feb. 8 and 25, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced on Tuesday, as China sends an envoy to steer the country back into denuclearization. "We have received information from DPRK regarding the launch of earth observation satellite 'Kwangmyongsong' between 8-25 February," an IMO spokesperson said in an email statement to the press. Advertisement If the launch goes ahead, it would be in violation of United Nations sanctions. The U.S. earlier warned that Pyongyang was preparing to launch a long-range missile after seeing activity at a test site via satellite. North Korea previously launched a satellite in 2012 and claimed the right to develop space technology, although western and Asian observers claim it is an attempt to disguise the development of a long-range ballistic system. The news comes as Chinese special envoy to North Korea, Wu Dawei, flew to Pyongyang to "exchange ideas over the current situation," China's Foreign Affairs Ministry told the Global Times on Sunday. It marks the first time China sent an envoy to the North after it announced a successful test of a hydrogen bomb on Jan. 6. Wu's visit could defuse tensions in the Korean peninsula, although expectations are low for any significant progress in bringing North Korea back to denuclearization talks, the Global Times reported. The ministry declined to comment on the details of Wu's visit. China has recently stepped up efforts to bring Pyongyang back to the Six-Party Talks following its latest nuclear bomb test--its fourth since 2013--as the U.S. and South Korea urge for tougher sanctions. "Wu's main purpose is to explain China's position and principles concerning North Korea's nuclear issue and also to urge North Korea to give up its nuclear program," sai Lu Chao, a professor at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. The visit is conducive to keeping tensions on the Korean peninsula from further worsening, and should help in the resumption of the Six-Party Talks, Lu added. China insists that the Korean peninsula should be free of nuclear weapons, but emphasizes solving the issue through peaceful negotiations. The Six-Party Talks initiated by China in 2003, which involved the U.S., Japan, South Korea, Russia and North Korea, were suspended due to North Korea's withdrawal from the talks in 2009. In January, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China agreed with the U.S. that the U.N. could pass new resolutions in response to the latest nuclear test, but emphasized the resumption of dialogue with North Korea. The Chinese government also rebuffed accusations that it is not doing enough to pressure the North in abandoning its nuclear ambitions. Jin Qiangyi, director of the Asia Studies Center at Yanbian University, said that the Chinese envoy's trip to the North would only have a limited effect in easing tensions in the peninsula. "North Korea could agree to delay the launch of its rocket in order to ask China to resist the U.S. push for tougher U.N. sanctions, but Wu's visit is unlikely to achieve fundamental results, such as persuade North Korea to give up nuclear weapon development," Jin said, citing North Korea's previous statements that it would continue nuclear tests. Lu noted North Korea's "stubborn" attitude in pursuing nuclear abilities as a major obstacle in the latest China-North Korea talks. "If it refuses to change its attitude, the Peninsula could spiral further out of control," he added. Wu previously held talks with U.S. special representative for North Korean policy Sung Kim in Beijing on Jan. 29. The two sides exchanged views on the situation in the Korean peninsula and the Six-Party Talks, according to the Chinese government. Swiss agrochemicals maker Syngenta's logo is seen in front of its headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, Feb. 4, 2015. (Photo : Reuters) ChemChina announced on Wednesday, Feb. 3, that it has reached a deal to acquire Syngenta, a Swiss seeds and pesticide group, for over $43 billion. However, there are concerns on whether the agreement will pass regulatory review. According to the announcement on ChemChina's website, the two companies have reached an agreement whereby Syngenta board of directors recommended the offer to shareholders. Advertisement The deal is $465 per share in addition to a special dividend of $4.92 per share to be paid to Syngenta shareholders, reported the Global Times. The deal is at premium of approximately 20 percent to Syngenta's Feb. 2 close of 392.30 Swiss francs. The acquisition is the biggest overseas takeover by a Chinese firm, beating the deal of $15.1 billion held by China National Offshore Oil Corp. after it acquired Canada's Nexen. The statement revealed that the headquarters of Syngenta would remain in Basel, Switzerland, and the existing management will continue to run the company. While neither of the companies commented during the press conference, Syngenta may be relisted in the future. A research fellow at Morning Whistle Group, Wang Yumin, told the publication, "It seems kind of routine for ChemChina to relist its overseas assets." However, the statement revealed that the agreement should pass antitrust reviews and get endorsement from regulatory bodies in relevant jurisdictions, implying that the deal may face latent risks from regulatory scrutiny. ChemChina may not have problems when it comes to passing antitrust reviews due to its limited market share in agribusiness, but it is still unclear whether it will get all the necessary approvals. For instance, U.S. regulators barred Philip's sale of Lumileds to a consortium under Chinese investment fund Go Scale Capital. On the other hand, the Dutch electronics giant said that the $3.3 billion deal did not go through because of opposition from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). With Chinese firms' interest in overseas investments increasing lately, some are in dilemma whether the decision represents restrictions on China's cross-border M&A deals by the U.S. government. LG G5 comes packed with an iris scanner and a 20MP camera and is also confirmed to get Android N, upon its launch. (Photo : Facebook/LG) The smartphone war appears to commence early this 2016 as the LG G5 is reportedly coming out on February 21 or the same day that Samsung is scheduled to unpack its initial back of flagship models for the year - the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. Will Google follow shortly with its vanilla Android-powered Nexus 2016? Advertisement The question arises as the LG G5 is among the rumored upcoming hero phones that Google is likely to use as the next Nexus base-model. That the G5 is to be revealed on the same day that the Galaxy S7 will make its public debut is based on a tweet posted by LG USA Mobile, which Android Police said in a new report, was immediately deleted. While the shout out might have been a slip, Android Police claimed that the tweet essentially confirmed of the G5's approaching rollout. The same report indicated that the LG Mobile announcement was accompanied by a similar hint on the company's Facebook page (viewable here). Now if the unintended revelation will hold, the G5 indeed is something that Google would want to reimagine as the follow up to any of the Huawei Nexus 6P and the LG-made Nexus 5X. Rumors are persistent that the device is all fired up when unbox with Qualcomm's superhot Snapdragon 820 that likely is packed with a mighty graphic engine - the sequel to Adreno 530 GPU. Paired with the SD 820 on LG G5 is 3GB of RAM though when it comes to the pure Android-flavored Nexus 2016, Google could bump up the RAM provision to 4GB for breakneck processing speed and overall stable performance. The G5, according to a recent leak from South Korea, is speculated too to rock a metallic unibody design but with a twist - the device's lower casing is detachable that will permit users to slide out and slide extra battery. This is made possible by LG's Magic Slot design blueprint. However, it is doubtful if Google will employ the same design language with any of the Nexus 2016 variants. Report said that the upcoming series will again be served in two and at least three device makers have emerged as solid candidates for the honor - HTC, Huawei and LG. The LG G5 touching down this February could mean the commercial launch is happening anytime in March or April. And if the G5 will end up as the repurposed Nexus 2016 pure Android flagship, the latter is well-positioned for what could prove as a relatively earlier release date this 2016, likely soon after the Google I/O Developers Conference in May or June. A real estate agent looks at a housing model displayed by a property developer in Hong Kong. (Photo : REUTERS) The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has lowered on Tuesday, Feb. 2, the minimum downpayment for first-time homebuyers in a bid to revive the country's urban housing market, the second time the central bank has done it in less than five months, China Daily reported. Advertisement According to the announcement from the PBOC and the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), the downpayments for first-time homebuyers would be reduced from 25 percent to 20 percent, a move that economists described as "pointing to the healthy growth of the market." Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics showed that unsold homes in China rose by 11.2 percent last year, reaching a total of 452 million square meters. China had lowered the minimum downpayment requirement in October last year from 30 percent to 25 percent to prevent the rapid rise in the prices of urban housing. Zhao Xijun, deputy dean of the School of Finance at Renmin University of China in Beijing, said that the recent adjustment in downpayment would help reduce the inventory of unsold housing in the face of economic slowdown and dull business. According to the joint statement of the PBOC and the CBRC, the rate reduction for first-time buyers will also include the lowering of downpayment for second homes from 40 percent to 30 percent. The report, however, said that the revised percentages do not apply in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, where restrictions against speculative home purchases remain in place. The lowering of downpayments would benefit the housing market in small towns near large cities, industry specialists said. Yan Yuejin, a researcher at E-house China R&D Institute, said this would result in immediate surge in housing sales in places like Langfang and Yanjiao in Hebei Province, which are both only about an hour's drive from Beijing. Zhang Dawei, chief market analyst at Zhongyuan Real Estate Co., also noted that the timing is important as many people head for family reunions during the Chinese New Year and the new policy could arouse their interest in buying real estate in their hometowns. The average new home price in China's 100 major cities rose by 0.42 percent in January month-on-month to 11,026 yuan ($1,675) per square meter, data from the China Index Academy, a private sector research firm, showed. Pneumoconiosis is a common work-related disease in the country. (Photo : Getty Images) Former miners in China may be suffering from a case of pneumoconiosis, also known as black lung disease, according to a report by the Global Times. The risks of the job were displayed on microblogging site Weibo on Jan. 6. Advertisement Millions of netizens were able to see Ren Nengping's black lungs as his surgeon, Liu Feng, took a picture of them and posted it on the microblogging site. "Look at this sick lung. . . . The solid black nuggets are the sedimentation of coal dust. The biggest one is as long as 10 centimeters in diameter, while this one is 4 centimeters in diameter. Now a new lung is being transplanted," Liu posted on his page. Ren, the patient, underwent a semi-live lung transplant under the supervision of Liu in Wuxi People's Hospital. After a thorough screening prior to the operation, he was able to find a new lung to replace his damaged one. His surgery was the last procedure. If ever the surgery failed, his coffin is ready sitting in his living room. The disease took away his health, leaving him frail with difficulty breathing. Ren started working as a miner in Henan Province back in 1995. Despite the surgery, he died three days after due to complications from the procedure. The situation of 38-year-old Ren is not uncommon among coal miners in China. Pneumoconiosis is a common work-related disease in the country. Metallic or mineral particles, or even gas, get lodged in a sufferer's lungs. According to official estimates, there are about 6 million cases of the disease in China. The National Health and Family Planning Commission stated that there are 29,972 diagnoses of such diseases in 2015, majority of which were pneumoconiosis cases. The rise of pneumoconiosis cases in China is closely related to the country's economic boom. It was during the 1980s and 1990s when miners started to get diagnosed with the disease--a period when reforms encouraged the development of new industries. Nobody knows the exact number of black lung patients in China. Data gathered in 2013 by the Ministry of Health suggested there are about 700,000 cases, but Love Save Pneumoconiosis, a non-governmental organization, said the situation may be much worse. The recent reorganization of the Chinese military has resulted in a more mobile, well-trained combat force. (Photo : REUTERS) An insider from the Chinese military told the Global Times the locations of the army headquarters of China's newly established five military theater commands, which were identified by their strategic location in east, south, west, north and central China. Advertisement The anonymous source added that the five commands will base their army headquarters in Fuzhou, Fujian Province; Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region; Lanzhou, Gansu Province; Jinan, Shandong Province; and Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. The report also cited the source as saying that the joint command center will be located in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province; Guangzhou, Guangdong Province; Chengdu, Sichuan Province; Shenyang, Liaoning Province; and Beijing. The five military theatre commands, also known as the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) battle zone commands, have replaced the former seven military area commands in Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, Ji'nan, Shenyang, Lanzhou and Guangzhou. The source said that infrastructure, including communication facilities in the previous seven military area commands, were taken into consideration in the locations of the headquarters, to enable follow-up work on military reform to start as soon as possible. The report said that under the new setup, the Central Military Commission (CMC) will have top supervision and enable the theater commands to deploy forces in the region in combat, while each branch of the military will focus on training their respective troops. The new system also splits and differentiates the combat and construction or logistic missions. The source said that the theater commands will focus on engagement, while the PLA army, navy and air force will focus on training their respective forces. The report said that the five commands are expected to have their own army and air force, while naval forces will not be mobilized by all five commands. According to the source, a temporary command system would not be needed in case war erupts, as the joint operations of each theater command will suffice, which is also helpful for troops to fulfill their training and mission. The source added that the five commands will only deploy their own force against security threats, and report only to the CMC for additional support. Solar sails for NASA's new spacecraft Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (Photo : NASA/MSFC) In what is being described as a major leap in spacecraft technology, NASA announced early this week that it plans to launch solar-powered spaceships in 2018, while will make space travel less expensive as well as more sustainable. According to a report in National Geographic, in 2018, NASA will launch a small space probe to explore a remote asteroid. This will be the first time when the space agency will be using solar-powered sails for the spacecraft that will undertake a journey beyond the orbit of the earth. Advertisement As the solar sails will possibly help to venture to the furthest regions of our solar system faster compared to all spacecrafts so far, scientists at NASA hope that they would be able to explore the interstellar space sooner or later. Currently, scientists at the NASA are working on a small space probe incorporating solar sails, which will be powered by sunlight. According to the space agency, the $16 million probe, named the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout, will travel to the 1991 VG asteroid, located at a distance that will take 2.5 years to cover at the estimated speed of 63,975 miles/ hour proportionate to the sun. In due course, the spacecraft possibly will achieve more speed compared to any spaceship using the conventional chemical rocket. Explaining the concept, Les Johnson, NASA's Technical Advisor for Advanced Concepts Office at the Huntsville, Alabama-based, Marshall Space Flight Center, said that though the conventional chemical rocket possesses a potent thrust, exhausts fuel over time. Johnson said, "A sail wins the race in terms of final velocity because it's the tortoise and the hare," adding, "Since the sail doesn't use any fuel, we can keep thrusting as long as the sun is shining." It is worth mentioning here that the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout is among the 13 science payloads announced by NASA this week. Meanwhile, a report in The Verge stated that members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology members tore down NASA's Journey to Mars initiative a special hearing this week and claimed that the program requires a defined plan as well as clear and realizable milestones to work. In fact, the members also raised doubts regarding the feasibility of a continuing Mars mission, citing that the amount of money required for the trip is many times more compared to the year-to-year funds received by NASA currently. Moreover, such a long-term mission necessitates a momentous leap in technological development. Pointing to such gigantic challenges, a few House Committee members even suggested that NASA should either reconsider its approach to Mars mission or concentrate on a Moon mission. Watch NASA's space launch system carrying CubeSat explorers during first mission below: The Hui ethnic group is one of the largest Islamic groups in China. (Photo : Wikimedia) On Tuesday, Premier Li Keqiang visited a mosque in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and conversed with a group of Muslims, as reported by China Daily. Advertisement Premier Li visited the Najiahu Mosque in Yongning County during the second day of his trip to the region ahead of the Spring Festival. The mosque, which was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is one of the most historic in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The mosque has a history that dates back for 492 years. It has been refurbished several times, most recently in 2014, during which time it was also enlarged. Najiahu Mosque is maintained by 4,500 Muslims in the county. Li removed his shoes before stepping into the main hall of the mosque, sitting down with Muslims to speak with them and learn about their lives and thoughts. The premier said he was delighted to personally see that the mosque was well refurbished. "There is a famous saying in Chinese that a harmonious family brings the prosperity of everything," said Li to the ethnic Hui people at the mosque. "I am very delighted to see that the lives of local people in Ningxia have improved a lot." Yang Faming, vice president of the Islamic Association in Ningxia Hui, was seated beside Li during the discussion. Yan is the youngest vice president of the organization at the age of 50. He has been studying the Quran for 34 years. Upon finding out how well-studied Yang is, Premier Li encouraged him to combine his understanding of the Quran with the situation of the region. The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is home to the largest ethnic Hui community in the country, comprising 35.5 percent of the region's population. The Hui ethnic group is one of largest Islamic groups in the country. Yang Zhibo, vice president of the China Islamic Association, mentioned that he was pleased upon learning about Premier Li's visit to the mosque. He also said that he was excited about the government's encouragement for the care of Chinese ethnic groups. Yang also said that he hoped the government would improve their efforts to address poverty in China's northwest, where most of the Islamic ethnic groups in the country are found. Google self-driving car (Photo : Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage) The Google self-driving car development team is of the view that in order to fulfill the expectations of customers, it is essential for a self-driving car to undergo a test raking up no less than three million miles on virtual roads in a day. A report in CNET stated that though Google is of the view that real-time road tests are the best option to test a car, they subject their self-driving cars to a demanding 3-million mile virtual road test whenever they incorporate or augment any important feature to their project. Advertisement According to Google's Self-Driving Car Project's January report, the development team scheduled anything between 10,000 miles and 15,000 miles of public road test on an average every week. Google has said that integration of a simulator into their project has helped them to do away with releasing a car from the garage always - instead they perform initial tests using the simulator. In addition, Google is also of the view that employing a computer for testing their self-driven cars also helps them to record each and every aspect related to the testing, allowing them to recall information accurately. This, the Mountain View-based tech giant said performs a vital role in developing the car. The January report states that engineers at Google's Self-Driving Car Project are frequently incorporating latest capabilities as well as refining the driving of the car by improving the software. "Before we roll out any change to our fleet of cars, we first test it extensively in this virtual environment," the report added. Referring to the different manners in which traffic lights are installed as well as profiled in California and Austin, Texas, the report said that the test undertaken by their engineers allowed the company to calibrate the ability of the car to distinguish traffic lights appropriately. While the traffic lights are installed vertically in Mountain View, California, in Austin, Texas, the traffic lights were adjusted to a horizontal as well as dimmer profile. Google has been able to update its data base more accurately and in further detail as it could collect such simple, but equally vital information. Hence, Google firmly believes that its self-driving cars are capable of reducing potential auto accidents and fatalities - many of which are attributed to driver error. Watch the video of a first drive of Google's self-driving car below: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Italian Prime Minister, "Matteo Renzi" spoke by phone this afternoon. The President expressed his sincere condolences to the Italian Prime Minister and to the Government and the people of Italy on the death of the Italian citizen, "Giulio Regeni," who passed away in Egypt recently. President Sisi has also expressed his deep condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Regeni. President El Sisi stressed that the Egyptian competent authorities attach the outmost attention to investigating the incident, and that the Egyptian Ministry of Interior is instructed to continue its efforts ,in cooperation with the Public Prosecution, so as to unravel the mystery surrounding the incident and follow up on all the circumstances surrounding it. The President stressed that the Italian side will find the necessary cooperation by the Egyptian competent authorities in this regard. The Italian Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to the president on his deep condolences. Mr. Renzi lauded the positive spirit of cooperation that the Egyptian side shows in dealing with the incident, noting that this position reflects the friendly relations that bind the two countries and their peoples. The two sides confirm, during the phone call, the need to enhance and further develop economic cooperation. They reviewed the positive results of the important meetings held by the Italian business delegation, headed by the Italian minister of economic development during her recent visit to Egypt, which demonstrated the huge prospects of economic cooperation between the two countries. They stressed their commitment to work together against terrorism, and to confront extremism and violence as well as to prevent the proliferation of the terrorist groups in several countries in the region. They highlighted the importance of stepping up efforts to consolidate the stability and security of the Middle East and the Mediterranean, particularly in Libya. Both sides reassured the importance of forming the National unity government, as an important stepping-stone towards establishing a new Libya. Short link: The doctors have held a week-long strike after two of them were reportedly assaulted by a group of low-ranking policemen last week Egypt's top prosecutor ordered on Thursday the immediate re-opening of Matariya Hospital so medical care can resume after its doctors launched a strike over an reported assault by a group of policemen last week. Prosecutor-General Nabil Sadek launched an investigation into the closure of the hospital to take legal action against those responsible for the suspension of this public service. According to a statement issued by the prosecutor-general's office, the closure of the hospital and the suspension of medical service for citizens are considered a "crime" that is punishable by law and is against the Egyptian constitution. The doctors started the strike last week after two of their colleagues were reportedly assaulted by a group of low-ranking policemen. The doctors stated that they would strike until legal action was taken against the policemen involved in the incident Egypt's Doctors Syndicate fully supported the doctors' actions. Search Keywords: Short link: The Congolese PM met with his Egyptian counterpart and Egypt's parliament speaker Congolese Prime Minister Augustin Matata Ponyo has announced his country's support for Egypt's position in the ongoing dispute over Ethiopias controversial Grand Renaissance Dam, which Addis Ababa is building on a tributary to the River Nile. "We have declared our position before regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and we always support Egypt," Ponyo said at a press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sherif Ismail on Thursday during a visit to Cairo. Ismail, in return, expressed Egypt's support for Congos construction of the Grand Inga Dam on the Congo River. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one of Africas Nile Basin countries. Despite Egypts concerns over the dam's impact on its share of Nile water, the country's main source of fresh water, Ethiopia insists it would not negatively affect Egypt negatively. Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been holding talks over the dam, and are waiting for independent technical reports to determine how the dam might impact upstream countries The Congolese PM and his Egyptian counterpart discussed bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The two officials signed a number of economic development protocols of cooperation. Ponyo also visited Egypts House of Representatives and met with its speaker Ali Abdel-Al. Search Keywords: Short link: Lower temperatures, which will be accompanied by high winds, dust storms and rain, should peter out by Tuesday Head of the Egyptian meteorological authority (EMA) Ahmed Abdel-Aal announced that a gradual decline in temperatures, accompanied by high winds and dust storms, will be felt in all governorates across the country. Abdel-Aal told media outlets on Thursday that temperatures will start decreasing starting late Friday until Monday. He predicted that the weather will get warmer starting Tuesday. Rainfall is expected in the north coast of the country as well as in Upper Egypt. Cairo will experience on Friday a high of 19 and a low of 11. The Coastal city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean will see a high of 19 and a low of 12. The Suez Canal cities of Ismailia, Port Saied and Suez will all see a high of 20 and a low of 10 degrees Celsius. Residents and tourists in the Upper Egyptian cities of Luxor and Aswan will enjoy a high of 30 and a low of 10 degrees. The Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh in South Sinai will also enjoy a high of 25 during the day but a low of 15 at night. Search Keywords: Short link: Iraq's top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, on Friday said he would no longer deliver regular weekly sermons about political affairs, which for years have been a source of guidance for his followers. Sistani's aide Ahmed al-Safi, who delivered the message, did not give a reason for suspending the sermons, which have lately focused on the government's battle against ISIS militants and anti-corruption efforts. "It has been decided not to continue this on a weekly basis at the present time, but only as demanded by events", Safi said in a televised speech from the southern shrine city of Kerbala before reciting a prayer. Sistani, a reclusive octogenarian, enjoys almost mythical status among millions of Shia followers and wields authority that few Iraqi politicians would openly challenge. His political sermons have ranged over issues such as security, elections and the economy. Search Keywords: Short link: Human Rights Watch has praised Tunisia on judicial reforms which it said amounted to a "significant breakthrough" in protecting the rights of detainees. Parliament on Tuesday approved amendments to Article 13 of Tunisia's penal code to fall in line with the new constitution adopted two years ago as part of the country's political transition from dictatorship to democracy. "Provisions to grant suspects the right to a lawyer from the onset of detention, and to shorten the maximum pre-charge detention are included in a revision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP)," said the New York-based HRW. "Tunisia's parliament made a significant breakthrough for human rights by approving proposed changes in detainee rights," it said. "The new law has the potential to close loopholes that led to widespread abuses during the presidency of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali" who was overthrown in Tunisia's 2011 revolution, said Amna Guellali, country director for the rights group. The new law takes effect on July 1. HRW cautioned, however, that the law still has "several shortcomings" and urged the authorities to "adopt implementing legislation that could close the remaining loopholes". Such legislation "should clarify that detention begins at the moment of arrest, to preempt alternative interpretations that would delay a detainee's access to a lawyer and presentation to a judge", it said. Ghazi Mrabet, a lawyer and rights activist, told AFP he welcomed the amendments which he said could put an end to the use of violence against detainees and confessions being extracted under duress. Search Keywords: Short link: Sweden said it did not agree with a UN panel which ruled Friday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's stay in Ecuador's London embassy amounted to "unlawful detention". "The government does not agree with the assessment made by the majority of the Working Group," the foreign ministry said in a letter to the panel, adding that the body does not have the right to "interfere in an ongoing case handled by a Swedish public authority". Swedish authorities issued a pan-European warrant in 2010 for his arrest over a rape allegation and was detained in London before being released and later seeking asylum at Ecuador's embassy. "Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point and Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay at the embassy," the Swedish ministry said. "Mr Assange can therefore not be regarded as being deprived of his liberty due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities." Assange, who has been holed up at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid arrest, had said he expected British police to call off their attempts to detain him if the panel ruled in his favour. The 44-year-old Australian fears he could be extradited to the United States be tried over the publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents by WikiLeaks. Search Keywords: Short link: France's lawmakers began debating constitutional changes on Friday allowing for dual nationals to lose their French citizenship in terrorism cases and enshrining in the text controversial measures put in place after the November attacks in Paris. The shootings and suicide bombings in the French capital that left 130 dead and were claimed by the ISIS group caused a radical rethink of security measures in France. President Francois Hollande imposed a state of emergency in the wake of the carnage, giving police and security forces sweeping powers to raid houses and hold people under house arrest without judicial oversight. His Socialist government now wants to include the state of emergency -- created during the Algerian war in 1955 -- into France's cherished constitution, citing what it sees as a persistent threat from jihadism. "What the French demand is that we do everything for their protection... The fight against this radicalisation will be the work of a generation," Prime Minister Manuel Valls told parliament. He claimed that one attack had been foiled since the state of emergency was imposed -- a reference to a 27-year-old Chechen arrested in December in the town of Tours, who had featured in a video threatening to attack police. "Networks have been disrupted. Numerous individuals have been identified and placed under surveillance," Valls said. As is the case now, parliament would still need to give its approval for a state of emergency lasting more than 12 days. Valls said a state of emergency would last for a maximum of four months under the new rules, after which it would need to be renewed by parliament. Including the measure in the constitution protects it from legal challenges, as has already been attempted by rights groups who argue it gives draconian powers to the security services and erodes citizens' rights. The French Human Rights League (LDH), one of many bodies now questioning the efficacy of the harsher measures, said recently that only four legal procedures relating to terrorism had emerged from more than 2,500 police raids carried out under the post-attacks state of emergency. Several thousand people marched through Paris and other cities on Saturday to protest the measures and a demonstration is expected to be held in front of the National Assembly building during Friday's debate. The current three-month state of emergency expires on February 26 and is expected to be extended, giving the government time to adopt the constitutional reform. The second major amendment to be debated on Friday -- the proposal to strip dual citizens of their French nationality if they are convicted in terror cases -- has sparked protests at home and abroad and led to the resignation of Justice Minister Christiane Taubira, who openly opposed the measure. "I hope the stripping of nationality will not be written into the constitution," Taubira, a popular figure on the left of the Socialist Party, told Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday. "I sincerely hope that the Left will not have to take such a decision." Lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the reform package on Wednesday, but if it is passed it will then embark on a long journey of further examination, beginning in the upper house, the Senate. Search Keywords: Short link: Related South Africa mine collapse traps more than 100 people A gold mine collapsed in South Africa on Friday trapping about 80 miners for several hours, union officials said, as rescuers searched for at least three workers still missing underground. Emergency teams rushed to the Goldfields Lilly Mine in the northeastern province of Mpumalanga after a mine shaft caved in at about 8:40 am (0640 GMT). "There are three who are unaccounted for, and 75 have been rescued," Manzini Zungu, from the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), told AFP. Medical officers at the scene said that those rescued had not suffered serious injuries. Two weeks ago, four miners were killed in an underground fire in a platinum mine near Johannesburg. "We are very concerned about the continuing trend of workers being trapped underground," said Erick Gcilitshana, National Union of Mineworkers, calling for further investment in safety measures. South Africa possesses rich mineral reserves and has several gold, platinum, diamond and coal pits but has been dogged by several mining accidents in the recent past. Search Keywords: Short link: US health authorities on Friday urged people to use condoms or refrain from sex if they live in or have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is circulating. The new interim guidelines from the US Centers from Disease Control are aimed at pregnant women and their partners, and those of childbearing age who are concerned about Zika, a primarily mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to birth defects. Earlier this week, US health officials confirmed the first case of sexually-transmitted Zika, involving a person who had traveled to Venezuela and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon return. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts foreign currency reserves inched up in January for the fourth consecutive month, to reach $16.477 billion from $16.445 billion the previous month, the central bank said on its website on Thursday. The last drop in reserves was in September, when they stood at $16.3 billion, down from $18 billion in August. The Central Bank of Egypt has recently taken steps, along with government ministries, to reduce imports. The bank's governor, Tarek Amer, expects imports to fall by $20 billion in 2016. The central bank last month received a $500 million loan from the African Development Bank, the first tranche of a $1.5 billion loan package over three years, according to Al-Ahram newspaper. International Cooperation Minister Sahar Nasr told Reuters on Thursday that a $1 billion loan from the World Bank is expected to be delivered soon, once local procedural issues are completed, as it was approved in December. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's petroleum imports fell 72.4 percent to $1.12 billion in October 2015 down from $3.663 billion in the same period the previous year, official news agency MENA quoted the official statistics agency CAPMAS report on Thursday. Exports of petroleum products on the other had declined 29.3 percent to $280.2 million in October 2015, down from $396.3 million in the same month a year prior. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2015/16 ending 30 September 2015, Egypt's trade deficit was unchanged from the same period of the previous year, standing at $10 billion, due to more than 50 percent drop in oil price globally, which brought down the cost of petroleum imports (crude and products) by $1.2 billion, The Central Bank of Egypt said in December. Search Keywords: Short link: World's largest wheat buyer unable to get satisfactory prices in the aftermath of rejecting a french shipment for reported high ergot levels Egypt cancelled on Friday a wheat tender offered the previous day, after being offered unsatisfactory prices by only four traders, the deputy head of the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) told state-owned news agency MENA. GASC offered an international tender on Thursday to buy wheat to be shipped in the period from 2-11 March, the state grain buyer's deputy head Mamdouh Abdel-Fattah said. Traders had told Reuters that they had boycotted Egypt's tender following the rejection of a 63,000-tonne French wheat shipment due to concerns about a high percentage of ergot fungus. While traders claimed in comments to Reuters that the shipment was below the international ergot level of 0.05 percent, Egyptian authorities insist that the shipment contained an unacceptable range of 0.07 to 0.09 percent. Egypt, a major player in the international wheat market, imports around 10 million tonnes of wheat annually through both state and private sector buyers. Search Keywords: Short link: Would you pay to see art that's broken, mouldy or eaten by worms? Vienna's famous Leopold Museum sure hopes so. The prestigious home of Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele is displaying damaged artworks to raise funds for their restoration. Around 185 pieces by Austrian artists, ranging from turn-of-the-century paintings to Art Deco chairs and lamps, are part of the unconventional Hidden Treasures exhibition. Some, like Robert Russ's 1885 "Mill with Evening Sky", reveal damaging tears in the canvas or heavily flaking paint. Other forlorn pieces of artwork include a delicate porcelain figurine with its head missing, and the panel of an oil painting by Cecil van Haanen fallen victim to hungry woodworms. "Usually you go to the museum to admire works in perfect condition. Here, we are showing the dark side of our collection," the Leopold's new director, Hans-Peter Wipplinger, told AFP in a recent interview. Boasting around 6,000 pieces, the museum has gained global fame for its outstanding array of 19th and 20th-century Austrian art. Renowned highlights include paintings by the founder of Vienna's Secession movement, Gustav Klimt, and his protege Egon Schiele whose permanent exhibition at the museum is the largest of its kind in the world. But the Leopold's collection also contains many lesser known gems that deserve to see the light of day again, according to Wipplinger. "When I took on my role (in October 2015), one of the first things I did was to visit the museum's storage. I discovered a number of works worthy of being exhibited, but that were too damaged," he said. The museum needs a total of 370,000 euros ($400,000) to restore the artworks -- a sum that largely exceeds the institution's available funds. "That's how I got the idea of finding patrons willing to finance the repairs," Wipplinger explained. Mould from exposure to dampness, rusty metal parts, bent frames, bad touch-ups: the exhibition, which runs until February 22, illustrates the spoils and damages an artwork can suffer over the years. "It's also about showing the public all the work and technical know-how required to present a piece in mint condition," Wipplinger said. Many of the works have never been publicly shown, including rare Art Nouveau furniture by Koloman Moser, a co-founder of the illustrious Wiener Werkstaette arts collective. Some paintings are in a fairly good state but too frail to travel. "Other museums often ask to borrow them, but they first have to be restored to survive the journey," noted the Leopold director. Repair costs range from 300 to 13,200 euros ($330 to 14,600) with some paintings like Klimt's "Life and Death" -- part of the museum's permanent collection -- merely requiring new protective glazing. In recognition of their support, patrons will see their name displayed on a small card next to the work they helped finance. At the exhibition's launch in late January, an elegant visitor in his sixties revealed he had flown in especially from Cyprus for the event "I'm willing to spend money if I have a fancy for something -- but it needs to be special," the man, who only identified himself as Wolfgang, told AFP with a wink. The museum which opened in 2001 is the brainchild of Rudolf Leopold, a visionary collector who began buying up Klimt and Schiele paintings in the aftermath of World War II, at a time when many considered the Austrian artists already outdated. In 2010, the institution made worldwide headlines when it reached a $19-million settlement with a Jewish art dealer's estate in the United States over Schiele's "Portrait of Wally", a masterpiece stolen by the Nazis. US officials had seized the work in 1997 while it was on loan in New York. It was only returned to the Leopold after the museum agreed to the payout. While the dust in that affair has since settled, the museum is still in negotiations with Austria's Jewish Community over several other Schiele drawings which were also looted by the Nazis during World War II. 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 Search Keywords: Short link: Three films will not be allowed to be screened in the arthouse cinema Zawyas first Short Film Festival, by order of Egypt's censorship board. According to Zawya, the three banned films will remain in the festival competition, though audiences will not have a chance to watch them. The three short films are Prayer Time by Marwan Iman, Tashkeel by Muhammad Mustapha, and The Antichrist by Hady Bassiouny. Though the reasons for banning the films are not declared, obscene language and religious considerations could be behind the decision, according to commentators. Prayer Time and The Antichrist both deal with the issue of atheism. The third film, Tashkeel, portrays "Mahragan music" a kind of folk music. The four-day festival is due to start today, Thursday, at Cinema Karim, Downtown Cairo. Twenty four Egyptian short films are competing for the festival's three awards: best film, the jury prize, and best director. The jury of the festival includes director Hala Khalil, Wael Mandour, and Nadin Khan. 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 Search Keywords: Short link: (Guangzhou) An investigation into a vice governor of the Guangdong Province is related to backing he gave to the sex industry in a town that became notorious for its brothels, several people with knowledge of the matter say. The Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog said on February 4 it is investigating Liu Zhigeng for "suspected serious violations of discipline," the party's pet phrase for corruption. The inquiry into Liu, the vice governor in charge of transportation and work safety supervision, is linked to his time as party secretary of Dongguan from 2006 to 2011 when he allegedly protected the rampant sex industry in the southern city, the sources familiar with his situation said. Liu, who became vice governor of the province in 2011, was detained by police on the afternoon of February 4, they added. Dongguan has for years been notorious for its thriving sex industry. It was common knowledge the manufacturing city's karaoke bars and barber shops were often fronts for sex workers and that brothels were easily found. In 2014, the state broadcaster CCTV aired news reports on Dongguan's vice dens, prompting a crackdown. Liu was last seen in public on February 3 while overseeing the operations of the train station in Shaoguan, a city in the northern part of Guangdong, which was busy handling millions of migrant workers heading home for Spring Festival, the holiday many know as Chinese New Year. Liu was born in Xingning, Guangdong, in 1956. His biography on the provincial government's website shows that he started his career as an elementary school teacher in 1973. Six years later, he went to Jilin University, in the northeast, to study economics. Liu held various positions in the governments of Shenzhen and Dongguan before becoming vice governor. Liu is the third top official in Guangdong to come under scrutiny since Xi Jinping launched a crackdown on graft shortly after becoming party boss in late 2012. Wan Qingliang, the former party secretary of Guangzhou, tumbled in June 2014 and was later charged with taking bribes worth of 11.25 million yuan. An inquiry into Zhu Mingguo, the former chairman of Guangdong's political advisory body, started in November 2014. The broad anti-corruption campaign has netted high officials in every province and figures in many fields, from state-owned enterprises to the military, but experts warn its effects will be short-lived unless changes are made to China is governed. Chen Guangzhong, a professor of China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, recently said that flaws in the political system, such as a lack of a system of checks and balances, must be fixed to prevent more dirty officials from emerging. (Rewritten by Chen Na) Twelve Pacific region trade ministers signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday -- a broad free-trade deal that will cut taxes and trade barriers for nearly half of the world's economy. Trade Representative Michael Froman signed for the United States. All the ministers said their goal is to "enhance shared prosperity, create jobs and promote sustainable economic development for all of our nations." The agreement is considered one of President Barack Obama's proudest achievements in his seven years in office. Obama issued a statement saying the deal will bolster American leadership abroad and support good jobs at home. He said he will push U.S. lawmakers to quickly ratify the deal. "I'll continue working with Democrats and Republicans in Congress to enact it into law as soon as possible," he said, "so our economy can immediately start benefiting from the tens of billions of dollars in new export opportunities. We should get TPP done this year and give more American workers the shot at success they deserve and help more American businesses compete and win around the world." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged nearly $1 billion in new U.S. aid for Syrian refugees at an international donors conference and is calling for the Syrian government and Russia to halt attacks on rebel-held areas in order to let humanitarian aid through. The conference opened Thursday in London with donor nations exceeding their goal of $9 billion. British Prime Minister David Cameron said pledges had surpassed $10 billion by the end of the day. Britain, along with Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations, are hosting the Syria Donors Conference, the fourth to be held. Kerry called this a "critical engagement," saying Syria's political and humanitarian crisis is a "moral imperative." He said the United States is providing an additional $601 million in assistance to the Syrian people, plus $290 million in development aid specifically for education to refugee children in Jordan and Lebanon. The $10 billion figure is more than double the $4.5 pledged last year, reflecting the urgency the migrant crisis has caused among Western governments. The amount pledged aims to support people in Syria as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, neighbor countries that are strained by the exodus of refugees fleeing the fighting. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard discussed the agenda ahead of the conference with VOA. "This year there are more ambitious goals, which are to do more to educate children, to get jobs for the refugees, to bring development resources to bear, to help people get to safety not just in the region, but beyond as well." Prime Minister Cameron said there is a "critical shortfall" in life-saving aid that he said is holding back the international communitys humanitarian efforts. "If ever there was a moment to take a new approach to the humanitarian crisis in Syria, surely it is now," he said. Obama is planning to cut the number of American forces in Afghanistan from the current 9,800 troops to the 5,500 figure by the end of 2016. But Army General John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee that would mean that "very little" additional training of Afghan soldiers would be possible. The senior U.S. military commander in Afghanistan told Congress on Thursday that training for Afghan forces would be severely constrained if the number of American troops there was cut to 5,500, as President Barack Obama has proposed. Campbell, who is expected to retire soon, said, "I want to keep 9,800 as long as I can before I drop down to 5,500." But he said he was prepared to reduce the U.S. deployment "as I am ordered." Congressional critics of Obama's military operations against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan say reduced U.S. troop levels there will undermine the lengthy American effort that started shortly after the 2001 al-Qaeda terrorist attacks in the U.S. that killed nearly 3,000 people. Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who lost the 2008 presidential election to Obama, said a reduced force would not be able to carry out its dual mission of training Afghans and conducting counterterrorism missions. "This smaller American force will inevitably be forced to shoulder a higher level of risk to themselves, to their mission and to the national security of the United States,'' McCain said. Initially, Obama said he would cut the U.S. deployment to 5,500 by the end of last year, but as that time neared and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan forced a reassessment, he reversed course and pushed the deadline to the end of 2016. Obama has named Army Lieutenant General John Nicholson to replace Campbell; confirmation of his appointment is pending in the Senate. Nicholson has promised a further review of U.S. troop levels once his command takes effect. Police have arrested an unemployed Korean man over a bomb hoax at Incheon International Airport last Friday. The man, identified as Yoo, is accused of planting a fake bomb and a warning note in broken Arabic in a toilet near the arrivals gate. Yoo was caught on CCTV. Police apprehended him at his home in Seoul on Wednesday morning. Yoo studied music and finished graduate school but has been unable to find a job and apparently suffers from bipolar disorder. He is married with a month-old daughter. Police quoted him as saying he had run out of money and was angry. Yoo produced the printed Arabic note saying "Allah will punish you" by running Korean text through Google Translate, according to police. "It's unlikely that he has connections to any terrorist group like Islamic State, but we'll keep investigating," a police officer said. Chinese nuclear negotiator Wu Dawei returned to Beijing on Thursday after a three-day stay in Pyongyang that appears to have produced little in the way of tangible results. He told reporters that he said what he wanted to say but is uncertain what consequences will follow. His brief seems to have been to dissuade the North from going ahead with a planned satellite launch that is widely seen as a veiled test of long-range missile technology. North Korea appears to have built a viewing booth for Kim Jong-un at the Tongchang-ri missile launch site near its northwestern border with China, a government source here said Thursday. Analysis of satellite images shows North Korea's preparations for the planned space rocket launch have progressed significantly, according to the source. "Since they've built a viewing booth it seems Kim Jong-un will personally watch the launch," the source said. Authorities here are watching out for the armored train Kim inherited from his father to pull up in the area as a sign that the launch is imminent. Meanwhile, President Park Geun-hye in a statement Thursday said the rocket launch plan means the North is willing to "continue threatening the international community" in order to prop up the regime. Park added that the only way to keep North Korea from going ahead is for the international community "to implement powerful sanctions to make the North realize it cannot survive unless it gives up its nuclear weapons." Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said, "We are strengthening our readiness in order to shoot down any missile or debris that should fall inside our territory." Moon added that the South will take "necessary defensive measures" depending on the damage caused by falling debris. A growing number of young Koreans are avoiding family gatherings over the Lunar New Year to escape being grilled about their lives. One good excuse is to get a part-time job during the holidays. Part-time job portal Alba polled 1,267 members on Monday and found that 50.4 percent plan to work part-time during the holidays. Some 10.3 percent of them admitted they want to avoid talking with relatives about their job or academic achievements. One 29-year-old who lives in Gwangju said he will work part-time at a supermarket during the holidays. "I failed a job interview last year and can't face my family. Rather than get stressed out, I prefer not to see them." Many are also ducking out of family gatherings, because they are tired of being asked about their marriage plans. Another popular escape is overseas. The Korea Transport Institute forecasts 106,000 Koreans will travel overseas every day during the five-day holidays, up 18 percent compared to last year. There is even a shelter for those who refuse to face the music. Foreign language institute Pagoda Academy said it will open classrooms at eight of its nationwide branches during the holidays, and around 600 students had signed up as of Tuesday. The academy expects over 1,000 people will use the facility. Madrid airport sounds alarm after bomb threat on Saudi plane 2016-02-05 16:20 Saudi Arabian Airlines flight SVA 226 is isolated on the tarmac after its passengers and crew were evacuated following a bomb threat, at the Barajas airport in Madrid, Spain, February 4, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] MADRID - A general alert was issued at Madrid's Barajas airport shortly after midday on Thursday after the captain of a Saudi Airlines plane announced the flight had received a bomb threat. The alert was made public at 12:45 local time(1145 GMT) after a crew member on flight SVA 226, which was due to fly from the Spanish capital to Riyadh, discovered a note with the message "bomb aboard 11.30" pinned to a door on one of the aircraft's luggage racks, shortly before take-off. The plane, a Boeing 777, was taken to a secure zone of the airport and the 97 passengers were evacuated at around 1:00 pm to allow the aircraft to be searched by explosive detection teams. The Madrid airport authorities (AENA) subsequently published a tweet reading: "We inform you of a threat on Madrid-Riyadh flight SVA 226. The state security forces are making the appropriate inquiries." The message was proved to be a false alarm after a search. The alert was cancelled. Acting Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz said that there would be no change to the current level of alert, which was set at four in June out of a maximum of five after terrorist attacks struck Kuwait, France and Tunisia. The three accused filed a petition challenging their 12-day custody and said they were being subjected to third-degree torture. #stocks-summary Seoul shares down for 2nd day on rate hike woes South Korean stocks retreated for a second straight session Thursday, as investor sentiment worsened on concerns about aggressive rate hikes. The Korean won fell against the U.S. d... And no, we're not talking about some random person who's decided to name their new pet spider 'Johnny'. Instead, a new species of tarantula has been named in honour of The Man in Black. Fourteen new species have been discovered, in fact - including Aphonopelma johnnycashi, which was named because of its colouring and the fact that it is found primarily in the western Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Folsom Prison. Florida Museum of Natural History spokesman Chris Hamilton told the BBC: "It's a perfect name. It fits the spider - it's found around Folsom and the males are predominantly all black, so it fits his image. I have a Johnny Cash tattoo so I was very happy that it worked out that way." See below for the spider (warning: large picture of a spider incoming): Pic via National Geographic It was recently announced that a 40-foot statue of Johnny Cash is to be erected near Folsom Prison. Charlie Cox says his return as Daredevil "still feels too good to be true" CEO's own kids inspire his business Updated: 2016-02-05 08:07 By Liu Jing(China Daily Europe) Happy Childhood, one of the winning photos of Amazing China Mobile Photo Contest, best illustrates the corporate culture of Kidswant. Zhang Hongwei / For China Daily Kidswant chief says his primary qualification to run a company providing mom-and-baby products and services is being a parent Xu Weihong, a company CEO, says he draws from his role as a father when he goes about building connections with customers and making decisions on the company's future development. Xu is head of Kidswant, a leading retailer of mom-and-baby products in China. Before launching the business, Xu had experience in banking, corporate finance and electronic appliance retail - none of which is related to what he is doing now. "First, I am a father with experience in child-raising," Xu says when asked how he attracts his customers. "Therefore, I know deeply what guidance and help Chinese parents may need." Founded in 2009, Kidswant provides services to parents and children using interactive activities tailored to children's growth. Based in Nanjing, in East China's Jiangsu province, the company had opened 80 stores in more than 20 cities nationwide by July, offering products and one-stop services including infant swimming, kids photography and early childhood education. Every year, Kidswant holds culture and arts events in each city where it has outlets and organizes more than 3,000 interactive activities for its members in local outlets, kindergartens, neighborhoods and commercial complexes. "It has become a unique business model of Kidswant to provide timely, handy and valuable services for our customers and maintain close and emotional connections with them," he says. Xu attributes the success of his company to a "customer-driven" business model. "The traditional 'product-driven' business has gradually come to a period of low ebb," Xu says. By upholding the customer-driven model, Kidswant has focused on establishing a stable and long-lasting connection with its customers, he says. "In today's Internet era, the initiative lies with the customers," Xu says. "They can choose your brand or discard it." As a father, Xu says he always asks his children to tell the truth, follow their dreams, manage emotions and be kind to others. "Education is in details. Parents play a significant role in children's growth. What Kidswant is doing is to assist parents to play this role." Xu says Kidswant's goal is to be a creator instead of a leader. It aims to create a new lifestyle for families and create good services for customers, he says. The company's Chinese name, Haiziwang, is translated into English as "Kidswant" instead of "the king of kids", which is the literal meaning. The company, which has more than 3,000 "parenting consultants", tries to provide multichannel and data-based services, he says. Xu says a brand can only attract customers by creating innovative products and services. Last year, Kidswant was a sponsor of the Amazing China mobile phone photo contest, which was organized by China Daily and was a part of the China-UK Year of Cultural Exchange. The contest, aimed at showcasing the beauty of China, attracted participants worldwide. Xu says the reason Kidswant chose to be a sponsor also related to children. "Children are our future and the most amazing part of China. For parents, children are often the subjects when taking photos," Xu notes. Parents' photos record the life of China's families and showcase a new lifestyle of Chinese parents and their children, Xu says. "We hope that every wonderful moment in every child's growth can be recorded and people can give more care to our lovely children after viewing the photos," Xu says. Xu says many of Kidswant's employees participated in the contest. The company often hosts photo contests for members of its online community. "I hope this event will continue in the future and attract more Chinese participants to spread the beauty of amazing China," he says. liujing-4@chinadaily.com.cn Hotels plan to cash in on theme parks Updated: 2016-02-05 08:07 By Wang Zhuoqiong(China Daily Europe) As the scheduled June opening of Shanghai Disney Resort nears, hospitality firms gird up their loins Hotel companies in the Yangtze River Delta area have been planning years in advance to cash in on anticipated surge in visitors to the area in whose heart Shanghai Disney Resort will open in June. Such plans took the shape of new hotels, renovation and expansion of properties, and conversion of existing rooms into affordable family suites. Now, as June nears, they can't wait for action to explode. Xu Weiluo, branding executive of Homeinns Co Ltd, a leading budget hotel group headquartered in Shanghai, says: "We've developed a strategy in anticipation of the opening of the Disney resort many years ago." Homeinns and other leading hotel chains chose locations close to the rail stations on subway lines 2 and 11 that connect the Disney resort to Shanghai city. Subway line 11 will extend to Shanghai East Station and Pudong International Airport while line 2 will extend to Shanghai Wild Animal Park. About 30 percent of the 2,600 hotels of brands such as Yitel, Homeinn Plus, Motel and Fairyland are located near the Yangtze River Delta. Hotels that can be reached in an hour or two from Shanghai are also coming up, to serve as backups for visitors to the Disney resort, says Xu. Some hotels have even become licensed sellers of Disney entry tickets, which they intend to package with hotel and pick-up services. On Jan 21, seven Douhao youth-oriented apartment hotels comprising 600 rooms, funded by Homeinns and Sequoia Capital, were launched in the Chuansha area. The Douhao brand will expand to first-tier cities like Beijing, Guangzhou and Xi'an in future. And to think the Shanghai Disney Resort itself has two hotels with Disney themes - the 420-room Shanghai Disneyland Hotel and the 800-room Toy Story Hotel, located next to Shanghai Disneyland. Zeng Guang, chief analyst of Guosen Securities, told media the Disney theme park opening in June is just as well because the run-up to the summer, when visitors are expected to peak, will act like a warm-up period. The Yangtze River Delta and its neighboring provinces are China's most prosperous region. Thanks to high-speed express trains, most provincial capitals are just one or two hours away. Expected visits by families are raising expectations of repeat trips. Families are expected to boost all-round consumption in the area through longer/overnight stays, says Zeng. Jiang Yiyi, director of the China Tourism Academy's International Tourism Development Institute, says the Shanghai Disney Resort will also likely lure foreigners, especially from neighboring countries, given its unique attractions and Chinese characteristics. Chris Yoshii, vice-president and global director of Leisure Asia AECOM (Hong Kong), a US-based consultancy group, says the theme park market in Asia had a good year in 2015 with tourism and domestic consumption continuing to increase. "We would expect the Chinese mainland to have a GDP growth of around 7 percent this year, although Hong Kong may show a slight decline due to falling traveler visits. We would expect Japan and South Korea to be relatively flat since few new attractions opened there. "The outlook for 2016 is positive as the opening of Shanghai Disney Resort will likely be the big event in Asia," says Yoshii. wangzhuoqiong@chinadaily.com.cn Government acts to boost home sales Updated: 2016-02-05 08:06 By Wang Yanfei and Zheng Yangpeng(China Daily Europe) Central bank lowers down payments for first-time buyers for the second time in five months - from 25 percent to 20 percent In a bid to revive China's urban housing market, the central bank lowered the minimum down payment for first-time homebuyers on Feb 2 for the second time in less than five months. The People's Bank of China and the China Banking Regulatory Commission announced that the down payments for first-time homebuyers would be reduced from 25 percent to 20 percent. Economists describe the move as "pointing to the healthy growth of the market". Unsold homes in China rose by 11.2 percent last year to a total of 52 million square meters, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. In October, China lowered first-time homebuyers' minimum down payment requirement from 30 percent - at which it had stood since 2010 - to 25 percent. Zhao Xijun, deputy dean of the School of Finance at Renmin University of China in Beijing, says the most recent down payment adjustment would help China reduce the inventory of unsold housing at a time of general economic slowdown and lackluster business. In tandem with the reduction for first-time buyers, minimum down payments required for second homes will fall from 40 percent to 30 percent, a joint statement by the central bank and the CBRC said. However, the revised percentages do not apply in first-tier cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, where heavy restrictions against speculative home purchases remain in place. Industry specialists say the lower down payments would benefit the housing market in small towns near large cities. It could cause an immediate surge in sales in places like Langfang and Yanjiao in Hebei province, both of which are only about an hour's drive from Beijing, says Yan Yuejin, a researcher at E-house China R&D Institute. In other small cities, Yan says, homebuyers' interest could remain low because business in general has experienced no major growth over the past few years. However, Zhang Dawei, chief market analyst at Zhongyuan Real Estate Co, argues that the timing of the rule change is important. Coming right before Chinese New Year's Day on Feb 8, and with many people going home for family reunions, the new policy could arouse people's interest in buying real estate in their hometowns, Zhang says. China Index Academy, a private-sector research firm, says the average new home price in the country's 100 major cities rose in January by 0.42 percent month-on-month to 11,026 yuan ($1,676; 1,536 euros) per square meter. Contact the writers through wangyanfei@chinadaily.com.cn Motorcyclists get safe deal on wheels Updated: 2016-02-05 08:05 By Huo Yan(China Daily Europe) Migrant workers arrive at Guigang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. Every year, more than half a million migrant workers in the Pearl River Delta, an economic hub in South China, travel home by motorcycle to neighboring provinces and regions during the Spring Festival rush. It's a way to keep costs down and beat the scarcity of train tickets. The festival is a traditional time for family gatherings in China, but the cyclists usually have to endure long, uncomfortable journeys full of peril. But on Feb 1, hundreds of migrant workers employed in Guangdong province stepped off a high-speed train in Guigang, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, to find their motorcycles waiting for them to make the relatively short remainder of their way home in the region. Cargo trains transported the motorcycles days earlier from Guangdong province. The train ride from Guangzhou, capital of the province, to Guigang is about 600 kilometers. The special train was arranged by Guangzhou Railway Group to make sure the cyclists have a safe holiday. The company arranged special trains from Guangzhou to Nanning for migrant workers for the first time during last year's Spring Festival, and this year it added the the motorcycle delivery service. The two-wheelers are important vehicles for migrant workers to get home. Also, 218 gas stations in Guangdong and Hunan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region will provide free fuel to 10,000 motorcyclists heading home for family reunions. This year's Spring Festival travel rush lasts 40 days, from Jan 24 to March 3. It is estimated that 2.9 billion trips will be made during the period, with the majority of people traveling by rail and road. Retiree retreats Updated: 2016-02-05 08:06 By Ren Qi and Tian Xuefei(China Daily Europe) | Russian retirees sing karaoke in the Xinianhe Healthcare Center in Heihe, Heilongjiang province. Photos Provided to China Daily Heihe in far northeastern China has started to promote its leisure facilities for elderly Russian tourists Heihe, a city in far northeast China, has launched a campaign to promote its many "well-being centers" as long-term holiday destinations for elderly Russians. The local government has invested more than 230 million yuan ($34.9 million; 32.1 million euros) in the project, which aims to raise the profile of its more than 100 locations offering leisure facilities such as spas, hot springs and holistic therapy. Last year, the city spent 5.4 billion yuan to construct or expand 11 well-being centers, including Heihe No 2 Social Welfare Institution and Xinianhe Health Center. The effort helped attract more than 6,000 Russian seniors, officials say. Wang Yongtang, deputy director of social welfare for Heihe, says the latest campaign has been accelerated with support from the government and social organizations. Located in northeast Heilongjiang province, the city is separated by a river from Blagoveshchensk, the capital of Russia's Amurskaya Oblast. Thanks to its geographical advantage and low prices, the city is already a top holiday destination for those living in cities on the China-Russia border. Xinianhe Healthcare Center alone has welcomed more than 20,000 Russian tourists from Blagoveshchensk since 1990. Last year, the center opened a new rehabilitation center and a clinic offering traditional Chinese massage and acupuncture. Wang says the Russian-style well-being centers, which provide space for convalescence, are the most popular institutions offering care and leisure services for retirees from Russia and China. "I spend my summer holiday in Heihe every year," says Svetlana Kolegova, a 52-year-old from Blagoveshchensk, adding that a key attraction are the city's hot springs. Liu Guiqing, a retired teacher and part-time interpreter from Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang, says many Chinese retirees also head to Russia for breaks at similar facilities. "I've been to Russia with clients numerous times, and I was deeply impressed by the quality there," she says. "I hope I can spend more time there to relax myself." Zhang Enliang, the city mayor, says economic cooperation between Heihe and Russian cities has been increasing over the past 10 years, thanks largely to policies introduced to make travel easier. Heihe is just 750 meters from Blagoveshchensk and official data show that 3 million people pass through the Chinese city's border port every year, with most arriving by ferry. Russians have been able to visit the city without a visa since 2006, and most today come for holidays or to shop, according to Ye Hailin, exit-entry inspection and quarantine official. To handle the increase in Russian tourists, the city has expanded its immigration control center to cover nearly 8,500 square meters. In June, under an agreement between the governments of Heilongjiang and Amurskaya Oblast, work was started on a new bridge across the river. Once completed, Zhang says he expects the bridge to boost economic development in Heihe and attract more Russian tourists. Monkey see, humans do Updated: 2016-02-05 08:06 By Erik Nilsson(China Daily Europe) Eight great places to watch playful primates go wild in the wild "Emei's elves" are thieves. Indeed, it wasn't my wife who was rustling through the pack on my back. It was a Tibetan macaque. Wild primates that frolic at tourism destinations around China include (clockwise from top) golden monkeys in Hubei's Shennongjia, macaques on Hainan's Nanwan Monkey Island, Tibetan macaques in Sichuan's Emei Mountains and Huangshan stump-tailed macaques on Anhui's Huangshan Mountains. Photos by Wen Zhenxiao / Huang Yiming / Zhao Renbao / Liu Bingsheng / For China Daily (My spouse, for the record, is human.) The animal was up to its furry armpit, swishing around for the peanuts in my bag. I asked Carol what she wanted - then noticed her some distance away. I turned around to find myself staring into its eyes. Not hers. A tug-of-war ensued. I guess it makes sense you'd wield upper body strength disproportionate to your size if you performed treetop acrobatics all day. (I still won. Barely.) The monkeys on Sichuan province's Emei Mountains are colloquially known as "little beggars". More like "little burglars". That said, I chased another species out of our tree house in Yunnan province's Xishuangbanna before it could snatch anything. Primates flash-flooded around - sometimes over - our feet at Qianling Mountain Park in Guizhou province's capital, Guiyang, where they're the main attraction. Some napped while limpidly draped over signs advertising their presence, without any sense of irony. We homo sapiens perhaps love monkeys because they sway from a nearby branch of our evolutionary tree. They're cousins that call for family reunions, typically via ecotourism. China is home to about a dozen species - plus one ape group, the gibbon - that entice travelers every year. They hold a special place in Chinese culture, making the cut of the 12 creatures esteemed as worthy of zodiac reverence. In the spirit of the Year of the Monkey that begins on Feb 8, we explore China's best destinations to visit the primates that climb close to us up the web of life. 1 Monkey Island Nanwan Monkey Island is a place where trained macaques reportedly greet guests with salutes and flags. Yet they lack discipline and often break formation or even squabble at the site in Lingshui county, in southeastern Hainan province. Most simian denizens of the country's only macaque reserve are truly wild. And, apparently, love to dive and swim. 2 Lianyungang Jiangsu province's Huaguo Mountains are peaks upon which some monkeys frolic. Others are frozen in stone. The living primates scuttle up sculptures of the mischievous Monkey King, the protagonist of one, and arguably the zaniest, of China's four great novels, Journey to the West. The heights are said to be the saucy superhero's home. Visitors can pose with a trained monkey dressed as the Monkey King in front of the Water Curtain Cave through which the deity dashed to become supreme ruler of his kind. That is, before splashing through to the other side, cultivating magical powers and questing to India. 3 Shennongjia Golden monkeys scamper through this forest reserve in Hubei province. Legend whispers that another primate lumbers along this territory: the Yeren, or Wild Man, China's Big Foot. That said, the place itself is named after a pseudomythical horned pharmacologist from whom all ethnic Han are believed to have descended. Shennong is like a Chinese Abraham with an ox scalp, who gobbled unidentified herbs to discover if they wielded medicinal purposes - or poison. (It's said his intestines ruptured, fatally, after he digested a toxic yellow flower.) The Unesco World Biosphere Reserve remains a botanist's playground. Roughly 3,500 species of flora flourish. So do golden monkeys and, perhaps consequently, the lore of Yeren. 4 Foping Snub-nosed monkeys play supporting roles to the stars of Shaanxi province's Foping National Nature Reserve, the world's densest wild panda population. Exceedingly rare brown-and-white giant pandas, leopards and Asiatic black bears also amble over this wilderness. Red-and-white giant flying squirrels sail through its canopies, while takin, which look like a cross between a goat and an ox, trot atop its soil. 5 Zhouzhi The Qinling Mountains' golden snub-nosed monkeys are blue in the face - especially their lips. The reason for their visage's complexion remains unknown. Their flat features are likely an adaptation to prevent frostbitten proboscises. The species' Latin name, Rhinopithecus roxellana, is said to hail from their resemblance to a 1500s concubine with a squashed schnoz. About 4,000 of these primates roam the Zhouzhi nature reserve in Shaanxi province in bands of up to 400. 6 Gaoligong Assorted gibbons, langurs and macaques scuttle through the Gaoligong Mountains. The Unesco World Biosphere Reserve in Yunnan province bristles with one of the country's best-preserved woodlands. Clouded leopards, red pandas and pangolins also prowl its topography. A critically endangered snub-nosed monkey species, Rhinopithecus strykeri, was discovered there in 2011. 7 Chongzuo Chongzuo Ecology Park is where you can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with scientists from the elite Peking University to observe black-headed langurs and white-headed leaf monkeys only found in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. The research base near the road is open to the public. Simians snooze in caves at night and jet across hilltops during daytimes. 8 Zhangjiajie Monkeys swirl among 8,000 stone shards of this terrain, which inspired the extraterrestrial world featured in the blockbuster Avatar. Both the film and actual place - a Unesco World Heritage Site - are otherworldly landscapes occupied by primates who, well, aren't us but are pretty proximate. That is, almost human, but not quite. erik_nilsson@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily European Weekly 02/05/2016 page16) Loud whispers Updated: 2016-02-05 08:07 By Deng Zhangyu(China Daily Europe) Swiss collector Uli Sigg will hold his largest display of contemporary Chinese art in his native country With the world's largest known collection of contemporary Chinese art in his possession, Swiss collector Uli Sigg is ready to hold his second comprehensive show since 2005, offering Western audiences an insight into China's art scene over the last decade. Sigg has collected more than 2,200 pieces of Chinese art. The new show, Chinese Whispers, will be held from Feb 19 to June 19 at the Museum of Fine Arts Bern, the oldest art museum in Switzerland, and the Paul Klee art center, also in Bern. It will display 150 works of 71 Chinese contemporary artists from Sigg's collection. Sixty percent of this art was bequeathed four years ago to M+ Museum, an art museum that will open in Hong Kong in 2019. Although Sigg has held several shows in the West on contemporary Chinese art, with particular focus on topics like shanshui (landscape ink painting), calligraphy, Cantonese artists and the artists of Shanghai, the new show in Bern is expected to be the largest ever display of his art holdings to date. Mahjong, his first overview show in Bern in 2005, was so successful that the Museum of Fine Arts Bern, where it was held, said an exhibition of contemporary art with such an audience hadn't been witnessed there earlier, according to Sigg. That show was a first-time offering of Chinese contemporary art from a collector's view to an audience that wasn't familiar with it. "Ten years later, they want to do another show to see what has changed in my collection. They're curious about the contemporary art scene in China after 2005," says Sigg, 69. As a Swiss ambassador to China in the 1990s and one of the early people to set up a joint venture between China and the West, Sigg began collecting contemporary Chinese art in the 1980s. He has since visited many studios, buying artworks that most people didn't know about. As Sigg's collection grew, his name got bigger in China's art world. Chinese Whispers, the title of the new show, given by curator Kathleen Buhler, stems from a children's game of passing messages from ear to ear. The words usually get distorted during the oral transmissions, and can be seen as a metaphor for Western viewership of contemporary Chinese art owing to cultural and historical differences, writes Buhler in a preface for the show. But thanks to globalization, Chinese art is increasingly becoming an integral part of the world art scene. The show covers paintings, sculptures, installations and video works that were created by Chinese artists from 2005 to 2015, a period in which they became more confident of the Chinese cultural identity, says Liu Lili, director of Chinese Contemporary Art Award, the annual awards sponsored by Sigg since 1998. A friend of Sigg for long, Liu says Sigg is the most diligent collector she has ever met. Even on a two-day trip to China, Sigg usually ends up visiting more than 20 studios and insists on meeting artists until the last minute before leaving the country. Sigg has also followed individual artists for years and has collected their works as they evolved in their careers. Instead of collecting based on his personal preferences, Sigg says he seeks to "document the history" of Chinese contemporary art. The collector is also the subject of a film, titled The Chinese Lives of Uli Sigg, documenting his time with eight Chinese artists, including Zeng Fanzhi and Feng Mengbo. The film will be screened in Switzerland on Feb 9. dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily European Weekly 02/05/2016 page21) Shipping giant wants more of Mediterranean Updated: 2016-02-05 08:07 By Maria Petrakis(China Daily Europe) Cosco sets sights on Cypriot port of Limassol, another key to its bid to create a modern commercial superhighway for Chinese goods Fresh from success in securing control of the Piraeus Port Authority SA in Greece, Chinese shipping giant Cosco is also bidding to run the port of Limassol on the divided island of Cyprus in a bid to extend its reach in the Mediterranean Sea. Cosco was among investors who expressed interest in running the container terminal and the multipurpose terminal, according to a senior source in the Cypriot government. The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works said on Jan 21 that 14 investors had placed bids for three concession opportunities. View from the dockside of Limassol port in Cyprus. Reuters Cosco is one of the six bidders for the port's container terminal and one of five vying for the multipurpose terminal, according to the source. Another three companies have placed bids to run a marine services concession, according to the statement. Other companies interested in the concession opportunities at the Cypriot port are DB World of Dubai and Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc, the source said. Cosco's interest in the Limassol port came after it was declared the preferred, and only, bidder for a controlling stake in Piraeus Port, Greece's biggest harbor and one of the largest in the Mediterranean. Cosco increased an initial offer in response to a Greek request and will pay 368.5 million euros ($399.7 million) for a 67 percent stake in Piraeus, a gateway that is key to China's plans to create a modern commercial empire pumping Chinese goods throughout Europe. Limassol Port is the main port of the Republic of Cyprus, serving most of the island's seaborne cargo and passenger traffic. The port accounts for nearly all container traffic, about half of the total cargo and 75 percent of the passenger traffic on the island, according to the tender documents. Andreas Michaelides, the general director of the ministry, said in the Jan 21 statement that the country's aim was to make the port of Limassol a "gateway for development for the future". The Cypriots hope to draw investment to a port that may well be able to offer hydrocarbon support services in the future to support a burgeoning offshore oil and gas industry in the region, considered instrumental to Cyprus' future economic development. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a visit to Nicosia in December that China was interested in operating Cypriot ports and wanted to help turn the eastern Mediterranean island nation into a regional shipping hub, AP reported at the time. Chinese investment in the region is a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, which envisages creating the 21st century land and maritime equivalents of the Silk Road. Since the Chinese shipping behemoth started container operations in Greece in 2009, traffic has surged at Piraeus, making the harbor one of the fastest-growing ports in the world. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to an abortive coup by a Greek military regime to unite the island with Greece. Limassol port evolved into the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus' biggest port following the division of the island, when the port of Famagusta, Cyprus' main port for centuries, fell under the control of Turkish forces. Hiving off licenses for the port's activities is part of the terms of the 10 billion euro bailout the country agreed with European partners and the International Monetary Fund in 2013. The bailout came after Greece's debt restructuring imposed losses on Cypriot banks, forcing the country to seek international aid, impose capital controls and seize deposits at the country's two biggest banks. But Cyprus has adhered faithfully to the terms set by lenders and is on track to exit its bailout program on time in March, Finance Minister Haris Georgiades told European parliamentarians in Brussels. Preferred bidders for the port concessions are to be announced before the end of March, according to the statement. For China Daily (China Daily European Weekly 02/05/2016 page29) China's role in Africa is 'exaggerated' Updated: 2016-02-05 08:08 By Andrew Moody in Johannesburg(China Daily Europe) African nations would like to see more in terms of manufacturing and investment, academic says Elizabeth Sidiropoulos believes Europe feels "slighted" by China's new economic engagement with Africa. The chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, the country's leading foreign policy research body, says the world's second-largest economy continues to challenge the traditional order of the continent based on old colonial attachments. Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, the chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, says that China continues to challenge the traditional order of the continent based on old colonial attachments. Mujahid Safodien / For China Daily "Europe is no longer the only game in town and it feels perhaps a little slighted as a result. This is more the case because of the still significant numbers involved with its own development cooperation and trade and investment with Africa. There is, however, this decline in its relative influence and that has consequences." Sidiropoulos, who was speaking in her office at the magnificent Jan Smuts House, dedicated to the country's former prime minister, at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, says the West finds China's no-strings-attached approach disconcerting. "They are concerned about what impact China's policy of non-interference (in the internal affairs of African countries) will have on the government frameworks of emerging democracies," she says. The 47-year-old foreign policy expert says that at the same time there is also a tendency to exaggerate China's new role in Africa. "From an African perspective what is conveyed - and it is often more about perception - is that China is now the most important partner of Africa. Over the past couple of years, China has certainly become the largest single trading partner. "But that does not accurately reflect the true landscape. Europe and the United States continue to be significantly important in terms of trade but particularly in terms of manufactured exports and investment." Sidiropoulos, whose parents are from Athens, is part of the sizable Greek diaspora in South Africa, which dates back to the gold rush in the 19th century. Her father, however, came to the country in the 1950s to work in a factory. After attending school in Johannesburg, she went on to study international relations at the University of Witwatersrand, on whose campus the SAIIA is now located. After graduating she went to work as a researcher with the South African Institute of Race Relations, working on its race relations survey. "It was a fascinating period because it was after Mandela was released. I was dealing a lot with questions around black businesses, which was very interesting and still is a big topic here. I did a lot of research on black business chambers. This was before BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) legislation was codified and legislated." Sidiropoulos joined SAIIA in 1999 and has since put her stamp on the institute, which was founded in Cape Town in 1934 but moved to it own current dedicated location on the Witwatesrand campus in the 1980s. One of the hot foreign policy topics in South Africa is the country's ambition to be admitted as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for which it hopes China will play an influential role. Sidiropoulos believes, however, too wide a reform of the council could undermine the institution itself, making it unwieldy. South Africa is just one of a number of countries wanting to join an expanded permanent Security Council, which since 1946 has only had five permanent members - the United States, China, Russia, the UK and France. "You probably need a Security Council where you have to recognize certain countries are more powerful than others if you are going to move forward with things and that is probably why the UN has survived for 70 years and not for the 15 odd years that the League of Nations effectively did," she says. One possible reform option could be the so-called G4 countries of Brazil, India, Japan and Germany and two African nations becoming permanent members. An obstacle to this, however, is the Ezulwini Consensus reached by the African Union in Swaziland in 2005, which insists that any new African permanent members would need to have veto power, whereas the G4 countries are seen to more flexible on the issue. "The view of many countries, including some in Africa, is that it is time to review the Ezulwini Consensus to make sure it is not used as a convenient obstacle to moving forward on UN Security Council reform." A major issue in South Africa remains high levels of crime. Johannesburg has one of the highest murder rates in the world, although much of it is confined to certain areas of the city. Sidiropoulos says it is often difficult to find an explanation, although blame is often attached to increasing income inequality. "Amartya Sen (the Nobel prize winner for economics) spoke at the university and said that if it was down to inequality, then Calcutta (now Kolkata) would be the most crime-ridden city in the world." She believes it could be down to two main factors: political turmoil as society moves away from apartheid and that people have also become conditioned to crime. "I think crime is often a feature of economies and societies in transition. This was the experience of Central and Eastern European countries in the 1990s when they experienced a spike in crime. "From the 1960s the level of violence (in South Africa) got progressively worse with necklacing and police brutality. If you have seen all this as a 10- or 15-year-old youngster, it is likely to have an effect." One of the pressing issues in Africa is how the slowdown in China has affected many of the continent's oil producing nations. "I think this has probably tempered the Africa Rising narrative. Over the last few months the fall in demand for African resources has been a concern. Having said that, I wish South Africa (which has been teetering on recession) was growing at more than 6 percent like China. "I think the biggest challenges for Africa are the ones set down by the African Union's 2063 Agenda around issues of industrialization and tackling corruption." Sidiropoulos says it is important that China works along with that agenda and does not mirror the role of the former colonial powers that were just interested in resources and selling manufactured goods. "That is why on the agenda with China here there is this issue of: 'Hey guys, we need to talk to you about investment in manufacturing and beneficiation (of raw materials),' and I think this now needs to be part of the partnership with China. We have a very vibrant civil society in South Africa and these things are debated." andrewmoody@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily European Weekly 02/05/2016 page32) Artist shares Peony's secrets Updated: 2016-02-05 08:07 By Song Wei in Nottingham(China Daily Europe) Students paint their final work on a 100-meter-long scroll after an hour's practice at their first class at Nottingham Lakeside Arts. Photos by Song Wei / China Daily A Chinese painter's guidance opens the doors for Westerners to the beauty of Chinese culture Jiang Hongsheng claims he has "a secret that can make people fall for traditional Chinese art at the very first sight". The genial, bright-eyed man in a black jacket says his job is to "unravel the richness of Chinese art through brush painting", and he can do it in just two hours of painting a peony. "The peony is the Chinese national flower, an important emblem symbolizing happiness, peace and good wishes," Jiang says. The artist, 49, who is fluent in English, arrived in the United Kingdom at the invitation of the University of Nottingham on Jan 11 as part of Chinese New Year celebrations. We met at his studio, where he holds workshops, on the first floor of Nottingham Lakeside Arts, and 30 of his masterpieces are displayed on the ground floor. Jiang's approach to his brush painting class is highly unorthodox. He spends just 15 minutes to introduce the art form and to demonstrate how to paint peonies, then three-fourths of the time is given to the first-time students to paint their own. "Here come my two secrets," he winked, about to reveal what helps first-timers finish a peony painting within one hour of learning. First are the "three steps" - from getting the right amount of water on the brushes to blending colors and doing simple strokes and dabs, guided by Jiang's summaries from his years of teaching. The steps are an excellent walk-through for novice learners. Secondly, Jiang always uses concise but enchanting Chinese cultural elements, such as poems and anecdotes, to inspire students' inner creativity. "It sounds uniquely Chinese, but somehow it can trigger their imagination and they are able to find something similar in their own culture," he says. "It's like, 'Give me a fulcrum, I shall move the world'," he says with a big smile. "I have just found the fulcrum in my students." After a few sheets of practice paper, students are ready to do their final work on a 100-meter-long piece of xuan paper, a fine-textured rice paper on which traditional Chinese paintings are usually done. Jiang says he came up with the idea of letting first-time students paint peonies on the 100-meter scroll just a couple of days earlier. "Each bloom is delicate and delightful," Jiang says while looking at the half-done scroll. Jiang says some suggested the scroll be exhibited at museums like the British Museum when it's finished. "It would be such an honor," he says. The British students, ranging from primary school students to retirees, broke the record by finishing the painting of peonies within one hour of learning, according to Jiang. He says it usually takes his students a couple of classes to practice until the final work is done. Sofia Nazar-Chadwick, head of audience development of Lakeside Arts, says she is amazed at the scroll of beautiful flowers. "If you asked most British people, they would tell you, 'I can't do brush painting'. But look at what his students here have produced. It's absolutely stunning. Jack (Jiang's English name) is able to show people that they could do things that they would never have had expected to do," Nazar-Chadwick says. She described Jiang as "a phenomenal, brilliant man who is able to bridge both cultural gaps and artistic gaps a good ambassador for Chinese culture who makes it more accessible to the West". Stephen Green, a Web application developer and frequent visitor to Jiang's exhibitions and workshops, says: "Jack's work brought back my happy memories when I was in China 20 years ago. It also reminds us that spring is coming; we've had lot of winter here." Jiang's mastery of English and teaching expertise is inseparable from his previous occupation. He has a master's in English education from Zhejiang Normal University, he was a teacher of English for 22 years before developing his artistic skills working under a master artist, Yu Yiqing. In 2012, he was presented with a National Golden Prize for Painting. Also in the same year, he set up the The Red Peony Academy in the East China port city of Ningbo. The academy has been offering free classes in Chinese brush painting and calligraphy for foreigners in Ningbo, and has taught over 5,300 students from 160 countries. "I hope eventually a 'butterfly effect' would take shape," Jiang says. "I hope my students can not only be an observer, a participant, but also become a friendship ambassador introducing Chinese arts to others." The UK visit is the Red Peony Academy's debut overseas. Jiang says he is "excited and surprised to see how welcome Chinese arts are here". On Feb 9, Jiang is to open his first workshop at Nottingham Confucius Institute Jubilee Campus, and he will also travel to Chichester University in the south. Jiang's exhibitions and workshops will run through Feb 19 at Nottingham Lakeside Arts. songwei@chinadaily.com.cn Jiang Hongsheng at his studio at Nottingham Lakeside Arts. China's role in Africa is 'exaggerated' Updated: 2016-02-05 08:08 By Andrew Moody in Johannesburg(China Daily Europe) Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, the chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, says that China continues to challenge the traditional order of the continent based on old colonial attachments. Mujahid Safodien / For China Daily Elizabeth Sidiropoulos believes Europe feels "slighted" by China's new economic engagement with Africa. The chief executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, the country's leading foreign policy research body, says the world's second-largest economy continues to challenge the traditional order of the continent based on old colonial attachments. "Europe is no longer the only game in town and it feels perhaps a little slighted as a result. This is more the case because of the still significant numbers involved with its own development cooperation and trade and investment with Africa. There is, however, this decline in its relative influence and that has consequences." Sidiropoulos, who was speaking in her office at the magnificent Jan Smuts House, dedicated to the country's former prime minister, at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, says the West finds China's no-strings-attached approach disconcerting. "They are concerned about what impact China's policy of non-interference (in the internal affairs of African countries) will have on the government frameworks of emerging democracies," she says. The 47-year-old foreign policy expert says that at the same time there is also a tendency to exaggerate China's new role in Africa. "From an African perspective what is conveyed - and it is often more about perception - is that China is now the most important partner of Africa. Over the past couple of years, China has certainly become the largest single trading partner. "But that does not accurately reflect the true landscape. Europe and the United States continue to be significantly important in terms of trade but particularly in terms of manufactured exports and investment." Sidiropoulos, whose parents are from Athens, is part of the sizable Greek diaspora in South Africa, which dates back to the gold rush in the 19th century. Her father, however, came to the country in the 1950s to work in a factory. After attending school in Johannesburg, she went on to study international relations at the University of Witwatersrand, on whose campus the SAIIA is now located. After graduating she went to work as a researcher with the South African Institute of Race Relations, working on its race relations survey. "It was a fascinating period because it was after Mandela was released. I was dealing a lot with questions around black businesses, which was very interesting and still is a big topic here. I did a lot of research on black business chambers. This was before BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) legislation was codified and legislated." Sidiropoulos joined SAIIA in 1999 and has since put her stamp on the institute, which was founded in Cape Town in 1934 but moved to it own current dedicated location on the Witwatesrand campus in the 1980s. One of the hot foreign policy topics in South Africa is the country's ambition to be admitted as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, for which it hopes China will play an influential role. Sidiropoulos believes, however, too wide a reform of the council could undermine the institution itself, making it unwieldy. South Africa is just one of a number of countries wanting to join an expanded permanent Security Council, which since 1946 has only had five permanent members - the United States, China, Russia, the UK and France. "You probably need a Security Council where you have to recognize certain countries are more powerful than others if you are going to move forward with things and that is probably why the UN has survived for 70 years and not for the 15 odd years that the League of Nations effectively did," she says. One possible reform option could be the so-called G4 countries of Brazil, India, Japan and Germany and two African nations becoming permanent members. An obstacle to this, however, is the Ezulwini Consensus reached by the African Union in Swaziland in 2005, which insists that any new African permanent members would need to have veto power, whereas the G4 countries are seen to more flexible on the issue. "The view of many countries, including some in Africa, is that it is time to review the Ezulwini Consensus to make sure it is not used as a convenient obstacle to moving forward on UN Security Council reform." A major issue in South Africa remains high levels of crime. Johannesburg has one of the highest murder rates in the world, although much of it is confined to certain areas of the city. Sidiropoulos says it is often difficult to find an explanation, although blame is often attached to increasing income inequality. "Amartya Sen (the Nobel prize winner for economics) spoke at the university and said that if it was down to inequality, then Calcutta (now Kolkata) would be the most crime-ridden city in the world." She believes it could be down to two main factors: political turmoil as society moves away from apartheid and that people have also become conditioned to crime. "I think crime is often a feature of economies and societies in transition. This was the experience of Central and Eastern European countries in the 1990s when they experienced a spike in crime. "From the 1960s the level of violence (in South Africa) got progressively worse with necklacing and police brutality. If you have seen all this as a 10- or 15-year-old youngster, it is likely to have an effect." One of the pressing issues in Africa is how the slowdown in China has affected many of the continent's oil producing nations. "I think this has probably tempered the Africa Rising narrative. Over the last few months the fall in demand for African resources has been a concern. Having said that, I wish South Africa (which has been teetering on recession) was growing at more than 6 percent like China. "I think the biggest challenges for Africa are the ones set down by the African Union's 2063 Agenda around issues of industrialization and tackling corruption." Sidiropoulos says it is important that China works along with that agenda and does not mirror the role of the former colonial powers that were just interested in resources and selling manufactured goods. "That is why on the agenda with China here there is this issue of: 'Hey guys, we need to talk to you about investment in manufacturing and beneficiation (of raw materials),' and I think this now needs to be part of the partnership with China. We have a very vibrant civil society in South Africa and these things are debated." andrewmoody@chinadaily.com.cn Initial Syria peace momentum must be built on Updated: 2016-02-05 08:06 By Fu Jing(China Daily Europe) Beijing has stated clearly that the dialogue process should be free of foreign influence and under UN auspices With representatives of Syrian government and the opposition beginning talks on a ceasefire and peace-building process for the war-torn country in Geneva on Jan 29, leaders of more than 70 countries are scheduled to gather in London on Feb 4 to galvanize international resources and deliver assistance to the millions of people in Syria and neighboring regions desperately in need of help. In Syria, where one family in two is homeless and three million children have no access to education due to the nearly five-year war, the two developments are encouraging signs, especially if the highly-anticipated peace talks can produce any result. In reality, the consequences of the war that resulted from the "Arab Spring" protests in late 2010, which toppled governments in West Asia and North Africa, are still unfolding, spreading across its borders and affecting many countries. Syrian refugees are braving the hazardous journey and flooding into Turkey, Greece and Italy, other European countries are sharing the burden of accepting the influx of migrants. Last year alone, Germany received 1 million. But over the weekend, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, due to domestic political pressure, announced that once peace is restored in Syria, the refugees must return home, which is really "mission impossible". European leaders are considering stopping the Schengen visa program and closing borders, which would certainly have a negative impact on the European Union economy. The complexity of the migrant issue has consumed European leaders' time, energy and resources and thus its economic development and diplomacy have suffered as a result. However, restoring peace in Syria will not be an easy process. From the very beginning, some Western countries have been determined to get rid of the Bashar al-Assad leadership. Some countries are still sticking to this goal despite an estimated 250,000 people being killed in the war over past five years. These foreign forces will inevitably influence the peace talks if such a goal is not abandoned. If so, progress in the talks, if any, is likely to be slow and bumpy. If this is the case, Syrians will continue to suffer and European countries will continuously bear the brunt of the flow of refugees. This is a vicious cycle. If the cycle continues, no matter how much resources would have been mobilized on Feb 4, they will be meaningless. Now, as the two parties of Syria are engaging in talks, there is the initial momentum to secure peace. All the parties should insert their positive energy, instead of tearing the process apart. In this regard, Beijing has set an example. Before the Geneva talks, China had already invited Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem and Syrian National Coalition President Khaled Khoja, the leader of the Syrian National Coalition, a key opposition group in Syria, to Beijing and they committed to beginning talks without any preconditions. Beijing has stated clearly that the dialogue process should be free of foreign influence, though it should be put under the auspices of the United Nations. And the peace-building process and Syria's leadership should be decided by Syrians. Beijing will continuously seek to find amicable settlements, instead of helping one side fighting against the other. Foreign Minister Wang Yi was scheduled to attend London conference on Feb 4 and China's stance will be emphasized again. Now, it is high time for the international community to abide by these principles, eliminate any influence which could escalate the war in Syria, and let the Syrian people decide their own future. The author is China Daily chief correspondent in Brussels. Contact the writer at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn Toward continuing 'entente cordiale' Updated: 2016-02-05 08:06 By Zhai Jun(China Daily Europe) Long list of firsts in relationship between China and France pushes for wide-ranging expansion of their collaboration Last year, as China and France celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, President Xi Jinping paid a visit to what he called "a special friend and win-win partner". Leaders of both countries decided to steer the China-France relationship into a new era of close and lasting comprehensive strategic partnership. There have been more visits this year, with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visiting France, and French President Francois Hollande and its Prime Minister Manuel Valls visiting China. Both countries have been firm in following the spirit of what is right, holding steadfast to the road of reform that will give their peoples a brighter future. Looking back on the past half century, independence of action and innovation have been constant drivers in the Sino-French relationship. France was the first Western country to establish ambassadorial-level diplomatic ties with China, the first to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership, the first to work with it in the field of civilian nuclear power, the first to sign government agreement s on technology, the first to have direct flights to China and the first to host mutually with China a cultural year and cultural centers. These firsts laid a solid foundation for our comprehensive strategic partnership, and push to form comprehensive, multi-level and wide-ranging collaboration. China has become not only the largest trade partner of France in Asia but its most promising export market as well. When the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1964, trade between the two was worth just only $100 million; last year average trade every single day was worth $150 million. Chinese companies have opened more than 200 offices and branches in France, and created more than 20,000 job opportunities for French people. The independence of action and innovation I have already alluded to continued to propel the relationship this year. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius visited China and took part in the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory of the world anti-fascist war, showing France's recognition of China's contribution as the main battlefield in the East and of its friendship for the Chinese people. The two countries have become a community of interests as we have created industry chains and jointly developed third-party markets. Both countries have decided to grant multi-year visas to tourists and businesspeople, and implemented measures to promote the exchange of interns in the workplace, measures that have been welcomed by Chinese and French alike. The French government has said that in the first 10 months of 2015, the number of Chinese tourists visiting France rose 46 percent compared with last year. On international issues, too, the two countries have found common cause, and not long ago leaders of both countries signed the China-France Joint Presidential Statement on Climate Change. A Chinese proverb has it that a sesame stalk grows notch by notch, ever higher, and the same principle applies to relations between the two countries, thanks to the independence each has in innovating. The 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) recently published by the Chinese government foresees a well-off society by 2020, drawing on measures that promote innovation, coordination, green values, openness, inclusiveness and economic sustainability, all the while doubling the size of the economy and personal incomes compared with 2010. To reduce poverty in line with its aims, China faces a kind of mathematical equation. It needs to add to economic output, to subtract outdated production facilities and make structural transformation, and to multiply development achieved through innovation. It also needs to continue streamlining administration and decentralizing. When Hollande was in China recently he said France would likely be a partner as China continues on its path of comprehensive reform. The two countries can combine the strategies "Made in China 2025" and "future industry" and increase collaboration in manufacturing. We can also use complementary advantages and joint research, and manufacture, invest and develop products of "made in both China and France" to third-party markets. Because France is one of the European Union's main powers, Sino-French relations have ramifications for the EU as a whole. Let's hope that the two countries continue to respect and trust each other, and seek common ground and mutually beneficial collaboration. Indeed, France can be a standard-bearer for relations between China and Europe. China welcomes France's participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and the promotion of the relationship between the initiative and the European Investment Plan. China also expects France to push for recognition of China's market economy status in the EU and for it to advocate EU trade negotiations with China in a spirit of friendly dialogue. At the conference in Paris this month on climate change, China did everything to ensure it would succeed, and provided France strong political support, and stands ever ready to work with the country on the issue. It also fully appreciates that dealing with climate change and adopting sustainable development go hand in hand China will host the G20 summit for the first time next year. When France hosted the G20 summit in 2011, China was happy to work closely with it in that endeavor, and it looks forward to similar collaboration as it prepares to host the summit. In such collaboration, and indeed in broader collaboration with France, China is keen to make a contribution to sustainable and balanced economic growth for the world. I believe that both Chinese and French are people with wisdom, and can work together and open a new chapter of Sino-French friendship, providing power to the economic and social development of the two countries, Europe and the world as a whole. The author is the Chinese ambassador to France. The Legacy Theatre 101 E. Lawrence, Springfield Downtown Theater & Comedy Based on a true story, Charlie Price has inherited his fathers shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.Trying to save the family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible. A moving and powerful story, Kinky Boots will have everyone dancing in the aisle and discovering why, sometimes, the best way to fit in is to stand out.Winner of six Tony Awards, including Best 800-838-3006 Description Combining classic and contemporary dance that is strongly influenced by her African heritage, Johannesburg-born dancer and choreographer Dada Masilo creates explosive, passionate work. Her reimagining of Swan Lake is no exception as the dancers are not only propelled by Tchaikovsky but also by Steve Reich as they turn the classic Swan Lake on its head to tackle issues of gender and homophobia in a country ravaged by AIDS. February 2-7, 2016 Tuesday 7:30pm Wednesday 7:30pm Thursday 8pm Friday 8pm Saturday 8pm Sunday 2pm More than 10 billion gallons per day of toxic run off from Lake Okeechobee are poisoning the Indian River Lagoon, the St. Lucie and Calosahatchee, emptying onto both east and west coasts of Florida in a flow permitted by the State of Florida and US Army Corps of Engineers.Historic winter rains are pushing a tide of filth along both coasts like diarrhea coating the rim of a toilet bowl.This is not by accident-- for that, thank the political equation that keeps Sugar Billionaires' feet dry in the Everglades Agricultural Area. Not "El Nino". This is our slice of the planet puking the cumulative filth of unsustainable farming practices.Today the US Army Corps of Engineers is opening the flood gates of hell, to express maximum volume of toxic water into nearby estuaries.Citizens who can't believe their river-front properties are being trashed AGAIN to save Big Sugar also can't breathe the noxious fumes escaping from the water management locks nearby. It is all about elections.The only way to stop the catastrophe is to stop voting for elected officials supervising this tidal wave of destruction. Those officials include incoming Senate president Joe Negron.The political status quo -- Republicans AND Democrats -- have been staring the solution in the face for decades: buy enough surface land storage to build marshes south of Lake Okeechobee adequate to the purpose of cleansing the pollution. Instead, the state and national interest in fixing Everglades is hostage to Big Sugar's greed.Gov. Rick Scott and his chosen successor, Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam, are spinning bullshit to a fine art.Every time the pubic has gotten close to buying sugar lands in the EAA adequate to the purpose of storing and cleansing (sugar's) Lake Okeechobee's fetid mess, Big Sugar launches another round of political arm-twisting in Tallahassee. Here is are two good views of what you, taxpayer and voter, are funding:There are some excellent editorials adding to the mountain of words condemning mismanagement of water resources by the state and federal government: either ignored by your elected representatives to the Florida legislature and Congress or shuffled along in half-measures. The bottom line for Florida: keep taking half-steps to fixing the problem, and eventually you will get nowhere.http://www.tcpalm.com/news/indian-river-lagoon/health/lake-okeechobee-discharges-to-start--soon-2a657b77-b625-6872-e053-0100007f44b8-366869691.html WWII-era spy Stephanie Czech Rader '37 dies at age 100 Stephanie Czech Rader '37, a chemistry graduate who became a U.S. spy in Europe at the end of World War II, died Jan. 21 at the age of 100 at her home in Alexandria, Virginia. Among the university's oldest alumni, Rader had participated in Cornell's recent sesquicentennial celebrations -- she was honored at a Washington, D.C., event in November 2014, where she was welcomed on stage at the Warner Theatre with resounding applause in front of a crowd of more than 800 fellow Cornellians. After earning her Cornell degree, Rader worked as a librarian and researcher at the Texas Oil Co. in New York City before joining the first 80 trainees for the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) at the outbreak of World War II. WAAC became the Women's Army Corps, and she was one of the first 440 women selected to participate in a six-week officer candidate training class at Fort Des Moines, Iowa. As Rader trained enlisted classes, she quickly rose to the rank of captain. In the waning months of the war, she also became a spy for the U.S. government. Rader was recruited by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), a precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency. Raised in Poughkeepsie, New York, by parents who were emigrants from Poland, she had always been immersed in Polish culture and language, and so the OSS assigned her to Warsaw in late 1945. Working undercover as a U.S. embassy clerk who was attempting, in her spare time, to reconnect with distant relatives in different parts of Poland, Rader traveled far and wide across the Russian-occupied country while gathering intelligence on Soviet troop movements and other population data. She was shocked by the bombed-out devastation around her, and she continued to be vigilant, always "collecting all kinds of information." Rader's covert role placed her in precarious situations, which she handled with uncommon poise. "[The OSS] gave me a gun, but I never carried a gun. I thought, 'What the heck was I going to do with a dumb gun?'" Rader said in an OSS Society interview. In 1946, Rader returned to the United States and married Brig. Gen. William Rader. She retired from the Army with the rank of major but continued her involvement with the military as her husband served in Air Force command positions around the country. Rader received the Army Commendation Ribbon (now known as the Army Commendation Medal) in 1947, but it took decades for Rader to receive any further recognition for the true extent of her assignments and activities. Her personnel file was only declassified in 2008. In 2012, she was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Virginia Hall Award (named after the famed Allied spy) by the OSS Society, and a separate effort was underway at the time of her death by friends of Rader and the OSS Society to award her the Legion of Merit for "exceptionally meritorious conduct in performing outstanding services." Rader had been nominated by her superior officers for this honor in 1946, but the request was turned down for unknown reasons. In a Jan. 21 article in The Washington Post, OSS Society President Charles Pinck said Rader "was never properly recognized for her heroism" and that he hoped the Army will award her the Legion of Merit posthumously. In recent years, Rader had joined the Cayuga Society, a group of individuals who have entrusted their bequests to the university. Rader said she made her bequest, to benefit chemistry faculty and students in the College of Arts and Sciences, out of her gratitude for the confidence Cornell instilled in her. In 2015, shortly before she turned a century old on May 15, Rader looked back at another act of generosity that enabled her to make a difference for Cornell and for her country. "I had a high school teacher who graduated from Cornell. I was a good student in high school, and she took an interest in me," she recounted. Rader's parents barely spoke English, and they were unfamiliar with the American collegiate system; however, Rader's teacher served as her mentor and later submitted a Cornell application on her behalf without her knowledge. Rader received a full scholarship, which she supplemented by waiting tables, and she became the first member in her family to graduate from college. After Cornell, what followed was indeed a remarkable adventure -- the kind one hears about in spy movies. Michael Golden '62, a fellow Alexandria resident, and his wife Margie befriended Rader in recent years and attended the sesquicentennial event in Washington, D.C., with her. "Stephanie was a strong, intelligent, motivated, decent person, with strong opinions masking her wonderful sense of humor, who believed that her Cornell experience created opportunities that she otherwise wouldn't have had," Golden said. "She paid that back full bore through her dedicated military service in WWII and afterward. And she felt that way from her first day on the Hill to her passing 82 years later. And she wanted other young people to be afforded that same opportunity. She was thrilled to have been honored at the 150th gathering at the Warner Theater, and to give a 'high five' to the Big Red Bear." Back to top Pathfinder Tales is a longstanding sci-fi/fantasy novel series based on the best-selling tabletop adventure game. On February 2, 2016, Tor released the latest installment in the series Pirate's Prophecy by Chris A. Jackson. About Pirate's Prophecy: Captain Torius Vin and the crew of the Stargazer have given up the pirate life, instead becoming abolitionist privateers bent on capturing slave ships and setting their prisoners free. But when rumors surface of a new secret weapon in devil-ruled Cheliax, are the Stargazers willing to go up against a navy backed by Hell itself? Cindy got to sit down with Chris A. Jackson and talk about this new release, how it feels to write for the Pathfinder Tales, and about what it is like to live life on the open seas! A huge thank you goes out to Tor for helping to arrange the interview and for Chris A. Jackson for stopping by. Please welcome Chris A. Jackson! ********************************************************* 1. Hi Chris! Thank you for stopping by Fantasy Book Critic! Why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself? My pleasure! Lets see, my father was a boat builder and fisherman, so I grew up around boats and on the sea. The most important thing I learned during that tenure was that the ocean will either earn your respect or kill you. Shes certainly earned mine, but I also learned to love her despite her occasional homicidal tendencies, and even sought a career in marine biology. Despite loving the field, and even marrying a marine biologist, I went into biomedical research as a career. Trust me, it pays better. During my twenty years in that field, I started writing seriously. After a few years of attending conventions and making contacts, I was picked up by a small publisher, and its been full steam ahead ever since. In 2009, having saved up some money and needing a change, my wife Anne and I left our scientific careers to go sailing on our forty-five-foot sailboat, Mr. Mac, and write fulltime. We thought to sail until our savings ran out, but my writing is now paying for our seaborne lifestyle, allowing us to cruise the seas from Maine to Trinidad. Anne is my first-draft beta reader/editor and co-author for some of our books, which tells you something about her level of patience and the durability of our relationship. 2. How did you get involved with writing in the Pathfinder Tales series? Was it something that just happened to cross your path? I had played table-top role-playing games since my teens, and the Pathfinder RPG for several years, and I had just finished a four-book nautical fantasy seriesthe Scimitar Seas novels, published by Dragon Moon Presswhich won three consecutive gold medals from Foreword Reviews Magazine for best fantasy novel of the year. Paizo had been publishing Pathfinder Tales for a couple of years, and had just published the pirate-oriented Skull and Shackles adventure path, but had no one writing nautical Pathfinder Tales. So I knew gaming, the Pathfinder RPG, and how to write a nautical fantasy. The opportunity just begged me to take advantage, so I pitched myself to Paizos fiction editor, James L. Sutter, as the guy who could write nautical Pathfinder Tales. He was intrigued, and asked for a web fiction story, which I happily submitted, but before Stargazer was even published, I got a surprise. A hole had opened in his publishing schedule, and if I could give him a manuscript in five months, I was in. I said yes, spent the next few months on anchor in St. Lucia furiously working on the manuscript, and submitted Pirates Honor by the deadline. 3. Pirate's Prophecy is a continuation of your previous books in the Pathfinder Tales. For readers who haven't read the first ones, could you give a brief summary of what they can expect? In general, Pathfinder Tales are written such that a new reader can enjoy any one of the books without having to read them in any particular order. There are, however, some events that build on previous ones, and there are some minor spoilers here if you havent read Pirates Honor. My Pirates stories revolve around three primary characters: Captain Torius Vin, his navigator and lover Celeste, and the deadly and seductive Vreva Jhafae. Torius is a former slave turned pirate turned privateer/spy for the fledgling democratic nation of Andoran. He loves three things: his freedom, his ship, and Celeste. Celeste is an atypical protagonist for a Pathfinder Tale, not human or even humanoid, but a lunar naga with the head of a human and the body of a large black snake. Shes quite beautiful, if you dont mind scales. Lunar nagas love the stars and astrology, making her the perfect ships navigator. The romantic relationship between Celeste and Captain Vin is problematic. Aside from the obvious obstacles to their intimacy, Celeste is venomous, and Torius has, over the years, become inured and even addicted to her deadly venom. The relationship is strange, but fun, and the fans love it. Then theres Vreva Jhafae, courtesan/spy for Andoran, and devotee of Calistria, goddess of trickery, lust, and revenge. A minor character in Pirates Honor, she was so much fun to write I had to expand her role. Vreva uses her seductive wiles, beguiling magic, and mind-numbing toxins to ply her trade, and often drags Torius and Celeste into intrigue and trouble. Pirates Prophecy is a mix of Mission Impossible and Master and Commander, with spies, witches, devils, and nautical combat. Our intrepid trio has been assigned a covert mission to neutralize an unknown and potentially devastating secret weapon that the devil-worshiping Cheliaxians intend to unleash upon Andoran. I wont go into too much detail, but rest assured, mayhem ensues. 4. Who is your favorite character to write about in the Pathfinder Tales? Vreva Jhafae is just so much fun to write. She is courageous and capable, relying on cunning and deception to accomplish her missions instead of brute force and brawn. A mistress of magic, disguise, seduction, and subtle poisons, Vreva is an atypical femme fatale. Her familiar, Mathiasa smart-mouthed tomcatis always up for a scrap with a rival or a tumble with a kitty cat. Her life of constant danger, seduction, and intrigue is very different than the piratical characters, and adds an espionage element to the tales. 5. Pathfinder Tales is a pretty established world. You have written several other novels in the series before Pirate's Prophecy. What was it like working yourself into an established series? Was it different than working on your own separate series in a world you have created? The Pathfinder Tales authors are given a lot of creative freedom. I create my own characters and plots for the novels, weaving them into the fabric of the Pathfinder game world of Golarion. However, writing in an established world is very different from writing in my own fantasy world. Basically, Im playing in someone elses sandbox. I can have fun, but I cant break the toys. That means that I have to abide by the gaming rules with regard to character types, magic, religions, etc., and refrain from sinking islands, blowing up cities, or killing heads of state. Writing in my own world, I can break anything I like, though I still have to adhere to my own rules for magic, technology, religion, etc. And of course, in my own worlds, nothing is sacred, and the stories are much more epic in scope. 6. There are several dozen authors who also write within the Pathfinder Tales series. Do you read their books too? If so, do you draw inspiration from what they are writing as it occurs essentially in the same type of world or do you keep your novel completely separate from theirs? I read as many of the Pathfinder Tales as I have time for, and have started listening to the audio versions to allow myself more exposure. I draw inspiration more from the other writers styles than the content of their stories. Dave Gross creates wonderful characters, Liane Merciel is the queen of dark tension, Howard Andrew Jones is a master plotter, and Tim Pratts wit reminds me that humor is vital to a good rollicking tale. Ive done some beta reading for several of the other authors, as they have done for me as well, which is invaluable. Theres virtually no crossover between authors, other than a few mentions of places or events, although it would be fun to actually coordinate, perhaps have our characters cross paths. Id love to write a scene where Dave Gross primary character Varian Jeggare makes a cameo appearance, perhaps dancing with Vreva Jhafae. Havent gone there yet, but Ill keep my fingers crossed. 7. You have extensive, hands-on experience sailing the open seas. How does that play into your recent novel or any of your other novels? I like to think my sea experience adds authenticity to the nautical scenes and sailing maneuvers. It certainly did in my Scimitar Seas novels, which were much saltier than my Pathfinder Tales. Much like a little experience with martial arts, or at least knowledge of them, adds realism to a fight scene, experience with heavy weather, squalls, dead calms, and even the simple act of eating a meal on a table lurching with the motion of the ship, adds realism. One aspect of my Pathfinder stories that is directly from personal experience is Celestes love of the offshore night sky. There is nothing quite like the sky a hundred miles from land on a clear night. Beyond my own experience, I must admit that a big influence for the large ship warfare and terminology was Patrick OBrians Aubrey/Maturin series. Reading those novels is a baptism by fire into nautical jargon and tactics. I pull my punches with regard to jargon in both in my Scimitar Seas and Pathfinder Tales books, to keep the reader interested, but I use enough to give it authenticity. 8. What inspired you to basically pick up everything and live aboard a ship? What are the most challenging aspects of this type of life? Our original impetus for living aboard a boat was the view of a marina from our apartment window. We watched enviously, then finally decided, We can do that. So, we moved onto a small boat together, fell totally in love with the lifestyle, and have lived aboard for twenty one of the last thirty years. Even without sailing, living in a marina is a unique and wonderful experience. Its the best neighborhood Ive ever lived in. You know and socialize with your neighbors regularly, and you all have something (boats) in common. The cruising community is similar, but on an international scale. Leaving our careers to go sailing drew quite a few dumbfounded looks from our professional peers, but we shrugged that off. We are both experienced scientists, and could get real jobs again with little trouble if need be. Thankfully, that need has never arisen, mainly due to the success of our books. As far as challenges go, everything on a boat is more effort. We do dishes by hand, cook in a space roughly half the size of a twin bed, and have to be self-contained in all respects. Everything has to have a place and be in its place, since things tend to fly around the cabin in rough weather if theyre not secure. Space is minimal, so we dont have a lot of stuff. No big-screen TV, no vast library, no big toys or cars, and, much to my dismay, no broadband Internet connection. Wifi, when we can find it, can be dreadfully slow. We also take care of all the systems aboard ourselves, including plumbing, electrical, fiberglass repairs, paint, brightwork, woodwork, diesel engine mechanics, refrigeration, and sailing hardware. Every full-time sailor must either be a jack of all trades, or have very deep pockets, and were far from rich. Its not an easy life, but it pays off in freedom and adventure. 9. Can you tell us a short, adventurous story about your life aboard a boat? Okay, picking only one is the hard part here, but this is a moment Ill never forget. In the spring of 2014 we were sailing back from the Eastern Caribbean to the US to do some boat maintenance and spend time with family. The passage from Culebra along the north shores of Hispaniola to the Bahamas follows a very deep trench. One day we were becalmed, motor-sailing along on perfectly flat seas in water that was nearly three miles deep, when we decided to go for a swim. One might think this is no big deal. Many sailors do it regularly, but we had never done it before in such deep water, out of sight of land. We stopped the boat, threw out a long safety line, and dove in. The water was literally clearer than tap water, and looking straight down the shafts of sunlight piercing the azure depths was quite beautifuland also quite unnerving. As writers, my wife and I have very active imaginations, and we couldnt help but think that something way down there might be looking up at us. We both had the same thought at the same time and scrambled for the swim ladder to climb out, laughing nervously at each other. Realistically, this was perfectly safe, but stillwhat could live down there that might think two swimmers would be tasty? My skin prickles just thinking about it. 10. The Pathfinder Tales is based off the tabletop game. Did you play it at all, perhaps in the name of research? Oh, yes, Ive played role-playing games since I was a teen and Pathfinder for years before I wrote stories for them. I dont play for research, actually, but for fun. I will say, however, that Ive used events that have happened during games in my novels. In fact, my first novel-length writing effort was a novelization of an adventure that I ran for my wife and friends in graduate school. It was set in my own world, using characters created by the players, and over many re-writes, turned into the Cornerstones Trilogy, which I co-wrote with my wife. 11. You've mentioned before that you regularly play RPG games in an effort to clear writer's block. Do you have any favorites that really help unblock that stubborn writer's block? For table-top games, Pathfinder is my favorite. I enjoy the system design and Im familiar with all the elements. I also enjoy Shadowrun for the fantastic world, and was lucky enough to have contributed the short story Sweating Bullets to their World of Shadows anthology. As far as computer RPGs go, I love the Elder Scrolls series for the freedom of character creation, and the sheer depth and detail of the world. I need a better computer to play Skyrim, but maybe its better that I cant Addictive games are a writers bane. Its probably a good thing I dont have a broadband connection, too, or Id have become hooked on MMORPGs long ago. I use diversions like these because theyre fun, stimulating, and of course, in the genre I enjoy most. I also keep a collection of my favorite old novels that I read to break blockage on occasion. 12. Before you go, I'm going to give you the floor to say or share anything else I may have left out. Here is your chance! Thanks for the great questions and the opportunity to shout out some of my other projects. I have two more Pathfinder Tales novels in the works, as well as a nautical fantasy novel for Privateer Press, based in their Iron Kingdoms game world. Ive also joined a new publishing effort, The Ed Greenwood Group, which will incorporate multiple worlds and myriad creatives, including authors, artists, game designers, musicians, and even chefs! My first novel with TEGGDragon Dreams, released in November 2015is set in Hellmaw, a contemporary dark fantasy/horror universe where daemons live among and feed upon humans. My second TEGG novel, Queens Scourge, a nautical fantasy set in a different world that has yet to be formally announced, will release in 2017. My successful Weapon of Flesh series, a self-published magical assassin saga, continues this summer with the release of Weapon of Pain, and next summer with Weapon of Mercy. As far as short fiction goes, Im writing Pathfinder related Swords and Planets stories for Legendary Games soon-to-be-released Legendary Planets adventure path, and last, but far from least, Im very excited about my short story, First Command, in the upcoming Women in Practical Armor anthology, from Evil Girlfriend Media. There are more projects on the horizon that Im not free to talk about yet, but one never knows what might crop up. Anyone interested can drop by my writing website jaxbooks.com to keep track of my creative work, or follow my real-life sailing adventures on our blog sailmrmac.blogspot.com . In an effort to provide clean drinking water to the children of Flint, Mich., and those who care for them, 4Patriots is donating five of its Alexapure Pro water filtration systems to daycare centers in the city NASHVILLE, TN / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2016 / 4Patriots officials announced today the donation of five state-of-the-art Alexapure Pro water purification systems to daycare centers in Flint, Mich., that have been hit particularly hard with a serious water contamination issue. "Our hearts go out to the children and adults who have been drinking lead-tainted water in Flint," said Allen Baler, Partner at 4Patriots LLC. "As this situation has unfolded, it's been excruciating to watch, and we wanted to relieve the stress and the physical impact of having a neurotoxin in one's tap water. We want to do our part to help protect the children of Flint and those who watch over them through these donations." "Realizing that children had the most to lose, we selected areas of Flint that have been most affected and centers that are considered the most in-need. The Alexapure Pro removes up to 99.99 percent of contaminants, including heavy metals like the lead that has been found in Flint's water supply." The water contamination problem is so severe in Flint that President Obama recently signed an emergency order that clears the way for federal aid to the city. And now the same thing appears to be happening in Sebring, Ohio, where high levels of lead have been discovered in some homes, schools were closed and children were being tested for lead poisoning. Residents are questioning how long it's been going on and why they weren't notified earlier. "While we would love to see the Alexpure Pro in every home with young children, we felt we could make the biggest impact by providing free filters to centers that serve large numbers of children, especially those children whose parents might not be able to afford bottled water at home," Baler said. Story continues The Alexapure Pro is a revolutionary tabletop purification product capable of transforming contaminated water from virtually any source into clean, safe, delicious water. Drinking contaminated water, regardless of the source, can cause serious illness and even death. With a 2.3 gallon-per-hour flow rate, the Alexapure Pro purifies water about three times faster than any of its competitors. Users will be able to access up to 5,000 gallons of fresh, clean water from it before the filter needs to be replaced. Priced at $197, that comes out to approximately 4 cents per gallon. Bottled water, usually originating from unknown sources, costs considerably more. No gas, electricity or water pressure is needed to operate the Alexapure Pro. It removes contaminants such as those found in Flint's water using only gravity, producing the most essential item to have now and during an emergency: clean, crystal-clear water. "Water contamination is an issue that is starting to come to a head in this country, and I suspect that this problem is much more widespread than what we've been led to believe," Baler said. "Many city governments don't have enough funds to fully protect their residents, so those citizens need to protect themselves. I know that I'm left wondering what's in my own tap water." "Lead is a neurotoxin, a poison and a very dangerous problem, especially for children. According to the World Health Organization, years later it can result in learning disabilities, shortening of attention spans and anti-social behavior. It is essential that everything possible be done to rid Flint water of this dangerous contaminant, and we at 4Patriots want to be part of the solution." In addition to complimentary shipping, those who purchase the Alexapure Pro water filtration system also receive a credit card-sized steel survival tool featuring 11 different functions, as well as a hardcopy book, "The Water Survival Guide." They are also able to acquire the Alexapure Go Bottle (priced at $47), which features the same advanced engineering of the Alexapure Pro and which can filter 300 gallons of water, can be stored in a backpack or bug-out bag, and is ideal for camping, hiking, biking or any other outdoor activities. Also available from Water4Patriots is the Survival Spring ($24.95), a nine-inch long, two-ounce straw made of BPA-free, food-grade materials that can filter up to 300 gallons of water and can easily be carried anywhere. Water4Patriots provides products that help people eliminate contaminants from their drinking water, including the Alexapure Pro tabletop water purifier, the Alexapure Pro Go Bottle and the Survival Spring straw. Each product purifies contaminated water from virtually any source into clean, safe, delicious water. For more information about us, please visit http://www.water4patriots.com Contact Info: Name: Tim Boyle Email: timm.boyle@4patriots.com Organization: 4Patriots LLC SOURCE: 4Patriots LLC BUENOS AIRES, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Argentina presented a proposal on Friday to creditors to end their battle in U.S. courts over debt the country defaulted on in 2002, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. "The proposal implies a 25 percent cut" of the amount awarded by U.S. courts, the ministry said, after five days of closely watched talks in New York between Finance Secretary Luis Caputo and the creditors. "This is the first time Argentina makes a formal offer to the holdouts," the ministry said. "This preliminary restructuring proposal has already been accepted by some funds." (Reporting by Buenos Aires newsroom; Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) MarketWatch It might feel tough sometimes to link the IRS with the concept of good news, but the adjustments for 2023 income tax brackets, the widely-used standard deduction and roughly 60 other inflation-indexed tax provisions might be one of those times. The large upward adjustments could create a chance to hold onto more cash when you file you 2024 tax return on next years income. The payout on the standard deduction is jumping 7% from 2022 to 2023, the IRS numbers show. A burger set is displayed at a McDonald's restaurant in Hong Kong in this photo illustration taken July 31, 2014. REUTERS/Bobby Yip By Adam Jourdan SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N), the home of KFC and Pizza Hut, is falling behind rival McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) as the pair battle to revive flagging sales in China - a headache for Yum as it looks to spin off operations in its biggest market. A Reuters analysis of same-store sales data suggests McDonald's is recovering faster in China than larger rival Yum as both seek to bounce back from a slew of food safety scandals dating back to 2012. McDonald's said last week fourth-quarter same-store sales in China rose 4 percent, a second straight quarter of growth. On Wednesday, Yum said its same-store sales, reflecting underlying growth, also returned to growth in the second half - but more slowly, leaving annual China sales falling for the first time. Researchers and consumers said there's no simple answer to explain why McDonald's is faring better than Yum. A weaker economy and strengthening local rivals are among a complex cocktail of issues both firms must deal with in future strategy, including Yum's China spinoff, due later this year. Yum is still the largest fast food chain in China, but McDonald's has one in-built advantage: the country's diners remain particularly sensitive about chicken products, which were at the heart of the scandal in 2012. "Hearing all the rumours about chickens, I now very rarely go to KFC or eat McDonald's chicken wings." said Yang Luo, 26, a sales manager in Shanghai. "Hamburgers are okay, though." Yum's 0.4 percent sales drop in 2015 in China, after two years of flatline growth, underlines how managers have struggled to repair its reputation. Chinese diners once flocked to its outlets - as well as to McDonald's - helping drive revenue growth of nearly 30 percent each year between 2006 and 2012. "After the food scares erupted, me and my family didn't go for a long time to these fast food chains," said Zhao Ruoqing, 24, a student in the western Chinese city of Chengdu. "I'm not sure I totally trust either chain yet, but I now go to McDonald's when I'm in a rush because I prefer the atmosphere," said Zhao, adding he liked that the chain had maintained a more authentic American feel. Story continues 'SILVER BULLET' The Reuters analysis of same-store sales data suggests McDonald's is now outpacing Yum in efforts to restore sales to the level they were at before food safety crises. Same-store sales data reflects organic growth rather than that driven by new stores. The analysis, using same-store sales growth data to roughly track growth since a starting point in 2011, suggests Yum's sales are below 80 percent of the level they were then. McDonald's sales, meanwhile, are back to above 95 percent of that level. "The scandals have stuck to KFC much more than McDonald's in consumers' minds," said James Roy, Shanghai-based associate principal at China Market Research Group. A Yum spokeswoman in China, however, said positive same-store sales growth in the second half indicated customers were coming back. "We will continue to expand in China with a focus on our core products," she said in an email to Reuters. McDonald's officials in China didn't respond to requests for comment. The problem for Yum as it looks to revive its growth momentum is there is no single factor behind its China malaise, a senior Yum executive told Reuters. That makes life complicated as Yum readies to split off its China business with a view to a separate listing, either in Hong Kong or the United States. "Everyone is looking for a silver bullet," the executive said, asking not to be named as he wasn't authorised to speak to the media. "All factors contribute - it's a complex market." (Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) (Adds details from press conference, background on pipelines) By Euan Rocha and Nia Williams CALGARY, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Canada is committed to fast-tracking infrastructure investments in the province of Alberta that is reeling from the global slump in energy prices, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday. Canada stands ready to provide up to C$250 million to the province in the form of advance fiscal stabilization payments, said Trudeau, who spoke at a news conference with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley. "We know these are challenging times for Alberta and Albertans, and I reiterate that the government of Canada is committed to being there for the people of this province," he said. Trudeau said that he and Notley agreed Canada must get Alberta's resources to market in responsible and sustainable ways, but he stopped short of stating his government would back TransCanada's Corp's Energy East pipeline project, in the event that it clears the National Energy Board's review. Energy East, which would take up to 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to Canada's east coast, faces increasing problems as environmental and aboriginal groups ramp up protests. Last month, the influential mayor of Montreal and leaders representing 81 nearby municipalities said that they opposed the project because of environmental and economic concerns. TransCanada and Alberta's landlocked oil sands industry are looking to it to reach international markets after President Barack Obama rejected TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline project to the United States last year. Trudeau blamed the lack of movement on pipeline projects on his predecessor Stephen Harper's Conservative government, which had been in power for nearly a decade before Trudeau took office in late 2015. The Conservatives had argued strongly in favour of Keystone XL, but Trudeau said their approach had marginalized community concerns and ignored environmental science, leading to a lack of headway on pipeline projects. "A responsible government is a referee that ensures a level playing field so that everyone understands what is going on, and is not simply a cheerleader for projects because cheerleaders do not score goals, and for 10 years nothing got built," he said. (Reporting by Nia Williams and Euan Rocha; Editing by Sandra Maler and Andrew Hay) Feb 4 (Reuters) - Cara Operations Ltd, owner of the Swiss Chalet casual dining chain and Harvey's burger outlets familiar across Canada, said on Thursday it would serve only cage-free eggs at all its restaurants by 2020. Canada's largest full-service restaurant operator joins a growing number of companies, including Mondelez International Inc and General Mills Inc, in announcing plans to stop using eggs laid by caged hens. The decision comes at a time when the food industry is under pressure from lobby groups to adopt animal welfare practices. Cara said some of its brands would begin using cage-free eggs as early as this year. The company operated slightly over 1,000 restaurants as of Dec. 27, most of them in Canada. "Our customers increasingly want to know more about the source of the food they eat. Our decision to source only cage-free eggs is one more step in this direction," Chief Executive Bill Gregson said in a statement. (Reporting by Manish Parashar in Bengaluru; Editing by Robin Paxton) What's going on at the People's Bank of China? No longer able to convince the world its got Chinas economy under control, the government in Beijing is now trying to bully it instead. Chinas economic weaknesses have been well documented. Among other things, there are the piles of bad debt, a rapidly aging population, sketchy official statistics, growing labor unrest, and a host of inefficient, bloated state-owned enterprises. All this has been known for years, and people have been predicting Chinas coming collapse for more than a decade. But over the past few months, the governments blundering attempts to control the stock market and the currency have finally shaken investors confidence in Beijings assurances that the economy is sound. At the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, hedge fund manager George Soros warned that China faces a hard landing, while IMF head Christine Lagarde said Chinas communication issues are upsetting markets. With its good-news machine hitting a wall, the government is resorting to increasingly desperate and aggressive measures to fix thingsand instead making them worse. How Beijing lost the plot of the Chinese story Chinas government notoriously runs the most effective propaganda operation in the world. It controls information inside China so effectively that most local university students dont know the Tiananmen uprising happened, and think the countrys territorial claims in the South China Sea derive from ancient history, not from 1947. Under president Xi Jinping, Chinas external propaganda machine, too, has taken on a new level of assertiveness, confidence, and ambition, as Anne-Marie Brady, an expert on Chinese propaganda, wrote in a report published in October last year. Three key themes, tell a good Chinese story, the Chinese Dream, and rich country, strong military, burnished the idea outside China in recent years that this is indeed Chinas Century. Story continues But that tightly controlled message fell apart this past summer, and has never recovered since. First, Chinas stock markets dropped sharply in June. Beijing stepped in with over $1 trillion of stimulus to prop them upan attempt to control the very markets that Xi had promised to liberalize. Even though theres little foreign money invested in Chinas stock markets, their apparent fragility, and Beijings reaction, sent world markets tumbling. Then in August, when Beijing unexpectedly devalued the yuan by more than it had in 20 years, global marketsused to the deliberate guidance of the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bankplunged again. Finally, at the start of this year, Chinas markets wobbled and the central bank stepped in once more to weaken the yuan without warning. Foreign investors have been left to decipher whats going on in China by parsing reports from a censored press, opaque information from state-owned enterprises, and what little information comes from officials who dont really speak to analysts, journalists, or the general public. This isnt exactly filling them with confidence. At Davos, Fang Xinghai, vice chairman of Chinas security regulator, appeared to agree with Lagarde about Chinas communication issues, admitting that our system isnt structured in a way thats able to communicate seamlessly with the market. Days earlier, Fangs boss, Xiao Gang, had told his colleagues that Chinas stock market problems stemmed from an immature market, inexperienced investors, an imperfect trading system, and inappropriate supervision mechanisms. An immature market, inexperienced investors, an imperfect trading system, and inappropriate supervision Soon after, according to a Reuters report, he offered to resign. The report was then refuted by Chinese officials, who promptly shut down Reuters social media account in Chinagiving it even more credibility. If you bully them, will they invest? In the face of rising criticism and doubts, Chinese officials and media outlets have dropped their assertive, confident overseas propaganda for a brittle, shrill, and sometimes clueless approach. Rather than reassuring investors around the world that regulators are listening to critics, Beijing seems to be trying to browbeat them instead. Reckless speculations and vicious shorting will face higher trading costs and possibly severe legal consequences, Xinhua warned on Jan. 25. Critics of Chinas economic policies either havent done their homework or are deliberately trying to stir up panic, state newswire Xinhua wrote last week. On Feb. 3, Xinhua called naysayers jealous and said the biggest problem China faces is negative sentiment. Chinas premier, Li Keqiang, meanwhile, sounds so out of touch that it beggars belief. In recent days, there have been many international voices shorting the Chinese economy. Some have even claimed that Chinas slowdown is affecting the global economyhow absurd, Li said on Jan. 27, according to remarks quoted in the South China Morning Post (paywall). Whats absurd is for the top economic official in the worlds second-largest economy, its top exporter, and the biggest consumer of many key commodities to disavow any link with the global economy. Spooked investors arent hanging around to see whether officials can get their story straight. An estimated $676 billion in capital fled China last year, most of it at the end of the year. This accounted for the bulk of of the $735 billion in capital that was yanked out of emerging markets in 2015. Net_capital_flows_to_emerging_market_economies__Annual_chartbuilder Trying to scare China bears off with heavy-handed statements is obviously not working, Li-Gang Liu, ANZs Greater China chief economist, told Quartz. At the moment, foreign institutional fund managers have almost zero of their funds allocated to China, which is ridiculous considering it is the worlds second-largest economy, Liu said. Its also having a similar effect on domestic investors. The more that they make such statements, the more ordinary people in China interpret it the other way, Liu said. The more they make such statements, the more ordinary people in China interpret it the other way The constant and overbearing attempts to browbeat investors into believing in Chinas economic strengths is not useful and could be counterproductive, he said. Big bets against China are rising Indeed, investors think the yuan will weaken further. Futures contracts allow them to bet at what rate the Hong Kong-traded offshore yuan (which was introduced by Beijing as a way to internationalize its currency) will be trading against the US dollar months or years from now. The contract for March next year suggests investors think it will be at 7.02 yuan to the US dollar as of Feb. 3, around 5% lower than it is today. And theyre piling into that bet. Open interest, or the number of contracts written on that dollar/yuan bet, have increased from a few dozen in mid-November to more than 5,700 at the end of last month. Chinas central bank has spent $321 billion to prop up the currency since August, with little effect. Ultimately, Beijing can make it difficult to short the yuan, but it cannot stop it completely, Francis Cheung, China-Hong Kong Strategist at CLSA told Quartz. Several big US hedge funds are now openly shorting the currency, according to the Wall Street Journal (paywall). Hayman Capital Managements Kyle Bass said the amount of money staked on the yuans coming drop could be much larger than the [US] subprime crisis. Child-like and evil Compounding its clumsy economic communications, Beijing is stepping up an increasingly brutal, unabashedly public global campaign against critics of the Communist party. Investors have generally looked past Chinas periodic crackdowns on free speech and other human rights under Xi, but its most recent efforts, which may violate international law, are harder to ignore. Beijing is believed to have abducted several Hong Kong booksellers, and forced the public confessions of two Swedish citizens on Chinese television and the ejection of one from China. The government is also believed to be behind two Chinese citizens being disappeared from Thailand. Meanwhile, as Taiwan went to the polls last month, Chinas state media celebrated a Taiwanese teens tearful televised apology for waving Taiwans flagpossibly tipping an already anti-Beijing election even more against the mainland. The overall impression, as caustic China-watcher Big Lychee wrote on Jan. 18, is that Chinas leaders and political system are simultaneously both child-like and evil. This is a combination that, much like the character of Regan in The Exorcist, manages to be creepier than any other type of sinister. The US State Department has weighed in twice on the bookseller cases, saying most recently that the incidents raise serious questions about Chinas commitment to Hong Kongs autonomy under the one country, two systems framework as well as its respect for the protection of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. Underpinning the crackdown on booksellers is a deeply divided Communist Party, academics and publishers in Hong Kong believeyet another issue for investors to fear. Fixing the economy means fixing the party The way out of this mess has also been well documented, and promised before by Beijing. The Xi government needs to follow through with reforms to giant state-owned enterprises; allow local officials more leeway to manage their own operations; and ultimately attract foreign investment to these inefficient firms. It also needs to reform the countrys capital markets to allow and attract investorsfrom sovereign wealth funds to central banksand restore confidence that its stock markets are not a government-rigged charade by letting them operate freely. But for this, Beijings government would have to more or less reverse the course it has followed since Xi took the helm in 2012. To consolidate political power, he embarked on an anti-corruption drive that has also wiped out his alleged political rivals, their supporters, and their supporters supporters. The government has been very good at having grand plans and short on having concrete actions, ANZs Liu said. The anti-corruption campaign has left bureaucrats and officials so paralyzed with fear that they could be unfairly targeted if they make a mistake that theyre not doing anything at all, he added. It is nearly impossible for foreign companies to move in new projects in China right now, an adviser to multinational companies in China told Quartz. Everyone [in the government] is new, everyone is scared, and nothing is getting done in Beijing, the adviser said. If we see another year of inaction and highly inefficient policy-making, people will continue to become more pessimistic, Liu said, and calls for Chinas hard landing will become stronger and stronger. This time, the forecasters may be right. Zheping Huang contributed reporting. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. CTSH is set to report fourth quarter and full year 2015 results on Feb 8. Last quarter, it posted a negative earnings surprise of 4.29%. However, in the trailing four quarters, the company has recorded an average positive earnings surprise of 3.58%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider Cognizant has been benefiting from its healthy exposure to fast-growing verticals like Financial Services and Healthcare. The company has accumulated deep industry expertise and knowledge of these domains through partnerships with top firms. These partnerships have enabled it to deliver more value to clients and capitalize on new opportunities. The company is expected to continue to benefit from strong demand for high quality, lower cost technology services. Based on its global delivery model and expanding capacity in low-cost areas in India, China, Philippines and Latin America, the company remains well-positioned in the outsourcing market. We believe that growing demand for offshore services beyond traditional IT outsourcing namely, BPO (Business Process Outsourcing), KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing) and IT infrastructure services, bode well for the company. However, the company can be severely impacted by slowdown in regions like North America or unfavorable changes in industries like financial services. Also, given the breakneck pace of evolution in the technology space, the company has to constantly fend off competition from peers like Accenture ACN, Infosys INFY and Wipro Ltd. Last month, Cognizant reaffirmed its revenue and earnings guidance for 2015. Investors were pleased as it was expected that the companys financials would be impacted due to heavy floods in its India-based Chennai center. Chennai is one of the most important Cognizant facilities with as many as 11 delivery and operations centers and over 27% of the companys total workforce. Story continues Cognizant declared that it continues to expect revenues in 2015 to be approximately $12.41 billion (representing 21% growth over 2014) and non-GAAP earnings of around $3.03 per share. The company has been increasing its guidance for the trailing three quarters. Earnings Whispers? Our proven model does not conclusively show that Cognizant is likely to beat earnings this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 for this to happen. That is not the case here, as you will see below. Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP for Cognizant is 0.00%. This is because both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 71 cents. Zacks Rank: Cognizant has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, we need to have a positive ESP to be confident about an earnings surprise. We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions. Stock to Consider Here is a stock which you may want to consider as our model shows that it has the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter: MaxLinear, Inc. MXL has an Earnings ESP of +2.94% and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report COGNIZANT TECH (CTSH): Free Stock Analysis Report INFOSYS LTD (INFY): Free Stock Analysis Report MAXLINEAR INC-A (MXL): Free Stock Analysis Report ACCENTURE PLC (ACN): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research And heres how stock market losses affect property. Singapore Airlines said Thursday its third-quarter net profit surged 36 percent from the previous year, thanks largely to lower fuel expenses. Oil prices plunged to 12-year lows in January and analysts say they will remain depressed at least for the rest of 2016 due to a supply glut and weak demand. Proceeds from the sale and leaseback of some aircraft also boosted profits, the airline said in a filing with the Singapore Exchange. Read more here. The decline in tourist spending, growth of online retail, and more Singaporeans shopping overseas led to slower retail sales growth in Singapore during the past three years, with island-wide retail rents dropping four percent last year, revealed a JLL report. In 2014, around 1.44 million Singapore residents shopped online, up 30 percent from 2012, according to the InfoComm Development Authority (IDA) as cited by JLL in a press release dated 4 February. Find out more here. Recent declines in the Singapore stock market could signal a further property price correction in the coming months, according to JLL. This comes as stock market movement typically leads property market movement by one to two quarters. Looking back into the past, the residential market for example, corrected by four to six percent a quarter in some instances. Find out more here. More From Singapore Business Review * European Commission taking softer line to revive economy * Leniency gives hope to other nations * Far left blame Commission's "blackmail" for higher taxes (Adds government's leftist ally) By Jan Strupczewski and Daniel Alvarenga BRUSSELS/LISBON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The European Commission approved Portugal's 2016 draft budget on Friday after the new Socialist government promised to hike indirect taxes to meet EU budget rules while also easing austerity to keep its leftist allies happy. The Commission's decision will be a relief for Portugal's government, which was able to maintain most of its initial budget promises, such as hiking civil servants' wages and raising the minimum wage, but had to lower its economic growth outlook. The decision shows the EU executive is taking a softer line in applying its fiscal rules, as the euro zone economy struggles to revive. In the past year the commission has granted France, Italy and Spain budget leeway to spur growth. "The commission is looking at Portugal through the prism of political developments elsewhere in the euro zone -- particularly in Spain," said Nicholas Spiro, partner at Lauressa Advisory consultancy in London. "It doesn't want to trigger a government crisis but neither does it want to let countries off the hook. In this instance it seems to have preferred to go easy on Portugal." Portugal's Socialist government came to power in November after teaming up with the far left Communists and Left Bloc to oust the previous centre-right administration and turn the page on years of austerity under a bailout programme. The Socialists need to retain support from their leftist allies to ensure a majority in parliament, so they have to keep promises to ease austerity. Senior Left Bloc lawmaker Mariana Mortagua criticised the changes, blaming them on "blackmail from the European Commission and the right", but said the budget is still true to its main purpose of ending impoverishment and boosting household incomes. She said the Bloc will try to introduce measures to help the poorest households during parliament debates. Story continues Portugal presented its draft budget to the commission on Jan. 22, but it breached EU budget rules. Lisbon then put together measures worth around 900 million euros ($1 billion), including more tax on oil products, cigarettes, cars and property. "Intense political and technical contacts have taken place in recent weeks to ensure that the Portuguese budget plan for the year ahead is complying with these (EU budget) rules and, as a result, the Commission did not have to request a revised draft budgetary plan from the Portuguese authorities," Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference. The new budget will now cut the deficit to 2.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) after the originally proposed 2.6 percent. Growth was also revised down, to 1.8 percent from 2.1 percent previously. "In negotiations that end up in an agreement there are no winners, but we do take good notice of the commission's reservations," Portuguese Finance Minister Mario Centeno told reporters. "Let's focus on the implementation of the budget, which is very rigorous." Portugal is still not in the clear, Dombrovskis said. "The Commission today concluded that the existing draft budgetary plan is at risk of non-compliance with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact," Dombrovskis said. The leniency towards Portugal offers hope to other countries seeking flexibility. Last November, the EU executive warned France, Italy, Spain and other euro zone countries their 2016 budgets may breach EU rules unless they trimmed public spending. (Additional reporting by Francesco Guarascio, Sergio Goncalves, Andrei Khalip, Axel Bugge, Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Ruth Pitchford and Catherine Evans) Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell salutes the audience as he takes the stage at the Washington Ideas Forum in Washington, September 30, 2015. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Files By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and aides to his successor, Condoleezza Rice, both received classified information a handful of times via personal email accounts, the top Democrat on a congressional oversight panel said on Thursday. The findings come after nearly a year of controversy over Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's decision to set up a private email server for her work as secretary of state. Democratic lawmakers and staff on Clinton's presidential campaign seized on the report as vindicating some of their defences of the controversial arrangement. Representative Elijah Cummings said the disclosures about Powell's and Rice's aides' emails were made by the State Department's inspector general, who is reviewing the email practices of the last five secretaries of state. That office told the State Department on Wednesday that it found 12 emails containing classified information sent to Rice's aides or Powell, according to Cummings, who is the ranking Democrat on the House of Representatives Oversight Committee. In a statement, Powell said the two emails he received were not judged to contain confidential information at the time they were sent to him by American ambassadors. "I wish they would release them," Powell told NBC News, "so that a normal, air-breathing mammal would look at them and say, 'What's the issue?'" A representative for Rice, who, as with Powell, served under Republican President George W. Bush, said the 10 emails sent to her aides did not contain intelligence information. More than 1,500 of Clinton's emails, which are being made public on a federal judge's order, have been found to include classified information so far, according to the State Department. Clinton both sent and received information the State Department now deems to be classified, including the privately shared thoughts of foreign leaders, as well as highly classified U.S. intelligence agency secrets. Story continues It became public last March that Clinton set up a private email server in her New York home for her work as President Barack Obama's secretary of state between 2009 and 2013. Accusations that she exposed government secrets to hackers and tried to side-step record keeping laws have since dogged her campaign, and the arrangement is being examined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Clinton's campaign staff suggested the findings announced on Thursday helped vindicate her claim that she did nothing wrong or unusual and repeated their accusation that the State Department is over classifying her emails, an idea the department has dismissed. "Hillary Clinton agrees with her predecessor that his emails, like hers, are being inappropriately subjected to over-classification," John Podesta, Clinton's campaign chairman, said in a statement, calling for their unredacted release. J. William Leonard, who oversaw the government's classification regime as the Information Security Oversight Office director until 2008, said so-called "spillage" of classified information into unsecured email systems was common. "That's why from the get-go it was exceedingly poor judgement to set up a private email account because of this very real fact," Leonard said in an interview, referring to Clinton's arrangement. The government forbids sending classified information via email, but the .gov email system, which Clinton circumvented, is monitored and protected on the assumption that classified information spills into it. Powell has said the State Department was technologically backward when he joined in 2001 and that he had to fight to get an Internet-connected computer installed in his office, from which he continued to use his personal email account. Georgia Godfrey, Rice's chief of staff at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, said Rice did not use email while at the State Department, and that the 10 emails to her staff were reports on "diplomatic conversations." Government regulations require that information shared in confidence by foreign government officials should be treated as classified. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Andrew Hay and Tom Brown) * Greece and lenders want to finish with review end-Feb * Successful conclusion will pave way for debt relief talks * Government on a tightrope to keep lenders, angry public onside (Incorporates comment from EU's Dombrovskis, farmers protest) By Lefteris Papadimas and Tsvetelia Tsolova ATHENS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Greece and its international creditors will seek to finish an assessment of bailout reforms this month to unlock new financial aid, its finance minister said on Friday, as speculation grew that talks were snagged on pensions. Mission chiefs of Greece's lenders, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and EU's bailout fund wrapped up a first week of talks in Athens on Friday. They were expected to return to Greece around Feb. 15. "We are all focusing our efforts on completing the review on Feb. 26-28," said Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos. "The main thing is that they (creditors) understand the government's commitments ... the government's position of no cuts in pensions," he told reporters. Greece has promised to cut pension spending by 1 percent of GDP, or 1.8 billion euros, this year. To protect pensioners whose benefits have been cut 11 times already since 2010, the government plans to increase social security contributions by employees and employers. Asked about progress in negotiations with the Greek authorities, EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said: "discussions are constructive. We are making progress on all relevant items", including pensions and public administration reform, he told a news conference in Brussels. Greece's left-led government is trying to balance lenders' demands with the concerns of thousands of Greeks angered by the pension reforms. Farmers, who have been sporadically blocking motorways for days, have threatened to escalate their action. Lenders are also known to have misgivings over the plan, but because they worry the government's numbers don't add up. Story continues "The negotiation is tough because we (Greece and creditors) are not saying the same things," Labour Minister George Katrougalos told Greek Antenna TV earlier on Friday. Thousands of Greeks protested against the plan across the country on Thursday, fearing the additional contributions will push them further into poverty. Athens wants to conclude the review swiftly to start talks on debt relief that might convince Greeks their sacrifices are paying off after six years of austerity and a deep recession that has left a quarter of the workforce unemployed. DISPUTE SPILLOVER The government's standoff with professional groups has already reverberated beyond Greek borders. Long queues of trucks have formed at the northern border Greece shares with Bulgaria, stranding dozens of truckers on either side. Bulgaria's transport minister Ivailo Moskovski visited the border area on Friday, asking farmers to provide a clear timetable for the blockades to avoid escalating tensions. "We insisted for a timetable when trucks will be allowed to pass," Moskovski told reporters. Farmers said they would permit crossings for two hours every two days. "We explained to him that we don't have anything against them, but blocking the border crossing is the only thing we can do to make the Greek government listen to us," said Yiannis Tourtouras, head of a committee coordinating farmers' action in the area. (Additional reporting Francesco Guarascio in Brussels and Tsvetelia Tsolova in Sofia; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Catherine Evans) Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos arrives for a news conference at the ministry in Athens, Greece, January 18, 2016. REUTERS/Alkis Konstantinidis By Lefteris Papadimas and Tsvetelia Tsolova ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece and its international creditors will seek to finish an assessment of bailout reforms this month to unlock new financial aid, its finance minister said on Friday, as speculation grew that talks were snagged on pensions. Mission chiefs of Greece's lenders, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank and EU's bailout fund wrapped up a first week of talks in Athens on Friday. They were expected to return to Greece around Feb. 15. "We are all focussing our efforts on completing the review on Feb. 26-28," said Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos. "The main thing is that they (creditors) understand the government's commitments ... the government's position of no cuts in pensions," he told reporters. Greece has promised to cut pension spending by 1 percent of GDP, or 1.8 billion euros, this year. To protect pensioners whose benefits have been cut 11 times already since 2010, the government plans to increase social security contributions by employees and employers. Asked about progress in negotiations with the Greek authorities, EU Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis said: "discussions are constructive. We are making progress on all relevant items", including pensions and public administration reform, he told a news conference in Brussels. Greece's left-led government is trying to balance lenders' demands with the concerns of thousands of Greeks angered by the pension reforms. Farmers, who have been sporadically blocking motorways for days, have threatened to escalate their action. Lenders are also known to have misgivings over the plan, but because they worry the government's numbers don't add up. "The negotiation is tough because we (Greece and creditors) are not saying the same things," Labour Minister George Katrougalos told Greek Antenna TV earlier on Friday. Thousands of Greeks protested against the plan across the country on Thursday, fearing the additional contributions will push them further into poverty. Story continues Athens wants to conclude the review swiftly to start talks on debt relief that might convince Greeks their sacrifices are paying off after six years of austerity and a deep recession that has left a quarter of the workforce unemployed. DISPUTE SPILLOVER The government's standoff with professional groups has already reverberated beyond Greek borders. Long queues of trucks have formed at the northern border Greece shares with Bulgaria, stranding dozens of truckers on either side. Bulgaria's transport minister Ivailo Moskovski visited the border area on Friday, asking farmers to provide a clear timetable for the blockades to avoid escalating tensions. "We insisted for a timetable when trucks will be allowed to pass," Moskovski told reporters. Farmers said they would permit crossings for two hours every two days. "We explained to him that we don't have anything against them, but blocking the border crossing is the only thing we can do to make the Greek government listen to us," said Yiannis Tourtouras, head of a committee coordinating farmers' action in the area. (Additional reporting Francesco Guarascio in Brussels and Tsvetelia Tsolova in Sofia; Writing by Michele Kambas; Editing by Catherine Evans) A policeman stands at a kiosk at the proposed site of the Jaitapur nuclear plant in Ratnagiri district, about 360 km (224 miles) south of Mumbai, April 13, 2011. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui/Files By Sanjeev Miglani NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India ratified an international convention on nuclear energy accident liability, the government said on Thursday, the final piece in its efforts to address the concerns of foreign nuclear suppliers and draw them into a market worth billions of dollars. Nuclear reactor makers such as General Electric (GE.N) have been reluctant to set up plants in India because of a 2010 liability law that makes equipment suppliers potentially accountable for accidents, not just the plant operators as is the global norm. Since then, India which wants to ramp up the share of nuclear power from barely 3 percent to 25 percent by 2050 has been trying to assuage the fears of the nuclear suppliers. Last year it launched an insurance pool with a liability cap of 15 billion Indian rupees ($225 million) to cover the suppliers' risk of potential liability. On Thursday, the Indian Foreign Ministry said it had submitted the document to ratify the Convention of Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, which seeks to establish a uniform global legal regime for the compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear accident. "This marks a conclusive step in the addressing of issues related to civil nuclear liability in India," the Foreign Ministry said after the document was handed to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna. Energy-starved India plans to construct about 60 nuclear reactors and has been in talks with Westinghouse Electric Co LLC, GE as well as France's Areva (AREVA.PA) for setting them up at sites already selected around the country. Russia is separately building six reactors in southern India and is in talks for another six. The total size of the Indian market is estimated at $150 billion dollars, making it equal to or just behind China's. India expects to seal an agreement with Westinghouse to build six reactors by the first half of this year, a government official said in December, after it ratified the international convention on compensation. (Reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Alison Williams) gary johnson Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson thinks Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump could be his ticket to having a significant effect on the 2016 race. "If the Libertarian candidate for president ever ever! has a chance of getting elected or getting prominence on the national stage to actually profess what is to be a Libertarian, it would be Bernie Sanders vs. Donald Trump," Johnson told Business Insider in a recent interview. "I mean, that would be the Libertarian wet dream," he quipped of the scenario. Johnson ran for president as a Republican in 2012 before changing teams and running as the Libertarian Party's nominee. He dropped by Business Insider's office at the end of last month to pitch his second campaign for the White House. "I don't want to be tilting at windmills, right? There are better things to do," Johnson said. "But in this case, I think that at the end of the day, I will end up being the voice of reason in all of this." The former governor said he had a "horrible" time running in 2012 and trying go grab attention as a Republican. As a Libertarian, he ultimately grabbed about 1% of the votes cast a bit under 1.3 million votes. Without self-funding his campaign like Ross Perot in the 90s, most political observers would predict that Johnson, if he gets the Libertarian nomination, would again suffer the fate of virtually every other third-party presidential candidate in recent history. gary johnson But Johnson argued that either of the top-two Democratic presidential candidates Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) or former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would contrast well with a Libertarian contender if real-estate mogul Donald Trump were the Republican nominee. "None of this may transpire, right. But if Trump is the nominee, and if Hillary is the nominee and I think there is certainty about Hillary, unless there's an assassination, and I'm not wishing that upon her I think people are going to look to: 'Well, what is the other choice?'" he predicted. Story continues "Keep in mind, too, that the biggest political affiliation in the United States is independent," he added. "Well, who is the third party? Well, the Libertarians are the third party. The Libertarians are going to be on the ballot in all 50 states." Johnson also said he was suing to get into the general-election debates, which are typically one-on-one matchups between the Republican and Democratic candidates. He said a prominent constitutional lawyer, Bruce Fein, had already filed a lawsuit against the Commission on Presidential Debates based on "the notion that they are a business and that they collude with one another to exclude everyone else." Johnson added: "Our contention is that if you're on the ballot on enough states to be mathematically elected, then shouldn't you be included in the presidential debates?" gary johnson Johnson stressed that he still has to win the Libertarian Party's nomination, for which he is competing against a host of other candidates. In order to make his campaign strategy more effective this time, Johnson said he decided to home in on New York-based national media outlets including Business Insider and the Fox Business Network instead of calling into internet-radio stations or convincing voters one by one. He said of his 2012 race: I'm not putting myself through it again. So when you go back and when I relive the four years that I put into running for president the first time first as a Republican and then shifting over to a Libertarian in retrospect, 90% of the time I spent doing that was wasted time. "The most valuable time that I spent last cycle was New York," he said. Johnson, who started his own medical marijuana business in 2014, also told Business Insider that his company's brand "hi" would outlive even Trump's brand. "We have the coolest brand name out there. It's a brand name that's going to survive 1,000 years from now. And it's, 'hi,'" he said. "We think we'll sell a billion dollars worth of T-shirts at some point," the former governor added, "because it's really cool schwag." NOW WATCH: Donald Trump's 'strange' morning habit tells you everything you need to know about him More From Business Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Malaysia's exports grew 1.4 percent in December, far slower than forecasted by economists, due to continued weakness in global demand for commodities. The median forecast from a Reuters poll of analysts had predicted a 5 percent expansion. The global economic malaise has hit Southeast Asia's third-largest economy hard, especially with the slowdown in demand for commodities in China, Malaysia's biggest single trade partner. The official data released on Friday showed December's earnings figures again showed sluggish earnings from liquefied natural gas, reflecting the trend from November's data, while electronics and electrical products - Malaysia's mainstay exports - showed positive growth. Malaysia has had to pare down its 2016 Budget late last month with estimated savings of up to 9 billion ringgit ($2.17 billion) after oil prices fell below $35 a barrel, far off the government's estimated average of $48 a barrel for Brent crude. ($1 = 4.1450 ringgit) (Reporting by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) El CHapo capture When Sinaloa cartel chief Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was recaptured in January not far from where he was born in northwest Mexico, it was the culmination of an intense manhunt that ranged from northern Mexico to Patagonia. But taking the Sinaloa chief off the streets is unlikely to affect crime in Mexico in the near future, because the vast majority of criminals in the country simply go unpunished. In Mexico, only seven of every 100 crimes is reported, according to the 2016 Global Impunity Index released this month by the Center for Impunity and Justice Studies (CESIJ) at the University of the Americas in Puebla, Mexico. That report defines impunity as as "crime without punishment. This rate of impunity for crimes is a widespread problem in Mexico, the reports states, and just 4.46% of the crimes that do get reported actually result in convictions. Considering that so few crimes even get reported, the CESIJ estimated that "less than 1% of crimes in Mexico are punished. The report graded countries on 19 factors, including crime-reporting rates and the functioning of security systems and judicial institutions. Mexico, with a score of 75.7, was 58th, ahead of only the Philippines, which had a score of 80. The US's score of 56.4 earned it a "high-level of impunity," according to the report; Croatia had the lowest level of impunity, with a score of 27.5. The systems of justice collapse Police action is limited because traffickers like Guzman can often buy off the authorities, or because traffickers can intimidate the authorities into not doing their jobs. Many ordinary Mexicans, however, may let crime go unreported because they dont think anything will come from an investigation. Global crime rates and impunity in Mexico Story continues Mexican citizens have said they don't report crimes because of the amount of time it takes to do so and because they dont trust the authorities, according to responses gathered by Mexicos national statistical agencys victimization survey (Envipe). Some fear retaliation from the criminals they turn in. This reluctance to report crime exists despite both an increase in the number of Mexicans saying they were victims of crime and in the number of total crimes committed, according to Envipes 2014 survey. This lack of trust seems justified, as more than 18,000 of 135,511 municipal police evaluated by Mexicos Secretary General of National Public Safety in late 2014 failed to pass evaluations of their competence or suitability to work in the public-security service. It was also found that more than 65% of the municipal police in Sinaloa, Baja California Sur, and Veracruz all hotbeds of organized-crime activity failed the evaluation. This trend was mirrored at the state level. More than 20,500 state police officers evaluated by civil-society organization Causa en Comun failed to pass vetting tests, according to Insight Crime. When federal police were included, the number of police deemed unfit for duty rose to 42,214. While ineffective police likely allow many criminals to go uncaptured, an overburdened justice system also contributes to Mexicos high levels of impunity. mexico At the federal level, a lack of judges has, in many instances, let the criminal-justice process grind to a halt. The national average of magistrates and judges, at the local level, for each 100,000 inhabitants is only 3.5, according to the CESIJ report. The national average for countries surveyed by the report was 16; for the countries of Latin America the average was 8.8. CESIJ gathered data from the past few years, but deficiencies in the legal system are long-standing. In 2010, according to Mexicos attorney general, just 28% of federal arrests went to trial. Most of the rest of those arrested went free. The systems of justice collapse because there arent judges to attend to pending cases, added Mexican news site Animal Politico. 'Getting away with murder' Guzman capture has been hailed as a victory for the Mexican government, and his likely extradition to the US will no doubt be seen as a victory in the drug war. But its entirely likely Guzmans cartel will keep operating, and, in any case, the wave of crime that affects the day-to-day lives of most Mexicans will almost certainly continue unabated in the near term. Mexico protest kidnapping crime Mexicos fight against crime in recent years has seen mixed results. In 2014 there was a nearly 50% rise in total crimes committed, based on Envipe results. However, in the first eight months of 2015, there was a 38% decline in kidnapping and a 19% drop in extortion, according to El Daily Post security editor Alejandro Hope. Despite those improvements, Mexicos homicide numbers in 2015 lodged their first yearly increase since 2011, rising to 18,650. Some 215,000 people were killed intentionally throughout Mexico between 2000 and 2013, Hope noted last year. Yet just 30,800 people were jailed for murder or manslaughter during that period. 'Getting away with murder' is a meaningless phrase in this country, Hope wrote last year from Mexico. Most everyone that tries it literally gets away with murder. NOW WATCH: Forget 'El Chapo' this is Mexico's most powerful drug lord More From Business Insider el chapo mugshot The fugitive drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has finally been recaptured after escaping from a Mexican prison. He may end up serving time in a notorious US "supermax" facility. To get an idea of how the elusive and monied drug trafficker operates, it helps to look at an indictment filed against him in a federal court in Florida in 2010. It is one of several indictments he faces in the US. Guzman and his Sinaloa cartel controlled as much as 35% of the cocaine produced in Colombia, and the Florida indictment links Guzman to Colombian traffickers known as the Cifuentes Villa clan. It alleges they conspired to manufacture cocaine, ship it through Latin America, and distribute it in the US. Guzman's partnership with the Cifuentes Villa clan likely allowed his cartel to extend its influence over Colombian cocaine production and expand its control over global cocaine trafficking a billion-dollar industry. The Sinaloa cartel's primary supplier The indictment names Jorge Milton Cifuentes Villa, the purported leader of the group, his brother, Hildebrando, and his sister, Dolly, as Guzmans coconspirators. Jorge Cifuentes is allegedly responsible for financing and coordinating multi-ton cocaine shipments via speedboats, fishing vessels, and airplanes to the United States via Ecuador and Mexico," according to an information sheet put out by the State Department in 2011. "Since 2008, he most likely has obtained and imported over 31,000 kilograms [68,343 pounds] of cocaine to the United States, and is purportedly the primary source of cocaine for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico," the information sheet noted. The indictment alleges that between 2003 and 2008, Guzman and the Cifuentes Villa clan made agreements in Colombia and in Guatemala to produce, transport, and distribute cocaine. The Cifuentes Villa network is detailed in the organizational chart below, compiled by the US Treasury Department (click to expand): Story continues Cifuentes Villa clan org chart USDOJ A family of alleged drug traffickers The Cifuentes Villa clan was one of the most prominent groups among Colombian traffickers and had been involved in trafficking for more than 20 years, according to Insight Crime. Jorge Cifuentes posed as a businessman working in Mexico, Panama, and Ecuador, and he had a least six businesses in Mexico set up to launder money, according to a review of public registries done by Mexico City-based daily Proceso in 2011. With his sister, Dolly, Jorge Cifuentes allegedly took over the clan's operations when their brother, Francisco, was killed in 2007, Insight Crime notes. Francisco was killed after what Colombian newspaper El Espectador called "disagreements" with ex-paramilitary leader Diego Fernando Murillo, aka Don Berna, who may have played a role in the operation that killed Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar. escobar plane The clan worked with Escobar's Medellin cartel (Jorges brother, Francisco, reportedly worked as a pilot for Escobar), and then for the Oficina de Envigado, which assumed much of Medellin cartel's operations after Escobar's death in 1993. The Cifuentes Villas also worked with the Norte del Valle cartel, which took over the Cali cartel's operations in the late 1990s. The family also partnered with the paramilitary group known as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), a right-wing paramilitary group that operated in Colombia from the late 1990s until the late 2000s. Despite the charges in Florida, none of the members of Cifuentes Villa clan who have been caught have actually been tried there. Jorge Cifuentes was arrested in Venezuela in 2012 and extradited to the US in late 2013. His trial in New York has been ongoing since 2014. Dolly Cifuentes, who reportedly had an affair with the brother of former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, was arrested in 2011 and extradited to the US in 2012. She then pleaded guilty to one charge in late 2013. Hildebrando, aka Alex, captured in Mexico in 2014 while allegedly working with Guzman's cartel, reportedly arrived in New York in January to face trial in the US. US border seizures of cocaine Sinaloa cartel The connection between the Sinaloa cartel and the Cifuentes Villa clan seems to be but one facet of the Mexican cartels operations in Colombia, which produces 90% of the cocaine found in the US. A Colombian newspaper reported last year the Sinaloa cartel worked to build a trafficking network by partnering with criminals and guerrillas in Colombia to ship cocaine out of the country. Guatemala often served as a way station: "In Colombia, [the Sinaloa cartel] already directs 50% of the drugs that leave from [the ports of] Tumaco, Buenaventura, and el Uraba, which form a network with ports in Peru (El Callao and Talara), Ecuador (Esmeraldas and San Lorenzo) and Guatemala," according to intelligence documents seen by El Tiempo ... Drugs are shipped by fastboat from Colombia, primarily to Guatemala's Puerto Quetzal, which handles almost all of the cocaine coming out of Colombia. The Mexico/Central America corridor handles 87% of the cocaine that reaches the US, according to the DEA. 'It's a very complicated process' While the 2010 indictment from Florida sheds light on Guzman's ties to Colombian cocaine, it does little to clear up where the kingpin will face trial in the US if he's extradited from Mexico. US attorneys in six states, including New York, Florida, and California, have indictments pending against Guzman. El Chapo Guzman escape The San Diego district office, which first brought charges against him in 1996; the Chicago district, which has more available witnesses, including Vicente Niebla-Zambada, the son of a Sinaloa cartel leader; and the Brooklyn office, which was previously led by current US Attorney General Loretta Lynch, are the venues where the drug lord will likely end up, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Justice Department "will pick the ... case with the highest chance of success," Carl Pike, a former top DEA official, told the LA Times. As much as US prosecutors may want to try him, and as anxious as Mexican officials are to be rid of him, the "reality is extradition takes a long time," David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego and director of the school's Justice in Mexico program, told Business Insider in the hours after Guzman was recaptured on January 8. "It's a very complicated process ... especially cases like this, where the individual in question has a lot of resources to challenge extradition in court." The full indictment from the US attorney for the Southern District of Florida can be seen below: This post as been updated to correct when Loretta Lynch served as US attorney in Brooklyn. NOW WATCH: This is how Mexican drug cartels make billions selling drugs More From Business Insider ray dalio Two top executives at the world's largest hedge fund have called for votes on each other's conduct. Seriously. The Wall Street Journal's Rob Copeland and Bradley Hope have published a big story about an internal dispute at $160 billion Bridgewater Associates between founder Ray Dalio and co-CEO Greg Jensen. Dalio, who founded Bridgewater in 1975, is questioning whether or not Jensen has "integrity," the report said. Meanwhile, Jensen, who joined the Westport, Connecticut-based hedge fund 20 years ago and serves as CIO and co-CEO, is questioning if Dalio has fulfilled his succession plan he set forth in 2011. According to the report, they're having a dozen top employees and stakeholders vote on the dispute. Bridgewater is renowned for its focus on transparency and honesty. Upon joining, every employee is required to read Dalio's "Principles," a 123-page manifesto. One of the principles advises to employees to "have integrity and demand it from others. A) Never say anything about a person you wouldn't say to them directly, and don't try people without accusing them to their face. B) Don't let 'loyalty' stand in the way of truth and openness." Another principle says to be "radically transparent," meaning that they record everything. Check out the full story at The WSJ NOW WATCH: Heres how Shark Tanks Daymond John beats out the other Sharks to score a deal More From Business Insider As oil prices continue to cause market uncertainty, and with low fuel prices wreaking havoc on some countries' economies, notably Russia's, the world's top oil producer has been at the forefront of trying to figure out whether or not a production cut should be implemented in order to support and stabilize prices. An Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) delegate recently said, "It is all in the hands of the Russians now." Oil production in Russia hit a post-Soviet high in January, which means Russia is adding fuel to the oversupplied oil market fire. Russia itself is sending mixed signals as to how much it's willing to cooperate with geopolitical foes, like Saudi Arabia. But experts and analysts differ in their assessments of how much leverage the Russians really have when it comes to cutting oil production. A managing director in the energy group at Morgan Stanley, who asked not to be named, because of direct involvement in the markets, told CNBC that the Saudis are still calling all the shots. "Russia can only coordinate with countries outside of Saudi Arabia, like Venezuela. Any cooperation without Saudi Arabia won't lead to a production cut. Everything else is a sideshow." Several analysts agree that Russia is trying to talk up the oil markets by holding meetings and even hinting at the possibility of cuts. That's what many believe occurred last week, when Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said his country would cooperate with a deal to cut production and that Saudi Arabia had proposed each country reduce oil output by 5 percent to support prices. Others close to OPEC quickly denied that any such deal, or even talks, were taking place . And one OPEC official said it was an old idea floated long ago by Algeria and Venezuela. On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested Russia was open to a meeting with the oil-producing cartel. But comments from Russia's representative to OPEC said that it was unlikely the group would meet with Russia anytime soon , according to Russian news agency Interfax. Story continues Despite the widespread skepticism, oil again rallied on Thursday after speculation that Iran might be willing to discuss production cuts , according to a Reuters report. "Up to this point and there is a history to this OPEC (essentially Saudi Arabia) has not been interested," Robert Legvold, the Marshall D. Shulman professor emeritus of political science at Columbia University, told CNBC. "The Saudi's are using low oil prices to drive higher marginal cost producers out of the market and close down shale production. The Russians are not only suffering the ruble-oil problem from low oil prices, although they have protected revenue to a degree by pumping more oil, but that poses a longer-term problem. Russia's existing developed reserves may be tapped out at this rate within two years." Others, though, believe Russia has a lot of power when it comes to the oil market at the moment. "We think Russia is a wild card, because if you look at 2015, they really surprised many analysts by being up several hundred thousand barrels," said Helima Croft, a CNBC contributor and head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital markets. "Most people did not expect that they could replicate a post-Soviet high in terms of production, and the question for this year is, Are they going to be up or are they going to be down? If they're up again this year, everyone's gonna have to take their oil-price forecast down." Croft pointed to Russian producers, like Lukoil (: ), publicly stating they would consider cutting production. Reva Bhalla, vice president at geopolitical consultant Stratfor, in Austin, Texas, said she would not take cues from Russian energy companies as a signal of what Russia intends to do in terms of energy policy. "I know there was a lot of excitement by statements from Lukoil this past week, but remember, Lukoil is a private company, a very different energy firm when we're looking at Russia overall," Bhalla told CNBC. "I don't think Russia does have the wild card here. Russia is still producing at post-Soviet record highs, above 10 million barrels per day." Many analysts agree that even if Russia does want to cut production, without Saudi Arabia's cooperation, it would mostly be talk, with geopolitics complicating things quite a bit. "When it comes to Russia trying to compel a Saudi cut, there is a lot of distrust there. I think the Saudis are going to be much more focused on U.S. production than they are on coordination talks with Russia," Bhalla said. Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer echoed those sentiments, telling CNBC that although the producers would like prices to go up, many of the oil-producing countries "hate each other and that creates complications," particularly when Iran is factored into the equation. "From Saudi Arabia's perspective, the nuclear deal (and the lifting of sanctions) could not have come at a worse time. They can barely sit in the same room, let alone agree on a production cutback. And the last thing the Saudis are prepared to do is cede market share to Iran." Bremmer said if a broader group, not including Iran, could come together, we may see some cooperation, but he did underscore that we are not there yet. "Russia is focused on budget and tax measures and isn't ready to sign up with the Saudis, either. As prices stay lower for longer, we might see a move, but right now they're just talking the prices up, which is most definitely in their interest." New York-based attorney Edward Mermelstein, who advises high-net-worth individuals looking to invest in Russia and the former Soviet Union, told CNBC that his clients are worried and starting to look elsewhere because of the current economic picture in Russia of low oil prices, a falling ruble and sanctions. "The [oil] price heading down into the twenties is going to impact Russia's economy even more significantly than where it is today, which is in dire straits." Mermelstein said his clients' concern is reflected in their coming to the United States and looking for other investing options, because they fear Russia can't do much to help drive prices back up. "It's definitely not up to them, because there are so many players that have interest today in this market, that it's unlikely we will see Russia have any practical influence." Citigroup's global research team analyst, Scott Gruber, explained on Wednesday a simple economic reason why Russia may be all talk while it keeps pumping: "With taxes and the ruble heavily oil-linked, Russian oil remains profitable to well below $20/bbl. ... Russian production should hold steady or even grow," he wrote in a research note. For now, the Wall Street view seems to be that if the Russians are coming, it's with as much, if not even more oil, rather than ideas to reverse the glut. More From CNBC brendan dassey interrogation making a murderer netflix One of the biggest questions in the wildly popular Netflix docuseries "Making a Murderer" is whether Brendan Dassey a Wisconsin teen who, along with his uncle Steven Avery, was convicted in the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach was pressured into giving a false confession. Dassey, who was then 16, was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse, and second-degree sexual assault after he made a detailed confession that includes grisly details of how he and Avery raped, tortured, and murdered Halbach. But Dassey's lawyers argued that investigators coerced him into confessing to a crime he did not actually commit. False confessions happen more often than you'd think, and they have a disturbing history. Why would someone confess to a crime they didn't commit? More than one out of four people who later turn out to have been wrongfully convicted made false confessions or incriminating statements at some point during the trial or questioning process, according to the Innocence Project, a nonprofit dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted people using DNA evidence. Forensic psychologist Julia Shaw writes in Scientific American that there are three main reasons people confess to crimes they are not guilty of committing: They are voluntarily confessing for the notoriety, or to cover for someone else. For example, a gang member may "confess" to doing something that the leader of the gang did. They are being compliant with what they think the investigator wants to hear, possibly because they just want to escape the situation. They have trouble separating fact from fiction, and come to believe something that didn't happen. Dassey and his lawyers basically claimed Dassey confessed for the second reason, arguing that he was especially vulnerable because he had a low IQ. False confessions like this can and do occur more often than we'd like to admit. The Reid Technique interrogation A New Yorker story from 2013 describes the case of Darrel Parker, a forester in Lincoln, Nebraska, who was convicted of murdering his wife and sentenced to life in prison after confessing to the crime. He was later paroled on the grounds that his confession had been coerced. Some years later, another death row inmate later provided a detailed confession of the crime, and Parker was ultimately pardoned and successfully sued the state. Story continues Parker had been interrogated by a man named John Reid, who developed an interview method called the Reid Technique. His company, John E. Reid & Associates, Inc., now trains more interrogators than any other company in the world, and claims it gets suspects to confess 80% of the time, The New Yorker reported. The Reid Technique has three parts: Factual Analysis: Interrogators interview possible suspects to establish possible guilt or innocence. Behavior Analysis Interview: Interrogators ask "non-accusatory" questions to try to determine a suspect's guilt or innocence. Reid Nine Steps of Interrogation: Interrogators tell the suspect they know he or she did it, and press them for details. To get the suspect to open up, they might try to minimize the seriousness of the crime. Or they may even lie outright, saying things like, "we have your fingerprints on the gun." Studies have shown that these methods can be very persuasive regardless of whether the person being interrogated actually committed the crime or not. It gets worse In the 1990s, psychologist Saul Kassin and his colleagues did an experiment involving a total of 75 students. In each experiment, two students would sit at a computer, and one (who was working for the researchers) would dictate as the other typed. The typing volunteer was told not to hit the "Alt" key or it would crash the computer. Unbeknownst to them, the computer was programmed to crash automatically. When this happened, the dictator would always accuse the typist of hitting Alt, which all the typists initially denied. In some cases, the dictator would go so far as to say they had seen the typist hit the Alt key. After all of this, the typists were asked to sign a statement confessing to the "crime." Surprisingly, a whopping 69% of the 75 students confessed to something they didn't do. Strikingly, those who were told they had been seen hitting the key confessed at almost twice the rate as those who weren't told they'd been seen. Not only that, but about a third of the students also internalized their feelings of guilt, saying things like, "I hit the wrong button and ruined the program." And nearly 10% were able to reconstruct fake details about hitting Alt the key, such as "Yes, here, I hit it with the side of my hand right after you called out the 'A.''" Other research reinforces what Kassin's team found. Melissa Russano, an associate professor of criminal justice at Roger Williams University, published a study in 2005 where her team successfully used Reid-like interrogation techniques to get people to confess (sometimes falsely) to cheating on an exam. This all leads us to an uncomfortable truth: As Shaw writes, "Making people confess to things they didnt do is easier than we might be happy to accept." NOW WATCH: Steven Avery's defense attorney admits doubts about his innocence More From Business Insider * South Africa looks to India to maintain record exports * Rival Indonesia could lose market share * Global glut, lower freight prices help Richards Bay By Wendell Roelf CAPE TOWN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - South Africa is hoping to boost coal exports to India after shipping a record 75.4 million tonnes of coal last year, industry officials said on Friday, as a drop in exports from rival Indonesia opens up the chance to grab market share. Data from analytics consultancy IHS Energy shows that around 36 million tonnes of South African coal was shipped through Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to big coal consumer India last year, up from 30 million tonnes in 2014. "As far as South African coal for India, it is definitely on a growth path. How long and how much is yet to be seen," Arun Maheshwari, senior vice president commercial for Indian firm JSW Steel, told a coal conference in Cape Town. Global oversupply and a drop in coal prices to 7-year lows have hit miners and coal exporting countries hard. Indonesian coal exports fell 50 million tonnes in 2015 due to the market glut and Chinese slowdown. A drop in Indonesian exports to India, which imported around 165 million tonnes of thermal coal in 2015, offers an opportunity for South Africa, analysts said. Exports last year were helped by improved transport logistics moving coal to RBCT, while lower freight prices for global seaborne coal also aided South African producers to compete for "price-sensitive" Indian buyers, analysts said. "We have seen some competitive rates coming from Australia, Columbia and Russia as well, but South Africa should be a consistent player going forward," Mike Nelson, the head of petroleum coke and coal at Reliance Industries, said. Depending on the use, buyers of coal can expect to pay less if the rock has a lower calorific value, which relates to the amount of heat and energy contained. However, South African coal, which is generally of a high quality, can now compete better on price with Indonesian coal, in part due to lower freight prices. Story continues "The view is that you will see higher-quality coals, not only South African, but from other exporters as well displacing Indonesian coal," Nick Trevethan, a coal markets editor at IHS Energy in London, told Reuters. The RBCT, which has coal producers Anglo American and Exxaro among shareholders, is spending 1.4 billion rand to upgrade machinery as it looks to increase capacity to 120 million tonnes from 91 million tonnes. "At this point in time India is still key for us," RBCT chief executive, Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane told Reuters. (Editing by James Macharia and Jan Harvey) By Eveline Danubrata and Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) - Swedish furniture giant IKEA has lost the right to use its own brand name in Indonesia after a legal battle with a local company that claimed the trademark, court documents released earlier this week showed. The court decision could make foreign companies even more cautious to invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, which is already growing at its weakest pace since the global financial crisis. "The clear message is that any business wanting to open up in Indonesia has to be very careful to register all its trademarks so they don't get hijacked," said Keith Loveard, head of risk analysis at Jakarta-based Concord Consulting. "It's the fact of the law that you have to cross every 't' and dot every 'i'," he said. In 2014, a Jakarta commercial court granted the rights to use the "Ikea" brand name to PT Ratania Khatulistiwa, a company that plans to sell its own furniture with the acronym for Intan Khatulistiwa Esa Abadi. Inter IKEA System B.V., part of the Swedish company's franchise division, had registered the "IKEA" trademark with the Indonesian directorate-general of intellectual property twice, in 2006 and 2010. But Ratania, which is based in the East Java capital of Surabaya, successfully argued at the Jakarta court that the furniture giant had not used the trademark for commercial purposes for three consecutive years. Inter IKEA filed an appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court, which was rejected last year, according to court documents uploaded to its website earlier this week. (http://bit.ly/23N1bDG) IKEA opened its first Indonesian store in the outskirts of Jakarta in 2014. Indonesian retailer PT Hero Supermarket Tbk owns the franchise to operate the IKEA business in Indonesia. The options now for IKEA are to file an appeal to the same court, change its name, or pay royalty fees to the Indonesian company, according to a legal expert contacted by Reuters. Ratania could not be reached for comment. IKEA did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, and calls to its Singapore office and Hero Supermarket went unanswered. (Reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) Dallas Business Lawyer Mike Young reveals eight important issues that employers should address in a Texas employment contract DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / February 5, 2016 / When you're looking to hire someone as an employee in the Lone Star State, it often makes sense to use a professionally prepared Texas employment contract in order to prevent misunderstandings while ensuring both employer and employee understand their respective rights and responsibilities. According to Dallas Business Lawyer Mike Young, here are eight of the most common areas you'll want to cover in the employment agreement. 1. Employment Term. How long will the employee's initial term of employment be? One year? Is there a probationary period? Is the employment at-will? 2. Compensation. How much will the employee be paid? When? And by what method? Will there be overtime compensation? What about discretionary or performance bonuses? 3. Employee's Duties. What days and hours of the week must the employee work? What are the employee's responsibilities during those work hours? Can the employee work a second job for another employer or moonlight as an entrepreneur? 4. Paid Time Off. Will the employee receive paid personal leave during the term? If so, how many days and what's the methodology by which it accrues? Will there be holidays off? If so, which days? Will they be paid or unpaid? 5. Expense Reimbursement. Will the employer reimburse certain business-related expenses incurred by an employee? If so, what types of expenses and what are the procedures for submitting a claim for reimbursement? 6. Intellectual Property Rights... To learn all 8 tips and more about Texas employment agreements, go to http://mikeyounglaw.com/texas-employment-contract-lawyer/ Follow Dallas Business Lawyer Mike Young on Google+ at http://google.com/+MikeYoungInternetLawyer #MikeYoungLaw #DallasBusinessLawyer By Mike Young Dallas Business Lawyer SOURCE: Law Office of Michael E. Young PLLC via Submit Press Release 123 arkansas map marshall islands In the Marshall Islands, climate change is an existential threat. Alternating droughts and cyclones are wreaking havoc on the Pacific island nation of 52,000 people. Rising tides could even submerge the entire country within decades. As coastal homes become uninhabitable, the Marshallese are starting to seek refuge in other countries. Thousands of those "climate refugees" could find a safe haven in an unlikely town in the American heartland. Springdale, Arkansas, may be 6,000 miles away from the Marshall Islands, but it is the unexpected home to a thriving Marshallese community. Nearly 7,000 Marshallese live in Springdale, by far the largest such community in the mainland US. The greater region of northwestern Arkansas has at least 12,000 more than a fifth of the Marshall Islands' population. It is second only to that of Honolulu. Unlike Hawaii, Springdale has no history of any other Pacific Islander migration or settlement. marshall islands map "The Marshallese are living in Springdale with no template," wrote UCLA researcher Jessica Schwartz in her paper "Marshallese Cultural Diplomacy." Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, the town of 75,000 boasts a Marshallese radio station and the country's only Marshallese-language newspaper. Marshallese people come to the US primarily for jobs, education, and health care, said Carmen Chong Gum, consul general of the Marshallese consulate in Springdale the only such consulate in the continental US. But she said Springdale residents could soon expect the community to swell with climate refugees. "Climate change is really happening. It's a reality," Chong Gum told Business Insider. "If it continues to be a reality, that would be another reason added to the list families coming that have lost their homes to the sea." The Marshall Islands' close relationship with the US bikini atoll nuclear bomb Story continues The Marshall Islands benefits from a close, albeit complicated, relationship with the US. America used the islands as a test theater for 67 thermonuclear weapons between 1946 and 1958. The most famous of these, the "Bravo shot," was dropped on Bikini Atoll in 1954 and was 1,000 times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Residents of Bikini were displaced, and the atoll remains uninhabited today. Large swaths of the islands still suffer from nuclear contamination. In 1986, the US agreed to the Compact of Free Association, which stipulated that Marshallese citizens can emigrate freely to the US and stay indefinitely without visas. "Basically it's what we get in return for allowing our islands to be used by the United States for testing nuclear weapons," Chong Gum told Business Insider. Hundreds of displaced Bikinians now live in Springdale, according to Schwartz's research. The Marshallese diaspora mei climate Arkansas can trace its Marshallese diaspora to a single islander named John Moody, who came to Springdale in the 1980s to work for Tyson Foods. Springdale is recognized as the "Poultry Capital of the World." Tyson a Fortune 100 meat producer is its largest employer. Word of the jobs available spread back home, and a steady migration began, with many newcomers securing jobs at the Tyson plant. Although some immigrants consider Springdale their long-term home, many young people don't plan on staying in the US permanently, said Benetick Maddison, a Marshallese student at Northwest Arkansas Community College. "We're in college because we want to go back to the island and serve our people," Maddison told Business Insider. "We just want to go back to our homeland." Marshallese springdale arkansas Given their people's history of displacement, younger members of the community are especially vocal about climate change, said April Brown, executive director of the nonprofit Marshallese Education Initiative. Brown pointed to the large youth turnout at Springdale's Rally for the Earth, a December event that raised awareness of climate change in the Pacific. "I think that young people believe that something can be done to stave it off," Brown told Business Insider. "Their voices are starting to be heard. The community is proud of them." NOW WATCH: These are America's 2 most hated fast-food restaurants More From Business Insider arm optionb carrying asteroid The Luxembourg Government became the first European country to express serious interest in the potentially lucrative business of asteroid mining on Wednesday. Some have gone so far as to say that asteroid mining could grow to become the world's first trillion dollar business, but that still remains to be seen. So far, Luxembourg and the US are the only two countries in the world who have begun to take legal action toward securing property rights for commercial companies who could, one day, collect rare and precious resources from asteroids. Last November, President Barack Obama signed the Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act into law, which provides all private US companies the right of ownership over any non-living space resources it can retrieve, be them from asteroids or comets. While Luxembourg has yet to establish any laws on this point, it's taking definitive steps toward doing so. On Wednesday, the government announced in statement: "Amongst the key steps undertaken, as part of the spaceresources.lu initiative, will be the development of a legal and regulatory framework confirming certainty about the future ownership of minerals extracted in space from Near Earth Objects (NEOs) such as asteroids." A lucrative business Asteroid Family Space NASA The term Near Earth Object is used to describe any celestial body whose orbit crosses into Earth's neighborhood. This makes NEOs a popular target for aspiring asteroid mining companies like the US companies Planetary Resources and Deep Space Industries who would rather have asteroids come to them than chase these objects across the solar system. One step Luxembourg is considering that the US has not yet considered is directly investing in private companies looking to strike it rich in space. And Planetary Resources is excited at the prospect: "We commend the Government of Luxembourg in leading the world by establishing this new resource industry, thereby enabling the economic development of near-Earth asteroid resources," Chris Lewicki, who is the president and CEO of Planetary Resources, said on the day of the announcement. "Planetary Resources looks forward to working with Luxembourg." Story continues While scientists are still getting a handle on the exact chemical composition of asteroids, there's evidence to suggest that these objects contain significant traces of a precious chemical element called platinum, which is used in everything from turbine engines to jewelry. Right now, platinum is going for $29,000 per kilogram. And according to a 2000 paper, a modest sized asteroid about half a mile wide could yield up to 130 tons of platinum, worth about $3.5 billion. NASA estimates that about 879 near-earth asteroids at least 0.6 miles across exist. While that's potential for a lot of wealth, companies still have to develop the technology to mine these asteroids, and then purchase a rocket to transport that technology to space, which isn't cheap. Time will tell if these ambitious companies succeed in their endeavors. However, it's safe to say that they've at least gotten the attention of wealthy countries like the US and Luxembourg that could help pave the way toward a future for space miners. NOW WATCH: NASA's Spirit Mars rover found mysterious growths on Mars that could be the biggest discovery in science More From Business Insider KIEV, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Ukraine's political instability has added pressure on the hryvnia currency in recent days, Central Bank Governor Valeriya Gontareva told parliament on Friday. Ukraine has been rocked by the shock resignation of the economy minister, who accused a close ally of the president of corruption. Gontareva said the sooner the crisis ended, the better for the currency. "In the last few days, political instability added pressure to the currency market," she said. (Reporting by Alexei Kalmykov; editing by Matthias Williams) * Posts biggest weekly jump in more than four months * Palm could further rally if Jan end-stocks fall -trader (Updates latest prices, quote) By Emily Chow KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Malaysian palm oil futures hit their highest level in nearly 21 months on Friday and posted their biggest weekly jump in over four months on short-covering ahead of a long weekend and concerns over declining production. The palm oil contract for April delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange closed 1.7 percent higher at 2,575 ringgit ($619.74) per tonne, after rising as much as 2.9 percent to 2,604 ringgit, its highest level since May 16, 2014, earlier in the session. Palm posted a weekly gain of 5.4 percent, its biggest since the week ended Sept. 25, 2015. Traded volume stood at 56,077 lots of 25 tonnes each. "There was massive covering of both buy and sell towards the end," said a trader with a brokerage firm in Kuala Lumpur, referring to short-covering before the four-day weekend. Markets will be closed on Feb. 8 and 9 for the Lunar New Year holidays. "The prevailing worry is that production this month is expected to be lower given the lesser number of working days. End-stocks of around 2.1 million tonnes are low enough for prices to further rally," said the trader. Malaysian inventories in January are forecast to have declined 9.3 percent on month to 2.39 million tonnes, according to a Reuters poll. Production is also expected to have declined 14 percent to 1.2 million tonnes, in line with seasonal trend and as the dry weather impact from the El Nino weather event kicks in this year. The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) is due to release January data on Feb. 10. In competing vegetable oil markets, the U.S. March soyoil contract gained 0.9 percent, while the May soybean oil contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose 1.2 percent. Palm, soy and crude oil prices at 1026 GMT Contract Month Last Change Low High Volume MY PALM OIL FEB6 2520 +67.00 2478 2520 403 MY PALM OIL MAR6 2516 +25.00 2493 2547 3017 Story continues MY PALM OIL APR6 2575 +44.00 2534 2604 28459 CHINA PALM OLEIN MAY6 4834 +46.00 4774 4848 488836 CHINA SOYOIL MAY6 5736 +70.00 5666 5750 408818 CBOT SOY OIL MAR6 31.51 +3.00 31.31 31.60 5691 INDIA PALM OIL FEB6 463.30 +3.00 461.10 466.00 2423 INDIA SOYOIL FEB6 620.25 +1.30 618.50 621.60 22060 NYMEX CRUDE MAR6 32.11 +0.39 31.37 32.36 52950 Palm oil prices in Malaysian ringgit per tonne CBOT soy oil in U.S. cents per pound Dalian soy oil and RBD palm olein in Chinese yuan per tonne India soy oil in Indian rupee per 10 kg Crude in U.S. dollars per barrel ($1 = 4.1550 ringgit) ($1 = 67.6600 Indian rupees) ($1 = 6.5722 Chinese yuan) * For a table on Malaysian physical palm oil prices, including refined oil, Reuters Terminal users can double click on or type. * To view freight rates from Peninsula Malaysia/Sumatra to China, India, Pakistan and Rotterdam, please key in and press enter, or double click between the brackets. * Reuters Terminal users can see cash and futures edible oil prices by double clicking on the codes in the brackets: To go to the next page in the same chain, hit F12. To go back, hit F11. Vegetable oils -- Malaysian palm oil exports -- CBOT soyoil futures -- CBOT soybean futures -- Indian solvent -- Weekly Indian vegetable oils -- Dalian Commodity Exchange -- Dalian soyoil futures -- Dalian refined palm oil futures -- Zhengzhou rapeseed oil -- European edible oil prices/trades -- (Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu) donald trump cnn During a CNN town-hall event that aired on Thursday night, a voter asked Donald Trump how his daughters would be able to look up to a potential future President Trump. "I have three wonderful daughters at home. And I want nothing more for them than to look as their president as a role model," a man asked Trump, a Republican presidential candidate. The man continued: Throughout the course of this campaign, you've said some disparaging comments about women, about people from other countries, other religions, and about everybody who's disagreed with you. Explain to me how I could look at my daughters and have them look up to a President Trump as a role model. Trump initially joked that the questioner was a CNN plant to create a dramatic confrontation. "Who asked you to give this question?" he said. "Did Anderson? By the way, this is a CNN setup, but that's OK." CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who was moderating the town hall, assured Trump that his network didn't feed questions to any of the audience members. Trump proceeded by defending some of his campaign-trail firestorms. He first defended his treatment of women by saying that his real-estate company had hired many women: Nobody has more respect for women than I do. Thirty years ago, I had a woman building a major, major construction job in New York City. And that never happens. That just didn't happen. ... I have so many women executives. I have been great to women. And women have been great to me. They've done a great job. He then defended his hard-line rhetoric against illegal immigration. Trump, whose town hall was in Manchester, New Hampshire, related the immigration issue to the heroin epidemic in the state. He said: I do bring up things that people don't want to bring up. I talk about immigration stronger than anybody else. I talk about building a wall. If you look at New Hampshire, you have a tremendous heroin problem. It's coming from the border! Trump finished his answer by addressing his provocative proposal to temporarily bar most Muslims from entering the US. Trump unveiled that proposal last December after the terror attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Paris. The candidate said that the "world is agreeing with me" now. Story continues He said: When I brought up the Muslim problem. You know, it's very interesting. I brought that problem up and all of a sudden, the world started going wild. And now the world is agreeing with me. We have to do something. There is a serious problem. Watch below: NOW WATCH: Cruz: The birther argument would make Trump ineligible to run for President More From Business Insider ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwired - February 05, 2016) - Mississippi Lime Company has named William H. Ayers to Chief Executive Officer. Since 2011, he has led the company as President and COO. Under his leadership, Mississippi Lime has grown substantially and he has continued to establish the company as a market leader through operational excellence and effective response to market dynamics. Mr. Ayers has been with Mississippi Lime Company since 1999, and has held progressively responsible roles in sales and operations. Prior to joining the company, he held both commercial and general management roles at IMC Global, Akzo Nobel, Potash Company of America, and Duracell Battery Company. He holds a bachelor's degree in biology and marketing from Virginia Tech. Mississippi Lime also named Michael A. DeCola, former CEO of Mississippi Lime Company, as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is CEO of HBM Holdings, the parent company of Mississippi Lime Company. About Mississippi Lime Company Mississippi Lime Company (MLC), based in St. Louis, Missouri, has been providing the nation with high calcium lime products for over a century. The company has built a reputation not only on quality of lime, but technical expertise, commitment to research and development, and a tradition of customer service. By utilizing one of the highest purity limestone reserves available, MLC has become the most diversified producer of high calcium lime and calcium-based products in North America. MLC has operations in Ste. Genevieve, MO; Vicksburg, MS; Weirton, WV; Chester, SC; Verona, KY; Mobile, AL; Port Allen, LA; Huron, OH and Prairie du Rocher, IL. For more information, visit MississippiLime.com. About HBM Holdings HBM Holdings Company is a management firm that acquires, supports and operates middle-market businesses in industrial products and services. The Company's strategy is to grow a diversified portfolio using a long-term buy and build approach. HBM Holdings provides its portfolio companies with professional management expertise, financial resources, and high potential human capital to accelerate their growth. For more information, visit HBMHoldings.com. Image Available: http://www.marketwire.com/library/MwGo/2016/2/5/11G081690/Images/Ayers,_William_H_(1)-11cfb1911381ab6197b5d53ccfafcef6.jpg TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb 5, 2016) - Xylitol Canada Inc. ("Xylitol Canada", or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:XYL) announced today that Andrew Reid has resigned from his duties as President, Chief Executive Officer, and a director of the Company, effective immediately. The Board of Directors has initiated a search process to identify an appropriate replacement for Mr. Reid as President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Daher, a director of the Company, stated, "On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Company, I would like to thank Andrew for his commitment and many contributions to Xylitol Canada over the years, and wish him well in his future endeavours." About Xylitol Canada Inc. Xylitol Canada markets xylitol and xylitol based-products and is focused on becoming a major low-cost manufacturer of xylitol and related products, serving the global market from operations in North America. Xylitol Canada's business strategy is to leverage novel proprietary technology and processes to become North America's premier manufacturer of low cost, high quality xylitol from readily available environmentally-sustainable biomass. Xylitol is a natural sweetener which is marketed globally including Canada and the United States and is accepted by the American Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association. Xylitol contains 75% less carbohydrates and 40% less calories than sugar, has a myriad of oral health benefits including the prevention of tooth decay and is safe for diabetics. To date, wider spread use of xylitol has been limited by the lack of a reliable, low cost, high quality supplier. Neither TSX Venture Exchange Inc. 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. By Edward Krudy NEW YORK, Feb 4 (Reuters) - New York City's mayor Bill de Blasio will call for a city-run retirement system for private sector employees in his annual keynote address on Thursday. De Blasio, a Democrat, will reveal that he wants the city to become the first in the country to offer a retirement system to private employees. While better paid jobs offer individual savings plans, they are not always on offer to lower income workers. U.S. towns, cities, and states offer retirement plans for public workers that offer a defined level of benefits. New York City manages about $160 billion in its public pension funds for teachers, police, firefighters and other city workers. Some states have already started looking at introducing plans for private sector workers, leveraging the extensive infrastructure, know-how, and cost benefits they have acquired in running plans for public employees. Company pension plans have largely been replaced with savings plans that do not offer guaranteed retirement income. Workers frequently do not save enough and those at the lower end of the income spectrum are particularly impacted. City officials cited startling figures. Only 43 percent of working New Yorkers have access to a retirement plan, they said. Around 40 percent of New Yorkers between the ages of 50 and 64 have less than $10,000 saved for retirement. The mayor's plan would allow any New Yorker working at a business with ten or more employees to automatically enroll in an employee-funded retirement plan. The initiative from de Blasio is a continuation of his policy of improving lives for lower income New Yorkers. He has championed increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour and introducing parental and sick leave. (Reporting by Edward Krudy; Editing by Bernard Orr) If you need more information, here is a brief list of additional forced migration resources (research guides, information-rich websites, networks, and blogs). 2000 - 2022 24 .- . focus-news.net, () . 24 . 24 . . 24 . We value your privacy. Focus Taiwan (CNA) uses tracking technologies to provide better reading experiences, but it also respects readers' privacy. Click here to find out more about Focus Taiwan's privacy policy. When you close this window, it means you agree with this policy. To activate the text-to-speech service, please first agree to the privacy policy below. London, Feb. 4 (CNA) The British government on Thursday reiterated its official position of not recognizing Taiwan as a country and said the issue of Taiwan's status should be resolved through dialogue based on the wishes of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Footless Crow aims to provide the best in British outdoor writing in a unique 'blogazine' format. Offering new articles and republishing classic articles from the past which have been cherry picked from UK climbing/outdoor magazines and club journals. In this I am pleased to have received the support of many of the UK's top outdoor writers who see Footless Crow as a perfect medium to air unpublished works and see old works republished in a format which was inconceivable when they were first written! As a non commercial media,the blogazine acknowledges the contribution that publications like Loose Scree and The Angry Corrie have made in the world of mountain literature. Providing accessible quality writing through a low cost 'zine' format. Footless Crow hopes to emulate these publications by also providing content which is unashamedly traditional and celebrates the finest virtues of British mountaineering! All published works and photographs have been fully approved by the authors who of course retain copyright. The usual rules and restrictions of copyright apply. Hope you enjoy the content which aims to provide a new extended article each week. If you have any comments or would like to contribute something which fits in with the 'Footless' concept then email me at ...... Footless Crow counts amongst its supporters, well-wishers and contributors.... Al Alvarez Steve Ashton Mike Bailey Alan Blackshaw Bill Birkett Martyn Boysen Robin Campbell John Cleare Michael Combley Gerry Cordon David Craig Jim Curran Martin Crook Johnny Dawes Harold Drasdo Paul Diffley Steve Dean Lindsay Elms Terry Gifford Dennis Gray Frank Grant Richard Haszko Tom Hutton Dennis Gray Richard Gilbert Ken Latham Tony Loxton Barbara James Barbara Jones James McHaffie Tony Moulam Andy Newton Andy Nisbet Paul Pritchard John Redhead Don Roscoe Paul Ross Fiona Saunders Craig Smith Joe Simpson Oil subsidies and free trade.Fast and furious: Canada's economy skidding from top of G7 to bottomIts amazing how fast you can go from first to worst, hero to zero, bruiser to loser.Or, in this case, from G1 to G7.Remember how well Canada emerged from the financial crisis and Great Recession? Indeed, it led the Group of Seven industrialized nations two years ago, before the collapse in oil prices.Now, according to the latest forecasts from Bank of Nova Scotia, it is set to trail the Group of Seven industrialized nations in economic growth this year.We came out of the last recession faster and stronger, but that has waned, said Scotiabank deputy chief economist Aron Gampel.Scotiabank projects Canadas economy will expand by just 1.1 per cent this year, in line with some other forecasts that differ only slightly.That will be at the bottom end of the G7 countries, the bank said, calling for economic growth of 2.2 per cent in the United States, 2 per cent in Britain, 1.8 per cent in Germany and 1.3 per cent in France.Of course, Canadas performance is one of a regional divide amid the hit to the oil provinces.Ontario, Manitoba, British Columbia and Quebec are actually holding their own, Mr. Gampel said.As fourth-quarter and annual results continue to pour in, the collapse in crude prices is taking an ever-mounting toll on energy companies around the world.Today, Royal Dutch Shell posted its worst full-year results in more than a decade, warning, too, of further cuts.In the last year, the company has taken writedowns in excess of $7-billion on its operations in Alaska, Ukraine, as well as the Carmon Creek tar sands venture in Canada as it looks to dispose of non-core assets and looks to take on Exxon Mobil in the liquefied natural gas space, said CMCs Mr. Hewson.Along with the other oil majors, the main focus of concern is the dividend policy, as well as the risks of cutting expenditures too deep, and in the process curtailing its ability to react quickly to a turnaround in the oil price, as the supply and demand dynamics shift away from the current glut. Mr Cameron's beloved EU is imploding. The reason? The elected elite running it simply don't understand the power of patriotism, writes DOMINIC SANDBROOK Read more: Follow us: DailyMail on Facebook Read more: David Cameron's beloved EU is imploding due to patriotism | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter PETER OBORNE: We knew the EU hates democracy. Now it seems our leaders do too By 6 February 2016 Daily Mail This ought, by rights, to have been David Camerons worst week so far as Prime Minister. It was the week he sold out everything he once professed to believe, the week he turned his back on the voters and became the commander-in-chief of an arrogant political elite, and the week he tore up the Conservative manifesto on which he fought the general election. When David Cameron pledged a referendum in his famous Bloomberg speech three years ago, he promised to deliver fundamental, far-reaching change in Britains relations with Europe. He hasnt achieved this, or anything resembling it, and since he is an intelligent man he most certainly knows this. True, the Prime Minister has been sharply criticised by a tough and independent-minded Press. And voters have been dismayed by his lack of integrity and resolve: polls have shifted sharply in favour of quitting Europe since the squalid details of Mr Camerons pathetic EU deal became known. This ought, by rights, to have been David Camerons worst week so far as Prime Minister, writes Peter Oborne Yet so far he has actually paid a negligible political price and, despite that shift in the polls, seems confident his EU deal will win the day. Part of this is down to the lamentable conduct of the eurosceptic Jeremy Corbyn, who culpably has had nothing to say about an issue which will determine the shape of Britain for generations to come. It is simply astonishing that he did not even raise the subject at Prime Ministers Questions last week. Mr Corbyns inertia amounts to the most wretched dereliction of duty by an Opposition leader since Iain Duncan Smith failed to ask penetrating questions about Tony Blairs invasion of Iraq 13 years ago. But there is a second, more troubling reason for David Camerons Teflon-coated week. He has used the power and muscle of his Downing Street machine to bribe, cajole and threaten eurosceptic ministers to stay in line. Conscious that his negotiations cannot withstand scrutiny, the PM has silenced internal critics by ruthlessly enforcing collective Cabinet responsibility. This has led to a grotesque double standard at the heart of the Government. On the one hand, the Prime Minister no longer bothers to hide the fact that he will be leading the Remain In Europe campaign. He has even casually authorised his party chairman, out-and-out europhile Lord Feldman, to raise funds for it. On the other hand, eurosceptic Cabinet ministers have been gagged. Of course they are complicit in this, predominantly for self-interested reasons. Indeed, the conduct of these senior politicians is, in some cases, beneath contempt. At the Tory Party conference last October, Home Secretary Theresa May memorably warned about the dangers of mass immigration, about the threat it poses to social cohesion, and the urgent need to control Britains borders. Yet Mrs May now seems not to mind about mass immigration after all. For last week she indicated she supports the Remain campaign, even though David Cameron has achieved nothing to seriously challenge EU laws allowing the free movement of workers between member states laws which must be tackled if we are to reduce the number of migrants coming to the UK. Mrs May, who hopes to be a future Prime Minister, has put her career before her patriotism. This is the kind of selfish and gutless conduct that causes politicians to be despised. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond once claimed that he was a strong critic of the European Union. Today, for nakedly careerist reasons, he has become a leading supporter of the EU. At the Tory Party conference last October, Home Secretary Theresa May warned about the dangers of mass immigration It looks like Business Secretary Sajid Javid is taking the same cynical course. To be fair, we know that a handful of cabinet ministers, led by Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling, will indeed campaign to leave Europe. I also expect Justice Secretary Michael Gove to stick with his principles and join the Leave camp. There is no questioning the honour or integrity of these Cabinet ministers. However they, too, are open to criticism because they have been comprehensively outmanoevred. They should never have allowed the Prime Minister to insist on their silence. By doing so they allowed the Remain campaign to shape the narrative of events, since the Prime Minister and his allies can campaign for Britain to stay in Europe while they cant say a thing. It is, of course, true that other voices are there to fill the anti-EU vacuum. UKIPs Nigel Farage without whom the referendum would never have been held is a powerful spokesman, as are many backbench Tories, among whom John Redwood is especially clear-headed and eloquent. So, too, is David Davis. But the fact is that no mainstream political figure has had the guts to stand up for what he believes, and to resign his frontbench position and join the fight. The ranks of the Leave camp are far more sparse even than during the last referendum under Harold Wilson in 1975, when Tony Benn, Enoch Powell, Labour Cabinet heavyweight Peter Shore and others joined a team with high intellect and experience. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous moment for democracy. Polls suggest that approximately half of all voters have gnawing doubts about the European Union. Yet all the major political parties are strongly in favour. This gulf between politicians and the electorate is especially troubling because the referendum is ultimately about democracy and, thanks to the cowardice of our political class, democracy is precisely what we are not going to get. Perhaps this is not so much of a coincidence. Over the past few decades the European Commission has worked hard to abolish what we in Britain have traditionally regarded as democratic politics. Decision-making has been moved away from national parliaments. On most issues that matter, from the economy to immigration, decisions which viscerally affect the lives of voters are now taken by anonymous, unaccountable bureaucrats rather than politicians who are responsible to their voters. The prime ministers of Greece, Italy and Spain today are effectively branch managers for the European Central Bank and pro-EU Goldman Sachs, which hold their countries purse-strings. We have come very close to the abolition of politics, replacing it with rule by bureaucrats and bankers. And David Cameron, by determinedly crushing debate, is shamelessly going along with this lack of democratic accountability. Just possibly his manoeuvres may come back to haunt him. The smell from them is simply too putrid to be ignored. Already disenchanted voters may yet identify the entire campaign to remain in the EU with a sleazy, incompetent bunch of politicians who have let them down again and again. The chance to tell them to get lost and vote Leave may yet prove irresistible. Read more: Follow us: DailyMail on Facebook Read more: PETER OBORNE: We knew the EU hates democracy. Now it seems our leaders do too | Daily Mail Online Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter By Peter Oborne For The Daily Mail 6 February 2016This ought, by rights, to have been David Camerons worst week so far as Prime Minister.It was the week he sold out everything he once professed to believe, the week he turned his back on the voters and became the commander-in-chief of an arrogant political elite, and the week he tore up the Conservative manifesto on which he fought the general election.When David Cameron pledged a referendum in his famous Bloomberg speech three years ago, he promised to deliver fundamental, far-reaching change in Britains relations with Europe. He hasnt achieved this, or anything resembling it, and since he is an intelligent man he most certainly knows this.True, the Prime Minister has been sharply criticised by a tough and independent-minded Press. And voters have been dismayed by his lack of integrity and resolve: polls have shifted sharply in favour of quitting Europe since the squalid details of Mr Camerons pathetic EU deal became known.Yet so far he has actually paid a negligible political price and, despite that shift in the polls, seems confident his EU deal will win the day. Part of this is down to the lamentable conduct of the eurosceptic Jeremy Corbyn, who culpably has had nothing to say about an issue which will determine the shape of Britain for generations to come.It is simply astonishing that he did not even raise the subject at Prime Ministers Questions last week. Mr Corbyns inertia amounts to the most wretched dereliction of duty by an Opposition leader since Iain Duncan Smith failed to ask penetrating questions about Tony Blairs invasion of Iraq 13 years ago.But there is a second, more troubling reason for David Camerons Teflon-coated week. He has used the power and muscle of his Downing Street machine to bribe, cajole and threaten eurosceptic ministers to stay in line.Conscious that his negotiations cannot withstand scrutiny, the PM has silenced internal critics by ruthlessly enforcing collective Cabinet responsibility.This has led to a grotesque double standard at the heart of the Government. On the one hand, the Prime Minister no longer bothers to hide the fact that he will be leading the Remain In Europe campaign. He has even casually authorised his party chairman, out-and-out europhile Lord Feldman, to raise funds for it.On the other hand, eurosceptic Cabinet ministers have been gagged. Of course they are complicit in this, predominantly for self-interested reasons. Indeed, the conduct of these senior politicians is, in some cases, beneath contempt.At the Tory Party conference last October, Home Secretary Theresa May memorably warned about the dangers of mass immigration, about the threat it poses to social cohesion, and the urgent need to control Britains borders.Yet Mrs May now seems not to mind about mass immigration after all. For last week she indicated she supports the Remain campaign, even though David Cameron has achieved nothing to seriously challenge EU laws allowing the free movement of workers between member states laws which must be tackled if we are to reduce the number of migrants coming to the UK.Mrs May, who hopes to be a future Prime Minister, has put her career before her patriotism. This is the kind of selfish and gutless conduct that causes politicians to be despised.Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond once claimed that he was a strong critic of the European Union. Today, for nakedly careerist reasons, he has become a leading supporter of the EU.It looks like Business Secretary Sajid Javid is taking the same cynical course.To be fair, we know that a handful of cabinet ministers, led by Iain Duncan Smith and Chris Grayling, will indeed campaign to leave Europe. I also expect Justice Secretary Michael Gove to stick with his principles and join the Leave camp.There is no questioning the honour or integrity of these Cabinet ministers. However they, too, are open to criticism because they have been comprehensively outmanoevred.They should never have allowed the Prime Minister to insist on their silence. By doing so they allowed the Remain campaign to shape the narrative of events, since the Prime Minister and his allies can campaign for Britain to stay in Europe while they cant say a thing. It is, of course, true that other voices are there to fill the anti-EU vacuum. UKIPs Nigel Farage without whom the referendum would never have been held is a powerful spokesman, as are many backbench Tories, among whom John Redwood is especially clear-headed and eloquent. So, too, is David Davis.But the fact is that no mainstream political figure has had the guts to stand up for what he believes, and to resign his frontbench position and join the fight.The ranks of the Leave camp are far more sparse even than during the last referendum under Harold Wilson in 1975, when Tony Benn, Enoch Powell, Labour Cabinet heavyweight Peter Shore and others joined a team with high intellect and experience.Make no mistake, this is a dangerous moment for democracy. Polls suggest that approximately half of all voters have gnawing doubts about the European Union. Yet all the major political parties are strongly in favour.This gulf between politicians and the electorate is especially troubling because the referendum is ultimately about democracy and, thanks to the cowardice of our political class, democracy is precisely what we are not going to get.Perhaps this is not so much of a coincidence. Over the past few decades the European Commission has worked hard to abolish what we in Britain have traditionally regarded as democratic politics.Decision-making has been moved away from national parliaments. On most issues that matter, from the economy to immigration, decisions which viscerally affect the lives of voters are now taken by anonymous, unaccountable bureaucrats rather than politicians who are responsible to their voters.The prime ministers of Greece, Italy and Spain today are effectively branch managers for the European Central Bank and pro-EU Goldman Sachs, which hold their countries purse-strings. We have come very close to the abolition of politics, replacing it with rule by bureaucrats and bankers.And David Cameron, by determinedly crushing debate, is shamelessly going along with this lack of democratic accountability.Just possibly his manoeuvres may come back to haunt him. The smell from them is simply too putrid to be ignored. Already disenchanted voters may yet identify the entire campaign to remain in the EU with a sleazy, incompetent bunch of politicians who have let them down again and again.The chance to tell them to get lost and vote Leave may yet prove irresistible. By Dominic Sandbrook for the Daily Mail 6 February 2016Well, I hate to say I told you so, but I did. This week, David Cameron returned from his continental tour proudly waving a piece of paper purporting to represent a new deal for Britain in Europe.And just as I predicted in these pages several weeks ago, his much-vaunted renegotiation exercise has turned out to be an utter waste of time.Like Harold Wilsons similarly cynical effort in 1975, the last time this country had an EU in/out referendum, it proved to be nothing more than an expensive public relations exercise, designed to mollify the Eurosceptics in his own party and to persuade voters to back Britains membership of the EU.Mr Cameron and his allies did their best to present his appearance in the Commons as a profound national event. In fact, it was more like a magicians appearance at a childrens tea party: a slick feat, certainly, but a long way short of statesmanlike.As Mr Cameron waxed lyrical about his non-existent victories from a belated and therefore pointless brake on migrant benefits, to a vague and completely meaningless promise to respect British sovereignty you could almost hear the nation laughing with disbelief.Yet Britains future in Europe is no laughing matter, and I doubt I am alone in thinking that we deserve far, far better than the current EU non-debate in which, apart from anything else, Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers have been cynically muzzled.What David Cameron wont dare admit is that the EU he so longs to remain part of is in peril as never before.If you really want to get a sense of Europes future, then forget the embarrassing charade in the House of Commons. And forget Mr Camerons little PR stunt, a mere sideshow compared with the gigantic dramas unfolding on the EUs eastern and southern borders.Our parliamentarians may love to boast about their sense of history. But if you want a genuinely compelling example of how our continents bloody past is shaping our shared future, then turn your eyes instead to the East.In the West, the debate about the future of the EU is naturally coloured by memories of World War II. Indeed, in 2012, the EU was even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for having supposedly guaranteed 60 years of peace in Europe.Further east, however, another shadow looms, if anything, even larger. In EU member states such as Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the Baltic nations, memories of another vast multi-national project the Communist empire of the Soviet Union are still red-raw.Great swathes of central and eastern Europe still bear the scars of Communist repression, from the great hulking concrete monoliths that dominate their cities to the widows who still mourn their vanished husbands.And it is precisely because so many of our European neighbours harbour such bitter memories that the collapse of Lenins blood-drenched experiment raises uncomfortable questions about the survival of todays EU questions that Mr Camerons renegotiation exercise has utterly failed to address.On the face of it, of course, the EU and the USSR could hardly appear more different. Brussels is not the Kremlin. There are no EU labour camps, no psychiatric hospitals for political dissidents, no tanks rolling into the streets of occupied capitals.What they do have in common, though, is an over-riding belief in international unity.The Communists dreamed of uniting Europe under the Red Flag. They believed they could erase centuries of history, eradicating national differences, pulling down borders, wiping away the hatreds of the past. Lenin saw himself as the leader of an international workers brotherhood; hence his enthusiasm for the song The Internationale, which became the official worldwide Communist anthem.We are opposed to national enmity and discord, to national exclusiveness, he wrote in 1919. We are internationalists.Read those last words again, and ask yourself how they might sound coming from a senior figure in the EU.The answer is that they would sound perfectly natural, because the principle of internationalism (ever closer union, as the EU puts it) is at the very heart of the European project.The key figure in the foundation of the EU, the French official Jean Monnet a bureaucrat never once elected to a public office made this quite explicit. National sovereignty, he once said, was finished. There is no future for the people of Europe other than in union.It goes without saying that Lenins idea of internationalism and the EUs version are very different. All the same, they both represent a utopian attempt to erase the legacy of history and to impose continental uniformity in place of national diversity.In reality, the idea that Europes natural state is a harmonious union has always struck me as complete drivel. Not even the Romans managed to unite all Europe under one banner. Plenty of people despots, usually have tried since, but all have failed.The Habsburg emperor Charles V had a go in the 16th century, picturing himself as the head of a European universal monarchy. He failed.So did Frances dwarfish emperor Napoleon, some 150 years later. Hitler came closest to pulling it off, albeit in a peculiarly bloodthirsty form. But he failed too, in the end.The truth is that for all the high-minded pieties of Brussels officials, and for all their fatuous attempts to promote a common European identity, national differences still run very deep indeed.Most ordinary Europeans feel little loyalty to their continent, and still less to the policy-makers in Brussels. Their primary loyalty is to their family their own immediate family, of course, but also to their wider national family, whether they are Britons or Germans, Spaniards or Hungarians, Poles, Danes or Lithuanians.Nothing bears that out better than the reaction to the migration crisis, which represents an overpowering challenge to the European elites fantasy of a common political identity.For as the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has admitted, the scale of the human tide has left the EU overwhelmed. If Europe is not capable of protecting its own borders, he told the BBC, its the very idea of Europe that will be questioned.The problem is not just the sheer number of Middle Eastern and North African migrants clamouring to get into the EU a challenge that Mr Cameron barely mentioned in his Commons statement. It is also the inevitable collision between internationalist idealism and national self-interest.Brussels thinks that all member states ought to do their bit. But most national governments think they ought to look after their own interests first.The result has been the unedifying spectacle of national governments squabbling bitterly about border controls and migrant quotas, pausing only to fire verbal salvos at the EU itself.As it happens, EU officials have spent the past few days quivering with rage against the Greeks, whom they blame for letting thousands of migrants cross their borders, while the Greeks claim that western European states are merely trying to shift the blame for their own failings.Denmark has already introduced draconian regulations forcing refugees to hand over a proportion of their assets, while Sweden has just announced plans to expel up to 80,000 migrants using specially chartered aircraft.At the very least, the Schengen agreement, which guarantees open borders across most of the EU, seems doomed to the scrapheap.Indeed, if you want a symbol of the death of internationalism, then just look at the famous Oresund Bridge, spanning the narrow strait between Denmarks capital Copenhagen and the Swedish city of Malmo.This is the bridge that features in the cult BBC4 crime series The Bridge, itself a collaboration between the Danes and the Swedes. On television, detectives whizz back and forth across the bridge on their way to their next moody crime scene.But in reality, the bridge has come to symbolise the death of utopian idealism. On January 6, responding to the migrant crisis, the Swedes brought in border checks for the first time in the bridges history.In the Guardian newspaper, a Swedish academic bemoaned the fact that what he called short-term national goals had supplanted the European vision of how businesses, civil society and people can integrate across national and cultural divides.But pursuing short-term national goals is precisely what nation-states do. To expect them to behave otherwise is not merely absurdly unrealistic; it is a dangerous fantasy.The real fault-line lies in central and eastern Europe, in precisely those countries that were oppressed by the Soviet jackboot until the revolutions of 1989. In countries such as Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, and especially in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which were once part of the USSR itself, memories of totalitarian imperialism are still all too fresh.Their sense of patriotism and national identity is often intensely strong, as a reaction to the long years of foreign oppression. And since most still see themselves as exclusively Christian countries, there has been a groundswell of popular discontent at the prospect of opening their doors to thousands of Muslim refugees.Not surprisingly, therefore, governments from the Baltic to the Balkans are outraged at the thought of being ordered by the EU to accept mandatory quotas of Middle Eastern migrants.Hungary provides the most potent example. This year, the Hungarians are marking the 60th anniversary of the 1956 uprising, when thousands of ordinary people took to the streets to fight for freedom, only to have their national aspirations crushed under the tanks of the Red Army.The legacy of 1956 means that the Hungarians have a particularly intense sense of their own identity.Indeed, in recent years, kicking against the EU, they have been seduced by the xenophobic populism of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who inveighs against what he calls the profiteers, monopolies, cartels and imperial bureaucrats of Brussels.And where Hungary leads, other Eastern European countries now follow.The Polish interior minister announced last week that his government will veto any EU attempt to impose migrant quotas on member states, while Slovakias Prime Minister, Robert Fico, promised that his country would never make a voluntary decision that would lead to the formation of a united Muslim community in Slovakia.The result, he insisted, would be atrocities on the scale of the recent outrages in Paris.Multiculturalism is a fiction. Once you let migrants in, you can face such problems.If the Brussels elite think that Mr Orban and Mr Fico are going to shut up and roll over, then I fear they are deluding themselves.The truth is that the peoples of Eastern Europe waited too long for their freedom to see it swallowed up in the name of continental unity.Despite what the euro-idealists believe, national differences do still matter.It is sheer arrogance to think that, almost overnight, the European elite can rewrite the history of an entire continent.For as the past shows with overwhelming clarity, national patriotism is often a far more powerful force than either utopian idealism or economic self-interest.It is not yet too late for Europes politicians to acknowledge the power of nationalism and to devise a more robust response to the migration crisis one that reconciles our human obligation to those in need with individual nations understandable urge to protect their borders.But if they fail to learn the lessons of the past, then one day, I fear, the EU will go the way of the Soviet Union a discredited vision of utopian internationalism, unceremoniously dumped in the dustbin of history.And if that happens, then who will even remember David Camerons little tour? "He was transitioning from living with his mother to living with a girlfriend..." David Eminess, 26, and Quinn Taylor, 29, were out front of the New Ho King restaurant on Spadina Ave., south of College St., along with a third man when the gunfire erupted around 3:15 a.m. Christian Promesse, Eminess's brother-in-law said Eminess had gone to the area to watch a game and get a drink. He said the police told him that there was a crowd of people and a fight broke out, and that Eminess got caught in the crossfire. . "Speaking to media on Tuesday, Feb. 2, Toronto police Staff Insp. Greg McLane said it appeared the two murdered men, 26-year-old David Eminess and 29-year-old Quinn Taylor were targeted by their attacker." ." No tedious fact-checking required... and for what it's worth,, in Toronto anyway, apparently don't cross-contaminate their uber-padded j-school cocoons by looking at each others stories.So what earthshaking events are? There's a million stories in the naked city, right? Lemme see... lemme see...Oh my gawds, here's a scorcher... according to the Toronto Sun, yet another "talented [music] producer and artist" wasHmm... that's weird...... even on those those fawning CBC radio programmes that shove multiculturalism up your white-privileged patootie a nickel at a time. I wonder what will happen to Quinn's budding rap music empire...... here's an update from the Toronto Star...Transitioning, huh? That sounds way more impressive than filling a garbage bag with clothes and grabbing a bus to Rexdale.All that said,... apparently posting homebrew rap music videos to Youtube from your Mom's livingroom qualifies anyone and their homies to be the nextWord, bro.Back at the Sun, the father-in-law of David Eminess, the other man killed, says that David had "" and .The timing of the murder,seems to suggest otherwise. Most of the pre-shoot reporting so far has the two dead men and a now wounded third party standing around socialising on Spadina Avenue... seemingly unconcerned about any sort of food run.It's actually way closer to breakfast than dinner time here. How long, exactly, are you gonna just sit around waiting for your hypothetical take out?Well, if that spring roll story doesn't work for you, () the family has another one...Well, wait a minute, Christian... that's not what CTV & insideToronto news is saying...Additionally, Mr Eminess is described variously by different media outlets as a student and also as someone supporting his young family with odd jobs.Yes, it's a tragedy when anyone is cut down before their time, but instead of tugging at people's heartstrings with references to... perhaps we could see a little journalism? How about a description of the shooter for starters? Oh right, this is Canada...Just colour me sceptical... Chinatown at three in the morning is not the place where anybody's dreams come true. Unless you're a junkie or a ten dollar ***** you'd be way better off at home with Netflix and a cold beer. Even the cops travel in pairs in that neighbourhood. No wonder the mainstream media is going the way of the dinosaurs MHz said: More like they would sacrifice Turkey to save their own face (and a lot more) Click to expand... I have no doubt that they would but the timeing must be right and Erdogan must not be allowed to pick his own time to salvage his own business interests by monkey wrenching NATO's. I think NATO will fall back to Lybia and maybe conduct planB from there at least the stageing. Who knows? NATO don't have force superiority and they won't have anytime soon. Two of NATOS grand strategies have been crushed in Syria, the Arab Spring rot has failed miserably and the western hired mercenary scum are feeding the flowers. NATO cannot engage the Russians and win either a conventional or nuclear war and the sanctions are comming apart. Son of Saul is the first feature by Hungarian writer-director Laszlo Nemes, and it sets a high bar of expectation for his future work while provoking passionate debate about the film itself. It premiered in May at the Cannes Film Festival, winning second prize. Its star, the Budapest-born, Brooklyn-based poet Geza Rohrig, plays a Hungarian prisoner in the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Laboring as one of the Sonderkommando, he works in the gas chambers, disposing of corpses, counting the days until he, too, is likely to become a corpse. The film remains tightly within the vicinity of its protagonist throughout, as Saul dedicates himself to a spontaneous act of grace in the worst place on Earth. The visual strategy of the picture has roots in Nemes first short film, With a Little Patience, from 2007. It dealt with the Holocaust in a more oblique way but, likewise, kept very close to the perspective of a single individual. Over coffee recently in downtown Chicago, Nemes and Rohrig discussed the film and its after-effects. What is the antidote to what Nemes flatly calls bad Holocaust art? Simple, he says: You narrow the field of vision. If you show things frontally, in the usual fashion, you somehow end up reducing the scope of the horror, because you make the viewer believe they can see it all, understand it all. Im speaking of a frontal representation, more or less, with establishing shots, omniscient narration, that sort of thing. Those things provide a way of escape for the audience, and provide the feeling of distance, and superiority. But when youre talking about the Holocaust, you have to deal with a narrow point of view and trust the viewer to have an intuition of the scope of the human suffering taking place. This approach, he says, was our guiding principle, our ethical principle. Rohrig notes Son of Saul has sold 100,000 tickets in Hungary, impressive for a Hungarian picture. The nearly half-million Hungarian Jews deported to their deaths during World War II, the actor notes, remains a difficult subject in the country, where some prefer to whitewash the Hungarian governments complicity with the Nazis. The easiest part for me was the shooting of the movie itself, Rohrig says. Before the movie was very hard, and after the movie was very hard. Before, because I live in New York, and everyone else was in Budapest, I was preparing and reading all these accounts of the Sonderkommando. He needed to understand his characters numbed state of mind. And after the production it was difficult because, strange as it sounds, I missed it. I missed the place we had created, and the people. How could I miss such a place? I dont know. But when I came back to my everyday life (in Brooklyn), for a time I felt a kind of ... shallowness. Life felt almost illusory to me. Auschwitz was the reality. Nemes is currently preparing a screenplay about a woman in 1910 Budapest, when Hungary, he says, was still living in the illusion of its invincibility. The problem with most historical dramas, he says, Holocaust-related or not, is that they become a showcase of the production values. History shouldnt be a collection of postcards. I dont see it that way, anyway. He pauses, then adds: Its almost impossible to make an honest Holocaust movie. Rohrig finishes the thought. But its necessary to try. Seventy years later, Im not sure humankind got it. How many genocides have we had since? The Rev. Glenn Meyer intends to not get mired down. I felt called to help churches as they transition, Meyer said. My call is to a temporary position 12 to 18 months, Meyer explained. He is the intentional interim pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Fremont. Something our congregation has not seen before, said Dale Rohde, member since 1966. Its a big change going from a pastor of 30-plus years, said Ronald Rossow of Fremont, a 45-year member. The Missouri Synod district president recommended this after the Rev. Tim Gierke retired. Someone here to transition us, said Rossows daughter-in-law, Julie Rossow of Fremont. Her husband, Matt, helped with the process, which is relatively new to the Missouri Synod. Im on the Christian care team, said Matt, who interviewed Meyer. It has worked out well, he added. The future pastor was born north of Creston, Neb. in 1956 during a drought year. My folks rented farms. I was the only thing they raised that year, Meyer said with a smile. He was an only child until he became the oldest of 11 children. I come from a long line of strong Christian farmers, Meyer added. His grandfather Herman Meyer and great-grandfather John Meyer and helped build Christ Lutheran north of Columbus. In third grade, he announced to his parents that he was going to be a missionary. His plan looked clear. Until that first year of college, when I was introduced to Greek, he mused. Ordained in 1981, he served almost 35 years at four churches in Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. He took training in Michigan for the intentional interim position - examining his gifts, strengths and weaknesses. It was a leap of faith, Meyer said. Where the Lord leads, Ive got to follow. It seemed to be an earth shaking decision to move from Fort Wayne, Ind., back to Nebraska. May 31, 2015, was his last official day there. While he was on the way, severe storms rolled through Indiana. A tree went down and crushed our deck, Meyer said. Instead of mourning a nice home, I had the sense of being done, he noted. It was time to move on. He is now a Bennington resident. One of the joys is running into folks I knew, Meyer said. As the only pastor at Good Shepherd, his ministry is varied. Its a learning experience, Meyer said. Right out of the gate, Ive had at least 10 funerals, Meyer noted. He officiated at two last week. During last Sundays message, Meyer spoke about a funeral in Stanton. The sun was shining as a bald eagle flew across the sky. See the things God is doing, Meyer said. Meyers vision changed with a branch retinal vein occlusion a few years ago. They were not sure if I would recover sight, Meyer said. It healed well, Meyer noted. We cant account for this. The laser doctor dismissed his thanks. It was your prayers, the doctor surmised. God still performs miracles. We overlook so many things, Meyer added Meyers wife, Susan, a deaconess and preschool teacher, saw the new ministry as a positive and encouraged him to take the new path. God gave us this man to lead us to our permanent pastor, Ronald Rossow said. When Meyers role concludes, it should be less stormy than his start. I ride off into the sunset, the pastor said. Fade into the background, he added. Who was that masked man? The new pastor will not be an unintentional interim. The Nebraska Democratic Party has announced its site locations for the 2016 Presidential Caucus in all 93 counties across the state. Nebraskas 2016 Presidential Caucuses will take place March 5 at various times between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Caucus participants must be registered Democrats and those not registered will have the opportunity to register as a Democrat prior to the start of the caucus. In Dodge County, the caucuses will begin at 10 a.m. Democrats residing in Fremont precincts 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E will caucus on the second floor of Midland Universitys Olson Student Center. The caucus for Fremont precincts 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E will be in the private dining rooms at Midland University, located in the dining hall building. Metropolitan Community College at 835 N. Broad St., in Fremont will be the caucus location for Democrats residing in Fremont precincts 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3D and 3E. All Dodge County precincts not physically within the City of Fremont will have their caucus at Hooper Auditorium. In Saunders County, the caucuses also will begin at 10 a.m. The Cedar Bluffs, Malmo and Prague voting precincts will meet for their caucus at 10 a.m. at Cedar Bluffs Senior Center, 124 W. Main St. Wahoo Ward I, Wahoo Ward II, Wahoo Ward III, Wahoo Rural and Center precincts will caucus at the Wahoo High School cafeteria (use east entrance). The Marietta, Yutan and District 4 precincts will meet at Yutan Veterans Country Club, 1581 Yutan Road, while the Ceresco, Valparaiso and Weston precincts will meet at the Ceresco Community Center, 217 S. Second St. The Ashland Community Resource Room, 1324 Silver St., will be the caucus site for Ashland Ward 1, Ashland Ward 2, Ashland Rural, Clear Creek and Village of Memphis precincts. In Cuming County, Democrats will gather at 2 p.m. at the Cuming County Courthouse in West Point. Washington County Democrats will caucus at 10 a.m. in the Courthouse Annex Building at 597 E. Grant St., in Blair. For more information, visit www.nebraskacaucus2016.org or call the Nebraska Democratic Party at 402-434-2180. A list of caucus locations can be found at www.nebraskacaucus2016.org/where-to-caucus/. Berlin, 5 February 2016 The trade visitors at FRUIT LOGISTICA in Berlin have spoken: Worlds Coconut Trading, a company from Spain, has won the FRUIT LOGISITICA Innovation Award 2016 with its organic Genuine Coconut. Genuine Coconut comes in a can with a patented seal and straw, and is a simple, genuinely refreshing coconut water drink with minerals and a high nutritional value. Thai Nam Hom coconuts are organically cultivated in the heart of Thailand and are regarded as first choice due to their quality, taste and smell.We are happy and proud. Thank you FRUIT LOGISTICA! This is a great reward for three years of hard work, passion and excitement involved in bringing Genuine Coconut to market, said Carlos Amoros of Worlds Coconut Trading.Visitors at FRUIT LOGISTICA chose the Northern Greens Kitchen Minis tomato from Denmark as the competitions runner-up. This is a small, compact and visually attractive cherry tomato plant that produces up to 150 fruits in all seasons and grows to only 11 centimetres wide and 35 centimetres high. The tomatoes weigh only eight to ten grams. This cherry tomato is sweet tasting and aromatic and can encourage children and younger consumers to eat more vegetables.Visitors chose Enjoya, a yellow/red striped pepper grown by the Dutch enterprise Terra Natura International as the third-best entry. Enjoya has an aromatic and tangy flavour and contains lots of vitamin C. It is available in various sizes, is a colourful addition to salads and with the right dip is also ideal as a snack.For the first time the jury also presented a special award, which went to Stoffels from Belgium for its Automato tomato vending machine. This machine dispenses differently coloured cherry tomatoes from three boxes into a paper bag. Automato is hygienic and an interactive alternative for young consumers which encourages them to buy vegetables. This S ite 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, Social Justice Issues, Teaching, and Research. 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(NY Mag) Gentrification and its Discontents Gentrification? Yes! Gentrification: Good or Evil? Gentrifier's Guide to Not Being an Asshole Gentrify This Health Effects of Gentrification I'm the Enemy! The Myth of Gentrification On Gentrification in Chicago Games Workshop co-founder and former Eidos CEO, Ian Livingstone, is opening two free UK schools to help the next generation get to grips with computer science, technology, and the arts. The new schools, dubbed "Livingstone Academies," will open in Bournemouth and Tower Hamlets, and will look to provide over 3000 children with a comprehensive education rooted in STEAM - science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. The schools are being opened under the Aspirations Academy Trust, and will use Livingstone's extensive links to bring in mentors from the video game and other creative industries. I want to bring the work place closer to the school place by having close ties with industry, especially mentoring by people working in the video games and creative industries, said Livingstone, speaking to MCV. The school will also use video games as a teaching tool, utilizing the "principles of games-based and project-based learning across the curriculum." "Games stimulate the imagination and encourage creativity, curiosity, concentration, teamwork, community, multi-tasking and even and-eye co-ordination," continued Livingstone in his interview with MCV. "Games give the player continuous assessment and allow failure in a safe environment. Who wouldnt want their children to learn these meta skills whilst having fun?" One of the epic miscarriages of justice of our time is unravelling. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - the international tribunal that adjudicates and decides whether governments comply with their human rights obligations - has ruled that Julian Assange has been detained unlawfully by Britain and Sweden. After five years of fighting to clear his name - having been smeared relentlessly yet charged with no crime - Assange is closer to justice and vindication, and perhaps freedom, than at any time since he was arrested and held in London under a European Extradition Warrant, itself now discredited by Parliament. The UN Working Group bases its judgements on the European Convention on Human Rights and three other treaties that are binding on all its signatories. Both Britain and Sweden participated in the 16-month long UN investigation and submitted evidence and defended their position before the tribunal. It would fly contemptuously in the face of international law if they did not comply with the judgement and allow Assange to leave the refuge granted him by the Ecuadorean government in its London embassy. In previous, celebrated cases ruled upon by the Working Group - Aung Sang Suu Kyi in Burma, imprisoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, detained Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian in Iran - both Britain and Sweden have given support to the tribunal. The difference now is that Assange's persecution and confinement endures in the heart of London. The Assange case has never been primarily about allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden. The Stockholm Chief Prosecutor, Eva Finne, dismissed the case, saying, "I don't believe there is any reason to suspect that he has committed rape" and one of the women involved accused the police of fabricating evidence and "railroading" her, protesting she "did not want to accuse JA of anything". A second prosecutor mysteriously re-opened the case after political intervention, then stalled it. The Assange case is rooted across the Atlantic in Pentagon-dominated Washington, obsessed with pursuing and prosecuting whistleblowers, especially Assange for having exposed, in WikiLeaks, US capital crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq: the wholesale killing of civilians and a contempt for sovereignty and international law. None of this truth-telling is illegal under the US Constitution. As a presidential candidate in 2008, Barack Obama, a professor of constitutional law, lauded whistleblowers as "part of a healthy democracy [and they] must be protected from reprisal". Obama, the betrayer, has since prosecuted more whistleblowers than all the US presidents combined. The courageous Chelsea Manning is serving 35 years in prison, having been tortured during her long pre-trial detention. At midday on Friday 5 February, 2016 Julian Assange, John Jones QC, Melinda Taylor, Jennifer Robinson and Baltasar Garzon will be speaking at a press conference at the Frontline Club on the decision made by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on the Assange case. DES MOINES An Iowa House committee passed a barrage of gun-related bills Thursday, most of which were similar to proposals that have failed to win legislative approval in previous years. The House Judiciary Committee dispatched bills to make possession and use of a firearm suppressor legal, limit the governors authority to restrict the use of guns and ammunition in declared emergencies and to allow children of any age to possess a handgun while under the supervision of a parent, guardian or firearms instructor. The bills All three passed easily, but not without questions about whether they improved the public safety and the definition of well-regulated militia. We have lots and lots and lots of cases where children get hurt or hurt other people, Rep. Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines, said in opposing House File 2042 that would allow children to lawfully use a handgun. This leaves too much space for accidents and harm. Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, wondered whether the change was crucial to defending the 2nd Amendment? In my family it is, sponsor Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said. I think it is essential to let parents be able to make the decision of when their children are taught proper firearm safety so that they can freely exercise their constitutional rights. Windschitl said hes not advocating that parents give a 3-year-old a gun, but the parent should make the determination. The change, he added, would conform to state law regarding rifles and shotguns. HF 2042 was approved 17-4. HF 2043, the suppressor bill, or what floor manager Rep. Terry Baxter, R-Garner, called a hearing protection bill, was approved 18-3. Anderson opposed it on the ground the noise suppressor, commonly called a silencer, would muffle the sound of gunshots making it harder for people to know where the shots were coming from. Baxter said there have been no cases of suppressors being used in mass shooting, probably because they are highly regulated by federal law. The committee voted 17-4 to approve HF 2044 to deny the authority of the governor or other officials from prohibiting, regulating or curtailing the otherwise lawful possession of guns and ammunition during states of emergency. MASON CITY Local parochial students during Catholic Schools Week honored those who have given to their nation. During a visit to Newman Catholic High School Thursday, Monsignor John Hemann told Carol Andersens theology class he always knew he wanted to be a soldier. His brothers are Army and Air Force veterans. Combining love of God and country, Hemann served as a chaplain for 28 years in the U.S. and Germany, spanning Vietnam to the Gulf War. He retired at the mandatory age of 60 as a National Guard brigadier general. Much like he did years ago, Hemann used the hood as a half-ton Jeep as his altar during a church service at Operation LZ last summer. It brought back a lot of memories for me of what it means to be a military person and a veteran, he said. Im very proud of my service. Chaplains were not respected during Vietnam, he said. They were told to wear civilian clothing while they traveled. To respect and thank those like him who have served, Andersens students drafted letters of gratitude that will be delivered to patients at the VA Hospital in Des Moines. Ely Taylor, 18, said he felt a personal connection while writing his letter, since his grandpa served in the Army. Its hard to just say thank-you when they give their lives so we can do what we like and follow our dreams, he said. Taylor Hauser, 17, said shes grateful for veterans selfless contributions. We couldnt go on with our lives without them, she said. Andersen knows first-hand of veteran contributions. Pictures of her sister, retired Army Col. Kimberly Kuhn, grace several shelves in the classroom. Kuhn, who lives in Des Moines, retired after 25 years due to medical reasons. Andersen said she had been deployed to Bosnia, Panama and Iraq. Part of our Catholic faith is centered around service, which includes the military, she said. There are people still paying the price of physical and psychological pain that doesnt go away when service ends. VA patients will also receive handmade valentine cards and care packages, which will be delivered around Valentines Day. National Catholic Schools Week is observed with special activities, open houses and Masses. It is an annual event beginning the last Sunday in January. GATLINBURG, Tenn., Feb. 4, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sugarlands Distilling Company, crafters of award-winning spirits in East Tennessee, has announced the 2016 MoonShare Year of Giving Grant recipients. After one month of public voting, twelve nonprofit organizations from across the U.S. have been chosen to receive $5,000 each from Sugarlands Distilling Company to help further their charitable missions. In addition to the monetary award, each of the 12 organizations will be assigned a "Month to Shine" where their efforts will be highlighted on Sugarlands Distilling Company's website and social media platforms. View the full list of recipients here. "It's an honor to have so many great organizations apply for the program, and I am thrilled by the outpouring of public support they each received," said Courtney DeLaura, director of the MoonShare program. "Our company likes to pay homage to the people who inhabited these mountains long before us. Giving back and lending a helping hand was important to them then, and it is important to us today." Sugarlands Distilling Company made 2015 its first annual "Year of Giving" by launching MoonShare, a nationwide giveback component of the East Tennessee distillery that helps nonprofit organizations positively influence their communities through MoonShare grants, fundraisers, and donations. The mission of the Year of Giving is to provide monetary donations to 12 elected nonprofits, one each month. The company will give away $60,000 in grant funds to nonprofits across the U.S. in 2016, in addition to other charitable projects. Sugarlands Distilling Company is a producer of craft quality moonshine and whiskey and is also a popular attraction in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Inside the distillery, guests can taste free samples of authentic Sugarlands Shine, take a behind-the-scenes tour of the production, and purchase a variety of moonshine flavors, mountain merchandise, and apparel. To enhance their experience, guests can enjoy live music, Appalachian storytelling, and book outdoor adventure tours in the Sugarlands, an area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park historically referred to as "moonshiners' paradise." The company is East Tennessee-owned, with a focus on bettering the local community through a variety of events and charitable giving. Sugarlands Shine is currently available for purchase in FL, AL, MS, SC, NC, TN, KY, IN, IL, WV, MD, NY, CT, MI, VA, MN and TX. Sat, 10/15 (12pm ET): Getting into Stanford GSB with GMAT 770 - How David Made it Possible in 6 Months Re: Most educated people of the eighteenth century, such as the Founding F [ #permalink 1) The author cites the scholars referring to "voting rights of women or minorities" in order to - the relevant text is in the last paragraph (A) cite unquestionably justified Ninth Amendment rights by the reference the author seeks to make a point that some new rights can in fact evolve (B) demonstrate how changing priorities can alter perspectives on fundamental human rights matches the purpose (C) argue for the modern extension of Natural Rights Theory (D) refute the traditionalist interpretation of the Ninth Amendment by the example, the author does not seek to refute, but to illustrate that some new rights can be created (E) champion the rights of all citizens in the democratic process 2) Constitutional scholars of both the traditionalist and liberal views would agree that "Ninth Amendment rights" (A) accommodate shifts in cultural values with respect to issues affecting human rights the traditionalist may not likely to agree with this (B) cannot serve as the basis of legal decisions (C) are directly reflected in our understanding of who can and cant vote if anything, too narrow (D) are not stated explicitly in the Bill of Rights correct (E) extend the idea of Natural Rights Theory the scholars don't provide their views about the theory 3) According to the passage, what would the Ninth Amendment imply about a right to "a trial by jury", guaranteed in the Seventh Amendment of the US Constitution? (A) The Ninth Amendment would provide direct support for this right. the 9th Amendment deals with a completely different category of rights, and thus this cannot be inferred (B) The Ninth Amendment would not support this right directly, but would support all the logistics that would allow citizens to exercise this right. the 9th Amendment deals with a completely different category of rights (C) The Ninth Amendment would apply to trials that fall outside the jurisdiction of Federal Courts. the passage doesn't give any information about trials (D) The Ninth Amendment would apply to all trials that do not involve Constitutional Law (E) The Ninth Amendment is irrelevant to any right mentioned explicitly in the Bill of Rights. the 9th Amendment talks about rights that are not listed in the BoR, while the other Amendments establish explicit rights 4) In the view of James Madison and the other Founding Fathers, the Ninth Amendment limits the power of the central Federal government by - the relevant text: "Toward this end, James Madison and others produced the Ninth Amendment, which states: the fact that certain rights are listed in the Constitution shall not be construed to imply that other rights of the people are denied ." (A) preventing constitutionally listed rights from being viewed as exhaustive correct (B) giving the citizens rights in every area not explicitly addressed by the law the government may have interpreted in limited manner - the opposite that we need (C) codifying a vast universe of federally enforceable rights again, the government may have wanted a limited scope of rights (D) guaranteeing, in the text of US Constitution, all rights held by Natural Rights Theory the same as in C (E) ensuring all citizens are able to vote and, thus, choose the democratic leaders too specific and doesn't catch the essence of the relevant text 5) The primary purpose of the passage is to - first the author provides a short historical context that describes how the Bill of Rights have come to being. Then, the author mentions an issue related to the 9th Amendment. After that, the author provides two opposing views that describe whether the Amendment can or cannot expand the scope of rights (A) clarify the most proper interpretation of an amendment (B) argue for a broader perspective on human rights and their legal protection (C) contrast historical perspectives of an amendment to its modern legal reading (D) explain the motivation for an amendment and the ambiguity this amendment presents correct (E) demonstrate how the Founding Fathers intentions have been distorted by subsequent legal proceedings . siddharth86 wrote: PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE ANSWER OF THIS QUESTION SHOULD BE To prevent overcrowding, last month the town zoning board limited the number of new buildings that can be constructed in the town in any given year. The board claims that doing so will preserve open spaces and lessen the strain on municipal resources such as schools and garbage disposal. Critics of the changes argue that the plan will harm the community or, at the very least, will fail in its purpose. Which of the following most supports the claims of the critics of the plan? Other towns have had mixed success with similar zoning plans. No new schools have been built in the town in ten years. Property taxes in the town are higher than in neighboring towns. Under the new plan, developers may still erect apartment buildings. The nearest garbage dump is several miles away from the town claims and purpose there is no argument Contact me for online GMAT math tutoring, or about my higher-level GMAT Quant books and problem sets, at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com ianstewartgmat.com GMAT Tutor in MontrealContact me for online GMAT math tutoring, or about my higher-level GMAT Quant books and problem sets, at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com Signature Read More I don't think this is a well-designed question at all, for many reasons:* The question itself asks "Which of the following most supports theof the critics?" Well, the critics make two 'claims': that the plan will harm the community, and that the plan will fail. If we need an answer that supports the claims (plural), then that answer should help support the contention that the plan will harm the communitythat the plan will not succeed. Answer D only supports (rather tenuously) one of those two claims.* The critics also claim that the plan will "fail in its". But the stem tells us that the plan has more than one 'purpose: it is meant to 'preserve open spaces', to 'lessen the strain on municipal resources', and 'to prevent overcrowding'. So if we want to support the claim that the plan will fail in 'its purpose', which purpose are we even talking about?* And if the purpose we identify is "to preserve open spaces", I can't see how D is a good answer. Using D, we're comparing two scenarios: one scenario, where this zoning law is not passed, and developers can build anything they want, and another scenario where developers can only build apartment buildings. It seems to me that in the second scenario, open spaces are far more likely to be preserved. So D does not support the critics' claims, if we interpret the purpose of the plan to be to 'preserve open spaces'.* This question is also set up like a 'strengthen the argument' question, but. We just have critics saying "the plan is bad". I see some prep company questions set up this way, but I don't think I've ever seen a real GMAT question where we need to strengthen an argument that doesn't exist._________________ Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp 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 We rely on your support to make local news available to all Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2022. Donate today I did not realize it was Friday until I started writing the above headline, which is as sure a sign as ever that the weekend is a blessed gift that is nearly upon us. Sadly, this brief respite from the workweek means the trains will be nearly as messy as they were this morning, because public transportation is a necessary evil destined to suck all the marrow from our brittle, pessimistic bones. Anyway, here's what's on tap this weekend: 1 trains will not run between 14 St and South Ferry in either direction, starting at 11:30 p.m. on Friday and ending at 5 a.m. on Monday. 3 trains will not run between Harlem-148 St and 96 St in either direction, starting at 11:45 p.m. Friday and ending at 5 a.m. Monday. Crown Hts-Utica Av bound 4 trains will make local stops from 125 St to Grand Central-42 St from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday. 5 trains will run every 20 minutes between Eastchester-Dyre Av and Bowling Green, with that change in effect from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Downtown trains will make local stops from 125 St to Grand Central-42 St during that period. All A trains will make local stops between W 4 St-Wash Sq and 59 St Columbus Circle from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. During that period, A trains will reroute via the F line from W 4 St-Wash Sq and Jay St-MetroTech in both directions, and Brooklyn-bound trains will skip 104 St. On the uptown track, trains will run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 125 St from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 6:30 a.m. Sunday, and then again from 11;45 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday. C trains will reroute along the F line from W 4 St-Wash Sq and Jay St-MetroTech in both directions, with that change in effect from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Uptown trains will run express from 59 St-Columbus Circle to 125 St during that period. Uptown D trains will stop at 14 St and 23 St from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday. Norwood-205 St bound D trains will skip Bay 50 St and 25 Av from 5:45 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. All E trains will reroute along the F line from 21 St-Queensbridge and W4 St-Wash Sq from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Jamaica Center-Parsons/Archer bound E trains run express from 21 St-Queensbridge to Forest Hills-71 Av, with that change in effect from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 6:30 a.m. Sunday. On that same track, trains will skip 75 Av and Briarwood from 11;45 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday. World Trade Center-bound E trains will make local stops from Forest Hills-71 Av to 21 St-Queensbridge from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday. Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound F trains skip 4 Av-9St, 15 St-Prospect Park and Fort Hamilton Pkwy and Jamaica-179 St bound F trains skip 75 Av, Briarwood, and Sutphin Blvd from 11:45 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. On the Coney Island-Stillwell Av bound track, trains will run local from Forest Hills-71 Av to 21 St-Queensbridge, with that change in effect from 12:01 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday. J trains will not run in either direction between Hewes St and Broad St, with that change in effect from 11:30 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday. M trains will not run between Myrtle Av and Essex St from 6 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Q trains will not run in either direction between 57 St-7 Av and Kings Hwy from 11:30 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Forest Hills-71 Av bound R trains will run express from Queens Plaza to Forest Hills-71 Av starting at 6 a.m. and ending at midnight on Saturday and Sunday. Cleaning NYC. (Photo via QMA's Flickr) In 2009, the Queens Museum of Art began offering up prime real estate on their amazingly detailed panorama. Single apartments went for $50, houses for $250, etc. In all this time, prices haven't been raised $1, making this the most realistic and unrealistic miniature portrayal of NYC ever created. They've been promoting their latest sales push on the 9,335-square-foot model this week, just in time for Valentine's Day, or Anti-Valentine's Day, or mid-February. Giving levels still "range from $50 to 'purchase' an apartment, to $250 for a house, and up to $1,000 for a small commercial building or low-rise apartment building." You can even pick and exact address, which you'll note upon purchase, if you are particularly sentimental about a time and place. (Courtesy of QMA) The panorama was built for the 1964 World's Fair, and remains one of the most beloved pieces of New York history, celebrated annually at their big challenge. You can purchase a piece of it here, and the recipient will receive a notice over email on February 14th, as well as a printed title deed in the following weeks. Your donation will go towards maintenance of The Panorama of the City of New York. After nine long years of forced dormancy, legendary West Village speakeasy Chumley's will finally wake from its long slumber and reopen on Bedford Street. The bar, which has been closed since a chimney and wall collapse in 2007, has faced years of opposition from local groups and the community board, who've "dreaded" what they perceive as a nuisance in a now-tony part of Manhattan. But Eater has reported that a local restaurateur has swooped in to reopen the bar and allay fears from locals that their peace will be disturbed by any anticipated "ruckus from students and tourists," as described by detractors. Alex Borgognone, operator of lauded Sushi Nakazawa just a block away, has signed on with two business partners to spruce up Chumley's to appeal to the neighborhood. Jim Miller, longtime owner and fire stoker at Chumley's, said he teamed up with Borgognone when he realized it would be a way to finally reopen the bar while appeasing locals. "One of the things that I had to promise to the neighborhood and to the CB and the SLA and everyone was that we would try to bring back Chumley's historically and in a way that everybody would embrace and enjoy," Miller told us via phone this morning "The neighborhood has changed down there and we needed to consider that. We wanted the historical accuracy and charm and 1920s feel and Chumley's experience, but we needed to realize the product and the service needed to be elevated to today's standards." To that end, the new Chumley's will apparently still have the wood-paneled walls and old photographs, but will serve "a concise food menu of half a dozen or so 'well executed classics'think burgers, wings, and steak frites...in the $10 to $25 range," according to Eater. They're also going to be implementing a "comprehensive cocktail program" with drinks priced between $10 and $15. It'll be Chumley's, but wearing a sport coat instead of a sweatshirt. "All along we've heard the voices, we hear the neighborhood, we don't want the '60s/'70s Chumley's. I worked there in the '90s and I think it doesn't get a fair shake, I think it was very good for the neighborhood, there were never any problems," Miller contests. "We're going to stay true to trying to get this thing as historically accurate as we canthe building did fall down!and we're bringing in a very talented restaurant team to deliver what we think will be the Chumley's experience that everybody can enjoy." The two police officers who were shot and wounded at a public housing complex on East 156th Street in the Bronx on Thursday night were conducting a vertical stairwell patrol, according to the NYPD. The alleged gunman, identified as 23-year-old Malik Chavis, apparently killed himself soon after the shooting, in an apartment one floor from the scene. The shooting took place around 8:00 p.m. at 320 East 156 Street within the NYCHA-run Melrose Houses in the South Bronx. According to the police, three officers were in the 6th floor stairwell conducting a routine patrol when they encountered Chavis and another man. The men were reportedly drinking beer. When the officers asked them for identification, Chavis said he did not have his ID. The News reports that Chavis was holding a duffel bag with a sawed-off shutgun zipped inside. He allegedly told the officers he was heading upstairs to get his ID before turning back and firing three shots in the sixth floor stairwell. Officer Patrick Espeut, 29, was hit in the cheek, and Officer Diara Cruz, 24, was hit in the abdomen. Both are expected to survive. Espeut and Cruz each have two years of experience on the force, according to the NYPD, and are part of Police Service Area 7, the unit that patrols public housing within the NYPD's 40th and 42nd precincts. Sources told the NY Times that the officers shot back, one of them once and the other twice, although this information was not confirmed by the NYPD. The NYPD did confirm, however, that the stairwell where the officers encountered the two men was illuminated. Chavis ran from the stairwell into an apartment on the 7th floor after the shooting. Additional responding officers entered the apartment, where they encountered Chavis dead, apparently by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Upon entering the apartment he allegedly said, "I'm about to die; get out of the room." Chavis was a Bronx resident, but did not live in the Melrose houses, according to CBS. He was apparently visiting his girlfriend on Thursday night, who lives in the houses. The news outlet reports that Chavis had 17 prior arrests. There were several other people in the apartment where Chavis was found, and four of them were taken to the 40th Precinct for questioning, including the other man encountered in the stairwell. A semi-automatic firearm and a shotgun were recovered from the scene, according to the NYPD. Asked on Thursday night why these individuals were being questioned since the shooter was dead, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said that the other individuals had "allegedly done nothing" and "they're not being held for anything [other] than purely giving information." One witness saw the officers being escorted from the building after the incident. "She was holding her chest as they took her out on a stretcher," witness Kendrick Joseph told the News. "It looked like her vest caught it. Her pant leg was ripped open and she was bleeding from it. The male cops head was wrapped and he was covered in blood. ... I dont know how he was alive. Mayor de Blasio arrived at Lincoln Hospital shortly after the shooting, having just delivered his State of the City address at nearby Lehman College. "Im pleased to say both officers have been alert and communicating," he told reporters. "Both very early in their work on the force. Both two years on the job, but doing their job, going out there, keeping people safe, and running into some bad guys, but, thank God that first responders came to their aid." Police Commissioner Bratton was not at the hospital on Thursday night, but tweeted, "Proud of my officers, hopeful for their speedy recovery, grateful for the many expressions of concern and support on their behalf." Chavis' father told the NY Times on Thursday night, "He [my son] had a heart just like everybody else, he had a mind just like everybody else. As far as what happened or what's going on, I don't know. I don't have much to say." Last night's shooting comes in the midst of the trial for Peter Liang, the NYPD officer who shot and killed 28-year-old Akai Gurley in a darkened Brooklyn stairwell in November 2014 while conducting a similar vertical patrol. Gurley was unarmed and, in the words of Commissioner Bratton, "a total innocent." Over the course of the trial, NYPD officers have testified that patrolling NYCHA buildings is considered particularly dangerous within the department. For their own part, residents of the Pink Houses told us this week that they don't think policing tactics around their homes have improved since Gurley was killed last February. Four New York City Uber drivers are scheduled to meet on Friday with representatives from the startup to discuss their grievances about a recent 15% fare cut, according to a participating driver and organizer. A spokesman for the company confirmed that a meeting had been scheduled, but declined to comment on the time and place. News of the meeting comes less than a day after the Uber Drivers Network published an open letter to Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick and Uber NYC General Manager Josh Mohrer outlining demands and accusing the startup of seeking "world domination at any cost." Uber announced one week ago that it had reduced Uber X fares by 15% citywide, meaning that an Uber from Midtown to LGA now costs $37.12 on average, compared to $43.67 under the old pricing scale. According to the company, which was recently valued at $62.5 billion, the motivation for the fare reduction is to decrease idling time for drivers who tend to experience a lag in trips after the onslaught of holiday tourists dies down. However, announcements sent to users last week were sure to point out that the new fares were "cheaper than a taxi" (surge pricing still applies). About fifteen Uber drivers from across the city met to outline their grievances on Wednesday before drafting the letter, according to a source from the group who asked to remain anonymous until after today's meeting. "We wanted to unite all of the drivers, and a lot of nationalities represent the driversIndian, Russian, African, Pakistani, Tajik, Spanish," said the source. "So it's hard to get them all together. We invited one person from each community." The drivers have also taken to Typeform to pool drivers from across the city on their concerns. "We understand that you must be competitive and keep riders happy," the letter reads. "But why must it be at the expense of your 'partners'?" The letter goes on to reiterate demands voiced at a rally outside of Uber's Long Island City headquarters on Monday: We demand that the fares go back to the rates prior to the price cuts of the summer of 2014; whereas the minimum fare for UberX is $12. We also demand that Uber grant riders the option to tip their drivers if they so choose to. Lastly, we demand that all Black Car and SUV drivers be given the choice to accept or not accept UberX fares. Uber corporate released initial data on fare impact on Monday, comparing this past weekend to two weekends ago (last weekend the service was shut down due to blizzard conditions). According to Uber, drivers spent 39% less time without a fare last weekend, and saw a 20% increase in hourly earnings. But many Uber drivers took to Facebook this week, stating that their earnings had dipped. Worse than the fare cut, one driver said, was the hustle required to get close to his usual take-home. Other drivers have balked at Uber's refusal to significantly decrease its cut of each fare. Drivers currently give 20-25% of each fare back to Uber, and would like to see that cut reduced to 10%. An Uber spokesman confirmed that last week's fare cute resulted in an equivalent reduction in commission, meaning drivers still take home 75-80% of each fare. This week's open letter, published just before Uber agreed to a sit-down, threatens further strikes if needs aren't met. "If you agree to meet with us by this coming Monday, the 8th of February, good things will happen and we shall halt plans of protests and strikes," it reads. Uber declined to comment on a possible strike, stating instead that, "We've worked hard to create a great service for partners, where they can earn money on their own terms... and we are always happy to talk with drivers about what they'd like to see next." A spokesperson added that this week's strike saw no reduction in service, and therefore did not have the impact on operations. Organizers had a more favorable assessment of this week's action. "We think the problem was that most people didn't know about it," the anonymous organizer said. "For two days of organizing, it was a big success." "Next time we'll have more time," he added. "A lot of people are ready, but we're holding off for the meeting." (Photo by Tod Seelie/Gothamist) During his State of the City address last night, Mayor de Blasio unveiled his vision for Governors Island, which he aims to transform into an "innovation cluster." His plan, in theory, would bring the revitalized historic district even further into the 21st century, while helping to "position New York City as global leader in the new economy." He called this the "next chapter" for the island. From the Mayor's Office: Governors Island will be the site of a sweeping economic development project poised to turn the area into a center of culture, commerce and innovation. Building on the success of Cornell-Tech, and advancing the Citys efforts to redevelop our waterfront, the City will work with the Trust for Governors Island to issue an RFP for a comprehensive plan to develop up to 33 acres on two development zones situated on the southern end of the Island, and reactivate the 900,000 square feet of existing space in the Historic District on the northern end of the Island. The Island will boast unparalleled open spaces, a reanimated historic district and a 21st century Innovation Cluster that will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs and educators to generate new ideas, economic activity and jobs. Rendering courtesy of the Mayor's Office Rendering courtesy of the Mayor's Office Ronay Menschel, Chair of the Trust for Governors Island, pointed out that in 2010, "Mayor Michael Bloomberg led the City in assuming full responsibility for the Islands operations and development; major capital investments were made by the City and private funders under his leadership." Now the City has invested over $300 million "to ready the 150 acres of Governors Island that are under City control" (of 172 acres), including 48 acres of new parkland and 33 acres dedicated to the Innovation Cluster. What's next? "Following public engagement, the Trust for Governors Island (TGI) will release a RFEI this summer. By the end of 2016, TGI plans to release a RFP seeking formal proposals for activation of the vacant space and historic district on Governors Island. After one or more proposals are selected and environmental review and ULURP are complete, construction could begin on the first phase of a development as early as 2019." Governors Island's history is mostly militaristicit was first used as a base in 1633. At that time the island was smallerit wasn't until the early 1900s that the final 103 acres of land was added under the supervision of the Army Corps of Engineers, who used material excavated from the first New York City subway line to fill out the island. In the 1960s, the island began serving as a United States Coast Guard base, and for decades families lived there. There was even a Burger King, a bowling alley, and a movie theater. During its Coast Guard base days, Building 785 was a Burger King. (Photo by Andrew Moore) For the past few years the Island has grown as a summer destination, open to the public from May to October. There are currently two year-round tenants: Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, a public high school that serves 430 students; and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Councils Arts Center, an artist studio residency program. Governors Island will reopen at the end of May this year with a new feature: rolling hills. Earlier this week, the partner of NYPD Officer Peter Liang, who is on trial for fatally shooting an innocent man in a Brooklyn stairwell, told the jury that the two had argued for around four minutes while 28-year-old Akai Gurley lay dying. He pulled my phone out of my hand and tried to call the sergeant. I took the phone back and hung up, Officer Shaun Landau testified in Brooklyn Supreme Court on Tuesday. Yet on cross-examination by Liangs attorney yesterday, Officer Landau admitted that in December 2014, he told the Brooklyn District Attorneys office a different story. Do you remember telling ADA Fliedner and ADA Alexis that it took 30-40 seconds back in that hallway? defense attorney Robert Brown asked Landau. I do not recall, Landau answered. When asked to review the transcript of his statement, Landau agreed that he had said there had only been 30-40 seconds in the hallway. You heard Officer Liang say on the radio that a police officer had been involved in a shooting, defense attorney Robert Brown told Landau, referring to a transcript from an NYPD interrogation done only days after the shooting. Yes, Landau admitted, contradicting his earlier testimony, when he claimed Liang never alerted their superiors. Landau also testified that as both officers were driven in an ambulance to Jamaica Hospital, Officer Liang was distraught and that his mental condition deteriorated rapidly after finding out that Gurley had been shot. Landau, who seemed at times unsteady and frustrated on the stand, concluded his testimony by declaring that he was completely confident that he heard office Liang say, Im fired, in the moments after the shot rang out into the stairwell at the Pink Houses. The defense claimed that Liang could have easily been saying, I fired, referring to the gun. Theres no doubt in my mind that what he said was, Im going to be fired, Landau testified. Peter Liang, shortly after he was indicted last year (Getty Images) The jury also heard testimony from a Kings County Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy on Gurley. A photo of Gurleys face, with his mouth slightly open and the stress of his violent death etched on his face, was shown to the court, while Gurleys mother shielded her face. The prosecutions final witness was an investigator for the DAs office who attempted to use the 911 call from the night of the shooting to prove at least three minutes elapsed after Liang fired his weapon until the officers found Gurley on the fifth floor landing. This would validate Landaus original testimony in court on Wednesday. Landau has been given immunity in the case in exchange for testifying, but still faces a $50 million lawsuit from Kimberly Ballinger, Gurleys domestic partner. The defense began its case on Thursday afternoon, after a motion to dismiss all charges was rejected by Judge Danny Chun. Liangs attorneys presented three witnesses who were present on the night of the shooting, and each agreed that Officer Liang was in serious distress after he fired his weapon, in an attempt to prove that he was incapable of administering CPR to Gurley. Court began Friday morning with a new wrinkle in the trial: Thursday night, two NYPD officers were shot during a vertical patrol in a NYCHA development in the south Bronx. Liang and Landau were performing a similar patrol when Liang shot Gurley in November of 2014. This morning the prosecution moved to bar the defense from mentioning Thursday nights shooting, while the defense maintained that it was critically important to the trial. The defense is trying to establish that officer Liangs life was in danger while patrolling the Pink Houses, and that having his gun drawn was not out of the ordinary for an officer on a vertical patrol. Judge Chun granted the prosecutions request to bar the defense from mentioning yesterdays shooting, and cautioned jurors to, as always, avoid media coverage of this case, including articles that might have parts of this case intertwined in it. The defense has one final witness to call: Peter Liang. On Monday, Liang, who is charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault, will testify in his own defense. By giving Liang the last word before his judgement, the defense is hoping for leniency and understanding from the jury. Closing arguments are scheduled for Tuesday, with a verdict most likely coming before next Friday. There's the tongue-on-fire heat that comes from snacking on habaneros; the up-your-nose heat accompanying a glob of wasabi; and then there's the heat of the Sichuanese peppercorn, which acts like novocaine on your lips, tongue and any other body part with which it comes into contact. It's this last type of mouth fire that you're in for at MaLa Project, a homey new dry pot Chinese restaurant that opened at the turn of 2016. Order off the large menu of proteins, mushrooms, vegetables and various other accoutrements, and they'll deliver you a steaming wooden bowl of your selections tossed in the fiery, fragrant sauce redolent with the peppercorns, hunks of fresh ginger, garlic, whole and dried chili peppers, all of which has been seared on a wok over high heat. Munch on one of the whole peppers at your own peril. To the uninitiated, the large menu of possible permutations can be intimidating. But the server will offer their opinionchicken wings, lotus root, fish ball and others during a recent visitand truthfully, once it's all mixed together, there's a harmony that exists between whatever you choose, whether that's the subtle funk of sliced lamb, the super salty fun sized sausage or chewy tofu skin. All three were part of a meat-heavy combination our table devoured over dinner, along with beef tongue, Spamdisappointingly not the WWII-era tinned, but a close enough approximation, according to a dining companionbok choy, enoki mushrooms, lotus root, cheese-filled fish cakes and rice cakes. (courtesy MaLa Project) If that all sounds like a boat load of foodand even for four people, it wasconsider that each diner gets rice (purple or white) and there are simply no excuses for not ordering the restaurants excellent starters and supplements, too. Of the ones we tried, the MaLa Pickles ($4) were far and away the best; crunchy, vinegary, spicy, salty, mouth-numbing. Give me a bowl of those and several pints of crisp IPA and I could happily make a liquid-and-pickle meal of it. The Husband and Wife Lung Slice ($9), deceptively without lung meat, was solid, but you Must Love Tripe, while the Leftover Fried Rice ($13) was platonic ideal fried rice but nothing to go out of the way for. They recommend 12 or more items per pot for a party of four, but we got away with 10 plus sides and still had leftovers to take home. Considering the volume of food that arrives at the table, $132 (pre-tax) for a table of fouralcoholic drinks includedis a solid split for a hearty dinner. The drinks are the only real oddity, with a 12 ounce bottle of Tsingtao running $8 ($5 during happy hour) while a glass of wine (Cotes du Rhone, for example) just is $9. In the long run, you're probably better off sticking to wineor a $35 bottle of champagnethan spending craft beer prices on suds from the MGD of China. As the NYPD considers several options about how to combat the recent uptick in subway crimes, more attacks keep happening: two men were arrested on Thursday after both punched women in separate subway assaults. According to the Daily News, the first attack occurred at Penn Station around 8 a.m. yesterday. Liesl Mae Mayango, 26, was waiting for the 1 train with her back to a pillar when a man approached her from behind, grabbed her by the jacket, punched her twice in the chest, and threw her to the ground. He was shouting something. He looked like a crazy person, she told them. Police say that homeless man Randy Evans, 55, was arrested in the incident and charged with assault and disorderly conduct. The News says that he has 28 prior arrests, and was taken to Beth Israel for a psychological evaluation. "I couldnt keep my mind off it. I still havent got over it," Mayango added. Jenna Siladie Then around 12:30 p.m., 26-year-old Jenna Siladie was waiting for the 2 train at Times Square when she was sucker-punched by a different man. "I just felt this thunk on my head, and I didn't even see the guy," the Astoria resident told the News. "He punched me on the side of the head." Suspect Ronald Khealie, 44, was arrested soon after. "It's really sad. I know this happened to me, but I feel sorry for him," Siladie said of Khealie, who lives in a residential center for the developmentally disabled in Jamaica Hills. "He's obviously unwell, and somehow felt threatened by me, I don't know. I didn't even see him in the subway when I was in the train." These two attacks came a day after a man apparently used a needle or another sharp object to stab an R train passenger. As of Wednesday, there had been at least 38 assaults in the subway this year to date, which includes six slashings (compared to three over the same period in 2015), and four stabbings, (compared to two over the same period last year). While officials insist there is no pattern to the uptick, the cops are planning to give the MTA a proposal to ban career criminals from the subway as part of his MTA crime-prevention strategy. Police Commissioner Bratton has also vowed that the NYPD will start waking up sleeping straphangers, ostensibly to prevent them from being victimized. But homeless advocates worry this is a ruse to chase homeless people out of the subway. "We know this is about targeting homeless people," says one homeless advocate from Picture the Homeless. "The drunk banker asleep on the train isn't going to be treated the same as the homeless guy with a bunch of bags. This is all about homelessness, but with this cover story they can lie and say it's everyone." Are you relatively new to this bustling metropolis? Don't be shy about it, everyone was new to New York once upon a time, except, of course, those battle-hardened residents who've lived here their whole lives and Know It All. One of these lifers works among us at Gothamistpublisher Jake Dobkin grew up in Park Slope and still resides there. He is now fielding questionsask him anything by sending an email here, but be advised that Dobkin is "not sure you guys will be able to handle my realness." We can keep you anonymous if you prefer; just let us know what neighborhood you live in. This week's question comes from a New Yorker who's just a little freaked out by all the subway slashings. Dear Jake, It seems like a lot of people are getting stabbed and/or slashed on the subways (and also sometimes on the streets!). I ride the L to work, and most mornings it is so packed that at least one crazy person starts screaming "stop pushing me!" and I can't help but feel like one morning that's going to be followed by screams and a shower of blood. Am I overreacting here? How do you natives avoid getting stabbed by crazy people? Sincerely, Williamsburg Commuter A native New Yorker responds: Dear Willy-C, Fear not! According to the somewhat trustworthy statisticians at the NYPD, while slashing and stabbing attacks are up about 100% over this time last year, the numbers are tiny compared to the 5.5 million people who ride the subway on an average weekday: There have been 37 assaults in the subway this year to date, according to NYPD Transit Chief Joseph Fox. Six were slashingscompared to three over the same period in 2015and four were stabbings, compared to two last year. Of these, two resulted from robberies, and seven from an altercationsomeone spilling hot coffee, for example, or telling another straphanger to keep their voice down. That last part is very important! While the tabloids would have you believe that stranger attacks are rampant, and schizoid stabbers have taken up residency in every subway car, the reality is that most of these attacks are just normal New York City robberies or assaults. You weren't unduly worried about those when you moved here, right? So why start now? A young Jake Dobkin and friend, seen here moments before they were robbed at knifepoint. (Courtesy Jake Dobkin Private Collection) Robbery is easy enough to avoid simply by maintaining awareness of your surroundings. I don't even mean paranoid hyper-vigilance! At this point, 90% of the people on the subway are listening to music or playing with their phones. It just means looking up once in awhile and making sure you know who's around you, and quickly relocating if you get a bad feeling about that one twitchy guy. Some amount of robbing might be inevitable in a city where so much wealth is packed so close to so much poverty, but why not let it happen to someone who's made themselves an easier target? As for the assaults, those are avoidable with a little common sense. This morning I was on the F train when one raving lunatic got on at Smith and 9thhe immediately bumped into a large stock-broker type who was fiddling with his phone, and began a typical "look up from your phone you fuckin' cracker!" monologue. So far, no harm, no foulbut after the train traveled about one stop, the stockbroker decided he'd had enough, and proceeded to tell the guy first to "shut the fuck up," second that "I'm on my phone because I'm using it to make a lot of money, do you even have a job?" and third "I think you're mentally ill." This was a classic unforced error: escalating a conflict with a crazy person, instead of shrugging it off and moving on down the car. Of course, things got immediately worse, with the screamer upping his volume, starting in with a "fucking bitch, don't condescend to me!" aria. Just as the surrounding passengers were attempting to scurry away, and a few of us natives were booting up our cell phone video cameras, the train pulled in to Jay Street and both guys got off. If we'd been delayed it would have definitely been a brawl (and a priceless viral video!). Sure, I understand that it's annoying to get screamed at by a crazy person, but you have to be pretty stupid, insecure, or insane yourself to get upset by it. Take a deep breath, summon up some sympathy for the poor, afflicted soul who's causing the trouble, and then feel lucky that you had the presence of mind to avoid a preventable altercation. Seven out of ten of this year's subway stabbings and slashings happened because people ignored this advice! Don't let that happen to you. This is the point in the column where I normally point out that the New York Post and The Daily News are owned by conservative billionaires, who enjoy preying on your fears to sell papers and advance their agenda (most importantly, dethroning De Blasio in next year's election by convincing you he has no handle on street crime.) This is, actually, especially true in their coverage of this stabbing phenomenon. But I want to add that these tabloids also hate mass transit, because it is used primarily by the poor and middle class, and is subsidized by the taxes and car tolls paid by the wealthier. Consider for a second the amount of coverage that's been given to these subway attacks, rather than the 15+ people who have been killed by reckless driving this year. Why does a comparatively less frequent and less deadly crime get so much ink? One more guess: the perpetrators on the subway are often homeless men with darker skin. Could it be true that the New York Post prefers to print stories demonizing minorities? It's at least a possibility! Don't fall for it. Our subways and our streets are safer now than at any time in the last forty years. You are much more likely to die of suffocation on a packed L train than from a stabbing, and there are many, many, many problems worth worrying more aboutfor instance, what happens to your commute when they shut down the L-Train tunnel for three years. N.B.: In the early '90s there was briefly a "boxcuttter" panic. I remember getting held up at least twice (casualties: one Jansport backpack, one complete pizza pie) on the way to and from school by kids wielding that kind of knife. But then the city made it harder for minors to buy boxcutters at hardware stores, and you hardly hear about boxcutter slashings any more. Ask a Native New Yorker anything via email. Anonymity is assured. Three people in NYC, including one pregnant woman, have tested positive for Zika, the mosquito-borne virus that has so ravaged Latin American and Caribbean countries of late that the World Health Organization declared it a global health emergency this week. The NYC Department of Health has been warning travelers to take precautions when visiting countries affected by the outbreak, and they're now saying people should continue to take those precautions after returning from those countries, to prevent the disease from being spread in New York. According to the new guidelines, travelers who return from Zika-ravaged areas from April to November, which is New York's mosquito season, should take precautions for 14 days after arrival in NYC, "to prevent transmission to mosquitoes, which otherwise could infect other NYC residents." Pregnant women should not travel to countries affected by the Zika outbreak, and they should not have vaginal, anal, and oral sex with their partners without using condoms if those partners have traveled to any countries with Zika for the duration of their pregnancy. Travelers should, per the DOH: Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Stay in places with air conditioning or that use window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside. Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents. All EPA-registered insect repellents are evaluated for effectiveness. If you have a baby or child, do not use insect repellent on babies younger than 2 months of age. Dress your child in clothing that covers arms and legs, or cover crib, stroller, and baby carrier with mosquito netting. In especially mosquito-dense areas, consider treating clothing and gear with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated items. Sleep under a mosquito bed net if you are overseas or outside and are not able to protect yourself from mosquito bites. The CDC has a long list of countries currently fighting the Zika outbreak, including Costa Rica, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, and Guatemala. La tricolor, la de la estrella solitaria, la mas linda de todas. Distintos apelativos para hablar de la bandera nacional, la cual se oficializo en 1818. Pero, sabias que la bandera chilena actual no ha sido siempre la misma? Antes de nuestra bandera hubo dos mas. Conoce mas detalles sobre este tema. Durante la etapa de la Patria Vieja, por iniciativa de Jose Miguel Carrera, Chile tuvo su primera bandera, con tres franjas: azul, blanca y amarilla, que representaban la majestad, la ley y la fuerza, atributos del estado, segun el literato Camilo Henriquez o, segun otra teoria, el cielo, la nieve cordillerana y los campos de dorados trigales. Flameo por primera vez, el 4 de julio de 1812, bordada por Javiera Carrera, hermana de Jose Miguel, siendo ella quien inculco el ideal de la independencia, a sus hermanos menores. El 30 de septiembre fue al igual que la escarapela, oficialmente adoptada, aunque ningun decreto legalizo su uso. La vida de este simbolo se extinguio, luego Some background "While walking to my place, I realized how drunk she was. "In America, having sex with her would have been rape, since she legally couldnt give her consent. "It didn't help matters that I was sober, but I can't say I cared or even hesitate. "I won't rationalize my actions, but having sex is what I do." Good luck with that mating dance, fella! Okay, I confess...After last night's cancellation of all 165meetups,headed over towebsite to drink some man-tears.is American, but his fan base is international. Aside from his blog,is known for his "a collection of "travel guides"instructing readers how to "bang" women in various foreign countries; titles include:among others.To date 247,603 people have signed aclaimingbooks are 'a thinly veiled guide to getting away with rape'. The petition reads: "Amazon currently stocks all of his books. They're making money from a man telling other men how to overcome and rape women. So is he.A passage from the book reads:But I digress... sort of... because one of the February 6 meet-ups ofwas scheduled in our Mile Square. So,was extra-when Roosh pulled the plug, and headed over to the "Return of Kings" discussion board toYeah,was razzing the weepy, angry losers... when I 'bumped into', who claimed to be RooshV's Hoboken meet-up host! GA had this brief exchange:Here's a fella who's NOT crying: "exceptionally terrific" - Blawg Wisdom "A protein-laden dose of big thinking on criminal justice reform." - Evan Smith, Editor-in-chief and publisher, The Texas Tribune "A powerful and well-researched site." - The Austin Chronicle GFB is "an indispensable handle if you're interested in criminal justice in Texas." - Emily Bazelon, Slate " Grits is the first thing I read every morning and I learn something every single time." - Pam Colloff, ProPublica/NY Times Magazine "plenty of biting commentary and credible research" - San Antonio Current Scott Henson is "one of the nations finest criminal-justice policy wonks." - Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic Grits for Breakfast "is the best blog about criminal justice in Texas" and "as usual extremely fair" - Erica Grieder, The Economist "the best coverage of criminal justice in the entire state" - Pamela Colloff, Texas Monthly I respect the work Scott does and appreciate his thoughtful and extensive coverage of Texass criminal justice system Jim Bethke,"Grits for Breakfast has done a terrific job covering Texas prison overcrowding issues." - Doug Berman, Sentencing Law & Policy "the indispensable blog on criminal justice and law enforcement in Texas" - Marie Gottschalk, author of 'Caught' "plugged in and well written" - DallasBlog "I always tell people interested in these issues that your blog is the most important news source, and have had high-ranking corrections officials tell me they read it regularly." - Scott Medlock, Texas Civil Rights Project "a helluva blog" - Solomon Moore, NY Times criminal justice correspondent "Congrats on building one of the most read and important blogs on a specific policy area that I've ever seen" - Donald Lee, Texas Conference of Urban Counties GFB "is a fact-packed, trustworthy reporter of the weirdness that makes up corrections and criminal law in the Lone Star State" and has "shown more naked emperors than Hans Christian Andersen ever did." -Attorney Bob Mabry, Conroe "Grits really shows the potential of a single-state focused criminal law blog" - Corey Yung, Sex Crimes Blog "I regard Grits for Breakfast as one of the most welcome and helpful vehicles we elected officials have for understanding the problems and their solutions." Tommy Adkisson, Bexar County Commissioner "dude really has a pragmatic approach to crime fighting, almost like hes some kind of statistics superhero" - Dirty Third Streets "concise, knowledgeable, in-depth and sometimes counter-to-prevailing wisdom"- Rob Patterson,"Scott Henson's 'Grits for Breakfast' is one of the most insightful blogs on criminal justice issues in Texas." - Texas Public Policy Foundation "Nobody does it better or works harder getting it right" David Jennings, aka "Big Jolly" "I appreciate the fact that you obviously try to see both sides of an issue, regardless of which side you end up supporting."Kim Vickers,Grits for Breakfast "has probably broken more criminal justice stories than any TX reporter, but stays under the radar. Fascinating guy."Maurice Chammah,"unrestrained and uneducated" John Bradley, Former Williamson County District Attorney, now former Attorney General of Palau "our favorite blog""Scott Henson ... writes his terrific blog Grits for Breakfast from an outhouse in Texas." - To the People 2004 Koufax Award Winner:Best Single Issue Blog Winner of Blawg Review's 2006 Equal Justice Award Public Defender Investigators' 2007 "Editors Choice Award" 2009 Austin Chronicle 'Best of Austin' Award Ranked among Top 3 most influential independent law blogs in North America, 2012 Well, I don't wear a Stetson But I'm willing to bet, son, That I'm as big a Texan As you are. News VIDEO: Sheikh Sultan inspects progress of 'Hanging Gardens' project Sheikh Sultan was briefed on the plans for the remaining stages in the implementation of the project, which extends over an area of one and a half million square feet, listening to the progress of work and the most important completed and remaining stages. -- Thomas JeffersonSyndicated columnist Charley Reese (1937-2013): "Gun control by definition affects only honest people. When a politician tells you he wants to forbid you from owning a firearm or force you to get a license, he is telling you he doesnt trust you. Thats an insult. ... Gun control is not about guns or crime. It is about an elite that fears and despises the common people."The rifle itself has no moral stature, since it has no will of its own. Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles -- Jeff Cooper (1920-2006)Note for non-American readers: Crime reports from America which describe an offender just as a "teen" or "teenager" almost invariably mean a BLACK teenager.We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics.Two lines below of a famous hymn that would be incomprehensible to Leftists today ("honor"? "right"? "freedom?" Freedom to agree with them is the only freedom they believe in)It is of course the hymn of the USMC -- still today the relentless warriors that they always were.The intellectual Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (AD 121-180) said: "The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."How much do you know about Trayvon Martin? It's all here (Backups here and here An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life. -- Robert A. HeinleinAfter all the serious stuff here, maybe we need a funny picture of a cantankerous cat The Finest Hours At the Cinemark PG-13 Grade: B Longing for a time capsule that will take you back to 1952? Well, The Finest Hours throws down a gangplank and hollers out all aboard for a trip back to the days when men were men and women were glad of it. Those were the days of We Like Ike buttons and modest school clothes. Almost nothing but ears got pierced. For the record, I was a first grader riding my bike to Washington School in Port Angeles back then. I was actually in kindergarten on the actual day of this famous Coast Guard rescue, which occurred on my sixth birthday. Port Angeles included a Coast Guard base on the spit, a peninsula of land/sand that extended into the Straights of Juan de Fuca. The fact that this was a tale of a legendary Coast Guard rescue mission heightened my interest, since I used to play on the beach near that base -- and since I love the ocean. My dad served in the Merchant Marines when he was young, and owned Northup Boat Repair in San Pedro, south of L.A. Boats are us, so to speak. My one Montana regret is that Canyon Ferry is a lame substitute for the Pacific Ocean. The Finest Hours is old-fashioned storytelling about a 36-foot Coast Guard motorized lifeboat braving a ferocious storm to try to rescue the crew of a 503-foot tanker, The Pendleton. That tanker was literally ripped in half during a storm and was slowly sinking off Cape Cod. Records say the winds were 70 knots and the rain was relentless. To make matters worse, another large vessel was also in trouble -- and the available rescue boats headed for that target first. Who would save the 42 crew members aboard the Pendleton? Fear not. Four courageous men willingly risked their lives to save those in peril on the sea. That rescue has been recounted in many articles and in the 2009 book, The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. The film weaves three stories into its narrative. At center is the rescue mission itself, focusing on the four heroes in their wooden boat, which crashed through violent waves as it searched for the tanker. A young Coastie, a boatswain's mate first class, guided the mission impossible. The second story involves those 32 men trapped on the tanker, trying to survive long enough to be rescued. Chief engineer Ray Sybert, a shy nerd, orchestrates a plan to drive the wounded boat aground on a shoal to delay its inevitable sinking. Finally, and regrettably, theres the romance. The film begins as straight-laced Bernie falls in love with strong-willed Miriam. She becomes the proverbial woman left behind during the rescue mission. And she provides the bear hug when he returns safely. The Finest Hours is an easy target for its sentimentality. The story is a throwback to high-sea adventures of yesteryear. But despite all this, Finest Hours is quite watchable precisely because its so old-fashioned. What we see is what we get: a little boat full of courageous men save a big boat full of courageous men. For the record, The Finest Hours is a much stronger film than In the Heart of the Sea, a dull whale adventure. The acting is serviceable but eclipsed by the thundering ocean. Those of us who grew up near the sea welcome a chance now and then to admire its power. I fell asleep each night as a kid watching the beam from a lighthouse light up my wall before scanning the ocean to guide ships ashore. The Finest Hours respectably pays tribute to the sea and those who ride the waves. It's the Year of the Monkey! Filled with myth and tradition, the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in many Asian countries. People born in a year of the monkey are witty, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality. Personality traits, like mischievousness, curiosity, and cleverness, make them very naughty. Monkeys are masters of practical jokes, because they like playing most of the time. Join the Holter Museum of Art, 12 E. Lawrence, for an afternoon of Asian culture, treats and traditional Lunar New Year activities. The Holter Museum of Art presents Lunar New Year Family Day in collaboration with ExplorationWorks! and Helena's Families with Children from China on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 12:30-3:30 p.m. This is a free family event for all ages (donations are appreciated). No registration required. Call 442-6400 for more information. As we celebrate Independence Day each year, I hope youll read the Declaration of Independence, take a moment to reflect upon the meaning of its words, ponder the gravity of that situation, and imagine the sacrifice given for the birth of our nation. On the Fourth of July we celebrate what was achieved America, freedom and independence! Do you ever imagine how they did it, or the terrible price they paid to gain their liberty and ours? This Independence Day a cast of grateful, authentically clad historians will offer a stirring public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Thompson Falls. The full day of free historic activities will begin at 8 a.m. with atlatl lessons Saturday, July 4, on Ainsworth Field, followed by an Independence Day Parade at 10 a.m., the Declaration of Independence at 11 a.m. and other living-history demonstrations continuing until 4 p.m. in Power Company Park. Its all part of the annual David Thompson Days celebration sponsored by Blackfoot Telephone and Thompson Falls Chamber. In addition to deep appreciation for what our founding fathers achieved, many students of history marvel at the accomplishments of Thompson Falls namesake the British explorer, fur trader and mapmaker David Thompson. What most folks may not realize is how much they have in common. Thompson became a Canadian but, like many of Americas founding fathers, his origins were tied to England. He was born there and entered indentured servitude for the British governments Hudson Bay Company at age 14. It was 1784, on the heals of the American Revolution, when young Thompson began his career as a trading post clerk on the icy shores of Hudson Bay, Canada. Just a few years earlier, English colonists to the south were contemplating what many deemed unthinkable. A series of forbidden gatherings took place in Philadelphia, where leaders from the American colonies convened a Continental Congress to debate how to deal with an increasingly oppressive English King. The result was the Declaration of Independence. Thompson had his disagreements with English rule on another level. His ambition was to expand the HBC fur trade westward across North America. Taking the trade to inland tribes would open new markets for England and allow Thompson to explore and map uncharted western territories. It was an obvious win-win to him, but the English lords wouldnt hear of it. So, after 14 years of outstanding service to HBC, Thompson parted ways with the Crown and joined up with the less formal and more adventurous Canadian fur traders of the Northwest Company. Thompsons ideas eventually proved very successful. He helped set up the first cross-continental network of trading posts (one near Thompson Falls), found the elusive Northwest Passage, and became the worlds foremost land geographer, mapping 1.5 million square miles of North America. He literally put Northwest Montana on the map! In the years leading up to the Revolutionary War, colonial leaders repeatedly appealed to the English King and parliament to respect their rights and ideas. They too were brave, brilliant men being held back by a heavy handed, unimaginative, distant English government. The founders grievances are boldly depicted in the Declaration of Independence. Thompsons are well documented in his journals. But freedom could not be suppressed, not even by the most powerful empire on earth. After separating from English rule, Thompson succeeded and prospered and so did America. Eight years ago, the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce asked for volunteers to put together a historical event centered on our towns amazing namesake. When they chose the first Saturday in July for the annual occasion, I wrestled with celebrating a Canadian fur trader so close to, and sometimes falling upon, Independence Day. As I learned the history, I found strong lessons in how our continent was developed and how much Thompsons story and Americas have in common including the era in which they took place and the bold new path their ideas carved out for future generations. We invite all to join us July 4 in downtown Thompson Falls to celebrate two amazing tales of independence! You can contact me at Sen.Jennifer.Fielder@mt.gov or call the Thompson Falls Chamber of Commerce at (406) 827-4930 for additional details. Ah -- what could have been. A Capital High School student is up late at night and is horrified to discover he lost his assignment notes for an English essay due the next morning. Help could be just a quick tap on his phone app to be in touch with a classmate and saved from a lousy grade. That was the idea behind the MeSH (Mobile electronic Student Help) App, which won Best in State in the 2016 Verizon Wireless Innovative App Challenge contest recently. The six-member team of Pat Murphys Computer Science students each received a 16gb LG G Pad, and CHS will receive $5,000 for STEM technology. Team members include: Chris Brand, Braden Dorrington, Connor Morrison, Mathias Sletten, Lindsay VanDale and Zac Wunderwald. Basically its a student helper, said Sletten of MeSH, and helps students connect with each other. Its sort a phone book of students in class, interjected Morrison. The basis for it is youre trying to connect with fellow students outside the classroom. Say youre struggling with a subject and you dont understand it, you can go on this app and ask them questions. Or youre studying for a test or quizzes when the teacher isnt there to help you. We just tried to identify a problem each of us has, Morrison said of the brainstorming behind the app idea. Its a problem every student has, which is getting help outside the classroom and trying to understand a subject if you dont understand it. If the team had advanced through the regional competition to the national level, or had won a popular vote online, they would have been in the running to win the national Verizon App contest. The winners of the national award get to work with a professional app design team to actually create their app and make it a reality. Although they didnt make it to the national finals, there was a lot gained in the competition, said Murphy. Well one of the best things about it is they treat us like a startup, he said of Verizon. So the kids have their ideas, and they have to pitch it to the Verizon people ... and they kind of act like venture capitalists, said Murphy. And if they like the idea, theyre going to fund us. The students have to go through the design process, they have to work in groups, partition out all their jobs and what roles theyre going to play. From there, they have to design a movie about the product and write an essay to pitch the product. They spend maybe three to four weeks developing everything, Murphy said. Most of it is done on their own, because they have other things theyre working on in class. The $5,000 award they won as Best in State is a boost to the little computer science program at Capital, said Murphy, adding we dont have any money at all for books... This is the second year in a row, a team of Murphys computer science students have won the state award. For more info about the contest, visit http://appchallenge.tsaweb.org/ Thumbs up Everyone should be able to agree that preventing former inmates from returning to prison is a good thing. And a new program on the Flathead Reservation seeks to do just that. The first of its kind in Montana, the program works to help tribal members who are returning to the reservation from tribal jails and Montana Department of Corrections facilities. These people may have a hard time finding a place to live, securing a job and obtaining a drivers license. But the program has 14 employees who work on both civil and criminal issues, as well as clinical psychology trainees and other support staff, to help them get back on their feet. While programs like this one cost money, so does incarcerating inmates. And we hope the Montana Re-entry Initiative Task Force is able to find ways to emulate it throughout the state. *** Thumbs up In the age of cellphones, tablets and video games, its nice to see kids can still enjoy themselves outside in Montanas crisp winter air. Through Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Hooked on Fishing Program, about 50 fourth and fifth graders from Broadwater Elementary School recently had the opportunity to participate in a great Montana tradition: ice fishing. And our photographers many photos of smiling children reeling in and kissing tiny perch show us they enjoyed themselves. While we cant deny the convenience and appeal of modern technology, we also believe its important to unplug every once in a while and enjoy the natural wonders our beautiful state has to offer. And its events like this one that encourage the next generation to make that a lifelong habit. *** Thumbs up The Helena chapter of SCORE is seeking active and retired business professionals who can pass along their knowledge to others. The organization, which is dedicated to helping small business owners succeed, needs volunteers who can provide free and confidential business counseling to clients. The counseling can take place at the clients place of business, at the chapter's headquarters, by telephone or by email. For more information, call 406-442-4986, ext. 306 or helenascore@yahoo.com. It is interesting to me to see that one of the top stories on the newly designed Herald & Review front page Jan. 26 was from Austin, Texas. It was about a Houston grand jury, which, I believe, indicted journalism. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had assigned a prosecutor to investigate whether Planned Parenthood was selling human aborted baby organs for profit. This was after David Deleiden, founder of the Center for Medical Progress, released the latest videos of undercover interviews with Planned Parenthood officials. But, instead of investigating Planned Parenthood, a Texas political prosecutor convened a grand jury which recommended the makers of the videos be indicted on felony charges. The crime was related to the video makers purchasing human organs. Actually, the video makers had no intention of purchasing human organs, but in their undercover attempts to investigate Planned Parenthood themselves, posed as buyers of human body parts. Watch replays of Judge Andrew Napolitanos Jan. 25, interview with Megan Kelly, (The Kelly File, on Fox News) for the real story about this Texas grand jury set-up job, as the judge puts it. And as the rest of the story continues in Texas, will the Herald & Review give front page attention to it? Deleiden states he looks forward to confronting Planned Parenthood in court. I am personally thankful to him for exposing Planned Parenthood for their evil and unconscionable practices, and I am still praying for the day their doors are closed and locked permanently. Judy Gandy Decatur The Hometown Buffet in Forsyth closed Thursday, one of 74 underperforming restaurants shuttered by its parent company, Food Management Partners. Ovation Brands was acquired by Food Management Partners in August 2015. Since that time, we have continued to execute former managements operating plan to stabilize and enhance the performance of the company. However, based on ongoing assessments of individual restaurants, it is necessary to shutter locations for the continued viability of the brands and our employees, Peter Donbavand, vice president of business development, said in a statement. The restaurant opened in 1994, along with Applebee's and Cheddar's. nnn Mikal Ritchey, who formerly managed Burger King on Prospect Road, has been winging it the past month and her customers don't mind one bit. That's because is the name of the new place she's managing for her mother, Elizabeth Batchelor, at 1510 E. Pershing Road, and one that already has a following. My mom and I were ready to do our own thing, and we've never done it before, Ritchey said. The emphasis is on 10 flavors of jumbo chicken wings and on takeout and delivery to Decatur, Forsyth, Oreana and Mount Zion. But the business has burgers, too, plus a number of sides. Just Wingin' It opens at 10:30 a.m. daily, closing at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight Friday and Saturday. For more, find the eatery on Facebook or call (217) 330-7372. nnn A Decatur hearing aid provider is now working with a national company as its store at 2888 N. Monroe St. was updated. Connect Hearing will hold an open house from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, to show off the changes. The business was formerly known as Hometown Hearing and Audiology. The newly updated facility offers free hearing evaluations and a full suite of hearing aid services, including sales, repairs and cleanings. By joining with the Connect Hearing brand, the business is expanding its offerings to include no money down hearing aid trials and a free national and international travel program. We're proud to carry on the Hometown Hearing and Audiology legacy of personalized hearing health care while bringing new offerings like the risk-free 2-week hearing aid trial to Decatur, said Derrick Heflin, a hearing instrument specialist at the center. Connect Hearing has 300 locations across the country, including one in Champaign. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, go to www.connecthearing.com or call (217) 877-8430. nnn Elizabeth Blankenship has launched a business based in Bloomington intended to help farmers find land. AGLand Market is a way of compiling information about land that is available for farmers, Blankenship said. The information can otherwise be hard to come by, she said. This is brand new for Central Illinois, Blankenship said. It's a place farmers can find local land. The service can be particularly useful for beginning farmers looking for a place to start, Blankenship said. It has the ability to grow in scope but Blankenship said the focus is starting on Central Illinois, an area full of prime farmground. The business can also be a way for landowners interested in finding a tenant for their land, Blankenship said. Most agreements are already in place for the upcoming growing season but she said the focus will soon turn toward 2017. For more information, go to www.aglandmarket.com or call (779) 800-5263. nnn On Biz Bits: Kirlin's Hallmark is closing on Valentine's Day after more than a dozen years in business at 2875 N. Water St. but you can get sweets for your sweetie until then for 50 percent off Dr. G's Brainworks has closed its store at Hickory Point Mall in Forsyth. The Forsyth store had been open since last summer. ... The former Trusner Motors at 1275 South Side Drive has been transformed by Aaron and Amanda Peters of Decatur into South Side Soap N Go, a self-service car wash. For more, find the business on Facebook. DECATUR Brad Sweeney, who began his stint as chief of the Decatur Police Department early last year, was relieved of his duties Thursday. City Manager Tim Gleason announced his decision in a news release. Gleason said he would not have any additional comments because it was a personnel matter. Deputy Police Chief James Getz, who has been serving as head of the patrol division, was appointed as interim chief. Getz recently served as acting chief for about 12 weeks, as Sweeney received training at the FBI National Academy, and then took two weeks vacation to catch up with his family. Sweeney returned to work Jan. 4. He completed the prestigious FBI session in December. Sweeney, 43, was sworn in as police chief Jan. 3, 2015, replacing Todd Walker, who retired a few months earlier. Sweeney was selected by then-City Manager Ryan McCrady. Sweeney, a Decatur native, recently told a group of grade school children that he first met a police officer when he was about 9 years old, and that's when he made up his mind that he wanted to become an officer. He spent his entire law enforcement career with the Decatur Police Department after he was hired in May 1995. Sweeney moved steadily up the promotions ladder after serving 11 years as a patrol officer, working on all three shifts. He was a member of the Emergency Response Team and coordinator of the Bike Patrol unit. The department has about 160 officers. During his career, Sweeney served as a master patrol officer, patrol sergeant and lieutenant with the professional standards bureau. He earned academic degrees from Richland Community College and the University of Illinois, Springfield. Sweeney, a popular chief with officers and community members, opened new avenues of communication while strengthening others. As a patrol officer Sweeney noticed that six-day work weeks took a toll on officers health and family relationships. Officers were grateful when he took action to make their work weeks a little less burdensome. In May, he shortened the work weeks to five days, while lengthening shifts to 8 1/2 hours. We immediately saw a reduction in overtime, a reduction in people calling in sick, especially on that sixth day, Sweeney said in a Herald & Review interview last year. This was a huge morale boost for the police department. In the wake of incidents involving police such as in Ferguson, Mo., Sweeney formed a response team with the Decatur branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to try to prevent violence and foster understanding. Sweeney implemented Coffee with a Cop events to meet face to face with constituents. He attended many of the gatherings himself. He instituted departmentwide email addresses and strengthened the department's online presence on Facebook, Twitter and a new website, dpdconnect.com. He recently bolstered the department's K-9 unit to 4 teams, one K-9 team for each patrol shift, as well as one assigned to the Street Crimes Unit. Sweeney was not immediately available for comment. ORIGINAL STORY, 1:31 P.M. DECATUR Brad Sweeney is no longer the police chief for the city of Decatur. According to a news release from City Manager Tim Gleason, Sweeneys employment was terminated today (Feb. 4). Gleason said he would have no other comment on the matter because it involves personnel. Deputy Police Chief James Getz, who is the head of the patrol division, has been appointed the interim chief, Gleason said. Getz had been serving as acting police chief for 12 weeks while Sweeney attended training at the FBI National Academy. Sweeney had resumed his duties as chief in early January. This story will be updated. DECATUR -- The local cake scene may be the most delicious black market imaginable. At least, that is the concern of Sue Clark and others as residential bakers who hope to make a little extra money through their tasty goods are unable to sell their wares under local health codes. I would say, Congratulations to our local officials, youve created a black market for cakes, said Clark, owner of the Cake Lady Supply store in Decatur. Under current state law, known as the cottage food law, home bakers are allowed to sell up to $36,000 worth of certain products at farmers markets, but the law prevents them from selling their wares at any other functions. State lawmakers passed an amended version in 2014 known as the Home Kitchen Act, or cupcake law, that would allow the use of noncertified kitchen equipment in the home preparation of baked goods. Home bakers could make and sell up to $1,000 of goods a month and could be sold to a number functions such as weddings or birthday parties. After this law passed, Clark said several home bakeries began to operate in the open, with a focus on multitiered cakes for special events. One such baker was Patrick Stout, who operates Decatur Ideal Cakes from his residence on the northwest side of Decatur. Though his workplace looks like a simple residential kitchen, it was here that Stout said he was able to make just over a dozen specialty cakes a year for commercial sale. Its just a passion of mine, and I love to do it, he said. But that oven has gone quiet on the cake front since November, when Stout received a letter from the Macon County Health Department. The letter sought information on his nonexistent permit and license, which essentially shut down his operation. It turned out that the cupcake law only goes into effect with approval of a local governing body. No governing body in Macon County has approved it, and officials at the Macon County Health Department are not keen to see it happen. If the ordinance were to be approved, department administrator Dianna Heyer said she worries about the guidelines for inspection, as the law only states a health department can inspect a home in the event of a complaint or disease outbreak. There is just no monitoring and no assurance to make sure that food is handled properly, Heyer said. Our job is to protect the public health, and I can tell you that I think this law does not enable us to do that. In addition to the uncertain authority for inspections, the health departments staff is already stretched thin as it has lost some state funds due to the continued budget impasse. If a new ordinance were to be set up for more inspections of home kitchens, Heyer said she is unsure her department would be able to handle the additional workload. Other issues would include potential rezoning of a residential bakery or how to collect sales tax on transactions, Heyer said. A study conducted by the department showed only eight other counties have adopted the policy, said Kathy Wade, director of environmental health at the Macon County Health Department. The informal study showed 59 Illinois counties have not adopted any ordinance, while 18 counties did not respond. Wade said the department had sent out three letters to home bakers to inquire if they were permitted and licensed to operate such a business, with about a dozen letters having be sent in the past year and a half. She said the department only sends the letters if they receive an inquiry from the public on whether a business is registered in their food license database. If bakers do want to continue to make their goods, Wade recommended residential bakers become licensed bakers, which would include fees, permits and a minimum of two inspections of year of the kitchen from the health department to make sure they are up to code. To become a licensed baker though would require construction of a commercial kitchen, and Wade said the health department can help assist those home bakers with that. The problem for those like Stout, however, is a commercial kitchen upgrade could cost him thousands of dollars and be a logistical nightmare in some residences. With a full-time job already, Stout said the baking business was a chance to make some additional income and get a bit closer to his goal to operate his own bakery. He said he would have no problem with paying fees, being licensed and required to have occasional health department checks on his kitchen if a local ordinance allowed it. A change to the ordinance is not as simple as rewriting a few words though, Tim Dudley said. As chairman of the Macon County Environmental, Education, Health and Welfare Committee, Dudley said they have begun early discussions on whether to implement the cupcake law or update an ordinance to allow home kitchens to sell their goods. The hope is to have public discussion of those plans by the February committee meeting. Any discussion or change would require some input from the health department, as Dudley said potential changes would need to be feasible and prevent legal liability. We dont like to close our mind to anything on the county board, Dudley said. It is a very small business venture, and we would like to encourage that, and thats why we want to look into it further. That push to help local businesses is what supporters of residential bakers focus on. They said that many people must search outside of Macon County to find their wedding cakes. That search for cakes outside the area was a theme repeated several times from visitors at the Decatur Wedding Expo earlier this month at the Decatur Conference Center and Hotel. Darius White and his fiancee Zuri Thurman said one of the main reasons to come to the weekend event was to find a cake for their summer wedding in Decatur. White, a Decatur native who lives in Champaign, said he hoped to find something local to cut down on any travel or logistic problems, but that search was coming up empty. We originally wanted to do something locally without travel for the cake, but we are not having the best options for those, he said. Thurman expressed similar disappointment. This whole city, and we cannot find one cake maker here, its crazy, she said. Any change cannot come soon enough for Clark, as the personal bakers were among her top customers. With the loss of personal bakers, Clark said she has lost about one-fourth of her business in the past year. If no changes are made soon, she said she was not sure how much longer she would stay open. These cake decorators are my customer base, Clark said. When they go away, I have no reason to keep this store open. THUMBS UP! To a new way of teaching science that teachers are embracing across Central Illinois school districts. Through a partnership among the Education Coalition of Macon County, Archer Daniels Midland Co., and the iBIO Institute EDUCATE Center, teachers from several school districts were brought together to discuss ways to teach more real-world applications for science. Those techniques should help students meet new science education standards and ADM hopes that it will also create the type of critical thinkers it will need as future employees. THUMBS UP! To Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, that did not see his shadow on Tuesday. That means winter is near its end. That seems like good news, although with the mild winter weather weve experienced so far, it may be hard to tell the difference. At any rate, the historic groundhog has done its job for another year. THUMBS DOWN! To the "expectation game" played during the Iowa caucuses. If youre keeping score at home, Hillary Clinton narrowly defeated Bernie Sanders in the Democratic race and Sen. Ted Cruz won the caucuses on the Republican side. But thats not that everyones talking about. Clinton was a loser because she did worse than expected. Cruz was a winner, but that was expected. Donald Trump, who finished second, was expected to do better, so he lost. Marco Rubio finished third, but was seen as the winner. Its all so confusing. Next, theyll be giving out participation trophies. THUMBS UP! To President Barack Obama, who will visit the Illinois capital on Tuesday to spread a message about more civility in politics. Although his message needs to be heard and heeded by many, we cant think of any place more appropriate to deliver the message than in the Illinois General Assembly. Obama will be revisiting his political roots at the same time. He served in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, the beginning of his meteoric political climb that took him to the U.S. Senate and then the White House. THUMBS DOWN! To the state of Illinois, which is becoming such a bad customer that some vendors are telling the state to take their business elsewhere. An Associated Press story last week detailed the number of businesses that have quit doing business with the state because the bills arent getting paid. Because the state doesnt have a budget, hundreds of contractors are left with little more than IOUs. These range from $28.44 due for sewer and water at the Mount Pulaski Courthouse to the $4.8 million the state owes Michigan for a health partnership. Its sad when state government is a deadbeat customer, but thats the situation we have in Illinois. SPRINGFIELD Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has announced another round of public hearings on the states education funding formula, which critics say currently leaves districts with higher poverty rates and lower property values at a disadvantage. A bipartisan education funding task force, which began meeting last year, will hold its first hearing of the spring legislative session Feb. 16 in Springfield, the Chicago Democrat announced Thursday. Overhauling the way the state funds public schools has been a priority of Senate Democrats, led by Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner gave a nod to the idea last week in his State of the State address. Madigans announcement also comes at a time when the financial troubles of Chicago Public Schools have created another point of tension between Rauner and Democrats amid the states budget impasse. Senate President Cullerton has shown strong leadership on the issue of fair and equitable education funding, which is so important to every community across our state, Madigan said. The presidents commitment to fairly funding our schools and helping all students meet their full potential is one that I share, and I plan to work with him to achieve this goal while making sure that voices from across our state are heard and that all schools and programs are protected throughout this process. A series of hearings will be held throughout the spring to develop a legislative plan, the speaker said. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, a fellow Chicago Democrat, is leading the task force. Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, the Senate Democrats point man on education funding, has been working for the past three years on an overhaul of the school aid formula. He introduced a bill last year that would funnel more money to poorer districts and seeks to address some concerns with an earlier version. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said the speaker hasnt taken a position on Manars proposal. Part of the purpose of this task force is to develop that position for House members, Brown said. The panel also will examine a proposal from the Illinois State Board of Education to shift $300 million in special education funds into general state aid for schools, he said. State Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat whos on the task force, said the deliberate, thoughtful approach the House is taking is appropriate given the gravity of the issue. Bradley said he wants kids across Illinois, including two of his own children in the Marion School District, to have similar opportunities. The children in my area are worth as much as the children throughout the rest of the state, he said. But state Rep. Robert Pritchard of Hinckley, the Republican spokesman on the task force, said there have been enough hearings already. Its time to sit down and start analyzing what the recommendations are and determining what we can make movement with, Pritchard said. Any move to give more money to poorer districts shouldnt come at the expense of others, he said. Youve got to put new money into it so that you dont have losers and focus that new money on those students that arent being served, Pritchard said. SPRINGFIELD Comptroller Leslie Munger is touring the state to sound the alarm about the long-term damage the ongoing budget impasse is having on the people of Illinois. Repeating a message she delivered earlier this week in Chicago, Republican Munger told reporters Thursday at the Capitol that the state is on pace to dig itself $6.2 billion deeper into debt by the time the fiscal year ends June 30. Thats the result of $5 billion in lost revenue due to the partial rollback of a 2011 state income tax increase and $1.2 billion of additional spending in the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services due to court orders and consent decrees. By spending more as we bring in billions less, we are making it even more difficult to create a pathway for fiscal sanity, which will allow the state to regain its financial footing and keep our promises over the long term to fund education, social services, public safety and infrastructure, Munger said. So what is the answer? Clearly, Illinois must pass a budget, a balanced budget, and regain controls over our spending and revenue. Illinois has been operating without a budget since the current fiscal year began July 1. As a result, major cuts have been announced in recent weeks at Lutheran Social Services, Eastern Illinois University and elsewhere. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed all but the elementary and secondary education portion of the budget the legislature approved, saying it was about $4 billion out of balance. Rauner has insisted on winning legislative support for elements of his pro-business, anti-union turnaround agenda before he will agree to tax increases Democrats are seeking to plug the budget hole. Democrats, who have said spending cuts also are needed to balance the budget, say the first-term governor is responsible for the deadlock because he has tied the budget to unrelated issues, such as term limits for lawmakers and changes to collective bargaining rights for local government workers. Munger said its time for the two sides to stop pointing fingers and find common ground. What I would suggest to all parties is that they all get together in a room and start talking about this and focus on solutions and not get in their own corners, she said. The problems we have today are not one year in the making. This is the result of decades of bad decisions in the state, and theres plenty of blame to go around. Trying to close the hole with income taxes alone would require an increase from the current 3.75 percent personal rate to 7 percent or 8 percent, Munger said. I dont know any legislator who would vote for a 7 to 8 percent tax increase, and I dont know many businesses who would stay here, she said. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Mount Greylock Books LLC has published my autobiography as an historian, A Life in History. 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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. State Debate: On 5th anniversary of protests, reasons to be optimistic, blogger says; Beloit paper touts Tammy Baldwin's 'buy America' Dave Zweifel is editor emeritus of The Capital Times. dzweifel@madison.com and on Twitter @DaveZweifel An Elroy man turned what could have been a simple stop for a broken taillight into a high-speed chase. Austin S. Granger, 19, is charged with first degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude a traffic officer, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating a vehicle without required lamps, operating a motor vehicle without insurance and non registration of vehicle. A special prosecutor has been assigned to the case. Juneau County District Attorney Michael Solovey said the special prosecutor was assigned because Granger's father is New Lisbon Police Chief Brent Granger. Vernon County Assistant District Attorney Stacy Smith is the acting prosecutor. According to the criminal complaint, a Hillsboro police officer noticed a small red car travel past him with the taillight out at approximately 9:19 p.m. Nov. 6. When the officers followed to the car with the intent to pull the driver over, it sped off at a high rate of speed. The police officer turned on the emergency lights of his vehicle, but the car continued to travel onto State Highway 33 and then onto County Trunk WW. While the officer was not able to stop the car, he was able to get close enough to read the license plate. The vehicle continued into Elroy, where it sped through multiple stop signs without stopping. The vehicle made its way to State Highway 71 and then traveled to Kendall at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. The escaping vehicle then turned off its lights as it traveled down Highway 71. It turned onto County Trunk WW and the officer in pursuit lost sight of the vehicle. A Juneau County Sheriff's Department officer was made aware of the escaping vehicle. The officer then saw a red Audi traveling down County Highway P with no headlights on. He stopped the vehicle at an intersection, where it appeared to have died. The driver of the car was identified as Granger, and his passenger was identified as his girlfriend. She told police Granger did not want to stop because he had drills the next morning. She said she told him several times to stop, and he eventually pulled over when the vehicle died. The endangering safety charge is due to Granger's girlfriend being in the vehicle during the chase. Granger told police he did not pull over because he did not have a valid drivers license and he was afraid of missing drills the next day. He said he eventually pulled over because it was stupid and he just wanted to give up. Granger admitted the plates on the vehicle were invalid and his car was not registered. He said he knew there was alcohol in the vehicle he was driving. If convicted of endangering safety, Granger could face a fine of up to $25,000 and imprisonment for up to 12 years and six months. For attempting to flee, he could face a fine of up to $10,000 and imprisonment for up to three years and six months. Granger is due in court at 9 a.m. Feb. 10 for an initial appearance. The ex-girlfriend of Madison homicide suspect Christopher T. OKroley and mother of his 8-year-old son said OKroley tried to commit suicide 16 months ago and has been seriously mentally ill for the past decade. I found him in a bathtub in September 2014 trying to overdose on his medications, said Amanda M. Joers, 26, of Madison. Hes needed help for a long time. Joers also suggested that OKroley, 26, who grew up in Cottage Grove, might not have allegedly shot and killed a former co-worker and acquaintance if hed gotten more effective treatment for his mental health issues. Police say OKroley shot 24-year-old Caroline Nosal of Stoughton on Tuesday night in the parking lot of Metro Market on Madisons Far East Side. All I keep asking myself is why does it take somebody innocent to die before sick people are taken seriously? Joers said. Joers said she met OKroley in eighth grade when they rode the same bus to school in Cottage Grove. She became pregnant by OKroley when she was a sophomore in high school, she said, but noted she went on to graduate from UW-Madison with a double major in physics and philosophy in May 2015, according to the university registrars office while mental illness prevented Christopher from maturing into a functional adult. Joers also said she was in contact with Madison detectives late Tuesday night, well after the 8 p.m. shooting, trying to help locate (OKroley) before he killed himself. Madison Police Chief Mike Koval on Thursday confirmed that Joers called police dispatch asking for an officer to call her shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday and said an officer did contact her. He declined to describe what was said. Officers captured OKroley with a gun in a dumpster behind Marshalls, near East Towne Mall, about 1:35 p.m. Wednesday, police said. He was taken into custody within minutes of an exchange of gunfire between him and the first officer who arrived on the scene, police spokesman Joel DeSpain said. Police acted on a tip from a woman who had recognized OKroley from media accounts and quickly called 911 to report spotting him. After firing, OKroley ran around to the back of the building, DeSpain said, and additional officers in the area gave chase, following footsteps in the snow to the dumpster where OKroley was found with a gun. It was a tense scenario, DeSpain said, but OKroley ultimately put up no fight and was taken into custody peacefully. I know they ordered him out, Im sure at gunpoint, DeSpain said. They felt they had him contained. He gave himself up and was taken in without incident. Koval has not identified the female officer who, according to police accounts, fired back at OKroley after he opened fire on her. DeSpain said she has nearly 15 years of experience with the department, and is on paid leave while an internal investigation takes place. DeSpain said MPD decided to handle the investigation internally, rather than have an outside agency do it, because no one was hit by the shots. A 2014 state law, Act 348, requires independent probes of police shootings whenever an officer kills someone, on or off duty. UW-Madison has spent at least $8 million since last summer to retain top professors after state legislators cut higher education funding and changed faculty tenure policies, Chancellor Rebecca Blank told the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents on Thursday. Campus officials have said national attention from the budget fallout has emboldened other universities to go after UW-Madisons top faculty, and made professors more open to their offers. Blank said faculty are asking, Is UW going to remain a top university, or do I need to go elsewhere? A theme in Blanks speech during the first day of the Regents meeting in Madison was that her campus is an investment for Wisconsin not just an expense in its budget and will need more state funding to maintain its position as a top public research institution. Staying on the top, in terms of quality and reputation, requires continual investment, Blank said. Our competitors are moving forward and receiving investments, and we have had much more difficulty in achieving that. Blank also touted accomplishments by UW-Madison faculty and students over the past year, noted the campus success in retaining and graduating students and mentioned the universitys role in spurring economic development. We are investing in the people of Wisconsin, we are investing in the students who come to our university, Blank said. We are an investment agency for the state. Thats a message were trying to get out strongly to the citizens of the state and to the political leaders. The 2015-17 state budget cut funding for the UW System by $250 million over two years, stripped tenure policies from state law and weakened faculty governance protections. Blank and others are pushing for the state to increase its support for higher education in the next budget. Four professors chose to leave The $8 million price tag for retention comes from 48 cases handled by the office of UW-Madisons vice chancellor for research and graduate education so far this fiscal year. That office is already dealing with more cases and spending more money than it had in all of last year, when it spent $7.3 million in an effort to retain 38 professors. Campus officials said Thursday there have been more active retention cases this year than the 48 handled by the vice chancellors office, though they did not say how many. Over the past five years, UW-Madison has averaged 100 total retention cases in which faculty got or were expected to receive outside offers. Of the 48 retention cases Blank cited, 41 professors took UWs offer to stay in Madison, four chose to leave and three cases have not yet been resolved. Blank said the university has aggressively sought to retain professors and send a message that it is not open to faculty raids by spending money on salary increases and giving professors more research funding. That money is worth spending, Blank said, because those top professors are the people who give UW-Madison its reputation. They also bring money into the university a combined $18 million in research grants for the 41 faculty members, Blank said. Still, the retention effort has not been cheap on a campus that is working to absorb a budget deficit that stood at $86 million last July, she said. I cant afford not to do this this is the reputation of the university, Blank told the Regents. But add that to my deficit. Tenure on agenda Friday The Board of Regents is set for a busy Friday meeting, when its education committee will take up a draft of a new tenure policy. The tenure policy should ensure UW-Madison faculty have protections comparable to those at competing institutions, Blank said. The full board is expected to approve a new policy in March. Id like to put this behind us and I think we can do that over the next couple of months, Blank said. An Assembly committee Thursday abruptly scrapped a vote on a proposal to reduce the amount of money public school districts can raise to offset the loss of state aid for taxpayer-funded private school vouchers. The decision by Assembly Education Committee chairman Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, came less than an hour before a scheduled 1 p.m. vote and hours after the Wisconsin State Journal began asking questions about the proposal. School officials also mobilized against the idea Thursday. It could result in a $22 million loss in taxing authority for public schools, according to a Wisconsin Association of School Boards memo to members. Committee clerk Hariah Hutkowski said Thursdays vote was canceled in order to work out logistics and concerns. It could be rescheduled for next week, he said. The idea was introduced Wednesday by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, as an amendment to another voucher bill. It would change the existing voucher funding system, which Vos proposed and was implemented for the first time this year after lawmakers revamped the system and removed the programs enrollment cap in the 2015-17 budget. The state voucher system is paid for by reducing state aid to school districts about $16.1 million this year. Lawmakers allow districts to make up that money and more, a total of $21.4 million by raising taxes. This year schools raised nearly $20 million to offset the loss of state aid because of the voucher program. Now Vos wants to limit that amount of money. Vos characterized the funding formula passed in the budget as a misdrafting that resulted in high property tax hikes in some districts. He pointed to Racine as an example, where the district used all of its levy authority, about $5.6 million, according to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau. Of that amount, about $3.3 million of the new revenue would be wiped out by Voss amendment, according to the school boards association. Department of Public Instruction spokesman Tom McCarthy said lawmakers passed specific budget language outlining how the calculations would work. This is what the Legislature and Joint Finance Committee voted on and passed into law, he said. Vos spokeswoman Kit Beyer said the proposal would make the voucher program funding process more in line with the states open enrollment program. When students enroll in another school district through open enrollment, most of the states funding for that student goes with the student to their new school district. That students home district is still able to count that student in their revenue limit calculation, however, allowing the home district to keep some state aid to pay for operational expenses. Beyer said the new proposal limits school districts ability to raise property taxes for a student they are not actually educating, who would be in the choice program. WASB lobbyist Dan Rossmiller said public school districts revenue would be reduced by about $4,000 per student each year resulting in multi-million dollar revenue losses for school districts with higher numbers of voucher students living in the district. An analysis showed school districts revenue limit authority would be reduced by $22 million, affecting 142 school districts, according to WASB. Rossmiller said the idea behind the new funding structure included in the 2015-17 state budget was to ensure school districts who lose state aid to pay for school vouchers are able to recoup that money. The new proposal will hurt public schools, he said. The proposal was introduced as an amendment to a bill that had already had a public hearing and just a day before a scheduled committee vote. Madison School District superintendent Jennifer Cheatham took issue with the quick turnaround. You are now being asked to vote on these amendments today, with no chance for the public to understand or for school districts to weigh in on the harmful impact of what you are voting on, Cheatham wrote in a Feb. 4 letter to lawmakers. Rather than thoughtful consideration of what is best for schools in our state and the children that attend them, these are rushed amendments with no clear intent besides harming public schools. Under the current funding formula, school districts lose $7,214 in aid for each K-8 student and $7,860 for high school students enrolling in private voucher schools. Districts are allowed to levy to cover the loss. A spokeswoman for Gov. Scott Walker did not respond to a request for comment. Myranda Tanck, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said Fitzgerald was not available for comment on Thursday. Heres how members of Wisconsins congressional delegation voted on major issues this week. Note: Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, did not vote. By custom, the speaker does not vote except in rare circumstances. HOUSE UPHOLDING VETO OF HEALTH-LAW REPEAL: Voting 241 for and 186 against, the House on Tuesday failed to reach a two-thirds majority needed to override President Obamas veto of a Republican bill (HR 3762) to repeal key parts of the Affordable Care Act while defunding the Planned Parenthood Federation of America for one year. The bill sought to effectively kill the 2010 health law by eliminating tax penalties necessary to enforce its individual and employer mandates and repealing taxes on medical-device manufacturers and high-priced health plans that yield revenue to fund the law. A yes vote was to overturn the presidential veto. Voting yes: James Sensenbrenner, R-5, Glenn Grothman, R-6, Sean Duffy, R-7, Reid Ribble, R-8 Voting no: Mark Pocan, D-2, Ron Kind, D-3, Gwen Moore, D-4 ROLLBACK OF IRAN NUCLEAR DEAL: Voting 246 for and 181 against, the House on Tuesday passed a bill (HR 3662) that would require President Obama to receive detailed congressional approval of his steps to lift U.S. economic and trade sanctions on Iran as part of a six-nation nuclear deal with Iran now in effect. Under that deal, Iran has agreed to dismantle its nuclear-arms program in return for the international community freeing up an estimated $100 billion in Iranian assets frozen abroad. Backers said this bill would deny a funding windfall for terrorist groups, while critics said its purpose was to collapse the deal. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it is likely to die. Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble Voting no: Pocan, Kind, Moore UPDATE OF HOUSING PROGRAMS: By a unanimous vote of 427-0, the House on Tuesday passed a bipartisan bill (HR 3700) that is the first broad update of federal housing programs in at least 10 years. The bill is designed to improve dozens of programs in areas such as public and rural housing, rental assistance and housing for the homeless, while extending Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance to condominiums and allowing public housing authorities to reallocate some capital funds to operating expenses. The bills streamlining of Department of Housing and Urban Development programs would reduce federal spending by $311 million through fiscal 2021. HUDs overall budget is about $50 billion annually. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate, where it is likely to advance. Voting yes: Pocan, Kind, Moore, Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF BANK FRAUD: Voting 250 for and 169 against, the House on Thursday passed a bill (HR 766) curbing federal authority to police suspicious banking activity under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA). Backers said the bill is a narrowly targeted measure that would protect legitimate businesses from prosecutorial and regulatory abuse, including due-process violations. Foes called it a broad assault on the Department of Justices main statute for combating financial fraud, including money laundering and terrorist financing. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Voting yes: Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble Voting no: Pocan, Kind, Moore FINANCIAL DEREGULATION: Voting 265 for and 159 against, the House on Wednesday passed a financial-deregulation bill (HR 1675) that would raise from $5 million to $10 million the threshold value of stock that companies can issue to employees without having to make certain public disclosures. These disclosures, showing the companys worth, would enable employees to independently judge the value of the stock they are receiving, often in lieu of pay raises. A yes vote was to send the bill to the Senate. Voting yes: Kind, Sensenbrenner, Grothman, Duffy, Ribble Voting no: Pocan, Moore SENATE DISCLOSURE OF POLITICAL SPENDING: Voting 43 for and 52 against, the Senate on Tuesday defeated a Democratic-sponsored amendment that sought to require public disclosure of federal political spending over $10,000 that oil and gas companies and their top executives have made secretly since January 2014 in keeping with the Supreme Courts Citizens United ruling on campaign finance. The amendment was offered to an energy bill (S 2012) that remained in debate. A yes vote was to adopt the disclosure amendment. Voting yes: Tammy Baldwin, D Voting no: Ron Johnson, R WEAKENING OF ANTIQUITIES ACT: Voting 47 for and 48 against, the Senate on Tuesday defeated a GOP-sponsored amendment to S 2012 (above) that sought to make it difficult or impossible for presidents to use the Antiquities Act of 1906 for preserving certain fragile federal lands in the West. A yes vote was to weaken presidential power under the Antiquities Act of 1906. Voting yes: Johnson Voting no: Baldwin Key Votes Ahead In the week of Feb. 8, the House will take up bills on nutritional labeling and National Science Foundation research, while the Senate will debate economic sanctions on North Korea and resume work on broad energy legislation. Thomas Voting Reports The sponsor of a bill to repeal Wisconsins Unfair Sales Act, which bars retailers from selling products for less than their cost, said lawmakers are not prepared to pass the measure in 2016. State Sen. Leah Vukmir, speaking to radio host Charlie Sykes on Friday, said shes a realist about the bills near-term prospects as lawmakers enter the closing weeks of the 2015-2016 session. Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, said shes shifting to educational mode to foster support for the bill in future sessions. There isnt enough support in the caucus to repeal the law, Vukmir said Friday. The act, also known as the minimum markup law, prevents Wisconsin wholesalers and retailers from selling products at less than cost. It also requires retailers to impose a minimum profit markup on certain products, such as fuel, tobacco and alcoholic beverages. Critics of the law, which include big-box retailer Wal-Mart, say its a Depression-era relic that unnecessarily hinders competition among retailers. The result of that, they say, is inflated prices for consumers. The push to repeal the law comes as mega-retailer Meijer Stores, which recently opened several Wisconsin stores, has faced complaints for allegedly violating the law. Supporters of the law, which include industry groups representing grocers, agricultural producers and liquor and fuel retailers, say repealing it could lead to a short-term price war among retailers. In the long term, many stores would close and consumers would see less competition, especially in rural areas, they say. The issue has exposed a fissure within Republicans controlling the Legislature, pitting southeast Wisconsin Republicans, many of whom favor repealing the law, against their out-state colleagues, some of whom are reluctant to do so. Vukmir acknowledged Friday that some lawmakers who havent embraced her bill have heard concerns from mom and pop retailers about the impact of repeal. Not every legislator is convinced that there will be savings, Vukmir said. I dont think that the case has been made, especially when were looking at legislators who are in rural areas who hear from their small-town stores and other operations. That, I think, is where the concern is coming from. Americans are embracing the idea that we should expand Social Security. A movement started by a few progressive activists spread to opinion makers and ultimately to presidential candidates such as U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont. But is a broadly expanded Social Security program really necessary? And can we afford it? The best evidence indicates that the answer to both questions is No. For years, the Social Security Administration stated that, for an average person, Social Security replaced about 40 percent of pre-retirement earnings, versus financial advisors recommendation of a total replacement rate of about 70 percent. This gap caused widespread concern, but almost no one understood how the administration generated its 40 percent statistic. It turned out the administration was using a misleading method comparing the benefits paid to the average new retiree to the wages of the average, still active worker. In 2014, the Social Security Trustees removed the calculated replacement rates from their annual report, fearing they may lead to confusion. The following year, an expert panel appointed by the Social Security Advisory Board recommended a more logical way to determine the replacement rate: comparing Social Security benefits to an average of the retirees final years of substantial earnings. When the Congressional Budget Office used this alternative method, it found that Social Security replaced close to 60 percent of final earnings. For low-income retirees, Social Security replaced close to 100 percent. Setting aside the replacement rate issue, some reformers insist we must expand Social Security because the broader state of the American retirement system is so dire. For instance, some cite data showing that 52 percent of Americans over age 55 dont have a retirement account. But roughly half of that group 25 percent of the total have a traditional pension plan. The other half are mostly very poor with average household incomes of about $20,000 and will receive a Social Security benefit close to their pre-retirement earnings. Reformers also point to government statistics purporting to show that retirees have little income outside Social Security. Yet the source of these statistics, the Current Population Survey, counts income only if its delivered regularly say, a monthly check from a traditional defined benefit plan leaving out lump sum payments and irregular deductions from a 401(k). Thats a significant oversight. Academic studies using more rigorous methods paint a more optimistic picture. A 2014 report from the Rand Corp. concluded that about 71 percent of individuals ages 66-69 are adequately economically prepared to retire, given expected consumption. A scholar at the Brookings Institution and two economists at UW-Madison found that roughly three-quarters of the households in a large sample had accumulated sufficient resources in 2004 to maintain pre-retirement living standards in retirement. After a sometimes-difficult transition from traditional defined benefit pensions to 401(k)-type plans, the private sector is now well equipped to help Americans supplement their Social Security benefits. In 2012, 75 percent of all private-sector workers were offered a retirement plan by their employer and 61 percent participated, far more than the 38 percent who participated in traditional pensions at their peak in 1980. Instead of requiring workers to affirmatively sign up for their retirement plan, 59 percent of 401(k)s now automatically enroll employees. Instead of managing their own investments, 41 percent of 401(k) participants now invest in target-date funds that automatically adjust their investment as they age. Administrative costs, which often have been too high, fell by more than 10 percent from 2009 to 2013 and now are comparable to traditional pensions. Total retirement assets today are higher relative to Americans incomes than any time in recorded history. The main problem with Social Security is not that its stingy, but that its inadequately funded. According to the Social Security Trustees, the programs long-term deficits have risen by 58 percent since 2008. The Social Security Advisory Boards 2015 expert panel and the Congressional Budget Office both project even larger funding shortfalls. A policy such as eliminating the $118,500 ceiling on wages subject to payroll taxes, a favorite of progressive advocates, would raise U.S. taxes to Scandinavian levels without fixing the long-term shortfall. Targeted reforms could improve Social Security greatly. For instance, many individuals with short careers fail to even qualify for Social Security benefits because of a 10-year vesting period. None of the existing Social Security expansion plans fix this problem. But a universal minimum Social Security benefit paid to all retirees, such as is offered in New Zealand, could reduce poverty in old age at relatively low cost. Likewise, small-scale adjustments such as universal auto-enrollment and auto-escalation for 401(k)s could improve the private retirement system. The case for across-the-board Social Security increases rests on misunderstood data and a willingness to ignore Social Securitys rising unfunded liabilities. Neither is a foundation for good public policy. Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-02-05 Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article From: The Athens News Agency at CONTENTS [01] PM Tsipras meets with Interior Ministers of France and Germany [02] PM Tsipras' visit to Tehran a milestone, says Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador to Greece [01] PM Tsipras meets with Interior Ministers of France and Germany Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras received on Friday visiting French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and German Interior Minister Thomas De Maiziere at the Maximos mansion. Receiving the two ministers, Tsipras said that the refugee crisis is a problem that concerns the whole of Europe. He also noted that Greece is bearing a huge burden and the number of people that die while attempting to cross the Aegean Sea is ruthless. Tsipras said that on its part, Greece honours its commitments on the management of the refugee crisis and underlined that everyone must honour their commitments. [02] PM Tsipras' visit to Tehran a milestone, says Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador to Greece Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' visit to Tehran on February 7-8 will be a milestone for the two countries' bilateral relations, Islamic Republic of Iran's Ambassador to Greece Majid Motallebi Shabestari on Friday said in an interview with ANA-MPA. The ambassador stressed that the deliberations and the exchange of views between senior Iranian and Greek officials on political issues, regional crises and international issues can have beneficial effects for the international peace and safety. He also underlined the strategic position of Greece as a "gateway to the Balkans and Eastern Europe the fact that is close to the Middle East, it is a member of NATO, of EU and of the eurozone. Moreover, he referred to cooperation possibilities between Greek and Iranian companies in the sectors of energy, pharmaceuticals, food, tourism, aquaculture, shipping and infrastructure construction. Iran is willing to render Greece a gateway to the European Union, the secretary general of the Foreign Ministry George Tsipras on Friday said in an interview with ANA-MPA, referring to the aim of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' visit ti Tehran. "The aim is to upgrade the political and economic relations between Greece and Iran. Sanctions on Iran have been lifted and now it comes out after a long period of isolation at least in the economic international community. Other countries such as Italy and Spain had hastened to Tehran before us in order to take advantage of the new era after the lifting of sanctions. This step of the government is on the right track and we hope to start having results from it," Tsipras underlined. "Iran is the second largest economy in the Middle East and North Africa, it is generally a major power in the region, and a force for stability. Apart from the economic dimension, I think that it also has other dimensions that are positive for us. The are many areas where there can be cooperation, especially economic cooperation. What I want to say is that we are at the beginning of this relationship. Some steps have already been made," he added. Tsipras noted that "the Iranians have special feelings for the Greek people, as the Greeks have for the Iranian people, so there are cooperation possibilities. There are two economies, which have a greater degree of complementarity, therefore there is ground for exports there - besides their investments in Greece. There is also the issue of tourist flows. Iranians, of relatively high income, travel to neighbouring countries. I think that some of them could be directed to Greece. This can become easier now, especially if we take the necessary measures for providing visas, etc. There is already a direct air link which was restored this year." The full interview is available for subscribers in Greek at ANA-MPA website. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article This is a blog documenting me, Thomas, who documents the lives of other people. I'll write a lot about life in Japan post 3/11 and also link videos from my YouTube Channel. for stopping by. 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. We are gathering information for the 2022 general election. On desktop, click "election information" on the right side of this pag... One Democrat - State Rep. Jack Franks (R-Marengo) - stood among Republican lawmakers, co-sponsoring two bills, indicating yet another issue wedge the Rauner Administration is working into the House Democrat caucus. NAPERVILLE Governor Bruce Rauner today joined Lt. Governor Sanguinetti, legislative leaders and local elected officials to announce four bipartisan pieces of legislation to streamline local government delivering more control to local communities. I want to thank the Lt. Governor and Governor Rauner for their leadership on this important issue, said Franks. I chaired the previous effort and found that background extremely useful for this effort, but I especially appreciate this administrations commitment to consolidation and government efficiencies. According to the US Census of Government, Illinois has more local units of government than any other state in the nation at 6,963. Illinois also has the second-highest effective property tax rate in the nation. Thefour pieces of legislation would help reduce state barriers to consolidation, and empower taxpayers and local leaders to pursue efficient and effective government, the governor's office said in a press release. Today we are one step closer to empowering our local communities and giving them the necessary tools to rein in their out of control costs, Governor Rauner said. These four bills are just the start of delivering more value to taxpayers by reducing layers of redundant bureaucracy. I want to thank the Lt. Governor and the Task Force for their hard work, and I look forward to working with the legislature to get these bills passed. The proposed legislation includes: Citizens Empowerment Act: Empowers Illinois citizens and local governments to consolidate duplicative, excessive or unnecessary units of government via referendum. Sponsored by: Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington), Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) DuPage County Consolidation Powers Expansion: Provides that the Local Government Reduction and Efficiency Division of the Counties Code applies to all counties which currently only applies to DuPage County. Sponsored by: Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton), Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington), Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo), Rep. Mark Batinick (R-Plainfield), Rep. Grant Werhli (R-Naperville) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) Evanston Township Consolidation Expansion: Extends to all coterminous townships and municipalities the same authority to consolidate that is currently only provided to Evanston. Sponsored by: Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) Township Consolidation: Removes arbitrary barriers to township consolidation that exist in statute so local residents or units of government can consolidate if they so choose. Sponsored by: Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon), Rep. Jack Franks (D-Marengo) and Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon) I believe the recommendations put forward today will have a tremendous impact on the people of Illinois, said Lt. Governor Sanguinetti. It was an honor to serve as the Chairman of the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force. I look forward to continue working with members of the Task Force as we work to streamline local government and make it more efficient for the taxpayers of Illinois. I have been fighting for government consolidation since the day I was elected in 2008, said State Sen. Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington). I am proud to have had the opportunity to recommend ways we can eliminate government bureaucracy and wasteful spending to reduce costs for our local governments, schools and taxpayers. "I'm glad to support these proposals to streamline and improve local government," said State Rep. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon). "These bills will reduce costs and improve efficiency, and that will help taxpayers across Illinois." "It is the duty of all elected officials to seek greater efficiencies and cost-savings opportunities by way of intergovernmental agreements that save taxpayer dollars," said State Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Wheaton). "In the face of 'sky-high' property taxes, it's time to empower local governments with these cost-saving measures." The Task Force put together a very comprehensive report and as elected officials we all have a responsibility to look for the most efficient way to deliver services to residents, said Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico. Naperville has always been a community that values good government as well as looking at innovative ways to create savings for our taxpayers. We the people as citizens, in support of our United States Constitution, cannot let well-intentioned citizens support theories not supported by the Constitution, U.S. law, and the Immigration Act, in order to promote a candidate for President of the United States. The United States Constitution, No Person except a natural born Citizen of the United States, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office The qualification being, No person except a natural born Citizen If you are born in the United States you are then, therefore a natural born citizen of the United States. Ted Cruz on the other hand, born in Canada in 1970 to a United States citizen is not considered a natural born citizen of the United States, but a citizen of the United States. Why? The Naturalization Act of 1790 passed three years after the U.S. Constitution was written with the wording, natural born citizens." However, the 1790 Naturalization Act was superseded by the Naturalization Act of 1795 which changed the language from natural born citizens to just citizens. The change meant to clarify the U.S. Constitution, No person except a natural born Citizen of the United States ... Senator Cruz was born in 1970 to an American citizen while living in Canada. He came to the United States at the age of four in 1974. Senator Cruz has a tendency to remind listeners of his knowledge of Constitutional law issues, and apparently Immigration and Nationality law? One of the requirements of naturalization is, Can you speak, read, and write basic English and do you have an understanding of U.S. history and government (civics)? Are we going to stand by and allow an unqualified citizen to qualify to run for President of the United States and bypass all 229 years of American law and trash our Constitution? Another of the many law references for Senator Cruz to overcome in his quest to establish justice is the 1952 amendment to the 1857 Immigration and Naturalization Act. It reads in part, in all other respects, however, the naturalized citizen stands, 'under the Constitution' on a legal footing with the native citizen save as regards eligibility to the Presidency. (The Constitution and What it Means Today. Page 89. Edward S, Corwin. 1978 Edition Princeton University Press.) On a whim, Senator Cruz is attempting to rewrite United States history and remake the Supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution. Since 1795, Congress has required that all candidates for naturalization formally renounce allegiance to their native land and all other foreign power. After living in the United States since 1974, 42 years after entering the United States as a alien meaning, any person not a citizen, only then in May of 2014 Senator Cruz renounced his Canadian citizenship. How else do you differentiate two distinct persons in birth? One being born to a United States citizen living in, say for example, Canada? A Canadian at birth. The other being born in the United States. Are we to call them both natural born citizens? But, natural birth happened in two distinct and different sovereigns. Like all law, you need to define each birthplace with a label allowing for the difference, because the courts will not let you get away with it. And further troubling is Senators Cruzs response to a question of family citizenship, his response, Im not going to engage in a legal debate. I, like Penn and Teller, am not fooled. William Heino Sr. Bourbannais, Illinois The four House members introduced the legislation this week in anticipation of President Obama's return to Springfield next week, and days before Illinois native Ronald Reagan's 105th birthday. SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Democrats Andre Thapedi, Thaddeus Jones, Rita Mayfield and Arthur Turner want to declare August 4th as a state holiday to celebrate President Barack Obama's birthday. Obama, who was born in Hawaii, left his adopted home Chicago for the White House in 2009. "The fourth day of August of each year shall be a legal holiday to be known as Barack Obama's Birthday to be observed as a day on which to hold appropriate exercises in commemoration of our illustrious President," the text for HB 4654 says. The only president thus far that was actually born in Illinois is Ronald Reagan, on February 6th, 1911. His birthday has not been suggested in the legislature to be a state holiday. Even an effort by former State Senator Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) to include a statue of the Republican hero among those at the State Capitol fell on deaf ears in the Democrat-controlled state legislature. Currently, the Capitol features prominent statues of Lincoln and Grant, two other Illinois-related presidents, but no recognition of Ronald Reagan. SR 1242 requested that the Capitol architect locate a place on Capitol grounds to display a statue that would have been privately funded. We are keenly aware of the states fiscal condition, which is why we want to emphasize the need to raise private funds for this Reagan memorial at the Capitol, LaHood said at the time. Let me make it abundantly clear that this Reagan tribute will not be funded by any taxpayer monies. LaHood's legislation was not heard in committee, brought to a vote, or moved in any way. President Obama will return to Springfield February 10 to mark nine years since Obama's 2007 announcement as a candidate for president on the steps of the Old State Capitol. If you liked this article, subscribe to the feed by clicking the image below to keep informed about new contents of the blog: built starting in 1545 on the orders of King Gustavus I and completed around 1620.It was a royal residence until 1716.Attualmente hosting the archive of the province (since 1899).It is the best preserved Renaissance castle across Sweden.The castle is located near the convent of Vadstena.The castle stands on the lake Vattern and its walls are 30 meters in width and 3 meters in height. The building houses, in the first floor, a museum of antiquities. In the second and third floor, you can admire instead of the sixteenth and seventeenth-century furniture.However, many rooms are closed to the public.The order to build the castle was given by King Gustav Vasa in 1544: the castle was to serve as a defense against attack from Denmark and the Smaland and "replaced", in fact, the pre-existing XIII century, transformed into a convent in 1370 from Santa Brigida (1303-1373), to which the castle was donated in 1346 by King Magnus Eriksson. The construction work, especially of three buildings, began the following year. I spent some time literally weeping for my country today. I know we're all worried about a lot of things. But what triggered my tears to... Nissan GT-R and Nissan Hybrid X-Trail will soon be on sale in the country. By Press Trust of India: Japanese auto major Nissan has roped in Bollywood actor John Abraham as brand ambassador for its standout models to be launched in India including sports car GT-R and Hybrid SUV X-Trail. GT-R and X-Trail will soon be on sale in the country. Nissan GT-R will soon be on sale in the country. (Photo: Pratik Rakshit) "The partnership with John Abraham is timed with Nissan's plans for further growth as the Japanese carmaker looks to expand its product range in India," said Nissan which announced its association with Abraham here today at Auto Expo 2016. advertisement Commenting on the development, Nissan India Operations President Guillaume Sicard said: "We are really excited about John Abraham joining the Nissan team. He will help ignite interest in the Nissan brand and the special models in our portfolio. John is a perfect fit with our plan to bring the best and latest of Nissan's global line-up to India" John Abraham said, "I am thrilled to be joining Nissan at such an exciting time for the company in India and look forward to the journey ahead. The electric crossover hybrid X-Trail will be the first fully electric SUV in the country. (Photo: Pratik Rakshit) Nissan India, which is aiming to corner 5 per cent of the car market here by 2020, had on Wednesday announced expansion of its product-line with two more models this year - an electric hybrid crossover model of its popular SUV the X-Trail and sport scar GT-R. The electric crossover hybrid X-Trail will be the first fully electric SUV in the country. --- ENDS --- Every year, the Global Peace Index measures the relative positions of all the countries' peacefulness. There are 22 indicators to examine the position of 162 countries. Some of the indicators include number of external and internal conflicts fought, number of deaths from organised conflict (external), number of deaths from organised conflict (internal), relations with neighbouring countries, political instability, terrorist activity, level of violent crime etc. Since its beginning in the year 2007, Iceland has been ranked the most peaceful country in the world. In the recent report of most dangerous countries, Syria stands at the top position. advertisement Here is a list of some countries that are most dangerous, according to the last Global Peace Index: Syria According to the Global Peace Index, the country has been named the most dangerous country in the world amidst its civil war and the rise of ISIS. The factors on which the country has been put on top, includes, murder levels, perceptions of criminality, terrorism and military expenditure. In 2008, Syria was named 88th most peaceful country. Afghanistan The United States invaded the country after September 11 Twin Tower attacks. Also known as American war in Afghanistan, the conflict started in 2001 that lasts even today. Its public aims were to dismantle al-Qaeda, and to deny it a safe base of operations in Afghanistan by removing the Taliban from power. Thousands of people have been killed so far. Ukraine The blame for the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 which was shot down when it was passing over the conflict hit area on July 17, 2014 was also put on the Ukrainian government. To tackle the protests that started in February 2014 in the country, the government launched a military counter-offensive against the rebels. The conflicts have already taken thousands of lives. Iraq The conflict in Iraq was started in the year 2003 by the United States. It toppled the governance of Saddam Hussein and killed more than 600,000 people in the first 3-4 years of the war. The United States withdrew in 2011 but the civil war has continued because of the Islamic state that keeps expanding and taking charge over large areas of the country. Sudan There have been three wars in Sudan. The first was First Sudanese Civil War from 1955 to 1972, Second Sudanese Civil War from 1983 to 2005 and South Sudanese Civil War from the year 2013 till present. The country has been plagued by many other internal conflicts. The country still suffers from slavery and severe Islamic laws. advertisement Pakistan Based on terrorists and rebel activities, Pakistan has reserved 9th position in the list of the most dangerous countries by the Global Peace Index. It ranked number 8 in the list of IntelCenter, a Washington-based company which examines the volume of terrorist alerts, rebel alerts and the number of people killed and injured in a country. The country continues to face many challenges like poverty, illiteracy, corruption and terrorism. Interested in General Knowledge and Current Affairs? Click here to stay informed and know what is happening around the world with our G.K. and Current Affairs section. --- ENDS --- ZTE Corporation is set to launch a slew of smartphones in India under its own brand in the coming months. By Sahil Mohan Gupta : ZTE Corporation is set to launch a slew of smartphones in India under its own brand in the coming months. ZTE, which also owns the Nubia brand, is already selling smartphones in India but now it plans to re-enter the Indian market with different business strategies using the same tactics that have helped it gain some foothold in the US market. advertisement "India is ZTE's third biggest smartphone market after the US and China and in the coming months, ZTE will announce a strategic partnership with a leading distribution company to ensure seamless availability of its products in the retail channels across India," said Cao Kai, CEO of ZTE Terminal India. The company is said to launch phones under the mass market Blade brands and premium Axon brands. The company's Blade brand used to be somewhat hot a few years ago but gradually it faded away. "We will launch products in the first half of the year, which will be available in both offline and online channels," a ZTE India representative told IndiaToday.in. India is a big focus for the company after the company recently became the third best-selling smartphone brand in the US market after Apple and Samsung. ZTE doesn't foresee any issues with aftersales as it has been operating in India since 1999 and has over 300 service centres around the country. As it is a provider of telecom infrastructure, it already has relationships in place with carriers. ZTE is also behind the Reliance Jio Lyf smartphones, but as it shares a OEM relationship with Reliance Jio, it doesn't officially disclose that those phones have been made and designed by it. In the coming months it will likely partner with Ingram Micro for the distribution of its phones. Ingram is company that is also known to distribute Apple's products in India. ZTE executives maintain that there will be no overlap between the products under the Nubia brand and the ZTE brand as Nubia products will be solely sold online. Additionally, it is seen as a separate company, which designs its own products and has a separate team. --- ENDS --- By Gayatri Jayaraman : Another child washed ashore dead yesterday. "We are all refugees of some kind," the artist will later say. A drone hovers over the edge of the sea when the boats come in, there where the remnants of the three discarded dinghies that have successfully made the crossing since 4 am this morning lie-it's his tell-tale signature. It is 10 am and a sunny 2 degrees in Skala Sikamineas, on the northern shore of the Greek island of Lesvos in the Aegean Sea, the mountains on the coast of Turkey visible on the horizon. The 58-year old Chinese dissident artist and India Today Art Awards' International Spotlight 2016, Ai Weiwei, here since Christmas 2015, is standing in the spray as the fourth boat carrying refugees comes in, some already suffering stages of hypothermia. Behind him, staggered on the shore are five members of his team recording different angles with their phone cameras held with a nonchalant focus at waist level. The dissident learns to record surreptitiously, you will learn. Several refugees walk with a limp, some have to be carried out, all are at some stage of soaked-to-the-bone, yet shaking hands with the volunteers helping them out, in quiet congratulations at having found the other side. The wi-fi at camp is named 'Better Times'. The first thing they all want to do is to message home, even before getting warm. Almost all, points out Weiwei, have children young enough to dream of a better future. He is shocked. "On some boats you find children unaccompanied, that's crazy. When you have given your children away, that is when you have given up," he says. advertisement In Pictures | Syrian refugee crisis: Artist Ai Weiwei poses as Aylan Kurdi for India Today magazine "We were all refugees once" An estimated 53,4665 refugees have crossed over into Lesvos since January 1, 2015 last year, according to the UNHCR; 34,647 in January this year alone, averaging 1,155 per day. On the day India Today was there, 1,194 refugees arrived. Of the arrivals, 55 per cent are Syrian nationals, 25 per cent are from Afghanistan, 11 per cent from Iraq, and 3 per cent from Pakistan. The Syrians and the Afghans do not get along and have to be sent to different camps. The cameras come and go. Actress Susan Sarandon was here over Christmas, but it is a long- term engagement for the citizens of Lesvos. Michail Dimitrios, a 40-year-old who runs a gym in Myteline town, says in the summer there were over 40,000 sleeping in the streets, washing their clothes and cooking in bus shelters. Many come with money in their pockets, professionally qualified, and not looking for charity. Lina, from Oxfam Greece, explains that this wave of migrants comes with their dignity even if they lack possessions. The town of 86,000, despite the evident discomfort in accommodating such large waves-and there are occasional grumbles from locals-is shouldering the burden so well that Greece has recommended its citizens for a Nobel Peace Prize. "Not only have refugees always come to our shores, our ancestors are descended from the population exchange of 1922 between Greece and Turkey. We have all been refugees once," Kostas, a 74-year-old local landlord shrugs. Artist Ai Weiwei lying face down in Lesvos in the Aegean sea as a tribute to 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi in a bid to highlight the plight of Syrian refugees. Photo: Rohit Chawla For refugees getting off the boat, it is not Ai Weiwei the artist who steadies their hand. He is not even so famous for many of the young volunteers from all over the world who stop to talk to this tall Chinese man in the water. A few recognise him: an Italian art graduate volunteer wants a selfie, a music graduate from UC Berkeley working with musicians here offers to lend him music, a London gallery owner's cousin name-drops in the hope of being on Weiwei's team, Nathan Scott-Peterson is a medical camp volunteer from England who wishes he could sneak him over the fence. But Sirkka from Switzerland whose hands are frozen from being in the water all morning, and Father Christoff Schuff in his brown orthodox robes, have no clue whom they are speaking to and ask after he's gone. Weiwei has recorded Father Schuff speaking of giving CPR to a woman and child off a boat, and burying four children in one day with Muslim rites on a plot of land in Yera, the most picturesque port in Lesvos. "This isn't about religion, this is about humans helping humans and I've only seen gratitude and respect," Father Schuff says. Weiwei's selfie-clicking, hug-handing genial presence here may bring international attention, but it also infuses ground efforts with bonhomie for those shepherding the never-ending waves. Once the refugees are sent for medical check-ups and warmth, Weiwei's team harvests the washed-up rubber dinghies divested of their engines, into pieces for a possible future installation. advertisement "I was born like this" In Moria, an hour away, refugees wait in volunteer-pitched tents on the slopes. The camp they line up to call home has three layers of military-grade barbed wire, and rolls of concertina on the roof, 16-metre high concrete walls and surveillance cameras. "It is a prison," Weiwei says. He watches refugees being treated roughly, volunteers turning themselves into authoritarian forces, putting people in line, commanding order and stopping filming. Last week, he was asked to delete all his recordings. Weiwei refused but his assistant lost everything. They've learned to recover it from memory cards and a local medic suggests they squirrel a microchip in cheek pockets. "It is all about control and how naturally man aspires to it," Weiwei says. The body of three-year-old refugee, Aylan, which first shocked the world. Photo: Getty images His guerrilla recordings, shot from outside the fence-he has not sought permission to shoot inside believing he will be given a sanitised version -will form part of Weiwei's video to be released online. "They ask why I have become like this. I don't have to become like this, I am like this. I was born like this," he says. It is assumed Weiwei became an activist-artist after his incarceration in Beijing by Chinese authorities during his investigations into fraud on the Sichuan Earthquake Names Project. But it goes beyond, to his father poet Ai Qang's hard labour cleaning public toilets and 20 years of being banned from writing poetry, which saw Weiwei live for five years in a hole in the ground between the ages of 12 to 17. Allegations of misappropriations raised against him, Weiwei was jailed at a time when he was considered too big to be jailed, left with a haemorrhage in 2009, sent as a message by Chinese authorities to those who would criticise them. Photo: Rohit Chawla Photo: Rohit Chawla advertisement Himself a poet, an admirer of Rabindranath Tagore, a photographer and a professional blackjack player and well known for his friendships with poet Allen Ginsberg and Anish Kapoor, achieving collaborations with contemporary musicians and visual artists such as Olafur Elliason, Weiwei's work is unique to the counterculture movement and uses quirk to raise the resistance. When they moved to demolish his studio, he threw a party; when they jailed him, he responded with a single 'dumbass'; when they released him, he spoofed Gangnam style and danced. He is often criticised by some for being gimmicky, of making art that does not outlast its political statement, and of being a vandal, in his destruction of Han Dynasty vases in 'Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn', statements he makes to counter rampant consumerism and the dangers of glossing over the hidden past. Critics such as New York-based curator Francesco Bonami have said they "hate" Ai Weiwei for "exploiting dissidence in favour of promoting his art", even calling for him to be jailed. Ai Weiwei shrugs. "They are free to make art for art's sake and I respect that. I do not criticise them. I am not born an artist, I am born a human. I care about human conditions, rather than the opinions of others. I don't have a choice." He is evolving his own tongue outside the system, he says. "I'm trying to find a language which I am not familiar with, not feeding into traditional language, and I try to communicate through human instinct, ordinary people and their happiness, sadness, fear, imagination and fantasy." Though he would love to see that in galleries, it is here, in reality, that this is clear, he says. "If you are dealing with something new, the courage, sensitivity and skill are composite, and that is important for any artist, poet, writer. Otherwise it's not art, it just looks like art," he says. advertisement "Most of the time, just provoke doesn't work'' Weiwei sees provocation as his instrument. "It is the artist's job to provoke ideas, to provoke aesthetic, ways of behaving, otherwise it's not relevant. If you think your art should be relevant, then provoke is always related to discovery, and related to finding a new language and skill." But he is conscious of its potential for failure: "Not every provoke will succeed. Only when you have profound knowledge about what happened before, in art, or culture, or politics, or human life, then maybe it will work. Most of the time, just provoke doesn't work. It's just attitude. And attitude can be very empty." Contrary to popular opinion, Weiwei, here at least, is devoid of attitude, a far cry from the Paris-Hilton- selfie-taking-larger-than-life artist the world sees him as. Photo: Rohit Chawla Weiwei walks with such rapid strides across the camp on olive slopes, on the slush from human waste to melting snow, touching tent materials, looking at the layout, scoping for a good spot to shoot in, that even his young team cannot keep up with him. He cannot sit down or slow down. "I have a very strong conviction and motivation, and it keeps me moving," he says. He hands a child chocolate through the fence, his left hand never ceasing to film the queues, the officers, children playing with construction stone. He heads to the perimeter behind the camp, where registration queues are visible. "People don't question the loss of civil liberties because they pretend they don't know," he says. "That's why I am here. To say, 'this is reality'. That is why oppressions can exist, because there is very little opposition to it." When the Chinese crackdown on him occurred, he admits, very few actually stood up for him. Many make statements, but on the ground those who stand up for freedoms are rare. "Artists have to become more human, not more political" "Artists don't have to become more political, artists have to become more human," he says. If you're human, then in today's world, acquire your voice. "The job for artists is the freedom of expression, and if artists don't have the voice that will be tragedy," he says. When Weiwei recently attempted to buy Lego bricks in bulk to make portraits of dissidents, including one of Irom Sharmila struggling to free Manipur from AFSPA, the Lego company refused him the shipment. Weiwei took the appeal to Twitter and bricks poured in from across the globe. Despite the high-voltage reactions Weiwei invokes, no museum or gallery in the West would host his works. China, the might of its economy, looms despite his physical absence from its terrain. The West is no more a defender of free rights than the East is, he laughs. "The West exploits Third World countries because many nations in the West are not really defenders of democracy but use democracy as a cloak, a defending tool for their own profit." How Europe and the western world reacts to the refugee situation is a testimony to how they look at the human rights' condition, he points out. "The refugee situation reflects their understanding of essential human rights, made clear in the United Nations Treaty of 1952. You can see how much attention has been paid, how much money has been used in that and how much politics is played with that, it's shocking," he says. He recently shut his Danish show in anger against a law that allows the state to confiscate the valuables of refugees. Though the West would like to think of itself as a more democratic space than an India or China, this is hardly true, as Weiwei has discovered the hard way. "They all say 'to maintain stability' or to 'make some kind of growth', but we have our rights to protect. We have to watch the government not to abuse its power, because it is given by us. That is every citizen's responsibility, of the media, and all kinds of artists. We have to react on it. Otherwise, we give up our basic rights. With no freedom of speech, the world can be horrifying," he says. To artists dealing with difficult governments, he advises: "Fight your way, all the way." Photo: Rohit Chawla Himself an exile since the age of one, now living between Berlin and Greece, he is Chinese only in paperwork and language. For Chinese citizens, art has always been the language of the dissident. "I'm self-contained, I'm outside. It's not a desirable situation, but I've almost no choice," he says. "I don't see myself as a refugee because I've got my passport and can travel freely, and I'm better than refugees that have lost their lives. But in a way, many of my friends are still in jail, many of their families don't know where they are and they cannot have lawyers or proper records. In one sense, we are all refugees. I am not Chinese but I am a human artist, a human rights defender and that's a beautiful thing to defend and a condition we cannot afford to lose," he says. "Anything that will benefit a person or a society I will defend," he says. Weiwei isn't obsessive about his activism. It uproots him. "I have a seven-year-old boy, I'd much rather spend time with him in a park. I brought him here two weeks ago. This is not my joy, it's painful to be here. But I cannot pretend not to see it," he says. He's taken to calling the internet his one true home. He credits social media, Twitter and Instagram, with giving him his voice. He uses it extensively in his work. Its ephemeral quality, the inability to save the responses it provokes, builds itself into his art like a new-age installation of its own kind. Photo: Rohit Chawla He has ceased to believe in the material and textures and techniques of traditional arts, and uses them, as with the silk and bamboo that forms a halo of surveillance at Bon Marche supermarket, Paris, to satirise lack of movement. Every generation of artists must find their own language, he says. His activism extends to breaking out of the gallery system. Locating his work at Le Bon Marche itself cocks a snook at traditional circuits. "I think the system is too broken, too old and too corrupted. I don't believe in any system actually unless it can self-renew. To do that, they must focus on the individual, take a conscious understanding of what art is about, what culture is about, not just about power or money." Ai Weiwei has no studio in Lesvos. "The world is my studio, this seashore is my studio," he says. Follow the writer on Twitter @Gayatri__J --- ENDS --- Congress leader Anand Sharma demanded immediate resignation of Gujarat CM from her post and accused the PM Modi of turning a blind eye towards this land deal. By India Today Web Desk: The Congress has demanded an independent probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the reported land allotment to a company run by business associates of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's daughter, Anar Jayesh Patel. A report in Economic Times today claimed that the company was allotted 250 acres of land near the Gir lion sanctuary at an official rate of Rs 15 per square metre. The company owns a total of 400 acres of prime land. advertisement Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Congress leader Anand Sharma demanded immediate resignation of Gujarat CM from her post and accused the PM Modi of turning a blind eye towards this shady land deal. "Under PM Modi's watch when he was Gujarat CM, nepotism flourished and public land was plundered to promote commercial and business. For fair probe, it is necessary that then revenue minister and current Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel resign from her post "250 acres of land near Gir lion sanctuary was given for Rs 60000/acre whereas then notified value of land was Rs 50 lakh/acre," Sharma claimed. According to the Economic Times report, filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) show a number of transactions, which started when the Gujarat government allotted 250 acres of public land in 2010-11 to Wildwoods Resorts and Realties, between Anandiben's daughter Anar Jayesh Patel and the promoters of Wildwoods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state at the time. Anandiben was Gujarat's revenue minister at the time of the allocation of land. The revenue department is the nodal authority for such land allotments. She retained the revenue portfolio when she became the chief minister of the state. Earlier this week, The Hindu reported that the involvement of Anandiben's children Anar and son Shwetank in governance matters has even forced PM Modi to ask the CM to "rectify her image." "Not only in Gujarat, even in Delhi it has become a point of discussion regarding her children's involvement in the governance process," the newspaper quoted a source close to Anandiben and the PM, as saying. "The way, the perception has been built and spread, it's a matter of great concern and Prime Minister and others have conveyed to her to rectify and improve the image," the source added. Also read: Release me in 10 days, or be ready for intensified stir: Hardik Patel to Gujarat govt --- ENDS --- By Jyoti Malhotra, Shwweta Punj : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Modi government's third Budget on February 29, widely expected to be a make-or-break document in uplifting the economy. In an exclusive interview with Senior Writer Jyoti Malhotra and Associate Editor Shweta Punj, Jaitley talks about the challenges he faces, and expresses confidence about overcoming them. Excerpts: Q. What are the major loopholes to be plugged in this third Budget? A. Globally, it's a very challenging situation. As the world becomes economically integrated, no country can claim to be isolated. For example, prices of oil, commodities and metals have fallen, thereby creating a slowdown-although, this is beneficial for India. China, which has shouldered nearly 50 per cent of global growth for several years, has fallen to 7 per cent. Till August 2015, markets and currencies in India were stable, but since then the impact of the Chinese slowdown is being felt here too. advertisement Q. What is this impact? A. We have three challenges: two continuous bad monsoons, indiscriminate lending by banks leading to a high rate of NPAs, which means banks now have a declining capacity to support growth and a private sector which is over-borrowed and overleveraged, thereby reducing its capacity to invest. Q. How do we respond to this? A. Since the government came to power, the economy is being pulled essentially by three engines-increased public investment, increased FDI and a visibly improved urban demand. India is the only economy touching 7.5 per cent plus growth, standing out in the global macro picture as one of the only ones to survive this crisis. To exploit this opportunity, we need more than these three engines?we will also need to ensure that agrarian stress is addressed/agrarian demand increased, banking stress eased and the private sector's ability to borrow enhanced. It helps that India is not part of the Chinese production and supply chain to which extent the impact is less. Lower oil and metal prices is great for India. I think we have used this wealth prudently and also liberalised FDI policy so as to establish the credibility of the decision-making process. Savings have been used to partially offset the Rs 30,000 crore losses of oil majors, passed to the consumer and the rest absorbed into cess and excise, which leads directly to infrastructure creation. So highways, rural roads?they have got much more money. Q. How are you dealing with the stressed assets of banks, the NPAs? A. There are three approaches-to give budgetary resources to recapitalise banks who, once they are a bit stronger, should issue shares whereby government holding will come down to 52 per cent. Second, the RBI is pushing banks to actively pursue recoveries-so debtors must sell assets or change managements or induct partners-whichever is flexible. Third, the bankruptcy law is in the final stages and will come up in the coming Budget session for consideration. The UPA did nothing to alleviate the stress in the key 4-5 sectors, but we are back on track on two of them-highways and sugar-while the Uday scheme is looking at the stress caused by discoms. On steel, we are taking some steps. advertisement Q. Will 2016 be more difficult? A. Earlier, a crisis usually occurred once a decade but now volatility and unpredictability are the new norms. So now when you plan policy, you must be aware that you are working in a volatile environment, not get swept away by day-to-day incidents. Second, it's not enough to believe that big industry will solve all your problems. If poverty has to be alleviated, there must be a lot of upward movement from the ground. Therefore, your informal sector has to expand. From Jan Dhan to Mudra in social security, to 'start up, stand up', all these create institutions of self-employment. And the banking system funds them. One of the carryover problems of the UPA has been that 20 big industrialists have been sitting on monies provided by public sector banks which is preventing the banking system from lending to a million others. It is imperative to deal with the whole banking system. Q. The Modi government's big slogan was minimum government and maximum governance. But the opposite has happened. A. The maximum disinvestment took place during Vajpayee's time, as much as Rs 28,000 crore. In the last one-and-a-half years, I have disinvested Rs 37,000 crore without stepping on anybody's toes. advertisement Q. But what about privatisation? A. That is very much on the agenda... some companies, particularly loss-making companies, for eg hotels. But in a volatile market, just for sloganeering purposes you don't jump in. You divest when prices are high. Q. But the government seems to be expanding, getting into start-ups. A. We are only creating an enabling environment for business. We have to fund the unfunded segments of society. Q. You have said your Budget won't be a populist one... A. I am not in favour of doing a 1971-type 'Garibi Hatao' Budget, with populist slogans which are not economically sound. Q. What about passing the GST? A. The authorship of the bill belongs to the Congress. I have never seen an author disown its own script and I am sure some positive thinking will return, otherwise the bill will have to be put to vote. The numbers are on our side. There isn't a single political party with the Congress. Even in the Rajya Sabha, we have a two-third majority as the other parties are supporting us. advertisement Q. RBI governor Raghuram Rajan and you have been making contradictory statements. He had recently said the government should not slip on its fiscal deficit targets? A. What should be the fiscal deficit is the domain of the government and ultimately approved by Parliament. Q. Is there demand for Indian goods, seeing overcapacity in China? A. China's wage structures are going up and therefore there is a historic opportunity for India to compete. I have two kinds of feelings here-when I go to international forums, everybody keeps referring to India as the bright spot because others don't seem to be doing very well. But back home, issues such as agriculture, private sector investment, banking, jobs, etc seem to crowd in and I have sleepless nights dealing with them. Q. Labour bureau statistics say jobs have fallen significantly since your government came to power. A. India does not have structured jobs data. Once we grow at 7-8-9 per cent, job growth will be there. And what do you say about the 17 million people who have taken loans to generate employment? There are a lot of jobs being created in the informal, private sectors. Somebody said I had taken 34 steps in structural reforms. I must now concentrate on three areas-infrastructure, social infrastructure and irrigation. Q. What's your vision considering you have a feisty Opposition? A. Most economic matters are cleared through the Finance bill and Budget which only requires the LS to vote, where the BJP has a majority. Q. So you won't take the Congress along? A. I'd prefer to take them along. But if need be, it'll be in spite of them. --- ENDS --- A fisherman from a coastal hamlet in this district suffered an eye injury when his Sri Lankan counterparts, also Tamils, allegedly pelted stones at his mechanised boat at Neduntheevu off the island nation. By Press Trust of India: A fisherman from a coastal hamlet in this district suffered an eye injury when his Sri Lankan counterparts, also Tamils, allegedly pelted stones at his mechanised boat at Neduntheevu off the island nation. Two of his colleagues with him however escaped unhurt in the attack which took place late last night. Sekar, Assistant Director of Fisheries, said that Mansoor (37), suffered eye injuries as the Sri Lankan fishermen, who were also tamils, pelted stones at their boat for allegedly violating the International Maritime Boundary Line. advertisement The injured fisherman was admitted to a private eye hospital today, he said. Since November 2015, 21 fishermen from Pudukottai district have been arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel for allegedly fishing near the island nation's waters. Also read: Sri Lanka lifts the ban on Tamil national anthem --- ENDS --- International visitors to India availing the electronic Tourist Visa (eTV) facility would soon get SIM cards on their arrival in the country. By Abhishek Bhalla : International visitors to India availing the electronic Tourist Visa (eTV) facility would soon get SIM cards on their arrival in the country. The move is not only aimed at attracting more foreign tourists to make India a global holiday destination but also to address security concerns, officials privy to the development said. The proposal was made by the Ministry of Tourism to give a boost to the sector in the country by sending a message that international tourists can plan a hassle-free visit to India. The idea has received a nod from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and an inter-ministerial committee comprising officials from tourism, home, telecom and finance ministries has been formed to finalise the modalities. advertisement Sources said there is a view that only BSNL SIM cards should be provided since it's a state-owned telecom company but a final decision is awaited. "It will make things hassle free for international tourists as it's not easy to procure a SIM for foreigners in the country. It can also be helpful from the security point of view," said a government official. It is proposed that the SIM cards will be part of the tourist kit that will also include maps, tourism booklets and information about tourist destinations, guidelines relating to dos and don'ts, details regarding whom to contact in case of any emergency. The eTV facility by the Electronic Travel Authorisation enables the prospective visitor to apply for an Indian visa from his or her home country online without visiting the Indian mission and also pay the visa fee online. Once approved, the applicant receives an email authorising him or her to travel to India and he or she can travel with a print out of this authorisation. On arrival, the visitor has to present the authorisation to the immigration authorities who would then stamp the entry into the country. In April 2015, the Union home ministry replaced the visa on arrival scheme with electronic Tourist Visa. The old name led to a presumption that visa was granted on arrival but that was not the case. One had to apply online and the authorisation was done electronically. The e-tourist visa is currently given to citizens of 113 countries and government plans to raise it to 150 countries by March 31, 2016. The facility is available at 16 airports across the country. According to an official estimate, during January- November of 2015, a total of 3,41,683 tourists arrived on etourist visa compared to 24,963 during the corresponding period of previous year, registering a growth of 1268.8 per cent. Tourists availing maximum number of the e-tourist visa facility were from the UK during November 2015, followed by the US, Russian Federation, France, Germany, and Australia. --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Shahid Kapoor tied the knot with Delhi-based Mira Rajput on July 7 last year. Shahid is all set to bring his first Valentine's Day with wife Mira in romantic style. Valentine's Day, also known as Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is a celebration observed on February 14 each year. ALSO SEE: Shahid Kapoor's dinner date with wife Mira Rajput advertisement ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor finally quits smoking. Is Mira Rajput the reason? Recently during Zee Cine Awards Press Conference, the Shaandaar actor was asked about his plans for the Valentine's Day. He said, "I will take my wife out and be nice to her. You are supposed to take a gift or something. I should have said that. I will be shot dead when I get back. But yes, we will do wonderful lovey dovey things." Though he didn't give all the details, but hinted that this Valentine's eve is going to be high on love and romance. Much-in-love Shahid and Mira have been spotted together at various occasions. Recently, they were spotted outside a high end restaurant in Mumbai. Earlier, Shahid also shared a throwback picture from their wedding album and took to Instagram to say thanks to Mira for a shaandaar year. He had written, "She made this year totally worth it. Happy new year you all. Make others happy this year. Keep it real and always make it count (sic)." The grapevine was earlier abuzz with the rumours of Mira making her Bollywood debut soon after being spotted with choreographer Bosco Martis. But Shahid rubbished all the rumours saying, "I am loving all the stuff that I have been reading everywhere. I won't tell you what's true and what's not. Aap log socho. Mira is my wife, she is not an actress." On the work front, Shahid Kapoor will next be seen in Rangoon. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film is scheduled for release on September 30 this year. --- ENDS --- Assange, who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, appealed to the panel saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid a rape investigation, was detained arbritarily in contravention of international law, a UN panel will rule on Friday. (Pic: Reuters) By Reuters: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid a rape investigation, was detained arbritarily in contravention of international law, a UN panel will rule on Friday. Assange, who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, appealed to the panel saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. advertisement The former computer hacker denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Britain said it had never arbitrarily detained Assange and that the Australian had voluntarily avoided arrest by jumping bail to flee to the embassy. But the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in Assange's favour, Sweden said. "Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," Assange, 44, said in a short statement posted on Twitter. He had said that if he lost the appeal then he would leave his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, though Britain said he would be arrested and extradited to Sweden as soon as he stepped outside. The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with his leaks that laid bare often highly critical US appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. Stepping out? While the ruling - which will be published on Friday - may draw attention to Assange's fate, it is unlikely to immediately affect the current investigations against him. "We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," a British government spokeswoman said. Swedish prosecutors said the UN decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A US Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was unclear what impact "a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on the situation." "But, you know, but he's facing serious charges inside of Sweden," Earnest said. Assange said that he had been deprived of fundamental liberties including access to sunlight and fresh air, adequate medical facilities and legal and procedural security. Since he sought refuge in the small embassy, British media have reported Assange has suffered from an irregular heartbeat, a chronic cough and high blood pressure. advertisement Also Read Julian Assange will leave Ecuador embassy, accept arrest if loses UN case: Wikileaks --- ENDS --- With his familiar mop of white hair, 91-year-old Krishen Khanna came in to the champagne lounge looking for his progeny, as he likes to call his children, all of whom were in attendance to witness him receive and give out the inaugural edition of the India Today Art Awards, and by the time he left, he had learned to click his first selfie. Accompanying him was 93-year-old art legend S.H. Raza, who had just had his opening at the Vadehra Art Gallery, and 92-year-old artist Ram Kumar was represented by his son Utpal and grandson Avi, while the diminutive Uma Padmanabhan came in place of her father, 92-year-old K.G. Subramanian, who was unable to travel from Baroda. These four grand old men of Indian art, like the sages from which all lineage was sprung, were surrounded by India's top contemporary artists, from Rameswar Broota to Anju and Atul Dodiya, Himmat Shah and Jitish and Reena Kallat, in a rare coming together at this, the first India Today Art Awards, sponsored by DLF Crest in partnership with The Leela Palace, Delhi, EDC and India Art Fair. advertisement Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India Today Group, Aroon Purie, sparked off the evening with his video address, explaining the long-time genesis of the awards in his personal passion for art. "We stand today at that point when the influence of the modern on the contemporary is completing a stage of transition. We are proud of our past and eager for our future. Art can be a great force for India, and we at India Today are committed to supporting that," he said. Group Editorial Director, Broadcast and New Media, India Today Group, Kalli Purie, explained how the idea was planted, nurtured and finally implemented as the brand celebrates its 40th anniversary. "We wanted all of our country's artists with the most unique perspectives in one room, '' she said. In the days before the award, Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei had spent 48 hours with an India Today team in Levsos, Greece. The provocative image of him lying face down on the pebbled shore, reminding the world of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi who had washed up on the shores of Bodrum in Turkey in 2015, been the most powerful use of art to make a point in recent times. The image was exhibited at the India Art Fair in New Delhi, where India Today showcased images of India's finest artists from its archives shot for the magazine over the past few decades in a show titled 'The Artists'. At the awards, Ai Weiwei shared a video message, saying provocation came as a natural outcome of one's work and that being picked as the International Spotlight "is encouraging for me to be active and be part of political discussions and change". The evening also witnessed a first-of-its-kind panel discussion, which addressed some of the most basic questions of art for a wider televised audience than the art community is usually used to, moderated by India Today Television's Karan Thapar. The panel brought some of the finest names in Indian art together on stage: contemporary artists Atul Dodiya, Bharti Kher, Jitish Kallat, along with photographer Dayanita Singh and Modern artist Anjolie Ela Menon debated with Thapar the primary question of "What is art?" Menon said: "It means different things to different people. It absorbs me, drives me, has a life of its own and I am a slave to it." To this, Kher added: "Art is all about faith and the object you create takes you on a journey. Our madness is our companion and we love it when fellow travellers talk to us." advertisement The conversation traversed the spaces of what art is defined by and what kind of viewers are attuned to it, whether its purpose and meaning needs to be more explicit and approachable, and whether issues like money matter to the artist. Asked if art is perplexing, Jitish Kallat said: "Art is a conspiracy in your mind at the moment of viewing... sometimes as an artist you see the viewer jaywalking away from your intention." Asked if art is lucrative, Dayanita Singh said: "You need to be the author of your own work and own it. There's too much emphasis on the buyer but art is an expression of what the artist wants." advertisement On the issue of works fetching high prices in today's world, Atul Dodiya said, "Tyeb Mehta's name was not mentioned through his life but when his work fetched an astronomical amount, suddenly everyone was writing about him." More inspirationally, Dodiya explained, artists are driven to work with what material is available to them, if too poor to afford canvas and paints, then watercolours, if not watercolours, then ball pen, if not even that they would make art of tea bags and rice, he said to rousing applause. Karan Thapar with panelists Dayanita Singh, Jitish Kallat, Atul Dodiya, Bharti Kher and Anjolie Ela Menon. Photo: Rajwant Rawat Awards were given across nine categories and winners were selected by a jury comprising Aroon Purie, Vasant Valley School Chairperson Rekha Purie, healthcare entrepreneur Malvinder Singh, Chairman of the Ambuja Neotia Group Harshavardhan Neotia, philanthropist founder of India's first privately-funded museum of art Kiran Nadar, collector Lekha Poddar, managing director and head of equity at Darashaw & Co. Dara Mehta, restaurateur and writer Aman Nath, International Director of Asian Art at Christie's auction house Amin Jaffer, and India Today's Group Visual Director Rohit Chawla. The ceremony began with honouring the doyens of Indian art: Ram Kumar, K.G. Subramanyan, S.H. Raza and Krishen Khanna. "I don't know what to say," said Khanna, making his acceptance speech on behalf of the doyens. "From the time we began to now, it has been a long journey. Me and my contemporaries, we went through difficult times. But fortunately, we have come to a situation which is fruitful.'' advertisement Some of the other highlights of the evening were the presence of rare stars, often talked of but rarely in attendance, such as art writer B.N. Goswamy, Rameswar Broota, and an emotional cheer for late artist Mrinalini Mukherjee, just ahead of her first death anniversary. Young and edgy artists and gallerists such as Parmesh Sahani of the Godrej Culture Lab, Priyanka and Prateek Raja of Experimenter, and Asim Waqif stole the show entirely. The evening saw collectors such as Shalini Passi and Anupam Poddar rubbing shoulders with artists such as Jayshree Burman, Paresh Maity, and Subodh Gupta. As the curtain came down on the first India Today Art Awards there was a sense that the conversation on art was only just beginning. Follow the writer on Twitter @prachibhuchar --- ENDS --- Islamic State has as many as 25,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, down from a previous estimate of up to 31,000, according to a US intelligence report revealed by the White House on Thursday. By Reuters: Islamic State has as many as 25,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, down from a previous estimate of up to 31,000, according to a US intelligence report revealed by the White House on Thursday. US officials cited factors such as battlefield casualties and desertions to explain the roughly 20 percent decrease in fighters, and said the report showed a US-led campaign to crush Islamic State was making progress. advertisement The new intelligence estimate "means they continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "ISIS has sustained significant casualties," Earnest said. Ground fighting efforts by coalition partners of the United States are having an effect in the conflict against Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, he said. US-backed Iraqi security forces and tribal militias and moderate opposition groups in Syria have contributed. So too has a US-led air campaign that has launched more than 10,000 strikes against the Islamist extremists, Earnest said. Finally, international efforts are beginning to stem the flow of foreigners seeking to join the movement. "ISIL is having more difficulty than they've had before in replenishing their ranks, and we have long been aware of the need of the international community to cooperate to stop the flow of foreign fighters to the region," said Earnest. The new intelligence report of 19,000-25,000 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria compares to 2014 estimates of 20,000-31,000 fighters. "The decrease reflects the combined effects of battlefield deaths, desertions, internal disciplinary actions, recruiting shortfalls, and difficulties that foreign fighters face traveling to Syria," said Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. Some North African jihadists who might otherwise have traveled to Syria to join Islamic State may instead have heeded calls by the movement's leadership to head to Libya, where the Islamists are fighting to expand their grip on territory on the Mediterranean coast. The intelligence report did not account for the Islamic State's affiliates in South Asia, other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, where its Libyan branch is expanding. There appear to be conflicting US estimates of the strength of the movement's Libyan affiliate. Defense officials put the number at some 3,000, while other US officials put it at 5,000-6,000. Also read: ISIS warns UK of attack that will turn 'children's hair white' Jihadi Jack first white British boy to join ISIS --- ENDS --- By Jeemon Jacob: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, 72, is the man facing the fire after solar scam accused Saritha Nair told a Judicial Commission that she paid him a Rs 1.9-crore bribe. The embattled CM spoke to Associate Editor Jeemon Jacob. Excerpts: Q. Did you take money from Saritha Nair? A. Never. I've never taken a bribe in my whole life. I came into politics to serve the people and not to make profits from the offices I hold. You can crucify Oommen Chandy all you want with the 'revelations' of Saritha Nair. But I've not taken any money from her. advertisement Q. Do you think there's a political conspiracy afoot with these late revelations? A. Of course, there is a political conspiracy. The Opposition in Kerala has lost its confidence and political will. Saritha has been out of jail since 2014 and she's been meeting mediapersons ever since. She has never raised allegations against me before. I also deposed before the judicial commission for 14 hours. Her lawyer never raised these questions there. Q. Do you have any evidence to show that she had conspired to raise these allegations against you and your family? A. I can't reveal the evidence now. But Saritha herself has told the media that she was offered a 100 million rupees by CPI(M) leaders to raise these allegations. She has not disowned her statement. One of the bar owners, Elegance Binoy, has also stated before the media that she met Saritha before the latter deposed before the commission. All my political life, I've worked with a clear conscience. I do hope people will realise this and reject all the allegations. Q. Do you regret appointing such shady characters as your personal staff? A: I'm a person who wants to do good for the people. When I take a hundred decisions, sometimes 10 of them may be wrong. I might have committed mistakes but I've rectified those when it came to my notice. I've never done a wrong deliberately. I've also not helped the solar scam accused or given them political patronage. When the case surfaced, I ordered strong action against the accused. --- ENDS --- She said on Friday his rights have been repeatedly violated and that Sweden and Britain have to "step up to the plate" and set him free." A demonstrator holds a banner outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group invest By AP: A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says a U.N. panel finding shows that he has been subjected to "mental torture." She said on Friday his rights have been repeatedly violated and that Sweden and Britain have to "step up to the plate" and set him free." 1:10 p.m. A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the finding of a U.N. panel represents a "resounding victory" for Assange. advertisement Jennifer Robinson praised the panel's finding that Assange has been a victim of arbitrary detention and should be freed. Assange has sought refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London since 2012 to avoid questioning in Sweden on allegations of sexual misconduct. Robinson said Assange has exercised his legal rights in a lawful manner. She called the decision "incredibly important." 11:55 a.m. One of Julian Assange's lawyers in Sweden says the country "has no other option but to submit itself to" the opinion of a U.N. human rights panel. Thomas Olsson says Sweden - where Assange is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape in 2010 - has "committed itself to the rules and decisions that exist in the U.N. human rights charter." Olsson welcomed the ruling that Assange has been arbitrarily detained, which he called "a pretty positive message," adding it was "totally in line with the argumentation we have presented." He said time should be given to the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the case, who was traveling on Friday, "to analyze this ruling . and then take a decision 11:20 a.m. One of four voting members of a U.N. panel disagreed with the majority opinion that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed from "arbitrary detention" - an unusual show of dissent on the panel. U.N. human rights office official Christophe Peschoux said the dissenter was Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The 3-1 vote in the case came after an Australian member of the five-person panel recused herself from the proceedings because she shares the same nationality as Assange. 10:15 a.m. Britain's Foreign Office has rejected the United Nations panel's finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. Officials said in a statement Friday morning that Britain will formally contest the working group's opinion issued earlier in Geneva. The statement says Britain is "deeply frustrated" by the Assange situation. "The opinion of the U.N. working group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system," the statement says. "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." advertisement The statement points out that an allegation of rape is still outstanding and that a European Arrest Warrant is in place. It says Britain has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning. 9:35 a.m. The Swedish Prosecution Authority says the call from the U.N. working group for Julian Assange to be released and compensated "has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law." Spokeswoman Karin Rosander said the prosecutor responsible for the case is traveling and has not yet been able to comment on the case. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he would be sent to the United States. 9:25 a.m. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling ways. advertisement Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. --- ENDS --- In yet another incident highlighting collapsing law and order in Bihar, a local LJP leader, Baijnathi Singh, was gunned down when he along with his family members were coming to Patna from Raghopur today. In yet another incident highlighting collapsing law and order in Bihar, a local LJP leader, Baijnathi Singh, was gunned down when he along with his family members were coming to Patna from Raghopur today. Singh, whose son had contested last year's Assembly elections against Lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav, had several criminal cases filed against him. The incident happened at around 1 pm on Friday at Raghopur's Kachi Dargah when 7-8 criminals stopped the white Scorpio in which Singh and three other family members, including his son were travelling and opened fire with AK-47. Around 30 rounds were fired at the vehicle after which the criminals escaped. advertisement Soon after the incident, all the injured were rushed to a nearby private hospital where Singh was declared dead while his wife and another woman who was in the vehicle are battling for life. Singh's son Rakesh who was also in the car escaped unhurt. According to sources, eleven AK-47 bullets were pumped into the LJP leader. Singh's son Rakesh hinted that the killing may have been orchestrated by his rivals. "We were coming to Patna when the incident happened. Criminals with latest weapons attacked us. My father was also shot after which criminals fled. I know who are the killers but won't reveal their names now," Rakesh Singh told India Today TV. Baijnathi Singh had strong political connections and was not only a LJP leader but also close to Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. His wife had contested election against Rabri Devi in 2000 and his son Rakesh had contested elections last year as independent candidate against Lalu's son Tejaswi Yadav. The incident has once again given an opportunity to the Opposition to attack the Nitish government over deteriorating law and order condition in the state. Opposition leaders said that people involved in the killing enjoyed political patronage under the present regime of JD(U), RJD, Congress combine. "The killers have political support and law and order has crumbled in Nitish government. Family members of Baijnathi Singh had contested elections against Lalu family members," BJP leader Achutanand Singh said. --- ENDS --- If you are still gushing over Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya's oh-so-romantic engagement pictures, here's some news that will instantly brighten up your day. By India Today Web Desk: The real-life pairing of Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya obviously caught the imagination of the producers of Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, because the buzz is that the couple will soon be seen romancing each other on-screen. According to reports, the small screen couple, who are seen on Star Plus' Yeh Hai Mohabbatein but aren't starring opposite each other, will get romantically involved on the show. advertisement The current storyline of the daily soap shows Ishita (Divyanka Tripathi) being convicted for a murder. In the upcoming episodes Ishita's husband Raman (Karan Patel) will approach a high-profile lawyer Nidhi (Pavitra Punia) to fight Ishita's case. In a weird twist of events, Nidhi will ask Raman to marry her in return for Ishita's freedom. Left with no option Raman will marry Nidhi. SEE: Divyanka Tripathi and Vivek Dahiya's adorable Popeye moment Since Ishita will be left alone, the producers are planning to explore a romantic angle between Ishita and ACP Abhishek (played by Vivek), by cashing on Divyanka and Vivek's real-life relationship. The gorgeous pair is also likely to be seen in the dance reality show Nach Baliye 8. Also read: Divyanka Tripathi engaged to Vivek Dahiya "Yeah, we have been approached for the dance reality show. We have not decided anything on it as we are already shooting for a daily soap, which is extremely time consuming and taxing. Managing both will be a task. Divyanka and I have not thought about it seriously or had a long discussion. We are still to figure how we can do it. It has to be a mutual decision," Vivek told Bollywood Life. Divyanka also said they are trying to work it out with the channel. "Yes, we have been approached but we haven't yet decided whether we will be a part of it or not. Our fans are already excited though. Let's see how it works out between us and the channel," Divyanka told India Forums. Also read: Divyanka Tripathi, Vivek Dahiya to shake a leg on Nach Baliye 8? --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Infuriated and red-faced by the way Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal wore sandals with socks during a banquet held at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the French President Francois Hollande, Vishakhapatnam-based businessman, Sumit Agarwal posted an open letter on Facebook soon after he read a report on how the Delhi CM presented himself at the occasion. advertisement He insisted that a person of such a high stature ought to have some sense of dressing for formal occasions , "Like Hon'ble President (PranabDa), you too, were representing the country that day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, not staging a dharna at an Aam Aadmi Party rally at Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar. You're a grown man. Please act according to the situation & dress for the occasion," Aggarwal wrote. He further wrote, "It broke my heart to see you like this. I'm deeply aggrieved. It's sad that the Delhi Government does not even provide proper footwear to its employees whereas even micro scale industries (such as mine), with their lifetime budgets far lesser than Delhi Government's daily budget, provide boots to their labourers free of cost!" Sumit Agarwal who also holds a degree in Mechanical Engineer emphasised in the letter that he is against donations to any political party and decided to crowd source the amount. He said, "I took to the streets to gather money to fund a pair of footwear for you. Due to time constraints, I could only go to every flat in my own & 2 adjacent buildings." Confirmation on the authenticity of the DD and Kejriwal's response to the letter is still awaited. Read the full text below: --- ENDS --- Inspired by Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam, a 38-year-old man in Bihar tried to destroy the evidence of a murder committed by him - just the way it was shown in the hit Bollywood movie. By Giridhar Jha: Inspired by Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam, a 38-year-old man in Bihar tried to destroy the evidence of a murder committed by him - just the way it was shown in the hit Bollywood movie. The Patna Police arrested Rajnish Singh, a resident of Vaishali, more than a week after he shot dead a girl from Indore, Shristi Jain, who had come to Patna to discuss marriage with him. advertisement Rajnish confessed to his crime after his arrest earlier this week. According to police, he told interrogators that he had killed Shristi after their wedding talks fell through and tried to destroy the evidence. Rajnish, who had apparently seen the film last year, said when he realised that the police might trace him by his mobile location, he threw his phone on a passing truck to hoodwink the cops, just the way Devgn, or the protagonist Vijay Salgaonkar, had done in the film. "But the cell phone fell on the truck and got broken," he said. He also got his Royal Enfield motorcycle thrown in the Ganga taking a leaf out of an identical scene from Drishyam. "I hired a boat and paid the boatman Rs 500 to get the motorcycle thrown in the river," he added. Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said Rajnish had admitted to his crime but showed no remorse whatsoever. Shristi had met Rajnish on a matrimonial website. Though Rajnish was already married and had two kids, he wanted to settle in Delhi with a modern wife. He had posed as an affluent man on the matrimonial site and had gotten a response from Shristi ten days before she came to Patna to meet him. But Shristi apparently spurned him and that lead to a heated argument on January 25. While she was on way to the railway station to catch the train to Indore, Rajnish, along with his cousin, accosted her and shot her at point-blank range and escaped. --- ENDS --- Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday demanded that the Centre come up with a law which entitle reservation for the backward classes in the private sector. By Press Trust of India: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday demanded that the Centre come up with a law which entitle reservation for the backward classes in the private sector jobs as it would help in the development of backward classes, SC and STs in the country. "We demand that there should be a law which enables there should be reservation for backward classes, SCs and STs in the private sector jobs too. We see that even after so many years of independence the condition of Dalits in the country is still very bad," Paswan told reporters on the sidelines of a party programme here tonight. advertisement Paswan, Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, said as the private companies are availing benefits from the government they should also provide reservation to the dalits. Paswan further demanded that Centre should come up with residential schools in blocks of country where there will be 75 per cent reservation for the dalits. While talking about future plans of LJP in West Bengal, Paswan said party has plans to contest elections in the state. --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today deferred the Maharashtra government's appeal against actor Salman Khan's hit-and-run case till February 12. The apex court said it needs more time to hear the appeal. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi who is representing the Maharashtra government in the case questioned HC's approach over evidence against Salman Khan. "How did the driver appear after 13 years? Why wasn't he brought before the court earlier," he said. Rohatgi claims that the level of alcohol in Khan's blood was high even after 12 hours, and he had full knowledge of what he was doing. The Maharashtra government had decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against Salman Khan's acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The state government's petition also refuted the high court's finding that the probe was conducted to weaken the prosecution's case. Bombay High Court had acquitted the actor of all charges in December last year. The high court had held that the prosecution had failed to prove its case due to bad investigation by police. advertisement Also Read Salman Khan hit and run case: Maharashtra government challenges acquittal in Supreme Court --- ENDS --- By India Today Web Desk: Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case, today sought bail on medical grounds. Indrani, in her 17-page bail plea in the Mumbai Session court said, she is suffering from frequent "blackouts" and so she needs to be in a stress-free environment. "(Indrani) is suffering from 'chronic small vessels ischemic changes', and as a result the supply of oxygen to brain may get interrupted which may result in brain stroke and is life threatening," read her bail application, which was annexed with medical documents that ran into about 50 pages. advertisement In the application, Indrani said that it takes around 45-60 minutes to reach hospital from Byculla women's prison (where she is presently lodged now). Citing an instance, she said that in October last year when she fell unconscious, it took more than six hours to commence treatment on her. "On October 2, 2015 (Indrani) was unconscious at 5 am but was treated at 11:45 am," her bail application said. Earlier, a special court had granted permission to the CBI to question three accused in the Sheena Bora murder case - Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai - in jail after the agency said some "new facts" have emerged. "We wanted to question the trio in the jail and we have got permission," a CBI official said. In an application filed before special CBI judge HS Mahajan, the agency said, "In the course of investigation, certain new facts have emerged from the examination of witnesses and the three accused are required to be re-examined in view of the new information revealed by the witnesses", the CBI application said. Indrani, the prime accused in the case, is lodged at the Byculla women's jail. 24-year-old Sheena, daughter of Indrani from an earlier relationship, was allegedly strangled in a car and then her body burnt and dumped in a forest in Raigad. The Central Bureau of Investigation, while maintaining that financial transaction was the motive behind the murder of Sheena, had earlier said that Peter, during his interrogation, disclosed investments of crores of rupees made by him and Indrani and is expecting information from Interpol on the details of an account opened by Indrani in a bank in Hong Kong. ALSO READ | Indrani had told Peter about conspiracy to kill Sheena: CBI to court --- ENDS --- The e-retail company has reportedly decided not to renew the actor's contract as its brand ambassador. By Priya Pathak: After Incredible India campaign reportedly severing ties with Aamir Khan, Snapdeal is also seemingly going to say bye bye to him. The e-retail company has reportedly decided not to renew the actor's contract as its brand ambassador. According to a news report, the contract was extendable by a year but the company decided against it as it is looking to cut down its ad expenses and focus more on its products and categories. advertisement The actor had come under attack on social media last year for his remarks on "increasing intolerance" in the country. Even Snapdeal faced the heat in aftermath with around 85,000 users reportedly uninstalling the app from their phone. The company was also slammed on Twitter in comments that many said only proved Khan right. The Snapdeal users, to show their "anger", also gave poor ratings to the app in the Google Play store. In the wake of the controversy, a hashtag -- AppWapsi -- trended on Twitter. Later, Snapdeal came forward to defend itself. "Snapdeal is neither connected nor plays a role in comments made by Aamir Khan in his personal capacity. Snapdeal is a proud Indian company built by passionate young Indians focused on building an inclusive digital India," the company had said. However, if the latest report is correct it seems that internally the company did feel that it's association with Khan could be damaging to it, leading it to the decision of not renewing the actor's contract. --- ENDS --- By Jeemon Jacob: In 2011, a sitting Kerala High Court judge came out and praised Saritha Nair, 38, and her partner Biju Radhakrishnan's efforts to sell solar panels in Kochi. Team Solar Renewable Energy Ltd's scheme, the judge noted in a letter of endorsement, directly threatened criminals who took advantage of the dark to commit crime. In just two years, those words would come back to haunt the judge. Saritha and Biju were arrested for a string of cheating cases. 'Solar Saritha' is Kerala's newest celebrity, a ratings magnet for prime-time TV and a star for the selfie-crazy public. Indeed, the impact of the scam's sex, lies and political sleaze has even got Mollywood in a tizzy. She was even signed on by filmmaker Shaji Kailas for a Suresh Gopi-starrer, Thalasthanam (Capital), a potboiler loosely based on the scam. advertisement Born in a lower middle class family in 1978 in Alappuzha district, Saritha was raised by her mother Indira after her father Somashekharan committed suicide when she was still in school. Teachers in St Annie's High School, Chengannur, remember her as a bright student-she scored 538 out of 600 marks in her secondary examination in 1993 and later did her diploma in Applied Electronics. The turning point came in 2004 when she met Biju Radhakrishnan while working in a financial firm. Her proximity to Biju led to her divorce after which she joined his consultancy firm. Between 2008 and 2010, 16 cases of cheating and fraud were registered against the duo for duping businessmen by offering fake loans. IGP M.R. Ajithkumar, who arrested the couple in 2010 for fraud, calls them a "strange and dangerous mix". "Saritha was manipulative, and Biju, a born criminal." After getting bail in 2010, the couple began setting up solar panels in homes of VIPs to build contacts and use their political contacts to cheat people. It is still not clear exactly how Saritha Nair gained unfettered access to CM Oommen Chandy's office and residence but by the end she was a familiar face to ministers and staff there. Soon, Congress ministers and legislators were promoting her company and sharing the dais with her. The couple parted ways over mutual suspicions in 2013. During her interrogation that year, Saritha revealed how Biju had murdered his wife in 2006, a revelation which led to Biju being charged for murder. "Nothing can stop Saritha if she is determined to use you," rues a Congress legislator who did not want to be identified. "She is like an assassin who finds her victim in the most unexpected ways." Politicians call her a blackmailer who extorts money from high-profile victims. She made a sensational claim of rape against Congress MLA A.P. Abdullakutty in 2014 but backed off soon after, saying it was done at the instigation of his political rival, KPCC general secretary Thambanoor Ravi. During the course of all this probe itself, there was first the leak of call records, then the sensational letter bomb. She told judicial magistrate N.V. Raju that she had been sexually exploited by many political leaders and had identified them in a sealed letter. But the magistrate didn't record her statement for which he was later censured by the high court. Political commentator A. Jayashankar feels Saritha has effectively used the judiciary and media to serve her ends. "By agreeing to the inquiry commission, the CM unwittingly handed Saritha a platform from where she can damage him," he says. advertisement Days after her sensational bribery allegation against the CM, the makers of the political thriller Saritha had signed on for announced they were shelving the film. Reality was clearly overtaking make-believe. --- ENDS --- By Mail Today: What was the trigger for the murderous and shameless attack on the African students last Sunday in Bengaluru? According to the police, minutes after the car being driven by the Sudanese student Mohammed Ismail rammed into Shabana Taj (35) killing her on the spot, her husband informed his relatives and soon men from the community gathered along with local leaders. advertisement "They surrounded the African students and trashed them mercilessly. Initially, a few local residents tried to intervene, but were warned by the community leaders against interfering in the issue. At the same time, a few boys from the local mechanic shop set the car ablaze that was being driven by Ismail. Our beat policemen who were present near the spot were of little help, as the mob swelled," admitted a local police officer posted on the Hesaraghatta Road. Taking advantage of the situation, a few local residents, who held a grudge against the African students for their 'fast and modern' lifestyle, joined the mob and attacked other African students, who came there. "Had the community leaders shown restraint by involving the police, the situation would not have aggravated. Nevertheless, once we complete the probe, we will decide whether to implicate the community leaders in the case for instigating the attacks," the officer said. Watch video here: Also read: Tanzanian woman stripped in Bengaluru: Is racism ingrained in Indian psyche? Racism on rise in Bengaluru: Six attacks on Africans in a year Tanzanian woman attack: Crime Branch to take over probe --- ENDS --- An embarrassed and visibly upset Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, who recently took over the reins, on Thursday handed over the probe into the attack on a Tanzanian woman to the Bengaluru City Crime Branch (CCB). By Mail Today: An embarrassed and visibly upset Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara, who recently took over the reins, on Thursday handed over the probe into the attack on a Tanzanian woman to the Bengaluru City Crime Branch (CCB). "There is no question of any delay tactics. Communication gap and language issues were hindrances for the police. We will not spare anyone. The case will now be probed thoroughly by the CCB," Parameshwara said. advertisement He added, "This is not an incident of racial attack. Bengaluru does not have that kind of mindset. It is clearly a response to an accident, which can happen anywhere." He said a few of the claims of the Africans were exaggerated. "Contrary to media reports, she was not paraded naked. Her dress was deliberately torn by miscreants, who took advantage of the situation. Her complaint does not mention about being paraded naked," he added. Parameshwara said that strict instructions had been issued to the police to deal with such cases in a sensitive manner and to not to ignore them. Watch video here: Also read: Tanzanian woman stripped in Bengaluru: Is racism ingrained in Indian psyche? Racism on rise in Bengaluru: Six attacks on Africans in a year Tanzanian woman assault: Community leaders led mob, say cops --- ENDS --- By Aravind Gowda: At a time when Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was hardselling Bengaluru as a preferred destination for investments owing to its cosmopolitan nature, safety and startup ecosystem to international delegates at a global investors' meet, the police were doing the opposite - refusing to take complaint from African students, who were beaten up mercilessly by an unruly mob, failing to acknowledge that a Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked and blaming the Africans for their language issues and communication gap. advertisement Shockingly, this happens to be the sixth recorded incident against African students in last one year in Bengaluru requiring police intervention. Inaction In what seems to be another indication of the Congress government in Karnataka being in a deep slumber, three days after the attack on the Tanzanian woman, a complaint was registered and arrests were made, that too after the media exposed the lackadaisical attitude of the police. While more than 30 people were involved in Sunday's mob attack on the helpless African students, so far five accused, namely Lokesh Bangaru, Venkatesha, Bhanuprakash, Rehmatullah and Saleem Pasha, have been arrested and search is on for another 10 miscreants. It is a well-known fact that there were two incidents on Sunday - a road accident in which a Sudanese national Mohammed Ismail rammed his car into a two-wheeler killing the pillion rider on the spot. The mob beat him up and set his car on fire. Thirty minutes later, a car driven by a Tanzanian woman and her two friends happened to pass through the accident spot and the mob targeted them as well. The woman alleged that she was stripped and paraded naked and the handful policemen present on the spot refused to intervene. Eventually, her car was also set on fire by the mob. In all, five students were assaulted by the mob. But the police are working in silos and refusing to admit any lapse on their part to contain the mob. Both Siddaramaiah and top cops are maintaining that the woman was not stripped and paraded naked. Karnataka Director General of Police Omprakash provided a more realistic picture of the incident. "Initially we could not record her statement because of the confusion. Her (Tanzanian woman) shirt was found removed which she realised subsequently and told the same to me when I spoke to her today. She did not tell me that she was stripped and paraded. People have reacted in a similar manner to accidents elsewhere. We cannot treat this incident as a racial attack," he said. Differences People in the city blame the cultural differences and lifestyle between the African students and local residents for the rising number of such incidents. "In a majority of the incidents, we found out that the African students have landed in trouble whenever they are in an inebriated condition. They also need to be cautious, as they have to abide by the law of the land. We have been sensitising them on these matters. Many of them are overstaying in Bengaluru despite expiry of their visa. First they need to sort out all of these," said a senior police officer. The African students also admitted about the lapses. "The students come across as more outspoken, boisterous and defend their actions. Many of them cannot speak fluent English and haven't felt the need for learning the local languages. There are cultural diversities within different nationalities of Africa. A Kenyan is quite different from a Senegalese and they are used to playing loud music. At times our boys are also at fault because of their unruly behaviour. We have tried to educate them on the Indian law system and lifestyle. Bengaluru happens to be the preferred destination for us for educational needs irrespective of these developments," said John Patrick Njuama of the Union of African Communities of Bengaluru. advertisement Locals alleged that whenever the Congress is in power in Karnataka, the police follow a relaxed regime towards their work. The 'transfer' business within the police department with the officers eying lucrative posts is another deterrent for the government to initiate action against the erring cops. The BJP leaders alleged that the law and order situation in Bengaluru had collapsed because of the poor administration under the Congress rule. "I have never seen this kind of worse law and order situation in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru. I wish Siddaramaiah and his Cabinet colleagues focus on retaining the image of the city. I am pained by the development in this city," said Union Law Minister DV Sadananda Gowd. advertisement Watch: Also read:Tanzanian woman stripped in Bengaluru: Is racism ingrained in Indian psyche? Tanzanian woman attack: Crime Branch to take over probe Tanzanian woman assault: Community leaders led mob, say cops --- ENDS --- By AP: The tiny South Pacific kingdom of Tonga said today it has a Zika epidemic after five people tested positive for the virus and another 265 are suspected of having it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in addition to Tonga, the Pacific islands of American Samoa and Samoa have also reported Zika outbreaks and it is warning Pacific travelers to protect themselves from mosquitoes, which spread the virus. advertisement Tonga Health Minister Saia Piukala told The Associated Press today the Zika outbreak is the island's first and it is awaiting the results of more blood tests that have been sent overseas. He said many people aren't being tested because of the cost, but are being diagnosed anyway because of their symptoms. Piukala said there haven't been any reported cases of pregnant women contracting the virus. "We hope that the pregnant women out there who have signs and symptoms of Zika come forward," he said. Malinoa Fainu, from Ha'ateiho village, said she'd heard about the disease on television and is trying to take precautions. "I'm afraid that I might catch it in my condition," she said. "I'm pregnant." Tongan health officials have started spraying bug killer in schools and other areas where people gather to try to slow the spread of the disease. Of the five confirmed cases of Zika that originated in Tonga, three were discovered in New Zealand when people who had traveled to Tonga were tested, officials said. But New Zealand officials say there is virtually no threat of Zika there because New Zealand doesn't have the species of mosquito which is spreading the disease. Brazilian researchers suspect the explosive spread of Zika is linked to an increase in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads, although scientists have not proven a link. The World Health Organization this week declared the Zika virus a global emergency. Also read: India readies strategy to win war against Zika virus Indian firm claims breakthrough in developing Zika vaccine --- ENDS --- Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. By Reuters: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to go free from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and be awarded compensation for what amounts to a three-and-a-half-year arbitrary detention, a U.N. panel ruled on Friday. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. advertisement Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the U.N. panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange's favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," the group's head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. "(It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation." Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Sweden said it has no such plans. Assange had said that if he lost the appeal then he would leave his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, though Britain said he would be arrested and extradited to Sweden as soon as he stepped outside. NO CHANGE The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. In 2010, the group released over 90,000 secret documents on the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, followed by almost 400,000 U.S. military reports detailing operations in Iraq. Those disclosures were followed by release of millions of diplomatic cables dating back to 1973. advertisement The U.N. Working Group does not have the authority to order the release of a detainee - and Friday's ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange - but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments. Recent high-profile cases submitted to the U.N. panel include that of jailed former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American jailed in Iran until a prisoner swap last month. But governments have frequently brushed aside its findings such as a ruling on Myanmar's house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2008, a call in 2006 for the Iraqi government not to hang former dictator Saddam Hussein, and frequent pleas for the closure of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion," a British government spokesman said. "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," the spokesman said. "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden." advertisement Swedish prosecutors said the U.N. decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A U.S. Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. --- ENDS --- Rabobank reaffirms palm oil commitment The National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines has published its Final Statement on the dialogue it facilitated last year between Rabobank and Friends of the Earth Netherlands concerning making the palm oil supply chain sustainable. The National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines has published its Final Statement on the dialogue it facilitated last year between Rabobank and Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) concerning making the palm oil supply chain sustainable. The Final Statement is a balanced representation of this dialogue with which it fully concurs, Rabobank said, and it wholeheartedly accepts the NCPs recommendations. Rabobank says it remains dedicated to bringing about cooperation with companies and to seeking dialogue with stakeholders. The NCP states its appreciation for this approach in its Final Statement. Rabobank said it will furthermore continue to seek dialogue with Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie), even though Friends of the Earth Netherlands appears to be turning its back on the palm oil sector. It is specifically the dialogue with stakeholders and business clients in the palm oil supply chain that is leading to a step-by-step movement in the right direction. Working in cooperation to make the palm oil supply chain sustainable has helped result in 20% of global palm oil production now being sustainable, said Bas Ruter, Director of Sustainability at Rabobank. Turning your back on the palm oil sector and looking away certainly wont help the palm oil supply chain become more sustainable. Rabobank said it will continue to focus its efforts and policy on making the palm oil sector sustainable, partly in cooperation with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO). Rabobank went on to say that it expects companies that produce palm oil to fulfil Rabobanks sustainability requirements and RSPOs sustainability criteria. If signs emerge that a client may not be fulfilling the sustainability criteria, the bank said, it will ask the client to provide clarification and make it clear that the sustainability criteria must be fulfilled in full. Investigative reporting from the inner city to Wall Street to the United Nations This is the blogspot version InnerCityPress.com Blog Archive Nov 2016 (10) Oct 2016 (41) Sep 2016 (51) Aug 2016 (49) Jul 2016 (67) Jun 2016 (60) May 2016 (67) Apr 2016 (46) Mar 2016 (35) Feb 2016 (45) Jan 2016 (54) Dec 2015 (69) Nov 2015 (64) Oct 2015 (74) Sep 2015 (69) Aug 2015 (55) Jul 2015 (73) Jun 2015 (65) May 2015 (83) Apr 2015 (74) Mar 2015 (99) Feb 2015 (92) Jan 2015 (62) Dec 2014 (82) Nov 2014 (98) Oct 2014 (97) Sep 2014 (100) Aug 2014 (115) Jul 2014 (105) Jun 2014 (98) May 2014 (113) Apr 2014 (111) Mar 2014 (77) Feb 2014 (92) Jan 2014 (106) Dec 2013 (93) Nov 2013 (111) Oct 2013 (114) Sep 2013 (127) Aug 2013 (124) Jul 2013 (133) Jun 2013 (119) May 2013 (124) Apr 2013 (130) Mar 2013 (139) Feb 2013 (90) Jan 2013 (116) Dec 2012 (115) Nov 2012 (92) Oct 2012 (112) Sep 2012 (120) Aug 2012 (132) Jul 2012 (122) Jun 2012 (94) May 2012 (112) Apr 2012 (126) Mar 2012 (136) Feb 2012 (123) Jan 2012 (159) Dec 2011 (158) Nov 2011 (131) Oct 2011 (138) Sep 2011 (151) Aug 2011 (145) Jul 2011 (138) Jun 2011 (144) May 2011 (157) Apr 2011 (136) Mar 2011 (156) Feb 2011 (140) Jan 2011 (143) Dec 2010 (164) Nov 2010 (157) Oct 2010 (147) Sep 2010 (150) Aug 2010 (156) Jul 2010 (162) Jun 2010 (130) May 2010 (163) Apr 2010 (154) Mar 2010 (155) Feb 2010 (147) Jan 2010 (154) Dec 2009 (155) Nov 2009 (158) Oct 2009 (175) Sep 2009 (167) Aug 2009 (181) Jul 2009 (190) Jun 2009 (184) May 2009 (192) Apr 2009 (174) Mar 2009 (187) Feb 2009 (185) Jan 2009 (204) Dec 2008 (226) Nov 2008 (201) Oct 2008 (243) Sep 2008 (199) Aug 2008 (209) Jul 2008 (208) Jun 2008 (148) May 2008 (191) Apr 2008 (166) Mar 2008 (146) Feb 2008 (177) Jan 2008 (184) Dec 2007 (156) Nov 2007 (180) Oct 2007 (134) Sep 2007 (137) Aug 2007 (161) Jul 2007 (163) Jun 2007 (144) May 2007 (143) Apr 2007 (164) Mar 2007 (190) Feb 2007 (134) Jan 2007 (143) Dec 2006 (124) Nov 2006 (134) Oct 2006 (146) Sep 2006 (131) Aug 2006 (138) Jul 2006 (91) Jun 2006 (115) May 2006 (128) Apr 2006 (125) Mar 2006 (125) Feb 2006 (141) Jan 2006 (154) Dec 2005 (133) Nov 2005 (127) Oct 2005 (142) Sep 2005 (154) Aug 2005 (192) Jul 2005 (156) Jun 2005 (145) May 2005 (171) Apr 2005 (129) Mar 2005 (142) Feb 2005 (110) Jan 2005 (141) Dec 2004 (164) Nov 2004 (174) Oct 2004 (142) Sep 2004 (163) Aug 2004 (171) Jul 2004 (95) Jun 2004 (141) May 2004 (153) Apr 2004 (138) Mar 2004 (143) Feb 2004 (129) Jan 2004 (135) Dec 2003 (136) Nov 2003 (120) Oct 2003 (142) Sep 2003 (110) Aug 2003 (117) Jul 2003 (105) Jun 2003 (66) May 2003 (7) Apr 2003 (2) Agricultural exports by Ukraine to Russia 68% down in 2015, to $300 mln, being 2% of total agricultural exports Exports of Ukrainian agricultural products to Russia in 2015 fell by 68%, to $300 million, total goods turnover with Russia with agricultural products fell by 65% or over $1 billion, to $575 million, Agricultural Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Pavlenko has said. "The share of exports to Russia fell from 6% in 2014 to 2% in 2015," he said, speaking in the parliament on Friday. Pavlenko said that the decline in exports of Ukrainian products to Russia was seen in almost all segments: exports of condensed milk, eggs, cereals, oilseeds (mainly soybeans and sunflower seeds), confectionary products made of sugar, finished and canned food made of fish and shell fish was completely halted. Supplies of butter and fats, bear and juices fell to the smallest amounts. The minister said that imports of agricultural goods from Russia in 2015 plunged by 58%, to $204 million. He said that Ukraine managed to diversify the markets: the share of Asian countries reached almost 45%, EU 28.2% and Africa 13.6% of total agricultural exports, exceeding exports to the CIS countries. "The intensification of markets thanks to expansion of exports geography allowed agricultural exports from Ukraine survive the loss of the Russian market," Pavlenko said. The minister said that more and more Ukrainian companies are trying to enter the European market: only in the past three weeks over 1,000 companies received a permit to export to the EU. Pavlenko said that in general, agricultural exports from Ukraine in 2015 reached $14.8 billion with goods turnover worth $18.5 billion, which allowed recording the best surplus in trade with agricutltural products of $11.1 billion for the country. Also during that trip, Steinmeier reiterated the extent of Germanys interest in expanding trade with the Islamic Republic. Spokespersons for the EU economic powerhouse indicate that it plans to double trade with Iran in the first couple of years of the post-sanctions era, and then to double the figure again over the long term. Xinhua News Agency reported upon Steinmeiers latest comments to this effect on Wednesday, adding that Rouhani had encouraged Germany to seize this historical moment in order to develop bilateral ties in multiple areas. But critics of such Western policies feel that recent visits from Rouhani and other members of his administration are indicative of willingness to look the other way on non-economic issues such as Irans ongoing human rights abuses and its support of terrorist groups in the broader Middle East. Rouhanis visits to Italy and France were met by protests from thousands of human rights activists and Iranian exiles who sought to bring attention to these very issues. And this week there has been some outcry directed against Steinmeiers visit to Tehran and his narrow focus upon trade negotiations. The European organization Stop the Bomb wrote an open letter on this subject, describing Holocaust denial as an expression of the centrality of anti-Semitism to the Iranian regimes ideology. Opponents of that ideology have naturally questioned the narrative of expanded cultural relations between Iran and the European Union in the wake of the announcement of the cartoon contest. During Rouhanis visit last week, Italian officials made the decision to remove wine from the menus of state meals and to cover up nude statues at the Capitoline Museum in Rome. Some commentators described this decision as an incomprehensible effort to subordinate the hosts culture to the culture of the visitor. And some such criticisms highlighted the lack of similar behavior on the part of the Iranian regime, which, apart from hosting the Holocaust denial contest, is notorious for persecution of its own religious and ethnic minorities. In the wake of both this and the German invitation to Rouhani, criticisms of European openness to the Islamic Republic have now expanded to include the United Kingdom, as well. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was scheduled to address the UK parliament on Thursday regarding the situation in Syria. This led to some British political figures decrying the decision in the media, with Lord Maginnis of Drumglass using a Business Insider editorial to describe it as all but unfathomable that the UK was contributing to a trend of welcoming Iran back into the world community in the midst of unchanged Iranian behavior at home and in the broader Middle East. This sort of commentary is sure to be surprising to many observers, considering the Iranian regimes longstanding reliance on anti-American sentiment in its propaganda and policymaking. In fact, an article by Trend News Agency pointed out that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had long ago initiated a strategy of expanding relations with the West minus US, so as to keep possible American influence at bay while nonetheless profiting off of a return to former levels of trade with European countries. But the Trend article also hints at Rouhanis apparent dissent, arguing that there are growing questions even within Iran about the viability of such a selective policy of foreign relations. Over the past several weeks, various reports have pointed to a strong divide between Western businesses on this topic, with some pushing for early adoption of the Iranian market while others wait on the sidelines to see how the situation changes over the long term. The latter trend has been particularly noticeable among European banks, according to Agence France-Press. Virtually all financial institutions are still declining to resume transactions with Iran, primarily out of fear of a repeat of prior sanctions enforcement actions like the one that imposed a nearly nine billion dollar fine on French bank BNP Paribas. And there certainly is reason for such institutions and the companies who do business with them to be concerned. Although US President Barack Obama has pushed for vigorous implementation of the Iran nuclear deal as by suspending sanctions and encouraging business travel members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have consistently expressed interest in countering these efforts and maintaining pressure on Iran and those who would seek to enrich it. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had recently taken the lead in pushing at least three pieces of legislation to limit the impact of sanctions relief associated with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The report also made it clear that Corker has active support in these endeavors. The Post quoted Ben Cardin, the committees ranking Democrat, as saying that Congress can and should be bolder in its policies toward Iran in the wake of initial sanctions relief. Such commentary makes it clear that the Iranian leadership has a financial incentive to prevent Congress from taking more such measures. And it may be that in the interest of doing so, Rouhani is now attempting to give US businesses their own financial incentives to stand in the way of those measures. But the effort to court US businesses does not necessarily contradict Khameneis efforts to keep US influence at bay. Indeed, regardless of the West minus US strategy, Khameneis efforts at obfuscation have never been limited to the US. In the wake of the July 14 nuclear agreement, the supreme leader urged his subordinates to avoid economic, political, and cultural infiltration from the whole of the West, even as the Islamic Republic sought to benefit from sanctions relief under the deal. Toward this end, Iranian officials including President Rouhani have been making efforts to push back against the West in other areas while simultaneously courting their investments. Many of these efforts have included crackdowns on Iranians affiliated with the West, or on persons expressing pro-Western or un-Islamic cultural views. As the latest example of this simultaneous courting and push-back, The Guardian reports that Tehran had detained and interrogated Bahman Daroshafaei, a journalist who formerly worked for the BBCs Persian service, at exactly the same time that Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was in Britain to participate in an international conference on the crisis in Syria. For businesses, a lot of the time choosing the right solution means choosing a solution that will receive long term support from the solutions provider. After all, putting the time and effort into choosing a solution only to have to replace it entirely in only a handful of years effectively makes that solution a bad investment. Fortunately for Amdocs (News - Alert) customers, the company knows this well. In fact, as if in response to this very concern, Amdocs has announced new customer projects worldwide alongside the release of new versions of its Amdocs Kenan and Amdocs C1 solutions. This announcement also serves to demonstrate sustained business momentum after the acquisition of the substantial majority of Comverse (News - Alert) BSS assets last year. Indeed, the product and service enhancements planned for Kenan and C1 will enable former Comverse customers to provide an improved customer experience while realizing greater agility and cost efficiency and following a clear evolution path as digital service providers. As for its new customer projects, Liberty Global (News - Alert) will upgrade to the latest version of the Amdocs Kenan solution at UPC Cablecom, the companys subsidiary in Switzerland. In the Ukraine, Kyivstar has already completed a transformation onto Amdocs C1. Meanwhile, Telefonica (News - Alert) Brasil has slected Amdocs to support services that will help achieve higher capacity with its Amdocs Kenan system. Within the last week, Telus updated to the latest version of the Amdocs billing and charging solution. Todays announcement, featuring new projects at customers like Liberty Global, Kyivstar and Telefonica Brasil, and our updated offerings, demonstrates Amdocs commitment to the Amdocs Kenan and C1 products, and highlights how Amdocs is providing former Comverse customers with additional value and innovation through integration and a broader range of Amdocs products and services reflecting our industry leadership, said Raman Abrol, head of KC1 product and delivery for Amdocs. Amdocs Kenan has been updated to version 3.1, introducing a modern, web-based interface with marketing catalog interfaces and templates. Amdocs C1 now sits at version 3.7.8, complete with modernized components that support virtualization. Both of these solutions integrate seamlessly with Amdocs customer experience solution (CES (News - Alert)) portfolio. This is just the beginningas we move forward, Amdocs will offer these valued customers long-term modernization opportunities centered on going digital, new revenue generating engines and operational agility and efficiencyhelping them on their journey to become digital service providers in The New World of Customer Experience, added Abrol. Edited by Kyle Piscioniere SSL/TLS encrypted network traffic needs to be managed much like an NFL pass rusher. SSL/TLS encryption is widely used to secure communications to internal and external servers, but can blind security mechanisms by preventing inspection of network traffic, increasing risk. Cybercriminals are like the defensive ends trying to get past your offensive line and do damage to the heart of your organization (sack your quarter back). In fact, Gartner predicts that in 2017 more than half of network attacks targeting enterprises will use encrypted traffic to bypass security controls. Advanced threats use hidden command and control channels to execute malicious programs and exfiltrate proprietary data. Its obvious that taking your eye off the opponent carries negative consequences. However, the reality is todays strategies for encrypted traffic management typically fall short. With attackers preying on the growing security gaps created by encrypted traffic, lets examine the five most common network traffic inspection errors made by todays security leaders: Lack of attention. Gartner finds that defense-in-depth effectiveness gaps are being ignored. For example, most organizations lack formal policies to control and manage encrypted traffic. Less than 50 percent of enterprises with dedicated Secure Web Gateways (SWG) decrypt outbound Web traffic. Less than 20 percent of organizations with a firewall, an intrusion prevention system (IPS) or a unified threat management (UTM) appliance decrypt inbound or outbound SSL traffic. Inaccuracy. Enterprises mistakenly throw money at all kinds of solutions, from IDS/IPS and DLP to NGFW, malware analysis and more. While these solutions address a variety of network security issues, they may only offer SSL inspection as an add-on feature, if at all, with limited visibility into just web/HTTPS traffic. In this case, multiple appliances or significant hardware capacity upgrades must be deployed to support the proper inspection of processor-intensive SSL/TLS traffic, combined with limited and varying product support for SSL/TLS cryptographic standards, which is costly, ineffective, inconsistent and operationally challenging. Starting and stopping. Starting and stopping often plagues IT security teams when it comes to encrypted traffic decryption projects. The complex set of laws and regulations on data privacy typically impedes decision making by the Legal, HR or Compliance Teams. Furthermore, the risk of conflict and dissatisfaction with employees (i.e. Why is IT inspecting my emails?), often derails these encrypted traffic decryption efforts. The more time it takes an organization to decide and act, the more time the adversaries in the case cybercriminals have to explore network vulnerabilities and possibly exfiltrate proprietary data. Playing with a weak left tackle. Malware is using SSL/TLS to do its damage. For example, according to Gartner, the pervasive Zeus botnet uses SSL/TLS communication to upgrade after the initial email infection. Furthermore, here at Blue Coat Research Labs weve seen that the malicious Dyre Trojan often utilizes nefarious command and control (C2C) mechanisms like Upatre to communicate secretly with its command and control servers. So a good offense requires a great defense as its not just about seeing and inspecting whats coming into your organizations network, but also whats going out of it. Letting the environment cloud your game. The rapid adoption of cloud apps and services dramatically expands and complicates the IT environment, accelerates SSL/TLS encrypted traffic use, and expands the risk surface for attacker exploitation. Modern applications such as social media, file storage, search and cloud-based software increasingly use SSL/TLS as the basis for their communications. Monitoring and scouring these networked applications and services for malicious content and activity is a highly recommended best practice just ask the US-CERT. At minimum, the expanding use of these applications creates more questions about when to strategically encrypt and decrypt. Here are four recommendations to eliminate the security blind spots in your network: Take inventory and plan for growth: Assess the SSL/TLS traffic mix and volume in your organization especially as you adopt cloud, mobile an web applications and services. Evaluate the risk of un-inspected traffic: Share insights and collaborate with your non-IT colleagues in HR, Legal or Compliance, review and refine established policies from a security, privacy and compliance standpoint and then create a joint action plan to resolve any vulnerabilities. Its not just an IT security issue. Enhance your network security infrastructure with comprehensive encrypted traffic management: Empower existing NGFW, IDS/IPS, anti-virus, DLP, malware analysis (sandbox) and security analytics solutions with the ability to see and detect all threats even from formerly encrypted traffic - and process them accordingly. Monitor, refine and enforce: Constantly monitor, refine and enforce the acceptable use policies for encrypted applications and traffic in and out of your network. Its just a good security practice. Greg is a Director of Product Marketing at Blue Coat (News - Alert) Systems, Inc. leading the marketing efforts for two of the companys product lines: Encrypted Traffic Management solutions and the X-Series Integrated Security Platform. A creative marketer and evangelist, his responsibilities include driving the promotion, awareness and sale of Blue Coats market-leading security solutions, enabling the global sales field and channels to accelerate sales, and driving thought leadership in support of the network security industry. With over 25 years of experience in the networking industry, Greg has held various strategic marketing, product marketing and product line management roles in several high-technology companies, with an emphasis on network security, network and systems management and data center solutions. Prior to joining Blue Coat in 2013, he held various marketing and management roles at VMware, Cisco (News - Alert), Novell and Nortel Networks Corporation. Greg holds a Bachelors Degree in Applied Physics from Hiram College, Ohio. Edited by Kyle Piscioniere On May 31st, 2012 the Maxwell family boarded a plane and moved to eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland) to live at Project Canaan. I hope to update my blog on Saturday mornings and share, as honestly as I can, the highs and lows of our life in Africa. We are living on a farm in a remote part of this tiny Kingdom and are serving the community as well as the orphans and vulnerable children of the nation. Thanks for joining us. Karma and Rebirth Reconsidered A thorough reconsideration of the myths of the afterlife (rebirth) and just world (karma) in Buddhism. The book shows that from an evolutionary point of view such myths are understandable, but that Buddhists have never produced a coherent theory of either that can stand scrutiny. Indeed we now know that neither myth is realistic and that there is no afterlife and the universe is not fair. However, as human beings we can live on in memory or leave works, and we can live ethically. Talking to the Kalamas A new translation of the Kalama Sutta along with a commentary which explores the meaning of the text, and explodes some myths about it. 34 p. 4.50 A resource for visualising and calligraphy of Buddhist mantras. Commons mantras and seed-syllables in various fonts and scripts, including Devanagari, Tibetan Uchen, and Siddham. J/Boats News is a digest of worldwide events, regattas, and news for sailing enthusiasts and members of our J Community. Contributions regarding your racing, cruising or human interest stories on-board J's are welcome- please send to "editor@jboats.com". MATTOON -- Anyone interested in exploring the Alps, Germany and Switzerland on a nine-day excursion with Lake Land Colleges Community and Professional Programs is encouraged to attend an informational meeting on Feb. 6 or 14. The deadline to register for this study abroad trip is Feb. 18. Visit Frankfurt, Munich, the Swiss Alps and Heidelberg. Enjoy traditional cuisine with a Bavarian Dinner and visit a Holocaust memorial museum at Dachau. Travel to the legendary Black Forest and take in the stunning views at the Heidelberg Castle. The dates for the trip are May 23-31. The estimated cost is $3,150 for ages 18-29 and $3,360 for ages 30 and over. This total cost includes round-trip airfare, hotels with private baths, on-tour transportation, sightseeing, entrance fees and a 24/7 tour director. Trip participants may also earn two hours of college credit. The informational meetings will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, and at 2 p.m. Feb. 14 on the second floor of the Lake Land College Library, room 207. All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Bruce Walker, tour leader at bwhistory1@gmail.com or 217-508-9502. Week of February 8-12 Mid-Illinois Senior Services, Inc. 114 E. Jefferson, Sullivan, 217-728-8521 Monday 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal. Tuesday 8:30 a.m., coffee and donuts; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 12:30 p.m., bridge/quilters. Wednesday 8:30 a.m., free breakfast; 10 a.m., caregiver support group; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 1 p.m., Wii bowling. Thursday 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; noon, bingo; 12:30 p.m., hand & foot card game. Friday 11:30 a.m., Valentines Day Poetry Contest and luncheon at Courtyard Estates in Sullivan; 11:30 a.m. Peace Meal. Shelby County Senior Center 325 E. N. Ninth St., Shelbyville, 217-774-2251 Monday 8:30 a.m., coffee; 10 a.m., board meeting: 11 a.m., Dine with a Doc; 11:30 Peace meal. Tuesday 7:30 a.m., exercise; 8:30 a.m., coffee/shuffleboard; 11:30 p.m., Peace Meal. Wednesday 8:30 a.m., coffee; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal; 12:30 p.m., Canasta; 1 p.m., Medicare assistance. Thursday 7:30 a.m., exercise; 8:30 a.m., coffee/shuffleboard; 10:30 a.m., low vision; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal, 2 p.m., bingo. Friday 9 a.m., Mystery Bus Trip leaves; 11:30 a.m., Peace Meal. Call Margery, 217-774-5595, to make reservations. Arcola Senior Center 107 W. Main, Arcola, 217-268-3442 Monday 7:30 a.m., marbles. Tuesday 7:30 a.m., marbles. Wednesday 7:30 a.m., marbles. Thursday 7:30 a.m., marbles, 1-4 p.m., quilting. Friday 7:30 a.m., marbles. Senior Center open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-noon for anyone who wants to walk. For Meals on Wheels delivery, contact Arcola Health Care Center at 217-268-3022. Life Center of Cumberland County 507 E. Main St., Toledo, 217-849-3965 Reminder: If Cumberland schools are closed because of winter weather, the life Center of Cumberland County is also closed. Lunch, prepared by Peace meal staff, is served at noon each week day. Menus are available and an alternative choice of a chefs salad is often offered. Please RSVP at 217-849-3965 by 10:30 a.m. Monday 8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, dominoes, Aggravation, jigsaw puzzles, and visiting; noon, Peace Meal. Tuesday 8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, dominoes, Aggravation, jigsaw puzzles, and visiting; 10:15 a.m., exercise; noon, Peace Meal. Wednesday 8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, dominoes, Aggravation, jigsaw puzzles, and visiting; noon, Peace Meal; 1-4:30 p.m., Rides Mass Transit will take seniors to Effingham, call 866-389-7536 by noon Monday before the trip. Thursday 8 a.m., coffee, Skip-Bo, dominoes, Aggravation, jigsaw puzzles, and visiting; 10:15 a.m., exercise; 10:45 a.m., bingo; noon, Peace Meal. Friday coffee, Skip-Bo, dominoes, Aggravation, and visiting. Saturday, Feb. 13 shopping and lunch in Urbana, call Rides Mass Transit at 866-389-7536 by 3 p.m. Thursday before the trip to schedule a ride. The outing also includes a visit to the Spurlock Museum for winter tales, there is a $5 fee for this event (a concert of American Indian tales told in winter). Board meetings are held at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. The public is welcome to attend. Call 217-849-3965 for more information. To serve on the board, talk to one of the board members. In addition, anyone who needs assistance filling out forms, applying for insurance, Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, license-plate sticker discounts or with other information can make an appointment with Joannie Roberts, Senior Information Specialist, by calling 217-849-3965, she is also available for home visits. Peace Meal menu Week of February 8-12 All meals are served with wheat or whole wheat bread, margarine, and milk. For additional information or reservations call 1-800-543-1770. Monday chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, Italian green beans, Mandarin oranges. Tuesday settlers beef and beans, hominy, cornbread, warm cherry crisp. Wednesday salmon loaf, macaroni and cheese, Brussels sprouts, mixed vegetables, citrus salad. Thursday beef tips in gravy over vegetable rice pilaf, broccoli, warm spiced apple rings, fresh fruit. Singles movie night set MATTOON -- The First Christian Church, 1600 Wabash Ave., plans a movie night for singles tonight. The Singles at First movie night begins at 6 p.m. at the church. For more information, call 217-234-2928. Singles are welcome. Church to host lobbyist as guest speaker CHARLESTON -- The congregation of the Charleston Bible Church, 2605 University Drive, invites the public to hear guest speaker Dr. Robert Vanden Bosch, who lobbies the Illinois government on behalf of the Christian community, on Sunday. Vanden Bosch will speak during the Sunday school hour at 9 a.m. and during worship service at 10 a.m. According to a press release, Vanden Bosch has served as a lobbyist since 1993 on behalf of Illinois Christians, standing for traditional values in Springfield. He ministers as a missionary sent out by his home church, working as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. Vanden Bosch's calling is to protect the right of Christians to practice their religious beliefs, churches, private education, marriage, traditional values, the right of the unborn and to share the redeeming love of Christ. For more information, call the church at 217-345-4476. Prayer Vigil for Life scheduled NEOGA -- St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, located on Walnut Street, plans to host a Prayer Vigil for Life on Feb. 15. The Rev. Sunder Ery, pastor, will celebrate Mass at 6:30 p.m.; praying of the rosary will begin at 6 p.m. The 7:30 p.m. business meeting will be held in the parish center near the church. A report on the recent Right to Life breakfast, Washington, D.C. March for Life, current pro-family legislation and upcoming pro-life events will be on the evening's agenda. CHARLESTON -- The "Fund EIU" rally in support of state funding for higher education drew hundreds of people to the Library Quad this afternoon. Eastern Illinois University President David Glassman has said some 200 layoffs soon will be issued, and furlough time is in the offing for other EIU employees, due to the failure of State of Illinois lawmakers to pass a budget. That has kept universities across the state from receiving funding. The state has been stalled on the budget that was supposed to be in place last July. Before the rally, one local lawmaker said he was stopped from speaking at the event. State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, issued the following statement in response to being barred from publicly speaking at the event on campus: I am deeply disappointed in the decision made by the organizer of this rally to not allow me to address the rally. I am Eastern Illinois Universitys representative in the Illinois Senate and a proud alum, as well. I am also the sponsor of legislation that would fund universities, community colleges, and MAP grants for students. "Despite the organizers' decision, I will nevertheless attend the rally, and continue to work for and support any meaningful efforts to fund all of higher education. The rally began at 4 p.m. on campus in the Library Quad. Organizer Kate Klipp told the JG-TC at 2:45 p.m. the event was focused on the university's students. She said only one politician was to speak at the rally, and that person was to address MAP grant funding. "It's not designed to be a campaign stomping ground," Klipp said. She also said Righter's proposed legislation to fund higher education in Illinois "unreasonable." Contacted by the JG-TC on Friday, Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner blamed the budget impasse on Democrats. The governor cares deeply about the fiscal health of all of state universities," Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly said in a statement issued Friday afternoon. "The fact remains that EIU could be funded tomorrow if the Democrats in the legislature supported HB 4539/SB 2349. "That bill would fund MAP grants, community colleges and all of Illinois public universities while giving the governor the authority to respond to an unbalanced budget by reallocating funds and reducing spending in a number of ways," Kelly said. In turn, a leading Democrat put the blame on Rauner's doorstep. The Senate approved state support for Eastern Illinois University and other state schools," said Cullerton spokesman John Patterson, referring to a spring budget that Democrats passed and Rauner nixed. "It was Governor Rauner who eliminated that support with his veto and caused this impasse. We would hope he would reconsider his opposition to funding these state schools and make education a priority. MATTOON (JG-TC) -- A Chicago area man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly battering two women while he was out of jail on bond. A Mattoon Police Department press release reported that Kenneth W. Moultrie, 20, of Riverdale was arrested at 1:05 p.m. Wednesday in the 5000 block of Lake Land Boulevard on a charge of aggravated battery. The charges stem from an incident that occurred during the early morning hours of Wednesday when Moultrie allegedly battered two women, the department reported. Both women sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the alleged assault, the department reported. At the time of this incident, Moultrie was out of jail on bond for a January arrest in Mattoon in which he is charged with aggravated battery, reckless driving, and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. Moultrie was allegedly driving a car on Jan. 10 that ran off the road and struck a tree on Charleston Avenue east of 13th Street, the department reported in a press release about this incident. Moultrie was allegedly fighting a man who was entangled in the open window of the car at the time of the accident. Moultrie allegedly fled the scene on foot. Following the arrest Wednesday afternoon, Moultrie was taken back to the Coles County jail. Information on Lake Land College's website indicates that Moultrie has been a recent student there. In other matters, the department reported that Justin W. Drummond, 33, of Mattoon was arrested at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday at the police station on a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child. The charge alleges that he touched a child in an inappropriate manner. Drummond was taken to the jail. Todays (Jan. 27, 2016) front-page summary of the impact of the current budget impasse on Eastern Illinois University suggests that the Quad City Times editorial you published Jan 19 got it all wrong. Governor Rauner is not holding the line; he is tightening the noose. Illinois is indeed in a fiscal pit, but why? According to Ralph Martire, Director of the non-partisan Center for Budget Accountability, Illinois has an economy that is robust on a world-scale but a perverse and out-of-date revenue system. Instead of working with reasonable people, Republicans and Democrats, in the legislature to reform the tax system to make it fairer to everyone and to address the realities of a services-based economy, Rauner is using the crisis to try and strangle the unions. Do he and his allies care about the EIU employees who have already lost their jobs, or risk losing them if our State funding isnt soon restored? Do they really think that damaging EIU and other public institutions is going to benefit most of us citizens of Illinois? The necessary paradigm shift the editorial calls for is significant tax reform that will benefit the overall economy of the state. What we are getting from Rauner and his ilk is same old (wrong and unfair economic theories and political maneuvers), same old. SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has announced another round of public hearings on the states education funding formula, which critics say currently leaves districts with higher poverty rates and lower property values at a disadvantage. A bipartisan education funding task force, which began meeting last year, will hold its first hearing of the spring legislative session Feb. 16 in Springfield, the Chicago Democrat announced Thursday. Overhauling the way the state funds public schools has been a priority of Senate Democrats, led by Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner gave a nod to the idea last week in his State of the State address. Madigans announcement also comes at a time when the financial troubles of Chicago Public Schools have created another point of tension between Rauner and Democrats amid the states budget impasse. Senate President Cullerton has shown strong leadership on the issue of fair and equitable education funding, which is so important to every community across our state, Madigan said in a prepared statement. The Presidents commitment to fairly funding our schools and helping all students meet their full potential is one that I share, and I plan to work with him to achieve this goal while making sure that voices from across our state are heard and that all schools and programs are protected throughout this process. A series of hearings will be held throughout the spring to develop a legislative plan, the speaker said. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, a fellow Chicago Democrat, is leading the task force. Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, the Senate Democrats point man on education funding, has been working for the past three years on an overhaul of the school aid formula. He introduced a bill last year that would funnel more money to poorer districts and seeks to address some concerns with an earlier version. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said the speaker hasnt taken a position on Manars proposal. Part of the purpose of this task force is to develop that position for House members, Brown said. The panel also will examine a proposal from the Illinois State Board of Education to shift $300 million in special education funds into general state aid for schools, he said. Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat whos on the task force, said the deliberate, thoughtful approach the House is taking is appropriate given the gravity of the issue. Bradley said he wants kids across Illinois, including two of his own children in the Marion school district, to have similar opportunities. The children in my area are worth as much as the children throughout the rest of the state, he said. But Rep. Robert Pritchard of Hinckley, the Republican spokesman on the task force, said there have been enough hearings already. Its time to sit down and start analyzing what the recommendations are and determining what we can make movement with, Pritchard said. Any move to give more money to poorer districts shouldnt come at the expense of others, he said. Youve got to put new money into it so that you dont have losers and focus that new money on those students that arent being served, Pritchard said. please donate...it helps me write more gooder! Despite recent tales of local companies boosting wages to attract and keep employees because of a tight labor market, a report released Thursday shows that wages aren't the reason there is a labor shortage in Lincoln in some industries. According to the Lincoln Skills Gap Report from the Bureau of Business Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, education and training are the reasons companies have trouble finding certain types of workers. Results show that Lincolns workforce provides most employers with a quality workforce that largely matches the skills that local employers need, Dave Dearmont, research administrator for the Department of Economic Development, said in a news release. In those areas where there are shortages, the results indicate the education and training needed to improve the Lincoln workforce. On the other hand, compensation does not appear to be much of an issue. Workers wage expectations during their job search are largely consistent with prevailing wages in the Lincoln Metropolitan Area, Eric Thompson, director of the Bureau of Business Research, said in the release. The report said the skills gap is most prevalent in skilled blue-collar jobs such as carpenters, electricians and welders, and some high-tech jobs, such as computer programmers and software developers and computer systems and network administrators. Private groups, educational institutions and government agencies have been working on programs to better train workers in areas where there are skills gaps. The Worker Training Program administered by the Department of Labor recently awarded a grant to the Knowledge Management Council to analyze the training needs of industrial machinery mechanics. Results will help Southeast Community College tailor its curriculum to help prepare students for jobs in this occupation. Lincoln Public Schools, SCC and the community at large have partnered on the Career Academy that opened in the fall on the SCC campus. The Career Academy will develop a pipeline of students pursuing career and technical programs in order to directly address the gap between demand for qualified workers in technical fields and the availability of professionally trained workers, Thompson said. The Labor Department and Economic Development are also collaborating with the Department of Education to provide video tours of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) companies and share with students the education and skills needed for jobs in a wide range of industries. One private effort is the collaboration between Fuse Coworking and the Omaha Code School on the Star City Code School, an intensive computer coding training program that will start in March. To see the full Lincoln Skills Gap Report, go to https://neworks.nebraska.gov/admin/gsipub/htmlarea/uploads/LincolnSkillsGap2016.pdf. Its been called the greatest Shakespearean film ever made, bar none, and its the picture director Orson Welles said he'd use to get himself into heaven: I succeeded more completely, in my view, with that than with anything else. Its 50 years old -- and the odds are high that, even if youre among the biggest film buffs, youve not seen it. It is Chimes at Midnight. Welles also made Citizen Kane, widely dubbed as the best movie ever made. And he says Chimes at Midnight is better. Welles wrote, directed and starred in the film, which is not a straight-to-celluloid version of one of Shakespeares plays. Rather, it is an adaptation of several of the Bards plays, with a heavy emphasis on Henry IV, Part I" and "Henry IV, Part II. That adaptation turns the focus of the film from Prince Hal, the wayward heir to the British throne, to his childhood friend, the roguish Sir John Falstaff. Welles turns the entertaining bear of a man from a buffoon to a flawed, tragic hero betrayed in the end by the man who he guided toward becoming king. The low-budget production with Swiss and Spanish funding and filmed in Spain was shot in black and white, in part because of budgetary considerations. But Welles wanted black and white, and the film benefits from it. Opening with Falstaff, Prince Hal (Keith Baxter) and their entourages ensconced at a rooming house, perhaps of ill repute, Chimes at Midnight follows their hijinks, including a masked robbery, while setting the stage for Hals move to become King Henry V. The transition is triggered by an attempt to take the throne by Henry Percy, aka Hotspur (Norman Rodway). Amassing an army to challenge Henry V (John Gielgud), Percy takes his troops into The Battle of Shrewsbury -- as impressive a battle scene as has ever been filmed. Constructed with more than 200 shots of the hand-to-hand combat, the battle scene has been liberally copped by filmmakers for decades, including by Mel Gibson in Braveheart. Prince Hal is pulled into the battle, as is the rotund Falstaff in full body armor. But the battle is the beginning of the end of the friendship that is at the heart of the story. Beautifully acted, especially by Welles and Baxter, Chimes at Midnight smoothly incorporates Welles Shakespearean dialogue into the sharply designed production that takes full advantage of old Spanish castles to create an authentic feel for the historic story. An absorbing film to watch, Chimes of Midnight could very well be cinemas least-seen masterwork. Debuting in rough cut version at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival, it got a negative advance review from the New York Times Bosley Crowther, killing its chances for wide U.S. distribution. And the film was never officially released on video or DVD because of legal wrangling over ownership and distribution rights. But Chimes at Midnight made a few appearances in art theaters over the years, including the Sheldon Film Theater in Lincoln decades ago. But it's making the rounds through art house theaters and a few multiplexes and will likely be available for home viewing in the near future. It deserves to be seen on the big screen. Thats where Welles intended it to be seen and where it will be its most effective. Dont miss it -- you wont see a better Shakespearean film ever. It's time to conduct audits to measure the performance of Nebraska's business development tax incentive program and the tax increment financing program used by cities to help encourage investment in development projects, a legislative committee was told Friday. Two bills presented to the Legislative Council's Executive Board attracted opposition centered on potential damage to the economic development programs. State Tax Commissioner Tony Fulton expressed concern about the need to "protect the confidentiality" of records filed by corporate taxpayers who may have qualified for tax incentive benefits under the state's primary business investment and job growth program. And a representative of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, who spoke also for the Lincoln and Omaha chambers, raised a warning flag not only about the protection of confidentiality but also about the danger of placing a sunset date on the tax incentive program. Dave Landis, director of Lincoln's Urban Development Department, and Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert submitted written testimony opposing an examination of the TIF program. Landis said the state auditor already has the power to review community redevelopment authorities and traditionally holds the responsibility for auditing political subdivisions. Legislative auditor Martha Carter assured the committee that confidentially would be respected in a performance audit of the business development tax incentive program. "We're not interested in looking at individual companies," she said. "We're looking at the effectiveness of the programs." Sen. Bob Krist of Omaha, chairman of the Executive Board, told Fulton and business representatives that "we're not in this to steal anybody's data" and that, in fact, senators would have no access to that information. Asked by Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha whether the bill would "remove an impediment" to acquiring the needed information for a performance audit despite the legislative auditor's access to the Department of Revenue's database, Carter said: "Yes." Sen. Dan Watermeier of Syracuse, sponsor of the proposal (LB1022), has been meeting with Fulton to see if they can reach some agreement on the bill. Chad Denton, speaking for the chambers of commerce, said "we need these programs" to succeed in a highly competitive economic development environment. Sen. Al Davis of Hyannis proposed the performance audit of the TIF program (LB1102), suggesting "there is no oversight now" of a program that has an impact on school budgets by forgiving property taxes on designated new developments for a period of 15 years. Davis said there also has been "abuse of the 'blighted area' definition" used to justify TIF funding. Tom Houston, speaking for the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and the Nebraska Chamber, said TIF is a vital tool in encouraging investment in Nebraska communities. Gov. Pete Ricketts quietly weathered hours of testimony against his marquee property tax plan Thursday during a public hearing at the Capitol. The governor hardly left his seat for six and a half hours as mayors, county and community college officials, lobbyists and volunteer firemen raised questions and concerns about how the proposal would affect entities that rely on property taxes for their budgets. One city administrator, Lance Hedquist of South Sioux City, called the plan "draconian" with Ricketts sitting right behind him. Lincoln Mayor Chris Beutler warned state lawmakers it could prove "devastating" to local governments and negatively impact Lincoln's bond rating. But the governor, backed by a handful of supporters who appeared at the hearing, said his plan reflects the wishes of a majority of Nebraska taxpayers who think property taxes are too high and was crafted with input from the very lawmakers who will help determine its fate. "It's a balanced approach. It's an incremental approach. It's a measured approach. I think it strikes the right balance," Ricketts told members of the Legislature's Revenue Committee as the hearing began. The appearance was Ricketts' first before a legislative committee since he took office last year. His proposal would make a long list of structural changes to the state's tax system, tightening limits on local budget growth and levy increases, and slowing the rising values of government-assessed cropland across the state. Those changes are included in a pair of bills sponsored by Revenue Committee Chairman Mike Gloor of Grand Island and Education Committee Chairman Kate Sullivan of Cedar Rapids. Gloor's bill (LB958), which contains the assessment component and spending lids for local governments other than schools, was discussed during Thursday's hearing. Sullivan's measure (LB959), which addresses spending lids for schools, will be the subject of a hearing Tuesday before the Education Committee. Ricketts said he's simply asking local governments to exercise the same restraint as the state, which held spending to 3.5 percent under its latest budget. "The key to all of this tax relief is controlling spending," he said. But opponents said state spending has traditionally grown faster and isn't restricted in law the way local governments are. Many years, they noted, the state has balanced its budgets on the backs of cities and counties through mandates and by stripping them of state aid. Committee members peppered those who testified with questions, including the governor. State Sen. Burke Harr of Omaha quizzed Ricketts about his ultimate goal and what he'd like to see 10 years from now. "I guess you should always start with the end in mind," Harr said. Ken Herz, a rancher from Lawrence who testified on behalf of Nebraska Cattlemen, said the governor's plan is a "positive first step" toward a fair, simple tax system. Steve Nelson, president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau, said even more will be needed to address property taxpayers' concerns. "Unless we lay out a multi-year plan, I dont think we can put this to bed," he said. "But this is what we have today. The handful of supporters, including the governor and state Property Tax Administrator Ruth Sorensen, spoke for an hour and a half. The next five hours were filled with testimony from more than two dozen opponents. La Vista Mayor Doug Kindig said the governor's plan would limit Sarpy County communities' ability to keep up with booming business and population in the fastest-growing part of the state. Omaha city finance director Steve Curtis said the proposed restrictions could thump the city when it annexes new land by limiting its spending growth despite the added tax base. West Point Mayor Marlene Johnson noted her city's recent decision to replace an outdated firetruck and said new limits on its sinking fund proposed under Ricketts' bill would have make that more difficult. Cities can still spend over their lids by turning to a public vote, but citywide voters aren't going to care about a local project like a neighborhood street, Johnson said. "Youre not going to get people coming out to vote for something like that," she said. Beutler and a handful of other officials said the bill could even punish them for saving taxpayer money through interlocal agreements like Lincoln's joint city-county Health Department. Thousands of those agreements across Nebraska are excluded from local spending limits under existing state law but would be counted under the lid with Ricketts' bill. "Be assured, youre going to do some considerable damage out there," Beutler warned committee members. Several local officials noted the efforts they've made to keep taxes down, although many saw budget increases anyway thanks to soaring property values. And taxes haven't risen as dramatically as many people think, they said. State and local taxes continue to represent about 10 percent of Nebraskans' personal income, with little variance since at least the 1960s, Beutler said, pointing to a study done last year by the Legislative Fiscal Office. "It upsets me to hear about this fact that taxes are out of control and that the local political subdivisions are causing taxes to be out of control," Beutler said. "The local political subdivisions are really working hard and have their act together. Southeast Community College President Paul Illich said Ricketts' bill would limit SCC's ability to take advantage of $30 million in unused levy authority just as the college is planning major expansions while trying to hold tuition costs down. "I really see this as a time to invest," Illich said. Committee members peppered questions throughout the hearing. State Sen. Jim Scheer of Norfolk seized on Illich's comments, noting tax increases like the one SCC could pass are what many at the state level are trying to avoid. "It almost epitomizes the problem weve got," Scheer said. Ricketts said he's willing to work with opponents on specific amendments to his plan. "I do think there's some good feedback about some things that could make the bill better," he said. Nebraska will shed its unique ban on meatpacking corporations owning hogs following a contentious vote Friday in the Legislature. Supporters of a measure to eliminate the ban (LB176), sponsored by state Sen. Ken Schilz of Ogallala, said opening Nebraska's hog market to companies like Smithfield and Tyson Foods should make the state more competitive with its neighbors and allow new pig farmers to enter the business without assuming the financial risks of ownership. Opponents warned the change could have a devastating effect on the state's existing pork producers and harm the environment by leading to more big hog confinement facilities. They also accused lawmakers of buckling under influence from lobbyists backed by corporate agriculture. "Money wins over the will of the people," John Hansen of the Nebraska Farmers Union said after the vote. "Money won this." Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill following two hours of debate Friday, first ending a filibuster of the measure, then passing it, both on 34-14 votes. The bill had already advanced through two rounds of debate. When it takes effect, the change will undo the pig portion of a 1998 law that makes it illegal for packers to own swine or cattle in Nebraska for more than five days before slaughter. Other Midwestern states had adopted similar bans but have since eliminated them. Nebraska will now join those states in allowing meat processors like Chinese-owned Smithfield to contract with farmers to raise pigs in large, concentrated operations. That helps the packers control product consistency, minimize costs and squeeze out more profit. Schilz, a third-generation rancher, said his family lost a $1.5 million cattle-feeding contract "basically within the blink of an eye" when the 1998 law passed. A Colorado feedlot built specifically because of the law took 4,000 head from his operation, along with cows from 10 other Nebraska yards, he said. "There is not one other person in this body that has experienced this law like I have," he said. "I'm glad it passed," he said of the repeal. "It's the right thing to have happen." Groups opposed to the bill had waged a publicity war in the weeks leading up to Friday's vote. Hansen said an overwhelming majority of those who wrote letters, sent emails and called lawmakers about the bill asked them to oppose it. The Center for Rural Affairs accused lawmakers of choosing meatpackers over family farmers and ranchers. Bold Nebraska, which gathered 1,100 petition signatures against the bill, began a tweet with "SHAME" after the vote. But senators bristled at the suggestion that campaign contributions, especially from Smithfield, had affected their votes. "Don't demonize someone who is on a different side," said Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, who supported the bill. Senior U.S. District Judge Joseph Bataillon closed Nebraska's same-sex marriage case on Thursday, permanently blocking officials here from enforcing the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The email notification in the case, Waters et al v. Ricketts, came just before 4 p.m. "PERMANENT INJUNCTION: Pursuant to the Memorandum and Order entered this date, IT IS ORDERED that all relevant state officials are ordered to treat same-sex couples the same as different-sex couples in the context of processing a marriage license or determining the rights, protections, obligations or benefits of marriage." In issuing the order, Bataillon ruled that Section 29 of the Nebraska Constitution is unconstitutional. Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that similar state bans in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee were unconstitutional. That dictated the result in the Nebraska case, Bataillon wrote in his order. But Obergefell didn't specifically declare the state's ban unconstitutional and thus didn't fully resolve concerns of the seven same-sex couples who filed the lawsuit, he wrote. Further issues have arisen, including allegations that state workers have refused to issue birth certificates to same-sex couples and instead listed the baby's biological mother as the only parent on the document, he said. "The Court finds (the) plaintiffs are at risk of more and additional deprivations until Section 29 is declared unconstitutional and its enforcement enjoined," the judge wrote. Bataillon said he believes his order will resolve any lingering problems. Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson's office is reviewing Bataillon's decision, spokeswoman Suzanne Gage said in a statement. "The State of Nebraska is in full compliance with the Supreme Courts decision in Obergefell v. Hodges and has been since that decision was issued," she said. The ACLU of Nebraska hailed the decision, saying the court order addresses the birth-certificate issue and that the judge invited plaintiffs to return to court to enforce the injunction if necessary. "The ACLU of Nebraska is pleased that our long battle to challenge the discrimination enshrined in our Constitution is finally over," Executive Director Danielle Conrad said in a statement. "Today is a good day for freedom, fairness, clarity and closure. "The seven couples who are our clients and countless more Nebraska families impacted by this decision have waited long enough to have their love and commitment fully recognized. ... As we celebrate this historic victory we turn our attention to the next victories on our horizon including workplace protections so that no Nebraskan is fired or denied a job because of who they are or who they love." Omaha Sen. Burke Harr has proposed a legislative resolution that would ask Nebraska voters in November 2016 to repeal the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. That resolution is pending. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office arrested a man Thursday based on DNA they say tied him to a burglary from two years earlier. Quenton Schneberger, 39, is suspected of breaking into a garage in a Bennet home on the 800 block of Garden Street in December 2013, Sheriff Terry Wagner said Friday. Investigators sent a glove and fingerprints left behind in the garage to the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab for analysis and recently got a DNA match to Schneberger, who was sentenced to one to three years in prison for an unrelated 2014 theft, Wagner said. A chainsaw and $2,600 worth of belongings he is suspected of taking from the garage in Bennet haven't been found. Schneberger was at a job site on work release when deputies arrested him Thursday. The latest proposed changes to state education rules governing home-schools, which drew more than 200 angry families to a state education board meeting two years ago, finally appear to please both sides. The initial attempt to change the rules governing home-schools, which are exempt from the state's accreditation regulations, were prompted by tougher state truancy laws and a Nebraska Supreme Court decision in 2013. But home-school advocates balked at the proposed changes, saying they amounted to over-regulation and infringed on parental authority. State education officials and those advocates have been negotiating rule changes since and on Friday, the Nebraska Board of Education will vote on -- and likely approved -- revised rules. I know its been a long, hard road but I think everybodys happy with the rule, Glen Flint, District 2 board member from Springfield, said at a Thursday work session. The proposed changes address deadlines for notifying the Nebraska Department of Education of a familys plan to home-school and makes allowances for families who move to Nebraska in the middle of the school year or choose to remove their children from an accredited public or private school mid-year. Two years ago state officials said they were only trying to avoid conflicts with the states tougher truancy laws, which came into play in a Nebraska Supreme Court case involving a Farnam couple convicted of violating them because they hadnt notified state officials they were home-schooling their children before public school started in the fall. Prosecutors argued that until a parent obtains the state's recognition of a home-school, children must attend a legally recognized school during the public school calendar year. The high court disagreed, ruling that state law does not require home-schools follow the public school calendar, only that the minimum hours of instruction -- 1,032 for elementary school and 1,080 for secondary school -- be met by June 30 of each year. After the Supreme Court ruling, the Education Department proposed creating a July 1 notification deadline for families that intended to home-school their children for the first time, although they could begin instruction whenever they wanted. The initial changes also would have required that parents wait for acknowledgment from the state before taking their children out of approved schools to begin home-schooling them. Kathleen Lenzen, whose husband is president of the Nebraska Christian Home Educators Association, said the rules violated the Supreme Court decision and it took two years of working with the state to get a proposal that didnt. The Thacker decision made it very clear you can home-school any time as long as you can meet the hour requirements, she said. Now, Lenzen is satisfied with the proposal the board will vote on Friday, as are other home-school advocates. The new rules would require families who want to home-school to notify the state by July 15, but it allows for exceptions for families who move into the state mid-year or choose to remove their children from a public or accredited private school mid-year. In either of those cases, the proposed rules require families promptly notify state officials of their intent to home-school. They then have 30 days to file documentation of planned courses and curriculum to the department. We worked with them to come up with a compromise that works for both of us, said Bryce Wilson, Education Department director of finance and organizational services. The changes also combine two similar rules, streamline some of the forms and eliminate the need for a notary signature on some forms. Kathryn Dillow, on the board of the Home Educators Network in Omaha, said at an earlier hearing that the old rules were ineffectively written and caused confusion that led to the Supreme Court case. The latest proposal honors parental authority and responsibility and respects school choice while being sensitive to the challenges of administering the program, she said. Lenzen, who was part of a long battle in the 1980s to allow for exempt schools in the state, said the process that resulted in the latest proposed changes was good. The Nebraska Department of Education has probably realized that parents are committed to teaching their children," she said. "I think they have lots of rules and regulations that serve the masses in public schools, private schools, etc., but that doesnt necessarily work for home-schools. I think that is reflected in the (proposed) rules now. Business for traditional cab companies has fallen since ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft have been allowed on Nebraska streets. The Nebraska Public Service Commission said in a report to the Legislature that the number of taxi cab rides in Lincoln and Omaha fell by 18.5 percent from 2014 to 2015. The commission said some taxi carriers in Lincoln and Omaha are saying business is down 16 to 30 percent from last year. The report didn't say which companies were citing declines. Abdullah Ali, who has been a driver for Omaha's largest taxicab company, Happy Cab, for nearly nine years, said that in the last year or so, his daily take-home pay has fallen from about $150 to $100. "Before they showed up, I'd work about 10 hours a day," he said. "Now, to make the same amount, I have to work 14 to 16 hours. We lose business every day," Ali said. John Davis, director of operations at Happy Cab, said "business is good," but wouldn't provide specific figures. The company also operates under the Cornhusker, Safeway and Yellow Cab brands and debuted its own mobile app for customers to book rides in 2013. Davis said the problems traditional cab companies face in larger cities, such as San Francisco or New York, aren't likely to occur in Lincoln or Omaha because the demand for additional services was much greater there. "That's not the case here," Davis said. The commission's report said ride-hailing companies haven't made a significant dent outside of Omaha. Uber and Lyft didn't respond to a request for comment about the number of rides they've provided in Nebraska. The ride-booking services operated illegally in Nebraska before the state granted Uber authority to do business in July and Lyft permission to operate in September. The seven-page commission report, which gives an overview of the passenger carrier industry, is the commission's first report on the subject since the Legislature legalized ride-hailing companies. Gerald Vap, a commissioner from McCook said that prior to the law legalizing ride-sharing companies, the commission didn't track the number of annual rides. RACINE The Red Bell, the long-time educational store in West Racine, is apparently closing. Co-owners David and Linda Rosenthal have started running a retirement sale, and barring a sale of the business the store at 3201 Washington Ave. will close sometime in March, Linda Rosenthal said Thursday. For nearly four decades, The Red Bell has sold items for the home or classroom including award-winning games, toys, puzzles, books and manipulative items to promote creativity, logical thinking, language, and motor skills. The store, which carries almost 7,000 items, also sells incentives, stickers, awards, and decorative items for homes or classrooms. In the past few years, educators have made up at least about 70 percent of the stores sales and customers, Linda estimated. Mary Bullette started The Red Bell in about 1978, Linda said. The Rosenthals were both employees of the former Walker Manufacturing in June 1990 when they bought it from her. The store was then in the same block on the opposite side of Washington Avenue at the time, and the Rosenthals have had stores in multiple locations since then. Within a year of buying the business, theyd moved the store one block farther west in West Racine. Then, in about 1992, the couple opened a second store on Kenoshas south side. For the summer between their daughters high school graduation and going to college, she ran that store, David said. The couple had their Kenosha store for seven years, in two different locations. They moved their Racine store to Elmwood Plaza in about 1999, then back to West Racine, the current location, in 2006. Meanwhile, they also operated a Red Bell in Kohler from 2001-04, with David driving there six days a week and Linda one day. Closing the store and retiring is bittersweet, Linda said. The couple looks forward to enjoying retirement and their grandchildren, they said. However, Linda said, We really bonded with a lot of our customers, and well be sad to not be able to service them. RACINE The repeated confessions allegedly made by a Racine man accused of fatally shooting his infant daughters godfather may be used during his trial next week. But Jacob W. Rogers cannot say he shot his friend multiple times in self-defense, Racine County Circuit Judge Michael Piontek ruled during Thursdays motion hearing. Rogers, 28, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and possession of a firearm by a felon in the shooting death of his friend, Andrew L. Jones Jr., 27, of Kenosha. Rogers is accused of fatally shooting Jones on March 2 after an alleged dispute about $100 missing. The shooting occurred in Rogers apartment in the Allegro Apartments, in the 500 block of 3 Mile Road, according to Rogers criminal complaint. Rogers then fled after the shooting. The defendant appeared to be the aggressor, Piontek said, denying a defense motion to tell jurors about 13 times when Jones had contact with police in Kenosha County. The move was meant to show Rogers was acting in self-defense because of Jones allegedly violent tendencies, Rogers defense attorneys argued. Hes pacing back and forth, almost like a caged animal, Piontek said, adding that Rogers could testify about his state of mind at the time of the shooting. Nowhere did he ever mention in his statements (to police)that this was a self-defense case. (Rogers said Jones) stole $100 from him so he executed him because no ones gonna treat him that way. Events before and after the March 2 shooting were captured on tape although Jones is not seen being shot because the couch he was sitting on was just outside of camera range. The Racine apartment was wired inside to record video. This video, played from two separate angles in court on Thursday, shows Rogers with a gun in his right hand as he repeatedly gestures animatedly. There is no audio, but Rogers appears visibly upset and is seen using a remote control with one hand while closely inspecting an object in the apartment. Rogers is seen kicking one mans legs as he sleeps on a bean bag chair, as well as walking to one portion of the living room and firing in the direction of where Jones was on the couch. At 8:11 a.m. he fires, and then is seen on the video walking back to the same spot and firing again before throwing the gun onto the bean bag chair. He shouldnt have stole from me District Attorney Rich Chiapete said this homicide was close to being a hate crime. One of Rogers defense attorneys, Assistant State Public Defender Helmi Hamad, disputed that the shooting was racially motivated. If it was a hate crime, they would have charged him with a hate crime enhancer, he said, adding that Rogers allowed Jones to hold Rogers infant daughter before he held her. Rogers told police that the night before Jones was shot, Rogers discovered he was missing some money, according to the complaint. While everyone else was passed out, the money was found in Jones shoes, the complaint states. He reportedly confronted Jones, who denied it. Jones family and friends have denied that Jones took any cash from Rogers. During a hearing on Jan. 29, Chiapete presented video from the squad cars camera after Rogers was arrested on March 3, 2015, and from the interrogation performed by Racine detectives. Officer Juan Garcia testified that he helped detain Rogers at 21st and Kearney, and Rogers said: Im sorry, Im sorry, guys, I killed my best friend. Garcia testified that Rogers also said: He shouldnt have stole from me and I told you I was going to do it. Im a man of my word. During the interrogation at the police department, Investigator Warren Jepson warned Rogers not to make any statements until being read his rights, but he talked anyway. Jepson testified that Rogers said: I put 13 shots into him and he ate them all. Rogers remains in the Racine County Jail on $1 million cash bond. During another hearing on Wednesday, Piontek denied Rogers request for new defense attorneys, which likely would have delayed his trial. It is scheduled to begin on Monday. RACINE A Racine man faces seven felony charges after a drug raid Wednesday where baggies of crack cocaine were allegedly found near three children. Leonard Ray Ledoux, 45, of the 1600 block of Morton Avenue, was arrested after officers found marijuana, cocaine and an illegally possessed firearm at his residence. Some of the cocaine was found near where three children, ages 4, 2 and 9 months, were sitting, police said. Ledoux, who has prior convictions ranging from drug possession to forgery to a 1995 terrorist threat in Texas, made his initial appearance Thursday. According to court records, his bond was set at $25,000 cash. In all, officers found 5.0 grams of cocaine and 4.3 grams of marijuana in Ledoux's residence, police said. According to the criminal complaint, Officers also located a .22 caliber revolver, which Ledoux is not allowed to own because he's a convicted felon. MOUNT PLEASANT Officers discovered more than 30 grams of marijuana during a reckless driving traffic stop early Friday morning, according to a news release from the Mount Pleasant Police Department. Julian S. Adkins, 25, of Muncie, Ind., was arrested after reports that a vehicle was swerving on Interstate 94. Mount Pleasant officers cited Adkins for OWI and operating with open intoxicants in the vehicle. Police stopped Adkins vehicle just after 1 a.m. Friday when he made an improper left turn onto Oakes Road, according to the release. Police said Adkins will be charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana, a felony, because officers found more than 30 grams of marijuana in his vehicle. Police said Adkins also had $2,100 cash in the vehicle. He remained in custody Friday at the Racine County Jail. Police said the Caledonia Police Department assisted Mount Pleasant officers by sending a drug-recognition expert to the scene. RACINE COUNTY One new school, located in Greenfield, is on a state list of 19 area private schools that plan to accept publicly funded vouchers for students from the Racine Unified School District next year. The new school is Our Fathers Lutheran School, 6025 S. 27th St., in Greenfield, according to the annual list of private and religious schools registered for the Racine Parental Choice Program released by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Thursday. Despite the new addition, one school in the program last year is not listed this year: Zion Lutheran School in Menomonee Falls. The program pays for qualified students from Racine Unified to go to a participating private school with a taxpayer-funded subsidy, or voucher. As of September, the program had 2,127 students participating, according to a DPI news release accompanying the list. The release did not include the amount of each Racine voucher for the 2016-17 school year, but this years voucher amount was $7,214 for elementary students and $7,860 for high school students, which was expected to cost about $15.1 million in October. DPI data shows the most popular private school in the program is St. Catherines High School, 1200 Park Ave., which had about 330 voucher students or 61 percent of its student population as of September. Second is Renaissance Schools located at 6150 Taylor Ave. and 2224 30th Ave. in Pleasant Prairie with 318, or 98 percent of its students, enrolled in the program as of September. Among other qualifications, a participating students family must have an annual income less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, which is $73,401 per year for a family of four, the release states. A private school in the program receives state aid for each student to cover tuition, except high schools students whose families annually earn more than 220 percent of the federal poverty level may be charged tuition in addition to state aid, according to DPI information. In addition to the Racine program, the state operates similar but separate programs for Milwaukee and for the rest of the Wisconsin. Students must re-enroll in the program every year and parents interested in applying should go to the DPIs website for information, participating schools and applications: http://dpi.wi.gov/sms/choice-programs/student-applications. Most schools participating in the Racine program begin accepting applications this month, but they vary on how long the application period goes. RACINE As part of an ongoing effort to prevent sexually transmitted diseases and promote safe sex, the city Health Department is offering a new way to be protected. Mail Me Condoms is an initiative designed to increase the ease in which residents, particularly youths, are able to access condoms, according to a Health Department news release Friday. For no charge, residents can request safer sex supplies online at cityofracine.org/health/condoms and have items mailed to them. The initiative is funded through grant money the city annually receives through the state Department of Health Services, Community Health Director Bobbi Fergus said. The grant money also funds the citys STD clinic and HIV testing. Mail Me Condoms is an extension of the departments Take Control campaign, which has provided free condoms in a variety of venues, including local businesses and at the Health Department offices, 730 Washington Ave. Were just kind of branching off of that and we wanted to go one step further to make it accessible to people, Fergus said. They may not feel comfortable coming into the Health Department to get condoms, or we may be closed when they are looking for condoms. High STD rates Officials are looking to reduce high STD rates in the area. In 2014, Racine County ranked fifth in the state for chlamydia rates and fourth for gonorrhea, according to the news release. The City of Racine has averaged 750 chlamydia cases and 170 gonorrhea cases annually over the past five years, Fergus said. Most of those incidents involve residents between ages 15 to 29. The goal is not to promote sex among young people, Fergus said. We are not encouraging sex, but if residents are going to have sex, we are encouraging that they are being safe and are being proactive to decrease the incident level of STDs in our community as well as unplanned pregnancies, Fergus said. The department has gotten few complaints since the campaign began last summer, Fergus said. Alderman not pleased Fourth District Alderman Jim Kaplan, however, said that while he hadnt read the details on the departments plan, such initiatives are an indictment on our society. If we have to encourage people to do things in a clean way because thats the new norm, I suppose we have to. But it doesnt make me happy, Kaplan said. Mayor John Dickert said STD rates are one area we dont want to be in the top five. The only way you get out of it is you start educating people, Dickert said. We hope that they just dont have sex. But while thats not completely realistic, we hope that they at least are safe about it and stop the spread of the disease. Confidential process Participants are asked to provide their name, mailing address, age, gender and whether they have a latex allergy. Officials noted that personal information is only for statistical purposes and will not be stored or used in conjunction with names or other information, according to the release. The website allows residents to request condoms, which come in packs of 10, as well as latex-free condoms, lubrication, FC2 (female condom), dental dams and finger cots. The other items are offered to accommodate different ways to have safe sex, Fergus said. Participants are also given information about how to properly use the items, STDs, the departments STD clinic and other Health Department services. The program is open to any Racine County resident. Officials say the initiative is modeled after similar programs in cities including Sacramento, Calif., Philadelphia and Los Angeles. On Friday, Jan. 22, the Mount Pleasant Village Sewer/Water Commission held a special meeting to recommend a $5 million sewer and water contract without proper notice in violation of Wisconsin's open meeting laws. No notice was posted on the village calendar or meeting agendas on the Mount Pleasant website. The Journal Times published the notice of the meeting on Friday morning, which is not 24 hours notice, as required by law. The few residents who were able to attend this surprise meeting reported the agenda was not posted in Village Hall until after the meeting concluded. This issue was raised at the Village Board meeting the following Monday. Mount Pleasant Clerk Stephanie Kohlhagen told the audience that meeting notices on the village website are posted as a "courtesy" to residents and are not required by law. She had no explanation for why the meeting was not posted earlier in the newspaper. This is how the Village of Mount Pleasant is run these days. $5 million contracts are discussed without proper notice. Requests by taxpayers for a more transparent government are met with excuses and poor service. Your vote on Feb. 16 can bring sanity to the village. Do not vote for Clausen and McCluskey, who have allowed secrecy and cronyism to flourish. Residents deserve better. Brian Hollister Mount Pleasant Under the leadership of our current staff, administration and trustees, the Village of Mount Pleasant has continued to be the leader in Racine County for new business development, new housing starts, along with several upgrades to our parks for all to enjoy. Anna Marie Clausen and Rick McCluskey have been a big part of this success by supporting projects that impact the well-being of all village residents. We as residents elected Anna Marie Clausen and Rick McCluskey to represent the more than 26,000 residents of the Village, which they have done responsibly. We cannot afford to elect candidates that are focusing on one specific water/sewer project that affects them personally and are in opposition of. The cities and villages of Racine County require balanced growth of new businesses and housing developments to strengthen our regional tax base. In order to do that, we must continue to identify and pursue areas that are ripe for future business development, specifically along the I-94 corridor that requires new utility infrastructure improvements. On Feb. 16, please join me in re-electing Anna Marie Clausen and Rick McCluskey for another two-year term representing the entire Mount Pleasant community. Joe Maier Mount Pleasant This was a perfectly beautiful spring day! I was outside in the morning doing some cleanup after the winter snow. Almost all of the snow is... Withering on the Vine The Demographic Time Bomb is Most Marked in Japan The demographic time bomb whereby the elderly population assumes a greater and ... Government Sexual Libertinism Coming to a Government School Near You Further to our piece yesterday on the promotion of sexual libertinism in government schools, we rep... Some Random Observations The Aftermath of Mass Pre-Mediated Murder A few observations on the murder of 14 people in San Bernadino and the wounding of many more see... Letter From the UK (About State Tyranny) Ta-ta UK freedoms! Miranda matter outs vindictiveness of wounded police state Annie Machon is a former intelligence of... The Big One The Panoptican State Is Actually Operational Yesterday the "big one" dropped. The Guardian reported that the US and UK spy age... Fraud Central German Professor: NASA Has Fiddled Climate Data On Unbelievable Scale by James Delingpole BreitbartLondon A German professor ha... Statist Groupthink More and More Fashionable The Rise of Liberal Intolerance in America Edward Luce Financial Times I t ought to be a triumphal moment for American liberalism .... Vacuous Greenism Anti-Fracking Luddiocy Think of any technology that involves carbon based energy and its utilisation, and the lunatic fringe can be found ... "It is Finished": the Sixth Word from the Cross It is Finished: our Lords Sixth Word from the Cross What is history? That simple question covers a multitude of complexity, profundity... Judge Vernon Broderick for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York [official website] ruled on Thursday that suspended Deputy UN Ambassador Francis Lorenzo cannot claim diplomatic immunity on bribery charges. Lorenzo, representing the Dominican Republic, has been facing criminal allegations involving bribery [complaint, PDF] since early October. The judge held that because Lorenzo is a naturalized citizen of the US, his diplomatic status is not afforded immunity from criminal prosecution under any treaty or federal law. The judge asserted that Lorenzo could only enjoy immunity for any official acts he conducted under his diplomacy, but his standing as a US citizen on a mission for a foreign nation was insufficient on its own. Former UN General Assembly president John Ashe was charged [JURIST report] for allegedly taking part in a scheme to receive $1.3 million in bribes to conduct official actions supporting Chinese business interests. Deputy UN Ambassador for the Dominican Republic Francis Lorenzo and three other defendants were also charged [press release]. The Attorneys Office believes Ashe has been accepting bribes since 2011 facilitated by Lorenzo. According to the complaint, Lorenzo approached Ashe in 2010 to take part in the scheme. Lorenzo invited Ashe to Macau, China, to meet one of the other defendants, Ng Lap Seng, who was seeking support for a UN Macau Conference Center. In exchange for submitting reports to the UN in support conference center, Ashe allegedly began soliciting money from Ng. Lorenzo also hired Ashes wife to be a climate change consultant in his non-governmental organization. According to the US Attorney, Ashe also solicited other businessmen who wanted to invest with Antiguan government officials. He allegedly failed to report this income in his 2013 and 2014 income tax returns. [JURIST] The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] on Thursday vacated [opinion, pdf] a district court ruling that had upheld a Maryland law banning high-capacity magazines and semi-automatic rifles. The lower court had granted summary judgment in favor of Maryland on the plaintiffs Second Amendment claims attacking the laws constitutionality after applying the intermediate scrutiny standard. The Fourth Circuit found that the district court should have applied strict scrutiny, which requires the government to show that the measures are narrowly-tailored to meet compelling government interest, in deciding the Second Amendment issue. Writing for the majority, Judge William B. Traxler Jr. also found that such semi-automatic weapons are commonly owned by citizens and therefore do not qualify as exceptions to the constitutional right to bear arms. The National Rifle Association (NRA) [official website] responded [Baltimore Sun report] to the ruling with high praise. The law at issue in the case, the Marylands Fireman Safety Act [text] was enacted in 2013 as a response to the 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Gun control [JURIST backgrounder] and the Second Amendment continue to be controversial national topics, and gun awareness has risen in the wake of recent shootings across the nation. Last month US President Barack Obama announced [JURIST report] executive actions on gun control requiring those in the business of selling firearms, including those selling firearms at gun shows, to be licensed and background checked. In December the US Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia Circuit vacated [JURIST report] a lower court ruling that found that a DC gun law requiring a concealed carry permit outside of the home may violate the Constitution. In October Maines revised concealed carry law went into effect [JURIST report] allowing legal gun owners to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Earlier that month the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld [JURIST report] the main parts of Connecticut and New York gun control legislation that ban semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines. In September the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a mixed ruling [JURIST report] on DC gun laws, ultimately upholding six and striking down four controversial elements of the Firearms Registration Amendment Act and the Firearms Amendment Act of 2012. The laws were created in response to the Supreme Court striking down [JURIST report] a DC law prohibiting firearm ownership in 2008. French police have discriminated against Muslims residing in France under the state of emergency law [bill text, in French] imposed in November according to a report [press release] released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] on Wednesday. The state of emergency expands police power for searches and arrests, and allows authorities to restrict movement of individuals and vehicles within the countrys borders. Targeted individuals have said that police have abused their power granted by the law by violently and discriminatorily restricting citizens movements. These individuals have testified to losing income and suffering physically from these acts. Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] also issued a report [press release] on the disproportionate impact of the emergency measures, including details on police searches, the closure of mosques and the blanket ban on public assemblies. The French government declared a state of emergency following the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. In November, French police authorities conducted over 2,700 raids and enforced 360 house arrests [JURIST report]. In this period, at least 20 complaints were filed against the French government, a majority by the French Muslim population who allege abuse and unfair targeting [Star report] of Muslims. On November 19 the French National Assembly [official website, in French] voted to extend the state of emergency [JURIST report] until February 2016. In December, over 100 organizations issued a statement [JURIST report] asking the French government to lift the state of emergency. [JURIST] Polish President Andrzej Duda [official profile] approved a new law on Thursday that grants the government [press release, in Polish] greater access to digital data and broader use of surveillance for law enforcement. The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) [party website, in Polish], which won a parliamentary majority last October and supported passage of the law, justified the measures as a necessary action in light of recent terrorist threats. In January, thousands of Polish citizens protested [JURIST report] against the law, arguing that the new powers are a threat to their privacy. Additionally, the European Union (EU) [official website] launched an investigation to determine if Poland has breached its obligations as a member country. The Polish Ombudsman [official website, in Polish] has expressed their intention to challenge the law for constitutional violations, although a Constitutional Court ruling would now require a two-thirds majority under a law passed last year. PiS has rejected [DW report] criticisms that its policies are undermining democracy in Poland. However, there is a larger concern in the EU that new Polish law will erode checks and balances on government powers. In January President Duda signed [JURIST report] a controversial media control bill into law. Under that law, the treasury minister will replace the National Broadcasting Council in appointing and removing media executives in charge of public radio and television programming. In December Poland enacted [JURIST report] a law requiring its highest court to have 13 judges present, as well as a two-thirds majority vote to make a ruling. Earlier last month the leader of the European Parliament compared PISs rise to power in Poland to a coup [BBC report], leading the government to call for an apology. The Constitutional Court of Tajikistan [official website] has affirmed the legality of a proposed amendment to the Constitution of Tajikistan [text] that would allow the possibility of current President Emomali Rahmon [BBC profile] remaining president for life. The amendments were affirmed in late January and have a special provision naming Rahmon Founder of peace and national unity Leader of the nation [press release] and excluding him from any stipulations that would be imposed upon his term. This title was conferred upon Rahmon by members of Parliament in December. The amendments also lower the age provision to run for election making Rahmons son, Rustam Emomali, eligible to run in 2020. When Emomali Rahmon was originally elected President of Tajikistan in 1994, the country was in the middle of a civil war. Prior to election, Rahmon was sitting on the Supreme Council when former president Rahmon Nabiyev was ousted from office. At that time, Nabiyev had been the only national leader since the fall of Soviet control over Tajikistan. Rahmons term length was extended to seven years in 1999, and he has served every year after. He has never faced substantial competition for election. [JURIST] UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel Robert Piper [official profile] on Tuesday expressed concern [statement text] over the continued practice of administrative detention in Israeli jails and detention centers. Piper specifically mentioned the case of Mohammed Al-Qiq, a detainee whose health is rapidly declining and reaching potentially irreversible damage. Al-Qiq has been on a hunger strike for approximately two months protesting the allegedly arbitrary nature and conditions of his confinement. The Israeli Prison Service [official website, in Hebrew] notes that there are more than 525 Palestinians being kept in administrative detention by the Israeli government. Piper concluded his remarks calling for the immediate release of all people, Palestinian or Israeli being held in administrative detention and urging governments to investigate claims of maltreatment in such facilities. Recent conflicts between Israel and Palestine [HRW backgrounder] over settlements in the occupied West Bank have raised concerns over possible human rights violations. Last month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] urged [JURIST report] businesses to cease operations in Israel settlements. In August, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged both sides of the conflict [JURIST report] to reconcile and move towards peace after an attack occurred in the West Bank village of Duma, where Jewish extremists allegedly set fire to a Palestinian home while the family slept. In April, HRW alleged [report] that Israeli settlement farmers in the occupied West Bank are using Palestinian child laborers in dangerous conditions in violation of international laws. Last January, Germanys top human rights official urged Israel to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] probe into possible war crimes in Palestinian territories. After a prosecutor for the ICC announced the investigation [JURIST report], Israels government said that it would not work with the ICC and called for its funding to be cut. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] in a statement [press release] released on Friday urged all concerned countries to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) by 2030, calling it a violent practice scarring girls for life [UN news report], endangering their health, depriving them of their rights, and denying them the chance to reach their full potential. Ban stated, Never before has it been more urgent or more possible to end the practice of female genital mutilation, preventing immeasurable human suffering and boosting the power of women and girls to have a positive impact on our world. The Secretary-General also reminded countries of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted unanimously by UN Member States last year, which contain a specific target calling for an end to FGM. According to a UNICEF [advocacy website] report [statistics, PDF], at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM in 30 countries with half of these women and girls coming from Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia. The Secretary Generals message called on governments to honor their pledges with support from civil society, health providers, the media and young people ending with the note that We can end FGM within a generation, bringing us closer to a world where the human rights of all every woman, child and adolescent are fully respected, their health is protected, and they can contribute more to our common future. The UN, together with many human rights organizations across the world have been urging countries for several years to end the practice of FGM [WHO backgrounder]. In January, Gambia President Yahya Jammeh [official website] signed a bill [JURIST report] banning FGM and condemning the practice as not commanded in the Quran. The UN has consistently campaigned for an end to FGM, labeling the practice, among other things, gender-based discrimination, torture, an affront to human dignity and an irreparable, irreversible abuse of the human rights of women and girls. In October 2014 the Secretary-General praised [text, speech] the launch of a global media campaign against FGM, stating that [e]nding FGM is part of the UNs unwavering campaign for the health, human rights and empowerment of women and girls. In July 2014 UK Prime Minister David Cameron [official website] announced [JURIST report] plans to enact new laws that will protect girls from the practice. In July 2013 noting the continued pervasiveness of FGM, UNICEF reported [JURIST report] a world-wide decline in the practice due to multiple campaigns intended to educate parents on the emotional and physical health risks associated with the procedure and its aftermath. In December 2009 Uganda outlawed [JURIST report] FGM. NC leader Nidhi tries to calm tempers in Janakpur Insisting that the Nepali Congress has always been the friend of Madhes, NC leader Bimalendra Nidhi has urged the protesting Madhes-based parties to help his party hold village, municipal and district conventions. Commercial fish farming gaining pace in Morang Morang is gradually becoming self-sufficient in fish as commercial farming has spread in the district. 'El Chapo': Mexico seeks actress Kate del Castillo Mexican prosecutors have issued an order to locate and question actress Kate del Castillo over her links with the imprisoned drug baron, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Food imports jump sharply as trade embargo eases Food imports through Sirsiya Dry Port in Birgunj have jumped sharply in the last three months. The Sirsiya Customs Office said that shipments of mustard, lentils, maize, soybean oil and wheat had more than doubled after border restrictions were relaxed. Nepal imports most of its food requirements from India. Humla folk face difficulty in absence of Nepal Food Corporation depots Nepal Food Corporation has not reinstated its depots in remote villages of Humla district which were vacated during the insurgency period. As a result, many impoverished people are unable to buy rice in subsidised rate. Over 50 cargo trucks enter via Birgunj-Raxual border Cargo trucks have entered Nepal through the Birgunj Raxual border entry point on Friday, 135 days after Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) supporters began their sit-in protests at the border. M&S Holdings launches; aims to revolutionise customer experience M&S Holdings, which has interests in diverse sectors including the media, technology, entrepreneurship and tourism, was formally launched on Thursday. New trekking route linking Myagdi to Mustang comes into operation A newly trekking route linking Myagdi to Mustang district has come into operation with the objective of promoting tourism in Mustang affected as a result of the ongoing road expansion work. Rising cost and falling ringgit see Malaysias pulling power flounder Once an attractive overseas job destination for many Nepali workers, Malaysia is losing its pulling power due to high cost of getting employed and weak currency. Sparks in the dark Nepals energy insecurity grows despite its huge potential for self-sufficiency US election: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clash in first one-on-one debate Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have clashed over Wall Street and foreign policy, in the Democratic presidential candidates' first one-on-one debate. Zimbabwe Prez Mugabe declares drought disaster Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has declared a state of disaster in rural parts of the country hit by a drought. Mike Dunleavy the governor of the US state of Alaska is intending to introduce legislation that will repeal the two state boards which regu... Protection of human rights as the country prepares for elections should be a priority of the newly appointed Human Rights Commission. Speaking at the inauguration of the commission this morning, the Chief Justice Bart Katureebe pledged the judiciarys total support Uganda Human Rights Commission. He also cited inadequate funding as one of the challenges in promotion of human rights. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni appointed the new commissioners, after the term of the previous commission expired in April last year. The commissioners are Meddy Kaggwa as chairperson and members; Katebalirwe Amooti, Joseph Etima, Justice Gideon Tinyinondi and Medi Mulumba. Story By Ruth Anderah 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. "Anticipation and reminiscence are two often overlooked aspects of our travels-the forgotten bookends of our journeys." Chris Carruth Lee Seong-hyon, In the wake of North Korea's latest nuclear test, President Park Geun-hye and her Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping didn't speak to each other to discuss a matter that warrants close coordination. This comes as a great contrast to the fact that Park held prompt phone consultations with U.S. President Barack Obama and the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the very next day of the North's test. Now, nearly a month has passed by since Pyongyang's nuclear test. Park and Xi still haven't spoken to each other. It raised many eyebrows and generated a considerable hubbub among pundits. Xi and Park first met in 2005 when Xi visited Seoul as a provincial governor. Xi requested a meeting with Park, who was at that time the head of a powerful conservative political party, which is now the ruling Saenuri Party. The two met at a restaurant in Seoul. The meeting was supposed to last for 30 minutes, but when they finished talking, two-and-a-half hours had passed. They have now known each other for over a decade. In fact, the two leaders are reported to have formed personal bonding of trust, or "guanxi" in Chinese. Since she took the presidential helm three years ago, Park has been pursuing a very robust policy that brought the nation closer together. Even before she was sworn in, she sent her emissaries first to China to meet with Xi, breaking her predecessors' tradition of sending envoys first to the U.S., Seoul's major military ally. As if to reciprocate Park's "good-will gesture," Xi Jinping, after he was minted as the Communist Party chief, also visited South Korea first. Xi's predecessors all visited first North Korea, China's ally from the Cold War era. Park and Xi have held six summits, while he has yet to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Pundits described the Seoul-Beijing relationship under Park and Xi as a "honeymoon" period. News headlines questioned whether Park was "tilting" toward China too much, reportedly making Washington suspicious and antsy. Park even conspicuously attended China's military parade last year, hosted by Xi. Park was the only leader of a U.S. ally to attend. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se on numerous occasions characterized the current South Korea-China relationship as "the best ever." Moreover, according to Park, Xi even insinuated Beijing would support for Seoul-led unification of the two Koreas. During a talk with reporters on board the presidential aircraft on the way back home from China, Park revealed that she and Xi had agreed to "cooperate on the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula." Park went on to say, "Various discussions with China would begin soon." Many South Korean media outlets portrayed it as a critical sign that the Chinese leadership under Xi was finally siding with South Korea over the North Korean issue. Against the backdrop, when North Korea carried out a nuclear test, it was all too natural for the public to expect that Park and Xi would immediately be on the phone to discuss a matter of mutual concern. That didn't happen. Apparently, it was Xi's side that didn't honor Park's desire to hold an emergency consultation on North Korea. Park wasn't dejected. Perhaps thinking that her Chinese friend could use some nudge, she instead went public with her message to Xi. In a nationally televised news conference, Park pressed China to rein in North Korea. "China has repeatedly said publicly that it would not tolerate North Korea's nuclear weapons. I think China is fully aware that if such a strong will is not matched by necessary measures, we cannot prevent fifth and sixth nuclear tests by the North or guarantee real peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," she said, concluding "I trust China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, to play a necessary role." To Park's plea, China responded with a tall silence, as high as the Wall of the Forbidden City. What went wrong? Where was the much-touted friendship? Many South Koreans expressed dismay about China. Some even argued that China's attitude amounts to a "betrayal" of friendship. However, the perspective from the Chinese side on the matter is starkly different. Professor Cai Jian, of the Center for Korean Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said that South Korea should distinguish personal friendship from national interest. "Regardless of how good the personal friendship between the leaders is, at the end of the day the leader chooses to pursue the national interest," he told me. In fact, he argued, "Park's decision to attend the Chinese military parade last year was also based on her consideration of South Korea's own national interest." Zhao Huji, a professor at the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China in Beijing (commonly known as the Central Party School), said the South Korean side was not well versed in how the Chinese bureaucratic system operates. "China needed sometime to formulate its response to North Korea's nuclear test. I think Park was a bit in a rush," Zhao said. He also argued that Park's remarks in which she publicly called on China to punish North Korea was inappropriate. "It gave the impression that she was demanding China act in this way or that way. That's not a pleasant experience. Her choice of words also weren't appropriate for an official occasion." Chinese experts on the Korean Peninsula argue that China's basic position in dealing with the North Korean issue has been clarified many times and has been consistent. And Park's demand for China join the U.N. body to mete out the "severest ever punishment" on North Korea was too "extreme." According to China's Foreign Ministry website, the Chinese formula on North Korea is: 1) Realizing denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula; 2) Safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula; and 3) Solving the issue through dialogue. Even if Xi himself were personally on the phone with Park hye, they argue, Xi wouldn't likely to divert much from the stated principle. It would have been therefore inconvenient for Xi to pick up the phone. "Xi knew what Park was going to ask for. And it is something that China couldn't do," Cai said. Zhao of the Central Party School urged South Korea to accept the reality. "It's true that the relationship between China and South Korea is very good. It's also true that we have some fundamental different ideas on how to deal with North Korea." China's reserved attitude may also have to do with its diplomatic loss of face for China's leadership, as North Korea, an ostensible ally, carried out the nuclear test without the usual courtesy of notifying Beijing in advance. It was widely seen as a slap in the face for China that is widely touted to have special influence over the North. Park was reaching out to China that was still licking the wounds and preoccupied with its loss of face, according to Chinese experts. In addition, Chinese analysts point out that Beijing's top leadership knows relatively little of the complex details regarding the North Korean nuclear issue. Under such circumstance, if Xi were on the phone line with Park Geun-hye without enough preparations and ended up saying something impromptu that backfired, China would be creating a liability that it doesn't want to deal with. China doesn't want the risk. South Korea is also advised to understand China's "two Koreas" policy. Li Nan, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, observed: "China's strategy is to strike a balance between the two Koreas. For China, South Korea is important. But North Korea is also important," said Li. This challenges the popular view in South Korea that, if China had to choose one from the two Koreas, it would automatically be South Korea. That may be the case economically, but not politically. China feels insecure about a unified Korea that is allied with the United States with troops on its borders. Li also called on South Korea to appreciate the concerns China has with South Korea. "Even though the economic relationship between China and South Korea is very good, South Korea is still a military ally of the United States. This aspect is something China continues to pay attention to," he said. China is also paying attention to the fact that Park will soon be nearing a lame-duck period. South Korea's constitution stipulates a president to a single-term five-year presidency. This month she will start her fourth year. Chinese analysts believe that Xi's reluctance to give the appearance of consulting the North Korean issue with Park has also to do with this. Zhao of the Central Party School noted: "As a democracy, South Korea elects new leader every five years. And each time, its North Korean policy tends to change in a dramatic way. I think Xi wants to keep a certain distance from South Korea's current policy on North Korea, because the next South Korean president may have a very different approach." Lee Seong-hyon, Ph.D. is a research fellow at Sejong Institute. He can be reached at sunnybbsfs@gmail.com By Alex Goldfarb LONDON In 2006, Alexander Litvinenko, a former officer of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the KGB's successor, was poisoned in London with radioactive polonium-210. For the last decade, his widow, Marina Litvinenko, has waged an uphill battle to get a measure of justice for her husband. Now, finally, she has prevailed. Litvinenko had to stand up not only to the Kremlin, which was accused of sending two agents to London to carry out the assassination, but also to the United Kingdom's government, which was wary of spoiling its relationship with Russia. At one point three years ago, she stood in tears on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice, where judges had refused to protect her from the potentially high legal costs if she failed to compel the government to hold an inquiry. But in the end, Litvinenko got her day actually, 34 days in court. And on January 21, Sir Robert Owen, chairman of the public inquiry, announced his verdict : It is "beyond doubt" that the FSB agents Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun carried out the assassination, which was "probably approved" by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The evidence against Lugovoi and Kovtun came mostly from the police file , which established a "polonium trail" left by the pair around London. Very high levels of contamination were noted, particularly in the lavatory next to the bar where Litvinenko drank the poisoned tea and in the two bathrooms in the hotel rooms where the assassins stayed. Litvinenko never visited any of these three places, where the assassins apparently disposed of the unused toxin. A witness testified that Kovtun had declared, before the hit, that he was on a mission to "kill a traitor" with "a very expensive poison." The inquiry found that the assassins failed twice before fulfilling their mission. On October 16, with most of the radioactive material spilling onto the tablecloth, Litvinenko ingested only a small dose, and on October 26, all of the Po-210 spilled on the floor of Lugovoi's hotel bathroom. Finally, on November 1, they managed to give Litvinenko the lethal dose, causing his death 22 days later. Though Po-210 obviously leaves a trail, it is difficult to detect unless one is looking for it, as it emanates rare alpha radiation, which is not readily detectable by conventional hospital and police equipment like Geiger counters. It was not until three weeks after the poisoning, just hours before his death, that Litvinenko was tested for alpha-emitters. As for the role of the Russian state, that evidence came from MI6, the British secret service, and was presented in a closed session of the inquiry. Although the evidence has not been made public, the Daily Telegraph reports that the US National Security Agency provided the British authorities with intercepts of electronic communications between the assassins and their handlers in Moscow. The argument implicating Putin comes from expert testimony that such an order could not have been issued without his approval. The obvious question is why. Here, Owen was less precise, listing several factors that could have put Litvinenko in Putin's crosshairs, including his defection to the UK in 2000, his close relationship with Putin's arch-enemy, Boris Berezovsky, and his allegations of FSB complicity in the terror bombings that propelled Putin to power in 1999. Litvinenko's blog post calling Putin the "Kremlin pedophile" in response to the president's bizarre decision to kiss an unknown boy's stomach in full view of the world's media could also have fueled the Kremlin's ire. But the most plausible motive for the assassination relates to Litvinenko's plan to testify about Putin's ties to Spain-based Russian organized crime ties that dated back to the 1990s, when Putin was Deputy Mayor of St. Petersburg. With Litvinenko scheduled to provide official evidence to a prosecutor in Madrid just one week after his poisoning, the apparent haste and persistence of Lugovoi and Kovtun is easy to understand. Had he made it to Madrid, Litvinenko's deposition would have focused on the business connections between the bosses of the so-called Tambov crime syndicate and members of Putin's inner circle. It is these Putin cronies who now face targeted sanctions by the United States and the European Union over Russia's recent adventures in Ukraine. Their illicit enrichment is reflected in a recent statement by the White House that they consider Putin "corrupt." Not surprisingly, the Kremlin has lashed out at the White House for the accusations, just as it has at the UK government for the Litvinenko inquiry, whose findings, though "a joke," would "poison" Britain's relationship with Russia. As usual, the Kremlin is attempting to avoid accountability by spewing disinformation and claiming that the West is persecuting Russia. State-controlled media even offered an alternate (and utterly baseless) theory: Litvinenko was "accidentally poisoned" while handling polonium for MI6. In Litvinenko's case, the accused are unlikely to face many real-world consequences. Putin is immune from any kind of prosecution, and he refuses to extradite Lugovoi and Kovtun to face murder charges. The UK's response has included granting Marina Litvinenko a closed-door meeting with Home Secretary Theresa May and freezing the suspects' assets. But, while Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the killing, he also spoke of keeping lines of communication open because the UK "needs Russia" for a settlement in Syria. As a result, the punishment will not fit the crime. Nonetheless, the importance of revealing the truth cannot be overestimated not just for the sake of the victim, but also to make clear what Putin's regime is capable of doing. This case the first-ever terrorist attack in a Western capital using a radioactive weapon will be remembered as a hallmark of Putin's ruthless and corrupt reign. Alex Goldfarb is President of the Litvinenko Justice Foundation in London. No Yes, a light case Yes, two or more light cases One serious case Two or more serious bouts Vote View Results SPARTA A Monroe County judge Thursday sentenced a Necedah man to 4 years in prison for supplying the heroin that killed a Tomah man in 2014. Shane Shelby, 40, is the first person prosecuted in Monroe County under the Len Bias law, which holds drug dealers accountable in fatal overdose cases. The case serves as a reminder to dealers that theyre only one overdose away for facing a relatively lengthy prison term, Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger said. There isnt a more serious drug offense, he said. Shelby sold Derik McGovern, 26, $150 worth of heroin early July 1 during their first meeting in Tomah. McGovern, a veteran, died later that morning of an overdose at a house in Tomah where he stayed since his release from jail just days earlier. Its incredibly sad he lost his battle with addiction, Croninger said. Shelby pleaded no contest to first-degree reckless homicide and heroin delivery, both as a repeat offender. Charges of heroin delivery and possession of narcotic drugs were dismissed but considered by the judge at sentencing. He also will spend 10 years on extended supervision and receives credit for one year served. Attorneys jointly recommended the sentence adopted by the judge in large part because of Shelbys extensive cooperation with law enforcement after his arrest. While under police supervision, Shelby arranged a drug deal with his supplier in Illinois who was the target of a federal investigation, Tomah police investigator Robert Walensky testified. That dealer, Ryan Hawkins, was one of 21 people charged under the Illinois Street Gang and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, according to media reports. Shelby also provided information in other drug investigations that contributed to the fight against Monroe Countys heroin epidemic, Croninger said. He agreed to cooperate before plea negotiations began in his case, said his attorney, Kenneth Hamm. I believe it was him wanting to make amends for what hes done, he said. Shelby is an alcoholic turned drug addict who sold heroin to fund his own habit, Hamm said. You hit rock bottom, Monroe County Judge Todd Ziegler said. And thats where you find yourself right now. Shelby wept as he told the judge that he realizes his recovery will involve more than abstinence alone. He plans to use his experience to deter others from drug trafficking. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese that is, unless it already has been stolen. Last month Wisconsin saw two major cheese heists, a crime only possible in a state where foam cheddar wedges are considered high fashion. Why steal cheese? For starters, the truckloads of cheese were valued at $160,000. Thats some major cheddar. But there may be another explanation as to why those rats took the cheese: A recent study shows cheese contains a chemical found in hard drugs. Hi ho, the derry-o! Move over, crack cocaine, and while youre at it, pass the camembert. Well return to the study in a moment. First, let me tell you about the trucks that got (pepper) jacked. On Jan. 15, Marshfield police reported 41,000 pounds of parmesan were stolen en route to Illinois. This grate amount was valued at $90,000. A semi picked up the cheese from a distributor but never reached its intended destination. Investigators received a tip that the semi was in Grand Chute, where they found the entire shipment unloaded into a warehouse, fully intact. Fortunately, no one had cut the cheese. A week later, another $70,000 worth of cheese was stolen from a Germantown distribution center. A 54-foot-long trailer and semi used to steal it turned up in Milwaukee a few days later, but the trailer was empty. These abominable thieves are absolute muensters. Unfortunately for police, they have mastered their Kraft. Because the heists involved cheese rather than bratwurst, Wisconsins other favorite health food, police dont know whether the cases are linked. But they suspect the Marshfield theft was coordinated by organized crime. Now that La Queso Nostra is involved, fondue isnt the only hot cheese out there. Why would the mob stoop to swipe Swiss, when there are so many addictive drugs out there to smuggle and sell? Because according to University of Michigan researchers, cheese is dairy addictive. The study found cheese stimulates cravings because it contains casein, a chemical that triggers the brains opioid receptors. It produces a feeling of euphoria, like highly addictive hard drugs. This may explain a lot of the behavior one witnesses at Lambeau Field. Subjects were asked to identify the foods they crave, and scientists quickly found a common ingredient. You guessed it: Asparagus. Just kidding, it was cheese. All dairy products contain casein, but in varying amounts. Casein point: Milk contains only a tiny dosage, but when 10 pounds of it are used to produce a pound of cheese, look out, Chester Cheetah. The next thing you know, youre strung out, loitering outside Sargento and begging for a hit of colby. The studys authors used their findings to identify a potential cause of addictive eating, and to call for public policy initiatives regarding the marketing of cheese to children. Hey, kids: Cheese is no gouda for you! But they also may have started a crime wave. Keep in mind, the average person eats 35 pounds of cheese each year. And thats just average people. No doubt Wisconsinites, who tend to be above average, consume considerably more than that. I bet 35 pounds are eaten at the Chuck E. Cheese in Green Bay every Tuesday. Now we know why criminals have developed a hankering for cheese: Its an addictive product that people consume in mass quantities. Before you know it, thieves will descend on Americas Dairyland from across the country: Its a curd mentality. Lock up your cheese, Wisconsin: I smell a rat. However, when investigators looked into his status last month, they learned he had not been at his last registered addressin Minnesota Cityfor more than six months, but that he had taken up residence in Elgin, Minn. They also learned he had been working at a Rochester auto dealership for more than a year, although his registration still showed him to be unemployed. They also discovered that he had three vehicles registered in his name, although none of them had been reported to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension as he was required to do. Assembly leaders Thursday echoed Gov. Scott Walkers statement that the Legislature should limit new spending to $20 million in the spring session. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he agreed upon the amount in meetings with Walker. He said his top priorities are a college affordability package, which costs $8 million, and bills addressing mental health and Alzheimers and dementia issues, which cost $4.2 million. Even if you added all those together its still significantly less than $20 million, so I think well be fine, Vos said. Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, co-chairman of the Legislatures budget committee, said the limit shouldnt hamper top legislative priorities because there are pots of money besides the states general fund that could be used to help stay within that goal. Theres money out there, youve just got to go find it, Nygren said before the Joint Finance Committee took up a handful of Alzheimers/dementia and drug treatment bills. To illustrate the point, the committee unanimously passed Nygrens bill to provide $4 million in grants during the two-year budget cycle that ends June 30, 2017, for drug treatment alternative and diversion programs. But the committee also amended it so that the $4 million will come from a pot of money that counties pay to the Department of Health Services for mental health institutions, rather than from the general fund. Democrats voted for the bill, but also railed against Republicans for putting the state in a position where it doesnt have the funding for other issues, such as addressing problems at the Lincoln Hills youth prison or helping college graduates refinance their student loan debt. We cant ignore the elephant in the room that the state doesnt have any money, said Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh. The Legislatures budget committee has signed off on five bills to help people cope with Alzheimers disease and dementia. The bills would lay out $50,000 to purchase licenses for a virtual dementia tour; $50,000 in additional funding annually for Alzheimers research at UW-Madison; and $1 million in additional money annually for the states Alzheimers family and caregiver support program. They also would devote $1.37 million in ongoing funding to support four more dementia care specialists spread across small counties and a state specialist trainer; and an additional $250,000 for state grants for training local crisis teams to help dementia sufferers. The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau is projecting the state will end the current biennium with $135 million. State law requires a $65 million cushion, so lawmakers only have about $70 million for new spending or foregone tax revenue. Walker said Wednesday that limiting new spending will put the state in a better starting position for the next budget so it can devote more money to K-12 education. The last state budget included about $200 million more money for K-12 schools, but cut $250 million from the University of Wisconsin System. Earlier this week, Senate Majority Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, told the Wisconsin Counties Association that this next state budget is going to be just as rough as this past one, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. The economy is not going to continue to soar, its going to lag, Fitzgerald said. And as a result of that thats what I lose sleep over. Because those are very difficult decisions. A Fillmore County tourism group is in dire straits, with a former director charged with taking thousands of dollars from the group the second time the organization has suffered the scenario in recent years. A Rushford woman has charged with using a debit card to purloin about $10,500 from Southeastern Minnesota Historic Bluff Country, a small organization created to boost the regions profile to visitors. Tricia Ann Parrish, 46, was charged Jan. 22 in Fillmore County District Court with three felony counts of theft and transaction card fraud. According to court documents, Parrish was hired as director of Historic Bluff Country in 2012. Her duties included bookkeeping and writing checks for bills and payroll. All checks drawn on the nonprofits account had to be signed by two people, Parrish and the board treasurer. In August 2014, the board became aware of financial irregularities in the organization after a review of the checking account record cast suspicion on Parrish and the suspicions were reported to Rushford police, according to court records. Police learned Parrish had been using a debit card attached to the organizations checking account to make withdrawals and pay some personal expenses, all without authorization or knowledge of the board, according to court records. Investigation indicated substantial irregularities, and court documents note that in August 2014 the organization was moving out of its offices with heat bills, federal taxes and other expenses unpaid. Parrish is accused of taking more than $8,000 between July 2012 and August 2014, and more than $2,500 from February to June 2014. This marks the second incidence of embezzling from History Bluff Country by a director of the organization. Parrishs predecessor, Kristina Nolte, was convicted of stealing before she left the organization in 2012; she was convicted of felony theft in July 2013 and ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution. The group had been based in Harmony until 2011, when it was discovered Noltes actions. After making significant cuts, due in part to losing a major grant, the organization chose to move to Rushford in the summer of 2011. At the time, the city of Rushford supported the move by offering to locate the organization in a city-owned building. You have the power to keep local news strong for the coming months. Your financial support today keeps our reporters ready to meet the needs of our city. Thank you for investing in your community. Stories like these are only possible with your help! Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe Manhattan Beach-raised artist Gary Sweeney has created a huge installation of blown-up family portraits on the exterior of his childhood home, which will be demolished next month. The installation, titled A Manhattan Beach Memoir 1945-2015, features 80 large-scale versions of personal photos of Sweeney and his family, who have lived in the home in Manhattan Beach for 70 years and been a major part of the community. The enlarged photos were printed on plywood and fixed to the entire exterior of the house. Visible from the street and the side alley, the installation is currently on display to the public until February 29. The artist will also lead private tours of the photos in the early evening on Wednesdays this month. Sweeney, who is now based in San Antonio, felt the project would be a fitting farewell for his childhood home, which will be torn down in March as the family decided to finally sell the property. At the same time the images will serve as a vivid illustration of how Manhattan Beach has changed and evolved over the years. The collection of photos were taken by Mike Sweeney, Gary's late father, who took hundreds of family photos over the years and developed many of them in dark room in the home. The senior Sweeneywho built the homewas a pillar of the community for decades, serving as an LAPD sergeant, mayor of Manhattan Beach, city councilman, and event PTA president. He was also the owner of Sweeney's Hardware, a long-time Manhattan Beach institution that closed in 1988. LAist spoke to Gary Sweeney to learn more about his beautiful tribute to his family and the beach community. What inspired you to create A Manhattan Beach Memoir? The inspiration came when I sold the house, and it dawned on me that I needed to do something to pay tribute to both the family home and my father's photography. How does creating the installation on your childhood home instead of in a gallery help inform the work? I felt that putting the photos directly onto the house made an immediate and direct statement. How have you seen Manhattan Beach evolve over the years? Manhattan Beach began evolving in the late 1970s, when people with money began the cycle of buying modest houses, and replacing them with large houses built to maximum size. These would then drive existing prices up, and the cycle would start over. What are some of your favorite memories of growing up and living in the area? Growing up at the beach was an idyllic time as a child. We played in the street. We played at the beach after school. We spent the entire summer on the beach, and we never wore shoes during that time. Our parents didn't hover over us, nor did they think it was necessary to be constantly involved in organized activities. How has your life and your family's life been tied to Manhattan Beach? I will always be tied to Manhattan Beach. We come out from San Antonio often. I've lived in Denver and San Antonio, and even though I love both places, Manhattan Beach is home. It's in my DNA. Everywhere else is just a mailing address. How does it feel to say goodbye to your childhood home and how long has your family lived there? This has been our family home for 70 years. My sister and I came home from the hospital to this house. Both my father and grandmother died in this house. It's going to be very sad to say goodbye. What are some of your favorite photos from the exhibit? As you can imagine, every photo holds a special meaning for me, but the ones with me in the Davy Crockett outfit and our dog Cappy are particularly special. And the one where I'm standing on the tricycle seatthat's a favorite! What are your plans after the demolition, both for yourself and the photographs? After the exhibit, I'll be taking the photos down and shipping them back to San Antonio. The house will always be in my heart and my memory. Gary Sweeney will provide guided tours of the exhibit on the remaining Wednesdays of this month (February 10, 17 and 24) from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. And a special open house will take place on Wednesday, February 10, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The house is located at 320 35th Street, Manhattan Beach. You have the power to keep local news strong for the coming months. Your financial support today keeps our reporters ready to meet the needs of our city. Thank you for investing in your community. Stories like these are only possible with your help! Start your day with LAist Sign up for How To LA, delivered weekday mornings. Subscribe It turns out most out-of-state transplants coming to Los Angeles aren't coming from all that far away. Las Vegas, just six hours away (in good traffic), sends more people our way than any other metropolitan area in the country. Or at least that's what an analysis conducted by the moving website Sparefoot, of U.S. Census data between 2009 and 2013, says. According to their work, precisely 6,264 people from Sin City picked up and made the long drive down the 15 Freeway before settling down in Los Angeles County during the five years analyzed, more than any other out-of-state locale. Along with Las Vegas, the other leading out-of-state sources of transplants who clog up the 405 are Phoenix, New York, Chicago, and Seattle. Though if were going to nitpick, the analysis was built on a county-by-county analysis, which separates out the five New York boroughs into their own counties. When you put all the boroughs together, you arrive with a value of exactly 6,061 New Yorkers who moved here between 2009 and 2013. Thats more than the 4,042 from Phoenix, but still less than Vegas. To put this all in perspective, all these out-of-state transplants are dwarfed by the number of people moving into L.A. County from other places in California. More than 30,000 people moved from Orange County into Los Angeles during this period, along with 22,327 from San Bernardino County and 13,337 from Riverside County. In all, a total of 216,018 out-of-county folks moved to L.A. County over the five-years examined. Looks like we've still got it. Caveat lector This blog is an evening and weekend project, and its content reflects my own opinions and, occasionally, the opinions of other people. It does not in any way officially represent the views of my employer or any professional organization in which I am involved. Moreover, it is a perpetual work in progress. Older posts may not reflect my current views or level of knowledge. If your Amazon account is suspended, we know you must feel terrible. But why did they suspend your account, and how can you get it back? How much time do... 3 weeks ago Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders traded sharp comments in the first debate in which they faced each other directly. It took place in New Hampshire, days before the primary in that small, northeastern state. Senator Sanders pushed Clinton about the donors who give to her campaign. The former secretary of state replied, Enough is enough. If youve got something to say, say it directly. Clinton said she was not bought, or influenced by donors who were wealthy and powerful. Clinton said she never changed a vote because of a donation and added, "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out." The candidates also battled over what it means to be progressive. And the two argued over who would improve health care, education, and the economy. Sanders called for higher taxes on wealthier Americans to pay for free college education and universal healthcare. Clinton called to make education and healthcare more affordable. Calling herself a progressive who gets things done, Clinton said Sanders proposals are just not achievable. As the debate went on, Clinton stressed her experience while Sanders stressed his progressive positions. Foreign policy Sanders agreed that Clinton has more experience in foreign policy and the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Sanders again questioned Clintons vote to support the invasion of Iraq. And she replied, "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS. We have to look at the threats we face right now. The two agreed that U.S. troops should only have an advisory role in the fight against the Islamic State. And Muslim troops on the ground are needed in the fight. In Afghanistan, both agreed with President Barack Obamas decision to leave 10,000 U.S. ground troops in the fight against the Taliban. Close race, heated debate Differences over issues appear to be very small between the candidates. The tone of the debate, however, reflected how close the race for the Democratic nomination has become. Clinton came out of the Iowa caucus with a very small victory over Sanders. The margin of two-tenths of 1 percent even prompted the Des Moines Register to ask for a recall. A new poll from CNN/WMUR shows Sanders with 61 percent support to Clintons 30 percent in New Hampshire. That state borders Sanders home state of Vermont. I'm Mario Ritter. Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. If you watched the debate or have comments about it, leave your thoughts in the comments section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story smear n. an untrue story told about a person meant to hurt their reputation progressive adj. using or interested in new and modern ideas especially about politics and education affordable adj. not costly, able to be paid for achievable adj. able to be reached, able to be successful prompt v. to cause to do something First, North Korea said Tuesday it planned to launch an Earth observation satellite between February 8 and 25. It said the launch is part of its peaceful space program. It says it wants to place satellites in space to gather information to help its weather experts make predictions. But many experts say it is a way for the country to develop its nuclear weapons program. That program would be in violation of a United Nations ban on such activities. The New York Times reports the proposed launch is part of a North Korean effort to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear bomb. The newspaper reports that the United States has been helping to write a new U.N. Security Council resolution that would punish North Korea for these tests and launches. On January 6, North Korea conducted a nuclear test. The United States, South Korea and Japan have warned North Korea that it will be punished severely if the launch takes place. South Korea had talked about peace negotiations with the North, but that idea ended after the nuclear test in January. And this week there are reports that South Korean companies may stop operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex if the launch takes place. The area is operated jointly by North and South Korea, but is six miles north of the border with South Korea. It was formed in 2002. About 120 South Korea companies operate in the area, or zone. About 50,000 North Koreans work there. Some work at South Korean-owned factories there. This benefits both sides. It is the only development program between the two countries that is still operating. Almost all relations and aid programs were cancelled in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a South Korean naval warship that killed 46 sailors. President Park Geun-hyes support for strong international sanctions against North Korea has made South Koreas relations with the U.S. stronger. At the same time, it has weakened its relations with China. Jonathan Pollack is an East Asia policy expert at the Brookings Institution, a research group in Washington. He says Chinese President Xi Jinping has chosen not to communicate in a meaningful fashion with the government of the Republic of Korea, or with President Park Geun-hye, who he has closely cultivated over a period of time. China opposes North Koreas nuclear program, but continues to support the country. China is reluctant to support strong sanctions. Instead, it has called for international talks to end North Koreas nuclear-weapons program in return for economic aid and security. However, North Korea says its nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense. It says it will not negotiate an end to the program. That means it will be difficult for China to convince North Korea to end its nuclear activities. Critics say that if China does not take part in sanctions against North Korea, it will send that country a message of support. Experts worry that sanctions put in place against North Korea by the United States or the United Nations could hurt China. That is because North Korea is already isolated and dependent on China for fuel, trade and aid. Possible limits on trade and on companies that operate in North Korea could hurt Chinese companies and banks. Im Jonathan Evans. VOA's Brian Padden reported on this story from Seoul. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. He also used reporting by The New York Times newspaper. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fashion n. a specified way of acting or behaving cultivate v. to try to become friendly with (someone) usually to get some advantage for yourself reluctant adj. feeling or showing doubt about doing something; consequence n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions acquiesce v. to accept, agree or allow something to happen by staying silent or by not arguing status n. the current state of someone or something isolated adj. separate from others intercontinental - adj. traveling or able to travel between continents ballistic - adj. of or related to an object that can travel a great distance, land on the ground and then explode benefits - v. to help or assist convince - v. to persuade Please use the contact form below to tell me about it . I'll correct the issue asap. scholarship, news and new ideas in legal history New Mexicos three-strikes law is heading to the state senate for an overhaul after House Bill 56 recently passed. New Mexico currently has a three-strikes law in place that automatically increases the sentences of three-time violent felons to life imprisonment. A third-time New Mexico offender faces life in prison regardless of where the previous two felonies took place. There are five different criminal acts listed within the current statute: murder in the first or second degree, shooting at or from a motor vehicle resulting in great bodily harm, kidnapping resulting in great bodily harm, aggravated sexual assault robbery while armed with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily harm. The purpose of the statute is to protect society from repeat violent criminals. If you take a closer look, youll notice the statute weighs heavily on crimes that result in great bodily harm. How Would the Proposed Bill Amend the Three-Strikes Law? House Bill 56 proposes to add 16 new crimes to the list that would warrant a life sentence. Among those crimes added is voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault with intent to commit a violent felony, third-degree aggravated battery, second or third degree shooting at a dwelling or occupied building, second or third degree criminal sexual contact of a minor, armed robbery, aggravated arson, and aggravated battery upon a peace officer to name a few. In addition to the expanded list of crimes, the bill also removes language referencing great bodily harm within that statute itself. Is This a Good Idea? The financial implications of more inmates with a life sentence are great. A greater chance of life imprisonment means more offenders will opt for juries adding even more costs and clogging the already full New Mexico court dockets. On the flip side, less crime means avoiding expenses related to victimization. However, financial and administrative implications dont outweigh the safety of our communities. Aside from the financial and administrative effects, opponents of the bill state that the removal of the great bodily harm requirements potentially puts repeat non-violent offenders at risk for a life sentence that dont truly deserve it. The best example in support of this argument is kidnapping. Under the current law, one must be convicted of kidnapping resulting in great bodily harm to the victim to earn a life sentence. The new bill removes the great bodily harm requirement, which means any kidnapping will essentially suffice. First-degree kidnapping involves only injury and not great bodily harm. No actual harm is needed to fall within second-degree kidnapping. Those against the bill argue that you could be unnecessarily sentenced to life imprisonment by simply holding someone by the arm to take money from them. But, do we really want kidnappers to be released simply because they didnt cause great bodily harm? Keep in mind that this would only count if it were their third violent felony. If you take a closer individual look at each crime added, you will find that most require great bodily harm as a factor within their defined statutes. For example, lets take a look at statute 30-17-6 : Aggravated arson: Aggravated arson consists of the willful or malicious damaging by any explosive substance or the willful or malicious setting fire to any bridge, aircraft, watercraft, vehicle, pipeline, utility line, communication line or structure, railway structure, private or public building, dwelling or other structure, causing a person great bodily harm. The key distinction between arson and aggravated arson is the harm involved; its the harm that escalates arson to aggravated arson. The majority of the crimes added to House Bill 56 are violent in nature themselves, so removing the great bodily harm language isnt really necessary to change the intent of the bill, but leaving the language in isnt really harming anything either. Other states that have three-strikes laws allow life sentences for non-violent crimes because their statutes are written and applied broadly. However, New Mexico is not one of them. New Mexicos three-strike laws is very narrowly applied. So much so that no one offender is currently serving a life sentence under the current statute. Allowing additions of violent crimes that would warrant a life sentence seems reasonable in order to prevent repeat violent offenders from further harming society. Should the language be modified to protect non-violent defendants from unintentional consequences? Probably. Allowing room for judicial discretion for individuals that may not deserve such a harsh sentence would be a great start and keeping the great bodily harm requirements ensures the statute will be applied narrowly and only to violent offenders as originally intended. Authored by Ashley Roncevic, LegalMatch Legal Writer and Attorney at Law Camille Anderson of Lexington and Marie Bolin of Eagle, represented Nebraska at the National Make It With Wool competition held in conjunction with the American Sheep Industry Association Convention, January 28-30, in Scottsdale, Ariz., according to Alice Doane, State MIWW director. The wool contest has been conducted for 68 years. Junior Division contestant, Camille, was first runner-up and junior division Exemplary Construction winner. She received a Brother sewing machine, Pendleton wool fabric, Sew News Magazine, Coats and Clark thread, sewing notions, and Wild Ginger pattern making software. For her entry, she constructed and modeled a magenta wool coat. Her fitted double-breasted coat features a stand-up collar, princess seams, two-piece sleeves and silver dome buttons. Camille is the daughter of Rob and Natalie Anderson. Marie was second runner-up in the senior division and received a Koala sewing chair, Coats and Clark hand quilting thread collection, a specialty variegated thread collection, 2 pieces of wool fabric and coordinating lining and Wild Ginger pattern making software. For her entry, Marie constructed and modeled a blue/green/red plaid dress and cranberry red jacket. The fitted, sleeveless dress features a square neckline, bias cut side panels and an embroidered waistband. The classic jacket has notched collar and princess seams with accenting pleats. She is the daughter of Kevin and Diane Bolin. Merna Hanson of Juniata competed in the Adult Division. The adult division is based on a video, narration and garment construction prior to the National Contest. Merna constructed a cape, jacket and pants. The trip and contest were sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Women, American Sheep Industry Association and the Nebraska Sheep and Goat Industry. The purpose of the Make It With Wool Contest is to promote the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics and yarns, to encourage personal creativity in sewing, to recognize creative skills and to develop life skills. Contestants must select, construct and model their own garments. All entries must be made with 100 percent wool or wool blend (minimum 60 percent wool or specialty wool fiber) for each fashion fabric or yarn used. Effective June 18, 2011, all comments will be subject to review prior to being approved. I have two simple rules:1) Do not use profanity. Profane comments will not be posted.2) We are here to discuss the issues at hand. Personal attacks are uncouth, divert us from intellectual discussion, and are used as a last resort for people who don't have an actual argument. Any comments containing personal attacks will automatically be deleted. Hi Everyone! Welcome to the adventures of Lilly My Cat. Here's some info that might be helpful: Cats of CharactersLilly - My beautiful Maine Coon CatPat - Me, who is the author of this blogFouad - My dear husbandHeidi - My lovely daughterTony - My wonderful son-in-lawAndrew - My great sonOliver - My little grandson whom I adore! A Regular Commentary on Strategic Affairs from a Leading Commentator and Analyst 2021 book: Future War and the Defence of Europe (Oxford: Oxford University Press) So my visit with my grief counselor was so good today that it inspired me again to sit back down at the computer and talk at the space that exists here.She asked me this question, "What made your mom a great mom?" I talked for a half an hour solid. I said a lot of things. I said she was a feminist in a 50s housewife's clothing. I said she taught us to think - in fact she often said it was the most important thing she EVER taught us. I talked about how she'd say "When I'm dead..." and follow it up with a thing I should do, or should have, or should remember. I talked and talked and talked. I admitted to not remembering what half of that stuff was.The most important thing, however, the thing that was the most important thing to ME was that she believed in me. More than that, she believed we ALL could do ANYTHING. She was of the Frank Zappa school that children don't need rules about which toys are age appropriate. She believed we could be what we wanted, we were smart enough and she knew whatever it was we could do it. She TOLD us we could do it. She didn't order us to, however. But she always believed in us. She never thought we couldn't do something.That's the part of me that's suddenly on fire. I believe I can do it. Whatever it is. For instance, I can climb up this...So that Michele and I could do THIS...This was actually a dual bucket list and weight loss goal for me. I've always wanted to do a zipline but I used to be too heavy for it. It was incredibly liberating to just step on the scale, knowing I totally met the criteria. It was scary up there at the top. It was scary as we stepped down one, two three steps and swung into midair. But I knew I could do it. I knew I could because my Mom knew I could.My dad used to say "My children are fearless." He would say it with the chest beating pride of a warrior. I don't know that we're fearless. I think that in the past year we've learned what fear is, in a really terrible way. But maybe what we really are is strong.And in addition to believing in ourselves, somehow I've realized we believe in each other.Mom gave us this gift. This ability to think. This ability to believe. This knowledge of how important we are to one another. The ability to believe we can do it. Whatever it is.It was a great visit. I'm going to keep going until I don't need to. I don't know if that day will ever come. One of the best things of the visit was at the end, when she asked if I was going to come back and I said yes, and she said "I'm so glad, I don't get to hear wonderful family stories that often and you have some great ones. I love hearing about your family."And I apparently love talking about them. From: precious girladlan < preciousgirladlan23@gmail.com > Sent: Tue, Feb 2, 2016 10:29 am Subject: With love and trust, I will send the contacts of the bank in Cameroon Hi My Dear, First of all thank you for having responded to my letter En-line with the message that I sent, as there is life in your country?, I hope that you find yourself in an atmosphere of peace and love. I am very happy to read your mail today, please do not be surprise or get offended for receiving this message from me, It 's just that I was forced to place my trust on you just because of my situation here in the refugee camp. After searching through the internet from where I get your email address I strongly believe in my heart that we must be honest and sincere person for me to reveal my secrets of life, for you to help me. Let me first introduce my self to you, and I will take the best of your honesty after the fact about me and who I am, I really like to have a good relationship in-spite of everything, because I feel that this will honest and trustworthy person can not betray me. I decided to contact you because of the urgency of my situation here and after reading your mail today i whole-heatedly decided to let you know more and more about me, who knows? maybe it will be my savior, from these conditions I found in. My name is Miss Prcious Alier Adlan, 23yrs old from southern Sudanese, the only daughter of the late Dr.Abel Alier Adlan My father was a businessman and major success, a politician under the government of southern Sudanese , the former head of state before the rebels attacked; My father was killed by rebels during the war in my country. So I am compelled to contact you because of the maltreatment I am receiving from my step mother. He's going to take away all my late father's treasury and properties from me since the unexpected death of my beloved Father. In the meantime I wanted to escape from Africa to any where in the world but she hide my international passport and other valuable travel documents. Luckily she did not discover where I kept my father's File which contains important documents. So I decided to run to the refugee camp where I am presently seeking asylum under the Private charity organization for the Refugee here in Republic of Cameron. I would like to contact you personally for a long term relationship that can lead us to something better if it works well. I give you the phone number of the Rev pastor in charge of this camp, +237.678576120 He prays very time you call tell him that you want to talk with me, so that he will send for me in the camp hostels to come and answer your call. Life here in the refugee camp is very stressful and I honestly please help me out of here soon. Please listen to this, my late father of blessed memory deposited the sum of $ 10,500,000,00 (Ten million five hundred thousand dollars) in a Bank in Cameroon with my name as the next of kin. However, I will transmit the necessary documents on confirmation of your acceptance to assist me to transfer funds to bank accounts in my name. As you will help me in an investment and I like to finish my study at home, as I said before, as I was in my first year at university, when the crisis started. After the transfer you will arrange for my trip there for joining you, to share this feelings face to face. I tried all my best and explain my conditions here at the bank in Cameroon, but was told that my status as a refugee in Cameroon does not allow me to these transaction, unless i find someone to help me, (perhaps my relatives, trusted friends or partners). To be honest with you, I prefer to tell my secrets to a stranger because he / she will not have a mind to cheat me or betray me, someone here, if people here know that I say these funds my life be in total danger and risky here, that's why I'm about to reveal this with all my heart and trust that you will keep this confidential for my safety reasons and purposes of life, I sincerely want you to know that we will invest the 'fund together me and you, or if you do not want to be with me then it will my pleasure to compensate you with 20% of the total sum for the services and the balance shall be my investment capital. This is why I decided to contact you. Please all communications should be through this email address only for confidential purposes. As soon as I receive your positive response showing your interest for me, I will put things into action immediately. I will send the contacts of the bank in Cameroon so that you contact them immediately for them to transfer funds to your bank accounts, please this is a legitimate money and the bank is also aware that I am the nearest relative, because I send them the documents where my father wrote my name as the next of kin and have also confirmed and said that I should look for someone to help me facilitate the transfer of funds, since I am in the refugee camp. In light of the above, I appreciate an urgent message indicating your ability and willingness to handle this relationship and transaction sincerely. I am waiting for your urgent and positive response. Please keep this only to your self please I am on my kneels in the name of God, not to reveal this secret to anyone until I come to your country once the funds were transferred. In the meantime I want you to call me like i said i have a lot to say. Attached here is my photo Sincerely, Precious From: precious girladlan < preciousgirladlan23@gmail.com > Sent: Wed, Feb 3, 2016 10:55 am Subject: Please give me your contact details Hello, my dear, how are you doing ? Like you know, am still student, i am first year student, before my conditions turnaround. I think you can understand my present conditions. please i want you to help me out, because i cannot be able to carry out this transfer on my own due to my situation and condition here as a refugee. The last i contacted the bank they told me that they cannot deal directly with me in this transfer due to my condition and status here so they advice me to nominate or present any person of my wish who can and will be able to stand on my behalf and make the transfer. As i discussed it with the reverend he gave me 7days praying and fasting and it was then i source your details, and i got your contact and told the reverend about you and he prayed and ask me to go ahead with you, this is my reason of believing that you are the right person to help me. My dear i have the details of this money and the information needed so i hope you will stand for me in making this transfer. I will give you the bank contact so that you can go ahead and contact them on my behalf and tell them that you are standing for me as the next of kin. I hope they will answer you and reply back to you also and then you can let me know what they say, and if they ask for any of the documents of the money then i will provide them to you. My dear there has been a lot of wars here in Africa and many people are affected like me some loose all their belongings and lives and moreover i am not in my country. Dear you can make this transfer and then we will meet as soon as the money is transfer because you will send me some money from there to come over. Please i need your address, PHONE NUMBER and FAX. Please keep it a secret as my country officials or the government should not know about this money because if they find out now they will surely call the money back and take it from me and even loose my life. At present i am just here and suffering in this difficult situation and that is why i ask for your true help now. I'm now in Cameroon and my inheritance fund is in us dollars. So please i need your fast response now so that i can give you the bank contact for you to contact them.please try to give me your contact detail Full Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Telephone or Fax. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Meanwhile if you assist me in the above context, i will be yours for the rest of my life. Your love, Precious From: precious girladlan < preciousgirladlan23@gmail.com > Sent: Fri, Feb 5, 2016 8:26 am Subject: I will come over to meet you for us to start a new life together. hello how are you doing ? Because of my situation and my position as a refugee i stop my studies, because of the difficulties i am going through now that is why i am eager for your help so that i will go back to school to get my degree and move on with life. please my beloved give me your full contact details your full name and address telephone number so that i will give you the bank details where this fund is deposited for you to contact them to know when and how the transfer will be done. my love as soon as the transfer is completed i will come over to meet you for us to start a new life together. attached are my picture i hope you will like them. your love, Precious From: precious girladlan < preciousgirladlan23@gmail.com > Sent: Fri, Feb 5, 2016 12:07 pm Subject: Please contact the Bank immediately I believe in my heart that your help to me will bring something good to you, and i assure you that if God will use you to help me out of this situation,i will never forget you in my life and with what you have said in your mail to me i now have the confidence to go ahead with you. i am still praying and i know that our God will never fall us.Please i dont have enough photos here i think you can understand my present conditions. The contact information of the bank is as follows, BANK NAME: Commercial Bank of Cameroon CONTACT : Mr Morris Achu Ako Director: Foreign Operations below is the Email. foreignoperation@comic.com , foreignoperation@writeme.com Website: www.cbc-bank.com Please contact this bank, and tell them that you are contacting them on behalf of the fund of late Dr. Abel Alier Adlan from Southern Sudan with and you are representing me as my foreign partner as well as the next of kin to the fund, and ask them the possibility of transferring this fund to your position in your country. Please you can send mail now to the bank so that you can be expecting a reply from them as i have already sent an email now to the bank informing them that you will stand on my behalf to make the transfer pending my arrival to meet with you immediately after the transfer. Please do your best to make sure that you make contact with the bank, i will advice you to send mail to them for them to know our seriousness, whatever they reply, get back to me so that i will be knowing what is happening. My prayer is for God to grant me my pursuance and by the grace of God he will surely see us through. Please once again keep it only for yourself, for my safety and security reasons. You have to send them mail first then when they ask for the documents then i can send you the documents, please you can even send the mail now so that we can be expecting to hear from them also. The most important thing is to make sure that you make contact with the bank let us hear from them before any other thing will be done. Expecting to hear from you the response from the bank soon. Please take good care, and put me in your daily prayers. God bless you. preciousgirladlan23@gmail.com FOLLOW UP TO THE BANK send this below letter to the bank in Cameroon immediately : foreignoperation@comic.com , foreignoperation@writeme.com Dear Mr Morris Achu Ako, . . . . . . . . . . . . . I write to you about an inquiry in Miss Precious Adlan. She wants to transfer the fund deposited by her father late Dr. Abel Alier Adlan from republic of southern sudan, which Miss precious Adlan stands as the next of kin. Both parents are dead and she was the only child. She asked me to stand for her in this transfer of the fund to my bank account in my country . So, how are we going to do it ? I hope that you can give me an answer as soon as possible. Thanks for your assistance. Yours sincerely, Name . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . Please my dear you can send it now so that you can expect a reply from the bank soon and please when you hear from the bank also let me know. If you received a similar letter, please ignore it. Do not answer it. If you do, you will end up on more of the mailing lists used by the criminals behind this fraud. Read more.... kzenon/iStock/ThinkStock(NEW YORK) -- The winning lottery ticket for a $63 million jackpot possibly sits forgotten in someones desk drawer or glove compartment. The deadline for the winner to claim the money for the "Super Lotto Plus," and become a millionaire, is Thursday at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Russ Lopez, deputy director of corporate communications for the California Lottery, told ABC News that 5 p.m. is a hard deadline, and after that it will be too late to claim the jackpot. "We have unclaimed money all the time, on an average it's about $20 million a year. People just forget they bought a ticket. They misplace it. It's not on their mind. We want people to immediately sign the back of their ticket and then put it somewhere important that they will remember," Lopez told ABC News. The $63 million unclaimed ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven located at 20871 Lassen Street in Chatsworth, California, lotto officials said, noting the winning numbers were 46-1-33-30-16 and the Mega number 24. The unclaimed money does not go to waste if a winner does not come forward. According to the Lottery Act, all unclaimed prizes automatically go to California public schools, Lopez said. "The Lottery money is largely unrestricted. That means that schools can use it for non-mandated programs such as computer labs and workbooks. Were talking about California with about 1,100 K-to-12 school districts and each district has many schools. According to our law, we have to equally divide that money to every school so that money becomes very modest. Last year, we gave $1.39 billion, but after it's divided up between schools, it's very modest so our public schools and our teachers still need a lot of help." As the clock ticks down on the deadline to win the $63 million, Lopez addressed reports that the California Lottery denied the prize to a person who claimed to have the winning ticket. "We want people to win and we want people to get their prize money. It's good for our business. We want people to win their prizes," Lopez said. "If we deny them, it is because we have done a very thorough investigation." Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.--Benjamin Franklin Love is not enough. It must be the foundation, the cornerstone - but not the complete structure. It is much too pliable, too yielding. Mumbai: A song that Salman Khan wanted to use for Tere Naam has been included in Sanam Teri Kasam, co-directed by his Lucky: No Time for Love makers Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao, who say it was a way to add the superstar's 'lucky charm' to their film. On Wednesday, Salman tweeted: Directors of my film Lucky n Sanam Teri Kasam churaud my song from Himesh. lovely song Had selected it for Tere Naam https://t.co/8aF3c6KXkH Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) February 3, 2016 The song in question is titled 'Haal-e-dil'. Asked about it, Sapru told IANS that it's the first song that appears in the film. "Salman Khan is our mentor, so we do all our work keeping Salman informed about it. But as a project, we had not discussed Sanam Teri Kasam with him. When we were discussing it and were showing everything that we have done in the film, 'Haal-e-dil' came up, and he said, 'This is my song!' He got a little upset about it," Sapru said. Sapru says music director Himesh Reshammiya had told him that the song's tune was first finalised by Salman for the 2003 Tere Naam, which also starred Bhumika Chawla. "Not that we wanted to take this song, but when we were doing our music sitting with Himesh at that time, we finalised the first song of the film. There were two tunes to get finalised. But when Himesh said that this tune was finalised by Salman for Tere Naam, and he has kept another song that Salman could use it when he makes another tragic love story, we took this one." "Salman has been our lucky charm since we started our career, and we were very clear that by hook or by crook, we want Salman's lucky charm in our film. So, we finalised that song." The director said that the 50-year-old actor was "upset" but after seeing the song as part of Sanam Teri Kasam, "it almost got tears to his eyes". Also, Sapru feels Salman's tweet on the song has "so much of love". "It's written by 'my directors'," he said. Sanam Teri Kasam, releasing on Friday, stars Telugu actor Harshvardhan Rane and Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane, who are foraying into Bollywood. IANS London: Former Friends star Matt LeBlanc has been revealed as one of the new presenters of BBC motoring show Top Gear. LeBlancs appointment marks the first time that the show has ever had a non-British host in its 39-year history, reports variety.com. He joins lead presenter Chris Evans on the revamped show, which is expected to return to TV screens in May, while in India it will be aired soon after that on AXN. As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, Im honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic shows new chapter," LeBlanc said. Evans said of his new Top Gear presenter: Matts a lifelong fellow petrol-head and Im thrilled hes joining Top Gear. Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know well both be debating some epic road trip ideas. We cant wait to share what weve been up to on screen later this year. LeBlanc has recently been starring in BBC-Showtime comedy Episodes" for which he won a Golden Globe. He is already a familiar face to Top Gear viewers, having been a two-time guest on the show and the fastest celebrity to date around the Top Gear track in its reasonably priced car. LeBlanc also presented the recent standalone spin-off Top Gear: The Races, where he led fans through some of the most memorable racing moments from the previous 22 series. IANS Take a bow Vetrimaran, Visaranai, in one word, is just brilliant. The film is hard hitting, dark, gritty and riveting. It is a realistic take on police brutalities inside a cop house and how the enforcers of law torture innocent people to extract confessional statements. The director throws light on how police investigation and charge sheets are made and how the system works. Visaaranai is an adaptation of a real life incident based on autorikshaw driver turned writer Chandrakumars book Lock Up. The writer had spent 13 days in police custody and was tortured to admit to a crime he had not committed. The director along with Chandran has come out with a very provocative film which is meaningful, at a time when courts are exposing a lot of cooked up police evidences. The director Vetrimaran has set the story revolving around three principal characters. The first half of the film is set in Guntur in Andhra, where a lot of Tamilians work. Pandi (Dinesh) works in a provision stores and is falsely implicated along with his friends in a robbery case by the local Andhra Police. The cops are under pressure from their higher ups as the robbery took place in a politically influential persons house. Enter Muthuvel (Samuthirakani) a Tamil Nadu policeman in search of an accountant KK (Kishore) of corrupt politicians and businessman who specialises in black money laundering. Fate intervenes as the life of three characters entangles leading to a nail biting climax with its twists and turns. The ending is a stunning reminder that the corrupt system prevails above everything else and there are no winners or losers. The film succeeds due to razor sharp writing and linear screenplay aided by terrific performances by its lead actors. One of the major highlights is that actors have been aptly cast. Dineshs normal mannerisms fit in with the character. Samuthirakani as the reluctant cop is fantastic especially in the police station scene with his higher ups . Kishore has come out with a stunning performance as the corrupt auditor, who gets the biggest surprise of his life when the tables turn. Anandi the only female in the film as a domestic help is good in her scenes with Dinesh. Technically the film is slick. The cameraman Ramalingam using only natural light and his colour tone makes the film visually stunning. Editor Kishores (he passed away recently), cuts make the film under two hours racy. GV Prakashs background score lifts the film to a new height. Another major plus is the production design of the film, especially the Andhra police station and the row of toilets for prisoners and the marshland inside a housing colony in Chennai where the climax is set. Vetrimaran has made it as realistic as possible with police torture scenes looking disturbing. But the director himself has made it clear that the film is not for the weak hearted and carries a UA certificate for violence and profanities (muted in India theatrical version). Hats off to Vetrimaran who has preferred to take the road less traveled and taken Tamil cinema to a new level with Visaranai. Ahmedabad: NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya on Friday expressed concern over comparatively less contribution of agriculture in total GDP of the country and called for reforms in the sector to bring second Green Revolution. Panagariya was in Gandhinagar to chair a meeting of 'Task Force on Agriculture Development', constituted by each of the central and western region states, an official release said. Panagariya said though 49 percent of country's population is associated with agriculture, their contribution is just 15 percent in the total GDP. "It is time we give importance to agriculture sector. For the second green revolution, we have to bring reforms in the various avenues of this sector, such as land, farming, seeds, etc," he was quoted as saying in the release. The vice chairman further said that NITI Aayog believes in equal relationship with states and today's meeting shows that even Niti Aayog can come to states. Gujarat Health minister and president of Gujarat Task Force Nitin Patel agreed with Panagariya and suggested that farmers must be given a 'status' and this sector should be encouraged in line with industries. Gujarat Agriculture Minister Babubhai Bokhiriya suggested that agriculture sector should be given priority and efforts should be made to see that it gets international finance, it added. The meeting was attended by the heads of such task force of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Union Territory of Dadara and Nagar Haveli, and Diu and Daman. PTI New Delhi: Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) on Thursday sold its cement business arm to Birla Corporation for Rs 4,800 crore, a deal that will help Anil Ambani-led Group lower its debt burden. "RInfra today announced the signing of share purchase agreement with Birla Corporation Limited, the flagship Company of the M P Birla Group, in relation to 100 percent sale of its subsidiary RCCPL," the Reliance Group company said in a statement. "Deal values cement business at Rs 4,800 crore at USD 140/tonne," it said adding that the proceeds will be utilised for debt reduction. RCCPL has an integrated cement capacity of 5.08 million tonne per annum (MTPA) at Maihar, Madhya Pradesh and Kundanganj, Uttar Pradesh and a grinding unit of 0.5 Mtpa at Butibori, Maharashtra. "Under this transaction Birla Corporation Ltd will acquire the 100 percent shareholding of RInfra in RCCPL. The transaction is subject to approval of the Competition Commission of India and other applicable regulatory approvals," the company said. It added that SBI Capital Markets acted as the financial advisors to RInfra for this transaction. RInfra is one of the largest infrastructure companies, developing projects through various special purpose vehicles (SPVs) in several high growth sectors such as power, roads, metro rail, cement and defence. Birla Corporation has presence across cement and jute and cement constitutes over 90 per cent of the company's revenues. With a total operational cement capacity of 10 MTPA, it has units in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. PTI New Delhi: A 17-year-old boy, apprehended for strangulating an elderly woman two months after he was released from a correction home, could be the first juvenile to be tried as an adult under a new law passed by Parliament in December. The Delhi Police has urged the Juvenile Justice Board to treat the boy as an adult as he allegedly murdered the woman just five months after kidnapping and killing a 13-year-old boy for which he was sent to the correction home. The boy was released from the juvenile home in December last year for his "good behaviour" after his parents applied for bail, saying he had to appear for Class X exams. He was apprehended again on Thursday on the charge of killing the woman at South Delhi's B K Gupta Colony. If the Juvenile Justice Board accepts the recommendation of the Delhi Police, then the boy will be the first to be tried under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. The new legislation was cleared by the Parliament on 22 December. It was passed after a prolonged debate on whether juveniles involved in heinous crimes should be tried as adults. The demand for the new law had grown following release of the juvenile offender in the 16 December, 2012 gangrape case. "We have submitted a written application to the Juvenile Justice Board, urging them to treat the juvenile, who is around 17 years and 11 months old, like an adult. This teenager could be the first to be tried under the amended Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act," a senior police official said on Friday. The juvenile was apprehended from his residence in Faridabad yesterday for allegedly strangulating to death a 65-year-old woman, and then robbing her of cash, jewellery and other expensive articles, at her residence in south Delhi's BK Dutt colony. In September 2015, The juvenile, along with his girlfriend, had allegedly abducted and murdered a 13-year- old boy for money which he needed for participating in a popular reality dance show, police said. After being released from a correction home around two months ago, he targeted the elderly woman, identified as Mithilesh Jain, a widow. The woman was found dead on Monday by her son-in-law but the police had then claimed that it was a case of natural death. Things took a turn when Jain's relatives informed police that some jewellery, cash and expensive items, including two mobile phones, were missing from her residence. Meanwhile, the post-mortem report also suggested that she was strangulated, following which police registered a case at Lodhi Colony police station. PTI Pune: In the wake of the Murud beach tragedy that claimed 14 lives, the Pune education department has banned educational tours to beaches, rivers, lakes and hills. The office of Deputy Director (Education) of the region today issued a circular in this regard. Also, no permission will be granted for such trips outside Maharashtra. "In the wake of the tragic incident in Murud, we have issued a circular in which schools and junior colleges have been instructed not to take educational tours to risky and dangerous places like beaches, rivers, lakes and hills," the circular read. "If tours are being organised, adequate teachers should be accompanying students," said Ramchandra Jadhav, Deputy Director (Education), Pune region, which comprises Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur districts. Also, permission would not be granted for educational tours out of the state, he said, adding "consent letters from parents have been made a must". Schools and junior colleges undertaking excursion tours will have to submit an affidavit on stamp paper, Mr Jadhav said. The measures come days after 14 students of the city-based Abeda Inamdar College drowned off Murud beach in Raigad district during a picnic on Monday. PTI At a time when 'intolerance' (especially towards different religions) has become the buzz word, a Kerala temple has taken the path of inclusiveness by stopping their pujas for two days after a 23-year-old Muslim boy was beaten to death and a video capturing the incident went viral. The Indian Express reports that MV Shabeer, who was a member of an organising committee of the annual festival at the Shiva temple at Puthennada, was beaten to death on Sunday after an altercation over an elephant running amok during the festival last year. There was no blowing of conch shells and ringing of bells for two days as well. The Indian Express quoted a member of the committee N Unni as saying, "It was a friendship beyond religion, We never considered Shabeer as a Muslim in the temple committee." The report says that the attack on Shabeer happened because the four accused had caused the elephants to go amok during the festival last year by using needles to prick the animals. Shabeer had complained to the police and since then the four men had held a grudge against him. According to a report by NDTV, there was a 49 second video of the assault recorded by a passer by of the four men beating Shabeer with sticks on Sunday. Shabeer was later taken to a hospital where he died. The four men have been arrested. The avalanche at the Siachen glacier, in which ten army soliders were killed, is the latest chapter of a three-decade old saga of a frozen conflict on world's highest battleground. Since 1984, the glacier has been fiercely contested by both India and Pakistan, with massive amounts of resources and manpower spent to fight what many say is a pointless fight. In one of the more colourfully worded descriptions of the protracted confrontation, Stephen P Cohen-an expert on South Asian security-called it a 'struggle of two bald men over a comb.' Here's a closer look at the avalanche and the story of geopolitical struggle behind it: Lives Lost Ten soldiers lost their lives after a massive avalanche ripped off an army post at the glacier. According to a report in Firstpost, immediately after the news of the avalanche broke, it was clear that there was very little hope of finding survivors. The spot is at a staggering 19,600 feet above sea level. Following the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and Army chief Dalbir Singh have expressed their condolences. India-Pak standoff Just four years ago, the Siachen glacier had seen an even bigger avalanche tragedy, on the Pakistani side of the standoff. More than 120 Pakistani soldiers died after being buried under the snow. This could have been one of the reasons why Pakistan offered help for rescue operations earlier this week, which India rejected. Cartographical aggression The conflict has its roots in 1984, when army mountaineer Col Narendra Kumar claimed that Pakistan had committed a 'cartographical aggression' found that Pakistan had incorrectly marked the Line of Control. The LoC was not marked beyond point NJ 9842, which led to the confrontation. Pakistani newspaper Dawn claims that in 1984, Indian troops 'quietly deployed' troops to the area, after which Pakistan deployed soldiers to prevent the Indian troops from advancing. What is not in dispute, however, is that the area is extremely harsh terrain not fit for human habitation. Frozen Conflict The majority of deaths which have taken place in Siachen have taken place not because of armed combat, but because of the weather conditions. In temparatures which can go down to -50 degrees celsius, soldiers suffer frostbite, a shortage of oxygen and a loss of appetite. A New York Times article quoted a Pakistani solider as saying, "I saw people getting lost, just looking at space...The isolation was affecting their brain." Bone of contention Even in the present day, India and Pakistan publish different maps of the region, as pointed out in this BBC article. The Siachen glacier is widely known as the world's highest battlefield. Pakistan has proposed to demilitarise the region and declare it as a 'Peace Park'. This idea was first mooted at the 5th World Parks Congress in Durban in 2003. However, an article in Indian Defence Review argues that the glacier is strategically important for India and that adequate infrastructure is now in place which is necessary for the terrain. Hyderabad: Former minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham on Friday began an indefinite fast along with his wife in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district demanding inclusion of Kapu community in Backward Classes category. Padmanabham whose agitation in support of the demand had turned violent a few days back, began the fast at his native Kirlampudi village in East Godavari. He demanded that the Kapu reservation issue be resolved in about three months and that Rs 1,000 crores be given annually for the benefit of the community. He also sought that false cases should not be filed against the community members in connection with the violent incidents that took place when 'Kapu Garjana' (roar of Kapus) public meeting was conducted on Sunday last. An inquiry by CBI may also be ordered into the violence in which a train, a police station and government and private vehicles were set on fire, he said. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at Kirlampudi and other villages in East Godavari district in view of the fast by Padmanabham. Two ruling TDP MLAs Thota Thrimurthulu and Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, who belong to Kapu community, held talks with Padmanabham last night as part of efforts to end the row. They, however, said they met Padmanabham in their individual capacity as concerned Kapu legislators and not as government representatives. The two MLAs told me to be flexible in dealing with the government, Padmanabham said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu yesterday asked Justice (retired) Manjunatha, chairman of the government appointed commission to look into the issues of backward classes and submit the report at the earliest. The commission was supposed to submit report in about nine months. Violence had erupted in East Godavari district last Sunday during 'Kapu Aikya Garjana', a meeting by Kapu community members, who sought reservation under BC category. The agitators, who had gathered in the district's Tuni town to attend the public meeting addressed by Padmanabham, pelted the engine of Ratnachal Express train with stones and also attacked police personnel before ransacking the railway station. Four bogies of the train were also set ablaze. As many as 63 cases have been registered in this connection by police for rioting, arson, criminal conspiracy, holding meeting without permission, violating preventive orders and causing damage to public property, attacking the policemen on duty without provocation, damaging railway property besides torching private and police vehicles. Before going on fast, Padmanabham told mediapersons that he had waited for some positive response from government till the last minute but decided to continue his stir, unmindful of the consequences till his demand was considered. "My life is dedicated to my Kapu community welfare and nothing would deter me from my determination," he said. The Kapu leader also appealed people not to come to Kirlampudi, but to take up the fast staying in their houses by skipping their lunch and hitting the plates with spoons, so that its echo reaches the ears of the chief minister. Meanwhile, police have cordoned off all the passages to Padmanabham's house and restricted the entry of outsiders. Superintendent of Police, East Godavari, Ravi Prakash was supervising the security at Kirlampudi, where Padmanabham's house has been kept under strict surveillance. PTI New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday said India will "surely" teach a lesson to the mastermind of the Pathankot air base attack and admitted that the terrorists were probably inside the air base even before intelligence about an impending strike was received. Noting that India "is losing much of its patience", Parrikar said the country will give tit-for-tat. "Eent ka jawaab patthar se denge (we will reply to bricks with stones)," he said. Parrikar said the "pushers" of the attacks were in Pakistan, refusing to disclose further details. "You have to plan. Here I have named individual and organisation, and has not named any country, because if it's against a country, then it means war. We want to teach a lesson to the individual. Where and when, that will be our choice," Parrikar said in Rajat Sharma's show 'Aap Ki Adalat' on India TV. Asked why India has not launched a counter-attack against terror camps in Pakistan after the Pathankot incident, Parrikar was quoted in a press release by India TV as saying that the time will be chosen by India. "How do you know where we should strike and where we should not? Such things are not disclosed in public. We must have the capability. And Pakistan... I will not name any country... They take sort of fights with us by sending terrorists. Such people need to be taught a lesson. There is no question mark in it. But when, how and at what time, should be decided based on our convenience," he said. Parrikar said there has been fresh information that some of the Pathankot attackers were inside the air base even before the intelligence was received. "Some people have inferred wrongly about the gaps that I had mentioned. The air base has a 25-kilometre periphery, and they should not have entered, but we got advance information only 10-12 hours earlier. Now more information has come saying probably they (attackers) were in before the intelligence was received by us. Anyway that will be investigated by agencies. That is the gap which I was saying," he said. Told that the terrorists got trained at a Pakistani air base, Parrikar said he can't reveal the details because "as we say, no one tells the world what you do and what happens inside a bedroom. So in such operations, nothing is revealed to the world, but we will do it surely". Asked why India was not carrying out cross-border strike against terror camps as it did against the NSCN(K) rebels "inside Myanmar", Parrikar said he would not disclose much in such matters, otherwise "the surprise element will be gone". "Once it happens, you will come to know about it. In the North-East, those who attacked our 6 Dogra (regiment)...we didn't tell them what we were going to do," he was quoted as saying. PTI Mumbai: The CBI on Friday urged a special MCOCA court here to issue a direction to deported gangster Chhota Rajan to give his voice samples for probe in connection with 2011 J Dey murder case. "First he (Rajan) gave his consent (for the voice test), but later he refused to undergo the same," CBI prosecutor Bharat Badami told the court after the fugitive was produced before it via video-link from Tihar jail. On the CBI plea, Special Judge S S Adkar asked Rajan's advocate Anshuman Sinha to file a reply. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on 11 February. CBI told the court that an audio CD containing telephonic conversation between Rajan and a person has been deposited in the court by Mumbai Police and they want to compare the voice in the CD with that of Rajan. Badami also sought more time for investigation into the murder, saying that they need to take help of some external agencies like Interpol to probe the case against Rajan as he was out of country for long following which its prayer was granted. CBI also said that the mobile of Dey, the murdered journalist, has not been sent yet for any forensic test and pleaded to the court to handover the mobile to the agency for its examination at CFSL in New Delhi. The central agency also requested the court that two laptops and one computer hard disk of Dey may also be handed over to CBI for further forensic examination for retrieval of deleted data. On 19 January, the court had allowed CBI's plea seeking a nod to question the 54-year-old crime boss for 10 days starting 27 January before adjourning the case till Friday. Rajan, a former key aide and lieutenant-turned-bete noire of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on 25 October after he arrived from Australia, and was later deported to India. He is facing around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all the cases against him to CBI. Dey, a veteran crime reporter, was shot dead in suburban Powai by motorcycle-borne shooters on 11 June, 2011 allegedly at the behest of Rajan. Four persons on two motorbikes fired at least four to five rounds at Dey, who was also riding a bike, from behind near Spectra Building at D Mart in Hiranandani area of Powai. PTI New Delhi: Several women's organisations on Friday strongly opposed Union Minister Maneka Gandhi's suggestion that prenatal sex determination be made compulsory to check female foeticide and asked the authorities not to "dilute" the PCPNDT Act. "It is most unfortunate that a minister tasked with the responsibility of protecting and advancing the interests of women and especially the girl child has completely failed to recognise the context that sex selection continues unabated and with impunity across the country," said Kirti Singh from All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA). The activists noted the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 was formulated to address the manner in which unscrupulous health professionals and corporate profiteers have misused technology and made sex selection into a lucrative business venture. "We call on the minister and the authorities to ensure that the PCPNDT Act does not get diluted, under whatever guise. The Modi government must not pander to the interests of commercial ventures, at the expense of the girl child," said Sabu George, a social activist. The Union Minister for Women and Child Development had kicked up a row by suggesting that sex determination test should be made compulsory to track women pregnant with a girl child as a measure to check female foeticide, at a recent function in Rajasthan. "In my personal view, the woman should be compulsorily told whether it is a boy or girl child whom she is going to give birth to. I am just putting out this idea. It is being discussed though there is no conclusion yet," she had said. The activists maintained that the minister's proposal was an assault on women's right to privacy and will also impinge on their right to abortion, at a time when access of women to safe and legal abortion services was being curtailed with many losing their lives due to unsafe abortions. "It is farcical to assume that a government that cannot properly monitor and implement the PCPNDT Act would be in a position to monitor the approximately 2.5 crore pregnancies, which is the average number of children born in the country every year," said Usha Srivastava from National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW). Jawaharlal Nehru University Professor Mohan Rao said that the proposal was aimed at "shifting the onus of responsibility on to the pregnant woman". "This will let off the actual wrong doers, and instead criminalise pregnant women who already bear the brunt of the society's gender discrimination," he said. PTI New Delhi: A 28-year-old man with suspected Islamic State links was nabbed by Delhi Police from Kashmere Gate ISBT, making it the fifth arrest in connection with the busting of a module of the dreaded terror outfit last month. "The accused, Ibrahim Sayyed, was arrested last night based on a tip-off from a central intelligence agency. Sayyed is a muezzin at Malad in Mumbai. He had come to Delhi to meet an associate," said Special Commisioner of Police (Special CP) Arvind Deep. Sayeed, who is believed to be self-radicalised, was acting as a financier and had given Rs 50,000 to the four persons who were arrested from Haridwar last month. All of them were found to have links with a former Indian Mujahideen militant who later went to fight for Islamic State. "He (Sayyed) was in touch particularly with Akhlaq, one of the four persons arrested last month," Deep said. Meanwhile, police are checking his background record and a special cell team is trying to track down his contacts in the national capital. Delhi Police had last month arrested four persons with suspected Islamic State links from Mangalore in Uttarakhand and claimed to have unearthed a terror plot to target the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, especially the trains headed there, along with some strategic locations in the national capital. The suspects were identified as Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Mohammed Osama, Mohammed Azim Shah and Mehroz. "The arrested persons were allegedly in contact with a former Indian Mujahideen operative, who later went for training in Syria and is presently believed to be a key member of Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT), which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)," police said. PTI After Thursday's arrest of five people suspected of assaulting a Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru, news reports now suggest that one of the accused involved in the mob attack was a BJP leader. Reports on Friday said that police arrested four more in connection with the case, bringing the total number of arrests to nine. According to Hindustan Times, Lokesh Bangari, a sitting member of the Chikkabanavara Gram Panchayat was arrested by the police for being part of the mob that beating up and stripping the woman and then parading her naked. Meanwhile, BJP has denied involvement of any party member. There are more than 30 lakh members in our party. As far as we know he is not a member. People claiming that he belongs to our party should produce his membership number, party spokesperson S Prakash said dismissing the claim. Tanzanias High Commissioner to India John Kijazi on Thursday told The Indian Express that the girl was attacked because she was black, and that the incident had an element of racism mixed with mob justice. According to NDTV reports, Kijazi will travel to Bengaluru on Friday along with senior Indian Foreign Ministry officials to inquire into the attack. Police Commissioner NS Megharik on Thursday had confirmed that five people had been arrested in the case, He had told IANS, "We have arrested the five accused after interrogating them on Wednesday night under detention in the case registered on the victim's statement in a road rage incident." The commissioner, however, did not disclose names and age of the five accused. The 21-year-old Tanzanian woman student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car in Bengaluru. She was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said. The incident on Sunday night took a serious diplomatic turn, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said five men had been arrested and that Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj spoke to him. A report would be sent to her, he had said. "Case has been registered, five of them (accused) have been arrested. Sushma Swaraj also spoke to me, I will also be sending her a report through my chief secretary," he had told reporters at "Invest Karnataka 2016", a global investors meet. Swaraj had described it as a "shameful incident" and spoken to Siddaramaiah, seeking stringent punishment for the guilty, while the High Commission of Tanzania had sent a Note Verbale to the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue. Voicing concern over the incident, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had sought a report from the Karnataka government, according to party general secretary Digvijay Singh, in charge of Congress affairs in the state. Singh tweeted: "Rahul Gandhi asks Karnataka Govt to explain and send report immediately," Singh said in a series of tweets. Strongly condemn Incident with the Tanzanian Lady in Bangalore. Police must act strongly against the culprits. digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 4, 2016 Rahul Gandhi asks Karnataka Govt to explain and send report immediately. digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) February 4, 2016 Union Law and Justice Minister DV Sadananda Gowda also said the attack came as an embarrassment for the nation and the Karnataka Government has to take stringent measures, reports DNA. With inputs from agencies Ten army soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer, are feared dead after an avalanche ripped off their post at 19,600ft in one of the worlds highest battlefield between India and Pakistan, Saichen in the northern glacier sector of the Ladakh region on Wednesday. The army, late on Thursday, ruled out any possibility of missing soldiers being alive, although search operations will continue until the dead bodies have been extracted from the snow. "It is a tragic event and we salute the soldiers who braved all challenges to guard our frontiers and made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, The defence ministrys spokesperson in Jammu, Colonel SD Goswami, said in a statement. The glacier gets 35 feet of snow every season temperatures plumes to 60C. Rescue teams are braving adverse weather and effects of rarified atmosphere to locate and rescue survivors. However, it is with the deepest of regret that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote," the statement, added. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 4, 2016 However, from the minute the army found out about the avalanche burying the post, there was little hope about the survivors. The question, senior army officers, pondered was not whether anyone was alive, but about the challenge of finding the dead bodies. A senior army official based in Jammu and Kashmir told Firstpost, late on Thursday that even to reach the spot, rescuers would need to spread ropes, and then stairs, so that people could walk on it. At 19,600 feet, soldiers cant walk for more than 10 steps, you need rest for five minutes, and than carry forward because the oxygen content is very low. There are pickets, (like this one) that remains closed for five months in areas like these we call them winter posts. If someone is sick, you have to bring him back in a helicopter. When an avalanche comes, it destroys the helipad too. If the troops are not alive, who will set up that helipad? he asked. The army says that reaching the post also puts someone elses life at risk, and that is the reason rescue operations are conducted during the night, mainly because the threat of avalanches is lower at night. The worst time to go there is between 11 am and 12 pm, but now the threat is reduced, because the area has already suffered one avalanche. In any case, the army will be operating at night, because the snow is harder and the threat of avalanches is lower. But I'm afraid for them that even after reaching there, finding the dead bodies in these extreme circumstances will be a challenge, another officer said. This is not the first time soldiers have lost their lives in Siachen on both sides and it wont be the last time. The deadly mountains buried 129 Pakistani soldiers and 11 civilians on 7 April, 2012, when a massive avalanche struck the Pakistani military headquarters at Gayari, 30 kilometres west of the glacier terminus. The operation, to rescue the dead bodies, lasted for months and Pakistan was forced to invite international experts to help them in the rescue mission which also failed to extract dead bodies for a long time. There are many dead bodies of Pakistani soldiers still missing in these mountains. Battlefield of Siachen The dispute over Siachen is the only conflict between two neighbours where inhospitable terrains have claimed more lives than actual combat. The majority of an estimated 2, 700 people, who were killed on both sides of the Saichen glacier, died not because they were fighting each other, but because of the extreme conditions in which they live avalanches, exposure and altitude sickness caused by thin, oxygen-depleted air. That is perhaps the reason why it is called the highest-altitude battlefield in the world. Situated in the East Korakoram range, it is the longest glacier in Himalayas at 77 kilometres in length and three kilometres in width. Both India and Pakistan spend billions in order to maintain troops access to the area from the Pakistani side is much better in terms of road connectivity, than the Indian side. India also has to spend more comparatively because the troops are actually camped on a glacier, which is supported by a fleet of helicopters. The Karachi Agreement, which India and Pakistan signed in July 1949, is considered to be the genesis of the conflict. This agreement demarcated ceasefire lines between India and Pakistan but stopped at a point NJ 9842. After the war of 1971, the LoC was not delineated beyond this point. The access provided by Pakistan to climbers and mountaineers from its side to various areas led India to believe that Pakistan had snatched and unilaterally extended the LoC from NJ 9842 to the Karakoram Pass, thus eating into over 10,000 square kilometres of Indian territory. The famous army mountaineer, Colonel Narendra Kumar, whose pioneering exploration paved way for India to take the glacier in early 1984, accidently discovered Pakistans cartographic aggression displayed on commercial American maps, while out on an expedition with a German expedition team. Colonel Kumar, in whose name an Indian post is named, found that the maps showed a line from NJ 9842 which was the last point delineated on the LoC between India and Pakistan drawn straight to the Karakoram Pass, instead of going north, as was internationally accepted. After convincing his seniors, the colonel was permitted to carry out a counter-expedition in 1978. "As we reached Siachen, Pakistani helicopters were flying over us and they were firing out coloured smoke," Colonel Kumar said in an interview in 2014. According to him, the rubbish left behind by mountaineers and climbers had convinced them that Pakistan was taking over the area. Pakistanis were also alarmed when they found cigarette packets and food packages on the main Siachen glacier; by then, they were convinced India was also trying to set up a base in the area. Had Indian intelligence agencies not learned about an interesting shopping trip in London in 1984, Pakistan might have seized control of the entire mountain region. "We found out that Pakistanis were buying lots of specialist mountain clothing in London," Colonel Kumar said in the interview. Later a Pakistani army officer admitted the mistake of buying from the same store as the Indians. New Delhi immediately dispatched troops to Siachen, beating Pakistan by a week. On 13 April, 1984, Indian troops snatched control of the Siachen glacier a week before Pakistan could. The race to deploy troops in extreme circumstances, devoid of any human or animal presence, started that year. A soldier's nightmare Stephen P Cohen, a prominent expert on South Asian security while dismissing the geographical importance of Siachen in a military context once described the standoff between India and Pakistan in Siachen as a struggle of two bald men over a comb. It was perhaps the most fitting line, which explains the madness over a region that has only given body bags to both the nations. Army officers and reports published over the years say soldiers suffer weight loss of around 15 kilograms every 90 days. Most of them, because of the prolonged use of oxygen masks, complain of hearing loss, eyesight and memory loss. They breath the purest albeit scarce oxygen, sleep in ice-caves, and endure blizzards and storms with thunderous velocity of 150 kilometres per hour that sometimes continue for weeks on end. Soldiers need special equipment, apparel and gear to survive. Reports of people getting incapacitated due to frostbite are normal. There is not enough oxygen to light fires for even cooking purposes. On the diplomatic front In June 2005, when former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh flew to the Siachen base camp to talk to soldiers, he said that, the time has come to convert this battlefield into a peace mountain. It must become an example of peace wherein nobody feels any threat and there is no scope for conflict. This came in the wake of lobbying groups putting pressure on both the countries to avoid confrontation in the mountains. India has been insisting that the line needs to be demarcated beyond the point it was left without delineation all along the 110-kilometre-long Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) before considering demilitarisation, and Pakistan wanted to keep the status quo with troops moving to the pre-1984 position. The tragedy that struck the Pakistani side in 2012 had triggered peace talks between two nations, but failed to break the ice. We are keeping men there because it is now a line of control. And the moment you demilitarise it, you will have another Kargil. Conditions are today far better for the soldiers than they were few years ago. an army officer says. Interestingly, as the improvement in technology and equipment has made things better for soldiers from both the sides, they have realised that the biggest problem in the area is not the altitude, but disposal of human waste. The question people in India and Pakistan should ask themselves is why they need to waste precious human lives on what is often called a block of snow. The tragedy that took place on Wednesday could have been avoided, had there been no need to keep troops in such hostile circumstances. Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government on Friday decided to set up help desks in the airports and sea ports in the state as part of efforts to deal with Zika virus. Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, who held a video conference with health officials, directed them to spread awareness among people on the menace of the mosquito bites, especially during day time. Those returning from Zika virus-hit countries of Latin America and others should be taken care of, he said. The minister told the officials to conduct blood tests for pregnant women suffering from symptoms of the virus, a release from his office stated. The necessary blood tests for determining Zika virus should be conducted free of cost in all district and area hospitals, the minister said. He asked them to earmark at least two beds each in all district and area hospitals for treatment of zika virus-hit patients. Srinivas also directed that sanitation measures be taken up in coordination with Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration and local bodies, the release added. PTI By Deepa Padmanaban, IndiaSpend.com Nagapura, Hunsur district (Karnataka): Her pale, yellow eyes stood out against her dusky skin, and the grief was visible on the face of the young woman from a tribe of traditional honey gatherers living on the edge of south Karnatakas Nagarhole National Park. Shanta (she uses only one name) recounted how her baby, a boy, was born dead. When she felt labour pains, she travelled by autorickshaw 20 km to the nearest district hospital at Hunsur, where they told her the baby had died in her womb, two days ago. Shanta in her mid 20s was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a condition that endangers the baby if the mother is not diagnosed and treated. Such deaths are common in Nagapura, whose women report more than 50 deaths over a decade, although there are no records. A bony woman called Ambika, also in her mid 20s, saw her baby born deada stillbirth in medical parlanceas a midwife and her mother-in-law attended to her. When Bhavna Niranjankumar, a doctor with Mysores Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII), an NGO, asked Ambika why she didnt go to the hospital for the delivery, she replied: It happened very quickly. Ambika and Shanta are Jenu Korubas (literally, honey shepherds). Like Ambika, most women of the tribe give birth at home. Their dead-at-birth babies are part of the 592,000 stillborns in India, the largest of any country in 2015, according to research published last month by the Lancet, a global medical journal. A stillbirth is a baby born with no signs of life at or after 28 weeks gestation, according to the World Health Organisation. Worldwide, the rate of stillbirths decreased to 18.4 per 1,000 births in 2015 from 24.7 in 2000. In India, the stillbirth rate fell from 33.3 to 23 over the same period, the same as Uganda, Ghana and Mozambique, all poorer countries. The global average annual rate of reduction of stillbirths at 2 per cent is slower than either maternal (3 per cent) or post-neonatal mortality of children younger than five years (4.5 per cent). In India too, the annual rate of reduction for maternal (5.7 per cent) and neo-natal mortality (4.6 per cent) was better than that of stillbirths (2.4 per cent) Among the risk factors: Lack of timely and quality antenatal monitoring and care; non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes; nutritional factors, such as maternal anemia; biomedical factors, such as congenital abnormalities, infections, and lifestyle; environmental factors, such as drinking and smoking; and social determinants, including poverty, transportation and general living conditions. Disadvantaged women are twice at risk of having stillbirths, the Lancet study said, a factor evident in Nagapura and across India. Physicians who refuse to touch tribal womenand other reasons for poor health Among the reasons that makes Jenu Koruba women shy away from organised healthcare isthey complainedthe discrimination they feel at health clinics, both government and NGO. They are made to wait for hours, and physicians often refuse to touch them, they said. When I went to the district hospital for the 20-week scan, no one attended to me, Shanta told IndiaSpend. I waited for more than two hours, no one called me and so I came back without getting a scan. For a people without public transportation, traveling to a hospital 20 km away is not easy, and to make the journey, they rely on husbands, who are often away at work in the neighbouring hill district of Kodagu, where they work as daily wage labourers on coffee plantations. Most people in Nagapura are illiterate, unaware of health needsyet, Shanta made the journey to Hunsurand many of them, having earlier lived inside forests, rely on traditional medicine. Over the last few years, NGOs, such as PHRII, and government workers have run health camps for pregnant and post-natal women and infants, handing out information on maternal and child health, and have encouraged tribal women to be regularly checked at primary health centres. They dont come though, and when they do, the discrimination does not help. The women are also highly anaemic, said Niranjankumar, but they do not take the iron supplements given to them. Asked why, the women smiled sheepishly. Doctors speculate they are not used to taking tablets. Stillbirths are reducing across India, but there are still too many. States that pay attention to maternal health reduce chances of stillbirths The Every Newborn Action Plan, explained in the Lancet study, aims to bring the global stillbirth rate to 12 or lower per 1,000 births by 2030 (India in 2014 adopted the India Newborn Action Plan with the aim to reach a single-digit stillbirth target). That will require empowered women, better healthcare and progress checks. The dividends are obvious. Indian states that focused on maternal healthcare also had healthier children, IndiaSpend recently reported. Programmes such as the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), launched in 2005 to ensure safe motherhood, successfully offer cash incentives to encourage institutional deliveries, the rate of whichto all deliveriesincreased from 56.7 per cent in 2006-07 to 78.5 per cent in 2010-11, according to government data. Karnataka had 94 per cent institutional deliveries according to data released recently by the National Family Health Survey. Uttarakhand and Meghalaya were the worst, with 61 per cent and 58.4 per cent respectively. The rest were home deliveries, most without trained-health-worker supervision and possibly in unhygienic conditions. The reported reasons for home delivery were convenience, fear of stitches, unavailability of transportation and the inability to afford hospitals. JSY beneficiaries, since it launched a decade ago, increased from 0.74 million to 10.4 million in 2014-15. But this government review revealed that only 15 per cent of JSY institutions were equipped to deal with institutional deliveries. (Indiaspend.org is a data-driven, public-interest journalism non-profit) Deposing before a judicial commission probing the solar panel scam, prime accused Saritha S Nair today produced a sealed cover containing details of powerful politicians who allegedly sexually abused her in Kerala. The Justice G Sivarajan commission probing the scam had allowed Saritha to produce details of the alleged incidents and supporting documentary evidences in sealed covers. Saritha said another sealed cover containing more details about the sexual abuse will be produced before the panel tomorrow. "This is the real truth about the allegations regarding my illicit relations with leading politicians," Saritha said while producing a "strictly confidential sealed cover" before the Commission. During a cross examination by the Commission lawyer about her call details with powerful politicians and their staff in the state, Saritha admitted that there were "over 2000 telephonic calls between her and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's personal staff" during the 2012-2013 period. Nair alleges that a part of the money she received from one of her company's clients, Sreedharan Nair, was given to Chandy as a bribe. Speaking to The Indian Express, Saritha Nair says she had the freedom to walk in to Chandy's home anytime, "I was that close", she says. Chandy has rubbished all allegations. Tenny Joppan and Jikkumon were removed from Chandy's personal staff after the scam broke out in 2013. She admitted that there were 1736 telephonic calls between her and Joppan and she had chat with Jikkumon 615 times. Records show Saritha and Thomas Kuruvilla, Chandy's unofficial aide in New Delhi, had "exchanged 205 telephonic calls". Between Chandy's gunman Salim Raj and Saritha had around "416 phone calls" during the period. The Times of India reports that 180 calls were from the CM's official residence. During the 2012-2013 period, Saritha and Chandy's residence exchanged around 180 telephone calls. She said she had "telephoned Ramesh Chennithala when he was the KPCC president." Though she made 11 calls in his mobile, call records show that he did not make any call to her. However, the records show 127 calls made between her and Chennithala's P A in Delhi, one Pradosh. She admitted that she maintained "communication" with ministers including Aryadan Muhammad, K C Joseph, A P Anil Kumar, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and K P Mohanan. Call records also revealed the communication she had maintained with MPs M I Shanavas K C Venugopal and Jose K Mani and MLAs Hybi Eden, P C Vishnunath, A P Abdullakutty and Benny Behnnan. The scam pertains to alleged duping of several persons to the tune of crores of rupees by Sarita and her accomplice Biju Radhakrishnan by offering solar panel solutions. Meanwhile, expressing displeasure over certain remarks made against it by Kerala Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, the Commission sought an explanation from him. His lawyer has been asked to be present before the Commission. Saritha Nair has alleged she had paid a bribe of Rs.1.9 crore to the Chief Minister through Thomas Kuruvilla - an aide. In recent days, Chandy has chucked out three official aides after they were named as alleged middlemen in the scam which traces its roots to 2013. The genesis of the scam goes back to 2013 when a fake solar energy company named Team Solar -- floated by Biju Radhakrishnan and Saritha S. Nair -- duped several influential people of about 70 million rupees by offering to make them business partners. They also allegedly received advance payments by offering to install solar power units . The company used two women to create political contacts with links leading up to the Chief Minister's office. CNN IBN has the lowdown. With PTI inputs More Solar scam in Firstpost: All you need to know about Saritha Nair, prime accused in Solar scam Hyderabad: The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was heading for a huge win in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections as early results and trends indicated on Friday. The party had won 20 seats and was leading in 34 other divisions in 150-member municipal body. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) bagged eight divisions and was leading in nine others. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was leading in three divisions and its alliance partner Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was ahead in two divisions. The Congress, which is the main opposition party in Telangana, won one seat but was not leading in any other division. The counting of votes polled in Tuesday's elections began at 3 p.m. but the results and trends were announced after 5 pm when re-polling in one division concluded. Counting of votes polled in 149 divisions began at 24 places in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Elections held in all 150 divisions on Tuesday had recorded 45.27 percent turnout. According to GHMC, 33,60,543 voters out of the total electorate of 74,23,980 cast their votes. The re-poll in Puranapull division in the old city was ordered following complaints of rigging and incidents of violence. This was the first GHMC election after the formation of separate Telangana state. The TRS had no representation in the previous body, where the Congress shared power with MIM after their victory in 2009 elections. IANS Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi lashed out at the BJP government yet again over the schemes that were started by the UPA regime and were now running under the Narendra Modi government. "For some time, we have been talking about how the BJP government does not work for the poor, the workers and the farmers," ANI quoted Rahul as saying. "PCC Presidents informed me of how BJP disturbs policies which Congress started for the poor. We will give them a befitting response," he added. "We want to find out how the BJP government is attacking programmes started by us like the NREGA," said the Congress vice-president. "PM's job is to run the country, not make excuses. Maybe PM Modi has not figured this out yet... Today, even the big industrialists come to us and complain to us about PM Modi," he further said. He again criticised the Modi government over the condition of farmers in the country and said the Congress, as an Opposition party, will put pressure on the government to act for the welfare of the farmers. "We want to put pressure on the government so that they pay attention to poor people and the farmers. We are not going to let the BJP government act in the interests of three or four of their capitalist friends," he said. On Tuesday, As UPA's flagship scheme MGNREGA completed 10 years, Rahul Gandhi had attacked Modi for "failing" to understand its benefits and had said the NDA government wants to "finish" a rural job guarantee scheme that has come under all-round praise. "The poor, workers, farmers, economists, the United Nations and the World Bank have understood the benefits of the scheme," he had said. He had claimed that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley himself praised the programme in private. "...but the Prime Minister of India has not understood this," he had said at a public meeting in this village in Ananthapur district, where then prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched the programme a decade ago. A host of Congress leaders, including Singh, Anand Sharma, Mallikarjuna Kharge, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Ambika Soni and Meira Kumar were present at the meet, which appeared to be a show of strength by the main opposition party. "The BJP government at the Centre and TDP dispensation in Andhra Pradesh want to finish off MGNREGA. On one side, there are BJP, TDP governments and on the other, are farmers, workers and the poor of India and Andhra," he had said. "Congress would stand by the poor, labourers and together we will strive to save MGNREGA and see that the money (wages) reaches (them)." Gandhi had said that a few days ago, Jaitley came to invite him for his daughter's marriage and appreciated MGNREGA. "He (Jaitley) told me it's a very good programme. I told him 'Why don't you say this outside? Why say so behind closed doors. Tell India that MGNREGA is a good programme'. He just smiled and did not say anything," Rahul had said. "Modi rises in Parliament and says he does not want to end MGNREGA. 'Why I don't want to close the programme...I don't want to close because it's a living monument of failure of Congress'," Rahul had said. "Modiji, if you don't want to listen to us, or Manmohan Singh, at least listen to Arun Jaitley." Funds for MGNREGA are being slashed, said Rahul, who had earlier interacted with beneficiaries of the scheme, NGOs and sarpanchs in the village. With inputs from PTI WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Friday called for Britain and Sweden to "implement" a UN panel finding saying that he should be able to walk free from Ecuador's embassy, where he has lived in self-imposed confinement since 2012. "It is now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom as a whole to implement the verdict," AFP quoted Assange as saying via video link from the embassy building. "I consider the outcome in this case to be indication that the UN panel is the expert body in understanding the law on detention," Assange said. "While I understand the momentary political imperatives in Sweden and UK, the fact is that they are not correct," he added. "The UN decision is final and cannot be appealed...It is the end of the road for the legal arguments being presented by Sweden and UK. Those arguments lost," said the Wikileaks founder. Finally, an emotional Assange thanked the UN panel for the verdict and said that he misses his family and that the UN verdict brought a smile to his face. "I would like to thank the UN for considering our submissions and producing this verdict...This victory came about not just because of the situation I am in but also due to a lot of hard work," he said. Assange's statements came after Britain's Foreign Office rejected the United Nations panel's finding that Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. Officials had said in a statement that Britain will formally contest the working group's opinion issued earlier in Geneva, according to AP. The statement had said that Britain is "deeply frustrated" by the Assange situation. "The opinion of the UN working group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system," the statement had said. "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." The statement had pointed out that an allegation of rape is still outstanding and that a European Arrest Warrant is in place. It had said that Britain has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning. Meanwhile, the Swedish Prosecution Authority had said that the call from the UN working group for Julian Assange to be released and compensated "has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law." Spokeswoman Karin Rosander had said the prosecutor responsible for the case is traveling and has not yet been able to comment on the case. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he would be sent to the United States. Earlier, A UN human rights panel had said that Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling ways. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. With agency inputs Stockholm: Sweden said it did not agree with a UN panel which ruled Friday that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's stay in Ecuador's London embassy amounted to "unlawful detention". "The government does not agree with the assessment made by the majority of the Working Group," the foreign ministry said in a letter to the panel, adding that the body does not have the right to "interfere in an ongoing case handled by a Swedish public authority". Swedish authorities issued a pan-European warrant in 2010 for his arrest over a rape allegation and was detained in London before being released and later seeking asylum at Ecuador's embassy. "Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point and Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay at the embassy," the Swedish ministry said. "Mr Assange can therefore not be regarded as being deprived of his liberty due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities." Assange, who has been holed up at the embassy since June 2012 to avoid arrest, had said he expected British police to call off their attempts to detain him if the panel ruled in his favour. The 44-year-old Australian fears he could be extradited to the United States be tried over the publication of hundreds of thousands of classified documents by WikiLeaks. AFP Chennai: DMK and MDMK on Friday expressed concern over Sri Lankan President Maithiripala Sirisena's reported statement that his country's new constitution will not have the concept of 'Federation,' saying it will affect the ethnic Tamils. Seeking India's intervention in the matter, DMK President M Karunanidhi said Sirisena had in a recent meeting of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) 'categorically' stated that "there will be no place" for the concept of Federation in the new Constitution that seeks to replace the one adopted in 1978 by the island republic. "If the doors of Federation are not opened and rights not devolved, how can Tamils live with dignity, relief and equality. Sirisena's announcement that there will be no possibility for federation amounts to rubbing salt to injury," he said in a statement. He said demands were being made for the well-being of ethnic minority in Sri Lanka which included withdrawal of army from Tamil-speaking areas, efforts to trace missing persons from the community in the wake of the civil conflict and release of Tamil prisoners arrested during the 2009 internal strife among others. Karunanidhi said that while the demands must be heeded, the new Constitution should also have provisions for equal treatment of Tamils. The new Constitution should not act as a "balm" for them but should be like one being treated in the "intensive care unit," and the "heritage community" should be given its due respect and recognition which alone would solve the "complex" problems of Sri Lanka, he said. "Considering these, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should provide adequate guidelines for preparing the new Sri Lankan Constitution and pressure Sirisena (on this matter)," he said. MDMK founder Vaiko criticised Sirisena's reported statement and said this would result in Tamils lacking equality. He reiterated his demand for conducting a referendum on the creation of Tamil 'Eelam,' a seperate homeland for the ethnic minority as the only solution. Meanwhile, TMC leader and former Union Minister GK Vasan also sought for India's role in ensuring equal rights for Tamils. He said India should take up the matter with Colombo during the ongoing two-day visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Sri Lanka. PTI Colombo: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe here on Friday, the first day of her two-day visit to this island nation. External affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted: A warm welcome by a close neighbour. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees pic.twitter.com/Hqj8ITmdq9 Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) February 5, 2016 Earlier on Friday, she was received on her arrival here by her Sri Lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera. She is scheduled to attend the ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission which she co-chairs with Samaraweera. The joint commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation. Ahead of Swaraj's visit, Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday's joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries. Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. During the course of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. On Saturday, the Indian minister will inaugurate a "Rise of Digital India" exhibition as part of "Sangam - Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16". The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India. The re-framing of the Sri Lankan Constitution and the issue of Indian fishermen might also come up during the course of the discussions between the two sides. IANS New arrivals under Australia's humanitarian program could face much greater scrutiny and be denied direct access to permanent residency under a swathe of radical measures being canvassed by the Turnbull government, according to a sensitive draft cabinet document obtained by Fairfax Media. The government is also subjecting the 12,000 refugees to be taken from Syria and Iraq to more stringent character, identity and security checks than European countries and changing the make-up of the intake to minimise the risk of "extremist infiltration". Prepared by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's department, the document says the minister will bring forward the proposals in the first half of this year to "mitigate radicalisation risks" of new humanitarian arrivals. Australia's humanitarian program of 13,750 is due to rise to 16,250 in 2017/18 and 18,750 in 2018/19. Mr Dutton has declined to be drawn on the proposals or whether he supports them, telling Fairfax Media through a spokesperson: "Government departments produce draft documents for consideration all the time. This is a draft document which has not been seen by the minister or his staff - nothing more." Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz and his Republican buddy and former prosecutor Representative Trey Gowdy had a good-cop, bad-cop routine ready to go. It was a made-for-TV courtroom interrogation, but Shkreli kept his mouth shut. Martin Shkreli faces the US Congress. Credit:AP Then they handed it over to Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the committee, who tried to shame Shkreli into talking. He called Turing a "Ponzi scheme" in his opening remarks, saying the research and development that Turing has claimed it is doing to justify its high prices is simply research on which new drugs it could acquire and raise the prices. Shkreli smirked. Shkreli had earlier said he would 'school' Congress, but stayed silent when he was there. Credit:AP "It's not funny, Mr Shkreli, people are dying," Cummings said. But nothing worked, and after about 10 minutes, Chaffetz reluctantly excused Shkreli, who after weeks of baiting Congress for a showdown, had the last word: Here's the fascinating exchange: After the other witnesses, including two pharmaceutical officials and one from Shkreli's former company, testified about their company programs to help patients afford expensive drugs, Chaffetz turned to Shkreli and noted that Shkreli hadn't submitted any written testimony. Does he wish to give any now? Chaffetz asked. Shkreli: On the advice of counsel, I will not be giving an opening statement. Chaffetz then dived right into an ethical argument. Chaffetz: What do you say to that pregnant woman ... who might have AIDS and no income, and she needs Darapim in order to survive? What do you say to her when she has to make those choices? Chaffetz then tried a different tack, setting up Shkreli with a chance to defend himself. He asked if Shkreli meant what he said when he told Fox News that his former company takes all of its profit and funnels it into research. Shkreli: On the advice of counsel, I invoke my Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination and respectfully decline to answer your question. Next up it was Gowdy's turn, who showed off his skills as former prosecutor and got Shkreli to say two additional words. Gowdy: It's pronounced 'Shu-kreli' right? Gowdy tried a legal tack: Making the argument that the Fifth Amendment might only apply to cases where you actually risk incriminating yourself. After all, Shkreli isn't under indictment for rising drug prices, Gowdy pointed out. Shkreli didn't budge, and Gowdy gave up: "Mr Chairman, I'm vexed. He's been willing to answer at least one question this morning that won't subject him to incrimination.... I listened to his interview, and he didn't have to be prodded to do that, and he didn't have to be prodded to tweet, and he didn't have to be prodded to show his life on that little webcam he got ... And what about that Wu-Tang Clan album you bought for $US2 million, Gowdy asked him? Shkreli said nothing. Gowdy: I am stunned that a conversation about an album he purchased could possibly subject him to incrimination. At this point, Shkreli's lawyer - he recently hired a new one - stood up from the seats behind the witness table and asked to say something. Chaffetz immediately shut him down. Chaffetz: No. You will not be recognised. You will be seated. Then Chaffetz handed things over to Cummings, who said he would respect Shkreli's constitutional right. Cummings: Honestly, I didn't even know if you would show up today, so it's nice to see you. But even if he couldn't get Shkreli to open up, Cummings couldn't resist trying to lecture him. Cummings: But since I have you in front of me after trying to get you in front of this committee for so long, let me say this: I want to ask you -- no, I want to plead with you -- to use any remaining influence you have over your former company to press them to lower the prices of these drugs. Shkreli turned his head to the right and stared at a spot on the floor. Cummings: You can look away if you like. Cummings: But I wish you could see the faces of these people ??? who cannot get the drugs they need. ... You are in a unique position, really you are. You have a spotlight and you have a platform you could use that attention to come clean, to right your wrongs and become the most effective patient advocate in the country, and one that would make a big difference in so many people's lives. Shkreli's smirk had returned. Cummings: I know you're smiling. But I'm very serious. The way I see it, you could go down in history as the poster boy for greedy drug company executives or you could change the system. Yeah, you. Shkreli's smirk had turned into a full-on grin. Cummings: Are you listening? Now Shkreli had a sombre face. He had picked up a pencil and was bouncing it off a pad of paper in front of him. Cummings: There's so many people who could use your help. May God bless you. And with that, Shkreli was dismissed, and the hearing went on. Politico's John Bresnahan said it all in a Tweet: New York: One person sitting in a parked car was killed and three people were injured Friday when a huge construction crane collapsed in lower Manhattan as workers tried to lower and secure it against rising winds, Mayor Bill de Blasio said. The victim is described as a 38-year-old man, WCBS reported. Two of the injured were hit with falling debris and are in serious condition. The crane, with a 565-foot boom that stretched roughly as long as a city block, tumbled down around 8.24am local time near 40 Worth Street in the TriBeCa neighbourhood, the New York City Fire Department said. Jesse Natale, a 26-year-old civil engineer from Westfield, New Jersey, told the Daily News he was waiting at a traffic light at the site when the crane came down. Millions more girls and women worldwide are victims of female genital mutilation than previously thought, according to UNICEF, the U.N. children's agency. A report released Thursday says at least 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone ritual cutting, half of them living in just three countries Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia. The latest figures include nearly 70 million more girls and women than estimated in 2014, because of a raft of new data collected in Indonesia, where the practice has been banned since 2006. Somalia has the highest prevalence of women and girls who have been cut 98 percent of the female population between the ages of 15 and 49. Guinea, Djibouti and Sierra Leone also have very high rates. Some 44 million victims of female genital mutilation around the world are aged 14 or younger, and the majority of girls who have had their genitals mutilated were cut before they were 5 years old, UNICEF's research found. "In Yemen, 85 percent of girls experienced the practice within their first week of life,'' the report said. Hard to track UNICEF says exact numbers are hard to come by, because few of the 30 countries where it is practiced keep reliable data on the procedure, relying primarily on household surveys. The practice also exists in countries not in the study, such as India, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as in pockets of Australia, North America and Europe, where immigrants from countries with a large number of female circumcisions live. The good news from the report is that, overall, prevalence rates have fallen in the last three decades, but progress has been uneven. Countries that have seen sharp declines include Liberia, Burkina Faso and Kenya. The U.N. General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution in December 2012 calling for a global ban on female genital mutilation, a centuries-old practice stemming from the belief that circumcising girls controls women's sexuality and enhances fertility. One of the targets in the new U.N. goals adopted last September calls for the practice to be eliminated by 2030. U.S. gun traders are setting up new websites to arrange deals after Facebook barred private gun sales on its platform. With gun rights and safety registering as a hot-button issue on the U.S. presidential campaign trail after several mass shootings last year, Facebook said last Friday it would no longer allow users to arrange private gun sales via the site. Reaction was swift among some Facebook gun trader groups, hundreds of which are based in the United States. Some of them immediately began advertising other gun-dealing websites. In a chat room outside Facebook on the Firearms Enthusiasts Club website, users complained their gun-trading groups had been deleted from Facebook and urged others to spread the word about their site. "I just lost Cheap Guns Minnesota which had close to 18,000 members," said a user by the name of "The Guard Dog." "So PLEASE spread the word about this site to every group in EVERY state." The administrator of the Facebook group Central Florida Gun Talk changed its name to Central Florida on Monday and directed the group's 2,055 members to another site outside Facebook set up quickly in response to the ban. Another Facebook user posted that the gun community had "grown dependent on Facebook" and the ban "will backfire" by forcing gun traders to unmonitored sites where users share less information about themselves. Facebook users contacted directly by Reuters did not respond to requests for comment. Facebook enforcement Monika Bickert, Facebook's head of global policy management, said in an interview that gun group administrators were notified of the new policy ahead of its enforcement. "We have to spend a lot of time thinking through new policies," she said, noting that 80 percent of Facebook's 1.6 billion users reside outside the United States and Canada. Bickert said Facebook will rely solely on user reports when deciding which posts, groups and accounts to delete or restrict. The company gets about a million user reports a day, she said. Bickert said Facebook's community operations team decides whether to remove reported content including terrorist activity, cyber-bullying and nudity, in addition to private gun sales. The team works in offices around the world and has subject-matter experts fluent in dozens of languages, Bickert said. But it is challenged sometimes by having "a very limited picture." "The context in the actual post may be unclear, she said. It may be hard to tell what they are expressing; we aren't seeing what they're saying offline." The gun policy change came as Facebook pushes further into e-commerce and underscores social media firms' challenges in managing content to weed out violent extremists, criminals and other bad actors without being too restrictive of free speech. The National Rifle Association declined to comment. Given Facebook's and Instagram's popularity, "it's really significant for them to say, 'not on our platform,'" said Erika Soto Lamb, a spokeswoman for the Michael Bloomberg-backed Everytown for Gun Safety. Licensed gun dealers are still able to advertise firearms on Facebook that lead to sales off the network. TWIN FALLS A 38-year-old Twin Falls man was stabbed to death early Tuesday in a downtown home, prosecutors said. Joseph Lee Mohlman died inside the home at 351 Seventh Ave. N. shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday, police said. Officers responded to the home for a noise disturbance and found Mohlman injured but were unable to save his life. While the cause of death was determined to be a single knife wound to the chest, investigators are still trying to determine exactly what happened, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said Thursday. A knife wound to the chest still doesnt answer what happened, Loebs said. The prosecutor said he couldnt comment on who he suspected of stabbing Mohlman or what kind of knife was used. He also couldnt comment on whether police have the knife in evidence. The circumstances of the wound are still under investigation, he said. The full results of the autopsy, including the toxicology report, were not available Thursday. Two people arrested on unrelated drug charges Tuesday who live at the home where Mohlman was killed were not arrested inside the home, city spokesman Joshua Palmer said. They were arrested at 5 a.m. at the Twin Falls police station after being questioned by officers. Charles Edward Gray, 41, and Denise Suzanne Servin, 35, were arraigned Wednesday on two felony counts each of delivery of a controlled substance stemming from a police sting last year. One of our detectives recognized them out in public, Palmer said, and thats when they were taken to the department for questioning. Once at the station, we questioned them and felt there was enough evidence to arrest them on the drug charges, Palmer said. Loebs said Wednesday he didnt think theres any connection between the drug charges and the death, but said he declined to comment on whether they were at the home when Mohlman died. Carolyn Debbie Olsen, 51, who owns the home, was in county jail at the time of Mohlmans death. She was arrested Jan. 14 for probation violation and felony possession of a controlled substance. KIMBERLY | Across the Magic Valley, the number of parents choosing to homeschool their children is growing. It's so popular that a group of nearly 30 families who organized last year to take classes and give their children a chance to socialize now has a waiting list. The parents cite a variety of reasons for keeping their children out of schools including the desire for more individualized education. Its growing because the government wont stay out of our education, said Kristi Dewsnup, one of the groups organizers. Parents in the Gem State have more freedom to homeschool their children than in some other states. The Idaho Department of Education doesnt regulate or monitor homeschooling education, spokesman Jeff Church said. Its up to each parent to select the curriculum theyll use. And parents dont have to fill out any paperwork or register showing theyre homeschooling their child. Magic Valley Junior School meets once a week, allowing homeschooled children to take three classes. Thursday, Leejean Stanger and a few other parents held clipboards the the foyer of Crossroads United Methodist Church in Kimberly looking at class schedules and answering questions. Dozens of children filled the hallways, chatting and making their way between classrooms at the church. Its kind of crazy finding which classes theyre going to, parent Jennetta Billhimer said. Magic Valley Junior School which serves infants to 14-year-olds started with 25 families. Since then, four more families have joined. The group has about 70 students. And that's created a space crunch. Crossroads United Methodist Church is a wonderful location, Dewsnup said, but theyre at capacity. Magic Valley Junior School is among several organized local homeschooling groups. Other families meet informally for classes. Were just one group here, Dewsnup said. One of the other groups Magic Valley Commonwealth School is geared toward homeschoolers ages 12 and older. Once a week, dozens of younger homeschoolers meet at the Methodist Church for classes, which run for a 12-week semester. It definitely offers a camaraderie, Dewsnup said. Every class is led by a parent. And they take their responsibility seriously. Its a commitment for the semester, Stanger said. Even parents who arent teaching are expected to participate in some way. Its not a drop-off school by any means, Dewsnup said. A variety of classes are offered, including science, cooking, physical education, theater, literature, health, arts and crafts, poetry, history and patriotism. Kids are getting taught by people who are skilled at what theyre teaching, Stanger said. Theres an $80 family fee per semester to participate. That covers the cost of renting the church and providing snacks. Some classes have individual fees, up to $24. Organizers send out a list of classes each semester and parents register their children. On Thursday morning, a group of 8- to 12-year-olds gathered in the church gymnasium for a dance class. Across the building, 3- and 4-year-olds were in a reading class. They gathered on a sofa, reading a picture book called Fantastic Frogs! In addition to once-a-week classes, the group meets for a fun activity such as going to Skateland or Jump Time once a month. The kids love to get together, Billhimer said. Billhimer who has six children is a longtime homeschooling parent. Her two oldest children have grown up and moved away from home. One factor in the increasing interest in homeschooling: Families are seeing children who grew up being homeschooled going to college and succeeding, she said. Homeschooling parents also say they welcome the opportunity to spend more time with their children. And parents realize they know their kids more than any other teacher, Dewsnup said. For families interested in homeschooling, Billhimer recommends finding a mentor who has been successful with it. Pick their brains about what works and what doesnt, she said. There are plenty of experienced homeschooling families who can provide support, Dewsnup said. All someone has to do is start asking questions. Stanger often hears questions and comments from families who dont homeschool. They say they couldnt do it, she said. Homeschooling is hard, she said, but its worth it. As parents, it requires us to humble ourselves and work through issues, she said. And its not a one-size-fits-all approach for every child. Stanger homeschools three of her children and has one at a traditional public school. Prospective homeschooling families are often worried about a lack of socialization for their children, Dewsnup said. But its not a problem at all, she said. Children interact with their peers in homeschooling groups, and get to know their neighbors and people around town. BOISE The Democratic legislative leadership on Thursday released a general outline of their goals for Idahos future and a plan to achieve them. The Democrats called a news conference to release their Creating Opportunity plan, a list of longtime Idaho Democratic goals broken into sections such as Investing in Education and Holding Government Accountable, with a further list of a few specific policy steps under each section. Its just a way for us to build a future, have a template to go forward and make sure that were looking long-term, and how we want to make sure that we improve the economy and the future of Idahoans and their children, said Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum. The Democratic leaders said they also have specific legislation to move toward some of these goals. Some of them, such as Sen. Dan Schmidts two bills to expand Medicaid, have already been introduced. Stennett thanked Senate Health and Welfare Committee Chairman Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, for holding a hearing on the Medicaid bills, but called for a committee vote on them. Heider said Tuesday he wants to wait for the governors primary care for the uninsured plan to be introduced before taking any action. House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, started the news conference on a personal note. He missed the first few weeks of the session because his wife is battling cancer, and he thanked people who stepped up to help and support them. Our shared values create a wonderful sense of community, he said. We treat each other like the neighbors that we are. One of those Democratic priorities, a bill to hike the minimum wage, may surface again this year. Democrats had tried to introduce it into Senate State Affairs, but committee Chairman Curt McKenzie, R-Nampa, has said he wouldnt give it an introductory hearing. The Democrats are now looking to introduce it into a House committee, Stennett said. Rusche also said he plans to bring back a bill he introduced last year, to create an inspector generals office to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in state government. He said he is rounding up as many cosponsors as possible before introducing it. BOISE How surrounding states react to carbon emission rules could have an impact on Idahos electricity prices, the administrator of the governors Office of Energy Resources told a panel of lawmakers Thursday. Idaho has only two power plants that would need to reduce emissions, one in Rathdrum and one in New Plymouth, John Chatburn told the House Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. The state pushed to be exempt from the rules, as a few other low-polluting states have been, he said. More than 30 percent of the states electricity comes from coal plants in other states including Wyoming, Montana and Nevada, and those states are going to have to do more to comply with the rules requiring a 30-percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from the 2005 levels by 2030. Idaho is going to have to work with the surrounding states as they draft their own plans, so the actions they take dont become detrimental to the industries and the rate payers in the state of Idaho, and the economy, Chatburn said. Committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Thompson, an Idaho Falls Republican, agreed the state needs to look at all options that will reduce the impact. That could really have the potential to increase all of our citizens electric rates, he said. Idaho needs to submit an initial plan and request for an extension this year, and the plan needs to be finalized in 2018. States that dont submit plans will have to follow a plan the Environmental Protection Agency decides on. Any state-level rules or laws that need to be passed for the plan would likely surface in the 2018 session, Chatburn said. Most of the lawmakers who spoke werent happy about having to comply. Theres quite a divergent view on carbon emissions and how it causes climate change or warm weather or whatever have you, said Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home. And because ... everything Ive read (says) its not a settled opinion, why are we proceeding so heavily down this road? I believe the state of Idaho, at least, is proceeding very deliberately and cautiously down this road, Chatburn replied. The reason is because of the final guidelines promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency. And there will be a federal plan enforced on the electric generating units in Idaho if the state doesnt have a plan. Reps. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, and Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, discussed not complying with the rule. Scott said she cant find any justification in the U.S. Constitution for the EPA, but that the 10th Amendment reserves all powers not specifically given to the federal government to the states. Im trying to understand why Idaho DEQ, the governors office, whatever agencies we have in our state are not handling the affairs of our state and were being told that we must submit, she said. Chatburn said that many people would agree the EPA is overstepping its bounds. However, we are going to recommend that the prudent thing to do is be prepared in case we get to the end of the road, and its more advantageous for us to have a state plan with state oversight than it is to have a federal plan with federal oversight. BOISE A bill to require community college trustees to live in designated geographic zones passed the Idaho House on Thursday. The bill was introduced by Caldwell Republican Greg Chaney, whose legislative district lies within the College of Western Idaho taxing district. Its supporters say it would guarantee representation to rural voters who might have different educational and vocational training interests. The candidates would still be elected by the entire college district, not just by voters in the geographic zone, but they would have to live in one of the five zones. Theres a difference between somebody attending school in Buhl and somebody attending school in Twin Falls, Chaney said. There just is. If it passes the Senate and the governor signs it, it would almost certainly lead to a shake-up on the College of Southern Idaho board, since Jerome County is big enough to get a zone of its own and none of the current trustees live there. What would happen to the rest would depend on how the zone boundaries are drawn. Four members of the current board live in Twin Falls, one in Kimberly. The House vote broke mostly on party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition. But the Magic Valley delegation split more along geographic lines than partisan ones. Republicans Lance Clow and Steve Hartgen, who represent the city of Twin Falls, voted against the measure, while Gooding Democrat Donna Pence voted for it. Hartgens vote was cast by his wife, Linda, who is subbing for him while he recovers from an illness. Clow, who made a motion to hold the bill for a week but ended up withdrawing it, said he agrees with the basic concept but voted against it because there hadnt been enough time to get feedback from college trustees and other interested parties. The bill was introduced eight days ago, and only one college person testified at the committee hearing. The CSI board plans to discuss the bill at a special meeting on Friday. CWIs board has voted to oppose it, and North Idaho College, whose district has the same borders as Kootenai County, has stayed neutral. The bills supporters argued there had been enough time for input. This was never intended to be a hurry-up deal, said House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona. We were not trying to hide anything in State Affairs. Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, who has worked on similar legislation in past years but couldnt get it out of committee, said the bill is no reflection on CSIs current board, but there are about 22,000 people in Jerome County, and many of them pay taxes. Bell said it would be good to have a trustee they know, and would run into at Walmart, at the gas station or at church. They would also like to have a voice, she said. LeRoy Craig, from Jerome, was on the CSI board for more than 30 years, but there hasnt been a Jerome County trustee since he lost re-election in 2010. Representation for Jerome County was an issue in the 2012 trustee elections. Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, said the bill would give a more rural flavor to the Board of Trustees than what currently exists, and provide representation for the interests of students from the rural counties adjoining Twin Falls and Jerome. They all send a host of students there, he said. The bill now goes to the Senate, where its co-sponsors include Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson, and Jim Patrick, who represents the same district as Bell, an area that covers Jerome County and rural Twin Falls County. Several Democrats spoke against the measure. I see a continuation of the rural-urban infighting that we see in state government here, said Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston. Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, said he had a problem with the transition period outlined in the bill, which would in all likelihood lead to some elected trustees losing their seats and being replaced with ones the boards would appoint until the next election. That is not democracy, he said. And I think thats an affront to democracy. Chaney replied the procedure for zoning had been copied from the current law on zoning school trustee seats. TWIN FALLS Students, friends and family gathered Thursday night for a candlelight vigil to share their memories and love for 14-year-old Taylor Biggs. Taylor, a freshman at Twin Falls High School, died after a ski accident this weekend. About 60 people including family, friends and school employees gathered outside around Twin Falls Highs rock, which is painted dark blue with white letters: Fly High Taylor Biggs. Attendees came bundled up in jackets and blankets, each holding a long white candle as they stood on a patchy snow-covered lawn. Several gave hugs to Taylors family members. Interspersed with long moments of silence, several people spoke to the crowd. She loved life, Taylors grandmother Carolyn Biggs said. She had so much to offer. Biggs said she has lots of good memories with her granddaughter. She told a joke Taylor shared with her grandfather just days before she died. She encouraged attendees to honor Taylors memory in how they live. She would just want you to all go live a good life for yourselves, she said. Twin Falls Highs student council organized the vigil. Student body president Gabby Lutz welcomed the crowd, and told them their presence means a lot. After a pause, she said, Im sure everyone here is hurting. She told attendees theyre not alone and counselors are available at the school to provide support. Taylor died Jan. 31 at St. Lukes hospital in Boise from injuries suffered in an accident during a weekend school ski club trip at Solider Mountain Ski Area in Fairfield. On Saturday morning, Soldier Mountain reported she struck the side of the restroom building, and was unconscious and not breathing. Taylor was wearing a helmet. Twin Falls High student Ethan Alexander said its hard knowing such a tragic accident happened during the ski trip. I just want to express my sympathies to the family, he said, and to let them know Taylor was loved. Twin Falls School District Superintendent Wiley Dobbs who has known Taylors family for years said his thoughts, prayers and condolences are with them. The vigil ended with attendees singing Amazing Grace. On Friday, the school is holding a dress-up day. Students are encouraged to wear superhero or anime costumes to honor Taylor. A memorial service is 3 p.m. Saturday at Twin Falls Reformed Church, followed by burial at Twin Falls Cemetery. Editors Note: Dont miss the Feb. 14 edition of the Times-News for a special report on the troubling secret digital world of Magic Valley teenagers. There are few holes deeper than those in the heart of a 13-year-old girl. For many, it is an age of painful yearning, of a life lived in imaginary cloud worlds, away from acne and algebra and all that awkwardness. It used to be 13-year-olds would cry into their pillows. Or write in rainbow-covered journals, with rainbow pens. Their pain was private. Still, most endured, and survived. But Nicole Madison Lovell found something we all wanted when we were 13: an audience. There are people out there who listen to sad, lonely girls, tell them they are beautiful and smart. They were right therein Nicoles bedroom. She asked them if she was cute. She flirted with them. She showed them coquettish pictures of herself. She was a social-media-savvy tween when she told them all about her first kiss. Her imaginary cloud world wasnt private. On Facebook, Instagram, Kik, in chats and groups, she wasnt the kid with the liver-transplant scars, or the baby-fat girl bullied in her seventh-grade classes. She was a flirting, dating teen with lip gloss and great lines. And Nicole did not survive. She left her house at midnight on Wednesday, shoving a nightstand against her bedroom door and leaving with a water bottle and a Minions blanket. Her body was found in North Carolina, right across the Virginia line. A Virginia Tech engineering student has been charged with her abduction and killing. We still dont know what evidence led police to 18-year-old David Eisenhauer, a track star from Columbia, Maryland, who ran for Virginia Tech. A second arrest Sunday was just as shocking. Natalie Marie Keepers, 19, is accused of helping Eisenhauer get rid of Nicoles body. Shes an engineering student from Laurel, Maryland, who once interned at NASA. Police told Nicoles mom, Tammy Weeks, that they think the sweet-faced girl met Eisenhauer online. The details of that are still unclear, but heres what we know for sure: Nicole led an active, imaginary life online, meeting people on Kik, a messaging app that has been the bane of law enforcement officials for the past couple of years. The app grants users anonymity, it allows searches by age and lets users send photos that arent stored on phones. Its popular with tweens and teensand predators. Unfortunately, we see it every day, said Lt. James Bacon, head of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Police Departments child exploitation unit. That unit caught a State Department senior counterterrorism official, Daniel Rosen, trying to arrange a tryst with a child using Kik. He pleaded guilty to stalking and voyeurism and is serving a 32-month prison sentence. And he hasnt been the only one using this app to hunt victims. Kik became the latest thing, Bacon said. Its attractive to predators because of its anonymity. You can make a Kik account and you can make yourself out to be anyone you want to be. And because Kik is based in Canada, law enforcement officials have had a tough time getting the company to cooperate on cases, Bacon said. This shadow world may be where Eisenhauer met Nicole, police told her mother. It was some off-the-wall site I never heard of, Weeks said in an interview with The Washington Post. In the digital age, any parent can be Tammy Weeks. Smartphones have made it easier to keep tabs on our childrenand much, much harder. Teens have been outmaneuvering their mothers and fathers for decades. Back in my day, we told our parents that we were spending the night at Melanies house when we were really at the Echo and the Bunnymen show an hour away, Ferris Buellering our way through adolescence. But a lot of times, our parents won, because they caught us sneaking out. Or they called Melanies mom. This world? The predators arent just hiding behind the Galaga machine at the arcade. Theyre in our kids pockets, in their backpacks, in their bedrooms. Its not okay to play the Luddite. Bumbling dad with the remote control only the kids can figure out needs to die along with dad jeans. Know your kids digital lives. Prowl their email, their laptops and their phones. Have your kids passwords, Bacon said. Have a working idea of how to use your kids phone. Mom and Dad bought it for them, for crying out loud. They need to know how to use it. Remember iPhone dad? Hes the poor guy who had a two-year legal battle in Dallas after he was arrested on a property-theft charge for taking away his daughters iPhone when she used it in a horrid way. He was right. Be like iPhone dad. Bacon said he tells parents to never let their kids have in-depth, online conversations with strangers. If your kid has crossed the line, ask your phone carrier to have your kids phone mirrored to your phone. Every text, every picture they send, Mom and Dad can see on their device, he said. My kids hate it when I do that. Too bad. Not long ago, I was going through the search history on my 11-year-old sons laptop. Nerf guy, Lego, Nerf, Cats vs. Cucumbers, Curves. Wait! Curves? I clicked on that one, my stomach lurching at the thought of a porn conversation with my tween. Curvesthe Hot Wheels Track Builder Challenge! Whew. But who knows what the next day will bring? And thats chilling. Because Nicole had no idea about the potential dangers lurking at the edges of her online fantasy world. Remember what the lieutenant said: The police see it every day. About Me Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah I am Mohd. Kamal bin Abdullah, who resides in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. I hold a post-graduate law degree from the United Kingdom. I blog to tell MALAYSIANS THE TRUTH. View my complete profile Blog Archive Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The State Department is now saying that Hillary Clinton wasn't the only former Secretary of State or their staff to handle classified information on a private email account, a Congressman told ABC News. Colin Powell and the immediate staff of Condoleezza Rice, both of whom served under President George W. Bush, also had information that was later deemed classified on non-State Department email accounts, according to a new memo from the State Department's Inspector General, described to ABC News by Rep. Elijah Cummings. That memo, dated Feb. 3 and addressed to Under Secretary of State for Management, Patrick Kennedy, was shared with Cummings, the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. ABC News has not seen the memo. Cummings, who has long been critical of the many Republican-led investigations into Clinton's email use, says this is just further evidence they are out to derail her campaign for President. Based on this new revelation, it is clear that the Republican investigations are nothing more than a transparent political attempt to use taxpayer funds to target the Democratic candidate for President, Cummings said in a statement. Cummings also sent a letter to current Secretary of State John Kerry requesting, among other things, copies of the emails. His letter described the Inspector General's findings. "According to the memo, on December 29, 2015, the Department advised the OIG [Office of Inspector General] that 12 of these emails contain classified national security information, two of which were sent to the personal email account of Secretary Powell and ten of which were sent to the personal email accounts of Secretary Rice's immediate staff," the letter from Cummings reads. According to Cummings, the OIG memo says those emails were sent between February 2003 and June 2008 and that none of them were marked classified at the time they were sent. In a statement to ABC News, a representative for Rice reiterated that the Secretary never used a private email account of her own during her tenure. The statement said the emails in question were sent to her assistant and covered diplomatic conversations, not intelligence information. Powell issued a strong rebuke of his own, explaining first that the messages originated with two U.S. ambassadors and were forwarded to him from his executive assistant. "I have reviewed the messages and I do not see what makes them classified," Powell said in a statement to ABC News. "The Ambassadors did not believe the contents were Confidential at the time and they were sent as unclassified. That is a fact. While they have not yet clarified this point, the State Department cannot now say they were classified then because they werent. If the Department wishes to say a dozen years later they should have been classified that is an opinion of the Department that I do not share." The State Department's Inspector General's office would not comment on the memo and the State Department's spokesman, John Kirby, would only acknowledge the Department is in receipt of the memo. Last week the State Department said that upon recommendation from the Intelligence Community it would withhold from public release 22 of Secretary Clinton's private emails because they had been upgraded to "top secret," a reference to the highest level of classification. Clinton's campaign has accused the intelligence community of conspiring with Republicans on Capitol Hill to misrepresent her emails in an effort to derail her campaign for presidency. Her campaign spokesman, John Podesta, issued a statement late Thursday saying Clinton and Powell are in agreement that the government is unnecessarily classifying these documents. "This announcement about Secretary Powell's emails shows just how routine it is for government bureaucrats to go overboard when it comes to judging whether information is too sensitive for the public to see, Podesta said in a statement. Hillary Clinton agrees with her predecessor that his emails, like hers, are being inappropriately subjected to over-classification. She joins his call for these emails to be released so that the public can view the contents for itself." Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Saudi Arabia announced its readiness to participate with ground troops in the US-led coalition against ISIL, after it gained experience in Yemen. The announcement was made by spokesman of the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen Brigadier General Ahmed Assisi in an interview with Al Arabiya. The Saudi-led coalition began bombing Yemen in March last year before it embarked on a ground offensive a few months later. The announcement could mean that Riyadh is willing to increase its role in the US-led airstrike campaign against ISIS because the progress it made in Yemen would free up troops for deployment elsewhere even though fighting is still going on. However, Saudi Arabia is not planning to make it a unilateral move as Assiri stated that they would need a consensus from the leadership of the (US-led) coalition. Sources said thousands of Special Forces could be deployed without ruling out a possible coordination with Turkey. The spokesman explained that Saudi Arabia believes that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations. Most members of the coalition have not reacted to the statement although most of them have stressed that their actions will only be limited to airstrikes and have no plans to send troops on the ground. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said the Saudi kind of news is very welcome while US State Department spokesman John Kirby was supportive of the idea and preferred not to make specific comments until after reviewing the statement. The Saudi offer is expected to be discussed when the United States convenes a meeting of defense ministers from coalition countries fighting ISIL in Brussels next week. Riyadh has been participating in the airstrikes since they started in September 2014. Zimbabwes chief prosecutor has been granted $1000 bail and ordered to surrender his passport after being charged with abuse of office and obstructing justice. Johannes Tomana, 48, was charged with abuse of office and obstructing justice when he authorized the release of two men accused of plotting to bomb President Robert Mugabes dairy farm. The alleged plan was the first of its kind in the southern African country. State prosecutor Timothy Makoni told a magistrates court that two army corporals, a retired soldier and a fourth man were arrested on Jan. 22 outside Mugabes dairy farm north of the capital Harare and were found carrying ammonia and petrol bombs. But Tomana freed two of them, who then turned state witnesses, in a decision the state said amounted to criminal abuse of office The court ruled that Tomana should surrender his passport, report three times a week at Harare main police station and stay at his home address. Tomana was previously accused by opposition parties of bias against Mugabes opponents. But last year he clashed with Mugabes wife Grace after he said girls as young as 12 should be able to get married. In 2015, a court found him guilty of abuse of office after he refused to prosecute a ruling party lawmaker facing rape charges. Tomana was spared jail after reversing his decision. The trial of the ex-Militia leader Germain Katanga began on Wednesday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congos capital. The warlord Katanga stands before court, along with five others, for war crimes, crimes against humanity and participation in an insurrectional movement committed in Ituri an area near the Ugandan border. Katanga, former commander of a militia in Congos northeast region, was convicted by The Hague-based tribunal in 2014 of murder, pillage and assaults on civilians. Katanga, 37, dubbed Simba the lion due to his ferocity, was returned to the Congolese capital Kinshasa last year to serve the remaining weeks of his sentence. However, the Congolese authorities have announced they will continue to keep him in prison in order to prosecute him for other cases. His defense counsel has termed his continued detention as arbitrary and illegal. Local news reported that the warlord entered the court earlier on Wednesday, accompanied by other officers and non-commissioned members of his militia Patriotic Resistance Forces in Ituri (FRPI), smiling and very relaxed. Kanangas militia is one of a constellation of rebel groups in the vast, chaotic Congo that have terrorized civilians and exploited the rich reserves of gold and other minerals. Lawyers in the United States, particularly those starting out in the profession, cope with depression and anxiety at troubling levels and turn to alcohol far more often than the population as a whole. Those are among the results of a study released Wednesday that found 21 percent of practicing attorneys qualified as problem drinkers, 28 percent struggled with some degree of depression and 19 percent demonstrated symptoms of anxiety. The collaborative research project, conducted by the Minnesota- and California-based Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and an American Bar Association (ABA) commission, marks the first nationwide attempt to capture such data about the legal profession. About 15,000 attorneys from 19 states in all regions of the country participated. The rate of problem drinking is roughly three times higher in the U.S. among lawyers than the adult population as a whole, said attorney and clinician Patrick R. Krill, Hazelden's architect of the project and the study's lead author. Lawyers also have alcohol problems at a rate higher than doctors and other professions. Narrowing the focus strictly to the quantity and frequency of drinking, the study saw that more than a third of lawyers exhibit trouble with alcohol. Krill added that "we found rates of depression are also significantly higher than the general population," while lawyers also were coping with anxiety at a higher rate than the country as a whole. "Any way you look at it, this data is very alarming, and paints the picture of an unsustainable professional culture that's harming too many people," Krill said. "Attorney impairment poses risks to the struggling individuals themselves and to our communities, government, economy and society. The stakes are too high for inaction." ABA President Paulette Brown said, "This new research demonstrates how the pressures felt by many lawyers manifest in health risks." The study also found that younger attorneys in the first 10 years of practice exhibit the highest incidence of these problems compared with their older counterparts. Krill said he initiated the study and took his proposal to the ABA because he's a lawyer, "it's the population that I treat," and this effort was long overdue. ABA officials were first approached in 2013 about taking on the study and "were cautious until they knew exactly what was being proposed. ... There has been a reluctance to deal with these problems as a whole." The study found little difference in its findings from state to state or when comparing regions. The same was true for attorneys' particular specialty, Krill said, except that members of private firms showed the most difficulty with alcohol. "Heavy drinking is completely normalized within law firms," Krill said, noting that entertaining clients plays into the culture. Drinking "tends to be a way that people blow off steam. ... It's a default coping mechanism." Krill said he hopes these results prompt the profession to address the scope of the problem "with full-scale honesty." "They need to step up to the plate and devote their resources," he said. "No more ignoring or minimizing the problem." Just like in any part of society, there are family members and others around problem drinkers who pay a price. For attorneys, that includes their clients. "We are handling people's important matters," he said. "It's an obligation to be in good shape." Linda Albert, a co-author of the study and representative of the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, said there are countless ways this data will benefit the profession. "While the numbers themselves are disheartening, the instructive value of the information is enormous and tells us that the problem is best approached from a systems perspective," Albert said. "All sectors of the profession will benefit from reading, understanding and utilizing this important study, and now we can better develop strategies for preventing and addressing substance use problems and mental health concerns in this population." The Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs educates lawyers about alcoholism, chemical dependencies, stress, depression and other emotional health challenges. It supports bar associations around the country and lawyer assistance programs in recovery efforts. Explore further Attorneys in civil courts make bigger impact working the system than knowing the law 2016 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Since 2012, at least 1,500 individuals have developed Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), resulting in more than 500 fatalities. Only now are results being reported of the first autopsy of a MERS patient, which was performed in 2014. Not only do these findings, published in The American Journal of Pathology, provide unprecedented, clinically-relevant insights about how MERS progresses, they challenge previously accepted ideas about MERS and the relevance of current animal models. With the number of autopsies performed on the decline, these findings underscore the critical information autopsies can provide regarding emerging infectious disease. "The article by Dianna L. Ng et al exemplifies the value of a well-performed study of an autopsy. The long interval between the emergence of this dangerous disease three years ago and the first autopsy reminds us of the lost opportunity that the decline of the performance of autopsies, particularly research-oriented post-mortem examinations in the United States represents," commented noted expert in the field David H. Walker, MD, Director of the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. The 45-year-old male patient analyzed by autopsy was one of a large patient cluster treated at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates in April 2014. He worked in a storage room at a paramedic station, with no patient-care duties or exposure to camels. Between April 2 and April 10, 2014, he rapidly progressed from having fever, runny nose, and cough to death. On the last day of his life, he was treated with 100 mg of the steroid hydrocortisone every eight hours. The autopsy was performed 10 days after his death. The autopsy showed that the lungs were the main target organs of MERS, with diffuse damage to the air sacs (alveoli) observed. Using immunohistochemistry, the researchers identified anti-MERS-CoV antibodies in specific cells in the lungs (pneumocytes and epithelial syncytial cells) and bronchial submucosal glands. "Infection of bronchial submucosal glands is a likely source of viral shedding in respiratory secretions leading to human-to-human transmission," explained lead investigator Sherif R. Zaki, MD, PhD, Chief of the Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta). Patients with MERS often show signs of acute kidney failure, and MERS-CoV has been found in the urine of MERS patients. In this case, although certain signs of pathology were seen in this patient's kidneys, immunohistochemistry showed no evidence of MERS-CoV. "This suggests that the acute renal failure in this patient was not caused by direct renal infection, but likely by other factors such as hypotension," noted Dr. Zaki. Such new insights suggest that MERS researchers and clinicians treating MERS patients should focus their infectious control strategies on the lungs. Similarly, no sign of MERS-CoV infection was found in the brain. In many ways findings from this autopsy differ from observations made using animal models. "In the case of MERS, development of numerous animal models was undertaken prior to knowledge of the human pathology," remarked Dr. Walker. "Although these experimental studies were able to suggest the target cells of the virus and histopathology of MERS, only some of the features of the animal models conform to the observations in the human autopsy. Until the truth-testing of a large series of autopsies is reported, judgment will favor those models supported by the observations in a single postmortem examination." He cautioned that reliance on animal models can undermine the value of the results generated when they are used to test MERS vaccines or antiviral treatments. Noting the dramatic reduction in the number of autopsies performed in the U.S. in recent years, Dr. Walker observed that the problem will worsen as pathologists' expertise in autopsy erodes as more of their time is allocated to analyzing surgical tissue from a single organ rather than conducting comprehensive analyses of all organ systems. The MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first isolated from the sputum of a patient who died of respiratory and renal failure in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Although more than three-quarters of MERS cases have originated in Saudi Arabia, including an outbreak of 515 cases in the spring of 2014, the syndrome has been reported in 26 countries including the U.S. Clinically, patients may show symptoms of upper respiratory tract illness, severe pneumonia, and multi-organ failure, although some infected individuals may exhibit no symptoms. MERS is diagnosed most often in elderly men and patients suffering from other serious chronic illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or chronic renal, lung, or heart disease. MERS is thought to spread to humans from infected humans or infected dromedary camels. Explore further MERS virus kills man in UAE More information: "Clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings of a fatal case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in United Arab Emirates, April 2014," by Dianna L. Ng, Farida Al Hosani, M. Kelly Keating, Susan I. Gerber, Tara L. Jones, Maureen G. Metcalfe, Suxiang Tong, Ying Tao, Negar Niki Alami, Lia M. Haynes, Mowafaq Ali Mutei, Laila Abdel Wareth, Timothy M. Uyeki, David L. Swerdlow, Maha Barakat, Sherif R. Zaki (DOI: American Journal of Pathology, Volume 186, Issue 3 (March 2016) Journal information: American Journal of Pathology "Clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural findings of a fatal case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in United Arab Emirates, April 2014," by Dianna L. Ng, Farida Al Hosani, M. Kelly Keating, Susan I. Gerber, Tara L. Jones, Maureen G. Metcalfe, Suxiang Tong, Ying Tao, Negar Niki Alami, Lia M. Haynes, Mowafaq Ali Mutei, Laila Abdel Wareth, Timothy M. Uyeki, David L. Swerdlow, Maha Barakat, Sherif R. Zaki (DOI: dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2015.10.024 ). This article appears online ahead of The, Volume 186, Issue 3 (March 2016) They are considered bundles of joy. Still, from novices with newborns to veteran pros of motherhood, all pregnant women are susceptible to the not-so-joyous issues associated with postpartum depression, such as anxiety and sadness, which are unhealthy for both baby and mother. The United States Preventative Services Task Force's recent recommendation that pregnant women and new moms be screened for depression is necessary and critical, Virginia Commonwealth University Health experts said, even for women who have never experienced depression. The task force panel, a group of experts appointed by the Department of Health and Human Services, suggests clinicians have the ability to diagnose and treat women or to give appropriate referrals. Additionally, experts agree that pregnant women with depression often take poorer care of their prenatal health and that maternal mental illness can cause behavioral problems and emotional instability in children. Consequently, both baby and mother are on better footing if mental wellness measures are in place before and after pregnancy, and physicians should be prepared to diagnose and either treat or refer patients to providers who can help, experts said. "All pregnant women are susceptible to postpartum depression because of a combination of factors, including changes in hormone levels, fatigue and emotional factors like feelings of doubt about pregnancy, guilt, sadness and anger that may accompany caring for a newborn," said Frances Casey, M.D., director of Family Planning Services and assistant professor, VCU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine. "At VCU, health providers screen all postpartum patients for depression using validated screening tools. Women identified as at risk or experiencing depression may be referred for counseling or group therapy or may be started on antidepressants." A woman's social environment is important, too, Casey said, adding that lifestyle components, such as the presence of supportive partners and family members, are significant in mental health before and after a pregnancy. Some changes in a pregnant woman's emotional state are routine, such as abnormal sleep patterns or crying for no clear reason. However, if symptoms persist beyond one to two weeks and prevent a woman from functioning daily, there is cause for concern. A strategic support system can help. Janet Abraham, clinical social worker in VCU Women's Health at VCU Health, said access to excellent prenatal care is critical. A woman who makes routine doctor visits before giving birth is able to become an active participant in her care, helping to develop a trusted and balanced relationship with her health care team. In these circumstances, a woman becomes educated, aware of her body and prepared for the many changes that pregnancy brings. In the postpartum period, the prepared patient can plan and hope for a sense of personal accomplishment, calm and equilibrium, increased maternal satisfaction, and strong mother/baby bonding. "An excellent example of a model or type of participatory care that we deliver at VCU Health is with our CenteringPregnancy program, where women meet with others in a group prenatal care setting and are educated and assessed medically for their prenatal care needs," Abraham said. "This is a very comprehensive care model and we have found it to be quite useful in assessing women's health statuses, as well as their personal mental health needs. It also creates a very strong and vibrant peer/community support environment." Overall, moms should be aware that some changes are expected with a newborn in the home, and they may even question their ability to care for a newborn. An estimated one in seven postpartum mothers experience similar symptoms. However, there are services available to help with the transition. Nationally, Casey suggests National Women's Health Information Center, Postpartum Support International and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for more information and resources. Through a March of Dimes grant, VCU Health has been offering CenteringPregnancy group prenatal care as an option for pregnant women since 2005. It is a national program that provides innovative prenatal care intervention through treatment, collaboration and education to bridge the gap, Abraham said. "The presence of the father of the baby or significant other is always important and helps a woman feel connected to what she has created. However, this is not always the case," she said. "This can sometimes be mitigated by others in the mother's support system, programs like CenteringPregnancy, as well as additional family members or friends that can serve in exceptionally supportive roles." Explore further Postpartum depression: what you need to know (HealthDay)Intensive care unit (ICU) patients surviving to hospital discharge have higher five-year mortality and hospital resource use than hospital controls, according to a study published online Jan. 27 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Nazir I. Lone, Ph.D., from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, and colleagues examined factors associated with increased hospital resource use among patients admitted to adult general ICUs. Data were included for 5,259 ICU patents admitted during 2005 who survived to hospital discharge and 5,215 matched hospital controls. The researchers found that factors present before ICU admission (comorbidities) were stronger predictors of hospital resource use than acute illness factors. Compared with hospital controls, the ICU cohort had higher mortality (32.3 versus 22.7 percent; hazard ratio, 1.33), used more hospital resources (mean hospital admission rate, 4.8 versus 3.3/person/five years), and had higher mean five-year hospital costs ($25,608 versus $16,913/patient) in the five years after the initial hospital discharge. After adjustment for confounders and using pre-post analyses, increased resource use persisted (both P < 0.001). Younger patients without significant comorbidity had the greatest excess resource use and mortality. "ICU survivorship is associated with higher five-year mortality and hospital resource utilization than hospital controls, representing a substantial burden on individuals, caregivers, and society," the authors write. Explore further Easing ICU admission criteria improves mortality in patients with sepsis, reduces costs Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved. After listening to Hawaii residents speak out against vaccines and saying they cause everything from autism to the Zika virus, Hawaii lawmakers killed a bill to speed up the state's process for adopting federal vaccination guidelines. The bill would have allowed the state Health Department to more easily adopt the federal rules, which some opponents of the measure fear would result in more vaccinations. Under the bill considered by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Health, the department would have 90 days to adopt rules. Immediately after hearing opposition to the bill, Sen. Rosalyn Baker said Thursday it wouldn't move forward. Her announcement came before the usual time when lawmakers decide on the bills. Baker said the bill didn't pass because there seemed to be "so much confusion and a lot of misinformation" about what it would do. Sen. Will Espero, who is on Baker's committee, said he hasn't seen a lawmaker do that before. "Normally she would wait to the end of the agenda," Espero said. "But in this case, she felt that it might be best before we get to the other bill to just share with them that, 'FYI, I hear you, and I've made the decision.' " Baker's decision shows how the public can be involved in making laws, Espero said. Supporters of the bill say it would have helped the Hawaii Department of Health address public health crises quickly. They said given the potential for diseases to spread rapidly, it's important to be able to adopt vaccination rules swiftly. Opponents of the bill spoke out against mandatory vaccinations, saying their side effects are harmful and the people should have the right to make their own health decisions. "We're all about freedom," said Renee Kawelo, who opposed the bill. "We want you to have the choice to decide. If you want a vaccine, great. Go vaccinate yourself." Kawelo said she doesn't want to vaccinate her children because vaccines could make them sick. Vaccinations are a hot-button issue across the nation. For decades, critics have said vaccines can cause debilitating side effectsmost notably autism, which scientific research has debunked. Almost all states grant religious exemptions for people who have religious beliefs against vaccinations, while 20 states allow exemptions for personal or moral beliefs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Explore further California lawmakers face second round in vaccine debate 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. A 15-year study carried out in Kilifi, Kenya and funded by the Wellcome Trust and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has shown that there is no need to give a Hib booster to toddlers to extend immunity into later childhood. The study provides the evidence public health officials need to be confident that Hib spread and infection in Kenya is under control. Hib bacteria can cause meningitis, pneumonia and other potentially lethal infections, with children under five most at risk. The vaccination programme introduced in Kenya in 2001 is designed to build immunity to the bacteria in infancy and prevent spread between young children. Doses are administered to babies at six, ten and 14 weeks. An additional booster dose of Hib vaccine is used in most high-income countries, including in the UK where it was introduced after immunity in children was found to wane. Kenya, like most low-income countries, has followed a World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination regime with no booster dose. Professor Anthony Scott, who is based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and who lead the study, said: "We had expected that over time population immunity would subside, but we have waited 15 years and it still hasn't happened." He added: "Despite our fears, which were influenced by the UK experience, we can clearly say that a fourth dose of the Hib vaccine is not needed to control this invasive bacterium in Kenya," he said. Dr Laura Hammitt, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the first author of the study, said: "Our findings suggest that the current Hib vaccine programme in Kenya is highly effective and no booster dose is currently required. It is important to continue surveillance to determine if effective control persists." The research team in Kenya believe that similar bacteria to Hib in the environment may provide a natural boost to the immune system keeping antibody levels high even though the Hib bacterium has stopped circulating in the community. In addition, a stronger antibody response to the vaccine course has given Kenyan infants longer protection than children in developed countries such as the UK. The same may occur in other tropical regions of Africa, although eastern Gambia experienced an unexplained resurgence of the disease last year after more than ten years of control using a programme without a booster. The Kenyan team analysed blood samples from more than 38,000 children under 13 years old admitted to hospital in Kilifi between 2000 and 2014 to monitor trends in invasive Hib disease. The team found that the vaccine reduced the chance of Hib disease by 93 percent over this period. They also repeatedly tested samples from healthy children in the community to find out how well Hib immunity lasts into later childhood. Eight years after the introduction of the vaccine they found that 79% of children in the disease risk group, aged 4-35 months, had antibodies at levels indicating long-lasting protection. The team also tracked Hib bacteria in the general population by looking in nose swabs. Once a year, between 2009 and 2012, random residents of all ages were invited to undergo a nose swab sample. Although Hib was commonly transmitted between the noses of children before the introduction of Hib vaccine, 8-11 years after the vaccine was introduced they found Hib in the nose of only one child out of 600 Dr Charlie Weller, Vaccine Strategy Lead at the Wellcome Trust, said: "The Hib vaccine is a public health success story for Kenya and a powerful example of the positive impact that long term vaccination programmes can have on the health of a population." She added: "By evaluating the vaccine over a long period, the researchers have highlighted that children can have slightly different levels of response to the same vaccine in different countries. We can now use this data to inform the most appropriate vaccine schedule for each country." "It is very rare to be able to track the success of a vaccine consistently over such a sustained period, but this is the only way to provide answers to important public health questions in vaccine programmes," said Professor Scott. "It was a relief to find that children are successfully protected from this invasive disease using the WHO approved vaccine schedule and this also means that the residents and government won't have to take on the logistical and financial challenge of bringing children back for an extra dose in their second year of life." Gavi provides funding the five-in-one pentavalent vaccine, which includes Hib, in the world's 73 poorest countries. Kenya was one of the first African countries to benefit. In the coastal community of Kilifi, a monitoring system has been in place since 2000 closely recording births, deaths, migrations and episodes of disease in a population of 280,000. The data provide unique insights to inform policy in East Africa. Explore further How much progress has there been in vaccinating against Hib in the Americas? More information: 'Effect of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination without a booster dose on invasive H influenzae type B disease, nasopharyngeal carriage, and population immunity in Kilifi Kenya: a 15-year regional surveillance study' is published in Lancet Global Health. Turkmenistan shows interest in investing in Georgia Georgia and Turkmenistan are deepening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, including the economic, transport, energy, tourism, agriculture and investment fields.Today, Turkmenistans Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations Bayar Abaev visited Georgia and met the countrys Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, and Minister of Economics, Dimitry Kumsishvili.With Georgias PM, the Turkmen official spoke about a new logistics centre project earmarked for the Black Sea basin, which was initiated by the Turkmen side.The Georgian Prime Ministers press office said negotiations were underway with the countrys Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development to implement the project.Meanwhile, at the meeting at Georgias Economy Ministry, the sides spoke about deepening economic ties.Kumsishvili introduced his guests to a planned investment project, to which Abaev expressed his interest in investing and developing warehousing in Georgia.Additionally, the Turkmenistan official said his country would increase the number of oil products it exported to Georgia.Developing the transport corridor and increasing trade turnover between the two countries was also mentioned at todays bilateral meetings.Statistics released by Georgias Ministry of Economy showed trade turnover was increasing between Georgia and Turkmenistan.Last year trade turnover increased 52.1 percent compared to 2014, totaling $127.26 million USD. This was 1.3 percent of Georgias total trade turnover.Similarly last year Georgias export to Turkmenistan increased 12 percent, totaling $16.05 million USD, and imports increased by 60.4 percent and amounted to $111.21 million USD. PM Kvirikashvili: People all over Georgia need to be aware of EU benefits Georgias Prime Minister believes more can be done to ensure the entire population of Georgia, especially those living in rural areas, is aware of the benefits of assimilating with the European Union (EU).PM Giorgi Kvirikahsvili today said the Government will elaborate a strategy to provide a comprehensive information campaign targeting people in Georgias regions about the benefits Georgia receives from the EU.The countrys top official made his comments while meeting with the Governmental Commission of Georgia on EU integration at the Government of Georgias Administration building in capital Tbilisi.PM Kvirikashvili stressed "an important and comprehensive campaign would be planned by relevant officials to ensure the entire Georgian population was aware of the benefits Georgia gets from the EU, in "all sorts of directions.The Georgian people should have information about what opportunities are being provided by the Georgia-EU close cooperation; how Georgia is transforming to offer better life conditions for everybody living in the country.They should know about their high-level educational and business opportunities that are suggested through various twinning programs, he said.Kvirikashvili stressed the EU had supported Georgia as it carried out a range of reforms at the instructional and legislative level that would ensure countrys fast integration into the European space.In the coming days, the Governmental Commission of Georgia on EU integration is due to approve the 2015 Action Plan for implementing the obligations of the Georgian-EU Association Agreement (AA). PM takes step to cooperate with President By Messenger Staff A meeting of the National Security Council will be attended by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili.The statement was welcomed by many, particularly those who felt that Kvirikashvilis predecessor neglected some areas of responsibility.According to Security Council representatives, two issues will be discussed at the meeting: preparation for the NATO summit to be held in July in Warsaw, and the report of the Defense Minister, Tina Khidasheli, about the participation of Georgias armed forces in ongoing international missions.The previous Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, always refrained from attending Security Council meetings.Such conduct always caused suspicion that there was a strained relationship between the Prime Minister and the President.The current PM believes that cooperation between the two institutions is a must.It should be stated that unlike the previous state leader, Kvirikashvili is more constructive.This might be because he is naturally more balanced than his predecessor was, or it might be an attempt gain more votes for the upcoming 2016 parliamentary elections.Kvirikashvili has already met with the opposition, he is open for them.He undoubtedly deserved the praise from the non-parliamentary opposition for his statements over election code-related issues.Of course, it is always welcome when state institutions cooperate, especially when the cooperation concerns national security.All the state leaders should know in Georgia that their every word and action has meaning, and so they should take care not to make unreasonable statements and damage the states image.It will be beneficial for Georgia if all high-ranking officials can be constructive and balanced during the day-to-day running of the ship of state. Kidnapping as business in and near of Georgias occupied regions By Messenger Staff Two days ago, another Georgian citizen was released from a Tskhivnali detention facility, where he had been taken due to the illegal crossing of border.Tskhinvali is the centre of Georgias occupied South Ossetia (Samachablo) region, where Russian occupation forces, together with local leadership, are in control.Several times a month, the occupants kidnap Georgian citizens in or near the so-called Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) and later release them after payinga fine, which typically amounts to 90 GEL.It has practically become a business, a source of a guaranteed income for the Russian soldiers and local authorities and the number of the illegal detentions are gradually increasing every year.At a glance, 90 GEL is not a substantial amount of money, especially for those living in Georgian towns, but for the people who live in small villagespeople, it is a difficult sum to pay, as they have very low incomes.On the other hand, kidnapping people for such an amount of money hints that those living in the occupied region, including Russians and locals, are facing serious economic problems which encourage them to seek other sources of income.The Institute of Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) has released its most recent survey, which is solely concerned with the kidnapping incidents.Based on information provided from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia (MIA), the organisation says that last year 341 Georgian citizens were illegally detained for crossing Georgias de-facto Abkhazian occupational lines with another 162 abducted for crossing the South Ossetian border.The IDFI reports that according to the information received from the State Security Agency, in the years 2009-2015, the occupational forces have detained a total number of 2,481 Georgian citizens for illegal border crossings, of which 1, 641 were detained by occupational forces in Abkhazia and 840 in South Ossetia.It has to be noted that unlike the situation in Abkhazia, the number of Georgian citizens detained for crossing the so-called South Ossetian border is annually increasing; the largest number of people detained was in 2015, when a total of 162 Georgian citizens were detained, IDFI said.Unfortunately, the only thing the Georgian government can do in this situation is to inform the international community about the incidents, which never prevents Russia from carrying out its activities. As New Hampshire officials work to contain the states opioid crisis, presidential candidates have been called upon to address the problem and offer solutions. At an editorial board meeting with Monitor staff, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush outlined his plan -- and dropped an interesting statistic. Bush said Americans have a tendency to overmedicate in general, but addictive painkillers are even worse. "I read this, I believe, that 90 percent of all pain medications are prescribed in the United States in the world," Bush said. Could this be true? Are so many of the worlds pain medications dispensed in this country alone? We decided to check out the number and its origins. See what Clay Wirestone of PolitiFact New Hampshire found. @ByKristenMClark Rep. Joseph Geller, D-Aventura, says he's "mortified" and "very embarrassed" today by what he calls an honest mistake Wednesday night. As the House was called to vote on a controversial measure to allow concealed handguns on Florida's public college and university campuses, Geller said he pressed the wrong button -- not only for himself, but for his seatmate, Rep. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando. That's why the two Democrats came in as "yes" votes in the 80-37 result, which passed the bill out of the chamber. (The only Democrat to intentionally vote for it was Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, who co-sponsored the bill.) "It was absolutely a mistake. I just hit the wrong button and they locked the machine too quickly for me to fix it," Geller told the Herald/Times. The voting board was open for nine seconds, during which time members could cast their votes. During House floor speeches earlier in the night -- and the night before when amendments were considered -- Geller had railed against allowing guns on campuses, so his "yes" vote raised a few eyebrows. @TIAreports As Rep. Geller's LA I can confirm that it was an accident. Maria P. Barth (@MariaPBarth) February 3, 2016 He and Bracy changed their votes to "no" within about five minutes of the vote, which is reflected in the House record but not in the vote tally itself. Geller said that Bracy was on the other side of the House chamber -- talking to another representative about a different bill -- when the voting happened, so Geller pushed Bracy's button for him, as they had agreed to. The practice, though frowned upon, is allowed under House rules, so long as the member is in the chamber when another votes for him and as long as that other member does so on the member's "specific request and direction." Geller said he normally double-checks the board, but was briefly distracted by someone who came up to speak with him. And then it was too late. He said he's gotten calls from constituents today about his recorded vote, and he's kicking himself for what happened. "I own it; I own the mistake," he said. "I'm sorry for it. I regret it. I'm mortified by it." Photo credit: Rep. Joseph Geller, D-Aventura, speaks on the House floor during the 2015 session. (Florida House) // The Florida Channel @ByKristenMClark Earlier this week, Florida's superintendents sought to correct what they described as inaccurate and flawed information discussed by the Florida House Appropriations Committee a couple of weeks ago, and that response has now ignited a letter feud between the superintendents and the man who controls school funding in the Florida House. In late January, the Appropriations Committee held a lengthy discussion -- led by House education budget chairman Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami -- about what Fresen and House leaders called a disturbing pattern of cost-overruns on public school construction projects paid for, at least in part, with state funding. Because of those alleged abuses, Fresen said he's prepared to propose limits on how districts use the fixed-capital outlay dollars they get, as well as penalties, should they exceed spending caps. (More here on that meeting.) The Florida Association of District School Superintendents responded with a two-page letter on Monday -- penned by president Barbara Jenkins, Orange County schools superintendent -- detailing why they felt Fresen's conclusions were "not sound" and didn't show the full picture of the circumstances schools face. For one, they pointed out: "Many districts across the state have levied local referenda to meet the facilities needs of their communities because of limited capital funding from the state. These locally generated funds are meant to benefit the local community from which the funds were raised." Download FADSS_Response Fresen's data depicting cost over-runs didn't specifically include details on the source of funding or how much of it was state versus local dollars for the examples he cited. Today, Fresen fired back and doubled down. @ByKristenMClark Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Jorge Labarga continues to break historical records. Two years ago, he became the first Hispanic person to lead the state's judicial system. On July 1, he'll begin his second term in that role -- becoming the first chief justice to succeed himself since the end of the Civil War and the first in four decades to serve more than one term. The court announced this morning that the six other justices chose Labarga to serve for another two-year term as chief justice. The Supreme Court has long followed a custom of rotating the chief justiceship to the next most senior member who has not yet held the post. But in this case, Justice James E.C. Perry normally would have received the rotation in 2016, and he will be forced to retire due to age only a few months later. He chose not to stand for election, the court said. As chief justice, Labarga leads the state's top bench and also serves as the administrative head of the state's judiciary. It is a privilege to serve the people of Florida, Labarga said in a statement. My second term will continue the work started during the first - especially the efforts of the Access to Civil Justice Commission and implementation of both our new long-range plan and the first comprehensive statewide communications plan developed for the state courts system. Labarga, 63, was the second Cuban-American appointed to Floridas high court. He came to Florida at 11 years old after the Cuban revolution. He graduated high school in West Palm Beach and then went to the University of Florida, where he earned his undergraduate and law degrees. Before becoming a Supreme Court justice seven years ago, he was a trial judge in Palm Beach County. The court said the last chief justice to succeed himself was Charles H. Dupont, who was elected in 1860, served during the Civil War and then succeed himself in 1865. Labarga also will become the first person to serve more than a single term as chief justice since the late Justice B.K. Roberts. He held the post for three non-consecutive terms, the last of which was in the early 1970s, the court said. @PatriciaMazzei Donald Trump took a snow day from the presidential campaign trail in New Hampshire, calling off an event because he couldn't fly into the state. (Trump likes to fly home to New York rather than stay in local hotels, generally speaking.) Jeb Bush was still out campaigning -- with his mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush -- and let Trump know so on Twitter. Only four more days til the primary, guys. The two remaining Democrats running for president square off starting at 9 p.m. tonight on MSNBC. PolitiFact will be listening to the statements made by both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and rating their claims on our Truth-O-Meter. Follow our live coverage tonight. Here is our most recent fact-check of both candidates: Clinton said in the CNN town hall that when terrorists killed more than 250 Americans in Lebanon under Ronald Reagan, "the Democrats didnt make that a partisan issue." Clinton has a strong point that the Democrat-held House did not react as forcefully to the 1983 Beirut bombings as the Republican-held House reacted to the 2012 Benghazi attack, which killed four. But Walter Mondale, running against Reagan in 1984, and some congressional Democrats repeatedly said Ronald Reagan had failed personally regarding Lebanon. We rated Clintons partially accurate claim Half True. Sanders said in an ad that he was endorsed by the Valley News newspaper, a newspaper in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. While the paper published a laudatory editorial about the Vermont senator, it hasn't offered him an official endorsement. PolitiFact New Hampshire rated that statement False. Photo credit Associated Press. @MichaelAuslen Surgeon General John Armstrong is addressing concerns that could come up in his Feb. 16 confirmation hearing in an interview published Thursday by the News Service of Florida. Armstrong addresses questions about rising infections of HIV in Florida, which leads the nation for new cases, over the last four years, as well as staffing cuts to the county health departments following Times/Herald reporting on the issue. And he discusses changes to the state's Children's Medical Services program. The surgeon general declined requests to be interviewed ahead of the Times/Herald story. From the News Service: Q: Why does Florida have such high rates of diagnosed HIV cases, and what are we doing about it? ARMSTRONG: Well, I think that's an important point. I'm very familiar with HIV/AIDS, very familiar as a professional. I trained when HIV/AIDS was emerging, and I saw it for what it was: A very cruel disease, very cruel. So I invested a lot of time learning about it, so that I understood what needed to be done: how to be safe, but how to really help people. And I've carried that with me. So when I came into this department and looked at where we were with HIV/AIDS, I kind of reset the playing field. I talk a lot about eliminating things. I find in general there's talk about, "Let's reduce this." I don't want to reduce it, I want to eliminate it. To those who push back and say, "You'll never eliminate it" --- well, of course you won't, if you say you'll never eliminate it. You've got to start somewhere. And it turns out remarkable things have happened when people say, "You know what? We're going to eliminate this." So we've had an uptick in newly-diagnosed HIV. And it reflects behaviors. We have to acknowledge that HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease. If you look nationally at other sexually transmitted diseases, the gradient is up. And so we need to look at this broader context about how it is that we help people make better choices for safe sex. We understand where there are particular people at risk for HIV, and what we have done is to work to invest in those communities. And we have done this in partnership with a whole host of organizations. Public health really has to be about partnerships, and it has to be local energy. And we've done an awful lot in outreach and messaging, and with testing. So I think we've had some success with that, but clearly, there's more work to be done. Q: Patient services and contacts have plummeted at Florida's county health departments. Why is the state cutting positions at the Department of Health? ARMSTRONG: So I asked an interesting question as I entered the department: "How many people work in the Department of Health?" And I got back a whole bunch of different answers. So I said, "Well, if we really don't understand our workforce, it's going to be awfully hard to make sure that we have resources where we need to keep the people of Florida ahead of threats." So here's what the deal is: We have a workforce that is authorized by the Legislature. And within those positions --- most are filled, but some are vacant. The vacant positions have funding associated with them. And then we also have some that are authorized but not established. And those are positions that are truly phantom positions, so no money associated with them. So the concern I had as I was looking at this was, we don't want to fool ourselves that we have positions that we really don't have. And, importantly, if we thought these were positions to use in an emergency, they really aren't, because there's no funding associated with them. So what we did last year was to ask for a reduction in (full-time positions) that prominently involved the phantom positions, and we asked that there be no accompanying revenue reduction with those. Because we wanted to retain the revenue but shed the phantoms, right? Understand that any time you talk about these positions, sometimes they are taken away from the vacant positions, which had funding streams, as opposed to the "authorized-not-established." So we asked for that, and in the governor's budget proposal last year, he agreed. So we asked for that reduction, (to) get better alignments so we actually know what we got, and retain the revenue. Well, through the budget cycle last year, the revenue was taken. So that's the only time in my tenure that there's been a reduction for the county health departments. I have otherwise I came into this position saying, "Public health happens locally." We have to make sure that the health departments have the resources they need, and I want to hold the health departments harmless. If you look at the workload for the county health departments, I think it reflects some other currents. I think it reflects what's happened with transitions with health-care delivery that have been prompted by the (Affordable Care Act). And so people who previously were getting care in the health departments are now able to get care in other ways. Q: Why hasn't the Department of Health directly notified the families of the 9,000 kids who lost their eligibility for Children's Medical Services last year that they can be rescreened? ARMSTRONG: The direct answer is that CMS is a managed-care plan. That would be perceived as marketing. We're prohibited from marketing. Now, that's the direct answer. But I want to give you the broader answer here. So the Legislature in 2011 said that the Children's Medical Services Network would be a managed-care plan. That's the law, so it had to transition to managed care. Then in 2012, the Legislature said, "This is a plan for children with serious and chronic medical conditions." So we, I think, were fortunate to have a longer transition period for this, because this was a major cultural change. We worked steadfastly with a whole host of stakeholders to really get input, and in the end met some resistance from those who don't like managed care. My commitment is to see that the children with serious and chronic medical conditions receive the services that they need. Q: CNN reported that Florida dumped its pediatric cardiology standards when Tenet, a hospital chain, contributed $200,000 to Florida Republicans. Fair or unfair? ARMSTRONG: Unfair. There's no connection with that at all. So I think that this department is committed to making sure that children with serious and chronic medical conditions, to include our children with congenital cardiac disease, that they receive the care that they need. What we have recognized was a gap between what was in statute and what was actually happening, so the Legislature eliminated the (CMS) cardiac subcommittee (which could put the program's providers on probation for failure to meet standards) in 2001, and yet it continued. And what it created was a regulatory framework for these programs. So when I became aware of this, I said, "Well, I appreciate the enthusiasm of this group, and so I think the solution is to acknowledge that this is not the right structure, and to create a Cardiac Technical Advisory Panel for Children's Medical Services." So that's exactly what I did. And it was designed to promote performance improvement. That's a very distinct model. And so we've moved forward with that, and the technical advisory panel has wonderful opportunities to influence programs in the state that offer pediatric cardiology services. Major concern that the previous framework was really unfair --- to families, to parents, to children with serious congenital cardiac disease --- because it created the impression that the state had oversight when, in fact, we didn't. So that bothers me. And so I really think that we have created a framework for the sharing of information and best practices, and also emphasized the importance of public reporting of outcomes. So of the eight pediatric cardiac programs in the state, three publicly report. It's on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons website. I think right there is a golden opportunity for professionalism, to put your results online and to make that known to the parents, the guardians, the families, so that they can really see what's happening. And it turns out that when you start looking at things, you start improving things. (One of the Tenet hospitals is St. Mary's in West Palm Beach, which CNN reported had an unusually high rate of infant deaths following heart surgery.) I think the sad reality is that we will likely never know the truth of what was going on. Just looking at what was out there with an organization that was starting up a new program, when you start up a new program, the denominator is pretty small. And so, my message is that we want to make sure that there are opportunities for improvement in performance of, in particular, pediatric cardiac surgery programs, and that professionals take the opportunity to publicly report their outcomes. And they have a ready-made vehicle to do it. Again, three of eight (programs) have already done it. So I think there's an opportunity to take that to eight of eight, and to then use this technical advisory panel to have the conversations about what's happening and what can be done to improve performance in general. Because you can always improve. Q: Given the savings in treasure and heartache provided by the Early Steps early intervention program, why doesn't the Department of Health expand those services to more babies and toddlers with developmental disabilities and delays? ARMSTRONG: I'm a big fan of Early Steps. The good news is we are (screening more children for Early Steps eligibility). Last year we saw 3,000 more children than the previous year who were referred. The program takes referrals from any source. This is wide open. It's an entitlement program, so it's open to any family with a child who is at risk for developmental delay or has developmental delay. So I was very pleased to see that. In the end, the number of Individualized Family Support Plans (treatment plans detailing the services children will receive) to come out of that was smaller, and so that meant there were referrals that didn't meet the eligibility screen for Early Steps. We're continuing to work with the local Early Steps providers. It really is a public-private partnership. What we're emphasizing is the importance of the portfolio of services and making sure all the services are available to any child who ultimately is enrolled. What we recognized was that it was a sizable percentage of dollars going to administrative and operational expenses. And so I think we all agreed that these resources need to go to direct services for the kids. And "direct services" also includes case management, so I was pleased, working with the Legislature last year, that they actually put proviso language in to cap those expenses at 15 percent --- which is, if you look at other organizations, still pretty high. But it's out of respect for the local Early Steps providers that that was chosen, I think. I'm pleased with the new approach that I'm seeing. We appreciated the additional funds from the Legislature last year ($10 million added to Early Steps' budget by Senate President Andy Gardiner). And if you think about this program, the state really made its mark by significantly increasing the funding, so that now, general revenue constitutes two-thirds of the program, with the federal grant as one-third of the program. I think that sends a powerful message. And I am continuing to work with the Legislature to make sure that, one, we identify children at risk for developmental delay or with developmental delay; two, get the referral; and then three, get the services that they need. 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So creator Jeremy Sher has developed a quick-serve description of the cabaret-musical-dessert show: "The only action of the whole piece is to make a dessert and give it to the audience," he said. "That's all that happens. But it takes 90 minutes to get there. Things fall apart along the way, and we have a really good time as they fall part," he said. "We get sidetracked. We go out into the audience and play with them. We have to keep on going on the dessert." Those diversions include dessert-themed homages to 1970s soul music, goofy characters named Cheffy Pants (a chef) and Preppy Pants (a prep chef), and Dr. Buenabuena (who believes chocolate cravings should be indulged.) Sher had developed parallel careers in theater and cooking specifically as a pastry chef and began looking for ways to combine his two interests. He'd developed the idea back when he was in Chicago, but it didn't find traction until he moved to Montana. "Nothing ever happened with it till I got to Missoula and I kind of restarted the process started working on it in earnest in 2012," he said. It debuted with a two-night run at the Top Hat that sold out well in advance, and Sher made plans to revive it for a tour that kicked off this week. The cast includes regulars of the Missoula theater scene, like Reid Reimers ("The Rocky Horror Show Live") in the role of Dr. Preppy Pants. He does an original tune called "Me and You, You in Me," which he described as a soul ballad "somewhere between Barry White and 'Lean On Me.' " "It would be very explicit if it was about a woman. Since it's about a bowl of chocolate, it's not that bad," Reimers said. He said the tone is lighthearted cabaret that's sexy but not raunchy. The touring show features a live band led by veteran Missoula musician John Sporman with vocalist Margi Cates (WhizPops, Northern Light), plus choreography by Heather Adams of the Downtown Dance Collective. The tour started with dates Feb. 3-5 in Whitefish at the Crush Lounge, then heads to the Triple Door in Seattle on the 7th; the Myrna Loy in Helena on the 12th and back in Missoula at the Top Hat Lounge on Saturday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 14. While the show isn't "Rocky Horror"-level raunchy, Sher said the 10:30 p.m. Saturday show will have a different energy. (The other Missoula dates start at 7 p.m.) "The late shows are always a little edgier and we feed off the audience directly," Sher said. To purchase tickets, which range from $20 to $30, go to dirtysexychocolateshow.com. A kohlrabi, a member of the cabbage family, sits atop a glass vase that's filled with bright magenta liquid set on a background of hazy neon cyan-green. A pear, bisected but still upright, bleeds purplish fluid. A paper party pineapple looks despondent and withering, soaked as it is in syrupy yellow fluid in a wonderful sight gag. Sarah Knobel uses the clean, aspirational visual language of product photography as bait in her "Drips" series, on display this Friday at FrontierSpace. The eye-candy color palette draws in the viewer, as do the familiarity of the household objects. But once inside the image, you circle back and forth between the intrinsic pleasure of the composition and the jarring, inexplicable contexts she's created. "I like the feeling of product photography," she said in a phone interview. "But it's not something that's a product at all. It's got that shiny surface, but it has that disturbing feeling." She arranges the objects in sometimes shocking situations, like one of a cantaloupe struck through with a tube as though it were part of a science experiment. She cracked the rind to form an anthropomorphic frowney face that bleeds mint-green liquid onto the forced cheer of the pink ground. It's disturbing, but you'll want to keep looking, like a Grand Guignol of fruits and vegetables. *** The archival pigment prints, some measuring 44 by 60 inches, plus a video in a similar vein, represent Knobel's first showing in Missoula since she moved to Montana. She's exhibited her work extensively around the country, including in Seattle, Miami and Washington, D.C., and abroad in Germany, Belgium and Greece. For much of her career, she specialized in self-portraits that toyed with the idea of multiple identities, often with collage-like usage of digital editing and manipulation that will be familiar to viewers of the meta-madness on "Adult Swim." By her final show at the Hamiltonian Gallery in D.C., she'd begun moving away from self-portraits, saying she "felt done" with the genre. "Maybe it was self-therapy and I didn't realize it in a way," she said. After a stint in Japan, she took a job at Montana State University-Billings, where she's an assistant professor of art, starting in fall 2012. By this time, she'd moved into still lifes, although not the kind you'd imagine. One of her projects from Japan used colorful assemblies of cheap objects from 100 yen shops. Another, "Trash," was the same concept, but employed her own garbage in festive piles with celebratory plumes of colored smoke. "Icescapes" is perhaps the most alien she placed souvenirs and party items and other colorful miscellaneous items into Jell-O molds. After they were frozen into blocks, she photographed them as they melted, resulting in colorful but nearly unidentifiable organic-seeming objects. She started the "Drips" series, meanwhile, last summer when she was pregnant. "It was almost subconscious and I started realizing it was me trying to deal with my pregnancy and all the oddities with what's happening to my body, and things that were out of my control," she said. The objects seem almost "post-human," she said unimportant, transient things that maybe aspire to something more. They don't last, she said, but they seem as though they've been experimented on, like they can be something else. While the figure, or her own face, never appear in the pictures, she feels they're of a piece with her previous work. "I still think these are kind of self-meditative in indirect ways," she said. Knobel considers herself "an artist who uses photography as an outlet," not a photographer in the traditional sense. (She has an MFA in photography from the University of Cincinnati.) While she lives in a state where landscape and wildlife dominate the medium, she sees her pictures in the context of photographers like Annette Kelm and others who are exploring the possibilities of still life. Like photographer Sally Mann, who once said "if it doesn't have ambiguity don't bother to take it," Knobel wants her pictures to be open-ended for the viewer to interpret as they see fit. Nor does she approach her work with a message or direction in mind at first. "I work very intuitively," she said. "Sometimes things just come out and I start realizing what it is and then I develop it." BONNER Winter work is well underway on what should be the last mass cleanup of contaminants from the banks of the Blackfoot River at the former Bonner mill site. A third nest of polychlorniated biphenyls, or PCBs, was identified last year a couple of hundred feet from the riverbank at the site of the former compressor building. An Envirocon excavator was making headway downward Thursday, removing dirt laced with varying degrees of PCBs that leaked from air compressors decades ago. PCBs were used to increase viscosity in the likes of hydraulic fluid but were outlawed in the late 1970s, long before the mill's last owner, Stimson Lumber Co., arrived and not many years after Champion International bought the mill from the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. We just do not know where there could be any more sources, Keith Large, project manager for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, said Thursday. The buildings are going to be gone. The equipment inside the buildings that leaked all the oil, theyre all gone. Excavation began in mid-January and the bottom of a hole 28 to 30 feet deep and some 200 feet long will be reached sometime next week. Large said the project should be wrapped up by mid-March. Like the two phases before it, the hottest of the contaminated soils in this case some 1,750 cubic yards concentrated in the middle of the site is being hauled to an EPA hazardous waste site in southern Idaho. Three loaded trucks a day make the 600-mile trip to the site near Mountain Home. Another 18 truckloads a day are hauling 3,300 cubic yards to Republic Services Missoula landfill 12 miles away. Large pointed out as a sheet of heavy plastic was laid in the bed of one of the contract trucks making the local hauls. It would be dumped along with the dirty soil in one area of the landfill. The truck would return with a load of clean soil from another part of the landfill to be stored near the dig site and used as fill when the time comes. Its the third and smallest cleanup project on the sawmill end of the lumber and plywood plant that were closed for good by Stimson in 2008. *** Stimson and International Paper, the company that bought Champion in 2000, are footing the bill for all phases of a cleanup that began in 2010 with the removal of a cooling pond laced with PCBs and petroleum products that encroached on the Blackfoot River. The discovery of even hotter contamination above the cooling pond site resulted in another remediation project. It was completed in 2014. In May of the same year, mill owners Mike Boehme and Steve Nelson of Bonner Property Development LLC reported a new area of PCB contamination had been found during demolition of a brick building that once housed the steam donkey that ran the sawmill. Later, the structure became the compressor building and housed the equipment that replaced the mill's steam engine. Sampling last year led to the current, climactic cleanup by Envirocon. Steve Petrin, environmental manager for Stimson Lumber, said hell be glad to finally reach the end. But Ill be back, Im sure, probably a couple of times at least, said Petrin, who was on site from the companys Portland, Oregon, headquarters for a visit Wednesday and Thursday. We actually have ongoing monitoring to finance. Typically our consultant does that, but we still have a finger in this. When Envirocon rebuilt 1,400 feet of riverbank after the cooling pond was removed, Stimson was required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to continue inspections for five years. Those remain on the to-do list. Stimson is also responsible for monitoring a three-acre repository pile from the first cleanup that the mill owners and Missoula County are hatching a plan to remove. Francis Tran of Denver, environmental engineer for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Region 8, also stopped by Bonner for a visit this week. A specialist in PCB cleanups, Tran has been assisting Montana DEQ, the lead agency in the Bonner project, since the start. Not many are this big, he said. This final phase, however, is a small job really, Large said. Before there used to be about 12 people working for Envirocon. Right now its about six. The big heyday of this project is really kind of over, all the How should we do this? and all the public meetings. Its good news for everybody, said Nelson, the Missoula businessman who has partnered with Boehme to populate and energize the mill site since purchasing it in late 2011. *** Seven industrial enterprises have joined the first post-mill tenant, Northwest Paint, including KettleHouse Brewing, which is building a large beer production plant in the old east log yard at the end of town. I think Stimson and Champion are ready for it to be done, and its good for us to know everythings cleaned up, Nelson said. When the compressor building area is filled and leveled next month, one cleanup will remain. Boehme and Nelson want to remove the unsightly repository pile that seems to be in the middle of everything beyond the mill sites main gate. Despite county and community protests before the two bought the mill, Stimson was allowed by law to store some 37,000 cubic yards of the least contaminated soil from the cooling pond on site. The owners and the county plan to remove it all to the Missoula landfill using proceeds from the Bonner Mill Tax Increment Finance district started four years ago. As recently as two weeks ago, Nelson said it looked like that might happen by summer. But on Thursday he had an update. We just found out there just isnt enough money in the TIF deal to have that done this year, so thatll probably be a year away, I guess, he said. Dori Brownlow, Missoula Countys development district director, said removal of the repository pile has been a priority out there for the TIF district. But once we got an estimate on the cost, between $2 million and $3 million, it was clear the increment revenue hasnt grown enough," Brownlow said. "We just need the increment district to be in place longer. Huckleberries to the University of Montana and UM President Royce Engstrom for a midyear update that included several huckleberry-studded bits of good news. For one, a recent legislative audit that compared UM to other universities resulted in no recommendations, and in fact, found that UM spends relatively less on administrative costs. For another, UM is in good financial health and received strong credit ratings from not one but two independent agencies. And finally, UM is launching a new Health and Medicine initiative that will coordinate various campus efforts to make the health sciences a hallmark of the University of Montana. Chokecherries to the Missoula County Public Schools' heavy-handed reaction to the most recent edition of the Willard Wire. The January edition of the publication, produced by Willard Alternative High School students, included photos of topless adults and an article that contained lewd and vulgar language. As a result, Willard Principal Jane Bennett was suspended for three days without pay. That reaction went overboard. In comparison, Willard's journalism class adviser, Lisa Waller, was given only a letter of reprimand. A string of huckleberries to Loyola Sacred Heart High School for its 33rd consecutive state speech and debate tournament win. According to assistant coach Matthew Stergios, its the longest confirmed national streak in any activity. Loyola speech and debate students, under head coach Nancy Wilson, closed out the tournament with an astounding 174 total points. Chokecherry cheesecake and ice cream to the Montana Department of Livestock for seeking to cover its projected budget deficit on the backs of small dairy producers. There are only 67 licensed dairies in the entire state, and smaller producers are worried that the proposed inspection fee increase may put them out of business. Further, the proposal would expand the assessment to non-producers like Polsons Flathead Lake Cheese, whose owners estimate they could end of paying as much as $8,700 a year. Huckleberries to three locally owned grocery stores in Missoula for providing a healthy way to keep children occupied while their parents shop by offering free fruit to kids 12 and younger. The two Missoula Fresh Market stores and the Orange Street Food Farm all allow their youngest customers to pick out a banana, or other fruit upon request. Hopefully that includes huckleberries! Huckleberries also to "Paul the retired pathologist," who reminded us of how Native Americans harvested chokecherries as well as how wonderful they are to eat and the magnificent wine that can be created. We agree and tend to focus our attention here on the choke, not the cherry. Thus, a special huckleberry to the chokecherry. May your harvests be aplenty and your jelly, jam and wine be delectable. Yeah, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes water compact again. Back in 1924 A.D., Congress passed an act making native tribal members in the United States citizens thereof with the exception of those members not born within the countrys borders. I once saw, in an old newsreel sans sound, President Coolidge sign the bill while wearing a warbonnet in the presence of several native tribal members in ethnic garb. None present seemed to object, and since then even the Salish and Kootenai are included. As U.S. citizens, said tribal members are subject to the U.S. Constitution (as well as to federal, state and local laws), including the 14th Amendments equal protection clause (as are we all), when beyond reservation confines. However, to extend provisions of the moribund 1855 Hellgate Treaty beyond said confines, to include non-tribal members, strikes this homesteader as inviting chaos. Likewise, the enablers of the treaty and CSKT water compact, and they know who they are, are also flirting with disloyalty, not only to the U.S. Constitution, but to the Montana Constitution also. Oath breakers all. Perhaps its time for western Montana well owners to investigate rainwater cistern systems before the water well meter-installers descend, or merely brace for the rip-off. One hopes, however, that this nations judiciary will exhibit the courage and integrity necessary to stem the rip-tide/land grab. Civil asset forfeiture, eminent domain, CSKT water compact is there no respite? K.C. Smith, Frenchtown Keila Szpallers (Jan. 28) story on the University of Montanas hiring practices and the possibility of religious favoritism was a very insightful article as to what can go on behind the scenes that is kept quiet from the public. Favoritism can be insidious, even though there are systems in place to make it look like the university is hiring the most qualified. Just because a position is advertised and candidates are interviewed does not mean there is not bias towards a specific religion, gender or race. It is interesting that all 15 positions (really, 15 positions?) of the presidents Cabinet are male (except for the vice president of communications), Caucasian and three are of the Mormon faith, 20 percent of the staff. (Not to mention Mormons in other administrative positions.) That demographic certainly does not reflect diversity, expected at a university. Even though there may be a diverse group of candidates applying for a position, there can be one person who is encouraged to apply that fits the bias of the hiring committee. Favoritism rears its ugly head and guess who is hired. No laws are violated; religion, race, gender are never questioned and dont need to be because the hiring committee already knows all about the candidate they want to hire. Remember that saying, Its not what you know, its who you know. So, many highly qualified candidates would be discouraged from applying. Is the university hiring the most qualified? Possibly not. It appears the hiring process is not open, fair or transparent. For all of those in the administration huffing and puffing that such implications could be made, I think the public sees that there is favoritism. No one at the university will complain because they are afraid their job will be on the chopping block. Excellent reporting, Keila Szpaller. Dennis McCrea, Lolo I am disappointed to see that Missoula County Public Schools has resorted to censorship in its commitment to protect our young people from lewd and vulgar language and from the sight of the naked breasts displayed in the Willard Wire. If Superintendent Mark Thane wants to support students as they continue to develop as journalists, he has chosen the wrong path. Instead, they have learned that if they take risks, they will be punished. Surely the healthiest way students can express their curiosity about their bodies is to write about it, and what better place to do that than in the student paper of Missoulas alternative high school? Its far more important for us to be teaching our students about the value of free expression than it is to be worrying about whether the school followed proper procedure in publishing these photos. I guess students will have to wait for the next Naked Ride to explore the wonders of the human body. Larry Abramson, dean, School of Journalism, University of Montana, Missoula More than two dozen Democrats from the Montana Legislature will gather at Fairmont Hot Springs this weekend to brainstorm priorities for the 2017 legislative session, and they have said the meeting will be open to the public. Last month, plans for the caucus retreat drew media scrutiny after Sen. Mary Sheehy Moe, D-Great Falls, urged party leaders to be cognizant of public notice requirements should enough legislators attend to trigger open meeting laws. Legislative leaders from both parties say a 2015 civil lawsuit, which sought to ding Republicans for not providing public notice of a caucus meeting, has confused when such notice is required. The courts are a little unclear about the specifics, said House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter, D-Helena. So anytime we meet and theres a quorum we will follow not only the letter, but the spirit, of the law and make those public. Hunter said he plans to speak with Republican legislative leaders later this month about requesting an opinion from Attorney General Tim Fox to provide guidance on how to comply with the states legal and constitutional requirements for open meetings. House Majority Leader Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said he would have to hear the details to decide whether such a request had merit. The Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, a group that advocates for government transparency, disagrees with legislators that the 2015 case has changed anything. In 1995, 22 Montana news outlets filed suit to secure public access to legislative caucuses gatherings of each political party to set priorities and strategize citing a section of the Montana Constitution that all legislative meetings are open to the public. The case concluded in 1998, with District Judge Thomas Honzel finding the public has a right to observe their discussions. Specifically, the public has the right to attend any meeting where enough legislators gather to constitute a quorum and the public must receive advance notice of all such meetings, although state statute does not provide specifics on how soon that must be done. Just before the 2015 session, Republican legislators gathered for a caucus meeting in the basement of a restaurant without notifying the public. The meeting was cut short when two reporters showed up to cover the gathering. Montana news media followed with a lawsuit seeking to hold the caucus in contempt of the 1998 ruling. District Judge Kathy Seeley dismissed the case in January 2015, saying that caucus meetings must be open to the public but that the 1998 ruling did not specifically require caucuses to provide advance notice. While many legislators say the dismissal has left them uncertain whether they must provide public notice of caucus meetings, Helena attorney Mike Meloy, who volunteers with the hotline, said a dismissal cannot be construed as a reversal of the 1998 ruling, so open meeting requirements have not changed. For that same reason, Meloy doubts Fox would weigh in on the matter even if asked by legislative leaders. It has long been the policy of the attorney general not to entertain opinion requests of legal issues that have been resolved by a court, he said. While our Supreme Court has not yet weighed in on the issue, a district court has and determined that both in-session and out-of-session caucuses are subject to Montanas open meetings laws. Legislators could instead amend open meeting laws to be more explicit. Currently, the amount of public notice should increase with the relative significance of the decision to be made, according to a previous attorney general opinion. Some states set explicit deadlines, such as five days before the meeting. Both Hunter and Knudsen said amending the law would be difficult given the sensitivity of the subject and doubted any such measures would surface in the next session. Likewise, although both said having closed caucuses could be valuable in encouraging members to speak freely, neither expected any effort to amend the Constitution to exclude legislative caucuses from open meeting requirements could succeed, noting that would require three-quarters of legislators to support it in order to pass. Its hard enough for us to get consensus on a budget bill, Knudsen said. Let alone a contentious issue like that. HAMILTON After quickly selling the first 88 panels in its 25-kilowatt Valley Solar installation, the Ravalli Electric Co-op is expanding the project. REC communications specialist Alyssa Barnes said the staff was unsure how quickly the panels would sell. We started taking reservations in October and there were definitely a few slow periods, but by the end of the year we had more buyers than the handful of panels we had left, Barnes said. The rapid sales and obvious support for the project persuaded the Ravalli Electric Co-op board of directors to offer an additional solar array. The second phase will double the size of the installation, resulting in a 50-kilowatt system with 176 solar panels. The Valley Solar project will be the same size as the array the Missoula Electric Co-op installed next to its Lolo substation. Ravalli Electric Co-op general manager Mark Grotbo said he was encouraged by the members level of interest. We are constantly exploring new ways to provide power to the valley and its nice when we can directly involve our membership in the process, Grotbo said. The REC will hold a grand opening celebration this spring when the solar project is completed and panels are generating power near the end of April. Members who purchased panels will receive credit on their Ravalli Electric Co-op bills annually. The REC currently has about 8,000 members. The nonprofit cooperative has served rural areas of the Bitterroot Valley from Sula to Florence since 1936. Ravalli Electric Co-op members who are interested in participating in Valley Solar's second phase can call (406) 961-3001, go to the office at 1051 Eastside Highway in Corvallis or visit ravallielectric.com. HELENA Representatives from some air ambulance companies made their case Thursday that theyre put in a bind by insurance companies and have to charge high rates to patients to stay in business. But a hospital-based service in Billings says it operates at a small profit and doesnt send bills to people who take emergency flights. Representatives from REACHAir, which operates Summit Air Ambulance in Bozeman and Helena, as well as an industry spokesman and director of finance for the Washington-based nonprofit that runs flights that serve St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, spoke during a packed meeting of the Legislatures Economic Affairs Interim Committee on Thursday. The committee is studying air ambulance service, which has changed rapidly during the past decade. The State Auditors Office received more than 20 complaints last year from Montanans who have received large bills for the medical flights, some more than $100,000. Air ambulances generally fall into three categories: hospital-based services that are a part of the contracts those facilities negotiate with insurance companies and providers; nonprofit operators that are affiliated with hospitals; and for-profit companies. Don Wharton, who represents REACHAir, said his company has its hands tied over the large bills it sends consumers. We do not like sending our patients large balance bills, but we find we have no choice because of the position we are put in by insurance carriers, he said. Wharton said insurance companies, which Summit does not contract with, will pay what they deem allowable charges." It's a number the insurance company sets and an amount Wharton said isnt enough to keep his company operating. If we were to accept what they are willing to pay, we certainly would not have a sustainable business, he said. Summit said in December it was starting to talk with insurance provider Allegiance. But St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, which has both a helicopter and airplane ambulance, operates its service at a small profit, said Ron Oldfield, the hospitals chief financial officer. Were not losing money on it, and we dont balance bill, he said. St. Vincent contracts with insurance companies such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. About 60 percent of the people it flies have insurance under either Medicare or Medicaid. Oldfield wouldnt say how much the hospital gets paid by insurance companies, but did say that his hospital might have a higher flight volume, possibly helping with profitability. *** Insurance representatives who spoke after the industry representatives said private air ambulance companies wont work with them on rates and wont explain their cost structure. Paul Pedersen of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana said what his company calls allowable isnt just some made-up number, its 200 percent of what rural Medicare will pay for the service. Most insurance companies cover about 250 percent of what rural Medicare pays. Rural Medicare pays 150 percent more than urban Medicare. Pedersen said people insured under BCBS last year took 300 fixed-wing air ambulance flights, 75 percent of which were in network. Members took 230 helicopter flights, and about 78 percent were in network. BCBS pays the same for both in- and out-of-network flights. The only difference is that out-of-network providers can bill patients for the difference between what insurance pays and what they bill, called balance billing. That number was $5 million for BCBS members last year. The president of Allegiance, Ron Dewsnup, said whats charged by private companies varies widely, sometimes up to 1,000 percent of what rural Medicare will pay for the flights. Dewsnup called for hospitals and private companies to disclose any ownership, financial or contractual relationship they might have. In Helena, St. Peter's Hospital had an agreement to call Summit over other providers, even those that contract with insurance. The hospital ended that agreement late last year, citing concerns over costs to patients. Todd Lovshin of PacificSource said his company has never had a conversation about rates with Summit because they dont return our calls, he said. He wants to be able to get information about why private providers charge what they charge. Theres not a lot of consistency on how those charges are made, he said. *** Representatives from the states two largest pools of insured people, the state of Montana and Montana University System, talked about the struggles people in their groups have faced. Marilyn Bartlett, the health care benefits division administrator for the state, said her plan covers 34,000 people in Montana. The state self-funds its insurance and uses Allegiance as a third-party administrator. She said more flights taken by people in her pool are from out-of-network providers jumping from 36 percent in 2013 to 49 percent in 2014. She said the state pays 250 percent of what rural Medicare pays, and that covers just 55 percent of what is billed. In December, Bartlett said St. Peters in Helena used an airplane to transport a patient 81 miles to Great Falls for a non-emergency flight that resulted in a $30,140 bill. She said an in-network flight would have cost $7,600, Medicare would pay $5,500, and a round ambulance would have cost about $2,500. Stat Air, a four-hospital cooperative based out of Glasgow, said it ended its contract with BCBS because of inconsistencies in payments, said Clay Berger, Northeast Montana Stat Air cooperative program director. The insurance company paid $4,000 on some flights and $14,000 on others, Berger said. Stat still transported 47 BCBS patients in 2015, out of 550 flights total. The average bill for a BCBS patient was $20,000. Allegiance paid an average of $17,998 for flights its patients took on Stat, and Allegiance does not balance bill for the difference because of its contracts with Stat, he said. Connie Welsh of the Montana University System health plan said she cant get private air ambulance companies to answer her phone calls. We have seen that air ambulance companies that do not participate in networks are more frequently not wanting to talk to us, she said. Will you at least take my call? I need to have those folks ... who are looking at a business model very different from the way I am looking at it, from a human level, willing to take my calls. REACHAir representative Wharton said his company would work with insurance companies that offer reasonable rates. Our company is more than willing to step forward if there are true negotiations. Mrs. Clintons campaign says she will win over young voters when they learn more about her proposals to make college affordable and to combat climate change. The difference for young voters and for all voters is the ability to get something done, Robby Mook, her campaign manager said in an interview with MSNBC this week. And what that takes is someone in Washington who can break through the gridlock. That argument won over Iris Brenner, 21, a student at Iowa State University in Ames, who supports Mrs. Clinton. For me, its been, Do I caucus for someone who is a little less exciting but who can get stuff done? Privately, Mrs. Clintons supporters say that while being a youth icon has its advantages, the support of middle-aged and older voters is enough for her to capture the nomination. In the Iowa caucuses, she beat Mr. Sanders by 23 points among voters ages 45 to 64 and by 43 points among voters 65 and older, according to exit polls. They dont have to be for me, Im going to be for them, Mrs. Clinton told CNN on Wednesday when asked about the generation gap. The Sanders campaign said excitement among young people had been organic, although it has clearly worked to improve the candidates appeal on sites like Twitter, Reddit and Snapchat, and in text messages to supporters. Young people are idealistic and they look at this country and say we can be much more, Mr. Sanders told reporters Wednesday. The discomfort, and, in some cases hostility toward Mrs. Clinton among young voters is striking. Some of them, feeling the pinch of economic hardship or the burden of college loans, suggest she is too cozy with big banks and corporate America. But polls also show they do not find her trustworthy. LONDON Days after a British public inquiry linked President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to the fatal poisoning of her husband, Marina Litvinenko visited a cherished corner of Highgate Cemetery here. Someone, she said, had placed a bright bouquet of red roses on the grave in which Alexander V. Litvinenko, a former K.G.B. officer turned whistle-blower and Kremlin critic, has been buried since December 2006, after he was poisoned with the rare, expensive and highly toxic isotope polonium 210. Just before he died of radiation sickness, Ms. Litvinenko said in an interview, her husband asked me to explain to people what happened to him, and she agreed a promise that took over nine years to fulfill in the face of official British opacity and dogged attempts in Russia to undermine her campaign. In that time, there were hard personal choices and legal tangles with some of the most senior officials in Prime Minister David Camerons government. Members of her husbands family turned against her and denounced him as a traitor and a British spy. She risked going broke, and lawyers fought her case pro bono. Five Czechs who had been missing and presumed kidnapped in Lebanon last year arrived home on Thursday after the Czech government freed two Lebanese citizens who were wanted by the United States. A statement issued by the American Embassy expressed shock and dismay over the decision to release the two Lebanese, whom American authorities had been trying to extradite on charges of arms and drug trafficking, the Czech news agency CTK reported. Czech officials declined to comment on whether the Czechs had been swapped for the Lebanese detainees. But Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky confirmed the connection in an interview with the newspaper Hospodarske Noviny conducted before the mens release. The Czechs were reported missing when their abandoned vehicle was found in eastern Lebanon in July last year. On Monday, the Lebanese authorities announced that the five had been found. AL MUKALLA, Yemen A leader of Al Qaedas Yemeni affiliate was killed Thursday along with two other militants in a missile strike in southern Yemen apparently carried out by an American drone, according to a local security official in Abyan Province, where the strike occurred. The leader, Jalal Balaidi, a field commander for Al Qaeda, had been wanted by the United States for planning attacks on Western diplomatic officials and facilities in Sana, the Yemeni capital, according to the State Department, which had offered a $5 million reward for information that would bring him to justice. Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, as the affiliate is known, has captured several towns in southern Yemen since the beginning of the countrys civil war between the Houthi rebels and factions allied with Yemens exiled government in March. United States drone strikes on Qaeda leaders throughout the war have done little to halt the expansion of the group, which has faced little or no resistance from a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia that is fighting on the side of the Yemeni government. He was involved in carrying out Mr. Bushs invasion of Panama in 1989, and he was a strong supporter of the contras in Nicaragua in their fight against that countrys leftist Sandinista government. While never holding a position in the Reagan administration, he did help write an important speech for Ronald Reagan praising the contras as freedom fighters in a worldwide battle against Soviet expansion. But Mr. Aronson also helped bring about the demobilization of the contras after the Sandinistas lost elections in 1990. And he played an important role in negotiating the 1992 peace accord that ended the civil war in El Salvador. In a recent interview in his Washington office, a few blocks from the White House, Mr. Aronson said that in the Havana talks he has applied the lessons he learned in those earlier episodes. His most important contribution has been simply to treat the FARC negotiators with respect, he said, perhaps cracking the stereotype of the arrogant imperialist. The change in the Obama administrations posture toward Cuba, an important FARC backer, has also had an effect. Maybe, he said, they see that the enemy is not the enemy they once thought. MR. ARONSON played a similar role in the El Salvador talks, where he won the confidence of the guerrilla commanders. It was the most prominent of those commanders, Joaquin Villalobos, who presented Mr. Aronson with one of the rifles displayed on his office wall. The gun is mounted on a wooden plaque on which Mr. Villalobos wrote in marker, To Bernard, with the respect and friendship that peace has given us. How Times reporters cover politics. We rely on our journalists to be independent observers. So while Times staff members may vote, they are not allowed to endorse or campaign for candidates or political causes. This includes participating in marches or rallies in support of a movement or giving money to, or raising money for, any political candidate or election cause. Learn more about our process. The other rifle is mounted on red velvet, in a frame. Its firing mechanism was disabled by United Nations peacekeepers in 1990 when the contra army demobilized. Mr. Aronson, soft-spoken but insistent, with Bernie Sanders-style white hair, reflected on these earlier episodes and on the long road of the Colombia talks, evoking a conversation with Mr. Villalobos after the El Salvador peace deal. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia After Malaysias attorney general cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption charges involving hundreds of millions of dollars that ended up in his bank accounts, Mr. Najib issued a statement of his own. The matter has been comprehensively put to rest, he said last week. It is time for us to unite and move on. That has not happened. Instead of answering the questions about the money and its possible links to a heavily indebted Malaysian sovereign wealth fund, the attorney generals announcement has only sharpened them. Its not logical at all, said Azral Shah, 28, a computer network analyst taking a cigarette break outside a Kuala Lumpur high-rise this week. Im not sure what is the true story, but most of the nation doesnt think that what they are telling us is true. In boat building, you learn stuff, Mr. Jackson-Adens said. Youre free to move. You dont have a whole lot of restrictions. Its more of a trial-and-error kind of thing. You learn from those mistakes. In school, if you fail, youve failed. Brett Hart, executive director of the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory, grew up in the same neighborhood and has seen the decline in the education and opportunity there firsthand. We are at the front lines of educational inequity, Mr. Hart said. Our national response has been to double down on items like Common Core. But, he said, skills like the ability to be adaptive, collaborative, resourceful are the tools we need to thrive. He said the funding from the Susan Crown Exchange allowed the organization to bring on a social worker to deepen the work it was doing in helping high school students regulate their emotions and focus on the positive and constructive aspects of their lives. But the meetings with the other organizations and the experts Ms. Crown brought in gave Mr. Hart the perspective to incorporate more academic research into what his organization had been doing intuitively, he said. Similarly, Jennifer Freed, executive director of AHA in Santa Barbara, Calif., was proud of the success the organization had in helping local teenagers, with programs reaching nearly 3,000 people a year. The groups name stands for Attitude, Harmony, Achievement. But the analysis of what AHA was doing helped Ms. Freed envision it as something bigger. The thing I learned the most about is how to track the development of social and emotional skills through a yearlong process, she said. I really learned how to work with other agencies nationwide and imagine AHA as a nationwide program. FAMILY RULE The recent media fit about the famed Muhoozi Project is one that has generated public curiosity at home and abroad. Many... Manlai Baatar Damdinsuren with two of his adjutants. Damdinsuren was Mongolian patriot and nationalist who took part in revival of Mongolian... Motoring-Malaysia.blogspot.my is an award winning Malaysian motoring / automotive / car news & reviews website or auto blog. It is where we rant and rave about cars, trucks, buses, motoring, motor vehicles and any interesting automotive industry related stuff. Unswayed in our point of view and darn proud of it! It's not about the numbers...it's about passion. Since 2006 and going strong. Butte-Silver Bow has the 11th highest per-capita income rate at $44,883 annually among Montanas 56 counties, people attending an economic outlook seminar Thursday were told. At the same time, Butte has experienced a 1 percent increase in employment, and its unemployment rate is slightly above the states rate of 4 percent. John Kasperick, director of financial planning and analysis at NorthWestern Energy, related the figures to a room of county officials and business leaders, who gathered at the new NorthWestern Energy headquarters building at Park and Main. Kasperick was one of several speakers at the Bureau of Business and Economic Researchs annual Economic Outlook Seminar. Buttes largest employers are St. James Healthcare, NorthWestern Energy, Montana Resources, REC Silicon, Montana Tech, Town Pump, Wal-Mart, Acadia, Community, Counseling and Correctional Services, and Community Health, Kasperick said. Thanks to this diversified economy, Butte has ridden out the recession relatively unscathed, Kasperick said, but the economic growth has remained flat for the past four years. He added that gains in the healthcare industry and trade have helped offset decline in other sectors, such as those seen in government jobs, information-technology and professional services. Kasperick said that Buttes population has been growing at a slow-but-steady rate for the past nine years, starting at 33,414 in 2005 and peaking at 34,680 in 2014. This is the longest consecutive growth period Butte has seen since the 1920s. Kasperick also said Butte has an older population, with a median age of 40. For Buttes economy to grow, Kasperick said, the city needs to attract new business and continue to increase its population. Patrick Barkey, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, said gains in retail, finance, health care, hospitality, construction and manufacturing all contributed to the states wage growth. Last year Montana's wages also grew, BBER officials said, showing an increase of 4 percent. While wages increased in 2015, Montanas commodity prices have been declining since 2014, following suit with the rest of the nation. Hardest hit was the energy sector. Barkey believes energy is in store for more dark days in the year ahead. However, he remains hopeful that the stage is set for broader, if less spectacular growth. A Butte district court judge sentenced a 50-year-old man Thursday to a five-year term at the Montana Department of Corrections, citing unaccountability to confront his alcohol addiction. Judge Kurt Krueger said he could not follow the recommendation of five years with two suspended made by both Butte-Silver Bow Deputy County Attorney Michael Clague and Public Defender Walter Hennessey after hearing testimony from Susan Carroll, state probation and parole officer. Carroll testified Clark Cassadys second felony DUI conviction was preceded by eight DUI offenses, adding that it was difficult to recommend a suspended sentence due to his seemingly inability to accept hes an alcoholic. Cassady, of Butte, pleaded guilty to felony DUI in September 2015 in a plea deal with prosecutors. Hennessey argued his client had not received a lot of treatment and placement in the Watch II program, a sentencing alternative for treating addiction, would provide much-needed treatment. In handing down his sentence, Krueger told Cassady he had a multitude of breaks spanning 30 years. I dont know why you havent worked harder, he said, chastising Cassady for a flagrant abuse of the system and no serious attempt to work on his alcohol problem. Krueger recommended Cassady be placed in the Watch II program and receive credit for 57 days in the county jail toward a $1,000 fine. A second offense, a misdemeanor traffic violation, was dismissed. In other action in Butte district court Thursday: Crystal Lee Falcon, 36, of Butte received a three-year suspended sentence for felony criminal possession of methamphetamine as part of a plea deal with county prosecutors, with 133 days credit for time served in the county jail. The state dismissed charges of felony criminal possession of Suboxone and misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia. Public Defender Walter Hennessey said Falcons time in jail was a sobering experience for her. She realizes she has to tow the mark. The sentence is to run concurrent to one handed down by Butte district Judge Brad Newman in November. Falcon was given three years with all but 90 days suspended for felony criminal possession of meth. The state dismissed a misdemeanor criminal possession of drug paraphernalia charge. East Middle School was placed on precautionary lockdown from 8:50 a.m. until about 9:28 a.m. Friday after four juveniles two males and two females brandished a BB gun off campus. Absolutely nobody was in danger, and everything is back to normal, said Superintendent Judy Jonart, who relayed the account given to her from School Resource Officer Kyle Barsness. Sheriff Ed Lester said police apprehended four juveniles, but there was no indication they planned to take the BB gun to school. Lester said an unidentified woman called at 7:59 a.m. to report the juveniles walking in the area of George Street and Porter Avenue, which intersect on the south side of campus. They looked suspicious because one of them carried a gun. Lester said he understood the callers concern, as the BB gun resembled a powerful rifle. "It should be noted that the BB gun was very realistic looking and was designed to look like a semi-automatic rifle," said Lester. At any rate, no criminal activity was reported. Jonart confirmed the Butte High Career Center and nearby Whittier Elementary School also were placed on precautionary lockdown at the same time as East to err on the side of caution. She said she didn't know the identities or ages of the individuals police apprehended. Larry Driscoll, East Middle School principal, said text alerts were sent to parents after the incident was over. Lester said the incident was handled properly and safely. "We appreciate help from the public in any incident like this," Lester added. "Even though the gun in question turned out to be a BB gun, we would rather be contacted so we can respond and determine whether or not a threat exists." HELENA A Montana ice cream maker said hes considering getting milk from Idaho instead of in-state dairies because of costs hed have to pay under proposed increased fees. Wilcoxson's Ice Cream President Matt Schaeffer said his company has never had to pay fees on milk it uses from within the state. Now theyre trying to tell us were going to charge $17,400 a year out of the blue, he said Thursday during a hearing in Helena. When that happened, it kind of woke me up a little bit and we started looking around. Each month dairies farms that produce raw milk are charged about 15 cents per hundred pounds of milk produced with a minimum charge of $50 and a maximum of $1,050. Under current rules, processors such as plants that make yogurt and cheese, are not charged. Neither are large plants. Under proposed rules that rate nearly doubles to 27 cents per hundred pounds of milk, and the minimum fee jumps to $225 a month and the maximum is $950. Processors would pay a minimum of $725 a month and a maximum of $2,850. The increase in fees is to make up for a projected shortfall in the Department of Livestock budget. Even with objections to the proposed fees from producers and processors, on Thursday the Economic Affairs Interim Committee of the Montana Legislature decided to lift its objections to the rule with the understanding that the Board of Livestock will change whats being proposed based on feedback it heard at town halls around the state. The vote was 6-2, with Rep. Vince Ricci, R-Laurel, and Sen. Gordon Vance, R-Belgrade, objecting. The board will have to hold public hearings on any changes it makes to the rule, giving dairies and the public the opportunity to comment on the next iteration. The board will also appear before the interim committee again. George Harris, administrator of the Department of Livestock, said the part of the department that tests milk and does inspections is facing a budget shortfall, partly because there are declining number of dairies in the state, meaning fewer people are paying inspection and testing fees. He said other factors are at play the lab has been understaffed and needs more employees but he didnt have exact numbers on what is causing the shortfall. John Scully, vice chair of the Board of Livestock, said that based on comments from dairy producers and processors, the department knows the numbers in the proposed rule will have to change, though hes not sure how. Weve asked folks to provide alternatives, he said, noting the board still needs to review all the comments it has received. Previously the Board of Milk Control was in charge of the fee and just charged producers. But in a cleanup of the language of state statutes a few years ago, a change gave that task to the Board of Livestock. The statute previously included the language that allows for assessing a fee on processors, though that hasn't happened in the past. Its just a whoops, Scully said. Producers and processors have opposed the rule. Schaeffer said Wilcoxsons is the last ice cream producer in the state and does $5 million a year in business. He said milk from Idaho already costs $4 less per hundred pounds than milk from Montana. Hes traveling to that state next week to talk to dairies there. He said if he starts getting his milk from Idaho, itll create a million-pound surplus in the state. Wilcoxson's makes ice cream at plants in Billings and Livingston and employs 25 people. I dont actually want to use out-of-state milk, but with this additional fee theyre trying to impose on it, its huge, he said. If my hand is forced I will look elsewhere and that includes moving production out of state. Several decades ago milk producers starting paying fees to help fund the lab that tests milk for bacteria and other problems and for inspections. Schaeffer said that money used to come from the states general fund and he feels thats where the funding should come from now. Doug Kamerman of Dairyland Farms near Manhattan said he would have gotten hit twice by the new fee, once at his 700-head dairy and again at the Dairygold co-op hes a part of. He said that testing is a public health and safety issue and should be paid for out of the general fund. Lark Gilmer, who owns Poor Orphan Creamery in Sheridan, makes sheeps milk cheese and buys milk from the dairy at the state prison to produce cows milk cheese during the off-season. The smallest producer in the state said the rule not only creates an economic issue, but a philosophical one. If you allow this rule with this fee increase to go through you will discourage people from actually going small and small actually employes a lot of people in the community. It also supports the community, she said. Kim Ashmore said she plans to put in a sheep dairy in Helena, but wont if new fees are too high. She said shes invested a lot of money and already has livestock but is holding off on building infrastructure. If this proposal goes through, we wont even open the doors, he said. Rep. Ricci said he objected to lifting the objection to the rule because he didnt see any harm leaving it in place. We have the word of Scully and the board that they will proceed with something different, he said. What are you out if you leave the objection on the table? Scully wasn't opposed to maintaining the objection. Administrative rules are filed with the Secretary of States office to be published, which is when they take effect. The last day this rule could be filed with the Secretary of State is June 27, with the rule being published July 8. Lifting the objection will allow this rule to be published by July without needed further approval from the committee. BOW, N.H. -- Marco Rubio is in an enviable position among mainstream Republican presidential candidates after his strong finish in Iowa. Yet the man is running scared. The young Floridian is stumping through New Hampshire as if he's campaigning to win the Cautious Caucus. He gives the same speech everywhere. The most tightly managed candidate in the race, he shuns risk and appears to live in mortal terror of mentioning the man who dominates the race. At a town hall event here in central New Hampshire on Wednesday morning, Rubio, as usual, didn't mention Donald Trump in his speech. But the first questioner, a businesswoman, practically begged the candidate to trash Trump, asking him to comment on Trump's "very definite views" of the disabled, including calling people "stupid" and attempting to remove disabled veterans from one of his properties. Rubio demurred, saying only that he had already called out "Donald" for his "distasteful" mocking of a disabled reporter at an event. He then dropped the Trump talk and moved on. Rival Chris Christie mocked Rubio on Tuesday as "the boy in the bubble" managed by his "handlers." This criticism apparently smoked Rubio out, because he took a few questions from reporters before his event in Laconia, N.H., on Wednesday afternoon. The first questioner noted that Rubio had poked other candidates, "but not Mr. Trump. Why?" "Donald hasn't really outlined any position on policies," Rubio reasoned. "So when the time comes and it's appropriate, we'll do so." "Why do you deliver the same speech wherever you go?" the second questioner asked. "'Cause it's my message," he said. "It's the reason I'm running for president." Rubio's determination not to be taken off of this bland message, or to engage Trump, may give the impression that he is above the fray. But it also can make him look weak and callow. While other candidates, particularly Jeb Bush, have denounced Trump's outrages, Rubio and allied groups have spent upward of $30 million on ads so far -- some of them targeting Bush, Christie and Ted Cruz, but none targeting Trump. Rubio has mentioned Trump a couple of times on Twitter. In debates, he has frequently deflected questions about the mogul. After the December debate, in which Rubio declined a chance to take on Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the country, Fox News asked Rubio why he hadn't gone after Trump. Rubio said he wasn't "going to spend a valuable 75 seconds on a debate stage talking about something that's never going to happen." Likewise, asked to comment on Trump's qualifications as a conservative, Rubio said that the billionaire is "running as someone who's a populist who's upset about the direction of this country, as am I, as are millions of Americans." On other occasions, Rubio declined to talk about Trump's mosque-closing ideas ("well, I think we need to target radicalism") and Trump's plan for mass deportation of illegal immigrants (both sides "have points to make here that are valid"). Asked back in September whether he would engage Trump, Rubio replied: "No, I'm ready to talk about who I am and why I'm running." It's not as if Trump returns the politeness. Ann Coulter, warming up a Trump crowd Tuesday night, called Rubio a "Cuban boy" who "wears high heels" and has "big ears." (Ever-cautious Rubio, ridiculed last month for wearing "booties" with thick heels, quickly retired the offending footwear.) Rubio's strong Iowa finish has brought new attention -- and overcapacity crowds -- in New Hampshire. But the would-be supporters are greeted by a robot. The closest Rubio gets to Trump in his stump speech is observing, as he did here in Bow, that "you have a right to be angry, but anger is not a plan. What exactly do you want to do?" Or, as he put it in Laconia a few hours later: "Anger is not a plan. Frustration is not a plan. You have a right to be frustrated. You have a right to be angry. ... But what exactly are you going to do about it?" Voters' questions, rather than spurring spontaneity, inspire more caution. Asked Wednesday what he'd do about the millions of illegal immigrants who otherwise haven't broken any law, Rubio said, "We'll figure something out." The logic behind Rubio's candidacy, recited in his speeches, is that, as he put it in Bow: "I give us the best chance to win, and if you don't believe me, ask a Democrat. They do not want to run against me." If he keeps playing the boy in the bubble, they may reconsider. Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank. (c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group The proposed Durfee Hills-Bullwhacker Exchange in Fergus County was dropped in January by the Bureau of Land Management. This ill-conceived land exchange was bad from Day 1. I am most familiar with the Bullwhacker part of flawed exchange. Montana's land access and big game resources would have been the losers. A former Montana rancher always allowed access across that road until a wealthy out-of-state landowner showed up. I traveled that road many times to hunt mule deer on public lands. The Missouri River Monument created in the last days of the Clinton Administration also closed 42 miles of public roads. I proposed that BLM construct -mile of alternative road around Wilks' property to existing BLM road and forget about the exchange. All BLM land exchanges have not benefited the public or the wildlife resource -- none. This is due to the BLM rigged appraisal system where dollar values are only on timber and livestock animal unit months - with no dollar values on land access or wildlife habitat. Public land is a giveaway and the landowner receives more public land acreage. The landowner like Wilks receives more land and for that, wildlife. BLM is actually promoting real estate fraud and I read where past BLM Director Mike Penfold sided with Wilks to give away our public land. Penfold directed the flawed system when he was Montana state director. Wealthy landowners want the public land to privatize wildlife and deny public access. Montana ranchers are good folks to work with and provide public hunting opportunities and we respect that. I was with BLM for 36 years as a wildlife biologist all in Montana and have more field experience than director Penfold. I am a strong proponent of multiple-use public land management -- it's the best system in place today. Now we see a similar situation unfolding in Malta with the American Prairie Reserve. That is a public land and wildlife grab and an effort to stop multiple-use. BLM would reclassify domestic hybrid bison as livestock to later be called wild free-roaming by the American Prairie Reserve -- that is false advertising to collect donations and is illegal. BLM would participate in an illegal activity. Refer to the Phillips County News recently about the protests to BLM. The American Prairie Reserve is also connected to the anti-hunting World Wildlife Fund with wealth to buy ranches. Multiple-use of our land is being threatened. -- Jack D. Jones, Butte More than two dozen Democrats from the Montana Legislature will gather at Fairmont Hot Springs this weekend to brainstorm priorities for the 2017 legislative session. They have said the meeting will be open to the public. Last month plans for the caucus retreat drew media scrutiny after Sen. Mary Sheehy Moe, D-Great Falls, urged party leaders to be cognizant of public notice requirements should enough legislators attend to trigger open government laws. Legislative leaders from both parties say a 2015 civil suit, which sought to ding Republicans for not providing public notice of a caucus meeting, has confused when such notice is required. The courts are a little unclear about the specifics, said House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter, D-Helena. So anytime we meet and theres a quorum we will follow not only the letter, but the spirit, of the law and make those public. Hunter said he plans to speak with Republican legislative leaders later this month about requesting an opinion from Attorney General Tim Fox to provide guidance on how to comply with the states legal and constitutional requirements for open government. House Majority Leader Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said he would have to hear the details to decide whether such a request had merit. The Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, a group that advocates for government transparency, disagrees with legislators that the 2015 case has changed anything. In 1995, 22 Montana news outlets filed suit to secure public access to legislative caucuses -- gatherings of each political party to set priorities and strategize -- citing a section of the Montana constitution that all legislative meetings are open to the public. The case concluded in 1998, with District Judge Thomas Honzel finding the public has a right to observe their discussions. Specifically, the public has the right to attend any meeting where enough legislators gather to constitute a quorum and the public must receive advance notice of all such meetings, although state statute does not provide specifics on how soon that must be done. Just before the 2015 session, Republican legislators gathered for a caucus meeting in the basement of a restaurant without notifying the public. The meeting was cut short when two reporters showed up to cover the gathering. Montana news media followed with a lawsuit seeking to hold the caucus in contempt of the 1998 ruling. District Judge Kathy Seeley dismissed the case in January 2015, saying that caucus meetings must be open to the public but that the 1998 ruling did not specifically require caucuses to provide advance notice. While many legislators say the dismissal has left them uncertain whether they must provide public notice of caucus meetings, Helena attorney Mike Meloy, who volunteers with the hotline, said a dismissal cannot be construed as a reversal of the 1998 ruling, so open government requirements have not changed. For that same reason, Meloy doubts Fox would weigh in on the matter even if asked by legislative leaders. It has long been the policy of the Attorney General not to entertain opinion requests of legal issues that have been resolved by a court, he said. While our Supreme Court has not yet weighed in on the issue, a district court has and determined that both in-session and out-of-session caucuses are subject to Montanas open meetings laws. Legislators could instead amend open government laws to be more explicit. Currently, the amount of public notice should increase with the relative significance of the decision to be made, according to a previous attorney general opinion. Some states set explicit deadlines, such as 5 days before the meeting. Both Hunter and Knudsen said amending the law would be difficult given the sensitivity of the subject and doubted any such measures would surface in the next session. Likewise, although both said having closed caucuses could be valuable in encouraging members to speak freely, neither expected any effort to amend the constitution to exclude legislative caucuses from open government requirements could succeed, noting that would require three-quarters of legislators to support it in order to pass. Its hard enough for us to get consensus on a budget bill, Knudsen said. Let alone a contentious issue like that. Greg Gianforte, Republican candidate for governor, wants somebody from industry running the state's Department of Environmental Quality. We have people running state agencies today who have never walked in the shoes of the people theyre trying to serve, he said in an interview this week. DEQ cant seem to say yes or no to permit applications. I dont think the answer to every application should be yes, but I do believe the DEQ should be able to say yes or no a lot quicker. Asked about DEQs commitment to remove the Parrot tailings in Butte, for example, as something that might not have happened if the agency were run by someone from industry, Gianforte said, In Butte, for a long time we didnt have enough environmental oversight. Its a continuum I think the pendulum has swung too far the other way. He added, DEQ just doesnt know how to issue a permit any more. Last Friday was the deadline for permitting the Montanore Mine near Libby. DEQ says it needs more time. Its been 11 years. Isnt that long enough? He also cited the Otter Creek mine situation as a prime example. The state took $86 million from Arch Coal to mine the coal deposits on state land. Then they never gave them a permit to dig the coal out of the ground. How is that fair? Environmental groups pushed back hard on Thursday. Jim Jensen, executive director of the Montana Environmental Information Center, said, First of all, Montana DEQ is a regulatory agency. It isnt the Montana Department of Commerce, the purpose of which is to promote industry. DEQs job is to regulate polluting industries to protect the public health and natural environment of Montana. He added, Putting an industry representative in charge of the regulatory agency would destroy the credibility of that agency. The result, of which Mr. Gianforte is yet to be informed, would be that EPA would simply take away Montanas primacy The state is delegated to have clean air and water programs within the requirements of federal law. EPA would then be in charge rather than the state. Regarding the Otter Creek project, Jensen said, All that Arch Coal bought was the right to apply for a permit to mine those coal reserves. They didnt buy a permit they bought a right to apply for a permit. If they could comply with Montana law and federal law they could get a permit. Instead, what the company has done is ask DEQ and the governor to change water quality standards in the Tongue River and Otter Creek. The EPA recently stepped in and said, The standards you are proposing are not legal under federal law. Nick Gevock, conservation director for the Montana Wildlife Federation, said Thursday, Government has a regulatory role, and theres just a fundamental conflict with people from industry regulating the industry they came from. Its been shown time and time again particularly with the environment. Its just a bad idea. But Chuck Denowh, spokesman for the organization Count on Coal Montana, said Friday, "If we want our economy to grow and prosper, then we need consistency and predictability in our regulatory agencies. It's a real problem when the agency that that's supposed to fairly administer our air and water standards is led by individuals with backgrounds in environmental politics. We have some of the toughest environmental protection standards in the country, and industry is ready and able to meet those standards. It's the DEQ director's job to enforce those regulations, not pick and choose who should get to try. When that happens, all Montanans suffer from a smaller economy and fewer job opportunities." The Legislature has previously considered bills to mandate a quicker turnaround time for permitting although the Montana time frames are quicker than many states. But the legislative efforts have failed after both industry and state representatives warned that permits that are rushed through are much more vulnerable to lawsuit and ultimately revocation. Karen Knudsen, executive director of the Clark Fork Coalition, said Thursday, that a call for someone from industry to run the agency sets off a few alarm bells, for sure. As Montanans know, industry has often occurred at the expense of nature, leaving toxic messes behind for taxpayers to clean up. That said, it really doesnt matter what sector DEQs director comes from. What matters is that he or she leads DEQ responsibly, with an eye toward a sustainable future, and in a way that upholds our constitutional right to a clean and healthful environment. Regarding the Montanore Mine, a DEQ spokesperson said the agency will soon publish its record of decision, which would include permitting for the mine expansion. DEQ and Kootenai National Forest are co-lead agencies on the current EIS, the spokesperson said. The Environmental Protection Agency, Bonneville Power Administration, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are among the agencies that have permitting authority ... DEQ entered into this combined process at the companys request. DEQ is deferring to the federal process, which dictates the overall timeframes. Regarding Otter Creek, the agency said, We are waiting on deficiency responses from (from Arch Creek Coal) on the coal permit and their surface water discharge permit. (They have a draft air quality permit.) Until we receive those responses from the company we cannot move forward. If we receive those deficiency responses, we cant stop processing their permit simply because they are in bankruptcy. However, we will not be able to move forward on the EIS until their bill is brought current and we have assurances from them that they will be able to pay for future EIS work. They will have to pay all permit fees and will be required to post a bond before they can receive their final permit. We have met all our statutory deadlines. The company has no deadlines associated with their submittals. It might be a convenient political line to take, to say were going to put industry in charge of Montana, MEICs Jensen said. One of the reasons it wont work is weve already lived that nightmare when industry really did run Montana. When the Anaconda Copper Company, Montana Power and others controlled the Legislature, the Governor, the Supreme Court and the Public Service Commission. In large part, because of that, we have the 1972 Constitution. If you want to see how it works when industry is in control, look at Libby. As far back as the 50s the state knew the dust from the mine was toxic, but they had a confidentiality agreement with the industry and their inspection reports were kept secret. No one, myself foremost, is suggesting we get rid of every regulation, Gianforte said. Lets bring competency, common sense and balance to ensure a clean environment and make sure we dont extinguish livelihoods in pursuit of that. We need more high-wage jobs. HELENA Matt Rosendale, a Republican from Glendive, is running to be Montana's state auditor. Rosendale, the state Senate majority leader, announced his campaign in a press release Friday. Party leaders have been encouraging me for the last two months to consider running and serving in this position. After careful consideration and much prayer, my wife and I agree Montana needs someone who will look out for the folks, I believe I am that guy, Rosendale said. On Thursday, Democrat Jesse Laslovich filed Thursday to run for the position. Laslovich, of Helena, has worked for the past five years as chief counsel for current state Auditor Monica Lindeen, who is term-limited and can't run again. Rosendale on Friday said he hasnt been able to reach former Rep. Champ Edmunds, a fellow Republican who said last April he will run for auditor, to discuss the race. Rosendale said part of the reason hes running is to bring more health insurance options to Montanans. Its too limited, he said. We need to drive down the costs and increase the access. A lot of people having insurance doesnt translate to good access. Just because you have a stamp saying you have insurance doesnt mean you have health care. He criticized Laslovichs support of Obamacare and cited that as one of the reasons hes running Rosendale also said he wants the auditor job because the auditor is one of five voting members on the state Land Board. Ive got extensive background in rural state management, he said. I feel that I would be a tremendous asset. Rosendale is a rancher and real estate developer from Glendive. He and his wife Jean have been married for 30 years and have three sons, Matthew Jr., Brien and Adam. He ran for U.S. House in 2014, losing to Ryan Zinke in the primary. The only other person who has announced plans to run for the job is Edmunds, of Missoula. Edmunds hasn't filed with the Secretary of State's office but has filed campaign finance reports with the Commissioner of Political Practices that show he's raised very little money. Rosendale has not yet filed a finance report. From Oct. 1 to Dec. 31, Edmunds reported just one donation of $40. He spent $615.47, leaving $386.42 in the bank. He had $961.89 in his general election campaign fund at the start of that reporting period. During the same period, Laslovich raised $16,789.32. He spent $4,839.68 and left $12,3833.30 in the bank. A message on Edmunds' business phone said he was on an extended leave and left a cell-phone number to call. A message on that cell phone said it wasn't accepting calls. The deadline for filing is March 14. Chairman of the Montana Republican Party Jeff Essmann released the following statement on Rosendales announcement: Im really excited and proud of Matt for deciding to run for State Auditor. Hes a trusted and true conservative and is a strong candidate for this office. While Jesse Laslovich has lobbied to impose Obamacare on Montana families, Matt can be counted on to put the interests of Montana families first and is committed to bettering their lives. Matt is someone Montanans can always count on to be on their side. iStock/Thinkstock(SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador) -- A former military official from El Salvador accused of involvement in the terrorist murders of six Jesuit priests and two others will be sent from the United States to Spain to stand trial for his alleged war crimes, after a historic ruling Friday by a federal judge in North Carolina. As the former El Salvadoran Vice Minister of Public Security, in 1989 Col. Orlando Montano Morales allegedly plotted along with 19 other military officials the massacre of the priests at a Jesuit university in El Salvador, as well as a housekeeper and her teenage daughter who happened to be there. Spanish officials, along with the U.S.-based nonprofit Center for Justice and Accountability, want to hold Montano held accountable because five of the six Jesuit priests were Spanish. For more than a decade and a half, Montano evaded justice by hiding in plain sight in the Boston area and working at a local candy factory. Officials said Montano was eventually arrested by Homeland Security Investigations agents in 2012 and served 21 months for lying to immigration officials in order to obtain protected status in the U.S. -- he had originally claimed he never served in the El Salvadoran military. A U.S. official said that Montano was nabbed as he was trying to return to El Salvador where amnesty laws could have protected him from Spanish courts. He was scheduled to be released last April, but was held in North Carolina until a ruling on his extradition could be made. The former Colonel would be the first military official extradited to Spain to face the charges related to the massacre. Local amnesty laws have shielded the 19 other defendants accused alongside him, a U.S. official said. According to court records, the Jesuits were targeted because of their support of leftist guerilla group FMLN during a bloody internecine war. In 1989 peace negotiations between El Salvador and the rebels had begun with a Jesuit priest named Father Ignacio Ellacuria acting as an intermediary. Ellacuria then became a target for the Salvadoran government in a crime that Spanish officials said Montano helped orchestrate. The day before the murders, Montano Morales also allegedly participated in a series of meetings during which one of his fellow officers gave the order to kill the leader of the Jesuits and leave no witnesses, as the Department of Justice described the conspiracy in 2015. The other seven people killed that morning, it appears, were collateral damage for the purported assassination. Montano is also accused of allegedly threatening the wife of a witness to the slaughter, Do not repeat that again. Remember that this is a time of war and in such time anything can happen to anyone, including you, according to court records. It's unclear when he will be removed from the United States. Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Civil #: 16-000080 Special Execution Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC VS. Rhonda Allen And Justin Allen ET AL As a result of the judgment rendered in the above referenced court case, an execution was issued by the court to the Sheriff of this county. The execution ordered the sale of defendant(s) Real Estate Described Below. To satisfy the judgment. The property to be sold is Lot eighty-eight (88) of Island View Addition to the City of Muscatine, Iowa, according to the Auditor's Plat thereof, situated in Muscatine County, State of Iowa. Property Address: 1603 Hershey Ave., Muscatine, IA 52761 The described property will be offered for sale at public auction for cash only as follows: Sale Date: 03/15/2016 Sale Time: 9:30 am Place of Sale: Muscatine County Jail Lobby, 400 Walnut Street, Muscatine Homestead: Defendant is advised that if the described real estate includes the homestead (which must not exceed 1/2 Acre if within a city or town plat, or, if rural, must not exceed 40 Acres), defendant must file a homestead plat with the Sheriff within ten (10) days after service of this notice, or the Sheriff will have it platted and charge the costs to this case. This sale not subject to redemption. Property exemption: Certain money or property may be exempt. Contact your attorney promptly to review specific provisions of the law and file appropriate notice, if applicable. Judgment Amount: $67,520.88 Costs: $6,610.55 Accruing Costs: Plus Interest: $5,799.40 Sheriffs Fees: Pending Date: 02/01/2016 Attorney: Emily Bartekoske 1245 Jordan Creek Pkwy Ste 120 West Des Moines, IA 50266 (515)223-7325 C.J. Ryan Muscatine County Sheriff Melissa Hurlbut Civil Deputy MUSCATINE, Iowa The Muscatine County Compensation Board recommended pay raises of 3 and 3.5 percent for the county's 10 elected officials Thursday. Board members Eric Vela, Gary Allison, Dave Watkins, Tom Spread and Steve Kundel met Thursday afternoon in the supervisor's meeting room at the Muscatine County Administration Building. The board recommended pay hikes of 3 percent for the County Attorney, County Auditor, County Treasurer, County Recorder and the five members of the Muscatine County Board of Supervisors. A pay raise of 3.5 percent was recommended for the Muscatine County Sheriff. Those were the same pay raises recommended by the compensation board last year. The recommendations are sent to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Under the Iowa Code, the board can accept the recommendations as presented or lower them all by the same percentage. Except, supervisors have the power to cut their own pay increase to zero if they choose to do so. The supervisors received no pay increase last year. This year, each supervisor is paid $25,913. Board members last received a 2.75 percent pay raise in 2014-2015 fiscal year. Kas Kelly, Scott Sauer, Matt Bonebrake, Bob Howard and Jeff Sorensen are members of the Board of Supervisors. Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren is paid $120,020. He received a 3 percent pay raise last year. The County Auditor Leslie Soule, County Recorder Sarah Hearst and County Treasurer Amy Zybarth are each paid the same $64,376 annual salary. They each received a 3 percent pay raise last year. Muscatine County Sheriff C.J. Ryan was granted a 3.5 percent pay raise in 2015-2016. He is paid $90,367. Compensation board members agreed to a higher increase for Ryan because of the nature of his position which includes running the Muscatine County Jail which has a capacity of 254 prisoners. The salary increases also affect the pay of deputies in each county office since their wages are based on a percentage of what the elected official is paid. MUSCATINE, Iowa The Muscatine City Council heard from outside agencies requesting funds during a budget work session prior to its regular business meeting Thursday evening. Senior Resources Senior Resources Director Todd Poci pushed for being allocated the full $30,000 in his request, noting the effect his organization has on the city's residents. He requested $30,000 from the city last year but was funded $20,000. He noted that in the 2014-15 fiscal year, Senior Resources served 1,118 people. Senior Resources offers daytime activities, home repair services, meals on wheels and Medicare assistance among other activities. He said while the program serves all people ages 60 and older of both genders and many socioeconomic background, "the face" or most common and average individual utilizing Senior Resources is a 74-year-old woman who lives alone with an annual income of $18,239. Poci touted the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, which has trained counselors to review health care coverage for seniors. That program, known as SHIIP, saves people an average of $1,000, but Poci has seen it save someone up to $10,000. He also noted Senior Resources proactive approach to sustaining services with its third annual barbecue contest fundraiser. It is now a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned event, which Poci expects to draw judges and competitors from out of state. MCSA Muscatine Center for Social Action asked for a $25,000 allocation. Last year was the first time the city helped fund the organization. MCSA was asking for the funds only for the homeless prevention program. Charla Schafer, MCSA director, explained the history and economic impact of the program. MCSA makes contact with clients in jeopardy of losing their Section 8 status and helps them try to maintain it, find other resources to help and improve income to "bring people back to continued stability in their home." Last year, MCSA worked with 205 new households, 93 of those already on Section 8, and a total of 346 households including returning clients. That affected 1,073 total people, including 600 children. She said that the city would lose federal funding if those Section 8 vouchers are lost and homeless population puts a strain on emergency services. "This is an investment," added Travis Sheets, MCSA board of directors member. Chamber of Commerce The Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce and Industry is requesting $38,000. Of that, $3,000 is to specifically support international visitors to the community. It came under question whether that should be specifically for the Sister Cities program. Greg Jenkins, chamber president and CEO, explained that it could be used for some Sister City Committee activities, but it is not exclusively for that purpose. Jenkins also took the opportunity to explain the chamber's role. He said one object is to support existing businesses and industry as that's where 80 percent of economic growth is expected to come from. The other 20 percent is from recruiting new business. Local growth, Jenkins pointed out, has come from Monsanto and Union Tank Car expansions both projects the chamber worked with the companies to help find incentives to do so. He noted that the partnerships with the Quad-City Chamber of Commerce and Iowa Economic Development Authority help provide leads for new industry looking for places to relocate or expand. He said Muscatine responded to 16 requests for proposals in the past year. CVB The Convention and Visitor's Bureau has traditionally received 25 percent of the collected hotel/motel taxes. Ky Cochran, director, outlined some of the recent changes like making the CVB an entity of the city and future plans like better marketing. Important stuff you won't get from the liberal media! We do the surfing so you can be informed AND have a life! Les emplois a Rennes sont abondants et varies. Il y a quelque chose pour tout le monde. Que vous soyez a la recherche dun emploi [] Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes [] This blog consists short descriptions in English and Bulgarian and more digital photos of our treveling in many countries in all 5 continents we have been last 35years, including many states in USA, where we live now. . After last years Sh2.4 million Valentines package, Kempinski returns with another bigger one. . Dubbed 50 Shades of Valentine, it will cost Sh5.4 million. . Couple gets 50 hours of romantic activity . Presidential suite, chopper ride to the Mara part of the itinerary . Couple to get Jewellery worth Sh1.4 million Another Valentines day, another mega package from everyones favourite hotel Villa Rosa Kempinski. In a press statement yesterday, the hotel announced what its calling 50 Shades of Valentine. The Sh5.4 million package will involve taking a couple through a 50 hour intimate and romantic journey built around an ultimate luxury experience. The journey begins on Saturday 13th February when the hotel will pick the couple from their resident with a convoy of limousines, accompanied by a butler, a lady-in-red and security for close protection. The red carpet walk way, free flow of vintage champagne and a 2 nights stay at the presidential suite sets the pace for the couple. reads the statement. On 14th, the day will start with breakfast by the terrace of their Presidential Suite, and thereafter theyll hop into a chopper for a sky excursion of Nairobi city before being flown to Masai Mara for a sky safari. At around 1pm the same day, the couple is expected to arrive at the world famous Olare Mara Kempinski at the Mara. Two Thai masseuses will be flown in from Villa Rosa Kempinski to take them through a romantic spa session with a Maesa lanciolata, honey and chocolate massage on the sundeck of Olare Mara Kempinskis Honeymoon Tent just by the plunge pool overlooking the vast savannah dotted with wildlife. The couple will be given some time to relax and have a bubble bath before a game drive en route to an exclusive sundowner cocktail set up for them in the middle of the park. After this remarkable experience the couple takes their chopper back to the city to culminate the intimate experience, plus intimate sundowner cocktail. continues the statement. The hotels award winning chef, Ciaran Gantly has apparently come up with a brand new menu for this experience, and it will never be replicated in the hotel, ever. The 6 course menu has taken the chef 6 weeks to craft and source ingredients from all over the world. The culinary odyssey awaiting the two special guests includes asparagus veloute with truffle mascarpone and parmesan crisp. There will also be grilled fillet of turbot with cucumber ribbons, oyster butter sauce and honeyed duck breast with dried cherries which will be washed down with a bottle of Penfolds Grange, one of the finest wines in the world. the statement continues. At this point they lost me. The couple will enjoy this dining experience at Kempinski rooftop overlooking Nairobi skyline. At their beck and call will be the executive chef, 2 waitresses and their butler. The cherry on top of the cake will be handpicked exclusive custom-made set of diamond jewellery for the lady and white diamond cuff links for the gentleman sourced from Italy. These plus other custom made gifts for the couple are valued at Sh1.4 million. The whole experience will set you back Sh5.4 million only. This is a Sh3 million increment from last years ultimate package dubbed A Night of Diamonds which went for Sh2.34 million. The hotel confirmed last year that they had multiple inquries, pointing to high demand. Former KTN reporter Cynthia Nyamai eventually made the reservation and after some rumours on social media, she confirmed. So the cats out of the bag!!!! Perfect Valentines day gift for my man, @VillaRosaKempin Presidential Suite. #Anightofdiamonds I took up this offer for bae because men go through so much pressure in life, so this year I decided to treat my man and let him know he can sit back cause I got this baby!!!Though I will have to postpone the celebrations because Im on the campaign trail in Nigeria, but I thank God for the gift of love. And a man who has shown me the true meaning of love just like in the Bible ICor 13:4-8. I thank God for you and I celebrate you everyday! Well keep tabs on who might take up the offer this year. Valentines Day is just a corner around and everyone in love right now is burning with desire to express how deep rooted their affection is towards their partner when the day dawns. Come the much awaited lovers day, a hotel in Kisumu town will be charging customers half a million for for two nights. According to Acacia Premier Hotels advertising fliers, the above quoted price will entail a helicopter ride across Lake Victoria then a lunch on an undisclosed picturesque island that will be prepared by a chef of ones choice. The second day will include a yacht ride on Lake Victoria summed up with a romantic candle-lit dinner. Another hotel in Nyeri known as Giraffe Ark Game Lodge will be charging 1.2 million shillings for a Valentines Day weekend getaway for couples. Aye! In case you have money to blow on this day now you know where to waste it at. Heres an inside look at the luxurious Kisumu hotel. DEAR READERS: If you are holding down a second job, data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows you're not alone. According to that data, more than 8% of workers have multiple jobs, and the majority of them hold two jobs for the entire year. The question isn't really "Should I have a second job?" but "Should I tell my boss that I'm working on the side?" BEVERLY HILLS A Beverly Hills-based beauty school says its closing all 56 of its campuses in five states after losing federal funding over allegations of misconduct. Marinello Schools of Beauty has been in business for over a century. It shut facilities this week in California, Nevada, Utah, Kansas and Connecticut. No one answered the telephone at the Napa campus Friday afternoon. School officials told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that about 5,000 students and employees will receive transcripts and information about transfers next week. The federal Department of Education announced this week that its stopping student financial aid programs at some two dozen campuses. The agency alleges Marinello knowingly sought aid for students based on invalid high school diplomas, under-awarded some aid and charged students for excessive overtime. Marinello spokesman Joe Hixon discounts the allegations and says they were based on flawed information. Dear Len and Rosie, My mother was widowed last July and is named as executor in my fathers will. They owned together a community property account with a brokerage firm, which requires a certified court appointment indicating my mothers authority to act on behalf of the estate. This, plus other documents, will split the account into her account and an estate account, which can then be transferred back to her account. This seems like a lot of work to simply remove a name on an account. Sandy Dear Sandy, The reason why its not so easy to remove your fathers name from the brokerage account lies in the manner in which the account was titled. Assets titled in community property do not automatically pass to the surviving spouse like assets titled in joint tenancy or as community property with right of survivorship. Your fathers half of this account belongs to his probate estate and must pass under the terms of his will. There are three means of getting your fathers name off of the account. If your fathers estate is worth less than $150,000, then your mother, assuming he left everything to her, can collect the account with a small estate declaration under California Probate Code section 13101. Assets in joint tenancy or with pay on death beneficiaries or in a trust dont count against the $150,000. Nor do vehicles registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. If your fathers estate is worth more than $150,000 and he left everything to your mother in his will, then your mother can petition the court for a Spousal Property Order. This will require a court petition and a hearing, but a spousal property order is easier, cheaper, and faster than going through probate. She could get the account in her name as quickly as a month after her first visit to the lawyer. If your fathers will left his estate to someone other than your mother, and the estate is worth more than $100,000, then your mother, as the executor named in the will, should petition the court to probate her husbands estate. She will have access to the money once she is appointed as executor and is granted Letters Testamentary by the judge, but she wont be able to distribute the account to your fathers heirs until probate is closed, which takes on average nine to 15 months after the probate petition to administer the estate is filed with the court. Your parents could have avoided the difficulties your mother is having today by getting the proper legal advice. They could have created a revocable trust that would avoid having to go to court on the second death as well as the first, or they could have simply titled their accounts as joint tenants or as community property with right of survivorship. When your mother meets with a trusts and estates attorney to take care of her husbands estate, she should also take the time to create an estate plan to save her children time and money after her death. Len and Rosie ARBOR ALLIANCE Join us Sundays at 5 p.m. Child care will be available. We share the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church at 721 Trancas St., Napa. Come get acquainted and be refreshed. Info, thearborchurch.org, 530-304-4704. BEIT ABBA Messianic Jewish ministry of The Fathers House is held the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m. Child care provided for ages infant to 7 years old. Join us Feb. 5 for a Shabbat service at our Vacaville Campus with special guest Rabbi Jonathan Bernis. Join us Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Napa Campus, for our mid-month Havurah: Our Hebrew Legacy, Rediscovering Our Covenant Roots. The Fathers House, 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa. Info, tfh.org/beitabba. CARMELITE MONASTERY Mass times: Sunday, 9 a.m.; Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. (except for the first Saturday of the month, Mass will be at 11 a.m.). Morning of recollection every first Saturday of the month: Spiritual Talk, 9-10 a.m.; Confessions, 10-11 a.m.; Mass, 11 a.m. Bible study, on Tuesdays with Father Michael Buckley: Tuesdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. following the 8 a.m. Mass (Contact the office to confirm time and day at 944-2454, ext. 103). Confessions-English: Monday, Wednesday, Friday; 10 a.m.-noon, 3-5 p.m., 8-9 p.m. Confessions-Spanish: Wednesday, 10 a.m.-noon., 3-5 p.m., 8-9 p.m. 20 Mount Carmel Drive, 0.9 miles west of Highway 29, off the Oakville Grade; Info, 944-2454; oakvillecarmelites.org. CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING Services are 9 and 10:30 a.m. with youth program at 10:30 and Teen Group at noon. Rev Jay Langs topic will be Discover Your Voice. Rev. Julie Schmidts installation this Sunday at 12:15 p.m. Mandala workshop Awakening Your Joy Saturday, Feb. 6, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (pre-registration required) Course in Miracles on Tuesday from 6:15-8:15 p.m. Open Meditation on Wednesday from 6:30-7 p.m. followed by Life Talks, 7:15 at 1249 Coombs. Info, 252-4847. CHRISTIAN & MISSIONARY ALLIANCE CHURCH Adult Sunday School class begins at 9:30 a.m., (coffee available) in the fellowship hall. Morning worship for the whole family starts at 10:45 a.m. and our congregation sings mainly from traditional hymnals. Located at 721 Trancas St., Napa. Info, 224-6717. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH Sunday service and Sunday school for youths up to age 20 at 10 a.m. The Wednesday evening service is at 7:30. Child care provided at all services. New hours for the Reading Room, located in our church building,: open to the public weekdays except Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m. All current Christian Science literature, including the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the renowned Christian Science Monitor are available to all to read or purchase; 2210 Second St., Napa. Info, 255-5255. CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, NAPA SECOND WARD Sacrament meeting is Sunday at 9 a.m. Young mens and young womens programs are on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Twelve-step addiction program is on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at 2590 Trower Ave., Napa. Info, 758-8085. COMMUNITY CHURCH OF LAKE BERRYESSA This Sunday at the Community Church of Lake Berryessa, Pastor Bob will continue in a series on the Books of the Bible. We will begin looking at the Book of Exodus. Join us as we look at Gods word and find its meaning in our life today. We are a non-denominational Christian church welcoming all to enjoy the life changing power of Jesus Christ. A weekly food distribution is available along with groups and activities. Address is 6008 Steele Canyon Road at Moskowite Corners. Info, 252-4488. CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM Located at 1455 Elm St., Napa. Info, cbsnapa.org. CORNERSTONE MINISTRIES Sunday service at Cornerstone Ministries is at 10:15 a.m. Our Spanish Church begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday school and childcare is available. Middle School and High School Study is on Wednesday nights at 6:30. On Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at 3305 Vista Ave. Freedom From Bondage meets. Info, cmnv.org, 252-2909. COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1226 Salvador Avenue, Napa, invites you to worship at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 7. The Rev. Dr. Deana Reed will be preaching; the liturgist will be Robin Lockhart. Share the Lords Supper. The Covenant Choir, under the direction of Mark Teeters, will sing Here at Thy Table, Lord, composed by Lani Smith. Children and youth will remain in worship to participate in communion. Weekly Sunday School class will resume on Feb. 14. For more information about Covenant: 155-9426; www.cpcnapa.org; or, facebook.com/cpcnapa. CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH Weekly worship service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Services and attire are casual with a blend of fellowship, music and teaching. Child care and childrens church offered during service. At 1050 Hagen Road, Napa. Info, CreeksideChurchNapa.org; 255-7266. CROSSWALK COMMUNITY CHURCH Join us at CrossWalk Community Church for our series on Making Sense of the Bible. Services at 9 and at 10 a.m. with Childrens programs available during the 10 a.m. service. CrossWalk also has CrossWalk Food Pantry offering fresh produce and providing grocery bags with several meals once a month at 2590 First St. Info, 226-1812. FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH First Christian Church of Napa welcomes you to attend our service this Sunday. At 8:45 and 10:30 a.m., guest worship leader and speaker Brian Doerksen will share in story and song; we hope you will join us for this special morning. Street address: 2659 First St., Napa. Church website: fccnapa.org. Swerve Student Ministry: Middle SchoolWednesday 7-8:30 p.m., High SchoolThursday 6:30-8:30 p.m. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Hour of Darkness, from The Story, is the study Pastor David will lead us through this Sunday. Please join us in the gym at 9 a.m. for worship, with choir music; the second service with a variety of music, with guitars, is at 10:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9 a.m. for Youth, 10:30 for elementary-school age children. Newborn through kindergarten-age childcare at both services. The Coffee Meet-and-Greet is at 10 a.m. We will have an Ash Wednesday service on Feb. 10, starting at 7 p.m., church supper is at 6 p.m. 1333 Third St., Napa; 224-8693 or fpcnapa.org. GRACE CHURCH OF NAPA VALLEY Sunday services: Worship service at 9 and 10:40 a.m. Adult Sunday school classes at 9 a.m. Childrens service at 9 and 10:40 a.m. Nursery and preschool care available. Junior high ministry meets Tuesday, 7 p.m.; high school meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. 3765 Solano Ave., Napa. Info, 255-4033, GraceNapa.org. HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH We meet at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 6:30 p.m. at 100 Anderson Road, Napa. Info, 255-3036. HOLY GROUND CHRISTIAN CENTER Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m., and Bible study is Wednesday at 7 p.m. 3860 Broadway, Suite 111, American Canyon. Info, 373-2015. MEMORIAL CHAPEL AT VETERANS HOME OF CALIFORNIA, YOUNTVILLE Sunday worship service, 10:15 a.m. Coffee fellowship one hour before the service. Bible study on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Fellowship Room, with refreshments served; prayer meetings Thursday, 1 p.m. The memorial chapel is on the Veterans Home Yountville campus on California Drive, across from the administration building. Info, 944-4840. NAPA COMMUNITY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Saturday, 11:15 a.m. service. 1105 G St., Napa. Education Day with Napa Christian Campus of Education. The sermon will be Famous Last Words: In My Fathers House, by Pastor Marvin Wray. Info, 252-2444. NAPA METHODIST CHURCH Napa Methodist Church holds two Sunday morning services: a 9:30 a.m. Traditional service held in the sanctuary and an 11 a.m. Fusion Worship service held in the Asbury Room. This Sunday we invite you to hear Pastor Lee Neish preach the message: The Power of Prayer at our 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary service. At our 11 a.m. Fusion Worship service, we invite you to hear Austin Eikenberry and Keith Calara preach the message The New Covenant to finish our continuing series: Covenants. GRAPE Express Childrens Worship and Nursery are available during both services. Childrens Carol Choir meets Sundays at 10:30 a.m., between our two Sunday services. Ash Wednesday Service with liturgy, music and the imposition of ashes 7 p.m. on February 10th in the Sanctuary. 625 Randolph Street. Info, napamethodist.org or 253-1411. NAPA-SONOMA FRIENDS MEETING (QUAKERS) Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Silent meeting in the custom of Friends. Meet at the VOICES Youth Center, 780 Lincoln Ave. Enter at parking lot on left side of building, using door at end of wheelchair ramp. Quaker signs will be posted on Sunday mornings. We welcome visiting friends or those who are new to Quaker practice. Info, nvquaker@napanet.net; 257-0509. NAPA VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Bible study for all ages at 9:30 a.m. Worship service, along with a kids program, begins at 10:30 a.m. Info, NapaValleyBaptist.org; 252-2100. NAPA VALLEY BIBLE CHAPEL Norman Reece, one of our elders, will begin a new series on the book of Colossians in the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, Feb. 7. We start Sunday services by remembering the Lords death, burial and resurrection during a time of worship and thanksgiving at 9:30 a.m., followed by a fellowship and coffee time starting at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., we enjoy a time of Bible teaching. Classes are available during this service for children. On Wednesdays at 6 p.m., we meet for a brief Bible study and a time of prayer. 1559 Second St., Napa. Info, napavalleybiblechapel.com or 258-8606. NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH Is church attendance necessary for the believer? Some say yes, and some say I can be a believer of Jesus Christ and not go to church. This Sunday, the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippian church addresses the critical nature of the Church Family. You might want to join us for this very important study of Gods Word. Service at 10 a.m., also Sunday School for children. napavalleychurch.org. NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Fellowship time follows. All are welcome because all belong to God. The church is at 1796 Elm St., Napa. Info, 226-8166, napavalleylutheran.org. NAPA VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS Sunday, Feb. 7. 9:30 a.m.: My God with Rev. Bonnie Dlott; presentation and informal discussion. 11 a.m.: My God with Rev. Bonnie Dlott and Worship Associate Bonnie Richardson. Unitarian Universalists who have training in the sciences are often attracted to Process Theology, because it defines God in a way that appeals to reason and embraces humanist values while affirming experiences of wonder and reverence. Today, Rev. Bonnie will be presenting a sermon by the Rev. Christine Robinson, in which she describes her own journey from humanism to theism and shares her understanding of Process Theology. Infant care, child care, and religious education provided. 1625 Salvador Ave., Napa; Info, nvuu.org, 226-9220. NEW LIFE TABERNACLE Sunday school at 10 a.m., followed by worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday evening service the first Sunday of every month. Bible study on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at 2625 First St., Napa. Info, 255-1062; NewLifeNapa.com. ST. APOLLINARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH St. Apollinaris Lenten Morning Retreat Saturday, Feb. 13. Join retreat master Brother Richard Moratto for his reflections on Jesus The Path to Mercy, preparation for our Lenten journey. Begins with 8:45 a.m. Mass, 9:30 reflections and prayer, ending with a simple lunch. St. Apollinaris Catholic Church, 3700 Lassen St. Napa, 257-2555. Free will offering. ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday, 8:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Childrens Church during the 10:15 a.m. service. 3521 Linda Vista Ave., Napa. Info, 255-0119; StJohnsLutheran.net. ST. MARYS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Worship on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. or Sundays at 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. (organ and choir). Childrens Chapel (Sunday school) is at 9:50 a.m. Sunday. Nursery care is provided during the 10 a.m. service. Coffee hour follows the worship services on Sunday. 1917 Third St., Napa. Info, 255-0991; StMarysNapa.org. ST. STEPHENS ANGLICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH We hope you all will come and worship with us at 1250 Oakville Grade Road, Oakville. Info, 953-9369. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH Mass times are Saturday 4 p.m. (English), Sunday 8 a.m. (English), 11 a.m. (English) and 1:30 p.m. (Spanish). Daily mass is 9 a.m. except on the first Friday, which is at noon and in English. 2725 Elm St, Napa. Info, 255-2949. SALVATION ARMY Join us for services Sundays at 10 a.m. 590 Franklin St., Napa. Info, napasalarmy.org. THE FATHERS HOUSE New service times are Saturday night, 6 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Child care and Kids Church are available (ages infant through sixth grade). Youth ministry Encounter meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Fathers House, 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa. Info, tfh.org. UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER IN NAPA VALLEY Sunday, 10 a.m. Service. Join us as we celebrate Unity and spiritual growth. Temporary Spiritual Leader Juanita Hoover, LUT delivers this Sundays Message entitled Always Loving. Music for our Service selected and performed by Lon Eakes. 11:40 a.m. Forum. Prayer Chaplain Emeritus Sally Harper will facilitate our Sunday Forum topic: Impressions about a New Spiritual Leader / Minister Part 1. The follow-up to this forum will occur on Sunday, Feb. 28, facilitated by Board of Trustees President Dr. Suzanne James. Sunday Service held at the historic Grange Hall, 3275 Hagen Road (1/2 mile east of the Silverado Trail), Napa. Parking next to the building. Information: UnityinNapaValley.org, 255-6881. YOUNTVILLE COMMUNITY CHURCH Sunday, Feb. 7, Contemporary Worship, 9:30 a.m. and Traditional Worship, 11 a.m. Pastor Bart Pense continues with the series looking into the book of Revelation entitled: God Wins! Sing the Song of the Lamb. An Adult Bible Class, 9:30 a.m. in the Callison Ministry Center, Room 3. Childrens classes, 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Jesus and Me. (birth-kindergarten), and first-fifth grades are offered. Vertical Student Ministry 11 a.m.; fifth-eighth grades and high school students. Church office hours, Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; 6619 Yount St., Yountville, 944-2179. Pastors and church staffneed to update your listing, or add your church? Please contact Register Editor Sean Scully at 256-2246 or sscully@napanews.com. Weekly deadline is Wednesdays by 5 p.m. The 22nd Unified Wine & Grape Symposium held last week in Sacramento attracted a record 13,800 attendees, who visited the 650 exhibitors packed into every corner of the Sacramento Convention Center and heard seminars on grape-growing, winemaking, marketing and business. The show has been presented since 1994 by two nonprofit organizations, the American Society for Enology and Viticulture (ASEV) and the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG). More than 400 people paid to hear the opening luncheon address by feisty Fred Franzia, the CEO of Bronco Wine Co. Franzia, who rarely speaks publicly, was in his usual attack mode. The father of Two Buck Chuck co-founded his wine company in 1973 with his brother and cousin after their parents sold the family business to The Coca-Cola Co. He delivered zingers worthy of Donald Trump to rapt listeners. He also announced that the company has delivered more than 1 billion bottles of Charles Shaw Wine, called Two Buck Chuck for its former price in California Trader Joes stores (its now $3). Franzia also renamed its Escalon winery Petri Wine Co. in honor of Louis Petri, its founder, whose company was once larger than Gallo. Franzia thanked the Wine Group, which bought the Franzia brand from Coca-Cola, for allowing him to acquire the name, joking, Maybe well be able to reclaim the Franzia name next. Franzias talk wandered all over the map, and included some sharp comments about current trends. Franzia sai that the San Joaquin Valley has been and will be the major source of grapes to produce highest-quality California table wine. The largest vineyard holder in California with 40,000 acres of vines, Franzia adamantly defended the San Joaquin Valley against recent comments that its time was past. Referring to a recent report of wine from Silicon Valley Bank, he said, Mr. [Rob] McMillan, working for a coastal bank that makes loans to high-end wine producers may be crying wolf too loud about the San Joaquin Valley. If he has not noticed, it is the San Joaquin-based and -sourced wineries that are buying the coastal wineries. I will stand by on our belief and not be mislead by Mr. McMillans doom and gloom He repeated his wish, Every restaurant should offer $10 bottles of wine. That would improve demand. He said he thinks America could drink a billion cases of wine by 2040, up from 327 million last year. Franzia and Bronco are generous donors of research money to the American Vineyard Foundation, but he disdains government money for research. He said much is ill spent, notably his claimed $600,000,000 spent on the glassy-winged sharpshooter. Our own company has spend $2 million on the insect, he said, yet he claims to have found no glassy-winged sharp-shooter in 25 years in his 25 square miles of vineyards in Kern County. Obviously, Napa and Sonoma counties are more conducive to incubating disease than other California grapegrowing areas but they want the rest of California growers to pay for their research. He also said that he welcomes recent changes in leadership at Fresno State University wine program. This gives the school an opportunity to hire new faculty and create a great practical viticulture department that can be responsive to the industry needs. Franzia disagrees with Allied Grape Growers statement that we need to pull more than 30,000 acres of grapes. We should be planting more better and quality grapes and grow them more efficiently in the San Joaquin Valley to attack the 40 percent of the wine market now being supplied by non-California foreign wines. He said he thinks California should be the primary appellation on California wines. In my opinion, the appellation system caused the downfall of French wines and will do the same in California. Finally, Franzia expressed great concern about the mergers occurring in distribution and retail. Well see less competition and tighter channels to sell wine. Even better attended (it was included in registration) was the State of the Industry talk on Wednesday. Many stood as 1,200 listened to information-packed presentations from: Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist, who talked about global trends. Nat DuBuduo of Allied Grape Grapes discussed grape supply and planting; Steve Fredricks of Turrentine Brokerage covered wine and grape supplies industry market research guru Jon Fredrikson explained the wine market. DuDuduo estimated the 2015 harvest at 3.7 million tons, down from 3.9 million tons in 2014 and 4.25 million in 2013. He reported that a confidential survey of nurseries found that 65 percent of the vines sold last year were red, and almost 31 percent cabernet sauvignon. Pinot grigio was in second place with 17 percent, then pinot noir with 15 percent. Finally, Jon Fredrikson overwhelmed the audience with data, including some important numbers: He estimated 2015 California production was 230 million cases and other states contributed 35 million for a total U.S. production of 266 million cases, growing 2 percent over 2014. (Numbers are rounded off.) Bulk imports were down 14 percent to 21 million equivalent cases, but bottles imports rose 6 percent to 96 million cases, leaving a total of production and imports in the U.S. market at 383 million cases. He also reported that craft beer passed California table wine shipments priced at less than $10 in 2011 and has been growing rapidly while cheap wine is flat at best. Overall, cheaper wines continue to decline, but the more expensive ones (over $10) continue to grow. Even in boxed wines, consumers are moving up: Premium 3-liter boxes continue to grow rapidly (22 percent last year), but other large format slumped, 5 liter boxes dramatically. Fredrikson also chose 600,000-case Michael David Winery in Lodi, which makes Seven Deadly Zins and other brands, as his winery of the year, edging out E&J Gallo. Gallo has many brands, some new, among the fastest growing, and also bought a number of wineries to move upscale. The 2017 Unified show will be at the Sacramento Convention Center Jan. 24-26. For information, visit UnifiedSymposium.org. The school board voted Thursday to align the Napa Valley Unified School Districts health policy regarding student immunizations with a new state law mandating children attending public and private schools be vaccinated against contagious diseases. At the same time, the board refused to consider a resolution submitted by a group of parents seeking more time to get an exemption from vaccinations. Before SB 277 went into effect on Jan. 1, parents could use either personal or religious reasons to exempt their children from being vaccinated. But the new law did away with these loopholes, and gave parents until Dec. 31, 2015, to grandfather themselves from the new requirements. The legislature closed these immunization loopholes after a measles outbreak at Disneyland sickened 147 people. The public health incident was attributed in part to people who were not immunized against this contagious disease. A dozen parents appeared before the school boards Jan. 21 meeting asking trustees to adopt a resolution calling on lawmakers in Sacramento to amend SB 277 and extend the deadline for filing personal or religious exemptions to July 1 of this year. They said the timeline under the law, which was passed last summer, was too short for some of them to respond in time. The board gave no indication two weeks ago that it would consider the parents resolution. Trustees Joe Schunk and Thomas Kensok previously said the district was obligated to follow state law, and that it could not provide any relief by way of exemptions. The board voted unanimously Thursday evening to update the districts health policy embracing SB 277, while board President Robb Felder said no trustee had requested that the parent resolution be taken up. Only two people on Thursday showed up again to criticize the new law and find a champion for their resolution. Were asking you to support the resolution, said James Hinton, were not asking you to break the law. He added that the reason fewer parents showed up this time was because you broke a lot of hearts two weeks ago by not indicating support for their request. They were disappointed in you, said Hinton. Parent Cara Hanson, said: People in this community have valid concerns about the new law, which she and others have argued requires unnecessary immunizations for children against certain diseases, such as Hepatitis B, which is spread through blood or bodily fluids. Critics have complained that pharmaceutical companies that produce vaccines stand to profit from the new mandate. The board, however, was not swayed by the parents remarks. Superintendent Patrick Sweeney tried again, as he did two weeks ago, to find any other course of action under the law that might help the parents. Last time, he suggested parents could get a medical exemption for their children from a doctor, which is still allowed under SB 277. Hinton and the others said they had pursued this path, but could not find any local physician who would grant such a request. On Thursday, Sweeney said parents might be able to use the school districts independent study program, which allows students to conduct their schooling from home, to avoid the immunization requirement. Sweeney based his suggestion on information from the California School Boards Association, which put out a fact sheet on SB 277 that said the vaccination mandate did not apply to students with individual education programs. However, Trustee Helen Busby pointed out that independent study students still must come to school occasionally, and their presence in a classroom with other kids would require they be vaccinated. In the end, Sweeney and the board provided no relief for Hinton, Hanson and the other parents. But the trustees may not have heard the last of this issue. As the board moved on with the rest of its agenda, Hinton remarked loudly as he left the room: See you guys on the street; theres an election coming up. Five of the seven trustees terms are up this year, requiring they seek reelection if they wish to remain on the board. The five are Busby, Schunk, Carlos Hagedorn, Frances Ortiz-Chavez, and Jose Hurtado. To understand the brazen quality of the latest rate increase application from Californias third-largest electric utility, its necessary to step back in time, to the scene when wildfires raged across some of the prettiest parts of San Diego County in 2007. Those fires would eventually kill 13 persons, even more than the notorious natural gas pipeline explosion that came about three years later in San Bruno, which ever since has plagued the states largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric. Physical damage from the fire was far more widespread. Just after noon on Oct. 21, 2007, arcing power lines owned by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. were whipped by dry winds of up to 100 mph, eventually starting a small fire near Ramona, in eastern San Diego County. Known as the Witch Creek fire, by 4 a.m. the next day, this blaze had grown exponentially and reached the San Diego city limits. It combined with two other fires, eventually burning down whole neighborhoods a total of 1,125 residences. More than 197,000 acres burned, but not in rural country like some of last falls big fires. This was high-priced residential real estate. Evacuations were ordered over the almost three weeks the blaze burned, in cities from Oceanside and Encinitas, Del Mar Heights and Carmel Valley, Rancho Santa Fe and the heavily afflicted Rancho Bernardo. And there were more. These eventually involved about half a million people, the largest evacuation in California history. Now fast-forward to SDG&Es newest rate increase application. Following the examples of PG&E and Southern California Edison, SDG&E asks the state Public Utilities Commission to have its customers pay 90 percent of its approximately $380 million in fire-related expenses. This would amount to $1.67 per month per customer. No talk here about the company compensating affected customers for their own fire-related costs, as one might think fair. The case creates a major test for the PUC, whose new president, Michael Picker, has promised more transparency and adherence to rules preventing private contacts between commissioners, their staff and utility executives during rate cases. Such contacts have long been common, despite violating many rules and regulations. The 2007 fire, caused primarily by the combination of SDG&E equipment and severe weather conditions, spurred about $4 billion in claims, many not covered by insurance. But SDG&E, obligated to serve fire-prone areas and pay damages linked to power line problems whether or not negligence was involved, says having customers pay 90 percent of its costs is consistent with another state decision on a hazardous waste cleanup. This does not change the fact that asking customers many of them victims of the fire to pay the vast bulk of the bills is like someone helping cause a car accident that injures another party and then expecting that person to pay most of the damage expense. This would never fly in a private negotiation, but we are talking about a state commission with decades of experience favoring utility companies over their customers. SDG&E doesnt say this, but it has plainly seen that Southern California Edison won a deal having customers foot about 70 percent of expenses linked to the shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, caused mostly by an Edison blunder. It has seen PG&E get sweetheart terms on the penalties assessed against it for San Bruno. And SDG&E has seen the thus-far lenient treatment the PUC has given the Southern California Gas Co. (with which it shares a parent company Sempra Energy) in the massive ongoing methane gas leak near Porter Ranch in Los Angeles. If Picker is serious about changing the culture of the commission, as he claimed in his state Senate confirmation hearings, the SDG&E rate case is a big chance to make a statement. If SDG&E ends up paying only about 10 percent of its expenses from a hugely traumatic fire caused in large part by its equipment, the PUC will be saying its business as usual. The companies ask for money and the commission reaches for the wallets of customers. Only if the proposal is cut by much more than half will there be any reason to think theres been any change at this steadfastly corrupt commission. Thomas D. Elias writes the syndicated California Focus column. I looked at the headlines in the A section of the Napa Valley Register on Jan. 28. Three headlines involving St Helena city management were in bold print. The first one involved St. Helenas financial problems again (St. Helena might have to repay millions in flood grants). It seems that the citys elected officials might have to repay millions of dollars in flood control grants that were spent improperly through 2011. Evidently, the city has a history of sloppy accounting, poor record keeping and careless spending of grant funds. How does that happen and go undetected without without a checks-and-balances system in place? City Manager Jennifer Phillips told the elected City Council that they will have to repay more than $2 million to agencys that St. Helena wrongly billed twice. Thats called double billing. In another development, St. Helena city manager Jennifer Phillips told the council that St. Helena spent Federal Emergency Management Agency grant money that was supposed to be used strictly for planning costs but, instead was diverted and used for construction. Jennifer Phillips also told the City Council that the city staff was trying to demonstrate a good-faith effort to get St. Helena back into compliance with grant terms. The backbone of any successful business, especially the St. Helena city government, is to have a checks-and-balance system already in place that would have detected blatant disregard for FEMAs grant money guidelines. How does the City Manager and City Council decide to fix the problem? They approve a measure to hire a forensic accountant to track down expenses of FEMA grant money. So, basically, the St. Helena City Council (aka taxpayers) have to hire someone to find out what the City Manager and City Council should already know about FEMA grant rules (forensic accountants are not cheap). Jennifer Phillips says we will sort out the mistakes and show potential grantors that St. Helena is ready to be fiscally responsible. Sort out mistakes? With a checks-and-balance system in place, that would never have to happen. Lets not forget that the St. Helena City Council hired another outside person to be a grants manager. This is another expense. Who has been in charge of the grant process before the new hire? In another St. Helena development, St. Helena is under pressure from state regulators to upgrade its waste treatment plant, which has been a total failure. The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Control Board issued a cease-and-desist order in January. St. Helena Public Works Director Steve Palmer indicated that St. Helena is seeking to employ a consultant to study new upgrades to their sewer plant. So, basically, St. Helena has to hire several outside people to fix several major problems that the elected city officials cant seem to solve. Where are the checks and balances? Please, St. Helena voters, think about these things when you vote. Oh, darn. I read another St. Helena dilemma today. That issue involves the City Council discussing the sizes of new homes in older residential neighborhoods. I would recommend that each City Councilmember carry a tape measure, so they can accurately measure the distance of the new home to the city sidewalk. Nope, nope. That would mean they would have to read numbers. According to FEMA, St. Helena is not good with numbers. That would mean that St. Helena would have to hire another outside person to accurately measure for them. Pretty soon, St. Helena will have more outside people helping them than inside people. Greg Howden Napa News articles from around the world about the paranormal & the unexplained. Become a Follower (As delivered) Good morning, good morning, Im looking forward to meet with the EU Defence Ministers and Im looking forward to discuss with them how we are responding to a more demanding and challenging security environment. And recently we have seen some very important steps in the right direction. A few days ago the United States announced plans to substantially increase their military presence in Europe, by increasing four times the amount they spend on military presence in Europe, so they can fund more troops in the Eastern part of the Alliance, so they can finance the prepositioning of heavy equipment, tanks, armoured vehicles and other kinds of heavy equipment. And also more exercises and more investments in infrastructure. So this increased US presence in Europe is an important sign and part of the adaptation of the Alliance to a more demanding security environment. Another positive sign is what we see regarding defence spending in Europe. After many years of substantial cuts in defence spending, last year the cuts in defence spending in Europe practically stopped. Thats of course only the first step but it is a step in the right direction. The picture is still mixed, but we are moving now in the right direction. And then of course we also see increased interest for cooperation between the European Union and NATO. I welcome that and I will discuss with the ministers how we can work more closely on challenges like hybrid threats, like working together to stabilize our neighbourhood in the South. And also on other issues which are of great importance for both the European Union and NATO. Let me finally also add a few words about Syria. NATO strongly supports all efforts to find a negotiated peaceful political solution to the conflict in Syria. What we have seen is that the intense Russian airstrikes, mainly targeting opposition troops in Syria, is undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict. Moreover, the increased Russian presence air activity in Syria is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace. This creates risks, heightened tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO because theyre violations of NATOs airspace. And then the substantial Russian military build-up in Syria and the Eastern Mediterranean is also shifting the strategic balance in this part of the Mediterranean. So I call on calm de-escalation and a political solution to the conflict in Syria. QUESTION (AFP): Russia is accusing Turkey of preparing an invasion in Syria, What is NATOs response to that? SECRETARY GENERAL: I think we have to look at the facts and the facts are that Russia is conducting many strikes, intense air strikes, mainly directed against opposition groups. We have seen several violations of NATO air space, of Turkish air space. So this is something which is now undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in Syria. QUESTION (Reuters): Secretary General, can you comment about reports overnight of the Islamic State moving into Libya in more substantial numbers and what can NATO do to help the situation? SECRETARY GENERAL: We are following very closely the developments in Libya. This just underlines the importance of fully supporting efforts to find a political solution, to reach a ceasefire and to have an agreement on a unity government in Libya. Because that will be an important first step, also to be able to fight ISIL. NATO stands ready to support a new unity government in Libya. To help them build defence institutions, to help them in different ways, but that requires a request from a new unity government in Libya and, of course, a new situation on the ground in Libya to enable such support from NATO. 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 Islam is a religion of peace and tolerance. Through promotion of free debate on our website, New Age Islam encourages people to rethink Islam. The European Parliament has named the return of Crimea to Ukraine as one of the pre-requisites for removing the sanctions against Russia. The corresponding resolution on the anti-Russian sanction was passed by the Parliament today, The resolution was supported by 472 MPs, while 79 voted against, while still 33 abstained. The restoration of Ukrainian control over the peninsula is one of the prerequisites for re-establishing cooperative relations with the Russian Federation, including the suspension of related sanctions, the document reads, Informing reports. The text also says that the MPs reiterate their strong commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and recall their severe condemnation of the illegal annexation by Russia of the Crimean peninsula. The European Parliament also calls on the European Council to continue with these sanctions until the completion of Crimeas full reintegration into the legal order of Ukraine. The mentioned sanctions include ban on importing Crimean goods to Europe, ban on import of several Crimean goods, technology, as well as ban on investments in the Crimean economy. Together with this, the deputies welcomed the decision of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to send his Special Representative for Human Rights to Crimea and look forward to his findings. Admiral: U.S. should now prepare for Chinese 'invasion' of Taiwan Harutyunyan: I cannot imagine Artsakh's future without presence of Russia Harutyunyan: Without questioning path of our independence, we must meet with Baku Prime Minister of Finland does not think that Hungary and Turkey will block country's application for NATO membership Iranian FM: U.S. made hasty statements in connection with protests Former Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim involved in car accident in Karabakh Arayik Harutyunyan: Artsakh people's right to self-determination is non-negotiable Iranian MFA calls it important to form platform with Armenia and India on North-South corridor Details of EU monitoring mission in Armenia are known Foreign Ministry: It seems Ankara is more interested in opening corridor through Armenia than Azerbaijan Mirzoyan: Unexpected third countries support Azerbaijani interpretation of road to Nakhchivan Foreign Ministry: Armenia, Iran and Bulgaria initial agreement on creation of Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor Israeli Defense Minister to visit Ankara Armenian Foreign Minister names main obstacle to solving problems with Azerbaijan Erdogan once again raises issue of so-called 'Zangezur corridor' Armenian and Iranian FMs to open Iranian Consulate General in Syunik province tomorrow Abdollahian: Aliyev assured that he does not want border changes, Iran will prevent implementation of such idea Iranian Foreign Minister in Yerevan supports '3+3' platform Iranian Foreign Minister recalls Tehran's 'red lines' in regional issues Mirzoyan: We highly appreciate Iran's principled position regarding territorial integrity of Armenia UK imposes sanctions against Iran for alleged delivery of drones to Russia Yerevan hosts meeting of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council in narrow composition Armenian and Iranian Foreign Ministers meet in Yerevan in extended format Charles Michel: EU energy deal possible, but difficult Erdogan says Baku should demand 'compensation' from Yerevan Pashinyan: EEU mechanisms are of great help, trade turnover between Armenia and Belarus has doubled Yair Lapid: Russia-Iran relations are serious problem for Ukraine, Europe, and whole world Amir-Abdollahian: Iran is against presence of foreigners in this region, both in Azerbaijan and Armenia Pashinyan at EAEU meeting: Fundamental principles of world economic system in question Iranian Foreign Minister's official visit to Yerevan begins Macron says Germany should not isolate itself in Europe EU begins deployment of mission on Armenia-Azerbaijan border Trump's son made fun of Zelenskyy's ability to ask West for money EU to provide emergency aid for Armenia residents affected by recent Azerbaijan military aggression Azerbaijan army units fire at Armenia positions Mikhail Mishustin arrives in Yerevan EU approves new sanctions against Iran over alleged drone deliveries to Russia Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting begins in Yerevan Baku calls OSCE mission to assess situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border 'private visit' On fourth day of IRGC military exercises on border with Azerbaijan, artillery destroys planned targets Liz Truss quits as UK Prime Minister Turkey parliament to consider extending Turkish militarys mandate in Azerbaijan Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia Russias Putin ratifies agreement on simplification of payments for goods transit within EEU territory Stoltenberg: Almost all NATO countries have agreed to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance Ombudswoman of Armenia: Azerbaijan prevents removal of remains of fallen soldiers Zakharova: Matter of holding CSTO Collective Security Council meeting being worked out Ombudswoman of Armenia: I received video materials from EU special representative about Azerbaijanis Armenia Security Council chief, UK army general discuss cooperation in security Armenia and Kazakhstan discuss bilateral military cooperation Iran says U.S. and Israel won't be able to split the republic 201 bodies are identified of Armenia soldiers who died as result of September military aggression by Azerbaijan Iran FM to arrive in Armenia today Turkey, Azerbaijan presidents officially open international airport in occupied Artsakh territory Armenia President visits several leading Bulgaria IT companies Ruben Vardanyan: I will assume Artsakh State Minister position at beginning of November 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 Armenia, Qatar to collaborate in tourism sector Turkey president travels to Azerbaijan Bandits in Russia cut off Armenian man's hands, shoot him in legs President of Armenia, mayor of Bulgarias Plovdiv discuss avenues for deepening of cooperation Armenia has new customs attache at Upper Lars checkpoint on Russia-Georgia border Karabakh official: Baku goes for gradual escalation, provocation of situation 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 Russia extends flight restrictions at 11 airports 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 YEREVAN. President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Galust Sahakyan, on Friday received Kuwaiti Ambassador Bassam Muhammad Alqabandi. Head of the parliament noted that Kuwait is a friendship state for Armenia, and the bilateral relations are at a high level. Sahakyan highlighted the further strengthening of the parliamentary ties, and the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. In the NA speakers words, there is a big potential for the development of Armenia-Kuwait cooperation in the political, economic, and several other domains. Ambassador Alqabandi, for his part, conveyed Galust Sahakyan the greetings of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Kuwait, and his invitation to Kuwait. The Kuwaiti diplomat likewise highlighted the deepening of parliamentary cooperation and the intensification of bilateral ties between the two countries. At the ensuing talk, the interlocutors touched upon the process of the constitutional reforms. The Kuwaiti ambassador noted that this step will ensure a major progress for the strengthening of democracy in Armenia. Also, the parties reflected on several regional challenges and some other matters of bilateral interest. "Summer Read" painting in header courtesy of Michael Steirnagle . Many thanks, Michael. Posted by Mark Williams | February 5, 2016 Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration expansion of the Takata airbag recall, Honda (and Acura, its luxury division) is expanding its recall to include some 2.23 million more cars and SUVs as well as its only pickup truck. Affected are model-year 2007-14 Ridgelines, effectively the entire model run since Honda moved production to Alabama from Canada. Honda previously had identified only model-year 2006 Ridgelines as part of its Takata-related recall. Only driver's-side airbags are affected in the recalled Ridgelines. These airbags can deploy with too much force and rupture, sending metal fragments into occupants. Honda will install new inflators in the affected pickups for free, but the automaker says parts won't be available until summer because of the number of vehicles involved. In the past Honda has said it will provide loaner vehicles for owners with vehicles under Takata recall if parts are not yet available; that also could be the case with this expansion. Owners will get an initial recall letter, plus a second notification once parts become available. For the most recent Honda statement regarding the expanded airbag recall, click here. For more information, visit recalls.honda.com or call 888-234-2138. Be sure to have your vehicle information number available. For more information about other affected Honda and Acura vehicles, click here. Manufacturer photo Mark Wagner, director of the Center for Archaeological Investigations at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, holds the only mastodon bone known to be collected in Jackson County, Ill. The bone is a fraction of the lower part of the tibia, near where the leg connects to the foot. The bone is approximately 15,000 years old. (Photo by Russell Bailey) Artifact collection includes rare mastodon bone by Andrea Hahn CARBONDALE, Ill. Its one of those you cant easily mistake it for something else kinds of finds. But when its the only one ever recorded in Jackson County, Ill., its almost hard to believe its a mastodon bone. Mark Wagner, director of the Center for Archaeological Investigations at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said the university received the bone as part of a large collection donated last summer by brothers Mike and Don Porter from Murphysboro. Their father, Henry, was a private collector of artifacts. He did most of his collecting in the 1950s and 60s, mostly on private land sites in Southern Illinois. Unlike many who are merely treasure-seekers, Porter recorded his artifact sites in detail. In this case, the site was a rock shelter on private property, and the bone was six feet below the surface. The mastodon bone is the lower part of the tibia, or shin bone, and is approximately eight inches long. Porter found it in a natural rock shelter of the type frequently used by native residents of the area. It was the only mastodon bone found at the site, and indeed the only one ever recorded in Jackson County. We know the mastodon didnt get itself up inside a rock shelter, Wagner said. It may have got there by way of human agency. First, Wagner needed to date the bone. If it were no older than about 10,000 B.C., when the first people came into what is now Illinois, then it might have been possible human hunters killed the mastodon and brought its carcass to the rock shelter. Older than that, and the mastodon died before Homo sapiens were present. Chris Widga, a vertebrate paleontologist and associate curator of geology at The Illinois State Museum Research and Collections Center, conducted the dating tests on the bone. Widga was recently investigating extinction patterns in mammoths and mastodons. He finished the dating tests on the Jackson County bone in late November and determined the bone is about 15,000 years old. Thats about 1,500 years before the first people were in Illinois. So, we are left with the question of how it got into the rock shelter, Wagner said. It had either to have been drug in by animals or found by later Native Americans and brought there. I tend to think the second scenario is more likely. There isnt anything on the bone itself to give a clue about how it got into the rock shelter. There arent cuts or carvings or burn marks that might indicate if the bone had a particular function. Mastodons were widely distributed in the Midwest until the end of the Pleistocene epoch, about 11,500 years ago. Widga wrote in his blog, Backyard Paleo, that when they become extinct, mastodons go out with a bang. He recently concluded a four-year, National Science Foundation-funded investigation of mammoth and mastodon extinction in the Midwest. Mammoth and mastodon extinction dates to the end of the last Ice Age, and is one of a handful of major mass extinctions dating back into pre-history. The extinction event occurred at about the same time as major climate change (the end of the Ice Age) and the introduction of the first Homo sapiens. The Jackson County mastodon tibia bone is one of many mastodon bones in museums around the Midwest. Wagner noted that mastodons were more common in the southeast of Illinois than in the southwest because of the presence of salt springs there. However, early settlers processed salt near sites along the Big Muddy River, so salt availability alone doesnt necessarily account for the paucity of mastodon artifacts in the southwest of Illinois. There might, in fact, be more mastodon bones in Jackson County either as yet undiscovered or in private collections. As Wagner noted, without the Porter family donation, there would be no record of this one. The Henry Porter collection numbers more than 10,000 artifacts, including arrowheads, axes, pottery shards and other items, all of which were collected in Jackson County. It is now part of the permanent artifact collection housed at the Center for Archaeological Investigations curation facility. Faculty Senate meets Stanford's next president Kathryn Ann Moler, chair of the Faculty Senate, introduced Marc Tessier-Lavigne, who will succeed John Hennessy as president of Stanford. Tessier-Lavigne, who will take office Sept. 1, gave a brief address. John Mitchell, vice provost for teaching and learning at Stanford, presented an overview and update of his office's work. A few hours after he was named Stanford's 11th president on Thursday, Marc Tessier-Lavigne made an unscheduled appearance at the Faculty Senate meeting, where he received a standing ovation and a bouquet of flowers. In introducing Tessier-Lavigne, Kathryn Ann "Kam" Moler, chair of the Faculty Senate and a member of the Presidential Search Committee, described him as an academician, a pioneering neuroscientist, an outstanding faculty member, teacher and mentor. L.A. Cicero Marc Tessier-Lavigne, who earlier in the day had been announced as Stanford's new president, receives a bouquet from Faculty Senate Chair Kam Moler. "From many hours of interviews, both with him and with people who have known him well in his previous roles, we know that he is someone who will listen and consider input, who will be open-minded to ideas, who will understand that a university makes progress by working as a community together, and who has the ability to lead all of us, as a community, in turning our best ideas and hopes into reality," said Moler, who is also a professor of applied physics and of physics. Tessier-Lavigne, a former Stanford faculty member, said it was wonderful to be back at the university, among old friends and new ones, after a 13-year hiatus. "I'm deeply honored and humbled to have the opportunity to work with you to build on the remarkable legacy of John Hennessy, one of the all-time great leaders in higher education, who has made an indelible mark on Stanford. As a former faculty member here, I know firsthand that the faculty are the heart of this institution, so I'm delighted that the timing of this announcement made it possible as one of my very first acts to address the senate." Hennessy is stepping down on Aug. 31, after more than 15 years as Stanford's president. Tessier-Lavigne, who is currently the president of The Rockefeller University, a premier biomedical research and graduate education institution, told the senate that he holds the highest reverence for great research universities. He said they have had an outsized impact in accelerating the progress of civilization, educating those who go on to lead societal change and producing the knowledge that underpins societal advance. He described such institutions as "custodians of humanity's heritage" and "kindlers of innovation and progress." He said Stanford is one of those universities. "Stanford has superlative strength across the board, not just in research and scholarship, but also in education, not just in fundamental research, but also in applied research and entrepreneurship, and not just in the sciences and engineering, but also in arts and humanities, and in the professional schools," Tessier-Lavigne said. "And you the faculty are at the center of that superlative strength." Tessier-Lavigne said he came from a typical Canadian Army family, which moved around the country and then to Europe, where he received most of his education in London and Brussels. He grew up attending French schools until college. As a Rhodes Scholar, he studied philosophy and physiology at the University of Oxford. Tessier-Lavigne said he derived several core principles from his background and life experiences: "First, we must continue to remain committed to the importance of a liberal arts education as the best way to prepare students for an impactful life. We also all know that preparing our students requires not just imparting knowledge and skills, but opening young minds to the world around them, teaching critical thinking and judgment, fostering a sense of personal and social responsibility, and preparing them for a lifetime of learning." Tessier-Lavigne said his first task will be to meet with every segment of the campus community, to listen and learn, to immerse himself in the culture, to seek to understand the great opportunities and challenges facing Stanford and to hear the community's aspirations. "I'm excited to work with all members of this community to lead Stanford to even greater heights," he said. Teaching and learning Also during the senate meeting, John Mitchell, vice provost for teaching and learning, gave a presentation on the work of the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning (VPTL), which Stanford created about a year ago. L.A. Cicero John Mitchell, vice provost for teaching and learning, gave a presentation on the work of his office. Among the topics he addressed were VPTL's three major initiatives: hosting the Year of Learning, a 2015-16 series of events and initiatives to engage faculty, instructors, students, staff and alumni in thinking about the art and science of teaching and learning at Stanford and beyond; implementing Stanford's new course evaluations; and helping the Stanford community begin the transition to a cloud-based learning management system known as Canvas. "The Year of Learning program series has engaged the faculty planning committee and the broader Stanford community in discussing, debating and planning the future of teaching and learning at Stanford in its role as a modern research university, within the changing ecology of higher education, and in keeping with Stanford's founding mission to serve students in the progression of their lives and broad service toward humanity and civilization," Mitchell said. "The future requires us to fulfill that founding mission in a contemporary way." Regarding the rollout of the new course evaluations, Mitchell said about 40 percent of faculty and instructors took the opportunity to customize their class evaluations one of the features of the new system. Mitchell also discussed Stanford Online, which offers professional education courses in conjunction with many of the universitys schools and departments, and free online courses taught by Stanford faculty to lifelong learners around the world. Among the courses he cited that are open now was International Women's Health and Human Rights, which is reaching an international audience, including learners in China. Mitchell also cited American Prophet: The Inner Life and Global Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr., which is taught by Stanford history Professor Clayborne Carson, founding director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. In the course, which is open now, Carson teaches participants how to use primary sources one of the most important techniques in historical analysis as a window into the civil rights leader's life. Mitchell said the class is offering an invaluable service to the general public by introducing them to documents from Stanford's King Papers Project. The full minutes of the Feb. 4 senate meeting will be available soon on the Faculty Senate website. The minutes will include the question-and-answer session that followed the presentations. According to Voice of America (VoA), the Pakistani side claimed it presented "evidence" to show that fugitive Pakistani militants were using Afghan soil for attacking Pakistan. Pakistan had earlier alleged that the deadly attack on Bacha Khan University on January 20 resulting in death of 21 people mostly students, was planned and directed from the eastern Afghan border region. Though no immediate response came from Afghan authorities, but Kabul denied the charges of its soil being used to plan attacks against Pakistan. Years of mistrust and suspicions have flawed the bilateral relations between both the countries, preventing both Pakistan and Afghanistan from establishing closer security ties to counter terrorism. A high-level Afghan military delegation had earlier visited Pakistani army headquarters in Rawalpindi for talks on both security and border management issues. (ANI) Pakistan on Thursday clarified that its High Commission in New Delhi had spoken to Anupam Kher about the visa but the Bollywood actor had said that he would not be able to travel to the country. "Let me say that our High Commissioner spoke to Mr. Anupam Kher three days before the Literature Festival. However, he conveyed that he would not be able to travel to Pakistan. The matter stands resolved," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah told a briefing here. Kher, who was to travel to Pakistan to attend the Karachi Literary Festival beginning on Friday, earlier claimed that he was denied a visa by the Pakistani authorities. He was one of the 18 Indians invited by the organisers of the festival to the four-day event. The 60-year-old actor, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan recently, has been a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP Government. After Kher lashed out at Islamabad for denying him a visa, the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi announced that Kher had not submitted any visa application. On Wednesday, Pakistan's High Commissioner Abdul Basit called Kher and offered him a visa to travel to Karachi for the literary festival. The actor, however, turned down the offer, saying he had taken up other assignments on the scheduled dates. (ANI) "The date of Foreign Secretary-level talks has not been decided as yet. As soon as it is decided, we will inform you," Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah told a press conference here. Pakistan's High Commissioner to India, Abdul Basit, had earlier said that Foreign Secretaries Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry and S. Jaishankar are in touch with each other on the issue of working out modalities for their proposed composite dialogue talks. "There is no issue. Both Foreign Secretaries agreed on meeting in the near future. Both Foreign Secretaries are in contact with each other," Basit had told ANI in an exclusive interview. Khalilullah also reiterated Pakistan's stand on Dawood Ibrahim's whereabouts, saying the underworld don has no identity in the country. "Indian authorities at administerial level have themselves admitted that the whereabouts of Dawood Ibrahim are not known," he added. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh had in August 2015 said that Dawood's permanent residence is in Pakistan. "His permanent residence is in Pakistan, but he keeps on changing his location," he said. "Such people have several passports, I have said in this regard in the House also earlier. It is possible, this is not a new report," he added. (ANI) The Nation reported that the federal minister said terrorist activities had dealt a serious blow to the Kashmir cause. However, he said, some terrorist activity just before the negotiations showed that terrorists were opposed to the Kashmir cause. The federal minister said terrorist activities had dealt a serious blow to the Kashmir cause. Rashid added that a number of terrorist activities had been prevented because of the timely action by the security agencies.(ANI) SUBWAY India is pleased to announce its partnership with PepsiCo India as SUBWAY's new exclusive beverage and snack provider. With this, consumers at all SUBWAY restaurants across the country can now enjoy a range of iconic, popular brands from PepsiCo India's portfolio. "We are very excited about this transition. It's a perfect marriage between India's most prominent sandwich chain and PepsiCo India, one of the largest MNC food and beverage businesses in the country." said Karen Eidsvik, Regional Director, SUBWAY restaurants Asia." "SUBWAY India and PepsiCo India will partner on exciting new innovations and powerful brand activations to further enhance the SUBWAY customer experience," added Karen. SUBWAY India restaurants are very enthusiastic and all prepared to welcome this change. One key element of the new partnership will give customers even more options when they visit their local restaurant. With SUBWAY's wide range of sandwich variety available, customers can start pairing their favorite sandwich with carbonated or non-carbonated drinks. This new agreement further builds on the long-standing relationship between SUBWAY India and PepsiCo's Frito-Lays products. "We remain committed to driving the growth of the food service industry through power of our advantaged food and beverage portfolio and innovative partnerships with ecosystem partners. Our association with Subway has only grown over the years and we believe this enhanced partnership will help us jointly deliver differentiated value and experience for our consumers," said Senior Director, E-commerce and Customer Development, PepsiCo India, Sudipto Mozumdar. "We look forward to working with Subway in building scale, visibility and greater consumer engagement opportunities for our food and beverage brands," added Sudipto Mozumdar. (ANI) New Delhi, Feb 4 (ANI-NewsVoir): In another first in India, Punjab Government employees/pensioners have been issued Mobile e-cards to provide details of the Punjab Government employees and Pensioner Health Insurance Scheme (PGIPHIS). Any employee can download on his/her mobile the special App "PGEPHIS" and can look into the details of the scheme, empanelled hospitals, pharmacies, claim status, and authorization status etc. The Punjab Government had launched the insurance Scheme for its employees and pensioners. So far, 4 lakh employees / pensioners have been enrolled and given e-cards. Every employee/pensioner has been informed through SMS regarding confirmation of his/her enrollment and the link for this App. This is the unique feature that empowers every employee/pensioner to have correct and complete status of his/her claim on his/her fingertips. Vini Mahajan, Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare informed that Fortis Mohali, which is the only International level J.C.I accredited hospital in the northern region was empanelled and has agreed to provide cashless treatment to Punjab Government employees and pensioners. Rather some employees have already taken treatment from the Fortis, Mohali under this tie up. Apart from this, many more big hospitals like Fortis Amritsar and Fortis Ludhiana, are providing treatment to beneficiaries under this scheme and also other tertiary care super specialty State-of-the-Art hospitals like MAX Bathinda, IVY Hospital Mohali, Gracian Hospital Mohali, Mayo Hospital Mohali, Grewal Eye Hospital Chandigarh etc. are part of this scheme. She further disclosed that there were 350 private hospitals all over the State paneled, details of which are available on website www.pbhealth.gov.in. She also, clarified that since AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER, GMCH Sector 32, and other big Government hospitals didn't have manpower support to carry cashless transactions, so the Insurance Company will reimburse bills of such Government hospitals to the employees and pensioners. Vini Mahajan added that the Insurance Company has already processed the claims of Rs. 2.69 crore for 797. Chain of pharmacies are also being empanelled to dispense cashless medicines to the chronic disease patients under the scheme. But till the registration of chronic disease patients is complete and the empanelment is in place, the employees will be getting reimbursement of their bills from the Insurance Company on the existing pattern. (ANI-NewsVoir) National capital New Delhi will host an investment potential-related road show on East Kazakhstan on February 11 this year. The signature business-to-business event, which is expected to take India-Kazakhstan commercial ties forward, will be held at the Shangri-La Hotel. It is being organised by the Embassy of Kazakhstan, the Government of the East Kazakhstan region in partnership with the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The road show is titled "Possibilities of business cooperation between Indian and East-Kazakhstani companies". The road show will feature presentations on East Kazakhstan, its investment potential climate and its most attractive business projects. The Kazakhstani side will be represented by the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to India Bulat Sarsenbayev, the First Deputy Governor of East Kazakhstan Oblast (Region) Narymbet Saktaganov, the Mayor of Semeysity, Salimov Yermak, and government and business representatives of East Kazakhstan. The East Kazakhstan delegation consists of eight members and it is expected that around 100 businessmen will attend the event. The East Kazakhstan region is situated in the north-east of the country, on the borders aligning the Altai Republic of Russia, in the east - the Chinese province of Xinjiang in the north-east, Pavlodar in the south, Almaty, in the west and the Karaganda region of Kazakhstan. East Kazakhstan comprises 10.2 percent of the entire territory of Kazakhstan and stretches over 283.3 thousand square kilometers. Eight hundred rivers flow through the region, including the Irtysh River. It has some of the world's largest lakes such as Zaisan, Markakol, Alakol and Sasykkol, besides several reservoirs, such as the Bukhtarma. The region's climate is continental and about 30 percent of the territory is covered by forests. It is a combination of steppes, desert and mountain-taiga landscapes. East Kazakhstan has 19 administrative units, including 15 districts, 10 cities, 754 villages and towns, 246 rural and township districts. Its administrative center is Ust-Kamenogorsk city with a population of 316,900 people, representing 23 percent of the population of the region. In terms of industry and investment potential, East Kazakhstan provides a unique combination of industry cooperating with agriculture, thus ensuring food security and a significant contribution to the Kazakh economy. The basic component of the region is agriculture, which is realised in six soil-climatic zones of the seven available. The total land fund of the region is 28.3 million hectares, including 22.7 million hectares of farmland; 10.2 million of them of are agricultural land and 1.4 million hectares of arable land. The region has large land and water resources for the development of irrigated agriculture. At present, it includes more than 200 thousand hectares of irrigated land, out of which only 79 hectares are used. These days, the investment package for the construction and reconstruction of irrigated lands on the area of 20000 hectares to provide them to investors is formed. The soil cover includes all types of ground, chestnut and gray. The average yield class of arable land is 39, hayfields (40) and pastures (21). In the northern areas, the ball bonitet arable land reaches up to 70. The variety of soil and climatic zones, large areas of agricultural land, the market demand for agricultural products defines the multi-disciplinary field of agriculture. Today, the region is developing dairy, beef cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, poultry, reindeer antlers, beekeeping and fish farming. Crop production is represented by corn, sunflower seeds, potatoes, vegetables, melons and gourds and fodder crops. Given the need and the opportunities and resources for investments is a list of guidelines and projects of agricultural development area. East Kazakhstan is one of the leading industrial and agricultural regions of the country with huge economic potential. It has large enterprises of non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, power engineering, food and light industry. It also has the world's largest plant for production of fuel for nuclear power plants. Its mineral resources are also substantial. For instance, its lead reserves are an estimated 48 percent, while its zinc reserves are an estimated 49 percent. It produces six percent of industrial products throughout the country, one-fifth of the manufacturing industry and the fourth part of the output of metallurgy and machine building. Over the past five years, investment amounted to 8.3 billion U.S. dollars. The state program for accelerated industrial-innovative development includes 76 investment projects. Of these, 47 are worth 1.4 billion dollars. The focus is on promoting public-private partnership, attracting foreign investments through concession projects and the European Bank of reconstruction and development. The February 11 road show will include an address by R. K. Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director of WAPCOS; opening remarks by Ambassador Sarsenbayev, a representative of the ASSOCHAM President's Office and K. Nagaraj Naidu,Director (ITP), Ministry of External Affairs. The special address will delivered by Mr. Saktaganov Narymbet, the First Deputy to the Governor of the East Kazakhstani Region. The pre-lunch session will focus on business cooperation between India and Kazakhstan in which Indian and Kazakh panelists will take part. This will be followed by a networking lunch. (ANI) Wipro will be providing infrastructure as a service for mainframe, mid-range, storage, cloud and end-user services in addition to a multilingual service desk for RSA employees in all the regions. This will enable pan-European standardization, improved end-to-end responsibility and a platform for business-led collaboration. This agreement follows a 10-month sourcing programme, which included 20 bidders, and reflects RSA's aim to drive benefits through the consolidation of services across its regional businesses. Darren Price, Group CIO, RSA said, "We are delighted to partner with Wipro to provide IT infrastructure needs across UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. Throughout the selection process, Wipro was a front runner because of its technical excellence and customer centricity." "This partnership is a major step forward in our Group technology strategy enabling us to provide a market-leading, agile, affordable and secure infrastructure platform which supports profitable growth and enables our digital future," Price added. Shaji Farooq, President and Chief Executive, BFSI, Wipro said, "We are excited to enter into this new partnership and will leverage our global expertise to help RSA maximize value from their infrastructure. We see this as a key enabler for RSA to achieve the desired business outcomes from their IT investments." (ANI-BUSINESSWIRE) The UK will invest at least an extra 1.2bn in international aid to support Syria and the region, Prime Minister David Cameron announced today. The pledge was made on the day high-level representatives from 70 countries and international organisations around the world were due in London to debate support for the world's biggest humanitarian crisis. The Prince of Wales gave his support to the aims of the conference by attending a reception held last night (Wednesday 3 February) at Lancaster House, which was also attended by the Prime Minister. The UK has already pledged 1.12 billion pounds in the region, making it the second biggest bilateral donor in the world. Today's announcement will see an extra 1.2 billion pounds plus being spent between 2016 and 2020, taking the UK's total investment to more than 2.3 billion pounds. Prime Minister David Cameron said:"With hundreds of thousands of people risking their lives crossing the Aegean or the Balkans, now is the time to take a new approach to the humanitarian disaster in Syria. Today's pledge of more than 2.3 billion pounds in UK aid sets the standard for the international community - more money is needed to tackle this crisis and it is needed now.But the conference I am hosting today is about more than just money. Our new approach of using fundraising to build stability, create jobs and provide education can have a transformational effect in the region - and create a future model for humanitarian relief. And we can provide the sense of hope needed to stop people thinking they have no option but to risk their lives on a dangerous journey to Europe." The Supporting Syria and the Region Conference will be co-hosted by the UK, alongside Germany, Norway, Kuwait and the United Nations. It will aim to raise billions of dollars in international aid, with the current UN appeal standing at more than seven billion dollars. It will also aim to build economic opportunities, creating job opportunities for refugees and host country citizens alike. And it will seek to put all refugee children in education by 2017 - along with vulnerable children in the three host countries. In addition, the conference will aim to make lives better for those still remaining in Syria, by funding food, shelter and healthcare, and rebuilding health facilities. The conference is expected to send out a strong joint message reinforcing the importance of humanitarian rights in Syria. It is expected to stress that siege is not an acceptable tactic of war; that all people must have access to humanitarian support; and that all sides must respect humanitarian law. (ANI) All the five staff members of the school were arrested by Delhi Police earlier today in a 'death due to negligence' case. The six-year-old boy's parents had earlier blamed the school for the death of their son and termed the entire episode as a 'conspiracy'. Divyansh was found dead in a septic tank of the school on Saturday. The incident took place at around 12 noon after the boy went missing at the school. The child was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. The Delhi Police have assured that necessary legal action would be taken against those involved in the case. Meanwhile, the Delhi Government has ordered a magisterial enquiry into the incident. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said 'globally designated international terrorist' Hafiz Saeed continues to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities in Pakistan. "His claims that his various front organisations are carrying out charitable work is a fig leaf. It is not even a fig leaf I would say. They indulge in terrorist activities and terrorist financing, it should be a matter of great concern for everyone that people like Hafiz Saeed and his associates continue to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities," said MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Swarup also asked Islamabad to initiate action against such elements. "In October, we had seen that the Government of Pakistan had banned the electronic coverage of some of these organisations including the one to which Hafiz Saeed belongs. But we are seeing now that Hafiz Saeed is making statements after statements and his rallies are being covered. So, obviously the concerned authorities need to take actions," he added. Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed had on Wednesday praised last month's terror attack at the Pathankot air force base and encouraged similar attacks against India. Saeed, who is the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, also lauded Kashmiri militant leader Sayed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council (UJC) that has claimed responsibility for the attack. (ANI) Van Gaal's job has been under scrutiny in recent times due to United's repeated poor performances in the Premier League and because of the club's early exit from Champions League. The 23-year-old said that United's recent 3-0 win over Stoke City proved that his side's players had regained their freedom and got back their lacked energy. Lingard, however, called on his side to focus on their games, insisting that United could not let their fans down by their poor display, Sport24 reported. United are currently fifth in the league table and are 10 points behind surprise pace setters Leicester City. They Van Gaal-led side will next lock horns with 13th-placed Chelsea on February 7. (ANI) The CBI had earlier on Wednesday arrested Singh in connection with this case. During a raid at his Sector 51 residence in Noida on Noveber 27, 2014, Income Tax officials had unearthed a large sum of money, jewellery, gold, diamonds and property papers that could not be accounted for. The CBI has been probing corruption allegations against the tainted engineer and his family members since August 4, 2015 following an order of the Allahabad high court. The CBI had in August 2015 lodged an FIR against Singh over allegations of corruption in allotting the Rs 954.38-crore project to private agencies in December 2011. The agency in December, last year had taken Ramendra, Assistant Project Engineer into custody in connection with corruption cases involving Yadav Singh. (ANI) Terming the attack on the Tanzanian student a very "serious issue", Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday said action should be taken against the erring police officials if they delayed in registering the FIR or taking action in this case. "It's a very serious issue. Even as it's not easy to control a mob, the culprits should be brought to the book. If police have delayed in registering the FIR or taking action in this connection, action should also be taken against them," said Singh replying to media queries on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi seeking a report from the Karnataka Government in this regard. However, when his reaction was sought over the Tanzanian ambassador terming the attack as "racial", while Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameswara refuting his allegations, he said it's very difficult to control a mob but if the police failed to act then action should be taken against them. The Karnataka Government has ordered an inquiry by Central Crime Branch into alleged assault on the Tanzanian girl after a road mishap in Bengaluru on the night of January 31. The Home Minister said in a press meet in Bengaluru on Thursday that five people were arrested in connection with the case. However, denying that the girl was stripped and paraded naked, the Minister said that neither she was stripped nor was paraded naked, and the "allegations are baseless". He said that all protections were given to foreign students studying in the state. The home minister said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also spoken to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in this regard and assured an inquiry into the incident. The victim, a BBM student and her three friends were allegedly attacked by an angry mob after a 35-year-old female pedestrian was knocked down by another car belonging to a Sudanese student on January 31. The mob beat up the students and set their car on fire. The incident came to light on Tuesday when the victim approached the All African Students Union, following which a complaint was raised to the Tanzanian Embassy. Police later called the victim to record her statement based on media reports and have picked up few suspects. National Women Commission Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam has registered a case suo moto, and served a notice on the Karnataka Government. (ANI) Condemning the Tanzanian student assault case, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the Central Government is 'proactively' looking into the matter. "The Central Government should take this thing seriously. There should be no discrimination. If it happens, it's a very insulting thing for the nation. We are sympathetic to the issue. So, we are looking into the matter proactively," Rijiju told the media here. "It is an unfortunate incident. We will look into the matter. Our country, considering its past, was a victim to racial discrimination. It is a matter of disappointment if racial discrimination takes place in India," he added. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has asked the Karnataka Government to submit a report on the unfortunate incident. Tanzanian High Commissioner to India, John Kijazi, had earlier told ANI that they want the police to take strict action and arrest all the culprits. He also said the High Commission has written to the Indian Government, which in turn have assured them of action. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had yesterday condemned the attack on the Tanzanian student and asked for stringent punishment for the guilty. The Tanzanian student was beaten and then stripped by a group of locals in Bengaluru after they assumed she was part of an incident in which a Sudanese man had run over a local woman. The incident took place on Hesaraghatta Road in Bengaluru on Saturday night after a Sudanese national ran his car over a 35-year-old woman resulting in on the spot death of the woman. The Tanzanian student was travelling in another car, a Wagon-R, along with four others. The young woman, who arrived on the spot around 30 minutes later, was dragged out of the car and paraded naked after being stripped by the mob. The victim told the police in her complaint that when she tried to get on a bus in order to escape the assault, people on the bus pushed her back towards the mob. Earlier, the local residents set fire to two cars belonging to the African students, who studied in local colleges in Ganapathinagar on Hesaraghatta Road. (ANI) Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday said that Bihar government needs to look into the matter of sixty Dalit students threatening to commit suicide. He was responding to reports that sixty Dalit students from Bihar who were studying at the Rajdhani Engineering College in Bhubneshwar had threatened to commit suicide after the Bihar government allegedly stopped paying their college stipends. "The Bihar government delayed in paying scholarship money to some SC/ST students in college in Bhubaneswar. I have spoken to the college administration to speak to Bihar government so that these students are not driven to extreme steps. Bihar Govt needs to look into this matter without any delay, and come to the aid of these students as soon as possible," Pradhan told ANI here. The action from the college administration came after Bihar government failed to pay their stipend despite several reminders sent to it from the college. The students had taken admission in Rajdhani Engineering College in 2014 under the Dalit stipend scheme of the Bihar government. According to students, the college administration provided them free education, boarding and lodging for more than a year but later refused to carry with free services. The stipend which Bihar government has to give to these students is approximately Rs 1,10,000 per student annually. (ANI) Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) Om Prakash, who met the Tanzanian student as part of the investigation process on Thursday, said that the victim was not stripped and paraded. "She did not say that she was stripped and paraded. Yesterday, when she gave in writing, it was found that her top cloth was found removed, which she realised subsequently. Initially her statement could not be recorded, that is why Section 355 was in place," Prakash told the media here. "I checked the case by going to the police station. I talked to the victim. I did not record her statement because it should be part of a detailed inquiry. In many places, the people have reacted in the similar manner. Law is same for everyone and we will take action as per the law," he added. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parmeshwara earlier said that the attack on the Tanzanian student was 'not a racial attack'. "It's not a racial attack. It is just a response to the accident. Bengaluru does not have that kind of an attitude," Parmeshwara told a press conference. This came after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah gave a factual report about the incident to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Swaraj had earlier condemned the attack on the Tanzanian student and asked for stringent punishment for the guilty. The Bengaluru Police had yesterday filed an FIR against some unknown persons in connection with the assault on a 21-year-old Tanzanian student. The Tanzanian student was beaten and then stripped by a group of locals in Bengaluru after they assumed she was part of an incident in which a Sudanese man had run over a local woman. The incident took place on Hesaraghatta Road in Bengaluru on Saturday night after a Sudanese national ran his car over a 35-year-old woman resulting in on the spot death of the woman. The Tanzanian student was travelling in another car, a Wagon-R, along with four others. The young woman, who arrived on the spot around 30 minutes later, was dragged out of the car and paraded naked after being stripped by the mob. The victim told the police in her complaint that when she tried to get on a bus in order to escape the assault, the people on the bus pushed her back towards the mob. (ANI) All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday went all guns blazing against the Samajwadi Party (SP), accusing the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh of turning back on the promises made to the Muslims. "The Muslims were promised that they would be given reservation. Have you (Samajwadi Party) fulfilled your promise? You have not been able to fulfill any of the promises. Who is stopping you from doing that? You just make promises at the time of elections and then forget them," Owaisi said. He also alleged that politics in this country is being controlled by just the rich people. "All you have to do is to elect a Dalit, a poor person, and the world would respect you," he added. He also lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for meeting his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. "The poor are dying, farmers are in penury here, but neither the SP nor the BJP cares about them. The way Modi ji met his counterpart in Lahore; it was as if two separated brothers are meeting after a long time," he said. "It was promised that proper retaliation would be done whenever ceasefire violation take place at the border. What have they done? Hundreds of soldiers have died but the Centre has not taken any action," he added. Owaisi said that Prime Minister Modi should not think of sending forces to fight the ISIS as it is not India's war. "Suddenly they said that the ISIS is rampant in India. But they should know that Indian Muslims have nothing to do with ISIS. Modi ji should not think of sending forces to fight the ISIS," he said. (ANI) Women activists expressed dismay and outrage over a 21-year-old Tanzanian female student being beaten and stripped by locals in Bengaluru, and called on the Centre and the Karnataka Government to punish the guilty. People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) activist Kavita Srivastav said, "It seems that we are not only casteist, but racist as well. It is very sad that people can do anything to anyone. I would like to ask for forgiveness that she has to go through all this. The way Tanzanian woman was treated in an uncivilized way, I am pained and sad by the incident. The police have itself become the audience, it is a crime of omission. Each people involved in this should be arrested and punished." "The amount we criticise the police and the people, it will be less. We talk about 'make in India' but is this 'make in India' only for Caucasians and Chinese and not for black people? I am outraged by what has happened," she added. National Commission for Women activist Nirmala Sawant said, "India is a country which is known for hospitality, good relationship and we have good relationship with the Tanzanian people and African countries. Having a discrimination on the basis of race, caste, creed is an offence and unconstitutional. Our image has been tarnished and we want immediate action on this. It is a criminal offense and guilty must be punished." "It is very nice to know that the top leadership of congress party, Mr. Rahul Gandhi has taken immediate cognizance of this matter. And also Madam Sushma Ji has given direction to her department to intervene in this matter," she added. Meanwhile, the High Commission of Tanzania has sent a Note Verbale about reported attacks on African students in Bangalore. The Note Verbale requests the Government of India to follow up on this matter and take necessary legal action against those involved in such attacks and to ensure safety and security of all African students in India. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has asked the Karnataka Government for explanation and has asked for a report immediately. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had also condemned the attack on the Tanzanian student, and asked for stringent punishment for the guilty. (ANI) A Facebook post by a student of the Delhi campus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) targeting the Dalits has stirred up a controversy, eventually leading to disquiet inside the institute premises. The post had come in the wake of the suicide of PhD scholar Rohith Vemula and subsequent unrest in the University of Hyderabad. The complainant says that the whole issue was an atrocity on the Dalit students while the accused student has dubbed the entire episode to be a case of personal vendetta. "A student named Utkarsh Singh had used some objectionable words against the Dalits in his Facebook post. In his Facebook post, he had also asked the Dalits to come into the mainstream. We are very much hurt with the ill-will that is being created in the institute," Prashant Kanuajia, the complainant, told ANI. Around 30 scheduled caste students, who complained to the administrative authorities on January 29, were reportedly told that there was no redress mechanism in the campus. "We had also informed the institute's management about the issue but then we came to know that there is no such mechanism to deal with such issues," Kanuajia said. He also said that there is no SC/ST or women cell in the institute, adding that it's an atrocity on the Dalit community. "I did not think that the institute was serious about the issue and, therefore, I had to go to National Commission of Scheduled Caste," he further said. Meanwhile, Utkarsh Singh, the accused student who had lashed out at the group with his Facebook post containing derogatory and insulting remarks against the protesting students, said that it was just a personal vendetta. "This is not even an issue. It is just a personal vendetta. The controversy that has arisen on my Facebook post is a part of a conversation between me and my friend," he said. "Efforts are being made to show that there are differences between the Dalits and the General category students in IIMC. But it is not true," he added. He also said that it was a conspiracy to target him as the matter was picked up 13 days after he made the post. "When I apologised then they asked for an action against me. My blog post was targeted for the language that was used in it," he said. At IIMC, the chain of events started when three faculty members and students organised a protest to express solidarity with Rohith Vemula, who took the extreme step on January 17. On January 18, Utkarsh Singh made a Facebook post containing derogatory and insulting remarks against the protesting students, a majority of whom belonged to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. (ANI) Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi moved the Supreme Court on Thursday against a Delhi High Court decision that dismissed their appeals seeking a quashing of summons issued to them by a trial court in connection with the National Herald case. The summons was issued on a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy, who alleged that both had cheated and created a breach of trust in the acquisition of the now-defunct National Herald by Young Indian Limited (YIL). On June 26, last year, the trial court issued summons to them on Swamy's allegations of 'cheating' in the acquisition of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) by Young India Ltd (YIL) -- a firm in which Sonia and Rahul Gandhi own 38 per cent stakes each. The Delhi High Court had in December 2015 rejected their plea and directed them to appear before the trial court. The case relates to the Indian National Congress granting an interest-free loan of Rs. 90.25 crore (USD 13 million) to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), owner of the National Herald newspaper which was established by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1938. It was alleged that the loan was either not repaid or repaid in cash, which is in violation of Section 269T of the Income Tax Act, 1961. A closely held company, Young Indian, was incorporated in November 2010 with a capital of Rs.5 lakh (USD 7,400) and it acquired almost all the shareholding of AJL and all its properties (alleged to be worth Rs.5000 crores (USD 740 million). Swamy filed the case alleging criminal misappropriation by both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The courts have determined that a prima facie case has been established in the matter. (ANI) Following the brutal assault on Tanzanian student in Bengaluru, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has asked the Karnataka Government to explain the incident and send the report immediately. Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Thursday confirmed the news on his official Twitter account. "Strongly condemn Incident with the Tanzanian Lady in Bangalore. Police must act strongly against the culprits. Rahul Gandhi asks Karnataka Govt to explain and send report immediately," Singh said in a series of tweets. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had yesterday condemned the attack on the Tanzanian student, and asked for stringent punishment for the guilty. "I have asked the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty," Swaraj said in a tweet. "I spoke to the Chief Minister Karnataka. He informed me that a criminal case has been registered and four accused have been arrested," she added. Expressing her grief over the incident, Swaraj said, "We are deeply pained over the shameful incident with a Tanzanian girl in Bengaluru." Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Police have filed an FIR against some unknown persons in connection with the assault on a 21-year-old Tanzanian student. The Tanzanian student was beaten and then stripped by a group of locals in Bengaluru after they assumed she was part of an incident in which a Sudanese man had run over a local woman. The incident took place on Hesaraghatta Road in Bengaluru on Saturday night after a Sudanese national ran his car over a 35-year-old woman resulting in on the spot death of the woman. The Tanzanian student was travelling in another car, a Wagon-R, along with four others. The young woman, who arrived on the spot around 30 minutes later, was dragged out of the car and paraded naked after being stripped by the mob. The victim told the police in her complaint that when she tried to get on a bus in order to escape the assault, people on the bus pushed her back towards the mob. Earlier, the local residents set fire to two cars belonging to the African students, who studied in local colleges in Ganapathinagar on Hesaraghatta Road. (ANI) The gun battle left one robber and a policeman injured, while the other robber fled away. Both of them are currently undergoing treatment in the district hospital. "We chased two robbers after we got information of a car robbery. One robber managed to flee after the gun battle. We have nabbed the other one," Senior Superintendent of Police Ashish Srivastava said. The incident took place when the two robbers injured the driver and took the car in their possession. The injured driver informed the police, who then barged into action. After overpowering one of the robbers, the police recovered the car and a pistol. Meanwhile, the police are carrying on with further investigation to nab the other accused. (ANI) Swaraj will co-chair the ninth session of the Joint Commission meeting with her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. A range of bilateral issues, including economic, trade, power and energy, technical, defence and maritime cooperation, are likely to feature during Swaraj's discussions with Samaraweera. Both leaders will review India's extensive assistance to Sri Lanka in housing, health, education and training of professionals, projects to enhance social and cultural ties. The problem of fishermen is part of the agenda at the meeting. The two sides will discuss an early launch of ferry service between Thalaimannar and Rameshwaram and development of Ramayana tourist circuit in Sri Lanka and Buddhist circuit in India. Swaraj will also meet the top Sri Lankan leadership, including President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of Opposition and Chief of Tamil National Alliance, R Sampanthan and other political leaders. The discussions are expected to give direction to ongoing negotiations on ETCA or the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement, which both the sides eager to sign by end of the year. On Saturday, Swaraj will inaugurate Digital India Exhibition, which is being organized as a part of Festival of India in Sri Lanka. (ANI) The Mumbai Police detained a 25-year-old man for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl from Dindoshi suburb of Goregaon area here yesterday evening. The residents of the neighborhood said that they became curious when they saw the little girl bleeding. Upon further inquiry they came to know that the girl had gone out with the accused, following which they handed him over to the police. The police said that they have registered a case under section 376 and have sent the victim to the hospital for further assessment. "It is case of rape of a small girl. We have sent both accused and the victim to a hospital. We are waiting for reports and the inquiry is underway," L. T. Wahanmane on the Mumbai Police told reporters here. "We saw the girl crying. I told her parents that she was bleeding. I caught hold of the man who was earlier with girl," said one of persons from victim's neighborhood. (ANI) However, in an extraordinary move, Sathasivam publicly acknowledged the Opposition Left Democratic Front's protests against the Oommen Chandy Government and urged the Opposition to take their case to the people, rather than disrupting his address. Sathasivam did not begin his speech till the Leader of the Opposition V.S. Achuthanandan was through with his statement on the corruption charges against the state government. The Opposition began disrupting Sathasivam's speech with slogans seeking resignation of the Oommen Chandy government over the solar scam and the bar bribery row. (ANI) The apex court asked him to maintain some dignity and vacate the government bungalow. The Congress leader had moved the apex court to continue the possession of the bungalow. The Delhi High Court had earlier on Wednesday refused to stay the eviction of the Congress MP from his bungalow in New Moti Bagh here. Chowdhury had moved the High Court against the February 1 order dismissing his plea against the eviction, following which the concerned authorities had disconnected water and power supply to his ministerial bungalow at 14, New Moti Bagh, even as they started eviction proceedings against him. (ANI) Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India Rajiva Misra handed over the instrument of ratification to acting Director General of IAEA Juan Carlos Lentijo. The Convention is called as the Nuclear Liability Convention in common parlance. Nuclear reactor makers have been reluctant to set up plants in India because of a 2010 liability law making equipment suppliers potentially accountable for accidents. Since then, India has been trying to pacify the fears of the nuclear suppliers in order to boost the share of nuclear power from a mere 3 percent to 25 percent by 2050. (ANI) Malaysia's exports grew 1.4 percent in December, far slower than forecasted by economists, due to continued weakness in global demand for commodities. The median forecast from a Reuters poll of analysts had predicted a 5 percent expansion. The global economic malaise has hit Southeast Asia's third-largest economy hard, especially with the slowdown in demand for commodities in China, Malaysia's biggest single trade partner. The official data released on Friday showed December's earnings figures again showed sluggish earnings from liquefied natural gas, reflecting the trend from November's data, while electronics and electrical products - Malaysia's mainstay exports - showed positive growth. Malaysia has had to pare down its 2016 Budget late last month with estimated savings of up to 9 billion ringgit ($2.17 billion) after oil prices fell below $35 a barrel, far off the government's estimated average of $48 a barrel for Brent crude.REUTERS KU PR0805 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-574192.Xml During the fortnight-long campaign, 'Operation Smile-II', 16 homeless children in the age group of six to 17 years have been identified in Shimla district alone, a senior police official associated with the campaign told IANS. He said they had been staying in shelter and children homes, religious places, railway platform and the bus stand. "Five of them seemed to be of Nepali origin. Most of them don't know about their whereabouts but their biographical details have been compiled," he said. One of them is visually-impaired and undergoing treatment at the state-run Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital here. The government of India in last December asked all the states to start "Operation Smile-II" as a follow up of the earlier campaign s to rescue and rehabilitate the missing children. The states have reported 9,146 children under 'Operation Smile' and 19,742 children under 'Operation Muskaan', an official statement quoting the Press Information Bureau said. --Indo-Asian News Service vg/pku/vm ( 192 Words) 2016-02-05-12:55:34 (IANS) Amidst the boycott by the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF), Governor Justice(rtd) P Sathasivam today termed the nearly five-year rule of the Oommen Chandy Government as ''Golden Days'' for Kerala which witnessed overall development during the period. Addressing the state Assembly on the opening day of the Budget Session, the Governor noted several major infrastructure projects like Kochi metro, light metro, Kannur Airport and Vizhinjam Port initiated during the period. In his two-and-a-half-hour speech, he noted that Kerala's growth rate of 12.3 per cent was higher than the national average. The government would provide 75,000 houses to the poor during the current financial year as part of the government's commitment to provide houses for all. The trouble broke out as soon as the Governor began his speech. Leader of the Opposition V S Achuthanandan and other LDF members demanded that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other minister involved in corruption charges should step down. However, the Governor sought the cooperation of the Opposition to complete his speech as he had a Constitutional obligation to address the House. If the Opposition was not ready to cooperate with the proceedings, they could walk out of the House. Subsequently, the Opposition members shouted slogans against the government and staged a walk out. This would be the last session of the current Assembly as the state would go to the polls in April-May.UNI CR CJ SS RAI1235 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-574341.Xml Allahabad authorities have started making arrangements to regulate rush of people on 'Mauni Amavasya, the biggest bathing day at the ongoing Magh Mela at Sangam. The authorities in a bid to regulate the flow of devotees and pilgrims on all the 18 ghats of Sangam has constituted as many as 25 special squads comprising 10 policemen each. These policemen will be stationed from ghats to deep water barricading issuing instructions to devotees and pilgrims about safe dip. Mauni Amavasya snan will be held on February 8 Senior Superitenendent of Police(SSP) K S Emmanuel said here today that with around 1.20 crore devotees and pilgrims from all across the country expected to take holy dip in Sangam on the occasion of Mauni Amavasya, mela police have formed as many as 25 special squads to regulate flow of crowds on ghats. He further added, "Apart from volunteers of civil defence, crime prevention committee, special police officers, these squad personnel have assigned duties to regulate the flow of crowd from ghats to deep water barricading." Each squad comprises of 10 policemen who will be standing in water while performing their duties. Apart from this, 500 additional policemen have also been called in to control the crowd in and around Sangam Noz. The SSP said a total of 4,000 policemen ranking from constables to Additional SP have been assigned duties for Mauni Amavasya snan and all of the policemen were apprised about their role and responsibilities for the day. Mela police authorities have also imparted training to squad members asking them to maintain a strict watch on ghats. The mela police have divided all the 18 ghats into six sectors and a Deputy SP and two Station officer rank officers have been made in charge of each ghat. The ghats from Yamuna Patti to Ganga Patti have been divided into six sectors comprising sangam Noz area and mobile police teams would also be assisting squads to check the flow of devotees at entry and exit points leading to Sangam Noz. The mela administration has already banned the entry of beggars in and around Sangam Noz area from Saturday next and police said that all the temporary shops would be shifted or removed from same area with a view to accommodate the large influx of devotees reaching Sangam to take holy dip.UNI MB SV RAI1254 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-574320.Xml Another suspected Islamic State operative has been arrested in the national capital, police said.The suspect ,who was arrested last night, has been identified as Mohsin Ibrahim, a resident of Mumbai. The sleuths of Special Cell arrested him from Kashmiri Gate ISBT area and Rs 85,000 were recovered from his possession. The suspect will be produced before Patiala House Court later in the day. Police said Mohsin was in touch with Syrian militants of Islamic State and wanted to flee to the war-torn country to join them. He had also arranged finances for terror modules to carry out attacks in the country, the police added. Earlier, in a country-wide swoop, the investigative Agency in close coordination with state police forces, rounded up 14 sympathisers of the Islamic State and beefed up its surveillance on suspected terrorists. Many of them were later formally arrested and booked under relevant charges. UNI RG SV 1322 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0377-574461.Xml All trade unions of the now defunct Anglo-French Textile Mills(AFT) today urged the administration to sell the mills properties at Pattannur and Thirubhuvanai and settle the retirement benefits of the workers. Talking to media after a meeting of all trade union leaders, AITUC leader V S Abishegam said 50 per cent of the retired workers died without availing their retirement benefit. Since, the administration failed to provide the retirement benefits to the workers retired in 2011, the workers moved the Madras High Court which directed the mill management to sell its property and settle the accounts of the retired workers since,there is no need to seek the permission of the centre to sell the mills own property.Mr Abishegam said the administration should take steps to sell the properties in four weeks and settle the retirement benefits of the workers besides paying the Provident Fund and ESI dues and also the salary of the workers from July 2012 to November 2013 be disbursed. Leaders of all trade unions, including AITUC, CITU, INTUC, ATU, DMK among others, attended the meeting, Mr Abishegam said.UNI PAB CJ SV1402 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0400-574450.Xml In the yesterday encounter, the militant, identified as Reading M Sangma died. Police also informed that some other militants got injured but managed to escape. Search operations are on to nab the other fleeing militants, sources said. Police seized one 7.65mm pistol, one 7.65mm magazine, two live rounds of 7.65mm, two empty cases of 7.65mm, seven empty cases of 7.62, 39mm AK ammunition from the site of the encounter. UNI RRK AKM SV NS1403 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-574498.Xml The next date of hearing in this case has been scheduled for February 11. "We have to file a reply for CBI's application. They have demanded voice samples. We will file reply and then see," said Rajan's legal counsel Anshuman Sinha. Meanwhile, Rajan has said he would agree to give voice samples only after consulting his lawyers. "He first agreed but then said that he would decide on the matter only after discussing with his lawyer," said another advocate Avinash Rasal. On January 19, the court gave CBI the permission to interrogate Rajan and adjourned the hearing till February 5 (today). On January 7, Special Judge A.L. Pansare explained the J. Dey case to Rajan and sent him into custody. Rajan, a former key aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25 after he arrived from Australia, and was later deported to India. He is facing around 70 cases in Maharashtra, which includes the J Dey murder case. Dey, a veteran crime reporter, was shot dead in Powai by motorcycle-borne shooters on June 11, 2011 allegedly at the command of Rajan. (ANI) The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday demanded that the Conservative Party MP who had made a 'racial comment' against Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, must apologise immediately. Targetting Canada's opposition Member of Parliament Jason Kenney, SAD Delhi unit president Manjit Singh GK said that it was completely inappropriate for Kenney to shout and say we need an "English-to-English" translation to understand Sikh Defence Minister in Parliament. "The leader of opposition, Jason Kenney, has an English-to-English translation of Harjit Sajjan who is the defence minister of Canada, I think it is a racial comment. And I think he should feel sorry about this as already across the globe, Indians are facing many racial abuses and this will again give rise to such kind of atrocities towards Indians," said Manjit Singh GK told ANI here. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and senior lawyer Majeed Memon said that if his (Harjit Sajjan) English knowledge is poor and he is finding it difficult to function in the parliament, and in that case, if someone is telling him to improve his English, it must not be taken as an offence. He further said that if a Sikh is critisised for his caste, for his turban or for his conduct, individual person, then it is a very serious matter. "I understand that this gentleman was critised for his knowledge of English. But if it is supposed to be a comment about his religion or about his caste, culture, then it is a very serious matter. And the High Commission of India must not spare such offenders," Memon added. Sajjan was heckled in Canadian Parliament with an opposition member shouting that MP needed an "English-to-English" translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as "racist". Kenney, a former defence minister himself, said MPs needed an "English to English" translation of Sajjan's responses. (ANI) A Special Central Bureau of Investigation court today granted permission to the agency to question Indrani Mukerjea and two other co-accused in jail premises in the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case of 2012. The CBI has moved an application seeking permission to question Indrani, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai in the jail. Investigating agencies have received some fresh evidence against them in connection with the murder case. CBI court Judge H S Mahajan granted permission to question them in jail premises. The probe agency said in its application "In the course of investigation, certain new facts have emerged from the examination of witnesses and the three accused are required to be re-examined in view of the new information revealed by the witnesses", Indrani was arrested in the case on August 25, last year, on the basis of information revealed by her driver Rai and thereafter, her ex-husband Khanna was picked up from Kolkata. They are in the judicial custody. The CBI has already filed the charge sheet against them. Former media icon, Peter Mukerjea, was also arrested on December 19 last year for his alleged involvement in conspiracy to eliminate Sheena. He is also in judicial custody. Sheena (24), daughter of Indrani from an earlier relationship, was allegedly strangled in a car on April 24, 2012 and then her burnt body was dumped in a forest in Raigad, about 84 kms from here.UNI ST NV CJ RP AS1437 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-574499.Xml The company said, its board of directors today considered andapproved a preferential issue of 1,07,20,000 equity shares at Rs 140each, aggregating Rs 150 crore to selected global investor such asAtyant Capital India Fun- I, Vanderbilt University, GHI LTP LTD, GHIHSP LTD and GHI ERP LTD. subject to necessary approvals. The preferential issue of equity shares is subject to approvalfrom shareholders at the ensuing Extraordinary General Meeting to beheld on March 5, 2016. ''The issue price represents a 26 per cent premium over theaverage of the weekly high and low of the volume weighted averageshare price of the company during the past 26-week period,'' it added. The proposed issue will result in a dilution of 14.1 per cent ofthe equity share capital of the company and the post-issue promoterand promoter group holding in the company will be 40.6 per cent.UNI JS RB AW1414 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0169-574616.Xml The meeting which was held yesterday discussed the issues related to border management including implementation of development projects within 100 yards of international border and erection of single row fencing at certain areas. According to report, BSF and BGB have agreed to enhance border patrolling, checking of trans-border crimes, illegal movements, river bank protection work along common border rivers and to undertake initiative as part of confidence building measures. Bangladesh delegation was led by BGB Sector Commander of Srimangal, Deputy Director General, Md Tarequl Islam Khan and the BSF delegation was led by D K Sharma, the DIG of Panisagar Sector and Rajeev Sinha, DIG Teliamura Sector. BSF officials however, said the meeting was cordial and both BSF and BGB agreed to work on mutual benefits.UNI BB BM SV AS1421 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-574313.Xml The energy from the solar power plants would be sold to local distribution companies and private corporations. It would provide 25-years of cost effective, emission free electricity, a company release here said. Sun Edison is transforming Indias electricity supply with quick-to-build, reliable, and cost-effective solar energy, Pashupathy Gopalan, Company President (IndiaOperations) said. ''Sun Edison has built more than 470 MW of renewable energy in India so far, propelling the country towards its goal of installing 175 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2022'', he added. Sun Edison plans to develop more than 1,500 MW of solar and wind energy power plants in India over the next 18 months and was committed to developing, financing, and building 15.2 gigawatts of renewable energy in the country by 2022, the release said.UNI GV VV AK1507 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0415-574572.Xml Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav expressed his annoyance over theignorance of the Central government in providing financial assistance to the state. "Even after several reminders, Centre has not given us funds as per our expectation," he told reporters here. Mr Yadav said even as the Centre has not provided adequate fund still, the state government was undertaking all the developmental works through its own resources. The Chief Minister, who visited the district to attend a pre-marriage function of a party leader, said the Clean Ganga project would be successful when every house, village and street are clean." When all the houses and villages are clean then automatically the holy Ganga would be cleaned," he stated. Asked about the party's strategy for the coming assembly polls, the Samajwadi Party state president said." "We have already fulfilled all our promises made in 2012 and now we are doing additional works." Mr Yadav that there is no pressure on the party on poll promises in 2017 elections and the party hopes to return to power with a big majority.UNI MB SW NS1530 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-574547.Xml Assam authorities has again set up police outpost at Sabuda village in Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya bordering Assam. Khasi Students Union (KSU), North Khasi Hills (Eastern Zone) president, Banjop Maring, today said the Assam authorities have last month established a full-fledged police outpost at Sabuda village. "This is an infringement by Assam on our land and territory," Mr Maring said even as he questioned the inaction on the part of Meghalaya on the issue. The KSU leader also informed that Meghalaya has failed to implement its promise made of setting to the people up police outposts. According to him, the Meghalaya government had last year assured to set up police outposts at Madan Umwang and Umlaper and have agreed to provide land for the purpose. "What surprised the local villagers is that instead of seeing the setting up of Meghalaya police outposts, they witnessed the coming up of an Assam police outpost at Sabuda," Mr Maring said. He also said Meghalaya is scared of asserting its right over its own territory while Assam on the other hand is continuing with its bullying attitude by encroaching into Meghalaya territory. The KSU, North Khasi Hills (eastern zone) has today asked the Meghalaya government to intervene into the matter by dismantling the Assam police outpost and also provide security to the local villagers. It might be mentioned that Assam police commandos had in November last year demolished an under-construction building meant for rearing Eri worms under the sericulture department of the Meghalaya government. Further, Assam government had also last year allegedly encroached into Meghalaya territory in Hima Nongspung by erecting electricity poles in Balakhawa, Ranibari, Bernongsai, Blipara, Patgang, Akhinnijira and Harhel.UNI RRK AKM SA SW AS1527 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-574493.Xml A joint peace mission team consisting of Naga Hoho and Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation (ENPO) met representative of NSCN (K) in Myanmar to request for review and resumption of the unilateral abrogation of ceasefire by the NSCN (K) with the Centre, but failed to meet NSCN-K leader S S Khaplang. A joint statement issued by ENPO general secretary Manlang Phom and Naga Hoho general secretary Meitsikhoyo Yhobu, which was also submitted its report to the Chief Minister, said the eight member team met Kyaw Win Swe, an emissary from the ceasefire monitoring group of NSCN (K) at Mandalay on January 31 last. The ENPO and the Naga Hoho, on behalf of the Nagaland government and the people of the state in general expressed the views for peace and stability for bringing an amicable solution to the protracted Indo-Myanmar-Naga issue, the statement read. The statement said the official and a formal letter signed by all eight delegations members addressed to S S Khaplang, chairman, NSCN (K) was submitted through the emissary, where the contents appealed to the NSCN (K) leadership for the review and resumption of the ceasefire with the Government of India. The team also expressed the public views and appealed for equally strengthening the ceasefire by the NSCN (K) with the Myanmar government (socially and politically) at the highest level. The peace mission was undertaken on the official request of the parliamentary working committee (PWC) of the Nagaland state legislative assembly. The team had undertaken the assignment from January 24 till February 2. Earlier, upon reaching Mandalay, the team went to Nay Pyi Taw on January 26 and called on the 5 Naga MPs of Myanmar and discussed on the initiatives to meet the NSCN (K) leadership. The team also met the Myanmar Union Minister U Aung-min, who is also the vice chairman, National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on the initiative of the Naga MPs of Myanmar on January 27. The meeting was cordial and open where several issues relating to peace-building between the two nations, and also the Naga issues on both sides (Indo-yanmar) were discussed, the press statement informed. Further, the joint team also met and interacted with Vipin Sharma, Consul at the Consulate General of India, Mandalay, Myanmar, the statement said. UNI AS AKM SHS RK1535 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0213-574517.Xml Union Minister for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Giriraj Singh has criticised the Left Front government in Tripura for increasing incidence of crime on women and inadequate support to the victim. Before leaving for Delhi today, Mr Singh met a minor tribal girl who was tortured and allegedly raped by a group of miscreants on Republic Day in Agartala Govt Medical College (AGMC) and offered Rs 50,000 to the victim family. He alleged as per the law enacted by left front government in Tripura, every rape victim must get rupees one lakh for their treatment besides, best hospital service but none of the victim so far in the state did get a single paisa. Moreover, due to poor performance of police and public prosecutors in the court, the accused persons of women atrocity cases got relieved in the trial. And Tripura has now become highest in the country in regard to crime on women, Mr Singh said. He alleged that tribal victim, resident of Mandwai of Agartala was gang raped by two youths by tying her in a mobile tower on January 26 last. Later, the two youths also beaten up her brother who tried to save his sister. She was shifted to hospital in a critical condition but none of the cabinet member of the ruling Manik Sarkar government could managed time to even visit her. From outside Mr Sarkar presents a picture honesty and good governance but in reality communists have established jungle raj in the state at the behest of their political interest, he commented. The Left front government beats drum of development to mark it as remarkable state. In true sense, there is no governance in the state where women's honour is at stake, he added.UNI BB BM SHS AS1522 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-574316.Xml India has ratified an international convention on nuclear energy accident liability, that paved way for US and other foreign companies to invest in the nuclear energy sector in the country. India's permanent representative to the United Nations(Vienna) Rajiv Mishra handed over the instrument of ratification of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation(CSC) for Nuclear Damage, to acting Director General of International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) Juan Carlos Lentijo in Vienna yesterday, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) said here last night. This addresses concerns of foreign nuclear suppliers and makes the country part of the global legal regime that has established a standard for compensation of victims in the event of a nuclear accident.UNI SS RP1637 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-574969.Xml A temple staff member was shot dead by unidentified men on the premises of temple situated on a hill at Khitaula in Madhya Pradeshs Jabalpur district last night, police said. Temple priest Achidanand had gone to Amarkantak yesterday morning. In his absence, four armed men, along with a woman and a child, arrived at the temple in a jeep at 2000 hrs and knocked the door. Temple staff member Bhagchand Patel was shot dead as soon as he opened the door. On hearing the sound of gunshot, when another temple staff Hiralal Thakur came outside, the accused demanded temple keys from him and attacked him with the butt of a gun. However, Hiralal and other temple staff hid in another room taking advantage of darkness and telephoned nearby villagers. When the assailants found villagers climbing the hill, they tried to escape but their jeep dashed into a tree. The culprits left behind their jeep and fled into forests on foot. Certain documents pertaining to the vehicles ownership were seized according to which the jeep belonged to a resident of Tendukheda. The body was sent for a post-mortem. Police have launched a search to nab the accused.UNI XC-PS SW RK1620 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-574839.Xml Alleging discrimination with Kargil district by the centre , Congress said the border town in the Ladakh region was not covered under the Under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Uarban Transformation (AMRUT) and other central schemes. Appreciating inclusion of Leh under AMRUT and other central schemes, Congress wanted to know why Kargil, also in the Ladakh region, was left out. Senior Congress leader and MLA from Kargil, Haji Asgar Ali Karbalia in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, expressed concern over non-inclusion of Kargil district under AMRUT. Despite that Kargil having same topographic condition as of its sister district Leh, the border district was ignored by the government for consideration under the AMRUT scheme, he said. He said Kargil, situated at the bank of River Suru on which the 44 MW Chutuk Hydel Project is functioning, is also fulfilling the two main criteria of AMRUT. Mr Karbalia asked Mr Modi and Mr Azad on what ground the union government was discriminating and avoiding the development of Kargil despite that fact that patriotism of the People was acknowledged by the entire country, including the Prime Minister. He quoted a tweet of Mr Modi on August 12, 2014 which said the patriotism of the people of Kargil inspires the people of India. I bow to this land and to the people. Mr Karbalia added Leh was already covered under JNNRUM and sufficient funds of Rs 217 crore has already been already sanctioned. Besides Leh district was also covered under RAY which is now under AMRUT by the union government, he said and wanted to know why Kargil was left out from these schemes. In fact Kargil needs more importance in areas like drinking water supply, sewerage and drainage, roads, footpath, solid waste management , health and education. The letter read that non inclusion of Kargil in any of the town beautification schemes launched by the Centre t as created a sense of alienation among the people. He urged Mr Modi to direct the Ministry of Urban Development Department to include Kargil under AMRUT so as to make realise the commitments made with the people during his last visit to this border town.UNI BAS SW RK1640 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-574827.Xml Lauding the role of Indian Agriculture Research Institute(IARI) in ushering Green Revolution in the country, President Pranab Mukherjee today said the premier institute must maintain world class standards by creating a pool of scientists backed by state of the art infrastructure."Agricultural education in our country must conform to global standards. For that, we need to create a large pool of competent faculty empowered with state of the art research infrastructure. A strong network of teachers, learners and practitioners will facilitate lab-to-field dissemination of good agricultural practices," Mr Mukherjee said, addressing 54th convocation of IARI at Pusa Campus here."Agricultural institutes are the foci on which the success of our farm sector and welfare of people depends. The barometer of performance is the quality of their products. Able, committed and industrious professionals from these institutions are required to spearhead the next farm revolution," the President said. "Students and alumni of this reputed institution must seize the opportunity and contribute to the transformation in agriculture," the President added.Mr Mukherjee noted that India has only 3 per cent of the worlds land resources and 5 per cent of water resources. Yet, Indian agriculture system supports 18 per cent of the world population. India's transformation from a state of "ship-to-mouth"(total dependence on import through ships to feed the population) to a leading exporter of food grains has been made possible largely due to the scientific developments in premier institutes like IARI. "This Institute has made significant contributions in ushering the green revolution and building a vibrant agriculture sector in our country. I applaud IARI for its dedicated service to the nation," the President said.Mr Mukherjee observed that the IARI has recently developed several breakthrough technologies bringing prosperity to farmers. Indias basmati rice export has been revolutionised because of IARIs short-duration high-yielding basmati rice varieties. Pusa basmati varieties accounted for more than 90 percent of the 30,000 crore rupees of export earnings this year. It gave profit in excess of two lakh rupees per hectare to the farmers. Likewise, IARI wheat varieties have resulted in an additional production of 3 million tonnes of wheat in the previous year. UNI PRA SW 1709 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0384-575031.Xml Tobacco cultivation, though it supports onelakh farmer families in South India, should be reduced substantiallyin view of health problems it is creating, Chairman of ParliamentaryStanding Committee on Science, Technology, Environment and ForestsDr Ashwani Kumar today said. Speaking to reporters here, he said he had held discussion withTobacco Board officials and had asked them to give a report onencouraging the farmers to grow alternate crops as use of tobaccocontinued to be the main cause for the dreaded disease Cancer and alarge number of deaths reported in the country due to its use. ''The other major effect of tobacco cultivation and trade is howit is destroying our forest wealth. To cure one kg of tobacco ittakes six times more of wood that leads to destruction of forests.Varioius methods of curing tobacco destroys soil quality and itsconsumption it is established that it is main cause of cancer. ''As against an estimated Rs 17,000 crore of annual revenuegenerated by tobacco industry, the nation spends about Rs one lakhcrore every year on treating the diseases and health issuesconcerned with the consumption and cultivation of tobacco,'' he explained. He said the Committee was mindful of one lakh farmer familiesdependent upon tobacco cultivation but the country has to educatethem and convince them of taking up growing other crops. ''We have asked the Tobacco Board to submit to the Committeewithin six months, one study specifically commissioned to findingways and means of moving the farmer community away from tobaccocultivation,'' he said. He said the farmers were encouraged to grow bengal gram insteadof tobacco but it did not meet with desired results. ''We have tofind remunerative and attractive alternative crops for tobaccofarmers. As the awareness on negitive on the impact on tobaccofarmering grow, there will be both focus by the government,other organisations to reduce activitity,'' he said. The tobacco production has already come down from 1.8 lakh tonnesto 1.2 lakh tonnes in the country and in a way it was a good signal.''We need to build much stronger campaign against tobacco.''UNI RS MSP KVV ADB1815 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0285-575228.Xml Calling upon the students of journalism to incorporate a balanced view in their professional career, Minister of State for Informaiton and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore today said it was also important to practice the spirit of self-regulation. Speaking at the 48th convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication for the academic year 2014-15, Mr Rathore said that the Government was proactively pursuing the idea of providing IIMC the status of Institute of National Importance. At the same time, keeping in mind the contemporary trends, the institute could also work on introducing new courses related to Animation and Digital Media in its course-curriculum Speaking at a function, where Chairman IIMC and Secretary of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, Shri Sunil Arora were also present, Mr Rathore said that keeping in view the interests of students and institute, a committee may be constituted to deliberate and work upon issues related to students welfare and employability. He also advised students to always have a constructive approach towards life and should endeavor to keep improving their knowledge and skills.Chairman (IIMC) and I and B Secretary Sunil Arora said that Journalism was one of the very challenging and exciting profession amongst many other career options. He also said that IIMC should increase its international outreach by having tie-ups with equally good schools of journalism across the world for better exposure to the students as well as faculty.IIMC has the distinction of being universally recognized as a centre of excellence in the field of journalism, media and mass communication teaching, training and research. 364 students were conferred with their Diplomas at this Convocation which included students from six Centres of IIMC, at New Delhi and Regional Centres at Dhenkanal, Aizawl in Mizoram, Amravati in Maharashtra, Jammu in J&K and Kottayam in Kerala. The PG Diploma courses were conferred in Journalism Hindi and English, Advertising& Public Relations, Oriya Journalism and Urdu Journalism. Special awards were also given in different categories to 30 students across all courses. UNI AR RSA 2003 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0092-575621.Xml The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) won 10 seats while Congress was victorious lone Division and the BJP and TDP combined yet to opened its account. The counting taken up at the 1500 hours amid tight security. Meanwhile joyous scenes were witness as the results boured in it the drum beating TRS activists dancing and taken up victory rallies. Meanwhile, the bi-poll in the Puranapul Division passed of peacefully.UNI SMS KVV ADB1950 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0147-575332.Xml As a follow-up of the meeting between Punjab ADGP HRD M K Tiwari and Western Command In-charge (Training) Major General M P Singh, Army has offered to train Punjab Police personnel at its different facilities in Jalandhar, Pathankot, Zirakpur and Nahan. A two weeks training programme is being considered for nearly 20 young police officers for strengthening the SWAT team. Similarly some officials will undertake the 'GHATAK' anti terrorist operations training course. In addition, Army has also agreed in enhancing the expertise of the Punjab Police in handling IEDs, anti sabotage and bomb disposal techniques. These courses are also expected to increase the co-operation and co-ordination between the two organisations.UNI DB SW AS1920 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-575440.Xml Resentment prevails among the local residents, pilgrims and devotees, who visit Bajjreshwari temple here, for the failure of the authorities to make Bajjreshwari Ghat near old Kangra, constructed at the cost of Rs 14.35 lakhs in 1998, operational even after the lapse of 18 years. Bajjerhwari Temple Trust constructed the Bathing Ghat for the convenience of the pilgrims on Banner Khad in 1998 however failed to make it operational till date. The ghat, constructed for the pilgrims to have bath in the Banner Khad before paying obeisance at Bajjreshwari temple, remained a distant dream for the devotees visiting the shrine. Adjacent to the Bajjreshwari ghat is the killer point where more than 100 pilgrims and tourists were drowned during the past 13 years. In the beginning Rs 12.50 lakh were spent on the construction and later on Rs 1.85 lakh were spent on its maintenance surprisingly which was not even operational till now. Meanwhile, a contractor kept his construction material on the newly constructed Bajjreshwari ghat for nearly six years and sub divisional authorities managed to get the area vacated by the contractor in 2014 after notices were served on him under the Public Premises Act. Temple officer Pawan Bhadial today told UNI that the ghat was under illegal occupation of the contractor for six years without any rent and was vacated by him in 2014, leaving water pipes and tanks broken on the ghat. Mr Bhadial said the Trust had repeatedly issued notices to the contractor for the last two years to get the damaged pipes and tanks repaired on the ghat which he allegedly failed to do till date. He said newly constructed bridge on Kangra-Hoshiarpur national highway near the site has now left the ghat in isolation. He further confirmed that despite spending Rs 14.35 lakh on the project the government land of the ghat was not transferred to the Temple Trust even after the lapse of 18 years of its construction. Kangra residents demanded a high level inquiry in this scam and the guilty be punished. UNI XC DB SW CS1930 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-575501.Xml Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today condemned the racial slur against the Indian born Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in the Canadian parliament. Every Indian in general and every Sikh in particular feels hurt over the racial slur against Mr Sajjan whose contribution to the Canadian nation remains unparalleled, Capt Singh said in a statement. He said, the remarks made by the opposition MP Jason Kenney are clearly and undoubtedly racial and outrageous and he must apologise for the same and in case he doesnt, he must be admonished and reprimanded in accordance with the Canadian legislative business procedures. The PCC president pointed out that Mr Sajjan was a decorated soldier who had served in Afghanistan and Bosnia. It was only because Sajjan was from a different race and ethnicity that the opposition Conservative lawmaker made an outrageously racial remark against him which must be condemned by everybody, he observed. The former Punjab Chief Minister regretted that this happened inside the parliament of Canada where the Indian-Punjabi origin people have made immense contribution towards its progress and development and have been committed and integral part of the society there. Sajjans is a rare and an illustrious example as how a hardworking Punjabi contributed towards the nation building and rose to become the Defence Minister of the country after participating in military campaigns in most difficult places like Afghanistan and Bosnia and he certainly deserves respect and honour and not the racial slur, Capt Singh said.UNI NC SW AS1921 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-575426.Xml Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today expressed profound grief over the tragic death of one JCO and nine soldiers of the 19 Madras Regiment of the Indian army in Siachen after they were buried alive in an avalanche on Wednesday. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families, he said the entire nation was in shock and grief over the loss of the precious lives and it stood by them over the tragic loss, Captain Singh said in a statement. "It is virtually impossible for anyone to imagine the tortuous and hostile terrain our soldiers are confronted with while defending our borders on the highest altitudes with sub-zero temperatures round the year", he said, while adding that their sacrifices will always be remembered by the nation.UNI NC SW VN1919 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-575465.Xml The Congress Party on Friday demanded a Supreme Court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the report of allotting large parcels of land to private enterprises run by business associates of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel's daughter Anar Jayesh Patel. "A probe by no other central agencies, except for a Supreme Court-monitored SIT, would be justified," said Congress leader Anand Sharma. "When Narendra Modi ji, the Prime Minister, was the Chief Minister of Gujarat under his watch nepotism flourished, conflict of interest was encouraged and public land was plundered in a brazen manner to promote the commercial and business interest of entities closely connected to the daughter of the then Revenue Minister and present Chief Minister of Gujarat Smt. Anandiben Patel," he said. "The allotment of land near the Gir Lions Sanctuary was made on 27th of October, 2010. 250 acres was given for Rs. 15 per square metre or Rs. 60,000 rupees per acre, whereas the then notified value of land was Rs. 50 lakh per acre. So, land costing Rs. 125 crores then was given at a throwaway price of one and a half crore," he alleged. "Gir Lions Sanctuary is also an eco-sensitive zone, where commercial activity, resorts, mining are not allowed, there are Supreme Court directions. And under the Supreme Court directions, there Gujarat Government itself had come out with its first notification banning any such activity in a radius of 2 kilometers on 25th June, 2009," he said. "Now, the interesting part is that, in the intervening period between then and the second amended notification, which was done with the clear purpose to circumvent the law, procedures and notification to allow this company widen its resort to go ahead with its project. Under that time, the radius was reduced from two kilometer of the eco-sensitive zone to one kilometer on 1st July, 2015. "The permission was also given to purchase 177 acres of agricultural land to the same company. And this land which was agricultural land could not have been purchased by non-agriculturists but was allowed to be purchased," he said. Sharma alleged, "There cannot be a more brazen of case of violation of laws, nepotism, conflict of interest and plundering of public land, misuse of agricultural land. The land was allotted without any auction." He sought to know whether the Prime Minister was aware that the allocation of 250 acres of public land next to the Gir Lions Sanctuary was made. "The Prime Minister should tell us whether this allocation was in public interest and in conformity with the laws, regulations and established procedures," said Sharma. Reports suggest a company run by business associates of Anandiben's daughter reportedly owns 400 acres, of which 250 acre was allotted to the company purportedly at an official rate of Rs 15 per square metre. (ANI) Special Judge Bharat Parashar on Thursday issued summons to HEPL, its two directors Ujjal Kumar Upadhaya and Bikash Mukherjee, and its senior official N.C. Chakraborty, directing them to appear before court on February 29. The court issued order following the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case and after observing that sufficient evidence exists against the accused for the offence of cheating and criminal conspiracy. The CBI in its charge sheet said that accused directors Upadhaya and Mukherjee had submitted false information to the Ministry of Coal (MoC) to secure allocation of Gourangdih ABC coal block in West Bengal in the favour of their company. The CBI has not charge sheeted Chakraborty but the court issued summons to him too. --Indo-Asian News Service akk/sd/vt ( 173 Words) 2016-02-05-20:57:34 (IANS) The Ramchandi Marine police today detained an Indian origin foreign national for creating nuisance in a school located along the Puri Konark marine drive road. According to reports, one Khalsa Gurudayal Singh (21), a Canada national this morning went to Beladal nodal upper primary school and wanted to teach students. When the headmaster refused to entertain him, he sat on the verandah of the school and started playing music from his laptop. As some villagers approached him, he threw his laptop and camera stand and started running. The police took him to Ramchandi police station for questioning. It is learnt that he is on a tourist visa and had no passport with him. Police is trying to contact the embassy to verify the details.UNI XC DP BM RSA BL2115 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-575794.Xml The family, hailing from Salim Tibri area in Ludhiana, was on their way from Rohtak to Ludhiana and when their car reached near Baroda village it collided with a Punjab Roadways bus. The deceased were identified as Gulshan and his sister Santosh. Local residents rushed the injured to civil hospital who were later referred to PGI Rohtak for treatment. Police have handed over the bodies of the deceased to their family after post mortem. Police have started investigation in this connection.UNI XC DB RSA BL2047 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-575645.Xml Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Brij Behari Lal Butail today said he would convene an all party meeting for smooth proceeding of the budget session, beginning here from February 25. Talking to UNI here, Mr Butail said he would convene an all party meeting two days before the commencement of the budget session so that the House could run smoothly without any disruption. "All party meeting would be held so that members could get sufficient time to raise public interest and development issues," the Speaker said. Opposition members of BJP, HLP and Independent would be invited in the all party meeting so that an assurance could be taken from each for saving wastage of time being consumed during the disruption. He said Governor Achaya Dev Vrat would deliver his address on the first day of the session on February 25. He said four days would be given to the members so that they could speak on motion of thanks on the Governor address to begin from February 29 onward. He said Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who also holds finance portfolio, would present supplementary budget on February 29 and budget estimates for year 2016-17 on March 8. The House would clear demands head of each departments of budgets on March 27 to April 7. It would observe six days break from March 22 to 27 so that Vidhan Sabha committee could discuss the budgetary allocations of each heads in between. Mr Butail urged the members of assembly that they should raised the issue concerned to people and take part in the assembly proceeding as per assembly rule so that rapport of August house could be preserved as it enjoys high reputation among the other assemblies in the country.UNI ML RSA VN2211 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0292-575836.Xml The incident happened in Bowbazar area of the city. Police have arrested Rameshwar for murdering 57-year-old Buddhadeb Saha and also seized a chopper which he used for attacking the business partner. According to police, Saha owed a huge sum of money to Rameshwar and had been unwilling to return it. --Indo-Asian News Service and/vd/vt ( 87 Words) 2016-02-05-22:01:35 (IANS) Targeting the Banerjee government ahead of the assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party's women wing is undertaking a 10 day march highlighting the rising crime against women in the state. The march from Kamduni in North 24 Parganas district began on Wednesday and will culminate in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas. "The manner in which women here in Bengal are violated and that too scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women in particular are very very sad and frightening," BJP Lok Sabha member Savitri Thakur said addressing the march here. Asserting that condition of women was far superior in the party-ruled Madhya Pradesh, she called upon people to bring her party to power in the state. "I think it is high time that Bengal too should have a BJP government, which is a development and justice oriented government," said Thakur who represents Dhar constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Participating in the march on Thursday, BJP MP and national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said she would soon write to the union home ministry about the "rising violence" against women in the state. --Indo-Asian News Service and/vd ( 223 Words) 2016-02-05-22:21:34 (IANS) A Special Court here today remanded to judicial custody to United States-based international antique dealer Subhash Chandra Kapoor, who was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police in 2012, in connection with the theft of idols from two ancient temples in the state. When Kapoor was produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Court here, that is designated as a Special Court for Idol theft cases, Judge S Baskaran remanded him to judicial custody till February 19 and posted the case for further hearing on that day. The Judge further said Kapoor would be examined through video conference and if necessary the court will have his personal appearance. Later, he was taken back to Chennai. The court is set to try the idol theft cases faced by Kapoor. Kapoor, arraigned as accused by the Idol wing CBCID police, was arrested on July 14, 2012 after being extradited from Germany, following his detention there on a Interpol red corner notice against him. An Indian origin, Kapoor owns Nimbus Imports and Exports Company based in New York, has been charged with smuggling antique idols belonging to Sri Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Suthamalli village and Arulmigu Pragadeeswarar Temple at Stipurandal village in Ariyalur ditrict. The cases were transferred to the Special Court here for trial in September 2015 by the Madras High Court . The HC had then ordered that Kapoor need not be produced before the Special Court for every hearing and his appearance may be recorded through video conference facility. When the matter came up for hearing for the first time after the transfer, he was brought from Chennai by CB-CID police amid tight security and produced before Judge Baskaran. UNI GSM PY RSA 2215 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-575949.Xml Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today issued instructions to further strengthen health care at all government hospitals in the state. He also asked health officials to ensure mechanised cleaning of Operation Theatres (OTs) so that chances of infection are nullified. He also called for availability of necessary medicines at the government hospitals. The Chief Minister was reviewing available healthcare facilities at the government hospitals, at his official residence with Director General Health Sunil Kumar Srivastava. He asked officials to ensure that all facilities and equipment's at hospitals are in working condition and that adequate para-medical staff is available in both urban and rural areas. He also pointed out that since '108' Samajwadi Ambulance Service and '102' National Ambulance Service had a large fleet of ambulances, it should be ensured that patients and those in need get proper and timely facility of ambulances and brought to the nearest hospital in time for prompt treatment. He also asked health officials to ensure that doctors and staff behaved properly with the patients and attendants, and in case any complaints came, strict action should be initiated against errant staff. Seeking information on the under-construction trauma centre, burn unit and dialysis, he sought their early completion so that people in need can be benefited from these facilities. Mr Yadav also said his government has established many government medical colleges in the state and has provided better facilities in hospitals. The state government in future too, he added, will endeavour to improve and strengthen such facilities and will not hesitate in taking action against those found slack in their duties. UNI MB PY RSA 2213 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-575961.Xml The Indian Air force (IAF) today agreed to vacate the airbase at Leh district in the arid Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir which will be used for expansion of the civilian airport by the state government. This was revealed during a meeting held by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Asgar Hassan Samoon, with the officials of IAF, Airport Authority of India Limited (AII) and civil administration here. Dr Samoon was informed that the state government has identified land in lieu of the existing IAF airbase in Leh which will pave way for expansion of the airport for civilian use, also approved by the IAF authorities. Similarly, the district officials of Kargil informed Dr Samoon that in exchange for an alternate site, the Army has agreed to vacate a large tract of land presently under the Army's control, which will be used for the expansion of the town. The IAF officials, who attended the meeting, said the alternate site offered by the state government in Leh has been examined by experts and they are ready to take over if the state government finalises the deal. The Divisional Commissioner was also informed that the modalities are being worked out to shift the existing airbase in Leh to Airport Authority of India which will develop/expand it for civilian purposes. Dr Samoon said the paperwork to finalise the dealings should be taken up on priority so that it is transferred to the civil government by the end of February. The Divisional Commissioner said the administration will transfer the airbases to the Airport Authority of India for development. He said that the transfer agreements should be taken up on priority to fully exploit the huge tourism potential of Leh and Kargil which in turn would generate much needed employment opportunities for local youth. Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner also directed the AAI to ensure proper sanitation at the Srinagar airport so that it does not become a breeding ground for dogs and birds, which will pose threat to the safety of air passengers, besides local population. Dr Samoon also directed the AAI to explore the modalities for starting night operations at the Srinagar airport. The Airforce officials attending the meeting informed Dr Samoon that they have already given in writing that they have no issues if the airport hosts flights during night. UNI BAS RSA VN2255 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-575859.Xml Listed below are the Weblogs I commend to your attention. A listing is not an endorsement of content. For an explanation of the groupings (by analogy to Tennyson's "Charge of the Light Brigade"), please see this post , and this ; the reference to "cannon" is not pejorative (although it may, depending on its character, be regarded as onomatopoetic). Authors who object to their listing here, either on specific grounds or no grounds at all, may contact me for correction or removal. (Removal is automatic after a month or so of inactivity.) I will also consider requests and recommendations to be added.Note: only the best of the conservative political blogs are listed here (under "Cannon Fodder", below). For political blogs on the left, those readers who lean toward such fare need no assistance in locating them, and they need no promotion here. In another incident, reflecting further deterioration of law and order situation in Bihar, a Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Brijnathi Singh was shot dead by outlaws near Kachchi Dargah under Fatuha police station area in Patna district today. Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Sunil Kumar told UNI here that motorcycle borne assailants sprayed bullets from AK 47 assault rifle on Mr Singh while he was going somewhere in his vehicle. He said the LJP leader died on the spot. Mr Sunil Kumar said the murder was apparently an offshoot of his rivalry with a dreaded gang headed by notorious criminal Munna Singh. He said LJP leader had himself criminal antecedents and several cases were pending against him. He further said Mr Singh, who was a police constable in Supaul district was dismissed from services. A large number of empty cartridges of the sophisticated firearm were recovered from the spot. According to an earlier report, wife of the LJP leader also died during the shoot out but SSP refuted the report, saying a fresh inputs received from the spot made it clear that she escaped unhurt in the attack. Wife of younger brother of slain LJP leader also sustained injuries in the shoot-out and was rushed a hospital in Patna, he informed. The deceased`s son Rakesh Rohan had contested last Assembly election against RJD Chief Lalu Prasad`s son Tejaswi Yadav from Raghopur in Vaishali district. Mr Singh had himself contested the 2010 state Assembly election against former Chief Minister Rabri Devi. An intensive search operation is on to nab assailants who gunned down the LJP leader. State BJP president Mangal Pandey said criminals were striking at their will as the state government had completely failed to contain the rising crime. He said desperadoes were spraying bullets on their targets in broad day light while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar never missed an opportunity to claim that rule of law was prevailing in the state. The gruesome murder of LJP leader took place soon after the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Prem Kumar ended his 24 hour fast against the rising crime graph in the state.UNI DH BM PY RSA VN2258 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-575910.Xml The president of the Nigerian Association in Telengana claimed that his friends were assaulted by a group of people in Kakimpet area of Tolichowki here. "Yesterday (Thursday) about 8.30pm, I received a call from a Nigerian friend that there was an attack on him, and the attackers flashed knives and pistols," he claimed. He said a group of Nigerians were returning after visiting a mosque when some locals hurled racist comments at them. The locals were soon joined by scores of people, after which the argument took an ugly turn. He added that a case was registered under sections 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and police were investigating the matter. He said police and people should ensure their peaceful stay in the state. (ANI) Tanzanian High Commissioner to India John W H Kijazi today expressed satisfaction over the action of the Karnataka government, arresting nine people over the incident of assault on a student from the African country and said felt it was not a racist attack. The 21-year-old girl student studying BBA in a city college was assaulted after in an unrelated incident, 30 minutes earlier, a Nigerian student driving a car rashly had mowed down a local woman, that led to people burning the car. The Tanzanian, along with two others were driving on the opposite direction much later after the road incident. They were pulled out by the irate locals and beaten up. Mr Kijazi, who met Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara tonight, told reporters later that he was happy with the steps taken by the state government over the incident of the alleged assault andstripping of the Tanzanian girl. He was accompanied by a delegation of Tanzanian and MEA officials who flew in from Delhi today. The team had a meeting with Dr Parameshwara who briefed them about the action taken by the Statepolice after the incident. Mr Kijazi is also the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps. Emerging after meeting the Home Minister, Mr Kijazi said, ''We are very much impressed with the action already taken (by Karnataka government).'' He said the local communities should live in harmony with African community. Bengaluru Commissioner of Police NS Megharikh had ordered suspension of circle inspector Pravin Babu for dereliction of duty and police constable Manjunath for not taking action even though hewas present at the spot. Police said they were interrogating the suspects and some more people might be arrested. Incidentally one of the arrested was a BJP party member. When asked about his antecedents, the police commissioner said he was a"panchayat member." Mr Kijazi said the team was here for confidence building measure among Tanzanian students studying in the great city of Bengaluru. ''We wanted to know about the facts of the situation. "We went into the facts of the situation, and we are very satisfied. Some of the officials have been suspended and action initiated against some others. We are happy with government action,'' he said. The envoy stressed that the students from his country studying in Bengaluru should follow and respect the laws of India and respect the leadership of local communities. ''We also have a message forlocal community as well,'' he said without elaborating. Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (States) Partha Sathpathy who was in the team that conducted the inquiry along with Tanzanian officials, said the MEA had mandated the team to come here primarily to assist the Tanzanian High Commissioner in his interactions with state government. He said the MEA team was here to impress upon the state government the necessity to root out such incidents involving foreign students.''It was a horrendous event.'' He said the government wants to convey a message to all foreign students coming to India, and especially the African friends, that the government was concerned about their safety and security andthey are always welcome in this country. The team also included Director Eastern and Southern Africa in MEA and the Regional Director of ICCR.UNI RS MSP RSA 2308 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-575995.Xml A 12-year-old boy from Sangli in Maharashtra has been sucessfully operated for a rare congenital heart disease, called 'severe coarctation of aorta', in a hospital at Chembur in Mumbai. The boy, Kaushik Atpadkar, came to Surana Sethia Hospital, Chembur, with prior diagnosis of a hole in the heart. On evaluation, the child was diagnosed to have rare congenital heart disease called severe coarctation of aorta (severe narrowing of blood vessel which carries pure blood to whole body), Deepak Changlani, pediatric interventional cardiologist at the hospital, said. Incidence of coarctation of aorta is two per 10,000 live births, he said and informed that due to this rare heart disease, child was prone to easy fatigue after any activity and suffered from leg cramps, severe headache, high blood pressure and blurred vision. In view of this, the boy needed early angioplasty of aorta, which was most challenging procedure due to almost complete blockage of that vessel, which if not intervened timely would have endangered his life, the cardiologist said. A covered Cheatham-platinum (CP) stent was inserted to open up the blockage of the vessel during this rarest challenging angioplasty procedure performed in the hospital recently and saved the life of Kaushik, he said. The angioplasty was performed by Dr Changlani and Dr Trupti Dongre-Changlani, who is also pediatric interventional cardiologist at Surana Sethia Hospital, Chembur. This procedure would have cost around Rs three lakh in private hospital but was done free of cost in this hospital. Kaushik was discharged 48 hours post angioplasty and is on medication for sometime. He will lead a normal life hereafter, Dr Changlani added.UNI XR SS PY RSA VN2323 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-575953.Xml Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar today said that reforms are being introduced in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee (MGNREGA) Scheme to provide greater benefits to a larger number of people. The Chief Minister was addressing mediapersons at the 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2016 at Surajkund in district Faridabad. Replying to a question, the Chief Minister said that the scheme, which was launched about 10 years ago, had a number of shortcomings. This had resulted in the benefits being limited to only a few people. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Rural Development Minister Birender Singh, was making consistent efforts to overcome the drawbacks in the scheme, he added. Referring to his upcoming visit to Chennai, the Chief Minister said that he would visit the city on February 10 with the objective of attracting investment in Haryana. He said that apart from foreign investors, the Haryana Government was also wooing investors from other states. He said that Haryana Government was ready for elections to Urban Local Bodies in the State and all preparations have been completed. The election process would begin as soon as the date is announced by the State Election Commission, he added. The Chief Minister had earlier held a discussion with officers regarding health services being provided in the State. Speaking on the occasion, Urban Local Bodies Minister, Kavita Jain, said that the Haryana Government is ready to take every possible step for empowerment of women and the ambitious Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao programme is being implemented on a strong note. She also hailed the election of nearly 50 per cent women to Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State during the recently-concluded elections. Praising the artistes and artisans, she said that the Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2016 was playing a significant role in promoting the cultural heritage of Haryana. Transport Minister, Krishan Lal Panwar said that a state-level function would be organised in Rohtak on February 21, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Saint Guru Ravidas. The Chief Minister would be the chief guest on the occasion, he added.UNI NC RSA VN2330 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-575797.Xml Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari has said that India places ASEAN at the core of the 'Act East Policy' and at the centre of our dream of an Asian century. "There is a special emphasis on India-ASEAN cooperation in our domestic agenda on infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, skills, urban renewal, smart cities and Make in India programmes," said Vice President Ansari in his address at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok- 'India, Thailand and ASEAN: Contours of a Rejuvenated Relationship'. "Connectivity projects, cooperation in Science and Technology development and people-to-people exchanges are to be the springboard for regional integration and co-prosperity," he added. Vice President Ansari said the Delhi Dialogue, the eighth edition of which will be held later this month; the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Lecture Series and the ASEAN-India Centre in New Delhi are important components of our agenda to enhance mutual understanding. "The ASEAN-India Plan of Action for the period 2016-20 was adopted in August 2015 which identifies concrete initiatives and areas of cooperation along the three ASEAN pillars - political-security, economic and socio-cultural. We have opened a separate Mission to ASEAN and EAS in Jakarta to further strengthen our engagement," he added. Vice President Ansari pointed out that India and ASEAN today have 30 annual dialogue mechanisms including a Summit at Prime Ministerial level and seven sectoral dialogues at ministerial level. "We have established three funds to support our vast agenda with the ASEAN- the ASEAN-India Cooperation Fund, the ASEAN-India Science and Technology Fund, and the ASEAN-India Green Fund. Numerous projects are being implemented under these funds - ranging from establishing of a space station to fighting malaria to promoting agricultural research," Vice President Ansari said. "The breadth and intensity of India's engagement with South East Asia is unmatched by any of our other regional relationships. We have an intensive engagement across Governments as well as between experts, think tanks, private sectors, academia, diplomats, farmers, students and media," he added. Vice President Ansari further said this trident of commerce, culture and connectivity defines the future focus areas of cooperation between ASEAN member states and India. Asserting that his visit underscores the importance India attaches to Thailand as part of our increasing engagement with the region, he said despite the large size and rapid growth of our economies, the trade and investment between India and Thailand remains modest. "There is a need to synergize our efforts in the areas of economy and business to enhance and diversify our trade. We need to encourage our private sectors to make investments in infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in the each others' country and for this the two governments are willing to provide a predictable and comprehensive legal and taxation frame-work," he said. Vice President Ansari further said there is tremendous potential for enhancing our bilateral defence ties. "Thailand has played host to ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard on several occasions in recent years. We hope to continue this cooperation through technical, human resource development, capacity building and contributing to the development of Thai capacities, both physical and human," he added. The Vice President said India has pursued a 'Look East' policy since 1991. "This emanated from a perception that our economic progress and well being is intimately linked to the growth and prosperity of the entire Asian continent, especially of our friends across the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea," said Vice President Ansari. "ASEAN was thus a natural partner for our engagement in the Asia Pacific region. It is a partnership based both on a shared heritage and a pragmatic appraisal of economic growth and prosperity; peace and stability," he added. Vice President Ansari further said since the commencement of the dialogue relationship with ASEAN in 1992, the potential of this partnership has grown commensurate to the increase in our collective capacities, our growing economic integration and the ongoing evolution of the political and security architecture in South and East Asia. "The up-gradation of the ASEAN-India relationship into a Strategic Partnership in 2012 was a natural progression in this relationship," he added. (ANI) According to The Guardian, Obama did not mention any dramas by name but may have had Showtime's hit series Homeland, starring Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin, in mind when he pleaded for Muslims to appear in series not about terrorism. Obama told the Islamic Society of Baltimore that the television should incorporate Muslim characters that not related to national security. The president said many Americans do not know a Muslim person and form a "hugely distorted impression" based on TV, film and negative news reports. Taking a jibe at Republican frontrunner Donald Trump, Obama said that we have heard "inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim Americans which has cause a surge in threats and harassment of Muslim Americans. In this year's Republican presidential campaign, Donald Trump has called for banning Muslims from the US temporarily, and Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio warned of "radical Islamic terrorism". (ANI) "ISIS was a new phenomenon but in Afghanistan they don't have a penetration like in other parts of the world," Abdullah said. "If Taliban agrees to give up violence and fight politically, it is at that stage that we can go forward, but so far no hint," he added. Asserting that talks and terrorism cannot go hand in hand, Abdullah said many Taliban leaders reside in Pakistan. Abdullah, who is on a five-day visit to New Delhi, earlier met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and recalled positively the latter's maiden and successful visit to Afghanistan in December 2015. The two leaders shared views on further deepening the strategic partnership, both in the bilateral and regional context. (ANI) According to The Dawn, Director General ISI Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar would travel to Afghanistan for a meeting with the acting chief of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), Masoud Andarabi. The US is facilitating the meeting which would also be attended by Chinese officials as observers. The meeting was earlier planned to be held in Islamabad. It comes ahead of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group meeting comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan, US and China scheduled for February 6. The intelligence talks, an official said, were separate from the quadrilateral mechanism, even though the parleys were expected to impact the reconciliation effort, as well. (ANI) The Australian government has been lambasted by leading international aid agency Oxfam, as well as Care Australia, for its comparatively low, on a world-scale, foreign aid pledge, Xinhua reported on Friday. Australia's figure was dwarfed by the aid contributions from Germany ($2.59 billion by 2018), Britain ($1.66 billion) and the US ($940 million). The announcement from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, nominated for a Nobel peace prize last year for her humanitarian work in resettling Syrian displaced refugees, meant that Germany's donation was 150 times larger than Australia's, despite the European powerhouse only having four times Australia's population. Even Scandinavian minnow, Finland, with less than half Australia's population, pledged twice as much. But Bishop, who was attending the Syrian donors' conference in London, rejected the criticism on Friday, saying the extra funds would take Australia's total contribution past $170 million. "Overall, our contribution to this crisis in terms of humanitarian, military and resettlement offers is a significant contribution by any measure," Bishop said. Bishop said Australia had contributed its fair share, in line with its domestic-budget requirements, and had to dip into an "emergency fund", usually reserved for Pacific nations, to make the extra $18 million available. --Indo-Asian News Service sku/ ( 240 Words) 2016-02-05-07:55:33 (IANS) According to the Dawn, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that the nation observed the day on February 5 every year to highlight the 'plight' of Kashmiris. Khalilullah attacked India for 'continuing to violate human rights and 'brutalise Kashmiris in the occupied territory'. "Pakistan has always condemned these atrocities and raised voice against human rights violations by Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir," he said. Talking about talks between both nations, he added that no date had been fixed between the nations but both sides were in touch with each other in this regard Khalilullah said that the next quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US and would be held on Saturday. Referring to the deadly terrorist attack on the Bacha Khan, he said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were in touch at different levels regarding the use of the latter's soil by terrorists from Pakistan. (ANI) Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said the declaration by the UN panel shows that they were right. Correa claimed that maintaining security at the embassy has been expensive and there were a lot of spying attempts. Assange, 44, took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden on a rape charge, which he denies. The UN working group on arbitrary detention (UNWGAD) is expected to declare on Friday that his three-and-a-half years in the embassy office amount to illegal detention, the Swedish foreign ministry and Assange's lawyers said. Swedish prosecutors said the ruling had no impact on their investigation into the 2010 rape allegation. The British government said it would have to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy as long as a European arrest warrant is in force. (ANI) Canada will not rush to lift sanctions against Iran, despite calls to scrap the measures quickly so Canadian companies can compete for contracts, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. Last week, Canada confirmed for the first time that it is planning to lift sanctions against Tehran, and said companies like aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there. The United States, the European Union and other major nations have already lifted some of their punitive measures following a deal struck last month between Iran and world powers, in which the Islamic Republic agreed to scale back its atomic energy program. Speaking to reporters in Calgary, where earlier in the day he met with oil industry leaders, Trudeau said the deal had helped dampen Iran's nuclear capabilities but there were still significant concerns around what he called the country's state sponsorship of terrorism and abuse of human rights. "We're going to be very careful and thoughtful, working and coordinating with our allies in the way that we move to reengage and lift sanctions on Iran," he said yesterday. "We're going to be responsible about it. I understand the need and interest in Canadian businesses ... to engage but we're going to be doing it the right way because that's what Canadians expect of us," he said.Iran announced plans in late January to buy more than 160 European planes, mainly from planemaker Airbus.REUTERS KU PR0422 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-574164.Xml WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid a rape investigation, was detained arbritarily in contravention of international law, a UN panel will rule today. Assange, who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, appealed to the panel saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. The former computer hacker denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Britain said it had never arbitrarily detained Assange and that the Australian had voluntarily avoided arrest by jumping bail to flee to the embassy. But the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in Assange's favour, Sweden said. "Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," Assange, 44, said in a short statement posted on Twitter. He had said that if he lost the appeal then he would leave his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, though Britain said he would be arrested and extradited to Sweden as soon as he stepped outside. The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with his leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. STEPPING OUT? While the ruling - which will be published on Friday - may draw attention to Assange's fate, it is unlikely to immediately affect the current investigations against him. "We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," a British government spokeswoman said. Swedish prosecutors said the U.N. decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A U.S. Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was unclear what impact "a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on the situation." "But, you know, but he's facing serious charges inside of Sweden," Earnest said. Assange said that he had been deprived of fundamental liberties including access to sunlight and fresh air, adequate medical facilities and legal and procedural security. Since he sought refuge in the small embassy, British media have reported Assange has suffered from an irregular heartbeat, a chronic cough and high blood pressure.REUTERS KU PR0641 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-574176.Xml China has told North Korea it does not want to see anything happen that could further raise tensions, China's foreign minister was quoted as saying today, after Pyongyang announced plans to launch a satellite soon. North Korea has said it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme, although the United States and other governments suspect such rocket launches are actually missile tests and have called for Pyongyang to abandon the launch plans. The North was believed to be making preparations for a test launch of a long-range rocket, US officials have said, after activity at its test site was observed by satellite. Pyongyang told UN agencies on Tuesday it planned to launch a satellite between Feb. 8 and 25. Tension had already risen in East Asia last month after North Korea's fourth nuclear test, this time of what it said was a hydrogen bomb. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said it was natural that Beijing had sent its special envoy for the nuclear issue, Wu Dawei, to North Korea in what he described as "a serious situation". He said China needed contacts "with all parties", mentioning the United States, South Korea and Russia. "At the same time, we also need to have necessary contacts with the North Korea side, to listen to their opinions," Wang told Hong Kong's Phoenix Television in London after Wu had returned from North Korea. "Of course, an important point is to express China's clear position to North Korea. We don't want to see anything happen that could cause further tensions," he said. "We hope all sides, including North Korea, can meet each other halfway, and should work hard together to push the North Korean nuclear issue onto the track of a negotiated resolution." China is isolated North Korea's most important diplomatic and economic supporter, but Beijing has been angered by Pyongyang's nuclear programme and signed up to numerous rounds of stringent United Nations sanctions. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Wang agreed last week on the need for a significant new UN Security Council resolution against the North, but there were few signs of progress on agreeing on the details.REUTERS KU PR0818 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0348-574194.Xml The US Air Force will deploy four Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets to a different US air base this month as it assesses whether the new warplane can be declared combat-ready by August as planned, a senior officer told Reuters Major General Jay Silveria, who heads the US Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, said the F-35 jets would be sent from the Nevada base to Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho later this month.The deployment would include pilots, mechanics, spare parts, equipment and the plane's computerized logistics system to test the ability to deploy the plane for combat, he said.The test would help the Air Force assess its ability to send the jets to other locations and ensure that they can be repaired and maintained, Silveria said."What we're trying to do is exercise the deployment concepts and to learn from maintenance and learn from (operations)," Silveria said.Like any warplane, maintenance of the F-35 requires specialized tools and materials, and it was critical that all those tools travel with the jet when it deployed, he said.Silveria said the test deployment was part of an assessment of whether an initial squadron of F-35 jets was ready for combat. He said the warfare center was due to deliver that "operational readiness assessment" to General Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, in July.Carlisle would use the assessment to help decide whether an initial squadron of F-35A fighter jets was ready for combat.Silveria, a pilot who also flies the F-35, said the 12 F-35s based at Nellis Air Force Base were performing well in regular exercises with other aircraft, and had proven their ability to share data and communicate with fourth-generation jets.He said the jets were now also able to share data within a formation of four F-35 jets flying together - a capability he experienced during a flight in the past week.The Air Force hoped to declare that it had an "initial operational capability" of F-35s between August and December.The U.S. Marine Corps declared an initial squadron of 10 of its F-35B model jets ready for combat last July. The F-35B can take off from shorter runways and land like a helicopter,Two Air Force F-35s are slated to have their first international deployment when they fly to Britain in July to participate in two British air showsREUTERS CJ RAI1107 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0400-574263.Xml Addressing a programme commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Daily Star at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here, President Hamid said, 'Free flow of information and freedom of expression is important in proper development of mass media.' Hamid, however, cautioned media houses to 'exercise self censorship.' He said the government believes in the freedom of the press and cooperates with the media so that they can run independently. President Hamid said the mass media will have to equip itself with latest technology to unearth various technology based organised crimes at international and local arena, including global terrorism. President Hamid urged all journalists to come forward in taking this journey of development further and added that all newspapers will continue to contribute to the development of the country through responsible journalism.(ANI) ^Karachi, Feb.5 The Independent reported that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called on Swedish and British authorities to end Mr Assange's 'deprivation of liberty'. Ecuador asked for a compensation for housing Assange in its London embassy. Earlier the British government said it would have to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy as long as a European arrest warrant is in force. (ANI) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here on a two-day visit which will be marked by lobbying for more political space for Sri Lankan Tamils as the country re-frames its Constitution and some forward movement in resolving a festering issue of the Indian fishermen who are often arrested by the Lankan Navy.Mr Swaraj, who was received by her counterpart Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera at the airport, is also slated to call on President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minster Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga.Both ministers will co-chair the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission. The Commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The discussions will cover a range of areas of collaboration including economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. Ms Swaraj will also inaugurate a 'Rise of Digital India Exhibition' tomorrow as part of 'Sangam The Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16.' This exhibition will showcase the phenomenal rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India which is positively impacting the everyday lives of people. Asked if the rights of the war-battered Tamil community would be taken care of as the country re-frames its Constitution under new dispensation, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup had yesterday said, "That is something which we have always taken up with the government of Sri Lanka. We want all sections of the Sri Lankan population to live in peace and harmony. And I am sure this will also figure during External Affairs Ministers visit to Sri Lanka."MORE UNI PRA SW 1435 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0384-574593.Xml Turkey is not planning a military incursion into Syria and Russian talk of such action is propaganda, a senior Turkish government official said today."Turkey does not have any plans or thoughts of staging a military campaign or ground incursion in Syria," the official told Reuters, adding Russia was stepping up its own military campaign in Syria every day instead of working for a solution."Turkey is part of a coalition, is working with its allies, and will continue to do so. As we have repeatedly said, Turkey will not act unilaterally," the official said.A Russian defence ministry spokesman said yesterday that Moscow had serious grounds to suspect Turkey was preparing a military incursion in Syria. REUTERS SA AS1555 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-574845.Xml German public support for bombing missions against the sick terror group in Iraq and Syria could make it a ISIS target. Berlin police spokesman Stefan Redlich said the raids specifically concern possible plans for an attack in Germany, even more specifically in Berlin. Two of the properties that were searched were an asylum seeker's home in Hanover and another in Attendorn in the Sauerland region. As revealed in Daily Star Online, ISIS hate manuals boast about infiltrating Europe and wreaking havoc with terror attacks as part of its apocalyptic vision. Berlin was the centre of the operation where police swooped on four apartments and two business premises. They were carried out to prevent 'severely violent attacks,' police said.(ANI) A high-ranking member of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and six Iranian Basij militia volunteers have been killed in fighting in Syria, semi-official Iranian media said today. The Islamic Republic says it has military advisers and volunteers in Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad's forces in their war with rebel groups including Islamic State militants. It denies having conventional armed forces in Syria. The semi-official news agency Tasnim said IRGC Brigadier General Mohsen Ghajarian was killed in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo, where there has been heavy fighting of late.Tasnim did not say when he was killed but that he had been advising Assad's forces in fighting Islamic State. "Six volunteer Basij members were martyred (killed) in Syria while fighting against takfiris near Aleppo while defending Shi'ite holy shrines," Tasnim added. By "takfiri", Tasnim was using a derogatory Arabic word denoting ultra-radical Sunni Muslim militants, a clear reference to Islamic State, whose members regard Shi'ites as heretics. Iran is the Middle East's Shi'ite power. Iranian media have reported the death of over 100 members of the IRGC and Basij, an affiliated volunteer militia, in the past few months in Syria. Tasnim said public funerals would be held for the latest Iranians killed in Syria. The United Nations on Wednesday suspended the first Syria peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the start as the war continued to rage without respite. The United States said on Thursday, however, that it was hopeful the talks would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that to happen no later than February 25.REUTERS SHS VN1801 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-575198.Xml Three Hong Kong booksellers who were reported missing since October 2015, part of a group of five who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, are being held in China, accused of "illegal activities". The Public security Department of Guangdong province in southern China, bordering Hong Kong, confirmed this in a letter on Thursday, EFE news reported on Friday. The letter explains that the three booksellers -- Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping, and Lam Ala Kee -- were suspects in a case relating to a person surnamed Gui, and that the police have decided to take measures against them while investigation is underway. Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee are employees and editors of the Hong Kong-based bookstore, Causeway Bay Books, and publishing house, Mighty Current, which sells and publishes books critical of the Chinese communist regime. The notification sent by China also includes a letter by Lee Bo, another bookseller who also surfaced in mainland China under unknown circumstances. Hong Kong authorities were investigating how Lee Bo reached the Chinese mainland without a corresponding entry of his cross-border passage in official immigration records, when his wife had reported him missing on January 2. After the Chinese police confirmed the whereabouts of the missing booksellers, Hong Kong police had asked to participate in follow-up investigations involving Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee, and insisted on meeting Lee Bo as soon as possible. The current confirmation raises suspicions that all the five editors were being held prisoner or taken to China against their will. Meanwhile, Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong resident, who holds a Swedish passport and the first of the five booksellers who disappeared in October, appeared on Chinese state television on January 17 confessing he had voluntarily handed himself over to Beijing last year for a crime committed in 2003. A day after this televised statement, Chinese authorities confirmed Lee Bo, the fifth bookseller missing from Hong Kong since December 30, 2015, was being held in China. --Indo-Asian News Service ksk/dg ( 345 Words) 2016-02-05-18:11:35 (IANS) An American dolphin activist, who was denied entry into Japan by the country's authorities, was deported on Friday after being detained for 19 days. Ric O'Barry trained the dolphins on the popular TV series "Flipper" (1964-67) before becoming an activist to protect the cetaceans and was also the star of the Oscar-winning 2009 documentary "The Cove" which narrates the annual dolphin hunt in the town of Taiji, in the Wakayama prefecture. Immigration authorities claimed that 76-year-old O'Barry was deported as he failed to inform them of his travel plan during his last visit to Japan in August 2015, when he went to Taiji to protest against the dolphin hunt, a family member told EFE news. "It is ironic they are deporting me to keep me quiet, when they themselves have brought more attention to the dolphin slaughter than 'The Cove' movie. It breaks my heart to be deported from a country I have grown to love," O'Barry said in a statement. His lawyer Takashi Takano condemned the activist's detention and deportation, calling the explanation "very obscure", and defended his client for having tried to enter the country on a tourist visa as tourism "also includes activities such as visits to places of disasters or holocaust." He added O'Barry's reports on dolphin hunting must be considered a legitimate tourist activity, adding the activist had lost 10 kg and suffered a minor chest problem during the detention. --Indo-Asian News Service ksk/dg ( 248 Words) 2016-02-05-18:11:37 (IANS) Assange -- who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies -- claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. Speaking at a news conference via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was "vindication". Today (Friday) that detention without charge has been found to be unlawful. I consider the outcome a vindication, he said. Assange claimed there was no appeal against the panels decision; it was a matter of settled law, The Guardian reported. He insisted the panels findings were legally binding. The panel was a higher body than national law. Assange said that if Britain and Sweden continued to undermine the panels finding they would be hit diplomatically. We have now a victory, and decided law on this case, he said. Earlier in the day, the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention insisted Assange's detention "should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected". "Assange should be afforded the right to compensation," it added. The 44-year-old Wikileaks founder has been subjected to "different forms of deprivation of liberty" initially while he was held in isolation at London's Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010, the panel said. However, a British Foreign Office spokesman said: "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK." The office said the report "changes nothing" and it will "formally contest the working group's opinion". Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Assange was a "fugitive from justice", adding that he can come out "any time he chooses" but will still have to face justice in Sweden. The Met Police said it will make "every effort" to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. --Indo-Asian News Service ksk/dg ( 326 Words) 2016-02-05-18:43:34 (IANS) The United States and its allies have conducted 30 strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria on Thursday, the coalition leading the operations said in a statement today. In Iraq, 21 strikes were carried out near five cities, including five near Mosul that struck Islamic State tactical units, fighting positions, weapons caches, assembly areas and a vehicle, the statement said. The allied forces staged nine strikes in Syria, hitting militant targets including an staging area near Raqqa, the de facto capital of Islamic State, it added.REUTERS PY VN1829 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-575339.Xml Criticism of the anti-euro stance of France's National Front is growing among party officials, who fear the position is a key reason the party is failing to turn growing popularity into election victories.The issue will be discussed at a rare three-day strategy meeting of the FN that begins today, after the far-right party attracted strong support but failed to win any councils in two sets of local elections last year.Since taking over from her father, Jean-Marie, in 2011, Marine Le Pen has reworked the image of the FN to make it more mainstream. The party has done better, election after election - in the first round. But it still loses in run-offs, and now controls less than a dozen small and medium-size municipalities.Its protectionist, anti-euro policy appeals to some voters but puts off others, particularly older ones who are key to wining elections, analysts and some within the party say."I'd rather we kept the euro and worked on building a different Europe," Gilbert Collard, one of two deputies backed by the FN in France's lower house of parliament, told Le Parisien newspaper. "More and more people internally are on this line."Even Louis Alliot, Marine Le Pen's partner, told Le Figaro in an interview last month the FN was too focused on opposition to the euro stance and was neglecting other economic questions, in particular from small business owners."Their concerns are very far from our discourse," he said. "There are elements missing in our economic strategy."Under the senior Le Pen, the FN was pro-business, anti-state and anti-tax. It has since become a protectionist, pro-public services party, largely under the influence of Marine Le Pen's deputy, Florian Philippot, whose roots were on the left.Before the meeting Philippot insisted those policies would not change, despite the criticism."The FN's stance is the one backed by Marine Le Pen, that is to say the end of the euro and the return to national currencies," he told Reuters. "The FN is a pro-sovereignty party. One cannot cherry-pick sovereignty, you cannot be for it one some issues and not others."The party has, however, already moderated its tone on the euro. Le Pen has said she would hold talks with France's EU partners, organise a referendum on the issue, and not quit the currency unilaterally.It was unclear whether the three-day meeting - which also will discuss other elements of strategy before the 2017 presidential elections - would agree on any tweaks in policy beyond reaching out to business. But analysts said addressing the issue was crucial."The euro is today the FN's main problem," said Gilles Ivaldi, a political science researcher at Nice University. "Its stance alienates part of the electorate."But at the same time, that call to leave the euro is key to the FN's radical image. It's the only party calling for a euro exit, and that's appealing to voters who want to give a good kick to 'the system'.REUTERS PY AS1916 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0298-575502.Xml Residents and traders in southern Nepal today dismantled tents and roadblocks set up by protesters at a key border crossing, allowing trucks to cross freely from neighbouring India for the first time in four months.More than 50 people have died in an agitation against Nepal's first republican constitution led by minority Madhesis, who say the charter ignores their demands for a united homeland and greater say in the running of the Himalayan nation.A prolonged blockade mounted by southern lowlanders on the "Friendship Bridge" linking the Nepali town of Birgunj with Raxaul in India had caused acute fuel shortages and spurred smuggling along the porous border."Trucks are moving smoothly," Nepali police official Habendra Bahadur Bogati told Reuters. "We hope that it will be normal. But we can't say if this will continue."People in Birgunj and Raxaul, in India's eastern state of Bihar, had cleared tents pitched on the bridge by protesters from the Madhesi minority, added Raju Babu Shrestha, a second police official.Twenty container trucks rolled into Nepal for the first time since the blockade started in September, said customs official Mitralal Regmi.In November, police forcibly removed protesters from the bridge, leading to clashes with protesters that killed one Indian citizen.Today, one protest leader said residents on the Indian side of the border removed the barriers and sent trucks into Nepal at a time when there were no protesters on the bridge."We have asked our supporters to stop the flow of traffic without resorting to violence," said Sarbendra Nath Shukla of the Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party, a part of the Madhesi Front that is leading the protests."Confrontation will not solve the problem. We want to resolve it peacefully."Nepali Prime Minister K P Oli has appeared increasingly isolated by the protests and faced criticism from India over the tough line taken by the authorities against them . The lifting of the blockade may signal the stand-off is easing.Nepal's finance minister is due to visit India this weekend, paving the way for a possible trip by Oli, who has said he will visit New Delhi only after an end to the blockade, which Kathmandu has blamed on India. REUTERS SHS SB1808 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-575200.Xml Turkey all but ruled out direct talks with Kurdish militants to end one of the worst periods of bloodshed in a three-decade insurgency today, saying the government would instead bring what it called civil society groups to the table. In a speech in the southeastern city of Mardin, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu unveiled what he billed as a new plan to bolster security and rebuild areas ravaged by conflict, but made clear the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group would be sidelined unless it laid down weapons. "We're starting a new period for our national unity and brotherhood. We will talk to the the people directly. We'll talk to everyone, except those who are holding guns in their hands," he told local officials and members of the ruling AK Party, including several cabinet ministers, at Mardin university. Davutoglu said the government's plan includes economic measures such as interest-free loans for farmers. The PKK, which says it is fighting for Kurdish autonomy, launched an insurgency in the southeast in 1984. The conflict has since killed 40,000 people, most of them Kurds, and stunted growth in a region far less developed than western Turkey. VIOLENCE CONTINUES Ankara opened peace talks with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in late 2012. But a two-year ceasefire collapsed in July after what the government said were attacks on security forces, plunging the region into its worst violence since the 1990s. "First they will abandon arms, only then there may be an opportunity to talk to them," Davutoglu said of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union as well as by Turkey.Davutoglu was quoted by the Milliyet newspaper as saying yesterday talks would from now on be held in Ankara, not the island prison of Imrali, where Ocalan has been held since 1999 and where previous discussions have taken place. He said Ocalan's past instructions had been ignored by pro-Kurdish politicians, who were acting as mediators, and that there was therefore no point in talking to him. The Turkish army said it had killed 11 PKK fighters in the town of Cizre and seven in the Sur district of the main city of Diyarbakir yesterday, bringing the militant death toll in the two areas to 700 since a security operation began in December. The conflict has stunted economic growth in the southeast. Statkraft, Europe's largest producer of hydropower, said yesterday it was suspending a major energy project in the region because of the insecurity.REUTERS MI BL1948 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-575663.Xml A senior Russian diplomat said today Syrian opposition envoys who attended UN mediated peace talks this week should have welcomed a government offensive because it targeted Islamist militants, rather than walk out of the parley.The United Nations on Wednesday shelved the first peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the onset as fighting raged on unabated. Washington said yesterday it was hopeful talks would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that no later than February 25."Why did the opposition that left Geneva complain about the offensive in Aleppo, which is actually targeted against Jabhat al-Nusra and other radical extremist groups?" said Alexey Borodavkin, Moscow's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.Nusra Front, as the militant group is known in English, is affiliated to al Qaeda and designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations, and therefore banned from the peace talks, along with Islamic State insurgents."The opposition should be happy that terrorists are defeated. But, on the contrary, they were disappointed and left negotiations," Borodavkin said.The Syrian government, whose major non-regional ally is Russia, tends to refer to all rebels fighting it, including non-Islamist factions backed by the West, as "terrorists".Borodavkin also said it was regrettable that UN mediator Staffan de Mistura had suspended the talks and he must be "more meticulous" about deciding whom to include for the next round.He said the international community and moderate Syrian opposition wanted to see a democratic, secular Syria which observed human rights and preserved territorial integrity and the main state institutions."We do not want Syria to become a state that could very much resemble something that is Daesh-looking," he said, using the pejorative Arabic-language name for Islamic State."I'm afraid that not all opposition personalities that were invited to Geneva share this point of view."Borodavkin declined to say if any group that quit the Geneva talks might risk being added to the "terrorist list"."I don't make comments on ifs," he said.The talks had included "some quite questionable personalities" from armed groups such as Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, Borodavkin said. But the Syrian government delegation, he said, was still prepared to negotiate and Russia accepted the talks must include people who had taken up arms against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.Kurdish groups must also be involved in the talks, since they had a part to play in a ceasefire, anti-terrorism, humanitarian issues and political transition, Borodavkin said."It's hard to believe that any of the points of the future agenda of Geneva negotiations could be substantively discussed without the Kurds. The argument that they are not opposition because they are not fighting Bashar al-Assad is absurd."But the UN said today it had no plans to change the format of the talks or issue further invitations. Reuters MI CS1950 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-575684.Xml China is dedicated to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, Chinese President Xi Jinping told South Korea's president today, China's Foreign Ministry said."We hope all sides can act bearing in mind the broader picture of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and calmly deal with the present situation," Xi said.North Korea has notified UN agencies that it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between February 8 and February 25, triggering international opposition from some governments that see it as a long-range missile test. REUTERS MI CS2108 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-575886.Xml Afghan President Ashraf Ghani is struggling to placate furious tribal elders in Kandahar, who include some of the most powerful figures in the strategic southern province, after one of his top aides punched a senior local leader in the face. Ghani visited Kandahar, the provincial capital and Afghanistan's second biggest city, yesterday on a trip intended to bolster support for his national unity government in one of the most volatile regions of the country. Instead, he found himself embroiled in an embarrassing debacle during an event with tribal elders when a fight broke out between Naseem Sharifi, his head of protocol, and Haji Sayed Jan Khakrezwal, the respected head of the Kandahar provincial council. Witnesses and reporters looked on in shock as a heated exchange culminating in a deeply offensive obscenity broke out between the two men, who had a longstanding feud, ending when Sharifi struck Khakrezwal in the face. Ghani immediately sacked Sharifi and said in a statement he was "deeply saddened" by the incident. He said the dignity and pride of the Kandahar elders was as valuable to him as his own. However, the incident has left deep resentment among the Kandahar tribal leaders, whose support in one of the country's most strategically important cities is vital to Ghani's struggling government. "Sacking his chief of protocol is not enough," said Naqibullah Hakimi, an influential elder from the Popalzai tribe, one of the biggest and most powerful of the Pashtun tribes of southern Afghanistan. "He has to be prosecuted and jailed for this kind of insult and disrespect." He said that only the fact that Ghani himself had been at the meeting had prevented immediate bloodshed.Kandahar, a largely rural and tribal province on the border with Pakistan, is a heartland of the Taliban that NATO troops fought for years to control. Without the backing of the tribal elders, Ghani's government, already under strain because of the worsening security situation, would struggle to retain its authority in the south where the Taliban has made increasing inroads. Haji Nimatullah Sherdelai, from the Noorzai tribe, said the insult to Khakrezwal would make it difficult to continue to support the government. "Our people are already very upset and telling us to cut off from the government," he said. "Looking at the all shortcomings of the government and on top of all the other difficulties, this happens. Our tribe's members are already distancing themselves." REUTERS MI BL2126 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-575918.Xml Almost 90 miners were rescued and three other workers were missing after a cave-in at a gold mine in the northeast of South Africa today, mine owner Vantage Goldfields said. The collapse at the mine's main entrance trapped 87 workers underground, all of whom were rescued, the small gold producer said in a statement, but three others who had been working on the surface at the time could not be accounted for. No fatalities were reported. Work at the mine was suspended pending investigation on what caused the collapse, Vantage said. "The three missing are office workers, not miners. We are not going to rest until we find them," Mike Begg told reporters at the mine near the town of Barberton in Mpumalanga province, about 360 km east of Johannesburg. Reporters were not allowed near the site where the cave-in occurred, and a crowd stood outside the perimeter fence awaiting word on the results of rescue attempts. Vantage Goldfields is an Australia-based company mining gold at Barberton, a town that traces its origin to South Africa's 19th century gold rush. Vantage was delisted from the Australian bourse in January 2015. "At this point, it's unclear what caused the disaster," Manzini Zungu, a spokesman for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union, said. South Africa's mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world. The number of deaths in the industry has fallen due to both improved safety practices and a reduction in the labour force as production declines. Last year, 77 workers were killed in mining accidents, the lowest number on record, compared with 84 in 2014.REUTERS MI BL2221 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-575969.Xml Ireland's recovering economy cannot afford a spell of political uncertainty after an election this month, with further shocks to the global economy "a firm possibility", Deputy Prime Minister Joan Burton said today. Ireland votes on February 26 in what promises to be a tight contest that opinion polls suggest may fail to produce a stable government, as happened in Spain where parties are no closer to forming a coalition weeks after the election there. Burton's Labour Party is bidding to return to power with the larger Fine Gael party of Prime Minister Enda Kenny but polls put them some way short of securing a majority and support for Kenny's party is slipping."Six weeks after a general election in Spain, they are still trying to form a government. At this stage in our recovery, this is a luxury that Ireland cannot afford," Burton told a news conference. "The global economic outlook is uncertain and further economic shocks are a firm possibility so this is not the time to take risks." It was the first time either government party has explicitly raised the possibility of a similar outcome to Spain, a message they are likely to repeat in the hope that nervous voters prefer to play it safe. If they fail to close the gap or come close enough to cobble together a government with smaller parties or independents, commitments made by the various parties over who they would not govern with will be tested.Sinn Fein, which a poll suggested yesterday could win a more seats than the outgoing coalition if they teamed up with the larger Fianna Fail opposition party, reiterated that it would not serve as a minority partner in government. The two opposition parties would also be a few percentage points short of a majority and Fianna Fail has said it would not govern with left-wing Sinn Fein under any circumstances. The election result in Spain has plunged the country into its most fraught political situation in decades, threatening to bring in a period of instability just as its recovers from a long economic crisis. A similarly inconclusive outcome in Ireland is unlikely to do too much damage to an economy that grew by around 7 per cent last year but it might impede Ireland's response to any "no" vote in an EU membership referendum in neighbour and major trade partner Britain that could happen as soon as June.REUTERS MI VN2238 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-575977.Xml Jeb Bush brought out his famous family four days before the crucial US presidential primary in New Hampshire, tapping his mother today to scold Republican front-runner Donald Trump over his use of profanity and treatment of women. In a last ditch attempt to make a mark on a Republican primary campaign he was supposed to own, Bush lashed out at both Trump and US Senator Marco Rubio, the one-time protege who has eclipsed Bush as the party's establishment candidate in the 2016 White House race. New opinion polls following Monday's Iowa caucuses showed Trump retaining a double-digit lead in New Hampshire's primary next Tuesday with Rubio rapidly rising into second place in the state as Republicans battle for the nomination in November's presidential election. Bush, the former governor of Florida, leaned on his well-known family for support. While former President George W. Bush appeared in a new ad praising his brother as having "a good heart and a strong backbone" and being able to unite the country, Jeb Bush sat with his mother for an interview with CBS show "This Morning." The two attacked Trump as misogynistic and vulgar after he used a four-letter word in a recent campaign appearance. "I don't think a president would have ever shouted profanities in a speech in front of thousands of people with kids in the crowd," Jeb Bush said. "He does it all the time." His mother lambasted Trump for criticizing Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly after she had quizzed him at a Republican debate in August. Trump made comments widely interpreted as referring to her menstrual cycle. "I don't know how women can vote for someone who said what he said about Megyn Kelly," Mrs. Bush said. "It's terrible. And we knew what he meant, too." Much loved by today's Republicans, the former first lady herself raised eyebrows in 1984 when she reportedly made a derogatory reference to Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party ticket, saying, "I can't say it, but it rhymes with rich." "ALMOST TOO POLITE" Trump has dismissed Jeb Bush as a "low-energy" loser. The son and brother of US presidents who was expected to glide to the Republican nomination, Bush has struggled to seize the offensive and trails in the single digits in many national polls. Mrs. Bush, who was campaigning for her younger son in New Hampshire, said "America needs" Jeb and drew an implicit contrast to the brash swagger of Trump. "He's got the same values that America seems to have lost. He's almost too polite." While rivals took aim at him, Trump was forced to miss a rally today in Londonderry, New Hampshire because of a snow storm. He returned to New York and yesterday, a spokesman said, and could not get back to the state. Trump has eschewed much of the one-on-one retail politicking of typical campaigns in favor of large rallies. But in New Hampshire, where voters are used to having candidates' close attention, the strategy could hurt. Jeb Bush also stepped up attacks on Rubio as lacking in experience and accomplishments, saying on MSNBC the first-term Florida lawmaker had done "nothing" in the US Senate. Rubio got a bounce from his Iowa performance with a WMUR/CNN poll showing him rising 7 points to 18 per cent. Trump held steady at 29 per cent, while Cruz gained 1 point for 13 per cent. An NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist survey showed Trump with 30 per cent, Rubio at 17 per cent and Cruz 15. For the Democrats, opinion polls show US Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont with a double-digit lead in New Hampshire over rival Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state. Clinton went on the attack against Sanders yesterday in their most contentious presidential debate yet.REUTERS MI BL2355 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-576026.Xml Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed in Syria, saying Moscow and Damascus were together responsible for 400,000 deaths there, Dogan News Agency reported today. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart while on a state visit to the West African country, Erdogan also said Russia was engaged in an invasion of Syria and accused it of trying to set up a "boutique state" for its longtime ally President Bashar al Assad. "Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders," Dogan quoted him as saying. "By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000."REUTERS MI BL235 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0387-576028.Xml I'm not sure how long the ridiculous Julian Assange has been holed up in the Ecuador Embassy in London, but I thought it worthwhile reminding readers that this whole saga goes back a number of years - and that the Wikileaks founder is, in fact, a fugitive from justice in both the UK and Sweden. To my mind the behaviour of the Ecuador Government is outrageous because Assange is clearly a not a refugee, political or otherwise, so why not suspend diplomatic relations with Ecuador and close its embassy in London? And as Julian Assange is not a diplomat, but someone who is effectively on the run from the authorities in Sweden and the UK, he would have not alternative but to give himself up or face arrest, but either way he deserves to face his accusers in Sweden and the courts in the UK for breaking his solemn promise not to jump bail. Beirut (AFP) - Up to 20,000 Syrians fleeing a government advance in northern Aleppo province have gathered at a border crossing with Turkey, the United Nations said on Friday. "It is estimated that up to 20,000 people have gathered at the Bab al-Salama border crossing and another 5,000 to 10,000 people have been displaced to Azaz city" nearby, said Linda Tom, a spokeswoman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. She said another 10,000 people were estimated to have been displaced to the Kurdish town of Afrin, elsewhere in northern Aleppo. "There is currently one IDP (internally displaced persons) camp in Afrin district and plans are under way to expand the camp," she told AFP. "The fighting has also disrupted major aid and supply routes from the Turkish border," she added. "Humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs of those displaced, but ongoing military conflict is making access to populations in need increasingly difficult." Syrian government forces backed by allied militias and Russian airpower began a major offensive in northern Aleppo on Monday, seizing a string of villages from rebels and severing their main supply route to Turkey. The advances have prompted tens of thousands of people to flee and left the opposition and civilians in rebel-held eastern Aleppo city virtually encircled. On Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned that up to 70,000 people were heading to his country, with 10,000 already waiting at the border. Turkey already hosts about 2.5 million Syrian refugees. With its fiscal 2017 budget, the Pentagon is looking to spend more taxpayer dollars to blunt adversaries like ISIS while investing more money into cutting-edge weapons in an attempt to keep pace with Russia and China, which have introduced new arms onto the world stage. The Defense Department released a steady stream of details about how it plans to spends millions of dollars on programs and weapons in its roughly $583 billion budget request for fiscal 2017. Defense Secretary Ash Carter previewed the request, which will be officially unveiled on Feb. 9, during an event hosted by the Economic Club of Washington. Related: As National Debt Hits $19 Trillion, a Spending Showdown Looms in Congress This budget marks a major inflection point for the Department of Defense, he said, adding that his sprawling agency is taking the long view on threats facing the U.S. in an attempt to put the countrys military on sound footing for years to come. In addition to next years request, the Pentagon will roll out the latest Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP), the agencys five-year fiscal blueprint. Heres what we know thus far: War funding In addition to $524 billion in base spending, the Pentagon is asking for another $59 billion for its Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) account, commonly known as the war fund. Carter has signaled that the amount, the bare minimum set by the two-year budget agreement hammered out by the White and Congress, could increase. Capitol Hill defense hawks have already said they will seek potentially tens of billions more for the account, setting up a clash with fiscal conservatives and creating a new headache for House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), who wants to present a unified GOP front in a presidential election year. Russia The Pentagon is quadrupling the amount of money it will spend on the U.S. military presence in Europe, setting aside $3.4 billion for the European Reassurance Initiative, which covers training and gear for the U.S. and its European allies, and is aimed directly at countering Russian aggression in the region, especially in Ukraine. Story continues Related: How to Blast Billions from the DOD Budget The boost is the most important new item in the budget, according to Loren Thompson, chief operating officer of the Lexington Institute. The surge means 3,000 to 5,000 U.S. troops will continually rotate throughout NATO countries, so as not to violate the coalitions charter that prohibits a permanent military presence, he said. F-35 Joint Strike Fighter The fiscal 2017 roadmap is a mixed bag for the F-35. The U.S. Air Force plans to cut down the number of fighters it plans to order from 48 to 43, according to Defense News. Related: Why the Pentagon Is Gunning for the Navys $23 Billion Combat Ship While still a substantial buy, the reduction puts off the day when the annual production line for the services version of the fifth-generation plane becomes cost effective and doesnt cost more to run than the lines for the Cold War-era jets it was meant to replace, said Thompson. Thats bad news for a program that has already cost taxpayers about $400 billion to develop, making it the most expensive weapons effort in U.S. history. Meanwhile, the Navy and the Marine Corps will get 13 more of the JSF variants, with a split of 10 and 3, respectively. In terms of net impact to the program its fairly modest, Thompson said. Littoral Combat Ship Observers wondered what would happen to the Navys $37 billion Littoral Combat Ship effort after Carter fired off a blunt memo to the secretary of the Navy in December basically demanding the service cut its purchase from 52 to 40 ships and cease production of one of the ships two designs. Bloomberg reported that push has failed because the service found $300 to $400 million in savings elsewhere. The fiscal 2017 budget submission will include funding for two vessels, one each from manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Austal USA. Related: With $8.5 Trillion Unaccounted for, Why Should Congress Increase the Defense Budget? ISIS Perhaps bowing to bipartisan congressional pressure from Capitol Hill, the Obama administration will seek a major boost in funding for the fight against ISIS with a $7.5 billion request. That doubles the amount from fiscal 2016. The proposed budget is a bit of the 800 billion roll of the dice for Carter. President Obama leaves office next year and the conventional wisdom is that he wont be kept on by a new administration, Democrat or Republican. Any guidance Secretary Carter issues that isnt well received can simply be waited out by the military, Thompson said. And the FYDP is the least consequential [one] of the Obama years because we are at the end, he added, noting that in 16 months there will be a new president and a new Pentagon chief. Who knows how priorities might change? Thompson said the biggest question mark about the five-year plan is what it says about the Air Forces modernization efforts, which experts recently warned could be so expensive that crippling cuts will need to be made elsewhere in the defense budget. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: This election year sparks intense focus on who will become our future commander in chief, making now a great time to embark on a tour at one of America's storied presidential libraries and museums. You'll feel like you're reliving American history when you explore these interactive institutions honoring past presidents. The treasure trove of U.S. history and memorabilia found at these landmarks are as fun as they are educational. So, if you're inspired to plan a historical getaway, head to these eight popular libraries and museums in 2016. Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum Hyde Park, New York The museum and research center of America's only four-term president recently completed its first renovation since it opened 75 years ago. Its newest permanent exhibit, "Confront the Issues," consists of digital "flipbooks" exploring ten of his major controversies, including "FDR and the Holocaust" and "Japanese Internment Camps." Plus, the museum overlooks the Hudson River and is perched on 16 acres in Springwood, the estate where FDR was born and is buried alongside his wife Eleanor Roosevelt. FDR began the Presidential library concept to collect and preserve all of his presidential records, and today, the National Archives is responsible also for overseeing the images, photographs, objects and documents on display in this and all 13 official presidential museums. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Boston The JFK museum on Boston's waterfront recreates one of America's closest, most dramatic and precedent-setting presidential contests. Experience the excitement of the first-ever 1960 presidential debate, between JFK and Richard Nixon, now projected onto an entire wall. JFK won by only 118,574 votes. Kennedy was the youngest president ever elected, at age 43. "Young Jack" provides glimpses of him as a boy, later as an underachiever with a rebellious streak in high school but developing into a decorated World War II hero. At the museum, you can admire one of his most treasured possessions, the coconut he carved with the message that led to rescuing him and his crew after their PT 109 boat was hit by a Japanese destroyer. Story continues Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum Austin, Texas "It is all here: the story of our time with the bark off...the facts, not just the joy and triumphs, but the sorrow and failures, too," said former president Lyndon B. Johnson when dedicating his museum in 1971, as the Vietnam War continued. The war controversy was so divisive that Johnson made the startling decision not to run for re-election in 1968. The museum explores LBJ's many triumphs, ranging from Medicare and Medicaid to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. His "Great Society" measures still trigger controversy today. LBJ's library and museum at the University of Texas is the most-visited presidential landmark on this list by a landslide, with more than 13 million total visitors. It leads by a Texas-sized margin over JFK's, which has drawn more than 8 million people since it opened in 1980, and by FDR's with almost 6.6 million visitors since 1975 when the National Archives began taking attendance figures. William J. Clinton Presidential Library and Museum Little Rock, Arkansas Bill Clinton set a popular precedent when he became the first presidential candidate to appear on a non-serious televised program, "The Arsenio Hall Show." And at Clinton's museum within Little Rock's Presidential Center and Park library, you can find the famed saxophone our 42nd president played at his first inaugural balls, among other memorabilia. The "Comeback Kid" was the first Democrat to win two terms as president since FDR, 60 years earlier. The museum of our only President from Arkansas also displays a one of the Congressional Gold Medals he presented to the Little Rock Nine, the African-American students who had faced down a furious mob to integrate the city's Central High School in 1957. George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum Dallas In 2000, George W. Bush won the most contested presidential election in modern history, ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in Bush v Gore. Nine months after our 43rd president's inauguration, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks occurred. "Responding to September 11" is one of this museum's most moving sections, with artifacts including notes Bush scribbled for an impromptu speech when first informed of the attacks, the bullhorn he used to address first responders at Ground Zero and pulverized steel from the World Trade Towers. In the interactive "Decision Points Theater," visitors can gain insight into Bush's decision-making process for responding to Hurricane Katrina and America's financial upheaval, and other major events. At the museum at Southern Methodist University, you can also explore a special exhibit: Path to the Presidency, which takes visitors through historical elections, and life on the campaign trail. Visitors can even deliver their own stump speech and pose for their very own campaign poster. George Bush Presidential Library and Museum College Station, Texas Many of this museum's permanent exhibits at Texas A&M University let visitors learn about the World War II experiences of George H.W. Bush, a decorated navy aviator. You can try your hand at virtually landing a plane on an aircraft carrier. Or, you can remotely control your tour through the World War II exhibit by driving the VGo Robot "Millie," nicknamed after the 41st president's dog. One of the most endearing and informative parts of the museum "Millie's Adventures," with questions and answers inside miniature dog houses. Plus, inside the interactive recreated Situation Room, you can provide your advice to the president on the Gulf War. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library Simi Valley, California This extensive museum gives the term interactive a new meaning, with sections dedicated to Reagan's career as a Hollywood movie icon that allow visitors to act in a film with him. After trying your luck at acting, you can learn about the 40th president's landslide re-election victory in 1984, winning every state but one. You can also climb aboard Air Force One, the "Flying White House" which served former president Reagan and six of his predecessors. The popular Air Force One Pavilion also has one of his official limousines and secret service vehicles, such as those involved in the 1981 near-fatal shooting of Reagan and his press secretary, James Brady. Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum Yorba Linda, California Though permanent galleries are temporarily closed for remodeling, they will reopen prior to Election Day. And the museum grounds are open to the public, and are conveniently situated about 15 minutes from Disneyland, California, so you can still visit Nixon's boyhood home and check out the Marine One helicopter used by Nixon and three other presidents. Inside the galleries, explore Nixon's triumphs and learn about the controversial Watergate scandal that began in 1972, when burglars associated with Nixon's Committee to Re-Elect the President (CREEP) broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.'s Watergate complex. Check out the burglars' tools and walkie-talkies and listen to the infamous 18 1/2-minute gap on the Nixon's White House tapes. He avoided impeachment by resigning, the only U.S. President ever to resign. Marsha Dubrow is a freelance writer specializing in travel and the arts. You can follow her on Twitter @MarshaDubrow, connect with her on Facebook and LinkedIn. She earned an M.F.A. in Writing and Literature at Bennington College, which published her book "Single Blessedness." ZAGREB (Reuters) - The Israel-based Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Croatia's government on Friday to dismiss its culture minister, saying he took a disdainful attitude toward Croatian resistance to fascism during World War Two. The Jewish human rights group expressed "shock and indignation at several actions taken and comments made" by minister Zlatko Hasanbegovic. Hasanbegovic has previously dismissed similar criticism as unfounded. He could not immediately be reached for comment on Friday. During World War Two, Croatia was under Nazi control and led by local collaborators called Ustashe. Many Croats fought as partisans within the communist-led resistance movement. Croatia is now a member of the European Union. "We urge the Croatian government to replace Hasanbegovic with a person suitable for the post of minister of culture who will bring honor and prestige to the post, rather than embarrass his country before the entire world," the director of Wiesenthal Center, Efraim Zuroff, said in a statement on its website. No comment was immediately available from the Croatian government or from Hasanbegovic. Zuroff accused Hasanbegovic, a historian who is also involved in publishing, of failing to recognize the genocidal nature of the Nazi-sponsored Ustasha regime, and showing disdain for Croatians who fought against it. Hasanbegovic is a minister in Croatia's center-right government, an alliance between the conservative HDZ party and the small reformist Most party. Croatia's center-left opposition and several civic groups have already criticized Hasanbegovic's appointment. (Reporting by Igor Ilic; Editing by Ruth Pitchford) By Philip Blenkinsop and Robert-Jan Bartunek BRUSSELS (Reuters) - ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, launched plans on Friday for a $3 billion share issue to help reduce debt and cut costs, having been hit by a plunge in steel prices which it blamed on a surge in cheap exports from China. ArcelorMittal's share price has dropped 60 percent in the past 12 months, cutting the group's market value to just 6.2 billion euros ($6.94 billion). The shares were down a further 6.5 percent on Friday, making them by far the worst performer in the European FTSEurofirst300 index. The company, twice the size of its nearest rival, reported that its core profit (EBITDA) dropped by 32 percent last year to $5.2 billion and warned the result this year would only be "in excess of" $4.5 billion as it sees little improvement in overall global demand for steel this year. Chief Executive Lakshmi Mittal said that 2015 had been very difficult for steelmakers and miners, even with some rises in demand in Europe and the United States where the company does the bulk of its business, due to Chinese exports depressing prices. Analysts said reducing the company's debt level was necessary as its debt is rated below investment grade, making it more expensive to maintain. "It was needed as the balance sheet was becoming stretched," analysts at ABN Amro wrote in a note to clients, adding that the group's bonds were yielding some 12 percent. Steel prices have slid to 12-year lows and global producers appear set for another year of pain even as prices start to stabilize due to production cuts. China, which makes half the world's steel, exported a record 112 million tonnes of steel last year, equivalent to total North American output, upsetting trade partners who argue it is dumping on world markets. It was revealed on Friday that the EU's top trade official has called on her Chinese counterpart to take measures to curb the overcapacity in China's steel industry and warned it would open three new anti-dumping investigations this month on steel imports from China. Story continues EU ministers met last year to discuss Chinese overcapacity and the threat to EU industry, following an urgent request from Britain where most of recent sector job cuts have taken place. On Thursday India's Tata Steel Ltd reported heavy losses in the last three months of 2015, blaming Chinese imports for having to axe 3,000 jobs at its UK arm, Britain's largest steelmaker. RAISING MORE CASH ArcelorMittal also said on Friday it was selling for 875 million euros ($980 million) its 35 percent stake in Spanish automotive steel specialist Gestamp Automacion to the majority shareholders, the Riberas family, ending a joint venture formed in 1998. "This capital raise, combined with the sale of our minority shareholding in Gestamp, will accelerate the company's debt reduction plans and enable us to reduce net debt to less than $12 billion," Lakshmi Mittal said. Net debt was $15.7 billion at the end of 2015. The company, formed from the 2006 acquisition of Arcelor by Mittal Steel, has steadily pulled down debt from a Sept 2008 peak of $32.5 billion, but progress has slowed in the past couple of years, with core profit less than a quarter of its 2008 high. The Mittal family, which owns 37.4 percent of the company, has committed to taking up all their rights in the new issue, subscribing for shares worth some $1.1 billion. ArcelorMittal also said on Friday it was launching a new five-year Action 2020 plan, designed to improve each of its five business segments and to return core profit (EBITDA) per tonne to above $85. It fell to $62 last year. The group, which makes about 6 percent of the world's steel, said apparent steel consumption in 2016 would be flat to slightly higher, as stronger demand in the United States and Europe would be outdone by declines in China, Brazil and former Soviet states. New York (AFP) - Argentina's new government has offered $6.5 billion to settle its long debt battle with "holdout" creditors, the government and a US mediator said Friday, declaring a breakthrough to the impasse. The dispute and the US court case around it has roiled global sovereign debt markets while deeply hampering Argentina's ability to access international capital to fund its economy. Two of six major holdout creditors have accepted the deal, which includes about a 25 percent "haircut" on their claim, while four have not done so yet, according to the government. The offer was made in New York talks with hedge funds and other creditors who had demanded full repayment of about $9 billion on bonds the country defaulted on 15 years ago. "This litigation has gone on for nearly 15 years since the original Argentine default of 2001, and the proposal by Argentina is an historic breakthrough," said mediator Daniel Pollack. If the offer is accepted and all the conditions met, he said, it "will allow Argentina to return to the global financial markets to raise much-needed capital." He said that the proposal was subject to two conditions: That it gains approval by Argentina's Congress and that it also brings the release of the New York federal court's injunction, which prevents Buenos Aires from paying any other creditors outside the so-called holdout group. The holdouts, whose decade-long court battle against Buenos Aires was led by two New York hedge funds, are a minority class of creditors which refused to go along with the restructuring of the country's debt after it defaulted on about $100 billion in 2001. Buenos Aires said it was offering the creditors roughly 75 percent of what they were claiming, covering the face value and accumulated interest on the bonds. - 'Vultures' - The offer comes days after the government of President Mauricio Macri, who took office in December, reached a deal to pay Italian bondholders $1.35 billion to settle their $2.5 billion in claims dating back to the default. Story continues Macri's predecessor Cristina Kirchner had refused to pay the holdouts. She insisted that they should have joined in with the 93 percent of the country's creditors which accepted a significant reduction in what they were owed to help the country restructure its finances. Kirchner branded the hedge funds which led the holdout claims, NML Capital, a unit of Elliott Management, and Aurelius Capital Management as "vultures," saying they bought up Argentine debt cheaply around the time of the default and then refused to take part in the restructuring in order to reap huge profits. Both hedge funds had yet to say whether they accept or reject the new offer by Buenos Aires. The funds which accepted the offer were Montreux Partners and Dart Management, according to the government. Pollack said more work "remains to be done" on the proposal and that he hoped that the country would be able to resolve its differences with the other main parties to the case. He said he had spoken to Macri and Argentine Economy Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay, who both confirmed they "stand solidly behind this proposal." "Both have shown courage and flexibility in stepping up to and dealing with this long-festering problem which was not of their making," he said. Nevertheless, the condition that the deals gain the approval of the Argentine Congress could become a sticking point. Macri took power without a majority in the legislature, and Kirchner's block remains powerful, though it showed signs of fragmenting this week. BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina presented a proposal on Friday to creditors to end their battle in U.S. courts over debt the country defaulted on in 2002, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. "The proposal implies a 25 percent cut" of the amount awarded by U.S. courts, the ministry said, after five days of closely watched talks in New York between Finance Secretary Luis Caputo and the creditors. "This is the first time Argentina makes a formal offer to the holdouts," the ministry said. "This preliminary restructuring proposal has already been accepted by some funds." (Reporting by Buenos Aires newsroom; Writing by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) By Matt Siegel SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia is considering subjecting thousands of refugees from Syria to tougher character and security checks than their European counterparts to minimize the risk of "extremist infiltration", a leaked policy document says. The draft document singles out refugees from Syria as potentially holding beliefs or associations that may lead them to engage in violent activities, and outlines measures to monitor them even after they gain Australian citizenship. Australia is part of the United States-led bombing campaign against the Islamic State militant group in Iraq and Syria and is on heightened alert for attacks by home-grown radicals. Its tough asylum seeker policy, which includes mandatory detention for people arriving by boat, is a hot-button political issue. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation first reported on the leaked document prepared for the seven-member National Security Committee of cabinet. Reuters has obtained a copy. The seven-page document lays out recommendations to be put forward by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton this year. "To mitigate risks and build public confidence, I (Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) will be bringing forward a package of reforms to simplify Australia's visa framework and create stronger controls over access to permanent residency and citizenship," it says. "This new framework will introduce additional decision points along the immigration continuum including ... enhanced access, use and protection of sensitive information to strengthen intelligence-led, risk based decision making ... from pre-visa stage to post-citizenship conferral." A spokeswoman for Dutton dismissed the document's significance but declined to comment on whether the minister supported its contents. "Government departments produce draft documents for consideration all the time. This is a draft document which has not been seen by the Minister or his staff - nothing more," she said. Australia last year agreed to accept 12,000 refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria, as hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers flooded into Europe amidst the worsening conflict. "The Immigration Department proposals are self-defeating as they risk creating greater marginalisation and disaffection among new arrivals," Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, said in a statement. The document also singles out Australia's Lebanese Sunni Muslim population as an example of "potential community safety and national security risks associated with unsuccessful immigration." Only about half a million people out of Australia's 23.5 million are Muslims. At least half live in Sydney's western suburbs, which were transformed in the mid-1970s from white working-class enclaves into majority-Muslim outposts by a surge of immigration from Lebanon. Samier Dandan, president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, one of the country's most influential Muslim organizations, told Reuters that the approach outlined in the document risked backfiring. "It's probably going to feed the frenzy and provide a supply line for the recruiters," he said. Australia's tough asylum seeker policy of mandatory detention has been criticized internationally, but is likely to figure highly in national elections due to be held later this year. A High Court ruling on Wednesday paved the way for the deportation of over 250 asylum seekers to an offshore immigration camp in Nauru sparked protests and drew sharp criticism from The United Nations and church leaders. (Reporting by Matt Siegel; Editing by Michael Perry) Moscow (AFP) - Russian state news agency TASS said on Friday that the authorities were raiding its Moscow headquarters in relation to an employee's former occupation. "The searches that are being conducted are linked to a TASS employee," agency spokeswoman Yekaterina Titova told AFP. "They are related to this employee's former workplace and are not in any way linked to TASS." She gave no further information. Founded in 1904, TASS employs more than 1,500 people in Russia and abroad, and is represented in 63 countries, including North Korea. Russian media have reported that the agency, which celebrated its 110th anniversary in September 2014, is struggling to pay salaries of employees based outside Russia because of the ruble's drastic devaluation. The agency announced last month it was cutting 25 percent of its staff in light of the economic crisis. TASS -- known as the Telegraph Agency of the Soviet Union between 1925 and 1991 -- was renamed ITAR-TASS after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The agency was rebranded TASS in 2014. By Karl Plume CHICAGO (Reuters) - The agricultural unit of German chemicals company Bayer AG said on Friday it will fight a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) request to pull one of its insecticides from the marketplace amid concerns that it could harm organisms in streams and ponds. Bayer CropScience will instead ask for an administrative law hearing from the EPA's Office of General Counsel to review the registration of flubendiamide, the active ingredient in Bayer's Belt pesticide. The registration, granted in 2008, was a limited-time conditional registration that could be canceled if additional studies found the chemical to be damaging, the EPA said in a statement. "EPA concluded that continued use of the product will result in unreasonable adverse effects on the environment," the agency said. Flubendiamide products are used to control yield-damaging moths and worms in more than 200 crops including almonds, oranges and soybeans. Bayer's own tests have found that the pesticide is toxic in high doses to invertebrates in river and pond sediment. The organisms can be an important food source for fish. However, the company's field studies showed that doses in waters near agricultural fields never reached high enough levels to be toxic. But the EPA's risk assessment disagreed so the agency sent Bayer the request on Jan. 29. "We are disappointed the EPA places so much trust on computer modeling and predictive capabilities when real-world monitoring shows no evidence of concern after seven years of safe use," said Peter Coody, Bayer vice president of environmental safety. The EPA said after Bayer's refusal that it will issue a formal request to cancel the pesticide's registration. After a comment period mandated by U.S. pesticide regulation law, Bayer will ask for a formal hearing to determine the pesticide's fate. Belt will remain on the market throughout the process. Bayer reported 471 million euros ($527.5 million) in insecticide sales globally in its most recent quarter. The company declined to provide sales details of Belt. The EPA's move follows the agency's unsuccessful attempt to withdraw its registration for Dow Chemical Co's Enlist Duo weed killer. (Editing by Matthew Lewis and Meredith Mazzilli) Did Sen. Bernie Sanders have a Ben Carson moment during Thursday nights debate with Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire? On most topics from income inequality and the sins of Wall Street to healthcare reform and education the 74-year-old democratic socialist is passionate and well-versed in making his case for a revolutionary approach to government. Related: Sanders Closes the Gap on Clinton and Cleans Up Against the GOP But for a long time it has been obvious that the soft spot in his armor has been foreign policy and national security. He stumbled again on those topics during Thursday nights two-hour debate. Or as James Hohmann of The Washington Post observed, Sanders sounded out of his depth on foreign policy during his first mano-a-mano debate with Hillary Clinton. Max Fisher at Vox in what was ultimately a defense of Sanders described just how poorly the candidate fared on foreign policy questions: now that he's a much more serious candidate, you'd like to think he would have given even just a few minutes' thought to his potential future leading the foreign policy of the most powerful country in human history. There's real reason to fear, from this debate, that he has thus far not taken even those few minutes. For instance, Sanders twice dodged the question of how long he would leave at least 10,000 troops in Afghanistan, shifting the conversation by saying, our great task is to make certain that our young men and women in the military do not get sucked into never-ending, perpetual warfare within the quagmire of Syria and Iraq. On ISIS, Sanders insisted that the combat on the ground must be done by Muslim troops with our support. We must not get involved in perpetual warfare in the Middle East. But he had no real rejoinder for Clinton when she cited foreign policy and military analysts criticism of his views, such as inviting Iranian troops into Syria to try to resolve the conflict there while at the same time enlisting the aid of Saudi Arabia. Asking Saudi Arabia and Iran to work together [is reckless], when they cant stand each other and are engaged in a proxy battle right at this moment, Clinton said. Story continues Related: Clinton Attacks Sanders $14 Trillion Health Plan as Wishful Thinking When MSNBC debate moderator Chuck Todd noted that Sanders has yet to deliver a major foreign policy speech, Sanders corrected him, saying that he gave a speech at Georgetown University in November on democratic socialism and foreign policy. Maybe I shouldnt have combined the two in the same speech, because the foreign policy part of it didnt get much attention, Sanders said. The Vermont senator then back-pedaled on his previous call for an aggressive effort to normalize relations with Iran a position strongly opposed by Clinton and President Obama despite the recent agreement to limit Irans nuclear program. Related: Clinton Insists Shes Not Beholden to Wall Street While Raking in $21.4 Million If we were to normalize relations right now, we would remove one of the biggest pieces of leverage we have to try to influence and change Iranian behavior, Clinton explained. Who said that I think we should normalize relations with Iran tomorrow? Sanders fired back. I never said that. I think we should move forward as quickly as we can. Finally, pressed by Todd to rank North Korea, Iran and Russia in terms of which posed the greatest threat to the U.S., Sanders replied: ISIS would be. I didnt say that, Todd said. We already had that. Im talking about these three countries. Sanders settled on North Korea, which he described as a very strange situation because it is such an isolated country run by a handful of dictators, or maybe just one, who seems to be somewhat paranoid. And who had nuclear weapons. Similar miscues on foreign policy are what doomed Carson, who at one time rank neck and neck with Donald Trump in the GOP presidential race, and knocked him out of serious contention for the Oval Office. Sanders has adopted tough rhetoric in vowing to galvanize international allies particularly Saudi Arabia and other allies in the Middle East to crush ISIS. And he frequently cites his House vote in 2002 against a U.S. invasion of Iraq as evidence of his sound judgment on foreign policy, in contrast to Clintons support of the effort to topple Saddam Hussein. Clinton has admitted she was misled by the administration of President George W. Bush in supporting the invasion, but has argued that being right on one vote doesnt qualify you to become the next commander in chief, or assure you have the experience and know-how to deal with international crises. I know from my own experience that you've got to be ready on day one, she said. There is just too much unpredictable threat and danger in the world today, you know, to try to just say Wait, I'll get to that when I can. That is just not an acceptable approach. She used a similar argument in 2008 in her unsuccessful campaign against Barack Obama, insisting that her years on the Senate Armed Services Committee and as First Lady made her better suited to answer a 3 a.m. phone call about an unforeseen crisis. The argument failed to catapult Clinton past Obama. Whether it wins out this time remains to be seen. Polls taken around Mondays Iowa caucuses showed voters trusted Sanders by a wide margin over Clinton. And she has the accumulated baggage of her time helming the State Department, including the deadly attacks in Benghazi, Libya, the failed reset with Russia and the administrations grab-bag of approaches on how to deal with the conflict in Syria. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: By Keith Coffman DENVER (Reuters) - A lawyer for a biker club that had a member killed during a knife and gun fight at a Denver motorcycle show last week said on Thursday the man had been trying to disarm a drunken rival and that his comrades were acting in self-defense. Stephen Stubbs, who represents the Mongols Motorcycle Club, described Victor Mendoza, 46, as a dedicated father and husband and said he had been unarmed on Saturday when he was gunned down. The brawl broke out at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo between the Mongols, deemed an "outlaw" gang by federal authorities, and the Iron Order Motorcycle Club, which counts among its members many law enforcement and military personnel. Four people were shot, one fatally, one was stabbed, and several more also suffered injuries, police said. Multiple firearms were found at the scene. Flanked by two men who he said were Mongols but would not identify, Stubbs addressed reporters at a Denver hall in what he said was the club's first-ever news conference. Rejecting Iron Order assertions its members were defending themselves, the Mongols' attorney said Mendoza sacrificed his life attempting to save others. "If you're an unarmed man who's charging some intoxicated lunatic ... that is waving a gun at a crowd of people, that is definitely self-defense," Stubbs said. "Shooting an unarmed person that tried to disarm you, after you unlawfully brandish a gun, cannot be self-defense." A lawyer for the Iron Order, John Whitfield, disputed Stubbs' account of the incident. "That's not even close to what happened," Whitfield told Reuters by telephone. "It's going to be quite obvious that this was self-defense by the Iron Order." Whitfield has said a few Iron Order members were surrounded by at least 30 Mongols, and that the fight began when a Mongol made a racial slur toward a black Iron Order member. Whitfield said Iron Order members were cooperating with investigators. Police have said the Mongols are not. Story continues Stubbs told reporters he was confident that "independent witnesses" would tell authorities the truth, and that the matter would be handed "appropriately." No arrests have been made and witnesses are still being interviewed, Denver Police Commander Ron Saunier said this week. The Colorado Department of Corrections has said that one of its officers, identified as Derrick Duran, was involved, but stopped short of saying whether he fired a weapon. Duran is on administrative leave with pay, pending the investigation. (Reporting by Keith Coffman; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney) (Reuters) - BMX bike icon Dave Mirra died on Thursday after apparently shooting himself, police said. Mirra, 41, was found dead in a truck in Greenville, North Carolina where he lived at about 4 p.m., the Greenville Police Department said in a statement. "We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift," Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said in the statement. Mirra, a BMX biking pioneer, won 14 gold, six silver and four bronze medals in ESPN's X Games from 1995 to 2009. His 24 medals tie him for the second most of all time, according to the network. "Goodbye Dave Mirra, a true pioneer, icon and legend. Thank you for the memories ... we are heartbroken," professional skateboarder Tony Hawk posted to Twitter on Thursday evening. The husband and father of two daughters also competed in Rally Car racing and triathlons and was a host of MTV's "Real World/Road Rules Challenge," according to ESPN. (Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Milwaukee; Editing by Stephen Coates) Washington (AFP) - BMX star, X Games champion and former MTV host Dave Mirra died Thursday in an apparent suicide, authorities in the US state of North Carolina said. He was 41. Police in the town of Greenville that Mirra called home said they discovered the former bike star's body in a truck with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday afternoon. Issuing a statement calling him an "icon in the pro-BMX world," police said they were investigating the death as an apparent suicide. He had been visiting friends in the area shortly before the incident. "We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift," Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said in the statement. "A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon." ESPN called Mirra "one of the most decorated athletes" in the history of the sports network's extreme sports X Games. According to his website, he won 24 medals total, taking gold 14 times. Mirra also hosted the MTV series "Real World/Road Rules Challenge," according to the site. In recent years, he competed in triathlons and qualified for Canada's Mont Tremblant Ironman World Championship in 2014, according to Sports Illustrated. Mirra is survived by his wife and two children. SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's Minas Gerais state said on Thursday the November dam burst in an installation operated by miner Samarco caused losses to municipalities estimated at 1.2 billion reais ($308 million), not considering the environmental problems. The state government released a detailed report containing an evaluation of impacts to infrastructure and activities, public and private, in the whole area in Minas Gerais that was affected by the mudslide resulting from the dam breach. The accident in a iron pellets production site run by Samarco, a joint venture between Vale SA and BHP Billiton, killed at least 17 people and led to about 800 losing their homes. The mud coming from the dam devastated a whole neighborhood in the city of Mariana and contaminated a key river that supplies fresh water to a large area in Minas Gerais. Minas government said the report also includes suggestions for possible actions to restore impacted areas. The findings could be added to a civil lawsuit already launched by the federal government that is seeking up to 20 billion reais in indemnities for losses stemming from the accident. The Brazilian government considered the incident the worst environmental tragedy in the country's history. (Reporting by Marcelo Teixeira and Marta Nogueira; Editing by Leslie Adler) (Adds call for U.S. "czar" on Zika in paragraph 15) * Zika infections from blood transfusions seen in Brazil * Mosquitoes still called main transmission threat * Florida expands Zika public health emergency By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Two cases of Zika being transmitted through blood transfusions were reported in Brazil on Thursday, adding to concerns over the virus that has been linked to severe birth defects and is typically spread through mosquito bites. The disclosure of the blood transfusion cases in the industrial city of Campinas near Sao Paulo came two days after Texas authorities said a person became infected through sex. Concern over the virus is mounting as Brazil prepares to host the Olympic Games in August, with tens of thousands of athletes and tourists anticipated. There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which has caused outbreaks in at least 26 countries in the Americas. Brazil researchers hope to develop a treatment that could be tested in humans in a year. Dr. Marcelo Addas Carvalho, director of the blood center at the University of Campinas, said genetic testing confirmed that a man who received a blood transfusion from a Zika-infected man in March 2015 became infected with the virus, although he did not develop symptoms. Another man, who had suffered gunshot wounds, became infected with Zika after receiving multiple blood transfusions that included blood donated by an infected person in April 2015, Carvalho said. Carvalho said that infection probably was caused by the transfusion but genetic tests have not yet been conducted to confirm it. He said it was very unlikely the infection was caused by a mosquito bite because the patient was in a hospital intensive care unit for three months. The patient later died from his gunshot wounds and not the Zika infection, health officials and Carvalho said. Carvalho sought to downplay the Zika threat arising from blood transfusions, saying such transmission of the virus is very rare and not an important factor in the outbreak. "Governments and society in general should focus on eliminating the mosquito, which is the main form of transmission," Carvalho added. Brazil estimates that up to 1.5 million people have been infected in the country. Brazil is investigating more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition in which infants are born with abnormally small heads and can suffer developmental problems, that may be linked to Zika. Researchers have identified evidence of Zika infection in 17 of these cases, either in the baby or in the mother, but have not confirmed that Zika can cause microcephaly. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency related to Zika on Monday, citing the microcephaly threat. FLORIDA EXPANDS EMERGENCY DECLARATION Florida Governor Rick Scott on Thursday expanded a Zika public health emergency in the state, adding a fifth locale, Broward County, to the four counties he announced on Wednesday. "With over 20 million residents and 100 million tourists, we must stay ahead of the possible spread of the Zika virus and take immediate action to ensure Florida is prepared," Scott said. Florida Senator Bill Nelson, a Democrat, called for President Barack Obama to appoint a Zika "czar" to coordinate the federal government's response as Obama did during the Ebola outbreak last year. Sexual contact and blood transfusions as modes of transmission have been matters of concern for experts since the Zika outbreak's outset, said infectious diseases expert Dr. William Schaffner of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. But Schaffner questioned whether either will lead to widespread Zika transmission. "A little bit of transmission? Sure," Schaffner said. "But the main engine of transmission that has led this virus to be spread widely throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean is, of course, the mosquito." Procedures for blood donations have been tightened in countries including Brazil to protect blood supplies from Zika. U.S. health officials are still working on national guidelines. Following word of the Texas case on Tuesday, U.S. health officials urged the use of condoms to prevent spreading sexually transmitted infections. Brazil said it was reinforcing instructions to blood banks that people infected with Zika or dengue not be permitted to donate blood for 30 days after full recovery from the active stage of Zika infection. The American Red Cross has urged prospective donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to wait at least 28 days before giving blood, but called the risk of transmitting it through blood donations "extremely" low in the continental United States. In the Texas case, authorities said a person in Dallas became infected with Zika after having sex with another person who had traveled in Venezuela, where the virus is circulating. Local health officials said on Thursday both those people have fully recovered from the virus. Schaffner said uncertainties remain about sexual transmission of the virus, including how long a person might be able to transmit it or whether an infected person must have had symptomatic Zika in order to be able to transmit Zika through sex. Most infected people do not develop any symptoms. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo expanded his state's free Zika testing to include all pregnant women who have traveled to countries where people have been infected. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Additional reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas and Letitia Stein in Tampa; Writing by Will Dunham, Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Michele Gershberg, Grant McCool and Bernard Orr) BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Any British decision to leave the European Union, dubbed Brexit, would hurt the pound currency, but would not have an impact on the euro, the head of the euro zone bailout fund Klaus Regling told a financial forum on Friday. Britain is to have a referendum on whether to stay in the 28-nation EU by the end of 2017, but officials expect it could hold the vote as early as June. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Thursday that the EU executive was not including the possible effects of a "no" vote in Britain into its latest economic forecasts because it was not a scenario that was "in our mind". But Regling, who runs the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund of euro zone governments, was more open to discuss the Brexit option. "I am very much in favour of the United Kingdom staying in the EU, I think it would be a big loss for the EU (if Britain left), but given that the United Kingdom is not a member of the euro area ... I don't see an impact on the euro, on the euro area," Regling told the Belgian Financial Forum conference. "I see a negative impact for the UK, on the exchange rate, on the willingness of foreign investors to go to the UK, because they want access to the single market, so unfortunately I think it would have a big impact on the UK," Regling said. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski Editing by Jeremy Gaunt.) TAIPEI (Reuters) - A building has half collapsed in Tainan, a southern city in Taiwan, following a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the island in the early hours of Saturday. Tainan city's fire department is on its way to the building and the city government has formed an emergency response team, Liu Shih-chung, an official with the Tainan City Government, told Reuters. No other details were immediately available. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck southern Taiwan early on Saturday near the city of Tainan, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.7, was centered southeast of Tainan, a city of nearly 2 million people. (Reporting by J.R. Wu; Editing by Dominic Evans) Copenhagen (AFP) - British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday appeared to have come a step closer to sealing a contentious EU-wide deal on reforms to prevent a "Brexit" after making headway in talks with Danish and Polish leaders. Poland's influential governing party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said "we've gained a great deal" after talks with Cameron over a controversial proposal to curb benefits to European Union migrants in Britain. Kaczynski told reporters that Poles living in Britain will enjoy "full protection" of their rights to benefits, including a controversial "allowance for children living in Poland." He is widely seen as the real deal-maker in Prime Minister Beata Szydlo's right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government that took office after winning an unprecedented majority in October's election. Kaczynski also hailed Britain's "readiness for wide-ranging cooperation on security." Rattled by Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, Warsaw is lobbying NATO allies like Britain to boost troop numbers along the alliance's vulnerable eastern flank at a July summit in the Polish capital. Cameron on Friday launched two weeks of high-stakes diplomacy aimed at reaching a deal to avert a "Brexit." He must convince his fellow 27 European Union leaders to back controversial reform proposals at a leaders' summit in Brussels on February 18-19. The risks were underlined Friday by a new poll showing 45 percent of Britons now want to leave the EU -- up three percentage points from a week earlier -- with only 36 percent who want Britain to remain in the 28-member club. Ahead of talks with Cameron in Warsaw, Szydlo told Britain's The Times that the benefits proposal "doesn't make me happy". Her tone mellowed at a press conference with the British leader who stressed their countries' "shared interests" and "strategic partnership," in both the EU and NATO. Story continues But while saying it was "very important" to Poland for Britain to stay in the EU, she added: "There are always topics that need to be ironed out." "Over a million Poles live and work in Britain. Their work is growing Britain's GDP and we want them to enjoy the same kind of opportunities for development as Britons," Szydlo said. Sources close to the negotiations told AFP on Thursday that so far no European leaders are satisfied with a draft agreement for a deal to avoid a "Brexit." The central European states of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia say they will not accept any plan that discriminates against hundreds of thousands of their citizens working in Britain. Central Europeans have flocked to Britain in search of jobs and a better life since their poorer ex-communist countries joined the EU in 2004. While many are gainfully employed, the influx has nonetheless prompted criticism that the migrants are draining Britain's generous welfare system. - 'Red card system' - A draft agreement unveiled on Monday by EU president Donald Tusk -- a former Polish premier -- includes a four-year "emergency brake" limiting welfare payments to migrants, as well as a "red card" system for national parliaments to overrule draft EU laws. Initial reactions from European capitals show that "nobody's happy" with it, one European source said on Thursday. But Cameron received broad support from Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen during a visit to Copenhagen on Friday. "The paper proposed is a solid answer to what we need and I hope we don't need any amendments. Maybe some clarification, but we do not need amendments," Rasmussen said. "I support all the elements regarding welfare benefits," said Rasmussen, whose centre-right government needs the backing in parliament of the eurosceptic, anti-immigration Danish People's Party. "These elements will benefit Denmark as well as other member states, not just the United Kingdom." If Cameron gets an agreement by the EU summit, he will campaign for Britain to remain in the EU in an in-out referendum that is likely to be held in June. European diplomats in Brussels are set to hold their first full talks on the new proposals on Friday, and will meet again next Thursday in a bid to iron out their differences. Cameron has been in frequent contact with French President Francois Hollande, who warned Wednesday that there should be no more changes to the deal at the summit itself, and has expressed concern over Tusk's proposals for protections for non-eurozone countries. OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's trade deficit unexpectedly shrank to C$585 million ($427 million) in December from C$1.59 billion in November as exports jumped by a healthy 3.9 percent, Statistics Canada data indicated on Friday. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast a deficit of C$2.2 billion. December marked the 16th consecutive monthly trade deficit, reflecting damage to the economy caused by slumping crude prices. But low oil prices have also cut the value of the Canadian dollar, which means some exports are cheaper. Gains were widespread, with the aircraft and other transportation sector recording a 26.4 percent increase. Imports grew 1.6 percent after three consecutive monthly decreases. Exports to the United States, which accounted for 74.8 percent of Canada's global total in December, grew 2.9 percent while imports grew 1.3 percent. As a result, Canada's trade surplus with the United States swelled to C$3.19 billion from C$2.63 billion in November. Canada posted a record C$23.32 billion trade deficit in 2015, largely due to the low price of oil and other commodities. In volume terms, exports grew 4.0 percent in 2015 while exports advanced by 1.1 percent. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Ottawa (AFP) - Canada's trade deficit with the world narrowed to Can$585 million (US$424 million) in December, as both exports and imports saw double-digit increases in some sectors, the government statistical agency said Friday. Analysts had forecast a substantial deficit in line with the previous month's nearly Can$1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) shortfall. According to Statistics Canada, exports increased 3.9 percent in December while imports were up 1.6 percent. Exports of aircrafts were up 64 percent in the month, while exports of unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys rose 33 percent, the agency said. Exports of consumer goods, led by pharmaceutical products, as well as passenger cars and light trucks were also up. Partially offsetting these gains was a decline in exports of copper ores and concentrates. Imports of unwrought precious metals and precious metal alloys, meanwhile, rose 18.4 percent. Canadians also imported more communications and audio and video equipment, consumer goods including clothing and footwear, and crude oil and crude bitumen. Bilateral trade with the United States continued to climb, resulting in a widening trade surplus with Canada's neighbor to the south from Can$2.6 billion in November to Can$3.2 billion in December. Imports from Germany also saw an uptick. In 2015, imports increased 4.4 percent while exports decreased 0.9 percent. Consequently, Canada's annual trade balance went from a surplus to a deficit of Can$23.3 billion last year. (Reuters) - Cara Operations Ltd , owner of the Swiss Chalet casual dining chain and Harvey's burger outlets familiar across Canada, said on Thursday it would serve only cage-free eggs at all its restaurants by 2020. Canada's largest full-service restaurant operator joins a growing number of companies, including Mondelez International Inc and General Mills Inc , in announcing plans to stop using eggs laid by caged hens. The decision comes at a time when the food industry is under pressure from lobby groups to adopt animal welfare practices. Cara said some of its brands would begin using cage-free eggs as early as this year. The company operated slightly over 1,000 restaurants as of Dec. 27, most of them in Canada. "Our customers increasingly want to know more about the source of the food they eat. Our decision to source only cage-free eggs is one more step in this direction," Chief Executive Bill Gregson said in a statement. (Reporting by Manish Parashar in Bengaluru; Editing by Robin Paxton) By Natalie Grover (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday revised its guidelines for pregnant women to include a recommendation that even those without symptoms of the Zika virus should be tested after returning from affected areas. The updated guidelines recommend pregnant women be offered testing two to 12 weeks after returning from places where the virus has infected people. Earlier, the agency suggested tests for those already experiencing symptoms. Obstetricians have said that since 80 percent of those infected by the virus show no symptoms, it leaves many pregnant women no way of knowing early enough to make an informed choice about their unborn child. Although sexual transmission of Zika virus is possible, mosquito bites remain the primary way it is transmitted, the CDC said. It recommended that pregnant women and their male partners should discuss any potential exposure by the male to Zika, or a history of Zika-like illness, with their doctor. Men with a pregnant partner who live in or have traveled to an area of active Zika transmission and their partner should consistently and correctly use condoms during sex or abstain for the duration of the pregnancy, the CDC said. If the man lives in or has traveled to an active Zika area the couple may consider using condoms or abstaining from sex. "The science is not clear on how long the risk should be avoided," the CDC said. "Research is now underway to answer this question as soon as possible." There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which has caused outbreaks in at least 26 countries in the Americas. Brazil is investigating more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can cause permanent brain damage in newborns, that may be linked to Zika. The suspected link appears "stronger and stronger" as researchers study whether there is a causal connection, the director of the CDC said on Friday. It also issued new guidelines for both pregnant women and women of reproductive age who live in affected areas. Pregnant women experiencing symptoms should be immediately tested, and those not, are recommended to when they begin prenatal care. Dallas County reported on Tuesday that the first known case of Zika contracted in the United States was a person infected after having sex with someone who had returned from Venezuela. (Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey, Sriraj Kalluvila and Grant McCool) BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. President Barack Obama in a telephone call that China is committed to the goal of the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and to maintaining peace and stability, state news agency Xinhua said on Saturday. "The Chinese side supports safeguarding the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the international non-proliferation system," Xi added, Xinhua reported. North Korea has notified U.N. agencies that it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25 - a launch which some governments see as a long-range missile test. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Dominic Evans) VIA UFC Im none too surprised at the latest stop on the CM Punk Is A Jerk Tour. Punk, real name Phil Brooks, did an interview with Kevin Wong of Complex, and to say that things got awkward would be an understatement. Wong asked if Brooks was intimidated or anxious about making the transition to MMA (his debut for UFC is scheduled for sometime this year), and Phil got a bit upset. Heres an excerpt: I get this question a lot, and its like you guys think Im an idiot. Like I didnt know MMA wasnt pre-determined or something like that, says Punk. After a pause, he gives me side-eye. Have you ever tweeted at me, Hey, do you know what youre getting into? Related Links: I never have. Okay. It sounds like you might have. I dont mean to put you on the defensive Im not on the defensive. Your question is insulting. Youre asking me if I know the difference between the WWE and the UFC? Thats not what Im asking. After the interview, Wong was told that Brooks would like to never speak with him again. CM Punk isnt the nicest guy I know from first-hand experience. It was 2002, years before he would become a star in WWE, that we met in the parking lot of the old ECW Arena in South Philadelphia. I was a wrestling student at the time, and I was there to help set up the ring, work the lights and fog machine, stuff of that nature. Punk was there to wrestle, and also to be an ass. When the owner of the companys son introduced us, I said, Oh, from IWA Mid-South. (That was the promotion he became known in.) Ive seen your work. Nice to meet you. No, he said as he shook my hand, Im from Chicago. On paper, it seems like the mildest of statements; he is of course from Chicago. But, he understood my connotation and responded with the chilliest of answers, even furrowing his eyebrows and allowing his words to hiss through clenched teeth. If passive-aggressive was an Olympic sport, that guy would have gotten the gold medal that night. Ive met a lot of wrestlers in my lifetime, and Im friends with many, but none have ever come across as arrogant and condescending as CM Punk. Ask around if you can my disappointing interaction with Brooks is nothing youll find inherent solely to me. For those who are fans of CM Punk, I wont deride you Im a fan of CM Punk, as well. But Phil Brooks? (via Complex) Berlin (AFP) - Cologne police said Friday they recorded 22 complaints of sexual assault on the first day of the city's giant carnival, after security was beefed up to prevent a repeat of the New Year's Eve crime spree that shocked Germany. The number of cases was sharply up from the nine reported on the opening day last year, but police put it down to the greater readiness of victims to report crime. The complaints ranged from harassment to one reported rape, police said, adding that on average, around 50 sexual offences are recorded annually during the week-long carnival. Police in the western German city have been struggling to restore public confidence after hundreds of women said they were groped and robbed in a mob of mostly North African and Arab men during New Year festivities. More than 1,000 complaints have been filed in relation to those incidents. It's looking less likely that a swarm of comets or an "alien megastructure" can explain a faraway star's strange dimming. The star (nicknamed "Tabby's Star," after its discoverer, Tabetha Boyajian) made major headlines last October when Jason Wright, an astronomer at Pennsylvania State University, suggested that it could be surrounded by some type of alien megastructure. A more likely idea one that's far less exciting is that the star is orbited by a swarm of comets. But scientists can't be sure either way. Now, Bradley Schaefer, an astronomer at Louisiana State University, has probed the star's behavior over the past century by looking at old photographic plates. Not only does the star's random dipping date back more than a century, but it also has been gradually dimming over that period a second constraint that makes it even harder to explain. [13 Ways to Hunt Intelligent Alien Life] The first signs of the star's oddity came from NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope, which continually monitored the star (as well as 100,000 others) between 2009 and 2013. Astronomers, citizen scientists and computers could then search for regular dips in a star's light a sign that an exoplanet has passed in front of that star. The largest planets might block 1 percent of a star's light, but Tabby's star dropped by as much as 20 percent in brightness. That, in and of itself, would be weird. But the periodic dimmings didn't occur at regular time intervals, either they were sporadic. The signature couldn't be caused by a planet, scientists said. In September, a team led by Boyajian, a postdoctoral fellow at Yale University, tried to make sense of the unusual signal. First, the researchers looked into any angles that might mean there was something wrong with the data itself. They even checked in with Kepler mission scientists. But everything came out clean. "The data that we were observing with Kepler is, in fact, astrophysical," Boyajian told Space.com. Story continues Still, nothing about the observations indicated what might be causing the extreme interference. After considering many possible scenarios, Boyajian determined that dust from a large cloud of comets was the best explanation. But she admits that "it's a bit of a stretch to have comets that are large enough to block that much of the light from the star." With her paper published, she hoped that other astronomers would jump in with alternative solutions. And they did. A month later, the star exploded into the public's eye when Wright announced that an advanced extraterrestrial civilization could be responsible for the signal, assuming this civilization built a megastructure, like solar panels, around the star. And Boyajian thinks the theory is definitely worth a follow-up. "We have to look at every angle that we can and that's one angle, as wild and crazy as it seems," she said. Slate blogger and astronomer Phil Plait, too, admitsthat "while it's incredibly unlikely, it does kinda fit what we're seeing." A follow-up looking for alien signals, however, turned up empty-handed. So Schaefer turned to old photographic plates from the Harvard College Observatory. Lucky for him, the star has been photographed more than 1,200 times as part of a repeated all-sky survey between the years 1890 and 1989. That many data points revealed that Tabby's star is acting strangely in more than one way: It's flickering on short timescales, as the Kepler and Harvard data show, and it's dimming over the course of a century, as the Harvard data show. "Occam's razor [the simplest explanation is likely the best one] needs to be considered in a scenario like this," Boyajian said. A single phenomenon must be causing both behaviors, she added. But what is it? Well, the results don't look good for a family of comets. It would take a vast number of comets to pass in front of the star for a century, astronomers say. "It would be more mass than what we have in the whole Kuiper Belt" [the band of icy bodies in the vast region beyond Neptune], said Massimo Marengo, an associate professor of astronomy at Iowa State University who co-authored a paper supporting the comets theory in December. "You can get out of that if you assume it's the same family of comets passing in front of the star over and over," Marengo told Space.com. But with the century-long dimming trend, too, that family of comets has to get bigger every time it passes the star. "It's a difficult thing to do," he said. The results also change the requirements for the alien megastructure hypothesis. Plait pointed out that the general fading is actually what you'd expect to see if aliens were building a massive sphere around their star. But before you get your hopes up, consider this: Plait calculated that aliens would need to build a minimum of 750 billion square kilometers (290 billion square miles) of solar panels to account for the 20 percent drop in their star's brightness. "That's 1,500 times the area of the entire Earth," Plait wrote. "Yikes." So astronomers now have to hope that future observations might shed light on this stellar oddity. "Nature can help us by creating another one of these events," Marengo said. "But sometimes, we don't get lucky." Follow Shannon Hall on Twitter @ShannonWHall. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BEIJING (Reuters) - A senior Chinese official on Friday described ties with self-ruled Taiwan as "extremely sensitive and complex" and warned of uncertainties ahead, after Taiwan last month elected an independence-leaning opposition leader as its new president. China considers Taiwan a wayward province, to be brought under its control by force if necessary. Defeated Nationalist forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after the Chinese civil war. Since January's landslide win by Tsai Ing-wen and her Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's presidential and parliamentary elections, China has warned against any moves toward independence and said it will defend the country's sovereignty. Tsai has said she will maintain peace with China, and Chinese state-run media have also noted her pledges to maintain the "status quo" with China. Speaking via a newly installed hotline, Zhang Zhijun, director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, told Andrew Hsia, head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, that the peaceful development of ties over the past eight years could only be maintained by recognizing both sides belong to one China. "At present, relations across the Taiwan Strait are extremely sensitive and complex, and uncertainly about the future has increased," Zhang told Hsia, according to China's official Xinhua news agency. Both bodies should increase communication and improve their risk management and do more to benefit people on both sides of the strait, Zhang added. Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, in a statement, said Hsia told Zhang that the peaceful development of relations was the "common factor" for all sides in Taiwan. More interaction was good for mutual trust and understanding and the two needed to think of ways to reduce the risk of confrontation, it quoted Hsia as saying. The past eight years have been marked by calm between China and Taiwan, after the election of the China-friendly Ma Ying-jeou as president in 2008, and his subsequent re-election. Ma signed a series of key economic deals with Beijing and held a landmark meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November in neutral Singapore. Taiwan is one of China's most sensitive political issues, and a core concern for the Communist Party, trumping even Beijing's claims in the South China Sea. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by J.R. Wu in TAIPEI; Editing by Nick Macfie) Brazzaville (AFP) - Republic of Congo's government said Friday it had launched an investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse involving peacekeepers serving with the UN in troubled Central African Republic. "Under a memorandum of understanding between the Congolese government and the office of the UN secretary general it has been decided that an administrative inquiry will be carried out," Communications Minister Thierry Moungalla said. The investigation, which would be led by the defence ministry, would attempt to "verify the veracity of the allegations" revealed by the UN's 10,000-strong stabilization mission in Central African Republic, MINUSCA, on Thursday. CAR is struggling to recover from a cycle of sectarian violence that exploded after a 2013 coup, pitting mainly Muslim rebels against Christian militias, but international peacekeeping efforts have been undermined by the string of sex abuse claims. MINUSCA said Thursday it had "identified seven new possible victims of sexual exploitation and abuse in Bambari", in the centre of the country, involving soldiers from the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A UN probe "found sufficient initial evidence that five of the victims were minors and had been sexually abused and that one adult had been sexually exploited", the MINUSCA statement said. Following on the claims, the United Nations said it would repatriate 120 peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo after last month asking DR Congo to send home its contingent. Moungalla said Brazzaville had a "zero tolerance" policy on rights abuses and would "roundly condemn" the abuse if proven by the investigation. The allegations are the latest in a barrage of claims of troops assaulting civilians they are supposed to protect in CAR. While most of the cases concern UN peacekeepers, France's Sangaris force and the EU's EUFOR mission have also been targeted by similar complaints. Story continues Among other claims, two teenagers said they were raped by EUFOR soldiers whom they believed to be from Georgia and a seven-year-old girl said she performed oral sex on French soldiers in exchange for a bottle of water and cookies. Last month, a hard-hitting report found the United Nations had grossly mishandled allegations of child sex abuse in CAR. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon fired the head of the force last year, but the claims continue to surface. It's now possible to scale the brilliant, snowcapped peaks of Mont Blanc, one of Europe's tallest mountains, from the comfort of your couch. A new Google project lets Alpine enthusiasts see close-up, 360-degree views of Mont Blanc on any device that supports Google Street View. The company mapped Mont Blanc, dubbed the "monarch of mountains" by poet Lord Byron, through several partnerships with renowned mountain photographers, skiers, mountaineers, climbers and runners, who gathered images of the Alp's tallest peak, Google announced Jan. 21 in a blog post. For instance, Alpine runner Kilian Jornet Burgada who ascended and descended Mont Blanc in only 4 hours and 57 minutes, a world record helped with the project. So did Ueli Steck, a mountain climber who scales Mont Blanc's blocks of glacial ice (called seracs), and Patrick Gabarrou, a famous guide who leads mountaineers up Mount Blanc's snowy slopes. [13 Strangest Sights on Google Earth] Laetitia Roux, a 14-time ski-mountaineering champion, pitched in, too, Google said. Each athlete filmed a different part of the mountain. For instance, French climbing legend Catherine Destivellecan be seen on the 12,605-foot-tall (3,842 meters) Aiguille du Midipeak near Mont Blanc. And Candide Thovex, a filmmaker and free skier, flies through the air as he explores the mountain. Elite guide Korra Pesce leads Google Street viewers to the top of Mont Blanc by carrying the Street View trekker up and down the Gouter Route, giving fans a first-person perspective with each step. That view could change in the future, however, as it's unclear how Mont Blanc's ecology will shift with climate change. The mountain's glaciers are already receding as temperatures rise, and the newly captured Street View may serve as a time capsule for how the mountain looks now, Sandy Russell, Project Lead for Google's Mont Blanc Street View, wrote in the blog post. "You can learn more about how the rising temperatures are directly affecting the mountain from legendary guide Patrick Gabarrou, who describes the glacial melt on the Mer de Glace," Russell said. Story continues This is one of many projects Google Street View has tackled at extreme sites. Last year, Google created the first-ever vertical imagery collected of El Capitan in California's Yosemite National Park. In past years, the company has catalogued coral reefs, the base camp at Mount Everest and a float trip down Colorado's Yampa River. Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. By Gina Cherelus NEW YORK (Reuters) - A construction crane collapsed in lower Manhattan during a swirling snowstorm on Friday, killing one person, injuring three others and crushing cars parked in the street. Hundreds of emergency workers responded after the 565-foot-tall crane toppled at about 8:30 a.m. EST and flipped upside down, leaving the metal boom stretched along nearly two city blocks. At the time, workers were lowering the crane to secure it as winds approached 25 miles per hour, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a news conference. It was not yet known if wind played a role in the collapse. An investigation was underway and the crane operator was being interviewed, de Blasio said. Manhattan resident David Wichs, 38, was killed in the collapse, police said. Three others had non-life-threatening injuries, including two with head lacerations, officials said. De Blasio said pedestrians has been cleared from the street before workers began lowering the crane, averting a potentially greater calamity during the morning rush to work. "Thank God it was not worse," he said. The crane was owned by Bay Crane, based in the New York City borough of Queens, and operated by Queens-based GTI, or Galasso Trucking. A person who answered the phone at Bay Crane declined to comment. A Galasso representative could not be reached. The crane had been used since Jan. 30 at 60 Hudson Street, a landmark once known as the Western Union building. Workers were replacing generators and air conditioning equipment on the roof, officials said. The building is a major hub for telecommunications companies. De Blasio said inspectors had visited the site on Thursday and recorded no safety concerns. New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer issued a statement on Friday criticizing the buildings department for not implementing certain safety improvements. "Crane safety is a crisis, but the city has not treated it like one," Stringer said. A buildings department spokesman disputed Stringer's assertions and said there is "more oversight of cranes in place than ever before." The "crawler crane" that fell is among 376 used in construction in New York City. Another 53 taller "tower cranes" are also being operated in the city. After Friday's collapse, the city ordered all cranes to be shut down and secured due to the wind. Witnesses described a deafening boom as the crane crashed to the street a few blocks from City Hall and a half-mile from the World Trade Center site. Nicholi White, 20, who works for online grocer Fresh Direct, said he was waiting to deliver boxes when he saw it fall. "When the crane hit the ground, I heard a loud bang, it sounded like a bomb," he said. "One of the loudest sounds I heard in my life." A woman who was having her hair done at a nearby salon in preparation for her wedding at City Hall was escorted to the ceremony after the collapse by a fire department chaplain. Four buildings were damaged, city officials said. They said they were also monitoring multiple gas leaks, none of which had risen to dangerous levels. Wichs worked at financial trading firm Tower Research Capital in New York. A woman who answered the phone there declined to give her name but said the office staff was "deeply saddened." She called Wichs a wonderful person. Officials said Friday's incident was the first fatal crane collapse involving a city-inspected crane since 2008. That year, nine people were killed in two separate collapses, prompting officials to impose stricter regulations on the industry. In 2012, a construction crane partially collapsed on top of a nearly completed, 90-story apartment building during high winds brought by Superstorm Sandy. In 2013, a crane collapsed in Queens, injuring seven. Last May, a cable on a construction crane also owned by Bay Crane snapped at a high-rise office building in Midtown Manhattan as it lifted an air conditioning unit. The unit plunged nearly 30 stories, injuring 10 people. (Additional reporting by Herb Lash, Frank McGurty, Scott Malone, Suzannah Gonzales, Brendan McDermid and Dan Burns; Writing by Joseph Ax; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Toni Reinhold) BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina's new President Mauricio Macri and his finance minister showed "courage and flexibility" in dealing with the country's legal battle with creditors, the U.S. court-appointed mediator in the case said on Friday. Argentine officials in New York for talks with the creditors made a proposal on Friday to end the dispute, mediator Daniel Pollack said in a statement. Two of the six leading creditors had accepted the terms of the preliminary deal, he added. Pollack said he had spoken by phone with both Macri and Finance Minister Alfonso Prat-Gay, who stood "solidly" behind the proposal. "Both have shown courage and flexibility in stepping up to and dealing with this long-festering problem which was not of their making," Pollack said in a statement. (Reporting by Buenos Aires newsroom; Editing by James Dalgleish) By Phil Stewart, Warren Strobel and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and its allies are probably many weeks or even months away from launching a new military campaign against Islamic State in Libya, despite mounting concern about the group's spread there and its attacks on oil infrastructure, U.S. officials say. The Pentagon has warned in recent weeks of the dangers posed by Islamic State's growth in Libya. The U.S. is developing military options, which were discussed at an inconclusive meeting last week of President Barack Obama and his top security aides, officials said. Those options include increased air strikes, deploying U.S. special operations forces and training Libyan security forces, officials say. But the U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said enormous hurdles stand in the way of increased American military involvement. The largest is the formation of a unified Libyan government strong enough to call for and accommodate foreign military assistance. Getting some allies on board could also require a new mandate from the United Nations, they said. "We're not there yet," said one U.S. official. He and other officials with knowledge of internal deliberations cautioned that it is too soon to estimate when military action might begin, but cautioned it could take many weeks or even months. "As far as Im aware, there is no clear intention to go ahead with the military-style action. There is a lot of thinking, a lot of thinking, a lot of planning," said a Western diplomat. U.S. and European officials describe Islamic State's presence in Libya as increasingly worrisome, although not on the scale of its rule over swaths of Iraq and Syria. Islamic State forces have attacked Libya's oil infrastructure and taken control of the city of Sirte, exploiting a power vacuum in the North African country where two rival governments have been battling for supremacy. Estimates of Islamic State fighters in Libya range from 3,000 to 5,000-6,000. Officials openly worry that the group could use its Libya haven to relieve the pressure from U.S. air strikes and local forces against its home base in Iraq and Syria. POLITICAL FOCUS FOR NOW Under a U.N.-backed plan for a political transition, Libya's two warring administrations are expected to form a unity government, but more than a month after the deal was agreed in Morocco, its implementation has been dogged by infighting. Ben Fishman, a former White House aide under Obama who dealt with Libya policy, said there is concern in the Obama administration that military action now could disrupt the government formation process. It might, he said, prompt moderate forces in Libya to back away. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff, appeared to reference those concerns last month. "You want to take decisive military action to check ISILs expansion and at the same time you want to do it such a way that's supportive of a long-term political process," he said. Still, Fishman said, "I think we have to do something on the ground soon, because they (Islamic State) are pretty much acting with impunity." Forming a unified Libyan government could pave the way toward Tripoli formally requesting greater international assistance. But with Libya in chaos, it would likely take a new government some time to get on its feet, officials said, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this week that the focus of the international community on Libya is political, not military. Once a government is in place, "we have indicated a willingness, along with a number of other countries, to help them secure the country," Carter said. He noted that "the Italians have indicated that they would take the lead in that, rather than the United States, which is fine with us." The U.S. military has been laying the groundwork for greater action, sending U.S. special forces into Libya to establish contact with local armed groups to get a better picture of who the international community might be able to work with. U.S. officials also say the amount of intelligence collection about Islamic State's activities in Libya has also increased in recent weeks. They also have not ruled out more precision strikes against top Islamic State leaders like one in November in which American F-15 aircraft killed Islamic State's senior leader in Libya, known as Abu Nabil. (Editing by Clive McKeef) TL;DR: Science heavily suggests yes, time spent staring at a screen computer, tablet or television at bedtime disrupts our natural sleep patterns, causing us to get fewer hours than our bodies need to function well. Which is an uncomfortable truth for the many people whose smartphones are more or less an extension of the hand; who love nothing better than settling back against the pillows for a long scroll through Instagram before turning out the lights; who like to watch a show or five before bed. In short, this meme exists for a reason: A photo posted by Atova (@mrs_brown849) on Jan 31, 2016 at 7:09pm PST But the light from our devices does a number on brain chemistry. "People are exposing their eyes to this stream of photons from these objects that basically tell your brain stay awake, it's not time to go to sleep yet," Dan Siegel, clinical professor of psychology at the University of California Los Angeles, told Business Insider. Spending time on your smartphone before bed makes it harder for the brain to dial down and the body to transition to sleep mode. How does light keep your brain awake? As the New York Times explained, "With light, the body sets its internal clock to a 24-hour cycle," aka circadian cycles by which the body uses exposure to light and dark to establish sleep and wakefulness patterns. Light from the sun in the morning or from a screen at night suppresses the brain's release of melatonin, the sleep hormone the brain secretes after dark. "Light works as if it's a drug, except it's not a drug at all," neurologist George Brainard told the Times. Brainard's work suggested that blue light the kind emitted by LEDs had a particularly strong effect on melatonin suppression, and idea that a study by Switzerland's University of Basel supported. Story continues Researchers sat 13 men in front of computer screens for five hours before bed every night for two weeks. They found that screens emitting more blue light left participants "more awake and alert," according to the Times. Blue light is thought to be especially effective in keeping melatonin levels down, meaning less sleep. What does less sleep do to the body? "We now know that what sleep is likely doing is allowing your active neurons to rest," Siegel told Business Insider, "but more than that, the supportive cells called glial cells are cleaning up the toxins that the neurocells produce. And if you don't get seven hours of sleep, you just get five, the toxins remain there for over 95% of people." Those toxins have a negative impact on one's attention span, memory and problem-solving skills. Brain cells need sleep in order to function, and they're not the only ones: fat cells need sleep, too. When a person isn't clocking enough Z's on a regular basis, they're more likely to gain weight and to develop diabetes. A lack of sleep lowers the body's sensitivity to insulin, a critical hormone in metabolism regulation. As a 2012 study demonstrated in sleep-deprived people, fat cells required almost three times their normal amount of insulin to process sugar. So a person who never gets enough sleep in this study, 4.5 hours per night for four nights elevates their risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes, because their cells have become accustomed to preternaturally high levels of insulin that they can't regulate blood sugar and cholesterol without it. "This is the equivalent of metabolically aging someone 10 to 20 years just from four nights of partial sleep restriction," Matthew Brady, the study's lead author and a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, told CNN. What can we do about it? Does this mean we need to train ourselves to go to bed when the sun goes down? That's unrealistic. Most people keep the lights on in their homes well into the evening, in order to do things like get their work done, feed themselves, basically exist as humans exist in the age of electricity. Our eyes are going to admit light at night there's really no way around it. What we can do to improve our odds at getting a good night's sleep, Siegel says, is cut out some of the unnecessary screen time, especially as we get ready to hit the hay. "Shut off your screens by 9 p.m.," Siegel said, "give yourself an hour at least before you go to bed, and keep those screens off." Maybe read a book instead of scrolling through Instagram or binge-watching Netflix. For law enforcement officers around the world, partnering with animals is a time-honored tradition. Mounted police do their duty on horseback and, in some countries, camelback. Specially trained dogs serve and protect by sniffing out drugs and explosives. But in the Netherlands, police officers are inaugurating a new species of animal partner eagles to take down illegal aerial drones. In a statement released Jan. 31, the Dutch National Police Corps announced a new initiative using birds of prey to intercept unwanted drones. The program was developed and tested in partnership with Guard from Above (GFA), a Dutch company located in the Hague that specializes in training large, predatory birds to "hunt" and subdue robotic prey. A video published by the National Police Corps of an indoor demonstration shows a handler releasing an eagle, which swoops toward a hovering quadcopter drone, snatching the machine out of the air and flying off with it into a corner of the training ring. [In Images: Amazing Harpy Eagle Chick] According to Mark Wiebe, innovation manager of the National Unit of the police, the eagle reacts to the drone as it would to its normal prey not only grabbing it while in flight, but taking it immediately to ground, as it would any animal that it had just nabbed and was ready to eat. "For years, the government has been looking for ways to counter the undesirable use of drones," Sjoerd Hoogendoorn, GFA co-founder, said in a statement. "Sometimes a low-tech solution for a high-tech problem is more obvious than it seems. This is the case with our specially trained birds of prey. By using these birds' animal instincts, we can offer an effective solution to a new threat." The bird taking down the drone in the video appears to be a golden eagle, a powerful bird that typically preys on small mammals, but is capable of fighting off bears or coyotes when defending its prey or young, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In 2012, a viral video convinced many that a golden eagle had carried off a small child, though the video was later proven to be a hoax. Story continues Dutch police are currently investigating different approaches to contain rogue drones, which can interfere with helicopter flights, cause injury to bystanders, and even be used for criminal purposes, Wiebe said in the statement. Safety nets, which were tested by Tokyo police in December 2015, are also being considered. The police will make their final decision about making the eagles a permanent part of the squad after the test period concludes "in a few months," according to the statement. Follow Mindy Weisberger on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Today in One Paragraph Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanderswho picked up the endorsement of former NAACP head Ben Jealousreturn to the debate stage. Ben Carsons campaign said that it will significantly downsize. The White House said that Obama will propose a $10-per-barrel tax on oil in his 2017 budget plan. On the Hill, Senate Democrats blocked a sweeping energy-reform bill after failing to reach an agreement with Republicans on an amendment that would provide federal aid to Flint. Martin Shkreli invoked the Fifth Amendment before a congressional hearing about drug prices. And the four remaining militants occupying a land reserve in Oregon are facing federal charges. Top News Party of Two. A day after Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders sparred over the meaning of progressivism at a CNN Democratic presidential town hall, theyre back on stage tonightthis time without Martin OMalleyat the University of New Hampshire. The debate, which was only confirmed on Wednesday, begins at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Join us for live coverage. ( The Atlantic staff) Recommended: Why Bernie Sanders Can't Govern Taxing Oil. Barack Obamas final budget proposal as president will include a $10-per-barrel fee that would be paid by oil companies. Though it is likely to fail in the Republican-controlled Congress, the move is part of the White Houses effort to encourage a greater focus on clean renewable fuels that do not exacerbate climate change. (Ayesha Rascoe and Roberta Rampton, Reuters) Carson Camp on Life Support. More than 50 staff positions will be cut as Ben Carsononce a leading contender in the Republican fieldstruggles to regain steam. (Robert Costa, The Washington Post) Feeling the Bern. Ben Jealous, who led the NAACP for five years, will put his support behind Bernie Sanders for president. Sanders has struggled to gain traction among black voters, but Jealouss support may signal that hes resonating among the base in the Democratic Party. (Nia-Malika Henderson, CNN) Story continues Blocked. Senate Democrats held up a comprehensive energy bill after Republicans refused vote on an amendment to provide $600 million to Flint for infrastructure improvements unless corresponding spending cuts were applied elsewhere in the federal budget. The bill failed on a 46 to 50 vote. (David Henry, The Hill) Pleading the Fifth. Martin Shrkelithe Pharma Bro vilified as the face of pharmaceutical-industry greeddeclined to answer questions in front of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the high cost of prescription drugs. He did, however, share his thoughts about the hearing on Twitter, where he called his questioners imbeciles. (Marcy Gordon and Matthew Perrone, Associated Press) Recommended: Who Won the Democratic Debate in Durham? More Indictments in Oregon. A total of 16 protesters are facing charges related to the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, including four who are still holding out, according to documents unsealed Thursday. Ammon Bundy, who led the armed occupation and is now in custody, has urged the remaining four occupants to stand down. (Doug Stanglin and Gordon Friedman, USA Today) Tomorrow in One Paragraph: Four days out from the first-in-the-nation primary, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton will be back on the campaign trail in New Hampshire. Nearly the entire remaining GOP fieldTed Cruz,Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Carly Fiorina, Chris Christie, and John Kasichwill also be in the Granite State. Donald Trump, however, will be in South Carolina. Follow stories throughout the day with our new Politics & Policy page. And keep on top of the campaign with our 2016 Distilled election dashboard. Top Read: The more America intensifies its war against ISIS, the more ISIS will try to strike Americans. And the more terrorism ISIS manages to carry out, the more fiercely America will escalate its air attacks, thus creating the civilian casualties that tremendously help the narrative of a jihadi group like the Islamic State. The Atlantics Peter Beinart on the danger of escalating attacks on Islamic State. Top Lines The Buchanan Boys. National Reviews Kevin D. Williamson argues that Donald Trumps Iowa performance is strikingly similar to Pat Buchanans in 1996: second place, enjoying the support of approximately one in four Republican caucus-goers ... powered by the resentment and anxiety of the white working class. Recommended: Of Course Hillary Clinton Exemplifies the Establishment Iowas Not Done Yet. The state is still dealing with fallout from both sides of the aislereports of mischief in the Cruz campaign, and alleged bungled vote-counting in Democratic precinctsfollowing the first caucuses of 2016. (Alan Rappeport, The New York Times) Top Views The Guy That Nobody Likes. From high-school classmates to Senate colleagues, Ted Cruz cant seem to escape the hate. New Republic visualized some of the comments that, together, amount to a kind of political poetry. ISIS in America. The New York Times contextualizes the threat posed by Islamic State sympathizers on U.S. soil in this graphic. We want to hear from you! Were reimagining what The Edge can be, and would love to receive your complaints, compliments, and suggestions. Tell us what youd like to find in your inbox by sending a message to newsletters@theatlantic.com. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. HAMBURG (Reuters) - Egyptian state buyer GASC received four offers in an international wheat purchase tender on Friday despite uncertainty over tough new quality rules which have disrupted its massive wheat import programme, traders said. A wheat purchase tender on Tuesday was cancelled when no offers were received following a trader boycott. Participation by international grain trading houses in Friday's tender was noticeably lower than in past months following problems with Egypt's limits on imports of wheat containing the ergot fungus, traders said. The lowest offer was $186.64 a tonne FOB for wheat sourced from France, they said. No purchase has yet been made and the results are expected later on Friday, traders said. Wheat shipments to Egypt this year have been hindered by uncertainly about regulations covering traces of the ergot fungus. The GASC and the supply ministry have permitted a 0.05 percent ergot tolerance level but the agriculture ministry has previously insisted on zero ergot content. Egypt has rejected a 63,000 tonne wheat shipment for containing traces of ergot. The agriculture ministry, however, said on Wednesday it would allow wheat imports with up to 0.05 percent levels of ergot, a fungus common in wheat worldwide, reversing the zero tolerance policy. Participation in the tender on Friday was lower than the seven trading houses which offered in a tender on Jan. 21 though 16 companies took part in GASC's tender on Dec. 23 before the ergot issue intensified. "We have still not received an official confirmation from the agriculture ministry that it will allow the 0.05 percent ergot tolerance level in wheat imports and this is making it too risky to offer," one European trader said. "There is still great uncertainty among the international trading houses." Traders said these offers were submitted in the tender in dollars a tonne c&f: Seller FOB Origin Tonnes Ports Soufflet 186.64 France 60,000 Two ports Union Co. 190.41 Russia 60,000 Novorossiysk Cargill 192.00 France 60,000 Dunkirk, one port Ameropa 193.55 Romania 60,000 Constanta The Friday tender had sought March 2-11 shipment. (Reporting by Michael Hogan, Maha El Dahan, Eric Knecht and Valerie Parent; editing by David Clarke) London (AFP) - Smiling and squinting in the daylight, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange spoke from the balcony of Ecuador's embassy Friday in a rare public appearance after a UN panel declared him "arbitrarily detained". Dressed in a suit and tie, the pale 44-year-old Australian brandished a copy of the UN panel decision in his hands, appearing overwhelmed with emotion. "How sweet it is! This is a victory that cannot be denied. It is a victory of historical importance," he told a scrum of journalists and a handful of supporters outside the embassy in London. One supporter in the crowd shouted: "Your friends are here Julian!" as he came out onto the balcony. But when a heckler shouted "Are you going to stay another five years, mate?", the campaigner responded: "Can someone close that person off?" Journalists and supporters had waited since before dawn for a glimpse of the man at the heart of an international legal battle involving Ecuador's government, British police and Swedish prosecutors. Annoyed residents in London's plush Knightsbridge neighbourhood made their way past the cameras but only around two dozen supporters showed up for Assange, who made headlines in 2010 with a series of leaks of classified US military and diplomatic files. "The UK must let him walk free. It's important for democracy," said Fernando Berdon from Catalonia. Assange has lived in the embassy since June 19, 2012 after he exhausted all chances of appeal through British courts against an extradition to Sweden to face sex crime accusations involving two women. Ecuador has since granted him political asylum. - 'A parasite' - "The Truth Must Never Be Silenced", "Free Assange" and "Don't Shoot The Messenger" read some of the signs held up by protesters, including the well-known human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell. "The UN ruling is a clear vindication of Julian Assange. He has been held in arbitrary detention without charge for five years," he said. Story continues "That is a violation of Julian Assange's human rights. Britain must recognise that Julian Assange has a right for asylum," he added. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNGWAD) opinion called on Britain and Sweden to let him walk free, saying that his "detention should be brought to an end" and Assange should receive compensation. A protester from Kent in southeast England, who only gave her first name as Elsa, read out a letter in front of the embassy after the decision was published saying that "information is the oxygen of democracy". "Shame on Britain! We urge UK to give Julian Assange safe passage to a hospital on humanitarian grounds," Elsa, who wore a black-and-white Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, shouted through a megaphone. "Britain and Sweden are violating Julian Assange's human rights. They are breaking international law with impunity. This is no democracy if they arrest Julian Assange!" she said. As the wait for Assange dragged on, a critic also appeared outside the red-brick mansion block near Harrods department store, which neighbours the embassy offices. John Holden, a financial adviser, said: "He's a tosser. A parasite. He should come out and face justice". Ankara (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday blasted as "laughable" Russia's accusation that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria. "I find this Russian statement laughable... rather it is Russia that is currently engaged in an invasion of Syria," Erdogan said, quoted by the state-run Anatolia news agency. Russia on Thursday had claimed Turkey was planning to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border with the war-torn country. "We have serious grounds to suspect Turkey is in intensive preparations for an armed invasion of the territory of a sovereign state -- the Syrian Arab Republic," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement. Ties between Moscow, which supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ankara, which is a staunch backer of the opposition, have been in tatters since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on the Syrian border in November, claiming it had entered Turkish airspace. Following a request from Assad, Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists like the Islamic State group before they cross into Russia. But air strikes have also hit the rebels opposed to Assad. Tens of thousands of Syrians were apparently streaming towards Turkey on Friday as regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo. By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Britain's European partners voiced reservations but no outright rejection of a draft deal to meet its demands for reformed EU membership terms on Friday when negotiators from the 28-nation bloc met for the first time to discuss the text, diplomats said. London's bid to win exemption from the European Union goal of "ever closer union", preserve its financial sector from regulation by the euro zone and curb access to in-work benefits for EU migrant workers won backing from Poland as the meeting of national negotiators - or sherpas - began in Brussels. The powerful leader of Warsaw's new ruling party, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said after meeting British Prime Minister David Cameron that he was satisfied that the proposals would protect the rights of some 600,000 Polish workers already in Britain. Brussels set out a plan this week to deliver on changes requested by Cameron to enable him to campaign for continued EU membership when Britons vote in a referendum, possibly as soon as June. The British leader faces an uphill struggle according to an opinion poll on Friday that gave campaigners for a British exit from the bloc a nine-point lead, and he is under pressure at home to secure stronger assurances. FAIR, BUT A TOUGH ASK? As negotiators crunched details of the proposal laid out by European Council President Donald Tusk, other countries were keen to spell out the limits of what they could accept. "Initial reactions from capitals to Tusk's proposal showed that nobody is happy, which is a sign that the proposal is fair and balanced, but could also be a sign that it could be hard to agree," one EU diplomat said. Another said France wanted guarantees that arrangements to reassure non-euro member Britain that the 19-nation zone would not impose rules on countries that keep their national currency would not give such states the right to block decisions taken within the single currency bloc. The second source said Tusk had secured French President Francois Hollande's agreement to the formulation on the euro zone before issuing the draft document. But the negotiators would now have to examine the text "comma by comma". The proposal would allow Britain to have different bank capital rules, a fact that caused the European Banking Authority watchdog to warn on Friday that the deal risked distorting competition. London also would be allowed to freeze in-work benefits for new migrants, a move seen as discriminatory and initially causing uproar in several eastern EU members from which many people have emigrated to Britain since 2004 in search of better jobs and lives. But Poland, by far the biggest source of migrant labor, has reoriented its foreign policy after a eurosceptic government took power in November. Its foreign minister last week named Britain, rather than Germany, as Warsaw's top ally in Europe. The negotiations have focused on finding technical formulas to meet London's demands without explicitly violating EU law in order to prevent a "Brexit", which would be an unprecedented setback after decades of European integration. But some diplomats are concerned that the draft undermines the founding principles of the bloc. "We won't pick a fight but really if this goes through, this is the end of the EU as we know it," said one diplomat involved in the process. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski and Gabriela Baczynska in Brussels, Yves Clarisse in Paris, Paul Carrel and Andreas Rinke in Berlin, Editing by Paul Taylor and John Stonestreet) Berlin (AFP) - A 93-year-old former SS guard at the Auschwitz death camp will stand trial in April on a charge of accessory to murder, a German court said Friday. The accused, who was not named by the court, worked at the camp in occupied Poland between November 1, 1942 and June 25, 1943. On his watch, at least three trains carrying deportees from Berlin, Drancy in France and Westerbork in the Netherlands arrived at the camp, the court of Hanau said in a statement. "Of the deportees, at least 1,075 people were cruelly and maliciously killed in the gas chambers after their arrival in Auschwitz," the statement said. At present, three relatives of victims killed in the death camp have been accepted as co-plaintiffs, added the court. Despite his advanced age, the accused was found by a doctor to be fit to stand trial, although hearings will be limited to four hours a day. The trial will be the third in 2016 of former SS personnel at Auschwitz, as Germany races to prosecute ageing Third Reich criminals. Another former guard, 94-year-old Reinhold Hanning, is to appear in court in Detmold next week. And a 95-year-old ex-medic named as Hubert Zafke will stand trial in Neubrandenburg at the end of February. Both are charged with complicity in the killings of thousands of people at the camp. Some 1.1 million people, most of them European Jews, perished between 1940 and 1945 in Auschwitz-Birkenau before it was liberated by Soviet forces. LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to renegotiate Britain's ties with Europe and then give voters a referendum on European Union membership by the end of 2017. Cameron could reach a deal at an EU summit later this month, paving the way for a public vote as soon as June. Following are the views of business leaders: AEROSPACE AND AIRLINES Chief executive of airline easyJet Carolyn McCall said: "We will do everything we can to make sure that consumers understand that they are far better off within the EU when it comes to connectivity and low fares." "We think it would be very difficult for our government to negotiate with 27 other member states to get the flying rights that we have today within the EU." Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary: "We're very actively supporting the campaign to keep the UK in the European Union. There's absolutely no doubt that the UK economy is better off in Europe than outside of Europe." Rolls-Royce President of Aerospace Tony Wood: "Uncertainty is unhelpful in any businessman's mind. This is a very long-term business. It takes us 10 years to design an engine, we make it for 15 to 20 and we continue to service it for another 15 to 20. Any kind of uncertainty politically is not good." Aircraft parts maker Meggitt CFO Doug Webb: "We want the business environment to be as supportive as possible and being able to easily trade across borders is important. Equally, being able to trade in an efficient way with as little red tape as possible is important. I guess what we would like to see is the best balance across that." AUTOMOTIVE Ian Robertson, BMW Director for Sales and Marketing: "The UK has the most diverse car industry in Europe and is the fourth largest market of BMW Group worldwide. From an industry perspective we would therefore regret seeing the UK leave the EU." Chief Executive of carmaker Opel, which owns the Vauxhall brand, Karl-Thomas Neumann: "We have plants in Luton and Ellesmere port. We will not turn our back on England. If Britons voted to leave the EU, life would carry on. We would continue to find ways to invest." CEO of Volkswagen-owned British brand Bentley Wolfgang Duerheimer: "Volkswagen Group has 110 locations around the world where they produce cars. That means they are not in any case reliant on the UK so if the situation changes dramatically, future decisions need to be considered among the circumstances you face." BANKING AND FINANCE Colm Kelleher, President of Morgan Stanley: "If Britain were to leave Europe you would see a significant backlash against London as a financial center." Citi's UK head James Bardrick on what could happen post-Brexit: "We would have to operationally change the business and reallocate certain businesses back into the EU. That's not technically impossible ... but enormously costly and enormously inefficient ... and will mean the scale of our activities here will reduce." British Bankers Association Chief Executive Anthony Browne: "Some banks have recently moved operations and jobs out of the UK due to punitive hikes in bank taxes. Other banks have deferred decisions about whether to invest in Britain until after the referendum." Standard Life Investments Chief Executive Keith Skeoch: "This would be a shock that would register about 15 on the Richter scale," he said, referring to the possibility that Britons might vote to leave the EU. You want to make sure the rights you have today will persist for the next 20-30 years." (NB - the highest Richter scale earthquake ever recorded was 9.5) CONSUMER GOODS Paul Polman, the head of consumer goods company Unilever: "If there is uncertainty around things business is at its worst. So Im very much into how can we maintain the spirit of Europe, how can we make Europe work even better." ENERGY, OIL AND GAS Chief Executive of oil giant Royal Dutch Shell Ben van Beurden was quoted as saying by The Sunday Times newspaper: "We are a company with a strong heritage in the UK and on the Continent. There would be a real break between the two, which would affect freedom of movement of staff, trade we would be impacted. "There will be a path of divergence, and that will have all sorts of inefficiencies. Thats not good for companies like ours that thrive by there being no barriers. That is a fundamental economic aspect of it." BG Group Chairman Andrew Gould said: I am not in favor of Brexit. From an economic-business point of view I think it makes no sense at all. To create difficulties with a market as large as the EU doesnt seem to make a lot of economic sense to me Chief Executive of BP Bob Dudley told the BBC: "Being outside the EU would be worse for the country as many of the rules would still apply and Britain would be in danger of losing influence on the world stage. "There are lots of technical tax reasons, trade flows, regulation, that would make it better for our business and the energy business in general, the oil and gas business, (if Britain) were a part of Europe." National Grid Chief Executive Steve Holliday: "We cannot afford to lose the access to (European) energy supplies and interconnection, whatever the framework is eventually. Being part of the European energy market is unquestionably essential for the UK." HOUSEBUILDERS AND ESTATE AGENTS Managing Director of London-focused housebuilder Berkeley on what could happen if Britain leaves: "My concern would be around inward investment into London and it would slow down the growth of jobs and its influence." "If it retained less influence and less jobs, it will grow less quickly so it would actually need less homes built." Head of Commercial Research at real estate group Savills Mat Oakley: "The biggest risk to the commercial markets is that pre-vote period. Is it going to be three months, six months, nine months of speculation and the market may just go slightly quieter. "We have spoken to a number of people who've said we'll seriously consider moving our headquarters functions ... and our growth over the medium term to long term may well be more skewed to the EU ... if the UK were to leave." INDUSTRIALS AND CHEMICALS MANUFACTURERS Chief Executive of industrial equipment hire group Ashtead Geoff Drabble: "We have an ageing population in a small nation that needs to have skills in order to be globally competitive. And in a market that is becoming ever more global, I really struggle to see how increased isolation improves that situation." JCB Chief Executive Graeme MacDonald: "I really dont think it would make a blind bit of difference to trade with Europe. There has been far too much scaremongering about things like jobs. I dont think its in anyones interest to stop trade. I dont think we or Brussels will put up trade barriers. "What is needed is a lot less red tape and bureaucracy. Some of it is costly for us and quite frankly ridiculous. Whether that means renegotiating or exiting, I dont think it can carry on as it is. Its a burden on our business and its easier selling to North America than to Europe sometimes." INSURANCE Chief executive of the Association of British Insurers Paul Evans: "In the UK, the real political uncertainty for our sector comes from the dual and interconnected possibility that the UK could leave the EU and that the UK could dissolve if Scotland voted to become independent. Even five years ago, the likelihood of both would have seemed far more remote than they do now and so we certainly cannot be complacent." PHARMACEUTICALS Andrew Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline: From a purely business, economic perspective, my view very strongly is we are much better off inside the European Union than outside of it," he said. "Its very unclear to me what exactly the rule set would be on the outside. I think it runs the risk of creating long periods of uncertainty with no obvious route to a simpler world than the one in which we operate. RECRUITMENT Steve Ingham, chief executive of one of Europe's largest recruitment firms Michael Page, told Reuters: "I am concerned about the disruption, because it causes uncertainty and uncertainty means that people are unprepared to make decisions. It's not good for a candidate thinking about moving job, and it's not good for a client and that's more a concern." RETAIL Chief executive of fashion retailer Next Simon Wolfson: "My view is that if we have Brexit then what will make a difference isnt so much the fact of coming out of Europe but whether the policies pursued by the government post Brexit are ... free trade, open, positive, embracing a global trade view or a protectionist one. I havent made my mind up yet. Im going to wait and see what deal the Prime Minister is able to secure. That matters." Marks & Spencer Chief Executive Marc Bolland: "I feel that some of those (European) reforms can be done and should be done. Actually, I think the best judgment call for Britain to take is to see what the result of the reforms are before they take a point of view (on EU membership)." "Europe is very important for Marks & Spencer because we have over 100 stores within the EU." TELECOMS Vodafone Chief Executive Vittorio Colao in a letter to Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "I think (Cameron) is right to say these reforms would be good for the entire EU and not just the UK, showing clearly the advantages all Europeans would get from them. "European companies have been asking for these reforms for years, sadly with limited results, while our competitors in the United States and Asia continue to grow more quickly." TRAVEL Chief executive of London-listed, Germany-headquartered tour operator TUI Group Fritz Joussen said: "I would like to see the UK remaining a member of the European Union. The tourism industry in the UK and millions of British holiday makers also strongly benefit from the common European market and the UK being part of it. "It is too early at this point in time to draw any conclusions or to consider concrete actions. There are currently no tactical or strategic considerations at TUI Group as a result of the debate about a possible 'Brexit.'" (Reporting By UK bureau and EMEA corporate finance team; compiled by Costas Pitas) By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - Vladimir Putin thinks Russian air strikes in Syria have helped turn the war's tide but the pace of the Syrian army's advance has frustrated him, some sources say. If Aleppo falls, he could get the military and symbolic prize he has been craving. More than four months of Russian air strikes have stabilized the government of President Bashar al-Assad, the Kremlin's closest Middle East ally, helping his forces find momentum on the battlefield. But the names and strategic significance of the towns and villages they have recaptured have failed to electrify a Russian public more worried about falling living standards. Nor has the Syrian army - backed by Russian air power - yet delivered a major victory that Russia can sell to the wider world as proof of its military might and growing Middle East clout. "There has been some frustration with the Syrian army's performance," one source close to the Russian military, who declined to be identified, told Reuters. "Particularly in the beginning they were making slow progress." Retaking full control of Aleppo, Syria's biggest city before the five-year war, would change the narrative, say diplomats and analysts, bringing Putin a step closer to his preferred end-game which envisages a Russia-friendly Syrian government that allows Moscow to keep its naval and air base there. "So far we've heard reports of government forces gaining ground here and there and there have been a few notable successes," Dmitry Trenin, a former colonel in the Russian army and director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, told Reuters. "But all those successes were rather tactical and not particularly spectacular," said Trenin. "Should Aleppo be placed under full control of Damascus that would be a big psychological boost for Assad and a source of satisfaction for the Kremlin." Aleppo has been divided for years, with government forces controlling a section and other parts in the hands of rebels. Tens of thousands of Syrians fled intensifying Russian bombardment around Aleppo on Friday, and aid workers said they feared the city, which once held two million people, could soon fall under complete government siege. Government troops and their Lebanese and Iranian allies fully encircled the countryside north of Aleppo and cut off the main supply route linking the city to Turkey in the last 24 hours. Ankara said it suspected the aim was to starve the population into submission. As the Kremlin's impatience for a breakthrough has grown, it has bolstered its forces in Syria. Mostly recently, local media reported it had dispatched its most advanced military jet -- the Sukhoi-35s -- to join its strike force of around 40 fast jets. It has also intensified its strike rate. 'USEFUL DISTRACTION' A victory in Aleppo could help lift morale at home where an economic crisis is eroding living standards and real incomes are falling for the first time in Putin's 15 years in power. Boosted and protected by a loyal state media, a tightly-controlled political system and a dearth of meaningful opposition, Putin's approval rating remains over 80 percent according to opinion polls. But with tentative signs of social discontent bubbling up -- foreign currency mortgages holders, truckers and pensioners have all protested in recent months -- a headline-grabbing Russia-assisted victory in Syria could cheer downcast voters. "It would be a useful distraction and a show for people," said Stepan Goncharov, of independent pollster, the Levada Center, saying state media had in the past used Syria to stoke anti-Western feeling and to reinforce the idea that Russia is again a great power. "Their trick is to remove themes that stir social anxiety and replace them with ones that unite," said Goncharov. "A military victory (in Aleppo) would be a great power moment, a symbol of military might, and would be used to increase support for the authorities." He said the last time Levada asked, in October, they found that 72 percent of Russians had a broadly positive opinion of Russian air strikes in Syria, but that the subject had since taken a back seat to stories about the economy and what the Kremlin was doing to navigate the economic crisis. There were some signs support for the authorities was slipping a little because of the downturn, he added. Carnegie's Trenin said Russians, despite the Kremlin's flashy media campaign, were not actually that interested in the Syria conflict and with memories of the Soviet debacle in Afghanistan still lingering wanted the Kremlin to limit its involvement there. "For most people this is a war in a distant country," said Trenin, saying voters remained nervous about any suggestion that ground forces might be sent. So far, the official Russian military body count has been just four, three of whom were killed in combat. However, Islamic State claimed it blew up a Russian passenger plane over Egypt in October, killing all 224 people onboard, in revenge for Russia's Syria campaign. For Putin, says Trenin, Syria is important but part of a wider play. "The ultimate goal of Mr Putin is to restore Russia to great power status," he said. "Syria is part of that. But it's also about wider Russian foreign policy and about Putin's own legacy. Syria is the place where this is being decided." (Editing by Peter Graff) (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has denied the expanded use of Vertex Pharmaceutical Inc's bestseller, Kalydeco, in certain cystic fibrosis patients, the company said on Friday. The regulator rejected the company's application for using the drug in cystic fibrosis patients aged 2 or older, who have one of 23 residual function mutations. [ The company's shares fell 7.7 pct to $9.60 in premarket trading. Cystic fibrosis is caused by a defective gene that disrupts the function of the lungs and digestive system, producing a build-up of thick, sticky mucus leading to inflammation and recurrent bacterial infections. Half of the people with cystic fibrosis live longer than 28 years, according to the World Health Organization.(https://bit.ly/1OqUj6Z) (Corrects fourth paragraph to "Half of the people with cystic fibrosis live longer than 28 years, according to the World Health Organization", from "Most patients die in their mid-20s") (Reporting by Amrutha Penumudi in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel) Orleans (France) (AFP) - The first French person to be given the designation "neutral gender" appeared in court on Friday to testify in an appeal of the decision. The 64-year-old individual, who reportedly uses a male first name but has asked to remain anonymous, appeared before magistrates in the north-central town of Orleans. The plaintiff was born with a "rudimentary vagina" and a "micropenis" with no testicles, but was labelled a male at birth. A court last August established the plaintiff's right to use the term "neutral gender" on official documents in the case, a first in France. The state prosecutor decided to appeal the decision, saying that while he was not fiercely opposed he felt a higher ruling was necessary in a case that "collided with current laws". After the closed-door hearing on Friday, lawyer Mila Petkova said: "The court was very receptive. We were able to develop our arguments and we are happy at how the debate unfolded." No date was given for a decision in the case. In August, the magistrate stated that the "sex assigned to the individual at birth appears to be a complete fiction... imposed throughout (the plaintiff's) life. "It does not amount to recognising the existence of any kind of third sex, but to take into account the impossibility of attaching one sex or another to the concerned party," the magistrate added. The plaintiff, who is married with an adopted child and lives in eastern France, spoke to the free Paris daily 20 Minutes in October. "As a teenager I understood that I was not a boy. I didn't have a beard, my muscles didn't build," the individual said in an exclusive interview. "Today I finally feel I am recognised by society for who I really am." The plaintiff told 20 Minutes that at age 35, after doctors administered testosterone: "My appearance became more masculine. It was a shock, I no longer recognised myself. It made me realise I was neither a man nor a woman." Several countries including Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Nepal officially recognise a third gender on official forms. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh also have an official third gender designation for so-called hijra citizens who do not identify as male or female. By Zachary Fagenson MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida man convicted of second-degree murder after killing his wife and posting a photo of her blood-spattered body on Facebook was sentenced to life in prison on Friday. Derek Medina, 33, wrote on Facebook shortly before turning himself in over the August 2013 shooting: "I'm going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife." "You foretold your future," said Florida circuit court Judge Yvonne Colodny before handing down the sentence. A jury late last year rejected his contention that he was acting in self-defense when he killed his wife, 27-year-old Jennifer Alfonso, in the kitchen of their Miami-area residence. Medina was also sentenced to concurrently serve 15 years in prison for shooting or throwing a deadly missile and five years for child neglect without bodily harm after he left his wife's daughter alone in the home after the shooting. Medina will not be eligible for parole, a court spokeswoman said. Medina spoke briefly at the hearing, making a convoluted statement in which he asked President Barack Obama to tackle corruption in the legal system. "I did not get a fair trial, and I will taking action, I will be suing," he said. A handful of Alfonso's relatives attended the hearing and requested the judge impose the maximum sentence of life. "Jennifer is not going to come back to me in 25 years, she's not going to come back to me in 40 years, she's not going to come back to me at all," said her mother Carolyn Knox. On the day of the shooting death, the couple fought. Medina then retrieved a .380-caliber pistol from his bedroom and shot his wife repeatedly in a premeditated act of murder, prosecutors said during a trial that lasted over two weeks. Defense attorneys described Alfonso as an abusive spouse who often instigated fights. The pair had married in 2010, divorced in early 2012, then remarried a few months later. A report from the Miami-Dade County medical examiner said Medina shot Alfonso at a downward angle at point-blank range. Story continues Medina posted an image of her bloodied body on Facebook shortly after the shooting. "My wife was punching me, and I am not going to stand any more with the abuse so I did what I did," he added in the social media post. (This version of the story corrects paragraph 5 to show Medina will not be eligible for parole, not that he will be eligible for parole after 25 years) (Editing by Letitia Stein and G Crosse) By J.R. Wu and Ritsuko Ando TAIPEI/TOKYO (Reuters) - Foxconn Chief Executive Officer Terry Gou is in Osaka to meet executives of Japan's Sharp Corp, a Sharp spokesman said, one day after the struggling electronics maker said it was focusing on the Taiwan firm's takeover bid over a rival offer from a Japanese state-backed fund. Shares in Osaka-based Sharp soared 10 percent in early morning trade, bringing two-day gains to 29 percent. Gou plans to brief the media in Osaka at 0600 GMT (3.00 p.m. Japan time), the Sharp spokesman said. Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, has offered to invest around 659 billion yen ($5.6 billion) in the struggling Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp, people familiar with the matter said. One person said Sharp's board had voted 13-0 to negotiate with Foxconn instead of the state-backed Japanese fund, the Innovation Network Corp of Japan. The people declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The Sharp spokesman declined to comment further. Foxconn declined to comment. A takeover by Foxconn, which assembles various electronics products such as smartphones and television sets for Apple, Sony Corp and many other major international companies, would vastly expand sales channels for Sharp's liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. While a generous Foxconn offer had been flagged, many investors in Japan were surprised to see an overseas firm gain the upper hand over a state fund. The decision comes after months of uncertainty over the fate of the company, whose display panel business has continued to suffer massive losses despite two major bailouts by its banks in the last four years. ($1 = 116.8500 yen) (Reporting by J.R. Wu and Ritsuko Ando; Writing by Edwina Gibbs) Nairobi (AFP) - A British photojournalist arrested by Burundi police last month said it was a "disturbing" insight into the daily "intimidation and oppression" the media faces in the troubled country. Burundian security forces said they arrested Phil Moore, along with colleague Jean-Philippe Remy, Africa bureau chief for French daily Le Monde, alongside gunmen in the capital Bujumbura. But Moore said that was "completely false" and he had not been with any gunmen, nor photographed weapons. "That the authorities are making such patently false statements highlights the questionable veracity of their assertions on much more grave issues," Moore said in a statement, now back home in Britain. "The whole episode sends a worrying message to what is already a heavily depleted media space in Burundi." Both Moore and Remy have covered the region for years, winning several awards for their work. Their arrest sparked widespread condemnation from rights groups and diplomats, and they were freed after 24 hours. But while they were never charged, their cameras and equipment, kit totalling several thousand dollars, were taken by police and have not been returned. Burundi has been in crisis since April when President Pierre Nkurunziza ran for and won a controversial third term, sparking street protests, a failed coup, regular killings and a nascent rebellion. "Whilst I am immensely relieved to be free, our arrest offered a disturbing insight into the tactics employed by the security forces across the capital. Our detention was brief, and we were not tortured," Moore added. "Sadly this is not the case for the many Burundians who are rounded up every week across Bujumbura, some of whom simply seem to disappear." Moore, 34, has frequently worked for AFP and other international publications, winning widespread recognition for his photographs of conflicts in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as well as Libya, Somalia and Syria. "All of the independent radio stations -- the primary source of information for the majority of the population -- have been closed, and a great number of Burundian journalists have been forced into exile," Moore added. "Those still living and working in Burundi face regular intimidation and oppression to shine a light on what is taking place in the country. Whilst I am grateful for the spotlight that was shone on our plight, one must remember that theirs is daily." Presidential budget requests are always more political documents than genuine legislative proposals, typically containing items that everybody involved knows will never find their way into law. However, for his last budget proposal, President Obama is floating an idea so out of the realm of possibility that it makes a mission to Mars look tame. Specifically, Obama will ask Congress to slap a $10 per barrel surcharge read tax on oil. Related: 5 Conspiracy Theories About the Oil Crash, from Ludicrous to Logical You could be forgiven for thinking that this is just a lame duck Obama trolling Congress trying to provoke a reaction just for the sheer hell of it. But according to reporting in Politico today, now confirmed by the White House, the proposal is for real and is part of a larger green transportation initiative. The timing of the proposal is curious, considering what the recent nosedive in crude oil prices has been doing to U.S. producers. As recently as this week, the price per barrel has been below $30, less than a third of the $90-plus it was selling for 18 months ago. The steep drop in prices has made it a challenge for higher-cost U.S. producers to remain profitable. The effect of a $10 tax on each barrel sold in the U.S. would be to raise the prices on oil, and by extension gasoline. When prices go up, consumption falls, and in this case it will fall without any of the benefit of the price increase accruing to producers. In fact, the Obama administration appears to be selling the plan, in part, based on the impact it would have on oil producers. The surcharge, the administration told Politico, would be paid by oil companies. Related: Why the U.S. and Russia Are headed for a Natural Gas Price War Of course, believing that oil companies will pay the fee with no effect on consumer prices requires also believing that the producers wont pass their increased cost on to refiners, who wont in turn pass their costs on to the public. In other words, it requires suspending belief in basic economics. Story continues There are strong arguments that petroleum products, primarily gasoline, are greatly under-taxed in the U.S., because of the damage carbon emissions do to the environment and because of the cost of maintaining the countrys transportation infrastructure. That we should be raising taxes on oil now, when prices are so low, is a defensible policy position. Pretending it will have no effect on consumers is not. The $10 fee is meant to fund a $300 billion push to invest in new infrastructure, as well as a range of technologies meant to reduce the amount of carbon that is emitted into the atmosphere in the U.S. every year. The odds of Congress approving a $10 per barrel tax on oil in an election year, no less are exactly the same as Republicans backing a Constitutional amendment to allow Obama to run for a third term: zero. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: Alessandro Michele and the Gucci crew will be packing their bags and heading to London this summer to show the brands 2017 Cruise collection. The Cloisters at Westminster Abbey is the designers venue of choice a righteous step up from the DIA-Art Foundation New York City, where 2016s Cruise presentation was staged. Read more: Ariana Grandes Clothing Collab Is Coming Soon The Italian label is the first fashion house to show at the Gothic structure, which is surprising considering the vaulted arches and sunlit halls make for an ideal runway. We cant wait to see how Micheles cheery designs pop against the eerie, centuries-old cathedral when the show goes down on June 2. CONAKRY (Reuters) - A journalist was shot and killed in Guinea on Friday during clashes between rival factions of the West African nation's main opposition party, witnesses and the government said. El Hadj Mohamed Diallo was killed at the headquarters of the Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG) in the capital Conakry. "He was shot at point-blank range. I'm here next to the body at the morgue right now," said Ibrahima Sory Traore, publishing director of Guinee7.com for which Diallo worked. Violence broke out when Mamadou Oury Bah, a founding member of the UFDG who was excluded from the party earlier in the day, attempted to enter the party headquarters accompanied by his supporters to participate in a leadership meeting. It was not immediately clear who killed Diallo, though some witnesses said the shot was fired by a UFDG member involved in the clashes. In a statement later, the government of Africa's largest bauxite producer confirmed it was opening an investigation for voluntary homicide. Bah, commonly know as Bah Oury, spent four years in exile in France, during which time he was convicted in absentia for a 2011 assassination attempt against President Alpha Conde. Conde pardoned him recently and the UFDG vice president returned to Guinea last month. Since his arrival, he has been a vocal critic of the UFDG's management under party leader Cellou Dalein Diallo, who finished second to Conde in the last two presidential elections in 2010 and 2015. (Reporting by Saliou Samb; Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by James Dalgleish) By Joseph Guyler Delva PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) - Haiti slipped deeper into unrest on Friday as gangs of former soldiers roamed the capital and a mob of protesters beat a man to death with stones, following a botched election that has left no successor for outgoing President Michel Martelly. Reuters witnesses said the crowd attacked an unidentified man wearing military style clothes. The protesters accused him of being a member of a widely unpopular army that was disbanded in 1995. Martelly is due to leave office on Sunday but squabbling politicians have failed to organize an interim government to replace him, after the runoff election to choose his successor was scrapped last month amid violence and fraud allegations. (Writing by Frank Jack Daniel) Something about tropical breezes, turquoise waters and stunning scenery seems to be good for the soul. Hawaii has been ranked the top state for well-being, regaining its "happy spot" from last year's winner, Alaska, according to a new survey. The survey, conducted by Gallup Healthways between December 2015 and January 2016, found that the Aloha State topped the list based on factors such as its residents having a sense of purpose, sense of community, financial well-being and physical well-being. Other healthy and happy states included those in the Mountain West, such as Montana, Colorado and Wyoming, which also topped the list. Consistent with past survey results, West Virginians reported the lowest sense of well-being, doing so for the seventh year in a row. [See the List of the Happiest US States] The Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index aggregates data from more than 177 surveys, capturing information from 2.3 million people. From these surveys, statisticians create an overall snapshot of what it's like to live in each state. Well-being is different from the transient emotion of happiness, and includes more than just good health. It encompasses a broad set of factors, ranging from the intangible (such a sense of meaning in life) to the concrete (such as financial security). Feel-good vibes To create the well-being index, the Gallup scientists separate survey data into five categories: social factors, a sense of purpose, physical fitness, a sense of community and financial health. Hawaii was the top-ranked state in large part because of its residents' strong sense of community and good physical health. Other high-ranking states include Alaska, California, much of the Northern Plains and all of the Mountain West. Last year, Alaskans boasted the highest well-being in the country, but from 2009 to 2012, Hawaii held that honor. On the other end of the spectrum, West Virginia and Kentucky fared the worst in terms of well-being. West Virginia has consistently ranked low in measures of both economic well-being and physical health. For instance, the state was ranked the most obese in 2013, and had the dubious honor of having the most deaths from injury in 2015, thanks in large part to accidental drug overdoses. The state also ranks lowest for citizens getting enough sleep, and has the highest percentage of inhabitants using mood-altering drugs. Story continues Overall, Americans reported about the same sense of well-being as last year. However, fewer people smoke, more people are insured and more people are exercising (at least if their self-reports are accurate). Fewer people in the United States are worried about where their next meal will come from, and fewer experience health care insecurity. However, more Americans than ever are obese, which had a negative impact on overall well-being, the survey found. Follow Tia Ghose on Twitter and Google+. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Arbil (Iraq) (AFP) - A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region killed 19 people and injured dozens more on Friday, officials said. Fourteen of the dead were from the Philippines, while three Iraqis, a Palestinian and another person of unknown nationality also died, said Saman Barzanji, director general of the Arbil health department. Dozens more were injured and taken to hospital in Arbil, said Fakher Harki, the department's spokesman. Nawzad Hadi, the governor of Arbil province, said preliminary information indicated that the cause of the fire was an electrical problem in a sauna. The fire took place at the four-star Capitol Hotel where rooms cost from $100-$240 per night. The hotel's website says it has a 740-square-metre (2,580-square-foot) spa that includes saunas and a pool. Photos and video posted on social media showed dark grey smoke pouring from windows on the top floor of the building. The Kurdistan region in north Iraq has largely been spared the deadly violence that plagues other parts of the country. The region is frequently visited by tourists from other areas of Iraq and various countries in the region. A hotel fire in Sulaimaniyah, another city in Iraqi Kurdistan, killed 30 people in July 2010. The city's hospital said people from 12 different nations died in that fire, including some who jumped to their deaths from upper-floor windows while trying to escape the flames. ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region killed 17 people on Friday, the governor of Erbil told a local media network, and the hotel manager said they included foreigners. Governor Nawzad Hadi told Rudaw TV that 14 of the victims were not from the autonomous region, but that their nationality was not yet known. The cause of the fire was not clear, but Hadi said an electrical fault was suspected. The manager of the Capitol Hotel told Rudaw the fire had started in a massage parlor next door and that some of those killed were from the Philippines. Many foreign workers came to Kurdistan after 2003, when the region experienced an oil fueled economic boom, inviting comparisons with the Gulf emirate of Dubai. (Reporting by Isabel Coles; Editing by Alison Williams) By Krishna N. Das and Mayank Bhardwaj NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Officials may decide on Friday whether to allow what could be India's first genetically modified (GM) food crop, mustard, spurred by food security concerns and as China makes a big bet on the technology with a $43 billion bid for seed firm Syngenta. Permitting GM food crops is a big call for a country that spends tens of billions of dollars importing edible oils and other food items every year. Farmers are stuck with old technology, yields are at a fraction of global levels, cultivable land is shrinking and weather patterns have become less predictable. Two straight droughts for the first time in three decades have made India a net importer of some food products for the first time in years. If a commercial launch of GM mustard is allowed, it could pave the way for other food crops such as corn varieties developed by Monsanto, in one of the world's biggest farm markets. "I see this as a test case and I am hopeful," said Deepak Pental, the lead scientist who used government grants to conduct tests on the oilseed crop over the past decade. "How can we keep on running so scared when there is so much need for improving agricultural production?" But even winning the panel's approval is no guarantee that the GM crop would be introduced. Political and public opposition to lab-altered food remains strong amid fears they could compromise food safety and biodiversity. There is also suspicion among farmers that their introduction would give foreign seed suppliers too much control. "Why is the government imposing its decision on farmers on an unsafe and unproven technology, despite the availability of good varieties of mustard in our country?" Manish Sisodia, Delhi's deputy chief minister, told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a letter this week. "We pray to you not to compromise our agriculture, citizens' health and the environment under pressure from a handful of foreign companies." PRESSURE BUILDING? Friday's meeting, the third held to evaluate field trial data on GM mustard, is an indication of how serious Modi's government is about pushing technology to lift food production after an impasse under the previous government halted research on transgenic crops. A member of the GM approval committee comprising government and independent experts said they had already discussed the mustard in the past two meetings this year, and the next gathering would be crucial to deciding its future. He declined to be named and did not give more details. Ashok Gulati, a farm economist who advised the last government, said that China's takeover of Swiss GM seed developer Syngenta should push the government into taking quick action. "It should come as ... a wakeup call for India, which has to feed more than a billion mouths," said Gulati. "India now doesn't have the luxury to sit on the issue of GM. It just needs to take this bold and decisive step." India placed a moratorium on GM aubergine in 2010, fearing the effect on food safety and biodiversity. Field trials of other GM crops were not formally halted, but the regulatory system was brought to a deadlock after that. However, Modi, who was instrumental in making Gujarat state the leading user of GM cotton in India when he was chief minister, cleared several field trials soon after taking office in New Delhi in 2014. Some grassroots groups associated with Modi's nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have opposed GM crops because of the reliance on seeds patented by multinationals like Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Chemical and Syngenta. But New Delhi-based Pental said the mustard variety was developed by Indian scientists, and local firms could easily supply farmers with cheap seeds. TESTS REVEAL NO PROBLEMS The government's chief scientific adviser, R. Chidambaram, has also asked Modi for a quick decision on the issue. A senior environment ministry official, who is a member of the GM approval committee, had said earlier that studies found no ill effects from GM foods. Pental's mustard makes use of three genes already incorporated in rapeseed hybrids in Canada, the United States and Australia and extensive biosafety tests have revealed no cause for concern, according to a copy of the field trial report submitted to the government and seen by Reuters. Additionally, oil derived from its seeds does not contain proteins linked to the three genes used, Pental said. The mustard's yield is up to 38 percent higher than normal varieties, which would help Modi slash an annual bill for vegetable oil imports of more than $10 billion. A farm ministry official said they were keen to roll out any innovation that can help farmers produce more, as long as concerns of human and soil health are addressed. (Editing by Mike Collett-White) On Jan. 23, prisoners in Flint, Michigans Genessee County Jail were told to drink bottled water. It was a curious switch for those who had been locked up since October: After Mayor Karen Weaver declared a state of emergency on Dec. 15 to decry the lead-contaminated water being piped into the homes of Flint residents, the inmates were provided with bottled water for five days. But after that, they all drank from the taps again. As the water crisis continued to explode outside the jails walls, the inmates were told the tap water had been tested and was safe to use, according to an exclusive report from Democracy Now! Between that brief window in October and last Friday, no bottled water was made available to them. In jail we were drinking from the taps, our food was made from the taps, former Genessee inmate Jody Cramer told Democracy Now! Meanwhile, jail employees openly drank filtered bottled water in front of the prisoners. The deputies would not drink from the faucets; they all drank bottled water, said Cramer. But we were consistently told the water was good. Cramer, who was released this week, knew something was wrong. When he called home to speak to his family, his mother told him the water wasnt OK. She called the jail repeatedly and was told the facility was using a filtration system. Even pregnant women in the jail were consuming the lead-tainted water, according to the report. When the switch was made last week, just four bottles of water were provided to each inmate per dayboth for drinking and for brushing their teeth. The revelation about Flints jail is the latest flash point in an ongoing catastrophe that has garnered the attention of the FBI, Michigans attorney general, and Congress. In April 2014, Gov. Rick Snyder appointed an unelected emergency manager to the city. In a cost-cutting measure, the official switched the citys water source from Lake Huron to the Flint River. The rivers highly corrosive water then caused lead to leak from the citys pipes into its water supply. In spite of complaints and ample evidence that the water was tainted and unsafe, officials failed to act for months. Story continues It isnt the first time the health of prisoners has been neglected amid a water crisis. In 2014, more than 400 prisoners in Charleston, West Virginia, werent provided with an adequate water supply during the states chaotic response to a massive chemical spill. After the spill, which left thousands without potable water, inmates were a last priority for state officials. Some were provided with as little as 16 ounces of clean water a day, according to an investigation by ThinkProgress, which they had to both consume and use for personal hygiene. Just eight days after the spill, the tap water was turned back on for use. Prisoners reported myriad health problems from using and consuming the water, which was tainted with the compound chemical MCHM. In September 2014, a complaint was filed on behalf of an inmate in Grimes County, Texas, alleging the jail permitted inmates to drink arsenic-tainted well water. When the Texas Department of Criminal Justice requested that the city connect the jail to an untainted municipal water supply, the city refused, citing the high cost of drilling a new well, according to The Navasota Examiner. In response to the complaint, the jails warden, Donald Bilnoski, told the inmates that bottled water was unnecessary and invited those who were concerned to purchase it from the jail with their own money. Related stories on TakePart: Obama Declares Emergency in Flint as Water Crisis Continues Outraged Girl Scouts Send Letters Demanding Action on Flint Water Crisis Michigan Under Investigation for Foul Play in Flint Water Crisis Original article from TakePart ANKARA (Reuters) - A high-ranking member of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and six Iranian Basij militia volunteers have been killed in fighting in Syria, semi-official Iranian media said on Friday. The Islamic Republic says it has military advisers and volunteers in Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad's forces in their war with rebel groups including Islamic State militants. It denies having conventional armed forces in Syria. The semi-official news agency Tasnim said IRGC Brigadier General Mohsen Ghajarian was killed in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo, where there has been heavy fighting of late. Tasnim did not say when he was killed but that he had been advising Assad's forces in fighting Islamic State. "Six volunteer Basij members were martyred (killed) in Syria while fighting against takfiris near Aleppo while defending Shi'ite holy shrines," Tasnim added. By "takfiri", Tasnim was using a derogatory Arabic word denoting ultra-radical Sunni Muslim militants, a clear reference to Islamic State, whose members regard Shi'ites as heretics. Iran is the Middle East's Shi'ite power. Iranian media have reported the death of over 100 members of the IRGC and Basij, an affiliated volunteer militia, in the past few months in Syria. Tasnim said public funerals would be held for the latest Iranians killed in Syria. The United Nations on Wednesday suspended the first Syria peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the start as the war continued to rage without respite. The United States said on Thursday, however, that it was hopeful the talks would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that to happen no later than Feb. 25. (Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Editing by Mark Heinrich) BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric said on Friday he would no longer deliver regular weekly sermons about political affairs, which for years have been a source of guidance for Iraqi politicians and his millions of followers. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani did not give a reason for suspending the sermons, which have lately focused on the government's battle against Islamic State militants and anti-corruption efforts. "It has been decided not to continue this on a weekly basis at the present time, but only as demanded by events", Sistani's aide Ahmed al-Safi, who delivered the message, said in a televised speech from the southern shrine city of Kerbala before reciting a prayer. Sistani, a reclusive octogenarian, enjoys almost mythical status among millions of Shi'ite followers and wields authority that few Iraqi politicians would openly challenge. His political sermons have ranged over issues such as security, elections and the economy. He called in June 2014 for Iraqis to take up arms against the Sunni ultra-hardline insurgents of Islamic State after they seized nearly a third of the country's north and west. Tens of thousands of Shi'ites heeded the call. Sistani then endorsed the sidelining of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Last summer, he called for an overhaul of Iraq's corrupt political system, emboldening Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to launch a reform campaign which Sistani later criticized as slow and ineffective. A spokesman for Sistani's office was not immediately available to comment on the decision. A sermon two weeks ago expressed frustration at inaction in solving Iraq's myriad security, political and economic challenges. "All these issues have been repeated endlessly until our voices became sore," Sistani said at the time. A Friday sermon was also broadcast live on state television from the main mosque in Ramadi, the western capital retaken from Islamic State insurgents about a month ago following a six-month siege. Abdul Lateef al-Himayim, head of Iraq's government body overseeing Sunni religious sites, thanked the security services and urged displaced people to return to their homes. More than 3.3 million Iraqis have been displaced by the fighting, most of them Sunnis. Government forces are still dismantling bombs left by Islamic State in Ramadi, the capital of the predominately Sunni province of Anbar, and much of the city's buildings and infrastructure needs to be rebuilt. A few soldiers stood guard as security and local officials listened to the sermon inside the mosque, which was largely untouched by the fighting. Counter-terrorism forces, which spearheaded the recapture of the city, are still pursuing insurgents in a few northeastern districts. (Reporting by Stephen Kalin and Saif Hameed; Editing by Tom Heneghan) Mogadishu (AFP) - Somalia's Shebab insurgents on Friday retook their stronghold of Merka from African Union troops who had held the key port since 2012, in one of the biggest setbacks for the multi-national force. The loss of Merka, the state capital of Lower Shabelle, is one of the most dramatic reverses for the AU force in its nearly decade-long battle against the Shebab. "The AU troops pulled out of the town and Shebab militants entered -- and have secured control without fighting," Ibrahim Adam, governor of the Lower Shabelle region told reporters. The historic port, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, was captured in August 2012 by African Union troops. It is one of the first major towns the Shebab have seized back and it gives them access to a sea port again. There was no immediate response from the AU force, known by its acronym AMISOM, or government officials. Residents confirmed the takeover, saying heavily armed Shebab fighters swept into the town with Islamist black flags, before addressing residents. "AMISOM forces moved out at midday and the local administration and all other Somali security forces left a few minutes later - and then heavily armed Shebab militants entered the town," said Ibrahim Mumin, a local. "They have been addressing residents at the district headquarters." - Fears jet blast was bomb - The loss of Merka comes as foreign investigators probe a blast on a commercial airliner that ripped a hole in its fuselage, 15 minutes after take-off from Mogadishu on Tuesday, which the pilot and experts fear was a bomb. One passenger, named by the government as Abdulahi Abdisalam Borle, was killed, apparently sucked out through the ragged hole ripped in the metal. The Shebab have not claimed responsibility so far and Minister for Transport Ali Jama Jangeli has called on people to await the results of the investigation. But the seizure of Merka, as well as recent high profile Shebab attacks on AU bases, appears part of an offensive after months of apparent retreat, amid reported splits between factions allied to Al-Qaeda and some splinter groups favouring Islamic State. Story continues The Shebab are fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, which is protected by 22,000 AU troops. The insurgents have lost ground since being routed from Mogadishu in 2011 but continue to stage regular shooting and suicide attacks, and in recent months have staged a series of brazen raids on AU bases. - Car bomb kills three - Last month they stormed a Kenyan army base at El-Adde in southwest Somalia, in the latest incident of an AMISOM base being overrun, before retreating. In September, Shebab fighters stormed a Ugandan AMISOM base in Janale district, southwest of Mogadishu in the Lower Shabelle region. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, speaking at an AU summit last month, called for more "resources for the forces in Somalia so that AMISOM can have robust power on land, air and the sea." AU troops have been hampered by a lack of air power -- including attack helicopters -- leaving their bases often isolated and supply lines vulnerable to attack by Shehab gunmen controlling surrounding rural areas. A car bomb also exploded in Mogadishu on Friday, killing three people, although the airport official it was apparently targeting escaped unharmed. Witnesses described an enormous explosion with the car bursting into flames. The man believed to have been targeted had just left the vehicle to go into a chemist's shop. "A man got out of the car and entered a pharmacy, but before he returned a huge blast ripped through the car. I saw several people burned," said Aded Mohamed, who was near the explosion. It is unclear whether the car bomb was in any way related to the plane explosion, but security has been boosted around the already heavily fortified airport, AMISOM's main base. Somalia's Shebab insurgents were imposing Sharia law in the key port of Merka Saturday, residents said, one day after the Islamists retook their stronghold from African Union troops who had held it since 2012. AU troops fled the city, the state capital of Lower Shabelle, as heavily armed Shehab fighters swept in with black Islamist flags on Friday, residents and local authorities said, in one of the most dramatic reverses for the multi-national force in its nearly decade-long battle against the Shebab. The city is quiet and life is normal today, shops are reopening... but people who worked with the local administration are hiding in fear for their lives, said one resident, Ibrahim Ahmed, reached by telephone from Mogadishu on Saturday. Shebab fighters are patrolling in the streets and they asked people to avoid engaging in anything that could be a breach of the Sharia, said another resident, Mohamed Mowlid. The Al Qaeda-linked Shebab said on its website that one of its leaders, Sheikh Mohamed Abu-Abdallah, addressed hundreds of people gathered at the regional government headquarters in Merka on Friday. The enemy has lost and running away, they are fleeing from the Islamic regions," it quoted him as saying. "The Islamic administration has started functioning officially in Merka and the fight among clans is over, there is no one who is superior to another, people are equal in front of Gods law. - Vulnerable troops - The governor of the Lower Shabelle region, Ibrahim Adam, told reporters on Friday that "AU troops pulled out of the town and Shebab militants entered -- and have secured control without fighting". The AU force, known by its acronym AMISOM, said on Twitter late Friday that its troops were "still in control" of Merka but had been forced to "re-adjust their positions for tactical purposes." The statement sharply contradicted reports from residents and local authorities. The historic port, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of the capital Mogadishu, was captured in August 2012 by African Union troops after four years under Islamist control. It is one of the first major towns the Shebab have seized back and it gives them access to a sea port again. The Shebab are fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, which is protected by 22,000 AU troops. The group has lost ground since being routed from Mogadishu in 2011, but continues to stage regular shooting and suicide attacks, and in recent months has staged a series of brazen raids on AU bases. AU troops have been hampered by a lack of air power -- including attack helicopters -- leaving their bases often isolated and supply lines vulnerable to attack by Shehab gunmen controlling surrounding rural areas. Jerusalem (AFP) - Three Arab Israeli lawmakers who met relatives of Palestinians killed after carrying out attacks on Israelis faced fierce criticism from both sides of the Jewish state's political divide on Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he wanted to punish the politicians, while the opposition Zionist Union said the Tuesday meeting "gave a helping hand to terror". "Members of Knesset (parliament) who go to comfort the families of terrorists who murdered Israelis do not deserve to be in the Israeli Knesset," Netanyahu said in a statement late Thursday. "I have asked the speaker of the Knesset and the attorney general to examine what steps can be taken against them," he said. Netanyahu and Speaker Yuli Edelstein would take the "unprecedented step" of filing personal complaints against the lawmakers with the house's ethics committee, a Knesset statement said Friday. Lawmakers Basel Ghattas, Jamal Zahalka and Hanin Zuabi attended a meeting initiated by a Palestinian committee seeking to retrieve the bodies of attackers killed at the scene by Israeli security forces, their Balad party said. A wave of violence since October has killed 26 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count. At the same time, 164 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces, most while carrying out attacks but others during clashes and demonstrations. Israel has returned the bodies of some attackers but is retaining others. The remains of assailants from the occupied West Bank, for which the Israeli army is responsible, have been returned for burial in accordance with Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon's view that retaining them would further fuel tensions. But Israel has kept the bodies of 10 Palestinians from Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, which is under the authority of Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan, who says he wants to avoid funerals becoming Palestinian political rallies. Story continues Palestinians say withholding the bodies is a form of collective punishment. - 'Act of revenge' - "The non-delivery of the bodies is an act of revenge" against the families of attackers, Balad said in a statement Friday. It said the meeting was held to retrieve bodies withheld "in contravention of all international and humanitarian laws and norms." Israeli Arab rights group Adalah said the relatives of several Palestinians killed in attacks attended, but did not elaborate. Balad said they included the father of Bahaa Alyan, who in October boarded a bus in Jerusalem with a friend, shooting and stabbing passengers and killing three people. Alyan was shot dead and Israel later demolished his family home as punishment. The friend was arrested. When it does release Palestinian bodies for burial, Israel imposes conditions such as nighttime funerals with few mourners. Families are also sometimes made to pay a deposit of several thousand shekels (hundreds of dollars), which is lost if the funeral does not pass quietly. Last month Alyan's father Mohammed said he would not submit to such demands, and would not bury his son outside Jerusalem. Balad said its lawmakers had passed the families' requests on to Erdan. Arab Israelis -- who represent about 18 percent of Israel's population -- are the descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land after the creation of Israel in 1948. Although they are citizens of the Jewish state, they largely see themselves as Palestinians. Yaalon, of Netanyahu's rightwing Likud party, said that the Balad lawmakers represented a "small and separatist minority among Israeli Arabs". "The radical minority that is trying to incite and divide must be condemned and removed from our midst," he said. Lawmaker Itzik Shmuli, of the main opposition Zionist Union, said that his party "totally condemned" such contacts. "It's an act that simply gives a helping hand to terrorism," he told Israeli public radio Friday. "It encourages attacks against innocent Israeli citizens." Tokyo (AFP) - US animal rights activist Ric O'Barry, detained for nearly three weeks after being denied entry to Japan, has been deported from the country, his supporters said Friday. The star of the Oscar-winning documentary "The Cove" about dolphin killing in a town of Taiji, "has been placed on an airplane and deported from Japan, where he has been incarcerated for 19 days," said a statement from Dolphin Project, a conservation group he heads. O'Barry had been fighting for entry into Japan after immigration authorities refused to let him in last month and he was held at the airport until his departure. Japanese immigration officials cited his past trip to an area where did not report to authorities when visiting Japan last year on a tourist visa, it said. "It is ironic that they are deporting me to keep me quiet, when they themselves have brought more attention to the dolphin slaughter than 'The Cove' movie," O'Barry said in the statement. "It breaks my heart to be deported from a country I have grown to love." "The Cove", which won an Academy Award in 2010, drew worldwide attention to the annual dolphin hunt in the small Japanese town of Taiji. The 76-year-old O'Barry lost more than 10 kilogrammes (22 pounds) and suffered a minor chest problem during his stay at a "jail-like facility of the Immigration Bureau at Narita Airport, Tokyo," Dolphin Project lawyer Takashi Takano said in the same statement. "Mr O'Barry's visits to 'The Cove' in Taiji and his reports on dolphin hunting should be considered a legitimate tourist activity," Takano said. "To those who believe Japan is an open and democratic country, it must be shocking to realise this kind of experience can happen here and now." Japanese immigration officials have declined to comment on the incident, as they do not discuss the status of individual cases, and could not be reached after office hours Friday. Story continues The website did not provide details on what time or to where O'Barry, a US citizen, was deported. O'Barry has bumped up against the Japanese legal system before. In September he was arrested near Taiji on the eve of the start of the controversial six-month dolphin hunt for allegedly failing to carry his passport after being stopped by police. He was released the following night. In recent years, Japanese police have dispatched more officers to Taiji during the hunt in anticipation of possible clashes between locals and activists from conservation group Sea Shepherd. O'Barry first found fame in the 1960s for catching and training five dolphins for the well-known television series "Flipper", but he has recently fought against keeping the mammals in captivity. Concord (United States) (AFP) - In a state whose motto is "Live Free or Die," New Hampshire's presidential primary Tuesday is do or die for Republican Jeb Bush: best your establishment rivals, or consider throwing in the towel. Bush's campaign has long concluded the state is critical to his path to the nomination. Finishing strong in the first primary after this week's Iowa caucuses, where he placed a disappointing sixth with 2.8 percent of the vote, is a political imperative. If he falters, experts warn, Bush would confirm the narrative painted by critics, that he is a tarnished candidate from the past unable to generate enthusiasm for yet another Bush presidency amid the current appetite for outsiders like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. To bounce back after stumbles in the first two states would be a herculean task for the former governor of Florida, who is getting more attention as a poster boy for disastrous campaigning than a potential winner. Senator and Florida rival Marco Rubio last month tagged Bush as "desperate." New Jersey Chris Christie called him "fake," while Trump infamously labeled him a "low energy" loser whose supporters are spending mountains of money to no avail. "I wouldn't say desperation, but there's serious concern" in the Bush camp, professor Linda Fowler of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, an expert on US elections, told AFP. The son and brother of two presidents was the favorite in the race back in early 2015, and said he pledged to campaign "joyfully" for the White House. "There's nothing joyful about the situation he's in now," noted Fowler. Mired in single-digit support, squeezed into a crowded establishment lane with two governors including Christie and Ohio's John Kasich, and his measured tone overwhelmed by the loud rhetoric of the 2016 presidential race, Bush faces a steep climb out of irrelevance. Story continues He is currently running in fifth place in New Hampshire, at 9.7 percent, but polls at just half that nationally, according to the latest RealClearPolitics poll averages. Deep-pocketed supporters have poured some $100 million into the Bush machinery, but their investment is under severe threat. - 'Too polite' - Rumors have swirled of donors bailing on Bush and switching to the more telegenic Rubio, who beat expectations in Iowa and finished third, one point behind the billionaire Trump, the overall Republican frontrunner. At least one Bush backer, Nevada assemblyman David Gardner, has publicly switched his endorsement to Rubio. Eager to stop the bleeding, the popular family matriarch Barbara Bush, 90, campaigned Friday with her second son in New Hampshire. In an interview with CBS News with Jeb at her side, she said her son was "almost too polite," suggesting he needed to toughen up. "I don't advise him, but if I gave him advice, I would say: 'Why don't you interrupt like the other people do'" during the debates, she said. "I've gotten better at interrupting, mom. Come on," Jeb responded. It was a telling moment for Bush, who has been singled out for appearing awkward on the campaign trail. He insists he has the right temperament and the experience for the job, but observers say he looks uncomfortable on the attack, unable to go for the political jugular when he needs to. Adding to the sense that his campaign was struggling, video taken at a Hanover, New Hampshire campaign stop Tuesday showed a deflated-sounding Bush asking an unimpressed crowd to "please clap" after his pledge to protect the country was met with silence. Bush is under intense pressure to up his game, but the immediate challenge is to outperform establishment rivals Christie and Kasich in New Hampshire -- in which case his campaign has every chance of remaining viable heading into the next contest, in South Carolina. "If you're Jeb Bush and you're still sitting on a big pot of money, and the two guys toughest against you are gone, there just might be a thought that 'Hey I could still do this,'" Fowler said. Photo: Olivia Harris / Reuters A motion to unfreeze the assets of a senior private banker implicated in the ongoing 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) probe by Singapore authorities has been withdrawn. Senior counsel Roderick Martin, who represents Yak Yew Chee of Swiss bank BSI Singapore, had filed a total of four affidavits on behalf of Yak since 23 Nov 2015. Yak requested that some $10 million in his accounts here be released to him, in order to pay for his taxes, legal fees and daily expenses. Yaks assets were seized in September 2015. But during a hearing on Friday morning (5 Feb), Martin formally withdrew the motion. Instead, he told Judicial Commissioner See Kee Oon that Yak would be remitting some $1.7 million from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Martin asked for reassurance that the funds would not be seized by authorities. Deputy Public Prosecutor Tan Kiat Theng testily replied that the question should have been asked before the affidavits were filed. Instead, he said that the request had been made after the third affidavit, when Yak had been confronted with the truth by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD). Yak had failed to act in good faith and with clean hands, added Tan. Nevertheless, the DPP added that the state had no objection to the transfer of funds, given that Singapore authorities do not have jurisdiction over Yaks foreign assets. This is the first legal case related to Singapore authorities probe into funds possibly linked to 1MDB. Yak was reportedly the relationship manager for 1MDB Global Investments Ltd, Aabar Investment PJS Limited and SRC International Sdn Bhd, as well as Malaysian businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low. Jho Low has been repeatedly linked to the widening scandal around the 1MDB state investment fund, which is mired in corruption claims. On Monday, authorities announced that a large number of bank accounts had been seized in relation to the 1MDB probe. They included four of Yaks accounts with the Development Bank of Singapore, Bank of China, Commerce International Merchants Bank and the Overseas Chines Banking Corporation, which were seized by the CAD under section 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The Commercial Affairs Department and the Monetary Authority of Singapore have been investigating possible money-laundering and other offences related to 1MDB in Singapore since mid-2015. Joseph Fiennes admits that he was "shocked" to be cast as Michael Jackson in the upcoming comedy short Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon for British pay-TV network Sky. The casting of a white Englishman to play Jackson stirred up great controversy on social media, particularly as the news came at a time when Hollywood is gripped by its own ongoing debate about diversity, or lack thereof, crystallized perfectly by the #OscarsSoWhite issue. Speaking on Thursday to AFP, Fiennes said that he was "shocked that they would come to me for the casting," adding that people should "ask [the producers] as to why they would want to cast me. Read More: 'Downton Abbey,' 'True Detective' Producers Developing 'Nostradamus' With Joseph Fiennes The Flash Forward actor, the younger brother of fellow actor Ralph Fiennes, sought to play down the significance of the road-trip movie Elizabeth, Michael and Marlon, in that it is a surreal imagining of Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando taking a car ride together in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. I felt this was a wonderful challenge, I read the script and its very funny," said Fiennes. He added: Its a satire, its just a 20-minute satire. Its a sketch about a story that could have been a legend or could have been true. So well see what the audience make of it. Read More: 'Chariots of Fire' "Sequel" in the Works A UN panel will conclude Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is being "arbitrarily detained" in the UK, the Swedish foreign ministry has said.Mr Assange, 44, claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. He wants to avoid extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies.The Met Police says Mr Assange will be arrested if he leaves the embassy.Swedish prosecutors said the UN panel's decision would have "no formal impact" on its ongoing investigation.Mr Assange earlier said his passport should be returned and his arrest warrant dropped if the UN panel, due to deliver its findings on Friday, ruled in his favour.The Australian was originally arrested in London in 2010 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden over rape and sexual assault claims.In 2012, while on bail, he claimed asylum inside the Ecuadorean embassy in Knightsbridge after the UK Supreme Court had ruled the extradition against him could go ahead.Swedish prosecutors dropped two sex assault claims against Mr Assange last year. However, he still faces the more serious accusation of rape.In 2014, Mr Assange complained to the UN that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave the embassy without being arrested.The application claimed Mr Assange had been "deprived of his liberty in an arbitrary manner for an unacceptable length of time".The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has been investigating the issue.The Press Association said key factors in the panel's decision would include the inability of Mr Assange to access political asylum, the fact he has never been charged, and changes to UK law and procedures since he arrived at the embassy.Wikileaks earlier tweeted it was waiting for "official confirmation" of the UN panel's decision.Downing Street said the panel's ruling would not be legally binding in the UK while a European Arrest Warrant remained in place."We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," a spokesman said."The UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden."The Swedish foreign ministry said in a statement that it noted the UN panel's decision "differs from that of the Swedish authorities".The statement added the legal process for Mr Assange's case would be handled in court by Swedish prosecutors. Per Samuelsson, Mr Assange's lawyer, said Swedish authorities would be "morally" wrong to continue the investigation if the UN panel found in his favour. "The ball is in Sweden's yard, in the prosecutor's yard. She is not formally bound by the decision by the UN, but morally it is very difficult to go against it." The journalist John Pilger, who is a friend of Mr Assange, said "the ball is now at the feet of the British government", whose international legal "obligations" were represented by the UN panel. "They did something in terms of supporting the tribunal in all the other celebrated cases, and Assange now joins them because the UN jurists have clearly found this is a case of arbitrary detention," he said. Mr Assange's Wikileaks organisation posted secret American government documents on the internet, and he says Washington could seek his extradition to the US to face espionage charges if he is sent to Sweden. In the statement, published earlier by Wikileaks on Twitter, Mr Assange said: "Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal. "However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me." Last October, Scotland Yard said it would no longer station officers outside the Ecuador embassy following an operation which it said had cost 12.6m. But it said "a number of overt and covert tactics to arrest him" would still be deployed. Julian Assange: Key dates Joseph Gordon-Levitt on Thursday launched a new endeavor with his production company hitRECord and the American Civil Liberties Union. The actor is donating his acting fee from Oliver Stone's Snowden film, in which he plays Edward Snowden, to fund a project about the connections between technology and democracy. Gordon-Levitt announced the news in a YouTube video entitled, "Are you there, Democracy? It's me, the Internet." He asked people to submit videos with their perspectives on technology and democracy and said he's been thinking about the connection between the two while working on Snowden. Through hitRECord, Gordon-Levitt will use the submissions to make a series of short films on democracy in the digital age. The team plans to create one short documentary-style film as well as other short films such as animated music videos or dramatizations of people's experiences. "I've been thinking a lot lately about these questions ever since playing Edward Snowden, and I think especially with an election coming up this year here in the U.S. it's a really worthwhile conversation for us to be having," said Gordon-Levitt in the video. "So I'm going to be donating my acting fee from the Snowden movie to help facilitate that conversation." Part of the money will go toward this new project, specifically helping to pay contributors for their submissions if they are selected. Gordon-Levitt will donate the remainder to the ACLU in support of the legal work they do on free speech and digital privacy rights. In the video, the actor asks people to answer three questions: Is todays technology good or bad for democracy?; How might the technology of the future be bad for democracy?; and How might the technology of the future be good for democracy? "The answers Im most interested in are not the expert, political-pundit, left-wing, right-wing talking points kind of thing. Id much rather hear a personal story or something thats unique to you, said Gordon-Levitt. There are already 37 contributions for the project on hitRECord's website. Story continues The short films will be finished before Snowden premieres in May. Read More: Sasheer Zamata: "Women Are Fighting for Equal Treatment, Not Superior Treatment" A United Nations panel on Friday ruled that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was arbitrarily detained and called on authorities in the U.K. and Sweden to release him immediately. The UN panel also said Assange should be offered compensation for his time being confined in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been since he sought refuge there in 2012, fearing he would be arrested by the British police and extradited to Sweden to face sexual assault charges. Assange had said he would turn himself over to U.K. authorities if the UN ruled against him. Friday's decision means he will likely remain at the Ecuadorian embassy. The UN ruling carries no legal force in the U.K. or Sweden. The U.K. still plans to arrest and extradite Assange, who has argued that if he agrees to go to Sweden he could then be extradited to the U.S., where he could face charges of treason due to WikiLeaks publication of military and diplomatic documents. In 2014, Assange filed a complaint with the UNs Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Should the UN announce ... that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden, I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police, as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal, Assange had said Thursday. "However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. Read More: Swedish Court Keeps Julian Assange Arrest Warrant in Place San Francisco (AFP) - LinkedIn shares plunged more than 40 percent on Friday after a weak outlook from the career-focused social network fueled fears of a slowdown. The shares dived 43.6 percent to close at $108.38, its lowest since late 2012. LinkedIn reported a loss of $166 million for 2015, far wider than the $16 million deficit for 2014. But investors were unsettled by the weak outlook of revenues well below the $3.9 billion expected. The outlook "implies material deceleration in growth, which removes support for the company's historically premium valuation," said Mark Mahaney at RBC Capital Markets in a research note. Barclays analyst Paul Vogel said he was not surprised by the sharp reaction in LinkedIn stock. "It is definitely a lot harder not to wonder if the company is starting to hit saturation levels with certain users or enterprises," he said in a note to clients. LinkedIn claimed 414 million users in December, up by 18 million from the previous quarter and 67 million over the past year. A new deal announced this week between American and European negotiators is a big deal, as it addresses privacy concerns faces by Internet giants Google, Facebook and Amazon. Googlesign On February 2nd, the negotiators announced the details of the newly negotiated Safe Harbor data deal, under which American-based Internet companies will be allowed to handle and transfer the electronic data of consumers from European Union member states to servers in America. These negotiations were initiated after the high court of the European Union struck down the EUs previous agreement with the United States dealing with electronic data transfers in 2015. The history and content of these agreements has implications for online business, commerce, and development, and highlights the different ways in which the United States and the European Union treat online privacy and data security. The origin of the European Unions policies dealing with the transfer of private electronic data goes back to 1995, when the EU Data Directive was adopted by member nations. As Internet communication and commerce was in its infancy, the Directive acknowledged the importance of allowing the flow of data across borders for international trade and economic development. If this sort of data flow were prohibited, massive impediments to electronic commerce and communication would stymie Internet activity, as personal data would be confined to servers only within a given country. While the Directive permitted the transfer of personal electronic data across borders, it also articulated the European Unions commitment to securing personal data and privacy. It prohibited the transfer of such data to countries that do not provide an adequate level of protection to consumer data, and established that data-processing systems and Internet activity are designed to serve man. In light of this, the handling of private data must not infringe on an individuals right to privacy, which was acknowledged as a fundamental right and freedom. Story continues The previous Safe Harbor agreement between the EU and the United States, first negotiated in 2000, seemed to be in accordance with the guidelines laid out in the 1995 Data Directive until the Snowden revelations of 2013. Among the information made public by NSA contractor Edward Snowden was the existence and extent of the National Security Administrations PRISM program. Under this dragnet data collection program, companies in the United States like Facebook and Google were legally obligated to turn over private user data to the NSA. Under the FISA Amendments Act, the Federal government had the authority to collect data from these companies belonging to foreigners abroad. The ACLU described that the Act is predicated on the theory that foreigners aboard have no right to privacy, and while public outcry in the U.S. mostly focused on the collection of private data belonging to American citizens, EU officials were forced to reexamine whether this treatment of their citizens data by the United States was permissible. In 2015 the European Court of Justice struck down the Safe Harbor agreement from 2000 because of the access the American government had, through American Internet companies, to private data originating in EU member countries. The 2015 ruling marked the end of a prolonged legal battle by European privacy activists who first initiated action against the data agreement after the June 2013 revelations. The newly negotiated agreement contains what privacy advocates see as important safeguards against infringement by the United States government. First, American companies handling European private data must publish public, robust commitments articulating how they will ensure that data originating from the EU is kept safe. These commitments will be enforceable under US law and monitored by the Department of Commerce. The American government has agreed to rule out all indiscriminate mass surveillance and data collection, and has agreed to make exceptions to this rule only to the extent necessary and proportionate. To ensure that these guidelines and followed, the European Commission and U.S. Department of Commerce will conduct annual joint reviews of data handling practices. Finally, the agreement provides EU citizens with several routes to seek redress for grievances, should they feel that their rights are being compromised. Because of these negotiations, potential disruptions of American Internet company activity in Europe were avoided and rights recognized by the European Union will be protected in the international arena. The source of this conflict in the first place, however, seems to stem from the disparate ways in which EU member countries and the United States view the right to privacy with regards to personal electronic data. As previously noted, the EU Data Directive employs strong language when discussing electronic data privacy rights, treating it as a fundamental right and freedom analogous to free speech. The European Unions dedication to this ideal has been elucidated in other ways, including their right to be forgotten with regards to online data and other regulations mandating that companies provide consumers with insight into how their data is being used. The United States does not currently recognize either of those protections that the European Union has embraced. The most striking difference, perhaps, between US and EU treatment of electronic data lies in how American courts have treated private data that is held by third-parties, like Internet and telecommunication companies. The third-party doctrine, developed in the Supreme Court cases of Smith v. Maryland and United States v. Miller, says that when an individual voluntarily provides their private information to a third-party, that individual has no reasonable expectation that the data in question will remain private. In light of this, the Court has granted the government the authority to collect personal data from third-parties without a warrant, a power that makes civil libertarians and Fourth Amendment activists uneasy. In her concurring opinion in a 2012 case involving the Fourth Amendment, Justice Sonia Sotomayor questioned whether the third-party doctrine ought to be reexamined. Both the Smith and Miller cases, which established the current precedent, were decided in the 1970s and caused Justice Sotomayor to wonder whether the current doctrine was suited for the digital age. Despite these differences, the United States and the European Union were able to successfully iron out a deal that seems to conform to the values of both parties. While the right to privacy with regards to electronic data has been a robust and fully developed right in the EU, the third-party doctrine is still reigning precedent in American jurisprudence, and perhaps will be reassessed as the digital age continued to evolve. Jonathan Stahl is regular contributor to the National Constitution Centers Constitution Daily blog. Recent Stories on Constitution Daily How FDR lost his brief war on the Supreme Court 10 famous people who could face citizenship issues as candidates Constitution Check: What does the Take Care Clause mean? BERLIN (Reuters) - Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to help bring about a ceasefire in Syria as tens of thousands Syrians flee aerial bombardments on the city of Aleppo. "It's up to Russia to bring about a ceasefire and permit hopes for a new start in Syria," Asselborn told German radio Deutschlandfunk. "Are the 260,000 dead in Syria not enough?" However, Asselborn also admitted a ceasefire was still "very, very far away" after the United Nations suspended peace talks on Wednesday. Russian-backed air strikes have tipped the momentum in favor of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The bombing helped the army and allied fighters to sever a major supply line to the northwest of Aleppo. Asselborn said he doubted Saudi Arabia's offer to take part in any ground operations against Islamic State by the U.S.-led alliance would help much. "I don't believe that ground troops could make a real difference," he said. (Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Caroline Copley) For years, President Obama avoided visiting a mosque in the United States. While the White House never explained why, American Muslims tended to believe he was afraid of the backlash such a visit might inspire from conservatives. On Wednesday, he finally visited the Islamic Society of Baltimore, and much of the rights reaction is validating those suspicions. There was some outright dishonesty, like Donald Trumps implication that Obama is a Muslim: Maybe he feels comfortable there. (Memo to The Donald: He didnt do this until the eighth year of his presidency.) Thats standard Trump fare. More surprising was Marco Rubios response: He gave a speech at a mosque, basically implying that America is discriminating against Muslims. Of course theres discrimination in America, of every kind. But the bigger issue is radical Islam. This constant pitting people against each other, I cant stand that. It's hurting our country badly. Reading Rubios remarks, anyone who heard Obama must have thought, Did he watch the same speech I did? The answer is most likely not: Rubio is in the middle of a hectic New Hampshire campaign swing, and its hard to imagine he spent an hour watching Obama speak. Suffice it to say that the presidents address bore little resemblance to Rubios description. Recommended: Why Bernie Sanders Can't Govern Obamas speech did speak about incidents of Islamophobia, about slurs and attacks on Muslims and mosques in the U.S. Those accounts are factually true, and the sense of fear among American Muslimswhether one regards it as justified or notis real. But rather than blame all Americans, Obama said this: Your fellow Americans stand with you .... Thats not unusual. Because just as so often we only hear about Muslims after a terrorist attack, so often we only hear about Americans response to Muslims after a hate crime has happened, we dont always hear about the extraordinary respect and love and community that so many Americans feel. Story continues Obamas comments about Islamic extremism were carefully nuanced, but they hardly ignored the problem of radical Islam. He did take a shot at Republicans who criticize him for not referring to Islamic terrorists as much as theyd like, but he also said, It is undeniable that a small fraction of Muslims propagate a perverted interpretation of Islam. (In the past, Obama has been more reluctant to make that connection, leading to the tortured spectacle of a Christian U.S. president trying to adjudicate Muslim orthodoxy.) He spoke about the need for religious freedom and pluralism at home and abroad, called for Muslims to condemn persecution of Christians in the Middle East, and decried anti-Semitism in Europeall rebukes of certain strains of Muslim preaching and thought. Recommended: Who Won the Democratic Debate in Durham? When spoken in other contexts, these ideas are mainstays of conservative rhetoric. Religious freedom has been an important rallying cry for American conservatives upset by changing laws on gay equality. Obama mentioned the persecution of Christians during Thursdays National Prayer Breakfast, without raising Republican ire. Related Story Obama to Muslim Americans: 'Youre Right Where You Belong' In fact, Rubios charge of divisiveness only makes sense if one believes that Islam is inherently incompatible with American values. Obama explicitly rejected this view Wednesday, speaking of all the ways that Islam has been a part of the United States since colonial times, and telling his audience, Youre not Muslim or American. Youre Muslim and American. (The idea that Islam, a long-standing part of the national culture, is not American echoes arguments that white culture is somehow the true American culture, and African American culture is separable from it.) Im not in any position to determine what Rubio truly believes, but theres ample evidence that many Americans do feel Islam is incompatible with American valuesespecially those whose votes Rubio is trying to win in the Republican primary. According to the Public Religion Research Institutes 2015 American Values Survey, 56 percent of Americans think the values of Islam are at odds with American values and way of life. The numbers are much higher among Republicans and Tea Party members76 and 77 percent agree with that statement, respectively. (Only 43 percent of Democrats agree.) Recommended: Of Course Hillary Clinton Exemplifies the Establishment That antipathy is relatively new. Obamas words, in fact, bore a close resemblance to President George W. Bushs remarks after 9/11, when he called Islam a religion of peace and criticized discrimination and attacks against American Muslims. (Bushs brother Jeb notably voiced support for Obamas mosque visit Wednesday, speaking with some passion about inclusionand criticizing the president for taking so long to get to a mosque, just as many American Muslims criticized Obama.) So what changed? Why were those 2001 comments by a Republican president welcomed, while Obamas very similar comments today were not? Part of it is surely partisanship. But Americans have also become less and less accepting of Islam. When PRRI asked the same question in 2011, for example, just 47 percent of Americans agreed that Islam was incompatible with American values, and 48 percent disagreed. Are the Values of Islam at Odds With American Values? Other surveys, using slightly different formulations, produce similar results. Three weeks after 9/11, an ABC News poll found that Americans had a more favorable view of Islam than unfavorable, 47 percent to 39 percent, notes Shibley Telhami of the Brookings Institution. But a decade later, the picture changed dramatically. A poll I conducted in April 2011 showed that 61 percent of Americans expressed unfavorable views of Islam, while only 33 percent expressed favorable views. Theres a rich irony to Rubios remarks: He is upset that Obama would offer generalizations about Americans attitudes, but sees no problem with equally sweeping characterizations of Muslims. But although Obama did not, in fact, say that Americans are anti-Islam, these poll numbers show that he would have been largely accurate if he had. Reflexive attacks on even the most broad, inclusive messages, like the ones Obama delivered Wednesday, seem certain to only widen the gap between American Muslims and their fellow citizens. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Shkreli, 32, sparked outrage last year among patients, medical societies and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton after Turing raised the price of 62-year-old Daraprim to $750 a pill from $13.50. The medicine, used to treat a parasitic infection, once sold for $1 a pill. At a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Shkreli sat at a table with arms crossed and repeatedly declined to answer questions about the effects of the price hike on patients. I intend to follow the advice of my counsel, not yours, Shkreli told Rep. Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says no person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself. Shkreli was arrested in December and charged with running his investment funds and companies almost like a Ponzi scheme. He has pleaded not guilty, stepped down from Turing, and was fired from KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Daimler Chief Executive Dieter Zetsche insisted on Friday the German carmaker would not sacrifice margins in its quest to overtake arch rival BMW and become the best-selling luxury car brand. Zetsche has tasked Mercedes with becoming the leading premium carmaker by 2020 after it sold 1.87 million passenger cars in 2015, leapfrogging Volkswagen's Audi on 1.80 million but still trailing BMW on 1.91 million. "The volume lead should be the consequence of having the best offering," Zetsche said. "If we accomplish this, it is a natural consequence that more people will choose us." "People said it will create pricing and margin pressure. Exactly the opposite is true," he told analysts at a conference to discuss fourth-quarter results in Stuttgart. Having a certain level of sales volume gave Mercedes the economies of scale to develop a coupe, a convertible and long-wheelbase version of its top-of-the range S-Class, Zetsche said. The Mercedes CEO was more upbeat about the brand's prospects in China, given that the overall market was expected to grow 8 percent this year. "We do see significantly better chances for us based on our product offerings," Zetsche said, adding that demand remained high for some new locally made cars, such as the GLC offroader. "We have waiting times which are unhealthy already," he gold told analysts, adding that the new E-Class, another volume model, had yet to hit showrooms. GOOD YEAR FOR TRUCKS Despite a new BMW 7 series model to challenge the S-Class, there has been no dent in China sales, the CEO said. "Competitors come up with good cars, we do not see our singular position with the S-Class challenged with that." Demand for Mercedes-Benz cars continued in January, monthly sales figures showed, with global deliveries up 20 percent, boosted by a 52 percent jump in sales in China. Also speaking to analysts on Friday, Daimler Trucks chief Wolfgang Bernhard said Daimler expected 2016 to be a good year for demand in North America, despite recent signs of a slowdown. "The sky is not falling. We still think the market will be above 2014, which was a good market," Bernhard said. A shift to a new generation of higher-margin engines should also help 2016 truck results, he said, adding that he expected some growth in Europe and to gain market share in Japan. Even if demand began to fall off sharply, Daimler had shown it could react quickly. Last year, Daimler trucks shed 1,000 staff in North America and 2,000 staff in Brazil, where there was a need for further "adjustment", he said. (Reporting by Edward Taylor; editing by David Clarke) Michael Pitt could be the latest big star to sign up to "Ghost In The Shell". The actor is in talks to play a key role in the Japanese manga adaptation alongside Scarlett Johanson, Deadline reports. The movie tells the tale of a cyborg police woman who is a member of an anti-criminal elite that hunts down human cybercriminals, robots, and cyborgs. The long-awaited project is currently scheduled for a March 2017 release. It will be helmed by "Snow White and the Huntsman" director Rupert Sanders, the director and will also star Sam Riley. (Reuters) - Emails between high-ranking Michigan state officials show they knew about an uptick in Legionnaires' disease and it could be linked to problems with Flint water long before Governor Rick Snyder said he got information on the outbreak. A spokesman for Snyder rejected the report by the liberal group Progress Michigan on Thursday. Emails obtained by the group show Snyder's principal aide, Harvey Hollins, was made aware of the outbreak and a possible link to the use of Flint River water last March. Snyder said in January he had just learned about the rise in Legionnaires cases. "Are we to believe that a top staffer with years of experience would not inform Governor Snyder of a possibly deadly situation?" Progress Michigan Executive Director Lonnie Scott said in a statement. The group cited an email from March 13, 2015, that showed Hollins and Dan Wyant, the former head of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), were aware of the increase in Legionnaires' disease in Genesee County, where Flint is located, and that a county health official was attributing the cases to the Flint River. State officials on Jan. 13 announced the spike in the disease resulting in 10 deaths possibly linked to the water crisis. In rejecting the group's claims, a spokesman for Snyder said that the DEQ emails called attributing the link to problems with Flint water "beyond irresponsible." Hollins asked the department to investigate and if the concerns were credible it was to tell Snyder, the spokesman said in an email. "The issue was not brought to the Governors attention until January of this year," he said. Flint, a city near Detroit, was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when it switched the source of its tap water from Detroit's system to the Flint River in April 2014. The city switched back last October after tests found high levels of lead in children's blood samples. The more corrosive water from the river leached more lead from the city pipes than Detroit water did. Lead is a toxic agent that can damage the nervous system. Legionnaires is a type of pneumonia caused by inhaling mist infected with the bacteria Legionella.. Several Democratic lawmakers on Thursday invited Snyder to Washington to testify on the Flint water crisis on Feb. 10. (Reporting by Mary Wisniewski in Chicago and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Editing by Andrew Hay, Bernard Orr) By Seyhmus Cakan MARDIN, Turkey (Reuters) - Turkey all but ruled out direct talks with Kurdish militants to end one of the worst periods of bloodshed in a three-decade insurgency on Friday, saying the government would instead bring what it called civil society groups to the table. In a speech in the southeastern city of Mardin, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu unveiled what he billed as a new plan to bolster security and rebuild areas ravaged by conflict, but made clear the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group would be sidelined unless it laid down weapons. "We're starting a new period for our national unity and brotherhood. We will talk to the the people directly. We'll talk to everyone, except those who are holding guns in their hands," he told local officials and members of the ruling AK Party, including several cabinet ministers, at Mardin university. Davutoglu said the government's plan includes economic measures such as interest-free loans for farmers. The PKK, which says it is fighting for Kurdish autonomy, launched an insurgency in the southeast in 1984. The conflict has since killed 40,000 people, most of them Kurds, and stunted growth in a region far less developed than western Turkey. VIOLENCE CONTINUES Ankara opened peace talks with jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in late 2012. But a two-year ceasefire collapsed in July after what the government said were attacks on security forces, plunging the region into its worst violence since the 1990s. "First they will abandon arms, only then there may be an opportunity to talk to them," Davutoglu said of the PKK, considered a terrorist group by the United States and European Union as well as by Turkey. Davutoglu was quoted by the Milliyet newspaper as saying on Thursday talks would from now on be held in Ankara, not the island prison of Imrali, where Ocalan has been held since 1999 and where previous discussions have taken place. He said Ocalan's past instructions had been ignored by pro-Kurdish politicians, who were acting as mediators, and that there was therefore no point in talking to him. The Turkish army said it had killed 11 PKK fighters in the town of Cizre and seven in the Sur district of the main city of Diyarbakir on Thursday, bringing the militant death toll in the two areas to 700 since a security operation began in December. The conflict has stunted economic growth in the southeast. Statkraft [STATKF.UL], Europe's largest producer of hydropower, said on Thursday it was suspending a major energy project in the region because of the insecurity. (Additional reporting by Gulsen Solaker in Ankara; Writing by Ece Toksabay and Nick Tattersall; Editing by David Dolan) Millennials, roughly defined as the generation born between the early 1980s and the early 2000s, often hear that they're the most narcissistic, entitled generation of all time. Now, a new study examines how these young adults feel about those labels. Spoiler alert: Not that great. Millennials do view themselves as a bit more narcissistic than generations before them, but not to the extent that older generations do, according to new research presented Jan. 29 at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) in San Diego. But in general, millennials do not appreciate being called narcissistic and entitled, said study leader Joshua Grubbs, a doctoral candidate at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. "People don't like that," Grubbs told Live Science. However, he said, people who personally ranked high in narcissism were less bothered by the label. [7 Personality Features That Are Bad for You] Narcissism rises Different research methods have found that individualism is on the rise in American culture, with younger generations reporting less empathy and more self-focus than generations before. Although this narcissism is often pinned on millennials alone in the popular press, research going back to the early 1900s suggests that these forces have been in play for at least a century. "There is a very consistent and reliable trend where all indicators of individualism [have] been on the rise over the course of the last 100 years," University of Waterloo psychologist Igor Grossman, who was not involved in Grubbs' work, told an audience at the SPSP meeting. The youngest generation is more self-centered than those before it, Grossman said, but the same could have been said of the youth of the 1950s versus the youth of the 1930s, and so on. The changes from generation to generation are subtle the difference in 1 or 2 points on a 40-point narcissism scale, Grubbs said. In other words, though narcissism is on the rise, media reports of millennials as almost crippled by self-absorption compared with the selfless generations of the past are a bit overblown. Story continues "We're not talking about two generations ago, people were just completely selfless, and in this generation we're trying to kill each other to watch the next season of something on Netflix," Grubbs said. Grubbs was interested in how the public might be responding to this exaggerated narrative. As a millennial himself, he also wanted to know how his peers viewed narcissism trends. In a series of seven studies, he and his colleagues asked millennials and older generations to rank each other's narcissism and their responses to media about generational change (in particular, a negative section of a 2013 Time magazine article entitled "Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation.") Questioning labels The millennials surveyed in person and online rated themselves as more narcissistic than previous generations, but saw themselves as less narcissistic than other generations did. In an online survey of 750 adults of all ages, millennials ages 18 to 25 rate themselves at 61.4 on a zero-to-100 scale of narcissism. They ranked adults 60 years and up as 38 on the same scale, a 23-point difference. In comparison, adults 60 years and older ranked millennials at 65.3 on the 100-point narcissism scale, and ranked themselves at a mere 26.5, a spread of nearly 40 points. In other words, older generations perceive the generation gap as wider, in their own favor. (Notably, every generation saw itself as less entitled and narcissistic than other generations said it was.) "If you say something just terrible about the generation, they tend to be somewhat offended as a general rule," Grubbs said. The only exception to this rule was people who were personally high in the trait of narcissism. These people didn't love the labels, either, Grubbs said, but they were less offended than people lower in narcissism. This fits with previous research suggesting that narcissists are self-aware, Grubbs said. They know they're self-absorbed, but think they have a right to be. The burning question now is whether being bombarded with negative messages about themselves is bad (or good) for millennials in the long term, Grubbs said. It's not clear if people suffer ill effects over time from these labels. The team is currently studying whether being called narcissistic makes people decide to live up to the label, or if they overcompensate and show increased altruism and empathy instead. Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitterand Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook& Google+. Original article on Live Science. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. What's in a label? Quite a lot, when it comes to Democratic politics today. Over the past couple of days, ahead of Thursday's Democratic debate on MSNBC, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders have locked horns over what kind of liberals they are. The moment that sparked the battle was Sanders' response to a reporter's question Tuesday on whether he considered Clinton a progressive. "Some days, yes. Except when she announces that she is a moderate. Then I guess she is not a progressive," Sanders replied. "I think, frankly, it is very hard to be a real progressive and to take on the establishment in a way that I think it has to be taken on when you become as dependent as she has, through her super PAC and other ways, on Wall Street or drug company money." At a campaign event on Wednesday, Clinton deemed Sanders' remarks "a low blow" and then catalogued various progressive policies from gay rights to children's health care that she's helped usher into law, which she called "good days" for progressives. The back-and-forth continued on Twitter, with the Sanders and Clinton campaigns both slamming the other's policy record by tweeting out extensive lists of the least progressive policy stances the other has taken. For a debate that took place on social media, it was a remarkably substantive exchange. It didn't bring to light any new positions, but it did flesh out something of great importance nonetheless their differing theories of change. As they clashed over the meaning of the word "progressive," they were also helping chart their distinct vision for how they would pursue reforms while in the White House a dynamic that will be a key animating factor in Thursday's debate, the first head-to-head matchup of the campaign. Clinton thinks being a progressive means getting results. The most critical thread from the stream of tweets by @HillaryClinton on Wednesday was the emphasis on concrete results. Story continues "An important part of being a progressive is making progress," her campaign tweeted, channeling the message of the candidate. "This shouldn't be a debate about who gets to define 'progressive' it should be about who will get real results for American families." Clinton takes pride in being able to list concrete policies that she had a hand in influencing, whether it's her role in lobbying for the State Children's Health Insurance Program in the 1990s or her hand in the American response to the Arab Spring as secretary of state. For her, moving the ball forward a little bit is far better than not seeing your fingerprints on anything at all. She rose to prominence as a New Democrat, a wing of the party spearheaded by her husband that viewed incrementalism and sometimes outright conservatism as the philosophy Democrats must adopt in an era that was still very much shaped by Reagan conservatism. Coming of age in a politically hostile environment, she views wheeling and dealing and even taking steps backwards as part of the deal of what it means to be in power. We caught a glimpse of this last year, during a strikingly candid conversation between Clinton and Black Lives Matter activists. She expressed pessimism about changing people's minds but considered fighting for some kind of gain in any environment to be a worthy enterprise. "Look, I don't believe you change hearts. I believe you change laws, you change allocation of resources, you change the way systems operate," she said in August. "You're not going to change every heart. You're not. But at the end of the day, we can do a whole lot to change some hearts and change some systems and create more opportunities for people who deserve to have them." Clinton's presidency would in all likelihood resemble Obama's style of governance. What does this mean for what kind of president she would be? Clinton's approach would likely resemble Obama's style of governance, a blend of New Democratic propensity for compromise with conservative ideals on major legislation, and an aggressive push for progressive layups in the form of executive actions wherever opportunities present themselves. While Clinton is more of a hawk than Obama, they share an inclination to view foreign policy in non-ideological terms consider the parallels between Clinton's foreign policy stance on "smart power" and Obama's "don't do stupid shit" maxim. Sanders believes in being the change you want to see. Sanders' vision for how to change the country is fundamentally different. He views ideological consistency as important for building support for the kind of change one wants to see in the world. And he doesn't think that the Washington insider modus operandi of politicians like Clinton is easily reconcilable with his own attitude toward transforming society. His most revealing tweet on Wednesday was when he said that he thinks Clinton's past conservatism on everything from the Iraq War to welfare to criminal justice disqualifies her from the "progressive" label. "You can be a moderate. You can be a progressive. But you cannot be a moderate and a progressive," he tweeted. Sanders' isn't interested in adjusting to the way the wind is blowing. Throughout the campaign, he's been saying the same things he's said for decades as mayor of Burlington, Vermont, a congressman and then a senator. He's not keen on preparing himself for running the country he's testing whether or not the country is ready for him. For Sanders, progressivism lies in what you fight for as much as what you actually gets done and he thinks the agitation itself will help get those things done. Sanders doesn't have much major legislation to his name, but he believes that it's precisely his refusal to give in to the ways of the establishment that have helped create a political moment in which he's considered a viable contender for the presidency. But Sanders is, at least, a bit more multifaceted in his Twitter theory of change than he lets on. As Mic's Luke Brinker notes, Sanders has recently "moved to bear-hug the president, jettisoning his criticisms from the left and declaring that 'by and large, over the last seven years, on major issue after major issue, I have stood by his side as he has taken on unprecedented Republican obstructionism.'" This is the same senator who made his name leading a filibuster after Obama agreed to extend the Bush tax cuts and called for the president to face primary opposition. When Sanders says this, he's not just trying to exploit Obama's popularity among Democratic voters although that's surely a factor. He's also acknowledging that legislative possibility is defined in part by your opposition. Sanders is formally an independent senator, but he caucuses with the Democrats, and he's been willing to join a team that gets something done (or defends cherished things from being undone) even when he considers them inadequately ambitious in their vision. It's hard to envision exactly what a Sanders' presidency would look like. If he was able to enter office with great voter turnout on Election Day, fueled by a grassroots movement that's even larger than the one he's grown so far, he might have an impressive mandate. But the Senate's fate is up in the air, and the House of Representatives will in all likelihood still be completely controlled by the Republican Party. While he may be able to continue relying on In a statement honoring American hostage Kayla Mueller on the anniversary of her death in Syria, her family suggests they are preparing to go public with the heartbreaking story of their attempts to ransom her from the Islamic State. And, they say, they will be speaking out about those who hindered us an apparent reference to their frustration with officials in the Obama administration over how their daughters case was handled. The statement by Marsha and Carl Mueller, Kaylas brother Eric and other family members and friends is the first they have made since shortly after receiving confirmation last February of the death of the 26-year-old humanitarian worker from Prescott, Ariz., who was killed in Syria after being held captive by the Islamic State for nearly two years. U.S. officials have confirmed that Mueller was tortured by her Islamic State captors and, according to debriefings of some who were held with her even taken as a wife and sexually abused by the terror groups leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. But much remains unknown about what happened during her horrifying ordeal: Although the family has received photos of her body, it has not been recovered and the way she died, whether murdered by her captors or killed by a coalition bombing, remains unclear. The new statement, along with a newly released photograph of Kayla with her parents taken just months before she was kidnapped in 2013, invokes the memory of a young woman who, in volunteering to help refugees from the Syrian civil war, was committed to serving the most vulnerable. Kayla was given a special heart and mind to not only see suffering in its many forms but to reach out and find a way to help those God placed before her, reads the statement, released by a spokeswoman for Atlantic Media, the company owned by businessman David Bradley, who attempted to assist the families of Mueller and other American hostages who were being held by the Islamic State. Story continues An unidentified woman kneels near a makeshift memorial for Kayla Mueller, a 26-year-old American woman killed by ISIS militants, Feb. 12, 2015, Prescott, Ariz. (Photo: Brian Skoloff/AP) But it strongly hints that the family will have more to say, especially about the actions of the Obama administration and the dispute about whether the families should have been permitted to pay ransom in an attempt to save their loved ones. The heartbreaking story of our efforts to bring Kayla home and of those who helped and those who hindered us will be told, the familys statement reads. As has been recounted in multiple media accounts, the Muellers as well as other families of American hostages including that of James Foley and Steven Sotloff, both of whom were beheaded in grisly videos released by the Islamic State ran afoul of administration policies that effectively prohibited them from negotiating a ransom with the captors. Related Slideshow: Kayla Jean Mueller, an American woman held by Islamic State militants, has been confirmed dead >>> While the FBI over the years has often quietly assisted families interested in paying ransom, other agencies of the government especially at the Treasury and the State Department took a hard line, asserting that any such payments would only encourage further hostage-taking and even violate U.S. laws against providing material support to terror groups. At a tense White House meeting, one counter-terrorism official issued what the families took as a threat that they could be criminally prosecuted if they made such payments. After the families of Foley and Sotloff went public with the threat, the White House began a review that led to a new hostage policy last year. While not explicitly condoning ransom payments, the new stance is that the government will not prevent families from communications with hostage takers a formulation that seemed to open the door to paying ransom in some circumstances. (Obama also made clear that official threats to families that they might be prosecuted were totally unacceptable.") But the Muellers anguish over the handling of their case seems to go beyond that and could become politically awkward for the White House. In the one interview they have given so far to NBC News, shortly after their daughter was confirmed killed, members of Muellers family confirmed that the family had been in communication with her Islamic State captors, and they were seeking to raise a demanded ransom of $6.2 million. But, they said, the talks fell apart after the White House agreed in 2014 to trade American soldier Bowe Berghdahl in exchange for five Taliban detainees being held at the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo. That made the whole situation worse, Eric Mueller, Kaylas brother said. Because thats when the demands got greater. They got larger. They realized that they had something. They realized that, Well, if theyre gonna let five people go for one person, why wont they do ths? Or why wont they do that. Sources who have talked to the Muellers say they are still frustrated about the lack of information they have received from the U.S. government about her treatment and what happened to her. Carl and Marsha Mueller hold candles at a memorial in honor of their daughter Kayla Mueller, on Feb. 18, 2015, in Prescott, Ariz. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/The Arizona Republic) A spokeswoman for the White House did not respond to a request for comment. One of the key figures who could unravel lingering questions is Umm Sayyaf, the wife of the Islamic State official in charge of oil and gas money, Abu Sayyaf, who was killed in a Delta Force raid last May. In the raid, Delta Force commandos captured Umm Sayyaf. During debriefings, she is believed to have confirmed accounts from other rescued Yazidi captives, that Mueller had been sexually abused by al-Baghdadi. But another former U.S. intelligence official familiar with the debriefings said Umm Sayyaf was more responsible than anybody else for the mistreatment of Mueller, saying she was in charge of female captives and participated in horrific torture and beatings. Umm Sayyaf is now in Kurdish custody, and when the former official recently inquired about her current status, he was told that others an apparent reference to the U.S. government had an interest in possibly putting her on trial in the United States. A spokeswoman for the Justice Department declined comment. A NASA spacecraft now has Jupiter more squarely in its sights ahead of its July 4 arrival at the solar system's largest planet. NASA's solar-powered Juno probe performed an engine burn Wednesday (Feb. 3), consuming 1.3 pounds (0.6 kilograms) of fuel to change its speed by about 0.7 mph (1.1 km/h). Juno was roughly 51 million miles (82 million kilometers) from Jupiter when it conducted the maneuver, agency officials said. "This is the first of two trajectory adjustments that fine-tune Juno's orbit around the sun, perfecting our rendezvous with Jupiter on July 4 at 8:18 p.m. PDT [11:18 p.m. EDT; 0318 GMT on July 5]," Juno principal investigator Scott Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, said in a statement. The second of these engine burns is scheduled to take place on May 31, NASA officials said. The $1.1 billion Juno mission launched in August 2011. Its main goal involves mapping Jupiter's gravitational and magnetic fields in precise detail, to help scientists learn about the gas giant's structure, formation and evolution, mission team members have said. Juno will perform its science work from orbit. The nominal mission plan calls for the 4-ton spacecraft to zip around Jupiter 33 times, coming within just 3,100 miles (5,000 km) of the planet's cloud tops once every 14 days, NASA officials said. Juno carries three 30-foot-long (9 m) solar panels, which together hold a total of 18,698 individual solar cells. Such extensive light-collecting gear is necessary to power the spacecraft in the relatively dim environment around Jupiter, which orbits more than five times farther from the sun than Earth does. Last month, Juno became the farthest-flung solared-powered probe in spaceflight history. The previous record was held by the European Space Agency's comet-chasing Rosetta spacecraft, which got a maximum of 492 million miles (792 million km) from Earth in October 2012. Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. Copyright 2016 SPACE.com, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 22365637226_4e7b086d36_k A group of at least 13 tiny spacecraft are getting a ride to space aboard the most powerful rocket NASA has ever built. The main goal of the space agency's first flight of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket currently under construction and expected to launch in 2018 is to send an uncrewed Orion capsule to an orbit past the moon. This would allow the agency to test systems that could be used on future flights. But that's not all. Once Orion is sent on its way, the SLS will deploy those 13 or more shoebox-sized crafts called "cubesats" to do their work in space as well. SEE ALSO: Watch NASA test the 'largest, most powerful rocket booster ever built' "This rocket has the unprecedented power to send Orion to deep space plus room to carry 13 small satellites payloads that will advance our knowledge about deep space with minimal cost," said Bill Hill, NASA deputy associate administrator for exploration systems development, in a statement. Image: NASA A major benefit to a cubesat is its small size. Tiny satellites aren't too difficult or expensive to launch when compared to the millions of dollars (sometimes even more than that) it takes to bring larger spacecraft to orbit, and a cubesat can be an inclusive enterprise as well, opening up access to space for a wider array of organizations. For example, an elementary school built a spacecraft that launched to the International Space Station on a robotic resupply mission in December. Some of the cubesats launching onboard SLS will be "scouts" for larger missions, meaning that the small satellites are designed to study some aspects of the space environment to make future spaceflight safer for humans. One of those crafts called the Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout) will use a solar sail to propel itself on the sun's rays to visit a space rock not far from Earth. Story continues Image: NASA Once at the asteroid, named 1991 VG, the spacecraft will be able to image it and learn more about its spin and rotation rate. (It's possible that the target asteroid will change with the launch date, but at the moment 1991 VG is the best candidate, according to NASA.) NEA Scout should provide valuable information for NASA scientists hoping to eventually send humans to an asteroid dragged into orbit around the moon. By characterizing near-Earth asteroids, researchers should be able to learn more about the kinds of space rocks in our cosmic neighborhood before needing to send humans there in person. Another small craft called BioSentinel will gather more data about possible effects of long duration spaceflight by monitoring yeast as it reacts to the radiation it's exposed to during spaceflight. Other cubesats flying with the SLS will take a look at the moon, collecting data about ice deposits or other resources that humans may be able to use in the future, NASA said, and a craft called CuSP will keep an eye on the space weather environment around Earth. The agency is also reserving a few spots aboard the rocket for international groups, and three other cubesats will be chosen through a competition called NASA's Cube Quest Challenge. For the contest, cubesat builders will go through four rounds of competition, with the final selection of the winning satellites announced in 2017. Amsterdam (AFP) - NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that Russia's air strikes in Syria targeting rebel forces are "undermining" efforts to find a peaceful solution to the five-year war. Syrian peace talks in Geneva earlier this week broke up acrimoniously as Moscow's long-time ally President Bashar al-Assad launched a fresh offensive against rebel forces in Aleppo with massive Russian backing. "What we have seen is that the intense Russian air strikes mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," Stoltenberg said as he arrived for talks in Amsterdam with EU defence and foreign ministers. The NATO chief also criticised Russia's military build-up in Syria and in the eastern Mediterranean as stoking regional tensions, especially with key alliance member Turkey. "This creates risks and heightens tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO," he said. Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet along its Syrian border in late November and the two sides have been engaged in a bitter war of words ever since. With the Syrian peace talks put on ice until February 25, the UN Security Council is due to take up the crisis later Friday in hopes of getting the latest peace initiative back on track. On Thursday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had warned Moscow to stop targeting the Syrian opposition in what he described as a "robust" phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius was equally critical of Russia's role in Syria, charging Moscow with "torpedoing" the peace talks. "There cannot be political discussions if one of the parties is engaged in assassinating the other," Fabius said on his arrival at the talks in Amsterdam. The conflict in Syria has cost more than 250,000 lives and displaced half the population, many of them fleeing to Europe in its biggest migrant crisis since World War II. Story continues The deteriorating situation in Syria and its regional impact have added to EU and NATO concerns over Libya, which has been in turmoil since the alliance backed the 2011 overthrow of long-time dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Warring factions have divided up the oil-rich country, with the Islamic State group now building a presence there as EU efforts to forge a government of national unity appear stalled. Stoltenberg said NATO was "following very closely" the situation in Libya, stressing the importance of agreeing a new government "because that will be an important first step to be able to fight IS." The United States warned Thursday that there could now be 5,000 IS fighters in Libya, about double previous estimates, even as their numbers fall in Syria and Iraq. By Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - A sixth sperm whale has died on a British beach, the latest of nearly 30 to have become stranded in shallow waters on the coastline of Europe's North Sea over the past month. As marine pathologists cut samples from the whale's carcass on the windswept expanse of sand at low tide, scientists said it was too early to know exactly why so many whales had taken a wrong turn into the North Sea. Since mid-January, 29 sperm whales have died on beaches in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Britain. They are thought by experts to be members of the same pod, a group of young males migrating south from sub-polar waters. "What we've got here is a bunch of teenagers out having a good time but taking a wrong turning into the North Sea," said British Divers Marine Life Rescue operations manager Stephen March. "They should have gone a bit further west and into the open Atlantic," he told Reuters. Mass strandings of sperm whales are not uncommon in the region historically, with sightings dating back to the 16th century. In the 1760s, six of the 15 metre-long, 35-ton whales swam into the river Thames before dying. From the 19th century onwards, however, as whale hunting intensified, there were fewer such incidents. Experts said the latest beachings could be a sign of a recovery in the sperm whale population following protection measures passed in the 1980s. The species is currently listed as "vulnerable" by nature authorities. "It is quite possible that we will see more sperm whale strandings in the North Sea in future and we will have more mass strandings if the population is recovering," said Paul Jepson, a reader at the Institute of Zoology in London. At Hunstanton, in eastern England, crowds gathered to see the doomed sperm whale - the same species that inspired Herman Melville's classic 19th century novel "Moby Dick" - while rescue workers waded in the shallows, powerless to help. The mammals' size makes refloating them difficult, and they suffer rapid organ failure, often dying within 24 hours. The latest cause of death will not be determined from tissue samples for some months, and even then, the reason why the whales ended up in the North Sea may never be known, the experts said. "They just can't get out again because it is completely the wrong habitat for them: it is far too shallow and there's not a lot of deep-sea squid for them to feed on," Jepson said. Once the pathologists have finished with the sixth whale, which died on Thursday night, a low-loader lorry will move in to carry the carcass to a landfill site. (Editing by Stephen Addison) NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered all construction cranes similar to the one that collapsed in lower Manhattan on Friday morning into a safety position while police investigated the cause of the crash. The collapse of a tracked crane working at a downtown building killed at least one person and injured at least three, city officials said. "Thank God it was not worse," de Blasio told reporters. (Reporting by Frank McGurty; Writing by Scott Malone; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call on Friday agreed that North Korea's planned ballistic missile test would represent a "provocative and destabilising action," the White House said. "The leaders emphasized the importance of a strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations, including through an impactful UN Security Council Resolution," the White House said in a statement. Obama and Xi also said they would coordinate efforts to respond to North Korea's nuclear test last month and said they would not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapon state. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe; Editing by Eric Walsh) Washington (AFP) - President Barack Obama took a victory lap Friday as the US unemployment rate hit an eight-year low. Seizing on an opportunity to burnish his economic legacy, Obama lauded data showing the unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent in January. "Over the past six years, our business has added 14 million new jobs," Obama said in an impromptu press conference that hailed 71 straight months of private sector job growth. The White House has long argued that Obama does not get the credit he deserves for pulling the United States out of the Great Recession. Obama said history had shown his Republican foes were wrong to call for fiscal austerity during the crisis and to criticize the massive stimulus spending Obama pushed to juice the economy. "Had we adopted some of the policies that were advocated by Republicans over the last four, five, six years, we know that we probably would have done worse," he said. "We know that because a lot of European countries adopted those policies, and they haven't yet gotten to the same place they were before the crisis." While growth has returned and the United State is approaching full employment, income inequality is near record levels. Both Republican and Democratic candidates vying to replace Obama in the White House have lamented the erosion of the middle class. Obama also hit out at Republicans for their alleged negativity. "The United States of America right now has the strongest most durable economy in the world," Obama said as the state-to-state primary campaign ahead of the November elections gets underway. "I know that's still inconvenient for Republican stump speeches, as their doom and despair tour plays in New Hampshire. I guess you cannot please everybody." Obama insisted that "progress is finally starting to translate into bigger paychecks." "Talking down the American economy, by the way, does not make that progress." Story continues Obama also used the opportunity to bash Republicans for their criticism of "Obamacare." The policy extended health insurance to millions more Americans, while banning firms for refusing to cover already ill patients. "Since I signed Obamacare into law nearly 18 million Americans have gained coverage and our businesses have created jobs every month since." Obama also noted some of the turbulence hitting the global economy, most notably in China. "There is softness in the global economy. China is going through a transition. That's all creating headwind for overseas. It makes it more difficult." WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, taking on Republican presidential candidates for stirring up anxiety among Americans, told leaders at Washington's national prayer breakfast on Thursday that faith could conquer fear brought on by war, technology, and economic troubles. "It is a primal emotion, fear, one that we all experience. And it can be contagious, spreading through societies, and through nations," Obama said. "For me, and I know for so many of you, faith is the great cure for fear. Jesus is a good cure for fear. God gives believers the power, the love, the sound mind required to conquer any fear. And what more important moment for that faith than right now?" he said. Obama's remarks came a day after his first visit to a U.S. mosque, where he sought to allay fears of Americans accustomed to pop-culture portrayals of Muslims as terrorists and to reassure Muslim American youth about their identity. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. Obama, a Christian, said his faith had helped him deal with the challenges of being president and was bolstering him as his children grew up and prepared for adulthood. "It helps me deal with the common, everyday fears that we all share. The main one Im feeling right now is that our children grow up too fast. Theyre leaving!" he said to laughter. The president said he had drawn on his faith when comforting the parents of children killed by gun violence, a subtle reference to his failed effort to sharpen U.S. gun control laws. He said that people of faith had helped take in Syrian refugees, a subtle jab at Republicans who oppose allowing them into the country. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Andrew Hay) By Kim Palmer CLEVELAND (Reuters) - An Ohio man armed with a pellet gun was shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy who had responded to a 911 call from the man's wife, who said she had been stabbed multiple times, officials said on Friday. Thomas Hirko, 54, was shot twice and later died at an area hospital, after three officers responded late Thursday to the call about the stabbing at a Perry Township residence, about 35 miles east of Cleveland, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said. One of the officers fired four times at Hirko after he failed to respond to multiple commands to lower his weapon, which later turned out to be an "Airsoft-like pistol," Sheriff Daniel Dunlap said. Hirko also said, "It's time to die," according to Dunlap. An Airsoft pistol is a replica gun that typically shoots plastic pellets. Officials did not know whether the gun still had its orange safety tip. Dunlap said he had no information on the medical status of Lorrie Osborne-Hirko, 55, who had called the emergency line and said she had been stabbed multiple times. Officials said she was stabbed by her husband in the kidney area and back. All three officers, none of whom were identified, have more than 10 years of experience with the sheriff's office and Dunlap said he believed no policies were violated in the shooting. All the officers and Hirko are white. Hirko had a criminal record dating back to 1985, which included three charges for driving under the influence, as well as charges for domestic violence and disorderly conduct, Dunlap said. In 2006, Hirko barricaded himself in a home and threatened to kill himself following a troubled break-up from his previous marriage, Dunlap said. Hirko pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and intoxication that year, according to court documents. An outside law enforcement organization will assist with the shooting investigation, Dunlap said. (Reporting by Kim Palmer; Editing by Ben Klayman and Bernadette Baum) Jerusalem (AFP) - Ailing Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qiq will keep up his 10-week hunger strike despite Israel suspending a detention without trial order against him, his lawyer said on Friday. The 33-year-old television reporter, who still cannot leave hospital without permission, is "determined to continue his fast until he is freed", Jawad Boulos told AFP. On Thursday, Israel's Supreme Court lifted the order to hold him under the controversial administrative detention law, which allows the state to hold suspects without trial indefinitely. But the court ruled that Qiq needs permission to leave the hospital where he is handcuffed to his bed. His relatives can now visit him, but his wife Fayha Shalach told a press conference late Thursday she would not do so until he was fully free. "Security forces have simply shifted the responsibility for the fate of my husband on to the hospital administration," she said. The hospital told the court his life was in grave danger, after fasting for more than 10 weeks in protest at his detention. "The patient at this stage -- and in fact during recent days -- is in grave danger and in a condition where there is a high risk of his sudden death," court documents quoted the northern Afula hospital as saying. The United Nations on Friday said that it was "extremely concerned" over Qiq's condition and called on Israel to end the practice of administrative detention. "We reiterate our concerns at the situation of Palestinian administrative detainees who are held without charge or trial by the Israeli authorities, often on the basis of secret evidence," the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement. "We call, once again, upon the Israeli authorities to end their practice of administrative detention and to either release immediately or promptly charge and prosecute all administrative detainees," it said. Story continues Qiq, a 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 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 rights organisation. Shin Bet, Israel's domestic security service, says Qiq was arrested for "terror activity" as part of the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. 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. By Andrea Shalal NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (Reuters) - The Pentagon's fiscal 2017 budget will propose a $1 billion boost in spending on advanced training for the U.S. Air Force over the next five years, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Thursday. Carter said the extra funding would pay for at least 34 major air combat training exercises at Nellis Air Force Base and other ranges, helping prepare U.S. forces for a variety of missions from counterinsurgency operations to conflicts with technologically advanced enemies. He said the Air Force would also invest in improving the infrastructure and resources at Nellis and other training ranges, and in hiring more mechanics. "This is a critical place. It's going to stay a critical place, and it's going to get budgetary priority. The key is readiness," Carter said. The Pentagon chief lauded the importance of the work done at the Nevada base, which kicked off a large-scale air combat exercise called Red Flag on Jan. 25 that runs through Feb. 12. No other U.S. training range offered the opportunity to integrate satellite, cyber, aircraft and ground assets at once, preparing U.S. pilots ready to fight in future wars, he said. Carter toured the base after previewing the Pentagon's $582.7 billion budget for 2017 earlier this week. The budget plan shifts funding to focus more on potential threats from near-peer competitors such as Russia and China. "We have to be ready for it all," Carter told reporters. Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Gordon told reporters the current Red Flag exercise, one of four planned this year, included more than 2,400 personnel from the United States, Australia and Britain, and 120 aircraft. Three weeks of complex and challenging exercises were meant to create the "muscle memory" that would guide pilots if they had to go to war, helping them train for challenges such as the loss of GPS navigational signals and cyber attacks, he said. Story continues The exercise also tests the ability of mechanics to repair and service aircraft far from their home bases, Gordon said. It costs about $35 million each year to carry out four Red Flag exercises, he said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Paul Tait) Washington (AFP) - The Pentagon on Friday welcomed Saudi Arabia's pledge to commit ground forces to fight Islamic State jihadists in Syria, should the US-led coalition ever send in combat troops. The United States has for weeks been calling on partners in the 65-member coalition bombing the IS group in Iraq and Syria to contribute more, and last month Defense Secretary Ashton Carter chastised some countries for doing "nothing at all." Saudi Arabia has been part of the coalition since late 2014. Though it carried out high-profile initial air strikes against the jihadists in Syria, its participation and that of other Gulf members dropped as they shifted focus to striking conflict-torn Yemen. "We welcome the announcement by Saudi Arabia that they are looking into ways to enhance their counter-ISIL efforts," US Central Command spokesman Pat Ryder said, using an alternative acronym for the IS group. "There will be continued discussions with the Saudis and our other partners on the best ways we can continue to intensify coalition efforts." Carter is meeting with defense officials from Saudi Arabia and at least two dozen other coalition members next week in Brussels, where he is expected to outline the next steps in the anti-IS campaign. The Pentagon chief said Saudi Arabia had offered to help encourage other "Muslim-majority" countries to play more of a role as well. "You see others stepping up, and the reason why I'm going to Brussels next week is to bring the full weight of the coalition behind accelerating the defeat of ISIL," Carter said late Thursday. The transportation of European honeybees that pollinate a third of the food supply is driving a deadly disease infecting beehives around the world, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science. What we can say in our research is that the spread of this deadly virus across continents would not have been possible without the human-aided transmission of the European honeybee, said Lena Wilfert, the studys lead author and an evolutionary geneticist at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. The disease is called deformed wing virus, and its just one of a number of culprits implicated in impacting pollinators health. Researchers have also linked parasitic mites, viruses, bacteria, fungal diseases, and intensifying pesticide use to the overall decline in bee populations worldwide. In the United States, the number of honeybee hives, which add $15 billion in value to the agriculture industry, fell 59 percent from 1947 to 2005. The discovery that humans are responsible for a significant threat to bees could help scientists and policy makers contain the disease. The researchers obtained honeybees preserved in archives and were able to map 100 years of bee DNA from 17 countries. That allowed them to pinpoint the evolutionary origin of deformed wing virus, which they traced to Apis mellifera, also known as the European honeybee. By itself, deformed wing virus is not deadly to honeybees. Its more akin to a common colda nuisance, but survivablewhen transmitted between adult bees. European honeybees were infected with the virus when they began to be shipped around the world in the 1600s to pollinate crops, according to the scientists. RELATED: Colony Collapse Disorder Is Not What You Think But over the past 50 years, the spread of a mite, the aptly named Varroa destructor, has transformed the bees common cold into a full-on plague. The tiny blood-sucking mites feed on adult honeybees and transmit the deformed wing virus to bee larvae. The unborn bees either die or hatch with misshapen wings, resulting in depleted colonies. Story continues Beekeepers reported coming back to their hives after winter and finding the bees were just dead, Wilfert said. She fears the recent combination of deformed wing virus with Varroa has transformed the European honeybee from a farmers best friend into a lethal disease spreader. A 2014 study in the journal Nature found deformed wing virus had spread to wild bumblebee populations in the United Kingdom, dramatically shortening the life of the pollinators. Its a big problem that we can identify in honeybees, because we monitor them and we can see it spread, Wilfert said. But for wild bee populations, they dont have beekeepers watching out for them, and we dont see the problem until it is too late. She said countries need to establish stricter regulations on bee transport, including all bee-related products, to curtail the virus. She pointed to Australia and a few islands in Hawaii, which have effectively limited the spread of Varroa, and hopes global regulations on honeybee transport put in place in the past decade will to start to contain the disease. When youre working on this type of research, you can forget that what we know now wasnt common knowledge even 10 years ago, Wilfert said. Weve only recently come to understand the role viruses play in the health of honeybee populations. Now that we have a better understanding of how they spread and how to stop them, Im hopeful weve seen the peak of Varroa and deformed wing virus. Related stories on TakePart: See Where Wild Bees Are Disappearing Across the U.S. The Bees Have Their Day in Courtand Win Big The Decline in Bees Will Cause a Decline in Healthy Food Original article from TakePart While traveling and spending time with family may be the traditional golden-year activities, many young people also plan to work during retirement to substantially add to their incomes. But that strategy may not always succeed, and experts warn that workers still need to save sufficiently earlier in their careers, whatever assumptions they may have about working in their 60s and 70s. More than seven in ten Millennials intend to keep working during retirement, according to a survey this week from Scottrade. Thats up from 56 percent of Gen Xers and 39 percent of Baby Boomers. Millennials also expect to derive a large percentage of their retirement income from working. The survey found that Millennials who plan to work predict their work paycheck will make up nearly half (46 percent) of their retirement income, whereas Baby Boomers and Generation Xers expect income from work to make up less than a third. Related: How Much Money Do You Need to Retire? A New Guide Might Scare You I think people are less willing to sacrifice today in hopes for a better tomorrow, says Kevin Reardon, president of Shakespeare Wealth Management in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The younger generation has seen their parent's retirement plans altered by job loss and down markets, and to some degree poor savings habits. The net result is the younger generation is understanding they will need to work in retirement. There are benefits to working longer, too. Studies have shown that those who work in retirement have better mental and physical health. Its also an effective way to improve your retirement income security, says Neil Krishnaswamy, a certified financial planner with Exencial Wealth Advisors in Plano, Texas. Those who work longer reduce how much money they need during retirement, can delay and maximize Social Security benefits and lower health insurance costs if the worker is too young to qualify for Medicare, he says. But its important to note while many people may plan to work longer, some will simply be forced to retire earlier, Krishnaswamy says. It is one thing to want to work and its another to stay employable. Story continues Related: The Biggest Regret Retirees Have from Their Working Years A December study of retirees from the TransAmerica Center for Retirement Studies underscores this point. According to the study, three in ten workers retired sooner than planned. More than quarter were forced to retire because of health reasons, and another 11 percent quit working for family responsibilities. A whopping two-thirds retired for employment-related reasons, including job loss or organizational changes. As you age, you become a less attractive new hire, says Avani Ramnani, director of financial planning and wealth management at Francis Financial in New York. Companies may be inclined to fire you, and if you do have to look for another opportunity, companies may be less inclined to hire an older person. A survey from AARP in March 2015 found that half of the people between 45 and 70 who were unemployed in the past five years either remained unemployed or had dropped out of the job market altogether. Among those who found a job, almost half were earning less than in their previous jobs. Related: 7 Common Myths that Can Ruin Your Retirement Still, the job market for older workers could look markedly different 30 to 40 years from now when Millennials enter their golden years. People will likely be living longer and healthier lives, making older workers more attractive and more common. But they shouldnt bank on it, and they need to fund their full retirement through savings now, says Kevin J. Meehan, regional President of Wealth Enhancement Group in Itasca, Illinois. We therefore encourage people to create a strategy where working in retirement is an option and not a need, he says. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo reiterated on Friday that Poland wanted Britain to stay in the European Union and said her cabinet supported some of its demands on reforming the block. "We fully support the prime minister's proposals regarding solutions that are aimed at improving competitiveness, removing red tape and granting proper significance to national parliaments," Szydlo said in a joint statement with her British counterpart David Cameron in Warsaw. Szydlo also said she saw a need to discuss the question of welfare benefits for Polish citizens living in Britain. Cameron said Britain wanted to see a "full strategic partnership between Poland and the United Kingdom". (Reporting by Marcin Goettig; Writing by Marcin Goclowski and Agnieszka Barteczko; Editing by Kevin Liffey) WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is satisfied with the outcome of talks over a proposed EU-Britain deal with British Prime Minister David Cameron who is visiting Warsaw on Friday, head of the Polish ruling Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski said. Speaking to reporters immediately after meeting Cameron in a hotel in central Warsaw, Kaczynski said: "We have gained really very, very much, and we are satisfied." "Poland has ... gained here really very much, full safety, above all, for all those who are in Britain right now, but also that those who have children in Poland will continue to receive benefits, they may be adjusted, but they will get them anyway." (Reporting by Wiktor Szary) MOSCOW (Reuters) - The patriarch of Russia's Orthodox Church will take part in an historic first meeting with the Roman Catholic pontiff on Feb. 12 because of the need for a joint response to the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, the Orthodox Church said. Senior Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Hilarion said that long-standing differences between the two churches remain, most notably a row over the status of the Uniate Church, in Ukraine. But he said these differences were being put aside so that Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis could come together over persecution of Christians. This issue will be the central item on the agenda for their meeting, in Havana, Cuba, the cleric said. "The situation shaping up today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa, and in some other regions where extremists are carrying out a genuine genocide of the Christian population, demands urgent measures and an even closer cooperation between the Christian churches," Hilarion said. "We need to put aside internal disagreements at this tragic time and join efforts to save Christians in the regions where they are subject to the most atrocious persecution." The meeting could be a hugely significant step toward healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity, which split in the Great Schism of 1054. Hilarion said the first-ever meeting between the heads of the two Christian churches would not take place in Europe because Patriarch Kirill had objected to this idea from the very beginning. "Because it is namely Europe with which this tragic history of divisions and conflicts among Christians is linked," Hilarion said. (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Alexander Winning) Two Virginia Tech students painstakingly plotted the kidnapping and killing of 13-year-old girl Nicole Lovell, prosecutors alleged in court on Thursday. During a bond request for 19-year-old Natalie Keepers, prosecutor Mary Pettitt told the judge that Lovell's throat was slit. Pettitt said Keepers and David Eisenhauer bought cleaning supplies and a shovel at separate Wal-Marts, and then hid the girl's body in the trunk of a Lexus. Pettitt told the judge that Keepers had told FBI investigators about the murder plot. "I was excited to be part of something secretive and special," Pettitt testified that Keepers had told FBI investigators. Pettitt said that Keepers had told police that she and Eisenhauer had bought a shovel at a Wal-Mart. Then, after Lovell was dead, they allegedly went to another Wal-Mart to buy cleaning supplies while the girl's body was in the trunk of Eisenhauer's car. While Keepers allegedly cooperated with the FBI, she is adamant that she was not present during the murder. But Pettitt still pushed for the 19-year-old woman to be held without bond. "She is in the same position as the person who carried out the murder," Pettitt told the judge. Phone Messages Led To Arrest According to Pettitt, messages on Lovell's phone led police to Eisenhauer. Prosecutors say that he initially denied any involvement in the girl's disappearance and death. Later, Eisenhauer admitted that he drove to her house and watched her climb out the window, Pettitt said. David Eisenhauer was arrested last week and charged with felony counts of first-degree murder and abduction. Natalie Keepers is now charged with accessory before the fact to first-degree murder. She was originally charged with one felony count of improper disposal of a dead body and one misdemeanor count of accessory after the fact in the commission of a felony. The new charges carry a penalty of 20 years to life in prison. "Based on the evidence collected to date, investigators have determined that Eisenhauer and Nicole were acquainted prior to her disappearance,a Blacksburg police said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE earlier this week. aEisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her.a Keepers and Eisenhauer are being held without bond. They have yet to enter a plea. ted cruz Some prominent Republicans are siding with Donald Trump after his stunning loss in the Iowa caucuses this week, which he blamed on shady tactics by the campaign of US Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). After leading the Iowa polls for weeks, Trump came in second to Cruz. Trump initially conceded gracefully, but then fired off an angry tweetstorm on Wednesday, accusing Cruz of fraud and saying that he "stole" the caucuses. Trump's accusation was based on Cruz supporters circulating a CNN report on a third candidate, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, suddenly flying home on the night of the Iowa caucuses. This stoked speculation that Carson was on the verge of dropping out of the race. Carson has repeatedly accused the Cruz campaign of playing "dirty tricks" in order to grab his supporters in Iowa. Since Trump started lobbing his attacks, some big-name Republicans have piled on Cruz and suggested that the real-estate mogul would have actually won the Iowa caucuses were it not for the Cruz campaign's allegedly shady tactics. Those names include Republican strategist Karl Rove and Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R). It's worth noting that Cruz's campaign is widely opposed by the Washington establishment, and Branstad made an unusual statement before the Iowa caucuses urging his state to reject Cruz. On the other hand, Rove is not a friend of Trump, who has for months used insults like "dopey" and "dummy" to describe him on Twitter. Rove said on Wednesday night on "The O'Reilly Factor" that the Cruz campaign distributing the CNN report to its precinct captains could have cost Trump the race. The reported letter told the Cruz officials to "inform any Carson caucus-goers of this news and urge them to caucus for Ted Cruz." "The gap between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz is 6,239 votes. There are 1,500 precincts. Do the math," Rove said. He continued: If this message caused precinct captains in the precincts to tell Carson people, "Your guy is getting out, he's having a big announcement later this week, caucus with us." If that cost Carson four votes per precinct to switch to Cruz, then Cruz beats Trump. If he doesn't switch four, then he loses. Story continues .@KarlRove: If you do the math, Cruz's misleading tactics in Iowa may have cost Donald Trump the victoryhttps://t.co/dLIn8esYY1 FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) February 4, 2016 Branstad similarly called out the Cruz campaign for its "questionable" tactics. In an interview with Radio Iowa on Thursday, Branstad said that the Carson note was "unethical and unfair." "This thing that they distributed on caucus night, saying that Dr. Carson was likely to drop out and his supporters should support Cruz, that is, I think, unethical and unfair," Branstad said. "I think there'll be repercussions to that." Branstad also called the Carson note "inappropriate." He stopped short of saying that Trump's loss was the result of the Cruz campaign's tactics, however, noting that skipping the Fox News debate last week probably hurt him. Cruz apologized to Carson on Tuesday and said that his team should have also distributed Carson's statement denying the rumor that he was about to exit the race. But at the same time, Cruz dismissed Trump's raging tweetstorm, referred to his attacks as a "Trump-er tantrum," and questioned whether the businessman has the right temperament to be president. NOW WATCH: Cruz: Trump would nuke Denmark More From Business Insider Evoking the contaminated-water crisis in Flint, Michigan, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights showed concern and compassion Friday for residents of polluted communities who maintain they are victims of environmental racism. I see the specter of Flint in the communities that are represented by our panelists, Patricia Timmons-Goodson, vice chair of the commission, said via teleconference at a hearing that focused on the dumping of coal ash. In your communities, like Flint, there is knowledge of the dire health consequences of many of these toxic products. Flints nearly 100,000 residents have been exposed to elevated levels of lead after water from the Flint River corroded the citys pipes. Some residents complained about the tainted water for two years before elected officials and regulators were compelled to act. Poor communities become saddled with decisions made by policy makers, politicians and others who frequently take the past of least resistance thats with the politically un-empowered, those who have the least access to the justice system and to the ballot box, Commissioner Michael Yaki said via teleconference. Residents of Waukegan, Illinois; Uniontown, Alabama; and Florence, South Carolina, told the commission they were worried about leakage from coal ash pits and landfills. Coal ash is a byproduct of coal-fired power generation and contains harmful metals including arsenic, chromium, lead and mercury. Dulce Ortiz, who lives near a coal-fired power plant in Waukegan, said she feels her concerns are being ignored by state and federal officials. How are companies allowed to do this in my community time and time again? she asked. A Center for Public Integrity investigation last year examined how the Environmental Protection Agencys Office of Civil Rights handles discrimination complaints from communities. The Center found that the office has dismissed nine out of every 10 claims and has never once issued a formal finding of a civil-rights violation. Story continues This story is part of Environmental Justice, Denied. A look at the environmental problems that disproportionately affect communities of color. Click here to read more stories in this investigation. Don't miss another Environment investigation: Sign up for the Center for Public Integrity's Watchdog email. The commission began investigating the EPA last year and in January held a hearing to receive testimony from a trio of agency officials, including Velveta Golightly-Howell, head of the Office of Civil Rights. On Friday the commission heard testimony on the health effects of coal ash as well as comments from coal industry executives and advocacy groups such as Earthjustice. Commissioners are mulling a visit to Uniontown and possibly another community to see firsthand what residents have described. The commission is slated to issue a report with its findings and recommendations in September. Ideally, community members said Friday, they would like to see funds set aside for site cleanups, more facility closures and to simply have their concerns taken seriously. I love Alabama; its a nice place to live, said Uniontown resident Esther Calhoun, who lives near a large landfill that takes coal ash. But Im just telling you, the system is broken. Discrimination is still there. And if youre black, your voice will hardly ever be heard. Ms. Calhoun, Timmons-Goodson said, Ill say your voice is being heard loud and clearly today. This story is part of Environmental Justice, Denied. A look at the environmental problems that disproportionately affect communities of color. Click here to read more stories in this investigation. Related stories Copyright 2016 The Center for Public Integrity. This story was published by The Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative news organization in Washington, D.C. By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie has dismissed him as a puppet and former mentor Jeb Bush called him not fit to serve as up-and-coming Republican Marco Rubio becomes the man to beat in next week's New Hampshire primary. Rubio's unexpectedly strong third-place showing in Monday's Iowa caucuses has made him the target of rival Republican candidates who focused their campaigns on the New England state's first-in-the-nation primary. Christie, the New Jersey governor, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich all hope for a strong showing in New Hampshire to boost their flagging campaigns to become the Republican nominee in the Nov. 8 election to replace Democratic President Barack Obama. While Christie said on Thursday he would not be out of the race if he lost to Rubio in New Hampshire, Kasich has told audiences he would go back to Ohio if he got "smoked" there. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who won the Iowa caucuses on strong evangelical Christian credentials, was expected to have less appeal for voters in New Hampshire. Real estate mogul Donald Trump's second-place showing in Iowa raised questions about how well his popularity can survive the voting booth. Christie has been one of Rubio's fiercest critics this week, calling the first-term U.S. senator from Florida "the boy in the bubble" the day after the Iowa vote. He continued the personal vein of attack on Thursday. "This isn't the most controlled candidate we've seen in this race at all. His handlers handle him all the time," Christie said on Fox News. "We need to take him out of that controlled atmosphere because, believe me, it won't be controlled against Hillary Clinton this fall," he said. Clinton, the former secretary of state, is battling U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont for the Democratic nomination. Bush, whose establishment Republican credentials have not guaranteed him public support, has also turned on his former protege. On Wednesday he took out a full-page ad in a leading New Hampshire newspaper, the Union-Leader, attacking Rubio as not ready to serve as commander in chief. "Nearly every political leader in Florida of stature who knows Marco and Jeb's records have joined us in endorsing Governor Bush," the ad read. Rubio has garnered significant endorsements since Monday, including U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, which holds its primary this month, and U.S. Representative Matt Salmon of Arizona, a co-founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. (Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Andrea Ricci) Washington (AFP) - US Secretary of State John Kerry urged Russia Friday to implement a ceasefire in Syria, saying its bombing campaign was killing women and children in large numbers and "has to stop." "Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a ceasefire," Kerry told reporters, fresh from a trip to Europe focused on resolving the five-year Syrian conflict. "The Iranians confirmed in London just a day and a half ago they will support a ceasefire now." "We will have a much better sense in the next few days of how serious each party is," added Kerry, a day after he implicitly blamed Russia's bombing campaign against the Syrian opposition for the collapse of peace talks in Geneva this week. Moscow, Damascus's main ally, has stepped up bombing around the Syrian city of Aleppo in recent days, facilitating a government offensive that has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee to the Turkish border. Kerry accused the Russian military of using "dumb bombs." "They are not precision bombs, and there are civilians, including women and children, being killed in large numbers as a consequence," he said, during a joint news conference with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. Russian planes are also targeting hospitals and returning to bomb people rescuing those wounded in earlier air strikes, he added. "This has to stop", Kerry said. "The Russians have made some constructive ideas about how a ceasefire in fact could be implemented," he added. "But if it's just talk for the sake of talk in order to continue the bombing, nobody is going to accept that." Kerry's comments represent a clear shift in tone following a months-long attempt to cooperate with Russia over a way out of the Syrian crisis. Washington has accused Moscow of being "partly" responsible for torpedoing peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday that had barely begun. Story continues The US and Russia were chiefly responsible for the resumption of diplomatic efforts to end the war. After meetings in Vienna and New York in late 2015, regional and global powers within the International Syria Support Group -- including Washington, Moscow, Riyadh and Tehran -- are to meet in Munich next week to discuss a ceasefire in a war that has killed some 260,000 people and generated millions of refugees. The diplomatic process was set in motion in December by a UN Security Council resolution passed by its 15 members, including Moscow. Moscow (AFP) - A close ally of President Vladimir Putin, Patriarch Kirill has helped to transform the Russian Orthodox Church into a powerful institution of the post-Soviet state. The 69-year-old native of Saint Petersburg will meet Pope Francis next week in Cuba. It will be a historic gathering of the heads of the major western and eastern branches of Christianity after the religion split traumatically in the 11th century -- an event known as "The Great Schism." Kirill, born Vladimir Gundyaev, was chosen to take the helm of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009 after the death of Patriarch Alexy II, a domineering presence who had been in charge since the breakup of the Soviet Union. No stranger to controversy, the patriarch has fervently backed Putin's conservative drive in the country and his military action abroad. Last month he declared Russia's military campaign in Syria was a "defensive war" to protect Russia from terrorism and was therefore "just". "When war defends our people's lives and our country we view it as a just action that seeks just goals," he said in an interview with the channel Rossiya. During Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the ensuing war in eastern Ukraine, the Patriarch's stance mostly consisted of denouncing "anti-Russian" policies of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, an Eastern rite church that recognises the Pope and is a source of great friction between Moscow and Vatican. He stands by defiant pro-Kremlin, anti-Western views although they have turned away many Orthodox Ukrainians against the Moscow Patriarchate, which oversees hundreds of parishes in the country. - 'Spiritual bonds' - Inside Russia, Kirill has supported the policies of Putin who, since his 2012 election to the third term, called on Russians to respect "spiritual bonds" and the traditional values of the Orthodox Church, lashing out at "liberal" and Western views. Story continues "We are a great and powerful country, we have kept our own way, we have not lost our identity, unlike the great and powerful countries in Europe," Kirill said in November. In some ways, Kirill is closely retracing the steps of Alexy II, whose reign as patriarch stretched over two decades from the late Soviet era until his death. Both men engaged in campaigns to win back vast properties stripped from the church by the Bolsheviks and to introduce Orthodox culture in secular parts of society such as the armed forces and schools. Today, the Russian Orthodox Church says it has around 150 million followers at home and abroad, mainly among expatriate Russian communities and their descendants. Like his predecessor, Kirill is also deemed by critics to be a product of a Soviet-era relationship between the clergy and the KGB security services. Kirill for one was asked to represent the Soviet-era church at the World Council of Churches in Geneva -- a sensitive post through which Moscow whitewashed Soviet crimes -- at the tender age of 25. That was at a time when all such assignments were vetted both by the party and the secret police. He returned to the Soviet Union to head the Orthodox Spiritual Academy in Putin's native Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and eventually the department for external relations of the Patriarchate under Alexy II. That assignment should only make Kirill more aware of how prickly the church's relations can get with other Christian denominations and particularly the Catholic Church. His overt support for Putin made him a target of a furious Internet campaign by bloggers who soon discovered that the patriarch was the owner of a luxury Moscow flat and a lavish residence on the Black Sea. The biggest controversy of all came when the Pussy Riot punks burst into Moscow's vast Christ the Saviour Cathedral in 2012 Russia to belt out scathing lyrics mentioning how the Patriarch "believes in Putin". Kirill denounced their "punk prayer" as "blasphemous". Two of the women were sentenced to two-year prison camp terms in remote regions after being found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred, but were released early. ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is not planning a military incursion into Syria and Russian talk of such action is propaganda, a senior Turkish government official said on Friday. "Turkey does not have any plans or thoughts of staging a military campaign or ground incursion in Syria," the official told Reuters, adding Russia was stepping up its own military campaign in Syria every day instead of working for a solution. "Turkey is part of a coalition, is working with its allies, and will continue to do so. As we have repeatedly said, Turkey will not act unilaterally," the official said. A Russian defense ministry spokesman said on Thursday that Moscow had serious grounds to suspect Turkey was preparing a military incursion in Syria. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Nick Tattersall; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk) If youre more than willing to travel and queue for food, head to these local and overseas cafes and bakeries to try the salted egg yolk croissants that Singaporeans are now raving about. Salted Yolk Lava Croissant at Antoinette Image: Antoinette Singapore Facebook page The Singaporean love for salted egg yolk-flavoured dishes has not ceased. The latest sensation: the salted egg yolk croissant, which pairs the traditional French pastry with salted egg yolk custard. This novelty dish, first seen in Hong Kong and Malaysia cafes, has reached Singapore food stops too. Flavoured Flings, a cafe located in Hougang, started selling the pastry for $7.50 each, in late January this year. Due to the overwhelming demand for the dish, each customer is only able to purchase up to two croissants for takeaway. Singapore cafe-patisserie chain Antoinette, introduced its own version of the salted egg yolk croissant on Feb 1 at its Penhas Road outlet. Retailing at $6.50 each, the pastry has attracted the same fanfare. Other cafes such as Kokomama at Zubir Said Drive and Black & Ink at Changi Road have also started retailing a similar pastry. We already serve Salted Egg Yolk Lava Muffins and butter croissants, its just a matter of putting the fillings into the croissants thats all, Big Roy, the owner of Black & Ink, told Yahoo Singapore. We have also started putting our gelato on our croissants, like what they do in Italy. The owner and food blogger explained that the custard filling is done English-style, with the addition of salted egg yolks blended in to give it that savoury flavour. He started by serving the pastry only to regular customers and had added it to the menu after it was featured by other food bloggers. Added the 42 year-old: We just slice off the top of the croissant to insert the fillings. Aesthetically it may not be as nice but it definitely tastes good. Thats why we only charge $5.50 each. Check out the list below for places that serve the pastry, including the cafes and bakeries overseas where the pastry originated. Story continues Singapore Flavour Flings This cafe at Hougang Avenue was the first to introduce the pastry in Singapore. Salted yolk custard is piped into plain croissants provided by its supplier, then baked before its served. Takeaways for the salted yolk croissant are typically available from 5.30pm daily excluding Tuesdays, Sundays and public holidays; check the cafes Facebook page for more updates. Where: Blk 121 Hougang Avenue 1, #01-1348, Singapore 530121 Antoinette The cafe-patisserie chain prepares its salted egg lava croissant from scratch, to create a flaky buttery pastry with that ooze-worthy salted yolk custard. This dish is available from 11am at the Penhas Road outlet; the outlets at Mandarin Gallery and Sofitel So Singapore will serve the pastry from Feb 10. Where: 30 Penhas Road; 333A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery, #02-33/34; 35 Robinson Road, Sofitel So Singapore Kokomama Marketplace The cafe at the School of the Arts launched a trio of croissants with flavoured fillings on Feb 4, for $6.50 each. Besides the popular salted egg flavour, the cafe has also introduced croissants filled with peanut and custard. Where: 1 Zubir Said Drive #01-01, School of The Arts, Singapore 227968 Black & Ink This laid back cafe and coffee bar at Changi Road recently introduced its own salted egg yolk croissant ($5.50), to go with the cold brews and other cups of java that its known for. However, the cafe will serve up to only 20 pieces a day; the pastry is available for dine-ins and takeaways. Where: 168 Changi Road, #01-01/02, Singapore 419730 Hong Kong Urban Bakery This Hong Kong bakery-cafe chain introduced its Molten Yolk Croissant in Sept 2014 and is often cited as the first to serve the savoury-sweet pastry. This croissant is priced at HKD22 (approximately S$3.95) each and can be found at multiple locations including its bakery-cafe outlets at The Landmark and Hysan Place. When: Mon to Fri: 7.30am 8pm Sat, Sun & PH: 8.30am 8pm Where: Outlets at locations including The Landmark, Hysan Place and Langham Place; visit its Facebook page for the full addresses. Malaysia Le Bread Days This bakery-cafe was among the first to kickstart this pastry food fad in Malaysia. Besides the popular molten egg yolk custard croissant which is sold for RM6.90 (S$2.34) each, other custard croissant flavours available include cheese, peanut butter and almond. Where: 68, Jalan SS 2/72, Seksyen 19, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Bake Plan Bakery Shop SS2 Although the bakery in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, may not be the first to start the food fad, its salted egg yolk croissant (RM6.50/ S$2.20 each) has be reviewed as one of the top options by food bloggers in Malaysia. Where: 36, Jalan SS2/61, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Seven Oaks Bakery Cafe Include this new bakery-cafe in your cafe hopping list while in Johor Bahru. Housed in a grand four-storey building, the bakery cafe started serving the popular custard croissant in late 2015, for RM5.90 (S$2) each. Where: 5 Jalan Molek 1, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia The Bread Shop If you prefer a custard filling thats more creamy than savoury, check out this bakery in Kuala Lumpur. Besides the popular salted yolk croissant (RM7.80/ S$2.64 each), the bakery is also known for its cruffins, a hybrid pastry thats a mix of the classic croissant and muffin. Where: 11 Jalan Setiakasih 5, Bukit Damansara 50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Love A Loaf Bakery & Cafe The Penang bakery chain started serving its salted egg golden lava croissant in Dec 2015, along with croissants with matcha green tea custard and chocolate custard. Each croissant is priced at RM6.50 (S$2.20). Where: Three locations in Penang, including . Visit its website for more information. By Jim Forsyth SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - San Antonio's police chief on Friday pledged a thorough investigation of the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by an officer a day earlier. Antronie Scott, 36, wanted on warrants for being a felon in possession in a firearm, was spotted on Thursday night by undercover detectives and pulled over by a uniformed officer as he drove into an apartment complex. "As the uniformed officer approached the vehicle, he got out of the car quickly and spun toward the officer," Chief William McManus told a news conference. "The officer shouted to 'show me your hands,' and as soon as that statement was made, you heard a gunshot and it hit the individual in the upper torso," he said. McManus said the officer, identified as John Lee, a 10-year veteran of the force, told him he thought there was a gun in Scott's hand. But that object turned out to be a cell phone. "Officer Lee stated that he feared for his life when he discharged a single round," the chief said. The chief said video from the officer's onboard camera did not record the shooting because of the way the officer's car was parked, and body cameras have not yet been distributed to Lee's precinct. There is audio of the incident. Protesters have said the shooting was unwarranted and similar to numerous other incidents in recent months that have raised questions about racial bias in U.S. policing in which unarmed African-Americans were fatally shot by officers. The officer in the shooting has been placed on administrative duty, as per department procedures. "It was very fast, it was in the blink of an eye," McManus said. (Reporting by Jim Forsyth; Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Dan Grebler) Just ahead of the New Hampshire primary and only days after a photo finish in the Iowa caucuses, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are in a dead heat for the Democratic presidential nomination, a new poll shows. A Quinnipiac University survey of registered Democrats nationwide released Friday shows Clinton with 44% support, Sanders 42% and 11% undecided a dramatic shift from the 61% to 30% beating she was throwing Sanders in Quinnipiac's Dec. 22 poll. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," Tim Malloy, the poll's assistant director, said in a statement. The jury's still out on whether Clinton is likable enough too. Sanders had a 44% to 35% favorability rating in the Quinnipiac study the highest of any candidate. Clinton's favorability was under water at 39% to 56%. On the Republican side, Donald Trump enjoys a solid national lead over his rivals, with 31% backing compared to 22% for Iowa caucus winner Ted Cruz and 19% for Marco Rubio. "While Trump, Clinton and Cruz wallow in a negative favorability swamp, by comparison, Rubio and Sanders are rock stars," Malloy said. Trump thumping: Sanders faced a question about his electability in November during Thursday night's debate with Clinton in New Hampshire, but according to Quinnipiac, the odds are in his favor. He defeats Trump 49% to 39% in a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, while Clinton would overcome Trump by only 5 percentage points, 46% to 41%. Rubio and Sanders tied in a potential horse race with 43% support each. Wild card: Notably, "If former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg runs, he hurts Sanders more than he hurts any of the top Republican contenders," Quinnipiac pollsters reported. "Although he is characterized as the New York counterpunch to Trump, [Bloomberg] is more the nemesis of Bernie than he is of Donald." Quinnipiac polled 1,125 registered voters from Tuesday to Thursday. The survey has an error margin of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. Washington (AFP) - Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are now running neck-and-neck for the Democratic presidential nomination, with the Vermont senator lagging only two percentage points behind his White House rival, a nationwide poll showed Friday. The survey, carried out after this week's Iowa caucuses which Clinton won by a hair, reveals Sanders closing in on the former secretary of state and longtime frontrunner. Clinton and Sanders now stand at 44 to 42 percent, according to the Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters, revealing a drastic shift since December 22 when the pair stood at 61 and 30 percent respectively. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Senator Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," Quinnipiac University Poll assistant director Tim Malloy said. In the Republican camp, frontrunner Donald Trump, who came second in the Iowa nomination contest behind arch-conservative Ted Cruz, still has a strong national lead, Quinnipiac said. Trump is polling at 31 percent nationwide, ahead of Cruz on 22 percent and Florida Senator Marco Rubio who is snapping at their heels with 19 percent support. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson is on six percent -- the only other Republican candidate to pass the three-percent mark. In a presidential contest, Clinton would beat Trump 46 to 41 percent and tie Cruz 45 to 45 percent, the Quinnipiac figures suggest. Sanders, meanwhile, would wallop Trump by a resounding 49 to 39 percent and beat Cruz by 46 to 42 percent, Quinnipiac said. When voters across the political divide were asked whether they viewed a candidate favorably or unfavorably, Sanders fared the best while Trump was worst off. "While Trump, Clinton and Cruz wallow in a negative favorability swamp, by comparison, Rubio and Sanders are rock stars," Malloy said. Fifty-six percent of participants had an unfavorable view of Clinton, compared to 39 percent who viewed her favorably. For Trump the numbers ran at 59 and 34 percent respectively. Story continues For Sanders, 44 percent viewed him favorably against 35 unfavorably. Similar numbers were seen for Rubio, who 42 percent viewed favorably compared with 28 percent unfavorably. On Thursday night, Sanders and Clinton faced off in a nearly two-hour debate at the University of New Hampshire during which the former first lady mounted a sharp attack on her democratic socialist rival, warning his promises of revolution "don't add up." The Quinnipiac poll was released four days before the state of New Hampshire votes in the first primary of the 2016 election race. It was conducted from Tuesday through Thursday among 1,125 registered voters, with a margin of error of 2.9 percentage points. Stumping for U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Tinder is getting some women banned from the online dating app after sending campaign messages to prospective matches. Two women - one from Iowa and the other from New Jersey - confirmed to Reuters on Friday that they received notices from Tinder in the previous 24 hours that their accounts were locked because they had been reported too many times for peppering men on the site with messages promoting Sanders candidacy. Robyn Gedrich, 23, said she sent messages to 60 people a day for the past two weeks trying to convince them to support the U.S. senator from Vermont in his race for the Democratic nomination against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Do you feel the bern? her message to other Tinder users read, parroting a Sanders campaign slogan. Please text WORK to 82623 for me. Thanks." Gedrich, an assistant store manager at retailer Elie Tahari who lives in Brick, New Jersey, said a text would prompt people to start receiving updates from the Sanders campaign, as well as a link where they could sign up and volunteer. She has been unable to sign back into Tinder since logging off on Thursday. Haley Lent, 22, a photographer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told Reuters in a Twitter message that she also got locked out of the app on Thursday night after sending messages trying to convince people to vote for Sanders the previous night. Lent, who is married, said she talked to 50 to 100 people on the app. She had even bought a Tinder premium membership, which allows users to change their location, for a month so that she could reach people in New Hampshire and promote Sanders. "I would ask them if they were going to vote in their upcoming primaries, she said. If they said no or were on the fence, I would try to talk to them and persuade them to vote." A spokeswoman for Tinder, which is part of Match Group Inc, owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp , said in an email on Friday afternoon, We whole-heartedly support people sharing their political views on Tinder, but we dont allow spamming. So feel free to spread the Bern, just dont spam. Story continues SWIPE RIGHT FOR BERNIE? The two women are not the only ones making unusual use of Tinder, better known as a "hook-up app, as a campaign tool. A Facebook Inc group Bernie Sanders Dank Tinder Convos has 782 members. On Yahoo Incs Tumblr microblogging site, a thread titled Tinder Campaigning, The adventures of a perpetual right-swiper in the efforts of electing Bernie Sanders has dozens of conversations referencing Sanders pulled from Tinder. Swiping right is a colloquial reference to approving of a potential match on Tinder. Gedrich said she got mixed responses from the 300 Tinder users who replied. Some people would ask what is this for, and I would kind of explain, she said. Some of them would unmatch me or report me as a bot. A bot (or robot) account is a scam profile used to send spam messages. Some responses simply read, Trump2016, expressing support for Republican candidate Donald Trump, the real estate tycoon. It was really alarming to see that a lot of people dont know whats going on in the world, she said. None of her matches resulted in an actual date, she said. (Reporting by Melissa Fares in New York; Editing by Dan Burns and Lisa Shumaker) In a development that promises to have major policy repercussions in Washington and throughout the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has offered to send ground troops into Syria to battle ISIS. The proposal was made days before a major meeting in Brussels of the anti-ISIS coalition. The summit was requested by U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, who earlier this week called out members of our so-called coalition for not doing more to combat the extremist network. Related: Get Ready for a Third US Front Against ISISThis Time in Libya Since the military campaign against ISIS began in 2014, the Saudis have been responsible for a relatively small number of air strikes, but now the kingdom says it is ready to expand its involvement. "Today, the Saudi kingdom announced its readiness to participate with ground troops with the U.S.-led coalition against ISIL, because we now have the experience in Yemen," a military spokesman told Al Jazeera. The Saudis have been helping the government in neighboring Yemen in its civil war against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground. The announcement comes as President Obama is weighing fresh calls by the Pentagon to add potentially hundreds more U.S. troops to the 3,700 already deployed in Iraq. The idea is to capitalize on recent gains in that country, like the recapture of Ramadi from ISIS, and prepare for the looming battle to retake Mosul, Iraqs second largest city. Related: Putin Sends Russias Deadly New Fighter Jet to Syria Obama has repeatedly ruled out a large-scale deployment of U.S. troops back to the Middle East, and the Saudi offer of ground forces could lead the president to conclude he can make do with the forces already in the region and nix plans to add more. The U.S. has already sent around 50 special forces into the war-torn country to assist moderate rebel groups fighting the forces of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, but congressional Republicans want the White House to do more. Saudi troops might be the solution the administration needs to firmly answer those calls. Story continues The kingdoms offer could also pave the way for other nations in the region, who have made meager contributions to the anti-ISIS campaign, to step up their participation in the war in Syria. Related: $583 Billion Defense Budget Covers Russia, China and ISIS That may be a double-edged sword, though. Saudi Arabia isnt exactly being altruistic with its offer: Its move may be a signal of opposition to Tehrans ongoing support of the Assad regime, much like when Riyadh chastises Iranian interference in the civil war in Yemen. A buildup in the antagonism between the two Middle Eastern powers would add another layer to the instability of the Syrian conflict. All eyes will be on next weeks summit to determine just how much of an impact Saudi Arabias offer will have on a military campaign that has already cost the U.S. around $6 billion. Madrid (AFP) - Spain suffered a fresh setback Friday after the Socialists and anti-austerity party Podemos -- key players in a weeks-long bid to form a government -- hit a deadlock in talks. Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias said he would not negotiate with the Socialists (PSOE) if they continued to talk with upstart party Ciudadanos -- an ultimatum rejected by PSOE chief Pedro Sanchez, whom the king has designated to form a government. Spain has been plunged in political uncertainty since December 20 elections put an end to the long-established two-party, conservative-socialist system with the emergence of Podemos and Ciudadanos, resulting in a parliament fractured along four main groupings that makes any government formation difficult. Acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy from the conservative Popular Party that won the polls, but without an absolute majority with just 119 seats out of 350, hoped to get the support of the Socialists to form a coalition government along with Ciudadanos. But Sanchez categorically refused to back a party he said was tainted by austerity measures and corruption. Rajoy gave up, and the king on Tuesday decided to nominate Sanchez as candidate to be prime minister, tasking him with the delicate task of forming a government. Since then, Sanchez has talked to the leaders of most parties that got representation in parliament, ending the week with a chat with Iglesias, whose Podemos came third in elections with 65, very valuable seats. But after the talks, Iglesias said he would not negotiate further with the PSOE if Sanchez insisted on keeping talking to Ciudadanos, which he considers to the right. "Our negotiating team will be ready as soon as the Socialist party opts for a government for progress," he said. "But if that's not the case we're not going to work so that there is a government that includes the right." Sanchez, meanwhile, rejected the ultimatum. "The Socialists' aim is to get the maximum possible support," he told reporters. Fans of Sheila On 7 will be pleased to know that the Indonesian alternative rock band will be celebrating their 20th anniversary in the music industry with a full-scale concert, scheduled to be held on 27 March 2016 at StarXpo Hall, KWC Fashion Mall, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to Director General of Mawlaya Network Sdn Bhd, Rezuan Ramli, organiser of the concert, Sheila On 7 is expected to perform some of their best songs from their new and older albums, Insta Online reports. It has also been revealed that Hujan frontman Noh Salleh and Restoe Ibu Band will be the opening acts for the two-hour long concert. "I am thankful to the organiser for inviting me and Restoe Ibu Band to open for the Sheila On 7 concert," said Noh Salleh. "When I was offered the job, I immediately accepted it without considering further!" Tickets for the concert which is named as "Teman, Sahabat dan Cintaku" will be sold at ilassotickets.com, priced at RM75, RM110, RM150 and RM190. (Photo source: Sheila On 7 Facebook) By Letitia Stein TAMPA, Fla. (Reuters) - Florida high school student Brooke Stewart would gladly swap two required foreign language classes to become fluent in JavaScript or Python, the coding languages she uses to design computer games. Lawmakers in her state have sparked national debate by considering whether to provide that option. A measure championed by a former Yahoo executive, who is now a Florida legislator, would allow students to substitute traditional foreign language studies for immersion in coding, the lingua franca of the technology era. Enthusiasm for teaching coding to American students is widespread, with President Barack Obama in his latest weekly radio address calling for computer science to join the "three R's" - reading, writing and arithmetic. But many share concerns about doing so at the expense of global languages, arguing the computer algorithms do not equate to conversations. Stewart, a 16-year-old high school sophomore in Tampa, said rethinking the definition of a language makes sense. "You can translate languages across the Internet through coding, but you can't do that without coding," she said. Officials in Kentucky, Georgia, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington also have floated the notion of substituting foreign language studies with computer coding credits in recent years. So far, however, few have adopted such measures. Texas allows such a swap under a policy adopted in 2014 that is approved only through the current school year. State education officials have not tracked how widely it has been used. Oklahoma has permitted similar flexibility for more than a decade, but only because rural schools have struggled to hire instructors to teach global languages, said state officials. "We were not trying to equate the two at all," said Desa Dawson, director of world languages for the Oklahoma state education department. Many states are recognizing coding credits within the subject areas of math and science. CODE.org, a leader in the push for computer science education, favors that approach. Story continues "Spanish is used to communicate to one another," said Cameron Wilson, vice president of government affairs at CODE.org, which has not taken a position on the Florida bill. "A computer language is really only used to communicate to a computer on how to execute codes on a machine." Comparing them represents a "fundamental misunderstanding," he said. CODE.org says 28 states and the District of Columbia allow computer science to be applied toward graduation requirements, mostly in math and science. The sponsor of the Florida measure, which on Wednesday passed its third committee vote in the state Senate, defends his approach. Democratic state Senator Jeremy Ring said his bill aims to elevate computer science in Florida, where students mostly take the subject as an elective. Foreign languages are not required to earn a basic state diploma, but university-bound students need two credits. "Coding is a language," said Ring, who got the idea from his 14-year-old son. "It is a global language, more global than French or German or Spanish, or for that matter even English." It is too early to known whether his bill will pass as it now proceeds to the full Senate. The Florida House is debating an alternative approach that would have a panel study the issue. "Coding is very sexy and very now," said Barmak Nassirian, director of federal policy analysis at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which does not have a position. He cautions against overreaching. "Coding is arguably what welding was 100 years ago," he said. "Let's not get carried away." (Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Alistair Bell) CHICAGO (Reuters) - The six people found dead on Thursday in a south-side Chicago home were a Mexican couple, their son and daughter and her two young sons, police and other sources said on Friday. Police had said five adults and one child were killed, but on Friday they said that two of the victims were children, aged 10 and 13. "There were no signs of forced entry to the residence. And, despite rumors and reports yesterday afternoon, the victims were not bound and there did not appear to be any ransacking of the house," Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy told a news conference. The multiple homicides come on the heels of a surge in murders in Chicago last year and in the first month of 2016. Chicago had more than 480 murders in 2015, up from 407 a year earlier, and there were 51 murders in January, the highest number for any month of January since 2000. The bodies were found after a workmate of one of the victims called police to request they check because the person had not shown up to work for two days, police said. The older woman and middle-aged man were stabbed and beaten, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office said. An older man and two boys were stabbed to death, and the middle-aged woman was shot, the office said in a statement. According to a GoFundMe Internet page started by family member Azucena Martinez in Texas, the dead were Rosa Hernandez, Noe Martinez, Noe Martinez Jr., Herminia Martinez, and her sons Alexis and Leonardo. Police said they would not release the names until the medical examiner had concluded official identification by a family member. Azucena Martinez did not respond to a message sent by Reuters through the Web page. The GoFundMe site had raised $5,000 from 193 donors by midday on Friday. Martinez wrote on the site that she was seeking the donations to send the bodies to Mexico for funerals and burial, saying that is what the family would have wished. "This has shocked and left their family, relatives and loved ones speechless and heartbroken as the household was nothing but a loving and gentle family that was always quiet," she wrote on the page. (Reporting by Fiona Ortiz; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Dan Grebler) By Wendell Roelf CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa is hoping to boost coal exports to India after shipping a record 75.4 million tonnes of coal last year, industry officials said on Friday, as a drop in exports from rival Indonesia opens up the chance to grab market share. Data from analytics consultancy IHS Energy shows that around 36 million tonnes of South African coal was shipped through Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to big coal consumer India last year, up from 30 million tonnes in 2014. "As far as South African coal for India, it is definitely on a growth path. How long and how much is yet to be seen," Arun Maheshwari, senior vice president commercial for Indian firm JSW Steel, told a coal conference in Cape Town. Global oversupply and a drop in coal prices to 7-year lows have hit miners and coal exporting countries hard. Indonesian coal exports fell 50 million tonnes in 2015 due to the market glut and Chinese slowdown. A drop in Indonesian exports to India, which imported around 165 million tonnes of thermal coal in 2015, offers an opportunity for South Africa, analysts said. Exports last year were helped by improved transport logistics moving coal to RBCT, while lower freight prices for global seaborne coal also aided South African producers to compete for "price-sensitive" Indian buyers, analysts said. "We have seen some competitive rates coming from Australia, Columbia and Russia as well, but South Africa should be a consistent player going forward," Mike Nelson, the head of petroleum coke and coal at Reliance Industries, said. Depending on the use, buyers of coal can expect to pay less if the rock has a lower calorific value, which relates to the amount of heat and energy contained. However, South African coal, which is generally of a high quality, can now compete better on price with Indonesian coal, in part due to lower freight prices. "The view is that you will see higher-quality coals, not only South African, but from other exporters as well displacing Indonesian coal," Nick Trevethan, a coal markets editor at IHS Energy in London, told Reuters. The RBCT, which has coal producers Anglo American and Exxaro among shareholders, is spending 1.4 billion rand to upgrade machinery as it looks to increase capacity to 120 million tonnes from 91 million tonnes. "At this point in time India is still key for us," RBCT chief executive, Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane told Reuters. (Editing by James Macharia and Jan Harvey) JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's government has been able to save 3,000 jobs in the mining sector through negotiations with company executives, Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said on Friday. The government has said 32,000 workers in the sector could lose their jobs following a slump in commodity prices due to slowing economic growth in China, the world's biggest metals consumer. (Reporting by TJ Strydom; Writing by Stella Mapenzauswa; Editing by Ed Stoddard) WESTONARIA, South Africa (Reuters) - The chief executive of Sibanye Gold said on Friday the bullion producer was aiming to buy South African coal, platinum and base metal mines and gold assets internationally, despite commodity prices sinking to multi-year lows. "It all depends on the price of entry into those commodities, they could be doing very well and the entry price into those businesses could be very high," Neal Froneman told Reuters in an interview. Sibanye would seek international gold assets because the rand currency price of the yellow metal was too high which made buying mines in South Africa unaffordable, he said. Sibanye last year bought mines owned by Anglo American Platinum and Aquarius Platinum. (Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; Editing by James Macharia) By Tim McLaughlin and Peter Eisler WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama might seem an unlikely investor in the firearms industry. But the U.S. president, a fierce advocate for gun regulation, has money in a pension fund that holds stock in gun and ammunition companies. Although Obamas stake is minuscule, worth no more than $30, it reflects a much larger surge of investment. The president is among millions of Americans buying into gun companies - often unwittingly - as mutual funds have increased such holdings to record levels, according to a Reuters analysis of institutional investment in firearms companies. Since Obama was elected in 2009, mutual funds have raised their stakes to about $510 million from $30 million in the nations two largest gun manufacturers with publicly traded shares, Smith & Wesson Corp and Sturm, Ruger & Co . That means such stocks are now common in retirement and college savings plans. The influx has helped to boost both companies' shares by more than 750 percent during the Obama presidency; each now has a market value of about $1 billion. Beyond mutual funds, such investments also are held in the portfolios of hedge funds and public pension plans, which are harder to track. The White House declined to comment on Obamas holdings in the Illinois General Assemblys pension plan, which he earned while serving in that states senate. The president has disclosed between $50,000 and $100,000 in the plan. Other indirect investors in firearms companies include advocates for gun regulation in the U.S. Congress and several parents of children who attended Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut - site of the 2012 massacre of 20 students and six staff members. Fund managers are drawn to the stocks by surging sales. Buyers are arming themselves, analysts said, in response to mass shootings and calls for tougher gun laws. By the end of 2015, more than 150 mutual funds owned Smith & Wesson shares, up from 53 at the end of 2008, and nearly 130 held stock in Ruger, up from 52, according to data from Morningstar Inc. It would have taken investors "minimal due diligence" to see massive profit potential in Ruger stock when Obama was first elected, said Ruger Chief Executive Mike Fifer. Shares hit a low of $4.50 the Friday after that Tuesday election; the stock was changing hands today at $61.61. "Orders at every level of the distribution channel exploded" the week of Obama's election, Fifer recalled. "And continued to do so for months afterward." AMMO RUSH Americas leading ammunition maker, Vista Outdoor Inc , has drawn investments from 319 funds in its first year of public trading and now has a market value of $2.9 billion. Its bonds are owned by a who's-who of U.S. investment and insurance companies. (For a graphic of top mutual fund investors in the leading gun and ammo stocks, see http://tmsnrt.rs/1TlCwBz ) Such investments can be hard to identify within large funds, even with concerted effort. Eric Milgram, a corporate research analyst whose two children were at Sandy Hook Elementary during the rampage, tried to purge his portfolio of firearms holdings. But he gave up after a frustrating search through mutual fund stock lists, holding companies and subsidiaries. Im disgusted with this industry; I dont want to be invested in it, said Milgram. But, he added, There are only so many hours in the day. Vanguard Group, the nations largest fund company, said it was unrealistic to balance political sensibilities with obligations to meet performance benchmarks. It would be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to fulfill these obligations while managing portfolios that reflect the social concerns of all our clients, said Vanguard spokeswoman Arianna Stefanoni Sherlock. Vanguard does, however, offer a Social Index fund with about $2 billion in assets out of Vanguards total of about $3.4 trillion that excludes firearms companies along with other stocks involved in an array of ethically sensitive industries. Smith & Wesson declined to comment for this story. Vista Outdoor did not respond to requests for comment. SMALL STAKES, BIG IMPACT Obama and his tiny stake are typical of most Americans with holdings in firearms investments: They are invested in funds that buy shares of the relatively small part of the firearms industry that is publicly traded. But collectively, their investments are a boon to the gun industry and amount to a sizable stake in major gun and ammo makers. For some gun safety advocates, the amounts are less important than the principle. Po Murray, who put four children through Sandy Hook Elementary, has also struggled to determine whether her investments include firearms companies. Its a real surprise: You find out you could be invested indirectly in Smith & Wesson, said Murray, who chairs the Newtown Action Alliance, a gun safety group. I dont want to be invested in gun companies. The $16 billion Illinois pension fund that includes Obamas investment holds at least $4.8 million in shares of gun industry stocks, including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Vista and ammunition maker Olin Corp . Until 2014, the pension fund owned about $1.5 million of the debt of Remington Outdoors, another gun manufacturer. Remington did not respond to requests for comment. The Illinois pension plan also invests in at least one mutual fund with gun industry exposure. The $1.1 billion Templeton Global Smaller Companies Fund owned $9.5 million of Smith & Wesson stock at the end of December, fund disclosures show. Obama and other plan participants have no say in how the money is invested. Thats controlled by the Illinois State Board of Investment, which said it has no policy on investing in firearm and ammo companies. (For a graphic showing firearms investments by Obamas Illinois pension fund, see: http://tmsnrt.rs/1TlCRV0 ) In its analysis, Reuters used mutual fund holdings data from Morningstar and Lipper Inc, a Thomson Reuters company, to examine firearms investments during the Obama presidency. The list of funds holding such stocks includes some of the biggest and most prominent, such as Vanguard and the second-largest fund group, Fidelity Investments. It extends to BlackRock Inc , and Dimensional Fund Advisors. The analysis is based on disclosures made by individual funds. Some of the gun stockholders are passively managed index funds. But many are actively managed, such as Fidelitys $40 billion Low-Priced Stock Fund , which has become Smith & Wessons second-largest mutual fund investor under storied stock-picker Joel Tillinghast. The fund held about 1.1 million shares worth $20 million as of Oct. 31, according to fund disclosures. Fidelity and Dimensional declined to comment. BlackRock - the worlds largest asset manager with $4.6 trillion under management - manages $200 billion of that total in investment options that screen out certain stocks, including companies involved in firearms, tobacco and alcohol businesses, spokesman Peter McKillop said. GUN INVESTMENTS IN CONGRESS Obama isnt the only gun-regulation advocate with gun-industry holdings. Former congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy - elected after her husband was killed in the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting - pushed relentlessly for gun safety legislation. While in office, she held shares worth between $3,003 and $45,000 in at least three exchange-traded funds with stakes in gun and ammo companies, according to her last financial disclosure before retiring last year. She also invested between $2,002 and $30,000 for two grandchildren in so-called 529 college-savings plans that include a Vanguard fund holding firearms stocks, disclosures show. The New York Democrat could not be reached for comment. As a federal retirement benefit, members of the U.S. Congress can participate in a Thrift Savings Plan, which offers an investment option - the S Fund - that holds stock in firearms companies. Financial disclosures show that S Fund investors include Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Senate Democrat and a leading advocate for stricter background checks for gun buyers. Durbin disclosed an S Fund investment of about $115,000. Durbin's office declined to comment. Some members of Congress welcome the investment option. Im just grateful the fund managers are investing in something thats making money, said Representative Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican who opposes gun restrictions and has a small investment in the S fund. GOOD FOR BUSINESS For all the debate, Obama has made no progress in passing tougher gun laws. Measures such as universal background checks have withered in Congress, where the number of anti-gun control Republicans has grown. Calls for tighter controls have been met with bursts of gun sales, according to U.S. background-check data on gun purchasers. Gun store owners attribute the extra sales to consumers who fear the president will make it harder to buy arms. Lets just say hes been good for business, Jack Lesher, manager of Chucks Firearms in Atlanta, said of Obama. Gun sales jumped again recently after the president blasted congressional inaction on gun control and vowed to use executive powers to expand background checks for buyers and bolster licensing requirements for dealers. His announcement followed yet another mass shooting, on Dec. 2 in San Bernardino, California, where a couple pledging allegiance to Islamic State killed 14 people. For the week that ended Dec. 20, firearms background checks - a proxy for guns sales - totaled 839,109, the second-highest week since 1998. Only the week after the Sandy Hook shootings was higher, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Vistas main factories have churned out bullets 24 hours, seven days a week for at least two years, Vista Chief Financial Officer Stephen Nolan told investors in November. Now the industry is ready for an election-year surge. The politics of gun control could stay in the headlines, which we believe could lead to a record year, wrote Chris Krueger, senior research analyst at Lake Street Capital Markets, in a note to investors in January. Ruger is boosting inventories to prepare, after learning a costly lesson going into the last presidential election. Demand peaked that year, based on the number of FBI background checks sought for new gun purchases. The surge followed Obamas re-election and the Sandy Hook shooting. When we went into late 2011, we got cleaned out of inventory even though we increased production dramatically, company CEO Fifer told investors during a November conference call. The company, he said, probably left money on the table. (Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington. Editing by Jason Szep and Brian Thevenot) By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - A suspended deputy United Nations ambassador from the Dominican Republic cannot claim diplomatic immunity to avoid U.S. charges that he participated in a vast bribery scheme, a U.S. judge ruled on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick in Manhattan ruled that as a naturalized U.S. citizen, neither treaty obligations nor federal law entitled Francis Lorenzo to immunity from prosecution due to his diplomatic role. "Rather, United States citizens who are diplomats assigned to the permanent missions of foreign governments to the United Nations enjoy immunity only for their official acts," Broderick wrote. Brian Bieber, Lorenzo's lawyer, said he was "extremely disappointed." He noted Broderick called the issue novel, and said he would seek to challenge instead whether individual acts Lorenzo took were themselves covered by immunity. "We believe that diplomatic immunity was a natural and appropriate extension to Ambassador Lorenzo," he said. Lorenzo, 48, was one of six individuals charged in October in connection with an alleged scheme to pay $1.3 million in bribes to John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda and one-time U.N. General Assembly president. The ruling came as prosecutors weigh whether to bring further charges against Ashe, the General Assembly president from 2013 to 2014 who to date has only been charged with tax fraud due to concerns about whether he enjoys immunity. Prosecutors as recently as last month said they had been examining the issue and likely would bring bribery and money laundering charges against Ashe. Herve Gouraige, Ashe's lawyer, said the ruling would not impact any future bid by his client to argue that he had immunity for conduct within the scope of his U.N. position. Prosecutors allege that Ashe, 61, accepted $500,000 in bribes from Ng Lap Seng, a billionaire developer from the Chinese territory of Macau who was seeking U.N. support of a U.N.-sponsored conference center. Story continues Those bribes were paid through two intermediaries, Lorenzo and Jeff Yin, Ng's assistant, prosecutors said. All four men have pleaded not guilty. Ashe also received more than $800,000 from Chinese businessmen to support their interests within the U.N. and Antigua, prosecutors said. Those payments were arranged through Sheri Yan, who was the chief executive officer of Global Sustainability Foundation, and Heidi Hong Piao, its finance director, prosecutors said. Both pleaded guilty last month. (Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Sandra Maler) STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The Swedish government on Friday rejected the conclusions of a United Nations panel report saying Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's stay in Ecuador's London embassy amounts to "unlawful detention". The Swedish government said that Assange had chosen, voluntarily, to stay at the Ecuadorian embassy where he has been since 2012. "Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay there. Mr. Assange is free to leave the Embassy at any point," the government said in a statement replying to the U.N. panel. Assange, 44, took refuge at the embassy in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape in 2010. (Reporting by Johan Ahlander and Simon Johnson) Beirut (AFP) - Up to 20,000 Syrians were stranded on the Turkish border Friday after fleeing a major Russian-backed regime offensive near Aleppo, where a new humanitarian disaster appeared to be unfolding. Tens of thousands of civilians have joined an exodus to escape fierce fighting involving government forces who severed the rebels' main supply route into Syria's second city. On Friday, clashes between the two sides in and around Ratyan, a town near Aleppo, cost 120 lives, said Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it estimated "up to 20,000 people have gathered at the Bab al-Salama border crossing and another 5,000 to 10,000 people have been displaced to Azaz city" nearby. Western nations have accused the Syrian government of sabotaging peace talks that collapsed this week with its military offensive, and Washington has demanded Moscow halt its campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday told reporters Russia had said it was prepared to stop the bombings, which he blamed for killing women and children "in large numbers". "Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a ceasefire," he said, adding that another key Assad ally, Iran, had also pledged to support a halt to the violence. "We will have a much better sense in the next few days of how serious each party is." The UN Security Council met earlier in the day to discuss the faltering peace process, as NATO head Jens Stoltenberg warned Russian air strikes were "undermining the efforts to find a political solution" -- a charge dismissed by Moscow. - 'Rebels on the retreat' - The Observatory estimates 40,000 people have fled the regime offensive near Aleppo. "Thousands of people, mainly families with women and children, are waiting to enter Turkey," director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. Story continues OCHA spokeswoman Linda Tom said another 10,000 people were thought to have been displaced to the Kurdish town of Afrin, elsewhere in northern Aleppo. "The fighting has also disrupted major aid and supply routes from the Turkish border," she said. Aleppo province is one of the main strongholds of Syria's opposition, which is facing possibly its worst moment since the country's brutal conflict began in 2011. "The trajectory for the rebels is downwards, and the downward slope is increasingly steep," said Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "The rebels are on the retreat everywhere." Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday up to 70,000 people were heading to his country, which already hosts about 2.5 million Syrian refugees. Early Friday, the main border crossing in northern Aleppo was closed and quiet on the Turkish side near the town of Kilis, with no sign of arriving refugees. But footage released Thursday by activists showed hundreds of people, including many children, heading towards the frontier, some carrying their belongings in plastic bags on their backs. More than 260,000 people have died in Syria's conflict and more than half the population has been displaced. - 'Empty words' - Aleppo city, Syria's former economic powerhouse, has been divided between opposition control in the east and regime control in the west since mid-2012. Syria's army has recaptured several key rebel towns in Latakia province and advanced in Aleppo province and in Daraa in the south since Russia began its aerial campaign on September 30. On Friday, the army seized the village of Mayer, north of Aleppo, and half the town of Ratyan with support from dozens of Russian air strikes. Pro-government troops backed by Russian warplanes also retook a rebel bastion in Daraa used as to launch attacks on the provincial capital, the monitor said. "What frustrates the rebels the most is that the countries that claim to be their friends are happy with empty words and sitting on the fence," said activist Maamoun al-Khatib. "Meanwhile Russia and Iran are occupying and violating Syrian territory." Top diplomats from countries trying to resolve the conflict are set to meet again on February 11 after UN-brokered peace talks collapsed this week. In New York, the UN Security Council met for closed-door consultations with envoy Staffan de Mistura, who has suspended the floundering Geneva negotiations until February 25. But tensions remain, with Moscow accusing key opposition backer Ankara of actively preparing to invade Syria, a claim Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed as "laughable". GENEVA (Reuters) - A senior Russian diplomat said on Friday Syrian opposition envoys who attended U.N.-mediated peace talks this week should have welcomed a government offensive because it targeted Islamist militants, rather than walk out of the parley. The United Nations on Wednesday shelved the first peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the onset as fighting raged on unabated. Washington said on Thursday it was hopeful talks would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that no later than Feb. 25. "Why did the opposition that left Geneva complain about the offensive in Aleppo, which is actually targeted against Jabhat al-Nusra and other radical extremist groups?" said Alexey Borodavkin, Moscow's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva. Nusra Front, as the militant group is known in English, is affiliated to al Qaeda and designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations, and therefore banned from the peace talks, along with Islamic State insurgents. "The opposition should be happy that terrorists are defeated. But, on the contrary, they were disappointed and left negotiations," Borodavkin said. Borodavkin also said it was regrettable that U.N. mediator Staffan de Mistura had suspended the talks and he must be "more meticulous" about deciding whom to include for the next round. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Mark Heinrich) In what appears to be an extraordinary snub of White House budget director Shaun Donovan, the Republican chairs of the House and Senate Budget Committees announced on Thursday they would not host Donovans testimony on President Obamas final budget submission next week. Obama will unveil his fiscal 2017 budget request next Tuesday, just barely meeting the statutory deadline for submitting a new budget to Congress. But Senate Budget Committee Chair Mike Enzi (R-WY) and House Budget Committee chief Tom Price (R-GA) issued a joint statement tonight saying Donovan wasnt welcome to testify because the administration wasnt serious about addressing the mounting national debt which reached an historic $19 trillion this week. Related: As National Debt Hits $19 Trillion, a Spending Showdown Looms in Congress It appears the Presidents final budget will continue to focus on new spending proposals instead of confronting our governments massive overspending and debt, Enzi said. It is clear that this President will not put forth the budget effort that our times and our country require. Enzi said that instead of hearing from an administration unconcerned with our $19 trillion in debt, Congress should reform a broken budget process and restore public trust in the process. Price argued that Nothing in the presidents prior budgets none of which have ever balanced has shown that the Obama Administration has any real interest in actually solving our fiscal challenges or saving critical programs like Medicare and Social Security from insolvency. Shannon Buckingham, associate director for communications at OMB, said tonight "We are disappointed that the Republican leadership of the House and Senate Budget Committee has decided to forgo the longstanding tradition of inviting the Director . . . to testify on the President's budget." Related: CBO Predicts First Deficit Spike Since 2009 "We continue to look forward to the release on Tuesday of the President's FY17 Budget which invests in our domestic and national priorities and addresses our greatest challenges, not just this year but for decades to come," Buckingham said. Story continues Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said tonight, "This appalling decision to reject longstanding bipartisan tradition is the latest evidence that the Tea Party controls this Congress." He added that while Obama may refuse to follow the conservatives call for cutting Medicare, Medicaid and other social safety net programs, "he still deserves to be heard." It is highly rare if not unprecedented in modern times for the chairs of the two budget committees to deny the presidents chief budget officer an opportunity to present his new spending priorities to Congress. Obama in his State of the Union address voiced hope that the administration and Congress could reach agreement on at least a few important measures in the Obamas final year in office including criminal justice reform, increased spending on mental health programs and a boost in funding for cancer research. Related: Why Is Congress Giving Away $500 Billion in Unfunded Tax Cuts? However, House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) have been generally hostile or negative to the administrations entreaties. The presidents final fiscal 2017 budget is almost certain to follow the discretionary spending limits on defense and domestic programs included in last falls bipartisan budget deal although Obama has signaled he will add a handful of new requests. The Congressional Budget Office warned last week that fiscal 2016 would be the first year in which the federal deficit has risen as a share of the economy as a whole since 2009 largely because Congress last December renewed a handful of costly tax breaks and made them permanent. If Congress and the White House remain on the current spending trajectory without addressing rising entitlement costs, the deficit will increase sharply after 2018, spiking from 2.9 percent of Gross Domestic Product to 4.9 percent by 2026, according to the CBO. CBO Director Keith Hall testified before the House Budget Committee Thursday, saying, If current laws generally remained unchanged, the deficit would continue to grow, and debt held by the public would rise to $24 trillion -- or 86 percent of GDP by 2026, up from 74 percent of GDP at the end of 2015. Moreover, it would be on an upward trajectory: 30 years from now, debt would reach 155 percent of GDP, a higher percentage than any previously recorded in the United States, Hall added. Such high and rising debt could have serious negative consequences for the budget and the nation, including an increased risk of a fiscal crisis. Top Reads from The Fiscal Times: HOUSTON (Reuters) - Independent U.S. West Coast refiner Tesoro Corp has agreed to pay $8.08 million to 769 United Steelworkers union members at refineries in California and Washington state who were denied bonuses while on strike in 2015, the U.S. National Labor Relations Board said on Friday. The bonuses were awarded on March 6, 2015 to non-striking employees for the previous year, according to the NLRB statement. Tesoro withheld the bonuses from the striking workers, contending it was in accordance with an agreement between the union and the company. Complaints were filed with the NLRB by workers at the company's Carson, California, and Anacortes, Washington, refineries alleging failure to pay the bonuses was done in retaliation for the strike and an unlawful modification of the agreement, the NLRB said. "After the NLRB issued complaint in both cases, parties reached this settlement which will provide workers with 100 percent of the bonuses that they were eligible for under their contract," the board said. Under the settlement agreement, Tesoro admits no violation of the U.S. National Labor Relations Act, the NLRB said. "Tesoro proactively proposed and has agreed to settle both complaints," said company spokesman Brendan Smith. "We are pleased to have reached a resolution to this matter." (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by James Dalgleish) By Jon Herskovitz AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The governor of Texas supports police putting cross images on their patrol cars, saying they are part of U.S. historical practices, and symbols of service, his office said on Friday. Governor Gregg Abbott, a Republican, offered his support for the crosses in a brief filed to the state's attorney general. He was responding to a sheriff's office in Brewster County that received a complaint about images of a Christian cross with a horizontal thin blue line displayed on its patrol vehicles. "In addition to its religious significance, the cross has a long history in America and elsewhere as a symbol of service and sacrifice," Abbott wrote, adding in his opinion, the display does not violate U.S. constitutional provisions preventing the establishment of religion. The governor's office did not respond to a request if Abbott also supported the display of other religious symbols on patrol cars. Abbott said the cross has been used at revered places including the Arlington National Cemetery to honor the sacrifice of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and on military medals. "The symbol of the cross appropriately conveys the solemn respect all Texans should have for the courage and sacrifice of our peace officers," Abbott wrote. At the end of last year, the Brewster County Sheriff asked state officials if his deputies in the sprawling and sparsely populated west Texas county could keep the cross decals displayed on the rear windows of their patrol vehicles. The request followed a complaint by the Freedom From Religion Foundation which called on the sheriff to remove the crosses, arguing no government official has the right to promote his or her religious belief on government property. "Whether it is a cross, a star and crescent, or a pentagram, law enforcement must remain neutral on matters of religion in order to foster public confidence in their impartiality," the nationwide group that promotes the separation of church and state, said in a statement. (Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Andrew Hay) Bogota (AFP) - Colombia said Friday that three people had died after contracting the Zika virus and developing a rare nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre, the first time health officials have directly blamed the mosquito-borne disease for causing deaths. "We have confirmed and attributed three deaths to Zika," said Martha Lucia Ospina, head of the National Health Institute. "In this case, the three deaths were preceded by Guillain-Barre syndrome." Guillain-Barre is a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system. Cases of the syndrome, which causes weakness and sometimes paralysis, have increased in tandem with the outbreak of the Zika virus currently sweeping Latin America. The timing has raised health officials' suspicions that the neurological condition is a complication of the mosquito-borne virus. Zika is also blamed for an increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains. Most Guillain-Barre patients recover, but the syndrome is sometimes deadly. Ospina, an epidemiologist, said another six deaths were under investigation for a possible link to Zika. "Other cases (of deaths linked to Zika) are going to emerge," she said. "The world is realizing that Zika can be deadly. The mortality rate is not very high, but it can be deadly." Colombia has been hit hardest by the Zika outbreak of any country except Brazil, with more than 20,000 cases, including more than 2,000 pregnant women. Zika normally causes mild flu-like symptoms and a rash, or goes unnoticed altogether. But Colombian Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria said the apparent risk of deadly complications was "worrying." In the wake of Apples earnings announcement last week, CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams held court at a Town Hall meeting for employees. For those unfamiliar with Apples Town Hall meetings, theyre internal and private affairs intended to give employees a somewhat rare opportunity to ask the companys top brass anything that happens to be on their mind. Detailing some of the highlights from Apples most recent Town Hall event, the exceptionally reliable Mark Gurman over at 9to5Mac provides us with an interesting peek into what employees wanted to know about Apples future plans and what Apple executives were comfortable divulging. UP NEXT: How Samsung became Samsung, and why Apple is still Apple Much like on Apples earnings conference call, Cook took a few minutes to beam about Apples iPhone sales during last years holiday quarter. Though year over year sales didnt increase by much at all, 74.7 million units sold is nothing to scoff at. So in an effort to frame Apples quarterly iPhone sales in an impressive light, Cook said that Apple sold enough iPhones last quarter to cover the populations of New York, London, Beijing, and Shanghai. Looking ahead, there have been some analyst concerns about Apples bottom line being too iPhone dependent, no doubt fueled by Apple projecting that iPhone sales will soon experience a year over year drop for the first time in company history. Addressing such concerns, Cook confidently called the iPhone the greatest business of the future and indicated that emerging markets, most notably India, will help keep sales of Apples iconic smartphone robust in the years ahead. As for the iPad, Cook reportedly said that he expects iPad revenue growth to return by the end of 2016. This is quite a bold statement given that iPad sales have been decreasing steadily for many consecutive quarters now. In fact, iPad sales during the always-busy holiday quarter fell by 25% year over year, seemingly unfazed by the release of the iPad Pro. The upcoming unveiling of the iPad 3 admittedly seems intriguing, but one wonders if Cook is becoming so beholden to the iPad as to ignore the reality of slumping sales. Story continues Moving along, Cook also touched on the somewhat new Apple TV, saying that it will herald a bright future for Apple in the living room. Of course, Apple would arguably need to make some headway on its reportedly stalled TV subscription service before one might consider the Apple TV a true must-have device for the living room. Either that, or the Apple TV will need to usher in an app revolution ala the original iPhone. As for future products in the pipeline, Cook obviously didnt reveal too much. Gurmans report notes: Cook also noted his excitement over future products coming out of the software, services, and hardware divisions, while teasing some far-off hardware announcements coming beyond this year. Its interesting to note here that Apple is always in active development of future products that wont see the light of day for a few years down the road. As we highlighted previously, you might recall that an unearthed Steve Jobs memo from October 2010 (back when the iPhone 4 was still somewhat new) made reference to iPhone 5 hardware, a device that didnt end up shipping until September 2013, nearly three years later. Other points of interest from Apples Town Hall include: Apple Watch holiday 2015 sales were greater than iPhone holiday 2007 sales Apple may begin expanding its range of services to non-iOS platforms, ala Apple Music on Android Apple will begin moving into its new spaceship campus in January of 2017 Cook believes that China will play an integral role in Apples future success All interesting stuff, but dont let Cooks Apple Watch to iPhone sales comparison fool you too much as iPhone sales during the 2007 holiday quarter checked in at under 3 million units. Related stories Nearly 40% of iPhone owners are still using 4-inch devices and smaller Broken iPhone screen? Apple has new upgrade and protection plans for them Another crucial reason why app developers prefer iOS to Android More from BGR: Galaxy S7 might last two days on a single charge, leak claims This article was originally published on BGR.com Dsi-asteroid-prospecting The small European nation of Luxembourg just made a big investment in a burgeoning realm of the space industry: asteroid mining. Private companies and space agencies have been interested in mining asteroids for water and rare minerals like platinum, which can be used to fuel trips to destinations deeper in space. While no one has successfully mined an asteroid yet, the Luxembourg government plans to stimulate this industry through research and development projects, setting up new regulatory frameworks and even "direct capital investments" in companies working toward gathering resources from space. SEE ALSO: New Asteroid-Mining Venture Unveiled "Our aim is to open access to a wealth of previously unexplored mineral resources on lifeless rocks hurling through space, without damaging natural habitats," Etienne Schneider, minister of the economy, said in a Currently, a few private companies are aiming to take asteroid mining out of the realm of science fiction. The cofounder of Deep Space Industries said this new initiative is a big step forward for the new space industry. "By opening up the resources of space, Luxembourg will help take the pressure off the Earth," Rick Tumlinson said. The United States has also recently moved to make asteroid mining a little bit easier for thse companies. President Barack Obama recently signed into law an act that allows private American space explorers to "own" resources mined from an asteroid. However, it might not be that simple because it's possible that law could be a violation of the United Nations Outer Space treaty, which states that no nation can lay claim to other cosmic objects, such as the moon. But no matter what the future holds for these companies, it's clear that Luxembourg has a vision for its place in it. "Over the past three decades, Luxembourg has built up extensive know-how in world-class space related activities," said Yves Elsen, chairperson of the Luxembourg Space Cluster. "Luxembourg can write history once again by further sustaining the attractiveness of the country for a host of next generation space activities." (Reuters) - U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Friday he will attend a Fox News televised debate on March 3 with moderator Megyn Kelly after he skipped a similar event hosted by Fox last week, an online and cable television network reported on Friday. "No, I'll be there. I have no objection to being there. That had nothing to do with Megyn Kelly the fact that I went out of the last one, it had to do with a memo that was sent out by Fox that was a little bit taunting and I said it was inappropriate," Trump said on NewsmaxTV.com. He added that he had no regrets about missing the Jan. 28 debate in Des Moines, Iowa just days before the Iowa caucuses, the first nominating contest of the 2016 campaign, at which he came in second after Texas Senator Ted Cruz. "And what happened, because I didn't do it I raised $6 million for the vets. So, I wouldn't have changed places. I did the right thing," he said on "The Steve Malzberg Show." Trump said last week he was angered by a statement from Fox News that mocked him for refusing to participate in the Des Moines event. The real estate billionaire had said earlier he doubted he would be treated fairly at the Des Moines debate and at one point called Kelly "a lightweight reporter" and "highly overrated." He later said Fox News had apologized for the statement and that the situation had been resolved. Trump accused Kelly last August of asking him tougher questions than other candidates during a debate. His comments drew outcry, with some accusing the business tycoon of sexism. (Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by James Dalgleish) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed in Syria, arguing that Moscow and Damascus were together responsible for 400,000 deaths there, Dogan News Agency reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart while on a state visit to the West African country, Erdogan also said Russia was engaged in an invasion of Syria and accused it of trying to set up a "boutique state" for its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad. "Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders," Dogan quoted him as saying. "By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000." His comments are likely to further enrage Moscow. Relations between Turkey, a NATO member, and Russia hit their worst in recent memory in November after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane Ankara said had violated Turkish airspace from Syria. The two are on opposing sides of the five-year-old Syrian civil war, where Russia's intervention with airstrikes to help the Assad regime has tipped the war in Damascus' favor, reversing gains rebels made last year. Russia has accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Ankara has dismissed this as propaganda intended to conceal Russia's own "crimes". Turkey, which has taken in more than 2.5 million refugees fleeing the Syrian war, wants Assad out and says only his removal can bring long-term peace. (Reporting by Asli Kandemir; Writing by David Dolan; Editing by Ralph Boulton) ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The Turkish army has confiscated 700 parrots and 294 budgerigars on the border with Syria, it said on Friday, as its tighter security measures ensnare what was once a thriving trade in domesticated birds. NATO member Turkey has stepped up security along its 900-km (560-mile) border with Syria as it tries to prevent foreign fighters joining Islamic State militants and defend itself against spillover from the country's civil war. But the measures, including more frequent border patrols and reinforced fencing, have also shut off what was long a thriving illicit trade in goods including fuel, cigarettes, sugar and, it seems, birds. "They were generally bringing Sultan, Love and Paradise parrots. Here in Turkey a Paradise parrot goes for 1,000 lira, but they were bringing them over for 500," said Mehmet Turan, a bird breeder in the Turkish border town of Reyhanli. "It's the same for lovebirds. We were selling them at 25 lira retail, but they came from Syria at 12.5 to 15," he told Reuters by telephone. Some basic goods like sugar sold for around half the price in Syria, where it was produced, than in Turkey before the war. Fuel is heavily taxed in Turkey, meaning the black market for illegal diesel, however crudely refined, also thrived. Turkey has won international praise for its humanitarian response to Syria's war, maintaining an open door policy to those fleeing the violence and taking in more than 2.5 million refugees over almost five years. But it is under pressure from Europe to stem the flow of migrants and from NATO allies to do more to secure the border. While continuing to allow in refugees at border crossings, the Turkish army has been detaining those trying to cross illegally on an almost daily basis. It said it detained almost 800 people on Thursday, and seized 2,660 packets of cigarettes, three cattle and a mobile phone along with the birds. (Reporting by Melih Aslan and Daren Butler; Writing by Nick Tattersall; editing by Katharine Houreld) By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Two New York City police officers were recovering from gunshot wounds on Friday after a man opened fire on them inside a public housing project before fatally shooting himself, police said. The shooting occurred at about 8 p.m. EST on Thursday in an apartment building in the Bronx while three officers were conducting routine patrols. During the search, the officers encountered two men in a sixth-floor stairwell. One of the men abruptly pulled out a gun and shot at the officers, grazing one on the face and hitting another in the abdomen, police said. The suspect, identified as Malik Chavis, 23, fled into an apartment on the seventh floor. When officers gained access to the apartment, they found Chavis dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A semiautomatic firearm and a shotgun were found in the unit. Several people who where inside in the apartment at the time were being questioned by police. The second man who was in the stairwell when the gunfire erupted was taken into custody. The wounded officers, identified as Patrick Espeut, 29, and Diara Cruz, 24, were being treated at a local hospital and are in good condition, authorities said. "(This) is another example of what our officers confront every single day, keeping us safe not only on the streets of New York City, but in the stairwells and the hallways of our public housing developments," Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference. The incident coincides with the trial of New York Officer Peter Liang, who was charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man named Akai Gurley in a stairwell in a Brooklyn public housing project in 2014. Liang, as well as Espeut and Cruz, are part of a city program that assigns officers, many of them rookies, to so-called "vertical patrols" of stairwells in high-crime public housing. The practice has come under fire since Gurley's death by critics who say it violates privacy and puts officers and residents at undue risk. Liang is expected to take the stand on Monday at his manslaughter trial. (Reporting by Laila Kearney; Editing by Tom Brown) By Andrea Shalal NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nevada (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force will deploy four Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets to a different U.S. air base this month as it assesses whether the new warplane can be declared combat-ready by August as planned, a senior officer told Reuters on Thursday. Major General Jay Silveria, who heads the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, said the F-35 jets would be sent from the Nevada base to Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho later this month. The deployment would include pilots, mechanics, spare parts, equipment and the plane's computerized logistics system to test the ability to deploy the plane for combat, he said. The test would help the Air Force assess its ability to send the jets to other locations and ensure that they can be repaired and maintained, Silveria said. "What were trying to do is exercise the deployment concepts and to learn from maintenance and learn from (operations)," Silveria said. Like any warplane, maintenance of the F-35 requires specialized tools and materials, and it was critical that all those tools travel with the jet when it deployed, he said. Silveria said the test deployment was part of an assessment of whether an initial squadron of F-35 jets was ready for combat. He said the warfare center was due to deliver that "operational readiness assessment" to General Hawk Carlisle, head of Air Combat Command, in July. Carlisle would use the assessment to help decide whether an initial squadron of F-35A fighter jets was ready for combat. Silveria, a pilot who also flies the F-35, said the 12 F-35s based at Nellis Air Force Base were performing well in regular exercises with other aircraft, and had proven their ability to share data and communicate with fourth-generation jets. He said the jets were now also able to share data within a formation of four F-35 jets flying together - a capability he experienced during a flight in the past week. Story continues The Air Force hoped to declare that it had an "initial operational capability" of F-35s between August and December. The U.S. Marine Corps declared an initial squadron of 10 of its F-35B model jets ready for combat last July. The F-35B can take off from shorter runways and land like a helicopter, Two Air Force F-35s are slated to have their first international deployment when they fly to Britain in July to participate in two British air shows. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Paul Tait) By Andrea Shalal NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter welcomed on Thursday a Saudi offer to participate in any ground operations in Syria launched by the U.S.-led coalition. Carter said increased activity by other countries would make it easier for the United States to accelerate its fight against Islamic State militants. "That kind of news is very welcome," he told reporters while on a visit to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Carter said he looked forward to discussing the offer of ground troops with the Saudi defense minister in Brussels next week. He said the Saudi government had indicated a willingness to do more in the fight against Islamic State, which controls vast swaths of Syria and Iraq. For instance, Saudi officials had said they would help marshal some Muslim countries to join in the fight, and to ensure that Iraqi and Syrian populations were able to prevent a reemergence of the military group later, Carter said. Carter said he planned to use next week's meetings in Brussels to help encourage more broad-based support for accelerating the fight against Islamic State. The Pentagon chief said the United States was also watching events in Libya very carefully but had made no decision on expanding its role there. "The concern there is that Libya not get on a glide slope to the kind of situation that we find elsewhere, where (Islamic State), in a politically disrupted environment, seizes a foothold, gathers a piece of territory from which it is able to tyrannize people, and plot operations elsewhere," Carter said. Islamic State forces have attacked Libya's oil infrastructure and established a foothold in the city of Sirte, exploiting a power vacuum in the country where two rival governments have been battling for supremacy. Carter said the focus was now on political change in Libya, where the warring administrations are expected to form a unity government. "The most important objective right now is to help Libyans come together and help put their government back together," he said. Once that was accomplished, the U.S. government had said it was willing to join other countries, including Italy, in helping secure the country, he said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Eric Beech and Nick Macfie) By Pedro Fonseca RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Zika has been found in the saliva and urine of two patients in Brazil and while it is not known if such body fluids could transmit the virus, the discovery could make pregnant revelers wary of kissing strangers during the country's often uninhibited Carnival festivities. Brazilian scientists announced their discovery on Friday, as U.S. health officials advised more stringent measures for monitoring pregnant women for Zika and for preventing sexual transmission of the virus. The disease that has spread rapidly through the Americas and led to a global health scare over its possible link to severe birth defects, is primarily transmitted by mosquito. The possibility of infection via body fluids could complicate efforts to combat the outbreak. Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a Brazil federal government biomedical research institution, said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in samples from two patients while they had symptoms and were known to have Zika. They stressed, however, that more studies were needed to determine if those fluids could transmit the infection. It was the first time the virus has been detected in saliva and urine, the scientists told reporters in Rio de Janeiro, where the five-day Carnival began on Friday, a huge event with street parties and a lot of drinking alcohol. The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection. But Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery, noted that this "is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids." But the foundation urged pregnant women to take precautions and avoid crowds during Carnival. Some revelers even keep track of the number of complete strangers they kiss. "In light of the possibility of being in contact with someone who is infected, do not kiss, obviously," said Dr. Paulo Gadelha, the foundation's president. The discovery of Zika in urine and saliva added to concern that Zika, which is predominantly spread by the Aedis aegypti mosquito, could also be transmitted by other means. Brazil is particularly concerned to fight an outbreak as the country grapples with a deep economic crisis and prepares to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August. The World Health Organization said that between January 2014 and Feb. 5, 2016, a total of 33 countries have reported indigenous circulation of Zika virus. The WHO said there was evidence of indirect local transmission in six other countries. SEXUAL TRANSMISSION Scientists are researching reports earlier this week that an American had transmitted the virus to a sexual partner in Dallas County, Texas. And Brazilian health officials said on Thursday they had confirmed two cases of transmission through blood transfusions. At the center of the concern over Zika, until recently viewed as a mild illness, is the possibility that infection with Zika during pregnancy may cause microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can cause permanent brain damage in newborns. One of America's top doctors, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said on Friday the suspected link appears "stronger and stronger" as researchers study whether there is a causal connection. CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said the agency is also working with researchers in Brazil to study a potential link between Zika and a wider array of developmental disorders in babies. The outbreak of Zika infections, which started in northeastern Brazil, has been linked to more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in the country. The virus has since spread and been locally transmitted in more than 30 countries according to the World Health Organization, which has declared a global health emergency over Zika. STRONGER GUIDELINES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN Reflecting concern over potential harm to fetuses, the CDC upgraded its guidelines on Friday for testing pregnant women who have traveled to affected areas, saying even those without symptoms should be tested after returning home. The updated guidelines recommend pregnant women be offered testing 2 to 12 weeks after returning home. The agency had earlier suggested tests only for those with symptoms of the illness, which causes a fever, rash and red eyes. In addition to widening its testing guidelines, the CDC noted the possibility of sexual transmission. It said men with a pregnant partner who live in or have traveled to an area of active Zika transmission and their partner should consistently and correctly use condoms during sex or abstain for the duration of the pregnancy. Obstetricians have said that since 80 percent of those infected by the virus show no symptoms, many women have no way of knowing early enough to make an informed choice about their unborn child. Scientists are racing to try to create a vaccine for Zika, but it could be years until that is available to the public. In the meantime, efforts to combat Zika are focused on protection from mosquito bites and eradication of the insect. Brazilians have been rushing to buy repellant, creating a shortage of some brands on pharmacy shelves and boosting sales for the industry - a trend some producers are preparing for elsewhere as the outbreak spreads. (Additional reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago, Natalie Grover in Bengaluru, Paulo Prada and Caroline Stauffer in Sao Paulo; Writing by Frances Kerry; editing by Grant McCool) By Jonathan Landay (Reuters) - Islamic State has as many as 25,000 fighters in Syria and Iraq, down from a previous estimate of up to 31,000, according to a U.S. intelligence report revealed by the White House on Thursday. U.S. officials cited factors such as battlefield casualties and desertions to explain the roughly 20 percent decrease in fighters, and said the report showed a U.S.-led campaign to crush Islamic State was making progress. The new intelligence estimate "means they continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "ISIS has sustained significant casualties," Earnest said. Ground fighting efforts by coalition partners of the United States are having an effect in the conflict against Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, he said. U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces and tribal militias and moderate opposition groups in Syria have contributed. So too has a U.S.-led air campaign that has launched more than 10,000 strikes against the Islamist extremists, Earnest said. Finally, international efforts are beginning to stem the flow of foreigners seeking to join the movement. "ISIL is having more difficulty than they've had before in replenishing their ranks, and we have long been aware of the need of the international community to cooperate to stop the flow of foreign fighters to the region," said Earnest. The new intelligence report of 19,000-25,000 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria compares to 2014 estimates of 20,000-31,000 fighters. "The decrease reflects the combined effects of battlefield deaths, desertions, internal disciplinary actions, recruiting shortfalls, and difficulties that foreign fighters face travelling to Syria," said Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. Some North African jihadists who might otherwise have travelled to Syria to join Islamic State may instead have heeded calls by the movement's leadership to head to Libya, where the Islamists are fighting to expand their grip on territory on the Mediterranean coast. The intelligence report did not account for the Islamic State's affiliates in South Asia, other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, where its Libyan branch is expanding. There appear to be conflicting U.S. estimates of the strength of the movement's Libyan affiliate. Defence officials put the number at some 3,000, while other U.S. officials put it at 5,000-6,000. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Andrew Hay) By Idrees Ali WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States Marine Corps will try to maintain funding for its plans to modernize its fleet of aging aircraft and ships in the fiscal 2017 defense budget, the commandant of the Marine Corps said on Thursday. General Robert Neller told Reuters on the sidelines of an event in Washington that there was a difference between the budget expected on Feb. 9 and what the Marines wanted. "We're going to do everything to protect our modernization," said Neller, who took command of the Marine Corps last year. He did not name any programs in particular that would face cuts, but said everybody had to pay a little bit to make the numbers. Neller said that budgets required a compromise, including how many Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, made by Oshkosh Corp, would be purchased. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Tuesday the Pentagon would seek a $582.7 billion defense budget next year and reshape spending priorities to reflect a new strategic environment marked by Russian assertiveness and the rise of Islamic State militants. Neller said the budget would see money for training and upkeep of facilities. The downside of having great facilities is now you've got to maintain them and then we've got old facilities that we want to get rid of," Neller said. In a speech in California on Wednesday, Carter also said readiness and training for the Marines would be addressed in the budget. Carter said that after years of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, which required counter terrorism training, the Marine Corps would train for a wider range of needs. The issue was highlighted on Thursday by Lieutenant General Jon Davis, the top Marine in charge of aviation, who told a U.S. House of Representatives armed services committee hearing that pilots were not receiving enough flying time. "They're not as good as they should be," Davis said. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; editing by Grant McCool) By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Friday rejected former TV pitchman Kevin Trudeau's bid to overturn his conviction and 10-year prison sentence for having exaggerated the content of a weight-loss book he marketed through infomercials. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago found no basis to accept Trudeau's claims that the government lacked enough evidence to convict him, his sentence was too long, and jurors were instructed improperly. Trudeau, 52, was appealing his November 2013 conviction by a Chicago jury over his promotion of the 2007 book "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You To Know About" in three 30-minute infomercials, which aired roughly 32,000 times. Viewers were told they could "cure" obesity without dieting or exercise, but the book instructed readers to limit themselves to 500 calories per day, walk an hour each day, take hormones, and undergo colon cleanses and colonics. Jurors found that Trudeau violated a 2004 consent order with the Federal Trade Commission that said he could not misrepresent the content of books in infomercials in which he starred. Lawyers for Trudeau did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The appeals court rejected what it called Trudeau's argument that prosecutors did not show he willfully violated the consent order, and that his misreading teleprompters or using unedited scripts by mistake might have led to any misrepresentations. "Trudeau's 'The Weight Loss Cure' infomercials included blatant misrepresentations that were patently false and outright lies," Circuit Judge Diane Sykes wrote for a three-judge panel. "It's no surprise that the jury reached the same conclusion. The evidence was easily sufficient to convict." Sykes also called the 10-year sentence reasonable given "the size of Trudeau's fraud and the flagrant and repetitive nature of his contumacious conduct." She noted that it was shorter than the roughly 20- to 25-year term recommended under federal guidelines. Trudeau is incarcerated at a minimum security prison camp in Montgomery, Alabama. He is eligible for release in July 2022. The case is U.S. v. Trudeau, 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 14-1869. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by James Dalgleish) Your digital subscription includes access to all content on our agricultural websites across the nation. Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - This Week's Paper. London (AFP) - Britain faces opposition from European partners over plans to reform the EU ahead of an in/out referendum on membership, and should not expect "Europe a la carte," the European Parliament president warned Friday. Martin Schulz welcomed Britainas push to make the European Union more competitive, but said other demands would "set a dangerous precedent for a Europe a la carte", where countries could ignore aspects of the EU they did not like. The reforms would "meet resistance in the European Parliament", Schultz told students at the London School of Economics (LSE). The German politician also criticised Cameron's call for recognition that the EU had more than one currency. "The currency of the union is the euro, the treaties are very clear on this and the treaties also guarantee an opt-out for the United Kingdom," he said. "Giving a de facto veto to any member state of the European Council on eurozone issues is unacceptable" and risks "paralysis for the eurozone," added Schulz. He revealed that Cameron had told him it was not Britain's "goal" to hamper the eurozone during a meeting earlier Friday. Schultz conceded that Britain had genuine concerns over its controversial demand to reduce welfare to EU migrants. "If movement creates practical problems, if there is systematic abuses, if schools are overcrowded and hospitals overstretched as the British government states, of course these problems have to be solved," he said. "But a solution cannot come at the price of discriminating against EU citizens," he stressed. Cameron has promised a referendum on EU membership by the end of 2017, but it could take place as early as June. The possibility of a "Brexit" is the latest crisis to hit the EU, and Schulz urged voters to remain in the union. "We Europeans have to stick together more than ever," he said. "Many of my colleagues say behind closed doors: 'Don't stop a rolling stone. If the Brits want to leave, let them leave'. "But Europe needs the UK with its foreign policy experience and clout, its open market policies and its trade track record," Schultz said. LONDON (Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond poured scorn on a UN working group report on Julian Assange, calling it ridiculous, and said the Wikileaks founder was a fugitive from justice. The panel ruled Assange is being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he fled in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden. "I reject the decision of this working group," Hammond told ITV news on Friday. "It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers. Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy. "He can come out any time he chooses... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; editing by Stephen Addison) (Reuters) - Planes landing in the United Kingdom from countries affected by the Zika virus should be sprayed inside with insecticide, the UK government announced on Friday, according to the Guardian newspaper. It is a precautionary measure to combat the mosquito-borne Zika virus linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil, the Guardian said. (http://bit.ly/20d0Q8K) Health officials said Zika outbreaks have been reported in at least 26 countries in the Americas. Brazil has been the nation hardest hit but outbreaks have been reported in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America. In the United Kingdom, the majority of aircraft from those regions are already sprayed inside as a precaution against malaria, another disease transmitted by mosquitoes, the newspaper said. The World Health Organization on Monday declared the rapidly spreading Zika virus to be a global emergency. (Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) LONDON (Reuters) - British financial spreadbetting firm CMC Markets has priced its London stock market listing at 240 pence a share, it said on Friday. The price would value the company, run by Chief Executive Peter Cruddas, at 691 million pounds. "Our performance since the start of 2016 continues to be strong, helped by the ongoing market volatility, and we start our life as a public company well-positioned for continued growth," Cruddas, who favours Britain leaving the European Union, said in a statement. The offering of 31 percent, or 90.6 million shares, totals around 218 million pounds. The deal includes a primary capital raise of around 15 million pounds, and a 203 million pound sale of secondary shares by some of CMC's existing shareholders, including Peter and Fiona Cruddas and Goldman Sachs Strategic Investments. After listing, Peter and Fiona Cruddas will hold 62.5 percent of the firm's ordinary shares, and Goldman Sachs Strategic Investments will hold five percent, CMC said. Trading will begin on Friday. Amid choppy markets, the pricing comes in at the lower end of the original range of 235-275 pence a share. Investors were told orders below 240 pence were likely to miss out, a bookrunner told Reuters on Thursday. (Reporting by Carolyn Cohn, editing by Sinead Cruise) Geneva (AFP) - The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was thrust into the global spotlight Friday with its finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Sweden and Britain. But while few may until now have been aware of the existence of the obscure panel of independent human rights experts, Friday was not the first time the group has made headlines, having addressed the cases of other prominent figures including Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi and former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed. "Each year, thousands of people are arbitrarily detained," according to the panel, which is flooded with thousands of requests annually to examine the cases of people deprived of their liberty. Made up of only five independent experts, who serve three-year mandates on a voluntary basis and meet just three times a year, the panel issues decisions on just a few dozen cases each year. Set up in 1991 by the UN Human Rights Commission, which has since been replaced by the Human Rights Council, the working group says it has issued more than 1,000 opinions concerning more than 130 countries. States can demand a review of the decision within two months, if they supply new information that challenges the basis for the decision. According to its mandate, "any individual deprived of liberty can submit his/her case for consideration" to the working group. To ensure "discretion, objectivity and independence" in the handling of cases, panel members from countries at the centre of an investigation recuse themselves from the case. An Australian member of the team, Leigh Toomey, therefore did not take part in the deliberations on Assange's case. - No consensus 'very unusual' - Usually, the five experts concur on a ruling. "It is very unusual that there is a decision not based on consensus," working group secretary Christophe Peschoux told reporters in Geneva. But that did not happen in the "very complicated" case of the WikiLeaks founder, with Vladimir Tochilovsky of Ukraine dissenting, Peschoux said. Story continues Since the group first met, it has worked tirelessly to shine a light on obscure cases that receive little media attention but it has also on occasion voiced opinions about prominent cases. In 2001, the experts slammed the "arbitrary detention" of Aung San Suu Kyi, the centrepiece of Myanmar's long democracy struggle, who was kept under house arrest for 15 years before being finally released six years ago. Last November, they weighed in on the case of former Malaysian leader Anwar Ibrahim, condemning his five-year sentence for sodomy. And in October, they denounced as arbitrary the detention of former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed, who is serving a 13-year term on controversial terrorism-related charges. By Donna Owens BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The murder conviction of a Baltimore man that was explored by the 2014 podcast "Serial" was based in part on unreliable cellphone data, a forensic expert testified at a court hearing on Thursday. Adnan Syed, 35, was convicted in 2000 of kidnapping and strangling his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, 18, and is serving a life sentence. He is seeking a retrial based on new evidence about his case amid questions about the fairness of his conviction raised by the podcast. Gerald Grant, a communications forensics expert, testified in Baltimore City Circuit Court that jurors should have been told that AT&T cellphone records used to place Syed at the site where Lee's body was buried were flawed. The AT&T engineer who testified in the original trial was not aware that outgoing phone calls were reliable but incoming calls were not, he said. A sheet accompanying the faxed records included that disclaimer but was misplaced or overlooked. "There were instructions that should have been followed," Grant, who examined the case's evidence and files, said under questioning from C. Justin Brown, Syed's lawyer. The engineer in the original trial has filed an affidavit saying that if he had known about the disclaimer, his findings might have been different Grant said during the second day of the three-day hearing that Syed's case was among the first to include cellphone location technology. A second witness, Asia McClain Chapman, a high school classmate of Syed's, testified that he was calm when she met him at a library the day on which Lee later was reported to have gone missing. She said she was never contacted to provide a possible alibi at his trial. Prosecutor Thiru Vignarajah pressed McClain Chapman about her recollections and focused on letters she wrote Syed after his arrest. In one, she wrote, I have reason to believe in your innocence." McClain Chapman also denied that Syed had helped McClain write a second letter which contained details of the case. Story continues Lee's slaying was the subject of "Serial" which began in October 2014 and was released by Chicago public radio station WBEZ. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals returned the case to Baltimore City Circuit Court last year for post-conviction proceedings. The hearing will weigh potential evidence that was not used in previous proceedings or may have been misinterpreted, and the court could order a new trial. (The version of the story corrects the eighth paragraph to show that the witness spoke to Syed the day the victim went missing and not that she told him she was missing.) (Reporting by Ian Simpson; editing by Cynthia Osterman) Miami (AFP) - The United States and Cuba held talks this week on human smuggling amid a surge in Cuban immigrants trying to reach the United States, the State Department said on Friday. The "technical talks," which took place from February 1 to February 4 in Miami, were announced only after they were wrapped up. The delegations exchanged "information and best practices related to combating human smuggling and travel document fraud, which is important to advancing both countries' commitment to ensuring safe, legal, and orderly migration," the State Department said in a statement. The number of Cubans trying to reach the United States has skyrocketed in recent months, with thousands traveling through Central America in their bid to reach the US border, creating enormous strains in the region. The State Department said it was concerned for the safety of "all migrants" in the region attempting to enter other countries without a visa or other authorization. "These dangerous journeys illustrate the inherent risks and uncertainties of involvement with smugglers and organized crime in attempts to reach the United States illegally," the statement said. More than 43,000 Cubans arrived in the United States by sea and land during fiscal year 2015, which ended in September, a level not seen in decades. The exodus has been prompted by fears that the thaw in US-Cuban relations will end the American policy of automatically accepting Cuban migrants as refugees. Under US law, Cubans fleeing their communist-ruled island are admitted and given access to fast-track American residency, a policy extended to no other nationality. Before the recent spike, Washington stressed that it did not plan any change in the legislation governing Cuban migrants despite the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Havana in July after half a century. The topic of relations with Washington's former Cold War enemy remains controversial in Miami -- home to half the two million strong Cuban diaspora in the United States -- although less so than in previous decades. The two countries have held several meetings on topics including anti-drug cooperation, transnational crime and the environment since they announced their historic thaw in December 2014. Jobs numbers: Will last months jobs numbers match Decembers stellar data? Chances are slim. Reuters said economists expect about 190,000 jobs were created in January, but, the news service added, the comparatively modest number would likely be offset by a rebound in wages and a steady jobless rate. Update: The economy added 151,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent, its lowest level in eight years. You can read the report here. Four years ago pic.twitter.com/dyN0AmZobD James Fallows (@JamesFallows) February 5, 2016 A ruling on Julian Assanges detention: A U.N. panel says the Wikileaks founders detention is arbitrary. The panels determination isnt legally binding, but, as we reported Thursday, Assanges attorney said Thursday it had moral force. Britain has rejected the ruling. Update: More here Circumflex optional: French textbook publishers will reportedly stop using the circumflex () in line with an order from 1990 by the Academie Francaise, the guardians of the language, to make the diacritical sign and certain spellings optional. In all, about 2,000 words are affected, news reports say. The reaction in France: Non, non, non! Last nights Democratic presidential debate: David likened it to a contest between a hedgehog and a fox. Sanders, the hedgehog, doggedly pursued his one big idea about reforming American politics, while Clinton detailed her many proposals for change. More news from last night here. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. Nothing can strike fear into the hearts of millions like news of a mysterious virus outbreak that has no treatment or vaccine and is especially threatening to unborn babies. The Zika virus is an infection that can cause the microcephaly birth defect in infants, resulting in the head and brain not fully developing. More: New drinking rules for women treat us like nothing more than baby makers It popped up on experts radars after thousands of babies in Brazil were born with microcephaly, and is causing such distress in South and Central America that health officials in both El Salvador and Colombia have advised women to not get pregnant until they can get this matter under control, while the CDC is warning American women to be wary if theyre traveling to certain parts of the world. It certainly seems like we should take the Zika virus very seriously but how much do we really know about it so far? Zika virus is a virus carried by the Aedes mosquito and is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito, says Dr. Gerardo Bustillo, OB-GYN at Orange Coast Memorial Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. First discovered in Ugandan rhesus monkeys in 1947, it has been associated with outbreaks in different parts of the world. Zika virus is related to other mosquito-borne viruses such as dengue virus and West Nile virus. Zika first appeared in the Western Hemisphere in early 2014, in an island off the coast of Chile. Since then, it has been detected in several countries in Central and South America. Cases have been recently diagnosed in the United States, but these individuals were infected during a recent trip to Central or South America. More: Popular author tells moms to 'meditate their postpartum depression away Dr. Sherry Ross, OB-GYN and womens health expert at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California, says experts are still learning the effects of this virus on children and non-pregnant adults. Only 1 in 5 infected people will show any kind of symptoms, and the majority will only have mild flu-like symptoms, she says, referring to the fever, conjunctivitis, rash and joint pain. However, I would still encourage prevention of being exposed to this virus to all age groups. Story continues Other common symptoms of the virus, which appear two to 12 days after a mosquito bite, include muscle aches, headache, pain behind the eyes and generalized weakness, Bustillo says. The good news is that severe disease is uncommon: The illness is usually mild, and symptoms resolve after two to seven days. These facts dont, of course, take away from a terrifying one: Zika can seriously affect pregnant women, regardless of what trimester theyre in, Ross says. If you become infected with this virus during pregnancy, it has been associated with birth defects including a small, shrunken brain and malformed head known as microcephaly, she says. This virus can be transmitted to the fetus as well. But what exactly is microcephaly, and what causes this rare condition? Microcephaly is a head circumference (measured in a fetus or infant) that is significantly below the mean for a given age (or gestational age in fetuses) and sex, Bustillo explains. "It can be the result of a multitude of causes, including genetic abnormalities, brain injury from exposure to toxins or infections during gestation (such as Zika infection) and birth complications. In at least 40 percent of cases, there is no known cause. The severity of neurologic impairment is generally related to the severity of microcephaly, and may be significant. The exact mechanism by which Zika causes microcephaly, and the magnitude of the resulting damage, is still being investigated. More: Mom shares scary photo to warn parents of common car seat mistake Pregnant women who have recently traveled to an area with Zika virus transmission and have symptoms of the infection (fever, rash, joint pains and/or pinkeye) should have blood testing for Zika virus infection, Bustillo says. "All pregnant women with a relevant travel history, [regardless] of the presence of symptoms, should have fetal evaluation, with serial ultrasounds looking for microcephaly, he says. If the ultrasound suggests the presence of microcephaly, amniocentesis may be performed for Zika virus testing. Zika has been found in breast milk, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed the virus can be transmitted during labor, sexual contact, blood transfusion or lab exposure, but we dont yet know if Zika can be passed on through nursing. Because data on pregnant women infected with Zika is limited, Bustillo says its also unknown whether every pregnant woman who contracts Zika will pass the virus on to her fetus. Without a vaccine or treatment yet, Ross says the best prevention method is to avoid traveling to areas where Zika outbreaks are occurring. The CDC regularly updates its website, and there are currently 22 countries on the list, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Barbados. If you are traveling to these areas, its crucial that you wear protective clothing and mosquito repellent. More: If toddlers wrote self-help books, heres what theyd look like There is an incubation period for the Zika virus of three to 12 days. If you experience symptoms associated with the virus, visit your doctor, and treat the symptoms as you normally would. Infected persons should get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and treat fever with common medications, Bustillo says. The best way to prevent infection is to avoid mosquito bites. Personal protective measures include applying mosquito repellent, wearing long sleeves and long pants and staying indoors. Window and door screens and mosquito nets help to minimize contact between mosquitoes and people. Since mosquito larvae breed in standing water, every effort should be made to avoid allowing standing water to collect outdoors, as in buckets, bottles and flowerpots. Lisa Fogarty (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images) The conversation about how to make college more accessible is not new, but a critical piece of the debate has been largely ignored. The geography of where schools are located and the impact of so-called education deserts on students is the topic of a new paper by a pair of researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. If higher education is to better serve students and expand educational opportunities, the paper asserts, then stakeholders must prioritize the importance of place and understand how it shapes college options. First-generation and low-income college students are disproportionately likely to attend schools close to home. Increasing numbers of college students are also parents and breadwinners, too, with community ties and jobs that are difficult to uproot. So even when these students are informed about schools far away that might be a good fit, or given scholarships to attend, many, for a variety of reasons both financial and cultural, choose to stay local. Recommended: In Denver, a Joyful Philosophy Led to Classroom Achievement And that can seriously limit their access to college. The paper points out that more than 57 percent of incoming first-year students who enroll in public four-year schools attend college within 50 miles of home. Students of color and those from lower-income families are even more likely to stay nearby. Where there are good, affordable, and accessible (not highly selective) options within close range, thats not a bad thing. But the paper finds that between 6 and 12 percent of the nations adult population lives in an education desert, and between 1.29 and 2.86 million students attend college in education deserts. Most are in the Midwest and Great Plains states, but education deserts are everywhere, and their residents tend to have lower-than-average educational attainment levels. Many are home to colleges, but not broadly accessible public institutions. Story continues As we talk about equity going forward and we talk about post-traditional students, I do think its really an important dynamic and we are going to have to consider it, said Sarita Brown, the president of Excelencia in Education, a nonprofit that has looked extensively at ways to expand college access. Does every student have access to a quality education, if, in fact, the distribution of educational institutions by happenstance or by taxpayer investments sidesteps areas where population growth is occurring? Take Columbia, South Carolina. Twenty private colleges serve 13,600 students, but there is just one community college educating 17,800 students. In Laredo, Texas, 94 percent of adults are Latino, and many are lower-income, first-generation students. The population of 260,000 is served by four schools, but just one, the community college, is accessible. While selective Texas A&M and a couple of for-profit schools (which are accessible but costly) serve 40 percent of students in the area, Laredo Community College alone is tasked with serving the remaining 60 percent, or 20,700 students. Recommended: Why Bernie Sanders Can't Govern Similar stories are playing out across the country. The private nonprofit colleges operating in these areas tend to be selective (only one in four are broad-access), while local for-profit colleges tend to be smaller and more expensive institutions, the report notes. As a result, public community colleges play a significant role in delivering opportunities to residents of education deserts. The role of the community colleges cannot be understated: They enroll over half of all students who live in education deserts. Yet community colleges tend to be some of the most cash-strapped schools, with fewer resources and less robust networks of alumni who can offer students, particularly those without their own built-in networks, a path to prosperity. The lead author Nicholas Hillman of the University of Wisconsin at Madison says he sees the paper as a proof of concept that he hopes will ignite a dialogue about equity and the capacity of the higher-education system to serve students. The issue, he said, is one that is not going away. Tomorrows college students dont fit the untethered, care-free mold, which makes providing accessible options near home even more critical. Certainly, he acknowledged, addressing barriers that prevent students from attending more distant schools, such as the lack of campus childcare and the high cost, would likely encourage more enrollment everywhere. But thats not going to eliminate the need for quality options close to home. Recommended: Why We Still Miss Jon Stewart And he hits back at the idea of online learning as a panacea. While it works for some students, studies suggest that distance learning has particularly negative effects on students of color and those who work and go to school at the same time. Brown agrees. Education is a human enterprise, she said. Face time is important. While theres no easy fix for addressing the number of education deserts, the report suggests modifying the Higher Education Act, Americas primary higher-education law (which is on Congresss agenda, but unlikely to happen before the 2016 U.S. elections) to help schools in deserts expand their capacity to serve more community residents. Selective schools in college deserts could also work with local community colleges to accept more transfer students or offer opportunities through a partnership. The New York City College of Technology, Brown noted, has expanded night and weekend classes so students who work can attend. Long Beach City College has increased community outreach and mentoring of underserved students. Its not like its not available. Its still not plentiful, Brown said. I think this is the new area for institutions to innovate around. Their future could depend on it. College enrollment is down for the fourth straight year, even as more young people and adults say they think degrees are necessary. If we want to address the disconnect and expand access to college, the geography of the options needs to be a part of the conversation. Read more from The Atlantic: This article was originally published on The Atlantic. ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Workers at Ivory Coast's state oil company Petroci have extended a strike for an additional 72 hours as they sought to bring in employees from other companies in the sector to join their protest against layoffs, union officials said on Friday. Fifty of Petroci's 600 employees were made redundant last month and another 150 are expected to be dismissed, union leaders have said, in the wake of an audit recommending that the company cut costs and staff amid falling oil prices. Workers launched a 72-hour strike on Tuesday. "Next week we will intensify the strike and see if other employees from other companies in the sector join the Petroci employees in this strike," said Geremie N'Guessan Wondje, secretary general of the SYNTEPCI union. Petroci offered to pay 10 dismissed managers six months salary while the 40 other laid-off employees were to receive eight months salary. However, a member of the company's management said the union was demanding 20 months. "That's not possible. We don't have all that money," said the official, who asked not to be named. Petroci is a small oil and natural gas producer but it is heavily involved in the downstream sector, controlling 36 percent of domestic gas distribution in French-speaking West Africa's largest economy as well as about 30 filling stations. It also partners with companies with production and exploration operations and manages a logistical base that services offshore blocks. SYNTEPCI represents workers from 16 companies in addition to Petroci that could be called upon to strike out of solidarity. Those companies include state-owned Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), which operates a refinery with a capacity of 65,000 barrels per day, as well as logistics firms and fuel retailers such as Total. (Reporting by Ange Aboa; Writing by Joe Bavier, editing by David Evans) Harare (AFP) - A Zimbabwean lawyer on Friday asked the country's highest court to order an investigation to determine President Robert Mugabes fitness to hold office, after a series of blunders that prompted speculation about his health. The papers filed by lawyer Tinomuda Chinoka seek to order the speaker of parliament and the president of the senate to conduct the investigation. "Having a president that may lack capacity to carry out the job threatens democracy, undermines the constitution and puts in jeopardy the very foundation, security and future of the nation," read the papers filed with the Constitutional Court. Chinoka listed a number of incidents casting doubt on Mugabe's ability to rule, including his tumble on a red carpet at Harare International Airport in February 2015. They also referred to a gaffe last year when he read the wrong speech at the opening of parliament. "Any person with their mental alertness intact would have recognised a speech that they have read only three weeks previously," said the papers. Mugabe, who turns 92 later this month, has ruled Zimbabwe since independence from Britain in 1980. His health has been the subject of speculation in recent years. In January he returned from his annual month-long holiday during which rumours flared that he had collapsed and died in Asia. 146 DUI offences for year With Carnival 2016 now at our doorstep, the TTPS reminds all road users to practice safety on the countrys roadways. (So far) this year, officers of the Traffic and Highway Patrol Branch have tested over 2,900 drivers for alcohol, and arrested and charged 146 drivers for DUI offences. Thats apart from the 845 voluntary breath tests that were carried out during which 304 persons were found to be over the limit. The TTPS is also advising motorists to take note of a recent court case, in which Harry Ramdeen was permanently disqualified from holding a Drivers Permit by a San Fernando Magistrate after he was arrested and charged by officers of the Traffic Branch DUI Task Force for his third DUI offence. 71-year-old fined for buying cocaine Trevor Khan was scolded by a magistrate who told him that for his age, he had abandoned God who had blessed him with long life. And, having put God aside, you take me for a fool, Magistrate Brahmanand Dubay told Khan in the San Fernando Magistrates court yesterday. The elderly man was arrested by PC Samaroo on Wednesday at 8.15 pm, on Rushworth Street, San Fernando. Khan pleaded guilty and the court police prosecutor, Sgt Gordon Maharaj, said that the officer stopped PBD 3484, a motorcar that was driven by Khan. Officers found in Khans left pants pocket, 0.99 grams of cocaine. But Khan told magistrate Dubay, Sir, I dont use cocaine; a man gave me $20 to buy it for him. Magistrate Dubay ordered Khan to pay a fine of $1,000, or in default serve 30 days simple imprisonment (with no hard labour). Family silent on Anisas murder Newsday spoke briefly to relatives outside the Forensic Science Centre in St James and they all said they simply wanted to bury their relative in peace. There is nothing to say that would bring her back, said a relative who asked not to be identified We just want to bury Anisa and move on. Up to press time police and relatives were still clueless behind the motive for her murder. According to reports, just before 7 pm on Wednesday, Murray was driving her car along Penn Trace, Cunupia when her vehicle was intercepted by two other vehicles. An occupant in one of the vehicles fired on Murrays vehicle hitting her multiple times in the upper body. She was later found by police, slumped over in the drivers side of her car. Investigations are ongoing and no arrest has been made. Chocolate thief gets 3 months He pleaded guilty to stealing four chocolates from the NP Quik Shoppe on Rushworth Street, San Fernando, on Wednesday. Magistrate Margaret Alert heard from the police prosecutor Sgt Krishna Beedasie, that at 8.30 pm, he took up the four chocolates and walked out the shoppe without paying the cashier. Police Constable Mohase investigated the theft and arrested Bowen, 32, whom the magistrate heard, is from Rushworth Street. Alert confronted Bowen with his criminal record which revealed that he had chalked up 17 previous convictions, most of them for theft, and drugs. Alert jailed Bowen for three months, and asked the police complainant to donate the chocolates to the JC MacDonald Home for the Age on Independence Avenue, San Fernando. And try and take it there today, Alert said. Another major prison search While this was being done officers accompanied by K-9 dogs made their way to the cells accompanied by other officers and the searches of cells began. Officers reportedly found a number of contraband items and improvised weapons. The raid was ordered following reports of a suspected break out of prisoners planned for the Carnival weekend. According to reports while the raids were taking place some prisoners began fainting because of the sweltering heat of the mid morning sun and had to be taken to the infirmary for treatment. The weather conditions soon changed by midday resulting in a heavy downpour and the hundreds of prisoners were drenched. While some protested, others decided to enjoy the feel of the rain on their bodies, something they had not experienced in a very long time. Inside the prison, mattresses were searched as well as bags containing grocery items and other areas within the cells where prisoners usually conceal items. Officers seized some cell phones containing porn shot inside the prison while they also discovered some interesting improvised weapons. Truck driver buried alive Ricardo Canton, 52, of Sobo Village, La Brea was pulled out from the gravel pile unresponsive and not breathing. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the Couva Health Facility. Police reports said the incident occurred at about 5pm. According to reports, Canton parked his truck near to a pile of dirt and came out of the vehicle when mounds of gravel collapsed on him. Co-workers heard Cantons screams as he attempted to run to safety, but reports said that it was too late. Reports said that co-workers attempted to dig Canton out of the pile of gravel, but when his body was pulled out he was not breathing. My son died with his mouth open, when they pulled him out, said Cantons emotional mother, Eutric Canton, 81. Speaking to Newsday yesterday at the family Sobo Village home, the distraught mother said that she was at home when she received the devastating news through a telephone call. I got a call saying that my son was involved in an accident. I did not know the circumstances of the accident, but later heard that he was buried alive under sand, or boulders while on his work, she said. The emotional woman said she last saw her son on Wednesday morning before he left the family home for work. I did not expect this news, this is really hurting me as a mother, she said. Adding, the mother said that she was told that her sons co-workers dug their way through the pile of gravel for a few minutes before they found Cantons body. When they got him out he was covered in mud. His mouth was open. He was already dead, she said. An autopsy performed at the Forensic Science Centre revealed that Cantons ribs were fractured during the ordeal. Under all that gravel and sand, from what I am told there was no way he could have been able to breathe, she said. Canton was a father of four and grandfather of four. Eutric who will celebrate her 81st birthday next week Friday, said that she was looking forward to spending her birthday with her son. What a birthday gift for me! My son is gone, she cried. Police officer knocked off motorcycle Newsday understands that the officer was riding his motorcycle along the Western Main Road in St James, at about 1.30 pm yesterday, when he came into contact with another vehicle. The police officer was thrown a short distance off his bike. He was taken to the St James infirmary where he was treated for his injuries. Police officials told Newsday that the officer is now resting comfortably, and was in no immediate danger. Hunters guide shot dead in forest According to reports, Sheldon along with hunters Rampersad Maharaj, 58, and Victor Mendoza, 45, went on the hunting expedition on Wednesday and arrived at the site around 11 am. While ten miles into difficult terrain, they set up camp and began hunting. At about 6 pm on Wednesday, Rampersad reportedly heard the sound of a deer and proceeded to shoot the animal. However, on doing so he heard screams and later found Sheldon slumped on the ground bleeding from pellet wounds to his head and chest. Sheldon died in the forests. Rampersad and Mendoza then made attempts to remove the body from the forested area, but because of the difficult terrain they were unable to do so. At about 5 am yesterday they emerged from the forest and alerted police. Officers went to the forested area and attempted to remove the body late yesterday. Investigations are continuing by officers of the Mayaro police station. Police sources said that foul play is not suspected in the incident. Teen held for attempted robbery Police said she announced a hold up as she tried to board her car. The woman however raised and alarm and managed to escape unhurt. According to a report, around 9.30 pm yesterday, Sgt Thompson and other officers were on mobile patrol in the area, and responded the teenager fitting the description was held police seized a large hunting knife he had in his possession. He is now assisting police with their investigations. In a separate incident around 10.30 am yesterday, police reported that Andre Lovelace an employee of Goodwood Racing Pool, Coffee Street San Fernando was walking along Coffee Street, San Fernando on his way to make a deposit at a nearby bank, when a gunman approached him and announced a hold-up. The gunman, the report stated, tried to grab the bag containing the money, and a struggle ensued during which time Lovelace was shot in the leg. The assailant escaped. Lovelace was rushed to the San Fernando General Hospital where he remains warded. He underwent surgery yesterday afternoon to remove the bullet from the leg. ASP Ramdeo, Sgt Teeluck, Insp Don Gajadhar and Cpl Denoon visited the scene. Investigations are continuing. Help pours in for baby Miracle Raynier Maharaj, a journalist with Trini-roots who lives and works in Canada and is a member of the Caribbean Children Foundation (CCF), which is based in Canada, yesterday responded to Newsdays lead story, expressing his desire to have the Foundation assist in helping baby Miracle to have her surgery. The DeHix Organisation of Chicago, USA also got in touch with Newsday asking how it can help . Worried and frustrated parents Kerwin and Chrystal Cross of Duncan Village, San Fernando, who this week began to make frantic enquiries for funds, visited Newsday on Wednesday asking that a story be published to raise awareness of their daughters plight. Baby Miracle was born at San Fernando General Hospital and was soon diagnosed with Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease. She needs to undergo corrective surgery soon or else, little Miracle will die . Maharaj, the editor in chief of publication The Independent Newspaper in Toronto, is a founding member of the 15-year-old CCF. He told Newsday the charitable organisation is willing to assist baby Miracle as the CCF works primarily with the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and has helped 70 children from across the Caribbean with life-saving surgeries . The Foundation which has been around since 2000, has raised and paid out over Can$1.5M to help more than 70 Caribbean kids . We work primarily with the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. It is a volunteer driven organisation and is considered the premier Caribbean childrens charity in Canada, Maharaj said . Dennis Hicks, originally from Arima, migrated to the United States and founded the DeHix Organisation . He telephoned Newsday yesterday to express his desire to make arrangements for baby Miracle to be flown to Chicago for the surgery . We have arranged for persons needing surgery to have it done at Johns Hopkins University Hospital . We have hospitals on the coast here also. I will will be contacting the family soon, Hicks promised . Yesterday, mom Chrystal Cross was moved to tears as she said their telephones have been jammed with callers expressing willingness to donate towards the babys pending surgery. A bank account is to be established soon . The family can be reached at 366-2653 and 393-6826 . TTUTA against SEA CAC A union statement said the harsh way the CAC is implemented is defeating its very purpose of developing a child. TTUTA said its General Council at a recent meeting had called on the Ministry of Education and the Tobago House of Assemblys Division of Education to ditch the CAC. The decision was taken owing to the numerous complaints that the union has been receiving from its members regarding the CAC since its inception, said the statement. It was noted that in its current configuration the CAC which in theory should be a formative assessment and therefore developmental in nature had quickly morphed into a component of the high-stakes SE A. This has served to defeated the very purpose of the CAC since it has resulted in teachers doing more testing than teaching over a prolonged period of time. TTUTA added that teachers have complained of a lack of resources, instructions, training and non-contact time for marking and record-keeping. This in turn has led teachers to suffer feelings of incompetence and discomfort to teach and assess such a diverse range of subjects. All this has translated into high levels of stress and trauma for teachers, students and parents, many of whom have had to seek medical attention. TTUTA said that curriculum delivery at this level should not be driven so rigidly by evaluation. Teachers must be given the professional latitude to adapt curriculum delivery to ensure that learning is meaningful and fun-filled, said TTUTA. This cannot be done with the CACs as part of the high-stakes summative SE A. Education Minister, Anthony Garcia, yesterday told Newsday that he is due to meet TTUTA next Thursday to discuss the issue. Saying he is open to talks with stakeholders such as TTUTA, he said the SE A Exam and CAC would also be discussed at his Ministrys National Public Consultation on Education which starts on Monday February 15. He noted that the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA) is also opposed to how the CAC is being run. Annisette for Maritime Labour Convention In a statement yesterday he said he will represent the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) on the Special Tripartite Committee set up under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. The event is a pre-meeting ahead of the International Labour conference in Geneva from May 30 to June 11. The ITF is comprised 700 trade unions representing 4.5 million workers in 150 countries, and is affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation. The ITF represents the interests of transport workers unions in bodies that take decisions affecting jobs, employment conditions or safety in the transport industry. These bodies include the ILO, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). He said one good example of global solidarity was the ITFs worldwide campaign in the maritime industry against the use by ship owners of Flags of Convenience (FOCs) to escape from national laws and unions. The meeting will debate proposed amendments to the Code of the MLC, will consider any request for consultation, will exchange information and mull any other business. Health Minister meets with stakeholders Deyalsingh met with manufacturers of non-alcoholic beverages and the link to non-communicabl e diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke, which account for over 60 per cent of deaths in Trinidad and Tobago each year. The minister said his ministrys main focus was primary health care with an emphasis on preventing illness, rather than expending large sums on treatment and care of chronic conditions. Deyalsingh said there was need for a holistic approach to target common risk factors, including tobacco use, unhealthy eating, and obesity. During the meeting, it was agreed that the parties involved would develop comprehensive proposals to contribute to the holistic approach for impacting the prevalence of childhood obesity and NCDs in the population. A report was supposed to be presented to the minister within three months More VAT information coming This was the assurance given by Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie as he fielded questions on VAT from reporters at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair. The Minister of Finance has given an undertaking that he will publish a pullout in the newspapers this weekend, explaining all the items that are non-vatable, those that are vatable and clarifying many of the issues that you are raising here now, he said. In a radio interview on Monday, Imbert said, We are going to make it very, very clear over the next month, that the rate of VAT is now 12.5 percent and that any item that attracted 15 percent prior now attracts a rate of 12.5 percent. Cuffie explained that this will work alongside the new VAT hotline established by the Trade and Industry Ministrys Consumer Affairs Division which was launched on Wednesday. He said Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon advised him that, she has been getting calls and the line is being used and she even mentioned supermarkets that people are calling in from. Noting the Trade Ministry will be dealing with, the consumer issues from people who are shopping and seeing concerns, Cuffie said there are measures which the Board of Inland Revenue could take regarding businesses which are charging more than they should with respect to VAT. Explaining that certain food items attract VAT and others do not, Cuffie said the meals which are served at fast food outlets and restaurant s will still attract VAT. Indicating there is a difference between raw food items such as flour or rice and a processed meal, Cuffie said these establishments should have made the necessary adjustments to their VAT rate when the regime was changed on Monday. Cuffie also said no decision has been made regarding the renewal or non-renewal of contracts for guidance officers at the Education Ministry. Indicating these contracts should expire at the end of March, Cuffie said Education Minister Anthony Garcia will bring a note to Cabinet to treat with it, when the time comes. He also said issues concerning the appointments of persons to the Cocoa and Coffee Board are being addressed. The Minister said the names of persons to sit on the board have been approved and there is a process to be followed. Cuffie on urgent surgeries Assistance is available Even before the Childrens Life Fund came into being, there was a facility at the Ministry of Health can approach the Minister of Health or the Ministry of Health and get assistance for surgeries that are critical and even those that require overseas assistance, Cuffie explained. While providing no details about this facility, Cuffie added, That facility is still in existence. On Tuesday, Newsday reported the story of two week old Miracle Khloe Cross who has Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease and is in need of urgent surgery. The cost to have Miracle treated overseas is estimated to be US$200,000. In November 2008, then Health Minister Jerry Narace said $60,000 was the maximum his Ministry could give under its medical fund scheme. Narace said a fund may be established under the National Health Service to help children requiring surgery. While he could not provide an update on the status of the Fund, Cuffie was able to confirm that, there is no one now in the Cabinet contributing to the Fund. Minister meets with steel company, workers today On Tuesday last, Arcelor Mittal served notice of its intention to temporarily lay off 498 workers from its Point Lisas Steel Plant from Wednesday until March 13, 2016. The workers began receiving notices on Tuesday afternoon. Ive called in both parties for meetings tomorrow, the Minister yesterday told Newsday. She declined further comment until after the meeting. Meanwhile, the Minister said she had nothing further to add in relation to a row over purported appointments to the board of the Cipriani College of Labour and Co-operative Studies. The row continued yesterday with the National Trade Union Centre of Trinidad and Tobago (NATUC) saying it intends to maintain its current appointees on the board, and once more describing recent appointments as unlawful. It also stated one of its current appointees has actually been withdrawn. The trade union body, which is led by former Senate Vice-President James Lambert, and whose General Secretary is Michael Annisette, said NATUC was the organisation of trade unions most representative of labour and, as such, should be allowed to nominate four members to the board of the college, under its governing statute. With regard to the making of any such aforesaid appointments, NATUC, in the interest of clarity and public transparency hereby indicates that its current appointees having been properly nominated and appointed in keeping with the law, are to continue in office until the due determination of their tenure, NATUC said in a letter addressed to Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus, and copied to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi. Cuffie: New security arrangements working Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie made the announcement at yesterdays post-Cabinet news conferernce at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Clair. The Prime Minister will be attending as the lead chair for security matters and he will be accompanied by a small delegation of 12 people, Cuffie stated. He indicated that Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Dennis Moses (who was appointed a Minister in the National Security Ministry on January 29) will be part of that that delegation. Responding to a question from Newsday, Cuffie replied, The Prime Minister will be making a presentation on security matters. He added that there will be a presentation on all that took place when the Caricom meeting ends. I will not want to say now what he (Rowley) will be discussing, the Minister stated. While Finance Minister Colm Imbert has acted as prime minister on all of the previous occasions when Rowley has been overseas, since being elected to office last September, Cuffie said no decision has been taken as yet as to who will act for Rowley while he is in Belize. He added that a decision will be taken at the appropriate time. Asked whether Moses and newly appointed parliamentary secretary Glenda Jennings-Smith were adapting well to their respective responsibilities at the National Security Ministry, Cuffie said National Security Minister Edmund Dillon, is very happy to have both Mrs Jennings-Smith and the Minister of Foreign Affairs working with him to assist in ramping up our response to the security concerns. Cuffie explained,He (Dillon) visited Laventille yesterday (Wednesday) and he was quite pleased with the response from the people of Laventille. I think he has a greater ability to go out and interact with the security forces, to get a chance to see how things are going, precisely because he now has more opportunities to do that because he has the assistance of Minister Moses and the Parliamentary Secretary (Jennings-Smith) attending to other matters. Dillon said Moses responsibilities include immigration and transnational organised crime, particularly with respect to counter terrorism and human trafficking. Radha Mohan Singh here addresses the 87thAGM of the ICAR Society New Delhi, Fri, 05 Feb 2016 NI Wire ICAR is Committed to overcome Farm Constraints to make Indian Agriculture truly Sustainable and Profitable- Radha Mohan Singh Swarna Shreya, a new rice variety for droughtprone conditions was released 87thAGM of the ICAR Society Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister, Shri Radha Mohan Singh here addresses the 87thAGM of the ICAR Society. Shri Singh said that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has completed over eighty six years, overcoming challenges in growth and development of agriculture through generation of appropriate technologies that resulted in improving farm productivity, farm incomes, and building institutions, human resources, diversifying agriculture, creating new opportunities and opening up new frontiers of knowledge. The infusion of modern technologies in agriculture has undoubtedly rescued several innocent lives from claws of hungerthe ICAR is committed to overcome farm constraints to make Indian agriculture truly sustainable and profitable. Shri Singh while highlighting the achievements of ICAR and its educational and research institutes said that a new fish species Clarias serratobrachium sp. nov. was discovered from the wetlands along Indo-Burma border. Development of improved varieties and hybrids and availability of their quality seed is the most vital and critical input for increasing the productivity of crops. During the year, 80 new improved varieties/hybrids of different field and horticultural crops were released for cultivation in diverse agro-ecological regions of the country and produced and distributed over 98,000 quintals of breeder seeds of major food crops, as well. Biofortified rice variety CR Dhan 310 was commercialized successfully in the Indo-Gangetic Plains belt and Swarna Shreya, a new rice variety for droughtprone conditions was released. Full text of the speech of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister is as follows: Ministers of Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries from States and distinguished Members of the Society; Members of ICAR Governing Body; my colleagues, Ministers of State, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, and Shri Kundariya; Dr Ayyappan, Secretary, DARE and DG, ICAR; Shri S.K. Singh, Additional Secretary & Financial Advisor, DARE; Shri C. Roul, Additional Secretary, DARE and Secretary, ICAR; Invitees, Senior officers of the Council, Representatives of Press and Media, Ladies and Gentlemen! I, on behalf of the ICAR and on my personal behalf, extend a warm welcome to you all in this 87thAnnual General Meeting of the ICAR Society. We are grateful to all the members of the Society and guests, who have responded to our request and travelled from all parts of the country to participate in this important annual meeting. Your keen interest and constructive suggestions, over the years, have proved to be very helpful in charting a science-led pathway for agricultural development in the country. We look forward to hear from you about the concerns relating to agriculture in your respective states and how we in the ICAR can be partners in addressing the same. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has completed over eighty six years, overcoming challenges in growth and development of agriculture through generation of appropriate technologies that resulted in improving farm productivity, farm incomes, and building institutions, human resources, diversifying agriculture, creating new opportunities and opening up new frontiers of knowledge. The infusion of modern technologies in agriculture has undoubtedly rescued several innocent lives from claws of hunger. The ICAR is committed to overcome farm constraints to make Indian agriculture truly sustainable and profitable. I wish to avail this opportunity to share some of the important developments and achievements in the last year, As President of the ICAR Society. The 87th ICAR Foundation Day function of the ICAR on 25 July, 2015 was graced by Honble Prime Minister of India, for the second consecutive year. In his thought provoking Address, Hon'ble Prime Minister called upon agricultural scientists and planners to design second green revolution with new vision, dimensions and objectives in light of diverse challenges in this modern era. In this context, he reiterated that second green revolution will begin from the land of eastern India which has immense potential in terms of natural resources and willing farmers to take up experiments in fields. While appreciating the agricultural scientists and farmers for their contributions and Hon. PM suggested identification of commodities having high potential of income from national and global markets. The 68th UN General Assembly declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils (IYS) for raising awareness among the people on the importance of soil in sustaining life support system on earth. Keeping this in view, Indian Council of Agricultural Research celebrated World Soil Day on 5th December, 2015 across the country. All the state governments have together distributed about 40 lakh soil health. A total of 607 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 80 ICAR institutions/Agricultural Universities organized the function inviting Honble Union Ministers, Governor, Chief Ministers, MPs, MLAs and other important persons for participation. In this event, about 2,50,000 Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers who were also educated on use of these cards for maximizing farm productivity. I was myself at Ranchi, Jharkhand where 25,000 Soil Health Cards were distributed to farmers. I am happy to share with you that the number of mobile soil testing labs that was only 17 in the last four years has increased to 77 by December -2015 during last one and half years. ICAR celebrated Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan Week from 23 December to 29 December 2015 on the birth anniversary of former Prime Ministers Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Late Shri Chaudhary Charan Singh. The celebration was organized keeping in view their immense contribution for promoting use of science for the welfare of farmers. ICAR Institutes and KVKs across the country organized various farmer awareness programs, showcasing and demonstration of new technological advances for enhancing productivity and profitability of agriculture. Progressive farmers who have successfully adopted latest technologies and have made contribution in wide scale adoption of technologies by farmers were felicitated. During kharif 2015, unprecedented heavy infestation of whitefly on cotton was documented in Punjab and Haryana resulting in significant damage to the crop particularly in Punjab where more than 75% of the crop experienced delayed sowing due to delayed harvesting of wheat. In Haryana relatively less damage was experienced where nearly 50% cotton area was timely sown. Deficient rain fall coupled with hot, humid and cloudy weather during June-July led to severe outbreak of whitefly. We held several meetings on this issue with all the stakeholders and comprehensive strategy to prevent recurrence of the pest during next season has been planned. With an eye on the future needs of both, the agriculturalists as well as the consumers the Council has revised the mandates and formulated Vision-2050 for all its institutions including the headquarters. These steps are expected to provide useful directions to the future programmes of research and education. Building institutions of research and higher agricultural education received priority. Foundation stone of new Agricultural University in Andhra Pradesh, Horticultural Universities in Telangana, National Research Centre for Integrated Farming (NRCIF), Motihari, and Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, were laid and Central Agricultural University, Imphal is being strengthened with six additional colleges in north eastern states on agriculture, horticulture, veterinary sciences and food processing, thereby raising the total number of colleges from 7 to 13. We are in the process of setting up a Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture, Amritsar. The Bill for conversion of Rajendra Agricultural University, Samastipur and Bihar into a Rajendra Central Agricultural University, Pusa is introduced in the Parliament. Government is committed to promote organic farming to increase soil health. New scheme Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) to develop organic clusters taken up from current year 2015-16. As a matter of fact, before the advent of synthetic chemical fertilsers and pesticides, organic farming formed the very basis of agriculture in India since ancient times. The soil fertility was maintained by using manures made using natural sources. During the year, the agricultural research and education institutions of the ICAR, successfully generated and introduced technologies to boost farm production and incomes. I am happy to mention that the ICAR, by the year 2015, prepared contingency plans for 600 districts in the country for addressing adverse climatic conditions including erratic monsoon. A total of 1,503 indigenous and 195 exotic collections comprising fruits, vegetables, tuber crops, plantation crops and nuts, spices, medicinal and aromatic plants, ornamental crops and mushrooms were made from different sources. Registration of seven new breeds of indigenous livestock during 2015 took the total number of registered indigenous breeds in the country to 151. A new fish species Clarias serratobrachium sp. nov. was discovered from the wetlands along Indo-Burma border. Development of improved varieties and hybrids and availability of their quality seed is the most vital and critical input for increasing the productivity of crops. During the year, 80 new improved varieties/hybrids of different field and horticultural crops were released for cultivation in diverse agro-ecological regions of the country and produced and distributed over 98,000 quintals of breeder seeds of major food crops, as well. Biofortified rice variety CR Dhan 310 was commercialized successfully in the Indo-Gangetic Plains belt and Swarna Shreya, a new rice variety for droughtprone conditions was released. For quicker spread of new technologies, demonstrations of oilseeds through KVKs have been introduced for first time in 2015-16. India remains global leader in production of milk for the last several years. Milk production increased from 137.69 Million Tonnes (MT) to 146.31 MT between 2013-14 and 2014-15 respectively. The estimated production for 2015-16 is projected at 160.35 MT, with highest annual increase of nearly 16 MT, in several years. Similarly the eggs have increased from 74 to 78 billion registering an annual growth rate of 5% and enabling 63 eggs per capita per year. In this important development the research institutions have played a crucial role. PCR assays for the detection of 17 prioritized exotic and emerging viruses were developed. FMD virus serotype O vaccine strain with enhanced thermo-stability was constructed using reverse genetic approach. Fisheries sector has recorded a very appreciable enhancement placing India at number two position among the fish producing nations. The Fish Production achieved a growth on 6.18% during 2014-15 which was 5.88% during 2013-14. Captive stocks of Rita chrysea, an indigenous catfish endemic to Mahanadi river, were successfully induced-bred in hatchery conditions. The fish has good consumer preference and market demand. For maintaining and upgrading quality and relevance of higher agricultural education, the Government has approved financial support of Rs. 2,900 crores for the 12th Plan. The support was provided for Niche Area of Excellence (28), Experiential Learning Units (21 new). The National Agricultural Science Fund, established to support basic and strategic research in agriculture, beside supporting, reviewing, monitoring and evaluation of the ongoing projects also initiated funding of new projects which were in the process of evaluation. Technology development and delivery are as important as the process of technology generation. Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) model is serving as the extension arm of the ICAR and received wide appreciation, not only in the country but abroad as well. The Government has accorded approval for Rs 3,900 crore for the continuation of the KVK scheme in the 12th Plan whereby nationwide 109 new KVKs will be established, the number of Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) erstwhile Zonal Project Directorates, has been increased from 8 to 11 and enhancement of KVK staff from 16 to 22. Provisions of strengthening of infrastructure at KVKs will also be made to improve the overall efficiency of technology assessment, refinement and transfer. The ICAR signed MoUs with national and internal organizations/institutions in the area of agricultural research and education. I once again welcome the delegates from different states and request them to share their own experience and concerns from all corners of the country. I on behalf of the Council, assure you that we would make all efforts within our domain, to see that your concerns are addressed at the earliest possible. I thank you once again for the participation in the 87th AGM of the ICAR Society. My best wishes to you all a very happy Basant Panchami and rich farm harvest. Source: PIB A 4-day National Arogya Fair-2016 begins at Dehradun in Uttarakhand Uttarakhand, Fri, 05 Feb 2016 NI Wire Government taking several measures to promote AYUSH Systems of Medicine across the world- Shri Shripad Yesso Naik The 4-day National Arogya Fair began at Dehradun in Uttarakhand today. The Fair has been organized by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa & Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in collaboration with the State government of Uttarakhand and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). The Fair was inaugurated by the Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Health & Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand , Shri Harish Rawat. The Minister for Health & Family Welfare and AYUSH, Govt. of Uttarakhand, Shri Surendra Singh Negi was also present on the occasion. Addressing the inaugural session, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik said that India can bring in a revolution in healthcare and be a teacher to the world if we capitalize on our strengths in the traditional systems of medicine. He elaborated that the AROGYA fair has grown into a country-wide phenomenon with more than 10 fairs organized throughout the year now. The Minister explained that over the past three decades, there has been a tremendous resurgence of Worlds interest in the AYUSH Systems of Medicine, including countries in Europe and USA. This is mainly because of holistic approach towards preventive, promotive and positive health and multi-dimensional aspects of disease management in these traditional systems of medicine. We have also signed several MoUs for bilateral cooperation in the area of traditional medicine and setting up Ayurveda chairs and AYUSH information centres in various countries, such as South Africa, Malaysia and Trinidad & Tobago, the Minister disclosed. Shri Harish Rawat said that the Uttarakhand medicinal plants have long been used for treatment of various diseases. These combined with modern AYUSH interventions can help to create a strong healthcare system in the hills. The AYUSH System of medicine is also more economical, the Chief Minister added. Shri Surendra Singh Negi explained that growing herbs and medicinal plants can create employment opportunities in the hills, especially when it is linked with industry requirements in an integrated manner. Uttarakhand also has the capacity to become the world capital of Yoga, he added. During the Inaugural Session, Fusion Yoga was performed by the students of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.Large varieties of health productsfor treating diabetes, blood pressure, joint pains, heart diseases, geriatric problems and common ailments are on display at the Fair. Free Learning Sessions are being organized for visitorswith themes like Panchakarma, Homeopathy forWomens disorders, Yog se Arogya and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Siddha System, treatment of lifestyle diseases like diabetes through AYUSH, and many more.Tomorrows session would focus on role of Dincharya and Pathyapathya for maintenance, Siddha Medicine basic principles, Stress and Homoeopathy etc. The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa & Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has been organizing AROGYA, comprehensive National Level Fair on AYUSH systems of medicine in the major capital cities in India since 2005 to promote awareness and showcase development in the various AYUSH Systems. The Fair aims to create awareness among the people about the uses of the AYUSH Systems, their cost-effectiveness and the availability of herbs and plants used for prevention and treatment of common ailments at their door-steps through various mass-media channels to achieve the objective of Health for all. TED CRUZ WINS IOWA: WHAT IT MEANS By Chuck Baldwin February 4, 2016 NewsWithViews.com A Ted Cruz victory in Iowa was not surprising. Not at all. Typically, the Republican presidential candidate that can "Out Christian" the rest of the field wins in Iowa. And Cruz is the best at doing that since G.W. Bush that Ive seen. But unlike Bush, Cruz will NOT be the Republican nominee. Count on it. And I, for one, am glad he wont be. The Cruz victory has got to be seen as a slap in the face for Liberty Universitys Jerry Falwell, Jr., who personally campaigned in Iowa for Donald Trump. As much as I like Jerry, Jr., he is not his dad and will never be able to galvanize Christian conservatives like Jerry, Sr., did. The once powerful Religious Right passed with Jerry Falwell, Sr. Faithful readers of this column know that I have already expressed my feelings that Cruz cannot be trusted to be faithful to the Constitution--especially in matters that pertain to the Warfare State and the Police State. His ties to the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Goldman Sachs cannot be taken lightly. Birds of a feather still flock together. His staff is littered with New World Order fellow travelers. You are reading one Christian writer who would FAR rather vote for an unbeliever that will preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States than vote for a believer who will NOT preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. And there is nothing about Ted Cruz that convinces me he would be faithful to the Constitution--his Christian rhetoric notwithstanding. Plus, of all of the GOP presidential candidates, Ted Cruz is probably the deepest in the pocket of the Israeli lobby--not that the rest of them aren't also. However, I still maintain that Rand Paul is the LEAST obligated to the Israeli lobby of all of them. (Rand Paul also demonstrates more fidelity to the Constitution than the rest of the field put together. And now that Rand has pulled out of the race, there really isnt a constitutionally literate contender left.) Unlike many of my Christian brethren, I am convinced that the Zionists in Israel and America are a major destructive force to liberty and a direct threat to the Biblical, Natural Law principles upon which the United States was founded. The more allegiance a U.S. politician has to Zionism, the more harmful he or she is to America. Put Ted Cruz at the top of the list. Obviously, this primary season has just begun, and an Iowa victory portends very little for things to come. This could wind up being a very interesting and unusual election season. Let your mind ruminate over some of these possible scenarios: 1. The GOP has a brokered convention, and establishment insiders pick Jeb Bush or Marco Rubio. This is a distinct possibility. The establishment is going all out to defeat Donald Trump, but his momentum is significant. It is very feasible that no candidate will have mustered the necessary delegates to win the nomination on the first ballot. If that happens, you can be sure that the establishment knows how to manipulate the convention to ensure that an insider wins. The two candidates who fit that bill the best are Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. Rush Limbaugh is revealing his establishment loyalties by saying (with a straight face even) that Rubio is NOT an establishment candidate. But he is. If this scenario becomes reality, a host of the Trump/Cruz/Carson/Paul supporters would abandon the GOP in November like rats off of the proverbial sinking ship. Then again, the GOP establishment would rather burn the house down than let a principled conservative win, as they are much more closely aligned with liberal Democrats than they are conservative Republicans. 2. Donald Trump sees the GOP establishment rigging primaries to defeat him and decides to run as an Independent. I realize Trump signed a pledge that he would not bolt the GOP, but everyone knows that Trump is still holding that ace up his sleeve. Of course, many people know that Trump has had a long-standing personal friendship with the Clintons, and they fear he is playing the system to ensure a Hillary victory. Thats speculation, of course. But given that Trump talks and acts from the hip (assuming he is NOT a Hillary mole), his loyalty to his pledge will surely be tested, as the GOP establishment will do everything it can do to stack the deck against him. As the primaries (and passions) heat up, Trump is indeed the loose cannon in the field that could do just about anything--including jumping ship and running as an Independent. 3. Hillary is indicted or begins losing significantly to Bernie Sanders, and Democrats scramble to bring another insider (like Joe Biden) into the race. Officials in Iowa are saying Hillary defeated party rival Bernie Sanders by the skin of her teeth. Plus, everyone is aware that some of those local victories were determined by coin tosses. The Democratic machine gave Hillary the win in Iowa and everyone knows it. The Clinton camp has got to be worried after the embarrassing victory in Iowa. Sanders support is growing, while Clintons support is waning. The party machine is going to have to work around the clock to keep her afloat. But if Sanders begins to pull away from Hillary, her establishment buddies will turn on her like a pack of wolves on a bleeding lobo. Indictments are still hanging out there, and if it becomes obvious that Hillary isnt winning primaries by landslide margins, watch the insiders throw her to the wolves and enlist another insider such as Joe Biden. Such an event would upset the applecart BIG TIME. And dont forget that the former Democratic senator from Virginia and true war hero who served in the Reagan cabinet, Jim Webb, is waiting in the wings for just the right opportunity to enter the race. Wow! The possibilities are almost endless. Obviously, Bernie Sanders is to the Democrats what Donald Trump is to the Republicans: a major thorn in the side. 4. Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg enters the race as an Independent--bringing with him $1 billion to spend. Or, Democrats tap Bloomberg if they abandon Clinton. Bloomberg is another loose cannon that could shake things up this year. No doubt about that. But a billion dollars or no billion dollars, Bloomberg is mostly a one-string banjo. The only thing he is passionate about is disarming the American people. And while Clinton and Sanders might be just as bad on the Second Amendment, Bloombergs fanaticism on the issue would drive away virtually all of the gun owners in the country--including Democrats and Independents. The fact is, the mood of the country is more favorable toward the Second Amendment now than at any time in recent memory, which is why the Democratic Party will probably ignore Bloomberg. But two independent billionaires in the general election (if it came to that)--one an ultra-liberal and the other a tough-talking conservative--would definitely shake things up. No doubt about it. Imagine (we are just ruminating here) a four-man race that includes the two major party candidates and two independent billionaires. And if it does become a four-man race between the above-mentioned people, can you imagine what would happen if Ron Paul suddenly decided to jump back in the race? Ron is still as sharp as a tack and more fit than many men half his age. The last time anything remotely resembling the above happened was in 1860. And you know what happened the year after that. And personally, I see regional separation (no, it would not have to be bloody--and I highly doubt that it would be) as a good thing, not as a bad thing. In fact, I think it is inevitable. Its not a matter of if. Its only a matter of when. But I digress. Suffice it to say, folks, this is shaping up to be the most unusual and unpredictable election season in my lifetime--maybe since that election back in 1860. Hold on! P.S. Recent events have graphically illustrated the need for the American citizenry to have an educated and informed understanding of the laws and protocols--as well as our rights and duties--when placed in contact with police officers. Sadly, most Americans are totally unprepared to deal with even routine traffic stops. Violent interactions between police officers and citizens are escalating. Sometimes the blame lies with law enforcement, and sometimes the blame lies with the citizen. Knowing how to respond to a police contact has never been more important. My attorney son (a former prosecutor and now defense attorney) recently delivered an address to the folks at Liberty Fellowship in Kalispell, Montana, entitled Police Contact: How To Respond. I believe EVERY citizen in the country needs to watch this video. It might even save some lives. I encourage readers to order at least two: one for themselves and one for a friend. To order the video presentation, Police Contact: How To Respond, go to: Police Contact: How To Respond DVD Related Articles: 1 - 'End Justifies the Means' and Ted Cruz 2 - Did Ted Cruz Succeed Fooling Iowa Voters With His Shaming Letter? I'm a freelance writer based in North London; areas of expertise include history, books, birds, travel, food, walking and cricket. I can be contacted via the following email address: njyoung78@hotmail.com This Page has moved to a new address: Sorry for the inconvenience Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service "Imagine that every man's mind is an island, surrounded by ocean. Each seems isolated, yet in reality all are linked by the bedrock from which they spring. If the oceans were to vanish, that would be the end of the islands. They would all be part of one continent, but their individuality would have gone." - The Overlord Rashaverak Taken from Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The Ministry for the Environment released three reports on the Emissions Trading Scheme today, including an evalation of its performance against short, medium and long-term outcomes. So how is it doing? Unsurprisingly, in the executive summary, MfE declares that everything is going great: The evaluation found that the NZ ETS has been successful in assisting the Government to comply with international commitments and to meet national targets. The NZ ETS has resulted in an overachievement of New Zealands first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol (CP1). Research for this evaluation, and evidence from the interviews, found no sector other than forestry made emissions reductions over Kyoto Protocol Commitment Period One (200812)(CP1) that were directly caused by NZ ETS obligations. The 6NC identified that the waste sector was the only sector to have reduced emissions over CP1 other than forestry, but those reduced emissions were not due to the NZ ETS [they were due to Labour's direct regulation in 2004 - I/S]. The reality in the body of the report is a little different. The key question for me is "has it reduced emissions". And the answer to that is "not really":Or, to put it another way, the ETS has not resulted in any reduction in pollution from the energy, industrial, or transport sectors. And that's not really surprising, given that the government has subsidised those sectors to continue polluting, while letting them use fraudulent Ukranian "credits" to meet their paltry obligations. As for forestry, the estimated impact of the reduction is 0.2% of our annual emissions, which is within the margin of error of business-as-usual.So how does MfE turn this obvious failure into a success? Simple: because "reducing emissions" isn't the only metric they're reporting against. They're also assessing whether it assists in "meeting international climate obligations and maintaining international reputation" (whether it gives us something to write about in our UNFCCC reports, which it does), and whether it assists in "maintaining environmental integrity, equity and economic efficiency, at the least cost, in the long run" (for which they say outright that they have no measures, before proceeding for half a page about a 2008 report onimpacts, before noting that post-2008 policy changes probably make that report useless). But even then, it seems to be a huge stretch to claim a failure, a success against a bullshit and purely bureaucratic target, and a "we have no fucking clue" equate to the ETS being "successful". As to their headline attribution of our Kyoto overachievement to the ETS, that seems to be pure fiction. And if policy is being "assessed" in this manner, and obvious failures being rebranded as "success", its no wonder that we're in such a mess. " ... How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practice the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the public... " [From George Washington's farewell address.] Other Quotes: "Don't worry about genius and don't worry about not being clever. Trust rather to hard work, perseverance and determination. The best motto for a long march is ' Don't grumble. Plug on.'....Be honest. Be loyal. Be kind. Remember that the hardest thing to acquire is the faculty of being unselfish. As a quality it is one of the finest attributes of manliness." Sir Frederick Treves "...To be clear, the Constitution of the United States of America is the United States of America. They are one and the same. Any individual or agency which seeks to subvert the Constitution and wage political and/or rhetorical war on it, are self-declared enemies of the United States of America, as they are subverting and waging war on the United States of America." - Pat Dollard The truth to the matter is that Obama lies but he does it with such finess that the easily fooled are easily fooled. ~ Norman E. Hooben "Going for the grandest illusion of all, [Obama] ... told the New York Times: 'We've actually been operating in a way that has been entirely consistent with free-market principles.' Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the ground. Everyone knows -- or should know -- that putting more and more of the government in charge of more and more of the economy is entirely inconsistent with free-market principles. This means that the president's statement to the contrary is what is known as a big lie." --columnist Diana West When you trust a stranger more so than your friend, you become stranger than the stranger; Barrack Husein Obama is a stranger. - Norman E. Hooben We the peopleWe the people now have a New World Order that we the people did not order. Norman E. Hooben "We are now in a great civil war of words and you have the honor of participating as a true patriot. The battle has not been won but you will be there when we are victorious. The pen is mightier than the sword and you will inscribe your name in the book of freedomand that, my friend is an honor "If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves ." - Winston Churchill It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first. - Ronald Reagan Thomas Sowell For those who promote a race they are called, "racists". For those that promote American they are called "American". For 'American' is a 'concept' and no racial tones are tolerated either in shades or sounds. -Norman E. Hooben (In reference to Lourdes Galvan of San Antonio, Texas racial bigotry regarding American military heroes.) Note to NATIONAL COUNCIL OF LA RAZA ( Hola! I know you are watching): Will Rogers never met Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. - N. E. Hooben, July 2008 Harvard University was once an all boys school...today they have no balls at all. - N. E. Hooben I will stand with the Constitution For The United States of America should the political winds shift in an ugly direction Politicians are like vampires... Whether its blood or money they want to suck it out of you till you die. ~ N. E. Hooben (Norman E. Hooben in response to a writer who complained of not having the honor of serving in the U.S. Military)Back in the days of "The Lone Ranger" program, someone would ask, "Who is that masked man?" People need to start asking that question about Barack Obama. -N.E. HoobenThe Police State of Massachusetts is now imposing laws against nature. Massachusetts is by far the most un-Constitutional government of the State, by the State, and for the State than any among the the fifty that hold a star on the banner of freedom. It is run by Socialists and hypocritical so-called Christiansthe worst among them are the Catholics who go to Church on Sunday and forget what they Prayed for on Monday. - Norman E. Hooben - "A proud Catholic proud of my Faith. A proud Catholic NOT so proud of my Church!" - July 16th 2008 N. E. Hooben When a people are satisfied with receiving gifts paid with their own taxes as a way of life Anarchy is sure to follow. - Fred Boutin 2008 From the first time I heard about the boogey-man as a child to the first time I got shot at in Vietnam, nothing in my entire lifetime, THAT'S NOTHING! has put more fear into me than this man Obama. - Norman E. Hooben - July 2008 We are here for only a mini-second in the sands of time. Then we become the dust that makes the sand; and the Hand of God molds us anew. Take care my friend and may God Bless... - Norman E. Hooben on the death of our dearly beloved pet dog, Stirling The evidence is overwhelming! In order to save America we must destroy the Socialst Marxist Party... - N. E. Hooben "America is like a healthy body and its resistance is threefold: its patriotism, its morality, and its spiritual life. If we can undermine these three areas, America will collapse from within." -- Josef Stalin -- When it comes to lying, prudent people are guided by a Higher Authority driven by thou shall not written in stone. Whereas Bill Clinton has no Higher Authority to guide him, thou shall not has no conscious objections; for without a conscience there is no guilt. - Norman Hooben The victor will never be asked if he told the truth. - Adolph Hitler The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. - James Madison, the Federalists Papers There was a Chemistry professor in a large college that had some Exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Prof noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back And stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government. In the midst of his story he looked at the professor and asked a strange question. He asked,'Do you know how to catch wild pigs?' The professor thought it was a joke and asked for the punch line. The young man said this was no joke. 'You catch wild pigs by finding a suitable place in the woods and putting corn on the ground. The pigs find it and begin to come everyday to eat the free corn. When they are used to coming every day, you put a fence down one side of the place where they are used to coming. When they get used to the fence, they begin to eat the corn again and you put up another side of the fence. They get used to that and start to eat again. You continue until you have all four sides of the fence up with a gate in the last side. The pigs, who are used to the free corn, start to come through the gate to eat, you slam the gate on them and catch the whole herd. Suddenly, the wild pigs have lost their freedom. They run around and around inside the fence, but they are caught. Soon they go back to eating the free corn. They are so used to it that they have forgotten how to forage in the woods for themselves, so they accept their captivity. The young man then told the professor that is exactly what he sees happening to America. The government keeps pushing us toward Communism/Socialism and keeps spreading the free corn out in the form of programs such as supplemental income, tax credit for unearned income, subsidies, payments not to plant crops (CRP), welfare, medicine, drugs, etc. while we continually lose our freedoms- just a little at a time. One should always remember 'There is no such thing as a free Lunch!' Also, 'You can never hire someone to provide a service for you cheaper than you can do it yourself. You apparently don't share a sense of patriotism, Americanism, freedomism, or whatever kind of 'ism' that true Americans believe in... You do however, display a bit of socialism, communism, marxism or whatever kind of 'ism' that you make excuses for... ~ Norman E. Hooben (in response to an Obama supporter's views about the ACS census) A nation that knows not from where it came, knows not where it is going! Today, Americans know too little about the foundations of our nation. The result is a nation now in chaos, its people unable to discern what is wrong with the transformation (paradigm shift) of our society and form of government that, if left unchecked, will destroy every facet of freedom, liberty and justice. The price of freedom is vigilance; the price of vigilance is knowledge. Many of America's founding documents are now available on the web. ~ Learn USA The Libyan Thursday talks in Morocco for the formation of a unity government have hit the wall after participants failed to reach consensus. According to Libyan official sources, some participants in the talks disagreed with Head of the Presidency Council Faiez Serraj over his recent controversial meeting with self-style Libyan army commander Khalifa Hafter at the side of the deputy chief of the Egyptian intelligence agency. There are also tirades over the size of the cabinet after the 32-member cabinet was first turned down by Tobruk-based law body recognized by the international community. The House of Representatives deemed the cabinet too large and sent the Presidency Council back to the drawing table. The cabinet being debated could be made of 12 to 17 ministers and some of the names in the initial cabinet lineup might stay on in the new formation. The clock is ticking for formation of the unity government following the agreement which stipulates that the Presidency council should be able to form a cabinet within the next 30 days following the signing. Libya has been without a central government since 2014 after a powerful militia chased out central and limping government from capital Tripoli now ruled by an unlawful administration with its own parliament. The country also slid into chaos since the fall of Col. Gaddafi toppled and killed in a NATO-backed revolution in 2011. Chaos and rivalries between factions decimated the countrys economy and security. The Islamic State took advantage of the chaos and sneaked into the country in 2014 taking control of large swaths of the country. The terrorist group has since then made huge progress after it conquered Gaddafis hometown Sirte last June and put under its orbit the countrys coastal region where it has developed lucrative migrant trafficking. The group also caught global attention last month after it launched impressive attacks against the countrys major oil terminals in a move to disrupt production and take control of Libyas main economy resource. Besides, Libya has lost its right to vote at the UN General Assembly after it failed to pay its dues, Libya Herald reports. For the ban to be lifted, Libya must reduce its debts to the UN through paying a minimum of $1,369,638. The ministry of interior Thursday announced end of the nationwide curfew imposed in the wake of the social riots which rocked the country over the past month. In light of the improvement in the security situation, it was decided that from Thursday the curfew on all Tunisian territory will be lifted, the interior ministry said in a statement. The curfew was imposed right after January riots marked by violent clashes followed by looting of shops. Tunisia had been embroiled in social riots in January sparked by the death of a young 28 years old Tunisian by electrocution after he mounted on electric pole in protest to the removal of his name from a government job list in the central city of Kasserine. Youth and unemployed graduates in the city took to the streets demanding jobs. The protests spilled to other cities including Sidi Bouzid, the cradle of the 2011 revolution as well as Tunis, and Sfax. The riots which nearly sparked a new revolution have been the worst since the countrys 2011 revolution which set aside President Ben Ali. Tunisia has been facing a difficult economic recovery since the revolution. The countrys economy recorded one of its worst performances last year less than 0.3 per cent growth. National unemployment rate is estimated at over 15 per cent, and 30 per cent of the countrys graduates are unemployed. Prime Minister Habib Essid appearing before the parliament early last week, announced a set of measures but also argued that the government does not have a magic wand to change the situation. He also called for a national unity in a move to address the unemployment thorny issue. President Caid Essebsi also on Wednesday in a televised interview admitted governments limited capacity to address the situation. He recently undertook a tour in Gulf capitals to attract investors to Tunisia. The climate in Tunisia does not encourage investment, Caid Essebsi conceded. 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. 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Broaden your expertise, enhance patient care, and never worry about another license requirement again with Elite Passport Membership. Available across ten healthcare professions in a variety of options to suit your career goals, Passport Membership propels your career advancement and offers exceptional value to healthcare providers. Saturday nights debate in New Hampshire could present the last chance for three of the candidates. Photo: Getty Images Marco Rubio has not, as some observers thought possible, blown the doors off his rivals in New Hampshire after his strong third-place finish in Iowa. But he has crept past both Ted Cruz and his most immediate opposition fellow Establishmentarians Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Chris Christie to take second place in the last four published polls from the Granite State. With just four days to go until primary day, the major event with the potential to shake things up is Saturday nights New Hampshire Republican debate on ABC. Ted Cruz is under little pressure in New Hampshire, a state nobody expected him to do well in, given its relatively few conservative Evangelicals. He can look ahead to potentially strong showings in Nevada and South Carolina later this month, and then in the SEC primary on March 1. But for Bush, Kasich, and Christie, it may be now or never. Christie is in greatest danger from the scythe of the Great Winnower. Despite the boost he got from his early endorsement by the Union Leader, hes now consistently running a poor sixth in the polls. Unlike Bush and Kasich, he does not have the oasis of a home-state primary on the near horizon; the big middle-Atlantic states dont vote until late April, and New Jersey votes on the last day of the primary season in June. And he went into the final push for New Hampshire with less cash on hand than the other major candidates. Christie must have a boffo debate performance Saturday night or hes almost certainly history. Its unclear exactly how much of its initially vast haul the pro-Bush super-pac Right to Rise has left to burn through, but Jeb at a minimum needs to finish ahead of Kasich and Christie in New Hampshire in order to make it to South Carolina, where he has some decent local resources, and then eventually to the duel to the death in the sun with Rubio in Florida. Kasich is tenaciously holding on to what you might call the Jon Huntsman proud moderate position in the field, which gives him a chance for survival in New Hampshire, where Huntsman himself won 17 percent four years ago. So all these gents need to outdo each other, and if possible, beat up on Marco Rubio, in the ABC debate. The latter should be a focus in everyones debate prep, since an unexpectedly poor showing by Young Marco might keep everybody alive. Well, nearly everybody. Carly Fiorina (and the largely invisible Jim Gilmore) didnt make the cut for this debate, and the shrinking field means no more kiddie table or undercard events. From a broader perspective, the growing willingness of the remaining male candidates to savagely attack Hillary Clinton (Chris Christie keeps threatening to prosecute her, and more recently said hed beat her rear end in a general-election debate) makes her unnecessary as the designated non-piggie Hillary-basher. She should now go back to enjoying whatevers left of her golden parachute from HP. Desirable? Maybe so. Photo: Friends of the Brooklyn Queens Connector Having lost the fight against Uber and abandoned his plan for a Central Park stable, Bill de Blasio is shifting his transit priorities from one form of 1880s transit technology (the horse-drawn carriage) to another: the streetcar. In his State of the City speech, de Blasio floated a plan for a 16-mile, $2.5 billion trolley line that would run along the waterfront from Sunset Park, through Red Hook and Downtown Brooklyn, past the Navy Yard, all the way to Astoria. Its the missing piece in the generational project of waterfront development, which has chugged energetically along despite minimal access to public transit. Maybe a waterfront streetcar is an expensive antiquarian folly, but its the kind of folly the city needs. For now, traveling from borough to borough by subway often means a detour through Manhattan. (The G runs direct, but it makes all of two stops in Queens, and the transfer from Court Square to Queensboro Plaza involves a ten-minute walk. The far eastern parts of Queens and Brooklyn are also linked, by the A/C and J/Z, but there are very large areas left unserved.) Existing buses are instruments of slow-motion torture, which is one reason almost nobody takes them. At the moment, the waterfront route is best navigated by bike. A streetcar wouldnt be speedy 11 or 12 miles per hour on average but it would have a dedicated lane, allowing it to glide through gridlock. I started off as a skeptic. Similar proposals have been kicking around for years the planner Alex Garvin proposed one, the Bloomberg administration killed another and my first reaction to this one was that de Blasio is peddling a gentrification fantasy, spraying subsidies at developers who are already swimming in profits. (Specifically, it looked suspiciously like a gift to the developer Two Trees, which owns a lot of property along the route and bankrolled a feasibility study.) Why spend that kind of change helping affluent young Williamsburgers get to their tech jobs in Downtown Brooklyn, I thought, rather than on underserved junctions in the Bronx and Eastern Queens? The first answer is that the streetcar will be paid for by tax revenue that wouldnt exist without it. The second is that it does exactly what public transit should: connect homes to jobs, and open up new migration lines. Thats the way New York has developed for 150 years: transit leads development, rather than the other way around. This is the stretch where we expect to see the most growth in residential construction and jobs, said deputy mayor Alicia Glen. Theres a tremendous amount of underutilized and undervalued property there, which makes this project very compelling. To pay for the project, the city will rely on tax-increment financing (TIF), in which the city estimates how much additional development the streetcar would generate, then spends projected tax revenues upfront. The assumption is that however much the value of fallow land and vacant warehouses is rising now, better public transit would boost it even more. De Blasio is selling the streetcar as a way to ferry tens of thousands of NYCHA residents to ever-multiplying jobs in the Navy Yard and in the Industry City complex in Sunset Park. That may well happen, and it would be wonderful, but its not the reason the streetcar makes sense. Rather, its a piston in the machine that moves the city, the engine we call real estate. Property values rise, bringing in more tax revenue, which subsidizes the affordable housing that higher prices make necessary. The streetcar is also part of the de Blasio administrations push to create a transit network that doesnt require the blessing of his nemesis, Governor Andrew Cuomo. The state controls the MTA, which means that building a new subway stop, not to mention a whole line, means going begging in Albany. On the other hand, the city can navigate its streets and waterways any way it likes, which why de Blasio has revived Citi Bike, is launching an expanded ferry system, and is now pushing a streetcar, which would operate as an independent concession. Even as the mayor pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding Select Bus Service along arteries like Woodhaven Boulevard in Queens, hes also hoping to do an end run on the MTA. (Incidentally, a dedicated bus lane along the waterfront would be cheaper, but because it seems temporary and reversible, it would affect property values only marginally, so there would be less money to build it.) There are still questions that bear asking, and pitfalls that could mangle the idea beyond recognition. Would developers who stand to gain from this new public amenity be asked to kick in a portion of the budget? Would passengers be able to move seamlessly and on one fare from streetcar to ferry to subway, even if they belong to different systems? And what will all this streetcar-primed development actually look like? The last thing we need is a 16-mile wall of glass slabs like those that have defaced the Williamsburg waterfront, which is why the multiyear approvals process should be linked to humane rezoning. The waterfront is still in the throes of transformation, and stitching it together with a streetcar gives the city a stake in guiding it, rather than just accepting whatever comes along. Even skeptics can be flexible. The internet this month feels like nothing but a great big shouting match between the Bernie Bros and the Hillary Stans, a furious, overheated debate among people who basically agree about most issues. Its even spilled over into the world of online dating, where Tinder has started banning users who were feeling the Bern a little too enthusiastically. Two women, whod sent proBernie Sanders messages to hundreds of men between them, told Reuters theyd had their accounts deactivated. Robyn Gedrich, 23, said she sent this campaign message to 60 men a day for two weeks: Do you feel the bern? her message to other Tinder users read, parroting a Sanders campaign slogan, Please text WORK to 82623 for me. Thanks. Sending that text message signs you up for Sanderss campaign updates. Tinder shut Gedrich down on Thursday. She said that none of her matches ended in a date. Obviously. Haley Lent, who is 22 and married, also wasnt on Tinder seeking love and hookups. She told Reuters she contacted 50 to 100 people on the app, trying to convince people to vote for Sanders in their states primaries. If they said no or were on the fence, I would try to talk to them and persuade them to vote, she said. Lent, who lives in Iowa, even paid for Tinder Plus so she could change her location to New Hampshire, the site of the next Democratic primary and a crucial state for the Sanders campaign. Tinder hasnt commented, but its probably safe to assume the womens accounts were shut down automatically after too many people reported them as spam. Aside from Bernie Babes acting like Bernie Bots, theres apparently been a lot of casual Tinder chat about Sanders. Theres an entire Facebook group dedicated to Bernie Sanders Dank Tinder Conversations, featuring tons of screenshots of people asking their matches whether theyve accepted our lord and savior, Bernie Sanders. I guess you could call it a kind of ideological purity test for potential hookups. Theres almost a year left in this election, during which people will saturate our every online interaction with their Strong Political Opinions. Even on Tinder! Its important, but its also exhausting. I hope that, at the very least, someone is getting laid as part of the deal. Photo: Michael Tercha/Corbis The controversy over GMOs, Chipotle, and Chipotles apparent inability to not repeatedly sicken its consumers is utterly fascinating. It should be a case study in every political-psychology textbook, because it has allowed us to watch, in real time, as an issue gets intensely politicized and, in turn, becomes a focal point for all sorts of addled thinking and wild conspiracies. Let me back up for one minute, because I dont want to imply that theres always a clean or straightforward distinction between objective and politicized thinking. But to the folks who study these questions for a living, there are important gradations. When I wrote about anti-vaccination ideologies a year ago, for example, a couple of experts highlighted to me the fact that anti-vaxxers dont sort cleanly along political lines, and that the worst thing that could happen would be for it to start to become a political issue. Once we start to think some belief isnt just correct but is the sort of thing people like me believe, it becomes more personal, more visceral, and tougher to dislodge. If tomorrow anti-vax ideology became a key component of membership in some influential political group, that would be very bad public-health news. To illustrate this principle a bit further, take an extreme and unlikely example: Assuming you know how to count, if someone puts a small bag of M&Ms in front of you and asks you to write the number of M&Ms in there on a piece of paper, nothing in your brain will bias you away from the right answer: You just count the M&Ms and, assuming you arent distracted by all that tasty chocolate, arrive at the correct number. But lets say youre a hard-line member of a small religious sect that views odd numbers as evil stating them aloud or writing them can actually get you kicked out of the community entirely. Then youre at a disadvantage: You have a 50 percent chance of flubbing what should have been a basic task, because if you arrived at an odd count, youd have to add or subtract an M&M since people like you just dont write odd numbers this is an important part of who you are, and the fact that there are an even number of M&Ms is secondary. Back to Chipotle: When the burrito giant announced last year that it was (sort of) getting rid of GMOs, it won widespread acclaim from bien pensant environment- and health-focused progressives. Some people, myself included, pointed out that these plaudits were unearned; given the lack of a substantive scientific or environmental case against GMOs (as opposed to certain situations in which they could be used harmfully or improperly, just as traditional agriculture methods can be), this was a bullshit PR move aimed at draping the company in a cloak of good corporate citizenship, especially in light of all the ways eating Chipotle or eating certain things there at least is legitimately bad for you. Naturally, Science of Us and other outlets making these sorts of arguments were tarred in various comment sections and blog posts as pro-Monsanto and so forth, since to the people celebrating Chipotles move it was inconceivable that anyone criticizing that move isnt in the pocket of their sworn agribusiness enemies (one line of anti-GMO argument is big agribusiness companies use GMOs, big agribusiness companies are bad, and therefore GMOs are bad though this ignores the fact that in some contexts, GMOs help out small farmers a great deal). Since the announcement, Chipotle has grappled with health emergency after health emergency, all around the country: Many of its customers have been sickened with norovirus, salmonella, and E. coli. Obviously, it would have been preferable for no one to get sick, but these incidents did highlight, in a grim way, the difference between superficial corporate virtue-signalling and actually, you know, making sure your product is safe for your customers. So how does the anti-GMO crowd interpret all of this? Yesterday, Uproxx highlighted a late December analysis article in Natural News by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, which offers up a rather shocking storyline: After observing recent events involving Chipotle and e.coli, heres my analysis of the situation: Chipotles e.coli outbreaks are not random chance. They are the result of the biotech industry bioterrorism attacks against the only fast food company that has publicly denounced GMOs. How do we know? The CDC has already admitted that some of these e.coli outbreaks involve a rare genetic strain of e.coli not normally seen in foods. Furthermore, we also know the track record of the biotech industry engaging in the most criminal, dirty, sleazebag tactics imaginable against any person or company that speaks out against GMOs. Doctor Oz, for example, was maliciously targeted in a defamation campaign funded by the biotech industry earlier this year. The onslaught against Oz was initiated because he publicly expressed his support for honest GMO labeling on foods. There is absolutely no question that the biotech industry will resort to ANY activity necessary to destroy food companies that oppose GMOs. And yes, this includes acts of bioterrorism against Chipotle something thats ridiculously easy for biotech industry operatives to carry out with simple, low-cost laboratory supplies sold online at places like Amazon.com. In my HealthRangerReport.com podcast, shown below, I am now openly encouraging Chipotles management to initiate a criminal investigation with the FBI to attempt to identify the sources of this corporate sabotage campaign. To be clear, whats really happening at Chipotle is that biotech industry shills are deliberately contaminating Chipotles food with strains of e.coli in a malicious attempt to destroy both the reputation and finances of the Chipotle food chain. This act of bioterrorism is entirely consistent with the known behavior patterns of the biotech industry which, for example, engaged in illegal money laundering in Washington state in order to destroy the GMO labeling bill there. [formatting his] You got that? The biotech companies are so threatened by Chipotle brave stance that they are sticking it to the company by contaminating its customers food. No actual evidence is provided of this astounding claim, nor are any of the perpetrators named, but no matter: This article has been shared one hundred and twenty thousand times on Facebook. This is how a not-insignificant chunk of people interprets Chipotle sickening its customers: as evidence of a conspiracy against Chipotle. It is bizarre to see the anti-corporate granola crowd lining up to defend the integrity of a corporate behemoth like Chipotle, but there you have it. This is what happens when a given debate becomes so politicized, so tightly wound up in peoples political identities, that common sense and objectivity get tossed into the garbage like a day-old burrito. In all likelihood, the truth of these health incidents is a lot less spectacular: The investigations, some of which are already under way, are probably going to reveal some level of cost-cutting or sloppiness or miscommunication or corruption not a heart-stopping conspiracy. To the un-addled, the evidence will be straightforward, the conclusions rather certain. But if your mind and your political identity are in a place where any criticism of Chipotle, or of anti-GMO arguments, is conclusive evidence of ill motives and corporate evil well, youre going to come up with the wrong number of M&Ms. Look at these patterns, man. Photo: Instagram Lifestyle content is all about aspiration, which is code for making people envy you and shop accordingly. In our series I Like This Bitchs Life, the Cut bitterly admits that its working. There are many wonderful things about living in New York: subways that run all night, produce markets named after fruits (Mr. Kiwi, Mr. Melon, and so on), the peace that comes from knowing that, at any moment, the entire city could be taken under by an apocalyptic tsunami. But undoubtedly the highlight is the fact that it is not only accepted but frankly encouraged to wear black clothing all day and every day. Black clothing looks good on everyone, but especially New Yorkers. It embodies our rotting cores. Because of this commitment to monochrome, whimsy can be exceedingly hard to come by here. Hard, that is, if you arent Ellen Van Dusen, designer and founder of clothing and home brand Dusen Dusen. If youre Ellen Van Dusen, the whole world is a freaking party and the lights are on and the sun is out and were going to eat some sort of purple potato salad with our shoes off, toes in the grass, dogs running without leashes. But its still all very casual, very blase, decidedly metropolitan. For New Yorkers, this bright-eyed but nonchalant enthusiasm can, on a surface level, be daunting. Which is why, though it pains me, I must admit it: I like this bitchs life. Van Dusens social-media presence is remarkably effective if youre in need of a generous pick-me-up. Ive never been to Denmark but something about shapes and primary colors and thin outlines makes me think, Hm, I bet everyone in Copenhagen is happy. Van Dusen does the kind of Instagram curating that functions as ideal visual candy: neither too sweet like Fun Dip nor too filling like Haribo gummy frogs. Nay, the trip through @dusendusens patterns and fabrics and clothes and various other multicolored ephemera makes for a perfect sweet nibble, just like an bleskiver, a Danish dessert that I just Googled but have never tasted. I am told it is a food one can get in Copenhagen. It looks good. Id like to eat it someday while I wear a perfect blouse plastered with big red and chartreuse block shapes, buttoned all the way to the top button. As I sip coffee (moodily), eat salad (begrudgingly), and scroll Instagram (listlessly), a snap from Van Dusen can make the sides of my mouth do something unfamiliar. What is this persimmon-colored rug flecked with turquoise macaroni pieces doing to my lips? Is it making me smile? I look down and all I see is scratched, worn hardwood. No. Darkness returns. That romper with mint-green lines in front of a colorful backdrop! Is it making me happy? Drat they raised the price of MetroCards again. Im depressed. Look, its a dog in a sweater that even I would wear. Is this what joy feels like? Do I need to buy a freaking loom? Do I even know what a loom is? The Dusen Dusen brand is carefree but not annoying, colorful but not Lisa Frank. The bed that Ellen Van Dusen sleeps in looks like the kind of bed that people who go to design school sleep in. Her sheets white, scattered with the alphabet, pillowcases covered in tiny confetti dots look like they like to read about architecture. Her wall art, I mean, its as if David Hockney were just a little bit cooler. God, I bet itd be fun to live this colorfully. I can just picture it: reclining in loungewear in a bed made of geometric shapes and maybe my hanging spider plant grazes my pillows. Im thinking about my grad application to RISD. Im listening to Hot Chip. I am having fun, but Im also laid-back and never brag. Do you also read Fast Company? I do, and I only smoke cigarettes after a strong cocktail. Oh. Yeah. This. This is what I mean. I always carry huge stacks of money. Oh, Mom gives you a weekly allowance? Roosh V/Instagram Return of Kings organizer Roosh V., the 36-year-old man promoting a misogynistic agenda on the internet, is currently hiding out at his mothers house. The Daily Mail found Roosh at his mothers home in Silver Spring, Maryland, and posted a series of sweaty photos of him looking forlorn in the doorway as he spoke with police. Roosh reportedly called 911 after receiving death threats. It seems people werent cool with the outlandishly offensive ideas he pushes on his website. Thursday, Roosh canceled an International Meetup Day scheduled for his tribesmen to gather in 43 different countries. He put the nix on the meet-ups for safety concerns. This call was largely influenced by the Toronto Newsgirls, a group of female boxers, who threatened to attend the meet-ups. Apparently Roosh couldnt quite stomach the idea of a bunch of tough women ruining his International (Douchebag) Day. So, he sought shelter at Mommys; heres hoping shell take away his computer privileges. This post originally stated that Roosh lives in his mothers basement. It has been updated to reflect the lack of certainty on that point. Photo: Print Collector/The Print Collector / Heritage-Images /Getty Images Who hasnt imagined successfully staging your own death, showing up at your funeral to see how many people are there mourning, and then soaking up all the love and relief that will inevitably come when you reveal that you are not, in fact, dead? Anyone? Everyone? Well, a woman named Noela Rukundo sort of lived out a horrifying version of that fantasy. It involved a husband who wanted her dead, actually fearing for her life, and, luckily for her, justice. Heres her tale: Rukondo, who lives in Melbourne, went back home to Burundi to attend a funeral. That night, she was at home, on the phone with her husband unpacking the events of the difficult day shed had, when he told her to go outside and get some air. She took his weird suggestion, but it was a setup a man held her up at gunpoint, put her in a car, and took her to a second location where a group of men told her that her husband had paid $7,000 to have her killed. And just in case she didnt believe them, they called up her husband and were like, Dude, what did you want us to do with your wife again? His answer was Kill her, reports the Washington Post, and then he went around telling everyone back home she had died in a tragic accident. But, a twist! Because these men knew her brother and also didnt believe in killing women, they let her go with a cell phone and all the evidence she would need to get revenge (recordings of phone calls, a receipt for payment). Rukundo then contacted the Kenyan embassies and her pastor in Melbourne, who helped her get home, and five days later, showed up at her own funeral just in time to see how much the community mourned her death (a lot!) and also to walk up to her husband and say, Surprise, Im still alive! like a boss. A ghost boss. And then she turned her husband over to the authorities. He will serve nine years in prison and definitely shouldnt expect a refund from those hit men. This is a zine dedicated to black metal written by a practitioner of the black arts , This zine has been around in a different format for a while and I have decided to make an edition for www.blogger.com, for more information email occultblackmetalzine@yahoo.com, IF YOU ASK FOR AN ALBUM REVIEW OR INTERVIEW, DO NOT ASK FOR ME TO TAKE IT DOWN ONCE IT IS POSTED, ASKING WILL BE A WASTE OF TIME, https://www.patreon.com/OccultBlackMetalZIne no more facebook due to excessive bans so contact email Because I'm sure thats what she wants to be known for. Reply Thread Link mte they'd have went with Parks and Rec smdh Reply Parent Thread Link that's so cool about rachel keller. i loved her so much in fargo and then completely forgot about her but she was goood. Reply Thread Link Yaaaas! Happy for ha and Jean Smart getting werk tbh. The women in this last season of Fargo were just so good, I loved them all. Reply Parent Thread Link Aubrey Plaza playing an optimist? Reply Thread Link lol ikr Reply Parent Thread Link i guess someone told her to try to be more diverse lol Reply Parent Thread Link The beast has a son? Somehow I have a feeling the "dead wife" trope is going to be used in this. I can feel it. ETA lmao oops my reading comprehension failed. I didn't realize it was Dan that had a son lol. Edited at 2016-02-05 03:09 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link If he looks on the show like he did in the Guest, I'm totally on board. Reply Thread Link Every time I see your icon I just really want Padme's veil just all her clothes Reply Parent Thread Link Cautiously hyped for this. Reply Thread Link I'm excited for this. Reply Thread Link the movie was terrible and i am shocked about how many people rave about it. it was very made-for-dvd and not in a good way. Reply Parent Thread Link the guest was amazing tbh. it was such a fun 80s thriller throwback w a great soundtrack Reply Parent Thread Link dan stevens was so fucking hot in the guest. that's all i have to contribute to this post. Reply Thread Link yaaaaas Reply Parent Thread Link I was just looking him up because I hadn't heard of him being in anything since DA and damn he looks a million times better when he isn't Cousin Matthew. Also, the summary of The Guest sounds really interesting so I might have to go watch it. Reply Parent Thread Link the guest is definitely one of my favorite movies. i watch it multiple times a year (and it only came out in 2014 lmao) but it's just that fun and the soundtrack changed my life tbh and it's on netflix so easier to see! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I put off watching it cause from the description it's not the sort of movie I'm usually into, but everybody was raving about it. I finally gave it a go and definitely get why folks like it! It's not great or anything but it's enjoyable, has some great scenes (I loved the climax at the haunted house tbh), and, yeah, Dan Stevens is hot af in it lol Reply Parent Thread Link ugghhhh i need to rewatch just for him. altho maika was also so fun in it tbh. and the soundtrack. rly just a good movie overall i guess Reply Parent Thread Link The wrinkles tell of his heritage. Reply Parent Thread Link That's all I think about when I see him now. Reply Parent Thread Link Aubrey though? Reply Thread Link *diagnosed with Schizophrenia Sorry it's kind of a pet peeve of mine. Has Cousin Matthew really been in much since Downton Abbey? I assume he left for a reason but this is like the first I've heard of him cast in anything. I'm going to have to go google him now. Reply Thread Link He did the scary stalker thing in some movie? Reply Parent Thread Link he was the bad guy in the last Night at the Museum movie Reply Parent Thread Link This should be interesting. Will he have David's ridiculous hair, though? Reply Thread Link also all of these character descriptions are insuffffffferable - oh, he's schizophrenic, but here comes Manic Pixie Dream Girl, the plucky addict who thinks everything's coming up sunshine, the ~damaged~ streetwise girl who somehow, through it all, thinks prince charming is coming on what planet does Aubrey Plaza have the likeable energy of an eternal optimistalso all of these character descriptions are insuffffffferable - oh, he's schizophrenic, but here comes Manic Pixie Dream Girl, the plucky addict who thinks everything's coming up sunshine, the ~damaged~ streetwise girl who somehow, through it all, thinks prince charming is coming Reply Thread Link Mte @ the character descriptions. The cast itself makes me excited, but then these descriptions are just... no ty. Reply Parent Thread Link First time hearing about this show. It's FX so maybe is good. I thought Marvel couldn't use anything X-Men related. Reply Thread Link yeah it's the first time i hear about it too. i don't think marvel has anything to do with this, Fox still has the rights to the x-men, right? is FX still owned by Fox? Reply Parent Thread Link Any Marvel/X-Men/Fox connoisseur here that could help us, please? xD Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The IEA Oil Market Report, full issue, is now available to the public. Some interesting observations: Non-OPEC oil supplies are sharply lower in December. Overall supplies are estimated to have slipped by more than 0.6 mb/d from the month prior, to 57.4 mb/d. A seasonal decline in biofuel production, largely due to the Brazilian sugar cane harvest, of nearly 0.4 mb/d was the largest contributor to Decembers drop. Production in Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and the U.S. was also seen easing from both Novembers level and compared with a year earlier. Persistently low production in Mexico and Yemen were other contributors to the year-on-year decline. As such, total non-OPEC liquids output slipped below the year earlier level for the first time since September 2012. A production surge in December 2014 inflates the annual decline rate, but the drop is nevertheless significant should these estimates be confirmed by firm data. Already in November, growth in non-OPEC supply had slipped to 640 kb/d, from as much as 2.9 mb/d at the end of 2014, and 2.4 mb/d for 2014 as a whole. For 2015, supplies look likely to post an increase of 1.4 mb/d for the year, before contracting by nearly 0.6 mb/d in 2016. A prolonged period of oil at sub-$30/bbl puts additional volumes at risk of shut in as realised prices fall close to operating costs for some producers. The IEA has every month of 2016 Non-OPEC production below the year over year 2015 production. For the past four years, North America has carried the load as far as the increase in Non-OPEC production is concerned. Now the IEA believes North America will suffer the lions share of the decline in 2016. The IEA says U.S. Gulf of Mexico and NGLs will show an increase in 2016 but every other location will show a decline with Texas showing the largest decline. Related:Iran Looking To Ramp Up More Than Just Oil Production The IEA says Non-OPEC production was up 1.3 million bpd in 2015 but will be down 0.7 million bpd in 2016. Below are their numbers. They do not include biofuels or process gain. 2014 51.8 2015 53.1 2016 52.4 The IEA has Non-OPEC liquids in December 2015 down about 650,000 bpd compared to December 2014. But if the IEA expects Non-OPEC production to be down in 2016, how will world oil production be able to meet the ever rising demand? Simple, just pick up the phone and call OPEC. They will supply the needed barrels. Related: Russia Cries Dyadya (Uncle), Is Saudi Arabia Listening? Data from Rystad Energy show the number of completed wells have by far outpaced the number of wells spudded (drilled) since 4Q14. Indeed, the number of well completions per month continued to increase several months after the rig count started to drop off, peaking at more than 1,600 wells in December 2014. The number of completions are still outpacing the number of new wells drilled, and as a result, the number of uncompleted wells, or the frack-log, has been cut down from its peak of around 4,600 wells hit at the end of 2014 to around 3,700 wells currently. Make of the above chart what you will. I do not understand the spuds going to zero. Spuds are, quite obviously, not at zero. But then its not my chart. And here are a few charts of my own. I thought it would be interesting to make some comparisons between price, rig count and production. In all charts below the right axis is always color coded with the chart data. All data is through December 2015 unless otherwise noted. (Click to enlarge) The above rig count is just the oil rig count, not the total rig count. There is obviously a delay between rig count and production. Just how many months that delay is, is not completely clear. (Click to enlarge) All price data is from Index Mundi and is the average of three spot prices; Dated Brent, West Texas Intermediate, and the Dubai Fateh, in U.S. Dollars per Barrel. Quite obviously the rig count follows the price with a delay of from one year to as little as three or four months. Related:BP Reports Huge Loss As Oil Slump Lingers On (Click to enlarge) And production follows price, somewhat, with a delay that is hard to calculate. (Click to enlarge) Well, production has followed price in the USA and Canada. But elsewhere everyone just seems to be producing flat out regardless of the price. Just as the price was peaking in early 2011, Non-OPEC production, less USA and Canada, began to decline. Production in this chart is only through October. The recent surge in world production that was brought about by high prices was a USA and Canadian phenomenon only. By Ron Patterson More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Due to the vital importance of water to all life forms ... the FBI considers all threats to attack the water supply as serious threats. E nvironmental terrorism is among the fears we must guard against - especially when protecting our civilization's water supply. Flint Michigan is now living the fear, because the poisoned water became a reality. Yet, it wasn't terrrorism. Rather, the lead poisinong in the Flint municipal water is the result of a state government interventio n. Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican darling, is being shieled for his incompetence by party politics. Snyder's executive action in appointing a municipal manager for Flint, and essentially overriding the democratically elected Mayor, paved the way for the city to change the source of the municipal water. This change was made without quality oversight about how the river water would corrode the lead in the water pipes and this short cut, to save moneym is now resulting in lead poisoned water used by Flint residents. Lead poisoning causes multiple systems of toxicity and the irreversible physiologic effects, especially on children, frequently last a lifetime. If any setitious group had poured lead into a municipal water supply, Americans would screech in fear and demand accountability. Incredulously, probably because Governor Snyder is a darling of the Repulbican party, he's shielded by his position and protected from prosecution by his political friends. by by , Flint, Mich. resident Glaydes Williamson holds up water from Flint and hair pulled from her drain, during the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing to examine the ongoing situation in Flint, Mich., on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016. Michigan should have required the city of Flint to treat its water for corrosion-causing elements after elevated lead levels were first discovered in the city's water a year ago, the state's top environmental regulator says in testimony (Photo: AP/Molly Riley) Less than one month after the attacks of Sept. 11, a senior FBI official, Ronald Dick, told the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Due to the vital importance of water to all life forms ... the FBI considers all threats to attack the water supply as serious threats. In 2003, a UPI article reported that an al-Qaida operative (does not rule out) using Sarin gas and poisoning drinking water in U.S. and Western cities. Where the terrorists have failed to mount any attack on a water supply, the Michigan state government has succeeded. In the city of Flint, lead-poisoned water has been piped into homes and offices since 2014, causing widespread illness and potentially permanent brain damage among its youngest residents. Michigan has one of the most severe emergency manager laws in the country, allowing the governor to appoint an unelected agent to take over local governments when those locales or institutions have been deemed to be in a financial emergency. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder pushed for and obtained two bills that strengthened the law, and has used it aggressively to impose his version of fiscal austerity on cities like Detroit, Benton Harbor, several large school districts and, now most notoriously, on Flint. In every case but one, the emergency manager has taken over cities that are majority African-American. The emergency manager is granted sweeping powers to override local, democratically elected governments and to make cuts to budgets, sell public property, cancel or renegotiate labor contracts and essentially govern like a dictator. In April 2014, Darnell Earley, the fourth of five Flint emergency managers appointed by Snyder, unilaterally decided to switch Flints water source from Detroits water system, with water from Lake Huron that they had been using for 50 years , to the long-contaminated Flint River. Flint residents immediately noticed discoloration and bad smells from the water, and experienced an array of health impacts, like rashes and hair loss. In October 2014, General Motors decided it would no longer use Flint city water in its plants, as it was corroding metal car parts. Later, trihalomethanes, a toxic byproduct of water treatment, were found in the water. Despite that, the water was declared safe by officials. At the same time, as revealed in an email later obtained by Progress Michigan, the state began shipping coolers of clean, potable water to the state office building in Flint. This was more than a year before Gov. Snyder would admit that the water was contaminated. Ongoing activism by Flint residents whose children were sick attracted the involvement of water researchers from Virginia Tech, who found that 10,000 residents had been exposed to elevated lead levels. It took out-of-state researchers from Virginia to travel all the way to Michigan to conduct the comprehensive tests needed. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha then got involved. She is the director of the pediatric residency program at Hurley Childrens Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Michigan State University. She discovered an alarming connection between rising blood lead levels in Flints children with the switch to the Flint River as a water source. The percentage of children with elevated lead levels doubled in the whole city, and in some neighborhoods, it tripled, she told us on the Democracy Now! news hour. And it directly correlated with where the water lead levels were the highest. Rather than going after the problem she identified, the state went after her. We were attacked, she recalled. I was called an unfortunate researcher, that I was causing near hysteria, that I was splicing and dicing numbers, and that the state data was not consistent with my data. And as a scientist ... when the state, with a team of 50 epidemiologists, tells you youre wrong, you second-guess yourself. Within weeks, state authorities were forced to admit she was right. Soon after, she was standing at the governors side, and has just been appointed to run a new public health initiative to help those exposed to the contamination. A chorus of Flint residents and allies are demanding immediate action to ensure safe, clean water to the people of Flint. Many are calling for Gov. Snyder to resign, or even to be arrested. The FBI and the Justice Department are now investigating to see if any laws were broken. This week, the House held a hearing on the crisis, during which Houston Congressmember Sheila Jackson Lee compared the poisoning of Flint residents to the 1978 mass suicide and murder in Jonestown, Guyana. There, cult leader Jim Jones ordered his 900 followers, 300 of them children, to drink cyanide-laced Kool-Aid. Those victims died instantly. In Flint, the tragedy will unfold over decades. Take away message: What does the Flint Water Crisis teach us? Perhaps Governor Rick Snyder and his political allies would consider returning the power of local government to the citizens. It's unbelievelable how hypocritical Republicans are about government. Although they preach less government, they also use the power of government to their political advantage. Yet, when government harms the health and safety of the citizens, it's time ot fire the leadership. Published Thursday, February 04, 2016 Labels: Amy Goodman, Denis Moynihan, FBI Puerto Rican food is not as scarce in Milwaukee as it used to be. Spots like La Isla and El Rincon Criollo are serving up traditional dishes like alcapurrias, mofongo, arroz con gandules and jabaritos all choices that are likely hit the spot if youre craving Latin food from the Caribbean. However, we had the pleasure of visiting yet another Puerto Rican restaurant. La Morovena, this past week. And what we found was a satisfying lunch that hit all the right notes in terms of flavor and authenticity. La Morovena a relative newcomer to the Walkers Point area moved into their current space at 830 W. Greenfield Ave. this past April after operating as a carryout-only restaurant in Lincoln Village. In terms of its interior, the restaurant is clean, but sparse. A floral mural decorates the west wall, pulling some color into otherwise basic decor. Five or six Formica-topped tables, including two near the front windows, facilitate sit down dining, and a counter at the back accommodates takeout orders. A bulk of the food preparation is visible in an open kitchen just beyond the counter. The menu at La Morovena is small, but soulful, offering up affordable homestyle Puerto Rican food including sides, sandwiches and entrees which make for satisfying lunch or dinner fare. We were very much looking forward to trying the restaurants pernil, traditional Puerto Rican roasted pork ($8.99 for an entree with tostones, rice and salad); however, the restaurant was out of the dish on the day we visited. So, we opted instead for a number of sides including alcapurrias and trifongo along with two entrees (dinners): the bistec en salsa, steak with red sauce and onions and chuleta, fried pork chops. The alcapurrias akin to a fritter contained small pieces of plantain and cubes of seasoned and fried pork were encapsulated in lightly seasoned dough made from mashed green bananas and deep fried to a crisp golden brown. The trifongo, an off-menu item recommended to us by our server, consisted of a molded dome containing a mash of both starchy and sweet plantains, yucca root and bite sized pieces of crisp pork rind, which not only provided plenty of texture against the softer mash, but also a rich, salty pork flavor which enhanced the otherwise starchy dish. Dinners were served with generous portions of arroz con gandules (yellow rice with pigeon peas), tostones and a salad of shredded iceberg lettuce and tomato. The arroz con gandules was moist and flavorful, chock full of pigeon peas and pieces of pork. And the palm-sized tostones were truly well prepared crisp on their exterior and smooth and creamy within, seasoned with adobo and garlic oil. Both dishes can also be ordered a la carte; a half dozen tostones for $1.95 and an order of arroz con gandules for $4.50. The bistec ($9.99) wasn't heavily sauced; but, it was well seasoned and fried, giving it a toothsome texture and great flavor. Meanwhile, the pork chops ($8.99) quickly became a one of our favorite dishes. The fried pork which was both toothy and moist was pleasantly salty and well seasoned with adobo. Satisfying and soul-filling, our lunch (which included cans of kola champagne, a beverage with a flavor similar to cream soda) came in at under $30 for three, an inarguable value considering the amount and quality of the food. And you can bet well be heading back in the coming months to try out both the pastelillos, as well as the pernil. La Morovena is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Both dine in and carry-out are available. The new Shorewood Metro Market, 4075 N. Oakland Ave., opens Feb. 16, less than one year after Roundy's, the grocers current parent company, bulldozed its old Pick 'N Save location that stood just north of the new building. Ground was broken for the new development last March 31. In the year that the new Shorewood Metro Market, fashioned after Roundy's Mariano's brand in suburban Chicago, was under construction, Roundy's agreed to be sold to Kroeger. In December, The Kroger Co. completed its deal to buy Roundy's for approximately $800 million, including according to several news sources the assumption of more than $600 million in Roundy's debt. The new Metro Market facility occupies two large blocks in the Village of Shorewood between Kenmore and Olive Streets on the west side of Oakland Avenue, and as mentioned replaces an old Pick 'N Save and the former Schwartz Bookshop and Walgreen's buildings. The two-story store will include several signature areas including a Metro Butcher Shoppe, Metro Fish Co., Todd's BBQ, Badger Baking, Oki Sushi, Tap Beer and Wine, an Oyster Bar, Squeez'd Juice and Smoothies and Cream City Confectionery. An expansive produce section is being completed, too, and the location also will include a pharmacy. A VIP grand opening is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 15. And the store officially opens at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Daily hours are 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Work on the rest of the development continues with new street-side tenants set to be announced soon. Kroger now has 2,775 supermarkets in 35 states and the District of Columbia. "Anomalisa" tells a small story just a lonely man meeting a woman at a hotel in even smaller fashion with dolls and stop-motion animation with an even smaller budget. Yet for such a seemingly tiny project, Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnsons film leaves a big impact, telling a complex and funny of loneliness and connection with a human heart that beats louder than most movies with actual humans in them. Its left a big mark on critics in 2015 too, scoring high on several best of lists and not to mention nabbing a Best Animated Film nomination. While "Anomalisa" takes place in Cincinnati (with its famous zoo; its zoo-sized!), it turns out that theres a dash of Milwaukee in the project too thanks to Milwaukee-born animator Owen Klatte. A graduate of Tosa East and UWM, Klattes worked on animated films and projects of all varieties, from stop-motion ("The Nighrmare Before Christmas") to computer created ("Dinosaur," the animated sequence in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1") and now back again to stop-motion, using his human hands to bring the puppet people to life in "Anomalisa." OnMilwaukee recently caught up with Klatte to talk about the making of "Anomalisa," the process behind turning puppets into people, stop-motion sex and the movies Oscar odds against "Inside Out." OnMilwaukee: How did you get involved with "Anomalisa"? Owen Klatte: We were living in California til the end of 2013. My wife and I are both animators, and we had been working on various things around L.A., but we were starting to plan to move back here. A stop-motion job came up which we hadnt done in about a decade or more so we worked on one, and then a couple of others came along including "Anomalisa." I just got on that because I met people or reconnected with people in the stop-motion field. So they were in production, and I worked on it for about six months. OnMilwaukee: Why the kind of hiatus from stop-motion? Klatte: Because we were working in computer graphics. We moved to California in 1982 and really got going in animation in about 85. From about 87 on, we were working in stop-motion this was in San Francisco for about ten years, with commercials like the Pillsbury Doughboy and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" and "James and the Giant Peach." And then in 96, we moved down to L.A. to work on "Dinosaur," and thats where we really learned computer graphics and spent the next 15 years in computer graphics including a stint in Australia working on Harry Potter. So thats why we got away from stop-motion for a while. Owen Klatte working on an early animation project. OnMilwaukee: What all particular scenes you helped with for "Anomalisa"? Klatte: One sequence was during the middle of the dream sequence, where hes all freaked out and grabs Lisa from her room and shes in her bathrobe and he drags her down the hall and comes into his room. My shots pick up when he first pulls her into the room, and he starts packing a suitcase and running out of the bathroom with all of this stuff, and they have a little exchange. That whole back and forth sequence I did. Then I did some of the stuff on the stage at the end, when hes giving his talk. Those are the main sequences there; I did a couple of other odds and ends. OnMilwaukee: What was the process, and how many people were involved behind animating "Anomalisa"? Klatte: Well, it was an interesting project because, for one thing, it was very low budget. We werent getting paid all that well compared to other jobs (laughs) and it happened to come at an unusual time when there were actually five different stop-motion animation projects going on at the same time in L.A., which was really unusual to have that much of it going on so people were coming and going a lot. Another project would start up, and people would leave "Anomalisa" to go over there. So they ended up having something like 35 different animators having worked on it, many of them only doing maybe one shot or a couple different bits and pieces. At any given time, there were about a dozen or maybe 15 animators working. Because it was a pretty extraordinary production they did these very long takes we didnt do as many shots as usual because the shots we did do were much longer than usual, so thats why any given person might not have done as many. OnMilwaukee: Was that, the long-take aspect of "Anomalisa," the hardest part, or was it something else that was the most different part of bringing the stop-motion to life? Klatte: The length of the shots was definitely a hard thing, because it makes everything longer. It takes much longer to set the shots up because theres just more planning to do and especially since most shots had a camera move that you had to coordinate with and had to get developed. So it was the length of the shots added a lot of the complexity. The way they were lighting it made it more difficult, because the lights were kind of down closer to the puppets than usual, so you had to duck under the lights a lot of times to do your animation, which made it harder. The puppets themselves because the project was a very low-budget feature were really well done considering, but their armatures were not as good as you would hope to have on a feature film, so it took some extra work to animate them. And because the puppets were made out of silicone because they wanted them to look realistic and have that smooth skin texture they have; the normal way puppets like that might be made would be with foam rubber which gives a very different look which is really good and really worked with the movie, but its also harder to animate because its stiffer and makes it harder to get the right kinds of bends to make the characters do the things that we want. So there were just a variety of things that made it actually a pretty darn difficult project to work on. OnMilwaukee: Can you take me through the planning process? Klatte: Theres storyboards for every shot that work out whats going to happen in the shot, what the dialogue is and the basic camera angles of what they want the shots to look like. So when the animator gets that, they get whats called exposure sheets, which is a long sheet of paper or many sheets of paper with the dialogue kind of laid out or broken down so you know frame-by-frame what words are where. You sit down with the director, and you know the character might take 20 seconds to say this line, so you start breaking down, "OK, whats he doing?" Because the storyboards are just a few still frames, of course, a few drawings and some rough positioning. So then you have to go through and kind of act it out. You try to get into the character, and if there are multiple characters, you do it with somebody else. And youre saying, "What would he do here? Is he shifting his weight from his right to his left foot? And whats his right hand doing? And wheres he looking? And how long does he take if hes picking something up?" You have to time out every tiny piece of action, and youre thinking about if he lifts something up, does his whole body weight shift a little bit to a side. So you act that out. Thats what animators do; theyre constantly thinking of the minutiae. Like any actor would do, its working out all the details of how does this character actually act all the way down to what are his fingers doing while hes standing there. Does he curl his fingers? Does he scratch himself? Is he drumming his fingers on the edge of a table? You weigh all that out on these sheets of paper, and that becomes your basic plan for a shot. That was another thing about this movie: We didnt have enough time, because of the budget again, to do multiple tests. On something like "Nightmare Before Christmas," youd actually do usually at least two, maybe three, progressively more detailed tests of each shot before you shot the final shot, refining things, working out details and making all these notes on your exposure sheets as you go so that, by the time youre doing the final shot, youve really worked things out, youve got it in your mind pretty well and you can go ahead and shoot the final shot. Because thats the thing with stop-motion: Once you start, its a performance. You start at the beginning, and you have to go straight through to the end. Thats why pre-planning is really important, and with this movie, because we didnt have as much time as youd normally want and even though these shots were much more long and complicated wed only get maybe one or two shot tests before the final shot. So there was a lot more pressure to get it right. OnMilwaukee: How was the planning out of the sex scenes? Because they are I dont want to call them graphic, but they are realistic, complete with nudity. What is it like mapping those out? Klatte: (laughs) I actually wasnt there when those were shot; I had left by that time. But what I know is that nobody was feeling very comfortable about doing that. In fact, the first person they asked to do it said no, I cant do it because Michael Stone, the main character, looks too much like my dad. He just couldnt feel comfortable about doing it. As I understand it Im not absolutely sure about this but I believe it ended up being the director Duke Johnson animating much, if not all of it, just because nobody else was comfortable with it. But they had to do the same thing: You get two people, and you act it out, because if you look during the scene, theres some subtle stuff going on with the bodies and with whats Lisas doing with her hands. All of these little details that bring it to life and make it real had to be thought through in great detail and planned out. There must have been some interesting video sessions. (laughs) OnMilwaukee: How does it feel to have a movie nominated for an Oscar this year? Klatte: Of course, its great to be involved with any film that gets an Oscar nomination. The only other one I think Ive been involved with was "Nightmare," which got an effects nomination. But its really cool, for sure. OnMilwaukee: How do you feel about your changes against really the opposite of you guys, a monolith with Pixar and "Inside Out"? Klatte: I think the odds are that "Inside Out" will get it. I think "Anomalisa" is definitely a dark horse in this race. You never know, but Im almost certain that "Inside Out" is the presumptive favorite. I think it actually should win, or have a very strong change, "Anomalisa" should, because its very unique. Theres really nothing like it thats been done before. Its a very adult sort of animated story, which is something that people in the industry have been looking for for a long time. I mean, theres adult stuff like "South Park" raunchy stuff and other animated films with adult themes, but its kind of rare. This has that; its not just for kids and families. And the process and making of it the lighting, the shot lengths and the whole feeling of it its so different than anything I think thats been done before that I think it definitely should be considered. The Trans-Pacific Partnership, a new war in Libya, more war in Syria, permanent war in Afghanistan, climate change crashing over the cliff -- these and other immediate disasters are pursued with one hand, while the magician's other hand distracts us with caucuses, primaries, and super bowls. Remember when insiders said the TPP would die the moment it was made public? Well, what if it was made public during an election season? Bread and circuses, even in Rome, weren't designed to make the people happy but to keep them pacified while all the real energy and treasure went into destroying Carthage and filling the vomitoria of the oligarchs. And it's easier for a good team to make it into the super bowl than for a truly good candidate to make it into corporate election reporting. I deny none of that. And yet ... The 2015-2016 presidential election has, by some measures, already accomplished more than all the previous elections in my lifetime put together. And it's scaring some of the right people. If you had claimed in 1969 that it would be possible for presidential candidates in the United States to reject religion before they could reject permanent worldwide military empire, you'd have been laughed right out of the Age of Aquarius. If you'd prognosticated in 1999 that an independent socialist focused like a laser beam on taxing billionaires and busting up some of their most profitable scams (not to mention taxing many of the rest of us) could grab the lead in a Democratic primary campaign against a Clinton with no intern scandals, you'd have been triangulated right out of your career as you knew it. And if you'd predicted in 2014 that a candidate virtually ignored by the consolidated corporate media, as consolidated under the Clinton Telecom Act, would surge in the polls, you'd have garnered as much respect as those guys in The Big Short did when they claimed to know more than the high priests of Wall Street. Bernie Sanders, for all of his dramatic shortcomings, is a phenomenon created by a perfect storm of institutional failure -- by Hillary Clinton's coronation constructed of cards just waiting for someone to suggest that millions of outraged winds breathe on it. Sanders is 6 years older and generations more advanced than his Democratic Party rival. God Is Dead "What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?" --Friedrich Nietzsche Sanders' website calls him "secular" and "not particularly religious." His answers to a religion question during a CNN "town hall" this week were typical. A member of the audience asked about religion and race, and Sanders answered only about race. Then the moderator asked again about religion. And this was Sanders' answer, I swear to ... -- well, I just swear: "It's a guiding principle in my life. Absolutely it is. You know, everybody practices religion in a different way. To me, I would not be here tonight, I would not be running for president of the United States if I did not have very strong religious and spiritual feelings. I believe that, as a human being, the pain that one person feels, if we have children that are hungry in America, if we have elderly people who can't afford their prescription drugs, you know what? That impacts you, that impacts me, and I worry very much about a society where some people spiritually say, 'It doesn't matter to me. I got it. I don't care about other people.' So, my spirituality is that we are all in this together, and that when children go hungry, when veterans sleep out on the street, it impacts me. That is my very strong spiritual feeling." It's also my very strong non-spiritual feeling. But that was a typical Bernie answer, one he's given many times, typical even in its focus on only 4% of humanity and on only a particular type of homeless people. Some states, by the way, are making huge strides toward ending the shame of homelessness for veterans, so that soon all homeless people in the United States may be people who have never been part of a mass-murder operation. I point this out not to oppose it. Better more people with homes, no matter how it's done! And I point it out not to quibble with Sanders' statement of generosity and humanism, but to suggest that part of how Sanders slipped a completely irreligious answer past an audience that asked a religious question is that Sanders identified himself with the true U.S. religion, the religion that will be front and center and in the jet noise overhead at the super bowl -- the religion of war, the religion of national exceptionalism. Who can forget Ron Paul being booed in a primary debate for applying the golden rule to non-Americans? When Sanders is asked explicitly if he "believes in God," he also answers, "What my spirituality is about is that we're all in this together." Exactly what my non-spirituality is about. I think it's safe to assume he'll never be asked if he believes in death (which television sponsors would be pleased by that topic?), so "God" is the question he'll get, and he won't be required to answer it. New Hampshire is the least religious state in the country, but the country as a whole has also moved against religion and even more so against "organized religion." Some of us always preferred the organized part (the community, the music, etc.) to the religion, but the larger trend here is a rejection of elite institutions telling us how to run our lives while demonstrably running the world into the ground. And who has more to answer for in that regard than God? Rejecting organized religion while proclaiming an individual "spirituality" may be all that is needed, and that is tremendous news. That Sanders has done this while professing an ideology of generosity and solidarity, and winning applause for that, is even better news. Studies find that lack of religion can correlate with greater generosity, as certainly seems to be the case with the Scandinavian societies Sanders points to as models. (Seventeen percent of Swedes, as compared to 65% of U.S. Americans, say religion is "important".) A majority in the United States say they wouldn't vote for an atheist, but for many atheism, like gender, race, sexual preference, and other identifiers is now a matter of self-identification. Someone must choose to call themselves an atheist. Just having no use for theism doesn't qualify them. The media also seems to have no direct interest in attacking candidates on religion. Nobody pays them to do that. And it doesn't show a lot of potential as a weapon. Donald Trump is seen as the least religious candidate in the field, and some of the most religious voters say they support him and just don't care. In addition, Sanders is a supporter of religious freedom, tolerance, and even tax exemptions. He doesn't fit the mold of the bigoted atheist who finds Islam dangerously more religious than Christianity. The media is also no big fan of Ted Cruz, who's on a Dubya-like mission from God. All of these factors seem to have made it possible to run for president of the United States on a platform of pure enlightenment humanism. I didn't think I'd live to see that. Most Dangerous Man on Wall Street There is not much difference between Hillary and the Republicans on some very key issues. For example, Hillary and the Republicans voted yes on military incursions in Libya, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan; Bernie voted against all 4. Regarding Prisons for Profits and long incarcerations, Hillary and the Republicans voted for them, and Bernie voted against both; on the Keystone Pipeline, the Republicans supported it; Hillary originally supported it, and now has no comment; Bernie consistently opposed it; on Snowden and the NSA, Clinton stated that she "could never condone Snowden's actions," (as did the Republicans); Bernie said that Snowden was "defending American Freedom." Regarding increasing the regulation of Wall Street, Clinton voted No and praised the repeal of the Glass-Steagal act (as did the Republicans); Bernie voted to uphold this important measure; on the Patriot Act taking away personal rights, Clinton and the Republicans both supported this, and Bernie opposed it. On Campaign Financing Reform, Hillary "supports" reform but has accepted over $1 billion from Banks, Corporations, and Super PAC's (consistently like the Republicans), while Bernie authored a constitutional amendment against the group, Citizens United, and has steadfastly refused Super PAC money. Regarding spying on Americans, Republicans supported this, Clinton had no comment, and Bernie opposed. Concerning offshoring American jobs, Bernie is against, including NAFTA, and Hillary, like the Republicans, supports both offshoring American jobs and NAFTA. From Policy Mic: "For all their difference, there is none so bright and bold as the manner in which they have raised money"Based on an analysis of donations: Sanders receives over 60% of his campaign contributions from small donors, giving between $1 and $200, compared with Clinton who receives less than 10% from that segment." From Huffington Post's brilliant and concise analysis: "Sanders has served as an elected official for over 34 years; Clinton has not. Sanders has supported gay rights since the early '80s; Clinton has not. Sanders wants to end the prohibition of marijuana; Clinton does not. Sanders wants to end the death penalty; Clinton does not. Sanders wants to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour; Clinton does not. Sanders wants to break up the biggest banks; Clinton does not. Sanders voted against the Wall Street bailout; Clinton did not. Sanders supports a single-payer healthcare system; Clinton does not. Sanders refrains from waging personal attacks for political gains; Clinton does not. Sanders considers climate change our nation's biggest threat; Clinton does not. Sanders voted against the Patriot Act; Clinton did not. Sanders voted against the war in Iraq; Clinton did not." This list goes on and on. I am not telling you who to vote for either in the Primary or in the General Election; I am just trying to clarify these huge differences between the candidates, so you can more accurately decide with the full facts at your disposal. One key statistic from Santa Fe County: of the 148 delegates who have been duly elected to go to the coming State convention, 112 are for Bernie! That is one more than 75% who in Santa Fe have chosen this progressive to become our next President, and to make clear: he doesn't want to raise taxes for the middle class, but does for the very wealthy and for very large corporations. The idea of a government that serves the people is really not so radical, is it? Reprinted from Reader Supported News The way that you rather spontaneously, and with a hint of real anger, declared "I am a Progressive" in your brief Iowa departure speech, there was a sense that at least you believed it. If the ideals of progressivism mean anything, you may want to find a quiet place in the field to reflect. Surely you do not really believe that Progressives, any of them, would accept eight more years of being denied -- by law -- a public health care option. That simply is not the case. Progressives, all of them, will continue the struggle for their right to choose a public option. Your position that Obamacare will suffice until some far off day when the mood of Congress is just right to defy their benefactors, the health care industry gods, has nothing to do with progressive action. It just doesn't. You can't take millions upon millions of dollars in campaign financing and personal speaking fees from Wall Street institutions and ever hope to seriously challenge the corruption killing the nation. Preventing that sort of conduct by public officials is the very point of progressive politics. You may believe that there is no quid pro quo, but your investors absolutely do, and they fully intend to hold you to your obligations. They are, after all, banks. ISIS is horrible -- not quite as lethal as the Mexican drug wars on the U.S. border, but horrible nonetheless. Either you do not, in fact, realize that the U.S. invasion of Iraq led directly to the emergence of ISIS or you are not being candid. In either case, no Progressive would fail to understand that or say it. It is the key to understanding the root causes of what U.S. government officials define as "terrorism." At Charleston, in the debate brought to us by NBC, Andrea Mitchell challenged your account of the meeting between Attorney General Loretta Lynch, FBI Director James Comey, and tech industry representatives in Silicon Valley, a meeting that was intended to encourage tech industry leaders to facilitate government surveillance. Mitchell said, "Secretary Clinton, you said that the leaders from the intelligence community went to Silicon Valley ... They were flatly turned down. They got nowhere." You replied, and you smiled as you did so, "That is not what I've heard. Let me leave it at that." What did you hear? Did you hear that the NSA and the FBI make their own rules when it comes to warrantless surveillance of Americans, and specifically believe it is their right to ignore the Constitution at their discretion? Have you heard that there are courageous Americans rotting in prison cells because they brought to light illegal conduct by the NSA and the FBI? Do you believe that some of those who see themselves as defending American freedom are themselves the biggest threat to that very freedom? Progressives do. Old-school Democratic/Clinton politics were on full display in Iowa. A grind-it-out ground game played by experienced, well-trained, and well-financed political professionals. That is what your Wall Street donors are investing in, not any Progressive misconceptions you may hold about yourself. Your approach to Progressive ideals necessarily defiles them. Progressives resist injustice. They do not partner with it, even temporarily, for the sake of political convenience or power. There are many paths to power, but if you choose the wrong one, there is no path out. You are not a Progressive because you want to be. You are not a Progressive because you remember who you were as a college student. You are a Progressive because you work tirelessly against injustice. Always. Find that quiet place in the field. 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. Hispaniola. A Caribbean island divided by old great power rivalry by European superpowers. Today still divided by race, language and attitudes. On one side of the divided island is Haiti that's 90 percent Black (African descendants) while the neighboring Dominican Republic, the other side, is Spanish speaking. But the differences do not end there even if both races and people share one divided island. Haitians are more Afrocentric and relate easily to their Black brethren in the wider Caribbean and the United States. By contrast, the people of the Dominican Republic have been forced-fed to embrace their European/Spanish ancestry and to eschew anything and all things African and Black. It is this mindset that drives today's national xenophobia against Dominican-born Haitians now elevated to governmental policy. The thing is that the Dominican Republic is better off -- slightly - economically than Haiti. That's a fact. But not by miles. The nation is still a poor, struggling developing country -- just as its neighbor. To be sure there are degrees of poverty and want. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with serious socio-economic challenges, an uneducated and under educated population and a political system prone to self-inflicting pain. Today in the Dominican Republic as tourists flock to pristine beaches, swanky hotels and shopping malls, they have very little knowledge that a few miles away thousands of poor dispossessed Haitians are under armed guard on plantations harvesting sugarcane, most of which ends up in US kitchens. Called "Bateys" it is the Dominican Republic's closely guarded secret of neo-slavery. A Batey is place of unmanageable abject, grinding poverty -- a Haitian sugar cane village of shacks, dirt roads, and shoeless and naked children. There is no running water, no electricity, no school for young children, no medical or health facilities. There are no paved roads or street lights; just shacks, rows and rows of barely livable shacks. Sugar cane workers work from dawn to dusk, seven days a week, cutting sugar cane by hand with machetes. For all of their toil and sweat, men may make $5 per day, back breaking day after day. These dirt poor Haitian families live in shacks about eight-foot-by-ten-foot in a structure of scrap pieces of wood -- nailed gingerly to the supporting "beams," which actually are just branches and sticks. The roof is a combination of scraps of metal, banana tree leaves, and random pieces of trash that have been tossed up there to try and keep the rain out. Even slaves in 19th century America fared better and these Haitians in 2016. Each year, as the sugar harvest approaches, as many as 20,000 Haitian workers are recruited with the promise of steady work at higher pay than they can earn in Haiti, the poorer of the two countries. With the complicity of military and immigration authorities, these destitute immigrants are loaded onto trucks, stripped of their identification papers, and transported in the middle of the night to the Bateyes, where many are housed in concentration-camp-like barracks. Estimates of the population of undocumented Haitians living in the camps range from 650,000 to one million. The Dominican Republic's government wants to kick out vast majority of these stateless Haitians. They are neither Haitian nor Dominican. They are exploited daily, are forced into abject poverty, and are the faces of Dominican shame. These vulnerable, defenseless Haitians and their children have been trapped in an endless cycle of modern-day slavery by a government bent on revenge for what it sees as historical wrongs committed in the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution of 1804 and the knowing collusion of big sugar companies many of them incorporated in the United States. Indeed, the animosity and resentment against "Dark skinned Haitians" go back centuries. And today, it is payback time today for Haitians in the Dominican Republic. You see, Haiti was once a French colony, with its economy based almost exclusively on plantation slavery. What's now the Dominican Republic was Spanish. There were slaves on both sides of the island, but the society and economy on the Spanish side were more diverse, with cattle ranches and mines just as prevalent as sugar plantations. Under the brutal slave oppression of the French, Haitians rose up and in 1804 defeated the French forces and declared their independence as the world's first Black Republic. Meanwhile, the landed white French gentry fled the young Haitian Republic for the neighboring Dominican Republic. But Haitian military power was strong enough to invade the Dominican Republic and put it under Black rule for the next 20 years. But the pressures of European and American powers combined to kill the Haitian Republic. Unfair and burdensome levies were imposed on the Haitian government. Infact, Haiti was ordered to pay France the astronomical sum, by 1804 standards, of $150 million Francs, as restitution for revenues lost due to slavery. That figure was reduced to $60 million -- still a burdensome bill. What that meant was that a struggling agricultural economy found it very difficult to pay up. The Haitian government therefore levied heavy taxes on the Dominican people and its military confiscated food, property and goods from them often at gunpoint. This only helped to deepen the resentment between the two countries and races - one already smarting from the humiliation of having been invaded by a Black army. For a people more socially and racially aligned to Spain and Europe and who rejected their African heritage this was the final humiliation. It what's at the root of hostility to Black Haitians today even though the country still needs them to cut sugar cane -- an activity that most Dominicans do not want to do because its back-breaking labor and is still reminds them of slavery and their African past. Dominican's today, cognizant of this history, are still stung by it. Relations between the countries through the early 1800s were long, complicated and bloody. But the key event was the long War of Independence fought by Dominicans against Haiti, which began in 1844. It's the longest war in the Republic's history. By 1930, when Dictator Rafael Trujillo seized power, he elevated and deepened anti-Haiti sentiments to a national level putting the focus on his country's European heritage. He presided over the most intensive and brutal pogrom against Haitians to date. Such a racist and bigoted national policy culminated in the mass murder over a few days of 20,000 Haitians in 1937. This was coupled with other persecutions and brutal repressions including forced deportations, imprisonment, beatings and extrajudicial killings. So much so that in 2007, a United Nations Report compiled by the Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, described what it called a "profound and entrenched problem of racism and discrimination in Dominican society, generally affecting blacks and particularly such groups as black Dominicans, Dominicans of Haitian descent and Haitians." The scathing report continued: "While there is no Government policy of racism and no legislation that is on the face of it clearly discriminatory," it said, there clearly was a "discriminatory impact" from "certain laws, particularly those relating to migration, civil status and ... citizenship." 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. "Reel" Hollywood: The Film Industry By the early 1920's the fifth largest industry in the nation was the film industry. Today, its revenue is the largest in the world for film makers. As they do with all industries, corporations have gobbled up the film industry. Its huge umbrella corporations include Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, News Corporation, Time Warner, and Viacom. The industry spends millions annually on lobbying and campaign financing; and receives millions of dollars in tax breaks and incentives. Without its government benefactor, the film industry would probably flop, even with a normal run of blockbuster movies. "Reel" Hollywood and War Films Since the film industry is an inseparable part of America's corporatocracy that includes its political, military and industrial triumvirate, it is hardly surprising that this industry has had a "reel" interest in Washington's wars and foreign policy affairs. Hollywood made training and propaganda films for President Woodrow Wilson's administration in support of WWI. [1] Hollywood was even more active and sophisticated in how it cinematically promoted WWII. [2] Today, the film industry is glamorizing and propagandizing American torture and militarism in movies like Zero Dark Thirty, Black Hawk Dawn, and Argo--a movie "glorifying the CIA" and handed the best picture award by Michelle Obama). These are just a "few major recent productions showing how today's movie industry promotes US foreign policy." [3] A later propaganda piece from Hollywood is "World War Z," which Jeffrey Goldberg, a columnist for Bloomberg View, hailed as "the most pro-Israel movie ever made." [4] There's a cozy quid pro quo between Hollywood and the military that makes up part of the "national security complex". Hollywood submits its war glorifying movie scripts to the complex for review and gets access to dazzling military equipment to use for props in profitable movies. The complex, in turn, gets dazzling public relations aimed at movie goers. According to newspaper columnist, radio host and bestselling author David Sirota, he said a film director had told his studios in the 1980's to started telling screenwriters and directors to "get the cooperation of the [military], or forget about making the war movies." Sirota goes on to say that "this helps explain why for every one decidedly anti-war movie that's made, we see scores of movies made that glorify militarism---taxpayer dollars have been subsidizing militarist movies---."[5] Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Recently, Forbes published an article about Bernie Sanders' single-payer, "universal healthcare" plan. The plan would increase federal spending by "at least" 28 trillion, or 55 percent. One school of thought goes, people are likely to abuse such a plan. Those of us who are healthy most of the time and already don't rely very much on Obamacare currently pay for our insurance in cooperation with our employer. Or, we pay in cooperation with the state in which we live. With Bernie's plan, we'd be paying for others to go to the doctor. We'd be paying for hypochondriacs regardless of whether or not they need medical care. Hillary says Bernie's plan would effectively abolish Obamacare and "set us back." Hillary merely wants to build onto Obamacare. In terms of Obamacare requirements for businesses, the rules are now stricter. Before 2016, a business with over 100 employees had to offer coverage. Now, any business with over 50 employees must offer coverage to at least 95% of employees, or face penalties. According to this Obamacare calculator, it's to a business' advantage to offer good coverage. A business with 75 employees saves 40 thousand dollars by offering coverage. And, 58% of employees who are thinking about leaving a job would be motivated to stay by a quality benefits package. Obamacare essentially requires business to move towards offering quality benefits to employees, which lowers attrition and improves the economy. During Obama's tenure, the unemployment rate dropped 2.5% and the economy added nearly 7.9 million jobs. Why would we want to drop this progress in favor of Bernie's single payer plan? Shouldn't we, like Hillary, seek to build upon what's working? Number one, because the hypothetical hypochondriac I mentioned earlier needs mental healthcare. Under Obamacare, the mental healthcare system in America is intrinsically flawed. Insurance providers can waffle on who meets Medicaid requirements. States can waffle on how much money they want to allot for Medicaid. I know this because in my state and in others, in order to get unclaimed Medicaid money, the state insurance provider under Obamacare regularly manipulates the system by denying applicants. This money lines the pockets of the provider's CEOs. The provider, United Healthcare, is currently facing a class-action lawsuit for denying patients community-based and residential mental healthcare. Meanwhile, my state--Idaho, a red state--continues to turn down Medicaid dollars we could claim under Obamacare. We would have more help for the mentally ill, but our lawmakers insist it would hurt us by raising taxes. In 2014, we had the 6th highest suicide rate in the nation. Wouldn't it makes sense to pay a little more towards services for the mentally ill when 30-70% of suicide cases suffer from major depression or bipolar disorder? This applies nationwide. There is absolutely no sense in limiting mental health services for the mentally ill. Under Bernie's plan, no one who needs them would be denied mental health services. Number two, the single-payer plan would make any concern from businesses about complying with Obamacare obsolete. The people who can afford it will pay into the system. Then, they will get equal rights out of that system. No more worrying about offering an appropriate insurance package to employees. One will simply worry about one's own health. In terms of benefits packages, since when is healthcare supposed to be a "benefit"? Companies make billions off of employees who work under toxic conditions. Why is healthcare a benefit in a system where working conditions, such as sitting too long, degrade our health? Healthcare is a safety net, it's not proactive. Companies should compete to offer benefits that improve health, including treadmill desks and gym memberships. Healthcare is our right in a capitalistic system where the conditions under which we work contribute to health problems. Saying insurance companies should capitalize off of healthcare is like saying we should pay extra for seatbelts. Seatbelts are included in the sticker price because it makes sense to have them, given the nature of cars. The same applies to healthcare in an industrialized system. The Washington Post editorial board wrote a scathing oped on Bernie Sanders and his policies. This so-called vanguard of the "liberal media" is trying to take down the most success liberal candidate in decades. Cenk Uygur host of The Young Turks breaks it down. Do you think The Washington Post is liberal? Let us know in the comments below. 3 2 2 Rate It | View Ratings Daniel Geery Social Media Pages: In my run for U.S. Senate against Utah's Orrin Hatch, I posted many progressive ideas and principles that I internalized over the years. I'm leaving that site up indefinitely, since it describes what I believe most members of our species truly (more...) The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors. OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help. If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership. Reprinted from Middle East Eye Attack on Israeli soldiers by PA guard exposes split between Netanyahu and army over how to respond Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has described his security forces' cooperation with the Israeli military as "sacred." But an armed attack on an Israeli checkpoint last weekend by a Palestinian security official, which left three Israeli soldiers injured, suggests that Abbas' view may not be widely shared among Palestinians. Amjad Sukari, aged 34, a driver and bodyguard in Ramallah for the Palestinian attorney general, was shot dead on Sunday after he opened fire at Israeli soldiers stationed at a "VIP crossing" near Ramallah. It was the second time in recent months that a PA security officer has opened fire on Israeli soldiers. In December Mazen Ariba, a member of the Palestinian intelligence services, injured two Israelis, including a soldier, at Hizme checkpoint, close to Jerusalem. Israel responded to Sukari's attack by briefly locking down Ramallah, the Palestinians' effective economic and political capital, in what appeared to be a policy of collective punishment. Ramallah is also the headquarters of the Preventive Security Service, the PA's elite intelligence wing that is supposed to maintain what is termed "internal stability" but has come to be known for repressing domestic dissent and cracking down on Abbas' opponents, in particular Hamas. Israeli military officials are reported to be increasingly worried that a decade of so-called security "cooperation" between Israel and the PA could quickly break down. Amos Harel, a military analyst for the Haaretz daily, reported this week that greater involvement in attacks by members of the Palestinian security services was a "nightmare scenario that has worried the Israeli defense establishment for months." He added that Israeli intelligence was trying to find ways to use social media posts to identify early those security officials who might turn their weapons on Israel. That danger had been exacerbated by the tough line being pushed by the rightwing government of Benjamin Netanyahu in the wake of high-profile attacks like Sukari's, said Shlomo Brom, a former Israeli general who is now a researcher with the Institute of National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. "We are seeing a polarization between the political and military echelons," he told Middle East Eye. "The government wants to prove to its supporters that it is being hard on the Palestinians -- that was behind the decision to close access to Ramallah. "But the military fear that collective punishment of this kind could backfire and simply motivate more Palestinians, including security officials, to get involved in attacks. That could create a vicious cycle." Brom said the lifting of the closure on Ramallah one day after its introduction was a signal that the military's line was still prevailing, but the political pressure was intensifying. The fragile nature of the security relationship was underscored last month when Netanyahu told his cabinet that Israel was preparing for the possibility that the PA, to which the security services answer, may collapse. The PA's credibility has been waning as the diplomatic process has reached impasse, and there are doubts about how much longer the 80-year-old Abbas can continue. Social Control is emerging as ISIS (Da'ish) motive for erasing our Cultural Heritage in Syria Franklin Lamb Damascus It is widely recognized that the damage done to our cultural heritage in Syria and to the heritage of those who will follow us, cannot be calculated. Untold quantities of archaeologically vital artifacts have been looted, sold, displaced and discarded through industry-like efforts. Citizens of Syria who are increasingly resisting the "IS Caliphate" and risking their own and their families lives to flee ISIS controlled areas in Syria are increasingly willing to discuss their experiences and to offer instructive insights. Among these patriots are regular citizens as well as the stellar nationalist employees of Syria's Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) who this observer has interviewed extensively over the past nearly three years as they elucidate why ISIS destroys and loots our irreplaceable antiquities. This observer's research has been augmented by other eyewitnesses, some who are themselves former jihadists or their victims, to ISIS looting and its distribution of franchises to sell off our shared cultural heritage give witness. Heretofore, three varying but cogent explanations for ISIS' rabid destruction of our shared cultural heritage have been commonplace. The first identified the well documented Islamic State iconoclastic antipathy towards their and our pre-Islamic past. The second is that the jihadists are generally considered to be profiting hugely from selling our looted antiquities. Thirdly there has been some evidence-but not compelling in this observers judgment, that jihadists are destroying our cultural heritage in Syria as 'publicity stunts' to get attention on social media, with some motivated by profit and offering to sell Syrian artifacts via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. Meanwhile, according to a US Congressional staffer this week, leftover artifacts are currently being sold by IS to locals at public auctions including but not limited to Raqqa, Mari, Dura-Europos and Deir al Zor. With respect to the first and second explanations, it is well documented that ISIS has ransacked thousands of artifacts from dozens of World Heritage and archaeological sites in Syria and that the profits from flogging cheap our cultural heritage helps IS meet its monthly budgets, more than 50% of which goes to pay salaries and multiple relatively generous benefits to its fighters and their families. Yet research by this observer on this subject concludes that ISIS looting income, contrary to many claims including a recent one by CBS News that reported that ISIS generated "hundreds of millions of dollars" from antiquities transactions, although that figure--which rivals the annual haul of antiquities sold legally throughout the entire world, has not been backed up by probative, material data. One expert, Randall A. Hixenbaugh, Director of New York based Hixenbaugh Ancient Art, told a Manhattan conference recently, "We're looking at objects that are worth hundreds of dollars here. When we say that these antiquities are worth millions of dollars, where is the evidence of this? I think that prompts people to pick up shovels in eastern Syria. Are we not adding to the problem right now, by hyperbolic assessments of value?" On May 15, 2015 a raid by American Special Forces on an ISIS safe house in a small village outside Deir ez-Zor killed ISIS leader Fathi Ben Awn Ben Jildi Murad al-Tunisi, better known by his nickname Abu Sayyaf who was in charge of overseeing the excavation of our cultural heritage. The raid also freed an 18-year old Yazidi slave woman, and captured a trove of documents that revealed far lower amounts from marketing cultural heritage artifacts than earlier estimated. The raid also uncovered many USB's containing documents verifying that our cultural heritage artifacts are for ISIS just a natural resource to be extracted from the ground rather than as "ghanim" a.k.a looted items or spoils of war. Selling plundered antiquities is frankly not strategic funding for IS compared to oil, banks, taxes and stolen goods. Far from the initial claims that ISIS was making tens of millions or more from stolen antiquities, the true figures are likely far lower. Some antiquities can indeed be sold to the final buyer in Europe, the United States or Asia for large amounts. But most of the material coming out of the ground in ISIS areas on a daily basis, such as pottery, glassware, coins, and architectural fragments are worth, at most, several hundred dollars at the final point of sale. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Then Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008 hammered her for it. 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders repeatedly hammers her for it. Even some have held up Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump's opposition to the Iraq war to hammer her for it. The "it" is then New York Senator Hillary Clinton's vote for the 2002 Iraq War resolution. That's the one issue above all others that has driven Bernie Sanders' supporters, and even some liberal Democrats, to rail at Clinton as a hopelessly, hardened war hawk, and vow not to vote for her if she gets the nomination. But Clinton's record on the resolution and the Iraq war is stuffed with as much fiction as fact. Start with the resolution. It did not explicitly call for waging war against Iraq. It demanded that Saddam Hussein permit UN inspectors back into Iraq to determine whether he was indeed ramping up his alleged stockpile of weapons of mass destruction. It gave a hard deadline for him to agree to inspection and failing that authorized military action. It hedged the war call further by emphasizing that the U.S. must continue to push for "further diplomatic or other peaceful means" to get Hussein to comply. It hedged things further by mandating that Bush before waging war tell Congress why a military assault was necessary. uspolitics.about.com/od/wariniraq/a/jt_resolution_4.htm Clinton didn't take Bush's statements on Iraq totally at face value. Bush national security advisor Condoleezza Rice swore to her before she voted that the resolution was intended to get inspections going again and not just as a cover to start a war. We now know that Bush shamelessly lied about the weapons, and Hussein's aim to make and use them. However, though it was widely suspected that it was all a tissue of lies, given Hussein's hideous and bloody record of invasion, intimidation, and gross human rights violations, there was just enough doubt to make it seem that Hussein was a real threat to blow up the region. This was enough to sell the resolution to 28 other Senate Democrats who along with Clinton voted for it. click here One of those Democrats could well have been the Democrat who progressives universally hail for having the guts to stand up to the Bush war machine, and parlayed that adulation into a big hit piece on Clinton during the 2008 campaign. That Democrat is, of course, President Obama. Things, though, were not as cut and dried as the adulation for his opposition makes it seem. He did oppose the war. But he did it not as a sitting senator but as a member of the Illinois state legislature. When he was asked what he might have done if he had been in the Senate then, he said he wasn't totally sure and added that he wasn't "privy" to Senate intelligence reports. He emphasized that as an outsider looking in Bush didn't make the case for a possible war. That's a far cry from an unabashed ringing trounce of Bush's war declaration if he had been a Senator then. Once Obama was in the Senate it was a different story. Both he and Clinton did not press Bush to scale down the war effort, threaten to cut off funds, or demand a deadline or even a timetable for withdrawal. In fact, in 2004 Obama said that he thought maybe even more troops should be sent in to insure stability. Two years later both he and Clinton opposed an amendment by then Senator John Kerry to start the troop withdrawal from the country. click here Clinton and Obama voted and acted no different than legions of other Democratic senators who once they backed the Iraq war resolution said or did virtually nothing to stop the death machine once it started rolling and kept rolling during the subsequent years. In time that would change, and as Bush sunk in the polls, and the outrage over the war grew war, the Democrats that caved to Bush on the war became tigers in knocking him and the war. By then Clinton began to openly express doubt about where the war was going and why we were there. She demanded timetables to get out and told supporters and critics that she never intended to vote for a war but for inspections, negotiations and political pressure on Hussein. She pulled no punches in lambasting the Bush administration for "misusing" the resolution to wage war. The fact then is that Clinton voted for the Iraq war resolution based on distortions, deceptions and flat out lies. The fiction is that she voted for a full blown military assault on Iraq. This makes Clinton at best and worst a willing, naive and misinformed accomplice along with many other Democrats to Bush's hideous deception on Iraq. This does not make her an Iraq war hawk. But that's the noisy refrain she'll have to endlessly hear through the campaign. Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His latest book is Trump and the GOP: Race Baiting to the White House (Amazon Kindle) He is a frequent MSNBC contributor. He is an associate editor of New America Media. He is a weekly co-host of the Al Sharpton Show on Radio One. He is the host of the weekly Hutchinson Report on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network Here's why: While both Democratic presidential candidates made strong, effective, persuasive, and caring cases for their candidacies -- from the heart and from the head, as one candidate put it -- only Hillary Clinton has the full knowledge of both domestic and foreign policy, the balanced capability in both arenas, and the experience required of a twenty-first century President to handle the full range of challenges which exist at present, and which will undoubtedly arise. Regretfully, Bernie Sanders is weak in the foreign policy arena -- as but a few examples, he fails to really understand the challenges of North Korea, which he described several times as "peculiar" and an oligarchy ruled by "dictators" (plural); and the Middle East, where he proposed a union of Iran and Saudi Arabia to take on ISIS et. al. The only problem with the latter proposal is that Saudi Arabia and Iran have hated each other for generations, coming from different branches of Islam; and the recent Saudi execution of a leading cleric backed by Iran did not help matters. In Tehran the Saudi embassy was torched, and the two nations may even be on the brink of war -- none of which was mentioned by Bernie Sanders when he proposed their union against ISIS. There is no slightest doubt that Bernie Sanders can learn all of these facts -- but he should have known them well in advance of the N.H. Debate, and of previous debates too! Bernie's problem is that he has been, for all of the decades during which I have known him, so focused on the admitted sins of Wall Street, the Big Banks, the Billionaires, the Giant Corporations, and all the other oppressors of America and middle-class Americans, that he has little room for equally-vital concerns in the foreign arena. I consider him to be right on target in all those domestic arenas of concern, including such additional and essential issues as global climate change. I also consider Hillary Clinton to be equally knowledgeable, and equally concerned, about all of these vital domestic issues -- but, in addition, The Hill has the necessary experience, creativity, and competence to deal with vital foreign challenges too. Those traits are lacking in Bernie Sanders; he can go through the motions in the foreign arena, but that is insufficient. He would not be ready on Day One of the next presidency to handle, should it occur, a new Russian incursion into Ukraine or the Baltic nations; or a new serious threat in the Middle East; or a North Korean H-bomb. Those lacks could turn into fatal flaws, which cannot be risked. As for all of the "trash talk" about Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, in the past, ranging from their alleged 1980s-1990s "misdeeds" to her large speaking fees after leaving government service, I consider most of that stuff to be obsolete and/or irrelevant and inoperative. Those who criticize the $675,000 offered her by a Wall Street firm for several speeches have undoubtedly never been offered any such fee -- and, if they were, would undoubtedly jump at the chance to take it. Those who criticize her private emails for State Department business must now recognize that two comparable G.W.Bush officials, Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, also sent and received government emails on their own private equipment. Double standards, anyone? Finally, in anticipation of another outpouring of vicious vitriol over this present article: feel free to vent your rage. Just remember that the first word of Op Ed is Opinion. These are my Opinions -- and you are welcome to express yours, forcefully and even impolitely if that is what you prefer. And, as Rob Kall put it so well, those who cannot stand the heat should indeed stay out of the kitchen. You might just recall that shedding light is preferable to setting that kitchen on fire. Here's to Free Speech! Would you like to know how many people have visited this page? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Since 2013, Professor Franklin P. Lamb has traveled extensively throughout Syria. His primary focus has been to document, photograph, research and hopefully help preserve the vast and irreplaceable archaeological sites and artifacts in Syria. Like Iraq, Syria is the cradle of civilization, and as such it has been a rich source of our shared global culture and historic heritage. Already endangered from illegal excavation, looting, international trafficking and iconoclasm; the theft and destruction of these sites has greatly increased as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. Many of the endangered archeological sites and artifacts are over 7,000 years old. The oldest remains found in Syria are from the Paleolithic era (c. 800,000 BCE). The most endangered artifacts and archaeological sites currently are in Tell Halaf, the north of Syria near the Turkish border with Syria. These archaeological sites date as far back as 5,500 BCE. They include archeological sites and artifacts of the Babylonian, Sumerian, Egyptian, Assyrian, Phoenician, Aramaic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Ayyubid and Ottoman civilizations and empires. Professor Franklin Lamb has also been working, sometimes under dangerous circumstances, to record and photograph the war damage done to religious icons, images, monuments, and ancient structures that span pre-Roman civilizations, and structures such as Islamic mosques, Christian churches and Jewish synagogues. Professor Lamb is working tirelessly to record and photograph these sites and artifacts because they are in danger of complete destruction for religious, political and illegal trafficking reasons, especially due to the ongoing wars in the Middle East. Professor Franklin Lamb's website and his latest book, "Syria's Endangered Heritage, an International Responsibility to Preserve and Protect" presents exclusive and never published before photographs, records, data, articles, and interviews from across the whole of Syria. His book can be purchased at his website http://www.syrian-heritage.com/. In addition to Dr. Lamb's urgent archaeological work he is also deeply committed to rescuing and aiding refugee children in Syria. He is a volunteer with the Lebanon, France, and USA based "Meals for Syrian Refugee Children, Lebanon (MSRCL)", which seeks to provide hot nutritional meals to Syrian and other refugee children. Lamb says that the goal of MSRCL is to be able to provide one meal a day to 500 children. More donors are needed in order for him to reach that goal. At $2.25 per meal x 500 children per day ($1,225), the budget for a month (30 days) requires approximately $36,000. Over 95% of each donation goes directly towards the cost of each meal. The MSCRL volunteer teams give their time, energy and even their own money to help the refugee children so that they will not become part of the "lost generation" of Syria. Lamb's books and publications include "Pollution as a Problem of International Law"; "International Legal Responsibility for the Sabra Shatila Massacre"; "Israel's 1982 War in Lebanon: Eyewitness Chronicles of the Invasion and Occupation", "The Price We Pay: A Quarter Century of Israel's Use of American Weapons against Civilians in Lebanon in addition to the three volume set, "Palestine, Lebanon & Syria Palestine, Lebanon & Syria (Commentary and Analysis 2006-2016)." Due out during Fall 2016, in English and Arabic, is "The Case for Palestinian Civil Rights in Lebanon: Why the Resistance Sleeps." Dr. Lamb's most recent book is "Syria's Endangered Heritage: An International Responsibility to Preserve and Protect". www.Syrian-heritage.com Lamb's Academic Credentials include: BA, and Law Degrees from Boston University, Master of Law (LLM) Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy from the London School of Economics (LSE); Diploma in International Air & Space Law from the University College of London; Post-Doctoral Studies at Harvard University Law School of East Asian Legal Studies Center, specializing in Chinese Law; International Legal Studies at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom; Studied Public International Law at The Hague Academy of international Law, at the International Court of Justice, in The Hague, Netherlands. Lamb's Professional and Political Activities include Assistant Professor of International Law, Northwestern College of Law, Portland, Oregon and Assistant Counsel to the US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, During the Administration of President Jimmy Carter, Lamb was elected for a four year term to the Democratic National Committee, representing the state of Oregon. Lamb served on the Democratic National Committee Judicial Council with California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as well as the Platform Committee on East-West Relations. Professor Lamb served on the presidential campaign staff for Presidential Candidate Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. Articles Listed By Date List By Popularity Search Title Date Between Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 and Any 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 Any 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Page 1 of 10 First Last Back Next 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 View All (3 comments) SHARE Biden Squawks Amid Headless Chickens There's a whole lot of theatrical squawking and feathers in the surreal world of Western politicians. Friday, February 25, 2022There's a whole lot of theatrical squawking and feathers in the surreal world of Western politicians. (1 comments) SHARE Pandemic Shows China Bests US The starkly different impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China and the United States is glaring proof of which political system is most capable of delivering for the common good of people. 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(12 comments) SHARE US' Futile Containment of China State planners in Washington seem to think that a Cold War policy towards China will deliver the same kind of victory that America claimed against the Soviet Union. The objective is to make the United States the sole global hegemonic power with no other competitor. Monday, March 1, 2021State planners in Washington seem to think that a Cold War policy towards China will deliver the same kind of victory that America claimed against the Soviet Union. The objective is to make the United States the sole global hegemonic power with no other competitor. (5 comments) SHARE Pompeo's Desperado Vandalism What an ignominious end to the Trump administration. Apart from the president being impeached for the second time, Trump's top diplomat Mike Pompeo has been frantically sabotaging as many foreign relations as possible. Saturday, January 16, 2021What an ignominious end to the Trump administration. Apart from the president being impeached for the second time, Trump's top diplomat Mike Pompeo has been frantically sabotaging as many foreign relations as possible. SHARE Don't Dismiss US Coup Many commentators are dismissing the extraordinary events at the US Capitol as something much less serious than an attempted coup. Some have even joked about it as if it were a carnival of crazies high on Trumpism. Thursday, January 14, 2021Many commentators are dismissing the extraordinary events at the US Capitol as something much less serious than an attempted coup. Some have even joked about it as if it were a carnival of crazies high on Trumpism. SHARE Navalny Case Is Naked Admission of Spooks and Media Collaboration The latest twist in the Navalny saga claims that the blogger-activist -- whom Russia accuses of being a CIA asset -- was somehow poisoned with highly toxic Novichok laced in his underpants. The story does not pass the whiff test. In fact, it reeks like, well, a pair of old underpants. Saturday, December 26, 2020The latest twist in the Navalny saga claims that the blogger-activist -- whom Russia accuses of being a CIA asset -- was somehow poisoned with highly toxic Novichok laced in his underpants. The story does not pass the whiff test. In fact, it reeks like, well, a pair of old underpants. (1 comments) SHARE America's Sick Priorities The US Congress is pushing through another record-breaking military budget while tens of millions of Americans are staring into the abyss of Christmas misery from poverty and disease. The twisted priorities of Washington's politicians show the American political system is sick beyond words. Sunday, December 13, 2020The US Congress is pushing through another record-breaking military budget while tens of millions of Americans are staring into the abyss of Christmas misery from poverty and disease. 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Tuesday, September 29, 2020It's hard not to agree with American professor Richard Wolff when he says the real disease facing the world is not Covid-19 but rather the failed economics of capitalism. Wolff's analysis is more cogent than ever. (5 comments) SHARE Why the US is Doomed The fatal trouble with the US is that it has a chronic political disease. But none of the political class, including "populist" President Donald Trump, have a diagnosis to offer. And any remedial action always requires accurate diagnosis. Thursday, September 3, 2020The fatal trouble with the US is that it has a chronic political disease. But none of the political class, including "populist" President Donald Trump, have a diagnosis to offer. And any remedial action always requires accurate diagnosis. 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SHARE Washington Signals End of One China Policy Towards War Footing Washington Signals End of One China Policy Towards War Footing Saturday, August 15, 2020Washington Signals End of One China Policy Towards War Footing (1 comments) SHARE Neither Trump Nor Biden Really Matter to China or Russia - Strategic Culture Neither Trump Nor Biden Really Matter to China or Russia - Strategic Culture Friday, July 31, 2020Neither Trump Nor Biden Really Matter to China or Russia - Strategic Culture (4 comments) SHARE UK Shoots Itself In The Foot for Uncle Sam In a dramatic U-turn, the British government is scrapping Chinese telecom giant Huawei's involvement in modernizing its internet infrastructure. And the Trump White House is crowing with glee. Sunday, July 19, 2020In a dramatic U-turn, the British government is scrapping Chinese telecom giant Huawei's involvement in modernizing its internet infrastructure. And the Trump White House is crowing with glee. (1 comments) SHARE China Right on Nukes As Chinese officials have pointed out, it is up to the US and Russia to dismantle their huge arsenals to levels comparable to China's before the latter can participate in further disarmament. Moscow has said it respects the Chinese position. Sunday, June 28, 2020As Chinese officials have pointed out, it is up to the US and Russia to dismantle their huge arsenals to levels comparable to China's before the latter can participate in further disarmament. Moscow has said it respects the Chinese position. Page 1 of 10 First Last Back Next 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 View All by Sen. Doug Whitsett The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) was created by the Legislative Assembly to ensure that safe and reliable utility services are provided to customers at just and reasonable rates, while fostering the use of competitive markets to achieve these objectives. That body is charged with regulating only the investor-owned utilities (IOUs) that are owned by private companies such as PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric (PGE). IOUs are given monopolies within their utility service areas. These monopolies are approved and regulated by the state. The PUC is charged with ensuring that the more than 1.5 million PacifiCorp and PGE customers in Oregon are treated fairly by those two companies. The PUC held an informational hearing in Salem last Friday regarding House Bill 4036. The new law proposed by PacifiCorp and PGE is being called the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition bill. HB 4036 would functionally double the amount of renewable power required to meet the Oregon Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). It would also eliminate both the coal-fired generation of electricity in Oregon and the importation of electricity generated by coal-fired plants located outside of the state. The proposed law was negotiated by a selected group of participants. The list includes environmental advocacy organizations, renewable energy producers, organizations that advocate for renewable energy, PacifiCorp and PGE. Their bargain was reached behind closed doors in confidential settings. Incredibly, the PUC and its members were not allowed to participate in the closed door meetings. All but one organization that advocates for ratepayers also appear to have been barred from the discussions. The only exception was the Citizens Utility Board (CUB). CUB was formed in 1984 by initiative petition to advocate for residential ratepayers. In my experience, CUB has consistently and unabashedly advocated for the production of renewable power. The current chair of the CUB Board of Governors is the Director of Meteorology at Iberdrola Renewables, which is the new name for PPM Energy, Inc. That company was previously the energy acquisition unit for PacifiCorp. It is now owned by the Spanish-based utility Iberdrola. Governor Brown has expressed her tacit support for the proposal and had her office suggest that the PUC members refrain from comment. She has also delayed consideration of the reappointment of two of the commissioners until after the Legislative Assembly has completed consideration of HB 4036. Unfortunately, the development of new laws in closed negotiations among special interest groups appears to be the New Oregon Way. The IOUs claim the proposed changes are affordable, workable and are better for their customers than the provisions of Initiative Petition 63. That proposed ballot measure is currently being advanced by many of the same advocacy organizations who participated in the closed door negotiations. Not surprisingly, those who were not at the table were on the menu. The list of significant losers appear to include the IOUs ratepayers, the consumer owned utilities that compete with the IOUs, and the PUC itself. Several points were made abundantly clear during last Fridays PUC hearing. The claim by IOUs that the PUCs informational hearing was unprecedented was first laid to rest by the Commission Chair. She emphatically cited other examples of similar hearings. The Chair also made clear that she and her fellow commissioners are not pleased that the IOUs failed to consult with them regarding the negotiations. Nor are they pleased with the product of the discussions, which is HB 4036. The PUC members pointed out that HB 4036 would reverse no less than four of that bodys previous decisions. One example is in regard to the energy production tax credit (PTC). The most common federal PTC is two cents per kilowatt hour, and expires after ten years. HB 4036 appears to authorize the IOUs to shift the cost of the expired tax credit to their ratepayers without even consulting the PUC. Another reflects the PUCs concern regarding the reliability of the power grid when much higher percentages of intermittent wind and solar resources are required. The Commissioners assert that HB 4036 eliminates the PUCs ability to maintain control of reliability issues. The PUC members openly questioned the appropriateness of the IOUs participation in the confidential negotiations. The IOUs, whom the PUC is charged with regulating, appear to have rewritten their own preferred outcomes to PUC orders. They further charged that HB 4036 raises other issues that were previously decided by the PUC through its extensive public processes. Members of the PUC pointed out that HB 4036 will result in little, if any, overall reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The IOU representatives were not able to refute that assertion. The only coal-fired plant in Oregon, located in Boardman, is already scheduled to be closed. Coal-fired plants located in other states that are currently supplying electricity to Oregon will continue to operate into the foreseeable future. Those plants will not cease to operate, will not stop using coal and will not reduce their GHG emissions. Although the scheme will serve to help meet Oregons GHG reduction goals, neither regional nor global GHG emissions will be measurably reduced. It is worth noting that Oregon currently produces about 0.04 percent of global GHG emissions. That is four ten-thousandths of the total global GHG emission, or one part in 2,500! The simple, undeniable fact is that even the complete depopulation of Oregon would not result in a measurable change in global GHG emission. Prudently incurred costs can generally be recovered from an IOUs ratepayers. Those companies are generally allowed to make about a ten percent profit on virtually all of their prudently incurred costs. The PUC members questioned the IOU representatives regarding the many ways they wrote HB 4036 to redefine most of the cost of the new laws implementation to be costs that are prudently incurred. PUC members further declared during the hearing that HB 4036 does create significant incentives to build solar and wind powered generation capacity. However, they then asserted that the text of the bill throws out the requirement for the new construction to be effective and prudent. It appears to remove oversight by both the public and the PUC. The result is authorization for the IOUs to charge the costs of new renewable generation facilities to their ratepayers, as well as taking their designated profits on those charges. Most of the cost of siting and constructing of wind and solar generation facilities is currently being paid by taxpayers. These facilities are currently being subsidized with refundable tax credits, production tax credits, accelerated depreciation and loan guarantees. Many facilities receive well more than 80 percent of their funding through these tax giveaways. The fact of the matter is that most of the cost of complying with Oregons RPS is currently being paid by the taxpayers, rather than the IOUs customers. PUC members pointed out how HB 4036 could allow the IOUs to transfer much of these costs to their customers with reduced or delayed regulatory oversight. The Commissioners questioned the purpose of two specific sections of HB 4036 that appear to further enhance the IOU service area monopoly. Those sections appear to make any encroachment on their monopoly protected territory and customers prohibitively expensive. The bill would force consumer owned utilities, like public utility districts and municipal utility districts, to pay enormous new costs in the event that they took a single ratepayer from the IOU monopoly protected service area. HB 4036 would essentially prohibit IOU ratepayers from escaping their monopoly rates, other than by moving out of their protected service area. PacifiCorp has already increased its rates by more than 80 percent since 2005. I believe HB 4036 has the potential to cost their ratepayers billions of additional dollars over the next two decades. Obviously, nearly ten percent of their new prudently incurred costs may be retained as profit for their investors. PUC members asked repeated questions regarding the potential cost increase for IOU customers. The queries were generally deflected as being either a work in progress or as currently being modelled. The Commission, one and a half million Oregon IOU customers and many members of the Legislative Assembly would like to know what those costs will be before a vote is recorded on HB 4036. The bill was scheduled for two hearings in the House Energy and Environment Committee this week. One was held Tuesday, and the other was held yesterday. That committee is chaired by a former political chair for the Sierra Club. HB 4036s subsequent referral to Ways and Means will likely prevent it from having even a single public hearing in a Senate policy committee. The passage of HB 4036 will result in certain and enormous shifts of wealth. IOU customers will pay while utility investors and the purveyors of renewable energy will receive. This is not the Oregon Way. This is crony capitalism in its most blatant form. Senator Doug Whitsett is the Republican state senator representing Senate District 28 Klamath Falls The Good Book James Pate, a biblioblogger with some previous WCG experience behind him, has just reviewed the Book of Mormon . You'll find a link to J... It Ain't the Barmen Declaration Gathered in New York last month, the ideologues of conservative Christianity - "Orthodox, Catholic, and Evangelical Christians" - ... From the Garage Archives - a 1996 view of WCG changes I've been cleaning out the garage, a major undertaking. Apart from the pain of decluttering, there has been the wistful rediscovery of ... More Canon Fodder Debate on the canon continues in America's most distinctive tabloid church publication, The Journal: News of the Churches of God . A ve... "Open the book to page ninety-nine and read, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you." --Ford Madox Ford Nawaz-Sharif in Azad Kashmir on Kashmir day MUZAFFARABAD - Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived here on Friday to show solidarity with the people of Indian-held Jammu Kashmir as people of Pakistan observe annual Kashmir Solidarity Day. The prime minister was accompanied by Minister for Kashmir Affairs Chaudhry Barjees Tahir, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Pervaiz Rashid and Adviser on Political Affairs Dr Asif Kirmani. During his visit, the prime minister will address the joint session of Azad Jammu Kashmir Council and AJK Legislative Assembly. The visit of the Prime Minister in Muzaffarabad manifests Pakistan's commitment to extend moral, political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri brethren in their struggle for right to self determination. On his arrival, the prime minister was received by AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, AJK President Sardar Yaqoob, Opposition Leader Sardar Farooq Ahmed and AJK cabinet members. The smartly turned out contingents of AJK Police presented guard of honor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The national anthems of Pakistan and AJK were also played. Reaching the Assembly building, the prime minister held a brief meeting with AJK Speaker Legislative Assembly Sardar Muhammad Sadiq and discussed the matters of mutual interest. Later, the prime minister reached the Council hall to address the joint session. Saudi Arabia to join ground operation in US-led coalition against IS RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is ready to join any ground operation the US-led coalition against the militant Islamic State group in Syria might decide on, a general from the kingdom said on Thursday. If there is any willingness in the coalition to go in the ground operation, we will contribute positively in that, Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told AFP. Assiri is spokesman for a separate Saudi-led Arab coalition which, since March, has conducted air strikes and ground operations in Yemen. That coalition supports the government there in its fight against Houthi rebels who seized much of the country. Saudi Arabia supports certain militant groups against Assad's forces. Regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo, while Moscow and Ankara traded barbs over the escalating crisis. As the offensive raged, diplomatic tensions were also rising, with Moscow accusing opposition supporter Ankara of preparing to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border. The militants' main supply line to Turkey was severed on Wednesday when regime troops broke an opposition siege of two Shia towns, Nubol and Zahraa, on the route to the border. Regime forces entered the two towns on Thursday to the cheers of residents, who chanted pro-government slogans and showered the fighters with rice. A high-ranking Syrian government official described the Aleppo advances as important, but said the regime had even more ambitious goals. The next objectives are to close the borders with Turkey to prevent the arrival of troops and weapons, then taking Aleppo province, then Idlib province, and finally Idlib city, he told AFP. Aleppo city, Syria's former economic powerhouse, has been divided between opposition control in the east and regime control in the west since mid-2012. Two factions within the ranks of Lal Masjid ISLAMABAD: High drama unfolded in the Maulana Abdul Aziz case on Thursday, as two factions emerged from within the ranks of Lal Masjid supporters, even as lawyers and civil society activists moved the district courts against the cleric for inciting violence and rebelling against the state. For the first time ever, Lal Masjid issued a press release on its own official letterhead, sidelining the Shuhada Foundation, which has hitherto handled all of Maulana Azizs interactions with the media. The release, issued by Lal Masjid (Official), was signed by Mufti Tehseenullah and not Hafiz Ehtesham Ahmed of the Shuhada Foundation, who had been the official spokesperson for the cleric and his family up until now. Umme Hassan, Maulana Abdul Azizs wife, is the chairperson of the Shuhada Foundation, which was established in 2008 but registered in Islamabad in 2013. Maulana Abdul Aziz appoints new spokesperson, distances himself from wifes Shuhada Foundation; activists move district courts against cleric The internal schisms appeared to permeate not just the clerics followers, but also his family, and seem to have emerged after he announced that he had forgiven former military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf and all those responsible for the military operation against Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa in 2007. Speaking to the media after posting pre-arrest bail on Tuesday, Maulana Aziz even said that he had forgiven those who were plotting against me. When contacted, Mufti Tehsinullah confirmed to Dawn that he had been made the official spokesperson for Lal Masjid. I am part of the mosques school of decrees and I am well-aware of developments there, he said, adding, Hafiz Ehtesham is not attached to the mosque, nor is he aware of the policies of Maulana Abdul Aziz. The matter of pardoning Musharraf and others has obviously been taken to heart by the Shuhada Foundation, with its spokesperson Hafiz Ehtesham insisting that forgiving Gen Musharraf would be against the principals of Sharia. Meanwhile, Shuhada Foundation President Advocate Tariq Asad who also represents the families of those killed in the Lal Masjid operation said that Maulana Abdul Aziz was not authorised to pardon Gen Musharraf in all the cases following the 2007 military operation. He is only authorised to forgive the death of his own son, not his brother. Nor can he speak on behalf of the families of all those who died, Advocate Asad told reporters. This is not fair on his part even his wife Umme Hasaan had tears in her eyes after Maulana Abdul Aziz made this announcement, he added. Hafiz Ehtesham claimed that the Shuhada Foundation would reveal certain facts about the death of Ghazi Abdul Rasheed, the younger brother of Maulana Abdul Aziz who was killed in the 2007 operation. On the other hand, new Lal Masjid mouthpiece Mufti Tehsin said that Maulana Aziz would soon explain his plans to withdraw the murder case against the former military ruler. Incidentally, the first press release issued on the Lal Masjid (Official) letterhead is a clarification related to an application filed on Thursday by activist Jibran Nasir before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Raja Asif Mehmood. The application was related to the registration of a case against Maulana Aziz, the students and the administration of Jamia Hafsa, for pledging allegiance to the Middle Eastern terrorist group, Daesh. Mr Nasir has attached several video clips, in which Maulana Abdul Aziz can be seen praising Daesh and admitting that Jamia Hafsa students made a video calling on Daesh to overrun the state of Pakistan. The case will be heard on Feb 12, 2016. The Lal Masjid press release clarified that the video was allegedly released in 2014 by former students of Jamia Hafsa and had nothing to do with Maulana Abdul Aziz, Jamia Hafsa Administrator Umme Hasaan and the management of Lal Masjid or Jamia Hafsa. However some people are trying to implicate Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa and trying to fan sectarianism in the country, the press release said, accusing a recently-elected PTI local government member of conspiring against Lal Masjid. The statement also singled out activist Khurrum Zaki for promoting sectarianism. Mr Zaki, incidentally, also filed an application before an Islamabad civil court on Thursday, seeking the registration of an FIR against Maulana Aziz over his latest video, where he spoke disparagingly of ISI officers and made derogatory references to members of other sects. This application will be heard on Feb 11, 2016. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... If You Enjoy My Articles, Please Consider Supporting My Writing By Giving A Donation Of Any Amount. Thank you! The contents of this blog are my personal views and opinions and are not in any way representative of my employers, publishers, or any associations or organizations with which I'm affiliated. All pictures not drawn or taken by me are copied here under fair use principles. Please contact me to remove any such pictures. Throughout this blog, I've written about a number of subjects, including Bible-based reflections, spirituality and religion, interfaith concerns, my hometown, favorite roads and places, current events, the funny and weird moments of life, favorite music and art, and so on. But I've always had three interrelated themes in mind. One is the joy of making everyday connections as we move through our lives. Another is "the journey," including the spiritual quest, in which we struggle for understanding and assurances and look to God in hope. The third is "home": the places and circumstances that anchor us, the goals of our journeys, and the heavenly home that the Lord prepares for us (John 14:2) My hometown area, Fayette Co., IL, is always an anchor and "conceptual continuity" for me. The header photograph is from that area, near Brownstown, the vicinity where my maternal ancestors settled before the Civil War. All original material copyright 2009-2022 by Paul E. Stroble. All Bible quotations in this blog are from the New Revised Standard Version unless otherwise indicated. The New Revised Standard Version Bible is copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Welcome to this blog, which I've been keeping since 2009. Please feel free to browse the contents, or follow it for updates. Check back as often you'd like!Lately, this blog has included a variety of odd things that interest me as I go along--including music and art. Several previous posts were year-long series on subjects in religion and spirituality, each undertaken as an enjoyable discipline to keep my own spiritual life on a positive path. In 2014, I listened to and wrote about Bach's sacred cantatas on or near the Sundays and special days for which they were written. In 2015, I wrote about special days celebrated by different world religions. In 2016, I studied the lives of saints and faithful persons honored on different Christian liturgical calendars. In 2017-18, I studied the entire Bible (including the Apocrypha) and posted my notes. How to withdraw money from paypal to sri lanka Media Report : During a stormy session at the Scottish Parliament , former top judge Lord Brian Gill - who twice refused to face a Holyrood probe on judges secret wealth, connections & links to big business - demanded MSPs close proposals to require judges to register their interests as called for in Petition PE1458: Register of Interests for members of Scotland's judiciary . Video footage of Lord Gills stormy evidence session with MSPs can be viewed here: Evidence of Lord Gill before the Scottish Parliament 10 November 2015 The proposals, backed by cross party MSPs during a debate in the Parliaments main chamber on 9 October 2014 - Debating the Judges - call for the creation of a publicly available register of judicial interests containing information on judges backgrounds, their personal wealth, undeclared earnings, business & family connections inside & outside of the legal profession, offshore investments, hospitality, details on recusals and other information routinely lodged in registers of interest across all walks of public life in the UK and around the world. This scanning electron microscope image shows bee pollen studied for potential use as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Color was added to the original black-and-white image. A publication-quality photo is available at https://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/2016/pol-pollen.jpg Credit: Purdue University/ Jialiang Tang Pollens, the bane of allergy sufferers, could represent a boon for battery makers: Recent research has suggested their potential use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. "Our findings have demonstrated that renewable pollens could produce carbon architectures for anode applications in energy storage devices," said Vilas Pol, an associate professor in the School of Chemical Engineering and the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University. Batteries have two electrodes, called an anode and a cathode. The anodes in most of today's lithium-ion batteries are made of graphite. Lithium ions are contained in a liquid called an electrolyte, and these ions are stored in the anode during recharging. The researchers tested bee pollen- and cattail pollen-derived carbons as anodes. "Both are abundantly available," said Pol, who worked with doctoral student Jialiang Tang. "The bottom line here is we want to learn something from nature that could be useful in creating better batteries with renewable feedstock." Research findings are detailed in a paper that appeared on Feb. 5 in Nature's Scientific Reports. Whereas bee pollen is a mixture of different pollen types collected by honey bees, the cattail pollens all have the same shape. "I started looking into pollens when my mom told me she had developed pollen allergy symptoms about two years ago," Tang said. "I was fascinated by the beauty and diversity of pollen microstructures. But the idea of using them as battery anodes did not really kick in until I started working on battery research and learned more about carbonization of biomass." The researchers processed the pollen under high temperatures in a chamber containing argon gas using a procedure called pyrolysis, yielding pure carbon in the original shape of the pollen particles. They were further processed, or "activated," by heating at lower temperature - about 300 degrees Celsius - in the presence of oxygen, forming pores in the carbon structures to increase their energy-storage capacity. The research showed the pollen anodes could be charged at various rates. While charging for 10 hours resulted in a full charge, charging them for only one hour resulted in more than half of a full charge, Pol said."The theoretical capacity of graphite is 372 milliamp hours per gram, and we achieved 200 milliamp hours after one hour of charging," he said. The researchers tested the carbon at 25 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius to simulate a range of climates. "This is because the weather-based degradation of batteries is totally different in New Mexico compared to Indiana," Pol said. Findings showed the cattail pollens performed better than bee pollen. The work is ongoing. Whereas the current work studied the pollen in only anodes, future research will include work to study them in a full-cell battery with a commercial cathode. "We are just introducing the fascinating concept here," Pol said. "Further work is needed to determine how practical it might be." Electron microscopy studies were performed at the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue's Discovery Park. Explore further Sodium-ion batteries are potential power technology of future More information: Jialiang Tang et al. From Allergens to Battery Anodes: Nature-Inspired, Pollen Derived Carbon Architectures for Room- and Elevated- Temperature Li-ion Storage, Scientific Reports (2016). Journal information: Scientific Reports Jialiang Tang et al. From Allergens to Battery Anodes: Nature-Inspired, Pollen Derived Carbon Architectures for Room- and Elevated- Temperature Li-ion Storage,(2016). DOI: 10.1038/srep20290 How can we keep students engaged at school? Credit: www.shutterstock.com Around one in five Australian school students don't find school engaging, which means they are less likely to learn properly.. It's an issue that tends to worsen as students become older. A study showed that in year 7, 70% of students observed found school engaging, but in year 9, this dropped to 55%. Part of the reason is that the brightest kids are not being challenged enough, leading to students becoming disconnected and disengaged from their studies. Disengagement has resulted in Australian classrooms becoming rowdier and bullying becoming more prevalent. A 2012 study revealed that just 60% of students in South Australian secondary schools found school engaging. While over two thirds of teachers reported disengaged behaviours on an "almost daily basis". Why are students not engaged at school? There are many possible reasons for disengagement. Among these are the possibilities that the tasks being set are too challenging or too boring resulting in students being easily distracted; or that lessons being taught are perceived as uninteresting or irrelevant. This has marked implications for the academic progress of these students, who are then at risk of dropping out of school prior to completion. Disengagement can lead to dropping out Around 25% of disengaged young people do not complete school, with some variation nationally from primary to secondary school. This should be concerning. Of the 25% who did not complete school in 2013-14, one in four students indicated that they did not like school, with some indicating that their disinterest was on account of not doing well. Of concern is the quietly disengaged student, who sometimes goes unnoticed because they are usually compliant, but not as productive as they could be. How to make students more engaged While engaged students are keen to perform well, achieve highly, and consequently look forward to successful post-school lives, disengagement can lead to poorer academic performance for some students, and therefore limited success. This can in turn affect their quality of life. Personalised learning approach Teaching children in the same way means some of the brightest kids often are not challenged enough. Personalised learning has been identified as one of the essentials to school success. This involves using individually designed strategies which tap into student strengths to help increase the level of student engagement. This could include, using open learning spaces, student developed timetables and behaviour guidelines. Add sense of purpose to learning Getting students involved with projects and using real-life scenarios could contribute to a sense of ownership and bring enjoyment to learning. Through these approaches, students are more likely to feel that school is relevant, important and prepares them meaningfully for life outside school. Foster student wellbeing Positive interactions between teachers and students can help create classroom stability, feelings of security and overall gratification with the learning process. Forming positive relationships at school can also contribute towards a student's emotional and social wellbeing. Teachers need to compare their strategies with their peers in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the different methods they use to increase student engagement at schools. Explore further Gifted students could be accelerated to keep them challenged This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Simulation of a gravitationally unstable circumstellar disk by means of hydrodynamic calculations. Protoplanetary 'embryo' form in the disc thanks to gravitational fragmentation. The three small pictures show the successive 'disappearance' of the lump by the star. Credit: (c) Eduard Vorobyov, Universitat Wien Stars are born inside a rotating cloud of interstellar gas and dust, which contracts to stellar densities thanks to its own gravity. Before finding itself on the star, however, most of the cloud lands onto a circumstellar disk forming around the star owing to conservation of angular momentum.The manner in which the material is transported through the disk onto the star, causing the star to grow in mass, has recently become a major research topic in astrophysics. It turned out that stars may not accumulate their final mass steadily, as was previously thought, but in a series of violent events manifesting themselves as sharp stellar brightening. The young FU Orionis star in the constellation of Orion is the prototype example, which showed an increase in brightness by a factor of 250 over a time period of just one year, staying in this high-luminosity state now for almost a century. One possible mechanism that can explain these brightening events was put forward 10 years ago by Eduard Vorobyov, now working at the Astrophysical Department of the Vienna University, in collaboration with Shantanu Basu from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. According to their theory, stellar brightening can be caused by fragmentation due to gravitational instabilities in massive gaseous disks surrounding young stars, followed by migration of dense gaseous clumps onto the star. Like the process of throwing logs into a fireplace, these episodes of clump consumption release excess energy which causes the young star to brighten by a factor of hundreds to thousands. During each episode, the star is consuming the equivalent of one Earth mass every ten days. After this, it may take another several thousand years before another event occurs. Polarized intensities of four selected FU Orionis objects observed with the 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope. Significant asymmetries, such as elbows, arms and broad trends -- typical of gravitationally unstable disks -- are indicated by arrows. Credit: (c) Eduard Vorobyov, Universitat Wien Eduard Vorobyov describes the process of clump formation in circumstellar disks followed by their migration onto the star as "cannibalism on astronomical scales". These clumps could have matured into giant planets such as Jupiter, but instead they were swallowed by the parental star. This invokes an interesting analogy with the Greek mythology, wherein Cronus, the leader of the first generation of Titans, ate up his newborn children (though failing to gobble up Zeus, who finally brought death upon his father). With the advent of advanced observational instruments, such as SUBARU 8.2 meter optical-infrared telescope installed in Mauna Kea (Hawaii), it has become possible for the first time to test the model predictions. Using high-resolution, adaptive optics observations in the polarized light, an international group of astronomers led by Hauyu Liu from European Space Observatory (Garching, Germany) has verified the presence of the key features associated with the disk fragmentation modellarge-scale arms and arcs surrounding four young stars undergoing luminous outbursts, including the prototype FU Orionis star itself. The results of this study were accepted for publication in Science Advances - a peer-review, open-access journal belonging to the Science publishing group. "This is a major step towards our understanding of how stars and planets form and evolve", says Vorobyov, "If we can prove that most stars undergo such episodes of brightening caused by disk gravitational instability, this would mean that our own Sun might have experienced several such episodes, implying that the giant planets of the Solar system may in fact be lucky survivors of the Sun's tempestuous past". More information: Hauyu Baobab Liu, Michihiro Takami, Tomoyuki Kudo, Jun Hashimoto, Ruobing Dong, Eduard I. Vorobyov, Tae-Soo Pyo, Misato Fukagawa, Motohide Tamura, Thomas Henning, Michael M. Dunham, Jennifer Karr, Nobuhiko Kusakabe, Toru Tsuribe: "Circumstellar Disks of the Most Vigorously Accreting Young Stars", published online February 5, 2016. Journal information: Science Advances Hauyu Baobab Liu, Michihiro Takami, Tomoyuki Kudo, Jun Hashimoto, Ruobing Dong, Eduard I. Vorobyov, Tae-Soo Pyo, Misato Fukagawa, Motohide Tamura, Thomas Henning, Michael M. Dunham, Jennifer Karr, Nobuhiko Kusakabe, Toru Tsuribe: "Circumstellar Disks of the Most Vigorously Accreting Young Stars", published online February 5, 2016. advances.sciencemag.org/content/2/2/e1500875 A F-35C stealth fighter, similar to one linked to sonic booms off New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Its top speed is said to be 1,200 miles per hour. Credit: Lockheed Martin The East Coast boom issue dates to at least the winter of 1977-78, when similar shock waves hit many communities. The military denied responsibility, so rumors and speculations abounded: secret weapons tests; operations of spacecraft or submarines; giant methane bubbles erupting from the seafloor. Lamont seismologists hypothesized that small earthquakes were emanating from areas lacking adequate instrumentation; or oil companies might be igniting explosives offshore to explore for petroleum reserves. David Simpson, then Lamont's head of seismology, set out an array of portable seismometers near Cape May, N.J., where many complaints came from, but got little useful information. "This was a big mystery that lasted for months," said Lamont seismologist emeritus John Armbruster. "It shows the frustrations of dealing with a culture of military secrecy." Members of Congress, alarmed about the repeated episodes, demanded an investigation from then president Jimmy Carter, and Carter turned it over to the Office of Naval Research. Carter's science advisor was a Lamont alumnus: the influential seismologist and oceanographer Frank Press. Press might have had something to do with the eventual resolution. In any case, after months of research, the government finally issued a report admitting that its own jets were to blame. That has not stopped people from being scared by the booms; earthquake alarms linked to them are still a regular event (though the extent of the more recent ones may be due as much to the ubiquity and instantaneous nature of social media as to the weather or the actual number of flights). From Maryland to New Jersey, a series of booms sparked concern along the coast in October 2012, and again in February 2014. Two days before the most recent event, residents of Charleston, S.C., were also frightened by tremors. At least in these events, the military has been quick to step up and take responsibility. Because the shock waves travel through the air, not the ground, conventional seismic instruments don't generally pick them upthat is, unless they strike hard enough to cause buildings or ground to shake. Even then, the motion might not be picked up unless there happens to be an instrument close by, because compared to a real earthquake, the effects are relatively weak and local. That said, the latest booms were relatively powerful. Kim says he measured eight. A conventional seismometer near the southern New Jersey town of Hammonton registered a series of ground vibrations. The Lamont lab is still analyzing data, but other seismometers in New Jersey and Long Island may also have picked up ground motion. A new set of seismic stations installed since 2013 also have air-pressure sensors, and detectors for infrasound, which can clearly detect sonic booms (along with hopefully less common events such as nuclear bomb tests or large meteors streaking through the air). At Hammonton and at least five other stations in New Jersey and Connecticut, infrasound detectors picked up acoustic waves. An air-pressure sensor at Hammonton also jumped at the same time. "Some things, we don't hear, but they still have energy," said Kim. Explore further Mysterious booms rattle homes, scare livestock in Oklahoma Steven Sanchez, who was paralyzed from the waist down after a BMX accident, wears SuitXs Phoenix. If I had this it would change a lot of things, he says. Credit: SuitX Until recently, being paralyzed from the waist down meant using a wheelchair to get around. And although daily life is more accessible to wheelchair users, they still face physical and social limitations. But UC Berkeley's Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory has been working to change that. The robotics lab, a team of graduate students led by mechanical engineering professor Homayoon Kazerooni, has been working for more than a decade to create robotic exoskeletons that allow those with limited mobility to walk again. This week, a new, lighter and more agile exoskeleton, for which the Kaz lab developed the original technology, was unveiled earlier this week: The Phoenix, by SuitX, a company that has spun off the robotics lab. Kazerooni is its founder and CEO. The Phoenix is lightweight, has two motors at the hips and electrically controlled tension settings that tighten when the wearer is standing and swing freely when they're walking. Users can control the movement of each leg and walk up to 1.1 miles per hour by pushing buttons integrated into a pair of crutches. It's powered for up to eight hours by a battery pack worn in a backpack. "We can't really fix their disease," says Kazerooni. "We can't fix their injury. But what it would do is postpone the secondary injuries due to sitting. It gives a better quality of life." Over ten years in the making Kazarooni and his team have developed a series of exoskeletons over the years. Their work in the field began in 2000 with a project funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to create a device, now called the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton (BLEEX), that could help people carry heavier leads for longer. At that time, Kazerooni also realized the potential use for exoskeletons in the medical field, particularly as an alternative to wheelchairs. The team began developing new devices to restore mobility for people who had become paraplegic. In 2011, they made the exoskeleton that helped Berkeley senior Austin Whitney, paralyzed from the waist down in a 2007 car accident, make an epic walk across the graduation stage to receive his diploma. Soon after, the Austin Project was created in honor of Whitney, with a goal of finding new technologies to create reliable, inexpensive exoskeleton systems for everyday personal use. Today, the Phoenix is one of the lightest and most accessible exoskeletons to hit the market. It can be adjusted to fit varied weights, heights and leg sizes and can be used for a range of mobility hindrances. And, although far from inexpensive at $40,000, it's about the half the cost of other exoskeletons that help restore mobility. Explore further Engineering an affordable exoskeleton When Tokyo-based Fujifilm Holdings Corp. set out to become a global leader in the emerging area of regenerative medicine, one of the key places it turned to was Madison. There, at a company started in 2004 by stem cell pioneer James Thomson, Fujifilm found one of the world's most advanced efforts to churn out in vast, predictable quantities powerful cells that might someday be used to cure disease. Fujifilm says the $307 million acquisition of Cellular Dynamics International Inc. it completed in May is key to its ambitious plans in the field of regenerative medicine, which uses cells and other materials to heal damaged tissues and organs. Leading the effort in Madison is Kazuyoshi "Kaz" Hirao, a friendly Tokyo native-turned-Madisonian who enjoys swimming, taking long walks and attending music and theater performances. "The potential is very huge to change the world," said Hirao, chairman and chief executive officer of Cellular Dynamics, or CDI. Already the leader in the manufacture of human cells, CDI is hoping to benefit from Fujifilm's greater resources and global penetration. When Shigetaka Komori, Fujifilm's chairman and chief executive officer, visited in October, he told CDI employees and Gov. Scott Walker that he viewed the Madison company as a key to Fujifilm's future in regenerative medicine. To make its cells - known as iPS, or induced pluripotent stem cells - CDI starts with a small sample of blood or skin. Its scientists, in essence, rewind the cells to create the equivalent of embryonic stem cells. Then they nudge the cells forward in the developmental process to become any of 12 products, including heart, liver and several types of neural cells. "My expectation is that the iPS cell business will be one of the main pillars for new corporate growth," Komori said. When he won the Nobel Prize in 2012 for his work on iPS cells, Japanese scientist Shinya Yamanaka portrayed the cells as a discovery that would have great impact in the future, said Don Gibbons, a spokesman for the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine. That future has begun to arrive, Gibbons said. Nearly every major drug company is using iPS cells for drug discovery or to test the toxicity of compounds under development, he said. For example, they might use heart cells or liver cells created in the lab to test whether a compound would be harmful to those organs. Advantages to using the cells include making animal studies less necessary and bringing down the average cost of making drugs, Gibbons said. A clinical trial - the first in the world involving iPS cells - began in 2014 when Japanese researchers transplanted retinal tissue made using reprogrammed cells into a woman with age-related macular degeneration. The trial was put on hold in July before a second patient could be transplanted because of concerns about mutations in that patient's iPS cells. CDI in 2014 received a $1.2 million contract from the National Eye Institute to engineer cells for the potential treatment of macular degeneration. Researchers at the institute have said they hope to begin a clinical trial in 2017. Over the past decade, as digital film sales dropped, Fujifilm has diversified into a wide range of products, including antiviral drugs,anti-aging skin care products and natural gas purification filters. Now it is eyeing regenerative medicine as an area where it can gain the lead because the field is so new. "The market is early stage, but the potential is very high," Hirao said. Fujifilm plans to marry a homegrown product that acts as a scaffold on which to grow cells with CDI's iPS cells and engineered tissue from Japan Tissue Engineering Co., another recent acquisition. Combining all of these technologies will make valuable products for drug development - and perhaps even for therapies down the road, Hirao said. Hirao, who earned his MBA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, left his wife and high school-aged son in Japan when he took the CDI job. He and Tak Okada, CDI's chief technology officer, have climbed bluffs at Devil's Lake State Park and are planning a trip to South America. Hirao has held management roles in Fujifilm's pharmaceutical and other divisions. But it was when his father was diagnosed with esophageal cancer five years ago that he says he took a personal interest in regenerative medicine. His business philosophy, honed during a difficult semiconductor company integration and while he was secretary-general of the Japan Netherlands Society from 2012 to 2015, relies heavily on interpersonal communication and trust. Hirao uses a "surprising" graphic to illustrate that, said Bruce Novich, president of Fujifilm North America's new business development division. The graphic shows that the combination of the Japanese characters for "people" and "trust" means "money." "This is a guiding principle for his business dealings," Novich said. And it was key to Hirao's ability to meld three regional business teams into a global business at Fujifilm's semiconductor division, he said. When Hirao arrived at CDI in August, he immediately sat down with Emile Nuwaysir and Chris Parker, its remaining top two executives, and told them they would be part of a team management structure. Then he held meetings with small groups of no more than 15 employees. CDI has 160 employees and is planning with an eye on the potential trajectory of the business over the next five years, Parker said. That means the more than 30,000 square feet that it currently occupies in University Research Park is getting tight. "With the hiring we're doing, we're going to need to deploy additional space," Parker said. Explore further Stem cell-derived kidneys connect to blood vessels when transplanted into mice 2016 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This post originally appeared on Open Society Voices. There is a cemetery in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine, where 156 unnamed soldiers are buried. There are some we cant identify, said Irina Fedorchuk, the director of the Regional State Administration in Dnepropetrovsk. Their bones turn to ash when you touch them. There is no DNA to extract. Fedorchuks administration has the difficult task of processing, identifying, and, if necessary, burying the dead from battles in Donetsk and Luhansk. Due to its proximity to the battlefields and its undamaged infrastructure, Dnepropetrovsk has been largely responsible for dealing with the burden of the countrys dead soldiers. Since 2014, 9,098 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine. To date, 1,164 bodies, all of them soldiers, have been recovered from these battlefields. Every week, more bodiesand parts of bodiesare delivered to the morgues in Dnepropetrovsk for identification and burial. It is unclear how many more remain to be recovered from the separatist-controlled territories in Donetsk and Luhansk. When the armed conflict broke out in Ukraines easternmost provinces, the number of dead and missing overwhelmed Ukraines limited capacity to identify them all. Things became very difficult for us in the summer of 2014, said Fedorchuk. More than 100 fragments of bodies were delivered here within just a few days, and we didnt have any information on how to identify them or who their relatives were. An international forensic expert and observer based in Dnepropetrovsk also spoke to the challenges faced by Ukrainian officials in dealing with the dead. Last winter, they [Ukrainian morgue workers] were storing bodies in railroad cars, sometimes in black garbage bags because there was no room, no resources. The bodies were not stacked or organized properly, and there were many opportunities for cross contamination, meaning youre leaving yourself open to misidentifying bodies. When soldiers die in combat, recovering their remains is a difficult task. In Ukraines case, many of the battle sites are off limits to the Ukrainian authorities, preventing them from systematically recovering and identifying their dead. The separatist authorities, Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) and Luhansk Peoples Republic (LPR), have access to more sites, but little is known about their efforts to recover bodies or their ability to identify them. A volunteer group called the Black Tulips has been filling this role, since the separatist authorities allow civilian volunteers to cross the border into their territory. Director Zhilkan Yaroslav told us his volunteers had recovered more than 850 bodies700 Ukrainian soldiers and 150 suspected members of armed groupsand handed them over to the Ministry of Defense for transportation to Dnepropetrovsk. But retrieving the bodies is only half the work. I know mistakes are being made, said Yaroslav. We still have a lot of bodies in Donetsk and Luhansk to find, and we dont want to make mistakes. Misidentifications worry me, and I know they happen quite a lot as well. There is no coordination of the work. There is quite a bit of disorder. Yaroslav said he often receives calls from mothers and wives who claim that the body parts the government returned to them do not match the physical descriptions of their relatives. Some say they distrust DNA tests because of the governments reputation for corruption and reports of faulty DNA tests. Moreover, lack of coordination between the military and investigators leads to failure to return correctly identified bodies to relatives. During visits to Ukraine, we found poor information management between government agencies and departments working on the identification of the dead and missing. There is little coordination and frequent duplication, and databases are not well maintained. Civil society groups warned us not to trust numbers reported by state agencies, as they are likely to be inaccurate. The right of families to know the truth surrounding the fate of a missing family member is expressly provided for by the Geneva Conventions, which apply to the Ukrainian conflict. International human rights bodies have expanded that right to include serious human rights violations in general, linking it to the duty and obligation of the state to protect and guarantee human rights, to conduct effective investigations, and to implement effective remedy and reparations. It is also critical that authorities conduct independent investigations into the circumstances of death in each case. To be sure, Ukraines current scale of missing and dead is small in comparison to places like Afghanistan and Libya, where the missing and dead number in the hundreds of thousands. But Ukraines conflict is still in its early stages, and the country has the opportunity to prevent the caseload of those who are missing and unidentified from growing unmanageable. If fighting breaks out again this year, new casualties will place an even greater burden on an already strained system. The government has taken important first steps to address the problem. Officials have attended dialogues brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross to identify and fix gaps and inefficiencies. But to effectively overcome the backlog and prevent misidentifications, the government must strengthen coordination between departments and pursue investigations into the circumstances surrounding all cases of missing and dead. This is the only chance to fulfill the right to truth, and to offer the victims families the closure they deserve. Comment Policy Advance Indiana allows you to post comments via this blog subject to the guidelines set forth herein. You understand that any comments you post are your own and are not those of Advance Indiana. You further understand that Advance Indiana is not responsible for the content of any external sites referenced in your comments. Unlawful, harassing, defamatory, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, racially offensive, or otherwise objectionable comments are not acceptable. If you think any content posted or otherwise included in Advance Indiana violates the guidelines set forth herein, then please alert Advance Indiana. Advance Indiana reserves the right to pre-screen, edit, and remove any post as it deems appropriate. You specifically acknowledge that Advance Indiana has no obligation to display any post submitted or otherwise provided via Advance Indiana. According to new jobless claims, economic distress within the U.S. has spread outside of the oil patch states, as what had been a trend of improvement stoked by falling oil prices has apparently come to a clear end. Here is how we know. Thanks to our adaptation of a unique kind of statistical analysis that was originally developed by Bell Telephone's Walter Shewhart over 90 years ago to improve the quality of both manufactured goods and the processes used to produce them, we are able to identify major statistical trends in the rate of seasonally-adjusted new jobless claims, including the timing of when they begin and when they end, which we base on the rules developed by Western Electric to determine when a break in an established statistical trend has occurred. Having laid that basic groundwork, lets start by looking at the most recent statistical trend for new jobless claims for the entire United States. In this chart, we see that what we identify as "Trend N" is still intact, as all recent data points are within the range of values where we would expect to find them based upon the variation of the data with respect to the main overall trend since it began. This trend, which began when oil prices began falling in late June and early July 2014, has been characterized by the number of new jobless claims falling at an average pace of 400-500 per week. We also observe that there is a microtrend within the data that suggests the larger trend may be breaking down, where all data points since 28 November 2015 falls on one side of the main trend line, but nothing as yet to confirm that it is on its way to fully breaking down. Since global oil prices have been falling steadily since September 2015, so much so that average retail gasoline prices within the United States began dropping below the $2.21 per gallon level that marked the bottom of the previous fall in oil prices from July 2014 through January 2015, we quickly assumed that the increase in new jobless claims was likely happening in the eight states where high production cost oil industries represent a significant share of their local economies: Colorado, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming. So we next looked at just the jobless claims in these states, taking the non-seasonally adjusted data reported by the U.S. Department of Labor and seasonally adjusting it with the DOL's own seasonal adjustment factors for the nation as a whole. The resulting chart showing the recent trends in new jobless claims in these states is below. This chart is pretty remarkable in that what we identify as "Trend P 8 " is very well intact, with the most recent data points falling mostly within one standard deviation of the main trend line. As you can see, Trend P 8 is characterized by a flat-to-slowly falling overall trajectory, which had its origins after the sharp increase in new jobless claims in these eight states during the first period of falling oil prices, as oil prices rebounded in the months from January 2015 through July 2015. Though oil prices have fallen in each of the months since, there has been little change in that overall trajectory. Our thinking here is that the layoffs that occurred during the earlier fall in oil prices in these states effectively cleared the field for additional layoffs in these states, at least until oil prices drop below the level where they previously bottomed. It has only been in very recent weeks where that has happened, so we'll continue monitoring new jobless claims in these states to see if our hypothesis is valid, as changes in new jobless claims tend to lag some 2 to 3 weeks behind the events that prompt changes in the outlook for businesses. Of course, having isolated these 8 states means that we've also isolated the remaining 42 states outside of the oil patch. And there is where we see a significant statistical break in the trend that previously existed. Our next chart shows when that trend broke down. As we might expect, the statistical trends for the other 42 states outside of the high production cost oil states more closely resembles the overall national trends, as falling global oil prices have not negatively impacted the economies of these states the way it has in the oil patch. The most recent "Trend N 42 " has been characterized by a steadily falling level of new jobless claims each week, declining at a rate of 400-500 per week. But all of the data in the nine weeks from 28 November 2015 onward has been above the main trend line, which violates Western Electric's Rule #4, which identifies this specific pattern as a very unlikely event for a well established statistical trend. Moreover, we also see that the micro-trend represented by this limited number of data points appears to be following an upward trajectory. The new jobless claims data, coupled with the kind of statistical analysis that has been commonly used by U.S. manufacturing firms since the 1920s, is telling us that layoffs at U.S. firms are now on the rise in states that are outside of the oil patch. That's not what we expected to see, and certainly isn't what we wanted to see, but there it is all the same. Data Sources U.S. Department of Labor. Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Data. [Online Database]. Accessed 4 February 2016. U.S. Department of Labor. Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims News Releases. [Online Database]. Accessed 4 February 2016. References Political Calculations. A Closer Look at New Jobless Claims. [Online Article]. 12 May 2011. Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the American Authors Association Douglas V. Gibbs is a proud member of the Military Writers Society of America. My story about the Schuylerville Central School District paying $95,000 to settle potential lawsuit from a family who says that the school did not protect her 5-year-old child from being sexually assaulted by another child is generating a lot of reaction. In case you missed the story, click HERE. This story was extremely difficult to nail down and presented a lot of challenges. The incident occurred on Aug. 12 on a school bus during a summer school program. We didnt get word of it until Sept. 11, when someone tipped off our cops reporter Don Lehman about a bus incident and potential staff terminations. I sprung into action to try to find out as much as I could about the story to see with what we were dealing. I filed a Freedom of Information Law request with the district seeking to obtain attendance records for staff to see if any people were out on leave. I attended the next Schuylerville Board of Education meeting on Sept. 14, where following an hour long executive session, the board approved settlement agreements with two teachers. The district would not say anything really about what led to these resignations, or if they were connected to this incident. I filed Freedom of Information Law requests to obtain both settlement agreements, which the district provided on Sept. 18. I wrote a story that says two teachers are resigning at the end of the school year and are on leave. The agreements don't get into the details of what they allegedly did. The district said they were resigning because of "professional performance matters." I also contacted New York State Police to get whatever details I could on the issue. Police usually do not comment on ongoing investigations, so I did not get much information there. In October, I found out that police had wrapped up their investigation and filed a FOIL request on Oct. 20 seeking the report for the incident in question. When we had heard that a notice of claim, the precursor to a lawsuit, had been filed, we tried to get a copy. Those are not available at county clerks office. On Nov. 18, I filed another FOIL request with Schuylerville school officials seeking all notices of claims filed against the district. The district responded on Nov. 24 and provided one document of the incident in question, but there was information blacked out such as the name and the nature of the incident. It just listed the date and place of the incident, the attorneys name and the nature of the damages. I was told that certain information was blacked out to comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). I called the plaintiffs attorney Gerard Amedio, who said the case was in settlement talks and would get back to me. State Police sent a letter back on Dec. 18 denying my request for the investigation report on the grounds that the information if disclosed, would constitute an unwanted invasion of personal privacy. I appealed the denial seeking a redacted copy of the report and that was denied as well. Last month, I was curious to check in on the status of the case. On Jan. 28, I stopped at the Saratoga County Clerks Office to see if a lawsuit had been filed and saw that there are some documents, but it says they are sealed. I made a formal request of the judge, who said they are not sealed, but information has to be redacted to protect privacy. He responded to my letter on Thursday and sent a copy to attorney Amedio, who calls me and agrees to email me the documents in question. I seek follow-up comment from Amedio and the district and then I write the story nearly 6 months after the incident happened. U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-MD, the House Democratic whip, contributed $2,000 from his campaign fund and $5,000 from his political action committee to the campaign of Democratic congressional candidate Mike Derrick in the 4th quarter of 2015, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission. Rep. Steve Israel, D-Long Island, who is retiring at the end of the year, contributed $1,000 through his political action committee to Derrick's campaign. Derrick, a retired Army colonel from Peru, in Clinton County, is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Willsboro, in New York's 21st District. Matt Funiciello, the Green Party candidate in 2014, is laying ground work to run again. FORT EDWARD | A New York City man faces charges after he was found to be "camping" in a Route 4 company's vehicle, police said. State Police arrested Sadiki G. Lawrence, 26, of Brooklyn on Tuesday after an employee of Bigelow Fuels reported seeing a man acting suspiciously near a company vehicle on the company's property, authorities said. Troopers responded, and found Lawrence on the property and learned that he had been "camping" in a van and had stolen a jacket, police said. He told State Police he was walking to Canada and had stopped in Fort Edward temporarily. He fought with State Police as they sought to arrest him for the theft of the jacket and trespass, which resulted in misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, petit larceny and criminal trespass trespass, authorities said. Lawrence was arraigned and sent to Washington County Jail for lack of bail. SARATOGA SPRINGS | A Queensbury woman was hospitalized Thursday afternoon when she was hit by a car while crossing a street in Saratoga Springs, police said. Marian Lewis, 66, was taken to Saratoga Hospital after the 12:52 p.m. collision at the intersection of Church Street and Woodlawn Avenue, according to Saratoga Springs Police. Lewis was crossing in a crosswalk when she was hit by a Honda sedan that was turning from Church Street onto Woodlawn Avenue, police said. Police said her injuries were not considered life-threatening, but she was admitted to Saratoga Hospital. A hospital spokesman said her condition could not be released Friday. The driver of the car, Lindsey Hammer of Saratoga Springs, was ticketed for failure to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and improper lane usage, according to police. State Police criminal arrests in region, Jan. 31 to Feb. 4. * Joel R. Mackenzie, 49, of Gansevoort, charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, and non-criminal trespass Jan. 31 at 403 Wilton-Gansevoort Road in Moreau. * Robin A. Matraw, 35, of Lake Luzerne, charged with petit larceny, a misdemeanor, in connection with a shoplifting complaint at Wal-Mart in Wilton on Jan. 31. * Leroy D. Smith, 43, of Dresden, charged with aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, for an alleged threat to another person Jan. 30 in Whitehall. * Timothy R. Garrick, 20, of Hampton, charged with fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle and resisting arrests and non-criminal unlawful possession of marijuana Jan. 31 in Hampton. * Kyle W. Elder, 23, of Glens Falls, charged with misdemeanor aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and issued three traffic tickets Feb. 1 on Northern Pines Road in Wilton. * Michael J. Bulson, 40, of Gansevoort, charged with misdemeanor criminal impersonation and false personation Feb. 1 on Northern Pines Road in Wilton. * Heaven M. Puleski, 35, of Wynantskill, charged with misdemeanor driving while ability impaired by drugs, felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance Feb. 1 on Route 50 in Northumberland. * Michael E. Burke, 27, of Saratoga Springs, charged with petit larceny Feb. 3 at Wal-Mart in Wilton. * Thomas E. Mitchell, 50, of Queensbury, charged with petit larceny at Aviation Mall in Queensbury on Feb. 3. * Nicole R. Andrews, 24, of Queensbury, charged with petit larceny at Aviation Mall in Queensbury on Feb. 3. * Gabriella N. Bruso, 22, of Poultney, Vt., charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance Feb. 3 on Route 4 in Whitehall. * Christine A. Desantis, 54, of Saratoga Springs, charged with petit larceny Feb. 3 on Route 50 in Wilton. * Brian J. Peceu, 38, of Hudson Falls, charged with misdemeanor aggravated driving while intoxicated and issued traffic tickets on Feb. 4 on Boulevard in Queensbury. * Asma P. Kabil, 31, of New York City, charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance and non-criminal unlawful possession of marijuana Feb. 4 at Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Fort Ann. SOUTH GLENS FALLS | A rabid cat found in the village of South Glens Falls has Public Health officials worried that people could have caught the disease. Anyone who was in direct contact with the feral cat from Jan. 25 to Feb. 4 has been asked to immediately call Saratoga County Public Health at 584-7460. The cat is described as a charcoal-gray, short-haired, young adult with white on the chest. You do need to call right away, said Director Cathi Duncan. We need to have them contact us. Then we will decipher whether there truly was a contact or not. If anyone needs the rabies vaccination, it will be provided at no cost, she said. She also warned that people should stay away from any other wild or feral animals in the area. The cat was found near Newton Street and probably picked up rabies from other animals, she said. Dont feed them. Dont pick them up, she said. SCHUYLERVILLE Schuylerville Central School District is paying $95,000 to settle a threatened lawsuit from a parent who said inadequate staff supervision allowed her 5-year-old child to be sexually assaulted by a 14-year-old student on a school bus over the summer. The incident took place Aug. 12 while on a school bus in the school parking lot. The bus was preparing to depart from the summer school program. The victims mother faulted the district because staff members on the bus failed to provide adequate supervision, which allowed her son to be sexually assaulted. State Police investigated the matter and declined to file any criminal charges, according to spokesman Mark Cepiel. Both the victim and alleged perpetrator are special needs students. The students involved here have diminished mental capacity well below their actual age. The criminal capability wasnt there, he said. Attorney Gerard Amedio on Nov. 3 filed a notice of claim, the precursor to a lawsuit, against Schuylerville Central School District, Superintendent Ryan Sherman, Principal Gregg Barthelmas and unnamed employees. The notice of claim was for negligence, failing to supervise and protect, and negligent hiring. It says there are physical and mental health injuries resulting from battery, public humiliation and health impairment. That document, released by the district on Nov. 24 under a Freedom of Information Law request, blacked out the name of the child and his parents and the specific time, place and nature of the complaint. District officials cited the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act as the justification for withholding that information. Robert Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, said the school district was within its legal rights to redact the information. However, he said if the notice of claim led to a lawsuit, the names would become public because courts are not bound by FERPA. The victim had already been receiving counseling before the incident and is being treated for the assault. The victims mother decided to settle the case because she did not want her son, now 6, to have to testify at trial. The parties were in settlement talks and initial court paperwork was filed Dec. 17 in state Supreme Court of Saratoga County. Judge Thomas D. Nolan Jr. approved the settlement on Jan. 25. The victims mother will receive $63,032 from the settlement, which will be placed into a trust for the child to access upon his 18th birthday. Amedio will receive $31,663 for attorney fees and $305 for filing costs. The documents initially were not publicly accessible because they had to be redacted to protect the privacy of the victim. The Post-Star made a request to Nolan for the information, and attorney Amedio released the paperwork on Thursday. Amedio said his client is satisfied with the resolution of the case. The boy is doing as best as can be expected in dealing with such a difficult situation. Hes going to need a lot of treatment going forward, he said. Two special education teachers resigned because of the issue. Matt Becht and Rebecca Lockwood are out of the classroom but will be paid until the end of the 2015-16 school year. Both have been with the district since 2007. Becht is earning a salary of $53,034 and Lockwood is making $56,351. They will continue to be covered under the district health insurance plan. The district said previously that both teachers are working on curriculum development and instructional strategies and would be placed on paid administrative leave officially at the end of the first semester in January 2016. Schuylerville officials would not comment on the reasons for their resignations in September, citing only that certain differences of opinion arose between the teachers and the district regarding professional performance matters. Both teachers have tenure, so a lengthy process with the state would have been required to terminate them. In response to a request seeking comment about the settlement, district spokesman Stacey Rice issued the following statement: The Schuylerville Central School District Board of Education accepted the resignation of two teachers during its meeting on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, after certain differences of opinion arose between the teachers and the district regarding professional performance matters, she wrote in an email. As is the case in most school districts across the state, the Schuylerville Central School District does not publicly comment or discuss personnel matters. The districts top priority is ensuring student safety and wellness. Procedures related to this matter have been reviewed and increased training has been instituted. School officials did not elaborate on what training and procedures were instituted. They also have not said whether anyone else was disciplined or terminated. Becoming a supervisor comes with a steep learning curve but it doesnt have to be so hard. Supervisors directed the new county administrator, Chris DeBolt, to create an orientation program for new supervisors so they could quickly learn many of the things they are currently left to figure out on their own. DeBolt is now putting together a tour, in which the three new supervisors would meet department heads and learn where they should go to get information on various topics. But new Kingsbury Supervisor Dana Hogan isnt waiting. He has been meeting with department heads on his own, creating his own orientation to better understand the system. It hasnt been easy, he said. You know theres going to be a large learning curve, thats true with anything, he said. But this job is huge. You do get some information overload, he said. Hes trying to organize information, searching for a systematic way to be sure Im the best liaison, he said. So far, his one-man orientation has helped. The folks Ive met have been terrific. Open book, he said. Everyone Ive spoken to has been helpful, accommodating and willing to act as a contact for any questions I may have. New Supervisor Richard Moore of Fort Ann said he has done the same thing and doesnt need a formal orientation at this point. No, nothing at all, he said. Im not going to stop knocking on doors, though. He went out and met department heads one by one. Thats my personality, he said. Ive met a lot of people. Officially, Hogan, Moore and Jay Skellie of Jackson have had a brief orientation, a short meeting in which they were given a general overview of the county offices. That meeting was in December, before they took office but after theyd won election. They also had the opportunity to go to a class on governance in early January in Albany. The Newly Elected Town Officials School was organized by the state Association of Towns and included classes on budgets and managing meetings. It was informative and helpful in learning about state level contacts, Hogan said. Supervisors want an organized event for the county level, too. Salem Supervisor Seth Pitts said county officials used to run a daylong tour for new supervisors. We spent a day and I got a big binder of stuff, he said. He called it very helpful. But it fell by the wayside years ago. Theres a very poor orientation here. I never got one, said Hebron Supervisor and Budget Officer Brian Campbell. He is envisioning a tour in which new supervisors would visit every department. Have each department head explain their department and why supervisors might go there, he said. When Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan was presented an award last month as the New York State Bar Association's prosecutor of the year, there was a familiar face on the dais with her. Local lawyer Tucker Stanclift presented the award to Hogan at the Bar Association's annual meeting in New York City. Stanclift is the chairman of the Criminal Justice Section of the Bar Association. The Criminal Justice Section honored Hogan for 15 years of accomplishments, including leading the creation of the Warren-Washington Counties Child Advocacy Center and work on felony treatment courts. Stanclift was among those who chose Hogan for the award, and during his introduction speech he praised her efforts to help prosecutors around the state, particularly newly elected district attorneys in neighboring counties, and her ability to balance her career with family life and motherhood. Don Lehman School recognized South Glens Falls High School was recognized Friday for the districts longstanding participation in the Project Lead the Way pre-engineering curriculum. Carolyn Malstrom, the organizations director of school engagement, visited the high school to present a commemorative banner. South Glens Falls was one of the 10 original schools that are remaining in the network. The program was started in 1997 in upstate New York and provides programs to more than 8,000 elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to a news release. A total of 314 South High students are enrolled in one of seven different Project Lead the Way courses the school offers. Michael Goot Grant money flows What is now the Assembly Point Water Quality Coalition started with a community's daily exercise routine, walking the length of Assembly Point on the east side of Lake George. As the group walked Assembly Point Road, which slopes steeply to the lake, they noticed a clear path to the lake for stormwater runoff, carrying an assortment of algae-feeding nutrients. Tropical Storm Irene downed more than 900 trees, and the loss of their root systems made the problem worse. After that, the group of walkers formed a grassroots coalition and in 2014 received 501c3 status. They just announced a $4,000 grant from the Lake Champlain Basin Program to continue their informational and green infrastructure work. The group coordinates an annual snorkel swim to monitor shoreline algae blooms and invasive aquatic plants and distributes newsletters and the Adirondack lawn signs that signal a lawn where fertilizer isn't used. It also encourages residents to explore stormwater mitigation solutions such as buffers and pervious pavement. Amanda May Metzger Donors wanted South Glens Falls is looking for sponsors for its summer concert series. The concerts run every Tuesday, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Historical Park gazebo, located at the end of First Street. The concert series costs about $30,000. Mayor Joe Orlow is hoping to raise $10,000 of that through donations. He asked donors to send money to the village office. Every donor will be recognized at the concerts. The series begins June 28 and ends Aug. 30. Kathleen Moore The security agencies have recovered spy cameras from one of the post office employees arrested in connection with spying for Pakistan. The agencies are investigating if the accused went to the extent of shooting army activities and sending videos across the border. The accused were arrested on charges of sending army letters received at the post offices in Balotra and Pokhran in Jaisalmer to the ISI for monetary gains. Intelligence department sources said that the four postal department officials based out of Pokhran and Balotra in Jaisalmer are being interrogated since their arrest on February 1. "We had recovered some spy cameras, laptops and several other gadgets. We have sent them for a forensic examination. A spy camera was recovered from the house of postal assistant Islamuddin. We are trying to figure out if videos were also sent across the border," said a police officer. Sources said that the intelligence agencies' focus is now on how Indians are being tricked into spying for Pak as in the last two months, nearly ten persons have been arrested in areas along Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan for the crime. The intelligence agencies say that these persons are first defrauded through mobile calls and emails and when they send sensitive information, the ISI starts paying these persons. "The post master arrested in the Monday case had first received a call in which the caller identified himself as Arvind. The caller said that he was a major and some army letters were mistakenly sent to the post office. The fake major asked the post master to scan those letters and send them to an email ID for verification," said a police officer. Among those arrested in the past two months are ex-servicemen along with a district administration's gram sevak and a patwari deployed in sensitive areas. The intelligence agencies had arrested patwari Gordhan Singh on December 27 in Pokhran area. In November, two spies were arrested, of them one was an ex-serviceman. Jaisalmer SP Rajiv Pachar said that a large number of minority people go to Pakistan to meet their relatives. In Pakistan, the ISI forcefully, in the name of interrogation, take them to police stations and pressure Indians to spy for them. Looking at this, a strict watch is kept on people going to Pak and coming back. Complete details are being prepared of suspicious people as whom they met in Pakistan and about other activities. The debates are ugly. Well, "ugly" in content, too. But I mean ugly to look at. This one could be seen as demonic. I don't know who chooses the venues or decorates them, but one after another they come across as something you might have seen in Ukraine in the early 1940's. This isn't meant as a gratuitous slur on Ukrainian taste or the '40's -- or the University of New Hampshire where this debate took place. Tastes change. But the above image could come from the nutty imaginings of someone like Ayn Rand. With all our technical capabilities, couldn't we do better? How about this? Nice old New England meeting house -- this one is in Middleton, NH --and looks like there's plenty of room for the audience and the camera guys. Plus you'd have the additional thrill of hearing people stomping the snow off their boots as they arrive and the creaking of old boards. A summer debate could be held outdoors in the evening. Need a lot of mosquito goop to hand around but that's par for the course during summer in those parts. Or maybe we've just lost it. Maybe you can't get there from here. ANOTHER BLOG FROM NEVILLE STEPHENS ON BIBLICAL ESCHATOLOGY. Welcome to PROVENCE TODAY, a blog about life and politics in France. In our search for the ideal place to retire, my husband and I settled in Aix-en-Provence in 1998 and have never stopped learning about this fascinating country that has become our permanent home. While this blog deals with the socio-political aspects of France, my book "Taking Root in Provence" focuses on the pleasures and paradoxes of daily life in sunny Provence. News Story not available This story has been published on: 2022-10-20. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. This story is no longer available on our site. Women take a photograph inside the Thean Hou temple ahead of Lunar New Year of the monkey celebrations outside Kuala Lumpur on Feb 2, 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. According to the Chinese calendar, the Lunar New Year which falls on Feb 8 this year marks the Year of the Monkey, the Chinese Lunar New Year also known as the Spring Festival is celebrated from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day. [Photo/CFP] Many Chinese living in Washington and most other US cities have long complained that they don't feel any festive mood at the Lunar New Year, which this year arrives on Monday, Feb 8. That would surely not have been the case if they visited the American Art Museum in downtown Washington on Jan 30. The 28,000-square-feet Kogod Courtyard with its glass canopy was filled with mostly American parents and children enjoying everything from a lion dance, paper cutting, red lantern making, mask coloring, monkey figurine making and music performances with Chinese instruments such as suona (a double-reeded horn) and erhu (the Chinese two-string fiddle). It was a traditional street scene in China to greet the Lunar New Year. In just three and half hours that day, an estimated 7,300 people participated in the Family Day event to greet the Year of the Monkey. Fast rewind to about two weeks ago when Washington was hit hard by one of the worst snowstorms in its history, the video going viral that weekend was about 18-year-old giant panda Tian Tian rolling down the slope, clearly excited, in his snow-covered yard in the Smithsonian's National Zoo. On Jan 16, there were long lines outside the zoo's panda house when Bei Bei, a five-month-old giant panda cub, made his debut. Such a craze for giant pandas is nothing new. At last Saturday's event, many visitors, children as well as adults, posed for photos with volunteers dressed in giant panda costumes. The premiere of Kung Fu Panda 3 in theaters across the US on Jan 29 was another testimony that the giant panda is indeed a great ambassador for China. I would argue what was missing last Saturday in the American Art Museum courtyard was some stands selling popular Chinese snacks, such as sugar-coated haws, roasted chestnuts or even fried fermented bean curd. A major misunderstanding of Chinese food in the United States is that it's all about sweet and sour pork, General Tso's chicken and fortune cookies, things you either don't find in China or are not representative of Chinese cuisine. Many Chinese restaurants in the US serve one-sauce-for all dishes, something you don't find in China. However, pandas and such interactions as those to celebrate the Year of the Monkey can help ordinary Americans better understand Chinese people, their culture and history. When people interact and understand each other better, it will be much more difficult for politicians and interest groups to distort the picture and spread fear. For example, on Tuesday, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter, in order to argue for a higher military budget for 2017, grossly exaggerated the threat of a rising China. Such irresponsible and hawkish rhetoric may deceive some Americans who have never visited China and studied Chinese culture and history, but it will not make much sense to Americans who are well immersed in Chinese culture and want to make friends, not war, with China. It was exciting to see those artists that had travelled all the way from central China's Henan province to the American Art Museum last Saturday. They are also visiting cities in Virginia, Maryland and other cities in North America. Christina Trifonova, an American mother with two daughters from Rockville Maryland, told me last Saturday that it's so important to learn and respect other nations' culture and history. Tome, that seems especially true in Washington to counter politicians' busy daily spin of hatred among peoples and nations by exploiting Americans' lack of understanding of other nations, their cultures and histories. The author is deputy editor of China Daily USA. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com Mr. Mohammed Adam Nashiru, a member of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana at a panel discussion held by the Ghana Journalists Association last year asked government to expedite action on the passage of cattle ranching law . READ MORE Mr. Imam Hanafi Sonde, National Association of Cattle farmers at the same discussion backed the idea as a way of ensuring peace and security. However, the recent renewed farm destructions in Agogo by grazing cattle under the watch of Fulani herdsmen has revived the need to have a ranching law. Ghana's neighbouring country, Burkina Faso and fellow ECOWAS member,Mali had passed the Cattle Ranching Laws to protect farmers and their properties. The haphazard manner of cattle grazing in Agogo has negatively affected crop production and is threatening food security in the country. The police and the military begun an operation yesterday to flush out the nomadic Fulani herdsmen from the area. It is expected the action will take a month. The Fulani herdsmen have also been accused of engaging in robbery, rape and the murder of residents in the process. The Ashanti Regional Best Farmer for 2015 told Accra based Class FM that it is important for the Immigration Service to control the entry of Fulanis into the country, since their presence poses a great threat to locals in the area. In his welcoming address, Nana Sebreku, Chairman of the Association, identified the marketing of poultry products particularly eggs as one of the major challenges confronting farmers in the area.He said currently the supply of poultry products exceeded demands.He expressed the determination of the association, in partnership with the National Association of Poultry Farmers to establish a broiler processing and preservation plant saying it is currently seeking investors for the establishment of the plant.Mr Johan Verhoek, the Export Manager of De Heus Koudijs Animal Nutrition, based in Holland, appealed to the farmers to adopt good management practices and adopt appropriate concentrates and feeding formular to ensure maximised revenue and profitability.Mr Menno Verbrugge, an expert in chicken rearing, said there was such a great potential for broiler processing and production in Dormaa Ahenkro and urged the farmers to invest in quality production of poultry products to sustain their businesses.He cautioned farmers against excessive borrowing of loans adding this can put them at high risk in effectively ripping benefits on their investment. Deputy Minister of Education in charge of tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa admitted that although there is a net freeze on public sector employment, the education and health sectors are an exception. The education and health sectors have been exempted from what we call the net freeze of employment. We constantly tell those who want to join this noble profession that there is no embargo, he stressed on an interview with Radio Ghana. The government in 2010 placed a ban on public sector recruitment in order to reduce the increasing wage bill. In September 2014, the Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper disclosed that the embargo will soon be reviewed. In July 2015 however, Mr. Terkper denied that the government had placed an embargo on employment into the public sector. According to him, employment is not just about the public service We cannot keep an open-ended public service. We appreciate the need for employment. If we just kept it open-ended we will have people sitting and doing no job and being paid and we will use a disproportionate amount of the tax revenue to pay wages, allowances, and others, and not have enough for development. But Mr. Ablakwa in his interview said there is no embargo but rather, a net freeze in other sectors. Net freeze means in the other sectors is that when somebody dies or retires or resigns; that vacancy can be filled because if you look at the public sector numbers, we gave reached the limit. Experts say that our public sector is even bloated. We have too many more workers than the Ghanaian public sector actually needs, he added. The Deputy Minister pointed out that the education and health sectors were excluded because as I speak to you, there is a teacher deficit which is about 40,000. We still have a number of pupil teachers in the system and it is because they have had to come in to support because we dont have adequate people trained to be professional teachers. So we have said time and again that if you want to teach, you just have to send your applications to us either to the District Director of Education or to the Regional Director of Education. He nonetheless admitted that there are some challenges in the employment of teachers. What is happening though is that you will not be immediately interviewed and recruited. The list will be compiled and forwarded to the headquarters and then we will have to get clearance from the Ministry of Finance. I can assure you that this is going on. He this admonished all District Directors of Education to receive application letters from trained teachers and forward them to the Ministry of Education for the necessary processes to be undertaken. Financed by a US$17.2 million grant from the World Bank, the CIC will be established at Ashesi University College in Berekuso, with a mandate to support green businesses across all of Ghanas regions. The CIC will support Ghanas National Climate Change Policy (NCCP), spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI). The center will help over 100 local clean technology companies develop and scale innovative solutions to climate change, and enable over 300,000 Ghanaians to increase resilience to climate change in the next ten years. The Ghana CIC solidifies the role of the private sector in helping Ghana mitigate and adapt to climate change, said Henry Kerali. By enabling entrepreneurs and green innovators to test and scale their business models, homegrown clean technology solutions can help the country build climate resilience, while also creating jobs and fostering economic growth. Supported by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands, the center will be inaugurated in the second quarter of 2016 and will be managed by a consortium led by Ashesi University College with Ernst & Young, SNV Netherlands Development Organization, and the United Nations University Institute for Natural Resources in Africa. See more: Ashesi partners with GE and GNPC for training in Oil and Gas Industry I want to express gratitude to the World Bank, our consortium partners and the Ministry for working with us to get this project off the ground, said Patrick Awuah. As we launch into Engineering at Ashesi married with what we already do in business and entrepreneurship, the Ghana CIC is going to provide a really strong base for us to focus our attention on issues to do with adaptation to climate change. The Ghana CIC is part of the World Banks Climate Technology Program and its global network of Climate Innovation Centers. Other centers have been established in Kenya, Ethiopia, the Caribbean, South Africa, Morocco, and Vietnam. The Climate Innovation Centre will provide a country-driven approach to climate change and allow Ghana to achieve its green objectives, said the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, in a speech read on his behalf. I thank Ashesi University and the consortium of partners for their efforts so far. Together I believe we can achieve the desired results. The incident happened in New Zealand at a controversial annual event that marks the founding of the country. The recipient of the flying sex toy, Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce was speaking to reporters when a woman threw the object at his head shouting thats for raping our sovereignty. New Zealand media has reported the woman and the dildo were both taken away by police, but the woman later posted on Facebook she had been released without charge. Joyce told media that was the first time he'd had an object thrown at him. "I don't think those things happen every day. I'm fine. I was a little bit surprised but we thought it was humorous at the end of it all. "[You have] new experiences in politics every day. It's the privilege of serving," stuff.co.nz reported Joyce saying. He tweeted Someone send the gif over to [television host] John Oliver so we can get it over with referring to British comedian John Oliver who often makes fun of New Zealand politics. Social media users have been posting about the event, calling it #dildogate, which is trending in New Zealand. The event Joyce was at happens every year at a marae (Maori meeting house) in the North Island of New Zealand. It is a controversial day as it is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed between the native Maori people and the British in 1840. It signifies when New Zealand was colonised by the British, there were two copies of the Treaty, one in English one in Maori. A number of Maori chiefs refused to sign the document and the interpretation of key points in the text has been fiercely disputed over the years, regarding Maori giving up with sovereignty in their signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. He said "In the area of surveillance, case management, laboratory testing, coordination and advocacy as well as social mobilisation are ongoing across the country and these are beginning to bear fruits." The Minister added that he will soon receive a greater part of some 200,000 that has been released by the Ministry of health to control the situation, particularly in the Brong Ahafo region. The disease which began in Tain in the Brong Ahafo region in December 2015, has spread to other areas including the Brong Ahafo, Northern, Ashanti, Eastern, Volta, Greater Accra, Upper West, Upper East and Western regions. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Sierra Leonean rights groups sent a letter to Koroma asking him to sign the bill which would be a crucial step toward protecting women and girls right to health in Sierra Leone. The letter noted Koroma addressed Parliament on the crisis of maternal mortality in Sierra Leone, stating the current statistics and the need for greater urgency to address this tragedy. World Health Organization data shows the 2015 maternal mortality ratio in Sierra Leone is 1,360 deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest in the world. Unsafe abortions often resulting from restrictive laws and poor access to sexual and reproductive health services, information, and education is one of the main factors contributing to maternal deaths in Sierra Leone. The bill that Parliament passed in 2015 would permit access to abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, after which it is permitted until week 24 only in cases of rape, incest, or health risk to the fetus or the woman or girl. It also allows for girls under the age of 18 access to abortion with the permission of a guardian. The existing Offences Against the Person Act of 1861 criminalizes abortion, possibly except in cases where the mothers life is at risk. In a statement, the groups wrote that signing the bill into law has the potential to improve the lives of Sierra Leonean women, and prevent thousands of needless deaths, injuries, and disabilities. Even women and girls who might qualify for a legal abortion may not be able to find a health care provider who will provide one, said Sarah Taylor, womens rights advocate at Human Rights Watch. President John Mahama had argued that his first four years in office has been spent improving the social infrastructure of the country which had been in dire need of a face lift for some time now. Speaking at the Inauguration of one of the Community Day Senior High Schools at Kwaobaah Nyanoa in the Eastern Region on Thursday, February 4, 2016, President Mahama admonished Ghanaians to bear with the present challenges in the country. "Currently, in all the road construction thats going on in this country, 95 percent of the contractors are Ghanaians and not foreigners. And so by doing this, we are expanding the road construction industry and making Ghanaians take advantage of the commanding heights of that particular industry." But a section of Ghanaians Pulse.com.gh spoke to were doubtful about his latest comments. Kwame, a shoe hawker in Accra said "I don't believe that statement. Already, there is hardship in Ghana. Fares have also gone up. This government cannot do anything for us. My message for Ghanaians is to vote out this government." Abu, a secondhand cloth dealer, who was roaming the streets for customers said Mahama's statement should be taken with a pinch of salt. "It is not possible for him to do that. I've been roaming since morning for customers, but I'm not getting any. So what he is saying is not true. He is only saying that to gain votes," he fumed. For Mimi, a hairdresser at East Legon, the president's comment is rather unbelievable. "How is he going to put money in my pocket? He is saying next year he is going to put money in our pockets. I want to know how he is going to do it because seriously, we have passed through a lot. And the way he is talking about putting money into our pockets, is he coming door-to-door to do that or what?" she wondered. However, Agyemang, a plumber in Accra said he believes strongly that Mahama can fulfill his promise, as he is already witnessing improvement in his life. Speaking at the launch, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said "It is my hope and prayer that every child who reads this book will be inspired by the life of this remarkable man." According to Nana Addo, J.B. Danquah was responsible for so many of the positive things that characterise the origin of the nation. He further bemoaned the moves by other political actors to sideline the activities and achievements of J.B. Danquah. The 2016 presidential candidate of the NPP, bought 1000 copies of the book to be distributed to basic schools across the country. He further encouraged all and sundry to purchase a copy of the book. In his review of the book, Professor Kumi Ansah-Koi, renowned political science professor of the University of Ghana said he appreciated the fact that the book seeks to give background knowledge of historical facts of the country people might not be aware of. The author of the book, Abyna-Ansaa Adjei, who said she was inspired by the great contributions of Dr. Danquah in bringing out the book, showed appreciation to all who supported her in the process. She however complained that some schools she invited for the launch did not show up for fear of being tagged to one political party or the other. She was quick to add that the book has no links to any political party or whatsoever. The 72-pages long book tells the story of Dr. Danquahs life from his childhood, his years of academic excellence as a student in the United Kingdom, through his political career as a freedom fighter and politician until his death in prison on February 4, 1965. Read more: Outgoing Army Commander warns politicians ahead of election 2016 According to GAF, "Conditions of service in the military have seen tremendous improvement over the years. It is a fact that working conditions have improved with the retooling of the services and increase in professional and academic training of all ranks. The state has been making constant and consistent efforts to improve office and living accommodation, and providing other necessaries for all ranks. The Rank Based Salary Structure has tremendously increased the salaries and allowances of troops." The statement added that "it is very significant for GAF to always have among its ranks well dedicated and motivated troops who are willing to live the oath of their service to the state, rain or shine, even to the peril of their lives." Below is the full statement issued by GAF: The attention of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has been drawn to publications in the media with banner headlines reading: Mass Resignations hit the Army Commanders confused and Discontent hits Ghana Army among others. The publications reported that the resignations may have been in reaction to what they termed the Ministry of Defences failure to heed to complaints about conditions of service and the mode of recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces, among other reasons. It is significant to point out that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as well as GAF do not prevent any officer or man/woman from voluntarily leaving the Armed Forces. Any one is free to leave whenever they want, once the proper procedures are duly followed. It is the more reason why for instance, soldiers (that is, Other Ranks) have to formally re-engage to serve the Armed Forces every five years, until they reach the compulsory retiring years of service, (that is, 25 years). This is in one breath to afford the soldier the opportunity to continue to serve if he/she wishes to do so. At least over the past ten years or so, no application for release/ retirement from GAF has been rejected. Troops do not have to tell lies to get released from the service with the military. They choose to join the military and they choose to leave whenever they want to. It is important to note, while numbers are very important for the military, this may not play any significant role in the effectiveness of the Armed Forces, as numbers alone do not make the military either effective or efficient. You will recall that recently 501 new recruits were discharged from training after almost two months for misconduct. And over the last four to five years, over 2000 soldiers have been compulsorily retired after they had served their due with the colours. Between the period 2010 and 2015, a total of 194 all ranks retired voluntarily from GAF; while a total of 55 all ranks were absent without official leave (AWOL) during the same period. It is clear from the quoted figures that the allegation that mass resignations have hit GAF cannot be correct. It cannot also be considered as unprecedented. Read related: Armed Forces Do Not Rely On Agents To Recruit Conditions of service in the military have seen tremendous improvement over the years. It is a fact that working conditions have improved with the retooling of the services and increase in professional and academic training of all ranks. The state has been making constant and consistent efforts to improve office and living accommodation, and providing other necessaries for all ranks. The Rank Based Salary Structure has tremendously increased the salaries and allowances of troops. It is nevertheless important to underscore the point that more effort will continue to be made to improve conditions of service of troops; the MOD and the Military High Command are dedicated towards pursuing a progressive development programme for the Armed Forces to position it for the 21st Century. It is in line with this that GAF, from time to time, undertakes exercises to ascertain which areas of troops welfare and morale needs the immediate attention of the High Command. It is also important for any progressive institution to know at all times why its staff are resigning, abandoning post or proceeding on voluntary retirements for planning purposes as well as determine the retention rate and force projection levels at any time. It must however, be noted, it is very significant for GAF to always have among its ranks well dedicated and motivated troops who are willing to live the oath of their service to the state, rain or shine, even to the peril of their lives. It should therefore be pointed out that no one who desires to leave the Armed Forces will be prevented from leaving. But as a disciplined institution, such voluntary resignations should be done in the proper manner. The MOD and GAF therefore wish to take this opportunity, first, to thank those who have decided to voluntarily leave the Armed Forces after serving the state; and second, congratulate and commend those who have remained dedicated to service with the colours. The Ministry and the Military High Command also assure the public and indeed all troops that they will help to address general issues confronting the Armed Forces aimed at improving its effectiveness, efficiency and relevance to enable it discharge its onerous responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of our dear nation. The Ministry and the High Command pledge to continue to do what it will take to improve the living and working conditions of the troops as they continue to serve the state and the people of Ghana. Ghana was hit with a massive bribery scandal in September 2015, when it was revealed in an expose by Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye team, that Superior and lower court judges took bribes from litigants whose cases come before them. Twenty of the Magistrate and Circuit Court judges implicated in the judicial scandal have been removed from office so far. Two High Court judges John Ajet-Nasam and Ernest Obimpeh have been subsequently sacked after being implicated in the judicial scandal. Meanwhile, Justices of the Supreme Court have dismissed the suit by High Court judge Justice Paul Utter Dery seeking the court to annul the processes adopted by the Chief Justice for his removal from office. According to the seven member panel of justices, despite some breach of the confidentiality clause by the petitioner for the removal of superior court justices, an annulment of the entire impeachment process is not a remedy to the case. Their ruling also indicated that they did not believe the Chief Justice could not be said to be erred as she had given the applicant an opportunity to prove his innocence since the committee to investigate the matter will not make a decision based on public opinion. They further stated that Justice Dery could adopt a process of defamation in addressing his concerns. In a statement issued by the Ag. Head of Communications, Bernice Akologo in Accra, it stated that this arrangement is in line with the social policy objectives of MMT. It said all such passengers are advised to always insist on collecting their tickets when they pay cash to the conductors. The statement further advised passengers who have METRO CARDS to use their cards when boarding the new buses. The new Intra-city routes in addition to the existing number routes, MMT buses will begin operations on 14 new routes. The new routes are: 1. From Mallam through N1, Accra Mall to Spintex, Sakumono 2. From Accra through Osu, La, Teshie to Nungua 3. From Mallam through N1, Motorway to Tema 4. From Accra through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Beach Road to Tema 5. From Accra through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua to Sakumono 6. From Accra through Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, Beach Road to Tema Community 3 7. From Achimota through N1, Motorway to Tema 8. From Kasoa through Weija Junction, Mallam Junction, Odorkor, Kaneshie to Circle 9. From 37 through Airport, Shiashie, Banku Junction, American House to Adjinganor. 10. From 37 Military Hospital through Airport, shiashie, Okponglo, University of Ghana, Atomic Junction, Madina to Adenta 11. From Adenta through Madina, Atomic Junction, University of Ghana, Tetteh Quashie, Airport, 37, Ako-Adjei Interchange, GBC,Nima Junction to Circle 12. From Ashaiman through Motorway, 37 to Accra. 13. From Trade Fair through El-Wak Stadium, 37, Kawukudi, Dzorwulu, Achimota forest to Achimota New Station 14. From La General Hospital through Labone, Danquah Circle, Sankara, Kanda, Ring Road, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Obetsebi Roundabout, Motuary Road to Korle-bu Teaching Hospital MMT will soon launch intra-city route maps for Accra and Tema as part of measures to improve mass transit services in Ghana. They have therefore given government two weeks ultimatum to address their concerns. "If by two weeks, government refuses to give us our compensation, we will go and shit bomb the school every morning. The president is not my relative. I don't know him from Adam. So he should bring us our compensation immediately," one of the angry farmers told Pulse.com.gh. Another farmer, whose large tract of farmland was destroyed to pave way for the construction of the new school said she will join her colleagues to demonstrate if necessary. "My cocoa, oranges, were all destroyed because of the construction of this school. They should give us our money. How do I pay my children's fees if I've not been compensated. We are prepared to wear red headbands to demonstrate until our concerns are addressed. "The school is not free. We will pay school fees. And even if it's free, won't the child eat before going to school, or wear uniform to school?" she angrily asked. President John Mahama on Thursday, February 4, 2016, inaugurated the Kwaobaah Nyanoa Community Day School at a ceremony in the Upper West Akim District. He argued that his first four years in office has been spent improving the social infrastructure of the country which has been in dire need of a face lift for some time now. Speaking at the Inauguration of one of the Community Day Senior High Schools at Kwaobaah Nyanoa in the Eastern Region on Thursday, February 4, 2016, President Mahama admonished Ghanaians to bear with the present challenges in the country. "Currently, in all the road construction thats going on in this country, 95% of the contractors are Ghanaians and not foreigners. And so by doing this, we are expanding the road construction industry and making Ghanaians take advantage of the commanding heights of that particular industry." "In 2012 when I became President, there were six foreign companies that had asphalt plants to be able to do asphalt roads. Today, 22 Ghanaian companies have their own asphalt plants and these are the gains that we are making in this country." "I can understand when people say things are tight. During Dr. Kwame Nkrumahs time, they said things were right and that there was no milk and cornered beef among others; but at the time he was building Akosombo, he was building Valco, Tema Steelworks, the shoe factories, GIHOC Distilleries to create jobs; and so we drove him away in a coup. The same people complaining today that things are hard drove Nkrumah away. And Nkrumah said if I knew it was milk you wanted, I would have connected it through a tap for you to drink." "In everybodys life, you make sacrifices for things that are important. Times come when we have to squeeze ourselves a bit to do the precious things that we need in life. We cant have money in our pockets when the roads are not good?" See also: Bugri Naabu cautioned for inciting Konkombas against Mahama He added "What is the use of money when you are sick and cant get a hospital to be cured? And so sometimes when we are squeezing ourselves, it is to do the things that are essential; to put in place the social and economic infrastructure after which you can begin to put money in your pocket. And so its good politics to say things are hard; but the money that we are raising we are using for things that will benefit this country. We have spent these last four years investing in bringing the social infrastructure back to scratch and when I win the second term, then we will start putting money in your pocket. And I wish to pledge that we will continue working in the interest of the people of Ghana." See related: Mahama breaks ground for Kasoa Interchange project However, some Ghanaians took to social media to respond to comments made by Mahama of putting money in the pockets of Ghanaians if he wins the 2016 general elections. 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! Daily Guide reports that the girl identified as Docia Aina Adufa, a primary six pupil of Akyem Asafo Presby Primary, was captured by the mad man known as Yaw Akoto on her way to fetch water for her aunt, and butchered her. After murdering the girl, the mad man, was said to have taken the body to the bush, cut it into pieces and cooked it and ate it with kenkey and banku, (A local Ghanaian delicacy). The ugly incident reportedly happened on Tuesday, January 26, and her remains were not discovered until a week after with some parts, including the head, missing. An uncle of the girl, Yaw Sarpong, confirmed the tragic incident to the media, saying that the mad man prepared the body for consumption. After searching for my niece for three days, we later found her body parts in the bush where that mad man lives. He had roasted some parts of the body while the rest was in a stew the mad man had prepared, Sarpong said. Sarpong added that the suspect fled the scene when he saw the search party only to be arrested the next day by the police. 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! The owner of the block firm, identified simply as Olanrewaju, explained that his workers called him on the telephone on Wednesday, February 3, to inform him about the incident, and on getting to his office, he also saw the lifeless body dangling from the tree and reported immediately to the police. It was gathered that the deceased had come to Akure from Abuja to attend a church programme at a popular prayer center in the area where he took his life. The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident, saying the wife and relatives of the deceased had been contacted. Though no one could give any concrete evidence as to the authenticity of the rumour, the social media was agog with the news but the pretty Cape Verde former Emirates Aieline hostess has come out to debunk any of such, saying news that she has filed for a divorce are the most wicked and malicious rumour she has ever heard. In a statement signed by the Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs, Edo State Governors Office, John Mayaki, Iara said that on the contrary, she is enjoying her marriage and has no reason to divorce her husband. The Edo First Lady said she was in her office throughout the week, holding meetings and brainstorming on how to better the lots of the less-privileged Women and Children in the state through her pet project: 'We Care Trust', when she heard about the rumours. The statement reads in part: The rumour mongers are well advised to find more productive engagements to deploy their energies rather than market inanities about public personalities all in their bid to sell their medium. Which Court of Law was the alleged divorce initiated and to whom was it served? Which country, state, municipal or county, if any, is the Court situated? And when was the action/suit filed? Leading the pack was the story of some Nigerian Army cadet who tortured a civilian because he complimented the beauty of one the females among them. The video went viral and has even gotten the Military authorities promising to track down the cadets involved and punished. A pastor who lured and 11-year-old girl to a brothel in Lagos and raped her, also drew lots of condemnation from Nigerians. This was followed by the story of a staff of Arik Air who has been declared missing by her family after she went to visit her boyfriend on January 1 and has not seen since then. A divorce seeking man shocked n Igando Customary Court in Lagos State by telling the magistrate that his wife had been poisoning his meals since 2008, leading to his being terminally ill. To round up the week, former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, welcomed his first son after four grown up children with his ex-beauty queen fiancee. Sahara reporters have now released a video showing members of the Nigerian Army cadet torturing a young man for calling their female colleague beautiful. The officers caught on tape seemed very young and new to the system, as Nigerians have come to realise that they are usually the most power drunk. Soldiers torturing a civilian Photo Credit: Sahara Reporters The torture begins with the man being made to squat while the female officer continually slapped him across the face as another young boy, possibly a teenager but also a member of the cadet, laughed. A man of God who is the General Overseer (GO), of a pentecostal church located at the Oworonshoki area of Lagos State, was arrested for allegedly luring an 11-year-old girl to a brothel in the area and raping her. Image of a randy pastor Photo Credit: Gistmelove Eyewitnesses say the pastor who is very popular in the area, had lured the girl to the brothel where he forcefully had carnal knowledge of her and it was screams of pains that attracted some of the prostitutes resident in the brothel. A 29-year-old staff member of Arik Air, Grace Utum, was declared missing by her family after she went to visit her boyfriend identified as Ihuoma Amelogu, residing at the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State. The missing Grace Utum Photo Credit: Facebook The Cross River State born Utum, a graduate of Accounting from the University of Calabar, had left her office in Ikeja on January 1, 2016, to visit her lover and has not been seen since then as her whereabouts has remained a mystery. A middle-aged man, Prince Agina, told an Igando Customary Court in Lagos State that his wife, Obianuju, has been poisoning his meals since 2008 and wanted the court to dissolve the union that has produced three children. A broken marriage is like a broken egg Photo Credit: Total Media Agina also accused his wife of frequent fighting and infidelity by her husband. "Since 2008, I have noticed that my food was being laced with poison, which has resulted to my deteriorating health; as I am standing here, I'm sick. Usually, I travel a lot. On one occasion when I returned home; I noticed that the centre table in our home had broken; when I asked my daughter how it happened, she told me that one uncle broke it. This means my wife brings other men into our matrimonial home whenever I travelled because my daughter knows all her uncles." Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, became the proud father of a son after his fiancee, Precious Chikwendu, put to bed a bouncing baby boy on February 1st. Femi Fani-Kayode and Precious Chikwendu Photo Credit: Instagram Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, Director, Neglected Tropical Disease in the ministry, who distributed the vaccines in Abuja, said the Federal Government was committed to the fight against the disease. "We did not hesitate to make the vaccines available because the veterinarians are always at the forefront of the prevention and control of the virus. "Although, the disease has not been reported in Africa countries but the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently given a red alert on the disease "That is why everybody in my department is on standby. The challenge we have now is that, we do not have a specific numbers of Nigerians that has died of the disease, "she said. She lamented that some people go as far as sleeping with these animals in the same bed, saying it is dangerous, stop being ignorant of the disease. "Every case of dog bite should henceforth be reported to the nearest hospital or relevant authorities for quick action "If at all you must keep these animals for whatsoever reason, you must ensure that they are properly taken care of and up to date on their vaccine. "Development Partners have showed interest in working with us towards eradicating the disease through creating more awareness to Nigerians, " she added. She, however, appealed to the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association to work closely with the ministry by following every rumour and make sure they are dealt with accordingly. Speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) she said that rabies is a viral disease that causes acute inflammation of the brain in human. The Vice-Chancellor highlighted that the drugs and kits were developed by a researcher, Prof. Christian Happi, who is the Director, World Bank Funded African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases. On his part, Happi said Because PCR is highly skilled and expensive technology for diagnosis, we went on to develop a less complex and cheaper Lassa fever diagnostics. In 2014, we developed and tested the first generation of Lassa fever rapid diagnostic test. Now, we have successfully developed a pan-Lassa fever test that is highly sensitive and specific. A prototype has been produced. He also said Furthermore, studying B-cell repertoire (immune response) from Lassa fever survivors, we have identified four neutralising antibodies that significantly inhibit the Lassa fever virus. This provides the first scientific evidence of immunotherapeutics ticker Lassa fever. These findings have been reviewed for publication in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Immunology. Using next generation sequencing approach, we have identified a signal of natural selection in human gene called LARGE in the Yoruba populations of the South-West of Nigeria that may be associated with protection to Lassa fever virus. We have hypothesised the potential mechanisms of protection and believe that this could be the key to the future Lassa fever vaccine, Happi said. The disease that has spread rapidly through the Americas and led to a global health scare over its possible link to severe birth defects, is primarily transmitted by mosquito. The possibility of infection via body fluids complicates efforts to combat the outbreak. Scientists at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a public health institute in Brazil, said they used genetic testing to identify the virus in samples from two patients while they had symptoms and were known to have Zika. The scientists stressed, however, that more studies were needed to determine if those fluids could transmit the infection. It was the first time the virus has been detected in saliva and urine, the scientists told reporters in Rio de Janeiro. The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection. But Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery, noted that this "is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids." The discovery added to concern that Zika, which is predominantly spread by the Aedis aegypti mosquito, could also be transmitted by other means. Scientists are researching reports earlier this week that an American had transmitted the virus to a sexual partner in Dallas County, Texas. And Brazilian health officials said on Thursday they had confirmed two cases of transmission through blood transfusions. At the center of the concern over Zika, until recently viewed as a mild illness, is the possibility that infection with Zika during pregnancy may cause microcephaly, a condition marked by abnormally small head size that can cause permanent brain damage in newborns. One of America's top doctors, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, said on Friday the suspected link appears "stronger and stronger" as researchers study whether there is a causal connection. CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said the agency is also working with researchers in Brazil to study a potential link between Zika and a wider array of developmental disorders in babies. The outbreak of Zika infections, which started in northeastern Brazil, has been linked to more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in the country. The virus has since spread and been locally transmitted in more than 30 countries according to the World Health Organization, which has declared a global health emergency over Zika. STRONGER GUIDELINES FOR PREGNANT WOMEN Reflecting concern over potential harm to fetuses, the CDC upgraded its guidelines on Friday for testing pregnant women who have traveled to affected areas, saying even those without symptoms should be tested after returning home. The updated guidelines recommend pregnant women be offered testing 2 to 12 weeks after returning home. The agency had earlier suggested tests only for those with symptoms of the illness, which causes a fever, rash and red eyes. In addition to widening its testing guidelines, the CDC noted the possibility of sexual transmission. It said men with a pregnant partner who live in or have traveled to an area of active Zika transmission and their partner should consistently and correctly use condoms during sex or abstain for the duration of the pregnancy. Obstetricians have said that since 80 percent of those infected by the virus show no symptoms, many women have no way of knowing early enough to make an informed choice about their unborn child. Scientists are racing to try to create a vaccine for Zika, but it could be years until that is available to the public. In the meantime, efforts to combat Zika are focused on protection from mosquito bites and eradication of the insect. Brazilians have been rushing to buy repellant, creating a shortage of some brands on pharmacy shelves and boosting sales for the industry - a trend some producers are preparing for elsewhere as the outbreak spreads. Brazil is particularly concerned to fight an outbreak as the country grapples with a deep economic crisis and prepares to host the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August, an event that draws huge crowds of athletes and spectators. As concern grew over the virus in recent weeks, a string of airlines offered refunds or rebookings to people planning on traveling to affected areas. The warning was given by Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen. Rabe Abubakar via a statement released on Thursday, February 4, 2016. It reads: The DHQ hereby warned that the military and other security agencies will not condone any acts by individuals or group that is capable of breach to security and economic sabotage in the Niger Delta or in any part of the country. In as much as the military recognises the supremacy of the constitution which guarantees freedom of expression and association, the constitution also frowns against individuals or groups hiding under it to stir up trouble and insecurity in the land. Any individual or groups who have genuine complain or grievances should use the available means of dialogue for amicable resolution but certainly not violence, as it will not be tolerated. In a meeting with the leadership of the Senate on Wednesday, February 3, service chiefs led by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, complained that N29 billion appropriated for security in the 2015 supplementary budget had not been released to them nearly two months after it was approved by the National Assembly. The revelation is coming as a surprise and contrary to claims by the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, that the President Muhammadu Buhari administrationhad supplied the military with new weapons to contain the Boko Haram. Mohammed also said the weapons procured by the former president Goodluck Jonathan government were expired and refurnished. He stated that the military would not have come this far with its fight against the terrorists if they were only using arms bought by the immediate past administration. He said this in reaction to Jonathan's statement in an interview with France24 that the present government is still using the weapons procured by his administration to fight insurgency. However, at the meeting between the senate and the military, other issues discussed were the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance caused by the procurement process which they said was very slow. A statement released by the Office of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki read in part: The leadership of the Senate and chairmen of committees relating to security agencies yesterday (Wednesday) held a meeting with heads of the military to review the developments in the fight against the insurgency in the North-east zone particularly in the wake of the recent vicious attack on Dalori town in Borno State. At the closed-door meeting which lasted for about two hours and was presided over by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, several issues tailored at further empowering the security agencies to win the war against the Boko Haram insurgency were discussed in a frank and open exchange between the two sides. The need for regional support for the fight against the insurgency in the North-east by the neighbouring countries, resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) back to their traditional homes, the issue of intelligence gathering and sharing among the various agencies". Kachikwu said this in a meeting with oil and gas labour leaders, in Abuja. Vanguard reports that the minister said the government wants to expand NNPCs operations and not reduce its workforce. In his response, the Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Achese Igwe, said We are going to vehemently resist any attempt to sack workers. We have advised service companies and multinational firms that are in the act of outsourcing and contracting that this will portend the loss of jobs for Nigerians. We say no to them because that is not what this government is all about. The government today talks about job creation and not job losses. With the current economic challenge we are having in our country, we need not to lose jobs that are already created. The decision made other accused persons brought to the court on different charges to go into wild jubilation, stalling the court's proceedings for several minutes. The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko discharged the accused due to abandonment of the case by the prosecution. He noted that the prosecution had not made an appearance for the fourth time since the case was mentioned in October 2015. Kagarko therefore said the court had no reason to continue with the trial and discharged and acquitted the accused. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Joseph was arraigned by the police for allegedly conspiring with others, still at large, to steal valuables worth over N5 million at Berger junction and Bwari. The accused was said to have been rescued by a police patrol team when a mob attacked him. The court had granted N500,000 bail to the accused with a reliable surety, but failed to meet the conditions. Earlier, the lawyer to the accused, Jalaludeen Ahmed, had lamented over the incessant absence of the prosecution in court in spite of several notices. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the courts in Mararaba, a suburb of the state did not open for work since on Wednesday. Speaking on the development on Friday, Mr Jimoh Musa, the state Chairman, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), said that the union took the decision to join the strike on Wednesday. He explained that "JUSUN is an affiliate of NLC and whatever concerns the congress also concerns our union "For over 5 years, the NLC in the state has been demanding for promotion of workers, annual increment in salaries, leave allowances and others. "We met with the state Dep. Governor, Silas Agara, and other officials, but the meeting did not yield good results. We could not arrive at a reasonable conclusion, he said. The chairman said the strike would be called off as soon as the government responded positively to their demands. NAN recalls that workers in the state on Monday down tools to protest many unresolved issues concerning their welfare.The issues put forward by the state NLC included; inconsistency in payment of salaries of local government workers and unauthorised deductions from their emoluments. The congress was also protesting the alleged omission of names of some teachers from the payroll since 2011 as a result of the biometric that was conducted. The commands spokesperson, DSP Zubairu Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that the abductors released the women without any condition attached. NAN recalls that the women, Maimuna Abubakar, 25; Mairo Husseini, 20; and Hauwa Ibrahim, 20, were abducted by unknown persons in Dorayi village in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. According to the Police Public Relations Officer, the release of the women followed intensified surveillance by the law enforcement agents in the area and the support of people. Abubakar, who said that no arrest had been made in connection with the kidnap, however, assured that the police were trailing the suspected kidnappers. MASSOB spokesperson, Samuel Edeson said the former President deserves to appear before the court, because of the alleged atrocities he committed against the Igbos in 1970. Edeson also threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable, if the Federal Government does not allow the Igbos decide by vote, if they want to stay as part of Nigeria. The MASSOB spokesman also said they are ready to instigate civil obedience in the country, especially, in the South-East, if the government does not yield to their call. Massive protests broke out in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria and Lagos, following calls for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS). The Nigerian government charged Kanu to court for treasonable felony. MASSOB threatened to make the country ungovernable if the government does not heed to its call. Punch reports that a statement issued by the National Director of Information, MASSOB, Samuel Edeson, said MASSOB and other pro-Biafra agitators will make Nigeria ungovernable if the Nigerian government failed to conduct referendum in Eastern Nigeria. We shall use everything at our disposal to fight the Nigerian government, especially through civil disobedience. We are going to call for sit at home in all Biafran land and Lagos. The victim, Dr Bede Azudialor, a Consultant Physician with the Federal Medical Centre , Owerri, was allegedly shot in the head by anti-riot policemen drafted to monitor the demonstration by the doctors. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the victim was first rushed to the emergency unit of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, from where he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) and thereafter relocated to an undisclosed hospital. The State Chairman of the Nigerian Guild of Medical Doctors, Dr. Darlington Akukwu, who briefed newsmen on the incident in Owerri, announced the commencement of a three-day warning strike by doctors in the state following the incident. " Following the shooting of our member, doctors in Imo State will from today commence a three-day warning strike during which the Nigerian Police Force must name the policeman that shut our member. "The warning strike beginning from Feb. 4, will last for three days and if after the expiration of three days, the person who shut at our colleague fails to come out, doctors will start an indefinite strike action," Akukwu said. He urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase to compel the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Taiwo Lakanu , to produce the culprit who perpetrated the act. Akukwu further urged President Muhammadu Buhari to thoroughly investigate the matter. NAN learnt that the march was organised by the NMA in Imo, to protest what they described as the ``anti-life policies of Gov. Rochas Okorocha. The march was said to have started from the NMA office on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri at about 12 noon. It was gathered that when the doctors got to Orlu Road junction, Owerri, anti-riot police in about 10 Hilux vans started throwing tear gas canisters on the group during which a gun was suspected to have been fired, which injured the doctor. "It was in the process of tear gassing of the group that Dr Bede Azudiaro fell down and raised alarm that he had been shut in the head, with blood gushing from his head. Earlier, the state chairman of NMA, Dr Hyacinth Emele, had told journalists that the association was protesting against the concessioning of public health institutions by the state government. "Despite NMA repeated advice, government went ahead to concession virtually all the state public health institutions from primary to tertiary (health centre, general hospitals and Imo State Specialist Hospitals, and Imo State University Teaching Hospital) and their management. "The state will stand to lose completely from the assistance of donor agencies and partners like the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, Global Fund among others that sponsor immunization, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning and HIV/AIDS services to these institutions. The NMA chairman equally condemned t and the appointment of a non-doctor as Commissioner of Health and the merging of Ministry of Health and Women Affairs by Okorocha. Emele also decried the use of armed thugs to attack workers at their duty posts. "The use of task force to regulate medical practice in Imo is against Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. The NMA chairman raised alarm over the illicit harvesting and trafficking of human organs currently on going in the state. "Lives of residents of Imo State are at great risk over this evil practice. When contacted, the PPRO in the state (DSP) Andrew Enwerem said that the police only used tear gas to disperse the protesting doctors when they became riotous. Police did not shoot anybody and nobody who is shot on the head will ever remain alife. Osinbajo who assured Nigerians that the President will not let them suffer, said those mounting the pressure, are asking Buhari not to jail the looters. He said they want Mr. President to ask the looters to refund the money they stole. Punch reports that Osinbajo through his his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, said We get regular messages from some Nigerian elite saying cool down. It is a very strange morality that some of those people have, (which is) very complicated, and cutting across all tribes and religious differences. Osinbajo said the position of those putting pressure on the government was that it (corruption) is not a big deal. Adding that The man on the street is very clear; so whatever some of these elite say, we shall keep our focus on the masses who voted for us. Mr. President and I are extremely focussed on what we need to do. We will focus on critical things, infrastructure and social investments, he said. Find out what is making headlines all over the country from the covers of The Punch, Vanguard, The Guardian and more. For today, Friday, February 5, 2016: ABUJAThe Presidency has directed an oil firm to remit to the account of Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, unremitted funds amounting to N81.6 billion ($408m). This came on a day the Federal Government called on operators in the oil sector to shelve plans to lay off workers to avoid throwing the nation into a huge social upheaval. LAGOSMedia aide to former Delta State governor, Chief James Onanefe Ibori, Mr Tony Eluemunor, has denied recent media reports on the release of the former governor. He also said Ibori was not re-arrested. Eluemunor in a statement, yesterday, said: The news had set off a frenzy of activities in the entire South-South geo-political zone, as many people took off from their respective towns and villages to storm Iboris home town of Oghara. Many kept vigil at his gate; but the vigil was in vain as Ibori has not finished serving his term. READ MORE: Nigeriansll starve to death by 2050, if Presidency ABUJA THE Presidency, yesterday, raised alarm that Nigerians would starve to death by 2050 if nothing was done to ensure an all year round farming. It also said with the rate the country was going, the population would by 2050 rise to 509 million. According to the Federal Government, the present mode of farming will not sustain the increasing population in the country. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER Supreme Court rules on Saraki CCT trial today The Supreme Court will on Friday (today) determine whether or not to stop the trial of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on charges of false asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. A seven-man bench, led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, had on December 4, 2015, fixed Friday for judgment after entertaining arguments on an appeal by Saraki, with the Federal Government urging the apex court to dismiss the Senate Presidents case and allow the trial before the CCT to continue. READ MORE: Buhari under pressure to stop anti-graft war, says Osinbajo Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said President Muhammadu Buhari is currently under intense pressure to stop his administrations ongoing anti-corruption war. Although he said the pressure was being mounted by the Nigerian elite, he did not name those behind the campaign. According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, on Thursday, the Vice-President spoke while granting audience to a delegation from the Muslim Congress of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Salary scam: FG to probe 23,306 civil servants, banks The Federal Government is concluding plans to probe no fewer than 23,306 federal civil servants, who have been accused by a panel of defrauding the government of millions of naira every month through an organised salary fraud. The preliminary report of an investigative committee, set up to probe the alleged fraudulent payment of salaries to either ghost workers or payments to multiple accounts, indicated that some banks would also be called to answer questions on the huge scam. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE GUARDIAN Govts import bill on petroleum products hits N1.8tr in nine months The Federal Government spent N1.82 trillion on importation of petroleum products between January and September last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). NBS disclosed in its petroleum products import statistics 2010 to 2015 released recently that the country imported N1.4 trillion worth of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) during the period under review. NCAA suspends Bristows ditched chopper brand CONSIDERING the frequency of air crashes involving Bristow Helicopter, two in less than six months, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) yesterday suspended the use of the brand of the ditched aircraft by the airline. According to NCAA, the suspension will enable the authority to carry out a full-scale audit on the airlines operations with particular emphasis on its Sikorsky S-76C++ type. READ MORE: Auditor General queries FIRS over missing N400b For failing to account for how it has expended about N400 billion, representing four per cent cost of non- oil tax collection between 2010 and 2015, the nations tax agency- the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has earned the ire of the Auditor -General of the Federation (AuGF) Mr. Samuel Ukura. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE NATION NEWSPAPER Buhari under pressure to stop anti-graft battle President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure from some highly-placed Nigerians to slow down his anti-graft war, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said yesterday. But the government will not pull the brakes because fighting corruption is what Nigerians want, the Vice President said. Prof. Osinbajo spoke during a meeting with a delegation from the Moslem Congress of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Supreme Court okays Ikpeazus, Emmanuels elections The Supreme Court last night upheld the elections of Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel and Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. A seven-man bench presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, unanimously allowed the nine appeals filed by parties in the two cases. The court will give its reasons for the judgment in the Akwa-Ibom State on February 15. It will do the same on February 26 in the Abia case. BVN exposes 23,306 ghost workers on Fed Govt payroll No fewer than 23,306 names are to be deleted from the Federal Governments payroll. A team probing multiple salary payments recommended 23,306 civil servants and some banks for thorough investigations. The government has started deleting the indicted civil servants from its payroll, The Nation learnt yesterday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Business Day Nigerians pay more for bread on 14% increase in price of flour The price of bread, a staple food for most Nigerians will likely shoot up in the days and weeks to come, following a 14 percent increase in the price of flour, its major component, BusinessDay investigations show. The price of sugar, another ingredient for bread, has likewise increased by about 50 percent. FG told to emulate Korea, Indonesia to transform economy Nigeria should pursue the path of Korea and Indonesia as it seeks to wean its economy off the volatile influence of an overbearing dependence on oil exports, say economists and researchers. South Korea and oil producer, Indonesia have made giant strides in transforming their economies by co-ordinating a wide range of policies on education, exporting PenCom worried only 0.27% of pension investments in Private Equity The apex court reached the decision today, February 5, 2016, after dismissing Sarakis appeal. The Senate President is facing charges of asset declaration fraud before the Tribunal. The trial will continue from where it stopped. We just have to respect the judgment of the Supreme Court at that time it ruled we should stay action, and we did stay action, CCT spokesman, Ibrahim Alhassan told The Cable. The chairman along with the other member will have to sit down and study the scenario and decide on a date the trial will continue. Certainly, I assure you the case will continue. What stalled it was the order of Supreme Court, but now it has given us the go ahead. We must be happy. It is all about the institution of the CCT, and not about an individual. If the judgment had gone the other way round, our jurisdiction would have been stunted, and we will not have the capacity to continue with our tasks. Everybody should be happy, especially now that we are in the era of fighting corruption, Alhassan said. Punch reports that Oyegun said he merely expressed shock at the courts ruling, not that he said justices should be probed. This is coming on the heels of his comments over the courts ruling upholding the election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. Oyegun who expressed shock at the judgement said I still find the judgment on the Rivers State governorship election totally astonishing. There is something fundamentally wrong in the Judiciary. We have lost very important resource-rich states to the PDP. No matter how crude oil prices have fallen, it is still the most important revenue earner for the country. There is obviously something fundamentally wrong in Rivers state which needs to be investigated and addressed. This coming on the heels of made by Oyegun regarding the Supreme Court ruling upholding Nyesom Wike's election. He expressed shock saying something is fundamentally wrong with the nations judiciary. PDP also accused the APC chairman of calling for the probe of Supreme Court justices. The PDP Governors forum, through its coordinator, Mr. Osaro Onaiwu said Nigerians need to begin fervent intercession for the APC and its chairman for God to deliver them from their dangerous inclinations to plunge this country into fascism. Nigerians can now see that the APC wishes to remotely control all aspects of the nations institutions and this is very dangerous. Adding that Besides praying, Nigerians must resist the obnoxious plans of the APC. Rather than for the ruling party to work towards uniting Nigerians, it is more interested in who controls the resources so as to use it as an instrument of cronyism. How unfortunate. As a party and forum, the PDP governors will resist every unconstitutional attempt to dictate how the courts should run and what sort of judgments should be delivered, the PDP Governors said. Oyegun had said, on February 4, 2016, that the apex courts confirmation of Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wikes election victory showed that something was wrong with the judiciary. In response however, Okupe, via a Facebook post, urged the APC Chairman to learn how to accept defeat. The post reads: While Chief Odigie-Oyegun in his parochial and mercantile political effusion is beclouded by financial considerations, the respected judges of the Supreme Court must adjudicate on the principles of law, equity and justice. Chief Odigie-Oyegun and indeed all of us, politicians, are to be blamed for undermining the credibility of the electoral process, leading to a situation where virtually all elections are not only contested but frivolously pursued to the Supreme Court. Instead of educating our supporters and voters on appropriate civil, honest and disciplined behaviour on election days, we use money, thugs and security forces to wantonly undermine the electoral process. By so doing, we directly and inadvertently, transfer the power to choose political leaders from the people, to the courts. It is instructive to note that in the recently concluded presidential primaries in Iowa, USA, scarcely was any police officer or security agent noticed at the caucuses neither did any act of violence occur at any point. Nigerians with or without their political leaders must unite and stand up in support of justice and rule of law in our society and in all the facets of our national life. There is no doubt that there are elements of corruption within the judiciary but people in government have all it takes to address the situation discreetly and appropriately without bringing down this great institution and the very last hope of the common man. Oyegun had also lamented the APCs loss of oil-rich states, which still provide much of Nigerias revenue despite the crash in global crude prices, to the PDP. The comment was made by Rivers PDP Chairman, Felix Obuah via a statement released on Thursday, February 4, 2016. Obuah spoke after All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun said that the judgment showed that something was wrong with the judiciary. The statement reads: Rather than commending the justices of the Supreme Court for taking action to maintain the independence and unbiased position of the judiciary by declaring sound judgments as in the case of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Abia and Ebonyi states, the APC National Chairman, preferred to make such derogatory and unpatriotic statements about the judiciary. One thing is certain and that is the fact that the Supreme Court justices took the part of honour and dignity by not yielding to the pressure and influence by the APC-led Federal Government, demanding the nullification of the elections of the affected PDP state governors; a commendable feat by the Supreme Court justices. Another truth revealed to us in Oyeguns statements is the fact that the APC leadership was and is not interested in the development and welfare of the people or simply put, good governance, but obviously interested in the economic resources of the states. Our view of this position is that even if it requires setting the state ablaze just for APC to secure all these seats in the elections is of no consequence to APC. This must not be allowed to be witnessed in our state, especially when everyone has his or her fundamental rights to vote for his or her choice. It is therefore, important that we remind the APC leadership that we are in a democracy where the three arms of government must be made to function independently, with checks and balance; where people should be allowed to take decision, based on their conviction and choice. It is only in a dictatorial regime that the Odigie-Oyeguns policies and principles can strive. The people have spoken and God has heard the voices of the people through the decision of the Supreme Court, only Odigie-Oyegun and the APC leadership know what they mean by investigating the applaudable judgment of the apex court. This is following the World Hijab Day which was marked on Monday, February 1. At a media briefing in Lagos, the women, under the umbrella of Al-Mu'Minaat Organisation, commended the president and governor for preventing any action that tramples on the right of every Muslim woman to use the hijab as part of her dressing. In addition, the organisation saluted other institutions such as the University College Hospital, Ibadan, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and MTN Nigeria, "for the actions they exhibited lately, showing their pro-hijab stance." The Al-Mu'Minaat Organisation, however, urged the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) to "call their men to order and stop the attempt to rob Muslim women of their right to wear hijab." The National Amirah of Al-Mu'Minaat, Nimatullah Abdullateef said, "The hijab has had its fair share of pains and gains in the country in the past year." This is contained in a statement by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. It said that the Executive-Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, gave the assurance when Fagbohun paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. The statement said that Okojie promised to support the university, assuring that he would also visit the institution soon.According to the statement, the Tertiary Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board had also promised to support LASU. "We have assurances of funding from TETFUND for our colleagues who are working on research proposals or manuscripts, please keep being resourceful," the bulletin quoted the VC as saying. It said that the VC also warned unscrupulous lecturers, who were always in the habit of printing or publishing sub-standard materials and compelling students to buy. More than 50 million small businesses around the world use Facebook Pages actively because theyre free, easy to use, and work well on mobile. More than 2.5 million SMEs worldwide actively use Facebook every month, a number thats doubled in the past two years. A large number of those businesses are in Africa - 54% of people on Facebook in Nigeria are connected to a small or medium business. Africa is home to some of the worlds most vibrant and exciting small businesses, and these enterprises are the backbone of the economy. These smaller businesses drive economic growth and create jobs that lift people to prosperity. The number one reason they succeed or fail is their ability to attract customers. As more and more people turn to smartphones and the web to discover and connect with businesses, Facebook is the best platform for African SMEs to promote their brands, said Nunu Ntshingila, head of Africa for Facebook. In her address, Nicola Mendelsohn, EMEA vice-president at Facebook, said, Technology is driving real progress. When I visit Africa, this comes to life in every conversation and with every story I hear about entrepreneurs creating jobs and solving problems with technologys help. Were invigorated by how Ghanaian and Nigerian SMEs are using Facebook to grow brand awareness and boost engagement with their customers. We look forward to doing more to support entrepreneurs as they build their businesses. Some examples of small African companies that use Facebook for their online marketing include: Jayosbie in Nigeria is an online brand and retailer for fashion-forward men. Facebook is significantly cheaper than other channels. Actually, its not even comparable, said Dejuwon Isola-Osobu, founder and CEO. One recent campaign delivered 14,000 clicks for just $260. Chinenye Umeh, the founder, Fabulosity Hair and Fabulosity Cosmetics, says she loves the flexibility and affordability of Facebook, especially the fact that she can easily turn spending up or down on a monthly basis. Skin Gourmet Limited in Ghana is a female-led producer of organic, natural and chemical free skin care products that reports a significant return on investment in the form of more engagement and brand awareness after posting and boosting posts on Facebook. In 2015, Facebook held 225 events across 19 countries, reaching over 200,000 small business owners, training them on how to use its platform effectively to drive sales. The civil servant, Chris Hill-Scott, is said to have taken the bike as payment for his share of Swiftkey - a mobile phone keyboard app - after becoming annoyed with the long work hours and financial insecurity brought by being a director of the company, according to Mirror UK. In a report by The Times, Hill-Scott reportedly set up the firm in 2008 with university friends Jon Reynolds, 30 and Ben Medlock, 36, but left after a few weeks to embark on a career in photography, before settling in a career building websites for the government. On Wednesday information emerged that the Cambridge graduates had agreed a deal with Microsoft to sell the London-based firm for 174 million, one of the most lucrative acquisitions of a British technology company in recent times. "When SwiftKey was found there were three founding members, Chris was a friend of Jon's from school and Ben was a friend from his university in Cambridge. "Two months after forming the company Chris decided to leave, Jon and Ben bought his shares," said a SwiftKey spokeswoman, adding that he left on good terms. Mr. Reynolds and Dr. Medlock are said to have made 25 million each in the sale of the app, which is based on a predictive keyboard powered by artificial intelligence, according to the Mirror report. The Cambridge graduates creation has become so successful, it is now used on 300 million devices every day. "From the minute we met, we just hit it off, from the minute we met, we sort of felt like we were gonna be together," Clooney told Ellen DeGeneres The 54-yr-old Hollywood actor also added when he proposed, his 38-yr-old wife made him wait 25 minutes before giving him a 'yes' answer. "It wasnt like, 'Oh, maybe we should get married,' or anything. I plotted the whole thing out. I had the ring hidden behind her, "Everything was planned out and I've cooked dinner. And she comes in and shes just come back from London. And usually shell dress up, and now shes like, 'Maybe well just order in.' And I go, 'No, no, no, I've made dinner,'" he continued. George say Amal didn't really get what he was doing until she saw the ring. He had asked her to get a lighter in the drawer. She found a sparkly diamond as she opened it. "Shes like, 'Its a ring.' Like, as if somebody had left it there some other time. I dont know. And Im doing all the moves you can do with my face," he recalled. "And I got down on my knee and said, 'I couldnt imagine spending the rest of my life without you.' And she kept looking at the ring, and she was looking at me, and she was like, 'Oh, my God.' And we now know, because there was a playlist, how long it actually took, and it was, like, 25 minutes." "Finally, I literally said, 'Look, I hope the answer is yes, but I need an answer. Im 52 and I could throw out my hip pretty soon, and she said, 'Oh, yes.' And it worked out really well," the actor continued. European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Thursday that the EU executive was not including the possible effects of a "no" vote in Britain into its latest economic forecasts because it was not a scenario that was "in our mind". But Regling, who runs the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund of euro zone governments, was more open to discuss the Brexit option. "I am very much in favour of the United Kingdom staying in the EU, I think it would be a big loss for the EU (if Britain left), but given that the United Kingdom is not a member of the euro area ... I don't see an impact on the euro, on the euro area," Regling told the Belgian Financial Forum conference. NAN reports that Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Security Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. In a statement on Friday in New York, Mr Aristide Nononsi, called for an immediate end to hostilities that have triggered new protection and humanitarian concerns in the long-restive region of Sudan. He said that violence was not the way to resolve the current difficulties Sudan is facing, and must stop. Nononsi urged all parties to the conflict to respect international human rights and humanitarian law, to ensure humanitarian access to people in need at all times, and protect unarmed civilians. The Sudanese Government, he said, had a duty to facilitate free, full and unhindered access to all conflict-affected areas to the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations. NAN reports that the UN said the ongoing hostilities between government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid have reportedly resulted in human rights violations and abuses. The UN also said that the hostilities have resulted in violations of international humanitarian law, including destruction of civilian property and objects as well as considerable displacement of civilians, in addition to unspecified number of civilian casualties. According to UNAMID, up to 21,338 civilians, mainly women and children, have fled into North Darfur state and have sought refuge around their camp as of Feb. 1. The mission also said that no fewer than 15,000 others have fled into Central Darfur state, according to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan. The world body said that the number of internally displaced persons following the attacks on Mouli and surrounding villages in west Darfur is estimated at 5,000 civilians. Following the detection of Zika in April, sales of repellant in Brazil rose by one-third last year, according to consumer research firm Nielsen, doubling revenue for the sector to $55.7 million. Buying was also spurred by an increase in cases of dengue, another virus spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Raia Drogasil, Brazil's largest chain of pharmacies, said repellant sales in December jumped seven-fold from a year earlier. Brazil's biggest retailer, the Pao de Acucar Group , said supermarket sales of repellant were up 120 percent in the first weeks of 2016, compared to the same period a year earlier. The rise was sharpest in the Northeast region at the centre of the outbreak, where sales rose fourfold, and in the Brazil's second city of Rio de Janeiro, where they tripled. In Rio, protection against Zika is a top priority for the city's 6.5 million inhabitants and hundreds of thousands of tourists as the country's biggest Carnival celebration kicks off on Friday. Rio will also host the Olympic Games in August. Even at small local pharmacies in Rio, waiting lists for the most sought-after repellant, Exposis, stretch to hundreds of names, with expectant mothers and their families rushing from store to store in search of the product. Exposis, developed by France's Osler, has received media attention in Brazil because it is the only brand on the market with the active ingredient Icaridin. Many Brazilians consider it the most effective repellant against the Aedes mosquito, though studies suggest its efficacy is similar to brands using DEET. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to appear at an event in Pahrump in support of his wifes campaign on Saturday, according to a press release. With two weeks remaining before the Democratic caucus in Nevada, Bill Clinton will make a visit to the most populous area in Nye County. The former president is scheduled to appear at Manse Elementary School at 4881 N. Lola Lane in Pahrump on Saturday from 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. To RSVP for the event, go to hillaryclinton.com/events/view/1613745/. The visit will come a day after he will be in Las Vegas. At both events, he will state why his wife is the best choice for shared prosperity for all, the campaign said. The campaign for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has faced an unexpected challenge from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Iowa caucus earlier this week as the two Democratic candidates were locked in a virtual tie. On Feb. 9, Democratic and Republican candidates will head to New Hampshire for a primary. The Nevada Democratic caucus will take place on Feb. 20. On January 26, Nye County representatives were asked to appear before the state Committee on Local Government Finance (CLGF) in either Carson City or Las Vegas. We chose to appear before the majority of the committee members (5) in Carson City. Nye County Comptroller Amy Fanning, myself, Commissioners Frank Carbone and Lorinda Wichman were present in Carson City. Nye County prepared a presentation to the CLGF. It documented the conditions we had been facing over the past 5 years. Assessed valuations of property in Nye County had dropped $588 million since 2010. Revenue in the General Fund has dropped by $4.4 million during that period. At 3 percent per year recovery, it would take until 2026 to reach that level again. Nye County has had to make major adjustments to accommodate those income reductions, including cutting staff by 84 people, employee voluntary furlough days, closing a jail in Tonopah, reducing funding to Cooperative Extension, Senior Nutrition, and the animal shelters in the county. In May of 2014, the comptroller at the time walked off the job in the midst of the difficult budget actions. This was just days before the state-mandated Budget Hearing for the Fiscal Year 2015. County staff worked with myself for countless hours to assemble the required documents and data to support the budget hearing which was held as scheduled and the budget for 2015 was approved. In June, a month later, Nye County learned Round Mountain Gold would be paying additional net proceeds to the county of over $3 million, which was the result of an audit conducted for the FY11 and FY12 periods. In a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, an increase to the budget of the general fund was approved of over $1.5 million. During the next months with a new comptroller and ultimately a 100 percent turnover in the finance departments, the documents recording the budget increase to the Department of Taxation were overlooked. As a result, the financial statements for the year had to show budget overruns in the general fund to the originally approved budget, when in actuality, the county under-ran the budget approved on June 27 by $750,000. Nye County revenue doesnt come in on a monthly basis. Sales tax income is distributed by the state to the county 2 months after it is collected. In other words, the county receives the sales tax for January in March or April. Twenty-six percent of the annual revenue for the general fund is received in the last month of the fiscal year, and the last 2 months of sales tax income ($2 million) is received after the end of the fiscal year. This creates cash flow issues during the year when we are trying to issue payroll and pay the standard bills for operations. The county moved cash from an unrestricted fund, (emergency fund) during periods of cash flow shortages. This movement of cash did not increase the approved budget in any way, it merely paid the bills until the budgeted revenue was received and returned to the emergency fund. The movement of the money in itself is not an NRS violation, but the county did not document the money transfer according to Department of Taxation regulated documentation and reporting. Over the past 10 years, one Nye County elected official overran his budget by over $6 million. At times where the county was experiencing severe reductions in income, the general fund was not able to sustain previous reserves in light of these overruns. Neither county management nor the county commissioners can prevent an elected official from overrunning their budgets. This was pointed out to the CLGF by Commissioner Wichman. The Committee had no answer to her statements. The budgets submitted to the Department of Taxation over the past 3 years included low ending fund balances and had been accepted by the department. In late 2015, the BoCC took action to dissolve the endowment funds and move the money from the emergency fund to the general fund as a committed balance, thus resolving the low general fund balance issue. In addition, non-compliance issues created by the lack of timely reports and interest allocations by the treasurer are also out of the control of the BoCC, however Terry Rubald did address that the timeliness of the reports has significantly improved but has not realized the NRS required 30 days. Significant improvements in the internal controls of fixed assets have been accomplished by Nye County, but we were not successful in completing the tagging of the assets. The improvements to the internal controls were reported by Dan McArthur, independent auditor for Nye County, at the audit report delivered on January 19, 2016. The audit report was included in the backup to the CLGF but achieved improvements were not addressed. County management assured the committee that Nye County will work with the Department of Taxation to remedy these issues and cooperate to ensure proper documentation is completed and submitted in a timely manner. By recommending the county be placed under the condition of fiscal watch, the committee offered help to the county, although Committee Chairman Marvin Leavitt did not define how the help would materialize. The committee also recommended a fiscal watch for the Northern Nye County Hospital District. Since the closure of the hospital in Tonopah in September of 2015, there have been no medical services available for over a 100-mile radius, including any kind of trauma care for injuries occurring on Highway 95. Former Town of Tonopah Manager James Eason spoke to the committee about the fact that a hospital model cannot sustain in a rural setting. The hospital district was set up to help fund a hospital, but since that model is not sustainable, the communities have been very vocal about desiring an alternative medical model proposed by Renown, a nonprofit provider of extensive medical services in the Reno area. Renown is proposing an urgent care facility that might be able to ultimately provide trauma care to central Nevada through telemedicine and on sight providers. Members of staff for the town of Tonopah and the county, in conjunction with the BoCC have been working tirelessly to ensure medical care to the rural communities of central Nevada and Nye County. We need help to make this happen, not prevent it. We need to be able to make existing law work toward, not prohibit, the needs of the people. To this end, we will not stop until we are successful. We are committed to that goal. We are short-handed, but the staff we have at all levels is always willing to step up to the challenge and get the job done. Pam Webster is the Nye County manager, a position appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. If you ever wondered who you descended from or facts about your ancestry makeup, Pahrumps Mormon church along Wilson Road can help you get started. Each Wednesday, the local Church of Jesus Christ of Letter-day Saints offers family history classes where participants can gain a better understanding of themselves, as well as their family history. Pahrump resident Carol Zerkle, who teaches the family history class each Wednesday, said the pursuit of family history and origins are shaped by various motivations. She was surprised about what she learned after searching her lineage, an active pursuit since 1969. My family came out of the hills of Tennessee and Virginia, she said after a recent class. They have done the DNA and I am 5 percent black, 5 percent Native American and the rest is European. Zerkle noted her interest in learning about family history came about from her sons homework assignment years ago. My son came home with a pedigree chart for his boy scouts and I had to fill it out, she said. Of course it had his name, my name, his dads name, as well as my grandparents. I filled it out and sent it with him and he brought it back the next week. The teacher wanted more information about a couple of generations that was missing. I called my mom and grandmother, and of course, I had to call my husbands parents and we started filling it out a little better and it just sparked an interest. That interest, Zerkle said, spurred her to embark on a wider effort to learn more about her ancestors. Some of what she learned would raise a few eyebrows, even by todays standards. I discovered my grandparents were second and third cousins, so my genealogy really kind of runs around in a circle, she said with a laugh. When my ancestors came to the Americas, they were Portuguese sailors that got stranded in the Americas long before Christopher Columbus arrived. They are called Melungeon people and they came out of the hills of Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky and different places like that. Zerkle also mentioned one of several television programs aimed at generating interest in genealogy where family members interview other family members about their personal history. It is on the PBS stations across the United States, where young teenagers are interviewing their grandparents for posterity reasons, she said. I dont have all the details, but Im going to get one of my grandchildren to do that for me. During a recent class, Zerkle was teaching more than a dozen students about the U.S. Census and how it relates to genealogy. She noted the first census was taken in 1790. We did the census class to learn how to use the census and what it was for and why it came about to find our ancestors, she said. We are just trying to learn who we are, what were doing here on earth and thats one of the resources that we use. The census was taken for tax purposes, to count everyone so they could have proper representation for each of the 13 colonies and thats how the census began. They also had on there, about how many slaves there were at the time because they needed to find every man that could fight the war if England came back on us again. Judith Luellen assists in teaching the family history classes each week. She said the interest in classes is increasing, compared to when they first started. Luellen also learned she descended from a family of fine craftsmen. My great-great-grandmothers sister was married to the artist that carved all of the eyes of the presidents on Mount Rushmore, she said. He was one of the guys who hung off the mountain and chiseled the eyes. He also used a little dynamite. He was an incredible craftsman. I have been there and seen his work and Ill be taking my children one day, as well as my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The family history classes are free and are open to the entire community. The classes are held each Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the churchs 921 W. Wilson Road location. An upcoming class will focus on identifying old photographs, Zerkle said. We are going to do the history about how photographs came into being and how to date them and what information you can glean off of a photograph, she said. Contact reporter Selwyn Harris at sharris@pvtimes.com Participating in the Nevada 2016 caucuses isnt as simple as filling out a ballot in the voting booth. But its not intended to be shrouded in mystery, either, caucus officials from both political parties say. Nevada will play a crucial role in the all-out political battle that is the 2016 presidential election this month. The caucus system means Nevada will be a potential swing state twice in the same presidential election. The first potential swing comes in the caucuses, when voters from both parties will voice their choices for the Republican and Democratic nominations for president. Its decisive role cannot be understated, and its why Nevada voters get the treat of seeing a constant flood of visiting candidates. Scenarios could unfold in different ways. If two different candidates win in the early states preceding Nevada, Silver State voters could swing support toward one candidate or the other. If the same candidate carries all the early states before the Nevada caucuses, the Silver State could reaffirm that candidates support. The second potential swing will come on Election Day in November, when purple states voters will cast ballots that might sway the Electoral College. Purple states are those with a blend of Republican and Democratic support. To participate in the February caucuses, voters must pick a party. Nevadas caucuses follow the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primaries for Democratic candidates. For Republicans, its the fourth state, following New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. For both parties, it will be the first early voting state in the West. Heres what Nevadans can expect when they caucus: Republicans There are 1,785 precincts throughout Nevada, and each will have its own caucus meeting. Both political parties have reserved community centers, schools and other spots. In some instances, the same building might hold multiple precinct meetings in different rooms. To participate in the GOP caucus, voters must be registered as Republicans by Feb. 13. Thats a key difference from Nevada Democrats, who allow voters to register on caucus day. The caucus is Feb. 23. Evening meetings will start between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., depending on the location, and must end by 9 p.m. In most spots, officials expect the process will finish within an hour. Caucus participants will get a ballot. They can mark the ballot with their candidate preference at the meetings start, or they can wait until the end of the meeting and hear pitches by supporters for the various candidates, said Greg Bailor, Nevada Republican Party caucus director. Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald said, Its an honor to be the first in the West, and we take it very seriously. We have staff members on the ground who are more involved this time. The goal is to make the selection process accessible, with information on a website and staff members getting the word out, he said. Once registered, voters can enter their addresses and information into a database and find their caucus location. Military members who are Nevada residents can cast absentee ballots. The GOP has 9 candidates on Nevadas ballot: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas; former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina; Ohio Gov. John Kasich; U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida; former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.; and Donald Trump, a billionaire businessman. McDonald expects the caucus to be a spirited event. It also will be the first entry that participants have into the delegate world, and a potential shot at traveling to the Republican National Convention as a national delegate to cast a nomination vote. Each precinct picks delegates who go on to their county convention. At the county conventions, delegates are picked to move to the state GOP convention in May. At the state convention, delegates and alternatives get elected to go to the Republican National Convention in July, when the GOP will officially nominate its presidential candidate. By then, its often a foregone conclusion who will be the nominee, because many states will have cast ballots in primaries and caucuses. But in Nevada, candidates in February face the task of securing precinct-level delegates who support them and are willing to move up the ranks. Clark County GOP Chairman Ed Williams said the organization has been conducting caucus training all over the county and is training upwards of 500 people. The party also reaches out to groups that arent necessarily known for Republican ties and goes where invited, he said, including Planned Parenthood and the AFL-CIO. Were just trying to reach into groups weve not been good at reaching out to before, he said. Democrats Procrastinators can complete their voter registration as Democrats at their caucus location. Party leaders also allow caucusgoers to register in advance. Like the Republicans, Democrats have an online caucus tool to help users find where to caucus. The Democrats will caucus at noon on Feb. 20, a Saturday. They will also recommend people arrive at 11 a.m. so theyre registered and ready by noon. From there, the caucus is about talking with others and making a decision openly not voting by private ballot. Its engaging, said Cory Warfield, presidential caucus director for the Nevada Democratic Party. Its different than going to a ballot box. The caucus is really about that grass-roots approach to politics and having the opportunity to talk and have a conversation with your friends. The Democrats have fewer candidates to scrutinize than Republicans. The contest is among three: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont; and former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley. People will have 15 minutes after their meeting starts to pick a candidate. They can talk to supporters of other candidates and choose one, moving to a designated area so supporters group together. Thus begins whats called the original alignment of support. The formula, based partly on the number of registered Democrats in a precinct, will determine whether a candidates group has enough support to be awarded any delegates. If a candidates group doesnt have enough support, its voters have a second go-around and can join a different candidates group if they wish. But voters who land in groups that qualify for at least one delegate in the first round cannot change their choice in the second round. To demystify the process, the party has held mock caucus events throughout the state. But voters dont need to participate in a mock caucus to do the real thing. For both sides of the caucuses, the political parties, not the secretary of state or government elections officials, organize events and tabulate results. Nevada Democrats who caucus can join more than 12,000 precinct-level delegates, who will then go the county convention April 2. If their county organization picks them, the delegates move on to the state convention. In the end, the state sends 43 delegates and three alternates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July. That figure includes elected officials and unpledged party leaders who are delegates. Nevada State Democratic Party Chairwoman Roberta Lange said online tools and preregistration will make caucusing smooth. Every time you do a caucus, you want to make it a little better, Lange said. Nevadas first caucus was in 2008. Nevada gives Democratic candidates an early opportunity to see how they fare with a diverse electorate. As the third state, Nevada could be an early tie-breaker if one candidate does well in Iowa and another fares better in New Hampshire. When they come to Nevada, we could be the firewall, Lange said, or we could be what gives a person an opportunity to break out. Contact reporter Ben Botkin at bbotkin@reviewjournal.com. Find him on Twitter: @BenBotkin1. This article first ran in the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Jan. 31. Nevada has found itself atop the list of states with the highest percent of underwater homes in the country and Nye County was a major contributor to that ranking. In a report of fourth-quarter numbers put out by research firm RealtyTrac from California, Nevada came in with 23.9 percent of home mortgages significantly underwater at the end of 2015. RealtyTrac describes a home being significantly underwater as a loan thats at least 25 percent higher than the homes value. Nye County topped the state with 29.2 percent of homes in the county being listed as seriously underwater. Clark County came in just behind Nye County, having 27.7 percent of homes seriously underwater. The report showed that out of the 21,957 housing units in Nye County, 2,797 of those were significantly underwater. Kim Washington, broker with Access Realty, said that she hasnt dealt with many underwater clients as of late and said that the amount of homeowners that are upside down in their homes has decreased over the past few years. The ones that are selling right now are not underwater, she said. If that was a year ago, maybe, but I find that number to be a bit high. With each year that passes since the housing market crash of 2007, home values have steadily gotten better and now Washington said that some are yielding positive returns. My owners were renting them out over the past year and literally the ones that were upside down a year ago, a lot of them are positive now, she said. Local realtor Norma Jean Opatik from Realty Executives explained that a lot of those who are underwater with their homes are because of buying a home at a bad time. The reason for the high number is that they purchased in an inflated market. Theyre possibly underwater, but they overpaid for their home, Opatik said. That was not a normal market. I believe were are closer to a normal market right now. Opatik concurred with Washington, as she has seen improvement over the last year and foresees that trend continuing into the future. Now youre finding that were selling close to market value, were not there yet, but were close. There is some appreciation happening now, so theyre able to walk away with some money, she said. We just got past the seven-year ARMs (Adjustable Rate Mortgages) and the 10-year ARMs are right around the corner, but I dont think were going to see that anymore. Once those are gone, were going to be back in a normal market. Contact reporter Mick Akers at makers@pvtimes.com. Follow @mickakers on Twitter. Fiscal watch is officially in effect for Nye County as the state issued a notice to county officials on Monday. In a notice of fiscal watch status that was emailed to Nye County officials, the Nevada Department of Taxation said that in consultation with the Committee on Local Government Finance, it had identified several financial conditions that exist in Nye County and said that these conditions are serious enough to warrant a fiscal watch status. Its not a bad thing, Nye County Commissioner Lorinda Wichman said. It gives us another partner working through this hard economic situation. Fiscal watch, a low-level monitoring of the finances that creates greater cooperation and exchange information with the state because of the countys financial situation, was recommended by the state oversight board in Las Vegas and Carson City last week. The goal of the procedure, according to the notice, is to provide financial accountability and an early warning system about whether the county may be heading into financial trouble. Under fiscal watch, the department will ask for increased financial reporting that will include a monthly cash flow statement and a written status report on how fiscal practices on budgetary conditions have been corrected, improved or declined, the notice said. I dont think anyone should say that the sky is falling, its just a monitoring system to make sure that the sky isnt falling, Terry Rubald, deputy executive director for the Nevada Department of Taxation said in an interview. Fiscal watch however doesnt put the county under state control. Rubald said the state will not place an appointed person in the Nye County office under the procedure. Its a heightened awareness which means that we just focus more of our attention on the financial reports we would ask for to be sent to our office, Rubald said. Instead, a representative of the countys financial staff will be asked to appear periodically at meetings of CLGF to give an update on the status of the financial condition of the county. Among issues that were brought up at the meeting last week were deficiencies in internal controls, expenditures in excess of appropriations, transactions between the PETT emergency fund and the general fund and low-budgeted ending fund balance. Separately, state officials also addressed Northern Nye County Hospital taxing district, stating that it has the authority to levy a tax to operate only a full-fledged hospital. In September 2015, nine out of 27 conditions e xisted in Nye County, but Rubald said the county has since improved its performance. If we dont monitor in a timely manner and things go south, then it makes it even more difficult to correct the conditions. Thats what fiscal watch is about, she said. Fiscal watch will be in effect until the conditions improve, officials said. Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77 Officials will present findings from the investigation into the October industrial fire at the US Ecology site at meetings in Amargosa Valley and Beatty on Monday. Nye County Emergency Management Director Vance Payne said the Nevada Division of Emergency Management (NDEM) had asked Nye County officials to coordinate town hall meetings. Caleb Cage, chief of Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Pete Mulvihill, chief of the Nevada Fire Marshalls Office and Jon Bakkedahl, supervisor of the Nevada Radioactive Material Program will provide a summary of the investigation to the public. Officials will also have a question-and-answer session following the presentation. Payne on Thursday said that he was anxious for the meetings. A lot of hours went into that investigation, but most important is that the state of Nevada will allow the public to interact with the information, Payne said. Bakkedahl said officials will discuss the emergency phase, the investigation phase and the current up-to-date repairs as well as future plans for quoting and hiring contractors for repairs to the site. We are planning on being transparent on the steps taken to this point and answer questions about our processes and the goals of our program to analyze, engineer and repair the site, Bakkedahl said in an email. Finally, the site has gone through several steps of repairs; currently the cap has received all interim repairs and continues to have frequent site inspections. In a press release on Dec. 30, officials said that the industrial fire at the state-owned radioactive waste disposal site located on U.S. Highway 95 approximately 12 miles south of Beatty was caused by a chemical reaction between rainwater and sodium metal in the trench area where low-radioactive waste had been buried. Officials said the investigation had found corrosion of the steel drums containing the metallic sodium allowed packaging fluid to seep out, leaving the metallic sodium exposed to the underground elements. Heavy rainfall seeped into the ground and reached the metallic sodium through a compromised cover causing the fire. The 80-acre industrial site in Nye County consists of a 40-acre low-level radiological waste storage site and a 40-acre active chemical processing facility. The site was operated by US Ecology and its predecessor, Nuclear Engineering Co. from 1962 through 1992. The meetings will take place at the Amargosa Valley Community Center, located at 821 East Amargosa Farm Road in Amargosa Valley from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Beatty Community Center, located at 100 A Avenue South in Beatty from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Both meetings are scheduled for Monday. The meetings are free and open to the public. Contact reporter Daria Sokolova at dsokolova@pvtimes.com. On Twitter: @dariasokolova77 The halls of the Lloyd D. George U.S. Courthouse were quiet Saturday, but the two dozen protesters who lined the sidewalk outside 333 Las Vegas Boulevard South felt no need to deliberate. They had already pronounced federal agents guilty in the shooting death Jan. 26 of Arizona rancher Robert LaVoy Finicum, an outspoken member of a group of armed occupiers of an Oregon wildlife refuge. The groups takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns not only has made international news, but its also focusing an increasingly intense light on the heated history and politics associated with western land issues. The shooting incident has generated so much interest, in fact, that the FBI swiftly moved to release video of a vehicle pursuit that led to the deadly gunfire. Finicum, the armed anti-government protester who had often spoken of defending freedom with his life, forfeited it right there on the side of a snowy country road. Finicums family said he was shot in the back while his gun was holstered and his hands were in the air. An FBI spokesman countered that Finicum was shot after reaching for a 9-milimeter semiautomatic pistol in his coat pocket. Maybe thats why Robert Crooks, founder and leader of something called Mountain Minutemen of Needles, California, felt the need to strap on a holstered semiautomatic pistol on the sunny Saturday afternoon and take to the sidewalk. (The minutemen, you may recall, gained national attention by taking it upon themselves to patrol the borderlands for illegal immigrants.) It appeared the biggest danger he faced was accidentally stepping into the traffic that roared by, but thats not how Crooks sees the world. Whats going on here is youre seeing a manifestation of the frustration in America, Crooks said. The American people have been led down the trail by this corrupt government for decades. As its turning now, the U.S. federal government has overstepped its boundaries. They ambushed and assassinated an unarmed man in Burns, Oregon, on his way to a constitutional meeting. They arrested the Bundy brothers and his cadre en route. There was no reason for that type of assault. Ive reviewed the video several times. They pre-positioned the drone. They pre-positioned the roadblock. It was premeditated murder. Does it matter to you that Finicum and his fellow Malheur occupiers were often armed and that the deceased expressed his heightened importance as a constitutional freedom fighter in essentially apocalyptic terms? Not to Crooks and his compadres it doesnt. Some of the signs they carried read, Government is Murder. RIP LaVoy and Justice for LaVoy. If Crooks name sounds familiar, you may have heard his anti-immigration rants on the radio. He was also on the scene in 2014 outside Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundys place as the facilitator of the Bunker Hill staging area. Thats where he married his wife, April, who stood on a traffic island during Saturdays protest and waved signs in honor of the departed Finicum. She was part of a group of illegal immigration protesters when she heard about Bundys dustup with the Bureau of Land Management. She drove straight to the gates of the ranch. What the government is doing is wrong, she said above the grind of engines and honking horns. Its going way overboard. Back on the sidewalk, David Ward wanted to talk about the importance of knowing the Constitution. Although he said he was a former military man, and recently returned with his dog Abby from the Oregon compound, on Saturday he looked more like a Motley Crue roadie. I think we have a problem in this country with pubic officials who swear an oath to a Constitution theyve never read, and they dont understand it, Williams said. Although Robert Crooks had already announced the guilty verdict, he wasnt finished holding court. It appeared officials Finicum encountered in the days leading up to his death shared responsibility for pulling the trigger. From the local mayor to the county sheriff all the way up to the FBI and members of Congress, there was blood on their hands, he said. All of these people are deeply culpable for the death of Robert LaVoy Finicum, he said with dramatic emphasis, claiming that the dead man was unarmed. If they found a weapon on LaVoy Finicum, it was planted. Numerous published reports refute that, but Crooks and his cohorts remain unfazed. A true American patriot has been murdered, he said. Then he went back to holding court and waving at the passing traffic. John L. Smith is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and a fourth-generation Nevadan. Contact him at jsmith@reviewjournal.com. On Twitter: @jlnevadasmith. At an historic gathering in Marrakesh, Morocco on January 27, more than 300 Muslim leaders including many of the worlds most eminent Islamic scholars and clerics declared that the religious freedom of minority faiths must be protected in Muslim majority nations. The Marrakesh Declaration comes at a time of unprecedented persecution of Christians and other minority groups by extremists acting in the name of Islam in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. Pushing back against false and dangerous narratives about Islam, the Muslim leaders called on the entire Muslim world to reaffirm the principles of the Charter of Medina, a constitutional contract between the Prophet Muhammad and the people of Medina, which guaranteed the religious liberty of all, regardless of faith 1,400 years ago. To counter extremism and promote freedom, the declaration calls for a broad movement for the just treatment of religious minorities in Muslim countries and to raise awareness as to their rights. Morocco, the host country for the conference, is often cited as an example of an Islamic state that protects the rights of Christians, Jews and other religious minorities. Some of the other Muslim majority nations, however, are badly in need of the reforms called for in the declaration: Citizenship that is inclusive of diverse groups and initiatives, including education, that promote understanding across religions. By sending a message to government leaders who ignore the true teachings of Islam as well as to terrorist groups that pervert the meaning of the faith, the Marrakesh Declaration stakes out an authentically Muslim position in support of religious freedom. Enough bloodshed, said Shaykh Abdallah bin Bayyah, a key organizer of the conference and president of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. There is a sickness right now in the world but we have treatments for it within Islam. In other words, Islam is not the cause of extremism; Islam offers an answer to it. Now the challenge facing Muslim scholars and religious leaders will be to translate the declaration into societal reforms and peace efforts that effectively counter extremist movements, especially among the young. The Marrakesh Declaration has received scant media attention in the United States. Positive news about Islam including the many earlier statements and actions of Islamic leaders to fight extremism rarely makes headlines. But Americans should take heed of the message coming out of Morocco. At a time when Islam is coopted by terrorists and demonized by anti-Muslim groups, Americans need to hear the true voice of Islam. To understand why this matters, consider that hate crimes against Muslim Americans and mosques across the U.S. have tripled since the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California last fall, according to a study conducted by researchers at California State University. Ignorance and fear of Islam breed anger, hate and violence. In recent months, a young girl wearing an hijab was attacked by classmates, a Muslim cab driver was shot by a passenger who was angry about ISIS, a Muslim woman at a carwash was threatened by a man at knifepoint and the list goes on. Just as the KKK and White Supremacist groups which claim to be based on Christian principles are not labeled Christian extremists by most Americans, so ISIS and other terrorist groups who act in the name of Islam should not be given the label Islamic. If we can tell the difference between authentic Christianity and perverted versions of the Gospel, so we should learn to tell the difference when it comes to Islam. Our ability to work with one another, defeat our common enemy, and uphold religious freedom hangs in the balance. Charles C. Haynes is vice president of the Newseum Institute and founding director of the Religious Freedom Center. E-mail: chaynes@newseum.org Web: www.religiousfreedomcenter.org Twitter: @hayneschaynes Seven Davenport School Board candidates, a room filled with 100-plus audience members, and a rapid give-and-take on questions highlighted a forum Thursday night. Candidate Bruce Werning, a union representative for carpenters and West High School graduate, saluted the candidates who are competing to fill the seat previously held by Maria Dickmann. Dickmann, elected to the school board in 2013, resigned after being elected to the Davenport City Council in November. The term ends in 2017. Questions about what the candidates think they could bring to the board table highlighted the forum, sponsored by the district's Legislative Advocacy Committee. Some time was spent discussing the district's reputation. Candidates, including Megan Long and Erika Kall, Clyde Mayfield and Andrew DeNoyer talked about the pushback they get when they mention where they, or their children, have gone to school. Mayfield said there is a need to fix public perception about the district, with a close focus on scholars and its many high-achieving students. Nine things may be done right, he said to illustrate the point, but the focus will be on the tenth if it isn't so right. "You think that's tough, try telling people you go to school in Davenport," DeNoyer, 18 and a senior at North High School, added. Candidates each highlighted the ways they believe they could help the school board to improve the district. "We want to see all students thrive in this school system, take it from a 'District of Distinction' to 'The District of Distinction,'" Kall said. Ileaser Parker-Tatum stressed her creativity and ideas, as well as the four years she has spent in a program, Iowa Youth Congress. A senior at Mid-City High School, Parker-Tatum said she would offer new ways to approach issues. Elaine Kresse, a retired educator, described herself as a good listener who is active on community boards, including working with immigrants and English-language learners. Werning said that in his career, he works in problem-solving and coalition-building. Public education is why Iowa is a such a great place to live and work, he added. Long, who has four children in the district and a spouse who is a Davenport teacher, stressed her interest in the district's success. She offered the idea of surveying residents as one way to keep the community involved with the schools. Long, a pediatric therapist, stressed her ability to listen. She also wants to see an emphasis on educating students with special needs. That also was true of DeNoyer. Explaining that he has two siblings with special needs, DeNoyer said that Davenport's program, overall, should be among the best in the state. Mayfield, a business owner, is concerned about inequities that he sees in the district. He also described himself a good voice for other people: "Long before we had liaison officers, I was one," he said. In addition, Mayfield pointed out Davenport schools have a "great opportunity to positively impact many young people." Kall said she is driven by the positive education that her two grown children received in Davenport schools. "I don't focus on what's wrong, but what's good with the district," she said. "I have a very positive attitude ... and I don't make quick decisions." In that same vein, DeNoyer said he wants the school experience for others to be as it has been for him. "I want to make alums proud they went to school here," he said. Asked a question from the audience about plans after graduating from high school, DeNoyer said he plans to attend college in Davenport and remain a resident of the city. Kresse, Long and Werning all ran as write-in candidates for the school board in September. At that time, Julie DeSlavo was elected. MAQUOKETA, Iowa Jackson County Compensation Board members are recommending between 3 percent and 3.5 percent wage increases for elected officials beginning July 1. During a 30-minute meeting Wednesday afternoon, Compensation Board members talked briefly about their recommendations to the Jackson County supervisors. Supervisors cannot increase the recommendations by the Compensation Board, but they can reject them or reduce them. Supervisors can separate their own salaries from the mix. Board Chairman Steve Kahler, who represents the county attorney, said Jackson County is the 36th-most populated county in the state. He said the county attorney ranks 44th with a salary of $86,732; the sheriff ranks 45th with a salary of $72,460; the auditor ranks 34th with a salary of $58,329; the recorder ranks 28th with a salary of $58,329; and the treasurer ranks 31st with a salary of $58,329. There was no comment about supervisor salaries. Josh Reicks, who represents the recorder, said the difference between 34th ranking and 36th ranking, for example, are small increments. Reicks proposed a 3 percent salary increase for the auditor, treasurer, recorder and supervisors and a 3.5 percent increase for the attorney and sheriff. He said that would bring all the elected officials close to the average state salaries. The vote was unanimous. Those attending were Kahler and Reicks; Ann Bernard Hoff and Leon Schmidt representing supervisors; Norm Kennedy for the sheriff;and Bob Mottet for the treasurer. Kurt Ullrich who represents the auditor, was absent. Davenport Mayor Frank Klipsch used his first-ever mayoral briefing Friday to update the community on five of the issues he has dealt with in his first month in office. "A lot of great things have been going on in the first 30 days," he said. Police liaison stays Among the proposed budget cuts to the Davenport Police Department was the position of the juvenile court liaison, which generated a great deal of discussion among aldermen several weeks ago. Klipsch said Friday that thanks to a grant being considered by the Bechtel Trusts, the liaison position can remain for at least another year. "The grant will fund that position and may expand the work as well," the mayor said. Police Chief Paul Sikorski, who was officially appointed chief two weeks ago, said although his department is a "lean organization," one of the department's priorities is juvenile engagement. Sikorski added that the department has stepped up its "intelligence-based enforcement" that attempts to connect the recent spate of shootings to look for patterns. Salary cuts The mayor talked about the $900,000 proposed cuts to the city's general fund, which also include cuts to fire department salaries. "How do we make that up without raising taxes?" Klipsch asked. "We have a plan to do that and keep our core services in place." Salaries and benefits make up 79 percent of the $47 million general fund. Police salaries are 41 percent of that slice, and fire is 30 percent. Under the proposal, the fire department would demote a district chief and lieutenant and eliminate a management analyst as it tries to cut $255,000 from its $12 million general fund budget. Fire Chief Lynn Washburn said the proposed cuts should not affect the department's response to calls. "They can be assured that when they call 911, we will respond," Washburn said. Street projects Klipsch said $27.9 million is being allocated this year for streets, sewer and water projects, including $2.7 million to improve Rockingham Road over the next couple of years and $6.3 million for the Brady Street improvement project. There also is $5.4 million dedicated for street maintenance repairs, the mayor said. "We heard you," Klipsch said. "We all heard you. And we're responding to that with a significant amount of money for streets this year." Transit deficit Klipsch appointed a transit committee that was scheduled to hold its first meeting Friday afternoon. He said the aim of the committee is to increase the community's understanding of public transit. The mayor acknowledged that about $500,000 in revenue from CitiBus fares does not make up the more than $6.5 million in annual expense to run the service. But, he said, federal grants and a dedicated property tax transit levy help reduce the shortfall to a $500,000 deficit. Davenport Finance Director Brandon Wright said 91 cents of every $1,000 of taxable value goes into the transit levy. While the levy is capped at 95 cents, Wright said aldermen have not discussed bringing the amount closer to the cap. "The problem we have is bigger than 4 cents," Wright said. Administrator search Davenport's city administrator search committee has chosen Strategic Government Resources, or SGR, of Keller, Texas, to perform the search for $25,000, Klipsch said. The council could vote on the selection of SGR as early as Feb. 17, and the search could take 12 to 14 weeks, the mayor said. Meanwhile, Klipsch said interim city administrator Corri Spiegel has been "doing a wonderful job" since taking over for the position last summer, and he hopes she will apply to the permanent position. IOWA CITY A Republican pollster warned the University of Iowa a year ago that its public standing was suffering from an image as a heavy-drinking school where sexual assault was too common, according to a report obtained by The Associated Press that school officials have withheld from the public. Washington-based pollster Chris Perkins told university leaders that those perceptions meant the school was no longer considered safe by some parents and students, and had lost some credibility "as a serious academic institution." Perkins, who received the polling work under a controversial university no-bid contract with a GOP insider, recommended specific messages for a communications strategy to combat the image. "Iowans believe that cleaning up the party school image at the University of Iowa will result in attracting more students, gaining more research grants and overall improving the education system," Perkins wrote in the 52-page report, which was prepared for university leaders following a statewide poll of 1,000 residents in December 2014. Earlier that year, protests erupted when the university's then-president, Sally Mason, said sexual assault could never be completely eliminated because of "human nature." The issue had become an increasing public concern in 2013, when the school started releasing public warnings about reported rapes involving acquaintances. The Princeton Review also named the university the nation's no. 1 party school in 2013. The university won't release documents detailing polls and focus groups conducted by Perkin's firm, Wilson Perkins Allen. The AP obtained the undated report from a university employee who requested anonymity because the school didn't authorize its disclosure. The school has said that releasing the information would help rival schools and "serve no public purpose." But the secrecy has been pilloried by open government advocates, including Iowa Freedom of Information Council executive director Randy Evans, who suggested this week that the school was illegally trying to hide embarrassing information. "If the research had found Iowans heralding the university's academic prowess or its cost versus value in Iowans' eyes, you probably would see billboards touting that," Evans said, adding that releasing the reports would show whether the university got a good deal for the polling. University spokeswoman Jeneane Beck said the polling data helped the university produce marketing materials and communication pieces. In his report, Perkins recommended that the university emphasize messages about "working to crack down on underage drinking and drug problems" and "prosecuting sexual assault and harassment criminals." He said the party school image could hurt student recruitment, and warned that perceived high debt loads for graduates and financial aid shortages were other concerns. The university hired former Iowa Republican Party chairman Matt Strawn in 2013 for social media outreach under a $24,900 contract below the $25,000 threshold requiring quotes from multiple vendors. That work has been performed by a subcontractor started by another former Iowa GOP official. Months later, the university obtained a waiver to give annual statewide polling work to Strawn without competitive bidding, even though his firm doesn't do such research. Strawn subcontracted with Perkins, who has worked for high-profile Republicans such as Ted Cruz and Tom DeLay. In all, Strawn's firm has been paid $320,000 from university donations. After the AP reported on the no-bid contract in December, the university president of its governing board said the "optics of this are not pretty" and that the work should have been bid. The university's former vice president for strategic communications, Joe Brennan, said Thursday that the polling helped inform a strategy to emphasize the school's contributions to Iowa's economy, health and quality of life. He said doing more to showcase what happens inside university classrooms and labs counterbalances the "party school" narrative. "There's nothing to hide here. The University of Iowa has a smart communications strategy," said Brennan, who was not AP's source for the document. DES MOINES Iowa Democrats should consider altering their presidential precinct caucus procedures to look more like the vote conducted by Republicans, a longtime party insider said Friday. The close and contested results of Mondays Democratic caucuses should cause some soul-searching within the party, said Brad Anderson, a political consultant who directed President Barack Obamas 2012 re-election campaign in Iowa and who has worked on the multiple Democratic campaigns here. Anderson, who also suggested a commission be formed to examine the Democratic caucuses, made the comments Friday during taping of Iowa Public Televisions Iowa Press, which will air this weekend. I think it is fair to say, 'OK, some of these things need to change moving forward,' Anderson said, according to an IPTV transcript. "I think the Democratic Party honestly should consider, at least consider a straw poll format like the Republicans do." The closest margin of victory and second-highest turnout combined to stress the Democratic caucuses statewide Monday night. According to results published by the Iowa Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton edged Bernie Sanders, but Sanders campaign has expressed concerns that some of the precinct results are inaccurate. Matt Paul, director of Clintons campaign in Iowa, wrote Friday on the social media website Medium that Clintons caucus victory is not in dispute, saying even if all the precincts being reviewed are overturned in Sanders favor, Clinton still will wind up with more delegates. Paul said the party is reviewing 11 precincts, with about 1.8 state delegate equivalents at stake. The party said Tuesday that Clinton defeated Sanders by about 3.8 state delegate equivalents. Even if the Sanders campaign were to win all of their challenges the marginal bump they receive in support would not be enough to overcome Hillary Clintons win margin. Those are just the facts, Paul wrote. It may be inconvenient for the Sanders campaign that Hillary Clinton won the Iowa caucus, but its the truth. The Iowa Democratic Party confirmed it is examining results at some precincts. The party did not immediately respond to a question about whether Pauls accounting of the review is accurate. Both the Sanders and Clinton campaigns have flagged a very small number of concerns for us, and we are looking at them all on a case-by-case basis, Josh Levitt, the partys press secretary, said in an emailed statement. "We are still in the process of gathering information and speaking with local leaders." The Democrats caucus-night procedures make it difficult to produce a traditional recount. Instead of casting a ballot, like Republicans do in their caucuses, Democrats organize into groups supporting each candidate, then reshuffle if some candidates do not earn enough support. The one thing that is troubling is in a close race there should be some kind of recount procedure, Anderson said. "And right now, because of the way it is done on the Democratic side, its just not possible. We dont have ballots. And so for that first alignment when you get in there, there is no official count." Anderson also expressed concerns that some precinct locations were too small for the number of Democrats who turned out to caucus. He said, for instance, his precinct moved its caucus to an elementary school parking lot because the gymnasium was not big enough. He also said some precinct leaders were insufficiently trained. So I think we need to form a commission that takes a look at it, the same way the Republicans did in 2012, Anderson said. "I think they are very fair questions." Roughly 170,000 Iowans participated in each of the parties caucuses; that is the second-most ever for Democrats, and the most for Republicans. Craig Robinson, a former Republican Party of Iowa political director who also worked on Steve Forbes 2000 presidential campaign in Iowa, said on Iowa Press that the state parties should continue to work together to ensure a smooth caucus process for both parties and that work should start immediately, not in three or four years when the next caucuses are near. Close elections always magnify the problems, and I would hope that, and I think that the parties need to work together for the next four years, not just in the year of the caucus, and I think there are things that they could do together, Robinson said. There needs to be some existing infrastructure built. Thats my problem is all the eyes of the world are on us for this one night, and were putting things together for one-time use. And I think there needs to be more of a long-term infrastructure built. What that looks like Im not quite sure. DES MOINES An Iowa House committee passed a barrage of gun-related bills Thursday, most of which were similar to proposals that have failed to win legislative approval in previous years. The House Judiciary Committee dispatched bills to make possession and use of a firearm suppressor legal, limit the governors authority to restrict the use of guns and ammunition in declared emergencies and to allow children of any age to possess a handgun while under the supervision of a parent, guardian or firearms instructor. All three passed easily, but not without questions about whether they improved the public safety and the definition of well-regulated militia. We have lots and lots and lots of cases where children get hurt or hurt other people, Rep. Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines, said in opposing House File 2042, which would allow children to lawfully use a handgun. This leaves too much space for accidents and harm. Rep. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines, wondered whether the change was crucial to defending the Second Amendment? In my family it is, sponsor Rep. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valley, said. I think it is essential to let parents be able to make the decision of when their children are taught proper firearm safety so that they can freely exercise their constitutional rights. Windschitl said hes not advocating that parents give a 3-year-old a gun, but the parent should make the determination. The change, he added, would conform to state law regarding rifles and shotguns. HF 2042 was approved 17-4. HF 2043, the suppressor bill, or what floor manager Rep. Terry Baxter, R-Garner, called a hearing protection bill, was approved 18-3. Anderson opposed it on the ground the noise suppressor, commonly called a silencer, would muffle the sound of gunshots, making it harder for people to know where the shots were coming from. Baxter said there have been no cases of suppressors being used in mass shooting, probably because they are highly regulated by federal law. The committee voted 17-4 to approve HF 2044 to deny the authority of the governor or other officials from prohibiting, regulating or curtailing the otherwise lawful possession of guns and ammunition during states of emergency. Some lawmakers, including the sponsor from West River, have offered a bill that would allow the governor to block any refugees from coming to South Dakota for at least a year. Do you support a measure that makes the state a no-go zone for any refugees? There are promising results from 2015's battle in the two decades of warfare between Black Hills National Forest and the mountain pine beetle. The latest surveys of the national forest and surrounding land show that the beetle epidemic has slowed overall, largely as a result of cutting down and sanitizing trees. Some 16,000 to 17,000 acres of forest in the area were still infested by the mountain-pine beetle last year, about the same size as in 2014, but the population of young beetles has decreased, suggesting a downward trend, Black Hills National Forest Supervisor Craig Bobzien said on Thursday. Our thinning the forests in those at-risk areas is resulting in the thin forests remaining green and healthy, Bobzien said on the day the U.S. Forest Service released the results of high-resolution aerial photography and on-the-ground surveys conducted last August and September. But the studies also deliver bad news: The on-the-ground survey registered population increases in some areas. Places that were at high risk of beetle expansion, according to the survey, were in the west central part of the Black Hills near the South Dakota-Wyoming border, the northwest corner of the Hills and southeast of Custer. Since 1996, the mountain pine beetle has infested some 447,000 acres of forests in the Black Hills forest region, with the problem area expanding each year. The epidemic reached a peak in 2013 when 34,000 acres of forest were infested by the wood-burrowing insects. Forestry officials find that forest thinning, or cutting down trees to be processed into forest products, is the most effective way to get rid of the beetles. You remove the beetles from the forest, they are destroyed, and the tree is dying anyway so you get a wood product out of it, Greg Josten, a forester with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, said. Thinning forest areas also creates an environment that is less habitable for the beetles, since they flourish in dense forests. Another option if the infested trees cannot be brought to a sawmill, or for private owners of small plots in forest is non-commercial sanitation, better known as cutting-and-chunking. That involves cutting a tree into 2-foot lengths and leaving the chunks onsite without piling them, which results in their drying out. That will kill up to 80 percent of the beetles that have infested the tree, preventing them from breeding or moving to other trees, Josten said. But that has to be done between October 1 and March 1, the period when the treatment will be most effective in killing the beetles, he said. Its important that people work with their neighbors when cutting-and-chunking a larger forest area, said Dave Thom, coordinator of the Black Hills Regional Mountain Pine Beetle Working Group, which is made up of 14 public and private agencies. You treat your trees but your neighbor doesnt treat their trees, it will just fly from one place to another, he said. Every year about 210,000 acres of forest are treated, including areas that have not yet been infested, as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the beetle epidemic. The treatments cost $18.2 million annually from federal, state, county and private funding. Bobzien, the Black Hills National Forest supervisor, said that this 20-year pine-beetle epidemic has been one of the longest-running of its kind this century past the period when it had been expected to end. Its trending in a positive direction towards an end, Bobzien said, but theres no guarantee when that end would occur. PIERRE | The state House of Representatives could make a final decision soon on a measure that would require South Dakota public school students to be immunized against meningitis. Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaards administration proposed the legislation, Senate Bill 28. It won Senate approval last week, but a group of House Republicans tried to kill it Thursday, but fell one vote short of defeating it in the House Health and Human Services Committee. Colleen Winter, a state Health Department official, testified the plan is to require the immunization at age 11 or 12 when students enter middle school. She said there isnt a plan to require a booster vaccination at age 16. Rep. Scott Munsterman, the committee chairman, cast tie-breaking votes twice Thursday, first to block the attempt to kill it, then to send it to the full House of Representatives with a recommendation that it pass. Munsterman, R-Brookings, acknowledged the arguments that the vaccine treating four strains of meningitis is expensive, the disease is relatively rare and it can be physically devastating or deadly. Were always looking for more evidence, said Munsterman. A chiropractor, he ran for the Republican governor nomination against Daugaard and three others in the 2010 primary election. Also voting in favor of the mandate were Republican representatives Kristin Conzet, of Rapid City, Thomas Holmes, of Sioux Falls, Jacqueline Sly, of Rapid City, and Mathew Wollmann, of Madison, and Democratic representatives Steven McCleerey, of Sisseton, and Karen Soli, of Sioux Falls. The six Republican representatives who opposed it were Blaine "Chip" Campbell, of Rapid City, Fred Deutsch, of Florence, Lynne DiSanto, of Rapid City, Lana Greenfield, of Doland, Steven Haugaard, of Sioux Falls, and Leslie Heinemann, of Flandreau. Haugaard argued that the measure should be defeated but also said the Health Department could work to educate parents so they could make their own informed choices. We should put this off and take a look at it, Haugaard said. I just dont think its appropriate at this time. Rhonda Kvigne, a mother from Dell Rapids who home-schools the familys children, said she quit as a school teacher last year because of government encroachment. She spoke against the mandate. The question is, who really owns the children? Kvigne said. Supporters of the legislation stressed several times there are vaccination exemptions in state law for religious beliefs and for medical reasons. Winter said school districts are allowed to decide whether to let students participate without the required immunizations. She said 24 states require meningitis vaccinations for school attendance and more states are considering it. Both sides presented various credible witnesses for and against the vaccine and the mandate, including Echo Bennett of Presho and her son, Gavin, who contracted meningitis as an infant. Yandex joins Googles lawsuit over Mobile App distribution MOSCOW, February 5 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court has brought Yandex as a third party into Googles lawsuit against Russias Federal Antimonopoly Services (FAS) order connected with distribution of Google Play mobile application, RAPSI reported from the courtroom on Friday. Yandex earlier filed a motion to join the case as a third party. FAS supported the claim. Google resisted the motion stating that Yandex, the companys rival, would get access to its classified information. In February 2015, the watchdog opened a case against Google, which stands accused of using Android mobile operating system for promotion of its own services. The case was opened at the request of Yandex, one of the largest internet companies in Europe, operating Russia's most popular search engine and a website. Yandex claims that manufacturers have to abide by terms established by Google to gain access to key elements of OS, including Google Play, which is Google's official store for Android apps, games and other content. As a result, Google which has developed OS can set any restrictions, including a ban on collaboration with competing services, Yandex said in a statement. In September, the FAS found Google guilty of violating the Federal Law on Protection of Competition and charged the company with abuse of dominant market position. The watchdog also ordered Google to remedy detected violations until December 18. Google denies the allegations and claims it does not restrict people from installing other companies applications, including Yandex, onto Android phones. Prosecutor demands compulsory treatment for Moscow teen school shooter MOSCOW, February 5 (RAPSI) A prosecutor has asked the Moscow Regional Military Court to send school student Sergey Gordeev, who took his classmates hostage and shot two people in February 2014, for compulsory medical treatment, Igor Trunov, the lawyer for victims, told RAPSI on Friday. The victims opposed the prosecutors position and demanded real prison term for Gordeev. On February 8, the defendant will make a final speech and then the court will deliver a sentence. Earlier, the court questioned the killed teacher Andrei Kirillovs widow and mother and a policeman who was injured by Gordeev. The incident took place on February 3, 2014, when Sergey Gordeev, 15, brought a rifle and a carbine to school. He killed a police officer and a teacher, injured one more person and took hostages. The Investigative Committee found that the student fired at least 11 times from the small caliber rifle before he was arrested. The teenager partially admitted his guilt. The psychiatric evaluation showed that he is mentally fit. Last summer, the Moscow City Court confirmed the original courts ruling that the student undergo compulsory medical treatment. In late September, relatives of victims filed a cassational appeal with the Presidium of the Moscow City Court. They requested that the original ruling of the Butyrsky District Court be overturned as well as the ruling of the Moscow City Court in the appeal. They wanted the case to be returned to the court of original jurisdiction for a review starting from initial proceedings. On November 13, the Moscow City Court Presidium revoked a ruling ordering Gordeev to undergo psychiatric treatment. Moscow Court refuses to summon Interior Minister to testify in bribery case MOSCOW, February 5 (RAPSI) The Moscow Commercial Court refused to summon Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev to testify as a witness in a criminal case against Denis Sugrobov, the former head of the Interior Ministry's Economic Security Department, and his alleged accomplices, RAPSI learnt in the court on Friday. According to investigators, Sugrobov and other suspects tried to provoke a Federal Security Service (FSB) officer by offering him $10,000 a month for his protection. Sugrobov has been charged with organizing a criminal group, abuse of power and bribery. His deputy Boris Kolesnikov was arrested in February 2014. In June, he jumped out of a window during questioning at the Investigative Committee in June. Later the Basmanny District Court said no evidence was found of assisted suicide. In late August, Moscows Basmanny District Court seized assets owned by Sugrobov and Kolesnikov, which have been reportedly estimated at over 300 million rubles ($3.7 million). Sugrobov, 39, is one of the youngest police generals. Kolesnikov was 36 when he was promoted to general. HELENA Montana hospitals that cant afford to offer their own air ambulance service have surrendered to independent providers who may not be a part of any insurance network, leaving patients who need emergency medical transport with unexpectedly high bills some as much as $85,000. We were losing $1.6 million a year in air ambulance, said Jeff Fee, CEO of St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, which ceased operating its hospital-based helicopter and airplane in 2013 and began using Northwest MedStar, a nonprofit based in Spokane, Wash. Fee, along with several other hospital representatives and air ambulance providers, spoke during a packed meeting of the Legislatures Economic Affairs Interim Committee on Wednesday. The committee is studying air ambulance service, which has changed rapidly in the past decade. Helicopters and airplanes owned or leased by hospitals used to be the norm, but several independent, for-profit providers some that dont contract with insurance companies have moved in. More providers can be a good thing because it means there are more helicopters and airplanes available for and possibly closer to the Montanans who need them. If a hunter is accidentally shot in Dillon and needs to get to Missoula, an independent provider out of Butte might be able to get him there faster than a flight from St. Patrick in Missoula, who in the past would have come to pick him up. But the provider in Butte, unlike St. Patricks now-shutdown Life Flight, might not contract with that hunters insurance network, leaving the patient with a large bill. After a tough year in 2013, Fee said St. Patrick had to examine its core services and cut its fixed-wing and helicopter program. I saw two helicopters Id never seen before landing on my roof, Fee said. It was literally like someone flipped a switch. He said independent providers were picking up more and more of the people his hospital used to, and that ate into his profit margin, which wasn't high to begin with. According to a survey commissioned by the interim committee, a fixed-wing HELP Flight operated by St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings charges a base fee of $9,916 per liftoff and $80 per loaded mile. Loaded miles mean when a patient is on-board; the hospital doesnt bill for the trip out to pick up a patient. Medicare, which pays about 80 percent of what private insurance does, will reimburse about $4,400 for the base rate and about $12.50 per fixed mile. If you see encroachment and your market share decrease, theres so much fixed cost in this service that its really hard to maintain, said Forrest Ehlinger, Benefis Health Systems chief financial officer. Ehlinger said Benefis, in Great Falls, is still able to operate its fixed-wing and helicopter service and emphasized it's a community service, but if the hospital got into an area where we got squeezed or could not reach an agreement with payers, it would be problematic. Not all air ambulance providers in Montana contract with insurers, and they're not required to. Their services are in a gray area for regulation. There are three types of business models operations run by hospitals that either own or lease their aircraft, nonprofit operators that are affiliated with hospitals and standalone companies. Operators that are part of hospitals are part of those entities' insurance agreements. That includes St. Patrick, Benefis, Kalispell and both Billings hospitals. Those that are affiliated with hospitals, like Northwest MedStar tend to have contracts with at least one insurance company. Northwest MedStar reports having contracts with Group Health and First Choice. On its website, Group Health says it and its subsidiary health carriers, Group Health Options Inc. and KPS Health Plans, serve more than 600,000 residents of Washington and North Idaho. First Choice Health says it serves more than 1 million people in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana through network affiliate Health InfoNet. Some independent providers contract with insurance providers while some do not. Air ambulances who do not work with insurance cannot be overseen by the state auditors office; their state oversight comes from the Department of Public Health and Human Services Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Systems division, which handles licensing for a $35 fee paid every two years. Of the 13 providers in Montana, five accept insurance through providers like Allegiance or Blue Cross and Blue Shield. A survey sent to air ambulances earlier this fall shows that balance billing, where a patient gets a bill for what insurance doesnt cover, was used in 1-31 percent of flights. The wide range speaks to the nature of survey responses: of the 13 operations, 10 responded. No one associated with Summit Air Ambulance, which says on its website it operates in Bozeman and Helena, responded. Summit recently took over EagleMed in Butte and is a subsidiary of REACH Air Medical Services. For patients who do get bills for out-of-network flights, the prices can be jaw-dropping. A sampling shows bills from $31,378.89 to $85,798.35. Thats 696 percent more than Medicare would cover, even if the provider accepted insurance. A few of the providers who responded to the survey provided their profit margins. Montana Medical Transport, which is based in Helena and works with Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Allegiance, Pacific Health, Tri-Care and Montana Health Co-Op, reported a profit margin of 16-25 percent. They charge one of the lowest takeoff fees, $9,023, and charge $26 per mile, among the lowest rates. Jesse Laslovich, chief legal Counsel to Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica Lindeen, said its telling that only three of the 13 providers voluntarily reported their profit margins, and said the ones who did still make a profit but charge less than other independent providers. Whats working for them thats not working for some of the folks youve heard from? Laslovich asked the committee members. We need more air ambulance providers in insurance company networks, he said. "In terms of the balance bill, there is no regulation because that's the way it works." More than a dozen people have come to his office with complaints about unexpected, high bills. "People come to us and we go to the air ambulance providers and have our hat in our hand saying, 'Can you help this person?'" Tony Patterson, chief administrative officer for Kalispell Regional Medical Center, said even though theres little regulation, there are ways to inform patients about the costs. He suggested information on the state Commissioner of Securities and Insurance website should have information about air ambulance memberships. Patterson also said hospitals and providers can communicate about the costs and how they're calculated and that insurance companies should have a 24/7 staffed line people can call to see if a flight is covered. Some air ambulance companies offer memberships that range from $59 a year for an individual to $100 for a family, however not many consumers know about the plans and even though state law requires a reciprocity agreement so people who purchase memberships are covered statewide, it's not known if that's actually happening. HELENA When Ron Pecarina woke up on Saturday, July 19, 2014, he couldnt move his right leg. His wife, Lori Bigwood-Pecarina, pulled the car out of the garage, and Pecarina crawled to it it was the only way he could move. They went to the emergency room at St. Peters Hospital, where doctors did a number of tests to see why Rons leg wasnt functioning. After a few hours, an emergency room doctor came into Pecarinas room and said, Were flying you out of here. Doctors couldnt determine what was wrong, and Pecarinas condition was deteriorating. He could no longer use his left leg to scoot himself and needed to get to a bigger hospital with a neurologist. The doctor told him: You have a choice, Great Falls or Missoula, and you have to choose now. The ambulance is waiting for you, you have to decide. The husband and wife picked Missoula. But they didnt get to choose the company that flew him there, which was Summit Air Ambulance. Summit is a standalone service that doesnt contract with any insurance networks. A few months after Pecarina came home from Missoula, in the midst of extensive physical therapy, he and Bigwood-Pecarina got a $35,000 bill for their flight. Their situation is one more and more Montanans have found themselves in over the past few years as air ambulances that dont contract with insurance companies have moved into the state. Over the past few years, more than 20 people and families have come to the auditors office with pleas for help fighting bills of up to $85,000. Air ambulances generally fall into three categories: hospital-based services that are a part of the contracts those facilities negotiate with insurance companies and providers; nonprofit operators that are affiliated with hospitals; and for-profit companies like Summit. Its a complicated issue with fingers being pointed in almost every direction. Patients say flights should be covered by insurance. Not all air ambulance companies want to do that. The state has its hands tied when it comes to regulation. Just about the only thing everyone agrees on is that insurance, either private or government-run, doesnt pay enough. Part of the problem is who hospitals call when they need to transport a patient who is sick or injured. If the emergency room had called Benefis Health System Mercy Flight in Great Falls to pick up Pecarina and take him back there, the flight would have been covered under his insurance. Benefis plane is part of the hospitals insurance contracts. But in 2013, St. Peters had an agreement to call Summit before any other air ambulance, even though that meant putting patients on fights that couldnt be covered by their insurance. As a department leader, it is my understanding that the hospital did enter into an agreement with Summit that out of the emergency department initially they would be the first call, said William Gallea, chairman of the emergency department at St. Peters. Thats how St. Peters operated until, at the request of CEO Nate Olson, Gallea and his department were told to consider the financial aspects of air ambulance service. We were told in the same meeting that the agreement was to no longer be enforced, he said. At the time of her husband's flight, Bigwood-Pecarina even asked if going to Missoula or Great Falls would be less expensive. They said no, theyre about the same, she said. Increasing problem There are 13 air ambulances operating in Montana; about half contract with at least some insurance providers. Some hospital-based services have been around for decades, like ALERT in Kalispell, which can trace its 40-year history back to rescuing loggers from remote forests. Independent providers are new to the state. Theyve moved here over the past decade, saying theyre bringing much-needed flights to rural, under-served areas. Many doctors agree Montana is a rural state, and getting patients to hospitals quickly is critical. St. Peters, for example, is a level 3 trauma center. It provides some specialist care, but doesnt have neurosurgery. Other specialists arent covered every day. It uses air ambulance to get patients to larger hospitals when every second counts in terms of better medical outcomes. Flying patients is also a profitable business. Air Idaho Rescue, which has a helicopter based in West Yellowstone for part of the year, is a subsidiary of Air Methods Corp. Air Methods traded last week at $41.52 on the New York Stock Exchange, has $1.1 billion in revenues, a profit margin of 10.65 percent and a return on equity of 22.12 percent. A sampling of 19 air ambulance bills received by Montanans and reviewed by a legislative interim committee this year shows the average cost per flight on an out-of-network air ambulance was $53,397. The highest bill was $85,789.34. A breakdown of one 2013 Summit flight for $70,777 showed the service charged a base rate of $10,500 and $109 per mile, according to a document compiled by the Legislature's Economic Affairs Interim Subcommittee. That committee also provided a document that said a Summit flight costs $17,694 per hour for a single-engine plane, while it costs $18,000 an hour to charter a Boeing 737. Rates vary, but generally hospital-based providers charge less. St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, for example, charges $9,919 to take off and $80 per mile once a patient is on board. Theyre not only charging more upfront but not accepting insurance as well, said Randy Laird, MedFlight manager at Billings Clinic. That hospitals fixed-wing serves an area of 188,000 square miles including parts of the Dakotas and Wyoming more land than the state of California. His program has a collegial relationship with St. Vincent Healthcares air team and works closely with Benefis crew. Hospital-based systems really supported each other, he said. We do whats right for the patient, that's a huge difference and under-appreciated, to do whats right for the patients. With community-based programs, you have to wonder. Im not against community-based programs, Laird said. They do bring some value. We just want them to do it fairly, demonstrate value to the patient, fly them safely and for the right reasons. Laird said Billings Clinic misses 10 to 12 flights a month while its plane is out on other calls. That sort of need is why Summit is in Montana, said Ron Walter, director of business relations and development for REACH Air Medical Services, Summits parent organization. Summit came to Helena in 2014. Shortly after we opened in Bozeman, the folks at St. Peters invited us to discuss placing an aircraft in Helena, Walter said. Patients were having to wait up to two hours to get an aircraft to transfer them to another facility, Walter said. Insurance issues Walter said Summit doesnt contract with insurance providers because it cant exist on what insurance companies reimburse. Medicare will pay about $4,400 per takeoff on airplane flights and about $12.50 per mile. Private insurance pays more, but not enough. St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula, for example, said it was losing $1.6 million a year on its program, said CEO Jeff Fee. When hospitals negotiate with insurance, Walter said, air ambulance is just a piece of the puzzle, and they can make up for deficiencies in other departments. That way they know when they have a patient that comes in, they may be losing funds on the air transportation side but gain those funds on the downstream revenue of having that patient at their hospital, he said. Insurance companies are less flexible with Summit, he said. They dont want to negotiate, or at least they havent been willing. Its a set price, period. Walter said Summit does provide what it calls compassionate billing. "Summit is a very compassionate company, billing-wise," he said. "You'll find that very few people pay the entire bill. He said Summit will work with patients to reduce their bill based on financial need. Summit's parent company, REACH Air Medical Services, provides $250 million in charity care a year, he said. Pecarinas flight was $35,000. His insurance provider, Cigna, paid for about 70 percent of that, leaving him with $9,000 in out-of pocket costs, which they paid after two rounds of appeals. Bigwood-Pecarina said through the appeals, Summit offered them the opportunity to "pick an amount" they felt comfortable paying, but never provided details about the deal in writing. She didn't want to accept that offer while still fighting insurance for payment. Cigna paid part of Pecarinas bill because, though Summit doesnt contract with insurance providers, it will accept payment from them. Insurers will pay for whats called usual, customary and reasonable charges for out-of-network expenses. For air ambulances, this is typically much less than the total bill, leaving patients responsible for the difference called a balance bill. If patients purchase a membership from Summit for $65 a year, Summit will not balance-bill the patient for the difference. I never thought about the air ambulance being uniquely different or out-of-network. That never crossed my mind, Bigwood-Pecarina said. And the couples bill is one of the lower ones. Amy and Pat Thomson in Butte ended up with a $56,000 bill for the flight that saved their daughter Isla Rose's life. On Jan. 18, 2014, then 2-month-old Isla went to St. James with a cough. A few hours later doctors determined her heart was failing; she was later diagnosed with a coarc and a hypoplastic aortic arch, which means blood wasn't flowing through her heart properly. She was put on a Northwest Airlift flight to Seattle. Isla survived the flight and surgery to repair her heart. After three months in recovery, the family came home to Butte. Isla was taking 10 different medications every three hours and just starting to nurse again she couldnt while in Seattle because the stress was too much for her heart. Somewhere in that jumble, the Thomsons got a bill. At first theres shock, Amy Thomson said. Its just one of those things where we have good insurance, its part of the medical process, how would this not be covered as part of your health insurance? Regulation Jesse Laslovich, chief legal counsel to Montana's Commissioner of Securities and Insurance Monica Lindeen, said theres no model in place to stop whats happening. He said air ambulance service is critical for Montana but needs to be regulated. Were not trying to get involved in medical decisions, Laslovich said. When someone is in the wilderness, theres no control. When somebody is in the hospital and stabilized, and the medical decision is made to go to Salt Lake or Seattle, I think it is reasonable to request the hospital call an in-network air ambulance provider." The North Dakota Legislature has passed legislation that would require hospitals, EMTs and police officers to use a primary call list that only includes air ambulances that contract with insurance providers. Valley Med Flight, a provider operating in North Dakota, sued, saying that the law violated FAA rules, which deregulated the airline industry and prevented states from regulating airlines. Hospitals have a responsibility to their patients that they are reaching out to air ambulance providers who are in insurance networks, Laslovich said. St. Peters in Helena now has a call list in the ER that notes what air ambulances are part of insurance networks. In the meeting with the CEO last spring, Gallea said he was told to stop calling Summit first when a patient needed transferred. I was asked basically to consider these financial aspects in addition to the medical aspects when we have a transfer patient. Walter said preferred provider lists with in-network options at the top aren't the solution. The biggest issue thats being focused on right now, and the biggest push is from the insurance network, he said. Theyre creating the issue of we want everybody in-network. Summit reached out to Allegiance, which administers benefits plans for companies, last month. Right now, were in the learning phase with them, he said. At least were opening up a dialogue. Summit is visiting hospitals across the state, holding training sessions at places like the new hospital opening in Big Sky. Walter acknowledged those training sessions help market Summit across the state so hospitals know to call them when a patient needs transport but said the sessions are valuable for rural facilities. We do a lot of outreach education, he said. We also think its an obligation for us to share our expertise and also learn from our providers. We try to sit down with regional trauma centers and integrate the care that were providing to the protocols of these facilities. Walter points to memberships as a way for families to avoid a balance bill for flights on community-based providers. For $65 a year, Summit will take whatever a patient's insurance company pays and not balance-bill them the difference. Laslovich questioned the need for memberships. If youre willing to take money from me annually in order for the air ambulance to not balance-bill, why do you need that in the first place? Both the Thomsons and the Bigwood-Pecarina families purchased memberships after their flights. You bite the bullet, and you pay their stupid membership fee, Thomson said. When we got home, Isla couldnt get sick. Our cardiologist said She gets a respiratory infection, youre on a life flight again.' BOZEMAN, Mont. Nine years ago, a tiny orange bug quietly entered northwestern Montana and began demolishing spring wheat yields, costing producers millions of dollars. What was once a primary cash crop for Flathead and Lake counties quickly became an economic disaster and a major worry for area farmers.In 2007, most producers stopped growing spring wheat and turned to agricultural scientists at the Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, part of the Montana State University Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, for help.Nine years later, MAES says that the answer to the major economic threat of the orange blossom wheat midge is a spring wheat variety called Egan. The new variety is resistant to the midge and is now commercially available to producers.The seed is also the first-ever certified blend released from MAES. Egan is so effective in destroying the midge that it requires mixing a small percentage of a susceptible variety with it to keep the midge from developing resistance or becoming a superbug, said Bill Grey, manager for the MSU Montana Foundation Seed Program. This combination of seed is also referred to as refuge in a bag. The refuge refers to the non-Egan seed that will attract the midge.To bring Egan to commercial viability took a team of wheat breeders, entomologists and agronomists, as well as the only gene in the world known to provide resistance to the orange blossom wheat midge, national and international research connections and colleagues and a statewide network of Montana farmers and certified seed growers.It also took relationships and long meetings between MSU research centers, Extension agents and friends at the Montana Department of Agriculture. Above all, it took an understanding of what weaves much of Montana together: that agricultures challenges and successes extend far beyond ones own field.In 2006, the midge was quickly and easily adapting to the Flathead. So, Bob Stougaard, superintendent of the Northwestern Agricultural Research Center, turned over every rock: He consulted with colleagues in Canada and North Dakota, he researched cropping systems, researched when and what insecticides to spray, then introduced a parasitic wasp to prey on the midge.I never experienced anything like this, Stougaard said. The capability of the midge to seemingly show up out of nowhere and cause so much devastation to a crop was astounding.By 2009, evidence was mounting that the midge was starting to spread across the state. Seeing the devastating potential of the midge, Stougaard, NWARC Research Associate Brooke Bohannon, retired Pondera County Extension AgentDan Picard, MSU entomologist David Weaver and a host of Montana farmers and crop consultants who volunteered to put pheromone traps in their fields began monitoring for the midge.MSU software engineer John Sully brought all the data together and created a live-tracking website, Montana Pestweb, that showed the spread of the midge. Six Montana Agricultural Research Centers and 26 MSU Extension offices worked with growers and crop consultants to place hundreds of traps across the state, Stougaard said. Extension agents trained local producers in the biology of the midge, how to track it, what insecticide was effective and, most importantly, when and when not to spray.Scouting and spraying were short-term solutions, and we didnt know what the future would look like, Stougaard said.Thats when producers asked MSU spring wheat breeder Luther Talbert if there was anything MSUs wheat breeding program could do. Thanks to colleagues at North Dakota State University, Talbert got ahold of the only gene in the world discovered thats resistant to the midge, called SM1. SM1 produces toxins that kills the midge. When the midge burrows into the developing wheat seed, it dies. Talbert started crossing the resistant line into Montana adapted varieties using traditional breeding techniques.We crossed this line with the SM1 gene with varieties that were suitable to northwest Montana and let nature derive progeny lines from that, Talbert said. From there, we planted those lines in the fields and selected the ones with characteristics we like.Six years later, Egan named after the Egan slough in the Flathead where the midge was so prevalent was born. According to Talbert, Egan also has high grain protein, strong yield potential under high-yield conditions and is resistant to stripe-rust, a wheat disease found in Montana that can also limit yields. On the other hand, Egan is a little taller than typical varieties grown under irrigation in the Flathead Valley, so lodging bending over of the stems -- may occur under very high yield levels, Talbert said.Because Egan with its SM1 gene is so potent to the midge, Canadian and MSU entomologists suggested it be blended with 10 percent of a non-resistant variety to prevent the midge from developing resistance.This gene works so well that it kills nearly every single midge," Talbert said. "But those very few that survive may have a resistance to the SM1 gene that they can pass on to their offspring. As their generations progress, youll end up with significant, resistant populations that wont be stopped by Egan.The way to mitigate this problem is to allow a small population of normal midges to survive and breed with any potential resistant midges. This is accomplished by blending the Egan seed with seed that is susceptible to the midge population about 10 percent of the susceptible variety. Growers can choose the susceptible variety to blend Egan with.In a way, producers are sacrificing a small portion of their crop so that the susceptible midges continue to persist and we never allow a significant population of resistant midges to develop, Talbert said. Were sort of using natures greatest tools against itself, so its a natural form of resistance.MAES has grown and tested Egan at seven research centers across the state. Last spring, MAES gave Egan to the Montana Foundation Seed Program for production and certification. Now, Egan is available to producers and is being sold as a certified blend the first ever certified blend in the universitys history. Purchasing the blend comes with a Certified Seed Only acknowledgement, binding producers to keep buying certified seed year after year, in an effort to ward off a population that is completely resistant.Grey, who recently retired after 35 years, said the certified seed only and blend idea might take some education on behalf of growers and producers.Its important for all to understand how important the blend ratio is and a bit about the background, as the agreement is legally binding, he said. This was a collective response for public good, and the certified seed only agreement is also dependent on a kind of handshake and agreement between neighbors across the state.Dan Lake, owner and partner of Lake Seed Inc. in Ronan and certified seed grower, is selling Egan to area growers this spring.Our growers are really excited about Egan, and were going to blend it with a hard red spring wheat we have, Lake said. The entire process to get to this point is an extremely good example of MSU research centers working to identify, find solutions and solve a problem alongside producers. When you have research centers that are fixed, functional and modern, its an investment statewide, and this is the kind of result you see. Proposals to speed up logging projects apparently killed chances for fixing the U.S. Forest Services fire borrowing problem as Congress moved an omnibus budget bill toward passage Wednesday. The 2,009-page bill does include re-authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was a bipartisan goal of Montana Republican Sen. Steve Daines, Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke and Democratic Sen. Jon Tester. But the Montana delegations push for categorical exemptions and expedited approvals of logging projects ran into opposition from both national environmental groups and Senate Republican leadership. Both Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and ranking member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., opposed including the Forest Wildfire Funding and Forest Management amendment that was backed by a large coalition of logging, recreation and conservation groups as well as members of Congress from both parties and the Agriculture Department. The legislation would have allowed the Forest Service to pay for wildfire expenses each year without raiding its other operational budgets, using an accounting method similar to how other natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes are covered. The fire-borrowing plan was linked to a forest management rider pushed by Zinke. The rider would have allowed the Forest Service to limit its analysis of logging projects to only the proposed version or no action (instead of looking at multiple options of varying sizes), and allow logging projects of 3,000 acres or less to skip some environmental review through categorical analysis if theyre supported by collaborative groups. In the House, Rep. Zinke was able to build up Democratic support for his forest bill because it focuses on local collaboration and active management as well as targeting frivolous lawsuits, Zinke spokeswoman Heather Swift said in an email. But there are some in the Senate who ignore the facts and dont believe active forest management will help Montana against wildfires. Environmental groups including Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, the League of Conservation Voters and the National Parks Conservation Association argued the fire-borrowing fix should have been a standalone measure. Murkowskis office objected that the forestry measure didnt do enough to speed up logging. Congress missed a big opportunity to give the Forest Service the tools it needs to properly manage the forest in the face of catastrophic wildfires, Tester said in an email Wednesday. Firefighting is eating up more than half of the Forest Service budget, and that will only get worse over time. This is costing Montana jobs because it means the Forest Service is not managing timber better, increasing conservation, or providing more recreation opportunities. Zinkes proposals to require bonding and binding arbitration from logging sale opponents was stripped out of the version that got attached to the fire borrowing legislation. *** Tester, Daines and Zinke all hailed the inclusion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund reauthorization. That program collects royalties from federal offshore oil and gas leases, and grants the proceeds for public lands improvements. For example, last weeks acquisition of a $21 million conservation easement on Whitefishs Haskill Basin included $7 million of previously approved LWCF grants. The omnibus language increases fiscal 2016 LWCF funding to $450 million (from $306 million in 2015) and keeps the program running for three years. Tester called it a partial victory. While Im relieved that LWCF may be revived, this temporary authorization and short-term funding misses the mark in what should have been an easy bull's-eye, Tester said in an email. The spending bill provided an additional $117 million to the Bureau of Land Managements $1.2 billion budget, including $60 million for sage grouse steppe habitat restoration. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service received a $69 million increase to its $1.5 million budget. And the Forest Service got an additional $35 million to its $2.5 billion budget. Oil exports would be allowed under the omnibus, ending a 40-year ban and encouraging domestic fossil fuel production. The package also includes tax incentives sought by wind and solar alternative energy producers. A final vote is expected on the $1.1 trillion spending bill by Friday. HELENA Gail Gutsche, a former vice chairwoman of the Montana Public Service Commission, is running for her old seat in District 4. Gutsche, a Democrat, served on the PSC from 2008 to 2012. The current Public Service Commission is out of balance and sometimes out of touch, Gutsche said in a news release. Five members, all from the same party, does not make for evenhanded decision-making that benets the majority of electric, water and telecommunications customers. Gutsche supports the city of Missoula taking ownership of Mountain Water Co. Missoula is the only major metropolitan area in the state that does not own its own water utility, and its rates to customers are amongst the highest in Montana, Gutsche said. As a commissioner, Gutsche supported the sale of Mountain Water to The Carlyle Group as a path to ownership by the city. In June, the city of Missoula won the right to buy the utility in an eminent domain case in Missoula County District Court. Defendants appealed the verdict to the Montana Supreme Court, and the appeal is pending. Last month, the PSC filed a complaint in Missoula County District Court to levy fines against Mountain Water Co. and its new parent company, Liberty Utilities, for the unauthorized sale and transfer of the Missoula water system. In the primary, Gutsche will face Democrat Mark Sweeney of Philipsburg. Sweeney narrowly lost in the primary for the PSC seat in District 3 in 2012 when he lived in Anaconda. In the 2012 general election, Gutsche lost the District 4 seat to Republican Bob Lake of Hamilton, the PSC vice chairman who is seeking re-election this year. Primary victories by both would set up a rematch. Also running for PSC is incumbent Republican Roger Koopman of Bozeman in District 3. Democrat Pat Noonan of Ramsay is also running in District 3. Noonan is serving his fourth, and last, term as a state representative. He is facing Caron Cooper of Livingston in the primary. Tony O'Donnell, a Republican from Billings, is running for the District 2 seat. BUTTE Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau has won two statewide elections as a Native American woman. As the 48-year-old congressional candidate ramps up her campaign against first-term Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, she is matter-of-fact about her sexual orientation, making her Montanas first openly gay candidate running for federal office. While Juneau introduced the woman she is dating at a fundraiser in Bozeman last week, she has been open for some time about her sexuality, without making a big deal of it. State Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, said she was at the Bozeman fundraiser Saturday that honored women in politics. She said Juneau spoke and told a story about how when she first ran for state superintendent of public instruction, she told her parents, who asked, When do we hit the road? to help campaign. Juneau told the crowd Saturday that the first person she told she was running for Congress was her partner, who asked exactly the same question. It demonstrates how Denise feels about making sure she represents everyone, Dunwell said, adding it speaks volumes about her. Zinke was unavailable for comment Tuesday night and his staff did not return email messages. Montanans know and trust Denise, Juneau's campaign manager, Lauren Caldwell, told Lee Newspapers on Tuesday night. Her run for Congress is historic in many ways, which is why were seeing major endorsements and unprecedented excitement from every corner of the state. She's the first female American Indian to win statewide office, twice. Denise will be the first woman Montanans send to Congress in 75 years. Denise is proof that anyone can go from Head Start to Harvard, from a small town to the U.S. Capitol. In Congress, Denise will be an independent voice who puts all Montanans first." David Parker, a political scientist at Montana State University, said Tuesday night, People who were going to vote for her are still going to vote for her, and people who werent going to vote for her still arent. But he added, Whats really important here is enthusiasm among young Democratic voters. Look at how younger voters feel about same-sex marriage, for instance. They are very strongly supportive. So now, she has a story to tell a group of voters that are otherwise hard to motivate. He likened the situation to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., who became the first openly gay person elected to the Senate, and said it was transformative she got huge turnouts in Madison, where the University of Wisconsin is located. So this could have an effect for Juneau in Missoula and in Gallatin County, he said. Parker added that perhaps most importantly, Juneau will attract even more national attention as a candidate. By virtue of her policy positions and her status as a Native American and a woman, she has already benefited from endorsements like Emilys List, but she could also receive attention and money from groups supporting LGBT candidates. She will have money to tell her story, he said, but added that shes running against a well-heeled incumbent in Zinke, who has shown big-time fundraising ability. The seat is rated safe Republican right now by some national Congress-watchers, he said, although that could certainly change. Social-media reaction to an earlier story regarding Juneaus sexuality was positive. Former Missoula city council member Caitlin Copple Tweeted, @denisejuneau is making so much history! Personally I dont care if Denise Juneau is LGBT or not, Helena writer Shawn White Wolf Tweeted. Shes still getting my vote. A Native American woman has never been elected to Congress. 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They only differed somewhat in their operational concepts to achieve that end. Not one of them, however, discussed the overarching strategic question of the "What Next?" How would each prepare a strategy to deal with a Middle East featuring an ascendant Jihadist, terrorist, nuclear expansionist Shiia Iran? Due to American success against ISIS, the mullahs would be unchallenged on the ground by significant Sunni forces. To be fair to the candidates, the moderators never asked this all-important question. The Islamic State is a self-declared 7th Century Islamic Caliphate in the form of a 21st Century Islamist supremacist state. We know the horrors its adherents are inflicting on Christians and other non-Muslim populations which fall into its grasp -- and on the many Muslims with a different interpretation of Islam from theirs. Together with the many other groups which are practitioners of the Worldwide Jihad, ISIS is inspiring home grown Jihadists in the United States, many of them American citizens, many of them converts to Islam. Islamic Jihadist terrorism is growing in the West, including in the United States. More and more Americans recognize that their current federal government has demonstrated no effective strategy to protect them from terrorist attacks here. They also recognize that our first responders, despite their best intentions, cannot respond quickly enough to save us from terrorist attacks. So Americans are buying guns to protect themselves and their families, and are learning how to use them. This is an individual, defense-only, strategy. We need to play domestic protective offense, and only the federal government, tasked by the Constitution to defend the citizens of the United States, can develop and implement a successful counter-Jihad strategy within our country. Most military experts who publically discuss the practicality of eliminating ISIS in the Middle East, primarily retired flag officers, are convinced that President Obama's current "strategy" will not destroy ISIS. The estimate we often hear is that with a full-up U.S. effort, one involving a significant contingent of U.S. combat troops, we could destroy ISIS in six months. There is great public pressure to develop and implement a strategy to take the fight to ISIS, and to destroy it -- right now. One result of that pressure was the positions taken by the Republican candidates on this issue on January 28. Any U.S. administration's goal must be to make us safer here in the homeland. The question which must be answered before committing American troops to combat in the Middle East is, would the destruction of ISIS advance this domestic safety goal in a meaningful way? With this goal in mind, what are the considerations for and against the United States removing ISIS as a player in the former Iraq and Syria? There are certainly moral arguments for eliminating ISIS, and we are a moral people. ISIS is evil and brutal. ISIS is killing or forcibly converting to Islam thousands of Christians and other religious minorities in the land it controls. ISIS is destroying Christian churches and other shrines, some of them over 1,000 years old. As a criminal organization, ISIS has stolen oil and treasure and is engaging in drug trafficking and sex slavery. ISIS inspires "lone wolf" Jihadists within the U.S. to commit attacks on American civilians, first responders, and military personnel. Certainly true, but to what extent is the Islamic State itself responsible? An argument has been made that ISIS's success in conquering territory in the Middle East creates more Jihadism here at home because self-radicalized Jihadists here like to be associated with a "winning team." Perhaps, but there are no metrics, no verified data, demonstrating that the existence of ISIS itself, and most significantly, ISIS alone, acts as this kind of recruiting tool within the U.S. Jihadism is a world-wide flood. It is inspired not by any one, or even several, Jihadist organizations. It is inspired by the Koranic obligation that Muslims wage Jihad, armed and by settlement and infiltration, for the purpose of imposing Shari'a law on all non-Muslim inhabitants of the planet. Even if ISIS were to be eliminated, the mandate would not change, and violent Jihad in the U.S. would not abate. If ISIS were gone, other Jihadist organizations would step up to propagate the inspirational message. They already are. Let's consider an alternative. Can an argument be made that destroying ISIS at this time would be a bad policy for the United States? At this moment it would, as demonstrated at the debates, be a very bad move in domestic politics, but what of the long-term global strategic interest of the United States? If a U.S. president would decide to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria and would commit the forces to do so; and if he or she were successful in that endeavor, what would be the result from the U.S. perspective? If past practice is any guide, immediately upon declaring victory over ISIS we would bring our troops home, leaving "our side" of the field to whatever Sunni Arabs we would have attracted to our side in the fight. Possibly some Al Qaeda militias. Possibly Syrian rebels who had taken up arms against Assad of Syria. The Kurds in northern Iraq and Syria. But primarily we would leave the field to President Assad of Syria, to Hezb'allah, to Shiite militias, to Iran and its Revolutionary Guard and Quds Forces, and to the Russians. On the Persian Gulf front, Saudi Arabia is continuing the Sunni world's sectarian conflict with Shiia Iran, a fight which goes back 1,400 years and which now could escalate into modern combat between these two heavily armed nation states. In American Thinker on January 20 Mike Konrad excoriates the Saudi Regime thusly: "[A] more detestable regime than Saudi Arabia could not be found. Arguably the most repressive regime on earth. An absolute monarchy. A Wahhabist theocratic nightmare that arms ISIS." Mr. Konrad then sets out an economic argument based on present and future crude oil prices and production that, he concludes, will result inevitably in the fall of the rulers of Saudi Arabia. He believes this would be a very good outcome. If this happens, and given the recent history of Middle East chaos it certainly could, can the fall of the present rulers of the other Gulf States to a Shiia takeover be far behind? The Shiia populations of these nations would then be in charge and under the influence, and possibly under the direct control, of Iran. Unless we would fight for it, the United States could be expelled from our strategically vital naval base in Bahrain and air bases in Qatar. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps would control both sides of the Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf would become an Iranian lake. Will Jordan and the Kurds be able to stand up to an Iran which will try, possibly successfully even under our next president, to neutralize our country with the threat of nuclear warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the United States? Israel may try to help them, but it does not have the depth of numbers to be the guarantor of the security of these potential Middle East allies of the United States, in addition to defending itself against a nuclear Iran. President Obama, although gone from exercising the power of the presidency, will have achieved his objective: From the border of Turkey a redrawn map of the Middle East will be dominated by a hegemonic Shiia Iran, still possibly supported by Russia. The war being fought by ISIS is part of the continuing 1,400 year Sunni/Shiia sectarian conflict which Sunni Saudi Arabia also is fighting against surrogates of Shiia Iran. There are advisors very knowledgeable in the Middle East, its history, and the tenets of Shari'a law, who argue that the U.S. has no business getting involved in this sectarian, ethnic, and tribal conflict. Clare Lopez, former CIA officer and Vice President for Research and Analysis at the Center for Security Policy, and Pete Hoekstra, former Congressman from Michigan's 2nd District and former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, now working with the Investigative Project on Terrorism, have put it this way: Have we considered that the very rise of ISIS, with broad support from local Sunni states, was itself a reaction to the removal of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi army as the only credible counterweight to the Shiite rulers in Tehran? These states, from Saudi Arabia to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, will and must have a say in what happens next. They will not allow a nuclear-armed Iranian hegemony to expand unchallenged. They recognize that the U.S. has been an unreliable ally at best, as it has facilitated the overthrow of Sunni regimes in Iraq, Egypt, Libya and Yemen and allowed for the advancement of Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities. Further, the Middle East battleground is crowded with competing ethnic, sectarian and tribal interests, most of which harbor jihadist sympathies. So, with which should the U.S. ally itself against ISIS: the al-Qaeda affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra? The Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sham? Are we helping Bashar al-Assad cling to power by fighting side-by-side with Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp? What about our relationship with Vladimir Putin's Russia? Clare Lopez, speaking on the Bob Frantz Authority show on Salem Radio's Cleveland affiliate, WHK 1420, on January 22, 2016, reiterated her opinion that America should stay out of the fight against ISIS because it will help neither us nor the people we would be going to war to help. She feels very strongly that regardless of what happens to ISIS in the Middle East, radicalization of Americans as Jihadists will continue and expand, fueled by the world-wide Jihadist community. Lopez states, however, that the U.S. should find a way to protect Middle East Christians and other minority religious groups, and must keep faith with and protect our regional allies, specifically mentioning Jordan, Israel, and the Kurds. Shall the new United States administration protect the Obama legacy by destroying ISIS, the foremost threat to his anointed hegemon, Iran, spilling more American blood and expending more of our borrowed treasure in the process? Or shall we allow the Middle East religious, ethnic, and tribal factions to get their own house in order or leave it in disorder, while we protect our regional allies? This question deserves much thought and expert strategic consultation by our presidential candidates, beginning now. Michael S. Goldstein is an attorney in private practice in Ohio, a retired naval officer, and a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Mr. Goldstein is active with eGeneration Foundation, a charitable educational foundation in the Generation IV Advanced Nuclear Energy community, at www.eGeneration.org. Readers can contact him at michaelgoldstein3386@gmail.com. Welcome to my blog. Here you will find information that is both interesting and useless. You can even see how Steve, my camera, sees the world through my eyes, or get your hands on my latest novel, Jihad Joe at: Thanks for visiting. Hope you enjoyed the coffee and cake. Sorry we ran out of donuts. Rotten Apple Reads Pages from my thoughts " alt="Pages From My Thoughts" style="border:none;" /> trh87books Evie Bookish Bookhounds Book Passion For Life Book Love 101 Book Cover Justice Book Addict Beckoned By Books Becky's Barmy Book Blog At Random "/> A Book-Lover's Review center> Love Of Books 1000 + Books To Read Sizziling Reads Ya-Aholic Mostly Reviews PNR & UF Fanatics Blog K-Books monkeycstars sacw.net - 5 February 2016 Prof Randhir Singh (born on January 11 1922), an internationally renowned Marxist scholar of political science and one of the leading nationally known Punjabi intellectual died on January 31 in Delhi a few weeks after celebrating his 94th birthday. When I was an undergraduate student of economics at Panjab University, Chandigarh and was increasingly getting interested in Marxism and the Naxalite movement, a left wing economist Amit Bhaduri visited the university. I and Harbhajan Halvarvi, an underground Naxalite activist, went to meet him to find out if he could help us in establishing contacts with Marxist intellectuals in Calcutta who could help us in conducting study circles on Marxism in Punjab, and he suggested to us that we should establish contacts with Randhir Singh and Bipan Chandra of Delhi University. That was the first time I heard about Randhir Singh. Since that time and meeting him on his 93rd birthday party in Delhi in January 2015, it has been a long history of friendship and political-intellectual relationship. When I used to look at the intellectual heritage of Punjabi communists, he was the one who inspired me the most. After I joined Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 1972, I got attracted to Trotskyism and became a part of a small but intellectually the most advanced group in the university. When we as a group thought of establishing contacts with independent Marxist intellectuals and activists who were not totally integrated into the Stalinist parties, Randhir Singh appeared to be the most attractive to us. I contacted him and he invited the whole group to meet him at his house. About 10 of us went to his house and we spent several hours of fascinating discussions on the world communist movement and the Indian left. That meeting remained a memorable part of our mutual engagement. Randhir Singh had a brief stint at JNU and spent his entire academic career at Delhi University. He was a kind of legend as a teacher. His lectures were so popular for the sheer brilliance of their content and their delivery with passion and engagement that students from as diverse disciplines as Economics, Sociology, Law, Literature, Mathematics and even Physics and Chemistry, attended in large numbers. Unlike most academics these days who pride themselves on their research publications, he was very proud of his teaching achievements. There are, of course, generations of successful academics with impressive research publications in India and abroad who attribute their fascination with the subject of political science to Randhir Singhas lectures they had attended. As was characteristic of him, he was hesitant to write or talk about his abio-dataa, and at the insistence of the Mainstream journal which published a felicitation volume (1988) after his retirement in 1987, he wrote a short piece called aIn Lieu of a Bio-Dataa whose opening lines are very disarming: aA abio-dataa, now, has been a source of perennial embarrassment for me. For I simply donat have any-I have no credentials at all so far as scholarship in the academy goes. I have only a life to speak of, lived somewhat differently, and on a generous interpretation, may be a little more meaningfully tooa. It indeed was a brilliantly meaningful life. He came from a cultured and educated family background. His father was a reputed physician and surgeon. Randhir Singh also toyed with idea of becoming a doctor but abandoned that aim to pursue his political activities. In his childhood, he was much influenced by the ideals of Bhagat Singh. He was a primary school kid when Bhagat Singh and his comrades were hanged, and he was briefly detained for shouting revolutionary slogans while passing in front of the Lahore Central jail on his way to school that was near to the jail. Many years later, he spent a few months in the aTerrorist Warda of the same jail where he met some of the surviving comrades of Bhagat Singh such as Kishori Lal, and described those few months as aamong the happiest in my lifea. While pursuing his college studies in Lahore, he not only actively participated in the student movement; he spent the vacations in organising workers in factories and peasants in the villages. The Punjabi writer Balwant Gargi has written that Randhir Singh was intellectually the brightest of all young leftist in Lahore and was almost considered as the Marx of the group. He spent a year in imprisonment for opposing the British governmentas war policies, and after his jail term was over, he worked on the editorial staff of the Communist Partyas Punjabi weekly Jang-i-Azadi. He also wrote a biography of the legendary Ghadar hero Baba Gurmukh Singh which was published in 1945 as Ghadar Heroes: A Forgotten Story of the Punjab Revolutionaries of 1914-1915. For some time, he added aJosha to his name and published a book of Punjabi poems Rahan Di Dhoor (Stormy dust of the paths) in 1950. He also managed to pass MA in political science with first class first from the pre-partition Panjab University. After partition, he took up teaching as a career because, in his view, aafter arevolution-makinga, teaching perhaps holds the maximum possibilities for a non-alienated lifea. He attracted critical acclaim in the world of political science with the publication of his book Reason, Revolution and Political Theory (1967) which is a powerful and widely reviewed Marxist critique of the work of the conservative political theorist Michael Oakeshott. The late Mohit Sen, a CPI theorist, reviewing the book in Economic and Political Weekly (EPW) had remarked that with this book, Indian political scientists could claim an equal status in the world of international scholarship on political theory. He wrote a very influential article on Punjab entitled aMarxists and the Sikh Extremist Movement in Punjaba (1987) in EPW in which displaying his exemplary intellectual integrity, he overcame personal considerations in criticising very sharply his lifelong friend the historian Bipan Chandra. He criticised what he called athe Ribeiro-Giri Lal Jain-Bipan Chandra linea for its advocacy of resolving the Punjab crisis by using the repressive apparatus of the state in liquidating the Sikh extremists. He also ridiculed the CPI and CPM for indirectly endorsing this line by joining the BJP in aunited all party ralliesa against Sikh extremism under the name of aunity and integrity of the countrya. He argued that this line not only reinforced the class rule of the Indian state, it also feeds the aggressive Hindu chauvinist nationalism. The robustness of his criticism of this line has been proved by the subsequent events that have shown that the main beneficiary of this line has been the BJP-led political tendencies and forces. Apart from being one of the founders, along with Bipan Chandra, of the Delhi University Teachers Association, Randhir Singh was an active supporter of the trade unions, Kisan Sabhas, human rights groups, student movements and the campaigning organisations of women, Dalits, tribal communities and the minority nationalities in the country. He and Gursharan Singh, the radical Punjabi theatre activist whose sister is married to him, were a source of enormous moral and intellectual support, and political guidance to many left wing activists and organisations in Punjab. In recognition of his intellectual and political contributions, Chandigarhas Institute for Development and Communications has named its library after him. He was constantly refreshing his ideas and perspectives. In his magnum opus Crisis of aZSocialism (2006) of 1100 pages, he displayed a remarkable understanding of the emerging vision of eco-socialism in its critique of both capitalismas environmentally destructive character as well as that of the old Soviet style socialism. He was one of the very few left-wing intellectuals in India who not only grasped the historical significance of the perspective of eco-socialism but contributed to further articulating and developing it. This is what brought me closet to him intellectually and politically. In terms of the combination of moral and intellectual qualities, Randhir Singh was one of the tallest public intellectuals India has produced in the last few decades, and the Punjabis can be genuinely proud of him for contributing to weakening if not breaking altogether the national stereotype in India of Punjabis especially the Sikhs as farmers and soldiers. His was a well lived life of a committed Marxist intellectual and his legacy will live long. He is survived by his wife Mohinder Kaur, two daughters Shimareet, a doctor in USA and Priyaleen, a professor of architecture in Delhi, and two grandchildren Nishant and Anant. Click On Our Advertisers Ads Most of our ads have links to take you directly to their Websites. Just click on an ad and away you go. Print Media/Music/Video selections: RonDoids does not own the copyright to certain media posted within our site. "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Drive through downtown Ann Arbor and it's hard to miss the giant Google sign atop one of the city's premier office buildings. For years it has been one of the corporate names locals like to point to with pride. Now it's coming down as the tech giant plans to build its own office on the city's outskirts.And that's a good thing. LLamasoft , an Ann Arbor-based supply chain software firm, is taking up the lions share of prime downtown office space Google is leaving behind. The move is necessary to accommodate the firms rapid growth. Yes, rapid growth is a term thrown around much too often in today's media but LLamasoft is the real deal.The 13-year-old company has raised tens of millions of dollars in seed capital, including $50 million from Goldman, Sachs & Co to fund its growth. It has hired nearly 100 people in the last year, rounding its staff out to 400 folks around the world. The bulk of them, 220 people, are in Ann Arbor. Its downtown offices are so cramped the companys leadership doesnt know where its going to put its new hires between now and when it moves into the new space later this summer."The 6-month wait we have is painful," says Toby Brzoznowski, co-founder & executive vice president of LLamasoft. "I am looking at ways to give up my office so 2-3 more people can cram into it so we can make it work until we move."LLamasoft will take up the second and third floors of the McKinley Towne Centre, at 401 E. Liberty. Thats 60,000 square feet in one central location. Today, LLamasofts downtown Ann Arbor headquarters is split between several floors of the 201 S Main St building. Brzoznowski expects the new headquarters will give it the headroom the company needs to grow."There is absolutely room for growth," Brzoznowski says. "We have averaged 50 percent growth every year."Betting against LLamasoft growth is not where the smart money is going these days. The company is one of the handful of tech darlings that is surpassing its big expectations. Google's AdWords office in downtown Ann Arbor never really lived up to its expectations. Where people expected a growth leader of a company that would be the center of the local tech scene turned into a side note in elevator pitches.Yes, Ann Arborites are happy Google is here and prefer it in Tree Town, homegrown startups like LLamasoft are the real future. LLamasoft's executives are the ones who will create gobs of jobs and serve as one of the main leaders in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.Homegrown companies like LLamasoft are the ones that deserve to have their names in big lights atop Ann Arbor's skyline.Source: Toby Brzoznowski, co-founder & executive vice president of LLamasoftWriter: Jon Zemke An autopsy revealed this week that Canadian backpacker Audrey Carey, killed in Golden Gate Park at the beginning of last year's Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival, had marijuana and methamphetamine in her system when she was shot to death. Her head and face were wounded, and a crime scene report indicates evidence of drug use, with clear baggies and lighters at the scene. As the Examiner reports, the office of the San Francisco Medical Examiner also found green nylon rope around Carey's ankle. They discovered no wounds or bruises to her hands, indicating that she did not or was not able to defend herself with them. The suspected murderers, a trio of drifters seen about Haight Street also stand accused of shooting and killing a noted tantric yoga teacher in Marin just days later with the same weapon. Morrison Haze Lampley, 23, Sean Michael Angold, 24, and Lila Scott Alligood, 18, have been in custody in Marin County Jail since they were apprehended in Oregon, fleeing in the yoga teacher's car. They next appear in court on May 9 and could face capital punishment. "She wanted to travel," a relative of Carey's recalls. It "was her first trip. Previously: Alleged Golden Gate Park Killers Appear In Court, May Face The Death Penalty Every time I go to #SuperBowlCity it looks like this pic.twitter.com/iHmEpNfl2Y Julia Carrie Wong (@juliacarriew) February 4, 2016 Yesterday's Super Bowl City protest gave those gathered a chance to publicly voice grievances regarding city officials' decision to spend $5.3 million on corporate interests while simultaneously appearing to abandon the homeless residents of San Francisco. One protester, apparently, took note of all the police on the scene and decided to photograph them. "Amir Varick was walking to the Tackle Homelessness protest at about 4:30 p.m. yesterday," reports SF Weekly. "He started taking photos and that's when he drew the attention of police, who detained him." One of the protesters with Varick, Joanna Berliner, told the paper in no uncertain terms why she thinks he was detained and cited with a misdemeanor. "It's because he is black." It seems Varick made the mistake of actually entering Super Bowl City he went through security and everything instead of merely hanging on its outskirts. San Francisco Police Officer Albie Esparza confirmed to the Weekly that a person was detained at 6:10 p.m. for "delaying a police investigation," furthering that "[it's] better to be safe than sorry." Police told the paper that it was Varick's apparent focus on the sniper's nest that got their attention. If Varick really was detained and cited merely for taking pictures of police while on public property, well, according to the ACLU, that would be in violation of his right to do so. "Taking still and video photographs of things that are plainly visible in public spaces is a constitutional right and that includes the outside of federal buildings, as well as transportation facilities, and police and other government officials carrying out their duties," notes the civil liberties organization. But hey, they city has seemingly thrown out ever other rule on behalf of the NFL, why not toss some constitutional rights out with them? Related: [Update] Protest Over Homeless And Super Bowl City Attracts Many Police, Frank Chu The man accused of stabbing a California Highway Patrol near a SoMa homeless camp won't be arraigned until next week, but San Francisco's Public Defender is already arguing his case in the court of public opinion, saying that Super Bowl-related tensions might have played a part in the confrontation. You can catch up on the circumstances of Tuesday's alleged altercation between 45-year-old transient Noel Corpuz and CHP Officer Andre Sirenko here. At the end of it, Corpuz was in San Francisco Police Department custody, and after four hours of surgery, Sirenko was in stable condition at San Francisco General Hospital. Though Corpuz's arraignment, initially planned for Thursday, was postponed (per the Ex), Public Defender Jeff Adachi is already pleading his client's case to Bay City News. According to BCN, "Adachi noted that the incident, which he called 'tragic,' came at a time of high 'tension' between homeless people and the community. Recent news coverage has focused on the increased visibility of tent encampments and allegations that the city has relocated the homeless to make way for Super Bowl events." Adachi is presumably referring to the nearly mile-long tent encampment at Division Street as well as Mayor Ed Lee's well-publicized remarks saying that Homeless people will "have to leave" during San Francisco's Super Bowl events. So." Adachi says, "this is coming at a time when the city is particularly challenged in how to respond to homelessness." According to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, which will be prosecuting the case, it's not that simple. According to BCN, "a number of homeless people have cooperated with police in the investigation" so, according to spokesperson Alex Bastian, its very important to never judge a book by its cover. Corpuz and Adachi are scheduled to appear in court on February 9. Until then, Corpuz remains in custody in SF County Jail on (among other things) attempted murder, assault on a police officer, and resisting arrest with force charges. His bail has been set at $5 million. Related: Uproar Begins As Supervisor Wiener Tries To Enforce Tent Ban On Homeless During The Super Bowl Mayor Lee Says City's Homeless Will Have To Leave CHP Officer In Stable Condition Following Stabbing Near SoMa Homeless Camp Disclaimer: This blog is a personal non profit unofficial web site and has been created for hobby, educational, research and informational purposes only. Any material will be removed upon request from copyright holders. FAIR USE NOTICE: This blog may contain copyrighted material. 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Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Welcome to my corner of the world! Glad you dropped by. Browse around and discover a collection of QSL cards from international broadcasters, old and new. Read an article or two about radios and the hobby of radio listening. Happy DXing!!! VATICAN CITY | The Vatican is disputing a U.S. film studio's claim that the pope is making his movie debut, saying no scenes were shot for the venture and that the pope isn't an actor. Los Angeles-based AMBI Pictures headlined its press release: "Film Will Mark First Ever Big Screen Participation Role for the Leader of the Worldwide Catholic Church." Monsignor Dario Vigano, the head of the Vatican's communications operation, acknowledged that he couldn't exclude that the filmmakers got hold of some clips of the pope. But in comments broadcast on Vatican Radio, Vigano disputed the press release claiming that Francis would "play himself" in the film "Beyond the Sun." He said: "The pope is not an actor." AMBI described the film as "a family adventure story where children from different cultures emulate the apostles while searching for Jesus in the world around them." AMBI Pictures has produced a handful of releases, including Barry Levinson's "The Humbling," with Al Pacino, and an upcoming John Steinbeck adaptation by James Franco. In November, it drew headlines when it said it would remake Christopher Nolan's "Memento." The company said "Beyond the Sun" initiated with Francis asking the filmmakers to make a movie for children that communicates Jesus's message. The press release was accompanied by photos of the pope with the filmmakers. The Vatican works hard to control the pope's image, enforcing tough copyright restrictions on all visual media, and Vigano's reaction to the announcement was a clear sign that the Vatican didn't appreciate the hype. But Francis has been known to go his own way on several occasions, allowing friends to shoot video of him to convey messages to private gatherings: He delivered such a message to the Argentine Jewish community and to a gathering of American Pentecostals. Vigano's comment that he couldn't exclude that the filmmakers had some footage of the pope suggested that they might have secured some video of him in the privacy of his hotel reception rooms. The organizers said all profits from the film will go to two Argentina-based charities that help at-risk children and young adults. A spokesman for AMBI declined to comment. Screenings Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary. Programs/Self-help groups Al-Anon Information Center, call 255-6724. Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 255-6724. Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 252-1333. Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons. Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180. Co-dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512. Children of Divorce, to help children cope with the challenges of parental separation or divorce. Call 712-279-2373 for more information. Clinics Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005. Information Dual Recovery Anonymous, 12-step peer support meeting, 4 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays at 625 Court St. Framework of recovery for those with addiction and emotional or psychiatric illness. For more information, call Mike at 255-1691. Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300. Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa. Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991. Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733. Overeaters Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays at Floyd Valley Hospital, Lower Level, 714 Lincoln St. NE, Le Mars, Iowa; 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees. St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906. Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715. The Link-Recovery and Freedom, at PMA Building, 6000 Gordon Drive; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432. Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623. Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10 minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410. Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public. Support Groups NAMI Siouxland (National Alliance on Mental Illness), 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month, Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935. Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6:30 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Daycare provided. 712-490-3343. PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116. Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675. HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965. La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998. Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441. Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260. Tri-State Sober Project 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City. Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second and fourth Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050. Divorce Care, noon Sundays starting Jan. 10; GriefShare, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays starting Jan. 12; Single & Parenting, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays starting Jan. 14; all at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814. Multiple Sclerosis Support Group, 1:30-3:30 p.m. first Saturday of the month at the CNOS, Dakota Dunes. For anyone with MS and/or their families. Call Janet Limoges at 605-217-2726 prior to attending. New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624. Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213. Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129. Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential. Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information. Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December. Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939. Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927. Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766. Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151. Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315. Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453. Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call at Jack Scherrman at 712-277-9337. Sojourners, support group for families of persons with life-threatening illness, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Room 416. For more information, call Marjorie Jarvill at 402-241-8637. South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133. Support groups at Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call (712) 255-1065. Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS. Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686. Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential. Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders. Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page. A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319. Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St. Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesday, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church. 712-277-2901. Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387. After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370. After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426. Alzheimer's Association Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802. Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319. Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260. Connections Area Agency on Aging and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce Street. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900. SIOUX CITY | Brianna Sommervold saves the geometric designs her patients color to calm themselves. Looking at the vibrant coloring pages tacked to a bulletin board motivates Sommervold, a behavioral health social worker at UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's. She presses on in a challenging field that has a high rate of burnout. Sommervold has been working with adults who have major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety on an out-patient basis at the Sioux City hospital for 1 1/2 years. Before coming to St. Luke's, she was employed as a youth behavioral health social worker. "I work with people who have a chronic mental illness who need help identifying their warning signs, their triggers, supports and coping stills," she said. "We talk about their feelings they've been having the past few days, causes of those and how to manage those. We also talk about symptoms -- if they've been anxious, depressed, homicidal and suicidal." Health care careers dominate the top 10 occupations expected to have the largest percentage of employment growth between 2012 and 2022 in region 12, which is comprised of Plymouth, Cherokee, Ida, Monona and Woodbury counties. Mental or behavioral health social workers are in high demand in the region, according to Iowa Workforce Development data, as well as medical assistants, medical secretaries, home health aides, postsecondary health teachers and health care practitioners. Non-health care jobs that are fast-growing include construction laborers, industrial machinery mechanics, carpenters and painters. Sommervold said she thinks greater social awareness of mental health and mental illness is driving occupational growth in her field. "People are now beginning to see the need for the supports," she said. "There's not a lot just in Sioux City, let alone the whole state. Resources haven't quite caught up with the high demand that's needed." The United States in experiencing a shortage of clinical professionals. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates a shortage of 45,000 primary care doctors and 46,000 surgeons and medical specialists by 2020. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration classifies Woodbury County as a health professional shortage area for primary and mental health care. Mercy Medical Center recently had openings for a certified nurse aide, surgical technician and registered nurses in various departments. "There is a high demand for healthcare positions across the country and we are looking for a wide variety of positions in our hospitals and clinics," said Pat Rodriguez, Mercy Medical Center's human resources manager. "As we see baby boomers retiring, we are needing to rehire those positions. We are also seeing an increase in health care positions as a result of the Affordable Care Act." Danielle Burkhalter, system-wide talent acquisition manager for UnityPoint Health, said an aging population, retiring workforce and colleges not filling all of their open seats in clinical fields has created "the perfect storm." Registered nurses and patient care technicians are some of the clinical roles St. Luke's is seeking to fill. Burkhalter said the hospital utilizes job fairs, social media campaigns and relationships with community partners, such as local colleges, to recruit employees in a competitive employment market. "You've got Omaha, you've got Sioux Falls -- there's competition all around," she said. Nancy McGuire, human resources recruiter for St. Luke's, said the hospital is offering sign-on bonuses for registered nurses with at least two years of experience in areas including labor and delivery and the emergency department. This perk was first offered for nurses last spring. Sign-on bonuses are also being offered for clinical professionals in the laboratory and radiology departments. McGuire said these bonuses debuted right before Christmas. Leslie Heying, St. Luke's marketing manager, said other hiring incentives for nurses include tuition reimbursement, a nursing clinical ladder program that recognizes performance, and a mentoring program that seeks to retain new nurses. The hospital's program pairs up experienced nurses with new nurses, either new nursing graduates with no prior experience or experienced nurses with no prior experience at St. Luke's. They meet face-to-face at least twice each month. Heying said St. Luke's long-term plan is to offer the mentoring program to all hospital staff. The experience Sommervold had helping a homeless woman get back on her feet underscores the importance of having enough health care professionals to meet growing demands locally and nationwide. Sommervold said the woman didn't have any social supports to turn to. She was attending group therapy sessions that Sommervold leads. Utilizing community resources, she found the woman a place to live. Once back on her feet, the woman returned to Sommervold's office to thank her for helping her gain confidence, express her needs and meet people. "That always makes you feel really good about yourself," Sommervold said. DURHAM, N.H. | Fireworks flying in their first one-on-one debate, Hillary Clinton accused Bernie Sanders Thursday night of subjecting her to an "artful smear" while Sanders suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of the political establishment. The two Democrats kept up a markedly more contentious tone than when they last debated before the presidential voting in Iowa, and it signaled how the race for the nomination has tightened five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire next Tuesday. The two argued over ideas, over tactics and over who has the liberal credentials to deliver on an agenda of better access to health care, more affordable college, dealing with income inequality and more. It was Clinton who was the main aggressor, saying Sanders could never achieve his ambitious and costly proposals. Then she took after the Vermont senator for his efforts to cast her as beholden to Wall Street interests because of the campaign donations and speaking fees she's accepted from the financial sector. "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out," she said. Sanders, for his part, suggested her loyalties were colored by a reliance on big corporate donors. "Secretary Clinton does represent the establishment," he said. "I represent I hope ordinary Americans." Clinton may say the right things, he suggested, but "one of the things we should do is not only talk the talk but walk the walk." Where Clinton aimed considerable criticism at Sanders, the Vermont senator focused much of his fire on what he says is a political system rigged against ordinary Americans. He said that when a "kid gets caught with marijuana, that kid has a police record." But when "a Wall Street executive destroys the economy" and pays a $5 billion settlement, he has "no criminal record." "That is what power is about, that is what corruption is about. And that is what has to change in the United States of America," he said. Clinton, unwilling to cede the issue to Sanders, insisted her regulatory policies would be tougher on Wall Street than his. "I've got their number," she said, "the Wall Street guys." Clinton called Sanders' sweeping proposals on health care and education "just not achievable," while Sanders countered that Clinton was willing to settle for less than Americans deserve. "I do not accept the belief that the United States of America can't do that," Sanders said of his plan for universal health care and of his efforts to take on "the rip-offs of the pharmaceutical industry." The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, intensified this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary season schedule, including Thursday's faceoff in Durham. In fresh evidence of the tightening race, Clinton reported that her campaign had raised $15 million in January $5 million less than Sanders and the first time she's been outraised by her opponent. Her finance director called the numbers "a very loud wake-up call" in a fundraising email to supporters. Sanders has a big lead in New Hampshire polls, but he was eager to lower expectations for his finish there, casting himself as an underdog. Clinton, for her part, signaled her determination to at least narrow the gap before Tuesday's vote in the state where she defeated Barack Obama in 2008 before ultimately losing the nomination to him. Her prospects are much stronger in primaries and caucuses after New Hampshire, as the race moves on to states with more diverse electorates that are to her advantage. The two renewed their running debate over who is the real progressive, with Sanders repeating his call for a political revolution in which political contributions have less influence over policy decisions. Clinton, in turn, accused her rival of quoting her selectively to diminish her progressive credentials. "Let's not be, in an unfair way, making an accusation or making an attack about where I stand and where I've always stood," she declared. Clinton's campaign also criticized Sanders' camp for what it said were misleading ads that suggest he received the endorsement of two newspapers that have not backed his bid for the White House. Sanders countered that the ads didn't say he'd been endorsed but merely passed along "nice" words the newspapers had written about him. The Durham debate was the first faceoff for Clinton and Sanders since former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. CHICAGO -- A couple of first-generation college grads recently wrote to "The Ethicist" advice column in The New York Times Magazine with a familiar moral quandary: "We are struggling with choosing a public school for our son, who will enter kindergarten this year. ... Do we let our neighborhood kids and our own values down by fleeing to a higher-testing public school in a richer part of the city? Or do we let our son down by sending him to the neighborhood school, which we fear will not put him on solid educational footing?" The Ethicist responded: "You don't owe it to all the other children in your neighborhood to give their interests the same weight as their parents do. Your special obligations are to your own child. ... And what you owe is not heroic commitment, 'turning the school around' by your own efforts." Predictably, some commenters on the article were disappointed with this advice. They wondered what it would hurt to take a chance and see how it goes; maybe try to make a difference for all the kids at the school. Trust me, it hurts. My husband and I were that same couple, years ago. Thinking we could make a difference, we chose to put our sons into our local school -- in a district whose student body was nearly 70 percent low-income and had performed so poorly for so long that it had been taken over by the state. We believed that what we did at home -- reading to our kids nightly, modeling good study habits, providing enrichment activities like traveling and extracurricular music, swimming and martial arts classes -- would easily overcome any challenges associated with attending a failing school district. And we committed to elevating the system. We attended parent meetings, filled out school-improvement surveys, kept in close touch with teachers, principals, administrators and the district superintendents to address issues from poor teaching to nightmarish transportation (our older son, on his first day of kindergarten, was brought home by the police because of the inept school-bus system). We complained about the junk food served every day for breakfast and lunch, we donated money for programs and scholarships. I ran (unsuccessfully) for the school board. All that effort amounted to nothing. Our kids sat in classes with children whose parents simply didn't have the social capital, income, savvy or time to make a difference in what happened at school. Year after year, instead of getting better, the district -- located in a community with a fair amount of middle-class families who started jumping ship for private schools after the second grade -- just stayed bad. The stories my children told after school were outrageous. Teachers who showed videos most days, out-of-control classrooms, kids tossing off insouciant one-liners like: "You didn't actually expect me to do my homework, did you?" Middle school brought fights, gang activity and an increased police presence. When it was time for my older son to start high school -- the very school I had taught in for a year and knew prepared no more than 24 percent of its graduates to be "college ready" -- we fled. It took a move of less than half a mile to a neighborhood with significantly more expensive homes to get my sons into one of the best public high schools in our state. Last week, however, I learned how long the effects of a poor educational environment in the early years linger. My younger son -- who benefited from a better school starting in seventh grade, but at the end of eighth grade was so behind that I had to pressure his counselors not to place him in remedial freshman English classes -- is underperforming compared to his high school, district and state peers in both English and math, according to the results of his latest standardized test scores. Luckily, he's doing well in his classwork. Good intentions and even good actions are not enough to transform a poorly performing school into one that can provide an adequate education for your kids. School systems take decades to turn around -- and require a long-term investment plus local and state political pressure to act -- while our children's formative years fly by. It's sad, but do not be ashamed to send your kids to the best school you can possibly afford. You'll likely regret it if you don't. DES MOINES | Legislative Democrats on Thursday declared Gov. Terry Branstads plan to hire private companies to manage Iowas $5 billion Medicaid program a disaster and said they will offer legislation next week to pull the plug on privatization. This things a mess right now. The rollout has been horrible. Its a disaster, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said of Branstads effort to bring in private managers to oversee health options for the Medicaid program that serves 560,000 Iowans. However, Branstad aides said the governor is moving ahead with plans to implement his Medicaid modernization on March 1. House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, said she does not expect the Republican-run Iowa House to join Democrats in obstructing a change. Im certainly not interested in passing any bill that faces a certain veto, so thats probably not something well do, said Upmeyer, who expressed disappointment that opponents have been delaying and sabotaging the whole idea simply to protect the status quo. She also noted that ending the effort totally blows up their budget because up to $55 million in savings was built into this fiscal years spending plan. Senate President Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, said majority Senate Democrats plan to work next week on legislation that would halt the governors unilateral decision to privatize Iowas Medicaid program because Iowans are telling them the plan is failing amid confusion and frustration with a changeover. Gov. Branstad tried to do too much, too fast. As a result, he has failed to protect vulnerable Iowans, said Jochum, who said a subcommittee on Monday will take up the Health Care Protection Act (Senate Study Bill 3081). That bill directs the Iowa Department of Human Services to immediately give notice of termination to the three private out-of-state managed care companies and directs state agencies to continue efforts to improve patient outcomes, increase access to care and make the public management of Medicaid more efficient. This common-sense legislation is necessary because Iowa still isnt ready even after a 60-day delay to implement a privatized Medicaid system operated by for-profit, out-of-state companies, Jochum told a Statehouse news conference. Officials with the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) delayed the planned Jan. 1 implementation of the switch until March 1 to give DHS officials and private companies more time to make changes and correct deficiencies. However, Jochum, who has an adult developmentally disabled daughter enrolled in Medicaid, and Rep. Lisa Heddens, D-Ames, said Iowans continue to express concerns over a failure to establish adequate provider networks, disruptions of longstanding patient-provider relationships and diminished quality and access to health care services as March 1 approaches. The problems are widespread, said Heddens, a House human services committee and budget subcommittee member who has an adult dependent who receives Medicaid. Its just a huge mess that, in my opinion, need to go away at the very least. Branstad spokesman Ben Hammes said the administration will continue to move forward in securing CMS approval for implementing the privately managed Medicaid plan on March 1. 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. ANNAPOLIS (Feb. 5, 2016)Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera told the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Thursday that there are not enough Circuit and District judges in Maryland, which has resulted in courts being overloaded with cases.Barbera testified in favor of SB 117 , a bill the judiciary asked for that would add a total of 13 judges around the state at a total estimated cost of $4.1 million including support staff in its first year. The judiciary has included $3.8 million in the fiscal 2017 budget to pay for the new judges.The bill would add an additional Circuit Court judge in Anne Arundel, Charles, Frederick, Harford, and Prince Georges counties, as well as two each in Montgomery, Baltimore County and Baltimore City. Additionally, Prince Georges and Montgomery counties would each gain an another District Court judge.Barbera feels it does not go far enough.This year the judiciary certified the need for 33 additional judgeships statewide, Barbera said. She referred to a 2012 report in which the General Assembly charged the judiciary with the task of developing a multi-year plan to request new Circuit and District court judges so that workloads can be addressed gradually without having a significant impact on state finances.Barbera remarked that while judiciary faithfully fulfilled its obligations, the legislature has not been as diligent.The legislature created judgeships pursuant to that plan in the first year in FY 2014, but it has not created any judgeships in the subsequent years since that first year.In response to that problem, Barbera informed the committee that the judiciary assumed responsibility for updating the previous plan to better conform to fiscal restraints.Committee member Wayne Norman, R-Harford, became angry when Barbera informed the committee that Harford County Executive Barry Glassman is planning to propose an amendment that would eliminate a new judge to that countys Circuit Court.Is there any reason why in Harford County were entitled now to less than 2.9 judges? Norman asked.If youve received communications from [Harford County Circuit Court Administrative] Judge Angela M. Eaves I can assure you that I havent.Norman said fellow Harford County Republican Sen. Bob Cassilly, another lawyer and member of Judicial Proceedings Committee, had not been informed either and asked Barbera to explain what had happened.Barbera referred Normans inquiry to Circuit Court Chair Judge John W. Debelius III, another supporter of the bill, who did not offer much of an explanation.We really do try to prioritize these requests based on the availability of space within a county, Debelius said. While he believed the request for an additional judge was very reasonable, insufficient resources were the determining factor.District Court Chief Judge John P. Morrissey also spoke in favor of the bill and noted burdens borne by district courts in larger counties.In Prince Georges County in FY 2016, there were over 300,000 cases and in Montgomery County, almost 200,000 cases.Following the judges testimony Chairman Bobby Zirkin, D- Baltimore County, reflected on how overburdened courts and lack of judges have affected beleaguered plaintiffs in Baltimore City, particularly regarding asbestos claims.Indirectly embracing the old saying: Justice delayed is justice denied, Zirkin hammered his point home.It sounds like there are tens of thousands of these cases where people have not had their opportunity to be heard in court and a lot of these people are probably dead by now. ANNAPOLIS (Feb. 5, 2016)When Erin Merryn was sexually abused by a neighbor at the age of 6, she said, she felt she had no one to tell.She said she did not tell her parents or report it to her kindergarten teacher. Growing up attending Illinois public schools, she had learned how to say no to drugs and what to do in the case of a tornado or a fire, but she had not learned how to deal with this.The only message I ever got as a child was from my abusers: This is our little secret, no one will believe you, if you tell anybody Ill come get you, Merryn said.(No one) was educating me on personal body safety, on the differences between safe touch, unsafe touch, safe secrets, unsafe secrets.Now Merryn, 31, works to enact legislation known as Erins Law that provides for personal body safety education in public schools, traveling to state capitals across the country to testify about her experience.Thursday, Merryn appeared in front of the states House Ways and Means Committee to support H.B. 72 , which would require Maryland schools to implement an age-appropriate sexual assault and abuse awareness and prevention program for grades K-12.H.B. 72 was introduced by Delegate Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery. Under this law, the State Board of Education would create standards for the program, and schools would incorporate the program into their health curricula, Luedtke said. The bill also requires the program be taught by a teacher who is trained to provide this type of instruction.Twenty-six other states have already passed versions of Erins Law, Luedtke said, and he hopes Maryland will be next.Really the message is, if you feel uncomfortable with the way an adult is touching you, you report it immediately, and thats the message kids need to have, Luedtke said. And its the single most effective thing we can do to stop abuse.While many schools address dating violence and abusive relationships in their curricula, most do not currently discuss childhood sexual abuse, Luedtke said.Luedtke and Delegate Edith Patterson, D-Charles, sponsored a similar bill last year. Luedtke said he decided to pursue this legislation after a contractor inappropriately touched a student in the hallway of Baker Middle School in Damascus two years ago.That was only the most recent of a number of incidents weve heard about in different parts of the state, Luedtke said.The 2015 bill passed the House 138-2 but received an unfavorable report from the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs committee. Luedtke said he is hopeful this years bill will fare better because work has started earlier in the session and people are more familiar with the issue.One objection Merryn often hears from legislators is that her bill is an unfunded mandate, she said. Merryn said federal law provides for funding to purchase materials and hire educators for prevention programs.Maryland residents and members of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, the Baltimore Child Abuse Center and the Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore also testified in favor of the bill. No one testified in opposition of the bill Thursday.Adam Rosenberg, executive director of the Baltimore Child Abuse Center, said his center sees more than 1,000 children each year who have been the victims of abuse and neglect. Victims of childhood abuse are at higher risk for teen pregnancy and more likely to drop out of schools or become victims of human trafficking, he added.By educating children at an early age, adults can help kids protect themselves, Rosenberg said.We know that one of the best tools to prepare these kids is that personal body safety curriculum, he said.Lisae Jordan of the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault said H.B. 72 would not only help victims of childhood abuse, but could also combat the issue of sexual assaults in college. One in five college women is sexually assaulted during their time in school, she said.While child sexual abuse is a difficult topic for many people to talk about, Luedtke said, it is an important conversation that adults must be having with their children.As a parent and as a teacher myself, I think our highest moral calling as parents is to take care of our kids and make sure theyre safe, and our laws arent strong enough right now, Luedtke said. We need to do more. ANNAPOLIS (Feb. 5, 2016)Maryland must use its status as a hub of technological resources to ensure its own cybersecurity, Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google Vinton Cerf told state legislators and industry experts Thursday. Speaking at this years first meeting of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council, an advisory panel of government officials and private-sector security professionals, Cerf said the commissions local collection of experts can help address data vulnerabilities on every level, from corporate to public. Maryland has made an enormous amount of progress and shown leadership in the cybersecurity space, so you have a lot to be proud of, Cerf said. Even the simplest data can expose your privacy, Cerf said, and in a time when every person who owns a smartphone is carrying around hundreds of millions of lines of code in their pocket, security is more important than ever. I cant think of anything more critical to our future than figuring out how to secure ourselves in cyberspace, Cerf said. One reason that data is vulnerable is because software always has bugs and programmers have not yet figured out a way to write perfect code, Cerf said. Additionally, he said, education is key to helping individuals secure their own data. Home to federal agencies like the National Security Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, as well as university cybersecurity programs, Maryland needs to take advantage of its resources and get ahead of the next large-scale breach, said state Sen. Susan Lee, D-Montgomery. We shouldnt be responding. We need to be proactive, said Lee, who was the primary sponsor for the bill that established the council last year. The councils goal is to make recommendations about how best to ensure that Maryland residents, business and governments are as free from cyberattacks as we can make them, said Attorney General Brian Frosh, the councils chair. Youve got folks out there who want to do everything they possibly can to steal technology, to disrupt services, and to steal money, Frosh said. The councils membership list includes state legislators, representatives from state and federal agencies, attorneys and private security analysts, university program directors, and members of the military and police. Lessons about cyber-technology should begin as early as elementary school so that every person understands the importance of data security, he said. Shortages in the technology workforce have become a tremendous issue for private-sector firms, but universities have been stepping up their cyber-education programs to fill those vacancies, said John Abeles, president and CEO of cybersecurity consulting group System 1 Inc. I cant find enough qualified people to do the work Im doing, Abeles said. Sometimes called The Father of the Internet, Cerf has had a prestigious career in the cyber world. Before becoming vice president of Google, Cerf worked at the United States Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency where he helped develop the early stages of what would eventually become the Internet and was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Technology in December 1997. Lee, co-chair of the councils policy and legislation subcommittee, has previously sponsored cyber-security laws that prosecute hackers who attack state infrastructure. Maryland sees thousands of cyber attacks every day that range in size and design, said Maryland Secretary of Information Technology David Garcia, who serves as chair of the councils incident response subcommittee. Though these attempts are common, they are typically smaller scale, such as phishing attacks or denial-of-service attacks, he said. We see those every single day. How often do they get through? Sometimes, Garcia said. Sometimes, we may have to change an IP on a machine, we may have to redirect service. In 2014, the University of Maryland was hit with a massive data breach in which the personal information of more than 309,000 students, alumni and staff was compromised. According to an email sent by campus President Wallace Loh, the information included names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth. The University of Maryland breach was a very unique level of compromise, Garcia said. Most people will get hacked at some point, he said, and his subcommittee will address at what point government officials or agencies like the attorney general or the FBI will need to get involved. Theres a saying in the community. Theres two types of people: Those who know theyve been hacked and those who dont know theyve been hit, he said. Craig Zucker Becomes Maryland State Senator Thursday morning in Annapolis, Delegate Craig Zucker, D-Montgomery, became Sen. Craig Zucker, still a Democrat and still representing Montgomery County. He took the oath of office, alongside his family, to fill the seat left by Karen Montgomery, who left the Senate last year saying problems with her eyesight made it hard to drive at night, according to an article by the Baltimore Sun. Zuckers appointment makes the Senate fully staffed at 47 members. It also paves the way for him to be the 29th vote needed to override Gov. Larry Hogans veto of a law that would allow ex-felons on parole and probation to vote when they are released from prison. Rachel Bluth Lobby Day Held For Bill Allowing Healthier Food and Beverage Options in Vending Machines Sugar Free Kids, a statewide coalition, held a lobby day inside the Maryland House of Delegates office building on Thursday to raise awareness for the Maryland Healthy Vending Act, a bill that would allow healthier food and drinks to be more widely available in vending machines on state property. The coalition offered snacks at the event, ranging from grapes and carrots to whole grain muffins. However, the bill has faced resistance from opposing groups. What people dont want is more government regulation and government telling them what they can eat and drink, Executive Vice President of the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Beverage Association Ellen Valentino said Thursday in a statement. Michaeline Fedder, Director of Government Relations for the American Heart Association-Mid Atlantic, said that the Maryland Healthy Vending Act would give consumers more options. Connor Glowacki Chesapeake Bay Advocates Present State of the Bay Alison Prost, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, is calling the delayed construction of an oyster reef a real loss to our restoration efforts. Factor in an almost $4 million cut in oyster restoration funds in Gov. Larry Hogans capital budget, Prost said, and environmentalists are wondering just how much emphasis the governor will continue to place on the topic. After a requested halt from Hogan in January, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed Tuesday to temporarily cease construction of eight acres of oyster reefs in the Tred Avon River. The $1 million the corps slated for this states project is now being allocated to a similar restoration project in Virginia. Prost said she was ready to discuss the controversy Thursday as environmental advocates updated delegates on the state of the Chesapeake Baybut was unable to because of time constraints. All the stakeholders have been involved and agreed to it, so to halt it at such a late date is a significant problem, Prost said. Ann Swanson, the executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, on Thursday touched upon the increasing level of pollutants in the bay. Phosphorous is on the upswing, Swanson said. Delegate Kathy Szeliga, R-Baltimore County, also raised concerns about the Chesapeake Bay Commissions dearth of Republican members and those from the Eastern Shore, a region dominated by GOP politicians. There isnt one Maryland Republican on the commission, and I have to say Im a little disappointed, said House Minority Whip Szeliga. Ive never had any part of member selection, Swanson said. It reminds me of gerrymandering in a way, Szeliga added. Josh Magness Senate Committee Considers Alterations to Election Laws and Requirements to Hold Office On Thursday, members of the Senate Committee on Education, Health and Environmental Affairs considered seven bills that would alter many aspects of the states election process. Sponsored by Sen. Delores Kelley, D-Baltimore County, the Write-In Candidates bill would prohibit a candidate who failed to receive the partys nomination in the primary from having their name appear on the ballot of the subsequent general election as a write-in candidate. It just seems that if you choose to run in a primary and youre defeated, you ought to have to give up for that year and come back rather than have a second bite at the apple, said sponsor Sen. Delores Kelley, D-Baltimore County. There is no option to vote for a write-in candidate during the primary process. Another bill, the Real-Time Transparency Act of 2016, would mandate that political committees report any contribution, transfer or loan that exceeds $1,000 during an election year in which they are involved. Committees must report the information within 48 hours, and will be fined $10 for each day the report, submitted electronically, is late. The maximum fee possible is $500. In a way, Im sorry I didn't make this for all four years, said state Sen. Ronald Young, D-Frederick, the sponsor of the bill. Sen. Gail Bates, R-Carroll, suggested that the $1,000 cutoff is too low and questioned whether a lawmaker needs to report a loan they give to their own campaign. Advocates of the bill said future amendments may be necessary for clarification. More stringent requirements on candidate residency formswhich ask individuals seeking an office in the General Assembly to fill out information on their legal addresscould come as a result of the General Assembly Candidate Residency Form bill. If passed, it would expand information that must be submitted to run for office, including the service address for utility bills, the address for any personal bank accounts andif applicablethe address of the individual's spouse and location of their children's schools, among other requirements. If the person filing the candidate residency form indicates that any of these addresses don't match what they are listing as a legal address, then they will need to offer an explanation about the discrepancy, said Sen. Delores Kelley, D-Baltimore County, the bills sponsor. And a bill aimed at increasing voter transparency would require registration applications to inform readers that they must register with a political party if they wish to be involved in any of its primaries, caucuses or conventions. If someone is 17 and registering to vote for the first time or moving to Maryland from an open primary state they might not know the states requirements to vote in the primary, Sen. Cheryl Kagan, D-Montgomery, said. Senate Minority Whip Stephen Hershey, R-Carolinewho is co-sponsoring the bill alongside Kaganattended the hearing to demonstrate its bipartisan support. Josh Magness Video of the history of the farm and current practices created by Jeff Gruber. GLEN BURNIE, Md. I am very happy to see the Swann family receive this well-earned recognition. Through their strong commitment to agriculture, the environment, and educating the community, the Swanns have established themselves as great leaders, and a fine example of how a farm family should operate in the 21st century. Herb Reed , Extension Agent, University of Maryland Extension, Calvert County The Calvert County Farm Bureau is so pleased that the Swann family is being inducted into the Maryland Agricultural Hall of Fame. Sambo, Jody, and now Joe-Sam are a shining example of a progressive farm family that puts quality production above all else. Swann Farms is highly respected in Southern Maryland for its attention to detail and its positive contribution to the community as a whole. We congratulate them for this well-deserved honor. Susie Hance-Wells , President, Calvert County Farm Bureau I have known the Swann family for more than 30 years. As manager of the local soil conservation office, I have had many opportunities to work with the family on conservation issues. They have a beautiful farm on the Patuxent River and are very conscientious about applying the right conservation practices to reduce erosion into the river and promote soil health. They are very active in the community and support local conservation initiatives. They continue to diversify the farm, growing new and innovative crops, and trying new ideas. Their sweet corn is the best in the county! I am very pleased to see they are being honored in the Governors Agriculture Hall of Fame. Bill Clark , District Manager, Calvert County Soil Conservation District (Feb. 5, 2016)Governor Larry Hogan and Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder inducted the Swann Family of Calvert County into the Governors Agriculture Hall of Fame Thursday night, making the family the 47th recipients of the prestigious recognition. Accepting the honor from Governor Hogan were J. Allen and Patricia Swann, Jody and Donna Swann, and Joe-Sam and Kelly Swann.The family was inducted in front of nearly 700 agricultural leaders and legislators from across the state during the annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture event, held at Michaels Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie.It is hard to think of a family more deserving of this distinct honor than the Swann family, said Governor Hogan. Their commitment to preserving our environmental resources and giving back to their community is a great reminder of how important agriculture is to the state of Maryland.During his remarks, Governor Hogan focused on the outstanding leadership, stewardship and accomplishments of the agricultural community. He cited the importance of agriculture to the states quality of life and to the economy by directly supporting 45,600 jobs.Each year, it is a pleasure for me to watch another hardworking farm family enter the Governors Agriculture Hall of Fame, said Secretary Bartenfelder. The Swann family is very important to Marylands agricultural community, and a great example of the dedication our state has to promoting the industry and preserving the environment.Swann Farms spans more than 360 acres of land along the Patuxent River in northern Calvert County. For more than 160 years and six generations, the Swann family has grown tobacco and traditional field crops including corn, wheat, barley and soybeans. In 1994, the family began to diversify their crops and developed a reputation throughout Southern Maryland for producing high volumes of high-quality fruits and vegetables. The farm also grows malting barley which is often sourced by local breweries. More recently, in an effort to directly engage with consumers, Swann Farms opened its U-Pick operation, an agritourism attraction which allows consumers to pick their own fresh produce.With its close proximity to the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, Swann Farms has embraced its responsibility as stewards of the environment. The farm engages in many environmental best practices including the use of cover crops and minimum-till production of fruit and vegetables. Swann Farms was among the first to participate in the departments then-voluntary nutrient management program and has remained in compliance ever since. The family has also been consistently involved with the University of Maryland Extensions educational programs. Through their sensitivity to the environment and cultivation of high-value crops, the Swann family has created a farm that is economically and environmentally sustainable.Beyond their work on the farm, J. Allen, Patricia, Jody, Donna, Joe-Sam and Kelly have each shown a great commitment to engaging the local community and raising awareness of local food production and issues affecting family farms. The Swanns are also involved with several charities and have donated produce to the Maryland Food Bank, End Hunger Calvert, and many local churches, fire departments and nonprofits. The family also remains dedicated to the Calvert County Farm Bureau and Young Farmers, where they have collectively held several leadership roles throughout the years. A brief slideshow featuring the new Agriculture Hall of Fame family was played during the dinner and can be viewed online.Sponsored by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Governors Agriculture Hall of Fame was created in 1991 by then Governor William Donald Schaefer to honor agricultural leaders who exemplify high standards of achievement and commitment to the industry and their communities. Nominations are accepted at local Extension offices. A complete list of the Governors Agriculture Hall of Fame members is available online. PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (Feb. 5, 2016)NAS Patuxent River is a proud member of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemorations Commemorative Partner Program, which was designed for federal, state and local communities, veterans groups and other non-government organizations to honor our Vietnam Veterans and their families.A partner since August 2015, Pax River has committed to conducting two events each year for a three-year period that will recognize Vietnam Veterans and their families service, valor and sacrifice.We wanted to participate to remind our [Pax River MWR] patrons of our Vietnam Veterans, explained Dave Cardinale, marketing director for Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR). We wanted to pay homage to them.Any partner events or activities planned must meet one or more of the Congressionally-mandated objectives of the program, with emphasis on objective one: To thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans To highlight the service of the Armed Forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the Armed Forces To pay tribute to the contributions made on the homefront by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War To highlight the advances in technology, science and medicine related to military research conducted during the Vietnam War To recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam WarA partner event at Pax, still in the planning stages, will take place just before Memorial Day weekend and part of that event will include distributing special Vietnam War Veteran lapel pins.Well be giving them to any veteran of the Vietnam War Era or to any individual at Pax who wishes to contact us on behalf of a family member who served, Cardinale said. Anyone interested can phone the NAS Public Affairs Office with their information.If you, or a family member, served in the Armed Forces between Nov. 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975regardless of locationand would like to receive an official Vietnam Veterans commemorative lapel pin at the upcoming Memorial Day event, call the NAS Public Affairs Office at 301-757-6748 or 301-757-3343 with the spelling of your name, email address and phone number. There is always hope Carlos Guillermo Smith, an openly gay man running for the Florida House of Representatives, on Jan. 29, received the endorsement from the Florida Professional Firefighters organization. We believe (Carlos) will honorably serve the citizens of Florida, and the interests of the men and women employed in the Fire and Emergency Medical Services, who have made the protection of life and property their lifes work, said FPF President/CEO Jim Tolley, in a news release. The Florida Professional Firefighters, is a state association chartered by the International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO-CLC. Founded in 1944, the organization claims a membership of more than 24,000 paid, full-time professional firefighters and EMS personnel. Guillermo Smith, seeking House seat 49 in Orlando, called the endorsement incredible and his campaign released a childhood photo of the candidate holding a fire hose at a demonstration. Even as a kid, I admired the hard work of our firefighters, Guillermo Smith said. Now, I am honored to have the support of these everyday heroes who have committed to protecting Floridas citizens and creating a better future for our state. The governmental affairs manager for Equality Florida, Guillermo Smith said it is important first responders receive fair compensation and benefits in exchange for their sacrifices. It takes real courage to enter burning buildings and save lives, Guillermo Smith said. If elected, Guillermo Smith would become Floridas first openly gay Latino man to serve in the House of Representatives. He is currently running unopposed. J. Barry Lewis, winner of five Carbonell Awards for directing has returned to the Maltz to direct the latest production of their season, Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan. The play opens on Feb. 7 and runs through the 21.Tickets start at $55 and are available online or at the box office. A highly acclaimed director, with nearly 200 productions to his name, Lewis has been involved in theater for 30 years, almost 20 of them in South Florida. He is currently Resident Director of the Palm Beach Dramaworks. And many readers will remember him from his role as Associate Artistic Director at Florida Stage in Manalapan. From Wikipedia: Frost/Nixon is a 2006 British play by screenwriter and dramatist Peter Morgan based on a series of televised interviews that former U.S. President Richard Nixon granted broadcaster David Frost in 1977 about his administration, including his role in the Watergate scandal. Frost/Nixon is an exhilaratingly fast-paced, cleverly structured play by one of this centurys leading contemporary playwrights. Its a perfect opportunity to reflect on our history, said Andrew Kato, the Theatres producing artistic director and chief executive. Its particularly appropriate during the current political craziness that engulfs the parties and leaves the electorate wondering. Many theater lovers will remember the unprecedented resignation of a President of the United States. I remember it well, Lewis said. I remember exactly where I was when the president resigned. And I remember being glued to the television set for the four 90 minute interviews. I suspect thats true of many of the people who will come to see the play. Its like a good mystery story, he continued. Everyone knows what happened but the play reveals the how and the why. It allows us to humanize the characters and lets them come off the page and onto the stage. Its also interesting, Lewis said. The play was written by a British playwright which puts a different perspective on it and reduces the politics which helps make the characters more sympathetic. The play has a cast of 13 actors, including Broadway veteran John Jellison as Richard Nixon and Peter Simon Hilton as David Frost. Frost/Nixon originally premiered at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre in London in 2006, starring Michael Sheen as Frost and Frank Langella as Nixon. The play then moved to the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End and arrived on Broadway in 2007 (again starring Langella and Sheen). It received a Tony Award nomination for best play. Langella and Sheen also starred in the 2008 British-American historical drama film by the same name, adapted from the play. Frost/Nixon is sponsored by Jodie and Dan Hunt and the Roy A. Hunt Foundation and California Closets. For tickets and showtimes, call 561-575-2223 or visit JupiterTheatre.org. SEVERAL Slovak hospitals found themselves without qualified nurses in their key departments on February 1 as the termination notices of 540 nurses kicked in. Font size: A - | A + The nurses had submitted their notices December 1, and not claim they will either take a job abroad or register as unemployed. Nurses filed resignations as a form of protest since as health care workers they are banned from going on strike. They are protesting against the way the Health Ministry has dealt with their demands regarding pay and working conditions. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Most nurses left from hospitals in Presov (304 out of 1120) and Zilina (172 out of 627). Numbers from concrete clinics and wards however reveal the problem in its depth: for instance at the anesthesiology ward in Presov just six nurses of the original 29 remained on duty February 1, while in the same ward in Zilina saw 18 of its 20 nurses leave. The anesthesiology ward is also problematic in another big hospital, in Trnava. Additionally, the protest leaders from the Slovak Chamber of Nurses and Midwives claim many of the nurses who were hired to fill the vacancies are not sufficiently qualified. While the Health Ministry and management at the affected hospitals say that health care is in good hands, the outgoing nurses say situation is far from stabilised. Hospital directors are closing down wards and reducing beds, and replacing outgoing nurses with pensioners, nurses coming off maternal leave who arent registered, or even with health rescuers, the Chamber stated on February 2. Registered or not? The Chamber claims that based on the appeals from the Presov hospital they checked 34 of the newly hired nurses and found that 31 of them (including two pensioners and eight rescuers) werent officially registered as of February 2, and thus not authorised to work as nurses, the statement reads. Presov hospital stated it fares better this week than it did in the previous weeks when more than 200 of the outgoing nurses went on sick leave. Hospital spokeswoman Renata Cenkova denied that there are any pensioners among the newly-hired nurses. The hospital requested help from the armed forces and as of February 1 there were seven army nurses helping in the anesthesiology ward, the Sme daily reported. The Chamber also pointed to the lack of specialised nurses in some of Trnava hospitals wards. In hospitals with enough qualified nurses the mortality of patients is lower than in hospitals with not enough nurses and with lacking specialised nurses, the chamber president Iveta Lazorova said. Health Minister Viliam Cislak gambles with the health of Slovak patients and Prime Minister Robert Fico is not solving the situation at all, she said. Cislak filed a criminal complaint with the General Prosecutor Office on February 3, accusing the nurses representatives of spreading false alarm. This pertains to the claims that health care is seriously threatened. I have filed a criminal complaint for spreading false alarm against all those who have been spreading these news in the past five days, Cislak said. Doctors see problems in hospitals Hospital doctors however called the ministrys claims that hospitals are working without problems misleading. It is clear that if there is a lack of nurses in the health care system regardless the mass resignations, it is not possible to quickly replace 600 nurses who left as of February 1 with a few dozen new, inexperienced, and as our information suggests also incompetent ones, Peter Visolajsky, president of doctors labour unions (LOZ), wrote in an official statement from February 1. Hospital doctors protested in a similar way in late 2011, when more than thousand doctors filed resignations. The situation went so far that the government of Iveta Radicova announced a state of emergency then, which forced doctors to work under punishment for criminal behaviour. The strike ended after an agreement was struck that guarantees hospital doctors a three-phase salary hike. Doctors now complain that neither the health minister nor the prime minister has lead a necessary dialogue with the nurses. The LOZ admits that the crisis in hospitals in not comparable to that in 2011, but doctors see that there are serious problems in hospitals with planned surgeries, and also some acute cases are not solved in ideal way, the LOZ statement reads. Doctors admit that if the problem remains unsolved, Zilina and Presov regions might soon see the access to adequate health care get rapidly worse. Protest might affect elections A survey by the Focus polling agency for the Sme daily carried out in late January shows that 28.6 percent of those polled decisively uphold nurses giving notices, while 32 percent consider them rather legitimate, Sme quoted the survey. The protest of nurses might affect the decision of some voters, mainly the undecided ones or those who are not planning to go to the polls. Even additional two to three percent in favour of some centre-right party could completely change the entire configuration of the political scene after the elections, political analyst Grigorij Meseznikov told Sme. Meseznikov however does not expect the Smer voters to be affected by the protests. Smers electorate is quite firm and I dont expect it to be affected too much, Meseznikov said. SLOVAK President Andrej Kiska will yet not appoint the candidates for judges of the Constitutional Court (CC). He confirmed this in his February 4 address to the CC at the Presidential Palace in Bratislava. Font size: A - | A + The President will discuss his next steps with the newly-elected representatives of the parliamentary political parties immediately after the March 5 election, the TASR newswire quoted him as saying. I want to say for my part that as an elected president, I will go to such talks after the parliamentary election with only two intentions, he explained for TASR. To increase the trust and authority of the Constitutional Court, its decision-making and every single judge who has the honour to work in this top court. And secondly, to prevent any disputes concerning competencies when appointing CC judges in the future, he summed up. He stressed that as president, he is obliged to heed the legitimate operation of constitutional bodies, but as he has already exhausted all constitutional possibilities of how to execute this obligation, he would seek a solution for which he needs an agreement with the parliament. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Kiska said that he has already completed the documents concerning his decision on candidates for the judiciary Eva Fulcova, Juraj Sopoliga and Miroslav Duris. In the case of the most recently elected candidates, Jana Lassakova and Mojmir Mamojka, some facts are still in the process of being checked. The President again criticised the proceedings of the plenary session of the CC which by the end of 2015 refused to deal with his proposal as to how to interpret the powers of the president when appointing CC judges, citing the differences between the oral and the written arguments of the Third Panel of the CC regarding the complaint of candidates he had refused to appoint. The CC later ignored his request to expound the legal matter. The Constituional Court is currently incomplete, as its 13-member plenum is missing two further judges. In 2014, Kiska did not appoint three CC judges out of six candidates proposed by the parliament. He only appointed Jana Baricova, arguing he could not discern true interest in the constitutional law in the remaining candidates although they fulfilled the legal requirements for the position. One more position will remain vacant from the end of February when the term of judge Lubomir Dobrik expires; for this, two candidates of the ruling Smer party were proposed, Mojmir Mamojka and Jana Lassakova. Vice-chair of the opposition Most-Hid party, former justice minister Lucia Zitnanska said, as quoted by TASR, that she understood the presidents decision and added that this only contributes to the non-transparent and chaotic situation which started when former Slovak president Ivan Gasparovic refused to appoint candidate Jozef Centes for prosecutor general. It must be said that the chaotic situation was caused in the first place by the Constitutional Court with its decision, from which some judges have distanced themselves, Zitnanska said, adding that she sees the solution in amending the Constitution. Speaker of Parliament Peter Pellegrini has warned that the CC could become dysfunctional through this step, the SITA newswire wrote. Pellegrini added he can see no reason for such proceedings by President Kiska. Free and 3 bank accounts part of the second social package. Font size: A - | A + PRIME Minister Robert Ficos cabinet has repeatedly tried to regulate banking fees. The latest attempt came in response to an EC directive aiming to make bank accounts cheaper, more transparent and accessible to all. But market watchers are sceptical that these new measures will draw big attention from the public. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Banks are not thrilled with this initiative; I personally consider this to be a revolution in [bank] fees, said Finance Minister Peter Kazimir at a press conference marking the launch of the so-called cheap bank accounts on February 2 as cited by the SITA newswire. The EC directive aims to ensure that any consumer who does not have access to payment services can open and use a basic payment account at a reasonable charge. The legislation adopted in Slovakia introduces two accounts. The first one, while its official name is the basic banking product, is a free account for those earning less than 400 net monthly. Its holder, however, cannot hold any other bank account except a deposit account, a bank book or join a saving programme. It is enough if client makes a statement of honour that he or she is meeting these two conditions. The client will get an account, unlimited payment operations in the euro currency in Slovakia, the ability to make permanent payment orders and get an international debit bank card. The second account is the payment account with basic functions, with fees that cannot exceed 3 per month. It is available for those with permanent residence in the EU but again its holder cannot hold any other bank account except a deposit account, a bank book or join a saving programme. The set of services that banks offer within this account differ. I firmly believe that this product will be interesting for our pensioners, but also students and low-income employees and will enable these people to lose their fear of banks and work with bank tools like anyone else does, said Kazimir. The legislation that governs the opening of such an account, an amendment to the law on payment services, took effect at the beginning of the year though banks had an extra month to prepare for the provision of the new account. The Slovak Bank Association (SBA) believes that ordinary bank accounts are accessible enough. It bases its opinion on a survey by GfK Slovakia, according to which 86 percent of Slovaks aged between 15 and 79 years have an ordinary bank account. The most frequent reason for why the remaining 14 percent do not have it is they say it is unnecessary. The survey showed that ordinary accounts are affordable and did not uncover any fundamental obstacles preventing people from usage of ordinary accounts, Ladislav Uncovsky, executive director of SBA wrote in a press release. Thus any legislative interferences into provision of the most used bank products are unjustified. Potential users Analysts of the Financna Hitparada website, which compares offers by banks, estimate that average monthly costs for holding ordinary accounts in Slovakia are between 4 and 5. When customers meets some basic conditions, for example the amount of money held on the account, fees may decrease to zero. The basic banking product is good in order for a low-income person, who has not used banks services so far due to various reasons, to enter the banking world, Pavel Skriniar of Financna Hitparada said of the new accounts created by the legislative changes. It may happen that it would be not so advantageous for somebody because by switching to it he may lose benefits he used on the [so-far used] ordinary account. CSOB specified that its products have already included operations that are included in the state-set packages and about half of its clients have not paid any fees for their account thanks to their activity or savings deposited with the bank. We do not have a problem to offer an account to people for a minimum price or zero euros because the intention of the European directive is to enable all people access to a basic bank account, CSOB spokeswoman Zuzana Eliasova told The Slovak Spectator. But in Slovakia this directive is abused for utilitarian price regulation. Financna Hitparada also points out that a free account might not mean that the client would pay nothing as some bank services he or she uses are not part of the basic product. Financna Hitparada points out that while the legislative accounts, as banks call these basic bank products, is an artificially created product while banks create products on the basis of surveys among their clients. It does not expect that banks would promote this product. It makes sense to offer only products that are profitable for a company, Financna Hitparada wrote in its memo. Banks have already said that this product will not be a profitable matter for them. Financna Hitparada also sees room for clients to pressure banks to change on their own. Slovaks like to grumble about prices in banks, but they do not want to use their mobility or change in behaviour to force them into a change, Financna Hitparada wrote in its memo. Will foreigners beinterested? While these basic bank products are available also to foreigners, Skriniar does not expect any significant, if any, interest. The reason is the language barrier, the need to come to the bank and the need to sign the statement of honour, Skriniar told The Slovak Spectator. The basic banking product is available for foreigners from the EU as well as third countries, after meeting the conditions. In terms of the payment account with basic functions, that is available for clients in the EU, and VUB bank declined to assess the possible interest. This is a new type of a product, that has not been on our market in such a form so far, we do not dare to estimate behaviour of the market, Katarina Vatrtova, the head of the department of the ordinary accounts and transactions at VUB banka told The Slovak Spectator. This is the third attempt of the cabinet to reduce bank fees for Slovaks. In 2010 the first Fico government introduced the so-called basic bank product and in 2013 it was replaced by the 1 basic bank package designed for Slovaks earning less than the minimum wage. None of the products have attracted significant attention from customers. Privacy statement: This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do we store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. We are not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without our permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on January 1, 2017. If you have any questions feel free to contact Springfield Vermont News directly here: ed44vt@gmail.com Gibbs argued that the Afghan governments membership gives it "legitimacy in the eyes of its own people, as a real government that at least in a formal sense is respected and welcomed in a broad international coalition." Elizabeth Gould and Paul Fitzgerald, authors of highly-acclaimed books on US foreign policy, told Sputnik that Afghanistan hopping on board the US-led counterterror express train is actually all about "mutual self-interest." "The United States is looking for any excuse to justify staying in Afghanistan and the Afghan government knows it will fall if the United States leaves," Gould and Fitzgerald said. On Tuesday, US Commanding General in Afghanistan Gen. John Campbell said that NATO was considering allocating funds to support Afghanistan through 2020. Media reports emerged in recent weeks claiming that the White House had authorized US military personnel in Afghanistan to target the Islamic State, which is also known as Daesh. The Central and South Asian branch of the Islamic State has expanded its presence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and has recently been declared a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. GENEVA (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova Member states of the European Union should speed up the implementation of the refugee relocation program, particularly in respect to moving migrants from Greece and Italy, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing told Sputnik. "We just signed an agreement to relocate 63,000 from Greece to other [EU] countries, but it hasn't started yet. From Greece and Italy primarily. But it is slow, they have done [relocated] something less than 300 [refugees] so far, this needs to be speeded up," Swing said. Providing migrants with a free access to public services is in host countries interests as eventually it results in a healthy society in which migrants start paying taxes once employed, Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) William Lacy Swing told Sputnik. TPP is intended to deregulate trade among signatories the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam which together make up 40% of the world economy. Greenpeace USA (@greenpeaceusa) February 4, 2016 Critics of the hotly-debated trade agreement, which was negotiated in unusual secrecy, say the TPP will undermine standards and regulations for environmental protection, health and safety, and workers' rights. "Basically it eats away at New Zealand's sovereignty and the whole process was undemocratic," Rowan Brooks, one of the organizers of Thursday's protest, told Al Jazeera. "The agreement gives power to corporations and takes it away from the people." MOSCOW (Sputnik)Pyongyang will not use its nuclear weapons against Seoul, the newspaper of the Workers' Party, the ruling party of the North Korea, reported Friday. "We possess the nuclear deterrent forces not to drop bombs on the head of the nation," it was asserted in an opinion piece published in Rodong Sinmun. According to Pyongyang, the countrys nuclear weapons are directed "to ensure peace and security on the Korean peninsula and to disrupt malicious attempts to decisively crush" North Korea. In an interview with Sputnik, eminent Afghan political analyst Seyed Ishaq Gilani remained downbeat about the forthcoming peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban , which he said are doomed to failure. He lamented the fact that Kabul does not have any clear-cut program on ways to achieve peace in Afghanistan, and that the ISAF mission had also failed to help implement this goal. "The presence of foreign military forces did not meet our expectations. The international community pledged a lot but failed to deliver. And neither the authorities nor those backing the Taliban managed to hammer out a full-fledged peace program," Gilani said. TOKYO (Sputnik)Japan and Iran will sign a bilateral investment agreement later on Friday, as the sanctions against Tehran have been lifted, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told a press conference in Tokyo on Friday. A preliminary agreement on the issue was reached between the sides in October 2015, during Kishidas visit to Iran. Tonight, the investment agreement between Japan and Iran will be signed I am very glad that it will be signed today, Kishida said. In other words, Western powers like the US, Britain and France together with their regional client regimes in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, unleash mass murder and mayhem on a once peaceful, sovereign country and instead of being held to account under international law for their criminal aggression, these rogue states are getting the rest of the world to subsidize their evil enterprise. The "donor conference" in London this week was the fifth in a series going back to 2012. Last year, the fundraiser fell well short of its appeals. This year, British leader David Cameron went out of his way to give the appeal added urgency. Writing in the Guardian newspaper, Cameron said: "Sufficient funding to guarantee the basics of life that these refugees need must be the bare minimum expected of us." The British premier emphasized the need for more aid given to refugee centers in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, where nearly five million Syrians have been displaced and are languishing in squalid camps. Cameron's apparent concern belies his real worry. He doesn't want any more refugees streaming into Europe and towards Britain. That's why the British leader is now calling for more international donations and for the cash to be thrown at Syria's immediate neighbors in order to keep refugees there. Going back to UN chief Ban Ki-Moon, he told the London conference: "The situation in Syria is as close to hell as we are likely to find on this Earth." Syria is indeed a hell on Earth. Made by people like Cameron and Kerry with whom Ban Ki-Moon was rubbing shoulders with in London this week. Turkey was represented by prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu who tried to blame the humanitarian crisis on the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and Russia's military intervention. Davutoglu's lies are particularly nauseating given Ankara's role in acting as a conduit for terror brigades infiltrating Syria and his country's ongoing threats of outright military invasion. NATO member Turkey's role in fueling Syria's refugee crisis through its regime-change machinations is acutely reprehensible. And yet Ankara is to receive $3.4 billion from European Union taxpayers, allegedly to help with stemming the flow of refugees into Europe. This is just one aspect of the general trend that Washington and its allies are establishing with breath-taking audacity. They have all but destroyed Syria with their covert war using terrorist proxies, and yet they are getting the rest of the world to pay for their crimes. The cost of war and imperialist crimes was always offloaded on to ordinary people by their rulers. In that regard, nothing much has changed. Except that the scam has become even more brazen. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Sputnik. "He's sending desperate messages to us saying it's cold or he doesn't have food or he can't see. We know that legally we're not allowed to help him. I just don't understand that," Ms Lane said. Ms Lane insisted that her son would not lie to her about joining Daesh and there is absolutely no evidence to support that claim and Mr Letts believes the police just "put two and two together and made ten". "He has the freedom to practice whatever he wants, that's British values," Mr Letts added. Jack Letts left his home in Oxford two years ago and has reportedly been in Syria ever since. He is one of 700 people, according to UK police, who are suspected of leaving Britain and traveling to Syria and Iraq to join various jihadist organizations. However, other figures suggest the number is more than twice the official police estimates. "We are still seeing at least about five people leaving the UK for Syria and Iraq every week and that's not to count the ones we don't know about," a foreign intelligence source told the Sunday Times. MOSCOW (Sputnik)Moscow is calling on Western countries to exert pressure on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure they implement the Minsk agreements, Russias permanent envoy to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said, Friday. "The developments of recent years have shown that our Western colleagues can have an impact on the Kiev authorities. It is high time for them to use this influence for peaceful purposes," Alexander Lukashevich said during the OSCE Permanent Council meeting. According to Lukashevich, there is no viable alternative to the Minsk agreements as they are the only basis on which a peaceful political solution to the Ukrainian crisis can be founded. Lower Saxony police chief Uwe Binias confirmed the new guidelines, but sought to give assurance about their effect on safety. He told NOZ that each crime is being recorded just as before, and that the new measures are aimed at reducing "the background expenditure" to free up more resources for other tasks. "Citizens won't notice the difference. Nobody should worry that we are not going to come to the scene of an accident," Binias said. #Polizei in Niedersachsen will Aufwand bei Bagatellen ohne klaren Tater reduzieren: https://t.co/Sv4zs4Twiz pic.twitter.com/1RqI62bPlX Dirk Fisser (@dirkfisser) 4 2016 'Further strain because of the refugee crisis. Internal paper: police want to reduce efforts on petty crime,' NOZ reported. The reorganization was criticized in the state parliament by Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Party (CDU). The party is the main opposition to the Social Democratic party (SPD) and Green coalition in the Lower Saxony Landtag, which represents the citizens of Germany's fourth most populous federal state. "Citizens are wondering whether the prosecution of serious crimes is really assured under the SPD and Greens, if supposedly minor offenses are not being pursued with the necessary determination anymore," the party's home affairs spokeswomen Angelika Jahns said. "The solution for a functioning internal security in Lower Saxony is more police," she added. Sweden and the United Kingdom dispute WGADs ruling, with the UK government claiming Assange is "voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest" and is not arbitrarily detained. Assanges possible extradition to Sweden is feared to be a precursor to the whistleblowers transfer to the United States, where he could face espionage charges for publishing classified documents on WikiLeaks. The Australian national, who filed his complaint with WGAD in September 2014, had vowed to walk out of the Ecuadorian embassy and hand himself in to the authorities were the panel rule against him. Below is Assanges brief biography and timeline of events leading up to the latest decision. Biography Julian Paul Assange was born on July 3, 1971 in the north Queensland city of Townsville, Australia. When he was a year old, his mother married Richard Brett Assange, the director of a wandering theater company. Julian had a nomadic childhood, traveling around with his family. When Assange was eight, his mother divorced her husband and became involved with Leif Meynell, a member of the controversial Australian New Age group The Family, with whom she had a son. As the group took newborns away from their mothers, the woman and her sons ran away from Meynell. It happened before Julian turned 16. The family changed homes 37 times. Julian sometimes went to school in a new town, but he was mostly homeschooled, taught by his mother. He was interested in scientific literature and eventually developed a passion for programming. In his autobiography, Assange said that he went to 37 different schools and six universities. Assange studied mathematics and physics at several Australian universities, including Central Queensland University, Australian National University and the University of Melbourne, but did not complete a degree. Budding 'hacking' career Assange began his hacking "career" at the age of 16, when he created an organization called Worms Against Nuclear Killers (WANK) together with friends. They became well-known in October 1989, when the abbreviation WANK appeared on the NASA computer network just before the space shuttle Atlantis landed. In their activities, the hackers followed the following rules: "Don't damage computer systems you break into; don't change the information in those systems; and share information". In 1991, Assange was found hacking into the computer system of Nortel, a multinational telecommunications corporation, and was prosecuted. In 1994, a court ordered him to pay a symbolic fine and released him due to the perceived absence of malicious or mercenary intent. Meanwhile, unable to cope with the stress, Assange's wife left him, taking their two-year child with her. After that, Assange changed several IT jobs, developed a number of network security and routing programs, and was even an adviser on computer security systems. In 1997, he contributed research to the book "Underground: Tales of Hacking, Madness and Obsession on the Electronic Frontier," authored by Australian journalist Suelette Dreyfus. In 1998, Assange traveled around the world, and also visited Russia. In 1998, he co-founded the company Earthmen Technology with the aim of developing network intrusion detection technologies. WikiLeaks In 2006, Assange founded WikiLeaks, a website which publishes secret or restricted materials exposing corruption and wrongdoing. Initially, WikiLeaks goal was to expose corruption in Central Asia, China and Russia, but it also posted significant amounts of material exposing government and corporate wrongdoing in the West. He named Ihor Kononenko, the first deputy chairman of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc party, as a major block to reform, and claimed that Kononenko repeatedly interfered in the administration of large state-owned chemicals transport company 'Ukrkhimtransamiak.' The final straw for Abromavicius was when he was ordered by the Presidential Administration of Ukraine to accede to Kononenko's request to employ two of his associates in his ministry. "I do not want to be a part of this plunder," said Abromavicius, as cited by German newspaper Die Welt in response to being given the order, and resigned from his position. Ukraine: Wirtschaftsminister wirft hin und sieht Reformen in Gefahr DIE WELT mobil Gru aus Kiew https://t.co/nSc3YGmFiN Henning Finck (@henningfinck) 5 2016 'Important reformer gets even with Poroshenko's state,' Die Welt reported. "This explanation from the economic minister caused a remarkable reaction from the embassies of several Western countries." "In a joint statement on Wednesday the German, US, British and six other embassies said they were 'deeply disappointed' about Abromavicius' resignation, who had delivered 'real results from his reforms in Ukraine.'" "The government of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, about whose resignation there has been speculation for months, could lose even more popularity," Die Welt reported. "The credibility of the Ukrainian elite is massively damaged. Parliament speaker Volodymyr Groysman spoke of a 'serious political crisis.'" "The minister's allegations are serious and could have extremely negative consequences for the Ukrainian government. He brought public evidence that reforms are coming only haltingly, and that a part of the new elite which came to power after Maidan, itself stands in the way of reform." "We learned to overcome the resistance of the old system," Die Welt quoted a disillusioned Abromavicius. "But it turned out that some of the new people are even worse than the old." Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan who employ thousands of staff at their European headquarters in London benefit from EU "passporting" rules that allow them to do business across the 28-member bloc, which has a single market of about 500 million people. The same applies to other US corporations with presence in the UK. Goldman's support for the UK's membership of the EU is long-standing. In 2013, the co-chief executives of Goldman Sachs International wrote in The Times that Brexit would be contrary to Britain's national interest. "Large international and European companies see a Britain divorced from the EU as a much less attractive place. Threats to British involvement in the EU are threats to British business." Their sentiments were echoed by Morgan Stanley president Colm Kelleher, who told the Financial Times banking summit last November that "were Great Britain to leave the EU, you would see significant backlash against London as a global financial center". At least for now such scare mongering by US banks has been dismissed by the Bank of England. However, Ben Broadbent appears to have spoken in favor of staying in the EU: "It was only in the latter part of 2012, once confidence about the Eurozone had begun to come back, that the UK economy really got going." US banks have apparently been lobbying the British government to lend more support to the 'In' campaign. JPMorgan Chase economist Allan Monks is quoted by the press as having said that "backing to remain from leading politicians and businesses could help to make up the minds of those currently undecided". The two countries must agree on land reforms and rights of victims who previously lost their land. According to Jordan, both the US and Columbia are at the final stages of an agreement on issues including land reform, victims, US political participation, the drug war, and ending the long conflict. The commitment to return displaced people to lands from which they were ousted has been said to have already begun. "What is especially important is that entire political left of Columbia is being guaranteed that they will be able to organize politically and participate in the political process in an open way," Jordan stated, adding that the move is an unprecedented step by the government toward FARC and other opposition parties. International Observation Necessary The Alliance for Global Justice seeks to defend threatened communities in Colombia, especially in light of the significant number of trade unionists in the country who have been killed by their employers or by right-wing paramilitaries. "International awareness, international observation will be absolutely key to guaranteeing this peace," Jordan said. In 2014, 28 labor unionists were killed following a protest due to the jailing of working brethren for their participation in peaceful protests, according to Jordan. The recent violence undermines the peace process, he said, especially in the attacks on human rights defenders in Colombia last year. "Recursion and displacement continues, and making sure that it stops is going to require international effort. Peace is very difficult to achieve when you have an armed movement representing poor people against a government backed by powerful allies like the US." For his part, Sergei Demidenko, a senior expert at the Russian Institute of Strategic Assessment & Analysis, told RIA Novosti that the Saudi announcement is likely a bluff, with Riyadh and Ankara both realizing that any intervention would quickly turn into a quagmire destabilizing Saudi Arabia and Turkey themselves. "It would be a very dubious move, and an extremely destructive one for Turkey, whose economy is already reeling, and for Saudi Arabia" and its oil-dependent economy. "If Saudi Arabia and Turkey were to introduce their troops to Syria, they would, in the first place, immediately doom themselves to becoming the epicenter of a large-scale guerrilla and ethno-confessional war." Comparing Riyadh's supposed plans with Israel's war in Lebanon, where, after introducing troops, Israel was forced to withdraw, "since it did not know how to fight against guerrilla groups," the analyst recalls that "in the ethno-confessional sense, Syria is very reminiscent of Lebanon." The country features "a large number of various ethnic groups, and fighting them is virtually impossible: [the Saudis] would face huge casualties, would completely destabilize the situation, would waste their budget on a futile war, which as an end result would fizzle out, leading only to regional destabilization and the destabilization of their own economy." Ten days after the funeral the police began interrogating Bulur without even giving him a chance to mourn his brother in peace. "First they accused me insulting the president, then of spreading terrorist propaganda. It happened after I posted on my Facebook page a letter of condolences released by the mayors office following an explosion in a neighboring village which claimed the lives of two young men. Because of this I was accused of supporting terrorists and the PKK," Bulur said. "Im not a member of any political party, Ive never had any problems with the law before, but now Im facing a prison sentence just because Ive said that brother is pitted against brother." He also ruefully remarked that due to him and his late brother having different surnames which is in fact a result of certain local cultural traditions dating back to the old practices of blood feud some media outlets accused him of being a professional provocateur spreading dissent while others portrayed him as a terrorist or a Daesh militant. "Provocateurs usually stage a provocation and flee. If I was a PKK member, I wouldve fled to the mountains; if I was a Daesh militant, I wouldve joined their ranks in Syria, Iraq or Libya. But Im just an ordinary man whos being demonized," he concluded. "The same goes for strategic aviation. And, of course, options are being considered for using 'platforms' abroad. For the moment, the latter is not actively being developed. However, it is always kept in mind." Taken together, "it is not possible to call these measures 'symmetrical'. We are talking about completely different delivery vehicles, and different principles." Today, Kalmykov notes, Russian military thought is undoubtedly based on the principle of 'quality over quantity'. "Modern weaponry demands, more than anything, the characteristics of quality. This can be seen in the modernization of our Aerospace Defense Forces, in the development of new technologies in the field of high-precision weapons, and in the increase of the speeds of missiles, both in the air and under water. And when these technologies are implemented, it will not matter what kind of delivery vehicles they are based on. The main thing is effectiveness." Ultimately, the analyst suggests that when it comes to geopolitical decision-making, "there is nothing new under the sun what's used is what has worked in the past. And indeed, why reinvent the wheel when sufficiently effective methods exist in the areas of political and military confrontation. Yes, of course, from the point of view of the budget, they are costly. But in contrast to the Soviet period, we have additional opportunities which we could use opportunities which we haven't been used yet." These opportunities, in Kalmykov's words, are multifaceted, and are by no means limited to the military sphere. For instance, the analyst notes, Russia might raise the question of withdrawing some of its $80 billion-worth of exchange reserves held in US bonds. WASHINGTON (Sputnik) Turkey has recently came under intense criticism for allegedly purchasing oil from Daesh, that the terror group has been stealing from Syria and Iraq, as well as supplying Daesh with weapons. "Terrorists have targeted popular tourist sites, US government buildings, police, and other local authorities throughout Turkey. The threat of kidnapping remains a concern, especially in the southeast, and incidents of indirect fire from Syria have impacted Turkey along the border," the State Department said in a Thursday travel warning. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that there were "serious grounds" to suspect Turkey of preparing for a military incursion in Syria. TOKYO (Sputnik)Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Russia and European member states of the G7 in late April early May, local media reported Friday. According to the Asahi newspaper, Abe will make an unofficial visit to Russia, during which he may hold a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abe and Putin reached an agreement on the Japanese leaders visit to Moscow in a phone conversation in January, the news outlet reported. Due to the informal nature of the visit, no documents will be signed between the sides, the paper cited a senior government source as saying. TOKYO (Sputnik)Japanese Foreign Deputy Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama and his Russian counterpart Igor Morgulov will discuss the whole spectrum of the bilateral relations , including a peace treaty issue, during a meeting in February, Japan's top diplomat Fumio Kishida said Friday. "We agreed to hold the meeting in February at the level of deputy foreign ministers and we are currently dealing with this issue, however the exact date has not been set yet. Regarding the context [of the meeting] the diplomats will discuss the Japan-Russia relations in general, including talks about the peace treaty," Kishida said at a press conference. The minister refused to comment whether the diplomats would discuss Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's long-anticipated visit to Russia, having stated that "nothing concrete can be said at the current stage." MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russia-NATO Council meeting may be held soon on the level of the organizations permanent envoys, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Friday. In January, US media reported, citing unnamed officials, that NATO was considering possibly inviting Russia to hold formal talks for the first time since the deterioration of NATO-Russia relations in 2014. "Everything that is suggested in the near future is to hold a Russia-NATO Council meeting on the level of foreign ministers, and I think this will happen," Antonov told journalists, adding that the meeting would be between permanent envoys. Remarkably, Libya's factions show little if any enthusiasm regarding either forming a unity government or inviting foreign military force. "Nobody is thinking about requesting foreign intervention at the moment. We are willing to fight [Daesh] ourselves," Ibrahim Dabbashi, Libya's ambassador to the UN, said last month, as quoted by Al-Jazeera. Furthermore, in his latest interview with Der Spiegel, Martin Koble, the UN's special representative to Libya from Germany, admitted that the factions seem to fight each other more than Daesh. "the awareness that people need to be coming together to counter this threat [Daesh] is still lacking. My fear is that the political process will progress more slowly than the military process," Kobler emphasized, adding that Berlin is considering sending military advisors to the country to provide training for Libyan security forces. Excellent today discussion with @FedericaMog on EU support to the #Libya'n political process pic.twitter.com/QgkISrF16I Martin Kobler (@KoblerSRSG) 2 2016 "The key question that must be asked is what would happen if the accord is not signed and a unity government not established?" Sheikh asks. The Pakistani geopolitical analyst poses yet another question: whether or not the "national unity government" will be able to curtail Daesh's advance in Libya. Either way, it is likely that Washington and its NATO allies will unleash a full-scale military invasion of Libya under the pretext of fighting Daesh, he stresses. "Western intervention and long term military presences are, therefore, necessary evils that will be imposed upon the Libyans," the analyst points out. "It has been clear to all parties since that time that once and if a unity government is created, this would make it much easier for the West to re-establish itself there militarily and acquire much necessary geo-strategic leverage," Sheikh concludes. Therefore, Orlov noted, "it is no coincidence that on February 4, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov announced that intense military preparations have been spotted along the Turkish-Syrian border, which may indicate that Turkey is planning a full-scale invasion of Syria." "We are detecting more and more signs of Turkish armed forces being engaged in covert preparations for direct military action in Syria," the spokesman had said, adding that the Russian Defense Ministry had already provided the international community with irrefutable evidence of Turkish self-propelled artillery shelling Syrian settlements in northern Latakia province. Russian MoD registers a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces for active actions on territory of #SYRIA (@mod_russia) 4 2016 But it was the Syrian Army's breakthrough at the strategic cities of Nubl and Zahraa in Aleppo province, Orlov explains, which caused most of the "hysteria among the Syrian opposition" in Geneva, with the army managing to cut off the supply route from Turkey to the rebel-held city of Aleppo, the country's largest city, which has now been encircled. "According to Bashar Jaafari, it was after this offensive that Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, supporting the most implacable opposition forces, ordered the High Negotiations Committee delegation to leave Geneva. After all, these 'opposition leaders' arrived in Geneva on a special plane provided by the Saudi royal family, while those who came to represent the legitimate Syrian government had to use the assistance of [UN Syria mediator] Staffan de Mistura, with huge difficulties and numerous transfers, spending more than 24 hours on the trip." Iranian-Russian ties, Velayati said, "have deep historical roots. Today, more than ever, the two countries need one another." Ties between Russia and Iran, the official emphasized, may play "a decisive role" in building a multipolar world order. "Every day this factor becomes more and more important. Iran and Russia play an important role not only in helping to determine the future of the Middle East, but also in solving global issues as well." "Our countries have common interests which are becoming more and more importantand the speed with which changes are taking place in the world require us to meet more often, require our cooperation." European mainstream political parties seem to be caught in a catch 22 situation. On the one hand they are securitising the migrant crisis for reasons that can be seen as right or wrong, but in doing so, they create the political space for the existence of extreme right wing parties. Jean-Yves Camus, a political analyst and associated research fellow at the Institute of Foreign Relations and Strategy in Paris joins the programme to talk about these issues. Jean-Yves does not see the threat of the National Front Party in France to be a serious threat in that he thinks that they will not be elected. Even if they win 30% of more of the vote, Jean-Yves says, they still only have 2 MPs, and no mainstream French Party is going to form an alliance with them. He does see the National Front affecting the politics of Hollandes party but not seriously. He advocates that Hollandes latest policies are nothing like as extreme as Le Penns who basically wishes to stop all migrants coming to France. Nevertheless, the fact that the National Front exists is a major factor which shapes French politics. He is joined by Turkish journalist Erman Cete who writes for SOL newspaper and by Daniel McAdams of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace & Prosperity. They discuss the motivations of the Turkish government in these new escalations and the likely response by NATO, the Obama White House and Russia In the second segment, Becker is joined by Thom Hartmann, author and radio/tv host a conversation about the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP by ministers from all 12 countries that make up the pact. Is the TPP even worse than its critics imagined, does it give unprecedented power to transnational corporations and banks and why does President Obama continue to stand behind it? Finally, WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson talks about the decision of the United Nations yesterday that whistleblower Julian Assange has been the victim of "arbitrary detention" in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London for the past three and a half years. Ecuador offered political asylum to Assange, based on fears that his legal rights would be denied by the United States, but he has been trapped in Ecuador's Embassy in London since 2012. The British still say that if he leaves the Embassy he will be arrested. What happens next after this important UN decision? . If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the Access to the chat has been blocked for violating the rules . You will be able to participate again through:. If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the feedback form The discussion is closed. You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article. He said, however, that Turkey refused to confirm its compliance with the memorandum. "But the Turkish military that is formally part of the US coalition refused to confirm their compliance with the memorandum, stating that this given issue is the responsibility of the foreign ministry. Moreover, they unilaterally blocked the hotline and didnt answer our immediate requests. In the end, the Turkish Air Force knowingly downed the Russian bomber jet on November 24, killing Russian servicemen," Antonov said. According to Antonov, Russia has deployed an air defense system in the region in order to avoid a repeat of such scenario. "This will enable to discover threats to Russian planes in a timely manner that are completing military tasks in Syria and if necessary, take appropriate measures to provide security of their flights," Antonov added. In Syria, which has been torn apart by a civil war since 2011, Russia and the US-led coalition have been conducting separate air campaigns against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, which is prohibited in many countries including Russia. Moscow is acting at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the coalition forces have not received the approval of the official government in Damascus. Russian-Turkish relations deteriorated following the downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24. In response to this "stab in the back," as it was described by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow has imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey. Moscow and Ankara have divergent positions in Syria. Turkey believes that Bashar Assad has no role in the country's future, while Russia supports Assad as the legitimate authority in Syria. He explained that by visiting Chile, Peru and Ecuador, Erdogan is most likely pursuing his desire to establish a government with a strong executive in Turkey and seeks to study the experiences of countries where such systems already exist. "For example, during the 10-year reign of Alberto Fujimori, the presidential government in Peru was transformed into an authoritarian semi-dictatorship. On the other hand, Chile possesses the experience of a presidency based on adherence to democratic traditions," he said. Boratav also added that another important aspect of maintaining presidential authority in government is the ability to reach a consensus with the parliamentary majority. "As far as I know, Ecuadors President Correa controls the parliamentary majority in his country. On the other hand, Peru is the exact opposite, as the president there has lost the support of his parliament. Such experiences also generate considerable interest for the Turkish president," Boratav concluded. Meanwhile, a group of students from the Institute of National Studies (IAEN) staged a protest rally during Erdogans visit to Ecuador. According to the digital newspaper eldiario.es, the protesters were demanding that he stop the ongoing anti-Kurdish military operation in the southeastern regions of Turkey, chanting "Long live the Kurdish people!" and "Away with Erdogan!" Via release, the four horsepeople behind a polarizing proposal for the Ontario horse racing industry have stated that they are cautiously optimistic about upcoming information sessions that have been announced by a new entity that goes by the name of the Ontario Racing Association. The ORA announced the upcoming sessions earlier this week. The informal information sessions with Standardbred horsepeople will take place at Western Fair District on Tuesday, February 9, and at Mohawk Racetrack on Wednesday, February 10. For complete information, click here. As an article by the Chatham Daily News explains, the four horsepeoples recent 12-page proposal for the provincial harness racing industry calls for live racing to cease at Dresden Raceway, the Hiawatha Horse Park and Leamington Raceway, and for those purses monies to then be redistributed in order to bolster purses at other tracks. The Chatham Daily News article has quoted Ontario Harness Horse Association General Manager Brian Tropea as saying that he does not favour closing the three race tracks. I think that it's important to maintain your market share in as broad an area of the province as possible, Tropea was quoted as saying. I don't know how you would possibly attract a new fan or new owner or participant to racing if live racing doesn't have a presence in that end of the province. To read the Chatham Daily News article in its entirety, click here. The contents from the joint release from the authors (Mark Beaven, Mark Horner, Scott McNiven and Heather Toll) of the recent proposal for the Ontario horse racing industry appears below. Racing Proposal Proponents Encouraged By Upcoming Meetings The recent announcement by Ontario Racing Association (ORA) is being met with cautious optimism by the four authors of a recent report titled 2016 Standardbred Racing Proposal. Authors Mark Beaven, Mark Horner, Scott McNiven and Heather Toll are planning on attending the upcoming meetings announced by ORA. The meetings are being held on February 9 at London Raceway, and February 10 at Mohawk Raceway, and the authors encourage all industry participants to attend as well. According to the group of four, the proposed meetings are seen as a step in the right direction for those in the business that want to work together positively to improve our industry. It will give everyone an opportunity to openly discuss options as the industry tries to bring financial sustainability back to the business of racing. One of the main purposes of the report was to generate discussion, and the two informal sessions are seen as a direct result. We have been more then open to hearing other options put on the table that are designed to improve Ontario racing, states Horner. The status quo is not working, so having a meeting of this nature will give everyone in the industry an opportunity to voice their own ideas. While no formal agenda is set for the meetings, it is anticipated that respectful dialogue will happen, allowing a sharing of ideas. The four authors encourage all horsemen and women to come out to the meetings with the intention of looking forward. Whether you favour our proposal, or have your own ideas for improvement, I would like to see as many people out to these sessions, says Beaven. By having a large number of industry participants attend, it says to our government partner that we are here and ready to work together. On the morning of Sunday, January 31, horseman John Anthony Tony MacRae passed away at the age of 80. Mac passed away peacefully, with his daughter by his side, and has gone to be with Kitty, his wife of 51 years, in heaven. Although his body had become tired and frail, MacRaes spirit was full of grateful appreciation for a life well lived. He was strong-willed, witty, faithful, and generous to the people he loved. He enjoyed reminiscing about his 50+ year career as a Standardbred driver and trainer, one in which he won over 1,100 races. Tony was born to John McRae and Grace Copeland in Lost River, Quebec and was one of 14 children. He loved his family, friends, Canadian whiskey and Lucky Strike no-filter cigarettes (not necessarily in that order!). He was an awesome dad to Gail York and Donna MacRae, father in law to Jeffrey York, adoring grandfather to Caitlin Congi, Kimberly Congi, and Katherine York, loving brother, and friend to many. Tony will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him. A memorial service will be held in his honour at Carey Hand Cox Parker Funeral Home, 1350 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL, on Saturday, February 13 at 11:00 a.m. All are welcome to attend. The family requests that any donations be made to the charity of your choice, in his name. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Anthony Tony MacRae. Trot Insider has learned that longtime Manitoba and Saskatchewan horseman Gerry Probert passed away on Thursday, February 4 at the age of 86. Probert had been on owner, tack-shop operator, judge and race secretary throughout the course of his career in racing. Trot Insider has not received any information about arrangements for Probert, but will update this notice with complete information when it is received. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Gerry Probert. Zika-linked condition: Rio Olympics to go ahead despite virus There is no chance that the Rio Olympics will be cancelled because of a... The Mustangs go into their 'warrior zone' to defeat fifth-seeded Lakewood in the first game of pool play in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs. The Duke of Washingtons state trail is standing taller on the State Parks and Recreation Commission agenda this year after nearly being snuffed out by the Legislature in 2015. The John Wayne Pioneer Trailthe eastern portion of a cross-state abandoned Milwaukee railway purchased by the state in 1981is on track for a state park strategic plan. An advisory committee representing landowners and trail advocates was appointed in December to aid the state in planning development of the trail and addressing issues. The route is the longest rail-trail conversion in the United States. Major issues include replacing damaged trestles, linking gaps, controlling weeds, sanitation, regulating authorized use, trespassing on adjacent land and satisfying adjacent landowners who contend the trail is an infringement on their private property rights. Interest in the trail was revived last year after Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, attempted to close a 130-mile portion of the trail as well as the Columbia Plateau rail trail and give control of the corridor to adjacent landowners. A last-minute provision was added to the states capital budget without public announcement or input. A technical error in the language negated the action that would have closed the John Wayne Trail from the Columbia River east to Malden. Trail advocates led by the Tekoa Trestle and Trail Association organized public meetings in Rosalia, Lind and Ellensburg, attended by Schmick and state Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville. The meetings provided a laundry list of what the public likes and dislikes about the trail. Some advocates pointed out that the trail is a 6,000-acre linear park that was a one-time opportunity to acquire and a gem for the future. Sen. Schoesler and I have been contacted for years by property owners over the fact that Parks, DNR and the Department of Transportationthe three state entities involved in the traildont do anything. Theres no upkeep, Schmick said explaining his 2015 legislative move. There are noxious weeds, no fences and the biggest problem is trespassing. We offered a compromise that would keep the land and trail but allow property owners to manage the ground as it should be. When possible, it could be opened up as a recreation trail. Our intent was never to give land back to property owners. It was to let them take care of it. But when the issue was exposed to the public, Schmick and Schoesler heard a wider range of comments. Fourteen towns have passed city resolutions asking the state Legislature to fund the trail rather than close it, including Spokane, Cheney, Tekoa, Rosalia, Lind, Palouse, Colfax, Pullman, Cle Elum, Royal City, Rockford, Latah, Ellensburg and Roslyn. No legislation is pending that would affect the trail in the 2016 Washington Legislature, Schmick said Tuesday. It would seem premature to offer any legislation until the State Parks Department evaluating process has run its course, he said. The advisory committee, with members ranging from Tekoa to Seattle, convened on Dec. 15 and will meet again on Monday. Our goal is to identify problems and find compromises and solutions, said Randy Kline, a planner for Washington State Parks and Recreation. Parks officials hope to have action proposals ready for the Parks and Recreation Commission July meeting in Clarkston. The trail had been under almost dormant jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources until the Legislature gave majority control to State Parks in 2006. No funding for trail work was in the legislation. Then in 2008, we found ourselves in the middle of the Great Recession and State Parks was struggling just to redefine itself, Kline said. During that difficult time, the funding just wasnt there. Grant applications have been filed and some funding is coming through for trail projects, he said. Trail users have complained that the permit system required by the legislature in the 1980s eliminates spontaneous use of short sections of the trail and makes lawbreakers out of families who are using the route for short walks or rides from their rural towns or farms. Moms and dads with their kids, Boy Scouts and cyclists, horse riders and grandpas, a lot of good people would use that trail if you didnt make it harder for them, said Ted Blaszak of the Tekoa Trail and Trestle Association. Confusion over the permits is widespread among users and landowners. A map used by State Parks to help users indicates stretches of deeded private land where parties that obtain permits are allowed to pass. One of the advantages of the permit is that we know when somebodys on the trail for overnight trips and we can communicate safety information and alert landowners, Kline said. Thats not to say theres not a better way to do it. Well be exploring that through the process. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is inviting public comment through Feb. 12 on 10 proposals to acquire land for fish and wildlife habitat and public recreation. Proposed acquisitions include 763 acres of land along Willapa Bay in Pacific County which could provide big game and waterfowl hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. Other lands are in Walla Walla, Snohomish, Lincoln, Kittitas, Klickitat, Grays Harbor and Thurston counties. Information on the properties is available on WDFWs website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/lands/acquisitions/. The webpage also includes information on previous land acquisition projects. Written comments on the proposed acquisitions may be submitted via email to Lands@dfw.wa.gov or by mail to Lauri Vigue, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia, WA 98501-1091. The review process is designed to solicit public input on the proposals before the department seeks funding sources later this year, said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW land conservation and restoration section manager. WDFW currently owns or manages about one million acres in 33 wildlife areas, along with 700 public water-access sites. Cowlitz PUD customers upset over rising electricity bills took their protests from social media to the streets Friday. A small group of customers held a low-key protest outside the utility, toting signs the read PUD Scam and Food or Power? Several cars pulled over to sign a petition calling for an audit of the utilitys digital meters, which the protesters contend are inaccurate. (They said they had more than 100 signatures collected by mid-morning. ) In response, at least one Cowlitz PUD commissioner said he thinks an audit is a good idea. Jesus Martinez brought along his his toy terrier, Domino, to the protest. Martinez, 40, said hes watched his weekly bills increase using the Pay as You Go plan, which allows PUD customers to monitor energy use and pay it off incrementally. Martinez said he used to spend $50 for a few weeks of power at his Kalama home in the summer, even with air conditioning and a hot tub. Now its costing him at least $60 a week, he said, even though the hot tub is turned off and his family is gone 13 hours a day. Another demonstrator, Scott Juntunen, 46, said his January electricity bill was $397 for his 1,700-square foot Longview home built in 1996. That surprised him, because his highest winter bill was $169 at his previous residence, a 1,400-square-foot home in Lexington built in the 1970s, he said. You got low-income families taking food out of their mouths to pay for these bills, Juntunen said. PUD bills have risen as a result of colder winter temperatures (relative to last year) and because of last Septembers 7.5 percent residential rate increase. That was the latest of a series of increases that have boosted PUD residential rates by about 50 percent over the past decade. But the rates still are among the lowest in the nation. The PUD buys 90 percent of its power from the Bonneville Power Administration, which hiked its rates last year. The PUD had to pass some of those costs on to its customers. The utility also is making less money on the sale of its surplus energy because of collapsing energy markets. And in recent years it raised residential rates to even out a disparity with rates charged commercial customers, who were paying more. On top of that, the utility also says its losing about $1 million a month on its Central Washington wind farms, which it built to comply with a voter-approved state initiative requiring it to use more renewable energy. (The loss is the difference between revenues it earns from power sales and the cost of paying off loans used to build the farms.) The utility said this week that is has recalculated all of its December and January bills and ran sample tests on its digital meters, but so far it has not found any glaring errors. About the 48,000 digital meters were installed throughout the county between 2007 and 2011. The digital meters track energy use and then radio the information back to the utility, eliminating the need for meter readers. The meters have a 99 percent accuracy rate, the utility says. Protesters arent buying it. Smart Meters arent smart, said Sylvia Buck, 48, a Longview legal consultant. They dont track correctly and people are getting vastly ripped off. Buck is a single mother who said that after the installation of a Smart Meter in her home, she saw her monthly bills jump from $68-72 per month to $110 to $140. She pointed to problems other communities in Arizona and California have had with Smart Meters. Cowlitz PUD Commissioner Ned Piper met with the protesters. He said there are probably legitimate reasons for why customers bills are rising, such as higher energy use during the winter. He said he didnt think screwed up meters were a sound explanation, but he said he will suggest to the utilitys general manager that the PUD seek an independent audit of the meters. Piper said he had been at the protest for a couple hours by mid-morning talking to protesters. Were arent just jacking up the bills for no reason, he said. The Scott Firefighter Stairclimb, which raises money for blood cancer research, got even more personal for Longview firefighter Mike Mann two years ago. After 69 floors and 1,356 steps, hed reached the top of Columbia Tower in downtown Seattle, completing the annual stair-climbing competition that draws firefighters from around the world. Mann was enjoying the view from the skyscraper when he got a disturbing text from a friend. His best friend, the man he grew up with, Jim Piper, was on a ventilator, in a hospital bed in Wisconsin, dying from leukemia. You need to fly to Wisconsin. Jim is dying, the text from Jims sister read. A last-minute bone marrow transplant saved his friend, but Mann, 50, hasnt forgotten the ordeal. Now hes committed to making sure many more people survive cancer people like Piper and Manns 78-year-old mother, a survivor of breast cancer and lymphoma cancer. (Mann also lost his cousin to leukemia.) Mann is the Longview Fire Department teams biggest fundraiser, having collected an estimated $30,000 for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in the last five years. Ill do this till I cant do it anymore, he said of the Seattle Stairclimb, which takes place March 6 this year. He and five other Longview firefighters already are raising money for blood cancer research. They train by repeatedly climbing the eight flights of stairs at Campus Towers, a senior living facility that is Longviews tallest building. Thursdays training session proved a physically grueling task. Between their plastic helmets and masks, Kevlar-coated jackets and pants, steel-toed leather boots and metal oxygen tanks, firefighters regularly pack on 60 pounds of gear. Firefighters who compete in Seattle must wear full gear. The teams fastest man is firefighter Eric Bergquist, who estimates he can reach the top of Columbia Tower in about 15 minutes. At 943 feet tall, the tower is Washingtons tallest building and is the second tallest building on the West Coast. On Thursday morning, firefighters thump thumped in single file up the hollow stairwell. Gear rattled and the sounds of heavy breathing forced its way through masks zipped tight. When firefighter Graham Lasee stripped off his coat at the end of practice, steam sloughed off his shoulders and sweat dripped from his face. And thats without a fire. Its been 15 years since Battalion Chief Troy Buzalsky last competed in the Seattle Stairclimb, but this year he couldnt pass it up. Buzalsky lost two friends to leukemia last year. His best friend, Mark Lewis, died Wednesday night after several rounds of aggressive chemotherapy. He was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant this weekend. Buzalsky, though, had already promised to compete in the Seattle climb in Lewiss honor. Hell be competing alongside Marks son Justin, a student with the Corvallis Fire Department, whose example inspired Buzalsky to compete. Buzalsky, 53, said he wants to spread the word about how to become a bone marrow donor. He said despite the fact that getting tested takes only a cheek swab, few people do it. I was absolutely flabbergasted, shocked, when you see all of these people suffering from blood cancer. We have to be stewards for our neighbors, he said. Buzalsky said the climb will turn the sadness of losing Mark into action. Sometimes, when you face stuff, you dont know what to say or do. This was a way for me to do something meaningful, he said. NASHUA, N.H. Q: When is a win not a win? A: When the winner is Hillary Clinton. The Iowa Democratic Party confirmed in its final tally Tuesday that Clinton had won Monday nights caucuses. She not only beat Bernie Sanders but got more votes than any Republican candidate, and she becomes the first woman ever to win the Iowa caucuses. Clinton remains the prohibitive favorite to win the Democratic presidential nomination. Yet from the coverage of Mondays caucuses, youd think Clinton was on the ropes. The New York Times: Hillary Clinton Campaign, Unnerved by Iowa, Braces for New Hampshire The Washington Post: Photo finish reveals shortcomings of candidate who once seemed invincible Politico: How Iowa went wrong for Hillary Clinton CNN: Did Hillary Clinton really win the Iowa caucuses? The Post reported that she would spend the day trying to reassure supporters, donors and the mainstream media that last night does not mean a reprise of 2008, and the Times raised the possibility that a significant staff shakeup was at hand. One shudders to imagine the coverage if she had lost Iowa. Journalists were faulting Clinton for flunking the expectations game by barely defeating a 74-year-old socialist who once trailed distantly. But that dismissed the salient fact that she won and that her performance fit with forecasts. Yes, the RealClearPolitics polling average showed her up four points in Iowa, but a few days earlier that same average showed Sanders with a slight lead. As for the margin of victory, Rick Santorum defeated Mitt Romney by all of 34 votes in 2012 yet his win was reported as a conquest. Why the disparate treatment? Some see sexism, which is difficult to prove. But there does seem to be a long-running game in which Clinton can never quite meet the expectations set for her, even if her actual achievements are considerable. She raised a ton of money but Sanders raised almost as much! She won the Iowa caucuses but she didnt win by enough! Yes, the narrow win in Iowa could make for a more protracted nomination battle. So would an expected loss in New Hampshire, which the media will likely attribute to Clintons weakness rather than Sanders being a New Englander (like previous New Hampshire victors Romney, John Kerry, Paul Tsongas, Michael Dukakis and Edmund Muskie). But it may have been a hard slog no matter who was in the race with Clinton: Shes a candidate of steadiness at a time when the electorate wants iconoclasts. Voters, particularly young ones, are easily wooed by talk of free college and free health care. They can be intemperate (as demonstrated by the supporters at the Sanders rally in Des Moines on Monday night who booed Clinton when she appeared on television and chanted Shes a liar!) and can fall for unrealistic promises. But Clinton, to her credit, is not pretending to be something other than herself this time. I come to you with a lifetime of service and advocacy and of getting results was her less-than-soaring pitch here Tuesday. Clinton staffers have come to expect that theyll have to fight every hour literally. After Clintons speech Monday night, in which she stopped short of claiming victory, aides briefed reporters at about 1:30 a.m. aboard the campaign plane on the Des Moines airport tarmac, trying mightily to spin a victory in the absence of final results. The only candidate who can emerge from tonights caucuses with a win is Hillary Clinton, Brian Fallon said. We believe, said Jennifer Palmieri, that we won. Our modeling shows that. When the plane landed in New Hampshire at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, Fallon announced that the Iowa Democratic Party and NBC had projected Clinton the winner. Were still waiting for CNN and ABC and AP, he told reporters. As soon as they project it, well open the door to the plane. A few hours later, at Nashua Community College, the candidate herself felt it safe to declare victory. I am so thrilled that Im coming to New Hampshire after winning Iowa, she told about 800 supporters. Ive won and Ive lost there. Its a lot better to win. The speech, at 40 minutes, was too long and discursive, but it included the most important point. Dont ever forget, she told the cheering crowd. Close elections matter. You either win or you lose. Thats how it works, and Hillary Clinton won the Iowa caucuses. Lets cut her some slack. tech2 News Staff China's Alibaba Group is looking to increase its footprint in India and is possibly exploring buying a stake in India's largest Internet firm Flipkart Ltd, sources have revealed in this report by livemint.com. The sources say that the talks are at an initial stage and the deal is dependent on whether or not Flipkart is willing to offer a discount on its current valuation of $15 billion. There is also speculation of Alibaba talking to Snapdeal but it wants a discount on the firm's current valuation of $6.5 billion, says livemint.com. The Indian e-commerce is currently in a phase where sales have shot up but losses are mounting too. The burden of luring buyers by offering deep discounts has put the combined losses of Amazon India, Flipkart and Snapdeal at Rs. 5,052 crore . Down the line, consolidation or investments like these from outside of India seem to be the only feasible option to keep operations running. Alibaba is no stranger to the Indian m-commerce and e-commerce space. One97 Communications, the parent company of Indian mobile payment and commerce platform Paytm, had said in September last year that it had received funding from Alibaba Group Holding and its Ant Financial Services Group. "The latest round of funding will allow Paytm to achieve scale and develop its vibrant mobile commerce and payment ecosystem in India and invest in marketing, technology and talent," One97 Communications had said in a statement at that time. Alibaba, along with SoftBank Group and Foxconn, also led a round of investment pegged at $500 million in Snapdeal in August last year. Incidentally, SoftBank is also an early backer of Alibaba. hidden Taiwan's Foxconn is aiming to finalise a deal to acquire Japan's Sharp Corp by the end of the month, after the two firms reached a consensus on most points, Foxconn Chief Executive Officer Terry Gou said. Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, has been given preferred negotiating rights and most remaining issues to be resolved were legal and regulatory, Gou said after meeting with executives of the struggling electronics maker on Friday. The Apple Inc supplier has offered to invest around JPY 659 billion (roughly Rs 37,862 crores) in Sharp, sources familiar with the matter have said - which would make it Foxconn's biggest deal to date and the largest acquisition by a foreign company in Japan's insulated tech sector. "We have a consensus," Gou told reporters. "The rest is a process ... I don't see a problem completing this process." The meeting with Sharp executives came one day after Sharp's board decided to focus on Foxconn's offer over a rival bid from a Japanese state-backed fund. While many investors have faith in Gou's business acumen, noting he has built up the world's biggest contract maker of electronic gadgets from scratch, buying Sharp is seen as carrying as many, or more, risks than potential benefits. A deal would give Foxconn access to the Japanese display maker's cutting-edge technology at a time when clients such as Apple are likely looking ahead to more advanced flexible screens. However, key concerns include slowing global sales for smartphones as well as fierce competition from South Korea and Chinese rivals that have hammered demand for Sharp's liquid crystal displays and hindered it from making a recovery despite two major bank-led bailouts in the last four years. The macro environment is not so great," said Vincent Chen, head of regional research with Yuanta Research in Taipei. "Terry is very calculating. He has guts, but I really think there is still a big risk." Foxconn is also seen by some as overpaying for a loss-making company with the acquisition likely to weigh heavily on its balance sheet. "Foxconn's offer is expensive, which shows how desperately the company wants Sharp's technology," said Takatoshi Itoshima, chief portfolio manager at Commons Asset Management. Japan-based sources familiar with the matter have also said there was still some wariness among Sharp and its creditors towards Gou after a 2012 agreement to form a strategic alliance and capital ties broke down. But Sharp CEO Kozo Takahashi stressed on Thursday that Sharp and Foxconn had since forged a good relationship through the joint management of a plant in Japan. Shares in Sharp soared to end 10 percent higher on Friday on the news that Gou had flown in to meet Sharp executives, bringing two-day gains to 28 percent and giving it a market value of $2.6 billion (roughly Rs. 17,579 crores). Reuters hidden Google parent Alphabet Inc said Amit Singhal, the longtime chief of its Internet search business, will leave the company and be replaced by the head of the technology giant's artificial intelligence business. John Giannandrea, currently a vice president of engineering, will replace Singhal, a 15-year Google veteran, once he leaves on 26 February. "Search is stronger than ever, and will only get better in the hands of an outstanding set of senior leaders who are already running the show day-to-day," Singhal wrote in a blog post. The appointment of Giannandrea, who joined Google in 2010, underlines the growing importance Silicon Valley is attaching to artificial intelligence technology. Giannandrea led Google's machine learning efforts, applying the technology to products such as image recognition for Google Photos search and the smart reply for Google Inbox. "Machine intelligence is crucial to our Search vision of building a truly intelligent assistant that connects our users to information and actions in the real world," Google said in an emailed statement. The importance of AI has been highlighted in moves by other prominent companies. Elon Musk, Tesla Motors'chief executive, and other prominent tech executives in December announced a $1 billion funding commitment to an AI non-profit. Apple Inc reportedly bought AI startup Emotient Inc last month. Reuters Pranjal Kshirsagar One of Google's most influential engineers, Amit Singhal, will be stepping down later this month to spend more time with his family and dedicate time to giving something back to society. Amit Singhal was born in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh in India and received a Bachelor of Engineering degree from IIT Roorkee. He continued his computer science education in the United States and received an MS degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, in 1991. Singhal continued his studies at Cornell University, Ithaca in New York and went on to receive a PhD in 1996. It was at Cornell that Singhal studied with Gerard Salton a pioneer in the field of information retrieval, also known as 'the father of digital search'. Singhal got hooked on to solving the problem of search and after the PhD, he joined AT&T Labs where he continued his research in information retrieval, speech retrieval and other related fields. In 2000, Singhal was persuaded by his friend Krishna Bharat (an Indian research scientist, who worked at Google and led the team that developed its Google News product) to join Google. He and his teams were responsible for the Google search algorithms and he is also referred to as the master of what Google calls 'ranking algorithm' the formulas that decide which Web pages best answer each user's question. After joining Google, there was no turning back for Singhal. He was named a Google Fellow as a reward for re-writing the search engine in 2001. In 2011, he was inducted as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery. Fortune named Singhal one of the smartest people in tech. In 2011, he was given the Outstanding Achievement in Science and Technology Award at The Asian Awards. In addition to this, he was also elected as one of the members of the National Academy of Engineering. Google and Singhal seem to have a harmonious growth story. What started as Backrub by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, working out of Stanford University servers in 1995, got registered as Google in 1997. And after the new algorithm in 2001, followed a string of patents and innovative updates that literally made it a synonym for searching on the internet -- just Google it, we say when want to look something up. The recent past saw Singhal take up a new challenge reinvent Google for the mobile world. In a report by the New York Times, Singhal said that smartphones were fundamentally changing the way people consumed information and Google's search had to cater to that which meant rethinking what search means from first principles. Singhal and his team spent five years building products like the Knowledge Graph, which powers tools like voice search and also introduced 'Now on Tap' that embeds search inside features like text messages and apps on Android phones. Towards the end of last year, Singhal led his team to build a cool prototype that professed his love for Star Trek. They created a fully working prototype of the programme's famous lapel pin communicators. The pin, explains this report, was used by Captain Picard and his crew to communicate, and Google kept the basic principles by building in a microphone and Bluetooth connectivity to sync with a smartphone. Singhal said he had always wanted that pin and on a whim decided to make the prototype. Singhal's belief of the concept of 'ubiquitous computing' led to the prototype and what he hopes will grow out of these baby steps and become reality. Algorithms and learnings that we have had for 15 years of running Google are actually coming in tremendously handy in building the future, Singhal had said in the New York Times report. Without those, we would be lost today. hidden By Rishi Seth TRAIs decision to ban the differential pricing of data has stopped Free Basics in its tracks for now. Facebook's aggressive, if controversial campaign to save Free Basics in India has come to naught. The company spent an estimated Rs. 300 crore on a fully kitted campaign: roadside hoardings, full-page newspaper ads and TV commercials featuring Mark Zuckerberg himself implored Indians to vote for Free Basics. This campaign is also probably the most expensive self-goal scored by any corporation ever. Never mind the dazzle of the campaign, Facebook lost the battle even before a single ad appeared. The opposite camp of net neutrality activists had sealed its victory by the simple act of generating public awareness around the issue of net neutrality. To understand why, we need to start from the battles genesis. Free Basics, or Internet.org as it was called before, was conceived as a strategic business initiative for Facebook. Its global propagation and acceptance was and still remains critical to Facebooks business interests. India is one of the biggest potential markets for Facebook and Free Basics, if not the biggest. To get all necessary regulatory approvals for Free Basics in India was therefore a battle Facebook had to win at any cost. Now, securing favorable policy decisions or regulatory approvals for any business is an established game with well-defined rules. This game is often played discreetly and under the radar of public eyes, whenever a corporation has interests that are not completely aligned to the larger public interest. The rationale is simple; even a glimmer of spotlight on the issue runs the risk of exposing the chasm between the corporations interests and the larger public interest, which in turn makes getting a favorable policy decision much harder. Had the Indian regulatory battle played out as per Facebooks plan, the corporation would have discreetly lobbied TRAI and other policy influencers (including the top echelons of Indian government), made allowance for due process to be followed quietly (through a consultation paper) and ultimately would have secured the approval for Free Basics. Except, the due process was far from quiet in this case. In March 2015, TRAI came out with its first consultation paper on the regulatory framework for Over-the-Top (OTT) services. Within a few days, the net neutrality activists launched SaveTheInternet campaign, which would quickly become a massive and pan-India online movement. Among its other achievements, the SavetheInternet campaign rallied support from a motley crew of artists, journalists, lawyers and opinion makers. Its single biggest achievement however was in bringing the convoluted topic of net neutrality and the ongoing regulatory process around it into the public limelight. Once the established game was thus disrupted, Facebook was ill prepared to continue with its play. This lack of preparation showed in every subsequent move that followed from the corporation. Facebook strategically blundered in escalating the regulatory process to a battle of public opinion. The regulators job is to recommend a policy that creates a level playing ground for all stakeholders after hearing the nuanced viewpoints of the stakeholders. If public opinion alone could decide policy, income tax would have been long abolished, petrol would sell at half the price and India would have bombed the terrorist camps in neighboring countries. The Rs. 300 crore Free Basics campaign was a shot in the arm for net neutrality activists as it only managed to bring an even widespread public attention to what could have been a low-profile regulatory process. TRAI was no doubt acutely aware of the unprecedented public gaze upon them. This is not the kind of limelight most regulators are used to. More worryingly, this campaign also betrayed a shocking lack of understanding of the regulatory process that Facebook was keen to influence as evidenced by the recent letters TRAI wrote to the corporation. Facebook made other tactical mistakes along the way. The brilliant idea to frame Free Basics as free Internet for poor (after all, who doesnt love free Internet) failed to consider the presence of a skeptical media that saw through the free part and called it out. Yet another campaign to vilify the net neutrality activists as elites or Internet ayatollahs with no concern for the data-deprived poor ran aground when people with the stature of Lok Sabha MP BJ Panda and former UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani, along with over 80 professors from IITs and IISC raised their voices against Free Basics. In the final analysis, the Free Basics campaign will go down a masterclass in how not to conduct lobbying and public relations. The only consolation Facebook can draw is that its win-at-all-costs battle was lost before it even began fighting, and by factors completely outside its control a well-executed awareness campaign by the net neutrality activists. The author is a communications and marketing consultant. tech2 News Staff Google parent Alphabet Inc recently said Amit Singhal, the longtime chief of its Internet search business, will leave the company and be replaced by the head of the technology giants artificial intelligence business. John Giannandrea, currently a vice president of engineering, will replace Singhal, a 15-year Google veteran, once he leaves on 26 February. In a blog on Google+, he mused over his years at Google and shared a glimpse of what he wishes to do now that he will have more time on his hands. He titled the blog 'The journey continues...' and here's what he wrote: Dear Friends, My life has been a dream journey. From a little boy growing up in the Himalayas dreaming of the Star Trek computer, to an immigrant who came to the United States with two suitcases and not much else, to the person responsible for Search at Google, every turn has enriched me and made me a better person. As I entered the fifteenth year of working at Google, I've been asking myself the question, "what would you want to do for the next fifteen?" The answer has overwhelmingly been: give back to others. It has always been a priority for me to give back to people who are less fortunate, and make time for my family amidst competing work constraints--but on both fronts, I simply want to give and do more. Now is a good time to make this important life change. Things are in amazing shape. Search is stronger than ever, and will only get better in the hands of an outstanding set of senior leaders who are already running the show day-to-day. It fills me with pride to see what we have built in the last fifteen years. Search has transformed peoples lives; over a billion people rely on us. Our mission of empowering people with information and the impact it has had on this world cannot be overstated. When I started, who would have imagined that in a short period of fifteen years, we would tap a button, ask Google anything and get the answer. Today, it has become second nature to us. My dream Star Trek computer is becoming a reality, and it is far better than what I ever imagined. I love Google. It is a company that believes in doing the right thing, a company that believes in doing good in the world, a company that cares. I look back at my time here with a profound sense of gratitude that I was a part of building this. Now, with pride, gratitude, and joy in my heart, I need to define my next fifteen years. I am eager to see what kind of impact I can make philanthropically, and of course, to spend more time with my family--especially with my wife who I miss spending time with given our incredibly busy lives, and our son who will go to college soon, leaving an empty nest behind. Feb 26 will be my last day at Google. My relationships are the most important thing Ive accumulated in life and Id love for that to continue. Please do drop me a line occasionally and we can have a cup of tea. As Chief Siahl said Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints! I am taking so many fond memories with me, and hopefully Ive left a small footprint here. With Love, Amit hidden New York: Samsung Electronics Co's latest Galaxy phone will have a high-definition touch screen that's nearly twice the size of the iPhone, while being thinner and lighter than Apple's phone. The Galaxy line has emerged as the biggest competitor to the iPhone. Samsung said the Galaxy S III will go on sale in Europe on 29 May and in the US this summer. The Korean company showed off the phone Thursday at an event in London. Like previous Galaxy phones, the S III will run Google Inc''s Android software. The processor, or "brains" of the device, will be upgraded to include four computing cores. The iPhone and most other high-end phones are "dual-core," but there are some quad-core devices on sale already. The added computing power will be put to use in the S III's expanded voice-command features. When the phone screen is off, owners will be able to "wake" it up by saying "Hi, Galaxy." They can then give further spoken commands. When Apple launched the iPhone 4S last year, it also made advances in voice recognition a central selling point. Samsung will sell a pad that charges a phone placed on it, with no need to connect a cable. Palm Inc.'s last smartphone had a similar feature when released three years ago, but it never became popular. Samsung said the phone will go on sale in 145 countries with 296 phone companies, making it the company's biggest launch so far. In the US, Japan and Korea, the phone will use fourth-generation, or 4G, networks for faster data downloads. Samsung didn't say which carriers would sell it, but the previous Galaxy model was sold by all four national U.S. wireless carriers: Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. Samsung doesn't release phone shipment figures, but most analysts believe its smartphones outsold Apple and its 35.1 million iPhones in the January-to-March period. Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walkley believes Apple and Samsung together accounted for virtually all the profits in the phone industry in the first three months of 2012, with three-quarters going to Apple by virtue of its singular focus on the high-priced iPhone. Samsung and Apple have a complicated relationship. They're rivals in the smartphone and tablet-computer markets and fight each other in court over patents. But Samsung is one of Apple's largest suppliers of chips and displays, and Apple is one of Samsung's largest clients. The Galaxy series debuted in 2010. The screen size has increased with each version: The Galaxy S had a screen that measured 4 inches (10 centimeters) diagonally. It was followed by the S II, at 4.3 inches (10.9 centimeters). The S III screen has a 4.8-inch (12-centimeter) screen. Meanwhile, the iPhone screen has stayed the same size, at 3.5 inches (8.9 centimeters), but the recent models pack more pixels into the screen, for a sharper display. AP tech2 News Staff Vodafone India plans to launch its 4G services in Mumbai on February 10, reports the Economic Times. The Mumbai launch event will be presided over by the company chief Sunil Sood, says the report. Economic Times also mentions that Vodafone India had opened the 4G service to its local staff for initial feedback on the network and that the actual launch will happen in phases across the city. The telecom company had already rolled out 4G-ready SIMs early in January in anticipation of the launch. The 4G SIMs are available at all of its 56 exclusive stores in and around Mumbai. To avail 4G services, customers will need to have a 4G-enabled handset and a new 4G-Ready SIM card. Customers can walk into a Vodafone store and exchange their old SIMs for a new 4G-ready one. Customers' data plans will be automatically upgraded to 4G as soon as the service launches. Appeasing Iran Problematic Western attitudes toward a dangerous regime In a recent visit to Italy, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told a group of Italian business leaders that Iran is the safest and most stable country of the entire region. Why, then, are leading global players tiptoeing around the regime? In the past month, four major world players Italy, the U.S., France, and the U.K. displayed conciliatory attitudes to Iran in different events. Italy On January 26, Rouhani visited Rome, a key capital of the western world, and signed business deals with Italian firms worth a total of 17 billion euros. Afterward, he and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke at one of Romes most prominent museums, the Capitoline. In order to avoid offending Mr. Rouhani, several nude statues were hidden with plywood boxes. United States In that same meeting with Italian business leaders, Rouhani emphasized that economic growth is the most important countermeasure against extremism, declaring that unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists. This statement entirely ignores the well-known fact that the Iranian state sponsors terrorism. In fact, in a CNBC interview released on January 21, Secretary of State John Kerry said that it is expected that some of the money freed up by the Iran deal will end up in the hands of terrorist groups. Even now, Iran continues to grow its ballistic missile program, entirely disregarding U.S. threats of financial sanctions that are legal under the guidelines of the nuclear deal. In fact, last December Rouhani expressed on Twitter that because of the threatened sanctions, and not in spite of them, he instructed Irans Ministry of Defense to accelerate the development of ballistic missiles. The day after Rouhani visited the Capitoline was January 27, International Holocaust Memorial Day. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei marked the day by releasing a video in which he spoke about the Holocaust and stated that [i]t is not clear whether the core of this matter is a reality or not. Even if it is a reality, it is not clear how it happened ... This is the ignorance that exists in todays world. The Iranian leader denied the genocide that killed over 11 million Jews, homosexuals, Romani, and mentally disabled people on previous occasions as well, and the banner used to promote the video on the Ayatollahs website went so far as to include a photo of Adolf Hitler. Also in recent news, the Ayatollah awarded victory medals to the commanders in charge of seizing the U.S. navy boats last month, saying that Iran should remain wary of its arch-enemy, the U.S., even after the nuclear deal. France Also on January 27, France hosted Rouhani in the hope of securing a deal to sell military equipment to Iran. During a Holocaust memorial service in France, the former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. and current Israeli politician Michael Oren criticized the negotiations with Rouhani on International Holocaust Memorial Day, stating, How can Europe honor the memory of the Holocaust, and on the exact same day host the leader of the Iranian regime, which denies that the Holocaust actually happened? United Kingdom Rather than criticize denial of the Holocaust, the U.K.s representative to the European Council, Alex Salmond, ironically criticized Israel, stating that there is a time and place for international politics and that Oren should not have criticized Rouhani during a solemn commemoration service. Meanwhile, many citizens across Italy and France protested Rouhanis visit to their countries. In Italy, protesters objecting to Rouhanis visit gathered in Romes Pantheon Square. Many Italian citizens took to Twitter using the hashtag #statuenude, meaning naked statues, and they included photos of Roman nudes and unclothed figures in Iranian artifacts to protest the decision to cover their historic art. In France, in order to protest Irans appalling human rights record, a woman from the feminist group Femen France pretended to hang herself from a bridge, topless, with the Iranian flag painted on her chest. A banner above declared, Welcome Rouhani, executioner of freedom. The group later revealed that they organized the display to bring attention to Irans numerous death sentences. The question remains: why are major world powers treading so carefully around a regime that denies the Holocaust, has an appalling human rights record, continues to grow its offensive capabilities despite legal consequences, and ignores its own role in global terrorism? Could it be purely economic reasons? Naivete? Fear of the deal collapsing? Perhaps it is fear of the reality: Iran is currently a dangerous force. Many of the worlds citizens already know that, and its time for their leaders to behave accordingly. Historically, appeasement hasnt worked, and we shouldnt expect it to now. You Might Also Like The Hillary Clinton campaign will send former president Bill Clinton and 170 Black women surrogates to South Carolina and other southern states to drum up support for the Democratic nominee. The women are activists, elected officials, and entertainers who've already endorsed the former secretary of state.According to the Washington Post , these are efforts to shore up support among African American voters ahead of the Feb. 27 South Carolina primary and throughout the country where many primaries will take place through March.The rally in South Carolina that will feature Bill Clinton is being held at Allen University, an HBCU. The school's president, Lady June Cole, is among the Black women who have endorsed Hillary Clinton.The many other women will host events, phone bank, and canvass door-to-door.The Clinton campaign clearly recognizes that Black women are a crucial voting bloc. Black women voted at a higher rate than any other demographic group in 2008 and 2012.Despite gains made by Sanders. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll released last week showed Clinton leading Sanders among black voters 74 to 17 in South Carolina. Saudi Arabia willing to send ground troops to Syria Saudi Arabian ground troops seen at a combat mission near Yemen border. AFP, Riyadh :Saudi Arabia is ready to join any ground operation the US-led coalition against the militant Islamic State group in Syria might decide on, a general from the kingdom said on Thursday."If there is any willingness in the coalition to go in the ground operation, we will contribute positively in that," Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assiri told AFP.Assiri is spokesman for a separate Saudi-led Arab coalition which, since March, has conducted air strikes and ground operations in Yemen.That coalition supports the government there in its fight against Houthi rebels who seized much of the country.Saudi Arabia supports certain militant groups against Assad's forces.Regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo, while Moscow and Ankara traded barbs over the escalating crisis.As the offensive raged, diplomatic tensions were also rising, with Moscow accusing opposition supporter Ankara of preparing to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border.The militants' main supply line to Turkey was severed on Wednesday when regime troops broke an opposition siege of two Shia towns, Nubol and Zahraa, on the route to the border.Regime forces entered the two towns on Thursday to the cheers of residents, who chanted pro-government slogans and showered the fighters with rice.A high-ranking Syrian government official described the Aleppo advances as important, but said the regime had even more ambitious goals."The next objectives are to close the borders with Turkey to prevent the arrival of troops and weapons, then taking Aleppo province, then Idlib province, and finally Idlib city," he told AFP.Aleppo city, Syria's former economic powerhouse, has been divided between opposition control in the east and regime control in the west since mid-2012.Saudi's air force has targeted ISIL with air strikes since the campaign began in Syria in September 2014, but the Gulf kingdom is now ready to provide ground forces to defeat the armed group, a military spokesman said on Thursday."Today, the Saudi kingdom announced its readiness to participate with ground troops with the US-led coalition against ISIL, because we now have the experience in Yemen," Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri told Al Jazeera."We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground."Asseri didn't elaborate on how many soldiers the kingdom could send. The Saudi offer is expected to be discussed when the United States convenes a meeting of defence ministers from coalition countries fighting ISIL in Brussels next week.Lawrence Korb, a former US assistant secretary of defence, said while Middle East countries have armed and supplied rebels during the five-year Syrian civil war, putting boots on the ground would mark a major shift.c Age at the time of commission of crime deserves consideration in determining sentence Appellate Division : (Civil) Surendra Kumar Sinha CJ Nazmun Ara Sultana J Syed Mahmud Hossain J Hasan Foez Siddique J Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) and another. ... Petitioners vs Government of Bangladesh, represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and others ... Respondent Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 Articles 104 and 105 Code of Criminal Procedure (V of 1898) Section 376 The petitioner has no significant history of prior criminal activity and that he was aged 14 years at the time of commission of the offence and 16 years at the time of framing of charge. The petitioner has been in the condemned cell for more than 14 years. Death sentence of the petitioner be commuted to imprisonment' for life. .. .. .. (17) Nalu vs State, 17 BLC (AD) 204 relied. MK Rahman, Senior Advocate Sara Hossain, Advocate and ABM Bayezid, Advocate with him instructed by Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Advocate-on-Record-the Petitioners. None Represented -For Respondents. Judgment Syed Mahmud Hossain J : This petition for review arises out of the judgment and order dated 5-5-2015 passed by this Division in Civil Appeal No. 116 of 2010 allowing the appeal in part and maintaining the death sentence against convict- appellant Shukur Ali. 2. The facts, leading' to the filing of this petition for review, in brief, are: The prosecution case is that on 11-6-1999 Sumi Akter aged about 7 years', daughter of Md Harun driver, was playing with one Sajib, PW 10 on the verandah of their house while her mother Rahima Begum was sleeping in the house. At about 2-30 pm she woke up but. failed to trace out the whereabouts of her daughter, Sumi Akter. She along with PW6, Abdur Rouf, searched Sumi Akter from door to door and the house of the condemned prisoner Shukur Ali (hereinafter referred to as the petitioner) was found under lock and key. On search, the body of Sumi Akter was found inside the house, which was taken out of the house and the gold and silver ornaments which she was wearing were found missing. There were marks of injuries on her leg and also reddish liquid was found by the side of her genital organ. The petitioner was caught by the people from Tepra and was brought there who admitted in presence of witnesses to have raped and killed Sumi. On the basis of a First Information Report to that effect a case was started in Sibalaya police station. 3. The petitioner was convicted by Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Bishesh Adalat Court for sexually assaulting Sumi Akter, to death of a minor girl aged about 7 years. The Bishesh Adalat sentenced him to death. The High Court Division confirmed the death sentence and this Division also affirmed the death sentence. A review petition filed before this Division was also dismissed. After that, the petitioner along with another moved the High Court Division challenging the mandatory death penalty provided in section 6(2) of the Ain as ultra vires to the Constitution. 4. Upon hearing the parties, the High Court Division declared section 6(2) of the Ain,1995 ultra vires to the Constitution but refrained from declaring section 34 of the Ain, 2000 unconstitutional and also did not declare the sentence of the petitioner to be unlawful. The High Court Division granted a certificate under section 103 (2)(a) of the Constitution and as a result of which, Civil Appeal N 0.116 of 20 1 0 has been initiated. 5. By the judgment dated 5-5-2015, this Division declared sub-sections 2 and 4 of section 6 of Nari-o-Shishu Niljatan Daman Bishesh Bidhan Ain, 1995, sub-sections (2) and (3) of section 34 of the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan Daman Ain, 2000 and section 303 of the Penal Code ultra vires to the Constitution. This Division further has held that despite repeal of Ain of 1995, the pending cases and pending appeals in respect of those offences shall be tried and heard in accordance with the provision of the Ain, 1995, but the mandatory punishment in respect of similar nature of offences of the Ain 2000 shall be applicable. This Division has further held that there shall be no mandatory sentence of death in respect of offence of murder committed by an offender who is under sentence of life imprisonment. 6. Admittedly, the petitioner was caught red-handed by the people of Tepra and was brought to the place of occurrence and before the witnesses. He admitted the incident of killing the victim. The victim Sumi Akter was only 7 years old. This Division found that the killing was brutal for commuting the sentence and accordingly his sentence was confirmed. 7. Feeling aggrieved by the impugned judgment dated 5-5-2015, the petitioner filed this review petition before this Division. 8. Mr MK Rahman learned Senior Advocate (Ms Sara Hossain, Advocate with him), appearing on behalf of the petitioner, submits that the petitioner was merely a boy of 14 years old at the time of occurrence and 16 years at time of trial and therefore, he was a minor and sub-sections (2) and (4) of section of 6 of Ain, 1995 and sub-sections (2) and (3) of 34 of Ain, 2000 having been declared ultra vires to the Constitution, the question of imposing death sentences prescribed in respect of those offences in the Ain, 2000 does not arise. He further submits that the petitioner was a minor boy and that there are mitigating circumstances which warrant conversion of death sentence to imprisonment for life. 9. Ms Sara Hossain also tries to submit that the confession allowed to have been made by the petitioner was not true and voluntary and that it was obtained by torture. 10. We have considered the submissions of the learned Advocates of the review-petitioners, perused the impugned judgment and the materials on record. 11. The learned Advocates have drawn our attention as regards age of the petitioner at the time of commission of the offence as found by the High Court Division in Death Reference No.29 of 2001 along with Jail Appeal Nr:.2882 of 200l. The High Court Division found that petitioner was merely a boy of 14 years old at the time of occurrence and 16 years at the time of trial of the case and therefore, he was a minor. The High Court Division further found that since no alternative sentence has been provided for the offence, it was left with no other option but to maintain the sentence if it believed that the prosecution had been able to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The High Court Division observed that had the petitioner been tried for an offence punishable under section 302 of the Penal Code his sentence of death could have been commuted to imprisonment for life because of his tender age. The High Court Division observed that this was one of the extenuating circumstances for commuting his sentence. The High Court Division, however, hope that it was a fit case in which, the President of the Republic could consider the circumstances and commute the sentence in the light of the observation made by it provided the condemn-prisoner would make such a prayer. 12. In Jail Appeal No.8 of 2004 arising out the judgment of the High Court Division, this Division held that the minimum sentence that could be given for committing an offence under section 6(2) of the Ain was death and death alone and, as such, it was impossible to take a different view in the matter of sentence. 13. A review application was filed against the judgment delivered in Jail Appeal No.08 of 2004 and this Division observed that the condemn-prisoner if advised might seek mercy to the appropriate forum. 14. Having gone through the judgment of the High Court Division in the death reference, we find that it could not convert the death sentence to imprisonment for life as section 6(2) of the Nari-o-Shishu Nirjatan (Bishesh Bidhan) Ain 1995 did not provide for any other sentence except death. The High Court Division was at the view that it was a fit case where the President of the Republic could consider the sentence and commute the sentence to imprisonment for life provided the petitioner would make such a prayer. In Jail Appeal No. 03 of 2004 arising out of the judgment of the High Court Division and this Division could not commute the death sentence as section 6(2) of the Ain did not permit as such. 15. From the judgment delivered by the High Court Division in the death reference, we find that the petitioner was aged about 14 years .at the time of occurrence and 16 years at the time of the trial and that he was a minor. 16. In the case of Nalu vs State, 17 BLC (AD) 204, we have mentioned the ground for which a death may be commuted to imprisonment for life. The mitigating circumstances mentioned in the above case are as follows: (a) The condemned-prisoner has no significant history of prior criminal activity. (b) The condemned-prisoner was a youth at the time of commission of the offence. (c) The condemned-prisoner would not be likely to commit acts of violence if released. (d) Confinement of the condemned-prisoner in the condemned cell from 9-6-2005 till death i.e for more than 7 years during which period the sword of death has been hanging on his head 17. In the case in hand, we find that the petitioner has no significant history of prior criminal activity and that he was aged 14 years at the time of commission of the offence and 16 years at the time 'of framing of charge. The petitioner has been in the condemned cell since 12-7-2011, that is more than 14 years. Considering all aspects of the case, we are of the view that the death sentence of the petitioner be commuted to imprisonment for life. Accordingly, this review petition is disposed of. The sentence of death imposed upon the petitioner is commuted to imprisonment for life. Inordinate delay in filing writ petition weakens its standing High Court Division : (Special Original Jurisdiction) Zubayer Rahamn Chowdhury J Mahmudul Hoque J Judgment September 6th, 2015. Masaharaf Hossain .................. Petitioner vs Dhaka City Corporation and others................Respondents Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 Article 102(2) If there is inordinate delay on the part of the petitioner in filing a writ petition and such delay is not satisfactorily explained, the High Court Division may decline to intervene and grant relief in the exercise of jurisdiction because it is likely to cause confusion and public inconvenience and bring in its trail new injustice. . ..... (8) Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 Article 102(2) Mere submission of application does not entitle the petitioner to claim allotment of a shop as of right unless the application of the petitioner is accepted by the authority and the same has communicated such acceptance in writing to him. ...................(11) Bangladesh vs Chairman, Court of Settlement of Bangladesh 48 DLR 502, Jagannathpur Matshajibi Samabaya Samity Ltd. vs Lakshmanpur Fisherman Co-operative Society Ltd. 1986 BLD (AD) 326, Mizan Howlader vs Bangladsh, 48 DLR 91 and Sahana Chowdhury' (widow) vs Md Ibrahim Khan, 21 BLD (AD) 79 = 6 BLC (AD) 67 ref. Md. Abdul Malek, advocate-For the Petitioner. Sufia Ahmed with Afsana Rashid, Advocates-For the Respondent No. 2 Judgment MahmuduI Hoque J : In this application under Article 102 of the Constitution of 'Bangladesh this Rule Nisi has been issued on 24-11-2009 at the instance of the petitioner calling Upon the respondents to show cause as to why they shall not be directed to issue final allotment letter in favour of the petitioner in respect of the shop Room No. 190,2nd floor, at Bonalata Kacha Bazar of Dhaka New Market Complex or any shop in the 2nd floor of the said Bonalata Kacha Bazar of Dhaka New Market Complex which is lying vacant and waiting for allotment and or such other or further order or orders as to this Court may seem fit and proper. 2. Facts relevant for the disposal of this Rule, in brief, are that the Respondent No. 1 Dhaka City Corporation published an advertisement on 14-8-1984 in the Daily "Janata" on 20-8-1984 and 21-9-1984 in the "Daily Ittefaq" respectively inviting application for allotment of shops in the Dhaka New Market Complex. The petitioner as an evictee and affected person in response to the advertisement published in the dailies mentioned above applied for allotment of a shop by depositing amount of Taka 20,000 on 9-9-1984 in the account of Respondent No.1 by a pay order dated 5-9-1984. Thereafter, the petitioner on a number of occasions requested the Respondent No.1 for allotment of a shop in favour of the petitioner but in vain. Subsequently, the petitioner by applications dated 15-7-2008 and 18-8-2009 requested the Respondent No.1 for allotment of shop No. 190 lying vacant in the 2nd floor of the same market but the Respondent No.1 paid no heed to the request of the petitioner. At this stage the petitioner moved this Court by filing this writ petition and obtained the present Rule and Order of Stay. 3. The Respondent Nos 1-3 contested the Rule by filing Affidavit-in-Opposition denying all the material allegations made in the writ petition contending, inter alia that the petitioner in response to the advertisement of 1984 applied for allotment of a shop in the New Market Complex by depositing a pay order for Taka 20,000 but after submission of the application there are series of litigation including contempt petition against the Respondent No.1 and in a uit the Respondent No.1 was restrained by an order of injunction from allotting the shops of the market. For that reason the process of allotment of shops could not be materialized. Consequently, the allotment committee of the corporation has decided to return back the pay order to the applicants. Accordingly, all the pay orders were returned back lo the applicants including that of the petitioners. The petitioner received back the pay order on 22-11-1989. Subsequently, Respondent No.1 after disposal of the cases again published notification in the Daily in the year 2000 inviting fresh application from the interested persons for allotment of shops in the New Market Complex. But in response to that advertisement the petitioner did not submit any application seeking allotment of shop in the said market complex. Pursuant to the advertisement published in the year 2000 the persons who applied for the allotment of shops, the allotment committee by its decision dated 17-10-2006 allotted the shops in their names. In this situation since the petitioner has taken back the money deposited in the year 1984 by pay order and having failed to apply for allotment of shop in the year 2000 afresh is not entitled to get any allotment. In the absence of any application for allotment of a shop afresh and acceptance of the same by the corporation the petitioner cannot claim any right of allotment and as such the Rule is liable to be discharged. 4. Mr Md Abdul Malek, the learned Advocate appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is an affected person and he is a member of the shop owners samity and as an affected shop owner samity and as an affected shop owner he is entitled to get allotment of a shop, in the New Market Complex. He also submits that the petitioner applied in response to a notification Published in the Daily "Janata" dated 14-8-1984, Daily "Ittefaq" dated 20-8-1984 and 21-9-1984 and deposited Taka 20,000 with the Respondent No. 1 as per said advertisement. It is also argued that the petitioner did not take back the pay order for the said amount deposited with the Respondent No.1 till today and as such the petitioner is entitled to get allotment of a shop as prayed for. 5. Mrs Sufia Ahmed, the learned Advocate appearing for the Respondent Nos. 13 submits that the petitioner has come with the present writ petition after a long period of 25 years to enforce his right under writ jurisdiction, as such he is not entitled to get any relief. She also argued that from the annexures as annexed to the petition, it would be evident that the petitioner submitted an application with deposit of an amount of Taka 20,000 in the year 1984 in response to the not ification dated 14-8-1984 and 20-8-1984. Subsequently, the process of allotment was abandoned due 10 various legal impediment. Consequently, all the applicants including the petitioner took back the pay orders deposited with the Respondent No.1 As such the petitioner, acquired no right entitling him to get allotment of the shop for which he applied for. She also submits that the Corporation has not accepted the offer of the petitioner in writing and as such the petitioner acquired no right in law to get allotment of a shop in the market complex. Moreover, the petitioner submitted no application seeking allotment of a shop afresh in response to the notification published in the year 2000 and as such the Respondent No. 1 is under no legal obligation to allot a shop in favour of the petitioner in the absence of any application and deposit of earnest money like others. In support of her submissions she referred to the cases of Bangladesh vs Chairman, Court of Settlement of Bangladesh reported in 48 DLR 502, Jagannathpur Matshajibi Samabaya Samity Ltd. vs Lakshmanpur Fisherman Co-operative Society Ltd. reported, in 1986 BLD (AD) 326, Mizan Howlader vs Bangladesh reported in 48 DLR 91 and Sahana Chowdhury (widow) vs Md. Ibrahim Khan reported in 21 BLD (AD) 79 = 6 BLC (AD) 67. 6. Heard the lear Advocates for the parties, perused the application, Affidavit-in Opposition and annexures annexed thereto. 7. In the instant Rule we may first consider the question of laches or delay in filing the writ petition because that is the question which is required to be decided in the instant Rule. Admittedly, the petitioner applied for allotment of a shop in the year 1984. Said process of auction was subsequently abandoned for the reason of various litigation and order of injunction against the Respondent. The petitioner for a long period remained silent and even did not apply afresh when the Respondent published notice in the dailies in the year 2000 inviting application from the interested persons for allotment of shops. 8. Now, it is well settled that the power of the High Court to issue an appropriate writ under Article 102 of the Constitution is discretionary and the High Court in the exercise of its discretion does not ordinarily assist the tardy and the indolent of the acquiescent and lethargic. If there is inordinate delay on the part of the petitioner in filing a writ petition and such delay is not satisfactorily explained, the High Court may decline to intervene and grant relief in the exercise 01 jurisdiction because it is likely to cause confusion and public inconvenience and bring in its trail new injustice. 9. We do not think it necessary to burden this judgment with reference to various decisions of this Court where it has been emphasised time and again that where there is inordinate and unexplained delay the Court would decline to interfere even if the petitioner has a good case. Accordingly, this Court refused to grant relief to the petitioner on the ground that the writ petition had been filed by the petitioner after 25 years. 10. On a consideration of the matter we think that apart from the merits of the other grounds for rejection, the inordinate delay in preferring the claim before the Respondents as also the delay in filing the writ petition before this Court should, by themselves persuade us to decline to interfere. 11. Apart from this, we find that the petitioner merely submitted an application in response to an advertisement published in the dailies by the Respondent No.1 in the year 1984 inviting application from the interested persons for allotment of shop. It is now well settled that mere submission of application does not entitle the petitioner to claim allotment of a shop as of , right unless the application of the petitioner is accepted by the authority and has communicated such acceptance in writing to him. But in the present case no such communication was made by the Respondent No.1 to the petitioner and as such no right in favour of the petitioner has accrued entitling him to get allotment of the shop. 12. To view of the above observations we do not find any merit in this Rule as well as in the application the petitioner. 13. In the result, the Rule Nisi is discharged . However, without any order as to costs. 14. The Order of stay granted at the time of issuance of the Rule is hereby recalled and stand vacated. Communicate this Order at once. DVO donations to save life of a child Chittagong Bureau : CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd of Chittgong has donated Tk.one lakh to save life of one ailing child . The company officials Chairman Shamsul Alam Shamim , Managing Director AHM Habibullah, Director Imranul Hoque, DMD Nizamuddin, Mahmud Hossain handed over a cheque for Tk.1 lakh to ailing child Minhazur Rahman on Sunday last at CVOPCL office. Sources said the 4 years minor child Minhaz has been suffering from cardiatic complications for the last 2 years and urgently need for operation. Physicians sources said a number of children lost their valuable lives lack of proper treatment of cardiatic complications. Considering the social responsibility and humanity, CVO petrochemical company has donated the amount for his early treatment, sources said. Malala campaigning for $1.46 donations Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai addresses delegates the donors conference for Syria in London. AFP, London : World leaders pledged billions of dollars on Thursday to help conflict-hit Syrians, at a London conference overshadowed by the collapse of peace talks in Geneva. The European Union, Germany, Britain and the United States were among those making major donations to areas including food aid, education and allowing Syrians displaced from their homeland to find work. But hopes that the package could make a major difference inside Syria were weighed down by the suspension Wednesday of peace talks in Geneva until February 25. The decision came as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, supported by Russian air strikes, stepped up their offensive near the major northern city of Aleppo, forcing nearly 40,000 civilians to flee. Neighbouring countries including Jordan and Lebanon told the conference of their struggle to deal with the influx of millions of Syrians and urged nations at the conference to do more to help them. The mood among many leaders was bleak, reflecting frustration at the halt Wednesday of the so-called proximity talks in Geneva which were seen as the best hope for peace since the conflict erupted in March 2011. "After five years of fighting, it's pretty incredible that as we come here in London, the situation on the ground is actually worse, not better," US Secretary of State John Kerry said. "If people are reduced to eating grass and leaves and killing stray animals in order to survive, that's something that should tear at the conscience of all civilised people," he added. Among the biggest donors were the EU and its member states, which pledged more than three billion euros this year. Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose open-door policy for refugees has proved deeply controversial in Germany, offered 2.3 billion euros ($2.6 billion) by 2018. Britain announced #1.2 billion (1.6 million euros, $1.74 billion) and the United States $890 million. British Prime Minister David Cameron, who is co-hosting the conference, said a "new approach" was needed to address "one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time". His government, which has agreed to take 20,000 Syrian refugees by 2020, argues that those displaced are best helped close to home and wants to support neighbouring countries in doing so. It only exposed sick politics Staff Reporter : Noted jurist Dr Kamal Hossain on Friday termed the debate over raising question about the number of martyrs during the Liberation War in 1971 as sick politics, saying everyone must abide by the Constitution if he or she wants to do politics in the country. "No one has the authority to raise question about the number of martyrs in a sovereign and independent country like Bangladesh. Irrespective of party affiliation, they must abide or go by the Constitution if want to do politics here," Dr Kamal, President Gono Forum, told journalists in the sidelines of his party's standing committee meeting at Arambagh in the city. Dr Kamal, also framer of the country's Constitution, said the dreams of the people and freedom fighters, who embraced martyrdom during the Liberation War, have not come true yet. "We all should come forward and be united in a bid to implement the martyred dreams," he said. "Is there any scope to make debates what we achieved on December 16 in 1971, which is written in our Constitution? This is a sick politics," while he sought his comments about BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's remarks questioning if really three million people were killed during the Liberation War. Visibly annoyed with the Controversy, the veteran politician said, nobody has rights to do politics defying the Constitution. "Whoever belongs to whatever party, must abide by the constitution," he said. On December 21, Khaleda Zia at a discussion in city raised the question about the exact number of people embraced martyrdom in the country's 1971 Liberation War. Khaleda's remarks triggered widespread criticism as different political parties, socio-cultural organisations and Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee asked her to withdraw her comments and apologise. Besides, thousands of people staged demonstration and demanded to put BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on trial in sedition charge for raising question about the number of martyrs during the country's Liberation War. A Dhaka court in January summoned BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it on March 23 in a sedition case to explain her comments on the number of 1971 martyrs. Earlier in the same month, Supreme Court lawyer Momtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehedi, also a member of executive body of Bangladesh Awami League, filed the case with the court, urging it to issue a warrant for Khaleda's arrest. Meanwhile, terming farce the sedition case filed against its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP said this was done just out of political vengeance to remove her from politics. Following the development, the International War Crimes Tribunal on February 1 ruled out all possibilities of a debate over the number of people martyred during the Bangladesh's Liberation War. According to official figure, the war death toll is 30 lakh people (3 million) while 2.5 lakh women were violated by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators. About 10 million people fled the country to take shelter in India, while millions more were internally displaced. Day labourer killed in Feni, accused held Feni Correspondent : A day-labourer was killed in a potato field by a miscreant in the village of Palgiri under Sonagazi upazila in Feni district on Thursday. One Mainuddin reportedly clubbed the day-labourer identified as Mohammad Ahsanullah, 40, to death when he was working in the cropland yesterday. He became the prey of the long-standing dispute between one Mohammad Mostafa and Mainuddin over a piece of land. On the fateful day, Mostafa accompanied by his cousin Ahsanullah went to the potato field to work there. "As soon as Ahsanullah started working in the field, Mainudin stopped him, which triggered a serious altercation between the two. At one stage, Mainuddin started walloping Ahsanulla with stick," Mostafa told journalists, and left him in a pool of blood. Villagers passing by the area heard the human groaning and rushed to the field. Later he was taken to the Sonagazi Health Complex where the attending doctor declared him dead. Victim's wife Jesmin Akter filed a murder case with Sonagazi Model Police Station. Police arrested the main accused Mainuddin and sent the body to the Feni Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Something is seriously wrong in police administration Editorial Desk : The killing of a tea vendor by four policemen of Shah Ali police station in the city stirred nationwide public outcry once again as growing police brutalities are causing fear of uncertainty about police protection for the people. The police are blamed for mugging forcing victims to pay toll or else face frame-up cases and even cross-fire for failing to fulfil their demands. Nothing could be more painful than the tea vendor has lost his life in the hands of the policemen who are for protecting the people. News reports said police demanded a big amount of toll from the poor vendor in the morning and appeared in the evening again to take the money. But as the tea vendor showed his inability the policemen started to torture him and at one point vandalize his burning stove, which poured kerosene on his body and spread fire that burned the man as police looked on. No regret, later the police filed a framed-up case showing him as a drug peddler and that the man was tortured by some locals framing them in the case in a bid to prove policemen's innocence. No responsible person will be able to avoid blaming higher authorities of police for the widespread indiscipline in police. Defying of the law and killing persons through crossfire have been treated as normal police activities by the highest authorities which should be enough for destroying police as law enforcers. It appears that police service is fast losing command and control and their involvement in crimes is only growing instead of slowing down. People believe removal of five policemen of the Shah Ali police station including Officer-in-Charge (OC) is not enough, they must be immediately put on trial to reassure the nation that police are not out of the reach of law. They must be tried for killing the man through Speedy Trial Court. It cannot be denied that all over Bangladesh the allegations of police involvement in crimes are a reality. Some police are active in committing crimes. When police feel free to kill anybody and defy law then the people cannot expect any sense of security from the police. What cannot be denied is police have been used for political purposes and as a result discipline in police is breaking down. Our fear is that the higher authorities in police are even helpless to do the necessary reform in keeping the police out of politics. But that should not be the case if police has to earn professional reputation as law enforcers. The decision must be taken to ensure police to work as impartial law enforcing power and if it is to be used as political force of the government in power, then we are all unsafe and in trouble. . NEWS AND VIEWS THAT IMPACT LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT "There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." - - - - John Adams A 1980 stipulated injunction granted to the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy could shield the General Mouton monument Downtown from ever being relocated. On Feb. 26 Lafayette residents are scheduled to discuss during the public comment segment of the City-Parish Council meeting the prospect of uprooting the Downtown monument to Confederate Brigadier Gen. Alfred Mouton and relocating the marble statue to the grounds of the Lafayette Museum, AKA the Alexandre Mouton House (the home built by Gen. Moutons father, Alexandre Mouton, son of Lafayette founder Jean Mouton). But that discussion or debate, whatever you want to call it, could happen with a significant caveat: a 35-year-old injunction obtained by the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy barring the city from relocating the statue. Some history: In 1980 the pre-consolidated city of Lafayette under Mayor Dud Lastrapes, who was sworn into office in January of that year, announced plans to relocate the General Mouton statue from its location in front of the old City Hall at the Jefferson-Lee intersection to the new City Hall on St. Landry Street at University Avenue the current site of Lafayette Consolidated Government. When the UDCs local Alfred Mouton Chapter caught wind it went to court and sought temporary restraining order against Lastrapes, the city and two companies Castilles Marble & Granite Works and Lafayette Steel Erectors that had won the bids to perform the relocation. Based on a series of court documents from the time, it appears that the city wanted nothing to do with the court action and essentially let the matter go away after the UDC initially obtained the temporary restraining order and city eventually agreed to what is essentially a permanent stipulated injunction. The injunction stipulated that if the city of Lafayette sold the parcel of land where the monument stands, the new owner could request that it be moved; but it also stipulated that if street improvements were necessary adjacent to the monument, it would simply be moved within the confines of the lot to accommodate the improvements unless moving the statue was impossible. Beyond that, as far as anyone can tell, that stipulated injunction still carries the weight of law. One of the court documents offers an insight into Lafayette history and the UDCs motivation in erecting the monument in the first place: The statue of General Alfred Mouton stands at the end of that section of Jefferson Street, formerly known as Oak Avenue and even earlier for Emma K. Gardner, the second wife of former Governor Alexander Mouton, whose plantation home, Ile Copal, was situated on the Vermilion Bayou at the present site of LeRosen Elementary School. The Governors son, General Alfred Mouton, as a boy and into adulthood, travelled this road to and from Vermilionville numerous times. It was also the road used by Union General Nathaniel Banks ill-fated Great Texas Overland Expedition through southwestern Louisiana during the fall of 1863. This was under the immediate command of General William Franklin, who advanced for the occupation of Vermilionville following the Battle of Vermilion Bayou at Pinhook Bridge in his pursuit of General Alfred Moutons far outnumbered Confederate forces. After the decisive defeat of the Yankees at the Battle of Bayou Bourbeux near Grand Coteau, and their retreat to Vermilion Bayou and advancing again along Emma K. Lane until their final retreat to New Iberia and ultimately to New Orleans. The statue, therefore, stands on a historic spot, which served as the gateway to the then small village of Vermilionville, which now forms the heart of modern-day Lafayette. For more on the issue of relocating the General Mouton monument to the nearby Lafayette Museum, read this months Independent cover story, A Monumental Question. For the perspective of a Mouton, click here. 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! Pre-purchase property inspection is a relatively new thing in the United Kingdom. Its not something that most people have heard about, but it has become increasingly popular over the last few years with the rise in property prices and increased demand for high quality homes. What are the benefits of pre-purchase building inspection? What can you expect to find out when you pay someone else to inspect your home before you buy it? And what should you look for during an inspection? Many people want to know if theyre buying a house thats been well maintained or if its had any serious problems. If youve found a place on the market that seems attractive, but then discover some issues after moving in, you may not be as excited about buying it as you thought you were. Its important to do your due diligence when looking at properties. A lot goes into making a property appealing to potential buyers, from the landscaping to the flooring to the kitchen appliances. The same applies when inspecting a property there are many things that need checking over to make sure everything is running smoothly. Here are some of the benefits of performing a pre-purchase inspection: You get to see exactly what will happen to your money When you go shopping for a new car, youll probably be shown several different models. You might even be shown one that looks like a great value, but doesnt fit around all of the extra features that you want. When it comes time to actually buy the vehicle, however, you wont have seen how your money will be spent on it once you drive it off the showroom floor. Likewise, when you shop for a new home, you dont really know what youre getting yourself into until you move in. In order to get a feel for whether the home youre considering is what you want, you normally have to spend quite a bit of time inside it. This allows you to learn more about everything that youre going to be spending your hard-earned cash on. A pre-purchase building inspection gives you much the same kind of experience without having to spend thousands of dollars. Since youre paying for the service, you can expect to see exactly what youre paying for, instead of just seeing a vague idea of what you might end up with. You find out about potential major repairs Some buildings are very expensive to maintain, which means that owners often neglect them for the sake of saving money. While youre paying for a building inspection, youre also paying for a professional who knows how to spot signs of trouble and repair work that needs doing. If you notice that a particular area of your new home needs fixing right away, you can call in an expert to take care of it quickly. If you find that theres something wrong with your boiler, you wont have to wait weeks for a plumber to come over and fix it. Instead, youll have access to a solution immediately. You can save hundreds of pounds by finding out about potential problems early on One of the biggest expenses when you first buy a home is the cost of moving in. Many people dont realize this until its too late. Buying a home involves not only paying for the actual house, but also for moving costs, furniture, and other items that have to be moved along with the home. Having a good idea ahead of time of what youre likely to encounter can help you avoid these kinds of costs. If you know youll need to replace the plumbing system, for example, youll be able to put together a budget for the expense and plan accordingly. You can protect your investment by finding out if the homes been well cared for While there are plenty of people who think that houses always look better when theyre newly built, youd be surprised at how well maintained older residences can still look nice. Sometimes, though, those homes need some additional maintenance to keep them looking their best. This could involve repairs that arent so noticeable or small improvements that you wouldnt consider otherwise. Even worse, some houses have fallen into disrepair without anyone noticing. This is why having a professional perform a building inspection prior to purchasing a home is such a big benefit. Not only will it give you insight into the state of the property, but it will also give you peace of mind knowing youre not getting taken advantage of. As long as youre aware of the potential pitfalls, youll have less reason to worry about the state of your new home. You can use information gathered during a building inspection to negotiate a lower price If youre worried about buying a home because you suspect that it may need extensive renovation work, you may already have a rough idea of how much work youll need to do to bring it up to scratch. That knowledge can come in handy if you decide to buy the home. You can use all of the details that you gather during a building inspection to present a realistic picture of what the home is worth to prospective buyers. If a potential buyer thinks that the home is worth more than what you paid for it, you can try negotiating a lower price. You can sell your home faster and for more money If you decide to list your home on the market soon after buying it, youll need to price it accurately in order to attract buyers. But if youve already done a thorough building inspection, youll know exactly what work is needed and what the current market conditions are. In other words, youll be able to make a more accurate estimate of the amount of money youve invested in the home and how much its worth. If you find that youre selling your house for close to its full market value, you can use this information to convince the potential buyer that your home is worth the asking price. Even if youre planning to stay in the home for a while before you decide to sell, the fact that you did a thorough building inspection will give you more confidence when listing it. Prospective buyers will know exactly what theyre paying for. Your home will hold its value longer As mentioned earlier, the value of a home depends heavily upon the condition of the building itself. If your home is in bad shape, potential buyers wont be interested in buying it. On the other hand, if youve performed a thorough building inspection and know what sort of repairs are necessary, you can offer your prospective buyer a compelling reason to invest in your property. When you buy a home, youre essentially agreeing to have it inspected periodically to ensure that it stays in top shape. Not only does this allow you to avoid expensive repairs down the road, but it can also increase the value of your home. You can make smart decisions about property investments Buying real estate isnt as simple as just driving a couple of minutes to pick up a house. There are lots of considerations involved, ranging from location to cost. The same is true when youre investing in property. If you find a house that meets all of your requirements, youll want to make sure that you have a solid understanding of where it stands with regards to the rest of the market. If you havent spent enough time researching the area, you could inadvertently end up with a bad deal. There are lots of resources available online that can help you determine the overall level of competition in your area. They can also help you figure out if there are any properties that meet your requirements that you didnt know about. If you own rental property, you can use the information to identify tenants who might cause damage If you own rental property and youve noticed that certain tenants consistently cause damage, you can use the results of a building inspection to identify them. You can then contact them directly to let them know that youre watching them closely and that you dont appreciate the problem theyre causing. They might start taking better care of their homes, which would be good news for everyone. It could also be the case that youll find out that theyre responsible for previous damages that werent caught during a previous visit. You can make smarter decisions about hiring contractors If youve hired contractors to build or repair your home, you might want to ask them for references. However, unless you perform a thorough building inspection, you might not know exactly what to look for. For instance, maybe you only checked the roof for leaks or the walls for cracks. You might not have looked underneath the foundation for anything that could cause a future issue. By performing a building inspection, you can ensure that you hire reputable contractors who will be trustworthy with your money. You can avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition Of course, the main benefit of structural inspections perth is that it helps you avoid purchasing a home thats in poor condition. Before you make the decision to buy a home, you should do whatever you can to find out about the state of the building. You can also ask your realtor about what sorts of inspections are typically recommended. Some agents say that its standard practice to check the heating system, the roof, the electrical wiring, and the floors. Others will tell you that they recommend that you check the entire structure. Either way, if you choose to hire an inspector, youll find out exactly what needs to be fixed and how much it will cost to do so. As a result, it can be concluded that a pre-purchase building inspection is highly important for the buyers because it provides transparency regarding the current conditions of the structure. Additionally, the building owner is made aware of any upgrades or repairs that are required, which could lead to a fair deal throughout the purchasing and selling process. Blog Tour! Finding Charity by #Author Jody Pardo 2/05/2016 #hope , #lost , #love , #romance , #suspense 0 Comments Title: Finding Charity Author: Jody Pardo Genre: Romance Cover Photography by Shelton Cole of SC Photo Cover Design: Wicked By Design Robin Harper Cover Models: Jami Watts aka Jurnee Lane and William Scott Mark Lyon was a beast in the boardroom. Building websites and branding corporations for success was his specialty, and he was good at it. Mark worked hard to earn his place at the top of his field. He let nothing stand in his way, not even Christmas. Charity Clarke captured Mark's attention with her dirty mouth at their first meeting, but her giving spirit stole his heart without notice. When she goes missing, will finding, Charity be the gift with enough love and hope to save them both? Jody was born and raised in New York City and is an only child of an English professor. After 9/11/2001 and a line of duty injury, she left her role as an EMT with FDNY-EMS for a quieter life. She pursued Bachelor's degrees at Arizona State University in Molecular Biosciences and English. Her love of books and introduction to the Indie book world led to many wonderful friendships, and the drive to write and publish was ignited. Jody loves to travel and meet new people and has lived in five states and has visited 48 out of 50 US states. Jody is a single mom to her daughter Ariel Elizabeth and her cat, Bullet. Facebook GoodReads Amazon Twitter: Instagram Join Jody's newsletter "A little fill here and there may seem to be nothing to become excited about. But one fill, though comparatively inconsequential, may lead to another, and another, and before long a great body may be eaten away until it may no longer exist. Our navigable waters are a precious natural heritage, once gone, they disappear forever," wrote the Wisconsin Supreme Court in its 1960 opinion resolving Hixon v. PSC and buttressing The Public Trust Doctrine, Article IX of the Wisconsin State Constitution. Bringing you bite-sized doses of the sublimely ridiculous for your digestation and eventual excretion. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. (Hosea 6:3) The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. If drinking beer is part of Super Bowl party plans, make arrangements for a designated driver. Thats the gist of a reminder sent out by Illinois State Police in a news release Thursday morning. The release notes that state troopers intend to strictly enforce moving violations this Sunday with an emphasis on drunken driving, speeding, distracted driving and seat belt violations. While this may seem like an odd thing to announce in a news release, because the enforcement of traffic laws is routine work for troopers, the state agency found it worth reinforcing. And apparently with good reason, as more drivers tend to engage in risky and illegal driving activities on celebratory weekends. ISP reported that during the 2015 Super Bowl, troopers issued 1,850 citations in Illinois in the above categories, 105 of which were DUI. "DUIs are responsible for nearly one-third of all fatal crashes in Illinois. A single DUI can cost thousands of dollars, suspension of driving privileges, potential jail time, or worse, cause the death of another motorist," said ISP Colonel Tad Williams in the release. So whether cheering on the Carolina Panthers or Denver Broncos, make sure to include a designated driver in any Super Bowl plans. The American Civil Liberties Union released a poll Thursday finding that a majority of voters across the state believe the Illinois criminal justice system is broken, and that legislators should act now. Voters want legislators and the governor to act immediately to take steps to reduce the number of people incarcerated, and are willing to support wide-ranging and significant reforms to address problems in the system, according to ACLUs summary of the poll. The poll follows the January release of 14 recommendations by Gov. Bruce Rauners Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform to reduce the prison population by 25 percent in 10 years. The task forces recommendations include more widespread use of alternative sentencing such as home arrest for nonviolent offenders, giving judges more discretion to sentence an offender to probation instead of incarceration, reducing the length of prison stays, and enhancing reentry programs to reduce recidivism. In his recent State of the State address, Rauner called for swift action on these reforms. State of state is crisis, organizations say Social service agencies, union members, college students and others came to the capital city According to the ACLU, the poll finds that 74 percent of all voters across the state believe that the Illinois criminal justice system is broken. Illinois voters, the poll showed, tend to hold this belief regardless of party affiliation: 76 percent of Democrats, 74 percent of independents and 70 percent of Republicans. The poll does not unpack the specific reasons why people believe the system is broken. But the poll did show that this belief is held by voters across the state, with 82 percent of Chicago residents agreeing, 80 percent of Cook County suburban residents, and 76 percent of Chicago collar county residents, and more than 60 percent of residents living elsewhere in the northern region of the state, as well as Southern Illinois. In January, Rauners task force issued broad recommendations on reducing the prison population. Supporters of prison reform argue the immorality and ineffectiveness of sentencing large numbers of nonviolent offenders to prison the majority of them young African-American men while also failing to provide them with crucial rehabilitative services such as education, job skills and addiction treatment. These practices also are expensive, and the reforms also are driven by a desire to control ballooning costs related to the incarceration of nonviolent inmates. Long-range savings of any magnitude would ultimately come with the closure of state prisons, and a reduction of the prison workforce. The poll does not indicate how many of the 800 people surveyed by telephone interview live in Southern Illinois, or how that region is defined in the poll. Historically, lawmakers and many residents in Southern Illinois have rallied against major policies that could lead to a decline in prison populations, and ultimately closure of prisons. This is particularly true in communities where state prisons serve as the largest employer. That said, there has been little discussion thus far about how to overcome the political challenges to closure of prisons, or about putting in place long-range plans to re-engineer the economies of prison communities. In most places throughout Illinois, prisons are located in rural, economically disadvantaged communities, including the 11 facilities in Southern Illinois. Starting pay for correctional officer trainees, a position that requires a minimum of only a high school education or equivalent, is $42,432. Looking back at Rauner's goals Heres a look at some of the goals Gov. Bruce Rauner laid out in last years State of the St Still, the poll found that a plurality of Illinois voters believe sentences for non-violent offenders are too long, and that non-violent offenders are not getting the help they need in prison to return to society as productive citizens. Forty-six percent say prisons sentences in Illinois are too long, compared to 30 percent who say about right and 8 percent who say not long enough, the poll indicated. Also, 83 percent of respondents agreed with the statement, If we stopped imprisoning people who arent truly dangerous and treated the addictions or lack of opportunities that lead people to commit crime in the first place, we could make our communities safer. The ACLU concluded this shows a strong support for diverting non-violent offenders away from prison and for reclassifying drug possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. This past year, the Illinois House and Senate signed off on a bill that would decriminalize small amounts of marijuana, now a first-offense misdemeanor. The bill called for fines up to $125 the equivalent of a traffic ticket for those caught with 15 grams or less of pot, which equates to roughly 25 cigarette-size joints. There were Republicans and Democrats supporting the bill elsewhere in the state, but legislators from both parties in the Southern Illinois delegation voted no. That included Republican Rep. Terri Bryant and Sen. Dave Luechtefeld and Democrat Reps. Brandon Phelps, John Bradley, Jerry Costello II and Sen. Gary Forby. Rauner issued an amendatory veto of the bill, saying he would support the measure if the amount in the bill was lowered to 10 grams, and fines increased to a range of $100 to $200. Legislators did not act on his veto recommendation and the bill died. A woman from Southern Illinois can keep a rare 1830 Book of Mormon worth tens of thousands of dollars despite filing for bankruptcy, a federal appeals court in Chicago said Thursday. A bankruptcy trustee sought permission to sell the book, which Anna F. Robinson found while cleaning out a library in Anna, to help pay Robinsons debts of $23,000. But Illinois law exempts a Bible from the items that must be sold to pay debts. After filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2013, Robinson wasnt sure that the exemption covered valuable bibles. A trustee said that because she had other copies, both electronic and on paper, it did not. A bankruptcy judge agreed, writing that allowing exemption of Robinsons Book of Mormon would violate the intent and purpose of the statute, namely to protect a bible of ordinary value so as not to deprive a debtor of a worship aid, the appeals court ruling says. But a U.S. District Court judge disagreed, saying that the Legislature had placed no limitation on the value of a bible. On Thursday, the 7th U.S. Court of Appeals held the same, ruling that the plain wording of the Illinois personal property exemption statute allows the exemption for Robinson. The court said that it seems clear that the Legislature did not intend to set a dollar value limitation on a religious text. Although it is clear that the exemption applies to only one bible, the three-judge panel said, they did not agree with the trustee that it should limit Ms. Robinson to one Book of Mormon of negligible monetary value. Patrick McCann, one of Robinsons lawyers, said that he and Robinson were happy with the decision. McCann said that the trustee had the book, but he expected it would soon be returned to Robinson, who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has no plans to sell it. Union County joins others suing state to release funds ANNA State's Attorney Tyler Edmonds announced Wednesday that Union County will join a grow She could have sold it a hundred times, McCann said. McCann said that he had the book in his office at one point but never took a picture. Its just a simple little (book) you wouldnt think it was worth a dollar, he said. I guess what makes it valuable is Joseph Smith himself handed these books out. Robinsons book is a first edition, one of only 5,000 printed by Smith, the founder of the Mormon church, the ruling says. She found the book in 2003. At the time, she was working for the library in Anna. She agreed to clean out a storage area in exchange for use of the area as an office. She was also allowed to keep any books she found, the ruling says. Robinson told officials that she kept it in a plastic zippered bag and takes it out only to show her children and church members, the court ruling says. In a 2014 episode of Antiques Roadshow, a Book of Mormon from 1830 was valued at $75,000 to $100,000, in part because it was in good condition and had been handed down within one family, the Deseret News reported. MURPHYSBORO Whenever Tonya Diehl visited her sister in Geneseo, she was mesmerized by the vast variety of specialty shops in the city's downtown. Then she'd return to Murphysboro, wishing the city had shops like that. One day, almost on a whim, she decided she would open just the kind of shop she loved. After all, for the past five years, shed run a relatively successful blog about do-it-yourself projects for the home, a blog that had garnered 250,000 to 300,000 pageviews a month. "Oh, why can't we have this in Murphysboro? the 35-year-old bemoaned. And I just decided we were going to do it. It kind of happened." What happened was her opening Love of Family and Home, a brick-and-mortar store at 1337 Walnut St., right in the heart of Murphysboros downtown business district in October 2014. She sells women's clothing, home decor, gifts and other accessories. Hers became one of the newest additions to the growing landscape of women-owned businesses in Murphysboro. Though there is not an accurate accounting of how many women-owned businesses there are in the city, some of those who have been watching the trend tally at least 35. Love of Family and Home is a business away from TNT hair studio, owned by Tina Lustig and Tara Judy, and across the street from two other women-owned businesses, the Amazing Grace & Accents Boutique (co-owned by four women) and Think Vintage! antiques and decor. At its one-year anniversary in October, Diehl doubled the square footage of Love of Family and Home, renting the available commercial spot next to her store. Illinois among top with women-owned businesses Illinois has the fifth highest percentages of women-owned businesses: 4.2 percent out of a 417,500 firms, according to a National Womens Business Council 2012 survey of business owners. That group reported that there were 9.8 million women-owned businesses in this country, an increase of 26.8 percent 2,086,282 businesses from the year 2007. Illinois rounded out the top five states for women-owned businesses, led by California (13.4 percent); Texas (8.8 percent); Florida (8.2 percent); and New York (7.3 percent). U.S. Census data reports Murphysboro had 793 firms in 2007, but does not list the number of either women- or men-owned firms. (In both instances, the data is noted as "suppressed; does not meet publication standards.") A handful of the women-owned businesses in the city Cindy B's Cafe and Kimberly Kalaher's Heartland Chiropractice & Rehab, for instance are members of the Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce. "We would love to have all of the businesses as members, and we hope that at some point they all become members," said Steve Webb, new executive director of the Murphysboro Chamber of Commerce. Another 14 women-owned businesses are among the 17 companies that make up Unique Shops, a group that organizes events to attract shoppers into the city, said co-founder Joe Green. In the past two years, there have been about 10 new women-headed shops open in the city. He and his wife, Carol, co-own Siss Memories, an antique and collectibles shop in Murphysboro. I think its fantastic, Joe Green said of the female entrepreneurs. Women have a different perspective on some of the type of stores. I mean, its fine like me or George [McNeal of Georges Resale & Antiques] have furniture and things like that, but most of the people that have started their own shops are into fashion, into new types of furniture which is great, and we really welcome all of them here to Murphysboro. Some of the women entrepreneurs say they started their businesses to see the types of stores they like to shop in and to help the local economy while promoting their city. One of those who's noticed the increase in women-owned businesses is Rachel Ensor, an artist who opened the Murphysboro Art School in the John A. Logan Historic District in 2011. "I think because we have a women's market here which means we have a lot of women do the shopping and, of course, many of us who live in Murphysboro would rather buy them in Murphysboro, because we'd rather promote a business in our town than support a business in Carbondale," she said. "We'd rather see the downtown thrive, and it's doing that." About 52 percent of Murphysboros population is women, according to Census figures. Ensor desires to see an artist enclave develop in the John A. Logan Historic District, which already had the women-owned Jones School, a metalsmithing shop and school owned by Molly Groom Alter, and Folktale Studios, a tintype photography shop and boutique, on the grounds of the John A. Logan Museum, run by Jessica Booth. 'Industrious women' Ensor calls all of the businesswomen industrious women. Diehl, a registered nurse, works about two days in Carbondale. She started her blog in November 2010, and some of her work grabbed the attention of folks at Womans Day magazine, who featured her and her closet-office setup in a 2012 magazine. Across the street from Diehl's shop is Think Vintage!, whose owner Andrea Stephens, ran a similar vintage store for 15 years out in San Francisco. She relocated back here three years ago, opening her business in a narrow space that is still bigger than her shop out in California, she said. One of the longer-running businesses in town belongs to Michele Spring-Zimbelman, owner of Youve Got the Look hair salon. She started that business in 2006, moving into the yellow house at 703 Walnut St. in 2008. A block over from her is the newer Polka Dots and Paislees opened a week after Apple Festival 2015 ended by Stacey Brewer, who is also a dental hygienist. Polka Dots and Paislees is a monogram, clothing and jewelry and accessories store, Brewer's third brick-and-mortar business: She opened her flagship in Benton, Kentucky, in 2010, and another in 2013 in Paris, Tennessee. She also sells her merchandise from her website and on Etsy, a global online community where people can sell homemade items to each other. Brewer landed in Murphysboro after she went looking for another space to open a third store. A former John A. Logan College and SIU student, she had friends here and liked the region. Shed grown up attending arts and craft shows, where her mother sold various arts and crafts items. In 2008, she'd started selling Scentsy candles and items at arts and crafts show when she got re-interested in the whole arts and crafts arena, she said. "We started going to craft shows again, and while we were there, we just sparked a new interest in it," Brewer said. "That was our start, the embroidery. We just kind of started with that. We're one of the first ones to bring it to this area." Her entrepreneurial spirit, in part, came from her grandparents and parents, who for 46 years, have owned and run a restaurant in Hardin, Kentucky. "I just kind of took a leap of faith, she said. She credits the women in Murphysboro with helping her business launch. Now, she said, she's beginning to see more college-aged young women come through the store. Some of the women have brought a bit of fame to Murphysboro with their delectable treasures, such as the Rule of Pie bakeshop, which is co-owned by wife and husband Miranda and Rick Stapel, and One Hot Cookie, a sweets and full-line catering business opened here in 2011 by Sarah Lavender-Brashear. Lavender-Brashear said she started her business after leaving the corporate world, where she worked in admissions for a college that no longer exists. She had grown up helping out her grandparents in Elsies Cafe, a restaurant they owned in the 1970s. I was raised in it, so I knew about having a business and things like that, and I just went back to it, she said. We use a lot of my grandmothers recipes in what we do. Some of the women are excited about the newest upcoming addition, the Historic Hull House Inn, former home of politician and businessman William H. Hull. The two-story Italianate-style house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This past Wednesday afternoon, owner Theresa Blankenship was busy varnishing the top of an old wooden cabinet-looking item that came with the inn. She hopes to have the inn open by Valentine's Day. She, too, runs an online business Tibby Knoll, billed as a vintage upcycle handmade gifts store. "I just know from myself, with the Murphysboro School of Art, I wanted to do something that I could do and make and paint and I also wanted to make a contribution to town, so that's why I'm doing what I'm doing," Ensor said. "Im pretty encouraged, I'm really encouraged by these really productive women and all these things they are doing." SPRINGFIELD Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has announced another round of public hearings on the states education funding formula, which critics say currently leaves districts with higher poverty rates and lower property values at a disadvantage. A bipartisan education funding task force, which began meeting last year, will hold its first hearing of the spring legislative session Feb. 16 in Springfield, the Chicago Democrat announced Thursday. Overhauling the way the state funds public schools has been a priority of Senate Democrats, led by Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner gave a nod to the idea last week in his State of the State address. Madigans announcement also comes at a time when the financial troubles of Chicago Public Schools have created another point of tension between Rauner and Democrats amid the states budget impasse. Cullerton urges Rauner to sign higher education bill Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says he wants to give Gov. Bruce Rauner a cooling- Senate President Cullerton has shown strong leadership on the issue of fair and equitable education funding, which is so important to every community across our state, Madigan said in a prepared statement. The Presidents commitment to fairly funding our schools and helping all students meet their full potential is one that I share, and I plan to work with him to achieve this goal while making sure that voices from across our state are heard and that all schools and programs are protected throughout this process. A series of hearings will be held throughout the spring to develop a legislative plan, the speaker said. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, a fellow Chicago Democrat, is leading the task force. Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill, the Senate Democrats point man on education funding, has been working for the past three years on an overhaul of the school aid formula. He introduced a bill last year that would funnel more money to poorer districts and seeks to address some concerns with an earlier version. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said the speaker hasnt taken a position on Manars proposal. Local educators: Changes need to be made in system In his State of the State speech on Wednesday, Gov. Bruce Rauner laid out a 10-point plan fo Part of the purpose of this task force is to develop that position for House members, Brown said. The panel also will examine a proposal from the Illinois State Board of Education to shift $300 million in special education funds into general state aid for schools, he said. Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat whos on the task force, said the deliberate, thoughtful approach the House is taking is appropriate given the gravity of the issue. Bradley said he wants kids across Illinois, including two of his own children in the Marion School District, to have similar opportunities. The children in my area are worth as much as the children throughout the rest of the state, he said. But Rep. Robert Pritchard of Hinckley, the Republican spokesman on the task force, said there have been enough hearings already. Its time to sit down and start analyzing what the recommendations are and determining what we can make movement with, Pritchard said. Any move to give more money to poorer districts shouldnt come at the expense of others, he said. Youve got to put new money into it so that you dont have losers and focus that new money on those students that arent being served, Pritchard said. MILTON, Fla. A weeklong search for a Missouri couple wanted in a series of robberies and abductions across the South ended with one suspect dead and the other wounded Friday, after authorities say they chased the pair across the highway and through a rural neighborhood and exchanged gunfire with them in Florida's Panhandle. Blake Fitzgerald died and Brittany Nicole Harper was at a hospital under armed guard with a wounded leg, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said at a news conference. She faces charges including home invasion, robbery, false imprisonment and grand theft auto, but no court appearances are scheduled, Morgan said. The sheriff said the chase began shortly after reports of an armed robbery at a Famous Footwear store in Pensacola at 7:56 p.m. Thursday. Witness said the man held a gun on the clerk while the woman shopped, according to Morgan. Authorities began chasing the couple, following them to nearby Pensacola Beach, before zigging and zagging though Pensacola and even going onto Interstate 10 a couple of times, Morgan said. At one point, authorities lost sight of the pair for a couple of hours, Morgan said. During that time, they held a Pensacola family hostage and eventually fled in the family's red pickup truck, he said. It was 12:16 a.m. Friday when the vehicle was spotted on I-10, Morgan said. Deputies followed the truck as it exited and went down a rural road. Morgan said his deputies had a standoff with the couple for about 15 minutes before Fitzgerald got out of the truck and appeared to be heading into a home that was occupied near the small town of Milton. Gunfire erupted, and authorities say Fitzgerald was killed. In online video posted by Pensacola station WEAR-TV, a volley of gunshots can be heard amid flashing police lights. Dozens of police and sheriff's deputies blocked the rural road. Authorities had linked Fitzgerald and Harper to a series of crimes in Alabama and Georgia, saying the offenses fit a similar pattern: People are robbed, kidnapped and let go unharmed, usually after a vehicle is stolen. Morgan and Escambia County State's Attorney Bill Ebbins provided no further details about the hostage situation in Pensacola. The sheriff said he's found no ties to the area for Fitzgerald and Harper but that he heard they were heading to Panama City to get married. Authorities said the couple had been on the run since January. Police in Joplin, Missouri, had wanted to interview the two about a Jan. 22 break-in in which guns were stolen from a home. The couple also is suspected in two Florida robberies in Walnut Hill and Destin on Wednesday, U.S. Marshals spokesman Martin Keely said. Calling the couple a "modern-day Bonnie and Clyde," the U.S. Marshals said Thursday that they were offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to their arrest. Fitzgerald and Harper had been accused of robbing and abducting a hotel clerk in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and taking his car to the Birmingham area. Officials say the clerk was let go in the upscale suburb of Vestavia Hills, where a woman was briefly abducted by two people who stole her family's Ford Edge SUV. On Monday night, a gunman held up a young clerk at a Murphy Express station in south Georgia, taking money from the safe before forcing the clerk into an SUV where his female accomplice waited, authorities said. The couple drove about 15 miles before releasing the clerk unharmed, Perry police Lt. Ken Ezell said. The hotel clerk who was abducted in Alabama, Kyle Dease, told Al.com that he spoke with his captors during the nearly two hours he was held on the drive from Tuscaloosa to metro Birmingham. Dease said they told him they hoped to make it to Florida to get married and start a new life together. The man also said he didn't want to go back to prison, Dease said. Missouri records show that in 2013, Fitzgerald and an accomplice were charged with burglarizing a Joplin woman at knifepoint in her home and making off with her purse, jewelry, electronics and a car. Fitzgerald entered an Alford plea not admitting guilt but acknowledging prosecutors had sufficient evidence for a conviction and was sentenced to a suspended seven-year prison term. Fitzgerald also was sentenced in southwestern Missouri to a simultaneous 120-day term in a drunken-driving case. Last July, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty in a Missouri assault case and was sentenced to a suspended five-year prison term. ___ Associated Press writers Freida Frisaro in Miami and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report. MARION Two Williamson County residents were indicted on Feb. 2, for a methamphetamine offense, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois James L. Porter announced today. Blake R. Gordon, 34, and Shara L. Peyton, also known as Shara Smothers, 39, both of Marion, were charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine in a one-count indictment. The indictment alleges that the offense occurred between August 2015 and Dec. 15, 2015, in Williamson County. Peyton made her initial appearance in federal court Feb. 4. She was ordered held without bond pending a Feb. 5 detention hearing. Gordon is being held without bond on a prior revocation matter. The methamphetamine offense carries a sentence of 5 to 40 years imprisonment, to be followed by four years supervised release, and a $5,000,000 fine. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by Southern Illinois Enforcement Group, Illinois State Police/Southern Illinois Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration. Herrin Police Department assisted in the investigation. The Southern The lead column, in The Southern Illinoisan's February 4 Opinion page was headlined, Hillary Clinton is the only capable candidate. No, she's not. The column was written by Gene Lyons, and originally appeared, January 28, in the Arkansas Times. Gene Lyons has made something of a career as an apologist for the Clintons. He co-wrote a book 16 years ago, titled The Hunting of the President: The 10 Year Campaign to Destroy Bill and Hillary Clinton, arguing that a right wing conspiracy was behind Bill Clinton's impeachment and the Whitewater affair. He's devoted at least 15 separate columns defending Hillary, in just the last two years. This time, Lyons only devoted a few sentences directly to why he thinks Hillary Clinton would make a better president. Boiled down, they were that President Obama had some kind words for Clinton, who served four years in his Cabinet, and that she's a pragmatist. The implication is that she will have an easier time with a Republican Congress than would Bernie Sanders. Lyons neglects the fact that Barack Obama has had a pretty rough time himself. Is the argument that Clinton would be a better president than Obama? Or, is it that she's more like a Republican than either Obama or Sanders? Lyons states that overcoming suspicion is Clinton's biggest challenge and he blames the mistrust on former special prosecutor Ken Starr and current congressional Republicans. But, young people don't care about the dim past, they find her constant position changes dishonest. In her 2008 campaign, against Obama, she had, essentially, a state's rights position on gun control; now she wants it federalized. At one point, in the current campaign, she famously refused to giver her position on the Keystone XL pipeline, saying, If it is undecided when I become president, then I will answer your question. That became politically untenable and now she's against it. She supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), referring to it as the gold standard. That position was a loser as a candidate and she then came out against the TPP, saying she had absorbed new information, yet the publicly released portions of the pact's text remained unchanged. And, Democrats, as a whole, are not naive. There are real concerns that if she changes her position once, for political expediency, she will do it again, if elected. The columnist confuses the perception of Clinton as inauthentic with poor stage performance. No. One is perceived as authentic if they are real or genuine. They are not, if they appear to be phony or false. Right after admitting that Bernie Sanders is unwilling to smear his opponent, Lyons proceeds to attempt to do just that to Sanders. In a column regarding who he thinks would make the best president, he detours into four paragraphs about anonymous posts, by supposed Sanders supporters, in comment sections on the internet. If the candidates pasts are to be compared, fine; compare their careers. Bernie Sanders has represented his state in the U.S. Senate for the last ten years and the U.S. House of Representatives for the preceding 16 years. He was elected mayor of Burlington, Vermont in 1981. Hillary Clinton was Secretary of State for four years and served in the Senate for eight. Lyons thinks Clinton would have an easier time getting elected than Sanders, because the media and Republicans will yell socialist. But, polls show that the public actually agrees with Sanders' positions. And, as voters learn about him, the reactions are positive. Ms. Clinton has high unfavorable ratings in polls. She is indeed a formidable politician, but it is not inevitable that she'll be elected. It is also not self-evident that she would do better than Sanders. Lyons shouldn't point to Obama as a reason to vote for Clinton, and her hard-won reality, over Sanders and his revolution. In 2008, Hillary Clinton mocked Obama supporters saying they thought celestial choirs will be singing and the world will be perfect. In the end, the Democratic Party nominated her opponent, and the country elected him. Idealism is what this country is about. We celebrate revolution every Fourth of July. It's not fantasy; it's the American way! Jim Carl Carterville IL The reigning idiocy of the current political season is the incessant tossing around of "establishment," an epithet now descending into meaninglessness. Its most recent abuse is by Donald Trump supporters rationalizing his Iowa defeat with the following consolation: If you tally up Trump and Ted Cruz (and throw in Ben Carson), a whopping 60 percent of the vote is anti-establishment! So what? The threat to the GOP posed by the Trump insurgency is not that he's anti-establishment. It's that he's not conservative. Trump winning the nomination would convulse the Republican Party, fracture the conservative movement and undermine the GOP's identity and role as the country's conservative party. There's nothing wrong with challenging the so-called establishment. Parties, like other institutions, can grow fat and soft and corrupt. If by establishment you mean the careerists, the lobbyists and the sold-out cynics, a good poke, even a major purge, is well-deserved. That's not the problem with Trump. The problem is his, shall we say, eclectic populism. Cruz may be anti-establishment but he's a principled conservative, while Trump has no coherent political philosophy, no core beliefs, at all. Trump offers barstool eruptions and whatever contradictory "idea" pops into his head at the time, such as "humane" mass deportation, followed by mass amnesty when the immigrants are returned to the United States. That's the reason his harebrained ideas -- barring all Muslims from entering the country, a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods, government-provided universal health care through "a deal with existing hospitals to take care of people" (why didn't I think of that?) -- have received such relatively little scrutiny. No one takes them seriously. His actual platform is all persona -- the wonders that will emanate from his own self-proclaimed strength, toughness, brilliance, money, his very yugeness. Trump's is faith-based politics of the Latin American caudillo variety. "At the [Sarah] Palin rally," reports John McCormack of The Weekly Standard, "Trump promised he would localize education. 'How?' shouted one man in the crowd. 'Just you watch,' Trump replied." Meaning: I have no idea. Just trust me. Cruz does not lack for self-confidence. And he constantly wraps himself in anti-establishment rhetoric. He reasonably calculates that his hard-edged conservatism sells best when presented not as pristine ideology but as a revolt against entrenched interests. To imagine, however, that his railing against "the Washington cartel" makes him a Trumpian brother-in-arms is to mistake tactics for strategy, style for substance. To be sure, it's a misperception Cruz himself encouraged throughout 2015 as he drafted in Trump's wake. But that's yesterday's story. It's been over for weeks. The story since January is of a bromance blown up, clearing away the anti-establishment veneer and allowing their fundamental political differences to finally emerge: --Over Trump's "New York [read: liberal] values." --Over government power. Cruz's most biting commercial showed Trump enlisting government to tear down the home of a little old lady standing in the way of a casino parking lot. --Over ethanol, which Cruz opposed on classic small-government grounds that the state should not be picking winners and losers, and which Trump supported because "it happens to be a lot of jobs for Iowa." The Iowa results clarified the dynamic of the Republican race. There are only three candidates in the race and, as I argued last week, each represents a different politics. The result is a three-way fight between Trump's personalized strongman populism and two flavors of conservatism -- Marco Rubio's more mainstream version and Cruz's more uncompromising take-no-prisoners version. We can now read the Iowa results as they affect the Republican future. Trumpian populism got 24 percent, conservatism (Rubio plus Cruz) got 51 percent. There will be a spirited contest between the two conservatives over who has the better chance of winning the general election and of governing effectively. But whatever the piques and preferences of various "establishment" party leaders, there's no denying that either Rubio or Cruz would retain the GOP's fundamental ideological identity. Trump would not. Getting thumped in Iowa does not mean that Trump is done. He's on favorable ground in New Hampshire and leads in practically every other state. But he's in for a long fight. What Iowa confirms is that whatever beating the "establishment" takes during this campaign, Republicans are choosing conservatism over Trumpian populism by 2 to 1. Which means their chances of survival as the party of Reagan are very good. Charles Krauthammer's email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com. (c) 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group I recently attended the funeral of an acquaintance who passed away suddenly and without warning. His death caught everyone by surprise as he was a young man by todays standards. The death of a loved one always causes people to take a moment and ponder the inevitability of death, and that of our own mortality. The question then is: What about me? What about my death? As I listened to the pastor at this funeral, it was painfully obvious he and this man had never met. In fact, he had never heard of the young man even though the young mans relatives were lifelong attendees of his church. I ached personally for this pastor as he attempted to preach words of comfort to this family in respect of someone whom he had never met, much less even heard of. What a terrible place to be as a pastor. There you see the family, sitting in the pews, hanging onto every word this pastor would say, somehow hoping he would utter the words, "Your husband/son/father is in heaven today. But then, how could he? Matthew 7:16 tells us, You will know them by their fruits." How could the pastor know his fruits if the pastor had never known the young man? It doesnt matter in the least that someone in the family shared stories about the young man -- how when he was younger he had been baptized and attended church some and even said himself that he knew Jesus. What is that pastor supposed to do? Openly question the accuracy of the familys description of their deceased loved one? But, that is the wrong question, isnt it? Shouldnt the real question be, What seat of Gods will I be standing at when I meet Him face to face? Will it be the Bema seat, reserved for Christians to have their works examined before the all-knowing God? Or, will it be the Great White Throne of Judgment, reserved for those who never surrendered their lives to God? According to the Bible, these are the two places reserved for we who will die. We will stand before one or the other, not both. 2 Corinthians 5:10 tells us, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." This is the Bema seat, reserved for only the Christians. It is here where believers are rewarded based on how faithfully they served Christ, how well Christians obeyed the great commission, how victorious over sin we were and how well we controlled our tongues. Revelation 20:11-15 speaks of the other seat, the Great White throne of Judgment. This is the lost souls final standing at his final judgment prior to being cast into the lake of fire. It is reserved for the one who God will clearly tell, as told in Matthew 7:23, I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." Take a moment right now and ponder how the God who knows everything may not know you. Perhaps some illustrations are in order. Consider these: I joined the church way back when; I just never attend (why would He know me?). I got baptized when I was 7; I just never go to church (why would He know me?). I said the sinners prayer when I was younger and thats really all I did. I didnt seek Jesus after being introduced to Him; I certainly didnt surrender my life to His calling or His will (why would He know me?). I got my name on the church roll and essentially told the church to "stick it." And, why would the pastor know what to say to my family about my standing with the Lord? After all, my name was placed on the church roll many years ago, long before this pastor came to my relatives church. Why, if I could remember the title to that song, It is well with my soul," perhaps the pastor would say that about me? After all, I dont know him and he certainly doesnt know me, even though the Bible says you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:16). Those are hard words to digest. But they are words that need to be said, and heard. Perhaps they will cause someone to give consideration to the empty words that accompany a sinners prayer with no submission to God. But, the good news is if youre reading this, youre still breathing. Consider the words of Luke 9:23 and if applied, your family will not have to sell you to the pastor who is preaching your funeral. Your life will preach it for you. CHARLESTON -- South Carolina Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter of Orangeburg will be the keynote speaker at the College of Charlestons Office of Institutional Diversity Signature Speaker Series at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12. The event will take place in the Stern Student Center Ballroom at 71 George St. In celebration of National Black History Month, the topic of Cobb-Hunters speech will be Shaping the Future of South Carolina Politics: The Role of Black Women. Cobb-Hunter is a person of many firsts. She became the first African American woman in Orangeburg County elected to a statewide office when she won a seat in the S.C. House of Representatives in 1992, an office she continues to hold. She is the first freshman ever appointed to -- and currently the ranking member of -- the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. And in 1997, with her election as minority leader, she became the first person of color, male or female, to lead a South Carolina legislative caucus. The Office of Institutional Diversity is very fortunate and honored to have Rep. Cobb-Hunter as its 2016 National Black History Month keynote speaker, and we are looking forward to her visit, said John Bello-Ogunu Sr., chief diversity officer for the College of Charleston. Through her numerous, diverse and enviable accomplishments to date, Gilda Cobb-Hunter has, and continues to contribute to the very rich history of blacks in South Carolina and in America in general. Cobb-Hunter, who is often referred to as the conscience of the House, is widely respected on both sides of the aisle in the S.C. General Assembly. In her capacity as vice-chair of the African-American History Monument Commission, Cobb-Hunter led the historic effort to build the first monument to African Americans on the grounds of any state capitol. She represents South Carolina as the national committeewoman to the Democratic National Committee, where she also serves as a member of the groups executive committee and as chair of the DNCs Southern Regional Caucus. She is the first woman of color ever elected to that position. In addition to being awarded honorary degrees from the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina, Cobb-Hunter is also the recipient of the David Wilkins Legislative Leadership Award from the Riley Institute at Furman University. Cobb-Hunter earned a bachelors degree in Afro-history from Florida A&M University and a masters degree in American history from Florida State University. Since 1985, she has served as executive director of CASA/Family Systems, a family violence agency serving Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties. She continues to work on the national, regional and state levels on a variety of progressive issues aimed at making communities a better place for working families to live. The visit by a former president is newsworthy anytime, particularly on a local level. But these are not just any times. In Columbia media, former President Bill Clinton made news on Wednesday with his evening appearance at Allen University. A key distributor of news statewide, however, did not cover the former presidents story beyond announcing he would be in Columbia and for what purpose. That purpose is an ingredient in The Associated Press and other media making decisions about coverage on merits. Bill Clinton was in Columbia for purely partisan purposes, campaigning for his wife Hillary in her bid to win the Democratic nomination for president. With AP covering the campaign wall to wall on a daily basis, there must be determinations on how and where to focus efforts. Capturing the big picture is more vital than coverage of an individual event. Hillary Clinton is campaigning in New Hampshire this week ahead of next Tuesdays primary. But with predictions of challenger Bernie Sanders winning there, the former first lady is looking to South Carolina on Feb. 27 as her firewall as well as a launching pad to victories in multiple states on Super Tuesday, March 1. Toward keeping South Carolina front and center while the candidate is profiled as fighting for every vote in the next primary, the campaign is sending surrogates here. And Hillary Clinton has high-profile surrogates. The former presidents stop on Wednesday night will be followed by daughter Chelseas visit to the Upstate on Saturday. And Thursday brought the announcement that Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan also is coming to the Palmetto State in support of Hillary. Maybe on a statewide basis none of the stops singularly qualifies as major news amid the unfolding campaign, but the celebrity nature of the former president, the Clintons daughter and others creates the interest that the campaign hopes to translate into votes for Hillary. And for the record, Bill Clinton said nothing in Columbia that should come as a surprise. Some highlights as reported by Chad Mills of WIS-TV: Clinton spoke for about 30 minutes, saying Hillary would practice inclusive politics. "She is clearly the best qualified person to be president I have ever had the chance to vote for and ask you to vote for, Clinton said. "One of the reasons you ought to vote for Hillary is the next president's going to get between one and three appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court, and we can change a lot of that." He pointed to Hillary's specific policies -- from prison reform to affordable college. "Those of us in higher-income categories should pay to make college affordable to all Americans. And this is one place where her plan is really good. People getting Pell Grants can use it all, if they need to, for basic living expenses." Clinton called for unity under a Hillary presidency. "The most important thing that has happened to heal America in a very long time was what happened when the parishioners of that church in Charleston showed their true Christian faith." Just what will it take for the mainstream media to awaken to the disaster that is the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton? Pretending that what happened in Iowa was anything other than a near-death experience for the former secretary of state is simply nonsense. Worse, for those supporting her, the news is going to get even worse in the coming days. A while back, I wrote about her overall standing with the public, noting that her overall ratings were 44 favorable, 51 unfavorable. However, among Democrats, Mrs. Clinton was viewed favorably 84-11. It would appear that ground is shifting beneath her feet. The idea that Democrats need to nominate someone who obviously is viewed very negatively by everyone other than Democrats to win in November defies all logic, and now even the Democrats are jumping ship. Think about this. Hillary Clinton has raised huge sums of money. Her Super PAC has amassed and spent an unprecedented amount for a Democratic challenger. She is running against a 74 year-old white man who self-describes himself as a socialist and whose home state is hardly the breeding ground of national candidates. Thanks to dominating the coin-toss vote, she appears to have eked out a victory over this underwhelming challenger in Iowa. If Hillary Clinton cannot crush Bernie Sanders, what is the argument she is going to be so tough in November? The actual polling data shows Sanders running more strongly against the various Republican candidates than Mrs. Clinton. Loud cries of a victory is a victory with these facts is whistling past the graveyard. Mrs. Clinton basically ignored Bernie Sanders for many months. Then, as he gained traction, she had the campaign go to its default setting and attack him. As her problems mounted, these attacks either had little impact or, in some cases, actually backfired. Much has been written about the meager crowds she is attracting and the lack of enthusiasm among those present. Why do her defenders among the chattering class think a crushing defeat in New Hampshire is just what the doctor ordered to improve her situation? The prediction here is that even the world-class Clinton spin machine, and all its talented voices will be struggling on Tuesday night to come up with anything more than wait for South Carolina. Counting votes actually cast counts in American politics. What happens in one place impacts what happens in another. This is historical fact. It is unlikely to change in 2016. Hillary Clinton continues to enjoy a slight edge among female Democrats and a huge advantage among minority voters. It is absolutely true that when the campaign moves to the south, her strength among minority voters (primarily, but not exclusively, African Americans) is likely to sustain her campaign. It will allow her to live and fight another day. This said, there are a lot of other states where demography does not contribute to any edge for Secretary Clinton. In a whole host of states, it is easy to see how the composition of the electorate favors Senator Sanders. Not only that, but as you look at the situation in its entirety, you are awfully tempted to say the states where Mrs. Clinton has an advantage are largely states that no Democrat is likely to carry in the general election. Right now, Mrs. Clinton has the overwhelming support of the super delegates delegates coming from elected officials, party leaders, etc. These delegates are free to vote for whomever they choose. This is not some tiny group. They are 15 percent of all the delegates. When they see massive erosion in support for Mrs. Clinton, and when they see her being strong primarily in states that are deeply Red, why would they not reconsider their support for Mrs. Clinton. Rules are made to be changed. We conservatives tend to be reluctant to change the rules. From personal observation, liberals can be said to have no hesitation to bend, reverse and rewrite any rule in order to advance political self-interest. If they conclude that Mrs. Clinton is a dead loser, you can predict today a pathway for someone else will be found. You can bet they will throw her under the bus with not a lot of soul searching. So, what are the bottom lines? Any fair reading of where Hillary Clinton stands today, after the Iowa caucuses, would be she is in deep trouble. What is going to happen next is she will be crushed in New Hampshire. Then, she will stumble through some states where her support from minority voters allows her to remain competitive. However, her weakness will be underscored when Bernie Sanders beats her elsewhere. Finally, the reality of how terrible the chances are for Democrats to win with her at the head of the ticket sets in, she will be shoved aside for a new candidate. Did someone just say Joe Biden has a better chance than Hillary Clinton? We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. His two decades of research bore fruits five years later. In February 1925 he presented the first project for a system of continuous color television and made a demonstration at a special laboratory created in Yerevan State University, where he fabricated and operated a device of tricolor broadcast called Herades (, Televisor) in the presence of a special committee. He succeeded in showing a number of color figures and patterns on a screen, transferred from the laboratory next door. His tricolor principle was the basis for the first experimental color television, shown in London in 1928. Adamian passed away from liver cancer on September 12, 1932, at the age of 53, in Leningrad. He was buried at the local Armenian cemetery, and his remains were brought to Yerevan and reburied at the Pantheon of famous Armenians in 1970. Adamian's grave at the Pantheon in Yerevan. Our flat TVs would be less colorful if not for a little known Armenian engineer who introduced a device to broadcast color images 91 years ago.Hovhannes (Ivan) Adamian was the son of an Armenian oil businessman, born in Baku (nowadays Azerbaijan) on February 5, 1879. He was already into science in his school years, and after graduating in 1897, he moved to Europe. He first graduated from the section of chemistry at the University of Zurich, and in 1901 obtained his degree of electrical engineer from the University of Berlin. In those years, he built a laboratory, where he made his first inventions. Maurice Le Blanc had made the first proposal for a color system in television, without any practical details, as early as 1880, and Polish inventor had patented a color television system in 1897, which could not have worked as he described. Adamian made the first attempt to broadcast color images through cable at a distance of 600 kilometers (373 miles) and patented his first television project on March 31, 1908, in Germany, and on April 1, 1908, in Great Britain. Two years later, he patented it in France and in Russia.In late 1913 the Armenian engineer moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, which would be called Leningrad from 1924 until the fall of the Soviet Union. He created a laboratory by his own means and continued his scientific experiments. In 1920 he wrote: I have felt the happiness of creative work only here, and now I am happy and satisfied with my cherished wishes, despite all the privations I suffer; I work in a cold room and I am often forced to bring water from far away. A cousin bait posting on the Pierce brought me an email this week from Dea, whose great-grandmother, Sarah, was the second wife of Albert Or... The 16th China International Food Exhibition and Guangzhou Import Food Exhibition 2016 (IFE2016) will be held on June 29, 2016. According to Azerbaijan export and import foundation, Azerbaijani companies and businessmen are invited to attend the exhibition. The IFE is an awesome platform that enhances the aura with the massive presence of food and food products, beverages, beverage products, food ingredients, raw materials, food items, dairy products, meat products, poultry and eggs products, fish products and quite a lot more. It is an international platform that has been witnessing visitors and exhibitors, from all around the world. /By AzerTac/ /By AzerNews/ By Aynur Karimova Energy-rich Azerbaijan and one of its main gas consumers - Georgia have discussed the problems with the supply of blue fuel to Georgia and the ways to resolve them. The discussions succeeded the Georgian energy minister's recent loud talks with its two giant gas producing neighbors -- Iran and Russia, in an effort to diversify its gas supplies. The move gave birth to concerns about reliability of energy partnership between the two South Caucasus nations, thus entailing enough grounds for debates in both countries. The meeting in Baku on February 4 seems to shed a light on many dark points of the process as Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze and SOCAR President Rovnaq Abdullayev decided to continue regular meetings and negotiations. The sides mulled prospects for the development of the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as the progress on the construction of the South Caucasus Pipeline in the territory of Georgia. Azerbaijan, which is considered by the Georgian officials as a strategic partner, is the priority source of gas supply for Tbilisi. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia enjoyed favorable relations with Azerbaijan that met its increasing gas demand for many years. Even in a very critical period of relationship with Russia, which left Georgians without warm after the 2008 military clashes, Azerbaijan rescued the post Soviet nation and extended a helping hand to it. Today SOCAR delivers 6 million cubic meters per day in Georgia, which is supposed meet 95 percent of the country's gas consumption. The rest 5 percent of its gas demand Georgia covers though Russian supplies that it receives for "blue fuel" transit to Armenia. Despite the fact that Azerbaijan enjoys enough natural gas reserves to meet the needs of Georgia and many other European countries for decades, Kaladze and Russian gas giant Gazprom have recently held negotiations which caused a storm of unrest and accusations both in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Rumors circulating in political circles and society gave birth to ideas that the Georgian government intends to replace cheap and stable Azerbaijani gas with Russian, which is considered much more expensive and less stable. Kaladze said earlier that Gazprom offers gas to Georgia cheaper than Azerbaijan, adding that if necessary Georgia will balance with Russian supplies a deficit, which SOCAR is unable to refill. SOCAR, a major gas supplier to Georgia, however, rebuffed any motives about shortage of natural gas, assuring that the company could meet the country's necessary demand for natural gas and would do it further if needed. But even today, after the Georgian government played such a political game by bargaining with Gazprom, Azerbaijan again rescued Georgia from energy dependence on the Russian "gas needle". In January, SOCAR and Georgia agreed to increase the volume of gas supplied to Georgia and the company will maximally increase the gas supply up to seven million cubic meters per day. Daily gas consumption in Georgia exceeded 11 million cubic meters per day and about 2.5 billion cubic meters per year. Currently, SOCAR supplies six million cubic meters per day and it is impossible to get more via the existing pipeline. Azerbaijan supplies gas to Georgia via Hajigabul-Gardabani pipeline with gas pumping capacity attaining 6.5 million cubic meters per day. The second way carrying gas to Georgian consumers is the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (South Caucasus) Pipeline, through which the gas from the first stage of the Shah Deniz field is supplied to Georgia and a large proportion goes through its territory to Turkey. By increasing the capacity of these pipelines, SOCAR will be able to meet the increasing demand of Georgia in energy. The company has several plans in this regard. It plans to fully upgrade the Hajigabul-Gardabani pipeline to increase its capacity. Also, works on the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline as part of the Shah Deniz-2 project have already commenced. These works include the construction of a new pipeline in the territory of Azerbaijan and two new gas compressor stations in Georgia. Expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline will triple its capacity to more than 20 billion cubic meters a year. That will allow allocating more gas to Georgia. Azerbaijan, which plays the role of a bridge between Europe and Asia, has huge transit opportunities. The fact that routes from the East to the West and from the North to the South pass through Azerbaijan, makes the country an important logistics hub and a junction of major trade routes between the East and the West and the North and the South. What plays a vital role in Azerbaijan`s becoming a strategic logistics hub for the entire Eurasian region is the country's favorable geographical location, its possession of the necessary transport infrastructure, particularly the new Baku International Sea Trade Port. A number of large-scale infrastructure projects have recently been carried out in Azerbaijan's transport sector. This included the construction of the Baku International Sea Trade Port, state-of-the-art airports and roads of international importance, renewal of the railway lines in the direction of the East-West and North-South transport corridors. These projects have made a crucial contribution to the expansion of the country's foreign economic relations. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, whose construction is to be completed this year, will substantially elevate Azerbaijan`s significance as a transit country for freight being shipped between Europe and Asia. The shortest route linking Asia and Europe, this railway is believed to ship 30 million tons of cargo a year. The Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) international transport corridor is of pivotal importance in developing transit potential of the South Caucasus and Central Asian countries. This corridor accounts for four-fifths of the total volume of energy resources transited through the Caspian littoral states to the Old World. Work to restore the historic Silk Road started last August. The first freight train on the International Trans-Caspian transport route travelled from China to the Baku port, covering a distance of 4,768 kilometers (4,258 kilometers by railway and 510 kilometers by sea). From Baku, it headed to Europe via Georgia and Turkey. Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Qurbanov said: "The opening of the Trans-Caspian transport route is the next step towards Azerbaijan's becoming a transport hub. This will allow to increase the flow of freight and foreign exchange to the country." This year saw Ukraine join the Trans-Caspian international transport corridor, sending 10 freight cars and 20 forty-foot freight trains to China. A test freight train linking Ukraine with China passed through the Black Sea to the Georgian port of Poti, then arrived in Baku by railroad and departed from the Baku International Sea Trade Port via the Caspian Sea to Aktau, Kazakhstan, and finally reached China. After the successful test of the route, Ukraine and Lithuania signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) adding the Viking freight train to the Trans-Caspian route. This means that the Silk Road route through Ukraine will connect not only Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and China, but also the European Union (EU) member states. So it`s not hard to guess what this means for Azerbaijan. In order to promote transit from Europe to China and back, tariffs for the railway shipping from Ilyichevsk to the European Union border have been reduced by 60 percent. Travel time on Ukraine-Georgia-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-China route is 11 days, but there are realistic prospects of shortening it to 10 days. On January 14, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Georgia signed a protocol to set competitive preferential tariffs for cargo shipment on the Trans-Caspian international transport route, which is a strategic link in the TRACECA corridor, and has the potential to carry more than 15 million tons of freight per year. Air transportation is actively involved in transit operations. Azerbaijans Silk Way West Airlines has recently launched direct cargo flights between Baku and the Japanese city of Komatsu. The first flight from the Heydar Aliyev International Airport to Komatsu Airport transported 34 tons of commercial cargo. Silk Way West Airlines will operate regular flights on this route twice a week by Boeing 747-8F Freighter. /By AzerTac/ Europe would like to see Azerbaijan among the countries of the EU Energy Community, said Janez Kopa?, director of the Energy Community Secretariat. He made remarks at a meeting with the Azerbaijani Energy Minister Natig Aliyev, Azerbaijans Energy ministry said Feb. 5. The sides discussed the current level of cooperation and its perspectives during the meeting. In addition, Azerbaijans important role in ensuring Europes energy security, the importance and progress of the Southern Gas Corridor project were also noted. The minister said that Azerbaijan fully satisfies the domestic demand for fuel and energy resources. Currently, one of the main priorities of Azerbaijans energy sector is to reduce losses and high energy efficiency, said Aliyev. The two state programs are prepared for this purpose in the country, and it would be useful to use in this regard advice and assistance of the EU Energy Community, he added. In return, Kopa? said that the Energy Community is ready to render technical support for Azerbaijan to prepare and improve the legislative basis in the energy efficiency sphere. We are also ready to assist Azerbaijan in development of cooperation within the framework of the new stage of INOGATE (Interstate Oil and Gas transport to Europe) regional energy program and conducting reforms, said Kopa?. As a result of the meeting, the sides agreed to sign a protocol between Azerbaijans Energy Ministry and the EU Energy Community in the future. /By Trend/ Good memories light up in my mind when I remember Baku, French actor Pierre Richard has told journalists in Russia. The star of French and world cinema shared memories of his visit to Baku, which took place many years ago and made a lasting impression on him. My most vivid impression of Baku, which I visited 20 years ago, was that it was still possible to buy caviar there. The man who was selling caviar just threw it in my bag as if it was cheap pate. I was absolutely amazed, knowing that in Paris, a tiny jar of caviar is worth a fortune, and my wife was eating caviar with tablespoons," he said. When people ask me about my impressions of the country, my thoughts always go back to the people that I met there, Richard added. /By Azertac/ S Congressman from New Jersey Donald Payne has made a statement on January 20 and Khojaly tragedies. He said he would like to recognize January 20, 1990 as Black January, adding Soviet troops invaded the capital city of Baku and surrounding areas killing tens and injuring hundreds of civilians. He also asked congressmen to join him in recognizing the horrific atrocities that took place during the month of February in Khojaly, Azerbaijan, 24 years ago. On that day, Payne said, more than 600 people, mostly elderly men, women and children, were brutally killed. The Congressman also described Azerbaijan as a strong ally of the United States in a strategically important region of the world. /By Azertac/ Tajikistans parliament has backed changing the constitution to allow the president, Emomali Rahmon, to run for office an infinite number of times, according to the Guardian. The 63-year-old has led the central Asian country since 1992, shortly after it became independent from the Soviet Union. The amendments now have to be approved by the constitutional court and put to a national referendum. Tajikistan awarded Rahmon the title of leader of the nation last year, reinforcing his burgeoning personality cult. One of the authors of the amendments said: According to the Tajik constitution, a person can stand for president twice for seven-year terms. However, this does not apply to the leader of the nation. Rahmon, who once headed up a collective farm, was voted in for a seven-year term in an election in 2013. He is eligible to serve another stint after 2020, following constitutional reforms. The president had already overseen constitutional reforms in 2003 that allowed him to remain in post until 2020. Tajik lawmakers also backed changing the constitution to allow candidates to stand for president from the age of 30, down from 35. /By AzerTac/ /By AzerNews/ By Laman Sadigova Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber discussed the situation in the region in Moscow on February 5. In particular, the sides were discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "They discussed the situation in the South Caucasus in the context of complicated international environment, the fight against terrorism and threats to the security and stability of the regions states," the Russian foreign Ministry reported. For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. 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. However, the peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group have been largely fruitless so far. Turkey has failed to reach its objective in its complaint against Iran for over-charging for gas supply, Irans Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said, Shana news agency reported. Zanganeh said Turkey's first complaint was about Iran not being stable in its gas supplies, thus asking for a 25-percent reduction in price. The second complaint from Turkey was that Iran over-charges for its gas, so Turkey wanted a 37.5-percent reduction in price. The first complaint of Turkey about instability of gas exports was ruled in favor of Iran," Zanganeh said. "The second complaint had Iran to pay 13-15 percent." Zanganeh did not reveal the sum Iran will have to pay due to confidentiality, but said it was negotiable. The managing director of the National Iranian Gas Company, Hamid-Reza Araqi, said on February 2 that the International Court of Arbitration court has ruled against Iran in its gas dispute with Turkey, voting Iran should pay some $1bn in compensation for over-charging. Based on the ruling, Iran must reduce the price of gas it exported to Turkey between 2011 and 2015 by 10-15 percent. Meanwhile, Zanganeh said Turkey cannot put forward any requests by the next couple of years on reducing gas price or changing gas export formula. "In my opinion, the ruling is acceptable considering that Turkey had initially requested Iran to reduce gas price by 40 percent," he said. Iran must supply Turkey with a about 10 billion cubic meters per year under a 25-year deal signed in 1996. Last year, Iran exported 9.6 bcm to Turkey. Iran had proposed doubling exports of its natural gas for a discounted price last year, but Ankara rejected the offer. Last year Iran was its most costly gas supplier. /By Trend/ Stoke City vs Everton , 5 February, Match Preview Kevin Mirallas: back in the squad after missing three games with a tendon injury Kevin Mirallas: back in the squad after missing three games with a tendon injury Everton hope to build on the midweek win over Newcastle when they travel to Stoke City tomorrow. Having endured a torrid run of form in front of their own fans, the Blues managed an unusually comfortable victory on Wednesday that can hopefully provide a springboard for the final quarter of the Premier Leage campaign. The 3-0 score line was a fair reflection of Everton's attacking dominance and the chances they should have taken from open play; 1-0 would have been emblematic of what was a bit of a grind at times from Martinez's players as they spurned some good chances in their search for a first home win in the League since November. Goodison Park probably could have done without the nerves that crept in as the second half wore on but a margin of victory that slender would have been greeted with plenty of relief and sufficient optimism for the next few games. Article continues below video content The most important thing was to win and, thanks to Aaron Lennon's persistence and both Ross Barkley's infectious direct running and his composure from the spot, the Toffees were able to drive home their superiority in the closing minutes. It sets them up nicely for a mission of revenge and atonement against Stoke at the Britannia Stadium this weekend. If Everton's win at St James's Park hinted at Martinez's men getting back on track after a month of frustration following the events at Bournemouth in late November, the defeat to the Potters two days later at Goodison was a shot to the solar plexus. Another blown lead and a controversial stoppage time penalty handed Stoke a 4-3 win and felt like being dumped back down to earth, with recriminations for the defence and manager from supporters. In retrospect, the Blues made Stoke, and Xherdan Shaqiri in particular, look like world-beaters that day. Mark Hughes's side have won just once since and have looked decidedly ordinary; Shaqiri, over whom many a tantrum was thrown on social media when the Swiss "chose" the Britannia over Goodison -- in reality, Martinez and Everton were adamant they would only take him on loan where they could assess his suitability rather than splash 12m on him, a decision that looks prudent in hindsight -- hadn't scored before that game and hasn't scored since. Encouragingly, while the Britannia is generally regarded as a tough place to go, Stoke have only won more home game than Everton this season and they've lost four of their 11 matches on their own turf. That offers hope for a Blues team that has only lost once on the road in the League this term and is looking to improve on a record of just three away wins. Optimistic about Romelu Lukaku's chances of being fit, Martinez will have the same squad to choose from as he did on Wednesday against the Magpies plus the fit-again Kevin Mirallss and, possibly, new signing Oumar Niasse. The Senegal striker is awaiting international clearance to make his debut following his 13m move from Lokomotiv Moscow and he would certainly be a handy and unknown quantity to bring off the bench, particularly if Lukaku isn't up to 90 minutes. Martinez said in his press conference this morning that, "this morning was important in terms of getting the final step of that paperwork and we're hopeful that he will be able to be available." The decision over the availability of Lukaku will likely be made tomorrow, although the manager hinted in his "presser" that the striker could play through any lingering pain from the blow he took to his back in midweek. He came off at half time in the 3-0 victory with the Magpies after taking a knee to the back from Fabricio Collocini but Martinez said he was moving more freely and "looked back to himself." The Catalan continued: "After the game he found it very difficult to be able to walk without pain. It was a really difficult injury because all of a sudden he couldn't really feel the backs of his legs and we were a little bit worried. "But there's no further damage and it was then about making sure he could get the feeling back and join in training today. We'll make an assessment depending on how good he is feeling today in training." Martinez will still be without Muhamed Besic, John Stones and Tim Howard, however. All three are ruled out with, with the former two recovering from hamstring strains and Howard dealing with a knee problem apparently sustained in training in the early part of the week. That means another opportunity for Joel Robles to impress between the posts. The Spaniard has been solid when handed opportunities to play in the cup competitions this season and, after Wednesday's win over Newcastle, he has four clean sheets in his last four Premier League appearances stretching back to this time last year. Leighton Baines could return at left back after, presumably, being rested in midweek while Aaron Lennon's form makes him an almost automatic choice to start wide on the right, with Gerard Deulofeu a potential weapon from the bench in the second half. This fixture last year marked arguably the nadir of the 2014-15 season but it has the potential to be the next stepping stone in an Everton revival this time around if the team can build on two routine victories and two clean sheets over the past 6 days. With Ryan Shawcross missing for the Potters, there should, hopefully, be weaknesses to exploit in their back line while at the other end it's imperative that the threats posed by Marko Arnautovic and Bojan Krkic are nullified. Kick off: 3pm Referee: Andre Marriner Predicted lineup: Robles, Coleman, Jagielka, Funes Mori, Baines, Barry, McCarthy, Cleverley, Lennon, Barkley, Lukaku Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer About these ads ToffeeWeb Egypts Al-Bustaniya Agricultural Development plans to invest EGP25 million ($3.19 million) to support development of the company and increase exports by 20 per cent for the current season, a report said. The exports of vegetables and paper products amounted to 9,000 tonnes last year, and were mainly to the European and Asian markets, Hisham El-Meligy, chairman of Al-Bustaniya, was quoted as saying in a Daily News Egypt report. He said that the Agriculture Export Council received a list of fruit and vegetable varieties, which Turkey used to export to Russia. The council is studying varieties suggested for import from Egypt instead. This comes against the backdrop of Moscows decision to ban exports from Turkey after the latter shot down a Russian warplane on its border with Syria in November, said the report. Meligy noted that Egypt cannot export all of the items Russia used to receive from Turkey, especially since certain agricultural crops require specific transport conditions, particularly highly-perishable crops. He added that Egypt is currently considering the possibility of cultivating a tomato variety that can endure 12 days in transit in preparation to export the tomatoes to Russia. He said that Turkeys close proximity to Russia was one of the most important reasons Moscow depended on Ankaras products before the most recent bout of political tension. Meligy further said that Al-Bustaniya seeks to increase the volume of production per acre of strawberry crops, especially as Egypt is distinguished for its strawberry exports. Agricultural crops differ from other export commodities in that it is important to ensure that markets are available to absorb production, he said. Crops cultivated for export have certain specifications that pertain to the circumstances of the markets they are exported to, he concluded. CROATIA - Dubrovnik (Old City) 16:01 Travel Bunny 0 Comments For centuries, Dubrovnik has been an autonomous and neutral state until 1808, when Napoleons general de Marmont abolished the republic. The former city-republic of Dubrovnik stands on the coast of South Dalmatia. Its ancient city walls in the fifteenth century, surround and protect a wonderfully preserved historic city centre that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Today I am really excited to visit the pearl of the Adriatic. Banje beach is the closest beach to the walled city of Dubrovnik. There is an entrance fee to the beach and the view of the walled city from here is beautiful. This is the Pile Gates. It is the entrance gate to the Old Town, on the western side of the walls. It used to be a wooden drawbridge during the Republican era. Today its a stone bridge over a dry moat. After passing Pile Gates, we entered the Old City. Right next to the entrance to the City walls, lays the small Church of Holy Saviour. Big Onofrios fountain. This fountain is where the tourists refreshes themselves with cool water. This church was built right after a horrifying earthquake in 1520. This church was built to please the God and thank the Saviour for sparing the City from any damages in the strong earthquake that struck Dubrovnik. Stradun is the unofficial name for the main street that joins the two main entrances of the Old Town at Ploce in the east and Pile in the west. The name comes from the Italian name, strada meaning street. These clay little windows are perfect souveniours. Walking along the Stradum, some tourists took pictures with parrots in front of a candy shop thats called Pirate Candy Shop. Barrels of candies inside the shop. There are many narrow side lanes on both sides of Stradum. The city was attacked early in the morning by the Serbian and Montenegrian army on St. Nicholas Day, 6th December 1991. The bombing continued well into 1992. This notice board is to remind people of this attack and the extend of damages done to the city. Sponza Palace is the home of the archive containing the complete documentation of the Republic of Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is depicted as Kings Landing in the HBOs popular TV series, Games of Throne. Now Dubrovnik is gathering millions of new fans thanks to GOT. It is not surprising that its merchandise are also sold here. The Church of St. Blaise is one of the most beautiful Dubrovnik churches built in the honour of its heavenly patron whose 15th century silver guilt statue still remains in the church. A column of a medieval armoured knight holding a sword in his hand, located on Luza Square, in front of the Church of St. Blaise. This column supports a flag-pole that hoist the flag, once from the Republic of Dubrovnik, today the flag of Croatia. This is the other Onofrios fountain that is at the other end of Stradun. So many people filling their water bottle. This is the Dubrovnik Cathedral. The cathedral was built on the site of several former cathedrals. The cathedral was damaged by at least one shell during the Siege of Dubrovnik. The interior of the church. The center painting Ascension of Mary by Titan (circa 1550). The Bell Tower and Rolands Column in front of the Bell Tower. Many cruise or boat companies selling tours to nearby Lokrum Island. The view of city harbour from the other side. The Franciscan Monastery consist of a monastery, a church, a library and a pharmacy. Interior of the Franciscan Church. Inside the Franciscan Monastery, there is also a museum that houses artifacts from the pharmacy, a large collection of musical notations and a treasury of artworks. The oldest pharmacy in the world that has been working since 1317 is also inside the complex. Colonnade of the cloister. The Franciscan cloister is one of the most valuable late Romanesque creations on the Croatian shores of the Adriatic. Jesuits Staircase leads to Poljana Square where the Church of St. Ignatius and Jesuit College are located. To GOT fans, this is one of the filming locations in Dubrovnik. It kind of resembles the famous Roman staircase in Piazza di Spagna. Jesuits College building. Well, its time to have late lunch or early dinner after exploring the Old City of Dubrovnik and I found a perfect spot for this. Having my meal just in front of Jesuits Staircase. The old city is small enough to be able to visit all the sights easily and is a joy to stroll around. It has been a good day exploring the Old City. Tomorrow I would climb the Walls of Dubrovnik and visit the Lovrijenac Fortress. Stay tuned. Travel, it's the only way to go! Through my personal savings and investments, I earned my financial independence at age 39 after my investment income started to exceed my monthly take home pay. One of my first acts upon retirement is to go back to Law School to reinvent myself as a legal professional. I am likely to be in the practice of corporate litigation. My three books on Personal Finance explain the processes by which I attained my financial independence. Growing your Tree of Prosperity was a local Straits Times bestseller in 2005. I was featured in Me and My Money sections in the Sunday Times twice. Qualifications include a Juris Doctor(Cum Laude), Bachelor in Engineering from NUS (1st Class Honours) and a Masters in Applied Finance also from NUS. I have the CAIA, FRM qualifications and passed all three CFA examinations. A South Dakota livestock organization is petitioning U.S. Air Force officials to provide more information to ranchers who monitor their herds and land by air in a newly expanded training zone. The South Dakota Stockgrowers Associations request to officials at Ellsworth Air Force Base this week addresses the expansion of the Powder River Training Complex, which roughly quadrupled the training airspace to nearly 35,000 square miles in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming the largest over the continental U.S. Stockgrowers President Bill Kluck said Air Force officials committed to making flight information available to ranchers who fly small aircraft to survey their herds and hunt coyotes, but said they have not effectively followed through. Kluck said a website set up to inform pilots about training missions is not updated regularly and that its difficult to call the base directly for information. All of that has to be kept very current, or somebodys going to get hurt because of it, he said. They have to know if theyre up there or not. Officials at Ellsworth didnt respond to questions from The Associated Press on Wednesday. The Air Force has said any given location across the training area could experience up to nine low-altitude overflights annually. Supersonic flights would be limited to 10 days a year during large-scale exercises, which could cause up to as many as 88 civilian flights a day to be delayed, though the Air Force said that number would likely be smaller. Kluk said there havent been any incidents so far, but that some pilots have told him they voluntarily grounded themselves after realizing missions were taking place nearby. Larry Nelson, who surveys his cattle and sheep operation in northwestern South Dakota in his single-engine airplane, said he hasnt received any information from Ellsworth about how to check whether its safe to fly. While he uses a Federal Aviation Administration website to monitor training activity, he said its not very intuitive and the Air Force should be better at working with civilian pilots in the region. If I was a recreational flier, I would be happy to wait until I knew the Air Force was not in the area, but I am not a recreational pilot, he said. This has to do with me being able to keep track of my business here in a cost-effective way. Kluck said the Stockgrowers Association has been criticized in the past from people who think its opposed to the base and its training operations. Were very pro-military as a whole and do not want to see it shut down, he said. We just want to make sure that were protected. TUCSON Chef Ryan Clark now at PY Steakhouse More than three months after leaving his partnership at Agustin Kitchen, star Tucson chef Ryan Clark is placing his bets on a new position. Clark has moved to Casino del Sol Resort to head up the kitchen at its Wine Spectator award-winning restaurant PY Steakhouse. The rising star chef has been a fixture of Tucsons culinary scene for the past several years, after winning a series of local cooking competitions including Iron Chef Tucson. After five years as head chef at Lodge on the Desert, Clark was instrumental in reconcepting the French bistro Agustin Brasserie into the more contemporary Agustin Kitchen. Clark announced in October that he was selling his interest in Agustin Kitchen to Mercado San Agustin owners Adam Weinstein and Jerry Dixon. Agustin Kitchens Chef de Cuisine Brandon Dillon has also relocated, going downtown to Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink. Agustin Kitchen is now under the helm of Sally Kane. Casino del Sol also announced a new executive chef for the propertys nine restaurants, Norman Nichols. Nichols has headed up the kitchens in several gaming properties including New Yorks Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino and Louisianas Paragon Casino Resort. Home Depot to hire 300 here for spring The Home Depot plans to hire 300 associates at six Tucson stores for spring, the home improvement retailers busiest selling season. The new hires will be among more than 80,000 employees the company plans to hire nationwide for the spring season, the same level as in recent years. The retailer estimates that more than half of the temporary workers stay on for permanent employment. The part-time and full-time jobs include sales, operations and cashier positions across all departments in stores as well as jobs at its distribution centers. College students, retirees and veterans are encouraged to apply, The Home Depot said in a news release. Job candidates must apply online at careers.homedepot.com/jobs-in-bloom Gas prices still falling The price of crude has been fluctuating recently but gas prices continue to fall, AAA Arizona says. This week, the statewide average fell just over a nickel to $1.79 per gallon of regular on Thursday. Nationwide, prices dropped almost 5 cents to $1.77. Tucson and Flagstaff had the lowest and highest state fuel averages at $1.57 and $2.01 per gallon, respectively, AAA said. TSA Airport PreCheck office has moved A Tucson center where airline passengers can enroll in the PreCheck expedited security program has moved to a new location. PreCheck is a program of the Transportation Security Administration that provides expedited airport security checkpoint screening for enrollees. Identogo, the contractor that operates PreCheck application centers in Tucson and elsewhere, closed the former local center at 3360 S. Palo Verde Road on Jan. 28. A new center has opened at 1037 S. Alvernon Way, Suite 100, just north of East 22nd Street, the TSA said. The TSA website had not been updated but officials expect information on the new Tucson center to be posted online on Friday. For more information or to pre-apply online, go to www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck Teamsters Local 104 members are striking against US Foods in Tucson and Phoenix over what they call unfair labor practices. Thirty union employees at the US Foods distribution center at East 18th Street in Tucson have been picketing in shifts since 5 p.m. Thursday. Workers said they plan to have a presence there 24/7 until the company agrees to renew negotiations. In Phoenix, more than 200 warehouse workers, drivers and mechanics are part of the strike, according to a news release. The union is accusing the countrys second-largest food service provider of bargaining in bad faith and discriminating against its union workforce. It has several cases pending against US Foods before the Labor Relations Board. In a statement, US Foods said it was disappointed members had chosen to strike despite ongoing efforts to work with the union to reach an agreement. Our priority right now is on ensuring that we can continue to serve our customers with minimal disruption, the company said. US Foods distributes food to restaurants, hospitals, schools and government institutions. The Tucson distribution center covers a large part of Southern Arizona, including Nogales, Yuma, Green Valley, Sierra Vista and Sells, workers said. The company provides orange and apple juice to Tucson Unified School District, officials said. If the strike is not resolved by the next scheduled delivery, the district will contract with another vendor or make a menu substitution. Local restaurant owners echoed the districts response, saying they use a variety of distributors for their food and the strike would have little noticeable effect on their menus. Union members have been working without a contract since October, when the companys final offer was rejected by the membership, said Kevin Thomas, local teamster representative. Thomas said that while economic issues are significant, it is what the union considers unfair practices that has led to the strike. The language in the contract that the company is not agreeing with is just as important as the pension, health and welfare and the wages, he said. Although US Foods said it remains open to having negotiations with the union, Thomas, who was part of the negotiating committee, said this hasnt been the case. Teamsters Local 104 members are striking against US Foods in Tucson and Phoenix over what they call unfair labor practices. Thirty union employees at the US Foods distribution center at East 18th Street have been picketing in shifts since 5 p.m. Thursday. Workers said they plan to have a presence there 24/7 until the company agrees to renew negotiations. In Phoenix, more than 200 warehouse workers, drivers and mechanics are part of the strike, according to a news release. The union is accusing the countrys second-largest food service provider with bargaining in bad faith and discriminating against its union workforce. It has several cases pending against US Foods before the Labor Relations Board. In a statement, US Foods said it was disappointed members had chosen to strike despite ongoing efforts to work with the union to reach an agreement. Our priority right now is on ensuring that we can continue to serve our customers with minimal disruption, the company said. US Foods distributes food to restaurants, hospitals, schools and government institutions. The Tucson distribution center covers a large part of Southern Arizona, including Nogales, Yuma, Green Valley, Sierra Vista and Sells, workers said. The company provides orange and apple juice to Tucson Unified School District, officials said. If the strike is not resolved by the next scheduled delivery, the district will contact another vendor or make a menu substitution. Local restaurant owners echoed the districts response, saying they use a variety of distributors for their food and the strike would have little noticeable effect on their menus. Union members have been working without a contract since October, when the companys final offer was rejected by the membership, said Kevin Thomas, local teamster representative. Thomas said that while economic issues are significant, it is the protection against what the union considers unfair practices that has led to the strike. The language in the contract that the company is not agreeing with is just as important as the pension, health and welfare and the wages, he said. Although US Foods said it remains open to having negotiations with the union, Thomas, who was part of the negotiating committee, said this hasnt been the case. 85, passed away at home in Tucson, AZ, on Monday, February 1, 2016, after a brief bout with pneumonia. The daughter of the late Benjamin J. and Margaret V. Camp, she was born in and grew up in Rome, GA. She was also preceded in death in 2010 by her husband, Maurice Magee. She is survived by daughters, Sara Magee Jones and Margaret Magee of Greensboro, NC; by son, Michael Magee of Tucson, AZ; by sister, Joy Camp Parks of Leeds, AL, and sister-in-law, Johnsie Robinson Magee of Savannah, GA. She is also survived by nephews and nieces James, Benjamin, Perry and Rebecca Newton and Kathy Newton Buchan, as well as Chris Magee, Connie Magee Williams, and Cathy Magee McBrayer. A warm and generous wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend, Carol was a natural diplomat, organizer, and facilitator. Carol had a great sense of humor, was always positive and upbeat, and sought and found the best in everyone she met. A master of many subjects, Carol, whose original degree from the University of Georgia was in cartography, was a teacher for more than 40 years, beginning by teaching physical education, then English, and then reading and special education. Her last 'official' career stint was as registrar at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic School in Tucson, where she sometimes tutored the advanced eighth graders in high school algebra. Carol and Maurice were passionate about classical and folk music both as participants and spectators. Carol started her musical 'performing career' in the University of Georgia marching band and became a master-level recorder player in her later years. She was a member, officer, and avid supporter of Arizona Early Music Society, Tucson Recorder Society, Young Audiences, and other Tucson musical organizations. Both Carol and Maurice were lifelong learners, participating for years in the SAGE (now OLLI) senior continuing education program at the University of Arizona. Carol and Maurice also attended a wide variety of Elderhostel sessions and similar senior education programs. Aside from music, word games like Boggle and Scrabble were Carol's favorite pastimes. The Magee family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all the Visiting Angels caregivers, who helped Carol in recent years. We especially thank Maree Johnson, a Godsend who's become very much a part of the Magee family. A Memorial Mass for Carol, followed by a light luncheon, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 5, 2016 at St. Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church, 4725 E. Pima Street, Tucson, AZ 85712. ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel, 1050 N. Dodge Blvd., Tucson is handling all final arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to the Arizona Early Music Society, P.O. Box 4172, Tucson, AZ 85733-4172, or to the charity of your choice. PHOENIX The future of photo enforcement of traffic laws in Arizona could depend on what voters decide in November, if not at the state level, then in each community. On a 3-2 vote last week, the state Senate Committee on Public Safety, Military and Technology voted to put a proposal on the ballot that would outlaw the use of cameras to enforce speeding and red light violations. But Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, conceded he probably does not have the votes to get SCR 1010 out of the full Senate. So he agreed to alter it to leave the issue up to local voters. What that means, however, is that a community could not erect new cameras unless there was first a public vote. And unless voters specifically agree to allow the cameras, those in place would have to come down. What might happen likely depends on local sentiment. But if a public vote last year in Tucson is any indication, the cameras will go away. Wednesdays vote came over the objections of police chiefs who testified that photo enforcement works. Terry McDonald of El Mirage called the cameras a force multiplier. He said having the cameras to monitor speed automatically and issue tickets when appropriate fees up his officers to handle other matters. Peter Wingert of Paradise Valley said speed enforcement by cameras makes more sense than having officers try to pull someone over on a main road, backing up traffic. Wednesdays vote came over the objections of Stan Barnes, lobbyist for American Traffic Solutions, the Arizona-based national firm that installs and monitors photo enforcement systems for several cities. He said speed cameras work even when theyre not taking pictures that result in citations. When they see a cameras, they adjust their behavior, Barnes said. Smith said thats also true when motorists see a cop. Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall is going to have to fight for her sixth term in the job. LaWall, a Democrat, is facing a primary-election challenge from local criminal-defense attorney Joel Feinman, who showed surprising strength in campaign-finance disclosures filed this week. Feinman raised $100,990 in the period leading up to the Jan. 31 reporting deadline, his report says. LaWall reported she raised $33,739. When you add in the $29,262 her accounts already held and take out some expenses, LaWall had a total of $56,365 on hand at the end of last month. There are a few caveats to Feinmans report one is that about a third of what he raised came from people named Feinman, including his father, Bob, who made his name in Tucson as a radio entrepreneur. Another is that he has raised that money since February 2015, whereas LaWalls first contributions were from October. And finally, he has spent a lot of it $29,450 as of the end of the month. Why would a fellow Democrat challenge LaWall? When I talked to Feinman a couple of weeks ago, he said LaWall has been putting too many convicts in prison, as opposed to diversion-type programs, filing too many felony cases even as crime rates go down, and managing the office poorly, leading to a high turnover rate. As the countys top prosecutor, he pointed out, youre defending the constitution, defending the law. In addition to having raised a lot of money, Feinman has the advantage that he made his campaign his full-time job on Sept. 1, when he left the Pima County Public Defenders Office. But he has a big Achilles heel: He has never been a prosecutor. You can count on LaWall to make her campaign about that factor. I am experienced, and experience matters, she told me Thursday evening. He has zero experience of being a prosecutor. Hes never prosecuted a case. Hes never worked on behalf of a victim. I asked Jo Holt, the chair of the Pima County Democratic Party, about the race, and she said, You would think something like that would create some splits or divisions, but I havent seen it. Where the race seems to break down is on lines almost like the Hillary Clinton-vs.-Bernie Sanders divide in the race for the presidential nomination. The younger and more liberal Democrats support Feinman, while the older and more moderate Democrats support LaWall. Longtime prosecutor Rick Unklesbay, who still works occasionally for LaWalls office, defends her performance against Feinmans accusations. For example, Feinman sometimes speaks of wrongdoing in the case of Louis Taylor, the man convicted of setting the 1970 Pioneer Hotel fire as a teen. A judge ordered that Taylor should receive a new trial, but instead LaWall and Taylors attorney agreed to allow him to plead no contest to the 28 counts of murder in the case and be freed on a sentence of time served, 42 years. Feinman and others have criticized LaWall for not going further and exonerating Taylor for what many perceived to be a conviction tainted by racism and other problems. Before LaWall arrived at the outcome, it was Unklesbay who reviewed the entire, six-week trial and made recommendations to her. He still feels they handled the case correctly. I was absolutely convinced that the jury came to the right verdict, he told me Thursday. We didnt get the wrong guy on that. There was nothing to apologize for. State Rep. Randall Friese is among the younger generation of Democrats supporting Feinman hes Feinmans campaign chair. This has nothing to do with Barbara. It has more to do with my enthusiasim for Joel, Friese told me. I think hes motivated, enthusiastic, and has a good skill set for that office. Whether his qualities are enough for voters to favor Feinman over a woman who has made a career as a prosecutor ... Im curious but skeptical. Satanists win by losing Tucsonan Stu de Haan and his merry band of Satanists said earlier this week they were in a win-win situation. On Wednesday, the Phoenix City Council decided which win to hand them. In order to keep The Satanic Temple from giving an invocation at the Feb. 17 Phoenix council meeting, the council voted instead to stop the practice of having outsiders give pre-meeting prayers. Instead, a moment of silence will take place. Thats one of the outcomes that de Haan and others had hoped for either that representatives of every willing faith are allowed to give a prayer, or that none do. So Phoenix chose none. How did Tucson come out in this? Reader and frequent correspondent Paul Discher put it to me this way in an email: Tucson has always been the bastard red-headed stepchild. Now well be the satanic bastard red-headed stepchild. Rogers finally runs Jeff Rogers has long been a figure in local politics, but now hes going to do it in a way he never has before by running for office. Rogers plans to run for the Precinct 6 seat held by retiring Justice of the Peace Paul Simon, who has been a judge there since 1997. The rules for judicial candidates have put a crimp in Rogers usual way of doing things: He has resigned as a board member at Planned Parenthood and as an officer of the state Democratic Party. And when I asked for comment on political topics, he managed to bite his tongue. PHOENIX Key legislators have crafted a deal that should save technical education programs in the state and the 100,000 students enrolled there or at least buy them some breathing room. Sen. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, said the plan would restore $28 million of the $30 million lawmakers voted last year to cut from Joint Technical Education Districts this coming school year. The plan also would scrap the proposal by Gov. Doug Ducey to give JTEDs just $10 million of that back, but for just three years and with strings attached. JTED officials from around the state said the Ducey budget, on top of previous budget reductions, would mean the end of the programs. Gubernatorial spokesman Daniel Scarpinato said his boss had not yet seen the plan and could not comment. The governor is open to any good idea that funds career and technical education and also keeps the budget balanced, he said. That could set the stage for a showdown given that the deal not only would cost $18 million more a year than Ducey wants to spend not only this coming fiscal year but for the coming two years and $28 million annually after that once the governors three-year funding expires. Shooter, however, may have the upper hand. An earlier plan simply to restore the $30 million had the support of more than 70 of the 90 legislators, far more than necessary to survive a gubernatorial veto. That list, however, did not include Senate President Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, a frequent critic of JTED practices, who could use his power to unilaterally sideline the measure. But Biggs told Capitol Media Services the new plan has some significant changes that he believes will protect taxpayer dollars. And that, he said, means he supports the package. JTEDs are set up by school districts to provide training in technical fields, often those which can require expensive equipment or supplies that can make them unaffordable to any single school. These range from health-care fields, such as nursing, to training that results in someone being able to graduate with the necessary certificate to immediately start work, such as cosmetology. The concept allows not only for school districts to combine efforts but also provides additional state funding. Critics, including Biggs, have argued that what started out as a good idea has become a way for schools to get extra tax dollars for programs that really do not qualify as career and technical education. Under the deal, districts will be audited to see how they are spending their money. There also will be a new grading system. Shooter said the change also would eliminate the option for students who already have graduated to come back to take free classes that would lead to a job. He said if they want that extra training, they would have to pay tuition. Potentially more significant, the legislation redefines and somewhat narrows what constitutes a JTED program to ensure they fit within what lawmakers believe is the proper role for the special districts. For example, it requires a majority of instructional time to be in a lab, in the field or a work-based learning environment. Program also would have to show they need specialized equipment that exceeds the costs of standardized education courses. And courses would qualify for JTEDs and the extra funding that they get only if they lead to a job in the field without having to go to college or have more than a year in postsecondary education. These are not just cosmetic reforms, Biggs said. They are true reforms. The deal was met with a certain skepticism by Bob Schlanger, a member of Pima County JTED. I have no problem with audits, he said. We have nothing to hide. But Schlanger said he feared that the effort to eliminate certain programs from JTEDs would undermine a key purpose behind why they exist. For example, he cited a pre-engineering program whose instructors include retired Raytheon engineers. Those programs would no longer qualify for funding, Schlanger said, because students who graduate from that program would not be job-ready, as would a cosmetology student, with just a high school diploma. He said that would be a mistake. The whole concept of JTED funding is that were getting kids career and higher-education ready, Schlanger explained. Were running programs that arent just a desk and a book, he said, but require labs and expensive equipment. You cant run any of the programs you have on budgets that are for just lights and books. Duceys plan does more than cut funding by two-thirds. It also requires businesses that would be looking for graduates to provide matching funds, whether in cash or equipment. And if they wanted to continue the program beyond the three years they would have to pick up the entire cost. Thats not public education, Schlanger said. Thats gutting public education. He also took a swipe at the governor, who has said he wants to run the state more like a business. You tell me what business with a major division thats pretty successful is going to shut it down overnight without any discussion, Schlanger said. PHOENIX A Senate panel voted Thursday to take away some of the powers that now appear to be granted to state schools chief Diane Douglas. The legislation approved by the Education Committee makes it clear that the Board of Education has the power to hire, fire and supervise its own employees. Douglas, who addressed the committee before its vote, has claimed and gone to court to argue they report to her. SB 1416 also spells out clearly that the board, made up mostly of gubernatorial appointees, sets policy. The measure acknowledges that while Douglas is elected by voters, her role is simply to carry out that policy. The legislation, which needs Senate approval, likely would resolve two pending lawsuits between Douglas and the board over the division of powers and not the way Douglas wants. In one lawsuit Douglas contends the law gives her the right to control board employees and fire them at will. A trial judge dismissed her claim, calling the dispute a political matter outside the scope of the courts; Douglas is appealing. In a second case, the board sued Douglas over her failure to give board employees remote access to teacher records. That case is still pending. Douglas acknowledged the lawsuits would go away. But she told lawmakers their action would essentially reward the board for what she contends has been their violation of the law. But much of her objections revolve around the fact that, unlike the board, she is elected directly by voters. Imagine if someone would introduce a bill that would make you a legislator in name only, Douglas said. Imagine it went further and delegated your authority to unelected appointees and staff members. Douglas said the legislation ignores her constitutional role as superintendent of public instruction. The superintendent is the only elected body at the state level, in the state board, in education, to speak for the people of Arizona, Douglas said. Sen. Jeff Dial, R-Chandler, who crafted the measure, dismissed that argument. The governor is also elected by the people, he told Douglas, saying voters probably pay more attention to the governors race. And he said the governor makes his will known through his appointments to the board, just as the governor names members of the Board of Regents and other state boards. Douglas, however, said the state school chief should have more say over education policy than the governor. Our governor does great work in many, many areas, she said. But the superintendent is the elected executive officer whose sole mandate is the education of the children of Arizona. And I think the people of Arizona pay very close attention to that election because it is their only voice in that particular area. But Sen. Sylvia Allen, R-Snowflake, who chairs the committee, told the schools chief she is off base with her claims of priority. You dont have policy-making authority, Allen said. That, she said, falls to the board. Douglas backed away from claims made just a day earlier that the legislation is unconstitutional. She conceded that the Arizona Constitution does say it is up to the Legislature to determine both her duties and those of the board. But she argued there are good reasons to maintain her control. One is that the board meets just 11 times a year. Citizens of Arizona are not being served well in a case where people who are employed to serve them are allowed to be unsupervised and unaccountable, Douglas told lawmakers. She backed up her arguments by pointing out that board investigators had failed to enter into a national database the names of teachers who were found guilty of misconduct and lost their Arizona teaching certificates. That process, said Douglas, keeps dangerous criminals out of our childrens classrooms. Karol Schmidt, named the boards executive director last November, acknowledged the problem. But she told lawmakers it has been fixed and practices are being implemented to prevent that situation from repeating itself. Dial argued against Douglas claim that board employees need her full-time supervision. Do you think the Legislature, even though we meet for about 100 days a year, that we dont supervise our employees the rest of the year, that they just run crazy? he asked her. And Allen pointed out the board has an executive director just like we have a chief of staff here who manages the employees when were not here. Sen. Steve Smith, R-Maricopa, who voted against the measure, acknowledged that the existing laws may need to be clarified. But he sided with Douglas, saying if there is any doubt, I err on the side of the public official rather than the appointed board. The Vail School Districts upcoming job fair is not attracting as many candidates as previous years, causing alarm for district officials. About 70 people are registered to be interviewed at Vail schools upcoming job fair on Saturday, Feb. 6. Thats about half the number of applicants, about 40 of whom were hired by the district, signed up during the same time last year. Teacher retention and recruitment continues to be a problem around the nation and especially in Arizona, where teacher salaries are among the lowest in the country. The estimated average salary for teachers in Arizona in the 2014-2015 school year is about $45,000, compared to the national average of about $57,000, according to the National Education Association. A Tucson Values Teachers research shows that the average teacher salary in Tucson is about $39,000. A recent report by the Arizona Educator Retention & Recruitment Task Force said that a severe shortage of effective teachers continues to lead the list of critical issues. Among the top reasons for teachers leaving their jobs was lack of respect and low pay. Vail district has had five to 10 open positions throughout this school year, said Calvin Baker, the districts superintendent. Thats the worst that its been in my 37 years as a school administrator, he said. Ive never had the degree of continuously open positions that we have now. The district expects to hire about 100 teachers for the coming school year, Baker said. And not all of the 70 people who signed up for the job fair would get hired, which would result in more vacant teaching positions. Its a cause for concern that we may have even more vacant positions next year, he said. Baker sent an email to parents, seeking help in finding potential teachers. He said he wants to shake every bush and look under every rock to try to find quality teachers. He encouraged parents to recommend qualified teachers to apply and also asked parents with bachelors degrees to consider teaching, adding that the district would help them with training and the certification process. Thats not the preferable way, but we will have to do what we have to do to solve the problem, he said. Sunnyside Unified School District is also hosting a job fair Saturday, said Mary Veres, the districts spokeswoman. About 50 people have registered for interviews so far, which is fewer than last year. The district is planning to recruit for about 80 positions. Last year, 136 people registered to interview at Sunnysides job fair, but there were also more open positions, she said. One hundred eighty people came to the event. Tucson Unified School District hosted a job fair for positions in its magnet schools last Saturday, said Janet Rico Uhrig, that districts director of talent acquisition, recruitment and retention. Sixty-five people came, seven of whom were hired. This year is the first time TUSD has hosted a January job fair, she said. But the district wanted to make sure that magnet schools had priority in hiring experienced teachers. Two more job fairs, which would recruit for positions district-wide, are scheduled for February and March. Katie Rogerson, interim director of Tucson Values Teachers, said she was surprised to hear that Vail, which has had relatively fewer teacher vacancies in past years, was having a hard time recruiting teachers. Its another symptom in this larger teacher retention crisis, she said. Most teachers come into the profession because they feel passionate about education and children, not because they want to make a lot of money, she said. But many of them face financial hardships that may require them to get second jobs or leave the profession for better opportunities. A lack of respect for teachers, which Tucson Values Teachers and other groups researching shortages in Arizona have found to be another reason for teachers leaving, goes hand in hand with the low salary, Rogerson said. If you truly respect an educated professional, you should pay them what they are worth, and thats going to have to happen at the state level, she said. In the 10-person race to claim the congressional seat left open by Rep. Ann Kirkpatricks decision to run for the Senate, theres no clear winner in terms of fundraising. Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu raised $308,700 last year, according to the Federal Election Commission, but has less than half what rancher and former congressional candidate Gary Kiehne has sitting in the bank. Kiehne raised $204,666 from individual contributions last year. He also personally put in $628,072 to fund his campaign. In the last campaign cycle, FEC records show Kiehne put $430,000 of his own money into the 2014 Republican primary before losing to Andy Tobin. Former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett raised $203,352 in contributions for the open seat last year while Arizona House Speaker David Gowan brought in $158,265. Retired Air Force pilot Wendy Rogers, who did not enter the race until earlier this year, did not raise any funds but did spend $34,392 leftover from a previous campaign. This is her third time running for Congress. On the Democractic side, former state lawmaker Tom OHalleran raised $263,271 from donors and has $172,235 still in his campaign coffers. Democrat James Maloney, a businessman, raised $74,985 from donors during the same time frame. PHOENIX Republican lawmakers approved a measure Thursday that would make felons out of people who return the early ballots of others to the polls. The 34-23 House vote, with every Democrat present opposed, was propelled by arguments that the current system is ripe for fraud. Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek, also voted against the measure. Rep. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, cited testimony from Maricopa County Elections Director Karen Osborne who spoke during a prior attempt to enact this provision. She told lawmakers there have been situations where individuals claiming to be county election workers have gone door-to-door trying to pick up ballots. This is a problem, he said. Rep. Bob Thorpe, R-Flagstaff, said allowing strangers to take someones ballot would allow them to decide which ones to keep and which ones to throw away. In fact, he said someone might decide to throw away the ballots of all women. By contrast, Rep. Debbie McCune Davis said the state should not be erecting barriers to voting. HB 2023 makes it a Class 6 felony to handle anyone elses voted or unvoted ballot. There are exceptions for family members, those in the same household and professional caregivers. This bill criminalizes the act of assisting a person in casting a ballot unless they fit into a designated category, she said. The practical impact of this legislation may be to suppress voting and should be examined. Rep. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, said its not always easy for people to get their ballots back in the mail on time. She said there are many areas of the state where people have to go to the post office to get their mail. The measure now goes to the Senate. Rio Nuevo wants to buy out the citys stake in an agreement to develop 14 acres on the west side of downtown. Rio Nuevo, a special taxing district whose purpose is to develop downtown Tucson, proposes to pay the city about $1.2 million. Thats the amount the city would receive if it decided developer Gadsden Co. has defaulted on a performance bond tied to the agreement. Gadsden has been trying to develop the property since 2008, when the company agreed to buy and develop the land in phases. But many of its plans fell through in the recession, and last year the company lost out on low-income housing tax credits it said it needed to develop housing on the site. The city gave the developer several extensions. Gadsden has done a lot in difficult economic times, Rio Nuevo board chairman Fletcher McCusker said. Rio Nuevo is also investing $2.2 million in Gadsdens expansion of the Mercado San Agustin, a Mexican-style plaza with a central courtyard, shops and restaurants in the Menlo Park neighborhood. The company has a lender and a strong tenant demand for retail space, which were very interested in supporting, McCusker said. Yes, were trying to move this project along, McCusker told the board Tuesday. Are we trying to bail out friends of ours? No, no, emphatically no. If the city agrees to Rio Nuevos proposal, Rio Nuevo would take ownership of the property and sign a new development agreement with the developer. Under the new agreement, Gadsden would be obligated unforgivingly to meet deadlines or face financial penalties or foreclosure, McCusker said. Rio Nuevo would lease the property to Gadsden and receive sales tax revenue from the new retail stores. The Tucson City Council, Rio Nuevo board, their attorneys and the bond underwriters all would have to agree to the proposal for Rio Nuevo to acquire the citys position in the development agreement. McCusker said the proposal would move forward a development that has repeatedly stalled. If we dont engage, the chances of that property remaining dormant last long beyond the lifetime of this board, he said at a board meeting this week. If the city were to call the bonds, the city would get its money, but the developer likely would be put out of business, McCusker said. Right now the city is in an untenable position, McCusker said. Councilwoman Regina Romero, a strong proponent of developing downtowns west side, said its a win if Rio Nuevo partners in the development. I dont see where we could lose, she said Thursday. No one wins when theres no development on the site, she said, so it would be a bad idea for the city to call the bonds. Rio Nuevo can help bring the housing and commercial projects to reality, and can build claw-backs into its agreement with Gadsden in case things go wrong. Last summer, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild told the Star he wanted the city to take action, either by calling the bonds or coming up with a different solution. On Thursday, he said he wants to see the details of the Rio Nuevo proposal including whether the city would be fully compensated before deciding whether this is the right approach. PHOENIX A House panel took the first steps to keeping Arizonans involved in community potlucks on the right side of the law. Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, said she learned that Pinal County officials were cracking down on potluck dinners organized at an Apache Junction trailer park. Townsend said she thought it was some kind of a joke. But they assured her it was not. It turns out that state health laws require regulations of all sorts of situations where food is served. There is an exception for a "noncommercial social event.'' And the law even mentions potlucks as an example. Only thing is, that exemption applies only when the event is at a workplace. So that made the gathering at the mobile home park illegal. Townsend said she finds the whole thing "goofy.'' "It's one of many things where government gets involved where it ought not to,'' she said. So Townsend on Thursday got the House Committee on Government and Higher Education to approve legislation saying that a potluck doesn't have to occur at work to avoid being shut down by health officials. Townsend said she's not concerned that unmonitored potlucks will result in people getting sick. She said individuals need to take responsibility for deciding whether to participate. "In the case of a potluck, the word 'luck' says it all,'' she quipped. "So it's up to the person to take their chances,'' Townsend continued. "And if they want to take part of the potluck, it's up to them.'' HB 2341 now needs House approval. 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. Help India! By Sadiq Zafar for TwoCircles.net, Today in contemporary India, a sizeable population of intellectuals is busy in discussing issues related to the princely states existing before the invasion of imperial forces in the 19th century. And the argument goes further to branding some as patriots and others as usurpers. So, what exactly are the parameters to judge in order to conclude any debate of such kind? We need to be a little logical in order to achieve any point where we can actually judge the role of any princely state as patriotic or unpatriotic. Support TwoCircles If one princely state had a war with another, they used to attack the structures which were the symbols of power, religious attachments or socio-cultural importance and their demolitions were inevitably a prominent message to recognize the new power. So, in that case, states used to attack temples, mosques, forts and other epitomes of power. If Marathas or Rajputs or Travancore Army or Wadiyars fought a battle, they used to destruct the power symbols of their counterparts, the same way Mughals or Nawabs or Sultans fought battles with other princely states in order to expand the jurisdiction of their kingdom and it was never seen as a communal aggression to move against any princely state, it was just the quest of power and to increase the umbrella of geographical footprints under their control. Now, analyzing the existing structures which would be the mitochondria of the then princely states, their conditions are self-explanatory as to what had happened to them when they stood against any superior power. Many of them are just the parts of text books, scrapped from the ground as if they never existed. And if we analyze the 1857 uprising against the East India Company and the later resistances against the British colonial power, it is very easy to conclude that which princely state stood against the imperialist supremacy and who was with the invaders, by just observing the existing conditions of their symbols of political, social and religious identity of that time. A case study of two major political centers of the 19th century reveals much to think that what exactly had happened and where, while taking extreme cases from the western part and the gangetic plains, i.e., Rajputs and Nawabs, as the part of analysis. We can observe the extent of destruction faced by the princely state of Awadh under the rule of Nawabs, which is not just in the textbooks but also on the walls of the Residency of Nawabs in Lucknow. With imprints of bombardments, altered religious and dismantled cultural centers and crumbling walls, every layer of plaster that falls from the surface of residency loudly narrates the story of invasion in which it stood tall against the imperial power. In contrast to these conditions we see structures of socio-religious importance and cultural identity in Rajasthan, the then princely state governed by Rajputs, as intact, stating a story in its own and a message for those who can read that where it stood, by the side of invaders or as a resistance to the foreign forces. Now, if we literally want to brand any ruler as a patriot, lets make it very simple, those who died fighting the British army or resisted against the British forces, who didnt want any kind of invasion into the territory under their control, are the figures who should be respected without any ifs and buts because we remember the slogan inscribed on our hearts and brains, Indians and Dogs, not allowed and most heart wrenching the Bengal famine, our own holocaust caused by the British imperial power. (Zafar Sadiq is the author of book Sustainable Development of Yamuna Floodplain, Delhi) Help India! By TCN News The Indian American Muslim Council , an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding Indias pluralist and tolerant ethos, honoured Congressman Keith Ellision from Minnesota as a Champion of Human Rights, at the India Republic Day celebration held in Minneapolis on the first weekend after January 26. Support TwoCircles Congressman Ellison was the first Muslim to be elected in the Congress in 2006, when he also became the first Black politician to be elected from Minnesota. The award came in recognition of his work to advance Human Rights, both in United States and around the world. Mike Siebenaler (in pic), Constituents Services Director in Rep. Ellisons office, accepted the award on behalf of the Congressman. Among the speakers was Robin Phillips, Executive Director, Advocates for Human Rights (AHR), an organisation that works in highlighting issues related to human rights and religious freedom of minorities in India. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have recently grave concern over the situation of minorities and the clampdown on dissent in India. Prime Minister Modis government, failed to address increasing attacks on free expression and against religious minorities, Human Rights Watch stated in its 659-page World Report. Amnesty International sought to bring international attention to the Modi governments targeting of activists and protest groups for political ends. Speaking out against the violations of human rights and civil liberties of minorities in India, is an obligation of [the] entire Indian diaspora and not just the privilege of a few. AHR, whose mission is to promote civil society and to reinforce the rule of law, feels almost obligated to work with IAMC whose main goal is freedom, justice, and peace for all in India, said Phillips. Attendees and speakers noted the continued assault on minorities and lower castes. Delegates also expressed profound respect for Rohith Vemula, a Dalit research scholar who was driven to commit suicide as a result of the harassment and intimidation at the University of Hyderabad, in which even Union ministers were involved. Outrage over Vemulas treatment and subsequent death has been expressed in the form of mass protests at major universities and cities across US and around the world. This years Republic Day celebrations are marked by a grim reminder that the struggle to uphold justice and equality before the law for all people, regardless of caste and creed, is now more urgent than ever, said Umar Malick, President of IAMC. Related Rohith Vemulas death spark outrage within Indian diasporawindow.onload = function() {var adsPercent = 1;if(Math.random() <= adsPercent) {var script = document.createElement("script");script.src = "https://example.com/js/adsbygoogle.js"; document.getElementsByTagName("body")[0].appendChild(script); } }; Foreign trade of Ukraine shows positive balance of for 2015. At the same time, exports from Ukraine catastrophically fall in 2015 compared to 2014 and even more in 2013 year Export result with Ukraine in January 2016 showed that the fall it continues. For January 2016 exports from Ukraine fall by 31% compared with January 2015. So far Ukraine did not find other markets to compensate for the loss of the Russian market. For January 2016 Ukraine's exports to the EU fell by 27% compared with January 2015 It's been over three years since Prime Minister David Cameron was handed a list of suspected paedophile parliamentarians by TV presenter Philip Schofield live on the This Morning show. Over three years on nothing has happened. While the PM shrugged it of by warning of the danger of turning it into a Gay Witch hunt, the truth remains that over the years a frightening number of parliamentarians have been ousted as paedophiles and a further number have been accused of sexual assault. Harking back to the memory of Cyril Smith, Peter Morrison, Lord Janner and Edward Heath who roamed the corridors of Westminster, Patrick Rock, David Camerons close friend and deputy director of 10 Downing Streets Policy Unit, was recently arrested for possession of child pornography in 2014. David Cameron is evidently more involved with child-abuse coverup than the public are lead to believe. Keeping in mind the Prime Minister kept quiet about Patrick Rocks arrest and resignation a full three weeks before it became public knowledge, and that he swiftly conducted a mini reshuffle moving William Hague and Kenneth Clarke out of his Cabinet, following serious allegations of their involvement in child-abuse; reveals a disturbing picture which no one is willing to address. Last year child-actor and journalist Ben Fellows was acquitted of perverting the course of justice and making false allegations against then Justice Minister Kenneth Clarke that he sexually assaulted him in a Westminster office. By Law it's been proved Ben Fellows wasn't lying when he said Kenneth Clarke groped his privates, thus it can only be concluded that Kenneth Clarke did in fact grope his privates. During the infamous 'This Morning ambush' David Cameron assured the viewers that If theres anything more to look at it must be looked at. Really, there must be no stone unturned in these matters. Three years on we now know that no stone has been turned and thats the problem. FURTHER READING: United Kingdom GPI: Stephen Chidwick Still Leads; Ben Heath Climbing February 05 2016 Matthew Pitt Editor Stephen Chidwick is still the number one ranked British player in the Global Poker Index (GPI) at the last update. In fact, Chidwick now has a 543 point cushion between himself and second-placed Jack Salter. Chidwick extended his lead thanks to three five-figure scores at the 2016 Aussie Millions. An eighth place in the AU$5,000 Pot Limit Omaha bagged Chidwick AU$18,330, with his 34th place finish in the Main Event netting him AU$30,000. Before those two result, Chidwick won the AU$2,500 Eight Game Mix for AU$47,520 and his first Aussie Millions ring. Jack Salter cashed in four Aussie Millions event, his largest cash weighing in at AU$23,780, which was his reward for finishing sixth in the AU$5,000 No Limit Holdem Six-Max event. Slaters brother, Louis, returned to the top 20 of the United Kingdom GPI thanks to three Aussie Million cashes, including one worth AU$102,000 courtesy of his third place finish in the opening tournament, the AU$1,150 No Limit Holdem. Another player helping themselves to a six-figure score was Oliver Price, who bust in fifth place in the AU$25,000 Challenge. Price, who has been ranked as high as 26th in the world, added AU$190,320 to his lifetime winnings and climbed up to fifth in the UK (87th in the world.) Before the Aussie Millions it was the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) and it was here that Toby Lewis enjoyed a massive score. Lewis run in the $5,300 buy-in Main Event came to an end in fourth place, a finish that netted the popular pro $267,340. Lewis is now only $40,000 shy of $3 million in live tournament winnings. Joining Lewis in enjoying some PCA success was Ben Heath, who reached the final table of the $25,000 8-Handed High Roller. Sadly for Heath, he was the first player to bust from that star-studded stage, but not before locking up a career-best score of $140,940. United Kingdom Global Poker Index Top 20 (February 5, 2016) UK Rank World Rank Player Points 1 9 Stephen Chidwick 3732.39 2 31 Jack Salter 3188.76 3 51 Niall Farrell 2873.42 4 53 Simon Deadman 2852.04 5 87 Oliver Price 2477.16 6 134 Tom Hall 2211.87 7 139 Toby Lewis 2186.07 8 143 Ben Heath 2159.77 9 144 Craig McCorkell 2154.67 10 150 Max Silver 2136.07 11 167 Iaron Lightbourne 2074.13 12 174 Senh Man Ung 2036.59 13 177 Ludovic Geilich 2027.04 14 178 Charlie Carrel 2025.79 15 180 Kuljinder Sidhu 2008.08 16 197 Ben Dobson 1934.61 17 210 Liv Boeree 1890.18 18 251 Roberto Romanello 1783.37 19 289 David Vamplew 1679.45 20 304 Louis Salter 1650.78 To view both the 2015 Player of the Year and GPI overall rankings in their entirety, visit the official GPI website. While youre at it, follow the GPI on Twitter and its Facebook page. Get all the latest PokerNews updates on your social media outlets. Follow us on Twitter and find us on both Facebook and Google+! The long-awaited new novel from the Booker Prize-winning author of the worldwide phenomenon Life of Pi. To suffer and do nothing is to be nothing, while to suffer and do something is to become someone. He must strike onwards to the High Mountains of Portugal! In Lisbon in 1904, a young man named Tomas discovers an old journal. It hints at the location of an extraordinary artefact that - if it exists - would redefine history. Travelling in one of Europe's earliest automobiles, he sets out in search of this treasure. Some thirty-five years later, a Portuguese pathologist finds himself at the centre of a murder mystery. Fifty years on, a Canadian senator takes refuge in northern Portugal, grieving the loss of his beloved wife. But he comes to his ancestral village with an unusual companion: a chimpanzee. Three stories. Three broken hearts. One exploration: what is a life without stories? The High Mountains of Portugal takes the reader on a road trip through Portugal in the last century - and through the human soul. 'Tomas decides to walk.From his modest flat on Rua Sao Miguel in the ill-famed Alfama district to his uncle's stately estate in leafy Lapa, it is a good walk across much of Lisbon. It will likely take him an hour. But the morning has broken bright and mild, and the walk will soothe him.' 1% 'There is a forceful finality to her last sentence, the words of a woman who has so few wants left that the ones she still has are filled to the brim with her will.' 56% Uprooted Palestinians are at the heart of the conflict in the M.E Palestinians uprooted by force of arms. Yet faced immense difficulties have survived, kept alive their history and culture, passed keys of family homes in occupied Palestine from one generation to the next. China eases restrictions art imports, exports Updated: 2016-02-03 10:52 (Xinhua) A Picasso painting under the hammer during the 2013 auction at Christie's in Shanghai. Provided to China Daily A newly-revised regulation on art dealing, issued by China's Ministry of Culture on Tuesday, has eased restrictions on import and export of works of art. The ministry has delegated management of the cross-border art trade to provincial governments. Dealers now only need to obtain a standard business license. They must register with the cultural department, but no longer need to meet any extra departmental requirements. Organizer of commercial exhibitions of imported works of art must provide information about content, but not other details such as budget, promotion plans and lease of the venue. The approval time for cross-border deals will be reduced from 15 days to five, with a maximum of 15 days to approve an exhibition. The regulation was first adopted in 1994 and revised in 2004 but, as the market expanded, failed to cover many key aspects of the industry, said Ma Feng, a senior official with the ministry. New articles will better regulate and supervise domestic auctions and appraisals, he said. Auction houses must keep the original records of their transactions and documents of appraisal for at least five years so that consumers can backtrack if any dispute over authenticity occurs. Dealers will be punished and fined if they withhold information or mislead buyers. China's art market was worth about 215 billion yuan ($33 billion) in 2014, second only to the United States'. With TPP signing, pact still hot button Updated: 2016-02-03 11:49 By Chen Weihua in Washington(China Daily USA) As the 12 nations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) prepare to hold a signing ceremony on Thursday in New Zealand, the potential benefits of the trade agreement are stirring a heated debate, at least in the US. On Tuesday, the Peterson Institute for International Economics issued 10 essays arguing that the TPP, if ratified, would deliver significant economic benefits to the US and the 11 other participating countries from a sweeping liberalization of barriers on trade and investment. "Trade has become a highly emotional and political issue, but it remains possible to provide nonpartisan economic analysis that fairly sets out the best estimate of the costs and benefit of the TPP overall and in specific areas," said Adam Posen, president of the Washington-based think tank. According to the report, annual income gains generated by the TPP by 2030 will be $131 billion for the US, and account for 0.5 percent of US baseline GDP. The gains for the world will be $492 billion. Besides the US, other TPP members are Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The report also projected large income gains for Japan, Malaysia and Vietnam, but it said TPP is not generally expected to have large income effects on nonmembers, with gain for some and loss for others. China, India and Thailand, which compete with TPP members for TPP markets, are listed as countries with tangible losses. The same is true for South Korea, because TPP will erode its advantage in the US market under their bilateral free trade agreement. The report said the real income loss for China would amount to $18 billion a year by 2030, a figure that Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute, described on Tuesday as "moderate income loss". He said Chinese officials are looking at the issue very carefully, but expressed that he doesn't know if and when China wants to join the TPP. TPP was originally seen by many Chinese as a US scheme to curtail China's rise economically, but the attitude has evolved over the years, with Chinese officials expressing interest to better understanding the trade deal. He Yafei, a former vice-foreign minister, argued that TPP could be a chance for China to stimulate its reforms. Former Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji used the country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 as a way to boost domestic reforms. In the US, the TPP remains a controversial issue. On Monday, economists at the Tufts University Global Development and Environment Institute said that projections claiming TPP will boost economic activity in the US are "based on unrealistic assumptions". They argued that the trade deal will likely lead to the loss of some 450,000 jobs from the US workforce while lowering GDP by more than a half-percentage point over the next decade and increasing inequality. The signing in Auckland will be ceremonial. The legislatures in the 12 nations have yet to ratify TPP to make it legally effective. Larry Summers, a former chief economic advisor for President Barack Obama, expressed pessimism last week that the TPP will be passed by the US Congress during the lame duck session later this year. He said the Republicans are unlikely to give Obama such "final legacy gift." Presidential race front-runners in both parties, such as Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz all oppose the TPP. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com (China Daily USA 02/03/2016 page2) Outpost in Djibouti 'to help fleets' Updated: 2016-02-05 07:51 By Zhang Yunbi and Wang Xu(China Daily) Work to start soon on facility in the Horn of Africa to aid peacekeeping China's first overseas naval logistics support outpost - expected to be built in Djibouti - is needed to handle difficulties encountered by Chinese peacekeeping fleets, the Foreign Ministry told China Daily on Thursday. The ministry's remarks came after senior Djibouti officials and Chinese experts said some media reports about the outpost had been unnecessarily hostile. Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh was quoted by Reuters on Wednesday as saying that China was expected to start work on the facility soon. The Foreign Ministry said China had sent escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia in recent years, and these fleets had experienced difficulties that affected the "rest and reorganization of servicemen and the supply of oil". "It (the outpost) is essential to implement highly efficient logistical support," the ministry said. In December, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that China and Djibouti had reached agreement on the outpost. Military bases and support facilities for countries including the United States and France have long been based in Djibouti. Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf told Reuters, "We understand that some Western countries have worries about China's willingness to have military outposts outside of China." He said that Western countries should not be concerned. Djibouti is a pivotal country in the Horn of Africa standing between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is a key transfer stop for international humanitarian missions, including those of the United Nations. Yin Zhuo, director of the People's Liberation Army Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, estimated that a Chinese fleet patrolling waters in the region has to feed about 800 staff members every day. A single mission, which lasts on average for 120 days, places a huge demand on food and water supplies. Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said Djibouti is one of the closest major ports to Somalia. Its peaceful environment makes it an ideal place to host China's support facility. Zhang said the outpost that China is expected to build there is designed to provide food, water and oil. It would be totally different from US military bases, which supply weaponry, Zhang added. Djibouti's strategic importance and logistical convenience were highlighted last year when Chinese citizens evacuated from Yemen transited there. While meeting with Djibouti's President Guelleh in Johannesburg in December, President Xi Jinping said China appreciated Djibouti's help in supporting Chinese peacekeeping fleets and in evacuating Chinese citizens from Yemen. Reuters contributed to this story. Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily USA 02/05/2016 page1) China to accelerate free-trade negotiations Updated: 2016-02-05 08:21 By Zhong Nan(China Daily) The Ministry of Commerce plans to step up the pace of its free trade arrangements with partner countries that offer what it called a high degree of transparency, openness and inclusiveness to the world economy. Noting the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Thursday, which does not include China, a ministry statement said: "China is studying it, and evaluation work is under way." Twelve nations including the United States and Japan signed the TPP in New Zealand on Thursday. The deal, agreed in October after five years of talks, is aimed at promoting trade and investment among countries which hold 40 percent of the world economy. Zhang Jianping, director of the International Economic Cooperation Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the TPP is still in its early stage, and will now go through a two-year ratification period, in which "at least six countries, including Canada, Australia and Japan, must approve the final text, for a deal to be implemented via legislative procedures". Zhang said because the TPP members are at different stages of economic development, all the major economies would need to accept the deal, which will set common standards on issues ranging from labor rights to intellectual property protection. China hopes to complete negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by the end of this year, which would link the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with China, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, accounting for one-third of the global gross domestic product. Beijing will also launch FTA negotiations with Israel and initiate FTA feasibility studies with Colombia, India, Nepal, Maldives and South Pacific island nations including Fiji and Papua New Guinea this year, as well as reinstate free trade negotiations with the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. Shen Danyang, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said China believes that members of the World Trade Organization will not abandon their existing multilateral trading system, since it brings benefits to the global economy. The WTO is still in control of the multilateral trade mechanism. "China hopes the TPP pact and other free trade arrangements in the region will complement each other and contribute to Asia-Pacific trade, investment and economic growth," he said. The TPP members also discussed details on Thursday like where to establish its secretariat, and what kind of access should be given if new countries or regions want to join the group. Xinhua contributed to this story. zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn (China Daily USA 02/05/2016 page18) ChemChina Syngenta buy could signal shift Updated: 2016-02-04 12:22 By Paul Welitzkin in New York(China Daily USA) China National Chemical Corp's planned acquisition of the Swiss seed and pesticide company Syngenta AG for about $42.92 billion would help transform ChemChina into the world's biggest supplier of agrochemicals and pesticides, observers said. ChemChina would acquire Basel-based Syngenta's intellectual property, including its GM crops and high-end agricultural chemical products that it can use in developing new crops and chemical products for the China's agricultural market, the world's largest, said David Abler, professor and agribusiness management program coordinator at Penn State University. "China has been wary of GM crops for a long time but that seems to be changing, and this acquisition will probably accelerate that change," he added. Dermot Hayes, agribusiness professor at Iowa State University, said these GM varieties reduce the need to add herbicides and pesticides. "This may be why (ChinaChem) is interested (in Syngenta)," Hayes said. ChemChina's purchase, unveiled Wednesday, calls for the Chinese company to pay approximately $465 plus a special dividend of nearly $5 for each Syngenta share. Last year Syngenta rejected a takeover offer from US seed giant Monsanto Co. Syngenta CEO John Ramsay described the ChemChina offer as "very appropriate and attractive", and said that ChemChina had secure financing in place, according to Reuters. Terms of the deal call for Syngenta to remain based in Switzerland and retain the company's existing management team. Once the transaction is approved by Syngenta shareholders, ChemChina will obtain Syngenta's advanced research and biotechnology for seeds and pesticides. Syngenta will not have to overcome as many hurdles for access to China's agricultural market. There are two areas of potential pitfalls for the deal - international regulatory reviews by anti-trust officials and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an interagency group that assesses the national security impact of foreign purchases of a US business. Syngenta's North American business generated about $3.6 billion in sales in 2015. Its US facilities include a crop-protection manufacturing plant in Louisiana, a crop genetics research facility in North Carolina and a diversified chemical formulating plant in Omaha, Nebraska. Syngenta Chairman Michael Demare said that his company was not required to file for a CFIUS review but did so in accordance with good corporate governance principles. "There are no major obstacles," he said at a press conference in Basel. Bloomberg reported that Citigroup analyst Andrew Benson said in a research note, that the ChemChina deal might be the easiest transaction to get by antitrust regulators since a combined ChemChina and Syngenta would only control a 19 percent market share. Penn State's Abler downplayed any potential problems from a CFIUS review " as long as broader US-Chinese relations continue to be stable". Laura Fraedrich, an attorney with JonesDay in Washington, said based on her understanding of Syngenta's business CFIUS likely will clear the transaction. paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com Chopsticks shop grabs all kinds Updated: 2016-02-04 12:22 By Amy He in New York(China Daily USA) These days, Yunhong Chopsticks' customers are mostly tourists - Americans from other states and Europeans from countries like France and Germany. The 6-year-old chopsticks shop at 50 Mott Street in Manhattan's Chinatown is tucked away between a Chinese restaurant and several other eateries and tourist traps. The store offers hundreds of pairs of chopsticks costing anywhere from a few dollars to thousands. Most of the chopsticks are wooden, decorated with symbols associated with Chinese culture - a dragon, phoenix, a lucky cat. Lately Western shoppers are keen on chopsticks with signs of the zodiac. Chopsticks on display at the Yunhong Chopsticks store in Manhattan's Chinatown. The 6-year-old store primarily gets US shoppers visiting from out of state or those from Europe. Amy He / China Daily "They really like the zodiac chopsticks - they like to pick out the ones that fit their own zodiac sign and gift others," said Zoe, a saleswoman in the shop who declined to give her last name. The eating utensils are mostly sold in sets of three to five pairs along with corresponding holders that are traditionally used at a dining table. The company does no advertising, Zoe said, but it does find itself on the radar of tourists who either come across it as they roam Chinatown or read up on the area before visiting. Yunhong Chopsticks has been featured in several editions of a New York City guidebook called 111 Shops in New York That You Must Not Miss. "We aren't aggressive about marketing, but people still end up coming here," Zoe said. Asked about the level of chopsticks competence most customers display, Zoe hesitated before saying that most of the store's non-Asian clientele might not really know how to properly use them, but are more interested in giving them as gifts (most are in ready-to-wrap boxes). There are also children's chopsticks and novelty sets designed for beginners. The customers who do know how to wield chopsticks are the Chinese, of course, though that customer base has shrunk over the last few years, according to Zoe. Yunhong Chopsticks' shoppers used to be evenly split between Western tourists and Chinese from other boroughs visiting Chinatown, but now it's mostly tourists. "Chinese these days are coming less and less because they can go to Chinatown in Brooklyn or they can go to Flushing," Zoe said. Flushing has the fastest-growing Chinese population in New York City and more and more Chinese are living in Brooklyn because of the cheaper cost of living there. "They don't like coming in because it's such a hassle to park here," Zoe said. amyhe@chinadailyusa.com New York loves Lunar New Year Updated: 2016-02-04 12:22 By Hezi Jiang in New York(China Daily USA) The Lunar New Year is becoming a more fantastic celebration in New York. Nothing exemplifies that more than Fantastic Art China, a free exhibition from Feb 6-10 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The China Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in Beijing, in conjunction with the US-China Cultural Institute and Committee of 100, is bringing the art of China to New York. Representatives from the host and partner organizations of The New York City Lunar New Year 2016 "Year of the Monkey Celebration" pose for a photo after a press conference on Monday in New York. Among them are Shirley Young (third from left), US president of Fantastic Art China and chair of the US-China Cultural Institute, and Yu Ding (second from left), chief curator of Fantastic Art China. Hezi Jiang / China Daily "We transported a thousand contemporary artworks from China to here," Yu Ding, dean of Arts Administration and Education Institute at CAFA, told China Daily after a press conference on Wednesday in New York. "Nobody has ever done that before. Plus, the hundreds of artworks we collected from contemporary artists here in the US; we are bringing a grand show." The academy selected a 72,000-square-foot space at the 1.8-million-square-foot center. "We flew in to scout for a location in March last year," Yu said. "In the past year, many times we felt this was so hard because the space is so large." It's the Year of the Monkey, and Chinese artist Duan Haikang's Golden Monkey Celebrating Spring, a 3,000-pound steel monkey mounting the clouds and riding the mist, will welcome visitors at the entrance, who will be encouraged to write, draw and put stickers on the installation. Other works by celebrated Chinese contemporary artists include Pan Gongkai's Melt, a 72-foot-long video display focusing on the relationship between Chinese and Western art forms; Su Xinping's Men on the Run, a revealing look at living conditions and the mental state of people in today's turbulent social environment; and Jiang Jie's March Forward! March Forward!, a sculpture made of more than 1,000 ballet shoes. The exhibition also has a section featuring works from emerging Chinese artists under age 40. Across from it is a section of art pieces from Chinese and non-Chinese young artists in the US. "We are facilitating a talk between the artists in the two countries," said Yu, chief curator of the show. "You will be able to see the similar and different topics they are working with. ... These emerging artists are the future of art." Feb 8 also will be the first time that New York City's 1.1 million public school pupils will have the day off for Chinese New Year. They can attend a Lunar New Year Student Day at the Javits Center that day, where they will learn about Chinese art, and watch performances and a video by the Nature Conservancy on endangered golden monkeys in China's Yunnan province. CAFA will present an artist-designed fireworks show over the Hudson River on the evening of Feb 7. Also over the weekend, there will be a light show on the Empire State Building featuring the silhouette of a monkey climbing to the top of the Big Apple. hezijiang@chinadailyusa.com Asian regional issues critical to US-China ties Updated: 2016-02-05 12:26 By Chen Weihua in Washington(China Daily USA) Asian regional issues have become the major test of China-US relations after tensions on the cyber security front were reduced following President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US last September, according to experts. Ken Lieberthal, a senior fellow of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, said the two countries agree that they should cooperate where they can, and seek to manage differences so they don't dominate the relationship. He said issues around the world become more manageable when the two nations work in consort. "The huge exception is Asian regional issues," he said. "I cannot think of an Asian regional issue where our relationship is improving, rather it has become more difficult," Lieberthal said on Thursday at a seminar at the Brookings on regional cooperation and competition between China and the US in the Asia Pacific. Lieberthal warned that if the two countries end up of having a fundamentally antagonistic relationship, it will be a monumental failure of diplomacy and politics on both sides. Su Ge, president and senior research fellow of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), said the US is not a claimant in the South China Sea, so the South China Sea issue should not become an issue between the two countries. Su, a former Chinese ambassador to Iceland, said the US should keep its promise of not taking sides on the sovereignty issue and respect the efforts made by countries in the region in maintaining peace there. "The US should be careful in its words and stop its words and deeds that harm the stability in the region and China-US relations," Su said. Jonathan Pollack, also a senior fellow at the Brookings, pointed out that East Asia looks much more collaborative than other parts of the world. But he warned of currents emerging in both countries that could predict a much less certain future. Teng Jianqun, director and senior research fellow of the Department of American Studies at CIIS, said he was optimistic about the relationship in the long term, noting that the MOUs between the two militaries concluded in the last two years have played a very important role in maintaining peace and stability. Lieberthal agreed that the military-to-military dialogue has been its best ever. He believes both countries should do a better job of articulating their long-term intentions, saying he does not believe that the US government's goal is to contain China. Many in China see US President Barack Obama's hosting of leaders from the 10 ASEAN nations on Feb 15-16 in the Sunnylands estate in California as a bid to rally them against China. On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the Chinese side is willing to see further development of relations between the US and ASEAN countries. "We hope that their relationship will be truly conducive to regional peace, stability and development," he said. As for whether or not China is worried that the meeting may be aimed at China, Lu cited a US government official saying publicly a day earlier that the meeting is not anti-China. "We hope that when the meeting is concluded, messages from your media reports can tell us that this meeting was indeed not aimed at China," Lu said. On Thursday, US State Department spokesman John Kirby reiterated that the US policy on the South China Sea has not changed, "which is the tensions to de-escalate and claims to be resolved peacefully diplomatically," he said. chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com Chinese help Jersey City reach for sky Updated: 2016-02-06 00:18 By WILLIAM HENNELLY in NEW YORK(China Daily USA) Rendering of the 99 Hudson condominium tower (center) on the Jersey City waterfront, which when completed in 2019 will become New Jerseys tallest building.The citys current tallest building is the Goldman Sachs tower (foreground left). PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY The influence of Chinese investment on real estate, well documented in New York City, is drifting across the Hudson River to Jersey City, New Jersey. China Overseas America Inc on Jan 28 broke ground for 99 Hudson, a 79-story, 900-foot condominium tower that will become the tallest building in New Jersey. The building will surpass the 781-foot Goldman Sachs structure nearby at 30 Hudson Street and will contain 18,000 square feet of commercial and retail space and more than 600 parking spaces. We are proud to bring 99 Hudson to life and represent the high standard of excellence of China and develop a marriage with the Jersey City community to create 2,000 construction jobs and business opportunities for the local establishments, said Cindy Xu, president of China Overseas America Inc. China Overseas Americas parent company is China Overseas Land & Investment Ltd, Hong Kong, which itself is a subsidiary of China State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) in Beijing. CSCEC is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and was ranked 37th among Fortune Global 500 companies in 2015 and tops on the Engineering News-Records Global Contractors list in 2014. We are committed and proud to have our project advance the great growth of Jersey City, Xu said. This building will literally have the best view in the world, as its going to have panoramic views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the New York City skyline. We think this area has a good value. Pricewise, it is very competitive compared with Manhattan, Xu told China Daily. Xu said that the company will consider future opportunities in Jersey City if there are good chances. When asked if China Overseas will seek investment from the US EB-5 visa program, Xu said we are studying it now, havent decided yet. The EB-5 program rewards foreign investors with green cards for investing from $500,000 to $1 million in US projects, and for creating and preserving American jobs. The building is being designed by the multinational architecture firm Perkins Eastman, whose representatives, along with the mayor, members of the Jersey City Council and Planning Board, China Overseas America Inc and Plaza Construction attended the groundbreaking. Sun honored in Houston Updated: 2016-02-05 06:02 By MAY ZHOU in Houston(chinadaily.com.cn) Y. Ping Sun speaks at the Asia Society Texas Center's Tiger Ball in March of last year. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC) in Houston is celebrating the Lunar New Year as well as honoring one of its members, Y. Ping Sun, by offering visitors "free" admission to the ongoing Drawn from Nature exhibit Feb 9-14. Sun, who serves as university representative at Rice University, is a strong supporter of ASTC and currently serves on its executive committee as a vice-chair of the board of directors. She came to Houston from New York City in 2004 when her husband David Leebron became Rice's seventh president. Since then, Sun has been involved in many aspects of Rice and also in communities throughout Houston. At Rice, Sun is also a member of the advisory board of the Shepherd School of Music and the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, and is honorary co-chair of the Baker Institute Roundtable. Beyond the campus, she is also a trustee of Texas Children's Hospital, a board member of BARC, Center for Houston's Future, Hermann Park Conservancy, Teach for America and the United Way of Greater Houston. She also serves on the advisory board of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, Chinese Community Center, Houston Arts Alliance and the Mayor's International Trade and Development Council for Asia/Australia. Over the years, Sun has been invited frequently as a speaker or panelist at various leadership summits and conferences, including the Youth Leadership Forum and Houston Independent School District's Asian-American College and Career Day. For her contributions to the community, the City of Houston designated April 23, 2015 "Y. Ping Sun Day". "Ping is admired in Houston and across the globe for her strong community engagement," said Bonna Kol, executive director of ASTC. "We are truly grateful for her support for Asia Society Texas Center, and are excited about this opportunity to express our gratitude and honor her." While Ping has been honored for her community service by several organizations, Asia Society Texas Center said it was especially proud to recognize her generous spirit and support with a week-long celebration. "I am deeply touched and very grateful to Asia Society Texas Center for this honor," Sun said. "I have benefited tremendously from my service to the Asia Society and other civic organization in our great city. I invite more people to get involved in community service because, by working together, can we build a better community for all of us. "I also encourage Houstonians to visit the Asia Society to enjoy this exhibit and learn more about our community's rich Asian cultural tapestry," Sun told China Daily. Empire State Building's lights kick off Lunar New Year events Updated: 2016-02-06 04:57 By NIU YUE in New York Zhang Qiyue, Chinese consul general in New York and well-known actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong, who portrayed the Monkey King in China's 1986 TV series Journey to the West, flip the switch in a lighting ceremony on Friday at the Empire State Building in Manhattan. The building's tower lights will be in red and gold starting on Friday to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, which starts on Feb 8. John B. Kessler, president and COO of the Empire State Building real estate, watches the ceremony. NIU YUE / FOR CHINA DAILY The top of the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan will shine in red and gold starting Friday night in a salute to the Chinese Lunar New Year that starts on Feb 8. On Saturday, a light show designed by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman will be put on at the top of the building starting at 8:30 pm and will be synced to fireworks over the Hudson River. The lighting ceremony at the building also kicked off Happy Chinese New Year: Fantastic Art China, a series of China-related cultural events that will be held through Feb 10 to mark the Year of the Monkey. The events will be held at prominent venues in Manhattan, including the Park Avenue Armory, Lincoln Center, the Empire State Building, Times Square, the Javits Convention Center and Pier 84 at the Hudson River Park. Mainly supported by the Ministry of Culture of China and Chinese Consulate General in New York, it is the second year that the program has been held in the city. So, were back from our trip to Austin, Texas! It was my first time traveling with an infant, and boy, have I learned some lessons! Ill blog about this next time, but for now, let me tell you about our travel. We left on Friday, January 29th and came back on Sunday, January 31st. It was on Thursday night that I looked at my email closely and almost lost it: our flight was at 6:40 AM. What the heck was I thinking when I booked this flight??? First, I didnt go to be till past 1 AM. Then I woke up at 4:00 AM to start getting ready. By the time I took a shower, pumped, washed my pumping tools, packed my pumping tools and everything, we did not leave the house till 5:45 AM. There were only two people checking luggage in at the Southwest Airlines counter, and they refused to check my luggage in because I was late, and they believed I would miss my flight. So I had to go through the security gate with my heavy luggage, Ada Verastics diaper bag on my back, and Ada Verastic in her car seat. I thought Id lose my limbs. By the time I got to the gate (almost 7:00 AM), my flight was long gone. Thankfully, Southwest put me on standby for the next flight, which was at 9:40 AM. I cried. I knew before I reached my gate that my flight was gone anyway, but I was just frustrated to have carried all my load for so long. God heard me and sent me this nice Sudanese lady who was an airport worker. She helped me by putting Ada Verastics car seat on a wheel chair and attaching the luggage to the arm of the wheelchair, so all I had to carry was my bag and Ada Verastics diaper bag on my back. The picture below is of me while I was waiting for the next flight. Well, of course, Vera would miss the flight #VeraGoes #Travel #Verastic A photo posted by Vera Ezimora (@verastic) on Jan 29, 2016 at 4:33am PST Three hours later, we finally got to Austin. Uju took us to a restaurant whose name I cannot remember. I had yummy fajitas. Uju ordered me a cocktail whose name I also cannot remember. I only drank about 1/10th of it because Im breastfeeding and have no desire to see Ada Verastic drunk. Ha! Saturday and Sunday, we hung out at the Lady Bird Lake and then went to visit family (and church was on Sunday). The entire time I was in Austin, I only changed one diaper because Uju was taking her role as Mom-In-Charge very seriously. If Ada Verastic could talk, she would have thanked Uju for the love she showered on her. You know all those little clothes of Ada Verastic that I packed? Well, she didnt wear anyone. Uju bought her all these clothes and was all too happy to change her. Its unclear to me right now if Uju thought Ada Verastic was a human baby or a doll baby. In fact, Im leaning toward doll baby because she even affectionately called her, Doll. In church, Ada Verastic had an explosive poop that was two seconds away from seeping out of the diaper and into her beautiful tulle dress, if Uju had not run to the bathroom to do some damage control. Oh, and we ate the spiciest abacha ever on Saturday night. How could I forget to mention that on Friday, I ate some nkwobi. Havent had nkwobi for at least 15 years. It was so good, and I wanted more, but the nkwobi came from Houston, and as much as I wanted more, I did not really want to drive to Houston (not that Uju was going to go anyway). I hear that Houston has a big Nigerian population. Some other day, Houston! Coming back to Maryland, our flight was at 5:30 PM. Uju said the airport was only about 10 minutes away, so she said we should leave at 4:00 PM, and she also said that the Austin airport was never busy like the Baltimore one I came from. We ended up leaving the house at 4:10 PM because Small Madam had to drink her milk at the last minute. Sure, it didnt take too long to get to the airport, but the line to go through security had no end. I had to beg my way to the front of the line. And then, when I got there, the TSA official had to test my breast milk first. Ugh!!! I was literally running through the airport with Ada Verastic strapped to my chest. I held her head close to my chest so it was not going all over the place. We made it at the tail end of boarding. On both flights, Ada Verastic was so good. She slept through the flight to Austin, and on the way back, she slept for part of it and then woke up later and was just looking around and dashing people smiles anyhow. She was a superstar on the plane. Speaking of the plane, we met the nicest, sweetest flight attendant on our way back to Baltimore. Her name is Nicole and her hair was dark ruby red. She was so kind to us. She even stopped by later to ask about Ada Verastic and talk to her. So, Southwest, if youre reading, you need to give Nicole a bonus. We were on Flight 819 from Austin to Baltimore on January 31st. Well, that was my weekend. How was yours, Sweet Potatoes? Please turn JavaScript on and reload the page. Loading... Checking your browser before accessing the website. This process is automatic. Your browser will redirect to your requested content shortly. Please wait a few seconds. Hanoi, February 4 (VNA) Vietnamese enterprises are ready to bring into full play the opportunities as well as face the challenges brought by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, which was officially signed on February 4. According to Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, the TPP is a high quality new-generation agreement, which will boost exports, attract more foreign investments and increase the position of Vietnam in the region and the world. In anticipation of those opportunities, the Vietnamese garment sector has implemented many initiatives to restructure itself to conform with the integration process. Numerous production chains have been put into operation to meet the agreements requirements on rules of origin, which help increase the localisation rate and the prices of several garment companies shares. General Director of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) Le Tien Truong said that Vietnam has to import a large amount of materials. Therefore, the group has prepared for a long time and coordinated with foreign companies in building material production regions. As an outstanding unit of the garment and textile sector, the Phong Phu Corporation has coordinated closely with Vinatexs subsidiaries and other companies to form a large supply chain, while reforming management capacity and technologies in order to stay firmly in front of big foreign rivals. However, there still remain businesses which have not made any moves to restructure, as they lack knowledge about TPP. Many of them do not know how to benefit from the zero percent tariff rate applied when Vietnamese products are proved to have a domestic materials content of 60 percent. Head of the Ministry of Industry and Trades Light Industry Department Phan Chi Dung pointed to the fact that if the sector wants to invest in material sources, it has to find thousand-hectare material regions. However, this is a challenge because many localities do not provide large fields to develop materials, as they are afraid of environmental pollution risks caused by garment production. In addition, once the agreement comes into effect, companies will face fiercer competitiveness on goods, services and investment, numerous trade protection measures, and tighter requirements on product quality. Deputy chief of the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee on International Economic Integration, Trinh Minh Anh, suggested businesses make efforts to meet global standards to increase competitiveness. They were also urged to have a thorough understanding of integration to analyse the processs influence on their products, and have appropriate plans of action. Minister Hoang asked Government, State management agencies, and relevant ministries and sectors to pay attention to building standards that ensure the quality of products sold in Vietnam and prevent substandard goods from entering into the country, thus facilitating domestic firms development. He added that it is necessary to promote communication work to raise enterprises awareness of the TPP contents, helping them identify advantages as well as challenges, in order to take responsive measures and get the best out of opportunities arising from the deal. VNA/VNP "Words had to change their ordinary meaning and to take that which was now given them. Reckless audacity came to be considered the courage of a loyal ally; prudent hesitation, specious cowardice; moderation was held to be a cloak for unmanliness; ability to see all sides of a question, inaptness to act on any. Frantic violence became the attribute of manliness" -Thucydides A high-level team from New Delhi, including the Tanzanian high commissioner to India, will leave for Bengaluru today in connection with the assault on a Tanzanian woman in the Karnataka capital. The decision to send the team was taken at a high-level meeting convened by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday that was attended by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha and other senior officials of the ministry. "A team is going to Bengaluru tomorrow which includes the high commissioner of Tanzania, who is also the dean of the African diplomatic corps," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said at yesterday. "The team also includes the joint secretary (states), director (east and southern Africa) in the ministry of external affairs and the regional director of ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations), which liaises with the students who come here on ICCR scholarships," he added. Five people suspected of assaulting the Tanzanian woman student were arrested early on Thursday, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharik said. "We have arrested the five accused after interrogating them on Wednesday night under detention in the case registered on the victim's statement in a road rage incident," Megharik said. The commissioner, however, did not disclose names and ages of the five accused. In a case of mistaken identity, a mob assaulted the victim suspecting her to be a friend of a Sudanese student, Mohammad Ahad, whose car ran over a woman pedestrian (Shabana Taz) injuring her fatally while driving drunk on Sunday night. "We condemn this unequivocally," Swarup said at the media briefing. "The external affairs minister, in her tweets yesterday, has also said that we are deeply pained over the shameful incident," he said. He said Sushma Swaraj immediately spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sought an official report. Secretary Sinha also spoke to Tanazanian High Commissioner John W.H. Kijazi and expressed regret at the incident. "Our Joint Secretary (States), Partha Satpathy, who happened to be in Bengaluru, liaised immediately with the state and local authorities," Swarup said. He also said that a report has been received from Bengaluru Police Commissioner Megharik. "The commissioner has assured us that stringent measures are being taken to prevent occurrence of such incidents in the future," the spokesman said, adding that "our African friends" have been assured that necessary legal action would be taken and stringent punishment would be given to those involved in the incident and that all steps would be taken for the safety and security of African students in India. There are around 5,000 African students in India. As for the team gong to Bengaluru today, Swarup said that "we will extend full cooperation of the state and central governments to the investigation of this case". "The ministry and the state government will also be reaching out to African students in the state to reassure them that their security and well-being is our primary concern," he added. As India seeks to intensify ties with Africa, trade between India and Senegal, described as one of the continent's model democracies, totalled over $700 million in the 2014-15 financial year, an Indian diplomat posted in the Francophone west African nation said. "Official figures on trade between the two countries have grown steadily from 2010-11, when the total volume stood at $425.48 million. Trade between the countries has been growing at over 25 percent annually. India's exports to Senegal during the financial year 2014-15 were valued at $518.72 million and India's imports during the period were $208.13 million (for a total of $726.85 million)," R Narayanan, second secretary of the Indian embassy in Dakar, told IANS in an email exchange from Senegal's capital. Major items of export from India to Senegal include rice, textiles, food items, automobiles and pharmaceuticals. Major items of import from Senegal are phosphoric acid, phosphate ore and raw cashew. Embassy sources said an important initiative was taken in 1988 for counter-trade arrangements with Senegal but the results were not very encouraging. There are about 300 Indians in Senegal working with Indian companies, including those executing development projects under lines of credit extended by India under bilateral and multilateral schemes. The rest run their own businesses. "Bilateral trade volume has the potential to grow in the near future given the convergence of interests in terms of Senegal's growing economy, its need for investment in crucial infrastructure sectors and the Indian companies' endeavour to explore new markets and share their expertise in various fields with new partners," Narayanan said. The mission is making consistent efforts to help Indian businesses increase their presence in Senegal and utilise it as a gateway to the rest of West Africa, he said. Narayanan said that during the last three years, India has extended project assistance worth $300 million for rural electrification and fishery development projects, establishment of a slaughter house with modern facilities, a tannery and livestock market, a project for self-sufficiency in rice and the acquisition of buses. India has also extended various scholarships to the Senegalese, with 35 slots allocated under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme (ITEC) three years ago. Apart from this, two slots under the General Cultural Scholarship Scheme (GCSS) and nine slots under the Africa Scholarship Scheme are also made available annually for Senegal. For the current financial year, five slots for training in courses conducted by the Indian Navy and three in the courses conducted by the Indian Air Force have been allotted to Senegal. (Francis Kokutse can be contacted at fkokutse@gmail.com) For the first time in over four months, trucks from India entered Nepal through a key border trade point today as local traders from both sides burned down tents set up by Madhesi protesters who had imposed a blockade that led to severe shortages of fuel in the landlocked nation. Trucks entered Nepal through the Birgunj-Raxual border crossing in Bihar. A huge convoy of freight containers entered Nepal after local entrepreneurs from Nepal and India set ablaze the tents set by Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) protesters at Dasgaja's Miteri Bridge in Birgunj, 90 kilometres south of Kathmandu. "There was no official announcement of lifting of the blockade by India, though with no protesters obstructing the border point, few vehicles have entered into Nepal from Raxaul, said Yadav Koirala, Nepal home ministry spokesperson. "There is no blockade at the checkpoint right now, and over 150 trucks have passed through since afternoon," a senior police official said. Locals chased away Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Jitendra Sonal who reached the scene claiming the border blockade had not been officially ended. The Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding the new Constitution be amended to include their concerns. There is a strong presence of police and locals in the bridge. Meanwhile, small vehicles and rickshaws are plying in and across the bridge. A group of Indian traders came to the border and set ablaze the tents while some Nepalese locals also extended support to their action by chasing away few protesters sitting near the border area. After the removal of the tent and vacating the protesters from the border area few dozens of vehicles including some containers entered Nepal, according to officials. The opening of the major Indo-Nepal border point comes as the protesting Madhesi leaders indicated that they would change the form of protest and the border blockade was likely to be lifted. Meanwhile, security arrangements have been intensified in the area to prevent any untoward incident. For more than four months, life in the southern Nepal plains have been seriously affected with the Madhesi Front-led protests against the country's new Constitution that was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20. The Madhesis have been agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led the blockade of key border trade points with India. So far, 55 people have died in the violent Madhesi-Tharu agitation launched by Nepal's marginalised groups. There has been growing pressure on the Madhesi Front to lift the blockade at the border as landlocked Nepal faced acute shortage of fuel, cooking gas and medicines among other essentials due to the blockade. 06:56 Meghan Markle seems to be distancing herself from Netflix docuseries TalkTV Royal Editor Sarah Hewson says Meghan Markle seems to be distancing herself from her and Prince Harrys delayed Netflix docuseries following... 06:06 Inexcusable: Kanye Wests comments regarding George Floyd were stupid Fox News contributor Tyrus says Kanye West is a genius in the music studio but his fame is his worst enemy, as the American rapper... 02:26 Concerning: Americans trust in the media at near record lows The Australians Media Writer Sophie Elsworth says Americans trust in the media being near record lows is a real concern. MOLINE, Ill. Deere & Co. on Wednesday urged the U.S. Congress to ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership, saying the trade agreement signed by 12 countries is a much-needed step to boost the global economy. A robust U.S. trade agenda expands jobs and opportunities for American workers, farmers and businesses, Samuel Allen, chairman and CEO of the Moline-based tractor manufacturer, said in a news release. This benefits our customers, our employees, and expands our business opportunities. Allen said the global marketplace is important to Deeres employees, as nearly 40 percent of the companys revenues already come from sales outside the U.S. and Canada. Exports at Deeres larger agricultural and construction equipment factories in Iowa and Illinois account for between one-third and one-fourth of all units manufactured at those facilities. The companys largest tractors are built in Waterloo. TPP would give the company a boost but not right away, said Eli Lustgarten, an analyst who tracks Deeres financial performance for Longbow Research in St. Louis. Near-term, its not huge, he said. It doesnt overcome the weakness in the ag sector at this point. Over time, though, these emerging market areas are fertile ground no pun intended. Theyre growing markets. Anything you can do to make trade easier helps the company, certainly. Deere serves customers in the TPP participating countries and has facilities in seven of them. The agreement is expected to boost trade flows among all participants and strengthen global food security by improving efficiency in meeting food and feed needs as well as improving infrastructure across the Asia-Pacific region. TPP delivers transparent and consistent rules for our investments and freer trade for our products, both of which are increasingly more important as Deeres global footprint has grown, Allen said. The agreements provisions enhance the business environment in these important economies, making Congresss swift ratification of the agreement important to Deere and our customers The participating countries signed the TPP today in New Zealand, taking another step toward ratification and implementation of the agreement. TPP members account for about 40 percent of the global economy and one-third of world trade. Initial TPP countries include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, U.S., and Vietnam. It makes sense, Iowa State University agriculture economist Dave Swenson said. But, Swenson also described TPP as incredibly complicated, and there are winners and losers. One winner in the deal would be the agriculture sector, Swenson said. For raw and finished products, it eliminates some barriers or tariffs, Swenson said. Anything that moves exports doesnt boost output on the farm, but it does ultimately boost prices. Happy farmers buy Deere tractors, so anything that can stimulate price improvement (helps). The losers likely would be consumers of other products, particularly pharmaceuticals, because it prevents cheaper products from coming into the U.S., Swenson said. Theres losers in the sense that some of this deal, as its been written, seems to provide an extraordinary amount of protection to large pharmaceutical companies that gives them more monopoly power, Swenson said. The large pharmaceutical companies seem to have language in there that protects their products disproportionate to other products. So, the loser is tends to be very well be consumer of those products. However, the deal would benefit producers of manufactured goods, agriculture commodities and timber. In October 2015 in Atlanta, the U.S., Japan, Vietnam and nine other Pacific Rim nations reached final agreement on TPP, which would be the largest regional trade pact in history. Current U.S. exports to Japan, Vietnam and the other 10 cosignatories to TPP accounted for about 44 percent of 2014 U.S. exports, according to Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. Goss also noted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has estimated the implementation of TPP would expand U.S. sales abroad by $130 billion. Goss estimated TPP would expand U.S. agricultural sales by approximately $8.4 billion and U.S. net farm income by roughly $1 billion in just one year. An even bigger positive jolt to agriculture sales and farm income would come from a reduction in the value of the U.S. dollar, Goss said. He noted that a 1 percent reduction in the value of the U.S. dollar would add about $4.6 billion to U.S. farm revenues. There will, of course, be some economic losers from approval of TPP but the economic winners will far outnumber the losers, Goss said. Congress should pass TPP. INDEPENDENCE This was something new for Naomi Probert: Stand in front of a crowd of 500 people and tell them why she feels someone should be elected president of the United States. The married mother of adopted Haitian children ages 5 and 6 found one candidate spoke to her heart: Dr. Ben Carson. She and her family met Carson, personally, a day earlier in Manchester. The experience only reinforced her support for him. So much so, she was willing to speak on his behalf at her Republican precinct caucus Monday night at Independence High School. In fact, her kids helped hand out literature for him. Supporting Carson was, for the Proberts, a family affair. Id never done anything like this before, she said. I felt really passionate about Dr. Carson. We were inspired by Dr. Carsons story. I volunteered to talk for him. And you get all revved up to speak to 500 people. Then, the unthinkable happened. A lady who had just checked her smart phone said the campaign of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz just informed us that theres a CNN story that he (Carson) is out of the race and hes endorsed (Sen. Ted) Cruz, Probert related. She had already risen to speak. There was a gasp in the audience, Probert related. I was just devastated. I got emotional. I said, My husband and I live here in Independence with our two Haitian children. We were inspired by Dr. Carsons story... That was as far as she got. Overcome by emotion, she sat down. She and her husband, Stephen, got on their smartphones to find the story in question. They didnt. We said, This isnt true. We were duped. The report said Carson was going home for a fresh suit of clothes the day after the caucuses instead of heading straight to New Hampshire not that he was dropping out of the race. But it triggered speculation. It was a complete fabrication. He didnt endorse anyone, Probert said. She and her husband knew if Carson was withdrawing, he would say so directly to his supporters. She asked to finish her remarks. They allowed me to do that, Probert said. I dont know if the damage had been done, if the initial, incorrect announcement had swayed anyone. My speculation was that it was a media-driven thing, but I wasnt sure, Probert said. Cruz, a day after the caucuses, apologized for what ultimately was attributed to a misinterpretation of Carsons statements to CNN about taking a break after Iowa. A subsequent CNN report and local Republican officials noted U.S. Rep. Steve King, a Cruz state campaign chair, had retweeted the incorrect information. I would say, being he (Carson) isnt a career politician, he probably doesnt calculate all of his statements and how they might be used against him, Probert said. Dr. Carson accepted the apology by Cruz. In that sense, its kind of been taken care of, Probert said. But Carson also called for accountability in several interviews. A Carson campaign email Thursday bearing a subject line Dirty tricks? said that, while some CNN commentators shared blame for openly speculating Carson was calling it quits, it is unacceptable that Cruzs campaign would dishonestly twist and distort the CNN report to manipulate Carson supporters into switching their caucus vote at the last minute. Donald Trumps continued criticism of Cruz over the matter can only hurt Carson and Cruz, Probert suggested. Trumps trying to take advantage of this and its going to hurt them both. Thats not good. I dont hold anything against anyone local, Probert said. I really do feel like its beyond a local thing. I think a lot of people in America are just really tired of politics as usual. Thats why Dr. Carson, being an outsider, that hes been so successful. Probert is still committed to Carson as long as hes a candidate. She is a 1995 graduate of Cedar Falls High School. CHARLES CITY A 21-year-old Charles City man convicted of the murder and sexual abuse of his 3-year-old cousin while he was still a juvenile may not be spending the rest of his life in prison after all. Edgar Concepcion Jr., who was 14 at the time of the murder of Krystel Banes of Charles City in July 2009, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in November 2010. He was re-sentenced Thursday to life in prison with the possibility of parole due to recent changes in the law regarding penalties for those convicted of serious crimes committed when they were juveniles. Life with parole does not necessarily mean you are ever going to get out of prison, District Court Judge James Drew told Concepcion during the re-sentencing hearing in Floyd County District Court. He said it is up to the Iowa Board of Parole if Concepcion is ever released and when that might happen. None of us has got a crystal ball, he said. A jury found Concepcion guilty in June 2010 of first-degree murder, first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree sexual abuse and child endangerment. In November 2010 Concepcion was sentenced to life on the murder and first-degree sexual abuse convictions. He was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison for second-degree sexual abuse and up to five years for child endangerment. In January 2014 the Iowa Court of Appeals ordered that Concepcion be resentenced on all the convictions except the one for child endangerment. The state appeals court ordered the re-sentencing because of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that states cannot automatically sentence juveniles to life without parole without considering the circumstances of each case based on the age of the juvenile, the nature of the crime and other factors. DES MOINES The Courier brought home four first-place honors Friday at annual Associated Press contest. In addition, The Courier won eight second- and third-place awards. The contest was for journalism produced during calendar year 2015. Courier Business Editor Jim Offner won first- and second-place awards in business writing for stories on the effects in the community of the Deere layoffs and how a bank closing in Raymond is affecting those residents, respectively. Courier photographers Matthew Putney and Brandon Pollock won first-place awards for their work in the categories of picture story (Rock the Look fundraiser) and feature pictures (snow art), respectively. Putney also received a third place in sports action photos for a University of Northern Iowa womens basketball picture. Photographer Courtney Collins won a second-place in sports action photos for a UNI football picture. And graphic artist/copy editor David Hemenway swept the news graphics category, winning first-, second and third-places for his news graphics. Staff writer John Molseed placed second in continuing news coverage for his work on the Mumford & Sons Gentlemen of the Road concert that came to Waverly last summer. Sports writers Doug Newhoff, Jim Sullivan and Nick Petaros won third place in sports writing for their series on how NCAA stipends impact Iowa universities. Former editorial page editor Terry Hudson won third place in editorial writing for an editorial on the citys frustration with denying liquor licenses to business only to have the state reinstate them. In the Iowa Newspaper Association awards handed out Friday night, The Courier won one first place in advertising and several second- and third- place awards in news. The first place came in the best ad featuring financial, insurance or other professional service category for an ad for Realtor Deanna Wheeler. New Editor Pat Kinney earned a second-place award in editorial writing, while the Couriers copy desk won second-place awards for headline writing and news graphics. The Courier won third place awards for best use of social media for its weekly Flashback Friday photo gallery of historical pictures. Photographer Brandon Pollock won third place for a sports photo at a UNI soccer game. In the advertising categories, designer Amanda Hansen won third place for best ad designer, and the staff earned a second place for a Simpson Furniture ad. IOWA FALLS -- An Iowa Falls man with a long-running dispute with police has been sentenced to prison for allegedly threatening to assault judges. Attorneys for Andre Michael Lafontaine III, 35, had requested leniency, arguing the threat --- in the form of a message left on a federal government answering machine --- took little or no deliberation. But prosecutors disagreed. Here, defendants threat to cut the throats of judges was not the product of a single impulse or a single thoughtless response to a particular event. Rather, defendants threat was a calculated response to a series of events occurring over an extended period, Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Murphy said in court records. On Friday, Judge Linda Reade sentenced Lafontaine to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. During supervised release, he will be subject to GPS monitoring and placed in a residential reentry center. Lafontaine convicted of transmitting a threatening communication following an October trial. Court records show Lafontaine was arrested for operating while intoxicated in a 2010 traffic stop, and he filed a pro se lawsuit in 2012 in connection with the arrest. Apparently frustrated over the outcome of the suit, he allegedly made threatening statements to a court clerk and then tried to enlist the help of the FBI. When that failed, he left a threatening phone message with the U.S Department of Justices Office of Professional Responsibility in Washington, D.C. WATERLOO A Waterloo woman has been arrested for allegedly cutting her boyfriend with a box cutter. Police and paramedics were called to a home at 538 Riehl St. at about 4:35 p.m. Wednesday and found 37-year-old William Love with cuts to the left side of his neck and right arm, according to police reports. Paramedics with Waterloo Fire Rescue took Love to UnityPoint Health-Allen Hospital where doctors used stitches to close the wounds, said Capt. David Mohlis with the Waterloo Police Department. Kamanicha Michelle Gamblin, 35, of 538 Riehl St., was arrested for willful injury causing serious injury and aggravated domestic assault. She was taken to the Black Hawk County Jail, and he bond was set at $25,000. Court records allege Gamblin slashed at Love with a box cutter. Police probe home robbery WATERLOO Waterloo police are investigating a botched home robbery. Residents at 1859 Independence Ave. told police several people with handguns entered the home Wednesday night and made demands. The suspects then fled empty handed. No injuries were reported, and no arrests have been made. According to police, the robbery was reported at about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday. The victims were identified as Katisha Stevens and Monique Hinton. Fuel company execs indicted HOPKINTON Managers of an ethanol company have been indicted for allegedly failing to pay employment withholdings to the federal government. A grand jury handed up the indictment against Randy Less and Darrell Smith on Jan. 21 in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. The case was unsealed Jan. 26 as IRS agents arrested Smith. Less is charged with 11 counts of failure to account for any pay over employment taxes, and Smith is charged with six counts. Court records state Less was the majority owner and general manager of Permeate Refining Inc. of Hopkinton, which produced ethanol. Smith operated Algae Energae, which bought 49 percent interest in Permeate in 2009. According to court records, Permeate collected withholding for income tax, Social Security and Medicare taxes from employee paychecks. But the company allegedly failed to fully pass along the funds to the IRS. The company failed to account for and pay over about $423,975 between 2009 and 2012, court records allege. Benton County crash kills three KEYSTONE Three people have died in a four-vehicle accident involving a minivan Thursday morning. The names of the drivers and the deceased havent been released as the crash remains under investigation, but a preliminary report by the Iowa State Patrol indicated three people suffered fatal injuries. The collision happened at about 5:20 a.m. on Highway 30 east of 16th Avenue near Keystone in Benton County. A Toyota Sienna carrying 10 people was headed West on Highway 30 when the driver lost control due to icy conditions and collided with an eastbound Toyota Corolla, according to the Iowa State Patrol. The van began to roll and struck a Saturn Vue. The Corolla was then struck by an eastbound Chevrolet Impala. NEWTON Jurors in Dustin Jeffersons trial for first-degree murder Friday heard briefly from his sister, Sahara Martinez, and indirectly and at length from Jefferson himself. Prosecutors allege Jefferson, 40, helped his mother, Ginger Jefferson, kill his wife. Kerry OClair Jefferson, 32, was fatally stabbed in September 2013. The trial is the states third attempt to convict Dustin Jefferson. His first trial in Tama County ended during jury selection because of a question about minority representation in the panel. Jefferson is a member of the Meskwaki tribe. Jurors in Jeffersons second trial, also in Tama County, could not reach a unanimous verdict. Judge Mary Chicchelly granted a change of venue and moved the current trial to Newton in Jasper County. Prosecutor Laura Roan on Friday called Bruce Rhoads, a deputy in Tama County. She later introduced a video of Jefferson recorded in the Tama County Jail on the night OClair Jefferson died. Authorities picked Jefferson up initially because of an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Meskwaki Nation Police Department for alleged sexual abuse. Those charges are still pending against Jefferson. On the recording, jurors heard Jefferson yelling for information about his wife. His hands are cuffed behind his back, and he appears intoxicated. My wife could be f dead. And they lie, Jefferson yelled at one point. Rhoads also described responding to a 911 call Sept. 25, 2013, about a woman walking in the middle of a rural highway. The woman turned out to be Martinez, Jeffersons sister. The location was about 15 miles outside Tama in the Chelsea area. Rhoads testified he could smell alcohol on Martinez. He suspected she might be intoxicated but also later learned Martinez is diabetic. While at the ambulance service garage in Tama with Martinez, Rhoads heard the page requesting paramedics respond to 104 Harmon St. Jefferson stayed at the house sometimes with his cousin, Carlos Jefferson, and Carlos Jeffersons girlfriend, Trudi Mathes. According to Rhoads testimony, Martinez also heard the page and seemed to have an emotional reaction. Rhoads said she stopped talking. At the time it didnt mean anything to me, Rhoads added. Martinez also took the stand Friday and initially had a difficult time responding to Roans questions. Is this the first time youve seen your brother in a number of years? Roan asked Yes, Martinez said. After gaining her composure, Martinez described how she and her mother, Ginger Jefferson, that day went to visit Dustin Jefferson at the home on Harmon Street. The group began drinking beer and whiskey, according to Martinez. Ginger Jefferson and OClair Jefferson had an OK relationship when they were sober, according to Martinez. Martinez said she remembered getting in her vehicle with her brother and mother. Dustin Jefferson drove out of town, but stopped in a rural area so Martinez could urinate alongside the highway. They left me, Martinez added. Roan also called Derek Riessen, an agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation, who twice interviewed Jefferson with a colleague. Roan played recordings of those interviews. During the first interview, Jefferson tells Riessen and another DCI agent he has no permanent address or job. He admitted talking about divorce with his wife, and also said the group started drinking on the day she died at 9:30 or 10 a.m. He first wanted the officers to tell him about OClair Jefferson. The investigators informed Jefferson his wife had died. They then pressed Jefferson for details about what happened in the home. No, I cant. I wasnt inside the house, Jefferson said on the recording. They asked who hurt OClair Jefferson. My mom, Jefferson said. How? I dont know. I just know she came out and she had bloody hands, Jefferson added. On cross examination by defense attorney Thomas Gaul, Riessen acknowledged Jefferson identified the folding knife as his own. If he was trying to blame someone else, he could have said, Its my mothers knife, Gaul said. Sure, Riessen testified. WATERLOO | The Cedar Falls Community School District will hold a special election Feb. 16 to fill the position on its school board vacated by the election of Jim Brown as Cedar Falls mayor. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Cedar Falls school district. The district includes the city of Cedar Falls, part of the city of Waterloo, and parts of unincorporated Black Hawk County. Absentee ballots are now available at the Election Office, Room 210 of the Courthouse at 316 E. Fifth St., Waterloo, IA 50703. Ballots may be voted there 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday through Feb. 15. To vote by mail, voters should send an absentee ballot request form (found at www.sos.state.ia.us or www.co.black-hawk.ia.us) to the Election Office at the above address and a ballot will be mailed to them. Absentee ballot request forms must be received in the Election Office by 5 p.m. Feb. 12. Voters may submit a request for an absentee ballot by email or fax. All electronic requests must include an image of the voters written signature. A mailed ballot received after Feb. 16 must be postmarked on or before Feb. 15, or it will not be counted. Even if the ballot is postmarked on time, mailed ballots must also be received in the Election Office by noon Feb. 22. Hand-delivered ballots need to be taken to the Election Office by 8 p.m. on Feb. 16. The last day to preregister at the Election Office for this election is Feb. 5 before 5 p.m. Eligible individuals may register to vote at the polling place for the precinct in which they live and must provide proof of both identity and residence, such as on a current Iowa drivers license. If you are unsure where you are supposed to vote, go to the elections page of the county website at www.co.black-hawk.ia.us, or use the Iowa secretary of states website at www.sos.state.ia.us, where users may select Find Your Precinct/Polling Place and/or Am I Registered to Vote? Look for the School Election location. For questions, contact the Election Office at 833-3007 or election@co.black-hawk.ia.us. The location is Room 210 of the Black Hawk County Courthouse, 316 E. Fifth St. CEDAR FALLS The University of Northern Iowa named Gaetane Jean-Marie the dean of the College of Education and the Richard O. Jacobson Endowed Chair of Leadership in Education. Jean-Marie will assume her new duties June 30, and the appointment is contingent upon approval by the Iowa Board of Regents at its June meeting. Jean-Marie will bring a strong background in educational leadership to UNI, UNI provost and executive vice president for academic affairs Jim Wohlpart said in a statement. Her leadership philosophy is inclusive, innovative and data-informed, and she cares first and foremost about students and student learning, which is very important at UNI. Wohlpart also touted Jean-Maries more than $2 million in funded grants, and her writing. She has co-authored two books, co-edited four others, written many articles and conference presentations. Jean-Marie is currently a professor and chair of the Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation and Organizational Development at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. She has a doctorate in leadership and cultural studies from the University of North Carolina, and a masters degree in criminal justice and a bachelors in political science from Rutgers University. Prior to serving as department chair, Jean-Marie was the program coordinator for educational leadership at the University of Oklahoma. She also has held leadership roles at Florida International University and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Jean-Marie replaces Dwight Watson, who left UNI in May 2015 to become the provost at Southwest Minnesota State University. Victoria Robinson, head of the Department of Educational Leadership and Postsecondary Education, has been serving as the interim dean since Watsons departure. Donald Trumps supporters showed up at the Sheraton on Monday night fully expecting their man to win the Iowa caucuses. And why shouldnt they? Trump had held a lead of varying sizes in 13 of the last 13 polls listed in the RealClearPolitics average of Iowa polls. How could that not win? Months ago, before Trump took the lead in Iowa, a number of analysts argued he wasnt a good fit for the states Republican electorate, made up heavily of voters who describe themselves as born-again evangelical Christians. Then Trump took the lead and in the polls at least fought off challenges from Ben Carson and eventual winner Ted Cruz. So analysts thought Trump might not be so bad a fit after all. But on caucus night, some of Trumps supporters returned to the old bad fit theory to explain Trumps surprise loss. It was the evangelicals, said Dick Stoffer of West Des Moines. Theyve done it before they did it four years before with Santorum, they did it with Huckabee before that. The evangelicals, said Carol Anne Tracy of West Des Moines. Weve got a lot of evangelicals, and I just dont think they felt that (Trump) praised God enough. Its happened before the guy with the biggest Bible wins Iowa, said Ken Crow, a Tea Party activist from Winterset. The caucus results Trump soundly beaten by Cruz, finishing barely ahead of Marco Rubio seemed to confirm another nagging suspicion about the Trump campaign: that it had not paid sufficient attention to turning out its voters. Most of the people at the Trump event had attended caucuses earlier in the evening. At those caucuses, the presiding officer asked whether there was a representative from each campaign present to speak, and, if not, whether anyone attending would like to speak on a particular candidates behalf. At the caucus I attended, in Pleasant Hill, a suburb just east of Des Moines, there was no one to speak for Trump no representative of the campaign and no voter willing to stand up and speak on his behalf. (The precinct ended in a Cruz landslide: 110 votes for the Texas senator, versus 36 for Trump and 34 for Rubio.) At the Sheraton, some Trump supporters had similar stories. We were at a caucus and Trump didnt even have anyone there to speak for him, one man told me. Thats insane, added a man nearby. I was at a caucus, and no one spoke for him there, either, added someone else. I asked everyone I talked to at the Sheraton whether they felt Trump had made any mistakes in the campaign, like deciding not to attend last Thursdays Republican debate. Most felt Trump had made the right call; they werent in the mood to second-guess their candidate. But in light of the caucus results, the debate decision looms as a critical error in judgment for Trump. In the days leading up to the voting, when I talked to voters on the fence between candidates people who could possibly be persuaded to support Trump one thing became clear: everybody watched the debate. It was the only debate held in Iowa, and it took place in the final days of the campaign, when voters who had been reluctant to pay attention months earlier had finally become interested and involved. They all tuned in. And Trump wasnt there. That was the one thing that I thought was a clear mistake, Republican blogger Craig Robinson, a former political director of the state GOP, said in a phone conversation Monday afternoon. With that one decision, Trump undermined a lot of the work he had done in the previous months. The debate decision showed Trumps political instincts could be wrong. But the caucus loss could point to even more serious problems ahead for Trump. A lot of people like Trump and agree with what he has to say. They cheer him on. But as the time to vote approaches, they apply a seriousness test, a test of whether they would trust him in a position of grave responsibility. The difference between Trumps high pre-caucus polls and his underwhelming support in the actual caucus could indicate voters who had supported him for months beforehand began to develop doubts as the time neared to actually cast a ballot. Would it be safe and smart to vote for this guy? Just as fundamentally, Trumps Iowa loss could cast doubt on his unconventional tactics in other states. Trumps strategy is based on a big bet: that because voters are tired of conventional politicians, then they also will be resistant to conventional political appeals. Iowa proved just the opposite. Ted Cruz won a smashing victory by doing things the old-fashioned way, visiting all of Iowas 99 counties, pressing the flesh in gatherings of 100, 150 people, and tailoring his pitch to appeal to concerned evangelicals. That plus a highly sophisticated data operation won the day for Cruz. Trump tried something different, and it didnt work. So Trump now heads to New Hampshire, where, unlike Iowa, his lead in the polls is enormous more than 20 points. Will that lead go away on election day, too? Trumps first encounter with the voters should probably teach him several things. One, never suggest that youve got their support in the bag. Two, show up at the biggest events. And three, do everything you can to turn out your voters. All that will be important. But even more critical will be questions about Trumps judgment and temperament. If Iowans who once supported him did in fact retreat when it came time to enter the voting booth if they did in fact worry he is just not serious enough to become president Trump has a problem that might not be possible to solve. Chili and soup supper date set DUNKERTON The Dunkerton Volunteer Fire Association will host the 2016 chili and soup supper Saturday at the Dunkerton Community Hall. Serving will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Donations will be taken at the door. Breakfast set for Sunday WATERLOO The Knights of Columbus Council 700, 1955 Locke Ave., will serve a breakfast buffet on Sunday. Serving will be from 8 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome. Benefit planned in Waterloo WATERLOO A benefit is being planned for Liz Litzkow from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Izaak Walton League, 5519 E. Washburn Road. On Dec. 2, Litzkow had a brain aneurysm burst. She was hospitalized at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, then was transferred to Covenant Medical Clinic in Waterloo. She endured many complications during her road to recovery. Her family includes her husband, Joe Litzkow, as well as 11 children, five still at home. Donations are being accepted at www.gofundme.com/eym97754. Everyone is welcome to attend. AMVETS to hold steak supper EVANSDALE The Evansdale AMVETS will have a steak supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, with Easy Does It karaoke from 7 to 11 p.m. All-you-can-eat-fish, served with French fries and coleslaw, will be available today from 5 to 7 p.m. or until fish runs out. Church to hold benefit dinner WATERLOO St. Mark Baptist Church, 2024 Clearview St., will have a benefit dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today. The menu consists of choice of ham, fish or chicken entrees, sides, bread and dessert. Cost is $7. People may dine in or carry out. The benefit is for a St. Mark member at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota expected to be there for two months or longer. University Women to meet WATERLOO The American Association of University Women 6038 will meet Monday at the Bridges private dining room. Music Mania: Creative Music will be presented by Kathy Sanborn. Dinner is at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program at 6 p.m. Wartburg film series continues WAVERLY A Wartburg College German-language film series continues Tuesday with a showing of Almanya. The film, which will be screened with English subtitles, begins at 7:15 p.m. in Whitehouse Business Center Room 116. It is the third of four films that will be shown as part of the Crossing Boundaries with German Film series. Students will introduce the films and lead discussions following the viewings. All screenings are free and open to the public. The film series is sponsored by the Wartburg College German Institute and organized by the German and German studies programs. Womens group to hold events PARKERSBURG A-P Womens Connection, sponsored by Stone Croft Ministries, will have its luncheon at 12:30 p.m. Feb. 15, at Parkersburg United Methodist Church on Florence Street. Cost of the meal is $9; call by Feb. 12 for reservations. The event also includes a bake sale and White Elephant sale. Those attending may bring items they no longer need for the white elephant sale. Donations of baked goods items will also be accepted. Proceeds will help finance the Womens Connection group. Lori Mayer of St. Ansgar will speak on Forgiveness: A Beautiful Gift. Special feature will be Janelle Eddy who works with Human Services, and piano music will be provided by Anna Mae Schnucker. On Monday, the group will host a prayer meeting at 9 a.m. at Hope Reformed Church; anyone is welcome. Food aid hotline available WATERLOO The Iowa Food Bank Association, affiliated with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank in Waterloo, recently established the Iowa Food Bank Association hotline. Those asking about food assistance application benefits can talk to a specialist who can provide answers about eligibility and help in completing an application. The Iowa Food Bank Association hotline, (855) 944-3663, is staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with additional assistance provided after hours on high-volume call days. The initiative is part of the Iowa Food Bank Association Outreach program and is made possible through funding from the Wal-Mart Foundation, Feeding America and the U.S. Department of Agriculture through a partnership with the Iowa Department of Human Services. Bosco kindergarten meeting set GILBERTVILLE -- Parents of children entering kindergarten next fall in the Bosco Catholic School System are welcome at a kingergarten parent meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 15 t St. Joseph Church, 313 E. Central St., Raymond. Parents will learn about the school system and meet the teacher. Registration materials will be distributed. UNI plans Black History events CEDAR FALLS -- The University of Northern Iowas Black Student Union will offer numerous events throughout the month to celebrate Black History Month. Some highlights include: An open panel discussion on African Americans in the Workplace with African American professionals from UNI and the Cedar Valley community will take place at 5 p.m. Tuesday in Room 115 in Seerley Hall. The Tunnel of Oppression is set for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17 in the Lang Hall basement classrooms. Each room will show a re-enactment of modern-day oppression of minorities. A trivia night that focuses on the contributions African-Americans have made throughout history will be at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in Room 133 in Sabin Hall. Rasheed Cromwell will be holding a nationally recognized workshop that will challenge traditional thinking and leave participants with an action plan for improving themselves and the diversity experience on campus. This workshop will take place at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Center for Multicultural Education. The Toast for Change, a formal campus celebration acknowledging the positive changes in culture and on the UNI campus, is set for 7 p.m. Feb. 26 in the Commons Ballroom All events are open to the public and free for UNI students, faculty and staff. For more information on any of the events, contact Jada Jackson, president of UNIs Black Student Union, at jada@uni.edu. Power goes out with a boom in C.F. CEDAR FALLS | Some residents of western Cedar Falls may have heard a loud boom Wednesday morning. It was a power outage. About 40 customers were without power for nearly two hours in the Barnett, Fandre and Abraham Drive areas west of Hudson Road near West Fourth Street. when a fuse blew in the area. The cause was a faulted piece of underground primary line crossing Barnett near Fandre Drive. The fuses for the line are on West Fourth Street. The sound of the fuse blowing would sound like an explosion, CFU officials said. CEDAR FALLS Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 904 Bluff St., will host its annual Shrove Tuesday pancake day Tuesday at the church. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m., with all the pancakes you can eat plus sausage and apple sauce. Tickets are $5 for age 10 to adult and free for 9 years and younger. WATERLOO Waterloo First United Methodist Church, 614 Randolph St., will present Jazz Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, featuring Bill Shepherd and the Red Hots Dixieland Jazz Band The event also includes a pancake and sausage breakfast served at 10:30 a.m. offering all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage and beverages. Suggested cost is a $5 freewill offering for anyone older than 12. Proceeds will go toward 2016 vacation Bible school. WATERLOO Community Southern Baptist Church, 522 Anthony St., will celebrate its 39th church anniversary Feb. 13 and 14. There will be a special worship service at 1 p.m. Feb. 13, featuring the Rev. Lovie Caldwell of Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church and the Rev. Michael Roberts, director of great Rivers Southern Baptist Association, as speakers. Pilgrims Rest Choir and a community mass choir will present the music. There will be a fellowship meal served after the worship services on Saturday; there is no cost for the meal. The anniversary event will close out with a worship service at 11 a.m. Feb. 14, with the Rev. Stephen Stevens, assistant pastor at Community and interim pastor at Shiloh Southern Baptist Church speaking. Community mass choir will perform music. Everyone is welcome. The Rev. Ted Keys is pastor. CEDAR FALLS Riverview Womens Ministry is hosting the My Transparent Heart Valentine Tea for single women (bachelorette, divorced or widowed) from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Bethany Bible Chapel, 4507 Rownd St. Kimberly Bindel, music director/midday host at Life101.9, will share her personal story. Darla Eltjes Erskine will present the music. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased through Wednesday. Tickets are available at Riverview Conference Center, 439 N. Division St., calling the office at 268-0787, emailing riverviewcc@gmail.com, or by sending a check to attention: Julie. For more information, go to riverviewministries.com. WATERLOO Agnus Dei Ministry will present Lenten Lessons and Prayers: A Musical Journey with Christ at several churches in the area in February and March. The program includes a combination of inspirational music and Scripture depicting the life, passion, and death of Jesus. The schedule includes: Feb. 14 4 p.m., Orchard Hill Church, 3900 Orchard Hill Drive, Cedar Falls Feb. 19 7:30 p.m., Blessed Sacrament Church, 650 Stephen Ave. Feb. 21 3 p.m., St. Mary Church, 2700 Horton Road, Waverly Feb. 28 2 p.m., Holy Name Catholic Church, 128 North Walnut St., West Union March 6 3 p.m., St. Mary Church, 9 West Linn St., Marshalltown March 20 6 p.m., St. Edward Church, 1423 Kimball Ave. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, go to www.waterloocatholics.org/agnus-dei-ministry. Oops, sorry - we couldn't find this article. More from Weatherology... By West Kentucky Star Staff Feb. 03, 2016 | 01:02 PM | BENTON, KY A Marshall County man heard gunshots near his house on Tuesday, and it led to another man's arrest. The Marshall County Sheriff's Department was called to Hall Drive near Calvert City after a man said someone was firing a rifle in the direction of his home. He told deputies that one bullet ricocheted off the ground and hit a building on his side of the road. When deputies spoke to 24-year-old Marcus R. Brennan of Calvert City, and he told them he did shoot a rifle, but didn't know it was illegal. Brennan was arrested and charged with 1st degree wanton endangerment. 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Carmi. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll reach for your mouse to click back to Google. But you'll be intrigued. And you'll feel compelled to return following your next bowl of oatmeal. With brown sugar. And milk. If youre looking to try out an online casino, there are several things that will help you make a decision. Heres what you should look for when choosing an online casino Are they regulated? A lot of the larger ones have licenses issued by the authorities in their respective regions, so its worth checking this first. Do they offer games from different software providers? Some casinos just use one software provider and limit your selection. This is fine if you like playing those types of games but you may want to check other casinos as well. What does their payout percentage look like? The payout rate refers to how much money you can expect to win after every bet. A high payout rate means youll be able to play more often without having to worry about losing all your money. Its also important to know the minimum and maximum bets allowed on each game. If youre going to play roulette, for example, then you probably dont want a casino with a minimum bet of less than $2.50 or even lower than that. The players used to play the game slot online in the land based casinos in the past time. But now with time after the invention of the online casinos players play the game slot online. Online platform provide the players with the convenience in playing and even better winning. Even after keeping a good percentage of the profits, they distribute good funds to players. How many games do they offer? There are lots of different types of games to choose from. Roulette, blackjack and poker are some of the most popular options, but you might find slots, video pokers, video bingo and others as well. You can usually filter these games down to only show the ones that interest you best, so make sure that your list isnt too long! Is there a bonus offer? Many online casinos offer free bonuses as part of their welcome package which includes new players being awarded 100% up to $10 instantly, for example. These offers are great but not everyone has access to them all the time (and some require you to deposit real money). If youd prefer to avoid paying a fee, some casinos offer no-deposit bonuses where you can get a certain amount of funds before you need to put any actual money into the account. These are usually offered alongside welcome bonuses, so make sure you read both parts of the terms and conditions carefully before signing up. Does it offer live dealer games? Live dealers are much preferred by many over regular virtual versions, so it pays to check this option out too. Most online casinos now offer live dealer games in addition to their regular offerings, allowing you to experience the thrill of the real thing without needing to leave home. Now that youve got an idea of what to look for when choosing an online casino, heres some tips for making the right choice It really comes down to personal preference. No two people are exactly alike, so everyone has an opinion on what they like and dislike about each casino. That said, here are some things to consider in order to narrow down your choices Popularity. Check out reviews, forums and Facebook pages to see what other people think of the casino. Also, ask around at work or friends houses who they would recommend to you. You could always take a look at the casinos website too, to see what kind of information they provide about themselves. Reputation. Find out what the general public thinks about the casino. Check out any customer reviews on sites like Trustpilot, Amazon and Google Play to find out more. As far as gaming goes, you can also check out the Better Business Bureau to see whether there have been any complaints against the casino. Security. Make sure the casino uses SSL encryption to secure its transactions, meaning that your private data stays safe during transactions. Other than that, look for security seals on the site itself and verify that theyre legitimate. You can also check out the casinos privacy policy to see how they handle confidential information. Payment methods. Its good to have multiple payment options available, especially if you plan to play frequently. Its also nice to find a casino that accepts cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. If youre worried about safety, you can always opt for a credit card or PayPal instead. With all those criteria in mind, heres our top picks Betway: Betway is a relatively new UK casino offering online gambling to residents of the United Kingdom and European Union. They offer hundreds of games across both land based and digital platforms, with plenty of top software providers like Net Entertainment, Microgaming and Yggdrasil Gaming Network. With a generous welcome offer that gives players 100% up to 100, you really cant go wrong with Betway. Coral Casino: Coral Casino is operated by the same company that runs the famous Caribbean casino, Grand Reef. Like many casinos, Coral Casino offers a wide variety of games, including plenty of video slots and table games. New players can benefit from a huge 100% match bonus up to 1000, while existing customers enjoy 25% cash back on deposits made within 48 hours of opening an account. Ladbrokes Casino: Ladbrokes Casino is owned by the same company as the famous bookmaker that started life in 1921. With more than 500 games from leading software providers such as Amaya, NetEnt and Microgaming, you wont be disappointed by the quality of the games here. New players get a 200% match bonus up to 500, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits. Paddy Power Casino: Paddy Power is another Irish-owned casino that operates throughout Europe. Not only does Paddy Power Casino offer traditional casino games like blackjack, roulette and slots, but it also provides a full range of sports betting, including football, tennis, boxing and horse racing. New players can receive a massive 100% match bonus up to 200, while existing customers can claim 35% cashback on their first three deposits. William Hill Casino: William Hill Casino is one of the biggest names in the industry, operating in Europe, Asia and North America. Founded in 1984, this online casino has more than 400 games to choose from, including slots and table games, with a wide array of software providers like WagerLogic, Big Time Gaming and Rival. Bonus: 100% Match Bonus up to 100 Register Now Betway: 100% Match Bonus up to 100 Claim Now Coral Casino: 25% Cash Back on Deposits Claim Now Ladbrokes Casino: 35% Cash Back on First 3 Deposits Claim Now Paddy Power Casino: 100% Match Bonus up to 200 Claim Now William Hill Casino: 100% Match Bonus up to 200 Claim Now If youre interested in trying out an online casino but arent quite ready to commit to one, why not try out one of the many no deposit casinos weve reviewed? You can test drive various casinos completely risk-free, so you can feel confident about your choice before you make a single penny deposit. 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Though the construction, or I should say the 3D printing, of the Landscape House has not yet started, Ruijssenaars has made a 3D printed bench reminiscent of his buildings design, which will be unveiled today, February 4th, 2016, in Amsterdam. The 3D printed benchs design possesses the same signature curves and MC Escher-like style that make the design for the Landscape House so special and is in actuality based on a 1:15 scale model of the building. Ruijssenaars and his architecture firm Universe Architecture, which he founded in 2000, are in talks with the city of Amsterdam to produce more 3D printed benches to disperse around the city. For now, the existing 3D printed bench will be stationed outside of European construction group BAMs office in the southeast of Amsterdam. BAM is collaborating with Universe Architecture to realize the 3D printed Landscape House. In addition to the bench being presented, Ruijssenaars and his team will also be working on creating a smaller scale model of the 3D printed house, which will allow interested parties and investors to see what the actual house will eventually look like. Ruijssenaar explains of the model they will be 3D printing, It does not have the full dimensions of the building, but with about four meters it is already large enough for a child to walk up. The model of the Landscape House will be additively manufactured starting in March 2016 at a venue in Amsterdam where other 3D printing experiments and projects will be underway as part of the EU 2016 summit. The 3D printer used to manufacture the model will be shipped from Italy. architect Janjaap Ruijssenaars In his original plans, Ruijssenaars planned to 3D print the actual Landscape House using a large scale 3D printer called D-Shape, which was developed by Italian inventor Enrico Dini. The house was to be constructed in 6x9 meter 3D printed blocks made out of a composite sand and inorganic binder material. While the construction has not yet been realized, Ruijssenaar compares his process to that of Spanish architect Gaudis famously unfinished Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona, and states that the new target for having the Landscape House finished will be next year, in 2017. For now, however, the 3D printed bench, which bears Amsterdams iconic three Xs, can be visited and sat upon until the 3D printed house comes to fruition. This is just one of Amsterdams exciting 3D printing installations, others include a 3D printed canal bridge, the 3D printed Europe Building erected for the Dutch presidency of the European Union, and the ongoing 3D printed canal house. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Feb 5, 2016 | By Benedict Think the ocean is the last place youd find a massive collection of 3D printed technology? Think again, because researchers from two Lisbon universities have developed a swarm of intelligent 3D printed aquatic surface robots for use in a real-world environment. These 3D printed robots could be deployed in their hundreds or even thousands and could be used for environmental monitoring, search and rescue, and maritime surveillance. These swarms of 3D printed aquatic androids are not individually controlled, but react to other machines in a group, becoming more and more autonomous as they interact with one another. To develop this special robotic collectivity, researchers from the Institute of Telecommunications at University Institute of Lisbon and University of Lisbon looked to nature for inspiration. Evolutionary algorithms which mimic Darwinian evolution have been used to generate artificial intelligence in each 3D printed bot, a low-maintenance and technologically impressive substitute for the individual control of each device. Each 3D printed droid is hooked up to an artificial neural network or artificial brain that allows the robots to act autonomously. The team responsible for their creation has already demonstrated the power of the swarm, with groups of up to ten machines used to perform tasks such as area monitoring, navigation to waypoint, aggregation, and dispersion. Building a swarm of anythinglet alone one of intelligent 3D printed water robotsmay seem like an expensive task, but the Lisbon researchers have managed to keep costs at a minimum by using 3D printing and widely available off-the-shelf components. Each robot costs around 300 ($335) to build, with the hull made from CNC-machined polystyrene foam and fitted with 3D printed components. Just like sailors of yore, each robot is equipped with a compass, as well as more modern GPS technology, a Raspberry Pi 2 which houses its artificial brain, and Wi-Fi capability for communicating with its neighbors. Swarm robotics is a paradigm shift: we rely on many small, simple and inexpensive robots, instead of a single or a few large, complex and expensive robots, said Dr. Anders Christensen, principal investigator on the project. Controlling a large-scale swarm of robots cannot be done centrally. Each robot must decide for itself how to carry out the mission, and coordinate with its neighbors. The researchers are now working on the second generation of their cooperative swimming gizmos, which will be equipped with more advanced sensors and be suitable for long-haul operations. Swarms of aquatic robots such as those developed in Lisbon could be used to replace manned vessels for various maritime missions, especially those which put crew members in danger. If all goes swimmingly with the second generation of 3D printed robots, our oceans could soon be densely populated with these clever little devices. A video demonstration of the swarm (below) has been nominated for the Best Robot Video Award at the AAAI video competition. A pre-print of the study is available to read on arXiv. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Michelle Dean at The New Republic: Another sort of book should be written on Lowell and the women in his life. It would not spend as much time on the mother and the wives as Meyerss does, but would be forced to reckon with Elizabeth Bishop. Bishop and Lowell were both tortured people, occasionally suicidal, and seasoned alcoholics. But they met through their work, and their relationship was primarily intellectual and epistolary. The correspondence between them was published in 2008 as Words in Air, which is among a certain sort of reader a talismanic book. They advised each other on their poems; they discussed the greats of their time (Marianne Moore, John Berryman) and of the past (Emily Dickinson, Gerard Manley Hopkins). The book has the magic quality that poets letters often havethe ratio of meaning to language is high, which gives their observations, flirtations, and arguments a near-cinematic quality. The playwright Sarah Ruhl loved them so much she turned them into a play, Dear Elizabeth. Meyers gives the whole Lowell-Bishop friendship just a few pages, which is difficult to justify even in a book restricted to Lowells loves. Not least because Lowell was, at one time, in love with Bishop. He said so himself. The correspondence reaches a romantic crescendo early on, when Lowell in a letter dated August 15, 1957 admits to Bishop that hed once wanted to marry her, and in fact had assumed they would marry. Things had almost come to a head in the summer of 1948 when they were sitting on a rock, looking out at the ocean from the coast of Maine. When you write my epitaph, Bishop told him then, you must say I am the loneliest person that ever lived. more here. VDL ETG Appointed as Major Area Demo Expert Canberra, Feb 5, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Dyesol Ltd ( ASX:DYE ) ( DYSOY:OTCMKTS ), global leader in the development and commercialisation of Perovskite Solar Cells (PSC), is delighted to announce that it has appointed VDL Enabling Technologies Group (VDL ETG) to assist in the development of a Major Area Demonstration Prototype. The 1st Phase contract involves a specialist engineering study resulting in the preparation of a Feasibility & Functional Specification for Perovskite Major Area Demonstrator development. This phase will be conducted over a 4 month period commencing immediately. It is expected that on the successful completion of the initial study this will be followed by a 2nd Phase, Design and Engineering and 3rd Phase, Realisation. The 3 phase project is expected to be completed in the 1st half of 2017. Dyesol considers the manufacture of a Major Area Demonstration Prototype as a critical step in the successful scale-up and commercialisation of its revolutionary 3rd generation Perovskite Solar Cell PV (PSC PV) technology. The prototypes are expected to be of a size and performance comparable with existing PV panels. However, their projected cost and versatility of application are expected to be superior. This will ultimately translate into a lower Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE), an essential attribute for the successful displacement of traditional or fossil-fuel sources of electricity. The Major Area Demonstration Prototype project is being supervised by Mr Sung Il Lee, Head of Glass, and the prototypes will be used for accreditation, demonstration, validation and product showcasing. The commercialisation schedule above indicates that the prototyping is expected to lead to the establishment of a pilot line and ultimately mass manufacture. Subject to commercial contract, VDL ETG and its associate companies have formed the intention to work with Dyesol over the longer term and at the various stages of the scale-up of production. The VDL Group is excited by the potential scope and scale of the technology. Richard Caldwell, Managing Director, remarked: "The appointment of VDL is the result of a rigorous, world-wide and uncompromising search to engage with a first-class engineering partner. VDL has the expertise to assist in the delivery of a large scale prototype which we believe will help establish Perovskite Solar Cell PV as a highly competitive solar technology. We first were introduced to VDL through our engagement with Solliance and have been impressed with their engineering process skills and knowledge. The phasing out of fossil fuels as the principal source of electricity is not a matter of if, but when." The terms and conditions of the contract are commercial-in-confidence. About Greatcell Solar Limited Greatcell Solar Limited (ASX:GSL) (OTCMKTS:DYSOY) is a global leader in the development and commercialisation of Perovskite Solar Cell (PSC) technology 3rd Generation photovoltaic technology that can be applied to glass, metal, polymers or cement. Greatcell Solar Limited manufactures and supplies high performance materials and is focussed on the successful commercialisation of PSC photovoltaics. It is a publicly listed company: Australian Securities Exchange ASX (GSL) and German Open Market (D5I). Learn more at our website and subscribe to our mailing list in English and German. IMGCAP(1)] Rea & Associates, a regional accounting and business consulting, recently announced that 16 college interns have joined its ranks just in time for the 2016 tax season. However, in addition to regular tax work, interns program will have the opportunity to assist on assurance and bookkeeping projects. Our goal is to ensure that all participants receive a premier accounting internship experience, said Renee West, the firms human resources generalist, in a statement. West explains that each participant of the program will work directly with their office manager to complete a specialized Intern Action Plan, which will help ensure that they have an interesting, structured and enlightening experience specific to their interests and talents. The internship team recently attended an orientation program in Dover, Ohio, which allowed them to meet the firms leadership team and gain a better understanding of the firm and the various areas to focus on when embarking on a public accounting career. Rea & Associates operates 11 offices across the state of Ohio. This years spring interns and their offices are as follows: Lane McCartney, Cambridge Cole Reynolds, Dublin Andrew DiModica and Seth Wierwille, Lima Daniel Cooper, Marietta Matt Gardner, Medina Staci Lauer and Ryan Scott, Mentor Brenner Lewis and Audrey Metzger, Millersburg Jesse Kandel and Samantha Troxell, New Philadelphia Michael Graff, Jordan Gray and Kealey Moore, Wooster Kade Haddox, Zanesville Reas spring internship program began Jan. 2 and will conclude on April 22. Recruitment for Reas 2017 internship program will begin in August. Interested parties can submit a resume and letter of interest to human.resource@reacpa.com In a major study released today by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, scientists identify a climactic mechanism that increasingly appears to be blocking the kinds of storms that carry the most rain and snow from reaching California and the Southwest. From NCARs press release: For the study, the researchers analyzed 35 years of data to identify common weather patternsarrangements of high and low pressure systems that determine where its likely to be sunny and clear or cloudy and wet, among other things. They identified a dozen patterns that are typical for the weather activity in the contiguous United States and then looked to see whether those patterns were becoming more or less frequent. The weather types that are becoming more rare are the ones that bring a lot of rain to the southwestern United States, [researcher Andreas] Prein said. Because only a few weather patterns bring precipitation to the Southwest, those changes have a dramatic impact.' Prein said that the nature of drought itself has changed in our region. From Climate Centrals story by Brian Kahn: Nowadays, the droughts are not the same as 30 years ago. They can be more intense and last longer than we would expect 30 years ago, Prein said. While Prein did not look directly at whether the current drying was driven by climate change or natural forces, the main climatic driver is an increase in high pressure in the northeast Pacific Ocean that essentially steers stormy weather away from the region. (You might recall a feature called the ridiculously resilient ridge doing something similar and driving the California drought. Thats kinda whats happening in the Southwest.) Maybe a high pressure ridging pattern that looks something like this? Not really what we want to see during severe #CAdrought @ climatological peak of wet season:big W. Coast ridge.#CAwxpic.twitter.com/CbFiGplmOF Daniel Swain (@Weather_West) February 5, 2016 That reddish high pressure area is sure to block all of California from the kind of low pressure systems that bring us water in the winter for at least the next week. The meteorological map was posted by Stanford researcher Daniel Swain, the man who first identified and named the ridiculously resilient ridge. But most ominous of all, another study from 2015 found an 80% chance that we will soon find ourselves in a megadrought. Alarmingly, yesterday Prein suggested that were already in one. We see a very intense trend in the Southwest, Andreas Prein, a postdoctoral researcher at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, said. The Southwest might already have drifted into a drier climate state. //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Hansa Cequity, Indias first customer marketing company has released today its latest report on Impact of Loyalty Programs on Consumer Behaviour. The report highlights the increasing number of members enrolling in a loyalty program in the retail sector followed by banking and e-commerce. The report was released at The Loyalty Summit held in Mumbai on February 3rd and 4th, 2016. As per a nation-wide survey conducted by Hansa Cequity to rank more than 75 loyalty programs (carefully chosen to represent nine diverse sectors) age has been a significant factor especially in the airline, health and beauty and fuel loyalty program enrolments. Airline and fuel loyalty programs were more popular among the higher age group (4659) whereas health and beauty sector loyalty programs have high penetration in the 1824 age group. The survey also revealed that respondents of age group 60 and above have higher penetration index in the hospitality and jewellery loyalty programs. Interestingly, 78% respondents of this survey also were the members of at least one loyalty program. Moreover, over half of the respondents belonged to one or more customer loyalty programs of competing businesses. The survey also revealed that the respondents had a good understanding of the purpose of a customer loyalty program. In addition it was found that though membership to these loyalty programs did influence the purchasing behaviour positively but the basic facilities like parking, store ambience, staff behaviour etc. are far more important. The most critical factors in achieving customer loyalty were product quality (73%) and variety of choices (58%), followed by prices and discounts (51%) and store ambience (38%). Consumers were influenced to join and use the customer loyalty programs mainly by the rewards and benefits offered. Furthermore, it was found that customers tend to favour programs offering instant gratification in terms of either discounts or points redemption. Commenting on the survey findings for the report, S Swaminathan, CEO and Co-founder, Hansa Cequity, said, In India, currently mobile and digital is driving the proliferation of loyalty programs. As the research reveals, the challenge for companies is not to entice customers to a loyalty program but engage and build an experience for them. It is imperative for companies should adopt a more customer experience-driven model in order to retain the edge of differentiation in its loyalty program. Companies need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach and opt for more analytics-driven, contextual marketing approach. Adding to the same, Ajay Kelkar, COO and Co-founder, Hansa Cequity said, Customers today exhibit a more polygamy behaviour towards loyalty programs. Consumers are now viewing loyalty as a relationship with a brand and not just as a way to get returns. To develop a robust loyalty culture in the market brands need to look at assigning its loyalty program to a senior level evangelist who will not only own but also drive it. ADFEST is pleased to announce that Ben Welsh, Creative Chairman of M&C Saatchi Asia, is joining this years festival to present a session titled: Innovation & Creativity and why Asia is well placed to excel. Welsh will kick off his session by explaining the success of Clever Buoy, a shark-detection device created for Optus by M&C Saatchi in Sydney, which has taken the world by storm. With two more innovations in production, Welsh believes agencies are now delving into new territory as innovators, not just creators. I dont work in tech, nor venture capital, R&D or anything like that. I work in an advertising agency. So how come an advertising agency is rated one of Australias most innovative companies? In my talk I will ponder the relationship between innovation and creativity, what they have in common and where they differ. Ill talk about the work we have been doing at M&C Saatchi to illustrate these points, says Welsh. I used to say creativity and innovation are the same. Now, while I think they have much in common, they are siblings rather than twins same parents, with a lot of similarities but many differences too. I intend to go on to explore innovation in Asia its proud past and exciting future. And, based on my limited experience of the region, Ill stick my neck out and say why Asian agencies are well placed to innovate, despite a few cultural hurdles. Before stepping into a new role as Creative Chairman of M&C Saatchi Asia last year, Welsh was Executive Creative Director at M&C Saatchi in Sydney, which was voted Australias second most innovative company at the BRW Awards, 2014. At M&C Saatchi, Sydney, he helped the agency win clients, awards, accolades and Agency of The Year titles including back-to-back B&T Agency of The Year titles in 2014 and 2015 and Campaign Asias Australia/NZ Creative Agency of the Year for 2015. Originally a copywriter, Welsh still loves writing, but more often these days hes busy leading, nurturing, defending, advocating and guiding ideas, strategy, the way the region works you name it. Hes judged Cannes, D&AD, LIA and more, and will attend ADFEST this year as Jury President, Film Lotus and Radio Lotus. Innovation & Creativity and why Asia is well placed to excel will take place on Friday 18th March 2016 at 4.45pm. Minnesota military members greet Wounded Warrior Staff Sgt. Taylor Savage, who spent months at a medical care center in Minnesota while recovering from injuries she suffered when her vehicle was destroyed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, is greeted by nearly 100 members of the 133rd Airlift Wing to see her off on her return flight to Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Jan. 27, 2016. Savage and her mother needed transportation assistance from the hotel to the aircraft upon leaving Minnesota because she had to be transported by stretcher. Members throughout the 133rd AW teamed up to help pack her things, transport her and her belongings, and get her on a flight back home. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Lynette Olivares) Carter talks budget, readiness with Nellis community Defense Secretary Ash Carter visited Nellis Air Force Base Feb. 4, during the last leg of his defense budget installation visits. After meeting with service members at the California-based Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Carter spoke to Nellis Airmen to preview the fiscal year 2017 defense budget and discuss its impact on the Air Force. "The key is readiness; that's the key to the Air Force today and tomorrow, and it happens here," Carter said. "What I'm asking the Air Force to do ... is maintain a very high level of readiness, and that you get from Nellis. "This is the only test range where you can bring it all together -- not only all the kinds of aircraft you see on the ramps out there, but the satellites you don't see and the cyber (activity) you don't see. In today's world, all of that is brought together only here at Nellis, so it's an enormously important installation. That is reflected in our budget, where we're adding $1 billion more for training of this kind over the next five years. That's going to support no fewer than 34 major exercises." The defense secretary spoke about attaining a lasting defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, while also ensuring the department is ready for potential conflict with higher-end adversaries and more technologically advanced threats in the future. Carter said the men and women of the Air Force -- like the ones he visited earlier in the day at the 66th Rescue Squadron and 823rd Maintenance Squadron -- will be the keys to the direction the Defense Department plans to take the service in the future. "We are adding funds to the Air Force budget to grow manpower in the maintenance area because we need more maintainers, given the high-operations tempo, to keep our aircraft ready," Carter said. "We're doing all this at the same time that we are modernizing the Air Force, so you'll see in the future new aircraft here on the ramp. "You'll see, shortly, the KC-46 (Pegasus) and one day maybe you'll see -- but maybe we won't show -- a new bomber, and there's other things you also won't see because we like to have some surprises for potential adversaries," he continued. On his way to depart the base, Carter noticed a C-5 Galaxy where Airmen were coming off the aircraft, returning from deployment. So, he took a 20-minute detour to personally welcome home every returning Airman. "It's indicative that at his last moment on the ramp, when he realized there were Airmen returning, he delayed his departure and said let's go meet those Airmen. Those Airmen had no idea, they just flew back from their (area of responsibility), climbed off the plane, and here's the secretary of defense welcoming them back," said Maj. Gen. Jay Silveria, the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander. "As he said, he supports us 1,000 percent." Eligible active-duty officers can apply for intermediate and senior developmental education opportunities beginning in February.Officer nominations, with senior rater endorsements, will be accepted beginning Feb. 8 and are due to the Air Force Personnel Center no later than March 14."There are many opportunities available to those interested in taking the next step to grow personally and professionally," said Kris Hunter, the AFPC Developmental Education deputy chief.Intermediate programs include the Air Command and Staff College, sister service schools, international schools, a variety of fellowship programs and more.Senior programs include Air Force and defense fellowships, Army War College, sister service schools, National Defense University programs, international schools and more."The eligibility requirements vary depending on the program, so we encourage applicants to carefully review force development information available on the myPers website prior to applying," Hunter said.The selection results will be announced in October 2016.Civilian Developmental Education and Civilian Strategic Leadership Program nomination information is projected to be released in March.For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to the myPers website . Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website Campbell to lawmakers: Afghanistan not a short-term problem The situation is extremely complex in Afghanistan, but one simple truth is that 2016 cannot be a repeat of 2015, Army Gen. John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee Feb. 4. Campbell, the commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the Taliban were emboldened by the U.S. withdrawal and the concomitant reduction in close air support. The Taliban have fought the Afghan security forces very tough, and we cant let that happen as we move forward, he said. Campbell told the committee that the current plan, which calls for a reduction in U.S. service members in the country to 5,500 by Jan. 1, 2017 -- would limit the train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan. The 5,500 plan was developed primarily around counterterrorism, he said. There is very limited train, advise and assist (funding) in those numbers. "To continue to build on the Afghan security forces, the gaps and seams in aviation, logistics, intelligences, as I've talked about, wed have to make some adjustments to that number, he said. Prepare, adjust Campbell said he is, of course, prepared to pare U.S. numbers in Afghanistan to 5,500 -- from about 9,800 -- by the end of the year. I believe the right thing to do is to prepare to go to 5,500 as I am ordered, but at the same time take a look at conditions on the ground, look at the capabilities not the number -- and to provide those adjustments to my military leadership, and then make those adjustments to the capabilities, he said. If we don't have the capabilities, or if the assumptions that we made for the 5,500 plan don't come out true, then of course, we have to make those adjustments, he added. Any adjustments would have to be made early this year, Campbell said, and preferably before summer. Campbell stressed that Afghanistan is not a short-term problem and that it must be viewed in years. NATO and partner nations need time to prepare troops and equipment for deployment, he explained. A five-year cycle gives them the ability to plan, to resource, Campbell said. Again, any budget one year at a time is very, very hard to do. So I think NATO's completely on board with that. All the countries continue to provide the assistance that they pledged at the Chicago 2012 conference. Again, the United States is the biggest contributor, but the NATO countries continue to provide and have done so. In addition to internal training requirements, the general said a long-term commitment also serves to give confidence to the Afghan government and people. It sends a message to Pakistan, it sends a message to the Taliban, and it sends a message to NATO, Campbell said. Talking those kind of terms, conditions based on the ground, is the way we need to move forward to enable the Afghans to have a predictability and stability. The Libyan rivals who endorsed the Political Dialogue Agreement are meeting Thursday in Skhirat, Morocco, to form a new cabinet after the previous cabinet was rejected by Libyas internationally-recognized law body; the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR.) The first cabinet proposed by Prime Minister-designate Faiez Serraj was rejected last month by a majority of HoR members who deemed the 32-member cabinet too large and called on Serrajs team to cut it down. The HoR also criticized an article of the Dialogue agreement which vests the Presidency Council with the authority to name countrys top security and military officials. Head of the UN mission in Libya Martin Kobler warned however that HoR has no authority to make changes to the agreement. Formation of the unity government is highly expected. Members of Global Coalition against the Islamic State that held a meeting in Rome this week called on Libyans to facilitate the formation of the Government of National Accord (GNA); the sole solution for Libya to tackle its numerous challenges and more importantly to fight IS group which is expanding and sowing havoc across the country. The EU also urged on Wednesday the protagonists to support a broad-based unity government or face the prospect of more chaos. Besides, in face of the IS groups growing expansion and threats, Libyas friends led by the US are seriously considering military intervention against the terrorist group. However Frances Laurent Fabius Tuesday indicated that France will not take part in a military intervention in Libya adding that for the moment Paris is only concerned about how to help Libyans form a unity government. British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond also ruled out at the Rome gathering sending British troops to Libya to combat the spread of the Islamic State, saying he does not think that putting combat troops on the ground is a helpful contribution. According to him, What the Libyans need is strategic organization, command and control, and air-gathered intelligence. IS made giant advances last year, seizing in June late Col. Gaddafis hometown Sirte and conquering other vast regions including the Libyan coastal territories enabling it to indulge more into migrant trafficking. King Mohammed VI of Morocco arrived on Thursday evening in Laayoune, the main city of the Saharan Provinces in southern Morocco. The king flew to Laayoune immediately after he inaugurated the first plant of the Ouarzazate solar complex (Noor I), and the official launch of the construction works of the second and third plant of this megaproject (Noor II and Noor III). This is King Mohammed VIs second visit to the Sahara in less than three months, after he visited the region on November 6 of last year to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Green March. The King is due to chair a Council of Ministers on Friday in Laayoune. During this meeting, the Monarch will approve the appointment of new Moroccan Ambassadors to several foreign capitals. Thereafter, he is expected to inaugurate and launching socio-economic projects that he had initiated last November on the 40th anniversary of the Green March Britain on Friday said it would contest a United Nations panel opinion that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was a victim of arbitrary detention and said the computer hacker would be arrested if he left the embassy. This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion, a government spokesman said. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy, the spokesman said. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the UN panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, though the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assanges favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, the groups head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. (It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Sweden said it has no such plans. The CBI on Friday asked a special MCOCA court to order deported mafia don Rajendra S Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan to provide his voice samples for the probe in the journalist J Dey murder case of 2011. At a hearing in the special court where the mafia don was produced via video-link from Delhis Tihar Jail, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) prosecutor Bharat Badami informed special judge SS Adkar that first, Chhota Rajan had given his consent for the voice test, but later refused it. Ar this, Adkar asked the mafia dons lawyer Anshuman Sinha to file his reply and the matter is likely to be taken up on February 11. Badami further said that an audio recording of the telephonic talks between Chhata Rajan and another person had been submitted to the court by the Mumbai police and they wanted to compare it with the voice of the mafia don. He also sought more time for investigating the murder as the CBI may required help of certain external agencies like Interpol since the mafia don was out of India for a long period. The CBI has also urged a forensic test of the mobile phone, two laptops and one computer hard-disk owned by the late Dey at the CFSL, New Delhi for retrieval of the deleted data. Fridays hearing followed the special courts permission granted to CBI on January 19 permitting it to question the mafia don for 10 days starting January 27. A veteran crime reporter and investigations editor, Dey was shot dead near his home in Powai on June 11, 2011, by four assailants who came on motorbikes. The murder, committed allegedly at Chhota Rajans behest was committed near the DMart in the Hiranandani Complex, where Dey was also riding his bike. Chhota Rajan was nabbed from Bali Airport in Indonesia on October 25 last year and later deported to India. Besides the Dey murder case, he is facing another 70 serious cases and the Maharashtra government subsequently handed over all the cases to the CBI. I was listening to debate on television where I learnt that Hema Malini has been granted land at nominal rates by Maharashtra government for starting a dance school. An RTI query recently revealed that Malini allegedly violated the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act by destroying mangroves on a plot previously given to her at Versova, for which a notice was served to her in 1998. The Congress had demanded the state government to cancel the land allotted to Hema Malini. The government is likely to cancel the rule that allows land allotment at concessional rates. How distorted are our priorities? In the same programme, participants were discussing that there is only one toilet seat for 600 people residing in certain areas of Mumbai. All of us can see that there is dearth of parking space for private vehicles and taxis in the city. Several families are living on the foot path. I shall request the government not to be star struck but allot land for more deserving causes pertaining to health and sanitation. Nowadays people are debating a lot about intolerance as even actors and politicians have expressed their opinion about it. One cant hear such type of words in developed countries like Japan and Germany and Scandinavian countries. Another bad aspect which is happening in our society is that we are enjoying an excess of democracy with almost zero responsibility. I have been pleading that citizens must be enrolled for compulsory national service atleast for limited period but the Home Ministry is just not bothered. It is very necessary to instill a sense of responsibility and discipline in our citizens. We are engaged in too much worthless debate on television. The quality of our TV programs is very poor. Some channels are owned by vested interests and hence the quality of the content is compromised for garnering TRPs. Recently, I heard one Mahantji saying that if ladies visit temples for praying without seeking permission of husband, they will become widows soon. There is some good news too. Some well qualified ladies have become sarpanch of gram sabha. Gram sabhas and gram panchayats must be empowered. District Collector must regularly visit villages for promoting education and agricultural activities. The work of District magistrates needs to be highlighted. Water and electricity are two aspects that need constant attention. Providing adequate and clean drinking water to citizens is necessary. There are reports about a new virus which is spreading through unprotected/ unhygienic sex. Our health authorities must remain alert. The government must take steps to control the rising population which has become a huge cause of concern. Health, sanitation, education, nutrition etc. are fundamental requirements and we must allocate valuable land for such purposes first. (The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.) Mohsin is act as a financer and provided money to four youths from Uttarakhand to carry out Terror activities, who were arrested last month. The Delhi Police Special Cell has arrested suspected ISIS operative Mohsin from Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal. The accused Mohsin Abraham Sayeed, a resident of Malad is reportedly an associate of the four alleged terrorists arrested from Uttarakhand last month for planning a terror strike. When security officials nabbed Mohsin he was carrying Rs. 85,000. He is accused of providing money to four youths from Uttarakhand who were arrested last month. Sayeeds arrest takes the number of IS suspects arrested by Delhi Police to five. Earlier the NIA and state police forces had launched a massive crackdown to nab 13 ISIS sympathisers across the country prior to Republic Day celebrations. The arrested ISIS sympathiser was trying to reach Syria the stronghold of the dreaded terrorist organisation. We arrested IS suspect Mohsin Abrahim on a tip-off and recovered Rs. 85,000 from his possession. His age is around 26 years and he resides in Malad. The money was purportedly channelised through Hawala route, Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep said. Sayeed is a muezzin at Malad and had come to Delhi to meet an associate, an officer in the Special Cell said. He was produce in court where court has remanded in police custody till February 10. Sayeed informed the police that he was himself planning to visit Syria and had also given Rs 50,000 to one Iqlaq to arrange for his passport, Visa and tickets. He said that he wanted to join the IS camps to fight for the Islamic state. During questioning Mohsin revealed that he was radicalised by the Islamic literature available online. He also interacted with some persons on internet. He was made to go through some texts and speeches after which he owed his allegiance to the outfit, police sources said. According to police, Sayeed, who is believed to be self- radicalised, was acting as a financier and had given Rs. 50,000 to the four persons who were arrested earlier. All of them were found to have links with a former Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist who later went to fight for ISIS, the police said. The arrested persons were allegedly in contact with a former IM operative, who later went for training in Syria and is presently believed to be a key member of Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT) which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the police said. Last month, the police had arrested Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Mohammed Osama, Mohammed Azim Shah and Mehroz from Manglour, in Haridwar. They were planning to carry out terror attacks on the occasion Ardh Kumbh. They also planned to target the Roorkee-Haridwar trains in Delhi and some parts of the National Capital Region. Another officer privy to the investigations said that all the arrested IS suspects were in touch with former Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Safi Armar who, intelligence agencies say, is the main recruiter of Indian men lured by the IS ideology. According to intelligence agencies, a total of 23 Indians have so far joined the ISIS of which six were reportedly killed in different incidents. Around 150 Indians are under surveillance for their alleged online links with ISIS, the officials had said. WASHINGTON, Feb. 5, 2016 Bayers Crop Science division is rejecting EPAs request that it voluntarily cancel uses of flubendiamide (trade name: Belt), an insecticide used on more than 200 crops nationwide. Instead, the company said it will ask to have the products registration reviewed by an EPA administrative law judge, which would probably result in a ruling this year. Bayer will send EPA a letter today with its decision, the company told reporters yesterday. EPA said it would move forward with cancellation. In a statement, the agency said that in 2008, it issued a time-limited registration to Bayer CropScience LP, and Nichino America Inc., for flubendiamide to better understand the potential impact of the product's metabolite to degrade in the environment and its toxicity. The agency also wanted to be able to quickly take this product off the market if there were problems. EPA asked for more studies, which it said found that the product degrades or breaks down into a material which is more toxic than flubendiamide, is extremely toxic to aquatic species and is persistent in the environment. Primarily for these reasons, EPA concluded that continued use of the product will result in unreasonable adverse effects on the environment and notified the company to request voluntary cancellation consistent with the conditions of the original registration.The companies have indicated that they do not intend to comply with that condition. EPA will move forward with cancellation proceedings, according to the statute, if the companies in fact fail to comply with the condition. Bayer, however, said in a press release it believes the methods used by the EPA exaggerate environmental risk and would deny farmers access to a critical pest management tool. Belt has approval for use on more than 200 crops because of its strong pest performance, favorable environmental and toxicological profile, and excellent fit in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, the release said. Bayer said EPA used theoretical modeling to determine that the product poses an unacceptable risk to aquatic benthic organisms that live in the sediment of waters near agricultural fields, without any evidence of harm in more than seven years of commercial use. Such organisms include amphipods, worms and midge larvae. Bayer strongly disagrees with the EPAs methodology, which is based on theoretical models and assumptions that exaggerate risk. Years of water monitoring studies have shown residues of flubendiamide and its metabolite are well within safe levels established for aquatic invertebrates, the company said. The chemical is used to control caterpillars armyworms, bollworms and cutworms, for example that eat crops. The most important uses are for tree nuts, in particular almonds and pistachios, but vegetable, soybean and tobacco growers also use Belt. Watching for more news about the EPA and agriculture? Sign up for an Agri-Pulse four-week free trial subscription. This would be a significant loss for growers of pistachios, said Richard Matoian, executive director of American Pistachio Growers. The loss of this chemistry would make it more difficult than ever to control pests like the navel orange worm and the peach twig borer which are now significantly (affecting) pistachio production in California. Whats ironic and unfortunate is this would force tree nut growers to resort to older, less effective, but more potentially disruptive chemistries to manage these same pests, Matoian said. Growers need more innovative tools to help them manage destructive pests to produce healthy and abundant crops, not less. Unless EPA changes its mind, it likely will send Bayer a formal notice of intent to cancel Belt uses, and the company will ask for an administrative hearing, Bayer officials said. Editor's note: This story was updated Feb. 5 at 2 pm ET to include the full statement EPA provided to Agri-Pulse. #30 For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2016 USDA says $150 million in funding is available for agricultural producers through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), the departments largest conservation program that helps producers voluntarily improve the health and productivity of private and tribal working lands. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which oversees the program, plans to add an estimated 10 million acres to CSP rolls during fiscal 2016. The Conservation Stewardship Program is one of our most popular programs with producers because it results in real change on the ground by boosting soil and air quality, conserving clean water and enhancing wildlife habitat, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a release. With this investment, well be able to build on the already record number of acres enrolled in USDAs conservation programs, enabling producers to achieve higher levels of conservation and adopt new and emerging conservation technologies on farms, ranches and forests. NRCS accepts applications for CSP throughout the year, but producers should submit applications by March 31 to USDA service centers to ensure they are considered for enrollment in 2016, the department said. Participants with existing CSP contracts that will expire on Dec. 31, 2016 have the option to renew their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional activities to achieve higher levels of conservation on their lands. Applications to renew are also due by March 31. NRCS also makes CSP available to producers as an additional opportunity to participate in regional landscape-level conservation efforts including the Sage Grouse Initiative, Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative, Longleaf Pine Initiative and Ogallala Aquifer Initiative. Funding is available for more than 100 kinds of enhancements nationwide to help participants: Improve soil quality through use of cover crops, conservation crop rotations and other activities that increase soil productivity. Use water wisely and improve water quality through enhancements such as more-efficient irrigation systems and weather monitoring. Restore habitat for wildlife and pollinators such as the greater sage-grouse, lesser prairie-chicken and monarch butterfly through the use of better grazing systems and improved plant management. Is conservation high on your list of things to watch? As news happens, youll find it on Agri-Pulse. Sign up for a four-week free trial subscription. A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is compatible with their operation. As part of the application process, applicants will work with NRCS field personnel to complete a resource inventory of their land to determine the conservation performance for existing and new conservation activities. The applicants conservation performance will be used to determine eligibility, ranking and payments. USDA said that through CSP, it has provided more than $4 billion since 2009 in assistance to farmers, ranchers and forest managers to enhance conservation on more than 70 million acres. Click here for more information on technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs. USDA notes that since 2009 it has invested more than $29 billion to help producers make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect over 400 million acres nationwide, boosting soil and air quality, cleaning and conserving water and enhancing wildlife habitat. For an interactive look at USDAs work in conservation and forestry over the course of this Administration, visit https://medium.com/usda-results. #30 For more news, go to: www.Agrif-Pulse.com Kurdish YPG Forces Setup Training Camps in 3 Assyrian Villages in Syria St. Mary's Assyrian Church in the northeastern Syrian village of Tel Nasri, destroyed by ISIS. Hasaka, Syria (AINA) -- Kurdish forces belonging to the People's Protection Units (YPG) have setup training camps in three Assyrian villages on the Khabur river, in the Hasaka province in northeast Syria. The largest camp is in the village of Tel Nasri, with more than 200 YPG fighters now living in the village. Two smaller camps have been setup in two other Assyrian villages. The YPG fighters are being trained by Russian military personnel. The camps were setup beginning on January 26. The YPG is the armed wing of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). Narsai Oshana, an Assyrian from Tel Nasri who now lives in Chicago, has spoken to Assyrians from Tel Nasri and Tel Tamar. Mr. Oshana says the YPG have stated they will only stay in the villages for the duration of the training, which is expected to last about two months. "I don't expect them to leave," said Mr. Oshana, "and neither do the Assyrians in Syria." Mr. Oshana reports that on January 31 the Asayish, the intelligence arm of the YPG, opened an office in Tel Tamar. Tel Nasri is about 900 meters from Tel Tamar and both are on the north bank of the river. Before the Syrian civil war began Tel Nasri had 180 Assyrian households, with a population of 950. Today there are only 4 or 5 households in Tel Nasri, with about 25 Assyrians. About 60 households from Tel Nasri have fled to Beirut, 20 to Tel Tamar, and the rest to America, Australia, Canada and Europe. Tel Nasri and Tel Tamar are two of 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur river which were attacked by ISIS on February 23, 2015, causing nearly 3000 Assyrian to flee their homes. Most have not returned. ISIS captured 253 Assyrians in that initial attack and has been releasing them for ransom in batches; there are now 73 Assyrians from Khabur still being held by ISIS (AINA 2016-01-29). February 4, 2016 RAMALLAH, West Bank The recently approved 2016 Palestinian general budget is garnering a lot of criticism from legislators who consider it lopsided at best, and possibly illegal. The $4.25 billion budget is marked by high administrative spending but no allocations for development expenses, leading some Palestinian citizens to fear the government will impose more taxes to reduce the budget gap financing. President Mahmoud Abbas and his Cabinet approved the budget in early January, but the legislation was never submitted to the full Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The approval of the general budget without presenting it to the PLC is an illegal measure, Ahmed Attoun, Hamas member of parliament in the West Bank, told Al-Monitor. The Modification of General Budget Control and Financial Affairs Law No. 7 of 1998 stipulates the following process: The Cabinet proposes the general budget draft law to the PLC at least two months before the start of the year. The PLC then refers the draft law to the financial affairs and budget committee for study and detailed annotation. The committee gives its recommendations to the PLC, which holds a special session to discuss the draft law in light of the committees report and recommendations. The draft is either approved with its amendments before the onset of the new year, or it is returned to the Cabinet within a month of the date of its submission. The draft law is coupled with the PLC's remarks so that the necessary amendments are made. Then the draft law is returned to the PLC within two weeks. Palestinian Minister of Finance Shukri Bishara had discussed the general budget with the PLCs special economic and financial committee which has 15 members of parliament throughout four sessions. The last session during which the parliamentarians made remarks on the budget was Jan. 6 at the PLC headquarters in Ramallah with only some of its members present, as the PLC has been inactive for years and is not holding general sessions with full quorum. We were not invited to participate in the budget discussion, and the discussions that took place were not sufficient because the law requires discussing the details and provisions of the budget under the parliaments [PLC] wing, with the participation and approval of all members of parliament, as per the Palestinian [budget] law, Attoun said. The way the budget was approved gives the impression that the legislative and supervisory authority is dispensable hence, nobody will hold the ministers accountable." Justifying his attendance of the budget discussion session with Bishara, member of parliament Ahmad Abu Holi, who heads the PLCs special economic and financial committee, told Al-Monitor, As parliamentarians, we have two options: either to respond to the minister of finances invitation to discuss the budget and give our financial and legal comments, or to stay home under the pretext that the PLC is dysfunctional. He added, We wrote 15 pages of comments on the budget and submitted them to the minister of finance and the heads of the parliamentary blocs [for them] to present to President Abbas and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah. This is the least we could do, as part of our job. We mainly stated that the governments austerity plan to reduce its expenditures should not affect the employees rights and should not harm citizens, the education and health sectors and social affairs. When asked why the budget was not presented to the full PLC, Abu Holi answered, As the PLC has been dysfunctional for eight years, many draft laws and budgets are approved in the West Bank and Gaza without legislative approval, like the 2016 budget which is neither the first nor the last to pass this way. We can either practice the minimum level of legislation and supervision, or stay home. Since the Palestinian division in 2007, the government in Ramallah approves the general budget and Abbas ratifies it without presenting it to the PLC. Hamas rejects these procedures and considers them illegal. But this time, the problem was that the budget was presented to the PLC committee, despite the presence of a national consensus government that was formed as per the Beach Refugee Camp agreement between Hamas, Fatah and other factions. In a Jan. 7 statement, Fatah member of parliament Jamal al-Tirawi described the budget discussion session as illusory. He said, The parliamentarians opinions and suggestions are not given any importance in the budget discussion and approval. The legislative meetings are not taken seriously and participation is limited. The budget itself has had its share of criticism by experts and institutions, most notably in the position paper issued Jan. 20 by the Civil Society Team for Enhancing Public Budget Transparency. This team was formed in 2010 by the Coalition for Accountability and Integrity, and includes 64 academic institutions and civil society organizations and experts in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The team meets every year to independently discuss the general budget. Hama Zeidan, coordinator of the Civil Society Team, told Al-Monitor, The current budget did not include the economic and social objectives that the PA intends to achieve, whether in full or in part. The budget did not clarify the considerations that determined the priorities and size of the government spending. It also lacked tables explaining the financial and monetary situation of the public treasury account, the PA debts and receivables; the proposed plan to settle or collect them; the PA equity interests; and investments in local and non-local bodies and companies. The budget also did not include detailed statements about the allocations to various sectors and institutions. Zeidan added, The budget included an excess of spending in some sectors at the expense of other sectors. The allocations made for administrative expenses [security institutions get 28% of the budget] accounting for 51.35% of the total budget are 27.5 times higher than the economic sector. It should be noted that salaries and wages of government employees still grab the lion's share of the public budget, while allocations made for development expenses were very limited, in particular in the social sector, which includes the ministries of education, health and social affairs. According to the 2016 public budget, the total deficit ratio before foreign financing amounts to 32.5% ($1.38 billion) of the total budget value, while foreign financing projections reached $995 million, which means that the financing gap (nonfinanced expenditure) of the budget will amount to $387 million. This prompted the government to announce its intention to implement austerity and cost-cutting measures in 2016. There is nothing new in the 2016 budget. The budget marginalizes spending in terms of development, while increasing spending on other sectors such as government and security salaries, which does not set adequate foundations for development," Nasr Abdul Karim, an economic expert and professor at Birzeit University, told Al-Monitor. The financing gap would reach approximately $390 million this year. This means that the government will delay the disbursement of the amounts due to the private sector that provides supplies for the government, or will resort to bank loans, thus accumulating public debt, he said. Abdul Karim ruled out the government's ability to reduce its expenditures, saying, In late January, President Abbas signed dozens of promotions and appointments, which will require millions of dollars. Each year the government spending exceeds what is expected, and this budget will face the same challenges. He added, The structural imbalance in the budget has existed ever since the PA was founded" in 1994. He said 70% of revenues "are derived from the custom clearance process, which means that the budget is subject to Israels whims and mood. The PAs capacity to fulfill its obligations is subject to Israels decision. February 4, 2016 While it was becoming apparent that the latest intifada was refusing to die down, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met face to face with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Nov. 30, after five long years. This rare meeting took place at the climate conference in Paris, which both leaders attended. They met by chance and exchanged a handshake, while camera flashes went off all around them. When journalists later asked Netanyahu if anything would follow this handshake, Netanyahu was quick to put a damper on their enthusiasm. Its important for the world to see that we were ready to talk, he said, but continued, We have no illusions about Abbas. Yet that was not enough for Netanyahu. He wanted to make it perfectly clear that he doesnt consider Abbas to be a partner for peace. To emphasize this point, he told his listeners that when he met US President Barack Obama in the corridor at that conference, he said, Abbas has to stop his incendiary rhetoric and all the lies he is spreading about our policies on the Temple Mount. President Obama then told me that he plans to talk to Abbas and tell him that he agrees with me that this must stop. Based on that description of events, it's clear that Netanyahu is unenthusiastic about contact with Abbas. He worries that any contacts of that sort could be used to attack him from within his right-wing government. But a survey conducted Jan. 26-28 and released by the Israel Democracy Institute on Feb. 2 indicates that actually, most Israelis would love to see Netanyahu and Abbas meet. According to the survey, some 70% of the Israeli public would support such a meeting, according to the following breakdown: 100% of respondents who self-identify as voting for the left; 92% of respondents who place themselves in the political center and 46% of those who vote for the right. Returning to Netanyahu, this latter figure explains why he has consistently distanced himself from Abbas throughout his time in office, and all the more so now, when he heads a decidedly right-wing government during a brutal wave of terrorism. As someone who considers his electoral base to be firmly rooted in the right, Netanyahu will not allow himself to be seen drawing closer to Abbas, so as not to lose votes to HaBayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett and Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Liberman. The issue is entirely political. These fascinating figures may indicate that most Israelis want to see a diplomatic solution on the horizon, but the survey also shows something else that is equally intriguing. While most Israelis want to see Netanyahu and Abbas meet, a large majority (72%) does not believe Abbas' Jan. 21 statement in which he said that he is interested in meeting with Netanyahu, but never received an answer from him. The survey also shows that while most Israelis (62%) support negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, only 29% believe that the negotiating process will lead to peace in the next few years. What these figures really show is dissonance. Israelis want to see diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinians and a meeting between Abbas and Netanyahu. At the same time, they also distrust the Palestinian leader and see little chance of anything coming out of negotiations. Presumably, those who support negotiations and a summit between the two leaders should be optimistic about the outcome. But in Netanyahus Israel, there is an explanation for this paradox. During his seven years in power, Netanyahus policies toward the Palestinians have been deceptive. He declares that he wants to engage in dialogue but does everything he can to make sure that it does not happen. It has nothing to do with the current wave of terrorism. That broke out just a few months ago. Why didnt Netanyahu try to speak to Abbas before that, and why, during the five years in which he ostensibly engaged in diplomatic negotiations through then-Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, did Netanyahu categorically refuse to meet with the Palestinian president? Judging by the past seven years, the reason is that Netanyahus goal has been to maintain the diplomatic status quo. During his first term, he deceived Obama with his 2009 Bar Ilan speech and his freeze on construction in the settlements. Later he sent Livni to negotiate with the Palestinians, but also sent his confidante, attorney Yitzhak Molcho, to follow her everywhere. It was Molchos job to act as a babysitter and ensure that nothing happened. Netanyahu also deceived US Secretary of State John Kerry. In fact, Netanyahu sold his illusions to quite a few people during these past seven years, including the Labor Party ministers in his second government. After all, he promised them that he intended to reach a historic agreement. He also conducted a conflicting and duplicitous dialogue on everything to do with construction in the settlements. So, for example, he made two contradictory statements last October within the space of a week. At an Oct. 8 press conference, he boasted that the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria had gathered enormous momentum under his leadership. His purpose for this was to prove that he was not succumbing to terrorism. Then, in a speech he delivered to the 37th Zionist Congress just two weeks later on Oct. 20, he claimed that construction in the settlements had declined under him. This statement was intended to refute claims that the reason for the wave of terrorism was settlement construction. In fact, settlement in Judea and Samaria grew considerably under Netanyahu. Together with Liberman, who served as foreign minister in two Netanyahu governments, Netanyahu also played a significant role in making Abbas irrelevant. For years, Liberman treated Abbas like someone whose time had long since passed, and who had "lost touch with reality." He did this week after week, throughout his time in office. For his part, Netanyahu allowed Liberman to excoriate Abbas, even when the negotiations were supposedly underway. Is it any wonder that Israelis do not believe Abbas? The bottom line is that the Israeli public is confused. It wants peace with the Palestinians, but it has lost confidence that it will ever happen. That is the best way to summarize Netanyahus time in office. Seven years after he returned to the position of prime minister, it is safe to say that Netanyahu has made Israelis skeptical. He took away their hope of one day reaching peace with the Palestinians. That is why the most recent statements by the chairman of the Zionist Camp, Isaac Herzog, seem to turn away from Abbas. Herzog claims that he reached the conclusion that the idea of a two-state solution will have to wait for some other, more fortuitous time. He says this because the polls show that the public is skeptical about the diplomatic process with the Palestinians. That is exactly what Netanyahu has succeeded in etching in the minds of Israelis. February 5, 2016 Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been tense ever since the establishment of the Islamic Republic back in 1979. Initially, Irans doctrine of exporting its revolution and its leaders negative view of countries such as Saudi Arabia, together with Riyadhs creation of the Gulf Cooperation Council and support for Iraqi dictator Saddam Husseins regime during its 1980-1988 war with Iran, led to mutual political pessimism. Ties were further strained in 1987 after the massacre of over 400 Iranian pilgrims by Saudi security forces in the holy city of Mecca. With the passing of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, in 1989, followed by the pragmatic presidency of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, tensions began to ease but were never fully eliminated. In 2011, as the Arab Spring spread across the Middle East, the wall of mistrust between Tehran and Riyadh grew thicker. The civil wars in Syria and Yemen pushed the two sides into indirect military confrontations. Riyadhs Jan. 2 execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, amid Tehrans protestations, brought the worsening tension to a head. Indeed, Saudi Arabias decision to cut ties with Iran after its diplomatic facilities were stormed by Iranian protesters, with countries such as Sudan, Somalia, Bahrain and Djibouti soon following suit, brought about a novel state in the Iranian-Saudi relationship. In this atmosphere, media pundits are asking whether it is possible that Tehran and Riyadh may enter direct military confrontation. The answer is clear: There will not be a war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, for five main reasons. First, the administration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is pursuing a policy of constructive engagement with the world which is what Iranians elected him for in 2013. In Irans complicated political system, the executive and legislative branches are elected by popular vote, though the Guardian Councils vetting of candidates makes the elections process not entirely free. Within this political system, making a decision to engage in war is not an easy task. Therefore, while some Saudi leaders may beat the drums of escalation, the possibility of outright war depends on factors such as whether there is political will for such action and how the two countries choose to handle the crisis in their relations. In sum, engaging in war is not something that can be done by one side alone. Moreover, Irans government has no incentive to increase tensions, as evidenced by the condemnation of the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran by the triangle of power in Iranian foreign policy, meaning Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. In a goodwill effort, Iran has also announced that it will continue to send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the hajj this year. Thus, if Saudi Arabia intends to initiate war, the Iranian public seeing themselves as victims of a violation will mobilize, and also gain the sympathy of the international community. Second, the majority of Irans current leaders were involved in the destructive war with Iraq and are fully aware of its costs. Rouhani held several military positions during the conflict, while Zarif and his deputies also remember the hardships of that era in their capacity as diplomats. Khamenei, who was president at that time, also served as chairman of the Supreme Defense Council, while Rafsanjani served as the de facto commander-in-chief of the Iranian military. Even Irans parliament speaker, Ali Larijani, served as a commander with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Larijanis brothers, including incumbent judiciary chief Sadegh Larijani, were also involved in the conflict. Many other influential Iranian figures, including a great number of parliamentarians and Friday prayer leaders, also have bitter memories of war, some of them as war veterans. Moreover, although the IRGC at times seems to favor showdowns such as in the cases of the recent detention of US sailors or its surveillance of the aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman in the Persian Gulf it is not empowered to take arbitrary actions. Third, the very nature of the current crisis makes war unlikely. According to Charles Hermann, a renowned analyst of issues related to US foreign policy, crisis management and decision-making, what defines a crisis are the three elements of threat, time and surprise. Whether the situation threatens the vital interests of a state allows only a short time for decision-making, and whether it occurs as a surprise to policymakers must all be considered. When it comes to Iran and Saudi Arabia, the nature of their crisis does not meet this criteria. In fact, Saudi Arabias tone against Iran has even softened in recent weeks. Indeed, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud recently told The Economist, Whoever is pushing toward [war with Iran] is somebody who is not in their right mind. Fourth, on the international level, Saudi Arabia believes that in the event of a military confrontation with Iran, the United States and the rest of the West may side with the Islamic Republic. Riyadhs decision to cut ties with Tehran has received virtually no international support aside from some African countries that play no significant role in international power equations. Even US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged calm following the breakdown in the Saudi-Iranian relationship. There may have been a time when, because of Saudi Arabias oil or its position, Washington would have gone out of its way to serve the interests of Riyadh. However, now, even some US elites view Saudi Arabia as a slightly more civilized version of the Islamic State. Last but not least, victory is uncertain in a potential Iranian-Saudi war. Saudi Arabia and Iran may take destructive blows from each other, but both know that neither has the ability to destroy the other side or impose regime change. Saudi Arabia has more warplanes and modern military equipment, while Iran has better missile capabilities and military personnel. Riyadhs involvement in the Yemen war is another factor that reduces the motivation for war with Tehran. Moreover, the population in Saudi Arabias oil-rich Eastern Province is mainly Shiite and has the potential to revolt an advantage for Tehran that Riyadh cannot easily create for itself in Iran. Lastly, Irans control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which Saudi Arabia conducts much of its trade, is a further preventative factor, since war would necessitate redirecting all that trade to the Red Sea, which in the short run is just not possible. February 4, 2016 The first week of February will go down in history as a turning point in which new, more sophisticated and more dangerous forces joined the intifada. Three terrorists Ahmad Zakarna, Muhammad Kamil and Ahmad Abu al-Rub from the Qabatiya refugee camp near Jenin, carried out the Feb. 3 terror attack near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem. The three men were able to upset the profile of the typical assailant that the Israeli defense establishment has devised since the start of the intifada. This occurred shortly after a Palestinian police officer, Amjad a-Sukari, carried out a shooting attack Jan. 31. He, too, did not match the profile of your typical assailant. We are no longer talking about young terrorists indoctrinated by incitement from Palestinian television and social networks, who, on the spur of the moment, decide to mount a stabbing attack. It is believed that the young cell from Qabatiya was planning a multi-casualty attack. The three-man cell arrived in Jerusalem armed with guns, makeshift explosives (pipe bombs) and knives. They aroused the suspicion of the Israeli border police, and when asked to show their IDs, they attacked the two policewomen. In the exchange that ensued, Hadar Cohen, 19, a border police officer, who managed to fire at one of the terrorists before collapsing, was killed. Her colleague was seriously wounded. Terrorists who come with three guns, knives and explosives are not looking to target a few border police officers. We still dont know what their objective was a train, HaGuy Street or a bus. But what we do know, however, is that a massive attack has been averted, said Roni Alsheich, the police commissioner, during a visit to Hadassah hospital. How did the three men carrying guns, ammunition, makeshift explosives and knives manage to pass through all the military roadblocks? The Israel Defense Forces must certainly be looking into this question. It seems that the three terrorists would not have been able to get to Jerusalem from Qabatiya had the IDF not been grappling with the issue of whether this is a transient wave of terror or a full-fledged intifada. This is probably the price Israel is paying for its policy of restraint championed by Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, the IDF chief of staff, to keep the Palestinian Authority from collapsing. To date, nearly all the assailants who have carried out attacks in Israel were characterized by the defense establishment as young people with no prior security records. That being the case, the underlying concept has been that as long as the armed organizations are straddling the fence, such incidents can be contained. In other words, this is an intifada lite, which requires equally lite measures. The Qabatiya cell is revealing in terms of the deep process taking place in the territories, which exposed Israel to a spate of attacks by young people attacks that can be neither monitored nor scuttled in advance. At the same time, these young people pose a significant threat to the PAs regime as well as to the ongoing activity of the Palestinian organizations. The young people of the new intifada are rising up against the old order, seeing both Israel and the PA as the enemy. From their standpoint, it would not be a disaster if the PA, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, were to collapse. As far as they are concerned, the PA is a major obstacle to a better future for them. Under pressure from the IDF, Israel has so far refrained from taking any military or operational measures against the PA. According to Eizenkot, the PA must be kept alive at all costs. In his opinion, military measures, closures, blockades and similar actions could bring about the collapse of the PA, thereby posing a far greater security risk to Israel. Yet, Israel cannot pursue this policy of restraint and think that the wave of terror will wane on its own. This is a misguided concept. A-Sukari and the Qabatiya cell have proven that Israels policy of restraint, which is backed by neither diplomatic nor military measures, will not be able to stop the intifada. This is a deep and broad process that is drawing large populations from the West Bank. As far as theyre concerned, they have nothing to lose. Only four months have passed since the outbreak of the lone-attacker intifada on Oct. 1, which as it turns out now is no longer just perpetrated by individuals. During this period, over 100 terrorists have set out to commit terror attacks in Israel. This number is much higher compared with the number of suicide bombers during the second intifada, which lasted nearly five years, from 2000 to 2005. On an almost daily basis, a Palestinian terrorist is on his or her way to carry out an attack in Israel. All of them, without exception, have no prior security record. This characterization is misleading, however. All those attackers were small children during the second intifada, which is why they cannot have a security record. Although the three terrorists from Qabatiya hail from hamullahs (clans) known in the refugee camp to support Fatah, they planned the attack in Jerusalem on their own. They were not assisted by the organizational infrastructure of Fatahs militias the Tanzim or Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. They wanted no favors. Their conduct should worry Fatah leaders but unquestionably also the leaders of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The young people of the new intifada renounce them and do not want to be associated with them, even when it comes to planning bigger and more complex operations than a stabbing attack. It looks like the attacks will intensify, becoming more sophisticated and deadlier. The IDF has no choice but to reassess the situation and close off most of the West Bank as it did during the second intifada. To fight the intifada one needs to fight back, which may come at a price that we know only too well: to wit, the potential collapse of the PA. On the other hand, whether Israel applies military measures or artificially resuscitates Abbas regime, it is highly questionable whether the PA will be able to exist for long under its present format. Israel cannot have it both ways, nor can it sit idly by in the hope that the intifada will simply go away on its own. It wont. That is unless a significant diplomatic initiative takes place to provide the young people in the West Bank with a glimmer of hope. February 4, 2016 As Iran moves to take advantage of the sanctions relief extended under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the recent drop in crude prices means that Tehran wont be able to count on soaring oil revenues in the near future. Whats worse, the declining oil prices will affect the energy-intensive domestic industry, which has benefited from the high crude prices as it has been receiving indirect subsidies in the form of cheap fuel. In essence, this means that the energy-intensive Iranian industry is about to lose its competitive advantage in the global market. However, things are not all bleak. Iran has an asset that could potentially partially be relied on to tackle the issue of economic growth in the long term: its high-tech sector. For years, Iran has been investing in industry reliant on intensive research and development (R&D). This policy has been a rare point of consensus in Tehran, which often sees controversy over economic policy driven by political rivalries. Indeed, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for the advancement of a knowledge-based economy, and in this vein, support for domestic high-tech firms. These companies have been benefiting from special tax exemptions, financial incentives and laws to ban imports of products whose equivalents have been produced domestically, among other measures. The Islamic Republics 20-Year National Vision foresees Iran ascending to the top tier in the areas of economy, science and technology in the western South Asia region (which includes Central Asia, Kyrgyz regions, the Middle East and neighboring countries). The trend of increasing Iranian non-oil exports in recent years suggests a trajectory toward the latter objective. Indeed, according to the International Monetary Fund, Iranian non-oil revenues as a share of total fiscal revenues during 2012-14 were the highest among all oil-exporting Middle Eastern and North African countries at 56%. In comparison, the corresponding figure in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates was 20% and 31%, respectively. Furthermore, as of 2014, 36 science and technology parks hosting more than 3,650 companies were operating in Iran. These firms have directly employed more than 24,000 people. In addition, Iran is projected to increase the share of R&D in its gross domestic product, from the current 0.5% to 2.5% in the near future. Sanctions were detrimental to Irans high-tech sector in primarily two ways. In relation to the supply chain, they made it difficult for manufacturers to purchase necessary components. Hence, manufacturers had to pay higher prices, with longer production lead times which ultimately resulted in higher production costs. On the sales end, the sanctions caused a shrinking of exports and lack of interest in long-term contracts on the part of foreign companies. Furthermore, the high-tech sector was stripped of highly talented technicians a trend that continues, notwithstanding the mild improvements during the past two years. However, the sanctions also had a positive impact. For instance, they secured the domestic market for Iranian tech firms. In many cases, the final prices of imported high-tech goods were so high that customers preferred to purchase domestically designed and manufactured goods. Moreover, in relation to government procurements, there was a deliberate policy with compulsory regulations in place to prefer domestic products over imports. Hence, R&D investment in some fields became highly profitable during the sanctions era. The question now is how the sanctions relief will impact Irans high-tech industry. The answer can be divided into three categories. First, Iranian companies will get easier and more timely access to necessary components, materials and software, which could result in cheaper final product prices as well as shorter lead times. Second, the sanctions relief could help Iranian companies retain skilled technicians for a longer time, as one of the main challenges of R&D-intensive firms in Iran has been that they lose talented staff as part of the disastrous brain drain. Moreover, Iranian experts living abroad may be willing to return and contribute to the domestic high-tech industry if noteworthy change in the working environment takes place. Third, the sanctions relief could expand potential markets for Iranian high-tech firms to go beyond the current mainly Iraqi and Afghan markets to more lucrative ones in East Asia and Oceania, Central Asia, Europe and even the Americas. In particular, small- and medium-sized high-tech companies that generally lack strong brands could export their goods in the form of OEM contracts, which is the most viable and lucrative option for many Iranian firms as some of them have been manufacturing products for European brands for years. Despite the benefits of sanctions relief, the bigger picture is that it is not a panacea for Irans R&D-intensive industries. Government policies play a far more important role in the equation. In this vein, the administration of President Hassan Rouhani should guarantee continued easy access to the domestic market for Iranian high-tech firms, since it is their sole lifeline in terms of revenue. Sanctions relief should not be allowed to result in a flood of foreign products at the expense of domestic ones especially when it comes to procurement by government and semi-governmental companies. Furthermore, Iran should reform its diplomatic apparatus to enable it to find new markets for Iranian firms by more aggressively engaging in business diplomacy. The current state of the diplomatic apparatus is not prepared for such a task, as trade, business and economic affairs have not been defined as a top priority for Iranian diplomatic missions abroad. In this vein, the Islamic Republic needs to establish a sophisticated interdepartmental organization dedicated to foreign business and trade, with commercial attaches and offices abroad that could do much more than the existing Trade Promotion Organization of Iran or other similar entities. Besides, retaining long-term competitive advantage in the R&D intensive sectors requires more effective scientific and academic exchanges with the world. In the post-sanctions era, this could come through joint educational and research programs with advanced scientific centers as well as academic exchange programs. Providing a vibrant, cutting-edge scientific environment and lucrative business incentives could ultimately result in the return of Iranian experts, entrepreneurs and investors living abroad, all of whom could help speed up the growth of the high-tech sector. Finally, Iranian policymakers should more consider the broader, long-term trend at play: Oil revenues can no longer be seen as the main source of government revenue, the countrys agriculture sector is in crisis and the energy-intense industry no longer enjoys the competitive advantage afforded by cheap energy. In this environment, more investment in high-tech and R&D-intensive industry could be a potential solution to the dilemma of how to provide opportunities for Irans highly skilled but cheap workforce. February 4, 2016 CAIRO Managing a Facebook page without a license. That was the accusation they used to detain me, the Egyptian caricaturist Islam Gawish told Al-Monitor in an interview from the Cairo International Book Fair Feb. 2, a few hours after his release. Gawish was at the fair to launch volume 2 of Al-Waraqah (The Paper), a collection of pieces from his Facebook page, also titled Al-Waraqah. The site, with its simple, satirical caricatures lampooning the state of affairs in Egypt, has met with widespread success on social media. Gawish had been arrested Jan. 31 at his workplace, the offices of the Egypt News Network website, and interrogated about drawing political caricatures targeting symbols of the Egyptian state. After a wave of protests and controversy generated through social media, the Ministry of Interior issued a statement announcing that the charge against Gawish was managing an electronic website without a license. Ultimately, however, the authorities released Gawish Feb. 1 without charging him. Gawish commented, The ludicrous part is that Facebook pages are not licensed. He affirmed that he would continue to voice the economic, political and social concerns of Egyptians through satirical caricatures on social media, asserting that his protection was the Egyptian constitution, guaranteeing him unfettered freedom of expression. A transcript of the interview follows. Al-Monitor: Can you provide details about your detention? Gawish: I was detained at the police station and was not sure about the nature of the allegations that led to my questioning. Police officers came to the company that I work for, and at first, they asked about people who work there. When I told them that I'm a caricaturist, and after one of them examined the cartoons on my page, they escorted me to the police station, where I was referred to the public prosecutors office early the next morning and interrogated. Al-Monitor: What do you think was behind your arrest and questioning? Gawish: They contended that I drew anti-regime caricatures that mock symbols of the state. Al-Monitor: Egyptian authorities stated that you were charged with managing an unlicensed website? Gawish: It is not a website, but a Facebook page, to which I ask, Is any Facebook page licensed? I am not a legal expert, but if Facebook pages were in fact licensed, I would gladly apply for a license. But such is not the case, which makes this whole issue utterly laughable. Al-Monitor: Tell us about your Al-Waraqah project. How did such a simple idea presented through social media spread so widely and create such controversy? Gawish: It is an old and very simple idea, widely used internationally, but not in the Arab world. Al-Waraqah relies on a beautiful, popularly enjoyed drawing style that employs stick figures, not detailed drawings, to convey meaningful ideas. It is through those caricatures that I sarcastically address the social, cultural and political situation in Egypt. Due to its popularity, I decided to publish the first volume of a book of Al-Waraqah-style caricatures, and today we are celebrating the publication of volume two. Al-Monitor: Will you continue to forge ahead after your arrest? Gawish: Definitely. I will not stop drawing in the style that is so dear to me. Al-Monitor: How do you assess the role of political caricaturists in Egypt and the Arab world before and after the Arab Spring? In your view, why are they of such concern to ruling regimes? Gawish: Political caricature is currently making great progress, with the emergence of excellent caricaturists who adopt various and well-liked ideas. In the past, 80% of caricaturists were regime cronies who only painted regimes in a good light, with only about 10% of them conveying their and the populaces concerns in a satirical, caricatural manner. This latter form of cartoon art now worries leaders because it quickly and simply conveys certain ideas without the need for complicated deciphering. It also can express a variety of meanings, as a single caricature can address more than one issue in a manner readily accessible to the reader. Al-Monitor: Have you been offered a position working with any specific publication, whether private or state owned? Why do you prefer to publish on social media? Gawish: No, I have not received any such offers, and I prefer social media because it is broader in scope and [content] spreads more easily. Publications would want me to express certain ideas or be biased toward this party or that, but social media is not biased toward anybody, and my ideas quickly reach their intended audience. Al-Monitor: How can a caricaturist guarantee that his symbolic message successfully reaches his fans? What should such a caricaturist do to protect himself in light of restrictions on the freedom of expression in many countries? Gawish: Besides simplicity, the most important thing is to professionally follow certain guidelines, or what I consider to be rules that a caricaturist must abide by. The art of caricature is satirical in nature, but artists should refrain from utilizing styles or methods that are inappropriate. Caricatures are a form of art that must respect all for it to be respected in return. Any form of caricature that remains objective, does not espouse below-the-belt satirical tactics and is able to convey ideas to the people is, to me, a successful one. On the contrary, even if the idea, expressiveness and caricature is articulate, said caricature, to me, is not a success if it does not abide by professional rules of conduct in conveying its message. There are no protective measures per se. An artist should not bother himself with protection if he expresses his opinion objectively. I know that the situation differs depending on the country and the regime, but in my opinion, the Egyptian constitution provides for the protection of peoples right of expression and opinion. This provision is all that is needed to protect any caricaturist, including myself, or any citizen who expresses his opinions. Al-Monitor: Which of your caricatures have been most successful in conveying an idea to your readers? Also, were there any caricatures with symbolism that proved to be too difficult for readers to easily grasp? Gawish: To me, the caricature of the Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi was my most important, as it also garnered interest in many countries of the world. Conversely, honestly, I do not recall any difficult-to-understand caricatures, as I always endeavor to keep the message simple. Al-Monitor: What advice do you have for those wishing to enter the field of political satire? Gawish: I would advise them to draw and express themselves freely through any avenue, be it traditional paper publications, digital social media or audio-visual. Just give free rein to your imagination and forsake stereotypes on your quest to be different and creative. February 4, 2016 Thousands of Hasidim arrived at the Brooklyn home of the Satmar grand rabbi, Rabbi Yekusiel Leib Teitelbaum, on Jan. 31 before he departed for his second visit as grand rabbi to Israel. Officially, the visit was to celebrate the bris (Jewish male circumcision ceremony) of his grandson, the son of his son who serves as a rabbi in Israel. But from the balcony of his home, the grand rabbi presented his followers with several other goals for his trip. He defined the visit as an effort whose essence is to help the Torah institutions in the Holy Land that do not receive funding from the Zionist state. One of the synagogue managers who officiated at the event added, Our rabbi is going to strengthen the God-fearing institutions and people in Israel, who have not knelt to Baal and have not prostrated to the golden calf of Zionism. Theres a reason they hate us [in Israel] and dont want the rabbi to come. And indeed, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, when the grand rabbi and his entourage landed at the airport in Israel, they were detained for an hour and a half at customs. In the eyes of his followers, this was intentional harassment, stemming from the grand rabbis declaration that he will contribute funds for activities to prevent the conscription of ultra-Orthodox in the Israel Defense Forces, and his announcement that he will focus his war on the hunters (as he defines them) who work from within the ultra-Orthodox community to enlist ultra-Orthodox youth in the army. Yitzchak Weiss, the spokesman of the Satmar Hasidic sect in Israel, argued in a conversation with Al-Monitor that the Hasidic leader himself was not detained, but this was intentional harassment of his entourage because of our plan to distribute millions of dollars to institutions that do not take money from the state. The ceremony at the heart of the visit took place Feb. 2 at an elegant Jerusalem banquet hall, and was called Shekel Hatahor (Pure Shekel). Shekel Hatahor was founded at the start of 2013 on the occasion of Teitelbaums first visit to Israel as grand rabbi, with the goal of providing financial support for institutions that dont seek funding from the state. The sects funds are distributed to these institutions four times a year. At this weeks ceremony, the grand rabbi disbursed financial support to educational institutions that do not receive budgets from the Zionist state, as he calls it, and attacked the ultra-Orthodox political parties. These parties, in his view, sold the values of the Torah for money. Later, the grand rabbi also directly attacked the spiritual leadership of the ultra-Orthodox parties in light of their agreement to back the emended conscription law that would conscript ultra-Orthodox men in the IDF. All of the heads of the yeshivot [rabbinical colleges] and the leaders who had a role in this law, in encouraging their representatives to sign on to this severe law they cant say, Our eyes didnt see it, he argued. The grand rabbi also spoke of the recent terror attacks in Jerusalem and blamed the state for them. We see that this state has no counsel and no prudence to counter [these attacks], for no prudence and no counsel can prevail against the Lord, and we cant shake off the yoke of the diaspora by ourselves, said the leader, meaning that the very creation of the state before the arrival of the messiah and as part of the Zionist secular enterprise caused these events. Naturally, the visit of the anti-Zionist grand rabbi stirs discomfort among many people in Israel. Journalist Asaf Golan of the NRG news website, for example, called for his expulsion from the country, since the grand rabbi is one of Israels biggest enemies. Harsh words were written regarding the grand rabbis visit to Israel on social networks, comment boards and news websites. Weiss is not moved by the criticism. The groups that reproach us, those are the groups that took over the Yishuv [pre-state Jewish community in Palestine] by means of terror organizations like the Lehi, the Etzel and the Haganah. These are groups that are no different from Hamas, he said. We suggest that they move to Uganda, or anywhere else. The people of the Old Yishuv [ultra-Orthodox Jews] settled here in order to fulfill the Torah and the commandments and not to violate the holiness of the land. We think that the right to live in the Holy Land is reserved for religious people, who know among other things that salvation has not yet arrived and that we must not provoke the nations that surround us [by establishing a state]. Whoever does not keep the Torah and the commandments has no moral right to live here. The grand rabbis arrival and the grant-making event caused an uproar among the ultra-Orthodox sects. In recent years, a rift has formed within the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox movement, Degel HaTorah (flag of the Torah), which split into two: a minority that identifies with the Jerusalem branch and the majority that identifies with the Bnei Brak branch. The Jerusalem branch is associated with the values of Satmar Hasidism and with other anti-Zionist groups. The Bnei Brak branch adheres to the regular ultra-Orthodox ideology that believes in pragmatism in relations with the state. The latter, so is claimed, tried to sabotage the efforts of the Jerusalem branch to receive aid from the Satmar funds, and published both in Hebrew and in Yiddish a pasquil (polemical wall poster) where they detailed how the Jerusalemites receive money from the state in a variety of ways which would seem to disqualify them from receiving the Satmar grants. A source from the Bnei Brak branch told Al-Monitor that the Satmar intervention in the internal ultra-Orthodox rift is inappropriate and out of bounds. According to this source, the Satmars know that the Jerusalem branchs yeshivot are funded by the state, but continue to give the yeshivot funds because they are seen as the most authentic representatives of Satmar ideology. The Jerusalem branch is the loudest voice when it comes to anti-Zionist ideology, said the source. They go out and protest and wage an aggressive PR battle, and from Satmars standpoint that in itself justifies the financial support of their institutions. There is no doubt that today the Satmar Hasidic sect is the group leading the opposition to Zionism among the ultra-Orthodox. But verbal and written opposition to the state and to Zionism is not enough. If not for the sects copious funds, which provide it with the means to wield enormous influence in order to strengthen its positions, it is hard to see it having any impact. Its harsh opposition, combined with important financial resources, have made the Satmar into a very powerful anti-Israel group, and positions it as the most active Jewish group that opposes the state of Israel and its institutions. As a result, today, for among other reasons, because of the instability of government funding for ultra-Orthodox institutions, many institutions completely forsake government funding and choose to be funded solely by the Satmar Hasidim whose funding at times exceeds that of the original government budget. These actions result in a situation where, absurdly, the Satmar Hasidim and the secular Zionist political parties who oppose funding the ultra-Orthodox, such as Yesh Atid, have a common interest: to end ultra-Orthodox dependence on government funds. February 2, 2016 RAMALLAH, West Bank In 1901, to commemorate the 25th year of enthronement of Sultan Abdul Hamid II in the Ottoman Empire, the sultan gifted 30 clock towers to the regions under the Ottoman states control. Palestine received seven of these, including the clock tower at the entrance to the Old City in Nablus, north of the West Bank. The clock tower stands today as one of the most important touristic and historical sites in the city. It still functions, and it represents the central landmark of Nablus. The sultans gift was considered the citys guiding light and time reference for a long time. Even now, citizens set their watches according to the clock tower. The tower has stood its ground, like the others in Jaffa, Acre, Haifa, Nazareth and Safed. The seventh, which was erected in Jerusalem, was destroyed in 1922 during the days of the British occupation. Clock towers like some other historical Ottoman landmarks in Palestine such as schools, mosques and prisons preserve the Ottoman architectural character. The Nablus clock tower is the only one of its kind in the West Bank, but it isnt the only Ottoman building in the city. The Old City is a small geographic area, with no new buildings or structures. Nablus' urbanization has only affected the Old Citys surroundings, in the north and east. Naseer Arafat, an engineer and member of the Reconstruction Committee of the Old City of Nablus, said all the buildings are Ottoman except for two shrines that date back to the Mamluk period (1250-1517). He further explained that there are underground constructions in the Old City, such as water and oil wells and water tunnels. He said, These buildings were not affected by earthquakes, and some of them are still intact. The Old City suffered several earthquakes throughout history, the last of which struck in 1927. Most buildings that were erected before the Ottoman rule, during the Mamluk and Byzantine periods, were destroyed by earthquakes and rebuilt under the Ottoman rule. Arafat distinguished between Ottoman governmental buildings that were built with purely Ottoman planning, funding and engineering and are still used for their original purposes, and buildings that the local citizens built at their own expense and used for civilian purposes during the Ottoman era. All of the civilian buildings were residential, and most remain such today, aside from 91 historical sites visited by tourists. However, Arafat told Al-Monitor, The [remaining] governmental buildings that were completely financed by the Ottoman government at the time included only two schools and the clock tower. One of the schools was destroyed by an earthquake that hit in 1927, while the Rashidiya School and the clock tower remain. Khaldoun Bechara, head of the Riwaq Center for Architectural Conservation, said, The Ottoman buildings in the Old City which was a central city during the Ottoman era, just like Jerusalem are part of the Ottoman buildings erected in historical Palestine." Bechara was speaking of the Palestine that was under Ottoman rule and is now considered the 1948 territories: Israel, the West Bank and Gaza. The Ottoman buildings in Nablus Old City constitute more than 95% of the Palestinian historical construction, he said. Bechara said that Ottoman architecture is the traditional architecture in historical Palestine. This style of architecture started emerging in the 16th century and continued until the beginning of the British occupation in 1917. The architecture is characterized by the use of stones, thick walls, arches in doors and windows, and Crusader arches and domes in which the ceilings main column has the cross sign. Bechara added, Although this architecture has an Ottoman character, it still has a local aspect. For instance, clock towers in Palestine were different from those in Istanbul and the Balkans; they differed between cities depending on the influence of the local surroundings. Moreover, Ottoman governmental buildings that were built under the supervision and planning of Turkish engineers were different from the civil buildings that were overseen by local engineers. According to Bechara, the Ottoman construction was modern and influenced by the West, but some oriental touches of local construction remained. Ottoman architecture influenced Palestine more than any other occupational eras for two reasons. First, the Ottoman Empire ruled in Palestine for 400 years (1516-1915), and Palestine and Istanbul had a strong relationship. Some religious cities in Palestine, such as Jerusalem, Jaffa, Acre and Nablus, were administratively subordinated to the leadership in Istanbul, given its religious and geographical importance, as well as its central location between the eastern and western worlds. Second, the cultural exchange between Palestine and Turkey was huge back then, and it could be seen in citizens taste in architecture. According to Bechara, 300 Palestinian students studied in Istanbul at the time. According to Riwaq, 50,320 historical buildings were identified in 1994 in Palestine. Bechara said that only a few of those were built before the Ottoman era. This is because Palestine was rebuilt in the last 500 years according to Ottoman architecture based on the existing infrastructure from previous eras. For instance, the architecture in the Old City of Nablus was mostly Byzantine, but the buildings were destroyed due to the 1927 earthquake and rebuilt with an Ottoman character. Bechara believes it is very important to preserve these buildings and restore them, as they constitute a historical reflection of civilizations that left their mark on Palestine. The Ottoman era was perhaps the most influential era regarding architecture. According to Rami Sab Laban, deputy coordinator of Turkey's development aid program, the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), funded by the Turkish government in Palestine is conducting restoration activities to preserve the Ottoman heritage in Palestine, especially the historical public buildings. The Nablus clock tower was renovated in December 2012 with funding from TIKA, as well as the Rashidiya School in May 2015, which was reopened thanks to the Turkish governments efforts. In addition to restoration activities, the agency supports student and cultural exchange between Turkey and Palestine and builds health- and education-related facilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Sab Laban told Al-Monitor that his agency accepts restoration applications for all historical buildings that have public use. However, more attention is given to historical Ottoman buildings specifically, and 10 have been restored so far in the West Bank. According to Sab Laban, municipalities in the West Bank submit restoration applications to TIKA, which studies the application, then accepts or rejects them. Most restoration activities are executed by these municipalities through foreign funding, as the Palestinian government can't finance them. In addition to the clock tower and the Rashidiya School in Nablus, Sab Laban said, the restoration activities include the Educational Directorate in Qalqilya; the Wall of Jerusalem near the Chain Gate or Bab al-Silsila; Sabil al-Sultan Abdul Hamid in Gaza, which is built on a water source that passers-by drink from for free; and the historical Ottoman building in Salfit that is currently used as a womens center. The Bab al-Silsila minaret in Al-Aqsa Mosque was also restored, as well as Prophet Moses building in Jericho. Perhaps this interest in restoring Turkish buildings in Palestine reflects the Ottoman eras influence on Palestinians, not only in terms of construction, but in all aspects of life. The Turkish influence spans to food, habits and words that entered their language and are still spoken today. February 4, 2016 When Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, head of Irans Expediency Council, criticized Irans Guardian Council for their mass disqualification of candidates, including the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the usual criticism of Rafsanjani from hard-liners was to be expected. The editor of Kayhan and newspapers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps came out with scathing editorials. Iranian parliamentarian Seyyed Ali Mohammad Bozorgvari accused the 81-year old statesman of suffering from Alzheimers. The head of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis office, Mohammad Mohammadi-Gholpayegani, warned that the Assembly of Experts is a sacred place and political games and factionalism has no path. The most surprising reaction, however, has been that Rafsanjanis harsh comments seem to have sparked a fight between some Reformist and moderate figures. Rafsanjani's Feb. 1 comments in response to the disqualification of Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, by the Guardian Council were bound to stir a reaction. His litany of rhetorical questions, Where did you receive your qualification? Who gave you permission to judge? Who gave you the podium of Friday prayers and state television? are indeed rare within the Islamic Republic leadership. Rafsanjani's claim that the Islamic Republic of Iran is indebted to Khomeini and his household was also provocative. And as is the norm in Iranian politics, Rafsanjani did not call out anyone by name. But the comments about Friday prayers and state television, two institutions under the supervision of the supreme leader, are perhaps his strongest and most controversial. Abbas Abdi, a Reformist political figure who was part of the students who stormed the US Embassy and took American hostages after the 1979 revolution, said that Rafsanjanis reasoning was not only weak and unrelated but also incorrect. He accused Rafsanjani of using a tribal logic when it came to defending allies and criticizing enemies. Abdi accused Rafsanjani of both preferring Khomeinis disqualification and using his possible qualification to his advantage. He also criticized other Reformists for being silent on Rafsanjanis attack on the Guardian Council. Mohammad Ali Abtahi, former vice president under Reformist President Mohammad Khatami, also criticized Rafsanjanis comments. At the height of consultation and talks and the need for coexistence for a better future this harsh and sudden attack will only be to the detriment of those disqualified, he said. This is not something that Rafsanjani the politician does not know. Abtahi said that Rafsanjani knows that this type of discourse will attract supporters of Hassan Khomeini toward himself. Rafsanjanis longtime ally Sadegh Zibakalam came to his defense against the criticism by Abdi. In an article in Arman Daily, Zibakalam wrote that Abdis criticism has more to do with his old spite from the Reformist era there was a time in the 1990s that Reformists were once Rafsanjanis harshest critics. Zibakalam also accused Abdi of aligning himself with the countrys hard-liners and justifying the disqualification of candidates. The Guardian Council is still reviewing the cases of those who appealed their disqualifications. President Hassan Rouhanis vice president, Eshag Jahangiri, was appointed to lead the consultations over the appeals with the Guardian Council. The head of the Assembly of Experts, Mohammad Yazdi, said Feb. 4 that Khamenei told him, The Assembly of Experts has to be ready in a way that it could elect a supreme leader. Though Yazdis comments were general, he said that the religious credentials of an assembly member must be clear. Hassan Khomeini's religious standing, however, is a matter of dispute. February 4, 2016 In the coming days, a small group of men and women will gather in the office of Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. The guests, founders of a new movement called Saving Jewish Jerusalem, will present Rivlin with a manifesto detailing their vision for the city. The president, who usually begins radio interviews with the greeting, Good morning [or evening] from Jerusalem, will hear their plan for the unilateral separation of part of East Jerusalem. The principles for such a plan were laid out in an interview that Mazal Mualem conducted with Zionist Camp Chairman Isaac Herzog, published Jan. 22 in Al-Monitor. The interesting new element in Saving Jewish Jerusalem's plan lies in the list of the nascent movements activists. The driving force and most intriguing name on the list is that of former Cabinet minister Haim Ramon. Ramon had quit politics and lay low after being convicted of sexual misconduct involving a female soldier in 2007. The rest of his friends in Kadima, of which he was a co-founder in 2005 and which has since folded, went their separate ways. Several of his friends in the new group are wondering whether the movement to save Jewish Jerusalem is also intended to save the political career of a man once considered a rising star in the Jerusalem sky. Saving Jewish Jerusalem's platform, which will also be presented to the public, calls for handing control of 28 Palestinian villages in East Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The villages in question had been an integral part of the West Bank until Israel annexed them in 1967. Some 200,000 people live in these villages. With the annexation, the Palestinians there were given permanent residency and gained the rights of Israeli citizens, including social security benefits, freedom of movement west of the green line, entitlement to study in Israeli institutions of higher learning and access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, among other things. Members of the movement contend that the Palestinian villages are massively detrimental to the prosperity of the Israeli capital in terms of security, demographic balance, standard of living and economic well-being. They view the violent incidents in Jerusalem that intensified in September 2015 as underscoring the need to immediately reverse the (erroneous) annexation of the villages to Jerusalem. The manifesto's authors explain that by removing some 200,000 Palestinians from the municipal boundaries of Jerusalem, the citys Jews will constitute more than 80% of its residents, and the percentage of Palestinians will drop to less than 20%, from the nearly 40% today. Not only that, they stress, revoking the Palestinians Israeli residency permits will ease the economic burden these villages impose on the Israeli taxpayer some 2-3 billion Israeli shekels ($500-$750 million) in revenue and municipal taxes annually. The remaining residents of East Jerusalem, Arabs and Jews, would maintain their current residence and citizenship status. Saving Jewish Jerusalem also proposes the immediate establishment of a consecutive security fence between the extraneous villages and Jerusalem. The fence would be linked to the separation barrier dividing Israel and the settlement blocs from other parts of the West Bank. After the villages' separation from Jerusalem, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and other security agencies would operate in them the way they currently do in the rest of the West Bank. To implement the plan to ensure Jerusalems security and its Jewish character, the Knesset, according to the manifesto, will amend the Basic Law Jerusalem, Capital of Israel. The entire plan would be implemented unilaterally, without consulting the Palestinians or obtaining their consent. One of the founders of the movement, who requested anonymity, told Al-Monitor that a public opinion poll his group had commissioned indicated that 85% of the Jewish public, as well as a significant number of Arabs in Israel, support the separation from the peripheral Palestinian villages. The Zionist Camp's Herzog, who studied the poll results, was quick to adopt the plan's principles. Peace is unobtainable right now, so lets achieve security so that we can talk about peace, Herzog said in the Al-Monitor interview. I met with [Palestinian President Mahmoud] Abbas last August and there, too, I am sorry to report, I didn't find the courage or leadership skills needed to agree to painful concessions. When Herzog emerged from his meeting with Abbas on Aug. 18, he had had quite a different message, however. The opposition leader reportedly said with confidence at the time, If theres good will, we can reach an agreement protecting Israels security; there is a rare regional opportunity that has arisen in recent months. He even provided an accelerated timeline of within two years. According to Herzog, the opportunity shouldn't be missed: It enables support from neighboring countries for a direct diplomatic move between us and the Palestinians, he said. Herzog also reported that he had promised Abbas that he would keep trying to convince the Israeli public, which was gradually losing faith in peace, of the necessity of such a process and the need to speedily move it forward. Now, not even six months later, the leader of the opposition has lost his faith in a dialogue with the Palestinians (under the auspices of the Arab League) in favor of unilateral measures. Do experienced political figures such as Herzog really believe that such a dramatic move should be promoted in the powder keg that is Jerusalem without coordination and agreement with the Palestinian, Arab and Islamic sides? Do they not understand that removing the 28 Arab villages from East Jerusalem will be interpreted by the world as perpetuating Israels annexation of the other parts of East Jerusalem, including the Holy Basin? What of the thousands of Palestinians who will find themselves on the other side of the fence, with reduced incomes from the loss of their residency rights, to which they have been entitled for nearly 50 years. Might they seek relief in the recruitment centers of Hamas and Islamic Jihad? Might they import tunnel digging techniques from the Gaza Strip into the East Jerusalem Shuafat refugee camp en route to the adjacent Jewish neighborhoods? Another of the plans originators, also requesting anonymity, told Al-Monitor, We know theres no way that [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu will even consider adopting the blueprint. Our main goal is to show the public that there are people on our side who initiate plans rather than sticking to the status quo. He also said the group is fully aware that the left might tear the proposal and its authors to bits. Thats our second goal, he said, half smiling, to get a kick from the left that will propel us toward the right. It is doubtful whether the political movement and its plans will slightly slow the voter drain of the Israeli constituency from the Zionist Camp. It is more likely that they will accelerate the rate of the drain of the Palestinian constituency from Abbas' shrinking camp. An article published in the September 2011 edition of the prestigious publication Foreign Affairs suggests that there are Israeli leaders who believe (or at least believed at the time) that there is another, better way to end the conflict with the Palestinians. According to the plan presented in the article, Israel would vote in favor of Palestine becoming a full member of the United Nations. Immediately thereafter, negotiations on a permanent settlement would be renewed with the backing of the international community. The agreement would be based on the parameters laid out by President Bill Clinton in 2000 and expanded by President Barack Obama in May 2011: the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with an exchange of territories and security arrangements. It doesnt get any better. That article Why Israel Should Vote for Palestinian Independence was authored by Knesset member Isaac Herzog. February 5, 2016 DAMASCUS, Syria Syrian opposition forces seized the city of Sheikh Miskin, in Daraa's northern countryside, at the end of 2014, but on Jan. 26, the regime regained control of the city, aided by Russian air cover as part of a military campaign launched Dec. 28. The government forces of President Bashar al-Assad had earlier regained control over strategic towns in the countryside of Latakia, including Salma, recovered Jan. 12, and Rabia and Rawda, retaken Jan. 24. The government forces' progress on several fronts cannot be isolated from the ongoing negotiations to end the war. The Geneva III peace talks officially convened Feb. 1. Sheikh Miskin the fourth-largest city in Daraa province, with a population of 45,000 is situated 54 miles from Damascus and 13 miles north of Daraa city, which makes it the gateway from Daraas eastern countryside to its western countryside, which is controlled by opposition forces. The General Command of the Army and Armed Forces declared in a Jan. 26 statement broadcast by the Syrian official news agency SANA that the Syrian army, in cooperation with popular defense groups and backed by Russian air power, had restored security and stability to Sheikh Miskin city following a series of successes in which the army assumed control of several sites, most importantly the Brigade 82 Camp and al-Hash hill, in addition to destroying centers of the terrorist organizations, causing them huge losses in fighters and equipment. On the same day, Russia Today posted video of Syrian armed forces entering the city. Kamel Sakr, a field reporter and expert on military affairs, has covered several operations by the Syrian army. Sakr told Al-Monitor, The Syrian armys control of the city is an important step. The city stretches over a large area, 114 square kilometers [44 square miles], and is a strategic location linking Daraa to Damascus. It is also adjacent to the crossing point for militants from Daraa toward the countryside of Quneitra. Sakr said, Controlling Sheikh Miskin [alone] is insufficient, however, to halt the armed groups advance and cut off their supply lines between Daraa and Quneitra. Accordingly, the Syrian army must advance toward the west, to the town of Nawa. This would have a significant effect on the Syrian armys advance on the Daraa front. Sakr added, The Syrian government sees progress on the ground as a political gain. This is legitimate, considering that politics cannot be separated from military operations, and whoever controls more geographical territory can impose the pace of the political process that might prevail in the Geneva III negotiations. He also noted, Moscow has increased its military support for the Syrian regime, because it is aware that [the regimes] advance on the ground will give it a stronger position in the negotiations. Several factors led to the opposition factions' loss of Sheikh Miskin, most notably, 33 consecutive days of Russian airstrikes to establish complete control over the city. Another factor involved internal differences among the opposition factions. The Free Syrian Army (FSA) has been at odds with the Muthanna Movement (which had secretly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in March 2015), as well as Jabhat al-Nusra, following attempts by the FSA to isolate radical Islamist forces, according to the pro-regime Al-Mayadeen news website. These factors weakened the factions resistance to the armys attacks and hampered the entry of FSA fighters from other areas to assist in defending the city. Mohammed Ibrahim, a media activist working in the opposition-controlled areas in the city of Dael, in the Daraa countryside, told Al-Monitor, The main reason for the loss of Sheikh Miskin is the Russian airstrikes. More than 75 sorties were launched on the first day, and these were backed by Syrian artillery and missile attacks. This thwarted the attempts by the opposition battalions to repel the fierce offensive. Up to the fall of the city, Russian warplanes launched more than 700 raids. He added, The cold weather conditions and snow weakened [the opposition's] resilience, not to mention unorganized FSA activity and lack of a joint operations room. This confused the opposition fighters and undermined their resistance, although they were willing to die to defend the city. Ibrahim said that residents of the city had fled to neighboring regions in the early days of the Russian air campaign. The few families that remained in the city until the last days left before the entry of the Syrian army. The Syrian regime has taken over an empty and destroyed city, he said. Gareth Bayley, Britain's special representative for Syria, was quoted by the Syrian Observer on Jan. 27 as saying, The fall of al-Sheikh Miskin to regime forces today reveals the hypocrisy of Russian targeting in Syria. Regime and Russian onslaught on the moderate opposition and civilians must stop. Bayley also said, This blatant targeting of opposition groups is deeply concerning, particularly as it comes just days before UN-led negotiations for a political settlement leading to transition in Syria. Days later, on Feb. 1, Iyad Abdul Hamid al-Daws, a captain in the Yarmouk Army in Daraa, appeared on Halab Today TV and said, The international support for the opposition in Daraa is modest and insufficient to achieve victory over the regime. We have no anti-aircraft missiles to face Russia's advanced air force. He added, The opposition groups are now preparing a counter-campaign to be carried out from several axes in order to take back the city. That said, opposition fighters might not be able to regain the territory they lost as long as Russian support for the regime continues. The governments control over Sheikh Miskin may herald a tipping point in the balance of power in southern Syria and pave the way for the regimes control over other areas in Daraa province. In addition, the regime on Feb. 3 lifted the opposition's siege of Nubl and al-Zahra, cities in the northern Aleppo countryside. This operation could cut the supply routes to opposition fighters coming from Turkey and weaken their ability to confront the regime. Thus, government forces might soon make advances on the northern front. All this will reflect in one way or another on Geneva III. Already, UN envoy Staffan de Mistura announced in Geneva on Feb. 3 only two days after the start of the fledgling process the suspension of talks until Feb. 25, in part due to ongoing Russian operations against opposition-controlled areas. February 4, 2016 ANKARA, Turkey Ahead of the June 7 elections last year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan put the Kurdish settlement process on hold. Then, addressing a rally in Istanbul in September, he said, Turkey has no Kurdish problem. Are the Kurds the only ones who have problems? The Lazes, the Circassians have problems too. As recently as Jan. 6, Erdogan stood his ground. Turkey has no Kurdish problem, but a terror problem. No one should try to palm it off on us as a Kurdish problem, he said, referring to the rekindled conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The president seemed to have utterly forgotten his landmark speech of 2005, when he told a big crowd in Diyarbakir, the hub of the Kurdish-majority southeast, that the Kurdish problem is my problem and promised to resolve it. But then, on Jan. 20, he again spoke of a solution. This time, however, he seemed to have a different mo del on his mind, as he ruled out any dialogue with the PKK and the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), the principal political body of Turkeys Kurds, which Ankara accuses of collaborating with the PKK insurgency. In the upcoming period, neither the separatist terrorist organization nor the party and other structures under its guidance will be recognized as interlocutors. That business is over. With all their organizations, parliament members and mayors, they will answer for their deeds before the courts, Erdogan said. And we, together with our people, will put the region back on its feet. Once our security forces purge the region of the terrorists and restore public order, well sit down with our [Kurdish] people and citizens to decide how a thorough solution to the problem can be achieved and will then put it into practice. The dialogue model Erdogan scrapped dates from 2013, when he was prime minister. It was based on contacts between senior officials from his Justice and Development Party (AKP), the HDP and its predecessor, jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, and PKK commanders based in Iraqs Qandil Mountains. So the PKK and the Kurdish communitys representatives in parliament, the HDP, are no longer considered interlocutors. And who are the new Kurdish interlocutors in Erdogans mind? The answer came a week later from presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin, who explained that Kurdish opinion leaders, members of the "village guards" pro-government Kurdish militia, tribal leaders and religious notables would be invited to the presidential palace, along with certain politicians and civic groups, to hold consultations on a solution. The profile of the would-be interlocutors suggests the new settlement process will proceed on grounds different from the previous ones, which were based on the idea of recognizing, expanding and constitutionally guaranteeing Kurdish political, social and language rights as part of a new, more democratic constitution. To start with, the Kurdish village guards most of them from prominent tribes represent militia groups organized, armed and paid by the government since the 1990s to back the security forces against the PKK. The tribal leaders, for their part, are the remnants of the regions authoritarian tribal system, in which landless villagers work for and submit to the tribal chiefs as semi-slaves. The religious figures mullahs and the Kurdish Islamic scholars called meles are clerics who enjoy great respect and spiritual clout among the Kurds, performing religious duties as imams or teaching the Quran. They received their religious education as children in unlicensed Quranic schools, which the state has tolerated after the banning of madrassas and dervish lodges in the early years of the secular republic. In 2011, the mullahs and the meles, who are particularly influential among Sunni Kurds, were granted the right to officially serve as imams under a government decree that created 1,000 slots for them on the payroll of the Religious Affairs Directorate. As for the political figures Kalin mentioned, they remain unknown at present. With the HDP discarded, its sister movement, the Democratic Regions Party (DBP), stands no chance. The DBPs agenda focuses on demands for self-rule in the southeast, and its membership includes the regions Kurdish mayors, whom Ankara accuses of collaborating with armed militants in urban clashes raging since the summer. Many of those mayors have been arrested or removed from office. The Democratic Society Congress, an umbrella organization for Kurdish civic groups, enjoys no favor with Ankara, either. In December, it adopted a declaration calling for Kurdish autonomy, to which Erdogan responded with a stern warning: Well bring the world down on those who seek to create a state within the state under the pretext of self-rule and autonomy. Who, then, are Erdogans would-be political interlocutors? The possibilities include: A potential "Kurdish AKP" that could be created in the coming days to weaken the HDP and push its vote below the 10% threshold for parliamentary representation. The Free Cause Party, a Kurdish Islamist party that withdrew from the Nov. 1 polls in favor of the AKP. The fledgling Kurdistan Democratic Party of Turkey founded by Sertac Bucak, the scion of an influential tribe which is politically close to the AKP and backed by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. the scion of an influential tribe which is politically close to the AKP and backed by Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani. The Kurdistan Socialist Party, which rejects armed action, is opposed to the PKK, is officially illegal and whose leadership returned from a 35-year exile last year to re-engage in local politics. In sum, it seems Erdogans new settlement model will rely largely on two alliances a feudal one with Kurdish tribes and their armed forces, the village guards, and a religious one resting on the Sunni Islamic axis spiced up with a few token political figures who have no real popular base or influence. Some potential HDP defectors might also join in. Interestingly, Erdogan has not counted Ocalan among the discarded interlocutors, suggesting that Ankaras engagement with the PKK founder, locked up on his prison island, would continue. Barred from meeting with HDP members for almost a year, Ocalan has shown signs he could agree on introducing a religious axis to the settlement process. A "Democratic Congress" proposed by Ocalan and indirectly encouraged by the AKP convened twice, in May 2014 and December 2015. Ocalan sent a peace message with religious references to the first gathering, while the final declarations of both meetings called for a new "Charter of Medina" a reference to the document drafted by the Prophet Muhammad to end intertribal fighting between rival clans. Furthermore, minutes from Ocalans meetings with Kurdish lawmakers, leaked in 2013, quote him as saying that the Kurds could support Erdogans bid for an executive presidency as part of an alliance with the AKP, in which Kurdish demands are met in return. HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas, however, based his June election campaign on promises to block Erdogans drive for an executive presidency, which explains why Ocalan seems to still retain a kind of favor with Erdogan while the HDP leader is being banished. At present, however, the clashes between the security forces and PKK militants continue in a number of cities across the southeast. Last week, former Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, a veteran AKP heavyweight who seems to be increasingly falling out with Erdogan, urged an end to the security opera tions, stressing that the PKK could not be finished with arms. He also called for the resumption of the settlement process, in which, he said, Ocalans participation is a must. February 4, 2016 On Jan. 30, Turkey said its airspace was again violated by a Russian warplane. A statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry said a Russian Su-34 warplane on Jan. 29 had violated Turkish airspace despite repeated warnings in Russian and English. The statement said this was yet another concrete indication of Russias escalation despite clear warnings by Turkey and NATO. The statement said, We are calling on Russia clearly to act more responsibly and not to violate NATO airspace. It warned that Russia would bear full responsibility for any consequences that could arise from these irresponsible actions. The Russian ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on the night of Jan. 29 to receive a protest of this violation. In turn, the Russian Defense Ministry called the claims "pure propaganda," according to the statement. That incident followed a Turkish F-16's downing Nov. 24 of a Russian Su-24 warplane that was giving air support to ground forces operating in Syrias Bayirbucak region. What makes the more recent violation different, however, is the type of the Russian plane involved. The Su-34 Fullback was armed with R-77 and R-73 air-to-ground missiles and designed for air-to-air combat. After the Nov. 24 downing, Russia had announced that Su-34s were now flying combat air patrols near the Turkish border. The Su-34 is a tactical bomber that was being developed in the late 1980s to replace the Su-24. Its main function is to hit targets deep behind front lines at long distances with sophisticated guided missiles. It is fully equipped with advanced navigation and targeting systems. Su-34 development and mass production was stalled for a long time because of the collapse of the Soviet Union and consequent economic problems. The project was reactivated in the early 2000s and mass production began. According to Arda Mevlutoglu, an aeronautics and space engineer, today Russia is believed to have about 100 SU-34s in its arsenal. He said there are six Su-34s and 12 Su-24s in Syria, supported by 12 Su-25 close air support planes. Russian air power in Syria relies on Su-34s when attacking important ground targets," he said. "Now it appears that they are using Su-34s also against targets close to the Turkish border. This signifies that Russia is now more cautious about the possibility of encountering Turkish F-16s. Mevlutoglus disclosures can be best interpreted in the following way: Russia has upped its game by using Su-34s that have interception capability in critical operational missions near the Turkish border, and is saying that if Turkey challenges the planes, it will have to pay the price. We hear about airspace violations only if the violated country reports it. Although Russia denies that it has violated Turkish airspace, if Turkey says it was violated, it means Turkey wants the international public to know about it. The intention is hidden in the emphasis on NATO airspace in the Turkish Foreign Ministrys statement. That is how Turkey wants to get the support of NATO in particular, the United States. Ankara believes Russia was probing the strength of Turkey-US and Turkey-NATO ties. Another element that sets the latest airspace violation apart from earlier ones is its location. Although Ankara has not announced the location, observers believe it took place in the Turkish border region that faces the Azaz-Munbij front, which is currently controlled by the Islamic State. If this is accurate, Russia is telling Turkey openly that it seriously intends to maintain the de facto no-fly zone it has established over the Jarablus-Munbij areas, which are also of major concern for Turkey. Russias first airspace violation with the Su-34 over the critical Azaz-Munbij front was clearly a deterrent message against Turkey. Turkey, by responding with strong words, had indicated that it has seen the Russian move and was notifying the United States and NATO that their support is required. If Russia is serious in its intentions, there will probably be more hot contacts between Russian Su-34s flying on the Azaz-Munbij front that includes Jarablus, and the Turkish F-16s that are flying round-the-clock patrols on the Turkish side. Can Ankara-Moscow relations be normalized? According to Russian expert Habibe Ozdal of the Ankara-based International Strategic Research Agency, more time is needed to know. Commenting on the airspace violation, she accurately predicted some new "aftershocks" in bilateral and regional issues are unavoidable, She said, "Although the opposing views of Turkey and Russia about the PYDs [US-supported Kurdish nationalist Democratic Union Party] participation in the Geneva talks are known, these Russian moves in Syria escalate tensions. It is clear that Russia is not targeting Turkey militarily. But at this phase there is no room for mistakes in bilateral relations. All military, political, social and cultural relations between Ankara and Moscow have been suspended, but meanwhile, the process to determine the future of the Middle East continues. It is obvious that the crisis in relations wont serve the interests of both countries. She said both countries will have to urgently carry out damage assessments and come up with ways to repair the damages. Turkey and Russia need to continue cooperating on issues like the struggle against IS and projects such as the Turk Stream natural gas pipeline. But placing combat-ready Russian Su-34s and Turkish F-16s across from each other along the Turkish border is asking for trouble, like lighting a match next to a stockpile of gunpowder. The Economic Development Partnership of Alabama is looking for the state's top innovators. Nominations for the 2016 Alabama Innovation Awards are being accepted in the following categories: Corporate Innovator of the Year (small company, 1-50 employees) Corporate Innovator of the Year (large company, 50+ employees) Outstanding Achievement in Innovative Manufacturing Outstanding Public-Private Partnership for Innovation Self nominations are encouraged. March 20 is the deadline. The winners will be recognized at the 6th Annual Alabama Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference on Aug. 31. The event is designed to celebrate the vital role of entrepreneurs, startups and other innovators in the state's economy. "The awards celebrate the achievement and job creation that comes from bringing new products and services to the market," Greg Sheek, Alabama Launchpad programs director, said. "We want to encourage entrepreneurs and inventors to continue and accelerate this important work." For more information, visit alabamalaunchpad.com/awards/ Vendors from as far away as China are taking part in the Alabama Clay Conference, which is happening this weekend at Gadsden's Hardin Center for Cultural Arts and the Gadsden Museum of Art. It's the 31st year for the event, said Lynnette Hesser, one of its organizers. On Friday, participants viewed samples of art, equipment and other items from the event's 13 vendors. As many as 14 artists are displaying their clay pieces as well. "There are wheels, tools, equipment, kilns," Hesser said. "There's some very exciting events we have scheduled this weekend. Scheduled activities will include the Presenter's Exhibition, an invitational Tableware Show, Participant Show, Alabama Student and Professor Show, Vendor's Area, clay dance performance, Alabama Clay Market, Saturday night party at the Back 40 Brewing Company, mug exchange, Empty Bowls, mini-presentations by four local ceramic artists: Steve Loucks, Lynnette Hesser, John Oles and Beer Chunhaswasdikul on Sunday morning, etc. Jeffco robbery Feb 4.jpg Tamarius Oneil Smith and Adam Demond Andrews (JCSO) Six suspects, including four juvenile girls, were arrested in connection with the Thursday night robbery of a woman in the parking lot of the Publix on Old Springville Road in Clay. Five of the suspects were apprehended late Thursday in the Trussville area after a police chase. The last suspect, a 19-year-old man, was arrested at just after 2 a.m. on Friday, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said. All six suspects are believed to be responsible for robberies in Hueytown and Birmingham before being caught. According to the sheriff's office, the incident started at around 9:15 p.m. when a woman reported being robbed by two women as she walked to her car in the Publix parking lot. The robbers took the woman's purse and fled the parking lot in a gold Ford Expedition, police say. The victim wasn't injured. Shortly after, Trussville police spotted the suspect SUV on Chalkville Mountain Road heading toward Trussville. The vehicle then turned onto Interstate 59 North where deputies and Trussville police attempted to pull the vehicle over. The SUV failed to stop and continued north into the interstate to mile-marker 155 where Trussville police, Argo police, Springville police and the St. Clair County Sheriff's Office picked up on the chase. That's when six suspects exited the vehicle and ran on foot, according to the sheriff's office. Four female juveniles were quickly taken into custody, but search dogs from Alabama Department of Corrections had to be called in to assist in the search for the remaining suspects. The tracking dogs located a 21-year-old suspect just before midnight, and the final suspect at around 2 a.m. Authorities later learned the Expedition had been reported stolen to Birmingham Police earlier in the evening. Tamarius Oneil Smith, 21 and his brother, 19 year old Adam Demond Andrews, of Birmingham were arrested and charged with first-degree robbery. They are being held in the Jefferson County jail on $60,000 bond. Other charges could be pending. The other four suspects, all female juveniles, ranging in age from 14 to 15, will be charged through Family Court. "I want to commend all involved in getting this batch of young thugs ranging in age 14 to 21 locked up," Jefferson County Chief Deputy Randy Christian said. "Trussville Police, St Clair County Deputies, State Department of Corrections, our personnel and others quickly cast a net that they could not escape. That's because of great communication from the victim to 911 and to law enforcement. That's textbook work. We continue to be shocked and disappointed and disturbed in a segment of young people immersing themselves in this devil may care dangerous and violent criminal activity. Moms and Dads do you know where your child is and what they are doing?" Andrews was charged in August 2014 in the break-ins of two Ross Bridge homes in Hoover. Just 25 hours before a Hoover husband, father and Iraq war veteran was fatally gunned down on the steps of his Lake Cyrus home, another man narrowly escaped the same fate. A 39-year-old man leaving a home in Fultondale's Chapel Hills subdivision in the predawn hours encountered two young men in his driveway. Moments later, he was dodging a hail of gunfire aimed at him. The shooters missed, and the victim was spared. Investigators in two cities say there's little doubt those gunmen are the same that killed 33-year-old Mike Gilotti one day later and about 16 miles away. "We're fairly certain it's going to be the same bunch,'' Fultondale police Chief D.P. Smith told AL.com. "It was the same M.O. Our gentleman was just lucky." Two Bessemer teens have now been charged with murder in Gilotti's slaying and nine counts of unlawful breaking and entering in string of car thefts that happed in Gilotti's neighborhood around the time he was shot. Charleston Wells, 16, and Ahmad Johnson, 17, are in custody in Jefferson County. Investigators say four suspects were there when Gilotti was killed, and they won't stop until all four have been charged as well as anyone else who may have been involved in the crimes. Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector on Thursday said the suspects are part of a Bessemer-area gang called M-tre, which stands for Money Making Mafia. Though they claim to be aspiring rappers, Rector said M-tre members are street criminals who break into cars and commit other crimes to get money. They often post pictures of themselves on Facebook and other social media sites holding guns and money. "I called them common street thugs at our last press conference and I think that still is an appropriate term to describe them,'' Rector said. "They're not aspiring rappers, they're criminals. They're criminals who break into cars for a living. In this case, they're property thieves who when confronted by a homeowner, they take that to a whole new level and shoot and kill an innocent person." "Their motto is 'get money.' When they talk about getting money, that means taking money from you, and I, and people who actually have jobs and earn money for a living,'' Rector said. "Getting money to them means stealing from innocent victims. That's their existence." The group's crimes may have slowed a bit in the wake of Gilotti's death - "They say they want the whole Tre in da chains,'' -one of them wrote on Facebook shortly after Wells' arrest was announced, but authorities said they believe the group has hit multiple communities in the Birmingham metropolitan area. "They were on a crime spree, and that crime spree lasted several days,'' Rector said. "It ended with the death of Mike Gilotti." One of those communities is Fultondale. During the early-morning hours of Jan. 4, the day before Gilotti was killed, there was a spate of car break-ins in that city. "They were all over Fultondale,'' the police chief said. "They were going into unlocked cars, getting purses, credit cards, and electronics. We had a number of cars broken into that morning." Detective say they believe they started on one side U.S. 31, and then moved over to Chapel Hills, a relatively new and upscale subdivision just west of Interstate 65. It was about 4 a.m. when a man there walked out the front door to go to work and came face with two young black males walking up his driveway. "He came outside and said something to them,'' Smith said. "One of them started shooting. He ran inside and called police." Fultondale Detective David Rogers said they recovered at least three shell casings from the scene. The investigation is ongoing and they are waiting for the results from ballistics testing. No arrests have been made in the Fultondale crimes. "Just 24 hours prior to Mike Gilotti being killed, this same group of individuals was committing the same type of crimes,'' Rector said. "Fortunately that victim wasn't killed." It appears the gunfire in Fultondale ended the crime spree in that area for the night, but police say it picked back up again about the same time on Jan. 5, this time in Tuscaloosa County. Just before 3 a.m. on Jan. 5, a dark-colored SUV entered the Weatherby community. At 3:08 a.m. a black Chevrolet Tahoe with aftermarket rims was seen leaving the neighborhood. Video from nearby Dunkin's Pharmacy captured those images. The surveillance system at the entrance of South Ridge captured the same Chevrolet Tahoe traveling north on Old Greensboror Road. A Ford F-250 was directly behind the Tahoe and was traveling in the same direction. Inverness and South Ridge are both on Old Greensboror Road, and the entrances are about 100 yards from each other. At 3:37 a.m., two black males can be seen coming in the Mapco service station on Bear Creek Road and Highway 69 South. One of the suspects was wearing a shirt that said FLY in white lettering. The Tahae was seen in the parking lot. At 3:43 a.m., both vehicles were seen on camera at the Kangaroo gas station on Highway 69 South and Bear Creek Road. A person in dark-colored clothing with white writing on the shirt gets out of the F-250, and into the Tahoe. Both vehicles then leave, according to Tuscaloosa County court records. Authorities later identified the males as Wells and 19-year-old De'Ron Lucas. A deposition filed in the case against Lucas said he was seen on Facebook wearing the same shirt that had the FLY lettering on it. On Jan. 8, a photo lineup was shown to the clerk at Mapco, and she identified him as the person that came into the store wearing the FLY shirt with an underage male. She said they got in the green F-150 and went to the Kangaroo. Just over an hour later, Gilotti was killed. Lucas has not been charged in Gilotti's death or any crime in Jefferson County. He is charged with 10 car break-ins in Tuscaloosa County and remains in jail there. Despite the arrests of Wells and Johnson in the Hoover case, there's still much work to be done there as well as in other cities where they believe the band of thieves struck. "We have multiple individuals involved, we have mounds of evidence to sift through, we have multiple car break-ins and we're having to treat each of those break-ins like it itself is a murder scene so we have to be extremely meticulous,'' Rector said. "Hundreds of fingerprints have to be analyzed. We want to make sure we get this right. We're talking about holding people accountable for a series of crimes, we're talking about taking people's liberty away and charging them with murder. We have to be absolutely certain that we get this right. We've already gotten it right two times." A Missouri couple now dubbed "the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde" by the very authorities trying to find them is confirmed to be the suspects in a holdup Wednesday afternoon at a popular beach apparel shop in Destin, Florida. Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Harper entered Alvin's Island about noon and walked around the store looking at items, said Okaloosa County sheriff's spokeswoman Michele Nicholson. They met again at the back of the store and then Harper left as Fitzgerald put items in a basket for the cashier. As the cashier began to remove the items from the basket, Nicholson said Fitzgerald pulled out a handgun, took a cordless phone from near the register and walked behind the register. After taking an undisclosed amount of cash, he left the store heading east. No one was injured. Just hours later, authorities believe the couple robbed a Piggly Wiggly in Davisville. Escambia County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Amber Southard said the robbery happened about 4:40 p.m. A white, bald male with a thin build entered the store, showed a gun to the clerk and escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. He was wearing blue jeans and an American Eagle sweatshirt. After leaving the store, he got into a pickup truck driven by a white female wearing a hoodie, Southard said. Employees told NorthEscambia.com that an employee chased them briefly north on Highway 97 across the state line into Atmore. There were no injuries reported. According to store employees, the couple was clearly Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Nicole Harper, both age 31 of Joplin, Missouri. Employees said deputies showed them photographs of the couple from a law enforcement bulletin, and it was a certain match. Authorities said there were several sightings of the pair in various Florida towns on Wednesday. They are investigating reports that the pair tried to pass a bad check at a store as far south as Orlando. Fitzgerald and Harper told Tuscaloosa kidnap victim Kyle Dease they were trying to get to Florida to marry and start a new life. Joplin, Missouri police Cpl. Chuck Niess said Fitzgerald is a suspect in a Jan. 22 break-in at the home of a doctor. At least two guns were taken, and police believe those are the guns Fitzgerald has used in the Alabama and Georgia crimes. There is also a burglary investigation underway from a break-in at Fitzgerald's grandmother's home in which he is also a suspect. Niess said he's not at all surprised at the accusations against Fitzgerald. "This is exactly the same stuff he was doing here,'' he said. "The Joplin Police Department hopes he is caught quickly before he does harm." Missouri's Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Office Capt. David James said Fitzgerald and Harper are suspects in two stolen car cases there. On Jan. 26, a black Cadillac was stolen from X-treme Powersports, a used car lot in Webb City, Missouri. Two days later, lawmen spotted the stolen Cadillac and tried to pull the car over. The driver refused and the chase was on, James said. Ultimately, deputies lost sight of them. Later that day, James said, the couple is believed to have broken into a Cape Girardeau home. The suspects gained entry by smashing through a glass window. There was no one home at the time. They left the stolen Cadillac in the garage and stole the red Chevrolet Trailblazer that they would then drive to Alabama. James said the FBI in Missouri has been working with the FBI in Alabama. In Alabama, police say they robbed a Tuscaloosa hotel and kidnapped 26-year-old night clerk Kyle Dease at 6 a.m. Sunday. From there, they drove to Hoover where they attempted to carjack Zora Harris, a McDonald's manager arriving to work about 7:45 a.m. at the fast-food restaurant on U.S. 31 across from the Riverchase Galleria. Just 15 minutes later, police say the pair carried out a home invasion in Vestavia Hills, where they kidnapped a woman and took her Ford Edge. Both Alabama kidnapping victims were released unharmed. More than 36 hours later, Georgia police said Fitzgerald and Harper robbed a Perry gas station, abducting the 19-year-old clerk from that store. She, too, was released unharmed about 15 miles down the interstate. Florida investigators said no one was kidnapped in the Piggly Wiggly holdup Wednesday. Multiple law enforcement agencies are searching for Fitzgerald and Harper, including the U.S. Marshals and the FBI. The Marshals are offering a $10,000 reward for their capture. The couple is considered armed and dangerous, and shouldn't be approached. The Marshals and other lawmen are focusing their attention on Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, said Marty Keely, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Alabama. "Thankfully, no innocent member of the public has been physically harmed by this modern-day Bonnie and Clyde. This couple is armed and dangerous and has a history of violent crimes and a string of new charges,'' Keely said. "The U.S. Marshals and law enforcement need the public's assistance in locating this dangerous couple so we can get them off the streets and put a stop to their armed robberies, kidnapping and other crimes." Anyone with information is asked to call 911 or the nearest U.S. Marshal's Office or the U.S. Marshal's Service Communication Center at 1-800-336-0102 or email usms.wanted@usdoj.gov. A 26-year-old woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash in Blount County Thursday morning. Alabama State Troopers say a 2015 Ford Fusion struck a 2006 International box van at about 10:15 a.m. It happened on Blount County 41 at the intersection of Blount County 39, about two miles north of Altoona. The Ford's driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Troopers said she was not using a seat belt. She was identified as Meredith Mahaley Moore of Rainbow City. The box van's driver as uninjured. Troopers did not release any further information. They are still investigating. Birmingham police are searching for a suspect who fired a gun during a business robbery. The robbery was at AJ's Discount Store at the intersection of 26th Street North and 34th Avenue North. Police say an armed man entered the store shortly before 5:30 p.m. and demanded money. The man fired a shot, police said. No one was hit by the bullet, but someone received minor injuries from glass broken as a result. The suspect fled in a vehicle. Police are still searching the area. No description of the suspect was immediately available. Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham robbery investigators at 205-254-1776 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Alabama's superintendent of education, Tommy Bice, touted the state's new, oft-criticized school standards as providing a pathway toward economic prosperity. As the keynote speaker Friday morning at the State of the Schools breakfast for Huntsville-area schools, Bice said Alabama schools are producing better students because of the College & Career Readiness Standards - often referred to by the generic "common core." He shared the story of talking with a rural fifth-grade student from Mobile County. The student told Bice he was writing code for a robot to navigate a city scape. Bice said such feedback from the student reflected exactly what business and industry leaders across the state said they wanted from Alabama high school graduates. "We may be asking more of our kids because what those kids were able to tell me was why they were learning math and science, how it applied to the real world, what critical thinking it took to do that," he said. "They talked about their trial and error to get to the process they went through. "Everything they described to me was exactly what you told me what you wanted public education in this state to produce - kids who are intellectually curious, who are problem solving, think critically, working groups to solve problem that haven't even been identified yet, who feel free to make mistakes, to learn and be those leaders of the future. I could not be more excited." Despite the successes Bice pointed to, legislators make an almost-annual effort to repeal the standards -- including in the ongoing 2016 session. The state school board adopted the standards in 2010. Perhaps in terms that best reach Alabamians, Bice spoke in specific terms about how the new education standards are affecting the state from a financial perspective - citing an economic impact study from Auburn University-Montgomery. "By 2020, assuming the 90 percent (graduation rate) goal is reached, the economic output would be $430 million higher than it otherwise would have been and the Education Trust Fund revenues would be increased by $22 million," the study said. "The effect would be similar to landing an industrial mega-project every year the goal is maintained." Bice said it could alter the state's economic outlook. "We can be our own solution to our budget problems if we can get the legislature to continue to invest in the work we are currently doing," he said. "We'll bring the money through producing higher wage earner and students and people who will invest in our local communities." Bice announced that the state graduation rate last year was 89 percent, a dramatic rise from 72 percent when he came into office in 2011. The state school board had set a goal of 90 percent graduation rate by 2020. But because of the College & Career Readiness Standards, Bice said that 89 percent graduation rate had more significance. Instead of teaching a generation of children to pass a standardized test each spring, students no longer face that annual burden and have a more well-rounded way of being evaluated, Bice said. Under the CCR standards, six indicators have been established for success: Achieving a benchmark score on the ACT, a qualifying score on AP/IB exams, transcripted college credit through dual enrollment, benchmark score on ACT WorkKeys, receiving an approved industry credential and enlisting in the military. Bice said 70 percent of the 89 percent of graduates met at least one of those criteria. "That is a game-changer," he said. "That is a game-changer for our kids, it's a game-changer for our industries. And now we have kids graduating from high school with their diploma and with an industry-recognized credential. There's no dead end to that. You are ready to enter into the workforce and into their future. That is a significant change for us." Bice closed his speech by answering one of the frequent criticisms of the new standards - that they are mandated from Washington and not by state and local educators. "I say all this to say, we have a plan," Bice said. "We have a plan that is working. We have a plan that is showing results. Our return on investment has been confirmed by outside entities that are respected by people in Alabama. "We've set these standards. They're not run by anybody else outside the state of Alabama. They are ours. They are rigorous. Our biggest challenge is our adults, getting adults to believe in our kids." A non-profit organization based in Huntsville announced Friday the establishment of an endowment fund that has $200,000 committed to local schools so far. The Schools Foundation said its multi-year endowment fund will be a permanent source of capital that will provide financial support for Huntsville City, Madison City and Madison County schools. The three school systems - with more than 50,000 students altogether -- have no endowment in place for support, according to The Schools Foundation. The foundation said it has had numerous contributors so far, including The Alpha Foundation as well as current and past foundation board members and members of the community. "It was important to The Schools Foundation that we had a sizeable start of $200,000 committed to date," foundation vice president Don Nalley said in the announcement. "We believe as the endowment grows, it will represent a stable source of income, and each gift from the community brings us closer to our goal of ensuring the continuing excellence of our schools across Madison County in perpetuity." The endowment for kindergarten through 12th grade is the first of its kind in Alabama, the foundation said. "By establishing The Schools Foundation Endowment Fund, we are strengthening our promise to the community and school districts to support the efforts needed to continue to build world class schools," said Elizabeth Dotts Fleming, executive director of the foundation. "As the endowment grows, the distributions will enable the districts to operate creatively and provide unique opportunities for our students." Said Bob Lott, TSF board president, "Building The Schools Foundation Endowment Fund is a proactive way to protect the investments we have made - and continue to make - in educational excellence. The establishment of this endowment is an example of the tremendous things that can be done by tremendous people supporting K-12 education in Madison County." Calf stock image.jpg (Wikimedia Commons) State and local officials in Lauderdale County are investigating a series of slaughtered calves being found dumped along roadways throughout the county. "In each case, the calves appeared to have been processed for food purposes and the remains left behind," said Senior Trooper Johnathan Appling, a spokesman for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. Similar incidents have also taken place in Pickens County, as well as in Tennessee. Agents from ALEA's Agricultural and Rural Crime Unit are investigating the cases, in conjunction with the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office and Tennessee agriculture investigators, Appling said. Alabama Secretary of Law Enforcement Spencer Collier said in a news release that the Agricultural and Rural Crime Unit has had much success investigating crimes related to agriculture in the state. "Agriculture is a leading industry in Alabama and is an essential part of Alabama's economy and we take these crimes very seriously," Collier said. Anyone with information regarding these incidents should call the State Bureau of Investigation's crime tip line at 1-855-75CRIME. The Alabama Department of Public Health has confirmed two more tuberculosis cases in Perry County. The discovery has helped prompt an additional day of screening in Marion. The health department confirms one of the new patients is an adult. The other is a child less than 15 years old. The child was diagnosed very early through the Perry County screening program before having symptoms. The child had been in very close contact with an adult who had tuberculosis, according to ADPH. Both of the new patients and another adult patient are reportedly on tuberculosis medication and doing well. ADPH will offer an additional day for screening children at Francis Marion High School on Feb. 10. This screening will be for Francis Marion students only and will be free to students. All testing results will be confidential and will be given only to parents or guardians. "Our two goals are to find patients infected with the TB germ and patients who have TB disease. We can now treat the patients to prevent additional cases of TB disease and the spread of the TB germ to others," said Dr. Karen Landers, pediatrician and medical consultant for ADPH. "Children get TB disease from adults. Because it is difficult for children to cough up many TB germs, children generally do not spread TB disease to others," Landers said. She said pediatric tuberculosis is uncommon with Alabama, and only three patients with pediatric disease were diagnosed in 2015. The health department reports that as of Feb. 2, 2016, they've screened 2,023 patients in Marion. A total of 394 children were tested with 7 identified as having the tuberculosis germ. Altogether, a total of 151 patients have tested positive for the germ. Patients with the tuberculosis germ are not contagious and cannot transmit it to other people, Landers said. Most of these patients have received chest X-rays and are starting on medicine to prevent them from getting the disease. The remaining patients have appointments for chest X-rays within the next week. John H. Heard III, superintendent of the Perry County School System, stated, "We believe the science of how TB is transmitted and treated is sound. Children, especially younger children, generally do not spread TB. Our schools remain safe for students and staff. However, we want to ensure that our students, staff, parents and community know that every effort is being taken to prevent the spread of this disease and maintain a safe school environment. Therefore, we fully support offering testing to students and staff at Francis Marion School that have not been tested previously." Landers said the board of education has been working with the health department since the screening effort began. "The Perry County Board of Education has been very engaged in protecting the health of the children of Perry County and attended a special program about TB which I presented. We feel it is important to offer an additional voluntary opportunity for testing so that parents who were unable to have their children screened in the first round of testing can choose to do so if they wish. We are trying to make this as convenient as possible without parents having to worry about transportation or missed classes," she said. Toronto, Canada The trial of Jian Ghomeshi, the former Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio star, began on Monday in a Toronto courtroom. Ghomeshi faces four charges of sexual assault and one of choking to overcome resistance, to which he pleaded not guilty at a pre-trial hearing in October. Justice William Horkins heard testimony from the first of three complainants, none of whom can be named, who said that on two occasions when she was kissing Ghomeshi, he suddenly switched from being a nice and charming guy. On both occasions, he pulled her hair back very hard from behind, she said. On the second occasion, she claimed, he also hit her in the head multiple times. The allegations against Ghomeshi date back to 2002 and 2003, but the details surrounding them only came to light in the autumn of 2014, after the CBC announced that it had severed ties with its most prominent radio host. In response to his dismissal, Ghomeshi published a Facebook post giving his version of why the CBC let him go. On the same night, the Toronto Star published a story detailing allegations from three women, who claimed that Ghomeshi struck them with a closed fist or open hand; bit them; choked them until they almost passed out; covered their nose so they had difficulty breathing; and that they were verbally abused during work or after sex. Story goes viral The story immediately dominated headlines and the hashtag #beenrapedneverreported trended worldwide. But while the Ghomeshi case jumped to the international front pages, the issue of sexual harassment and assault was already a familiar one in Canada. Five months after the Ghomeshi allegations became public, the Ontario government launched a campaign called Its Never OK, an action plan to put an end to sexual harassment and violence. Last autumn, that plan became part of proposed legislation that aims to, among other things, enhance requirements for sexual harassment prevention programmes in workplaces, including making sure incidents are properly investigated. It will have a fundamental impact on workplace relations, on expectations placed both on the employer and on employees on how they treat each other, said Blaine Donais, the president and founder of the Workplace Fairness Institute. But Donais emphasises that this is not a new problem. In fact, other changes in workplace health and safety regulations over the previous five years in Ontario and across the country had worked to increase the kind of sensitisation of people to these issues, he said. Opinion: #BeenRapedNeverReported Ghomeshis was not the first instance of alleged harassment familiar to Canadians by the time it became national news fodder. In the months before his dismissal from the CBC, there were high-profile stories of sexual harassment and assault on Canadian campuses, within its military and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, as well as an ongoing debate over whether to hold a federal inquiry into the thousands of missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. These were stories that, on their own, had already prompted a level of national soul-searching. I dont think it was a coincidence that all of this stuff was coming forward at the same time. I think it was that people had reached a point and were fed up, and we were starting to connect the dots, said Julie Lalonde, a public educator on sexual violence in Ottawa. RELATED: Support grows for woman accusing Jian Ghomeshi of abuse Though earlier stories had involved national institutions and prompted discussion individually, the accused in those cases were largely unknown. Ghomeshi, on the other hand, is someone Canadians know. He was the kind of success story Canadians love: a homegrown talent who remained in Canada while breaking through to the US market. Not only that, Ghomeshi was synonymous with the CBC, the nations wholesome public broadcaster. In that dual role, he was effectively an extension of the country itself. Ghomeshis case was therefore less a catalyst than it was a tipping point. It said to people, this could be anyone. It could be your workplace. It could be that nagging feeling that something is happening in your workplace that is making you very uncomfortable, that may not have happened to you, but it could very well be real, said Barbara Byers, a secretary treasurer of the Canadian Labour Congress. And it is due to this that Lalonde thinks the conversation that began piecemeal is no longer fleeting. Every sexual assault centre in the province saw a dramatic increase in calls to their support lines, post-Jian. People were coming out of the woodwork to talk about assaults that had happened decades prior, said Lalonde. It really, truly, reached average people outside of the bubble, and I think thats what sustained it average, everyday women and men were forced to talk about this issue because it was everywhere. And that, to me, is what is encouraging about it. We finally reached out of the bubble. The trial continues. At the University of the Witwatersrand, where protests began, students navigate the future of a fractured movement. Johannesburg, South Africa At the far end of a narrow corridor is a door marked NC119. It opens to a small dorm room on Wits Universitys leafy East Campus. Inside, the blue and green curtains rustle each time the door is opened. Weve moved in here for the time being, says final-year BA student Busisiwe (Busi) Seabe. Weve taken this entire floor. Undeterred by the universitys recent move to have private security guards physically evict protesters from the concourse of Senate House home to Wits #FeesMustFall movement since it began last October Busi and her fellow Fallists have set up their new de facto headquarters here out of necessity. The single bed in the corner of the room is piled with bedding, the floor lined with suitcases and plastic bags. Stacks of paper, laptops, cosmetics and stationery cover the surface of the wooden desk. The Fallists sleep where they can. We are squatting, Busi explains. These are rooms that belong to fellow comrades of ours in a sense. While most residences at Wits close at the end of the year, some remain open during vacations to house students writing deferred or supplementary examinations. Since many Fallists missed papers and assignments because of the protests last year, they spent the December vacation period at the university studying and planning for a new round of protests. The university did make concessions for protesting students, allowing them to write deferred papers free of charge. But because it did not make provisions for accommodation, many protesters from out of town found themselves sleeping in lecture halls, labs, libraries, and even on the floor of the Senate House concourse. That was until university management called in security guards in riot gear to evict them and barricade the space from all but official visitors. Last October, #FeesMustFall brought thousands to the concourse of Senate House. But just three months later, the movement seems numerically impoverished just 50 students arrived to occupy the same area on the first day of registration, blocking entrances, barricading elevators and singing songs of struggle. The students successfully brought registration to a standstill for a day. But then the university called in security and the students were evicted. Eighteen-year-old Tshepiso Modupe, a former first-year clinical medicine student who had just completed her last supplementary exam earlier that day, was among those sleeping in Senate House. We were staying there because we dont have money to stay [in university residences] , she explains. I personally have no funding at all. That is why #FeesMustFall is so important to Tshepiso. In December, we ended up living in classrooms and lecture rooms and things like that. If you want to take a bath, there is nowhere to bathe, so you borrow a student card and go to the swimming pool, and you swim, she says. We were already seen as hooligans, as savages, and with this we were basically being reduced to the very same savages that we were called. But, for a lot of us here, if we dont fight we have no choice but to go home. Home for Tshepiso is Bodibe, a small village in the North West province, where her mother is the familys only breadwinner. She works as an administrator at a youth detention centre, and her basic salary supports Tshepiso, her younger brother and four extended family members, including two other cousins who are also in school. Tshepisos first-year fees for clinical medicine cost R100,000 (around $6,290). She was lucky to get a bursary, but now needs to repay it after she decided to study Politics and African literature instead. I still have no idea where Ill get the money, she says. I was apolitical previously. I didnt care, I was unbothered. And now I notice that when the group of people are fed up with the conditions in which they are living, and fed up of the government that is governing over them, they actually do have power, Tshepiso says. I used to think that even if we did do something it would just be a few of us and it doesnt matter. But now #FeesMustFall is something that is known around the world. And as much as we are constantly being fought and attacked, we are still growing as a movement. Free education for all or free education for the poor? Within weeks of igniting in the classrooms and corridors of this university last October, the #FeesMustFall movement had spread to campuses nationwide, marched on parliament and to the presidential seat of power at the Union Buildings, and put enough pressure on the government to force it to retreat on plans to increase university tuition fees for 2016. Social action achieved in seven days what we vice chancellors had been talking about for a decade, says Wits vice chancellor Professor Adam Habib, from his spacious 11th-floor office in Senate House with its view across Johannesburg. He attributes much of the success of the original movement to the fact that as well as being multi-class and multi-racial, they were organised beyond party and ideological divide. It was this fact, more than any other, that brought thousands of students and their supporters on to the streets at parliament and the Union Buildings, Habib says. The vice chancellor agrees with students that the government has been complacent about the significantly underfunded education sector. But the protests, he says, have shaken up the government. The fact that they made R6.9bn [around $430m] available between October and January says a lot. There had never been R6.9bn made available for any piece of social policy in three months in the last 21 years, he says. In terms of wider financial transformation of the sector, Habib believes that some change is possible, but asks: Are we looking for free education or for free education for students in need? Do I think free education for the poor is possible? Yes. Do I think its possible tomorrow? Possibly not. Do I think its possible within a reasonable time in the near future? Yes, Habib says. But I dont think its possible without trade-offs. And trade-offs can have huge societal implications . Lets understand the implications so that we dont replicate the same divisions were talking about ending. Party over movement? Just three months since the first protests began, and with a new academic year about to commence on February 8, the movement has already fractured, with ideological divides and political factionalism leading to feelings of abandonment and betrayal of trust within the student group. While the core group of Fallists still actively protesting on campus are wary of the ruling African National Congress (ANC)-aligned Student Representative Council (SRC), who they feel abandoned the protests before the full mandate of the movement had been achieved, the SRC feels that it has been excluded from a movement that has capitalised on its initial hard work but taken it in a different direction from that originally intended. The core group of Fallists who now run the movement hoped the 0 percent fee increase would galvanise support for their greater goals, including insourcing of university cleaners and free education for all. But the majority of the student body, represented by the SRC, considered the 0 percent a victory in itself, and decided to halt the protest action and to continue with final exams. Unfortunately near to the end of the year, many students wanted to write exams. And many who are not politically conscientised didnt really care if we had come to an agreement on outsourcing with the university or not, so a decision was taken to go with what the majority of students wanted, explains Shaeera Kalla, the former Wits SRC president, who was one of those at the forefront of last years protests. I personally wanted to continue the protests until we had reached an agreement with the university, because we had bargaining power when we were still closed. The minute you open you lose all your bargaining power, so its politically silly, she says. But the democratic centralism binds you to any decision. And so the SRC, including the incoming SRC, made a decision to end the protests and change the tactic, write exams and then reconvene. The Fallists believe the SRC chose to stop protesting after caving in to pressure from their mother body, the ruling ANC. They chose the party over the movement, Tshepiso says. We said to ourselves, you are not leading us in the right way. If you want us to continue with exams then you are not with #FeesMustFall. #FeesMustFall or #Access? Shaeera Kallas successor as SRC president, Nompendulo (Ulo) Mkhatshwa, sits outside a cafe in the now mostly vacant Senate House wearing a tank top and green army cap bearing the ANC insignia. She talks about the principles of non-racialism, non-sexism and support for the working classes principles, she says, of the ruling party that helped usher in the original protests. But she disagrees with those who say the SRC cannot be critical of the ruling party. The two have a complementary, contradictory relationship, she explains, adding that [as young people] we ought to be able to help it steer its thinking. Ulo and the SRC have largely distanced themselves from the core #FeesMustFall movement. Each group now works on protests and projects independently of the other, with the SRC together with the university launching a campaign called #Access. It aims to raise R10million (about $630,000) in a month, and hopes by the end of February to have enough money to settle the historic debt incurred by Wits students in the missing middle those too poor to afford their fees, but not poor enough to qualify for government support. Discussing the split, Ulo says: It became very antagonistic and SRC members were just not welcome in particular spaces. The kind of things that were thrown at us youre sell-outs, you know nothing about being black, you know nothing about being poor, what do you know about the struggle of the black child, what do you know about the struggle of the poor child it was so offensive to many of our comrades because they said you dont even know where I come from. Back in Room NC119, second-year BA student Kensani Masisi who refers to herself as a typical middle-class black says she is upfront about her own level of privilege but is committed to achieving free education for all. She says the SRC tends to align the successes of the movement with its own political allegiances. The movement, and students as a whole, feel like the SRC have delegitimised themselves in a way. They have sort of put the students behind them and them in front of the students, when they should actually be one, she adds. This isnt a SRC movement, this is a student movement. Ulo says the SRCs biggest fear for the student movement is infiltration by society. The students mandate is free education. But we know society wants land, we know society wants economic freedom. Theres a lot that we want as society. We know others want complete revolt, a new governance structure and regime change essentially. And thats fine, but start your own protests, mobilise your own people and start from scratch, she says. Kensani disagrees. #FeesMustFall is not just about fees, she argues. Its about changing the entire structure of the state, of the country. Its more than just about even going to university, its about the social construct that we live in, the type of society that we live in, and how it sort of blockades us from certain opportunities and certain ways of life. Tshepiso agrees. Fees are the starting point. When I first got here I thought that Wits was bliss because I saw a bunch of white people sit with a bunch of black people, having lunch and hugging. And I didnt realise that this is one of the most segregated places ever. Because when you come from a village and you hardly even know English and you are a straight-A student and you get to med school, its almost as if whiteness is a trend . And so decolonisation starts in the mind first, where you look at yourself in the mirror and say, actually Im fine perfectly the way that I am. And Tshepiso believes decolonisation requires the entire education system to be restructured. Because youre not just teaching doctors, youre teaching black people. And white people. Everyone needs to be conscientised on the state of the country. The institution is sick Danai Mupotsa is a lecturer in the African literature department and part of a group that helps to support and nurture the Fallists, many of whom are her students. I tell this to the students, that youve been taught to believe that thinking happens here, she says, pointing to her head. But what is that thing that makes your stomach tense, what is the thing that holds you back? she asks. And thats the thing we need to talk about. Danai and her fellow concerned academics participated in a protest theatre event during registration week that aimed to remind university management what is at stake when private security is allowed to breach the sanctity of a university space. Brandishing signs that read demilitarise, democratise, decolonise, they sang old struggle songs, hung Free Education banners and stood aside as the student protesters pulled down a barricade blocking their access to the universitys Great Hall. I think what needs to be better understood about the demand for free education now besides arguments that its unreasonable and it has no rationale to it is that its a broad conversation about what the university means and its a conversation the university should have had the integrity to have before students had to be the ones to push it, Danai says. Its not simply the case of money or fees, although thats part of it. But were talking about historical debt that students inherit that is also structured into teaching and learning, and pedagogy and the structure of the environment. Whats impoverished about the universitys understanding is that they have decided to pick on black students and black staff as the problem. Were talking here about the phenomenological whiteness of this institution, which says the institution is fine and we are the sickness, whereas this institution is sick . What I see out of #FeesMustFall is that commitment to do the work, and to have compassion a political compassion for each other, even when we disagree and are angry. The least the university can do is have the humility to be self-reflective and do the same. So here we go again. Nearly five years into Syrias gruelling civil war, and states gathered once more to work out how they were going to fund its humanitarian fallout this time to the tune of some $9bn. There is no small amount of sad irony that the London conference came a day after the suspension of the nascent Syrian peace talks. The United Nations assessment of the number of people in need of aid in Syria grew to 13.5 million in 2015 and it looks as if the international focus will now be on dealing with the consequences of war rather than the causes. The consequences are still hard to believe. Since the start of the Syria crisis, average life expectancy has fallen by 20 years. Syrians make up a fifth of all global homeless, and since 2011 50 Syrian families have been displaced every hour of every day. However, in addition to the writing of large cheques, this humanitarian moment represents a chance for states to fundamentally alter the role, rights and future for refugees fleeing from war. We are, after all, living in a new age of refugees, with more people displaced by conflict than at any other time since World War II. What is more, the average time now spent as a refugee is 17 years, and there needs to be a practical recognition of the protracted nature of this status. Record-breaking sums of money alone cannot effectively address this. The British Development Secretary, Justine Greening, described the current situation well, criticising the systems of aid as not for purpose in the modern day: The way the humanitarian system works at present is a bit like a health service which only has an accident and emergency department. While the role of blankets and emergency food rations have their place, the fallout from the Syrian conflict should prompt a more serious look at more sustainable options going forward. Indeed, there needs to be a paradigm shift in the nature of humanitarian infrastructure in order to meet with the realities of today. There is a need for a new international consensus and agreement as to how aid should be used with civilian protection placed at the forefront. by Work, for example, is a key area of concern and potential. Changing employment laws to allow refugees to work legally could bring the refugees hope, dignity and financial security as well as improving the economies of the host countries. It also offers a more sustainable solution than creating aid dependency in the shadow of conflicts that could go on for generations. Indeed, according to the Turkish Family and Social Policies Minister Sema Ramazanoglu, 85 percent of the nearly three million Syrian refugees currently residing in Turkey do not wish to return to their homeland under the current circumstances. A coalition of more than 90 humanitarian and human rights groups including Amnesty International, Oxfam and the Malala Foundation have called for better access to education and jobs for refugees in Syria and neighbouring states. New ideas of how to integrate Syrian refugees abroad are being explored. This week Physicians for Human Rights called for Syrian medics to be allowed to temporarily practise in neighbouring countries to which they have fled. OPINION: Has the West betrayed the Syrian people? Others are looking to create employment zones where the famous Syrian entrepreneurial spirit can be harnessed, refugees can work and investors are given tax exemptions, so the effect of legalising employment is managed and domestic labour is protected. In addition, local councils inside Syria are being supported with vocational and empowerment programmes. Meanwhile, there needs to be a serious revision of aid delivery mechanisms at the highest level. The Assad regime is ignoring three-quarters of all UN requests to deliver aid in Syria. Of 113 requests from the UN to provide inter-agency aid convoys, only 10 percent were allowed to reach their destination. There is a need for a new international consensus and agreement as to how aid should be used with civilian protection placed at the forefront. Syrians are facing a war without law and a war without end, said David Miliband, President and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, recently. If the problem of the future of Syria is too difficult to countenance, then the focus should be on the future of Syrians themselves. We must start planning for the generations of tomorrows Syrians today. To do this a transformational rather than business-as-usual approach is an absolute necessity. James Denselow is a writer on Middle East politics and security issues and a research associate at the Foreign Policy Centre. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Several local organisations have stepped up to provide creative outlets for people arriving from sub-Saharan Africa. Rabat In the working-class district of Yacoub El Mansour in the Moroccan capital Rabat, women from Iraq, Morocco and the Democratic Republic of Congo gathered around sewing machines inside the offices of Migrants du Monde, stitching traditional designs. Otherwise, I would just sit at home and start thinking about awful things. More than the money, this makes me feel useful, said Iraqi refugee Khadija Hussein Salih, displaying her latest creation, an elegant navy caftan with delicate cream embroidery. Salih, whose children died in a school bombing, fled with her husband to Morocco many years ago, possessing only the clothes on their backs. The sewing workshop has helped her to earn a bit of money, but has also saved her from depression, Salih told Al Jazeera. According to Nathalie Freige, the marketing manager of Migrants du Monde, the workshop provides refugees with a chance to learn a craft from each other. These women have fled their country and often arrive with only their luggage and memories, and sometimes its a memory of their embroidery heritage, Freige told Al Jazeera. They have the opportunity to transmit their knowledge so that an Afghan teaches a Congolese, who teaches a Moroccan, etc. IN PICTURES: Syrians scale fence at Spains African fortress With intense media scrutiny on the Syrian exodus to Europe, the role of Morocco as a hub for refugees looking to cross the Mediterranean has generated less attention in recent days. But thousands of people from sub-Saharan Africa continue to flee poverty and war in their homelands to cross into Morocco, with an eventual goal of reaching Europe. Increasing border restrictions, however, have made Morocco a default destination for many, and refugees frequently complain of violence and discrimination by authorities there. A theatre play can spread more empathy and unity than political speeches. by Bilal al-Jouhari, GADEM spokesperson Morocco announced major immigration reforms in 2013, offering legal residency to refugees, but critics say they continue to face abuse, camp closures and forced relocation. In the meantime, a number of Moroccan organisations have stepped up to provide space for creative expression for refugees. The street theatre production B7al B7al (All Equal) created by Mix City in Casablanca and co-funded by the European Union uses a style of performance called the theatre of the oppressed. The project is situated in a public place, and passers-by gather around as the story about typical issues refugees confront from dizzying administrative procedures to housing discrimination unfolds gradually, allowing spectators to better understand the challenges sub-Saharan refugees face. GADEM, an anti-racism organisation that has condemned police evictions and assaults against refugees, has also ventured into the cultural field, recently co-sponsoring a play written and produced by refugee women about their experiences in Morocco. We need to realise that whether they are staying or just passing through, migrants have rights and that society and government need to listen to them, Bilal al-Jouhari, a spokesperson for GADEM, told Al Jazeera. We believe that culture is the key for a common ground of understanding between people from different backgrounds A theatre play can spread more empathy and unity than political speeches. While Morocco was long considered a transit land for refugees heading towards Europe, it is now a place where many people are choosing to remain or take refuge, Jouhari added. So its necessary to start to push for more coexistence between all the populations here. Living together and accepting each other starts by understanding each other, which can only be done by cultural initiatives. And politicians need to know that its very vital for a mixed society. In addition to the play, GADEM also organises an annual festival where talks, documentaries and workshops zone in on issues such as racism and stereotyping. Q&A: When we spoke to Leila Alaoui on tackling taboos in art However, the fact that undocumented sub-Saharans in Morocco are still prevented from crossing borders, earning a living and sending their children to school, underscores the difficulty of turning the empathy generated by such projects into tangible change. The artist residency LAppartement 22 in Rabat recently hosted two Nigerian artists, writer Emmanuel Iduma and visual artist Emeka Okereke. Their goal was to explore the meaning of African borders in an installation presented at the end of the summer. However, Okereke was denied a visa to Morocco to fulfill his arts residency so communication across borders, conversations recorded on Skype, and messages sent via WhatsApp became part of the project, initially conceived as a means of showing solidarity with undocumented persons. One cannot pretend to understand the plight of the migrant if one does not share the same context and reality with the migrant, Iduma said, noting that empathy becomes useful when the audience is gripped by a new consciousness capable of moving the listener to action. Suspects arrested and local policemen suspended in Bangalore after yet another apparently racially motivated incident. Indian authorities have suspended two policemen and made several arrests over a mob attack on a Tanzanian student in Bangalore in a case that has caused national embarrassment. A mob attacked the 21-year-old woman as she drove with friends in the southern city in Karnataka state on Sunday night, beating her, tearing off her shirt and setting the car ablaze. Nine people have now been arrested over the assault, which came in apparent revenge for a fatal road accident in which a Sudanese man had allegedly run over a woman less than an hour before. We have arrested four more persons on Thursday night in the assault case of Tanzanian woman, taking the total to nine, including five on Thursday morning, NS Megharikh, Bangalore police commissioner, said on Friday. Call it what it is. A racist attack. Not a case of "road rage" https://t.co/UhzubxqgMz Ramah Nyang (@Ramah_Nyang) February 4, 2016 Two police officers who were at the scene were suspended for failing to stop the mob from attacking the foreigners and for not registering a complaint, the commissioner said. The management student said in a complaint lodged with police on Wednesday that the rioting mob attacked her car as they drove near the scene of the road accident less than an hour later. Our car was set ablaze. They tugged at my T-shirt and it tore, leaving me without anything. They continued to thrash us and we ran for our lives, she was quoted as saying in her complaint by The Times of India. Police failure Police have come under fire for allegedly failing to stop the attack after the student said she pleaded with an officer for help, stressing that she was Tanzanian and knew nothing of the accident. He told us, You all look alike and should get the black man who ran over a woman in the area, she alleged in her complaint. Speaking to the Indian Express newspaper, John Kijazi, Tanzanias high commissioner to India, said: According to my view, she was attacked because she was black, just like the person who was driving the vehicle and caused the accident. Kijazi said: She was attacked because of her skin colour. The accident happened at a spot, and the woman was not there at that spot and was some distance away. She was not involved at all. The student was getting threatening messages for two days, along with other friends, he told the Indian Express. She is traumatised. We are in touch with her and other students. She said she felt like in hell. Right now, she is stable, but shocked along with the others. Authorities defensive Local authorities in Karnataka, which is ruled by the Congress Party, have dismissed claims that the attack was racially motivated, describing it as a case of mistaken identity. G Parameshwara, Karnatakas home minister, denied that the student was stripped and paraded naked as alleged. I met the victim personally to boost her self-confidence. I assured her that she would get justice, he said, adding that the probe has been handed over to the Central Crime Branch. The Indian government is reported to have asked for a detailed report from the Karnataka government on the incident, which Sushma Swaraj, Indias foreign minister, has described as shameful. I have asked the Chief Minister to ensure safety and security of all foreign students and stringent punishment for the guilty. Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 3, 2016 Vikas Swarup, spokesman for Indias external affairs ministry, said: We have assured our African friends that necessary legal action will be taken and stringent punishment will be given to those involved in the attack and that we will take all steps to ensure the safety and security of African students in India. In 2014 in New Delhi, a mob attacked three African men in a metro station for apparently harassing local women, in what was suspected to be a racially motivated incident. Delhis former law minister was also accused in 2014 of harassing African women after he led a vigilante mob through an area of the capital, accusing the women of being prostitutes. WikiLeaks founder seeks to secure freedom to walk out of embassy in London without fear of arrest for rape allegations. Julian Assange, founder of the whistleblower site WikiLeaks, has hailed a significant victory after a UN panel found that he is arbitrarily detained. Assange, who has been hiding in Ecuadors embassy in London since 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden to face rape allegations, said on Friday that it was now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom as a whole to implement the verdict by letting him walk free from the embassy. We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face, Assange said, addressing a press conference via a video link from the embassy Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. They also dismissed the non-binding legal opinion of the UN panel. Swedens foreign ministry said that the panel had no right to interfere in an ongoing case handled by a Swedish public authority. Philip Hammond, UK foreign secretary, called Assange a fugitive from justice, saying: This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it. PROFILE: Julian Assanges WikiLeaks Melinda Taylor, a lawyer representing Assange, told Al Jazeera from London that she and her client were obviously very disappointed by the response of Hammond. We find it extremely surprising that the United Kingdom would say international law is ridiculous or that the United Nations charter is ridiculous and if they would disregard the obligations under binding convention such as the international covenant or the convention against torture in this case, she said. The UN Working Group does not have the authority to order the release of a detainee and Fridays ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments. Al Jazeeras Barnaby Phillips, reporting from London, said: Perhaps one positive outcome that may come from todays events is that the British, Ecuadorian and Swedish governments behind the scenes will feel a renewed pressure to come to some kind of a discreet diplomatic solution. Assange walked into the embassy in June 2012 to avoid the threat of arrest and extradition to Sweden. He has lived there ever since in a small office room with a bed, computer, sun lamp, treadmill and access to a small balcony. In a statement, the panel said it had adopted an opinion in which it considered that Mr Julian Assange was arbitrarily detained by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It added: The working group also considered that the detention should be brought to an end and that Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation. READ MORE: UN panel says Assange arbitrarily detained since 2010 Swedish authorities want to speak to Assange about a rape allegation whose statute of limitations does not expire until 2020. Elizabeth Fritz, the lawyer for the woman who has accused Assange of rape, said the UN ruling was offensive to her client. That a man who is wanted on an arrest warrant for rape should be awarded compensation for intentionally hiding from the judicial system for more than five years is offensive to my client and to the human rights of all victims of crime, she said. Assange fears that if he went to Sweden, he could then be sent to the US and face prison. Wikileaks activities including the release of 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables have infuriated the US. The main source of the leaks, US Army soldier Chelsea Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for breaches of the Espionage Act. Controversial leaked document proposes new assessments for 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees to stop extremism. A leaked government document calling for enhanced screening of Australias humanitarian refugee intake from Syria and Iraq has attracted widespread criticism from opposition parties and members of the Lebanese community, who were singled out as being prone to extremism. The sensitive Cabinet document, which was leaked to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday, recommends that the government applies additional screening criteria to 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees who are set to resettle in Australia as part of the countrys response to the refugee crisis in the Middle East. It is expected that some refugees from this conflict will bring with them issues, beliefs or associations that lead them to advocate or engage in politically motivated or communal violence, the leaked document said, explaining why additional screening was required. This new framework will introduce an enforceable integration framework to assess migrants suitability for life in Australia, a revamped citizenship test and citizenship pledge to strengthen [refugees] accountability and enhanced access, use and protection of sensitive information to strengthen intelligence-led risk-based decision-making [when assessing refugees], the document said. Prepared by the Department of Immigration, the draft document also recommended that enhanced screening processes should be extended to other areas of the humanitarian resettlement programme, on a risk basis. Australia announced in September that it would accept 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq, in addition to its 2015 humanitarian intake of 13,750 refugees. So far, only 20 Syrian refugees have been resettled under the programme. Both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Friday they have not read the leaked document. I can just say that we will continue as a government to ensure that we do everything we can to keep Australians safe at home and we will do everything we can to ensure that we maintain control of our borders, Turnbull told Adelaides 5AA radio station. The opposition Labor Partys immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the proposals were an enormously regressive step. This verges dangerously down the path of putting in place a discriminatory immigration policy, he told the ABC. If this is where the government wants to take us, we are returning to a very dark past indeed. The smaller opposition Greens party went further, with Senator Sarah Hanson-Young saying the leaked document was a direct attack on people seeking asylum and designed to stop them from permanently resettling in Australia. While not the focus of the new recommendations, the document also riled members of Australias large Lebanese community, who were singled out as evidence of why the government should adopt tougher screening standards. The most prominent ethnic group among Australian Sunni extremists are the Lebanese, the document said. The majority of this cohort can be linked to the wave of humanitarian migration to Australia as a result of the Lebanese civil war. Australias Lebanese Muslim Association issued a statement on Friday rejecting the accusations, saying the leaked document further isolates and vilifies the Muslim community. These accusations do nothing more than fuel division within communities and create obstacles to community cohesion, said Samier Dandan, the associations president. Government denies claims it is sending armed agents to UN-run refugee camps to kidnap and kill opposition supporters. Refugees from Burundi, who fled violence in their country to neighbouring Tanzania, have accused their government of sending armed men into a UN-run refugee camp to hunt down opposition supporters. Several refugees have told Al Jazeera that they fear for their lives and that there is no adequate security in the camps in Tanzania to protect them. The camp is currently not safe. We live in fear of Burundian government militia [members] who are in the camp, one refugee said in a phone interview, after Al Jazeera visited a camp in north west Tanzania. The Burundian government has denied the allegations. More than 200,000 people have fled Burundi since the African country slipped into a violent political crisis, and half of the refugees have sought shelter in Tanzania. READ MORE: African Union decides against peacekeepers for Burundi Al Jazeera visited the Nduta camp, where over 40,000 refugees are currently staying. But the team was only allowed to interview refugees who had been screened by officials from the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR. The UN said the screening was for the protection of refugees. However, other refugees in the camp who later spoke to Al Jazeera by phone said Burundi had dispatched agents who carried out attempted killings and abductions. One man told Al Jazeera that he narrowly escaped an abduction. Some of our group were tied up. We were loaded onto a truck and driven away. My friend and I jumped off and ran away to the Tanzanian border, where we met more government militia. They killed my friend but I escaped over the border, he said. Several other refugees also said dozens of Burundians had left the camp in November in the belief they would join an armed rebel group back in Burundi. The refugees said they later learned it was a trap set by government-backed armed groups, and that most members of the group were killed, according to reports from people inside Burundi. The refugees said they reported the incidents to camp officials, but most of the government agents are still at large. Burundis denial Contesting the refugees accounts, Alain Nyamitwe, the Burundian foreign minister, told Al Jazeera the allegations were baseless. I dont believe that there are militia operating in Tanzania as we have heard [from] UNHCR authorities, he said. In any case, anything beyond the borders of Burundi is not the responsibility of the government of Burundi. The Tanzanian government, for its part, said it was not aware of the allegations, but that it would do whatever it could to secure the camps. The government has been very strict, and whenever we have spotted any kind of activity that is trying to suggest there is any kind of recruitment, we have actually taken serious measures, Harrison Mseke, Tanzanian director of refugees, told Al Jazeera. Only last week some refugees were actually apprehended and they were taken before the courts and charged on issues that were associated. Burundi has been plunged into violence since last year, after President Pierre Nkurunziza won a controversial third term, prompting street protests, a failed coup and sectarian killings. A leaked UN report has accused the neighbouring Rwandan government of recruiting and training Burundian refugees in a camp in Rwanda to fight against the Burundian government. Rwanda has denied the allegations. With reporting from Malcolm Webb in Tanzania Health official says those who died are believed to have developed rare nerve disorder after contracting the virus. Colombian health officials say they believe three people have died after contracting the Zika virus and developing a rare nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre. The announcement on Friday is the first instance in which health officials have directly blamed the mosquito-borne Zika virus for causing deaths. We have confirmed and attributed three deaths to Zika, Martha Lucia Ospina, head of Colombias National Health Institute, said. In this case, the three deaths were preceded by Guillain-Barre syndrome. Guillain-Barre is a rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the nervous system. READ MORE: In search of answers on the Zika outbreak in Brazil Cases of Guillain-Barre, which causes weakness and sometimes paralysis, have increased in tandem with the outbreak of the Zika virus currently sweeping Latin America. The timing has raised health officials suspicions that the neurological condition is a complication of the mosquito-borne virus. Zika may also be connected to an increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains. Most Guillain-Barre patients recover but the syndrome is sometimes deadly. Ospina, an epidemiologist, said another six deaths were under investigation for a possible link to Zika. Other cases [of deaths linked to Zika] are going to emerge, she said. The world is realising that Zika can be deadly. The mortality rate is not very high but it can be deadly. Colombia has been hit hardest by the Zika outbreak of any country except Brazil, with more than 20,000 cases, including more than 2,000 pregnant women. Zika normally causes mild flu-like symptoms and a rash, or goes unnoticed altogether. But Alejandro Gaviria, Colombian health minister, said the apparent risk of deadly complications was worrying. Brazil warns against kissing Meanwhile, across the eastern border in Brazil, a top health official has cautioned pregnant women to think twice before kissing for fear that it could spread the virus. Paulo Gadelha, president of the Fiocruz Research Institute in Rio de Janeiro, said scientists have found live samples of the Zika virus in saliva and urine samples. He said the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids required further study. Fridays announcement coincided with the start of Carnival, a five-day-long festival in Brazil, where kissing as many people as possible is a pastime. Gadelha said that the discovery need not alter Carnival plans for anyone but pregnant women. A hotel fire in Iraqs autonomous Kurdish region kills at least 21 people, mostly foreigners, local media reports. At least 21 people have been killed and dozens have been injured in a hotel fire in the capital of Iraqs autonomous Kurdish region, a local news agency has reported. The Governor of Erbil, Nawzad Hadi, told Rudow news agency on Friday that the fire at the Capitol hotel on Gulan street had killed at least 21 people, including foreigners. Hadi told reporters at the scene that 15 of the victims were Filipino citizens who worked at a massage centre at the hotel. Some of the other victims were from Iraq and Palestine, he said. According to officials, the fire started in the basement of the building and later spread to the spa area. Rawand Hawezi, a doctor at the Erbil emergency hospital, told Rudaw that they had received the bodies of seven of the victims. At least 10 firefighters were also taken to the hospital for treatment after suffering from intense smoke inhalation. World Bank report says GDP growth could increase from 3.3 percent to 7.8 percent in five years if conflicts ended. The Middle East could experience steady economic growth over the next few years if regional conflicts ended, according to a World Bank report. Lili Mottaghi, World Bank economist, said in a report released on Thursday that a peaceful solution in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen could lead to a swift rebound in oil output allowing them to increase fiscal space, improve current account balances and boost economic growth in the medium term with positive spillovers to neighbouring countries. The quarterly report on the economic state of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) highlighted the heavy turmoil in the region and its weakened economic growth over the past five years. The international financial institution estimated that the war in Syria, combined with its spillovers to neighbouring countries, had cost $35bn in output. It also said that rebuilding Libyas state infrastructure would cost a staggering $200bn. RELATED: Air strikes kill dozens in Syrias Aleppo The region would also experience an increase in its gross domestic product (GDP) growth from 3.3 percent to 7.8 percent over the next year five years if MENA countries transitioned to full-fledged democracies, according to the report. Phillippe Fargues, the director of the Migration Policy Centre at the European University Institute, said he agreed that peace could bring economic growth. There is a cost to war, security and conflict. And that cost is enormous in terms of infrastructure that is demolished, etc. So they are right, if peace comes to the Middle East we may expect that economic growth starting again, Fargues told Al Jazeera. Syrias civil war has resulted in the displacement of more than 4.5 million refugees to neighbouring countries of Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq. On Thursday, more than $10bn in aid to help refugees affected by the five-year-old conflict was pledged at a Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London. At the conference, Jordans King Abdullah discussed his countrys pressures in dealing with an increasing number of Syrian refugees. The UN estimates that there are roughly 635,000 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan, but Abdullah has previously said that his country has taken in 1.4 million. Looking into the eyes of my people and seeing the hardship and distress they carry, I must tell you we have reached our limit, Abdullah said. Last year, a 2015 report published by the UNHCR said that Jordanians were losing job opportunities due to a new market of low-skilled jobs taken up by Syrian refugees who were more willing to accept lower wages than Jordans workers. READ MORE: Time for an aid revolution for Syrians and others The report argued that many of these jobs could have been available to Jordanians, particularly youth, if they were not occupied by Syrian refugees. Fargues acknowledged that the refugees would not return to Syria overnight due to the ongoing nature of the conflict. He said that if the international community gave more aid to countries like Jordan and Lebanon, economic pressures might be eased while simultaneously helping refugees. It has to put more money in the economies of these countries to create employment because that is your link of stability now. That will create public expenses in these countries and should result in a positive impact. After recent military gains by Assad forces, Gulf kingdom ready to put boots on the ground in Syrias escalating war. Saudi Arabia is prepared to deploy ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) if US-led coalition leaders agree to the offer. Saudis air force has targeted ISIL with air strikes since the campaign began in Syria in September 2014, but the Gulf kingdom is now ready to provide ground forces to defeat the armed group, a military spokesman said on Thursday. Today, the Saudi kingdom announced its readiness to participate with ground troops with the US-led coalition against ISIL, because we now have the experience in Yemen, Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri told Al Jazeera. We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground. Asseri didnt elaborate on how many soldiers the kingdom could send. The Saudi offer is expected to be discussed when the United States convenes a meeting of defence ministers from coalition countries fighting ISIL in Brussels next week. Lawrence Korb, a former US assistant secretary of defence, said while Middle East countries have armed and supplied rebels during the five-year Syrian civil war, putting boots on the ground would mark a major shift. He noted that it may also signal to Russia whose air power has greatly aided President Bashar al-Assads recent major military gains a need to return to Geneva peace negotiations that were postponed this week. The fact that you will have Saudi troops on the ground fighting with the rebels against the government is a very significant escalation, and hopefully will get the Russians to these peace talks, rather than thinking they can create a mini-Alawite state in Syria, Korb told Al Jazeera. READ MORE: Air strikes worsen Syrias humanitarian situation Ashton Carter, the US defense secretary, welcomed the Saudi offer to participate in ground operations in Syria. Carter said increased activity by other countries would make it easier for the United States to accelerate its fight against ISIL. That kind of news is very welcome, he told reporters on Thursday. Saudi Arabia is deeply involved in neighbouring Yemens civil war, where it is fighting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels both on the ground and from the air. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have long viewed Iran as a regional menace, and Riyadh and Tehran back opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Number of fighters has reportedly dropped in Iraq and Syria while gaining more ground and influence in Libya. ISIL fighters have streamed into Libya in recent months, heightening fears the fighters are gaining ground and influence in the divided north African country. About 5,000 Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant fighters are now in Libya double earlier estimates while the number in Iraq and Syria has dropped, a security analyst said on Thursday. The updated figures come as the US administration of President Barack Obama faces growing calls for the American military to step up action against ISIL in Libya, where fighters have already seized the city of Sirte and an adjoining length of Mediterranean coastline. Patrick Skinner, a former CIA case officer now with The Soufan Group consultancy, said the US has few good Libya options, but there is growing consensus something must be done. They are just terrified of it getting much worse, fast, Skinner told the AFP news agency. Once [ISIL] takes something, its really hard and really bloody and really expensive to take it back. NATO defence ministers are meeting in Brussels next week to evaluate the ongoing US-led campaign against ISIL and to discuss ways of redoubling efforts. No large-scale US military action is contemplated in Libya, senior US administration officials told the Associated Press news agency. Military options under consideration include raids and advisory missions by US special operations forces and air strikes, the officials said on condition of anonymity. The last thing in the world you want is a false caliphate with access to billions of dollars of oil revenue, John Kerry, the US secretary of state, said on Tuesday. READ MORE: Iraq blames ISIL for deadly attacks on troops Meanwhile, the US now says that there are between 19,000 and 25,000 ISIL fighters in Iraq and Syria down from a previous count of about 30,000. But there are growing fears about the fate of Libya, which has been in chaos since the NATO-backed ousting of long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, thanks largely to its air power. Since 2014, Libya has been split between two rival authorities, each backed by different militias and tribes. Skinner pointed to the irony that Western leaders are now scrambling for solutions in Libya. The international coalition is going to air strike its way out of the chaos created by air strikes, he said. Thats actually what people are considering. Something has to be done. The horrible reality is: what is that something? Upcoming television series depicts the warlike Central Asian nomads who fought over remnants of the Mongol Empire. Two things inspired a forthcoming television series about the warlike Central Asian nomads who fought over the remnants of the Mongol Empire to carve out what is now known as Kazakhstan. The first is Game of Thrones, HBOs blockbuster saga based on George RR Martins fantasy novels, whose mix of violence, realism, and magic made it one of the most successful series in history. The second source of inspiration is more political and poignant. It is Russian President Vladimir Putins offensive remark about the roots of statehood in Kazakhstan the worlds ninth-largest country with immense hydrocarbon reserves, endless steppes, and a population of fewer than 18 million people. Putin said in 2014 just months after Moscows annexation of Crimea and the beginning of hostilities in eastern Ukraine that Kazakhs had never had statehood before the 1991 Soviet collapse. He also ominously hinted the nation ruled by ageing President Nursultan Nazarbaev could lose part of its territory the way Ukraine did nearly one-quarter of Kazakhstans citizens are ethnic Russians concentrated in the north, close to Russia. Spectacular response to Putin Genghis Khans legacy lives on in Mongolia The remark prompted renowned Kazakh producer and actor Arman Asenov to develop a 20-episode series describing the beginning of the Kazakh khanate in the middle of the 15th century. We thought that if even the head of a neighbour state, a brotherly state, does not know that our history spans 550 years, then average people are less likely to know, and we have to tell them about our history, Asenov told Al Jazeera. The emergence of an independent Kazakh state was spurred on by the disintegration of the Golden Horde, one of the most powerful Mongol states which occupied huge swaths of Eastern Europe, southern Russia, and Central Asia. Historically speaking, this is similar to the [1991] Soviet collapse, Asenov said. A dynasty of descendants of Genghis Khan ruled Kazakhs, a confederation of Turkic-speaking nomadic tribes, until czarist Russia absorbed the Kazakh steppes by the mid-19th century. Asenov said his series would be among the most spectacular cinematic events in the former Soviet Union because of epic battle scenes and vivid imagery. It will premiere later this year in Kazakhstan, which is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its independence. Film companies from Russia, Turkey, and China where Genghis Khan is celebrated as an important historic figure showed interest in the series, Asenov said. Irrespective of international success, the TV series is secured from flopping at home because President Nazarbaev is listed as the author of the films idea. Mostly state-funded, the series was directed by filmmaker Rustem Abdrashev, known for his four-part cinematic biography of Nazarbaev. Nazarbaev, credited for turning oil-rich Kazakhstan into one of the most prosperous post-Soviet nations, has also been criticised for his heavy-handed policies and a crackdown on critics and opposition. Overcoming Borat The series is part of Kazakhstans efforts to boost film production following the 2010 nomination of a Kazakh movie for the best foreign-language film Academy Award. The dialogue-free film, titled Daughter-in-Law, was panned by Kazakh critics for a bestiality scene. The efforts also reflect a frantic search for historic heroes, domestic ones, Darya Borisova, a Moscow-based film critic specialising on Central Asian film industries, told Al Jazeera. Oil price slump hits Kazakhstan hard Despite lavish funding, the outcomes are often mixed critically and financially. Many state-funded projects flopped, while independent, art-house film-makers get little or no funding despite their success at international film festivals, Borisova said. Another problem is corruption around many state-funded projects that involve pilfering of budgets, an industry insider claimed. They understand that in the country with a population of 18 million, with just a small percentage of potential viewers, an expensive according to the countrys standards project will never return the investment. That is why one has to profit from the government-allocated budget, because no other profit is expected, said the insider, who asked to remain anonymous because his work involves state-funded projects. There was another movie that made Kazakhstan world-famous in an extremely peculiar way. The 2006 comedy starring Sasha Baron Cohen who played Borat, a fictional Kazakh journalist discovering the United States, angered many Kazakhs. The comedy filmed in Romania and the US portrayed Kazakhs as anti-Semitic bigots, rapists, and paedophiles. Kazakh officials denounced and banned the film, although later some thanked Cohen for boosting the number of foreign tourists. Producer Asenov has another solution for the Borat problem. Wed love to invite Cohen as a promoter or co-producer of the TV series, he said with a laugh. Gunfight between unknown assailants and UN forces ongoing after early-morning assault on Timbuktu UN base. Unknown gunmen have attacked a United Nations police base in the Malian city of Timbuktu, the UN said, while security sources said a Malian army checkpoint in the city had also come under fire. Olivier Salgado, spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA), told Al Jazeera the assailants launched the attack after they detonated a car bomb at the base at 6:30am on Friday. He said one policeman was slightly wounded in the assault, and the attackers remained holed up inside the base. Malian and MINUSMA forces were still engaged in a gunfight, Salgado said. The base was already in the process of being relocated, he added, meaning only about 20 police officers were there at the time. A military source in Timbuktu told Reuters news agency that the UN site, near the entrance to the city, had been taken over exclusively by a Nigerian police contingent. Simultaneously, a Malian army checkpoint in the Kabara neighbourhood near the airport was attacked by gunmen. It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties. Armed groups, who briefly held the city of Timbuktu in 2012 until French forces drove them out, have stepped up attacks in Mali in recent months as part of a growing regional insurgency. In November, a breakaway al-Qaeda faction from the countrys troubled north, al-Mourabitoun, claimed responsibility for a brazen attack on a five-star hotel that killed 21 people in the heart of the capital, Bamako. Last month, al-Qaeda fighters seized a Swiss missionary living there and set conditions for her release. Diplomatic activity surges in the run-up to imminent rocket launch by Pyongyang as regional tensions rise. The United States plans to use missile defence assets to track an expected North Korean missile launch as tensions escalate over Pyongyangs plan to fire a rocket soon. Ashton Carter, the US Secretary of Defense, however, declined to comment further on Thursday on any specific plans to position navy ships or move a large sea-based radar to the Asia Pacific region before the imminent launch. Japan has said it put its military on alert to shoot down any rocket that threatens its territory. North Korea notified the United Nations this week of its plan to put an earth observation satellite into orbit some time between February 8 and 25. What do we really know about North Korea? Pyongyang says that it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme, although the United States and other countries allege that such launches are missile tests in disguise. Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, said that Beijing sent its special envoy for the nuclear issue, Wu Dawei, to North Korea in what he described as a serious situation. We dont want to see anything happen that could cause further tensions, Wang told Hong Kongs Phoenix Television in London after Wu returned from North Korea. We hope all sides, including North Korea, can meet each other halfway and should work hard together to push the North Korean nuclear issue on to the track of a negotiated resolution. Yun Byung-se, the South Korean foreign minister, on Friday held a meeting with the US, Japanese, European Union and Australian ambassadors over the issue. North Korea said that the launch would be conducted in the morning during the announced period, and it provided coordinates for the locations where the rocket boosters and cover for the payload would drop. Those locations are expected to be in the Yellow Sea off the Korean peninsulas west coast, and in the Pacific Ocean to the east of the Philippines, Pyongyang said. North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending an object it described as a communications satellite into orbit. Tension has risen in North Asia since Pyonyangs fourth nuclear test last month, which it said was a hydrogen bomb. Freed by soldiers, Zara, 16, says she would rather be with the Boko Haram fighter who abducted and impregnated her. Almost a year after she was rescued from Boko Haram captivity by the Nigerian army, Zara John, 16, is still in love with one of the fighters who abducted her. She was delighted to discover that she was pregnant with his child following a urine and blood test carried out by a doctor in the refugee camp to which she was taken after her rescue. I wanted to give birth to my child so that I could have someone to replace his father, since I cannot reconnect with him again, said Zara, one of hundreds of girls kidnapped by Boko Haram during a seven-year insurgency in northeast Nigeria. Nigerian army rescues nearly 300 girls But any decision over the baby was taken out of her hands. Her father drowned during flooding in 2010 so her uncles intervened. Some were adamant that they did not want Boko Haram offspring in their family and insisted on an abortion. Others felt that the child should not be blamed for its fathers crimes. In the end, the majority carried the vote and Zara was allowed to keep her child, a son she named Usman who is now seven months old. Everybody in the family has embraced the child, Zara said in a telephone interview, asking that her location remain undisclosed. My uncle just bought him tins of Cerelac [instant cereal] and milk. Zara was 14 when Boko Haram members fighting to establish an Islamic state raided her village of Izge, in northeast Nigeria, in February 2014. They razed homes in the village, slaughtered men and loaded women, girls and children on to trucks. Two of Zaras brothers were out of town when the assailants struck in one of a wave of hit-and-run attacks on villages, as well as suicide bombings, on places of worship or markets. Zaras mother fell off one of the overloaded trucks but tried to chase after the vehicle that was ferrying away her only daughter and her four-year-old son, but was unable to keep up as it drove 22km to Bita. Enslaved by captors At the time, Bita and other surrounding towns near the Sambisa forest were in Boko Haram control. As soon as we arrived, they told us that we were now their slaves, Zara recalled. UpFront Can Buhari defeat Boko Haram? Her days were spent doing chores and learning the tenets of her new religion, Islam, until two months later when she was given away in marriage to Ali, a Boko Haram commander, and moved from a shared house to his accommodation. After I became a commanders wife, I had freedom. I slept any time I wanted, I woke up any time I wanted, she said. He bought me food and clothes and gave me everything that a woman needs from a man. She added that he also gave her a mobile phone with his number in it, and tattooed his name on her stomach to mark her as a Boko Haram wife. Ali assured her that the fight would soon be over and they would return to his hometown of Baga, where he intended his new wife to join his fishing business. He told her that he abandoned his trade and joined Boko Haram after his father and elder brother, both fishermen like himself, were killed by Nigerian soldiers. In a June 2015 report based on years of research and analysis, Amnesty International said that the Nigerian army was guilty of gross human rights abuse and extrajudicial killings of civilians in parts of northeast Nigeria, calling for an investigation into war crimes. Ali was not at home when the Nigerian army stormed Bita in March 2015 and rescued Zara and scores of other women, taking them to a refugee camp in Yola in northeast Nigeria. The raid came as international scrutiny on Nigeria increased after the high-profile abduction of 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in northern Nigeria in April 2014, which caused outrage internationally and sparked the global campaign #bringbackourgirls. The girls are yet to be found. But Zara and Ali stayed in touch by phone until Nigerian soldiers realised some of the girls in the camp were still in touch with their abductors, seized their phones, and moved them to another camp until they were reunited with their families. READ MORE: Meet the Nigerian woman taking on Boko Haram Zara now lives with her extended family and son in a town far away from Izge. Her male relatives took control of her life again, with requests for interviews fielded by them and all of her movements monitored by her family. But asked her opinion, she said that she would rather be with her Boko Haram husband. If I had my way, I would retrieve the phone number he gave me, she said, regretting not committing his number to memory. But Zara is realistic and knows the possibility of being reunited with Ali is slim. Instead she wants to return to school when Usman stops breast-feeding, and maybe then run her own business. I want to do a business that is suitable for a woman, something that will not take me out of the house, she said. A version of this story originally appeared on the Thomson Reuters Foundation news service Flight from northern Aleppo provinces countryside prompted by governments success in breaking through rebel defences. Thousands of Syrians are fleeing the Aleppo countryside, heading towards Turkey, as government forces break through rebel defences in the northern province. The development comes as diplomatic talks on ending the war in Syria remain on hold and Saudi Arabia announces its readiness to send in ground troops. A Turkish aid organisation said on Friday that about 50,000 refugees urgently need food, water and shelter. In the last three days over 50,000 people from Azaz across the Turkish town of Kilis reached the Turkish border, Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) said. People, who fled their homes to protect their lives, came to the border and they are trying to survive sleeping under the trees in the open air. Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkeys prime minister, told a Syria donor conference in London on Thursday that between 60,000 and 70,000 Syrians were on their way towards Turkey, trying to escape the deadly violence in Aleppo. They attacked Aleppo and the humanitarian corridor, [the] logistic corridor from Turkey to Aleppo, has been cut off, he said. All the needs, food, everything to Aleppo where 300,000 people are living, were coming from Turkey. Sami Kekhia, a Syrian activist, told Al Jazeera that tens of thousands have fled their homes and are spread along the border with Turkey. We do not have an exact number of how many people are at the border, but we know that between 5,000 and 7,000 are currently waiting at the border with Turkey, he told Al Jazeera over the phone from the Turkey-Syria border. The Syrian government, backed by Russian air strikes, launched a major offensive from the north of Aleppo and captured several strategically important towns on Monday. In Depth: Inside Aleppos fight for water and electricity Opposition armed groups have appealed for help as their main supply route to Turkey comes under pressure. Kekhia said: People are fleeing the deadly Russian air strikes and the government offensive. Russian air strikes have not stopped: when a Russian warplane targets a building, that building turns to dust. Residents of Aleppo city have not left their homes, but are preparing for a possible siege of the area. The local council of the rebel-held part of the city has told residents to reduce their consumption of food and medical supplies. The government holds the west of Aleppo city while the rebels hold the east, but the situation is largely reversed in the countryside. Everyone is trying to prepare for a possible siege, and if the government blocks the one main road which allows access to this part of the city, the city will be on lockdown, Kekhia said. That road, known as Castello, has been repeatedly targeted by the government and Russian air strikes. However, the FSA (Free Syrian Army) and groups fighting the government are optimistic about winning the fight for Aleppo and preventing a siege. At least 40,000 Syrians have fled their homes in northern Aleppo since the Syrian government launched its offensive on Aleppo, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday. Syrian forces and their allies broke a three-year rebel siege of the two Shia towns of Nubul and Zahraa in Aleppo province, Syrias official news agency SANA reported on Wednesday, cutting off a main supply route to nearby Turkey. The development came after days of rapid military gains north of the major city of Aleppo, with Russian air strikes playing a key role in the advance. In pictures: Snow and cold weather grip war-torn Syria Nubul and Zahraa, with an estimated 60,000 population, are connected to the border by areas under the control of Kurdish armed groups that provided access. The towns have been besieged by rebels since 2012, and reaching them had long been a goal of President Bashar al-Assads government, which has also sought to sever vital rebel supply routes into Aleppo from Turkey. On Friday the UN Security Council met to discuss the peace efforts, with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO head, saying that the Russian air strikes were undermining the efforts to find a political solution. The Security Council met for closed-door consultations with Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy, who suspended the Geneva negotiations on Wednesday until February 25. Russia rejected Western accusations that it had sabotaged the peace talks by backing the governments Aleppo offensive. Its in bad taste. This is not a good time for recriminations, Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador, said. Earlier in the day, a senior Russian diplomat criticised Saudi Arabias offer to send ground troops to Syria. Konstantin Kosachyov said any Saudi ground intervention without the consent of the Syrian government would be illegitimate. The Saudi air force has targeted the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group with air strikes since the coalition campaign began in Syria in September 2014. Saudi willingness Thursdays announcement by Brigadier-General Ahmed Asseri was the first time the kingdom had offered to provide ground troops to defeat ISIL, which has seized territory in Syria and Iraq. Today, the Saudi kingdom announced its readiness to participate with ground troops with the US-led coalition against ISIL, because we now have the experience in Yemen, Asseri told Al Jazeera. We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground. The offer is expected to be discussed when the US convenes a meeting of defence ministers from coalition countries fighting the in Brussels next week. London The global art market, which is worth an estimated $70bn, could be about to enter a crisis amid concerns over falling oil prices and a slowdown in the Chinese economy, industry experts say. The findings of researchers at the University of Luxembourg, who have been analysing the results of millions of sales over 30 years, show that art sales fluctuate like other commodities such as gold and real estate, and now they are heading for a big dip. A lot of specialists in the art market have been expecting it to cool down and, I think, we are seeing it [happen] this year, said Georgina Adam, an art market expert. Will it collapse? I dont think so. Will we see a downward trajectory? Yes, absolutely. Christies, the worlds largest auction house, sold $7.4bn in art last year, a billion less than it sold a year earlier. But it is smaller commercial galleries that are feeling the squeeze, with too much art and not enough buyers willing to hedge their bets on new or lesser known talents. It has forced many galleries to reduce their prices and some to close their doors altogether. UK and Sweden reject UN panels finding, saying WikiLeaks founder can walk out of Ecuadors embassy whenever he wants. A United Nations human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained by Britain and Sweden since December 2010, in a ruling that has been outright rejected by both countries. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said on Friday that Assanges detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its trove of leaked documents. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, said Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the UNs expert panel. The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Both Sweden and the UK dismissed the ruling on Friday, issuing statements saying that Assange is free to leave the embassy whenever he wants. Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay there. Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point, the Swedish government said. The UK government said that Assange was avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain at the embassy and that the government had a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. READ MORE: Whats next for WikiLeaks? The finding in Assanges favour is not legally binding, but may represent a public relations victory for the 44-year-old Australian. It could also increase pressure on Swedish prosecutors to drop their bid to question Assange about allegations of sexual misconduct, and on British officials to alter plans to arrest Assange for jumping bail. Assange, in a press conference on Friday via a video link from the Ecuadorian embassy, said he should be able to walk free from the embassy. We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face, Assange said. Ive been detained without charge in this country, the United Kingdom, for five and a half years Ive had great difficulty seeing my family and my children, he said. Geoffrey Robertson, QC, a former UN appeals judge and international lawyer, told Al Jazeera on Thursday that a UN ruling would be binding in honour. Assange has been in the embassy for more than three years. His organisation WikiLeaks was responsible for publishing millions of documents considered classified by the US government. We speak to Israeli Deputy FM Tzipi Hotovely, and ask a Syrian opposition political adviser about the UN peace talks Ban Ki-moon and the Israeli government are at odds after the United Nations secretary-general criticised the Israeli occupation in an address to the Security Council last week. Ban said it was human nature for Palestinians to react to the occupation, specifically pointing to settlement building as a provocative action. The remarks elicited strong criticism from the Israeli government, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the UN chief of encouraging terror. In this weeks UpFront, Mehdi Hasan speaks to Tzipi Hotovely, Israels deputy foreign minister, the countrys top diplomat, about Bans remarks. The Reality Check points to US President Barack Obamas national security record as proof that despite many criticisms, he is more of a hawk than a dove. In Arena, we ask a senior political adviser to the Syrian opposition about the collapse of UN-sponsored talks and what it will take to bring peace to the country. Headliner Israeli minister: Palestinians under ISIL influence As the Israeli leadership and United Nations trade barbs, does the Israeli government really believe UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is encouraging terror? In this weeks Headliner, Mehdi Hasan speaks to the countrys top diplomat Tzipi Hotovely about the secretary-generals remarks. Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely says Israels domestic and military intelligence agencies are absolutely wrong to suggest that Palestinian violence is created from hopelessness. It means that terrorism is the main problem, is the main issue, not frustration, the de-facto foreign minister adds. Hotovely also suggests that Palestinians may have been influenced by the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. There are many other people who are saying that the Palestinian society today is choosing the extremist side, under the influence of ISIS, as the atmosphere of the way the youngsters are being raised, she says, and unfortunately also when theyre raised under the very hard incitement of the Palestinian Authority. Reality Check: Is Obama a wimp? A wimp, weak, coward thats how critics often describe US President Barack Obama when it comes to what they see as national security issues. However, a look at his record proves that he might be more of a hawk than a dove. In this weeks Reality Check, Mehdi Hasan looks at his interventionist record and highlights three ways Obama is closer to his critics than some think. Arena: Can the Syrian peace talks be saved? Amid increased violence, the UN special envoy to Syria announced on Wednesday a temporary suspension of peace talks. While each side placed blame on the other for the collapse of the current round of negotiations, Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, said that there was more work to be done, adding that the talks would resume no later than February 25. Critics argue that the negotiations were doomed to fail from the start. But after almost five years of civil war, what options, if any, are available to bring an end to the violence? What brought these current talks to a halt? And what prospects are there for peace in the future? In Arena, Mehdi Hasan speaks to Bassam Barabandi, adviser to Riad Hijab, the head of the Syrian High Negotiations Committee and a cofounder of People Demand Change, about what it will take to bring peace to the country. Follow UpFront on Twitter @AJUpFront and Facebook. Women starting their own companies will have more space at UFs Innovation Hub. The Innovation Hub, located on Southwest Second Avenue, will begin construction on a Womens Entrepreneurial Center in late Spring, wrote Jane Muir, the director of the Innovation Hub, in an email. In addition to the center, the 55,000-square-foot facility will include a new office space and labs. Muir said construction should be complete by the end of 2017. To fund the construction, the Innovation Hub received an $8 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration for the project, she said. UF donated an additional $9 million. She said the Womens Entrepreneurial Center will encourage women to form their own companies. Women lag far behind men in the rate and frequency at which they start up new companies, Muir said. For the U.S. economy to grow and produce jobs at an accelerated rate, women must become a much higher percentage of entrepreneurial leaders across all business segments. She said the Innovation Hub, which was opened in 2012, created about 760 jobs in Gainesville in its first three and a half years. The space is at capacity with its current startups. We are basically operating at capacity, and while there are always companies moving in and out, we cannot meet the current demand for space, she said. Yatit Thakker, the CEO of Omninox Publishing, said he moved his educational software company into the Innovation Hub in Summer 2013. He said hes excited for the expansion. Its a place where a lot of key people in the Florida ecosystem are, the 24-year-old said. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now In addition to office space, the Innovation Hub has given him access to mentors and resources to help his company grow. He said he has noticed a higher demand for office space in the building. More recently, I think theres pretty much a waiting list, Thakker said. Jonathan Katz, a UF finance senior, works on his app, Qwerk, at the hub with four other students. Katz said the offices location has helped his startup meet and learn from professional mentors. Its a totally different social circle, the 21-year-old said. Its totally different than going to college and just seeing students every day. Its a professional setting. He said the Womens Entrepreneurial Center will be a way to empower women who are starting companies. I think its great that theyre encouraging women to get into the entrepreneurial sector, Katz said. There shouldnt be a divide that theres more men than women. Police say couple stole more than $6,000 from dead woman A woman and her boyfriend were arrested Wednesday after Gainesville Police said the couple cashed in on a dead womans checkbooks. On Dec. 28, Lakisha Salane Bryant, 33, made a $200 withdrawal at the Bank of America on Northwest 13th Street, according to a police report. By late January, Bryant and her boyfriend, Derick Bryan Sawyer, 38, took $6,600 as she forged the signature of a woman she cared for as a home aid, according to the report. Bryant and Sawyer cashed in a total of 33 checks, each for $200. Hazel Jones Cuddeback, the woman whose checkbook police would later find in Bryants purse, passed away in November at the age of 94, according to the report. When police found Bryant on Wednesday, she told them Cuddeback would want to take care of her, and what she did was not a crime, according to the report. Cuddebacks daughter eventually received a fraud alert, according to the report. Police arrested Bryant and Sawyer on charges of grand theft, fraud and uttering a forged instrument. Bryant was also charged with forgery. Authorities took the two to the Alachua County Jail where Bryant was released on her own recognizance Thursday, and where Sawyer remains, as of press time, in lieu of a $42,000 bond. Gainesville man bites Wal-Mart worker, police say Gainesville Police arrested a man Wednesday morning after they said he bit a Wal-Mart employee in late January. At about noon on Jan. 28, Hykeem Dabreon Johnson, 27, tried to steal from the Wal-Mart on Northwest 23rd Street and later fought with an employee, according to a police report. Wal-Mart employees told police they saw Johnson enter the store, pick up two $60 boxes of hair clippers and walk to customer service, according to the report. Although Johnson never paid for either box, he told employees at customer service he wanted to exchange one for the other, according to the report. Johnson completed his exchange and walked outside, where employees then asked him to go to Wal-Marts loss-prevention office, according to the report. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now When he refused, one of the employees grabbed his wrist while the other held him from behind, according to the report. Johnson and one of the employees then fell to the ground as they fought, and Johnson bit the employees left hand before running away, according to the report. Police found Johnson on Wednesday at about 10 a.m. and arrested him on charges of resisting merchant detainment and simple battery. Authorities took him to the Alachua County Jail where, as of press time, he remains in lieu of a $5,000 bond. Cheers erupted in a crowded room of about 60 students after UFs Supreme Court ruled to allow an amendment for online voting to appear on the Spring 2016 election ballot Thursday night. The Supreme Court posted a notice of the meeting to discuss the amendment Wednesday on the Student Government bulletin board. The ballot for SGs Spring election must be finalized today. The amendment was sent to UFs Elections Commission Jan. 27 to review the summary of the amendment that will appear above it on the ballot. At that meeting, the commission voted to strike the phrase including online students, PaCE students, Innovation Academy students, and study abroad students from the summary. Kelly Scurry, associate justice five, said he supported the decision to strike the phrase from the summary. In addition to having these groups of students listed, it could create an additional problem later on if there are other classes of students that were to arise, he said. Max Chesnes Associate Justice Evan Malloy (left) reviews the online voting legislation with Associate Justice Joseph Lancos on Thursday night in the Reitz Union. In an email to Global Vote on Jan. 27, Chief Justice Andy Schein wrote All, You are good to go for the Elections Commission tonight. The Supreme Court will only look at the initiative if there is an unanswerable question at the EC level or if the decision is appealed. The Elections Commission did not have any unanswered questions, and the decision was not appealed at the Jan. 27 meeting. Schein confirmed he sent the email but said he found there might be discrepancies between the Student Body constitution and the SG statutes. Global Vote started a petition in October to put an online voting option on the ballot. According to the constitution, the petition needed 2,500 signatures. It received more than 3,000. After the signatures are verified and the Elections Commission passes the summary, the amendment goes to UFs supervisor of elections for inclusion on the ballot, according to the constitution. This is subject to the review of the Supreme Court. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now But UFs constitution and codes contradict each other. Internet Online Voting is unconstitutional and may not be utilized in Student Government elections, according to section 700.4 of the constitutions 700 codes. In section 771.4, it reads Secure location online voting is legal and may be utilized in Student Government elections. In 2008, the court ruled online voting unconstitutional, but Schein said the constitution overrules the codes. Evan Malloy, associate justice three, said the Supreme Court shouldnt look at the constitutionality of the amendment at Thursdays meeting. Amendments to the constitution could contradict the constitution itself. I dont think that is our role, and I think the 2008 case might have been standing outside the batters box, if you will, he said. A crowd waits in room 2103 in the new Reitz Union to hear the University of Floridas Supreme Court confer on the online voting article. 2005 .. Economic disintegration and violence in Libya are worsening its fragility and enabling extremist organisations to flourish there, warned MEPs in Wednesdays debate with Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders, representing the EU foreign policy chief. Spillovers from Libyas conflicts are also destabilising the Sahel region, they add. In a resolution voted on Thursday, MEPs urge the []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric... AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63 The Deadly Assault and Bush Administration Cover-Up by S. Eben Kirkesby and Andreas Harsono 5427 14th St. West, Bradenton, FL 34207 $6.99 Fish Fridays! Manatee Co.'s Only 24-Hr. FREE Wi-Fi Paid Advertisement On Native Ground AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008 HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies: WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008 AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008 CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE] A big part of cybersecurity is educating consumers about risky behaviors. Many security incidents involve a customer or employee clicking on something they shouldn't, like a malicious email attachment or website, or exposing personal information to criminals. Most banks have seldom-read security tips pages on their websites. It's hard to induce customers to care. A handful of banks are going the extra mile. mBank in Poland recently launched a clever series of television commercials and website videos encouraging customers to protect their personal information online. Counterparts in the U.S., including U.S. Bank and Bank of the West, are using similar tactics to put the fun back into security awareness. Why don't more banks do this kind of outreach? One reason, says Ron Shevlin, director of research at Cornerstone Advisors, is that such programs have to go through internal compliance and public relations departments. "That's no piece of cake," he said. "There could be something in the language that ticks off some internal compliance guy, who thinks it implies you provide certain protections that you don't." In one mBank commercial, the camera follows a man walking through a shopping mall, holding his trench coat open. Bystanders react with shock, some taking pictures with their smartphones. A woman wearing pearls and a Chanel suit holding a Chihuahua gazes with icy disapproval. A shot from the front shows the man in the trench coat is fully clothed; what he's exposing are his bank account numbers and PIN number. The message: If you don't do it in real life, don't do it online. The inspiration for the series came from people in mBank's security department, said Iwona Ryniewicz, the bank's director of communication and marketing strategy. "They came up to the marketing department saying, 'There's too much to do in respect of protecting personal data,' " she said. Consumers, the security team lamented, give away too much personal information and don't protect their computers and devices. "They protect their car, they might wash it every day, but they don't take care of computers," Ryniewicz said. The bank's public relations department developed the campaign with the help of an ad agency, Brand New Heaven. "They're very short 15 seconds for TV and 20 seconds for Internet videos so you cannot get bored," Ryniewicz said. The commercials began running at the end of December and continued through January. The videos are still running on the bank's website, and the bank is hoping that by the end of February they will have brought a million page views. By early February the tally was 700,000. The spots cost only about $500,000 to create and broadcast. "Fifteen seconds is cheap nobody advertises products with 15-second spots," Ryniewicz said. The business case for the project was "unofficial," she said. "I think it could help the business, not only in terms of security but also in terms of the image of mBank," she said. "It's right to educate on Internet security." Three years ago U.S. Bank in Minneapolis came out with a similar series of videos featuring TMI Tami, who tells everyone she meets personal details about herself, including her online banking password. "They're still out there now on our YouTube page," said Jason Witty, the bank's chief information security officer. "Laura Gross, the bank's security awareness coordinator, made the point that feelings are going to be remembered a lot longer than facts. So instead of being sterile and corporate, we thought we'd do something funny." More recently, U.S. Bank published a series of tips on how customers could protect their personal information during the holiday season. Witty plans to start blogging regularly about cybersecurity issues and publish articles on LinkedIn. The bank also hosts an annual "Trust in Us" information security conference; last year 400 customers attended as well as six Minnesota agencies. Former Governor Tim Pawlenty, who is now the CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable, and the chief risk officer for the National Security Agency gave speeches. Mostly corporate clients send their chief financial officer or chief operating officer to the event. "There's a scam going on right now [called] business email compromise," Witty said. "Emails are sent to the chief financial officer that look like they're really from the CEO and prompt a legitimate approval. It isn't until weeks later they realize that wasn't the CEO that sent the email, and they're out the money. Those types of things have been elevating people's awareness." Bank of the West in San Francisco has also been working on security awareness for some time. It recently published a white paper that looks at common fraud and security risks, such as wire fraud, securing intellectual property and protecting websites and email. The bank participates in webinars, posts videos on YouTube, writes blogs and Twitter posts, hosts local events and publishes security updates in a customer newsletter. One of the most dangerous mistakes customers and employees make, according to David Pollino, the bank's fraud prevention officer, is throwing away old cellphones. "For every phone sold there's probably a previous model being tossed many, no doubt, chock full of personal data," he said. "So we work to educate consumers to let them know that before they dispose of old phones, laptops, desktop computers or portable storage devices, to take a few minutes to securely wipe the hard drive." These campaigns are low-risk and could make people think. It would be nice to see more like them. Editor at Large Penny Crosman welcomes feedback at penny.crosman@sourcemedia.com. Frank Keating, former chief executive of the American Bankers Association, has joined the law firm Holland & Knight as a partner. Keating will advise clients in the financial services industry, Holland & Knight said Thursday. Keating will be based in the firm's Washington office. Holland & Knight's clients in the banking sector have included Citigroup, Morgan Stanley and GE Capital Aviation Services. Keating led the ABA from 2011 to 2015. He was succeeded as the group's president and CEO by Rob Nichols, who previously led the Financial Services Forum. Keating was criticized at the time of his appointment and throughout his tenure for lacking experience in the banking sector; Nichols was hired, in part, because of his in-depth experience in policy matters. Keating, a Republican, was governor of Oklahoma from 1995 to 2003. He was also formerly assistant secretary of the Treasury Department under President Ronald Reagan and was general counsel for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Donald Trump, his aura of invincibility shattered by Iowa caucus voters he once called stupid, is throwing a tantrum these days, convinced that Ted Cruz cheated and continues to maintain the untenable proposition that in any event he is a not eligible to be President of the United States. Cruz did not cheat in Iowa. Cruz supporters may have indeed cited to supporters of Dr. Ben Carson CNN news reports and tweets that Carson was skipping New Hampshire and South Carolina, so draw your own conclusions, but where were the Carson president captains to shepherd their flock? If youre a serious presidential candidate, you dont leave Iowa to head to Florida to change clothes? Ironically, the Carson Trump cites as a victim of Cruz dirty tricks, was once the main target of Trumps slash-and-burn rhetoric. Back when Carson was threatening Trump in the Iowa polls, Trump brutally attacked Carson. As the Boston Globe reported: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, brushing aside any recent claims of civility, has equated Ben Carsons childhood pathological temper to the illness of a child molester, questioned his religious awakening and berated voters who support him. How stupid are the people of Iowa? declared Trump during a rally at Iowa Central Community College. How stupid are the people of the country to believe this crap? For more than an hour and a half Thursday night, the billionaire real estate mogul harshly criticized not only Carson, but many of his other competitors in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. Trump previewed his attack line in an interview with CNN Thursday in which the businessman pointed to Carsons own descriptions of his pathological temper as a young man. Thats a big problem because you dont cure that, Trump said. Thats like, you know, I could say, they say you dont cure -- as an example, child molester. You dont cure these people. You dont cure the child molester. Trump also said that pathological is a very serious disease. Physician Trump, heal thyself. Trump needs to be the center of attention all the time. He is offended that the media is actually covering other candidates now. His ego, bruised by his Iowa loss and the rise of Sen. Marco Rubio, forces him to seek scapegoats and excuses and grasp at straws such as the roundly debunked Cruz citizenship issue. Trump persists that Cruzs citizenship is still an open question. It is not, and the election boards of two states, New Hampshire and Illinois, have now ruled, in response to complaints, that Sen. Ted Cruz is indeed, under the laws and Constitution of the United States, a natural born citizen fully eligible to be President of the United States. As the Washington Examiner reported: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz secured two major victories Monday, winning the Republican Iowa caucuses and also receiving a favorable decision from the Illinois Board of Elections, which confirmed his U.S. citizenship met the state's primary ballot requirements. "The Candidate is a natural born citizen by virtue of being born in Canada to his mother who was a U.S. citizen at the time of his birth," the board said, explaining Cruz met the criteria because he "did not have to take any steps or go through a naturalization process at some point after birth." During the case, Cruz's lawyers argued that he was no different than previous Republican candidates, including Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Michigan Gov. George Romney, who were also born outside of the U.S. to an American citizen. A ballot commission in New Hampshire also ruled in favor of Cruz in January, but the language in Monday's decision by the Illinois board took a stronger tone than the previous ruling, warning other skeptics, "Further discussion on this issue is unnecessary." Indeed, it is unnecessary. The question of Cruzs citizenship has been asked and answered. Is Trump saying that a baby born in Paris to a vacationing American family is not eligible to run for president and must be naturalized like some illegal alien from Guadalajara? Some noted legal scholars would beg to differ from Trumps concern that Cruz is not in fact a natural born citizen. Jonathan Adler, who teaches courses in constitutional, administrative, and environmental law at Case Western University School of Law, writes in the Washington Post: Ted Cruz was born in Canada. His mother was a U.S. citizen. His father, a Cuban, was not. Under U.S. law, the fact that Cruz was born to a U.S. citizen mother makes him a citizen from birth. In other words, he is a natural born citizen (as opposed to a naturalized citizen) and is constitutionally eligible. Also agreeing with Cruzs eligibility are two constitutional scholars who have argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Washington Post reported: Writing in the Harvard Law Review, two former top Supreme Court litigators, Neal Katyal and Paul Clement, said: All the sources routinely used to interpret the Constitution confirm that the phrase natural born Citizen has a specific meaning: namely, someone who was a U.S. citizen at birth with no need to go through a naturalization proceeding at some later time. And Congress has made equally clear from the time of the framing of the Constitution to the current day that, subject to certain residency requirements on the parents, someone born to a U.S. citizen parent generally becomes a U.S. citizen without regard to whether the birth takes place in Canada, the Canal Zone, or the continental United States. The fact that Ted Cruzs mother was a citizen, by this standard, means that despite his birth in Canada, he is eligible. Now two state boards of election have certified Cruzs eligibility, which is beyond dispute, no matter how much Trump whines, pouts, and throws out groundless accusations. Daniel John Sobieski is a freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Investors Business Daily, Human Events, Reason Magazine and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications. Most, if not all, of the presidential candidates participating in the two Fox News Channel debates on January 28 told us that as president of the United States they would destroy the Islamic State, ISIS. They only differed somewhat in their operational concepts to achieve that end. Not one of them, however, discussed the overarching strategic question of the What Next? How would each prepare a strategy to deal with a Middle East featuring an ascendant Jihadist, terrorist, nuclear expansionist Shiia Iran? Due to American success against ISIS, the mullahs would be unchallenged on the ground by significant Sunni forces. To be fair to the candidates, the moderators never asked this all-important question. The Islamic State is a self-declared 7th Century Islamic Caliphate in the form of a 21st Century Islamist supremacist state. We know the horrors its adherents are inflicting on Christians and other non-Muslim populations which fall into its grasp -- and on the many Muslims with a different interpretation of Islam from theirs. Together with the many other groups which are practitioners of the Worldwide Jihad, ISIS is inspiring home grown Jihadists in the United States, many of them American citizens, many of them converts to Islam. Islamic Jihadist terrorism is growing in the West, including in the United States. More and more Americans recognize that their current federal government has demonstrated no effective strategy to protect them from terrorist attacks here. They also recognize that our first responders, despite their best intentions, cannot respond quickly enough to save us from terrorist attacks. So Americans are buying guns to protect themselves and their families, and are learning how to use them. This is an individual, defense-only, strategy. We need to play domestic protective offense, and only the federal government, tasked by the Constitution to defend the citizens of the United States, can develop and implement a successful counter-Jihad strategy within our country. Most military experts who publically discuss the practicality of eliminating ISIS in the Middle East, primarily retired flag officers, are convinced that President Obamas current strategy will not destroy ISIS. The estimate we often hear is that with a full-up U.S. effort, one involving a significant contingent of U.S. combat troops, we could destroy ISIS in six months. There is great public pressure to develop and implement a strategy to take the fight to ISIS, and to destroy it -- right now. One result of that pressure was the positions taken by the Republican candidates on this issue on January 28. Any U.S. administrations goal must be to make us safer here in the homeland. The question which must be answered before committing American troops to combat in the Middle East is, would the destruction of ISIS advance this domestic safety goal in a meaningful way? With this goal in mind, what are the considerations for and against the United States removing ISIS as a player in the former Iraq and Syria? There are certainly moral arguments for eliminating ISIS, and we are a moral people. ISIS is evil and brutal. ISIS is killing or forcibly converting to Islam thousands of Christians and other religious minorities in the land it controls. ISIS is destroying Christian churches and other shrines, some of them over 1,000 years old. As a criminal organization, ISIS has stolen oil and treasure and is engaging in drug trafficking and sex slavery. ISIS inspires lone wolf Jihadists within the U.S. to commit attacks on American civilians, first responders, and military personnel. Certainly true, but to what extent is the Islamic State itself responsible? An argument has been made that ISISs success in conquering territory in the Middle East creates more Jihadism here at home because self-radicalized Jihadists here like to be associated with a winning team. Perhaps, but there are no metrics, no verified data, demonstrating that the existence of ISIS itself, and most significantly, ISIS alone, acts as this kind of recruiting tool within the U.S. Jihadism is a world-wide flood. It is inspired not by any one, or even several, Jihadist organizations. It is inspired by the Koranic obligation that Muslims wage Jihad, armed and by settlement and infiltration, for the purpose of imposing Sharia law on all non-Muslim inhabitants of the planet. Even if ISIS were to be eliminated, the mandate would not change, and violent Jihad in the U.S. would not abate. If ISIS were gone, other Jihadist organizations would step up to propagate the inspirational message. They already are. Lets consider an alternative. Can an argument be made that destroying ISIS at this time would be a bad policy for the United States? At this moment it would, as demonstrated at the debates, be a very bad move in domestic politics, but what of the long-term global strategic interest of the United States? If a U.S. president would decide to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria and would commit the forces to do so; and if he or she were successful in that endeavor, what would be the result from the U.S. perspective? If past practice is any guide, immediately upon declaring victory over ISIS we would bring our troops home, leaving our side of the field to whatever Sunni Arabs we would have attracted to our side in the fight. Possibly some Al Qaeda militias. Possibly Syrian rebels who had taken up arms against Assad of Syria. The Kurds in northern Iraq and Syria. But primarily we would leave the field to President Assad of Syria, to Hezballah, to Shiite militias, to Iran and its Revolutionary Guard and Quds Forces, and to the Russians. On the Persian Gulf front, Saudi Arabia is continuing the Sunni worlds sectarian conflict with Shiia Iran, a fight which goes back 1,400 years and which now could escalate into modern combat between these two heavily armed nation states. In American Thinker on January 20 Mike Konrad excoriates the Saudi Regime thusly: [A] more detestable regime than Saudi Arabia could not be found. Arguably the most repressive regime on earth. An absolute monarchy. A Wahhabist theocratic nightmare that arms ISIS. Mr. Konrad then sets out an economic argument based on present and future crude oil prices and production that, he concludes, will result inevitably in the fall of the rulers of Saudi Arabia. He believes this would be a very good outcome. If this happens, and given the recent history of Middle East chaos it certainly could, can the fall of the present rulers of the other Gulf States to a Shiia takeover be far behind? The Shiia populations of these nations would then be in charge and under the influence, and possibly under the direct control, of Iran. Unless we would fight for it, the United States could be expelled from our strategically vital naval base in Bahrain and air bases in Qatar. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps would control both sides of the Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf would become an Iranian lake. Will Jordan and the Kurds be able to stand up to an Iran which will try, possibly successfully even under our next president, to neutralize our country with the threat of nuclear warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles aimed at the United States? Israel may try to help them, but it does not have the depth of numbers to be the guarantor of the security of these potential Middle East allies of the United States, in addition to defending itself against a nuclear Iran. President Obama, although gone from exercising the power of the presidency, will have achieved his objective: From the border of Turkey a redrawn map of the Middle East will be dominated by a hegemonic Shiia Iran, still possibly supported by Russia. The war being fought by ISIS is part of the continuing 1,400 year Sunni/Shiia sectarian conflict which Sunni Saudi Arabia also is fighting against surrogates of Shiia Iran. There are advisors very knowledgeable in the Middle East, its history, and the tenets of Sharia law, who argue that the U.S. has no business getting involved in this sectarian, ethnic, and tribal conflict. Clare Lopez, former CIA officer and Vice President for Research and Analysis at the Center for Security Policy, and Pete Hoekstra, former Congressman from Michigans 2nd District and former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, now working with the Investigative Project on Terrorism, have put it this way: Have we considered that the very rise of ISIS, with broad support from local Sunni states, was itself a reaction to the removal of Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi army as the only credible counterweight to the Shiite rulers in Tehran? These states, from Saudi Arabia to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, will and must have a say in what happens next. They will not allow a nuclear-armed Iranian hegemony to expand unchallenged. They recognize that the U.S. has been an unreliable ally at best, as it has facilitated the overthrow of Sunni regimes in Iraq, Egypt, Libya and Yemen and allowed for the advancement of Irans nuclear weapons capabilities. Further, the Middle East battleground is crowded with competing ethnic, sectarian and tribal interests, most of which harbor jihadist sympathies. So, with which should the U.S. ally itself against ISIS: the al-Qaeda affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra? The Turkish-backed Ahrar al-Sham? Are we helping Bashar al-Assad cling to power by fighting side-by-side with Hezbollah and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp? What about our relationship with Vladimir Putins Russia? Clare Lopez, speaking on the Bob Frantz Authority show on Salem Radios Cleveland affiliate, WHK 1420, on January 22, 2016, reiterated her opinion that America should stay out of the fight against ISIS because it will help neither us nor the people we would be going to war to help. She feels very strongly that regardless of what happens to ISIS in the Middle East, radicalization of Americans as Jihadists will continue and expand, fueled by the world-wide Jihadist community. Lopez states, however, that the U.S. should find a way to protect Middle East Christians and other minority religious groups, and must keep faith with and protect our regional allies, specifically mentioning Jordan, Israel, and the Kurds. Shall the new United States administration protect the Obama legacy by destroying ISIS, the foremost threat to his anointed hegemon, Iran, spilling more American blood and expending more of our borrowed treasure in the process? Or shall we allow the Middle East religious, ethnic, and tribal factions to get their own house in order or leave it in disorder, while we protect our regional allies? This question deserves much thought and expert strategic consultation by our presidential candidates, beginning now. Michael S. Goldstein is an attorney in private practice in Ohio, a retired naval officer, and a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Intelligence Community. Mr. Goldstein is active with eGeneration Foundation, a charitable educational foundation in the Generation IV Advanced Nuclear Energy community, at www.eGeneration.org. Readers can contact him at michaelgoldstein3386@gmail.com. I am a climate skeptic. Many skeptics know that and have even contributed to my book Climate for the Layman. But we are losing the argument and for one simple reason. We keep, - or at least some of us - keep up the illusion that there is such a thing as a Global Temperature. There is no such entity and never has been. Furthermore there is no such thing as an average Global Temperature either. Peace be to Dr. Christy of the University of Alabama, for whom I have the greatest respect. He assures me that there is an average Global Temperature arrived at by inference from remote sensing from satellites. This is done by counting the number of joules, which as you all know I trust, are units of energy. But may I humbly beg to differ. It is manifestly impossible to put in all the data in order to arrive at an average. It is clear that an average such as NASA provides based upon some 3,486 weather stations situated at 5ft above the ground is just nonsense. Why? Because in the whole of this sacred Planet of ours to determine the temperature based upon such a sparse amount is truly ridiculous. Moreover of the 3,486 stations 3,269 are situated in the relatively warm areas of Europe, America, and Africa. How many stations are there in the vast continent of Antarctica? Merely 8. Read that again merely 8. This is not an average at all. In no way is it scientific. In no way does it make clear that had the temperature been taken at 10ft above the ground the readings would have been different. The fact is these are atmospheric temperatures that are measuring the tiniest possible part of the atmosphere. The atmosphere that we live in has a thickness of some 66 miles or 100 kilometres not just 5 ft. So in no way is this a truly atmospheric temperature. Within one column of air rising up 66 miles to outer space there is a huge range of temperatures. So it would make more sense to average a column. But who can average a column over the poles equally with a column over the tropics? And who can do it systematically on a grid system taking into account night and day? The trouble is that nothing is static and yet both skeptics and warmists behave as if it were so. Any average that was taken right now would already be wrong the minute thereafter. We are hurtling through space, we are winding round the Milk Way, we are being bombarded by cosmic rays and by Solar winds and Solar storms, yet we have allowed the warmists to dominate the argument and propose that man is warming the globe by emitting too much carbon dioxide. That argument alone is ridiculous and the skeptics know that. But they have built themselves a hole by going along with the warmist idea that there is a Global Temperature, which can be manipulated down by man, even to 2 degrees Celsius. Such an idea is also absurd, but dear skeptics, we have given it credence by acknowledging that there is some sort of mysterious Global Temperature or even an average Global Temperature. There are no such entities. The whole of the warmist argument collapses once we declare roundly that there is no Global Temperature and neither is there such an entity as an average Global Temperature either. There is such a mass of data constantly on the move that it is impossible to infer an average. What is even more absurd is that the warmists claim that 2015 was the warmest ever and the skeptics reply that it was only the third warmest. Game, set and match to the warmists. And as to remote sensing by satellites the data obtained may be of some scientific interest, but can counting units of energy likewise tell us the temperature of the planet? Well, the answer is no, for the very simple reason that there is not one temperature, but a huge mass of ever changing temperatures. Radiation may be energy but it is not heat, is it? Not till it encounters mass. Besides which what is being counted? We need to be yet more skeptical. The vast majority of employed scientists apparently support the warmist view, namely that man is warming the Planet, that that warming is dangerous, and that the warming is causing climates to change. Yet it is no surprise that the vast majority of scientists who contest these claims are retired, no longer dependent upon funding from the state. The warmist arguments are riddled with holes and can easily be shot to pieces, but only if the skeptics are truly skeptical! If you support Donald Trump because of his stand on illegal immigration, you are supporting him on everything, including his future picks for the Supreme Court, of which he could have up to four. But very little is known about what kind of judges Trump would appoint. If Trump were to appoint leftists to the Court, it could do even worse damage to the country than the current illegal alien invasion. Here are what leftists would like to legislate from the bench: Abortion: Leftists would love to outlaw all restrictions on abortions up until the moment of birth. They would pass a court ruling saying that partial-birth abortion, where the brains of the baby are drilled out and suction-vacuumed out, just like the repulsive scene from Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers, are consitutionally protected. For his part, Donald Trump has long said that his "New York values" have inculcated in him a support for abortion, even partial-birth abortion. (Although, to be fair, last year he became pro-life.) Polygamy and pedophilia: Now that marriage is open to two people of any kind, how long will it be before the court finds that polygamy is a constitutionally protected right? And not far behind that, what about incestuous marriages? And then what about a marriage between a 54-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy? This is what leftist judges want to legalize, and not just legalize, but force us all to participate in. Today bakers and wedding photographers are being fined for not participating in gay marriages. How long will it be before hotel owners are being sued for not renting a room out to a 54-year-old man and his 12-year-old "boyfriend"? For his part, Trump has said that he is open to considering homosexual marriage, and presumably his judges would have the same orientation. (Although, to be fair, last year Donald Trump said he was opposed to gay marriage.) Guns: Leftist would love to abolish the right for private citizens to have arms. Expect a leftist court to uphold limits on the number of bullets and guns you can own, and eventually eliminate the right to have guns at all. As for Trump, he has long said he supported gun bans and longer waiting periods to buy weapons. (Although, to be fair, for the past few months Trump has said he is very pro-Second Amendment.) Private property rights: A leftist court would become even more sympathetic to confiscation of private property, which fits in perfectly with Trump's ideology. Trump has said he believes in the confiscation of private property to build casinos and shopping centers, and he supports massive federal ownership of large parts of the country. (He said all these things very recently and has not changed yet.) Government-imposed discrimination: Not only might a leftist court permit race-based discrimination and quotas (against white people), but if it went far enough, it might require such things. We know those are the kinds of judges Trump would support, since he recently said he supports "affirmative action" and opposes Justice Scalia on the issue. Voting fraud: Courts have put roadblocks in the way of state legislation to require voters to provide identification before voting. Expect a leftist Supreme Court to outlaw any kind of identification requirements for voting, opening the door permanently to massive voter fraud. Immigration: A leftist court might make it impossible to deport illegal aliens. Sounds implausible? The courts have already made it impossible for state courts to enforce immigration law. Courts have given all kinds of benefits for people here illegally, notably the right to a free public school education. It is only a few steps away from that to effectively outlawing the deportation of any illegal alien. This matches Trump's very long held positions for amnesty for illegal aliens. In fact, he hasn't really changed, saying he would deport illegals but then promptly invite them back in in an "expedited" fashion, suggesting they won't have to get to the back of the line and wait behind legal immigrants. His current position is simply "touch back amnesty." Until last year, Donald Trump had a long history of supporting leftist causes. It is too great a risk to elect him president and give him the opportunity to turn the court to the left for decades to come. Anyone who thinks that Trump, who never talks about the need to follow the Constitution in any of his speeches, will appoint constitutional conservatives is simply deluding himself. Even if you support him on immigration issues, the tremendous damage he would cause on the court for a generation would more than offset whatever improvements he might make on the border. This article was written by Ed Straker, senior writer of NewsMachete.com, the conservative news site. The Obama administration is proposing a tax of $10 on each barrel of oil consumed in the US. The $300 billion raised over 10 years would be used to fund the president's green transportation plan, funding mass transit, high-speed rail, self-driving cars, and other transportation white elephants that are supposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and relieve congestion. Politico: Two senior administration officials authorized to discuss the plan described it as a sharp departure from unsustainable asphalt-driven Washington policies that date back to President Eisenhowers creation of the interstate highway system, as well as an aspirational next step for a climate-conscious president who has already ratcheted up fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks, doled out unprecedented green energy subsidies, cracked down on carbon pollution from power plants, and pushed through a global climate deal in Paris. They said that transportation accounts for 30 percent of U.S. emissions, and that Obamas plan would boost spending on green transportation infrastructure by about 50 percent. They also argued that the U.S. transportation system, long the envy of the world, has become an economic drag that imposes $160 billion in hidden taxes on businesses and commuters while stranding Americans in traffic for 7 billion hours every year. Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, who was briefed about the plan in his role as co-chair of the pro-infrastructure group Building Americas Future, called it the boldest transportation blueprint since Eisenhower envisioned the interstates. Since then weve just been bumping along, doing short-term fixes, and I give them a lot of credit for laying out this kind of long-term investment, said Rendell, a Democrat who has been a frequent Obama critic. I also give them credit for having the guts to say how they would pay for it all. Thats very unusual in this area. The biggest chunk of Obamas proposed new spending, about $20 billion a yearroughly equivalent to the EPA and Interior Department budgets combinedwould go to enhanced transportation options, especially alternatives to driving and flying. That would include subways, buses, light rail, freight rail modernization projects, and a major expansion of the high-speed rail initiative that Obama launched in his 2009 stimulus bill. Thirty years ago, funding mass transit made a lot of sense. It was a cheap, affordable way to move a lot of people around a crowded city. But today, mass transit unions have forced cities to cut service and raise fares to unaffordable levels for the poor. When bus drivers make as much as stock brokers, you know the system is broken. Needless to say, any money spent on high speed rail is a waste - and a fraud. And so-called "light rail" projects appear affordable on the surface, but rarely fulfill their promise of providing service at reasonable prices. Offering rail freight companies loans at a reasonable rate to fix the national system is fine - as long as the government isn't picking winners and losers. We certainly don't need a $10 per barrel oil tax to fund it. President Obama has forbidden immigration authorities to enforce the law at the border, bringing back the Bush-era "catch and release" policy that allows illegals to go their merry way after they've been caught entering the country illegally. It led one border agent to remark, "We might as well abolish our immigration laws altogether." Washington Times: The Obama administration has revived the maligned illegal immigrant catch-and-release policy of the Bush years, ordering Border Patrol agents not to bother arresting and deporting many new illegal immigrants, the head of the agents labor union revealed Thursday. Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, told Congress that Homeland Security was embarrassed by the number of illegal immigrants not showing up for their deportation hearings, but instead of cracking down on the immigrants, the department ordered agents not to arrest them in the first place meaning they no longer need to show up for court. Mr. Judd said the releases are part of President Obamas priorities program, which orders agents to worry chiefly about criminals, national security risks and illegal immigrants who came into the U.S. after Jan. 1, 2014. Mr. Judd said illegal immigrants without serious criminal convictions have learned that by claiming they came before 2014 without even needing to show proof they can be released immediately rather than being arrested. Immigration laws today appear to be mere suggestions, Mr. Juddtestified to the House Judiciary Committees immigration subcommittee. That fact is well known in other countries. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, did not deny Mr. Judds claim but said agents have been instructed to prioritize whom they arrest. The Border Patrols resources are most effectively focused on the border prioritizing the apprehension and removal of individuals attempting to unlawfully enter the United States, said Michael Friel, a CBP spokesman. Our removal numbers reflect that. Border Patrol agents are issuing notices to appear, consistent with law, regulation and the departments enforcement priorities. Judd is calling BS on the CPB and he's right: "The willful failure to show up for court appearances by persons that were arrested and released by the Border Patrol has become an extreme embarrassment for the Department of Homeland Security. It has been so embarrassing that DHS and the U.S. attorney's office has come up with a new policy," he testified before the immigration subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. The biggest change: Undocumented immigrants are no longer given a "notice to appear" order, because they simply ignore them. Judd said that border agents jokingly refer to the NTAs as "notices to disappear." So this is where we stand with a little less than a year to go in the Obama nightmare; next to zero enforcement of immigration law, actual deportations - as opposed to the phony number of deportation orders issued - is down, while illegal aliens are surging across our border to take advantage of the lax enforcement. US sovereignty over its own borders is a joke. And Obama is getting the last laugh. India is currently the second largest smartphone market in the world, only China is currently ahead of India in this regard. Many smartphone manufacturers started selling their devices in India over the last couple of years, and a number of them started manufacturing them in that Asian country as well. India has actually kicked off Make in India initiative a while back in order to lure manufacturers to make their devices in the country. As par of Make in India project, India provides various incentives to OEMs who are willing to make phones in the country. That being said, we Cisco Mobile Visual Networking Index released some interesting numbers recently. According to the report, there will be 990 million mobile users in India by 2020, which is a staggering number. This means that around 71% of Indias population will be using mobile devices, and for comparisons sake, 798.4 people have been using mobile devices last year. So, Cisco basically expects that an additional 200 million people (approximately) will start using mobile devices in the next four years. The report also states that data traffic will grow 12-fold and reach 1.7 exabytes per month by 2020, all thanks to various data tariffs which are becoming more affordable by the day. Now, in order to compare these numbers, lets just say that 148.9 petabytes have been transferred last year (per month). With the ever-increasing billions of people and things that are being connected, mobility is the predominant medium thats enabling todays global digitisation transformation, said Ciscos Vice President of Service Provider Marketing, Doug Webster. Advertisement Mr. Webster has also added that further mobile innovation in cellular will be needed to address various scale requirements, user demands and security concerns. He was referring to innovations such as 5G and Wi-Fi technology, so its kind of hard to be precise when it comes to number, well see how accurate were Ciscos predictions in four years. Now, it seems like India will grow immensely in the next couple of years as far as mobile communications are concerned. It will certainly going to be interesting to see if India can catch up to China at some point, and become the worlds largest mobile market. China still has a huge lead, but their growth is significantly less than Indias, so it is possible. Facebook has been around for quite some time and garnered a huge user base. In total, the service even eclipses the entire population of China. Many users may not know that this Thursday, February 4th, is Facebooks 12th anniversary. Dubbed Friends Day, the date was celebrated a bit early by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the form of a conference at Facebooks brand new offices on Monday. At this conference, Zuckerberg made a bold declaration; he predicted, through a combination of aggressive bundling, marketing and offering internet connections where there normally are none, that Facebook would grow to 5 billion users by 2030. This incredible number is most of the worlds population only 2 billion would be without a Facebook account, if Zuckerbergs prediction comes to pass. Facebooks current user count is around 1.5 billion, meaning this lofty goal would entail a leap of 3.5 billion users, more than twice the current user base. Zuckerberg not only thinks its possible, but has made it a goal, stating, We want to finish connecting everyone, were going to do it in partnership with governments and different companies all over the world. Through these partnerships, mostly in the form of Facebooks Internet.org initiative, which seeks to use solar-powered drones, among other means, to bring internet connectivity to rural, developing and hard-to-reach areas. One of the drones in question, a boomerang-shaped bot named Aquila, was shown off in a photo at the conference. Zuckerberg summed up Aquila and similar drones by saying, Its solar-powered, and itll just fly around a city and beam down Internet access. Its, like, pretty crazy, right? Advertisement Although some groups are worried that Internet.org may be intended to expand Facebooks user base, Zuckerberg insists that his intentions with the service are purely philanthropic. Currently, Internet.org is up and running in 25 countries, although it did get the boot from India. Zuckerberg also spoke of peer-to-peer payments, saying that particular area of communications was just a bit out of Facebooks scope for the time being, but that they will likely get into that space eventually. Facebooks user growth is likely to keep on soaring, especially with previously unconnected populations being helped along by Internet.org and Googles Project Loon Japanese electronics manufacturer, Sharp, has endured a difficult time in recent years the company has the embarrassment of being bailed out twice by supporting banks since 2012. The company builds a number of different products but the portfolio includes the display screens used by several big name smartphone manufacturers including Apple. Despite high growth, the smartphone market is very competitive with many businesses building devices at lower and lower prices: unfortunately, Sharps technology is towards the more expensive end of the market and despite the business dropping prices in order to compete with cheaper manufacturers, it has still struggled. Weve recently reported how an offer from Taiwans Foxconn Technology Group excited stockholders, as their offer of around $5.5 billion was around double that of the Japanese state-backed investment fund, the Innovation Network Corporation of Japan, to prop up the business. We have now seen a rumor that Foxconns Chief Executive Officer, Terry Gou, is meeting Sharps senior executives in Osaka. The stock has continued to move upwards, gaining around 10% in early morning trade and putting the two day gain to close to 30%. Terry is planning to brief the media in Osaka at 1500 hours Japanese time. Despite the significantly more generous offer from Foxconn over the Japanese state fund, it is still surprising that Sharps executives and shareholders are so enthuiastic about the Foxconn offer. The reason why this is interesting and unusual is simply about foreign investment and ownership of local (Japanese) companies not being something that is generally accepted. National pride counts for a lot, but perhaps not $5.5 billion worth. Foxconns offer does not involve replacing Sharps management team, which is a less commonplace move in big business: usually, when a company is purchased by another because it is struggling, senior management are seen to be a part of the cause for the businesses underperformance and are often quickly replaced. However, in Foxconns case, it appears that they wish to keep the existing management team. Advertisement Foxconns takeover could be very good news for Sharp as it should increase the opportunities for the business to sell LCD panels. Foxconn is the largest third party manufacturer in the world and like Sharp, also works with Apple and some of the biggest names in the mobile electronics world. For Foxconn, it would increase their portfolio of component suppliers as well as a premium brand. However, the politics may well end up being more important than the businesses concerned. This is an interesting development and we will keep our readers informed. On Thursday, Google announced a new update that would be making its way to Android Wear in the coming weeks. It brings along some new voice commands for sending messages, speaker support and some new gestures for browsing through the cards on your smartwatch. Google noted that it would be rolling out to all Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks, and now Motorola has announced that itll be coming to their second generation Moto 360, as well as posting a changelog detailing all the changes coming in this update. Some of the changes coming in this OTA for the Moto 360 include bringing in some new languages. This includes Mandarin (Taiwan), Cantonese (Hong Kong), Indonesian (Indonesia), Polish (Poland), Dutch (Netherlands) and Thai (Thailand). In addition to that, we have Doze making its way to the Moto 360 second generation. This, as Motorola describes it, is a new smart feature which helps your watch to preserve battery when idle. Similar to how Doze works on your smartphone in Marshmallow. They have also added screen dimming, which should help with battery life as well. Part of Marshmallow is bringing in new app permissions, and now thats making its way to Android Wear as well. Motorola notes that to modify permissions for a particular app go to Settings and then Permissions on your watch, and adjust the permissions for the particular app you wish to change. Advertisement Moto Body also got some changes here. With Moto Body Running, you are now able to track your indoor run with Moto Body. It will record your time, pace, distance, and heart rate while you are running. Additionally you can still sync that with other services, as usual. Like Google Fit, Fitbit, MapMyRun and much more. Motorola has added the ability to manually set the date, time and time zone on your Moto 360. This is independent of your smartphone as well. We also have some Bluetooth headset audio improvements coming in addition to performance improvements and bug fixes with this update. Motorola didnt mention when the update would start rolling out. But we do know that it is coming soon, thanks to the Android Wear team. It should be appearing in the next few days, and as soon as it does, well be sure to share the OTA link with everyone so youre able to sideload the update to your watch. As to be expected, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the latest handset set to arrive from Samsung, the Galaxy S7. One of the big talking points up until recently, has been how many variants there will be. While early indications pointed towards four variants, in the form of the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S7+, Galaxy S7 Edge and Galaxy S7 Edge+, more recently the common consensus seems to be agreeing on only two models, the Galaxy S7 and the Galaxy S7 Edge. That is, at least at launch as some might be expecting Samsung to launch a Galaxy S7 Edge+ much later in the year and possibly along with the Galaxy Note 6, like they did last year with the Galaxy S6 Edge+ and the Galaxy Note 5. Back then, one of the big talking points of the joint Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note 5 launch was that it was somewhat of a market-dividing aspect. If you lived in select regions you ended up with the Galaxy Note 5, while if you lived in other regions like Europe, your choice was resigned to the Galaxy S6 Edge+. A choice which did not prove to be a popular one. Well a report emerging today from TechRadar states that is not going to be the case for 2016. Advertisement The report which credits a source high up at one of the UKs major networks states that Samsung will not repeat their actions from 2015 and instead the Galaxy Note 6 will see a release in the UK from launch. The reason given for this change of heart from last year is what was defined by the source as a backlash from loyal Note fans. The report does not go into further detail as to whether a Galaxy S7 Edge+ will be released as well, and instead seems to just focus on the fact that the Note 5 will be available in the UK in replace of the S7 Edge+. So it is possible that Samsung still could release a Galaxy S7 Edge+ as well, although, this does seem to be quickly becoming an increasingly unlikely scenario. The common consensus is that the Galaxy S7 Edge which will be announced along with the Galaxy S7 this month at MWC, is a larger device to begin with. So it stands to reason that an even larger device is unlikely to be unveiled at all. Although, with Samsung, you just never know. Much has been said about the upcoming Galaxy S7 lineup, but as we get closer to the launch date, it seems like the information is a little more reliable. Samsung finally released a teaser video for their Unpacked event, which will take place on February 21st, and the company will surely announce a few devices including its new flagships. We finally could confirm the existence of the Galaxy S7 Edge, as its name was spotted in a developers site created by Samsung, and that device is expected to be announced along the Galaxy S7 with a flat screen. Weve already seen some leaked images of both devices and they resemble the current flagships quite a lot, although the Galaxy S7 Edge is now larger. Samsung seems willing to correct some aspects that were criticized on the Galaxy S6 lineup, the new phones will apparently integrate a Micro SD card slot to expand the internal storage and the battery, even if it still wont be removable, it seems that it could last for quite a while. Eldar Murtazin from Russian site Mobile Review mentioned that the phone could last for up to 17 hours playing video and with the screen set at full brightness. Now, he shared a few screenshots, allegedly from the Galaxy S7 that show how the battery behaves. He claims that the new generation of Samsung smartphones lasted for two days on a single charge with brightness at 75%, LTE turned on all the time and two SIM cards running. This could be a significant improvement compared to the battery life of the Galaxy S6 lineup, which can barely last for a day Advertisement He doesnt specify which of the two phones these screenshots belong to, but the Galaxy S7 is said to include a 3,000 mAh battery and the Galaxy S7 Edge could integrate a 3,500 mAh battery to compensate for the larger screen, so both handsets could end up having a similar battery life. Lets also note that these handsets will probably launch running Android 6.0 out of the box, which has been optimized to manage the energy a little better. Still, we will have to wait until the official announcement to confirm all of this. The tablet world seems to be on pause since the release of the Google Pixel C, which closed out 2015 only just but with Mobile World Congress just around the corner, were hoping for some higher-profile releases to launch. Samsung introduced a Windows 10 powered offering during CES 2016, but were all still waiting for more Android offerings to launch, and hopefully February will be the month we see those launches, with the new slates hitting shelves before the Spring gives way to Summer. For now though, here are the best Android tablets you can get your hands on right now. 10. Amazon Fire, Fire HD Advertisement The Fire line of tablets have been around for years now, and they were introduced with one goal in mind; to offer a cheaper tablet and get people hooked on Amazon services. Last years revamp still lives up to that original goal, the Fire HD and Fire tablets available in a 6-inch kids offering, a $50 7-inch option and a pricier 10-inch version offer users a nice compromise between price and performance. The only problem with these offerings is that these are only compatible with Amazons service, theres no Google Play Store here, and updates have become few and far between from Amazon themselves these days, which is becoming a pain for users that have been with the brand for more than a couple of years now. 09. Lenovo Tablet 2 A10 Advertisement Lenovo has become something of a sleeper-name in the Android tablet game since their original Yoga Tablet offering. With the Lenovo Tab 2 A10 however, they took a different, simpler route. The Tab 2 A10 is certainly nothing special, its not the fastest, the display is not the sharpest or the brightest and the hardware build and design is pretty meh overall. For a Google Android (as in the same Android as most phones, not the Amazon Android as above) tablet well below $200 however, the Lenovo Tab 2 A10 starts to make a lot of sense. Its cheap and makes for a great tablet for casual use, and for first-time tablet buyers, as we found out in our review last year. 08. Samsung Galaxy View Advertisement When Samsung released the Galaxy View, it was hard to wonder whether or not they were joking. Turns out that they werent, and the Galaxy View is the 18.4-inch Android tablet thatsome people wanted? Regardless, Samsung get points here for trying something a little different here, and we wish that they would continue to do more of that. The problem with the Galaxy View however, is that theres not much to write home about other than that large display. At 1920 x 1200 its of a lower-resolution than the smaller Galaxy Tab S2 and the processor under-the-hood isnt too much to shout about, either. Still, if you always wanted a portable HDTV running Android, with a touchscreen to boot, Samsung has the Galaxy View for you. 07. Dell Venue 8 7000 Advertisement Along with the Nexus 9, this offering from Dell is one of the oldest options still in our list, and for good reason. With a different design making that gorgeous display stand out, and a real professional look and feel throughout, the Venue 8 7000 has a hell of a lot to offer. The only question that needs answering now, is whether or not Dell will bestow a Marshmallow update upon their smaller tablets. We certainly hope so, but as it stands right now, the Dell Venue 8 line is well worth considering if youre in the market of a more premium portable Android tablet. 06. Lenovo YOGA Tab 3 Pro Advertisement If you want versatility in an Android tablet without a keyboard accessory then the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is one of your best options. With a good-looking display, a stand that can be used in all orientations (and even double as a hook for the tablet) the Yoga Tab 3 Pro is as flexible as you are, and theres a big battery in that handle to keep it going throughout a day or more. This version of the Yoga Tab brings things up a notch however and adds in a pico projector to get HD films set up as an impromptu theater whenever you want, as well as excellent speakers to boot. You can read our review to learn more about the Yoga Tab 3 Pro here. 05. Google Nexus 9 Advertisement Google and HTCs partnership on the Nexus 9 was something of a surprise for a lot of people out there, and while it still gets a mixed reception, its become an excellent option to consider over the year-plus that its been available. For one thing, this now runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow (unlike most others on this list) and for another it has a great screen at 8.9-inches thats colorful and bright, even if bright sunlight. Nice and thin, with quality BoomSound speakers, the Nexus 9 is worth considering even today. If youre looking to do more gaming with an NVIDIA chip however, look below, and if youre looking for a better-built and larger Nexus tablet, keep going still. 04. NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet K1 Advertisement While NVIDIA may not have succeeded with their original SHIELD Tablet, they resolved to do better with their K1 model, and thats just what they did. The 8.0-inch 1920 x 1200 display still isnt the most dense out there, and its industrial design is pretty unassuming, but its whats on the inside that counts here, and that just happens to be a lot. The Tegra K1 at the heart of this SHIELD Tablet is incredibly powerful, and offers some of the best gaming performance available on Android. With an optional controller and the ability to stream Steam games to it, the SHIELD Tablet K1 is one of hell of a content consumption device. 03. Sony Xperia Z4 Tablet When we reviewed the Xperia Z4 Tablet from Sony last year, we gave it a thorough once over and were mightily impressed. We still are of course, but it has tailed off a little. It still hasnt received an update to Android 6.0 Marshmallow and theres a new keyboard king in town. Still, if you prefer a 16:10 aspect ratio for films and TV, as well as an excellent fit and finish with a super-thin, water-resistant build, then this is the one to get. It is however, really quite expensive, and despite its versatility, there are a couple of other options that are more affordable in the long run. 02. Google Pixel C Despite some teething problems at launch, the Pixel C has become an excellent example of what Google can do with hardware when they try hard to get it right. With small changes to Android itself, and frequent updates to keep the Pixel C sharp and up-to-date, theres a lot to love about the Pixel C. Not the least the magical keyboard which works wonders when using a fullscreen app or getting some email dealt with. This is excellent hardware, and theres no taking that away from Google, but Android as it is on tablets still needs some work, and hopefully the Pixel C will show Google how good Android can be on tablets if they keep working on improving it. 01. Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7-inch Where the Pixel C lacks software extras and niceties, the Galaxy Tab S2 brings them back in abundance, with software additions and tweaks to make Android more useful. Not to mention that display. The Super AMOLED, Full HD 9.7-inch display is gorgeous and makes websites a joy to browse, as well as movies pop with all the punch and clarity you could ask for. Its a little on the expensive side, but if you want an Android tablet to do everything, and do everything well, then this is the option that youve been looking for. Some readers may be familiar with Voxer, a cross-platform messaging and walkie talkie app. Voxers function list is quite long on all platforms, from PCs to smartwatches, boasting items like walkie-talkie functions and photo sending over any type of connection. Voxers now-ex CTO, George Kola, has officially left the company to become an engineer for Google, according to LinkedIn. He did not state what specific projects he would be working on or overseeing, but his skill set mentions deep experience building real-time low-latency messaging systems used by tens of millions of users world-wide., helping to narrow speculation just a bit. A fairly plausible scenario is that he will be bringing his backend expertise to Hangouts, possibly in the form of implementing new features. Before leaving, Kola had been the Chief Technology Officer for Voxer for just a bit over a year. Prior to that, he was one of their top software engineers. Among his feats there were extensive and varied developments for Voxers mobile components. Although there hasnt been much real information revealed at this point, it stands to reason that Google, groping around for a proper approach to dealing with and improving Hangouts, may employ Kolas talents to optimize Hangouts in various ways, including making it more feature-rich. Given his prior accomplishments in porting and programming walkie-talkie features in particular, it wouldnt be a stretch to think this may be exactly what hell be up to at Google. Advertisement A walkie-talkie features has actually been specifically requested on Googles product forums in the past. According to other sources of speculation, Chinas most popular messaging app, WeChat, has an extremely popular and well-loved push-to-talk feature. With Google heading back to China in the near future, part of the reason for scooping up Kola may have been to get a similar feature into Hangouts to help with the reentry into China. Quick recorded voice messages are also a possibility and a much-requested feature, meaning that with or without Kolas involvement, such a feature could make its way into future versions of Hangouts. With the lack of official comment from Kola or Google, of course, this is all just speculation. Plausible and convenient speculation, but still speculation. (ANSA) - Amsterdam, February 5 - The European Union is at Italy's side in trying to get to the bottom of the murder of Italian researcher Gulio Regeni in Cairo, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said Friday. "The EU is at Italy's side to try to make sure that the utmost collaboration is guaranteed by Egyptian authorities and the utmost clarity is achieved on the responsibility and dynamics" of the murder, she said. Mogherini said the case has "shocked all of us, not only Italians but Europeans. She said she had spoken about it Thursday in London, on the sidelines of a Syria donors' conference, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Mogherini said the EU was "ready to do everything in its power at the diplomatic level and also with personal relations". (ANSA) - Rome, February 5 - A fresh case of contagion by the Zika virus has been found in a person just back from Brazil, Rome medical sources said Friday, raising the total of cases in Italy to nine. Earlier a fourth case was found in Veneto. The patient, who had returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic, was treated in a Venice hospital and is well, regional health councillor Luca Colletto said. Previously Colletto said the other three cases were in Treviso, Padua and Vicenza and all concerned people who had returned from trips to countries where the virus is most widespread, in South America and the Caribbean. "There is no cause for alarm because the Zika virus has been monitored in Veneto since 2010, along with Chijkungunya and Dengue, both in humans and the mosquitoes which are its vectors so that, if it presents, we are able to treat it effectively," Colletto said. The World Health Organisation declared Zika an emergency February 1 and on Friday the United Nations said contraception and abortion services should be boosted in affected countries. (ANSA) - Paris, February 5 - Radio France has chosen Italy as its featured country for its 26th Festival of Musical Creation, which begins Friday evening with the first in a 10-day series of concerts. Radio France President Matthieu Gallet called this year's festival "a voyage in the Italy of today, at the same time familiar and surprising". The festival will feature various compositions by Milan's Luca Francesconi, who studied under Luciano Berio and founded the Agon research and musical experimentation centre; and Lecce's Ivan Fedele, who has been director of the Venice Biennale Festival of Contemporary Music since 2012; both of whom Gallet called artists "whose vitality has been constant for about 30 years" and who possess "an aura of influence" in the contemporary classical world. "The constants of Italian music, if we must cite a few, are articulation, color, the clearness of harmony, and that which I'd call unpredictable play," Fedele said in an interview with Radio France. "So, yes, a festival dedicated to Italian musicians makes sense, because there are common elements among them. There's still an Italian spirit, even if the national characteristics are weakening," Fedele said. Other featured artists, whom Gallet called "figures of an eternal past", will include Luigi Nono, Bruno Maderna, Salvatore Sciarrino, Francesca Verunelli, Francesco Donatoni, and Fausto Romitelli, an innovative composer who had a promising career ahead of him, only to lose a battle with cancer in 2004 at just 41 years old. The concerts will also include French composers who worked in Italy or on Italy, such as Henri Dutilleux, who in 1938 came to Villa Medici with the prestigious Prix de Rome; Edith Canat de Chizy; Jacques Lenot, who lived in Italy for many years; and Gerard Grisey, who composed music based on texts by 15th-century mathematician Piero della Francesca. Radio France's Philharmonic Orchestra will take the stage along with their choir and youth choir, as well as some notable ensembles and soloists to include Abruzzo's Valentina Coladonato and Alessandria clarinetist Michele Marelli. (By Denis Greenan). (ANSAmed) - ROME - Two people were arrested in Cairo Friday in the murder of Italian university researcher and part-time journalist Giulio Regeni. A Cairo security source told ANSA the murder was not linked "to political or terrorist" elements and was purely "a criminal act". Regeni's body is set to return from Egypt to Italy Saturday for a fresh autopsy on his tortured corpse. Seven Italian investigators have flown to Cairo to take part in a joint probe aimed at reconstructing a case that has appalled Italy and sent shock waves abroad. Regeni's remains will reach Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Saturday at 13:00 local time, sources said Friday. His body will be taken to the coroner's department at La Sapienza University for an autopsy ordered by Rome prosecutors as part of their murder investigation into the Cambridge doctoral student's death in Cairo. Regeni, 28, was studying at the American University in Cairo and freelancing for Rome daily Il Manifesto on issues such as the trade union movement. He wrote several articles under a pseudonym about labour issues in Egypt for the left-wing Italian newspaper. After his death, the paper ran his last piece under his name, detailing difficulties facing independent labor unions, including the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services. He went missing January 25, the closely controlled fifth anniversary of the uprising against former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and he was found dead in a ditch with signs of torture on the evening of February 3. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told RAI public broadcaster Friday he is confident Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won't back out of working with Italy to find Regeni's killers. "We have one single objective: the truth," Alfano said. "I am convinced Al-Sisi won't shirk...and that our good relations with Egypt will be a lubricant aiding in the search for truth." Alfano added that "all procedures will be activated so that severe justice will be meted out to those responsible". Also Friday, Italian intelligence sources denied press reports of links between the intelligence services and Regeni. "All and any link by Giulio Regeni with Italian intelligence is to be categorically denied," they said. The sources said "indescribable falsehoods and exploitation" of the affair were to be "refuted with determination". The sources expressed "amazement and consternation" at the reports. Egyptian Ambassador to Italy Amr Helmy said Friday it was "important not to give certain 'enemies' the opportunity to exploit (Regeni's) death" and thus "undermine...the stable and excellent relations between our countries". He reaffirmed that investigations would be "carried out with the maximum transparency and collaboration, as the death of the student represents an event that has struck Italian institutions and public opinion". The European Union is at Italy's side in trying to get to the bottom of the murder, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said Friday. "The EU is at Italy's side to try to make sure that the utmost collaboration is guaranteed by Egyptian authorities and the utmost clarity is achieved on the responsibility and dynamics" of the murder, she said. On Thursday, one of Regeni's Egyptian friends told Egyptian paper Al Ahram that the post-doctoral student was seeking contacts with labuor activists so he could interview them. "Security officers summoned me after Regeni disappeared (on January 25)," said the friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They wanted to know about the purpose of his visit and of his studies". Regeni's body showed signs of cigarette burns, stab wounds, torture, and of having suffered a "slow death", the Associated Press quoted Egyptian prosecutors as saying. Egyptian prosecution sources said Regeni had contusions around the eyes "as though he had been punched (as well as) signs of torture and wounds all over the body". The Egyptian interior ministry revealed last week that of 191 disappearances listed by the country's National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), 99 occurred in custody. (ANSAmed). Palestinian boy killed in clashes with Israel Near Hebron; 'planning to throw Molotov cocktails', soldiers (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, FEBRUARY 5 - Tension continues to be high in the West Bank after a Palestinian youth was killed in clashes with the army in Halhul, near Hebron. Palestinian media say that the boy was 14, while Israeli ones say that he was 17. The MAAN news agency reported that the boy, Haitham Ismail Al-Baw, was hit in the head and died of his injuries. His cousin, Wajd Yusif Al-Baw, was also hit. The Israeli military spokesman was cited by the same source as saying that the two had been preparing to throw Molotov cocktails as the soldiers passed. The soldiers then opened fire on the two. (ANSAmed). (ANSAmed) - RABAT, FEBRUARY 5 - The titanic project of the solar power plant of Noor in Ouarzazate, in southern Morocco, has been inaugurated. A host country of the COP22 next November, Rabat launches ''the planet's largest solar park''. Mohammed VI has powered the plant with its 500,000 curved mirrors, perfectly aligned across 450 hectares of pre-desert land, just a few kilometers from the dunes of the Sahara, will be able to generate 160 megawatts. Launched in 2009, the project is ambitious and provides for two other plants of the same type, Noor 2 and 3, which, with other renewable energy, will provide at least half of the country's electricity demand by 2030. Morocco, which is completely without gas and oil, imports over 90% of its energy. In Ouarzazate, historically a key passage for caravaners in the desert, the event was attended by the king, as well as minister delegate Hakima El Haite and French counterpart Segolene Royal. Work on this first plant, which will be heated by 3,000 hours of sun a year, kicked off in the spring of 2013. Funded by a Saudi-majority consortium, participated by Spanish investors, Noor 1 cost 600 million euros. When the entire project will be completed, the Noor (light in Arabic) complex will have a capacity of 560 megawatts and in total aims to generate from now until 2020 up to 2,000 megawatts. The other two plants need 2 billion euros which have already been allocated. From an ecological standpoint, Noor 1 will avoid the emission of 2.9 tons of co2 in 10 years. (ANSAmed). 20,000 Syrian refugees at closed Turkish border, UN 'To continue so long as Russia continues to bomb', Erdogan (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, FEBRUARY 5 - About 20,000 Syrian refugees fleeing Russian airstrikes and advances by regime and allied militia forces in the Aleppo province are waiting to enter Turkey at the Oncupinar border crossing, which remains closed. The UN has said that tens of thousands of others are heading towards Turkey. Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Friday that the displaced would not be left ''without food or shelter'', but did not provide information on when Ankara intends to reopen the border. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that between 5,000 and 10,000 other displaced were in Azaz and 10,000 in the Kurdish canton of Afrin in northern Syria, a few kilometers from the Turkish border. Speaking at the donors conference for Syria on Thursday, Davutoglu said that 70,000 refugees were headed towards Turkey. Ankara already hosts over 2.5 million Syrian refugees. The Turkish president said Friday in Ecuador that refugees would continue to flee so long as the Russians continued to bomb their homes. (ANSAmed). Alfano 'confident' Al-Sisi will help in Regeni probe Justice will be 'severe' says Italian interior minister (ANSAmed) - Rome, February 5 - Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told RAI public broadcaster Friday he is confident Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won't back out of working with Italy to find the killers of slain Italian student Giulio Regeni. "We have one single objective: the truth," Alfano said. "I am convinced Al-Sisi won't shirk...and that our good relations with Egypt will be a lubricant aiding in the search for truth." Alfano added that "all procedures will be activated so that severe justice will be meted out to those responsible". Government sources told ANSA late Thursday that a team of seven State, Carabinieri and Interpol police officers is set to leave for Cairo today to closely follow the investigation into the violent death of the 28-year-old doctoral student, who went missing January 25 and was found yesterday in a ditch on the outskirts of Cairo with signs of torture on his body. Egyptian authorities turned his body over to Umberto I Italian Hospital in the Egyptian capital late yesterday. It had emerged earlier in the day that Regeni freelanced with Italian leftwing daily il manifesto. He covered Egyptian trade unions and used a pen name "because he feared for his safety", the Rome paper told ANSA. Also on Thursday, one of Regenis' Egyptian friends told Egyptian paper Al Ahram that the post-doctoral student was seeking contacts with labor activists so he could interview them. "Security officers summoned me after Regeni disappeared (on January 25)," said the friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They wanted to know about the purpose of his visit and of his studies". Regeni, 28, was a Cambridge University doctoral student and a visiting scholar at the American University in Cairo (AUC). His body showed signs of cigarette burns, stab wounds, torture, and of having suffered a "slow death", the Associated Press quoted Egyptian prosecutors as saying. Egyptian prosecution sources said Regeni had contusions around the eyes "as though he had been punched (as well as) signs of torture and wounds all over the body". The Egyptian interior ministry revealed last week that of 191 disappearances listed by the country's National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), 99 occurred in custody. Austria pressures Morocco to take back migrants Threatens to cut aid if repatriation not implemented (ANSAmed) - RABAT , FEBRUARY 5 - Morocco is under pressure to repatriate migrants from both Germany and Austria now, which are threatening to call on Europe to halt aid to the country if it does not repatriate its migrants that lack the right to asylum. Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz raised the issue on the public radio station Oe1. ''At the moment, the EU gives 480 million euros to Morocco and 414 million to Tunisia every year, and yet these countries refuse to take back asylum seekers,'' Kurz said. His words then circulated among Arab dailies online, which noted that the next EU summit in Brussels on February 18-19 might be when the ''threats'' become operative. In recent days Germany had applied pressure to this end on the issue of a group of Moroccans who had pretended to be Syrians to get refugee status, reported Akhbar Al-Youm. Deputy German chancellor Sigmar Gabriel noted that ''Morocco and Algeria receive economic aid from Germany and in exchange they refuse to collaborate. This is unacceptable.'' A telephone call between King Mohammed VI and German chancellor Angela Merkel then discussed what the next steps would be. The two countries' diplomatic officers are working to implement repatriations. The crackdown came after violence on New Year's Eve in the German city of Cologne, in which most of the perpetrators were found to be of Moroccan origins. German interior ministry figures say that Moroccan asylum seekers rose in number from 368 in June 2015 to 2,896 in December. The latest Moroccan census - in 2011 - put the number of those from the country living in Germany at 150,000. (ANSAmed). Egypt: Two held in Regeni murder, body coming home Saturday Italian investigators in Cairo in bid to reconstruct crime (By Denis Greenan). (ANSAmed) - ROME, FEBRUARY 5 - Two people were arrested in Cairo Friday in the murder of Italian university researcher and part-time journalist Giulio Regeni. A Cairo security source told ANSA the murder was not linked "to political or terrorist" elements and was purely "a criminal act". Regeni's body is set to return from Egypt to Italy Saturday for a fresh autopsy on his tortured corpse. Seven Italian investigators have flown to Cairo to take part in a joint probe aimed at reconstructing a case that has appalled Italy and sent shock waves abroad. Regeni's remains will reach Rome's Fiumicino Airport on Saturday at 13:00 local time, sources said Friday. His body will be taken to the coroner's department at La Sapienza University for an autopsy ordered by Rome prosecutors as part of their murder investigation into the Cambridge doctoral student's death in Cairo. Regeni, 28, was studying at the American University in Cairo and freelancing for Rome daily Il Manifesto on issues such as the trade union movement. He wrote several articles under a pseudonym about labour issues in Egypt for the left-wing Italian newspaper. After his death, the paper ran his last piece under his name, detailing difficulties facing independent labor unions, including the Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services. He went missing January 25, the closely controlled fifth anniversary of the uprising against former strongman Hosni Mubarak, and he was found dead in a ditch with signs of torture on the evening of February 3. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano told RAI public broadcaster Friday he is confident Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won't back out of working with Italy to find Regeni's killers. "We have one single objective: the truth," Alfano said. "I am convinced Al-Sisi won't shirk...and that our good relations with Egypt will be a lubricant aiding in the search for truth." Alfano added that "all procedures will be activated so that severe justice will be meted out to those responsible". Also Friday, Italian intelligence sources denied press reports of links between the intelligence services and Regeni. "All and any link by Giulio Regeni with Italian intelligence is to be categorically denied," they said. The sources said "indescribable falsehoods and exploitation" of the affair were to be "refuted with determination". The sources expressed "amazement and consternation" at the reports. Egyptian Ambassador to Italy Amr Helmy said Friday it was "important not to give certain 'enemies' the opportunity to exploit (Regeni's) death" and thus "undermine...the stable and excellent relations between our countries". He reaffirmed that investigations would be "carried out with the maximum transparency and collaboration, as the death of the student represents an event that has struck Italian institutions and public opinion". The European Union is at Italy's side in trying to get to the bottom of the murder, High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said Friday. "The EU is at Italy's side to try to make sure that the utmost collaboration is guaranteed by Egyptian authorities and the utmost clarity is achieved on the responsibility and dynamics" of the murder, she said. On Thursday, one of Regeni's Egyptian friends told Egyptian paper Al Ahram that the post-doctoral student was seeking contacts with labuor activists so he could interview them. "Security officers summoned me after Regeni disappeared (on January 25)," said the friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They wanted to know about the purpose of his visit and of his studies". Regeni's body showed signs of cigarette burns, stab wounds, torture, and of having suffered a "slow death", the Associated Press quoted Egyptian prosecutors as saying. Egyptian prosecution sources said Regeni had contusions around the eyes "as though he had been punched (as well as) signs of torture and wounds all over the body". The Egyptian interior ministry revealed last week that of 191 disappearances listed by the country's National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), 99 occurred in custody. (ANSAmed). Libya needs gov't before anti-ISIS intervention, Mogherini 'EU exploring options including extension to naval mission' (ANSAmed) - AMSTERDAM, FEBRUARY 5 - The EU has begun to study options to support Libya including in the security sector, foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Friday. She added that it had begun to discuss revising the mandate of the naval mission in the Mediterranean as well, but only ''in the ways that the Libyan government wants once it is operative''. The minister ruled out that the EU might launch military operations without agreement from the national unity government. To those asking whether international anti-ISIS military intervention would be preferable before the government is sworn in, Mogherini said that ''the best condition to fight ISIS is to have a government in charge''. On the options on which the EU is working, Mogherini said that under study was the passage of the EuNavFor Med ''from the current 2/B phase to phase 3'', which would imply operating in Libyan domestic waters, adding that any extension to the mandate of 'Operation Sophia' may concern ''training of the Libyan coast guard, for example''. Mogherini has also spoken about the possible use of Eubam, a border control mission, for ''training, assistance in restoring institutions and security sector reform''. (ANSAmed). (by Claudio Salvalaggio) (ANSAmed) - WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 5 - Italy's role in Libya is good but a greater engagement would be welcome, according to the US State department. The deployment of troops from Italy and other European countries to create a local stabilization force after the creation of a new national unity government is, according to the New York Times, one of the options under consideration to confront the escalating ISIS threat in Libya. The threat, according to US media, is increasing the pressure put by top US national security advisers on Obama to approve the use of military force in Libya to open a new front against the caliphate, in parallel with international diplomatic efforts for the approval of a new national unity government. Meanwhile US State Department spokesman, John Kirby, has stressed that Washington is grateful for Italy's engagement in the North African country, praising in particular the role undertaken by Carabinieri officers in training the Libyan military. However, he noted that greater engagement from Italy would be welcome. The United States - he said - will increase their efforts and we would like other countries to do the same. But the decision is up to them, noted the spokesman. US President Barack Obama meanwhile is preparing to take action. The White House only needs to decide, an anonymous top State Department official was quoted as saying by the New York Times, explaining that the dossier has been extensively examined by all departments. However, Obama, after meeting last Thursday with security advisors and top Pentagon officials, appears hesitant on what to do, worried to undertake in the last year of his mandate another military adventure in Libya after the disastrous void created by Gaddafi's ouster. At the same time, however, he must act quickly to prevent the risk of the ramification of ISIS at Europe's door, which could directly threaten American citizens and interests. For this reason, the US president has called for increased efforts to create a new Libyan government while the Pentagon ponders its options, including air raids, raids with commandos and advisors for Libyan troops on the ground, as special operation forces are doing now in eastern Syria. Large-scale troop deployment has been ruled out so far. But discussion within the Obama administration has not ended yet, and the scale or context of a potential US military involvement in Libya, which would be coordinated with European allies, have not been decided yet. Hope mainly depends on the approval of the new Libyan government, already rejected once by parliament with on the background the fight between rival factions. In case of success, each intervention could be coordinated with the new leadership, including the deployment of Italian and other European troops to create a local stabilization force. Options include relaunching a former Pentagon plan to train anti-terror troops. But time is running short, while ISIS continues to grow stronger: according to US defense, the number of ISIS fighters in Libya has increased from 5,000 to 6,500 - over twice the number of estimates made last fall by government analysts. For this reason, according to some top and former officials of the administration, if parallel processes supporting the political process in Libya and fighting ISIS ''strengthen each other'', at one point the US could act unilaterally (as already warned yesterday by Obama) or with allies if faced with a credible threat from the Caliphate's Libyan positions. Pentagon chief Ash Carter has said ''we will try to help them gain control of their country'', adding however that the intention is to avoid a situation like the ones in Syria and Iraq. Generals are awaiting orders, it is now up to the commander-in-chief, the president, to take that decision. (ANSAmed) Regeni: Gentiloni, commitment made, we trust in cooperation We will guarantee that such commitment is respected (ANSAmed) - AMSTERDAM, FEBRUARY 5 - ''We trust they will cooperate as this is the commitment made yesterday by both president Sisi and the foreign minister'', Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said on Friday upon his arrival at the informal council of EU foreign ministers, replying to a question on whether Egypt will cooperate in investigations on the murder of Giulio Regeni. He recalled that police, Carabinieri and Interpol officers will arrive in Cairo ''this afternoon'' and stressed that ''a useful collaboration'' is expected to begin tonight already. ''One thing is very clear for us: a commitment was made to cooperate in order to establish the truth and we trust and will guarantee that this commitment is respected'', stated the minister. Gentiloni then informed that this morning a ''small religious ceremony'' was held at the Italian hospital Umberto I in Cairo where the PhD student's body is currently located. (ANSAmed). (ANSAmed) - AMSTERDAM, FEBRUARY 5 - Intense Russian air raids, mostly targeting opposition troops in Syria, are undermining efforts to find a political solution to the conflict, the secretary general of Nato, Jens Stoltenberg, said when he arrived at a meeting of defense ministers in Amsterdam. Moreover, he observed, the strengthening of Russia's aerial activity in Syria boosts tensions and violations of Turkish airspace. This, he continued, creates risks, strong tensions and is a challenge to Nato, because these are violations of Nato's airspace. The secretary general added that Russia's substantial military strengthening in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean is shifting the strategic equilibrium in this part of the Mediterranean, calling for a calm de-escalation and a political solution to the conflict in Syria. (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, FEBRUARY 5 - In a grey winter morning, on February 6, 2013, unknown gunmen shot dead Tunisian opposition lawmaker Chokri Belaid in front of his home. It was a shock for the country, a historic turning point for Tunisia's political life as the country found, in the huge disdain and strong reaction of civil society, the strength to begin a reflection that subsequently led it to take the far from easy road of democratic transition. In spite of the announcements and efforts by Tunisian magistrates to shed light on the case, after three years of investigations with different probes and procedural issues, no light has been shed on the identity of the killers and instigators of this political homicide. The trial against 24 defendants, which only started in June 2015, is stagnating in its initial phase. The next and third hearing has been scheduled on March 15. Yet, finding out the truth as soon as possible has been one of the stated objectives of the government of Habib Essid since it first took office, as well as of president Essebsi and the wish of the widow Basma Khalfaoui who has always said she wants nothing but the truth. Belaid, founder of the left-wing group Popular Front was a sort of Tunisian Giacomo Matteotti, an Italian Socialist political murdered in 1924), a lawyer who joined left-wing groups since his university law school years. He was immediately involved in the fight for human rights that were under attack during Ben Ali's regime. A secular politician, he was however loyal to the rule of law and even defended Muslim Brotherhood militants in court. It was inevitable for him to side with the post-revolutionary government led by Islamic party Ennhadha, which won elections in October 2011. As leader of the Democratic Patriots' Movement, he started receiving death threats over his positions and statements ''against'' and his warnings concerning parts of the Islamic party: ''democracy born from the jasmin revolution is in danger'', he used to repeat. The threats unfortunately came true in his case. Belaid's defense committee, which has never stopped looking for the truth over the last few years, has recently announced new revelations concerning poor investigations, calling on authorities to celebrate each year, on February 6, a national day against terrorism and political homicide. Many demonstrations in his memory have been scheduled starting tomorrow in Tunis, with a flower wreath to be deposed where he was killed, in the Menzah VI district of Tunis, a square that now bears his name. (ANSAmed) The government approved on Wednesday a decision allocating an additional budget for the Foreign Affairs Ministry amounting to 550,000 lei to be granted for emergency humanitarian aid of the refugees, Agerpres reports. 'Romania joins donor states participating in the High Level Conference on Refugees, which will be held in London on February 4th. (...)Humanitarian aid will be granted for programs coordinated by the United Nations or by the Plan for humanitarian response in Syria and the Regional plan for refugees and resilience, cooperation institutional instruments for UN inter-agency imposed as a result of the increasing refugee crisis', press release from the Government sates. Adriana Saftoiu is making new extremely serious allegations against Traian Basescu. In a text published on Adevarul.ro, the former presidential advisor argued that in the telephone conversation after which Basescu said he fired her, there was no question of treason and that in fact the former president self-denounced. Saftoiu said that in March 2007, a former colleague of PD called her to complain about his bad relationship with the former president. "I answered," she said, "I could not help you, because Traian Basescu is dominated by his only collaborator, Elena Udrea". "The next day, Traian Basescu reproached me this exact word: dominate. How could I dare to say that? It's true, back then there were not so many proofs as many as we gathered at the end of the 10-year term. But, for me, they were sufficient to understand the relation of forces. In his logic, this is called treason, to disagree with his choices unrelated to the national interest, " Adriana Saftoiu says. The PSOE has laid eight items for discussion in an attempt to form a pro-reform, progressive government. They have outlined the main issues for talks with Podemos and Ciudadanos to try to get Pedro Sanchez voted in as the new Spanish president. The eight points were fleshed out at last Saturdays meeting of the PSOEs federal committee and have all got one thing in common: they are particularly vague. This ambiguity should allow the negotiating teams some leeway to make progress. In fact, on Thursday Sanchez and Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera agreed to trim them down to only five items and focus first on what brings them together: the fight against corruption and unemployment. Podemos wants to prevent a hypothetical referendum on Catalan independence from becoming an insurmountable hurdle in a negotiation where nobody wishes to talk about not crossing red lines, even if ultimately they exist. Sanchez and Pablo Iglesias both acknowledge that any agreement will require concessions on employment and economic matters, the other red lines that will progressively emerge. Overcoming the crisis Podemos wants to reverse the current employment law and Cs wants to bring in a single type of work contract All three parties agree that some taxes should be lowered. The problem is deciding which. On this point, Podemos and Ciudadanos do not see eye to eye, particularly on the matter of inheritance tax. The other significant hurdle is the current employment law, which Podemos would like to see reversed, whereas the PSOE has had a change of heart on this point. Ciudadanos is pushing for a new, single type of work contract, a policy which no other party supports. Constitutional reform They all agree that it is necessary, but differ greatly on its extent There is a consensus on this point, but the territorial debate stands between the three parties. Podemos demands an independence referendum in Catalonia while Ciudadanos wants to take away some devolved powers from the regional governments and to put and end to the Basque Countrys own tax system, whereas the PSOE would like to see a reform inspired by federalism but without regional differences. Iglesias and Rivera are at loggerheads over this issue. Education The PSOE and Podemos agree that the current law (Lomce) should be repealed; Cs disagree The PSOE and Podemos concur that the Lomce should be revoked but Cs merely demand a broad agreement on education and Rivera agrees with Iglesias and Sanchez that religion should stay away from Spanish classrooms and that Catalan lessons should be offered in schools outside Catalonia. A quality democratic system Rivera and Iglesias want to put an end to former political leaders getting top corporate jobs Ending limited legal immunity for elected officials and preventing former political leaders from getting top corporate jobs are two proposals that Ciudadanos and Podemos both endorse. This is a somewhat thornier issue for PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez, whose party mostly opposes the idea. However, he might consider bringing in mandatory primary elections for all political parties, but would never agree to election ballots where voters may tick the candidates of their choice from each slate. Rivera and Iglesias agree that an electoral reform is necessary, but the PSOE refuses to adopt a system of proportional representation where all votes would carry the same weight. This change would benefit the newer parties: Podemos and Ciudadanos. Fighting poverty Ending evictions, bringing in a minimum income and benefits for dependent people The PSOE and Podemos have proposed setting a minimum income or benefit for anyone who does not reach a bare minimum income threshold, an idea which Ciudadanos is keen on. Besides, Rivera demands a Spanish scheme for dependent people, an idea which they could all agree on. All three feel that people should not be evicted from their homes if they have nowhere else to go. The real tour de force will come when the draft bills on this matter are finally debated in parliament, such as Bill 25 on social emergencies, which Podemos has tabled. The PSOE is proposing similar legislation. Fighting sexism Ciudadanos are fighting this battle on their own and it became a real drag for them during the election campaign. Albert Rivera has suggested that violence against women should no longer be regarded as being legally more damning than violence against men, an aggravating circumstance that was first brought in by the Zapatero administration. Podemos and the PSOE are in full agreement on the subject of fighting gender-based violence. Pensions Disagreement on what needs to go The PSOE and Ciudadanos propose a new Toledo pact on pensions to ensure proper income for retirees, now and in the future. Their position is ambiguous compared to Riveras suggestion to make pensions flexible. Podemos and the PSOE agree that the PPs pension reform must go and pension increments should again be tied to the cost of living. Iglesias is actually more ambitious and would like to see retirement age brought back down to 65, which the PSOE had raised to 67 when they were in office. Europe and foreign policy Big differences on what to do with sovereign debt and the deficit Again, it is the PSOE and Ciudadanos that mostly agree on this point. Podemos would like to see article 135 of the Spanish Constitution revoked. This was rushed in by the PP and the PSOE in the summer of 2012 and it enshrines austerity policies. Iglesias demands an audit and the restructuring of the nations debt, as well as more flexible payment terms. Neither Rivera nor Sanchez would like to change Spains commitments to Europe. The anti-Jihadi pact is another hurdle: Podemos wants no part in it. This was a slower pace of growth than the 5.0% growth recorded in 2014. The weakness reflects sluggish trade growth in Europe and Asia-Pacific. After a strong start, air freight volumes began a decline that continued through most of 2015, until some improvements to world trade drove a modest pick-up late in the year. Cargo in Asia-Pacific, accounting for around 39% of freight traffic, expanded by a moderate 2.3%. The key markets of Europe and North America, which between them comprise around 43% of total cargo traffic, were basically flat in 2015. Latin America suffered a steep decline (-6.0%) while the Middle East grew strongly, up 11.3%. Africa also saw modest growth of 1.2%. The freight load factor (FLF) was at times the lowest for some years, falling to an average 44.1% compared to 45.7% in 2014, driven down by weak demand and capacity expansion. Middle Eastern carriers grew 4.0% in December and for 2015 in total the region expanded 11.3% compared to 2014. The FLF was 42.8% for 2015. The region enjoyed a strong year as network expansion into emerging markets was supported by economic growth in local economies. Political instability and the fall in the oil price may impact on some economies in the region but growth as a whole remains robust enough to support further expansion in 2016. 2015 was another very difficult year for air cargo. Growth has slowed and revenue is falling. In 2011 air cargo revenue peaked at $67 billion. In 2016 we are not expecting revenue to exceed $51 billion. Efficiency gains are critical as the sector adjusts to shortening global supply chains and evermore competitive market conditions. We have to adjust to the new normal of cargo growing in line with general rates of economic expansion. The industry is moving forward with an e-freight transformation that will modernize processes and improve the value proposition. The faster the industry can make that happen, the better, said Tony Tyler, IATAs director general and CEO. Regional Analysis in Detail The global freight growth rate in December was 0.8% compared to December 2014. Within that range there were considerable regional fluctuations. African airlines FTKs declined by 8.4% in December although for 2015 as a whole the region grew by 1.2%. The FLF in 2015 was 29.7%, the lowest of any region. The underperformance of the Nigerian and South African economies was a challenge throughout the year, but trade growth to and from the region was sufficient to drive a modest expansion in FTKs. Asia-Pacific carriers were basically flat in December, expanding just 0.1%. For the whole of 2015, the region grew 2.3%. The FLF for 2015 was 53.9%, the highest of any region. Cargo expansion in the region has been hampered by a shift in Chinese economic policy to favour domestic consumption. A mid-year fall of 8% in trade to/from emerging Asia also led to declines but this appears to have bottomed out, with a rebound in the second half of the year. European airlines grew by 1.2% in December but the performance for 2015 in total was a fall of 0.1% compared to 2014. The FLF in 2015 was 44.9%. Economic conditions in the Eurozone have been subdued, leading to suppressed demand for air freight, but imports have improved in recent months. Latin American carriers continued the weak performance of recent months, declining by 6.2% in December and by 6.0% for 2015 as a whole. This was the weakest performance of any region. The average FLF for 2015 was 38.3%. Economic and political conditions in Brazil have worsened, and regional trade activity has been volatile. North American airlines saw FTKs expand 1.4% in December compared to December 2014. For the year as a whole, North America grew just 0.1%. The 2015 FLF was 34.3%. Growth in 2015 faded after a strong start that was flattered by the West Coast ports strike. Recently there have been mixed signals from economic data, indicating an uncertain outlook for air freight in the coming months. Le CBD, cette molecule active du cannabis a aujourdhui le vent en poupe. Et cela est en grande partie du au fait quil permet... ARPC hosts February leadership seminar Senior Airman Frank Eubanks, Air Reserve Personnel Center DD214 form processor, addresses the audience Feb. 4, 2016, during ARPCs February Leadership Seminar at the ARPC headquarters building on Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. Eubanks discussed his topic Standing on Giants Shoulders. The purpose of these seminars is to share views on leadership in a university-type setting from all levels of leaders; not just senior leaders. Leadership seminars are held monthly and are open to all ARPC personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Rob Hazelett) Training squadron doubles down in effort to grow RPA pilot ranks The 558th Flying Training Squadron ramped up efforts to double the remotely piloted aircraft pilot ranks with the start of its first 24-person class Jan. 11 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. The larger class sizes are part of ongoing initiative announced by the Air Force in 2015 to increase the number of career RPA pilots across the service. The RPA community as a whole is experiencing manpower issues and there is a need to train more pilots to help ease the overall strain on the career field, said Lt. Col. John Stallworth, the 558th FTS commander. We have worked diligently since last April to ensure we can meet the increased demand for trained 18X pilots. Previously, RPA pilot training classes started with 12 students; by May, each will begin with 24 students. With 16 projected classes starting each fiscal year, the number of pilots trained annually will jump from 192 up to 384. One of the big challenges for the unit, which has been the sole source of RPA pilot training in the Air Force since January 2011, during the transition will be increasing overall production by 71 percent during fiscal 16, while at the same time, creating the permanent student production pipeline to be at full operational capability for fiscal 2017, said Lt. Col. Jason Thompson, the 558th FTS director of operations. The 558th FTS graduated 191 student pilots in fiscal 2015 and are projected to graduate 290 in fiscal 2016. Overall production counts not just students, but also includes the additional instructors needed to handle the increased load, Thompson said. There is a considerable amount of moving pieces in regards to getting both the students, as well as the instructors, ready to make this mission a reality. To help meet the increased student demands, Stallworth said the unit has hired roughly half of the 42 new instructor billets put on the books, which will see the squadron grow from 62 instructors to 104 over the next few months. Our instructor cadre will be roughly 50 percent military and 50 percent civilian, Stallworth said. The (instructors) are doing a great job being flexible during this time of growth; theyve done everything we have asked and more throughout this process. To aid in creating the permanent production stream of RPA pilots, the inside of the 558th FTS building is undergoing a major renovation project. The renovations include additional simulator rooms, plus additional classroom and office space, said Maj. Michawn, a 558th FTS RPA flight instructor and officer in charge of the renovations. Through our detailed planning with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, the 502nd Civil Engineering Squadron and the contractor, we have mitigated most of the potential impacts to the students or their training time. The renovations, costing approximately $1.15 million, started Jan. 18 and are expected to be complete by early July, said Michawn, while noting any delays or deviations to the current plan have the potential to reduce RPA student production capacity. After the renovations are complete, students will be split into six flight rooms vice the old three, with a typical class of 24 being broke into two halves of 12, Stallworth said. While half the class is working on academics, the other half will be training on the simulators, minimizing down time to the maximum extent possible and at the same time, keeping instructor workloads manageable. Despite the renovations, the transition to larger class sizes wouldnt work without the dedicated work of the 558th FTS unit schedulers. Our scheduling team has been absolutely critical to making this plus-up happen, Stallworth said. Between academics and making sure everyone gets their sim time in, we havent had any major hiccups and this is primarily due to their efforts in thinking through the problems and coming up with flexible solutions. Partnering with the 502nd Trainer Development Squadron at Randolph to meet the need for more simulators, work is currently underway to design and build six new instrument simulators, as well as creating hardware and software upgrades to be made to 10 existing simulators to meet the improved training capabilities of the six new simulators, Stallworth said. The simulators are linked together so students have the opportunity to practice instrument flying procedures in a dynamic airspace environment similar to what they will encounter during real-world flight operations. The T-6A-like simulators being developed with the (502nd TDS) will be state of the art and we appreciate the efforts of the entire trainer development team in helping make this happen, Stallworth said. Another key element in ensuring mission success is the teamwork that has been on display between all the Joint Base San Antonio mission partners involved in the project, with crucial support coming from the 502nd Air Base Wings communications and contracting squadrons. The 502nd ABW has been tremendous in supporting the needs of our training mission, Michawn said. There have been a few challenges along the way, but all the players are focused on getting the mission done. (Editors note: In accordance with current Air Force guidance, the last names of the RPA operators in this story have been omitted due to operational security constraints.) A discussion with performance poet, performer, and playwright Amalia Ortiz who directs the theater arts program at SAY Si. SAY Si is a year-round, long-term, tuition-free multidisciplinary arts program in San Antonio... Read more PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwCs) 4th annual monitoring report on labor conditions on Abu Dhabis Saadiyat Island, recently released by the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) of the United Arab Emirates capital, gives a mixed picture of progress and continued concerns. The latter included a June 8 worker fatality, which occurred as a result of a construction accident at the Louvre Abu Dhabis project site. Whether for this or other reasons, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is still nothing more than 1,400 concrete piles [that] have sat untouched since they were completed in 2011, and a contractor is yet to be selected, according Nick Leechs article on the status of that project, which appeared on Nov. 17 in The National, the English-language Abu Dhabi newspaper. A spokesperson for the Guggenheim told me this on Tuesday: There is no construction on the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, and TDIC has not yet awarded a contract. We remain fully committed to the project. Compliance with TDICs Employment Practices Policy has improved from conditions discussed in the previous report, according to PwCs latest findings: 75% of surveyed residents in the Saadiyat Accommodation Village (SAV) complex said that they were extremely satisfied or satisfied with the quality of SAVs housing and facilities. The press release about PwCs report, issued on Tuesday by TDIC, focuses primarily on the positives: In 2015, of the 880 workers interviewed: 100% are in possession of medical insurance and have access to on-site medical care. 100% are in possession of their passports or had deposited them with employers willingly for safekeeping. 100% of long-term workers employed on Saadiyat projects (defined as those employed for 30 days or longer) are residing in the SAV. Facilities within the SAV now include door-to-door laundry services, daily cleaning of rooms, and enhanced recreational and sporting facilities. 99% of workers had signed a Site Assignment Agreement (SAA) in their native languages providing full details of remuneration and working conditions. On the downside (not included in the press release), a number if instances of non-compliance with safety standards were observed: These included eight workers who were conducting construction related activities without wearing the required Personal Protective Equipment in the presence of their Supervisors, unsafe entry and exit into the construction site area and workers smoking near flammable materials. The PwC report did not elaborate on the circumstances of the worker fatality at the site of the Jean Nouvel-designed Louvre Abu Dhabi, but did say that under UAE Labor Law, the family of a deceased worker is entitled to two years basic pay, and additional sums determined following a court ruling on the root cause of the accident. The press release acknowledged that PwC had again found instances of workers paying recruitment fees in their home countries [sizable amounts charged to workers by agents who recruit the projects migrant workers].TDIC took firm measures against violators, including the imposition of financial penalties and the obligation of those contractors to reimburse the affected workers.Nevertheless, the [PwC] report noted once again that the full resolution of the recruitment and relocation cost issue is beyond TDICs direct influence and requires collaboration between relevant entities. The revised Employment Practices Policy, issued last August, includes some strengthened provisions regarding recruitment fees (see pp. 12-14), a sticking point that Richard Armstrong, the Guggenheims director, once described as a very complex foreign policy question between governments. As quoted in November by The Nationals Leech, Armstrong said that there is new leadership at both TCA [Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority] and TDIC, we have had fruitful meetings and we feel re-energized about the prospects. For now, though, as Leech reported, Somewhere in a free port in Europe, locked inside a secure, state-of-the-art, climate-controlled storage facility are almost 240 modern and contemporary artworks, awaiting installation in the yet-to-be built Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. 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(5) Sep 25 (7) Sep 24 (3) Sep 23 (3) Sep 22 (3) Sep 21 (2) Sep 20 (1) Sep 19 (1) Sep 18 (2) Sep 15 (1) Sep 13 (2) Sep 11 (1) Sep 06 (2) Sep 05 (1) Sep 04 (1) Aug 31 (1) Aug 30 (2) Aug 28 (1) Aug 23 (1) Aug 21 (1) Aug 17 (1) Aug 16 (2) Aug 14 (1) Aug 10 (1) Aug 07 (1) Aug 02 (2) Jul 25 (1) Feb 14 (1) by Sumon Corraya The composer and director died aged 77. He was the main figure of Bangladeshi sacred music and directed a choir of 1,000 people during the visit of St. John Paul II in 1986. He has written more than 50 hymns. Muslim engineer: "He was a great man, may God give him peace and rest." Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Matthew Dipok Bose, Catholic composer, musician and director, considered "a genius of sacred hymns" has died aged 77. "He was a good person - says Msgr. Gervas Rozario, Bishop of Rajshahi - and he loved the Church, liturgical music and his work. He was a very zealous music director. The Catholic Church in Bangladesh will remember his contribution for a long time. Matthew Dipok Bose died Wednesday morning from an illness related to his old age. Hundreds of people attended the funeral. Bose was the main figure of the Bangladeshi sacred music, and his work was also appreciated by the Protestant church, who called him to lead the most important functions. One of the high points of the Bose career was the visit to Bangladesh of St. John Paul II in 1986, when the musician directed a choir of 1,000 people. He also composed some 50 hymns of Geetaboli (Christian book of songs and hymns). "Matthew Dipok Bose was a genius of hymns - says Msgr. Rozario he was often called upon to direct the liturgical celebrations and his services have always been great". In collaboration with the Christian Communication Center, Bose produced numerous audio tapes with his own compositions, which are often sung by the Catholic community. "He was a truly gifted director says Willial Autal Kulantunu, composer of hymns - and together we could play any instrument. It is a great loss for the Christian community and the Church. Fr. Pradeep Perez, SJ, also a musician, remembers him as "a man of class, culture and creativity. He taught me to read and write the notes of Bengali music. May God give him eternal peace. Even the Islamic community has expressed condolences for the disappearance of Bose: "He was a great man - says Tanvir Biswas, an engineer - and the Christian community will never forget him. May God Almighty give him rest and peace ". Their meeting will take place in Cuba, where Francis will stop before he travels to Mexico. The two are expected to sign a joint statement after a two-hour private talk. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Francis will meet Kirill, said an announcement released today in the Vatican. In their joint statement, The Holy See and the Patriarchate of Moscow are pleased to announce that, by the grace of God, His Holiness Pope Francis and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will meet on February 12 next. Their meeting will take place in Cuba, where the Pope will make a stop on his way to Mexico, and where the Patriarch will be on an official visit. It will include a personal conversation at Havanas Jose Marti International Airport, and will conclude with the signing of a joint declaration. This meeting of the Primates of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, after a long preparation, will be the first in history and will mark an important stage in relations between the two Churches. The Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate hope that it will also be a sign of hope for all people of good will. They invite all Christians to pray fervently for God to bless this meeting, that it may bear good fruits. Holy See Press Office Father Federico Lombardi said that the meeting took a couple years to prepare. Originally, the idea was to hold it in a neutral place that would be neither Russia nor the Vatican. For those who can remember, the names of various places in Europe were mentioned at the time of John Paul II . . . The idea was always about neutral but meaningful places for both sides, and Cuba is certainly a crossroad in todays world. [. . .] Obviously, it is a place well known to the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the Catholic Church. Three popes have visited Cuba in recent times: John Paul II in 1998; Benedict XVI in 2012; and Francis in September 2015. For Father Lombardi, "the fact that Cuba is outside Europe is an interesting aspect." The meeting will take place in two separate venues. In one, the patriarch and the pope will hold private talks. In an adjoining room, the two delegations will meet and the two leaders sign a joint declaration. During the private meeting, Metropolitan Hilarion will accompany the Patriarch and Cardinal Koch, the Holy Father. Since the two are expected to speak in Russian and in Spanish, two interpreters will also be present. "The private talk is expected to be somewhat long, a couple of hours. Afterwards, at around 4:15 pm, local time, gifts will be exchanged. The Patriarch and the Pope will move to the adjoining room for the signing of the joint declaration. Cuban President Raul Castro, Metropolitan Hilarion and Cardinal Koch will be present. The original declaration will be in Russian and Italian. The Pope and the Patriarch will sign the two versions and then proceed to exchange them. Both Patriarch Kirill and the Pope will make a brief speech. Neither is expected to read from a long prepared text but rather express their personal thoughts and feelings about this extraordinary and wonderful event." Responding to a question from a journalist who asked if the meeting in Cuba opens the doors to a papal trip to Moscow, Father Lombardi said that "every step in the direction of dialogue, mutual understanding, [and] shared journey against a past of separation, division and controversy represent an important step for the world. The Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches are two very large communities of faith, he explained. This is big news because Francis and Kirill are meeting after failing to do so in the past. Now we can start to hope for a trip to Moscow." The Holy See Press Office director did not address the issues that divide Rome and Moscow, first of all Eastern Catholics, derogatively labelled Uniate by the Orthodox, an issue that has been characterised by persecution and violence in the past. For the Moscow Patriarchate, the matter until now represented an insurmountable obstacle to a meeting between the pope and the patriarch. Now, Fr Lombardi said, the fact that this meeting has been agreed upon can lead one to think that on some points dialogue with a positive outcome is possible and that what were considered not yet surmountable obstacles can now be overcome. Father Lombardi added that "informed about the upcoming meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow Kirill, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I expressed his satisfaction and joy for this embrace between the head of the Catholic Church and that of the largest Orthodox community in world". In order to make the meeting with Kirill possible, Father Lombardi said that the plane taking the Pope to Mexico will leave earlier, at 7.45 am instead of the planned 12:30 pm, so as to make a stopover in Cuba possible. However, No changes are planned for the Mexico trip. The popes plane will arrived in Mexico at the scheduled time. by Nirmala Carvalho Australian religious leaders arrive tomorrow in the Indian capital. From here, they embark on a pilgrimage across the country. Islam expert Fr Victor Edwin SJ has arranged various meetings and visits, including to a Delhi mosque and shrine. Mumbai (AsiaNews) Tomorrow "some pilgrims will arrive in New Delhi from Australia. They are believers from different denominations who work in their own country to build relations between people of all religions, said Fr Victor Edwin SJ who is and an expert on Islam and interfaith relations. Speaking to AsiaNews about the upcoming visit, he said that the group of Australians will take part in a pilgrimage across the country. The first event "will be Sunday mass (on 7 February) in Delhis cathedral, followed by a meeting with Mufti Mukarram Ahmad, imam of the Fatehpuri Masjid mosque in the capital. In the evening, we have another meeting with Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, a famous Islamic scholar." The schedule includes activities with members of other religious communities as well. "The next day, Fr Edwin said, we start with another Eucharistic celebration. We then go to Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah shrine and well as Humayun's Tomb, in Delhi, where we will read Muslim religious texts, reflect, pray and meet people. Some of Australias best-known Australian religious leaders will take part in the pilgrimage. One of them is Rev John Dupuche, a senior lecturer at MCD University of Divinity, and Honorary Fellow at Australian Catholic University. His doctorate is in Sanskrit in the field of Kashmir Shaivism. He is chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Four lay people will be part of the group. They are: Claudia Barduhn, a Catholic student of Buddhist meditative practices; Kate Daddo, a Baha'i who is involved with the Kingston Interfaith Committee of the Kingston City Council; Pamela Ferrar, an Anglican who has participate in meetings with Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, and Orthodox believers; and Tom Thomas from the Mar Thoma Syrian Church who has spent the last 30 years studying various religious traditions. Three people religious will also join the group. They are: Sister Corrie Van Den Bosch, of the order of the Missionary Sisters of Service; Fr Nicholas De Groot SVD, a former director of the Janssen Spirituality Centre; and Rev Robert Stickland, a married priest with the Greek Ukrainian Catholic Church who chairs the Interfaith Network of Greater Dandenong. The group will end their visit to the Indian capital on the evening of 8 February, with a meeting with the Interfaith Coalition for Peace and representatives of the Henry Martyn Institute. Speaking about the pilgrims from Australia, Dr Victor Edwin said that they work in that country building relationships between people of different religious traditions. In light of this, they are coming to India on an interfaith pilgrimage to visit different places of faith and meet people of different religious traditions. Rev Sebastian Marin was detained along with two members of the prayer centre he directs. The three are accused of violating the states Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act, a law against witchcraft. For Sajan K George, "Jesus is the Healer and there's nothing magic about praying or laying hands. Mumbai (AsiaNews) Police in Vasai, Maharashtra, arrested Rev Sebastian Marin, a Pentecostal minister on charges of witchcraft. The clergyman, who is the founder of the Ashirwad prayer centre, was detained along with Vishnu Kudve, the centres director, and Vaibhav Tare, a staff member. The arrests took place on 31 January, but were made public only now. Because of a back injury, the clergyman was admitted to the Jupiter Hospital in Thane. Police officers are stationed outside the medical facility. Speaking to AsiaNews, Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIS), said that all this is suspicious. Pentecostals believe that medicine and faith are compatible, that both are part of the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ." The three Christians were arrested following a complaint from Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), an organisation dedicated to "eradicate superstition" in India, under the states Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act, which was enacted following the murder of MANSs founder. Contacted by AsiaNews, the prayer centre refused to issue any statement. On its website, it describes itself as a healing ministry based in [the] remote village of Vasai, which is located on the outskirts of Mumbai, India. Its congregation is 99 per cent poor and non-Christians who come to the prayer centre to heed the life changing message of salvation, and to get healed. For the GCIC president, "Pentecostal Christians see no contradiction in prescribing medicine, and, at the same time, trusting God for divine healing. People go to this centre, as well as Pentecostal-run facilities to pray, hoping to receive physical healing." Ultimately, "Jesus is the Healer and there's nothing magic about praying or laying hands, George said. The arrest of the three Christians is unfair and has, as its sole purpose, to intimidate the community." (NC) The Russian Defense Ministry has accused the Turks of preparing military "operations" in Syria. Saudi Arabia ready to support the US coalition in case of ground operations against the Islamic state. Geneva peace talks suspended, while tensions rise over Syrian arena. Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Russia has heightened tensions in its war of words with Turkey, accusing Ankara of "intensive preparations" for a military invasion of Syria. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia which wants the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad says it is ready to support any eventual US-led coalition ground operation against the Islamic State targets (IS). On the ground the winds of war are growing stronger [tens of thousands of people fleeing from Aleppo from an encroaching government army offensive, ed], while in Geneva the "indirect" peace talks were "suspended" after only two days and without any tangible results. The Russian Defense Ministry says there are "increasing signs" of "undercover preparation of the Turkish armed forces" aimed at "active operations on Syrian territory". There are "reasonable grounds," added Major-General Igor Konashenkov, to think that Turkey is preparing a ground invasion. In recent days, Ankara stopped Russian fighter jets from carrying out inspection operations in an area where, according to the "Open Skies" agreement, Moscow would have jurisdiction. The Russian Ministry speaks of "dangerous precedent" and considers the decision an attempt to cover "illegal military activities near Syrian territory". The tension between Moscow and Ankara has steadily mounted since the shooting down of a Russian jet by the Turkish army along the border with Syria. Turkey had accused Russia of violation of airspace. In response, the Kremlin imposed sanctions against Turkey and strengthened the defenses of the fighter jets engaged in military operations along the border. Turkish security expert, Nihat Ali Ozcan, says that Moscow's accusations are "simply unreal". Alexei Malashenko, an analyst of Middle Eastern affairs at the Carnegie Moscow Center, speaks of a "red line" that Turkey and Russia "are well aware that they cannot cross". Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia says it is ready to join land operations on Syrian territory to hit bases and positions of the Islamic State. Brigadier General Ahmed al-Assyrians stressed that "should the joint coalition" led by the US decide in favor of "field operations", Riyadh "will make its contribution." Since the end of 2014, the Arab country joined the coalition of 65 countries that has promoted a campaign - based on air raids - against the Daesh [Arabic acronym for the Islamic State] and other jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq. by Maria Chen State newspapers and radio report on Pope Francis interview with Asia Times. There are those who dream of an impending papal visit to China. Underground priests subjected to interrogation. Appreciation for "the olive branch" extended by the Pope and for his pointing out the value of Chinese culture. But skepticism surrounds Beijing leaderships response. The dialogue between China and the Vatican cannot bring results, because there are different interests at play, both political and religious. Diplomatic relations cannot come at the cost of the freedom of the Church and the sacrifices of its martyrs. The Chinese Church is growing. Beijing (AsiaNews) - Many Chinese Catholics have expressed enthusiasm for the interview that Pope Francis gave to the Asia Times, full of praise for Chinese culture and sending best wishes to Xi Jinping and his people for the New Year. Others are skeptical and believe that the Popes friendly gesture will not garner a response because "the Chinese government is too smart". AsiaNews has been unable to contact some priests of the underground Church who reveal that some have been subjected for days to interrogation sessions with the police, after having participated in catechesis meetings. Everyone links the interview to ongoing dialogue between China and the Vatican. Some are hoping that Pope Francis will soon travel to China. But others are pessimistic and say that any compromise with the Communist Party of China will lead to a loss of freedom of the Church. All the people interviewed asked to remain anonymous. A young Shanghai lay Catholic states that the Popes new year wishes to Xi Jinping will have a good impact because Francis has expressed a great love for China. "Through this interview - he says - we feel united to him, the representative of Jesus Christ on earth. He was wise to show this great extension of friendship: Any direct criticism of the Chinese government can only cause harm to the Church. His kind attitude reveals that he is a true pastor. We all really hope that the Pope could visit China one day". A priest from Xian Province (Shaanxi) is more skeptical. He says: "Although the Pope has good intentions in offering an olive branch to China, I do not think that will work. It is very difficult to change the way the Chinese government controls the Church, even with the Popes sweet words. All the soothing words and flattery will not create any difference in government. Pope Francis praised the wisdom of Chinese culture and history, but in reality, this society is without morals. Today's generation has lost the cultural roots thanks to heavy policies of recent years. For this, these kind words will not help the situation today. " A young man in central China was impressed that several newspapers and even state radio cited the interview, but - he says - "what the Pope expresses is not what the authorities want." "Pope Francis took this step because he wants to meet with Chinese leaders. His is a crucial and necessary gesture, that gives importance to the authorities. In this sense, the Pope has done very well. Speaking of wisdom, the Chinese values, maybe he can move the government. But until now it has shown no interest in Chinese culture. I fear that this will have no influence on the diplomatic dialogue. The two parties do not meet: the Pope seeks a dialogue from a religious point of view; Beijing seeks only a political dialogue and wants the Holy See to endorse its absolute power". Speaking of diplomatic dialogue and the search for agreements between China and the Holy See, a Jilin priest said: "The Chinese Communists are very smart and know how to run the show. They do not want to lose control over the Church in China. Negotiations to establish diplomatic relations are important and necessary, but in order to obtain them the Vatican should not sacrifice the rights of the Church. There are so many Catholics who have suffered for their faith in all these decades. The Vatican should not ignore these situations. There is no need to hurry in establishing diplomatic relations. Rushing can lead to too many compromises. It would be far better to take all the time necessary to work on the issues, not content with a result that is good only in appearance. Whats more important is the fact that although the Church suffers from controls and difficulties, it is growing". by Fady Noun The meeting between Aoun and Geagea does not erase the mistakes of the past nor the memory of Lebanons bloody conflict. Its history is that of a country in an almost permanent state of instability. To go from phoney to real civil peace, memory must be purified in the interests of peace, justice and truth. Beirut (AsiaNews) The spectacular rapprochement between former Army Commander Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea raises again the issue of how to remember war. This rapprochement offers, some say, one type of reconciliation for former enemies who fought each other bitterly in what came be known as the Elimination War in 1989-1990, a conflict that paved the way for Syrias protection. But of kind of "reconciliation" is it? What guarantees do we have that it is not only tactical and political, and that the unmentionable latent hostility between the two sides, because of their past of abuses, will not flare up again some day? The History Department at the Universite St-Joseph (USJ) in Beirut and the Lebanese chapter of the International Centre for Transitional Justice held a symposium last November to debate Lebanons case. What they discussed can help us find an answer to such questions. What is Transitional Justice? Broadly speaking, it is a set of judicial and non-judicial step designed to address past massive human rights violations committed in situations of conflict and/or state repression. These steps include prosecution, reparations, various institutional reforms and the establishment of truth and reconciliation commissions. In the aforementioned meeting, Carmen Abou Jaoude, then head of the International Centre for Transitional Justice - Lebanon, said, "At the end of the war, justice and truth were sacrificed, thinking that we could obtain peace. Now, forty years later, we have neither peace nor justice nor truth. " For his part, Joseph Maila, a professor at the Ecole Superieur des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC) in Paris, and a visiting professor at the USJs History Department, said about the Taif Accord that "the temporality of the conflict has never really ended the Lebanon. Instead, one can speak of a" continuum "in which" peace mixes with violence." According to the political scientist, the situation of a badly terminated war in which we find ourselves, or this state of unfinished peace, can be explained by the way the crisis ended in Lebanon. This continuum has four characteristics. The first one is the extraneous nature of the solution: i.e. the solution came from the outside. Secondly, peace was reached within the inner circle of the "notables cartel, i.e. the same people responsible for both war and peace. The third reason for the continuum is the fact that Lebanon itself has been in a "state of transition" since its inception. Indeed, Lebanons contemporary history is that of a country in almost permanent instability, which felt the shockwave generated by the Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) of 1947-48, then that of the rise of Arab nationalism, followed by that of the 1967 debacle, then that of the rise of Palestinian organisations, Syrias protection, three or four Israeli attacks and invasions, and now Irans hegemony and Iranian-Saudi rivalry, as well Salafi terrorism. This a lot to do for a very heterogeneous country, with evolving and poorly integrated components, in little more than 60 years of existence, and with barely time to catch its breath between one crisis and the next. Obviously, a judgment about the whole does not exclude particular judgments about this or that community. Finally, the fourth and final reason for our phoney civil peace, said Joseph Maila, is the amnesty law passed by the Lebanese Parliament in 1991, which blocked any quest or search for real justice, opting instead for "amnesia" and immunity for militia leaders who accepted the Pax Syriana rather than the truth. All this leads to believe that Aoun and Geagea have faithfully replicated the model of superficial peace discussed by the symposium participants. A case in point is the fact no one at the reconciliation ceremony suggested observing a minute of silence out of respect for those who gave their lives for either cause. Neither leader gave it a thought, or expressed a word of regret for the victims of the conflict. This is all the more surprising since the talks between the two teams did not start yesterday, and yet no one gave it a thought. Nothing. Instead, a sometimes obscene performance took place, with cake and champagne. Whatever it was, it was totally insensitive. Such a view does not mean that the rapprochement between the two men and their parties is worthless. However, its value falls well below what is needed to truly mend social ties destroyed by the war, and heal deep wounds that have left in some indelible marks, like death, disfigurement, disappearance, torture, physical or psychological disability. Injuries that call for reparation. Fortunately, there was someone who did just that. Samy Gemayel, who leads Kataeb, a party that traditionally represents the Christian electorate, two days after the meeting of "reconciliation", called on the other two leaders to go beyond a superficial deal, and genuinely engage in memory purification. This cannot be done without what Carmen Abu Jaoude calls "a holistic approach", one with global reach, which inevitably involves recognition of human rights violations. This should humble the militias and groups who claimed to be fighting in the name of Lebanon, but whose cause slid into criminality along the way, groups which, from self-defence and tools of security, morphed into instruments of power and oppression. To cite one of the conclusions presented at the symposium, "Traditional justice seeks to remember enough in order not to start again, and forget enough in order to continue to live. In Lebanon, it seems that nothing is forgotten, nor anything learnt." The 64-year-old of Palestinian died on 3 February in Rome, where he was to attend a papal audience. A scholar of comparative religions, since 1988 he was director of the Al-Liqa Center, an institute dedicated to exchanges with Muslims and Jews in the Holy Land. Rome (AsiaNews) Jeries Khoury, a Palestinian Catholic scholar of religion and director of the Al-Liqa Center, died on Wednesday (3 February) in Rome. Khoury, 64, was in the Italian capital with a delegation from the institute to take part in an audience with Pope Francis. A leading figure in the Church of the Holy Land, he devoted his entire life to Islamic-Christian and ecumenical dialogue. He also was long-time friend of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME) and AsiaNews. During the agencys annual pilgrimages to the Holy Land, he made himself available several times to explain to the pilgrims the situation in which Christians find themselves, often marginalised by Jews and Muslims. From 1988 until his death, he was the director of the Al-Liqa Center for Religious and Heritage Studies in the Holy Land, an institute dedicated to Muslim-Christian and ecumenical dialogue, including Judaism, founded in 1982. Al-Liqa means meeting. Khoury was born in Fassouta (northern Israel) in 1952, where he served as mayor from 1996 until 2001. He attended high school at the St Joseph Seminary in Nazareth before going to Rome, where he earned two BAs in Philosophy and Theology from Saint Thomas Aquinas University. Subsequently he obtained an MA in Theology and two PhDs in Islamic Philosophy and Comparative Religious Studies. Old Hollywood Scandals These Old Hollywood Scandals Make Today's Celebrities Look Tame Page 1 of 2 In the age of camera phones, TMZ, and Twitter feuds, a juicy Hollywood scandal can take hold of the public's imagination in the amount of time it takes to click on retweet. But it wasnt always this way Thats not to say we don't have a long-standing fascination with celebrity screw-ups in all of their forms. Hell, even reheated scandals can satisfy our fix for celebs behaving badly: Just look at the ratings of FXs new seriesThe People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Still, Hail, Caesar!, the newest movie by the Coen brothers, brings us back to the golden age of Hollywood a more discrete time when any potential embarrassment could be swiped under the rug by a studio fixer armed with a clever cover story and a handle on the press. It was the fixers job to make problems go away so movie stars could go back to doing what they did best: Sell tickets. Set in the early 1950s, the movie follows a day in the life of Josh Brolins Eddie Mannix (a fictionalized version of a real-life former MGM fixer more on him later) as he attempts to solve a myriad of problems for his employers: Nosy gossip columnists, a prized star getting pregnant out of wedlock, and an actor who cant act. Oh, and a kidnapped matinee idol played by George Clooney. So, with the Coens tongue-in-cheek ode to classic Hollywood hitting theaters this Friday, were looking back at ten classic Hollywood scandals that wouldve given a fixer like Brolins Mannix a run for his money and wouldve made studio heads extremely glad that 24/7 celebrity gossip sites like TMZ hadnt been invented yet. The Death of Virginia Rappe, and the Birth of Tabloid Journalism: Wikimedia Commons In the early 1920s, Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle was one of Hollywoods most beloved and highest paid comedians. But one fateful September night in 1921 changed everything. For Arbuckle. For a poor aspiring actress named Virginia Rappe. And for celebrity culture in general. After a night of drinking, drugs and general debauchery, Rappe was hospitalized eventually passing away a few days later. Arbuckle was accused of her rape and manslaughter. Take a second to imagine what the media circus would be like now if a universally adored comedian was suddenly outed as an alleged rapist. Actually uh, nevermind. The only difference between then and now? All the evidence seemed to suggest Arbuckle was innocent of all charges. But that didnt stop William Randolph Hearsts papers from sensationalizing the story, printing grisly details about the nearly 300-pound Arbuckle crushing Rappe and violating her with a Coke bottle. The resulting public outcry led to not one, but three trials. And while Arbuckles eventual acquittal came with a formal apology from the jury, his career was already over by that point he had already been tried and convicted in an even higher court: the court of public opinion. Mary Astors Dirty Diary: Wikimedia Commons Long before a list of Lindsay Lohans A-list conquests was leaked to the tabloids, another former child star shocked the American public with a scandalous kiss-and-tell-all. As a teen, Mary Astor started out as a silent movie star. After being sued by her parents for financial support in 1934 (yes, really), The Maltese Falcon actress underwent a bitter divorce some two years later. In the ensuing custody battle for her daughter, Astors ex and his lawyers made continued references to a diary which supposedly contained detailed, graphic accounts of the actress numerous affairs. Racy (and potentially fabricated) snippets were leaked to the press, scandalizing the general public. But dont expect to read a 30s-era 50 Shades of Grey any time soon. Once the document had been compromised as evidence, a judge ordered Astors infamous journal to be destroyed. The Affair Heard 'Round the World: With starring roles in some of the decades biggest films, Ingrid Bergman was one of Hollywoods most popular leading ladies in the 1940s. But for much of the 1950s, following her much-publicized affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini, the Casablanca star was persona non grata in the United States. Both actress and director were married to other people at the time, and news of Bergmans illegitimate pregnancy caused a massive scandal in North America. Previously seen as a saint by the moviegoing public, the actress was dogged by the press and morality groups, and was even publicly denounced on the floor of the U.S. Senate with a Colorado Senator calling her a powerful influence for evil. Bergman and Rossellini eventually got married and went on to have two more children together (including actress Isabella Rossellini), but the shunned former mega-star did not return to Hollywood until 1956. She did, however, go on to win two more Oscars, and successfully resurrected both her public image and her career. A Child Star Fights Back: Wikimedia Commons We're used to sad tales of former child stars getting taken advantage of by their less-than-ethical stage parents. The phenomenon even has its own cutesy portmanteau: the momager. But back in the 1930s, Jackie Coogan struck a blow for child stars everywhere when he filed a suit against his mother and stepfather to seek a portion of his hard-earned millions only to be told the two had spent it all on fur coats, diamonds, and luxury cars. The truly bizarre case made headlines across the U.S., with Coogans stepfather telling LIFE Magazine: Every dollar a kid earns before he is 21 belongs to his parents. Jackie will not get a cent of his earnings. However, the courts felt otherwise. Thanks to Coogan, the California Child Actors Bill was enacted in 1939, requiring that 15% of a child stars earnings be set aside in a trust (among other important regulations). Momagers, beware. Charlie Chaplins Young Love: Thanks to his lovable, bumbling tramp character, Charlie Chaplin quickly became an icon of early Hollywood and earned a reputation as one of the biggest silent film era stars. Off-screen though, Chaplin had a much different rep: One that involved lewd casting couch auditions, orgy parties, and younger women. The problem was that even though Chaplin kept getting older, his brides stayed the same age. The Modern Times actors first wife was 16, as was his second. His third wife was practically an old maid by comparison; the two met when she was 20. But Chaplins fourth wife continued the disconcerting trend: She was 18, he was 54. Older men lusting after younger women is nothing new in Hollywood, but Chaplins dirty-old-man act raised more than a few eyebrows even back then. NSW deputy senior prosecutor Margaret Cunneen has lashed out at ICAC, hinting at a politically motivated conspiracy to stop her being appointed judge. In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, Cunneen slammed the commission, saying their staff are people who have failed everywhere else. They're out of control, these people, she said of ICAC. This whole thing has to be completely destroyed. It should be part of the police. The Daily Telegraph today reported today that ICAC paid more than $180,000 fighting Cunneen. ICAC is now refusing to pay Cunneens legal fees of $230,000 after the High Court blocked an investigation into whether Cunneen, her son and his girlfriend, attempted to pervert the course of justice after a car accident back in 2014, the commission saying it's prepared to pay just $138,000. She has yet to lodge her legal fees for the watchdogs unsuccessful high court appeal against her, which ICAC has pledged to pay. Cunneen accused commissioner Megan Latham of asking the Crime Commission for material that would bury her. The Commissioner has never had any contact with any member of the relevant federal agency in relation to this matter, said a spokesperson from ICAC. Latham faces questioning later in February over the investigation, after it was declared unlawful by ICAC Inspector David Levine. The whole thing is a total attempt to annihilate what they think is a very political conservative, when I was told I had a chance to be a Supreme Court judge, Cunneen told the AFR. The percentage of female barristers has risen from 3.5 per cent to just over 15 per cent in 2016, according to research by the Chambers Asia-Pacific. Despite the increase in the number of female barristers this year, researchers found through their interview process, that the nature of networking may still play a significant part in the remaining glass ceiling. A decrease in the amount of work has meant that female barristers are hit with a double challenge. Solicitors are hanging on more to work that would once have gone to barristers, one interviewee told researchers. The Bar is still very conservative and it gets worse in the hard times, said another. The number of barristers listed in the Australia Bar chapters of Chambers Asia-Pacific has increased year on year The Australian reported that its a promising increase to build on. Women make up around 20 per cent of the number of barristers in NSW and around 27 per cent in Victoria. In firms, the number of female partners at the top 10 ranked firms in Australia, the figure remains around 23 per cent. I dont see much diversity its not improving its pretty bad across the board. Women are disappearing in their 30s, one interviewee told the researchers. Im all for gender diversity, but some firms put part-time females on, which doesnt really work for me, said another. Herbert Smith Freehills has advised a group of 23 international banks on what is believed to be a record-breaking loan deal. The U$5 billion reserve loan for Lundin Petroleum reportedly beats previous similar deals for an upstream oil and gas firm in the Europe region. The team were led by London partner Thomas Bethel. Lundin was advised by Ashurst A survey of adults in England & Wales has found that 82 per cent of respondents believe that lawyers regulators should be separate from their professional bodies. The poll, conducted by ComRes, found that independent regulation would be more trusted by 68 per cent and 77 per cent support the UK governments attempts to do so.Alan Colman has been promoted to partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth in its workplace relations team. Colman was with Herbert Smith Freehills for 13 years and spent six years at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and initially joined Corrs as a consultant.The Big Four law firms in Singapore have once again topped the Chambers Asia Pacific rankings for the city state. Allen & Gledhill ranked in Band 1 in 13 categories; Rajah & Tann and WongPartnership had 7 Band 1 rankings each; Drew & Napier has five. Asiaone.com reports that WongPartnership has become the first law firm to tie with Allen & Gledhill in Banking & Finance (both with Band 1).The internet firm Yahoo has been accused of discrimination by a former employee. The New York Times says that the lawsuit, filed this week, alleges that Yahoo wrongfully terminated the employment of Gregory Anderson, a former editor of a number of its sites. Anderson claims that the whole performance review system operated by the company is discriminatory and is a violation of both California state and federal laws. He says that the company is required by law to provide workers who are being laid-off a 60-day notice period but that it was not given. If the allegations are proven then Yahoo could face a fine of $500 plus back pay and benefits in lieu of the notice for more than 1,000 employees who lost their jobs. Paul Wysocki, who was recognised in the 2016 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, must be sick to death of people being polite to him.Going forward, please dont send thank you emails but if you decide to do so (notwithstanding my instructions not to do so) please do not include partners. Just a complete waste of everyones time, the grouchy email read.Legal Cheek pointed out that Wysocki is not alone in his thinking. Back in August last year, an associate at US litigation firm Quinn Emanuel was sent a surly email in response to a thank you email. It directed him to a 2009 memo by the firms founding partner, John Quinn.We have all been raised to be courteous in our dealings with our fellow man, and woman, the email read.I submit, however, that in the context of email, we should all be relieved of the obligation to send the routine thanks email to acknowledge a response to a routine request. I wont do the arithmetic here, but I think any of u can calculate the time cost of opening an email, reading it and deleting it. Its not worth it. By Will J Grant, Researcher / Lecturer, Australian National Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Australian National Univers CSIRO/Atmospheric Research, CC BY Given recent history, Australias scientists are right to be wary when the government casts its eye over the structure and budget of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). After all, we saw significant cuts under the Abbott government, with over AU$100 million stripped in 2014 resulting in hundreds of redundancies. The union estimated a 20% hit to CSIROs workforce. In that light, the reaction to CSIRO CEO Larry Marshalls announcement this week of a restructuring of 350 staff in a Netflix style revamp is not unexpected. Thats a reference to the online video-on-demand streaming companys philosophy of: Netflix leaders hire, develop and cut smartly, so we have stars in every position. While it appears that overall job numbers will remain static or may even increase it is concerning that right in the bulls-eye are areas responsible for key climate monitoring and modelling. As Marshall argued: Our climate models are among the best in the world and our measurements honed those models to prove global climate change. That question has been answered, and the new question is what do we do about it, and how can we find solutions for the climate we will be living with? Andy Pitman, Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science at UNSW, described the changes as jaw-droppingly shocking. The Academy of Science president Andrew Holmes argued that: Our climate and environmental scientists are some of the best in the world. We wouldnt stop supporting our elite Olympic athletes just as theyre winning gold medals. Nor should we pull the rug out from under our elite scientists. Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick, of the Climate Change Research Centre at UNSW, said the CSIROs climate research was pioneering and of a global standard and she described the changes as nothing short of appalling. While we know that the climate is changing because of human activity, we have not simply answered that question after the Paris agreement many more questions remain [] Research in any field does not and cannot stop after an apparent question has been answered. The impact of climate change These arguments are important. Australia has a critical need to understand not only how climate change is occurring, but how it will affect Australia. Our ability to understand a range of facets of climate change is critical for our ability deal with the urgent mitigation and adaptation challenges necessary to avoid dangerous warming. Australia, we have to remember, is particularly vulnerable. Any loss in our national capacity to understand this issue is deeply problematic. Perhaps the best insurance in limiting climate impacts is understanding the risks. The CSIRO restructure has us walking into the unknown blindfolded, relying on other research institutions to pull up the slack. Yet we have to ask how much climate research capacity does Australia need? If your answer is always more, then that doesnt make grounds for serious discussion. Over the past decade weve seen strong growth in Australian Research Council funding of climate related Fields of Research (FOR) (see figure, below). Is this enough to take up the slack? We just dont know. Similarly, its important to ask whether CSIROs strategic alignment will see a cut in its overall climate change research capacity. Will cuts in monitoring translate directly into jobs in mitigation? CSIRO plays a key national role in coordination that universities may not be able to replace. Its also important to recognise that it can take many years to build up scientific capacity it may seem like a great guide for agile management in our years of innovation, but the Netflix model may just not work in some sectors. But Perkins-Kirkpatricks comments bring us to an important point. Yes, it is certainly true and right that research in any field does not and cannot stop after an apparent question has been answered. Yet we must always ask if it is necessarily the case that such answers are best provided by direct government intervention as seen in CSIRO. Curiosity driven research plays a key role throughout our scientific and innovation landscape. But just as much, there is a crucial role for guided research, with goals set by national environmental, economic and social aspirations. No denial on climate change CSIROs job is to answer a range of government guided questions, and to assist with solutions for the future. Marshall has stressed a pivot from measuring and monitoring climate change, to figuring out what to do about it [and] how to mitigate it. This is not, it should be stressed, a denial of climate change. While the restructure was being announced, ANUs new Vice Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt was delivering his first major address to the assembled ANU community. His conclusion rings true here. Our motto First, to learn the nature of things has guided us well over our first 70 years. But, [] we can build on it over the next 70. Yes, first, to learn the nature of things. But second, to teach what we have learned, and third, to use what we have learned for the greater benefit of all. When it comes down to it, I want a CSIRO that follows a similar dictum quite frankly, Im more interested in climate change stopped than climate change understood. Will J Grant receives funding from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. Originally published in The Conversation. Australia is a popular country with people from Asia and now new research shows that many of them head to Melbourne.Research from the University of Melbourne shows how the city's international airport has recorded a steady increase in the share of travellers to and from Asia. Those routes make up the busiest air connection to Australia, which underscores the global significance of Melbourne's growth.The analysis reveals that Melbourne's share of all Australia-Asia passenger traffic increased from 15% in 2000 to 25% in 2013. Although Sydney remains a key airport for the Asian market, its share fell over the same period from 45% to 35%.Lead researcher Professor Kevin O'Connor, from the Department of Urban Planning in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, said that the gains made by Melbourne reflect stronger links to cities such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Hong Kong and relied less upon the traditional gateway of Singapore."In addition, airlines have made increased use of mid-sized long haul aircraft such as the Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 which are well suited to the Melbourne-Asia market," he explained.He added that the research found that over 80% of all long haul movements at Melbourne are made by these mid-sized aircraft, compared to 70% in Sydney.The research explored changes in Asian air connections in Melbourne and Sydney and found that Melbourne's faster population growth, larger percentage change in employment in business services, a much larger gain in migration and faster growth in tourism all contributed to the relative gains made by Melbourne over this period.The findings confirm earlier work done by Professors O'Connor and Professor Kurt Fuellhart, from Shippensburg University in the United States that showed a group of second ranked cities around the world have experienced rapid growth in air transport since 2000 as airlines, using mid-sized long haul aircraft, have provided new non-stop services. EV Considering that Honda accounts for approximately half of the 50 million vehicles called back for the Takata airbag issue since the scandal began in 2008, 443,000 cars is a raindrop in the ocean. Nevertheless, Honda will fix all of the vehicles involved in the recall.As is always the case with Takata-related safety recalls, the main offender is the drivers side airbag inflator. Due to excessive force in the inflating process, the bag that should cushion you in the event of a crash is prone to explode, spraying shrapnel in your face. Obviously, no one would like to find themselves in such a grim situation.Honda informs that it will start replacing the airbag inflators of the 443,000-strong batch involved in the latest recall as early as June. A total of 13 models are affected, most of which are Fits.First of all, the Fit. All three models in the family (hatchback, Shuttle, and) are called back, more specifically the vehicles manufactured from January 2012 to March 2015. Civic and Civic Hybrid vehicles built from August 2005 to August 2010 are also affected. More commonly known as the FR-V, the Edix is also on the list; affected cars were built from June 2004 to August 2009.Other Honda nameplates involved in this safety recall include the Insight and Insight Exclusive (produced from January 2012 to March 2013), Legend (September 2004 to September 2010), FCX Clarity (May 2008 to July 2013), Zest and Zest Spark (January 2012 to June 2012), and Stream (January 2012 to July 2014).For more information on Hondas domestic recall campaign, the automaker from the Land of the Rising Sun advises its Japanese customers to visit its dedicated website - honda.co.jp/recall/ This morning at around 8:30 a.m., a construction crane that was supposed to install air conditioning equipment on a nearby building fell over Worth Street, crashing multiple cars and damaging some of the buildings. Until now, there was only one fatality reported - a 38-year-old man caught under the crane - with multiple others injured.The reasons behind this incident are still being investigated, but several factors must be taken into consideration, including the strong winds that blew over New York City this morning. At the moment, the New York City Fire Department is also inspecting a possible natural gas leak caused by the heavy equipments collapse.It isnt clear whether the crane, which has been identified to belong to Bay Crane, a company specializing in crane rental and transportation solutions, was in use at the time of the accident. It had been assembled at the end of last month and was last seen operational yesterday, when it was loading air conditioning equipment on the roof of the construction site. Bay Crane denied any comments. New York Daily News reports that multiple ambulances were dispatched to the scene, as well as police officers and firefighters. The latter were required to help with the extraction of a man trapped in his car, but fortunately, there were no fires reported. As a precaution, a six-inch gas main has been cut. Police forces have shut down a good portion of Worth Street and several other adjacent to the scene of the accident.Mayor de Blasio also arrived on the scene and set up a press office in a neighborhood building, from where he will be issuing statements as more information becomes available. You might want to switch on your TV set for more updates.[LIVELEAK=http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=4bb_1454689973] @Matt_LeBlanc Welcome but hurry up. You're late for the weekly TG production meeting. pic.twitter.com/KhNpsEyZI6 Chris Evans (@achrisevans) February 4, 2016 As Im sure you already know, Harris Monkey is a petrolhead that has worked as an automotive reviewer, writer, and editor. To name a few of the publications he has worked for, Evo, Autocar, and Jalopnik come to mind. Other than print and digital, Harris has gathered an impressive following on YouTube thanks to his hellbent for leather driving style and idiosyncratic reviewing style.Until recently, rumor on the street was that Chris Evans would be joined on the new format of Top Gear by Nurburgring racing queen Sabine Schmitz and Chris Harris. With Matt LeBlanc now on board, is there still a possibility for Sabine and Chris to join in?During an interview with Joe Bradley of IMSA Radio , Sabine let it slip that she was all the time with Top Gear, but not as an, um, host. If my memory serves me well, The Stig is still the same guy from Top Gears pre-Evans era. This fact rules out the possibility of Sabine wearing white overalls and a white crash helmet.Its even more apparent if you consider that the British media caught Sabine and Evans tracking an Audi R8 in California last month. The bottom line is that Sabine has a 50:50 chance of getting a job with the BBC.As for Chris Harris, just take a good look at the photo Evans tweeted only recently.Isnt it sort of fishy that the weekly Top Gear production meeting pictured on Twitter features Harris Monkey at the same table as head honcho Chris Evans? Dont know about you, but this picture pretty much confirms Harris as one of the presenters of post-Jeremy Clarkson era Top Gear.The first episode of Top Gear Series 23 is slated to air in May. AWD The Range Rover Evoque Convertible was presented that month at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It will take until this April for the Chinese market debut to take place. However, one sneaky buyer has managed to get one into Shanghai.Car Consultant Antoine Achalendard posted a photo of the RR drop-top on his Instagram account two days ago. We know that SUVs are supposed to get dirty, but this one looks like it's been covered in the heavy pollution that envelops many big cities in China.But it's not just the People's Republic that's been dealing with this problem. Major cities all over Europe have been reporting a rise in pollution levels, especially at rush hour. Considering most people rich enough to own the Evoque are city dwellers, we wonder when they are ever going to be able to put the top down.We have no doubt that Land Rover engineers have built a convertible that can cross rivers and climb rocks. However, if it's justthat you need, there are plenty of roadsters and convertible sportscars that offer it: Audi S3, Audi TT, BMW 2 Series, Jaguar F-Type, etc.Why are we so against the Evoque Convertible? Because as standard, the model weighs 1,936 kg (4,268 lbs), which is 2 pounds more than an Audi RS6 Avant. To move this much bulk, the American market will get a 2.0-liter turbo that delivers 240 PS and 251 lb-ft (340 Nm) of torque through a standard 9-speed automatic. With a 0 to 60 time of 7.8 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph (180 km/h), it's about as slow as a regular compact. The European diesel models are even worse.The Evoque Convertible will be imported from Britain to China, unlike the regular SUVs that are now made by the Chery-JLR venture. That means they will be subjected to heavy taxes and could cost as much as $100,000. Its not hard to imagine why, though. After all, whoever will be successful in creating the Hyperloop is going to receive credit for one of the most important advances in personal transportation in years, if not centuries.Finally, if all goes according to plan, were going to have a means of getting about that looks properly science-fiction. Remember all those drawings of how our trains were going to look by the year 2000? All those aerodynamic monorails and stuff? The Hyperloop pods arent going to be seen much as they spend most of their lives trapped in an airtight tube, but the whole thing has it was aliens written all over it.Up until now, there are two companies with very similar names that have stood out as being ahead in the race to get this system up and ready. One of them is Hyperloop Transportation Technologies who is preparing to build a full-scale test track in central California, while the other is called Hyperloop Transportation, led by a former Cisco executive and a SpaceX engineer.A third team is starting to catch up. Called rLoop, theyre a team of over 90 members from more than 14 different countries who use the Internet as a method of sharing their ideas and collaborating online towards reaching their final goal: making Hyperloop a reality.On January 29, the team took part in the Design Weekend with their pod proposal, and won the best non-student team, being the only such group selected to move forward in the competition. Therefore, the rLoop team is now on track to build an ambitious competition pod system that will race at SpaceX facilities next summer, while also developing a full-scale pod after the SpaceX competition ends.The rLoop team appear to be the underdogs here, but theres no telling what will happen in the end. If you feel like you want to lent a hand, head over to their website and fill out a form. Who knows, maybe you too will be part of one of the greatest things to happen since landing on the Moon. Well, the stars have aligned earlier today in Angelholm, with the K brand's three main flavors hitting the automaker's test track all at once.As you can see in the image above, the Regera (center), One:1 (right) and Agera RS (left) seem to enjoy each other's company. Those of you who are unfamiliar with Koenigsegg's creations should know we've listed them in the order of their performance.The automaker posted the photo on its Facebook page, admitting this is something not even its employees see too often."Super-dooper rare occurrence today, with a One:1, Regera and an Agera RS all down at the test track at the same time," Koenigsegg said.Nevertheless, seeing these velocity demons only makes us wonder about the future of the brand. While that may lay with the Regera, a 1,500 hp hybrid that basically has no transmission, there's another question that requires a more immediate answer.The Koenigsegg Agera R used to hold multiple acceleration and braking records falling in the 0-186 mph-0 category, but those titles now belong to the One:1.Once the Swedish engineers complete the development of the Regera, which is almost ready to hatch, the gasoline-electric model will take over. But we're still not sure about the exact top speed values these octane behemoths can achieve.Since no major automaker has any plans to lend Koenigsegg its high-speed testing track (yes, VW's Ehra-Lessien is at the top of the list), we still have some waiting to do before we find out just how close the K machines can get to 300 mph. kW This is, of course, the European Auris model that has been available for a couple of years and even boasts a wagon derivative.Toyota was the first carmaker to offer diesel, gasoline and hybrid versions of the same car. Last year, the company sold 18% more hybrids to Europeans and the success is mainly due to the Corolla hatchback.Toyota Australia says the hybrid drive will consume about a third less fuel than the conventional model. For this market, that means the l/100km figure will go down from 6.1 to 4.1. However, the Auris Hybrid is listed as getting 3.5 l/100km according to the European Driving Cycle.The Japanse automaker can't pull any fast ones on us with the engine, as it's guaranteed to be a 1.8-liter rated at 73and matched to an electric motor generating 60 more kW. The powertrain isn't as advanced as that of the Prius, nor is the aero, but the Auris will be much cheaper.The combination of Toyotas hybrid technology and Australias best-selling car gives us a unique opportunity to broaden the market appeal of both, said Toyota Australias executive director sales and marketing Tony Cramb. Corolla hybrid hatch will offer all the advantages of Australias favorite car, coupled with the hybrid systems established performance, reliability, durability and exceptionally low running costs. This addition to the Corolla range will be fun to drive - and fun to own with fuel economy and emissions that are superior to its direct competitors, especially diesel.For the record, Corolla Hybrid hatchbacks will be imported from Japan, not Britain where they are made for the European market.The Corolla was Australia's top-selling car last year for the third year running with 42,073 units shifted. Australias best-selling hybrid vehicle is Camry with 5,881 sales last year, an increase of 11.2 percent over the previous year. While BMW took their S1000R roadster as a role model for the styling of the naked G310R, the Indian manufacturer opted for racing looks. In fact, the TVS Akula 310 is a concept bike that celebrates over three decades of TVS road racing history. How much the production model will differ from the Akula concept is a big question, but we don't expect to see a single-seater carbon machine offered in the dealerships.The new TVS machine is based on the same 313cc rear-slanted engine that produces 34 hp and 20.6 lb-ft (28 Nm) of torque. Akula's power plant also got a tuning job to make it gruntier for track use, but there is no word on a racing kit, at least not now.Even though the rear subframe was modified to comply with the racing aerodynamics, the TVS Akula 310 seems to use the same suspensions and brakes the BMW G310R has.We knew that the bikes BMW and TVS would release were quite similar as far as the technology goes, so it's no surprise to see the two models looking the same in certain areas.TVS Akula 310 is only a concept, but the company says that they will start manufacturing the production version by the end of the year. Just like in BMW's case, TVS is also silent regarding other models derived from the platform.We know that more "310 machines" will arrive from both manufacturers. From BMW, we can expect a small racer, given the fact that the G310R is a naked mini-roadster, whereas TVS is more likely to reveal a naked machine complementing the full-faired sport one. The master of movie martial arts is respected in America, but in China, he's on an entirely different level. Some consider him a role model, a national symbol and it's easy to see why.The guys at Vossen Wheels recently traveled to China, where they were invited by their local retail partners to shoot at an exceptional location: Bruce Lee Paradise Park.Eight Vossen-equipped rides stood in a large courtyard with a 50-foot statue of Bruce Lee watching over them. If that's not overwhelming, nothing is. We wonder what kind of car Lee would have liked if he lived today.Situated in Junan, the hometown of Bruce Lee, the Bruce Lee Paradise Park is surrounded by more than 20 green hills with lush vegetation. The statue is the biggest in the world to depict the martial artist and stands 61.7 feet (18.8 meters) tall. Created at a cost of nearly 2 million yuan and requiring about two years of effort, the title King of Kungfu is carved in the statue's foundation along with a summary of Lee's life.Even though nearly all the cars were recently made in Germany, they look right at home in this setting."With a statue of Bruce Lee towering over the courtyard where we parked the cars, it was safe to say that wed likely never get to replicate this setting again, so we took advantage of the scene the best we could!" say the Vossen photographers about this epic setting.Before Guangzhou, Vossen also visited Beijing and checked out the famous Bird's Nest, an edifice built for the China Olympics several years ago. Image courtesy of NHTSA via YouTube. Continental Automotive Systems, a major automotive safety system supplier, is recalling defective air bag control units installed in an estimated 5 million vehicles from several different automakers. The air bag control units have a power supply component that may corrode and lead to unit failure, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported. Continental manufactured these units from Jan. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2010. If the air bag control unit fails, safety systems such as seat belt pretensioners and air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury, NHTSA said on its website. Additionally, in some vehicles, the air bags may inadvertently deploy, increasing the risk of a crash. The affected automakers including Honda and FCA US will file vehicle recalls so the Continental-manufactured air bag control units can be replaced at dealerships. In fact, Honda has already filed plans to recall 341,444 Accord cars in the 2008-2010 model years to address the problem. Replacement parts are expected to become available from Continental in the fall of this year. Honda will mail interim notifications to the affected Accord owners beginning March 15. The second notice will be mailed when the new air bag control units are in the hands of dealers. Similarly, FCA US is recalling 112,001 vehicles equipped with the faulty air bag control units. Included are 2009 Dodge Journey, 2008-2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2008-2009 Chrysler Town and Country, and 2009 Volkswagen Routan vehicles, according to NHTSA. (Chrysler manufactured the Routan minivans for Volkswagen.) A few months ago, Mercedes-Benz USA recalled 126,260 vehicles for the same issue. More details about all the related recalls will be released soon. Originally posted on Automotive Fleet The FAA is looking at cutting its Contract Weather Observer staffing at 57 airports around the country, moving some duties to local ATC, according to an agency document and various media reports in recent weeks. Trained human weather observers contracted by the FAA supplement automated weather reports at towered airports, providing more discerning information including reports on weather-related hazards. The Fresno Bee in a report last year cited a May 2015 report (PDF) from an FAA evaluation panel, which states that weather reporting equipment has become more advanced and those ATC facilities that already provide supplemental weather data have done so for years without affecting service. Controllers, pilots, dispatchers and airlines have hands-on access to more weather information, reducing the need for dedicated observers, the report says. Technically, the FAAs proposal is to change the Contract Weather Observer airports to whats called Limited Aviation Weather Reporting Station sites, where controllers augment the automated data. The timeframe for the shift is not clear from the document, but it states that airports will continue to be evaluated and the FAA will ensure that LAWRS controllers are properly trained. Such training would be done within four months. Local media outlets around the country are reporting that airports in their areas are facing the elimination of contracted weather observers, to the chagrin of some. KMUW in Wichita reported that FAA representatives were at Eisenhower National Airport this week for a closed-door meeting with aviation officials to discuss the changes, eliciting written opposition from the citys mayor and other officials. Portland and Bangor are on the list, WGME in Maine reported. A weather observer told the station the change could compromise safety. I think its irresponsible and dangerous the FAA would propose to sacrifice public safety to save a few bucks in the budget, one senior weather observer said. An FAA spokeswoman told AVweb that controllers already provide weather observation services at 75 percent of the nations control towers. The annual cost to operate the 57 CWO sites is about $20 million, and any cost reductions would depend on how the changes are implemented, as observers could be contractors, controllers or non-federal employees. Cost savings are not the driving force behind this proposed change, the agency said in an email response. Periodically, the FAA conducts a review to determine if controllers can perform these functions at additional locations to ensure the best use of our fiscal resources. The FAA is conducting Safety Risk Management Panels to evaluate proposed changes for determining which human weather observer could be used. AVwebs search of aviation news worldwide found announcements from Avidyne, Jeppesen, Beechcraft and the National Air Transportation Association. Avidyne Corporationannounced that they are offering a new lower-priced IFD440 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM, starting at $12,399, including mounting tray and installation kit.The new entry-level pricing option allows customers to add wireless (Wi-Fi & Bluetooth) for $1,300 and Forward Looking Terrain Alerting (FLTA/RTC) for an additional $1,300 should they choose. Jeppesen announced that Kevin Crowley is succeeding Mark Van Tine as Jeppesen chief executive officer and vice-president, Digital Aviation, for Boeing. Van Tine will retire June 30, 2016, after more than 35 years with the company. In addition to being Jeppesen CEO, Van Tine also has served in several executive capacities with Boeing, Jeppesens corporate parent. Beechcraft Defense Company LLC, a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., announced it has signed a contract with Affinity Flying Training Services to provide 10 Beechcraft T-6C Texan II military training aircraft to the U.K. Ministry of Defences Military Flying Training System program. A second contract has also been signed to include five years of engineering services, parts support, maintenance training and the placement of onsite Field Service Representatives. The National Air Transportation Associationreleased the Safety 1st General Aviation Misfueling Prevention Program a free, online-based awareness program for pilots, line service professionals, FBO general managers and customer service representatives. NATA developed the program to conform with standards from the Energy Institute and the NATA Safety 1st Operational Best Practices. 5 February 2016 10:17 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Sadigova Macroeconomic indicators submitted by the Armenian government are ridiculous, said former head of the Central Bank Bagrat Asatryan at a press conference about the macro-economic situation in the country in the context of global developments. He added that the government faces four major problems hampering the development of the country from an economic point of view. "I am talking about poverty, emigration, monopoly and corruption," he said, adding that these problems are nothing new, but they existed and will remain as long as the government does not take steps to develop a mechanism to prevent them. Asatryan commented the insanity of the macroeconomic indicators submitted by the Armenian government. The official statistics reported that the agricultural sector recorded an increase of 11.7 percent, while the turnover in terms of volume indicators in the same sphere dropped by 12.2 percent. As to the performance of the construction sector, which recorded a 0.3 percent growth and, that also recorded a fell by 8.2 percent in terms of turnover volume. He also stressed that the estimates of the Armenian government remained unclear for him. The economic situation in the poor post-Soviet country rings alarm as it suffers from crisis in almost every sphere. People are desperately leaving Armenia, trying to escape from the corrupt government, which does not expect their elementary rights. Harsh realities, as well as collapsing economy, destroy the South Caucasus country from the inside. False numbers, which the government is trying to present to the society, will not help to fix the situation. --- Follow Laman Sadigova on Twitter: @s_laman93 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 16:43 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Sadigova Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have recently visited Azerbaijani hostages Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev, who were taken by Armenian militaries in the occupied Kalbajar district of Azerbaijan. The ICRC representatives visited Azerbaijani hostages to observe their treatment and conditions of detention as well as to help to ensure that the hostages are able to maintain contact with their families. During an operation conducted in the Shaplar village of Azerbaijans occupied Kalbajar district on July 11, 2014, Armenian forces killed an Azerbaijani, Hasan Hasanov, and detained Shahbaz Guliyev and Dilgam Asgarov while they were attempting to visit the graves of their relatives. Azerbaijani hostages Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev have been judged illegally by the unrecognized courts of a separatist regime in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Following an expedited judicial process" in December 2015, Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years. Although many international organizations, as well as Azerbaijan, urged Armenia to start peaceful negotiations on this issue and to free the hostages, the Armenian side remained deaf. The Armenian side ignoring all calls and violating the international rules and norms was subjecting the hostages to various tortures. Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that caused a brutal war in the early 1990s. Long-standing efforts by U.S, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far. As a result of the military aggression of Armenia, over 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed, more than 4,000 are reported missing and almost 100,000 were injured, and 50,000 were disabled. The UN Security Council has passed four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day. --- Follow Laman Sadigova on Twitter: @s_laman93 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 13:15 (UTC+04:00) By Jim Al-Khalili Muslim governments know that economic growth, military power, and national security benefit greatly from technological advances. Many of them have sharply increased funding for science and education in recent years. And yet, in the view of many especially in the West the Muslim world still seems to prefer to remain disengaged from modern science. These skeptics are not entirely wrong. Muslim-majority countries spend, on average, less than 0.5% of their GDP on research and development, compared with five times that in the advanced economies. They also have fewer than ten scientists, engineers, and technicians per thousand residents, compared to the global average of 40 and 140 in the developed world. And even these figures tend to understate the problem, which is less about spending money or employing researchers than about the basic quality of the science being produced. To be sure, one should not be overly hasty in singling out Muslim countries for criticism; even in the supposedly enlightened West, an alarmingly high proportion of the population regards science with suspicion or fear. And yet, in many parts of the Muslim world, science faces a unique challenge; it is seen as a secular if not atheist Western construct. Too many Muslims have forgotten or never learned about the brilliant scientific contributions made by Islamic scholars a thousand years ago. They do not regard modern science as indifferent or neutral with respect to Islamic teaching. Indeed, some prominent Islamic writers have even argued that scientific disciplines such as cosmology actually undermine the Islamic belief system. According to the Muslim philosopher Osman Bakar, science comes under attack on the grounds that it seeks to explain natural phenomena without recourse to spiritual or metaphysical causes, but rather in terms of natural or material causes alone. Bakar is of course entirely correct. Seeking to explain natural phenomena without recourse to metaphysics is exactly what science is about. But it is difficult to think of a better defense of it than the one offered almost exactly 1,000 years ago by the 11th-century Persian Muslim polymath Abu Rayhan al-Biruni. It is knowledge, in general, which is pursued solely by man, and which is pursued for the sake of knowledge itself, because its acquisition is truly delightful, and is unlike the pleasures desirable from other pursuits, al-Biruni wrote. For the good cannot be brought forth, and evil cannot be avoided, except by knowledge. Fortunately, a growing number of Muslims today would agree. And, given the tension and polarization between the Islamic world and the West, it is not surprising that many feel indignant when accused of being culturally or intellectually unequipped for competitiveness in science and technology. Indeed, that is why governments across the Muslim world are increasing their R&D budgets sharply. But throwing money at the problem is no panacea. Scientists do require adequate financing, of course, but competing globally requires more than just the latest shiny equipment. The entire infrastructure of the research environment needs to be addressed. That means not only ensuring that laboratory technicians understand how to use and maintain the equipment, but also and far more important nurturing the intellectual freedom, skepticism, and courage to ask heterodox questions on which scientific progress depends. If the Muslim world is to become a center of innovation again, it is useful to recall the Islamic golden age that stretched from the eighth century well into the fifteenth. For example, the year 2021 will mark a millennium since the publication of Ibn al-Haythams Book of Optics, one of the most important texts in the history of science. Written more than 600 years before the birth of Isaac Newton, al-Haythams work is widely regarded as one of the earliest examples of the modern scientific method. Among the most famous of this eras intellectual epicenters was Baghdads House of Wisdom, at the time the largest repository of books in the world. Historians may bicker over whether such an academy truly existed and what function it served; but such arguments are less relevant than the symbolic power it still holds in the Islamic world. When Gulf state leaders talk about their multi-billion-dollar visions of creating a new House of Wisdom, they are not concerned about whether the original was just a modest library that a caliph inherited from his father. They want to reanimate the spirit of free inquiry that has been lost in Islamic culture and that urgently needs to be recovered. To achieve that, daunting challenges remain to be overcome. Many countries devote an unusually large share of research funding toward military technology, a phenomenon driven more by geopolitics and the unfolding tragedies in the Middle East than by a thirst for pure knowledge. The brightest young scientists and engineers in Syria have more pressing matters on their minds than basic research and innovation. And few in the Arab world are likely to view advances in Iranian nuclear technology with the same equanimity as developments in Malaysias software industry. But it is nonetheless important to recognize how much Muslim countries could contribute to humankind by nurturing once again the spirit of curiosity that drives scientific inquiry whether to marvel at divine creation or just to try to understand why things are the way they are. Copyright: Project Syndicate: Rebuilding the Muslim House of Wisdom --- Follow us on Twitter: @Azernews 5 February 2016 17:17 (UTC+04:00) By Gordon Brown Buried in the declaration from the just-completed fourth United Nations Syria Pledging Conference in London is a little publicized but important promise: by next year, every Syrian refugee child will be offered a place in school. The world, at long last, has taken seriously the need to provide education to conflict-affected children. Up to this point, global humanitarian aid targeting education has accounted for less than 2% of funds pledged. Though this shift is yet to be fully funded, it reflects the long overdue recognition by governments and aid agencies that humanitarian crises are not over in weeks or months, and that refugees need more than food and shelter. The myriad miseries confronting millions of out-of-school children should give us the political will to fulfill this pledge. Refugees spend an average of ten years away from their homes. Without intervention, many of the children displaced by Syrias civil war not to mention the other 24 million children worldwide who are out of school because of conflict would never enter a classroom during their school-age years. As adults, they would remember childhoods spent in shacks, hovels, or the streets, deprived of the fulfillment and hope that comes with an education. But the costs of a lost education extend far beyond feelings and emotions. When an education stops or is stolen children lose the protection of schools. Many are exploited. Young girls are targeted by traffickers and vanish into an abyss of unimaginable depravity. Young boys are forced into factories or the front lines of war. With adults often banned from working in their country of refuge, those children lucky enough to have living parents are pushed into labor wherever they can find it to provide their families with some miniscule income. But no amount of stitching, shoveling, or fighting can secure a future the way an education can. We see the costs in Syria. Without provision for children, families give up hope for any future in the region and embark on risky and often fatal voyages to Europe. Children who remain behind, fearful of an unknowable future, are easily recruited by extremists. If we are sincere in our desire to slow the exodus to Europe, to prevent the radicalization of children, and to prepare for Syrias reconstruction, we must see education, not emigration (much less extremism), as a childs passport to the future. The failure to fund education for refugees is no accident. It is the direct result of a structurally flawed system that strands the needs of schoolchildren between humanitarian aid budgets (98% of which go to food, shelter, and health care) and development aid (which is necessarily long term). Now that education for Syrias child refugees has been recognized as a responsibility of the humanitarian aid system, we have to find the means to finance it. The declaration stated only that participants noted the need for at least $1.4 billion in annual funding. While a lot has been promised, we must ensure that it is delivered. And, even if it is, a lot more is needed, as more children are displaced every day. There is a no better venue to build on the London declaration than the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May. At the epicenter of the worlds biggest refugee crisis, we must take another step forward, by establishing what I call the HOPE fund: The Humanitarian Operation for the Provision of Education in Emergencies, the first permanent fund guaranteeing education in conflict zones. No one needs HOPE more than Ahmed, a 12-year-old I met in a Beirut reception center for refugees. Like most Syrian refugees, he was out of school but desperate to return. When I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up, he responded without hesitation: an engineer. I am used to hearing children tell me of their dreams to be everything from airline pilots to rap artists, but not engineers. Why an engineer? To return home, he said and rebuild Syria. With private foundations, governments, and businesses all pledging to contribute, the HOPE fund that I have in mind could be in operation by the end of the year. With 50 companies already committing $70 million to fund education for Syrian refugees, we have shown that the most entrepreneurial and innovative companies can be partners in peace. Consider one of our goals digital access and online courses for children in refugee camps. If todays technology wizards can enable us to turn on our house lights from halfway around the world, think what they could do for education in emergencies. Facebook, Google, Apple, and others have offered to help. We must now persuade them to coordinate their efforts in offering online classes for teachers and refugee children. Fortunately, we have a success story to inspire our coming efforts. In the past year, Lebanon has taken vulnerable Syrian children off the streets by creating 207,000 school places. Under a double-shift arrangement, Syrian refugees receive instruction in the afternoon and early evening in the same classrooms that local Lebanese children occupy earlier in the day. This successful experiment proves that it is possible to offer education to one million Syrian children in 2016, and to all of them in 2017. Following Lebanons example, both Turkey and Jordan have announced plans to double the number of school places for refugees. If we can succeed in one of the most war-ravaged regions of the world, progress elsewhere would become much more likely. The forgotten child refugees of South Sudan and Yemen would be brought out of the shadows. Myanmars persecuted minorities would gain the opportunity to help shape their countrys fledgling democracy. And the long-suffering boys and girls along the Afghanistan/Pakistan border would be given the tools to build a future. The world has come together repeatedly to fight disease and disaster. We have rallied against and toppled dictators and tyrants. Now let us be the first generation to put every child in school. Copyright: Project Syndicate: A breakthrough for child refugees? --- Follow us on Twitter: @Azernews 5 February 2016 13:29 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijans Ambassador Tamerlan Garayev has met with Zulkifli Hasan, Chairman of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly in connection with the 24th anniversary of the Khojaly Genocide. The meeting participants included incoming Indonesian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Husnan Bey Fananie, member of the Azerbaijani-Indonesian inter-parliamentary friendship group Linda Megawati and representatives of local media. Garayev drew the audience's attention to the fact that Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan still continues. "Armenia disregards the UN Security Council resolutions and continues the occupation of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territories. All cultural heritage sites in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan mosques, historical monuments and cemeteries were destroyed. This was reflected in the reports of international organizations and observers," he said. He gave detailed information about the atrocities the Armenian armed forces committed against the civilian population, especially women and children. Hasan, for his part, said he could find no words to describe atrocities of the Armenians against the civilians, particularly children. Hasan expressed his willingness to visit Azerbaijan this year, saying he will publicly condemn Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan both when he visits Azerbaijan`s parliament and gives a press conference. He said he will also openly reiterate Indonesia`s everlasting support for Azerbaijan. The Indonesian ambassador gave additional information about the occupation of Karabakh. For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. 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. However, the peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group have been largely fruitless so far. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 11:06 (UTC+04:00) US Congressman from New Jersey Donald Payne has made a statement on January 20 and Khojaly tragedies, Azertac state news agency reported. He said he would like to recognize January 20, 1990 as Black January, adding Soviet troops invaded the capital city of Baku and surrounding areas killing tens and injuring hundreds of civilians. Some 137 people were killed, 611 were wounded, 841 were illegally arrested, and five went missing as a result of the intrusion of troops into Baku and other regions of the country. The 20th of January, 1990 is marked in the modern history of Azerbaijan as one of the most tragic days of the country, and at the same time as a heroic page. Payne also asked congressmen to join him in recognizing the horrific atrocities that took place during the month of February in Khojaly, Azerbaijan, 24 years ago. On that day, Payne said, more than 600 people, mostly elderly men, women and children, were brutally killed. The Congressman also described Azerbaijan as a strong ally of the United States in a strategically important region of the world. In 1992, the town of Khojaly, the second largest town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, came under intense fire by the Armenian armed forces. 613 civilians mostly women and children were killed in the massacre, and a total of 1,000 people were disabled. Eight families were exterminated, 25 children lost both parents, and 130 children lost one parent. Moreover, 1,275 innocent people were taken hostage, and the fate of 150 people remains unknown. Civilians were shot at close range, scalped, and burned alive. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 12:16 (UTC+04:00) By Laman Sadigova Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Herbert Salber discussed the situation in the region in Moscow on February 5. In particular, the sides were discussing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. "They discussed the situation in the South Caucasus in the context of complicated international environment, the fight against terrorism and threats to the security and stability of the regions states," the Russian foreign Ministry reported. For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in conflict which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. 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. However, the peace talks mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group have been largely fruitless so far. --- Follow Laman Sadigova on Twitter: @s_laman93 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 17:57 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova The Syrian crisis, which has generated millions of refugees heading to the neighboring countries and Europe, has been in focus of the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference in London on February 4. Co-organized by the UK, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the United Nations, the conference aimed to generate significant new help for the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected by the Syrian conflict, including increased funding. Addressing the conference President Ilham Aliyev stressed a very profound sympathy that Azerbaijan feels for the Syrian refugees. The South Caucasus nation with more than 1.2 million refugees and IDPs, have expressed readiness to make contribution to resolving this problem. "Azerbaijan is among those countries, which already contributed and will contribute to humanitarian development in Syria, but the most important is peace, ceasefire, and finding political solutions. Only after that, jobs will be created, education will be on the proper level and people will start to believe in their future," President Aliyev said. Being a sufferer of refugee problem, today Azerbaijan shares the grave and problems of Syrian refugees as well. The government is providing financial assistance to the Syrian refugees. "We ourselves suffered from a humanitarian disaster and crisis in the beginning of our independence, in the beginning of the 1990s when our neighboring Armenia launched an aggression against Azerbaijan," he noted. The Azerbaijanis who were displaced from their homes as result of the brutal war were forced to live in refugee camps, tents, in very difficult conditions. They also lost all of their properties. They became homeless, jobless and without any means for living. That was a real humanitarian catastrophe. "As a result of that aggression almost 20 percent of our internationally recognized territory became occupied. We were subject of ethnic cleansing, and more than a million Azerbaijanis became refugees and internally displaced persons." Every 8th citizen in Azerbaijan is a refugee, which is one of the highest per capita number of refugees. The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions in 1993 demanding immediate and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, whilst Armenia ignored all of them. President Aliyev also expressed confidence that only in the condition of stability and peace a country can develop and can overcome enormous difficulties. Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience with Syria on how to deal with these enormous economic and social difficulties, as well as on job creation. Azerbaijan as a country with a substantial financial and economic potential managed to achieve that in the time of not peace, but ceasefire. "Having ceasefire achieved in 1994 gave us an opportunity to develop," President Aliyev said. "Since that time Azerbaijans development has been very rapid, we have managed to provide decent housing conditions for almost 250,000 refugees. We have a hundred percent literacy, including among refugees. Ten years ago about 70 percent of refugees lived in poverty, now the rate of the poverty among refugees is only 12 percent, while total poverty is five percent, unemployment is five percent." The people who held refugee status were granted compensations and benefits. Extensive measures were launched to ensure social protection of the refugees. "During the last decade 1.5 million jobs were created in Azerbaijan," President Aliyev said. "We can share our experience in education, more than 3,000 schools were built in our country and, as I said, now literacy is hundred percent. We can share our experience in managing humanitarian crisis and we will do it." Today, finding a political solution to the Syrian crisis as soon as possible is a number one issue on the international agenda. The Syrian crisis is on the focus of Azerbaijan as well. The country is keen to play its important role in this respect. "We will continue to support our brothers and sisters in Syria. We are grateful to those countries who take this enormous burden to accommodate the Syrian refugees," President Aliyev added. -- Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 16:48 (UTC+04:00) The OSCE Minsk Group is not satisfied with the status quo in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, James Warlick, the OSCE Minsk Group US co-chairman tweeted on February 5. We are fully committed to negotiations for a peaceful settlement, he wrote. 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. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 18:29 (UTC+04:00) "Manifesto of an Ambassador" book by Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister, rector of ADA University Hafiz Pashayev has been presented in Rome. The Italian language book was published by Sandro Teti publishing house. The presentation ceremony took place as part of "The history and future of the Azerbaijani diplomacy" conference, co-organized by the Azerbaijani embassy and the Italian Society for International Organizations (SIOI). The event participants included diplomats, public figures, representatives of the political, scientific circles and media, as well as Azerbaijani students studying in Rome. In his remarks, moderator of the conference, head of the Sandro Teti publishing house Sandro Teti expressed his gratitude to the author of the book, which, he said, reflects all peculiarities of the Azerbaijani diplomacy. President of SIOI, former Italian FM Franco Frattini stressed the significance of the book in terms of informing Italian readers about the Azerbaijani diplomacy. Pashayev highlighted the history of the book "Manifesto of an Ambassador", saying that apart from true facts, he writes in the book about his inner feelings and thoughts. Analyzing the political view in the South Caucasus region, Pashayev described Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a key factor hindering unity and development in the region. Author of the book's preface, Director of NATO Defense College Foundation, analyst Alessandro Politi noted that the book is of great interest not only from a a political and historical point of view, but also in terms of reflecting the vital points. The trip also saw Hafiz Pashayev visit La Sapienza University where he and vice rector Antonello Biagini signed an agreement on cultural and scientific cooperation between La Sapienza University and ADA University, Azertac state news agency reported. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 16:58 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund continues payment of funds to depositors of the banks, licenses of which were revoked by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan. The Fund reported on February 5 that within six days, over 14 million manats ($8.68 million) was paid to the depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan, the license of which was terminated on January 18. The payment of funds is carried out in the branches of the Muganbank and Rabitabank -- the designated agent banks. Accepting of appeals of Bank of Azerbaijans insured depositors began on January 29, 2016, and payment of compensation has been implemented since that day. The Fund further reported that although ADIF started acceptance of the applications for payment of compensation to the depositors of the Gandja Bank from February 4, the number of appeals was insignificant. Payment of funds to the depositors of the Gandja Bank is being made in the branches of the Rabitabank, the Unibank and the Kapital Bank. The volume of insured deposits of Bank of Azerbaijan amounts to 24.2 million manats ($15 million), while the Gandja Bank - 1.5 million manats ($930,000). The ADIF went on to add that the depositors of the Texnikabank can apply to the fund for payment of compensation since February 11. On February 2, the CBA revoked the license of the bank, and two days later, an insured event occurred at the Texnikabank. The CBA revoked its license due to the fact that the total capital of the bank did not correspond to the CBA minimum requirement of 50 million manats ($31 million). The total capital adequacy ratio amounted to three percent [the CBA minimum requirement is 10 percent]. In accordance with the law, insured payments can be obtained seven days after the bank is declared bankrupt. Within seven days, the ADIF will announce the agent banks in charge of payment of funds to the depositors of the Texnikabank. The ADIF returns up to 30,000 manats ($18,607) for each insured deposits. Since early 2016, the CBA has terminated the licenses of TexnikaBank, the Caucasus Development Bank, the Atrabank, the Gandja Bank, the Bank of Azerbaijan, the United Credit Bank and the NBCBank. In February, the CBA made a decision to restore the license of the NBCBank. Later, a source in the NBCBank told local media that the bank has already signed a protocol of intents on consolidation with other two banks. A source in the CBA said that the NBCBank intends to merge its assets with the Parabank and the Kredobank. The Caucasus Development Bank also plans to discuss its merger with other banks on March 20. The bank intends to merge with the Gunay Bank and the Atrabank, Trend reported earlier. However, Etibar Aliyev, Chairman of the Texnikabank's Supervisory Board, told Trend on February 4 that Texnikabank has no plans to merge with other banks. The consolidation of banks is likely to lead to financial recovery of the banks as this process is in the interests of both owners and clients of banks. The consolidation will also allow stable banks, which have deliberately decided to merge, to increase their share in the market and to gain more revenues. This strategy would be more correct if targets growth of profit and market share. The International Finance Corporation and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development support the consolidation of banks in Azerbaijan, regarding it as a way leading to financial recovery of the banks. Azerbaijan has experienced good examples of consolidation of banks earlier. For instance, UniBank was formed by the merger of two commercial banks in 2002 - MBank and Promtexbank, where the EBRD acquired a 15-percent share, and 8.3333 percent is owned by the German Investment Corporation DEG. Bank of Baku merged with IlkBank in 2005. In late January, two Azerbaijani banks - AGBank and DemirBank - also decided to consolidate and signed a protocol of intent about merging. -- Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 17:32 (UTC+04:00) The 16th China International Food Exhibition and Guangzhou Import Food Exhibition 2016 will be held on June 29, 2016. Azerbaijan Export and Import Foundation AZPROMO announced that Azerbaijani companies and businessmen are invited to attend the IFE 2016. The IFE is an awesome platform that enhances the aura with the massive presence of food and food products, beverages, beverage products, food ingredients, raw materials, food items, dairy products, meat products, poultry and eggs products, fish products and quite a lot more. It is an international platform that has been witnessing visitors and exhibitors, from all around the world. China is a huge opportunity and a priority market for Azerbaijan. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $288.4 million in the first six months of 2015, some $259.3 million of which were accounted for Azerbaijan's import operations. Relations between Azerbaijan and China have a long history. Thanks to its advantageous geographical situation, Azerbaijan is a natural crossing point on the way from East to West and North to South and is one of the main trade and transport centers running from China to Europe and vice-versa via the Silk Road economic belt. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 09:52 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Fine feathers make fine birds, says a famous proverb. Indeed national costume is one of the main attributes of each nation, which is closely connected to its history and traditions. The traditional clothes help the historians to understand the essence of any nations soul and mentality. In Azerbaijan, as in the rest of the world, history and geography determined the form and color of clothes. Twelve stages can be identified in the formation of Azerbaijani national outfits, and each stage saw further development and improvement, corresponding to changing tastes and living conditions. Costumes acquired their initial features during Azerbaijan Safavid dynasty, ruling from the 16th to 18th centuries, but became more sharply defined by regions when Azerbaijan was governed by different khanates. These traditional dresses, so colorful and diversified, truly represent the different regions of the historic Azerbaijan. Full of fascinating designs, colors and decorations, they truly reflected the artistic sense and the aesthetic taste of the nation. The details and colors in all outfits, whether for the rich and aristocratic or for simple country people, were chosen after careful consideration and random elements were condemned. Women clothes The typical womens traditional dress of Azerbaijan consists of under and outer garments and clothes for the upper and lower body. Bag-shaped cover veil and shutter for the face rubend were the important parts of the costume, which women wore while going out. Outerwear was sewn from brightly colored fabrics, and its luxury depended from the social status of the family and may include a variety of different jewelry, such as gold and silver beads and buttons. Women also wore a short jacket called arkhalig with long sleeves, fitting back and chest, with a wide opening in the front. Arkhalig is considered one of the most common types of clothing in all the regions of the country and very often women wore gold, gilded silver belt or leather belts with sewn silver coins above this jacket. The style of clothes reflected the marital status and age of the owner. A young girl's wear noticeably differed from a married women's. Young ladies wore more colorful and bright dresses. Women's costumes also differed by regions. Gazakh womens shirt, for example, was long with slits on the sides, Karabakh women wore robe with long sleeves false. In Nakhchivan women preferred wide trousers with knee length skirts, while in Shusha, Shamakhi, as well as in several other areas long skirts. One of the most common womens headwear was kelagayi -- a silk scarf, protected them from both hot sun and cold wind, because silk is cool in summer and warm in winter. Colored painted kelagayi was very popular among young girls. Mens clothes Unlike female clothes, male national costumes were similar in almost all the areas of Azerbaijan. Mens costume always represented the class affiliation of its owner. The prominent fabrics used in the traditional dress for men in Azerbaijan were silk, cashmere and satins. Papaq was the most popular headdress for men which was usually stitched with lamb fur and it was a symbol of dignity and prestige. Men never took off their papaqs or hats and, in general, it was considered shameful to go out without a hat. Thats why if someone wanted to offend somebody, he tried to knock his hat off his head. The most popular headgear worn both by men and women -- arahchin made from silk fabric and decorated with gold embroideries -- well-known today for many thanks to souvenir shops across the country, was a typical traditional headgear of Azerbaijanis, widespread in the Middle Ages. Transition to modernity Of course, now you will not meet people dressing the national costumes, Azerbaijanis wore them about until the 20th century, and then only in some rural areas. However, today they are widely displayed in full rhythm in the folk dances and festive occasions of Azerbaijan. Despite in modern times Azerbaijanis do not wear the traditional clothes in their daily lives, nevertheless, the trend of that time have occupied the runways, and today both Eastern and European designers often use long skirts and wide pants, peculiar to Azerbaijani national clothes. Noteworthy, even very famous Italian designer Renato Balestra created a unique collection specifically for Azerbaijani shopaholics. National silhouettes and motifs began to appear more and more in the collections of national designers. Azerbaijan turned back to its beginnings, introducing the rich culture of Azerbaijani people to the world. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 14:57 (UTC+04:00) By Amina Nazarli Although many neighboring countries have faced tense epidemiological situation since December 2015, Azerbaijan has not reported any cases of swine flu so far. This remark was made by Deputy Director of the Republican Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology under the Health Ministry Afag Aliyeva at a press conference on the epidemiological situation in the country and preventive activities on February 4. Aliyeva noted that the current situation requires mobilization of forces and resources for the implementation of preventive and curative measures. Only during this January, some 300 samples were taken for analysis from suspected patients. The analysis did not revealed H1N1 virus. In most cases the analyses reveal seasonal influenza (H3N2), she said. She further informed the reporters about the disinfection procedures conducted in 417 schools and preschools of four big cities, including Baku, Sumgayit, Ganja and Mingachevir during January. Aliyeva also dismissed reports about swine flu outbreak in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Touching upon the mosquito-transmitted Zika virus, threatening mainly pregnant women and leading to cases of babies being born with abnormally small heads, Aliyeva said that there are zero chances of the virus to reach Azerbaijan. The virus is mainly spread in Brazil. The carrier of the virus, mosquito species Aedes aegypti, is not found in Azerbaijan," she said. Meanwhile, Suleyman Mammadov, head of parasitology department at the Republican Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology announced that Azerbaijan is moving towards malaria elimination. The country can soon get a certificate approving that it got rid of this infectious disease, he told Day.az , adding that Azerbaijan plans to apply to the WHO for the certificate this year. For several years the country does not report any cases of malaria. Only one imported case of tropical malaria was detected in the country in 2015. The citizen was infected with malaria in Cameroon and arrived in Azerbaijan, where the disease manifested itself later, he said. Today the Azerbaijani Health Ministry conducts extensive work towards the total eradication of this disease. According to the Republican Hygiene and Epidemiology Center two cases of malaria were revealed in the country in 2012. One person was infected in Africa, and the second within the country. In 2013, in turn, four cases were detected and all of the infected picked up the tropical malaria outside Azerbaijan. -- Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 11:48 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova The European Investment Bank plans to allocate 1 billion to the construction of the Trans-Anatolian pipeline, a vital part of the giant Southern Gas Corridor envisaging transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz field on the Georgian-Turkish border to the western borders of Turkey. EIB Vice-President Pim van Ballekom said that these funds will be used to finance the stake of Turkish Botas State Pipeline Company in TANAP, while other part of the funds will be allocated by the World Bank, Bloomberg reported. "It is expected that the Bank will approve the loan by late April 2016, and the first tranche will be allocated in August," he noted. Last November, Bloomberg reported that Botas was in negotiations with the EIB and the WB to draw loans worth $2 billion to finance its stake in TANAP. The sources dealing with the situation said some $1.07 billion is expected to be allocated by EIB, while $1 billion by WB. "Both loans will be long-term, but the conditions of their drawing are under discussion. Perhaps, the loans will be delivered under the state guarantees," they said. In January 2016, the EU countries agreed on a Commission proposal to invest 217 million in key trans-European energy infrastructure projects, mainly in Central and South Eastern Europe. Fifteen projects were selected following a call for proposals under the Connecting Europe Facility, an EU funding program for infrastructure. The TANAP project also was among these projects. According to the decision, the EU will allocate 2.219 million to TANAP. TANAPs initial capacity is expected to reach 16 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Some six billion cubic meters of this gas will be delivered to Turkey and the rest will go to Europe. The capital costs of the TANAP project are expected to stand at $9.5 billion. -- Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 11:42 (UTC+04:00) The price of oil changed in different directions in the world markets. On the New York Stock Exchange NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange) cost of the US Light crude oil decreased $0.11 to stand at $31.72. Price of the Brent crude oil at the London ICE (InterContinental Exchange Futures) fell $0.37 to trade at $34.34. SOCAR Marketing and Economic Operations Department announced that the price of a barrel of Azeri Light crude oil increased $0.31 to stand at $35.40 on the world markets. Azerbaijan produces three grades of crude oilthe SOCAR-produced barrels, Azeri BTC, and Azeri Light. The country's main export crude oil streams are Azeri BTC and Azeri Light. These two grades are fairly similar and are mainly sold to European and Asian markets. SOCAR produces about 20% of the country's oil output. The company is responsible for exploration and production of oil and natural gas in Azerbaijan, operating the country's two refineries, running the country's pipeline system, and managing the country's oil and natural gas imports and exports. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 15:57 (UTC+04:00) By Aynur Karimova Energy-rich Azerbaijan and one of its main gas consumers - Georgia have discussed the problems with the supply of blue fuel to Georgia and the ways to resolve them. The discussions succeeded the Georgian energy minister's recent loud talks with its two giant gas producing neighbors -- Iran and Russia, in an effort to diversify its gas supplies. The move gave birth to concerns about reliability of energy partnership between the two South Caucasus nations, thus entailing enough grounds for debates in both countries. The meeting in Baku on February 4 seems to shed a light on many dark points of the process as Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze and SOCAR President Rovnaq Abdullayev decided to continue regular meetings and negotiations. The sides mulled prospects for the development of the Southern Gas Corridor, as well as the progress on the construction of the South Caucasus Pipeline in the territory of Georgia. Azerbaijan, which is considered by the Georgian officials as a strategic partner, is the priority source of gas supply for Tbilisi. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Georgia enjoyed favorable relations with Azerbaijan that met its increasing gas demand for many years. Even in a very critical period of relationship with Russia, which left Georgians without warm after the 2008 military clashes, Azerbaijan rescued the post Soviet nation and extended a helping hand to it. Today SOCAR delivers 6 million cubic meters per day in Georgia, which is supposed meet 95 percent of the country's gas consumption. The rest 5 percent of its gas demand Georgia covers though Russian supplies that it receives for "blue fuel" transit to Armenia. Despite the fact that Azerbaijan enjoys enough natural gas reserves to meet the needs of Georgia and many other European countries for decades, Kaladze and Russian gas giant Gazprom have recently held negotiations which caused a storm of unrest and accusations both in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Rumors circulating in political circles and society gave birth to ideas that the Georgian government intends to replace cheap and stable Azerbaijani gas with Russian, which is considered much more expensive and less stable. Kaladze said earlier that Gazprom offers gas to Georgia cheaper than Azerbaijan, adding that if necessary Georgia will balance with Russian supplies a deficit, which SOCAR is unable to refill. SOCAR, a major gas supplier to Georgia, however, rebuffed any motives about shortage of natural gas, assuring that the company could meet the country's necessary demand for natural gas and would do it further if needed. But even today, after the Georgian government played such a political game by bargaining with Gazprom, Azerbaijan again rescued Georgia from energy dependence on the Russian "gas needle". In January, SOCAR and Georgia agreed to increase the volume of gas supplied to Georgia and the company will maximally increase the gas supply up to seven million cubic meters per day. Daily gas consumption in Georgia exceeded 11 million cubic meters per day and about 2.5 billion cubic meters per year. Currently, SOCAR supplies six million cubic meters per day and it is impossible to get more via the existing pipeline. Azerbaijan supplies gas to Georgia via Hajigabul-Gardabani pipeline with gas pumping capacity attaining 6.5 million cubic meters per day. The second way carrying gas to Georgian consumers is the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum (South Caucasus) Pipeline, through which the gas from the first stage of the Shah Deniz field is supplied to Georgia and a large proportion goes through its territory to Turkey. By increasing the capacity of these pipelines, SOCAR will be able to meet the increasing demand of Georgia in energy. The company has several plans in this regard. It plans to fully upgrade the Hajigabul-Gardabani pipeline to increase its capacity. Also, works on the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline as part of the Shah Deniz-2 project have already commenced. These works include the construction of a new pipeline in the territory of Azerbaijan and two new gas compressor stations in Georgia. Expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline will triple its capacity to more than 20 billion cubic meters a year. That will allow allocating more gas to Georgia. -- Aynur Karimova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 10:44 (UTC+04:00) A decision about the introduction of EU-Turkey visa-free regime is political, hence there is not guarantee of its happening in 2016, Amanda Paul, the analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC), said. Unfortunately giving visa liberalisation to Turkey will probably not be a popular issue with public opinion in Europe particularly at a time when the EU is dealing with the biggest migration crisis since the end of the second world war, she told Trend. She said that Turkey not meeting certain criteria in order to obtain visa liberalisation could also be an issue. The expert recalled that Turkey was actually promised a visa free regime decades ago when it signed its Association Agreement with the EU in 1963. She said that it has been a thorn in relations between Turkey and EU for a long time. Turkey has seen many countries, including from Central and Eastern Europe, but more recently from the Western Balkans receive visa liberalisation while Turks have still had to line up outside embassys, she said. Hence it was crucial that the EU delivered on its commitment. The expert recalled that the negotiations for a visa free regime began in 2013 but they have been speeded up in light of the Syrian refugee crisis and the key role Turkey has in helping control the flow of migrants to Europe. October 2016 was mentioned as possible date for visa liberalisation which is good news although it will be dependent on Turkey fulfilling all criteria, she said. Earlier, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker said that the EU may introduce a visa-free regime with Turkey in the autumn of 2016, assuming Ankara implements all the necessary requirements. Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said that the first report will be published in March as part of the visa liberalization. Turkey will start implementing the readmission agreement in June 2016. Currently, Turkey is hosting more than two million Syrian refugees on its territory. The Syrian refugee camps in the country accommodate about 300,000 people. The rest of them are spread across the provinces and cities of Turkey. In Istanbul alone, there are currently 40,000 refugees from Syria. Ankara has so far spent $8 billion to upkeep the Syrian refugees. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 11:27 (UTC+04:00) The implementation of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline project is in the interests of both Turkey and Russia, Agnia Grigas energy and political risk expert, nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, the author of new book Beyond Crimea: The New Russian Empire, believes. Turkeys energy consumption is rising and Russia provides more than half of Turkeys gas imports. Thus, naturally there is interest in Ankara to continue discussions for Turkish Stream gas pipeline project that offers a direct route for gas from Russia to Turkey, Grigas told Trend. This week Turkish Deputy Chief of Mission to the United States Tugay Tuncer told Sputnik that Turkey is willing to hold discussions with Russia to solidify plans for the Turkish Stream gas pipeline. "We see this [Turkish Stream] as a commercial deal. If the Russians want to talk, we can come and we can talk," Tuncer said. Under perfect circumstances, Russia would also like to see Turkish Stream project implemented, according to Grigas. Turkey is the second largest European market for Russian gas exports and its needs are increasing while the demand for Russian gas in other European markets is slowing if not outright declining, Grigas said. In 2014, Turkey was the second largest importer of Russian gas after Germany Ankara purchased 27.3 billion cubic meters of gas from Russian Gazprom. Moreover, Grigas said, Russia is determined to reduce flows of gas via pipelines through Ukraine and thus wants to pursue projects like Nord Stream II and Turkish Stream. However, financially, times are tough for Russia and implementing the Turkish Stream project will be difficult, according to Grigas. Moscows pointing to the recent tensions with Ankara as the main reason for slowing down the Turkish Stream project is perhaps just a way of saving face when the costs of currently implementing it would be difficult for Russia to bear, Grigas said. The Turkish Stream project, which envisaged the construction of a gas pipeline from Russia to Turkey through the Black Sea, had been put on hold by Russia on Dec. 3, 2015. The negotiations on the projects imlementation have been stopped following the deterioration of the Russian-Turkish relations after Turkish Air Force jets shot down the Russian SU-24 bomber when it entered Turkish airspace Nov. 24. In December 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the project will be implemented in case Turkey obtains guarantees from Brussels. Speaking about the possibility for improvement of the Russia-Turkey relations, Grigas said that in the recent past, Turkey and Russia have been friends only out of necessity due to their common energy interests. Russia has also been trying to win over Turkey due to its strategic geographic role in energy transit in relation to Europe, the Black Sea and the Caspian regions, she said. At the same time, distrust between the two countries goes back hundreds of years and they have competing interests in Syria and the Middle East, she added. While relations between Ankara and Moscow may improve there will always be underlying tensions and distrust, Grigas believes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 15:40 (UTC+04:00) Turkmenistan and Turkey held political consultations at the foreign ministers level in Ashgabat, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported on February 5. The participants discussed a wide range of issues on extending cooperation in political, trade and economic and cultural-humanitarian spheres during the consultations. They also considered regional and international issues of mutual interest were also reviewed. The sides mutual interest in the further development of relations in the energy and transport spheres through the implementation of joint projects was also noted. In addition, the issues on intensifying cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries were also discussed. The sides expressed satisfaction about the results of the fruitful cooperation and noted the need for further intensification of mutually beneficial partnership based on the principles of mutual respect and trust. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 5 February 2016 18:15 (UTC+04:00) Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On ratification of the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)", the president's press service reported on February 5. As per the agreement, the loan worth $100 million is extended for financing of the project on development of occupational skills and stimulation of creation of new jobs. The Loan Agreement was signed in July 2015. The Agreement aims to improve the results in the field of employment and labor skills of the target beneficiaries and improve the relevance of technical and vocational education and training and higher education programs. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 3.0 ( - - ): editor [at] bahrainmirror.com Sandwich retailer Subway has opened a store at Jennings Kia dealership in Stockton, Teesside. The initiative follows in the footsteps of the Skipton Ford dealership in North Yorkshire, which became the UKs first car dealership to open a Subway last November. The new Stockton Subway store is owned by franchisee and managing director of Jennings Motor Group (JMG), Nas Khan. JMG, which employs 470 staff, has dealerships located across Teesside and the north east, and a Harley-Davidson branch in Leeds. Khan said; We are delighted to launch the new Subway store at our Kia dealership in Stockton, which is also creating nine jobs for local people. More than 500 stores There are now more than 500 Subway stores open in non-traditional locations, including within convenience stores, petrol station forecourts, universities and hospitals. Greg Madigan, area development manager for Subway, said: Non-traditional locations are a key area of growth for the Subway brand in the UK and Ireland. The simple operations that are involved in running a Subway franchise and the convenience offer make it a perfect fit for these style locations in this case for dealership customers and those visiting the store. Cross-Border Airport Terminal Transforms Travel San Diego - U.S. travelers who want to fly out of the international airport in Tijuana, Mexico can now use a new terminal that straddles the border. "They clear through immigration and customs and check-in right into their flight," said Elizabeth Brown, Chief Commercial Officer for Cross Border Xpress, or CBX, a Tijuana-Otay Venture company. "And likewise they arrive in the baggage area, cross the bridge and they're in the US within minutes." The facility includes a pedestrian skybridge in San Diego that connects to the airport in Tijuana, the first of it's kind spanning an airport, Brown said. The bridge is 390-feet long and it takes passengers about five minutes to walk across and catch a flight at the Tijuana airport. Ticketed passengers pay $12 to use the facility. Jesus Ochoa Padilla, a frequent traveler, says it's worth the fee to avoid waiting in long lines at the international border crossing. "This service is great," said Ochoa, as he waited outside the CBX terminal on the U.S. side "Sometimes I would have to wait two, even three hours to cross the border and now it is fast and my family can pick me up here." It took nearly eight years of negotiations, special permits on both sides of the border, and international agreements. The project required U.S. Customs and Border Protection collaboration with the contractors. The private company that owns CBX covers the cost of staffing CBP officers who inspect immigration documents of passengers using the cross border terminal. Those passengers also have to comply with U.S. Customs regulations. "It is a partnership, the sponsor is providing all the facilities and the payment for the officers, and the CBP handles all the inspection and security requirements," said Joseph Misenhelter, Assistant CBP Port Director. The terminal could become a model for other cities trying to ease air travel and reduce a backlog at busy international border crossings. The Tijuana International airport has daily flights to 33 destinations in Mexico and three weekly flights to China. "In terms of what we see, it is going to give greater access to southern Californians and people in the south part of the United States will be able to access tourism destinations; Baja California, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco," said Brown. At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity , this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money . Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest financial decisions an individual will ever make. Our real estate reporters and editors focus on educating consumers about this life-changing transaction and how to navigate the complex and ever-changing housing market. From finding an agent to closing and beyond, our goal is to help you feel confident that you're making the best, and smartest, real estate deal possible. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy , so you can trust that were putting your interests first. 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We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout lifes financial journey. When it comes to selling your home most likely the highest-ticket item you own its natural to want to maximize your profit. Depending on whom you ask, the for sale by owner model (also known as FSBO, pronounced fizz-bow) can be a terrific money-saving way to sell your home. Or, it can be fraught with headaches and net you less money at the end of the transaction. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether FSBO is right for you. What does for sale by owner (FSBO) mean? For sale by owner is when a seller chooses to market their property for sale on their own without hiring a real estate agent, explains Tori Hughes, a Marietta, Georgiabased Realtor with Harry Norman. Sellers are drawn to the FSBO route because they have the perception they will save money by not hiring an agent to market their home. When you hire a real estate agent, the agent is paid a percentage of the price the home sells for. The U.S. national average for real estate commissions was 5.49 percent in 2022, according to data from Clever. The commission is typically split evenly between the sellers agent and the buyers agent. That means that if you sell your house for $300,000, using an agent for the sale, your agents commission would be about 2.75 percent of the sale price. Hypothetically, thats $8,250 that you could have saved if you hadnt used the agent. How for sale by owner works There are a variety of ways the FSBO arrangement can work. In todays hot real estate market, a full-service agent may not be needed at all. Sellers can choose instead to do it all themselves, or use one of the many services available that help with some of the elements of selling a home. For instance, real estate agent Josie Reo operates MLS 4 Less Realty, serving the eastern region of New York State. With this service, sellers pay a flat fee upfront to have their home listed on the multiple listing service (MLS) and advertised online. Other companies, like Redfin, have gained traction in recent years offering a tech-backed platform for selling homes and a 1 percent listing fee. And sites like FSBO.com offer packages that include signs and more. FSBO sellers can opt to work with a real estate attorney to draw up and review contracts, or purchase lawyer-approved forms online. FSBO drawbacks Its important to note that in a FSBO situation, the seller assumes all of the responsibilities that a real estate agent would normally handle. This includes determining the homes appropriate price based on market conditions, marketing, taking photos, staging, showing the property, negotiating offers and managing the logistics of the transaction. Agents are professionally trained and licensed to do all of those things, to maximize the profit and minimize the hassle for the homeseller. One common misconception is that [sellers] will be able to save money by not paying commission to a listing agent. But in most cases a seller will be able to sell their home at a higher value with the assistance of an agent and in turn net a higher profit after paying commissions, Hughes explains. Another drawback is not having the guidance of an agent who is an expert on the contracts and forms used in real estate transactions. Is FSBO the same as owner financing? For sale by owner may sound similar to owner financing, but the two are unrelated. Owner financing is when a seller will act as a bank and allow the buyer to make payments to them on the property versus going through a bank and obtaining a mortgage, Hughes says. A homeowner can offer owner financing with or without using a real estate agent. Is for sale by owner worth the effort? For sale by owner works well for some and is an awful experience for others. In hot real estate markets, a FSBO house may sell quickly, but in a market with few buyers, FSBO sellers may have to do more work than they feel is worth it. When Courtney Osgoods parents needed to sell their Corning, New York, home in 2012, they decided to list it for sale by owner. We chose to go that route simply because my parents didnt want to pay a Realtor to sell the house when they thought they could do it themselves, Osgood says. They had a couple of unusual things working in their favor, though. Osgoods father built the house, so he had a good handle on the appropriate resale value, and Osgoods work as a publicist gave her the skills to write a compelling listing. I created the ad, wrote the copy, uploaded the photos, posted and managed the ads. Then my parents showed the house and dealt with all of the closing logistics, she says. After showing the house to a few potential buyers, they received a full price offer and closed quickly. It went so well that a friend of Osgoods parents asked her to help sell their home, as well. Still, Hughes makes a case for at least consulting with an agent to make an educated decision about whether FSBO is right for you. Statistics show that most sellers will be able to net a higher value when hiring an agent, she says. Given most sellers lack of knowledge regarding the forms and contracts, and the stress that surrounds the transaction, FSBO is not worth it. I would encourage anyone who is considering FSBO to interview agents before making that decision. Give an agent the opportunity to present their marketing plan, and prove their value you may just change your mind. FSBO Pros and Cons A top Florida Senate panel on Thursday passed Republican legislation to legalize medical marijuana for terminally-ill patients. Should it become law, the bill could erode support for a more sweeping constitutional amendment on medical marijuana appearing on the November ballot. The Senate Fiscal Policy Committee voted unanimously to send SB 460 to the Senate floor for debate. It's passage appears as much an act of compassion for Floridians who have been given a year or less to live as an effort to stem the tide of broader medical marijuana legalization. "If we just take the idea that, 'hey, it's a free market, let's just let the free market decide how we handle cannabis in Florida', then we will, I promise you, tomorrow turn into Colorado," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming Island). The ballot initiative, which this week was certified by the Florida Department of State as Amendment 2, would allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana to patients suffering from a "debilitating medical condition." That definition would almost certainly balloon the number of eligible patients far beyond those affected by SB 460. Conservatives opposed to Amendment 2 are optimistic that the bill could satisfy many voters who would otherwise be inclined to support the amendment, thereby reducing its chances of passage. Not everyone, however, agrees. "I would just as soon not support a constitutional amendment, but I think the Legislature needs to show that they're willing to pass more than what just passed out of here today," said Ron Watson of the Florida Medical Cannabis Association. Watson is a Republican who four years ago lost his son to leukemia, a condition not always classified as terminal. "I mean, I understand that argument, but as the bill sits now, I don't think it goes nearly far enough." After 27 years of teaching, Tracey Suits couldnt take it anymore. Its just gotten to be much more difficult than it was when I began teaching, Suits said. Suits announced her resignation at a Pasco County School Board meeting last month. Her speech which you can read in full at the bottom of this article highlights the reasons she couldnt continue. Among those reasons: standardized testing. Suits said the pressure to teach to the test was overwhelming. It seems like now when we have to cover standards for the standardized test, they have to be covered in this amount of time and they have to be covered this way, she said. It wasnt so much of a fun job anymore. Suits said she felt micromanaged. It used to be that we were trusted, that the teacher could be trusted to carry out the lesson plans based on the state standards, she said. Now its like we have someone always looking over our shoulder. Suits is not alone in her frustration. Lori Lovetere was there when Suits gave her speech to the School Board. Lovetere is a Pasco County teacher, and she said she was cheering her on. A lot of what she said is really true, and its a lot of the frustrations teachers have, Lovetere said. The mandates for all the testing, and the data, being scrutinized so much to make sure students are going to be ready for this test that essentially has no value for the students. Like Suits, Lovetere said she feels like her hands are tied. You dont even feel like you can teach anymore, she said. What were doing is were creating students who are memorizing information and spitting it out, and theyre not becoming critical thinkers and theyre not becoming creative thinkers. Lovetere is still teaching, but shes not sure for how long. I dont know how many years I have left in me, she said. I feel like an accomplice to a crime, she said. The crime? (Of) depriving them of an education thats going to allow them to be creative and critical thinkers. Jim Ciadella, Director of United School Employees of Pasco, said their concerns are not new nor are they special to Pasco County. Its not a brand new phenomenon, Ciadella said. We feel very fearful about what that means for the future here, in terms of our education for our students here in Pasco County and throughout Florida. The issues Suits highlighted in her speech wont be fixed in a day. Ciadella said his organization works with the school district and state leaders to make change, but its not easy. Were working both at the state level and the district level to find some relief for our teachers, our SRP (school-related personnel) and ultimately our students, he said. Suits hopes her outspokenness inspires other teachers. Keep fighting, she said. Make your voice heard. Tracey Suits read this speech to the school board on Jan. 19, 2016. This letter has not been edited. Oftentimes people in social situations ask me about my job. When I answer that I am a teacher, I frequently get a response of: How do you do it? or I could never do that. Well, the time has come when I have to ask myself How DO I do it? The answer is, I cannot. I cannot continue to teach students to regurgitate information for secretive, high-stakes, standardized tests when it goes against everything I morally stand for. I want my students to be original, innovative thinkers, not a test score. Too much testing leaves no space for autonomy in teaching and creativity in the classroom. Teaching has become education by legislation. I cannot continue to work afternoons, evenings, and weekends grading papers, typing formal lesson plans, uploading documentation for evaluations, and researching teaching methods to meet the needs of all my students. I am a parent and wife first. I cannot continue to give up my planning period (when I should be grading and planning) but instead, am spending at duty, parent conferences, in PLC meetings, school staffing meetings, or IEP meetings. I cannot continue to be cursed at by students, berated by parents, and bullied by politicians. Low morale transfers to the students, and they deserve better. I cannot work where the library has become a testing center and librarians are undervalued to the point of non-existence. I cannot ignore anxiety attacks, autoimmune disorders and other health problems that have cropped up these past few years due to the excessive stress. There is a teacher shortage in our district. Its not just because of low salaries. Retaining teachers has always been more than that. Twenty-seven years ago, I started teaching. But now, most of my day is not spent on instruction. I am certainly not the only teacher who feels this way, however, I cannot do it any longer. I am resigning. Those who can teach, I admire and respect you. Someone once said, A good teacher is like a candle, it consumes itself to light the way for others. Dont blow our candles out. Suits' official resignation letter, submitted two weeks before the board meeting, is below: CLARIFICATION: A previous version of this story implied that the speech Suits delivered at the school board meeting was the text of her resignation letter. The story has been updated to include her official resignation letter, submitted to the school board two weeks before. Five Things You Don't Know About an Oregon Coast Valentine's Day Published 02/04/2016 at 5:51 AM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) This coming Valentine's Day also happens to be a three-day weekend because of President's Day, which means there are some special considerations if you're heading to the Oregon coast. But there are some interesting tidbits about the region no one tells you about, such as what actually happens with the weather this time of year, beach finds right now, and a some insider tips on lodging and dining for the holiday. (Photo above: near Depoe Bay). 1 - Book Lodging, Dining, Early. You quite possibly know this one already, but since it's a three-day weekend, it's extra important. According to many hoteliers and restaurateurs on the coast, reservations are already at their maximum or close to. If the weather gets nice, you can double the importance of booking early. High-end restaurants are as booked up as lodgings, and many were filled weeks ago. Oregon Coast Hotels for this - Where to eat 2 - Glorious Weather May Be In Store. Weather in February can be a major pleasant surprise. While it's hard to pin down if and exactly when it will happen, the Month of Romance often has about ten days scattered throughout of unusually dry and even sunny weather. In fact, there's normally at least six days of starkly warm, even balmy weather. With no clouds and no wind, the beaches feel close to 70 degrees, even if the general temperature is in the 50's. Meteorologists say this is because the Oregon coast just like the rest of the state has gone through the wettest periods of winter, and the daylight hours have begun to really elongate. This creates a general shift in the climate and allows for these kinds of surprises, whereas even spring break is often rainier than February. Plenty of stormy days can happen in the month as well, but these runs of pleasant conditions happen almost every year. 3 - Lodging Romance Packages and Deals. Everyone knows the romance packages exist, but what may not be known is prices are still mostly at winter rates. Industry insiders say that on a weekend like this, demand will be high and plenty of places will charge you more. But many won't be more than five or ten dollars more. If you're stuck trying to do the walk-in thing when you show up to the beach, your chances of encountering higher prices are greater. Romance packages differ wildly from spot to spot, and some will add on extra features for Valentine's weekend, such as a late check-out. Not every lodging will up the prices for the extras, either. But some do offer special packages for the holiday that will cost more. Oregon Coast Hotels for this 4 - Dining Deals or Not. Hospitality insiders say one thing to look out for when it comes to romance dining packages is that those that offer a completely different menu than their usual fare will be more expensive, sometimes much more so. Most higher end dining spots will offer special dishes and packages for the holiday, and these, of course, will be more spendy but likely worth it. If you're looking for a deal, stick with the usual menu items. Where to eat 5 - Agate Hunting Heaven. Agate hunting has been incredibly good along much of the Oregon coast in the last month and a half, thanks to wild wave action on and off. Some spots are better than others, and some of these keep shifting around. One day, parts of Lincoln City will yield gobs of the treasures, and the next the sand is covering that area while for example Ona Beach near Waldport becomes the hotspot. Look for exposed gravel beds and these should provide the finds. Spots to keep an eye on include the Nelscott area of Lincoln City, southern Lincoln City, Newport's Moolack Beach, Ona Beach, many of the pocket beaches between Yachats and Florence, plus Yachats itself, for the central coast. On the northern Oregon coast, look to Oceanside, Cape Lookout State Park, Tierra Del Mar (near Pacific City), the southern end of Seaside, and areas near Cannon Beach such as Arch Cape, Hug Point and Arcadia. Maps and Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted The South Carolina State Senate passed a bill that exempts military retirement pay from state income taxes Jan. 26. This bill allows local veterans to receive the full benefit of their retirement.The income tax exemption is the top priority in the senate, according to the annual State of the Bases briefing sponsored last week by the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce.Beaufort County is known for its military community both active duty and retirees. The area is home to three military installations and a long history of supporting its veterans.Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and Naval Hospital Beaufort contribute more than $1.5 billion into the local and statewide economy.With almost 60,000 military retirees in South Carolina, the change will cost the state $30 million in lost revenue when completely phased in after three years. However a Clemson University study shows that other expenditures by an increased population of military retirees would make up for that loss within 10 years. Military retirees have an annual statewide economic impact of $1.1 billion.This is not the first piece of recent legislation passed in South Carolina that supports the military. In 2015 the state senate passed seven bills that support active duty service members and veterans. They included extending the property tax exemption on the vehicles of disabled veterans to their surviving spouses and changing in-state college tuition to service members who end their service in South Carolina.The retirees living in Beaufort bring reinforce the local work force as they move into civilian jobs. Aside from their monetary contributions their sacrifice to our nation cannot be overlooked.This bill is just one of many ways the State of South Carolina gives back to the veterans in Beaufort County. Fill up on king cake, booze and whatever else you choose today it's Mardi Gras. Always the day before Ash Wednesday, a season of fasting and prayer, Mardi Gras gives people a reason to indulge in the devilishly good things in life one last time. Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas kicked off in downtown Port Arthur Thursday. Music, food, carnival rides and a parade got the party started. The event continues through Sunday, with the Majestic Krewe of Aurora's grand parade starting at 6 p.m. Saturday on Procter Street. Admission to the gated area is free for children under 11 and $15 Friday and Saturday; Sunday's admission is $10. A number of homes and lots outside the gated area offer food, music and fun, and give party-goers a taste of Port Arthur's festive, community spirit. Robert Zehr, MD, and Kurtis Biggs, DO, partnered with SurgCenter Development to open the Seaside Surgery Center in Naples, Fla., according to a Business Observer report. Here are three things to know. 1. Dr. Zehr and Dr. Biggs opened the surgery center with help from a $2 million loan from BMO Bank of Montreal, according to the report. 2. The orthopedic surgeons also partnered with SurgCenter Development and a number of other orthopedic surgeons and podiatrists. 3. The surgery center has done approximately 150 cases since opening in November 2015. Medicine can be a rewarding career. Physicians can gain great satisfaction from the intellectual stimulation and feel the reward of the human side of medicine through patient care. But, healthcare is not without its headaches. Here one colorectal surgeon describes ones of the biggest frustrations of day-to-day practice. Ask a Gastroenterologist is a weekly series of questions posed to GI physicians around the country on business and clinical issues affecting the field of gastroenterology. We invite all gastroenterologists to submit response Next week's question: What is the best way for GI physicians to select new partners for their practices? Please submit responses to Carrie Pallardy at cpallardy@beckershealthcare.com by Thursday, Feb. 11, at 5 p.m. CST Allen Kamrava, MD, MBA FACS, Associate Teaching Staff, Department of Surgery, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Cedars Sinai Medical Center (Los Angeles): Having patients understand what to expect on the insurance side of things. More specifically, what they hear from the insurance company is often times in stark contrast to what happens in reality. And if anything is off, they blame us. For instance, trying to get a patient to understand that a screening colonoscopy is "covered," but if we find anything that needs to be biopsied during the procedure, insurance may no longer consider it "screening" and the procedure is no longer "covered" in the way they consider it. Or, the insurance company tells the patient anesthesia is covered that is as long as the physician fills out a form stating "medical necessity." What they do not explain to them is that the insurance company may ultimately deny that it is a medical necessity, regardless of the form, and then the anesthesia will not be covered. When we try to explain this before the procedure, they do not necessarily understand this. And if they get "surprised" after the procedure, they blame us for whatever the insurance companies have independently decided. The insurance carriers have been masterful at shifting blame towards the practitioners on most everything. The Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's signature accomplishment, marks the most significant expansion of the social safety since the establishment of Medicare in the 1960s. Although the health reform has effectively lowered the uninsured rate to record lows, the machinery of the ACA has been battered by numerous glitches, according to Paul Krugman, PhD, a professor of economics and op-ed columnist for The New York Times. "Obamacare is [] what engineers would call a kludge: a somewhat awkward, clumsy device with lots of moving parts. This makes it more expensive than it should be, and will probably always cause a significant number of people to fall through the cracks," Dr. Krugman, professor in the Graduate Center Economics PhD program and distinguished scholar at the Luxembourg Income Study Center at the City University of New York, wrote in a recent column in NYT. The ACA has been hotly contested since its inception. Cooperation on the matter across the partisan divide is a rare occurrence, with virtually all Republicans in Congress pining for its repeal. Dr. Krugman says now the question for progressives is determining if the ACA's shortcomings mean Democrats should "litigate their own biggest political success in almost half a century, and try for something better." He says Democrats should not renege on the ACA and instead seek incremental change to the law. If we were to start over from scratch, many health economists would likely recommend a single-payer, Medicare-for-all type of system, according to Dr. Krugman. However, in 2010, a "single-payer wasn't a politically feasible goal in America" for three main reasons. The first reason is because private insurers wage substantial power, according to Dr. Krugman. "Private insurers played a major part in killing health reform in the early 1990s, so this time around reformers went for a system that preserved their role and gave them plenty of new business," he wrote. Second, significant additional tax revenue would be required to pay for a single-payer system, which would pose a great burden on the middle class. While higher taxes would be offset by the reduction or elimination of insurance premiums, "it would be difficult to make that case to the broad public, especially given the chorus of misinformation you know would dominate the airwaves." Finally, switching to a single-payer system would disrupt coverage for tens of millions of families who are currently satisfied with their employer-sponsored health plans. "Even if you imagine a political earthquake that eliminated the power of the insurance industry and objections to higher taxes, you'd still have to protect the interests of workers with better-than-average coverage, so that in practice single-payer, American style, would be almost as kludgy as Obamacare," wrote Dr. Krugman. The ACA was designed to skirt these obstacles. It does so by preserving the role of private insurers, by combining regulation and subsidies to provide coverage for the poor, rather than merely an expansion of government programs. It also leaves employer-sponsored health plans intact, according to Dr. Krugman. Hollywood, Fla.-based Memorial Healthcare System has narrowed its CEO search down to four candidates, following the departure of retiring President and CEO Frank Sacco, according to a Sun Sentinel report. Here are three things to know about the candidates. 1. The four candidates moving on in the search process are: Aurelio Fernandez III, executive vice president and COO of Memorial Healthcare System Robert Kelly, MD, former president and COO, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (New York City) Lee Ann Liska, president and CEO, University of Cincinnati Medical Center Kennon Hetlage, CEO, Memorial Hospital West (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) 2. The four candidates are among seven three external and four internal interviewed last month by Memorial Healthcare System board members. 3. The board is scheduled to meet about the CEO selection Feb. 18, although it was not clear earlier this week when the second round of candidate interviews would take place, according to the report. More articles on healthcare executive moves: Vocera appoints VP of marketing: 4 things to know Feds overhauling leadership at Native American hospitals: 4 things to know Leidos appoints CMO: 8 things to know Ginger Fisher, RN, BSN, has joined Utah Valley Specialty Hospital, a 40-bed long-term acute care hospital based in Provo, as COO. Here are four things to know about Ms. Fisher. 1. She has more than 35 years of healthcare experience as a registered nurse, with more than 17 years in nursing administration. 2. Prior to joining Utah Valley Specialty Hospital, she was director of nursing operations and case management, and regional director of nursing and respiratory operations for Albuquerque, N.M.-based Ernest Health. 3. During her career, Ms. Fisher has managed a step-down adult intensive care unit, a neonatal intensive care unit and a medical/surgical adult intensive care unit. 4. She earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and a master's degree in public administration from Brigham Young University in Provo. Stay in the know with Becker's Hospital Review's weekly roundup of the nation's biggest healthcare news. Here's what you need to know this week. 1. 5 things to know about the Iowa Caucus results Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) took the lead over Donald Trump in Monday's caucuses, with Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) coming in third. Sen. Cruz captured 27.6 percent of caucus-goers, while Mr. Trump had 24.3 percent and Sen. Rubio had 23.1 percent. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, MD; Sen. Rand Paul, MD, (R-Ky.); and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush trailed far behind. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) finished neck in neck. Ms. Clinton just barely inched past Sen. Sanders, with 49.8 percent of the vote, compared to Sen. Sanders' 49.6 percent of the vote, according to the Iowa Democratic Party website. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley received 0.5 percent of the vote. 2. WHO declares Zika virus & link to birth defects an international public health emergency The World Health Organization declared Monday the Zika virus and the subsequent birth defect linked to the virus constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. The WHO called for a "coordinated international response" to improve surveillance and detection of infections, better control mosquito populations and speed up test and vaccine development to protect people who are at risk, especially people who are pregnant. Additionally, it has been found that Zika virus can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. Dallas County Health and Human Services reported and the CDC has confirmed that a patient in Texas was infected with Zika virus after having sexual intercourse with someone who returned from a country where Zika is present. This is the first known infection to take place in the mainland U.S., according to BBC News. 3. Feds agree to scale back Cadillac tax President Barack Obama's chief economic advisor said Wednesday the administration is willing to be a little bit more flexible with the unpopular "Cadillac tax" in an effort to keep the tax in place, according to The Hill. Jason Furman, the chief economic advisor, said the government would be open to raising the threshold for when employers have to start paying the tax in areas where healthcare is more expensive. 4. Late Broward CEO hired private investigator, feared office was bugged A private investigator claims Nabil El Sanadi, MD, the late president and CEO of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Broward Health who killed himself Jan. 24, hired him last spring for an investigation into the public system that led to FBI involvement, according to a Sun Sentinel report. 5. 673 rural hospitals vulnerable to closure More than 60 rural hospitals have closed since 2010 and another 673 rural hospitals across the nation are vulnerable to closure, according to a report from iVantage Health Analytics, a firm that compiles a hospital strength index that is based on data about financial stability, patients and quality indicators. 6. Legionnaires' victims sue McLaren hospital amid Flint water crisis Four individuals affected by the Legionnaires' disease outbreak in Flint, Mich., filed a suit against McLaren Flint hospital and six state workers, arguing the illness could be attributed to the water crisis, according to an NBC News report. During the outbreak, roughly 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease were reported locally, and more than a dozen of the cases were treated at McLaren Flint. Eleven of those patients died. The lawsuit alleges that failing to treat the river water with anti-corrosion agents violated federal regulations. 7. Aetna expresses 'serious concerns' over ACA exchanges Now that this year's open enrollment period has closed, Aetna has expressed apprehension in its future participation on the Affordable Care Act exchanges, according to The Hill. "We continue to have serious concerns about the sustainability of the public exchanges," said Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini, according to the report. He added that the insurer is concerned about "the overall stability of the risk pool." 8. Plan proposed to pay NY's big systems $2.5B to bail out Brooklyn hospitals To solve the financial issues plaguing 28 struggling Brooklyn hospitals, Kenneth Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, proposed the state pay the wealthiest hospital systems $2.5 billion over five years to "adopt and adapt these facilities to the new world," according to Crain's New York Business. 9. Nearly 3,000 Swedish Medical Center patients at risk for HIV, hepatitis Englewood, Colo.-based Swedish Medical Center is notifying patients who had surgery at the facility between Aug. 17, 2015, and Jan. 22 that they may be at risk for HIV and hepatitis B and C, according to the Denver Post. The hospital issued the warning after discovering a former Swedish employee, a surgical technician, was diverting drugs and possibly leaving behind dirty needles. 10. Alphabet ousts Apple as most valuable company in the world After five years as No. 1, Apple is no longer the world's most highly valued public company. Alphabet, the newly reorganized parent company of Google, now claims the top spot, according to CNBC. As of Tuesday morning, Alphabet's market capitalization was $547.1 billion, passing Apple's $529.3 billion, according to the report. Pearland (Texas) Medical Center and Missouri City-based The Woman's Hospital of Texas are forming an affiliation that will launch Feb. 18. The Woman's Hospital of Texas CEO Ashley McClellan showed excitement about the partnership. "Through the affiliation with Pearland Medical Center, we will continue to grow to meet the needs of women and babies in their own community," she said. "The physicians who founded our hospital have been pioneers in establishing a standard of care for women and we are pleased to have the opportunity to bring that expertise to the excellent program at Pearland Medical Center." Pearland Medical Center CEO Matt Dixon also showed support for the affiliation, which will be known as The Woman's Hospital of Texas at Pearland Medical Center. "We are looking forward to growing our hospital to meet the needs of the many communities served by our physicians and employees," said Mr. Dixon. "As we work together with The Woman's Hospital of Texas we will elevate and enhance our already high level of women's services." More articles on healthcare industry transactions: Prime Healthcare completes purchase of hospitals in 4 states: 5 things to know Larkin Community Hospital expands reach with $40M acquisition 26 hospital transactions and partnerships in January Revenue cycle management is essential to any business's strategy. These processes are only growing in importance in healthcare as every dollar is expected to stretch further than before. Here are 110 companies that provide revenue cycle management solutions specific to the healthcare industry. 3M Health Information Systems (Salt Lake City). 3M Health Information Systems offers a number of RCM products and services. The company's 3M Ambulatory Revenue Management Software is designed to reduce compliance risks and achieve maximum reimbursement in the outpatient setting. The company also offers the 3M APCfinder with medical necessity validation, which focuses on CMS' Outpatient Prospective Payment System. The solution allows users to apply medical necessity at the point of coding. After considering the sale of the Health Information Systems branch of its business, 3M decided to hold onto the unit. Accretive Health (Chicago). Accretive Health offers revenue cycle management services, physician advisory services and value-based managed services. Operating together, Accretive Health partners with hospitals and health systems to reduce administrative costs, enabling providers to focus on their core mission: delivering high quality care. The company's revenue cycle management services portfolio includes creating a distinctive operating partnership model, aligning financial relationships and providing propriety technology and data science. Acustream (Lafayette, Colo.). Acustream's proprietary RevBuilder enterprise solution uses both client hospital billing and/orprofessional billing data, facility specific rules (FSR's) and predictive analytics to find reimbursable "never billed" charges. Not a collections tool, RevBuilder finds dollars in the data that were missed for any number of reasons. The business model is 100 percent contingency-based. Adreima (Downers Grove, Ill.). Adreima has solutions that address the front, middle and backend of the revenue cycle process. The company's services include eligibility, medical prior authorization review, charge description master, charge capture, receivables management, clinical denials and appeals, clinical audit support and post payment recovery. AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions (Lombard, Ill.). AdvantEdge Healthcare Solutions is a medical billing and practice management company. The company offers revenue cycle management and business management solutions to hospitals, hospital-based physicians, office-based physicians, behavioral health providers and surgery centers. AdvantEdge's portfolio includes medical coding and billing, revenue optimization, informatics, compliance and more. The Advisory Board Company (Washington, D.C.). The Advisory Board Company is a global research, technology and consulting firm that provides performance improvement services for healthcare and higher education. The company's revenue cycle services include denial and bad debt management, documentation optimization and more. The Advisory Board Company partners with more than 230,000 leaders at 5,200 organizations. AGS Health (New York). AGS Health offers medical billing, coding and business analytics services. The company includes more than 2,500 employees in the United States and India. AGS Health manages approximately $1.1 billion in receivables each year. Allscripts (Chicago). Health IT vendor Allscripts offers an analytics toolset geared toward revenue cycle challenges. The company has a 99 percent net collections rate, 98 percent first pass clean claims rates and a 5 percent average increase in collections. Allscripts Revenue Suite and Services offers pre-claim solutions, claims submission, inbound processing, A/R management and more. Alvarez & Marsal (New York). Alvarez & Marsal is a global consulting firm with headquarters not only in New York, but also London, Sao Paulo and Hong Kong. Amongst its many services, the company offers revenue cycle optimization and financial services to the healthcare industry. Guy Sansone, based in New York, is the head of the company's healthcare industry group. AmkaiSolutions (New York). AmkaiSolutions is a software company that caters to the ambulatory surgery center, surgical hospital and specialty practice industries. The company offers an EMR, billing software and more. The company's product AmkaiEnterprise is designed to reduce operating costs, enhance analytics capabilities and improve quality of care. Anthelio Healthcare Solutions (Dallas). The company offers IT services, EHR and optimization services and its Pyramid HALO RCM services. Anthelio acquired RCM company Pyramid Healthcare Solutions in July 2015 to expand its revenue cycle offerings. The company's RCM portfolio includes HIM outsourcing and optimization, medical coding, coding audit and education, revenue assessment and analytics, patient financial services, clinical documentation improvement, transcription and voice recognition, ICD-10 support and more. athenahealth (Watertown, Mass.). athenahealth offers cloud-based services from electronic health records and population health management to patient care coordination and revenue cycle management. The company's revenue cycle tool is athenaCollector. Each quarter, the company submits approximately 27 million claims, and 94 percent of these claims are resolved on first submission. Availity (Jacksonville, Fla.). Availity caters to physician practices, hospitals, health plans and vendors. The company's revenue cycle solutions address patient access issues, as well as the full spectrum of revenue cycle functions. The company also offers add-on modules that range from advanced claims editing and comparative analytics to self-pay eligibility verification and workers' compensation. Bank of America Merrill Lynch (Charlotte, N.C.). Bank of America Merrill Lynch offers a number of healthcare solutions including revenue cycle solutions, employee benefits integration, profit enhancement, streamlining operations and more. In addition to financial solutions, Bank of America Merrill Lynch offers mergers and acquisitions services and transaction services. BESLER Consulting (Princeton, N.J.). BESLER has provided financial and operational consulting to the healthcare industry since 1986. The firm offers transfer DRG revenue recovery and software solutions, coding and compliance, readmissions analytics tools, comprehensive revenue cycle assessment and more. BillingParadise (Diamond Bar, Calif.). Outsourcing medical billing operations is complex and lead to a temporary dip in revenue and productivity. 100+ medical practices Based in California know better."BillingParadise" is a medical billing company based in California brings 20+ years of experience and best practices to the table. We help make your financial operations more cost-effective, efficient and profitable. Whether it is cash acceleration or reducing cycle times, we have you covered. Bolder Healthcare Solutions (Louisville, Ky.). Bolder Healthcare Solutions has a number of revenue cycle management services. The company's Avectus Healthcare Solutions resolves third-party liability claims for the hospital and trauma center market. Bolder's ROI Companies is a full suite of RCM services for hospitals. The company's portfolio also includes Bolder Anesthesia Management, Bolder Billing Services and Bolder Outreach Solutions. The Camden Group (El Segundo, Calif.). The Camden Group is a national healthcare business advisory firm. Services include financial advisement, clinical integration, business planning, operations improvement and more. In the realm of financial advisement, the firm offers payer contracting support and value-based payment modeling, amongst other services. Cardon Outreach (The Woodlands, Texas). Cardon Outreach manages $10 billion in accounts on an annual basis. The company provides eligibility services, accounts receivable services, disability solutions and services to increase revenue recovery of patient self-pay. Cardon also has technology solutions including its integrated proprietary technology platform MPOWER. CareCloud (Miami). CareCloud aims to offer an all-in-one RCM solution, which encompasses claims submission, payment posting, payer follow-up and patient billing. In addition to RCM services, CareCloud offers practice management, EHR, patient engagement, mobile app and healthcare analytics services. Cerner (Kansas City, Mo.). Cerner is the worlds largest publicly traded health information technology company providing leading-edge solutions and services for health care organizations worldwide. In addition to its core revenue management solutions, the company provides billing and coding services including charge processing, A/R follow up, eligibility checking, denials management, cash posting, self-pay and early out as well as full business office management for acute and ambulatory venues. Change Healthcare (Nashville, Tenn.). Change Healthcare, formerly Emdeon, focuses solely on revenue cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions. The company serves providers, payers and pharmacy service providers. Emdeon's network includes 340,000 providers; 1,200 government and private payers; 5,000 hospitals; 105,000 dentists; 60,000 pharmacies and 600 vendors. Citadel Outsource Group (Hendersonville, Tenn.). Citadel Outsource Group is an outsourced business office financial services company. The company's revenue cycle services include billing, claims resolution, denial management, discrepancy management, business office management, interim revenue cycle consulting, cash posting, revenue cycle assessment and more. Citi's Money2 for Health (New York). Money2 for Health focuses on the patient payment process function of the revenue cycle. This service from Citi Group allows patients to pay healthcare bills easily by linking to checking accounts, health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. The platform was launched in 2013 in partnership with Aetna and Parallon, a subsidiary of HCA. The Claro Group (Chicago). The Claro Group, a healthcare consulting firm, has a RCM unit. The firm's solutions address admissions, cash collections, A/R days and more. The Claro Group focuses on hospital clients ranging from academic medical centers to community hospitals. Coker Group (Alpharetta, Ga.). Coker Group, a national healthcare advisory firm, offers a wide range of services from accountable care organization preparation to executive search capabilities. The firm also offers healthcare-specific revenue cycle support including revenue cycle staffing, pay mix analysis, national benchmarking, processes review and more. Conifer Health Solutions (Frisco, Texas). Conifer, a subsidiary of Tenet Healthcare, has more than 13,000 employees and processes more than $26 billion in net revenue each year. The company, which has 20 service locations through the country, caters to hospitals and health systems, physician groups and employers. Conifer offers revenue cycle management services such as scheduling, eligibility and enrollment, denials prevention, patient financial services and revenue cycle operations management to both the hospital and physician markets. Connance (Waltham, Mass.). Connace is a healthcare predictive analytics platform. The company's platform aims to eliminate 20 percent to 30 percent of the work associated with revenue cycle management. Services the platform can provide include vendor performance, self-pay segmentation, claims optimization, revenue optimization and more. Convergent (Atlanta). Convergent is a process outsourcing, revenue cycle and receivables management company with 14 locations in North America. The company's revenue cycle management offerings include patient access services, third party reimbursement services, self-pay services and bad debt services. The Corridor Group (Overland Park, Kan.). The Corridor Group has served more than 2,000 clients, including hospitals and health systems, since 1989. The company offers consulting services, regulatory compliance support, ICD-10 solutions and more. In January, the company acquired revenue cycle management company Healthcare Management Solutions, which expands the company's revenue cycle management services portfolio. Craneware (Atlanta). Craneware offers patient access, charge capture and pricing, coding integrity, revenue recovery and retention, professional services and ICD-10 solutions. The company's automated revenue cycle solution was named No. 1 for the 2015/2016 Best in KLAS Awards: Software and Services. Additionally, the company's Chargemaster Toolkit ranked first in the "revenue cycle chargemaster management" category. Crowe Horwath (Chicago). Crowe Horwath is a public account, consulting and technology firm serving multiple industries. The firm's healthcare division offers finance, revenue cycle, reimbursement, tax, risk and compliance, audit and mergers and acquisitions services. Crow Horwath's revenue cycle management program includes credit balance management, denials management, observations services and outpatient charge capture. Dell (Round Rock, Texas). Dell Healthcare Solutions serves hospitals, health systems, physician practices and health plans. The company provides business process outsourcing, including revenue cycle management. Dell can take on coding, remittance processing, accounts receivable follow-up and denial analysis for its clients. drchrono (Mountain View, Calif.). drchrono offers a number of services include an EHR, medical billing and a platform for patients to view their health record. The company's revenue cycle solutions include Apollo and Apollo+. Apollo allows drchrono EHR users to manage billing from the EHR, while Apollo+ gives users access to the company's fully managed billing services. Experian Health (Austin, Texas). Experian is a global information services company with a focus on data and analytics. The company's revenue cycle services can automate up to 80 percent of processes. Its services suite includes patient access, claims, contract management and collections products. FTI Consulting (Chicago). FTI Consulting serves multiple industries, including healthcare. The consulting firm's revenue cycle division offers a wide range of services including benchmarking, cash flow performance improvement, managed care contracting, denial management improvement and more. G4 HealthSystems (Tulsa, Okla.). G4 HealthSystems provides healthcare technology solutions for claims billing and management, audit appeals and management, denial management, work flow, patient statements, patient estimates, payer tracking, clearinghouse services, eligibility verification and more. More than half the company's clients, 51 percent, are hospitals. Forty-seven percent of its clients are physicians and 2 percent are specialty clients. The company has had 100 percent client retention for three-plus years. GeBBS Healthcare Solutions (Marina del Rey, Calif.). GeBBS offers HIM solutions, insurance billing services, patient access solutions and end-to-end RCM solutions. The company has a number of technology platforms supporting its services. Technology includes the enterprise-wide coding solution iCode, coding compliance platform iCode Assurance, business process management tool iP2P and EOB to ERA conversion tool iERA. GE Healthcare (Little Chalfont, United Kingdom). GE Healthcare, a subsidiary of General Electric, offers a wide range of services including revenue cycle management. GE Healthcare provides software solutions for full revenue cycle management support, billing support, analytics and more. The company's RCM software systems include Centricity Business, Centricity Group Management, Centricity Practice Solution and Centricity EDI. Greenway Health (Carrolton, Ga.). Greenway offers a wide array of solutions for the healthcare industry, including revenue cycle management. The Greenway suite of RCM solutions includes claims management, secondary claim filing, denial management and more. The company's clients have a more than 99 percent claims acceptance rate and an average decrease of 31 percent in A/R days. Halley Consulting Group (Westerville, Ohio). Halley Consulting Group offers consulting services exclusively to the healthcare industry. The group's revenue cycle division offers services including the creation of a revenue cycle management work group, documentation improvement, best practice education, transitioning central billing to central processing, establishing accountability standards and more. Harmony Healthcare (Tampa, Fla.). Harmony provides revenue cycle management staffing, coding support, HIM leadership, ICD-10 support, HIM offshore services and more. The company offers temporary, temporary-to-permanent and permanent staffing solutions. Harmony has worked with a number of healthcare providers including Ascension Healthcare based in St. Louis, John's Hopkins based in Baltimore, Yale-New Haven (Conn) Hospital and more. Hayes Management Consulting (Newton Center, Mass.). Hayes Management Consulting focuses on partnering with healthcare organizations to streamline operations, improve revenue cycle management and enhance technology. The company's revenue cycle consulting services include assessment, optimization and interim management. Healthcare Business Insights (Milwaukee). Healthcare Business Insight's core focuses are revenue cycle, supply chain, cost and quality and information technology. HBI's Revenue Cycle Academy addresses each element of revenue cycle management. The academy is designed to be a collection of best practice resources to support healthcare revenue cycle leaders. Healthcare Resource Group (Spokane Valley, Wash.). HRG focuses on providing the healthcare industry a full suite of revenue cycle management services. Services include business office outsourcing, revenue cycle department management, consulting and staffing. HGS (Lisle, Ill.). HGS has a wide range of services including claims benefit management, medical cost management, revenue cycle management and more. The company's revenue cycle offerings include patient access support, patient financial services and health information management, as well as technologies designed to support various RCM functions. HGS manages more than $6.9 billion in client accounts receivables. The company has processed more than 60 million claims for hospitals, physicians and other clients. Human Arc (Cleveland). Human Arc, founded in 1984, provides hospitals and health plans with revenue cycle services with a focus on eligibility determination and program enrollment. The company offers a number of technology services, such as its business-wide information management system COMPASS or its IQualify web-based tools designed for hospital patient financial counselors. Huron Consulting Group (Chicago). Huron Consulting Group offers a specific healthcare revenue cycle solution. The solution aims to provide an annual 3 percent to 6 percent increase in revenue. Bruce Lemon serves as the managing director of the group's revenue cycle service. Huron's healthcare division also offers Epic implementation and optimization services. IMMI (Las Vegas). IMMI has been offering billing and collections services for more than 20 years. The company days has just 8 percent A/R days more than 90. In addition to its billing and collections offerings, IMMI has consulting, credentialing, financial services and scheduling services. Impact Advisors (Naperville, Ill.). Impact Advisors is a healthcare consulting firm offering expertise in a broad range of areas, including strategic IT planning, clinical optimization, meaningful use, revenue cycle management and more. The company's RCM optimization services include patient access, charge services, case management, health information management and patient financial services. In the 2015/2016 Best in KLAS rankings, Impact Advisors was named the Best in KLAS Overall IT Services Firm and the top firm in the IT Advisory Services market segment. Intermedix (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). Intermedix is a technology and analytics company serving the healthcare, business and government sectors. Under the umbrella of its healthcare offerings, the company provides EMS revenue cycle management services. Additionally, the company offers RCM services for hospitalists, anesthesiologists and primary care providers. Intermedix handles coding and billing services for more than 12,000 providers. Jacobus Consulting (Irvine, Calif.). Jacobus Consulting bases its revenue cycle management services on the core areas of patient access, case management, revenue integrity/charge capture, health information management and business office performance improvement. The consulting group also offers interim leadership for revenue cycle leadership roles. KeyBank (Cleveland). KeyBank's healthcare solutions are utilized by more than 10,000 healthcare organizations. The bank's KeyPatient POS is designed to streamline collections, reduce bad debt, decrease days in accounts receivable and more. KeyBank also offers a payment management solution design to track financial performance and overall improve revenue cycle management processes. Kraft Healthcare Consulting (Nashville, Tenn.). Kraft Healthcare Consulting, a part of KraftCPAs, includes reimbursement and operations insight, coding and compliance support and advisory services. Within these categories the consulting firm targets revenue cycle management, coding and documentation, ICD-10 preparation, underpayment recovery and more. Leidos (Reston, Va.). Leidos focuses on national security, engineering and health. The company employs 19,000 people worldwide. Leidos Health's revenue cycle solutions are designed for assessment and optimization. The company focuses on patient access, revenue integrity and patient financial services. Leidos Health also lends support in the form of interim leadership, initiative support and project management. McKesson (San Francisco). McKesson offers healthcare providers revenue cycle management optimizations services, as well as several products. The company's service portfolio includes access management improvement, healthcare consumerism support, cash collection acceleration and payer performance improvement. McKesson's revenue cycle management product portfolio includes solutions for medical billing and revenue cycle management, the McKesson Performance Analytics system, McKesson Intelligent Coding and Paragon Hospital Information System. MedAssets (Alpharetta, Ga.). MedAssets has solutions driven toward reducing the cost of care, enhancing efficiency, aligning clinical delivery and improving revenue performance. The company's revenue cycle management solutions are driven to reduce total cost by approximately 10 percent and increase net revenue by up to 5 percent. MedAssets provides revenue performance improvement consulting for all RCM processes, as well as ICD-10 readiness services. In January, Pamplona Capital finalized its $2.75 billion acquisition of MedAssets, the largest health IT M&A transaction initiated in 2015. MedAssist Healthcare Solutions (Louisville, Ky.). MedAssist is a patient engagement company focused on revenue cycle solutions. The company services more than 700 hospitals and health systems. MedAssist's revenue cycle solutions include several patient access technologies, such as a patient bill estimator, and several business office services, such as denial management and tracking. MedeAnalytics (Emeryville, Calif.). MedeAnalytics' services are tailored for both healthcare providers and health plans. The company's revenue cycle offerings aim to accelerate cash flow, limit bad debt and denials, automate collections workflow, evaluate service line profitability and streamline monthly reserves. MedeAnalytics also offers ICD-10 and patient access solutions. MedHelp (Baltimore). MedHelp offers several revenue cycle management services including professional fee billing, physician billing and credentialing services. The company specializes in emergency department MCO denial appeals. Additionally, the company developed an internal scrubbing program that allows for expanded medical coding review and scrubbing. MediRevv (Coralville, Iowa). MediRevv specializes in helping hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and physician groups improve their cash flow and grow their revenue. The company offers self pay and insurance extended business office services, coding and denials management services and more. The company has clients such as Bon Secours Health System, based in Richmond, Va., and Dignity Health, based in San Francisco. MEDITECH (Westwood, Mass.). Health IT vendor MEDITECH's revenue cycle management solution offers automated claim tracking, denial management, integrated charge capture and more. The solution offers support for centralized and decentralized billing. MEDITECH's RCM offering is designed to provide integration between hospital and office settings and to consolidate all revenue cycle functions. MedSynergies (Irving, Texas). MedSynergies, acquired by Optum last year, offers healthcare providers financial and operational insight and support. The company's product MSIGHT helps providers streamline revenue cycle processes from appointment scheduling all the way through to patient check out. Meridian Medical Management (Windsor, Conn.). Meridian Medical Management services more than 40,000 healthcare providers each year and processes more than $5 billion in revenue for medical practices. The company was acquired by GE Healthcare in 2005, but reestablished as a private entity. The company provides medical billing services on a number of different platforms, such as Allscripts, eClinicalWorks, GE Centricity, NextGen EPM and VertexDr. Additionally, Meridian Medical Management will operate on the Epic platform for its academic medical center clients. MiraMed Global Services (Lombard, Ill.). MiraMed began as a small practice management company in 1979 and grew into a large-scale healthcare business process outsourcing provider. The company offers hospitals and physicians patient services, billing services and reimbursement solutions, as well as practice management and consulting options. National Medical Billing Services (Grover, Mo.). NMBS is a revenue cycle outsourcing company catering specifically to the ambulatory surgery center market. The company offers a full suite of revenue cycle solutions including complete outsourcing, coding, coding and billing audits and managed care contracting. Navicure (Duluth, Ga.). Navicure's portfolio includes cloud-based healthcare claims management and patient payment solutions. The company has several product lines tailored for specific RCM functions. Naviure ClaimFlow includes solutions for eligibility verification, coding, claims management, remittance management and denials and appeals management. All of the company's solutions are backed by its 3-Ring Client Service, which guarantees a service representative will answer each client call in three rings or less. Navigant Cymetrix (Irvine, Calif.). Navigant Cymetrix, a fully-owned subsidiary of Navigant Consulting, was formed this year by the consolidation of Alleviant, Cymetrix and legacy RCM businesses. Navigant Cymetrix provides comprehensive RCM services, consulting services, eligibility and financial counseling, self-pay services, clinical documentation integrity, coding support and auditing, payment processing, accounts receivable management and more. NaviNet (Boston). NaviNet is a healthcare communications network designed to facilitate payer and provider collaboration. NaviNet has more than 40 health plan partners and 420,000 active users. NaviNet's revenue cycle resource focuses on determining patients' out-of-pocket costs. The group's Payment Estimator allows providers to verify eligibility and providers an accurate estimate of a patient's financial responsibility. Nearterm (Houston). Nearterm offers interim management, healthcare executive search capabilities, project staffing and revenue cycle consulting. The company's core RCM offering is Nearterm 360. The solution incorporates health information management, consulting, permanent executive search and temporary staffing. NextGen Healthcare (Horsham, Penn.). NextGen Healthcare offers ambulatory solutions, population health management, interoperability solutions, consulting solutions, revenue cycle management and more. The company's revenue cycle division offers consulting and outsourcing for physician billing, collections and claims. NextGen Healthcare's revenue cycle management services are driven by technology and proprietary solutions. Nordic (Madison, Wis.). Nordic is a healthcare consulting company offering implementation solutions, optimization tools and Epic services. Among its many advisory options, the company offers RCM services. The company focuses on creating revenue cycle efficiencies to maximize charge capture, decrease days in A/R, improve staff productivity and streamline the entire process. NueMD (Marietta, Ga.). NueMD offers a cloud-based platform that offers healthcare providers practice management services, an EHR and medical billing services. NuedMD's medical billing software and EHR work together to decrease outstanding claims, provide customized reposts and more. The company's practice management services aim to reduce patient cancellations and boost claims acceptance. Ontario Systems (Muncie, Ind.). Ontario Systems is a software and services company focused on the healthcare industry. The company's product Artiva Healthcare is designed to enhance providers' patient accounting system. The company also offers Revenue Performance Optimization, a portfolio of consulting services. Optum 360 (Eden Prairie, Minn.). Optum 360 is a patient-focused revenue cycle management service provider for hospitals and physicians. Services include revenue cycle management consulting, health IT and systems, medical coding and documentation, claims and reimbursement, denial management and recovery, financial compliance, ICD-10 readiness and more. Parallon (Franklin, Tenn.). Parallon offers revenue cycle management insight and customized solutions. The company, which employs 14,500 plus people, is partnered with more than 700 facilities and 6,000 physician practices. Parallon offers full-service revenue cycle outsourcing, consulting, payment compliance, collections, physician billing, extended business office services and more. Patientco (Atlanta). Patientco focuses directly on the revenue cycle portion involving the patient. The company provides a cloud-based, online platform that automates the entire patient payment process. The system is designed up automate up to 80 percent of patient payment tasks, including payment reconciliation and automatically posting files to health information and practice management systems. Physicians Group Management (Lyndhurst, N.J.). PGM, founded in 1981, offers physician billing services, facility billing services and EMR solutions. The company offers billing solutions specifically tailored to a number of different specialties including allergy and immunology, anesthesiology, cardiology, chiropractic, dermatology, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, mental health, nephrology, oncology, orthopedics, pain management, primary care and urology. PNC Healthcare (Chicago). PNC Healthcare, a division of PNC Bank, offers healthcare providers a number of revenue cycle management resources. PNC Healthcare's products range from claims submission services and electronic remittance to a patient estimator and denial challenger. Precyse (Wayne, Pa.). Precyse's solutions include health information management, medical coding and computer assisted coding, clinical documentation improvement, medical transcription, ICD-10 education and more. That company's services have been used by more than 4,000 healthcare facilities and providers across the country. Prism Healthcare Partners (Chicago). Prism offers financial, operational and clinical performance improvement services to hospitals, health systems and academic medical centers. The company's revenue cycle solutions hone in on identifying any inefficiencies and boosting net revenues. Prism's solutions include registration, insurance verification, financial counseling, charge capture, coding, collections, managed care contracting, clinical documentation and more. PwC (New York). PricewaterhouseCoopers, a large business intelligence consulting firm, has consulting services for a wide range of areas, such as strategy, operations, risk and finance. PwC's revenue cycle services are offered through its financial management branch. Its core offering is its Virtual Business Office, which serves as an extension of clients' physician business office. The VBO offers third-party aged accounts receivable remediation, insurance verification, claims volume management, customer service support and more. Quadax (Middleburg Heights, Ohio). Quadax has revenue cycle solutions customized for hospitals, physician practices, vendors and laboratories. The company's line of solutions aims to increase cash flow, maximize productivity and reduce paper processing dependency. Quadax specializes in electronic transaction management, emergency department business services and laboratory revenue cycle management. Quorum Health Resources (Brentwood, Tenn.). QHR, founded in 1977, offers a number of brands including QHR Management Services, QHR Consulting Services, Quorum Purchasing Advantage and The QHR Learning Institute. The company's revenue cycle solution focuses on providing cash flow solutions from coding and billing to patient access and customer service. Recondo Technology (Greenwood Village, Colo.). Recondo Technology aims to connect providers, patients and payers with cloud-based revenue cycle management solutions. Recondo's patient access services included integrated payer authorization, accurate patient estimation, analytics-driven denial avoidance and more. The company's business office portfolio includes automated claims workflow, claims status data, denial management, claims submission and more. Regent Revenue Cycle Management (Westchester, Ill.). Regent RCM is an independent division of ambulatory surgery center management and development company Regent Surgical Health. The company offers billers and collectors with an average of more than 17 years of revenue cycle management each. The company offers a number of automated services including insurance verification, electronic claims processing, electronic payer payments and patient remittance posting, digitally stored contracts, outsourced patient statement generation and report formatting. RelayHealth (Emeryville, Calif.). RelayHealth, owned by McKesson, offers analytics-driven revenue cycle management solutions. The company's products include RelayAnalytics Acuity, RelayAnalytics Pulse and RelayAnalytics Spectrum. The Acuity product focuses on providing data to support decisions in areas ranging from ICD-10 compliance to reimbursement. The Pulse product helps create meaningful benchmarks. The Spectrum product is an iPad application designed to allow mobile access to data. RSM US LLP (Chicago). RSM US offers advisory services to several industries, including healthcare. The firm's revenue cycle services suite includes research and management reports, supporting analytics, performance indicator summaries, executive presentations to leadership and more. re|solution (Louisville, Colo.). re|solution offers services for the full range of revenue cycle processes. Services include a revenue improvement program, cash acceleration, days in accounts receivable reduction, interim staffing, business office insourcing and coding and compliance services. RevClaims (Jackson, Miss.). RevClaims focuses on injury claims billing. The company partners with providers to increase claims recovery related to workers' compensation, automobile accidents and catastrophic injuries. The company works with hospitals, health systems and trauma centers. RevenueXL (Cupterino, Calif.). RevenueXL is a healthcare solutions and EMR company focused on small- to mid-sized practices. The company not only provides EMR and EHR solutions, but also medical transcription, coding compliance and document indexing. RevenueXL's medical billing portfolio also includes billing software options, billing services, coding services, insurance follow up and denial management. RevSpring (Wixom, Mich.). RevSpring focuses on customized revenue cycle solutions. The company offers business process outsourcing. RevSpring applies data analytics, patient centered communications and more to improve providers' revenue cycle processes. Rycan (Minneapolis). Rycan, recently acquired by Healthland, is a healthcare revenue cycle software company. Rycan's solutions address revenue cycle issues including patient liability, eligibility verification, claim submission, remittance management, denial management, contract management, reporting and data mining and more. SCI Solutions (Campbell, Calif.). SCI Solutions provides business process software for more than 550 hospitals, imaging centers, physician practices and post-acute care providers. SCI Solutions offers the Provider Network Manager that is designed to boost outpatient volumes, referrals and revenues. The company also offers a scheduling platform and client performance optimization services. SourceMed (Birmingham, AL). SourceMed solutions capture, exchange and analyze data that that enable outpatient facilities to optimize revenue, increase operational efficiency and improve compliance. The companys integrated software, analytics, revenue cycle management and professional services are used by more than 35,000 healthcare professionals in over 6,500 ambulatory surgery centers, specialty hospitals and rehabilitation therapy clinics nationwide. SourceMeds team of certified coders, billers and collectors ensures that claims are continually worked so that customers realize earned revenue more quickly and stay compliant with changing regulations. Actionable data, pulled directly from SourceMed billing software, highlights revenue cycle trends and identifies immediate opportunities to strengthen financial and operational outcomes. Specialty Billing Solutions (Lakewood, Colorado). Specialty Billing Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASC management company PINNACLE III, provides coding, claims submission, denial management and patient financial services for ambulatory surgery centers. The companys team includes certified professional coders, experienced billing & collection professionals and is 100 percent United States-based. The company performs forensic collections on new client accounts with existing A/R to capture proper reimbursement for old claims. ASCs making the switch to Specialty Billing Solutions have realized increases in net revenue per case of at least 10 percent. The SSI Group (Mobile, Ala.). SSI focuses on claims management technology and electronic data interchange platforms. The company's financial performance service options include denial management, audit management, contract management, analytics and SSI Medibis. Medibis is a solution designed for the ambulatory surgery center market. SSI's claims management service portfolio includes billing, claims status and the Cerner HIS Solution. SymMetric Revenue Solutions (Fort Meyers, Fla.). SyMetric Revenue Solutions offers a diverse services suite ranging from revenue cycle management and physician practice management to real-time reporting and value-based medicine. The company's revenue cycle options include emergency department coding and billing, hospitalist coding and billing, urgent care coding and billing, documentation improvement, auditing, collections and more. TD Bank (Toronto, Ontario). TD Bank's healthcare and not-for-profit banking group offers liquidity solutions and financing solutions in addition to revenue cycle management. TD Healthcare Remittance Management offers a comprehensive solution for healthcare revenue cycle management processes. Trace by The White Stone Group (Knoxville, Tenn.). Trace is a communication management solution designed to support scheduling, coordination and reimbursement functions. The system offers revenue protection, enhanced communication, compliance support and operational performance enhancement. TransUnion (Chicago). TransUnion provides solutions for several industries including healthcare. The company's revenue cycle solutions serve both hospitals and physician practices. TransUnion's revenue cycle management services and technologies focus on patient access, reimbursement and data breaches. Transworld Systems (Santa Rosa, Calif.). Transworld Systems' revenue cycle solution MDeverywhere aims to streamline hospital and physician practice revenue cycle management processes. The MDeverywhere system includes practice management software, a claim expert, a contract expert and business services. The system decreases denials up to 90 percent. TruBridge (Mobile, Ala.). TruBridge is a business and IT services consulting company focused on rural and community hospitals. The company's revenue cycle management services include accounts receivable management, private pay collections, insurance follow-up, contract management, statement processing, online bill pay and medical coding. United Collection Bureau (Toledo, Ohio). UCB, founded in 1959, provides revenue cycle services to more than 400 healthcare providers. UCB's revenue cycle solutions include pre-registration services, eligibility assistance, presumptive charity, pay analytics, self-pay collections, insurance follow-up and bad debt recovery. VisiQuate (Santa Rosa, Calif.). VisQuate offers a number of products including an enterprise performance management platform, visual operating system, business analytics engine, knowledge distribution engine, business rules management and data integration studio. In 2014, VisiQuate partnered with Ovation Revenue Cycle Services to offer its healthcare clients a combination of revenue cycle software and services. VitalWare (Yakima, Wash.). VitalWare offers RCM services and tools powered by cloud-based technologies, identifying and simplifying challenges in an ever changing and regulated industry. The company offers best in class documentation, coding, billing and auditing services for a powerful user experience. VitalWare's products include VitalCDI, iDocuMint, VitalCoder, VitalCDM, VitalCharges and VitalAuditor. VHC (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.). Vaughn Holland Consulting focuses on revenue cycle consulting. The firm's services include revenue recovery, Medicare underpayments, software solutions, health information management solutions, revenue cycle consulting and more. Xtend Healthcare (Hendersonville, Tenn.). Xtend Healthcare focuses on financial performance improvement. The company aims to improve revenue cycle functions, offers staff extension and IT assets and focuses on bottom line improvements. The company's revenue cycle management solutions include on-site accelerated recovery, extended business office services, automated follow-up, consultation, HIM consulting, coding services, ICD-10 education and self-pay services. ZirMed (Louisville, Ky.). ZirMed, founded in 1999, provides services to more than 8,000 healthcare organizations and nearly 300,000 providers. The company's key service offerings are patient access, charge integrity claims and accounts receivable management, cost and utilization, population risk management and patient engagement. Zotec Partners (Carmel, Ind.). Zotec is a specialty-driven company with a focus on anesthesiology, emergency medicine, pathology and radiology. The company's medical billing services include customized billing protocols, contract variance, integrated imaging, a patient portal, automated appeals and more. Bolder Healthcare Solutions (Louisville, Ky.). Bolder Healthcare Solutions has a number of revenue cycle management services. The company's Avectus Healthcare Solutions resolves third-party liability claims for the hospital and trauma center market. Bolder's ROI Companies is a full suite of RCM services for hospitals. The company's portfolio also includes Bolder Anesthesia Management, Bolder Billing Services and Bolder Outreach Solutions. The care provided at Indian Health Service facilities is under fire in the Senate as the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on the federal agency Wednesday. The IHS is an agency within HHS that provides federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives at 28 hospitals, 62 health centers and 25 health stations throughout the U.S. "What we've found is simply horrifying and unacceptable," said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), during the hearing, according to NBC News. Sen. Barrasso chairs the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. According to Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who participated in the hearing, there have been reports of using dirty equipment, patients being discharged prematurely and a baby being born on the bathroom floor at IHS facilities. Some of these issues have resulted in patient deaths. "Each of these would be shocking enough on its own, but taken together, along with the litany of previously known failures, they paint a pretty bleak picture of the care our tribal citizens are receiving an astonishing lack of commitment by IHS officials to delivering the care they deserve," Sen. Thune said during the hearing. Some of these issues may stem form IHS' lack of funds. "The IHS is severely underfunded compared to other federal agencies," said former Sen. Byron Dorgan, who currently chairs The Center for Native American Youth at The Aspen Institute, according to NBC News. IHS officials say they are working to address care deficiencies through options like telehealth, but point to the difficulties of providing care in rural, isolated locations, according to NBC News. Bahria Town and London Neurosurgery Partnership & London Neurosciences Centre Limited signed an agreement to build spinal facilities in Pakistan, according to The International News. Here are four highlights: 1. Bahria Town Chairman Malik Riaz and a London-based Harley Street Clinic specialist team signed the agreement. 2. Neurologist Dr. Irfan Malik attended the signing along with other top spine surgeons. 3. Mr. Riaz said the spinal and neurosurgery rehabilitation centers will be operational in three months. Medical experts from Britain will run the facilities. 4. "It will also be for the first time in Pakistan that we will provide pioneer surgery, key hole spine surgery, robotic spine surgery and latest state-of-the-art spine related surgery," Mr. Riaz said. "Senior spinal faculty from the United Kingdoms and United States would run the hospital and same level of quality treatment would be provided that people experience at the Harley Street Clinic." More articles on spine: 5 points IntelGenx's new scientific advisory board Drs. Juan Ronderos, Victor Perry & more: 8 spine, neurosurgeons in the headlines this week Hackensack University Medical Center is the 1st hospital in New Jersey to offer Mazor Robotics Renaissance Spine Surgery: 5 things to know Mobile phone giant Vodafone has notched up its sixth consecutive quarter of revenue growth, lifted by a strong performance in the emerging markets. The group saw organic service revenue - a closely-watched measure of sales - rise 1.4% to 9.2bn in the three months to the end of December last year, beating the 1.2% rise in the previous quarter. It was buoyed by "strong" service revenue growth in its India and South African businesses, which grew 2.3% and 7.2% respectively in the third quarter. The Newbury-based company also saw a brightening picture across Europe, with service revenues continuing to recover, down 0.6% in the three months to the end of December last year, compared to a 1% drop in the previous quarter. The group also confirmed that it was on course to hit full-year earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of between 11.7bn and 12bn. Shares in the FTSE 100 company were up 2% in early trading as investors digested the financial update. It came just days after it confirmed talks were under way with cable firm Liberty Global over a joint venture in the Netherlands. Vodafone - which had decided to abandon talks with Liberty Global six months earlier over a possible asset swap - said the discussions were ongoing and stressed they "do not extend beyond the creation of a joint venture in the Netherlands". Vittorio Colao, Vodafone group chief executive, hailed the boost in service revenues over the third quarter, stating the business had taken "another step forward". Cruise ship The MS Marina docked at Belfast Harbour in 2014 Belfast Harbour shifted more than 23 million tonnes of cargo through the port in 2015. While Belfast Harbour still saw just shy of 23 million tonnes pass through the port - roughly the same as in 2014 - areas such as food imports hit by tough trading conditions, with animal feed falling by 9%. That fall was by blamed on trade sanctions to Russia, as well as a slowdown in markets such as China and the Middle East. The latest overall figures for Belfast Harbour also showed the number of ferry passengers dropped in 2015, falling by 2%. However, Northern Ireland's credentials as a cruise ship destination continue to improve, with numbers up by almost 3% last year. Belfast Harbour, headed up by chief executive Roy Adair, is in the Belfast Telegraph's Top 100 companies list. Its current chairman is Dr David Dobbin, who is also chief executive of United Dairy Farmers, which owns Dale Farm. With the latest figures for Belfast Harbour released, Mr Adair said that while overall figures suggest a steady economic performance, "there have been winners and losers". He said: "Construction material exports and freight traffic linked to consumer activity have been largely positive, as has been heating oil imports within the energy sector. "On the downside, international marketplace challenges have negatively impacted Northern Ireland's agri-food sector, leading to a 9% fall in animal feed imports, offsetting any tonnage gains and resulting in a similar tonnage performance to 2014. "Overall, tonnages are more than seven million tonnes higher than the recession's low point and our long-term projection is for continued tonnage growth." Belfast Harbour deals with around 70% of all of Northern Ireland seaborne trade, and its vast estate plays host to 700 businesses employing around 23,000 people. And it's currently expanding its own operations. That includes building a new 14m cruise ship terminal. The delayed project has been earmarked for a site at Airport Road West, planning documents have shown. Belfast Harbour - which has been described as an "artery in the lifeblood of the Northern Ireland economy" - will play host to 81 cruise ships over the next 12 months, carrying passengers from around the world. Meanwhile, in other areas of business, it was a mixed picture for the harbour in 2015. Steel imports rose by 6% to 125,000 tonnes, while container traffic fell by around 2%. That was blamed on a fall in overall manufacturing activity here. Regional Development Minister Michelle McIlveen said last year's figures "demonstrate that Belfast Harbour continues to be an anchor point for the Northern Ireland economy". "It will be increasingly important that the harbour's plans are shaped by the Executive's wider priorities," she said. "Infrastructure development will be a key driver for the local economy and I'm very pleased to note that the harbour continues to invest to facilitate future growth." Belfast Harbour's commercial director, Joe O'Neill, said while the business took a hit in areas such as food and coal, overall it was a positive year. He said overall ferry traffic was also up slightly which highlighted the "general health of the economy". And Mr O'Neill also said that 2016 has begun quite strongly across the board. England, 1944. The Second World War is on a knife edge and in the cosy community of Walmington-on-Sea, blustering bank manager George Mainwaring (Toby Jones) proudly leads the local Home Guard. His hapless rank and file includes Sergeant Wilson (Bill Nighy), Lance Corporal Jones (Tom Courtenay) and Privates Frazer (Bill Paterson), Pike (Blake Harrison), Walker (Daniel Mays) and Godfrey (Michael Gambon), a mild-mannered soul who frequently drifts off into his own world. The fate of the Home Guard hangs in the balance when Colonel Theakes (Mark Gatiss) reveals that he intends to sort the military wheat from the chaff and "Walmington feels chaffy." Soon after, Mainwaring learns that a German spy has infiltrated the town and is transmitting secrets back to Berlin. This search for a traitor coincides with the arrival of glamorous magazine writer Rose Winters (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who intends to pen a flattering article about the heroics of the Home Guard. From uninspired beginning to muddled end, it's a cultural smash 'n' grab that goes through the motions and will ultimately be remembered as a badly missed opportunity. Three stars Women pose for photos in front of a poster advertising the movie "Fifty Shades of Grey" on its opening day in Los Angeles on February 12, 2015. The long-anticipated movie version of the bestselling erotic novel began its worldwide rollout opening in theatres across France, Germany, Belgium and Serbia, days ahead of its key target territory the United States. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images A protester holds a placard as people arrive to watch the film "Fifty Shades of Grey" on its opening day in Los Angeles on February 12, 2015. "Fifty Shades of Grey", the long-anticipated movie version of the bestselling erotic novel, began its worldwide rollout opening in theatres across France, Germany, Belgium and Serbia, days ahead of its key target territory the United States. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Jamelia attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Lizzie Cundy attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan attend the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Director Sam Taylor-Johnson (L) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson attend the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Maria Menounos attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Dakota Johnson attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Dakota Johnson attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Vaults attend the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Author E. L. James attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Ashley Roberts attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Kate Garraway attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Sadie Frost attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Esmee Denters, Steve McCrorie, Lucy O'Bryne and Joe Woolfrod from The Voice UK attend the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: (L-R) Director Sam Taylor-Johnson, actors Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson and author E.L. James attend the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Director Sam Taylor-Johnson (L) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson attend the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 12: Dakota Johnson attends the UK Premiere of "Fifty Shades Of Grey" at Odeon Leicester Square on February 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images) US actress Dakota Johnson poses for photographers ahead of the UK Premiere of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in central London on February 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images A lone protester holds up a placard as talent arrives for the UK Premiere of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in central London on February 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images A lone protester holds up a placard as talent arrives for the UK Premiere of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in central London on February 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images US actress Dakota Johnson (L) is hugged by British author E.L James (R) ahead of the UK Premiere of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in central London on February 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images British director Sam Taylor-Johnson (R), British actor Jamie Dornan (2nd R), US actress Dakota Johnson (2nd L) and British author E.L James (L) pose for photographers ahead of the UK Premiere of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in central London on February 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images British band Vaults pose for photographers ahead of the UK Premiere of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in central London on February 12, 2015. AFP PHOTO / LEON NEALLEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images (Left - right) Esmee Denters, Steve McCrorie, Lucy O'Bryne and Joe Woolfrod from The Voice UK attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 12, 2015. See PA story SHOWBIZ Fifty. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Kate Garraway attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 12, 2015. See PA story SHOWBIZ Fifty. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Dakota Johnson signs autographs for fans attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 12, 2015. See PA story SHOWBIZ Fifty. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Eddie Boxshall and Denise Van Outen attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 12, 2015. See PA story SHOWBIZ Fifty. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Jamelia attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 12, 2015. See PA story SHOWBIZ Fifty. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire (Left - right) Sam Taylor-Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson and E L James attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday February 12, 2015. See PA story SHOWBIZ Fifty. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson attending the UK premiere of Fifty Shades of Grey at the Odeon Leicester Square, London. The second film in the Fifty Shades Of Grey series - starring Co Down heartthrob Jamie Dornan - is set to shoot for several days in Paris as the movie industry rebounds after last year's terror attacks. Fifty Shades Darker, also starring Dakota Johnson, is one of a number of titles set to film this year in the French capital after Islamic extremists killed 130 people there last November. Dornan and Johnson will reprise their roles as student Anastasia Steele and domineering billionaire Christian Grey. Stephane Martinet, deputy director of the Ile-de-France Film Commission, which covers the Paris region, told the Hollywood Reporter that the film industry had proven resilient in the wake of the devastating attacks. "It seems there is some sort of resilience among the film industry. Producers, in particular from the US, voiced their support to us after the attacks and reinforced their willingness to pursue their projects," he said. "They want to send a message." Filming in Paris is expected to go on for several days "within the first six months of the year", according to the report. Parts of the movie will also be shot in Vancouver, where Jamie was spotted in a restaurant last Sunday. Earlier this week Dornan was named the second sexiest man in the world by Glamour magazine. He was beaten by fellow Irish actor Aidan Turner (Poldark). Alexa Chung said she has always had an affection for M&S TV presenter Alexa Chung is to tie up with Marks & Spencer to launch a fashion collection inspired by the high street giant's extensive archives. The 31-piece womenswear collection will be called Archive by Alexa and will launch in selected stores and online in April. Ms Chung and the M&S design team said they have been trawling through the retailer's fashion archive, based in Leeds, to bring back and update classic pieces. M&S said the clothes will have "modern fabrications and an updated colour palette" but will still have "a heritage sensibility". Ms Chung was first linked with the retailer last year when she wore a much-talked about 1970s-style suede skirt that helped improve the image of the firm, and last April helped its clothing division register its first rise in sales in more than three years, albeit for a brief period. Ms Chung said: "I have always had an affection for Marks & Spencer. I am thrilled to be part of this special and unique project. "There was something very touching about looking back through the British fashion and social history for which M&S is synonymous." M&S executive director of general merchandise and incoming chief executive Steve Rowe added that "using our expertise and classic designs and Alexa's unique eye and approach to style, our collaboration was born". The retailer said the collection was the first of a new series called M&S &, which will feature exclusive collections with "designers, brands and fashion icons". Last month M&S said chief executive Marc Bolland is to bow out in April after a six-year battle to turn around the high street giant. He will be replaced by M&S veteran Mr Rowe, who has been with the group for more than 25 years and was recently promoted to head its general merchandise business. Details of the change at the top came as M&S revealed that like-for-like sales in its general merchandise arm, which includes clothing, slumped by 5.8% in the 13 weeks to December 26. Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain has said she is "unlikely" to arrange the marriages of her children. The mother-of-three had her own marriage arranged, but she told ITV's Loose Women panel she will let her children find their own partners. Hussain married husband Abdal when she was 19 in a union arranged by their parents. "I'd want my kids to go out there and it's very different to what my life was like 11 years ago and things are going to change for them," she told the show. "I do not need the hassle of finding them a husband or a wife, so I'll happily let them go and find their own partners." As Hussain recalled her first meeting with her husband-to-be, panellist Andrea McLean had to apologise when she used the word "ass". Hussain said her sister got the first glimpse of him, and she told her he was "very good looking but he's got an enormous butt". She added: "Now when I met him for the first time the first thing I wanted to look at was his butt. I was like, I wanted to check if this ass was as huge... it's still very much there." During the BBC baking show, her husband gained his own throng of admirers who dubbed him a "dreamboat". But she told Loose Women: "It's great to be good looking and to like each other and have that attraction, but the hard bit is after you get married." Hussain said she met her husband for the first time on the day they got engaged, and for the second time on their wedding day itself. They have now been married for 11 years and have three children: sons Musa and Dawud and daughter Maryam. Her husband was evidently watching her first appearance on the show and, after a teaser about what she might reveal, he tweeted: "What do I need to be afraid of, Gulp!" Matt Le Blanc said news of his role made the front page of The New York Times Former Formula One boss Eddie Jordan is set to join the new Top Gear presenting team, according to reports. RadioTimes.com said t he Irish commentator is expected to be named as one of the hosts of the new series within days despite not having yet signed a contract, described as a "formality" by show sources to the TV magazine. Racing driver Sabine Schmitz and journalist Chris Harris are expected to be named as semi-regular presenters alongside other motoring personalities to make up a Top Gear "family" in a pyramid structure with Evans at the top. Dublin-born Jordan, 67, founded racing team Jordan Grand Prix in 1990 - which he sold in 2005 - and has hosted the BBC's coverage of Formula One. He was introduced to karting in 1 970 in Jersey when he moved there as a bank clerk and started a driving career on his return to Ireland. He won karting and Formula Ford races but quit after multiple accidents to set up his own team in 1980. It is hoped he will break major motor sport stories, RadioTimes.com said. Evans, 49, insisted on having Matt LeBlanc on the team and the decision was supported by BBC Worldwide, the organisation's commercial wing, which is keen to see the show do well abroad, the website said. The former Friends actor said he had been "ducking paparazzi" since the announcement when he spoke to Chris Evans on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday. Le Blanc, 48, said: "I can't believe the response. I mean I knew Top Gear was a big show, but, wow, it was on the front page of The New York Times, did you know that?" The comedy actor also told Evans he wanted them to be like Joey and Chandler from the American sitcom in a discussion of which comedy double act they will take after. The pair hinted they would be filming abroad frequently and Evans revealed that they would be going to South Africa, adding: "Do you want to stay at mine because I'll get you a new key cut, or do you want me to look for a place for you?" LeBlanc set the fastest-ever time in the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment on the show in 2012 and was named by Evans on Thursday as the new co-presenter. Evans was announced as the new face of Top Gear last year, following the high-profile departure of Jeremy Clarkson, whose contract with the BBC was not renewed following a "fracas" with one of the show's producers, Oisin Tymon. The BBC have not commented on Jordan. Ex On The Beach star Megan McKenna was evicted on day 18 Celebrity Big Brother finalist Stephanie Davis believes her boyfriend will "understand" her romance with Jeremy McConnell in the house. Speaking during a "press conference" task which saw evicted contestant Megan McKenna return to grill and be grilled by the finalists, she said her love for male model Sam Reece had died "a long time ago". Former Hollyoaks star Davis said: "It's not about revenge. I think Sam would even understand, because I think he knows, he loves me that much I think he'd look at me and be like, 'I know I lost you a long time ago'. "But he's holding on to something that I ended up losing the love for." Davis and McConnell's flirtation escalated over the course of the show and they were soon spending time in bed together, before he was evicted last week. Davis told the former Mr Ireland that she loved him, while he handed her a locket on his way out of the door as a keepsake. McKenna said she had spoken to Reece, as they had appeared together at Pure nightclub in Kent on January 29 for a PA - or "personal appearance". Hearing about the PA, Davis declared: "Lap up the money! Have a good time! I have found someone now who genuinely cares about my heart and would never hurt me again." She added: "F****** enjoy your PAs you knobhead." McKenna reassured an anxious Davis that McConnell was "100%" waiting for her when she came out of the house. During the press conference, which featured questions from an audience of TV viewers and journalists, McKenna also had a chance to question her former housemate Scotty T. The two were becoming increasingly close before McKenna was evicted on day 18. She asked him: "T he press have been saying you was having a showmance with me. So what is your opinion on that - was it all fake?" Scotty T responded: "Nah. It wasn't fake at all, because - shall I tell you why? I'd have expected to have that connection with you what I did, was actually real. And obviously I'll find out what happens when I get out, won't I?" McKenna was concerned about Scotty T's relationship with US reality star Tiffany Pollard, as the two have shared a couple of kisses - with Pollard making clear her attraction. Both Pollard and Scotty T insisted they had not gone beyond kissing. Scotty T added: "After I did kiss Tiffany I did feel really bad and I did think of Megan, because I like her." :: The Celebrity Big Brother final will air on Friday at 9pm on Channel 5. More than 4,000 people have signed a petition within 24 hours demanding that "failing" autism services be improved in Northern Ireland. Angry and frustrated parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have said they now plan to take their protest to politicians at Stormont and present them with the petition. It comes after it emerged more than 2,000 children in Northern Ireland are waiting for an autism diagnosis - sometimes for more than two years - leaving desperate families calling for urgent action to reform the service. The petition - which calls for urgent action from both the Minister of Health Simon Hamilton and Education Minister John O'Dowd - has attracted thousands of signatures in just one day and says that children with ASD are "being failed by the health and education system in Northern Ireland". Read more Read More Stressed parents facing a long wait for a vital assessment have described the current system as a "shambles". In Belfast there is a waiting time of up to 94 weeks, while in the Northern Trust, families face a wait of up to 65 weeks. In the Southern Trust, meanwhile, there is an average 12-week wait. Emma Manton spoke to the Belfast Telegraph earlier this week about how her son and family had been left in limbo until he received a vital assessment. She was told that her six-year-old, Thomas, would finally receive a school observation but it could be a year before he is fully assessed by the autism assessment team. "At present we are waiting to find out when the Health Minister and possibly also the Education Minister will be in Stormont to present our petition so that it has the most effect; the proposed date is February 16 but that's pending confirmation at the moment," she said. "The reason the group has formed and started the petition is off the back of the recent outcry over waiting times for assessment but also because it's coming to light that even after assessment it's still a wait - and a battle - for everything that's needed from diagnosis onwards. "People are frustrated and struggling. "We hope to gain the attention of local government and get some answers as to why our children are being failed." Annemarie Smyth from Belfast, who is one of the thousands who signed the petition, said change is needed now. "These children struggle with anxiety, behaviour issues and low self-esteem due to unawareness and ignorance of their conditions. Our children are being failed and changes need to be made now," she said. A Health and Social Care Board spokeswoman said that a regional review of the development and delivery of autism services was being carried out. The petition can be viewed here. The Queen visits the Norfolk Hospice at Hillington near Kings Lynn in England yesterday The Duchess of Cornwall speaks to guests as she attends a reception yesterday, in her role as Patron of The Poppy Factory, to mark the charitys work in placing 500 wounded, sick and disabled veterans into employment at Admirality House, London Simon Doherty (second from right), a vet from Ballygowan, meets Prince Charles during an official charity visit by the prince to Bath A Ballygowan vet's charity work has been give a royal seal of approval after a meeting with Prince Charles. Simon Doherty met with the Prince of Wales as he visited Bath in England. Simon was praised for his work with the charity 'Send a Cow' which sends livestock and other help to some of Africa's poorest areas. Prince Charles was attending in his capacity as the Duke of Cornwall. For nearly 30 years he's served as the charity's landlord and has been it's President since 2009. Mr Doherty called the meeting a "fantastic experience". A trustee of the charity, Mr Doherty is also senior vice president of the North of Ireland Veterinary Association. Speaking after the meeting he said: "It was an honour to be there on the day and to speak to His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales about the incredible work Send a Cow is doing with smallholder farmers in Africa. We discussed my role as a vet and a trustee and discussed the importance of animal welfare." ''It was a fantastic experience to meet him and a wonderful opportunity to raise the profile of Send a Cow. It's clear that Prince Charles is a big supporter of the charity and has an avid interest in agriculture.'' Prince Charles is well known for his support of environmental causes. He said: "I do congratulate you on all your work, it's very important to keep smallholders going. It's vital." He voiced his support for women in farming in Africa, stressing the need to empower them as well as encouraging more young people to work in agriculture. Comedian David Walliams has paid tribute to the "fantastic taste" of children in Northern Ireland after it emerged his Awful Auntie is the most borrowed book from libraries in the province. The tale of heiress Stella Saxby and her stately home trying to evade her Auntie Alberta's attempts to seize her inheritance has proven a massive hit with our youngsters. However, favourite children's author Julia Donaldson can boast not one, but three books in the top 10 most borrowed books from libraries in Northern Ireland. Princess Mirror-Belle And The Dragon Pox is at number two, The Scarecrows' Wedding is at four, and The Flying Bath is sixth. Opal Plumstead by Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt was third, and Irish novelist Sheila O'Flanagan took seventh place with If You Were Me, just ahead of the Guinness Book Of Records 2015. Lee Child's Personal was ninth and another children's book, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney was the 10th most popular library book, according to data released by the Public Lending Right office based on the July 2014 and June 2015 period. Comedian turned author Walliams said: "What fantastic taste the children of Northern Ireland have. I am beyond delighted. "Libraries are vital for children and adults to discover a wide variety of books. "Long may they live!" Awful Auntie won audiobook of the year at the 2014 UK National Book Awards, and is being made into a film, which will be released in December. Children's books were much more popular in Northern Ireland's libraries than England's, with seven out of the province's top 10 being children's titles. TOP 10 LIBRARY BOOKS: NORTHERN IRELAND 1. Awful Auntie David Walliams 2. Princess Mirror-Belle And The Dragon Pox Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks 3. Opal Plumstead Jacqueline Wilson & Nick Sharratt 4. The Scarecrows' Wedding Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler 5. Horrid Henry's Krazy Ketchup Francesca Simon & Tony Ross 6. The Flying Bath Julia Donaldson & David Roberts 7. If You Were Me Sheila O'Flanagan 8. Guinness World Records 2015 9. Personal Lee Child 10. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Jeff Kinney TOP 10 LIBRARY BOOKS: UK OVERALL 1. Personal Lee Child (right) 2. Never Go Back Lee Child 3. Abattoir Blues Peter Robinson 4. The Silkworm Robert Galbraith 5. Invisible James Patterson 6. Unlucky 13 James Patterson 7. Gone Girl Gillian Flynn 8. Want You Dead Peter James 9. Be Careful What You Wish For Jeffrey Archer 10. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Jeff Kinney The Environment Minister has insisted that Londonderry's drinking water is safe after fears were raised over contaminated leachate entering the city's supply. Mark H Durkan yesterday visited a huge toxic lake at Campsie which formed out of the largest illegal waste dump in Europe, on the city outskirts. The dump was uncovered in 2011 and since then the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has removed a staggering 1.5 million litres of contaminated fluid, 4,786 tonnes of waste and 2,458 tyres - although a vast expanse remains. In 2014, an NIEA expert expressed concern that putrefying waste, dead animals and old black bin waste could leach into the water supply. The ministerial visit followed concerns raised by the Faughan Anglers that a trench flowing from the lake into the river - which supplies water to homes in Derry city - was contaminated. Mr Durkan said: "Extensive monitoring has shown no evidence of any adverse impact on either the water quality of the drinking water supply to Derry or to the water quality of the River Faughan. I can assure the people of Derry that I'm doing all I can to ensure there is no threat to the quality of their drinking water. "My department will continue to work closely with NI Water to ensure that all necessary safeguards continue to be in place." The initiatives provided support to businesses and homeowners keen to switch to eco-friendly heating sources A Stormont incentive scheme to encourage heating systems powered by renewable energy sources is set to be closed. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Jonathan Bell has announced his intention to end the domestic and non domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes. The initiatives provided support to businesses and homeowners keen to switch to eco-friendly heating sources. RHI was launched to the non domestic sector in 2012 and extended to the domestic sector two years later. Mr Bell said the available budget had been exhausted. "It is with great reluctance that I have had to announce my intention to close both RHI schemes," he said. "Both schemes have been very successful with the non-domestic scheme in particular seeing significant uptake during the last 12 months and more so in the run up to the recent scheme changes introduced in November 2015. It is estimated that around 6% of NI's heating needs are now provided through renewable technologies. The Executive's target to achieve 4% renewable heat has been exceeded. "However, this increased demand means the available budget for new applications has been exhausted. To meet RHI commitments for existing installations, significant levels of additional funding will have to be found from within the NI Executive's budget for the next five years to address the current deficit. To prevent further overspend I must bring forward legislation to the Assembly to close both schemes to new applications. "My department will also be carrying out a comprehensive review and audit, to ensure that the operation of the schemes is strictly in compliance with the scheme requirements and the underpinning legislation." Teams from the Community Rescue Service bring food to the stranded horses on Lough Beg yesterday Teams from the Community Rescue Service bring food to the stranded horses on Lough Beg yesterday Volunteers have launched a mercy mission to help horses stranded on an island surrounded by floodwaters. The team from the Community Rescue Service (CRS) based at Portglenone brought hay and feed to the 10 animals which have been left stuck on the island on Lough Beg near Toome. However, three other horses were found dead by rescue workers who came to the animals aid. It is thought they found their way to the island on a causeway when the lough level was low. The recent floodwaters flowing from Lough Neagh raised the level in Lough Beg, leaving the horses unable to make their way back. Norman Worthington, who is the commander for the CRS in Portglenone, was part of the team of seven rescue workers who transported supplies. They are still on the island as we cant get them off at the moment, he explained. We got food to them and now that may have to continue until they are taken off. Unfortunately when we got there three had died. I believe that they went out when the water wasnt as high for grazing. Then with the amount of water that had fallen, it caused floodwaters to run from Lough Neagh into this one. As a result, the water level where that small piece of land is was raised. Thats now become an island because of the volume of water around it. Someone had already taken food out to them but they need fed regularly. The team is unsure as to how the horses will be taken off the island as the water is too deep to cross safely. While the horses are in good condition, the ground is cut up and the horses are standing in up to nearly a foot of mud. Norman added: Its just a mercy mission at the moment. We are not sure who owns the horses and we havent heard. The owner cant get to the animals and they cant get them off so its a catch-22 situation. There were seven of us out today carrying hay to them and some crushed barley as well. Well try and continue that. The horses were in good condition and were very friendly, we had no trouble getting to them or feeding them. They are feeding as much as they can off the place but the muck is nipping at them. Some of it is nine inches deep. Mid Ulster Council said it had received a complaint and was investigating. A soldier takes up a position in a doorway in the Markets area of Belfast in 1971 A British Army veteran who was seriously injured as he rescued two young girls in an IRA bomb attack during the 1970s is to ask the PSNI to track down the bombers. The former soldier is one of a number of veterans planning to lodge complaints with the PSNI about attacks against them during the Troubles. Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, who has responsibility for legacy cases, said yesterday that the PSNI is to draw up plans to deal with requests from Army veterans for probes into historical gun and bomb attacks. Mr Hamilton told the Northern Ireland Policing Board: "We have to consider how we will discharge these requests." Earlier this week, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that up to 150 ex-soldiers are to ask the PSNI to investigate terrorist attacks on them during the Troubles. A flood of allegations of PIRA attacks is currently being processed by a lobby group for veterans to be handed over to detectives over the next few weeks. The Belfast Telegraph has seen a number of the complaints which include: Soldier A was injured on August 29, 1971, as he rescued two young girls in Londonderry from a bomb. He spotted a device with a smoking fuse while on patrol and as he rushed the girls to safety the bomb exploded. The soldier later received a Certificate of Commendation from the Army for courage; Soldier B was on patrol in Oldpark Road in Belfast in 1989 when a coffee jar device with Semtex and nails was thrown at his patrol, leaving him with serious arm injuries; Soldier C was injured when a car bomb exploded less than 30 feet from him on Bow Street in Lisburn in 1972; Soldier D escaped serious injury when a 1,000lb bomb, planted inside a van outside Markethill Police Station, exploded in August 1991; Many of the soldiers involved in the class action, which is being led by the lobby group the Veterans Party, have claimed that there was never any police investigation into the attacks. Former soldier Mike Harmson, who has reported a series of IRA attacks on him during the 1980s, said that any investigation into legacy cases should also include attacks on the military. "Operation Banner (the operational name for the British Armed Forces' deployment in Northern Ireland from August 1969 to July 2007) was not a war or classed as one so we should have been treated to the same rights as any other member of the public," he added. The Veterans Party said they want any examination of legacy issues "to involve the thousands of Armed Forces personnel who served, those who were murdered and those who were maimed in terrorist attacks." A spokesman added: "These events cannot be swept under the carpet. There are countless unsolved crimes and incidents involving members of our Armed Forces who served bravely in Northern Ireland, along with many hundreds of relatives who also seek closure." Chairman of Stormont's justice committee, Alastair Ross, said: "Every victim of the Troubles must have a proper investigation. There must be no sell-by date on justice." He added: "My colleague, former part-time soldier and former Dungannon councillor Sammy Brush stands as an example. New information came to the surface about the IRA attempt on his life. The police investigated and 30 years after the crime, Gerry McGeough was convicted. "The burden of legacy cases is incredible and Arlene Foster has already said Her Majesty's Government should be assisting with this." DUP Policing Board member Jonathan Craig warned that the action "is going to be a fundamental headache" for the PSNI and the authorities, but said that he welcomed it. He added: "I think the soldiers are right to come forward. "Let's have a full investigation into those who attempted to murder them and see what it turns up." The Taoiseach said his preferred outcome was the return of a Fine Gael-Labour coalition Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out a deal with any independent TDs in order to secure power. Singling out Michael Lowry, who was found by the Moriarty tribunal to have helped businessman Denis O'Brien secure a mobile phone licence in 1995, Mr Kenny said his aim was to return the outgoing coalition. "I will not have any dealings with Michael Lowry, or any other independents," the Taoiseach said. The question of Mr Lowry being a powerbroker in a potential Fine Gael-led coalition has been left unanswered by the Taoiseach since it was raised at his party's Ard fheis last month. Mr Kenny told RTE Radio: "My proposition is the return of the Fine Gael-Labour government." He said any deal would be fully transparent. Tanaiste Joan Burton said a Labour Party returned to government would exceed debt reduction targets to free up investment in essential services that families and communities need. "Over the next five years, our mission is to sustain and spread the recovery and create an economy and a society that works for working people. "A recovery that increases their living standards through sustained wage increases, targeted and responsible tax reductions and investment in the services families and communities need. "We will use our economic strength and stability to continue to build a decent society." Meanwhile, Fine Gael launched its jobs plan with a target of 200,000 jobs to be created by 2020. Richard Bruton, Jobs Minister, said the outgoing coalition had created 136,000 jobs, well ahead of the 100,000 target for the end of 2016. The plan entails attracting 70,000 emigrants back to Ireland to work and offering 50,000 apprenticeships, which would help hit a target of less than 7% unemployment. Fine Gael also aims to spend 42 billion euro on infrastructure projects and reduce the tax burden on self-employed workers while protecting low corporation tax rates. A tax deal with Apple is the subject of a European Commission investigation. The second full day of campaigning saw Fianna Fail focus on the housing crisis. Barry Cowen, party spokesman on the environment, said waiting lists for homes in the councils was a damning indictment of the outgoing government, with 140,000 families in need. Fianna Fail promised to build 150,000 new homes by 2021, including 45,000 new social housing units. It also vowed to set up a first-time buyers savings scheme, to raise rent supplements available through welfare and to create a government department solely responsible for housing, planning and the councils. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams claimed his rivals' election manifestos were based on a lie. "They have tried to buy the election with election promises. Their sums don't add up. They have been caught cooking the books. Fine Gael, Labour and Fianna Fail should withdraw their manifestos. They are based on a lie." Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald has refused to stand over her claim that Thomas 'Slab' Murphy was a "good republican" in a move that will heap pressure on her party leader Gerry Adams. But Ms McDonald yesterday finally confirmed that her party manifesto will commit to the abolition of Dublin's non-jury Special Criminal Court. For the third consecutive day Sinn Fein leaders have been challenged over their relationship with Murphy, who was described as a "mass murderer" on a BBC Spotlight documentary this week. The programme broadcast an interview with a British soldier who alleged that Murphy committed and ordered murders on behalf of the IRA. Murphy is a former IRA leader and faces up to five years in prison for tax fraud. At a Press conference in Dublin, Ms McDonald repeatedly declined to stand over her and Mr Adams's claim that Murphy was a "good republican". "I have told you that Tom Murphy, like everybody else, is accountable to the courts," the Dublin Central TD said. "Tom Murphy, like everybody else, has to pay their taxes. That is the position. The courts will deal with that matter. And I have nothing further to say on it." Asked earlier whether she was comfortable that Murphy was described as a "mass murderer" by a soldier who served in Northern Ireland, Ms McDonald replied: "This issue has arisen many times. I'll put on the record what I have said before and that is every citizen is absolutely obliged to pay their taxes. "There are exemptions, there are no ifs, buts and maybes on that score. And on the issues pertaining to Tom Murphy, the courts will decide that. "I understand that it's up for consideration on Friday, so that's a matter for the courts." Kent Police are carrying out searches throughout the county A man wanted over the suspicious death of a mother-of-four has been arrested as police confirmed they are treating the incident as murder. Kent Police said they made " extensive searches" to locate the 54-year-old after they discovered the body of Caroline Andrews, 52, at a property in The Street in Benenden on Thursday. A post-mortem examination took place earlier today and the death is now being treated as a murder inquiry. The man was located in the London area this afternoon and taken to hospital for treatment to injuries. The arrest follows a manhunt involving armed officers, which saw police carry out searches throughout the county, including the rail network. Neighbour Derek Catlin said Mrs Andrews lived at the property with her husband Stuart and their four children aged from around early to late teens, along with their two dogs. Retired chartered surveyed Mr Catlin, 71, described the family as "normal, very pleasant people". He said: "I went out at about 4pm to the fish shop up the road, I came back but all was quiet, then the police arrived at about 4.30pm. "All I saw was an accumulation of police vehicles, probably three police cars and later a detective interviewed my wife and I. "I have been here for three years. We knew them as neighbours but I feel shock really, because there was nothing to make us think there was anything peculiar." He believed Mr Andrews was involved in the agricultural industry and that Mrs Andrews was involved with one of the local schools. "They were very normal, very pleasant people. This makes us all feel very odd. The police say there is nothing to worry about," he said. "It's an extraordinary thing to happen on your doorstep." Another local, Karen Callaghan, 49, said: "People here have been saying it's a domestic dispute gone wrong. "It's very sad for the village. Everyone knows everyone round here. The locals have been here a long time." A police cordon was in place outside the large property - a bungalow called Greenacres - on a sprawling private estate opposite the village green. The scene is down the road from the exclusive Benenden School and off the village's main street. As part of the investigation, armed police boarded a train on Thursday night in Gillingham, in the north of the county. The spokesman said a search was launched after officers were called about the woman's death earlier in the day, at 4.20pm. Armed police held the train at Gillingham station from around 9pm on Thursday for more than an hour-and-a-half. Footage shows officers walking down the train carriage holding guns, with one distressed passenger demanding to be let off because he was claustrophobic. A policeman can be heard saying: "It is a very serious incident and we can't really say what it is about, but you can see we are taking it very seriously." Other travellers were reportedly not allowed on to the platform while the train was being searched. Mrs Andrews was a "well-respected" supply teacher at Benenden C of E Primary School, based a short distance from her home. Headteacher Gill Knox said: "The tragic death of Caroline Andrews has left the staff at Benenden C of E School shocked and saddened. "Caroline and her family live in the village and are well known at the school. Caroline has been a loved and well-respected supply teacher for a number of years who has enriched the lives of the many children she taught. "At the present time we cannot comment on what has happened but our thoughts and prayers are with her family and all who knew her and will miss her." Dr Raj Mattu was unfairly dismissed by the University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust An NHS whistleblower who was unfairly sacked after exposing concerns about patient safety has been awarded 1.22 million in damages by a hospital trust. Cardiologist Raj Mattu claimed he had been "vilified and bullied" and subjected to a 12-year "witch hunt" after making the claims at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry in 2001. He was sacked in 2010, but Birmingham Employment Tribunal ruled that he had been unfairly dismissed. University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust said it had agreed to pay Dr Mattu 1.22m. Dr Mattu told the Press Association: "The overriding feeling I and my wife have is relief that there is finally a full stop. For the first time in 15 years I can look forward and plan things for the future." Dr Mattu publicly exposed overcrowding and fears for patient safety at the hospital in 2001. A year later the 70,000-a-year doctor was suspended by the Trust on full pay after being accused of bullying. He was dismissed in 2010. The tribunal found that Dr Mattu was a whistleblower and had been "subjected to detriments" because of this, but they had been presented "out of time" and therefore could not be considered as part of the case. But it found the Trust was at fault by holding a disciplinary hearing against Dr Mattu while he was in hospital and could not attend. The Trust said: "While 1.22 million is a large amount, it is a significant reduction from the original claim and has finally resolved this matter. "We accept that it has been difficult for all involved and are relieved that this case has now been brought to an end." Dr Mattu trained as a registrar at hospitals in Sheffield and London after graduating in medicine, and worked at nine NHS hospitals before moving to Coventry's then Walsgrave Hospital. In a witness statement submitted to the tribunal, he accused his employer of endangering lives by allowing overcrowding on its wards. Describing his treatment by the Trust as a "tragedy", the cardiologist said: "My case turns on many events, which start in 1998 with my raising serious concerns about patient safety at the Trust. "These concerns progress and culminate in my publicly blowing the whistle regarding lies told by the Trust in an attempt to cover up the avoidable deaths of patients." But he claimed his disclosures "fell on deaf ears and when I made them public resulted in a witch-hunt" to oust him. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has made a rare appearance on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy after launching an attack against the Government for its "insulting" response to a UN working group report on his detention. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group's findings on the "arbitrary detention" of Mr Assange as "frankly ridiculous" and said the Australian was "hiding from justice". He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" in the embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement. Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful. He said comments by Mr Hammond were "beneath" the minister's stature and insulting to the UN. He later spoke to a crowd of his supporters from the embassy's balcony, holding up a copy of the UN report and saying he had won a "sweet victory" which the UK and Swedish authorities could not deny. "What right do the governments of the US, UK or Sweden have to deny my children their father for five and a half years," he said to cheers from a small crowd of supporters. He said he had become "tough" through what had happened to him over the past few years, but spoke of his children, saying they had nothing to do with the case. "It is time they had their father back. That will happen, one way or another." He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over a sex allegation, which he has always denied. He believes he will be taken to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited. He told the news conference that the UN Working Group's decision was legally binding, insisting there was no higher authority on whether detentions were lawful. "It is insulting for the UN to call the decision ridiculous. Those comments were beneath the stature of a foreign minister." Mr Assange said Sweden and the UK had opportunities in the past few weeks to appeal against the decision but had not taken any action, so the matter was now a "settled law". Mr Assange said: "It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over. "It is now the task of the states of the UK and Sweden to implement the verdict. They cannot pretend to look tough." He finished his comments by saying he missed his family, adding: "We have a really strong victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well." Melinda Taylor, part of Mr Assange's legal team, said the UN report made clear that the WikiLeaks founder was neither a fugitive from justice, nor could he just walk out of the embassy. She called it a "damning indictment" of the way Mr Assange has been treated and showed his willingness to co-operate with the Swedish investigation. Baltasar Garzon, another member of the legal team, told the news conference: "It is imperative they (UK and Sweden) respect the decision", adding that it was "mandatory to comply". But Mr Hammond said: "I reject the decision of this Working Group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers. "Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy. "He can come out any time he chooses ... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. "This is, frankly, a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." Harry Harpham, a former miner who became a Labour MP, has died of cancer Tributes have been paid to Labour MP Harry Harpham, a "proud" former miner who has died after a fight with cancer. The 61-year-old, who represented Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, was described by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as a "decent man" who was "dedicated to justice for working people". Mr Harpham entered Parliament at the general election last year after a long career in local public service, including a stint as deputy leader of Sheffield Council. He was asked for fight for election after former home secretary David Blunkett announced he was standing down, and won the seat with a majority of 13,807. His political career began as a committed trade unionist member of the NUM who stood firm on the picket line during the miners' strike at the Nottinghamshire pit he worked at. After becoming an MP he was appointed a parliamentary aide to shadow energy secretary Lisa Nandy. Mr Corbyn described the loss of the married father-of-five as "extremely sad" and expressed his condolences to his family. He said: "Harry was a proud socialist who had also been a proud miner. "He was dedicated to justice for working people and despite the undoubted hardship that his support for the miners' strike would have caused him, as it did many thousands of miners, Harry recently told me he would have done it all again. "To the very end he was fighting for working people in Parliament. What a decent man he was and he will be sadly missed by all his friends in the Labour Party." As news of his death emerged on Thursday tributes from the Labour leadership and his parliamentary colleagues quickly followed on Twitter. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: "Deeply upset to learn of Harry Harpham's death. Sheffield has lost a wonderful MP. My thoughts are with his family. Barnsley East MP Michael Dugher said: " So sorry to hear the news about Harry Harpham. Thoughts and prayers are with his family." Bassetlaw MP John Mann tweeted: " Harry Harpham MP a big loss. Brilliant comrade, always cheerful. A coal miner is the finest traditions of this country. Very many will mourn." Mr Harpham was diagnosed with cancer after his party's autumn conference last year and was treated in hospital a short time later. He described himself as an "ordinary bloke who used to work down for the pit for a living" and spoke about how he spent a year on strike at Clipstone Colliery. Born in Mansfield, he moved to Sheffield in 1985 where he "got a second chance" and studied at Northern college before graduating from the University of Sheffield. He said joining the Labour party "was a given" and was first elected as a Sheffield City Councillor in 2004. He championed local schools and community issues and said he was "incredibly proud" of his involvement in expanding council housing. Mr Harpham leaves behind his wife Gill and children Annie, Kieron, Dan, Emily and Victoria. Around 8,500 "bed-blocking" patients are stuck in NHS hospitals every day - costing the health service 900 million a year and driving up use of the private sector, a report shows. The review into how the NHS can save cash found bed-blocking - which occurs when patients are medically fit to leave but care has not yet been organised in the community - is a bigger problem for NHS hospitals than previously thought. In the wide-ranging report, commissioned by the Government, Lord Carter of Coles sets out the way NHS hospitals can cut costs in a bid to save 5 billion a year by 2020. The study suggests cuts to the numbers of staff working in NHS pharmacy and administration, the sharing of purchasing power between NHS trusts to get the best prices on goods and services, and cuts to the variation in how patients are treated to improve care and save money. The report also points to large differences between trusts in staff absence and sickness rates and the need for a better grasp on what staff are doing. It said some NHS trusts have moved to a "call centre" model for handling some patient calls and appointments, while others have " patient portals that allow the patient to directly manage their own bookings which enables administrative cost reductions". On bed-blocking, it said the number of days lost is higher than previously thought, which is forcing the NHS to turn to the private sector to take on planned operations such as knee and hip replacements. It said: "Nearly all trusts wrestle with the problem of moving those who are medically fit into settings that are more appropriate for the delivery of their care or rehabilitation, and for the families and carers. "Official statistics on delayed transfers of care show a recent increase to around 5,500 patients per day. "However, information provided by trusts reveals that the problem could be much larger and we estimate that on any given day as many as 8,500 beds in acute trusts are blocked with patients who are medically fit to be transferred. "The cost of these delays to NHS providers could be around 900 million per year. "These delays also have a knock-on effect resulting in cancellations of elective operations because of a lack of bed capacity, and work going out to the independent sector. "NHS expenditure in the non-NHS sector has increased in recent years, and currently stands at over 11 billion per annum." The report said the number of knee procedures being carried out by private hospitals on behalf of the NHS has risen by 60% since 2011. Official NHS figures show that from January to November 2015, 1.59 million days were lost in total to bed-blocking - a figure that is already bigger than for any previous year. In the whole of 2014, 1.56 million days were lost, while 1.4 million were lost in 2013 and 1.37 million in 2012. Lord Carter's review also calls for a reduction in the differences between hospitals in the quality and cost of care. It said the a verage cost of an inpatient treatment is 3,500 but there is 20% variation between the most expensive trusts (3,850) and the least expensive (3,150). The report found the average bill for new hip joints varied from 788 to 1,590. Sickness and absence rates among staff also varied, from 2.7% to 5.8%. It said improving staff productivity by five minutes every shift could save the NHS 280 million a year. And with better procurement, the NHS could save 700 million every year. The report added: "A sample of 22 trusts use 30,000 suppliers, 20,000 different product brands, over 400,000 manufacturer products codes and more than 7,000 people are able to place orders." Lord Carter said: "My experience of the NHS and hospitals internationally is that high-quality patient care and sound financial management go hand in hand. "To improve the quality of care, hospitals must grasp resources more effectively, especially staff, which account for more than 60p of every pound hospitals spend." Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "I want to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world, capable of providing the same world-class care every day of the week, powered by a culture of transparency and learning. "This ground-breaking review will help hospitals care for patients, making sure every penny possible is spent on front line patient care and bureaucracy is slashed so doctors and nurses can concentrate on caring." Shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander said: "This report is absolutely right to highlight the huge financial pressures that delayed discharges are placing on the NHS. "However, ministers cannot shy away from the fact that this is a crisis in care that has happened on their watch." The report comes as a separate study from the National Audit Office (NAO) found that in 2014 there was an overall staffing shortfall of around 5.9% in the NHS, equating to a gap of around 50,000 clinical staff. Responding to the Carter report, Jane Mordue, interim chairwoman of Healthwatch England, said it echoed findings of their own inquiry that found "poor co-ordination of health and social care services is resulting in too many people being kept in hospital longer than necessary, causing suffering and costing the health service millions". She added: "From the moment we are admitted, all staff across health and care services need to start planning how and when we are going to leave hospital." The family of shot Pc David Rathband remained defiant after losing a High Court negligence case against his former employer and being ordered to pay at least 100,000 costs. Mr Justice Males found that Northumbria Police was not negligent in failing to pass on a warning that gunman Raoul Moat had called 999 and threatened he was "hunting for officers". Less than nine minutes after the call Pc Rathband was alone and defenceless on a roundabout above the A1 in Newcastle when Moat blasted him twice in the face. The judge said he was "desperately unlucky to be the victim of Moat's cruelty and hatred" and he was surprised he survived the attack in July 2010. But he ruled Superintendent Jo Farrell, in charge of the manhunt for the murderer that night, was not negligent by not immediately warning officers of the threat. And even if she had ordered it to be sent out, it might have been too late for Pc Rathband to act upon. Mr Justice Males said it was "well established law" that the police did not owe the public or officers a "private law duty of care" when making operational decisions, "particularly when such decisions have to be made under pressure of crime". Although this led to hardship in individual cases, it has been held to be in the public interest, he said. Issuing such a warning could have adversely affected officers' ability to protect the public throughout the force area on a busy night, the judge said. He ordered the claimants must pay the force's costs with an interim payment of 100,000 due in 21 days. The cost of the eight-day trial, which involved QC barristers on both sides, plus hundreds of hours of legal preparation, was not revealed. After the judgment was handed down at Newcastle's Moot Hall, Pc Rathband's sister Debbie Essery and his twin Darren hit out at the force. Their statement said they were "disappointed although not surprised" by the judgment. They said: "Mistakes were made, policies and procedures have been changed, that fact remains. "The arrogance and insensitivity of Northumbria Police throughout has been cruel to say the least. "The public perception appears to be that police officers are looked after by their own force, this was definitely not the case for David, he was left alone on July 4 and thereafter not only by the force he was so proud to serve but by others whom he loved too." Northumbria Police Chief Constable Steve Ashman said the judgment "emphatically" showed that Pc Rathband, who killed himself almost four years ago, was not let down. He said: "This has been a sad and difficult case for all concerned. "It was a tragic incident which occurred five-and-a-half years ago and our thoughts have always been with David and his immediate family." He added: "Moat's actions created an unprecedented situation for Northumbria Police but the judge has recognised that operational officers have to make high pressure, complex decisions in tight timescales and in doing so they must focus not only on officer safety but on the safety and welfare of the public." His predecessor Sue Sim said: "My thoughts, prayers and best wishes remain with Kath and their two children, together with the other close family members who have been affected by these terrible events. "David was acting in the best tradition of policing when he was brutally shot by Raoul Moat." Tough to take: Celtic skipper Scott Brown walks off dejected at the end of the Scottish Premiership defeat to Aberdeen Police in Scotland have launched an investigation over comments made online that the IRA should be brought in to "sort out" Ronny Delia's struggling Celtic side. The Glasgow Evening Times reported that the comments were made on the fans' forum website Huddleboard under a post headlined "Time for the IRA to step in" after Celtic lost 2-1 to Aberdeen on Wednesday. The newspaper said many fans on the website were stunned at the comments, while others backed the message. "Could be worth a try, maybe they play better kneecapped," was one contribution. Another said: "Send them in." Police Scotland has said it is aware of the comments and is investigating. Ronny Delia has come under increasing pressure following a string of poor results and performances. Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill has even been mentioned as a possible replacement should Delia - as widely expected - depart Parkhead in the summer. Celtic fans have often courted controversy. In 2013, Celtic were fined after a banner of IRA hunger-striker Bobby Sands was displayed by fans during a Champions League game against AC Milan. The club was fined 15,000 euros (12,500) in 2011 after supporters chanted pro-IRA slogans during a Europa League match against Rennes in France. Syrian troops advanced under the cover of heavy artillery bombardment and air power About 50,000 people fleeing intense fighting in northern Syria have arrived at a Turkish border crossing, a charity says. Islamic charity IHH said displaced Syrians began streaming toward the Bab al-Salam border crossing on Thursday. Spokesman Serkan Nergis said IHH is setting up tent camps near the crossing to provide temporary shelter. The charity already runs about 10 camps for displaced Syrians along the frontier. The border remains closed and it is not clear if any of the refugees would be admitted to Turkey. Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a donors' conference in London on Thursday that as many as 80,000 could end up at the border. The exodus came after Syrian troops backed by allied militias and intense Russian air strikes launched an offensive in northern Syria, apparently aimed at eventually encircling the contested city of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and state news agency SANA said earlier that pro-government troops had captured the village of Rityan as part of a week-long offensive aimed at encircling the country's largest city. Pro-government troops have recaptured several villages near the Turkish border, sending thousands of residents fleeing towards Turkey. The territorial gains have driven a west-east wedge into rebel-held areas and brought the government a step closer to being able to encircle Aleppo. Elsewhere, t he Syrian army and militias retook a town at the doorstep of Daraa, a contested city that lies between Damascus and the Jordan border, according to the Observatory . The conquest opens several supply routes to Daraa, which is divided between government and opposition fighters, the British-based group said. Daraa was the scene of some of the first protests against President Bashar Assad in 2011 and holds symbolic value in the uprising that has since collapsed into a vicious civil war. Syria's official news agency said the offensive on Atman, north of Daraa, scattered rebel forces which it labels terrorists. Troops advanced under the cover of heavy artillery bombardment and air power, the Observatory said. Nato's secretary general said Russian air strikes that mainly target opposition forces are "undermining efforts to find a political solution to the conflict". Jens Stoltenberg said increased Russian air force activity in Syria also is leading to increased violations of Turkish air space. Mr Stoltenberg said: "This creates risks, heightened tensions and is of course a challenge for Nato because they're violations of Nato's air space." He was speaking on the sidelines of an informal meeting of European Union defence ministers in Amsterdam. The chief negotiator of the main opposition group said its delegation is unlikely to return to Geneva to take part in indirect peace talks because of Syria and Russia's "arrogant" bombardment campaign. Mohammed Alloush, who represents the powerful Army of Islam group, said the opposition did not withdraw from the UN-sponsored talks in Geneva because it "didn't want to get blamed" for their failure. UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura said there would be a "temporary pause" in the indirect peace talks, adding the process will resume on February 25. Mr Alloush said the Syrian government and Russia were behind the failure of the talks. David St Vincent's decomposing body was found in his apartment in Bucharest almost a month ago The death of a British travel writer in Romania is being treated as suspicious. David St Vincent's decomposing body was found in his apartment in Bucharest almost a month ago, on January 12 and police initially suspected the 47-year-old had died of natural causes. However, police spokeswoman Bogdan Ghebaur said on Friday that the case has now been passed to the Bucharest prosecutors' office. St Vincent wrote about Romania, Iran and Pakistan. He was deported from Iran in 1992 while researching for his Lonely Planet book. He had lived in Romania for many years and was a founder of Accept, a group that was instrumental in the 2001 decriminalisation of homosexuality. He is survived by a brother. A funeral will be held in Bucharest on February 18. St Vincent was also an active supporter of Syrians opposing President Bashar Assad, and kept close contact with them. Eric Gilder, a friend and English teacher in Papua New Guinea, said: "He was a perfectly British eccentric in the best possible way, like a character in an Evelyn Waugh or Graham Greene novel. He will be sorely missed." Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton at a Democratic presidential primary debate in New Hampshire (AP) Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed in their first one-on-debate on the White House trail, with the two Democrats adopting a confrontational tone. Mrs Clinton accused Mr Sanders of subjecting her to an "artful smear" while he suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of America's political establishment. The two Democrats embraced a markedly more contentious tone than when they last debated before the year's presidential voting began in Iowa. It showed how the race for the nomination has tightened five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire next Tuesday. The two argued over ideas, over tactics and over who has the liberal credentials to deliver on an agenda of better access to health care, more affordable college, fighting income inequality and more. It was Mrs Clinton who was the main aggressor, saying Mr Sanders could never achieve his ambitious and costly proposals. She went after the Vermont senator for his efforts to cast her as beholden to Wall Street interests because of the campaign donations and speaking fees she has accepted from the financial sector. "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out," she said. Mr Sanders, for his part, suggested Mrs Clinton's loyalties were coloured by a reliance on big corporate donors. "Secretary Clinton does represent the establishment," he said. "I represent - I hope - ordinary Americans." Mrs Clinton may say the right things, he suggested, but "one of the things we should do is not only talk the talk but walk the walk". He added: "I am very proud to be the only candidate up here who does not have super PAC, who's not raising huge sums from Wall Street and special interests," referring to outside groups who can receive unlimited funds to support candidates. Where Mrs Clinton aimed considerable criticism at Mr Sanders, the Vermont senator focused much of his fire on what he says is a political system rigged against ordinary Americans. Mrs Clinton, unwilling to cede the issue to Mr Sanders, insisted her regulatory policies would be tougher on Wall Street than his. She said: "I've got their number, the Wall Street guys." The debate was the first face-off for Mrs Clinton and Mr Sanders since former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. The close result in Iowa was the latest twist in an election campaign that, until recently, had been dominated by the crowded and noisy field of Republicans, who spread out across New Hampshire this week. Donald Trump, who finished second in Iowa, stepped up the pace of his campaign and acknowledged he should have had a stronger ground operation in Iowa. Jeb Bush, his campaign lagging, brought in his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, who praised him as "decent and honest and everything we need in a president". The hunt for a couple suspected in a series of robberies and abductions across three states has ended with the man dead and the woman in custody after a shootout with police. Escambia County Sheriff's Office in Florida said Blake Fitzgerald died and Brittany Nicole Harper was wounded after a police chase. Authorities had linked the Missouri couple to a series of crimes in Alabama and Georgia, saying the offences fit a similar pattern as victims were robbed, kidnapped and let go unharmed, usually after a vehicle was stolen. The US Marshals Service said the couple, dubbed a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, were also suspected over at least two robberies in Florida, in Walnut Hills and Destin. Police said Harper is under armed guard in hospital and faces multiple charges including home invasion, robbery, false imprisonment and grand theft auto. No police were injured. The eventual capture of the couple started with a report of a robbery at a footwear store in Pensacola, Florida. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said a call alerted authorities and o fficers spotted the couple near Pensacola Beach. The couple reportedly held a family hostage in their home before fleeing in the family truck. He said officers pursued the truck, and followed the couple into another neighbourhood where a 15-minute stand-off with authorities took place. Mr Morgan added that officers exchanged fire with the couple as they tried to leave the truck and enter a home. He said he knows of no ties the couple had to the Pensacola area, but he had heard they were heading to Panama City to get married. Dispassionate viewers of the recent BBC Spotlight programme on Thomas 'Slab' Murphy will be left wondering just why any political party would wish to be seen to be covering for this man. The description of Murphy's IRA influence in south Armagh and beyond was an eye-opener. There were allegations that successive British Governments have turned a blind eye to republican criminality, most notably revenue evasion, to manage the peace situation. It is alleged that the IRA continue their illegal activities, which include the poisoning of the water in the various rivers as a by-product of fuel laundering and the subsequent sale of illegal fuel. Gangsters in the past have been caught by the authorities for tax evasion and this was the tactic used by the Dublin authorities to bring Murphy down. This man has been found in possession of thousands of litres of illegal fuel and his involvement in that trade should be condemned. Murphy may have paid a part in the peace process, but he played a much greater role in the campaign of terror. The Sinn Fein leadership may want to keep him close, because of what he knows of the workings of the IRA army council and past deeds of certain senior Sinn Fein personnel. Spotlight performed a public service in reminding the electorate in both Northern Ireland and the Republic what lies at the dark heart of the so-called "republican movement". It is that dark heart that needs to be examined in detail before a single vote is cast. ROSS HUSSEY (UUP) MLA for West Tyrone This is a guest post by Ali Asghar Alibhai. There is no question that the America my generation grew up in is much different than the America of now. I grew up in West Texas, a place that some might consider as among the most conservative in the country; yet, I dont ever remember my parents having to shield my ears from anti-Muslim rhetoric blasting over news channels or cover my eyes from protesters standing outside my community center openly carrying guns. I never once remember seeing a news headline on TV as ridiculous as Does Islam Promote Violence? I went to school, I was loved and nurtured by my teachers, and although I understood there were some cultural differences between myself and my peers, I never was made to feel like a social anomaly. I was raised to believe that all opportunities were available to me and my religion or race would never be a factor that could prevent me from reaching my goals. American society in a post 9/11 environment has changed drastically. The right for American citizens to feel secure has in turn quashed many other fundamental rights of all Americans especially American Muslims. For instance, the right to privacy was diminished through a call for surveillance; national borders and airports were made unwelcome by random screening or in other words a right to discriminate openly. Airplanes and public transport have all become uncomfortable for Muslims and even for those riding with them because of a false perceived notion that all Muslims are potentially dangerous. A smoke screen has been deployed in the name of national security, bolstered by politicians and the media for the past fifteen years which has made it impossible for many to draw clear lines between what is bigotry, hatred, racism, and prejudice at one end, and what is lawful vigilance, safety, and security on the other. Most of all, we have given up our basic human right to trust the goodness in one another. I now have a seven year old daughter and shes a bright girl. I know all parents think their child is the smartest, but her aptitude to analyze, solve problems, and provide compassionate solutions surprises me each day. Shes a genuinely kind and gentle human being. Being a father, I now clearly understand what people mean when they talk about childhood innocence, as I see her grow each day. Her aspirations and goals are amazing, too. Shes truly excited about life and, everyday, she wants to be something new when she grows up sometimes a writer, an astronaut, and even the President of the United States. Although I support Bernie Sanders she recently told me she would like to support Hillary Clinton because she thinks it is amazing that a woman might be the President and her husband will have to live with her in the White House. I truly admire my brewing little feminist. However, after witnessing all of this positivity and energy emanating from her, I actually get disheartened. I never imagined she would have to grow up in an America where you have actual people, running in a presidential election, who openly declare that my daughter can never be President because her religious values, her upbringing, and her integrity are somehow less stellar than those of her classmates at school, that her goodness is somehow un-American because of her faith. Because some people who lead this country openly discriminate against Muslims in their speeches and rhetoric, I worry every day that she will have to bear the burden of having to choose between how she can express herself through her faith and the opportunities that might come across her way in life. For instance, what will happen if she decides to wear a rida (the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim version of the hijab) like her mom? Will she want to wear it confidently with pride or be scared because the environment she is surrounded by is hostile to her clothing? I worry because this is the America I see now on the media each day. It is no longer that wonderful innocent environment that I remember from my early childhood days in Texas. When you have so many institutions in America openly spewing hate about you, your culture, and your way of life it isnt unreasonable to feel a certain sense of hopelessness. Most Muslims, in whatever capacity they identify with Islam, dont see any connection between their values, culture, daily lives, and religious beliefs with issues like terrorism and national security. Yet on a daily basis we are forced to hear from external entities that we are part of the violence from terrorism and that we should apologize for our faith. No matter which denomination of Islam one follows, our faith is foremost a call towards keeping good character, praying, exerting patience, giving charity, and doing good deeds. It is a way of life and gives those who choose to practice it a sense of inner peace. Yes, there are Muslims who have carried out violent attacks and justified them through their perverted interpretations of Islam but anyone with common sense knows that this doesnt account for the majority of Muslims. But because of the disproportionate misunderstanding of Muslims and Muslim culture within American society, and because of the power that fear can generate, Muslims have become the targeted culture for political scapegoating at this moment in history. Evidently, given the current political environment this isnt going away any time soon. Because of all of this, I began to feel that I might never be good enough that Zahra might never be good enough. I was suddenly truly a second class citizen, not by metaphor but by reality. When President Obama gave his final State of the Union address and called out against the bigotry and hatred being hurled at Muslim Americans by Republican presidential candidates, the looming cloud of hopelessness which had gathered in my head started to disperse. Having honestly felt the sincerity of the Presidents words I was compelled to write him and thank him for standing up for me, for Zahra, and all other Muslim Americans who love this country yet feel that their voices, their accomplishments, and their contribution to society is being deliberately masked by the current anti-Muslim climate and rhetoric in the country. My letter to the president was an abridged version of all the sentiments I have expressed here, and I specifically told him how I feel like a second class citizen. A few days ago I was walking to work. My phone is usually on silent and most of my friends know that calling me is pretty useless because its a miracle if I actually pick up. This time my phone happened to be in my hands and I saw that there was an unknown caller on the screen. I picked up and Terry from the White House greeted me and informed me that he was calling regarding a letter I wrote to the President in January. He told me that the President would like to speak about it when he visits the Islamic Society of Baltimore on Wednesday. He specifically mentioned that the President would like to mention the part where I said that I feel like a second class citizen. As you can imagine I was speechless. When I wrote to the President in January I knew that he only reads about ten letters a day, so although I was hopeful I never imagined my message of gratitude and concern about American Muslim society would make it to his desk. So it is surprising when you get a phone call from the office of the most famous and powerful man in the world saying that the President read your letter and would like to reference it in his speech. Somehow I found the poise to carry on the conversation and say that I was truly honored and of course the President may mention my letter. I expressed that what I had written in my letter was the truth of how many Muslim Americans besides myself feel. Although my letters reference might have only received a sound bite or two during the Presidents entire speech, he addressed all my concerns in his speech. Most of us Muslim Americans are worried about our children, and how they shouldnt have to struggle between identity and acceptance. They should be judged on their achievements and merits and certainly not on their personal beliefs. We dont want our children growing up in an America where they have to hide who they are or forfeit their right to self-expression. And for many of us in our third and fourth generations as Americans this country is and will always be our only home. Therefore, as Muslims, we must equally do our part to make our communities more vibrant while strengthening their weave within the fabric of American society. We have to take steps at educating our neighbors and friends about our faith and culture in whatever forms we can. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to rising bigotry and hatred, and I thank the President for helping us take the first step. Now it is up to us to find the most effective ways to bring back one of our most fundamental rights as not only Americans but as human beings and that is the right to be able to trust one another and let compassion drive our actions and thoughts rather than bigotry, hate, and prejudice. Ali Asgar H. Alibhai is a PhD candidate in Arabic and Islamic Studies at Harvard University. He works on socio-cultural history and material culture, particularly in the western Mediterranean. His project, The Arabesque, seeks to educate people about medieval Islamic history through craft. He currently lives in Cambridge, MA with his wife and daughter. The front-page of the Daily Star, Bangladeshs largest English-language newspaper, reports on the election of Sheikh Hasina (pictured) as prime minister, Dec. 30, 2008. The prime ministers son Friday called for the arrest of the editor of Bangladeshs largest English-language daily after the editor publicly confessed that the newspaper had printed unsubstantiated and military-fed allegations against his mother nine years ago. Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam this week told TV talk show News Night Xtra that army intelligence officials had prodded the paper to publish articles containing allegations of corruption against top politicians in 2007 and 2008, when a military-installed caretaker government ruled Bangladesh. The Daily Star, which celebrated its 25th anniversary on Friday, was among many Bangladeshi news outlets that printed lists with names of people who were allegedly corrupt, but Anams admission is unprecedented. It has unleashed a spirited debate about journalistic integrity in the country. Among those named in the lists were Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister, as well as Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Hasinas foe. Mahfuz Anam has admitted he published false corruption stories against my mother to defame her. He did this in support of a military dictatorship in an attempt to remove my mother from politics, Sajeeb Wazed, Hasinas son, said in a message posted on Facebook. The editor of a major newspaper running a false smear campaign to assist in a military coup is treason, Wazed added, saying Anam to this day publishes articles accusing politicians of being unethical and corrupt. Wazed then branded Anam as completely unethical and a liar. He certainly has no right to remain a journalist, let alone an editor, Wazed went on to say, accusing the editor of running false stories that, as he put it, led to his mothers arrest and 11-month detention. I demand justice, the PMs son said. I want Mahfuz Anam behind bars and on trial for treason. Anam (pictured below) declined an interview request from BenarNews to speak about his televised admission, which has caused a sensation. Courtesy of R.Dhar Courtesy of R.Dhar No other editors of large news outlets that were believed to have carried unsubstantiated content, fed to them by Bangladeshs Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), have yet to follow suit with similar admissions. This is a great mistake in my journalistic career, as an editor; I admit this, Anam said during the program that aired Wednesday night on ATN News, a privately owned satellite-based station. Interregnum A caretaker government ruled Bangladesh from January 2007 to December 2008, when Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League (AL) party was elected prime minister. On Jan. 11, 2007, the caretaker government took over the country with the militarys backing, when President Iajuddin Ahmed declared a state of emergency following months of street fighting between supporters of the BNP and Awami over preparations for the countrys ninth general election. Between October 2001 and October 2006, the Awami League led a parliamentary bloc in opposition to Khaleda Zia, who was then prime minister. In October 2006, Zias government stepped aside to make room for a caretaker government. As stipulated then by the Bangladeshi constitution, an incumbent party had to vacate office and let a non-partisan caretaker administration govern the country during the electoral period. But the first caretaker government stayed in power for two months and was replaced by a military-backed one, because it was seen as biased toward the BNP. Several days after the new caretaker government was installed, the Daily Star and its sister publication, the Prothom Alo the countrys best-selling Bangla daily published lists of allegedly corrupt people, and Hasina, her partys secretary and her cousin were arrested. Trust eroded? Anams admission so many years later has drawn mixed reactions. Journalist Tasneem Khalil, a former staffer at the Daily Star, defended Anam against Sajeeb Wazeds call for his arrest. I can understand that Wazed is writing from a deep sense of injustice, when he writes that those DGFI-planted stories facilitated his mothers imprisonment for eleven months. I, however, cannot agree with his demand that Mahfuz Anam be sent behind bars and tried for treason, Khalil said in comments posted online. If editors (and journalists) are to be sent behind bars for publishing DGFI-planted stories, then, I am afraid, the AL government will have to round up at least a thousand people from Dhaka alone, said Khalil who, in praising Anam for telling the truth, noted that he had differences of opinion with his former boss. Shameem Ara Sheuli, who heads the department of media and mass communication at the American International University of Bangladesh, thanked the Daily Star editor for his admission. He (Mahfuz Anam) has the courage to admit his mistakes. We should praise him. You have to remember that media cannot function independently in case a government is repressive, Sheuli told BenarNews. But Toufique Imrose Khalidi, editor-in-chief of Bangladeshs first online news site, bdnews24.com, and a former editor at the Daily Star, criticized Anam. The paper could have resisted pressure from army intelligence to publish dubious content because the Daily Stars financial standing nine years ago was very strong, Khalidi said. After such an admission, Mr. Mahfuz Anam, has lost his moral authority as an editor, he told BenarNews. Arshad Siddiqui, a free speech activist, described Anams past action and his admission this week as a setback for the integrity of the press in Bangladesh. His statement will surely erode the public trust on media, Siddiqui said. ein Google-Unternehmen Google-Dienste anzubieten und zu betreiben Ausfalle zu prufen und Manahmen gegen Spam, Betrug und Missbrauch zu ergreifen Daten zu Zielgruppeninteraktionen und Websitestatistiken zu erheben. 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A NINTH MONTH CONSULTS PROJECT www.ninthmonthconsults.com September Williams is a member of the National Writers Union/AWU1981 and affiliate of the International Federation of Journalists For Immediate Release, February 5, 2016 Contacts: Timothy Donaghy, tim.donaghy@greenpeace.org, (510) 325-9186 Miyoko Sakashita, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org, (510) 844-7108 Marissa Knodel, mknodel@foe.org, (202) 222-0729 Investigation Sought of Obama Administration's Approval of Shell's Arctic Drilling WASHINGTON Conservation groups have filed an administrative complaint urging the Obama administration to investigate last summers controversial approval of Shells oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea, which resulted from a rushed environmental review to meet the companys timeline. The complaint urges an investigation of the loss of scientific integrity at the Department of the Interior. The approval triggered worldwide protests against Shells drilling plans, including a kayaktivist blockade in Seattle and demonstrations during President Obamas visit to Alaska in August 2015. The complaint was filed this week by Greenpeace, the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Earth. When he took office President Obama pledged to restore science to its rightful place. In the stampede to open the U.S. Arctic Ocean to offshore oil drilling, science seems to have gotten trampled, said Timothy Donaghy, senior research specialist at Greenpeace. The complaint charges there were violations of the departments Scientific Integrity Policy in crafting the supplemental environmental impact statement for the Outer Continental Shelf Lease Sale 193. It asserts that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management rushed the supplemental analysis for political reasons to meet Shells timeline demands, thus compromising the reports quality, circumventing peer reviews, and placing a burden on BOEM staff that undermined their scientific integrity. Good science was undermined by the pursuit of profit, putting Alaskas people and wildlife at risk. We need to understand exactly how that happened and prevent it from ever happening again, said Miyoko Sakashita, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. Climate change and oil spills have upped the ante. We need to hold Big Oil accountable for flexing its political muscle and ensure scientists are free to do their jobs. Shell failed to strike oil during its drilling operations, announcing Sept. 27, 2015 that it would abandon its Arctic drilling aspirations for the foreseeable future. The Obama administration later rejected the companys attempt to extend its Arctic Ocean leases for an additional five years an action that Shell is now appealing. In December a report by the Interior Departments Office of the Inspection General concluded that BOEM scientists rushed their analysis to facilitate Shells timeline and that several employees have resigned in protest. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements lack of scientific integrity is a blatant violation of its duty to manage our oceans in the best interests of people and the climate, not fossil fuel empires like Shell, said Marissa Knodel, a climate change campaigner with Friends of the Earth. Risking turning the American Arctic Ocean into an energy sacrifice zone to boost Shells profits is shameful. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management must be held accountable for ignoring climate science when all evidence points to keeping fossil fuels in the ground. The evidence uncovered by the Inspector General shows an alarming level of deference to the fossil fuel industry, at a time when Obama needs to keep federal oil, gas and coal in the ground, Donaghy said. No one knows who our next president will be. Now is the time to strengthen the integrity of regulatory agencies tasked with protecting our environment so that they are impenetrable to fossil fuel companies motivated by profit alone. For more information and to read the complaint, visit: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/research/scientific-integrity-complaint-on-arctic-oil-environmental-impact-statement/ Greenpeace is the leading independent campaigning organization that uses peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and to promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. For Immediate Release, February 4, 2016 Contact: Patrick Sullivan, (415) 517-9364, psullivan@biologicaldiversity.org Study: Oil Industry Injections Caused California Earthquake Swarm Research Is First Study to Document Wastewater-induced Quakes in California LOS ANGELES Oil industry wastewater injections caused a series of earthquakes in Southern California, according to a new scientific study that underscores the risks of extreme oil production practices in quake-prone California. The research, published today in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, is the first scientific study to document oil industry wastewater-induced earthquakes in California. The study links a sudden surge in wastewater injection and a 2005 series of quakes near Bakersfield, Calif, that ranged up to magnitude 4.7. The authors note that considering the numerous active faults in California, the seismogenic consequences of even a few induced cases can be devastating. This study should push state officials to act immediately to protect Californians from oil industry-induced earthquakes, said Shaye Wolf, a scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. The more oil companies frack and drill, the more wastewater they inject into disposal wells near active faults. Thats an absolutely unacceptable risk in our earthquake-prone state. Wolf coauthored a 2014 analysis that found that a majority of the oil industrys wastewater injection wells are near active earthquake faults in California. The report, titled On Shaky Ground, found that oil companies are injecting billions of gallons of oil and gas wastewater a year into hundreds of disposal wells near active faults around Los Angeles, Bakersfield and other major cities. Wastewater injection volumes in California doubled between 1995 through 2014, according to a Center analysis of figures from state oil officials, and 54 percent of Californias active wastewater wells are within 10 miles of a recently active fault. The earthquakes examined in todays study occurred about 5 miles from the injection wells linked to this seismic activity. At least 350 of Californias disposal wells, which are regulated by the states scandal-plagued Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, are within 5 miles of an active fault. Our results suggest that induced seismicity may remain undetected in California without detailed analysis of local geologic setting, seismicity, and fluid diffusion, the study authors note. Scientists have concluded that injection of oil and gas wastewater can reduce the natural friction that pins faults in place, triggering earthquakes. Oil-industry wastewater disposal appears to have induced a 2011 quake in Oklahoma that injured people and destroyed more than a dozen homes, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. We need to halt extreme oil-production methods that help produce these huge volumes of wastewater and prohibit oil companies from drilling new injection wells before there are tragic consequences for people living near these faults, Wolf said. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 990,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. Imagine a world where big companies and small companies compete for the same clientele; where your budget is no longer an obstacle to success and your brand can have exposure all over the globe simply because you chose to... Galina Peshkova via 123RF Introducing Google AdWords - your one stop shop to global brand visibility on a budget. Pay per click (PPC) advertising is an internet advertising method that drives traffic to your website. It has revolutionised the world of buying and selling and eliminated the need for the dreaded cold calling and door-to-door advertising techniques. Instead, your clients or customers actually come to you. While it is not free, although Google does offer grants for non-profits, PPC is a lot more affordable when compared to traditional advertising methods, such as print and exhibitions, and provides much greater visibility and flexibility. To succeed with PPC advertising you need a few tips and tricks to ensure you beat the competition and see a healthy return-on-investment (ROI). It would also be helpful if you could read minds (if only you knew exactly what customers will be typing into those search engines). However, if you happen to be one of us mere mortals, ask yourself these seven questions before you start with PPC advertising: 1. Are your marketing goals and audience defined? As with any marketing campaign you need to know what it is you are trying to achieve before you can start with PPC. Google offers various options for advertisers to personalise their campaigns and make sure that they are targeting the right buyers. Before getting started, you will need to know what people will be typing into a search engine when searching for your product or service. Google's keyword planner is an excellent tool to use for this purpose and enables you to perform keyword research, find search estimates and see how much you are likely to pay for a click (bid estimates). Should your bid estimates look too high, take a deep breath and relax. Keep in mind that keyword bids are determined by the competitiveness of an industry - as with any bidding war; the more bidders, the higher the price will go. However, Google does not want the rich to dominate the world wide web (www). Therefore, there are many other ways for you to bring down your cost per click. Yap, Google rewards hard work and brainpower! 2. Do you have a website or a landing page? This is the most important requirement for a successful PPC campaign. If you don't have somewhere to send visitors that click on your ad, you won't be able to sell to them. A website is the perfect tool to show off your product or service and convince buyers that you have what they want. Keep in mind that the page you send visitors to when they click on your ad (landing page) has a direct influence on your keyword quality score. If your web page is not relevant to your ad, a search engine will not deliver you as a result to users. Another very important aspect is a well-structured website. As with everything in life, PPC is all about structure. If your campaigns are a mess, your return on investment (ROI) will be too. Carefully study and observe the structure of your website and setup your PPC campaigns accordingly. For example, should you have a site that sells genuine leather and pleather sandals as well as summer dresses in South Africa and Australia, you will have three separate campaigns for leather sandals, pleather sandals and summer dresses. You might, in fact, even choose to have six campaigns by duplicating each product campaign and focusing one on South Africa and the other on Australia. The reason why you would do this, is to ensure that each campaign is personalised for its specific audience, thereby enabling better results as well as a more accurate measurement of results. 3. Is your website/landing page SEO friendly? SEO is the key ingredient to any digital campaign - it's all about keywords, meta tags, captions, headings, negative keywords etc. Does it sound complicated? It might make your head spin, but basically what SEO is all about is this; when visitors land on your site, they need to immediately understand your service offering and easily navigate your site to go where they want to go. The same goes for search engine crawlers (e.g. Googlebot) that want to explore your site and match its content with user's searches. These crawlers need to ensure that relevant content is displayed and users are happy with search results. Research SEO best practice and make sure you have an SEO-friendly website or landing page as these directly influence your ad quality score - the higher this score, the easier it is to beat the competition and bring down your cost per click. 4. Have you done your research? Is your target audience actually searching for your product on the WWW? It would be hard to believe if they are not, but you need to make sure that PPC is worth your time. Use Google's keyword planner to find search volumes for the keywords related to your products. In addition, go and spy on your competitors. Look at their websites, SEO structures, keywords and ads. As the marketing guru Alex Mandossian once said: "Being original is one of the biggest threats to marketers". No this does not mean you should plagiarise or steal others ideas, it simply means you cannot implement a marketing campaign with no interest in what other industry stakeholders and competitors are doing. Being aware is how you can ensure you are staying on top. Lastly, budget research is extremely important. The whole reason why you are reading about PPC is because you want to make money and see an ROI. Therefore, you need to ensure that the budget you have available will be able to provide you with an ROI. Google allows you to spend very little, if very little is all you have. You are also able to schedule your campaigns to only display your ads at certain times. For example, if you have a business that uses freelance teachers to help children with homework and you have a limited budget it would be wise to only schedule your campaigns in the afternoons when parents will realise their children need help and search for assistance online. 5. Are you aware of what your competitors are doing? You will realise that spying on competitors is a big part of digital advertising. Simply because you have to know what your competitors are doing to attract your clients in order for you to attract your clients Look at the text in your competitor's PPC ads and see how their ads compare to yours. Ultimately, this, coupled with your ad position, is what will determine whether a user will click on your ad or not. A well written ad can be in fifth position on a page and beat an ad in first position simply because it caught a user's attention. Don't just blindly write ads, compare them with competitor ads and run split tests to see how they perform. 6. Are you ready for multimedia? If search is the only thing that pops into your head when you hear the word PPC think again. Multimedia plays a big role in PPC. Ever watched a YouTube video and eagerly waited for the seconds to tick off before you are allowed to skip an ad and go to the video? PPC allows you to advertise on different channels; YouTube being one of them. This opens up to a whole new world of advertising opportunities as you are now able to entice your audience with visual manipulation. Better yet, you can actually stalk people with PPC! Ever searched a property website and then all of a sudden found property ads popping up on Facebook and on your Gmail account? Well now the shoe is on the other foot and you can be the hunter instead of the prey. Be sure to take hold of all the different channels of advertising (display, search and video) when you setup a PPC campaign. Some enticing images and videos can go a long way towards ensuring that you are users' first choice when it comes to buying. 7. Are you willing to strategise to ensure an affordable PPC campaign? The only sure thing that can be said about PPC is that there is no sure thing about PPC. Search engines, such as Google, need to keep changing their algorithms to ensure that no one can dominate search results without working at it and being relevant. If PPC was purely focused on the highest bid, large corporates would own the WWW and small companies would be left on Page 47 of Google where no one has the time or energy to go. PPC is giving all companies a fair chance to get the leads they need and, ultimately, convert them. Therefore, you need to be prepared to strategise, study, analyse, compare and adjust to stay on top in the world of PPC. The only sure thing about PPC advertising is that a well prepared and managed PPC campaign will deliver the results you need for your business to prosper. There's a not-so-new agency in (Cape) Town. It sees the whole of 2015 as a highlight as it's the year it moved into new offices in both Rose Street, Bo Kaap and Maboneng, Johannesburg. It also won new clients in Visa, Bacardi and DGB, entered and won its first Loerie, welcomed many new faces through their doors and launched a new website . Here's why RADAR's set to be the pulse of the local brand design industry. "Great design, once seen as the prerogative of the wealthy is now an expectation of everyone, and rightly so. We believe that in this visual age, design helps to tell the brand story in a language that everyone speaks." That's the view of Kyle Sarkas, managing director of RADAR. Kyle Sarkas Haven't heard of them? Chances are you actually have, just under a different guise. In 2006, four friends left Ogilvy to launch Under the Radar (UTR), a specialist below-the-line agency. They believed that it was time to launch "a new kind of agency that backed away from its reliance on traditional media". Unfortunately, Under the Radar had been just that, operating under the radar from most of the advertising and marketing industry. But this all changed in 2012, when Jason Ray bought out his three partners and has evolved its name and offering to a full-service communications offering. The agency has been rebranded as RADAR ever since. Sarkas tells us more... 'Same same, but different' "Like any other agency, we try to solve our client's business challenges creatively," says Sarkas. But the difference with RADAR is that they're involved before most agencies are even thought of, which gives real insight into the business and its audience and enables deeper, more meaningful work. Perhaps that's why they won the Mutual and Federal account after an intense pitch process against some of the industry's biggest players, proving they punch well above their weight. They also prefer to 'grow their own timber', as much of the team has been at RADAR for a long time and grown with the agency over the years. That doesn't mean to say they're anti-new though, as they've recently welcomed many faces back into the agency when employees have gone out there and realised that the RADAR philosophy of creative autonomy isn't duplicated everywhere else. RADAR's not-so-new kids on the block It's a strategy based on being experts in their clients' business to help it grow, with the agency model structured accordingly. For example, RADAR's client service team - an integral part of the marketing team - is sometimes actually placed inside their clients' offices. In addition, as they believe in working with senior people, the studio is organised as such, with four creative directors that work with their teams in a very hands-on way. Looking back, looking forward That hands-on approach is reaping rewards - literally speaking, as RADAR entered awards for the first time in 2015 and came out smiling with their first Loerie for fashion brand COAL in the 'brand identity and collateral design' category. They wanted to create an identity that would always allow the fabric to be the hero and considered how the logo would work with the brightly coloured clothing and fabrics key to the brand. Sarkas confirms that while the playing field for the local advertising industry has become a lot larger in recent years, he still believes South Africa produces some of the most incredible work, as tends to be evidenced in the international award shows. But the buck doesn't stop there, as he's excited to see Africa making its mark in the near future, too. Cloudy with a chance of disruption Delving into that unpredictable future, at the very top of his list of industry trends predicted for 2016, Sarkas speaks of connection of customers in an industry disruptive way. "The largest taxi company doesn't own a single taxi. The biggest accommodation provider owns no real estate. The biggest media company creates no content and the crowdfunding business are expected to surpass venture capital funding in 2016." 'Disruptor' brands like Uber, AirBNB, Facebook and Kickstarter have managed to do all this through connections and we can expect more of this in the months to come. And while 2016 is set to be a year of focus for the agency, in terms of spending time and effort helping clients grow and meet their business objectives, that doesn't mean it's all about the profit as they also try to stay in touch with the community around them and focus any pro-bono work appropriately and help local businesses build their individual brands. An example of this is the 'dog fundraiser' they're holding tomorrow, 6 February 2016 in De Waal Park. It's dubbed a 'designer duds' sale, in aid of raising funds to uplift the kids' and dogs' play area. RADAR lovingly designed the artwork for the event, which includes branded frisbees, posters and even a painted fountain. All well and good, but the stand-out aspect is that they targeted the artwork at dogs, hoping their owners would pass on the message: Bring your human to our pre-loved designer duds sale, the band stand, De Waal Park, 6 February. pic.twitter.com/KGnb1a4WEK RADAR (@RADAR__Agency) January 25, 2016 That's a clever twist on the usual design mindset. Click here for more on Radar or follow their Twitter stream. German-owned global research giant, GfK, joins IAB South Africa in support of the local digital industry From next week, GfK becomes the newest member of IAB South Africa, having been approved by the IAB board. This membership demonstrates GfKs commitment to supporting the local digital industry body as a globally recognised provider of digital research and audience measurement. Alan Morrissey, head of digital market intelligence in GfK South Africa, comments, By joining the IAB South Africa, GfK is publically showing its support of the key industry body for digital media. Digital media is now a mainstream channel for brand advertising and it is important for companies like GfK to assist the industry in delivering best practices for digital market intelligence, audience measurement and research. We look forward to helping the digital industry grow in South Africa and bring digital ad spend up to where it should be. GfK has launched a suite of digital services to support South African brands, publishers and agencies in understanding their audiences and effectiveness across all digital channels. These include tracking the mobile user journey (LeoTrace Nurago), social media intelligence and analysis, qualitative online communities (Opinion Planet & Sociolog), and local polling via an African-specific online access panel (AfriPanel). For more information on GfKs full research offering, please watch the GfK video or visit www.gfk.com or follow GfK on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GfK The 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey reported a startlingly low entrepreneurial activity in the face of high unemployment rate According to the GEM report, our entrepreneurial activity dropped by an astounding 34% (from just over 10% to 7%), and 40% of our adult population is unemployed. The report, which paints a bleak picture for our developing country further indicates that SA has a high start-up failure rate when it comes to emerging economies like Brazil and India to name a few. Here's my top 10 points to consider when you start (or grow) your business: 1. Save for capital The common hurdle for most budding entrepreneurs is securing capital from financial institutes and investors, as stated by Mthandeni Mncube, a forex trader and CEO of Mzansidailyfx. He says, "I started my organisation in 2014 with $1500 (over R23,000) savings, using a strict budgeting method. I made a vow to never write a business plan because I didn't want to approach a bank for a loan. I've learned that one tends to do things differently when one's own money is at stake." To date, Mncube has secured over 60 clients. Action plan: Track your spending, eliminate unnecessary expenditure and build start-up capital. Start small, and work your way up. 2. Focus on your customers (and forget your competitors) The adage for customer service can be best described by the classic children's fable of the goose that laid the golden egg. If you don't take care of the goose (your customers), you will have limited golden eggs (revenue). It's that simple. Tip: Adhere to customer complains online as well. We live in an era where a 140-character tweet can trend and destroy a brands reputation. Mediocrity and one-size-fits-all solutions won't cut it in the business world! 3. Cash (flow) is king A healthy cash flow statement and a driven sales department are the life of any organisation. Your financial books can change from a positive to a negative balance, and your debt commitments, which were reasonable when you started, can rapidly become your worst nightmare. Rather offer below 15% of your stock on credit (which is payable after 30 days), and ensure you have enough emergency cash at your disposal should your well runs dry. Tip: Debt should be used to generation more income (buying products on credit), and never to fund your lavish lifestyle. Outsource an authorised bookkeeper to handle your books. 4. Re-define the rules Innovation has become the buzz word in entrepreneurship. But what does it really mean to be innovative? In The Art of War, the author's analogy extends past the battle field. Sun Tzu is big on winning small, easy battles before conquering the war by strategizing and creating a game plan where the odds are stacked in your favour. This will include (but not limited to) having a clear vision, prioritising important tasks and learning to say no, or delegating unimportant or low-priority tasks. 5. Invest in an amazing PR manager Bill Gates once said, "If I had one dollar left, I'd spend it on PR." Bold statement, but most small business owners find it difficult to justify hiring a PR firm. The costs are usually high, there's no guarantee that the campaign will work, and it's hard to measure success. On the flip side, a tailored campaign can expand your reach in ways you never could on your own. Clive Moagi, a PR consultant says, "Consider your budget, business requirements and the PR's past track record when it comes to delivering exceptional results." 6. Partnership Joining forces with someone who brings different attributes to your business can be seen as acquiring an asset for the business. Tokologo Phetla, co-owner at Student Investor says it's vital to not just seek a corporate partner that's in pursuit of monetary rewards, but one that's invested in your overall vision as well. Action plan: Find someone that's aware of her unlimited potential, and the flair to translate that into cash! If possible, also partner with a big, well-established company. 7. Needs vs. wants Get to a point where you've got a good understanding of your core business, the overall strategy, mission and the end goal. You shouldn't get that brand new car just because you are making a good profit. Establish the difference between getting a new BMW on credit (want), and buying good, used Toyota Corolla cash (need). This applies to office equipment as well. Action plan: Most business owners don't have retirement plans in place. Create an investment plan that will sustain you in your golden years. Decide (within reason) your basic monthly salary, medical aid and other benefits. 8. Don't follow trends There was a time when every second person I interviewed was either starting an event management, PR or catering company. And the reason? "I want to party for a living and earn big bucks" was usually the response. Just because all your peers are flocking towards an industry, doesn't mean you should also follow suit. Action plan: Is there a particular need that you can fulfil with ease? Focus all your resource on that. Success is not about how much money you make, but about how happy you are while making money. It's funny how you're bound to make more money if you are working on something you love. 9. Insurance As with PR costs, insurance is usually the last thing small business owners worry about. But what will happen when your brickmaking machine disappears in the still of the night, and you must deliver 1000 brick at the end of the week? The production of any business shouldn't be stopped due to theft or damage. Paying customers expect delivery, and not excuses. Tip: Shop around for a comprehensive insurance cover. Use services like Hippo.com 10. Diversity and trend analysis Don't invest all your time, money and energy on one business model, product or service. Once you've mastered your core business (and are doing well), mitigate your risks by introducing new products and services. Business is an art form, and doesn't require a knee-jerk reaction. Study the market and get to a point where you'll be able to predict the future. Don't be like BlackBerry, which used to be a market leader a few years ago, and is now trailing behind Apple and Samsung. Follow consumer trends, and plan for the future. Fiera Milano, one of Italy's conferences and exhibitions companies has completed the full acquisition of its South African branch, Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa (FMEA). The move will see the multinational company expand its operations in South Africa and Africa under a new strategy, as directed by the newly appointed global CEO, Corrado Peraboni. Responsible for its local implementation will be Maria Chieppa, the newly appointed GM of FMEA, and former senior executive of the listed Italian company. FMEA is a leading conference organiser in South Africa, with the fast-growing Cape Town Art Fair and the Good Food and Wine Show in Africa, in its portfolio. Chieppa says, "FMEA sees good potential for growth in South Africa. As such, we are making a R10m investment in the 2016 Good Food and Wine show to cement its position as the leading event on the country's culinary calendar. A further R8m will be invested in the Cape Town Art Fair as we elevate it to world-class exhibition levels. " Improved shows Each year, the Good Food & Wine Show takes place in three different cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban) to showcase innovations, trends, products and the latest developments in food and beverages, lifestyle gadgets, and appliances. The 2016 show dates are 27-29 May in Cape Town, 29-31 July in Johannesburg and 28-30 October in Durban. From 19-21 February, the fourth edition of the Cape Town Art Fair will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, which can accommodate the event's rapidly expanding visitor numbers and international profile. A new VIP programme will include an exclusive preview on 18 February for special introductions and assistance in the navigation of the range of galleries and projects on show. Fiera Milano is the only Italian trade fair company listed on the Italian stock exchange. Facebook hosted a roundtable with small and medium sized enterprises from Ghana and Nigeria on Tuesday this week as part of its effort to support entrepreneurship in West Africa. The session focused on how Facebook can help small businesses reach exactly the right customers - for less money and with greater returns. More than 50 million small businesses around the world actively use Facebook Pages because they're free, easy to use, and they work well on mobile. More than 2.5 million SMEs worldwide actively invest their hard-earned dollars with Facebook every month, a number that's doubled in the past two years. A growing number of them are in Africa - 54% of people on Facebook in Nigeria are connected to a small or medium business. But for Facebook, this is only the start of Facebook's potential to help small and medium sized enterprises in West Africa to thrive. Said Nunu Ntshingila, head of Africa for Facebook: "Africa is home to some of the world's most vibrant and exciting small businesses, and these enterprises are the backbone of the economy. These smaller businesses drive economic growth and create jobs that lift people to prosperity. The number one reason they succeed or fail is their ability to attract customers. As more and more people turn to smartphones and the web to discover and connect with businesses, Facebook is the best platform for African SMEs to promote their brands." Nicola Mendelsohn, EMEA vice-president at Facebook Mendelsohn, said, "Technology is driving real progress. When I visit Africa, this comes to life in every conversation and with every story I hear about entrepreneurs creating jobs and solving problems with technology's help. We're invigorated by how Ghanaian and Nigerian SMEs are using Facebook to grow brand awareness and boost engagement with their customers. We look forward to doing more to support entrepreneurs as they build their businesses." West African businesses are advertising on Facebook because it drives business objectives and sales. It's measurable, affordable, mobile and easy to do. If an SME has a Facebook Page, it is a mobile marketer, able to post once and reach clients on desktop, mobile, any device, anywhere in the world. Most small businesses can easily get going for a few dollars a month with lightweight solutions that they do with one click from their page - for example, boosted posts, promoted page likes and promoted links. Some examples of small West African companies that use Facebook to tell their stores include: Jayosbie in Nigeria is an online brand and retailer for fashion-forward men. "Facebook is significantly cheaper than other channels. Actually, it's not even comparable," says Dejuwon Isola-Osobu, founder and CEO. One recent campaign delivered 14,000 clicks for just 260$. Fabulosity Hair and Fabulosity Cosmetics deliver affordable and natural hair extensions and cosmetics for women who want to look fabulous. They attribute their growth to the flexibility of Facebook advertising. Chinenye Umeh, the founder, says she loves the flexibility and affordability of Facebook, especially the fact that she can easily turn spending up and down on a month to month basis. Skin Gourmet Limited in Ghana is a female-led producer of organic, natural and chemical free skin care products. It reports a significant return on investment in the form of more engagement and brand awareness after posting and boosting posts on Facebook. Accra Good Markets in Ghana is a pop-up event for vendors to sell their products. Facebook is its only marketing channel for reaching vendors and shoppers alike and it sees tremendous results through its posting and highly targeted advertising activity on Facebook. Akataasia Clothing in Ghana depends on WhatsApp to connect with the customer base. In 2015, Facebook held 225 events across 19 countries, reaching over 200,000 small business owners with training on how to use its platform effectively to drive sales and marketing goals. Africa will be a focus region for such events for the rest of this year. Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Facebook. Nutella S'mores Bars that are made with graham crackers, marshmallow fluff and of course Nutella! Raise your hand if you are a Nutella lover! Both hands are over my head and I'm waving them like a crazy person. Nutella is a dangerous thing to keep in my house because I just can't walk away from it. My kids love it too. My very favorite way to eat it is straight out of the jar on a pretzel. Seriously, Nutella and pretzels is the best sweet and salty combination ever. I'm celebration World Nutella Day with this AMAZING Nutella S'mores Bar recipe just for you. This recipe. You guys. This recipe! I've been super busy behind the scenes working on some big changes for Bless this Mess. Some of these changes have made me really sit down and define my brand and what I'm doing here. I love whole foods and eating well but part of me just can't let go of a perfect dessert. Balance in ALL things! Part of me thinks that doing only "real" or "whole" foods would be great but I need dessert in my life. Even if it's only occasionally, it's part of who I am and who Bless this Mess is! So today I'm sharing this pretty perfect dessert with you and I think you should make it ASAP. If you are going to eat a treat, this should be it. I love that is only makes an 8-inch square pan (instead of a 9 by 13 inch pan) because you will eat the whole thing. Consider yourself warned. These bars a sweet, rich, and amazing. The marshmallow fluff that is peaking out under the top layer of dough gets all cooked and brown. The Nutella is such a fun chocolate without being too much. The dough has graham crackers in it. This is the best S'mores recipe out there and the best Nutella recipe around. The best of two very delicious worlds. Tips and Tricks for making Amazing Nutella S'mores Bars: Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no cookie dough stuck to it. Let the bars cool before serving. If you are planning on removing them from the pan to cut and serve let them cool at least 4 hours before cutting. No Nutella on hand, replace it with cup peanut butter and cup chocolate chips. SO GOOD! How many jars of Nutella are sold every year? A jar is sold every 2.5 seconds globally. clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon heart heart icon heart solid heart solid icon Amazing Nutella S'mores Bars Author: Melissa Griffiths-Bless this Mess Total Time: 50 minutes Yield: 9 - 1 2 1 x Print Recipe Pin Recipe Description Nutella S'mores Bars that are made with graham crackers, marshmallow fluff and of course Nutella! Ingredients Scale 1x 2x 3x 9 full-sized graham crackers (1 sleeve, about 5 oz ) full-sized graham crackers (1 sleeve, about ) 1 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour + all-purpose flour teaspoon salt salt 2 sticks (1 cup ) unsalted butter, at room temperature sticks (1 cup ) unsalted butter, at room temperature cup brown sugar brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract vanilla extract 1 large egg large egg 1 cup Nutella Nutella 1 (7 oz jar) of marshmallow fluff Instructions Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and spray an 8 inch square baking dish with cooking spray, or make a foil sling and spray the foil with cooking spray (If you want to take the bars out of the pan to cut and serve I'd use the foil sling. If you plan on serving out of the dish, then you can skip that step). In a food processor or a blender add the graham crackers and blend until you have made smooth crumbs. Add the flour and salt and blend to combine. In a medium bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer add the butter and brown sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla and the egg and beat until well combined. Add the cracker crumb mixture and stir until just incorporated. Place of the dough in the bottom of the prepared dish and press it flat with your hands or the bottom of a greased measuring cup. Add the Nutella and spread if around to cover the dough. Add the marshmallow fluff and spread it around to cover the Nutella. Place the remaining dough over the top in small pieces, it's ok if you can see marshmallow fluff poking out. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with no cookie dough stuck to it. Let the bars cool before serving. If you are planning on removing them from the pan to cut and serve let them cool at least 4 hours before cutting. Notes No Nutella on hand, replace it with cup peanut butter and cup chocolate chips. SO GOOD! Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 35 mins Category: Dessert Method: Bake Cuisine: American Nutrition Serving Size: 1 Calories: 499 Sugar: 35.7 Sodium: 295.8mg Fat: 25.4g Carbohydrates: 64.8g Protein: 4.7g Cholesterol: 59.5mg Keywords: Dessert, Nutella, Treat, S'more Try some of my very favorite bar recipes: This recipe is adapted and inspired by The View from Great Island Thank you for stopping in and long live the Nutella S'mores Bars! On Wednesday, the Governors Task Force on Broadband released a report calling for a $200 million investment in rural broadband access over the next two years. Star Tribune reporter Ricardo Lopez wrote in Task force recommends $200M for rural broadband: The push to enhance high-speed Internet access in rural areas of Minnesota got a boost Wednesday when a state task force recommended that the state spend another $200 million on the effort. The report provides fresh ammunition to Gov. Mark Dayton, who has pressed legislators to provide more funding to boost broadband access in outstate Minnesota, where roughly two in 10 homes lack high-speed connections. While [$200 million] is a fraction of the total capital investment required to meet the states border-to-border broadband objective, it is an important contribution, the report said. The report said that, while the infusion into the states broadband grant program would help Minnesota achieve its goal, it would cost $900 million to $3.2 billion to fully expand high-speed Internet statewide. Dayton in December proposed $100 million for the broadband grant program, an effort legislative Democrats say they support. House Republicans have called for reforms to how the broadband grants are administered, saying Minnesota should do more to leverage existing federal funding for broadband access. GOP legislators, who hold the majority in the House, are awaiting updated budget projections later in February before saying how much they would propose for broadband, said Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, whose committee has jurisdiction over the issue. . . . Over 10,000 residents of central Shan State were forced to flee their homes due to fighting between the Shan State Progressive Party (SSP/SSA) and the Burma Army in late 2015. About half of those IDPs have been able to return home, but about 1,500 IDPs in Hai Pa IDP Camp still cannot return home said Sai Oo from Shan Youth, Yangon after members of the group had visited the camp to make donations. He said: The Tatmadaw [Burma Army] has set up camp in Tar Sarm Boo Village. The refugees cant leave [Hai Pa IDP camp] yet. Its the same in Nam Par Moung, Nam Soke, Koong Nim, and Ho Nam villages. When they went to their villages to work a government military column kicked them out. There are still landmines left in the villages, thats why these local residents are in immediate need of resettlement. He also explained that some of the IDPs are growing seasonal crops on land near to the camp. He said: The item the IDPs need most is crop seed. Sai Oo also said that a total of 1,498 residents from 298 households in these five villages are still living at Hai Pa IDP Camp, but the camp is facing problems because the owner of the land where the camp is situated wants the land back so that he can start farming it again. Shan Youth, Yangon also called on the new government to restore the ruined farmland so that it can be farmed again, remove landmines in the villages, set up no-fighting zones and solve the issues of villagers security, human rights violations and threats. The villagers from Nam Par Moung and Koong Nim villages have requested the authorities not to force them to go back home and to allow them to continue living at the IDP camp. They said that if they return to the villages they would have difficulty reestablishing their lives because their houses have been burned down, their livestock has been killed and they risk being killed by landmines and unexploded shells. Shan Youth, Yangon; Southern Shan State Youth Network; Peace and Justice Legal Aid Centre; Myanmar Peoples Alliance and the Artists Group (Taunggyi) visited the refugee camps in Mong Hsu with the peace convoy from 28 to 31 January. Translated by Thida Linn Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI It looks like you have reached this page in error ... The content you are looking for has either moved, or if you typed in the address there might have been a mistake. If you believe there has been a technical error please let us know. Most Popular Destinations In 2010 former Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (R) personally lobbied the state legislature to adopt and implement Common Core education standards across the state, but then something happened. Somewhere along the way, Bobby Jindal decided he was going to run for president. At the same time, Republicans across the country had whatever the opposite of an epiphany is and decided Common Core standards -- which only pertain to mathematics and language arts -- are some kind of liberal conspiracy. These simultaneous occurrences led Bobby Jindal to file a lawsuit against the same policy he personally lobbied for; a lawsuit that Governor John Bel Edwards will not continue. The lawsuit cost Louisiana thousands of dollars. Jindal's contract lawyer, Jimmy Faircloth, was paid at least $450,000 to represent Louisiana on the case, according to Edwards' office. After Edwards' announcement, Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry suggested he might try to keep the appeal alive. Landry said he will look into the details of the case before deciding. Louisiana is in the process of adapting a new set of standards under Edwards which may or may not actually benefit the state, but his administration won't continue Jindal's nonsensical lawsuit against the Obama administration. Jindal argued, among other things, that the federal government forced the state to adopt the standards, but that obviously wasn't the case. Jindal personally lobbied for the standards and, moreover, the standards were not created by the federal government. President Obama marked his first visit to a mosque yesterday with a speech at the Islamic Society of Baltimore in which he highlighted Islam's long history in the United States dating back to Muslim slaves brought to America before the Civil War. What you and I saw and heard was apparently much different than what GOP presidential candidate and sometimes-senator Marco Rubio heard; assuming he even bothered to listen before bleating about it. Rubio spoke to a crowd in New Hampshire yesterday where he blasted the president for dividing people with his peaceful and gracious visit to a mosque. "I'm tired of being divided against each other for political reasons like this president's done, always pitting people against each other. Always! Look at today: He gave a speech at a mosque. Oh, you know, basically implying that America is discriminating against Muslims." You don't say? "Of course there's discrimination in America, of every kind. But the bigger issue is radical Islam. And by the way, radical Islam poses a threat to Muslims themselves. They argue that. They'll tell you that. But, you just said... "But again, it's this constant pitting people against each other that I can't stand that. It's hurting our country badly." My initial reaction after reading the quote from Marco was to say he's simply pandering, but after listening to him say it I'm not so sure. He sounds genuinely angry in the way that children become angry if you take away their toys or tell them it's bedtime. He sounds petulant. "Why must you ALWAYS make me brush my teeth!" The idea of civility and tolerance itself seems like an insult to Republicans who don't know how to act if they aren't at war with someone or some thing. Suffice to say a Republican president would take office under the premise that large swaths of Americans are not real Americans or even legitimate beings. The Muslim people President Obama spoke to in Baltimore are all Americans, but to the likes of Marco Rubio they are nebulous objects and entities that should be quarantined out of sight and never so much as paid lip service. Who's really dividing America? Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) said he only just recently learned about a possible link between Flint's contaminated water and an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease, but documents obtained by the Associated Press show the state knew about it nearly a year ago. Genesee County saw 87 cases of Legionnaires' disease over a 17-month period during which time the public was never told of the outbreak; an outbreak state officials knew could be linked to the water supply. The Associated Press reports the state knew about the possible link since at least March of last year but didn't disclose it until a few weeks ago on January 13th. The outbreak was also well known within state agencies, according to emails obtained separately by the AP and other news organizations. Together, the emails offer more evidence that some state officials were dismissive of county health authorities who raised concerns about the safety of the community's drinking water. "The increase of the illnesses closely corresponds with the timeframe of the switch to the Flint River water. The majority of the cases reside or have an association with the city," Jim Henry, Genesee County's environmental health supervisor, wrote March 10 to Flint leaders, the city's state-appointed emergency financial manager and the state Department of Environmental Quality, known as the DEQ. "This situation has been explicitly explained to MDEQ and many of the city's officials," Henry said in the email that was forwarded by the DEQ to a Snyder aide three days later. "I want to make sure in writing that there are no misunderstandings regarding this significant and urgent public health issue." This comes in addition to the mountain of evidence showing state officials knew about levels of lead in the water. I could go on a lengthy spiel, but I don't think you need me to spell it out for you. This is incurious Republican governance in action. They'd export this incompetence and negligence to all 50 states if they had their way. This is their grand vision. Senate Republicans refused to add assistance for Flint, Michigan to an energy policy bill and, because of this, Senate Democrats chose to block it. Just as she said she would yesterday, Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) led the charge. Michigans Democratic senators, Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, proposed last week that Congress authorize up to $600 million in emergency aid to Flint. Most of that would be used to replace lead pipes that corroded because of a state-level decision to switch water sources; the rest would fund a center to monitor and treat the health of victims of lead poisoning. The sponsor of the energy bill, Senator Murkowski (R-AK), did not oppose the Flint aid package, but her fellow Republican colleagues did. As far as excuses go, this is pretty fucking weak. Given the fact that we have about $19 trillion in debt, I think its fair to ask, do we want to have the federal government replacing all the infrastructure put in place by cities and states all across the country? Sen. John Cornyn (R-Tex.), the No. 2 Republican leader, said last week. And I suppose the senator believes the impoverished residents of Flint are responsible for our national debt, not the wars and tax cuts he voted for. Republicans don't care if the entire city has been rendered virtually uninhabitable. Suffice to say they don't consider the people of Flint to be their constituents but there'd be no stopping them from passing an aid package if the people of Colorado Springs or Fort Lauderdale needed help. In a state known for fiscal conservatism, one small New Hampshire county is facing a financial crisis. Carroll County is looking to raise $2.6 million in additional taxes to help plug a $2 million deficit it faces after revenues were overestimated when it adopted a $29 million budget in March. The county's legislative delegation, comprised of 15 state representatives tasked with setting the annual budget that county commissioners manage, is slated to hold a public hearing on Sept. 9 to present the $2.6 million supplemental budget plan. A media report following a July 31 meeting that county officials said was "erroneous" mentioned the possibility of a bankruptcy filing as one possible solution to address the fiscal stress, which prompted the Bank of New Hampshire to freeze the country's $4.5 million tax anticipation note. Carroll County Treasurer Chip Albee emphasized that bankruptcy is not an option because the state does not allow taxing authorities to file for Chapter 9. Carroll County, with about 44,000 residents, is the state's third least-populous. It borders the northeast shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire's largest, and has several ski areas. County delegation members hope tax increases that raise $2.6 million, in order to have enough cash flow for the remainder of 2015, will convince the Bank of New Hampshire to release the remainder of its TAN money. Albee said he was able to get a partial release of the TAN on Aug. 19 after informing them of plans for a public hearing on the tax plan. A spokeswoman for the Bank of New Hampshire declined to comment on Carroll County's status, saying that the bank has a policy not to share any customer information. "The $2.6 million is an estimate of what the county needs to satisfy its obligations for the remainder of the year," said Albee, who took over the local government's lead financial role following the resignation of former treasurer Jack Widmer in April. "The county has obligations and is going to meet those obligations." Delegation Chair Karen Umberger attributes Carroll County's current struggles largely to county commissioners failing to conduct yearly audits from 2009 to 2012. A 2013 audit showed that around $900,000 was overspent. "We did not have audits for many years so we didn't know where we stood," said Umberger. "I'm not sure the commissioners were watching the books as much as they could." Moody's Investors Service withdrew its A1 rating on Carroll County in June 2012 due to "insufficient information." The ratings agency has downgraded Carroll's long-term rating from Aa3 in 2010. Albee said the county has the lowest tax rate in the state and many of its financial problems can be solved by slightly raising taxes to generate additional revenue. "The fact that we have to raise taxes now is the result of being taxed so low for so many years," said Albee, a Democrat who was assistant treasurer under Widmer. In addition to budgetary challenges, there have also been personal disputes with delegation members approving a resolution on Aug. 17 stating they have no confidence in Carroll County commissioners. County Commissioner Denny Miller resigned during a tense July 31 meeting with Carroll County delegation leaders because of ongoing conflicts with the representatives. Widmer resigned as treasurer after the delegation passed the 2015 budget, warning that the spending plan overstated revenues. "There are 10 counties in New Hampshire and none of them have any issue with bonds and TAN notes other than Carroll," said Miller. "The problems go back years and years." Miller is critical of the delegation for allowing years of missed audits and approving budgets that miscalculated revenue generated from the county-run Mountain View Nursing Home. He said the $2.6 million supplemental budget should get the county through the rest of the year, but that it will take up to two years to collect the money and may lead to the county having to borrow in the near future because of further budgetary challenges. "Nobody watched the books for five years," said Miller. "This delegation is out to lunch. They don't know what fiduciary responsibility is." Barbara Reid, a government finance advisor for the New Hampshire Municipal Association, said New Hampshire's has a strong record avoiding local fiscal distress thanks largely to the Revised Statutes Annotated Chapter 13 established in 1933, which provides state assistance to localities in need. "There are a lot of safeguards in place to prevent a municipality from even considering a bankruptcy," said Reid, who was an assistant commissioner with the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration from 1986 to 2005. "We have a lot of controls in the state." Reid added that many New Hampshire municipalities are proactive when it comes to staying on financial track with around 85 to 90% of cities and towns conducting audited financial statements even though they are not required. She said Carroll County's situation could serve as a lesson for other municipalities to make sure they are up to date on audits. The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration assists municipalities with their administration of taxes to make sure they are set at appropriate rates to generate necessary revenue. Reid also said there are state statutes that govern a local government's investments to make sure they are not too risky. James Spiotto, managing director at Chicago-based Chapman Strategic Advisors LLC, said only one of the 320 municipal bankruptcies across the country since 1954 was in New Hampshire. The one exception was the Sullivan County Regional Refuse Disposal District in 1993, a year before state law changed to not authorize bankruptcies. Spiotto said New Hampshire's Chapter 13 program has been a major reason for New Hampshire's success and that the state assistance option may be something Carroll County will want to consider depending how finances line up next year. "The Chapter 13 program has been very helpful," said Spiotto. "It's a means of arranging bridge financing and hopefully getting to the other side." Botswana Telecommunications Corporation Limited (BTCL) recently entered into a partnership with the Ministry of Transport and Communications to resuscitate the Kitsong Centres, Botswana Guardian can reveal. BTCL Public Relations Manager, Golekanye Molapisi, revealed to Botswana Guardian that, through the arrangement with the Ministry, Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) will take over the management of the Kitsong Centres. The centres will be owned and run by youth within the communities where these centres are located. This forms part of the BNYC overall strategy named Project 50, which is aimed at the creation of 50,000 jobs within five years, he said. As part of implementation process, application forms for youth selection were distributed to villages, he said. After selection, the chosen youth were trained in business management and analysis. Thereafter, handover commenced with 31 Kitsong Centers handed over to date, with the rest to be handed over by May 2016, Molapisi told Botswana Guardian. How BTCL Nteletsa 2 started In 2002, government engaged BTCL for its Rural Development Programme, Nteletsa Project. BTCL, through this project installed and commissioned 148 Kitsong Centres countrywide as part of the government rural telecommunications deployment programme. The Kitsong Centres were handed over to local Village Development Committees (VDCs) for management and day-to-day operations, on a profitability basis with a view to improving the livelihood of those communities. But due to operational challenges, this model has not been successful hence its suspension a few years ago. How Nteletsa 1 Project started BTC, in partnership with the government, first implemented the Nteletsa programme - aimed at rural and underserved communities with access to telecommunications services, in 1999 with the Nteletsa 1 project. In this project, phone sets used were powered by solar panels as most of the villages in the project were not electrified. The solar panels began to be stolen at an alarming rate. The company had to spend millions from its coffers to replace the panels. As a result, this defeated the purpose of the project and left many villages without telecommunications services. This eventually forced the corporation to replace the phones with the new FWT technology. Mascom Kitsong Centres Five years ago, as part of the countrys Nteletsa 2 Rural Development Project, Mascom came on board. 41 Mascom Centres were set up across rural villages countrywide by Mascom Botswana. The initiative was mainly established to empower local entrepreneurs with digital skills and roll out essential services to local communities. These were far flung dusty areas where ICT services were very scarce. Narrating on the journey, Mascom Chief Information Officer, Lilly Sullivan said it all started in 2010 with only 41 beneficiaries, and to-date- the beneficiaries have doubled to 94. Sullivan described Kitsong centres as the pinnacle of the companys corporate social responsibility initiatives. We have realised the need to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities and ICT is one of the ways that Mascom has successfully managed to change mindsets of communities, one village at a time.The Mascom Kitsong centre package includes a branded porta cabin equipped with computers, printers, copiers and data cards. Entrepreneurs operate the fully equipped centres to provide essential services to communities including email and internet, mobile money, airtime, SIM card, printing and photocopying. These beneficiaries are now able to run their own cafes, and overtime, she said this initiative will provide long term solutions to the communities. It has not been an easy journey. Just like any other business, she said some have struggled and have not been able to make significant returns while others have kept on despite the hardships and still survived. We urge the government and other private companies to help us make this initiative more sustainable. At least small businesses in rural areas should be reserved for the Kitsong centres, she urged. To this day, Mascom has now prioritised computer literacy and has so far trained and certified 19 Kitsong centres across the country. 19 centres have successfully completed the ICDL programme and have been certified by the University of Botswana. To date, Mascom has injected over P20million on the initiative, while the government has spent P430 000 as a grant towards the initiative. The minister of Transport and Communications, Tshenolo Mabeo last week called on other companies to partner with government to channel some of its investments towards ICT initiatives to grow the economy. Heeding to this call, Business Botswana ICT sector chairman- Neo Nwako told Botswana Guardian that as private sector they need to see broadband impact happening at a rural community level. The regulator, Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA), in April 2014 established the Universal Access and Services Fund (UASF); with an objective of facilitating an enabling environment for the development and use of communications infrastructure and services in Botswana. In relation to this, Nwako said this offers an opportunity for the private sector companies to participate. Government has proposed for the private sector to provide hardware infrastructure and digital content for the schools. Currently there is dialogue between government and private sector to ensure that all strategies are aligned. We urge the government to leave the delivery and implementation to us as the private sector to only focus on policy making which it is good at, he said. At the time of writing Orange Botswana had not yet responded on its ICT programmes. When the former president of your country pens the foreword to your book, you know youve written something special. Donald Molosis We Are All Blue is that unique volume the first time in Botswanas history that drama moves from the stage to print. We Are All Blue is a collection of two award - winning plays Blue, Black and White and Motswana: Africa, Dream Again by the renowned actor and playwright. Quett Masire, the former president of Botswana contributes a celebratory introduction. A press release from his New York based publishing company explains that auspiciously, We Are All Blue is released at the same time Botswana celebrates 50 years of independence. This year, according to the release, also sees the debut of the film A United Kingdom, which stars David Oyelowo (from the movie Selma) and Rosamund Pike (from the movie Gone Girl) and is based on courageous interracial marriage between Botswanas first president, Sir Seretse Khama and Ruth Williams. Because his exceptional play Blue, Black and White also centers on the marriage, Molosi is featured in the film (which is already generating awards buzz), the release points out. The release further says that with the release of We Are All Blue, critic Lebogang Disele writes Reclaiming Our Story, an accompanying essay on the significance of Molosis work in helping rewrite Botswanas history. The Mantle is proud to offer We Are All Blue in print and ebook forms (details below) with special features including Masires foreword, a glossary of terms, and additional notes. Blue, Black and White and Motswana: Africa, Dream Again are also offered separately in print and ebook versions, notes the press release. Blue, Black and White (2011), the longest running one-man show in Botswanas history, was the first-ever Botswana play staged off-Broadway in New York City, where Molosi won a best actor award. BBW is about the countrys first democratically-elected president, Sir Seretse Khama, and his interracial, transformative marriage. Winner of several awards, the play has been performed around the world. Motswana: Africa, Dream Again is the story of Botswana and its people as they transition from a British protectorate to an independent state. The play premiered off-Broadway in 2012 where it won an award at the United Solo Festival, the worlds largest solo theatre festival. Written, directed, and performed by Molosi, the play has been performed across the U.S. and is on tour in Botswana and South Africa. About the Books We Are All Blue paperback (111 pages, $14.95) and Kindle ($7.49) drama | African history | historical narrative 5.5 x 8.5 978-0-9965770-4-5 Blue, Black and White paperback (71 pages, $8.95) and Kindle ($3.49) drama | African history | historical narrative 5.5 x 8.5 978-0-9965770-6-9 Motswana: Africa, Dream Again paperback (31 pages, $8.95) and Kindle ($3.49) drama | African history | historical narrative 5.5 x 8.5 978-0-9965770-5-2 Lebogang Ruth Mapete has once against been crowned the best dressed woman during the Son of the Soil (SOTS) fashion parade. The parade was part of the SOTS main event last Saturday. She first entered the competition in 2014 where she also emerged victorious. The winner of the fashion parade gets a roving trophy and other gifts which are in line with the theme for that particular year. The theme for this years edition was Kwa re go yang Ke Motswana. The winners for the best dressed for both women and men are chosen by the crowd. In an interview with BG Style Mapete said she chose her dress for the event to inspire other people to be creative. Mapete stated that she was winning in this category for the third time in a row.It is just a matter of thinking outside the box. There seems to be no creativity by most people and this was to say to them you have to be more creative. I chose this attire to interpret the sub theme of the event, she said. The Jackalas No.1 born who is also a law student at University of Botswana explained that she made the design and style for the outfit. Mapete said she incorporated various Setswana cultures in her outfit. Olorato Molefinyane who took second position said her attire was inspired by her love for farming wanted to indicate that cattle by-products could benefit Batswana in many ways. Andrew Bakani won the male category with Masa Letebele taking position two. Bakani said in his attire he wanted a decoration that represented Africa. Letebele stated that the reason behind his outfit was to impress at the event. All winners attires were designed by locals. An Indian naval ship during the final rehearsal of the International Fleet review. Prez Pranab Mukherjee will review a fleet of nearly 70 naval ships including foreign ones on Feb 6. A PTI photo. VISAKHAPATNAM (PTI): The Eastern Naval Command is all geared up to host the International Fleet Review (IFR) in Bay of Bengal off Visakhpatnam coast, a mega event that will witness participation from nearly 50 countries. Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) Vice Admiral Satish Soni said the command is fully prepared to conduct the four-day event which began on Thursday with participation of foreign and Indian ships and foreign chief of the naval staffs from various countries. Talking to reporters on Board INS Sumitra after the rehearsal of the IFR Wednesday, the Vice Admiral said 50 countries have already confirmed their participation and 90 ships, including 24 warships from foreign countries and 24 foreign naval chiefs will take part in the Fleet review. He said 70 to 75 helicopters of various types, including hawk jet fighters, will exhibit their talent and demonstrate in the Bay of Bengal. Supreme Commander of the armed forces, Indian President Pranab Mukherjee will embark on Presidential yacht, INS Sumitra after inspecting the guard of honour which will be presented by 150 naval personnel on IFR on February 6. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parikar, Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimham, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Cabinet ministers, state Cabinet ministers and chief ministers of more than 10 states, all chiefs of armed forces, Chief of naval staffs, retired chief of staffs and a host of delegates across the country will also take part in the fleet review. Soni said the VIPs would review the fleet of participating Indian and foreign ships which will be anchored in six columns and the naval personnel standing on anchored ships on both the sides of Sumitra would salute the President in the traditional manner. He said the Indian Navy is organising the event for the first time in the east coast here and second time in the country. The first IFR was organised in Mumbai in 2001. During the rehearsals on Wednesday, the helicopters of Indian Navy, coast guard exhibited their talent including the rescue demonstrations by the naval personnel form a Chetak helicopters that thrilled the audiences. The main idea of conducting the IFR is to unite the navies through ocean - the main theme of the Navy, Soni said, adding that the exercise would strengthen the friendship between friendly countries. Vice Admiral Soni inspected the arrangements being made at the beach road. The galleries on beach road accommodate 20,000 spectators and the beach sands 1.5 lakhs people. According to a statement issued by the ENS, evening of February 7 will witness the operational demonstration followed by the International City Parade which would include marching contingents and bands from the Army, Navy and Air Force and Coast Guard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the gathering and also release a book on the maritime heritage of India. Chief Minister Naidu would lead citizens in paying homage to the martyrs of the 1971 war at the War Memorial in a solemn wreath laying ceremony at RK Beach. He will also inaugurate a maritime exhibition, one of the biggest events of its kind which will showcase various entrepreneurs in the maritime domain. On February 7, a two-day international maritime conference would be inaugurated by Defence Minister Parikkar on the theme 'Partnering together for a secure maritime future', the statement said. The activities of IFR will conclude on the evening of February 8 with a joint international band concert at the naval officers institute followed by a closing ceremony. City Police Commissioner Amit Garg told reporters on Monday that elaborate security arrangements have been made with 15,000-strong police force deployed at event venues. Police have prohibited all non-governmental agencies, organisations and individuals launching Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones in the city from January 27 to February 9. A calf has found fame in Western Australia thanks to his unique colouring and of course the internet. A picture of the young cow was uploaded to an Australian facebook called Central Station after farm workers realised an exact map of Australia was marked on his hide. Fianna Fail will not be campaigning as a political party to repeal the 8th Amendment to the Constitution, Micheal Martin said today. It is expected there will be growing demands after the General Election to reform the law relating to abortion in Ireland. Gerry Adams has claimed the Taoiseach believes the Irish people "are stupid". The Sinn Fein leader has said that is the only way to interpret Enda Kennys refusal to take questions on fiscal space earlier this week - when the Taoiseach said he wanted to avoid jargon. Sinn Fein has called on the three major parties to withdraw their manifestos, saying it has exposed an error in their calculations. Adams has said Kenny's refusal to discuss the finer details only means one thing. The Taoiseach refuses to even answer questions on this (fiscal space) because he claims and I quote Im not going to get into economic jargon which the vast majority of people do not understand, said Adams. So there you have it, according to the Taoiseach the people are stupid. The Green Party is taking legal action against RTE for excluding Eamon Ryan from its leaders debate. A hearing has been penciled in for Monday, a week before the live debate is due to be televised. The Greens representation in the Dail was wiped out in the last General Election, with all six of its TDs losing their seats. This time round, the party is fielding candidates in every county. Eamon Ryan has said he should be invited to join the other party leaders for a live televised debate, which is due to be broadcast on RTE on Monday week. The Dublin Bay South candidate was not invited to take part because of the partys failure to meet the criteria set down by the broadcaster, which requires a party to have a minimum representation in the outgoing Dail. The party engaged with both RTE and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland but felt it was left with no choice but to seek relief from the courts. Earlier, the High Court paved the way for a judicial review to be heard on Monday. The Irish Association of Social Workers is calling for a minimum 30% increase in the number of social workers. There are currently 1,400 social workers across the country and the group has said they need at least 300 to 400 more. A man who suffered burn injuries on board a Russian factory ship has been airlifted to hospital in Cork. The Irish Coast Guard was contacted earlier today and advised of the incident on the 344ft (105m) long Armenak Babaev, a fishing factory trawler. At the time, the vessel was about 370kms west of Valentia in Kerry and the captain was requested to make way towards the Irish coast. This was to ensure the vessel was in range of the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter Rescue 115 when it took off to rendevous with it. The helicopter crew left Shannon Airport at 2.20pm and stopped at Kerry Airport in Farranfore to take on additional fuel before heading out to sea. While the helicopter was refuelling, an Air Corps CASA CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft was scrambled to provide top-cover. Top Cover is required for long distance helicopter communications and is where another aircraft relays radio communications between the helicopter and the Irish Coast Guard on shore. At 3.30pm, Rescue 115 departed Kerry Airport and routed west to meet with the ship which by then was within 150 nautical miles (278 kilometres) of the Irish coast. The injured man was airlifted at around 5.45pm and flown to Cork Airport where an ambulance was standing by to take the casualty Cork University Hospital for medical attention. The operation was coordinated by the Coast Guard Rescue Coordination centre in Valentia. According to the Coast Guard: "It is understood that the patient suffered burn related injuries in an engine room accident." Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ruled out a deal with any independent TDs in order to secure power. Singling out Michael Lowry, Mr Kenny said his aim was to return the outgoing coalition. I will not have any dealings with Michael Lowry, or any other independents, the Taoiseach said. Taoiseach @EndaKennyTD arriving at @RTE for interview at 8:40am. Tune in here https://t.co/N74t4DVh7F pic.twitter.com/HxlNVxQH3R Morning Ireland (@morningireland) February 5, 2016 The question of Mr Lowry being a powerbroker in a potential Fine Gael-led coalition has been left unanswered by the Taoiseach since it was raised at his partys Ard Fheis last month. Mr Kenny told RTE's Morning Ireland: My proposition is the return of the Fine Gael-Labour government. Pressed on being forced into a deal with any independent TDs, Mr Kenny added: In that eventuality, and I dont foresee that eventuality, any deal done between Fine Gael and Labour or between Fine Gael or anybody else would of course be published accountable and transparent, fully. This is about people and their lives and their country. Mr Kenny will continue in his role as Taoiseach during the General Election campaign and is due to meet King Abdullah the 2nd of Jordan this morning. He will then appear in Mallow, Co Cork later this afternoon. You can listen to the interview in full below. By Declan Rooney Galway full-forward Adrian Varley believes that their crunch Allianz League Division 2 clash with Tyrone on Sunday will test whether or not they are ready to take their place in the top flight. Varley found the net in Galway's 3-12 to 1-10 victory over Laois in week one, but has predicted a much tougher task when Mickey Harte's side come to Pearse Stadium in Salthill on Sunday. Varley, one of five of the 2013 All-Ireland U-21 champions to play for Galway last weekend, admitted the Tribesmen have been hugely boosted by their away win in Laois, and that two points against the Ulster side would be a massive achievement. Everyone knows how much Tyrone seem to be improving after last year. They are just a real powerful team, said Varley. Along with Donegal they are probably one of the best teams in Ulster again. They have some great young players coming through too and we are expecting a real serious game. This will probably be the toughest game we'll have in the league this season so we have to be ready for it. We'll need to hit the ground running against them. Two wins would be a great start, said the Cortoon Shamrocks attacker. Another one of that successful U-21 team is Damien Comer, and his two goals were key in that win at O'Moore Park. Varley regards Comer as a real talent and the duo have struck an excellent understanding in the full-forward line. But he also is well aware that Galway will likely need to get on a decent run of form if they are to gain promotion. Loose periods of play will be severely punished, he says. We were disappointed that we let Laois get a few silly points and they got a soft goal, but that happens. We still won comfortably enough, but we'll have be a good bit tighter against teams like Tyrone. That just won't do against them. It was important that we got off to a good start in the national league and we went up to Laois with a very poor record against them, but thankfully got off to a winning start. Away games can be very difficult to win in this division. We've had a few terrible runs in the last couple of years we were beaten by 15 points in Portlaoise a few years ago, so we know how important it is to have two points in the bag. Myself and Damo (Comer) have played together for a good few years now. We were on the same U-21 team in 2013 when we won it so we built a good understanding since then. But game by game we are improving too, and hopefully we can improve against next time against Tyrone, he said. Japan is set to deport the star of an Oscar-winning documentary which showed how dolphins were hunted in a Japanese village, more than two weeks after he was detained at a Tokyo airport. Ric OBarrys lawyer and his son Lincoln OBarry said today that an appeal against a decision by Japanese immigration officials to deny OBarry entry has been turned down. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remained inside the Ecuadorian Embassy today, launching an attack against the UK government for its insulting response to a UN working group report on his detention. UK foreign secretary Philip Hammond branded the working groups findings on the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange as frankly ridiculous and said the Australian was hiding from justice. One person has died and two others are seriously injured after a crane collapsed in New York City, smashing the roofs of parked cars. The crane landed across a road junction and stretched much of a block in the Tribeca neighbourhood of Manhattan, about 10 blocks north of the World Trade Centre. There was damage to the roof of a nearby building, and debris littered the street. The UK government is facing fresh pressure to resolve the case of Julian Assange after a United Nations working group confirmed that the WikiLeaks founder is being arbitrarily detained in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called on the Swedish and British authorities to end Mr Assanges deprivation of liberty. The panel added that the authorities should respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement. Mr Assange has been living in the embassy for more than three years after being granted political asylum by the Ecuadorian government. He is wanted for questioning over an alleged sex offence in Sweden, which he denies. Mr Assange believes he will be transported to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited to Sweden. There is an espionage case against him in the US. He filed a complaint against Sweden and the UK in September 2014 which has been considered by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, said Seong-Phil Hong, who heads the expert UN panel. The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Mr Assanges legal team is due to give a news conference in central London later today. A statement issued in Geneva by the UN panel said: In its official opinion, the UN Working Group considered that Mr Assange had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty - initial detention in Wandsworth Prison in London, followed by house arrest and then confinement at the Ecuadorian embassy. The experts also found that the detention was arbitrary because Mr Assange was held in isolation at Wandsworth Prison, and because a lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutors Office in its investigations resulted in his lengthy loss of liberty. The Working Group established that this detention violates Articles 9 and 10 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and Articles 7, 9(1), 9(3), 9(4), 10 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. LAHORE: While there is no let up in the spread of dengue, the Punjab government has increased the number of beds for... LONDON: Liz Truss said on Thursday she would resign as British prime minister, brought down just six weeks into the... It was Scotty and Nige for years. Now it's Nige. Just Nige. Nigel "Nige" Johnson returns to the Canberra radio airwaves on Monday, in the drive shift on MIX 106.3. Nigel 'Nige' Johnson returns to Canberra airwaves on Monday. Credit:Thierry Nguyen Cuu Johnson has been on leave since he quit his breakfast shift on sister station 104.7 last November. His resignation followed the earlier dumping by Canberra FM of his long-time partner on the breakfast shift, Scott "Scotty" Masters. Johnson said at the time the loss of Masters had been a "game-changer" for him. The duo presented breakfast on 104.7 for eight years, helping the station to get to the top of the ratings pile. Johnson, in fact, has been a familiar voice on Canberra radio for more than 18 years, broadcasting on nearly every shift from midnight to dawn. A media release heralding Nige's return to the airwaves was upbeat about his new job and full of the usual wisecracks. "I'm almost out of money to buy cat food and video games, so it's time to come back to work. And this time I'm on MIX 106.3, so I'll be playing music we can all get behind," he said. The four AFL clubs with banned former Essendon players have been refused the right to replace them this year. The AFL has ruled that Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs and Melbourne will not be permitted - as Essendon have been - to contract replacements to cover for their losses. Essendon were permitted to sign up to 10 top-up players to cover for the 12 who had been banned for the year by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The AFL canvassed the remaining AFL clubs for their view of the bid by the four clubs to be given access to replacements. The clubs varied from the stridently opposed to those who didn't care. The movie version of The Big Short is so good you probably don't need to read the best-selling book by my far-and-away favourite finance writer, Michael Lewis. If you want to go deeper than the events culminating in the global financial crisis of 2008 to a more systemic analysis of why we've had so much trouble with the financial system and will continue to unless we change the rules more radically than we have, I recommend you read Other People's Money, by a leading British economist, Professor John Kay. The economic view from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, hasn't always been clear. Credit:John Locher It's required reading for the nation's economists but, although it's very thorough, it's eminently readable by ordinary mortals. Similarly, although it doesn't deal specifically with Australia's financial system, its analysis is more readily applied to Oz than a book more focused on Wall Street. Kay was in Australia this week, and when I spoke to him he left me in little doubt that he wasn't wildly impressed by our financial system inquiry, conducted by a panel dominated by people from the industry and led by former Commonwealth Bank boss, David Murray. Mr Costa, who has been a prominent figure in the industry for more than six decades, said he was shocked to hear of the contamination which stemmed from lettuce grown by the Ruffo family-owned Tripod Farmers and sold in Coles, Woolworths and other grocers . Frank Costa says Australia's entire fruit and vegetable industry should remain vigilant to safeguard the country's reputation as a clean and green food producer. Credit:Jessica Shapiro A salmonella outbreak linked to popular pre-packaged lettuce is a "great concern" for Australia's $8.6 billion fresh fruit and vegetable industry and could undermine the nation's enviable clean and green reputation, says horticulture doyen Frank Costa. He said he had never heard of such an outbreak, which has already put two people in hospital. "We take great care in everything we do here but then I'm sure the other companies dealing in fresh produce are also quite vigilant so I don't know how this could have happened," Mr Costa said. "It is a great concern for the whole industry and the industry will be doing everything in its power, as we will be as individuals, to make sure we check, check and double check all of our business." Metcash, Coles and Woolworths had pulled all Tripod Farmers product from their shelves on Friday as shoppers took to social media to vent their anger that the major chains had sold salmonella-tainted lettuce. The recall extended to beyond the major grocery chains, with Lite n' Easy and Aussie Farmers Direct confirming they had used Tripod products in their home deliveries. Former Los Angeles police officer turned sex-toy magnate Steven Shubin is suing former Gold Coast porn king Jos Schoonenberg for allegedly stocking counterfeit products that are being passed off as Shubin's "Fleshlight" range. Mr Shubin and his company, Interactive Life Forms, have filed action against Mr Schoonenberg and his Sexy World adult stores chain in the Federal Court in Sydney, alleging breaching the intellectual property of Interactive Life Forms' products. Steve and Kathy Shubin, CEOs of sex toy company Interactive Life Forms. Mr Schoonenberg is perhaps best known in business circles for his brief stint as chief executive of ASX-listed Big Kev's Ltd, the company set up by cleaning products entrepreneur and 1990s infomercial favourite "Big" Kev McQuay. Mr Shubin is the inventor of the Fleshlight, which is one of the world's most successful male sex toys, with over 7 million sales world-wide. Concerns about Whitehaven Coal's ability to reduce its debt in a challenging market have overshadowed a strong operational first half result from the coal miner. Whitehaven swung back into the black in the first half of the 2016 financial year with a net profit after tax of $7.8 million. The miner reported an interim loss a year earlier of $77.9 million, weighed down by $65.5 million in write-downs. Whitehaven expects its financial position to continue improving over the next three years. Credit:AP The return to profit was driven by a 55 per cent increase in coal sales to a record 7.3 million tonnes and a weaker Australian dollar which together pushed sales revenue up 54 per cent to $574.3 million for the half. Despite the strong results that either met or exceeded the company's guidance, shares in Whitehaven sank 7.9 per cent to 41 after debate among analysts on whether the miner will struggle to pay down its debt over the next few years. The Productivity Commission says Australia spends twice as much on programs and services for Indigenous people than the rest of the population. But how much of this is absorbed internally by government administration and how much actually reaches the ground? Many people think that there are just one or two "big-ticket" policies in Indigenous affairs but, when you look into the machinery of government, there are many, many more. Remote Indigenous communities of fewer than 1000 people are contending with up to 80 different programs. Each of these programs has its own policy and objectives. The people implementing them are typically well intentioned and confident that they are making a difference. But are they really? Many people think that there are just one or two "big-ticket" policies in Indigenous affairs, but there are many, many more. Breaking things down even further to commonly targeted groups, say disengaged youth, there can be up to 10 different programs working to assist a mere 50 young people. In the one fortnight, a 15-year-old can be dealing with 10 different providers who do not co-ordinate well, each pulling him or her in different directions. Each program has its own outcome measures but they combine into complex policy hybrids. As they can't control for the effects of other programs, it's impossible to clearly attribute success. They gathered at the Beverly Wilshire, the men in tuxes, the women draped in evening gowns. The finest black talent in Hollywood was there that night in 2002, Quincy Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, James Lassiter, Doug McHenry and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs among them. It was an annual gathering held at one posh hotel or another on the eve of the Academy Awards. Officially, it was called the Tree of Life Awards. But most people called it by its informal name: the Black Oscars. Will Smith was honoured at the Tree of Life Awards for his title role in Ali. "It was always a celebration of what accomplishments black people had done in the film industry," said actress and director Debbie Allen, who was honoured by the Black Oscars and its sister event, the Black Emmys. "Sound, music, directors, actors, whatever your participation was, you were honoured." The annual event was launched in 1981 at a time when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rarely recognised black achievements. By that time, only 27 African Americans had been nominated in the 52-year history of the Oscars, with only three winning. The Tree of Life Awards ended in 2007. Government-appointed scientists have defended the use of monkeys for biomedical research as essential to developing life-saving treatments for humans and dismissed accusations of cruelty and incompetence in Australian facilities. Neuroscientist Associate Professor James Bourne told a Senate committee hearing that banning the importation of "non-human primates" - as proposed by a Greens bill currently before the Parliament - would undermine the work of researchers. Last week, Fairfax Media revealed evidence of secretive experiments across Sydney and the apparent cover up of a kidney transplant from a pig to a baboon that had to be put down. "Primates are critical to biomedical research targeting the cause, progression, prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases," Professor Bourne, a member of the research committee in the government's National Health & Medical Research Council, said on Friday. Australia could soon have its first woman fighter pilot and is likely to have at least five women in the cockpit of the Joint Strike Fighter when the cutting-edge warplane comes into operation at the start of next decade. The Chief of the Air Force, Air Marshal Leo Davies, told Fairfax Media he was witnessing an "evolution" in attitudes towards women becoming fighter pilots nearly 30 years after the elite RAAF role opened to women. Women have been eligible to become RAAF pilots since 1987, but fighter jet cockpits have nonetheless remained the RAAF's last all-male domain, Air Marshal Davies said, akin to the army special forces or navy clearance divers. The RAAF has one "fast jet trainee" at the NSW Williamtown base with 76th Squadron, training on Hawk jets. She is "progressing well", he said. In the mid-1970s, young Australian photographer Robyn Beeche left Sydney for London and found herself amid a community at the forefront of counter-culture. The young photographer revelled in the fashion and music clash between post punk and the New Romantics and began to produce images that drew the attention of influential creatives such as David Bowie, Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood, Leigh Bowery and Divine many of whom she would go on to collaborate with. A retrospective of her striking photographs and collaborations is on now at Sydney's Black Eye gallery. The works are all pre-photoshop, highly stylised in-camera creations, often featuring trompe l'oeil style painted bodies. Perhaps her most iconic concept, the "puritan", inspired David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes film clip. From "Robyn Beeche 1945 2015" Retrospective show, on at Black Eye Gallery, Sydney. Credit:Robyn Beeche "Much of Beeche's work of the 1970s and 1980s sits in its own place between fashion photography and art photography. For me there's an interesting tension in her work between the image as decoration and the image as portraiture ... " National Gallery of Australia curator Anne O'Hehir said. Mid-career, Beeche's work took a new turn when she was drawn into the vibrancy and ecstasy of the Holi festival in India. The colours and life she witnessed triggered a realisation that she need not create imaginary worlds in the studio as they were to be found in everyday life. For three decades she lived in India and documented scenes of Indian rituals. The exhibition features the contrasting style of work from both periods. A former head of the NSW farming lobby's youth arm has warned the agriculture industry risks reputation damage akin to that suffered after the live cattle exports scandal if the state government proceeds with controversial new land clearing laws. Josh Gilbert, who quit as the chairman of NSW Young Farmers last month, says proposed laws which shift land clearing rules towards self regulation meant "Australian agricultural branding is at huge risk." Josh Gilbert, pictured here with fellow farmer Anika Molesworth, has warned land clearing laws may damage the agriculture industry's reputation. Credit:Lisa Maree Williams "Perceptions are reality and having farmers being able to self-assess whether it's good practice to knock down certain trees even with clear industry guidelines we know that those aren't always followed," he said. "The live [cattle] export issue that we saw was one example. There were several isolated incidents that led to a huge overnight stoppage of one sector." NSW Labor's left faction is pushing for a broad-based land tax to be considered at its annual conference as an alternative to calls by Premier Mike Baird and others for GST increase. Left faction delegates to next weekend's state conference have agreed to push for a resolution to be placed on the agenda, with the specific wording to be thrashed out inside the party this week. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with media adviser John Garnaut. Credit:Andrew Meares An article in the left's Challenge magazine, due to be published next Saturday, argues a broad-based land tax is "a natural replacement for the hated stamp duty on conveyancing". The article says land tax is "inherently progressive", as opposed to taxes like the GST which "disproportionately punish low- and middle-income earners". The state government has decided to extend for another year a ban on all new pub and club licences in Kings Cross and Sydney's centre. The NSW Deputy Premier and Justice Minister, Troy Grant, said the government had decided to extend the ban while it reviews the O'Farrell government's sweeping 2014 changes to trading hours for pubs and clubs. NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant says the freeze will allow a state government review to run consistently. Credit:Dallas Kilponen. "We want [] to have certainty and confidence that nothing will change while we conduct this major review," Mr Grant said. The Baird government begins this month its review of the lockout laws which forbade licensed venues from accepting new patrons after 1.30am and serving alcohol at 3am. A Canadian man detained in Brisbane after fighting against Islamic State militants in Syria says he won't fight his deportation. Robert Somerville, a friend of Australian anti-IS fighter Ashley Dyball, was detained on arrival in Brisbane on Tuesday, and said it was because he failed to declare the Kurdish name foreign fighters are given by the Kurdish soldiers they fight alongside. Robert Somerville in battle fatigues in Afghanistan. Credit:Facebook He has used a Facebook post to say he'll be deported from Australia at 11.30am on Friday. Mr Somerville said he'd been advised he could challenge the grounds for his deportation, but if he lost he'd face hefty legal bills. One of Australia's most senior Anglican leaders says evidence suggests boys were traded interstate by pedophiles linked to the church. But Brisbane archbishop Phillip Aspinall said whether there was a "ring" of sex abusers operating during the 1970s, `80s and `90s is a matter for the royal commission to decide. Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall: "Certainly there were abusers who knew each other." Credit:Robert Shakespeare The leader of the Brisbane diocese, who boasts a near-life-long association with the church which started as an eight-year-old member of the Church of England Boys' Society (CEBS), on Thursday gave evidence at a public hearing in Hobart. "Certainly there were abusers who knew each other," Archbishop Aspinall said. Two of the three major parties contesting the Brisbane City Council election have pledged to close the Victoria Bridge to all car traffic, following the Greens' commitment on Friday to convert it to a "green bridge". Greens lord mayoral candidate Ben Pennings said the plan, which the party had costed at $40 million, would solve bus congestion at a fraction of the price of the Liberal National Party's metro plan. One of the proposals involved increasing the capacity for buses on Victoria Bridge Credit:Harrison Saragossi Lord Mayor Graham Quirk announced his $1.54 billion "Brisbane Metro" election commitment, which would also close Victoria Bridge to car traffic, on Sunday. Under the Greens' plan, two extra platforms would be built at the Cultural Centre bus station, which would separate South East Busway services from buses that travelled between West End and New Farm or Teneriffe. Police and family hold grave concerns for a three people missing from the Logan area, saying their behaviour is out of character. Lelan Harrington, 23, was last seen on January 25 at a residence in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, and has not made contact with family and friends since. The bodies of Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru were retrieved from the submerged box. Credit:QPS Police believe Mr Harrington may be with Cory Breton, 28, reported missing on January 29 from the Logan area and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, reported missing on February 1 from Marsden. Mr Breton, is described as about 173 centimetres tall with a slim build and has brown hair and blue eyes. Ms Triscaru, is described as about 165cm tall with a solid build and has dark brown hair and brown eyes. Police are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst in their search for three people missing from Logan. Lelan Harrington, 23, was last seen on January 25 at his sister's house in Logan, south of Brisbane, and has not made contact with family and friends since. The bodies of Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru were retrieved from the submerged box. Credit:QPS Police believe Mr Harrington may be with Cory Breton, 28, reported missing on January 29 from the Logan area and Iuliana Triscaru, 31, reported missing on February 1 from Marsden. Neither have been seen or contacted family since January 24. Schools across Queensland, from the Gold Coast to the far north, have had classes disrupted by a series of bomb hoaxes this week. In total 22 schools had classrooms evacuated, emergency procedures implemented and police searches after threatening calls, believed to come from overseas, were made. Buddina State School was evacuated after an alleged bomb threat Credit:Sam Cucchiara On Tuesday, Surfers Paradise State School, Caningeraba State School, Oxenford State School, MacGregor State High School, The Gap State High School, Buddina State School, Townsville State High School, Bounty Boulevard State School, Glenmore State High and Woree State Primary School in Cairns all received threatening calls. It was one of the warmest days of the year and several students at Macgregor State High School were treated by paramedics for heat-related illnesses. Five were taken to hospital. Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt has ruled out taking electricity rebates away from more than 100,000 seniors to put downward pressure on power bills. Mr Pitt poured cold water on the idea after earlier this week saying he would consider a Queensland Productivity Commission recommendation to take the annual $320.97 rebate away from people over 65 who held a Queensland Seniors Card, which wasn't means-tested. Treasurer Curtis Pitt has poured cold water on a recommendation to remove electricity rebates for Seniors Card holders. Credit:Joe Armao "We will always listen to stakeholders and the Palaszczuk government will always do its best to look after the interests of our pensioners and low-income earners," Mr Pitt said. AAP Parts of central Queensland could be in for major flooding, with the weather bureau tipping some areas could receive their entire February rainfall in just 24 hours on Friday. Parts of the Wide Bay and central Queensland have already experienced moderate flooding over the past week, with a number of swift water rescues performed after motorists tried to drive through swollen creek crossings near Bundaberg and Childers at the weekend. A 68-year-old man also drowned when his car washed away in flood waters at Saint Kilda, about 70 kilometres west of Bundaberg, in the early hours of Sunday. Heavy rainfall returned on Thursday and another motorist was rescued from the roof of his car at Apple Tree Creek about 7.30pm, the same crossing where five people and a horse were rescued when a car towing a horse float became stranded in the early hours of Sunday. The mother of of a young woman brutally murdered by her hammer-wielding mother-in-law during an "uncontrolled fit of rage" has been awarded $110,000 in compensation. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye on Friday ordered the mother-in-law, Huajiao Zhuang, to pay Dan "Selina" Lin's mother, Shui Ying Cheng, the sum of $110,000 for her pain and suffering. Huajiao Zhuang was jailed in August 2014 for 18 years with a minimum of 13 years. Credit:Justin McManus JZM Ms Cheng has already been paid $15,000 under the Victims of Crime Assistance Act. Justice Kaye said Ms Cheng, who travelled from China to Melbourne after the murder to help her son-in-law take care of her grandson, had told how "ever since her birth, she [Selina] has been my whole life". A Perth father accused of sexually abusing his 13-year-old daughter over two years and offering her to several other men has pleaded guilty to more than 200 charges. The man, who cannot be named, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from Hakea Prison, charged with 230 offences. A perth dad has pleaded guilty to abusing his teenage daughter and offering her up to a WA paedophile ring They include 148 counts of indecently recording a child under aggravated circumstances, 19 charges of indecent dealings with a child under 13, and eight counts of sexual penetration of a child under 13. The man will face a sentencing hearing for 228 charges in the West Australian District Court on April 1. Jakarta: Swedish furniture giant IKEA has lost the right to use its own brand name in Indonesia after a legal battle with a local company that claimed the trademark, court documents released earlier this week showed. The court decision could make foreign companies even more cautious to invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, which is already growing at its weakest pace since the global financial crisis. The Swedish furniture giant has lost a trademark dispute in Indonesia's highest court. Credit:AP "The clear message is that any business wanting to open up in Indonesia has to be very careful to register all its trademarks so they don't get hijacked," said Keith Loveard, head of risk analysis at Jakarta-based Concord Consulting. "It's the fact of the law that you have to cross every 't' and dot every 'i'," he said. Atlanta: A couple suspected in a series of robberies and abductions in Alabama and Georgia also are suspects in the theft of guns from a Missouri house a few days before the crime spree, police said. The case has drawn comparisons to the famed Bonnie and Clyde, an outlaw couple in the US who embarked on a multi-state rampage while taunting authorities during the 1930s. Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Harper. Credit:Hoover Police Dept. Police in Joplin, Missouri, wanted to interview suspects Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Nicole Harper about the January 22 break-in, "but they obviously left the area", Joplin police corporal Chuck Niess told The Associated Press on Thursday. "I guess they see themselves as some kind of modern-day Bonnie and Clyde," said Captain David James, of the Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Office in Missouri. "They seem to be getting more and more desperate." Latest News Australia's record property market run comes to an end PEXA NSW sees the largest declines in both property sales volume and aggregate value MFAA offers cybersecurity resources to members Optus data breach a 'wake-up call' for businesses An award-winning broker has published a book for Chinese investors about investing in Australian property.The book, authored by Ren Wong , managing director of N1 Finance, was published in December and is now available at bookshops in China as well as major online retailers in China, such as Amazon.cn. It is written in Chinese, but the title translated to English is House is not Banana.Speaking to Australian Broker, Wong who also launched the first Chinese language mortgage comparison site, chengdai.com.au said the book aims to help the growing number of Chinese foreign investors avoid pitfalls in the Australian real estate market.Chinese foreign investors are a growing phenomenon in the Australian real estate sector and will continue at least for the coming years, however, a lot of them are still relatively uneducated about the local market in Australia from a real estate investment and financing perspective.This book aims to help foreign investors avoid the pitfalls investing in Australian real estate.It helps investors avoid these pitfalls by discussing the different financing options and the various foreign borrowing policies followed by Australian banks. It also offers tips to help foreign investors leverage the internet, says Wong, tying it in with chengdai.com.au.The books purpose is to educate foreign buyers of the financing options available to them, as there are still a lot of foreign buyers not aware of the Australian lenders foreign borrowing policies," he told Australian Broker.The book also details how foreign buyers can rely on internet to research properties and home loan options, which of course brings me to discuss our mortgage comparison website chengdai.com.au.Chengdai.com.au was launched by N1 Finance in April last year. Almost one year on and the site attracts more than 4,000 unique visitors a month. Wong says he expects the impressive growth trajectory to continue this year.We expect [the number of unique visitors] to double within six months as more marketing rolls out especially in other cities such as Brisbane and Melbourne where we havent done much marketing at the moment.Currently, the site compares 35 lenders with over 350 home loan products. 99% of the sites visitors are from the local Chinese community. However, following the release of the book, Wong can expect growing demand from mainland Chinese investors too.Speaking to Australian Broker about the speculation of a downturn in the foriegn Chinese investor market, Wong says he is not convinced. In fact, he says the Asian investment market is opening up.We don't see the downturn based on our current pipeline; we are still seeing a lot of interest at seminars in China," he said.Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia are also making big progress into investing in Australian real estate. Latest News Australia's record property market run comes to an end PEXA NSW sees the largest declines in both property sales volume and aggregate value MFAA offers cybersecurity resources to members Optus data breach a 'wake-up call' for businesses Apartment owners in Australia could be the big losers in 2016, with one major bank predicting a nationwide fall in value over 2016.The latest edition of NAB s Quarterly Australian Residential Property Survey, which for the first time includes forecasts for the unit sector, has predicted that unit prices will decline by 1.2% over the coming year.Across the capital cities, the unit market in Melbourne and Perth are predicted to be the worst hit, with prices expected to head backwards by 3%.Brisbane and Sydney are expected to see price falls of 0.6%, while Hobarts market will see no movement.Adelaide is the only city expected to see growth it its unit sector, with a 0.2% increase predicted.NAB group chief economist Alan Oster said most residential markets in Australia have seen their best performance for the time being, with the unit market to suffer due to oversupply, its dependence on foreign purchasers and changes to investment lending policies.Weakening fundamentals have already seen the market starting to cool, suggesting the best of the price gains are probably behind us, Oster said.Aside from the strong supply response in the apartment sector, a greater reliance on foreign buyers adds a degree of unpredictability to the outlook, both positive and negative he said.Todd Hunter, founder of buyers agency wHeregroup, told Australian Broker's sister publication, Your Investment Property, he thought NABs prediction may be a little conservative and said that oversupply is a huge issue for most unit markets across Australia.I think the decline for units could be considerably larger than that, Hunter said.Just about every capital city is already way oversupplied and theres a tonne more coming as well.Hunter, who has never been a proponent of units as an investment location, said he would not advise people to buy one currently.Ive never been a real fan of units because of strata fees and sinking funds and all those sorts of things and right now I definitely wouldnt be looking to buy one.One of the problems is just how fast theyre getting put up these days. You can buy in an area and before you know it theres hundreds more popping up.Look at whats happened in Sydney, there would have been some areas where there was a good balance of stock, but you can only see what DAs are actually approved. You dont know if a developers just going to come in and put another huge block right next to you.While NAB is predicting unit values to head into negative territory, there will be an increase, albeit small, for house prices.Nationwide, NAB predicts house prices will rise 1% through 2016.Brisbane is expected to lead the way, with capital growth of 3%, with Melbourne in second place at 2%.Prices will rise 0.6% in Sydney and 0.2% in Adelaide.Perth will be hit by 3% decrease, while prices in Hobart will decline 0.6%.While he disagreed with their prediction for units, Hunter told Your Investment Property NAB's housing forecast was similar to his outlook for the year.Nationally I think thats probably right. I think well see a decline in Sydney and a little one in Melbourne. Perth and Darwin will fall too, while Adelaide might see a little growth.Hobart will be fairly flat, while Canberra and Brisbane look like theyre going to be pretty strong, so that 1% sounds about right. photo by Sam Hiscox Drawing upon the UK electronic music of his youth, Mumdance (along with collaborators Logos and Mao) was inspired by grime, hardcore, and shoegaze but never beholden to it. From its wall-of-sound intro to its maximalist finale, Twists & Turns is a powerhouse set of glass-breaking percussion, sub-bass rumble, backmasked synths and more. With instrumental grime the order of the day, it was a treat to hear Mumdance return to the scene, refreshed and revitalized. [FACT] UK producer/DJ Mumdance returned last year with the free Twists & Turns mixtape which made FACT's year end list, which the above review is from. He's not slowing down at all, with plans to follow it up with two releases in the near future. First, he'll put out the Take Time EP on June 16 via new label home Rinse, and soon after he'll release a B2B mix with Pinch on June 30 via Pinch's Tectonic label. Stream Take Time's grime title track featuring MC Novelist, along with the tracklist from his mix with Pinch, below. A full stream of Twists & Turns is below as well. Mumdance is also about to kick off a tour in NYC this week. As part of the Red Bull Music Academy, he plays the Lit City Trax party on Friday (5/30) at The Westway with DJ Marfox, DJ Deeon, DJ Manny B2B RP Boo, J-Cush, UNiiQU3 B2B Tiga and Durban. Tickets for that are still available. Flyer below. You can also listen to the mix Mumdance made for Friday's event. Mumdance returns to NYC in the summer for the first day of Warm Up at MoMA PS1 on June 28 with A/JUS/TED, Dimitri From Paris, Pantha du Prince (live) and DJ Spoko. Tickets for Warm Up are on sale now. Later that night, he plays another NYC show at TriBeCa Studios. All of his dates are listed below. Mumdance isn't the only one playing the Lit City Trax party on Friday returning for Warm Up. Label boss J-Cush also plays July 5 with DJ EZ, Todd Edwards, Champion and Jam City; UNiiQU3 also plays July 26 with Cashmere Cat, Total Freedom, GoldLink (live), and Suicideyear; and DJ Marfox plays August 30 with Benji B, Dam-Funk (live), Tessela, Dutch E Germ and Avalon Emerson. Tickets for all of those are on sale too. DJ Marfox Portugal's DJ Marfox, who makes his US debut at the RBMA show this Friday, put out his first release for Lit City Trax, the Lucky Punch EP, this week. You can check out four trax from that below. Here's what Tiny Mix Tapes had to say about it in their 4/5 star review: Lucky Punch borrows extensively from beat-driven, high-impact kuduro and slower, tarraxinha-flecked house, conjuring a berserk, crowded image of the physical setting this music draws from while forcing an inevitably kinetic response on playback. These six belting tracks combine the metallic hammering of industry ("Noise") with a flagrant, yet punishing jamboree of chimes, percussion, and hand claps ("Banda 52") -- it's the intoxicating grip of an urban carnival; life, work, and dance, fastened together and presented as a singular, essential rhythm. Each beat underscores the reputation that both Principe and Lit City Trax are forging as labels conscious of local dance scenes and the potential they have in broader contexts, without forgoing any of the maneuvers that tie these tunes to the places where their roots were formulated. The list of Mumdance dates, and all streams, below... --- Mumdance - "Take Time" feat. Novelist Take Time Tracklist: 1. Take Time ft Novelist 2. The Sprawl 3. Don't Get Lemon ft Spyro 4. Take Time (Instrumental) -- Pinch B2B Mumdance Tracklist: 01. Logos - Savanna Overlord 02. Alex Coulton - Sinners 03. Pinch - Obsession (The Possession) 04. Pinch - Obsession (The Possession) (Shed remix) 05. Mumdance - The Sprawl 06. Pinch - Down 07. El-B - Buck & Bury (Ziro remix) 08. Nurve - Wrong Number 09. Mumdance - Doom 10. Mumdance & Logos - Legion (VIPinch Mix) 11. Pinch & Mumdance - Noctis 12. Asusu - Velez (A Made Up Sound Remix 2) 13. Pinch & Mumdance - Whiplash 14. Mumdance & Logos - Bagleys (Reese Tool) 15. Pinch & Mumdance - Double Barreled Turbo Mitz 16. Mumdance & Logos - Move Your Body 17. Ipman - Ghostrunner 18. Pinch & Mumdance - Lucid Dreaming 19. Logos - No Skyline Mumdance - Twists & Turns Full Album DJ Marfox - "Beat and Break" DJ Marfox - "Terra Batida" DJ Marfox - "Banda 52" Nola parents watch Austin best younger brother Aaron in Padres win Austin Nola, with one swing of the bat off his brother Aaron, led San Diego to an 8-5 victory over Philadelphia with his family in the stands. Staff from TG Builders Merchants were taken on a Scandinavian journey of discovery at the Holmen Sawmill in Braviken, Sweden, as part of Arbor Forest Products Trading Closer initiative. Nine members of the TG Builders Merchants team were given a rare opportunity to observe the supply chain in action, from the forests where Holmen plants, grows and harvests its Whitewood and Redwood, to the sawmill that processes the wood for the Europe, Middle East and North Africa markets. The initiative aims to give timber traders insight and knowledge that is often difficult to access, but can be transformative to their ability to effectively sell timber products. In Braviken, they learned about the regulations that govern the management of forests producing wood to FSC and PEFC standards, and saw the grading, kilning and machining processes that take place before the products are shipped to Arbor Forest Products timber terminal at New Holland. A tour of the Holmen paper mill also provided a detailed look at how the company creates products for the book, newsprint, and high-end magazine markets, and brought to light the synergies between the sawmill and paper mill, which ensure that every part of every tree is utilised productively including waste material from the sawmill. Patrick Dixon from TG Builders Merchants said: The trip has given all of us a fascinating insight into the timber supply chain and what it entails. What struck us most was the commitment to both quality and sustainability, with a clear focus on environmental issues and preserving forests for future generations. Bordentown exhibit showcases items belonging to Napoleon's brother The Bordentown Historical society is gaining international attention for its Joseph Bonaparte exhibit, former King of Spain and brother of Napoleon. The latest of several unique writing workshop has been held at Burnham-On-Seas Crafty Tea Cup cafe this week as plans gather pace for a series of theatrical performances across town centre shops this Spring. Burnham-On-Seas shops will be transformed on Saturday 16th April when six professional actors will stage 48 free live performances in businesses across the town centre. The countdown to the Trading Local event is underway with the first of several writing workshops being held over the next few days. Some of thoe present at this weeks session had taken part in an earlier workshop held at Burnham Library and were able to share their work while others were there to find out more and get involved in the Trading Local project, which is co-ordinated by Sheila Hannon of The Show of Strength Theatre Company. After an introduction into the programme and potted history about how the project was started, Sheila shared her passion for local shops and independent businesses which she grew up with, then decided to follow a career path in theatre. There is still time to get involved with another two workshops arranged for Thursday 11th February between 2pm and 4pm at The Round Tower Guest House on Burnhams Esplanade and in the Courtyard Bar at the Royal Clarence Hotel on Wednesday 17th February between 7pm and 9pm. There is no need to have been to any of the other workshops as an introduction to the project takes place at each one, come with ideas, enthusiasm, pen and paper! If you would like more information contact Jacqui Strong or Selina Keedwell via boscommunitytheatre@hotmail.com. To help raise funds join us on Friday 5th February at the Ritz Social Club Quiz night and find out more about the project 1 per person and if bringing a team max six people, from 7.30pm. The work created from the writing workshops will be performed as a series of 5 minute monologues in shops and businesses around town on Saturday 16th April between 10am and 4pm. Those interested in helping support the actors on the day locating and escorting them around the town, please contact us. Thanks to all the supporters for use of the venues for the workshops, distributing the fliers via your shops, help in kind and support of Take Art, Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, Sedgemoor District Council and Co-Op funeral care. When more than 65,000 people showed up to be a part of the Burning Man Festival in 2014, a week-long free-spirited celebration of art and music, they knew they should expect good things. But no one could have foreseen 20 giant lotuses blooming in the semi-arid land in Nevadas Black Rock Desert. Every time one touched a stem sprouting from these 10-14-feet high installations, it would pick up ones pulse via sensors and make the lotuses bloom. At a time, 40 people could touch this piece called Pulse and Bloom and see their heartbeats pulsate through LED-loaded structures. Its safe to say that the artist behind the project, Shilo Shiv Suleman, believes in the power of the collective consciousness. This belief found root in her after the infamous rape case of 2012 in New Delhi, when Suleman, who was in the city for a wedding, found herself surrounded by candles and placards at India Gate as the country mourned for Nirbhaya. For the first time in India, I saw people out on the streets and there was this incredible energy of thousands and thousands of people, says the 27-year-old. But what followed disturbed her. There was this wave of fear mongering, a constant rhetoric of donts. The fear was counter-productive to the larger change we needed, says Suleman, elaborating on what led her to form The Fearless Collective. With Fearless, Suleman collaborates with other artists, activists and volunteers to engage in storytelling in public places. One of their earliest projects was Paint the Town Pink for the Gulabi Gang art project. Suleman has dabbled with illustrating childrens book illustrator, an installation artist and now as Shilo of The Fearless Collective. Her murals by the Ganga, in Mumbais Dharavi and on the streets of Bengaluru are replete with elements of Magical Realism. With locals in Nepal Last year in Nepal, after the devastating earthquake, Suleman worked with local thangka artistes to get temple art out on Kathmandus streets while holding workshops on inherited fears. We inherit homes and jewels, but what about the emotions and fears that we take on, asks Suleman, who believes that these things make us who we are.Though gender-based issues continue to fuel their fire, volunteers or what Suleman calls Fearless farishtas (angels), also work with other subjects. After Nepal, Suleman was in Pakistan, interacting with communities across cities; one of these was in Lyari, where children are exposed to gang violence and grenades. People told me dont go to Pakistan, its dangerous. In Pakistan, people told me dont go to Lyari, its dangerous. But I have found that theres love wherever we go.The idea of taking Fearless to Pakistan was exciting, because it is a blend of street art and feminist movements, says Nida Mushtaq, a sexual rights activist and advocate who invited Suleman to Pakistan. We could create beauty and make the streets safe for public conversations, while exploring the deep and dark issues embedded in our society, she adds.Soon enough, on the walls of a grimy car-wash in Rawalpindi, an unusual image appeared. First came the painting of a larger-than-life yellow bike, followed by a radiant portrait of Bubbli Mallik of the Khwaja-sira or transgender community. While you admire her long flowing hair, unmissable in the portrait is the stubble on Malliks face, besides masculine hands on the two-wheeler.This mural was to normalise the transgender community. While there is a mysterious belief in the power of their prayers, this belief stems from a place of fear, explains Suleman. Young children, old men, and college girls came together to paint and write out prayers on the roses an Indian artist had drawn on the walls.Three years after Fearless began, Suleman is working on giving the collective a more formal structure as they expand to Pakistan, Lebanon and a host of other countries with over 600 farishtas. The whole world is our oyster. Cuba, Brazil, Morocco we just have to decide where well go next and make it work. A LONG DREAM OF HOME THE PERSECUTION, EXODUS AND EXILE OF KASHMIRI PANDITS Edited by Siddhartha Gigoo and Varad Sharma Publisher: Bloomsbury Pages: 299 Price: Rs 499 THE MANY FACES OF KASHMIRI NATIONALISM FROM THE COLD WAR TO THE PRESENT DAY Author Nandita Haksar Publisher: Speaking Tiger Pages: 335 Price: Rs 350 IN A STATE OF VIOLENT PEACE VOICES FROM THE KASHMIR VALLEY Author: Meera Khanna Publisher: Harper Collins Pages: 266 Price: Rs 325 The December 2014 Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) showed the deep divisions among the people of the state. Jammu, predominantly Hindu, voted mostly for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley elected legislators of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and National Conference. The seat tally in the 87-member Assembly was such that neither PDP nor BJP, the two largest winners, could have formed a coalition government without each other. The late PDP leader and chief minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, called the subsequent PDP-BJP alliance as the coming together of the North and South Poles. But the tensions in the alliance after the Mufti's death accentuated the tortuous complexity of the state's society and politics. Three recent based on memories and eye-witness accounts of Kashmiris - Hindus and Muslims, elites and commoners, militants and politicians - are attempts at recording this contested history of the state, primarily after 1947. Barely a few pages into these books, it is evident that even an understanding of J&K's history is deeply divided. A Long Dream of Home: The Persecution, Exodus and Exile of Kashmiri Pandits compiles the horrors the Kashmiri Pandits faced with the rise of militancy in the Valley in 1990. Siddharth Gigoo and Varad Sharma have put together memoirs of 28 Kashmiri Pandits. The anthology marks 25 years of the exile of the Pandits from the Valley. Half a million of them had left their homes in Kashmir by the end of 1990. The memoirs traverse three generations, from those who had to flee their homes in the evening of their lives to those born in migrant camps who have tried to live off an inherited memory. There are stories of the fateful night when militants barged into the homes of Pandit families, of how the closest friendships with Muslims turned bitter and an account of the day when the clocks and watches in the state were put back half an hour to synchronise it with Pakistan Standard Time. There are heart-wrenching accounts of "touristy" visits two decades later to what the families called home, which are either in ruins or occupied by Muslim families, and of the utterly miserable life in the refugee camps. Sharma writes about how his inherited memory is his "only connection with Kashmir where he can't return." Ramesh Hangloo has penned his reasons for setting up Radio Sharda, the worldwide community radio service for Kashmiri Pandits. In their preface to the anthology, Gigoo and Sharma write how "over the centuries, the Hindus of Kashmir (known by the exonym "Pandits") have faced persecution by successive Muslim rulers". They trace the start of this persecution to the 14th century, which continued until 1819 when the forces of Maharaja Ranjit Singh defeated the Afghan rulers of Kashmir. , "in the collective memory of the Kashmiris their land has been under continuous foreign rule ever since the Mughal Emperor Akbar invaded the Valley in 1586 and imprisoned Yusuf Shah Chak." Chak is considered the last independent king of Kashmir. Mughal rule ended with the invasion of the Valley by Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1751. Brutalities against Hindus came to an end when the Sikhs defeated the Afghans in 1819. Haksar writes that "Sikh rule is remembered for the harsh treatment meted out to the Muslim subjects. The Jama Masjid at Srinagar was closed to the public for prayers and Muslims were forbidden to say Azan." Haksar traces the origin of Kashmiri nationalism to the oppressive Dogra rule, from 1846 to 1947. Haksar, the first person to challenge the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the Supreme Court in 1983, has pieced together the contemporary history of Kashmiri nationalism through the lives of two men - Sampat Prakash, a Kashmiri Pandit and trade union leader, and Mohammad Afzal Guru, an activist who became politically active at the beginning of the Kashmiri insurgency and was eventually hanged in 2013 for his alleged role in the attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001. Haksar had campaigned for Guru's acquittal. She writes how Sheikh Abdullah, "the lion of Kashmir", was a hero to Prakash but for Guru's generation he had betrayed the cause of the state's independence. But, she writes, neither Guru nor Prakash, at least initially, believed that the Kashmir struggle was a religious war. "When [the] Naga conflict is not Christian why [is the ] conflict in Kashmir branded as Islamic [?] Fundamentally, it is political, social and historical in nature," Guru once wrote to Haksar. But both eventually accepted that religion was an important factor. is an anthology of 14 "fictionalised" stories of real life people by Meera Khanna and somewhat of a tenuous bridge between the other two . Khanna, a social activist, has explored the last 70 years of Kashmiri history from the stories of both Hindus and Muslims. There is violence and barbarity but each story also ends with triumph of the human spirit and brotherhood amid the chaos. "Two Sisters Reminisce" is based on interviews with Khaleda Begum and Surayya Ali Mattoo. Born to Sheikh Abdullah and Begum Akbar Jehan, the two sisters talk about how their mother threw off the burkha in 1946 to lead a protest march and their memories from the long years of captivity to which their father was subject by the governments of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. They also fondly remember how their father "wept like a baby" when Nehru died, and believe how Kashmiris themselves cannot escape the blame for the state of things. Of the three, only Haksar tries to broach the subject of resolution of the Kashmir dispute but is despondent now that the state is owned by three nuclear powers - China (20 per cent), Pakistan (35 per cent) and India (45 per cent). She says neither of her two protagonists, Prakash and Guru, was hopeful of a Kashmir in which Kashmiri Hindus and Kashmiri Muslims can live together with mutual respect. All the possible solutions to the dispute look unworkable, she says. The people of Kashmir cannot trust Pakistan since Islamabad hasn't treated the people of "Azad Kashmir" well. They are similarly disinclined to live with India because of distrust that Article 370 might be revoked or that a year-round Amarnath Yatra might be started to undermine the constitutional provision that gives J&K special status. The trifurcation of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh could be a possible solution if the Shia Muslims of Kargil, who live among the Buddhist majority, and the Muslims of Jammu could be assured of safety. What Haksar finds disturbing is the rise of Hindutva in the rest of the country and the attraction of Kashmiri youth to the dream of a Caliphate and ISIS. Drug maker Lupin's net profit declined 12 per cent to Rs 529 crore in the third quarter of FY16 owing to flat US sales. In the same period last year, Lupin had reported profit of Rs 601 crore. Revenue grew seven per cent to Rs 3,357 crore, largely due to growth in India and Europe businesses, while sales in the US market remained weak year-on-year. In the first half of the financial year, revenue was lower by 2.3 per cent. Lupin's third quarter profit was better than market estimates. Bloomberg had estimated the company to post a net profit of Rs 510 crore and the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of Rs 795 crore. However, Lupin posted a higher Ebitda of Rs 945 crore for the quarter under review. While the US business grew on a sequential basis, it remained flat year-on-year. The decline in US business is attributed to price erosion in the market and the company is looking to minimise the impact with the launch of new dosage forms of its key brands. The US market accounts for about 40 per cent of the companys revenue; in the third quarter, its contribution was Rs 1,404 crore. Domestic and Japan businesses grew 17 per cent and 9.2 per cent, respectively. Nilesh Gupta, managing director of Lupin, said: We are back on the path of growth. Sequentially, the quarter has improved significantly and this will get much better. The quarter saw a significant pick-up in approvals as well as product launches, with good growth in the US, India, and Japan. We continue our investments in research as well as our manufacturing operations and this will drive long-term growth. Coal India Ltd (CIL) subsidiary Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) has unveiled a Rs 20,000 crore capital expenditure (Capex) plan to reach the envisaged output of 250 million tonne (mt) by 2020. MCL is tipped to be CILs biggest producer, overshooting South Eastern Coalfields Ltd (SECL) and accounting for a fourth of CILs estimated production of one billion tonne by 2020. MCL has been given a target to produce 250 mt of coal by 2019-20. For realisation of that target, we are going to open some new mines Garjanbahal and Siarmal in Basundhara area (in Sundargarh district) and Gopalprasad. MCL has an ambitious target of investing Rs 15,000-20,000 crore. Most of the money would be invested on infrastructure creation- on rail network, road network and coal loading systems, MCLs chairman and managing director A K Jha told Business Standard. Siarmal in Sundargarh district will have a production capacity of 50 mnt per year, making it the second biggest coal mine in Asia. The Garjanbahal coal mine would produce 10 mnt. The MCL website informs that there are 18 ongoing coal projects of 151.33 mnt capacity and involving a capital investment of Rs 8315.11 crore. Ananta, Bharatpur, Balaram, Bhubaneswar, Gopalprasad, Hingula, Siarmal, Basundhara and Kulda are some of the ongoing coal mining projects. The key requirement for scaling up production are new railway lines, switching over to full mechanisation and full technology adoption, large scale contract mining, upgrading skills of employees, speedy acquisition of land and expeditious environment and forest clearances. Coal evacuation and land acquisition are two serious issues. Day by day, land acquisition is getting difficult and this needs to be sorted out. Presently, the rail network is not equipped to handle coal of the order of 250 mt, said Jha. To cater to the requirement of enhanced coal handling, MCL in partnership with the Railways, is developing the crucial Jharsuguda-Sardega line and Talcher-Angul rail link. Total expenditure on the rail network would be Rs 2500 crore. MCL has forged a special purpose vehicle (SPV) called Mahanadi Coal Railway Ltd with Ircon International Ltd and the Odisha government for evacuation of coal. MCL would have the major stake in the SPV with 64 per cent, Ircon will hold 26 per cent and the rest 10 per cent by state owned Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco). This SPV would take care of rail infrastructure projects, said the MCL CMD. This SPV will not only cater to the current evacuation need of the company but it will also identify the evacuation constraints, which impede the growth of MCL and accordingly, it will implement the evacuation plans. The Board of Directors of Nagarjuna Oil Refinery Ltd (NORL), which holds 46.78 per cent of the equity share capital of Nagarjuna Oil Corporation (NOCL), has said that the company is in talks with various potential investors interested in investing in the six-million-tonne petroleum refinery project of NOCL. This comes a day after it has decided not to pursue sales of its stake to Singapore-based Netoil, which has started a confirmatory due diligence to acquire the latter's stake. In September, last year, the company said in a regulatory filing that a Confirmatory Due Diligence of NOCL was being undertaken by Netoil, to enable it to acquire the equity capital in NOCL in order to take forward the Petroleum Refining Project of NOCL. As reported earlier, Netoil has agreed to acquire the project for Rs 3,600 crore and has signed a term sheet with major investors, the Nagarjuna Group, which holds 47 per cent, and Tata Sons and Tata Petrodyne, which hold 25 per cent in NOCL. The 6 million tonne refinery is the first phase of a Rs 25,000 crore project in which the total capacity was expected to be around 12 million tonne, according to reports. The project was delayed due to damages caused by a cyclone some years back and also hit by the global economic slowdown later. Around 15 lenders have invested in the project and later the Banks sought Reserve Bank of India's dispensation in view of the assets likely to be classified by RBI as non-performing (NPA). An official from the company said earlier that in Net Present Value (NPV) terms, if the VAT refund is Rs 18,000 crore, the company has to repay only Rs 15,000 crore in today's value. In other words, the company will receive its entire entitlement of VAT refund of Rs 18,000 crore at the rate of Rs 3,000 crore every year in the first six years after commissioning. The company can utilise around 80 per cent of this Rs 3,000 crore, ie. Rs 2,400 crore every year for any purpose it desires, e.g. repay the debt, go in for expansion and modernisation etc. The company needs to keep only the remaining 20 per cent or Rs 600 crore in FD for 16 years and that is enough to repay Rs 3000 crore plus 0.1 per cent interest after 16 years, explained a senior official, who didn't want to be identified, earlier. Even as Kolkata-based Rohit Ferro-Tech goes for strategic debt restructuring (SDR) after being saddled with mounting losses and huge loan dues, industry experts, bankers and analysts fear the lenders might not easily find a partner to offload their shares in the company under the new plan. The debt burden of the company, promoted by Suresh Kumar Patni in 2003, was Rs 2,185 crore as of March 2015, while it ended the previous financial year with a loss of Rs 353 crore. The market capitalisation had dipped to Rs 75 crore as on February 1, with shares trading below Rs 10 level. In this backdrop, a consortium of lenders led by State Bank of India invoked SDR in the company late last year. According to the SDR terms, the bankers will convert portions of their debt to equity and acquire sizable stake in the company within six months of the reference date. Then, offload the stakes in favour of a strategic partner within 18 months. The banks have no expertise to run the company. So, they will go for strategic sale of the assets after taking over the management through debt conversion. But, can they find a suitable buyer for the company when the market for ferroalloys and steel is on a trough? says R P Panda, an industry analyst. The firm has a total installed capacity of 274,583 tonnes per annum (tpa) of ferroalloys and 67.5-megawatt captive power plant spread in West Bengal and Odisha. It also has a 100,000 tpa stainless steel plant at Bishnupur in West Bengal. The Jajpur unit of Rohit Ferro-Tech in Odisha was sold last year to Balasore Alloys, a Ispat group company, at a consideration of Rs 1,050 crore through business transfer agreement by the lenders. Two other ferroalloys units of the company at Bishnupur and Haldia in West Bengal have been shut. But, it is better to sell the company at a discount and recover a substantial part of the exposure than to run the risk of letting the entire investment in the company become non-performing asset, he added. The factor, which has hurt the groups operation the most is that the management has gone for imprudent expansion of capacity, mostly between 2008 and 2010, without taking care of backward integration with raw material sources. As a result, without a captive mine, the operations have become unviable in a slump market with the cost of production pegged much higher than the selling price. Indian e-commerce major Snapdeal.com has decided against renewing Bollywood superstar Aamir Khans contract as brand ambassador, The Economic Times reported Friday. The one-year deal ends later this year. "It was extendable by a year but the company decided against it," one of two sources that the newspaper spoke to said. It was not immediately clear whether Snapdeal would replace Khan with another celebrity. The Economic Times said Snapdeal didn't respond to its questions, while it couldnt reach Khan for comment. Marketing industry experts ET quoted said that the move by Snapdeal likely stemmed from Khans comments last year about growing intolerance in the country. However, Prathap Suthan, managing partner of Bang In The Middle, a Gurgaon-based advertising agency, told the newspaper that the brand was (being) harsh on its brand ambassador. Suthan, who was behind an earlier NDA governments India Shining campaign in 2004, was quoted as saying that One, Aamir Khan's comment was not holistic. While it is good to go with the popular, the brand completely ignored the goodness that the actor is known for... It could have shown great character if it had stood by Khan." Khan was at the centre of a controversy late last year after he made a comment about rising intolerance in the country, the so-called Award Wapsi campaign, and how certain incidents had even prompted his wife Kiran Rao to contemplate leaving the country. While Khan did not endorse her views, referring to them as disastrous, the issue metastasized into a raging controversy, especially on social media. At the time, Snapdeal had stopped using Khan in its ads after the controversy broke. It also disassociated itself from Khans comments after irate users downgraded the online retailers mobile app on the Google Play Store. Shortly after, in December, the BJP-led government in New Delhi also said it was terminating its contract for the Incredible India campaign, of which Khan was the brand ambassador. While Khan had been brought in the advertising agency and had no formal or direct contract with the government, the move has been interpreted as one of vendetta against the actor for his comments. He has since been replaced by Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachcha who has also been the brand ambassador for Gujarat Tourism and Priyanka Chopra. On a bus ride from Hissar to Delhi, 18-year old Subhash Chandra struck a friendship with Aman Singh, an assistant manager from Food Corporation of India, or FCI. Chandra had just turned around the family business of polishing rice and dal. Since he understood the grain trade, he got chatting with Singh. This was the late 1960s and FCI was the main buyer of grain in the country. The armed forces, however, bought grain through the ministry of food and agriculture. Though he knew the answer, Chandra asked Singh why didnt the army buy directly from FCI which was a part of the ministry. Because FCI procured raw grain that had to be processed to meet the armys requirement, answered Singh. Chandra offered to process FCI grain to the armys specifications for a payment. FCI could then supply to the army directly, removing three levels of intermediaries and pushing down the cost of delivery. Singh was sceptical about Chandras ability to deliver but he liked the idea and made a proposal, which found its way into the food ministry. It was approved and became standard policy. It was, says Chandra, 65, the defining moment of his life. It gave me confidence and the belief that jahan chah wahan raah (where there is a will there is way). Nothing seems impossible. Nothing was, it seems, for Chandra. Whenever he had his visions, however preposterous they were, things somehow fell into place. Chandra went from polishing grain to warehousing, packaging, leisure, broadcasting, publishing and infrastructure among other businesses. In the process he set up, along with his brothers, Indias first private TV firm (Zee), first leisure park (Esselworld), the first electronic lottery company (Playwin), the first DTH operation (Dish TV), the first flexi packaging unit in India (Essel Propack) and so on. Of the groups annual top line of Rs 19,324 crore, almost half comes from the media. It is seen, however, as the biggest symbol of Chandras success and a measure of his power. This was evident in January this year at the launch Chandras autobiography, The Z Factor, at Prime Minister Narendra Modis residence. His ability to make friends and keep them was on great display: Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sushilkumar Shinde, Suresh Prabhu, Aroon Purie and Pradeep Guha among others were there to wish him. Modi said that he had warned Chandra that an autobiography at this stage could be risky. But it is in his nature to take risks, that is why he has reached here, quipped Modi. He is right. Chandras life is littered with gory examples of risk-taking. The launch of Zee TV was arguably the biggest. The story goes that in January 1991, Ashok Kurien and Chandra were watching CNN and decided that they wanted to get into satellite television. They spoke to senior managers at Li Ka Shings Hutchison Whampoa, then the owner of Asiasat 1, the only satellite broadcasting into India and China, to form an equally-owned venture. The proposal was to be presented to Richard Li (Li Ka-Shings son). Even before the presentation, Li dismissed the idea, saying there was no money in India. He demanded $5 million a year as lease for the transponder, more than four times the figure given by his own team for the business plan. Chandra lost it. He said yes, but insisted the deal had to be signed there and then. It was frustration, maybe some anxiety. We had been working on this for 11 months, Chandra reminisces. Li made Chandra wait for two hours before refusing. An angry Chandra came back and started talking to the Russians, who had a satellite stationed over India. Li was intrigued enough to come to India in 1992. He met Nusli Wadia and Samir Jain, among others. None of the media barons of that time thought television had the potential to grow, and no one was willing to pay $5 million for the transponder. Then Li met Chandra who took him to the Essel Propack factory. Its scale, as the worlds largest facility, the empty tubes of Colgate and Pepsodent, made Li change his mind. In May 1992, he signed a deal with Chandra. On October 2, Zee went on air. The story displays all the chutzpah that comes naturally to every entrepreneur. Chandra, however, is a serial entrepreneur. Rarely in his 48 years of working has he sat still to consolidate a business or run it, and almost all his ideas have been new to the market. It is like nasha (high), says he about the joy of setting up a new business. These days he is focussed on infrastructure and education. He chairs the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India. It provides free education to over 1.4 million tribal children through more than 52,000 one-teacher schools. More recently, he has come back to the media business to push through Veria Living, a lifestyle channel that operates out of New York. Is the media dearer to him than the other businesses? No, it is about 40 (47 per cent actually) of our portfolio and I treat it accordingly. But most of the calls I get are for this business, he laughs. That is true for most media barons. Chandra, who got his first big break courtesy Rajiv Gandhi and the Russian rice export business, is seen increasingly as being aligned to the Bharatiya Janata Party. One part of it stems from his public fallout with Congress MP Naveen Jindal who accused Zee News editors of demanding a bribe for going easy on their coverage of his alleged involvement in the coal scam. Chandra was named in the FIR and grilled for hours. He believes that he was targeted at the behest of the top leadership of the Congress. This was an unjust act of the United Progressive Alliance and in response, I personally supported Narendra Modis campaign for prime ministership, he says in the book that has a chapter devoted to the episode. Is the other part political ambition, a Rajya Sabha ticket perhaps or fighting elections? I have no political ambitions, he says. In our country anyone who talks about nationalism or Hindus is considered a BJP person. Many media owners are clearly aligned with the Congress but nobody raises a finger about them. Sure I do agree with certain parts of the BJP ideology. But neutrality is also necessary (to be in the media business). I am friends with everybody, says he. Why then is his book so loaded with politicos and his dealings with them? In the first version there was no holding back, but because of the size and lawyers advice, we had to water it down, says Chandra. That explains also why the book doesnt do complete justice to his no-nonsense style. In 2000, just after Kaun Banega Crorepati had turned erstwhile partner Star Indias fortunes, I met Chandra for the first time. The Zee stock was being hammered, senior managers had left and Zee had earned (rightly so) the reputation of being a merry-go-around for CEOs. Chandra was not defensive at all. We have gone wrong, we know where we have gone wrong and are taking corrective action, he had said. It took six years and two more CEOs before Zee could put its house in order. At Rs 9,209 crore, the Zee group is among Indias top three media along with the Star India and Times Group. But he is not very happy with the industry he spawned. The way the broadcasting business is going, it will soon be unviable. The costs are rising faster than revenues can and finally those lines will cross, says he. Time for another brainwave? The government on Friday raised import duty on life saving and bulk drugs used to treat cancer, rabies, Parkinson's disease among others to help domestic players. The customs department hiked duty on bulk drugs such as Carbidopa and Cefoparazone to 10 per cent from five per cent. Bulk drugs or active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) is the substance used for making the final medical formulations - drugs for consumption. The Modi government has already expressed its apprehension as India imports more than 80 per cent of its bulk drugs from China. "An increase has also been made in the customs duty rates of certain life saving drugs such as Abciximab, Immunoglobulin, FSH, Procarbazine and Saquinavir to 35 per cent," said MS Mani, senior director, Deloitte in India. Barely three weeks are left for what is being described as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's make-or-break Budget. With drought-like situation in nearly half of the country's 676 districts, rural India seems to be the focus. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch two mega schemes - Rurban Mission and Housing for All -to provide urban amenities in village clusters and housing for all, just before the Budget. Both the schemes are likely to get significantly enhanced allocations from Jaitley in the Budget. At the coming four farmer rallies - in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh - this month, the PM would unveil the schemes. Both schemes, to be launched within weeks of the government patting its back for having revived the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, are aimed at boosting its profile among rural youth. The Rurban Mission will be launched on February 21. The ministry has identified 300 clusters of 20 villages each across India with population ranging from 25,000 to 50,000. These 'rurban' centres will be developed as economic hubs for skilled rural youth to get jobs near their villages. The government will roll out the plan to improve physical infrastructure like roads, electricity and broadband internet. The second scheme, as its name suggests, is even more ambitious: 'Housing for All'. In its manifesto for 2014 elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party had promised to achieve the dream of housing for all by 2022, the 75th anniversary of Independence. Housing for all in urban areas, covering almost 2 crore households, has already been launched. But a similar plan for rural areas, covering 2.95 crore households, has been delayed by three months. Now, Prime Minister has constituted a team of 11 senior ministers to expedite the plan. The group includes Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Rural Development Minister Birender Singh, among others. According to sources, the group of ministers will prepare a report, on the basis of which a proposal will be sent to the Cabinet for approval. Rural Development Minister Birender Singh told Business Standard: "We expect the (Budget's) stress on the social sector. If you see the trend of the last two budgets, larger allocations have been made for the social sector. Both, the PM and the FM have indicated, in a way, that social sector and agriculture would get priority. They are thinking of 70 per cent of our population." Rural Development Minister has also proposed that the housing scheme should include those who are not covered by the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC). Towards this, the Centre is planning to set up appellate authority in each district for villagers to appeal. Based on the merit of an application, housing would be provided to rural poor irrespective of whether their details are mentioned in the SECC or not. For this, the government is likely to significantly increase the budgetary allocation for the scheme in 2016-17, from Rs 14,000 crore last year. Of this, around Rs 10,000 crore was for Indira Awaas Yojana (IAY) alone. Modi's 'Housing for All' scheme for rural India would not only subsume IAY, but would also overhaul it by doubling the allocation for construction of houses, expanding the unit size and improving the identification process. The revamped scheme would also hike the per unit construction subsidy. The fund granted for construction of one housing unit under IAY is Rs 70,000 in plain areas and Rs 75,000 for hilly and difficult areas. This has been found to be grossly inadequate because of increase in construction cost. Officials said per unit allocation might be doubled from the current levels. They said apart from giving subsidy for construction of a dwelling, the dwelling would also be provided cheap power through 'Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana,' a single-point water connection through the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' and facility to avail MGNREGA labour for construction of houses. The Rural Development Ministry has also allowed beneficiaries under IAY to engage MGNREGA job card holders for construction of houses beyond the stipulated 100 days in a year. This would enable speedier completion of houses and also provide extra income to card holders who want more work in times of rural distress. An increase is expected in the budgetary allocation for the Rurban Mission from Rs 270 crore allocated in 2015-16. "The objective is to create physical infrastructure and connectivity from villages to nearest township. This will help the skilled youth get exposure to opportunities. Economic activity near the villages might also ensure less migration to bigger towns and cities. But for this to become a reality, only infrastructure isn't sufficient. We will need to create economic activity," Birender Singh added. BUDGET FOR BHARAT 11 top ministers of Modi government to meet on Sunday Centre plans to expand the scheme to those not identified by Socio-Economic Caste Census Rs 14,000-crore allocation in 2015-16. Of this, Rs 10,000 crore meant for Indira Awaas Yojana Budget 2016-17 expected to significantly increase allocation under this scheme As winter makes a hasty retreat, putting at risk the standing wheat and other rabi crops, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday warned agricultural production could be lower this year, as a result of deficient monsoon and a long dry spell. "Nature has not been kind to us this year as well. A deficient monsoon followed by a dry spell is likely to affect agricultural production for the second year in a row. This is an area of grave concern," the President said while addressing the 54th Convocation of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), (better known as the PUSA institute) here on Friday. With majority of the cultivable area under severe climatic conditions such as drought, floods and cyclones, Mukherjee called for serious efforts to overcome the challenge and make Indian agriculture sector resilient to weather fluctuations. Mukherjee's warning comes at a time when agriculture production in 2014-15 crop year (July-to-June) dropped to 253 million tonnes (mt) from a high of 265 mt in 2013-14 owing to 12 per cent deficiency in monsoon. As the rains remained short by 14 per cent in 2015, setting the stage for consecutive droughts for the first time in around 100 years, agriculture production is projected to slip further. According to the first advanced estimate of farm production for 2015-16, kharif grain output is projected at 124.05 mt, which was less than the production achieved in kharif 2014. Full-year production is also not expected to be great given that residual soil moisture has been poor this year. The relatively warm winter is also not expected to help much. The President also asked the IARI scientists to develop climate resilient technological solutions by leveraging opportunities from frontier science such as biotechnology and nano-technology. "The time is ripe for some serious efforts as 80 per cent of the area under cultivation in India is in the grip of severe climatic conditions like drought, floods and cyclones," he said. Speaking about India's dependency on pulses and edible oils, Mukherjee said the demand for these items is expected to substantially increase in the future while expressing confidence that the new technologies of IARI would address the problem. "IARI has developed mustard varieties suitable for unconventional areas that can boost oil seed production. The institute has also initiated the development of synchronous-maturity pigeon-pea hybrids and varieties, apart from chickpea. I am confident these technologies will enhance the productivity of pulses and edible oils to meet our domestic requirements fully," he said. IARI has developed quality protein maize, and iron and zinc rich wheat, pearl millet and lentil varieties through molecular breeding, and genetically modified 'golden rice' enriched with pro-vitamin A, he said, adding these technologies should reach the farmers immediately. Agriculturists must be trained to transform their farms into production-cum-processing centres. Also, agri-research must address the critical issues that hinder the development of rural agri-businesses, the President added. IARI, set up in 1905, has played a key role in providing human resource to the national agricultural research system. Around 8,000 students of IARI have been awarded post-graduate or PhD degrees so far. The Centre plans to double the capacity of ammonia-urea producing Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited (BVFCL), in Namrup in Upper Assams Dibrugarh district, in next three years, said Ananth Kumar, Union chemicals and fertilisers minister. A revamp project of the three ageing units of BVFCL was completed some years back in a phased manner. There is also a proposal, cleared by the Centre last year, to set up a new fourth unit within the existing campus of BVFCL. The present 3.5 lakh MT output of BVFCL is not enough keeping in mind the demand in the market. We plan to increase the output to 7 lakh MT. The government has already taken the decision and I can assure you can see this in next three years, said Kumar while taking part in an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated to the nation the Assam Gas Cracker Project, Northeasts biggest industrial project. The setting up of the fourth ammonia-urea unit will meet the growing demand for urea in Northeast, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand. The Cabinet, on May 21, 2015, gave its approval for setting up of a new unit of 8.64 lakh MT annual capacity with an estimated investment of Rs 4,500 crore within the existing complex of BVFCL on public private partnership (PPP) route by a joint venture (JV). The new unit will be highly energy efficient and would be at par with international standards with latest technology. Natural gas would be its feedstock, as is the case with other three units. The annual consumption of urea in the country is approximately 310 lakh MT, out of which 230 lakh MT is produced indigenously and rest is imported. With the upcoming fourth unit of BVFCL, India would be in a position to export urea. The Namrup Fertilizer Complex, renamed as BVFCL after bifurcation from Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HFCL) in April 2002, is the first factory of its kind in India to use associated natural gas as basic raw material for producing nitrogenous fertilizer. The first unit of the project was set up in 1969, followed by two other units in 1976 and 1987 respectively. Due to ageing plants and machineries, coupled with rise in cost of natural gas, the company has been financially bleeding of late. The output of the units had been falling steadily since 1990s. Finally the second unit had to be shut down in 1994 as the plant required critical repairs and replacements. Finally the government revamped the three units of BVFCL at a cost of Rs. 650 crore taking its present production to 3.5 lakh MT. Projects and Development India Limited (PDIL), an agency for consultancy services, also a government of India Undertaking, was appointed as the principal contractor for consultancy for revamp of the plants. The government on Friday imposed minimum import prices (MIPs) on specific steel products to protect domestic players from cheap imports from China and other countries. Integrated domestic primary steel producers such as Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Steel, Jindal Steel & Power, state-owned Steel Authority of India and Tata Steel would be among the largest beneficiaries. The move, however, would not apply to the stainless steel sector. Also, import for American Petroleum Institute (API)-grade steel used in the petroleum and natural gas industries are exempted from the MIP. MIPs are valid for six months only, which could trigger uncertainty in the market. But a government official said these may be extended further. For ingots, billets, blooms and slabs, MIP now stands at $362, $352 and $341 per tonne, respectively. Similarly, various flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloyed steel (of a width of 600millimetres or more) will now attract different MIPs - in the range of $445 to $752 per tonne. Hot-rolled bars and rods, of iron, non-alloyed steel as well as alloyed steel, will also face MIP of around $450 per tonne. "We may extend the timeline of six months, if needed. It was clear that our domestic industry was not getting the benefit of safeguard duty and anti-dumping duty," said a senior steel ministry official. On September 14 last year, the government imposed a 20 per cent provisional safeguard duty for 200 days on the import of hot-rolled flat products in coils of a width of 600 mm or more. Moreover, on December 11 last year, the government imposed anti-dumping duty ranging from 5 to 57 per cent on cold-rolled flat products of stainless steel for a period of five years. The duty was imposed on imports from China, South Korea, European Union, the US, South Africa, Thailand and Taiwan. Steel companies had witnessed poor earnings in the December quarter as realisations took a hard hit because of increased imports despite a five per cent increase in domestic demand. "With this measure now, domestic steel producers should be able to grab some share in the increasing domestic demand, from which we were completely off due to cheap imports," Uppal said. N C Mathur, president, Indian Stainless Steel Development Association (ISSDA), said the government's move may "slightly" help the ailing steel sector. However, he was disappointed that the stainless steel sector was left out. "We are again disappointed that stainless steel products have been left out of the ambit of MIP mechanism. It is noteworthy that stainless steel industry faces exactly similar danger of what the carbon steel sector does As a result of excessive imports, almost all stainless steel players are under severe financial stress," Mathur said. Meanwhile, Sanak Mishra, secretary general at Indian Steel Association said, the government has covered quite a few important products such as hot-rolled coil, sheets and strips along with cold-rolled products. He said it was the right move for the domestic steel industry. The consumer segment, however, is not happy with as it fears a price hike in steel products in the range of Rs 3,000-5,000 per tonne in the next 3-5 months. Moreover, the consumer segment, whose input cost will shoot up significantly, also faces the threat of closedown, leading to rise in non-performing assets for the banks. "MIP imposition is going to show its impact in the next 4-5 months when manufacturing sector shrinks and NPAs rise for banks in a much bigger way," said Nikunj Turakhia, head of the Bombay Iron Merchants' Association board. Promising a stable business environment, minister of state for finance Jayant Sinha said on Friday that the government is committed to provide a rules based predictable regime to investors. Addressing the India Invest Summit 2016, Sinha pointed out that projects worth $100-150bn are at various stages of development, with some of those stressed and looking for new sources of financing. "Investors have the option of investing in three kinds of projects. Brownfield projects that were nearing completion but are stuck due to lack of finance, greenfield projects where development risk persists and those greenfield projects which are nearing completion and will provide high cash return yields," he said ahead of the Union Budget on February 29. Chief economic adviser Arvind Subramanian said that increasing public and private investment is a key priority of the government, adding that it is the right time for infrastructure firms to make investments to benefit from lower commodity costs. The government has ambitious plan for public investment. Railways, roads, micro irrigation and other sectors will receive high priority from the government, he said. Subramanian argued that while international environment had become very challenging, India continues to be a haven for stability with strong macro fundamentals including narrowing current account and fiscal deficits. The external environment provides a positive shock for infrastructure, he said, adding that low commodity prices means that firms can get greater return on investments. Reserve Bank of India deputy governor H R Khan said that the central bank was willing to relax its guidelines to encourage investments. He added that the focus was to bring more long term players in the infrastructure sector. No guidelines are cast in stone. If there are any ambiguities or difficulties that are caused by existing regulations, RBI is open to looking at them, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dedicated to the nation Northeasts biggest industrial project, Rs 10,000 crore Assam gas cracker Project, implemented by Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited (BCPL). It is the first ever petrochemical project in the region and is expected to generate employment for around 1 lakh people by driving in investments in downstream plastic industries. Gail India Ltd is the main promoter of BCPL having 70% stake, while the rest 30% is equally shared by Oil India Limited (OIL), Numaligarh Refinery Limited (NRL) and government of Assam. "This gas cracker project will not only add value to the natural resource but would also generate substantial employment for the people of the region, said Modi. The feedstock for the project will be natural gas and naphtha. OIL and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) will supply natural gas and NRL would be supplying naphtha to BCPL. The principal end products would be High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Linear Low Density polyethylene (LLDPE) totalling 2, 20,000 tonnes per annum (TPA) and 60,000 TPA of polypropylene (PP). The other products include raw pyrolysis gasoline and fuel oil. The project, which was originally scheduled to be commissioned in 2012, saw many delays, resulting in cost overruns. The initial cost of the project was around Rs. 5,500 crore. Situated at Lepetkata, in Upper Assams Dibrugarh district, and spread across 3,000 bighas of land, this project was conceived in the year 1985 as part of the historic Assam Accord, which brought an end to six-years long Assam agitation, led by students against illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. The foundation stone of the project was laid by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in April 2007. However, that was the second occasion when the foundation stone for the project was laid by a Prime Minister. The previous occasion was in 1994 when then Prime Minister PV Narishimha Rao too did the similar honours at Tengaghat in Dibrugarh district, the venue which was later abandoned. Questioning at the inordinate delay in completing the project, Modi said: Why should I be needed to inaugurate this project, which was conceived some 31 years back. Had this project been completed 25 years back, todays ageing generation would have reaped benefits from this project by getting employment. But one generation has lost this opportunity due to delays. The Prime Minister also dedicated to the nation the countrys largest wax producing plant of NRL, a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum. The wax plant has an annual capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes (MT) and came up at a cost of Rs 676 crore. The drastic reduction of base floor area ratio (FAR) to 1.2 from earlier 1.5 to 2.75 in the newly notified Odisha Transferable Development Right Rules, 2015 is likely to soar up real estate property rates by 30-35 per cent in Odisha, realtors says. They have red flagged the reduction of FAR , the ratio obtained by dividing total covered area on all floors by the area of the plot, in the rules. "The sector is going through recession and we are trying hard to sell the properties. The prices of the properties will be surging by 30 to 35 per cent due to the reduction of FAR. It will result in investors moving to other states", said D S Tripathy, governing council member, Credai (The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India) told media persons. The Real Estate Forum, the umbrella body of four real estate associations of the state and Odisha chapter of Indian Institute of Architects opposed the new rules. The Transferable Development Rights (TDR) rules are introduced by the government as a route for compensation against land acquisition. "The population density per square kilometer is low in Bhubaneswar at 2,131 compared to other major cities and hence, there is no justification of lowering the FAR. The FAR here is lowest compared to big cities with higher density. It is also against the spirit of housing for all", he added. While the chief minister is keen to take the state among the top three start up destinations, the reduction will discourage the young minds in taking up real estate business , he added. Realtors says the lowering of FAR will spell disaster for them unless the TDRs are not generated by promulgating any scheme in the cities. The delay in generation of the TDR will create a demand supply gap in the market, they opined. They accused that the government has notified the scheme hastily without consulting the stakeholders. "It is a regressive step. The reduction could have been digested if it could have been done over the years. FAR should be kept intact i.e 1.5 to 2.75 and the realtors should have been given a free hand to consume the TDR over and above the existing rates", said Kantilal Patel, President, Real Estate Developers Association of Odisha (REDA) Telecom operator Telenor has enrolled over 4 million of its subscribers under free life scheme in Uttar Pradesh (East) circle. The company has more than 11 million subscribers in the circle, of which 4.1 million have enrolled for free life scheme, circle business head UP K C Narendran told mediapersons. In Varanasi, 56% of Telenor subscribers opted for the free life scheme, he informed. Telenor had launched the scheme in October 2015 in association with a private life insurance company. A 4-day National Arogya Fair-2016 begins at Dehradun in Uttarakhand . . Government taking several measures to promote AYUSH Systems of Medicine across the world- Shri Shripad Yesso Naik . . The 4-day National Arogya Fair began at Dehradun in Uttarakhand today. The Fair has been organized by the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa & Homoeopathy (AYUSH) in collaboration with the State government of Uttarakhand and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). The Fair was inaugurated by the Minister of State for AYUSH (Independent Charge) and Health & Family Welfare, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik and Chief Minister of Uttarakhand , Shri Harish Rawat. The Minister for Health & Family Welfare and AYUSH, Govt. of Uttarakhand, Shri Surendra Singh Negi was also present on the occasion. . . Addressing the inaugural session, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik said that India can bring in a revolution in healthcare and be a teacher to the world if we capitalize on our strengths in the traditional systems of medicine. He elaborated that the AROGYA fair has grown into a country-wide phenomenon with more than 10 fairs organized throughout the year now. The Minister explained that over the past three decades, there has been a tremendous resurgence of Worlds interest in the AYUSH Systems of Medicine, including countries in Europe and USA. This is mainly because of holistic approach towards preventive, promotive and positive health and multi-dimensional aspects of disease management in these traditional systems of medicine. We have also signed several MoUs for bilateral cooperation in the area of traditional medicine and setting up Ayurveda chairs and AYUSH information centres in various countries, such as South Africa, Malaysia and Trinidad & Tobago, the Minister disclosed. . . Shri Harish Rawat said that the Uttarakhand medicinal plants have long been used for treatment of various diseases. These combined with modern AYUSH interventions can help to create a strong healthcare system in the hills. The AYUSH System of medicine is also more economical, the Chief Minister added. . . Shri Surendra Singh Negi explained that growing herbs and medicinal plants can create employment opportunities in the hills, especially when it is linked with industry requirements in an integrated manner. Uttarakhand also has the capacity to become the world capital of Yoga, he added. . . During the Inaugural Session, Fusion Yoga was performed by the students of Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga.Large varieties of health productsfor treating diabetes, blood pressure, joint pains, heart diseases, geriatric problems and common ailments are on display at the Fair. . . Free Learning Sessions are being organized for visitorswith themes like Panchakarma, Homeopathy forWomens disorders, Yog se Arogya and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases in Siddha System, treatment of lifestyle diseases like diabetes through AYUSH, and many more.Tomorrows session would focus on role of Dincharya and Pathyapathya for maintenance, Siddha Medicine basic principles, Stress and Homoeopathy etc. . . The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa & Homoeopathy (AYUSH) has been organizing AROGYA, comprehensive National Level Fair on AYUSH systems of medicine in the major capital cities in India since 2005 to promote awareness and showcase development in the various AYUSH Systems. . . The Fair aims to create awareness among the people about the uses of the AYUSH Systems, their cost-effectiveness and the availability of herbs and plants used for prevention and treatment of common ailments at their door-steps through various mass-media channels to achieve the objective of Health for all. . . Agricultural education in our country must conform to global standards, says president . . The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee today (February 5, 2016) attended the 54th Convocation of Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI), Pusa, New Delhi. . . Speaking on the occasion, the President said that India has only 3 percent of the worlds land resources and 5 percent of water resources. Yet, Indian agriculture system supports 18 percent of the world population. The transformation from a state of "ship-to-mouth" to a leading exporter of food grains has been made possible largely due to the scientific developments in premier institutes like IARI. This Institute has made significant contributions in ushering the green revolution and building a vibrant agriculture sector in our country. He applauded IARI for its dedicated service to the nation. . . The President said that agricultural education in our country must conform to global standards. For that, we need to create a large pool of competent faculty empowered with state-of-the-art research infrastructure. A strong network of teachers, learners and practitioners will facilitate lab-to-field dissemination of good agricultural practices. It will also provide feedback about farmers problems to trigger research and technology development in our institutions. . . The President said that agricultural institutes are the foci on which the success of our farm sector and welfare of people depends. The barometer of performance is the quality of their products. Able, committed and industrious professionals from these institutions are required to spearhead the next farm revolution. Students and alumni of IARI must seize the opportunity and contribute to the transformation in agriculture. . . Cooperation between countries needed to check terrorism: Vice President . . The Vice President, Shri Hamid Ansari has said that the cooperation between countries is needed to check terrorism. He was addressing a Press Conference onboard Special Aircraft while returning after a 5-day visit to Brunei and Thailand, today. . . The Vice President said that the world has reached a stage where terrorism is a subject of discussion in all conversations and every country is facing terrorism in one form or the other. Terrorism is on everybodys agenda, he added. . . Responding to questions on the visit to Thailand, the Vice President said that it has opened up new investment opportunities with both countries. On Brunei, the Vice President said the country is an important member of ASEAN and a supplier of energy to India. India has received a positive response on the possibility of setting up a fertilizer production unit in Brunei which will be a mutually beneficial and open up employment opportunities, he added. . . Responding to a query on the Indian community in Thailand, the Vice President said that Indian community is a success story in Thailand. The large community is doing extremely well and there are a lot of business and investment possibilities with them. . . Responding to a query on maritime security, the Vice President said that it is a critical area where India and Thailand have common interests. . . CPWD to generate 42.50 MW solar power by September, 2016 . . To install LED and energy saving ACs in 20 government buildings in Delhi and across the country . . Measures to result in saving of Rs.115 cr per year in energy costs. . Public sector construction major the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) will generate 42.50 MW of solar energy across the country besides replacing energy inefficient electrical fittings in 20 government buildings in Delhi by September, 2016 and in rest of the country later. These initiatives of CPWD are estimated to result in a total saving of Rs.115 cr per year. . . Efforts of CPWD in this regard and the consequent gains in terms of saving in energy consumption were reviewed today by Shri Madhusudhan Prasad, Secretary (Urban Development). . . CPWD earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for generation of solar power for installation of grid connected rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic panels in all Government buildings maintained by CPWD across the country. Consequently, SECI awarded works to 14 bidders for undertaking works in 16 states. . . 10 MW of solar power will be generated by May,2016 in Phase-I covering Delhi (3 MW), Uttar Pradesh (2 MW), North-East and UTs(2 MW) and 1 MW each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. . . In Delhi, Solar panels have already been installed for a total capacity of 1.50 MW over 6 government buildings viz., Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, East Block and Sewa Bhawan (RK Puram), Pushpa Bhawan near Sheik Sarai and CGO Complex, Lodhi Road. During the last 3 months, a total of 2,86,100 units of power has been generated from these installations resulting in a saving of Rs.11.50 lakhs in energy cost. Generation of 42.50 MW of solar power is estimated to result in a saving of Rs.13 cr per year. . . Shri Madhusudhan Prasad has directed CPWD and SECI to ensure net metering at all the 200 buildings in the country to ensure proper monitoring of net energy consumption by government buildings. . . As part of measures to promote efficient use of energy in all the Government buildings, CPWD has begun to replace energy inefficient fittings with LED bulbs and 5 star air conditioning systems approved by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. This will be completed in 20 buildings in Delhi by September,2016. . . These measures are estimated to result in a total saving of 11.41 crore units of power and Rs.103 cr in energy cost per year. . . In Delhi, a total of 16,613 LED lamps have so far been installed in 261 of 268 government bungalows and 408 of 546 flats of MPs. The remaining will be done so during the Budget session of Parliament. . . AAR. . January 5, 2016 FM: India continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but there is still potential to grow at a much faster pace; more incentives to agriculture sector for increasing both agriculture production and productivity.. . The Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley said that India continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but there is still potential to grow at a much faster pace. He said that the world economy is passing through an uncertain and fragile situation. The Finance Minister said that all the major economic organisations including IMF have predicted low growth for the world economy in the coming year. He said that these developments have implications on Indias economy as our exports are also affected .However, he further added that silver lining is low international commodities and oil prices which in turn has helped in better macroeconomic situation of the country.The Finance Minister said that the agriculture growth in the last two years has suffered mainly due to insufficient monsoons. Shri Jaitely said that highest ever amount was given to the States for drought relief during the current financial year 2015-16 and more incentives will be given to agriculture sector for increasing agriculture production and productivity. The Finance Minister was making the Opening Remarks at the First Meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Finance during inter-session of Parliament held here today. The Subject of the Meeting was Suggestions for Budget". . . The Finance Minister Shri Jaitley further said that loan worth over Rs. 90 crores has been already disbursed in the current financial year so far to more than 2 crore micro, small and medium enterprises under MUDRA Scheme. The Finance Minister said that we will be able to contain the fiscal deficit as per the target fixed for the current financial year 2015-16. The Finance Minister said that this was also the first time that the real expenditure amount was higher than the Budget proposal. He further added that this year we have spent more but still, we will very well manage our deficit targets. He said that during the financial year 2016-17, the Central Government has to make provision for about Rs.1.10 lakh crore in order to meet the liabilities on account of implementation of Seventh Pay Commission recommendations and One Rank One Pension (OROP) Scheme. . . Thereafter, various suggestions were given by the Members of Consultative Committee who participated in todays Meeting. Some of the major suggestions include more allocation for agriculture sector, setting-up of Indian Council for Veterinary Research (ICVR) at par with ICAR and ICMR in order to give boost to milk production etc. They appreciated the Union Governments new crop insurance scheme but proposed to bring more clarity in the scheme, need to increase the awareness about the scheme and to make it more comprehensive so that it reaches to larger section of population. . . Another suggestion made was that the forthcoming budget may give relief to industries to set-up sewage and affluent treatment plants in order to keep the environment clean. Other suggestions include more allocation for Drip Irrigation System to save water and promotion for use of improved varieties of seeds for crops to increase productivity. . . It was also suggested by various members that tax exemption limit for middle and salaried class be raised from existing Rs. 2.5 lakhs to Rs. 4 lakhs as well as more stress be given on widening of tax base and severe punishment for those evading taxes. It was also suggested that threshold limit for mandatory Pan Card requirement for any transaction above Rs. 2.00 lakh be raised to Rs. 5.00 lakhs. It was suggested that service tax exemption limit be raised from Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 25 lakhs sale receipts and skill development related education institutions be exempted from service tax. Some members suggested that there should be accountability of assessing officers for passing unreasonably high tax liability orders to harass the assesses which are later on turned down by the Appellate authorities. . . Another suggestion made was that since Indian economy is agro economy, therefore, agriculture oriented budget be presented this year. Higher allocations should be made to improve the agriculture related irrigation projects in different States which are in bad shape. It was suggested that skill development programmes be implemented effectively at block level in order to penetrate at grass root level and to make the Start-up India and Make in India programmes successful both in reality and spirit. It was also suggested that special package for fluoride affected areas and redesigning of MGNREGA be done in order to make it more effective. There was also suggestion to change the labour ratio in MNERGA such that it can be more productive and used for infrastructure building along with providing jobs. . . Some members raised that more focus be given for providing employment opportunities in rural areas, increasing agriculture productivity and increase in agriculture credit at cheaper rate; more provision for education, skill development and residential houses for fishing community. It was also suggested that forthcoming budget be poor and common man oriented and should make higher provision for removing child malnutrition among others. There was also suggestion that the funds from CSR must be directed to be used in developing the area where the company is functioning and making profits. There was also suggestion to give tax incentive to MSMEs for their betterment which, in turn, would help in creating more employment opportunities. . . Along with the Union Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Finance, the Members of the Consultative Committee who participated in the Meeting include Shri Dilip Kumar Mansukhlal Gandhi, Shri J. Jayasingh Thyagraj Natterjee, Shri P.P. Chaudhary, Smt. Poonam Mahajan, Shri Ram Charitra Nishad, Shri Sharad Kumar Maruti Bansode, Shri Subhash Chandra, Smt. Supriya Sadanand Sule, Dr. Udit Raj (all members of Lok Sabha); Shri Anil Desai, Dr. K.P. Ramalingam and Shri Rajkumar Doot (all members of Rajya Sabha) . . . Among the officers who attended the Consultative Committee Meeting include Shri Ratan P. Watal, Finance Secretary, Shri Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, DEA, Dr. Hasmukh Adhia, Revenue Secretary, Ms. Anjuly Chib Dugal, Secretary, Financial Services, Shri Neeraj Kumar Gupta, Secretary, Disinvestment, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Chief Economic Adviser (CEA), Chairman, CBEC Shri Najib Shah and other senior officers of the Ministry of Finance. . . PM dedicates to the nation, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, and wax plant of Numaligarh Refineries Ltd, at Lepetkata near Dibrugarh . The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today dedicated to the nation, Brahmaputra Cracker and Polymer Limited, a petrochemical complex, at Lepetkata, near Dibrugarh. He also dedicated to the nation, the wax plant of Numaligarh Refineries Limited. . . Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the two projects being dedicated to the nation today, are important for two reasons (a) for the value addition they would achieve for natural raw materials; (b) for the employment opportunities they would create for the youth of Assam. He said that with the dedication of these projects to the nation, there was joy (Anand) across the country and all-round joy (Sarbanand) in Assam. . . Highlighting the importance of completing projects in time, the Prime Minister said this would ensure employment generation, and avoid massive cost overruns. He said rapid industrial development of the country is necessary to create employment for India's youth. In this context, the Prime Minister mentioned his PRAGATI initiative, which he said is giving impetus to stalled projects worth lakhs of crore rupees. . . The Prime Minister reiterated that eastern India must develop, for the all-round development of India. In this context, he said the Union Government is paying special attention to the North-Eastern region by boosting infrastructure and connectivity. . . The Prime Minister said that the initiatives of the Union Government, including MUDRA and Start-up India, were aimed at creating fresh opportunities for the youth. He said employment opportunities have to be created not just in big cities but in smaller towns too. He said the Union Government is working on the principle of cooperative federalism, and both the Centre and States have to work together for development. . . PMKVY completes 10 lakh enrolments under Skill India, 70% have completed their skill trainings since its launch . . Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh reflect maximum enrolments. . Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), the flagship of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has completed 10 lakh enrolments under the scheme. The scheme has been implemented by National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through a network of 1012 training partners affiliated to the scheme. . . Till today, the scheme has seen 10,28,671 enrolments under 382 active job roles out of which 70% have already completed their trainings. . . The scheme has been implemented across all 29 states and 6 union territories of the country, and covered 596 districts and 531 constituencies. It addresses the requirement for skill development across 29 sectors in which around 566 job roles have been identified for courses in which the youth can enrol and can get trained. These courses help in making them more employable with hands on experience on skills that will make them more employable and also more efficient in their work. . . Appreciating the achievement of reaching the 10 lakh mark Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy has said that he is elated at the response that Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), the worlds largest skill development scheme, has got. 10 lakh is good number and he is happy to see how our ecosystem has come together to galvanise our countrys youth towards our Prime Ministers vision of a Skilled India. He said, this achievement will encourage more youth to join the Skill India Mission and PMKVY is here to support those who have financial limitations to hone a skill of their choice. The Minister said, he is certain that the scheme will open doors to a new life for many. . . Chairman, National Skill Development and Corporation, Shri S. Ramadorai said, that the 10 lakh figure gives us a sense of achievement and also encourages us to gear ourselves even more, and galvanise many more in this public private partnership. With 8749 active centres across the country through which we implemented PMKVY, it wouldnt have been possible to achieve this milestone, without the due support of the Sector Skill Councils and the training partners. . . The states which reflect maximum enrolments under PMKVY are Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh while the sectors which saw maximum enrolments are Logistics (135615), Agriculture (90489), Electronics (82903), Beauty and Wellness (72316), Retail (65901) and Automotive (61846). . . The Ministry of Skill Development with the help of NSDC and the local training partners, and support from state governments, MPs and MLAs conducted 410 Kaushal Vikas Shivirs across the country, to educate and encourage the youth to avail the scheme. Most of these shivirs also had Classrooms cum labs set up within the venue to enable visitors to witness the format of the training. . . Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana aims to offer 24 lakh Indian youth meaningful, industry relevant, skill based training. Under this scheme, the trainees will be offered a financial reward and a government certification on successful completion of training and assessment, which will help them in securing a job for a better future. . . The Union Cabinet had approved Indias largest skill certification and monetary reward scheme, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojana (PMKVY), on 20 March 2014. The scheme was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 15 July 2015, on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day. . . Shri Rajnath Singh reviews Coastal Security, Development and Governance issues in Diu . . Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh visited the island of Diu in the U.T. of Daman & Diu to review coastal security, development and governance issues on 4th & 5th February, 2016. . . Shri Rajnath Singh reviewed the Coastal Security apparatus, a Coastal Police station and an operational detachment in the U. T. Of Daman Diu during his visit. The Coasts are guarded by the four Coastal Boats and foot Patrol and one Coastal Police Jetty at Daman is already operational. Construction of jetty at Diu is in advanced stage. The Home Minister inaugurated new Coastal Police station at Diu and construction of another one is in advanced stage in Daman. . . The Administrator expressed his gratitude to the Home Minister for the creation of 114 posts for Coastal Police and assured that recruitment will be completed soon and both new Coastal Police Station will start working in full capacity within 6 Months. The Home Minister expressed satisfaction on the progress made by the Union Territory for strengthening and upgrading the infrastructure and called for creating even greater synergies amongst all agencies involved in this endeavour. . . During the visit, the Home Minister also inaugurated a newly constructed 60 bedded District Hospital with different speciality services built at a cost of Rs.27 crore. A 3 MW solar power plant was dedicated and foundation stone of a 6 MW plant was laid by the Home Minister. The commissioning of the plant will make Diu the first district in the country to meet its entire energy requirement from solar energy. . . The foundation stone of Government Polytechnic College as part of an education hub and inauguration of an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 was also done by the Home Minister. In all, the Union Home Minister inaugurated and laid foundation stone of projects worth about Rs.150 crore. . . The Home Minister also held meeting with the senior officials of the UT administration and reviewed the development Project in the UTs of Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. . . While addressing a gathering at the newly built Auditorium, the Home Minister commended the efforts of the administration in giving a special thrust to the tourism sector and launching a special festival of Diu, which was inaugurated by President of India for promoting tourism in this territory. He stated that, the time has now come to give an even greater push to this sector in conjunction with the neighbouring state of Gujarat and develop Diu Gir Somnath and Daman Sanjan Udwada as tourist circuits. The Home Minister stated that he will ask the Civil Aviation Minister to start flights on the Ahmadabad-Diu sector at the earliest and will also urge the Shipping Minister to start Catamaran services between Mumbai, Daman & Diu for improving the Sea connectivity between the two parts of this territory. . . Shri Rajnath Singh was impressed by the remarkable level of cleanliness maintained in the city. He stated that the city has the potential of becoming a Model Smart City in the country having been shortlisted in the 98 cities by the Government. He also announced that the Government has decided to establish a Regional Centre of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology in Daman. The Home Minster assured the people of Daman & Diu that the Central Government is fully committed for providing all necessary support to ensure that the true aspirations of the people are realized. . . Speech by the President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the Fifty-Fourth convocation of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) . . 1. I am indeed happy to be here amidst you today for the fifty-fourth convocation of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, a leading institution in our country for agricultural research, education and extension. I congratulate the students who are being awarded degrees today. On this occasion, I also take the opportunity to compliment the members of the faculty for shaping the minds and skills of these students. . . 2. The IARI, set up in 1905, has played a key role in providing human resource to the national agricultural research system. Over eight thousand students of IARI have been awarded post-graduate or PhD degrees so far. Several alumni of IARI have held key positions driving agricultural research and education in important institutions in India and abroad. . . Ladies and Gentlemen: . 3. India has only 3 percent of the worlds land resources and 5 percent of water resources. Yet, Indian agriculture system supports 18 percent of the world population. The transformation from a state of "ship-to-mouth" to a leading exporter of food grains has been made possible largely due to the scientific developments in premier institutes like IARI. This Institute has made significant contributions in ushering the green revolution and building a vibrant agriculture sector in our country. I applaud IARI for its dedicated service to the nation. . . 4. IARI has recently developed several breakthrough technologies bringing prosperity to farmers. Indias basmati rice export has been revolutionized because of IARIs short-duration high-yielding basmati rice varieties. Pusa basmati varieties accounted for more than 90 percent of the 30,000 crore rupees of export earnings this year. It gave profit in excess of two lakh rupees per hectare to the farmers. Likewise, IARI wheat varieties have resulted in an additional production of 3 million tonnes of wheat in the previous year. . . 5. Resource management, farm machinery and plant protection technologies of IARI are widely used by farmers. They have resulted in enhanced input use efficiency, farm profit and environmental sustainability. The diagnostic techniques developed by IARI such as "micro-array chip" and "ELISA kits" for plant virus detection, and nanotechnology-based chemical formulations for management of nematodes and insect pests are expected to reduce the input cost of plant protection chemicals. IARIs climate change and mitigation research on methane emission from rice paddies are significant from the point of view of developing appropriate strategies and protecting Indias interests in climate change negotiations. . . Friends: . 6. Degrading soil health and dwindling fresh water availability are posing major concerns for agricultural sustainability. Low soil organic matter and imbalanced use of fertilizers are affecting crop productivity. The Soil Health Card Scheme" aims at providing farm-wise and crop-wise fertilizer recommendations to enhance fertilizer use efficiency. To my mind, IARI technologies like Pusa Soil Testing and Fertilizer Recommendation meter", remote sensing-based crop and natural resource monitoring, and decision-support systems can contribute significantly towards this mission. Crops use 23 percent of the applied fertilizer with the balance 77 percent lost to environment. To further increase the efficiency of fertilizer use, easy methods based on plant tissue analysis for sensing nutrient status and making fertilizer recommendations are needed. . . 7. Enhancing water use efficiency in agriculture can hardly be over-emphasized. In this context, the per drop, more crop" is a mission statement aimed at improving water productivity. We need technology solutions for smart water usage. It is heartening to note that several water-wise technologies like precision irrigation, Pusa Hydrogel, zero tillage wheat system, direct seeded rice system, and short duration crop varieties have been developed by IARI. Scientists here must continue with their efforts to develop water-efficient and drought-tolerant varieties. . . 8. Inappropriate treatment and unplanned use of raw sewage water is impacting agricultural sustainability while posing a risk to consumer and environmental health. IARIs eco-friendly waste-water treatment technology should be able to provide safe irrigation water for peri-urban agriculture and also mitigate the problem of sewage water disposal. . . Friends: . 9. The production of pulses and edible oil in India has remained insufficient making us dependent on imports. The demand for these food commodities is expected to increase in future substantially. IARI has developed mustard varieties suitable for unconventional areas that can boost oil seed production. The Institute has also initiated the development of synchronous-maturity pigeon-pea hybrids and varieties, apart from chickpea. I am confident these technologies will enhance the productivity of pulses and edible oils to meet our domestic requirements fully. . . 10. Forty-five percent of children below the age of three years are under-nourished in India. A large number also suffer from Vitamin-A deficiency. To address malnutrition in children, food grains must be bio-fortified with quality protein and micronutrients. I am happy that IARI has developed quality protein maize, and iron and zinc rich wheat, pearl millet and lentil varieties through molecular breeding, and genetically modified Golden rice" enriched with pro-vitamin A. These technologies should reach the farmers immediately for alleviating malnourishment in women and children. . . Friends: . 11. Despite the advancements made, Indian agriculture is yet to be completely out of the clutches of weather. After a record food grains production of 265 million tonne in 2013-14, a year of normal monsoon, the production level came down to 253 million tonne in 2014-15, when a 12 percent rainfall deficit was registered. Nature has not been kind to us this year as well. A deficient monsoon followed by a further dry spell is likely to affect agricultural production for the second year in a row. This is an area of grave concern. . . 12. The time is ripe for some serious efforts as eighty percent of the area under cultivation in India is in the grip of severe climatic conditions like drought, floods and cyclones. Global climate change could aggravate these problems. Institutes like IARI must leverage opportunities from frontier sciences such as bio-technology, synthetic biology, nano-technology, computational biology, sensor technology and geo-spatial technology to develop climate-resilient technology solutions. Innovation in agricultural techniques and practices must be supported through infusion of funds, mentoring of ideas, and technical assistance. The risk-taking ability of farmers must be boosted. The newly-launched crop insurance scheme will leverage technology to provide risk cover to the farmers. . . Friends: . 13. Agriculture is the source of livelihood for more than fifty percent of our population. Mahatma Gandhi had said once and I quote: To forget how to dig the earth and tend the soil is to forget ourselves" (unquote). Not many youth, however, are coming forward today to take up farming. To attract youth to agriculture, we need technologies that can make the farm sector profitable. Research in agricultural institutes should focus on minimizing production cost, enhancing profitability in the entire field-to-plate" food chain, and introducing greater automation to reduce drudgery. . . 14. Globalization of agriculture has increased the prospects for processed food commodities manifold. Our farmers and agri-preneurs must make full use of this opportunity. Increase in investment for agriculture technology development, rural agri-infrastructure, on-farm processing and value addition, and storage facilities are needed. Agriculturists must be trained to transform their farms into production-cum-processing centres. Research in our institutes must address the critical issues that hinder the development of rural agri-businesses. Proliferation of the recently-launched Start-up India" to the rural sector could provide fillip to the setting up of agro-based enterprises. The Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav" programme of IARI, under which each scientist will adopt a village, should aim at changing agriculture from subsistence farming to commercial farm industry. . . Friends: . 15. Agricultural education in our country must conform to global standards. For that, we need to create a large pool of competent faculty empowered with state-of-the-art research infrastructure. A strong network of teachers, learners and practitioners will facilitate lab-to-field dissemination of good agricultural practices. It will also provide feedback about farmers problems to trigger research and technology development in our institutions. . . 16. Agricultural institutes are the foci on which the success of our farm sector and welfare of people depends. The barometer of performance is the quality of their products. Able, committed and industrious professionals from these institutions are required to spearhead the next farm revolution. Students and alumni of this reputed institution must seize the opportunity and contribute to the transformation in agriculture. I wish the graduating students the very best in life and career. I also wish IARI Godspeed for its future endeavours. . . Thank you. . . Jai Hind. . . State Bank of Patiala contributes Rs.2.36 crores to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund for Chennai Rain Victims . . On behalf of the employees of the State Bank of Patiala, Shri S. A. Ramesh Rangan, Managing Director, State Bank of Patiala along with the General Manager (RNW-Delhi) Shri. M V Krishna presented a cheque of Rs. 2.36 crores to the Union Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in his office here today, towards their contribution to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund for helping the victims of recent catastrophe due to torrential rains at Chennai and other national priorities. The donation is manifestation of the concern of Fifteen Thousand employees of the bank, who donated their one day salary to help the affected persons. . . The Bank had recently felicitated the National Bravery Award Winners as part of Republic Day celebrations and also donated Ambulances to Red Cross and Blind School towards the Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. . . The donation to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund was accepted by the Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley who lauded the efforts of the bank for rising to the occasion and thanked the bank, its staff and officers for standing-up with the people of Chennai and Government of India at time of such crisis. . . Visit of COAS Nepalese Army to School of Artillery from 04-05 February 2016 . . General Rajendra Chhetri, Chief of Army Staff, Nepalese Army and Honorary General of Indian Army visited School of Artillery, Devlali from 04-05 February 2016. The Nepalese Army Chief is a Gunner Officer himself and has done the basic Artillery courses of Young Officers and Advance Gunnery at this establishment. . . He was given a brief on the training being conducted at the School of Artillery and he further interacted with the Nepalese Army Student Officers currently undergoing training there. . . It had been a nostalgic visit for the General Officer as he fondly remembered his association with gunners of the Indian Army. . . Col Rohan Anand, SM. PRO (Army) The highest-profile executive found guilty in a crackdown on insider trading convinced an appeals panel to review his conviction for passing tips to a billionaire hedge fund manager, the latest case to be scrutinised in the wake of a US Supreme Court decision to clarify insider-trading laws. The US Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Thursday agreed to reconsider its rejection of former Goldman Sachs Group Inc director Rajat Gupta's request to throw out his 2012 conviction. Gupta was convicted for passing tips to his friend Raj Rajaratnam, a co-founder of the Galleon Group LLC hedge ... "AGK was a wonderful human being and I am not saying this because I do not wish to sound rude. I mean it," says Arun Nanda, chairman & managing director, Rediffusion Y&R, of Atchyutani Gopala Krishnamurthy or AGK, founder chairman and managing director of ad agency Mudra Communications. AGK passed away on Friday, after a brief illness. His wife and four children survive him. An unassuming man, Krishnamurthy, 74, remained friends with Nanda and many more across the advertising spectrum long after he had bid adieu in 2003. Such was his passion for the business, say those who remember him. His beginnings were humble. He was born in a small town called Vinukonda in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, studying history and eventually taking a job in a textile mill, before moving to advertising in the 1970s. And, remained agile, incisive and alert to all ad developments till the very end. His lasting legacy remains the Indian stamp he brought to advertising, ahead of flag-bearers such as Piyush Pandey of Ogilvy & Mather. "Kamlesh Pandey of Rediffusion was the first one to introduce the Hindi idiom to Indian advertising. This was in the 1970s. AGK took it forward in the 1980s, reflected in the name and logo of the agency he founded, the posture of two hands in a mudra, the agency's brand identity, to the work he did for clients such as Vimal and Rasna. The Indian ethos was visible all over," Nanda says. Tweeted Srinivasan Swamy, chairman of ad agency R K Swamy/BBDO, who also knew AGK well, "He changed the rules when he ruled." Krishnamurthy founded Mudra Communications with Rs 35,000 in Ahmedabad, his favourite city, in 1980. By 1989, the agency had emerged the third largest, after the likes of HTA (now J Walter Thompson) and Lintas (now Mullen Lowe). Today, Mudra is part of Omnicom's DDB Group, a relationship that began in 1988 when DDB Needham bought an eight per cent stake in the agency. This was subsequently increased to 10 per cent and to 51 per cent in 2011. "When I started Mudra, it was not just a fulltime job; it became my mission in life," AGK would say. For a man, who shunned the limelight, his entry into advertising was dramatic. He was given the job to produce "the best possible advertising in textiles" for Reliance's in-house fabric brand, Vimal, when Reliance Group chairman Dhirubhai Ambani could trust no one to do it. Madhukar Kamath, chief executive officer & managing director at DDB Mudra Group, says: "Frank Simoes (an Indian ad legend) was handling the advertising for Vimal and Raymonds in the 1970s. It was conflicting business and sooner or later, Simoes would have to give up one of them. He called up AGK and Dhirubhai one day, saying he could no longer handle Vimal; he was going with Raymonds." Simoes' loss was Krishnamurthy's gain. Mudra began with the entire textile business of Reliance, subsequently picking up ad accounts of other Gujarat-based entrepreneurs. In Mumbai, Mudra bagged Godrej Industries, thanks to Sam Balsara, then part of the agency (he quit in 1988). Mudra Videotech, a precursor to today's production houses, was formed in the 1980s and co-produced serials such as Rajni and Buniyaad. By the 1990s, Mudra was scouting for business across the country. Kamath, who had two stints in Mudra, between 1988 and 1999 and then from 2003 to now, was heading the Delhi office. Krishnamurthy didnt stop at managing his agency. He launched the Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA) in 1991, in Ahmedabad, then the only one of its kind. The new millenium saw Krishnamurthy nearing retirement but the man had built an edifice. His passing away comes when MICA celebrates its silver jubilee. Kamath puts it well: "Today is not a day of grief but a day of gratitude at DDB Mudra. Within three years of becoming all the rage among management students, fewer start-up job offers have been seen at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) this season. Traditional sectors, on the other hand, are making a comeback. Start-ups have slowed down hiring from the country's premier B-schools, giving way to telecom, real estate, consulting, finance and FMCG companies. IIMs said these sectors are recruiting more graduates than last year. Start-ups, especially the e-commerce players, are either staying away from these campuses or recruiting in much smaller numbers than last year. For instance, at IIM Bangalore (IIM-B), Snapdeal, which made offers in double digit last year, is not visiting this year. Similarly, Ola is learnt to be reducing the number of offers at IIM-B, which is yet to conclude its placement process. IIMs say compared with the last few years when, plush with funds from investors, start-ups recruited in large numbers, the industry is in the process of rationalisation. This financial year saw the likes of Housing.com, Foodpanda and TinyOwl laying off workers. "Traditional sectors are coming back. They always come, but this time they are hiring more. E-commerce was a substitute for marketing and now traditional marketing roles are making a comeback. In the last three years, there was a lot of traction among start-ups. They were hiring year-on-year on an incremental basis," said Sapna Agarwal, head - career development services, IIM-B. "This year we are not seeing that. Instead, they are decreasing the numbers, or keeping it the same, or not coming at all," she added. The other reason behind the decline in start-up hiring at IIMs could be seasonality of the industry and "over-hiring" in past few years. "Probably they now have enough manpower to take care of the current load," says Agarwal. Rishikesha Krishnan, director of IIM Indore (IIM-I), is of the view that the start-up industry, especially the e-commerce firms, could be witnessing a cyclical slowdown. "I think it has to do with seasonality, cyclicality and more of the other things. For example, if you look at last year when the e-commerce start-ups were really going great guns and there was a lot of hiring from them. But I think they over-hired last year. Therefore, this year there has been less hiring. Obviously, it will go up and down with the cycles of the start-ups themselves," Krishnan added. Final placements are yet to conclude at IIM Indore. Similarly, at IIM Kozhikode (IIM-K), which wrapped up its final placements in record seven days, saw 28 per cent offers from consulting firms and 21 per cent from finance companies. The premier B-school also saw some of the first-time recruiters like 3M, Bank of America, Boston Consulting Group, Brand Accelerator, Capita, Caratlane, Credit Suisse, Ernst & Young, Frost and Sullivan, McKinsey, Mondelez, Schneider and Shell among others. In all, first-time recruiters together made around 100 offers at IIM-K. The placement committee of IIM Ahmedabad, which releases audited placement reports under the Indian Placement Reporting Standards, refused to comment on the issue. WHERE ARE THE HEADHUNTERS? The Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) has directed the assistant registrar of the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, to proceed with registration of a geographical indication (GI) tag for Basmati rice according to the geographical demarcation conducted by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). This means seven north Indian Basmati rice-producing states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir will get the GI tag. The appellate authority also asked the registrar to reconsider the matter of inclusion of uncovered areas, including Madhya Pradesh, in the area covered under the GI for Basmati. It has also dismissed two petitions from the Basmati Growers Association of Lahore, Pakistan, related to the matter. A GI tag can be issued for agricultural, natural or manufactured goods that have a given quality, reputation or other characteristics attributable to its geographical origin. A GI registration gives the registered proprietor and authorised users the legal right to the exclusive use of the GI, and no unauthorised person can use the tag. Some of the examples of GI are Mysore Silk, Mysore Agarbathi, Kancheepuram Silk, Orissa Ikat, Channapatna Toys & Dolls, and Coimbatore Wet Grinder. Products sold with the GI tag get premium pricing also. Commenting on the urgent requirement of registering the GI, IPAB Chairman Justice K N Basha and Technical Member Sanjeev Kumar Chaswal said Basmati rice was an iconic heritage of India. APEDA, as a statutory authority related to exports of agricultural products, applied for the GI tag for Basmati, a special long grain aromatic rice grown in a particular geographical region of the Indian sub-continent. Historically, Basmati was a product of undivided India with a recorded history of over 200 years. APEDA argued that a worldwide watch agency was appointed to monitor the trade mark registers worldwide for any third party attempted registration in the name of Basmati or any deceptive variations and it has taken legal action in 40 countries for alleged attempt of infringement. It has also successfully challenged an attempt by Ricetec, a US-based company, from claiming monopoly on the rice grains. The order comes in an appeal filed by APEDA against the order of the assistant registrar in December 31, 2013, related to a dispute between the export promotion body and Madhya Pradesh and Daawat Foods for inclusion of some uncovered areas in the GI application filed. Agreeing to the arguments of Daawat Foods and others, the assistant registrar asked APEDA to amend the application to include the uncovered area with a map of the region clearly demarcating the area of production within 60 days from the date of the order on December 31, 2013. The IPAB has set aside this finding. The IPAB has also dismissed an appeal filed by the Basmati Growers Association, Lahore, Pakistan, against the order passed by the assistant registrar on procedural grounds. The association challenged the order stating that the area below the foothills of the Himalayas in the erstwhile Punjab province now in Pakistan was entitled to the GI tag for Basmati rice. The associations GI tag recognition in Pakistan and an appeal against it is pending before the High Court Sindh, Karachi. Shares of pharmaceutical companies have rallied on the bourses after Lupin has reported a better-than-expected net profit for the quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q3FY16). Lupin, Dishman Pharmaceuticals, Sequent Scientific, Granules India, Jubilant Life Sciences, RPG Life Sciences and Marksans Pharma have surged between 5%-13% on the BSE. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, Cadila Healthcare, Dr Reddys Laboratories, Cipla and Aurobindo Pharma were up in the range of 3%-5%. At 03:21 PM, the S&P BSE Healthcare index was up 3.6% or 559 points at 16,077 as compared to 1.3% rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. Lupin has rallied 10% to Rs 1,816, bouncing back 13% from intra-day low after the company reported net profit of Rs 530 crore against an average analysts estimates of Rs 475 crore for the quarter ended December 2015 (Q3FY16). Net sales grew by 6.8% Rs 3,358 crore against Rs 3,145 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous year. Analysts on an average expected revenues of Rs 3,348 crore for the quarter. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) margin improved by nearly 600 basis points sequentially at 28.1% in Q3FY16 against 22.5% in Q2FY16. Sequentially the quarter has improved significantly and this will get much better going forward. The quarter saw a significant pick up in approvals as well as product launches with us clocking in good growth in the US, India and Japan. We continue our investments in research as well as our manufacturing operations and this will drive long-term growth, said Mr. Nilesh Gupta, Managing Director, Lupin. Sequent Scientific has soared 13% to Rs 850 on the BSE after the company announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Alivira Animal Health has commenced the production in the Vizag facility post receipt of clearance from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board. The stock hit an intra-day high of Rs 890 on the BSE. Dishman Pharmaceuticals & Chemicals surged 8% to Rs 347 after net profit of the company nearly doubled to Rs 46.93 crore in Q3FY16 against Rs 24.03 crore in previous year quarter. Tata Steel has dipped nearly 5% to Rs 215 on the BSE after the company reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 2,127 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2015 (Q3FY16) against profit of Rs 157 crore in the same quarter year ago. The company had profit of Rs 1,529 crore in previous quarter. Net sales during the quarter declined 16.6% to Rs 28,039 crore against Rs 33,633 crore in the corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. "Turnover slipped due to lower steel prices in Europe caused by an increase in low priced imports," Tata Steel said in a statement. The consolidated earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) at Rs 841 crore was much lower than the consensus estimate of Rs 1,409 crore according to Bloomberg and lower than the Rs 3,090 crore in the year ago quarter. On business outlook, the company said the eurozone and UK economies continue to grow, however manufacturing in UK industrial activity continues to lag the service sectors. Steel demand in the EU is expected to grow by +1.1% in 2016 in line with steel-using sector activity. A significant part of the increase is expected to continue to be supplied by imports. Low-priced imports expected to continue to put intense pressure on European steel industry?s margins, it added. At 09:35 AM, the stock was down 3.3% at Rs 218 on the BSE. A combined 5.58 million shares changed hands on the counter on the BSE and NSE. Tata Steel's recent results are an example of the pain the metals (steel) industry and the company is going through on the back of a fall in commodity prices. Given the recent performance and the subdued outlook, most analysts maintain a sell rating on the stock. "Q3 worse than expected; India margins contract to sub-$100 levels in Q3. Major protectionist measures needed to get company back to profits. Visibility to get company back to profits are low," points out a note from CLSA. Adds Tarang Bhanushali, an analyst tracking the company at IIFL: "We believe recovery in earnings would take longer than expected and maintain our Reduce rating with a revised price target of Rs 205. We believe government intervention would be needed against cheaper imports for the company to register a turnaround." Goutam Chakraborty of Emkay, on the other hand, has set the target price at Rs 143. "While, domestic steel prices are likely to remain subdued, TSE business continues to be an overhang without any near term respite," he said in a post results note. Analysts at Motilal Oswal, too, have given a thumbs-down to the stock and maintain a 'sell' rating. India business, they say, continues to witness margin pressure on declining steel prices, as advantage of captive iron ore is getting eroded. "While we bake in some margin expansion on operating leverage and price increase, it will not be enough to alter the long-term trend. Europe business will continue to suffer from onslaught of imports and uneconomical operation due to high labor cost. South-east remains vulnerable to Chinese imports and is operating at wafer-thin margins. Maintain Sell with a FY17E P/ABV 1x based target price of Rs 146," Sanjay Jain and Dhruv Muchhal of MOSL suggest in a result analysis note. Delhi Police on Friday said that Mohsinh Abrahim, who was arrested for allegedly having links with the ISIS, was part of the Roorkee module of the terror outfit and was planning to go to Syria. Special Commissioner of Police of the Delhi Police's Special Cell Arvind Deep told ANI that Abrahim would be produced before the court later today. "He was part of Roorkee module and was planning to go to Syria. His age is around 26 years and he is a resident of Malad West, Mumbai," Deep said. The special cell of the Delhi Police, which arrested Abrahim yesterday, had also recovered Rs. 85, 000 from 23-year-old. Last week, the Delhi Police had arrested Abrahim, who hails from Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, for being an alleged sympathiser of the ISIS. Last month, the investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested 14 youth suspected of having links with the ISIS from different parts of the country. Bengaluru Police on Friday arrested four more persons in connection with an attack on a Tanzanian girl student in Hesaraghatta Road area of the city, taking the total number of arrested persons in this case to nine. Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh confirmed this to ANI. "We have arrested four more people and totally we have arrested nine people," he said. "We are verifying how many were there actually. She said in a statement about presence of policemen. There is still a lot of confusion. Lady said that there were four people in the car, other friends said there were five," he added. The Tanzanian student was harassed by a group of locals in Bengaluru after they assumed she was part of an incident in which a Sudanese man had run over a local woman. The incident took place on Hesaraghatta Road in Bengaluru on Saturday night after a Sudanese ran his car over a 35-year-old woman resulting in on the spot death of the woman. The Tanzanian student was travelling in another car, a Wagon-R, along with four others. The young woman, who arrived on the spot around 30 minutes later, was dragged out of the car and allegedly paraded naked after being stripped by the mob. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid has said that constructive criticism by the media ensures good governance and the building of a nation. Array Addressing a programme commemorating the 25th anniversary of The Daily Star at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here, President Hamid said, 'Free flow of information and freedom of expression is important in proper development of mass media.' Array Hamid, however, cautioned media houses to 'exercise self censorship.' He said the government believes in the freedom of the press and cooperates with the media so that they can run independently. Array President Hamid said the mass media will have to equip itself with latest technology to unearth various technology based organised crimes at international and local arena, including global terrorism. Array President Hamid urged all journalists to come forward in taking this journey of development further and added that all newspapers will continue to contribute to the development of the country through responsible journalism. BMX bike legend Dave Mirra, who once had the record for the most X Games medals, has apparently taken his own life at the age of 41. Array According to the police, Mirra's body was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in his truck in Greenville, North Carolina. He had been in the area visiting with friends, TMZ.com reported. Dave's good friend and fellow BMX legend T.J. Lavin said, "I just wish he would have called me. I would have jumped on a plane in a second. There's always another way. If anyone needs help, just please get it. I feel sick about this." The police are investigating the death. Mirra, who leaves a wife and two kids behind, hosted 2 seasons of 'Real World/Road Rules Challenge' on MTV and was the namesake of several BMX video games. New Delhi, Feb.5 (ANI): Myanmar finally succeeded in realizing the dream for democracy after decades of struggle as the first popularly elected parliament in more than a half century held its first sitting early this week. It will go down as a landmark in history of Myanmar because of the smooth drawn-out transfer of power from the deeply entrenched junta to the first democratically elected government since 1962. And it could not have been made possible without the efforts of Aung San Suu Kyi, who did not waver in her struggle for democracy, despite being put under house arrest for more than 15 years. Suu Kyi's National League of Democracy-dominated parliament will officially begin its term in April after the election of a new president. Amidst an air of new-found optimism, the next few months will be full of anxiety. Suu Kyi can't become the president under the controversial 2008 constitution. According to the military-drafted constitution, those with children who have foreign nationality are barred from the office of the country's top post. Suu Kyi has two sons from her late husband, who are British. Her comments that she will be "above the president" and in complete control of the government have not gone down well with the military which will be sharing power in the new government. Has she envisioned a role for herself like India's Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, who wielded considerable power despite being out of government when she made Manmohan Singh the prime minister in May 2014? Suu Kyi has remained tight-lipped so far as to who will replace the outgoing President Thein Sein. Election of a new president is a long drawn out exercise in Myanmar. Unlike the most prevalent democratic practices, the President will not be chosen directly by the party or the voters. The parliament's two chambers will choose a presidential candidate each and the military, which controls a quarter of seats, will also name its nominee. The two houses will then vote for the three candidates. The candidate winning the most of the votes will become president where as the other two will be his deputies. Here again one of the vice-presidents of the country will be from the military which has ensured a role for itself in managing the legislature. Suu Kyi knows it very well that pressing her stake for the country's top post right now will only vitiate the atmosphere and the fragile bonhomie that exists between her and the military generals may soon be a thing of the past. There is a likely possibility that Suu Kyi may appoint a figure-head president but will pull the strings of the government indirectly. The military has dropped enough indications that it is averse to changing the statute to make Suu Kyi the President of the country. In fact, Suu Kyi held a series of meetings with the ruling junta leaders soon after her landslide victory in the November elections. But the generals were unmoved. As things stand today, Suu Kyi will have to work in tandem with the military as she attempts to deepen the roots of democracy in the country. Her victory was celebrated across the . The international community hoped that Suu Kyi would usher in the truest form of democracy in Myanmar after her resounding victory. In the months to come, the army, which has ruled the country with an iron fist for almost half a century, will feel the heat from the global community as Myanmar will have to open its doors to the outside for investments. Myanmar will also be under pressure to unleash more political and economic reforms to create a favourable environment for foreign investors. "The Lady", as Suu Kyi is known in Myanmar, is a revered figure. The people of the country voted for her party only to see her becoming the president of the country. In fact, she received a shot in the arm recently when a former defence minister and commander in chief, Tin Oo, also threw his weight behind her and supported her bid for the presidentship. The old lady knows that sooner or later the army will have to change its attitude and will have to listen to the voice of the people. Patience and perseverance will finally reward her with the coveted post. But most importantly, it remains to be seen how the NLD will be able to implement its agenda of governance. The top three security ministries, namely defence, border and home affairs, will remain in the hands of the military under the constitution which was carefully drafted by the junta to establish its influence on politics. The military even tried to bring immigration matters under its control, but the proposal was voted down by outgoing lawmakers last week. Suu Kyi will thus have to tread very cautiously as she begins her new inning. She can't afford to take on the military, which has in the past prevented her from becoming the president and putting her under house arrest despite winning the 1990 elections overwhelmingly. She does not have much choice but to engage with the military. With both the NLD and the military having very little in common as far as their positions on important issues are concerned, it will not be an easy journey ahead. The NLD will be forced into constant negotiations with the military. Aware of the challenges, Suu Kyi has tried to buy peace with the military establishment by making it clear that she is in no hurry for an immediate overhaul of the constitution and her focus is on the future. In fact, she took a step towards national reconciliation by offering the posts of deputy parliamentary speakers to the defeated Union Solidarity and Development Party and an ethnic minority Arakan National Party despite stiff opposition from her party. Expectations are high for the Nobel peace laureate to cure the ills of the country from transforming an economy hit by decades of isolation to bringing peace with several of the country's major ethnic armed groups, particularly in Kachin and Shan states. Myanmar needs a new political and economic change that will uplift the impoverished nation of more than 51 million people. One of Southeast Asia's poorest countries, Myanmar's economy is in a shambles. The previous quasi-civilian government under ex-general Thein Sein undertook some reforms, both political and economic, which led to the lifting of sanctions. But challenges are too many for Suu Kyi. The new government has to outline vision on important policies which should not be seen a marked departure from the previous regime. She has a daunting task ahead in getting the country back on track. . The special cell of the Delhi Police has confirmed the arrest of a Mumbai resident who allegedly had links with the ISIS. Police said that they had also recovered Rs. 85, 000 from 23-year-old Mohsinh Abrahim, the arrested person. Last week, the Delhi Police had arrested a 23-year-old youth, hailing from Jammu and Kashmir's Ganderbal district, for being an alleged sympathiser of the ISIS. Last month, the investigation Agency (NIA) had arrested 14 youth suspected of having links with the ISIS from different parts of the country. Delhi School of Business, thumped all leading Schools in Delhi and all over India, including all new IIM's to emerge India's No. 1 Emerging Schools. Delhi School of also becomes only Business School in India, to offer 2-week credit exchange program at IIM-A (on campus), and exchange program with London School of Economics, UK. Applications are invited for PGDM 2016-18 program. Delhi School of Business, which thumped IIM-Kochi, IIM-Shillong and IIM-Indore to emerge as India's No.1 emerging business school last year, invites application for its PGDM Programme (AICTE Approved) for 2016-18 intake. Delhi School of Business has become the only b-school in the country to have association with Indian Institute of Management - Ahmadabad (IIM-A) for credit exchange programme. Students from DSB get a chance to study at IIM-A campus for which they will be awarded certification by IIM-A. Delhi School of Business also become only the second business school in India, after IIM Bangalore to have collaborated with London School of Economics, UK for a credit exchange programme. After three weeks of intensive programme, students will be awarded certification by LSE. London School of Economics has been consistently ranked as one of world's most prestigious educational institutions, with highest number of Nobel Prize Laureates. The latest PGDM batch, which will begin its session in July 2016, will reap the benefits of Delhi School of Business's globally acclaimed and award winning value-based leadership development programme, which is led by Prof. I.M Pandey (former Dean IIM-A). DSB has some of the best faculty from FMS, MDI, IIM, and XLRI. Array Graduates from Delhi School of Business two-year PGDM programme have consistently risen to prominence in the corporate world. In last year placement, two DSB students bagged a very attractive remuneration, which was amongst the highest offered in Delhi/NCR. To be eligible for admissions at Delhi School of Business, an applicant must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent (10+2+3) from a recognized university. Students in the final year of graduation can also apply. Delhi School of Business accepts CAT, XAT, GMAT and MAT scores (of exceptional students). Delhi School of Business has consistently communicated with the Industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and CEO's of leading organisations to mentor its students. Array Delhi School of Business is committed to developing, grooming and perfecting the potential of each of our students so that each one can be the best that they can be to meet their future career and life challenges. Delhi School of Business offers the PGDM, A.I.C.T.E. accredited program and stands apart for its dynamic curriculum structure that doesn't just respond to market needs but predicts them. Keeping pace with the ever-changing business world, the School brings both theory and application into classrooms through learner-centric pedagogy and high-quality teaching. We bring to bear our students' potential and individual aspirations and in the process trigger the need in each student to define oneself in the rubric of achieving personal mastery, practicing continuous learning and critical thinking and becoming an invaluable member of society. The Business School was launched after 12 years of research on business management and administration to meet professional skills demand. After the Swedish Foreign Ministry said that a UN panel will declare WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's detention illegal, Ecuador asked for a compensation for housing Assange in its London embassy. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa said the declaration by the UN panel shows that they were right. Correa claimed that maintaining security at the embassy has been expensive and there were a lot of spying attempts. Assange, 44, took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden on a rape charge, which he denies. The UN working group on arbitrary detention (UNWGAD) is expected to declare on Friday that his three-and-a-half years in the embassy office amount to illegal detention, the Swedish foreign ministry and Assange's lawyers said. Swedish prosecutors said the ruling had no impact on their investigation into the 2010 rape allegation. The British government said it would have to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy as long as a European arrest warrant is in force. German Police and Special Forces raided four flats and two offices in Berlin, even as experts predicted that Germany could be the target of a terrorist attack by ISIS, also known as Daesh. Array German public support for bombing missions against the sick terror group in Iraq and Syria could make it a ISIS target. Berlin police spokesman Stefan Redlich said the raids specifically concern possible plans for an attack in Germany, even more specifically in Berlin. Two of the properties that were searched were an asylum seeker's home in Hanover and another in Attendorn in the Sauerland region. As revealed in Daily Star Online, ISIS hate manuals boast about infiltrating Europe and wreaking havoc with terror attacks as part of its apocalyptic vision. Berlin was the centre of the operation where police swooped on four apartments and two business premises. They were carried out to prevent 'severely violent attacks,' police said. Following Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed's statement warning India of more terror attacks, the Congress on Friday asserted that the Pakistan Government had no control over the 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind and urged the Centre to seek an explanation from Islamabad. "This is what India wants Pakistan to control rather put an end to. Hafiz Saeed is spitting venom, attacking India and continuously making highly provocative statements. And it's not just a statement but a series of them. So, what has the Pakistan Government got to say to this?" Congress leader P.C. Chacko told ANI. He added that the Indian Government must seek an explanation from Pakistan over Saeed's statement and alleged that Islamabad had no control over the terrorist. "He is allowed to make such statements continuously and he is enjoying all the privileges in Pakistan. It means Pakistan is not ready to control or the situation is beyond their control. Whatever it is, the Government of India has to ask Pakistan for an explanation," Chacko said. Earlier, the JuD chief warned India of more terror attacks. Array "You have only seen one attack on Pathankot. Matters could easily escalate," he said during a rally in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). He also alleged that the Indian troops were committing "genocide" on the Kashmiris, adding that "don't they have a right to carry out Pathankot-style attacks for their defence?" The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yesterday said 'globally designated international terrorist' Saeed continues to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities in Pakistan. "His claims that his various front organisations are carrying out charitable work is a fig leaf. It is not even a fig leaf I would say. They indulge in terrorist activities and terrorist financing, it should be a matter of great concern for everyone that people like Hafiz Saeed and his associates continue to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities," said MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup. Swarup also asked Islamabad to initiate action against such elements. "In October, we had seen that the Government of Pakistan had banned the electronic coverage of some of these organisations including the one to which Hafiz Saeed belongs. But we are seeing now that Hafiz Saeed is making statements after statements and his rallies are being covered. So, obviously the concerned authorities need to take actions," he added. The Supreme Court will hear Maharashtra Government's special leave petition against Salman Khan in the hit-and-run-case on February 12th after it was postponed today. Khan had moved the Supreme Court, saying he should be heard before any hearing on the Maharashtra Government's petition challenging his acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The Maharashtra Government had on January 22 filed a petition in the apex court against the Bombay High Court's judgement acquitting Salman of 'all charges', overturning the trial court's order sentencing him for five years. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced that his government would challenge the High Court's verdict on its merits. On December 10 last year, Salman was given a clean chit in the case with the court observing that the main witness was 'wholly unreliable' and that there were discrepancies in the case. The actor is accused of driving a car under the influence of alcohol and killing one and injuring four others in Bandra, Mumbai, in 2002. The upcoming hearing will determine whether he will be allowed to present his version of events from the night of the hit and run incident. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera on Friday co-chaired the Ninth session of the India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission and discussed the problems of fishermen and reviewed the Indian development assistance programmes there. "Reviewing a multi faceted partnership. EAM @SushmaSwaraj & FM Samaraweera Co-Chair 9th India-Sri Lanka Jt Commission," tweeted Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson for Ministary of External Affairs. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1992 to address matters concerning bilateral cooperation. The two countries also signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in various fields and signed 'agreed minutes' of the Ninth Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Commission. In a series of tweets, Swarup said: "Sealing a special partnership. EAM @SushmaSwaraj and FM Samaraweera sign agreed minutes of the 9th Indo-SL JCM. "Building a brighter future together. #IndiaSriLanka sign MoU for renovation of 27 schools in Northern Province "MoU to construct surgical unit & supply med equipment to Teaching Hosp in Batticaloa furthers coop in health sector Earlier, Swaraj called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees here this afternoon. At the 50-minute-long meeting, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said the Joint Commission mechanism is very important for bilateral relations and proposed that the meeting can he held annually. He invited India to invest in Sri Lanka and to partner in the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Trincomalee. Premier Wickremesinghe also updated Swaraj on the political developments in the country. The Kanniyakumari - Bangalore Express derailed early morning on Friday in Tamil Nadu where around 10 passengers have been injured. The Express which left yesterday, derailed between Somanayakanpatti and Patchur in Tamil Nadu around 4:15 am where the10 injured were rushed to the Tirupatur government hospital. No casualties have been reported so far. The following are the helpline numbers at Bangalore City and at Bangalore Cantonment stations: Bangalore City - 080 22156553, 080 22156554, 080 22873103 Bangalore Cantt - 080 23339162 Railway- 58885. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday criticised Karnataka Government for revealing the name of the Tanzanian student who was assaulted in Bengaluru, saying that the government must be advised to exercise restraint in such cases. Array "The kind of insensateness the Home Minister of Karnataka has shown while addressing the press even naming the victim is quite shameful. In fact the description whether she was paraded with cloths or without cloths that also was quite sensitive. In fact the government should be advised to refrain themselves from such insensitivity in addressing such an important issue," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI here. He also said that happened in Bangalore is a very sensitive issue, and delivering any kind of statement on this, everyone must be extra careful and should be quite sensitive about this. Five people have been arrested so far in connection with assault on Tanzanian female student. Array Meanwhile, Ministry of External (MEA) will send a team to Bengaluru today to take stock of the situation. Array The Tanzanian student was harassed by a group of locals in Bengaluru after they assumed she was part of an incident in which a Sudanese man had run over a local woman. Array The incident took place on Hesaraghatta Road in Bengaluru on Saturday night after a Sudanese ran his car over a 35-year-old woman resulting in on the spot death of the woman. Array The Tanzanian student was travelling in another car, a Wagon-R, along with four others. The young woman, who arrived on the spot around 30 minutes later, was dragged out of the car and allegedly paraded naked after being stripped by the mob. The MCD workers' protest entered its tenth day today as they continued their agitation in Delhi's Bhajanpura area over non-payment of their salaries. The agitators raised slogans against Arvind Kejriwal and also carried placards with messages denouncing the Delhi Chief Minister. The protestors have warned the Delhi Government against hiring private workers to clean the streets of the city. "Kapil Mishra is calling private workers to pick-up garbage. We will not tolerate this. We want to tell him that stop doing this otherwise we will resort to something (unpleasant)," said one the protestors. The agitators also said that the non-payment of salaries is not the only issue, but there are other issues such as pending arrears and medical benefits. They vowed to continue their protest until all their pending issues are resolved. Kejriwal on Wednesday blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the ongoing strike by civic body workers in the capital and accused them of embezzling the funds allocated to MCD. "I have gone through each and every figure, and thus, can say with confidence that the Delhi Government doesn't have to pay even a penny to the MCD. There is a 'big scam' in the MCD, which needs to be investigated," Kejriwal had said. "North MCD was given around Rs. 900 crore this year, which was almost double than the previous years. Where has the money gone?" he asked. BJP, on the other hand, hit back at Kejriwal for his allegations against the Centre and advised him to show interest in serious governance rather than indulging in blame game. Kejriwal had also announced a loan of Rs.551 crore for payment of salaries to striking workers of two municipal corporations in the capital and urged them to call off their strike. New Delhi, Feb.5 (ANI): Pakistan is all geared up to observe Kashmir Solidarity Day on 5, February. This is an annual ritual since 1990. The stated objective of this exercise is to highlight the so-called aspirations of the people of Kashmir who are supposedly struggling to achieve self-determination. The actual objective is downright propaganda, totally divorced from the reality on ground. Overall, it is a pointless exercise in futility. The idea of Pakistan expressing solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir is preposterous at the very outset. Where one wonders is the oneness of cause or interest or a feeling of solidarity? Pakistan claims an emotional bond with the people of Kashmir. This is a fallacious claim. What exactly has it done for the people of Kashmir over the last six decades since it has been rendering "diplomatic and moral support" to them? It has only caused bloodshed and untold misery by exposing the region to barbaric terrorism. Pakistan also claims a cultural and ideological bond with the people of Kashmir. This too is a fallacious claim. Jammu and Kashmir comprises of people with different ethnicity in its three regions of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. How can it claim cultural affinity with Kashmir and its cause? What solidarity can Pakistan foster with their issues and aspirations when it is highly polarised within itself and in the throes of an intractable conflict? Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and constitutional part of the Indian Union. Its people enjoy all fruits of liberty and freedom enshrined in the Indian Constitution and also a special status that grants them some additional benefits. The region regularly witnesses free and fair elections. Changes in governance are implemented seamlessly. The state boasts of high parameters of development in important segments like infrastructure, benefits under the rural employment guarantee scheme, free quality education, health care, development of basic sectors like agriculture and horticulture etc. Pakistan Occupied Jammu Kashmir (POJK), on the other hand, is a fiefdom that the Government of Pakistan that has been mercilessly exploited, dismembered and dismantled to serve the interests of the Pakistani state. Most of the illegally occupied territory has already been converted into a virtual colony of the ruling Punjabi elite while a huge portion has been callously transferred to China. Pakistan has, for ease of management, divided POJK into two entities, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) and Gilgit-Baltistan. This facilitates suppression by the principle of divide and rule. Both entities have been given a sham system of self governance with actual power vested in the draconian Ministry of Kashmir Affairs in the federal government. The travails of the people living in these occupied territories remain hidden from the world because of the media restrictions imposed in the region. There is hardly any newspaper being published over there, what to talk of the electronic media. The world gets to see only a few video clips that are smuggled out and shown by freedom fighters of the area living in exile across the globe. The brutality of the establishment is clearly visible in these footages which are available on social media. In these videos, people are seen protesting in vast numbers against the atrocities being heaped upon them. The very clear message is that the people wish to rid themselves of Pakistan's colonial yoke. Apart from being in doldrums politically, POK is reeling from a series of natural calamities. It had not got over the devastating earthquake of 2005, when it was, once again, afflicted by distressing floods in 2014. No attempt is being made to ameliorate the suffering of the people. Vast aid from international donors has been routed to militant organisations like the Jamaat-ud-Dawa to be used for terror activities against India. Relief operations have thus been sidelined. China has been given a clear run by Pakistan to exploit Gilgit-Baltistan. The latest in this unholy alliance is the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is expected to give a massive USD 42 billion boost to the Pakistani economy while running through Gilgit-Baltistan. When the corridor does come up, it is definitely not the people of Gilgit-Baltistan who will be the beneficiaries. They have simply been called upon to forfeit their land. The propaganda organised for Kashmir Solidarity Day is mostly along predictable lines. The puppet government of POK will be forming human chains at all bridges linking Pakistan to the occupied territories. The act is supposed to reiterate the solidarity of the Pakistani nation with the Kashmiris. Pakistan's political leaders will go to Kashmiri refugee camps and hand out some dole to the deprived people living there under most pathetic conditions, and of course, there will be a joint session of the so-called Kashmir Legislative Assembly in POJK to reiterate complete faith in Pakistan. Within Pakistan, the ritual is to observe one minute silence throughout the country. Orchestrated processions, with banners and leaflets, will be taken out in a few major cities. Fundamentalist Jihadi leaders like Mohammad Asghar and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (Who has, on 4 November, given a curtain raiser inflammatory speech at Muzaffarabad, POK). These criminals should actually be behind bars, yet, they openly spout venom against India and exhort their followers to pick up the gun in support of their so-called downtrodden brethren in Kashmir. Kashmir will, on this day, witness the proverbial Bandh leading to the avoidable loss of a working day. Some marginalised politicians will get an opportunity to occupy media space and lick up to their masters across the border so that the flow of funds is maintained. It is quite amazing that Pakistan harbours the illusion of covering up its misdeeds by observing a Kashmir Solidarity Day. The nation should realise that the people of Jammu and Kashmir and POJK are not fools to be taken in by such idiotic propaganda. Pakistan should understand that it cannot shake the Kashmiri bond with the Indian union by indulging in politically motivated and propagandist actions The views expressed in the above article are that of Col (Retired) Jaibans Singh, who is is a columnist and and author as well. Pakistan has reiterated its demand for early resolution of the dispute over Kashmir in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions. According to the Dawn, Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that the nation observed the day on February 5 every year to highlight the 'plight' of Kashmiris. Khalilullah attacked India for 'continuing to violate human rights and 'brutalise Kashmiris in the occupied territory'. "Pakistan has always condemned these atrocities and raised voice against human rights violations by Indian forces in the occupied Kashmir," he said. Talking about talks between both nations, he added that no date had been fixed between the nations but both sides were in touch with each other in this regard Khalilullah said that the next quadrilateral meeting on Afghanistan involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and US and would be held on Saturday. Referring to the deadly terrorist attack on the Bacha Khan, he said that Pakistan and Afghanistan were in touch at different levels regarding the use of the latter's soil by terrorists from Pakistan. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced the allocation of Rs250 million for the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir(AJK). The announcement came during the premier's visit to Muzaffarabad to mark Kashmir Day. The interior ministry declared February 5 as a public holiday, across the country. One minute silence was also observed by the nation to express solidarity and honour to all those Kashmiris killed while fighting for freedom. Government's priority is to give the people of Kashmir their due rights, PM Nawaz said, while addressing a joint session of the AJK assembly. Referring to the long drawn Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan, the premier said, 'Differences between countries is not unusual, but not being able to resolve issues for decades is a matter of concern.' 'Time has once again come for the leadership of Pakistan and India to resolve matters,' the premier added. The Australian High Commission today welcomed the Queensland Government's environmental permit for Adani's Carmichael coal mine project. Adani was issued an environmental authority for the project, to be located west of Bowen in north Queensland, by the state's Department of Environment and Heritage this week. Acting Australian High Commissioner Chris Elstoft said the Australian Government was pleased with the decision, which should pave the way for Adani to build Australia's largest coal mine. "The USD 16 billion mine, rail and port project is important to India as coal from the mines will help fuel India's growing energy requirements. It will also ensure jobs and economic benefits for the people of Queensland," he said. Queensland's Department of Environment and Heritage issued 140 conditions to the approval, nine of which related to the protection of the black-throated finch as required by the Land Court in December 2015 following a case filed by a conservation group. The Department said it was confident the strict conditions on the environmental permit, including extra requirements based on the directive of the Land Court, will ensure that the mine would not pose an unacceptable risk to the environment. It added that any potential impacts will be closely monitored. Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap Rudy has laid the foundation stone for an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Kushiabill, Dimapur. Array Following this, the Union Minister, during a programme on 'skilling the youths of Nagaland' held at the Patkai Christian College, assured the establishment of a model ITI of international standard. Rudy further announced that Kiphire and Longleng districts would soon have their own ITIs and that model skill centers would soon be established in all the districts and blocks of the state. Array Rudy informed that the Prime Minister has given "special instruction to do whatever possible for Nagaland." He further underlined the importance of his Ministry to have direct connection with the youth, asserting skilling of youth as the biggest challenge. "We will bring industry partnership of the highest level and we have a whole plan for the state of Nagaland", Rudy said and promised to come back to Nagaland again. Array Rudy, during his address, said one of the biggest challenges that India faces presently is how to impart skills to the millions of educated unemployed youths in the country. Array Rudy said while countries like China and US have 55 percent skilled workforce, UK 68 percent, Japan 80 percent and South Korea 96 percent skilled workforce, in sharp contrast India has a mere 4.5 percent skilled workforce. Array "Over the last 67 years, our focus was on education and we thought that skill was a part of education and we did not actually focus on skills and most of us were after degrees," the Union Minister said. Array Rudy also informed that presently, 16% of engineering graduates and 17% of management graduates in the country are unemployed. "So the situation is that education is not delivering what the industry wants and this is exactly the biggest challenge we are facing now." Array Underscoring the importance of skill development and the urgent need to take skills to the doorsteps, he said skill education in the country has to take place under the Skills Qualifications Framework, approved by the Union Cabinet and subsequent launching of Skill India mission by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi in 2015. The Union Minister informed that under the framework, even school drop-outs can get employment opportunities. Array Rudy said the youth of the North East region, particularly Nagaland, are fit to be employed in any part of the world, provided they are given skill orientation trainings and facilities. Iterating Narendra Modi's commitment to develop the North East, Rudy further assured to create a "web of skill centres" in the North East. Array Earlier, Nagaland State Chief Minister, TR Zeliang, in his address highlighted the urgent need to address the issue of skilling the youths of Nagaland and said with change of time, the aspirations of the youths are also changing. Array Zeliang also urged the Union minister to grant financial assistance to youths undergoing skill development training under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), provide skill orientation courses in schools and colleges in Nagaland and to set up a regional skilling centre of international standard in the state. Zeliang lamented the lack of industrial activities in the state and cited this as a stumbling block for gainful employment of the youths. Meanwhile, he also announced that the Department of Labour & Employment has been renamed as Department of Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Array Parliamentary Secretary for Labour and employment, Skill Development and Border Affairs, Mmhonlumo Kikon also speaking on the occasion expressed excitement for transforming the North East into a natural economic zone through the Prime Minister's 'Skill India Vision.' He said Nagaland has been endowed with natural resource as well as human resource but cautioned that unless human resource is developed at par with and international standards, natural resources will not be marketed Array Kikon also called for private parties to play a major role in creating this atmosphere. He stated that the department was willing to work hard and fast to build world class skilling the state. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday demanded that the Conservative Party MP who had made a 'racial comment' against Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, must apologise immediately. Targetting Canada's opposition Member of Parliament Jason Kenney, SAD Delhi unit president Manjit Singh GK said that it was completely inappropriate for Kenney to shout and say we need an "English-to-English" translation to understand Sikh Defence Minister in Parliament. "The leader of opposition, Jason Kenney, has an English-to-English translation of Harjit Sajjan who is the defence minister of Canada, I think it is a racial comment. And I think he should feel sorry about this as already across the globe, Indians are facing many racial abuses and this will again give rise to such kind of atrocities towards Indians," said Manjit Singh GK told ANI here. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and senior lawyer Majeed Memon said that if his (Harjit Sajjan) English knowledge is poor and he is finding it difficult to function in the parliament, and in that case, if someone is telling him to improve his English, it must not be taken as an offence. He further said that if a Sikh is critisised for his caste, for his turban or for his conduct, individual person, then it is a very serious matter. "I understand that this gentleman was critised for his knowledge of English. But if it is supposed to be a comment about his religion or about his caste, culture, then it is a very serious matter. And the High Commission of India must not spare such offenders," Memon added. Sajjan was heckled in Canadian Parliament with an opposition member shouting that MP needed an "English-to-English" translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as "racist". Kenney, a former defence minister himself, said MPs needed an "English to English" translation of Sajjan's responses. The Supreme Court will hear Maharashtra Government's special leave petition against Salman Khan in the hit-and-run-case today. Justice J.S. Kher and Justice C. Nagappan will be on the bench that will hear his case. Khan had moved the Supreme Court, saying he should be heard before any hearing on the Maharashtra Government's petition challenging his acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The Maharashtra Government had on January 22 filed a petition in the apex court against the Bombay High Court's judgement acquitting Salman of 'all charges', overturning the trial court's order sentencing him for five years. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced that his government would challenge the High Court's verdict on its merits. On December 10 last year, Salman was given a clean chit in the case with the court observing that the main witness was 'wholly unreliable' and that there were discrepancies in the case. The actor is accused of driving a car under the influence of alcohol and killing one and injuring four others in Bandra, Mumbai, in 2002. The hearing today will determine whether he will be allowed to present his version of events from the night of the hit and run incident. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today visited Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as the nation observes Kashmir Solidarity Day. "We are committed to a peaceful resolution of Kashmir dispute based on United Nation resolutions. We can't forget our Kashmiri brethrens," Sharif was quoted by Samaa tv as saying while addressing joint session of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Kashmir Council in Muzaffarabad. Sharif said peace could only be forged in South Asia through resolution of Kashmir issue. "This region requires a new vision for peace. People of this region want peace, especially Kashmiris who are looking towards Pakistan and India for a peaceful solution," Sharif added. President Mamnoon Hussain, who was also present at the event, said that peace in the region would remain elusive until the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Fishermen from Tamil Nadu have alleged that their Sri Lankan counterparts have attacked their boat when they were fishing near the Delft island off the Jaffna Peninsula. The Lanka Page web site reported that a fisherman from a coastal hamlet in the Pudukkottai district suffered an eye injury when Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen in the North allegedly pelted stones at his mechanized boat at Nedunatheevu (Delft) for violating the International Maritime Boundary Line. Two of his colleagues,however, escaped unhurt in the attack which took place late last night. Assistant Director of Fisheries said that the injured was admitted to a private eye hospital. Sri Lankan fishermen charge that their Indian counterparts poaching in the island's waters using destructive fishing methods rob their livelihood and destroy the marine resources. Since 2015,21 fishermen from Pudukkottai district have been arrested by Sri Lankan naval personnel for allegedly fishing near the island nation's waters. Asserting that the attack on a Tanzanian student in Bengaluru has tarnished India's image in the global community, the BJP on Friday said it is very strange that Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara and the state administration is trying to justify the failure instead of focusing on improving the law and order situation. BJP leader Zafar Islam said it is highly condemnable that the Home Minister himself is revealing the victim's identity. "He should have restrained, under no circumstances he should have revealed the identity of the victim. Bengaluru has lost its charm purely because of this barbaric incident. The image of India has been tarnished in the global community. And the Home Minister as well as the entire administration is trying to justify the failure, it's very strange," Islam told ANI here. "They should focus on improving the law and order situation in the state and the security of the other foreign nationals, who are studying in the state of Karnataka," he added. In what came as a surprise to everybody, the Karnataka Home Minister named the victim during his press conference in Bengaluru yesterday. Parameshwara said that his department has taken the attack seriously and added that the state government was committed to ensuring the security of foreign students living in Karnataka. Parameshwara also denied media reports that the girl was sexually assaulted. Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a 21-year-old Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru. The incident on Sunday night took a serious diplomatic turn with outrage building up over alleged mob violence. The incident took place after a local woman was killed in accident caused by a car driven by a Sudanese student. While the mob beat up the Sudanese student and burnt his car, they also allegedly assaulted a Tanzanian woman who was passing by. After public clamour and intervention by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Karnataka Government has directed the crime department to take up the case and assured that strict action would be taken against the guilty. Meanwhile, a central team will visit Bengaluru today along with the Tanzanian High Commissioner to ascertain facts on the ground. The Centre's move has been prompted by the Tanzanian High Commission taking the matter seriously seeking strict legal action against the guilty. The Karnataka Government on Friday suspended three police personnel, including one inspector, for dereliction of duty in connection with the assault on the Tanzanian student. Earlier, the Bengaluru Police arrested four persons in connection with the incident. Yesterday, five people were arrested. A central team from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will meet African students. The victim, a BBM student and three of her friends were allegedly attacked by an angry mob after a 35-year-old female pedestrian was knocked down by a car belonging to Sudan on January 31. The mob beat up the students and set their cars on fire. The incident came to light on Tuesday when the victim approached the All African Students Union following which a complaint was made to the Tanzanian Embassy. The Women Commission Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam has registered a suo moto case and served a notice on the Karnataka Government. AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi also sought a detail report about the incident from the Chief Minister. Following the furore over a Tanzanian student attacked by a mob in Bengaluru, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday called on the nation to learn a lesson from the unfortunate incident and fight against such kind of 'prejudice' from spreading across the nation. "We must take a lesson from this and ensure that that this kind of prejudice should not be allowed to flower in the country," Swamy told ANI. However, he emphasized that India can't be given a lecture over the Bengaluru incident since the country has had a record of being hospitable to all foreigners. "What happened in Bangalore is not particular to India and nobody can give us a lecture, but that does not mean that it should happen. We have a long record to being hospitable to all foreigners who come here to learn something from us," Swamy added. Meanwhile, Tanzania ambassador to India, John WH Kijazi, left for Bengaluru along with a delegation of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to take stock of the situation in the state. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took a high level meeting yesterday in view of the incident which was attended by the Foreign Secretary, following which she sought a detailed report from Commissioner of Bengaluru on the incident. Expressing regret over the incident, External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Vikas Swarup assured necessary legal action against the culprits. The Home Ministry has also sought a report from the Karnataka government over the incident. It has also sought details of steps taken for the protection of the victim. Five people have been arrested so far in connection with assault on the Tanzanian student. Tanzanian High Commissioner John WH Kijazi earlier said that 'mob justice' and 'racism' led to the unfortunate incident. He, however, acknowledged the fact that authorities were showing great concern over the unfortunate incident and have given assurance that justice would be done. The Tanzanian student was beaten and then stripped by a group of locals in Bengaluru after they assumed she was part of an incident in which a Sudanese man had run over a local woman. The incident took place on Hesaraghatta Road in Bengaluru on Saturday night after a Sudanese ran his car over a 35-year-old woman resulting in on the spot death of the woman. Array The Tanzanian student was travelling in another car, a Wagon-R, along with four others. The young woman, who arrived on the spot around 30 minutes later, was dragged out of the car and paraded naked after being stripped by the mob. The victim told the police in her complaint that when she tried to get on a bus in order to escape the assault, people on the bus pushed her back towards the mob. Vice President Hamid Ansari on Friday expressed grief over the fatal accident in Siachen where ten Indian Army soldiers, who were hit by a massive avalanche on Wednesday, were declared dead. "I am deeply grieved to learn about the fatal avalanche in the Siachen involving 10 of our army personnel. I offer my sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the brave soldiers and officer of the Indian Army," the President said. Array Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh also expressed grief at the loss of lives of the soldiers and offered his condolences to the families. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too mourned on the demise of the soldiers and said in a tweet, "Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families." The Ministry of Defence had earlier said the chances of finding any survivors were very remote. "With deepest regret we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are very remote," said the Defence Spokesperson. Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari returned to New Delhi on Friday after completing his five-day two-nation tour of South East Asia. Talking to newspersons on board Air India-One he termed his talks in Brunei Darussalam and Thailand, as very positive. Vice President Ansari praised the Indian diaspora in Thailand saying more closer economic interactions were possible with India, as a whole new range of promising areas have opened up in the country of their origin. "The interests of India and Thailand as the great maritime neighbours are the same in keeping sea lanes in the region free at all times," he said. In matters relating to connectivity also, there is convergence of opinions with Thailand. Three MoUs signed with Brunei Darussalam on defence and the positive signals of the State on a joint venture fertilizer unit are the highlights of the visit to the small but influential Sultanate. It was after a long gap that a visit by a vice president has taken place to both the countries. It was an opportunity to reinvigorate India's relations with the two ASEAN nations, which is pivotal to India's 'Act East Policy'. The Health Organisation has advised all the nations against accepting blood donation from countries affected by Zika virus. According to The Guardian, Spain announced Europe's first known case of the disease in a pregnant woman. The announcement came as authorities in Brazil disclosed two cases of transmission tied to blood transfusions, adding a new dimension to efforts to limit Zika's impact. With dozens of cases emerging in Europeans and North Americans returning from Zika-affected areas, the WHO stressed the potential link between Zika and microcephaly, which causes children to be born with abnormally small heads, and urged health authorities to take precautions. Ever Lowest Oilmeals Export The Solvent Extractors' Association of India has compiled the export data of oilmeals for the month of January 2016 The export of oilmeals during January 2016 is reported ever lowest export at 17,243 tons compared to 185,654 tons in January 2015 i.e. down by 91%. The overall export of oilmeals during April 2015 to January 2016 is reduced to half (51%) compared to last year and reported at 1,005,085 tons against 2,047,937 tons during the same period of last year and 3,646,095 tons in 2013-14. Soybean crushing is very much reduced due to continuous disparity and high price of domestic market affecting overall domestic availability of both oils and meals. The capacity utilization is at the lowest. Industry is passing through very tough time and many plants are close down or operating at very low capacity due to disparity in crushing and export. Rapeseed meal export is also reduced to 1/3rd of last year. The export of soybean meal is at a historical low during current year and reported just 69,263 tons during the first ten months of the financial year 2015-16 compared to 549,162 tons in the previous year 2014-15 and 2,375,231 tons during the same period of 2013-14. Currently FOB/FAS Indian soybean meal is quoted at US$ 492 per ton against Argentina origin soybean meal CIF Rotterdam at US$ 335 per ton. Indian soybean meal is totally out priced by about US$ 160 per ton in international market. The alarming declines of Indian oilseeds production and crushing are going along with booming import demand for vegetable oils and have brought oilmeal exports from India almost to a standstill. The Association has pleaded with the Central Government for reducing the import duty to 5-10% from the current 30% on high oil content oilseeds like rapeseed/mustard(canola) and sunflower seed. This will have a multitude of advantages viz. reduce import of edible oils, larger availability of oilmeals for local consumption by feed industry and export and increase value addition in India thus contribute towards the Prime Ministers Make-in-India Programme. Further the oilseeds imports will not have any adverse impact on the farmers as they are protected with an assured M.S.P. by the Government. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Key benchmark indices edged higher in early trade. At 9:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 45.98 points or 0.19% at 24,384.41. The 50-unit Nifty 50 index was currently up 8.40 points or 0.11% at 7,412.40. In overseas stock markets, Asian stocks were mixed. In China, the Shanghai Composite index was currently off 0.06%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was currently up 0.49%. In Japan, the Nikkei Stock Average was currently down 1.55%. US stocks closed slightly higher yesterday, 4 February 2016 in a choppy trading session. Closer home, the market breadth indicating the overall health of the market was positive. On BSE 592 shares rose and 317 shares decline. A total of 42 shares were unchanged. The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.39%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.2%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. Telecom stocks edged higher. Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) (up 1.93%), Reliance Communications (up 1.45%), Idea Cellular (up 0.5%) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (up 0.28%) gained. Bharti Airtel (down 0.33%) edged lower. Tata Steel lost 3.16% at Rs 219 after the company reported consolidated net loss of Rs 2127 crore in Q3 December 2015 compared with net profit of Rs 157 crore in Q3 December 2014. Turnover fell 16.63% to Rs 28039 crore in Q3 December 2015 over Q3 December 2014. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) excluding one-offs and profit on sale of investments declined 69.96% to Rs 838 crore in Q3 December 2015 over Q3 December 2014. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 4 February 2016. T V Narendran, Managing Director of Tata Steel India and South East Asia said that steel markets in India have been affected by depressed international steel prices and predatory imports. The quarter saw a sharp decline in steel prices which has impacted the margins, Narendran said. Koushik Chatterjee, Group Executive Director (Finance and Corporate) said that the current business conditions for the global steel industry are extremely challenging with confluence of elevated imports across regions, currency headwinds and depressed market sentiments affecting Tata Steel Group's profitability. The Tata Steel Group has embarked on significant cost rationalisation program including fixed cost reduction, right sizing of manpower, productivity management and enriching the product mix across all geographies, Chatterjee said. These programs are expected to enhance the sustainable profitability profile of the company, he added. The company has also undertaken significant portfolio restructuring and will continue to pursue the same in the future, Chatterjee said. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) rose 0.24% at Rs 1,204.05 after the company yesterday, 4 February 2016, announced the launch of its new heavy commercial truck series under the BLAZO brand at the Auto Expo at Greater NOIDA. The BLAZO series of heavy commercial vehicles include multi-axle trucks, tippers and tractor trailers in the range of 25 to 49 ton GVW for the domestic market. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Reliance Infrastructure rose 1.71% to Rs 416.85 at 10:08 IST on BSE after the company said it sold its cement manufacturing subsidiary, Reliance Cement Company, to Birla Corporation. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 4 February 2016. Shares of Birla Corporation were down 0.04% to Rs 394.45. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 71.55 points, or 0.29%, to 24,409.98. On BSE, so far 2.75 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with an average volume of 6.64 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock hit a high of Rs 425.75 and a low of Rs 413.10 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 622.05 on 5 January 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 282.20 on 25 August 2015. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 4 February 2016, sliding 31.69% compared with 5.01% decline in the Sensex. The scrip had, however, outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 2.71% as against Sensex's 8.34% fall. The large-cap company has an equity capital of Rs 262.99 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10. Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) yesterday, 4 February 2016 announced the signing of share purchase agreement with Birla Corporation in relation to 100% sale of its subsidiary Reliance Cement Company (RCCPL). RCCPL has an integrated cement capacity of 5.08 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) at Maihar, Madhya Pradesh and Kundanganj, Uttar Pradesh and a grinding unit of 0.5 Mtpa at Butibori, Maharashtra. Under this transaction Birla Corporation will acquire the 100% shareholding of RInfra in RCCPL. The transaction is subject to approval of the Competition Commission of India and other applicable regulatory approvals. RInfra said the deal valued its cement business at Rs 4800 crore ($140 per tonne). The proceeds from the sale will be utilised for the group's debt reduction. The deal is EPS accretive for the company's shareholders. Reliance Infrastructure's consolidated net profit rose 2.3% to Rs 462.67 crore on 10.6% decline in net sales to Rs 3877.98 crore in Q3 December 2015 over Q3 December 2014. Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra) is one of the largest infrastructure companies, developing projects through various Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) in several high growth sectors within the infrastructure space such as power, roads, metro rail, cement and defence. RInfra is also a leading utility company having presence across the value chain of power businesses i.e. generation, transmission, distribution and power trading. RInfra also provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for developing power and road projects. RInfra has recently entered into the defence sector. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (Bilateral trade with CIS countries could touch US$35bn by 2022) While apprehending about deceleration in India's exports which have declined for the 13th month in a row, President PHD Chamber, Mr. Mahesh Gupta expressed his view that there is enough scope to enhance our exports towards CIS countries of which Russia is a good opportunity at this juncture. According to him though India and Russia have eventually given new dimensions to bilateral relations in the development of defense, energy, science and technology, however, current level of bilateral trade at around US$6bn is not consistent with the potential trade trajectory. Even though the bilateral relations between the two nations have widened their basket, yet India is not among Russia's key trade partners. India's share in Russia's total trade is 1.2% as compared with 49% of EU and 3.3% of USA. Russia's share in India's trade is meager 0.8% as compared with 12% of EU and 8% of USA. There is an enormous untapped potential in bilateral trade between the two nations and especially in the food items viz. meat, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and tea among others, said Dr. Mahesh Gupta. Russia imports US$23bn worth of food items from world including meat and edible meat, fish, edible vegetable nuts, edible fruit, dairy products and eggs among others of which EU contributes around 30% with the export of US$7bn of these food items to Russia. However, India's share in these items in Russia's imports is less than 2% with US$0.46bn. Also India has huge potential to enhance its exports of tea in Russia where already it has significant presence. India with 18% share, presently exports tea amounting to US$114million to Russia of its total imports of US$646 million from the world. Prospects for growth of trade hint that bilateral trade between the two nations could touch the levels of US$20 billion in the next 7 year by 2022. The bilateral trade of India has also not grown commensurately with CIS countries. Presently, the bilateral trade between India and CIS region is at around US$10bn which constitutes 1.3% share in India's total trade. While, bilateral trade between the two could touch US$35bn by 2022. However, India has to focus on the strong distribution network which is very crucial to serve the Russian market promptly. For this, India can set up affiliates/offices as nodal agencies for several sectoral products to build connections with the Russian domestic suppliers. India should enhance efforts to promote 'Brand India' by frequently organising India Trade Shows in Russia and connecting Russian prospective buyers and Indian suppliers through Buyer - Seller meets, said Dr. Gupta. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Shares of five steel manufacturing companies rose 0.88% to 9.14% at 12:24 IST on BSE on reports the government is expected to notify minimum import prices on certain steel products today, 5 February 2016. Jindal Steel & Power (up 9.14%), JSW Steel (up 2.59%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 5.84%) and Bhushan Steel (up 3.85%) edged higher. Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 192.23 points, or 0.79%, to 24,530.66 The government is considering MIP in order to protect domestic steel manufacturers from cheap imports from China, reports indicated. The government could reportedly levy minimum import prices (MIP) of $360 per tonne on semi-finished slabs and $450 per tonne on hot rolled steel products. The government could also put MIP of $500-550 per tonne on cold rolled products and $660 per tonne on coated flat steel products, reports indicated. Tata Steel edged higher in volatile trade. The stock was currently up 0.88% at Rs 228.15. The stock hit a high of Rs 231 and a low of Rs 215 so far during the day. The company reported consolidated net loss of Rs 2127 crore in Q3 December 2015 compared with net profit of Rs 157 crore in Q3 December 2014. Turnover fell 16.63% to Rs 28039 crore in Q3 December 2015 over Q3 December 2014. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) excluding one-offs and profit on sale of investments declined 69.96% to Rs 838 crore in Q3 December 2015 over Q3 December 2014. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 4 February 2016. Powered by Capital Market - Live News Sales decline 8.48% to Rs 8991.35 crore Net profit of Tata Steel declined 48.58% to Rs 452.82 crore in the quarter ended December 2015 as against Rs 880.64 crore during the previous quarter ended December 2014. Sales declined 8.48% to Rs 8991.35 crore in the quarter ended December 2015 as against Rs 9824.46 crore during the previous quarter ended December 2014.8991.359824.4616.6620.151230.881625.76739.951168.46452.82880.64 Powered by Capital Market - Live News Internationally acclaimed sitarist Anoushka Shankar, who has been nominated for the fifth time at this year's 58th Annual Grammy Awards for her album "Home", is also "thrilled and "proud" to be the "first ever Indian musician" to present at the ceremony. "I am thrilled and proud not only to be nominated for a fifth Grammy award for my classical album 'Home', but also to be the first ever Indian musician to present at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony," Anoushka wrote on her official Facebook page. Anoushka is currently preparing for a world tour to support her new album "Land of Gold", expected to release globally by the end of March. "I am excited to be presenting at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony and releasing my next album just a few weeks later. I'm especially happy as it's always been my goal to balance a career between classical and experimental work, and that is exactly where I'm at with a classical album nominated and a non-classical album about to come out," Anoushka said in a statement. The awards gala will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 15. "I feel grateful to be enjoying this creative period in my career and hope I can continue to grow as an artist into the future," she added. Later this year, Anoushka will also perform with the New York Philharmonic. The sitarist will perform "Raga-Mala Sitar Concerto No. 2" composed by her father Pandit Ravi Shankar, who premiered the work with the same orchestra. The Philharmonic's former music director Zubin Mehta, the Indian-born maestro who had commissioned the work, will return to conduct. The Indian Army chief, General Dalbir Singh Suhag, on Friday expressed grief at the death of 10 soldiers who were trapped in an avalanche at the Siachen glacier in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region. "The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has ordered deployment of additional resources including radars to reinforce rescue efforts," a spokesperson said. "This massive rescue operation will continue at heights of approximately 20,000 feet." Ten soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), went missing on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their post located 19,000 feet above the sea level in southern side of the glacier. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday condoled the death of soldiers. "Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families," Modi said in a tweet. India's last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar died in this former capital of Myanmar 154 years ago. But his exile still continues. He is resting, but not in peace, believe his admirers. They say his wish to be buried in his homeland remains almost a dead issue despite assurances of action by the who's who of the Indian leadership. "We are praying that his mortal remains be buried as per his wish," Bahadur Shah's mausoleum caretaker Hafiz Kamaluddin told this visiting IANS correspondent here. The 19th century mausoleum gets visitors even from India to offer prayers to the emperor, with whose reign ended the Mughal empire in India. Kamaluddin said Bahadur Shah's wish was to be buried in the dargah of Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki in Mehrauli in the national capital of India. 'Kitna hai badnaseeb Zafar, dafan key liye, do guzz zameen bhi mil na saki, kuye yaar main' ('How unlucky is Zafar who could not get even two yards of land for burial in the land of his beloved'). These couplets written by Bahadur Shah, the commander of the first war of Independence and a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, in his last days were recited by the caretaker. He breathed his last in a British army officer's garage, which later turned into a Sufi shrine that lies closer to one of Buddhism's most sacred sites Shwedagon Pagoda, in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) on November 7, 1862, at the age of 87. After the 1857 uprising, the British sent him to exile here where he spent the twilight of his life. Buried alongside Bahadur Shah's grave, which was chanced upon during digging in 1991 while laying the foundations of a memorial hall, are his wife Begum Zeenat Mahal and granddaughter Raunaq Zamani Begum. "Who would pray on my behalf? Or bring me a bunch of flowers? Who would light a candle for me? I am nothing but a gloomy tomb," say Bahadur Shah's couplets, a noted poet. In 2006, then Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited the mausoleum, known as Bahadur Shah Zafar Dargah that attracts a large number of Muslims, Hindus and Christians. It's managed by a government appointed committee set up in 1935. "You wrote who will come to my grave. Today on behalf of my nation I have come, prayed and lit candles, offered chador and recited the fatiha. May your soul rest in peace," Kalam wrote in the visitor's book. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also visited the mausoleum in May 2012, besides Pakistan Presidents Pervez Musharraf in 2001 and President Asif Ali Zardari in 2012. In 2013, writer and former diplomat Kuldip Nayar, journalist-writer Saeed Naqvi and former Judge Rajinder Sachar started a campaign to bring back the remains of Bahadur Shah to the place where he wished to be buried in Delhi. They even petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking help to bring back his mortal remains as Bahadur Shah, who is seen as a symbol of communal harmony, had chosen his own resting place in Delhi. At that time, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, now External Affairs Minister, had welcomed the move. "I welcome and support the demand to bring back the mortal remains of Bahadur Shah Zafar for burial in Delhi," Sushma Swaraj had said on Twitter. Perhaps it's time the Indian government should talk to the newly-elected democratic government in Myanmar to facilitate bringing back the last Mughal emperor to his beloved country. (Vishal Gulati was in Myanmar at the invitation of Indian Buddhist spritual leader Gyalwang Drukpa's global charity 'Live To Love'. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) Cambodian police on Friday raided a villa on the outskirts of capital Phnom Penh and arrested 23 South Koreans on the suspicion of their involvement in a telecom scam. "Twenty-three South Koreans were detained and more than 20 sets of desktop computers and other materials were seized as evidence," Lieutenant General Y. Sokhy, director of the Interior Ministry's department for combating terrorism and transnational crimes, said. He said the suspects will be sent to the court of law for legal action, Xinhua news agency reported. In the telecom scam, scammers use VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol, a type of internet phone service) from Cambodia to threaten and extort money from victims in South Korea. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday reiterated the country's stance over the issue of South China Sea ahead of the US-ASEAN - Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Summit. The premier confirmed that he will attend the forthcoming summit running from February 15-16 in Sunnylands, California, Xinhua news agency reported. "I spoke with US Secretary of State John Kerry (during a meeting last week) that for the South China Sea issue, we should not take gasoline to douse on fire, but try to encourage the countries concerned in the dispute to continue negotiations with each other because ASEAN has no rights to measure land for any sides," he said. "Vietnam and China should negotiate with each other; China and the Philippines should negotiate with each other," he said. The premier gave an example of the negotiations of border issues between Cambodia and its neighbouring countries, including Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, which have been made through bilateral mechanism. Meanwhile, Hun Sen rejected the allegations by some critics and analysts that Cambodia sided with China in the issue of South China Sea. "I would like to assert that Cambodia's foreign policy is independent," he said. He said the forthcoming US-ASEAN Summit would touch on the issues of security, climate change, natural disasters, epidemic diseases, and anti-terrorism. China's ministry of environmental protection (MEP) announced that overall air quality had improved in 2015, the media reported on Friday. Luo Yi, MEP head of environmental monitoring, said 338 cities were monitored in 2015. Among them, only 73 cities - mostly in Fujian, Guangdong, Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, and Tibet - had met national standards, the Global Times reported. Luo said there were "signs of improvement". The density on PM2.5, or particles measuring less than 2.5 microns in diametre, dropped 14.1 percent from the previous year in 74 key cities in 2015, and readings of PM10 fell by 11.4 percent. Of the 74 cities, Haikou, Huizhou, Lhasa, Xiamen and Zhoushan registered the best air quality, while Baoding, Hengshui, Tangshan and Xingtai - all in Hebei province - along with Zhengzhou in Henan province were the most polluted. Nationwide, the average PM10, or particles with diameters less than 10 microns, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide readings dropped by 7.4, 16.1 and 6.3 percent, respectively, in 2015. Researchers, including two Indians, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a low-power chip that could help visually-impaired people navigate their environments. The chip processes 3-D camera data consuming only one-thousandth as much power as a conventional computer processor executing the same algorithms and powers a prototype of a complete navigation system about the size of a binoculars case that can be worn around the neck. A mechanical Braille interface developed at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) conveys to the user information about the distance to the nearest obstacle in the direction the user is moving. "There was some prior work on this type of system, but the problem was that the systems were too bulky," said first author Dongsuk Jeon, a researcher at MIT's Microsystems Research Laboratories (MTL) when the navigation system was developed. He has now joined the faculty of Seoul National University in South Korea. Jeon's team included professor of electrical engineering and computer science Anantha Chandrakasan, graduate student Priyanka Raina, professor of electrical engineering and computer science Daniela Rus, former research scientist at MTL Nathan Ickes and CSAIL researcher Hsueh-Cheng Wang. Although the prototype navigation system is less obtrusive than its predecessors, it should be possible to miniaturise it even further, according to the researchers. The new chip and the prototype navigation system was reported in a paper presented at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference held from January 31 to February 4 in San Francisco. Residents in the Colombian capital of Bogota travelled by cycles or public transportation during its first car-free day to promote a low-carbon lifestyle, the media reported on Friday. The measure banning the use of private vehicles on Thursday starting from 5.00 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., was initiated by the city's mayor Enrique Penalosa, Xinhua news agency reported. According to Bogota's environment department, the measure aims to reduce air pollution because there are 3 million vehicles on the streets everyday in the capital city. Authorities said private cars and trucks are responsible for about 65 percent of carbon dioxide emissions in Bogota, motorcycles for about 12 percent, but public transportation only accounts for 8 percent. The local bus company TransMilenio announced that it deployed 1,940 large-sized buses for special lanes, while other 6,799 were deployed in the neighbourhoods of the capital as a back-up. There is currently no metro system in the city. Congress leaders in Kerala and Tripura are likely to ask the party's central leadership not to ally with the Left parties in the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls. "Top state Congress leaders in Kerala and Tripura are now holding talks to jointly request the party's central leadership against possible electoral alliance with the Left parties in the imminent West Bengal assembly polls," Tripura Congress spokesman Tapas Dey told IANS here on Friday. He said Congress leaders of both Kerala and Tripura were more or less agreed that if the party allied with the Left parties led by CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist), it would be the loser in the electoral battle. Dey said Tripura Congress president Birajit Sinha on Thursday met All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of West Bengal C.P. Joshi in New Delhi and explained to him how an electoral alliance between the Congress and the Left would harm the party. Sinha, a former Tripura minister, and Joshi are likely to meet Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi in a day or two to discuss the issue and would write a letter to him in this regard. The Tripura Congress leadership earlier last month opposed the move to strike an electoral deal with the Left parties, dominated by the CPI-M. "The Tripura Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) led by the party's state chief Birajit Sinha in its recent meeting discussed the issue and decided to strongly oppose the move," Dey stated. He said If the Congress allied with the CPI-M, then the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) would get the electoral benefit both in West Bengal and Tripura. "We have communicated our decision to party high command Sonia Gandhi." Meanwhile, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said here on Wednesday that the central leadership of his party would decide about the party's electoral alliance with the Congress in the forthcoming West Bengal assembly polls during its three-day politburo and central committee meetings in New Delhi from February 16. "The CPI-M politburo would meet in New Delhi on February 16 before the two-day central committee meeting on February 17-18. These meetings would decide the party's electoral pact with Congress in the ensuing West Bengal assembly elections," Yechury told reporters before leaving for New Delhi. He said the politburo and central committee meetings would finalise the electoral strategies of the CPI-M in the upcoming Bengal elections. The West Bengal CPI-M state committee meeting would be held in Kolkata over February 12 and 13 to finalise the party's stand on alliance with Congress, a senior CPI-M leader said in Kolkata, adding that the state committee's decision would be conveyed to the CPI-M central committee. The term of the 294-member West Bengal assembly ends on May 29 and elections are likely to be held before that. A Congress delegation from West Bengal led by state party chief and Lok Sabha member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met Rahul Gandhi on February 1 in New Delhi and discussed the possibility of forging an alliance with the Left Front in the state. The majority of the Congress leaders in West Bengal, including Chowdhury, favour an electoral alliance with the CPI-M. Congress president Sonia Gandhi will take a final call on an electoral alliance with the Left parties in West Bengal. However, three senior West Bengal Congress leaders - Manas Bhuniya, Deepa Dasmunshi and Abhijit Mukherjee - advocated that the party go it alone at the hustings. India may have 71 of its ships anchored off Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review (IFR), but that does not reduce India's preparedness, naval sources say, adding that "minimum force level" is maintained all along its maritime area. Highly placed sources told IANS that the Indian Navy's submarines, which are absent from the fleet review, are on task, "lurking around" to keep an eye under the waters. At the IFR in the Bay of Bengal, the largest military exercise organised by India with about 50 global Navies, 24 foreign naval ships and 71 Indian ships, security is tight and a constant vigil is being maintained from the water and the sky. "Minimum force level is always in place. Guarding India's maritime interest is the first responsibility of the Indian Navy," a senior official told IANS. Highly placed sources told IANS that as the bigger ships are here for the review, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P-8I are scanning India's maritime boundaries to detect any trespassing. The patrol by the P-8Is is done in a manner that once an area is scanned, it is ensured there will be no boats entering that zone in the next eight hours at least. To top that, coastal patrol vessels, Indian Coast Guard and maritime police are at their job as well. About 100 vessels anchored off the Visakhapatnam coast are also "armed to teeth", said an official. On deployment also for safety are mine sweepers, missile boats, and patrol vessels. Fast Interceptor Crafts and Fast Attack Crafts are constantly moving around in the waters. "The navy is the primary agency, we have the Coast Guard, maritime police, state governments, home minister, IB, RAW, and all other agencies coordinating to ensure a fool-proof security," an official told IANS. A fleet review is a ceremonial and stately inspection of naval warships by the supreme commander of the armed forces, the President of India. This is the second time an IFR is being held in India. The last was held off Mumbai in 2001 when A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the President. Twenty-nine countries participated in that event. Embark on a journey that takes you into the lives of three ordinary men who made a name for themselves through hard work and strong determination: a brave police officer who became a celebrated police historian, a tale of making it big in Indian broadcasting and a small trader who built up one of India's largest electrical goods companies. Then, turn to a dark mysterious world wrought with love, secrets and evil. Finally, some tips to save relationships in a gadget dominated era. IANS Books This Weekend offers you varied fare. Read on! 1. Book: Caught by the Police; Authors: Ranjit Gupta, Harsh Gupta, Meera Yog, Madhukar Gupta, Deepak Gupta; Publisher: Roli Books; Pages: 304; Price: Rs. 449 The is the story of Dr. Anandswarup Gupta, a brave and intrepid police officer who went on to become a celebrated police historian. The book focusses on the extraordinary life and work of Dr. Gupta, an erudite man with a multi-dimensional personality,against the backdrop of the last years of British rule, the emergence of a new India. It is a compelling family chronicle. The book also features Dr. Gupta's own accounts of his life experiences extracted from his personal diary. 2. Book: The Z Factor; Author: Subhash Chandra with Pranjal Sharma; Publisher: Harper Collins; Pages: 281; Price: Rs. 699 Hailing from a small town in Haryana, a 20-year-old young man came to Delhi with Rs.17 in his pocket. Today he has a net worth of $6.3 billion. Meet Subhash Chandra, the promoter of Essel/Zee Group. The book takes one deep look into Chandra's life - how he worked as a teen to pay off family debts, why he never hesitates to take risks and how he made Zee TV into one of India's leading broadcast channels. 3. Book: Havells, The Untold Story of Qimmat Rai Gupta; Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin; Pages: 281; Price: Rs.599 Written by his son Anil Rai Gupta, this is the story of QRG, as he was widely known, braved poverty, ill-health, competition and corruption to turn his dreams into reality. Havells faced stiff competition from companies that couldn't tolerate a modest trader challenging them. Despite legal battles, family feuds and severe fund shortages, QRG never gave up. 4. Book: Dark Things; Author: Sukanya Venkatraghavan; Publisher: Hachette India; Pages: 355; Price: Rs. 350 Ardra, the protagonist, has been destined to kill men after drawing out their deepest, darkest secrets for her evil mistress Hera - the queen of the forsaken realm of Atala. On blood moon night, Dwai, her chosen victim, survives leaving Ardra in distress. However, she has one more important task to do - find answers about the powers the blood moon holds. Will she be able to get her answers? Read on to resolve the mystery. 5. Book: Happy Relationships; Author: Lucy Beresford; Publisher: Fingerprint; Pages: 263; Price: Rs. 250 Has social media made our communicating skills weak? Why do we find relationships upsetting and frustrating as we turn old? Why do some relationships give us great joy and others become toxic? In an era where handling relationships is becoming an onerous task, psychotherapist Lucy Beresford cuts through the chase of how to have a harmonious, fulfilling relationship in this insightful and warmly written book. Her words will boost confidence, encourage insights and empower you to be the best in all relationships. A zoo in China's Chongqing Municipality has named a giant panda cub "Tintin", after the famous Belgian comic "The Adventures of Tintin". Chongqing Zoo held a naming ceremony for the five-month-old male cub on Thursday after collecting more than 180 suggested names from around the world in Januar, Xinhua news agency reported. A local resident surnamed Cao proposed the name "Tintin". "We hope the panda is as adventurous as the fictional protagonist Tintin and explores the world like the character," said a manager with the zoo, adding it is also expected the name will help the cub be remembered by people all around the world. Born at the zoo on August 30, Tintin is the fifth and only male cub of the mother Yaya. He now weighs 9.2 kg. There are 12 giant pandas at Chongqing Zoo. Created by Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi under the pen name of Herge, "The Adventures of Tintin" comics tell stories of a young Belgian reporter and explorer. They have been translated in dozens of languages and adapted for radio, television, theatre and film. The International Fleet Review (IFR) can change the dynamics in the Indian Ocean, Indian Navy chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan said on Friday, stressing the need for global naval collaboration to safeguard international waters. "The dynamics will change (in the Indian Ocean)... a large number of navies participating, there will be interactions, it will enhance coordination," Admiral Dhowan told IANS here after a press conference that was also attended by chiefs and officers from several navies, including the US, Japan and China. The naval chief said the IFR theme of 'United through Oceans' signifies that the global navies need to come together to guard international waters. "Security and safety of global commons is the collective responsibility of navies around the world. No single navy is robust enough to provide security and safety to the global commons on its own," Admiral Dhowan said. "Maritime medium lends itself to cooperation; that is where it is the responsibility of men in white uniform, the navies and coast guards, to come up with cooperative mechanisms so that we can provide that safety and security," he said. Around 50 navies from across the world are participating in the IFR, the second of its kind and the largest military exercise by India. "As we sail out, we will have the opportunity for exercises where crew of various ships will have opportunities to display their skills and this will increase our aspects of mutual cooperation and inter-operability," the navy chief said at the press conference earlier. The IFR is set to see the participation of 90 ships, including 24 warships and over 70 aircraft. In addition, ships of the Indian Coast Guard and mercantile marine would also participate. (Anjali Ojha can be contacted at anjali.o@ians.in) There is a clear consensus among India's leadership for "broadening and deepening" the country's over a century-old ties with Hong Kong, the chief executive of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) CY Leung has said. "After meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and separate meetings with your external affairs and finance ministers, it is clear to me that there is a consensus here that there should be a broadening and deepening of India's cooperation with Hong Kong," Leung said at a dinner on Thursday night hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) at the conclusion of his India visit aimed at boosting bilateral trade. Noting that bilateral trade grew by a healthy 12 percent in 2014, Leung said: "India is a country that has captured the attention and the imagination of the business world." The bilateral trade in 2014-15 stood at around $20 billion. "Met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this morning (Thursday) and both of us agreed to take our cooperation to a new level," he added. Outlining the advantages of China's "one country, two systems" principle that governs Hong Kong, Leung described the SAR as "the freest economy in the world, saying it had been given this status for the last 22 years on the counts of business, trade and financial freedom". "Through Hong Kong, Indian companies can reach the markets of mainland China, Southeast Asia and the world," the SAR chief executive said. "Hong Kong's expertise in doing business with China is unsurpassed and we are happy to share that expertise with India," he added. Pointing out that the SAR's bank clearance systenm for the Chinese renminbi was unparalleled, he said few economies attract more foreign direct investment or make more FDI available than Hong Kong. "In 2014, Hong Kong ranked second, internationally, in the FDI it drew and was also placed second in FDI outflow," Leung said. India was Hong Kong's seventh largest trading partner, while Hong Kong was India's eighth largest in 2014. "HKTDC (with offices here and in Mumbai) looks forward to find opportunities for Indian businesses in Hong Kong," Leung, who led a 40-member business delegation from both the SAR and the mainland, said. Addressing the gathering, secretary in India's Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Amitabh Kant described Hong Kong, where only 21 percent of households own a car, as "the most innovative, creative and sustainable destination in the world". "The size and scale of Hong Kong's development is a unique lesson for the whole world," Kant said. A man suspected of being linked with the Islamic State (IS) terror outfit has been arrested in Delhi, the police said on Friday. Mohsin Abraham Sayeed (26), a resident of Malad in Mumbai, was arrested at the Kashmiri Gate ISBT (Inter-State Bus Terminal) late Thursday night by the Speccial Cell of the Delhi Police. "We arrested IS suspect Mohsin Abraham on a tipoff and recovered Rs.85,000 cash from his possession," Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep told IANS. He said Sayeed was in touch with four Islamic State (IS) suspects who were arrested on January 19 in Haridwar district of Uttarakhand. That takes the number of IS suspects arrested by Delhi Police to five. The arrest of four suspects - Akhlaq-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Osama alias Adil, Mohammad Azimu Shaan and Mehraj - in Haridwar district was based on specific information by central intelligence agencies. They had plans to carry out bombings during the ongoing Ardh Kumbh pilgrimage in Haridwar, in Roorkee-Haridwar-bound trains, in Delhi and some parts of the National Capital Region (NCR). Ardh Kumbh pilgrimage started on January 1 this year and will end on April 30. During the four-month religious congregation, over five crore pilgrims are expected to visit the district to bathe in the holy Ganga river. A legal UN panel announced on Friday that controversy-ridden Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free and be compensated for his "deprivation of liberty". Assange -- who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies -- claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. Speaking at a news conference via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was "vindication". "Today (Friday) that detention without charge has been found to be unlawful. I consider the outcome a vindication," he said. Assange claimed there was no appeal against the panel's decision; it was a matter of "settled law", The Guardian reported. He insisted the panel's findings were legally binding. The panel was a higher body than national law. Assange said that if Britain and Sweden continued to undermine the panel's finding they would be hit diplomatically. "We have now a victory, and decided law on this case," he said. Earlier in the day, the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention insisted Assange's detention "should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected". "Assange should be afforded the right to compensation," it added. The 44-year-old Wikileaks founder has been subjected to "different forms of deprivation of liberty" initially while he was held in isolation at London's Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010, the panel said. However, a British Foreign Office spokesman said: "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK." The office said the report "changes nothing" and it will "formally contest the working group's opinion". Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Assange was a "fugitive from justice", adding that he can come out "any time he chooses" but will still have to face justice in Sweden. The Met Police said it will make "every effort" to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. US President Barack Obama will ask Congress for more than $450 million in aid for Colombia's peace process, the White House said late on Thursday. The aid includes more than $390 million in foreign assistance. The rest of the fund will help with Colombia's humanitarian efforts and counter-narcotics programs, the White House said in a statement. The announcement came as Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited the White House on Thursday. A peace deal is in sight between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebel group (FARC) after five decades of armed conflict, Xinhua news agency reported. "After half a century of wrenching conflict, the time has come for peace," Obama said at a White House reception for Santos. "A country that was on the brink of collapse is now on the brink of peace." "Today's Colombia is much, much different from the Colombia of 15 years ago," Santos said, "Today, we see the future with hope." Violence in Colombia is at its lowest level since 1973. The country has also seen a 50-percent drop in homicides and a 90-percent decline in kidnappings since 2002, according to the White House statement. The Colombian government has held several rounds of peace talks with FARC since November 2012. So far, the two sides have agreed on land and rural development, political participation for former rebels, fights against drug trafficking, and reparations for victims of the conflict. They hope to reach a final accord by March 23 to end their long-running conflict, which has killed more than 220,000 people, most of them civilians, and forcibly displaced some 6 million, according to the White House. The US has provided Colombia with nearly $10 billion in aid since 2000 through the Plan Colombia program, aimed at combating drug cartels and leftwing insurgent groups in Colombia. Repolling is under way in one division of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Friday amid tight security, officials said. The polling in 36 booths in Puranapul division in the old city began at 7 a.m. State election commission officials said 15 percent voters cast their votes in the first two hours. The polling will continue till 5 p.m. More than 34,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The election commission ordered the repoll in view of the complaints of rigging and violence during the elections held on Tuesday. Forces including paramilitary personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls. Joint commissioner of police Shivaprasad said they were taking all measures to prevent violence. Outsiders are not being allowed in the division. The police officer appealed to leaders of all parties to exercise restraint. The division had witnessed a clash between leaders of Congress and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Tuesday. MIM activists in the presence of their party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had attacked Congress party's Telangana unit chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Mirchowk police station when the latter had come there to demand release of their party candidate Mohammed Ghouse. During the polling held in all 150 divisions, 45.27 percent voters turned out to exercise their franchise. Due to the repolling in Puranapul, counting of votes has been delayed. The process, which was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday, will now be taken up from 3 p.m. GHMC commissioner and special Janardhan Reddy said the results will be announced after 5 p.m. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left here on Friday on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka during which she will attend a meeting of the joint commission of the two South Asian neighbours. "Leaving for Sri Lanka! EAM @SushmaSwaraj departs for the 9th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting in Colombo," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The joint commission is co-chaired by Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation. Ahead of Swaraj's visit, Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday's joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries. Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. During the course of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. On Saturday, the Indian minister will inaugurate a "Rise of Digital India" exhibition as part of "Sangam - Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16". The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India. The re-framing of the Sri Lankan constitution and the issue of Indian fishermen might also come up during the course of the discussions between the two sides. A day after accusing rival Ted Cruz of stealing the first Republican nomination contest in Iowa by fraud and asking for a rematch in the state, Donald Trump is now focused on the next battle in New Hampshire. "I'm so much into this, into New Hampshire, that I just - I don't care about that anymore," he told CNN Thursday in Manchester, New Hampshire, five days before the Feb 9 primary contest there. "This is the place I'm focused on now." The billionaire Republican frontrunner had let loose a tirade of angry tweets accusing the Texas senator of committing "fraud" in Iowa over Cruz campaign's controversial actions over a CNN report about retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson going home for a "change of clothes" after the Iowa caucuses. Some Cruz allies shared that news widely on the night of the caucuses, including to Carson supporters, but did not include the part about Carson remaining in the race. Cruz has since apologized to Carson. Trump told CNN Thursday that some "strange things" appeared to have happened in Iowa, and that the Cruz campaign's actions likely hurt him more than Carson. "I like Ben Carson very much and he got pretty roughed up, frankly," Trump said. "Although it affected me maybe more than Ben." But Trump added: "Who cares?" He also laughed off Cruz's comment that Trump had thrown a "Trumper-tantrum" after Iowa. "I actually like that phrase," he said. "That's good, I better trademark it." Meanwhile, after their poor showing in Iowa, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Florida governor Jeb Bush have joined forces to discredit Senator Marco Rubio, who finished a strong third in Iowa, according to the New York Times. Over the last two days Christie has mocked Rubio "as a cosseted 'boy in the bubble,' derided him as 'constantly scripted,' likened him to 'the king of England,' and, perhaps most creatively, compared his Senate career to that of a helpless fourth grader who is told which chair to sit in at school," the Times said. Christie and Bush's shared concern over the rise of Rubio "has even prompted the opening of a back channel: Members of the Bush and Christie campaigns have communicated about their mutual desire to halt Rubio's rise in the polls," the influential daily said citing Republican operatives familiar with the conversations. (Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) Two policemen were injured in a bomb blast triggered by Garo militants in Meghalaya on Friday, police said. The incident took place in South Garo Hills district and the injured policemen have been admitted to hospital. "Two policemen -- Robert Nonglait and Tennyson Ch. Marak -- were injured in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast. Militants of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) planted the IED by the roadside in Jadigittim area," Inspector General of Police (Operations) G.H.P. Raju told IANS. He said the policemen were attacked while they were proceeding on bus to unload rations for the police personnel stationed at Baghmara, the district headquarter town of South Garo Hills. "We have launched an operation in the area to flush out GNLA militants hiding in the area," the police official said. Raju said one of the perpetrators has been identified as Rakkam, who was directed by Sohan D. Shira, self-styled military wing chief of GNLA. The GNLA, which claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma, who is lodged in Shillong jail after being arrested from near the India-Bangladesh border in 2012. Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi recently suggested that sex determination during pregnancy be made compulsory; that the gender of the unborn child be registered; and the birth tracked. This requires radical amendment, or repeal, of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, which forbids prenatal sex-determination. The Act needs overhaul anyhow. But this proposal has very disturbing implications in terms of the potential impacts on personal freedoms and privacy. The other day, a group of drivers and watchmen in the neighbourhood approached me when I was out for a walk. They'd been reading about the controversy surrounding genetically modified (GM) mustard, they said. "We're all from different parts of the country -Kumaon (Uttarakhand), Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, and all our families back home grow mustard. We're not being able to understand from the papers, however, how GM mustard will affect us, if at all," said one. Mustard was, they all said, an integral part of their lives. Not only did they grow it, they also used it in every possible way - as an oilseed, vegetable and also, in some instances, as medicine. Arugula. No arugula? Chicken scallops, salmon, slices of roast pork, asparagus and baby corn are already heaped on the plate. But I search for those aromatic leaves, also known as "rocket leaves", with all the petulance of a sophisticate (in my case a decidedly fake one). Then I spot them between bowls bearing two kinds of lettuce leaves and three kinds of olives. Unlock 30+ premium stories daily hand-picked by our editors, across devices on browser and app. Full access to our intuitive epaper - clip, save, share articles from any device; newspaper archives from 2006. Curated newsletters on markets, personal finance, policy & politics, start-ups, technology, and more. Pick your 5 favourite companies, get a daily email with all news updates on them. 26 years of website archives. Lupins performance for the December 2015 quarter lifted Street sentiments despite the companys net profit declining 11.9 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to to Rs 530 crore. The US, which contributes more than 40 per cent to Lupins overall revenues, positively surprised. US sales, which had declined in the first two quarters of FY16, jumped 22 per cent sequentially to Rs 1,405 crore. Though flat compared to Rs 1,404 crore in the year-ago period, the Street was expecting a decline on a y-o-y basis. This helped Lupin post better-than-expected net profits. The robust show got a push from price increases taken in diabetes medicine Fortamet (generics) leading to product sales growing 2.2 times, according to IMS data. Lupins anti-bacterial products sales also supported. The earlier decline in sales had been largely contributed by a lack of big product approvals on a high base. While the earlier big product launches such as anti-depressant Duloxetine, Niacin (lipid control) and arthritis drug Celecoxib started facing competition and price erosion, the new boost from fresh big launches was not coming either. Even though Lupin has received about 22 approvals (one of the highest in Indian generic companies), the major product approval for the launch of Glumetza (generics drug for diabetes treatment) on exclusivity came only a few days ago. This approval is likely to drive growth in the March quarter. Nilesh Gupta, managing director, Lupin, said the acquisition of Gavis was also likely to be completed soon. This will start adding to Lupins US growth. The company is targeting 20-30 product launches in FY17 compared to 18-20 products in FY16. Lupins margins also surged to 28.1 per cent in the third quarter from 21.1 per cent in the year-ago period. Thus, with the US growth reviving the Streets euphoria is understandable. The Lupin scrip, which has been on a downtrend since October 2015, gained nine per cent to close at Rs 1,801 a share on Friday. Domestic sales (a fourth of revenues) grew 17 per cent y-o-y. Although marginally lower on sequential basis due to seasonal factors, it should pick up as Lupin is expanding its field force substantially and the new product launch run-rate will continue. The firm is working on a niche range of products and targets segments such as dermatology, respiratory, injectables and biosimilars. The substantially higher research and development expenditure versus peers at 11.7 per cent of revenue reflects Lupins intentions. Following the results, expect the Street to upgrade earnings estimates and target prices. Whether or not you are a Dev Anand fan, you must acknowledge that as a filmmaker he often explored themes that were recklessly ahead of the times. There was the most celebrated extra-marital affair in Bollywood history in Guide, the 1965 classic. Less remembered somehow is Prem Pujari (1970), where he played an Army lieutenant court-martialled and convicted for cowardice in the face of the enemy. Something that Babasaheb Ambedkar once said resonates in the two current controversies regarding the role of governors and attitudes towards Dalits. "Good men can make even bad laws work to the common benefit," wrote the author of India's finely-drawn Constitution, "but bad men will abuse even the best constitution." The controversy over J P Rajkhowa in Itanagar takes me back to a stormy November morning in 1967 when the West Bengal Assembly was in an uproar. No sooner had the governor, Dharma Vira, a retired ICS officer, taken his seat than the speaker, Bijoy Banerjee, stood up and wagging his finger like a village schoolmaster admonishing errant children, intoned that by summoning the Assembly, the governor had dealt the greatest blow to democracy since 1642, when King Charles I entered the House of Commons. The MPs he had gone to arrest had disappeared; asked about their whereabouts, the speaker, William Lenthall, famously replied in words Banerjee would have loved to utter, "I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here." While Banerjee was making history, the 76-year-old Prafulla Chandra Ghosh, appointed chief minister by Dharma Vira, gazed bewildered about him like a rustic on his first visit to town. Seeing Siddhartha Shankar Ray clutching Erskine May's Parliamentary Practice, it occurred to me the bulky volume might be more effective as a missile in that tumultuous gathering than a text anyone would read, comprehend or follow. Legislators booed and barracked the diminutive governor whose spectacles were knocked off as he was escorted - dragged is more appropriate - out of the building. The NDA government came to power promising greater accountability and transparency in higher echelons of government. But, on issues of environmental rights and attendant public interests it has instead worked in stealth mode on one too many occasions. It is secretively deciding important policy issues that impact large sections of society. The impact of some of these policies are also likely to be irreversible once unleashed. Prenuptial agreements in India might not be legally tenable but, increasingly, families are going for these contracts which state the assets of the bride and groom, and the compensation the woman will receive if the marriage turns sour and the couple legally part ways. Families are opting for prenuptial agreements to see the intentions of the parties involved, even though the contract is not legally binding, says senior advocate Mrunalini Deshmukh, who handled divorce cases of many Bollywood celebrities including Aamir and Reena Khan and Karisma Kapoor. She adds that the document is used to tell the court the conditions that the couple had agreed upon when they got married. And its not only the wealthy that are drawing up these agreements. Advocate Vandana Shah recently got a couple who asked her to help them draft one such contract. They were both part of corporate world, working in middle management. When she told them it would not have any standing in a court, they said they were making it so that both were clear on the settlement terms if they part ways. Prenuptials are popular in developed countries such as the US, Australia, France and Germany. But in India, there are Supreme Court rulings which say any contract which has marriage as an object is null and void. Recently, Maneka Gandhi, minister for women and child development, recommended to D V Sadananda Gowda, minister for law and justice, to make prenuptial agreements mandatory before marriage. The recommendation was made as many women from lower socio-economic backgrounds have to fight endless battles over alimony, marital ownership of property and assets during divorce. Deshmukh says, on an average, divorce cases take four to five years to conclude; but many also drag on for over 15 years. She has a client, who is still fighting a legal battle since 1999. The idea of legalising prenuptial agreements has many takers. Lawyers say it will help reduce the burden of courts. It will also end husbands and wives taking undue advantage of each other and will keep their expectations in check. Deshmukh feels it will also help solve common reasons for fights or disputes, such as division of property. Financial planners say it will be a good starting point in a marriage. When drawing a prenuptial agreement, the entire assets, liabilities, business ownerships, among other things, are listed out. This can make both parties aware of each others finances before tying the knot. Even if a prenuptial agreement does not become legal in India, there are a few things every couple should follow while managing their family finances to ensure that things dont go awry in case they part ways. Suresh Sadagopan, a certified financial planner, says couples should keep their finances separate and contribute towards expenses in equal proportion. If the husbands salary is Rs 1 lakh and wifes is Rs 50,000. They can equally contribute 30 per cent of their income to family expenses. Shah says couples should keep their bank accounts separate and all investments should be done through individual accounts. This will not only create a trail, but also make calculation of taxes easy. When buying property, couples should also take the ownership in the asset in proportion to their contribution, Sadagopan says. If the husband is paying 70 per cent of the equated monthly instalment, he should list his share in that proportion. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhara Rao on Friday said that his government will make Hyderabad a truly global city by investing heavily into the social and physical infrastructure in the coming days. Thanking the voters of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for gifting a sweeping victory to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi in the first GHMC elections held after the state bifurcation, Rao asked his party men not to turn arrogant with this victory. "No political party in the recent history of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had got two-thirds majority in this urban local body as we saw only fractured mandates in the election after election in the past. People of Hyderabad had given this honor for the first time to the TRS party," Rao said in a media conference at the party office amid celebrating party crowds. As the final results poured in, the television channels reported the victory in around 100 divisions for TRS candidates and in 40 divisions to its ally Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen out of 150 divisions of the urban body. Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were completely decimated as they won just one seat each while the BJP was able to manage victory in 3 divisions, according to the reports. Among the new initiatives, the government would create an island power system for the state capital to ensure that not a fraction of second will the citizens of Hyderabad will experience power interruptions through out the year, according to him. "We make Hyderabad a city that never sleeps," he declared. Turning to his popular election promise of constructing two-bed room houses to the poor families living in the city, the chief minister announced that his government would earmark funds in the upcoming budget for 100,000 two-bedroom houses in the first year. "We follow the agenda of poor people, not just in housing, but in every walk of life. We will create four new 1,000-bedded government hospitals to cater to people living in different catchment areas around the city, and these hospitals will have all the modern diagnostic facilities similar to Apollo or any big corporate hospital," the chief minister said. "Going forward, the city will have traffic junctions that will not require traffic signals. The government will build new water bodies to ensure abundant drinking water for the people of Hyderabad...,"he went on to shower promises on the city. McKesson, a Baltimore native, wrote in a post on Medium.com in which he announced that he had filed paperwork to run in the Democratic primary that his background as an activist makes him different from other candidates running for mayor. The Democratic primary will be held on April 26, and McKesson is one of more than 20 candidates in the race. It is true that I am a non-traditional candidate Im running to be the 50th mayor of Baltimore in order to usher our city into an era where the government is accountable to its people and is aggressively innovative in how it identifies and solves its problems, McKesson wrote. McKesson, a former public school administrator in Baltimore and Minneapolis, has said that within a week he would release his platform, which would include school reforms as well as police and justice system reforms, The Baltimore Sun reported. Following his role in protests against police brutality in Ferguson and Baltimore, McKesson gained a following of around 300,000 people on Twitter, and he has met with top White House officials to discuss civil rights issues. McKesson is also part of Campaign Zero, a movement aimed at reducing violence involving police. Johnson and Mara Jacqueline Willaford, also a co-founder of Seattles BLM chapter, drew widespread media attention last year when they disrupted an event by Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. They faced criticism that they were alienating Sanders, a progressive who has since strongly defended the movement. The two women defended their actions. Going after Sanders is super, super important because hes supposed to be as far left and progressive as we can possible get. We have scores and scores of white liberal progressives and yet we still have the same racial problems, Johnson told Al Jazeera in August. The founders of BLM's national movement Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza, and Patrisse Cullors said they did not disapprove of the Sanders disruption, and would continue to hold politicians and political parties accountable for their policies and platforms. The group has declined to endorse any candidate in the 2016 presidential race. Elbert Walton, a 73-year old St. Louis man who took part in civil rights actions decades ago, told The New York Times that McKessons announcement showed he understands that the government is a problem, and that they had to take control of the government in order to make real change. Others supports McKessons campaign as well. A Crowdpac.com fundraiser page for his run has already raised nearly $40,000. Ten militants were killed and 13 others injured during army raids in multiple cities in Egypt's restive North and Central Sinai. Thirteen were injured in the ground and air raids, while six suspected terrorists were arrested, army spokesperson Brigadier General Mohamed Samir said yesterday. Six unlicensed vehicles and motorcycles were destroyed during the raids, Samir said in a statement. Egypt's North Sinai has witnessed many violent attacks by militants since the January, 2011 revolution that toppled the ex-president Hosni Mubarak. The attacks targeting police and military increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by military following massive protests against his rule. Over 600 security personnel have been reported killed since then. The army has launched security campaigns in the area, arrested suspects and demolished houses that belong to terrorists, including those facilitating tunnels leading to the Gaza Strip. Eleven suspected ISIS operatives, who were arrested from across the country for allegedly recruiting and financing people to join the Middle-East terror group, were today remanded in seven days NIA custody by a Delhi court. The accused, who had their faces muffled, were produced before District Judge Amar Nath amidst tight security and, according to lawyers who attended the in-camera proceedings, NIA had sought extension of their custodial interrogation by 10 more days. NIA said in its remand application that the accused have disclosed during their interrogation "their involvement in this case about recruiting and financing persons willing to join the Caliphate of ISIS at Syria". "They were also found to be in communication with some active members through chatting applications 'Signal', 'Trillion' and 'Skype' in order to motivate them to join ISIS in furtherance of activities of its ideologies, thereby luring youths to join this proscribed terrorist organisation. "The identity and role of such associates is being ascertained," NIA said. Advocate M S Khan, who appeared for nine out of these 11 accused, opposed NIA's plea contending that their remand application does not disclose as to whom they were in touch with in Syria. Khan also argued that his clients have been in NIA's custody for the past 10 days and there was no need to extend police custody as NIA has already quizzed them in connection with the case. The 11 accused who were remanded in seven days NIA custody are Mohd Aleem, Mohd Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohd Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohd Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid and Mohd Hussain Khan. Besides these 11 accused, four other co-accused -- Mohd Afzal, Imran, Abu Anas and Nasser Packeer -- were also produced before the court which remanded them in judicial custody. Except Nasser, who was in judicial custody, all the other 14 accused were produced before the court after expiry of their NIA custody. A two-day international conference, 'Ecosystem Services of Wetlands - Ardrabhumi-2016' will be held here on February 16-17. Dr Vijay V Bedekar, chairman of Vidya Prasarak Mandal, an organisation which runs various educational institutes, said the conference is being organised by Zoology department and department of Environmental Science of BN Bandodkar College of Science here. Organisations SACON (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History), HOPE (Here on Project Environment) Nature trust, Mangrove Society of India and Mangrove Cell, Mumbai is also collaborating with the event. "The conference is a forum which aims at offering an opportunity for the amateur and young environmentalist, globally, to present their findings about the wetland- biodiversity and habitat as well as about the sustainable utilisation of ecological services provided by mother earth," Bedekar said. He further said that wetlands and their ecosystem services are immeasurably valuable for ecological and economical benefits to mankind. These habitats play an important role in balancing the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide, help in maintaining life and livelihood. However, these are under threat due to anthropogenic activities like reclamation for agriculture and construction, domestic and industrial pollution. So, now the onus is on human beings who have to be responsible for protection and restoration of these resources, he added. A number of research papers would be presented in the conference, to be held in the college premises, in which delegates from the country and abroad will participate and exchange their views. 37 people were killed and 24 injured, four of them seriously, when a state transport bus in which they were travelling plunged from a bridge into Purna river in Navsari district of South Gujarat today, police said. "Thirty seven people have died in the incident, while 24 others are injured when a bus fell from a 20 feet high bridge on Purna river," Navsari Superintendent of Police M S Bharada said. Though police are investigating the cause of the mishap, some survivors and eye-witnesses said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle when it was passing the bridge and it hurtled down into the river after breaking iron railings. The SP said the condition of four out of the 24 injured passengers was serious. "The injured have been shifted to four hospitals in Navsari. We are also checking the possibility of shifting those who are seriously injured to hospitals in Surat if needed," the officer said. The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus was headed towards Ukai when the accident took place near the village, situated around 12 kms away from the district headquarters. "We do not know the exact number of people travelling in the bus, but it is said that it was full (to capacity)," Bharada said. He said the agencies like police, fire brigade, 108 ambulance services were engaged in rescue operation at the spot. Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel twitted, "Deeply pained to learn about the unfortunate bus accident on Purna River Bridge in Navsari. My prayers are with victims & families". "I have directed Navsari collector & concerned officials to expedite rescue & relief ops and provide required help to victims & their kin," she twitted. Four more persons have been arrested and two police officials suspended in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student here that has triggered a nationwide outrage. With this, nine persons have been arrested so far since the incident happened on Sunday night when the 21-year old student went through the ordeal in a vigilante justice by an angry mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here. Inspector Pravin Babu and Constable Manjunath have been suspended, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said. "Babu has been suspended for dereliction of duty and Manjunath for not taking action even though he was present at the spot," he added. The four accused were arrested last night, Megharkh said and added that they have been booked for assault, unlawful assembly, arson, rioting and outraging a woman's modesty. Megharikh said police have been interrogating the suspects and there are chances of arresting some more people. Asked whether one of the arrested is a member of BJP, Megharikh said, "He is a panchayat member." A team from Delhi comprising the Tanzanian High Commissioner John W H Kijazi and External Affairs Ministry officials will meet the students here and get the assessment of the state government on the incident. The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot with the miscreants mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has deniedthat the Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked, claiming that it was not a racial attack. Tanzanian High Commissioner to India today backed the steps taken by the government in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student here even as four more persons were arrested and two police officials suspended. Flying in from Delhi, a team from comprising Tanzanian envoy John W H Kijazi, also the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, and External Affairs Ministry officials today met state officials to get their account and African students in a confidence building measure. Emerging after meeting state Home Minister G Parameshwara and Home Department officials, Kijazi said,"We are very much impressed with the action already taken." "We must focus on the future. We believe that the local communities and the African community can live in harmony," he said. To a question if he was ruling out racism, the envoy said, "We have not come here to discuss the issues of racism.I am looking at the current situation and the future." Nine persons, including four last night, have so far been arrested ever since the Sunday night incident in which the 21-year old Tanzanian student faced mob fury in vigilante justice after a Sudanese driving a car in an alleged drunken state struck a couple, killing a woman on the spot. Inspector Pravin Babu had been suspended for dereliction of duty and Constable Manjunath for not taking action even though he was present at the spot, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said, as police faced intense heat amidst accusations that they did not act promptly and swiftly. The four accused were arrested last night and booked for assault, unlawful assembly, arson, rioting and outraging a woman's modesty, Megharikh said. Police said they were interrogating the suspects and some more people might be arrested. Asked whether one of the arrested was a member of BJP, Megharikh said, "He is a panchayat member. "We are not here to discuss the issues of racism...I think you media people are very much interested in that. Because each one of us got different definition for racism," Kijazi said. "We went into the facts of the situation, and we are very clear that we are very much impressed by the action of the government. Some confidence (building) measures have already been taken so that such incidents do not happen. Some of the officials have been suspended and action initiated against some others." Asked about his message to the students of his country, he said, "Follow the laws of the country. Live in harmony with local people. Respect in the leadership of the state. Respect in the leadership of local communities. But we have a message for local community as well." Upset over the incident, Tanzania had sent a note verbale to India. Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (States) Partha Sathpathy said the MEA had mandated the team to come here primarily to assist the Tanzanian High Commissioner in his interactions with state government. He said, "We have two basic objectives one is to interact with the state government and find out and try to impress upon them the necessity to take action against the people who were responsible for this horrendous event." "The second objective was to make sure that the government in collaboration with community and the students take the necessary steps so that such incident does not repeat ever again," he said. Stating that they were here with a larger picture in mind, the MEA official said, "we wanted to convey this image, this impression to the foreign student community here, especially our African friends, that we are concerned about their safety and security." "They are always welcome here," he added. He also thanked Karnataka government and its authorities for the cooperation extended in giving "a clearer picture." He said "there is no conflict at all, this is a process in which we are collaborating and working cooperatively so that this event doesn't ever happen again." The team also included Director Eastern and Southern Africa in MEA and the Regional Director of ICCR. Parameshwara said the entire incident and the action taken by the state government was explained to the Tanzanian envoy and the MEA officials. "We have also explained the long-term action plan to them considering the foreign students, particularly the African students, about their safety, peaceful co-existence along with the community and they are convinced about it." Asked about the overstay of foreign students, he said he had asked officials to make verifications in that regard. "We will keep in touch with MEA and respective consulates and instituitions and inform them and take necessarty steps." Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda asked the Karnataka government to form a special squad to keep a watch on foreign students, in the wake of the Sunday incident. Attacking the Congress-led state government for not acting on locals' complaint regarding the "wrong" behaviour of certain foreign students, he sought the Central government's intervention to find the truth about the assault. He also said that innocent people should not be arrested as was being alleged by the locals. Speaking to reporters after visiting the family of awoman who was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here, which led to the Tanzanian student being attacked, he said, "I have come to know that more than thousands of students are staying here and functioning even after their visa having expired." Facing attack by BJP for being "silent", Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said strict action would be taken in the incident and he had told the Chief Minister that "strict action is to be taken and it will be taken". "I condemn 100 per cent this type of action," Rahul told reporters in New Delhi, adding he spoke to the party General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka to look into the matter and speak to the Chief Minister. Nagaland has registered a total of 3,338 cancer cases in between 2009 and 2014, with an average 600 new cases being registered every year. This was revealed by Principal Investigator, Population Based Cancer Registry, Nagaland, Dr V Khamo, while quoting reports of National Cancer Registry Programme on the occasion of World Cancer Day organised by Cancer Society of Northeast (CSNE) here yesterday. The year wise registration of cancer cases in Nagaland were 2009 - 371, 2010 - 534, 2011 - 505, 2012 - 662, 2013 - 635 and 2014 - 641. Out of the total 3,348 cases, 2,034 were male and 1,314 were female patients, she said. Nagaland and Manipur has high rate of throat cancer due to smoked meat and salted fish consumption and also firewood burning at homes, Dr Khamo said. She said Nasopharynx was the leading site of cancer in Naga men with 19.27 per cent followed by stomach cancer at 17.43 per cent and Oesophagus at 16.06 per cent, while among women the leading cancer site was cervix at 19.09 per cent followed by stomach at 13.64 per cent and breast cancer at 11.82 per cent. CSNE president Lanuakum Jamir said there were 25 million cancer cases globally and India has about 2.5 million cases. Both Dr Khamo and Lanuakum emphasised on the need to raise awareness about the disease, specially among the youth and rural masses. Kohima Deputy Commissioner Rovilatuo Mor called upon the people to render care and support to cancer patients, while stating it was the responsibility of the society to positively deal with such patients. With the arrest of nine persons, including two women, and the rescue of a toddler, Delhi Police busted a human trafficking racket operating in the national capital. The presence of the racket came to light when the police took up investigation of the abduction of a one and a half year old boy from northwest Delhi's Swaroop Nagar area on Tuesday, a senior police official said today. The boy was kidnapped in broad daylight by two bike-borne men, who were tracked down by a police team through technical surveillance. During interrogation, they spilled the beans, leading to the arrest of the others. The accused have been identified as Hemant, Rakesh, Poonam, Anita, Sonu, Kundan, Vijay, Rehan and Raju. All nine were arrested in the past 48 hours and the toddler kidnapped from Swaroop Nagar has been rescued, the official said. "On being interrogated, the accused confessed that they used to abduct children and sell them off, mostly to childless couples. We are digging deeper into the nexus," DCP (northwest) Vijay Singh said. It has emerged that they had kidnapped another child from outer Delhi's Alipur area in the last week. It is suspected that they had kidnapped several other children. The police are also investigating whether the racket was involved in trafficking of human organs and whether they also operated in other states. "Investigation is underway, the police are now tracking persons who were clients to the nexus. More arrests are likely," a senior official added. Adani Power is planning to set up 1,600 MW thermal power plant in Jharkhand with an envisaged investment of around Rs 10,000 crore. "Adani Power had in December last year sent a proposal to the Jharkhand government for setting up 1,600 MW power plant in the state," a source privy to the development said, adding that the company plans to build two power units of 800 MW each. "They (Adani Power) want to sign a MoU with the Jharkhand government for this thermal power plant estimated at around Rs 10,000 crore," the source added. The pact is under consideration of the High-Powered Committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, the source said, adding that the "Jharkhand government is actively considering the proposal of Adani Power." "The proposal is likely to come up before the High-Powered Committee in a meeting likely next week in which a final call may be taken on the same," the source said, adding that the company is in the process of identifying land for the power plant. However, Adani Power spokesperson refused to comment on the development. The Gautam Adani-led power major had reported narrowing of consolidated net loss for the September quarter at Rs 369.08 crore, helped by higher sale of electricity. The net loss after taxes and minority interest stood at Rs 369.08 crore for the said quarter compared with Rs 798.71 crore a year earlier, Adani Power had earlier said in a BSE filing. The shares of the company closed 3.77 per cent up at Rs 26.15 apiece on BSE. Afghanistan's Taliban are closing ranks around their new leader after months of infighting that followed the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar, which could allow the insurgents to speak with one voice in hoped-for peace talks but will also strengthen them on the battlefield. The Afghan government's announcement last summer that Mullah Omar, the reclusive one-eyed founder of the group, had died two years earlier in Pakistan aggravated longtime rifts within the movement. Many senior figures said his deputy-turned-successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, had deliberately misled them. The upheaval led to the collapse of Pakistan-brokered face-to-face talks between Kabul and the Taliban after just one round, and clashes flared between Mansoor loyalists and a splinter group led by Mullah Mohammad Rasool, which declared him the leader of the Taliban in November. But Abdul Rauf, a Taliban commander close to Rasool, said senior Taliban figures who had objected to the rapid and secretive succession are now reluctantly returning to the fold. "We all took a stand against Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, but now one by one we are joining with him without demanding any changes," he said. Relatives of Mullah Omar, notably his brother Manan and son Yaqub, had objected to the selection of Mansoor, which was done by a small inner circle of senior Taliban leaders. But they were persuaded last year to drop their objections and publicly declared their loyalty to Mansoor. Rauf said Abdul Qayum Zakir, a military commander sacked by Mansoor in 2014, and former Rasool loyalists Abdullah Jan and Niaz Mohammad, had also reconciled with Mansoor. Mullah Hassan Rahmani, who was governor of southern Kandahar province when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, issued a statement last month saying he too would support Mansoor. The Taliban's former foreign minister, Mohammad Ghaws, said he hoped the united front would help future peace talks succeed. "I am not in favour of or against any faction," he said, but if Rasool had continued to oppose Mansoor and the majority allied with him it would have brought "no good to the Taliban or to Islam." While Rasool has yet to reconcile, Mansoor had sent his representatives to meet with him in western Farah province, Ghaws said. "There is no religious reason for him (Rasool) not to come with the majority, and so I believe we will be fully united very soon." The Taliban's growing unity - brokered by religious scholars within the movement - has raised hopes that the group can be brought back into peace talks to end 15 years of war. Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US and China plan to hold a third round of talks tomorrow to lay the groundwork for the renewal of direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban. There are at least 200 million girls and women around the world who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), with nearly a quarter of them being under the age of 14 when they were cut, according to a new report released by the U.N. childrens agency (UNICEF) on Wednesday. Exact numbers are hard to come by, as few of the 30 countries where FGM is practiced keep reliable data on the procedure, relying primarily on household surveys. However, this is the strongest dataset to date, said Claudia Cappa, who led UNICEFs statistics team on the report. So now we know that the practice is more global than we originally thought, she told Al Jazeera. Previous UNICEF surveys had the number of women and girls affected worldwide at roughly 125 million. If we go historically, the availability of the data was mostly concentrated in Africa for a very long time, because this is where it was believe that the practice existed, said Cappa. But UNICEFs new data shows that FGM is done more commonly than previously thought in several Middle Eastern countries, as well as Central and South Asian countries. Cases have also been reported in North America and Australia, as well as Latin America. Many of the countries where the practice is common, such as Yemen, carry out the procedure on infants in their first week of life. FGM is carried out for various reasons across many cultures, out of tribal tradition or other beliefs about tempering female behavior. Female genital mutilation is a term used to describe a variety of practices that involve cutting female genitalia and sometimes stitching the labia shut. It can result in infection, infertility and, in some cases, death. The procedure is often carried out by traditional practitioners who lack proper medical training. Although the practice is more widespread than previously known, Cappa said that overall the global prevalence of FGM is declining. The risk [of undergoing the procedure] overall has decreased for a girl, she said. For instance, Burkina Faso and Egypt are among the countries where the practice is still common, though, she said, less universal, while FGM has all but disappeared in Togo. Brazil says it is sending a set of samples related to the Zika outbreak to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, an announcement that follows criticism over the country's hoarding of disease data and biological material. The Associated Press reported yesterday that researchers across the world were being starved of access to Zika virus samples and information, with many countries relying on older strains from outbreaks in the Pacific and Africa for tests and research. The World Health Organisation and Brazilian health officials told the AP that legal issues were complicating the sharing of data. Brazil's health ministry today said it had just wrapped up Zika field work with an American team and would be shipping two-thirds of the material gathered to the United States. Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today condemned the "racial slur" against the India-born Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in the Canadian Parliament. "Every Indian in general and every Sikh in particular feels hurt over the racial slur against Mr Sajjan whose contribution to the Canadian nation remains unparalleled," Amarinder said in a statement issued here today. Canada's first Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was heckled in Parliament with an Opposition member shouting that MPs needed an "English to English" translation as he spoke, an act dubbed as "racist." The former Punjab CM said, "the remarks made by the opposition MP Jason Kenney are clearly and undoubtedly racial and outrageous and he must apologise for the same and in case he doesn't, he must be admonished and reprimanded in accordance with the Canadian legislative business procedures". The PCC president pointed out, Sajjan was a decorated soldier who had served in Afghanistan and Bosnia. "It was only because Sajjan was from a different race and ethnicity that the opposition Conservative lawmaker made an outrageously racial remark against him which must be condemned by everybody," he observed. The former Punjab Chief Minister regretted that this happened inside the Parliament of Canada where the India-Punjabi origin people have made immense contribution towards its progress and development and have been committed and integral part of the society there. (Reopens NRG 28) Meanwhile, in Jalandhar, Congress leader Raj Kumar Verke also attacked the state government over law and order situation in Punjab. "The law and order situation in the state has been completely destroyed. Criminal activities are being carried out in all districts. In the past one month 30 murders have been carried out," alleged Verka, who is also vice chairman of Nation Commission For Scheduled Castes. Dual mode buses with an ability to run both on water and land will be introduced in May at Harike wetlands in Punjab as part of promotion of tourism, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal announced today. Presiding over a meeting to review the status of ongoing development projects, Badal said the dream project of Punjab government to launch the amphibious buses was nearing reality. In the first phase, such buses will run between Amritsar and Harike via Tarn Taran catering to domestic and international tourists. It was also informed in the meeting that tenders in this regard have been floated, which was awarded to world renowned Swedish automotive company 'Scania'. Reviewing the status of Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) to be developed in the city at a cost of Rs 500 crore, Badal informed that BRTS system will also become operational in the holy city from June 1, 2016. He also directed the executing agency and department concerned engaged in the execution of this prestigious project not only to expedite the pace of work but also to finish construction of service lanes along side dedicated bus tracks within a month. He also directed departments concerned to finalise the purchase of buses at the earliest under BRTS. Andhra Pradesh will require USD 10 billion in the next 10 years to build Amaravati, the state's new capital, a top government official said today. "We require USD 10 billion in the next 10 years for development of Amaravati," Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure and Investment Department Secretary Ajay Jain said while addressing investors at India Investment Summit here. "We are working closely with Singapore... In the next three years we will build government complexes and iconic buildings," Jain added. Listing other incentives while wooing investors, he said Andhra Pradesh has the second-longest coastline among the Indian states and ranks second in ease of doing business. Jain also said some of the leading universities have agreed to set up campuses in Amaravati. Several foreign pension and sovereign wealth funds are participating in the summit. Speaking at the event, Punjab Principal Secretary for Industry and Commerce Anirudh Tewari said the state has opportunities in agri and food processing industries, new renewable energy, light engineering, healthcare and biosciences. Tewari said Punjab has surplus power and the government plans to develop smart villages. "Punjab has been ranked as the best state for setting up business in terms of World Bank's ease of doing business," he said. Tewari also assured investors that there won't be surprise inspections by labour inspectors in Punjab. West Bengal's Principal Secretary Commerce and Industries Krishna Kumar Gupta said the state has skilled work force and lowest attrition rates. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu promised today to invest the equivalent of eight billion euros in the country's Kurdish-dominated southeast, which has been battered by decades of fighting between rebels and the military. Details of the 10-point plan for restoring security in the region, which has sustained heavy damage since the collapse of a two-year ceasefire last summer, were unveiled by Davutoglu as he visited the southeastern city of Mardin. "We are going to bind up all the wounds. We who have welcomed two and a half million Syrians are perfectly capable of offering all our help to our fellow citizens," he said. His plan involves a budget of 8.1 billion euros to revive the area whose economy has been severely affected since the ceasefire collapsed, notably through investment incentives and subsidies to small and medium enterprises and farmers. The plan also includes a security element for "establishing public order" in the area, he added, without giving further details. Earlier this week, Turkish media had said the plan would involve reinforcing police and army presence in towns deemed "sensitive". In his speech, he dismissed any question of "decentralisation", effectively ruling out the aspirations of Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) which is seeking greater local autonomy. "All citizens will be included in this plan, except those who carry arms," he said, dismissing any idea of a resumption of peace talks with rebels from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). In autumn 2012, Ankara engaged in a round of secret peace talks with PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan that led to the now defunct ceasefire. Ocalan, who was sentenced to death for treason in 1999, had his sentenced commuted to life in prison in 2002 when Turkey abolished capital punishment. He is currently being held at the Imrali prison island in the Sea of Marmara. "Instead of us gathering around a table in Imrali, we are going to sit down with different actors (in the Kurdish conflict) around a table in Ankara," he told Turkish reporters accompanying him as he flew back from London on Thursday. Turkey is currently pressing a major "anti-terror operation" in the southeast aimed at flushing out PKK rebels, with military operations backed by curfews in an offensive that Kurdish activists say has killed dozens of civilians. Vice President Hamid Ansari today left for home after concluding a five-day tour of Thailand and Brunei during which he held talks with the top leadership of the two countries on ways to enhance bilateral ties. He also called on Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Sra Pathum Palace this morning and inspected the Chitralada Project inside it. He was seen off at the airport by Minister of Information and Communication Uttama Savanayana. During his three-day stay here, Ansari held talks with Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, delivered a speech at the prestigious Chulalongkorn University, addressed the Indian community, met Indologists and visited the famous temples of Reclining Buddha and Emerald Buddha. In his address to Thai academics, businessmen and students at the Chulalongkorn University yesterday, he sought strong, coordinated action by like-minded nations to combat the "spreading tide of extremism" besides touching upon the "evolving situation" in the South China Sea (SCS) that demands restraint from all parties. Vice President Hamid Ansari today returned here after wrapping up a five-day tour of Brunei and Thailand during which he held talks with the top leadership of the two countries on the entire gamut of issues including connectivity, maritime security and terrorism. Ansari said the visits happened after a long gap and in "both the places, discussions were positive and the signal given was that they are keen to further strengthen relationships with India". "The chemistry was right and the responses very positive," he added. Before leaving for home from Bangkok, Ansari called on Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the Sra Pathum Palace this morning and inspected the Chitralada Project inside it. He was seen off at the airport by Minister of Information and Communication Uttama Savanayana. Ansari was the first Vice President to visit Thailand in 50 years, the last being Zakir Hussain in 1966. During his three-day stay in Thailand, he held talks with Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, delivered a speech at the Chulalongkorn University, addressed the Indian community, met Indologists and visited the famous temples of Reclining Buddha and Emerald Buddha. In Brunei, on the first leg of his visit, Ansari held talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, crown prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Speaker of the State Legislative Council Haji Mohammad Taib. India and Brunei also signed three MoUs on health, defence cooperation and youth affairs and sports. Ansari delivered a speech at the University of Brunei Darussalam besides addressing the Indian community at Bandar Seri Begawan. The Vice President was accompanied by his wife Salma, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parthibhai Chaudhary, MPs Rajeev Shukla, Anu Aga, Bhupendra Yadav and Prem Das Rai among others. US-based international antique dealer Subhash Chandra Kapoor, arrested in connection with theft of idols from two ancient temples in Tamil Nadu, was today produced before a special court here which remanded him to judicial custody and is set to try the cases against him. Judge S Baskaran of the Additional chief Judicial Magistrate Court, which is the special court for idol theft cases, remanded Kapoor to judicial remand till February 19 and posted the matter for hearing on that day. A person of Indian origin, Kapoor, who owns Nimubs Imports and Exports company based in New York, has been charged with smuggling antique idols belonging to Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Suthamalli village and Arulmigu Pragadeeswarar Temple at Stipurndan village Ariyalur district. After his extradition with the help of Interpol police, Kapoor was arrested by the state police in 2012 in connection with theft of idols from two ancient temples in the state and lodged in the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai. Two idol theft cases were pending against him and others in the Judicial Magistrate Court in Jayamkondam in Ariyalur district. The cases were transferred to the Special court here for trial in September, 2015 by the Madras High Court, allowing a plea by the state government. The High Court had then ordered that Kapoor need not be produced before the special court for every hearing and his appearance may be recorded through video conference facility. When the matter came up for hearing today for the first time after the transfer, Kapoor was brought from Chennai amid tight security by CID and produced before Judge Baskaran. Adjourning the matter to February 19, the Judge said Kapoor would be examined through video conference and if necessary the court will have his personal appearance. Later, Kapoor was taken back to Chennai. The Orissa High Court issued notices to the state government today on a writ challenging the appointment of two information commissioners in the Odisha Information Commission. The HC had been moved by an aspirant Pradeep Kumar Pradhan who alleged that scrutiny, selection and appointment of the information commissioners was not as envisaged under section 15(3) of Right to Information Act of 2005. Holding a preliminary hearing, Justice B R Sarangi issued notices to the state commissioner-cum secretary of I & PR department and to the two state information commissioners - Laxmi Narayan Pattanayak and Sashiprava Bindhani, who have also been made respondents to the petition, asking them to file their individual counters within two weeks. This comes two days after an interim stay on the appointment of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities. The government had appointed Pattanayak, an eminent administrator of justice and governance, and Bindhani, a prominent social worker as state information commissioners (SICs) in May last year. Their names, along with four others, were shortlisted by a four-member high-level scrutiny committee headed by the then Development Commissioner U N Behera for selection to be appointed from among 44 applicants. Later, the selection committee, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Bikram Arukh and Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra, selected the SICs in a majority view with a note of disagreement from the Leader of the Opposition. Billionaire Lakshmi Mittal-led ArcelorMittal today said it will raise USD 3 billion from investors and sell USD 1 billion stake in Spanish auto-part maker Gestamp, to reduce debt after the losses widened 7-fold in 2015 to USD 7.9 billion. The world's largest steelmaker outlined a plan to reduce its USD 15.7 billion net debt by nearly a quarter. Mittal, who owns about 37 per cent of ArcelorMittal, will maintain his stake and will sign up to its entitlement of the share issue, worth about USD 1.1 billion. Continuing to suffer from the Chinese industry's overcapacity that has driven down world prices, the company reported net sales declining to USD 63.58 billion in 2015 against USD 72.28 billion in 2014. Net loss reported USD 7.9 billion was mostly because of USD 4.8 billion writedowns on the iron ore mining business and a USD 1.3 billion charge on inventory due to the global steel price plunge. A year earlier the group made a loss of USD 1.1 billion. The firm reported a widening of its net loss to USD 6.69 billion in the December quarter against a net loss of USD 955 million in the year-ago period as it faced a "very difficult" 2015, which witnessed iron ore and steel prices slide further. The Luxembourg-headquartered company's revenue fell by 25 per cent to USD 13.98 billion in the October-December quarter of 2015, from USD 18.72 billion in the same quarter of 2014 fiscal. The firm follows January-December as its fiscal year. On the impairment charges, the firm said: "FY 2015 net loss of USD 7.9 billion including USD 4.8 billion of impairments (primarily due to mining impairments). "And USD 1.4 billion of exceptional charges (primarily related to the write-down of inventory following the rapid decline of international steel prices)." Breaking down the impairment charges, ArcelorMittal said the mining segment hit of USD 3.4 billion consists of USD 0.9 billion with respect to goodwill. Besides, USD 2.5 billion related to fixed assets mainly due to a downward revision of cash flow projections relating to expected persistence of a lower raw material price outlook at ArcelorMittal Liberia (USD 1.4 billion), Las Truchas Mexico (USD 0.2 billion), ArcelorMittal Serra Azul in Brazil (USD 0.2 billion) and ArcelorMittal Princeton coal mining operations in the US (USD 0.7 billion). While, steel segments' hit of USD 1.4 billion consists of fixed asset impairment charges of USD 0.2 billion on intended sale of the Long Carbon facilities in the US (ArcelorMittal La Place, Steelton and Vinton within the NAFTA segment). It also includes USD 0.4 billion primarily in connection with idling for an indefinite time of the ArcelorMittal Sestao plant in Spain (Europe segment) and USD 0.8 billion related to NAFTA: Deployment of asset optimisation programs at Indiana Harbor East and West in the US( USD 0.3 billion). Two police officers patrolling a housing project were shot and wounded by a gunman who apparently later killed himself with the same weapon a few miles from where Mayor Bill de Blasio was delivering his State of the City address on Thursday. The officers were on the sixth floor of an apartment building in the Melrose Houses complex in the Bronx when they encountered two people in a stairwell, police said. One of the people pulled a gun and opened fire, and both officers were struck, one in the face and the other in the abdomen, police said. The gunman fled into an apartment on the seventh floor, New York Police Department First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker said. Officers responding to the scene found the gunman in the apartment dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun and a shotgun were found inside the apartment, police said. The second person who encountered the officers in the stairwell was in custody, and three people in the apartment were being questioned, Tucker said. De Blasio, a Democrat, was told about the shooting as he finished his speech and left the stage. He met with the family of one of the officers at the hospital where they were being treated. "Our brave officers were doing their jobs tonight in our public housing on patrol keeping residents safe," de Blasio said. "Both officers are alert and communicating, and we are praying for the best here." The shooting happened about 5 miles from where de Blasio was delivering his speech, much of which was dedicated to praising the work of police officers. One of the officers is a 29-year-old man, and the other is a 24-year-old woman, said Robert Boyce, the police department's chief of detectives. The officers, who are assigned to the Housing Bureau, have been on the force for about two years. Police would not provide the names of the officers or the person who was in custody. The officers were shot while they were conducting a vertical patrol, where pairs of officers start in the lobby of a public housing project and walk the stairwells up to the roof and back down, Tucker said. The head of the police officers' union, Patrick Lynch, said the shooting shows the dangerous nature of the job. He said the shooting shows the difficulty and danger of vertical patrols. A police officer is on trial for manslaughter in Brooklyn after shooting an unarmed man during a similar patrol in November 2014. Rookie officer Peter Liang had his gun drawn in a pitch-black stairwell at the Louis Pink Houses in Brooklyn when he accidentally fired a shot. Akai Gurley was on a lower floor walking to the lobby and was struck and killed. Prosecutors say Liang was reckless and shouldn't have had his finger on the gun's trigger. Liang has pleaded not guilty, and his defense has suggested he had his gun drawn because of the dangerous nature of the assignment. In January, a police officer responding to a large street fight in the Bronx was shot in an ankle. And in October, a police officer responding to a report of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood was killed. The Associated Press The family of a Prescott woman killed by Islamic State militants wants her to be remembered for her commitment to serving the vulnerable. Kayla Muller died a year ago this week. She had been taken by the militant group in August 2013 after leaving a hospital in Aleppo, Syria. Her family says she had a special mind and heart to see the many forms of suffering and to find a way to help. A foundation has been created to honor Mueller, and the Kiwanis Club of Prescott is building a playground in her name. Northern Arizona University also established a scholarship in Mueller's name. Her family says people should keep in mind lives lost to terrorism, the missing and those held against their will. Dissident Congress MLAs from Arunachal Pradesh have met Rahul Gandhi in an apparent reconciliation bid but they stood firm on the demand for removal of deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki from CLP leadership to ensure that the future of the party is safe. Making it clear that they continue to be "devoted Congress workers", 21 MLAs, led by Kalikho Pul, met Rahul yesterday and complained against the "autocratic" manner adopted by Tuki in "crushing inner party democracy and misgovernance in government". This was the first meeting of the rebels with the top leadership ever since they revolted against Tuki four months ago. One of the major complaints of the group was that the party leadership never listened to their grievances. The delegation also complained against V Narayanasami, AICC general secretary in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh, and demanded his removal too. "We reiterated our view to Shri Rahulji that the future of Arunachal Pradesh and that of Congress is not at all secure in the hands of autocratic leader like Tuki and that he should be replaced immediately by handing over the reins to a more matured and visionary leader Kalikho Pul," the dissident MLAs said in a statement. The MLAs said in their meeting with Rahul, they put forward their stand and and that their differences were with CLP leader Tuki was due to their "unceasing effort to uphold the party etiquette, morality, ethics and dignity". The revolt by the dissidents led to a political crisis in the state that finally led to imposition of President's rule on January 26. Congress party, which has 47 MLAs seats in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled. Eleven BJP MLAs and two independents backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker. The Supreme Court, which is considering pleas against imposition of President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, is hearing on petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor. (Reopens DEL79) The dissident Congress MLAs said they were wrongly portrayed as anti-party and as being influenced by BJP. The rebels said the President's rule was imposed as a result of "misgovernance and lawlessness" created by Tuki and his supporters. "We further pointed out to Rahul Gandhiji how the misdeeds and corruption in Tuki regime resulted in chaos and lawlessness that has adversely affected the party morale and colossal loss of faith in the party by the people of the state," the statement said. The MLAs told Rahul that Narayanasami had all along stood by Tuki in "creating all the mess", which is highly unbecoming of a person of the stature of national general secretary of Congress party. On Monday, the dissident MLAs had said that they continue to be in Congress and have nothing against party president Sonia Gandhi and vice president but against the style and functioning of Tuki. "We are Congress MLAs. We want a Congress government not a BJP government. We have nothing against our high command. If Tuki is removed from the leadership, everything will be resolved and a Congress government will be installed in Itanagar," MLA and spokesperson of the rebel group Pasang Dorjee told Smriti Mandhana's ton went in vain as Australia rode on half-centuries by Nicole Bolton (77) and skipper Meg Lanning (61) to register a comfortable six-wicket win over India in the second ODI and seal the three-match series 2-0 here today. Australia put behind the disappointment of their T20 series loss against India and bounced back strongly to post back-to-back victories in the first two One-day Internationals to take an unassailable lead. After restricting India to 252 for eight in their allotted 50 overs today, Australia reached the target with 20 balls to spare, losing just four wickets in the process. Opting to bat, India lost opener Thirush Kamini for a duck in the very first ball of the match, but Mandhana and one-down batswoman in skipper Mithali Raj joined hands to bail out the team, putting on an important 150-run stand for the second wicket, batting for 31 overs together. While Mandhana scored 102 in just 109 deliveries that included 11 hits to the fence, Mithali played a patient 58-run knock off 98 balls with the help of five boundaries. Shikha Pandey also contributed with an unbeaten 33 but others unfortunately failed to come good with the bat. In fact, a flurry of wickets towards the end halted India's march. For Australia, Ellyse Perry was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 54, while Megan Schutt (2/35) chipped in with two crucial wickets. While chasing, Australia got off to a brilliant start with Bolton and Lanning sharing a 138-run opening wicket partnership to provide a solid platform for the team. Bolton took only 74 balls for her 77, which was studded with 10 fours and Lanning's 61 had four boundaries and came off 66 deliveries. Perry (31) made a significant contribution with the bat as well. However, four dismissals in quick succession briefly gave the visiting team an upper hand and threatened to derail Australia's chase, but Jess Jonassen (29 not out) and Alyssa Healy (29 not out) guided the team home in just 46.4 overs. Shikha (2/50) and Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2/42) took two wickets each for the visitors. Brief scores: India Women: 252 for 8 in 50 overs (Smriti Mandhana 102, Mithali Raj 58; Ellyse Perry 3/54, Megan Schutt 2/35). Australia Women: 253 for 4 in 46.4 overs (Nicole Bolton 77, Meg Lanning 61; Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/42). The Auto Expo, which opened to public on Friday, saw about 80,000 auto enthusiasts making it to the biennial event. While the first two days were open to media and business visitors, the expo has been thrown open to the public from February 5 to 9. The show, jointly organised by SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), ACMA (Automotive Components Manufacturers Association) and the Confederation of Indian Industry, is taking place at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida. Visitors kept pouring in to experience some of the best and latest products in the Indian automobile market, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in a statement. The Auto Expo is being held at a time when the automobile manufacturers are under pressure amid rising concerns over pollution, specially in Delhi-NCR, where diesel SUVs and cars with engines above 2,000 cc have been banned following a Supreme Court order. Some of the major participants in the Expo are Maruti Suzuki India, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hyundai Motor India, Honda Cars India, Tata Motors and Audi, among others. New participants include Jeep, Polaris and Italian motorcycle maker Benelli. Some companies have also given the event a miss citing high costs and low returns on investments. These include Bajaj Auto, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), Royal Enfield and Harley Davidson. German pharma major Bayer has apologized for the "inadvertent error" of the visual aid which has Sikh religious scripture printed on one of the pages and decided to recall all the copies of the product. In a letter to the state government, the Marketing Head of the company had informed that this has been an "unintentional error" as it was not intended to hurt any religious sentiments, said a Punjab government release. The official of the company said the firm respects the cultures and religious sentiments of the countries in which they operate in. He said that with due respect to the issue, they have informed their sales team not to use this material and have already asked for a recall of all the copies from the market. The Marketing head assured that they would treat the recalled copies with utmost respect and would not discard them as waste. Apologizing for this entire incident, the official said that they would take care about it in future. Taking cognizance of the "disrespect" of Gurbani by Bayer Pharma, which had hurt the sentiments of Sikhs by designing the visual aid through displaying its product 'Polarmine' in the background of 'Path Japji Sahib and Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji Ang (Pages)', Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had asked the officers of the Health department to immediately take up this issue with the company. Badal had categorically asked the officers that as Sikh holy book 'Sri Guru Granth Sahib' was the eternal Guru of Sikhs thus such sort of disrespect, just to promote sale of the company's brands, could neither be accepted nor be tolerated at any cost as it has bruised the psyche of every Sikh. After the directions of the Chief Minister, the Health department swung into action and took the matter with the top brass of the company following which they have apologized for the matter and decided to recall the product from the market. The Belgian government has approved a plan to combat Islamic radicalism and the threat of extremist violence by hiring 1,000 new police officers over the next four years. The plan, presented today to reporters by Interior Minister Jan Jambon, calls for adding 300 officers this year, and more than 500 by 2017. Jambon says 300 new officers will be added in Molenbeek and other neighborhoods with a history of radical Islamist activity. Ninety-six police investigators will be hired, and 260 TV cameras positioned to monitor movements on the highways. Earlier reports spoke of just 100 new officers being hired. The November attacks that killed 130 people in Paris were staged from neighbouring Belgium, and a subsequent official investigation revealed how ineffective the surveillance of suspected radicals in the country has often been. Four of the Paris attackers, including suspected ringleader Abdelhamid Abaooud, lived in the Brussels commune of Molenbeek, one of eight areas covered by the government's initiative. An engineer-turned-businessman from Visakhapatnam has sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Rs 364 to buy a pair of formal shoes. Reason--The businessman Sumit Agrawal says he was "deeply aggrieved" to find Kejriwal wearing sandals during a state banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan against the prescribed dress code. The Delhi Chief Minister was seen wearing sandals during the banquet hosted in honour of French President Francois Hollande on January 26. Agrawal sent a demand draft of Rs 364 to Kejriwal on Monday by speed post and said he took to the streets to collect money by following the footsteps of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. "It broke my heart to see you like this. I'm deeply aggrieved," Agarwal said in an open letter to Kejriwal, adding certain protocols have dictated the democratic set up and international relations and everyone must respect them. Severely critical of Kejriwal, the young businessman said the Delhi Chief Minister was representing the country that day at Rashtrapati Bhavan and not staging a dharna at an AAP rally at Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar. "You're a grown man. Please act according to the situation & and to the occasion," he said. Kejriwal's office refused to comment on the issue. The businessman also explained how he collected the money. "I initially had plans to contribute some money from my own pocket. However, since I'm against donations to any political party, I decided against it and followed your footsteps instead. I took to the streets to gather money to fund a pair of footwear for you. "Sir, I know that this is a very small amount, but it is the result of the effort of an entire Sunday afternoon of hard work. I had initiated the collection with an initial contribution of Rs 49," he wrote. He futher said "though such a modest amount is not enough for a Chief Minister, I believe any amount is good enough for the someone who claims that he has no shoes despite having a monthly salary of 'only' Rs 2,10,000". British Prime Minister David Cameron ran into Polish resistance today to his plans to curb benefits to EU migrants, as he launched two weeks of high-stakes diplomacy aimed at reaching a deal to avert a "Brexit." Cameron must convince his fellow 27 European Union leaders to back controversial reform proposals at a leaders' summit in Brussels on February 18-19. The risks were underlined today by a new poll showing 45 per cent of Britons now want to leave the EU - up three percentage points from a week earlier - with only 36 per cent who want Britain to remain in the 28-member club. Ahead of talks with Cameron in Warsaw, Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo told Britain's The Times that the benefits proposal "doesn't make me happy". Her tone mellowed at a press conference with the British leader who stressed their countries' "shared interests" and "strategic partnership," in both the EU and NATO. But while saying it was "very important" to Poland for Britain to stay in the EU, she added: "There are always topics that need to be ironed out." "Over a million Poles live and work in Britain. Their work is growing Britain's GDP and we want them to enjoy the same kind of opportunities for development as Britons," Szydlo said. Sources close to the negotiations told AFP yesterday that so far no European leaders are satisfied with a draft agreement for a deal to avoid a "Brexit." The so-called Visegrad Four - the central European states of Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - say they will not accept any plan that discriminates against hundreds of thousands of their citizens working in Britain. Central Europeans have flocked to Britain in search of jobs and a better life since their poorer ex-communist countries joined the EU in 2004. While many are gainfully employed, the influx has nonetheless prompted criticism that the migrants are draining Britain's generous welfare system. Poland's influential governing party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said he was "very pleased" after today talks with Cameron. Kaczynski is widely seen as the real deal-maker in Szydlo's right-wing populist Law and Justice (PiS) government that took office after winning an unprecedented majority in October's election. Ottawa announced today the lifting of economic sanctions against Tehran, which will allow Canadian firms access to Iran after a deal on its nuclear program recently came into force. Canada, however, will maintain restrictions on exports of nuclear goods and technologies and anything that could help Iran in the development of ballistic missiles, it said. And it will maintain a list of people and entities with which dealings are prohibited due to concern over their "relation to the risk of proliferation and to Iran's ballistic missile activities." "Canadian companies will now be able to position themselves for new trade opportunities, but we will also maintain rigorous controls on any exports that raise serious proliferation concerns," Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. Canada's exports to Iran peaked at Can$772 million (US$556 million) in 1997 and declined to Can$67 million (US$48 million) in 2014, comprising mostly food products exempt from sanctions. Ottawa has also offered to restore diplomatic relations with Tehran, which were severed in 2012. At the time, the previous Tory administration issued a strongly worded attack on the Islamic republic's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, its "incitement to genocide" against Israel, and its leaders' failure to account for their nuclear program. Ties were also strained by Tehran's jailing of Iranian-born Canadians. Iran does not recognize dual nationality and authorities have denied Canadian detainees consular protection. In 2013, Ottawa imposed a near-total trade embargo on Iran that included economic sanctions and travel restrictions against 78 officials and 508 organisations. CBI will challenge in Delhi High Court the dropping of charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and criminal breach of trust under IPC by a Special court against two Bank of Baroda officials facing probe in Rs 6000 crore illegal remittances case. On Tuesday, a Special CBI Judge Pawan Kumar Jain had refused to take cognizance of allegations of criminal conspiracy (120-B)), cheating (420) and criminal breach of trust (409) under IPC leveled by CBI in its charge sheet against Assistant General Manager SK Garg and Forex in-charge officer Jainis Dubey even as it retained allegations under Prevention of Corruption Act. The court had held that the agency had not taken mandatory sanction from competent authority to prosecute them as per CrPC Section 197 for charges under the IPC whereas the agency pleaded that Bank officials do not come in the definition of public servants as far as taking sanction under the section is concerned. The sources said the agency will be filing its appeal after going through the Special Court judgement as it is on a firm footing in the case and its arguments are backed by Supreme Court judgments wherein it is clearly held that section 197 of CrPC protection is not available to bank officials. One of the cases being studied by the CBI legal team is Supreme Court verdict in K Ch Prasad vs J Vanalatha Devi and others which it has held that Bank officials do not hold a post where they cannot be removed from service "except by or with the sanction" of the Government. "It was contended by the learned counsel that the competent authority who can remove the appellant from service derives his power under regulations and these regulations ultimately derive their authority from the Act of Parliament and therefore it was contended that the regulations are flamed with the approval of the Central Government but it does not mean that the appellant cannot be removed from his service by anyone except the Government or with the sanction of the Government," the apex court had held. The sources said allowing protection under 197 CrPC to bank officials would open pandora's box as all those who have been charge sheeted and convicted will challenge their respective orders in courts. They said the agency has meanwhile kept its probe open against other officials of the bank and would be filing supplementary charge sheets. CBI had alleged that 59 current account holders and unknown bank officials conspired to send overseas remittances, mostly to Hong Kong, of foreign exchange worth approximately Rs 6,000 crore in an illegal and irregular manner in violation of established banking norms under the garb of payments towards non-existent imports. "The investigation revealed that both the accused (Dubey and Garg) had abused their official position and in conspiracy with each other and with the said account holders had allegedly cheated and misappropriated the bank funds to the tune of Rs 13.75 crores (approx), thereby causing alleged loss to Bank of Baroda," the official said. The agency had alleged in its charge sheet that the accounts were allegedly opened either in fictitious names or in the names of persons who were employed in different companies. "Forged and fake identity papers like PAN Cards, Voters ID cards, etc. Were allegedly used for opening the accounts" the spokesperson had said. Within these manuscripts are inscribed the collective memory of a people, a continuous cultural tradition from the 10th century to the recent present. Once this memory is erased, an important chapter of the story of what it is to be human is no longer recoverable," said David Hollenberg, director of Arabic at the University of Oregon. The estimated 50,000 ancient handwritten books, called codices, represent the largest and most important set of unexplored Arabic-language manuscripts in the world, according to the website of Princeton University's Yemeni Manuscript Digitization Initiative (YMDI). With the help of a grant, Hollenberg set up YMDI in the 1990s in an effort to preserve Yemen's manuscripts using digital technology. "The manuscripts are the bread and butter of the Islamic sciences. These private manuscript libraries are really the heart and soul of the classical Islamic tradition," said Hollenberg. In response to the immediate threat posed to the manuscripts by the recent airstrikes, Hollenberg launched the nonprofit organization Save Yemen's Heritage last November. The project, which is in the process of obtaining legal status in the United States, is working with a local NGO in Yemen to send badly needed digital workstations and funds to staff in the country's capital, Sanaa. "The machines will allow staff in Sanaa to continue their digitization work," Hollenberg said. But before he can send any equipment, he needs permission from the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is responsible for enforcing economic sanctions against targeted countries and groups deemed a threat to national security. The OFAC last year imposed sanctions against antigovernment forces in Yemen, effectively freezing them out of the U.S. financial system. Americans who send funds to Yemen without OFAC clearance are subject to criminal and civil penalties. Chhattisgarh Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra has sought to step up counter-insurgency operations in the Maoist-affected pockets of the state. The newly-posted Special Director General of Police (SDGP), anti-naxal operations and SIB (special intelligence branch), D M Awasthi (IPS) today paid a courtesy visit to the Home Minister during which they discussed the status of anti-Maoist operations, a public relations officer here said. During the meeting, Paikra asked Awasthi to devise affective strategies to flush out left wing extremism from the state and carry out intense operations in the naxal-hit zone, particularly Bastar, the official said. "Our brave jawans are ready to take up any challenge. Centre and state forces are making joint efforts to set Chhattisgarh free from the clutches of naxalism," the Home Minister was quoted as saying during the meeting by the official. The SDGP had yesterday paid courtesy visit to Governor Balramji Das Tandon. Former Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and Kalimpong MLA Harka Bahadur Chettri today met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee here to discuss development issues of the Hills. After his meeting with Banerjee at state secretariat Nabanna, Chhetri, who quit GJM to form a new party, said he spoke about development issues concerning the Hills and also flagged corruption in local administration. The chief minister has assured to look into the matter, he told reporters. Also, a delegation of Dooars, Siliguri, Terai Bhartiya Nepali Development Forum, formed by estranged members of the GJM who quit the party in December last year, also met Banerjee. Forum chief Praveen Singh said it was non-political platform formed to look into the interests of Terai and Dooars. "Eight central committee members of the previous GJM came to meet the Chief Minister, but there were no political discussions," he said. Convenor of the Forum, Anand Biswakarma, said Terai and Dooars including Jalpaiguri, have 12 Assembly seats and a political strategy would be finalised after an internal meeting of Forum members. Singh accused GJM chief Bimal Gurung of ignoring the development of their region and requested the Chief Minister to form a separate development board for Terai and Dooars. China today released the findings of an inquiry into its worst industrial accident in years, calling for 123 people connected to the deadly chemical blast to be punished. The report followed an investigation by the State Council evaluating the cause of the August blast in the northern city of Tianjin that left at least 165 dead. Industrial accidents are common in China where safety standards are often lax, but the massive blast sparked widespread anger over a perceived lack of transparency by officials about its causes and environmental impact. The blast, which caused over USD 1 billion in damages, was caused by improper chemical storage by Tianjin Ruihai International Logistics, according to the report published on the State Administration of Work Safety website. Dry weather condition allowed for the spontaneous combustion of "nitro-cotton", a flammable compound stored in the warehouse, it said. The fire then ignited other chemicals, including ammonium nitrate, a highly explosive compound commonly used in fertiliser and also in homemade bombs. But the underlying cause was that government bodies in charge of the port, up to the ministerial level, routinely ignored or violated laws and regulations regarding chemical storage, according to the report. It added that some officials connected to the explosion were guilty of "corruption" and "abuse of power" and recommended the 123 people, including five at the ministerial level, face disciplinary action. Another 49 had already faced legal proceedings, it said. Thousands of tonnes of hazardous chemicals were stored at the warehouse, some 600 metres (2000 feet) from residential buildings. Chinese regulations say hazardous materials should be stored at least 1,000 metres away from homes. The blast released clouds of toxic chemicals into the air and created a large pool of contaminated water, and the report recommended continued monitoring of long-term health and environmental damage. A spate of industrial accidents in recent years has raised concerns about the enforcement of residential zoning regulations, government transparency and adequacy of firefighter training in China. On social media, some chided the punishment. "How could no one get the death penalty?", one commenter wrote. Republican presidential front- runner Donald Trump continues to lead among his rivals at the national level, while it is a tie between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on the Democratic side, a latest poll said today. The latest Quinnipiac University National Polls reported that Trump still leads the Republican presidential pack among party's voters nationwide, with 31 per cent votes, followed by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas with 22 per cent and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida with 19 per cent. Neurosurgeon Dr Ben Carson has six per cent votes, with 9 per cent undecided and no other candidate above 3 per cent. In the Democratic race nationwide, Clinton has 44 per cent votes, with Sanders at 42 per cent, and 11 per cent undecided. This compares to a 61 - 30 per cent Clinton lead in a December 22 survey by the independent Quinnipiac University Poll. The university said Sanders and Rubio are the strongest candidates in general election matchups. "If former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg runs, he hurts Sanders more than he hurts any of the top Republican contenders," it said. Quinnipiac said among Republicans, 30 per cent say they "would definitely not support" Trump, while 15 per cent say no to Cruz and seven percent say no to Rubio. Sanders has the highest favorability rating among top candidates, while Trump has the lowest. The poll surveyed 484 Democrats and has a margin of error of 4.5 per cent. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "And despite the Iowa setback, Donald Trump is way ahead of his GOP opponents. But that's not the whole story nine months before Election Day," he said. Haryana government has approved transfer of licenced colonies developed by private builders in Gurgaon to the district's municipal corporation for maintenance. Since services like roads, water supply, sewerage and open spaces in these colonies have been operational satisfactorily for more than five years, the concerned developers have been directed to transfer these colonies to Gurgaon Municipal Corporation on 'as is where is basis', a spokesperson of state Town and Country Planning Department said here. The spokesperson said while Palam Vihar and Sushant Lok (phase I) are being developed by Ansal Properties and Infrastructure, DLF (phase I-III) is being developed by DLF Universal Limited. A total of 2,872.40 acre of plotted area would be transferred to the civic agency. This included 604.20 acre in sector 53, 27, 43, 28 and 17 of Sushant Lok Phase-I, 633.27 acre in sector 3,2 and 1 of Palam Vihar and 1634.93 acre in sector 24, 25, 25A, 26A and 28 in DLF Phase I to III, the official said. The spokesperson said that as per the agreement, the private developer is responsible for the maintenance and up-keep of roads, open spaces, public parks and public health services for a period of five years from the date of issue of completion certificate following which it would be handed over to the MC. However, since the grant of completion certificate in these colonies is still pending due to non-completion of community and commercial sites, the transfer would be allowed subject to the condition that the developers complete the remaining work in compliance of terms and conditions of the license, the official said. A Commonwealth ministerial group that includes Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar will visit Male from tomorrow to send a strong message to the Maldivian government on the need for political dialogue with all stakeholders and build strong democratic institutions. TheCommonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) will beled by its Vice-Chair, Guyana's Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge. British Prime Minister David Cameron last month had asked the Maldives to open up its politics and release all remaining political prisoners after his meeting former jailed president Mohamed Nasheed, who was granted special leave for urgent spinal cord surgery in the UK. "Looking ahead to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group visit to the Maldives next month, the prime minister and Mr Nasheed agreed this was an opportunity for all Commonwealth members to send a consistently strong message on the need for the Maldivian government to engage in open political dialogue and free all remaining political prisoners swiftly," a Downing Street spokesman had said. Besides Jaishankar, the Commonwealth delegation includes Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade Amina Mohamed. CMAG is a political body comprising nine foreign ministers. It acts on behalf of Commonwealth Heads of Government as the custodian of the Commonwealth's fundamental political values including democracy, the rule of law and human rights. Commonwealth Secretariat spokesperson Will Henley said the purpose of the three-day CMAG mission is to reach out to Maldives in a "positive way". "The mission is aiming to develop a first-hand understanding of the situation on the ground and to consider how the Commonwealth can continue to assist in advancing Commonwealth values and principles, and to support Maldives in building stronger democratic institutions and culture," Henley said. Nasheed, 48, became the first democratically-elected president of the Maldives in 2008 and served for four years before he was toppled in what he called a coup backed by the military and police. He was sentenced to 13 years in jail on terrorism charges relating to the arrest of an alleged corrupt judge in 2012, when he was still in power. A policeman was today sentenced by a local court to three years' rigorous imprisonment for torturing his pregnant wife, also a police constable, who succumbed to her burn injuries in 2012. However, the court did not convict him for his wife's murder due to lack of sufficient evidence. Thane Additional Sessions Judge V V Bambarde convicted Sriram Balasaheb Hivre (26), a police constable attached to Thane Nagar police station. For harassing his wife mentally and physically. The court also slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 on him. Additional Public Prosecutor Bhuleshwar Hinge said the convict married Archana (23), a police constable attached to Local Arms division in Mumbai, in June 2012. On December 19, 2012 the victim died at her matrimonial house in Kalwa in the district after receiving hundred per cent burn injuries. The convict was present when the incident took place. Based on a complaint of harassment and torture filed by the victim's brother Abhijeet Mothe, also a policeman, the Hivre was charged with the offences and tried in a court. At the time of the incident, the victim was pregnant. The prosecution sought conviction of Hivre for murder charge. However, based on the available evidence, the court convicted him under section 498 A IPC (cruelty) but did not convict him for murder. The 45-year-old mother of the convict, a resident of Sangli, who was also tried in the case, was also acquitted by the court for want of sufficient evidence. The Supreme Court today allowed the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind to become a party in a suo motu PIL instituted to deal with various issues including gender bias against Muslim women, with the organisation contending that the court cannot test the validity of personal law. A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, which had issued notices to the Attorney General and National Legal Services Authority on the PIL, directed the Centre and the organisation to file reply within six weeks. In its plea, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has contended that the apex court cannot examine the constitutional validity of the practices of marriage, divorce and maintenance in Muslim personal law on the ground that provisions of personal laws cannot be challenged by the reason of fundamental rights. "Personal laws do not derive their validity on the ground that they have been passed or made by a legislature or other competent authority. The foundational sources of personal law are their respective scriptural texts. "The Mohammedan Law is founded essentially on the Holy Koran and thus it cannot fall within the purview of the expression 'laws in force' as mentioned in Article 13 of the Constitution of India, and hence its validity cannot be tested on a challenge based on Part III of the Constitution,"it said. Last year, the apex court had ordered registration of a PIL and asked the Chief Justice to set up a Special Bench to deal with issues relating to the challenge to the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act. It had noted that the issue was not merely a policy matter but concerns the fundamental rights of women guaranteed under the Constitution. The issue had cropped-up during the hearing of a matter related to Hindu Succession (Amendment) Act and the bench had noted that "an important issue of gender discrimination which though not directly involved in this appeal, has been raised by some of the counsel for the parties which concerns rights to Muslim women. Discussions on gender discrimination led to this issue also." "It was pointed out that inspite of guarantee of the Constitution, Muslim women are subjected to discrimination. There is no safeguard against arbitrary divorce and second marriage by her husband during currency of the first marriage, resulting in denial of dignity and security to her," it had noted. CPWD will generate 42.50 Mw of solar power across the country and replace energy-inefficient electrical fittings in 20 government buildings in Delhi by September this year as it looks to save Rs 115 crore per year on power costs. In Delhi, solar panels have already been installed for a total capacity of 1.50 Mw on six government buildings: Nirman Bhawan, Shastri Bhawan, East Block and Sewa Bhawan (RK Puram), Pushpa Bhawan near Sheik Sarai and CGO Complex, Lodhi Road. In the last three months, a total of 2,86,100 units of power has been generated from these installations, resulting in a saving of Rs 11.50 lakh in energy costs. According to a release, efforts by CPWD in this regard and the consequent gains in terms of saving in energy consumption were reviewed on Friday by Urban Development Secretary Madhusudhan Prasad. CPWD earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI) for generation of solar power through the installation of grid-connected rooftop Solar Photo Voltaic panels in all government buildings maintained by it in the country. Consequently, SECI awarded works to 14 bidders for undertaking works in 16 states. While 10 MW of solar power will be generated by May, 2016, as part of Phase-I covering Delhi (3 MW), Uttar Pradesh (2 MW), North-East and Union Territories (2 MW) and 1 MW each in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Generation of 42.50 MW of solar power is estimated to result in a saving of Rs 13 crore per year. Prasad directed CPWD and SECI to ensure net metering at all the 200 buildings in the country to ensure proper monitoring of total energy consumption by government buildings, the release said. As part of measures to promote efficient use of energy at all government buildings, CPWD has begun to replace energy inefficient fittings with LED bulbs and five-star energy rated air conditioning systems approved by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. This will be completed in 20 buildings in Delhi by September 2016. These measures are estimated to result in a total saving of 11.41 crore units of power and Rs 103 crore in energy cost per year. In Delhi, a total of 16,613 LED lamps have so far been installed in 261 of 268 government bungalows and 408 of 546 flats of MPs. The remaining will be done so during the Budget session of Parliament. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) today suggested setting up of a high-level committee on women safety comprising the Lieutenant Governor, the Union Home Minister and others, claiming a panel led by the Chief Secretary will not be as effective as it cannot fix accountability of Delhi Police. "DCW believes that since Delhi Police does not report to Delhi government, little will be achieved from the Chief Secretary's core group meeting on women safety in terms of fixing the accountability of police. As the administrative head of Delhi Police, only the Lt Governor can ensure the accountability of Delhi Police," DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said. She claimed that the task of ensuring a safe environment for women and girls in Delhi was becoming increasingly complicated. The Commission thus has passed a resolution on the 2nd meeting of the core group and has urged the Chief Secretary to request the LG to notify the thana-level committees and notify the revised Delhi Victim Compensation Scheme 2015, which increases the compensation amount for rape and acid attack victims from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 7 lakh. The scheme was approved by Delhi government in September 2015. She said these proposed thana-level committees have a huge mandate to promote interaction between the police and public and provide a forum for the public to raise concerns regarding law and order and find constructive solutions to the problems faced by the community. She also said there was a need to ensure that resources of Delhi Police are adequately strengthened, claiming that the ultimate sufferer of shortage of staff in police are women and girls. "It is pertinent to point out that women constitute only 9.5 per cent of Delhi Police. Creating additional posts in Delhi Police will give an opportunity to improve this skewed ratio... I believe that this will be the most significant investment by the central government to ensure ideal law and order situation in Delhi," she said. Maliwal further highlighted the issues related to non-filing of charge-sheets, quality of investigation, human trafficking and posting of a sensitive woman police officer in GB Road, the city's red light area, and improving the information system of Delhi Police for human trafficking that need to resolved. In the second meeting, she also urged the chief secretary to take stock of the efforts of Delhi government on all issues of women safety like increasing the number of fast-track courts, establishing separate courts for POCSO cases, ensuring timely and proper forensic reports on cases of crime against women, strengthening the prosecution department. Other issues include installation of CCTV cameras in buses and in other places in Delhi, notifying a comprehensive rehabilitation policy for victims of trafficking, improving the condition of shelter homes, rehabilitation centres and working women hostels, notification of Local Complaints Committees under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013. The first meeting of the core group was held on November 10 last year. The LG recently informed the Commission that he will not chair the Committee and that chief secretary will chair the next meeting. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to go free from the Ecuadorian embassy in London and be awarded compensation for what amounts to a three-and-a-half-year arbitrary detention, a U.N. panel ruled on Friday. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the U.S. by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Speaking by video link from the embassy, Assange told a news conference the finding that he has been unlawfully detained is a significant victory that completely vindicates him. His lawyers said Assange must be freed immediately and given protection from possible extradition to the United States. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the U.N. panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favor, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange's favor, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, the group's head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. (It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the U.S. where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Sweden said it has no such plans. Assange had said that if he lost the appeal then he would leave his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, though Britain said he would be arrested and extradited to Sweden as soon as he stepped outside. The decision in his favor marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. In 2010, the group released over 90,000 secret documents on the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, followed by almost 400,000 U.S. military reports detailing operations in Iraq. Those disclosures were followed by release of millions of diplomatic cables dating back to 1973. The U.N. Working Group does not have the authority to order the release of a detainee and Friday's ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments. Recent high-profile cases submitted to the U.N. panel include that of jailed former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American jailed in Iran until a prisoner swap last month. But governments have frequently brushed aside its findings such as a ruling on Myanmar's house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2008, a call in 2006 for the Iraqi government not to hang former dictator Saddam Hussein, and frequent pleas for the closure of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The U.K. has already made clear to the U.N. that we will formally contest the working groups opinion, a British government spokesman said. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy, the spokesman said. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the U.K. continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. Swedish prosecutors said the U.N. decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A U.S. Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. Wire services Scientists have uncovered an unknown chapter of human history - a major population turnover in Europe at the end of the last Ice Age about 14,500 years ago, during a period of severe climatic instability. Researchers used DNA evidence from the ancient bones and teeth of people who lived in Europe from the Late Pleistocene to the early Holocene - spanning almost 30,000 years of European prehistory. They pieced the missing history together by reconstructing the mitochondrial genomes of 35 hunter-gatherer individuals who lived in Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic, and Romania from 35,000 to 7,000 years ago. Mitochondria are organelles within cells that carry their own DNA and can be used to infer patterns of maternal ancestry. "We uncovered a completely unknown chapter of human history - a major population turnover in Europe at the end of the last Ice Age," said lead author Johannes Krause of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany. "There has been a real lack of genetic data from this time period, so consequently we knew very little about the population structure or dynamics of the first modern humans in Europe," Krause said. The new data show that the mitochondrial DNA of three individuals who lived in present-day Belgium and France before the coldest period in the last Ice Age - the Last Glacial Maximum - belonged to haplogroup M. This is remarkable because the M haplogroup is effectively absent in modern Europeans but is extremely common in modern Asian, Australasian, and Native American populations. The absence of the M haplogroup and its presence in other parts of the world had previously led to the argument that non-African people dispersed on multiple occasions to spread across Eurasia and Australasia. The researchers said the discovery of this maternal lineage in Europe in the ancient past now suggests instead that all non-Africans dispersed rapidly from a single population, at a time they place around 50,000 years ago. Then, at some later stage, the M haplogroup was apparently lost from Europe. "When the Last Glacial Maximum began around 25,000 years ago, hunter-gatherer populations retreated south to a number of putative refugia, and the consequent genetic bottleneck probably resulted in the loss of this haplogroup," said first author Cosimo Posth of Germany's University of Tubingen. The researchers say their biggest surprise, however, was evidence of a major turnover of the population in Europe around 14,500 years ago, as the climate began to warm. "Our model suggests that during this period of climatic upheaval, the descendants of the hunter-gatherers who survived through the Last Glacial Maximum were largely replaced by a population from another source," said senior author Adam Powell, of the Max Planck Institute. The study was published in the journal Current Biology. The driver of the relatives of Ola Cabs CEO Bhavish Aggarwal was today arrested in connection with the murder of his grandmother and aunt. Pushpawati (84) and Sarita Devi (55), grandmother and aunt of Bhavish, were found dead inside their home at Sher-e-Punjab colony in Badowal locality here on January 29. The family's driver Sukhpal Singh alias Bagga, a resident of nearby Flewal village, has been arrested for the double murder, Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Paramraj Singh Umranangal told reporters. Sukhpal told police during interrogation that he went to the residence of the victims and demanded Rs 5,000 from the ladies to get married, Umranangal said. However, the two refused to give him the money. Later, the accused driver attacked the two ladies with a hammer and slit their throats with a kitchen knife, he said. The two victims, who are the mother and wife of a noted city cardiologist Dr Rakesh Aggarwal, were found in a pool of blood by their domestic help Pooja, who called the police. The police earlier had detained Pooja for interrogation but released her following protests from other domestic workers. The police said some gold ornaments which the two victims were wearing were also missing and probe was on to recover them. The second edition of the Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) will take place here in March this year, it has been announced. The announcement was made here in the presence of actors Varun Dhawan and Jacqueline Fernandez. The awards will be held on March 18 at the Dubai International Stadium and is expected to see performances by Shah Rukh Khan, Varun, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Jacqueline, Honey Singh and other celebrities. The event is going to be promoted across India, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and UK and fans are expected to travel from these countries into Dubai creating tourism receipts over the weekend for Dubai. Varun said TOIFA was one of the first platforms where he was nominated for his work in the best debutant actor male category for the movie "Student of the Year". "I am thrilled to be associated with this amazing platform and announce TOIFA 2016 in Dubai. Look forward to catching all Bollywood fans on 18th March at Dubai International Stadiumand promise you a fabulous TOIFA weekend," he said. Jacqueline said she is excited to be a part of TOIFA's second edition and represent the Hindi film industry in Dubai. "The atmosphere in Dubai is always electrifying and I look forward to adding to the magic on March 18 at the Dubai International Stadium," she said. The first edition of the awards was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where audience witnessed the performances of top most Indian film stars during the ceremony. Dutch pension fund Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP today offloaded stake worth Rs 55 crore in engineering conglomerate Crompton Greaves through open market transactions. According to the bulk deals data available with NSE, the fund sold 44,31,926 shares or 0.7 per cent stake in the company for Rs 55.39 crore. The shares were sold at an average price of Rs 125 per piece. The buyers of the stake sold could not be ascertained. Earlier this week, the Avantha Group firm posted a consolidated net loss of Rs 107.03 crore for the quarter ended December 31. The firm had posted a net profit of Rs 274.29 crore in the October-December quarter of the last fiscal. Total income of the company fell to Rs 2,087.52 crore in the third quarter of 2015-16, from Rs 2,436.42 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal, the company had said in a filing. With over 8,000 employees, the company has manufacturing facilities in several countries including Belgium, France, UK, Canada and the US. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today blasted as "laughable" Russia's accusation that Turkey was actively preparing to invade Syria. "I find this Russian statement laughable... Rather it is Russia that is currently engaged in an invasion of Syria," Erdogan said, quoted by the state-run Anatolia agency. Russia yesterday had claimed Turkey was planning to invade Syria, saying it had spotted troops and military equipment on the border with the war-torn country. "We have serious grounds to suspect Turkey is in intensive preparations for an armed invasion of the territory of a sovereign state -- the Syrian Arab Republic," Russia's defence ministry said in a statement. Ties between Moscow, which supports the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ankara, which is a staunch backer of the opposition, have been in tatters since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on the Syrian border in November, claiming it had entered Turkish airspace. Following a request from Assad, Moscow launched a bombing campaign in Syria in September, saying it needed to target jihadists like the Islamic State group before they cross into Russia. But air strikes have also hit the rebels opposed to Assad. Tens of thousands of Syrians were apparently streaming towards Turkey today as regime troops pressed a major Russian-backed offensive around Aleppo. To jointly undertake waste water treatment projects across India, Essel Infraprojects today said it has inked a pact with Canada's Clearford Water System. "Essel Infraprojects Ltd (EIL) part of ...Essel Group today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to forge a strategic partnership with Canada based Clearford Water Systems Inc to bring Clearford's proprietary all-in-one wastewater collection and treatment system to India," the company said in a statement. The MoU was signed in presence of Kathleen Wynne, premier of Canadian state of Ontario, who is leading a trade mission to India. "We are pleased to announce our alliance with Clearford Water Systems as we believe that this partnership will best complement our efforts in offering integrated citizen services by deploying state-of-the-art water distribution and management systems. We are committed to adopt and develop new technologies to provide a wider range of offerings to our customers," said Pankaj Thapliyal, President of B2C division of Essel Group. Speaking about the signing, Ontario's Premier Wynne said: "Clearford is a great example of an Ontario company providing a technological solution that contributes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Clean India Mission." Under the terms of the two year non-exclusive agreement, Essel and Clearford will work together to identify projects. "We are looking forward to working with Essel Group in addressing the challenges many communities face with waste water collection and treatment throughout India, we believe Clearford One will make a significant contribution to addressing these challenges," Clearford's President & CEO Kevin Loiselle said. "We have already identified a series of projects in the state of Rajasthan and expect to submit joint proposals in the near future," Loiselle added. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem has urged China to scale back rampant overproduction in its steel industry that is punishing European companies through low prices, a letter said today. European manufacturers are reeling from a global glut in steel supply with Luxembourg based ArcelorMittal on Friday blaming China for a colossal $8 billion loss for 2015, with thousands of job cuts announced throughout the industry. "In the wake of a worrying trend, I urge you to take all appropriate measures to curb the steel overcapacity and other causes aggravating the situation," Malmstroem wrote in her letter to Gao Hucheng, Beijing's commerce minister. The letter, sent on January 29, also warned China that it faces new EU probes into alleged price-dumping later this month, with yet more still to come. It notes that total steel exports from China grew by 50% in 2015, destabilising the global market and the EU in particular. China accounts for half the world's crude steel production, but can no longer absorb a huge portion of it as the once booming cools. Beijing on Thursday announced plans to cut steel production by as much as 150 million tonnes over the next five years, but this is far short of the 340 million tonnes that experts say the country is now overproducing every year. The steel industry is also at the heart of a row at the World Trade Organization where China is pushing to win the coveted "market economy" status. The status would make it far more difficult for WTO members, including the EU, to impose anti-dumping duties on China. The EU currently has dozens of anti-dumping measures in place against China, several involving the steel industry. An impact study is underway by the EU on the potential effects of giving China market status, before a decision by the end of the year. A 93-year-old former SS guard at the Auschwitz death camp will stand trial in April for accessory to murder, a German court said today. The accused, who was not named by the court, worked at the camp in occupied Poland between November 1, 1942 and June 25, 1943. On his watch, at least three trains carrying deportees from Berlin, Drancy in France and Westerbork in the Netherlands arrived at the camp, the court of Hanau said in a statement. "Of the deportees, at least 1,075 people were cruelly and maliciously killed in the gas chambers after their arrival in Auschwitz," the statement said. At present, three relatives of victims killed in the death camp have been accepted as co-plaintiffs, added the court. Despite his advanced age, the accused was found by a doctor to be fit to stand trial, although hearings will be limited to four hours a day. The trial will be the third in 2016 of former SS personnel at Auschwitz, as Germany races to prosecute ageing Third Reich criminals. Another former guard, 94-year-old Reinhold Hanning, is to appear in court in Detmold next week. And a 95-year-old ex-medic named as Hubert Zafke will stand trial in Neubrandenburg at the end of February. Both are charged with complicity in the killings of thousands of people at the camp. Some 1.1 million people, most of them European Jews, perished between 1940 and 1945 in Auschwitz-Birkenau before it was liberated by Soviet forces. The Law Commission's report favouring legalising of passive euthanasia with certain safeguards is being examined and a bill will be drafted thereafter, the government told the Supreme Court today. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice A R Dave, which is awaiting the government's stand in its endeavour to examine a plea to legalise passive euthanasia by means of withdrawal of life support system to terminally-ill patients, was informed that on receiving the report from the Law Ministry, a Bill will be drafted. The statement to this effect was made by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Patwalia before the bench, which also comprises Justices Kurian Joseph, Shiva Kirti Singh, A K Goel and R F Nariman, which will also peruse the Centre's latest affidavit on the issue. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Common Cause, which has filed the PIL for legalising passive euthanasia, said the affidavit "does not take us anywhere." After a brief hearing, the ASG sought that the matter be deferred for a week so that the Law Ministry comes out with its stand on the Law Commission's report. Accepting his request, the bench posted the next hearing on February 12. The Centre in its recent affidavit said it has framed a legislation on the issue but would await the apex court's verdict on it. "Based on the recommendations of the expert committee, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has proposed formulation of legislation on passive euthanasia. The expert committee has further suggested certain changes in the draft bill. "The committee has not agreed to active euthanasia since it has more potential for misuse and, as on date, it is prevalent in very few countries worldwide," the ASG said. The apex court on January 15 had asked the government to make its stand clear in a reasonable time. The law officer apprised the bench about the 241st report of the Law Commission which has stated that passive euthanasia should be allowed with certain safeguards and there was a proposed law -- Medical Treatment of Terminally Ill Patient (Protection of Patients and Medical Practioners) Bill, 2006. The ASG had said his contention will also be based on 6.7 regulation of 2002 under Medical Council of India Act which says that practicing euthanasia shall constitute an unethical conduct. However on specific occasions, the question of withdrawing supporting devices to sustain cardio-pulmonary function even after brain death, shall be decided only by a doctors' team and not by the treating physician alone. The bench was hearing a PIL filed in 2005 by NGO Common Cause which said when a medical expert opines that the person afflicted with a terminal disease has reached a point of no return, then he should be given the right to refuse being put on life support system, as otherwise it would only prolong his agony. The apex court had two years ago issued notices to states and Union Territories on the issue, even as the Centre had strongly opposed the petition saying it was a form of suicide which cannot be allowed. At that time, another five-judge bench had said that states must also be heard as the issue pertained not only to the Constitution, but involves morality, religion and medical science. The NGO had prayed for declaring the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right and sought a direction to the government to adopt suitable procedures to ensure that those with deteriorating health or the terminally ill should be able to execute a living Will and attorney authorisation for termination of life. The NGO had explained that there were three types of euthanasia -- positive, passive and living Will. It said the emphasis was on the category of living Will in which a person makes an advance declaration that if during his treatment, it becomes clear that there is no chance of revival, he should not be put on life support system or ventilator. While referring to 6.7 regulation of 2002 under Medical Council of India, the bench wanted to know about implication of the regulation if the four words 'even after brain death' is deleted from it. (Reopens LGD36) Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had submitted that the issue should be debated and decided by the legislature and it was not a matter to be adjudicated by the court. The bench had appointed senior lawyer and former Solicitor General T R Andhyarujina as amicus curiae to assist it in the case relating to legalising euthanasia. The Constitution Bench, hearing the matter, was set up after a three-judge bench had on February 25, 2014 referred the matter to a larger bench saying it was extremely important to have a clear enunciation of law in view of inconsistent opinions in its previous judgement. It had said that its verdict of 2011 allowing passive euthanasia was delivered on a "wrong premise". "In view of the inconsistent opinions rendered in Aruna Shanbaug case and considering the important question of law involved which needs to be reflected in the light of social, legal, medical and constitutional perspective, it becomes extremely important to have a clear enunciation of the law. "Thus, in our cogent opinion, the question of law involved requires careful consideration by a Constitution Bench of this court for the benefit of humanity as a whole," the court had said. It had said that its earlier Constitution Bench verdict, which was wrongly relied in Aruna Shanbaug case, had held that the right to live with dignity will be inclusive of the right to die with dignity, but the judgement did not arrive at a conclusion on validity of euthanasia. The present PIL has contended that a person whose life was ebbing out should be allowed to die as the continuance of the life with the support system was an unnatural extension of the natural life span. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today ordered a probe into the recent fire and smog in suburban Deonar by a panel headed by a senior IPS officer. "The CM has asked Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Lohiya to investigate the fire and subsequent smog which inconvenienced people and even led to the closure of schools in that area for a couple of days," said a senior official in the Chief Minister's Office. A fire at Deonar dumping ground last week had led the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to shut down 74 schools run by it for two days as the smoke from the ground caused breathing trouble in the area. The schools are located in M-ward, where people complained about a foul smell arising due to the burning of garbage, a BMC official said. Schools in M-ward, including those in Chembur, Deonar, Tilak Nagar, Pestom Sagar, Shivaji Nagar, Mankhurd and Baiganwadi, were closed for two days (last Friday and Saturday). Deonar is one of the biggest dumping grounds in Mumbai and the amount of garbage that ends up there is increasing by the year, leaving people fuming and complaining. Fadnavis recently spoke to BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, who informed him that the smoke at Deonar was substantially under control. "I've asked CP, Mumbai, to inquire into the possibility of a sabotage," Fadnavis had earlier said after talking to the BMC chief. Mumbai Police have filed a case against three unknown persons for starting the fire at the Deonar dumping ground. Since last Thursday, a thick blanket of smog has engulfed parts of Mumbai due to various factors, including a drop in the minimum temperature, the fire at the Deonar dumping ground and high levels of particulate pollutants in the city, leading to poor air quality in the metropolis. Chicago on Friday proposed a $3.1 million settlement to resolve a federal lawsuit claiming the city discriminated against foreign-born police officer candidates by enforcing a 10-year continuous residency requirement. The proposal on the settlement came almost immediately after the filing of the civil claim. The lawsuit comes as Chicago recruits new police officers for the first time in three years, and as the police department faces an uproar for the alleged use of lethal force by some of its officers. "Chicago, through CPD, has pursued policies and practices that discriminate against individuals born outside the United States because of their national origin," the lawsuit said. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seeks damages, including lost wages, for police candidates who were discriminated against and a court order to change hiring practices. According to the lawsuit, Masood Khan, born in India, and Glenford Flowers, a native of Belize, passed the police department's written exam in 2006, but their applications were rejected because they had not lived in the United States for 10 years. At the time, the Chicago Police Department required candidates for potential new hires to have lived 10 years continuously in the U.S. prior to taking the exam. There is an exception for those who were abroad for military service. The department has since changed the residency requirement to five years, according to the lawsuit. The City of Chicago Department of Law and the Chicago Police Department worked cooperatively with the Department of Justice and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on a proposed settlement to resolve claims of employment discrimination that disqualified applicants who lived in the United States for less than 10 years from applying to become police officers, the city's law office said in a statement. These claims date back to 2006, and the policy was changed in 2011, and the proposed settlement resolves the claims of past discrimination," the statement added. In June 2008, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated the cases of Khan and Flowers and found they were subjected to discrimination in hiring on the basis of national origin, in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, according to the lawsuit. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. The commission referred the case to the Department of Justice after failing to reach a settlement with the city. The lawsuit said that Chicago has not demonstrated the residency requirement is necessary, and that the practice has a statistically significant adverse impact on candidates born outside the country. The Chicago Police Department did not respond directly to the settlement but said that building diversity was key to improving police-community relations. Over the past few years, special focus was placed on attracting higher numbers of minority applicants to improve diversity and as a result, historic numbers of African Americans and Latinos will make up the next generation of Chicago Police Officers, the department said in a statement. Al Jazeera and Reuters A robot designed to extinguish fire and help in civil defence was launched during an international technology competition here. The robot called 'Fire Bot' is part of Dubai Civil Defence's plans to adopt non-conventional systems and technologies to improve the safety of residents and property. The innovation unveiled yesterday at the UAE Drones for Good Award competition is capable of carrying out critical tasks remotely by connecting to extinguishing systems in buildings and automatically moving to the source of fire to carry out the initial fire extinguishing process until the arrival of firefighters. It can also be used to carry out awareness campaigns in malls and is a result of collaboration between Dubai Civil Defence and Digi Robotics, a company that offers specialised solutions and technologies in robotics and artificial intelligence systems, a statement said. The robot will be subject to a trial period of three months and then evaluated at the end of the period to determine its technical and operational efficiencies. Books worth around Rs 2.5 lakh, written on and by Mahatma Gandhi, were sold in a week-long exhibition-cum-sale organised by Bombay Sarvodaya Mandal here to commemorate death anniversary of the Father of the Nation. "Feedback of website visitors makes us believe that after reading Gandhi books, many people have decided to follow the path of truth and non-violence and are striving to sustain morality by practising philosophy of Gandhi which is the need of the hour," TRK Somaiya, of the Sarvodaya Mandal, said. Books on Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and Sarvodaya movement (in English, Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati) worth about Rs 2.5 lakhs were sold at exhibition, organised at Hutatma Chowk and Gandhi Book Centre at Nana Chowk from January 27 to February 3. 'An Autobiography', 'Talks on the Gita' and 'Selected Works of Mahatma Gandhi' were top-selling books at the exhibition. Most of the visitors were youngsters and many people requested to organise this kind of exhibitions at various places throughout the year, Somaiya said. Over two lakh copies of 'An Autobiography: Or, the Story of My Experiments With Truth' by Mahatma Gandhi have been sold in 16 Indian languages by Navjivan Trust in the last one year, he said. "In the present world, full of modern technologies like iphones, tabs and e-books, it is difficult to believe that many people are still interested in buying Gandhi books. But the week-long exhibition-cum-sale proves that Gandhiji's teachings are relevant than ever," he said. "We are happy to note that on Mahatma Gandhi's death anniversary, our website www.Mkgandhi.Org got 39,633 visits from all over the world for information about him, peace, non-violence and related subjects," Somaiya added. A key meeting of Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), an apex body of Environment Ministry, today deliberated on the fate of commercialisation of GM Mustard in India but did not take any decision even as activists and farmers protested demanding cancellation of the meet. "We are not taking any decision on the matter (of GM Mustard) today," a senior Environment Ministry official said. The ministry's GEAC is authorised to approve the use of genetically modified crops or organisms in the country. The protesters, who staged dharna outside the ministry under the banner 'Sarson Satyagrah', also submitted a petition to Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar asking the government not to go ahead with its plan to commercialise GM Mustard. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra also joined the protesters. "The Environment Minister has assured us that no permission to GM Mustard will be given in today's meeting. They have also given an assurance to us that they will hold a consultative meeting with us before taking any decision on the matter," said Kavitha Kuruganti of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, which is also part of 'Sarson Satyagrah'. She said the minister has also stated that a representation from the Health Ministry in the GEAC would be included as the matter is directly related to the public health. "There has always been a demand from the consumers to include a representation from the Health Ministry in the GEAC so that the impacts of GM crops on human health are checked. They have finally agreed to it," Kuruganti said. The protesters also alleged that the processes undertaken by the regulators were actually defying the Supreme Court and Central Information Commission orders in terms of transparency. "It is indeed unacceptable that despite so much objection from citizens and even state governments, the GEAC is going ahead with the secretive processes in the business as usual manner. This is all the more surprising when the government talks about transparency, accountability, good governance and federal polity constantly," she said. Actor Girish Kumar has expressed his desire to become 'Prince of Romance' in Bollywood. "I want to become the 'Prince of Romance' in Bollywood. But at the same time, I am (also) open for doing experimental films", he told reporters here. The 27-year-old actor was in the city to promote his upcoming romantic movie "Loveshhuda". Girish made his debut with "Ramaiya Vastavaiya" in 2013. To a question, he said, "My second film ('Loveshhuda') is coming after three years as I searched for doing films outside our own banner. I want to create my own niche". Girish, is the son of Kumar S Taurani, Chairman of Tips Industries, one of the largest business houses in the field of music and films. Directed by Vaibhav Misra, "Loveshhuda", starring Girish, Navneet Kaur Dhillon and Naveen Kasturia, will hit the screens on February 19. The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) today said it expects 10% decline in shipments this fiscal compared to $40 billion in 2014-15 due to the global slowdown. "The slowdown in world economy has hit exports of gems and jewellery from the country this year. We exported $40 billion worth gems and jewellery last year, but we have witnessed 14% decline in exports in the first 10 months of FY16," GJEPC Chairman Praveenshankar Pandya told PTI here. "We may see some recovery in remaining two months period, but exports may remain 10% less than the last year," he added. "Country's leadership status in the diamond business has been a perfect example of 'Make in India' achieved since so many years," he said on the sidelines of 'Signature IIJS' jewellery show and the third edition of 'India Gem and Jewellery Machinery Expo'. According to him, Maharashtra needs to create better infrastructure and reform labour laws to attract the business that has gone to China. "Maharashtra also needs a Special Economic Zone policy. The task of relocating 100,000 workers from Zaveri Bazaar (in Mumbai) to a new area is humongous. We have a requirement of 2 mn sq ft and we are happy that the state government has offered us land in Thane-Belapur (neighbouring the city). "The state government needs to provide a single-window clearance for all initiatives" Pandya added. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Industries Minister Subhash Desai said the state government is serious about stimulating ease of doing business. "We are engaging bureaucracy to reduce clearances and permits, end inspector raj and harassment. "We are engaged in a constant dialogue with GJEPC to resolve various issues. We realise that SEZs are the engines of industrial development and the government will revise policy soon. State government will give infra support and facilitate faster VAT refunds," Desai said. Russian diamond producing company Alrosa's President Andrey Zharkov said, "Our supply of rough diamonds to India has been growing steadily since 2010. Last year, we did business of $1.5 billion in India, which is 45% of the total sales. "The growth in our share of business was achieved in spite of the overall slowdown in demand. The number of long-term buyers has increased to 12. The ninth edition of 'Signature IIJS' is expected to attract over 580 exhibitors from 370 cities and 55 countries and more than 15,000 trade visitors. Gold continued its upbeat momentum for the fifth straight day to hit an eight-month high at the domestic bullion market here today on the back of seasonally-driven buying amid bullish global cues. Elsewhere, silver also surged to close above the significant Rs 36,000-mark owing to heavy speculative offtake. Standard gold (99.5 purity) jumped by Rs 275 to finish at Rs 27,430 per 10 grams from overnight close of Rs 27,155. Pure gold (99.9 purity) also shot-up by a similar margin of Rs 275 to end at Rs 27,580 per 10 grams as compared to Rs 27,305 earlier. Silver (.999 fineness) rose by Rs 215 to settle at Rs 36,155 from Rs 35,940 yesterday. In worldwide trade, the precious metal climbed to new multi-month highs on dollar weakness as well as sluggish US macro data, trimming speculations for another Fed rate hike in March, despite the ongoing global relief rally in stocks. Spot gold was trading substantially higher at USD 1,158.70 an ounce in early European trade, while silver quoted firm at USD 14.84 an ounce. A Trinamool Congress supporter was today shot at near Nahina village within the limits of Bolpur police station allegedly by goons owing allegiance to another section of the TMC in Birbhum district. Rafiqul Mollah, elder brother of Safiqul Mollah who was shot at, said "We found my brother lying in a pool of blood. He received two bullet injuries. We have told the police the names of the miscreants whom we saw fleeing on a motorbike and committing the crime. They are all supporters of Kajal Seikh." Rafiqul also said they were attacked as they belonged to the camp of Gadadhar Hazra, the Trinamool Congress MLA from Nanoor and a close associate of TMC district president Anubrata Mondal. Denying the allegations, Kajal Seikh said "This is a conspiracy to fabricate me in a shoot out case. I am mo way involved in today's incident. The government today fixed a minimum import price (MIP) of up to USD 752 per tonne on certain steel products to protect domestic players from cheap imports. "MIP is introduced as against 173 HS Codes (products)," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. DGFT said the MIP conditions laid down in the notification are valid for six months and imports under the Advance Authorisation Scheme are exempted. Imports will not be allowed below the prescribed minimum import price. The duty on these items ranges from USD 341 per tonne to USD 752 per tonne. While products such as sheets and strips of flat-rolled products attract an MIP of USD 445, that of flat-rolled and coated products is USD 752. The domestic steel industry is mainly worried about cheap imports from China. However, the downstream industry that uses steel has been opposing such move. Giving relief to domestic steel producers against cheap in-bound shipments, the government today imposed a minimum import price (MIP) on 173 steel products ranging between USD 341 to USD 752 per tonne. "MIP is introduced against 173 HS Codes (iron and steel products)," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification. The minimum price will remain in place for six months only. However, it will not apply on imports under the advance authorisation scheme and high-grade pipes used in the petroleum and natural gas industry. While the major steel producers hailed the government's decision, the user industry cried foul, saying it would impact prices of raw materials. "We welcome this initiative. This measure will ensure a level-playing field to the Indian steel industry which has been adversely affected by dumped imports from various sources. We hope that this will suitably address the concern of surging cheap imports," Shivramkrishnan, Chief Commercial Office, Essar Steel India, said. Taking a similar view, the Indian Stainless Steel Development Association said this may slightly help the ailing steel sector. However, it expressed disappointment that stainless steel products have been left out of the ambit of the MIP mechanism. Welcoming the development, the Indian Steel Association Secretary General Sanak Mishra said this will provide some relief to the steel industry in the face of a large volume of cheap imports at predatory prices. Jindal Steel & Power said the industry has gone through "very challenging times and this development augurs well". On the other hand, H L Bhardwaj, Secretary General, Federation of Industries of India, said: "MIP will inflate prices of raw materials. Engineering exports, start-up projects as well as 'Make in India' will also suffer." Furthermore, the notification said imports/shipments under the letter of credit already entered into with foreign suppliers will also be exempted from this decision. On ingots and billets, blooms and slabs, the MIP reads USD 362, USD 352 and USD 341 per tonne, respectively. On flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel of a width of 600 mm or more and hot-rolled one, the minimum prices will be USD 445 and USD 500 on different items. Similarly, on flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel of a width of 600 mm or more and cold-rolled one, the figure stood at USD 560 per tonne. On products like corrugated flat-rolled products of iron/non-alloy steel, MIP ranged between USD 643 and USD 752. Further flat-rolled products of other alloy steel of a width of 600 mm or more, MIP reads between USD 445 and USD 752. Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda today asked the Karnataka government to form a special squad to keep a watch on foreign students, in the wake of an alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian woman here. Attacking the Congress-led state government for not acting on locals' complaint regarding the "wrong" behaviour of certain foreign students, Gowda sought Central government's intervention to find the truth about the assault on Sunday night. He also said that innocent people should not be arrested as was being alleged by the locals. "If state government cannot control law and order situation then it will lead to much bigger problem in the days tocome. I urge upon the government to constitute a special squad to monitor foreign students," Gowda said. Speaking to reporters after visiting the family of a woman who was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here, which led to the Tanzanian student being attacked, he said, "I have come to know that more than thousands of students are staying here and functioning even after their Visa having expired." Holding the state government responsible for the death of the woman, Gowda said government and authorities should have kept a watch on the earlier developments and taken adequate law and order measures. He also demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the family of the victim, pointing out that two children have lost their mother. A Tanzanian woman student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after the 35-year old woman was mowed down by a car on Sunday night. The incident has taken a serious diplomatic turn. A team including the Tanzanian High Commissioner, who is also the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, is visiting Bengaluru today. The team also includes Joint Secretary (States), Director Eastern and Southern Africa in Ministry of External Affairs and the Regional Director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it. City police have so far arrested nine persons in connection with this case. With little in the way of guidance, doctors have struggled to find the right balance between treating pain and avoiding prescription drug addiction among their patients. Altrendo images / Getty Images The stories often start the same way. Something goes wrong a bicycle accident, a bad fall, a back injury that never quite heals. See a doctor, get prescribed something for the pain, an opioid like Percocet or Vicodin. And then, as happens in many cases, develop a dependence or addiction that overwhelms your life and may even kill you. Nearly 2 million Americans abused prescription painkillers in 2013, and every day 44 die from overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death rate now surpasses that from car crashes among 25-to-64-year-olds. For people 55 to 64, the rate of overdoses jumped sevenfold from 1999 to 2013. Amid this deadly rise, a lot of attention has been paid to pill-mill doctors who profit from pushing addictive painkillers. But a more complicated problem has emerged, with a generation of doctors who prescribe opioids to treat patients pain but lack guidance about when and how much to prescribe and how to prevent opioid abuse. Marc LaRochelle, an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, is a co-author of a study published in January that found 91 percent of overdose survivors continue to get prescription opioids. Pill-mill doctors are an important minority to be looking at, he said. [But] the majority of these drugs are coming from community physicians who really have a good-faith effort trying to improve their patients lives. Opioids are a class of drugs naturally derived from the opium poppy or synthesized to have similar narcotic effects, like fentanyl, which is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Common opioids include oxycodone and hydrocodone. As recently as 25 years ago, doctors concerned about patients becoming addicted were generally cautious about prescribing opioids. The pendulum swung in the 1990s with the notion that doctors needed to take patients pain seriously and that opioids were a safe way to treat it. In 1993, a young Dr. Malcolm Butler arrived in Wenatchee, Washington, a town of roughly 32,000 residents in the eastern foothills of the Cascade Mountains. In the mid-90s, there was sort of a pressure that we ought to be prescribing more opiates for pain that if people were in pain and we could help them, we should, said Butler, now 53. If you were not taking adequate control of pain, you were not a high-quality practitioner. The standard of that time became that if patients said they were in terrible pain, even if nothing abnormal showed up on an X-ray or an MRI, doctors were expected treat them, he said. Butler, a family-practice physician, and other doctors at the Columbia Valley Community Health practice, which serves mostly low-income patients, noticed as time went on that patients with chronic pain were not getting better. It seemed as if the more medication they took, the worse their pain became, he said. Concerned, the doctors tried urine screenings for patients on opioids and having them bring in their pill bottles so that their pills could be counted. Still, the patients demand for opioids increased, as did their outbursts in the clinic. The number of patients on opioids yelling and cursing at staffers grew to such a degree up to five patients a month, Butler said that the clinic developed a protocol for handling such incidents. To avoid inappropriate opioid use, by 2007, Columbia Valley Community Health developed a sophisticated pain management program that included group sessions run by psychologists and limits to the total amount of opiates that doctors could prescribe. And yet in 2010, 23 percent of the practices patient deaths were due to accidental opioid overdose. That really captured our attention, because as far as we could tell, we were doing better than anybody else around, said Butler. We really stood up at that point and said, This is just not right. It was becoming clear to us that although we had been told that it was safe to prescribe opioids for chronic pain, it really wasnt. JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today led a march in Islamabad and his outfit across several cities, ranting on the Kashmir issue, showing defiance in the face of India asking Pakistan to "rein in" the terror group. A day after Saeed warned of more Pathankot-style attacks, the Jamaat Ud-Dawah men took out rallies in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad to mark 'Kashmir Solidarity Day'. The JuD chief led the rally in Islamabad while his relative Hafiz Abdur Rehman Maki addressed a big gathering in Lahore. The ruling PML-N, Jamaat-i-Islami and other political and religious parties also held rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris. The JuD also held several camps in Lahore which showed videos about "atrocities" in Kashmir on big screens. Addressing a 'Solidarity Kashmir Conference' in Mirpur yesterday, Saeed said "Pakistan should be thankful" to Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council that had claimed responsibility for the Pathankot terror attack. "Syed Salahuddin is a great well-wisher of Pakistan. He has taken Pakistan out of trouble by accepting the responsibility of Pathankot airbase attack. Pakistan should be thankful to him," said the founder leader of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. Saeed warned India that if "war" in Kashmir further prolonged it would have to pay a heavy price for it. India yesterday asked Pakistan to "rein in" the JuD chief, voicing grave concern over his activities after the Mumbai terror attack mastermind warned of more Pathankot-style attacks. The JuD chief said, "On the occasion of Kashmir Day I want more intensity in the freedom struggle. Every child in Pakistan is ready to sacrifice his life for Kashmir's freedom." "Our Constitution also demands us to support Kashmiris in their freedom struggle," he added. Saeed asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to sever relations with India and said that there should be no relations with it "till Kashmir is freed". The UN declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. The US has already put a USD 10 million bounty on his head. Saeed, who orchestrated the November, 2008, Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan despite being a designated terrorist and has made many anti-India remarks and speeches. (REOPENS FGN 20) Saeed said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should not "sacrifice" Kashmir for the sake of trade with India. "The rulers have no right to put the Kashmir issue on back-burner and hold talks with India on other issues like trade," he said. "I give guarantee that Kashmir will be freed the day the prime minister, army chief, all political parties and Kashmiri organisations are on same page on the issue," he said. Earlier, addressing a rally, Saeed had said, "800,000 Indian troops are committing genocide on Kashmiris. Don't they have a right to carry out Pathankot-style attacks for their defence?...You have only seen one attack on Pathankot. Matters could easily escalate." Every year February 5 is observed as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to pledge support for the people of Kashmir. In a motor accident claims case, in which the mother of the deceased man and a child, allegedly born to him out of wedlock, are staking claim to the compensation of Rs 16.70 lakh awarded by a tribunal, Madras High Court today allowed the latter to utilise the interest on a portion of the amount. Justices V Ramasubramanian and N Kirubakaran in their interim order on an appeal said withdrawal of the amount was being allowed for the present without prejudice to the claim of Philomina, mother of the deceased Madhan. The Judges directed Sera, who filed a petition on behalf of her son Prince Solomon, to keep the amount in fixed deposit and draw only the interest pending adjudication of the appeal. Sera contended that she was in love with Madhan, working in a ship. She had sexual relationship with him after he assured to marry her. Later he cheated her and she filed a case against Madhan under various sections of IPC including 417 (cheating), 376 (rape) and 420 (cheating). After the birth of the son, a court had on July 24, 2009 ordered DNA test. But before conducting the test, Madhan died in an accident. Sera submited that she has her son's birth certificate with Madhan as father. Philomina had filed a petition in the Tribunal and it awarded Rs 16.70 lakh in favour of her and dismissed the claim of Sera's son, as it was not proved that he is the legal heir of Madhan. As Philoma started withdrawing compensation amount, Sera filed a petition in the High Court on behalf of her son. In yet another set back to the AAP government, Delhi High Court on Friday stayed its notification fixing four years as the upper age limit for nursery admission in private unaided schools of the capital. A bench of Justice Manmohan stayed the AAP government's decision fixing the upper age limit saying the parents of the wards did not get enough time to plan the future as the notification was issued on December 18 last year, just on the eve of start of the admission process. The high court's decision came a day after it stayed another order of the Delhi government scrapping management quota and 11 other criteria regarding nursery admissions. The court also directed that "all children above the age of four years desirous of seeking admission in pre-school or nursery can apply for admissions for the academic year 2016-17 on or before February 9 by 4 PM". It asked the Director of Education of Delhi government to ensure that applications of economically weaker section (EWS) children are accepted online. "The schools are also directed to accept the admission forms by February 9 and applications already filed shall be considered," the bench said. The bench posted the matter for April 18 for further hearing. It had on February 2 observed that children or their parents who may be aggrieved with AAP government's decision to fix four years as the upper age limit for nursery admission in the city schools could approach the court. The court's observation had come when the counsel for the Delhi government agreed to exempt three kids, who had challenged its December 18, 2015 notification but sought that the exemption should not be taken as a "precedent for others". It observed that as per the Delhi government counsel, the age bar will not apply to three petitioners -- Uday Pratap Singh Kapoor, Samridhi Singh and Kamakshi M Prakaash. The court was hearing a number of pleas by minors, filed through their counsel Akhil Sachar, challenging the Delhi government's December 18, 2015 notification fixing the maximum age for nursery in private unaided schools at four years. As per the notification issued by the Department of Education, the upper age limits for admission in pre-school, pre-primary and class-I has been prescribed at four years, five years and six years respectively as on March 31 of the year in which admission is being sought. The nursery admission process in Delhi schools began from January 1 and will conclude on March 31. On February 1, the court had asked the AAP government from where did it get the power to fix an upper age limit for admission. It had also observed that the notification, by which the upper age limit was fixed, did not appear to have a legal sanctity as it was not issued by the LG or under any statute. Lucknow, the parliamentary constituency of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, is the new base for a special team of NDRF, the central force tasked with undertaking relief and rescue operations during disasters. The special team consisting of 45 men was recently stationed in the capital of Uttar Pradesh. It is at present operating out of a facility belonging to state Home Guards. "We were looking for a base to station a team somewhere in the central part of the country to cater to quick deployment requirements of the force in events of disasters or any other such emergencies in these areas. "We are in touch with the state government and it is expected we will get a permanent location for the team in Lucknow soon," NDRF Director General O P Singh told PTI. NDRF, which is celebrating its 11th Raising Day today, has 12 battalions and over a dozen such special teams stationed in various parts of the country. Officials said the idea is to deploy such small teams in select areas and the team in Lucknow will be equipped to tackle chemical, biological, radioactive and nuclear (CBRN) emergencies in their area of responsibility in the entire central region. The smallest team of the force has 45 members, including engineers, technicians, electricians, dog squads and paramedics, and it acts as a self-contained quick reaction unit for search and rescue tasks. In order to effectively cover all parts of the country, NDRF units in north are based in Bathinda (Punjab) and Greater Noida (UP) near Delhi and in the eastern flank of the country in Guwahati (Assam), Patna (Bihar), Mundali (Odisha), Kolkata (West Bengal) and Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh. Similarly, in the western part of the country, NDRF battalions are based in Vadodara (Gujarat) and Pune (Maharashtra) and in south, they are located in Vijaywada (Andhra Pradesh) and Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu. The only battalion in the central region is based in Varanasi, the Parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NDRF is a central force tasked to respond swiftly during disasters and has 1,149 personnel in each battalion. It has been raised after inducting the manpower of various paramilitary forces of the country. It functions under the Union Home Ministry and was raised in 2006. A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region killed 19 people and injured dozens more today, officials said. Fourteen of the dead were from the Philippines, while three Iraqis, a Palestinian and another person of unknown nationality also died, said Saman Barzanji, director general of the Arbil health department. Dozens more were injured and taken to hospital in Arbil, said Fakher Harki, the department's spokesman. Nawzad Hadi, the governor of Arbil province, said preliminary information indicated that the cause of the fire was an electrical problem in a sauna. The fire took place at the four-star Capitol Hotel where rooms cost from USD 100-USD 240 per night. The hotel's website says it has a 740-square-metre (2,580-square-foot) spa that includes saunas and a pool. Photos and video posted on social media showed dark grey smoke pouring from windows on the top floor of the building. The Kurdistan region in north Iraq has largely been spared the deadly violence that plagues other parts of the country. The region is frequently visited by tourists from other areas of Iraq and various countries in the region. A hotel fire in Sulaimaniyah, another city in Iraqi Kurdistan, killed 30 people in July 2010. The city's hospital said people from 12 different nations died in that fire, including some who jumped to their deaths from upper-floor windows while trying to escape the flames. Income Tax Department today cautioned taxpayers not to share their PIN or password of mails saying it never ask for such details. In a statement the department said it is to ensure that taxpayers are aware the department does not seek confidential or financial information of the taxpayer over email. "The Income Tax Department never asks for your PIN numbers, passwords or similar access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts through e-mail," it said. "The Income Tax Department appeals to taxpayers not to respond to such emails and NOT to share information relating to their credit card, bank and other financial accounts," it added. The Income Tax Department has been at the forefront of using technology in implementing its e-governance initiatives, it said, adding, most of its routine communication to taxpayers is through email and SMS. "Therefore, the department is very sensitive and alert to attempts made by fraudsters to spoof the Department's identity to send phishing emails," it said. The statement further said all taxpayer reports of phishing emails are forwarded to incident@cert-in.Org.In which is a government of India agency mandated to fight against such threats. Further, the department has implemented best practices such as SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (Domain Keys Identified Mail) and DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) for its email domains. Use of these protocols enables the email receiver domains such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc to determine whether or not a received email is actually from the defined sender such as the Department and block phishing emails from reaching the taxpayer, it said. Listing out dos and don'ts, it has asked the taxpayers to check for the domain name carefully as fake emails will have miss-pelt or incorrect sounding variants of websites of the Income Tax department. "Do not open such emails in spam or junk folder and do not reply to such emails. Do not open any attachments. Attachments may contain malicious code," it said. Do not click on any links and even if you have clicked on links inadvertently in a suspicious e-mail or phishing website then do not enter confidential information like bank account, credit card details, it added. Sanitation workers cannot "hold the city to ransom" by going on strike if they have been paid their salaries, Delhi High Court said today after the municipal corporations claimed that the wages have been paid. "If salaries have been paid, they cannot hold the city to ransom," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath said and sought responses from the corporations and the unions of the sanitation workers on a PIL seeking calling off of the strike. The bench also asked, "how do we know salaries have been paid," and directed the corporations to respond with regard to the strikes called by teachers, doctors and nurses under their control and listed the matter for hearing on February 8. "We are right now concerned about the third dimension, of hardship caused to citizens," it said and asked whether Delhi government intended to enforce the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). Senior standing counsel for Delhi government, Rahul Mehra, told the court that enforcement of ESMA had not been considered till now and thus, he would need to take instructions on the matter. The bench, however, refused to pass any interim order declaring the strike as illegal, as was sought orally by the counsel for the corporations, saying that without hearing the workers' union, "how can we declare strike as illegal". The three corporations claimed they had received funds from Delhi government yesterday and had immediately paid wages to the workers up to January. However, the workers have now raised new demands like arrears of dearness allowance and other such perquisites, they said. They also said that while the workers were on strike, garbage collection had been outsourced to private companies, but cleaning of streets was not being carried out. They said they have issued notices to their workers and also appealed to them to return to work, but there has been no response from them. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation claimed in the court that 40 per cent of its workers from two zones have returned to work and those still on strike were being marked absent and action would be taken against them. Meanwhile, Delhi government told the court that while the corporations are taking a "hands-off approach", it has deputed its public works department's resources towards collection of garbage. It also said that even though it had released all the money that it was expected to give to the corporations, an additional sum of Rs 550 crore was also released. The court was hearing the plea filed by Birender Sangwan seeking directions to the sanitation workers and corporations to call off the strike and ensure cleanliness in the city. Noting the role of unity among the Naval countries worldwide, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan today said participation of 50 foreign countries in the International Fleet Review (IFR) is an example of mutual friendship and co-operation. This is the second IFR as the last one was conducted in January 2001 in Mumbai with participation from 29 countries. Dhowan, in his address to mediapersons, today noted the role of the friendly Naval countries and asserted it will help to strengthen the co-operation among them. "With the co-operation of the friendly Naval countries, we can strengthen the security and safety of the Oceans," Dhowan said. "International Fleet Reviews are maritime culture to build co-operation and relations between the Navies of the world over. We may be separated geographically, but (are) certainly untied through the oceans," he said. This review allows the host nation an occasion to display its maritime capabilities and the bridges of friendship it has built with other maritime nations, he said adding, it aims at assuring the country of the Indian Navy's preparedness, high morale and discipline. Welcoming the visiting Vice-Admirals and Commanders who took part in the IFR, Admiral Dhowan said the participation of 50 foreign countries is the example of the friendship and co-operation among the Navies of the world. Hundred ships, including 71 Indian ships, 24 foreign ones and others from the Coast Guard, would take part in the event. The Navy Chief said President Pranab Mukherjee would tomorrow embark on the presidential yacht INS 'Sumitra' after inspecting the Guard of Honour, which would be presented by 150 Navy personnel. India and Sri Lanka today reviewed the progress made in their bilateral ties discussing various issues including that of fishermen, a major irritant in the relations, as the two countries signed MoUs in education and health sectors. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera discussed the entire gamut of relationship during the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting here co-chaired by them. "The fishermen issues was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved," officials said. India invited Sri Lankan fisheries minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, the officials said. The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed the issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. Two MoUs were signed after the meeting - one on renovating 27 schools in the Tamil-dominated Northern province and the other on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East. Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in aviation sector. Swaraj, who arrived here today on her second visit to the country within a year, earlier held talks with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Prime Minister's Office 'Temple Trees', and the two leaders had a "fruitful exchange of views". During their 50-minute long meeting, the Prime Minister sought Indian investment in Sri Lanka and proposed partnership in setting up a SEZ in Trincomalee. Wickremesinghe also proposed to make the Joint Commission meeting an annual affair. The two leaders also talked about state university linkages. The Joint Commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January 2013. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. The two sides also discussed plans to enhance cooperation in aeronautical research and use of Indian satellite system 'Gagan' by Sri Lanka. "The joint commission has acknowledged the depth and intensity and uniqueness of this relationship," the officials said. Swaraj and Samaraweera took stock of preparation underway on agreement in economy and technology cooperation. The preliminary exchanges in this regard were held in December when the commerce secretary of two countries met in New Delhi. India will organise a workshop here later this month on this subject. The two ministers also took recognisance of the reconstitution of the CEOs forum which is currently underway in both the nations. "They spoke about various projects which has been under discussion for sometime, including the upgradation of Palalli airport and about infrastructure development at Kankesanthuri port where four phases have been completed. Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) will send a delegation soon to take it further. The officials also informed that Sampur power plant has got environment clearance. The project to construct two power plants with 250mw capacity was long overdue. On tourism, the officials said the second meeting of joint working group on tourism will be held in mid 2016 to take forward the collaboration on development of Ramayana circuit in Lanka and extension of Buddhist circuit in India. The ministers also agreed to take forward the revised bilateral air services agreement. Sri Lanka also proposed on cooperation on oil tanks farm in Trincomalee. The ONGC and ministry of oil and petroleum will send a delegation here in this regard. The two sides also discussed cooperation in energy, railways, education, agriculture, defence, counter terrorism, health care and traditional marketing medicines. On housing project, the officials said 44,000 houses in North have been completed and work on 4,000 will start soon. Noting that Lanka has sought more seats for its medical students in Indian universities, they said the joint commission also discussed the potential of private universities opening their campus in Lanka. India and Sri Lanka today agreed to find an "innovative and lasting solution" to the fishermen issue, a major irritant in the bilateral ties, as the foreign ministers of the two countries reviewed the progress made in various sectors like defence, aviation and trade. The two countries also signed MoUs in education and health sectors after visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera co-chaired the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting here. The two sides also agreed that Sri Lankan fisheries minister Mahinda Amaraweera would travel to India to hold talks to resolve the fishermen issue. "There was an agreement that we need to find an innovative and lasting solution to this issue," said External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Renu Pall. "The fishermen issues was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved," she said. India has invited Sri Lankan fisheries minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, officials said. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. Under the MoUs that were signed today, India would help Sri Lanka in renovating 27 schools in the northern province. The second MoU is on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East. Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up Special Economic Zone in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in the aviation sector. The body of an Italian graduate student who disappeared last month has been found with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture and a slow death on a roadside on the outskirts of Cairo, an Egyptian prosecutor said Thursday. Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University doctoral candidate who had been researching labor rights in Egypt, went missing on Jan. 25, the fifth anniversary of the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. His body was found Wednesday. News of the slaying and evidence of torture spurred diplomatic tensions. An Italian government delegation cut short a visit to Cairo and Italy summoned the Egyptian ambassador in Rome, calling for a full investigation with participation by Italian experts. Regeni's disappearance came at a time when Egyptian officials and media have often depicted foreigners as plotting against Egypt and particularly as seeking to foment unrest surrounding the Jan. 25 anniversary. In the days leading up to the anniversary, police were on high alert, conducting sweeps aimed at preventing any possible protest. Pro-democracy activists were arrested and some foreigners whose visas had expired were deported. Egypt is also battling an insurgency by fighters who have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group, based mainly in the Sinai Peninsula. They have, however, carried out attacks in Cairo and elsewhere, including kidnapping and beheading a Croatian oil worker last year and setting off a bomb outside the Italian consulate in the capital. On Thursday, Egyptian media accused evil hands of orchestrating Regeni's killing to damage Egyptian-Italian relations. The term is usually used to refer to Islamists, who have been targeted by a ferocious crackdown since the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Authorities justify the campaign by pointing to the fight against the militants, who have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers over the past four years. The Italian media pointed fingers at the Egyptian security forces. A business daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, said the strong suspicion was that Regeni was killed by Egypt by the system, by the security apparatus. Regeni had been in Egypt since September conducting research on workers and labor rights a sensitive topic, since disgruntled workers were among the forces in the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising and authorities still worry about worker discontent. The left-wing Italian newspaper il Manifesto said Regeni had been writing for it about labor issues, signing his articles under a pseudonym. I imagine it was for security because the articles were about workers and unions, said foreign desk editor Simone Pieranni. It's clear that when you speak about social rights and workers' rights in Egypt you are implicitly denouncing the lack of freedom. Pieranni said the newspaper would publish a final piece critical of the lack of press and other freedoms in Egypt under Regeni's own name on Friday. Regeni was last seen on Jan. 25 heading from his apartment to meet a friend in downtown Cairo. He entered the subway, which was packed with security personnel scanning bags and checking commuter's IDs. In the days following his disappearance, friends and colleagues launched a search, circulating Regeni's picture widely on social media. His body was found on Wednesday in an empty lot along a highway in the 6th of October suburb on Cairo's western outskirts. He was identified by his Egyptian roommate, said prosecutor Ahmed Nagi, who heads the investigation team in the case. All of his body, including his face had bruises, cuts from stabbings and burns from cigarettes, Nagi said, adding Regeni appeared to have suffered a slow death. Later Thursday, Nagi said an autopsy showed the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. Asked about possible police involvement, he said: We don't rule out any possibility. Earlier, the deputy head of criminal investigations in Cairo's twin province of Giza, Alaa Azmi, had cited initial findings he said indicated Regeni was killed in a car accident. For years, rights groups have accused Egyptian police of regularly torturing detainees. Over the past year, they have also accused them of using forced disappearances detaining suspected activists or Islamists in secret without reporting their arrest. The Egyptian Association for Rights and Freedoms documented 314 cases of forced disappearances in 2015, said lawyer Halem Henish. Most later turned up in prison, but at least five were found at the morgue, including one with signs of torture like burns and electric shocks. He said the group has documented 35 disappearances so far in 2016, including at least two of whom died. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi by telephone and pledged to coordinate efforts with Italian authorities to unravel the mystery surrounding Regini's death, el-Sissi's office said. Egyptian authorities have come under criticism for lack of transparency in several investigations, particularly the Oct. 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula and the September killing of eight Mexican tourists and four Egyptian guides by a security forces helicopter that opened fire on their desert safari. In both cases, authorities banned media reports on the investigations. Wire services Country's handicraft exports grew 10 per cent to Rs 14,782 crore during the first nine months of this fiscal notwithstanding a slowdown globally, the Textile Ministry said today. In comparison, the handicraft shipments stood at Rs 13,460 crore during April-December 2014. "In dollar terms, the value of exports has increased by 3 per cent, from USD 2,215 million during April-December 2014 to USD 2,282 million during April-December 2015," an official statement said. The data showed the size of the artmetal wares grew 6 per cent to Rs 3,943 crore, followed by woodwares 10 per cent to Rs 2,564 crore, handprinted textiles & scarves 18 per cent to Rs 699 crore, imitation jewellery 14 per cent to Rs 1,599 crore and miscellaneous handicrafts 12 per cent to Rs 4,033 crore. Overall, during the April-December period of the current fiscal, exports in the segment dipped 18 per cent to USD 196.6 billion as compared to USD 239.9 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal, according to data released by the Commerce Ministry. India's new High Commissioner to the UK Navtej Sarna met Priti Patel, Britain's Minister for Employment, and discussed several issues including those related to the Indian diaspora. Thetwo sides discussed issues of mutual interest, issues related to the Indian diaspora, follow up of decisions taken during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the UK in November, in yesterday's meeting, according to a release by the Indian High Commission here. They also discussed Patel's recent visit to India to participate at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, upcoming visits from both sides and other important issues. Patel, who is also Prime Minister David Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion, conveyed to the High Commissioner the UK Cabinet's appreciation to the British Indian community and their role in building bridges of friendship and goodwill between India and the UK. India may not be able to grow simply by recruiting its many unskilled people to manufacture goods cheaply, the latest ICRIER paper said. It recommended that the conventional wisdom to focus on labour-intensive industries to create more jobs needs to be re-examined. "Not only has the capital intensity of production been increasing sharply, but recent economic growth has benefited industries which rely more on skilled workers and capital as opposed to unskilled or low-skilled workers. Given these trends, the prospects for labour-intensive industrialisation appear bleak," said the paper released by the Delhi-based think-tank. "Unlike China and its neighbours, India may not be able to climb the ladder of development simply by recruiting its many unskilled people to manufacture goods cheaply." Increasing automation and rise in capital intensity of production has raised much concern about the ability of the manufacturing sector to create jobs for India's rapidly rising largely low-skilled and unskilled workforce, it noted. The paper, authored by Radhicka Kapoor, examined the effect of growing capital intensity (and associated technological change) on inequality of wages and earnings in organised manufacturing in India. The paper observed that in India, unlike in the developed world, technological change is not accompanied by a large increase in the supply of more educated workers, which may have exacerbated wage disparity. "The serious supply side constraint is evident from the fact that only 4 per cent of total workers engaged in the manufacturing sector have any technical education and only 27 per cent of workers in manufacturing are vocationally trained, of which 86 per cent are non-formally trained," it said. The government's ambitious Skill India programme, with a target to skill 40 crore workers over the next five years attempts to address this gap. "For skill development systems to be effective, they need to be able to respond to technological changes in the economy. This requires providing young workers a broad foundation of basic skills and a minimum level of educational attainment so that they are able to learn the requisite skills in enterprises where the jobs are being created," it suggested. The paper sees contractualisation posing a serious threat to the skilling challenge. Workers are discouraged from acquiring skills as they feel that even though skilling-up may result in improved productivity, it may not translate into higher wages as firms will prefer to hire them as cheap contract labour, it reasoned. The three Mi-35 multi-role helicopters India donated to Afghanistan would help counter the Taliban which is taking advantage of the reduction in the coalition aircrafts deployed in the war-torn country, a top US commander has said. "The close-air support has been the one resource and the capability that the Afghans have asked me for every single day," General John Campbell, outgoing commander of the US forces in Afghanistan said yesterday. "A couple years ago (there were), 150 attack helicopters, two squadrons of Air Force, and (when) we started resolute support, they were down to five Mi-35s. They have zero at the end of the fighting season," the general said. "They just picked up three, because India passed those on. That'll really help. They desire that," Campbell said. Responding to a question, the general said the Taliban has taken advantage of reduction of the number of coalition aircraft. "I think the Taliban know that we've downsized and they have taken advantage of the reduction of the number of coalition aircraft, absolutely," Gen Campbell said. "Again, the network in Afghanistan where you get Haqqani, Al Qaida, LeT, it's all intermingled. We know for sure that ISIL, we know for sure that AQ and some of its remnants, have already attacked the US, and want to continue to have vision on doing that. So the Taliban support that in other ways," the outgoing general said. General Campbell expressed concern about cross border terrorism in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. "I am concerned about what is going across both from Pakistan into Afghanistan, and quite frankly, as (Pak Army Chief) General Raheel (Sharif) has talked to me about -- potential stuff going from Afghanistan into Pakistan, as they believe happened a couple of weeks ago on a school attack there," he said. Campbell, however, exuded confidence that the Taliban can be beaten, saying, "They are not 10 feet tall. But in many areas of propaganda, their information ops have convinced many of the security forces that they can beat them,". Campbell indicated that if the situation in Afghanistan does not improve, the US would stay there for "longer term". "I want to keep 9,800 as long as I can in 2016 before I have to drop to 5,500. To do that, after the fighting season between October-November- December time frame, it's going very, very difficult," he said. The International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016 formally opened this evening at a colourful ceremony, which saw a dash of cultural performance, Andhra Pradesh origin dance forms and scintillating show by the Sri Lankan Naval band and dance troupe. The ceremony was held at Command Stadium, INS Satavahana where Governor of Andhra Pradeshi E S L Narasimhan was the chief guest, while Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was the Guest of Honour. The highlight was the presence of Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Kangana Ranaut, the brand ambassadors of IFR. Cultural performances by Shiamak Davar troupe kept the adrenaline level high, while Joe Barua Band, medley by Sameer and Abhiruchi enthralled the audience. Traditional Andhra Pradesh origin dance forms Kuchipudi and Dhimsa were showcased by the Gandham group. The programme culminated with a scintillating performance of the Sri Lankan Naval band and dance troupe. State Ministers, MPs, Member of Legislative Assembly and Council of Andhra Pradesh and delegation heads of Navies from several countries graced the occasion. In addition, officers and crew members of visiting foreign ships also attended the mega event. Meanwhile, as part of security arrangement police have said nobody will be allowed at IFR main venue on February 7 without valid entry pass accompanied by an identity card. Police Commissioner Amit Garg said the district administration has issued 1.5 lakh passes for general public to watch IFR activities on February 7 at Beach Road here. The passes will be cross checked with photo ID before admission. Pass holders will have to carry at least one photo identity card such as Aadhaar, driving licence, PAN and passport, for entry into the venue, Additional DG (Law and Order) R P Thakur said. Union Minister Smriti Irani today did not go to an Urdu conference at Delhi University which she was scheduled to inaugurate, raising questions whether she skipped it as hundreds of students had gathered outside the venue protesting over the Rohith Vemula issue. The three-day 'World Urdu' conference has been organised by the National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language (NCPUL) set up by the HRD Ministry. Irani is the chairperson of the Council. Director of NCPUL Syed Ali Karim said "the dates for the event were decided after a go ahead from the minister. However, we did not receive any information from the minister's office that she will not be coming." Minister of State, HRD, Ram Shankar Katheria, and HRD Joint Secretary S S Sandhu who were among the Chief Guests also gave the event a miss. There was, however, no official reason for cancellation of Irani's participation. Senior officials in the HRD Ministry, when asked, did not comment on the issue. Students from various varsities across Delhi, who have been protesting the alleged delay in justice to Hyderabad varsity Dalit scholar Vemula, who committed suicide last month, gathered outside the conference venue and shouted slogans demanding Irani's resignation. Strict security arrangements were in place to avoid any untoward incident in view of the protest. The event began with a keynote address by BJP MP M J Akbar on "200 years of Urdu Journalism". The journalist-turned-politician deliberated upon how one person cannot simultaneously pursue two professions and how Urdu journalism has changed over the years. The three-day conference will see paper presentations from Urdu scholars across the globe including those from Bangladesh, Mauritius, Qatar, Dubai and Canada among others. Cultural activities, including "Aalmi Mushaira" and play titles "Main Urdu Hun", will also be part of the event. Meanwhile, students from Jamia Millia Islamia also joined the ongoing movement in the capital demanding justice for the Dalit PhD scholar who was found hanging on January 17. While the students from JNU had earlier this week called off their hunger strike after 10 days, vowing to continue the protests, three students from Jamia today decided to go on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of Irani. Irani said it was the country's "misfortune" that leaders of some political parties stood with those who supported Afzal Guru, Maqbool Bhat and Yakub Memon, all convicts in different terror cases and hanged for their roles. "Enemy is spreading a lot of disinformation but we have to take it on with patience... You should give your boiling blood the strength of patience," she said to cheers from BJYM workers on a day when a host of top party leaders, including party chief Amit Shah and union ministers, attacked Congress over the issue. BJYM president Anurag Thakur earlier accused Congress of using terrorists like Ishrat Jahan to trouble Narendra Modi. "Congress has aligned with terrorism-supporting Pakistan to get rid of Modi," he alleged referring to reported controversial statements of Congress leaders in Pakistan some time back. Union ministers Kalraj Mishra, Narendra Tomar, Prakash Javadekar and Piyush Goyal also spoke on the occasion. They highlighted the developmental works of Modi government. The Islamic State militant group is trying to capitalise on the "political chaos" prevailing in certain parts of the world to establish footholds in those areas apart from Iraq and Syria, the US has said. "The US has long been mindful of the strategy that ISIL has used to try to capitalise in other areas where there's political chaos to establish a foothold," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday. "We saw that that's what they were able to successfully do in Syria. And again, that's why we continue to go back to the failed leadership of Bashar al-Assad as the root cause of this chaos and ISIL's growth," he said. "And we saw they capitalized on some weakness and instability inside of Iraq to spread there. So we've been mindful of the fact that they might be looking to spread other places, like Libya and even like Afghanistan," Earnest said. "We are going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to watch how the threat in Libya evolves, and we're going to continue to be prepared to take action," he said. As per the latest White House assessment, the number of fighters fighting on behalf of ISIS in Iraq and in Syria has come down from 31,500 to 25,000 fighters now. "Now, that means they continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined. And that's a testament to the efforts of our partners on the ground who are taking the fight to ISIL," Earnest said. "The United States and our coalition partners have taken a number of air strikes that have taken a number of ISIL fighters off the battlefield. ISIL is having more difficult than they've had before in replenishing their ranks," he said. According to Earnest, ISIL is "trying to establish caliphate inside of Iraq and in Syria. As we apply significant pressure on them there, it will make it harder for them to capitalize on political instability in other places. But right now, we know that they do have that capacity, and that's why we are mindful of the threat that is posed by ISIL in places like Afghanistan and Libya". President Barack Obama is also ready to use military action and to take military action where necessary to take ISIS fighters off the battlefield, he said. "Ultimately, a political situation that will be required solve the issue. I think that this is a problem that the next President is going to have to deal with from the very beginning," he said. UK counter terrorism police have arrested the parents of a 20-year-old white British Muslim convert dubbed 'Jihadi Jack', for sending money to their son, who has reportedly joined ISIS in war-ravaged Syria. South East Counter Terrorism Command said in a statement that it was aware of "recent reports in the media regarding a 20-year-old man from Oxford travelling to Syria and can confirm we are investigating". "We can confirm a 55-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, from Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of sending money to Syria which could be used for terrorism purposes and were bailed until February 17," the statement said without identifying them. Jack Letts, also known as Jihadi Jack, is accused of being the first white Briton to join the dreaded terror group ISIS in Syria. Meanwhile, the parents of Jack, John and Sally Letts, in their first TV interview since of their son being in ISIS-controlled territory in Syria broke, denied allegations that their son had joined ISIS and said the money was for their son to buy a new pair of glasses. "Even if you know he's in danger or can't see straight, what parent is not going to try get their child a pair of glasses if he can't see straight," John Letts told 'Channel 4 News' in an interview. The Oxford-based organic farmer added: "I am furious really. I am very upset. I think it's crazy that we can't send a penny to our ill son to help him get out or to help him in anyway because we'll be seen as supporting terrorism. "Your child is about to fall off a cliff and they (the police) are holding you back even though he's crawling forward to the edge and they won't let you help him. The couple said there was no evidence their son had become an ISIS fighter and claimed the police have "put two and two together and made 10". "He has the freedom to practice whatever he wants, that's British values. It's so unfair, but if there is any evidence that he's done anything violent, if you can show me any of that I'll be the first to believe it and I'll be the first to report it," Jack's mother Sally said. "Because I don't want a son who would do that type of thing... That is not the kid that I recognise," she added. For the first time, the couple revealed during the television that Jack suffered a serious mental health disorder called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and they have been trying to convince him to come back home to Britain. "He's sending desperate messages to us saying it's cold or he doesn't have food or he can't see. We know that legally we're not allowed to help him. I just don't understand that," his mother said. Jack Letts, who attended Cherwell School in Oxford, converted to Islam as a teenager and now goes by the name Ibrahim. He left his home for Syria over a year ago. Former minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham today began an indefinite fast along with his wife in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district demanding inclusion of Kapu community in Backward Classes category. Padmanabham whose agitation in support of the demand had turned violent a few days back, began the fast at his native Kirlampudi village in East Godavari. He demanded that the Kapu reservation issue be resolved in about three months and that Rs 1,000 crores be given annually for the benefit of the community. He also sought that false cases should not be filed against the community members in connection with the violent incidents that took place when 'Kapu Garjana' (roar of Kapus) public meeting was conducted on Sunday last. An inquiry by CBI may also be ordered into the violence in which a train, a police station and government and private vehicles were set on fire, he said. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at Kirlampudi and other villages in East Godavari district in view of the fast by Padmanabham. Two ruling TDP MLAs Thota Thrimurthulu and Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, who belong to Kapu community, held talks with Padmanabham last night as part of efforts to end the row. They, however, said they met Padmanabham in their individual capacity as concerned Kapu legislators and not as government representatives. The two MLAs told me to be flexible in dealing with the government, Padmanabham said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu yesterday asked Justice (retired) Manjunatha, chairman of the government appointed commission to look into the issues of backward classes and submit the report at the earliest. The commission was supposed to submit report in about nine months. Violence had erupted in East Godavari district last Sunday during 'Kapu Aikya Garjana', a meeting by Kapu community members, who sought reservation under BC category. The agitators, who had gathered in the district's Tuni town to attend the public meeting addressed by Padmanabham, pelted the engine of Ratnachal Express train with stones and also attacked police personnel before ransacking the railway station. Four bogies of the train were also set ablaze. As many as 63 cases have been registered in this connection by police for rioting, arson, criminal conspiracy, holding meeting without permission, violating preventive orders and causing damage to public property, attacking the policemen on duty without provocation, damaging railway property besides torching private and police vehicles. Before going on fast, Padmanabham told mediapersons that he had waited for some positive response from government till the last minute but decided to continue his stir, unmindful of the consequences till his demand was considered. "My life is dedicated to my Kapu community welfare and nothing would deter me from my determination," he said. The Kapu leader also appealed people not to come to Kirlampudi, but to take up the fast staying in their houses by skipping their lunch and hitting the plates with spoons, so that its echo reaches the ears of the chief minister. Meanwhile, police have cordoned off all the passages to Padmanabham's house and restricted the entry of outsiders. Superintendent of Police, East Godavari, Ravi Prakash was supervising the security at Kirlampudi, where Padmanabham's house has been kept under strict surveillance. The Kerala Assembly's session began on a stormy note today as the LDF raised slogans and held up placards against the Congress-led UDF government, prompting Governor P Sathasivam to ask them to "sit quietly or leave". As soon as the governor began his customary address at the beginning of the session, Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan stood up and said the government was 'neck deep' in corruption.. Read our full coverage on Union Budget 2016 The veteran CPI(M) leader wanted the governor to intervene in the matter amidst the row in the state over the alleged bar and solar scams. Reacting to that, the governor said, "You have raised your democratic protest. You are opposing this government. That is enough. You should allow me to do my constitutional duty. I am noting all your objections." As the governor continued with his address, opposition members were up on their feet, holding up placards and banners seeking the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other ministers over corruption allegations. As Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the deputy leader of CPI(M) in the House, stood up, the governor said, "Mr Balakrishnan, this may happen to you also. If you have a right to protest, I am bound by the Constitution to deliver the address... Better sit quietly or leave the House." "I am aware (your) protest is not against me but the government. The entire nation is watching you. People are noting your objections... You have made your point and I have also noted it." But the protesting LDF members thereafter trooped out of the House. The opposition members raised slogans and held up banners saying, "Don't want tainted ministry's policy." The 14-day sitting is politically significant as this is the last session of the 13th Kerala Assembly before the state goes to polls later this year. A California official outlined a plan Thursday to cap a massive Los Angeles-area gas leak by the end of next week. The final phase to intercept the ruptured Southern California Gas Co. well is expected to begin Monday, said Wade Crowfoot, an adviser to Gov. Jerry Brown. If all goes according to plan, it should to take contractors about five days to permanently seal the well that has been leaking since October. The announcement at a public meeting is ahead of the company's worst-case prediction that it would be plugged by the end of the month. The well has been leaking for 15 weeks and has been a major disruption for the upscale Porter Ranch community in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. The well blowout at the largest natural gas storage facility in the West has uprooted thousands of residents and spewed more than 2 million tons of climate-changing methane in what environmentalists have said is the worst crisis since the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Residents have complained of headaches, nausea, nosebleeds and other symptoms. Public health officials blame the woes on an odorant added to the gas, but they said there shouldn't be long-term health problems. Crowfoot said that once the leaking well is intercepted a mile-and-a-half underground, mud and fluids will be pumped into it to stop the gas that is gushing out. When no gas is leaking, cement will be pumped down the old well to permanently plug it, Crowfoot said. It should take a couple days for the cement to cure. When state regulators determine the plug is solid and the well is not leaking, they will declare it killed, he said. SoCalGas Vice President Gillian Wright cautioned that the outlined plan was tentative and several steps had to be taken before it could be put in place. "We are very close to the end of the leak, however we are also in the most technically demanding phase of the work," Wright said. "So that's a tentative schedule. It's not a definitive schedule." The utility paid $50 million through December to relocate residents and try in vain to plug the leak, according to financial regulatory filings. It hasn't provided a cost update since. But the number of relocations has soared to 4,400 households, and lawsuits have been filed by residents who continue to pay the mortgage on homes they cant live in and who have had their lives turned on their heads by the disaster. Gov. Jerry Brown declared the situation a state of emergency. The South Coast Air Quality Management District, the agency that regulates Southern Californias air quality, is suing the gas company, accusing it of negligence in the design, construction and operation of one of the wells at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility near Porter Ranch. SoCalGas was charged this week by the Los Angeles district attorney with misdemeanor criminal charges for failing to notify state emergency officials about the leak for three days after it was detected on Oct. 23. Al Jazeera with The Associated Press Haryana has started the process for acquiring land to set up an integrated multi-modal logistics hub under the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today. "The process of acquiring land for an integrated multi-modal logistics hub has begun," Khattar said at a conference here. The integrated logistics hub will be developed over 1,200 acres adjoining the Delhi-Mumbai Freight Corridor near Industrial Model Township (IMT) Bawal. The chief minister said that an exhibition-cum-convention centre will be set up in Gurgaon. Haryana Industries Minister Captain Abhimanyu promised a stable, predictable and congenial regulatory framework to investors. "Leaving some bad experiences that Japanese investors had to face in the past few years with respect to industrial relations, of which collectively we will all have to take responsibility... We take responsibility of providing a stable, predictable and congenial regulatory framework," Captain Abhimanyu said at the conference. In the past, companies have faced labour unrest in the state, including Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL), which saw similar issues at its Manesar plant. The minister appealed to Japanese companies to invest aggressively in the state. "We look forward to more and more investments in Haryana and we need to scale it up to the next level, particularly in the MSME sector," he said. AAP today demanded the resignation of Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and constitution of a probe panel to look into alleged irregularities in allocation of government land near Gir Lion Sanctuary to a company which has business links with her daughter Anar Patel. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said "this is absolutely shocking. How is it different from Vadra deals?" He was referring to land deals of Robert Vadra. AAP also threatened to approach the court if formation of a probe committee is not announced in next seven days. "Anandiben Patel was the Revenue Minister of Gujarat. Even after becoming the Chief Minister, she retained the portfolio. We demand a high-level committee to probe the matter. "But before that she must resign as it is not possible to conduct a probe if she is at the helms of affairs, and particularly as the Revenue Minister," AAP leader Ashish Khetan, who looks after party organisation in Gujarat, said. As per media reports, a company owned by Anar's associates is sitting on 400 acres of land near Gir Lion Sanctuary in the state and 250 acres of that land was given to it at an official rate of Rs 15 per square metre in 2010 when Anandiben was Revenue Minister. In the midst of a row over land allotment by Gujarat government to companies with close business links to her, Anar Patel, daughter of Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, today claimed she has done nothing wrong and said "to do ethical business with social morality is everyone's right," In a post on her Facebook account, Anar said she does everything in "righteous manner". "So far whatever I did, I did it in righteous manner ...Building reliability. I get hurt when people have assumptions and judgements for one's morality. Truth always prevails and I abide by it," said Anar in the post which came hours after Congress levelled serious allegations against her and Anandiben over allotment of a piece of land. Anar said she is a qualified businesswoman and has dedicated more than two decades to social service. "My husband and I dedicated more than 22 years in social service. My husband devoted his life for the cause of sanitation. To take care of family needs, in 2008 I did MBA and entered business. I strongly believe that to do ethical business with social morality is everyone's right," said Anar. Congress has raised the issue of "conflict of interest" in allocation of government land near Gir Lion Sanctuary to a company which allegedly has close business links with Anar. The allotment was made when Anandiben was Revenue Minister. The main Opposition party has demanded the resignation of the Gujarat Chief Minister and a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe in the land issue. The Marxist JVP today lodged a complaint with Lanka Human Rights Commission over the rights of 30,000 people displaced by the India-backed coal power plant in Trincomalee, the former LTTE stronghold. The JVP trade union leader KD Lal Kantha said they had moved the Human Rights Commission (HRC) over the plight of the thousands of people displaced in Sampur due to the construction of the 500 MW coal power plant. The work at the coal power plant, a joint venture between Sri Lanka and India's National Thermal Power Corporation, began in 2013, much behind the schedule. Sampur was a key stronghold of LTTE in the east during their nearly three-decade-long military battle with the government troops. The Lankan Army took control of Sampur in 2006 and created a High Security Zone which the Tamil rights groups claimed had displaced around 30,000 people. Since the beginning of the construction work for the power plant, the displaced people have not been allowed to return to their original lands, the Eastern People's Voice movement said. The Sampur coal power plant is regarded one of India's largest projects in post conflict Sri Lanka. Founded in 1965, the Marxist JVP is also known as the People's Liberation Front. An LJP leader of Bihar's Vaishali district was gunned down and his kin and block chief of Raghopur was seriously injured in an attack by rivals in Kacchi Dargah area of Patna district today, police said. LJP leader Baijnathi Singh, who was on bail in a murder case, died, Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said adding the attack appears to have been by his rivals over an old enemity. The two were on way to Patna in a car when bullets rained on them, the SSP said. Investigation into the killing is on, he added. Reports from Hajipur said Singh's son Roshan Kumar had contested from Raghopur Assembly seat in the last assembly poll as a Samajwadi Party nominee against Lalu Prasad's son Tejaswi Yadav, who is the deputy chief minister in the grand secular alliance government of Nitish Kumar. With Pakistan and Taliban hedging their bets on the planned withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, a top US commander has pushed for a long-term commitment to the war-torn country arguing that it would send "a message" to both Islamabad and the militant group. "It (the long-term US commitment) sends a message to Pakistan, it sends a message to the Taliban, and it sends a message to NATO," said General John Campbell, the outgoing commander of the US forces in Afghanistan. Campbell, who is reaching the end of an 18-month tour in Afghanistan and is expected to retire soon, said plans to draw the current US presence of 9,800 troops down to 5,500 would leave "very limited" capacity to support local forces. "If we talk in terms of a long-term commitment, it does a couple things. It gives confidence to the Afghan government, to the National Unity Government, to the Afghan people, to the Afghan Security Forces," he told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee yesterday. Campbell said that publicly revealing the troop cuts could allow the enemy to "wait us out." "So again, long-term commitment, talking those kind of terms, conditions based on the ground, is the way we need to move forward to enable the Afghans to have a predictability and stability," he said. "A lot of reason you see a lot of the refugees leaving out of Afghanistan this year is because of that instability," he said. "We have to continue to work with Pakistan. Pakistan, Afghanistan have got to work together. They've got to talk military-to-military on how they can get after a common enemy that knows no border, knows no boundaries. Transnational terrorism does that," Campbell added. Afghan forces have just completed their first full-year leading the fight against militants, including the Taliban. US and NATO forces remained in "train, advise and assist" role. But the Afghan forces also suffered major setbacks, including a brief Taliban capture of the city of Kunduz. The fragile security situation in Afghanistan is further complicated by the emergence of Islamic State (ISIS). The militant group is trying to establish a base in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. "Pakistan, Afghanistan have a lot of ungoverned space. This is going to be a problem for years and years and years... The one way that we can get after it is to continue to build upon the capability of the Afghan forces to fight this enemy," he said. President Barack Obama had said he would trim the US force in Afghanistan to 5,500 troops by the end of last year, and then further cut the presence to 1,000 by the end of 2016. But he backtracked, saying the situation remained too fragile for such a rapid withdrawal. Mahindra Asset Management Company has received markets regulator Sebi's approval to set up mutual fund business, becoming the latest Indian conglomerate to enter this segment. Mahindra AMC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mahindra and Mahindra Financial Services (MMFS), got the regulator's nod on February 4. In a BSE filing today, MMFS said: "Mahindra Asset Management Company Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, on February 4 received the approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to act as the asset management company to the Mahindra Mutual Fund." Mahindra AMC today also named Ashutosh Bishnoi as its CEO and MD. "Our customer base of nearly 4 million and over 1,200 branches of Mahindra Finance will play a critical role in ensuring success in the mutual fund business through best-in-class customer service," Mahindra Group Financial Services President and MMFS MD Ramesh Iyer said. The company said it will mainly focus on semi-urban and rural markets with its offerings. "We believe that investors in these markets have an even greater savings potential than urban markets, but they do not have either access or awareness of market-related financial instruments such as mutual funds. So, our task will be to create access and awareness," the company's newly-appointed CEO said. Bishnoi added, "With the proven success and strength of the relationships that Mahindra Finance already has, we believe that we are well-poised to take this business forward in same markets." At present, there are over 40 mutual fund houses operating in the country. While the Indian mutual fund industry has been growing steadily, a number of foreign fund houses have exited the country's mutual market in the recent past and in most cases, the businesses were acquired by Indian entities. In October last year, Reliance Capital Asset Management (RCAM) announced takeover of global giant Goldman Sachs' mutual fund business in India for Rs 243 crore. Standard Chartered sold its mutual fund business in India to IDFC in 2008 and L&T Finance bought mutual fund operations from Fidelity in 2012, while in 2014, HDFC MF acquired Morgan Stanley's fund business here. Besides, Birla Sunlife has acquired ING Mutual Fund, Kotak MF has bought PineBridge Mutual Fund and Pramerica has taken over Deutsche Bank's mutual fund business in India. MMFS is part of the Anand Mahindra-led Mahindra group. The financial services arm has more than 1,200 branches across the country with over 16,000 employees. A man has been sent to five years rigorous imprisonment for sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl with a Delhi court observing that the well-being of a child was "basic for any civilised society". Additional Sessions Judge Gautam Manan handed down the jail term to UP native Sandeep, holding him guilty of the offence of aggravated sexual assault under section 10 of POCSO Act and imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. "The concept of welfare and well being of children is basic for any civilised society and this has a direct bearing on the state of health and well being of the entire community, its growth and development. "It has been time and again emphasised in legislation, international declarations as well as judicial pronouncements that children are a 'supremely important national asset' and future well being of the nation depends on how its children grow and develop," the judge said. The judge also refused to release Sandeep, who has already spent two years in jail, on probation, saying "in my considered opinion, the nature of offence committed by the convict does not demand that he be released on probation. Interest of justice would be met, if he is sentenced to rigorous imprisonment of 5 years and fine of Rs 5000." The court also awarded a compensation of Rs one lakh to the victim to be given to her parents through Delhi State Legal Service Authority (DSLSA). While convicting the accused, the court relied on the testimonies of the complainant who was an eye-witness to the incident, the victim's mother and medical evidence. "Allegations against the accused of committing sexual assault on a five-year-old child stand proved. Thus, the accused stands convicted for the offence..." it said. According to prosecution, on June 11, 2013 when the girl was playing outside her house, the accused took her with him and sexually assaulted her. A woman, who was passing by, caught the accused in action and informed the girl's parents immediately, after which Sandeep was handed over to the police, it said. During trial, the accused denied the allegation levelled against him and claimed he was falsely implicated. The court, however, rejected his claims saying he failed to establish any defence. According to prosecution, on April 3, 2013 the accused saw the girl coming down the staircase of her house alone and sexually harassed her. She informed her mother, who informed the police after which he was apprehended. Jitender, resident of Rohini here, was held guilty of offences under section 354A (sexual harassment) of the IPC and section 8 (sexual assault) of the POCSO Act. During the trial, the youth had denied the allegations saying parents of the victim, in connivance with the police, falsely implicated him in the case. He had contended that victim deposed under influence of her mother and hence, her testimony was not trustworthy, an argument rejected by the court. A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death in southeast Delhi's Jamia Nagar area, following which three persons were arrested, police said today. The incident took place last evening when the youth, Umaruddin, was returning home after office. Three persons known to him took him to a desolated spot, where they allegedly stabbed him to death and later one of them called up his family to inform them about the matter, police said. Umaruddin, whose engagement was scheduled today and his marriage by next month, was rushed to AIIMS Trauma Centre, where he was declared brought dead. The police registered a case of murder and arrested the accused, identified as Raja, Gulsher and Anees. It is suspected that the deceased had a personal enmity with Raja and Gulsher, police added. BJP ally Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi today raised fingers at the Centre for reportedly reinstating the Vice Chancellor of Hyderabad University. "Vice Chancellor Appa Rao, an accused in the suicide of Hyderabad Dalit student Rohith Vemula and who had gone on leave in the wake of the tragedy, has been reportedly reinstated by the Human Resources Development Ministry," Manjhi said at a press conference here. "The Union Government's intention does not appear clean in the incident," Manjhi, former Chief Minister of Bihar and a prominent Dalit leader, said. "We strongly condemn this," Manjhi, whose party HAM is a partner of BJP in the NDA coalition, said. "If the Prime Minister is sensitive towards Dalits, he should intervene. VC Appa Rao should not be reinstated till the probe is over. If he is found innocent, than he can be appointed anywhere," Manjhi added. The HAM leader, who is the sole MLA of his party in the current Assembly, also attacked the Nitish Kumar government for non-payment of scholarships to SC, ST and OBC students. More than 74,000 people have arrived on the shores of Greece and Italy so far this year a sign that the European refugee crisis shows no signs of abating in the new year, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Friday. Meanwhile, just this week thousands of other refugees have fled rapidly worsening violence in the Syrian city of Aleppo and tried crossing into Turkey. In the first four days of February, about 7,500 people most fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan arrived in Greece and Italy, the IOM reported. That is more than in the entire month of February in 2015, the organization said. So far this year, 74,676 people have arrived on the shores of Greece or Italy, compared to 11,834 in all of January and February last year.The vast majority of them went to the Greek islands. Nearly half are men, 22 percent are women and 34 percent children. Last year, about 850,000 people entered the European Union through Greece out of the nearly one million people who crossed the bloc's borders. Aid organizations expect tens of thousands more to arrive in Europe in the coming days as people flee a surge of violence in Aleppo. Rights group Amnesty International urged Turkey to let in the refugees after reports that the country's border remained closed. Syrian government troops fighting rebels in that country have in the past two days cut off the main supply route to Aleppo with the aim of isolating the population and depriving them of aid, humanitarian groups say. Many of the people fleeing Aleppo and attempting to cross the Turkish border come carrying luggage on their heads, Reuters reported. "The situation in Aleppo is a humanitarian catastrophe, said a Syrian opposition spokesman in Geneva. The international community must take urgent, concrete steps to address it. With Reuters A masked dacoit gang looted valuables after assaulting an elderly couple in their house near Pollachi in the district in the early hours of today. The five-member gang knocked the door of the farm house in Pil Chinnapalayam village and on opening, forcibly entered inside, police said. As the couple--Paramasivam aged 75 years and Krishnaveni 65 years, resisted, the gang members assaulted them and one of them pulled the gold chain worn by the woman, they said. The gang then broke open an almirah and took away Rs 10,000 in cash, silver articles, weighing nearly two kgs and decamped, they said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Ankara next week for talks with Turkey's prime minister, her spokesman said today, as she seeks to cut the flow of refugees into the EU. Merkel will meet with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday to discuss "the further implementation of the EU-Turkey action plan" agreed in November to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in the bloc. They will discuss aspects of the plan that have not yet been implemented and "how we can make progress on reducing illegal migration and replacing it with legal migration," spokesman Steffen Seibert said. He said Berlin was still particularly concerned about the rampant people smuggling off the Turkish coast where dozens of refugees have drowned in recent weeks. It will be the second bilateral meeting between Merkel and Davutoglu in a month, after talks in Berlin on January 22 where the two leaders signed an agreement to "do everything to reduce the number of refugees" crossing into the EU. Under the November deal, Ankara had agreed to lower the number of migrants coming through, but between 2,000 and 3,000 people are still arriving daily in Greece from Turkey. The EU on Wednesday finally reached agreement on how to finance a three-billion-euro (USD 3.3-billion) deal to aid Syrian refugees in Turkey, in exchange for Ankara's help stemming the flow of migrants. Germany is making the biggest contribution with 427 million euros, followed by Britain with 327 million and France with 309 million, EU sources said. Merkel has come under massive political pressure to set a refugee quota, but has so far resisted despite the arrival of nearly 1.1 million asylum seekers arrived in Germany in 2015. She has instead promised a "tangible reduction" in new arrivals, and is counting on international efforts to deliver. This year's Miss Earth India pageant will be held in Delhi in July showcasing the country's twin humanitarian national campaigns - Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Green India. The pageant will help in nurturing candidates as a part of global eco-movements, Singapore-based Growbiz Consult executive director Pradeep Maithani said today. Miss Earth India to be held in Delhi will take the two-theme message of save and educate your daughter and waste free India to the participants from 90 countries at the finals in Manila in October. Contestants for the Indian pageant will be short-listed from March with final to be held in Delhi on July 16. "The integral mix of green and glamour in this campaign stamps the "Miss Earth India" trademark to be more than just an ordinary pageant. It will nurture candidates as a part of a global eco-movement which is part of over 90 countries campaigning for the protection of our environment," said Maithani, an Indian-origin Singaporean. "It will also promote waste free India and save girl child right from birth to throughout the life cycle issues, where the girl faces gender biases in many parts of the country," said Maithani, also the national Director for the pageant. Growbiz Consult team will work on these two causes and educate people to support girls, many of whom are aborted as fetuses once the sex is determined medically, said Maithani. Growbiz Consult's co-founder and national director Cheryl T Hansen will lead the grooming of candidates to the finals. Mizoram Baptist Kohhran Hmeichhe Pawl (MBKHP) or the women wing of the Baptist Church of Mizoram, has decided to organise prayer and fasting in protest against opening of wine shops in the state. The MBKHP's decision, taken yesterday at its annual conference attended by 460 delegates at the Mizoram-Bangaldesh border town of Tlabung in Lunglei district, came after the state government allowed opening of wine shops under the newly-legislated Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Act, 2014 since March 16 last year. The Baptist women body also decided to make a formal appeal to the state government to end the sale of liquor in the state under the new law. The Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995 imposed in the state since February 20, 1997 was replaced after being in force in the state for 18 years. A 28-year-old man with suspected ISIS links was nabbed from Kashmere Gate ISBT here, making it the fifth arrest by Delhi Police in connection with a module of the terror outfit it had claimed to have busted last month. "The accused, Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed, was arrested from Kashmere Gate ISBT in north Delhi last night, on the basis of a tip-off from a central intelligence agency. During interrogation, it has emerged that he was about to leave for Syria," Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep said. Sayyed is a muezzin at Malad in Mumbai and had come to Delhi to meet an associate, an officer in the Special Cell said. Intelligence agencies had found that he was also close to one of the 14 men arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last month in its nationwide crackdown against ISIS, the officer said. Sayyed was given Rs 1.50 lakh by a person in Lucknow and he was to deliver it to an associate here, the officer claimed, alleging police have found Rs 85,000 from his possession. A Special Cell team is at present tracking down other members of the network. According to the police, Sayyed, who is believed to be self-radicalised, was acting as a financier and had allegedly given Rs 50,000 to the four persons who were arrested by Delhi Police from Haridwar last month. All of them were found to have links with a former Indian Mujahideen militant who later went to fight for ISIS, they said. "Sayyed was particularly in touch with Akhlaq, one of the four persons arrested last month. The police are checking his background records," Deep said. Earlier today, he was remanded in police custody till February 10 by a Delhi court. Delhi Police had last month arrested four persons with suspected ISIS links from Manglour in Uttarakhand and claimed to have unearthed a terror plot targeting the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, especially the trains headed there, along with some strategic locations in the national capital. The suspects were identified as Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Mohammed Osama, Mohammed Azim Shah and Mehroz. "The arrested persons were allegedly in contact with a former Indian Mujahideen operative, who later went for training in Syria and is presently believed to be a key member of Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT), which has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)," a police officer had then said, adding that the AuT operative is presently believed to be fighting for ISIS in Syria. In the backdrop of the Murud tragedy in which 14 students lost their lives, schools and junior colleges in Pune region have been asked not to take out educational tours to beaches, rivers, lakes and hills as they are "risky and dangerous" places. The office of Deputy Director (Education) of the region today issued a circular in this regard. Also, no permission will be granted for such trips outside Maharashtra. "In the wake of the tragic incident in Murud, we have issued a circular in which schools and junior colleges have been instructed not to take educational tours to risky and dangerous places like beaches, rivers, lakes and hills. "If tours are being organised, adequate teachers should be accompanying students," said Ramchandra Jadhav, Deputy Director (Education), Pune region, which comprises Pune, Ahmednagar and Solapur districts. Also, permission would not be granted for educational tours out of the state, he said, adding "consent letters from parents have been made a must". Schools and junior colleges undertaking excursion tours will have to submit an affidavit on stamp paper, Jadhav said. These measures come days after 14 students of the city- based Abeda Inamdar College drowned off Murud beach in Raigad district during a picnic on Monday. With only a day left for Goa's one of the most joyous festival of Carnival, Shalom Sardinha, who will be King Momo this year, said he had applied for the role without even informing his family. "Well, my family was shocked given that other than my wife no one knew I was applying for the role. But once those initial moments were up, they were all laughing with my brother saying that they could not get a more perfect king," said the 35-year-old engineer working with a firm in Goa. When the float parade is flagged-off at the hands of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar tomorrow here, Shalom will be given the traditional 'key' of the city, which means he rules the place for next four days. Attired as the Greek king, Shalom will be accompanied by his group on the main float waiving-off to the crowd of lakhs who would gather on D B Bandokar road alongside the picturesque Mandovi river. Shalom says life has not changed much for him after being selected to be King Momo of Carnival 2016. "Life has not changed because I know I am playing the role like in the movies. No doubt, it has brought me much closer to friends and acquaintanceswho called to wish me for being selected for the role," he said. Shalom is the son of former Goa Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha, who himself enacted King Momo for Carnival 1974. The burly built Shalom, who feels he is fit for roles like Christmas Father and King Momo, says he is preparing to enjoy and have a wonderful time with others at the float. Shalom had tried to step into the shoes of his politician father, but was defeated in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He, however, aspires to join politics for betterment of the coastal state. "Well, if I was ruling Goa, my priorities would be improving the financial health of the state, controlling and managing the garbage and pollution menace and most importantly improve the educational, parking and health support system in Goa. I can do it in one year," he claimed. NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said today that Russia's air strikes in Syria targeting rebel forces are "undermining" efforts to find a non-military solution to the war. "What we have seen is that the intense Russian air strikes mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," Stoltenberg said as he arrived for talks in Amsterdam with EU defence ministers. Syrian peace talks in Geneva earlier this week broke up acrimoniously as long-time Moscow ally President Bashar al-Assad launched a fresh offensive against rebel forces in Aleppo with massive Russian backing. The UN Security Council is due to meet later today to discuss the situation, with the negotiations on hold until February 25. Yesterday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had warned Moscow to stop targeting the Syrian opposition in what he described as a "robust" phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Stoltenberg said NATO strongly supported efforts to end the war in Syria, which has cost more than 250,000 lives and displaced half the population, many of them fleeing to Europe in its worst migrant crisis since World War II. He said the air strikes and Moscow's military build-up in Syria and the eastern Mediterranean were a challenge for the US-led alliance and especially for key member Turkey, whose airspace Russian planes have violated. "The increased Russian presence (and) air activity in Syria is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace," he said. "This creates risks and heightens tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO," he added. Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet along its Syrian border in late November and the two sides have been engaged in a bitter war of words since. US satellite data suggests North Korea may have already begun fuelling a rocket, which it plans to launch this month in the face of opposition, a Japanese newspaper reported today, citing a US defence official. Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between February 8-25, which is around the time of the birthday on February 16 of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un. The North insists its space programme is purely scientific in nature, but the US and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland. North Korea "will finish preparations for the launch as soon as the next several days", the unidentified US Defence Department official told the Asahi Shimbun. Since today, satellite images have shown increased movement of people and equipment around the launch pad and a fuel storehouse at North Korea's Sohae satellite launch complex in the country's northwest, the official said, according to the Washington-datelined report. The United States judged that fuelling appears to have started as it has been monitoring Pyongyang's movements via military intelligence satellites which can analyse objects as small as 30 centimetres, the official was quoted as saying. Given the difficulty in stopping the process once fuelling begins, preparation work normally finishes within several days of that, the official told the Asahi. UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, and the imminent launch would amount to another major violation of UNSC resolutions following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test last month. In its formal notification sent to UN agencies, North Korea provided flight coordinates similar to its successful launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012. The separated first stage was predicted to fall in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of South Korea, followed by a second stage splashdown in the Philippine Sea. In order to avoid any possible collision, Japanese and South Korean airlines will be rerouting a number of flights during the launch window period. Japan's two biggest airlines -- All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines -- said they would be diverting planes that fly over waters off the Philippines. The change will affect three ANA flights -- from Tokyo's Haneda airport to Manila, from Manila to Tokyo's Narita Airport, and from Jakarta in Indonesia to Narita, the airline said. Two JAL flights -- one from Jakarta to Narita and another from Narita to Manila -- will also be rerouted. US President Barack Obama today cited the humanitarian work done by the Sikh community as he spoke about the strength that comes from uniting all faiths against fear. "When the Earth cleaves in Haiti, Christians, Sikhs, and other faith groups sent volunteers to distribute aid, tend to the wounded, rebuild homes for the homeless," Obama said in his annual address to the national prayer breakfast in the presence of religious and global leaders here. "Whether fighting global poverty or working to end the scourge of human trafficking, you are the leaders of what Pope Francis calls 'this march of living hope'," he said as he mentioned the work done by Sikhs during various natural disasters across the globe. "When Ebola ravaged West Africa, Jewish, Christian, Muslim groups responded to the outbreak to save lives. As the fanned the flames of fear, churches and mosques responded with a powerful rebuke, welcoming survivors into their pews," Obama said. When nine worshippers were murdered in a Charleston church basement, it was people of all faiths who came together to wrap a shattered community in love and understanding, he said. "When Syrian refugees seek the sanctuary of our shores, it's the faithful from synagogues, mosques, temples, and churches who welcome them, the first to offer blankets and food and open their homes," he said. "Seeing God in others. We are driven to do this because we're driven by the value that so many of our faiths teach us -- I am my brother's keeper, I am my sister's keeper. As Christians, we do this compelled by the Gospel of Jesus -- the command to love God, and love one another," said the US President. "And so, yes, like every person, there are times where I'm fearful. But my faith and, more importantly, the faith that I've seen in so many of you, the God I see in you, that makes me inevitably hopeful about our future. I have seen so many who know that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He has given us power, and love, and a sound mind," he said. The Arc of Texas, an organization dedicated to inclusion, advocacy and disability rights, is hiring a new CEO. Their job announcement, as originally posted, made one thing clear: Disabled people need not apply. Towards the bottom of the application, a strange list of criteria under the headline, Physical and Mental Requirements, included Seeing, Hearing/Listening, Clear speech, Ability to move distances between offices and workspaces, Driving. The next post, for another well-paid leadership position, added manual dexterity, lifting up to 25 pounds, carrying up to 25 pounds to the list, making it even more restrictive. Whats a disability rights organization doing pre-emptively discriminating against disabled individuals in their most important hiring? And is this kind of language which can be found in job postings from the tech sector, the non-profit world, and countless academic jobs even legal? Samuel Bagenstos, now an expert on disability law at the University of Michigan and a former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice, called The Arc posting a pretty blatant violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I really thought it was a bad joke, not a serious job advertisement, he wrote me in an email. The ADA prohibits employers from adopting selection criteria that screen out classes of individuals with disabilities unless the criteria are job-related. There is no strong business reason why the CEO or the advocacy director should have to be able to see, hear, drive, lift or carry. These arent manual-labor jobs. When disabled people are excluded from applying for jobs, the disability community suffers and businesses cheat themselves out of potential great employees. Jay Ruderman, President of the Ruderman Family Foundation, which advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities into society, told me, people may not know that people with disabilities are the largest minority in our country and the poorest segment of our population. It is fundamentally unjust that 70 percent of people with disabilities are unemployed and excluded from inclusion in the daily aspects of life most of us take from granted. Ruderman cited the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, noting that employers get, a loyal, hard-working employee [and] their entire workforce is energized through their engagement in a socially just workplace. Statistics from the Department of Labor confirm Rudermans assessment. Only 19.2 percent of people with disabilities participate in the labor force, as opposed to 68.1 percent without disabilities. The unemployment rate overall is 4.6 percent, but for people with disabilities, its 10.3 percent. Disabled Americans are well aware of the problem. Lauren Appelbaum, Director of Communications at RespectAbility, a non-partisan organization focused on empowerment for the disabled, told me that when polling disabled voters in the 2014 election cycle, 58 percent of the disability community rank a candidates position on the economy, jobs and wages as the No. 1 issue when asked to rank their top 3 issues. That pattern continues in the current electoral cycle. Why is it so hard for disabled Americans to find work? Obviously, some people are prevented from doing some kinds work due to their disabilities. Others are heavily reliant on government benefits, which often limit the number of hours or level of income one can achieve without jeopardizing those benefits. US President Barack Obama has announced a USD 450 million plan to fund Colombia's peace process, shaking up a controversial military aid program that defined relations for 15 years. Hosting President Juan Manuel Santos at the White House, Obama yesterday said that as the country's 50-year conflict with leftist FARC guerrillas winds down it was time to rethink "Plan Colombia." "A country that was on the brink of collapse is now on the brink of peace," Obama said, expressing optimism that an agreement can soon be reached. A March 23 deadline has been set for the peace talks to conclude, designed to bring to an end a conflict which has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced six million. Over the last decade and a half, Plan Colombia caused billions of dollars' worth of military aid to flow to Colombia's security services, fortifying the state against well-armed and well-funded drug cartels and rebel groups, chief among them the FARC. Hailed in Washington as a bipartisan success story, Plan Colombia was launched by president Bill Clinton and continued by his Republican successor George W Bush. But the policy has also been fiercely criticized inside Colombia and by rights groups, who say it made internecine conflict bloodier and left a trail of abuses. "For many Colombians directly affected by the conflict, Plan Colombia is shorthand for a war without quarter," said Gimena Sanchez of the Washington Office on Latin America, a non-profit group. Under the newly styled "Peace Colombia," the White House said there would still be cash for the military and counternarcotics, but the focus would also be on demobilizing rebels, mine clearance, humanitarian assistance and funding truth and reconciliation efforts. "Just as the United States has been Colombia's partner in a time of war," Obama said, "We will be your partner in waging peace." Once a virtual failed state, Colombia is increasingly seen as a pivotal player in Latin America and one of the region's most dynamic and democratic countries. "Today's Colombia is much, much different from the Colombia of 15 years ago," said Santos. "Practically a third of our national territory was controled by paramilitaries. Another third was being controled by the guerrillas, and both were financed by drug trafficking. We had a very dark and uncertain future. "Today, we see the future with hope. As the unemployment rate dropped below 5 per cent in January to a eight-year low, President Barack Obama today said the US right now has the strongest, most durable economy in the world. "After reaching 10 per cent in 2009, the unemployment rate has now fallen to 4.9 per cent. Even as more Americans join the job market last month. This is the first time that the unemployment rate has dipped below 5 per cent in almost eight years," Obama told reporters at an impromptu convened new conference at the White House. Noting that over the past two years, 2014 and 2015, business added more jobs than any time since the 1990s, Obama said this progress is finally starting to translate into bigger paychecks. "Over the past six months, wages have grown at their fastest rate since the crisis and the policies that I'll push this year are designed to give workers even more leverage to earn raises and promotions," he said. "The United States of America right now has the strongest, most durable economy in the world. I know that's still inconvenient for Republican stump speeches as their doom and despair tour plays in New Hampshire. I guess you cannot please everybody. That does not mean that we don't have more work to do," said the US President. "There is softness in the global economy. China is going through a transition. Europe's economy is still slow. A lot of the emerging markets are challenged. So that's all creating head winds for a lot of US companies who do business overseas. It makes it more difficult for us to sell exports," Obama said. Obama is scheduled to present his annual budget to the Congress on Tuesday. "My budget is going to offer more opportunities for Americans to get the education and job training that they need for a good paying job. It will offer new ideas for benefits and protections that provide folks with a basic sense of security," he said. It will create more good paying jobs, not by subsidizing the past, but by investing in the future and that's why US is going to be placing a big emphasis on clean energy, he stressed. Private sector solar jobs, for example, are growing 12 times faster than the rest of the economy and they pay better than average. "That's one reason why my budget is going to double our investment in clean energy research and development by the end of the decade," he added. "That's going to help businesses create more jobs faster. It's going to lower the cost of clean energy faster. It's going to help renewable power compete with dirty fuels across America in a more effective way," he said. Those are some of the steps that are going to make sure the future is even stronger, a future that is worthy of the hard work and determination of the American people, he said. "The progress we make going from 10 percent down to under 5 percent, that's a testament to American workers, American businesses and the American people being resilient and sticking to it, and my hope is that rather than hinder their progress, we're going to continue to help them make progress," Obama said. Suspected jihadists today attacked a UN military camp in the fabled city of Timbuktu in Mali's restive north, leaving a Malian soldier dead and at least one peacekeeper wounded, security sources said. Shots were still being heard in the area at the end of the morning, after hours of fighting, a source in the UN peacekeeping force in Mali (MINUSMA) and the Malian army told AFP. "A Malian officer who was taking part in the hunt for the terrorists was unfortunately killed," a Malian military source said, adding that the soldier died when a wall collapsed on his armoured vehicle. "We are currently searching for terrorists who are hiding in the buildings," the source said. The clashes were taking place around a large former hotel located between Timbuktu and its airport. The army had reports that a vehicle being used by the suspected Islamists had "infiltrated the town of Timbuktu itself," the military source added. "Six to seven terrorists arrived very early in the morning at a MINUSMA camp in Timbuktu. They blew up their vehicle before attacking the camp with mortars," a source in the UN mission said. A Nigerian peacekeeper was wounded, the source said, adding that the camp had recently been evacuated by police officers from Nigeria but some soldiers had remained there. A local resident said the assailants seemed to have "really prepared their plan." "I believe that they first blew up their car so that MINUSMA forces would come out to inspect the damage, in order to attack them again," he told AFP. A Malian soldier was killed last month in an ambush on the outskirts of Timbuktu in continuing violence in the sprawling arid north of the country. Northern Mali fell under the control of Tuareg-led rebels and jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. The Islamists sidelined the Tuareg to take sole control but were largely ousted by a French-led military operation in January 2013. But Al-Qaeda-linked insurgents wrecked 14 of Timbuktu's earthen shrines built during its 15th and 16th century golden age as an economic, intellectual and spiritual centre. Telangana police today arrested a youth from the city for his alleged involvement in theft at ten ATMs in Medak district, police said. A team of Telangana police led by SHO of Medak, S Gowda arrived here today and arrested Unis of Buchi village under Shishgarh police station area in connection with theft from ten ATMs, Inspector in-charge of Shishgarh police station, Surendra Singh said. On the basis of CCTV footage, one Mevat of Haryana, who was arrested for the theft earlier, provided information about Unis of Bareilly, Singh said. Earlier, Unis was arrested for similar theft in Delhi and Rs 20 lakh were recovered from him, Singh said adding that he has been taken away to Telangana by the police. Spy chiefs of Pakistan and Afghanistan have met here for the first time in nearly 10 months in a bid to build trust and boost intelligence sharing to combat cross-border terrorism amid efforts to revive the stalled peace process with the Taliban. Masoud Andrabi, the head of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, visited Islamabad yesterday to meet Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar. The two-hour-long meeting was facilitated by the US, while Chinese officials attended as observers, Dawn reported. "It was a step not a breakthrough," said a source who closely followed the meeting. He said the very fact that the meeting took place was a major development. Tension between ISI and NDS is believed to be at the root of most of the problems in the bilateral ties, which for the most part of the past decade and a half have been uneasy. It was the first high-level interaction between the two agencies since May last when they signed an intelligence cooperation agreement. Afghanistan, though, had to shelve the agreement because of stiff domestic opposition. The intelligence dialogue also began at a time when a quadrilateral initiative is on to help revive the Afghan reconciliation process that was suspended after the disclosure about the death of reclusive one-eyed Taliban leader Mullah Omar last summer. Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has said, "Pakistan is the country which can do the most in terms of influencing the Taliban's attitude. I think Pakistan has the most influence." The first part of the meeting was very formal and stiff, but in the second part the two sides had some frank discussion about their concerns, with the Pakistani side reiterating its allegations that the deadly January 20 attack on Bacha Khan University was carried out by Afghan-based terrorists, the source said. At least 21 people, mostly students, were killed and all four attackers were shot dead in a firefight with security forces. "ISI presented some evidence to the Afghan side pointing towards the involvement of TTP and some other terrorist groups who are operating from Afghanistan in sabotage activities in Pakistan," an official said. Separately Afghan military operations chief Maj Gen Habib Hisari, met with Pakistani counterpart Maj Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza to discuss security and border management issues. The crucial visits by Afghan security official were held ahead of the third meeting of a four-way talks of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and US officials tomorrow in Islamabad to facilitate talks between Afghan government and the Taliban. Pakistan's economy will grow at 4.5 per cent in the current fiscal despite a decline in exports and challenging external environment weighing on the country's growth prospects, the IMF has said. The International Monetary Fund said a weak cotton harvest, declining exports and a more challenging external environment are weighing on the growth prospects of Pakistan. Despite these challenges, the real GDP growth is expected to reach 4.5 per cent in FY 2015/16, helped by lower oil prices, planned improvements in the energy supply, investment related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), buoyant construction activity, and acceleration of credit growth, IMF's mission chief to Pakistan Harald Finger said. "Economic activity remains robust," Finger said yesterday after a meeting with Pakistani officials in Dubai for the 10th review of Pakistan's economic programme supported by a three-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. Finger said after constructive discussions, the mission and the Pakistani authorities have reached a staff-level agreement on the completion of the 10th review under the EFF arrangement. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF management and the executive board. Upon completion of this review, about USD 497 million will be made available to Pakistan. Pakistan's gross international reserves reached USD 15.9 billion in December 2015, up from USD 15.2 billion at end-September the same year, and covering close to four months of prospective imports. Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Ashraf Wathra attended the meeting that concluded yesterday in Dubai. A Pakistani national in the US was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment on charges of drug trafficking violations. 52-year-old Muhammad Aijaz Sarfraz was found guilty by a jury in a federal court on May 14 and was sentenced to 240 months imprisonment on February 3 in Texas. According to evidence presented during the trial, between March 2009 and April 2012, Sarfraz operated numerous illegal websites through which he distributed millions of illicit drug to Internet customers throughout the United States. Those pills included popular prescription medications such as OxyContin, Percocet, Adderall, Ritalin, Hydrocodone, Xanax, Valium, Ambien, and others. The counterfeit drugs were generally manufactured in China, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, and Hong Kong, US Attorney John M Bales, said. The pills, which were made to look like authentic prescription medications approved for use in the United States, often contained incorrect active pharmaceutical ingredients or the wrong quantity and dosage strength of those substances. No physicians or medical professionals of any kind were involved at any stage of the drug distribution process. It is estimated that the criminal enterprise may have generated as much as USD 100 million or more in proceeds between 2009 and 2012. Sarfraz was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 12, 2012, a media release said. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif have discussed the role of "hostile" foreign intelligence agencies and their collaborators in fomenting instability in the country. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, the two met at the ISI headquarters in Islamabad, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel emphasised on the need for continued efforts across the country to consolidate gains of Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants. Army spokesman Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa said the meeting was attended by security officials including ISI chief Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar. "The role of hostile (foreign) intelligence agencies and their collaborators in fomenting instability in Pakistan and undermining Pakistan's interests was discussed in detail," Bajwa said. The "hostile agencies" were, however, not officially identified. The participants also reviewed the internal and external threat perceptions, including those from terrorist networks. The meeting also discussed the "management of Pak-Afghan border" and how to improve it to stop incursions from Afghanistan. Sharif appreciated the efforts and achievements of the army and intelligence agencies in achieving "major breakthroughs" and bringing a noticeable change in the security environment of the country. He said the entire nation was proud of ISI, reiterating that the government and the nation stood behind its armed forces. Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan and National Security Agency Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua also attended the meeting. The Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted a growth rate of 4.5% for Pakistan in the current fiscal, observing that its economic activity "remains robust". "Economic activity remains robust," IMF's mission chief to Pakistan Harald Finger said yesterday after a delegation of the world body led by him met with Pakistani officials in Dubai on the 10th review of Pakistan's economic program supported by a three-year Extended Fund Facility (EFF) arrangement. Although a weak cotton harvest, declining exports, and a more challenging external environment are weighing on growth prospects, real GDP growth is expected to reach 4.5% in FY 2015/16, helped by lower oil prices, planned improvements in the energy supply, investment related to the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), buoyant construction activity, and acceleration of credit growth, Finger said. Gross reserves of Pakistan reached $15.9 billion in December 2015, up from $15.2 billion at end-September 2015 and covering close to four months of prospective imports. Finger said after constructive discussions, the mission and the Pakistani authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the completion of the tenth review under the EFF arrangement. The agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Management and the Executive Board. Upon completion of this review, $497 million will be made available to Pakistan. Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Ashraf Wathra, and other senior officials attended the meeting with IMF in Dubai from January 26 to February 4. Palestinian journalist Mohammed al-Qiq will keep up his hunger strike despite Israel's suspension of a detention without trial order against him, his lawyer said today. The 33-year-old television reporter, who still cannot leave hospital without permission, is "determined to continue his fast until he is freed," Jawad Boulos told AFP. Israel's Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the order to hold him under the controversial administrative detention law, which allows the state to hold suspects without trial indefinitely. But the court ruled Qiq needs permission to leave the hospital where he is handcuffed to his bed. The hospital told the court his life was in grave danger, after fasting for more than 10 weeks in protest at his detention. "The patient at this stage -- and in fact during recent days -- is in grave danger and in a condition where there is a high risk of his sudden death," court documents quoted the northern Afula hospital as saying. The United Nations on Friday said that it was "extremely concerned" over his condition and called on Israel to end administrative detention. "We reiterate our concerns at the situation of Palestinian administrative detainees who are held without charge or trial by the Israeli authorities, often on the basis of secret evidence," the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said in a statement. "We call, once again, upon the Israeli authorities to end their practice of administrative detention and to either release immediately or promptly charge and prosecute all administrative detainees," it said. Qiq, a 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 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 rights organisation. Shin Bet, the Israeli domestic security service, says Qiq was arrested for "terror activity" as part of the Islamist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip. 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. On Feb. 1, a German teenager admitted fabricating the story that she was kidnapped and gang raped by men of Arab or North African appearance in early January. Prosecutors said the 13-year-old confessed lying about the rape claim three days later when experts questioned her. She reportedly made it up to hide an incident at school from her parents. Her allegations came less than two weeks after nearly 100 women in Cologne, Germany, reported mass sexual assaults by gangs of Middle Eastern men during a New Years Eve celebration. Stories of the Cologne assaults garnered international attention and aggravated German paranoia against refugees. It also triggered protests by Russian-German community and far-right groups. Unsurprisingly, the teens retraction of her rape allegation received less media attention than the initial story. The construction of the refugee as rapist adds crime to an otherwise abstract dislike of the foreign other. It also whets a sense of German nationhood, its urgency predicated on protecting white German women from encroaching hordes of brown men. Taken together, the exclusion of foreigners, once a worrisome iteration of burgeoning racism, is now repackaged as a feminist necessity. Anti-immigration sentiments in Germany had been rising long before the New Years Eve incidents. The far-right Patriotic Europeans Against Islamization of the Occident (PEGIDA) is one of the staunchest opponents to German Chancellor Angela Merkels open-door policy toward refugees fleeing Syria and Iraq. The Dresden-based group began holding rallies across Germany in late 2014. As with other right-wing groups across Europe, PEGIDA wants to restrict immigration and impose a duty on those already in Germany. PEGIDAs use of the quaint German term Abenland, meaning occident, underscores its imagined war against the orient represented by the influx of refugees and migrants arriving in Germany. Its easy binaries of a gender equal West at war with inherently misogynistic Muslims the latest iteration of the hackneyed clash of civilizations rhetoric is attractive to white middle-class Germans who already see foreigners as a threat to their national identity. A week before the Cologne incident, PEGIDA held a massive rally in Dresden with 22,000 participants demanding stricter immigration laws. I say to all who go to such demonstrations: Dont follow those who call for your participation, Merkel said in her New Years Eve address exhorting Germans to reject PEGIDA, because all too often there is prejudice, cold, yes, even hatred in their hearts. It was Merkels last stand in favor of welcoming Syrian and Iraqi refugees fleeing the bestiality and persecution of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A Palestinian teenager threw a petrol bomb at Israeli soldiers in the south of the occupied West Bank and was shot dead today, the Israeli military said. At least two Palestinians threw a Molotov cocktail at a military jeep on patrol close to Halhul north of the West Bank city of Hebron, a military spokeswoman said. Responding to an "immediate threat", the soldiers fired on them, killing one. The other was arrested, she said. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death, identifying him as 17-year-old Haitham al-Bau. His death brings to 165 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in four months of violence. More than half of them were alleged assailants, while others were killed during protests. Since October 1 last year, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have also died. Elsewhere today clashes erupted during a new "day of rage". Near Ramallah in the West Bank, clashes broke out as around 100 youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with live fire after using tear gas and rubber bullets, an AFP journalist said. Clashes were also taking place along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, AFP journalists said. Protests are common on Fridays in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said India will "surely" teach a lesson to the mastermind of the Pathankot air base attack and admitted that the terrorists were probably inside the air base even before intelligence about an impending strike was received. Noting that India "is losing much of its patience", Parrikar said the country will give tit-for-tat. "Eent ka jawaab patthar se denge (we will reply to bricks with stones)," he said. Parrikar said the "pushers" of the attacks were in Pakistan, refusing to disclose further details. "You have to plan. Here I have named individual and organisation, and has not named any country, because if it's against a country, then it means war. We want to teach a lesson to the individual. Where and when, that will be our choice," Parrikar said in Rajat Sharma's show 'Aap Ki Adalat' on India TV. Asked why India has not launched a counter-attack against terror camps in Pakistan after the Pathankot incident, Parrikar was quoted in a press release by India TV as saying that the time will be chosen by India. "How do you know where we should strike and where we should not. Such things are not disclosed in public. We must have the capability. And Pakistan... I will not name any country... They take sort of fights with us by sending terrorists. Such people need to be taught a lesson. There is no question mark in it. But when, how and at what time, should be decided based on our convenience," he said. Parrikar said there has been fresh information that some of the Pathankot attackers were inside the air base even before the intelligence was received. "Some people have inferred wrongly about the gaps that I had mentioned. The air base has a 25-kilometre periphery, and they should not have entered, but we got advance information only 10-12 hours earlier. Now more information has come saying probably they (attackers) were in before the intelligence was received by us. Anyway that will be investigated by agencies. That is the gap which I was saying," he said. Told that the terrorists got trained at a Pakistani air base, Parrikar said he can't reveal the details because "as we say, no one tells the world what you do and what happens inside a bedroom. So in such operations, nothing is revealed to the world, but we will do it surely". Asked why India was not carrying out cross-border strike against terror camps as it did against the NSCN(K) rebels "inside Myanmar", Parrikar said he would not disclose much in such matters, otherwise "the surprise element will be gone". "Once it happens, you will come to know about it. In the North-East, those who attacked our 6 Dogra (regiment)...We didn't tell them what we were going to do," he was quoted as saying. (REOPENS DEL76) Talking about the Myanmar incident, the Defence Minister said he can't say the exact spot where the Army did the operation. Asked why the army was not carrying out cross-border strike as the US did to kill Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan, Parrikar said the US took four to five years to locate Osama and to clear their doubts about his location. "It took another one and a half years to plan the operation. When the US planned an operation inside Iran, their helicopter crashed in the desert and they faced humiliation. "I am only saying that the operation that we plan, or whatever we are doing, I am not saying against Pakistan or any camp, there should be perfect planning, and it has to take care of everything. Your information should be perfect. Everybody has general information, and specific information plays a more important role," he said. Parrikar said that the counter-terror operation in Pathankot was a success as the soldiers were able to corner the attackers and kill all of them. "It was not easy. Six people, who had come with very clear intention that they will lose their lives can do actually many damaging things which we did not allow, that is the success part of it. But this will not stop here. Why should we be defensive? People who sent them here have to be taught a lesson," he said. "Because they will not understand unless pain is inflicted on them... But here I am adding a clause, I will not disclose where, when and how... It's our choice," he said. He said this has already been achieved at a different level. He said the terrorists came to Punjab because in Jammu and Kashmir the army has neutralised them to a large extent. "The ratio of our losses compared to killing of terrorists is widening quite big now. Earlier, it was 1:1, now it is 1:4, and even that should not happen. It should come lower than that. So, we have initiated many counter measures there," he said. In the wake of Pathankot attack, select personnel of Punjab Police will be given specialised training by the Army in tackling terror attacks in a better and effective manner. Army has offered to train Punjab Police personnel at its different facilities in Jalandhar, Pathankot, Zirakpur and Nahan, said an official release here. A two-week training programme is being considered for nearly 20 young police officers for strengthening the SWAT team. Punjab Police is making all efforts to increase its preparedness to tackle any Pathankot-type incident in future and also to strengthen its linkages with other security agencies, especially the Army, the release said. Similarly, some officials will undertake the "GHATAK" Anti Terrorist Operations Training Course, it said. In addition, Army has also agreed in enhancing the expertise of the Punjab Police in handling IEDs, anti sabotage and bomb disposal techniques. The above courses are also expected to increase the co-operation and co-ordination between the two organizations, it said. This move came as follow-up of the meeting between M K Tiwari, ADGP (HRD) Punjab and Major General M P Singh, In-charge (Training), Western Command, it said. In the terror attack at the Pathankot air base last month, which houses fighter jets and attack helicopters, seven security personnel were killed along with six militants. The Pentagon today welcomed Saudi Arabia's pledge to commit ground forces to fight Islamic State jihadists in Syria, should the US-led coalition ever send in combat troops. The United States has for weeks been calling on partners in the 65-member coalition bombing the IS group in Iraq and Syria to contribute more, and last month Defense Secretary Ashton Carter chastised some countries for doing "nothing at all." Saudi Arabia has been part of the coalition since late 2014. Though it carried out high-profile initial air strikes against the jihadists in Syria, its participation and that of other Gulf members dropped as they shifted focus to striking conflict-torn Yemen. "We welcome the announcement by Saudi Arabia that they are looking into ways to enhance their counter-ISIL efforts," US Central Command spokesman Pat Ryder said, using an alternative acronym for the IS group. "There will be continued discussions with the Saudis and our other partners on the best ways we can continue to intensify coalition efforts." Carter is meeting with defense officials from Saudi Arabia and at least two dozen other coalition members next week in Brussels, where he is expected to outline the next steps in the anti-IS campaign. The Pentagon chief said Saudi Arabia had offered to help encourage other "Muslim-majority" countries to play more of a role as well. "You see others stepping up, and the reason why I'm going to Brussels next week is to bring the full weight of the coalition behind accelerating the defeat of ISIL," Carter said yesterday. "People are aware of the nautanki (drama)" of Rahul Gandhi, BJP today said, training its guns on the Congress vice president for criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi who accused the Sonia Gandhi family of being behind disruptions in Parliament. BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma made a veiled reference to the Italian origin of Congress president Sonia Gandhi as he said that Rahul was not able to see the rise of India under Modi as he was wearing an "Italian" lens. "Ever since the government of BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi has come to power at the Centre, the attitude of Congress and its allies have been one of intolerance towards the elected government of the country. "How can one have any hope of development, justice and equality from people who do not desist from doing politics over the body of student who committed suicide?" Sharma said in a statement, an apparent reference to Congress taking up the issue of the suicide of Rohith Vemula, a dalit scholar in Hyderabad university. Accusing Congress of being "neck deep in corruption", Sharma also referred to the National Herald case, alleging that both Sonia and Rahul are "on bail in a case of corruption worth Rs 5,000 crore". Terming Rahul a "non-serious politician", Sharma said "it has become a habit of Congress to deprive the poor of their welfare by disrupting Parliament without any reason". He dubbed Congress as "anti-development and anti-poor and claimed that while Congress "has only given problems to this country, Modi is resolving them". The party's all-out attack on Rahul came soon after the latter said that Modi should start running the country as the job of the Prime Minister is not to make excuses. Rahul was reacting to Modi blaming the Gandhi family for Parliament disruptions and the charge that they are taking revenge for Congress's defeat in Lok Sabha polls. Rejecting Gandhi's remarks, Sharma alleged that all state governments of Congress have become "synonymous with corruption" and listed a number of steps taken during Modi government to claim a spurt in FDI, manufacturing and other fields of development. The third largest public sector lender Punjab National Bank (PNB) today raised Rs 1,500 crore from Basel III-compliant bonds through private placement. "The bank has raised Rs 1,500 crore tier II (Basel III compliant) capital bonds," PNB said in an exchange filling, adding the debt instrument carries an annual coupon of 8.65 per cent. Domestic banks have to comply with Basel-III standards by March 2019, which require them to have higher capital base to prtotect themselves from financial risks emanating from global headwinds. The new stringent capital norms were framed after the 2008 global financial crisis. Following this the Reserve Bank has issued the Basel-III norms for implementation in a phased manner till 2019. Many banks have been raising funds to meet these requirements. A Fitch Ratings report estimates a requirement of USD 140 billion by the banks to fully comply with the Basel III norms by March 2019. PNB shares today closed 4.07 per cent up at Rs 94.64 on the BSE whose benchmark Sensex rose 279 points. Pope Francis will meet Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba next week in a historic first meeting between the heads of the two largest Christian churches, the Vatican announced today. The meeting will be the first of its kind since a schism in the 11th Century split what was then the only Christian Church into Western and Eastern branches. It will take place in Havana on February 12 with the pope stopping over on his way to a previously scheduled visit to Mexico and Kirill due on the communist island for an official visit. A meeting between the two leaders has been on the cards for some time with Francis having said in 2014 that he was willing to meet Kirill "wherever you want, you call me and I'll come." Relations between the two churches have been frosty for centuries because of the legacy of the Great Schism of 1054 and the recriminations, including mutual excommunications, that followed. The Orthodox Church's refusal to accept the primacy of the Roman pontiff has long been the primary barrier to a rapprochement but more recently relations have been strained by the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. The Moscow-based Russian Orthodox Church has accused Catholics in Ukraine who use Eastern forms of worship but are loyal to Rome of both evangelism and fomenting Ukrainian nationalism. Since becoming Pope in 2013, Francis has made better relations between Roman Catholicism and other organised religions a priority. Last month he announced plans to visit Sweden in October for a ecumenical service to mark next year's 500th anniversary of the Protestant reformation in Europe. Expressing concern over the surging numbers of those incarcerated in prisons across the country, the Supreme court today said overcrowding of jails has gone up even after a slew of directions to check it. The apex court also said there was no noticeable change in the condition of prisoners and observed that prisoners deserve to be treated with dignity. "It is clear that in spite of several orders passed by this Court from time to time in various petitions, for one reason or another, the issue of overcrowding in jails continues to persist ...," a bench of Justices M B Lokur and R K Agrawal said. "Has anything changed on the ground? The prison statistics available as on December 31, 2014 from the website of NCRB indicate that as far as overcrowding is concerned, there is no perceptible change and in fact the problem of overcrowding has perhaps been accentuated with the passage of time," the apex court said. The court, which passed a slew of directions aimed at prison reforms, said despite various directions and assurances by the government, there has been no significant change in the condition inside jails. "The sum and substance ... Is that prisoners, like all human beings, deserve to be treated with dignity," it said. The social justice bench also noted that maximum overcrowding was in the jail of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (331.7 per cent), followed by Chhattisgarh (258.9 per cent) and Delhi (221.6 per cent). The court issued notice to the Ministry of Women and Child Development and directed it to prepare a prison manual after taking into consideration the condition of juveniles who are in Observation Homes. "Prison reforms have been the subject matter of discussion and decisions rendered by this Court from time to time over the last 35 years. Unfortunately, even though Article 21 of the Constitution requires a life of dignity for all persons, little appears to have changed on the ground as far as prisoners are concerned and we are once again required to deal with issues relating to prisons in the country and their reform," the bench said. On June 13, 2013 former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti, had written a letter to Chief Justice of India relating to the inhuman conditions in 1382 prisons in India which was reported in a newspaper. Subsequently, a PIL was registered and notices issued to the government. With regard to the functioning of Undertrial Review Committee, the apex court asked the panel in every district to meet every quarter and directed Secretary of District Legal Services Committee to attend the meetings for release of undertrial prisoners and convicts who have undergone their sentence. "The Under Trial Review Committee should specifically look into aspects pertaining to effective implementation of Section 436 of CrPC and Section 436A of the CrPC so that undertrial prisoners are released at the earliest and those who cannot furnish bail bonds due to their poverty are not subjected to incarceration only for that reason. "The Under Trial Review Committee will also look into issue of implementation of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 particularly with regard to first-time offenders so that they have a chance of being restored and rehabilitated in society," the bench said. It also ordered the member secretary of State Legal Services Authority of every state, in coordination with the Secretary of the District Legal Services Committee, to ensure that an adequate number of competent lawyers are empanelled to assist undertrial prisoners and convicts who cannot afford legal aid. "The Secretary of the District Legal Services Committee will also look into the issue of the release of undertrial prisoners in compoundable offences, the effort being to effectively explore the possibility of compounding offences rather than requiring a trial to take place. "The Director General of Police/Inspector General of Police in-charge of prisons should ensure that there is proper and effective utilisation of available funds so that the living conditions of the prisoners is commensurate with human dignity. This also includes the issue of their health, hygiene, food, clothing, rehabilitation etc," the court said. The bench also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure that Management Information System in all central and district jails was in place at the earliest. "The Ministry of Home Affairs will conduct an annual review of the implementation of the Model Prison Manual 2016 for which considerable efforts have been made not only by senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs but also persons from civil society. "The Model Prison Manual 2016 should not be reduced to yet another document that might be reviewed only decades later, if at all. The annual review will also take into consideration the need, if any, of making changes therein. The Under Trial Review Committee will also look into the issues raised in the Model Prison Manual 2016 including regular jail visits as suggested in the said Manual. We direct accordingly," it said. Under attack by BJP for being "silent", Rahul Gandhi today said strict action will be taken in the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student in Bangalore that has triggered a nationwide outrage. Gandhi said he told the Chief Minister that "strict action is to be taken and it will be taken". "I condemn 100 per cent this type of action," the Congress Vice President told reporters, adding that he spoke to the party General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka to look into the matter and speak to the Chief Minister. Nine persons have been arrested so far since the incident happened on Sunday night when the 21-year-old Tanzanian student went through the ordeal in vigilante justice by an angry mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here. The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot with the miscreants mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has deniedthat the Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked, claiming that it was not a racial attack. Hardselling Indian Railways as "the perfect destination", Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today said its revenue would rise by 50 per cent over the next five years as it scouted for foreign investment. Addressing India Investment Summit 2016 here, he said India is the "most happening country" in the world at a time when major economies are witnessing a slowdown, which he said makes it all the more compelling to invest in railway. The Railways, the Minister said, is trying to create a fund, with the World Bank as anchor and pension and sovereign wealth funds as co-investors. "The Railways is the perfect destination... Stream of income is guaranteed. The Railways is being owned by the Government of India. So, the capital is definitely completely safe," Prabhu told the investors. On revenue growth, the minister is "sure that in next five years, (it) will increase at least by 50 per cent... so, revenues will rise and that will also provide some sort of comfort to investors". The total earnings of the Indian Railways during in 2014-15 came in at Rs 1,57,880.5 crore as against Rs 1,40,761.27 crore in the previous year, an increase of 12.16 per cent. The proposed fund would invest in projects selected by a professional fund managers, he added. The funds would be used for modernisation of railway as well. Prabhu laid a premium on infrastructure as the best investment destination in India. "Infrastructure deficiency in India is pretty large. We have to cover lots of ground, we have not still reached the desired destination of at least 10 per cent of GDP going into infrastructure investment and therefore... We need to put money in infrastructure, maybe even for the next two decades minimum," the minister said. Investment in railway, Prabhu added, would spur economic growth in India, which means benefits for the global economy as well. In a relief to Rajat Gupta, the India-born former Goldman Sachs director, a US court has agreed to rehear his appeal to throw out his 2012 insider- trading conviction that landed him in jail. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan yesterday agreed to revisit its rejection of 67-year-old Gupta's appeal, five weeks before his release from home confinement on March 13. Gupta, who was also the global managing director of McKinsey & Co, in the past too had filed several appeals, including to the US Supreme Court to overturn his conviction and a two-year prison term but the courts rejected his arguments and affirmed his sentence. Gupta, the highest-profile corporate executive found guilty in the US crackdown on insider trading, was convicted in 2012 of passing illegal tips about Goldman Sachs to Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam while serving on the Goldman Sachs board. Rajaratnam is serving an 11-year prison sentence after his 2011 conviction on insider-trading charges. Gupta and Rajaratnam were the most prominent people rounded up in the US government's crackdown on insider trading. He was freed early on January five from Federal Medical Centre Devens, a correctional facility in Massachusetts, after receiving credit for good behaviour. He spent 19 months in jail. However, he has to stay confined to his apartment until March 13 with an ankle bracelet that will monitor his movements. Rajaratnam, 58, is serving an 11-year sentence in the same federal prison complex for masterminding a multimillion- dollar insider scheme. He is set to be released in July 2021. At the age of 45, the IIT and Harvard-educated Gupta became the first Indian CEO of the consulting giant McKinsey. He co-founded the prestigious Indian School of Business with fellow McKinsey executive Anil Kumar, who had pleaded guilty to insider trading and testified as a government witness against Gupta in his trial. Home Minister Rajnath Singh today reviewed the security along the coast in Daman and Diu and asked the authorities to ensure further enhancement of the protection of seas off the union territory. Singh, who is on a two-day visit here, had a detailed meeting with the Daman and Diu administration regarding various aspects of coastal security. The Home Minister reviewed the coastal security apparatus, a coastal police station and an operational detachment in Daman and Diu, a Home Ministry official said. He asked all concerned to ensure further enhancement of coastal security, the official said. The Daman and Diu coasts are guarded by four coastal boats and foot patrol. One coastal police jetty at Daman is already operational while construction of a jetty at Diu is in advanced stage. The Home Minister inaugurated a new coastal police station at Diu while construction of another one is in advanced stage in Daman. Singh also discussed various development and governance issues of the Union Territories (UTs) of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli located along the Arabian sea. The UT administrator expressed his gratitude to the Home Minister for the creation of 114 posts for coastal police and assured that recruitment will be completed soon and both the new coastal police stations will start working in full capacity within six months. The Home minister expressed satisfaction on the progress made by the Union Territory for strengthening and upgrading the infrastructure and called for creating greater synergies amongst all agencies involved in this endeavour. During the visit, the Home Minister inaugurated a newly- constructed 60-bedded district hospital with different speciality services built at a cost of Rs 27 crore. A three-MW solar power plant was dedicated and foundation stone of a six-MW plant was laid by the Home Minister. The commissioning of the plant will make Diu the first district in the country to meet its entire energy requirement from solar energy. The Home Minister also laid the foundation stone of a government polytechnic college and inaugurated an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600 people. Singh said time has come to give a greater push to tourism in conjunction with the neighbouring state of Gujarat and develop Diu-Gir-Somnath and Daman-Sanjan-Udwada as tourist circuits. The Home Minister said he would ask the Civil Aviation Minister to launch air connectivity on the Ahmadabad-Diu sector at the earliest and will also urge the Shipping Minister to start Catamaran services between Mumbai, Daman and Diu for improving the sea connectivity between them. Pitching for "self-regulation", government on Friday told the media that it would not bring in any regulation but the press should recognise the massive responsibility it has. Minister of State (MoS) for Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also suggested that media coverage often ends up "supporting" terrorists by "publicising" their "small acts", which spreads fear. Addressing the convocation ceremony of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) here, he, however, said the freedom of press would "never shrink" in the country. The media was kept out of the event that took place against the backdrop of a recent controversy over allegations of "casteist" remarks made against some SC/ST students of the Institute by some of their peers. The Minister sought to remind the audience of the amount of responsibility journalists bear. "The curse of the 21st century is terrorism. And the psyche of a terrorist wants greater impact of a small incident. Kill one person and terrify a population of a lakh. A terrorist is aware of the fact that unfortunately who will publicise his small act. "The direct cause of panic is fear and there is a portion of us that support the terrorists in spreading that fear into those who don't support terrorism," Rathore said. Referring to the French media's coverage of the Paris attacks aftermath, Rathore said, "Can you on their television pick up one spot of blood? One spot of bullet mark or more importantly a grieving mother, a grieving wife, a grieving daughter? You will not." Rathore said that the war between channels is so intense in India that "there's no limit" after a point and that "if one channel talks to mother, the other looks for the wife or the daughter." Government cannot "correct" the situation by bringing any regulation as this would be possible only through self regulation, he said. "One thing is for sure that freedom of the press will never shrink in this country ....The amount of power you wield, through print, electronic and social media, which goes beyond boundaries.....Hence there is amazing amount of responsibility you should have," he said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said the reforms are being introduced in the MGNREGA to provide greater benefits to a larger number of people. The Chief Minister said the scheme, which was launched about 10 years ago, had a number of "shortcomings". "This had resulted in the benefits being limited to only a few people. However, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Rural Development Minister, Birender Singh, consistent efforts are being made to overcome the drawbacks in the scheme," he said at the 30th Surajkund International Crafts Mela-2016, according to an an official release. Referring to his upcoming visit to Chennai, the Chief Minister said that he would visit the city on February 10, to attract investment in Haryana. He said that apart from foreign investors, the Haryana Government was also wooing investors from other states. He said Haryana Government was ready for elections to Urban Local Bodies in the State and all preparations have been completed. The election process would begin as soon as the date is announced by the State Election Commission, he added. The Chief Minister had earlier held a discussion with officers regarding health services being provided in the State. Speaking on the occasion, Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain, said that the Haryana Government is ready to take every possible step for empowerment of women and the ambitious 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme is being implemented. She also hailed the election of nearly 50 per cent women to Panchayati Raj Institutions in the State during the recently-concluded elections. (REOPENS DES45) Khattar directed the Additional Chief Secretaries to create a mechanism so that every beneficiary recieves the benefit of various welfare schemes being implemented. He said the 25 Good Governance Associates have been appointed with the objective to ensure good governance and transparency in the working of the government. These associates would be in the field from July 18 to see whether the people at grassroot level are benefitting from the schemes and report to the state government. Besides, they would also assist in the implementation of various programmes of the state government. He said Chief Minister (CM) Window has been set up to promptly resolve the grievances of people. About 1.50 lakh complaints have so far been received on the CM Window out of which maximum complaints have been disposed of. He said the state government is actively working on various programmes like Make in India, Skilled India, and Startup India. A Skill Development University is also being set up in Faridabad. Earlier, Finance Minister Abhimanyu assured that Haryana would not only be able to achieve SDGs, but would also go beyond that by improving the overall quality of life of people in the state. UN Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in India, Yuri Afanasiev assured the Chief Minister that with the cooperation of the state administration, the draft of the action plan for achieving the target of sustainable development would be prepared by November. ABVP leader Nandanam Susheel Kumar, who has been accused of abetting suicide of Rohith Vemula, today said the Dalit research scholar could have ended his life over personal issues as his suicide note did not mention a specific reason for the extreme step. Susheel Kumar also said that he was ready to face punishment if found guilty. "Rohith was not a weak person, who could have lost his heart at the suspension (by the Hyderabad Central University). There could have been some personal and particular reasons behind his suicide," Susheel Kumar told reporters in a press conference here. "Let there be a free and fair inquiry...Maybe judicial or other. If I am found guilty, then I am ready to face punishment," he said. "But I want to ask why there has been so much of over- reaction to this particular suicide case only. HCU witnessed over 12 suicides in the last seven to eight years. Why are people being so selective about this particular case alone," Kumar said. "I did not have any personal issues with Rohith, there were only ideological differences," Kumar said in response to a query. "Rohith and other members assaulted me and I was grievously injured, following which I landed in a hospital and also underwent an appendicitis surgery," he claimed. Rohith, whose body was found hanging in a hostel room on January 17, was among the five research scholars, who were suspended by the HCU in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of alleged assault on Susheel Kumar. "Rohith's suicide note has nowhere mentioned that he was committing suicide for any particular reason...Action should be initiated against the Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) and Students Federation of India (SFI) leaders as certain lines of the suicide note implicate them," he alleged. Lashing out at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury over their visit to the HCU campus in the wake of suicide, Kumar accused them of fueling Dalit vs non-Dalit atmosphere. "They are visiting campus with an attempt to politicise an unfortunate death in university in the name of consoling the bereaved family. But why are they criticising only for the sake of it? Why are they ignoring the core issues?" he asked. Replying to a query, Kumar said, "(Union Minister) Bandaru Dattatreya might have written a letter to university, but AIMIM leaders had also come on the campus and ignited the issue." He said political parties should have limited interference in the day-to-day affairs of academic institutions. Niche bike-maker Royal Enfield is looking to gain entry into Brazil, the largest market in Latin America, and establish itself in major markets like Indonesia and Thailand as part of its plans to become a leading player in the 250-750 cc segment globally. "Currently, we are looking at Latin America and South East Asia regions for our growth in markets. We are already in Colombia and now figuring out a way to enter Brazil, the biggest market in Latin America. So that's on the horizon," Royal Enfield CEO Siddhartha Lal told reporters in a conference call on Friday. He, however, did not share details on the time frame of entry into the Latin American country. Royal Enfield is currently present in Colombia, where it has established five stores. The company is also looking to gain foothold in Indonesia and Thailand, which are quite large commuter motorcycle markets, he added. "Indonesia is among the largest two-wheeler markets in the world. We have opened a store in Jakarta. Thailand is a very developed market for mid-segment and we aim to open our first dealership there soon," Lal said. The company would first like to create awareness about the Royal Enfield brand in these markets before expanding further, Lal added. The company, which is the two-wheeler arm of Eicher Motors, currently sells various popular models like Bullet, Classic, Thunderbird and Continental GT. It recently unveiled Himalayan, an all-terrain 411 cc motorcycle, as part of its plans to expand its product range in the mid-sized bike segment. Having established its business firmly in the domestic market, the company is now eyeing major markets across the world to sustain its growth momentum. In the past few months, Royal Enfield has expanded its global footprint in key nodal cities like London, Madrid, Paris, Dubai, Bogota and Medellin. The company plans to produce up to 9 lakh motorcycles by the end of 2018 from its two existing manufacturing facilities and a third upcoming facility, in Tamil Nadu. Royal Enfield is also building two new technology centers -- one in India and another in the UK -- to enhance capability and execute its long-term product strategy. Gold worth nearly Rs 2.65 crore, smuggled from Myanmar, was seized at the Visakhapatnam railway station by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. Three passengers were arrested in this connection. Based on specific intelligence that three persons travelling in Chennai-bound Coromandel Express possessed smuggled gold of foreign origin, the officers of DRI Bhubaneshwar, in coordination with their counterparts in Visakhapatnam, conducted a joint operation and intercepted the culprits yesterday. "On search of the baggage of the three passengers, 58 foreign marked gold biscuits in bullion form were found, which were deftly concealed," Additional Director General M K Singh said in a release. On interrogation, the passengers admitted that the gold biscuits, weighing about 9.65 kg, concealed in their baggage were smuggled from Myanmar. Further investigation was on. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today accused SAD-BJP government of having "failed" to send officers of Punjab cadre to Chandigarh on deputation and alleged that it showed the "anti-Punjab" face of Badals. "Punjab government has failed to send officers of Punjab cadre to Chandigarh on deputation. Badal government is cheating and misleading the people of Punjab on the issue," AAP convener, Sucha Singh Chhotepur said. "This is an example of anti-Punjab face of Badals," he alleged, adding that a number of posts of Punjab quota in UT administration are lying vacant. Chhotepur said after every five years before elections, Badal tried to grab the votes of Punjabis on the Chandigarh issue while the ground reality was opposite. After elections, Badal forgot about the promises made during the elections. He said just to confuse the people of Punjab, the state government had written a letter to the Union government to seek 60 per cent quota of Punjab cadre officers in the Union Territory Chandigarh under Punjab Reorganisation Act 1966. Chhotepur alleged that Punjabi language has failed to get its due in Chandigarh because of the "bad policies" of Akali-BJP and Congress governments in the past. He claimed that at present the percentage of Punjab cadre officers and employees in some important departments had gone down to even lesser than 5 per cent. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in a meeting here today took umbrage at the arrest of former MP Samir Bhujbal in an alleged money laundering case, terming it a "vengeful" act. The meeting called by Maharashtra NCP unit secretary Dilip Khaire was attended by state general secretary Nanasaheb Mahale and party corporators Arjun Tile, Kavita Kardak, Ranjan Thakare, among others, a release said. "During various raids conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, nothing (incriminating) was found. The raids were conducted with a motive to disturb Bhujbal family," it said. The members alleged that the ruling party at the Centre and in the state has failed to solve the issues of farmer suicides, drought and increasing crime and was trying to hide its failure by maligning the Bhujbal family's image. "The Nashik unit of NCP will take to the streets in a show of strength if the ruling party continues to malign the Bhujbal family," the statement said. Samir, nephew of NCP leader and former Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal, was arrested by the ED on February 1, follwong multiple searches by the agency at properties belonging to him, Bhujbal, his son Pankaj, and a few others. Sankara Nethralaya, the renowned Chennai-based eye hospital, plans to set up an eye hospital in Thane, an official said today. "An MoU in this regard was today signed between the Thane Municipal Corporation and Dr S S Badrinath of Sankara Nethralaya," Thane Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal said. Jaiswal said the Thane Municipal Corporation has decided to allot 8400 square metre of land for the hospital. "In addition to the hospital, there would be training centres for paramedical staff and a research centre," Badrinath said, adding it would be operational in two years. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis conveyed his best wishes to Dr Badrinath for the decision to build the hospital in Thane, it was informed. October 15, 2022, Saturday US President Joe Biden has said Pakistan is one of the most dangerous nations in the world as it has nuclear weapons without ... The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Delhi government and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) to either shift out Millennium Bus Depot on the banks of Yamuna within a year or get the master plan amended to legalise its existence. A bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi gave the direction while deciding separate appeals of the Delhi government and DTC on the issue. The appeals were filed against a Delhi High Court order refusing to extend the time to the authorities to shift out the bus depot which was allowed to be constructed on temporary basis to park buses during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The apex court had earlier rapped the Delhi government for its stand on shifting of the depot, saying the Chief Minister has been "on record" that the site would be vacated. On January 27, it had reserved the verdict on two appeals filed by the city government and DTC against the high court decision. The apex court had said that for augmenting the public transport system, DTC cannot be allowed to continue with its depot, which was meant for only two weeks during the Commonwealth Games has been admittedly built on the river bed. Justice Sikri had referred to his judgement passed as a high court judge and said it was an admitted position that no construction would be allowed on the flood plain of the river and it was also submitted that parks, on the lines of those in Paris and London, would be developed. DTC and the Delhi government had challenged the high court decision dismissing the transporter's plea for grant of six months to approach DDA to change the land use of the Millennium Bus Depot site. The high court, on October 20, 2015, had shot down DTC's plea on the issue, saying it was an abuse of the court process to seek extension of time after undertaking to shift it. The high court had also said that it had in 2012 given six months to either shift the depot or change land use of the site and there was "no justifiable reason" now for further extension. The 50-acre millennium depot was built on the river bank initially as a temporary depot during the 2010 games, with a parking space for around 1,000 buses along with various facilities, including five workshop-cum-scanning centres, a logistics centre and two CNG-filling stations. The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a Congress MP from West Bengal, challenging a Delhi High Court order refusing to stay his eviction from bungalow at New Moti Bagh here. In an unusual order, the apex court rejected the plea of Chowdhury when his counsel mentioned the matter for urgent hearing and said that it is not going to list it and rather dismissed it at the threshold. "Taken on board and dismissed," a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur said, adding, "You are an MP and you want to stay in a bungalow to which you are not entitled. What kind of petition is this. You just vacate." The bench, also comprising justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, took a strong note of the submission that Chowdhury was earlier never asked to vacate the premises and has been paying the market rent to the government. "Do you mean to say that you will vacate only when they ask you to do so," the bench said. The high court had on February 3 rejected Chowdhury's plea, saying he will have to vacate the property forthwith. It had also turned down the MP's oral prayer for alternative arrangement for the interim period, saying the new residence allotted to him at Humayun Road in Lutyen's Delhi will take another 10-15 days to get ready for use. The high court had refused to stay Chowdhury's eviction, while upholding the single-judge bench order of February 1. Chowdhury, a Lok Sabha member, had moved the court against the February 1 order dismissing his plea against the eviction, following which the authorities concerned had disconnected water and power supply to his bungalow at 14, New Moti Bagh here, even as they started eviction proceedings against him. Thereafter, Chowdhury rushed to court, which had earlier directed that status quo be maintained with regard to the eviction till February 3. According to the directorate of estates, the MP has been allotted another house on Humayun Road and given sufficient time to vacate the ministerial bungalow which, it said, he was not entitled to. But Chowdhury did not vacate despite several reminders in the past, it had alleged. A section of municipal corporation doctors today called off their strike called to press for payment of salaries, urging authorities to refrain from taking "punitive action" and cutting salaries for participating in the strike. "The executive body of Municipal Corporation Doctors Association today decided to call off the strike," President of the Association Dr R R Gautam said. A delegation of the Association earlier met Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisdia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain who assured them that the "official process" has been started to meet their demand of taking over of municipal corporation health services by the government. "Deputy CM Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain assured us that official process for taking over Health Services of corporations has been started as a permanent solution," Dr Gautam said. Delhi government has already given a "bailout package" of Rs 693 crore for payment of salaries and the ministers also assured that there will be no problem in future salary payment, he said, lauding Delhi government's action. Dr Gautam also said that they want to join duties in public interest but requested that there be no "punitive action" and "salary cut" of doctors and employees of other health services by the municipal corporation authorities. "If such an action is taken against us, we will again go on strike," he said. However, the leaders of Resident Doctors' Association stressed that their strike was on and that a final decision on it will be taken by a general body meeting tomorrow. "We have not called off our strike yet. A general body meeting of the Association will be held at 10 am tomorrow for a final decision about the strike," President of the association Dr Aditya said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today voiced hope that the comprehensive bilateral dialogue process between Pakistan and India would move forward in days to come as he underlined that "differences" on all outstanding issues, including on Kashmir can be resolved only through talks. Addressing a joint session of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's 'assembly' in Muzaffarabad to mark 'Kashmir Solidarity Day', Sharif also said that Pakistan is ready to cooperate with India on every matter, including terrorism. "Pakistan is most affected by terrorism. Who wants eradication of terrorism more than Pakistan?" he said. "Difference of opinion between two countries is not unheard of. What is unusual is that for 6-7 decades, we have not been able to get rid of these differences," he said. Sharif said that solution to all outstanding issues with India including Kashmir lies in dialogue. "I brought this up with the Indian leadership and would like to reiterate that the solution to our problems lies in dialogue. Unless we sit together and talk about these issues, they won't be resolved," he said. He expressed hope that Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue process between Pakistan and India would move forward in days to come. 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 air base terror attack, for which India has blamed Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and has been seeking action against the terror outfit and its chief Masood Azhar. Sharif said that Pakistan wants peace in entire South Asia, of which Kashmir is an important part. "Pakistan has tried to give a new vision to the region aimed at bringing peace to the area. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a part of these efforts," he was quoted as saying by Radio Pakistan. The Prime Minister said that the corridor would benefit the PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan. Announcing 250 million rupees for development projects in PoK, he said many hydro-electricity projects are being initiated in the area and a railway link from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad is in the pipeline. "We want to build a railway link from Islamabad to Muzaffarabad and a highway from Mirpur to Muzaffarabad," Sharif said, adding that a project to construct expressway from Murree to Muzaffarabad is also under consideration. Speaking on the occasion, PoK's 'Prime Minister' Chaudhry Abdul Majeed lauded Sharif for "taking a clear stance on Kashmir in the United Nations." Every year February 5 is observed as 'Kashmir Solidarity Day' in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to pledge support for the people of Kashmir. The day features seminars, protests marches and speeches by various parties and groups. The day is a holiday in Pakistan. Tamils in Sri Lanka are willing to take 10 steps if the majority Sinhala community takes one step to protect them, Northern Province Chief Minister CV Wigneswaran said, a day after the country's national anthem was sung in Tamil after 67 years here. "We are very happy about it. Despite a few problems, Sinhalese and Tamils of late have extended the hand of friendship. I will tell the Sinhalese that if you take one step to provide us protection, We Tamils will take 10 steps to be with you," Wigneswaran said today. The 76-year-old Tamil leader visited the only Sinhala majority Buddhist shrine in the northern Jaffna peninsula dominated by the minority Tamils, saying he chose to visit the Buddhist temple in a note of appreciation of the singing of national anthem in Tamil. The government action allowing the Tamil version, however, has met with sharp criticism from Sinhala majority nationalists who dubbed it as an action to create a division. The Tamil version of the national anthem was sung yesterday at the national Independence Day ceremony presided by President Maithripala Sirisena here. Last time, Sri Lanka sang the national anthem in Tamil in 1949. Wigneswaran, a former judge of the Supreme Court, was elected the northern Chief Minister in 2013 by more than 85 per cent votes. He was accused of adopting a hardline since Sirisena took some measures to ease tensions between the two communities by attempting reconciliation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the murder of a Kashmiri boy in the district here last month as police today claimed to have got some clues that can crack the case. 11-year-old Irshad Ahmad Lone was found stabbed to death in a rented accommodation in Bhagatpura mohalla here on January 7, when his father Javed Ahmad Lone returned from work. The boy was accompanying his father who is a regular visitor to Punjab to sell woollen garments. Phagwara SP Ashwani Kumar will head the SIT while DSP Manpreet Singh Dhillon, along with SHO Satnampura, will be its members, said Kapurthala SSP Rajinder Singh here. Claiming that police had got some clue about the case, the SSP said that SIT would solve the matter in coming days. Irshad had come here with his father Javed from his native village Waisa, Hindwara, in Kupwara district of J&K at the beginning of January. On January 7, Javed had left in the morning for selling garments, leaving the boy behind in the rented room and when he returned from work he found him stabbed to death, police said. The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court today said that some more clarifications were required in the matter relating to bungalow allotment to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati. After hearing the arguments of the counsel for the central and state governments, the court fixed February 8 as the next date of hearing on a pending PIL seeking CBI probe on alleged merger and transfer of a bunglow to Mayawati in Mall Avenue area here. A division bench of justice Satyendra Singh Chauhan and justice Ritu Raj Awasthi gave this order today on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by M L Yadav in 2013. Earlier, the court had given one last opportunity to the state government counsel on his request to file supplementary affidavit on information regarding the merger of any other government bungalows in Lucknow. It had also directed the petitioner to do more research work and find out as to how many other bungalows had been merged in Lucknow in an identical way as was done in bungalow allotment to Mayawati. The petititoner sought a direction to produce all the records of a bungalow in Mall Avenue here and make it clear under which procedure/channel it was ultimately allegedly merged and transferred in Mayawati's name. He also sought a direction for a detailed inquiry by an independent agency like CBI in this matter. India's oilmeals exports dipped by 91 per cent to touch a historical low at 1,7243 tonnes in January 2016 due to high prices of soybean meal in domestic markets, industry body SEA said today. The overall export of oilmeals during April to January has come down by 51 per cent to 10.05 lakh tonnes as against 20.47 lakh tonnes in the same period last year. "The oilmeals exports have touched lowest ever mark of 17,243 tonnes in January this year, as the soyabean prices are ruling substantially higher than the domestic prices. India majorly exports soya meal," Executive Director of Solvent Extractors' Association (SEA), B V Mehta told PTI. As per the SEA data, export of soybean meal has touched a historical low at 69,263 tonnes in the first ten months of 2015-16 as compared to 5.49 lakh tonnes in the previous year. Indian soybean meal is quoted at about USD 492 per tonne as against the Argentina origin soybean meal CIF Rotterdam at USD 335 per tonne, which makes the Indian soybean meal totally outpriced by about USD 160 per tonne in international market. State Bank of Patiala, a subsidiary of SBI, today contributed Rs 2.36 crore to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for Chennai flood victims. A cheque of Rs 2.36 crore was handed over to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today as the bank's contribution for helping the victims of recent catastrophe due to torrential rains in Chennai, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. Jaitley lauded the efforts for rising to the occasion and thanked the bank, its staff and officers for standing up with the people of Chennai and the Government of India during such crisis, it said. The donation is manifestation of the concern of 15,000 employees of the bank, who donated their one day salary to help the affected persons, it said. The bank had recently felicitated the National Bravery Award winners as part of Republic Day celebrations and also donated ambulances to Red Cross and blind school as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility programmes. A suspected terror operative, who is alleged to have links with dreaded outfit ISIS, was today remanded to police custody till February 10 by a Delhi court. 28-year-old Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police yesterday, was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh and the probe agency sought his custodial interrogation in connection with busting of the alleged ISIS module. The police told the court that Sayyed was required to be quizzed to unearth the entire module and to ascertain the identities of other persons associated with it. Advocate Akram Khan, who appeared for Sayyed, opposed the plea saying his client has been falsely implicated. The police had last month arrested four persons with suspected ISIS links from Manglour in Uttarakhand and claimed to have unearthed a terror plot to target the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, especially the trains headed there, along with some strategic locations in the national capital. The suspects were identified as Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Mohammed Osama, Mohammed Azim Shah and Mehroz. According to police, Sayyed, who is believed to be self- radicalised, was acting as a financier and had given Rs 50,000 to the four persons who were arrested earlier. All of them were found to have links with a former Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist who later went to fight for ISIS, the police said. "The arrested persons were allegedly in contact with a former IM operative, who later went for training in Syria and is presently believed to be a key member of Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT) which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)," the police said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here on Friday on a two-day visit to hold talks with the top Sri Lankan leadership during which the issues of fishermen and Tamils' rights are likely to figure prominently. Swaraj, who is visiting Colombo for the second time within a year, was received by her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera at the airport lounge. The two leaders will co-chair the 9th Joint Commission meeting to discuss key bilateral and regional issues. The talks will cover the entire gamut of relationship pertaining to economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. The joint commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January 2013. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said yesterday that the fishermen issue is expected to figure during Swaraj's meeting with the Lankan leaders. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem, Swarup had said, adding that India wants a long-term solution. Leaving for Sri Lanka tommw morning for Joint Commission meeting in Colombo. Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 4, 2016 Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. The issue of rights of minority Tamil community is also expected to come up for discussions during Swaraj's meetings. Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had last month said his government was ready to devolve power to minority Tamils under a new Constitution, aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict and achieving reconciliation with Tamils. Strengthening a cherished relationship. EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Colombo. Is received by FM Samaraweera pic.twitter.com/x8HwGfYvUO Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) February 5, 2016 Swaraj will also call on President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga besides meeting other top leaders. She will inaugurate a 'Rise of Digital India' exhibition tomorrow as part of 'Sangam' festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-2016. The exhibition will showcase the phenomenal rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India which is positively impacting the everyday lives of people. India-Sri Lanka relations had seen lows during last few years of the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was voted out of power, even as China had expanded its footprint in the country by building ports, highways and participating in other infrastructure projects. The ties gained momentum after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here in March last year, the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in over 25 years. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who sought Indian investment and offered partnership in setting up a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) besides briefing her on latest political developments in the country. Swaraj, who arrived here on her second visit to the country within a year, held talks with Wickremesinghe at the Prime Minister's Office 'Temple Trees', and the two leaders had a "fruitful exchange of views". During their 50-minute long meeting, the Prime Minister sought Indian investment in Sri Lanka and proposed partnership in setting up an SEZ in Trincomalee, officials said. "Their talks began with the discussion on the Indo-Lanka Joint Commission (JC) meeting and the Prime Minister said this is a very important forum for the two sides to advance in bilateral partnership in all areas," they said. Wickremesinghe also proposed to make the JC meeting an annual affair. The two leaders also talked about state university linkages. The JC was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting was held in New Delhi in January 2013. A warm welcome by a close neighbour. EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on PM Ranil Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees pic.twitter.com/Hqj8ITmdq9 Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) February 5, 2016 Wickremesinghe briefed Swaraj on the latest political developments in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister had last month said his government was ready to devolve power to minority Tamils under a new Constitution, aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict and achieving reconciliation with Tamils. Swaraj, who arrived here on a two-day visit, was received by her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera at the airport. The two leaders will co-chair the 9th JC meeting to discuss key bilateral and regional issues today. The talks will cover the entire gamut of relationship pertaining to economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to- people contact. The fishermen issue is expected to figure during JC meeting. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while India maintains they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. Swaraj will also call on President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga besides meeting other top leaders. India-Sri Lanka relations had seen lows during last few years of the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was voted out of power, even as China had expanded its footprint in the country by building ports, highways and participating in other infrastructure projects. Ties gained momentum after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in March last year, the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in over 25 years. Swaraj had visited Sri Lanka in March 2015. The Syrian military and allied fighters, backed by Russian airstrikes, today pushed ahead with a major offensive in the north of the country, capturing another village and moving a step closer to encircling contested Aleppo, Syria's largest city. The offensive near the Turkish border, which began earlier this week, has sent tens of thousands of residents fleeing. Turkey has said about 10,000 Syrians have amassed on the Syrian side of the Turkish border and that about 70,000 more were on their way. Meanwhile, there was mounting Western criticism of Russia's military support for its ally, Syrian President Bashar Assad. Russian airstrikes in Syrian that mainly target opposition forces are "undermining efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said today. Russian air force activity in Syria has also led to increased violations of Turkish airspace, Stoltenberg said in Amsterdam, on the sidelines of a meeting of EU defense ministers. "This creates risks, heightened tensions and is of course a challenge for NATO because they're violations of NATO's airspace," he said. The Syrian government offensive comes at a time when hopes for a peace deal are increasingly dim, amid signs of possible further foreign military intervention. Earlier this week, a UN-led attempt to launch indirect talks between a government delegation and opposition representatives in Geneva was adjourned after several days of acrimonious bickering. At the same time, the Russian military said yesterday it had "reasonable grounds" to suspect that Turkey is making intensive preparations for a military invasion of neighboring Syria, while a Saudi military spokesman said the kingdom is ready, in principle, to send ground troops to Syria to fight Islamic State group extremists. In today's fighting, pro-government troops retook the village of Rityan north of Aleppo, one of several communities they captured in the area this week, according to the state agency SANA and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Observatory, an opposition monitoring group, said pro- government troops were backed by Russian airstrikes. It said that by taking Rityan, the government secured a road that links the predominantly Shiite villages of Nubl and Zahraa. Telecom operators will approach DoT to contest Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's (Trai's) recommendations on spectrum auctions, especially on pricing of the premium 700 Mhz band. "We will write to DoT by the end of next week for deferring auction of 700 Mhz band and on possible errors in calculation of price of 700 Mhz band (spectrum). Trai has fixed priced based on formula given 2012. Lot of things in the industry have changed since then," Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) Director General Rajan S Mathews told PTI. Leading operators had requested the regulator to defer sale of 700 MHz spectrum, saying that ecosystem for providing services in this band was not developed and sale would lead to under-utilisation of the spectrum for several years and block industry's crucial fund. Trai has recommended a record high base price of Rs 11,485 crore per Mhz for 700 Mhz alone. If all the available frequencies gets sold at Trai suggested price then it alone will yield a whopping Rs 4 lakh crore. As per Trai's paper, the cost of delivering mobile services in 700 Mhz band is approximately 70% lower than 2100 Mhz band, which is widely used for 3G services. The auction plan suggested by total potential revenue of Rs 5.36 lakh crore from the spectrum sale, expected to be held during May-June this year, is more than the double of gross revenues of telecom services industry. Telecom service providers had gross revenue of Rs 2.54 lakh crore in 2014-15 financial year. Trai has used its old formula given in April 2012 spectrum price recommendation to fix price of 700 Mhz at four times of 1800 Mhz band spectrum price -- widely known as 2G spectrum. Most of telecom operators who have purchased 1800 Mhz band in 2012 or later are using it for 4G services. Mathews said that COAI also has objections on Trai's suggestion to reduce block size in 2300 Mhz band and 2500 Mhz band to 10 Mhz while in 2010 telecom operators like Infotel Broadband (now Reliance Jio), Airtel and Aircel were allowed to buy block of 20 Mhz. "Government should give everyone equal opportunity. Across the world 20 Mhz block is a standard so it should be same in India," Mathews said. Telecom operators will also raise issue of contiguous spectrum frequency in 1800 Mhz band. "A contiguous spectrum will not only bring value for industry but also fetch good price in auctions," Mathews said. While DoT has proposed to auction 21 Mhz of radiowave frequencies in 1800 Mhz band, Trai has suggested that on completion of harmonisation with defence it can increase to 201 Mhz spectrum in the same band. Twitter has suspended over 125,000 accounts, most of them linked to the Islamic State group, as part of a stepped-up effort to crack down on "terrorist content" on the messaging platform, it has said. The accounts frozen since mid-2015 were targeted "for threatening or promoting terrorist acts," said Twitter yesterday, which is under pressure from governments to act. "Like most people around the world, we are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups," Twitter said on its policy blog. "We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service." The announcement comes after the United States and other governments urged social networks to take more aggressive steps to root out activity aimed at recruiting and planning violent acts. Twitter said it already has rules to discourage this activity but that it was driving up enforcement by boosting staff and using technology to filter violence-promoting content. But it warned there is no easy technological solution. "As many experts and other companies have noted, there is no 'magic algorithm' for identifying terrorist content on the Internet, so global online platforms are forced to make challenging judgment calls based on very limited information and guidance," Twitter said. "In spite of these challenges we will continue to aggressively enforce our rules in this area and engage with authorities and other relevant organizations to find viable solutions to eradicate terrorist content from the Internet and promote powerful counter-speech narratives. Vice President Hamid Ansari today called on Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, on whom India has decided to bestow the first world Sanskrit Award. Sirindhorn, a 60-year-old scholar of Sanskrit who was the Royal Patron of the World Sanskrit Conference held here last year, will be travelling to India in this regard, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Anil Wadhwa said here. "Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will be travelling to India to receive the first world Sanskrit Award which has been conferred on her by the government of India," said Wadhwa, who was accompanying Ansari during his visit to Thailand. Before leaving for home, Ansari called on Princess Sirindhorn at the Sra Pathum Palace this morning and inspected the Chitralada Project inside it. Hers will be among the several visits by top Thai leaders expected this year including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. "There is an invitation to the Prime Minster of Thailand to visit us this year. We have also extended an invitation to Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to visit India at mutually convenient dates and he will be hosted by Vice President," Wadhwa said. "We also look forward to the visit of Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister to India at the invitation of our Defence Minister. So that is the fourth visit that we expect..." he added. Over 600 Sanskrit scholars from 60 countries participated in the five-day conference last year which was inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Wadhwa also lauded Thailand for successfully hosting the 16th World Sanskrit Conference. Chinese police have said for the first time that they are holding three Hong Kong booksellers who went missing on the mainland last year. The admission confirms what many in the quasi-independent territory have suspected, and will reinforce fears that rights guaranteed under the principle of "One Country, Two Systems" are being eroded. The three men all work for the Mighty Current publishing house, based in Hong Kong and known for salacious titles critical of the Chinese government. Five booksellers from the firm have disappeared since October. All have now turned up in China, drawing international criticism. Washington called on Beijing Monday to explain the disappearances, with a State Department spokesman saying the incidents "raise serious questions about China's commitment to Hong Kong's autonomy". Booksellers Lui Por, Cheung Chi-ping and Lam Wing-kee disappeared in southern mainland China in October. A fourth missing member of the company, Gui Minhai, a Swedish national, was paraded on Chinese state television in January, where he said he had turned himself in for a fatal driving accident 11 years ago. Gui had failed to return to Hong Kong from a holiday in Thailand in October. In a letter to Hong Kong police, the Interpol Guangdong Liaison Office, part of the southern Chinese province's public security department, said the three men being held "were suspected to be involved in a case relating to a person named Gui, and were involved in illegal activities on the mainland." "Criminal compulsory measures were imposed on them and they were under investigation," said the letter, released by Hong Kong police late Thursday. Enclosed was also a letter from the fifth missing bookseller, Lee Bo, Hong Kong police said. Lee's case has sparked the strongest backlash as he was the only one of the men to have disappeared while in Hong Kong. Lee was last seen at a book warehouse in his home city in December. Lawmakers and activists have accused mainland authorities of snatching Lee from the city, contravening Hong Kong's laws which do not allow Chinese police to operate within the territory. The new letter from Lee said Chinese authorities had told him Hong Kong police wanted to meet with him on the mainland, according to the Hong Kong police statement. After the assault and stripping of a Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru, three Nigerian nationals were allegedly assaulted here by a group of around 10 locals who hurled "racist" comments. However, Hyderabad police dismissed it as a "minor brawl" between one Nigerian and a local youth. One of the trio, Orolabe Ibidola, said the incident had occurred last night in Hakimpet area when he was returning home from a religious place when some local youths allegedly passed "racist" comments against him. Ibidola, a degree student, claimed when he sought to know the reasons for their comments, the locals assaulted him. "After beating me up, the locals then beat up two other Nigerian youths," he claimed. He also said one of the attackers was carrying a knife. However, Banjara Hills Police Station Inspector P Murali Krishna said there was a "minor brawl" between a Nigerian and a local youth following arguments over a road accident. "We have registered a case under IPC Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint) against the local youth following a complaint by the Nigerian youth," the told PTI. The Inspector said they have received a counter complaint from local residents against the Nigerian, alleging assault by the latter. A probe into the incident is on, Krishna said. After the incident, a group of Nigerians residing in the city held a protest outside the police station last night. The tiny South Pacific kingdom of Tonga said today it has a Zika epidemic after five people tested positive for the virus and another 265 are suspected of having it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in addition to Tonga, the Pacific islands of American Samoa and Samoa have also reported Zika outbreaks and it is warning Pacific travelers to protect themselves from mosquitoes, which spread the virus. Tonga Health Minister Saia Piukala told The Associated Press today the Zika outbreak is the island's first and it is awaiting the results of more blood tests that have been sent overseas. He said many people aren't being tested because of the cost, but are being diagnosed anyway because of their symptoms. Piukala said there haven't been any reported cases of pregnant women contracting the virus. "We hope that the pregnant women out there who have signs and symptoms of Zika come forward," he said. Malinoa Fainu, from Ha'ateiho village, said she'd heard about the disease on television and is trying to take precautions. "I'm afraid that I might catch it in my condition," she said. "I'm pregnant." Tongan health officials have started spraying bug killer in schools and other areas where people gather to try to slow the spread of the disease. Of the five confirmed cases of Zika that originated in Tonga, three were discovered in New Zealand when people who had traveled to Tonga were tested, officials said. But New Zealand officials say there is virtually no threat of Zika there because New Zealand doesn't have the species of mosquito which is spreading the disease. Brazilian researchers suspect the explosive spread of Zika is linked to an increase in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads, although scientists have not proven a link. The World Health Organization this week declared the Zika virus a global emergency. Over 150 trucks from India entered Nepal through a key border trade point today for the first time in more than four months as angry traders from both sides burned down tents set up by agitating Madhesis who had enforced a crippling blockade that led to severe shortages in the landlocked nation. A huge convoy of freight containers entered Nepal through the Birgunj-Raxaul border crossing in Bihar after local entrepreneurs from Nepal and India set ablaze the tents set by Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) protesters at Dasgaja's Miteri Bridge in Birgunj, 90 kilometres south of Kathmandu. "There was no official announcement of lifting of the blockade by India, though with no protesters obstructing the border point, few vehicles have entered into Nepal from Raxaul, said Yadav Koirala, Nepal home ministry spokesperson. The Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding the new Constitution be amended to include their concerns. "There is no blockade at the checkpoint right now, and over 150 trucks have passed through since afternoon," a senior police official said. Locals chased away Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Jitendra Sonal who reached the scene claiming the border blockade had not been officially ended. There is a strong presence of police and locals in the bridge. Meanwhile, small vehicles and rickshaws are plying in and across the bridge. A group of Indian traders came to the border and set ablaze the tents while some Nepalese locals also extended support to their action by chasing away few protesters sitting near the border area. After the removal of the tent and vacating the protesters from the border area few dozens of vehicles including some containers entered Nepal, according to officials. In November, police forcibly removed protesters from the bridge, leading to clashes with protesters that killed one Indian national. So far, 55 people have died in the violent Madhesi-Tharu agitation launched by Nepal's marginalised groups. The Madhesis have been agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led the blockade of key border trade points with India. The opening of the major Indo-Nepal border point comes as the protesting Madhesi leaders indicated that they would change the form of protest and the border blockade was likely to be lifted. Nepal had hinted recently that Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli may head to China instead of India if the trade "blockade" was not lifted, making the normalisation of situation at the Indo-Nepal border a pre-condition for the premier's maiden trip to New Delhi. The usual practice of the new prime ministers of Nepal is to travel to India on their maiden foreign trip. Only Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' had rubbed India the wrong way when he chose China as his first foreign destination after taking over as premier in 2008. Meanwhile, security arrangements have been intensified in the border area to prevent any untoward incident. For more than four months, life in the southern Nepal plains have been seriously affected with the Madhesi Front-led protests against the country's new Constitution that was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20. The Madhesis have been agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led the blockade of key border trade points with India. There has been growing pressure on the Madhesi Front to lift the blockade at the border as landlocked Nepal faced acute shortage of fuel, cooking gas and medicines among other essentials due to the blockade. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is holding forte in New Hampshire with a double digit lead over his nearest rival Marco Rubio while Democratic presidential aspirant Bernie Sanders has a massive lead over Hillary Clinton, a latest opinion poll has shown. As the results of the Iowa Caucuses came in, the crowded Republican presidential race appeared to be narrowing down to a three-cornered contest with Florida Senator Rubio coming a close third behind Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Donald Trump. On the other hand, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has a massive two-to-one lead over Democratic Presidential aspirant Hillary Clinton, who defeated him in the Iowa polls with a very slim margin of less than half a point, the opinion poll said yesterday. Sanders is favoured in New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation February 9 primary as the state-by-state voting to collect delegates for the party's nominating convention picks up speed. According to the new CNN/WMUR tracking poll was conducted entirely after Iowa Caucus early this week, Trump has support of 29% of likely Republican primary goers, followed by Rubio who has support of 18%. Senator Cruz, who surprised many by winning the Iowa caucus is now trailing third with 13% and is followed very closely by Ohio Governor John Kaisch (12%) and the former Florida Governor Jeb Bush (10%). CNN/WMUR said Clinton is trailing massively in New Hampshire. Sanders has support of 61% of the likely Democratic primary goers, while Clinton has support of just 30%, a drop of four points from the last polls. Online insurance platform Turtlemint has raised an undisclosed amount from Nexus Venture Partners and Blume Ventures. Turtlemint follows an online-offline model and provides recommendations to customers based on proprietary algorithms and data analytics, and offers a network of offline facilitators to help complete the insurance purchase and provide claims assistance. The company will use the funds to further scale up its technology and operations, it said. "This network fills a critical gap in customer servicing for majority of online customers who research online but buy offline. We plan to expand to 100+ cities in the next few months," Turtlemint co-founder Anand Prabhudesai said. The company plans to add life insurance and other products during the year. The Mumbai-based startup offers customers a choice of several policies from over 15 insurers for vehicle, two-wheeler, and health insurance categories. Turtlemint was founded in 2015 by Dhirendra Mahyavanshi and Anand Prabhudesai, both of whom were previously a part of the management team at Quikr, and have held operational roles in companies such as ICICI Lombard, Yahoo, eBay and Nokia. Two youths were killed when the motorcycle they were riding collided with a truck on Varanasi-Rae Bareli Road near Sagra Sunderpur bazar here, police said today. Satish (25) and Santosh (26) were returning from a wedding late last night when they met with the accident while trying to overtake the truck, they said. Both were taken to the district hospital where the doctors declared them dead, police added. Seeking to deepen UK-India cultural ties, Britain has launched a new digitisation programme of Indian manuscripts to bring nearly 11 million pages of South Asian books online. The British government backed "Two Centuries of Indian Print" project has been launched by Britain's senior-most Indian-origin Cabinet member Priti Patel ahead of next year's UK-India Year of Culture in 2017, which had been announced to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK last year. The first phase of the project began with the digitisation of around 200,000 pages from Bengali books, including the earliest Bengali title published in 1778, as well as many other rare works. During a visit to the British Library (BL) here yesterday, the UK Employment Minister described the move to bring nearly 11 million pages of South Asian titles online as an "important milestone" in the shared India-UK history. The material to be made available online for the first time spans a period between 1714 and 1914 and includes at least 22 South Asian languages. "Digitising the world's largest collection of historic South Asian books, many dating back hundreds of years, is an important milestone in our shared history which will further strengthen the deep cultural ties between our two great nations. "This reflects Prime Minister Modi's aspirations to make India's cultural treasures accessible and builds on his momentous visit to the UK last year where we first announced these plans," said Patel, 43, who is also British Prime Minister David Cameron's Indian Diaspora Champion. "The enduring bond between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy is supported by the vibrant Indian diaspora in the UK who contribute so greatly to our economy and society. The UK-India Year of Culture in 2017 will be a great celebration of Indian achievements around the world," she said. The digitisation of the whole collection will mean that people from around the world will be able to view this material online for the first time. It is expected to transform access to the historic and fragile collection, enabling researchers to trace the roots of India's rich literary and cultural heritage at the same time as boosting opportunities for digital scholarship and commercial technology. Roly Keating, Chief Executive of the British Library, said, "The British Library's South Asian collections are among the largest and richest in the world and 'Two Centuries of Indian Print' is our most ambitious project yet to share them with the widest possible audience. "It's wonderful to have such enthusiastic support from the minister for our plans and we look forward to working with partners in the UK and India to develop the exciting potential of this project even further. A "deeply frustrated" UK today announced it will formally contest the opinion of a UN panel that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victim of "arbitrary detention". The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention today ruled that the 44-year-old Australian should be allowed to walk free as well as be allowed to seek compensation. But the UK Foreign Office issued a statement, saying that the ruling "changes nothing" and that the UK "completely rejects" any claim that Assange is a victim of "arbitrary detention". It added: "The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion. Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system." "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise 'diplomatic asylum'." "We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end. Americas Minister Hugo Swire made this clear to the Ecuadorean Ambassador in November, and we continue to raise the matter in Quito." The UN panel's ruling, released yesterday, is not legally binding on the UK and as a European arrest warrant remains in place, Britain says it has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden. But the Geneva-based UN working group insists Assange's detention "should be brought to an end" and he "should be afforded the right to compensation". Three of the five-member panel supported the finding against the UK and Sweden, with one excusing herself from the vote on account of sharing Australian nationality with Assange. The fifth disagreed with the position of the majority and said Assange's situation is not one of detention and therefore falls outside the mandate of the Working Group. The cost of policing his Ecuadorian embassy hideout in London's posh Knightsbridge had been recently revealed at over 12 million pounds. Scotland Yard had announced a considerable scale back of police presence in the area last October. "The operation to arrest Julian Assange does however continue and should he leave the Embassy the Metropolitan Police Service will make every effort to arrest him," the Metropolitan Police said. Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations wants to invite the Security Council to visit war-wracked eastern Ukraine in the coming months. Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko said yesterday that "ideally" the visit to the Donetsk region would take place in the summer. The envoy said Russia was "quite pessimistic" about the proposed trip, which is still in its planning stages, and he suggested that not all 15 council ambassadors might take part. Ukraine joined the Security Council in January as a non-permanent member, sitting alongside Russia which has veto power in the top UN body. The conflict in eastern Ukraine has killed than 9,000 people since April 2014 and revived East-West tensions in Europe. Kiev and the West have accused Russia of supporting the insurgency in eastern Ukraine and sending regular troops across the border, claims that Moscow has repeatedly denied. Ukraine and Russia reached a ceasefire deal brokered by France and Germany in the Belarus capital of Minsk last February, but sporadic clashes still take place. The body of an unidentified woman found inside a sack, with her limbs tied with ropes, at central Delhi's Daryaganj area today put police in a fix with the emergence of multiple claimants and their subsequent retractions. The body of the woman, aged around 25 years, was found by a patrolling team around 12.45 AM, following which photographs were shared over Whatsapp groups so that she could be identified, said a senior police official. In the morning, one person claimed to have identified the body as that of a social worker from Dimapur in Nagaland. Soon, Delhi Police's Special Unit for Women and Children, which also looks into matters related to people from northeast states living in the city, was informed, said the official. In no time, the Delhi-based unit of an NGO turned up to claim the body but they later retracted saying the dead woman wasn't the one they were looking for. Meanwhile, Delhi Police's central district also checked with Nagaland Police, who later said that the body did not belong to the social worker, the official said. In the afternoon, a security force personnel turned up at the Daryaganj police station claiming the body, saying that he had heard that his wife was found dead. But after some time, he retracted, saying that his wife was alive and is presently at Bokaro in Jharkhand, the official said. However, the police assumed that he was trying to mislead them and so questioned him for quite some time. On being questioned he told the police that one of his relatives came across the photograph. He identified the woman as his wife and rang him up. Also when he tried, he failed to get in touch with his wife. So he believed the relative and approached the police to claim the body. But things got clear even before he was shown the body. He was allowed to leave only after the police were assured that his wife was alive, the official said. Presently, the police are dealing with two more claimants -- one identifying the woman as a native of Shimla who went missing recently, and the other identifying her as a native of Nepal, the official said. "The identity of the woman is yet to be ascertained. We have registered a case of murder and have contacted police departments in other states about the matter. Investigation is underway," DCP (Central) Parmaditya said. Up to 20,000 Syrians fleeing a government advance in northern Aleppo province have gathered at a border crossing with Turkey, the United Nations said on today. "It is estimated that up to 20,000 people have gathered at the Bab al-Salama border crossing and another 5,000 to 10,000 people have been displaced to Azaz city" nearby, said Linda Tom, a spokeswoman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. She said another 10,000 people were estimated to have been displaced to the Kurdish town of Afrin, elsewhere in northern Aleppo. "There is currently one IDP (internally displaced persons) camp in Afrin district and plans are under way to expand the camp," she told AFP. "The fighting has also disrupted major aid and supply routes from the Turkish border," she added. "Humanitarian organisations are responding to the needs of those displaced, but ongoing military conflict is making access to populations in need increasingly difficult." Syrian government forces backed by allied militias and Russian airpower began a major offensive in northern Aleppo on Monday, seizing a string of villages from rebels and severing their main supply route to Turkey. The advances have prompted tens of thousands of people to flee and left the opposition and civilians in rebel-held eastern Aleppo city virtually encircled. On Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warned that up to 70,000 people were heading to his country, with 10,000 already waiting at the border. Turkey already hosts about 2.5 million Syrian refugees. India-born former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta has convinced a US court to rehear an appeal to throw out his 2012 insider-trading conviction. The US Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan yesterday agreed to revisit its rejection of 67-year-old Gupta's appeal. Gupta in the past too had filed several appeals, including to the US Supreme Court to overturn his conviction and a two-year prison term but the courts rejected his arguments and affirmed his sentence. Gupta was convicted in 2012 of passing illegal tips about Goldman Sachs to Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam while serving on the Goldman board. Rajaratnam is serving an 11-year prison sentence after his 2011 conviction on insider-trading charges. Gupta and Rajaratnam were the most prominent people rounded up in the US government's crackdown on insider trading. Gupta, who began serving prison term in June, 2014, was freed from Federal Medical Centre Devens, a federal correctional facility in Ayer, Massachusetts, on January 5 to serve out the rest of the sentence at home after receiving credit for good behaviour. At the age of 45, Gupta became the first Indian CEO of the consulting giant McKinsey. He co-founded the prestigious Indian School of Business with fellow McKinsey executive Anil Kumar, who had pleaded guilty to insider trading and testified as a government witness against Gupta in his trial. Denmark authorised a US jet to wait at Copenhagen's airport in 2013 in case US whistleblower Edward Snowden landed there after fleeing to Moscow, Denmark's justice minister said in a statement made public today. Questioned in parliament on Wednesday amid growing speculation over the US jet's intentions, Justice Minister Soren Pind told lawmakers that the Danish government had authorised the plane to land at Copenhagen airport but he stopped short of explaining the aircraft's presence. A day later, he issued a written statement to legislators clarifying that "the reason for the jet's presence at Copenhagen airport was presumably to have the possibility to transport Edward Snowden to the United States, if he were to be extradited from Russia or another country." Pind stressed that information of this nature was normally confidential, but that he had chosen to inform lawmakers because of the strong reactions elicited by his initial remarks on Wednesday. Reacting to the disclosure, Snowden on Friday tweeted that it "seems to confirm Denmark intended to violate principle of non-refoulement as I sought asylum". According to the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, the principle of non-refoulement stipulates that "no one shall expel or return ('refouler') a refugee against his or her will, in any manner whatsoever, to a territory where he or she fears threats to life or freedom." Snowden, 32, has been living in exile in Russia since June 2013, after stealing electronic documents from the US National Security Agency that revealed its secret surveillance programmes. The US government has charged him with espionage and theft of government property, crimes for which he could be imprisoned for 30 years if found guilty. Anita Ashok Datar, the lone Indian-American killed in a terrorist attack in Mali last year, has been honoured by the US Senate which unanimously passed a resolution praising her work for the advancement of international development and public health. The resolution recognised and honoured the commitment of Datar to connect low-income women to quality health services. "Through her life and her work, Anita Datar selflessly and bravely worked to advance international development and public health," said Senator Cory A Booker, who along with Senator Robert Menendez, introduced the resolution. "Her death is a devastating loss not just for her son, Rohan, her family, and friends, but for the greater cause of bringing stability to communities around the world," Booker said. "This resolution honours Anita's sacrifice and the ongoing work of dedicated development professionals and volunteers across the globe working to provide critical humanitarian aid and counter violent extremism," Booker said. Datar, 41, died in a Mali hotel siege in November last. She was the only American citizen killed in the deadly attack. A former Peace Corp worker in Senegal, Datar was in Mali on an international development project. She was among the 20 victims of the terrorist attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako. More than 100 people were taken hostage, including 20 Indians, during the seige. Condemning the terrorist attack, the Senate in the resolution introduced earlier this month pledged to continue to work to counter violent extremism, including through education and health care, in the US and abroad. Born in Massachusetts and raised in New Jersey, Datar helped found a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to connecting low-income women in underserved communities to quality health services. She served as a volunteer of the Peace Corp in Senegal from 1997 through 1999. US health authorities on today urged people to use condoms or refrain from sex if they live in or have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is circulating. The new interim guidelines from the US Centers from Disease Control are aimed at pregnant women and their partners, and at people of childbearing age who are concerned about Zika, a primarily mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to birth defects. Earlier this week, US health officials confirmed the first case of sexually-transmitted Zika, involving a person who had traveled to Venezuela and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon return. "Men with a pregnant sex partner who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission and their pregnant sex partners should consistently and correctly use condoms during sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) or abstain from sexual activity for the duration of the pregnancy," said the CDC in a statement. "Consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk of sexual transmission of many infections, including those caused by other viruses." The CDC urged couples in which a partner is not pregnant to "consider using condoms consistently and correctly during sex or abstaining from sexual activity." But as to how long such measures should be followed, the agency could not say. "The science is not clear on how long the risk should be avoided," said the CDC statement, urging people to talk about testing with their healthcare providers. "Research is now underway to answer this question as soon as possible." Meanwhile in Brazil, the nation's top research institute said that Zika has been detected in urine and saliva, but added that there was no proof the virus could be transmitted through those fluids. Asked during a conference call with reporters how likely it might be that Zika could spread through saliva and urine, Frieden said "we just have no data to inform that." Thousands of children in Brazil have been born with shrunken heads in the past year -- a birth defect that could result from Zika infection, though a definitive cause has not yet been proven. Until now, cases of Zika-linked microcephaly have been mainly in Brazil and in Hawaii, where a woman who had traveled to Brazil recently had a baby with the birth defect. Chandigarh Administration today asked residents and landlords to not employ any domestic help till their antecedents are verified by the police. An order in this regard were issued by UT Chandigarh District Magistrate Ajit Balaji Joshi in a release here. The district magistrate noted that domestic helps often have a large part to play in crime and that they are sometimes themselves the perpetrators or active conspirators. It has been noticed that many residents do not cooperate with the police and are reluctant to give details necessary for verification, he said. Joshi, in his order, also asked the residents, including landlords, tenants and those running commercial establishments, to not employ any domestic servant, helper, part-time maid servant, unless their particulars are furnished to the Station House Officer concerned in writing. Any breach of this order would invite action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, he said. The order will be effective for sixty days. Meanwhile, the district magistrate also asked commercial establishments, including restaurants, dhabas, discos and clubs to not operate from 1 AM to 4.30 AM. Commercial establishments operating late in the night cause annoyance and disturb public peace, Joshi said. However, this order shall not apply to coffee shops in hotels, hospitals, chemist shops and petrol pumps. The administration has also asked owners of immigration and student visa companies to provide complete antecedents in writing to the Chandigarh Police within 7 days of starting their consultancy business in the city. The administration has also asked landlords/owners or managers of 'paying guest accommodations' to inform in writing the particulars of the guests to the Station House Officer concerned within one month from the issue of these orders, failing which they shall be liable to be prosecuted under section 188 IPC. A volcano in southern Japan dramatically erupted today, with television footage showing fiery bursts of super hot rock and ash rushing down its slopes, though authorities said it posed no immediate danger to populated areas. Japan, with scores of active volcanoes, sits on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire" where a large proportion of the world's quakes and volcanic eruptions are recorded. One of the most famous of the country's volcanoes is 1,117-metre (3,665-foot) high Sakurajima, which sits in a scenic bay on the southern island of Kyushu, and erupted at 6:56 pm (0956 GMT), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The blast spewed out large rocks, the agency said, warning that debris and pyroclastic flows -- a super hot and fast-moving mixture of gases and rock fragments -- could reach as far as two kilometres away. The spectacle of the eruption was captured in footage shown on national broadcaster NHK, with the orange colour of the flows shining brightly in the darkened sky. While local police received no immediate report of damage or injuries among the approximately 4,000 residents who live in the immediate surroundings, they were still rattled by the power of the eruption. "There were rising pillars of fire, and flickering lights like lightning," said a local resident who told NHK that he witnessed the scene from a window. "What I worry is what will happen next." In September 2014, Mount Ontake in central Nagano prefecture violently blew up, leaving 58 people, many of them hikers, dead and five others missing in the nation's deadliest eruption for almost 90 years. The weather agency today raised Sakurajima's alert status to Level 3, which bans entry onto the mountain, from Level 2, which limited people from going near the vents. The elevated level, however, stopped short of urging local residents to prepare for possible evacuation, according to the agency. "Sakurajima's volcanic activity could increase," a weather agency official told a press briefing held shortly after the eruption. "Those who live downwind should use caution, as ash could travel far," he added. "If it rains, we ask people to exercise caution for mudslides." Sakurajima last experienced a major eruption in 2013, spewing an ash plume up to 5,000 metres into the air, causing damage but no major injuries. The eruption did not affect the operation of the closest nuclear reactors, sitting some 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the mountain, media reports quoted operator Kyushu Electric as saying. Sakurajima, formerly an island but due to previous eruptions is now attached to a peninsula, frequently spits out smoke and ash and is a major tourist attraction. Vice-President Hamid Ansari has expressed grief over the death of 10 army personnel in an avalanche on Siachen Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir. "I am deeply grieved to learn about the fatal avalanche in the Siachen involving 10 of our army personnel," the Vice President Ansari said in a statement. "I offer my sincere condolences to the bereaved families of the brave soldiers and officer of the Indian Army," he said. The 10 personnel, including an officer, were buried under a mass of snow after being hit by an avalanche on Wednesday at a high-altitude post on Siachen Glacier. The personnel were attached to Madras regiment. Extending condolences to the bereaved families, the Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Dalbir Singh, ordered deployment of additional resources, including radars to reinforce rescue efforts, an official said. Army and IAF had taken part in efforts to rescue the soldiers, who were trapped under snow after their post was hit by the avalanche at an altitude of 19,000 feet close to the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free immediately and compensated for his "arbitrary detention" of over five years by the UK and Sweden, a UN panel ruled today, a finding hailed by the whistleblower as "vindication" of his innocence. The Geneva-based five-member Working Group on Arbitrary Detention "considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said Seong-Phil Hong, head of the expert panel of the Group. "The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr. Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation," Hong added. Assange told reporters via video link from the Ecuadorean embassy building in central London, where he has been holed up, that "it is now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom as a whole to implement the verdict", which he hailed as "vindication" of his innocence. Assange's lawyer Melinda Taylor also called the ruling "a resounding vindication of Mr. Assange's position". The computer hacker, who founded the WikiLeaks in 2006 that released 500,000 secret US military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables enraging Washington, has been confined to a small in the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden to face a rape investigation. However, both Sweden and the UK rejected the non-binding legal opinion, saying it "changes nothing". The UK said it will formally contest the opinion, which Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond termed as "ridiculous" while Sweden said the panel had no right to "interfere". The Working Group said it "requested Sweden and the United Kingdom to assess the situation of Mr. Assange to ensure his safety and physical integrity, to facilitate the exercise of his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner, and to ensure the full enjoyment of his rights guaranteed by the international norms on detention. "The Working Group also considered that the detention should be brought to an end and that Mr. Assange should be afforded the right to compensation." Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador, which has housed him since 2012 at its embassy. He has likened his confinement to living in a space station. In 2014, Assange complained to the UN against the UK and Sweden that he was being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorean embassy as he could not leave its premises without being arrested. Assange fears he will be extradited to the US from Sweden where he faces espionage charges on account of leaking secret American documents which among other issues also reveal the US and UK's grim conduct in Iraq of war crimes, torture and summary executions. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed, a UN panel ruled today as it called on the UK and Sweden to compensate the whistleblower for his "arbitrary detention" of over five years. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the expert panel of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. "The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr. Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation," Hong added. However, both Sweden and the UK rejected the ruling - which is non-binding - saying it "changes nothing". The 44-year-old Australian, who founded the WikiLeaks in 2006 that released 500,000 secret US military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables enraging Washington, has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in central London to avoid extradition to Sweden to face a rape investigation. Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador, which has housed him since 2012 at its embassy where he lives in a small room and has likened his confinement to living in a space station. In 2014, the computer hacker had complained to the UN against the UK and Sweden that he was being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorean embassy as he could not leave its premises without being arrested. Two women have accused him of sexual assault - a charge he has denied. Last year, Swedish prosecutors dropped two cases of sexual assault against him and has not been formally charged by them. Assange fears he will be extradited to the US from Sweden where he faces espionage charges on account of leaking secret American documents which among other issues also reveal the US and UK's grim conduct in Iraq of war crimes, torture and summary executions. In its official opinion, the Working Group considered that Assange had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth Prison in London, followed by house arrest and then confinement at the Ecuadorean Embassy since his arrest in London on December 7, 2010. Following the ruling of the UN panel, the British government said: "We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion." "The opinion of the UN working group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," it said. Swedish Prosecution Authority said the call from the UN working group "has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law". In a statement published by the WikiLeaks on Twitter yesterday, Assange said: "Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal." "However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me." The UK has stationed Met Police for round-the-clock guard outside the Ecuadorean embassy to arrest Assange if he leaves the premises of the embassy. In view of Assange's deteriorating health, his US lawyer Carey Shenkman had said last year that "by claiming that Mr. Assange must give up his asylum in order to receive medical treatment, the UK government is forcing him to choose between the human right to asylum and the human right to medical treatment. No one should ever have to face that choice." The Australian was arrested in 2010 under a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden but claimed asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy while on bail. Any decision by the group would not be legally binding, but other people have reportedly been released in the past on the basis of its rulings. Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton has said she would "make an evaluation" of US troop presence in Afghanistan if elected, citing an "arc of instability" after the Islamic State created its outposts in the war-torn country. "I would have to make an evaluation based on the circumstances at the time I took office as to how much help they continue to need. Because it's not just the Taliban. We now are seeing outposts of fighters claiming to be affiliated with ISIS," Clinton said. "We've got this arc of instability from North Africa to South Asia, and we have to pay close attention to it. We have to build coalitions...And what I will do as president to make sure that we defeat these terrorist networks," Clinton said during a Democratic debate ahead of the New Hampshire primary. President Barack Obama had said he would trim the US force in Afghanistan to 5,500 troops by the end of last year, and then further cut the presence to 1,000 by the end of 2016. But he backtracked, saying the situation remained too fragile for such a rapid withdrawal. Of late, the Afghan security forces have suffered major setbacks, including a brief Taliban capture of Kunduz city. "We have a very cooperative government there with President Ashraf Ghani and his top partner, Abdullah Abdullah. They are doing their very best. The Afghan army is actually fighting, taking heavy losses defending Afghan territory," she said in response to a question. On the US involvement in Syria and Libya, Clinton endorsed Obama's administration's policy of supporting the Arab and the Kurdish fighters, "who are actually doing the fighting." Clinton ruled out sending US troops to the two countries, noting that she supports special forces and air campaigns. "We're doing the support and enabling. I also think we've got to do more to stop foreign fighters, foreign funding and take ISIS online, as well as doing everything necessary to keep us safe at home. So as I look at what the president it doing, it adds up to me," Clinton said. Heading into the debate, her rival Bernie Sanders said troops from Afghanistan can't be withdrawn overnight. "You can't simply withdraw tomorrow. Wish we could, and allow the Taliban or anybody else to reclaim that country," he said. Clinton is trailing behind Sanders by a huge margin in New Hampshire, but is leading nationally. She has won the Iowa caucuses earlier this week by a razor-thin margin. The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, has intensified since then. The debate is the last before Tuesday's first-in-the- nation New Hampshire primary. On the US involvement in Iraq and Syria, Sanders said some progress has been made with the Iraqi army finally taking control of the crucial city of Ramadi from the Islamic State. "ISIS has lost I think 40% of the territory that it held in the last year," he said, using an acronym for the militant group. Sanders said the great task is to make sure that young men and women in the military do not get sucked into never-ending, perpetual warfare within the quagmire of Syria and Iraq. "I will do my very best to make sure that that doesn't happen. I agree with Secretary (Clinton)," he said. He also said that Jordan's King Abdullah "hit the nail on the head." "What he said is essentially the war against ISIS is a war for the soul of Islam. It must be Muslim troops on the ground that will destroy ISIS, with the support of a coalition of major powers - US, UK, France, Germany and Russia," he said. "So our job is to provide them the military equipment that they need, the air support they need, special forces when appropriate," Sanders said. He said that the combat on the ground "must be done by Muslim troops with our support." "We must not get involved in perpetual warfare in the Middle East," Sanders said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi can advance the interest of the people of India by working "effectively" with US President Barack Obama, the White House said today. In the last year of his administration, Obama would continue working to strengthen India-US relationship, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. "I think that should be a good indication to you that, while obviously Prime Minister Modi takes seriously the responsibility that he has to advocate for the citizens of his country, he can advance the interest of the people of India by working effectively with President Obama," Earnest said. "I would expect the president will continue to look for ways to strengthen the relationship," Earnest said. "I think the best thing to point you to is the last opportunity that President Obama had to meet with Prime Minister Modi was in Paris in the context of the climate talks," Earnest said in response to a question. He said that there was a sense, at the time, that the Indian government might be the chief impediment to the successful completion of an ambitious climate agreement. And that ambitious climate agreement was completed less than two weeks after that meeting" Obama has also invited Modi to participate in the Security Summit. Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk has threatened to quit along with his entire government in the latest escalation of a political crisis rocking the former Soviet state. The warning raises the possibility of Ukraine holding snap parliamentary polls should Yatsenyuk's replacement fail to win lawmakers' approval or the current pro-Western coalition breaks up and a new one is not formed. But analysts said the prospects of pro-Russian forces storming back to power in elections and Ukraine losing vital Western financial support made Yatsenyuk's statement sound more like a bluff designed to reinforce his increasingly insecure position. "If it is decided that this team should be changed, then we will all leave together," the 41-year-old former banker yesterday told a televised meeting of parliament. Ukraine has been on edge since the shock resignation on Wednesday of its reformist Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius. The Lithuanian-born economy chief accused a top member of President Petro Poroshenko's party of trying to get his own people into senior ministry posts and blocking his efforts to break the tycoons' years-long stranglehold on state industries. Abromavicius has further been quoted as saying that he would like to see US-born Economy Minister Natalie Jaresko -- a key player in restructuring Ukraine's massive debt -- replace his foe Yatsenyuk. The resignation sparked alarm among Ukraine's Western allies and prompted Poroshenko to hold a meeting with ambassadors from the G7 countries in a bid to allay their concerns. The president came out of Thursday's talks promising "to continue the reforms that the Ukrainian society expects from the authorities." "For this to happen, it is essential to reset the government," the presidential website quoted him as saying. The prospects of a cabinet reshuffle in mid-February has been forecast by the Ukrainian media for some time. But Yatsenyuk's statement appeared to be aimed directly at Poroshenko's remarks about a government "reset". The two leaders worked closely together in the heady days that followed Ukraine's dramatic 2014 pro-WU revolution and through the subsequent pro-Russian revolt in the separatist east. Yet disagreements between them have become more frequent and Yatsenyuk seems unwilling to let the president and his parliamentary party have more influence over the coalition government's makeup. Brazil's top research institute said today that Zika has been detected in urine and saliva, but added that there is no proof the virus can be transmitted through those fluids. "The presence of the active Zika virus has been found in saliva and urine," Paulo Gadelha, head of the Fiocruz institute in Rio de Janeiro, told journalists. "But that does not mean there is a capacity for transmission through saliva and urine," he added. "A series of studies will be needed to clarify that question." Zika, which is transmitted by mosquitos, has few effects on most people, but is believed to be responsible for serious birth defects in babies born to infected mothers. An explosion of cases across Brazil and Latin America has prompted warnings against travel by pregnant women to the region and is even raising fears that travel to the Olympics, due to be held this August in Rio, will be disrupted. Much about the virus, including whether it can be transmitted from person to person, remains unclear. However, the World Health Organization yesterday advised countries not to accept blood donations from people who have been in Zika-prevalent countries. Andhra Pradesh Government today decided to set up help desks in the airports and sea ports in the state as part of efforts to deal with Zika virus. Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas, who held a video conference with health officials, directed them to spread awareness among people on the menace of the mosquito bites, especially during day time. Those returning from Zika virus-hit countries of Latin America and others should be taken care of, he said. The minister told the officials to conduct blood tests for pregnant women suffering from symptoms of the virus, a release from his office stated. The necessary blood tests for determining Zika virus should be conducted free of cost in all district and area hospitals, the minister said. He asked them to earmark at least two beds each in all district and area hospitals for treatment of zika virus-hit patients. Srinivas also directed that sanitation measures be taken up in coordination with Panchayat Raj, Municipal Administration and local bodies, the release added. Zuari Agro Chemicals today reported 91 per cent fall in its third quarter net profit at Rs 1.60 crore due to rise in finance cost and fall in income. The company had clocked a net profit of Rs 17.13 crore in the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Income from operations during October-December quarter of the current financial year declined to Rs 1,105.11 crore from Rs 1,416.28 crore earlier. During the third quarter, finance cost rose to Rs 67.15 crore from Rs 48.05 crore in the year-ago period. Urea and ammonia plants of the company have been shut down for annual maintenance from January 26. During the quarter, the company purchased 50 per cent of the equity shares held by RotemAmfert Negev Ltd in Zuari Rotem Speciality Fertilisers, a joint venture company, for Rs 13.32 crore. The board also approved the merger of subsidiaries Zuari Agri Science, Zuari Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd and Zuari Speciality Fertilisers with the company effective from April 1, 2015. The company's shares, which were trading flat, rose as much as 4.4 percent to 26.35 rupees after the story. The utility, controlled by billionaire Gautam Adani, plans to build two power units with a total capacity of 1,600 megawatts (MW) and construction could begin by December, one of the people said, adding there is a meeting scheduled in Jharkhand next week and a deal would be sealed this month. The other person, a Jharkhand government official, said most government approvals were in place already. An Adani Power spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The electricity generated from the Jharkhand units would be sold to power-deficient Bangladesh, where Gautam Adani is trying to expand as part of his goal to make the group a multinational energy and infrastructure conglomerate. Flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd , which is fighting legal challenges to start a $7 billion coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, wants to take its electricity generation capacity in India to 20,000 MW this decade through Adani Power. ($1 = 67.6300 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Christopher Cushing) By J.R. Wu and Ritsuko Ando TAIPEI/TOKYO (Reuters) - Foxconn Chief Executive Officer Terry Gou is in Osaka to meet executives of Japan's Sharp Corp <6753.T>, a Sharp spokesman said, one day after the struggling electronics maker said it was focusing on the Taiwan firm's takeover bid over a rival offer from a Japanese state-backed fund. Shares in Osaka-based Sharp soared 10 percent in early morning trade, bringing two-day gains to 29 percent. Gou plans to brief the media in Osaka at 0600 GMT (3.00 p.m. Japan time), the Sharp spokesman said. Foxconn, known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co <2317.TW>, has offered to invest around 659 billion yen ($5.6 billion) in the struggling Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp, people familiar with the matter said. One person said Sharp's board had voted 13-0 to negotiate with Foxconn instead of the state-backed Japanese fund, the Innovation Network Corp of Japan. The people declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter. The Sharp spokesman declined to comment further. Foxconn declined to comment. A takeover by Foxconn, which assembles various electronics products such as smartphones and television sets for Apple, Sony Corp <6758.T> and many other major international companies, would vastly expand sales channels for Sharp's liquid crystal display (LCD) panels. While a generous Foxconn offer had been flagged, many investors in Japan were surprised to see an overseas firm gain the upper hand over a state fund. The decision comes after months of uncertainty over the fate of the company, whose display panel business has continued to suffer massive losses despite two major bailouts by its banks in the last four years. ($1 = 116.8500 yen) (Reporting by J.R. Wu and Ritsuko Ando; Writing by Edwina Gibbs) NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Friday set a floor price for imports of steel products to deter countries such as China from undercutting local mills, the first time it has taken such a step in over 15 years even as the country remains the world's only major growing steel market. Top Indian steel makers such as JSW Steel, Tata Steel Ltd, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd and Kalyani Steels have been lobbying the government to take more steps to protect their margins after a hike in the import duty last year failed to cut shipments from China. "The implementation of the minimum import price will give stability to the local steel industry," Steel and Mines Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said. "This is an important step towards the success of 'Make in India' (manufacturing push)." The duty on various steel products ranges between $341 per tonne and $752 a tonne, the government said in a statement.(bit.ly/1ocN9Lk) Indian steel companies, shares in many of whom rose on Friday in anticipation of the measure, welcomed the move but said more needs to be done, such as raising the import duty further to 25 percent. "This measure will ensure a level playing field to Indian steel industry which has been adversely affected by dumped imports from various sources," Shivaramkrishnan, chief commercial officer of Essar Steel India, told . "We are thankful to the government of India and hope this will suitably address the concern of surging cheap imports." India is the third largest steel producer in the world with a total installed capacity of 110 million tonnes. But the industry says it has seen a hefty squeeze in margins due to an onslaught of cheap imports from China, as well as Russia, Japan and South Korea. Imports of steel surged by 22.8 percent in December 2015 over the previous month and the country's trade minister had called the recent fall in China's yuan a "worrying development" that could have pushed up inbound shipments further. China produces nearly half the world's 1.6 billion tonnes of steel, and exported more than 100 million tonnes of the alloy last year, more than four times the 2014 shipments from the European Union's largest producer, Germany. The floor price on steel imports will be valid for six months. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal, Krishna N. Das and Promit Mukherjee, editing by David Evans) By Zeba Siddiqui MUMBAI (Reuters) - Lupin Ltd, India's third-largest drugmaker, reported a quarterly profit that met estimates as strong sales in its local market help offset weakness in the United States, and the company said it expects fourth-quarter earnings to improve. Sales in India, Lupin's second-largest market, rose 17 percent in the quarter ended December. U.S. sales excluding those from intellectual property rose 1.8 percent, while including it, sales fell 4 percent, Lupin said. While India is the biggest supplier of drugs to the United States, U.S. growth of most Indian companies has lagged over the past year due to a slowdown in the pace of new drug approvals, and consolidation between drug distributors there. A spate of U.S. warnings and bans on companies over violations of manufacturing standards has also delayed launches. Lupin's Goa plant in western India had been cited by the FDA for such violations after an inspection last July. Managing Director Nilesh Gupta told analysts on a conference call on Friday that Lupin had addressed the FDA's concerns in a final response, and expects to hear from the agency "in a few weeks." "Obviously, Goa is important, but increasingly, a lot of new products are coming from other plants," Gupta said, adding that the FDA has since approved three of the company's drugs that were produced at the Goa site. At another of Lupin's plants in Aurangabad in western India, the FDA cited similar concerns that Gupta said the company hopes will be resolved soon. Lupin launched four products in the United States and got U.S. approvals for nine products in the quarter, it said. Analysts expect Lupin's earnings this fiscal year to benefit mainly from sales of its generic versions of the type 2 diabetes drugs Glumetza and Fortamet, as there is limited competition in the market for both. Lupin was the first to file with U.S. regulators for a generic form of Glumetza, and is hence entitled to six months exclusivity on the market. It produces the drug at its Goa site, but Gupta said he didn't see risk to the drug's supply. Developed by Canadian firm Valeant Pharmaceutical International Inc, Glumetza clocked sales of $450 million in the year to September 2015, according to the healthcare research firm IMS Health. Lupin would have "the lion's share" of the Glumetza market, CEO Vinita Gupta said. For the quarter ended Dec. 31, Lupin's net profit fell to 5.30 billion rupees ($78.3 million) from 6.01 billion rupees a year ago, but was exactly in line with analysts' estimates. The company's shares rose as much as 10 percent in Mumbai on Friday. ($1 = 67.69 rupees) (Reporting by Zeba Siddiqui in Mumbai; Editing by Gopakumar Warrier and Adrian Croft) By Aditi Shah and Sumeet Chatterjee NOIDA/MUMBAI (Reuters) - Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd has begun talks with its new Italian design house, Pininfarina SpA, to build a premium car for its home market, to counter a surge in competition in its mainstay sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment. The country's biggest maker of SUVs and tractors will decide within the coming months on the type of car and timing of its release, likely some four years later, Executive Director Pawan Goenka told at the Delhi Auto Expo 2016 this week. Group company Tech Mahindra Ltd agreed to buy the loss-making designer of Ferrari, Maserati and Rolls Royce cars in December, adding premium capability to a company known for more boxy, practical cars. The deal came with Mahindra's domestic SUV market share hitting 37 percent in the 12 months through March from 48 percent two years earlier, industry data showed, as global rivals such as Ford Motor Co, Renault SA and Hyundai Motor Co compete with sleeker models. "Pininfarina can help Mahindra go to the next step in our effort to become global," Goenka said. "We want to leverage the brand, design and engineering expertise." Mahindra showed off a concept three-door cross between a coupe and SUV at the motor show - the XUV Aero - built with input from Pininfarina. Depending on interest, Mahindra may sell the car priced from 2 million rupees ($29,560), Goenka said. "We are looking to see how to design a product that has a Mahindra kind of heritage but a Pininfarina kind of design and styling." Buying Pininfarina will help the Mahindra group garner more business beyond autos, such as air transport and consumer goods, said Jagdish Mitra, chief strategy and marketing officer at Tech Mahindra, whose clients include Hindustan Unilever Ltd and PepsiCo Inc. "We primarily work on the engineering side but tomorrow our opportunity lies in getting significantly involved in design," said Mitra. Pininfarina would be the group's latest automotive purchase. It bought the majority of both South Korean automaker Ssangyong Motor Co Ltd in 2010 and the scooter business of France's Peugeot SA last year - both of which, like Pininfarina, were losing money when the deals were agreed. The acquisitions edged Mahindra closer to becoming a global automaker, giving it access to markets outside of India as well as to technology such as Ssangyong's petrol engines. To date, however, both are still losing money. ($1 = 67.66 rupees) (Reporting by Aditi Shah and Sumeet Chatterjee; Editing by Christopher Cushing) By Wendell Roelf CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - South Africa is hoping to boost coal exports to India after shipping a record 75.4 million tonnes of coal last year, industry officials said on Friday, as a drop in exports from rival Indonesia opens up the chance to grab market share. Data from analytics consultancy IHS Energy shows that around 36 million tonnes of South African coal was shipped through Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) to big coal consumer India last year, up from 30 million tonnes in 2014. "As far as South African coal for India, it is definitely on a growth path. How long and how much is yet to be seen," Arun Maheshwari, senior vice president commercial for Indian firm JSW Steel, told a coal conference in Cape Town. Global oversupply and a drop in coal prices to 7-year lows have hit miners and coal exporting countries hard. Indonesian coal exports fell 50 million tonnes in 2015 due to the market glut and Chinese slowdown. A drop in Indonesian exports to India, which imported around 165 million tonnes of thermal coal in 2015, offers an opportunity for South Africa, analysts said. Exports last year were helped by improved transport logistics moving coal to RBCT, while lower freight prices for global seaborne coal also aided South African producers to compete for "price-sensitive" Indian buyers, analysts said. "We have seen some competitive rates coming from Australia, Columbia and Russia as well, but South Africa should be a consistent player going forward," Mike Nelson, the head of petroleum coke and coal at Reliance Industries, said. Depending on the use, buyers of coal can expect to pay less if the rock has a lower calorific value, which relates to the amount of heat and energy contained. However, South African coal, which is generally of a high quality, can now compete better on price with Indonesian coal, in part due to lower freight prices. "The view is that you will see higher-quality coals, not only South African, but from other exporters as well displacing Indonesian coal," Nick Trevethan, a coal markets editor at IHS Energy in London, told . The RBCT, which has coal producers Anglo American and Exxaro among shareholders, is spending 1.4 billion rand to upgrade machinery as it looks to increase capacity to 120 million tonnes from 91 million tonnes. "At this point in time India is still key for us," RBCT chief executive, Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane told . (Editing by James Macharia and Jan Harvey) By Eveline Danubrata and Fransiska Nangoy JAKARTA (Reuters) - Swedish furniture giant IKEA has lost the right to use its own brand name in Indonesia after a legal battle with a local company that claimed the trademark, court documents released earlier this week showed. The court decision could make foreign companies even more cautious to invest in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, which is already growing at its weakest pace since the global financial crisis. "The clear message is that any business wanting to open up in Indonesia has to be very careful to register all its trademarks so they don't get hijacked," said Keith Loveard, head of risk analysis at Jakarta-based Concord Consulting. "It's the fact of the law that you have to cross every 't' and dot every 'i'," he said. In 2014, a Jakarta commercial court granted the rights to use the "Ikea" brand name to PT Ratania Khatulistiwa, a company that plans to sell its own furniture with the acronym for Intan Khatulistiwa Esa Abadi. Inter IKEA System B.V., part of the Swedish company's franchise division, had registered the "IKEA" trademark with the Indonesian directorate-general of intellectual property twice, in 2006 and 2010. But Ratania, which is based in the East Java capital of Surabaya, successfully argued at the Jakarta court that the furniture giant had not used the trademark for commercial purposes for three consecutive years. Inter IKEA filed an appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court, which was rejected last year, according to court documents uploaded to its website earlier this week. (http://bit.ly/23N1bDG) IKEA opened its first Indonesian store in the outskirts of Jakarta in 2014. Indonesian retailer PT Hero Supermarket Tbk owns the franchise to operate the IKEA business in Indonesia. The options now for IKEA are to file an appeal to the same court, change its name, or pay royalty fees to the Indonesian company, according to a legal expert contacted by . Ratania could not be reached for comment. IKEA did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, and calls to its Singapore office and Hero Supermarket went unanswered. (Reporting by Eveline Danubrata and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) Bharat Biotech unveils first vaccine candidate for Zika Virus The company will probably be the first in the world to file for global patent for Zika vaccine candidates The company will probably be the first in the world to file for global patent for Zika vaccine candidates Bharat Biotech, the Hyderabad-based vaccines and bio-therapeutic manufacturer, yesterday announced a breakthrough in developing worlds first, 2 promising candidates ZikaVac vaccines for Zika infection. According to Bharat Biotech, the company began work on the Zika Virus a year ago. We believe we have an early mover advantage in developing the ZikaVac and we are probably the first in the world to file for global patent for Zika Vaccine candidates. We have two ZikaVac vaccine candidates in development; one is a recombinant vaccine and another an inactivated vaccine that has reached the stage of pre-clinical testing in animals, said Dr Krishna Ella, chairman & managing director of Bharat Biotech International. Currently, Bharat Biotech is focusing on scale up and characterisation of the vaccine product. Our interest in Zika virus, an obscure virus when we started the project a year ago was that the clinical features at an early stage of infection are indistinguishable from that of dengue and chikungunya. Right now consistency in process development has been achieved at 40 L pilot scale. Furthermore, a recombinant vaccine using the surface antigens of the virus is being concurrently developed, said Bharat Biotech in press release. WHO just announced a disease linked to the Zika virus in Latin America poses a global public health emergency requiring a united response. Zika is now present in 23 countries. Brazil, the hardest-hit country, has reported around 3,530 cases of the devastating birth defect called microcephaly in 2015 that are strongly suspected to be related to Zika. The Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus, which can breed in a pool of water as small as a bottle cap and usually bite during the day. The mosquito-transmitted infection is related to Dengue, Yellow Fever and West Nile virus. Considering that women of childbearing age and pregnant women are the prime target group for Zika virus vaccine, we consider safety as the overriding factor in development of a new vaccine for this virus. The vaccine methods developed early on, before the devastating consequences of the epidemics in Brazil came to light provided us a push to accelerate vaccine development, said Dr Sumathy, director R&D, Bharat Biotech. In the absence of knowledge on viral pathogenesis and immune correlates required for protection, an early start in vaccine development has nevertheless provided a fair advantage to face the eventuality of an epidemic outbreak in the region, added Dr Sumathy. The first thing is to be prepared for the worst. We hope to announce its arrival of Zikavac to the world as early as possible, said Dr Krishna Ella, who along with Dr Sumathy and the R&D team at Bharat Biotech is working on the Zika vaccine program. BS B2B Bureau The Dublin Chamber AGM Dinner took place yesterday at the InterContinental Hotel, Dublin. The CEO of Dublin Chamber, Gina Quin welcomed newly elected Dublin Chamber President, Derry Gray. In his inaugural address, Mr Gray called on politicians and voters to focus on longer term issues that will ensure that the move from recovery to growth is stable. Furthermore, Group Managing Director of Glanbia, Siobhan Talbot, reflected on the challenges and opportunities that the Irish food sector face. She also spoke about Glanbias evolution from a business grounded in the Irish co-operative movement into a global nutrition company with almost 6,000 employees, a market capitalisation of 5bn and a presence in 34 countries. Source: www.businessworld.ie Bank of Ireland have announced this week that Brian Evans has joined the Bank as Head of Manufacturing, Business Banking. Bank of Irelands sectors team covers an expanding and diverse range of sectors including Retail, Grocery, Health and Life Sciences, Hotels / Pubs, Motor, Property, Renewable Energy, Agriculture, Technology and has now strengthened the Banks offering in the manufacturing space with Brians appointment. Brian has 30 years of experience in manufacturing and product development across Ireland, USA and China having served with companies including Hewlett-Packard, NEC and most recently as Operations Director with PCH International. Furthermore, he has a mix of multinational and SME experience, having also acted as consultant to SME businesses in Ireland, advising on manufacturing operations, product development and project management. Head of the Sectors Team in Business Banking at Bank of Ireland, Nikki Canavan said, "We are delighted to welcome Brian Evans to the Sectors Team as the Head of Manufacturing in the Business Banking division. Brian has a wealth of expertise, both domestic and international, with a range of companies from global electronic giants to SMEs. "Bank of Ireland plays a key role in lending to the manufacturing sector and we have ambitious plans for the coming years in relation to investment and support. Brian will play a critical role in the delivery of these plans as we continue to expand our manufacturing lending across Ireland." Source: www.businessworld.ie University College Dublin (UCD) held an event this week in London as part of the Universitys strategy to develop and strengthen the UCD community internationally. Over 250 alumni attended the event which was held in the House of Lords, was hosted by businessman Lord Adair Turner, a member of the UKs Financial Policy Committee and his wife, Ms Orna Ni Chionna, a distinguished alumna of UCD. The event, which had a Big Data and the Digital Age theme, was organised by UCD Alumni Relations and the UK Chapter of UCD. The primary objective of the event, attended by Professor Andrew J Deeks, President, UCD, was to build relationships with UCD alumni in the UK in order to develop UCDs reputation as Irelands global University. Other guest speakers included Digital Professor of Computer Science at UCD, Professor Barry Smyth and European Digital Girl of the Year 2014, Lauren Boyle. Introducing the speakers, Professor Orla Feely, UCD Vice-President for Research, Innovation and Impact said, "UCDs vision for 2020 is built on a foundation of excellent research and innovationdelivering answers to challenges of global importance and opportunity with a focus on a number of priority research areas. "Tonights theme of Big Data and the Digital Age reflects the strategic importance of ICT research and the important societal questions it addresses at UCD. One of our objectives for this event is to inform alumni about our expertise and impact in this key area. As part of UCDs global engagement strategy, a series of similar events will be held in key countries over the coming years. Source: www.businessworld.ie Irish IT solutions distributor, DataSolutions, announced yesterday that they are investing 3.8 million in the company over the next three years with 20 jobs planned. This will include expanding into the UK with a new office in Theale, Reading. They also plan to triple their business over the next three years to 60 million turnover on the back of this investment. The company specialises in next generation data centres, security and unified communications. They have achieved steady year-on-year growth over the past 25 years in the UK and Ireland and will hire 10 new positions in its Reading office by 2018 to coincide with the expansion. It expects its UK operations to grow to the same size as its Irish business by then, targeting 30 million in revenues in Ireland in the same year. As part of this expansion they have appointed Sean Fane as UK managing director for the company. Sean brings more than 20 years sales and business experience in the UK, including an executive role at IQ-Sys, the leading UK distributor in the virtualisation market. Group managing director at DataSolutions, Michael OHara says, "Weve achieved exponential growth for our vendors in the Irish market over the past few years through a strong, value-based business model and this approach in the UK market will deliver strong results. "We look forward to enabling resellers to take advantage of the opportunities with this fast-growing technology and bolstering our UK presence with Nutanix." Source: www.businessworld.ie It was announced yesterday the owners of Westport House in Co Mayo have put the 18th century mansion up for sale for 10 million. An RTE report claims the owners, the Browne family, will also be putting the surrounding 183-hectare estate up for sale as a going tourist concern. According to the report, the family said it had delayed their decision to sell last year to see whether the Government would opt to buy the property. The house was built in 1730 and has been open to the public since 1961, offering a range of attractions and activities. A loan on the property had been acquired by NAMA when the recession hit. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Sheelyn Browne said that the situation has been accelerating for the last eight years. She said her father took a 6.5m loan in 2006 to try to save the house but shortly afterwards the value of the land collapsed. She added that the house is worth 50m to the local economy and she cannot understand why no one gave her father a chance to re-finance his loan while he was alive. She claims her father reached out to try to get the loan restructured and that the family have made subsequent efforts to save the estate. In a statement, the Browne family said, "The family has been in a very difficult position since the demise of their beloved father Jeremy Browne [in 2014] and the great uncertainty that surrounded the position of the loans then controlled by NAMA. The Browne family has regretfully accepted that as a result of this inaction there is now no choice but to put the entire property at Westport House up for sale." Source: www.businessworld.ie Despite stinging austerity measures imposed by the Irish government back in 2008, the business world has still managed to thrive over the last six years. Although times have certainly been tough for everyone looking to make a few euros, the facts speak for themselves when it comes to overall growth. According to a statement by the Central Bank at the start of 2016, the Irish economy is expected to grow by 4.8% in 2016. While that figure is just a projection, it's certainly a sign that things are continuing to move in the right direction. Irish Economy on the Up in 2016 In fact, the Central Bank's chief economist, Gabriel Fagan, is to be believed, then there will be much of the same in 2017, albeit at a slightly slower rate. Essentially, whichever way you look at it, the Irish economy is doing well in spite of what the man on the street might feel. Naturally, there are many reasons the books are looking a little more balanced than they once were, but one of the major reasons is the gaming industry in Ireland. Ever since Atari pitched up in Tipperary in 1979, Ireland has had something of a love affair with the gaming industry. When you browse the list of top 1,000 businesses in Ireland according to the Irish Times, high on the list is a number of gaming operators. From traditional market players such as Microsoft to those at the other end of the gaming spectrum and online casino companies, the Irish business world is awash with gaming brands of all shapes and sizes. Indeed, whether you're into real-life simulators, arcade-style games or online casino options such as blackjack and roulette, you find it all when you trawl through the country's list of revenue makers and generators. In fact, such is the prowess of Ireland's gaming sector that you can literally find a link back to the Emerald Isle wherever you look. Ireland as a Gaming Hub For example, if you're a fan of blackjack and slots you can get the lowdown on best virtual platforms courtesy of a review sites such as Casinosonline.ie and find a number of Irish operators listed in the country's Top 1,000 companies. Standing alongside the likes of EA, Activision and Microsoft in terms of global reach and stature, the online casino companies often reviewed by the likes of Casino Online have certainly helped the Irish economy to thrive in recent years. While the presence of major brands is great from a PR perspective, it would all count for nothing if the companies weren't generating any money. Fortunately, Ireland's gaming companies are paying their way and, thanks to recent iGaming regulation, they'll be paying even more in the coming years. According to estimates by the Gaming and Leisure Association of Ireland, online casino gaming in Ireland could be worth 7.5 billion and create 10,000 new jobs by 2020. When combined with the video game industry which is worth more than 3 billion currently and growing, it's easy to see why gaming is such an important industry for the Irish economy. The World Bank said on Thursday that 2015 economic growth in the Middle East and North Africa likely came to just 2.6%, falling short of a 2.8% forecast in October as war, terrorism and cheap oil took their toll. In a new report, the bank said five years of war in Syria and spillovers to neighboring countries have cost the region some $35 billion in lost output measured in 2007 prices, equal to Syria's gross domestic product that year. The plunge in oil prices to around $30 a barrel from over $100 two years ago is causing major problem for the region's oil exporters, with government revenue falling sharply and budget deficits growing. The World Bank said Saudi Arabia's public debt would reach 20% of GDP in 2017, 10 times its level of 2.2% in 2013. "The richest oil exporters in the region, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates, have large reserves that will enable them to run deficits over the coming years, although not far beyond that," the World Bank said in the report. "At current levels of spending, and an oil price of USD 40 per barrel, Saudi Arabia will exhaust its reserves by the end of the decade." The report was issued as the World Bank is in talks on financing with some oil producers in other regions, including Azerbaijan, Nigeria and Angola. The report cited World Bank estimates of $3.6 billion to $4.5 billion in physical damage to just six cities in war-torn Syria: Aleppo, Dar'a, Hama, Homs, Idlib and Latakia. The damage was assessed to housing, health, education, energy, water, transport and agriculture infrastructure. A similar assessment in Yemen, also hit by war, found $4 billion to $5 billion in damage to four cities: Sanaa, the capital; Aden; Taiz and Zinjibar. But the wars there and elsewhere may be extracting a bigger toll on human capital, as Syrian refugees languish with little or no work, the bank said, while educational gains are being reversed. More than half of school-age children in Syria were prevented from attending school during 2014-2015, it said. "A peace settlement in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen could lead to a swift rebound in oil output, allowing them to increase fiscal space, improve current account balances and boost economic growth in the medium term with positive spillovers to the neighboring countries," said Lili Mottaghi, World Bank economist for the region and the author of the report. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie File photo LOGAN As the cold winter months continue, fire officials are reminding residents about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas can cause sickness, asphyxiation, and even death. Logan City Fire Marshal Craig Humphreys said because you cant see or smell CO gas, it makes it very dangerous. People dont arent really aware of it being there until after it causes them problems, said Humphreys. The Utah Department of Health tracks cases of CO poisoning. They report that in 2013, there were 209 emergency room visits and 22 deaths in the state. People 65 and older are among the highest fatalities. Any appliance that burns fuel like a gas fireplace, gas furnace and gas range, produces CO as a byproduct. Humphreys said as long as those appliances are installed and vented correctly, the CO produced is expelled out of the home or building. If there is a problem with the furnace, something isnt working correctly, or the flue is not placed properly for a hot water heater, then sometimes that CO can leak into the home and basically poison the occupants. Residents should inspect their homes after heavy snow storms when snow can cover and obstruct exhaust stacks, vents, and fresh-air intakes. Humphreys said automobiles also produce a large amount of CO that can seep inside a residence. Its always important that as soon as you start your car, back it out of the garage and into the driveway. We really shouldnt let our cars idle at all anyway, but its important to move that car as soon as its started out of the garage, so CO wont go into the living space of the home. Fire officials recommend installing carbon monoxide monitors on each level of a home. Residents should also check and replace the batteries in those monitors every year, at the same time they replace their smoke detector batteries. The symptoms of CO poisoning are feelings of dizziness, light-headedness and nausea. Humphreys said residents should call 911 and leave their home if they suspect anything. We will respond. We take meters out that can detect that CO. We will look through the home with our meters and find out whether there is some CO there or not. If there is, we will make a request for Questar Gas to come out and they can check out the fuel burning appliances, the furnace, the hot water heater and things like that. They will make a determination of where the CO is coming from and then take some corrective action. Although everyone is susceptible to CO poisoning, the Utah Department of Health reports unborn babies, infants, the elderly, and people with respiratory problems are particularly at risk.

will@cvradio.com Marion Bentley, director of the USU Extension Business and Economic Development Center, Extension specialist in the Department of Applied Economics and project director for the new USU-hosted USBDC Network LOGAN Utah State University was recently selected by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to host the Utah Small Business Development Center (USBDC) Network. The new lead center will be located at the USU campus in Logan through USU Extension and will include regional service centers throughout Utah. The USU agreement with SBA takes effect on April 1, 2016, and will be renewed annually. USBCDs provide business owners with advising, mentoring and training to help launch and grow their businesses. The USBDC currently hosts 15 centers located at colleges and universities around the state. The USBDC has been hosted by Salt Lake Community College for the past 20 years and by the University of Utah for 15 years prior to that. Marion Bentley, director of the USU Extension Business and Economic Development Center, Extension specialist in the Department of Applied Economics and project director for the new USU-hosted program, said USU is the perfect fit to host the network since USU already has SBDCs at central campuses in Logan and Price and at regional campuses in Brigham City, Tooele, Vernal, Blanding and Moab. We are well equipped for this opportunity and are excited that we will now get to work even more closely with the SBA and Governors Office of Economic Development partners and our sister colleges and universities throughout the state, Bentley said. Our goal is to help Utah entrepreneurs and businesses be successful, to help strengthen our economy and to provide jobs and employment for Utah citizens. Bentley is currently assisted by Jason Yerka and Mark Holmes, directors of SBDC Service Centers in Logan and Vernal respectively. USU will now begin a search to recruit a state director who will manage the USBDC programs and services while working closely through the transition with the service centers and staff members throughout the state. Steve Price, deputy district director for the SBA Utah District Office said having the USBDC at USU will mean more economic development for the state. I am thrilled that the Small Business Development Center has a home at Utah State University where its staff members will be able to continue their work of helping Utahs entrepreneurs and small businesses, he said. Through programs such as this one, the SBDC is providing key support to local companies to ensure they are sustainable and will continue to grow our economy. The SBDC Program is the largest government-funded small business management and technical assistance program in the United States. The SBDC program currently includes 63 lead centers and more than 900 service delivery points throughout the United State and its territories. For further information visit http://sbdc.usu.edu/. Women and secularism : the slow evolution of Turkish society Published on January 24, 2016 Story by Andre Patrocinio Translation by: Emily Spencer en fr it es de pl The second part of the interview with Seyma Gelen by Cafebabel Bruxelles. Feminist and researcher at l'Universite Libre de Bruxelles, she talks to us about the civil and social rights of Turkish women, Erdogan and secularism. A researcher in transnational electoral sociology, Seyma Gelen combines European awareness with the insight of a Turkish woman, to discuss the coming challenges and slow transformation of an unequal system. This is the second part of the interview with the young researcher, by cafebabel. (The first part of the interview can be found here: The ongoing struggle for women's rights in Turkey.) cafebabel: Do you think that the re-election of Mr. Erdogan was politically engineered and what impact do you think it could have on the social and political rights of women? Seyma Gelen: He and his party were re-elected because it made sense for the majority of the Turkish population. However, the election took place against a backdrop of political instability, which drove many citizens to seek a single party government, that could re-establish a certain degree of stability. What am I expecting the impact of this to be on the social and political rights of women? Certainly, I know that, as long as the population male or female does not address the issue and does not discuss it in a way that puts pressure on leaders, real equality will never be achieved. The AKP strives above all, for legal equality. In 2004, in a bid to join the EU, and yielding to the pressure of dozens of feminist organizations, the AKP amended Article 10 of the Constitution of Turkey, banned discrimination based on sex, and reformed the penal code; redefining 'crimes towards women' as 'crimes against humanity'. Article 5 of the Labour Code guarantees the principle of equal treatment of men and women. The legal framework in itself is a step in the right direction. cafebabel: What observation do you make of the significant gap that still exists between secularists and Islamic women in Turkey? Do you agree with the notion of polarisation within Turkish society, especially after the last elections? Seyma Gelen: Providing a response to this question isnt simple and requires an entire article in itself! The female body has been a political battleground since the creation of the Republic. At the time, the idea was to re-invent the Turkish woman, presenting her as being liberated from the Muslim past, and emancipated, by virtue of Western values. Those who covered their hair were barred entry to higher education and employment, while women who didnt, were granted access. Despite this discrimination, practicing Muslim women who wore the headscarf and those who didnt, did not clash with one another over the issue. Nowadays, even though the recent case of the headscarf-clad judge outraged some people, there is no disagreement on the issue. All women, whether or not they wear a headscarf, have access to the job market and an education. The presence of one does not inhibit the presence of another. I do not agree with the dichotomous classification of Islamic women and secular women - it is not appropriate. Besides, what do these categories even mean? If, by Islamic women you mean 'women who wear the hijab', the latter also become increasingly secularized, leading a life similar to those who dont wear it. There is no clear delineation between the two groups. However, it isnt hard to imagine that there are some women and men! who feel threatened by the public visibility of women wearing the headscarf in the same way, that there are women and men who dont want to see women without the headscarf. Extremes exist everywhere. Certainly, there have been famous women, musicians or actresses for example, who recently publicly expressed that they were against the wearing of headscarves. We must not ignore this, even if it is only a minority point of view. However, we're not just talking about a split between women who wear the hijab and women who don't, but a polarisation between opponents and supporters of Erdogan. Both practising and non-practising Muslim women can find themselves on the same side. What is beneficial about such polarisation is that people who come from different backgrounds are starting to talk to one another and to understand one another, which was almost unimaginable before! Take, for example, leftist groups who dont support the AKP, who managed to communicate and understand each other. The opposite is also true; none of Erdogan's supporters wear the headscarf. cafebabel: Is the fight for civil rights unique to secular and republican parties agendas or is it something that all parties strive for? Seyma Gelen: The specific rights of women started being discussed during the Tanzimat (a time of reforms in the Ottoman Empire, in the 19th century). Even then, feminist organisations and feminist personalities were pursuing the subject. Women's rights isnt a recent issue. The kemalist Republic made women's rights a political matter of modernisation, only concerning the middle and upper classes of the population. Women who conformed to the kemalist ideal were able to infiltrate different sectors. Nowadays, the gap between norms and practices distinguishes The Republican People's Party from the party or parties leading the country. It is a state built on the ashes of an empire, characterised by top-down modernisation, where the differences between what the elites want and what the population want are significant. Thats why today the question of womens rights is a subject that is hardly debated in Turkey. The economy and security worry its citizens much more than the rights of women does. That said, almost all of the parties in Turkey discuss women's rights to some extent nowadays, in line with their ideologies, particularly the AKP and the HDP. Story by Andre Patrocinio Translated from Femmes et laicite : les evolutions lentes de la societe turque SHARE Contributed photo The Rockport Center for the Arts will host the fine porcelain and functional ceramic pieces of Seabrook artist Vorakit Chinookoswong. Chinookoswong will talk about his pieces from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at an artist reception. Contributed photo The Rockport Center for the Arts will host the fine porcelain and functional ceramic pieces of Seabrook artist Vorakit Chinookoswong. Chinookoswong will talk about his pieces from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at an artist reception. By Esther Hackleman Molding beauty from clay, the Rockport Center for the Arts will host the crafted ceramics of Seabrook artist Vorakit Chinookoswong. Chinookoswong, known as V. Chin, was born in Thailand but moved at an early age to Japan, where his interest in ceramics bloomed. Training with Japanese ceramic artists before moving to the United States in 1980, Chinookoswong has now brought his talent to Texas. The artist offers small group classes at the Ceramic Store in Houston and will bring his talent to the Coastal Bend through the Rockport exhibit. Chinookoswong's work brings a balance between aesthetics and function through his crafting and glazing. Chinookoswong will return to the Rockport Center for the Arts to talk about his fine porcelain and functional ceramic pieces at a reception from 5-7 p.m. Saturday. A free pottery demonstration will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Twitter:@Caller_Esther IF YOU GO What: V. Chin solo exhibit When: 5-7 p.m. Saturday, artist reception; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, free pottery demonstration Where: Rockport Center for the Arts, 902 Navigation Circle Cost: Free Information: 361-729-5519, rockportartcenter.com Contributed photo This photo shows Port of Corpus Christi. SHARE By Chris Ramirez of the Caller-Times Companies vying to manage the relocation of Hillcrest residents during the Harbor Bridge project met Friday with officials for the Port of Corpus Christi. James Welder, the port's attorney, and Sean Strawbridge, its chief operating officer, walked vendors through some of what the port may require of its yet-to-be-named relocation specialist. They also discussed the application process. The port commission is expected to vote this month on whether to advertise the position. It hopes to hire a firm during its regular meeting March, and that by May, it can begin notifying Hillcrest property owners of their relocation options. They will have three years from that time to decide whether to move. Talk of replacing the 1950s-era bowstring bridge has been ongoing for years, but has taken on new urgency recently when the state named the team of Flatiron Constructors Inc. and Dragados USA Inc. to design and build the span. State officials are supporting the so-called "Red Route" path for the $898 million project. In December, the port, the City Council, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Corpus Christi Housing Authority authorized a program to purchase properties and relocate residents whose homes could be most severely impacted by construction. The port pledged up to $20 million for the effort. The transportation department would pay any exceeding relocation costs. The port commission's next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16. Twitter: @Caller_ChrisRam SHARE The Food Bank of Corpus Christi received a $50,000 check from the Beaumont Foundation. By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times A donation from a longtime supporter of Texas food banks will go toward providing fresh produce to people in Corpus Christi who normally don't have access. The Beaumont Foundation, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to "enhancing the futures of less fortunate children, youth, families and the elderly," according to its website, donated $50,000 to the Food Bank of Corpus Christi in a check presentation. The check was presented by the foundation's CEO Frank Newton to the food bank's executive director Bea Hanson and board member Kyle Thompson. The money will go toward paying for the shipping and bagging of donated fresh produce, said Cynthia Arbuckle, marketing coordinator at the Caller-Times. The produce will then be distributed through the produce mobile pantry program. Twitter: @Caller_Jules SHARE By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times H-E-B issued a voluntary recall for one of its "Creamy Creations" ice cream flavors Thursday after discovering wood pieces in the product. Staff members found pieces of wood in the caramel pecan turtle ice cream, according to a news release from the supermarket. There are no reports of illnesses, but H-E-B issued the recall "in the abundance of caution." The recall impacts caramel pecan turtle ice cream with these sell-by dates: April 20, May 10, June 7, July 18. Customers who purchased the product can return it to any H-E-B store for a full refund. People with questions or concerns can contact H-E-B customer service at 1-855-432-4438. FARES SABAWI/CALLER-TIMES State Rep. Todd Hunter (from left), PlainsCapital Bank Corpus Christi President Frank Hastings, Mayor Nelda Martinez, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Chairwoman-elect Rosie Gonzalez Collin, PlainsCapital Bank Chairman Alan B. White and Dr. Gilda Ramirez cut the ribbon at the banks grand opening downtown. SHARE By Fares Sabawi of the Caller-Times PlainsCapital Bank celebrated their new downtown headquarters in Corpus Christi by investing into the city's future. After bank officials cut the ribbon with city and chamber officials, they made a $100,000 donation to Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The donation will be fund a scholarship for finance students. Moving into downtown Corpus Christi reaffirms the bank's commitment to the region, said Corpus Christi market president Frank Hastings. "It's the primary financial district for Corpus Christi and, really, the hub of the Coastal Bend," Hastings said. Hastings said he expects the bank will continue to grow as the city does. PlainsCapital is the sixth largest Texas headquartered bank. Founded in Lubbock in 1988, the bank's main corporate offices are in Dallas. "There's much foreign industry and investment here," he said. "We feel very strong about (the local economy)." Twitter: @Caller_Fares SHARE Aydia Benavides By Julie Garcia of the Caller-Times Surveillance camera footage has led Alice police investigators to question the last person who may have seen a 15-year-old girl alive. Alice Police Chief Rex Ramon told the Caller-Times there is video of Aydia Benavides leaving Alice High School about noon Jan. 29. The girl walks across the street to Coastal Bend College-Alice, which is less than a mile from the high school on Coyote Trail. Information received by police indicates that Benavides met a male friend, he said. "We don't know what happened after that," Ramon said. The man has been identified and will be questioned by investigators, he said. He said the man is a person of interest, not a suspect. "He's just a person we need to talk to who might be able to shed some light onto this case," Ramon said. Aydia was reported missing by her family after she never returned home from school Jan. 29. Workers found her dead Tuesday on the grounds of Baker Hughes, an oil field service company. Baker Hughes closed the Alice facility last May, but workers were on site for a monthly walk-through when they found the girl, Ramon said. Other than the building and silos, there is nothing at the facility. Ramon said it's closed to the public. Ramon said officials with the Nueces County Medical Examiner's Office indicated the girl suffered head trauma consistent with a theory that she may have fallen 100 feet from a silo. She was found three-to-five feet away from a silo, he said. Officials with the medical examiner's office said they wouldn't release information about her cause of death until the police investigation is complete. Twitter: @Caller_Jules GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Travis Magill is sentenced to 45 years in prison Wednesday at the 347th District Court. SHARE The guilty verdict in the Travis Magill attempted capital murder case is significant for reasons beyond Magill and the two police officers wounded in their shootout with him. It speaks to one of the most prominent social issues of our day the right to keep and bear arms, and the limits on using those arms to defend oneself. Oh yes, there are limits to that right, and they are reasonable, limited limits. Even the most fervent gun rights advocate should support them. Magill put up as a courtroom defense that he acted in self-defense in fear for his life. His right to spin that yarn is not in dispute. But these days it's less likely to be laughed out of court. The facts of the case are that the officers went to Country Club Estates in response to reports of a suspicious man and burglary attempts in the neighborhood, the first officer to arrive found Magill and began to search him, and before the officer found a gun in Magill's waistband, he drew it and began shooting after he saw the second officer approaching. Then he took off in one of the officers' vehicles, crashed and was captured. No civilian has a right to open fire on uniformed police, period not an otherwise-law-abiding person, not the innocent-until-proven-guilty, not armed members of a so-called militia occupying government property, and not anyone engaged in some other form of criminal activity or suspected by police to be thus engaged. Did Magill fear them and was fear reasonable? If so, then the most likely reasonable reason would be that he was up to something he shouldn't have been. Regardless, the way to defend oneself against two uniformed officers is to identify oneself upon an officer's request, let an officer who has decided to conduct a pat-down search know about the weaponry upon one's person and where it can be found if there's weaponry upon one's person, and surrender peacefully if they have decided to take oneself into custody. It should be that obvious, right? It used to be. But these days a defendant who wants to press a self-defense argument has an assorted tool bag that wasn't available a couple of decades ago, before the right of civilians to carry a concealed handgun via license existed in Texas. Things have changed fundamentally since that happened. Firearms have proliferated and restrictions have loosened nationwide. Concurrently and counterintuitively, the suspicion that the Second Amendment is under assault has increased precipitously. Running for any office in Texas on a gun-control platform nowadays is the political equivalent of swallowing a pistol. Meanwhile, in other communities in other states, deaths of people of color at the hands of police under suspicious circumstances have sparked a heated national discourse and brought policing under suspicion. (Magill is white.) Also consider the widespread implications of a high-profile fatal shooting that didn't involve police Trayvon Martin, the unarmed teen shot dead by George Zimmerman for what Zimmerman perceived to be a threat after he confronted Martin and not the other way around. Zimmerman claimed self-defense successfully and injected the so-called stand-your-ground doctrine into the fray. Magill, it should be needless to say, had no right to stand his ground. Self-defense as a defense should have been too outlandish to pursue. It wasn't, and that's a testament to where we as a society are now on gun rights and related issues. The jury's rejection of Magill's self-defense premise helps define at least one reasonable limit to the right to keep, bear and use arms. It also could foster a safer environment for police to police. The Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens are safe and the streets of Corpus Christi are safer than before. The Supreme Court building in Washington SHARE There are few things a president can do that a successor cannot reverse. One president's war is often followed by the next president's withdrawal. One president's new social program frequently gives way to a new president's budget cuts. The one exception to this cyclical dynamic is the appointment of Supreme Court justices, where the justices have life tenure. Each president leaves a permanent mark on the law and public policy. This should be, and will be, a major topic of discussion in the current election. Voters should pay attention. When the country is deeply divided on controversial policy issues, as it is today, the Supreme Court becomes the place where stalemated issues get resolved. This was true for efforts to expand social programs during the New Deal, to protect civil rights during the Cold War, and even to settle a contested election in 2000. Today, the justices will play a central role in defining health care, marriage, privacy, affirmative action and other contested policy issues of our time. They will not do this with a single decision, but with a series of rulings and opinions that frame law and public discussion. The current Supreme Court is populated with aging justices, four of whom are older than 75 and five of whom have served on the court for more than 20 years each. The oldest justices include two conservatives, Antonin Scalia (79) and Anthony Kennedy (79), and two liberals, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (82) and Stephen Breyer (77). Following the pattern of the past three presidents, whoever wins the White House should have the opportunity to appoint at least two replacements for current justices who retire in the coming years. There is a good chance that at least one conservative and one liberal will retire, giving the new president the opportunity to rebalance the court by appointing two justices of the same political persuasion. We all know that the modern confirmation process involves intensive scrutiny of a potential nominee's background and persistent efforts to predict likely ruling preferences. Becoming a Supreme Court justice involves appealing to a president's policy positions and then separating from them when questioned by senators from the other party. Public claims to objectivity and private biases go hand-in-hand. But for all the scrutiny, the process remains unpredictable. Many justices even those with extensive judicial experience change their views when they join the Supreme Court. They have reached the zenith of their careers, they are expected to act as philosopher-kings, and they have life tenure. These conditions encourage self-reflection and independence as never before in a judge's career. Many past presidents were frustrated when the justices they appointed had a change of heart. President Dwight Eisenhower, for example, appointed former California governor Earl Warren as chief justice of the Supreme Court in 1953. Eisenhower expected that Warren, a fellow Republican, would use the court's rulings to restrain the federal government, reduce regulations, and broaden the free enterprise system. Warren shifted radically, becoming a proponent of active government, regulation of public behavior, and an expansive social welfare state, including major civil rights milestones. Eisenhower famously lamented that appointing Warren to the Supreme Court was his "greatest mistake." Eisenhower's successors would make similar statements about their appointees. Most recently, Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush, infuriated fellow Republicans with his support for the legality of the Affordable Care Act. This historical background is vital for voters because it shows how important and unpredictable presidential choices truly are for the Supreme Court. The next president will reshape our daily lives through his or her judicial appointments, but the president will not control specific rulings. Voters should look for presidential candidates who will appoint Supreme Court justices committed to their core values of fairness and integrity. We cannot predict exactly what the new justices will do, but we can expect appointees to reflect the biases of their initial presidential patrons. The Democrat or Republican who wins the White House in 2016 will create a new Supreme Court that furthers the general preferences of that presidential party. The stakes for the Supreme Court in this presidential election are especially high, and partisan. Jeremi Suri holds the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including "Liberty's Surest Guardian: American Nation-Building from the Founders to Obama." This is the first piece of business that agency has won since it ended its relationship with DDB and sold a majority stake to Dentsu Aegis Network in mid-December. The pitch was announced just after the acquisition was completed and involved a list of 'club agencies' and several local digital agencies. All in all, there were two pitches: an above-the-line pitch and a digital one. Dentsu JaymeSyfu disclosed that it decided to pitch as a single unit (instead of at two separate pitches) to show its integration. "Our strength in integration is key in working successfully with all the brands," said Merlee Cruz-Jayme, CEO and chairmom at Dentsu JaymeSyfu, crediting the agency's merger. Starting in the second quarter of the year, Dentsu JaymeSyfu will handle creative duties for Creamsilk, Surf, Breeze, Domex, Sunlight, Cif, and the homecare portal Cleanipedia. Dentsu Digit, led by managing director Carlo Ople, won digital AOR for all the brands listed above and an additional six brands: Master, Axe, Eskinol, Block and White, Selecta ice cream, and Magnum. Dennis Perez, head of media at Unilever Philippines, said he was looking forward to working with the agency thanks to its quality of creative thinking, original insights and innovative execution. Dentsu has decided to strategically invest in the Phillippines, said Takaki Hibino, APAC CEO for Dentsu brand agencies and Dentsu media Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan). "To see these strategies come to life and materialize into significant wins is the perfect example of the good innovation that we aim for. Dentsu JaymeSyfu declined to disclose the incumbent agencies working on the brands. Leon Chen (, pictured right), has moved on to iQiYi as VP of marketing after nearly five years at Maxus China as COO working on accounts such as Pfizer, Huawei, Bank of Communications, SAIC, UPS, Unionpay, SC Johnson, Suning, Apple, Ecco, Moet Hennessy, Haier, Lenovo and Acer. His new job duties includes positioning the online-video site as a pioneer in the field of big data for China's car industry. Dominie Liang () has started work at Midland Holdings as chief digital officer this Monday (1 February). He left his old employer New Media Group after almost a decade. His role will be filled by Cheung Wai-lun (), director of content processing and management, also a NMG veteran. iClick Interactive Asia has appointed Jan Tang () as COO to oversee the company's operations and lead its product development in international markets outside China. The appointment follows the completion of the acquisition of OptAim Technology, which was founded by Tang in 2012. Jacob Johansen has become a partner at Charter Five, a brand consultancy with presence in Copenhagen, Shanghai and Tokyo. Before that, he was executive director of international business at Mensch as well as managing director for Greater China at McCann-owned Momentum Worldwide. A leadership change at Jack Morton China saw the previous MD Adam Charles replaced by Evie Loo, who had previous positions at Avantgarde and Dentsu Y&R. She reports to Jack Mortons vice chairman and international president, Julian Pullan. Charles leaves his role after a six-year tenure. Pierre Loo () has been appointed executive creative director, McCann Health Greater China, overseeing Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Prior to joining McCann, he served as regional professional director at Red Fuse Communications based in Hong Kong. Newgate Communications has hired Kim Spear as a director responsible for its corporate, digital and business development functions. Her previous role was head of corporate at Ketchum Beijing. Erin Tan also joined Newgate as senior consultant to focus on deals and transactions. Ringo Fai () has been promoted at Saatchi & Saatchi, now head of digital for South China. He was a digital planning director for around one and a half years. His 12 years of agency-side experience was built on business management, strategic planning and social media consultation. | BY Ricki Green | CB Exclusive: Innocean Australia has announced that Whybin\TBWA Auckland ECD Dave King is returning to Australia to work in the newly created role of executive creative director. King is a renowned creative thinker and leader, winning multiple times at Cannes, D&AD and One Show. Most proudly, in 2011, he was awarded the Ervin Wunderman award at Caples in New York. Prior to his role at Whybin\TBWA Auckland, he was ECD at M&C Saatchi New Zealand and along the way has held other senior CD roles at M&C Saatchi Sydney and BBDO Proximity. Says Peter Fitzhardinge, CEO, Innocean: I am personally thrilled that Dave has chosen to join us. We have enormous potential at INNOCEAN and to have a great 360 integrated thinker such as Dave with will help us deliver outstanding world class campaigns deserving of the brands that Hyundai and Kia are. I couldnt be happier. My global CEO, Kun Hee Ahn and Donald Shin, head of global development have both been huge supporters in helping me attract world class talent such as Dave to our office. It signals a new ambition for us. Says King: When I heard about this opportunity to work with Pete again, I was immediately interested. His passion to make Innocean Worldwide Sydney a world class agency has been echoed to me by Kun Hee Ahn, Donald Shin and Bob Isherwood. Im really thrilled to finally get to work with Bob, who is one of the worlds great creative leaders and a really good bloke. To do so on such fantastic brands as Hyundai and Kia makes it even more exciting. Says Kun Hee Ahn, Innocean Worldwide global CEO: I am thrilled to have Dave King on-board at Innocean Australia as ECD. He will inspire all creative output for one of our most promising shops within the Innocean network and he is expected to promptly bring positive energy to both of our key clients in Hyundai and Kia. Says Bob Isherwood, creative advisor, Innocean Worldwide, who was involved in the selection of King: Dave King is an experienced creative director with a globally acclaimed portfolio that bridges the traditional and new media. He and Fitzy will make an awesome team, and a gear shift in the 360 degree thinking we bring to our clients. As a result of Kings appointment, current CD Scott Lambert will be leaving Innocean. Says Fitzhardinge: Id like to thank Scott whole heartedly for his time and contribution here at Innocean. Scott has given five years of his life to putting Innocean on the map and his contribution cannot be underestimated. Apart from his enormous abilities, hes a really good guy and I wish him well. Hell pop up somewhere great, I have no doubt. Says Lambert: I have had five amazing years here at Innocean Australia, working with an exceptionally talented team all of whom I will miss very much. In that time, we have had many highlights. On the CB Hot & Cold chart, we have taken Innocean from a who? to a top 15 Agency. Last year the agency was the No.1 Agency on the CB Creative Rankings, our client Kia was the No.1 client, and I found myself as the equal No.1 creative director. And as if to punctuate my last days at Innocean with a shiny exclamation mark, just this week we were awarded a silver at the Clios. It has been a great run and this was achieved with just two clients two great clients actually in Hyundai and Kia. So all in all, becoming the inaugural CD five years ago was an amazing opportunity for which I will always be grateful. | BY Ricki Green | Fonterra has introduced a new global creative platform for its biggest brand, Anchor, created by a number of regional BBDO agencies led by Colenso BBDO. Says Rachel Morgan, international business director, Colenso BBDO: Our new global platform centres on the thought that Goodness Feeds Greatness, but allows each country, including Sri Lanka, China, Australia, Chile and Malaysia, the flexibility to create their own interpretations and relevant articulations for their market. This week, Anchor New Zealand launches its new Go Strong campaign developed by Colenso. The campaign features real New Zealanders and their go strong stories. A powerful 60-second film shows glimpses of these stories in a way that feels almost like a movie trailer. Shorter length films then feature individuals using their physical and inner strength in taking on a diverse range of life challenges. Anchor product is cleverly interwoven as abstract macro shots that add to the adrenalin pumping nature of the stories. Each film invites consumers to find out more of the background behind the stories online. Fonterra Brands NZ (FBNZ) marketing director, Clare Morgan, says that Anchor is all about giving people the confidence and nutritional building blocks to grow into strong, confident, healthy beings, able to do whatever they want and take on any challenge. Says Clare Morgan: In other words we want to show how Anchor is helping Kiwis believe in themselves and Go Strong. You could say this is part of our DNA as Anchor has been strengthening New Zealanders from the inside out since 1886. Says Steve Cochran, ECD of Colenso BBDO: This campaign is designed to get people to not only think Go Strong but to feel it. We found an amazing cast of New Zealanders willing to share their stories of strength. Not only has this enabled us to capture some uniquely honest and genuine stories, but also to show the diversity of what it is to be a New Zealander today. Some of the cast of real kiwis includes an international stunt woman, a courageous refugee expressing his true self as a drag queen, a champion trampolining duo, an 80 year-old hip hop dancer, and a three year-old attempting to master the monkey bars. The hero film was even voiced by Jack, a waka skipper and navigator, who youll see in the opening scene of the ad. The campaign deliberately walks a line to provoke conversation and maybe even controversy, something Anchor was famous for in the late eighties with its Anchor Family campaign that featured an unconventionally dysfunctional advertising family. Says Andy Dasgupta, director, global consumer brands, Fonterra: The team at FBNZ have created a world class consumer engagement strategy one that I am confident will not just step change Anchor in the minds of New Zealand consumers, but also make the global marketing world recognise Fonterra as a force to reckon with. Says Lisa Divett, Fonterras lead planner at Colenso BBDO: Not since the Anchor family have kiwis heard from the Anchor Masterbrand. Its one of our countrys most iconic and important brands. And with a brave client willing to step out of the dairy category norms, we think this work will go a long way to reclaiming that status. Kiku Ohe of Exit Films beautifully directed the films with the sound and music created by Mahuia of Franklin Rd and The Coopers. They debut online, on television and in cinemas nationwide. Client: Fonterra Brands New Zealand, Anchor. Clare Morgan (Director of Marketing) Allison Yorston (Group Marketing Manager Anchor) Agency: Colenso BBDO Media Agency: MediaCom Production Company: EXIT Producer: Vivenne Jaspers Director: Kiku Ohe DOP: Jeremy Rouse Editor: Simon Price Music: Mahuia Bridgeman Cooper | BY Lynchy | CB Exclusive CB can reveal that Ogilvy & Mather Sydney has further bolstered its creative credentials, luring the highly-awarded and widely-experienced Scott Lambert as group creative director. Lambert (far left) was most recently ECD at Innocean Worldwide Australia, where he has spent five years producing world-class campaigns for Hyundai and Kia, most notably, Kia Salt-N-Pepa. He departed the agency in June last year Prior to joining Innocean as its inaugural CD, Lambert was the creative director of FCB Melbourne for nine years. He also spent nine years in Singapore honing his skills at both DDB and Batey Ads. Says Ogilvy Sydneys ECD Derek Green (above right): Weve been very considered in our approach to finding the right people that will complement and strengthen our creative team, and reinforce our position as a world-class outfit. Scott is one of those people that I believe will do just that. Hes a fabulous talent and is also a grown up, he understands the balance between solving business problems and making cutting edge work. Were very excited to have him on board. Lambert said he was thrilled to be joining Ogilvy at this exciting time: Derek and Foxy have big plans for the future and I am grateful for the opportunity that they have given me to be part of it. I am looking forward to contributing to the success of the network, their existing clients and helping in bringing in exciting new opportunities, he said. Lambert will operate across all Ogilvy Sydney accounts, with a particular focus on working with KFC creative director Shaun Branagan as they take the Life Should Always be Finger Lickin Good platform to the next level. Recent KFC executions include Plucka and | BY Ricki Green | Students Sophie Robertson, Samantha Cable, Katie Chrystal, Filipe Oliveira and Will Winter Irving yesterday celebrated the completion of their 2-year portfolio course in December. Each student has a success story to tell. Winter Irving, who scored the schools top dog award, is working as a junior art director at R/GA after completing an internship in New York. Cable was hired as junior copywriter by Leo Burnett on her return from internships in San Francisco and Hamburg. Oliveira who last week returned from studying at the New York and Berlin schools is in discussions with future employers. Two students started new businesses. Chrystals business hand brews and hand pours soy wax candles from a small candle studio in Sydney. Robertsons design studio creates custom silk and chiffon scarves that sell from London to Sydney and the Maldives. Chrystal spoke for all students when she summed up her experience: We had a wonderful experience at the school. To learn the latest skills and knowledge directly from the horses mouth, ie the industry teachers, was awesome. They pushed us and helped us each individually to achieve our dreams. | BY Ricki Green | Experienced creative director Mike Preston (right) has formally joined Newcastle-based creative agency Headjam as principal and executive creative director. After working with the team for the past few years Preston joins Luke Kellett (centre) and Sarah Cook (left) as an owner and director of the agency that now includes a team of 11 people developing brands and campaigns for clients across Australia. Preston brings more than three decades of expertise creating international award-winning campaigns. For the past 12 years he has work has focused on the human condition and the creation of meaningful content in health and social sciences for film and other creative disciplines. He created campaigns for the RTA, EPA including the Tosser campaign, Government Census, Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW, NSW Health, NSW Police, Medicare Local and the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia. Preston has won major international creative awards including Grand Prix gold, silver and bronze at the prestigious AWARD, Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, D&AD, New York One Show, Campaign Press, British Design Council, New York Festivals, London International, Kinsale, Clio, Folio and Caxton. Headjam managing director Luke Kellett, said that Preston is one of the only local creative directors to achieve such high accolades. Says Kellett: Mike brings a depth of experience to our team that has included some of the most influential campaigns in the health and community sectors. His experience and knowledge will provide enormous benefit to our clients. We are incredibly privileged to have Mike join the team. Preston is no stranger to the Hunter. For the past two years he has worked with Headjam on a number of projects. Prestons three decade career in advertising and communication has included directing the launch of major brands such as Optus and Hahn in the Australian marketplace. Career highlights include two of Australias longest running campaigns, one for Johnson & Johnson and the other for Colgate. He worked with a long list of renowned agencies including JWT, Publicis, McCann Erickson, FCB, George Patterson and Clemenger BBDO. Mike has vast experience in the area of social marketing, and has worked on many campaigns for both the Federal and State governments. In 2011 Preston co-founded Creatives Co-op, a creative consultancy that develops ideas and solutions for marketing, brand and advertising communications. In 2013 Preston and the Creatives Co-op collaborated with Headjam for the creation of the South Western Sydney Partners In Recovery campaign. Its success led to further collaboration in 2014 as part of the Eastern Sydney Partners In Recovery campaign. Says Preston: Headjam is the right size to be an incredibly agile firm. Focussing on clients in the sectors of community, health, arts and education aligns nicely to the type of creative work I love doing. The combination of experience and expertise enables Headjam to focus on constantly improving the work we do to ensure our clients get the most effective outcomes. "The site is already up and running but it's in beta mode there's a lot of programming we need to do and add features and growth. We've got already 500 users now and we more and more people keep signing up so its getting better and better." "We are now living with the consequences. We are dressing it [hostility to asylum seekers and refugees] up as stopping people from drowning at sea; as about stopping the boats. But this is also about forcing people to live with the loss of hope." [Your Business Name] Contact Info Phone: Fax: Email: Web: CAPITOLHILLCUBANS.COM Business Overview Geographic Area Line of Business Brands We Carry Products and Services Discounts Offered Additional Information Business Hours Timezone We Accept 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. Ferrari GTO, AC Cobra and Duesenberg are just some of the historic cars that made the trip to Amelia Island in Florida last month to participate in the 17th annual Concours dElegance. But for Justin Lapriore, who filmed this video, the event was mostly about the Gran Turismo Omologato. I spent the weekend of March 11th chasing Ferrari 250 GTOs around Amelia Island FL at the Concours dElegance. This is what came of it. It seems like a good fit for the website, Justin told us in an email. Well agree Justin and wed like to believe that our readers will enjoy it as well. You can watch the short film in the video that follows right after the jump. VIDEO An overzealous Dutchman who wanted to impress his girlfriend by proposing to her on a mobile crane gave her a smashing surprise when the machine toppled over and crashed into a neighbors roof twice The incident occurred in the Dutch town of IJsselstein with the man planning to hover over to his loved ones bedroom door and sing to her before popping the big question. Instead, the crane, which wasnt secured, fell into the roof of a neighboring house. To make matters worse, the machine fell again during an attempt to right it with a larger crane, completing the destruction! The crane the man wanted to use to propose fell on a house, emergency services spokesman Jelle Mulder told AFP, according to The Guardian. During the attempt to right it, the crane unfortunately slipped and fell on the house again, he said. The good news is that no one was hurt (physically, not financially) and that the woman said yes. Local newspaper Algemeen Dagblad reported that the man, after speaking with the police, took his fiance for a trip to Paris to celebrate. Video via BBC, Tweet via Times Dutchman's romantic proposal goes disastrously wrong http://t.co/j8KCiKXp6c (Michiel Van BeersEPA) pic.twitter.com/ueeMa5w0zc TIME.com (@TIME) December 13, 2014 Video With the new C-Class proving to be a massive success, Mercedes has increased unit sales by 11.3% to 148,072 vehicles in the month of April. In Europe alone, since the beginning of the year, 251,268 vehicles were handed over to their new owners (+12.0%), out of which 83,339 units went to Germany. In the UK, 50,196 customers bought a Mercedes-Benz in the first 4 months, registering a 19.1% growth. Aprils top selling Benz was the new C-Class, naturally. A beautiful car, modern and comfortable perfectly able to handle any sort of pressure from the BMW 3 Series. Plus, its easy to sell more units when one of your main competitors isnt knocking at your door constantly (were waiting on the new Audi A4). Daimler AG Board Member Ola Kallenius said that they plan to keep the momentum going with a stream of new products including four new or revised SUVs. In addition, we recently showed the Concept GLC Coupe, which will go into series production in 2016, at the auto show in Shanghai. In the NAFTA region, Mercedes registered sales records in all three countries in April with a 12.8% growth in the U.S, a 28.6% rise in Canada and 29.7% in Mexico. Overall, 33,669 NAFTA region customers bought a Mercedes-Benz in one month alone. A sales record was also posted in the Asia-Pacific region, where 45,034 vehicles were sold last month a 23.3% rise. In China, 27,069 people chose to buy a Mercedes-Benz vehicle, where as Japan saw a 37.5% bump, while Australia registered 16.2%. As for the top-selling C-Class (saloon & estate), Mercedes sold 32,809 units in April marking a 53.8% improvement. PHOTO GALLERY With the Superb already making waves as a strong competitor within its segment, it seems credible that it will lend a helping hand to its sub-compact sibling. In 2015, the Fabia broke through as a middle of the pack in Europe as far as sales were concerned, edging out rivals such as the Dacia Sandero, Citroen C3, Seat Ibiza and Hyundai i20. At the same time, it falld behind the Yaris and trailing the likes of the Peugeot 208, Opel Corsa, VW Polo, Renault Clio and Ford Fiesta by a wide margin, so freshening it up a little could boost its appeal. This rendering is pretty much identical to what the Fabia currently looks like, with the slightest of differences regarding the Superb-infuenced headlights and grille that, naturally, were shrunk to fit the smaller cars dimensions. Rendering courtesy of Theophilus Chin PHOTO GALLERY Mercedes-Benz has sold 19,9 percent more cars in the first month of the new year over the previous time period. The figure represents 150,814 vehicles delivered to customers worldwide by the three-pointed star brand alone, while Smart has seen a 10.3 percent increase with 9,324 units sold. As with most automakers, China turned out to be one of the best markets for Mercedes: We continued the positive development of record year 2015 in January, and started the new year successfully. At the beginning of the year, our unit sales were particularly high in China, where we handed over more than 40,000 vehicles to customers, said Ola Kallenius, member of the Board of Management for Daimler AG. In the Asian country, Mercedes-Benzs sales were up by 52 percent and in the entire Asia-Pacific region, the automaker delivered 63,440 units in January 2016, 37.1 percent more, while in Europe, the manufacturer recorded 15.2 percent increase with 54,937 vehicles. Germany was where the company sold 15,779 units, 1.8 percent up. In the NAFTA region, 28,185 examples were sold last month, representing a 2.3 percent increase over the same time period, with the United States playing a major role, as 24,664 units were delivered across the nation. The new Smart ForTwo and Smart ForFour were appreciated in Europe, but Great Britain was where the urban cars were especially popular, as sales more than tripled there in the first month of the year. PHOTO GALLERY This news comes straight of Martorell, as SEAT is ready to launch their first compact SUV, the Spanish manufacturer thinks consumers are dictating the growth of this segment. Arantxa Alonso, who works in SEATs product marketing department thinks that SUV customers are looking for four main characteristics in a car. First and foremost, a superior feeling of safety, which you get thanks to the SUVs robust nature. Then, youre looking at the design, greater versatility and more interior space for both passengers as well as luggage. Alonso argues that these traits are most important to male customers who are around 52 years in age, though also highly regarded by women. Thanks to its high driving position, women have a greater feeling of safety that does away with the fear of city driving. Its like sitting in a fortress. Alonso also thinks that this is the ideal moment for SEAT to launch their SUV, seen as how the brand has demonstrated maturity with the ability to make cars that stand out for their technology and quality. According to data gathered by the Spanish automaker, SUV sales will grow by 25% by the time the year 2020 comes along, which in turn will result in over 1,550,000 units of this type of vehicle being sold in Western Europe, proving that rather than a passing trend, the SUV is here to stay. Note: SEAT 20V20 concept pictured PHOTO GALLERY The Volkswagen Group submitted its plan to fix its diesel emissions cheating 3.0-liter V6 engine to the California Air Resources Board and Environmental Protection Agency earlier in the week. The submission of the automakers plan comes after four months of talks and negotiations with local U.S. authorities and comes despite Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi initially denying that the 3.0-liter V6 was installed with the same cheat device as the smaller 2.0-liter diesel engine. Cars affected in the U.S. with the faulty 3.0-liter engine are the 2009-2016 VW Touareg, 2013-2016 Porsche Cayenne, Audi A7, 2014-2016 Audi A6, Audi A8, Audi A8L, Audi Q5 and 2009-2016 Audi Q7 models. On Tuesday, Audi of American spokesman Mark Clothier said We are fully cooperating with the U.S. authorities to make our V6 3.0L (diesel) engine compliant with regulations. After meetings between EPA and (California) and our technicians, we filed a recall plan. Before recalls can commence, the proposed fix has to be approved by federal regulators who just last month, rejected the automakers planned resolution for the 2.0-liter cars embroiled in the scandal. While the companys fixes in the U.S. havent been approved, it was awarded approval to recall 8.5 million vehicles in Europe last week. PHOTO GALLERY Photo: Contributed - Alex Fong A painting will appear before your eyes in just an hour during Art Attack. The unique fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation is returning for Valentines Day. Six Okanagan artists are set to inspire during the event. Each artist, donating their time and materials, will have one hour to create their piece. It will then be auctioned off the same night, with all money going to Heart and Stroke. Area manager for the foundation Jessica Samuels says artists will also bring selections from their portfolio that will be available for purchase, with proceeds from those sales going to the artists. We have had such amazing support from this community. Alex Fong, Leanne Spanza and Jolene Mackie are taking part once again this year, and we are quite excited about the new artists who are participating. It is a diverse art show that really makes these pieces accessible to most budgets, says Samuels. Last years event saw an Alex Fong original sell for under $400, while other paintings were auctioned off for as low as $120. The event will take place Feb. 10 at Kelowna Heritage Loft, 339 Bernard Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are available for $20 on eventbrite, at the HSF office: 41551 Sutherland Ave., or at the door. Photo: Contributed - Philip Image Cell phone auto-correct always gets me in trouble. Although it is not necessarily what auto-correct corrects that gets me into trouble as much as the combination of annoyingly inexplicable decisions it makes. To put things into context, when in Mexico last week, my business colleague kept asking me what I wanted to eat off the menu. Politely, Id reply, Whatever youre having. By the end of the week, he said I was one of the most easygoing people he had ever met. The truth, however, is that I am as blind as a bat. Far-sightedness has crippled my ability to make menu selections, unless I put the menu on the floor, stand up, then look down approximately 510, at which point some of it comes into focus. All of which is on the proviso that the restaurant is extremely well-lit, which, in most cases, it isnt. Not only am I as blind as a bat, I have, out of necessity, lost all of my food dislikes. Whatever youre having. Sure, I can hear the chorus already - why dont you just wear your reading specs? The answer, for all you women out there asking such a crazy question, is simple. Because I am a guy. The same could be said for reading text messages. As annoying as the auto-corrects are, I would not have as much of a problem if I wore my reading specs. But really, how inconvenient is that? Can I not just trust technology to correct spelling? Clearly not. When my phone cant be bothered correcting throughot to throughout, and, instead, blatantly leaves the typo, I realize the algorithm is seriously flawed. It doesnt stop there. Auto-correct will take a perfectly reasonable word like reasonable and, for no good reason whatsoever, change it to resonate. I dont know why it does that, in large part because I do not actually see it happen because I am not wearing my specs. But it does do it. When I do wear my specs, my phone argues with me. I type the word I want, and watch carefully as it changes it to something completely different. I correct it again, and it corrects me again. So goes the fight until I get so frustrated that I just call the person. If this is technology helping us, do we really, truly believe that cars will ever drive themselves? I have my doubts. The net result of my war with auto-correct is rampant confusion amongst family, missed appointments with colleagues, and the occasional very embarrassing text. I put it down to poor eyesight, tiny keyboard . . . and addled auto-correct. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. An open letter to the City of Kelowna. Despite the ample downtown Kelowna parking that your website purports, the truth is very, very, different. Are you aware that there is no monthly parking available downtown, and that there are dozens of people on wait lists for such parking? Are you aware that those with parking passes cannot leave their spots during the day or they will have no parking available when they return? Further, are you aware that there are 80+ new CRA staff moving into the downtown core in February? As a person who works downtown and cannot begin work before 8:45 am, I am likely to not be able to find any parking at all (and all metered parking is likely to be filled by people who work downtown). Because of a lack of planning on your part, I am having to look at shortening my hours (eliminating spending money for my family in Kelowna) so that I am able to illegally park somewhere else in order to take a bus downtown (Kelowna has no park and ride lots at all), and ultimately look for employment outside of downtown to avoid the stress, wasted energy, and expense. There are many people in my position. What will happen when we cannot get to work, not to mention when no one can shop down here as there is literally nowhere to park? This is a huge problem for downtown, and it cannot wait for late this fall for when the new parkade is scheduled to open, at least 6 months from now. The damage will have been done by then. What is being done now to rectify this situation and prevent significant negative impact on downtown businesses, the people who work there, and the public's views on coming downtown? Audra Boudreau Will you do more to conserve water? "You can't manage what you can't measure" With those words, Bruce Wilson of Spot Solutions summed up why his company teamed up with the Okanagan Basin Water Board and both the Federal and Provincial government to develop a revolutionary new software tool known as "SWURT". The Streamlined Water Use Reporting Tool was unveiled at the Holiday Inn in West Kelowna Friday morning. "We're extremely pleased to be launching this made in the Okanagan web based tool." says Dr. Anna Warwick Sears, Executive Director for the water board. "SWURT will help our water utilities keep an ongoing record of how much water we are using. This is critical for managing our water supplies and preparing for the shortages that are expected with a growing population and climate change." The Board also says their data shows that the average Okanagan resident uses 675 litres of water per day, more than twice the national average of 329 litres per day. This despite the fact that the Okanagan has the least amount of water available per capita in Canada. With high usage rates and growing demand, water utilities across the Okanagan realized they have to work together to manage the valley's limited water resources. SWURT will replace the current system of water utilities manually writing reports and faxing them to the province. "Its a dynamic tool that makes financial sense." says Wilson. "It consolidates data from all water users to help protect water sources, including Okanagan Lake, and will provide more information to the province more accurately." Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan had praise for the OBWB initiative. "The internet, on a constant basis, is part of our livelihood. You can't leave home without the Blackberry. I applaud the leadership and innovation of the Okanagan Basin Water Board for using technology for making this system more efficient, more effective and obviously residents of the community will be the beneficiaries." If this pilot project is successful in the Okanagan, it will soon be used in the rest of B.C. "The staff in Victoria are certainly looking forward to seeing the results of this project." says John Slater, B.C.'s Parliamentary Secretary for Water Supply and Allocation. Kelowna Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick says SWURT will also help compare the levels of usage for both agricultural and residential customers. "A big part of this is to continue to provide information to everyone in the Okanagan. We're all part of the same system, so whatever we can do to continue the reduction in the use of that water, that precious resource that we need for agriculture, that we need to keep in our reservoirs to fight those fires that we have now and then, to fight the droughts, is a good thing." "This program will help us measure water use in the Okanagan, and hopefully that will translate into each of us individually being more careful with our own water use." SWURT was developed with support from the Canada-BC Building Canada Fund and Environment Canada at a cost of just under $250,000. More than 25 Okanagan water utilities were consulted on this project, along with the B.C. Ministries of Environment and Health Services as well as the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural development. If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,... Armenia: Hrazdan Cement expected to increase output 05 February 2016 Hrazdan Cement, located in Armenias central Kotayk province, is expected to increase output up to 200,000t, the countrys Minister of Economy Karen Chshmarityan, has said. Chshamrityan said in 2015 the plant produced about 80,000t of cement, the bulk of which was exported, Arka news agency reported. In 2015 autumn the company paid AMD150m of taxes and repaid wage arrears to the tune of AMD180m Hrazdan Cement is one of two cement producers in Armenia. In 2014 it received a US$4.6m loan from the VTB Bank of Armenia to resume operations after standing idle for some time. Published under Siwertell delivers road-mobile unloaders for cement-handling operations in Libya & Vietnam 05 February 2016 Siwertell, part of Cargotec, has delivered two more of its 10 000 S road-mobile unloaders for cement unloading operations in Libya and Vietnam. The new trailer-based, diesel-powered machines are fitted with a double bellows system and dust filters and can handle cement at a rated capacity of 300tph. Following an order signed with Tenovar International Ltd in Malta in late June 2015, the first unloader was delivered promptly in August the same year. In February 2016 it will be commissioned in Tobruk, Libya and will operate for Mediterranean Cement, also known as Al Bahar Al Mutawaset Cement. The second unloader was ordered in November 2015 by Koastal Industries Pte Ltd, on behalf of leading Vietnamese cement exporter, the Vissai Cement Group and was also delivered only a month later in December 2015. It will be used for cement unloading at two sites in Vietnam and was ordered as part of the Group's ongoing expansion plans. The contract includes spare parts appropriate for two years of operation. Commissioning is scheduled for spring 2016. The Vissai Group's operation will use its mobile unloader at a number of ports in central Vietnam, separated by distances of up to around 300km, notes Jorgen Ojeda, Director, Siwertell Mobile Unloaders. Published under Sign up for our newsletter Florida House Overwhelmingly Approves Campus Carry Guns would be allowed on college campuses under a bill passed by the Florida House. The House voted 80-37 to pass the bill after an hour-and-a-half of contentious debate Wednesday. Republicans said the bill would keep campuses safer while Democrats argued just the opposite. The vote shows a basic difference in the philosophical outlook of the two main political parties in the United States. Republicans, as a general rule, think that citizens should have more liberty and that people can generally be trusted to act responsibly in their best interests and in the interests of society at large. That is why they view having concealed carriers on campus as a positive step. They view it as having additional campus security in the event of crime (or in a much less likely scenario of a mass shooting or a terrorist attack). Anti-gun Democratswho sadly have driven millions of conservative and liberal gun-owning Democrats to the fringes of the partythink that people are inherently incapable of taking care of themselves and acting like adults if government isnt there to force them to follow rules and hover over them as a helicopter parent with a strict list of what they can and cannot do. These politicians are terrified not only irrationally terrified of firearms as a tool, but of the liberty that firearms symbolize. They are like the fear-wracked parent hovering over a perfectly functional young person heading off to college, irrationally convinced that the normal process of maturing and seeking more knowledge and responsibility will lead to their doom. Im going to suggest that as this legislation progresses anti-gun Democrats are going to screamas they screamed when the concealed carry revolution started in Florida three decades agothat the result of this law will be blood in the streets. Once campus law is approved, in this legislative session or another, well see that their claims were false. That is the way it has always been, and the way it will always likely be. ------------------ Bob Owens is the Editor of BearingArms.com. A long-time shooting enthusiast, he began blogging as a North Carolina native in New York. His personal blog is bob-owens.com, and he can be found on Twitter at @bob_owens. Tags: Florida House, approves, campus carry, Bob Owens, Bearing Arms To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks! by Bob Owens : The Florida House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a campus carry bill.The vote shows a basic difference in the philosophical outlook of the two main political parties in the United States.Republicans, as a general rule, think that citizens should have more liberty and that people can generally be trusted to act responsibly in their best interests and in the interests of society at large. That is why they view having concealed carriers on campus as a positive step. They view it as having additional campus security in the event of crime (or in a much less likely scenario of a mass shooting or a terrorist attack).Anti-gun Democratswho sadly have driven millions of conservative and liberal gun-owning Democrats to the fringes of the partythink that people are inherently incapable of taking care of themselves and acting like adults if government isnt there to force them to follow rules and hover over them as a helicopter parent with a strict list of what they can and cannot do. These politicians are terrified not only irrationally terrified of firearms as a tool, but of the liberty that firearms symbolize. They are like the fear-wracked parent hovering over a perfectly functional young person heading off to college, irrationally convinced that the normal process of maturing and seeking more knowledge and responsibility will lead to their doom.Im going to suggest that as this legislation progresses anti-gun Democrats are going to screamas they screamed when the concealed carry revolution started in Florida three decades agothat the result of this law will be blood in the streets.Once campus law is approved, in this legislative session or another, well see that their claims were false.That is the way it has always been, and the way it will always likely be.------------------ Posted by Bill Smith at 3:00 PM - Post Link Is time running out on Arkansas? Did you know it has been 84 years since Arkansas has experienced an F5 tornado? According to the National... YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. The trial session over the case of Russian soldier Valery Permyakov, accused in the gruesome murder of the Avetisyan family, will continue in 102nd Russian Military Base on February 5. The witnesses will be question again in the frames of trial phase. Commander of squad in Russian military base Artyom Dalchink gave evidence in the court on January 29. Andrey Nikishin and 5 other servicemen of the military base had been notified to attend the court session as witnesses, but the court received a writ from the base a day before the session that Andrey Nikishin, as well as the other5 had been removed from the list of the military personnel of the base on August 15, 2015. Attached to the letter were extracts from the order. The document was signed by the commander of the base Ustinov. Only the testimony of Artyom Danchink was introduced. The 6 members of the Avetisyans family were shot and killed in Gyumri at around 6 a.m. on January 12, 2015. The only survivor was 6-month old Seryozha Avetisyan, who was transferred to a hospital with injuries caused by a cutting and piercing tool. The childs health condition became worse on January 19. After fighting for his life and undergoing several difficult surgeries for a week, six-month old Seryozha Avetisyan also died on January 19. There was severe renal insufficiency and cardiac insufficiency, and doctors werent able to save his life. Soldier of the 102nd Russian military base stationed in Gyumri, Valery Permyakov was charged with killing the members of the Avetisyan family and causing numerous injuries to little Seryozha. Russian border guards found him when he was trying to cross the Armenian-Turkish border and handed him over to the commanders of the 102nd Russian military base. Permyakov confessed his guilt. The trial will take place on January 18. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Qatar airways will launch flights from Yerevan to Doha from May 15, 2016. Armenpress was informed about this during the interview with the Press Secretary of the Civil Aviation General Department Ruben Grdzelyan. The abovementioned airways got the permission to conduct flights from May to October. As for Yerevan-Rome flights, Grdzelyan mentioned, that he has no information to share. During the press conference on February 3, Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian mentioned that after the adoption of the Open sky policy, the flights frequency increased by 3% and the passenger flow by 11% in 2015, ascompared with 2013. At the end of December of the last year, 21 airlines were operating regular flights to Yerevan. LOT Polish Airlines returns to the market since January 1 and Czech Airlines company already launched its flights since December 16. The negotiations in the sphere of Civil Aviation were conducted with the authorities of 26 countries and the legal framework was liberalized with 14 countries. The works on new agreements and the liberalization of the field are in progress. Armenia and the Airlines of 6 countries (Turkmenistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Greece, Luxemburg and Iceland) were mutually granted with the 5th freedom of the air. Negotiations with 30 airlines were conducted. The Government of the Republic of Armenia adopted a decision on the "Program for ensuring competitive and sustainable air services, and Program implementation activities in the Republic of Armenia" on October 23, 2013 which declared introduction of the Open Skies Policy in the field of civil aviation and air communication in Armenia. The Tennessee Highway Patrol has arrested Michael Marks of Murfreesboro on charges of odometer fraud and criminal simulation. On Dec. 10, 2015, the THPs Criminal Investigation Division received two complaints from victims regarding possible odometer fraud and approved an investigation. It was noted at that time the same person had sold the vehicles to the different victims. The victims stated they had purchased the vehicles from an ad on Craigslist. The investigation revealed the odometers in the two vehicles had been rolled back. Investigators were able to identify a suspect, and the identity was confirmed by a victim. The THPs Criminal investigation Division sought and obtained two felony warrants for criminal simulation as well as two misdemeanor warrants for odometer fraud against Marks. On Jan. 28, members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigation Division with support from troopers from the Nashville District executed the arrest warrants for Marks. Prior to the execution of arrest warrants, Marks was observed driving a blue, Toyota Camry. The blue Toyota pulled into the driveway of 5530 North West Broad Street in Murfreesboro that was identified as his place of residence and business. Criminal simulation is a class E felony, and odometer fraud is a class A misdemeanor. The Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigation Division is asking anyone who has conducted business with Michael Marks or anyone who may be associated with him or who believes he/she is a victim of odometer fraud to contact the Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigation Division at 615 251-5185. Once upon a time, when the Red or Blue line L trains dropped underground, so did our phone calls. But Lisle-based ExteNet Systems has completed a project to extend 4G LTE service in the CTA tunnels taking subterranean Snapchats from dream to reality. The company, founded by CEO Ross Manire in 2002, worked with contractor Aldridge Electric and four national wireless carriers to complete the network ExteNet, which creates multi-carrier shared networks to improve wireless coverage and capacity in low-signal areas, has built networks in Trump Tower and the Empire State Building. The company has also been installing small cells, or radio access nodes, in downtown San Francisco in preparation for Super Bowl crowds this weekend. The company reached unicorn status late last year, becoming one of the rare privately held companies with a valuation of more than $1 billion, when it completed a $1.4 billion capital restructuring. It employs 200 and hopes to hire 50 to 75 this year, Manire said. Blue Sky spoke to Manire about the companys recent projects. Q. ExteNet completed the CTA project late last year. What did that entail? A. We ended up lighting up 21 underground stations and 22 miles of tunnels. Its a really interesting and challenging project, as you can imagine. Our guys all had to be certified to work around the rails, and we had to find unique locations to put the equipment in the system. Aldridge Electric had a train car that allowed them to very rapidly attach brackets and the antenna system we pull through the tunnel. We were able to do this very fast, because youre only allowed to work in the tunnels for a very short amount of time. Q. Have you tried it? Advertisement A. I have and it worked. I was texting, I was emailing people, I went on the Internet. I could surf the web and pull up video and pictures and what I would call high-bitrate type activity. It all worked fine. Q. You're also working on getting the city of San Francisco hooked up before the Super Bowl this weekend. A. Were doing about 400 node locations throughout the city. There will be a million visitors that will come to the city of San Francisco as part of the festivities surrounding the Super Bowl. This will be probably one of our biggest builds weve ever done. Well still be building more nodes after the Super Bowl is over with, and we hope that other carriers will also be joining that network as well. Q. Why is it exactly that we have such terrible connectivity in high-volume areas, and how does ExteNet's infrastructure fix that? Advertisement A. There are two components to this. One is the capacity of the individual radio itself. But theres also the limitation on the capacity in the spectrum that you have in an area. If I put a cell tower in a location, and then all of a sudden I have thousands and thousands of people trying to connect to that cell tower, I run out of capacity in that area. Rather than adding another tower, think about using small cells on telephone poles and street lights and traffic lights. I'm adding a lot of capacity, I'm getting more efficient frequency reuse of the spectrum and thereby I'm able to accommodate a lot more traffic in a very dense area. Q. What's the goal of building these networks everywhere? A. People want to have this ubiquitous connectivity, and theres a lot more that needs to be built in order to accommodate that. I think thats the ultimate goal: That you would never lose connectivity, no matter where you were. Were not there yet, its going to be a long time before we are there, but thats the direction everybody is going. Q-and-As are edited for length and clarity. Email: mgraham@tribpub.com Twitter: @megancgraham GiveForward co-founder Ethan Austin is leaving the medical crowdfunding site he helped launch in 2008. Austin made the announcement in a post on LinkedIn Thursday morning. He said he plans to travel to South America and study Spanish with his wife in May. Advertisement "We booked our tickets this morning actually," Austin said. "We are going to start in Colombia and work our way all the way down to the tip of Patagonia." After the South American adventure concludes, Austin said he hopes to move closer to family on the West Coast. He will remain an active board member with the company. Advertisement Austin moved to Chicago from California to help launch GiveForward with co-founder Desiree Vargas Wrigley in 2008. Vargas Wrigley left her role as chief strategy officer in November and is now working on Pearachute, a monthly subscription servies for kids' activities. Vargas Wrigley stepped down as CEO last April, clearing the way for Josh Chapman, who most recently served as vice president of operations at Cars.com. Austin said the leadership team in place at GiveForward will remain the same. The decision to leave GiveForward was not sudden, Austin said. "If you've been somewhere for seven or almost eight years, you realize there's only so much you can do," he said. "Are my skills more valuable here, or is there much more I can do to push the organization forward. You do start to think about those things." With both of GiveForward's co-founders out of everyday operations, Chapman said he does not expect the direction of the company to change. "Much of the culture of GiveForward was built by Ethan, and at this point in the company's history ... that's not something that will go away," he said. GiveForward launched a new product in September that expanded on the company's crowdfunding component and offered more services to people going through major life events, such as coordinating meal deliveries or sending thank-you notes. It also began a partnership with Nationwide Insurance. The company has 17 employees, Chapman said, although he declined to comment on revenue. According to GiveForward's website, it has helped people in need raise more than $184 million. Advertisement amarotti@tribpub.com Twitter @allymarotti While some barriers exist for employees who use medical marijuana, some companies have pledged not discipline those with prescriptions. (Seth Perlman / AP) With all the concerns confronting Illinois' medical cannabis pilot program not enough patients, not enough qualifying conditions, not enough time a handful of Chicago-area employers want their workers to know that they don't have to worry about job security. Five small companies a law firm, a real estate services firm, two health care organizations and a nightclub have announced their intentions to support employees who use medical marijuana. It's a tangled topic across the country, with state laws permitting pot use clashing with federal laws that don't, and employers seeking to balance employee needs and rights against workplace safety. Advertisement Feliza Castro, founder of The Healing Clinic, which helps people register for cannabis cards, and Justice for Patients, a nonprofit advocacy group, recruited the companies to go public with their decisions in hopes that they will set an example for others to follow. "The best way to support the nondiscrimination of these employees and to support reasonable HR policies that are inclusive of these patients is to go ahead and announce it," said Jonathan Spero, CEO of InHouse Physicians, one of the companies on Castro's list. Advertisement InHouse Physicians, a health care solutions company based in St. Charles that employs about 250 people, has added language to its human resources handbook to accommodate employees' medical pot use, including while they're at the office, Spero said. It states that employees will not be subject to any disciplinary actions for using cannabis while on the job as long as they have a current, legitimate medical cannabis card, he said. Spero, who has been helping Castro's Healing Clinic recruit physicians for over a year, said employees will be subject to the same performance requirements, so if the type of cannabis they use does have psychoactive effects that hurt day-to-day performance, there could be consequences. But he doesn't want to know what medications his employees are taking, seeing it as a violation of privacy rights. Attorney Stuart Krauskopf, who employs 12 people at his River North law practice, said his employees' health is a priority, and anything they need to do to be comfortable is fine with him. "It is based on complete mutual respect, and the idea is that I don't have to interfere in their well-being," said Krauskopf, who has Crohn's disease and understands what it is like to be in pain, though he has elected not to join the medical marijuana program. His firm does not have a formal drug policy and will address issues as they arise on a case-by-case basis, Krauskopf said, though he expects he won't permit people to use marijuana while at the office, in case clients drop by. As for concerns about potential legal consequences if mistakes are made and blamed on an employee's impairment, he said he isn't worried, because nothing gets sent to clients without his seeing it first. The other companies on Castro's list are Chicago-based chiropractic company Universal Wellness Source, River North nightclub Lite Chicago, and Highland Park-based Frontline Real Estate Partners. Advertisement Castro, who sought out local companies across several industries, said it was difficult to find companies to publicly announce what she calls "compassionate policies," even if they have them in place. She hopes the initial five encourage others to follow suit. The most common question she receives at The Healing Clinic is whether a medical marijuana card will protect a patient from getting in trouble at work. The short answer is that it does not. Illinois' statute gives employers the flexibility to determine whether and how to accommodate employees who use medical marijuana. While companies cannot discriminate against anyone for having a patient card, they can still impose drug tests and fire people who fail them, regardless of their card-carrying status. Lawsuits filed in other states protesting terminations for legal medical marijuana use have tended to go in favor of employers. Dina Rollman, founding partner of Rollman and Dahlin, a recently launched cannabis-focused law firm in Chicago's Fulton Market district, said employers should think about what their employees' needs and responsibilities are and formulate policies accordingly. Companies where workers operate heavy machinery daily, for instance, will likely have a different approach from those with office jobs. Time will tell if this becomes an issue in Illinois, as dispensaries opened only three months ago and the state has announced just over 4,000 qualifying patients so far. But Rollman said she has not sensed that employers want to address the issue quickly. Advertisement "Unfortunately, I have the feeling it's going to take the first employee to fail a drug test due to their legal marijuana use for them to look at their policies," she said. aelejalderuiz@tribpub.com Twitter @alexiaer YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. The global economy is fragile and this impacts Europe and Central Asia, where the environment is extremely challenging. Many countries in the region, including Armenia, are still adjusting to this new economic reality, and their financial sectors are being challenged on a number of different fronts, Tomasz Telma, IFC Director for Europe and Central Asia answered to Armenpress questions referring to the mechanisms on overcoming the challenges. What are IFCs main interests in the financial sector of Armenia? As a member of the World Bank Group and the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, IFC, through both its investments and advisory services, aims to help the private sector create jobs and new opportunities where they are needed most. A stable financial sector is critical for broad-based economic growth. In these challenging times in the region, our aim is to increase our support to Armenian banks and boost confidence in the countrys banking sector. As part of this strategy, we have committed a $50 million subordinated loan to Ameriabank, the largest bank in Armenia, to support its capital and increase its capacity to lend to local enterprises, thus expanding access to finance and helping to drive economic growth and job creation. How would IFC assess the overall efficiency of the Armenian banking sector, especially as compared to peer countries in the region? The global economy is fragile and this impacts Europe and Central Asia, where the environment is extremely challenging. Many countries in the region, including Armenia, are still adjusting to this new economic reality, and their financial sectors are being challenged on a number of different fronts. Our capital support to Ameriabank is part of our strategy to help increase the stability of Armenias banking sector. Larger and stronger banks, either through organic growth or consolidation, are a basis of an efficient banking sector. We believe the private sector in Armenia has strong potential, and we stand ready to consider financing for local banks, so they can increase lending to private companies and support growth. What kind of financial instruments has IFC used to diversify and develop the financial sector in Armenia? In addition to investments that provide capital support and help increase lending to local enterprises, we also provide advisory services. These help our clients improve risk management and corporate governance practices, and introduce innovative solutions for their SME clients. IFCs Global Trade Finance Program also helps our client banks finance many important projects in Armenia. In 2013, we issued IFCs Inaugural Armenian dram bond. It was the first placement by a non-resident issuer and the first foreign corporate bond issued in Armenias capital markets. Why has IFC chosen Ameriabank as its partner for subordinate debt? Since 2009, the bank has been a valued IFC partner in many areas, including a trade finance program and lending to small hydropower plants to increase the countrys renewable energy supply. In 2013, Ameriabank was also an underwriter of IFCs bond, which became the largest corporate bond traded in Armenia in 2014. We look forward to continuing to work together to help the bank achieve its strategic goals and prepare for an initial public offering (IPO). A well-developed banking sector is critical for economic development, so the growth of Ameriabank, which is the countrys largest bank, is an important contributor to the sectors overall stability. How does the deal with Ameriabank contribute to IFCs mid-term plans of its presence in Armenia and the region? Ameriabank is one of our key partner banks here. Our aim in supporting the bank, as I outlined earlier, is to increase the stability of Armenias banking sector. It is also part of a wider regional strategy to support strong banks that provide vital financial services to local businesses, particularly SMEs, the primary engine for job creation in developing countries. For example, in 2014, IFC client banks in Eastern Europe and Central Asia provided more than 5.7 million outstanding loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises, totaling $81 billion. Will the subordinate debt, as a new form of financial deal for the Armenian financial sector, impact the overall sector? By providing capital support to one of our key partner banks in Armenia, we endorse its growth strategy and future plans, which we believe will help increase the overall stability of Armenias banking sector. Homes are seen in 2009 along the 1400 block of North Washtenaw Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood. The 2015 debut of The 606 trail has led to a spike in demand for real estate in the neighborhood. (Andrew A. Nelles / Chicago Tribune) It has been eight months since the opening of The 606, and the $95 million urban park with its 2.7-mile trail appears to be giving a jolt to Humboldt Park's real estate market. Median prices for the Chicago neighborhood's single-family homes and condominiums last year increased 62 percent and 184 percent, respectively, according to data from the Chicago Association of Realtors. Advertisement It's hardly the only city neighborhood or suburban housing market that turned in a sparkling 2015 performance. In fact, there were pockets of good news to the north, west and southwest, but Humboldt Park stood out. Take a home in the 1300 block of North Maplewood Avenue in Humboldt Park, one of four neighborhoods, along with Wicker Park, Logan Square and Bucktown, that host The 606. Advertisement Mario Greco, an agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group, said the property's original list price on March 1 was $799,000. It was under contract by March 17 and sold for $800,000. "It had tons of activity, way more than a similar property would have had in the past," when it might have taken more than 100 days to sell, Greco said. "Bucktown was already a desirable neighborhood, so The 606 has had a minimal positive effect on it in fact, maybe potentially negative for properties right up against it, now that people are peering into their windows or looking down into their yards," Greco said. But "as you get west of Western Avenue, the positive effect on property values and neighborhood desirability goes up because of The 606." Few considered living south of Armitage Avenue and west of Kedzie Avenue, for example, before The 606, he said, but "now The 606 is making people not only open to it but looking to live along the trail because properties are still a perceived value and most think they'll go up faster because of The 606." The increased popularity of the neighborhood has not been without controversy. Last week, about 35 people turned out to protest what they saw as gentrification plans to build five single-family homes on a parcel, with the first two priced at $929,000. The property is about a quarter mile from the trail. Gentrification is exactly what's happening, said Alvin "Chip" Wagner of A.L. Wagner Appraisal Group. Humboldt Park has seen large price gains because investors are purchasing low-priced properties, fixing them up and selling them for a profit. "The fact that there are more updated and rehabbed homes that sold is what is increasing, affecting the averages," Wagner said. Those prices, however, are still in the upper reaches of the neighborhood. Last year, the median sales price in Humboldt Park was $138,500 for a single-family home and $210,000 for a condo, according to the Realtors' data. Other hot areas scattered throughout the Chicago area last year based on median sales prices, marketing time and percentage of list price received include the West Ridge, Bridgeport and Near North Side neighborhoods in Chicago, as well as the suburbs of Minooka, Gurnee, Forest Park, Warrenville and Evergreen Park. Advertisement On Chicago's Near North Side, Dr. Richard Green, a veterinarian, and his wife, Willie, a seventh-grade teacher, sold their longtime home in Glencoe last year and bought a condo off North Lake Shore Drive. The empty nesters wanted to move downtown to be closer to their first grandchild, and looked at more than 15 properties. The condo they decided on had been on the market for only a day or two when they saw it, and within days, they bought it, said Stacy Karel, the couple's @properties agent. Richard Green said it took them two to three months to sell the Glencoe house, where he lived for 35 years and "we settled on a price which I was not happy about." Indeed, the Glencoe housing market slipped last year. The median price of a Glencoe home last year fell by 0.1 percent to $894,000. The typical home in that north Cook County suburb was on the market for 134 days, up from 124 days in 2014. Glencoe sellers typically received 90 percent of their asking price, down from 91.3 percent in 2014. Advertisement Last month, the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index said November year-over-year gains in the Chicago area were the weakest of any major U.S. city. Given the lagging real estate market in the Chicago area, the upbeat performance of the housing stock in the West Pullman neighborhood is striking. Sure, the median price of a single-family home in the South Side neighborhood is only $34,750, and a typical condo can be had for $17,250. But West Pullman earned certain bragging rights in 2015: Its stock of for-sale single-family homes and condos saw improvement last year in median sales prices, original list prices received, and time spent on the market. The median price rose 15 percent, and the time it took to sell condos was almost halved, data shows. David Doig, president of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, a nonprofit that works with low-income neighborhoods, said West Pullman has been helped by the Salvation Army's Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, which opened in 2012, as well as more shopping options, including Jewel, Target and Marshalls in Marshfield Plaza, which opened in 2008. Wagner, of A.L. Wagner Appraisal, has another theory. He said West Pullman has been "inundated by distressed sales," with lenders involved in many deals. "As these homes come off the market, they show the market is improving," he said. Advertisement In the West Ridge neighborhood on the city's North Side, the median price for a single-family home sold last year was $330,000, up 3 percent. Homes typically sold for 94.5 percent of their asking price, up from 92.6 percent. They usually stayed on the market for 71 days, down from 105 the prior year. Condo prices rose 14 percent and also sold faster than they did the prior year. Katrina de los Reyes, of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff, said West Ridge is getting more attention because of affordability, varied styles of housing and proximity to the lake, trains, and such major thoroughfares as Western Avenue, Clark Street and Ashland Avenue. "It's sandwiched between more expensive areas of Evanston and Edgewater," she said. Buyers are looking for a move-in ready "Pinterest/Houzz"-inspired condo or house with family room, well-equipped kitchen, storage throughout the house, finished laundry room, quality windows, and a patio and deck "at a bargain price," she said. The area has been slower to recover from the market's bottom compared with "the hot neighborhoods of Ravenswood and Andersonville and Evanston" but said she expects the outlook for West Ridge in 2016 to be shorter market times, and a "healthy" increase in sales prices and rehabbed homes. Rental properties by landlords who are in default are also coming on the market for sale. In the suburbs, Minooka, which straddles Will, Kendall and Grundy counties, was among the consistent performers last year. The median price rose more than 9 percent to $175,000, market time fell to 81 days from 103, and homes sold for an average of 94 percent of their list prices. Advertisement "With favorable gas prices, buyers are willing to commute for work," said Kathy Melone, broker for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff. Minooka's population rose by 2.5 percent to 10,924 from 2010 to 2014, according to U.S. Census data. In comparison, Illinois' population has risen by 0.4 percent. Looking ahead to 2016, Katie Freeman Hutchens of @properties expects Chicago's River North, West Loop-Fulton Market and Logan Square areas to be among the sought-after neighborhoods. "Open houses are already busy, and usually we don't see quite this many buyers until we're a bit further out of the winter months," Freeman said. "This may be because inventory is lower now than it has been in at least the last nine years." Last week, Redfin said it expected Ukrainian Village in Chicago to the be the nation's hottest housing market. Redfin analyzed visits to Redfin.com and homes that users favorited to monitor for price and status changes. byerak@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @beckyyerak Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers, photographed Jan. 12, 2016, says his company is remodeling stores and expanding offerings. "I think our customers today probably have more to choose from than ever," he said. "But I like our chances. We're here." (John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune) The competition didn't get any easier for Jewel-Osco when Dominick's closed for good in late 2013. To the contrary, a flood of grocers entered the Chicago market, retailers seemingly tailor-made to meet the growing demand for food considered to be healthier and more natural. Stores like Mariano's, Heinen's and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market moved in, while Whole Foods Market expanded. Advertisement But Jewel-Osco known to many Chicagoans as "the Jewel" has grown too, and continues its own evolution by remodeling stores and expanding offerings, said Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers. "I think our customers today probably have more to choose from than ever," Withers said. "But I like our chances. We're here." Advertisement Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers explains his greatest fear and what he hopes his legacy to be. Feb. 4, 2016. (Greg Trotter / Chicago Tribune) (Chicago Tribune) Withers started his career in 1976 as a clerk for Albertson's in Idaho. Now 56, Withers oversees 185 stores under the Jewel-Osco banner. The Itasca-based chain is a subsidiary of AB Acquisitions, better known as Albertsons, which is controlled by New York-based private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. In an interview at the chain's new Bensenville store, Withers explained how Jewel-Osco is handling the competition. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q. How is Jewel-Osco adapting to face the increased and varied competition? A. As you look over the years, competition's continued to evolve. The industry's continued to evolve. We have to be much more than we were 20 years ago. And much more than we were five years ago. And you're right Mariano's and Whole Foods and Heinen's and Sunset (Foods) are all really good operators. Our customers have many choices. Jewel-Osco's had to evolve. I think when you walk through this store and see what we offer here, you're going to see that we've done that. We have a much better offering for our customers. We're out to win their loyalty. Q. Customers seem to want everything they want fresh and healthy, they want experiences in the perimeters of the store. How do you track those changes in consumer trends and decide with 185 stores what you're going to implement where? A. If you look at our 185 stores, there's many demographics to serve. We want to have a consistent Jewel brand and that starts with running a really good store, as simple as that sounds. After that, we may change the offering slightly as far as natural, organic, high-end items, thin-cut meats and our culture offerings that we have in several stores. Quite honestly, we're not going to go that far left or that far right. We're still Jewel-Osco. We have many different formats, but you know what? We're trying to appease the vast majority. And we think we have a model that does that today. Advertisement Q. What are some of the pros and cons of being the biggest traditional grocery chain in Chicago? A. I think it's most important to act small. Remember what we're here for. Maybe there's some advantages to being big we might be able to leverage some expenses and some advertising and some things that we can do there. I don't think these customers care whether we have 185 stores or one store. They're looking for: Are you going to take care of my needs today? Q. Jewel-Osco has some beautiful stores, but it also has stores that are old, small and outdated. And depending on where someone lives, that's how they think of Jewel-Osco. How much of a challenge is that, when the remodelings haven't caught up to the perception? A. Yes, it's definitely a challenge. But we've been working on it. We've remodeled more than 70 of our 185 stores, so we've touched a lot in a couple of years. But you're right we have many to go. And we'll get to them. Q. Is there any plan to close any of the older stores? A. No. When we took over in early 2013, we had 176 stores. The only store we closed is the store at Division and Clark where we have an on-site replacement happening as we speak. Advertisement Q. Any other openings in the coming year? A. Nothing on the calendar. Q. What was your reaction to Kroger acquiring Roundy's? A. We compete with Kroger in almost every market we operate today. Mariano's is a great store. Kroger is a fierce competitor. It's a very competitive sector. We'll see what they bring. Q. It would appear to signal that Mariano's now has deeper pockets to expand in this market. Did the competition just get tougher? A. I don't want to speculate on their business. We're busy running our business. We watch them. We think we know what they're up to. We certainly watch them with great respect. We're here to battle for the customer. Advertisement Q. As Jewel-Osco has sought to stay on trend with today's consumers, how important have the private-label products become? A. I think private label's always been important. We're going through a transition right now with a new private-label offering. You're going to see many, many new items in our stores. We have a new line of O Organics and Open Nature that probably fit the needs of the consumer today that weren't around 10 years ago. I think private label continues to evolve, where many years ago it was seen as an entry-level brand or lower-end, I don't think that's necessarily true anymore. Private label's extremely high quality at a value price. Q. Increasingly, grocery stores have bars these days, where a customer can have a glass of wine or a beer while they shop. (Jewel-Osco recently opened a bar in its Fulton River District store.) Is that just to bring customers in or does that turn a nice profit? A. We're so new into the bar, I don't even know what it's going to bring to us. I think if you look at every aspect of what we offer, it's to gain customer loyalty and to give them the overall shopping experience they demand today. Some of those pieces and parts of it are highly unprofitable, some of them are more profitable. On the whole, if you're thinking about the well-being of the business, it's about growing the top line overall. Q. Anything to add? Advertisement A. We're basic operators. We keep it pretty simple. We work hard every day at just running better stores. That may sound overly simple, but there's a lot of work that goes into that. I don't think we can ever take our eye off the end game and that's the customer. That's why we're here today. gtrotter@tribpub.com Twitter @GregTrotterTrib The breakfast scene keeps changing for the better, and I have three more wonderful recommendations for you this month. I'll begin with a Humboldt Park intersection that was forgotten and uninteresting for many years: California and Augusta. Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain Advertisement The saying "small but mighty" was created for Dinah Grossman and the magical restaurant, bakery and ice cream parlor she has created. There are a few booths up front, a few tables along the south wall and counter seating. The front counter case was filled with pies when I was there and it was hard to look at anything else. Except the breakfast sandwich with Slagel Family Farm bacon and eggs on the fresh out-of-the-oven English muffin caught my eye and I was hooked. The cheddar grilled cheese on house-made sourdough bread was also a favorite. I really wanted to try the quiche, which changes daily, but just couldn't. I promised myself a return trip, as if I needed a reason. Advertisement House-made hot fudge is poured into a coffee mug to make a mocha at Spinning J Bakery and Soda Fountain. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) I tasted some of the delicious syrups that Grossman makes that complement the ice cream creations, while sitting at the antique soda fountain counter in the back. Ask anyone for the story of that old and wonderful piece of history. I don't want to ruin the surprise. Grossman said the syrups, including hazelnut and vanilla bean, can be used to flavor Spinning J's coffee drinks. Actually this whole place, and especially Dinah, are a sweet surprise you should give to yourself. Of note: Street Parking. You can special order the baked goods. Find It: 1000 N. California Ave. (at Augusta). 872-829-2793, www.spinningj.com Hours: 7 a.m.-9 p.m., Tuesday to Friday; 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; closed Mondays. The diced squash in brown butter with sage, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds was a welcome dish because vegetables can be rare on breakfast menus. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) Cafe Marie-Jeanne Directly opposite Spinning J is a new and exciting option for breakfast. Open the door and you'll be surprised at the big room with the original tin ceiling, window seating, a dozen chairs at the bar, lots of tables and lighting a little dim. It feels French. Little did I know that that's the vibe they were going for. Mike Simmons and his wife, Val, were gracious hosts, and the server had all the answers to my questions. Advertisement The menu is a list of options, a la carte. And I mean a list. I ordered the griddlecakes made with their sourdough starter, which was chewy and satisfying, and yes, the syrup is real. I also had the Montreal-style brisket, which was two pieces, griddled, and the pork hash, which was smashed roasted potatoes with chunks of pork from a special ham they roast. What delighted me were the vegetable dishes, which are rare and welcome on a breakfast menu. I had the diced squash cooked in brown butter, sage, hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds. The sunnyside up eggs were perfect, and the breads made in house were fragrant and delicious. Try the monkey buns in honor of the Chinese Lunar Year of the Fire Monkey. There are lots of smoked fish choices, which I will have when I go back. The French vibe extends to the small and enticing deli case as you walk in the door. Meats, cheeses, salads and baked goods are attention-getters. Of note: There will be outdoor seating. Street parking. Take out available Find it: 1001 N. California Ave. (at Augusta), 773-904-7660, www.cafe-marie-jeanne.com Advertisement Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Sunday; closed Tuesdays. Appellation has added quiche to the breakfast menu since Ina Pinkney's visit, this one with Brussels sprouts, potato and manchego cheese. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Pastoral Andersonville The same care and quality that you find at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine shops in the French Market, on Lake Street and on Broadway, you'll find at the company's newest spot, a shiny, beautiful space in Andersonville. Eat. Watch. Do. Weekly What to eat. What to watch. What you need to live your best life ... now. > Because they just started serving a light breakfast and the neighborhood hasn't figured out that they have a treasure in their midst, I began my day in the best way possible. Quiet surroundings, great company, beautifully crafted latte and everything they had to offer. We had three toasts: honey butter; chevre with avocado and candied pumpkin seeds; and nut butter with pear preserves and dried cranberries. All were on toasted sourdough from Hewn bakery in Evanston and had the right amount of crunch and chew to make each bite an invitation to the next one. We also had a savory croissant with dried tomato and cheese. There will be a quiche on the menu, which is a great idea since I spotted that trend last year and am glad to see that comforting dish popping up in new places. These early morning breakfast items are available for counter service at Pastoral Andersonville. Within the business is the separate restaurant, Appellation, which has its own brunch menu on weekends. This combined space -- wine bar, restaurant and retail wine and cheese store -- has already set the standard. Advertisement Of note: All the cheeses and wines are for sale on the retail side. Take out available. Full catering and gift baskets. Street parking. Find it: 5212 N. Clark St., 773-358-7181, www.pastoralartisan.com. Hours: Pastoral Andersonville breakfast 7-11 a.m. Monday-Friday; see website for wine bar, dinner and weekend brunch hours. This story has been updated to correct the name of the Pastoral space. An allegorical lesson about dictatorships and the cycle of violence they breed, Mohsen Makhmalbaf's "The President" unfortunately offers a simplified and simplistic reduction, akin to an ancient morality tale without the ancients' brevity. Rather than sophistication cloaked in innocence, the pic feels like didacticism submerged in naivete. Set in an unnamed country reminiscent of many recent despotic nations, the story follows a fallen autocrat and his artless grandson fleeing murderous revolutionaries bent on vengeance. Some may champion the film's topicality while pointing to the master filmmaker's familiarity with authoritarian regimes, yet more was expected from such a source. Perhaps it's the Georgian location that makes "The President" seem styled on autocratic former Soviet republics like Kazakhstan, though Makhmalbaf claims particular inspiration from recently fallen Arab dictatorships, and certainly a scene toward the end comes straight out of Gaddafi's story. The President (Misha Gomiashvili) is perched with his young grandson (Dachi Orvelashvili) in a windowed aerie overlooking his capital. They play a game: The President telephones his aides to switch off all the city's lights, then passes the phone to his grandson so he can play at being commander. Off go the lights, but they don't go back on: Revolution is afoot. Advertisement His majesty (as everyone calls the President) gathers up his wife (Eka Kakhiani) and two daughters (Nuki Koshkelishvili, Elene Bezarashvili) along with his grandson and takes them to a waiting plane, but the little boy refuses to go since his grandpa is staying. On the way back to the palace, street battles block their Cadillac limo, the army mutinies, and the driver ankles. Abandoned near a rudimentary village, the President switches clothes with a barber (Zura Begalishvili), and grandfather and grandson flee to a prostitute (la Sukhitashvili) whom the autocrat knew in younger days. The floridly theatrical scene that follows is designed to show the monstrous tyrant getting in touch with the better man he was before he was corrupted by power, as well as to allow the prostitute the role's usual metaphorical purpose as a stand-in for a society brutalized by violence. In both cases, the device feels obvious and hoary. Anarchy descends on the country, the military rape and steal, and the ex-President and his grandson wind up traveling with a group of just-sprung political prisoners who represent a range of opinions. Advertisement Of course "The President," co-written by Makhmalbaf and wife Marziyeh Meshkiny, is designed as allegory, yet the lack of subtlety reduces the lessons to platitudes. What's especially frustrating is that the message is an important (if obvious) one: Tyranny corrupts not just the tyrant but his subjects, and violence is an almost inevitable product of revolution when a nation's people have been so traumatized. Real-life examples are legion, making the generic story here feel even weaker. Makhmalbaf's usually intelligent handling of childhood's state of grace versus the adult world's corruption is reduced to its most basic formula, so the grandson's stream of ingenuous questions "what is death?" and "what is torture?" becomes merely tedious. The director also seems to be aiming for certain Lear-like parallels, yet the age of philosopher kings is long past. The rapport between Gomiashvili, a leading stage star in Georgia, and newcomer tyke Orvelashvili, is by far the most developed aspect of the film. When stripped of the play between innocence and guile, their relationship takes on the affecting character of protective grandfather and frightened child witnessing far more than any kid should see, and it's this quality that offers something grounded in real emotion. "The President" 2.5 stars MPAA rating: Unrated Running time: 1:58 Opens: Friday at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., www.facets.org. In Georgian with English subtitles. Reporting from Manchester, N.H. The villages and towns of New Hampshire are as scenic as ever, the people as friendly as can be. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, about a third lower than the national rate. It seems an unlikely place for the apocalypse. Yet that or something close to it -- is the threat that pours forth from Republican politicians careening across this state, and the advertisements blasting from the state's televisions. Advertisement "There is an assault on everything we stand for," says Donald Trump's newest ad here. TRAIL GUIDE: All the latest news on the 2016 presidential campaign >> Advertisement "After seven long years of this president, we feel our country slipping away," Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida says in his newest ad. "Economic calamity ... is befalling our nation," Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas says in his ad. It is that kind of election year, here and elsewhere. There are occasional glimpses of hope, to be sure, but the election is suffused with nasty campaign ads and tough denunciations of the country's state of being. It is not that the country is suffering -- it is suffering enormously, and everywhere. It is less the election of a new president, the candidates suggest, than a battle for the country's soul. It is a campaign aimed at the angry and the aggrieved. The master of apocalyptic political speech is Trump, who has fanned voter concerns into a depressed froth as he campaigns across the state. "Christianity is under siege, the 2nd Amendment is under siege; so many things are under siege," he declared Thursday at the Exeter Town Hall. Advertisement Join the conversation on Facebook >> According to Trump, nearly everything is going wrong, all the time, due to politicians. "We're in big trouble because we're going in the wrong direction," Trump said. "The economy is terrible; our trade with foreign countries is horrible. They're taking it away from us. We are being decimated on trade, we're being decimated by China, Japan, every single country we do business with, and it's never going to change with these politicians." For good measure, he added later that "we're being beaten in so many different ways all the other countries in the world are ripping us off. And by the way, ripping us off and don't respect us and mock us." That sort of approach gains steam from the broad animosity among Republicans for President Obama if he is running the country, it must be nearing collapse. But it also reflects the remnants of an economic recession that deeply shook many in New Hampshire, including the blue-collar white voters at whom many of the candidates are aiming their messages. The current low unemployment rate masks that continued concern, according to University of New Hampshire political scientist Dante Scala. Advertisement "It's a tale of two New Hampshires," he said. "Your level of education probably has a big part to play in how well you weathered the Great Recession. Especially if you're 30-something or 40 when it hit, even if you didn't lose your job, it was the first big economic uncertainty in your adult lives. It left some scars in that regard." Trump, who leads in Republican polls here, days before the Feb. 9 primary, may be the ranking expert in playing on those fears. But other candidates are making the same arguments. In a speech in Henniker on Wednesday, Cruz asked supporters to pray daily to "father God to pull us back from the abyss." "We have faced the abyss before, and the American people came together and pulled this country back," he said. Cruz, who cast the coming election as an "inflection point" in history, was particularly scornful of Obama's handling of the economy. (The unemployment rate was 8.3% his first month in office, peaked at 10% a few months later and is 5.0% now.) "It is a failed economic plan," he said. Advertisement Rubio burst into the presidential campaign as the optimistic banner-carrier of a new generation. But he, too, speaks as if the country is about to fall off the cliff. The election, he said earlier this week in Exeter, is "a referendum on our identity" after the tenure of Obama, whom he called a "terrible commander in chief." His voice rose in anger at times, matching the sentiments of some in his audience, or so he suggested midway through the speech. "You have a right to be angry," he said. Twitter: @cathleendecker See the most-read stories this hour >> ALSO Advertisement Why young feminists are choosing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton Labels, smears and other takeaways from the Democratic debate Presidential race plays out in Congress: Which candidates do California's members support? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued detailed recommendations Friday for preventing the sexual transmission of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, including the suggestion that men who have traveled to Zika-affected areas consider abstaining from sex with their pregnant partner for the duration of the pregnancy. The guidelines were in response to the report Tuesday by Dallas health officials that a local resident was infected with Zika by having sex with someone who'd contracted the disease while traveling in Venezuela -- one of the many countries in South America, Central America and the Caribbean where the virus is spreading explosively. Advertisement A mosquito bite remains the primary way that Zika is spread. But the CDC said it was issuing the interim recommendations to prevent sexual transmission, however rare, because of concerns over Zika's potential link to birth defects. Abstaining from sex during a pregnancy is one option. The other, which the agency urged late Tuesday, is for men who live in or have traveled to Zika-affected regions to consistently and correctly use condoms during sex with a pregnant partner. The recommendations are for vaginal, anal or oral sex. Advertisement In a briefing with reporters, CDC Director Tom Frieden said he was aware of reports from Brazil that traces of the virus had also been found in saliva and urine samples from sick patients. But "we need more information," including the methodology behind those findings, he said. The agency's latest guidelines do not address kissing. "We're still learning more about [the virus in] saliva and how it works in the body," Frieden said. "There's been a total of three cases in the world literature of Zika being present in male secretions." The precautions are targeted at pregnant women because of the suspected link to a rare congenital condition known as microcephaly, where babies are born with head and brain abnormalities. In Brazil, the epicenter of the outbreak in the Americas, Zika has been linked to a surge of such cases. "We're not aware of any mosquito-borne disease associated with such birth outcomes on a scale anything like what is occurring now," Frieden said. "Because the phenomenon is so new, we are quite literally discovering more about it each and every day." Yet with each passing day, he said, the association between the virus and microcephaly has become stronger. So, too, has a link between Zika and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can lead to paralysis in adults. Several South American countries have identified cases of that rare condition. Colombia's health minister Alejandro Gaviria told reporters Friday that three patients with the syndrome died last week at a clinic in Medellin, the country's second-largest city. All three were infected with Zika, Gaviria said, telling reporters that authorities believed the virus was to blame for their deaths. Two of the patients were from the town of Turbo on the country's north coast; the third lived on the Colombian island of San Andres in the Caribbean. In a report released Friday, the CDC said current information about possible sexual transmission is based on three cases. The first was "probable sexual transmission of Zika virus from a man to a woman, in which sexual contact occurred a few days before the man's symptoms began." The second is the Dallas case. The third is an instance of virus isolated from semen at least two weeks and possibly up to 10 weeks after illness began. Advertisement The virus remains in a person's blood for about a week. But researchers don't know how long it lingers in semen. "We know semen may have a large amount of viable virus for at least a short time after viral infection," Frieden said. The agency is advising additional screening for pregnant women who live in areas with ongoing spread of Zika. Those with symptoms should be tested at the time of illness, CDC recommends. If Zika behaves like other infectious diseases, the first trimester and early second trimester would be when the fetus is most at risk, Frieden said. But it's also possible the virus has the ability to target the developing brain, which means adverse consequences could occur at any time during pregnancy, he added. Pregnant women without symptoms can be offered testing two to 12 weeks after returning from Zika-affected regions, according to the CDC guidelines. They should begin testing when they begin prenatal care, with follow-up testing around the middle of a pregnancy's second trimester. "An additional ultrasound may be performed at the discretion of the health care provider," the guidelines state. It's often difficult to accurately determine microcephaly during the 20-week ultrasound that many women get as part of routine prenatal care, said Cynthia Moore, a CDC expert on birth defects. But based on reports from Brazilian physicians, she said, it appears that around 30 weeks is when microcephaly is best detected along with other abnormalities of the developing brain. The timing and extent of fetal brain damage could vary case to case and probably depends on when in pregnancy the infection occurs, Moore said. Advertisement The recommendations also address women who are not pregnant and have a sexual partner who lives in or has traveled to an area affected by Zika. These couples also may consider using condoms or abstaining from sex, the CDC said. "The science is not clear on how long the risk [of infection] should be avoided," it noted. Whether infected men who never develop symptoms can transmit Zika virus to their sex partners is unknown, according to the CDC. Sexual transmission of Zika virus from infected women to their sex partners has not been reported. The Texas case, the first known instance of a person becoming infected while in the United States, immediately raised a whole new set of concerns about the rapid spread of the pathogen. In Dallas, the CDC said, "there was no risk to a developing fetus." But officials have not released the genders of the two people involved in the case there. More than four dozen Zika cases have been confirmed in 14 states and the District of Columbia -- six of which involve pregnant women --plus at least another 21 cases in U.S. territories. Frieden said Friday that one U.S. case of Guillain-Barre may be linked to Zika. The symptoms of Zika infection are typically mild and only seen in about 20 percent of people with the virus. They include fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. They usually last a week at most. Advertisement There is no vaccine to prevent infection, as well as no treatment for it. As CDC reiterated Friday, "The best way to avoid Zika virus infection is to prevent mosquito bites." Sadly, Super Bowl hosts and hostesses have been brainwashed by evil corporate America to think all they have to do is order up deli or chunks of yellow cheese and stick stupid toothpicks in them and call it Super Bowl food. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Galust Sahakyan sent a congratulatory message on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia. Armenpress was informed about this from the Public Relations and Media Department of the National Assembly. Republic of Armenia National Assembly Presidents congratulatory message reads as follows: I congratulate the members and the staff of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court. The activity of the Constitutional Court launched the Constitutional justice, promoting the strengthening of democracy and legality in our country. However, the Constitutional Court, unlike other Courts, did not receive any heritage, because it did not have similar instance before, and was to make a clean start. In its honour, we should say that it has already been 20 years that the Constitutional Court leaves on the paper a unique, a permanent handwriting, which was highly assessed also by the international institutions and international partners. Today, in the face of the Constitutional Court, we have the most important institute in Armenia, which really defends the democratic and state order approved by the Constitution, and what is the most important, the citizens and human rights and freedoms. The Constitutional Court occupies its firm and distinct place in the system of the state power, under no jurisdiction of any other branch and not pretending to replace any of them, at the same time, being able to have an influence on their activities with its decisions. Both citizens and politicians apply to this court on various, including political issues, but they all are solved only through legal way and means. Certainly, the society always expects much more from the decisions of the Constitutional Court. But the latter is always led by law and its authorities, without leaving their borders, giving in to emotions and opportunism. The Constitutional justice has a unique responsibility, as the decisions made by the Constitutional Court, being obligatory for all bodies and officials of power, can have an impact not on one person or several people, but also on the whole layers of the population, and even on the entire people and countrys destiny. Therefore, the responsible activity of the Constitutional Court requires its members high professional readiness, deep knowledge, dignified deportment, also often civil courage. Once again congratulating the Constitutional Court on the 20th anniversary of its establishment, I wish the members and the staff successes and resoluteness in the strengthening of our statehood, the citizens rights and in the responsible activity of the protection of interests. Organist Ewa Kovak rehearses at St. Adalbert Roman Catholic Church in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood before the start of 10 a.m. Mass on June 26, 2016. Parishioners and supporters are holding prayer vigils and rallies to save their century-old parish from closure. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) A radical overhaul in the nation's third-largest Roman Catholic archdiocese could shutter many of the Chicago church's houses of worship by 2030 as it reckons with decaying buildings and an expected shortage of priests, the church's chief operating officer confirmed Friday. Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich told priests and advisers in meetings in recent weeks that the shortage an estimated 240 priests available in 2030 for the archdiocese's 351 parishes could necessitate closings and consolidations. The archdiocese governs parishes in Cook and Lake counties. Advertisement Based primarily on those projections and on future capital needs, the priests who attended the meetings say a large number of churches could close over the next 14 years. Several of those priests who attended the sessions with the archbishop shared details about the reorganization process with the Tribune, some requesting anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussion and because they didn't have permission to speak on behalf of the archdiocese. The reorganization process will kick into high gear next week when auxiliary bishops begin meeting with parish leaders and staff in their regions to discuss solutions. Advertisement Such a massive parish reorganization would be larger than and play out much differently from Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's decision in 1990 to close and merge more than 40 parishes, which along with school closings and a 10 percent cutback in administrative costs was aimed at saving $13 million annually. No cost-saving target has been announced for this plan, but Chief Operating Officer Betsy Bohlen says the initiative is less about economics and more about fortifying the church's mission. "If anything, the financial impact of this effort will be avoiding having to spend capital repair dollars that are unaffordable," said Bohlen, adding that the archdiocese has just launched a review to gauge those deferred costs. "But that's not the most significant reason (for the reorganization) at all." Indeed, while the closings in the 1990s addressed a budget shortfall that the archdiocese could not afford at the time, priests say Cupich has embarked on the latest effort because the church must ensure its future. In a message to parishioners that appeared this week in Catholic New World, the archdiocesan newspaper, and that Cupich has shared with priests and advisers in the past month, the archbishop casts the parish reorganization as an opportunity for renewal. "Demographics have shifted dramatically," he wrote. "Some of our parish buildings are in disrepair. We have fewer priests to pastor our faith communities. The result is that we end up spreading our resources too thinly. "I would be less than honest if I did not acknowledge that by the time this consultative process is complete, we will mourn together the loss of some parishes," he added. "But that will not be the final word. By having the boldness to leave behind familiar ways of doing things, we can seize this season as one that is not simply of loss, but rather of renewal." Priests who spoke to the Tribune said, based on the expected priest shortfall and future infrastructure needs, as many as 100 churches could close over the next 14 years. Advertisement Bohlen said that could be the case if leaders in the archdiocese decide to assign one pastor per parish. But it's unlikely that such a generic formula would be applied universally, she said. "Parishes are very vital homes for people," she said. "It's closely connected to their faith life, and we take that very seriously. If they are a strong presence in the community, we're biased to keep the strong presences out there. I don't know how it's going to play out." Cupich did not speculate in the column how many parishes might close. But it's the numbers behind Cupich's reference to the shortage of priests that is guiding preliminary projections for how many parishes could close or merge, sources said. By 2030, there will be an estimated 240 priests available to fill Chicago's pulpits, Bohlen said. Those priests could be assigned individually to parishes, or to multiple churches in any variety of configurations, which ultimately will affect how many parishes eventually shutter. The estimate of 240 priests available for parishes by 2030 is not a firm figure, because not all ordained priests serve as pastors. Some work as canon lawyers, professors or administrators. And some simply aren't ready to serve as pastors right after ordination, Bohlen said. At the present rate, about 180 priests are expected to retire by 2030, replaced by roughly 10 ordinations a year, Bohlen said. Advertisement Since religious orders, which sometimes help fill pulpits, are facing the same shortages, the archdiocese may not be able to rely on them to fill the gap. "No one wants to be the pastor of two or three parishes if they can help it," said the Rev. Don Nevins, co-chair of the priests' steering committee for the reorganization effort. "How do you make each of those parishes very vital?" In the Pilsen neighborhood, representatives from six parishes Providence of God, St. Adalbert, St. Ann, St. Paul, St. Pius V, and St. Procopius as well as the Jesuit and Dominican provinces met last fall to discuss options and deliver recommendations to Cupich. Though the Pilsen project was intended to solve the question of what to do with one parish's dilapidated building and the neighborhood's shortage of priests, and not intended to be a pilot for the wider consolidation, Nevins said, it has provided a useful template. Conversations in their meetings centered on the question, "How can we form parishes that are going to respond to future needs with future resources that we're going to have?" Parish leaders also discussed the ministries that set their communities apart, which led to more discussions about making sure those ministries continued even if parishes closed, Nevins said. That kind of collaboration is exactly how clergy and church officials hope the process will unfold across the archdiocese in ways that are particular to each community. There will be no "one-size-fits-all" approach, Bohlen said. While about a quarter of the 351 parishes in the archdiocese now receive financial aid, the archdiocese will weigh three additional factors when assessing the sustainability of parishes: capital needs, pastor availability and mission vitality. Advertisement Mission vitality will be based on people in the pews and less tangible, more pastoral metrics such as whether the community supports each other in prayer and worship, engages the millennial generation and brings newcomers to the church, fulfilling the church's and Pope Francis' call to evangelize. Efforts also will be made to avoid creating church deserts neighborhoods with no accessible Catholic parish. Shifting the decisions to auxiliary bishops who oversee each region will help ensure that, reflecting Cupich and the pope's mutual inclination to decentralize power. Cupich also has emphasized to advisers, including the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, that the process will take an egalitarian approach and no parish will be left out. Affluent parishes bursting at the seams will feel the pinch too, he has said. Priests say the process will be nothing like the closings in 1990, when priests found out suddenly that their doors would be shut by the end of the year. One priest suffered a heart attack after delivering the news to his congregation on Sunday morning. Back then, archbishops of other major cities frowned on Bernardin's decision, saying closing parishes just wasn't done. This time, priests say, Chicago is late in acting. Priests and parishioners in Boston and New York have already suffered painful parish closings in the past decade. "Everyone is looking to see what we do," Nevins said. "We've been a little more fortunate in our priest personnel. We better do it now or we're going to be in real trouble. I'm going to be 80 running a parish and that's not good for anybody." The Rev. Thomas Belanger, pastor of St. Philip Neri parish who serves as dean over a cluster of 21 South Side parishes and schools, said this kind of reorganization has been inevitable. Advertisement "A lot of our parishioners have already gone through two or three closures under Cardinal Bernardin," he said, adding that the late Chicago Archdiocese leader Cardinal Francis George largely avoided closing churches. "Archbishop Cupich inherited that." While priests have conveyed to Cupich that he should pursue the plan aggressively, they also have told him it should not be done all at once, so lessons learned can be applied to each subsequent slate of closures. "What most guys would say would be, 'Don't bleed us to death. If there is no hope here, why are we putting so much effort and money into keeping the place going if it's only going to be open for another year or so?' " Nevins said. "Let's look at things aggressively and look at what kind of configuration do we need." But some priests are concerned that the plan is too drastic and will hurt parishioners. A priest who spoke on the condition of anonymity said too many have witnessed a church or school closing and the effect it has on the community. "We are piercing the soul of the people when we close these places," he said. "There is blood on the streets. Some people have supported these places for their entire lives." Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Richard Olszewski, a parishioner at St. Adalbert, a historically Polish parish in the Pilsen neighborhood, said generations of his family have supported that parish for a century. Advertisement Modeled after St. Paul's Basilica in Rome and designed in Revival Renaissance style, the parish features Italian marble, stained-glass windows and one of the world's largest Kimball pipe organs. The church's 185-foot towers are the highest structures in the Pilsen neighborhood, according to Preservation Chicago. But in recent years they have been crumbling and hidden under scaffolding. Parishioners are trying to raise $3 million to fix them by April when the scaffolding must come down. Olszewski said he has been told Cupich does not want museums. But for Olszewski the beauty of St. Adalbert is more than a museum. For decades, it has brought him closer to God. Belanger, however, said he hopes building stronger and more vital parishes will encourage more Catholics to invest in their parishes and bring many more closer to the church. "Why keep a presence if you're not really reaching out to the community?" Belanger said. "If you build a larger community, that will entice a larger community back to the life of the church." mbrachear@tribpub.com Twitter @TribSeeker Armando Delgado is one of five reputed Satan Disciples gang members facing federal kidnapping charges on accusations of holding a drug dealer for ransom. Prosecutors said the group kidnapped the wrong man and that Delgado's phone was tapped as part of a separate investigation. (Cook County Sheriff's Office) The kidnappers' elaborate plan to abduct a drug dealer and hold him for ransom could not have been going much worse. First, the man they were holding for ransom in a Northwest Side auto body shop was the wrong guy. Second, the FBI had tapped the alleged ringleader's cellphone as part of a separate investigation and had a front-row seat to the whole operation. Advertisement "There's a little situation," Armando Delgado allegedly said in a phone call with a fellow kidnapper as agents listened in. "They already got the dude, but it's the wrong guy because it's his brother that we're trying to get." On Thursday, federal prosecutors announced kidnapping charges against the five reputed Satan Disciples gang members accused of hatching the botched plan last May. Antonio Salgado, 34; Armando Delgado, 36; Octavio Alejandre Jr., 33; Jaime Gutierrez, 22; and Munaf Abdulrazak Musa, 22; all of Chicago, are being held without bond pending detention hearings. They face up to life in prison if convicted. Advertisement Federal authorities had been listening in on Salgado's phone because of an unrelated narcotics investigation, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Wednesday. "They got lucky on this one," said attorney Joseph Lopez, who represents Delgado. "It just fell into their laps." Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. > Last May 30, the victim was kidnapped in the afternoon at gunpoint outside his suburban Berwyn home and forced into a sport utility vehicle, according to the charges. He was brought to the auto body shop on Elston Avenue in the Avondale neighborhood, blindfolded and held while the kidnappers attempted to collect a ransom. The complaint alleged that the kidnappers threatened the victim at gunpoint and placed a knife on his fingers and threatened to cut them off. Early the next morning, the victim's uncle received telephone calls from a man who identified himself only as "the Ugly Ones," according to the complaint. The man, speaking in Spanish, demanded 25 "playeras," or shirts -- code for kilograms of narcotics. After realizing that night they had the wrong person, Salgado was recorded talking with Delgado about what they should do, the charges alleged. "Beat the (expletive) out of the guy tonight and cut him loose," Salgado said, according to the charges. "Make this look as if this is a job from Mexico, and they'll know not to bull----. Put that (expletive) in a stolen car, and if push comes to shove, burn the car." The next morning, the victim walked into a bus station in Chicago, apparently unharmed. He told police he'd just been released from captivity during the night, according to the complaint. jmeisner@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @jmetr22b Local officials say two people in Brazil contracted the Zika virus through blood transfusions, the first reports of that sort of transmission in an outbreak that is projected to infect millions in the coming months. Carmino Antonio de Souza, health secretary of Campinas, a city northwest of Sao Paulo, said both transfusions occurred during the first four months of 2015 but that the transmission wasn't confirmed until recently, according to the Wall Street Journal. One patient was a liver-transplant recipient and the other a gunshot victim. Advertisement Marcelo Addas Carvalho, director of the Blood Center at the Sao Paulo state University of Campinas, told Reuters in an interview that genetic testing confirmed that a man who received a blood transfusion using blood from a donor with Zika in March 2015 became infected with the virus. The patient later died from his gunshot wounds and not the Zika infection, local health officials and Carvalho told the news service. Worries about Zika in the blood supply have been a growing concern for health officials around the world. While there are no scientifically confirmed cases of transmission through the blood supply, it is theoretically possible and has been shown to occur with viruses in the same family. Advertisement The American Red Cross, as well as health officials in Canada and Britain, have been urging people who have traveled to regions affected by the Zika virus to wait at least 28 days before giving blood. Susan Stramer, the vice president of scientific affairs for the Red Cross, said this week that the organization it is also asking donors to immediately notify the organization if they subsequently develop symptoms consistent with the Zika virus within 14 days of donating blood "so that we can quarantine the product." On Thursday, a Red Cross spokeswoman said that the two reported cases in Brazil "are under investigation and will provide further information regarding the risk of transmission of Zika by blood transfusion." She added that the 28-day "self-deferral" policy in the United States should further safeguard the nation's blood supply, and that "it is important to note that due to the absence of local mosquito transmission, the risk of contracting Zika virus by blood transfusion in the continental U.S. at this time is believed to be extremely low." Officials at the Food and Drug Administration said earlier this week they are assessing whether travelers who have visited places with local Zika transmission should defer donating blood. The FDA did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday. The American Association of Blood Banks, the professional standards group, said its 28-day self-deferral recommendation also applies to other tropical viruses, such as dengue and Chikungunya, and that it should result in only minor decreases - about 2.25 percent - in overall donations to the blood supply. "It wouldn't be surprising to see transmissions through blood on rare occasions," said Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, saying it depends on how sick the donor is. The Zika virus usually clears the bloodstream within a week, researchers have said. The Washington Post U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Commander and Resolute Support Commander Gen. John Campbell testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington before a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about the situation in Afghanistan. Campbell said the ability to train and advise the still green Afghan security forces will be constrained if the U.S. troop level is cut to 5,500 as President Barack Obama has proposed. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP) WASHINGTON The ability to train and advise the still green Afghan security forces will be constrained if the U.S. troop level is cut to 5,500 as President Barack Obama has proposed, the senior American commander in Afghanistan said on Thursday. Army Gen. John F. Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee that "very little" training will be done with fewer American forces. Advertisement Campbell, who is expected to retire soon, sparred with the committee's chairman, Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and other senators over the wisdom of the troop reductions. McCain, one of Obama's harshest critics on national security issues, wanted to know whether the troop number is adequate to perform the training mission as well as counterterrorism operations as Obama has said it would be. Advertisement Campbell said much will depend on how quickly the Afghan forces improve. If they don't, he said, the number of American troops will most likely need to increase. But Campbell, who is planning to retire from military service, said he is preparing to go down to 5,500 "as I am ordered." He said the decision to announce the troop withdrawals was a policy decision and not a military one. Campbell acknowledged that publicly revealing the troop cuts could allow the enemy to "wait us out." At the same time, he said, openly debating and disagreeing with the decision "hurts us as well." "Ultimately the president makes the decision, and that's the policy that we follow," Campbell said. "We follow orders. If it's not immoral, (if) it's not illegal, then you've got to do to the best of your ability to make sure that you can accomplish the mission." McCain said it's unrealistic to expect a reduced force to handle the dual mission of training the Afghans and counterterrorism. "This smaller American force will inevitably be forced to shoulder a higher level of risk to themselves, to their mission and to the national security of the United States," McCain said. Initially, Obama said he would trim the U.S. force in Afghanistan to 5,500 troops by the end of last year, and then down to 1,000 by the end of 2016. But Obama backtracked, saying the situation remained too fragile for such a rapid withdrawal. The current U.S. force of about 9,800 would stay in place through most of 2016, Obama said in October 2015 during remarks from the Roosevelt Room in the White House. The reduction to 5,500 would occur "by the end of 2016," Obama said, although he didn't specify exactly when. The smaller force would still be expected to handle the twin duties of training the Afghans and counterterrorism. "I want to keep 9,800 as long as I can before I drop down to 5,500," Campbell said. Advertisement Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the committee's ranking Democrat, agreed with McCain that any further withdrawals of U.S. troops should be based on the situation in Afghanistan, using the military phrase "conditions based." Reed also said he wants to hear from the officer Obama selected to replace Campbell as the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Army Lt. Gen. John Nicholson Jr. During a hearing last week, Nicholson said he would immediately conduct a rigorous assessment of troop requirements. Reed said Nicholson's review should be given "extraordinary weight." The committee approved Nicholson's selection Thursday, and the full Senate backed the nomination on a voice vote later in the day. Obama's critics said leaving the Afghans without enough American military trainers would imperil the gains made since 2002, when the U.S. committed to rebuilding the country. Nearly $64 billion has been allotted so far for training and equipping the Afghan army and police. Yet patience among other lawmakers is fraying with the finish line so far away. The Afghans won't be able to independently sustain their security forces until 2024, according to Campbell. Campbell also testified Tuesday before the House Armed Services Committee. During both appearances, he described the Afghan security forces as becoming increasingly competent. Yet significant hurdles remain, and persistent training and advising is required to overcome them, he said. Advertisement The challenges facing the Afghans are largely structural, such as building an adequate air force, gathering intelligence, maintaining warfighting equipment, budgeting and personnel management. Associated Press Former Governor Edgar Whitcomb a World War II veteran, stands in front of his Rome, Ind., home. The old Perry County courthouse sits across from him. (Kelly Wilkinson / AP) INDIANAPOLIS Former Indiana Gov. Edgar Whitcomb, who escaped from a Japanese prisoner camp by swimming overnight during World War II and then made an around-the-world solo sailing trip while in his 70s, has died at age 98. The Republican small-town lawyer, who was quick to veto legislation even though the Legislature was controlled by fellow Republicans, died on Thursday, according to his daughter, Patricia Whitcomb. He began a yearslong quest around the world in 1987, more than a decade after leaving office, that included seeing his sailboat sink off the coast of Egypt. Advertisement "Governor Ed Whitcomb was a great man whose life of courage, service and adventure inspired generations of Hoosiers and he will be deeply missed," Gov. Mike Pence said in a statement Thursday, adding that the former governor died at his home near the Ohio River community of Rome, Indiana. Whitcomb was governor from 1969 to 1973, a tenure marked by ongoing disputes over spending and taxes. He vetoed scores of bills, most notably a plan backed by then-House Speaker Otis Bowen in 1971 to cut property taxes by increasing the state sales tax. Whitcomb had won the GOP nomination for governor at the party's 1968 state convention over Bowen, and he took a strict stance against any tax increases. Advertisement Bowen went on to win election as governor in 1972 and push a similar property tax plan through the Legislature the following year. The changes were well received by the public, and Bowen was wildly popular when he left office. Whitcomb, though, didn't retreat from his position, saying his work to economize state government and block tax hikes had benefited residents. "Surely the hundreds of millions of dollars which are in the hands of taxpayers as a result of your refusal to increase general taxes have contributed to this surge in personal income," Whitcomb told legislators in his 1973 farewell address. Whitcomb's term as governor also saw the Legislature establish, over his veto, that most of the state would follow Eastern Standard Time year-round. That decision to not have time changes in 80 of the state's 92 counties kept Indiana out of sync with much of the country until legislators approved statewide daylight saving time in 2005. He also helped ensure decades of Republican dominance of Indianapolis by signing into law the government unification of the city and its GOP-leaning suburban communities in Marion County. Whitcomb was born in the southern Indiana town of Hayden and was a student at Indiana University before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in 1940, becoming a navigator for B-17 bombers. He wrote in a memoir that he was stationed at a base in the Philippines when Japanese aircraft struck there hours after the December 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. He was among several thousand troops captured and imprisoned on the small island of Corregidor, from which he and another American escaped by swimming overnight more than 2 miles to Bataan only to be recaptured days later. He practiced law in the southern Indiana communities of North Vernon and Seymour while starting his political career. He won election in 1966 as Indiana secretary of state, which gave him a platform for his 1968 gubernatorial campaign Advertisement Whitcomb and his wife, Patricia, divorced in 1987 after 36 years of marriage. That same year, he began his quest to sail solo around the world. The journey started by crossing the Mediterranean from Israel to Gibraltar. He completed the trip in stages during the good sailing season including 55 days from Costa Rica to Tahiti. His 30-foot sailboat sank in 1996, after striking a shallow coral reef off Egypt, after Whitcomb had passed the longitude of his starting point for his around-the-world trip. "At first, in the Mediterranean I endured some storms that I didn't think I was going to survive," Whitcomb said in a 1996 interview. "And after being through three or four or five of them, then you get the feeling, 'Well, I got through the others. I'll get through this.' Then I got so I didn't worry about them." In his 80s, he moved to an isolated cabin, with a battery as its only electrical source, on 140 acres of forest along the Ohio River. He lived there for several years with Mary Evelyn Gayer before they married in 2013 when he was 95 and she was 83. They met 12 years earlier while taking a computer class. Associated Press Four days out from the New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton was intent on persuading women to close the margin by which she trails Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and also to play down the odds of actually pulling it off. Pulling it off was what Clinton did in 2008 against Barack Obama, as she reminded an audience at a YWCA in Manchester. But Sanders is a next-door resident and retains a substantial lead over Clinton in every poll taken in New Hampshire. Clinton seemed to suggest she might have had the option of skipping New Hampshire, although that was never in the cards in a state which not only resurrected her campaign but, in 1992, her husbands. People kind of opine: OK, you won Iowa, but you know youre running against a neighbor. In New Hampshire, neighbors seem to win, she said, deflating expectations for next Tuesday. And I say, look thats neighborly; I have no problem with that, but Im going to make my case with the people of New Hampshire. Clinton said her campaign would keep fighting until the last vote is counted on Tuesday, although the candidate herself is leaving briefly to visit Flint, Mich., where lead from water pipes has poisoned residents. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow was one of a group of Democratic female senators who traveled to New Hampshire to support Clinton and try to rev up supporters planning to knock doors for the candidate in the midst of a driving snowstorm. She told the audience that Clinton was the only candidate to have called her office to offer help the Flint residents a jab at Sanders. She also mocked his call for a political revolution that would elect him to the White House. This is the moment, Stabenow said. When folks talk about a revolution, the revolution is electing the first woman president. Thats the revolution. We are ready for the revolution. Other female senators also compared Sanders, their colleague, unfavorably to Clinton. Were not supporting her because shes a woman; were supporting her because shes the very best person in this race, said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Shes smart, shes tough and she doesnt need any on-the-job training. Shaheen may have unintentionally alluded to the challenge ahead for Clinton here when she asked not for a victory on Tuesday but for a strong vote in other words, a narrowing of the gap that Clinton can cast as a moral victory. Clinton used her come-from-behind win in her last campaign to encourage her supporters. I know from my last experience here, when I came in 16 points down or something like that but whos counting? she said. I wasnt running against a neighbor but an incredibly charismatic candidate, as we all remember. The only reason I was able to pull that off was because of you. Stabenow broke up the crowd with a reminiscence of something that many women have been told at some point in their political careers. And some of it touched on criticisms that have been made of Clinton herself, which the senator wanted to dispel before Tuesday. Theres always a message we get, about were too this or too that, she said. Wait your turn. You smile too much; you must not be serious. You dont smile enough; you must not be friendly. You talk too much. Youre too serious. And I wouldnt want to have a beer with you. Or, I do want to have a beer with you, but you cant run security for our country. Your hair! she continued. Donald Trumps hair what about that hair? Come on. Ira Weinstein bailed out of his aircraft during World War II and was taken prisoner in Germany. (Provided by family) The Battle of the Bulge and D-Day are landmarks of World War II, but less well remembered is the disastrous Kassel Mission of Sept. 27, 1944, one of the great tragedies in U.S. military history. Ira Weinstein survived the mission, in which 25 B-24 "Liberators" of the 445th Bomb Group were shot down near Kassel, Germany, in a matter of minutes. Of the more than 230 aboard those planes, 115 were killed or died of their injuries and the rest, including Weinstein, a bombardier/navigator, became prisoners of war. Advertisement Weinstein, who went on to run his own Chicago advertising agency, wanted to make sure people knew of his comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as those who bore the scars of the experience. "These men wanted the world to know that this happened, that it was a tragedy of great proportions, and that the world had a right to know," said Linda Alice Dewey, president of what is now known as the Kassel Mission Historical Society, which her father and Weinstein helped found in 1989. Advertisement "It was the worst loss for a single group flying from one airfield in a single day's battle ever. No other group lost more men and machines in one day than they did. And that's what hurt nobody knew." Weinstein, 96, who owned Schram Advertising for more than 40 years, died Jan. 24, at Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview, of natural causes. He had been living at the Vi at The Glen, an assisted living facility in Glenview, for the past year. He was a longtime resident of Glencoe. "He had a colorful career in advertising, but always made the 5:45 train home in time to have dinner with his family," said his son-in-law, Steve Temkin. Born and raised in Chicago, Weinstein graduated from Crane Technical High School and began his advertising career at Goldblatt's discount stores before joining the U.S. Army Air Forces. Weinstein had already flown two dozen missions before the Kassel Mission. Four planes had to abort the mission. Of the planes that participated, 25 crashed in Germany, two crash-landed in occupied France, one crashed in Belgium, two made it back across the English Channel but made forced landings on an emergency strip, one crashed near the base and four made it back to the base. Anti-aircraft fire forced Weinstein to bail out of his plane, and on the way down he saw his pilot being killed with a pitchfork by irate German farmers, Weinstein told the Tribune in 1988. He was taken into custody but survived because of the kindness of the village mayor, who heard Weinstein speak Yiddish and realized he would be killed if turned over to the Nazi's secret police. "I'll have to deliver you to a Luftwaffe base before the SS discovers you are here," the mayor said, Weinstein told the Tribune. "Those SS men do not take Jews prisoner. They kill them." Weinstein was taken to Stalag Luft I, manned by members of the German air force who were too old for battlefield duty. Those Germans felt a kinship with American airmen, and conditions were far more livable than in most camps. Advertisement After being liberated by the Soviet army at the end of the war, Weinstein returned home and traveled the country visiting families of the crew members of his B-24 who didn't survive. "After the war, his experience never let go of him," Dewey said. "He had terrible survivor's guilt and would often break into tears when he spoke of it to small parties or even to large audiences." Weinstein was decorated with honors, including the Purple Heart and the distinguished French Croix de Guerre, for his wartime service, his family said. After the war, he went to work for Schram Advertising, then bought the company in 1945. Considered a pioneer in direct mail and business-to-business fields, Weinstein sold the business to his son-in-law in 1990, and it was eventually renamed Temkin & Temkin. He designed the logo for the Kassel Mission Historical Society (originally named the Kassel Mission Memorial Association) and sat on its board for 20 years, stepping down this past fall. Some veterans of the mission, including Dewey's father, the late William R. Dewey, returned to Germany and organized projects with their former enemies. Weinstein was reluctant to do so. "Ira overcame that disinclination in the mid-90s, went to Germany to see the memorial near Bad Hersfeld and came back cheering," Dewey said. "He was dumbfounded over the welcome he received from Walter Hassenpflug, a boy who witnessed the falling planes and men that day, and other Germans he met when he was there. Their open-hearted friendliness amazed him." Advertisement In late 2013, Weinstein published "The Watch That Went to War," recounting his many experiences, including his return to Germany. "When friends of mine found out he was a POW, they'd ask me questions about it," Temkin said. "I'd say, 'OK, I'll tell you some details, but you run the risk of feeling like a total wuss.'" Weinstein is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters, Terri Weinstein and Laura Temkin; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Norma. Services were held. Giangrasse Kates is a freelance reporter YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. National Assemblys Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Faction Secretary Aghvan Vardanyan assures they act properly in collaboration with Republican Party of Armenia (RPA). This is neither the first nor the last time. ARF will not stop its activity. We know that there are serious problems in the country and they must be resolved, Aghvan Vardanyan said, Armenpress reports. He emphasized the adoption of new constitution has changed a situation in the country. It does not matter we want it or not, the new constitution contributed to the end of autocratic decisions in the country. We have changed a system; we should go by this way and various political forces must sit down, discuss and reach agreement, Aghvan Vardanyan added. The MP noticed the clarification of formats on cooperation with RPA requires time and work to be carried out. As the result of possible collaboration we must have something to tell jointly to our residents on what we are planning, by what directions we will act and this implies a mutual agreement, Vardanyan said. ARF MP did not exclude that conducting cooperation with RPA is also possible after 2017 parliamentary election. It is natural that there are talks on the future. Depending on the results of 2017 elections, we will remark the formats of our cooperation, ARF Faction Secretary Aghvan Vardanyan emphasized. RPA assures to clarify cooperation format with ARF during next week. RPA spokesperson, Vice President of Republic of Armenia National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov told the journalists about this after the RPA Executive Body meeting. Oswego Village President Gail Johnson is preparing for her first State of the Village address. Johnson took the oath of office May 1, 2015, after winning a two-way race. Advertisement The Oswego Chamber of Commerce and the village of Oswego are co-sponsoring the presentation, which will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at Village Hall at 100 Parkers Mill Road. Johnson said her remarks will highlight both progress in the past nine months and plans for the future. Advertisement "There is so much energy in Oswego right now. ... I hope to build on that positive energy for a bright future and harness it to move (the village) board's vision forward," she said. Johnson said she's been having regular meetings with staff and going over the minutes of past meetings as one way to "articulate the vision" of her administration to those in attendance. She said the village's priorities are driven by what residents expect from the village. She specifically mentioned community enhancement, business attraction and retention, and public safety as three topics she intends to cover in her public statements. The village's proposal to establish its first tax increment financing district, a financing mechanism to fund public improvements, in the downtown area is one other subject for her address. "The implementation of a TIF district is a significant component in the development of our downtown. The development of our downtown is vital to Oswego's quality of life," the village president said. Johnson said the Village Board chose not to increase property taxes in 2016, but that likely will not be included in her comments. "The board remains committed to reducing the property tax burden in as much as it is within our control," she said. As for her first months in office, Johnson said they have been busy ones. Advertisement "I am most pleased with the positive, healthy working relationship between and among our board and staff," she said. "As our strategic plan highlights, there are two paths: one is stagnation, the other is full-blown growth. Oswego, with this board and this staff, has chosen to find a balance." As for an announcement of new projects in her address, "Look for connections to be a focal point," Johnson said. Angie Hibben, Oswego Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, said the chamber has been co-partnering with the village in hosting the annual State of the Village address for the past five years. Hibben said business owners want to hear about the progress of the past months and goals for the future directly from the village's leader. "Business owners oftentimes like to ask more in-depth questions after hearing the remarks," Hibben said. Hibben said the issues of particular concern to the chamber are the village's proposed TIF district and downtown development. Advertisement A brief reception will be held in the atrium of Village Hall after the State of the Village address. Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News. Gasps from the audience were audible as before-and-after photos of Homs were shown on a large screen. And no wonder. While plenty of our veterans have experienced the evils of war, it's all but impossible for most of us living here in the Fox Valley to grasp what it's like for families to be ripped apart, for our homes, our streets, our communities to be reduced to rubble. To have no choice but to flee that life we knew with little else but the clothes on our backs. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. First Deputy Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan received the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Switalski on February 4. Armenpress was informed from the Defense Ministry press service that the meeting discussed opportunities for cooperation between the EU institutions and the Ministry of Defense. The parties concurred that receiving consultancy support on human rights protection in Armenian Armed Forces and cooperation between European Union Institute for Security Studies and Armenian National Defense Research University could be especially promising. The parties also considered the appropriateness of initiating joint cooperation priorities in other areas between the EU and Armenia. 2015-2016 makes the final year of Lincoln-Way North as most students will merge into Lincoln-Way East and leaving over 100 staff members looking for opportunities elsewhere. Wednesday, August 19th, 2015, in Frankfort. (Gary Middendorf, Daily Southtown) A group of parents fighting to keep Lincoln-Way North High School open argued Thursday the school board does not have the final say and that its decision to close North should be reviewed by a judge. In response to the school district's motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the parents, a lawyer representing the group argued the school board does not have "unfettered discretion." Advertisement In August, school board members voted to close North in the fall of 2016 to address the district's deficit and get off the state's financial watch list. The controversial move has drawn fire from parents who argue the district could find other areas of the budget to cut, or close an older school if necessary. A parents group, called Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite, filed a lawsuit in December challenging the school board's decision to close North. It is seeking a court order to keep the school open. Advertisement School officials last month filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit claiming the court does not have jurisdiction over the board's decision. Attorneys for the district argued state statute gives school boards the discretion to decide attendance boundaries and whether a school should remain open. A lawyer representing the parents group filed a formal response in Will County Thursday reiterating claims that the district's decision to close North was "arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable." "By claiming the decision is 'not reviewable' ... (the) defendants attempt to raise their stature to that of some type of deity," attorney Stephen Eberhardt wrote in response to the district's motion to dismiss. Though he acknowledged the court cannot legislate in public education, Eberhardt argued that public officials cannot deprive citizens of their right and that board members owed citizens a "duty of reasonableness; and they violated this." Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday > "Our response reminds the board that it is the people of Illinois who possess all power, according to our state Constitution," said Todd Velky, a LWATU member and one of the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit . "The court can overturn any decision that interferes with the public interest." In the original lawsuit, LWATU argued the board did not properly research the issue and that years of warnings of declining financial conditions within the district were ignored. The group also argued the board's decision was invalid because one board member, Christopher Kosel, had not yet completed state-mandated training for board members. In their motion to dismiss the lawsuit, attorneys representing the school district did not dispute that the district was faced with a financial crisis, but noted that did not preclude the board's authority to decide on closing a school. They also pointed to other legal decisions where courts have declined to overturn a board's decision to change attendance boundaries or close a school. School officials also have noted that even if Kosel's vote was considered invalid, it would not have changed the eventual outcome of the vote to close North. Advertisement Attorneys for the school district are expected to file a response to LWATU's recent written arguments. Will County Judge Roger Rickmon is expected to hear oral arguments on the motion to dismiss the lawsuit on Feb. 29. Rickmon was recently assigned the case after judges John Anderson and Bobbi Petrungaro recused themselves from the case. Anderson, who was originally assigned the case, noted he and his wife were alumni of Lincoln-Way schools, and that his parents worked for the district at one time. Petrungaro is listed as vice president of the Lincoln-Way District 210 Foundation board, according to the foundation's website. Alicia Fabbre is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. A quote posted this week by a School District U46 board member on her Facebook page has elicited outrage and accusations of racial insensitivity among some community members in Illinois' second-largest school district. Some community members said they planned to bring the issue up Monday night at the school board meeting. Advertisement The Feb. 1 post on board member Jeanette Ward's official U46 school board page contains a quote from a book by African-American author Jason L. Riley. It contends that problems facing poor blacks today are a function of "values and habits, not oppression from a manifestly unjust society." Advertisement Ward is white and wrote that she was posting the excerpt "in honor of Black History Month." "The notion that racism is holding back blacks as a group, or that better black outcomes cannot be expected until racism has been vanquished, is a dodge," reads the passage from Riley's book, "Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder For Blacks to Succeed." "Having a black man in the Oval Office," the passage states, "is less important than having one in the home." The quote has evoked pushback from at least one other elected board official and some members of the community, who say the post is disrespectful and inappropriate for Black History Month while ignoring the systemic remnants of America's racial history. Board Vice President Traci O'Neal-Ellis said the post was "racist and offensive." "She is elected to govern in a district that is primarily minority," said O'Neal-Ellis, an African-American Elgin resident. "She has taken her personal beliefs and now made them a U46 community issue." Ward said she posted the passage to offer "a fresh perspective." "I find it interesting that I post this quote by an African-American male, and somehow I'm not allowed to do that," she said Thursday. "I want African-Americans to succeed, just like I want people of all colors to succeed. If you embrace a permanent victimhood status, it makes it harder." Advertisement The fact that the passage was posted in honor of Black History Month was also problematic to O'Neal-Ellis. If Ward had posted something from a prominent African-American conservative like Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, or presidential candidate Ben Carson, O'Neal-Ellis said she would have seen no issue. "She published it in honor of Black History Month," she said. "Of all the books written by black folks that would have been a true celebration of Black History Month, she chose something this mean-spirited, divisive and just flat-out wrong." Elise Jackson, an African-American Elgin resident with a 13-year-old son in the district, said she would not care what Ward posted on her personal Facebook page. But to post such a passage in her official capacity as a nonpartisan board member is troubling, Jackson said. "Being in a leadership role, someone that is making decisions for not only my child but all the kids and children in the community, it was very offensive and appalling," she said. Advertisement District U46's student body is nearly 51 percent Hispanic, 29 percent white and about 7 percent black, according to Illinois Board of Education data. "It appears to me that the reason she chose this quote is that it's feelings she has herself, but she's just using someone else's voice to say what she feels," Jackson said. Ward defended the post Thursday. "I think it's unfair that I'm not allowed to quote an African-American who had something to say about history and African-Americans," Ward said. "People try to point to me as if I made the quote. I am merely quoting someone who has a unique perspective." Ward said she expected that the post might prompt some pushback but that she was "a little surprised about the vitriol." O'Neal-Ellis said she had heard from 25 to 30 residents who had concerns about the post. Advertisement In an email obtained by The Courier-News, O'Neal-Ellis told any community members with concerns about the post to air their grievances at Monday's school board meeting. "I don't think I need to explain to any of you how damaging it is for a school board member, elected to serve the entire school district, to embrace this narrative about black folks that has been discredited and is the insulting 'pull yourself up by your bootstraps' mentality, while ignoring the effects of institutional and systemic racism," she wrote. Ward also posted a collage of photos in the comments that includes a black person drinking at a segregated water fountain, Ku Klux Klan members and other images that reads, "The Democratic Party: 200+ Years of Institutional Racism." While some criticized Ward's Facebook post, others defended it. "Giving people handouts does not help them in the long term," one user commented. "It just keeps them enslaved to the people giving them the 'stuff.' " geoffz@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @JournoGeoffZ State Rep. Anna Moeller wants to provide drivers a 30-day grace period from receiving citations for expired tags (Anna Moeller / handout) State Rep. Anna Moeller knows what can happen when you forget to renew your license plate registration sticker. The Elgin Democrat said she got a ticket for that offense years ago, when, on an out-of-state vacation over the Christmas holiday, she forgot that her registration was supposed to be renewed that month. Advertisement However, now that the Illinois secretary of state's office's decision due to the state's budget impasse to stop mailing vehicle registration reminders to motorists, it might be time to give residents a grace period, Moeller said. She is among the sponsors of House Bill 4334, which would provide drivers a 30-day grace period from receiving citations for expired tags. Advertisement "This is reasonable legislation that will provide motorists with flexibility to adjust to the Secretary of State's new policy," Moeller said in a news release. "Also, I encourage people to sign up for vehicle registration sticker email reminders with the Secretary of State. It's simple and can save you the hassle of paying for a citation or fine in the future." After the announcement Thursday that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will no longer be sending out vehicle emission test reminders, Moeller said an amendment is pending to the bill that would add a grace period for that as well. The emissions test must be completed for the motorist to purchase the new tags. The grace period also applies to late registration fees, but only when the secretary of state does not provide notice to the vehicle owner. While motorists will no longer receive notifications via mail, Moeller is encouraging them to sign up for email reminder notices by visiting www.ilsos.gov/greenmail. Residents will need the registration ID and PIN found on the auto's current registration card. Those unable to locate their current card or require additional assistance can call the secretary of state's public inquiry division at 800-252-8980. Moeller said she had no statistics for how many people may have been ticketed for forgetting to renew their tags. "But I think it is fair because of the change in the program. In the first year, people are not likely to remember" when their tags are due, Moeller said. Advertisement Even when the budget impasse is over, Moeller is OK with the secretary of state's office going to electronic notifications instead of the mailers. "Getting rid of the written notices saves the state $450,000 a month," Moeller said. She'd rather see that money going to social service agencies that have not been paid since the budget impasse began July 1, Moeller said. The grace period change would be permanent, she added. As of now, it is at an officer's discretion whether or not motorists receive tickets for expired tags, she said. The grace period would take that discretion from the officer at least for the first 30 days. The Elgin Police Department has used its social media pages to alert residents to the notification changes and the ability to sign up for electronic notifications, said Cmdr. Ana Lalley. Advertisement "Our officers would use their discretion in making a decision to issue a citation depending on the circumstances," Lalley said. There may be a resulting loss in revenue to local municipalities for not collecting the tickets, Moeller said. "But (ticketing residents) is not a great way to make money when people are not aware of the change. They are not flagrantly ignoring the change but just are not aware of ending the paper notice," Moeller said. Janelle Walker is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. Aggravated about abandoned cars: I'm reading Speak Out today, and someone in Aurora is complaining that the city does not go after abandoned cars. It's the same thing for the City of Elgin. Cars sit with flat tires on residential streets. Nobody sees them. Even the people who live there apparently don't have enough intelligence to call the code department to get it squared away. It just makes common sense to take care of the problem. Reaching out to students: I would like to compliment St. Joseph Catholic School in Aurora. Recently, we lost a 13-year-old boy to cancer. Principal Nancy Couglin, Father Jerry Leake and all of the teaching staff have been fabulous to the children. All the other Catholic schools in the region reached out and helped St. Joseph Catholic School with everything and helped with the children grieving. Thank you so much for taking the time to print this. God bless all. Advertisement Disturbed by statistics: I can't believe the headlines in the newspaper. Elgin shootings at 8-year high. What do you expect? You have open arms for all illegal immigrants. You have slum landlords that bought the foreclosed houses and now rent them out to section eight. The city is doing nothing about keeping the neighborhoods balanced. You are letting the realtors make ghettos out of certain areas. Wake up, city council. You tell someone you live in Elgin, and they start laughing. Migration situation: Why do we have all this migration from Syria and other countries in Africa? Why has this happened all of a sudden? It's like someone blew a whistle and a whole bunch of them decided to leave. Did they think of this one at a time, or is someone leading them? Maybe ISIS is trying to turn these countries into turmoil so it's easier for them to get in here. Hopefully we get smart and don't let them in, but I'm beginning to think we have a government that's stupid. Advertisement Kudos to Roeser: I'm calling in regards to a Speak Out. The only ones who had to close their businesses were the owners of the Blues Barbecue & Grill. Stop blaming Tom Roeser. He has done a lot for Dundee and Carpentersville. I have lived in Carpentersville all of my life. I think what Tom Roeser has done is great. Pull the plug on lawsuit: Good morning, Speak Out. This is in regards to the City of Elgin and the lawsuit against the electric company for putting in that big transmission line that goes through parts of Elgin and South Elgin. The line is almost completed. What would Elgin gain by suing for it to be stopped? It's already through South Elgin. It's getting ready to cross the river, and it will soon be in Wayne. All of this is a waste of taxpayer money on a frivolous lawsuit. It would also put the power company out of business and raise our electric rates. What is going on? The power line is on the right of way. Get a life, City of Elgin. Inoperable cabs should be carted away: This is regarding South Elgin and the new Bowes Road extension. This is a beautiful road, but if you look in South Elgin at the open street, all you see are junk vehicles in a construction zone and all kinds of A-1 cabs that are apparently not operable. They should be ticketed and towed away. You build a beautiful road, and then you see the ugliness of parts of South Elgin. Let's get a life, South Elgin. Crack down and make America beautiful. Clean up the open street and do some work for the taxpayers. Broken bridges: I was reading in the newspaper about all the railroad tank cars. Has anyone ever thought to look at the bridges they are going over? Someone ought to drive down Broadway Street in Aurora and go under the bridge past Benton Street. Look at concrete that is falling down. The disrepair is atrocious. That's not the only one. How about looking at these things and not just the tank cars? Someone ought to talk to these congressmen and the mayor. Have them sit there one of these days. If one of the tank cars falls through, of course there will be a disaster. But nobody seems to want to look at these things. Let's look at those bridges and viaducts also and not just the tank cars. Delay sought in sentencing: I saw last night on the news that poor Dennis Hastert wants to delay his sentencing because he's been sick for the last few months. He wants to wait another six weeks. He did the crime. Let him get it over with. He stole millions of dollars from taxpayers. He supposedly had sex with students, and now he wants to delay his punishment. Put him in jail and get it over with. If he dies in jail, we get out of paying his pension. Hire code inspectors: Very interesting Speak Out about hiring code inspectors for the City of Elgin. Not necessarily high ranking ones, but ones who could see the little things that are wrong around town. I really agree with that caller. Just a normal person who cares about Elgin could drive around town and see a lot of things wrong like cars in the backyard. People junk up their backyards more than they do their front yards. We should have a city that makes sure things are taken care of. They do that in condo complexes. You never see a bad condo complex, but with individual homes, you do. That was a really good Speak Out. Ferrelli photo: Every day, you see the name Dan Ferrelli in the newspaper. He's the spokesman for the Aurora Police Department. It would be nice to see a picture of what this man looks like. Everyone else has had their picture in the paper. Let's get to know these people. Troubled about Trump statement: Folks, what is going on in this world, especially in this country? Here you have a frontrunner for the president of the United States saying that if he went out and shot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue, he would not lose one supporter. The critical thing is he's probably absolutely right. What does this mean for America? That I'm going to walk amongst people who have that way of thinking? Talk about crazy. We're better than that. If we're going to vote for someone like that, then something is wrong with his supporters. They need to be put in an animal house and locked up. I didn't know we had that many nuts in our country. Advertisement Oil tanker turmoil: Today's topic is oil tanker cars rolling through Aurora. Last Sunday, The Beacon-News had a front page story about all the railroad oil tanker cars going through the city that could cause a safety problem. There was also a photo of Mayor Tom Weisner along with Illinois Senator Dick Durbin and Congressman Bill Foster. One simple solution to this problem would be to complete the Keystone pipeline. This would probably cut down 50 percent of the rail traffic. Did Durbin and Foster vote against the pipeline? Two too many: Every day with my Courier-News, I receive The Wall Street Journal. I do not subscribe to this paper nor do I not want it. I called The Courier-News subscription department, and they said I should call The Wall Street Journal. I did. I talked to both papers, yet I am still getting a paper I do not want. How do I stop this? Seeking news about both candidates: I am a longtime resident of Kendall County. I read the column written by Denise Crosby about one candidate, Jacquie Purcell. That was several weeks ago. I have been waiting for another column on the other candidate, Carl Gutierrez. I understand he has outstanding credentials for this position, plus he is currently Kendall County deputy coroner. Residents need all the information in order to make informed decisions. Goad code department: This is about Aurora's code department. I agree with those people who complained that things have not been enforced. Even when they do, it takes far too long. Part of the blame must lie with the director, who just left for his next political job. If you ever saw him at a neighborhood meeting, he came across as a perennial candidate for Congress instead of as the chief of code enforcement. Serious code work is needed in Aurora and not political aspirations. Let's get this department going before it's too late. Doubts brewing about new church: This is in regards to a church buying Prairie Rock Brewery Company in downtown Elgin. They were already in the building and now want to expand and kick the brewery out. The city council should not vote for this because you are chasing another tax-paying business out of downtown Elgin. No wonder the town can't make it. Remember the church by the lodge where they tore the symbols off the building? Now there is nobody in that building. It's not right for a church to take over this building in a business area. Nothing against God, but I don't think this is going to work. Summing up Trump: I would like to say that Donald Trump knows exactly what he is doing. He's a smart man, folks. He first wants to get the GOP nomination. How? He tells the GOP voters what they want to hear, and what they want to hear is dislike for Muslims and dislike for Mexicans. Second of all, what they want to hear is how to disown President Obama. The other GOP candidates were too afraid to say this. That's why they are losing so badly. When it comes to the general election, watch how Trump's strategy changes and how GOP voters won't like what he has to say. Advertisement Morning news: The newspaper that comes every day is the highlight of my morning. I read all of the paper and the interesting stories. I get sparked by the horoscope. Build the bridge: I still can't figure out why the opponents of the Longmeadow Parkway are so enraged. They are the ones who turned our pristine farmland west of Dundee and Carpentersville into mega housing developments in the name of progress. And now their self-centeredness has destroyed our small, quaint villages with their nauseating traffic jams. They created the problems, and now they need to take ownership of the disaster they caused for us who have lived in this area for generations. Please, Kane County, continue your quest to make this new bridge a reality. Upset about Upton: I hear a lot of seniors and poor people on Medicare talking about not being able to get their prescription drugs because they are too expensive. I don't know if anyone knows who Fred Upton is. He's a Republican congressman from Michigan. He has blocked everything in order to keep the government from negotiating prices for drugs and helping poor people get the lifesaving drugs that they need. The kicker is these guys are in bed with the insurance and drug companies. Look at his record. He's received over $300,000 from drug companies. Doesn't that just make you go hmmm? Push for privacy: I want to comment on the caller who wants Donald Trump to restore people's privacy. In order for him to do that, he would have to shut down www. That stands for worldwide web. It's out there to stay. It's not going anywhere. The only way you can protect your privacy is to do the things you need to do. And do you honestly think a businessman is going to restore your privacy? It's in his best interest not to. Religion has no place in politics: This is about the Speak Out on the president showing his religion. First of all, religion is a private matter. What you believe in has nothing to do with the White House. When President Obama goes to church on Sunday, he should be going for himself, his family and whatever his beliefs are. When he goes in the White House and does things for our country, religion should take a back seat and shouldn't matter. We have so many religions in this country. Religion has no place in politics. It will only make things worse. If you think your religion is better than someone else's religion, then something has to give. I think the president is doing a wonderful job of not bringing out his religion, whatever it is. If he's a Muslim, he's a Muslim. What does that have to do with running the country? You have to do right by the people and not by their religion. Help our veterans: I am a World War II veteran. Over the last few years, I have been receiving a lot of mail asking for money to help the veterans. I believe most of these letters are fake. The one that makes me shudder is the one that is also aired on television. It's $19 a month. The United States government should be taking care of our veterans. If they are not, they are very wrong. Advertisement Editor's note Speak Out is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-2460 or email couriernews@tribpub.com. Please include "speak out" in the subject line. To kick off events at Triton College marking Black History Month, the strides made by African-Americans were recognized from a personal perspective. "We Are Because They Were" is the college's slogan for the month of Black history-related events at the college, starting with the Feb. 1 kickoff event. State Rep. La Shawn Ford (D-Chicago) was the keynote speaker at the event. Advertisement But before Ford spoke, students, faculty and the public were invited to reflect on the month and its meaning. One hand went up in the audience. Advertisement Rosa Maria Hernandez, who works in the college's Adult Education Department, stood and talked about how she learned about the rich history of African-Americans when she was studying for her master's degree at Northeastern Illinois University. She said she visited the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago for research purposes and found out more than she bargained for. "I was excited looking at all of the pictures and all the contributions they made, especially in the Second World War," she said. She said since then she has come to have a better understanding of the African-American experience. As Ford spoke to the group, he talked about the strides African-Americans have made and that there is still more to be done. Being a politician, he stressed the power of voting, how hard African-American people had to work to gain that right and how it shouldn't be taken for granted. "It's amazing how your vote really counts," he said. He cited as an example the April 2015 election in Ferguson, Mo., that happened in the wake of the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an African-American, by a Caucasian police officer in August 2014, which resulted in riots and protests across the country. Prior to the unrest, there was one African-American on the Ferguson City Council. Now, because of a sky-high voter turnout, Ferguson has two more African-Americans on the city council. He related that the right to vote and African-American history are one and the same. "If you learn anything from Black History it is that voting is power," he said. Advertisement Triton College is planning two more events to mark Black History Month: Feb. 16., 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.: African-American Read In, where African-American authors and poets are recognized and participants are encouraged to read aloud from excerpts of works created by African-American authors and poets. Feb. 29., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.: Triton College's Black Heritage Council concludes Black History Month festivities with an artist showcase and small business expo highlighting local minority-owned businesses. Starting at 3 p.m., actress Sonita L. Surratt will present a historical drama about the first U.S.-published activist poet of African descent, Phillis Wheatley, followed by a step performance by members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. For more information, call 708-450-0300. This story has been corrected to indicate that Rosa Marie Hernandez works in Triton's Adult Education Department and attended Northeastern Illinois University. dpollard@pioneerlocal.com Advertisement Twitter: @DavidDPollard Health events, support, screenings and more. EVENTS Advertisement MOBILE HEALTH: The Community Care Connection, a mobile health unit from Rosalind Franklin University, will offer free health screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, body mass index and more. Screenings will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at YWCA Lake County, 1425 Tri-State Parkway, Suite 180, Gurnee; from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday at The Chapel Community Care Center, 25270 W. Route 60, Grayslake; and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Round Lake Area Public Library, 906 Hart Road, Round Lake. Details, 847-578-8670. FOOT CARE: Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine will provide complimentary foot care by appointment at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Park Place Senior Center, 414 S. Lewis Ave., Waukegan. Details, 847-244-9242. Advertisement WORKSHOP: Lisa Charles Fields, from Intervention Arms Medical Center & Vista Health Medical Center East, will speak about "Loving Your Heart" at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Park Place Senior Center in Waukegan. Heart disease kills an estimated 630,000 Americans each year. It's the leading cause of death for both men and women. In the U.S., the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which can lead to a heart attack. You can greatly reduce your risk through lifestyle changes and in some cases, medication. DENTAL CARE: The Chicago Dental Society (CDS) is donating more than 42,000 toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste along with dental care information to more than 300 Chicagoland schools and community organizations as part of National Children's Dental Health Month in February. This year, CDS is supplying 25 Lake County schools and organizations with free toothbrushes and dental care lessons to educate students about the importance of dental care. SCREENINGS: BOOD PRESSURE: B 2 B A Blessing Home Care will provide complimentary blood pressure checkups from 10 to 11 a.m. Feb. 12 and 26 at Park Place Senior Center in Waukegan. Glucose and cholesterol screenings will also be available. Details, 847-244-9242. HIV COUNSELING: The Lake County Health Department's Sexually Transmitted Infections Program offers free HIV counseling and testing Monday through Friday at the Belvidere Medical Building, 2400 Belvidere Road, Waukegan. Information about viral hepatitis and screening for sexually transmitted infections is also available. Details, 847-377-8450. IMMUNIZATIONS: Child immunization clinic hours are by appointment at the health department's Immunizations Clinic, 2303 Dodge Ave., Waukegan, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays; 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays; 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; and 9 to 11 a.m. the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Details, 847-377-8470. Flu and pneumonia vaccines to the general public by appointment only. Details, call 847-377-8470. SUPPORT CAREGIVER: Support group meets at 6 p.m. Thursday at United Methodist Church of Antioch, 848 Main St. Details, 847-395-1259. Details, 847-903-5604. Advertisement COPING WITH LOSS: Support group meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Park Place Senior Center in Waukegan. It is facilitated by Catherine Dello and Stacy Poevich. Both are social workers from VITAS Innovative Hospice Care Professionals. It is available for anyone who is experiencing a loss, and healthy grief and mourning will be discussed. Details, 847-244-9242. DIABETES: Support group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Details, 847-263-2180. GRANDPARENTS SUPPORT: A group for grandparents, and other relatives, raising grandchildren or caring for others meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Park Place Senior Center in Waukegan. Topic will be "Handling Stress." Details, 847-244-9242. HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE: A group for anyone affected by this hereditary, degenerative brain disorder meets at 7 p.m. Monday at Advocate Condell Medical Center, 801 S. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Details, 847-990-5275. IMPRISONED FAMILIES LIMITED: A group meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church in Libertyville, 219 W. Maple Ave. The group is a nondenominational small group which meets in a confidential setting to provide support, share experiences, discuss coping strategies and assistance to progress through the process and emotions involved in having a family member facing incarceration or already in prison. Details, 847-615-8220. LAKE COUNTY SUICIDE PREVENTION TASK FORCE: Meets at 11 a.m. Monday at the health de0partment, 3010 Grand Ave., Waukegan. The mission of the task force is to deepen awareness, prevent suicide and save lives through education, linking resources to those in need, and treatment programs within the community. Details, 847-377-8244. Advertisement LOLLIE DREW LOW VISION: Support group meets at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Park Place Senior Center in Waukegan. Topic will be "How to Use a Magnifier Machine and Devises for Individuals with Low Vision." Details, 847-244-9242. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: Self-help groups will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church St. Details, (847) 651-7841. Another group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Antioch Senior Center, 817 Holbek Drive. Details, (847) 951-5686. NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS OF LAKE COUNTY: The mission is to provide support, education, advocacy and resources to those who suffer from neurobiological brain disorders. Family members also welcome. The Healthy Living Group meets 11 a.m. Wednesdays at Lake County Health Department, 3002 Grand Ave., Waukegan. NAMI Connections Peer Support Group meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursdays at Zion Drop In Center, 1022 27th St. Family & Friends Support Group meets 7 p.m. Tuesday at Warren-Newport Public Library, 224 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. Details, www.namilake-il.org or call 847-689-0509. REASON FOR HOPE: Cancer Support Group meets at 7 p.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church, corner of West Street and Martin Luther King Drive in Waukegan. For patients, survivors, caregivers and those who have lost a loved one. Details, 847-791-7843. STROKE SURVIVORS: A support group for survivors, spouses and caregivers meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Advocate Condell Medical Center, Libertyville. Details, 800-323-8622. DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE OF ANTIOCH: Group meets at 6 p.m. Sundays. For locations and more information, call Judy at 847-245-3924 or email dbsa.antiochil@gmail.com. Advertisement LOOKING UP: Support group for anyone experiencing a loss meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays at Advocate Condell Day Center, 700 Garfield Ave., Libertyville. Details, 847-990-5275. MILITARY AND VETERANS: Cup-A-Joe, a drop-in support group for veterans and service members to gather for conversation, meets at 5 p.m. Wednesdays at Julie's Coffee, 216 N. Milwaukee Ave.; at 1 p.m. Thursdays at Veteran's Assistance Commission, 20 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave.; and at 5 p.m. Thursdays at It's All Good Coffee and Espresso, 2780 Sheridan Road, Zion. Funded by Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation. Details, 847-377-8386. NORTH SHORE EATING DISORDER: Support Group meets 7:15 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Holy Spirit, 400 E. Westminster, Lake Forest. All eating disorder types welcome. Details, 847-668-5095. CHAT NIGHT: Chat Night is open to all those who are deaf or hard of hearing, audiologists, teachers, ASL interpreters and students from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays at openchatnight.com CAREGIVER: A support group for caregivers of people 60 and older is at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Warren Township Senior Center, 17801 W. Washington St., Gurnee. Details, 847-244-1101. MOST EXCELLENT WAY: Restoration program for those addicted to drugs, alcohol, tobacco, pornography, sex, gambling, food disorders, anger, behavior problems and other life-controlling problems meets at 7 p.m. Fridays at Calvary Chapel Church, 38451 N. Fairfield Road, Lake Villa. Also for family and friends. Details, 847-814-3911. Advertisement Twitter @newssun Waukegan officials and Youth Conservation Corps members gathered Thursday, Feb. 4, for the dedication of a vacant Helmholz Avenue residence that was renovated by YCC YouthBuild members dating back to last June. (Dan Moran / Lake County News-Sun) Vagrants and copper thieves did their worst to a two-story home on Helmholz Avenue before a mortgage company gave up on the house and donated it to the city of Waukegan. Last summer, city officials mulled various rehab approaches before hearing of a unique option: the non-profit Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), known in and around Waukegan for providing job-skills training to at-risk youth, was looking for a true hands-on opportunity. Advertisement "We wanted to give them an experience of remodeling, because we're a training center," executive director Bob Shears said. "So we talked to (city officials) and told them that they would still own the property, but we would come in and remodel it from top to bottom." On Thursday, about eight months later, the completed project was unveiled at a gathering that included YCC YouthBuild workers who pulled off the renovation and new recruits to the organization who could find themselves working on more homes in the future. Advertisement Construction manager Tom Berry said YCC members, who range in age from 17 to 24, arrived each day in crews of seven to 10 at a time, tearing out deteriorating plaster walls, putting in new kitchen fixtures and carpeting, and installing a new boiler and electrical system. All of this, he added, was done while participating in standard YCC programs like earning a GED diploma. "I think overall we had about 30 different people working here," Berry said. "Our schedule was pretty tight with us teaching GED classes five days a week. You've got everybody that goes to GED for half a day, and then half a day they'd come here. So, in theory, instead of getting a 40 hour workweek, it would be around 12 (or) 15 hours. "This is a place where they can get dirty and get hands-on training," he added. "Part of our National Center for Construction Education and Research training is book-based, but then it's practical application. This is literally the lab." Among those taking advantage of the opportunity was Zion 23-year-old Tyrone McGee, a YCC graduate who took on the role of site manager after recently returning to the area from construction work in Texas. "It was rough. It was," he said, standing in the freshly-tiled kitchen. "But the fun is that it was a very good learning experience. I learned a lot more than what I knew. "It definitely sharpened me up, the experience of teaching kids was fun even though that can be a headache, as well, chasing kids around all day," he said with a smile. "But at the same time, (the challenge) was staying on top of myself. Everybody has tendencies. You're tired, you have life going on. But bringing my energy up was a big part of the job." That energy was needed in dealing with challenges that included the damage done by people breaking into the structure when it was vacant. Advertisement "The plumbing was pretty beat up when we got in because they had squatters in here who would take out the copper and scrap it," Berry said. "Later, when we got the water turned on, we found out they had leaks, so the plumbing really set us back a little bit." Funding for the project was provided by grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, and fundraising efforts by the YCC board secured money for materials not covered by the feds, including the boiler and electrical system. Ezell Robins, who runs the Waukegan's Community Development Block Grant program, said options for the two-unit Helmholz building include leasing it to low- or moderate-income residents or putting it on the market for sale. As for the YCC, Shears said future plans call for the organization to team this spring with the Lake County Housing Authority on another rehab, possibly in North Chicago, and expand on the program from there. "We learned a lot on this project," he said. "Once we get everything working well, we hope to be able to remodel like four a year." danmoran@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @NewsSunDanMoran Mayor Steve Chirico and Gov. Bruce Rauner take a few questions from the audience during at press conference Friday at Naperville City Hall to discuss government consolidation. (Jon Langham / Naperville Sun) Gov. Bruce Rauner called on communities throughout the state to follow Naperville's example in proposing to merge its road maintenance services with those provided by Naperville Township in order to save taxpayers money. "This today is a great day because it's about giving powers back to the people of Illinois," Rauner said Friday, speaking before the crowd gathered at Naperville City Hall. Advertisement The governor praised Naperville for taking the lead by applying recommendations put forth by his Task Force on Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates, which calls for reducing the number of government taxing bodies and overlapping services. Rauner said the debate raging in Springfield should not be whether to cut services or raise taxes. Advertisement "Higher tax rates or fewer services, no," he said. "It's about empowering taxpayers and our competitiveness and growing our economy and shrinking the government bureaucracy so we can put the money into our schools and into our social services. That's the key to long-term prosperity in our state." The governor sees moves toward local government consolidation directly affecting the state budget. "If we can relieve taxpayer burden at the local level from property taxes for our working families and for our small-business owners, our small-business owners can find it easier to grow and invest. And when they invest and grow, that's more tax revenue for the state," he said. Among the ways to achieve that goal, he said, is to merge some of the 6,963 units of government that exist in Illinois. Rauner said in many metrics that compare state governments, Illinois ranks among the extremes. "We're dead last, we're 50 out of 50, for state support for education," he said. "We're the highest on the number of units of government. "Let's aspire to be average. Let's be average. How about we become the average of all the states on the number of units of government?" Earlier in the week, the Naperville City Council directed staff to begin work on an intergovernmental agreement with Naperville Township whereby the city would assume responsibility for the township's 21 miles of roads, 16 miles of which are located in Naperville. Township Supervisor Rachel Ossyra, who has said she supports the move, said the remaining 5 miles of roadways are located in unincorporated Eola near Aurora and near Warrenville. Advertisement Ossyra said she's confident the city would provide quality road services because it already does so on city roads. "Managing the transition would be the biggest challenge," she said. Mayor Steve Chirico said the community is known to provide "great service and great value to taxpayers." "We are also known for our partnerships and collaboration and finding innovative solutions," he said. "This is a great example of all of us coming together from different backgrounds working to find the best value for taxpayers." The reason Naperville Township was chosen was because the number of roadways is so small and the cost saving could easily be calculated, Chirico said. City staff will continue to look for potential efficiencies with other townships that share borders with the city, though the larger number of roadways could make a similar move cost-prohibitive elsewhere. "We may not find savings there. If that's the case, there's no reason to change anything," Chirico said. Advertisement Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, who chaired the government consolidation task force, challenged communities across the state to use the task force report as a conversation starter, like Naperville did. "We want to give power back to local government so that you folks can decide what's best for you," Sanguinetti said. "That's the whole point of this task force report, to give the power back to the local government." She also called on legislators to remove the hurdles that prevent units of local government from consolidating. State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, a task force member, said that by implementing ideas from the report, the state can begin to restore balance, eliminate redundant governments and save taxpayers money. "Our present system of 7,000 governments is simply unsustainable. It's also a big reason why we have the second-highest property taxes in the nation," Franks said. "Our system is bloated, it's inefficient, it's opaque and it's unaccountable. Our system as a result is open to corruption and abuse." Advertisement Although he doesn't agree with all the proposals, Franks said he is confident both sides can find common ground and move ideas forward. State Sen. Michael Connelly, R-Wheaton, who serves the Naperville area, said Naperville has a well-earned reputation for "doing things right, for doing things efficiently." Businesses along the Interstate 88 corridor are required to find inefficiencies every year, he said. "In large measure what we're doing today is incorporating the practices of business into the public sector," Connelly said. The governor urged legislators to move on the four bills being introduced that focus on eight of 27 points recommended by the task force, Rauner said. subaker@tribpub.com Advertisement Twitter @SBakerSun1 YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. On 5 February Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan convoked a consultation dedicated to the activities carried out in the sphere of industrial infrastructures in 2015 and the 2016 action plan, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Artsakh Presidents office. Minister of economics Andranik Khachatryan and heads of appropriate subdivisions delivered corresponding reports. The President placed the sphere of industrial infrastructures among the pivotal bases that the country's economic progress depended on and gave concrete instructions for the solution of the existing problems. Prime-minister Arayik Haroutunyan and other officials partook at the consultation. In a unanimous vote Thursday, the Gary Police Civil Service Commission rejected a hearing officer's recommendation to fire a police officer. Instead, Sgt. Jason Davis, who has been on unpaid administrative leave since 2014, must serve another 60 working days on unpaid suspension before he can return to his duties. Advertisement "This was a very difficult case," commission attorney Rinzer Williams said before the vote. The hearing officer cited possible issues with Davis' mental health, which Williams said was not a part of Chief Larry McKinley's formal complaint. He told the board the hearing officer should not have cited that in his recommendation. The charges stemmed from two incidents at Davis' home in the city's Black Oak section in the fall of 2014. Twice, during domestic altercations, Davis allegedly threatened to kill himself, and Gary police were called to the scene. His wife, who was estranged at the time, told Sgt. Anthony Hawkins that "she had to wrestle" his gun from him, the verified complaint states. Advertisement Violations against Davis include failing to abide by moral and professional standards, conduct unbecoming an officer, failure to respect other officers and unauthorized use of department property. Christopher Cooper, representing Davis, attempted to introduce testimony regarding his client's mental condition, which the board decided was not relevant. Davis has filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging the city's attempt to fire him violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. After the meeting, Cooper said, "I applaud the commission for doing the proper thing in not terminating Sgt. Davis' employment." A second disciplinary matter at Thursday's meeting involved a reserve officer who lost her police powers after an incident at the Gary school where she was working. Tarrion Thompson was caught on video swearing at a man outside the Williams Annex of Dunbar-Pulaski School. McKinley asked the board to terminate Thompson for her behavior, but an assistant principal testified last month that Thompson was an excellent school resource officer and her "go-to" person in emotional confrontations. Williams told the board he recommended Thompson serve a 60-day suspension. The board voted unanimously to follow the attorney's suggestion. Man pleads guilty to being driver in burglary A man has pleaded guilty to being the driver in a March 29 armed robbery of a South Haven gas station. Advertisement Johnathan Scarpinato, 18, whose address is listed in court files as being Lake County Jail, is set to be sentenced March 1 to eight years total, divided into time served and the rest on probation. Scarpinato pleaded to a class C felony charge of aiding in a robbery but originally faced up to 20 years in prison on a class B felony charge of aiding in a robbery. Advertisement The robbery happened about 11:30 p.m. March 29 when a gunman went to the bathroom at the Family Express on U.S. 6, then came out and pointed a gun in the clerk's face and threatened to shoot her after she didn't have enough money to give him, but then he settled for three packs of Newport 100s, according to the probable cause affidavit. The gunman, Brian Harper, of the 1700 block of Georgia Street in Gary, was sentenced Dec. 23 on a plea to class C felony robbery with good time credit for 265 days in Porter County Jail, equaling 530 days, and 30 days community service, with the remaining four years and 170 days on probation. Shotgun theft lands East Chicago man in jail Stealing a shotgun from his girlfriend's stepfather in Chesterton netted an East Chicago man a one-year sentence. Alantae Antwon Thornton, 23, of the 3800 block of Huron Court, was sentenced Wednesday to 365 days in the Indiana Department of Correction after his Jan. 8 plea to theft. In his plea, Thornton admitted stealing a Mossberg 12-gauge while he and his girlfriend visited her stepfather's home in February 2015. Thornton was arrested in Hammond along with the stepdaughter, who allegedly was selling stolen items in a pawn shop. Porter County police seek help in string of burglaries Advertisement The Porter County sheriff's office is seeking the public's help in finding ruse burglary suspects who have been targeting homes near the border of Porter and Lake counties. The targeted areas include Union, Porter, Boone and Portage townships. The burglaries began in mid-December and involve three Hispanic men in their late 20s to early 30s, driving a full-size gray or silver Dodge Ram crew-cab pickup truck, according to the sheriff's office. The suspects came to another residence about 3:30 p.m. Monday in Portage Township to speak with the elderly homeowners about a recreational vehicle that was for sale, according to the sheriff's office. The homeowners had money taken from their residence while showing the RV to one of the subjects as the other two subjects stayed inside the house with the spouse, according to the sheriff's office. Police are asking for assistance in locating the suspects' vehicle and getting license plate information. Police also warn people not to allow anyone into their home they aren't expecting or don't know, whether they are home alone or have other family members there with them. Advertisement Anyone with information on the vehicle or the suspects is asked to call the Porter County sheriff's department's detective bureau at 219-477-3141. Post-Tribune The childhood home of columnist Jerry Davich, in the Miller section of Gary, was recently razed, leaving only memories from his youth. (Jerry Davich / Post-Tribune) While driving southbound on Indiana 49 near Valparaiso, a police siren rang out so loudly I thought for sure it was immediately behind me. I instinctively slowed down and looked into my rearview mirror. I saw no police car. I looked in both side mirrors. No police car. I glanced down the road, peeked to my sides and craned my neck to look past the vehicles in front of me. Nothing. Advertisement The siren then abruptly stopped. I kept cruising at the lawful speed limit for a few seconds, scratching my head. Then I noticed my iPhone lighting up. That's when I remembered I recently downloaded the new Porter County Sheriff's Department app on my phone. Advertisement Its clever ring-tone alert? A police siren. I learned it the hard way. Or the funny way. After my heart resumed beating at its normal pace, I sent a text to Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds, who surely had a nice chuckle at my expense. Last month, he suggested I give the new "emergency alerts" app a try, but he failed to mention its ring tone is, ahem, a siren. I always keep my phone's volume on high so I don't miss calls, texts and notifications. The app's siren screamed at me. Reynolds asked if the sheriff's office should change it to something less alarming. No way, I replied. I love the idea, now that I know where it's coming from. I've since heard it a couple more times, both while at home, which was less alarming. That initial alert I heard was for an accident on a nearby county road, alerting me to avoid using it. A vehicle struck and killed a female runner. The alert prompted me to click on the app for details and more information. This is what I later read in an updated alert: "In regards to the Car vs. Pedestrian crash on Saturday 1/23/16 at 370 E CR 1200 N, the Porter County Sheriff's Office was informed by Christ Advocate Hospital that the victim of the crash, 38 year old Elizabeth Scott of Porter, had succumbed to her injuries. Accident Reconstruction will be continuing with their investigation and will forward all information on to the Prosecutor's Office, who will review the case." In addition to providing emergency alerts for unincorporated areas of Porter County, the app provides quick access to press releases, the department's "most wanted" review, booking records, and the ability to submit crime tips. It also allows users to attach photos from your phone's camera, and offers sheriff's department contact numbers with a single click. "We are very excited to be one of the first police agencies in Indiana to launch our very own app," Reynolds told me. Advertisement No other Northwest Indiana county police departments are featuring this app, though downstate Vanderburg County is using one without activating the alert feature, Reynolds said. To date, the app has sent out four alerts, including last month's fatal traffic accident. The other three alerts involved a truck fire that closed Indiana 49, a house fire, and a serious crash closing multiple roads for an extended period of time. The sheriff's office website, www.portercountysheriff.com, also has been revamped and is interactive with the new app and the department's Facebook page. A press release on the app states: "We encourage the good citizens of Porter County to get connected and stay up-to-date with emergency information and alerts through our app, to check out our website and be sure to 'Like' us on Facebook." Did you ever think police departments would ask citizens to "like" their sites via Facebook or other social media? Yet I see this trend taking place across Northwest Indiana as law enforcement agencies try to better connect with their communities. The Indiana Sheriff's Association also is familiar with this type of app and it's looking into implanting it throughout the state, Reynolds noted. Advertisement Surrounding counties in this area should also explore it, I say. It will become commonplace for most police departments in the foreseeable future, I predict. The app is free for users and easy to download on mobile devices and smart phones through the app store with a simple search. A homecoming, of sorts My recent column on returning to my childhood home on "Memory Lane" in the Miller section of Gary is still prompting readers to contact me with their personal homecoming, of sorts. If you recall, my old home has been razed, which I didn't expect, even in Gary, a city with thousands of abandoned homes. Why my home? A few readers joked that maybe a city official had an axe to grind with my writing, or my book, "Lost Gary, Indiana." No, I don't think so. It justdisappeared. As so many other childhood homes have vanished through the years, in any city. Advertisement Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday > Several readers shared their experience of returning to their former home and finding nothing but weeds and memories. Other readers instructed me how to find images of my home before it was razed, via Google and other search tools. "You might want to figure out if you can print it because if the Google van comes through again to update the view, the house will be gone," wrote Cicely Fegley, a 1988 Wirt High School graduate. "I am no longer a resident of Gary, but whenever I visit I see everything with two sets of lenses," she wrote. "One set depicts what my physical eyes are seeing right in front of me, and the other set superimposes my memories of how things used to look. It's quite surreal." Another reader, George K., summed up the feelings of many readers with this remembrance. "My mother wanted me to drive to our old neighborhood in east Hammond," he wrote. "We came to the home she hadn't seen in 40 years, the home she was born in 88 years before. It was gone, just weeds, not even the foundation. My mother cried. It was the first time I ever saw my mother cry." jdavich@post-trib.com Advertisement Twitter @jdavich Tinley Park has yet to implement a suggestion by its consultants to resolve one of the water meter problem's thorniest issues: how much to refund residents. (Zbigniew Bzdak, Chicago Tribune) Eight months after Tinley Park officials vowed to fix the town's troubled water meters, the village has yet to implement a recommendation by its consultants to resolve one of the problem's thorniest issues: how much to refund residents. Residents have no formal process for disputing water bills, and refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis with no clear methodology to determine who is owed what and why. Advertisement Residents have received nearly $900 for three years' worth of refunds on the high end, while others have been refunded less than $50, records show. The village declined to say how it's resolved individual cases or explain the different outcomes. Records show Tinley Park typically refunds a resident for one billing period about three months without doing a more extensive review of the resident's past water use. The village in some cases has issued refunds for a year or more of overpayments after a resident complained a refund for one billing period was insufficient. Advertisement The process stands in contrast to what the village's hired consultants recommended in an October report: that the village create a formal "due process" program "for customers to dispute their bill." In December, village officials said they hadn't yet created such a program. They've since declined to further explain how they determine refunds, citing an ongoing class-action lawsuit filed in the wake of a Tribune investigation into the village's faulty water meters. That investigation, published in June, showed the village knew for years that its water meters were prone to lead to overbilling and that the village also appeared to underrefund residents with problematic meters. The village initially argued its meters were fine, but it has since walked a fine line between acknowledging problems while arguing they're not widespread. Even so, on Tuesday village officials announced that a plan to replace all 17,000 of the troubled smart meters remaining in Tinley Park homes is moving forward. In the months after the Tribune's investigation was published, the village's public works director resigned and Mayor Dave Seaman apologized for the town's handling of the meters. The village hired an outside consultant to assess the problem and make recommendations. Seaman has vowed to "make it right" for people who were "harmed" by the meters, but not all residents feel that their cases were handled fairly. Tinley Park officials have previously said they ask residents to outline their billing concerns in writing for a water clerk to review. From there, the complaint could go up the chain to the water billing office coordinator, then the water superintendent, and finally the village manager's office. Records show that approach has produced inconsistencies in the village's handling of billing disputes. In one case, the village gave a resident a partial refund for one billing cycle, then gave another partial refund for a different billing cycle the same day the resident asked for one. In at least two cases, the village told residents that additional refunds would be considered after the village's consultant issued its final report. That report was made public in October, but records don't show whether the village went back to those residents, and village officials have declined to comment. In June, after the Tribune's investigation, the village gave one resident three years of refunds totaling $870 after the resident's irrigation water meter showed usage even though the system was "shut down," village notes show. In determining how much to refund residents, a key issue is just how the meters go bad. The village has argued that the water meters work fine until, one day, they spin out of control, so quickly and so obviously that the issue is easily discovered. In such a scenario, the refund arguably would be small because overbilling would have been found quickly. Advertisement But the Tribune previously found cases in which residents saw repeated, unexplained waves of water-use spikes recorded by the meters over the years before the meters were officially deemed to be malfunctioning. Experts have told the Tribune it's possible the meters could be malfunctioning in ways not easily detected, and the village's actions suggest that, at times, it agreed, albeit after repeated complaints. In one case previously profiled by the Tribune, Donna and Carl Gerlich's water meter showed spikes for at least five years before the meter was changed. With a new meter, the Gerlichs' water use returned to far lower and far more consistent readings. The village initially refunded the couple $109. But the Tribune calculated the Gerlichs could be owed $317 more for the years of unexplained water bill spikes. The village's initial refund in 2011 went back six months. In January, after Donna Gerlich repeatedly complained, the village decided to refund her $70 for an additional six-month period. In an email, Village Manager Dave Niemeyer previously said Tinley Park gave her the refund because "it was clear that the consumption during the nearly one-year period before the meter was replaced in May 2011 was far outside of the reasonable range of consumption for a family of that size." But the village, citing its consultant, said the Gerlichs' spikes were "inconsistent with typical meter failures." Donna Gerlich believes her meter was malfunctioning for longer than the village said, and she sees the episode as proof that Tinley Park is shortchanging residents. Advertisement She said the village should have a more formal process for handling complaints and should look deeper into residents' water-use history when a meter is proven to be defective. "They can't put together some kind of program to do an analysis?" Gerlich asked. "How hard would that be?" The Tribune's Joe Mahr contributed. gpratt@tribpub.com Twitter @royalpratt YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. National Assemblys the "Rule of Law" Party (RLP) will protect MP Zaruhi Postanjyans candidacy in the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs. The MP from the Rule of Law Party Hovhannes Margaryan said about this during the briefing at the National Assembly. We have discussed the issue; weve talked to Mrs. Postanjayn as well. Our Faction made a decision to protect Zaruhi Postanjyans nomination, Armenpress reports the MP said. According to him Zaruhi Postanjyan is a principled politician, besides she is a woman, so if shes elected gender issues will be solved. Secretary of Rule of Law Faction Mher Shahgeldyan stressed that Zaruhi Postanjyan has experience of many years in the field of human rightsprotection, cooperating with the civil society. Head of Prosperous Armenia Party Naira Zurabyan announced that they will nominate their own candidate for the Ombudsman. Yesterday we discussed the issue in the party and decided to nominate Makat Eghiazaryan. Maybe his name in not well-known, but he is a professional young man, who has an experience in working at international institutions. Likewise youth representatives can properly implement the activities of the main human rights defender of our country, Naira Zurabyan said. In response to the question, why they dont defend Zaruhi Postanjyan's candidacy, the MP presented her own approach. The ombudsman must be as impartial as possible. Respecting the principle of Zaruhi Postanjyan, I, however, think that the Ombudsman should be neither stressed radical nor stressed government figure Zohrabyan mentioned adding that the person should not be politicized in this position. Aghvan Vardanyan from Armenian Revolutionary Federation announced that he promised to vote for Zaruhi Postanjyan if she is among the candidates. Armenian National Congress leader Levon Zurabyan noticed that he is for Zaruhi Postanjayn in Ombudsmans position, but they havent decided whether they will participate in the elections or not. Members of Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs must submit the applications of their candidates on elections for the Ombudsmans post until February 9. Shops, malls and tourist resorts across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) kicked off on Thursday festivities for Chinese visitors and residents to the mark the start of this year's Chinese Spring Festival. Dubai Duty Free (DDF), the biggest duty free enterprise, launched earlier in the day the special promotion week at Dubai International Airport ahead of the Chinese lunar year of monkey. The UAE's famous luxury hotels like Dubai's iconic seven-star hotel Burj Al-Arab or the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi also decorated parts of their interior to mark Chinese New Year and offer special discounts in their Chinese restaurants. The coming weeks are also going to see a number of events to mark the start of the Year of Monkey, such as the traditional lion's dance, martial art performances, dragon face painting for kids and a lucky draw at a Chinese tree of wealth. Earlier last week, Dubai tourism announced that 450,000 Chinese tourists travelled in 2015 to "Fly-Buy-Dubai", as the Gulf Arabian sheikhdom is also called, representing a 29 percent year on year increase and the strongest uptick among all nations flocking to Dubai. DDF said that there are 100 flights going from Dubai to mainland China every week, while 28 go to Hong Kong. It now hires 705 Chinese staff, while 14 percent of its business comes from Chinese travelers. Chinese visitors like to buy luxury goods, perfumes, fashion brands and souvenirs at DDF, salesperson Shannon from Xi'an, Shaanxi province said. On Maryah island, the latest new business and lifestyle destination in the UAE capital, Chinese New Year festivities will kick off with fireworks on Friday. Visitors are going to enjoy a dynamic array of dances, shows, craft workshops and an art exhibition, all showcased in traditional Chinese style, said the island's authority. China eased curbs on investment quotas and fund withdrawal for foreign investors in the securities markets as it seeks to open wider its capital market and lure overseas funds for Chinese equities. Participants in the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor program will be allowed to invest a base amount which is decided by a formula linked to their assets under management, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said yesterday as it unveiled new rules on investments made by QFIIs. QFII investors have to apply for quota only when their investments exceed the base quota. Previously, SAFE granted quota approvals to QFIIs on a case-by-case basis. The investment amount is subject to a ceiling of US$5 billion, up from US$1 billion previously, under the rules which came into effect immediately. "The move aims to promote capital-account convertibility and facilitate cross-border investment in an orderly manner," SAFE said. SAFE's relaxation also came as a time when China is facing increasing pressure from capital outflow amid an economic slowdown and yuan depreciation. "China needs to attract foreign investors to offset pressure of capital outflows," Khoon Goh, a senior currency strategist at Australia & New Zealand Banking Group Ltd, said. "More flexibility for QFIIs will encourage capital inflows." SAFE also eased rules restricting QFIIs from moving funds in and out of China. Under the new rules, the capital lock-up period for QFII redemptions was cut to three months, down from one year formerly. QFII mutual funds are allowed to make subscriptions and redemptions daily, instead of a weekly basis, under the rules. However, SAFE kept the restriction that prohibits a QFII from repatriating out of China over 20 percent of its assets in the country every month. QFII is the main door for foreign institutions to access China's yuan equities. China will take strict precautions and hard actions against illegal fund-raising, the central government said, after an online peer-to-peer platform was found to swindle investors out of billions of dollars. It is an important guarantee for economic stability and social harmony to prevent the happening of such cases and properly deal with the aftermath, said the document released by the State Council, China's cabinet, on Thursday. Related agencies and local governments should pay high attention and strengthen their efforts to crack down on illegal fund-raising in a bid to protect people's interests and fend off systemic risks, according to the document. A long-term prevention mechanism should be established, the document said. The document was released to the public after police found online P2P broker Ezubao cheated about 900,000 investors out of more than 50 billion yuan (7.6 billion U.S. dollars) by fake investment projects. An executive from the parent company has admitted it was nothing but a Ponzi scheme. Ezubao is not an isolated case in China. Given rising financing difficulties amid a slowing economy, P2P lending platforms mushroomed across the country and have attracted numerous individual investors with high returns. By the end of November, there were more than 2,600 such brokers nationwide which have raised a total of 400 billion yuan, around 30 percent of which were found with violations and problems in their operation, official data showed. Facing spreading risk, China set up a ministerial joint conference mechanism to gather strength and rein in the rampant sector. Yang Yuzhu, office head of the conference, said supervisors will make joint efforts to take strong measures against illegal fund-raising and make sure no supervision vacuum occurs. China will improve financial services, guide informal finance and eliminate the root of illegal fund-raising, the document said. Four alleged murderers in southeast China's Fujian have been acquitted after spending 22 years in jail. It comes just days after the release of another man from Sichuan who'd been wrongfully convicted. Four alleged murderers Xu Jinlong, Zhang Meilai Cai Jinsen and Xu Yusen. [Photo: oeeee.com] Thursday's rehearing by the Higher People's Court of Fujian ended with the four defendants cleared of charges and their original sentences overturned. Cai Jinsen was among them. "When the acquittal was announced, I felt relieved. There were many things I wanted to speak out about, but I decided not to do so." Cai Jinsen, along with Xu Jinlong, Zhang Meilai and Xu Yusen were arrested in 1994 in connection with the death of a 66-year-old man in the provinces Putian City. In June the year after, Cai was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, while the others, initially sentenced to death, had their penalties suspended in April 1999. Cai was released in August 2014, while the other three remained in jail until Thursday. At the rehearing, the court said it had found some witness testimony contradictory and possible forgery concerning the finger prints of a key witness. Mao Lixin, one of the lawyers for the defendants, hailed the acquittal. "They were convicted largely based on testimonies without any physical evidence available against them. Neither their fingerprints nor the tools they used in the killing have been found." The acquittal is seen the latest success in China's enhanced efforts against wrongful convictions. It comes just days after the release of Sichuan native, Chen Man, who had been wrongfully jailed for over two decades on arson and murder charges. There have been calls for greater efforts to improve accountability in China's legal system. But Yi Yanyou, Chen Man's lawyer, suggests the priority should be given to having appeal procedures streamlined. "A retrial is usually required to be completed within a certain period. But there is no time limit for a court to reply, to say whether they accept a retrial application. So in many cases, there would be an endless wait for such a court reply." Yi added that it even becomes a mission impossible as a retrial application would be reviewed in the first instance by the court that gave the original sentence, which is naturally reluctant to see a retrial. At the same time, the lawyer also called for attention to be paid to the root cause of the problem. "Wrongful convictions are taking place while we are trying to correct previous ones. So it's much more urgent to think about how we can prevent wrongful conviction at the very beginning and protect the rights of suspects in an investigation." As yet, all the four defendants in Putian have applied for state compensation. Two officials in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province were sentenced to one year in prison on Thursday for dereliction of duty after a prisoner seduced and blackmailed a number of women while behind bars. The two defendants stood trial at Longjiang County People's Court. Wang Ge, former secretary of Nehe Prison's discipline inspection commission, and Liu Yang, an official with the prison's management unit, failed to supervise their subordinate staff and to carefully carry out relevant prison regulations, the court said. Wang Dong, a prisoner who has been incarcerated since December 2012 at Nehe Prison, used the cellphone messaging app WeChat to chat with several women who lived near the prison and "established romantic relationships with them" during incarceration. He extorted money from them by threatening to spread their nude videos and pictures. The blackmail came to light when one of Wang Dong's victims reported that she was being blackmailed to the police in late 2014. The case has caused a public outcry about lax supervision in Chinese prisons. Four former prison guards were handed jail terms from a year and four months to two and a half years in December last year. You are here: Home President Xi Jinping targeted poverty alleviation efforts when he made a pre-Spring Festival visit to Jinggangshan in Jiangxi province. President Xi pays a three-day visit to Jiangxi. [Photo/Xinhua] The city was home to the first rural base set up by China's revolutionary forces nearly 90 years ago. "Measures and work to alleviate and eliminate poverty must be precise. Policies should be made according to the (needs of) households and individuals," Xi said while visiting households in the village of Shenshan on Tuesday. He began a three-day trip to the province on Monday and also visited Ji'an and Nanchang, the capital of Jiangxi. It was the president's third visit to Jinggangshan after trips in 2006 and 2008. Thirteen households out of the 54 in Shenshan are still mired in poverty. Alleviation efforts should be "spot on" and address the root causes, Xi said. The president visited the home of villager Zuo Xiufa, who runs a household business producing arts and crafts products from bamboo. Xi endorsed the family's efforts to prosper from bamboo and said he hoped the business would succeed. He said that as China strives to achieve moderate prosperity, the old revolutionary base areas should move ahead simultaneously. "No one should drop out," he told a huge crowd of villagers. Xi triggered applause when he said the Party and the government would help everyone. He also delivered greetings for the upcoming Year of the Monkey. Addressing provincial officials at a meeting, Xi called for the country's industrial structure to be optimized and upgraded. He referred to measures such as nurturing emerging industries, developing modern service sectors, eliminating outdated production capacity and giving resources to new industries. Zhu Lijia, a professor of public management at the China National School of Administration, said, "Poverty alleviation will be the most important of the top priorities in the next five years, otherwise expected moderate prosperity nationwide will be a blank check, or an empty promise." Reform measures should be categorized before being announced, and while past policies focused on groups, they should now target individuals, Zhu said. China's top disciplinary body warned of corruption risks after finishing inspections at 31 state entities on Thursday, including around 20 centrally-governed financial institutions. The Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) kicked off the third round of inspections in 2015 covering several central government organs, such as the Ministry of Education and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), and major financial institutions including the central bank, securities regulators, state-owned banks and insurance companies last October. Major problems plaguing the entities uncovered through the inspections include corruption, weakening of the Party's leadership, and procedural violations in personnel selection and placement, according to the findings released by the CCDI on Thursday. Corruption risks During the inspection at the China Securities Regulatory Commission, the team dispatched by the CCDI discovered loopholes in its mechanisms for preventing corruption risks and conflicts of interest, which are likely to breed corruption, said a CCDI statement. The inspection uncovered problems of interests tunneling and seeking personal gains through abuse of powers in China Construction Bank. "Corruption risks exist in centralized purchasing and financial management," the statement said. The inspection team dispatched to China Life, the country's largest insurer, found that "the company's local branches frequently violate laws and regulations," and "the discipline violations around the public, like fundraising fraud, had a bad impact." Some leading cadres in the NBS were found "seeking personal gains through abuse of powers including data fabrication," said the statement. Wang Baoan, head of the NBS, was put under investigation for "severe disciplinary violation," the CCDI announced last month. The inspection discovered corruption risks in the Executive Office of the Three Gorges Project Construction Committee of the State Council, due to poor supervision over the implementation of its follow-up projects. Also, tunneling of interests is also suspected to exist in excess project outsourcing. The findings showed that over half of the inspected entities, including the People's Bank of China, the central bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Ministry of Education as well as China Banking Regulatory Commission, have been involved in violating the CPC's frugality code. Weakening of the Party's leadership The inspections found that weakening of the party's leadership is a general problem. The statement said the Communist Youth League Central Committee "has not studied the spirit of the CPC's conference on improving mass organizations in-depth and translated it into daily work... has not resolutely carried out reforms and innovation through concrete measures..." Mass organizations represent people from different lines of work or age groups, such as trade unions, youth leagues and women's groups. The CPC committee of CITIC Group Corporation, a major financial conglomerate, was found "talking about business too much while seldom talking about the Party." The Party committee of China Investment Corp does not attach enough importance to Party building, and has not given its leading role full play, according to the statement. A railway platform is usually a place for people to say good-bye, but for a couple who only meet approximately twice a year the narrow pathway along the railway tracks is a spot to reunite in the lead-up to Spring Festival, if only for 30 minutes. Frontier soldier Pan Ding hugs his wife Lei Yun, a railway attendant at the platform of Guangzhou East Railway Station. [Photo/Xinhua] Pan Ding, a frontier soldier in Guangdong Province, and his wife Lei Yun, a train attendant, were married in January. But due to peak travel conditions ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year, they were both back at work to help serve the millions of people headed home for the holiday. The newlyweds didn't even have one day for a honeymoon. However, winter weather and transport logistics conspired to create a chance meeting for the pair. Authorities were forced to transfer more trains to Guangzhou after snowfall in other areas left tens of thousands of passengers stranded in the city. This also allowed Lei Yun, who served on the temporary train connecting Chongqing and Guangzhou to meet with her husband. After finishing his duty on February 3, Pan Ding rushed to Guangzhou East Railway Station, a 30 kilometer journey, to meet his wife Lei. Pan couldn't hold back his tears after seeing his wife walk from the train. "Over the past six years, we meet only about once every six months, and most of our contact with each other is by mobile phone and WeChat," said Pan. "We don't regret it. Because of mutual support and understanding, our relationship has survived until today," he added. Pan brought a red scarf as a gift for his wife. In just 30 minutes, the train was ready to depart and Lei had to say good-bye to her husband, who followed the moving train, waving to Lei. A vet cuts nylon cord which had caused a wound on the right leg of the monkey king. [Photo/Weibo.com] The story of the injured wild monkey in Southwest China which went viral online has had a happy ending. The primate, spotted at the Mount Emei scenic spot at the weekend, was found, treated and on Thursday released back into the wild to the relief of Internet users. Vets removed a nylon cord in a wound on the right leg of the injured 12-year-old, and cleaned, disinfected and bound the wound, after Mount Emei staff found and anesthetized the monkey on Wednesday. Collecting the knocked out monkey wasn't easy as staff had to throw food to distract the attention of around 40 other animals following their leader or "monkey king". Staff spent 10 hours in a temperature of minus 10 degrees Celsius to locate the monkey on Tuesday, because sleeping pills they had managed to get it to ingest a day earlier had not achieved the desired effect. They spent a day tracking the injured animal on Sunday after a photo had been posted on China's Twitter-like Sina Weibo the previous afternoon. The photo, seemingly depicting the primate showing its wound to a passerby and seeking help, tugged at many Internet users' heart strings. After being released, the monkey king appeared reluctant to leave the vets who had helped it, looking back repeatedly as it headed home. Internet users expressed their concerns on social media, as a hot topic with the hashtag #Monkey in Mount Emei asks a passerby for help# which had been read more than 11 million times by late Wednesday night, with most comments saying that the monkey is so lovely, please help it. "People are more and more concerned with wildlife protection due to a strengthening ecological environment protection," Chen Yong, a professor from the School of Journalism and Communication at China West Normal University told Huaxi Metropolis Daily in response to being asked why an ordinary monkey had become an online hit. "The Year of the Monkey also contributed to the huge response," Chen added. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. You are here: Home Flash Syrian soldiers entered Nubul and Zahra in the northern province of Aleppo on Thursday, one day after breaking a long-imposed siege on the two Shiite towns, a source told Xinhua. Government soldiers were gladly received by citizens of Nubul and Zahra, after the troops managed to break a four-year-old siege imposed on both towns by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Ahrar Al-Sham movement, the source said on condition of anonymity. Syrian state TV aired footage Thursday from the towns, showing townsfolk happily welcoming soldiers marking the end of the siege, whilst Syrian warplanes dropped food parcels to citizens who had suffered throughout the siege. Warring parties in Syria have resorted to sieges as a tactic to exhaust one another's strength, but many innocent civilians suffered as food and medical supplies dwindle. The United Nations has repeatedly appealed to both parties to lift the siege and allow in humanitarian assistance. Recent developments are part of an ongoing campaign in the countryside of Aleppo, where Syrian government troops, supported by Russian air cover, achieved substantial progress against opposition militants, the source said. In Geneva, the third round of Syria peace talks, launched earlier this week amid intensive global attention, ground to a halt Wednesday night. During the previous three days, substantive discussions were held up by "unresolved procedural issues," according to a statement by office of UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura. Mistura said the talks would resume no later than Feb. 25. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. What Pope Francis did in 2015 related to the issue of the Armenian Genocide is an irreversible step, Director of Institute of Oriental Studies of the Republic of Armenia (RA) NAS, expert in Turkish studies Ruben Safrastyan mentioned in the media hall of Armenpress referring to Turkeys announcement as if Vatican has changed its position on the issue of the Armenian Genocide. I consider this as Turksih cunning diplomatic step. I think this issue should be approached very carefully as we remember what big step Pope took in the previous year. We still need to wait and then to make a clear notion. The step which Pope took last year is irreversible, Ruben Safrastyan said. Asked whether Vatican would react or not, Ruben Safrastyan said that it is up to Vatican. Expert in Turkish studies mentioned the archives in Vatican state what happened in 1915 was a Genocide. The Vatican archives are studied by historians. Important documents were published and more important ones are going to be published. One of the German researchers studied significant documents and presented them. The documents clearly show that mass killings were carried out on the basis of the program prepared by the Ottoman Turkish government. I do not think there will be a Turkish historian who will find something in order to confirm the Turkish fraud, Ruben Safrastyan said. Flash Greece came to a standstill on Thursday during the first 24-hour general strike of 2016. The mobilization was organized by labor unions in protest of the pension system reform the government is currently discussing with lenders as a prerequisite for the disbursement of further loans to Athens. It was one of the most impressive anti-austerity mobilizations since 2010, according to local media commentators. More than 60,000 protestors, according to police estimates, participated in the rallies in central Athens, marching peacefully to the parliament, as public services nationwide were paralyzed. Schools and courts remained closed, hospitals ran on emergency personnel and mass transportation services were disrupted. Ships remained docked at ports and dozens of domestic flights were cancelled. The walkout, which was called by the umbrella unions of private and public sector employees GSEE and ADEDY, is the largest mobilization the Left-led government has faced a year after taking office, local analysts commented, as a wide range of professionals hit the streets in an escalation of a new round of protests that started this autumn. On Thursday, lawyers marched next to farmers who sent delegations to Athens, as they continued their protests across the country for a third week by blocking national highways junctions and border crossings in northern Greece for several hours each day. Civil engineers, doctors, pharmacists, taxi drivers, owners of cafeterias, petrol stations and funeral offices have also joined Thursday's rally which ended in scuffles between hooded anarchists and police. A reporter of the Athens 9.84 municipal radio was slightly injured by a group of anarchists who attacked him while he was covering the rally, police said. The general strike was the third the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faces in four months. The ruling radical left SYRIZA party which strongly supported anti-austerity protests in the past has issued a statement urging people to participate in the mobilizations to "assist the government in negotiations with lenders." The strike was held as cabinet ministers and representatives of lenders who returned to Athens on Monday were discussing the government's controversial planned pension system reform, a key element to conclude the first review of Greece's new third bailout program which was sealed in the summer of 2015. According to government sources, in order to ensure the sustainability of the system, creditors push for reductions of pensions up to 30 percent, while the government opts for a 1.5 percent raise of contributions to funds. The goal is to save at least 1.8 billion euros (2.02 billion U.S. dollars) this year from the pension reform under bailout commitments. Unions protest that the proposals on the table in combination with promoted new tax hikes will further "cripple" the real economy and Greek society instead of supporting efforts to restore growth after six years of harsh austerity that has fuelled recession. Political analysts warned that the pension system reform will be the biggest challenge Tsipras' government will face in parliament in coming weeks. The ruling coalition controls a slim majority of 153 seats in the 300-member strong assembly and several SYRIZA MPs were under pressure from their voters to cast ballots against party line. You are here: Home Flash Iraqi security forces on Thursday killed at least 17 Islamic State (IS) militants in the western province of Anbar, a security source said. The security forces and allied paramilitary Sunni tribal fighters clashed with IS militants in the district of Sajjariyah in the eastern part of provincial capital Ramadi, 110 km west of Baghdad, killing 17 IS militants, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. It was not clear if any government troops were killed or wounded in the fighting. The battle came as the troops continued their operation in Sajjariyah, where buildings were heavily rigged with explosives by extremists, amid sporadic attacks by pockets of IS militants, the source said. On Dec. 28, government troops captured most of Ramadi, though some part of city remains under IS control. Government troops and allied militias have been fighting for months to regain control of key cities from IS militants in Anbar, Iraq's largest province. IS militants had previously seized most of Anbar and attempted to advance toward Baghdad. Iraq is currently witnessing a massive wave of violence since IS gained control of swaths of Iraq's northern and western regions in June 2014, when government forces fled, abandoning their weapons and posts. You are here: Home Flash In coordination with U.S. war planes, French air forces destroyed a training camp of Islamic State (IS) near Aleppo, northwestern Syria, the French defense ministry said on Thursday. During joint air strikes, 20 French and U.S. fighter jets on Monday bombarded IS targets in Manjib, near Aleppo, it added. French Rafale aircraft used cruise missiles to destroy a site used for IS group to train its insurgents and store arms, according to the statement. French President Francois Hollande vowed in January to accelerate the military campaign to eradicate the Islamist insurgents in the region and ensure security at home. Since September last year, France has taken part in air strikes against IS in Syria. It had previously dismissed any military intervention in the conflict-torn Arab country on fears they would benefit Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Flash Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart John Kerry on Thursday during a phone call agreed to resume Syrian talks in Geneva as soon as possible. "While expressing common regret over the fact that the UN-brokered intra-Syrian dialogue has been temporarily suspended, Lavrov and Kerry agreed to make necessary efforts to ensure that this pause is as short as possible," said an online statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry. The two diplomats confirmed their participation of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting on Feb. 11 in Munich, Germany. "(The meeting) is suggested to review all aspects of the Syrian settlement in compliance with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254," the ministry said. During the conversation, Lavrov expressed concern with unacceptable preconditions set by certain Syrian opposition members over the establishment of a sustainable negotiation process with the Syrian government. Both sides urged all Syrian parties to take measures to ensure humanitarian access under United Nations auspices to besieged Syrian regions by government forces and opposition groups. "Lavrov and Kerry agreed on possible coordinated actions on delivering humanitarian aid to certain areas of Syria by air with the use of means of military-transport aviation," said the statement. UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Wednesday announced "a pause" of the intra-Syrian peace talks, saying that the talks are to resume in Geneva on Feb. 25. Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that Lavrov and Kerry would continue their discussion on international and regional key issues during their meeting at Munich Security Conference on Feb. 12-14. The topics would mainly cover anti-terrorism fight, Ukrainian conflict, Syrian developments, as well as security situation and migration crisis in Europe. Zakharova also warned of politicization of humanitarian issues in Syria. Certain conflicting sides could use the issues as tools to strengthen themselves, while terrorists could use the aid in their own interests, Zakharova said. Flash Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday it suspected Turkey of preparing an invasion of Syria. "We have reasonable grounds to suspect intensive training in Turkey for a military invasion of the territory of a sovereign state - the Syrian Arab Republic," the ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in an online statement. "We register a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of Turkish Armed Forces for active hostilities on the Syrian territory," he said. Claiming that border checkpoints could be used by the Turkish side for preparing infrastructure for a military intrusion into Syria, Konashenkov demonstrated two images of an area near the Turkish-Syrian border taken on Oct. 26 of 2015 and Jan. 30 of this year. The first picture showed a parking lot for heavy trucks and two small sites on the Turkish territory and on the territory controlled by terrorists on the Syrian side of the border. The second picture taken on Jan. 30 showed that those platforms were expanded and guarded, while multiple vehicle tire marks were visible. "Perhaps, in time of peace, these facts would indicate the expectation of growth of trade turnover between the neighboring countries. But in time of war this is a way to prepare the transport infrastructure on the eve of a military intervention," Konashenkov said. He added that similar sites were used to ensure rapid movement of military convoys carrying ammunition and weapons in the war zone, as well as transfer and evacuation of personnel. "There are plenty of such examples on the Syrian-Turkish border, especially with the presence of troops and military equipment," Konashenkov noted. Moreover, weapon supplies and militants transfer to terrorists from Turkish side were carried out "mainly at night" through the checkpoint near Turkey's Reyhanli town and Syria's Sarmada town, according to Konashenkov. The spokesman also mentioned recent denial by Turkey of a scheduled inspection flight over Turkish airspace carried out by Russian aircraft within the framework of the Open Skies Treaty. The flight was planned for Feb. 1-5 with participation of Russian inspectors and Turkish specialists, Konashenkov said. "The ministry regards Turkish actions as dangerous precedent and an attempt to hide illegal military activities near Turkish-Syrian border," Konashenkov said. He further noted that Russia had recently intensified collecting all kinds of intelligence in the Middle East. "Therefore, the prohibition of observation flights by Ankara will not hide the illegal Turkish military activity in the region," Konashenkov said. Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also claimed that "Turkey's all ungrounded accusations in regard to the Russian Aerospace Forces are voiced in order to find an excuse, or maybe use it as a cover for stepping up its military activities near Turkish-Syrian border." "Everything that comes from Ankara, much to our deep regret, is really destructive," Zakharova said when noting that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov currently has no plans to meet with Turkish colleagues. Flash The Libyan Presidential Council members have started on Thursday talks aiming to form a new unity government as proposed under a UN-sponsored agreement to end the country's political division in the Moroccan city of Skhirat. These talks comes after the previous cabinet was rejected by the Tobruk-based House of Representatives (HoR), Libya's internationally-recognized law body. According to a UN-brokered deal signed in December by representatives of various parties taking part in the inter-Libyan dialogue, a new government should be based in Tripoli, and should win the HoR's endorsement. Moroccan officials told Xinhua that the talks are being held behind closed doors. At a session at the parliament headquarters in the eastern city of Tubruk on Jan. 25, 89 out of 104 members voted against the proposed new government. They said the government included too many posts, and that the Tunis-based Presidential Council now has 10 days to put forward a new, shorter list of ministers. On January 19, the Tunis-based Libyan presidential council, which was formed under the UN agreement, announced a government of national accord which is to be consisted of 32 ministers and four deputy prime ministers. Libya suffers a political crisis with two rival parliaments and governments battling for legitimacy amid escalating violence and increased dominance of militant extremism. Since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the north African country has been struggling to make a political transition. You are here: Home Flash Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday announced resumption of river transport between Sudan's Kosti town and Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. Al-Bashir made the announcement when addressing a gathering in Rabak town in White Nile State Thursday. "We have a moral responsibility towards our brothers in South Sudan, despite their selection of separation," noted al-Bashir. Last week al-Bashir ordered the opening of his country's border with South Sudan after President Salva Kiir Mayardit ordered army units to withdraw from their positions at the border with Sudan. Sudan halted river transport with South Sudan in 2012 after the two sides traded accusations of supporting the rebel groups in each country. In September 2012, the two parties signed a cooperation agreement in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa under the patronage of the African Union. The agreement included a package of understandings related to security, status of citizens, oil and trade. However, the signed agreements did not tackle the issues of Abyei and border demarcation. The border issue is the biggest obstacle to the settlement of differences between Sudan and South Sudan, revolving around five border areas. Flash China will donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced Thursday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to the media after attending the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Britain, Feb. 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Speaking at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference in London, Wang said China endorses this conference aimed at increasing humanitarian assistance to Syria, and hopes the gathering can make new efforts to realize peace and stability in Syria and help ease the humanitarian situation. Solving the humanitarian problems in Syria, Wang said, necessitates not only emergency aid, but also needs to eliminate their root causes. Currently, the most urgent task is to ensure the basic living conditions of the Syrian refugees and the displaced people, Wang noted. Different parties in Syria should implement relevant UN resolutions and provide humanitarian access to those in need and ensure the swift delivery of humanitarian supplies, said the Chinese foreign minister. Different countries should also lend a helping hand and provide emergency aid to Syria and its neighboring countries that have sheltered Syrian refugees, and take action to help the refugees find jobs and help the children receive necessary education, he said. The UN should sum up its experience, design a comprehensive roadmap and mobilize resources globally to cope with the situation, the diplomat suggested. Wang stressed that the international community should also step up efforts to seek a political solution to the Syria conflict, which is the ultimate way of solving the country's humanitarian crisis. The resumption of peace talks is a key part of this political process in Syria, and the warring parties should give priority to the overall interests of their country and their people, and seize the opportunity of peace talks to show their goodwill and sincerity, Wang continued. The foreign minister said China has been providing humanitarian assistance to Syria and the region through various channels. At the G20 summit last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an additional 100 million U.S. dollars humanitarian assistance to help improve the living conditions of the refugees and the displaced people. Xi, during a visit to the Middle East last month, also promised 230 million yuan of additional humanitarian assistance this year to the people of Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya and Yemen. China will further donate 10,000 tonnes of food to help ease the food shortages among Syria refugees, Wang announced Thursday. China will continue to offer its help to the Syrian people and the refugees, and make positive contributions to alleviate the humanitarian crisis, and play a constructive role in facilitating a political solution to the Syrian crisis, he said. Britain, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, and the United Nations co-hosted the Supporting Syria and the Region in London Thursday to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected. Flash A Saudi general said on Thursday that his country is ready to participate in a ground operations in Syria to against fight Islamic State (IS) militants, Al Arabiya local TV reported. Brigadier Ahmed Asiri, spokesperson for the Saudi-led Arab coalition in Yemen, told an interview with the Arabiya TV that Saudi Arabia is ready to join ground operations in the U.S.-led coalition against the IS group in Syria. The general said his country has been an active member of the anti-IS coalition since 2014, and has carried out more than 190 aerial missions, adding that to beat IS group, the coalition needs to combine aerial operations with ground operations. The pledge came after two suicide bomb attacks targeting a Shiite mosque in the Kingdom late last month that killed two people, and injured seven more. Several similar attacks were registered last year, of which they were adopted by IS militant group. Saudi Arabia has now been leading the Arab coalition against Shiite Houthi group in Yemen in a bid to restore the rule by President Abdu-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The kingdom also announced late last year the formation of a military coalition of 34 Muslim-majority countries to fight terrorism. Flash An international conference on war-torn Syria in London Thursday pledged a record $10 billion after United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon laid out three main objectives: raising $7 billion in immediate humanitarian aid, mustering long-term support, and protecting civilians. "Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis," he told a news briefing at the end of the day-long conference, co-hosted by the UN and the Governments of the United Kingdom, Kuwait, Germany and Norway. More than half of the pledged amount is earmarked to meet immediate needs in 2016 in a country where nearly five years of war has killed over 250,000 people, sent over 4 million fleeing Syria, displaced 6.5 million internally, and put 13.5 million people inside the country in urgent need of humanitarian aid. "Today's pledges will enable humanitarian workers to continue reaching millions of people with life-saving aid," Mr. Ban said. "The promises of long-term funding and loans mean that humanitarian and development partners will be able to work together to get children back into school, design employment programmes and begin rebuilding infrastructure. The commitment of countries hosting large numbers of refugees to open up their labour markets is a breakthrough, he added, thanking the Governments of Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey "for choosing solidarity over fear." He hailed the commitment to get 1.7 million children in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey into school, and to increase access to learning opportunities for children inside Syria. "Perhaps most important, I welcome the shared commitment of today's attendees to use their influence to end sieges and other grave human rights abuses," he said. "What will most help the people of Syria is not just food for today, but hope for tomorrow. Yet the parties to the conflict remain deeply divided even on improving the humanitarian situation." In his opening speech to the conference Mr. Ban blamed lack of humanitarian access to besieged civilians and increased air raids and military activities for undermining UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva, and he called on world powers to press the parties to engage seriously in the negotiations, now scheduled to resume on 25 February. The talks between the Government and opposition, which are not face-to-face but indirect, involving 'close proximity diplomacy' with UN mediators shuttling between the sides in different rooms, were suspended by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura yesterday just two days after he declared their official start. "It is deeply disturbing that the initial steps of the talks have been undermined by the continuous lack of sufficient humanitarian access, and by a sudden increase of aerial bombings and military activities within Syria," Mr. Ban said. "The focus on the people of Syria is also being lost amid petty procedural matters. "I agree fully with my Special Envoy that we should not have talks for the sake of talks. The coming days should be used to get back to the table, not to secure more gains on the battlefield," he added, calling on the UN Security Council and the International Support Group for Syria (ISSG) to press the parties to engage seriously. The ISSG - the International Syria Support Group comprising the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and 17 countries including the United States and Russia laid the groundwork for the Geneva talks at a meeting in November. Laying out three objectives for today's meeting, Mr. Ban mentioned first the obligation to meet the enormous humanitarian needs at least $7 billion for this year alone, twice as much as last year. "Despite the generosity of some donors, the international community has failed to keep pace with these needs," he stressed. Second, the international community must lay the foundations for long-term international support, since even if "by some miracle" the conflict ends tomorrow, the enormous humanitarian and development needs will continue for years and even decades." The United Nations stands to lead and coordinate this effort," he declared. "Syrian and other refugees need the chance to work and provide for their families. Today, let us commit to getting all Syrian children into school, within months, not years. Offering hope is the best way to slow the exodus of educated Syrians and prevent the radicalization of a lost generation." Third, ways must be found to protect civilians. "All sides in this conflict are committing human rights abuses of a shocking scale and depravity. Palestinian refugees, already vulnerable, are doubly dispossessed and in a desperate position. We must end sieges and bring food to starving people," Mr. Ban said. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien noted that while donors generously contributed $1.25 billion to last year's Syria humanitarian appeal, that was just 43 per cent of the needs. "We can do better," he stressed, referring to this year's appeal for nearly $3.2 billion for the 2016 Syria Humanitarian Response Plan inside Syria and $4.5 billion for the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan for response, resilience and stabilization in neighbouring countries. "Let us show the people of Syria we are their partners. We have not forgotten them, and let us give them hope for the future by taking the unprecedented step of meeting 100 per cent of this year's appeal." Amidst all the carnage the warring parties display a complete disregard for international humanitarian and human rights law, Mr. O'Brien said, calling on "all influential governments here in this room" to do more to persuade the sides to fulfil their basic legal obligations. "This vicious cycle of death and destruction risks being seen as the new normal in Syria. But death, suffering, wanton destruction and disregard for the law should never be seen as 'normal'. Every time we think we have reached the nadir of human suffering in this crisis, it continues to sink deeper and deeper before our eyes. "The recent pictures of emaciated, starving children in the besieged town of Madaya shocked the collective conscience of the world," he added, paying tribute to the thousands of mostly Syrian staff and volunteers of the UN, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, non-governmental organizations and hospital staff who carry out their duties in the face of political pressure, violence and intimidation. They are true humanitarian heroes. I especially pay tribute to the 82 colleagues who have lost their lives in the line of duty," he said. UN Development Programme (UNDP) Helen Clark stressed that alongside the enormous humanitarian relief effort there must be increased investment in building the resilience of people and communities within Syria, and within the neighbouring countries hosting refugees. "The need for investment in both relief and resilience is well reflected in this year's UN appeals," she said. "There is now also strong and welcome recognition of the need for more support for the neighbouring countries who have accommodated over four million Syrians." Among the UN officials participating in events on the side-lines of the Conference, Under-Secretary-General Zainab Hawa Bangura the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sexual Violence in Conflict the spoke at side event on "Inside Syria." Commending Member States, including neighbouring Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, as well as many in Europe and beyond, for the support they are providing to Syrian refugees, she appealed to participants to ensure that in the course of the asylum process, survivors of sexual violence get prioritised and provided with adequate services including medical and psychosocial support. In addition, she called for ensuring that these victims and survivors are kept together with their families to alleviate their trauma and ensure their quick integration; to ensure that unaccompanied children seeking refuge are well documented and protected, so that they do not fall prey to sex traffickers and other criminal gangs; and, while granting safe haven to refugees, asylum States also should provide avenues for justice, to hold the perpetrators of crimes such as sexual violence accountable. In an opinion piece issued ahead of the opening of the Conference, the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown, said that "perhaps the answer we need and the bold plan we want can be found 70 years in the past.," and called for a massive scale-up of resources and actions similar to post-War 'Marshall Plan' to address the chaos of 12 million Syrians displaced from their homes. "We know the face of failure. From South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the Afghan-Pakistani border, pinprick policy solutions have led to ever-lengthening conflicts and aborted attempts at reconstruction," he observed, but added that in enacting the post-war Marshall Plan, and more recently in fighting the global recession, delivering African debt relief and addressing climate change, the world has shown itself capable of uniting in great, transformative acts of statesmanship. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. On 5 February President Bako Sahakyan signed a decree on awarding posthumously private of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) Defense Army's N division Simon Chavrshyan with the "For Service in Battle" medal for bravery shown during the defense of the NKR state border, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Artsakh Presidents office. Flash China firmly supports the political process in Syria and calls for favorable international conditions for the intra-Syria talks, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. Wang made the remarks while meeting with his British and French counterparts on the sidelines of the 2016 Syria donors' conference. During his meeting with British Foreign Secratary Philip Hammond, Wang said peace talks in Syria is faced with a complex situation. Under such context, both the government and the opposition of Syria should give priority to the people's interests and carry on with negotiations, said Wang. Wang also pointed out that countries outside the Middle East should put regional peace at core and create favorable conditions for peace talks. For his part, Hammond expressed his gratitude to China for supporting Britain in holding the donors' conference, and spoke highly of the commitment that China has made during the conference to alleviate the suffering of those inside Syria. Britain stands ready to join hands with China to seek a political solution to the Syria crisis and maintain the momentum of the peace talks, said Hammond. The two sides also hailed China-UK relations, which have entered a "golden era" since President Xi Jinping's visit to the UK in October last year, and agreed to take positive steps to implement the consensus reached by both leaders to push forward bilateral ties. Wang also met with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius on Thursday. The two sides agreed that the international community should safeguard the interests of the Syrian people, promote a political solution to the crisis, create favorable conditions for cease-fire and humanitarian assistance, and encourage the warring parties to carry on with peace talks. On China-France ties, Wang said cooperation between China and France helped ensure the success of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris last year. Such cooperation was based on the all-around, mutually beneficial cooperation and political trust between the two countries built up over the years, Wang said. He noted that China is ready to work with France in the new year to creat a new chapter in China-France relationship, and maintain its lead role and forward-looking attributes in China's relations with other western countries. For his part, Fabius hailed the development of China-France ties, which play a strategic role in French foreign policy, adding that France is willing to push forward the all-around and mutual cooperation between the two countries. Flash February 4, 2016, speaking at the Supporting Syrians Conference in London, Chinas Foreign Minister announces Chinese pledge of US$2.5 million cash in aid of the displaced in Syria and those in neighbouring countries. The Supporting Syria 2016 conference brought leading politicians from the international community to pledge money towards the US$9 billion that is required to meet the needs of displaced Syrians, and Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries including Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan. As peace talks taking place in Geneva break down, the international community is trying to provide humanitarian and other aid needed to help Syrians in this time of crisis. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi mentioned President Xi Jinpings words at the 2015 G20 Summit in which the President proposed that the UN convene a high-level conference on the refugee issue as quickly as possible and a special meeting be held by the office of the UN High Commissioner for refugees to mobilise support, formulate strategy, and identify holistic measures. In light of talks breaking down in Geneva this week, Foreign Minister Wang urged all countries to provide humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people. Wang also urged the two sides to avoid setting preconditions, strive to narrow differences through the talks, and take necessary steps in areas of cease fire, humanitarian assistance, and release prisoners to gradually build up trust because there is a need to get to the root of the problems in Syria as well as address humanitarian needs. One of the key topics at the conference was the need for education and meaningful work for the Syrian people at home and abroad in neighbouring countriesTurkey, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, and Egypt. As for those Syrian refugees who have been accepted [in to foreign countries], all parties need to take measures to help them find ways to live, and that includes education opportunities for the children, Wang said. Equally important to Chinas urging of continued efforts to create peace in Syria, Wang also announced the aid China will pledge to help the Syrian crisis. China has made a generous pledge of a total of US$2.5 million in cash to different agencies in order to help the Syrian people. At the November 2015 G20 summit, President Xi pledged a US$100 million of humanitarian assistance to improve the living conditions of the refugees and displaced people, and strengthen capacity building or relevant countries. Wang also confirmed that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organisation will each receive US$2 million in cash. Another US$500,000 will also be donated to the International Committee of the Red Cross. People in besieged areas of Syria face starvation. Many people are said to be eating grass and weeds to survive. People in refugee camps also face hardships in getting food. China has therefore pledged to donate 10,000 tons of food in order to alleviate starvation. Ending his speech, Wang reiterated Chinas offer of aid in the Syrian crisis, and urged for political resolutions. [China] will continue to do whatever we can to help the Syrian people including overseas refugees; contribute to the alleviation of the humanitarian crisis; and play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Syrian issue.' You are here: Home Flash Two policemen were injured in a bomb blast triggered by militants in the northeast Indian state Meghalaya Friday, said Indo-Asian News Service. The incident took place in South Garo Hills district and the injured policemen have been admitted to hospital. The policemen were attacked while they were unloading rations for police personnel at Baghmara, a district headquarter town of South Garo Hills region of the state, according to the report. The Garo militants were suspected to be behind the attack, according to police. About a dozen militant groups are active in India's restive northeast region engaging Indian police and security forces. Flash A total of 30 rebels of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) were killed in the military operations staged by the Turkish security forces in southeastern Turkey on Thursday, said a military statement on Friday. The Turkish security forces killed 11 PKK militants in Cizre town of Sirnak province, seven PKK militants in Sur town of Diyarbakir province and 12 PKK members in Hakkari province in the military operations in southeastern Turkey, said the statement released by the Turkish Armed Forces. A total of 701 PKK militants were "neutralized" in the towns of Cizre and Sur since early December, the statement added. The PKK negotiated a cease-fire with the government in 2013, but the truce fell apart in the wake of a suicide bomb attack in the border town of Suruc in Sanliurfa Province last July which killed 34 pro-Kurdish and left-wing activists. Turkey's southeast has seen the worst violence in two decades since a two-and-a-half-year cease-fire between the government and the PKK collapsed in July of last year, reviving a conflict that has killed 40,000 people since 1984. The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Chief of Defense Policy Department of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, Levon Ayvazyan received Head of Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross in Armenia Caroline Douilliez on February 5. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Defense Ministry of Armenia, the sides discussed issues of current cooperation between the Armenian Defense Ministry and the International Committee of Red Cross and a number of issues on the agenda. Upcoming joint projects were outlined. During the meeting the Armenian Defense Ministry and the Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross in Armenia signed a cooperation plan 2016 in the sphere of humanitarian law. The project includes various seminars referring humanitarian law, scientific-methodological capacity building and awareness raising events. A security guard walks past a waste incineration plant in Mentougou district, Beijing, Dec 16. [Photo/IC] EEW Energy from Waste is reportedly worth $2 billion Beijing Enterprises Group Co, the State-owned investment firm, suspended trade in its stocks on Thursday in Hong Kong after reports it had won a bid to buy EEW Energy from Waste, a major German garbage-incineration power plant operator. The Wall Street Journal said Beijing Enterprises had outbid several others to acquire EEW from private-equity firm EQT Partners for 1.8 billion euros ($2 billion). The companies could not be reached for comment. EQT put EEW up for sale last summer. The German company runs 19 plants supplying electricity, regional heat and industrial steam. EEW's latest figures showed it turned 4.9 million metric tons of garbage into 1,900 gigawatt hours of electricity and 3,000 gW hours of heat in 2014, which generated revenue of 539 million euros. Its statistics for last year are yet to be released. If successful, it will be the biggest takeover of a German company by a Chinese company, and follows the $1 billion deal by China National Chemical Corp with German plastic equipment manufacturer KraussMaffei in January. Beijing Enterprises shares closed at HK$38.05 ($4.89) on Wednesday, down 19 percent from the beginning of January. The Beijing company has an investment portfolio spanning gas supplies, beer and waste water treatment. According to Reuters, the group of bidders in the final round included waste-to-energy operator China Tianying Inc, a consortium including the Chinese financial investor Beijing Capital Group Co, a group made up of German utility Steag Energy Services GmbH and the Australian financial investor Macquarie Group Ltd, and Fortum Oyj, the Finnish energy company. Guo Yungao, director of the power generation department at the China Association of Circular Economy, told a recent conference on waste-to-energy that most Chinese garbage is buried. "But burying garbage results in pollution of underground water. If it could be used for power generation, it could save up to 50 to 60 million tons of coal every year," Guo said. Dealing with the growing amount of garbage has become big business in China. In April 2014, there were 178 waste-to-energy operators with a capacity of 166,000 tons of garbage, but that number had jumped to 300 by the end of last year, with a 300,000-ton capacity. "Overseas M&A is a good way to learn from developed countries which have sophisticated waste-to-energy technologies," said Lin Boqiang, director of the research center of China energy economics at Xiamen University. "Taking over brand names and the management expertise of overseas environmental management companies is also going to strengthen the image of Chinese buyers." Trade ministers of the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries attend a press conference after negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement in Atlanta, the United States, on Oct 5, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] The Ministry of Commerce plans to step up the pace of its free trade arrangements with partner countries that offer what it called a high degree of transparency, openness and inclusiveness to the world economy. Noting the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on Thursday, which does not include China, a ministry statement said: "China is studying it, and evaluation work is under way." Twelve nations including the United States and Japan signed the TPP in New Zealand on Thursday. The deal, agreed in October after five years of talks, is aimed at promoting trade and investment among countries which hold 40 percent of the world economy. Zhang Jianping, director of the International Economic Cooperation Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission, said the TPP is still in its early stage, and will now go through a two-year ratification period, in which "at least six countries, including Canada, Australia and Japan, must approve the final text, for a deal to be implemented via legislative procedures". Zhang said because the TPP members are at different stages of economic development, all the major economies would need to accept the deal, which will set common standards on issues ranging from labor rights to intellectual property protection. China hopes to complete negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership by the end of this year, which would link the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with China, Australia, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea, accounting for one-third of the global gross domestic product. Employees arrange pills at a workshop owned by Beijing Tong Ren Tang Group Co Ltd, a traditional Chinese medicine maker.[Photo/Xinhua] China's trade in medicines hit an all-time high of $102 billion last year. The latest figures from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products show the value was a 4.73 percent increase on 2014, and this year total export-import volumes are expected to rise again, by 3 to 5 percent. Xu Ming, the chamber's deputy director, called the overall growth "healthy and stable", adding, however, that the Chinese export market had slowed. Medicine imports were worth $46.2 billion, up 7.3 percent, while exports grew a slower 2.7 percent to $56.4 billion. "That import growth indicates the Chinese domestic market has huge potential, as it is now the second-largest globally after the United States," said Xu. The weaker export figures were largely indicative of an ongoing global economic slowdown, Xu said, and coupled with a weaker yuan, they put China on the back foot as an international medicine supplier. Exports to the US performed well, even though some other main markets dropped. Volumes to the US grew 7.72 percent compared with the previous year and it is now China's second-largest medicine export market after Europe, where demand dropped 0.22 percent. Xu remains positive that Chinese companies are making strong headway in their moves to expand trade abroad. Some have been expanding through investment and merger, which is often a more complicated route than simply selling their products directly. "It's astonishing how some Chinese companies have performed so well in overseas investments," Xu said. One of the sector's most significant developments in 2015 was by a consortium led by Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd, which bought Ambrx Inc, a US biotechnology company focusing on molecular medicine. The acquisition group also involved HOPU Jinghua (Beijing) Investment Consultancy Co Ltd, China Everbright Ltd's healthcare fund, and Wuxi PharmaTech, and the purchase included some valuable global biotechnology. Fosun Pharma's Chairman Chen Qiyu said the acquisition would "produce a dramatic synergistic effect on Fosun's current development system". Ambrx is now expected to build a global products development center in China, Chen said. Other moves saw Chinese companies signing agreements with foreign companies to sell their products overseas. Jiangsu Heng Rui Medicine Co Ltd, for instance, authorized US-based pharmaceutical company Incyte Corp to develop and sell its PD-1 antibody product outside China in September, with the Delaware firm paying $795 million for the right. A boy plays at a KFC restaurant in Nantong, Jiangsu province. Yum Brands Inc, owner of KFC and Pizza Hut chains, gets more than half of its revenue from China. [Photo/China Daily] Yum Brands Inc, which is preparing to spin off its Chinese operations this year, reported fourth-quarter earnings that topped estimates, helped by sales increases at its Taco Bell and KFC chains. Excluding some items, profit was 68 cents a share in the period, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company said in a statement on Wednesday. Analysts had projected 66 cents, the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Same-store sales gained 4 percent at Taco Bell and 3 percent at KFC. The results bring some momentum to a fast-food company that will soon be relying more heavily on domestic sales. Yum said in October it would spin off its China business, in part to focus on reviving growth of its US locations. Still, total revenue was lower than projected, hurt by slow growth at its Pizza Hut chain. The stock, which rose 0.3 percent last year, declined 1.4 percent to $71.40 in late trading. Taco Bell, which is concentrated in the United States, has had success recently with its mobile-phone application, which allows customers to pay and order ahead. The chain also is trying out delivery service and introducing new fare, including Fritos tacos, to the US this year. Yum's Pizza Hut division, meanwhile, is trying to appeal to value-conscious diners with its $5 menu. Its same-store sales inched up just 1 percent last quarter, missing the 1.5 percent gain that analysts had estimated. Overall revenue fell about 1 percent to $3.95 billion, compared with the average analyst prediction of $4.03 billion. The company reiterated its guidance for 10 percent operating profit growth this year. The company has decided to separate its China unit from the rest of its operations. The spinoff will make the Chinese business a franchisee of Yum in the country. Yum gets more than 50 percent of its revenue from China. The company also said on Wednesday that Corporate Controller David Russell will serve as interim chief financial officer until a permanent replacement is named. Yum previously announced that Patrick Grismer is stepping down as CFO on Feb 19. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Republics Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received Judith Margaret Farnworth, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Armenpress was informed from the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Armenian government. The Prime Minister congratulated Ms. Farnworth on assuming the post and expressed confidence that with her activity the diplomat will contribute to the strengthening of Armenian-British relations. Hovik Abrahamyan gave an importance to economic and political cooperation between Armenia and United Kingdom including the further development of trade and business ties. Ambassador Farnworth expressed her gratitude for warm reception and emphasized that United Kingdom is interested to develop multilateral cooperation with Armenia. The Ambassador assured that she is ready with her active work to promote the further development of relations on sectors of mutual interest. The parties considered prospective the development of the cooperation in IT, agriculture, industry, education, culture and other sectors. Speaking about the fight against corruption and reforms in Armenia, the ambassador said that the United Kingdom is ready to assist Armenia in the solution of these problems. Hovik Abrahamyan thanked the Ambassador and expressed confidence that success will be recorded over the mentioned direction. PM Abrahamyan and Ms. Farnworth also touched upon the development of Armenia-EU relations, regional developments and other issues of mutual interest. Workers of Karavai-SV bakery present their cakes and breads at the annual Golden Autumn agricultural exhibition in Moscow, Oct 8, 2015. [Photo/IC] Russian food such as chocolate, candy, honey and bread have become a way of life in Heilongjiang province, one of the coldest areas in the country, where their imports are booming. In the wake of the depreciation of the rouble, imported food from Russia is cheaper, which has prompted an increase in sales of Russian products. Chinese people who live near Suifenhe, a port city on the border with Russia, are already fond of Russian food. In January, the rouble dropped to 80.68 against the US dollar, a record low since the Russian currency's revaluation in 1998. This was mainly due to the plunging prices of oil, Russia's main export commodity. A bag of Russian chocolate worth 60 roubles can now be bought in China for 5 yuan (76 US cents), which is 40 percent cheaper than several years ago. Last year, Suifenhe imported 73,000 metric tons of Russian foodstuffs, a 110 percent jump year-on-year. The imported food was worth 250 million yuan ($38.22 million), an increase of 160 percent year-on-year, according to customs data. Wang Jian, a trader selling Russian food since 2008, has a store in Suifenhe, where she mainly deals with wholesale business. "I can make a profit of 700,000 yuan to 800,000 yuan a year. In January, which is usually the peak season for sales, I can make around 5,000 yuan daily. The best-selling food categories before Spring Festival are Russian seafood and candies," Wang said. "I have many regular customers, as they like the high quality and taste of Russian candy. And there is a large profit margin from Russian products, thanks to the depreciation of the rouble," she said. Besides Heilongjiang, which borders Russia, sales of Russian food have also increased in Jilin province, also in northeastern China. Wang Changming, a resident of Changchun, the capital city of Jilin, mainly sells Russian sea cucumber on the popular messaging app WeChat. He can make a monthly profit of around 40,000 yuan to 50,000 yuan. "Many of my customers buy sea cucumber for their elderly relatives and children. They said that they can see some real health benefits from eating Russian sea cucumber, so they repeatedly buy it," he said. Chen Xiaochen is a customer who is fond of Russian food. Two years ago, she traveled to Blagoveshchensk, a Russian city bordering Heilongjiang, and found that she enjoyed Russian food. She brought back a lot of Russian food-stuffs such as candies, bread and canned food, and her family liked them too. "I searched online and found that there are barely any additives in Russian food. As a result, we now mainly buy Russian foodstuffs as their prices are similar to that of domestic products," she said. Liu Mingtai in Changchun contributed to the story. A worker arranges flowers at a market in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Fresh-flower sales are brisk in urban markets around the country during the Spring Festival season. [Photo/Xinhua] Exports of Spring Festival-themed plants from the Mazai flower farm in Shunde district of Foshan, Guangdong province, have been relatively stable since the business started two decades ago. But this year, exports are estimated to fall 10 percent to around $1.8 million, largely due to the depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit, said Du Yaobin, the owner of the farm. But Malaysia is not the only export market for the farm. Singapore accounts for 40 percent of Spring Festival-related exports. It generated steady annual growth over the past few years because the Singaporean dollar was relatively strong. Markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia have also remained stable. Singapore is the only country which allows soil to be imported along with plants, which makes it easier to keep plants fresh, Du said. "Overseas Chinese have strong interest in Spring Festival," Du said, adding he offers more than 300 types of plants for the festival, including Dracaena Sanderiana, Citrus SP and Anthurium Andraeanum. Spring Festival-themed plants accounted for 20 percent of the $8 million exports by Mazai last year. About 70 percent of the farm's annual business came from overseas markets. The Damei flower farm in Shunde recorded 10 million yuan ($1.52 million) in exports this season, which is comparable to last year's sales. Shipments to Singapore, dominated by Citrus SP, took up 80 percent of exports. New species of plants developed by local farmers, such as Phalaenopsis Hybrids, have been well-received overseas over the past few years, owner Wu Liexi said. New products carry higher added-value, given the many years that go into their development and the risky nature of the investment, he said. Many parts of China, most notably Guangdong, have a custom of buying auspicious plants for Spring Festival, which begins on Feb 8 this year. About 30 million overseas Chinese, many of whom live in Southeast Asia, can trace their roots to Guangdong. Citrus SP grown in Shunde takes up 80 percent of the market of this species in Southeast Asia, according to Shunde Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. This year, Citrus SP exports to Singapore rose by 15 percent for the festival season. The past two months saw 4.95 million plants of festive plants exported from Shunde, mostly to Southeast Asia. Homebuyers at a real estate promotion event in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province. [Long Wei/China Daily] Nearly five years ago, I made the biggest investment decision of my lifeto buy an apartment. Of course it was not in Beijing. Housing prices in the capital city had already skyrocketed to a jaw-dropping level far beyond the purchasing ability of a wage-earner like me, but they constantly served as a reminder of my foolishness of not having forecast the trend. In a matter of years, property prices in the community where I lived had surged by around seven times. If I had had any prophetic vision, I would have been able to retire now sitting on my ballooning property wealth, I often thought. The feeling of contrition kept nipping my heart with such an increasing intensity that I finally felt compelled to make up for itby buying a property elsewhere. My target destination was Kunming, capital of Yunnan province. Not only because it is my wife's hometown, but also it is considered a niche market. Often called "the city of spring", it is a tourist mecca famous for its pleasant weather and eternal greenery, as well as clean and fresh air. And the price for an apartment in a high-end community in the downtown areawell furnished and in a get-your-baggage-and-settle-in stateis only around 10,000 yuan ($1,540) per square meter, or a quarter of that in Beijing. What a bargain. So in the summer of 2011 I was ready to dig the first bucket of gold in my life. As if I had put on the red shoes in one of Hans Christian Anderen's fairy tales, I found myself in an unstoppable mode, carried away by passion searching for a buying target, negotiating over discounts, arranging for payments, and finally, signing a deal. The 90-sq-m apartment I bought is in the second phase of a mature community project just a few kilometers from the city center, with supermarkets, schools, a cinema, a small park and many bus routes nearby. I chose it because I kept in mind the No 1 rule in real estate: "Location, location, location". I had sown the seed, and was waiting to reap my fruits of fortune. In the following years, I have become an avid watcher of housing prices. The timing of my investment was good. Nationwide, housing prices have kept rising, but noticeably only in Beijing and other first-tier or coastal cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. As for my investment, the gain has been even lower than fixed deposits at banks. It might take some time for the ripple effect of housing price rises to spread from major cities to a third-tier one like Kunming, I thought. Yet my hope was dashed with the completion of many more housing projects surrounding my community, each offering more attractive prices. I had to resort to Rich Dad, Poor Dad to get some comfort. "Keep your daytime job, but start buying real assets," I read. But isn't that just what I have done? So have many other people. My foot masseur told me proudly one day that she had just bought an apartment in a county in Gansu province. The young man who used to deliver bottled water to my office also told me the other day he had settled his parents from a village to his newly bought apartment in Tai'an, Shandong province. Many of my friends in third- and fourth-tier cities have at least two apartments. Then I read reports about the country's ambitious urbanization plan. The new urban and township blueprint looks to accommodate an additional 3.4 billion people by 2030, as compared to 730 million people already settled in cities. That explains why everywhere I go in the country, I see endless skylines of buildings in the "new districts" or "ghost cities", even in some poor and remote counties. It must be the largest building boom in human history. On Tuesday the central bank, in another move to buoy up property market, allowed banks to cut the minimum required mortgage down payment to 20 percent from 25 percent, the lowest level in many years. But I doubt it will be effective. Except in first-tier cities, people have had too many houses in hand already. Marissa Mayer, Yahoo CEO Yahoo is laying off about 1,700 employees and shedding some of its excess baggage in a shake-up likely to determine whether CEO Marissa Mayer can save her own job. The long-anticipated purge, announced on Tuesday, will jettison about 15 percent of Yahoo's workforce along with an assortment of services that Mayer decided aren't worth the time and money that the Internet company has been putting into them. The cost-cutting is designed to save about $400 million annually to help offset a steep decline in net revenue this year. Mayer also hopes to sell some of Yahoo's patents, real estate and other holdings for $1 billion to $3 billion. Products to be dumped include Yahoo Games, Yahoo TV and some of the digital magazines that Mayer started as CEO. She will also close offices in Dubai, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Madrid and Milan. In an apparent concession to frustrated shareholders, Mayer also said Yahoo's board will mull "strategic alternatives" that could result in the sale of all the company's Internet operations. Analysts have speculated that Verizon, AT&T and Comcast might be interested in buying Yahoo's main business, despite years of deterioration. Mayer expressed confidence that her plan to run Yahoo as a smaller, more focused company "will dramatically brighten our future and improve our competitiveness and attractiveness to users, advertisers, and partners". Shareholders have questioned whether she has figured out how to revive the Internet company's growth after three-and-a-half years of futility. Yahoo's stock shed 34 cents to $28.72 in extended trading after details of Mayer's latest turnaround attempt came out. The stock has fallen by more than 40 percent since the end of 2014 as investors' confidence in Mayer has faded. "The investment community has given up on this becoming a resurrection story," said Douglas Melsheimer, managing director of Bulger Partners, a technology banking and consulting firm. "At this point, it needs to be managed for maintenance or very slow growth. Marissa is more of a visionary whose background lends itself to a more ambitious strategy. I don't think she is the one to navigate the company through job cuts or a restructuring." Ken Goldman, Yahoo's chief financial officer, said he got a "neutral" reaction after talking to some investors following Mayer's presentation. He also acknowledged that both Mayer and he had made some mistakes that they are now trying to correct with this overhaul. "None of us are perfect in all of our decision-making, but I feel good about the plan that we put in place and believe it's the right one," Goldman told the Associated Press. Some of Yahoo's most outspoken shareholders, such as SpringOwl Asset Management, already have concluded that Mayer should be laid off, too. Mayer, a former rising star at Google who helped that company eclipse Yahoo, defended her performance. "Yahoo is a far stronger, more modern company than it was three-and-a-half years ago," she said in a video presentation on Tuesday. She also lashed out at reports that Yahoo spent $7 million on its holiday parties in December, labeling the figure as an "untruth" that is more than three times the actual cost of the festivities. Even after the mass firings are completed by the end of March, Yahoo will still have about 9,000 workersthree times the roughly 3,000 people that SpringOwl believes the company should be employing, based on its steadily declining revenue. "We would like to see a higher stock price, and we think Marissa and her current management team have become a hindrance to that," said Eric Jackson, SpringOwl's managing director. He declined to disclose the size of SpringOwl's Yahoo investment. Yahoo's revenue has been shrinking through most of Mayer's reign, even though she has spent more than $3 billion buying more than 40 companies, while bringing in new talent and developing mobile applications and other services designed to attract more traffic and advertisers. The decline has persisted while advertisers have been steadily increasing their digital marketing efforts. Most of that money has been flowing to Google and Facebooktwo companies once far smaller than the now 20-year-old Yahoo Inc. Yahoo's fourth-quarter report provided fresh evidence of the company's deterioration. After subtracting ad commissions, revenue plunged 15 percent to $1 billion compared with the previous yearthe biggest drop since Mayer became CEO in July 2012. Things continue to look bleak, as Yahoo forecast a net revenue decline of 12 to 17 percent this year. The Sunnyvale, California-based company reported a fourth-quarter loss of $4.4 billion, reflecting the eroding value of its services. The amount included a $1.2-billion hit for acquisitions made under Mayer, including a $230-million decrease in the value of blogging service Tumblr, which the company bought for $1.1 billion in 2013. BEIJING - China will take strict precautions and hard actions against illegal fund-raising, the central government said, after an online peer-to-peer platform was found to swindle investors out of billions of dollars. It is an important guarantee for economic stability and social harmony to prevent the happening of such cases and properly deal with the aftermath, said the document released by the State Council, China's cabinet, on Thursday. Related agencies and local governments should pay high attention and strengthen their efforts to crack down on illegal fund-raising in a bid to protect people's interests and fend off systemic risks, according to the document. A long-term prevention mechanism should be established, the document said. The document was released to the public after police found online P2P broker Ezubao cheated about 900,000 investors out of more than 50 billion yuan ($7.6 billion) by fake investment projects. An executive from the parent company has admitted it was nothing but a Ponzi scheme. Ezubao is not an isolated case in China. Given rising financing difficulties amid a slowing economy, P2P lending platforms mushroomed across the country and have attracted numerous individual investors with high returns. By the end of November, there were more than 2,600 such brokers nationwide which have raised a total of 400 billion yuan, around 30 percent of which were found with violations and problems in their operation, official data showed. Facing spreading risk, China set up a ministerial joint conference mechanism to gather strength and rein in the rampant sector. Yang Yuzhu, office head of the conference, said supervisors will make joint efforts to take strong measures against illegal fund-raising and make sure no supervision vacuum occurs. China will improve financial services, guide informal finance and eliminate the root of illegal fund-raising, the document said. BEIJING - China has further loosened controls over investment of Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) to further the opening of the domestic capital market. China relaxed investment quotas for single institutions under QFII programs and allowed for more convenient capital flow, according a new policy released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). The rules became effective on Wednesday. The move aims to improve the convertibility of China's currency, the yuan, in the capital account and facilitate cross-border investment and financing, the SAFE said. The yuan is convertible for trade purposes under the current account, while the capital account, which covers portfolio investment and borrowing, is still largely controlled by the state over concerns of abrupt capital flows in and out of the country. To gradually open the capital account, the government introduced the QFII and RMB-denominated Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (RQFII) programs in 2003 and 2011 respectively. BEIJING - As China's economy shifts from manufacturing and investment to consumption and innovation, the landscape for foreign investment in the country is changing too. The change is best summed up by two seemingly inconsistent figures from a computer company invested in by electronics multinational Samsung in the industrial park of the eastern city of Suzhou. While its sales slumped by 40 percent each year in 2013 and 2014, the company achieved an annual profit growth of 10 percent. The firm relocated its low-end, labor-intensive production lines to Vietnam, but made Suzhou a base for research and development on new high-end products due to the mature investment environment and complete industrial chain, Han Jiang, an official at the park, said. "That move is quite typical," Han told Xinhua. "The land in the park is being used up. The workers are no longer cheap. Our focus in introducing foreign investment should be different in the future." While some foreign investors in China feel the pinch of slowing GDP growth, rising wages and more expensive resources, others find success in adapting to the economy's pivot by turning their business towards higher-end products and services. Foreign investment in manufacturing in China barely increased last year, but that in hi-tech manufacturing rose 9.5 percent year on year, accounting for 23.8 percent of the total, official data showed. The change was in line with the broader upgrade of the "world's factory," as China has been dubbed, into a true manufacturing powerhouse. The country's bid to arrest overcapacity, boost efficiency and increase the added value and technology content of its manufacturing sector created opportunities for foreign investors as well. From robotics to 3D printing, a number of emerging industries are increasingly lucrative for foreign businesses as China's economy moves up the value chain. In eastern economic hub Shanghai, German robotics maker KUKA produces 5,000 industrial robots every year, a third of the company's global output. It has received increased orders from both foreign and Chinese companies and plans to expand its presence in the country. "In the past, a client of our Shanghai factory could book, at most, a few dozen robots at a time," said Kong Bing, China head of KUKA. "Now one client might order hundreds of them." Diminishing labor supply and growing demand for high-quality products will lead to more automated logistics and workshops, boosting China's robotics market, Kong said in an interview. Materialise, a Belgian provider of 3D printing software and services, shares a positive outlook for business in China. It established a research and development center in Shanghai in May 2014 and set up its first China branch six months later. The company has witnessed stronger interest for 3D printing in China as the country upgrades its manufacturing industry, said Kim Francois, managing director of Materialise China. Apart from high-end manufacturing, the service sector is also luring more foreign money, attracting a bigger share of foreign investment in China than manufacturing did for the past five years in a row. Services outweighed manufacturing in foreign investment for the first time in 2011 and accounted for 61.1 percent of the total foreign investment last year, official data showed. Global logistics provider FedEx is one of the foreign companies riding the tide. The firm has beefed up investment in China, setting up distribution centers in Shanghai and Guangzhou and branching out to smaller cities. "Despite fluctuations in China's foreign trade, FedEx still finds brisk demand for cross-border logistics in the country," said Eddy Chan, senior vice president and China head of FedEx. "That judgement has not been changed." Over 60 percent of small Chinese companies are expected to engage in cross-border business in the coming five years, according to a survey sponsored by FedEx last year. Chan noted Chinese people's growing appetite for overseas consumer goods and the country's increasing trade in hi-tech products will boost the demand for higher-quality delivery services, which FedEx specializes in. The shifting pattern of foreign investment spoke of China's increased openness in the service sector, said Wang Xiaohong, an economist with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges. Chinese leaders have pledged to further advance the opening up of the service industry and lower the market threshold for banking, insurance, securities and old-age care for foreign investors in the next five years. A low-cost, all-around and specialized service to promote entrepreneurship and innovation has been pledged by the government as a new driving force for the Chinese economy. The initiative was announced during a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. The government will encourage underused industrial space and warehouses to be transformed into bases for entrepreneurship and innovation. It will also grant subsidies for office space, water and electricity supply and other facilities. Efforts will be made to guide and encourage investment for small startups and entrepreneurs. Technical workers will be supported at these bases and in starting businesses. They will be given preferential policies for intellectual property applications, for achieving transformation and for promotional efforts. The concept of mass entrepreneurship and innovation was included in the Government Work Report in March last year. Premier Li Keqiang said at Wednesdays meeting, We should allow the policy to lean toward this new momentum, new industry, a new business model and develop a new economy. The meeting heard that setting up platforms for innovation and startups could provide low-cost, comprehensive and specialized services to promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation. Xu Hongcai, director of the Economic Research Department at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said such measures show that the government has acted to create a policy and social environment favoring entrepreneurship and innovation. This will have a positive effect on solving employment problems and fostering new economic growth points, Xu said. The State Council also approved a draft regulation on the management of the national pension fund. The regulation states that the fund, composed from the central government budget, State-owned capital and investment returns, is designed to contribute to spending on social security and insurance payments and to address the problems of an aging population. It also clarifies the rules for the funds investment operation, supervision and risk management. Zhang Yue contributed to this story. Contact the writer at fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn Miao Bin, 26, graduated from Seoul National University in 2011. After his travels, he returned to Zhenjiang, East China's Jiangsu province, and opened a Western-style restaurant "miu cafe". [Photo/CFP] A low-cost, all-around and specialized service to promote entrepreneurship and innovationthe new driving forces for the economy has been pledged by the government, according to a government statement released on Thursday. The initiative was announced during a State Council executive meeting presided over by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. The statement said the government will encourage idle factories and warehouses to be transformed into bases for entrepreneurship and innovation, with government subsidies for rent, utilities and Internet access. Priority will be given to information technology, high-end equipment manufacturing and modern agriculture, the statement said. The government will encourage venture capital investment in these bases, and will provide policy support in taxation, intellectual property rights and in other fields. Technical workers will be supported at these bases and in starting businesses. They will be given preferential policies for intellectual property applications, for achieving transformation and for promotional efforts. Wednesday's meeting heard that setting up platforms for innovation and startups could provide low-cost, comprehensive and specialized services to promote mass entrepreneurship and innovation. The platforms will help to upgrade the real economy and to establish a favorable environment to solve the problem of overcapacity. The concept of mass entrepreneurship and innovation was included in the Government Work Report last year. Xu Hongcai, director of the Economic Research Department at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, said such measures show that the government has acted to create a policy and social environment favoring entrepreneurship and innovation. "This will have a positive effect on solving employment problems and fostering new economic growth points," Xu said. The State Council also approved a draft regulation on the management of the national pension fund. The regulation states that the fund, composed from the central government budget, State-owned capital and investment returns, is designed to contribute to spending on social security and insurance payments and to address the problems of an aging population. It also clarifies the rules for the fund's investment operation, supervision and risk management. Zhang Yue contributed to this story. Contact the writer at fanfeifei@chinadaily.com.cn Chinese Navy soldiers observe from China's amphibious landing ship Changbaishan during an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden, Aug 26, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua] Work to start soon on facility in the Horn of Africa to aid peacekeeping China's first overseas naval logistics support outpostexpected to be built in Djiboutiis needed to handle difficulties encountered by Chinese peacekeeping fleets, the Foreign Ministry told China Daily on Thursday. The ministry's remarks came after senior Djibouti officials and Chinese experts said some media reports about the outpost had been unnecessarily hostile. Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh was quoted by Reuters on Wednesday as saying that China was expected to start work on the facility soon. The Foreign Ministry said China had sent escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia in recent years, and these fleets had experienced difficulties that affected the "rest and reorganization of servicemen and the supply of oil". "It (the outpost) is essential to implement highly efficient logistical support," the ministry said. In December, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that China and Djibouti had reached agreement on the outpost. Military bases and support facilities for countries including the United States and France have long been based in Djibouti. Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf told Reuters, "We understand that some Western countries have worries about China's willingness to have military outposts outside of China." He said that Western countries should not be concerned. Djibouti is a pivotal country in the Horn of Africa standing between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is a key transfer stop for international humanitarian missions, including those of the United Nations. Yin Zhuo, director of the People's Liberation Army Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, estimated that a Chinese fleet patrolling waters in the region has to feed about 800 staff members every day. A single mission, which lasts on average for 120 days, places a huge demand on food and water supplies. Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said Djibouti is one of the closest major ports to Somalia. Its peaceful environment makes it an ideal place to host China's support facility. Zhang said the outpost that China is expected to build there is designed to provide food, water and oil. It would be totally different from US military bases, which supply weaponry, Zhang added. Djibouti's strategic importance and logistical convenience were highlighted last year when Chinese citizens evacuated from Yemen transited there. While meeting with Djibouti's President Guelleh in Johannesburg in December, President Xi Jinping said China appreciated Djibouti's help in supporting Chinese peacekeeping fleets and in evacuating Chinese citizens from Yemen. Reuters contributed to this story. Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia received Ambassador of Armenia to Lebanon Ashot Kocharyan on February 5. Armenpress was informed about this from the press service of the Great House of Cilicia. His Holiness and Ambassador Kocharyan discussed issues referring to Armenia-Diaspora relations, as well as issues, proposals and projects referring to the Armenian community in Lebanon. The lack of 'child-specific' medication has led many parents to give their children reduced doses of drugs intended for adults. While the practice often works, medical experts are concerned that imprecise doses and inappropriate treatments could endanger young people's safety. Yang Wanli reports. Yan Mei is the mother of a 16-year-old boy and a 9-year-old girl. Her children have visited the hospital less than eight times in their lives - not because they have been in excellent health, but because Yan has been acting as the "family doctor" herself. However, the 42-year-old from Sichuan province is not a pediatrician. In fact, she has no medical training at all, but she has often decision to "self-treat" her children's minor ailments, such as colds, slight fevers and gastrointestinal discomfort. When her son was age 4, he developed a bad cold and a persistent cough. "I crushed an antibiotic pill intended for adults and gave him half. The next day, his condition had improved greatly," Yan said, adding that her mother treated her the same way during her own childhood, and she has often used the method to treat her children. She complained that the local children's hospital is always full. "Maybe we will end up with the same prescription after waiting for a whole day. A cough is not a big deal and my treatment works well," she said. If the children have diarrhea, she treats them with berberine, a type of ammonium salt that is often used in China as a broad-spectrum anti-microbial medicine. Yan has been lucky - the treatments she has given her children have never caused them discomfort, but the same cannot be said for many other parents, who may wish they had not given children medicine without seeking guidance from pediatricians. In 2014, there were 20,000 deaths resulting from the improper use of medicines, and one in every three who died was younger than 18, according to statistics from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. Last year, the Capital Institute of Pediatrics in Beijing, one of China's most renowned children's hospitals, treated more than 2 million children, with more than 6,000 requiring the emergency room. About 150 the emergency room "self-medication" in the family home. On Jan 1, China relaxed the national family planning policy that restricted most couples to one child. While that should result in a baby boom in the years to come, medical experts have expressed concerns that the administration of untested, potentially unsafe, medication at home could pose a health risk to children. According to a report released last year by Family-doctor, a popular medical-information website, 45 percent of Chinese parents admitted giving their children a a "reduced dose" of adult drugs without consulting a pediatrician. In 2013, the Guangdong province branch of the China Food and Drug Administration conducted a survey of 2,000 parents across China. The results indicated that between 12 and 32 percent of children - depending on region and city - had been given adult medicines by their parents. The treatments were administered in a number of ways: some parents admitted giving their children small doses of drugs intended for adults, but without researching the correct dose, while others said they simply increased or reduced the number of pills they gave their children based on how they responded, but again failed to consult medical professionals. "Unsafe medication can be life-threatening in some cases," said Wang Fei, deputy director of the Intensive Care Unit at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics. Wang said that about 20 to 30 percent of parents used antibiotics to treat their children's seasonal flu, equivalent to 50 to 60 percent of the number of people who attend the institute's outpatient department every day. In lower-level hospitals, the number of cases of antibiotic abuse is likely to be far higher, she said, adding that about 90 percent of upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses, and antibiotics are not an appropriate treatment. Moreover, if children are given antibiotics by their parents before arriving at the hospital, it will affect the results of blood tests, and "will also trigger an imbalance in the bacteria groups within the body. Moreover, the body builds up a tolerance if antibiotics are abused," she said. The improper use of medications also imposes a huge burden on children's metabolisms because their livers and kidneys are not fully developed. Even worse, sometimes children are poisoned as a result of the use, or excessive use, of inappropriate drugs, she said. According to Chang Yanqun, a pediatrician at the Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, the rate of adverse reactions among children is generally double that of adults, because children are more sensitive to the effects of medicinal drugs. For example, even low doses of antihistamines and alcohol - common ingredients in cold medications - can adversely affect younger patients, causing excitability or, conversely excessive, drowsiness. Chang said a combination of low incomes and a decades-long shortage of pediatricians has resulted in a growing number of parents prepared to administer drugs to their children. "Many parents don't understand the risks of unsafe medication. They usually treat their children by cutting the volume of drugs in each dose by a half or a quarter. This habit is still prevalent in many families," he said. However, even with the right ingredients, the correct doses for adults and children differ widely. The instructions in most packs explain the appropriate doses, but some parents don't bother to read them. "Some parents just spilt the capsule open and divide the ingredients into two or three portions, or they crush a pill into powder and give the child a small amount," said Su Ming, from the China office of Pfizer, the United States' pharmaceutical tical giant. Su said "designed doses" help the body absorb the ingredients and also allow the active ingredients to be delivered to the intended spot with lower levels of wastage and little harm to internal organs. For example, capsules dissolve slowly to delay the release of their ingredients, and many pills are covered by a thin coating that has the same result. "If these designed drugs are damaged, the drugs will be released in the wrong place - for example, in the stomach rather than the intestines. Some ingredients may damage the stomach, and others will be less effective than intended," he said. Supply shortfall In China, the number of drugs specifically designed to treat children is limited. According to the website of the China Food and Drug Administration, more than 170,000 drugs have been registered so far, only about 3,000 are intended for children. Zhang Yiran, marketing manager at Pfizer's China office, said pharmaceutical products intended solely for children must undergo extensive trials within the targeted age range. "However, clinical tests on children always involve perceived concerns over ethical issues and the fear of harming them, especially babies," she said. According to a 2010 report by the US Food and Drug Administration, only 20 to 30 percent of FDA-approved drugs are considered suitable for pediatric use. That means the effects of most of the products used to treat adults have not been studied in children - even though physicians may use them to treat children. "The biggest challenge is not related to new drugs, but the lack of instructions related to safe doses for children," Zhang said, adding that many common children's illnesses can usually be treated with drugs marketed for adults, but the lack of dosage information limits the choice of appropriate medication. As an example, Zhang described one of Pfizer's children's drugs that is widely used to treat respiratory infections. The treatment contains the same active ingredients as the medication for adults, but the adult treatment comes in the form of a pill, while the children's version is a powder, which is easy to measure and can be mixed with food and drinks. "The ingredients are made into thousands of tiny balls, each coated for slow release. More important, it tastes sweet," Zhang said. "If more information about appropriate doses for children were made available, I think fewer parents would treat child illnesses with drugs intended for adults." Lack of interest Although demand for children's drugs is high, many pharmaceutical companies are unwilling to provide them. "Apart from the high level of investment required, concerns over ethical issues and the time-consuming research process, children's medicines usually contain a lower dose of active ingredients than those intended for adults, which means lower profits," said Wang from the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, which runs its own drugs company. Wang suggested the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the FDA should draft preferential policies, such as providing financial support or reducing taxes, to encourage companies to develop drugs for children or manufacture children's versions of adult medications. She also urged the acceleration of import approval for a range of new drugs for children and treatments for rare children that have been clinically tested and approved overseas. In some situations, especially in Intensive Care Units some of these medications could be crucial to whether a child's life can be saved, according to Wang. "Hospitals are unable to purchase drugs that have been used in Western countries for years but are still waiting import approval," she said. "Parents have often obtained the drugs from overseas via agencies, but the number of agencies is falling because the owners are anxious to avoid possible medical disputes. "It's also hard for doctors to decide whether to recommend unapproved drugs to parents. Everyone will be satisfied if the patient is cured, but if a dispute happens, the recommendation (even if it is proved to correct) will be a problem," she said. Contact the writer at yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn An advertisement in Beijing's Dongzhimen subway station goes on: "Dear Dad and Mom, don't worry about me. The world is so big and there are many different ways of lifestyles. Singletons can also be very happy." [Photo by Wang Zhuangfei/China Daily] Singles are now speaking out against their parents for putting pressure on them to get married. With the Chinese Lunar New Year approaching, an ad recently appeared in Beijing's Dongzhimen subway station with this message to parents: please, do not urge me to get married, especially when I come back home to spend the Spring Festival. It is Chinese tradition that all family members go home for reunion during the Spring Festival holidays, which begins on Sunday this year. The advertisement, a result of crowd-funding by some young single people from different regions of the country who have experienced the pressure to get married, goes on: "Dear Dad and Mom, don't worry about me. The world is so big and there are many different kinds of lifestyles. Singletons can also be very happy." Parents urging or even forcing children in their late 20s or 30s to date or to get married, especially during festivals and holidays when young people go back home, has become common in China. Rebeca Ruiz Contreras, a student from Mexico who is studying at Beijing Language and Culture University, said she has never met anyone who was forced into marriage back in her hometown Mexico City. "It is a matter of culture differences," she said. However, a recent survey conducted in China among people under 40 years old showed that more than 70 percent of them were urged or forced to get married. Those aged between 25 and 35 faced most stress, as 86 percent of them were urged or were forced to get married, the survey found. Li Hao, a Tianjin resident working in Turkey, said his mother has been urging him to find a girlfriend since he finished graduate school studies in 2013. "She arranged lots of blind dates for me and was unhappy when the dates didn't work out. She also criticized me for spending two thirds of a year working overseas, which she believed made it difficult for me to establish and maintain a stable relationship with a girl," said the 29-year-old. Chen Linxi, a 28-year-old civil servant in Changsha, Central China's Hunan province, said 80 percent of calls her parents made to her were to compel her into marriage. "Although I know they did this out of concern for me, but I still feel unhappy because their remarks made me feel that I was like out-dated goods that should be sold as soon as possible," she said. But Chen does not think protesting through advertisement is effective. "Getting married and having children at the right age is an idea that is deeply rooted in many parents' mind that might not be easily changed," she said. Li, who works in Turkey, believes a better way to convince stubborn parents is to lead a happy life. "They will be relieved when they see that you live well although you are single," he said. Contact the writer at zhaoxinying@chinadaily.com.cn Home to several IT and innovation companies, including Huawei, BYD and Tencent, China's southern city Shenzhen is thirsty to attract more creative talents to fuel its technology-driven economy. The local government launched the 1st Innovation Competition of International Talents in November, which is open to all IT talents around the world, to win a total of $880,000 bonus and additional $200 million government subsidies and venture capital. It is scheduled to hold five divisional competitions in Sydney, Munich, Tel Aviv, Tokyo, and Silicon Valley in the US by the end of March, according to the organizer. The grand final will take place in Longgang district of Shenzhen on April 15. The registration will close on Feb 29. The event post. According to the organizer, the applicants are required to do research in five key sectors: Internet and mobile Internet (information technology), electronic science and technology, biological and life science and technology, advanced manufacturing, and material & energy (including energy saving and environmental protection). The applicants, however, should not start any business or work in China while applying. It is preferred that the applicants have a plan to start a business or work in Shenzhen after the competition. The top five shortlisted candidates from each division will enter the final in Shenzhen. The top prize is $80,000(one winner), $50,000 for the second prize (three winners) and $30,000 for the third prize (six winners). If the top three winners are able to launch their projects in Longgang district within six months after the competition, they would be granted additional bonus of 400,000 yuan (first prize winner), 300,000 yuan (second prize winners) and 200,000 yuan (third prize winners). Some 56 venture capital institutes will participate in the competition to provide a total of $100 million fund to support the winning projects. The government has also arranged about $100 million fund to subsidize the creative talents and their projects. Each project could receive up to $3.8 million policy fund, according to the organizer. Shenzhen, which neighbors Hong Kong, is the fourth-largest mainland city in GDP terms. It has aggregated the top talents in the creative and IT industry around the country, with the aim to become one of the world's leading technology-driven cities. A woman who lost her 19-year-old son in the Tianjin warehouse explosion has conceived another child through in vitro fertilization. Liu Yun'ai, 43, said her son, Cai Jiayuan, was among 104 firefighters who were killed following the chemical explosions at the port in August. "The first few months after my son died were like hell for me," said Liu, who lives in a village in South China's Hunan province. Working through her grief, she realized the best way to remember her son might be to have another baby. But she worried that conceiving naturally at her age might not be an option. "I heard of a test-tube baby in the village ... and I thought maybe I could do that, too," Liu said. "But still, the chance of pregnancy after in vitro fertilization for me was only 5 percent." Her 45-year-old husband agreed they should try, saying, "as long as there's hope, it's worth a shot". Liu followed her doctor's directions for exercise and healthy eating, then underwent the procedure to harvest her eggs. Ten were removed, but only half were viable. She worried about whether that would decrease her chances to have a healthy baby. Fortunately, she said, one embryo was successfully transplanted. A positive pregnancy test confirmed the news and provided great relief. "There are ups and downs, but I'd love to welcome the new apple of my eye," Liu said. Zhang Mengfan, Cai's former colleague at the port, said many parents of those killed in the blast are trying to get pregnant, but most are past the age of conceiving a baby naturally. Zhang said he has been visiting the families to see how they are coping. "One way or another, I hope every family of my lost comrades can find new hope," Zhang said. Guo Xianzhen, whose 20-year-old son died in the explosion, said she wanted to recapture the feeling of being a mother, but getting pregnant would be difficult as she and her husband were both near 50. "Liu's good news has given me new hope. I can also seek assisted reproduction like her, or at least adopt a son," Guo said. Zhang, who retired in December, said the explosions killed eight firefighters in his brigade and wounded 18. As a telephone operator, he was the only one unharmed. "I could have been any one of them, killed or wounded by the blasts," Zhang said. His quest to visit the families is rooted in a desire to help them recapture their former lives. "I hope their families could see me as their son, and I want to try my best to help them get back to a normal life," Zhang said. Liu's surprising pregnancy has given him a special happiness. "I hadn't expected this kind of great news," Zhang said. "I had been worried Cai's family were still grieving over their dead son." It's not possible for any country alone to determine the agenda and rules of global trade for the 21st century, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in response to a US-led trade arrangement at a daily news conference on Friday. Lu also asked Washington not to politicize economic and trade issues. Lu was speaking after Washington pointed a finger at China as 12 countries signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) on Thursday. "TPP allows America and not countries like China to write the rules of the road in the 21st century", statement by US President Barack Obama said as the US, Japan and another ten countries signed the agreement in Auckland, New Zealand on Thursday. Lu said such comments were "interesting". "We never believe that China alone determines the formulation of the agenda and rules of global trade of the 21st century, neither do we believe it's possible for any other country alone to do so," Lu said. "We have always been advocating and maintaining the World Trade Organization's leading role in formulating global trade rules. We hope major trade countries and major economies can commit themselves to maintaining the WTO's status in this regard," he said. He urged relevant countries and governments "not to politicize economic and trade issues", and avoid leading people to the conclusion that the United States has been promoting the TPP "out of certain political consideration". Shanghai recently launched a public foreign labor service account at WeChat, an online message platform, which works to provide effective and quality service for people who seek overseas work. The official account, roughly translated as "going abroad express"was launched by the Shanghai Foreign Labor Cooperation Service Platform, a department under the Shanghai Commerce Commission. It will not only provide transparent information, standardized management and effective service, but also introduce overseas professional training institutes to help improve the comprehensive quality of foreign labor personnel. In 2015, about 18,800 workers were dispatched to overseas countries from Shanghai. Preliminary investigation showed that about 7 million of the city's 15 million migrants are suitable for working overseasaccording to officials. Many people who seek overseas work often fail to find suitable ways to do so due to the confusion in the labor-export market caused by a number of unqualified companies, officials said. So far, there are 28 qualified foreign labor service cooperation companies in Shanghai, according to Shanghai Commerce Commission. By leveraging the resources of these qualified companies, the commission plans to launch an app that will connect to the overseas employers directly. It will reduce the unnecessary intermediary links and lower the cost of looking for overseas work, officials said. Besides that, it also plans to enhance specialized training for the overseas labor market. In 2015, Shanghai foreign labor service cooperation business was involved with more than 70 countries and areas, with Asia accounting for nearly 70 percent. Among them, the key markets were Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore. Meanwhile, transportation, construction, textile and garment manufacturing were the major industries for labor export. Nurses carers and cooks were also popular for labor-export, officials said. Passengers wait to get on a train at Beijing West Railway Station on Friday. ZOU HONG / CHINA DAILY With no savings and no girlfriend, Tang Shijie said going back to his hometown in Hunan during Spring Festival put a lot of pressure on him. "But when I got home, my parents didn't ask me about income or relationship. They only cared about whether I was happy and healthy living alone in Guangzhou," said the 30-year-old salesman. "It is nice to have a place that you can always go back to and have people who always love you." Since 2013, he has been selling razors in Guangzhou, earning about 2,000 yuan ($300) a month. Another reason he wanted to go home is that almost all of his friends in Guangzhou were returning home, Tang said. "Buses are empty. Stores are closed. It would be too lonely staying in an empty city," he said. "Spending the holiday at home, on the other hand, gives me a feeling of happiness and comfort." Record-high travel is expected during the holiday rush ahead of the Year of the Monkey, which begins on Monday. Between Jan 24 and Feb 2, more than 740 million trips were made in China, an increase of 2.5 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Transport. On Saturday and Sunday, two days before Spring Festival begins, 82 million trips are expected each day. Beijing West Railway Station has received more than 200,000 passengers daily in the past week, which is twice the flow of regular days. Song Jianguo, the station's spokesperson, said the number set a record. The intense human traffic comes from the floating population of big cities. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 38 percent of more than 21.7 million Beijing residents had their household registration in other cities last year. In Guangzhou, 7.8 million residents don't have a local registration. Big data released by search engine Baidu revealed that during the Spring Festival migration, people are flowing from big cities to smaller ones, and from coastal areas to inland regions. Premier pledges to continue reform, rules out hard landing of the economy Premier Li Keqiang meets with foreign experts in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. WU ZHIYI / CHINA DAILY China will continue its financial reform and will not seek to boost its economy through currency depreciation, Premier Li Keqiang said on Friday. He made the remarks when meeting with a group of foreign experts in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "I can assure you that so long as China keeps up with its reform and opening-up policy, the economy will not take a hard landing, and the Chinese currency will not depreciate greatly," he said, adding there is no foundation for a long-term decline in the value of the yuan. He said this as Ted Tokuchi, economist and former managing director of CITIC Securities, raised concerns over the yuan's exchange rate. The People's Bank of China, the central bank, adjusted the exchange rate of the yuan against the US dollar on Aug 11, lowering the yuan's value by nearly 2 percent, the most in the past decade. This caused concerns the move was intended to boost Chinese exports. China's economic growth, as well as its restructuring, were among hot topics during the meeting, which was attended by 68 foreign experts and has become a regular event prior to the Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Monday this year. Christopher A. Pissarides, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science and co-winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences, also suggested improving the labor market and urbanization process to boost the economy, which grew by 6.9 percent last year, the slowest rate in about two decades. The premier blamed the world markets for China's slower growth. If it were not for the sluggish foreign trade, "our growth rate should be above 7 percent", Li said. Last year China saw its exports decline by 1.8 percent year-on-year, and imports drop by 13.2 percent. Pissarides brushed aside voices questioning China's economic health. "I don't really buy such kind of cynicism, because they do not have a grounded argument to prove their questioning," he said. Falk Hoehn, a German expert on industrial design and visting professor at Hefei University, shared his views on education and innovation. Hoehn met with the premier in October when Li and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the university. "The premier has very good ideas on innovation, as it will be the new driving force for China's economy," he said. The final cleanup gets underway at the warehouse blast site in Tianjin on Friday. All of the containers, damaged vehicles and buildings at the site have been removed. Jia Chenglong / for China Daily More than 120 people have been held responsible for the massive explosions in Tianjin in August that killed 165 and devastated the port area, according to an investigation report released on Friday. Forty-nine people have been detained. Public security authorities are conducting criminal investigations into 24 staff members from related enterprises, including 13 from Tianjin International Ruihai Logistics Co, which owns the warehouse where the explosions occurred. In addition, 25 officials from the port, customs, work safety and transportation sectors are being investigated. Apart from them, disciplinary punishments are suggested for 74 people, including five at the ministerial level, said the report by the State Council's investigation team. The explosions occurred in Tianjin Binhai New Area on Aug 12. In addition to the deaths, 798 people were injured and eight missing, and economic losses of more than 6.8 billion yuan ($1.03 billion) were reported. The investigation found that the disaster was caused by ignition of hazardous materials improperly or illegally stored at the site. The fire started in a container through auto-ignition of nitro-cotton, due to vaporization of the wetting agent during hot weather. The fire spread, igniting other chemicals, including 800 tons of ammonium nitrate. Du Lanping, head of the investigation team's technical group, said that storage of such a large amount of chemicals was illegal because of the high risks involved. Beijing will build more subway lines this year, as well as roads exclusively for public buses and lanes just for bicycles, providing lower-emission means for transportation, local officials said on Friday. The city will start constructing 16 subway lines with a total length of 300 kilometers, Rong Jun, spokesman for the Beijing Commission of Transport, told a news briefing on Friday. The length of subway lines will increase to about 1,000 km by 2020 from the current 554 km, Rong said in a previous interview. The city will also put another 10,000 public bicycles in use so that residents can rent them from bus or subway stations to ride home or to the office. Beijing already put 50,000 public bikes in use last year, five times the figure in 2012 when it introduced them. "This year, 71 percent of commuters in Beijing are expected to take buses, subways and public bikes. The number is expected to increase to 75 percent by 2020 and 80 percent in 2030," Rong said. The city's population increased by 45 percent from 2004 to 21.7 million at the end of last year. The number of vehicles rose by 143 percent to 5.61 million, making traffic a headache for drivers and transportation authorities. Buses carry 13 million passengers each day, but people are getting more reluctant to take buses because of traffic jams, according to the Beijing Public Transportation Group. Rong said the commission is to build 50 km of roads just for buses to make such travel faster. Yang Haiming, deputy director of the transportation commission of Dongcheng district, said public transportation is much better than private cars in lowering carbon emissions and other pollutants that have threatened the air quality in the capital. "We encourage residents to ride bikes, taking buses or subways if possible," he said. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. The OSCE Minsk Group is not satisfied with the status-quo in Nagorno Karabakh issue. Armenpress reports the OSCE Minsk Group American Co-chair James Warlick made a note about this in his Twitter micro blog. The OSCE Minsk Group is not satisfied with the status quo. We are fully committed to negotiations for a peaceful settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, he wrote. The anti-secrecy campaign group WikiLeaks published an initial tranche of documents on Wednesday it said were from the personal e-mail account of CIA director John Brennan. The leak is hugely embarrassing for Brennan, and WikiLeaks said more files would be released "in the coming days". Though there did not immediately appear to be any top-secret documents in the leak, it includes a 47-page background check questionnaire from a security clearance application Brennan apparently made in 2008. It lists several of his friends and associates, as well as a detailed work history and a slew of other personal and family details. One of the names listed - along with a phone number - is George Tenet, who directed the CIA from 1996 to 2004. A woman who answered the phone at the number given said Tenet was not speaking to the press. The release also includes a 2008 letter from Christopher "Kit" Bond, then vice-chairman of the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, calling for a ban of certain "harsh interrogation techniques". The WikiLeaks release comes days after it was reported that a teenage hacker had broken into Brennan's AOL account and had taken mails and personal data. For many computer users, AOL is synonymous with the days of the early Internet, when the company offered dial-up access. The apparently low-tech method the hacker employed to access the account is sure to spark controversy in Washington. 'Social engineering' The hacker claimed he accessed the account by using a process called "social engineering" in which he tricked Verizon workers into divulging Brennan's personal information, then convinced AOL to reset his password. The CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but said it may release a statement later on Wednesday. The FBI and Secret Service are investigating the claims, which, if true, would be a major humiliation for US intelligence after a string of high-profile leaks. Earlier this week The New York Post reported that a hacker describing himself as an American high school student had called reporters to describe his exploits. Using his purported Twitter account - @phphax - the hacker taunted authorities with redacted images of what appeared to be government information. The Twitter account said the hacker is 13 years old, and expresses support for the Palestinian cause. (China Daily 10/23/2015 page11) Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong (right) meets with new Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Rashid Olimov in Beijing, capital of China, Feb 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua] Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong met with new Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), calling for more cooperation in culture. Tajik diplomat Rashid Olimov became SCO Secretary-General on Jan 1, replacing Dmitry Mezentsev. Olimov served as ambassador to China from 2005 to 2015. "Cultural cooperation is one of the three pillars for the development of the SCO. China will support the work of the Secretary-General and promote cultural cooperation within the organization," Liu said. Olimov said the SCO secretariat is willing to work with all parties to implement the consensus of member states' leaders and facilitate productive cooperation within the organization. Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It also includes Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers. Related: China eases restrictions art imports, exports A screen from Mr. Nian. [Photo/Mtime] China's mythology depicts Nian (Year) as an evil monster, which attacks humans on the eve of Chinese Lunar New Year. Interestingly, the centuries-long stereotype gets a twist in an upcoming animated movie. Mr. Nian, which will open to the mainland theaters on Feb 8, narrates the title role's adventure in the human world. Set as a celestial being, Nian unites his heaven fellows to fight against a fish villain, which tries to destroy the Spring Festival. Producer Xia Chen'an says the movie vows to establish an influentially animated character originated from Chinese culture and tradition. "Most of the Chinese children nowadays have grown up with the memories of classic Hollywood animated characters," Chen says. "I believe they will have their own animated idols created by domestic filmmakers," Xia says. Liu Yiwei, a pop host-actor who plays the celesial being Tai Bai Jin Xing, hopes the movie will popularize the folklores of Nian and Spring Festival to the overseas market. With a stellar cast, the comedic feature has up to 12 stars voicing the main characters, such as actors Lei Jiayin and Chen He. Related: Insider: China to surpass US to be top film market in two years Serbian students perform Chinese song Tian Mi Mi at the Chinese New Year gala at the University of Arts in Belgrade in Serbia, Jan 30, 2016. [Photo/rs.chineseembassy.org] A combination of Chinese New Year gala and photo exhibition titled "Tempo of China" was held at the University of Arts in Belgrade on Jan 30. A total of 40 photos were exhibited. Chinese Ambassador Li Changman and about 500 officials, representatives and young children from Chinese embassy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, and Serbian junior and elementary schools attended the event. Serbian children of 4-6 age performed songs in Chinese, including You are My Chocolate, Happy New Year, and Looking for Friends. Henan opera, a Chinese folk dance, a tea art show and martial arts were also featured. [Photo provided to China Daily] Ahead of Valentine's Day, French chain Comptoirs de France Bakery, headquartered in Beijing, launched a specially-made Paris-Brest this week. The famous French dessert has traditionally been roundto commemorate the ParisBrestParis bicycle race that began in 1891but the bakery's new version will be heart-shaped, and is decorated with strawberries and custard cream. A colorful and tasty treat for dreary winter days, the dessert will be available through the month in the bakery's 13 branches in the Chinese capital and two in Tianjin city. Other bites of love: heart-shaped craft chocolate and cupcakes. The World Federation of Chinese Catering Industry recently announced an agreement with Guang Hua Media, a Paris-based group that has Chinese-language publications in Europe, such as the European Weekly. The agreement would help to promote Chinese cuisines in Europe, Yang Liu, president of the federation, told reporters on Wednesday in Beijing. The federation, with help from China's Culture Ministry, will organize Chinese New Year Eve dinners on Sunday in Spain to showcase family values and Chinese culinary culture. During the next five years of their agreement, both sides will hold training sessions for Chinese companies and make efforts to improve the image of Chinese restaurants in Europe. Related: 'Beijing girl' embraces romance of Bordeaux, wine culture Alfred Otto Mueck joins a discussion session about difficult patient cases with his Chinese colleagues at the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital. Photos provided to China Daily Alfred Otto Mueck, 71, is helping a Beijing hospital develop a bank for ovarian-tissue preservation. Liu Xiangrui reports. When local colleagues jokingly call him "a real friend of Chinese women", Alfred Otto Mueck smiles and says it is an honor to help Chinese women resolve their health issues. After all, the 71-year-old German specializes in obstetrics. Over the past few years, Mueck's ties to China have grown. He continues to serve as a visiting professor at the Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital and as an honorary director of its endocrinology unit. "It is my second home now," Mueck says, during a recent visit to the Beijing hospital. He has been to China some 40 times so far. Mueck, who studied biochemistry, pharmacology and medicine, has had a long career in obstetrics and endocrinology. He is a founding member of the European Menopause Society and chairman of the German Menopause Society. He also serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals. In 2008, when he came to Beijing to attend an international conference, Mueck established connections with medical experts here. He then invited a few Chinese doctors to conduct research at Germany's University of Tuebingen, where he teaches. "I was impressed by their diligence," Mueck says of the visiting Chinese doctors. After he started to work for the BOGH in 2011, he helped launch a project on women's reproductive conservation. A female Chinese worker sews clothes at a garment factory in Huaibei city, East China's Anhui province, June 1, 2015. [Photo/IC] There are more than a few financial figures in China that no longer trust Western financial advice (or most advisers) any more than they have to. There is a rich, as it were, history behind the mistrust. And in this, George Soros, no less, has a role. We start our narrative with the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. For years, China had been relentlessly advised by some prominent experts in the West to stop babying its coddled currency and let it go outdoors onto the international markets to play fair and square with other big-time currencies. For decades this has been the constant whining pitch of the geek chorus in the West. In fact, the argument has merit if China is to secure its place in the competitive world marketplace. And years later, Beijing actually moved in exactly that direction, in part to satisfy the International Monetary Fund that its currency would be freely usable and so globally market-worthy. But two decades ago, China, then not ready for the big bad sandbox, felt rushed by the West and so held back. Surprise: Suddenly a vile regional currency crisis swept across Asia. Western speculators, allegedly including Soros (in 1992, he hit his billionaire jackpot with a nervy mega-plunge against the sodden British pound), dumped bundles of cash on the bet that weak Asian currencies would lose value, and pocketed fortunes via massive "shorting" campaigns that in effect pulled down Asian currencies even more. China, whose renminbi-exposure caution was then working to great benefit, escaped all that pain. So did our more globally sensitive Western souls who were unnerved by the global turbulence, by the frailty of the fraying "international economic architecture" - and by the heartless display of sheer amoral speculative greed at the expense of the Asian people. After all, everyone knew that massive currency speculation can rock even relatively well-managed small- and medium-sized economies - just as easily as a tsunami can overwhelm the most competently installed roofing over a house. As a mega-investor turned philanthropist, Soros knew well of what he spoke when he depicted predatory financial speculators as the destructive "al-Qaida" (his words) of the financial world. And so sure enough, in 2008 - only a decade after the near-death experience of the Asian financial crisis - the US economy almost collapsed into depression. The reason: a new financial "al-Qaida" investment house of cards known as the "subprime" credit default crisis. For a quick primer on subprime, see Hollywood film The Big Short. I am serious, because you cannot afford to miss pop star Selena Gomez explaining "synthetic" CDOs. With the ground shaking from the United States financial earthquake, China then used massive stimulus to bail out its economy. While this bold move ran the risk of inserting bubbles into the Chinese economy that down the road might inevitably lose their pop, some Western financial figures, including Soros, applauded the "flash-flood stimulus". A China shaken by the US housing collapse greatly appreciated that support. But that was then, and this is now - so guess what? The other day Beijing rhetorically unloaded on speculators who might have thoughts of wanting to "bet on the 'ultimate failure' of the suddenly rocky Chinese economy" (in the words of Xinhua, which added), "Reckless speculations and vicious shorting will face higher trading costs and possibly severe legal consequences." Where did that outburst come from? It turns out that at the recent annual retreat in Davos, one famed Western figure airing the view that China is "doomed to a crash" was Soros himself. While the old "shorting" master is no longer active (and surely Xinhua must know this), in some eyes he remains the international icon (for all his commendable philanthropy) of sadistic currency and equity profiteering. People's Daily said: "A Soros' war on the renminbi and the Hong Kong dollar cannot possible succeed - about this there can be no doubt." These warnings are really directed generically rather than individually - at the global class of fast-buck investment jackals that care for no one's welfare other than their own. The author is distinguished scholar of Asian and Pacific studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Items designed for Chinese New Year on display in Harrods Department Store in London, UK, Feb 2, 2016. [Photo by Liu Jing/chinadaily.com.cn] It does not matter whether George Soros' less-than-cheering observation of our economy is worth the angry media barrage. It does not really matter whether China Central Television's New Year's Eve Gala is relevant any more. The upcoming Spring Festival is about life, about individuals, about families. For those who need a fresh start, here is the chance. The Year of the Monkey is one of promise. It is associated with intelligence, agility, vigilance, and, though a lot less gloriously, political prominence. There is a long way to go before the nation can truly cure its obsession with positions in government offices. But the harsh disciplines imposed lately on public servants have made ambitious youths rethink their career choices. Since the government is making generous offers to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, there are more interesting, and rewarding, options outside of the bureaucratic establishments for the truly talented. For those working on the lower end of the career spectrum, life has not been easy recently. The economic downturn has been cruel to those in low-skill manufacturing jobs, and the road ahead could be even tougher given the government initiative to cut "excessive capacity". But with a little intelligence and agility of the monkey, that will not be the end of the world. So long as the government's words about the thriving service sector hold true, there is a whole new world out there. But we need to see the government make good its promises of assistance and guarantees while they make the transition. We need to see the government tighten the leash on public officials, so they do not get abusive and make life difficult for innocent citizens. The biggest contribution the government can make to a truly happy Year of the Monkey, however, is to be sensible in its decision-making. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Armenia Gagik Beglaryan met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Armenia Igor Nazaruk on February 5. Gagik Beglaryan, greeting the newly appointed Ambassador, congratulated him on the start of his diplomatic mission in Armenia, wished him effective and productive work in terms of further strengthening Armenia-Belarus relations. Igor Nazaruk expressed gratitude for the reception and mentioned that he is also interested in further strengthening the already close relations between the two states. As Armenpress was informed from the press service of the Ministry of Transport and Communication, the officials exchanged ideas over maximally effective utilization of opportunities rising from EAEU membership. The sides discussed in detail the problems existing in Armenia-Belarus and opposite direction shipments and activities taken to regulate them. A range of other issues of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting as well. Recent events are weighing on the minds of British voters facing a planned referendum on continued membership in the EU For years, European Union mandarins in Brussels have touted two things as successful achievements for the body - the single currency, called, unsurprisingly, the euro, and the Schengen Agreement on free movement within certain member states. Well, both are looking a bit rocky at present and that's having a knock-on effect in the United Kingdom, where voters are bracing themselves for an in-out referendum, possibly this year, maybe next year. Let's take the Schengen Agreement first, named after the small Luxembourg town where officials first negotiated the plans for a borderless Europe back in 1985, when five of the then 10-nation strong EU agreed to abolish internal border controls within the states signing up to the deal. It took 10 years to implement - well, this is the EU - and now 22 members of the expanded EU have signed up for Schengen, plus four non-EU members. The UK remains resolutely outside Schengen. What it means is this: anyone traveling between Schengen member states can cross borders freely without any checks or border controls. In addition, visitors from, for example, China, need only get one visa that covers them for pretty much all of mainland Western Europe. It took the massive influx of migrants - either fleeing war and conflict in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Afghanistan or those simply seeking a better life - to bring Schengen pretty much to its knees. Last year over a million migrants, some genuine asylum seekers, some so-called economic migrants and a minority, a very tiny minority, of potential terrorists, made the perilous sea crossing from Turkey to Greece, or from Libya to Italy, in a variety of rubber dinghies, worn-out motor boats, and decrepit fishing vessels, most of them victims of people-smugglers who would charge them around $2,000 a head, sometimes more, It's that influx that has pretty much left Schengen moribund. Virtually all the arrivals wanted to go to Germany - Chancellor Angela Merkel said last year that Germany would open its arms to arrivals - or Sweden. Last year's twin deadly attacks in Paris, with suspicions that Islamic extremist gunmen used the migrant route, mean stringent checks have been reintroduced on most internal borders within the Schengen area. Schengen itself relied on the external borders of the EU being rigorously policed, but as one who has often just been waved through when traveling by car between non-Schengen UK and France, I can say that wasn't the case. The mass migration issue raises another question - the EU's ability to act as one in deciding on a common policy. Well, it's been over six months now and the EU members and faceless bureaucrats in Brussels are arguing over what to do. First, they decided to throw money at it, offering aid to Turkey and Greece to try to control the flow. A waste of time - they still come at an average of 1,000 to 1,500 a day. Options proposed by various member states include a giant fence sealing Greece off from the rest of Europe, fences along the borders of the various countries the migrants pass through on their way to Germany, and a rewriting of the rules of asylum. Other suggestions include a quota scheme for all European countries, a proposal rapidly rubbished by many states. Both Sweden and Germany have said unsuccessful asylum seekers will be sent back. Which brings us to that other tottering pillar of EU achievement, the euro. When the single currency was first introduced in January 2002, many, and I include myself among them, questioned how it would work. I'm no economist, as both my wife and my bank manager will testify, but I cannot for the life of me see how a single currency can cover such diverse economies as the mighty German model and the frail southern European examples, including Greece. It being the EU, of course they bent the rules to allow the likes of Greece, Portugal, Spain and company join in the spirit of a united Europe. Inevitably, Greece's ramshackle and lopsided economy fell into crisis, and had to be bailed out. Speculation two years ago was rife that this would mean the end of Greece's euro membership, but a series of massive loans and pledges of remedial action from Greece papered over the cracks as the EU bureaucrats once again kicked the can down the road. One of the conditions of international lending to Greece was the sale of state assets, and here China has been the main beneficiary as it snapped up the port of Piraeus, a move that will lead to further Chinese investment and involve Greece in President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative. All this is weighing heavily on the minds of British voters ahead of a planned referendum on continued EU membership. Most Brits, myself included, like the idea of membership in a trade-oriented European body, with freedom to travel. What we don't want is to be dragged into a United Europe, with control of laws, politics and everyday life being handed to an unelected few in Brussels. That's why Prime Minister David Cameron is trying to secure a deal that protects UK sovereignty, while still remaining a member of the European club. It's going to be an interesting few months. The author is managing editor of China Daily Europe, based in London. Contact the writer at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com WASHINGTON -- US President Barack Obama will require oil companies to pay 10 US dollars for every barrel of oil in his budget plan to be released next week, as part of efforts to create a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system, the White House said Thursday. Republicans in the US Congress reacted promptly to Obama's proposal for the oil tax, vowing to kill what they called an "absurd" idea. According to the White House, Obama's plan "would increase American investments in clean transportation infrastructure by roughly 50 percent while reforming the investments we already make to help reduce carbon pollution, cut oil consumption, and create new jobs." The new oil fee, if approved by the Congress, would be gradually phased in over five years, the White House said in a statement. The so-called 21st Century Clean Transportation Plan included a proposal of spending nearly 20 billion dollars per year above current funding levels to "enhance transportation options for American families." That would include making high-speed rail a viable alternative to flying in major regional corridors and invest in new rail technologies like maglev, the White House said. Obama's plan also proposed 10 billion dollars per year to encourage local and state governments to plan, design and build smarter, cleaner, more resilient transportation systems. Finally, Obama called for more than 2 billion dollars in annual investments in clean transportation research and development, including efforts to launch pilot deployments of safe and climate smart autonomous vehicles, create regional fueling infrastructure for low-carbon vehicles, and integrate new and changing technologies into US transportation system. The near-term prospects for Obama's plan are basically nil, as the Republicans who control the Congress won't agree to such tax increases. Unsurprisingly, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise called Obama's plan "absurd" and pronounced it "dead on arrival" in the House of Representatives. "From day one of President Obama's Administration, he has waged open warfare on American energy and his radical policies have cost jobs while increasing costs on hard-working families," Scalise said in a statement. "The House will kill this absurd proposal, and instead focus on lowering costs and growing our economy," he said. President and CEO Jack Gerard of American Petroleum Institute, which represents US oil and natural gas firms, accused Obama of doing things that make the US less competitive on his way out of office. "The White House thinks Americans are not paying enough for gasoline, so they have proposed a new tax that could raise the cost of gasoline by 25 cents a gallon, harm consumers that are enjoying low energy prices, destroy American jobs and reverse America's emergence as a global energy leader," Gerard said. New York Congresswomen Grace Meng and Nydia Velazquez have called on Police Commissioner William Bratton to combat what they say is an "alarming increase" in crimes against the city's Asian-American community, and to hire more Asian-American police. In a letter to Bratton dated Thursday, the lawmakers wrote that according to the police department's annual crime report, "Asian/Pacific Islander" was the only group that had an increase in the percentage of victims for every type of crime measured between 2008 and 2014. "Unfortunately, the rise in New York City's Asian-American population does not account for the increasing number of Asian-American victims of crime. For example, between 2008 and 2014, Asian Americans went from accounting for 2.1 percent of the victims of felony sex crimes to 5.5 percent the ratio more than doubled, unlike the rise in the Asian-American population of the city," they wrote in the letter, a copy of which was sent to China Daily by Meng's office. "We do not know what the underlying causes of these disturbing trends are. Nor do we necessarily know the solution. What we do ask, however, is that the NYPD prioritize combating the growing trend of Asian- American victims of crime," wrote the lawmakers. "Increasing the number of Asian Americans who are uniformed NYPD officers, currently only 6.2 percent of the force, to align more closely with the citys 13% Asian American population may be a good first step." They asked Bratton to tell them what steps he will take, and offered their support to help saolve the problem. LONDON - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and Sweden on Friday to let him freely leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a UN panel ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and should be awarded compensation. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appears on screen via video link during a news conference at the Frontline Club in London, Britain February 5, 2016. [Photo/Agencies] Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the UN panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange's favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. Speaking via video link from his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, Assange called on Britain and Sweden to implement the U.N. panel's decision. "We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face," Assange said. "It is now the task of the states of Sweden and the United Kingdom ... to implement the (UN) verdict." Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the accusation is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," the group's head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. "(It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation." Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said Assange must be allowed to go free. "What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?" he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. Foreign Minister says Beijing does not want to see actions that raise tensions Beijing has told Pyongyang it does not want to see any moves to further raise tensions, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has said. Wang's remarks, made on Thursday in London, were released on Friday. They came after Pyongyang told UN agencies on Tuesday that it planned to launch a satellite between Feb 8 and 25. Pyongyang has said it has a sovereign right to pursue a space program, although some countries believe such launches are missile tests and have called for Pyongyang to scrap the plans. Wang said it was natural that Beijing had sent its special envoy for Korean Peninsula affairs, Wu Dawei, to Pyongyang as China is the host country of the Six-Party Talks. Wu began his trip on Feb 2, amid a flurry of diplomatic moves after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea claimed it had successfully tested its first H-bomb on Jan 6. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wu had returned to Beijing on Feb 4. He said Wu met DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong and First Vice-Foreign Minister Kim Kye-gwan, and held talks with Vice-Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho. Wang told Hong Kong's Phoenix Television that China needed "contacts with the DPRK to listen to their opinion" in such a serious situation. "Of course, an important point is to express China's clear position to the DPRK. We don't want to see anything happen that could cause further tensions," he said. "We hope all sides, including the DPRK, can meet each other half way, and work hard together to push the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue onto the track of a negotiated resolution." Shi Yongming, an Asia-Pacific studies research fellow at the China Institute of International Relations, said the key to tackling the Korean Peninsula issue is "whether Pyongyang and Washington can resolve their problems in a peaceful way". "China has not only sent the message to the DPRK, but also to the United States. The impasse on the Korean Peninsula at present is no good for either side." He said that by sending Wu Dawei, China had fulfilled its obligation as a communication channel between Pyongyang and the world. MILAN -- Italy has confirmed nine cases of the Zika virus in the country, of which four registered in northern Veneto region, local media reported on Friday. All concerned patients have been successfully treated in Italian health facilities and all of them had returned from trips to South America or the Caribbean, where the virus is most widespread, local health authorities said. The freshest cases of contagion were found in two people back from Brazil and the Dominican Republic, who were respectively treated in Rome and in Venice, ANSA news agency reported on Friday. Another three cases had been reported in the past days in Treviso, Padua and Vicenza, three cities close to Venice, the capital of Veneto region. Veneto region health councilor Luca Coletto, however, stressed that the situation was completely under control and there was no reason for an alarm, according to Venice-based Il Gazzettino newspaper. Coletto said the regional health system has been monitoring since 2010 the possible presence of the virus there, both in Aedes mosquitoes that are its carriers, and in humans. The virus is not deadly in general, but is very dangerous for babies born to women infected during pregnancy. Zika has been linked to microcephaly, when babies are born with abnormally smaller heads, which can cause brain damage and even be deadly. Health authorities in Italy have suspended blood donations from people who have travelled in affected countries and have advised pregnant women and also people with immune system illnesses or serious chronic pathologies to avoid going to the areas at risk. Earlier this week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika an international public health emergency, after warning that the virus was spreading "explosively" and could affect between three million and four million people. Outside Latin America, where Brazil was the country most affected by the epidemic with thousands of new cases of microcephaly registered in the past weeks, the Zika virus has been reported in several European countries. Italian experts have said there is not a concrete risk of an outbreak of the disease in Europe, but have recommended that all citizens must step up surveillance to contain the threat. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan attended the reception organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court of Armenia held at the Government Reception House. Armenpress was informed about this from the Department of Public Relations and Mass Media of Republic of Armenia Presidents Office. (Photo : Reuters) The Android Marshmallow update is coming soon for Motorola 3rd Gen devices such as Moto G. Advertisement The latest flavor of Google's mobile operating system, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, was released way back in October 2015. Despite its significant upgrades and features when compared to its predecessors, the latest figures show that Android Marshmallow only accounts for a tiny fraction of Android users. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement On the other hand, some analysts are predicting that the figure will increase in the coming months as device manufacturers start to integrate Android Marshmallow into their devices out of the box. This will greatly improve Marshmallow's traction as users will not be required to download or upgrade their devices to take advantage of its features. In a statistics recently released by Google's Android Development Dashboard, Android Marshmallow accounts for 1.2 percent of devices in the Android market. While this figure is relatively small, the group is noticing an improvement of 0.7 percent in the previous month. Many tech experts believe that the slow adoption of users to the latest Android version can be pointed to the cumbersome and sometimes frustrating process of upgrading a device. Network providers and smartphone manufacturers have to test each version of the operating system before they are rolled out to consumers. The test phase can sometimes last for several months, which is a long wait for consumers to get their hands into official updates. This long and arduous process also affects content provider and developers who might design their product on a different version of Android, only to be surprised when a newer version of the operating system surfaces, according to CNet. Only a handful of smartphone manufacturers have adopted the Marshmallow operating system. Android 6.0 Marshmallow comes preinstalled on Google's flagship devices Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X. The rest of the Nexus family of devices received the update late in October 2015. LG is one of the first smartphone providers to offer Android Marshmallow on some of its devices. The South Korean tech giant Samsung also announced that it will roll out Marshmallow updates within the first quarter of the year, this move could help boost the popularity of the operating system. Advertisement TagsGoogle, google android, android marshmallow, Android 6.0, Android 6.0 Marshmallow (Photo : Reuters) Afghan security forces stand guard near the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on February 1, 2016. The Chinese foreign ministry has announced that China, the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan will push through with planned talks this week in spite of the recent series of Taliban attacks in the Afghan capital. Advertisement The four nations comprising the Quadrilateral Coordination Group for peace negotiations in Afghanistan have decided to push through with talks scheduled this week in spite of a deadly Taliban attack in the Afghan capital on Monday. The Chinese foreign ministry announced on Tuesday that the governments of China, the United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan will push through with planned talks even as the Taliban continues attacks on Kabul. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The announcement came a day after a Taliban suicide fighter detonated a bomb near a Kabul police complex, killing at least 20 police officers and wounding 29 people. "Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the US have decided through consultation that the third meeting of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group will be held on February 6 in Islamabad," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang when asked by the press to comment on the bombing. Vital Elements Friday's talks -- the group's third -- are meant to clear the way for peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban, which has strong ties with Pakistan. The involvement of China, a close ally of Pakistan, and the US -- which supports the Afghan government -- is seen by many as a crucial element in the effort to build trust between Kabul and Islamabad. "With the support of the United States and China, two vital members of the group, we will be able to launch an effective peace process that would generate the results we all seek in a timely manner," Afghan foreign minister Salahuddin Rabbani said in January. The governments of China, Pakistan and the US have urged the Taliban to join the talks, but the jihadist group has said it will not negotiate with an Afghan government it considers illegitimate. A small breakaway faction from within the group has nonetheless signaled its willingness to join the talks. The Afghan government is mulling a massive operation against so-called "irreconcilables" in the Taliban -- fighters and commanders who refuse to negotiate peace with Kabul. But Islamabad has argued that incentives, not threats, will bring the insurgents to the negotiating table. Trade Route Despite simmering differences within the group, many observers close to the talks are optimistic that the powerful four-nation alignment will eventually make tangible progress. Most agree, however, that the process will take time. And time appears to be in short supply on all sides. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Afghan government wants to come to an agreement that would at least reduce the bloodshed before the usual fighting season begins in April. There is also some pressure on Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani to deliver on his controversial strategy of bringing Pakistan into the talks in order to mediate with the Taliban. Pakistan, on the other hand, needs to see stability in Afghanistan as continued violence in its neighbor's territory is likely to spill into Pakistani borders, where it could jeopardize China's planned $46 billion infrastructure development program for the country. Beijing intends to build a trade route between Pakistan and western China. Analysts have said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is one of the most ambitious programs the region has ever seen: an economic thoroughfare that slashes across a strategic swath of Asia with new roads, power plants and industrial parks along the way. "China hopes that the Quadrilateral Coordination Group will continue its efforts based on previous discussions in order to reach a roadmap acceptable to all parties concerned at an early date and drive forward the reconciliation process," Lu said. "China is willing to play its role for that end." Advertisement TagsChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Afghanistan, Taliban insurgents (Photo : Reuters) A police officer stands near national flags of ASEAN countries in the photo above. A US official has said the summit conference US President Barrack Obama will be hosting for the leaders of the ASEAN in California this month is not an anti-China effort. Advertisement The summit meeting US President Barrack Obama will be hosting for the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in California this month is not an anti-China effort, Washington has said. The two-day summit, which will be held in the California resort of Sunnylands from February 15 to 16, was announced in November as a forum to strengthen cooperation between the US and the nations of the ASEAN. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement "This summit is not about China, it's about the US and ASEAN," US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Russel told the AP, Reuters and AFP news agencies on Wednesday. "This is not about China, this is not anti-China." South China Sea Disputes China is laying claim to almost all of the South China Sea. Beijing's increasingly muscular approach toward its territorial assertions has led to disputes with the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, and Malaysia, each of which has overlapping claims on the waters. Singapore makes no claim over any of the disputed territories, but has in the past expressed concern over China's land reclamation policies. All five claimants are ASEAN member countries. Analysts say the American president hopes to use his 'rebalance' policy toward the Asia Pacific to bolster the ASEAN as a counterpoint to Chinese economic dominance over the region. The organization, however, has over the years earned a reputation for the infighting and acrimony that often divides its members. Plans by ASEAN leaders to develop a system to settle disputes in the South China Sea fell through in 2012, with Cambodia appearing to derail efforts aimed at establishing a maritime code of conduct. The plans have not been revived since, in spite calls by the Philippines and Vietnam. "Universal Principles" "This is the culmination of a seven-plus-year investment the United States has made first and foremost in the Asia-Pacific region, but also in ASEAN in particular," Russel said. "I think it demonstrates that the rebalance has reached cruising altitude." The US has claimed that it takes no sides in the disputes over the South China Sea, but has repeatedly insisted -- both with naval operations and diplomatic representations -- on the maintenance of freedom of navigation across the contested waters. "This set of challenges in Southeast Asia, particularly the disputes over land features and maritime entitlement in South China Sea, isn't a zero-sum game," said Russel, adding that the rival claims over the territory do not constitute a proxy war between China and the US. "This is a direct challenge to the question of whether the countries in the region and the claimants in the South China Sea, and particularly China ...would be guided by the universal principles and the rule of law," Russel said, insisting that Asia is "not, certainly, a battleground for big powers' competition." Advertisement TagsChina-ASEAN, China-US relations, Territorial disputes in the South China Sea (Photo : Photo by Jung Yeon-Je-pool/Getty Images) North Korean special agents have been conducting secret missions in China to arrest defectors. Advertisement North Korean special agents have been conducting secret missions to capture defectors who have sought refuge in China, according to South Korean news outlet, Daily NK. The Daily NK has reported that agents of North Korea have been secretly crossing into China to arrest defectors who once worked in Pyongyang's government as high-level officials. Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The South Korean news agency, quoting unnamed sources, said the agents are part of the task force Pyongyang created to hunt down the defectors. The team reportedly is part of the government's National Security Agency. Special Task Force The task force is reported to be composed of three security agents who travel to the cities of China, particularly in Beijing, Shenyang, and Yanji to conduct search missions by showing pictures of the defectors to local residents and asking them if they can identify the escapees. The source said the security agents distribute pictures of the defectors to all the North Korean consulates across China as well as business establishments such as North Korean restaurants and at trading firms. According to the sources of the Daily NK, the security agents not only ask mainlanders but even the ethnic South Koreans in China to help them locate the defectors. Secret missions "The task force operates in secret, and must locate the runaway cadres right away," the source said. The sources told the Daily NK that the task force agents themselves run the risk of losing their lives if they return to Pyongyang without any defector arrested. The sources said Pyongyang's creation of a small task force is unprecedented considering that it had sent a larger contingent during the past years. Moscow-Pyongyang agreement Last Tuesday, Pyongyang and Moscow signed an agreement where both parties vowed to take the necessary measures in dealing with 'illegal immigrants' on both sides of their border. Nikolai Smorodin, Russia's deputy head of the Federal Migration Service and North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Guk both signed the deal that will tackle the problem of illegal immigration of North Koreans in Moscow. In a statement, Moscow said there are more than 10,000 North Koreans residing in various parts of the country. many of them on illegal status. Advertisement TagsNorth Korea Special Task Force, North Korean defectors, china, Moscow-Pyongyang agreement, National Security Agency (Photo : Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) Stilt-walkers wait to begin a performance during a folk art show to mark the 'Lichun' or the beginning of the Spring as part of the lunar calendar on February 4, 2007 in Beijing, China. China celebrated Lichun, the first day of spring, this past Thursday with ceremonies, food, and tributes to the plant god Advertisement China celebrated Lichun, the first day of spring for East Asian cultures, onThursday as families partook of the traditional chunbing or spring pancakes in hopes that an auspicious beginning to the year will bring good luck all year long. Thursday was the beginning of Lichun, when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 315 degrees and ends when it reaches the longitude of 330 degrees. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually begins around February 4 and ends around February 18 ( February 19 East Asia time) Like Us on Facebook Advertisement Lichun traditionally signifies the beginning of spring in East Asian cultures with the Chinese New Year being celebrated around this time. Farmers celebrate spring festival Farmers often celebrate the significant occasion with special village events, worship and offerings to the gods and ceremonies for a good harvest. On the day, Chinese families eat traditional food such as radishes and spring pancakes. As the Chinese New Year falls on February 8 this year, most families are expected to hold banquets. Chang Suqin, a mother from Northern China, prepared spicy radishes for her children at their schools in Hebei province hoping for a good year in the coming Lunar New Year. Better future "Eating spicy radishes at this particular day shows you can have the courage to achieve things in the coming year," she said. When Chang was young, radishes were so cheap that even her poor family could buy them for their children and be able to celebrate Lichun and hope for a better future. Reports said that at a popular Beijing restaurant, more than 35,000 spring rolls were sold in its 50 outlets at the beginning of Lichun.. The spring rolls are usually stuffed with bean sprouts and vegetables. Filial love A spring roll contest was reportedly held in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, which many contestants participated in. At the end of the contest, the participants offered the spring rolls they made to their parents, a symbol of filial love which is a very important aspect of family life for the Chinese people. Tribute to the gods In the past years, officials held a tribute to the god of plant growth at the start of Lichun. The farmers and officials believed that the ceremony will bring prosperous harvests and good fortune, according to Shang Jie of Tianjin folklore museum. Shang said all these practices and traditions centered on Lichun demonstrate part of the Chinese rich culture with focus on the importance of the first day of spring to an agricultural society. "People in many places still observe these traditions today, hoping for a good harvest, a prosperous economy, and a harmonious, peaceful life," he said. Advertisement TagsLichun, first day of spring, chunbing, East Asian cultures, china The Chocolate Math of it All - v. 9/30/2022 Number of Days Since This Chocolate Bet Started: 5,860 Number of Chocolate Items Eaten: 5,860+ Number of different items combined with chocolate: 371 - from Absinthe to Zucchini) Weight of Chocolate Eaten: ~ 5,860 oz. (366.25 lbs. or 166.12 kg) Total Number of Chocolate Calories Consumed to date: ~ 879,000 (There are, on average, 150 calories in 1 oz. or 28.3 grams of chocolate.) Number of Companies producing chocolate items I've eaten: Approx. 1,592; Number of bean-to-bar makers: 194 Number of Countries where chocolates were made: 66 Number of Pounds of Chocolate Americans Eat: Approx. 11-12 pounds per year; I eat 27 lbs. (more than 12 kg.)/year. Per capita chocolate consumption in Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Ireland: 8-9 kilograms (17-22 pounds)/year. Global demand has stayed high, despite economic fluctuations. Cost of all these Chocolates: A lot of money, but worth every penny. Chocolates range from $1 to $20 each. Occasionally I receive gifts or samples. Copyright Information All other product names, logos, trademarks, and product packaging designs belong to their respective owners. Content and photos are by Corinne C. DeBra unless otherwise noted; all photos are posted in low resolution. Copyright (c) 2006-2021 Corinne C. DeBra, Chocolate Banquet Bonnie & Clyde standoff ends in Milton, Florida by MILTON, Fla. (Reuters) - The hunt for a Missouri couple suspected in a spree of robberies and kidnappings across the South ended on Friday with the man shot dead and the woman wounded after a chase, standoff and shooting involving law enforcement in Florida, police said. Blake Edward Fitzgerald, 30, and his girlfriend, Brittany Nicole Harper, 30, dubbed a "modern-day Bonnie and Clyde" by the U.S. Marshals Service, were wanted for crimes committed during the past week in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Deputies in the Florida Panhandle began pursuing the couple Thursday night after they were linked to an armed robbery at a shoe store, Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan told reporters at a news conference. The chase lasted several hours as the couple successfully evaded officers. After midnight, authorities learned the duo had taken a family hostage in their home before stealing their red truck, Morgan said. Deputies cornered the couple in the truck soon after, and a 15-minute standoff ensued, the sheriff said. Refusing to surrender, the suspects left the truck and tried to enter an occupied home in Milton, Florida. Gunfire erupted, killing Fitzgerald and wounding Harper in the leg, said Morgan, though he would not specify who fired the shots. Six officers have been placed on administrative leave according to protocol as state investigators review the shooting. Harper was hospitalized and will be charged with grand theft auto, home invasion robbery and false imprisonment, a Florida prosecutor said. Morgan said the couple's actions should not be glamorized with a catchy nickname. "Bonnie and Clyde were a couple of thugs, too," he said. The marshals service said the couple began a crime spree spanning three states on Sunday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where they were accused of kidnapping a hotel clerk and stealing his car. They later released the hostage and ditched his vehicle before Fitzgerald entered a family's home in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, flashed a gun and took a woman at the residence hostage as he stole the family's car, federal authorities said. The couple was then suspected of kidnapping a clerk from a convenience store that they robbed in Perry, Georgia, on Monday, and committing two more robberies in the Florida cities of Walnut Hills and Destin on Wednesday. The marshals service had offered a $10,000 reward for their arrests, describing them as armed and dangerous. Is President Obama making peace with evangelicals? 05 February, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , | WASHINGTON, D.C. (Christian Examiner) Seismic shifts in the world economy, a global refugee crisis, war and terrorism, poverty and famine all are things that can make the strongest of world leaders afraid, President Barack Obama said at the National Prayer Breakfast Feb. 4. He would be afraid, too, he said, if not for the promise of eternal life Christ made to those who believe in him. "Like every president, like every leader, like every person, I've known fear, but my faith tells me that I need not fear death that the acceptance of Christ promises everlasting life and the washing away of sins," President Obama said. "If Scripture instructs me to 'put on the full armor of God' so that when trouble comes, I'm able to stand, then surely I can face down these temporal setbacks, surely I can battle back doubts, surely I can rouse myself to action." Obama said he has spent time over the past year reflecting on 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mound." The president's address to the gathering this year took on a decidedly Christian tone compared to previous years, and especially to last year when he focused on the suffering caused by the Catholic Church during the Crusades. His mention of the centuries old crusades and failure to mention the rise of radical Islamism (ISIS and Al Qaeda) was widely criticized as both pandering to the Muslim community and patronizing to the Christian community. Like every president, like every leader, like every person, I've known fear, but my faith tells me that I need not fear death that the acceptance of Christ promises everlasting life and the washing away of sins. If Scripture instructs me to 'put on the full armor of God' so that when trouble comes, I'm able to stand, then surely I can face down these temporal setbacks, surely I can battle back doubts, surely I can rouse myself to action. This year, however, little in the way of criticism has surfaced, in spite of the fact some of the comments were pointedly directed at Republican presidential candidates, including Donald Trump. Though Trump wasn't mentioned by name, Obama told the gathering fear can cause people to "lash out against those who are different, or lead us to try to get some sinister 'other' under control." Obama has used similar language to describe Trump in the past. During the State of the Union address in January, Obama said politicians should not insult Muslims. "We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion," Obama said during the State of the Union address. "This isn't a matter of political correctness. It's a matter of understanding what makes us strong. The world respects us not just for our arsenal; it respects us for our diversity and our openness and the way we respect every faith." Trump had just called for suspending all Muslim immigration to the United States in the wake of the terror attack in San Bernardino, Calif. At the breakfast Obama called fear a "primal emotion" that all people experience and that can "be contagious, spreading through societies and through nations." "If we let it consume us, the consequences of that fear can be worse than any outward threat," he said. "It's all amplified by a media that is unceasing, and that feeds 24/7 on our ever-shrinking attention spans." The president said his "cure" for fear is his faith in Jesus and the power, love and sound mind required to conquer it, even in the face of natural disasters, terrorism or a national economic crisis. "What better time than these changing, tumultuous times to have Jesus standing beside us, steadying our minds, cleansing our hearts, pointing us towards what matters," the president said. The day before Obama spoke at the breakfast, he addressed the Islamic Society of Baltimore and called for greater acceptance and dialogue between Muslims and Christians. In that address, he said religious liberty guarantees Muslims the right to practice their faith, but he also called for the Muslim community to distance itself from Islamic extremism. At the prayer breakfast, he also devoted a portion of his address to Christian persecution in the Middle East, which he has rarely done. Obama said Pastor Saeed Abedini now home had been imprisoned by Iran "for no other crime than holding God in his heart." "Last year, we prayed that he might be freed," Obama said. "And this year, we give thanks that he is home safe." "We pray for God's protection for all around the world who are not free to practice their faith, including Christians who are persecuted, or who have been driven from their ancient homelands by unspeakable violence," he said. Super Bowl 50 highlights Bay Area need for church planting boom 05 February, 2016 by Tobin Perry/NAMB , | FRESNO, Calif. (NAMB) As the nation prepares for the first Super Bowl in the Bay Area in nearly three decades, Southern Baptists will turn their eyes to a changing mission field one with a consistent need for new churches. "Things are booming economically in the Bay Area," says Rich Johnstone, the North American Mission Board's (NAMB) Send North America city missionary for San Francisco. "At the same time, there's not a corresponding boom spirituallyjust yet. However, we are starting to see some momentum." Only 7 percent of metro San Francisco residents affiliate with an evangelical churchone of the lowest percentages of all of North America's large cities. The region has only one Southern Baptist church for every 17,139 people. San Jose, the site of Super Bowl 50, is about 50 miles from San Francisco and the home of the San Francisco 49ers. Through Send North America: San Francisco, Southern Baptists have been working together the last few years to impact the spiritual destiny of the area by starting new churches. Though Southern Baptists have been in the Bay Area since the days of the Gold Rush (First Baptist San Francisco was the first Protestant church in California in 1849), it has always been a tough mission fieldparticularly during the last few decades, according to Johnstone. A new generation of Southern Baptist church planters is trying to change that. Johnston notes that Epic Churchplanted in the heart of the city's financial districthas celebrated its 5-year anniversary. Johnstone also points to new church planters that are just beginning evangelistic works throughout the metro area. Brett Butler, a church planting apprentice in Redwood City, Calif., first felt called into missions a decade ago, not long after he became a follower of Jesus. Yet for eight years, God left an important part of the family's mission call unknownwhere He was sending them. Two years ago, while sitting in Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfurt, Ky., Butler started reading Annie Armstrong Easter Offering materials that featured Epic Church and its pastor Ben Pilgreen. Almost immediately, God began to pull Brett and his wife, Patti, toward the Bay Area. Butler had attended college at the nearby University of California at Berkley, and his parents lived in Southern California. "The whole Bay Area just made a ton of sense, looking back at our lives," Butler said. "So we went back home and clicked the 'Mobilize Me' button on the NAMB website. And they had a great systempeople emailed us and called us. We had trips out here. Some amazing God-things happened while we were out here. It just became really clear that this is what God wanted us to do." One of those "God-things" led to the couple leading their first person to faith in Christ before they even arrived on the field full-time. While visiting Redwood City, they met Gina Plute, who asked them why they were there. When the Butlers told Plute they were interested in starting a church, she told them she thought they should start one in Redwood City. Although she had experienced much success in life, she felt like something was missing. Finding out more about God, she thought, may be that missing link. "So when do we get started?" Plute asked. The Butlers then had to tell her that they lived in Kentucky, and it would take them some time to get started. Still they offered to do a Bible study with Plute over the Internet. Starting in December of 2014, the three of them studied the book of John together. Last February, as the three studied John 3:16, Plute committed her life to Christ. Three others have come to faith in Jesus since the Butlers arrived in the Bay Area in May of 2015. Redwood City is about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. The county seat of San Mateo County, Redwood City, has about 76,000 people and a small evangelical presence, according to Butler. Butler says his partnership with California Southern Baptistsand Southern Baptists in generalplays a crucial role in his church planting efforts. Besides the financial resources through the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering that make it possible to live in one of the most expensive areas in the country, he points to the relational support provided by Southern Baptists. "We've gotten hand-written encouragement cards in crayon from third-grade Bible study classes in Florida that we've never met," Butler said. "It just brings tears to your eyes. We have people write us from Virginia, Ohio and Texas and places like that." Noting the significant spiritual need in the Bay Area, Johnstone says partner churches from outside of the region play a critical role in reaching people there. Because of the area's diversity, many of the Bay Area church planters lead language churches or culture-specific churches. "We love to partner with traditional large-launch church plants in the area, but we also have a corresponding need for churches who will come alongside these planters who speak a different language or come from a different culture," Johnstone said. For more information about Send North America: San Francisco, visit http://www.namb.net/SanFrancisco. Learn more about the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering at AnnieArmstrong.com. Tobin Perry writes for the North American Mission Board. This article appears on the website of the North American Mission Board and is used with permission. Let it be light between us,brothers and sisters from the Earth.Let it be love between all living beings on this Galaxy.Let it be peace between all various races and species.We love you infinitely. I am SaLuSa from Sirius Channel:Laura/Multidimensional Ocean , . . - . . . :Laura/Multidimensional Ocean It seems my tri-vocational role has gotten the best of me. As of Feb. 2016, I am no longer a tri-vocational pastor. In fact, Im not sure if Im a pastor anymore because one of the positions I had to drop was being a church pastor. With just being a hospital and US Army chaplain, I am now in ministries where no one calls me a pastor, but a chaplain. I was with this church for 2 years as an English Ministry (EM) pastor and earlier last month I was invited to resign from my church. From my experience of being an EM pastor in several different churches of Presbyterian, Missionary, and Baptist denominations, I am starting to see a pattern in how pastors are invited to resign from pastorates, especially the EM pastorate. From my personal experience as well as talking to several EM pastors of different Korean American churches, there seem to be two major patterns to why EM pastors resign from a church every 2 to 3 years. The first pattern that leads to a pastors resignation is that the position is not financially viable for the pastor and for the church. Many Korean American churches are in need of EM pastors, yet many EM pastors dont seem to be able to hold down their positions for a long time. Even in Christianity Dailys ministry jobs webpage, there is a continuous request for churches looking for EM pastors on a weekly and monthly basismostly during summer and winter. I see this as trying to recruit EM pastors who are seminarians graduating from school and leaving current positions to find full-time positions in other churches (This seems to make most sense given that graduations take place around June or December. Also, it takes about 3~4 years to graduate from seminary. And EM pastors tenure is about 2~3 years because pastors dont always start ministry from first year of seminary). It is widely known that most EM pastor positions are part-time positions. Why? Probably because churches are not able to fully support a pastor whose department is not able to financially support itself. Most English ministries consist of students who do not have the sufficient means to donate enough money to the church. But a Korean church in America needs to have EM for the English speaking (younger) members. So the EM necessarily exists for various reasons, yet due to financial reasons most churches are not able to pay enough for a seminary graduated pastor loaded with student debt, with a family to support, to be able to survive. Unwillingly, many EM pastors resign for very practical reasonsto support oneself and ones family by finding a full time position. And EM members suffer because a new pastor comes and goes, again. The second pattern occurs probably due to the end of the honeymoon phase. According to church growth expert Gary McIntosh, all pastors experience a honeymoon phase with ones new place of ministry. This phase seems to vary from pastor to pastor, but for the EM pastorate, the honeymoon phase takes a bit of a different turn. When a new EM pastor comes to a church, most if not all, church members are excited to have someone, especially when the EM pastor position was vacant for months or even years. The church is willing to bend over backwards to accommodate the new EM pastor and is willing to work with him/her. Personally for me, this was through the church willing to let me attend to Soldiers one weekend per month as part of my Army Reserve obligations. For the first couple of years, my church was very willing to let me be absent once a month and have guest speakers come. Although not every EM pastor is in the military, I would assume that other EM pastors hold various part time jobs or are still in school. As the honeymoon phase ends after about the first year, the church (whether its the senior pastor, board, or church members) start requesting and expecting EM pastors to be more actively involvedsuch as preaching occasionally for an early morning prayer service, attending Wednesday night services, etc. Such requests and expectations for EM pastors to be more involved in the church can cause conflicts with what the EM pastor is doing aside from the church, such as being part of the military, having a second or a third job, or being in the middle of finals week at seminary. Although the first no, I cant doesnt necessarily cause frustration between the church and the EM pastor, I wonder how many times an EM pastor has to take time off work or choose to not participate in the extra church events because (s)he has to work as a waiter? One way or another, with rise of requests and expectations come frustrations from both parties, and frustration leads to chasm in relationships, unfortunately leading both parties to sever ties. The church can always try to find a new EM pastor, and the EM pastor can always find a new church position; sadly it is the EM members who suffer from another lost relationship. I am not writing this column to remedy the issue, but to call out the elephant in the room. Most pastors Ive talked with have mentioned the financial issue of being a part-time pastor and the difficulty of juggling a ministry position and a second or third part time job outside of a church. Some of the reasons why most EM pastors are not able to be open about the short tenure of EM pastor positions may be due to the fear of being perceived as money-loving (1 Tim. 3:3) or being labeled a hired hand instead of a shepherd (John 10:12). What pastors and churches may oversee is the sad reality of church members who experience the saying of hello and goodbye on a very regular basis. Reverend Joseph Choi is a senior chaplain of the Spiritual Care Department at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, CA. He also serves as a chaplain for the U.S. Army Reserves. The New Chapel Unitarian and Free Christian Church has agreed to offer baptisms to transgender members, making it the first church in the United Kingdom to do so. The decision was prompted by Jean Clements meeting with a couple whose transgender child wanted to get baptized in her new gender. Clements, the worship leader at the church, proposed the suggestion after which the decision was made with a unanimous vote by the congregation. Despite the controversial nature of the decision, Clements says that the congregation was ready to accept the change. I felt saddened by the fact that this family were being shunned by many mainstream churches. I would like to thank one courageous girl for inspiring me to think carefully about this issue in the first place.'' Clements said, according to BBC. Chief officer of the churchs General Assembly Derek McAuley said that other Unitarian congregations may follow their example, though New Chapel advised that other Unitarian Chapels should decide for themselves whether they wish to offer similar services. President Obama addressed faith leaders for his last National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, during which he mainly focused on the fears that people may have, and having the courage to conquer those fears. "We live in extraordinary times. Times of extraordinary change," the President noted. "We're surrounded by tectonic shifts in technology and in our economy; by destructive conflict, disruptions to our climate." These uncertain circumstances and times of fear, the gap between the privileged and the oppressed can lead to "despair, or paralysis, or cynicism," he said. "Fear can feed our most selfish impulses, and erode the bonds of community." To counter these, the President said, "faith is the great cure for fear." "Jesus is a good cure for fear," he added. President Obama particularly touched upon the gospel itself as he mentioned that he himself also has "known fear." "But my faith tells me that I need not fear death; that the acceptance of Christ promises everlasting life and the washing away of sins," he said. He also particularly emphasized 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind," as he shared examples of people who exemplified courage, including Pastor Saeed Abedini, an Iranian American pastor who was recently released from imprisonment in Iran. President Obama also pointed to stories of a Christian Master Sergeant who stood up to Nazis for a fellow soldier who was taken captive, and a Muslim father who chose to put out his rug to pray in the park despite fears of others' responses, as examples of people who gave him "courage" and "hope." "I pray that by His grace, we all find the courage to set such examples in our own lives -- not just during this wonderful gathering and fellowship, not just in the public piety that we profess, but in those smaller moments when it's difficult, when we're challenged, when we're angry, when we're confronted with someone who doesn't agree with us, when no one is watching," he said. Members of Congress, celebrities, prominent religious leaders, and others were among those who were present at the prayer breakfast that was co-chaired by Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Alabama) and Congressman Juan Vargas (D-California). The National Prayer Breakfast began as an annual tradition when Dwight Eisenhower first joined a prayer group in 1953, after which the gathering has grown in scale and all Presidents have joined the prayer gathering on the first Thursday of February each year since. Elder Kim has gone to be with the Lord last Sunday night. As elder Kim was passing away, a gift he left me was a warm hug. After completing all five services on Sunday, in order to send him to be with the Lord, we worshipped together in his last breath. While we were worshipping, elder Kims mind was clear. I read Psalm 23 for him and shared a message about how Jesus gave us eternal life and the hope of the heaven. In everything I said, he answered with Amen. After the worship, with arms that are only left with skin and bones, he hugged me. I hugged him back. We had given a last hug to each other. Elder Kims hug was a hug of love. It was a hug of friendship that we have shared intimately in love. It was also a hug of gratitude. His hug was warm; it was deeply heartfelt. As elder Kim left to heaven, once again, I thought about what the most important things in this life are. They were not money, sex, and power as many pursue. I know that we need money, sex, and power to live in this world. And I also know that if we use them well, they could bring about good results. However, we must not forget that many peoples lives have come to destruction because they were obsessed with money, sex, and power. The Bible teaches us the three most valuable things in life that money, sex, and power cannot compare to. First is faith. The Bible tells us, The righteous will live by faith (Rom. 1:17). Elder Kim believed in Jesus and was saved. He became a child of God and received eternal life. Through elder Kim, once again, I was able to affirm the power of faith. Only the ones who possess faith can be so peaceful and thankful in the face of death. Elder Kim kept his faith like Apostle Paul (2 Tim. 4:7). It is Gods grace that elder Kim was able to keep his faith. In addition, it was possible because the family and community of faith were together with him. We can believe in Jesus alone, but it is important to walk in faith together with others in the community of faith. Faith is like charcoal; you become weak when you are alone but become strong when you gather together with others. Second is hope. Elder Kim embraced the hope of the heaven in his life. While he was struggling against cancer, he made paradoxical confessions several times. He said that it would be great if God heals him but that its okay even if He doesnt. While having faith that hoped for Gods miracle, he had a belief that went beyond just hoping for the miracle. While wanting God to heal him, he also just wanted to enter into the kingdom of heaven. If possible, he wanted to be restored but he did not cling onto it. While not being fixated on healing, He trusted God, and while not giving up the hope of restoration, he entrusted God with everything. In other words, he lived a life of letting go. Giving up and letting go are different. Giving up is a declaration of despair. The doubting ones give up. In contrast, letting go is a declaration of hope. The faithful entrust everything to the God of hope (Rom. 15:13; Ps. 37:5). Letting go signifies entrusting everything to God. Third is love. Elder Kim had a lot of love and affection. He was a warmhearted person. Elder Kim loved God. He loved his family, cell members, and pastors. He loved the New Life Vision Church. I have a huge debt of love to repay to elder Kim. After hearing my sermon on how a Shunammite woman referred to Elisha as a holy man of God, he began to call me a holy man of God. Such a title humbled me, and often, I wished he wouldnt call me that way. I am not telling you that elder Kim was a perfect or flawless person. Elder Kim had flaws and made mistakes. However, on the matter of his mistakes and faults, he felt great agony and repented with tears. Elder Kim did not waste sufferings. Instead, he allowed sufferings to be the opportunity for him to reach holiness. As he struggled against cancer, he entered into the school of holiness. The best education is the education to reach holiness and the education of love. Apostle Paul said, And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:13). Let us together embrace the life of faith, hope, and love. Let us cultivate a beautiful community that believes, hopes, and loves together. Im traveling to New Zealand on Sunday night to speak at the Oceania Pastoral Conference for Korean pastors and at the corporate revival for Korean-New Zealanders. Please pray for me. Reverend Joshua Choon-Min Kang is the senior pastor of New Life Vision Church, located in Los Angeles. This is one of the weekly letters he writes to his congregation. For the original, visit www.nlvc.org. CT asked publishers which theology and biblical studies books they were most excited to publish this year. Here are the entries along with descriptions from the authors, showing how their books address questions and concerns Christians have. What does it mean to be a Christian today? Modern Christian Theology, by Christopher Ben Simpson (T&T Clark, February) My book tells how the story of Modernity is deeply intertwined with the story of Christian theology. Few people in the modern Western world think about God or religion. A religious perspective is no longer dominant in our society. If we look back 500 years, we see a world in which it would be strange for someone not to believe in God. What happened from 1500 onwardthe rise and development of Modernitywas not only influenced by developments in Christian theology, but also influenced what it means when we today claim to be Christians. Our Christian theology has a history, and understanding that historyand the resources thereinshapes how we should think about ourselves, the modern world, and the Christian faith. ~ Christopher Ben Simpson, professor of philosophical theology, Lincoln Christian University How can we truly understand ourselves? None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That's a Good Thing), by Jen Wilkin (Crossway, April) My book addresses the concern that there is no true knowledge of self apart from the knowledge of God. Because we lack awe for God, we lack an accurate assessment of our own patterns of idolatry, patterns that often take the form of ascribing to ourselves an attribute that belongs to God alone. By recapturing a vision of God high and lifted up, we learn a right reverence ... 1 UNC excavation crew in Galilee region of Israel uncover first known depictions of biblical heroines An excavation team in Israel has discovered the first known depiction of two biblical heroines from the Old Testament. World to reach 8 billion people in November, India to unseat China as most populous in 2023: UN By Nov. 15, the worlds population is projected to reach 8 billion, and by 2023, India is projected to surpass China as the worlds most populous country, according to a new report from the United Nations. Single, non-religious young adults are most unhappy Americans post-COVID-19: report Young adults under 35 who are single and non-religious report the highest levels of unhappiness since the COVID-19 pandemic began and since 1972, when the General Social Survey began measuring levels of happiness among Americans, a new analysis from the Institute of Family Studies suggests. Im delighted to say that the PNGAA today, under the firm hand of Andrea Williams, has a very much more enlightened committee than it had back then. Subsequently the review was censored and not allowed to be published on the PNGAA website. I want to offer you two reviews of the book. The first dates back to March 2005 when it appeared in that months issue of the PNG Association of Australias journal, Una Voce. And its just been made available for free download courtesy of Pandanus Online Publications and the Australian National University. IN MY estimation, Phil Fitzpatricks book Bamahuta Leaving Papua ranks with Trevor Shearstons Something in the Blood as one of those iconic books about Papua New Guinea written by Australians. This is a book you will not be able to put down. JOHN KLEINIG (2005) The adventures of Philip Fitzpatrick prior to independence are told with wit, humour and pathos. The style is refreshingly crisp and this makes for the telling of a compelling and intriguing series of stories. There are some unforgettable moments. Fitzpatrick reduced to his leopard skin jockettes leading a patrol in the oppressive heat of the Western District comes face to face with a group of nuns with their habits hitched up around their knees and wearing white rubber boots. One of the nuns, a French Canadian, who once worked as a dancer in a strip club, reacts in an unpredictable manner much to the consternation of the group. The story of the contact with the border crossers on the West Irian border carrying the still conscious elder who has been disembowelled by Indonesian soldiers as an example to potential refugees, is heart rending and disturbingly real. Seconded to the Security and Intelligence Branch in Moresby, Fitzpatrick is rostered for night surveillance duties around Government House during the visit of the Australian Prime Minister, John Gorton. What eventuates is a series of hilarious incidents. Woven through these adventures is the question of the timing of independence. Fitzpatrick appears to avoid the temptation to overstate the obvious and instead skilfully canvasses the attitudes of others, although he could be forgiven for a little self-indulgence. His relationship with Ihini, the young, attractive Papuan journalist on the Post Courier, is an integral part of the story. Fitzpatrick generally resists telling us the detail and leaves the reader to fill in the gaps. Perhaps it might have been better not to tell us of Ihinis fate. This story will be irresistible to those who have lived, visited or heard of Papua New Guinea. To those who have friends who only borrow from libraries or from others, do everyone a favour and buy an extra copy. Bamahuta: gripping, wry, humorous read BRIAN DARCEY (2009) People who lived and worked in Papua New Guinea prior to 1975, when independence was prematurely thrust on an ill-prepared and largely unwilling population by the Australian Government, are becoming thin on the ground as the years roll on. Most former colonies including PNG have coped with their new status with varying degrees of success, and a recently republished book by former Kiap Philip Fitzpatrick would be a welcome addition to any collector of stories written by the men who brought youth, stamina and dedication to the task of preparing a stone age country for political independence. Rescued from its out of print oblivion by niche publisher Diane Andrews of Cairns, Bamahuta. Leaving Papua reeks of authenticity and personal acquaintance with the people of Papua New Guinea by a writer who lived and worked with them as a Kiap in the final years of Australia's occupation of Papua from 1967-73, two years before independence. Like others who returned to PNG after 1975, including the writer of this review, Philip returned from time to time after the departure of the Australian administration, and was appalled and saddened by the shambolic and lawless depths to which the country he knew and loved had descended. The opening chapter of the book has a vivid account of an armed payroll hijack at a remote airstrip which Fitzpatrick survived after his driver was shot and badly injured. It makes gripping reading. There is much humour and wry comment by this percipient and acute observer of mankind, both black and white, some of it racier and more personal than in books written by former kiaps like Ivan Champion, Jack Hides and JK McCarthy, but it deserves a place alongside these in the Papua New Guinea Ben Carson, Donald Trump accuse Ted Cruz of dishonesty, tainting latter's caucus victory in Iowa Two Republican presidential candidatesBen Carson and Donald Trumpare accusing rival Ted Cruz of dishonesty, tainting the latter's victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday. Cruz has already issued an apology to Carson for what he called a mistake by his campaign when it told precinct leaders than Carson was dropping out of the race and that Carson supporters should be given that news and urged to vote for Cruz instead, Newsmax reported. Carson said "as a Christian," he has accepted Cruz's apology but insisted that the people in Cruz's camp responsible for the disinformation should be fired. "This was absolutely deliberate. I have no question about that," Carson said on Fox News Channel's "On the Record with Greta Van Susteren" on Thursday. Carson questioned Cruz's honesty and integrity, asking, "Where is the truth and honesty and the integrity?" The Cruz campaign blamed the mistake on a misunderstanding of a CNN report, but CNN insisted that it never carried a report that Carson was suspending his campaign. The network said it reported only that Carson was going back home to Florida after the caucuses and not straight to New Hampshire or South Carolina as did other candidates. Republican strategist Karl Rove told Van Susteren that the Cruz campaign statement was "a complete phony deal." Rove noted that the Cruz campaign circulated the statement that Carson was quitting the race to all 1,500 precinct leaders in Iowa, and Cruz beat Trump by 6,239 votes. "So all it took was changing the minds of roughly four people per precinct and Cruz's lead could have been erased," Rove said. Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad also blasted Cruz, saying his campaign used "unethical and unfair" tactics against Carson, Newsmax said. "This thing that they distributed on caucus night saying that Dr. Carson was likely to drop out and his supporters should support Cruz, that is, I think, unethical and unfair," Branstad said Thursday on Radio Iowa. "I think there'll be repercussions to that." Earlier, Trump took to Twitter to slam Cruz, saying the senator "stole" the votes for Carson, WND reported. He also called for a new caucus process or the nullification of the Iowa results. In a tweet, he wrote: "Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!" In an interview with Boston Herald Radio, Trump said he'd "probably" file a complaint. "What [Cruz] did was unthinkable," he said, adding that Cruz was a "really fraudulent" person. Cruz belittled Trump's attack, saying he already expected his chief rival's insulting tirades, Newsmax reported. "We have now gotten used to the temper tantrums, or Trumper Tantrums, that he throws," Cruz said Wednesday. "Whenever he's unhappy, he melts down and he explodes on Twitter. It is odd behavior for a grown man." Cruz told reporters in Iowa that his 5-year-old and 7-year-old daughters are better behaved than Trump. Meantime, Senator Rand Paul and former senator Rick Santorum have joined former Governor Mike Huckabee in dropping out of the GOP presidential race. The next electoral contest is set on Tuesday, Feb. 9, when New Hampshire holds its primary. Trump holds big leads in opinion polls in New Hampshire where Cruz's evangelical Christian credentials will not be as helpful as they were in Iowa, according to The Washington Times. Trump registered 36 percent support among likely GOP primary voters in the UMass Lowell/7News tracking poll on Thursday, with Senator Marco Rubio in second place at 15 percent. Cruz is at third with 14 percent. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was next at 8 percent, followed by Ohio Gov. John Kasich at 7 percent, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie at 5 percent, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 4 percent and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina at 3 percent. Chinese officials banned from religion even after retirement Chinese officials are banned from religious activities even after they retire, state media said on Friday. Reuters reports that Communist Party officials must oppose what the government calls "cults" and not become religious, even after they have left state service, according to new rules issued from the party's powerful Organisation Department. Although the Chinese constitution allows for freedom of belief, in reality the officially-atheist ruling Communist Party keeps a tight rein on religious activities. Officials who are party members are not supposed to practise religion. The Organisation Department, which oversees personnel decisions, has now said retired officials who were also party members have to follow these rules too. "There are clear rules that retired officials who are party members cannot believe in religion and cannot attend religious activities, and must resolutely struggle against evil cults," an unnamed official said in the lengthy explanation. Retired officials must also be aware that "certain ethnic minority folk custom activities" they happen to attend are nothing to do with religion, the official added, without elaborating. The new rules continue a crackdown on religious activity in China with a number of pastors and human rights activists detained in recent months. Among them is Pastor Gu Yuese of China's largest Protestant church, the 10,000-member Chongyi Church, who was removed from his position without warning by the authorities, accused of embezzling church funds and detained in a so-called 'black jail'. His treatment has been linked by human rights activists with his stand against the removal of crosses from churches. Demonstrations against this programme have been crushed with force and numerous church buildings have been demolished. The growth of Christianity in China has been exponential and authorities have targeted churches, which they see as dangerous cults. Additional reporting from Reuters. Church leaders gather in Birmingham Central Mosque to oppose Pegida march Church leaders will gather in Birmingham Central Mosque this afternoon to oppose a planned march by the anti-Islamist group, Pegida. Representatives from the Church of England will meet alongside Muslim leaders and politicians as part of the "HOPE not hate" campaign which is seeking to counter a mile-long "silent march" organised by Pegida UK tomorrow (Saturday). The gathering comes after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined the opposition to the march which is co-ordinated by former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson. The faith leaders want "to show unity and solidarity with each other and with the city of Birmingham", a spokesman from Birmingham Central Mosque told Christian Today. It is part of a promise signed by the Bishop of Birmingham David Urquhart to "sit down and drink a cup of tea with someone from another community that we do not know well and explore what we have in common". However Urquhart declined an offer for a cup of tea with a Pegida member. "Rather than spending time with you at this stage I will continue to listen to as many people as possible who live and work in this city and are committed to its long-term welfare and flourishing," he wrote to Mr Weston from Pegida. "From them I will seek to learn and understand how I can play my part in ensuring Birmingham remains a place where all people feel welcome and are able to participate creatively as this city continues to explore and model how to thrive as a global community." Urquhart has joined all nine of Birmingham MPs in signing the "we choose hope" pledge opposing Pegida. He labelled anti-Islamist campaigning as "narrow and targeted", expressing "negative attitudes and actions towards fellow members of the human race in and beyond our nation." "Fuelling fear and unjust prejudice, these are unacceptable and cannot be called Christian," he said in a statement. However, Robinson accused the "Hope" campaign of stifling free speech and denied Pegida was racist. Instead those backing it were "cowards", he told the IBTimesUK. "What have they ever done to stop the hate being preached in our universities?" he said. "What have they ever done to stop the sexual exploitation of young girls in Birmingham? "I invite them to sit down with me and have an adult conversation about the problems we face. It's easy to just condemn. What's not easy is to do what we do every day, receiving death threats and being attacked. These MPs just take the easy way out, they're cowards." Saturday's march will begin in Birmingham International railway station and walk towards a nearby car park where a number of speeches will be made. It will be part of a Europe-wide "day of action" from Pegida in an attempt to spread the movement across the continent. Although the group insisted they are only opposed to extremism, critics have said the group targets Islam as a whole. A Church of England spokesman told Christian Today representatives would not be attending the march. "To do so would be to provoke," he said. Pegida UK is a British branch of a a German group called Patriotische Europaer gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West) or Pegida for short. Church of Sweden apologises for 'racist' schooling of indigenous Sami children The Church of Sweden has admitted to running segregated, racist schools for the country's ethnic Sami population. The Church, the country's national Church and the world's largest Lutheran Church, acknowledged the schools were "based on racist ideas". The confession came as the Church is trying to atone for the part it played in repressing the indiginous Sami people. A two-volume 'White Book' has been published today, documenting its mistreatment of the Sami and focusing on the so-called Nomad Schools it ran between 1913 and 1962. "It was a form of school whose ideology was based on racist ideas of superior and inferior races, and that took away from many Sami their language, culture and human dignity. One must describe where the pain persists, and what the abuse was," Archbishop Antje Jackelen told Sweden's Dagens Nyheter newspaper. The book has been published as part of the ongoing reconciliation process between the Church and the Sami, many of whom are Laestadian, a particularly conservative form of Lutheranism. The nomad schools were set up because of a belief in the Church that those Sami who herded reindeers should be corralled within their historic way of life. In one school, the children until the 1940s lived in huts furnished with twigs and reindeer skins. They were taught basic skills only as they were not expected to reach a high educational level, and it was believed that their culture would be harmed if they were exposed to "civilisation". Other Sami were encouraged to assimilate, where they were taught in Swedish which they did not understand. Their traditional names were removed from Church records and the traditional Yoik singing was banned. Reindeer herders now make up about 10 per cent of the Sami peoples, or nearly 3,000 people in total. Jackelen said: "It is good to take the troll out into the light, because then they disappear. There's been a silence surrounding this. Young people do not know what happened. The nomad schools were found throughout the Sami regions, from Karesuando to Jamtland. We must talk about it." The publication of the White Book comes on the eve of National Sami Day, celebrated on February 6 in Norway, Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. Earlier this week, the Sami won a 30-year battle for land rights when their village, Girjas, inside the Arctic Circle, won exclusive rights to local hunting and fishing. These same rights had been removed by Sweden's parliament in 1993. . Church stance on contraception under pressure in face of Zika virus The Catholic church in Latin America is under growing pressure to relax its ban on artificial contraception as fears grow over the outbreak of the Zika virus. Apart from carrying occasional warnings from the World Health Organisation online, the Vatican has remained silent on the crisis threatening vast swathes of Latin America, where the Pope himself comes from. The Church's official view is that artificial birth control is not permitted under any circumstances, even to help prevent HIV infection. As the Zika virus spreads and growing numbers of babies are being born with microcephaly, or abnormally small heads and brains, the Church has remained largely silent on contraception. Abortion also remains illegal, with few exceptions, in most countries in Latin America. Where church leaders have spoken out, it has been to reaffirm the catechism teaching that contraception is intrinsically evil. Father Luciano Brito, spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Olinda and Recife, one of the areas most severely affected, said Catholics should avoid using birth control, regardless of Zika. Although the link has yet to be definitely proven, there is mounting evidence that the sudden surge in babies being born with microcephaly is linked to the spread of the Zika virus. Tewedros Melesse, director general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: "Despite opposition, in recent decades Latin America has made great strides in amplifying access to contraception. However much more needs to be done. In the face of the Zika virus, these gains need to be echoed throughout the region especially for adolescents, poor women and those living in rural areas who are most likely to be exposed to the virus and least likely to have access to reproductive health services. "Access to contraception should be available to all. Governments must ensure their medical services have the supplies for those who want it. We recommend strengthening family planning programmes and access to safe abortion services for those women who need it and where it is permitted by law." Women in some Latin American countries have been advised not to get pregnant for up to two years. The Rev John Paris, a bioethicist and priest at Boston College, said: "I've never seen this advice before, and when you hear it, you think, 'What are the bishops going to do?'" Daniel Ramirez, assistant professor of history and American culture at the University of Michigan, said: "It's going to present a lot of problems for the bishops to sort out. They're going to have to really thread a fine theological needle here," according to CNN. Nearly four in 10 of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics live in Latin America and although atheism and agnosticism is growing there as in the West, the Church remains a huge influence throughout society. Donald Trump errs anew in trying to show his Christian faith, placing money in church Communion plate U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump made another gaffe showing his apparent unfamiliarity with certain Christian practices when he and his wife attended church services at the non-denominational First Christian Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Sunday. When the Communion plates were passed, Trump mistook the silver plates for the offertory, digging out several bills from his pocket, according to the Washington Post, which was based on an Associated Press report. He, his wife and two staffers reportedly took Communion. When the offering plates were passed minutes later, he again took out some bills and placed them this time on the right plates. "I thought it was for offering," he later told staffers with a laugh, referring to the Communion plates. Two weeks ago, Trump also found himself the butt of jokes when he spoke to students at Liberty University, a Christian school in Virginia. After promising to protect Christians worldwide, Trump read a verse from Second Corinthians one of the books in the New Testament. But Trump pronounced it "Two Corinthians," as it's often written in text. Critics pounced on this American faux pas, saying it showed that Trump is just pretending to be a knowledgeable Christian. However, according to the Washington Post, saying "Two Corinthians" is common in Britain, and that Trump's mother is from Scotland. Trump has long been reaching out to evangelical voters to solidify his lead in the polls by portraying himself as a sincere and dedicated Christian, even if his efforts appear strained. Last year, Trump spoke about partaking in Holy Communion. "When I drink my little wine which is about the only wine I drink and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed," he said, according to CNN. "I think in terms of 'Let's go on and let's make it right.'" Trump said he was raised and still identifies himself as a Presbyterian, referring to the mainline Presbyterian Church (USA) denomination. Last December, he said, "I am an evangelical. I'm a Christian. I'm a Presbyterian." However, church leaders in Manhattan, New York where he resides say he is not an active member in any of their churches. Continuing his effort to show his Christian faith, Trump released a new video on Saturday showing off the Trump family Bible, saying it is "very special to me." Trump has described the Bible as the greatest book ever written. However, when he was asked what is his favourite verse, he could not say anything. While campaigning in Iowa last week, he handed out photos from his childhood confirmation from a Presbyterian church. However, Trump appeared unaware that conservative evangelicals often keep mainline Protestant churches at arms-length because they are seen as more liberal. Despite his stumbling attempts to woo more Christian voters, many Americans who are religious say they are still supporting Trump even if they don't see him as very religious at all. Dracula inspired by Anglican priest from Devon The original Count Dracula was not from Transylvania but was inspired by a hymn-writing Church of England clergyman from Devon, according to new material unearthed by one of the world's leading Dracula scholars. And he was inspired by the same clergyman who wrote the soul-stirring hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers. The Gothic vampire horror novel Dracula was written by Bram Stoker in 1897 after intensive research into the history of the mythical werewolf. His two main sources were The Book of Were-Wolves, a study of lycanthropy, and Margery of Quether, a vampire novel by Rev Sabine Baring-Gould who wrote many popular hymns including Onward Christian Soldiers and Now The Day Is Over. Baring-Gould, who died in 1924, was born in St Sidwell's, Exeter. The origins have been uncovered by author Andy Struthers, 49, who will tell the World Dracula Congress in Dublin this year, organised by The Transylvanian Society of Dracula, that this is why Stoker set crucial parts of his novel in Exeter. Struthers will publish all his findings in a new book, Dracula Incarnate: unearthing the definitive Dracula. He told the Exeter Express and Echo that many people had previously tried to discover why he used Exeter in the novel. He said: "All previous efforts to find this link have proved fruitless, until now. "People will be surprised and sometimes shocked by my findings, as most of what they now hold true will be proven to be false. It's a bit like finding out who Father Christmas really is. Scholars of the novel Dracula are very aware of the fact that Stoker constructed his novel using many different sources." He added: "The book of werewolves and the vampire tale provided Stoker with elements of his story, and virtually everything he needed for the creation of his vampire Count, possibly including the voice of his vampire, which was female." He said Stoker liked "tipping his hat" to people who helped with his research or inspired his characters: "Exeter was included in the novel as a way of saying thank you to Baring-Gould, and the masses of material that he had provided the Irish author with. In a newspaper interview, given the month after Dracula was published, Stoker thanked the author of 'the book of werewolves' for what he had learned." European aid luring middle class Christians away from Syria, says Archbishop of Aleppo European aid to Christians in Syria targets middle class Christians and is equivalent to deportation, according to the Archbishop of Aleppo. Jean-Clement Jeanbart said European countries have been targeting the "backbone of our society", luring middle class Syrian Christians to leave the country in hope of a better life. "We've not only seen people leave, but also seen countries offering them free flights and visas they've hardly asked for," he told Radio Notre Dame. "They are taking the few remaining people...it is as if there were a deportation." On a visit to Paris, the Melkite Greek archbishop said that half of the Christians in Aleppo, the largest city in Syria, had already left. "It is the middle class, the backbone of our society, that is being absorbed," he said. Without naming the states he was referring to, he said that this exodus they were perpetuating was detrimental to Syria. "We think that leaving harms the country and the migrants themselves, because they are dreaming of a better world, which could exist if there are reforms in their own country," he said. The situation is stable in Aleppo, he said, adding that Christians are able to attend religious services more freely than before. He credited this to President Bashar al-Assad's government: "We have no problem practising our religion wherever the government is in control. We have very good relations with the Muslims, who make up 80 per cent of the population." Education is stable in these government controlled areas, with Muslims and Christians attending school together, he said. Although he said he was neither for nor against Assad, he said: "If the regime collapses and the president leaves, there will be countless local wars everywhere. People will kill each other. It will be terrible." FGM: At least 200 million cases worldwide, new report finds The number of victims of Female Genital Mutilation is 70 million higher than previously thought, according to a new Unicef report which found at least 200 million girls and women around the world had undergone the procedure. The data is from analysis of 30 countries, including Indonesia, where FGM is prevalent despite the practice being illegal since 2006. The statistics found that women in Indonesia, Egypt and Ethiopia account for half of all FGM victims worldwide, while Somalia has the highest percentage of women and girls aged between 15-49 having been cut, at 98 per cent. Until now, the issue has been treated broadly as an African issue. However the most recent figures show "the practice is more global than we originally thought", Claudia Cappa, who led UNICEF's statistics team on the report, told Al Jazeera. "In countries where data was not available, we had previously only had anecdotal evidence. We knew Indonesia has a growing population of women and girls, but I would say (these figures) are higher than expected," she said in a statement. The data shows that FGM is more common in some Middle Eastern countries, along with Central and South Asian countries. The majority of mutilations are done on girls under the age of five. The practice is bound up with many different cultural traditions, and in many places is conducted in the first week of life, with, or without the permission of the parents. The report documented a case in Guinea, saying: "Two days after this Christian community celebrated Christmas in a village, five-year-old Koumba was among 11 girls that were taken into the bush, some without their parents' permission or knowledge, and others directly against strong parental protest, to receive their 'initiation'. One day later, Koumba had bled to death before she could receive medical treatment." FGM describes the practice which involves cutting female genitalia and sometimes stitching the labia shut. It can result in infection, infertility and death, worsened because it is often carried out by traditional practitioners without technical training. Elaine Storkey, an evangelical theologian and author of Scars Across Humanity: Understanding and overcoming violence against women, told Christian Today: "Legislation which bans FGM is crucial, as there are many countries which have no such laws and FGM is widespread and not in decline such as in Sierre Leone where it has been declared as 'part of the country's culture by the Social Welfare and Gender Minister, Moijua Kaika. "However, laws on their own are ineffective unless backed by a change in attitude by those who promote FGM," she added. "When FGM is seen as central to religion, vital to tradition, anti-colonial, or as a form of livelihood it continues unabated." FGM is a key rite of many girls and women in communities where it is administered, and to refuse would risk rejection. "It's something to be perceived as necessary for a girl to be accepted in a community where certain values and certain traditions are taking place surrounding purity, for instance, virginity, marriageability of a girl," said UNICEF's Claudia Cappa. The key, according to gender specialist Natalie Collins, is "the changing of hearts and minds, but this is not an easy task". "A law can make something illegal, but if a long-held belief system puts the community in opposition to the law especially if it's a new law they will resist. They have other laws operating outside of the mainstream and are prioritised above national laws," she said. Storkey added: "Awareness campaigns, community action, medical engagement and education are all vital as are the stories of survivors who are increasingly speaking out. "The change has to come within the countries themselves." Islamic State atrocities are 'genocide' says European Parliament The European Parliament has recognised as genocide the mass slaughter and persecution of Christians and others in the Middle East. It is the first time an ongoing conflict has been recognised as genocide. There has been considerable debate around the world as to whether the depradations of Islamic State should be classed as genocide, with one fear being that it would oblige outside bodies and agencies to take stronger action against the terror group. Under the resolution, all who intentionally commit atrocities for ethnic or religious reasons should be brought to justice for violations against international law, crimes against humanity, and genocide. The next step will be for those calling for action to demand the UN Security Council intervene. Lars Adaktusson, MEP from Sweden, who tabled the resolution, told Newsweek: "It's really important that the Parliament passed it, on a political level and a moral level." He said the significance was in the collective "obligation to intervene" that now follows recognition. "It gives the victims of the atrocities a chance to get their human dignity restored. It's also a historical confirmation that the European Parliament recognised what is going on and that they are suffering from the most despicable crime in the world, namely genocide." ISIS has kidnapped and murdered thousands of Christians, Muslims and Yazidis. The group has also enslaved and raped Christian and Yazidi women and girls. Last month, Robert Flello, Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent South tabled a motion in the House of Commons stating that MPs are "appalled by the beheadings, crucifixions, shootings, burnings, other murders, torture, rape and extensive violence being perpetrated by Daesh or IS against Christians and other minorities in Syria and Iraq on the basis of religion and ethnicity." His motion says the "disgusting behaviour" clearly falls within the definition of genocide as determined by the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide. He also notes a recent report from the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq that IS is holding about 3,500 slaves, mostly women and children in Iraq and primarily from the Yazidi community. He concludes that IS acts "amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity and possibly genocide" and calls on the Government to use all its influence at the UN to create a stated consensus that genocide is indeed being perpetrated so that intervention "can urgently, legitimately and effectively be invoked and implemented". The parliamentary assembly of the Council of Europe has also recognised the killings as genocide. And just before Christmas, 75 parliamentarians from across Parliament and all parties and including the former head of the Armed Forces, the former head of MI5, and former cabinet ministers wrote to the Prime Minister David Cameron urging him also to declare the atrocities to be genocide. Lord Alton of Liverpool is among those who have been leading the argument. He wrote recently in The Catholic Herald that it was comparable to past genocides well-documented through history. "So is genocide what is happening today in Syria and Iraq specifically to Christians and Yazidis? Pope Francis has said that it is and so has Hillary Clinton, as well as Marco Rubio and most of the other Republican presidential hopefuls." Referring to the destruction by Islamic State of Mosul's ancient, stone-walled monastery of St Elijah, dating from the 6th century, where monks had etched the words Chi Rho, the first Greek letters of the word Kristos, "Christ", he continued: "This attempt to eradicate memory has been accompanied by the obliteration of Christ's followers. Last year 200 Assyrian Christians in the Khabur River Valley in Syria were kidnapped. Jihadist websites showed graphic executions of some of the group, warning that others would be executed if the ransoms remained unpaid." Along with the Yazidi community, Christians have been told to convert or die, he added. "Children have been seized, propagandised and indoctrinated with jihadist ideology." Lord Alton argued: "We endlessly talk of something vaguely called 'British values'. One value, one belief, that particularly marks us out from the ideology of ISIS is our belief in the rule of law. As a signatory to the genocide convention, it is a dereliction of our duty to uphold international law if we do not take the action that should follow our signature, our voice and our military action." Search This Blog A button for your sidebar "PEACE IS A BY-PRODUCT OF VICTORY. PROSPERITY IS A BY-PRODUCT OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE. " "The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 35th President of the United States QUESTION: WHICH VERSION OF ISLAM DID MUHAMMED PRACTICE, "MODERATE ISLAM"OR "RADICAL ISLAM"? THE ANSWER IS THE ONLY THING YOU REALLY HAVE TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM - AND ITS APOLOGISTS. Blog Archive New Moderator of Presbyterian Church condemns homophobia The new leader of Ireland's influential Presbyterian Church has criticised homophobia and spoken of his admiration for ministers he knows who are attracted to people of the same-sex. The Rev Frank Sellar, minister of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church in east Belfast, was elected to succeed Rev Ian McNie as the next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland when he received 18 out of a possible 19 votes from presbyteries across the country. Sellar, aged 57, described himself as a Calvinist and a "gospel radical". He spoke up for gay people and for women in the church. "Currently, about seven per cent of the clergy are female and it would be good to see that number increase. However, entering the clergy is not something to be forced on people, they have to hear the call and want to follow it," he told the Belfast Telegraph. "In my role I have come across many situations that people without a calling would find quite difficult. But for me, my faith in Jesus guides me, knowing that I am doing his work because I felt the call to do it." He also said that he believed it was possible to be same-sex attracted and still to live by biblical precepts. He mentioned two well-known evangelicals, Ed Shaw and Vaugan Roberts. They are both part of the "Living Out" project, which promotes the lifestyles of Christians who are same-sex attracted but abide by Church teaching. Sellar said: "It might sound surprising, but some of the people in the clergy I admire, and indeed some of the people within Christian ministry that I respect most, are same-sex attracted and it's vital that people hear that. "I believe there is no place in society for homophobia. In the cases of these two members, they have chosen to place their sexuality under the authority of the Lord and decided to live within the parameters the Bible sets." On the Asher Bakery controversy, he said: "Certainly, a business should not discriminate against customers because of their ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation that would be quite wrong. But it is a much wider issue. "If a customer were to request a Muslim printer to print a cartoon of Mohammed, it would not be right, and there would be ramifications. "But that's quite different to coercion to participate in political campaigning, which is what I think is happening at the moment." Sellar has described his ministry as Gospel-driven, based on the Bible, passionate about people and centred in Christ. He said: "Jesus is the antidote to all the bad news which is so prevalent in a broken society. Church is not for those who think that they are now 'good enough', but for people who know that they are not, but recognise their need of a Saviour who can make them whole." Pope Francis and Russian Orthodox patriarch to hold historic meeting in Cuba Pope Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in what could be a historic step toward healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity. The Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate announced today that Francis will stop in Cuba on February 12 his way to Mexico to hold talks with Patriarch Kirill, the first in history between a Roman Catholic pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch. Modern popes have met in the past with the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarchs, the spiritual leaders of Eastern Orthodoxy, which split with Rome in 1054. Ecumenical patriarchs play a largely symbolic role, while the rich Russian Church wields real influence because it counts some 165 million of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians. The Vatican said the leaders would hold several hours of private talks at Havana airport, deliver public speeches and sign a joint statement. The meeting was brokered by Cuban President Raul Castro, who hosted the Pope in Cuba last year. Significantly, the Vatican helped arrange the recent rapprochement between Cuba and the United States. Such a meeting eluded Francis' two immediate predecessors, Benedict and John Paul, who both tried but failed to reach agreement with Kirill and previous patriarchs to hold talks on the prospects for eventual Christian unity. Senior Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Hilarion said long-standing differences between the two Churches would remain, most notably a row over the Eastern Rite church in Ukraine that is allied with Rome. But he said they being put aside so that Kirill and Francis could work together against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Both Francis and Kirill have often decried their oppression and killing by Islamist militants. The Russians had previously said outstanding differences had to be ironed out before any high-level meeting could be held. "The situation shaping up today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa and in some other regions where extremists are carrying out a genuine genocide of the Christian population demands urgent measures and an even closer cooperation between the Christian Churches," Hilarion said. "We need to put aside internal disagreements at this tragic time and join efforts to save Christians in the regions where they are subject to the most atrocious persecution." The Russian Church has accused Catholics of trying to convert people from Orthodoxy after the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, a charge the Vatican has denied. One particularly sore point is the fate of Church properties that Soviet dictator Josef Stalin confiscated from Eastern Rite Catholics in Ukraine and gave to the Russian Orthodox there. After the fall of communism, Eastern Rite Catholics took back many Church properties, mostly in western Ukraine. Pope's commission on sex abuse sits down to watch Spotlight Members of the Pope's commission on child sex abuse began their latest meeting by sitting down to watch Spotlight, the story of the journalists at the Boston Globe who investigated and exposed Catholic child abuse. The film, nominated for six Academy Awards, relates how the Pulitzer Prize-winning team at the Boston Globe pursued relentlessly the stories of abuse and cover-ups. Peter Saunders, who was abused by a Catholic priest as a child and who is a member of the commission, which meets twice a year, told the Guardian that all 17 of them sat and watched it together in Rome on the suggestion of another member. Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, who heads the commission, had already seen it but watched it again. "We got in touch with Phil Saviano one of the characters in the film and he got in touch with the producers in LA," said Saunders, who described the film as "extremely worrying". He said the film should be seen by Pope Francis, who is encountering criticism from some survivors who want him to do more to hold bishops and cardinals to account for their failure to protect children. The Catholic news website Crux reported on concern at the recent resignations of two bishops who had been criticised for their handling of abuse cases. The reasons for their resignations have not been made public. The Vatican has not commented officially on the film but it has been praised by Vatican Radio as "honest" and "compelling". Rebel forces struggle as Russia and Turkey trade accusations Russia said on Thursday it suspected Turkey was preparing a military incursion into Syria, as a Syrian army source said Aleppo would soon be encircled by government forces with Russian air support. Turkey in turn accused Moscow of trying to divert attention from its own "crimes" in Syria, and said Aleppo was threatened with a "siege of starvation". It said Turkey had the right to take any measures to protect its security. In another sign of the spreading international ramifications of the five-year-old Syrian war, Saudi Arabia said it was ready to participate in ground operations against Islamic State in Syria if the US-led alliance decided to launch them. The United Nations on Wednesday suspended the first peace talks in two years, halting an effort that seemed doomed from the start as the war raged unabated. Washington said on Thursday however it was hopeful they would resume by the end of the month, and Russia said it expected that no later than February 25. Donors convened in London to tackle the refugee crisis created by the conflict. British Prime Minister David Cameron said they raised $11 billion for Syrian humanitarian needs over the next four years. Turkey said at the conference up to 70,000 refugees from Aleppo were moving towards the border to escape air strikes. Border march Footage online showed hundreds of people, mostly women, children and the elderly, marching towards Turkey's Onucpinar border gate, carrying carpets, blankets and food on their backs. Four months of Russian air strikes have tipped the momentum of the war Assad's way. With Moscow's help and allies including Lebanon's Hezbollah and Iranian fighters, the Syrian army is regaining areas on key fronts in the west. Russia's defence ministry said it had registered "a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces for active actions on the territory of Syria". Any Turkish incursion would risk direct confrontation between Russia and a NATO member. "The Russians are trying to hide their crimes in Syria," said a senior official in Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu's office. "They are simply diverting attention from their attacks on civilians as a country already invading Syria. Turkey has all the rights to take any measures to protect its own security." In London, Davutoglu said the "humanitarian logistic corridor" between Turkey and Aleppo was "under the invasion of these foreign fighters and regime forces (with) the support of Russian warplanes". "What they want to do in Aleppo today is exactly what they did in Madaya before, a siege of starvation," he added. Davutoglu pledged that whatever the cost Turkey's door would remain open to all Syrians. It has already taken in more than 2.5 million. Relations between Russia and Turkey have deteriorated badly since Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian border in November. State Department spokesman John Kirby declined to comment on Turkish military operations on the Syrian border, saying only: "They are working to secure that stretch of border, but I'm not going to comment on specific military activities of another nation inside their borders." Aleppo, strategic prize Aleppo, just 50 km (30 miles) south of the Turkish border, is a major strategic prize in the war and is currently divided into areas of government and opposition control. Many of the rebels fighting in and around the city have close ties to Turkey. This week, three days of intensive Russian bombing helped the army and allied fighters to sever a major supply line to the northwest of the city, in the process reaching two Shi'ite towns loyal to the government for the first time in three and a half years. The army source said operations to fully encircle Aleppo from the west would be launched soon. A senior, non-Syrian security source close to Damascus said Iranian fighters had played a crucial role. "Qassem Soleimani is there in the same area," said the source, referring to the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds force responsible for overseas operations. Residents thanked Assad, Iran and Hezbollah in celebratory scenes from the Shi'ite towns of Nubul and al-Zahraa broadcast by Hezbollah's al-Manar TV. The powerful Kurdish YPG militia, which controls wide areas of northern Syria, meanwhile added to the pressure on insurgents, capturing two villages near Nubul and al-Zahraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The Syrian Kurds have consistently denied opposition claims that they cooperate with Damascus. All diplomatic efforts towards ending the conflict have failed. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the latest steps in peace talks were undermined by increased aerial bombing. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura announced a three-week pause. "I think the special envoy decided to suspend the talks because the organisation did not want to be associated with the Russian escalation in Syria, which risks undermining the talks completely," a UN official told Reuters. Mohammad Javad Zarif, foreign minister of Iran, called in London for the talks to resume and for an immediate ceasefire. But he said later that should not mean stopping military operations against "recognised terrorist organisations", naming the Nusra Front and Islamic State. Rebels hope for more weapons US Secretary of State John Kerry said his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov had agreed on the need to discuss how to implement a ceasefire in Syria during a call on Thursday. The State Department said later Kerry would travel to Munich next week to seek an agreement on a ceasefire after assurances by Lavrov that Moscow was committed to a political solution in Syria. The State Department's Kirby, however, said that Russia's pledges to end the Syria conflict through political dialogue did not match its military actions on the battlefield, where it continued to bomb opposition positions. "We're certainly seeing, at least in the very recent past, discordant messages" by Russia, Kirby added. Rebel commanders said they hoped the peace talks' collapse would convince their foreign backers, including Saudi Arabia, that it was time to send them more powerful and advanced weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles. Assad's foreign opponents have been funnelling weapons to vetted rebel groups via both Turkey and Jordan. One rebel leader said he expected "something new, God willing" after the failure of the Geneva talks. Another rebel commander said: "They are promising to continue the support. In what form, I don't yet know ... How it will crystallise, nobody knows ... We need to wait." Both spoke on condition of anonymity. While vetted "Free Syrian Army" rebels have received weapons including US-made guided anti-tank missiles, their calls for anti-aircraft missiles have gone unanswered mostly because of fears they could end up in the hands of powerful jihadist groups such as the Nusra Front, which are also fighting Assad. A Russian defence ministry spokesman said a Russian military trainer was killed in a mortar attack on February 1. "They [Russian military servicemen] are not taking part in ground operations," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We are talking about advisers. This is linked to teaching Syrian colleagues to operate equipment which is being delivered to Syria under existing contracts." A Saudi general said the kingdom was "ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition may agree to carry out in Syria". Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, who is also the spokesman for the Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Iranian-backed forces in Yemen, was speaking to Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV. The EU referendum explained: what's happening and how did we get here? 2016 could see one of the most seismic shifts in generations in British politics. On June 23, the people of the UK will be given the chance to vote on whether to leave the European Union or remain as part of it. The last time we were consulted on the topic was more than 40 years ago. Why is this happening now? How did we get to this point? When will the vote happen? All these and more questions are answered in our brief guide. The European Union began in the aftermath of the Second World War. Europe had been torn apart twice in only 20 years. Both the First and Second World wars saw devastation brought to the continent as millions of soldiers and civilians were killed, empires were brought down and fascism defeated. Looking back further into history, Europeans still had the memories of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1 and even further back to the devastating Thirty Years War. These were conflicts which pitted neighbours against each other and left devastation in their wake 25-40 per cent of the population of Germany was killed in the Thirty Years War, for example. When the carnage of World War Two finally ceased, countries in Europe struggled to get themselves back on their feet. With the Iron Curtain descending, Western Europe soon realised it was on the front line of the Cold War between America and the USSR. A military alliance began to be formed in the shape of NATO, while the United Nations was founded in an attempt to see diplomacy succeed war as the tool of choice for disputing nations. While these post-war institutions were developing, six counties in Europe decided that a trading bloc was also needed, to improve economic conditions. In 1957, the Benelux countries (Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg) banded together with their larger neighbours France, Germany and Italy to sign the Treaty of Rome. This led to the foundation of the European Economic Community. Over the coming decades these countries began to work more and more closely on economic affairs, and were joined by others. Here in the UK, we didn't join until 1973 under the Conservative Government of Edward Heath. When Labour won power the following year, a referendum was held to ask the British people their opinion. A majority (67 per cent) wanted to remain 'in Europe' and we have done so ever since. However, the institution that we remained part of has changed vastly in that time. From the original six members, the group has grown to 28 states from both sides of the former Iron Curtain. With a population of over 500 million contained within those countries, the now re-named European Union is far more than a simple trading bloc. It has a Parliament, an anthem, three presidents (one of the Council, one of the Commission, one of the Parliament), a court and legal system and is now a political as well as economic organisation. The relationship Britain has had with the EU has always been complex. Initially, ambivalence to the European project came mainly from Labour MPs. Gradually, throughout the 80s and 90s as Labour became more pro-EU, the Conservatives went the other way. John Major's term as Prime Minister was marred by internecine warfare within the Tory Party over how closely the UK should be integrated into the EU. While the Conservatives were out of power, this infighting took a back seat and Labour remained resolutely pro-EU. But when the Conservatives returned to government in 2010, and with the rise of the United Kingdom Independence Party, the issue was back on the agenda. In a bid to ward off a split, Prime Minister David Cameron promised that a post-2015 Conservative government would hold a referendum to decide if the UK should remain part of the EU. He would hold the referendum only once he was satisfied that he had got a better deal for Britain on a key Conservative issue, the ability to restrict immigration. That process was concluded last week, with the other EU countries agreeing to a seven-year 'emergency brake' on in-work benefits for their citizens working in the UK and child benefit payments indexed to the cost of living for children living outside the UK. Britain also gets an opt-out from the drive to 'ever closer union', first signalled in the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The referendum will be held on June 23. At the moment the polls seem to indicate a small majority of people would vote for the UK to remain part of the EU. However, the polls were notoriously unreliable ahead of last year's General Election and given there hasn't been a referendum on EU membership since 1975, there is little precedent here. While it's thought the majority of Conservative MPs and the large majority of Labour MPs will encourage a vote to remain in the EU, the strength of feeling about the role of the EU especially in non-metropolitan areas shouldn't be underestimated. However, there are huge issues at stake. The sovereignty of the country, how we deal with the refugee crisis and wider immigration, vast trade deals and healthcare, workers' rights, defence and security, climate change and much, much more besides. So far most churches and Christian organisations have kept a low profile not wanting to be drawn on such a volatile political issue. The interest is sure to reach fever pitch in the run-up to the referendum, though, so it wouldn't be surprising to see some interjection in the debate from key leaders and organisations. Whatever happens, it's set to be a landmark year in British political history... The Church of England's 'Reimagining Europe' blog is a useful resource for further research and debate. Turkish envoy back at Vatican after withdrawal over Pope's 'genocide' comment Turkey's ambassador has returned to the Vatican nearly 10 months after he was withdrawn in protest against Pope Francis's characterisation of the Armenian massacres as genocide. Turkey does not deny that large numbers of Christian Armenians were killed during the early stages of the First World War, but disputes the figures some calculations put number as high as 1.5 million and the intention. It denies there was a systematic extermination programme and says the deaths of Armenians on death marches, by execution and starvation did not amount to genocide. The Pope sparked a row with Turkey when he said the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians in World War One was "the first genocide of the 20th century", just days before commemorations to mark the centennial of the massacres in April. The envoy to the Vatican was withdrawn. Tanju Bilgic, the Turkish Foreign Ministry's spokesman, said the decision came after the Vatican on Wednesday praised Turkey's willingness to open its archives to historians and create a joint commission of scholars to explore past events. The Vatican's comment came in the context of a statement about Pope Francis having received a book by an Italian author about the Fourth Battle of the Dardanelles in 1657, between the Ottoman Empire and the Venetian Republic. Francis is given many books at his general audiences on Wednesdays but the Vatican rarely issues statements about them, so praise for Turkey in the context of the book was a sign that the Holy See way trying to find a solution to the impasse, a diplomatic source told Reuters. In the statement the Vatican also recognised the killing of a Turkish ambassador to the Holy See in 1977 by Armenian gunmen as terrorism, which Turkey "appreciated", Bilgic said. While Turkey regularly withdraws its ambassadors from countries describing the massacres as genocide, the length of time involved in this case 10 months is unusual and both countries may have wished to normalise relations. The genocide which began in 1915 was the culmination of centuries of oppression for the Armenians under Ottoman rule which included pogroms in 1894-96 and in 1909. Historians argue that the Nazi Holocaust during the Second World War followed similar patterns to the Armenian massacres. Additional reporting by Reuters. What is FGM and what can be done during 'cutting season'? [Reader warning... graphic description] The government is co-hosting the Girl Summit today with UNICEF, in an attempt to tackle Female Genital Mutilation worldwide. More than 125 million women in Africa and the Middle East have suffered from FGM, where the practice predominates. But as many as 137,000 women in the UK are thought to have been cut, and a further 66,000 girls and women in Britain are currently at risk. One of the main goals for dealing with this issue in Britain is to increase public awareness and education so that people can identify and support girls who may be at risk. So how can you tell if a girl may be at risk of FGM? What are the signs, and where can they go for help? What is it? FGM includes procedures that intentionally alter or injure the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. It is usually performed on girls before the age of 15, most commonly between the age of five and eight. There are different forms of mutilation, including removing the clitoris and labia minora, and in some cases removing the labia majora. Other practices include narrowing the vaginal opening, piercing, scraping or cauterising the genital area. After it has been done girls may experience shock, bleeding and infection. It can later result in problems urinating, some women are made incontinent, and cysts and genital sores can develop. Infertility and complications in childbirth, including an increased risk of new-born deaths are other possible outcomes. Some women face repeated surgeries, as they can be cut to allow for sexual intercourse and childbirth, which of course increases the risk of harmful effects. It's usually performed without anaesthetic or antiseptic, using any sharp implement knives, scissors, even glass. It is most often done by traditional circumcisers, who have a particular role in community life, such as attending childbirths. However, the World Health Organisation reports an increasing medicalization of the practice. Why is it done? There are no health benefits to FGM. It's often suggested that religious leaders promoting the practice, though religious leaders have varying views, and it is done in Christian and Muslim communities as well as those practising traditional, tribal religions. It is often tied to an understanding of appropriate sexual behaviour within a community. It is held up as an ideal for premarital virginity, and can be seen as beautiful or modest, as well as being perceived as 'clean'. In many communities FGM is believed to reduce a woman's libido and therefore thought to help her resist illicit acts, or make women fear the pain involved in sexual intercourse, and similarly prevent illicit relationships. It is propagated as a cultural tradition. Where it is expected that a bride will have had it done, a young woman who hasn't been cut can be seen as undesirable. It becomes something that girls want to have done and their mothers can also be reluctant to prevent it. What are the signs? The summer holidays are known as the 'cutting season'. Girls are taken out of the UK for the summer in the hope that they will heal before the new school term. In the UK, girls from Somali, Kenyan, Sudanese, Sierra Leonean, Egyptian, Nigerian, Eritrean, Yemeni, Kurdish and Indonesian communities are most at risk. According to the NSPCC, a girl or woman may: have difficulty walking, sitting or standing spend longer than normal in the bathroom have unusual behaviour after an absence from school be particularly reluctant to undergo normal medical examinations ask for help, but may not be explicit about the problem, owing to fear or embarrassment Where can girls get help? If you are worried a child is at risk of, or is a victim of FGM, contact the NSPCC FGM helpline anonymously on 0880 028 3550 or fgmhelp@nscpcc.org.uk FGM was made illegal in the UK in 1985. From April this year health professionals began logging information about FGM injuries and patients with a family history of FGM. What the Julian Assange case can teach us about heroes and the rule of law Julian Assange is back in the headlines, just where he seems to enjoy being. Having spent the last four years hidden in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, he remains news. This week, a UN panel said he had been subject to 'arbitrary detention,' a decision widely criticised including by the British government. Social media, not to mention mainstream press, went into overdrive. Assange is a polarising character. Hailed by many as a hero fighting a valiant fight against over-mighty states and the military-industrial complex, he's castigated by others as someone on the run from the law unwilling to submit himself to the legal process. So which is he? And what does his case teach us? Assange came to prominence in 2010 after mainstream media outlets teamed up with his Wikileaks organisation to publish vast numbers of diplomatic cables and other sensitive data that shone light upon the way in which Western nations in particular conducted themselves. Warfare, torture, diplomacy, finances no realm was safe from Wikileaks' revelations. Information about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq was put out that damaged the reputation of American forces. Wikileaks also painted grim pictures of life elsewhere, highlighting vast corruption in Russia, for example. The tax affairs of the super-rich also came under the spotlight, while attempts were made to open vast corporate trade deals to the kind of public scrutiny they deserve. This led to celebrity status for Assange. Seemingly very comfortable in the media glare, he courted publicity. Repeatedly. Spurious media conferences were called and numerous attempts to wrest the attention of the world's media back onto him were made. If the story began as the leaking of information on the ways in which our 21st Century global military-industrial plutocracy was curtailing human rights, it soon became all about one man Julian Assange. In December 2010, Assange was arrested in London after an allegation of rape in Sweden. The Swedish prosecutor's office had issued a warrant. In May 2012, the UK Supreme Court ordered that Assange be extradited to Sweden and soon after he fled to the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has remained. So, looked at simply, Assange has spent the last six years avoiding the legal process in Sweden where he has been accused of a serious crime. His legions of admirers on social media leapt to his defence while oft-ridiculed demagogue George Galloway had his say. Assange acolytes implied that if he was sent to Sweden for questioning by the authorities then there would be a risk of him then being extradited to the United States, where he may even face the death penalty, if charges were brought against him in relation to the vast amount of information he had leaked. This was a technical risk, of course, but as a realistic possibility it has been seen as very unlikely. Assange was hiding in the Ecuadorean Embassy ostensibly because of the fear of being extradited to the United States, but this had the effect of shielding him from the legal process in Sweden, where there had been accusations of a serious crime. Having said that, it's undoubtedly true that there are powerful, shadowy vested interests who would like nothing more than to see his downfall. This week a UN panel found that Assange had been 'unlawfully detained' a decision which was met with incredulity and consternation given that Assange had effectively imposed the detention on himself by refusing to go to Sweden for questioning. British Home Secretary Phillip Hammond described Assange as "a fugitive from justice" and called the UN decision "ridiculous". It remains to be seen whether Assange will ever go to Sweden to face the accusations against him. But what lessons can we learn from this whole affair? Just because someone acts in a way we might see as heroic, brave or praiseworthy, it doesn't mean they are untouchable. Assange's army of online backers see him as a quasi-messianic figure. Yet, despite his exposure of the ways in which armies and corporations have flouted the rule of law, he refuses to face the rule of law himself hiding away in the embassy of Ecuador, a country whose President, "has expanded state control over media and civil society and abused its power to harass, intimidate, and punish critics" according to Human Rights Watch. This brings to mind the current case of Bishop George Bell. The wartime Bishop of Chichester heroically opposed both Nazism and the Allied carpet-bombing of Dresden. He was deeply admired in many other ways. But last year, the Diocese of Chichester issued a formal apology to a woman who said she had been abused by Bell as a child. Bell is long dead and so there will never be the chance for him to have his day in court. But Assange is alive and should engage with the legal process rather than running from it. Maybe that time is coming nearer. Assange is a hero to many. But that hero status doesn't make him super human. The whole concept of the rule of law is based on the idea that all of us governments, the rich, powerful, elites and the rest of us alike are treated the same by the legal system. Flouting of the basic concept by powerful cabals was unmasked by Wikileaks. We must demand the same of Julian Assange. When people can't admit their faith is complicit in violence Some religious people do not find it easy to acknowledge that their faith could be complicit in violence, according to a leading expert in the field of interfaith dialogue. Dr Clare Amos, of the World Council of Churches, told a symposium on Religion, Violence and Extremism that it is important to remember that "religions don't have human rights, it is human beings that do". She said some leaders of religious minorities, particularly in the Middle East, "may be more interested in the rights of the religious community they lead, to exist and carry out its official religious practices, than they are in the rights of particular individuals to profess any religious faith or none". She conceded that some people found it hard to accept aspects of their faith tradition. Amos said: "There is a tendency to try and protect the religion itself from such an accusation by suggesting that those who commit acts of violence are not really authentic representatives of that particular faith tradition." The event was run at the United Nations in New York by the World Council of Churches with the church and society board of the United Methodist Church and the Seventh-Day Adventists. The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers was among the sponsors. More than 130 delegates examined issues of violence, religion and where they crossed over. Rudelmar Bueno de Faria, head of the WCC UN liaison office in New York, said: "Many participants emphasised the need to take into account the root causes of violence as a way of addressing the problem: economic and social issues, aspects related to marginalisation and exclusion, but also elements related to corruption and impunity." He added: "We need to have a perspective of hope as opposite to fear." Papers containing the main speeches are expected to be published soon. Zika virus update: First non-traveler, sexually transmitted Zika virus case reported Zika virus continues to be a global health threat and now, the Centers for Disease Control confirms that the virus can be sexually transmitted. "CDC has confirmed through laboratory testing the first case of Zika virus infection in a non-traveler in the continental United States," a spokeswoman for CDC told ABC News. The first non-traveler case of Zika virus is from Dallas County, Texas and found to be sexually transmitted. The Dallas County Health and Human Services received confirmation from CDC after it reported of a patient who contracted the virus. The patient, whose identity is withheld, was infected after having sex with a person who had fallen ill after visiting a country where the virus is present. "Now that we know Zika virus can be transmitted through sex, this increases our awareness campaign in educating the public about protecting themselves and others," DCHHS director Zachary Thompson said in a statement. Thompson added that apart from abstinence, wearing condoms is the best way to prevent any sexually transmitted infections. Zika virus is usually transmitted through the bite of mosquitoes, but there were rare cases reported that the virus can be transmitted through sex and blood transfusion. The Dallas County case is not the first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus. In 2008, two men, a biologist and a graduate student, went to Senegal to collect mosquitoes to study malaria. When these two men flew back to Colorado, they developed an illness a week after. The biologist's wife also fell ill with the same symptoms a few days after. Since the wife never left Colorado, she and her husband realized that the virus may have been passed on when they had sex. Now that the virus have been confirmed to be transmissible through sexual contact, health experts are advising people who have symptoms of a mosquito-borne illness to seek medical care, especially if they have visited regions known to have Zika virus. Currently, there is no vaccine or drugs to prevent and treat Zika virus infections, so the best way to avoid the dreaded illness is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes and sexual contact with an infected person. Every year around this time, state legislators descend on Atlanta for a few months to say dumb things address the issues facing Georgia. With 236 members of the Georgia General Assembly and countless staffers from across the state bunking around the Capitol, demand for temporary downtown digs can be high. One of the places many stay is the Landmark Condo, located just up Piedmont Avenue from the Gold Dome. But a new leaked document shows a major scandal brewing in the building, entangling owners, legislators, the HOA board and everyone's right to rent. Landmark is a unique condo building in that the bylaws have no rental cap restrictions. Therefore, unlike most buildings in the city, owners are free to rent their units out without fear of fines or liens. In fact, a listing last year didn't beat around the bush that the unit would be perfect for renting out. But with Airbnb gaining popularity, the board has begun to define rentals of less than a month as a "business," despite recent legislation to the contrary. Subsequent documents claim that the new restriction, decided on behind closed doors by the condo board, unfairly infringes upon owners' rights. Now, normally, the process of limiting rentals would be accomplished by a change in the bylaws of the building, which would necessitate a vote of all the residents. The seemingly unilateral decision to limit rentals isn't sitting well with everyone and has resulted in what is appearing likely to devolve into a legal battle, with both sides lawyering up for the occasion. A source says that between 20 and 30 legislators call the building home, meaning any potential lawsuit could involve somewhere around 10 percent of Georgia's lawmakers. In the leaked document, there's plenty of legalese and a call to action for residents concerned that the board's decisions and policies "radically reduce our property and rental values." The implication could reach far beyond the dated Landmark tower, with questions about the legality of Airbnb versus owners' rights being pushed to the forefront... As the situation (d)evolves, we'll keep tabs and see what happens in the Landmark Legislative Legal Battle. Art is a very important element within architecture Marc Corbiau, one of Europes most distinguished contemporary architects, discusses Minimalism and how art has informed his practice, ahead of the London sale of nine works from the collection he has built with his wife Frederique Over the course of nearly 50 years, Marc Corbiau has cultivated a pioneering architectural practice renowned for its geometric purity, linear elegance and exquisite visual harmony. His buildings combine classical simplicity with a modernist economy of means, playing with the symbiotic relationship between form and function. Corbiau has described himself as an architect of walls: an assertion borne out in the finely-calibrated interplay of structural divisions within his buildings. At the same time, his constructions are conceived holistically, with consideration given to the buildings natural surroundings and interior decor. A home designed by Marc Corbiau In this vein, Corbiau has worked closely with a number of celebrated designers, including Claire Bataille, Jean De Meulder, Axel Vervoordt , Christian Liaigre, Raoul Cavadias and Jean-Jacques Hervy, as well as landscape architects such as Jacques Wirtz, Claude Rebold, Andre Van Wassenhove and Jean Delogne. Art has always played a central role in Corbiaus outlook, not only adorning the walls of his creations, but also informing the development of his architectural language. As a young boy, my father surrounded me with books on art and I have been very lucky he observes always to have been immersed in beauty. Left: Robert Mangold, Untitled, 1973 . Acrylic and pencil on canvas. 72 x 72 in. (182.8 x 182.8 cm.) Estimate: 300,000-500,000. Right: Richard Serra, C.C. III, 1983-1984 . Paintstick on paper. 80 1/8 x 96 1/8 in. (203.5 x 244 cm.) Estimate: 250,000-350,000. These works are offered in the Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 11 February at Christies in London. Both photographed in Marc and Frederique Corbiaus Brussels home PHDPH.com He bought his first work of art at the age of 23, when he also acquired his first clients. This was a statue by Yves Klein titled La victoire de Samothrace and he and his wife Frederique still have this work. It cost Corbiau a months wage. His first clients, the Delvilles, were a great influence on him and his engagement with art. Working on this first project nearly 50 years ago, Marc explains that he learned from them that art is a very important element within architecture. Coming to prominence in the 1960s, as he did, Corbiau was deeply inspired by the rise of minimalism; the works offered in Christies Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction chart the changing currents of the movement from precursors such as Lucio Fontana and Yayoi Kusama to international artists such as Donald Judd , Robert Mangold , Richard Serra , Frank Stella and Jan Schoonhoven and their contemporary heirs; Rudolf Stingel and Christopher Wool . Donald Judd (19281994), Untitled (Menziken 87-52), 1987. Anodized aluminium and Plexiglas. 10 40 10 in. (25.5 101.6 25.5 cm.) Estimate: xxxxxxxx. This work is offered in the Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 11 February at Christies in London Marc Corbiau describes his collection as a a kind of total happiness; I try to have a coherent collection and strive to have unity within this collection and within my house. I want to live among my works, and they live together with me. This is why he doesnt have any storage for his art everything he has is displayed in his house. All were handpicked with a penetrating eye for quality and his collection bears witness to the crystalline aesthetic vision that has come to define Corbiaus architecture. Jan Schoonhoven (19141994), Relief, 1971 . Painted cardboard relief. 43 7/8 x 33 7/8 in. (111.5 x 86 cm.) Estimate: 180,000-250,000. This work is offered in the Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 11 February at Christies in London There hasnt really been an evolution in my taste or in the collection he points out; he strives to create a sort of dream world, a very cerebral world. He likes more powerful art but prefers to look at it in places other than his own house: I prefer the pleasure of the spirit rather than reflection. He says, adding that he has never liked the idea of possessing works of art. For him, a collection is something more abstract, not so much the possession of a work, but the experience of a little moment of joy and I always looks for a sense of chic in the art I choose for my architectural projects and for myself. And now? Art today is more difficult than it used to be he says. It is more destructive and less focused, or as he puts it Tout va dans tous les sens. Main image at top, left: Marc and Frederique Corbiau in their home in Brussels PHDPH.com. Right: Lucio Fontana (18991968), Concetto Spaziale, Attese, 1964 . Waterpaint on canvas. 25 3/4 21 1/2 in. (65.5 54.5 cm.) Estimate: 1,200,000-1,800,000. This work is offered in the Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction on 11 February at Christies in London Another Texas brand issued an ice cream recall, this time on a much smaller scale. H-E-B issued a voluntary recall for one of its Creamy Creations flavors: Caramel Pecan Turtle. The San Antonio-based grocery said theres a possible presence of wood pieces in the product. For more information on the items under recall, click here or call 855-432-4438. Buildings around town will glow red today to shine a light on heart disease, the nation's number one killer. As part of American Heart Month, the American Heart Association announced that many Houston institutions will celebrate the National Wear Red Day on Feb. 5. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said Friday that working with the local Muslim population was among the keys to keeping the Houston area safe from terrorism. Cornyn, a Houston Republican, met with local law enforcement officials to discuss potential threats to the Houston area. Cornyn made his remarks at Harris County's emergency operations center, after members of the local joint terrorism task force privately discussed with the senator issues including Houston's growing population, significant port traffic, next year's Super Bowl and the recent arrest of a man who authorities believe was an ISIS sympathizer attempting to attack two local malls. Harris County is "ground zero" for possible incidents because of high levels of human trafficking and its proximity to the Mexican border and strategic targets, Cornyn told reporters after the discussion. "We need strong leadership and strong cooperation at the local level," Cornyn said. The group did not announce any new initiatives or threats to the area. Harris County Sheriff Ron Hickman said deputies worked with the Muslim community, routing traffic and setting up roadblocks, in planning for an October visit by an Imam that drew thousands of visitors. Hickman said local law enforcement officials were observing security measures at this year's Super Bowl in San Francisco to develop strategies for next year's event in Houston. He pointed to airborne monitoring as one potential strategy. Two former technology workers who lost their jobs at Walt Disney World have filed separate lawsuits against the corporation and two consulting firms, claiming they were forced to train their foreign-born replacements. Dena Moore and Leo Perrero, both of Orlando, filed the class-action suits last week in U.S. District Court in Orlando. Moore's suit, filed Jan. 25, names Walt Disney World and Cognizant Technology Solutions as defendants, while Perrero's complaint, filed Jan. 26, is against Disney and HCL Inc. Aside from the defendants, the two suits are essentially identical. The plaintiffs allege that in October 2014, they and about 200 to 300 others employed in Disney's information technology department were told to begin to train hundreds of foreign residents holding H-1B visas. According to the complaints, the U.S. government introduced the H-1B visa program to offer skilled international professionals and students the chance to live and work in the United States. The H-1B is the most popular and sought after U.S. work visa, the complaints state. Moore, Perrero and the other employees were told they were being fired on Jan. 30, 2015, and had 90 days to train the visa holders as their replacements, the complaints state. They were told if they did not stay and train others they would not get a bonus and severance, the lawsuits state. Although Disney management told the plaintiffs and the other employees that there were job openings for them, "only a couple" employees were rehired after being fired Jan. 30, 2015, according to court documents. The suits allege that the defendants violated federal racketeering statutes, in that "the conspiratorial objective was for (the consultant) to misrepresent the nature of the employment of the H1B visa holder in order to obtain Department of Labor approvals for such visa holders, who could then be leased or contracted with Disney..." who would then fire the U.S. workers and hire the visa holders at "much lower" pay. Both plaintiffs are represented by Sara Blackwell of The Blackwell Firm in Sarasota, Fla. Their lawsuits are the first of their kind, Blackwell said Thursday by email. "No one has ever sued for RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) and common law fraud claims against a company and the contracting company," Blackwell's email stated. "This is important because hundreds of thousands of Americans have been fired in the EXACT same manner Disney workers were fired over the past several years." Blackwell said that what happened to her clients is a business model "to outsource and eventually offshore" technology jobs and goes "well beyond Disney." In an emailed statement, Disney called the suits baseless. "The fact is that, since our reorganization, Disney Parks has hired more than 140 US IT workers, and is currently recruiting candidates to fill over 100 more IT positions," the statement said. "Additionally, we also rehired more than 100 workers affected by the reorganization into other roles in the company. The complaints by one of the plaintiffs, Ms. Moore, that she was not offered a position are completely false -- she was offered a position at comparable pay and turned it down. Those are the facts." Blackwell told Courthouse News that, six months after Moore started a new job with another employer, Disney offered her work on a temporary project. Because the project was not scheduled to start immediately, Moore did not accept the offer, Blackwell told Courthouse News. HCL and Cognizant could not be reached for comment. 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should issue guidelines for doctors on prescribing opioids to treat acute pain, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Thursday. While the CDC has standards in place for prescribing opioids to treat chronic pain, there are no guidelines for when the drugs should be used to treat acute pain. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., joined with U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia Republican, to call on the CDC to issue such guidelines. The senators said taking action could help reduce opioid abuse. "For many people, difficulties with opioid addiction began after receiving a prescription for acute pain," Gillibrand and Capito said. "Many people with acute pain haven't had previous opioid exposure and may be at heightened risk for addiction, and opioids prescribed for acute pain frequently end up being inappropriately given or sold to other individuals for recreational use." The abuse of painkillers has been a major factor in the rise of heroin overdose cases. With efforts to curtail the use of certain pain medications, patients look for alternatives. Heroin, due to its low price, is a common choice. The heroin epidemic has ravaged communities throughout the country, including central New York. In Cayuga County, heroin has been blamed for at least two dozen deaths over the past 14 months. Earlier this week, U.S. Rep. John Katko joined a bipartisan effort urging the White House to hold a community forum on the heroin epidemic in upstate New York. The forums were announced late last year. The first was held in Oklahoma. Other sites will be added to the schedule this year. Here is the letter Capito and Gillibrand sent to Debra Houry, director of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control: Dear Dr. Houry, We write to encourage the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue prescribing guidelines for opioids in the case of managing acute pain, including pain following an injury, such as a broken bone, or a medical procedure, such as a wisdom tooth extraction, and to include adolescents and children in these guidelines. We also request that CDC investigate the effects of opioid prescriptions for acute versus chronic pain on opioid misuse, abuse, and addiction. We applaud the efforts of the CDC in updating opioid prescribing guidelines for chronic pain. It is widely known that at least part of the opioid epidemic can be attributed to an overabundance of opioid prescriptions written by providers, and substantial research exists linking the use of opioids for chronic pain and opioid addiction. As there are now more than 2 million Americans suffering from an opioid use disorder, it is critical for prescribers to thoughtfully and responsibly prescribe these powerful narcotics. However, not all individuals with opioid use disorders have chronic pain. For many, their difficulties with opioid addiction began after receiving an opioid prescription for acute pain. For example, a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that 64% of surveyed dentists preferred prescribing hydrocodone with acetaminophen after a third molar extractiona procedure commonly completed on teenagers and young adultsfor an average of 20 pills per prescription. These researchers recognized that a 20-pill prescription may be more than necessary, and that writing prescriptions for larger numbers of pills, when only a few pills will suffice, may cause patients to misuse the remaining pills. One example of misuse is diverting or giving away pills to another person. Indeed, countless studies have shown that at least some teenagers divert these excess pills to their friends. Moreover, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that adolescents who abuse opioids are more likely to receive these medications from a friend or family member. Another recent study utilizing data from NIDA found that teenagers who received an opioid prescription by Grade 12 were 33% more likely to abuse opioids after high school. Perhaps most striking, these researchers found the risk for opioid abuse was even higher among teenagers who reported little to no previous use of illicit substances. For these teenagers, this opioid prescription may be their first introduction to addictive substances. That it is prescribed by a physician may create the notion that the substance is safe, leading to misuse of the substance. Overprescribing of opioids for acute pain is therefore potentially problematic in two ways. First, individuals with acute pain, particularly those who have not had previous exposure to any illicit substances, may be at heightened risk to abuse or become addicted to these substances in the future. This trend may be particularly relevant for younger patients. Second, as the research has shown, these prescriptions contribute to the available supply of opioids and are frequently and inappropriately diverted to others. More research on opioid prescriptions for acute pain and its relation to illicit opioid use would further illuminate these potential paths to addiction. Prevention of overprescribing or inappropriate prescribing of opioids is a key component to combating the opioid epidemic. By updating the prescribing guidelines for acute pain, including those prescribed to adolescents and children, we can minimize the initial exposure to opioid medications and further limit the number of opioid prescriptions, which can have positive downstream effects on combatting opioid abuse. Furthermore, investigating the link between opioid prescriptions for acute pain and opioid abuse would better inform efforts to reduce opioid use disorders. Thank you in advance for your attention and cooperation with our request. We look forward to hearing from you on this matter. Sincerely, Kirsten Gillibrand United States Senator Shelley Moore Capito United States Senator Cayuga County needed money for a rail spur at Daikin McQuay in Auburn, so they turned to the Economic Development Administration. When the EDA informed local officials that the agency couldn't come close to providing the $7 million requested, the county didn't complete its application. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer cited the project, along with several others, while calling on Congress to increase funding for the EDA. According to Schumer, D-N.Y., the funding for the EDA hasn't been increased in nearly 10 years. The agency, which supports local economic development projects, has been subject to cuts over the past several years and unable to fulfill hundreds of funding requests. "At a time when middle-class incomes are stuck in a morass and everyday families are being squeezed, we should be investing more resources into creating good-paying jobs, not less," Schumer said. Despite the EDA's limited resources, there have been several projects in upstate New York that were supported by the agency. Launch NY, a business incubator based in western New York, received $637,000 in 2012 and $500,000 last year. The initiative provides support to start-up companies in 27 upstate counties. Marnie LaVigne, Launch NY's president and CEO, said the federal aid has helped the incubator assist 500 businesses. "This funding truly embodies the type of support needed to grow innovative new businesses, and put people to work," LaVigne said. Not all incubators have been fortunate to receive the EDA's support. Schumer's office noted that the Innovation Accelerator in Auburn is on hold because the EDA can't fulfill the incubator's full funding request. Andrew Fish, executive director of the Cayuga Economic Development Agency, said they're in the process of applying for EDA funding. They planned to request $1 million to support the $1.5 million project, but the agency responded that they usually provide up to $750,000. "These are not easy dollars to go after and we're working really hard to do it," he said. "A lot of these programs are underfunded and overprescribed." From 2007 to 2014, 17 central New York applicants received $7,546,000 from the EDA. Eleven applications seeking $18,936,969 didn't get funding from the agency. "I am urging federal appropriators to make a significant increase in EDA funding this year so New York can use those funds to create new jobs, attract new businesses to the region and make key infrastructure upgrades," Schumer said. Winter finally arrived: colder temperatures, and some snow. So far, we havent seen any extended subzero episodes that occurred over the last two winters, but its early yet. Looking forward, spring starts on Sunday, March 20 this year about 45 days to go! I just checked the bud hardiness data, provided by the Finger Lakes Grape Program. This is where they sample buds from vineyards across the state to determine at what temperatures the buds are damaged from the cold. Here in the Finger Lakes, the most popular white variety Riesling will experience LT10 (low temperature where 10 percent of the buds die) at around 11 below. For cabernet Franc, another popular Finger Lakes red variety, it's around 9 below. They also measure LT50 and LT 90, a 50- and 90-percent bud mortality rate, which isnt too far below the LT10 temperatures. Lets hope El Nino continues to warm us a bit. Lots of vineyard managers have crews in the vineyard pruning and tying vines this time of the year. We prune off most of last years growth, and tie the remaining canes (the cane is the shoot that has grown during the last season, which hardens and develops a brown bark) to the trellis system wire. This prepares the vine for growth in the spring. The pruning is balanced depending on the size and age of the vine. We want to have a good-sized crop that will ripen during the growing season. If we leave too many buds, the vine can over-crop and produce too much fruit that wont ripen before the fall freeze. Cutting off too many buds will leave us with a small crop and too much foliage. Therefore, pruning and tying has to be done just right. I may have mentioned before that this is the most labor-intensive and costly vineyard activity, and it can be really uncomfortable work in the winter! Winter also brings wine and grape industry conferences and trade shows. The largest show in the United States is in Sacramento, California: the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in late January. Here in New York state, we have BEV 2016 (Business, Enology and Viticulture) on March 3-5 at the RIT Conference Center in Henrietta. It is presented by Cornells Enology Lab, the Finger Lakes Grape Program and the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. BEV 2016 is a continuing education event with faculty from Cornell, Penn State, RIT, Finger Lakes Community College and Tompkins County Community College presenting practical advice for grape growers and winemakers. There will also be a trade show at the event with the latest in vineyard and winery products. Another winery winter activity is planning for the upcoming year. In the vineyard, it might be what replanting will be done, ordering vines, maybe some post and trellis maintenance. For the winery, we plan upcoming bottling requirements, what type of glass bottles, closures (natural cork, synthetic cork, screw tops) and labels. Any new wine label has to be approved by the federal government Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, which can be a multi-month process. We are also racking (racking is transferring wine from one vessel into another to facilitate clarity) some of our 2015 white wines to prepare for spring bottling. This month, I spoke with Diane Burdick of Giancarelli Brothers Winery, located on Shortcut Road in Weedsport. Sam Giancarelli is the owner and established the winery in 2000. With 22-plus acres of blueberries, raspberries, elderberries and black currants, they produce a variety of fruit, grape and blended wines here in Cayuga County. Giancarelli Winery offers tastings and tours, and is best known for its blueberry and blueberry/concord wines, which are soft, a little sweeter and really appeal to new wine drinkers. You can check them out at giancarelli.com. AUBURN | A state prisoner could spend more time behind bars after he admitted setting his mattress on fire at Auburn Correctional Facility. Donta J. Holmes, 24, pleaded guilty Thursday in Cayuga County Court before Judge Thomas Leone to fourth-degree arson. In exchange for pleading guilty, Holmes would receive a 1 1/2 to three year prison sentence, which will run consecutively to his current sentence. The maximum sentence for this crime is two to four years in prison. Holmes was previously convicted in Orange County, N.Y., of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and is serving a two year sentence at Green Haven Correctional Facility. He was expected to be released this year. The maximum sentence for this crime is two to four years in prison. Holmes told the court that he intentionally set the mattress in his cell on fire in August of last year. The 24-year-old was also previously convicted of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance in 2012. He will be sentenced March 24. Also in court: For selling fentanyl on two separate occasions, a Cayuga County man will spend two years in prison. Keith Blanchard, 40, 5799 Dresserville Road, Sempronius, pleaded guilty Dec. 3 to two counts of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Following his incarceration, Blanchard will have two years of post-release supervision. He will also pay $200 in restitution. He admitted to selling fentanyl on two separate occasions in 2014 for $100 each to support his drug habit. Blanchard told the court in a prepared statement that he feels the criminal justice system is flawed "morally and systematically." He said he doesn't understand why someone convicted of selling drugs gets sentenced to prison, but one who "steals a child's innocence" may get a lesser sentence of six months in jail or probation. "I'm not saying I shouldn't get punished," Blanchard said. "I get judged for all the wrong things I've done, when will I get judged for the good I've done. When will I get judged for the person I am. You judge me yet you don't know me." AUBURN | Auburn officials will move to conduct a study of a controversial city property despite warnings of possible legal action from a local attorney. Members of the Auburn City Council voted unanimously Thursday to secure a consultant to evaluate the potential uses of 1-7 State St., the former site of the Kalet department store. The study was proposed by the Fred L. Emerson Foundation as part of the city's desire to redevelop the vacant lot. The study will be paid for through the Emerson Foundation. The nonprofit's proposal was one of three submitted upon the city's request for redevelopment plans late last year. City officials also received a proposal from the Camardo Law Firm, which is located adjacent to the vacant parcel. The law firm offered to purchase the property for $45,000 to transform it into a parking lot. Last week, most councilors indicated interest in revisiting Camardo's proposal as well as another a plan from the Auburn Local Development Corporation to transform the parcel into a piazza following the Emerson Foundation study. Nevertheless, city officials received a letter from the Camardo Law Firm on Thursday warning of potential legal action against the city for accepting the Emerson Foundation's proposal. The Citizen obtained a copy of the letter, which was sent to the city from attorney Justin Huffman of the Camardo Law Firm. In the letter, Huffman wrote that firm attorney Joseph Camardo may take legal action within the 120-day statute of limitations. Camardo similarly challenged the legality of prior plans to develop the vacant lot into a performing arts center. Over several years and lawsuits until the project's cancellation, Camardo questioned the site's soil and water quality based on the potential of harmful chemicals lingering from dry-cleaning chemicals used by former Kalet tenants. Huffman addressed officials prior to the council vote, saying the Emerson Foundation proposal does not meet the criteria of the city's request for proposals. Huffman said the RFP requested plans for renovations and relevant timetables. Further, the Camardo proposal was the only of the three plans to submit a bid security another RFP requirement, according to Huffman. "During last week's discussion, the bid dollar amounts were never even discussed by the council," he said. "Mr. Camardo bid $45,000, more than $7,500 over assessment, while no other bidder even offered $1. This should've been a major factor in the city's consideration, yet it appears that the council does not intend to comply with the terms of its own RFP." Councilors authorized the Emerson Foundation study without public discussion. In an interview Thursday, Auburn Corporation Counsel John Rossi said the city will consider Camardo's claims in further detail, adding that he had received the correspondence that afternoon. The New York State Professional Firefighters Association released a statement on Thursday calling a report by the Firemen's Association of the State of New York flawed. The report released Tuesday by FASNY discusses the economic benefits of volunteer fire departments, including how they save state taxpayers over $3 billion each year. Some of the qualms NYSPFFA had with the report included its failure to acknowledge the differences between paid firefighters and volunteer firefighters. According to the release, there are differences in availability, qualifications, service quality, accountability and response times. "Our field of play is unlimited; high-rise buildings, underground and confined spaces, hazardous materials, contagions, even acts of terror," said Sam Fresina, NYSPFFA secretary treasurer in the release. "The members of a volunteer fire squad fill a commendable role in providing suppression and prevention services, but it's not a comparable one to career firefighters." NYSPFFA also said the number of volunteer firefighters is often inflated. Rosters tend to include members who are retired, moved or who are not interior qualified. The group released a report of its own, "The Myths of Replacing Professional Firefighters with Volunteers," highlighting in more detail some of their issues with FASNY's study. President of FASNY Robert McConville responded to NYSPFFA's release with a statement reinforcing his belief in the study. We have tremendous respect for our career brothers and sisters and the work they do. However, we stand by the findings of this report, which is the most in-depth, comprehensive study of its kind. It clearly shows that the dedicated men and women of the volunteer fire service not only provide professional emergency response but also save their community resident taxpayers billions of dollars a year. A former Harris County deputy constable pleaded guilty this week to official oppression for striking a prisoner. Derek C. Thorworth, 45, was sentenced on Monday to 90 days community supervision following his guilty plea. Thorworth could have faced a year in jail and a $4,000 fine if he had gone to trial and been convicted of the misdemeanor charge. He was accused of striking a handcuffed prisoner in August 2012 in the back of a patrol car. The prisoner later reported the incident, sparking a police investigation that resulted this week in Thorworth's guilty plea. At the time, Thorworth was a deputy constable with Harris County Precinct 4. He is no longer with the agency. As part of the deferred adjudication process, Thorworth must abide by several conditions, including remaining within Harris County and the surrounding counties and reporting to a community supervisor. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Houston Police are investigating a shooting early Friday inside the bathroom at an area gentlemans club involving a local rapper. According to reports from witnesses at the scene, the victim was in the restroom of Wonderland Gentlemen's Club in the 5600 block of Hillcroft Avenue when a suspect shot him four times. The suspect then fled the scene, firing more shots in the parking lot. That suspect got away. Once the shots rang out, others inside the club apparently ran out, and in the confusion a description of the suspect was not possible. The shooting victim was taken to Ben Taub Hospital in what was considered serious but stable condition. Police are currently investigating the possibility of surveillance footage at the scene. There were apparently no witnesses in that restroom. The club's normal operating hours, according to its Instagram page, are 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and it's BYOB until 2 a.m. Thursdays are known as "Million Dollar Thursdays" according to the page. A man who described himself as a manager of the club, Edgar Lomas, identified the victim as Denzel Redman. He said that he heard the man was shot only three times. He raps under the name Bugatti, Lomas said. There were no updates available on the man's condition on Friday afternoon. On the rapper's Instagram page friends were offering up words of support in the wake of the shooting. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A shootout over $8,000 cash sent three men to the hospital, one by LifeFlight helicopter. About 8 p.m. Thursday, Houston police responded to a 911 call about a shooting at the Westchase Grand apartments in the 10800 block of Richmond, where they found one man shot in the back. He was taken to Ben Taub General Hospital in stable condition, claiming not to know who shot him, police said. An hour later, Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies were called to a Kingwood Medical Center emergency clinic on the North Sam Houston Parkway, where they found two men who had been shot. Those men told authorities they had gone to the Westchase Grand apartments about 7:45 p.m. with $8,000 to buy some jewelry they had seen advertised online. As they were in the apartment unit, three other men barged in with guns and took the cash. Bullets began flying between the two groups, and three of the five men got shot. Houston police told Metro Video news service "there was blood everywhere and bullet holes all in the walls" and it was amazing that no residents of neighboring units were shot. Police said it was unknown how the jewelry seller was involved. The two men who came to buy the jewelry were afraid to stay, so they drove themselves back to their neighborhood and stopped at the emergency clinic. One of the men, age 28, was shot in the thigh and was taken to Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center in stable condition. The other, 29, was taken to Memorial Hermann by Life Flight with three gunshot wounds -- in the abdomen, thigh and arm -- in serious condition. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate For some graphic designers, inspiration can come in a dream, a blog or a gallery. For Gerald Flores, inspiration comes wrapped in aluminum foil. Most days Flores grabs a breakfast taco on his way to work as a creative director and designer for a web development company. He sees tacos as the thread that ties all Texans together, which is why he puts them on every thread he produces for his own company, Taco Creative. "Tacos brought your family together around the breakfast, lunch or dinner table, sometimes all three in a day," the Corpus Christi designer said. "I have never met a person who did not like tacos which tells me a lot." Flores, 32, designed and launched a line of taco-inspired T-shirts, hats, mugs and pillows. And they're selling like ... well, tacos. Click the gallery above to see some of the Taco Gear merchandise. RELATED: Detox by eating tacos? What? "Never underestimate the amount of love you have for tacos," he said. "It's bigger than you think." But as delicious as they are (chorizo, egg and bacon from SouthSide Barbacoa in Corpus Christi are his favorite), tacos are more than just a food they're a tradition. "There is so much that can be said about why tacos are a staple in Texas culture," he said. "If you were born in or grew up near a Latino neighborhood like I and many others, they were a part of your upbringing." RELATED: Things you need if you played loteria as a kid After searching online for a taco shirt in 2014, and quickly becoming frustrated at the lack of personality behind them, Flores decided to make his own. And Taco Gear was created. According to a Corpus Christi Caller-Times story about his line, Flores has sold merchandise in 53 cities across 13 states. AUBURN | An action plan to improve manure management is heading toward the finish line for final approval from the Cayuga County Legislature this month, but there's a question about whether or not the means are available to carry it out. Officials discussed the 14-Point Agenda for Action, created by the Cayuga County Manure Management Working Group, at the county Water Quality Management Agency meeting on Thursday. Legislature chairman Keith Batman said he thinks the plan is finalized, and if any changes are made, they will be small. Anticipating its approval, some WQMA officials expressed concerns that groups responsible for certain action items, mainly WQMA and the county Department of Planning and Economic Development, may not have the capacity to carry them out. "This kind of program seems needed and significant enough to at least discuss bringing additional staff," said Owasco Watershed Lake Association Vice President Bob Brower. Town of Owasco Supervisor Ed Wagner said he'd like to see WQMA take a proactive approach and ask the county Legislature for more resources up front. "How can we expect the Legislature to allocate money to this unless they make it a top priority?" Wagner said. "We need that commitment now. We don't need it after we go through all of this for nothing and not be able to fund it." The group passed a motion, 10-2, to create a committee in charge of reviewing and analyzing the 14-point agenda document and producing a statement on the WQMA's capacity to respond to the abilities assigned. The group consists of Brower, Director of Environmental Health Eileen O'Connor, Legislator Aileen McNabb-Coleman, Director of Planning and Economic Development Steve Lynch, Executive Director of the Soil and Water Conservation District Doug Kierst, Cayuga Lake representative Jim Young, Skaneateles Lake representative Kathleen Gorr and Central New York Waterways Inc. representative Carl Wiezalis. Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Gary Duckett warned the gathering that the county Legislature is keen on making significant budget cuts this year. "You're going to have to document exactly what you're going to get for that investment, especially with these budget times that we're heading into right now where they're trying to cut $1.5 million out of the budget, so we're kidding ourselves to go after it before we're doing it," Duckett said. "But certainly, do the analysis. Let's see what we feel we can do and what we can't do, and then make a presentation." Batman said he does not anticipate the groups to need any additional resources at this point. He said many of the agencies that make up WQMA are funded by the county, and that they should be able to distinguish what action items take priority. "There is no money in the budget for additional expenditures," Batman said. "If we have to find significant additional money, what happens is, we have to find significant additional places to cut, and I'd hope WQMA would realize that. We've gotten to this point, which is significantly farther than when we started, with relatively small amounts of money. I'm hoping that they will realize that, and work in that direction." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Social media makes its voice heard during Democratic debates. On Thursday night, the University of New Hampshire in Durham hosted Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in their fifth debate, which came five days before that state's presidential primary. More debate news: Clinton, Sanders spew low blows during Democratic debate Although it was Clinton and Sanders on stage, social media joined in on the discussion with a variety of comments and memes. The full story: Fireworks fly as Clinton, Sanders square off before New Hampshire Clinton who was victorious over Sanders by a slim margin in the Iowa caucuses and Sanders spoke on several issues, including national security, the economy and government bailouts and international relations (specifically in the Middle East). During the face-off, social media praised and roasted the commander in chief hopefuls. Click through the gallery above to see the best memes during Thursday's Democratic debate. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The graphic photo of a 7-month-old boy lying dead with his parents after a drug-fueled shootout in Mexico has sparked a wave of anger over the country's gang violence. RELATED: Leader of defunct Mexican drug cartel Beltran Leyva arrested Marcos Miguel Pano Colon was in the arms of his 24-year-old father Juan Alberto Pano Ramos when they were shot and killed on Friday outside of a convenience store in Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca state, prosecutors there told CNN. The photo shows the child lying face down in a white onesie stained with blood next to Ramos. Alba Isabel Colon, the boy's 17-year-old mother, was also killed in the shootout. RELATED: 3 Mexican cartel 'sicarios' arrested near Texas border, suspected of 5 murders The Oaxaca state attorney general's office told CNN that the boy's parents sold drugs and that it appears drug gang rivals from the neighboring state of Guerrero tracked the parents down and killed them. The office announced that Isidoro Gonzales Geronimo, a suspected drug trafficker known as "El Isis" who operated in Guerrero, was also shot and killed in Oaxaca state on Friday. Authorities told CNN that the couple worked for Gonzales. Four people have been detained in connection to the alleged trafficker's killing, according to CNN. RELATED: 21 alleged members of drug cartel-affiliated Barrio Azteca gang arrested in West Texas The photo of the 7-month-old has since ignited outrage online: the Facebook page Solo Acapulco shared the picture on Jan. 30, obtaining more than 51,000 shares. The account drew comparisons between the boy and 3-year-old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi, whose body washed up on a Turkish beach after the boat he was on capsized in September. "Do you remember the Syrian boy?" the account asks. "Do you remember how you became indignant and even put a little flag on Facebook? Well, this happens in Mexico, in Pinotepa Nacional to be precise, where drug violence killed this family, including this 7-month-old little angel." Scroll through the slideshow to see the toll that gang and drug violence has taken on Mexico. jfechter@mySA.com Twitter: @JFreports THE LEAD: Geren v. French -- James Russell, Quorum Reports newest contributing writer, has a must-read take on the race in HD-99 just a few weeks out from primary day. The Republican primary for House District 99 couldve been nasty by now. After all, two scions of prominent Fort Worth families are facing off and third-party groups have made the contest a priority. But so far the campaign pitting local businessman and Tim Dunn-backed Bo French against House Administration Committee Chairman Charlie Geren has yet to emerge as a competitive race, according to veteran political observers. One thing is clear: The defeats of former Senators John Carona of Dallas and Bob Deuell of Greenville in 2014 have taught incumbent Republicans not to be caught flat-footed this time around. French boasts family connections spanning from Midland to Dallas as the son of the late oil and gas executive L.R. Bob French and wife Marcia. That fact was shown in his first campaign finance report. Donors included billionaire Dallas banker Gerald Ford, who donated $5,000 and Walmart heiress Alice Walton, who donated $1,000. But the majority of Frenchs haul comes from a more familiar Midland resident: Chairman Dunn." Happy Friday, folks! Were looking for some good weekend to-do ideas. Send them along with your tips and news to bobby.cervantes@chron.com or tweet me @bobbycervantes. -- Madla slings mud at Uresti with new ad, by the Express-News Gilbert Garcia.Beyond the question of whether such video footage should be relevant to anyone but the senator and his wife, there is also an uncertainty about whether the footage outside the restroom was edited to create a false impression. Christian Anderson, Madlas campaign spokesman, said he had no qualms about using the spot, which is running in a small $1,242 ad buy in West Texas, and has also started running locally on MSNBC. -- Anti-abortion activist refuses probation in fake ID case, by the Chronicles Brian Rogers.Instead, the 27-year-old Californian decided to take a gamble by fighting the charges which could carry a 20-year prison sentence. In a black suit and dark blue shirt, Daleiden and his attorneys said they would take the case all the way to trial. The bold move surprised prosecutors and energized supporters who waved signs and stood behind Daleiden and his attorneys as they addressed reporters outside of Houston's criminal courthouse. -- Presidential campaigns turn their eyes to Texas, by the Chronicles Mike Ward and Dylan Baddour.From hiring staff and organizing volunteers to forming block-walking drives and arranging fundraisers, the remaining campaigns are mobilizing in Texas. The state is the biggest prize in the so-called SEC primary on March 1, when voters in eight Southern states will award delegates and possibly signal the final slate of candidates for November's general election. It will be the first time in decades that Texas has played such a key role in the national primaries. -- WATCH: George W. Bush cuts TV ad backing Jeb! pushing the former president out there more than ever before on behalf of his brothers campaign. -- State now offers hormone therapy to transgender inmates, by the Chronicles Lauren McGaughy.The decision by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to update its policy regarding transgender inmate health care was uncharacteristic of a wider trend in Texas, where there are few laws to protect access to housing, employment or health care. Advocates, however, said the step, while positive, was small, and raised concerns that prison officials have ensured the process is onerous enough that transgender inmates could have to wait months, even years, to receive treatment. -- Courted by Cruz, New Hampshires libertarians ask if they need politics at all, by The Washington Posts Dave Weigel.New Hampshire, always hospitable to people who want the government to leave them alone, has a libertarian bloc that only a few presidential candidates have bothered to court. Pauls unexpectedly early exit kicked off an aggressive new round of courting by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.), led by state co-chairman and conservative legislator Bill OBrien. Theyd been unable to peel libertarian endorsers away from the Kentuckian, or replace their affection for his father, former Texas congressman Ron Paul. -- OUCH: Ben Carsons entire NH super PAC staff quit and joined Ted Cruzs campaign. QUOTE TO NOTE "Well, I don't know. Look, I have nothing against him. It was sort of a sad thing that happened, but I've always liked him. -- Donald Trump on Hugh Hewitts radio show Thursday, saying he would not rule out picking Ted Cruz as his vice presidential nominee. SPEED READ Texas Take: Clinton opens Houston office with a challenge, Houston Chronicle For third time, Barbara Bush campaigns for a candidate named Bush, The Washington Post Nelson: Texas is committed to womens health, Quorum Report Group asks Supreme Court to preserve Texas abortion law, Austin American-Statesman 1.3 million Texans enroll in ACA insurance, Houston Chronicle HHSC to press forward with licensing child detention centers, Texas Observer Anti-abortion groups political endorsement differences show power struggle, The Dallas Morning News May 7 vote on ride-hailing in Austin growing more likely, Austin American-Statesman Vice President Joe Biden launches Facebook page, Austin American-Statesman Top ten tweetable moments from the Democratic debate in New Hampshire, The Dallas Morning News Sean Penn calls Ted Cruz dangerous after criticism of his El Chapo interview, The Dallas Morning News How Ben Carsons stabbing incident helped fund Planned Parenthood, The Dallas Morning News RACE TO 2016 -- Dems up the decibels in NH debate; Wall Street a common foe, by the APs Nancy Benac and Lisa Lerer. A fiery Clinton went after Sanders for his suggestions that she is a captive of Wall Street interests, calling on him to end a very artful smear that you and your campaign are carrying out. Sanders didn't back down. He kept coming back to the millions that Clinton has collected from financial interests in speaking fees and campaign contributions over the decades. -- Trump campaign shows a different side after Iowa loss, by the Chronicles Jill Colvin. Trump's New Hampshire organization has, for months, appeared more robust than the operation he'd put together in Iowa. He's racked up dozens of endorsements, and his Manchester campaign headquarters is large and brimming with staff and volunteers placing calls. His organization was on display at a town hall event Thursday morning in Exeter, where Trump was preceded by a long list of local officials who have offered their endorsements. -- National poll: Sanders zooms into virtual tie with Clinton, by POLITICOs Eliza Collins. The Democratic race has dramatically tightened, according to a new Quinnipiac University national poll out Friday that shows Hillary Clinton with a razor-thin lead over Bernie Sanders. Clinton leads Sanders 44 percent to 42 percent, well within the margin of error of the poll, which was conducted after the Iowa caucuses. -- Poll: Rubio, Cruz gain on Trump in NH, by POLITICOs Eliza Collins. Donald Trump still leads in New Hampshire, but Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are catching fire with likely Republican primary voters, according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll out Friday. The survey has the billionaire in a clear first place (30 percent), just one percentage point down from the last poll in mid-January, but the Florida and Texas senators are gaining on him, with four days to go until voters make their decision. -- Marco Rubios cautious campaign, by CNNs Manu Raju. If Trump is the kind of candidate who will say and do virtually everything that's on his mind at that moment, Rubio is the complete opposite: He rarely deviates. To some, it's the kind of thing that makes them eager to back Rubio: He's unlikely to make a mistake that could change the trajectory of the presidential race and cause problems down the ticket. And he's hardly the lone candidate in the field who stays relentlessly on message (See Ted Cruz). This blog is written solely by John Ray, who has a Ph.D. degree in psychology and 200+ papers published in the academic journals of the social sciences. It does occasionally comment on issues in psychology but is mainly aimed at giving a conservative psychologist's view on a broad range of topics. There are very few conservative psychologists.The blog originated in Australia and many (but not most) posts discuss Australian matters. Australians have an unusually good awareness of events outside their own country. Australian newspapers feature news from Britain and the USA not as an afterthought but as a major part of their coverage. So Australians do tend to have a truly Western heart, which is the reason behind the old name for this blog. So events in Australia, Britain and the USA all feature frequently here, plus occasional coverage of other places, particularly Israel.SCOTUS is the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the landThe "GOP" stands for "Grand Old Party" and refers to the Republican party. The GOP is at present center/Right, while the Democrats have been undergoing a steady drift Leftwards and now have policies similar to mainstream European Leftist parties.The ideological identity of both parties has however been very fluid -- almost reversing itself over time. In the mid 19th century, the GOP was the party of big government and concern for minorities while the Democrats advertised themselves as "The party of the white man" -- an orientation that lasted into the mid 20th century in the South. The Democrats are still obsessed with race but have now flipped into support for discrimination AGAINST whites.Was Pope Urban VIII the first Warmist? Below we see him refusing to look through Galileo's telescope. People tend to refuse to consider evidence if what they might discover contradicts what they believe.Climate scientist Lennart Bengtsson said. The warming we have had the last 100 years is so small that if we didnt have meteorologists and climatologists to measure it we wouldnt have noticed it at all.The term "Fascism" is mostly used by the Left as a brainless term of abuse. But when they do make a serious attempt to define it, they produce very complex and elaborate definitions -- e.g. here and here . In fact, Fascism is simply extreme socialism plus nationalism. But great gyrations are needed to avoid mentioning the first part of that recipe, of course.Beatrice Webb, a founder of the London School of Economics and the Fabian Society, and married to a Labour MP, mused in 1922 on whether when English children were "dying from lack of milk", one should extend "the charitable impulse" to Russian and Chinese children who, if saved this year, might anyway die next. Besides, she continued, there was "the larger question of whether those races are desirable inhabitants" and "obviously" one wouldn't "spend one's available income" on "a Central African negro".Hugh Dalton, offered the Colonial Office during Attlee's 1945-51 Labour government, turned it down because "I had a horrid vision of pullulating, poverty stricken, diseased nigger communities, for whom one can do nothing in the short run and who, the more one tries to help them, are querulous and ungrateful."The book,, authored by T.W. Adorno et al. in 1950, has been massively popular among psychologists. It claims that a set of ideas that were popular in the "Progressive"-dominated America of the prewar era were "authoritarian". Leftist regimes always are authoritarian so that claim was not a big problem. What was quite amazing however is that Adorno et al. identified such ideas as "conservative". They were in fact simply popular ideas of the day but ones that had been most heavily promoted by the Left right up until the then-recent WWII. See here for details of prewar "Progressive" thinking.R.I.P. Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet deposed a law-defying Marxist President at the express and desperate invitation of the Chilean parliament. He pioneered the free-market reforms which Reagan and Thatcher later unleashed to world-changing effect. That he used far-Leftist methods to suppress far-Leftist violence is reasonable if not ideal. The Leftist view that they should have a monopoly of violence and that others should follow the law is a total absurdity which shows only that their hate overcomes their reasonFranklin Delano Roosevelt was a war criminal. Both British and American codebreakers had cracked the Japanese naval code so FDR knew what was coming at Pearl Harbor. But for his own political reasons he warned no-one there. So responsibility for the civilian and military deaths at Pearl Harbor lies with FDR as well as with the Japanese. The huge firepower available at Pearl Harbor, both aboard ship and on land, could have largely neutered the attack. Can you imagine 8 battleships and various lesser craft firing all their AA batteries as the Japanese came in? The Japanese naval airforce would have been annihilated and the war would have been over before it began. FDR prolonged the Depression . He certainly didn't cure it. WWII did NOT end the Great Depression . It just concealed it. It in fact made living standards worse Joe McCarthy was eventually proved right after the fall of the Soviet Union. To accuse anyone of McCarthyism is to accuse them of accuracy! The KKK was intimately associated with the Democratic party . They ATTACKED Republicans!People who mention differences in black vs. white IQ are these days almost universally howled down and subjected to the most extreme abuse. I am a psychometrician, however, so I feel obliged to defend the scientific truth of the matter:The average African adult has about the same IQ as an average white 11-year-old and African Americans (who are partly white in ancestry) average out at a mental age of 14. The American Psychological Association is generally Left-leaning but it is the world's most prestigious body of academic psychologists. And even they have had to concede that sort of gap (one SD) in black vs. white average IQ. 11-year olds can do a lot of things but they also have their limits and there are times when such limits need to be allowed for. America's uncivil war was caused by trade protectionism . The slavery issue was just camouflage, as Abraham Lincoln himself admitted . See also here Leftist psychologists have an amusingly simplistic conception of military organizations and military men. They seem to base it on occasions they have seen troops marching together on parade rather than any real knowledge of military men and the military life. They think that military men are "rigid" -- automatons who are unable to adjust to new challenges or think for themselves. What is incomprehensible to them is that being(to use the extreme Prussian term for following orders) actually requires great flexibility -- enough flexibility to put your own ideas and wishes aside and do something very difficult. Ask any soldier if all commands are easy to obey. 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. Author Seth Grahame-Smith has dined out on the winning combination of stitching together two incongruous things, one high-brow, one low, and letting the concept do the heavy lifting. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter gave readers, and then movie-going audiences, an axe-twirling Honest Abe. His other literary soft-serve swirl hits theaters this weekend, in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. The cheeky adaptations offer a chuckle at the title, but theres not much else to sink your teeth into. But while Abraham Lincoln resulted in a rather disastrous action flick, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies far outpaces its predecessor. The result is a post-modern genre mashup of Austen, zombies and martial arts that ends up being rather exceedingly tolerable, to quote Mr. Darcy. The best thing the film has going for it is its knowing self-awareness, the winking at the unlikely pairing of mannered 18th century aristocratic English society with the brutal and gory violence of the modern-day zombie movie. The violence adds a kick to Austens sophisticated and layered text the verbal jabs are now accented with body blows, and the coupling offers a strange delight. For every time that Keira Knightley bit her tongue and repressed her emotions playing the feisty Elizabeth Bennett in Joe Wrights filmed version of the story, here, Lily James gets to deliver a cathartic roundhouse kick right to Mr. Darcys (Sam Riley) smug nose. This version will most likely tickle fans of Pride and Prejudice (or those who know some version of it) more than the zombie maniacs. Its not a great zombie movie, but it is a fun reimagining of Austens book, finding laughs in the recognition of characters and quotes. It follows the story rather closely, only this time, the Bennett girls have trained in China in Shaolin style martial arts at the behest of their father (Charles Dance). Zombies are woven into the history of this version of England, and the warrior sisters arm themselves with weapons on their way to a ball, giggling over handsome Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth) while strapped to the gills. The Bennett sisters engage in the agonies of courtship in the same way as the book theres just more shooting the heads off the undead. Supporting characters contribute color to this mixed up culture of landed gentry and zombie slaying, particularly Matt Smith as the bumbling Parson Collins, as well as the lauded zombie assassin Lady Catherine (Lena Headey), in pantaloons and a purple eye patch. However, the feature film length stretches the thin conceit too far. The story itself isnt the pleasure thats found in the unlikely, though apt, pairing of Elizabeth Bennett and deadly weapons. As the sisters stomp in slow motion into a party full of zombies, its applause worthy because it looks so cool (thanks to directing duties by Burr Steers). But thats about it. Austen upended the notion that women need to be taken care of in marriage, arguing instead for independence and relationships of love. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies extends that theme to zombie slaying, but doesnt offer any radical new takes on the topic. Ultimately, this wild, tongue-in-cheek adaptation isnt actually innovative its just monsters and blood to spruce up a literary classic. Canadian Immigration Questions and Answers with Attorney David Cohen CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Every month, Attorney David Cohen will answer a few general Canadian immigration questions submitted by our readers. These questions cover immigration programs, eligibility, processing, language requirements, investing in Canada, landing, admissibility, studying in Canada, working in Canada, and much more. Here are this months questions and answers. 1. My spouse is a permanent resident of Canada, but currently resides in India. Can he sponsor me for permanent residence without being employed and while staying with me in India? The Family Class category of Canadian immigration allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner. However, if the sponsor is not a Canadian citizen (i.e. if he or she is a Canadian permanent resident), he or she must be ordinarily residing in Canada. A permanent resident living outside Canada who wishes to sponsor a spouse or common-law partner may have the option of either returning to Canada to live or obtaining Canadian citizenship, if eligible, before submitting an application under the Family Class. 2. Greetings, its a pleasure to write to you. I wish to ask if Canada has a Green Card lottery, similar to the United States. The Diversity Immigrant Visa program, also known as the Green Card lottery, is a lottery program for receiving a U.S. Permanent Resident Card. Canada has no such program. Indeed, there is no such thing as a Green Card for the purposes of Canadian permanent residence. Permanent residents of Canada have the right to a Canada Permanent Resident Card as proof of their status in Canada. Though Canada has no lottery for permanent resident status, the government of Canada operates a selection system known as Express Entry. The main similarity between Express Entry and the Green Card lottery is that candidates make an Expression of Interest in immigrating, and then enter a pool along with other candidates. With Express Entry, however, candidates are ranked according to human capital, skills transferability, and economic factors. Candidates may then be selected from the pool on a priority basis, rather than at random, at regular draws from the pool. In addition, Express Entry is open to eligible citizens from all countries. Applicants to the Green Card lottery, on the other hand, are at the whim of a program that only allows candidates from certain countries to enter, and thats before the randomness of the draw itself is taken into account. 3. Dear Sir, I wish to immigrate to Canada. However, for my Educational Credential Assessment, my university is not providing transcripts, nor do they respond to emails and phone calls. How can I proceed further? Candidates for immigration to Canada who wish to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), either for eligibility reasons or for the purposes of being awarded points under a ranking system, are required to get their educational institution, such as a university, to cooperate. World Education Services (WES), for example, asks for direct submission of transcripts and/or diplomas, degrees, and certificates from the institution, not from the applicant. Individuals who, for whatever reason, are finding that their institution is not cooperating with their requests, are encouraged to contact a qualified ECA supplier (such as WES) for further instructions. 2016 CICnews All Rights Reserved First Friday ArtWalk may have taken a little chill pill in January, but now the largest walking tour of all things artistic in Flagstaff is heating up again for the month of l-o-v-e. Whether thats for your homies, partners or even just for yourself, love is truly all you need. A new comfort zone Just as one relishes the tiny bubbles of a well-crafted beer dancing on the tip of the tongue, or lets a lovers kiss lingerto know is to savor. But at least one subject that has studded the artistic landscape from the moment a humanoid plucked up the first drawing utensil has been relegated to seldom appreciation before larger local audiences. To remedy this Eva Rupert, General Manager at the State Bar, has called on a handful of renowned Flag-based artists to contribute their visions of what she describes as one of the most celebrated and taboo themes in art history: the nude. Savoira play between the French infinitive to know and the English word savordoes just that. Savoring the contrast and complement of their media, the exhibition features photographers like CM Wolett and Tamara Hastie, drawings from Shawn Skabelund and Bruce Aiken. Emma Gardner, Suzanne Stebila and many, many more will lend testament in their media, too. Amorell Demmert has been painting and drawing the nude female form since college. Hopping around from University of Dayton, Ohio, to New York University before completing her fine arts education at Kent State University, Demmert relocated to Flagstaff seven years ago. Following another degree pursuit, the artist has found herself diving back into paint. Demmert says her desire to depict locals strength has found a fitting avenue in Savoir. To be nude is to be exposed, she adds, but by portraying women in ways that reinforce their powerful natures helps the artist convey more about her subjects as they gain confidence. This artist describes her body of work built on the challenge of flipping the formerly male-dominated profession that depicted women in sexually objectifying fantasy into working as a female artist representing her subjects as they are: powerful women. But in order for more women to experience this boost, the idea of the female nude would need to break boundaries locally. Id like to get the female nude more acceptable, she says. I think it is, but I was concerned to submit my work for First Friday ArtWalk because I wasnt sure how many places would be comfortable with putting up the female nude. Im happy Eva is having a whole show of nudes. And I love that Im bringing Flagstaff into it by using strong Flagstaff women. Appreciate and discover at the State Bar, 10 E. Rte. 66, beginning at 6 p.m. 266-1282. Visit the State Bar on Facebook for more. Above and below The Grand Canyon has been described as one of the most protected spaces on Earth and simultaneously the most threatened. The World Beneath the Rims, the brand new film by local film and photo wonders James Q Martin, Andrew Paffrath and Meredith Meeks, explores three artists relationships with the Wonder of the World in tandem with the issues surrounding its threatened watershed. In anticipation of the films screening at the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, Martin, Paffrath and one of the films characters, photographer Amy Martin, are focusing a First Friday series of images around this precious resource. I think its really intended to capture water as it really exists in the place as far as it being not only the thing that sculpted it, but I think one of the elements that creates the mystique and really the wonder around the Canyon and how it can look 100 million different ways, Paffrath says. Just as those famous rock layers were etched, the multimedia artist behind Lantern City Media formed a relationship with the Canyon over time since relocating to Flagstaff in 2004, one that has evolved from overwhelmed to awe-inspired. I think this is mirrored through the characters in the film that were working on. It really just pushes you to the very forefront of your creative and introspective experience, he adds. The films three charactersall artists in their own rightinclude renowned Grand Canyon painter, Bruce Aiken, writer and narrator Kevin Fedarko and photographer Amy Martin. The film retells their respective stories, the way the Canyon grabbed them and reshaped who they were, redefined their ethos and vaulted them into the artist they would become today, Paffrath explains. Benefitting this conversation, this film project was created in partnership with American Rivers. With the Colorado topping the list of the most endangered rivers in the U.S., Paffrath notes this exhibition is intended to pique peoples interest about the film and the issues that are currently threatening the greater Canyon area. Throughout the film we talk with Kevin, and his story aligns with the Grand Canyon Dories, he says, naming Havasupai and Deer Falls. And those boats are named after these places that have somehow been altered or destroyed at the hands of man, which is a very interesting and ironic juxtaposition between the subject matter of the film and what were trying to raise around, and this story thats already unfolded that were already aware of. But in the interest of progress weve let it slip our minds for just a moment. Rediscover the Grand Canyon at Criollo Latin Kitchen, 16 N. San Francisco, beginning at 6 p.m. The World Beneath the Rims screens at the Orpheum Theater, 15 W. Aspen, during the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festivals Session 8 Celebration of the Grand Canyon on Sat, Feb. 13 from 710 p.m. The New York City Council is preparing to pass a package of bills that will radically change the way the city enforces and prosecutes low-level offenses, such as public consumption of alcohol, littering, and public urination. According to Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, a staggering number of criminal summonses get issued for these types of broken windows crimes and violationsmore than 350,000 in the 2014 alone. But what troubles Mark-Viverito about these figures isnt the disorder that they represent but the potentially negative effects that receiving a summons can have on the lives of people who litter, drink from open containers, and urinate in public. Currently, the police have the option to arrest someone openly drinking alcoholan option they rarely exerciseand the guilty violator can receive a range of punishments, from a small fine to five days in jail. The new legislation entirely eliminates the possibility of arrest for public drinking, prescribing instead a maximum civil penalty of $25. The penalty can be contested, but it will not escalate even if ignored. At most, the unpaid fine could be sent into collection. Most of the punishments for public urination, littering, spitting, and violating park rules will be similarly reclassified as civil offenses. In arguing for these changes, Mark-Viverito describes a justice system out of Kafkas nightmares, in which those accused of low-level non-violent offenses . . . face a permanent criminal record or jail time for behavior as minor as violating a parks rule. In reality, people caught violating a parks rule are almost always given verbal warnings. Police may issue a criminal summons instructing the violator to appear before a judge. In the event that the summons is ignored, the court will issue a warrant for the violators arrest, which will be effected the next time he is stopped for committing an offense. He may then get locked up for a night. The prospect of a low-level offender spending any time in jail, then, is predicated on his committing a series of antisocial violations and ignoring a court date. According to Mark-Viverito, though, and the many supporters of the reform package, virtually any enforcement of quality of life laws is annoying and inconvenientand almost certainly racist, to boot. Brooklyn council member Jumaane Williams previously sponsored a bill to end enforcement of turnstile-jumping in the transit system, arguing that being arrested can be very disruptive and cause financial hardship to the arrestee. During the hearing on the current legislation, Williams asked Elizabeth Glazer of the mayors office of criminal justice, How would you respond to advocates who believe that low level offenses such as open container are charged improperly, to get communities of color entered into the criminal justice system? Glazer rejected the idea that New York City is waging war on its minority population, affirming what the statistics demonstrate, that summonses are issued in response to complaints. Council member Rory Lancman of Queens made what he apparently considered a prima facie argument demonstrating that quality-of-life enforcement in New York City is manifestly racist. It cannot be ignored, said Lancman, that we are having this conversation in the context of extraordinary racial and ethnic disparity in policing in New York City. He then cited the contrasting level of summonses between the 40th precinct in the Bronx and the 111th precinct in northeast Queens: in the 40th, which is 98 percent black and Hispanic, 270 summons were issued for every 100 residents between 2001 and 2013; in the 111th, which is 12 percent black and Hispanic, only 26 summons were issued for every 100 people over the same period. These data reflect not a policing disparity but rather a disparity in the number of crimes committed. The 40th precinct had seven murders and 29 rapes in 2014, while the 111th had no murders and one rape. These discrepancies run the gamut down to the lowest misdemeanors. Lancmans glib assertion of racist law enforcement overlooks the facts regarding crime in these neighborhoods. Council member Antonio Reynoso of Brooklyn finds fault with even the most lenient applications of punishment for quality-of-life violators. Angry that an unpaid $25 fine could wind up in collections, Reynoso fumed: Were going to end up saddling poor communities with debt, and continue a systematic disenfranchisement of mostly minority communities. When Glazer, the mayors representative, pointed out that the councils proposed legislation contains an option for people to perform community service in lieu of paying a fine, Reynoso countered that this still represents time that people in poor communities are going to be doing . . . people that might have to lose a day of work in order to do that community service, or time that they might want to do something else. Maybe they dont want to be picking up garbage on weekends? Most people would prefer not to do community service or pay parking tickets or go to jail. The desire to avoid such unpleasantness is so central to human existence that society has evolved a system of laws to ensure that civilization can function by penalizing deviant behavior. The New York city council evidently considers these timeless notions of justicewhich can, after all, ruin weekend plans or break up a playground beer partyincompatible with a fair and progressively minded city. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images Un microbuz special a fost transmis de Uniunea Europeana si Fundatia Soros Moldova Centrului de zi pentru copiii cu dizabilitati din Cahul Choose at least one of these newsletters. Choose at least one of these newsletters. Ask yourself this question: Is it sufficient to protect journalists who report classified information while sources go off to prison? During the last half decade, a growing roster of national-security reporters has withstood government pressure to reveal confidential sources. Theyve done so with the steady support of news organizations and well-heeled groups that work to protect journalists from threats of jail. Yet those media outfits show scant interest in advocating for the whistleblowers who put themselves at risk. If they go to prison, cest la vie. The intertwined cases of New York Times reporter James Risen and former CIA officer Jeffrey Sterling point up the contrast. Risen got broad and repeated support from the media establishment; Sterling got none. After seven years of government harassment and threats that began in early 2008, Risen prevailed with his steadfast refusal to identify any confidential source for his book State of War. But a year ago, a jury in CIA-friendly Northern Virginia convicted Sterling on multiple counts of the Espionage Act, accepting the prosecutions claim that he had provided Risen with classified information for a chapter in the book, which included details about a botched CIA operation that provided faulty nuclear weapons design information to Iran. Just after the verdict, the executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press told The New York Times: The speed with which the jury reached its verdict shows that reporters testimony was not needed for the government to make its case. I think going forward this is going to be a powerful precedent. Such comments were echoed in celebratory fashion by then-Attorney General Eric Holder and others eager to drive a bigger wedge between journalists and whistleblowers. Sign up for CJR 's daily email In the long run, the intimidation and prosecution of whistleblowers can only hobble investigative journalism. Yet for reporters, the professional norm is to act like solo practitioners who intrepidly run with the truth, without any need to support those charged with handing them the baton. Whistleblowers are left to fend for themselves. Its rare to find mainstream American journalists, much less ones near the top of the media power structure, willing to stick their necks out to defend individual whistleblowers. (To his credit, last month Risen went much farther than most prominent journalists when he wrote in a Twitter message: President Obama should free the American whistleblowers he has imprisoned in the United States.) To be fair, the media has written much about the Obama administrations aggressive prosecution of leakers. But its usually to complain that these crackdowns make reporters jobs more difficult. Generally, the whistleblowers themselves are relegated to the status of non-persons. Daniel Ellsberg, the first American ever prosecuted for leaking information, has closely tracked the legal, political and media dynamics of whistleblowing in the national-security arena ever since he was arrested for providing the Pentagon Papers to newspapers in 1971. Last spring, at a news conference in Washington sponsored by ExposeFacts (a program for independent journalism and whistleblowing that I coordinate), he commented that American journalists are apt to regard whistleblowers who make unauthorized disclosures of classified information as snitches. Ellsberg said: I have for a long time believed that many journalists regard their sources of national security information the way police regard their informants, their criminal informantsnecessary, important, necessary to their career, necessary to the publicbut snitches. Bad guys. Not to be respected, truthfully. Protected in their identity, like their informant, but lawbreakers. Snitchesor worse. Some media luminaries have gone beyond even the governments vilification of whistleblowers. Last year, in a November 8 broadcast of 60 Minutes, CBS anchor Scott Pelley led off a segment by flatly referring to convicted spy Chelsea Manning. The preposterous labeling of Manning as a spy by one of the highest-rated TV news programs should have sparked an outcry from major news outlets like The New York Times and Washington Post, which benefited greatly from the cache of state secrets that Manning brought to WikiLeaks. Without such whistleblowing and the unauthorized leaks of classified information, we would know little about the war on terror beyond what top officials told us. Of course, leaks of classified information to reporters are a commonplace in Washington. The vast majority are officially sanctioned to help put the government in a favorable light. The late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihans observation in a September 1998 letter to President Clinton is no less true today; Moynihan pointed out that leaking information to the press had become a routine aspect of government life. He added: An evenhanded prosecution of leakers could imperil an entire administration. The winks and nods of selective prosecution mean that working journalists are apt to acceptand help perpetuatean unjust system designed to flood the media zone with authorized leaks of classified information, that is those that spin a positive narrative. By tacitly accepting the governments decision on which leakers to leave alone and which to prosecute, the media and traditional First Amendment advocates are buying into a narrow concept of press freedomand a sophisticated form of government manipulation that distorts information flowing to the public. When alleged sources of unauthorized leaks face imprisonment, journalists should make common cause with themopenly asserting that such leaks are essential for revealing fuller truths about what Washington doesnt want the public to know. And when whistleblowers are locked up, the news media should provide coverage that counters the governments efforts to stigmatize them as wrongdoers. Chelsea Manning is serving a 35-year prison term. Jeffrey Sterlingwho continues to deny he provided Risen with any classified informationis eight months into serving a 3.5-year prison term. As one of the few journalists to attend all of the two-week Sterling trial, I watched with concern the successful prosecution that rested entirely on circumstantial evidence. Prosecutors made effective use of metadata, which showed that communication took place between Sterling and Risenwith the content almost entirely unknown. The prosecution also presented as damaging evidence the fact that the Times had published an article by Risen that quoted Sterling, who is African American, about a subject unrelated to the classified informationhis lawsuit against the CIA for racial discrimination. That a prosecution case could be successfully built around such evidencemerely showing that the defendant had communicated with a reportershould have been alarming to journalists across the country. But news organizations and the big press-freedom groups werent paying attention to the ominous implications. And they scarcely noted that whether or not Sterling was guilty as indicted, he was a whistleblower. In 2003 he earned the ire of top officials in Langley by going through proper channels to express concerns to the Senate Intelligence Committee staff about the CIAs Operation Merlin aimed at Iran. The conceit that its possible to defend press freedom while turning a cold shoulder to whistleblowers is short-sightedand, in the long run, for independent journalism and true First Amendment advocates, self-defeating. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Norman Solomon is executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy and co-founder of RootsAction.org, which initiated, with Reporters Without Borders, a petition urging a presidential pardon for Jeffrey Sterling. His books include War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to Death. Solomon can be reached at theFirstAmendment@usa.com. A painting of a Parisian street scene stolen in New York has been recovered by Art Recovery Group. The painting had been consigned to a Miami art gallery in November last year by a private individual. La Porte St. Denis by Antoine Blanchard (1910-1988) was one of over 3,000 works of art stolen from the Herbert Arnot Gallery in between 1954 and 1968. Over a 12-year period, a worker used his access to the gallery, both during and subsequent to his employment, to steal substantial amounts of art from the gallery on a regular basis. A year after leaving Herbert Arnot, Louis Edelman was arrested in Chicago with 800 stolen paintings in his possession and was charged with transporting stolen property across state lines. Edelman was sentenced to two years in jail but many of the paintings remained unaccounted for. However, in November 2015, La Porte St. Denis was identified when offered for sale on the website of a Miami-based art gallery. Art Recovery Group were contacted and immediately appointed to represent the rightful owners in their recovery efforts. It quickly transpired that La Porte St. Denis had been consigned to the Miami gallery but remained in the possession of a third party: a building contractor living in Florida who had accepted the painting in lieu of payment for maintenance work. Contact was made with the possessor and, with the assistance of Art Recovery Groups Spanish-language consultant Guilherme Maximino, a resolution was reached soon after. The legal process of determining ownership in this case presented very few obstacles. Unlike the legal systems in most European countries, it is a basic tenet of U.S. law that no individual can obtain good title to a stolen work of art not even when purchased in good faith. Generally, the law recognises that a stolen work of art is always stolen property and therefore makes no exceptions for good faith, passage of time or the number of owners since the theft occurred. This is the third Blanchard work Ive recovered for the Arnot Gallery and the second in just two years. With every recovery it feels like were a step closer to making right this decades-old crime. The internet can play a very important role in tracking down stolen art and we encourage victims to register their losses for free on the ArtClaim Database for the best chance to identify and recover claimed works, said Christopher A. Marinello, CEO of Art Recovery Group. Source: Art Recovery Group Three of the biggest freight railroads operating in the U.S. have told the government they wont meet a 2018 deadline to start using safety technology intended to prevent accidents like the deadly derailment of an Amtrak train in Philadelphia last May. Canadian National Railway, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern say they wont be ready until 2020, according to a list provided to The Associated Press by the Federal Railroad Administration. Four commuter railroads SunRail in Florida, Metra in Illinois, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Trinity Railway Express in Texas also say theyll miss the deadline. The technology, called positive train control or PTC, relies on GPS, wireless radio and computers to monitor train positions and automatically slow or stop trains that are in danger of colliding, derailing due to excessive speed or about to enter track where crews are working or that is otherwise off limits. The other four other Class I freight railroads that operate in the U.S. Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern and more than a dozen commuter railroads have told the agency they will meet the 2018 deadline. Railroads were required to inform the government of their plans by last week. Amtrak, the nations only long-distance passenger carrier, began operating a version of the technology on all tracks that it owns in its Northeast Corridor between Washington and Boston and in some other parts of the country in December. But most of Amtraks operations outside the Northeast take place on tracks belonging to freight railroads, making it dependent on them to install the technology. Many commuter railroads are in the same position. After a 2008 collision between a commuter train and a freight train in Chatsworth, Calif., killed 25 people, Congress passed a law requiring railroads to start using the expensive technology on all tracks that carry passenger trains or that are used to haul liquids that emit toxic gas if spilled The deadline for the change was Dec. 31, 2015. But after it became clear nearly all railroads would miss the deadline, Congress passed another law in October extending it to Dec. 31, 2018. That law also permits the government to grant waivers through Dec. 31, 2020, to railroads that meet certain criteria. We are encouraged that many railroads have submitted plans to meet, some even to beat, 2018, FRA administration Sarah Feinberg told The AP. But we remain concerned that several other freight and passenger railroads are aiming for 2020. The agency plans to publish quarterly reports beginning later this year that detail each railroads progress in implementing the technology. The National Transportation Safety Board says that since 1969 it has investigated 145 rail accidents, in which 288 people were killed and 6,574 others injured, that could have been prevented by positive train control. Board officials said adoption of PTC is the most effective safety improvement railroads can make. The board has been pushing for installation of such technology for more than four decades. The most recent fatal and preventable crash was Amtrak 188, which was traveling at twice the speed limit as it entered a curve in Philadelphia and derailed on May 12. Eight people were killed and more than 200 injured. Freight railroads will ultimately be required to install PTC on an estimated 60,000 miles of track. Railroads say the process is extraordinarily complex, in part because the law requires that whatever PTC system they adopt be compatible with the systems adopted by other railroads that use their tracks. Most large freight railroads operate on the tracks of other freight companies as well as their own. Amtrak and commuter railroads often operate on freight tracks as well. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. After Pope Francis declared 2016 the year of mercy, students at San Francisco de Asis have focused their efforts toward showing love to those who need it the most. The school is celebrating the nation-wide Catholic Schools Week this week, which focuses on promoting Catholic education through service projects and school spirit activities. This year, the school themed their week around mercy, particularly the seven Corporal Works of Mercy, part of the Catholic faith. School Principal Bill Carroll said classes paired up this week to focus on one of the seven works of mercy. Projects have included a coat drive for the local homeless population, a book drive to give to children living in the domestic violence shelter, sending prayer cards to people in prison, making cards for grieving families at the funeral home and sending cards and flowers to nursing home residents. For us, mercy means to show forgiveness and love to everybody, Carroll said. Were focusing on people who need love the most. Carroll said the seventh grade class spent the morning serving breakfast to about 25 homeless men at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel downtown. The kids get really excited to help people who need help, he said. Students also had spirit week activities, like dress-up days, a door decorating contest, a volleyball game against the teachers, a Bible trivia contest and a talent show. A frozen bus prevented the seventh grade class from attending a rally at the state capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday, where students from Catholic schools across Arizona gathered to celebrate religious education. However, Carroll said the school is working locally to celebrate Catholic education, and students are committing to carrying their Catholic education with them after they leave the school. The eighth graders do a commitment ceremony where they commit to Christian values outside of school, not just to themselves, but in front of their family and the other students, Carroll said. Its especially important here because there is no Catholic high school here, so we want them to take their values and carry them with them, without their parents forcing it upon them. As of now, there are no plans to expand the school to include high school, Carroll said, though he said he would not be opposed to the idea in the future. Carroll said most San Francisco de Asis alumni attend nearby Flagstaff High School, and said the school likes to promote the public schools as a good high school option. However, he said the school is always happy for new students to join, and said there will be openings for next year. Carroll, who is in his first year as principal, said he loves working in a Catholic school because he can include his faith into the school day and curriculum. Its a blessing to work here, he said. I love being able to share my faith and to be an example for both the teachers and the students. I love to say prayer over the announcements and I love that I can go into a class and pray. This is the schools last full year at its downtown Flagstaff campus. Carroll said grades will begin moving to the new campus on McMillan Mesa near the church beginning next school year. Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla to Succeed Andris Nelsons at Birmingham Symphony Orchestra A man walks along an upper tier of Symphony Hall in the International Convention Centre which is hosting the Conservative party conference on October 7, 2012 in Birmingham, England. The annual, four-day Conservative party conference will begin today and feature speeches from Cabinet ministers and the Mayor of London. (Photo : Oli Scarff/Getty Images) After months of speculation it's been announced that Ms. Mirga Grazinyte-Tyla will succeed Andris Nelsons as music director of the world-renowned City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In effect for a three-year period starting September 2016, the 29-year-old conductor continues the CBSO's pursuit in finding new and aspiring talent. The decision comes after a committee of Birmingham Symphony musicians and board members unanimously decided that Ms. Mirga was right for the job. Mr. Nelsons, who stepped down in 2015, was the company's head for seven years prior. Chief executive to the orchestra Stephen Maddock said: "There was an instant chemistry between Mirga and our musicians, and the excitement in Symphony Hall at her concerts both on stage and in the audience was palpable ... Mirga is thrilling audiences wherever she goes: we can't wait to start making music with her." Ms. Grazinyte-Tyla was born in Vilnius, Lithuania and is the daughter of a choir conductor. Her career took when she was discovered in 2009 at the German Conducting Forum. Grazinyte-Tyla is currently engaged with the Los Angeles Philharmonic as its assistant conductor to Gustavo Dudamel. In 2012-13 she was honored as a Dudamel Fellow and in July will become the company's associate conductor. Also on her resume, she currently holds to title of music director of the Slazburg Landestheater where she won the Salzburg festival young conductors award in 2012. For a young conductor who already has an impressive career under her belt, this next appointment should only add to her status as one of the world's leading young music directors. At a mere 29 years old, Ms. Mirga is sure to astound audiences in her new chair and should elevate her career tenfold. But if you need proof of her capabilities, preview the Lithuanian conductor below. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsMirga Grazinyte-Tyla, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Release New Album Today makes the start of Wynton Marsalis' 2016 Blue Engine International Tour with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra -- its longest in almost 15-years. For their fans not on the tour schedule, however, Blue Engine Records release of The Abyssinian Mass by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis featuring Damien Sneed, Chorale Le Chateau and Special Guest Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III this spring. Marsalis's first original recorded composition in 6-years the double album with bonus documentary DVD, out March 18, celebrates a unique collaboration between jazz, gospel, instrumentation and vocals that should hit the spot. Over the next five-weeks, Wynton Marsalis will be taking the Jazz at Lincoln Center on its longest tour in years. Starting tonight at The Olympia in Paris the 40-day run will take the famous New York based ensemble to at least 15-different-cities in 10-countries. During a recent interview with the Associate Press, Marsalis insisted that a one could catch every one of their upcoming dates on the Blue Engine International Tour and not see the same show twice (via The Standard): "The education programs and breadth of music on this tour speaks to the flexibility of this ensemble. "We look forward to bringing a different experience to people at every performance.'' Marsalis' devotees unable to attend the tour need fret not as the legendary music director will also soon be releasing a new double album, The Abyssinian Mass, through the Jazz at Lincoln Center's label Blue Engine Records. Marsalis has explained that the piece -- originally commissioned to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Harlem's Abyssinian Baptist Church -- is intended to illustrate the role that church and music play in bringing a community together: "Many of the greatest jazz musicians today come out of the church. The church is one of the last places that retain the actual feeling of the blues in sound and also the call-and-response rituals that are central to our music. "The principal fact of The Abyssinian Mass -- the feeling that we want you to come away with-is uplift through the way that we all come together." The Abyssinian Mass by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis featuring Damien Sneed, Chorale Le Chateau and Special Guest Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III is available for pre-order today. Fans who purchase The Abyssinian Mass via Jazz at Lincoln Center's webstore will receive a limited edition tote bag and the 2013 Abyssinian Tour Diary. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsJazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Lincoln Center Orchestra, Jazz at the Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis, New Album, The Abyssinian Mass Green Drone Solution: Dutch Police Train Eagles to Hunt Illegal Drones With the rise in popularity of drones, including amongst the criminal element, solutions to increasingly crowded skies have become a hot topic. Dutch police have recently come up with a rather green way of combatting illegal drones, namely, training eagles to hunt them in the sky. And drones used irresponsibly have cost millions of dollars in damages. In two separate instances, drones operating near forest fires forced the airways to be closed to aerial fire-fighting vehicles, preventing additional resources from being brought to bear on the dangerous flames. Even a single drone colliding with a fast moving aircraft can cause the aircraft to crash and endangers the lives of those within. Another instance mentioned by CNBC was "Last year, two men pleaded guilty to smuggling heroin by drone across the U.S.-Mexico border. And another case was recorded where police intercepted a drone carrying drugs, tobacco and porn into a state prison in Maryland, U.S. in August." Due to instances like this the Dutch police have come up with a green solution to the rising problem of illegal drone use. They've been training eagles to hunt drones in the air. The strength of the birds is easily enough to take down most of the more commonly used UAVs, potentially even without damaging the aircraft. One of the advantages of using the birds over nets is the ability for the drone's landing location to be controlled. Instead of shooting down the drone with a net or another gadget, which could cause it to crash into a crowd, the eagle simply grabs the target and takes it back to the handler. But the project is still under development, because "even though they have toughened talons, drone rotors could still damage the bird. A spokesperson says the force will look at ways to better protect their flying counterparts while they conduct trials over the next few months." If the team can develop ways of protecting the birds from the rotors, eagles could be the next evolution of anti-drone combat. 2016 The Classical Art, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. TagsDrones, Technology, Birds of Prey Up to 20 of Coconino Countys top spellers will battle for spelling supremacy on Saturday, Feb. 13, at Coconino High School. The 2016 Coconino County Spelling Bee consists of home, public, charter and private school-students from throughout the county who have won their school or district spelling bee. The County Bee will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and will be held in the schools mini-auditorium at 2801 N. Izabel St. Each year Rotary Clubs from Flagstaff, Grand Canyon and Williams contribute a cash prize and one member participates as a judge. The champion, along with 27 other county bee champions, will advance to the Arizona Educational Foundation 2016 Arizona Spelling Bee to compete. The state bee is scheduled March 19 in Phoenix. The winner of the state bee will represent Arizona at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in late May or early June. The County Spelling Bee is organized, promoted, and hosted by the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Office. Second Chance Center for Animals announced Feb. 1 that Dr. Taylor Williams and Kristin Freiert are SCCAs Animal Rescue Advocates for 2015. This is the first year for the award, said Interim Executive Director Angela Larson Inmon, Dr. Williams and Kristin work so closely together to spay and neuter, vaccinate, rescue, and home companion animals in northern Arizona. We're so pleased to honor and present them our first ever Animal Rescue Advocate of the Year. The Animal Rescue Advocate of the Year is awarded to an individual(s) or organization that consistently and relentlessly work for the cause of animal rescue. The award was be presented at SCCAs third annual Mardi Paws on Feb. 6, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff. According to a press release, Dr. Taylor Williams worked as a veterinarian at Second Chance Center for Animals and ran their mobile vet clinic. She then opened Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic in Kingman. As her business grew, she decided to purchase the Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic in Flagstaff. By offering even lower cost spay/neuter for the local shelters, Williams has boosted the northern Arizona animal welfare communitys ability to help more animals to find good homes. She has helped tremendously to decrease prevalence of disease and unwanted or abandoned litters by offering the public low cost options to these communities for vaccines and for sterilizing their pets. Kristin Freiert has been working with Second Chance Center for Animals to curb the feline overpopulation problem in Mojave County since 2009. She helps community members obtain spay/neuter vouchers and arrange the surgeries, organizes trap/neuter/release events (and the fundraisers to pay for them) on a regular basis, and finds outlets for adoptable homeless/unwanted pets. She is based out of Kingman, but travels across Mojave County rescuing cats and kittens from individuals, shelters and other rescues. She regularly rescues animals from Kingman, Bullhead City, Golden Valley, Lake Havasu and many small towns along the way to Las Vegas, as well as cats on the Hualapai nation. On occasion she has also crossed the border into California and helped reduce the overpopulation problem in Needles. Second Chance Center for Animals is just one of the outlets Freiert utilizes to find homes for these animals in need and over the past three years the shelter has found homes for almost 550 animals. Second Chance Center for Animals is a nonprofit, full-service animal adoption center offering animal training and behavioral assessment services and educational outreach programs in addition to the animal shelter and care facilities. For more information, visit secondchancecenter.org. After markets barely gained ground Thursday, "Fast Money" traders looked to dividend-paying stocks that could potentially boost returns. Major U.S. averages finished slightly positive on the day, but the has fallen more than 6 percent this year. In that environment, some investors have started to search for yield. "Fast Money" traders focused on stocks with steady recent performance and above-average yields, avoiding the oil industry as some companies trim dividends. Verizon , which has climbed 9 percent this year and has a 4.5 percent dividend yield, looks appealing, said trader Karen Finerman. watch now Breaking into the fiercely competitive travel industry may seem tough but one young CEO jumped in feet first and ended up swimming rather than sinking, in some very nice pools. "I really had to think on my feet," says Stephanie Chai, the founder and chief executive of luxury travel booking website theluxenomad.com. The site started out in 2012 as a place for hotels to advertise flash sales, and then added features for users to book directly on the site. But hotel booking is dominated by big companies with deep pockets that aim at the mass market - the likes of Agoda, Expedia, and even Airbnb - so in 2015 Chai moved the site's focus to the niche area of luxury villas. "I was in the hotel business [and] my average booking size was maybe $1,500," Chai told CNBC's "Managing Asia." "When I'm in the villa business, my average booking size is $5,000. So it's kind of the same amount of work, but earning a lot more here." The company has raised about 1.5 million Singapore dollars ($1 million) in three rounds of funding to date, and counts Douglas Khoo, one of the founders of Chinese online travel booking company Qunar.com, among its investors. Stephanie Chai, co-founder and CEO of The Luxe Nomad But even with a network of 1,500 properties - 800 villas and 700 hotels- and four years in business, turning a profit can be tough. "We are profitable on certain months," said Chai, who did not provide earnings numbers but added, "I've pretty much doubled my revenue in December from the previous year and my expenses remained the same...it's been a really good return." Luckily, the 33-year-old, who was born in New Zealand and raised in Sarawak, Malaysia, was aware of the risks inherent in being an entrepreneur. "My dad was an entrepreneur, so was my grandfather," she said. Chai has a degree in finance and international business from the University of Auckland but started her career as a model. A combination of boredom and the desire to pursue an idea she strongly believed in led Chai away from the glamour of the fashion industry into tech start-ups, where used $60,000 of her own money to start The Luxe Nomad. Chai admits that she didn't know what she was getting herself into. "Sometimes you have to follow your gut instinct," she said. "I didn't know much [then], I only knew a bit about Wordpress and setting up a blog. I had no idea about e-commerce." But she quickly warmed to the idea of running her own company. "You get to call the shots, be creative. It's a fantastic challenge," she said. The freedom to make business decisions also comes with downsides - answering to investors, for example. Chai said an investor who funded The Luxe Nomad was against the move into the nich villa market. A view of an airliner after an explosion aboard Daallo Airlines Airbus flying to Djibouti, on February 2, 2016. New investigations suggest a passenger in a wheelchair was responsible for the Daallo Airlines plane explosion in Somalia's capital earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing a Western diplomat. Investigators believe the man used the wheelchair to evade security checks at Mogadishu's international airport. The alleged bomber then detonated the bomb soon after takeoff, which blew a hole in the Airbus A321's fuselage but did not down it, the WSJ reported. The newspaper said the force of the blast ejected the alleged bomber from the cabin. His body was recovered near the town of Balad, about 20 miles from Mogadishu. U.S. representatives are assisting in the probe, and both U.S. officials and the plane's pilot said Wednesday they believe a bomb exploded aboard the flight. For the full report, click here. Follow CNBC International on Twitter and Facebook. Of all the things that have nothing to do with China or oil prices, technology IPOs are near the top of the list. Yet the stock market's shocks since August have sent the prices of many IPOs tumbling, wiping out their early gains and pushing many below even their offering prices raising the question of whether they are worth a second look. Getty Images The right bottom-fishing can produce big profits: History says nearly all major long-term IPO winners trade down at least briefly. Of the major first-generation Internet moonshots, only eBay and Google never got below their IPO prices. Even Facebook did, amid a burst of skepticism about its ability to "get" mobile advertising. So for investors who choose wisely, the IPO junk pile can be a profitable place to hunt value. The question is whether 2015 tech offerings, like Fitbit or online storage service Box, can get back to peaks they reached in a hotter market. "If the business model is working the way they said it would [before the IPO], this can be an interesting time to get in,'' said Lise Buyer, a Silicon Valley IPO consultant and former Credit Suisse analyst. "The question is, did the business crack or did the market crack?" Is the window closing? Last year was the slowest year for the tech-IPO market since 2010, with only 24 deals getting done, according to Renaissance Capital, a Greenwich, Connecticut, manager of two IPO-focused exchange-traded funds. Even with the smaller numbers, more than a dozen deals either faltered as investors were unimpressed with companies' follow-up to the IPO or moved below offering prices as the broader market wobbled. In January, there were no new IPOs brought to market for the first time in four years. Two biotech companies, Chinese cancer-therapy developer BeiGene and gene-editing start-up Editas Medicine, went public Feb. 3. But a number of 2015 companies may meet a Buyer's test, pros say. Payment-processor Square and fitness-band maker Fitbit are among the fallen tech darlings that are now intriguing to experts who acknowledge the companies have made execution errors. Renaissance Capital principal Kathleen Smith cited other prospects, including project-management software-as-a-service company Atlassian and online retail software provider Shopify. Outside of technology, she's still high on pet-food maker Blue Buffalo Pet Products (dogs haven't developed an aversion to biscuits since Blue Buffalo's July IPO) and credit-reporting firm TransUnion . All these companies have been hit by the market but haven't made major mistakes, she said. And she argues that while biotech companies are again testing the IPO waters and this week's two deals have proved to be successful, so far biotech is too scientifically dense for most retail investors, while also facing tough business challenges if their drugs work. "Even if you know the science, you don't know the business model,'' Smith said. watch now Atlassian, which is solidly profitable and was growing at a 50 percent annual rate at the time of its IPO, has given up nearly all of the 32 percent gain over its $21-a-share December IPO price, and is down 13 percent from its first day of trading open price. After the close on Thursday, Atlassian's reported a 44.7 percent increase in quarterly revenue, and net income edged up to $5.1 million from $5.0 million a year earlier, according to Reuters. Atlassian's 3-cent-per-share earnings was 1 cent short of the consensus Wall Street estimate, but revenue rose to $109.7 million from $75.8 million and was above the Street estimate of $102.7 million. The company made $98.2 million in operating cash flow in its last fiscal year, on revenue of $319.5 million. The company's shares were trading below the $21 IPO price in mid-day trading Friday. "That's a good one you might want to look at," Smith said. Across the country, Menlo Park, California-based fund manager Mike Moe also praises Atlassian and is thinking about more aggressive, higher-risk bets on companies like Square and Fitbit. He also likes Match Group, owner of the Tinder dating app and Match.com, which delivered disappointing fourth-quarter earnings this week that sparked a sell-off. He's more skeptical of Box, thinking it will get supplanted by rival Dropbox, in which Moe's GSV Capital is an investor. The most obvious point he makes is that nothing has happened to people's appetite for dating since November that hurts Match (whose paying user base is growing despite a raft of free dating sites). Shopify 's proposition that small- and midsized businesses have to adopt mobile and other online platforms is likewise intact, and it beat analysts' bottom-line forecasts in each of its two quarters as a public company. At about $23, its shares are above the $17 IPO price but below the first-week high of $29.65. How to look at Square's stock depends in part on how investors feel about Jack Dorsey, CEO of both the small-business-driven payment-processing company and of microblogging service Twitter , Buyer said. At just under $9, shares are right about the offering price but have given back their first-day pop to $13.07. But Wall Street isn't yet buying in to Square's promises of 20 percent to 25 percent growth and fat profit margins. "Reaching more mature [profit] margins and a higher level of future profitability is going to be a multiyear journey,'' said Deutsche Bank analyst Bryan Keane, who rates Square a hold. "The company has targeted 35 percent to 40 percent adjusted profit margins over the long term, and it remains to be seen if they can meet those margin targets.'' But Dorsey has backers. Moe is cautiously optimistic about Square, saying "it's speculative, but it could be huge.'' And legendary Legg Mason fund manager Bill Miller said Wednesday on CNBC that 2013 IPO Twitter is a great deal at $16 a share, even though it's down from more than $70 amid strategy changes following the departure of ex-CEO Dick Costolo and the company's struggle to roll out new advertising products. It now trades at less than 30 times 2016 earnings estimates, and it's expected to boost annual profits by about 60 percent a year, making it cheap by the standard ratios growth investors use, Moe said. DURHAM, N.H. In a caustic debate on Thursday night, Hillary Clinton accused Senator Bernie Sanders of leveling "attacks by insinuation and innuendo" against her integrity and her credentials as a progressive by portraying her as beholden to wealthy interests and corporations. Mrs. Clinton, lobbing her harshest assault yet in their race for the Democratic presidential nomination, said months of criticism by Mr. Sanders over her taking speaking fees from Wall Street banks amounted to a suggestion that she was corrupt or, as she put it, a "very artful smear." It was the sort of cutting remark she usually reserves for Republicans, and it drew boos from many in the audience at the University of New Hampshire. "There is this attack that he is putting out, which really comes down to, anybody who took donations or speaking fees from any interest group has to be bought," she said. "And I just absolutely reject that, senator. And I really don't think these attacks by insinuation and innuendo are worthy of you. Enough is enough. If you've got something to say, say it directly." Democratic U.S. presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders (L) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the Democratic presidential candidates debate sponsored by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire, February 4, 2016. Mike Segar | Reuters Mr. Sanders, who largely kept his cool in the debate, ignored the broadside and instead reiterated his familiar critique that a "super PAC" supporting Mrs. Clinton is funded in part by banks. More from The New York Times: Philippe Dauman Succeeds Sumner Redstone as Viacom Chairman Deal Shows Investors Are Willing to Make a Blind Bet on Uber Seeinga Business Opportunity for Firms' Outside Overseers "There is a reason why these people are putting huge amounts of money into our political system," Mr. Sanders said. "It is undermining American democracy and it is allowing Congress to represent wealthy campaign contributors and not the working families of this country." The ferocity of Mrs. Clinton's remarks in the debate was risky, given that many voters, including some Democrats, already have an unfavorable opinion of her. She is also running far behind Mr. Sanders in the polls leading up to Tuesday's primary in New Hampshire, and her attacks while geared toward undercutting his popularity here might backfire with some undecided voters who have positive feelings about Mr. Sanders. Mrs. Clinton, appearing tense and even angry at times, was particularly sensitive about receiving millions of dollars in speaking fees, including $675,000 for three speeches from Goldman Sachs. She downplayed her turn on the lecture circuit, noting that she had also addressed other groups such as the American Camping Association and that the banks merely wanted to hear her views on world affairs. But she did acknowledge that she had not "done the job I should in explaining my record" about financial regulation, suggesting that is why she had been unable to beat back questions about her speaking fees. Yet when asked if she would release all the transcripts of her speeches to banks, she hedged. "I will look into it," she said. "I don't know the status, but I will certainly look into it." From its opening moments, the debate devolved into a series of searing exchanges over one overarching theme: which of the two Democrats was the most progressive, an issue that they have been fighting over in recent days as they compete in New Hampshire. On one level, the debate was over semantics: The candidates share a similar worldview about aggressive government support for universal health care, public education and aid to the poor, and both of them used the word "rigged" to describe the American economy. But they kept putting their own personal spin on the word "progressive," with Mrs. Clinton deriding Mr. Sanders as the "self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism" and accusing him of judging her unfairly. Rebutting Mr. Sanders's claim that she is a political moderate, Mrs. Clinton sought to align herself with some of the most popular names in Democratic politics to suggest that Mr. Sanders was impugning them, not just her, with what she described as a purity test. "The root of that word, progressive, is progress, but I've heard Senator Sanders's comments and it's really caused me to wonder who's left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party," Mrs. Clinton said. "Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street." Mr. Sanders, asked if President Obama was a progressive, at first did not answer the question, instead bringing up a comment by Mrs. Clinton when she called herself a moderate. But he ultimately took on the question. "Do I think President Obama is a progressive? Yeah, I do," Mr. Sanders said. "I disagree with him on a number of issues, including the trade agreement, but, yes, I think he has done an excellent job." Mrs. Clinton, who is leading in national polls and narrowly won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, departed from the approach she used at Democratic forums late last year when she largely ignored Mr. Sanders and focused her fire on Republicans. On Thursday, though, there was only a fleeting mention of Donald J. Trump as she went after Mr. Sanders with an intensity that reflected a nomination fight worthy of the name. She portrayed herself as a veteran of the country's political wars who is better equipped to enact a progressive agenda than her more uncompromising rival. It was not a message likely to resonate among Mr. Sanders's idealistic young legions in New Hampshire, but it presaged the one she is likely to carry when the primary moves to Nevada and South Carolina, more moderate states, later this month. The debate was the first to feature only Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders, and the narrower aperture revealed significant differences. Mrs. Clinton seemed more tense at times in their rapid-fire exchanges. Mr. Sanders seemed surprised at times by the level of Mrs. Clinton's vitriol, but it never threw him off his central message. "Millions of Americans are giving up on the political process, and they're giving up on the political process because they understand that the economy is rigged," he said. He zeroed in on wealthy Americans and Wall Street firms giving huge sums of money to candidates an implicit criticism of Mrs. Clinton, though he did not say her by name. Mr. Sanders twice let opportunities go by when he could have pressed Mrs. Clinton on her taking speaking fees from banks. Instead, he ignored her and presented his own well-honed lecture about what he described as a corrupt system in which the financial institutions have outsize political influence and are treated with kid gloves when they break the law. "One of the things we should do is not only talk the talk, but walk the walk," he said. "We have raised 3.5 million individual contributions, averaging $27 dollars apiece. That is what the political revolution means." Mrs. Clinton repeatedly tried to frame Mr. Sanders as a politician who has had ambitious ideas for decades but little to show for it. "The numbers just don't add up from what Senator Sanders is proposing," Mrs. Clinton said. "A progressive is someone who makes progress. That's what I intend to do." Mr. Sanders dismissed the idea that his record in Congress showed he was unable to enact major changes. "Well I haven't quite run for president before," he said. While their disagreements were more muted, the two also clashed over foreign policy. And, once again, it was Mrs. Clinton going on the offensive. She suggested the senator was naive for wanting to insert Iranian troops into Syria and suggested he would be too hasty to normalize relations with the government of Iran. "You are voting for both a president and a commander in chief," she said, speaking directly to voters. Mr. Sanders responded by invoking her 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq war to question her judgment and recalled that, in the 2008 Democratic primary, she had called Mr. Obama naive "because he thought it was a good idea to talk to our enemies." Mrs. Clinton, asked if Mr. Sanders could win the general election, said she had "great respect" for the Sanders campaign but believed he would "face the most withering onslaught from Republicans." She then tacitly suggested that Mr. Sanders's left-wing views would not be popular in some states in November. "It will put the nominee into the spotlight," she said. "I've been vetted. There's hardly anything you don't know about me." watch now The Democratic primary finally got nasty in New Hampshire as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders traded body blows over Wall Street and what it means to be "progressive." The quiet deference that marked previous debates vanished Thursday night as Clinton came out firing against Sanders for insinuating that her campaign contributions from Wall Street would cause her to be soft on the industry. "If you've got something to say, say it," she said. "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out." Clinton held her own in this exchange but she continues to struggle mightily when it comes to explaining the hundreds of thousands of dollars she received speaking to Goldman Sachs and other big banks. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during the MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate with Bernie Sanders at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on February 4, 2016. Jewel Samad | AFP | Getty Images "I did go on the speaking circuit," she said. "I spoke to heart doctors, I spoke to the American Camping Association, I spoke to auto dealers, and yes, I spoke to firms on Wall Street. They wanted me to talk about the world, what my experience had been as secretary of state." This was an improvement over her response in a forum Wednesday night that she took the money because "that's what they offered." But she stumbled again when asked if she would release transcripts of her speeches to Goldman and others, saying only that she would "look into it." It's hard to figure out how Clinton has not managed to come up with a better approach. The easiest thing of course would have been to think of the headache the Wall Street speeches would give her in a presidential campaign and just not have done them in the first place. Short of that she could have donated the money to charity months ago. She could still do that now. The Clintons are not hard up for cash. On the transcript front, it's possible the contracts she signed would require that the companies Clinton spoke to also agree to release the text. If she asked, they almost certainly would. She should just do it and stop the bleeding. These speeches tend to be high-level overviews though there could be passages in the remarks to banks over causes of the financial crisis that might make some on the left wince. There could also be the usual host flattery that typically marks these high-paid speeches. And that could be fodder for attack ads. But if Clinton doesn't release the text she will continue to be dogged by attacks that she has something to hide. She already has problems with her use of private email and donations to the Clinton foundation. A display of total transparency would be a nice change of pace and possibly buy Clinton some good will. Whatever she decides, Clinton is still not likely to lose the nomination to Sanders. The Vermont senator will likely win New Hampshire by a comfortable margin but when the race turns to Nevada, South Carolina and Southern states on Super Tuesday, Clinton will likely re-establish herself as the dominant front-runner while piling up delegates at a rapid clip. The one thing that makes a quick Clinton win uncertain is money. Sanders is piling up millions in small donations and will have plenty of cash to go on the air in states more friendly to him and stay in the race, possibly for months. This is where Clinton's Wall Street problems crop up again. The former secretary of state is much more reliant on large checks to fund her campaign, and many of those come from the financial industry. She has postponed two fundraisers with bankers in the last two weeks amid heavy criticism from Sanders for leaving Iowa last week to raise money at a financial firm in Philadelphia. But she needs the money and so will have to hold the events and then take hits from Sanders and the left once again. Ultimately, unless new revelations emerge on the email front, Clinton will eventually be free of Sanders and be able to focus on the general election. The question is how beat up she will be by then and whether her campaign is broke in the weeks and months before the Democratic convention. And if she winds up facing off against Sen. Marco Rubio which is the most likely outcome Clinton will probably yearn for the days where her toughest opponent was a self-professed socialist. A garage in the upmarket London district of Chelsea is set to be auctioned for 180,000 ($261,567) or more, as the escalation in real estate prices in the already expensive city continues. The garage set to be auctioned later this month offers secure off street parking and has an internal area of approximately 146 square feet. It is described by estate agents at Savills as "rarely available." "Garages are an increasingly rare commodity in central London, where even some of the highest value properties lack off street parking," Chris Coleman-Smith, head of Savills auctions, said in a news release. He added that garages had attracted a premium in recent years. "While they've already made headlines for achieving incredibly high prices in prime central London, garages can still offer good potential returns." The price of the garage is close to that of the average house in England and Wales, which is 188,270, according to the Land Registry House Price Index. However, in December the average house price in London was 514,097, representing an annual increase of 12.4 percent and highlighting the disparity between the cost of living in the capital city and elsewhere. Private equity investor Lynn Tilton is stepping down as collateral manager of all her credit funds, totaling more than $2 billion, after years of litigation with New York bond insurer MBIA. Tilton will temporarily remain in charge of three credit funds, sequentially named "Zohar," until investors in those funds select a collateral manager. Tilton is not relinquishing her position as CEO of Patriarch Partners, the private equity firm she controls and in which all of the Zohar funds are heavily invested. It also means that Tilton is withdrawing the bankruptcy filing for Zohar I, the first credit fund that she raised to support her private equity operations. Together, the funds assets total about $2.5 billion. When a commodity costs more to produce than the current market price, producers usually stop producing it. When it comes to U.S. crude oil, that's not happening, according to an analysis of global oil production by Wood Mackenzie, a commodities market research firm. The oil glut continues to weigh on crude prices, but the decision to stop pumping when prices fall is not as simple as it may seem. For starters, the cost of producing a barrel of oil varies widely from one well to another, based on the initial cost of finding and developing the oilfield, along with such costs as borrowing, current operations and maintenance. Some of the recent expansion of U.S. crude production, for example, has come from so-called "stripper" wells once abandoned finds that are seeing new life thanks to advanced production techniques. Many of these are profitable even at current market prices. BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 08: Former secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Ling Jihua attends the plenary session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People on March 8, 2013 in Beijing, China. U.S. intelligence agencies interrogating the brother of a disgraced Communist official believe he is the most valuable Chinese defector to flee to America, according to two people familiar with some of the intelligence he has provided. The defector, Ling Wancheng, is the brother of Ling Jihua, the former chief of staff to President Hu Jintao who was formally detained on suspicion of "serious violations" of Communist party rules in December 2014. The secrets Mr Ling has revealed to US investigators include details on Chinese procedures for launching nuclear weapons, the personal lives of China's leaders, and arrangements for their security and for the protection of the Zhongnanhai leadership compound in central Beijing, according to one senior retired diplomat and a former leading western intelligence official who received briefings in Washington. In a sign of how badly it wants to get him back, the Chinese government has sent several teams of security officials and agents to the US on official and covert missions to try to secure Mr Ling's return. Last August the Obama administration issued a warning to Beijing after discovering that Chinese spies in the US were trying to track Mr Ling down and repatriate him. In November an official delegation from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security travelled to the US to present accusations against Mr Ling to the Sacramento Federal Prosecutor. An open letter to the Flagstaff Community: As large employers and public servants in the Flagstaff community, we write to inform you of an important legislative budget discussion that will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the Council Chambers at Flagstaff City Hall. This gathering will provide a local venue for sharing information about state revenues and state budget planning, as well as a chance to present community priorities. We appreciate this opportunity provided by Arizona Representative Justin Olson, Chairperson of the House Appropriations Committee, bringing legislative budget discussions to local communities through statewide hearings. We encourage your participation in this conversation. It is important that people across Arizona share our priorities through civil discourse with our elected officials. We hope you will attend this public forum to engage with our state elected leaders on the important topic of Arizonas next budget, which affects Flagstaffs public K12 schools, Coconino Community College, Northern Arizona University, the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County and all of the residents we collectively serve. While we are highlighting this opportunity for civic engagement, we would also like to encourage all residents 18 and over to register to vote. Voter participation in Arizona often trails turnout in the United States. Arizona will have an important election this May, which will include a proposition on education funding that affects all public schools in Arizona, as well as the overall state budget. We encourage participation in the election this May, and hope to see you during Saturday's conversation about the state budget. Thank you for your engagement and support for our community a place where we live, work and enjoy a wonderful quality of life! ART BABBOTT Chairman, Coconino County Board of Supervisors RITA HARTUNG CHENG President, Northern Arizona University BARB HICKMAN Superintendent, Flagstaff Unified School District JERRY NABOURS Mayor, City of Flagstaff COLLEEN SMITH President, Coconino Community College Portugal's left-wing coalition government receive some mixed news on Friday, when its budget for 2016 was judged to be "at risk of non-compliance" with European Union (EU) rules. Last minute changes to the budget meant that the European Commission (the executive arm of the EU) accepted the budget, although it remained concerned about the level of planned economic reforms. "Following intense technical and political contacts, the Commission did not have to request a revised draft budgetary plan from the Portuguese authorities. Nevertheless, the government's plans are at risk of non-compliance with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact," European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said in a statement posted online on Friday. Porto, Portugal. Patrik Bergstrom | Getty Images The country had previously received a warning about its draft budget, which it submitted more than three months late, from the European Commission. The controversy surrounding the budget which will reverse public wages cuts implemented by the previous center-right government highlights the challenges faced by Socialist Prime Minister Antonio Costa. He must balance appeasing his coalition partners with a commitment to fiscal consolidation under EU rules. "The government remains stuck between EC deficit reduction requirements and the demands of its far-left allies for a roll back of reforms made by the previous government (including tax increases and salary and pension cuts)," Royal Bank of Scotland analysts led by Alberto Gallo said in a report on Thursday. Following earlier discussions with Brussels, Costa and his colleagues have cut Portugal's 2016 projected budget deficit to 2.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.6 percent and increased spending cuts to 0.4 percent from 0.2 per cent. However, the European Commission sees Portugal's deficit at 3.4 percent this year, above the 3 percent threshold that EU member countries must aim to meet or be below. watch now Portugal has cut its growth forecast to 1.9 percent from 2.1 percent for 2016, after Brussels said the estimate in its draft budget was also overly optimistic. The new figure remains above the European Commission forecast of 1.6 percent. However, the Leftist Bloc one of Costa's Socialist Party's major allies in parliament has called on the government not to cave into demands for further adjustment measures. "Costa is likely to choose political stability over pleasing Brussels, meaning that it is unlikely that the government will alter its plans significantly. This is because the short-term negative impact of a potential standoff with the Commission would be relatively limited," said Antonio Barroso, senior vice president at Teneo Intelligence, in a research note last week. As well as limiting their budget deficits, EU member countries are required to work to limit their public debt to 60 percent or less of GDP. Portugal's deficit came in at 4.2 percent in 2015, with gross public debt at 129.1 percent of GDP, according to estimates from the European Commission. watch now The 2016 budget is one of the first major challenges facing Portugal's fragile left-wing coalition government. It is led by the moderate Socialist Party, but relies on votes from an alliance of parties that includes the Communist and Green parties, with the risk of new elections being held after April. Italy, Austria, Lithuania and Spain are also judged as "at risk of non-compliance" with EU rules. Royal Bank of Scotland said that reforms were necessary in Portugal, because the country's public and private sectors remain heavily indebted and productivity growth has fallen behind Spain and Ireland. That's despite Portugal posting growth of 1.5 percent in 2015 and seen expanding by 1.6 percent by the European Commission. "The main driver of growth has been domestic consumption, while investment remains stagnant. In our view, the lack of investment and productivity growth could hinder the sustainability of Portugal's growth," Gallo said. U.S. giants such as Apple and Microsoft are flocking to the U.K. to buy artificial intelligence (AI) start-ups as Britain establishes itself as the go-to place for the technology. Microsoft announced that it had acquired London-based Swiftkey, an AI start-up that makes a predictive keyboard for smartphones, on Wednesday for $250 million, sources close to the deal told CNBC. "We are looking for interesting tech. It is not new news that London is the most advanced start-up ecosystem in Europe," a Microsoft insider who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorised to speak publicly about the deal, told CNBC on Thursday. "There is a lot of talent in London which is a combination of the education and active verticals in fintech, adtech and all of those that require expertise in machine learning. It explains the interest for us." Spending spree Microsoft is not the only U.S. technology giant to scoop up British start-ups. In 2012, Amazon bought Evi Technologies, a company founded in Cambridge, England, which produces a Siri-like product which users can talk to and ask questions. Chad Baker | Getty Images In 2014, Google splashed 400 million ($582 million) to buy DeepMind, which has recently demonstrated its ability to master the ancientChinese game of Go. DeepMind then went on to buy two companies Dark Blue Labs and Vision Factory both artificial intelligence companies sprung out of Oxford University. And earlier this year, Apple announced that it had acquired an start-up called Emotient which has developed technology that can detect emotions. One reason behind the success, experts suggest, is the talent that is born out of the U.K.'s top universities Oxford and Cambridge. Both founders of Swiftkey, Ben Medlock and Jon Reynolds, were ex-students at Cambridge. DeepMind's acquisitions were both from Oxford University. And the continuing success of U.K. AI start-ups is also breeding more companies. "If you start having one company, then two companies, sub groups for different applications, there is a very strong ecosystem created," Martin Mignot, an investor in Swiftkey from Index Ventures, told CNBC by phone. "You have this cluster effect going and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy," Mignot added, saying that Medlock is planning to mentor students at Cambridge University. AI has been a big focus for technology companies with Microsoft pushing Cortana and Apple trying to improve Siri. Google announced on Wednesday that it is replacing the head of its internet search business, Amit Singhal, with John Giannandrea, the person running its artificial intelligence arm in signal that it wants to make search smarter. A winter storm threatened to snarl the morning commute for millions of Americans from the Mid-Atlantic to New England Friday, dumping up to 8 inches of snow on parts of the Northeast. Heavy, wet snow will lead to messy conditions on roads across the region during the morning, forecasters said. The snow should finally clear coastal New England by Friday evening, but not before dumping snow on southeast New England, including parts of eastern Connecticut, Rhode Island and eastern Massachusetts including much of the I-395 and I-495 corridors, the Weather Channel said. ArcelorMittal , the world's largest steelmaker, launched plans on Friday to raise $3 billion in fresh capital in a bid to reduce debt in the face of weak steel and mining sectors. The company, twice the size of its nearest rival, simultaneously issued full-year results, with core profit at the bottom of its guidance range, and forecast a further decline in profitability in 2016. Apart from the capital increase, the company said it would also receive almost $1 billion from the sale of a 35 percent stake in Spanish automotive steel specialist Gestamp. "This capital raise, combined with the sale of our minority shareholding in Gestamp, will accelerate the company's debt reduction plans and enable us to reduce net debt to less than $12 billion," Chief Executive Lakshmi Mittal said in a statement. Net debt was $15.7 billion at the end of 2015. The other day Jeb Bush said something about the presidency so fundamentally wrong that it crystallized why his campaign has the vapors, sputtering to just 2.8 percent in Iowa. During one of many harangues against Donald Trump, Bush told a small gathering in New Hampshire, Were not electing a personality. Were electing someone who has to sit behind the big desk and make tough decisions. Separately, he proclaimed himself an introvert, one who would rather read a book than go out and get in a conga line and go dancing. (One wonders who gave him that choice of options.) The thesis of the Bush campaign is that voters crave a competent manager to make reasonable decisions not a celebrity or a personality. This, of course, is ludicrous, a total misunderstanding of the modern presidency. And I can prove it. My first witness is his father. In 1988, when George H.W. Bush sought the presidency, he lambasted his opponent, Democrat Michael S. Dukakis, for claiming the election was about competence. This election isnt only about competence, the elder Bush declared. Competence makes the trains run on time but doesnt know where theyre going. Competence is the creed of the technocrat who makes sure the gears mesh but doesnt for a second understand the magic of the machine. Bush understood that the American people wanted something bigger in their presidents. Which is why he created a persona that they might favor. In the 1980s, at least, the private Bush was a kindly aristocrat with moderate tendencies. The public one was a just-folks Texan who liked pork rinds and country music. His son and my former boss George W. Bush was an even better political performer. In private, Bush was a pragmatic guy. But he ran for president as an even more macho version of his dad: the ultra-confident decider who would restore the Reagan Revolution and dismantle the legacy of Bill Clinton. He was dismissed by critics as an arrogant frat boy, which was fine with him. Some folks look at me and see a certain swagger, he acknowledged. Which in Texas is called walkin. Sometimes, when I observed the president with his boots on the desk and his muscular syntax, Id think, This isnt really him. I thought he was putting on a show. At the time, I found that fraudulent. Now, I realize it was necessary. There is no more important role for a president than that of a performer. A leader who will vow to avenge a day that will live in infamy. Or go to Berlin and call on a Soviet leader to tear it down. Or stand on a pile of rubble with a bullhorn and promise to bring the bad guys to justice. The parent who drives through a blizzard, feeling the ice tug on the tires, the car shifting on the slippery road, while telling the kids in the back seat that everything is going just fine and getting them to sing a song. In the modern era the president is also celebrity-in-chief, expected to comment on the deaths of popular actors or to watch the latest Star Wars film or to appear on Jimmy Kimmel alongside beloved comedians. Does anyone other than Jeb Bush believe that Americans marvel at how efficiently the president cleans out his inbox? Or applaud him for successfully refereeing a dispute between the secretaries of commerce and agriculture? The voters arent looking for an administrator-in-chief. Last fall Bush gambled otherwise and released a 644-page book full of emails that he wrote as governor of Florida. If anyone read it and if Amazon is any guide, almost no one did they would first have had to wade through six pages of acronyms such as the BOG and the DCA (not to be confused with the DCF). Thats why Bush, the guy who was supposed to win, is losing. Even if he does somehow negative-ad his way to the presidency, hes doomed to fail because he doesnt understand the theater of that office. Which brings us back to Trump. Whether he makes it to the nominating convention or not now a shakier prospect than it was just days ago hes clearly figured out that this running for president thing has everything to do with creating a persona. His jumbo jet, his photogenic family, his boasts, his feuds against powerful people, his efforts to tie himself to Ronald Reagan and John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzeneggar, all convey a message. He can handle anything people throw at him. Hes a winner, even when he isnt, if only because hes ingrained that word in our heads over and over again. The final key to the way I promote is bravado, Trump wrote in The Art of the Deal, his 1987 memoir-cum-advice manual. I play to peoples fantasies. People may not always think big themselves, but they can still get very excited by those who do. Thats why a little hyperbole never hurts. The Art of the Deal, Trump tells us, is the bestselling business book of all time. It matters only to fact-checkers and the faltering campaigns of his rivals that this claim is demonstrably false. Welcome! If you are interested in posting your own sightings to this blog then please get in touch with Mark D by clicking on his profile below and following the link to his email. Otherwise let Graham Speight know and between us we'll get an invite sent to you. Danny Santulli's siblings, cousins hold vigil for him in Peace Park An end to hazing was the point of a Wednesday candlelight vigil in Peace Park organized by Danny Santulli's siblings and cousins. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email sunnews@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Kelvin Ma/Tufts University 01/27/2014 - Somerville, Mass. - Peniel Joseph, Professor of History African who specializes in American, Race Relations, Intellectual History, Civil Rights and Black Power, poses for a portrait in Granoff Music Hall on Jan. 27, 2014. SHARE Stokely A Life - Peniel E. Joseph By Aram Goudsouzian Howard Zinn once wrote that Stokely Carmichael "would stride cool and smiling through Hell, philosophizing all the way." Carmichael was a dynamic, confident organizer during the civil-rights movement, always on the radical vanguard, and he grew into a figure of great international significance. It was Carmichael who popularized the slogan "Black Power," which defined an emerging movement of both inspiration and controversy. In his award-winning biography, "Stokely: A Life," Peniel Joseph deftly narrates the political journey of a global icon. Joseph holds a joint appointment at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is a professor in the department of history and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. In recognition of his National Book Award from the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change, he recently answered questions via email from Chapter 16: Chapter 16: In the late 1960s, Stokely Carmichael was one of the most polarizing figures in American culture, yet he seems somewhat forgotten by many people today. What accounts for this lapse in our historical memory? Peniel Joseph: Stokely Carmichael's revolutionary praxis made him an icon that people wanted to forget. He remained an unrelenting critic of liberal democratic capitalism, and he defined America as a global empire that pretended to be a democracy. His critique of white supremacy, institutional racism and imperialism made him a figure that the nation has steadfastly refused to acknowledge, even though such recognition is vital to the radical political transformation needed to finally achieve racial equality and economic justice. Should we think of the young Carmichael as an outsider? He was an immigrant from Trinidad, and he was a black student at the predominantly white Bronx High School of Science. How might these experiences have shaped his participation in the civil-rights movement? He was both an insider and an outsiderreally, a participant observer. These experiences certainly shaped him as a young man. He refused to let America's version of anti-black racism put intellectual or experiential limits on his own imagination. He grew up confident, a voracious reader, and one who was not intimidated in any way by white Americans. Carmichael participated in some of the signature events of the civil-rights movement, from the Freedom Rides to Freedom Summer. What was his larger role in the movement? Stokely served as one of the key student organizers and leaders at Howard University's SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) affiliate, NAG (Nonviolent Action Group). He was a key leader, organizing Mississippi's Second Congressional District during Freedom Summer and becoming one of the lead organizers in Lowndes County, Alabama, where local activists and SNCC organized an independent black party that was nicknamed the Black Panther Party. As SNCC chairman, Stokely became the youthful face and main political mobilizer of Black Power radicalism and anti-war activism. Carmichael vaulted into the public consciousness in June 1966, on the Meredith March Against Fear, when as the new chairman of SNCC he called for "Black Power." What did Black Power mean to Stokely Carmichael? Carmichael initially identified Black Power as radical political, cultural and economic self-determination that is, black people redefining themselves for themselves and in contrast to Western civilization's unapologetically racist views of blacks and Africa. Over time he defined Black Power as one expression of revolutionary Pan-Africanism, which he came to characterize as Black Power's highest expression. He changed his name to Kwame Ture in honor of his political mentors and came to believe that only a United States of Africa, one guided by the principles of scientific socialism, could help liberate black America and the entire world. What made Carmichael such a compelling figure by the late 1960s? Why did so many hate him, and why did so many others revere him? He was intelligent, good-looking, charismatic and courageous. Stokely, alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, was in love with black people. He especially loved poor black folks. His fearless devotion to justice helped make Black Power a generational clarion call. We would not be black and beautiful people in America and around the world without Stokely Carmichael. To read an uncut version of this interview and more local book coverage please visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee. By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal Jordan Clayton, who is charged in the killing of 7-year-old Kirsten Williams, pleaded guilty Friday to possessing a gun days after her shooting. Clayton, a felon, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possessing a Glock .40 pistol on or about April 14. Williams was fatally shot April 10 in the 2600 block of Durby Circle a few blocks from the intersection of Lamar and Pendleton. The range of punishment on the federal charge is 37 to 46 months, said attorney Juni Ganguli. Clayton is charged with first-degree murder in a pending case in Williams death. Branden Brookins, Carl Johnson and Carlos Stokes are also charged in her death. Stokes is the brother of a 15-year-old girl, Cateria Stokes, who was fatally shot at about 2 a.m. April 10 in the 4500 block of Cottonwood, roughly a 10-minute drive from where Kirsten would be shot hours later. Officers found Cateria in bed unresponsive, police said, and she was pronounced dead. Bass Pro Shops SHARE By Ryan Poe of The Commercial Appeal After a long hiatus, City Hall Insider our weekly look at the goings-on of Memphis city government is back. The feature runs online Fridays. Like most people in Memphis, Mayor Jim Strickland was surprised by the revelation last week that the city could be on the hook to build a parking garage for Bass Pro Shops in the future. But in a recent interview, Strickland downplayed the possibility of a construction project anytime soon. "This is a media-generated issue because Bass Pro has not requested a garage," he said. "They have specifically said they are not requesting a garage." Even though Bass Pro isn't requesting a garage, that could change, Strickland acknowledged. If that happens, he said, he's "hopeful" that the funds generated by the tourism development zone that includes the Pyramid would pay for the garage. Strickland: No city money for Mud Island redevelopment Five companies including Bass Pro Shops have submitted redevelopment proposals for Mud Island River Park. But if they hoped to get any city money, they'll be disappointed, Strickland said. "I'm open to that discussion (about redeveloping Mud Island River Park), but we have no money to put into the project," he said. Strickland said he hasn't seen any of the proposals, but is looking forward to hearing the recommendations of the Riverfront Development Corp., a non-profit that receives about $3 million a year from the city to maintain the riverfront. Hedgepeth vs. MLGW Of the 13 Memphis City Council members, Reid Hedgepeth is one of the least likely to launch into a tirade. But Tuesday, Hedgepeth woke up an otherwise sleepy afternoon council session by criticizing Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division for not fast-tracking repairs to turn on streetlights on a street in his district. He then asked for and got without objection a delay of the 13 resolutions on the MLGW fiscal consent agenda: nine contracts or contract extensions worth nearly $3.7 million, three bond issues worth $1.1 billion, and a $59,963 court settlement. The bond issues were incorrectly on the agenda, and already headed back to committee. But how badly did Hedgepeth hurt MLGW with his motion to delay? "No, it will not have a negative impact," MLGW CEO Jerry Collins said in a statement Thursday. Hedgepeth didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. Rallings makes the rounds Memphis Police Interim Director Mike Rallings started Monday, and after his trial by fire Tuesday at City Council began making the rounds to local media. One of his first stops Wednesday was at The Commercial Appeal's podcast studio, where he talked about a range of issues, including body cameras, the advice he got from former director Toney Armstrong, and why Memphis won't be the next Ferguson. Check out the podcast on the InforMemphis page of www.commercialappeal.com. The New Tri-State Defender took a deeper dive into Rallings' background, which is well worth a read (note: TSD on Friday replaced the online story with an excerpt and said the rest will be published in this week's print edition). One part that stood out: Rallings slightly deviated from his standard answer about whether he plans to seek the full position to point out that he's set to retire in April 2018 under the Deferred Retirement Option Plan. Strickland's choice on whether to do a national director search seems to be between tearing the Band-Aid off now or later. Bye, bye, TBI crime lab Gov. Haslam's $34.8 billion budget this year includes $25 million for a new Tennessee Bureau of Investigation crime lab in Jackson that will result in Memphis' TBI lab being closed, the Jackson Sun reported Wednesday. Haslam said the lab should be more centrally located in the region, which implies that the move is Memphis' loss. But Memphis Police spokeswoman Karen Rudolph said the move was "not a big deal," and would come with a minimal impact on costs and efficiency. She added that police weren't greatly affected when the lab was in Nashville. Follow more politics and policy coverage from the InforMemphis team on Twitter and Facebook. SHARE The grammar might not be standard, but the sentiment applies to a variety of circumstances: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." The Tennessee General Assembly might need to be reminded of this time-tested adage if an effort to protect health caregivers from large awards in medical malpractice lawsuits gets any traction. The change would come in the form of an amendment to the state constitution to add language stipulating that the General Assembly can set caps on non-economic damages in litigation. You thought that had already been taken care of? You were right. The effort by the Tennessee Medical Association is aimed at heading off any possible future ruling by the Tennessee Supreme Court that the state's current rule on the issue is unconstitutional. Current law requires judges to impose a $750,000 cap on non-economic damage awards ($1 million in cases with catastrophic injuries or losses) when juries, which are not told of the limit, award an excessive amount. Although a judge in Chattanooga has issued a preliminary ruling that Tennessee's cap is unconstitutional, it has not been tested before the state Supreme Court, which ruled that the question was not ready to consider. Court orders that wipe out limits on non-economic damages are not unheard of. In 2014, Florida's Supreme Court took that position, raising to at least eight the number of states where limits have been removed on what plaintiffs can reasonably expect to receive for their pain, suffering and mental anguish due to malpractice. At this point, however, residents of Tennessee have nothing to gain if the arduous process of amending the constitution approval by both chambers of the legislature by simple majorities this year, by two-thirds majorities next year, and by the voters in 2018 is initiated. Promoters of the measure claim that an adverse ruling by the courts would discourage doctors from practicing in Tennessee, where the environment for health caregivers compares favorably with many other states in the region. Alabama, Georgia, Illinois and Missouri are among the states that prohibit any sort of cap on non-economic damages from medical malpractice suits. Tennessee legislators have, in fact, been generous with doctors in recent years, not only approving the cap for non-economic damages but also requiring plaintiffs to notify caregivers before filing suit and to certify that a medical expert has reviewed the case and found it to have merit. The current rules seem to be working to the benefit of physicians. Reforms passed by the General Assembly in recent years have helped reduce the number of cases filed against physicians and reduced malpractice insurance premiums. It simply seems unnecessary at this point to reopen the debate regarding the rules in place that aim to hold physicians accountable for their actions. The system is not broken. No fix is necessary. SHARE By Jonah Goldberg "The Republican Obama." That's the new hot attack on Sen. Marco Rubio. Ted Cruz leveled the epithet at Rubio just days before the Iowa caucuses, which is a little ironic since Cruz has been called the same thing in the past. But the leader of the opposition to Rubio, at least when it comes to this line, is actually someone not in the race: Joe Scarborough, the normally affable host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe." Contrary to all evidence, Scarborough has denied he has an unhealthy obsession with his fellow Floridian. But given Scarborough's near-relentless denigration of Rubio, objective viewers might wonder if Rubio had run over Scarborough's dog or toilet-papered his house one Halloween night in junior high school. On Thursday morning's show, Scarborough launched into an extended tirade about the best ways for other Republicans to attack Rubio. Sounding a bit like an armchair general who can't wait any longer to be asked his opinion, Scarborough declared, "He is the Republican Obama. And he really is." Time magazine, Scarborough complained with more than a touch of resentment, "anointed him the Republican Party's savior before he threw his first pitch." "Seriously," Scarborough added, "I have complained for years that Barack Obama was sold and marketed like a bag of potato chips, and when I have said it, every Republican has agreed with me, and I said it was a bad move for America when they had a chance to have a more experienced candidate. Even Hillary Clinton. So now Republicans are going ... down that road to elect a guy that has been marketed like a bag of potato chips. Good luck." It's almost as if Scarborough forgot that Obama was elected twice. Because he has a unique animosity for Rubio, Scarborough left out that his indictment applies in equal measure to Cruz, another first-term senator who hit the ground running for the White House. Indeed, Cruz has been in the Senate for even less time than Rubio. Scarborough is certainly right that Rubio's list of Senate accomplishments is short. So is Cruz's, and for largely the same reasons. They haven't been around long, and in the last year with Republicans in control the GOP has mostly focused on limiting any further damage Obama can do. Which brings us back to this whole "Republican Obama" thing. For Scarborough, not to mention Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, the charge that Rubio is a Republican Obama is meant to be a scathing indictment of Rubio's inexperience. But that may not be the way everyone hears it. They might hear: "He's a Republican who can win." Moreover, while conservatives have rightly faulted President Obama for not being up to the job, particularly when it comes to foreign policy, that indictment isn't the one most on the right focus on. Rather, conservatives have been told, with good reason, that Obama has been a hugely effective progressive ideologue. While Obama has been something of a disaster for the Democratic Party in terms of congressional and state offices, he still got Obamacare. He also helped steer same-sex marriage to a victory at the Supreme Court, a court where his two ideologically left-wing appointees sit. His EPA helped kill the coal industry while he has poured billions in subsidies into wind and solar boondoggles. No Republican wants to emulate Obama's many failures, but few wouldn't love to emulate his successes in a conservative way. The point is, it depends what you mean by a Republican Obama. For instance, when Cruz was elected to the Senate, many conservatives hoped, and many liberals feared, that he would be a Republican Obama. My National Review colleague Jay Nordlinger wrote back in 2009, before Cruz was elected, "Is he our Obama a Republican Obama? Well, he is far less slippery than our new president. But there are similarities especially where communications skills are concerned." Every candidate's record is fair game. But by their very nature, arguments about a politician's record are arguments about the past. Rubio and Cruz or as I like to call them, Los Hermanos Cubanos can frame their candidacies on the future. In a year when a majority of Americans and a supermajority of Republicans think the country is on the wrong track, that's an advantage. As Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen wrote last year, "Those who dismiss Cruz as a 'Republican Obama' should not forget what we call Obama today: Mr. President." Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. Contact him at goldbergcolumn@gmail.com. Select Commodity All Ajwan Alasande Gram Almond(Badam) Alsandikai Amaranthus Ambada Seed Amla(Nelli Kai) Amphophalus Antawala Anthorium Apple Apricot(Jardalu/Khumani) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar (Tur/Red Gram)(Whole) Arhar Dal(Tur Dal) Ashgourd Astera Avare Dal Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) Balekai Bamboo Banana Banana - Green Barley (Jau) Bay leaf (Tejpatta) Beans Beaten Rice Beetroot Bengal Gram Dal (Chana Dal) Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Ber(Zizyphus/Borehannu) Betal Leaves Bhindi(Ladies Finger) Bitter gourd Black Gram (Urd Beans)(Whole) Black Gram Dal (Urd Dal) Black pepper BOP Bottle gourd Bran Brinjal Broken Rice Broomstick(Flower Broom) Bull Bunch Beans Cabbage Calf Capsicum Cardamoms Carnation Carrot Cashewnuts Castor Seed Cauliflower Chapparad Avare Chennangi Dal Cherry Chikoos(Sapota) Chili Red Chilly Capsicum Chow Chow Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum(Loose) Cinamon(Dalchini) Cloves Cluster beans Cock Cocoa Coconut Coconut Oil Coconut Seed Coffee Colacasia Copra Coriander(Leaves) Corriander seed Cotton Cotton Seed Cow Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea (Lobia/Karamani) Cowpea(Veg) Cucumbar(Kheera) Cummin Seed(Jeera) Custard Apple (Sharifa) Dalda Dhaincha Drumstick Dry Chillies Dry Fodder Dry Grapes Duck Duster Beans Egg Elephant Yam (Suran) Field Pea Firewood Fish Foxtail Millet(Navane) French Beans (Frasbean) Galgal(Lemon) Garlic Ghee Gingelly Oil Ginger(Dry) Ginger(Green) Gladiolus Cut Flower Goat Gram Raw(Chholia) Gramflour Grapes Green Avare (W) Green Chilli Green Fodder Green Gram (Moong)(Whole) Green Gram Dal (Moong Dal) Green Peas Ground Nut Oil Ground Nut Seed Groundnut Groundnut (Split) Groundnut pods (raw) Guar Guar Seed(Cluster Beans Seed) Guava Gur(Jaggery) He Buffalo Hen Hippe Seed Honge seed Hybrid Cumbu Indian Beans (Seam) Indian Colza(Sarson) Isabgul (Psyllium) Jack Fruit Jaffri Jamun(Narale Hannu) Jarbara Jasmine Jowar(Sorghum) Jute Kabuli Chana(Chickpeas-White) Kacholam Kakada Kankambra Karamani Karbuja(Musk Melon) Kartali (Kantola) Khoya Kinnow Knool Khol Kodo Millet(Varagu) Kulthi(Horse Gram) Lak(Teora) Leafy Vegetable Lemon Lentil (Masur)(Whole) Lilly Lime Linseed Lint Litchi Little gourd (Kundru) Long Melon(Kakri) Lotus Lotus Sticks Lukad Mahedi Mahua Mahua Seed(Hippe seed) Maida Atta Maize Mango Mango (Raw-Ripe) Marasebu Marget Marigold(Calcutta) Marigold(loose) Mashrooms Masur Dal Mataki Methi Seeds Methi(Leaves) Millets Mint(Pudina) Moath Dal Mousambi(Sweet Lime) Mustard Mustard Oil Myrobolan(Harad) Neem Seed Niger Seed (Ramtil) Nutmeg Onion Onion Green Orange Orchid Ox Paddy(Dhan)(Basmati) Paddy(Dhan)(Common) Papaya Papaya (Raw) Patti Calcutta Peach Pear(Marasebu) Peas cod Peas Wet Peas(Dry) Pegeon Pea (Arhar Fali) Pepper garbled Pepper ungarbled Persimon(Japani Fal) Pigs Pineapple Plum Pointed gourd (Parval) Pomegranate Potato Pumpkin Raddish Ragi (Finger Millet) Raibel Rajgir Ram Rat Tail Radish (Mogari) Raya Resinwood Rice Ridge gourd(Tori) Ridgeguard(Tori) Rose(Local) Rose(Loose) Rose(Loose)) Round gourd Rubber Sabu Dan Sabu Dana Safflower Sajje Same/Savi Season Leaves Seemebadnekai Seetafal Seetapal Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) She Buffalo She Goat Sheep Snake gourd Snakeguard Soanf Soapnut(Antawala/Retha) Soji Soyabean Spinach Sponge gourd Squash(Chappal Kadoo) Sugar Sugarcane Sunflower Sunhemp Suram Surat Beans (Papadi) Suva (Dill Seed) Suvarna Gadde Sweet Potato Sweet Pumpkin T.V. Cumbu T.V. Cumbu Tamarind Fruit Tamarind Seed Tapioca Taramira Tender Coconut Thinai (Italian Millet) Thogrikai Thondekai Tinda Tobacco Tomato Toria Tube Rose(Double) Tube Rose(Loose) Tube Rose(Single) Turmeric Turmeric (raw) Turnip Walnut Water Melon Wheat Wheat Atta White Peas White Pumpkin Wood Yam Yam (Ratalu) Select State Select Market A UN panel has ruled that the time Julian Assange has spent cooped up in the London embassy of the Ecuador government amounts to arbitrary detention by the U.K. and Sweden, but it is unlikely that the founder of the WikiLeaks whistle-blowing website will walk away free soon. The U.K. government has reportedly said that the decision of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is not binding on it, while there is a warrant against Assange. It did not change its earlier stance that it would arrest Assange for his extradition to Sweden as soon as he leaves the Ecuador embassy, where he has been living since 2012. Shortly after the panel announced its opinion, the U.K. said it would formally contest it. A decision would be "indirectly but still legally binding on the relevant authorities of the relevant states," said Christophe Peschoux, an official at the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ahead of the Friday announcement by the panel. Assange had earlier said through a Twitter message that if the UN Working Group were to rule against him, he would surrender to the U.K. police at noon on Friday "as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal." The controversial Australian obtained asylum from the government of Ecuador in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning in connection with a sexual assault investigation. But he and his followers have expressed concern that from Sweden, he could be transferred to the U.S. to face charges under the country's Espionage Act. WikiLeaks has published leaked diplomatic cables and other information that embarrassed several governments, including the U.S., and international businesses. The threat of arrest by the U.K. police has required Assange to stay within the embassy despite the offer of asylum in Ecuador. In a submission to the UN Working Group his stay at the embassy was described as arbitrary detention, and the panel was asked to "require" U.K. authorities "to give effect to Mr. Assange's right to asylum by allowing him safe passage to Ecuador." Since August 2012, Assange "has not been able to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy and is subject to extensive surveillance by the British police," said the panel, which added that it considered that the detention should be brought to an end, besides giving Assange the right to compensation. The panel also said that Assange had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty, from his "initial detention in Wandsworth prison which was followed by house arrest and his confinement at the Ecuadorian Embassy." It seems unlikely that Assange will now leave the embassy, unless he has an assurance from the U.K. police that he will not be arrested. "Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me, he wrote in his statement on Twitter. The focus will now most likely shift to demands that the U.K. and Sweden respect and abide by the decision of the U.N. panel. The Human Rights Council of the UN General Assembly passed a resolution in 2013 calling on states to take steps to remedy situations where people are identified by the Working Group as having been arbitrarily deprived of their liberty. Protesters have asked Assange's supporters to gather Friday outside the Ecuador embassy in London. 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. Recently the Taxpayers Alliance published some research into the sums councils have been paying out in compensation. Over 104 million was paid out in compensation claims against local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales over 2013-14 and 2014-15. Nearly 8,000,000 paid out in claims related to potholes over 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. Jonathan Isaby, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers Alliance, said: The compensation culture is costing taxpayers dear and every pound spent on settlements or higher insurance premiums is a pound that isnt spent on essential services such as road maintenance or social care. Of course, some of the payments made by councils will be entirely justified, as the most serious accidents can change lives. But in many cases, local authorities and their staff will be failing to live up to the standards required of them by law or paying out on frivolous claims too easily. Councils must do everything they can to ensure their mistakes and negligence dont result in such large bills for hard-pressed taxpayers and take appropriate action against staff whose actions result in costly claims. We must also root out those who are playing the system with spurious demands for taxpayers cash. But the most startling aspect came from looking at the detailed figures. Lambeth Council paid out 5.264 million. In the Evening Standard a spokesman for Lambeth Council hit back: This list is clearly not a like for like comparison we have provided more information than other local authorities. Lambeth council handles all claims in house meaning we have a much more comprehensive list of compensation payments. Other councils may have failed to include compensation that has been paid out by their external insurers, or that claims handlers have paid on their behalf, which is why Lambeths figure appears so much larger. The compensation covers all housing issues, employee claims and more which other councils have in some instances clearly not included. For those reasons the information isnt a fair or accurate comparison. Of course some of these points may have some validity. But the mentality is pretty depressing. This is the Council with the highest level of pay-outs in the country. It doesnt consider for a moment the possibility that it might be doing something wrong. Instead it tries to suggest the whole explanation comes in how the figures are assessed. Let us return to the example of potholes. Last year Lambeth Council made compensation payments for 23 pothole related incidents. Other London boroughs paid out half a dozen or a dozen times. Could it be that Lambeth has more potholes? Or that they fail to carry out proper checks that payments were justified? Such a possibility of imperfection seem to be entirely discounted at Lambeth Town Hall. They merely say that their figures appear much larger. They show little curiosity about the possibility that the appearance might to some extent reflect the reality of poor management. Iain Dale is Presenter of LBC Drive, Managing Director of Biteback Publications, a columnist and broadcaster and a former Conservative Parliamentary candidate. Like many of you, I guess, I havent yet decided on which way to vote in the EU Referendum. David Camerons draft so-called deal isnt helping me make up my mind. Frankly, if you go into a renegotiation asking for very little, you can expect to receive even less. The Prime Minister made four demands, three of which werent actually demands at all. They were a statement of the bleedin obvious: motherhood and apple pie demands. He wanted a legal block on ever-closer union. Totally meaningless. The British Parliament has that already in that it can decide whether to ratify a new treaty or not. The only real bone of contention was on in-work benefits. Cameron is heralding a four year brake on in-work benefits as some sort of triumph. In reality, it is nothing of the sort. Its more of a handbrake U turn, as migrant workers will be able to gradually reclaim the very same in work benefits they were supposed to be banned from receiving in the first place. He has caved in on the issue of paying child benefit to migrant workers children who still live in their home country. On what planet can any sensible person believe it is right to pay British benefits to children in foreign countries? In his manifesto, he promised to put a stop to it, but under the terms of this deal these benefits will continue to be paid. Good luck in selling that one to a sceptical electorate, Prime Minister. This is a deal with one priority in mind: holding a referendum as early as possible, ideally on 23 June. Why? Because the longer its delayed, the more likely the political agenda is to be dominated by a further migrant and refugee crisis over the summer months. At the EU summit in two weeks time, this sword will held over the head of his fellow EU leaders. The message will be: drop me in it now, and fail to agree terms, and I cannot guarantee a Remain vote in the UK referendum. So what we have here is a cynical manipulation of the British public. The trouble is that people are going to see it for what it is. I desperately want both sides in this referendum to give me a positive reason to vote for one way or the other. So far, all I hear is cynicism, threats and exaggerations. What we should be getting are facts, vision and hope. If anything, the events of this week have pushed me further to considering a vote to leave the EU, partly because I am increasingly of the view that meaningful reform of the EU is impossible. Will 28 countries ever agree on anything? The refugee crisis is a good example. If the EU cant put measures in place to alleviate this crisis, what on earth is it for? Its all very well to introduce a Red Card system under which national parliaments can club together to veto a new proposal from the European Commission. And it sounds reasonable until you find out that the yellow card system has only ever been used twice. What the British people surely want is for their own Parliament to be able to veto new proposals which disadvantage our country. And when Cameron says he has got a concession for non-Eurozone members to be able to argue against measures taken by Eurozone countries if they feel they are disadvantaged by them all well and good. They can put their case, but theres no mechanism for it to go beyond protests. So I believe that we, the British people, are being hoodwinked by the Prime Minister and its our fault if we fall for it. If Conservative MPs fall for it too, so be it. The trouble is that we have an opposition hardly worthy of the name. Virtually the whole of the British political establishment is in hoc to the EU and is blinkered to the consequences. It says it all that in a profoundly Eurosceptic party only five out of 30 cabinet ministers are likely to support leaving the EU. I am a Europe-loving Europsceptic. Theres not an anti-European bone in my body. I speak relatively fluent German. Ive lived in Europe. My uncle died so that Europe could be freed. I believe in cooperation between European countries. What I dont believe in and cant support is an unreformable monolith that is undemocratic and democratically unaccountable. If I am to vote to remain in the EU I need a lot more than a bit of tinkering around the edges by a Prime Minister who should be leading public opinion rather than vainly attempting to follow it. What a sad state of affairs. Ashley Fox is an MEP for South West England, and is the leader of Britains Conservative MEPs. Inevitably this week in Strasbourg has been dominated by the publication by Donald Tusk of the draft text on David Camerons renegotiation. If you have not seen the full document you can read it here. This is the starting point for negotiations at the EU Council meeting on 18th and 19th February. I do not propose to discuss that here, especially as important details may change in the next two weeks. Rather, I want to tell you about another important piece of business currently being discussed in Strasbourg and Brussels that might otherwise pass unnoticed. We fought the last General Election on a manifesto promising to secure the economic and national security of our country. Cooperating with our allies in the fight against terrorism is a crucial part of that. I was told this week of a woman who flew into London from the Caribbean. She was stopped at customs and found to be carrying packages containing six kilogrammes of cocaine. Her Passenger Name Record (PNR) included a telephone number which was used by another EU national two weeks later flying on the same route. When intercepted, this second person was found with seven kilogrammes of cocaine, setting in motion a chain of events that ultimately led to police breaking up a significant drug smuggling ring. In another real life case, a man with no known links to terrorism left the UK. His complex travel route, involving multiple connections, was revealed through his PNR record and this alerted the police. He was intercepted and persuaded to abandon plans to join foreign fighters in Syria. Without PNR, the separate stages of his journey would not have been flagged up in time for the authorities to track his journey and talk him out of joining a terrorist group. These are just two examples of the successful use of the PNR system which the European Parliament is shortly expected to agree to introduce on all flights arriving and leaving the European Union. My colleague Timothy Kirkhope has piloted this legislation through the Parliaments Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, reconciling those MEPs who were concerned about the implications for civil liberties and others who wanted information on individuals to remain openly available to investigators for longer. Britain has kept PNR data for almost a decade, detailing such information as passengers addresses, contact details and travel patterns. It enables specially trained police officers to detect patterns of suspicious behaviour and avoids the discriminatory and inefficient profiling of individuals simply by their race, religion or country of origin. Many other countries operate different versions of PNR but the systems vary in their approach and in the type of material collected, and information is not routinely shared between EU member states. A succession of terrible terrorist attacks has illustrated in the starkest and most tragic terms why an effective EU-wide PNR system is now so crucial. Mehdi Nemmouche, a 29-year-old French national, was a known ISIS sympathiser but hid trips to Syria by breaking his journey in several European and Asian countries. If EU PNR information had been available and widely shared, his travel plans may well have provided the security services with sufficient evidence to detain him well before he shot and killed four people at the Jewish Museum of Belgium in Brussels on May 24, 2014. Hopefully the changes expected to be adopted by the EU in the coming months will prevent such vital clues being missed in future and provide the police and our security services with another important weapon in the fight against terrorism and international crime. Sovereignty is a tricky word. The concept underlies most Euroscepticism, left and right the simple idea that we should democratically decide our own laws. But Eurosceptics are unwise to try to deploy it when campaigning I remember sitting in on one focus group which asked attendees to write down what the word sovereignty meant to them. Without fail, they all wrote something about the Royal family a reminder that terms which might be commonplace in Westminster are in fact technical and obscure to the wider electorate. If you want to make a technical term more obscure there is no better way to do so than get into a battle over the legal mechanisms which underpin it. This is what has happened around the publication of Tusks proposed response to the Governments EU renegotiation this week. First are the legalities of the deal itself. At the moment, its just a draft over the next ten days or so each Member State will decide whether it supports it or not, and all of them must approve it for it to survive. They could nod it through, propose amendments (either to Camerons satisfaction or to his dismay, depending) or they could veto it. Even if it secures unanimous approval in its current form, the process doesnt end there as Guy Verhofstadt said today, then the European Parliament would get to accept it, to change it, to modify it. Troublingly, those changes and the subsequent thrashing out of the precise details of how things like restricting welfare for migrants will probably not be concluded until after a June referendum has taken place. This is what Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, means when he says of the Prime Ministers promise of a legally irreversible agreement that nothing is irreversible. As I noted earlier in the week, the EU has form for tearing up deals that were previously meant to be set in stone so the electorate will be asked in the referendum to vote on a deal whose details are uncertain and which might later be revoked anyway. The second aspect of this legal battle is the Prime Ministers pledge to assert the sovereignty of Parliament. Early this week, in response to a question from Boris Johnson, he said I am keen to do even more to put it beyond doubt that this House of Commons is sovereign. The Government wont be drawn on precisely what that means, but the general speculation is it means a law of some sort being passed declaring the fact essentially another instance of issuing a press release by means of legislation. Doing so would be fundamentally pointless of course Parliament is sovereign, it (regrettably) voted for us to join the EU and it retains the power to vote for us to leave it. Legislating to say so wouldnt change a thing, even if it might give some MPs a sufficiently warm feeling to back the Remain campaign. Both Paul Goodman and Dan Hannan have written on this site about a legal change which could materially change the sovereign standing of Parliament scrapping Articles Two and Three of the 1972 European Communities Act would go beyond simply asserting that Parliament retains the right to be sovereign should it one day want to be, and would instead reclaim the supremacy of Westminster law over EU law. However, there is no sign of Cameron fancying such a change. Rather, in the questions following his statement on the renegotiation, Dominic Grieve popped up to suggest that the Tusk document itself could function to bind the European Court of Justice from forcing further integration on Britain. Damian Green also made a very similar same point, suggesting a degree of discussion beforehand between the two close allies. The Prime Minister agreed with both of them that the proposals themselves were a tool to restrict the EUs power over Britain, further strengthening the suspicion that this is an argument the Government intends to deploy at length. The problem is that the EU treaties still say what the EU treaties still say that ever closer union is a core rule, that the EU wields large amounts of power over wide areas of law and public policy, and that Britain is a signatory (albeit one with some opt-outs and vetoes). As Sir Francis Jacobs, a former advocate general of the European Court of Justice, told the BBC this morning, there is certainly no alternative to the view that European Union law must prevail over national law. Letters from Donald Tusk dont change that. Only treaty change can do so, and while the Prime Minister argues that the Tusk package looks ahead to potential treaty changes, it cannot have the power to guarantee any such change. And why should it, given that the Government didnt ask for treaty change to underpin the renegotiation? Finally, theres the idea in the air of establishing a Constitutional Court, akin to that of Germany, which would have the power to review EU laws to ensure they are not infringements of sovereignty or undue extensions of the EUs power. Michael Gove has floated the concept, and Boris Johnson is reportedly a fan, though the Prime Minister is yet to return to the topic publicly. However, this too has a number of weaknesses. First, as Professor Mark Elliott of Cambridge University pointed out to The Times, the fact would remain that Britain is party to the EU treaties a Constitutional Court could at most confirm them, not reclaim any powers from Brussels. Second, Parliament itself is meant already to be the court which scrutinises such EU legislation if it is failing to do so, the addition of some judges to proceedings would do little more than improve the legal process to the level at which it already ought to operate. Third, the limited potential of a German-style court can be seen in the record of the original institution in Germany: It has the power to strike down EU laws, but it has never, ever done so. The prospect of replicating that in Britain wont reassure anyone. PERU, Neb. Students from high schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas will compete for scholarships and awards at Peru State Colleges 43rd Annual High School Business Contest on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The day will begin with a general assembly at 8:30 a.m. An awards ceremony, which is open to the public, will begin at 1:15 p.m. in the College Theatre. Competitions will be held in 15 different disciplines, including accounting, advanced accounting, business communications, business law, business math, computer concepts, economics, entrepreneurship, introduction to business, job interview, keyboarding objective, keyboarding skills, marketing, personal finance and webpage design. First-place winners in each of the 15 categories will receive $500 tuition scholarships (for on-campus classes) to Peru State. Medals will also be awarded to first- through fifth-place winners in each contest. The event will include nearly 400 high school students from 27 high schools, aided by over 100 Peru State College student volunteers, according to a press release from the college Area high schools participating include Auburn, Deshler, Falls City High, Freeman, HTRS, Johnson County Central, Johnson-Brock, Nebraska City High, Sterling Public Schools, Syracuse, Tri County and Wymore Southern. Is Bernie Sanders A Socialist? By William Blum 05 February, 2016 Williamblum.org Self-described socialist How many times have we all read that term in regard to Vermont senator Bernie Sanders? But is he really a socialist? Or is he a social democrat, which is what hed be called in Europe? Or is he a democratic socialist, which is the American party he has been a member of (DSA Democratic Socialists of America)? And does it really matter which one he is? Theyre all socialists, are they not? Why does a person raised in a capitalist society become a socialist? It could be because of a parent or parents who are committed socialists and raise their children that way. But its usually because the person has seen capitalism up close for many years, is turned off by it, and is thus receptive to an alternative. All of us know what the ugly side of capitalism looks like. Here are but a few of the countless examples taken from real life: >> Following an earthquake or other natural disaster, businesses raise their prices for basic necessities such as batteries, generators, water pumps, tree-removal services, etc. >> In the face of widespread medical needs, drug and health-care prices soar, while new surgical and medical procedures are patented. >> The cost of rent increases inexorably regardless of tenants income. >> Ten thousand types of deception to part the citizens from their hard-earned ages. What do these examples have in common? Its their driving force the profit motive; the desire to maximize profit. Any improvement in the system has to begin with a strong commitment to radically restraining, if not completely eliminating, the profit motive. Otherwise nothing of any significance will change in society, and the capitalists who own the society and their liberal apologists can mouth one progressive-sounding platitude after another as their chauffeur drives them to the bank. But social democrats and democratic socialists have no desire to get rid of the profit motive. Last November, Sanders gave a speech at Georgetown University in Washington about his positive view of democratic socialism, including its place in the policies of presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson. In defining what democratic socialism means to him, Sanders said: I dont believe government should take over the grocery store down the street or own the means of production. (1) I personally could live with the neighborhood grocery store remaining in private hands, but larger institutions are always a threat; the larger and richer they are the more tempting and easier it is for them to put profit ahead of the publics welfare, and to purchase politicians. The question of socialism is inseparable from the question of public ownership of the means of production. The question thus facing socialists like Sanders is this: When all your idealistic visions for a more humane, more just, more equitable, and more rational society run head-first into the stone wall of the profit motive which of the two gives way? The most commonly proposed alternative to both government or private control is worker-owned cooperatives or publicly owned enterprises managed by workers and consumer representatives. Sanders has expressed his support for such systems and there is indeed much to be said about them. But the problem I find is that they will still operate within a capitalist society, which means competition, survival of the fittest; which means that if you cant sell more than your competitors, if you cant make a sufficient net profit on your sales, you will likely be forced to go out of business; and to prevent such a fate, at some point you may very well be forced to do illegal or immoral things against the public; which means back to the present. Eliminating the profit motive in American society would run into a lot less opposition than one might expect. Consciously or unconsciously its already looked down upon to a great extent by numerous individuals and institutions of influence. For example, judges frequently impose lighter sentences upon lawbreakers if they havent actually profited monetarily from their acts. And they forbid others from making a profit from their crimes by selling book or film rights, or interviews. The California Senate enshrined this into law in 1994, one which directs that any such income of criminals convicted of serious crimes be placed into a trust fund for the benefit of the victims of their crimes. It must further be kept in mind that the great majority of Americans, like people everywhere, do not labor for profit, but for a salary. The citizenry may have drifted even further away from the system than all this indicates, for American society seems to have more trust and respect for non-profit organizations than for the profit-seeking kind. Would the public be so generous with disaster relief if the Red Cross were a regular profit-making business? Would the Internal Revenue Service allow it to be tax-exempt? Why does the Post Office give cheaper rates to non-profits and lower rates for books and magazines which dont contain advertising? For an AIDS test, do people feel more confident going to the Public Health Service or to a commercial laboratory? Why does educational or public television not have regular commercials? What would Americans think of peace-corps volunteers, elementary and high-school teachers, clergy, nurses, and social workers who demanded well in excess of $100 thousand per year? Would the public like to see churches competing with each other, complete with ad campaigns selling a New and Improved God? Pervading all these attitudes, and frequently voiced, is a strong disapproval of greed and selfishness, in glaring contradiction to the reality that greed and selfishness form the official and ideological basis of our system. Its almost as if no one remembers how the system is supposed to work any more, or they prefer not to dwell on it. It would appear that, at least on a gut level, Americans have had it up to here with free enterprise. The great irony of it all is that the mass of the American people are not aware that their sundry attitudes constitute an anti-free-enterprise philosophy, and thus tend to go on believing the conventional wisdom that government is the problem, that big government is the biggest problem, and that their salvation cometh from the private sector, thereby feeding directly into pro-free-enterprise ideology. Thus it is that those activists for social change who believe that American society is faced with problems so daunting that no corporation or entrepreneur is ever going to solve them at a profit carry the burden of convincing the American people that they dont really believe what they think they believe; and that the publics complementary mindset that the government is no match for the private sector in efficiently getting large and important things done is equally fallacious, for the government has built up an incredible military machine (ignoring for the moment what its used for), landed men on the moon, created great dams, marvelous national parks, an interstate highway system, the peace corps, social security, insurance for bank deposits, protection of pension funds against corporate misuse, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institutes of Health, the Smithsonian, the G.I. Bill, and much, much more. In short, the government has been quite good at doing what it wanted to do, or what labor and other movements have made it do, like establishing worker health and safety standards and requiring food manufacturers to list detailed information about ingredients. Activists have to remind the American people of what theyve already learned but seem to have forgotten: that they dont want more government, or less government; they dont want big government, or small government; they want government on their side. Period. Sanders has to clarify his views. What exactly does he mean by socialism? What exactly is the role the profit motive will play in his future society? Mark Brzezinski, son of Zbigniew, was a post-Cold War Fulbright Scholar in Warsaw: I asked my students to define democracy. Expecting a discussion on individual liberties and authentically elected institutions, I was surprised to hear my students respond that to them, democracy means a government obligation to maintain a certain standard of living and to provide health care, education and housing for all. In other words, socialism. (2) We should never forget The modern, educated, advanced nation of Iraq was reduced to a virtual failed state the United States, beginning in 1991, bombed for much of the following 12 years, with one dubious excuse after another; then, in 2003, invaded, then occupied, overthrew the government, tortured without inhibition, killed wantonly the people of that unhappy land lost everything their homes, their schools, their electricity, their clean water, their environment, their neighborhoods, their mosques, their archaeology, their jobs, their careers, their professionals, their state-run enterprises, their physical health, their mental health, their health care, their welfare state, their womens rights, their religious tolerance, their safety, their security, their children, their parents, their past, their present, their future, their lives More than half the population either dead, wounded, traumatized, in prison, internally displaced, or in foreign exile The air, soil, water, blood, and genes drenched with depleted uranium the most awful birth defects unexploded cluster bombs lying in wait for children to pick them up a river of blood running alongside the Euphrates and Tigris through a country that may never be put back together again It is a common refrain among war-weary Iraqis, reported the Washington Post in 2007, that things were better before the U.S.-led invasion in 2003. (3) The United States has not paid any compensation to Iraq. The United States has not made any apology to Iraq. Foreign policy is even more sensitive a subject in the United States than slavery of the black people and genocide of the Native Americans. The US has apologized for these many times, but virtually never for the crimes of American foreign policy. (4) In 2014, George W. Bush, the man most responsible for this holocaust, was living a quiet life in Texas, with a focus on his paintings. Im trying to leave something behind, he said. (5) Yes, he has certainly done that mountains of rubble for one thing; rubble that once was cities and towns. His legacy also includes the charming Islamic State. Ah, but Georgie Boy is an artiste. We need a trial to judge all those who bear significant responsibility for the past century - the most murderous and ecologically destructive in human history. We could call it the war, air and fiscal crimes tribunal and we could put politicians and CEOs and major media owners in the dock with earphones like Eichmann and make them listen to the evidence of how they killed millions of people and almost murdered the planet and made most of us far more miserable than we needed to be. Of course, we wouldnt have time to go after them one by one. Wed have to lump Wall Street investment bankers in one trial, the Council on Foreign Relations in another, and any remaining Harvard Business School or Yale Law graduates in a third. We dont need this for retribution, only for edification. So there would be no capital punishment, but rather banishment to an overseas Nike factory with a vow of perpetual silence. Sam Smith (6) On March 2, 2014 US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Russias incredible act of aggression in Ukraine. You just dont in the 21st century behave in 19th century fashion by invading another country on completely trumped up pretext. Iraq 2003 was in the 21st century. The pretext was completely trumped up. Senator John Kerry voted for it. Nice moral authority you have there, John. On the same occasion, concerning Ukraine, President Obama spoke of the principle that no country has the right to send in troops to another country unprovoked. (7) Do our leaders have no memory or do they think weve all lost ours? Does Obama avoid prosecuting the Bush-Cheney gang because he wants to have the same rights to commit war crimes? The excuse he gives for his inaction is so lame that if George W. had used it people would not hesitate to laugh. On about five occasions, in reply to questions about why his administration has not prosecuted the like of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, et al. for mass murder, torture and other war crimes, former law professor Obama has stated: I prefer to look forward rather than backwards. Picture a defendant before a judge asking to be found innocent on such grounds. It simply makes laws, law enforcement, crime, justice, and facts irrelevant. Picture Chelsea Manning and other whistleblowers using this argument. Picture the reaction to this by Barack Obama, who has become the leading persecutor of whistleblowers in American history. Noam Chomsky has observed: If the Nuremberg laws were applied, then every post-war American president would have been hanged. It appears that the German and Japanese people only relinquished their imperial culture and mindset when they were bombed back to the stone age during World War II. Something similar may be the only cure for the same pathology that is embedded into the very social fabric of the United States. The US is now a full-blown pathological society. There is no other wonder drug to deal with American-exceptionalism-itis. Notes 1) Senator Bernie Sanders on Democratic Socialism in the United States, November 19, 2015 2) Los Angeles Times, September 2, 1994 3) Washington Post, May 5, 2007 4) William Blum, Rogue State: A Guide to the Worlds Only Superpower, chapter 25 5) New York Times, September 16, 2014 6) Sam Smith of Maine, formerly of Washington, DC 7) Reuters, March 3, 2014 William Blum is the author of: Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War 2 Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower West-Bloc Dissident: A Cold War Memoir Freeing the World to Death: Essays on the American Empire Portions of the books can be read, and signed copies purchased, at www.williamblum.org Previous Anti-Empire Reports can be read at this website. Email bblum6 [at] aol.com UN Panel Finds Julian Assange's Detention Illegal And Recommends Compensation By Countercurrents.org 05 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org A UN legal panel has ruled that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed go free and be compensated for his "deprivation of liberty". The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that Assange's detention "should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected". "Assange should be afforded the right to compensation," it added. The Wikileaks founder had been subjected to "different forms of deprivation of liberty" it said, initially while he was held in isolation at London's Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010. The deprivation had been "continuous" since he was initially arrested in the UK on 7 December 2010. It also found a "lack of diligence" by the Swedish Prosecutor's Office in its investigations, which resulted in his lengthy loss of liberty. Three members of the five-person panel found in Mr Assange's favour, while one rejected his claim and another did not take part in the investigation. Assange, 44, - who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies - claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. He has been arbitrarily detained since his arrest in 2010, the panel said. Speaking at a news conference via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was "vindication", adding: "The lawfulness of my detention is now a matter of settled law." Mr Assange said it was a "really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face". However, the UK Foreign Office said the report "changes nothing" and it will "formally contest the working group's opinion". UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Assange was a "fugitive from justice", adding that he can come out "any time he chooses" but will still have to face justice in Sweden. The Police said it will make "every effort" to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. The government says the panel's ruling is not legally binding in the UK and a European Arrest Warrant remains in place - meaning the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange. A Tale Of Two Temples By B.F. Firos 05 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org In Utter Pradesh, Mohammed Akhlaq was killed following a call from a temple. Thousands of kilometers away, in a village in Kerala, a temple shut down for two days as a mark of respect over the death of a Muslim youth. Shabeer was bludgeoned to death in broad daylight by a band of youngsters and the gory scenes were videographed too. His crime? He testified against them over some clashes that erupted during annual festival of this temple last year. Shabeer, 23, had been an active member of the executive committee of Siva temple near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram for the past two years, and had been collecting firewoods, and other materials like coconuts and rice for the mass feast (anna dhaanam) that would be held as part of the festival. As a mark of respect to him, the temple suspended pujas for two days and didnt blow the conch or ring the bell. The temple office-bearers have also decided to do away with the festival procession and the mass feast scheduled for next week. A Muslim as a festival committee member of a temple could be an unthinkable proposition for any other Indian state. But this cross-pollination is essentially the jaggery that makes the Kerala payasam so tasty. Here the mosque-temple combo easily outnumbers the coconut tree-banana combo. A temple and mosque sharing a single wall, or drawing water from a common well dont make news in the state. This writer hails from a nondescript village named Edava, not very far from the temple that closed its sanctum sanctorum for two days in memory of Shabeer. We have this Palakkav Bhagavathy Temple, which is surrounded by Muslim houses for well over a one kilometer-radius. They are the de facto protectors and guardians of the temple, a kudumba Kshethram (family temple), whose majestic annual festival marks an occasion for family gatherings (long-distance relatives arriving, time for girls married off to distant places to rejoin with families) and uninhibited celebration. The vibrant and long procession consisting of several bedecked elephants and innumerable epic-themed floats is enjoyed with the religious fervor and gaiety, as journalists put it. In our nostalgic calendars the colorful festival is marked important like Eid! Scratch the surface a little more and you can see many other glorious stories from other parts of the state. Of course, nobody, including the departed Shabeer, knows the exalted definitions or precise origins of secularism. Nobody told us what it means to be a secularist. We dont want to. Because we are acclimatized to a profound sense of belonging and camaraderie that goes much beyond the limited European construct of secularism, an overly used and often misused word these days. Amid this civilized co-existence sprout communal elements seeking to create a miasma of communal frenzy. On the one end we have the RSS and its political face BJP, and on the other end of the spectrum, though not as threatening and dangerous as the RSS ideology, we have this Salafi Islam for which anything and everything is shirk. A video that was doing the rounds of late showed Mujahid Balusseri, for example, a prominent speaker of this rigid Salafi ideology, with his anachronistically long beard, exhorting his audience that making donations to temple festivals is a shirk! His demented ideology equates the act to giving money to brothels. With this rigid interpretation of Islam, he unwittingly becomes the other side of the likes of Sasikala, a firebrand Sangh Parivar leader, who has been whining about temple coffers being eaten away by Muslims and Christians. The same RSS ideology seeks to purge temple premises from non-Hindu traders during festivals. Thwarting the communal whims and political fancies of RSS-BJP for ephemeral gains is as crucial as booing away sundry shirk sellers of bigot Islam that threaten to disturb Keralas peaceful co-existence. We need more Shabeers. We need temples and festivals. We dont need a monochromic society which the loonies from both the communities seek to create. Just when we picked our pens to write a non-nostalgic elegy to Indian secularism after Akhlaq murder, the Kerala temple, on the other, that bowed before Shabeer by shutting its doors for two days, is prompting us to take a deep breath so that we can write our Letter of Faith in Humanity. (The writer is a Dubai-based journalist. firosbf@gmail.com) Syrian War Negotiations Collapse After Two Days By Thomas Gaist 04 February, 2016 WSWS.org A United Nations arbitrator suspended international negotiations over the war in Syria on Wednesday. New talks have been scheduled to begin in three weeks. According to UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, the cancellation of the talks was immediately prompted by the advance of Russian-backed Syrian government forces into key areas surrounding the city of Aleppo, breaking a three-year-old rebel siege of two Shia villages and cutting a supply line for the US-backed Islamist militias from Turkey. Mistura said that the continuing fighting on the ground and the lack of progress after two days of talks had convinced him of the need for preparatory work by the stakeholders. Im not prepared to have talks for the sake of talks, de Mistura said. The official purpose of the now-suspended talks was to reach terms for an end to the war and for a political transition process that would install a new and US-approved leadership in power. The prospect of any settlement appears increasingly distant as fighting continues to escalate on the ground. Russias deployment of advanced fighter planes has, in fact, enabled the government to win a series of successes against the US-backed rebel militias, including the seizure of strategic areas in central and northern provinces. The anti-Assad forces have been rolled back along several fronts through joint military actions involving Russian air forces and military advisors, in support of government ground forces and pro-Assad militias as well as Hezbollah fighters from neighboring Lebanon. The Obama administration strategy of relying on proxy militias, composed of fighters who are essentially mercenaries, has left the Syrian revolution vulnerable to the government offensive waged with close air support from Russian planes over the past four months. The cancellation of the talks has produced a redoubled chorus of demands for Assads removal and bitter denunciations against Russian involvement. How can you ... enter negotiations when you have unprecedented military pressure? an unnamed senior Western diplomat told Reuters. The Russians and regime want to push the opposition out of Geneva, he said. According to the narrative advanced by the corporate media, Russias military campaign is the main obstacle to a political deal that could end the war. In reality, it is the unswerving determination of the US and European ruling elites to remove Assad, a close ally of Russia, that is fueling a dynamic that leads squarely toward further escalation in Syria and direct confrontation between the major powers. Throughout the peace process, the US and NATO have continued to escalate their military and covert operations in Syria, deploying Special Operations troops, building up conventional forces and war planes in neighboring Turkey and Jordan, and increasing their support for an array of Al Qaeda-linked and mercenary militias, including the same forces that are directly targeted by Russias air war. Russias moves in Syria, essentially defensive in nature, are calculated to improve the bargaining position of Russias ruling oligarchy and its state apparatus in relation to imperialism. Moscow cannot accept the removal of such a critical ally, and has already signaled its own commitment to greater military support for Damascus. A postwar Syria that is completely dominated by the US and NATO would deny Russia access to its strategic naval base on the Mediterranean, a strategic objective of Washington as it seeks the military encirclement and ultimate dismemberment of the Russian Federation. Nonetheless, Moscow has already signaled its readiness to press forward with its operations, responding to the false start in Geneva by insisting that it will continue its offensive. Russias top diplomat said Wednesday that the campaign will proceed until it has defeated the al Nusra Front, Al Qaedas Syrian affiliate, which is one of the largest armed groups challenging the Syrian government and one of the main beneficiaries of the arms and funding funneled in by the US and its regional allies, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Russian strikes will not cease until we really defeat terrorist organizations like Jabhat al-Nusra, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. I dont see why these air strikes should be stopped. US Army General Sean MacFarland told the media on Monday that ISIS is beginning to demonstrate conventional warfare capabilities in places like Syria, Iraq and Yemen, and has become really more of a conventional force. In response, the US military is preparing to assist the Iraqi state to conduct larger and more sophisticated war operations, involving the full complement of modern heavy weaponry. We have shifted from a pure counterinsurgency focus and are now preparing the [Iraqi government forces] to conduct combined arms operations, MacFarland said, speaking from Iraq. The ability to integrate infantry, armor, artillery, air power, engineers and other assets on the battlefield, provides the Iraqis with a decisive advantage over a static enemy dug in behind complex obstacle belts, he said. Social Control Is Emerging As ISIS (Daish) Motive For Erasing Our Cultural Heritage In Syria By Franklin Lamb 05 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org Damascus: It is widely recognized that the damage done to our cultural heritage in Syria and to the heritage of those who will follow us, cannot be calculated. Untold quantities of archaeologically vital artifacts have been looted, sold, displaced and discarded through industry-like efforts. Citizens of Syria who are increasingly resisting the IS Caliphate and risking their own and their families lives to flee ISIS controlled areas in Syria are often willing to discuss their experiences and to offer instructive insights. Among these patriots are regular citizens as well as the stellar nationalist employees of Syrias Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) who this observer has interviewed extensively over the past nearly three years as they elucidate why ISIS destroys and loots our irreplaceable antiquities. This observers research has been augmented by other eyewitnesses, some who are themselves former jihadists or their victims, to ISIS looting and its distribution of franchises to sell off our shared cultural heritage give witness. Heretofore, three varying but cogent explanations for ISIS rabid destruction of our shared cultural heritage have been commonplace. The first identified the well documented Islamic State iconoclastic antipathy towards their and our pre-Islamic past. The second is that the jihadists are generally considered to be profiting hugely from selling our looted antiquities. Thirdly there has been some evidence-but not compelling in this observers judgment, that jihadists are destroying our cultural heritage in Syria as publicity stunts to get attention on social media, with some motivated by profit and offering to sell Syrian artifacts via Facebook, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. Meanwhile, according to a US Congressional staffer this week, leftover artifacts are currently being sold by IS to locals at public auctions including but not limited to Raqqa, Mari, Dura-Europos and Deir al Zor. With respect to the first and second explanations, it is well documented that ISIS has ransacked thousands of artifacts from dozens of World Heritage and archaeological sites in Syria and that the profits from flogging cheap our cultural heritage helps IS meet its monthly budgets, more than 50% of which goes to pay salaries and multiple relatively generous benefits to its fighters and their families. Yet research by this observer on this subject concludes that ISIS looting income, contrary to many claims including a recent one by CBS News that reported that ISIS generated hundreds of millions of dollars from antiquities transactions, although that figurewhich rivals the annual haul of antiquities sold legally throughout the entire world, has not been backed up by probative, material data. One expert, Randall A. Hixenbaugh, Director of New York based Hixenbaugh Ancient Art, told a Manhattan conference recently, Were looking at objects that are worth hundreds of dollars here. When we say that these antiquities are worth millions of dollars, where is the evidence of this? I think that prompts people to pick up shovels in eastern Syria. Are we not adding to the problem right now, by hyperbolic assessments of value? On May 15, 2015 a raid by American Special Forces on an ISIS safe house in a small village outside Deir ez-Zor killed ISIS leader Fathi Ben Awn Ben Jildi Murad al-Tunisi, better known by his nickname Abu Sayyaf who was in charge of overseeing the excavation of our cultural heritage. The raid also freed an 18-year old Yazidi slave woman, and captured a trove of documents that revealed far lower amounts from marketing cultural heritage artifacts than earlier estimated. The raid also uncovered many USBs containing documents verifying that our cultural heritage artifacts are for ISIS just a natural resource to be extracted from the ground rather than as ghanim a.k.a looted items or spoils of war. Selling plundered antiquities is frankly not strategic funding for IS compared to oil, banks, taxes and stolen goods. Far from the initial claims that ISIS was making tens of millions or more from stolen antiquities, the true figures are likely far lower. Some antiquities can indeed be sold to the final buyer in Europe, the United States or Asia for large amounts. But most of the material coming out of the ground in ISIS areas on a daily basis, such as pottery, glassware, coins, and architectural fragments are worth, at most, several hundred dollars at the final point of sale. The total annual income of ISIS from antiquities is currently calculated by this observer and others who are more expert, at only a few million dollars; compared to, say, oil revenue, which for 2014 was estimated to be between $100 million and $263 million. Admittedly hard data is tough to come by and while Archaeologists can no longer visit most of Syria, they do monitor cultural depredation in Syria from the secure vantage point of outer space. Employing pretty amazing high-resolution satellite imagery as Oxford Universitys Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDA) is doing as it instructs us and gives us hope for restorations of our cultural heritage in Syria with its One Million Images project. This observer submits that there is a forth and even more sinister reason that has not been much considered with respect to the Islamic State brand, which admittedly is an ambitious and seductive vision that has proven to be a fairly major social media success. He posits for dear readers consideration that the destruction and looting of our heritage underpins an intricate scaffolding of intense micro-managed social control over its captive populations, a system that is designed to intensely regulate individual behavior. This even applies with respect to where and when to excavate and to loot our antiquities with maps and time and date-stamped permits in hand, at assigned archaeological sites thought worthwhile to excavate and to strip of anything guessed to be of some value. Recently ISIS has introduced a highly organized control over looting of our cultural heritage which is evidenced by satellite photos revealing neat rows of looting holes on archaeological sites. As noted above, ISIS considers antiquities a natural resource such as oil or gas along with its large-scale operation of theft of personal and real property. Its Department of Precious Resources (Diwan al Rikaz) which controls mines and minerals also now oversees antiquities and issues excavation permits. Diwan al Rikaz demands on average 20% of objects excavated, it also applies a sales tax and uses social media to augment its marketing while relying mainly on obedient citizens to do the excavation work while its fighters perform their jihadist duties elsewhere. Unlike oil extraction, antiquities looting are not a major guaranteed stream of income in fact locally the activity is a bit of a gamble. As in a Los Vegas casino, many can wager but with only a long shot prospect of a high payoff. The vast majority of artifacts currently being unearthed at sites in Syria are of great archaeological importance but little value on the art market. Increasing its social control by regulating the theft and destruction of our past is now part of a wider and expanding organizing frenzy of the IS. The ISIS glossy propaganda magazine, now issued in 14 languages, 'Dabiq,' named after a key site in Muslim apocalypse mythology, and which bills itself as a periodical magazine focusing on the issues of tawhid (unity), manhaj (truth-seeking), hijrah (migration), jihad (holy war) and jama'ah (community) frequently features ISIS attacks on Syrias pre-Islamic heritage sites. Typical of its taunting of those who value culture heritage is Dabiqs recent comment: Enemies of the Islamic State were furious at losing a 'treasured heritage.' The mujahidin, however, were not the least bit concerned about the feelings and sentiments of the kuffar. (ed: non-believers). The kuffar had unearthed these statues and ruins in recent generations and attempted to portray them as part of a cultural heritage and identity that the Muslims of Syria should embrace and be proud of. Yet this opposes the guidance of Allah and His Messenger and only serves a nationalist agenda. This sort of ISIS iconoclasm mirrors its other social control punishments. Dabiq recently featured a post-card size list of good citizen 'reminders' recommending that it be always carried by IS citizens: Death for blasphemy against God, death for blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad, death for apostasy against Islam, death to both the penetrator and receiver of gay sex, hand and leg amputations for theft, more than two dozen violations such as drinking wine earn 80 or more lashes, while highway criminality brings death by crucifixion. Another sign of intensifying social control by ISIS is found in recently issued laws on Hijab wearing in Syria. According to conversations of this observer with recent women escapees from IS areas in Syria, all women past the age of puberty must comply with the following social control rules on Hijabs or face draconian punishments. Specifically, all women in Syria must wear Hijabs that are thick and not revealing. It must be loose (not tight). It must cover all the body. It must not be attractive. It must not resemble the clothes of unbelievers or men. It must not be decorative and eye-catching. It must not be perfumed. In the south Beirut Hezbollah neighborhood of Dahiyeh, where this observer currently resides, Shia women are known and appreciated for their attractive often richly colored head coverings and scarves/hijabs and for their special way of tying them to one side under their chin that is quite distinctive, attractive and often are conscious fashion statements. This is forbidden for all Muslims in IS areas of Syria, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere ISIS has control of populations on penalty of 80 lashes. Further tightening social control is evidenced by ISIS which is currently introducing a higher organized and centralized control over looting of our cultural heritage which is evidenced by satellite photos revealing neat rows of looting holes on archaeological sites. ISIS considers antiquities a natural resource such as oil or gas along with its large-scale operation of theft of personal and real property. Its Department of Precious Resources (Diwan al Rikaz) that controls mines and minerals also oversees antiquities and issues excavation permits, takes on average 20% of objects excavated, applies a sales tax and uses social media to augment its marketing which relies mainly on obedient citizens to do the work while its fighters perform their jihadist duties elsewhere. Artifacts are now also being sold, according to Syrian citizens who have fled, to locals at public auctions in Raqqa and Deir al Zor. By controlling antiquities like other resources, ISIS inserts itself into countless holes in the ground. The real goal is not simply cash profit but rather it is psychological control over new ranges of behavior and thought of its subjects which is part of its totalitarian vision of absolute control. ISIS has transformed the pre-Islamic past of Syria into a forbidden zone, a mere natural resource to be exploited. But while the financial profits may be relatively small, more importantly it also offers ISIS yet another way to control the behavior and thoughts of its population, transforming them from captives into dependents of the Caliphate. Increasingly the Obama administration and its allies are frustrated regarding the subject of the need to protect and preserve Syrias Endangered Heritage. They remain less than confident that ISIS plundering of our heritage in Syria as part of its intensifying social control in its Caliphate can be stopped anytime soon. Yet at the urging of the White House, last week the Senate Foreign Relations Committee worked on H.R. 1493, the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act and favorably reported the measure for full consideration by the Senate. The original bill which passed in the House of Representative in June 2015 called for the appointment of an Assistant Secretary of State as the new United States Coordinator for International Cultural Property Protection, commonly referred to in Washington as a Cultural Czar. The new language which was designed to obtain early passage, recommends "that the President should establish an inter-agency coordinating committee to coordinate and advance the efforts of the executive branch to protect and preserve international cultural property at risk." The mandate of the new inter-agency committee, to be chaired by an Assistant Secretary of State, includes working to protect and preserve international cultural property in Syria while working to prevent and disrupt cultural heritage looting and trafficking in Syria. The legislations mandate also includes protecting sites of cultural and archaeological significance while seeking to provide for the lawful exchange of international cultural property from Syria. Franklin Lambs recent book, Syrias Endangered Heritage, An International Responsibility to Preserve and Protect, is available on Amazon/Kindle, Smashwords, and other ebook sites as well as in hard-copy in Arabic and English. Lamb is currently based in Beirut and Damascus and reachable c/o fplamb@gmail.com Loyal Customer Confronts Rude Laundry Owner. You Wont Believe What Happened Next By Mickey Z. 05 February, 2016 World News Trust For more than eight years, I did my wash in the same laundromat. Called Sparkle Plenty, it first opened in 1973 and appeared as if the decor was never altered (and rarely cleaned). Its changed hands a few times but for as long as I knew it, Sparkle Plenty was owned and operated by a Chinese couple in their mid 60s. She was almost always smiling and pleasant. He seemed lost in a perpetual scowl and heaven forbid you told him that one of his machines ate your quarter. Despite his bellicose demeanor, I remained a customer while many others found a new place to clean their clothes (Astoria is teeming with laundromats). Why? Firstly, its less than a block away and the dryers ran so hot, Id be done in no time. Also, I liked the size of the place compared to other laundries in my neighborhood. Sparkle Plenty appeared to have once been two stores. In addition, I made it my personal mission to not let the owners vexed energy bother me. Good morning, Id smile. It was always an effusive please and thank you when I needed change and Id never leave without wishing him a good day. Since I often walked past Sparkle Plenty during the course of my day, Id look in and wave to the couple. As much as it seemed to pain him, the man would usually wave back. One day, however, I began to tire of his negativity and considered joining the exodus from Sparkle Plenty. Im a destroyer by nature but it can take me a while to get into full reinvention mode. However, with aspects of my non-laundry life requiring re-evaluation, it seemed the ideal time to finally tell this guy off and start fresh at a different establishment. Thats precisely when I walked past and saw the large sign in Sparkle Plentys window, announcing it would close permanently in less than a month. My first reaction was relief -- the decision was being made for me. I even decided to not wait till the place closed. That next Sunday morning, Id get up and take advantage of the earlier opening time of a new laundromat about a block and a half away from my apartment. Good riddance! Best laid plans and all that When I packed my wash up and exited my apartment building on the appointed day, who should I see trudging past but the owner of Sparkle Plenty? Cosmically, he was opening earlier than usual, earlier than I expected -- that one particular Sunday. He saw me holding a bag of wash, about to make a left instead of a right, and seemed genuinely confused. Suddenly feeling guilty about dumping him, I quickly recovered and asked, Are you still open? He readily believed that I misread the sign, so I ditched my plan and walked beside him to Sparkle Plenty. Being that he moves with a pronounced limp, it was a slow pace and gave us time to chat. And chat he did. In a matter of minutes, I learned that he owns a house nearby, I learned how much he paid for the laundromat when he bought it 16 years prior, and I learned the reason it was closing was basic capitalist logic [sic]: The lease has run out and the landlord was raising the rent by 33 percent. When it became clear that said landlord had no intention of negotiating, Sparkle Plentys days were numbered. We entered the laundromat together and I asked: How do you feel about closing this place? He shrugged. Ill bet youre done, I added, and it was as if that statement finally lowered his defenses. Im done, he echoed loudly. Ive had enough of the repairs and problems and the people trying to cheat me for a quarter. They tell me theyre paying my rent but I dont make money off the machines. Do you know how much it costs to run these machines? You must have a huge water bill, I replied. Two thousand a month! he exclaimed. Im lucky if I break even with the machines. I make my money on the drop-offs but the people who do their wash here think I owe them something. He was on a roll now and I wondered how many had ever dared have this conversation with him over the course of 16 years. I know people think Im not nice, he said with a tiny grin. But its simple. Youre nice to me, Im nice to you. If you dont like me, why do you come here? There are plenty of laundries around. We talked for a bit more before he got to his work and I started my wash. I found him again later when I needed more quarters and asked if hed take a vacation when the place closed. Id like to, he said quietly. Just a little trip. Sounds good to me, I replied. He chuckled and patted me on the back. As I dried my clothes, I felt melancholy. I felt sad for this lost man who scowled far more than he smiled. I felt sad for a world in which profit and greed have displaced community. I felt sad for having waited eight years to break down the walls between myself and the laundry owner. When I finished, I peeked into the other side of the laundromat. Have a good day, I called out. He looked up from where he was sitting, his face lit up with a smile. Ill see you next Sunday, I explained, smiling back at him. Ill see you one more time before you close. This announcement caused him to laugh out loud and his facial expression gave me an idea of what he probably looked like as a child. It was the face of a boy, a boy who had just made a new friend. I walked home with tears streaming down my face. Postscript: The following week, we chatted like old pals and when it came time to finish up, I extended my hand. Good luck, I told him. I wish you all the best. He clasped my hand with both of his hands, made direct eye contact, and replied: Thank you, my friend. #shifthappens Mickey Z. is the author of 13 books, most recently Occupy these Photos: NYC Activism Through a Radical Lens. Until the laws are changed or the power runs out, you can like his Facebook page here and follow his blog here. Anyone wishing to support his activist efforts can do so by making a donation here. Freeing Julian Assange: The Final Chapter By John Pilger 05 February, 2016 Johnpilger.com One of the epic miscarriages of justice of our time is unravelling. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention the international tribunal that adjudicates and decides whether governments comply with their human rights obligations has ruled that Julian Assange has been detained unlawfully by Britain and Sweden. After five years of fighting to clear his name having been smeared relentlessly yet charged with no crime Assange is closer to justice and vindication, and perhaps freedom, than at any time since he was arrested and held in London under a European Extradition Warrant, itself now discredited by Parliament. The UN Working Group bases its judgements on the European Convention on Human Rights and three other treaties that are binding on all its signatories. Both Britain and Sweden participated in the 16-month long UN investigation and submitted evidence and defended their position before the tribunal. It would fly contemptuously in the face of international law if they did not comply with the judgment and allow Assange to leave the refuge granted him by the Ecuadorean government in its London embassy. In previous, celebrated cases ruled upon by the Working Group Aung Sang Suu Kyi in Burma, imprisoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, detained Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian in Iran, both Britain and Sweden have given support to the tribunal. The difference now is that Assanges persecution and confinement endures in the heart of London. The Assange case has never been primarily about allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden where the Stockholm Chief Prosecutor, Eva Finne, dismissed the case, saying, I dont believe there is any reason to suspect that he has committed rape, and one of the women involved accused the police of fabricating evidence and railroading her, protesting she did not want to accuse JA of anything and a second prosecutor mysteriously re-opened the case after political intervention, then stalled it. The Assange case is rooted across the Atlantic in Pentagon-dominated Washington, obsessed with pursuing and prosecuting whistleblowers, especially Assange for having exposed, in WikiLeaks, US capital crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq: the wholesale killing of civilians and a contempt for sovereignty and international law. None of this truth-telling is illegal under the US Constitution. As a presidential candidate in 2008, Barack Obama, a professor of constitutional law, lauded whistleblowers as part of a healthy democracy [and they] must be protected from reprisal. Obama, the betrayer, has since prosecuted more whistleblowers than all the US presidents combined. The courageous Chelsea Manning is serving 35 years in prison, having been tortured during her long pre-trial detention. The prospect of a similar fate has hung over Assange like a Damocles sword. According to documents released by Edward Snowden, Assange is on a Manhunt target list. Vice-President Joe Bidon has called him a cyber terrorist. In Alexandra, Virginia, a secret grand jury has attempted to concoct a crime for which Assange can be prosecuted in a court. Even though he is not an American, he is currently being fitted up with an espionage law dredged up from a century ago when it was used to silence conscientious objectors during the First World War; the Espionage Act has provisions of both life imprisonment and the death penalty. Assanges ability to defend himself in this Kafkaesque world has been handicapped by the US declaring his case a state secret. A federal court has blocked the release of all information about what is known as the national security investigation of WikiLeaks. The supporting act in this charade has been played by the second Swedish prosecutor, Marianne Ny. Until recently, Ny had refused to comply with a routine European procedure that required her to travel to London to question Assange and so advance the case that James Catlin, one of Assanges barristers, called a laughing stock its as if they make it up as they go along. Indeed, even before Assange had left Sweden for London in 2010, Marianne Ny made no attempt to question him. In the years since, she has never properly explained, even to her own judicial authorities, why she has not completed the case she so enthusiastically re-ignited just as the she has never explained why she has refused to give Assange a guarantee that he will not be extradited on to the US under a secret arrangement agreed between Stockholm and Washington. In 2010, the Independent in London revealed that the two governments had discussed Assanges onward extradition. Then there is tiny, brave Ecuador. One of the reasons Ecuador granted Julian Assange political asylum was that his own government, in Australia, had offered him none of the help to which he had a legal right and so abandoned him. Australias collusion with the United States against its own citizen is evident in leaked documents; no more faithful vassals has America than the obeisant politicians of the Antipodes. Four years ago, in Sydney, I spent several hours with the Liberal Member of the Federal Parliament, Malcolm Turnbull. We discussed the threats to Assange and their wider implications for freedom of speech and justice, and why Australia was obliged to stand by him. Turnbull is now the Prime Minister of Australia and, as I write, is attending an international conference on Syria hosted the Cameron government about 15 minutes cab ride from the room that Julian Assange has occupied for three and a half years in the small Ecuadorean embassy just along from Harrods. The Syria connection is relevant if unreported; it was WikiLeaks that revealed that the United States had long planned to overthrow the Assad government in Syria. Today, as he meets and greets, Prime Minister Turnbull has an opportunity to contribute a modicum of purpose and truth to the conference by speaking up for his unjustly imprisoned compatriot, for whom he showed such concern when we met. All he need do is quote the judgement of the UN Working Party on Arbitrary Detention. Will he reclaim this shred of Australias reputation in the decent world? What is certain is that the decent world owes much to Julian Assange. He told us how indecent power behaves in secret, how it lies and manipulates and engages in great acts of violence, sustaining wars that kill and maim and turn millions into the refugees now in the news. Telling us this truth alone earns Assange his freedom, whereas justice is his right. John Pilger is an Australian journalist and documentary maker, based in London. He has twice won Britain's Journalist of the Year Award, and his documentaries have received academy awards in Britain and the US. Follow John Pilger on twitter @johnpilger and through his website: www.johnpilger.com Israeli Court Freezes Dying Journalists Detention By Charlotte Silver 05 February, 2016 Electronicintifada.net Israels high court froze the administrative detention of Muhammad al-Qiq on Thursday afternoon, citing his critical medical condition. Al-Qiq, a 33-year-old journalist, has been on hunger strike for 72 days protesting his detention without charge or trial. But al-Qiq rejected the courts decision, saying he viewed it as an attempt to undermine his resistance to the immoral and inhumane administrative detention. Amany Dayif, the director of prisoner affairs at Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, told The Electronic Intifada that the court ruling did not end al-Qiqs administrative detention. Hes in between: hes not free but hes not entirely in administrative detention either. Administrative detention is a practice in which Israel imprisons people, almost always Palestinians, without charge or trial and it is renewable indefinitely. There are currently 660 Palestinians in administrative detention. The high court ordered al-Qiq to remain in the Israeli hospital for observation and treatment. In a separate ruling on Thursday, the high court ruled to allow al-Qiqs shackles to be removed. But al-Qiq said he will continue his strike until martyrdom or freedom. Al-Qiq has refused all medical treatment and nourishment during his strike. The Quds news outlet published this photo on its Instagram account showing al-Qiq, bearded and thin, in his hospital bed: Bad decision Thursdays ruling mirrors that taken in the case of hunger striker Muhammad Allan. Last year, Israels high court froze Allans administrative detention after tests showed that he had suffered brain damage as a result of his more than two-month long protest. Less is known about al-Qiqs condition as he has refused all examinations. Qadura Fares, the head of the Palestinian Prisoners Society, told Maan News Agency that the ruling was a bad decision, adding that he doubted al-Qiq would accept it. But Fares hoped that al-Qiq would use the ruling as an opportunity to accept medical treatment until further negotiations. Mahmoud Mahamid, a doctor with Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, visited al-Qiq on Thursday morning before the court ruling. Mahamid reported that al-Qiq reiterated his refusal to be examined or treated until he was released from administrative detention. Mahamid also reported that hospitals ethics committee had decided to treat al-Qiq against his will but the hospital staff had refused to treat him by force. I am very concerned by his condition but encouraged by the refusal of the medical team to force treat him, Mahamid said in an emailed statement from his organization. The ethics committee decision to treat al-Qiq against his will on Thursday reversed its decision the previous day not to forcibly treat al-Qiq in accordance with medical ethics. Several international declarations, including the World Medical Associations Tokyo Declaration, forbid physicians from taking part in torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading procedures against detained persons, including providing nourishment against the persons will. Another Palestinian prisoner on hunger strike was transferred to HaEmek hospital in the northern city of Afula on Thursday due to his deteriorating condition. Kayed Fawzi Yousef Abu al-Rish, 46, has been on hunger strike for 20 days protesting his administrative detention. Charlotte Silver is an independent journalist and regular writer for the Electronic Intifada. She is based in Oakland, California and has reported from Palestine since 2010. Follow her on Twitter @CharESilver Obama Readies To Fight In Libya, Again By Jack A. Smith 05 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org Nearly five years after the U.S., Britain and France launched a bombing campaign against the Libyan government to bring about regime change, these same countries are contemplating a resumption of the war they thought was won when rebel forces they supported grotesquely tortured to death the country's leader, Col. Muammar Gaddafi. The result today in Libya is utter disarray. But at the time, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton a leading advocate of the bombing who justifies the deed to this day was ecstatic when told the news of Qaddafi's death while she was appearing on a TV talk show. Laughingly she shouted to the cameras, "We came, we saw, he died!" No one is laughing in Washington now. President Obama came, saw and created the very opposite of what he sought, a hardly unusual outcome for the Obama and Bush Administrations.in the Middle East. Instead of a pliable dependent government willing to do the bidding of Washington and its NATO foreign legion, there has been an explosion of civil war and Sunni jihadism. The U.S. and UN have been striving for months to unite the two factions in Libya that claim to be the country's government. On Feb. 1 the faction that that has been recognized by the U.S. and many nations rejected unity with its opposite number. The bedlam in Libya caused by the 2011 overthrow has allowed the Islamic State (IS) to grow strong and occupy several territories. Agence France-Presse reported Jan. 29: "Barack Obama has asked key advisors to draw up options for ratcheting up the fight against the Islamic State group, including opening a new front in Libya.... Potential options are said to range from intensified air strikes to participation in a UN-backed ground force that would help take on Libya's estimated 3,000 Islamic State fighters.... The Defense Department announced it stands ready to perform the full spectrum of military operations a required." The U.S. and France are preparing for "decisive military action" in Libya against the IS, according, to a statement Jan. 22 by Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said a final decision would be made in a matter or weeks, and that President Obama "has made clear that we have the authority to use military force." The New York Times reported Jan. 23: "United States and British Special Operations teams have for months been conducting clandestine reconnaissance missions in Libya to identify militant leaders and map out their networks. Separate teams of American Special Operations forces have over the past year been trying to court allies from among a patchwork of Libyan militias that remain unreliable, unaccountable, poorly organized and divided by region and tribe. "In recent weeks, military commanders have intensified their warnings about the threat from the Islamic State in Libya, where Western officials believe the group now has about 3,000 fighters. Recruits are pouring into Libya weekly, as the journey to Iraq and Syria has become more difficult with Turkey tightening its border with Syria, intelligence officials said." On Jan. 27, the Times declared in an editorial: "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." Stratfor analyst Scott Steward predicted a month before the first U.S./NATO attack in March 2011 that pandemonium would ensue. Now, on Jan. 27, he wrote: "As the United States and its European and regional allies prepare to intervene in Libya, they should be able to reduce the jihadist's ability to openly control territory. However, they will face the same challenge they did in 2011 building a stable political system from the shattered remains of what was once a country. Now, Libya is a patchwork of territories controlled by a variety of ethnic, tribal and regional warlords. The last five years of fighting has led to significant hatred and blood feuds between these competing factions, which will only compound the challenges ahead." On Jan. 28, Aljazeera reported: "Taking advantage of the chaos and large swaths of ungoverned territory caused by Libya's civil war, Islamic State has established three separate wilayat (provinces) there since late 2014 Tarablus along the west coast, Fezzan in the southwest, and Barqah in the east, with the key coastal city of Sirte serving as its Libyan capital. Like its parent group in Syria and Iraq, IS in Libya has uploaded video proof of its atrocities to the Internet, including mass decapitations of Egyptian, Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians." Why should we not be surprised about additional U.S. military escalations in the Middle East and the probability of many more to come? The Bush Administration's 2001 war in Afghanistan is still going on and will not end with a U.S. military victory. Washington's 2003 illegal invasion of Iraq is still going on in its second excruciating incarnation. President Obama's call for regime change in Syria and support for the rebels has transformed this country into a slaughterhouse, resulting in up to 250,000 deaths and millions of refugees. Last year's U.S. backed and equipped Saudi Arabian invasion of Yemen is still going on with no end approaching. And President Obama still approves a weekly kill list of human targets for his drone wars. Washington has been politically and militarily involved with the Middle East for over 70 years. It has overthrown governments and invaded countries to bolster its regional authority. During that time it has supported a plethora of dictators, working with them over the years to virtually destroy the entire political left and liberalism throughout the region. In the absence of a strong rational internal political opposition to bring about progressive political change and to protect their countries from the influence and depredations of Western imperialism, the religio-fascist IS and other Sunni fundamentalist fanatics represent the only but warped and backward opposition to U.S. dominion. It is certainly not the answer to the grave problems afflicting the people and countries throughout the region. The U.S. political system, like the Bourbon dynasty in France, has learned nothing and forgotten nothing after all these decades of deep penetration in the Middle East, supporting reactionary regimes, causing the deaths of well over a million people and the destruction of entire societies. Judging by the present political situation in the U.S., Washington in the foreseeable future will continue supporting the dictatorships and fighting endless wars to secure its regional "leadership," Obama's code word for American domination. Now it looks like U.S. "leadership" is being disrespected in Libya so off we go, again. Only a massive, politically enlightened peace movement in the U.S. can stop this continual cycle of aggression and mayhem. The author is editor of the Activist Newsletter and is former editor of the (U.S.) Guardian Newsweekly. He may be reached at jacdon@earthlink.net or http://activistnewsletter.blogspot.com . Europe Is Built On Corpses And Plunder By Andre Vltchek 05 February, 2016 Countercurrents.org Friends and Comrades, it is a great honor to be standing here at the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament. *** One year ago I was driving through the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon, monitoring the situation in the refugee camps there. Winter was approaching and the mountains on the LebaneseSyrian border were covered by snow. It was cold, very cold. Some 20 minutes, after leaving Baalbek, I spotted an extremely humble makeshift refugee camp, growing literally from the road, in the middle of nowhere. I stopped. Together with my interpreter, I walked inside and engaged several people in conversation. The situation was desperate. Children were hungry and could not register for schools through the UNHCR or through the Lebanese government, which, by that time, had almost collapsed. Many electronic food cards that were issued to the migrants did not function. Work permits were not offered, and without proper paperwork, local social services could not be used. In brief: a total disaster. I was told that in this area, some Syrian migrants had already been starving. This was Bekaa Valley, a tough place to start with, and full of ancient traditions, clans, gangs and narcotic-business. Refugees were expected to keep their heads down, or else Before I left, two little girls, two sisters, approached me. Both had swollen bellies, suffering from malnutrition. Both were dressed in rugs. Both looked deprived. But after spotting my cameras, they were mesmerized, smiling at me, showing tongues, laughing. Their country was in ruins, their future uncertain. But these were just two little girls in the middle of the mountains, two girls excited about each and every little detail of life. Such innocence! Such hope! People are people, and children are children, everywhere, even during wars. Unfortunately, I have witnessed too many of them; too many wars. Too many barbarities performed by NATO, by the Empire, by the United States and Europe. Later, working on the Greek island of Kos and in Calais in France, I kept thinking about those two girls, again and again. The West (or call it NATO, or anything you like we all know what I mean!) has, in the most cynical manner, destabilized and destroyed the entire Middle East. As it has in virtually all the continents of the world, it ruined tremendous cultures, plundered all it could put its hands on, turned proud people into slaves. Libya and Iraq are no more! I can testify, as I work all over the Middle East. And then the West enclosed itself into its gold-plated bunker, slowly and disgustingly digesting its booty! How many refugees are there that Europe says: it cannot accept? 1 million? Tiny, miniscule Lebanon has 2 million, and it is coping; badly but coping! And Lebanon did not destroy Syria, Libya, Afghanistan or Iraq. You know how it all feels like? Like observing a woman who was gang-raped, whose husband was murdered in front of her own eyes, and whose beautiful house was looted. Now this woman, just in order to save her starving children from the rubbles, is forced to go to Europe, to the rapists and thieves who destroyed her life, asking for shelter and food. And they spit into her face! They say: It is too much for us, too difficult to accommodate you and others like you! Woman, you came to take advantage of us. You came to have a better life at our expense! This is how it looks from the outside. This is how I see it. And I want to puke. But there is no time One has to work, day and night, to stop this madness. The West, of course including Europe, is too hardened by its own crimes, too cynical, and too unrepentant. It remains blind, because it simply does not pay to see! *** There is no Left Wing in Europe, anymore. Not the Left as we understand the term in Cuba and other revolutionary nations. To us, true left means Internationalism, solidarity! True left is global, egalitarian, and color-blind. European so-called Left is only concerned with the benefits of its own citizens. It does not care at all where the funds are coming from. As long as French, Greek, Spanish or Italian farmers get their subsidies and perks, who cares that agriculture in Africa or Asia gets thoroughly ruined. The most important is that European farmers could drive their latest BMWs, for producing something or not producing anything at all. I saw absolutely grotesque concepts implemented in countries like Senegal, and other former French colonies: heavily subsidized French food produce flooded West Africa, supermarkets opened, local production collapsed. Then the prices spiked to 2-3 times higher levels than those in Paris. And so, in Senegal where incomes are perhaps only 10% of those in France, a yoghurt costs 3 times more than in Monoprix. Who pays for those 35-hour workweeks? Who pays for socialized medical care and free education in the European Union? Definitely not the Europeans themselves! Most of the funds used to come from the colonies, from that unimaginable plunder of the world performed by the West. Colonialism and imperialism are still there, but they often changed forms, although the toll on people in non-white countries continues to be the same. The Belgian King Leopold II and his cohorts, in what is now Congo, massacred 10 million people, at the beginning of the 20th Century. Between 1995 and now, the West plundered the Democratic Republic of Congo once again, mercilessly, by using its closest allies in Africa Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. Again, between 7 and 10 million people died there, in just 20 years, and these are not some inflated numbers, these are numbers provided by the United Nations and its reports, including the so-called Mapping Report. All that horror, only so the West could have access to coltan (used in our mobile phones), to uranium, and other strategic materials. I compiled the evidence in my feature documentary film Rwanda Gambit. All those ruined lives and countries, so that European citizens could have their benefits, long vacations, and social services. When I discussed the issue with my friend, an Italian filmmaker from Naples, he snapped at me: We dont want to be like the Chinese. We dont want to work hard like them! I replied: Then live within your means! Do not allow your corporations and governments to massacre tens of millions of people, so that the companies could have their insane profits, and citizens those outrageous benefits. Recently, in Thailand, I overheard a group of unemployed Spaniards laughing about having a vacation in Southeast Asia, paid for by their unemployment benefits. I know many countries, dependencies of the West, where losing ones job is synonymous to a death sentence! But we are asked to feel sorry for Spaniards, Italians and Greeks. We are expected to see them as victims. *** I am saddened to say, but it is not only the United States, but also Europe, which is totally, blissfully ignorant about its role in the world, and about the harm, about the horrors that it is spreading all over our Planet. This discovery shocked me so much, that I spent 4 years crisscrossing the world, compiling the evidence and testimonies that illustrate the colonialist, neo-colonialist and imperialist legacy of the West, as well as the current neo-colonialist barbarities. The book is 840-pages long and it is called Exposing Lies Of The Empire. I hope, one day, it will be available in the Italian language! The book has been receiving enthusiastic reception, but for me, this thick volume is not the end. Now I am compiling the second installment. The topic is just too enormous. The crimes, genocides, holocausts committed by the West on the people of our Planet, are too enormous. Everything is linked to them! The entire arrangement of the world uses them as pillars. In our book On Western Terrorism From Hiroshima to Drone Warfare, written together with my friend Noam Chomsky, I was asked whether the Europeans actually realize what they have done to the world, during the last centuries. (Just a side note this book is now available in the Italian language Terrorismo Occidentale). I replied to Noam: They definitely dont! And I repeat here, again: most of them, the great majority of them, do not realize it! They dont want to see, to admit, that their opera houses, hospitals, museums, parks and promenades, are all constructed on the corpses of those who were robbed of everything: from Latin America and its open veins, to Asia and Africa. Slavery, unimaginable extermination campaigns, tremendous lists of horrors! Before Noam and I began our discussion, I spent some time with several top statisticians, and our conclusion was chilling: directly or indirectly, the West massacred between 40 and 50 million people, between the Hiroshima A-bomb explosion, and the time of my long dialogue with Noam in 2012. The number of people, who were murdered throughout history, directly or indirectly, by European empires, all over the world, can only be calculated in hundreds of millions, and one of my statistician friends believes that the total accumulative number actually exceeds 1 billion. *** When I was recently speaking at the China Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, and later in Moscow, having been invited by Russian philosophers and by several members of the Russian Academy of Science, I publicly declared that I am fundamentally against free medical care and free education in Europe. When asked why? I explained that the cost is too high, and those robbed and destroyed people, all over the world, are almost exclusively expected to cover it. But I continued: I am totally, decisively, supportive of universal free medical care, education and essential social benefits. Or as we say in Cuba: everyone dances, or nobody does! Of course I also can tolerate and support free medical care, education and benefits in those countries that do not plunder the world, like Cuba, China, Venezuela, Bolivia, South Africa or Ecuador. *** Not only the West refuses to face its responsibility for, by now, the almost absolute total destruction of the world, it is also using all sorts of smoke screens and propaganda tactics to divert the attention of the people; it is spreading nihilist economic concepts, propaganda and outright lies. It is using education as a weapon, offering scholarships to children of elites in the countries it is robbing and controlling. After being indoctrinated, they return home and continue violating their own countries on behalf of the United States and Europe. And so the vicious cycle continues! I encountered so many grotesque moments, when for instance, an Indonesian upper class family returning from its vacation in Holland, begins a long litany, about how great are the theaters, trains, museums and public spaces in Netherlands, compared to those in Indonesia. Of course they are! All built from centuries of Dutch plunder of Indonesia, like those Spanish cathedrals stuffed with gold, growing from corpses. As Noam Chomsky often says: not to see all this truly takes great discipline! *** The brutality of the Western Empire is unmatchable. Its cynicism is monumental! Look at those so-called terrorists in Muslim countries, scarecrows that Western governments and media keep waving in front of our eyes! Islamic culture is greatly socialist and socially oriented. After World War II, secular, socialist, revolutionary and anti-Western governments ruled the most important Muslim nations: Egypt, Iran and Indonesia. Within two decades, the West overthrew them all, implementing fascist regimes. It then invented the Mujahideen and injected them into Afghanistan, in order to finish with the Soviet Union. And once it felt the need for some monumental enemy to replace Communism, it manufactured and then armed, trained and educated groups like al-Qaida, al-Nusra and ISIS. This move served two important goals: to justify astronomical military and intelligence budgets, and to portray the Western/Christian civilization as culturally superior, fighting Arab terrorist monsters. Of course, the great majority of the people in Europe and North America are so indoctrinated, intellectually self-righteous and defunct, that they remain blind when faced with those Machiavellian pirouettes. For the European public, there are plenty of good reasons to stick to those inherently racist beliefs, and to protectionism. There are even better reasons for hiding those millions of heads in the sand! And so it goes. *** I am here, in Italy, and today I do not want to discuss the United States, Israel, or other colonies and client states of the West. We can do it some other time, if I am invited back. I spoke about Europe. And I spoke about those two Syrian girls I met in Lebanon. They are your responsibility, too, Italy! They suffer from malnutrition because your part of the world is ruining their country. It is because your country is a member of NATO, and NATO is behaving like a fascist thug with some clear mafia behavioral patterns. I know you have heart! I grew up on your films, on Fellini and de Sica, Rossellini, Antonioni and others. I greatly admire your poetry and music. They had tremendous influence on my work, and on how I see the world. But your heart, it seems, lately goes only to your own people. It is not an internationalist heart. It does not believe that all people are equal. I came here to say this, because not too many people dare to. I came here because I still care for your country. But as a determined socialist realist, I care about Italy as it could and should be, not as it is at this moment. Thank you! Andre Vltchek is a philosopher, novelist, filmmaker and investigative journalist. He covered wars and conflicts in dozens of countries. His latest books are: Exposing Lies Of The Empire and Fighting Against Western Imperialism.Discussion with Noam Chomsky:On Western Terrorism. Point of No Return is his critically acclaimed political novel. Oceania - a book on Western imperialism in the South Pacific. His provocative book about Indonesia: Indonesia The Archipelago of Fear. Andre is making films for teleSUR and Press TV. After living for many years in Latin America and Oceania, Vltchek presently resides and works in East Asia and the Middle East. He can be reached through his website or hisTwitter. NEW YORK Peru State College alum Ryan Chapelle is touring with world-known a cappella group Rockapella. Chapelle and the groups current tour previously stopped in California, Florida, Nevada and Japan. Upcoming dates this spring include performances in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin. The a cappella group formed in 1986 and may be most famous for their stint as the house band on PBSs Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? The group is also known for their commercial work with brands like Folgers, Almond Joy, NBC and Taco Bell. None of the original lineup are still with the group, however Scott Leonard and Jeff Thatcher joined in the early 90s before Rockapellas game-show height. Chapelle joined the group in February 2015. Steven Holden with the New York Times reviewed Rockapellas latest performance Hits Like You Never Heard in January of 2016. Holdens glowing review included praise for Chappell The concert was so rhythmically animated that in places you could almost swear they were singing along to tracks. The most impressive moments were solo turns by Mr. Thacher and Mr. Chappelle. SHARE Lincoln Ray Pickett Jasmine Pickett By Staff Report A Mitchell, Indiana man has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting and killing a woman before burning her body behind his house. Lincoln Ray Pickett, 34, is charged with murder, as well as abuse of a corpse, failure to report a dead body and false informing, among other charges, according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. Pickett is accused of killing a woman believed to be Kamie Ratcliff, 29, also of Mitchell. Ratcliff was last seen Jan. 18 at the CVS Pharmacy on Indiana 37 in Mitchell. She last spoke with her family on Jan. 21, according to Mitchell police. ISP and Mitchell town police detectives believe Pickett shot Ratcliff while both were inside Pickett's vehicle, according to the release. He then allegedly drove to his residence and put the body into a fire that was burning behind his house on Jan. 28. Pickett told investigators that he put the body in the fire, according to the release. Pickett's wife Jasmine Pickett, 30, also of Mitchell, provided a similar story to police. She has been charged with failure to report a dead body, obstruction of justice, conspiracy and false reporting. According to earlier media reports, Lincoln Pickett allegedly told investigators that he and his wife had been riding in a car with Ratcliff on Jan. 21 when she shot and killed herself. After further investigation, police believe Pickett was the shooter. The remains of the victims' body were removed from Pickett's residence for DNA tests. It could be months until the victim is positively ID'd as Ratcliff, the release states. SHARE By Zach Osowski INDIANAPOLIS In the wake of new standards requiring additional education to do their jobs, dual-credit teachers could be getting free tuition. House Bill 1370, authored by Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Mount Vernon, addresses new standards that will be implemented by the Higher Learning Commission, the body responsible for accrediting Indiana's colleges and universities. The commission recently announced new standards for higher education teachers as well as instructors who teach dual-credit classes. The new standards, which are scheduled to take effect in 2017, require a master's degree, along with 18 graduate-level credit hours in the teacher's field. Those new standards have education professionals and lawmakers worried that hundreds of dual-credit teachers in Indiana might suddenly become unqualified to teach. "This is in response to something that is out of our control as a state," McNamara said. McNamara's bill would mandate that state schools set up programs to ensure the dual-credit teachers in their system stay eligible. The programs would then either waive tuition fees or set them at a "significantly reduced rate." McNamara said this bill would only apply to dual-credit teachers who have a master's degree but not the 18 credit hours. Currently, that makes up 1,232 teachers, according to the Legislative Services Agency. Some schools, such as the University of Southern Indiana, already have a program in place to help their dual-credit teachers. Mark Bernhard, associate provost for outreach and engagement at USI, said the school offers a tuition waiver to any dual-credit teacher in the school's College Achievement Program. He said there are currently 57 teachers who teach dual-credit classes affiliated with USI who have a master's but not the 18 hours. "I think USI has been very proactive in anticipating this might happen," Bernhard said about the new requirements. "We will continue to offer the program to those teachers that need it." Bernhard said keeping the dual-credit program going is advantageous to the university because a good percentage of the students who take those classes end up going to USI. That kind of plan is what McNamara is hoping to create at all of the state schools to prepare for the 2017 deadline. She said the state plans on applying for an extension with the Higher Learning Commission to push the deadline back to 2022, but hasn't gotten any direction on how to do that yet. As the bill heads to the Senate, lawmakers will try to iron out how the law would impact Ivy Tech University. The school has many dual-credit courses but doesn't offer graduate-level classes for their teachers to take. McNamara said Ivy Tech would likely have to enter into an agreement with a university that offers graduate classes in order to get their dual-credit teachers certified. "I'm not sure there's an answer besides joining with another school," McNamara said after questions about Ivy Tech were raised on the House floor. SHARE Victor Stone Evansville The Rev. Michael J. Coyner, of Indianapolis, is Indiana Bish of the United Methodist Church. He had an interesting Community Comment directed at the state Legislature: "First, do no harm." He was referring to the turmoil surrounding the twin issues of "religious freedom" and "equal rights for all," specifically, the rights of the LGBT community. The admonition, "First, do no harm," is reminiscent of that ridiculous admonition, "Hear no evil, speak no evil, and do no evil." This is essentially the philosophy of the "silent majority" that historically supported fascist regimes by remaining a silent partner, the dumbing down of Christianity. I'm not a lawyer or a legislative expert. I am not a man of the cloth. Thank God, I'm free to think for myself. RALEIGH State Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said he is "alarmed" that the state Department of Public Instruction and State Board of Education agreed, possibly in violation of state open meetings laws and legislative requirements, to shift funds intended to help children learn to read into maintaining what he calls a "bloated bureaucracy."Berger on Monday issued a stinging letter of rebuke to Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson and State Board of Education chairman William Cobey. He demanded that they provide him with a variety of correspondence, meeting minutes, and budget proposals related to the budget dispute.At issue is a $2.5 million budget cut the General Assembly made to the state Department of Public Instruction, and a legislative demand that DPI spend $3.8 million more in 2015-16, and $8.5 million if 2016-17, to implement the Excellent Public Schools Act expansion.Berger and others believe DPI may be using money earmarked for the Read to Achieve early grades literacy program and other measures under the Excellent Public Schools Act to fill in gaps and preserve jobs that might be eliminated by the budget cut."From an operations standpoint, their budgetary switcharoo may make sense. It does not make sense politically, however," Terry Stoops, director of research and education studies at the John Locke Foundation, said of the DPI maneuver."Lawmakers will likely respond by approving deeper cuts to the DPI budget, which may include the mandatory elimination of specific positions or department-wide personnel reductions," Stoops said. "It will be a short-term gain but a long-term loss for an already unpopular state agency."Indeed, Berger's displeasure was evident in his letter to Atkinson and Cobey, which he copied to Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, State Treasurer Janet Cowell, the Office of State Budget and Management, numerous officials at other state departments, and members of the General Assembly."I am alarmed by the apparent failure of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to implement multiple provisions contained in the 2015 state budget focused on achieving better educational outcomes for students," Berger wrote."I am further concerned that this choice may have been authorized in a closed meeting contrary to the requirements of the Open Meetings Law. I hope the SBE will take action to correct these problems at its February 2016 meeting," Berger wrote.He said DPI plans to take "crucial funds designated for helping children learn to read, and using them to preserve DPI's bloated bureaucracy in clear violation of the budget's requirement for a reduction in the department's operating costs."He further accused DPI of trying to "cover this up by relabeling existing positions and workload within DPI as additional support for the Excellent Public Schools Act." That is contrary to "clear direction from the Office of Budget and Management that doing so would be inconsistent with the intent of the budget reduction to DPI and would not accomplish budget expansion of the Excellent Public Schools Act."Former state budget director Lee Roberts issued a letter on Oct. 28 to Atkinson, copied to Cobey and DPI Chief Financial Officer Philip Price, that the plans to shift funding were "inconsistent with the intent of the budget reduction as directed by the General Assembly."Roberts wrote that "it is clear" the legislature intended to reduce General Fund support for DPI operations to $45.3 million, and that was to be "separate and apart from the additional funding provided to implement the Excellent Public Schools Act."The requirement to expand the Excellent Public Schools Act "will not be accomplished if existing positions and workload are simply relabeled as support" for the act, Roberts wrote."That's a live, ongoing budget issue, and so I'm not sure it would be appropriate for me to comment on it," Roberts said when contacted last week. "I'm confident that it will get resolved.""With all due respect to Mr. Roberts. ...I'm unclear about what he's actually trying to convey there," Atkinson said of his letter. She said DPI met the requirements of the General Assembly's $2.5 million cut.Atkinson said DPI sent a response to Roberts' Oct. 28 letter but did not hear back from him.Appropriations to DPI "gives us that flexibility to determine how we would organize, and how we would use those dollars to carry out the provisions of the General Assembly's laws," Atkinson said."With Read to Achieve, it was specified that we would hire people to provide support, and they gave us the salary of those people," she said. "But the Excellent Schools Act did not have any of those types of direction to us."Atkinson said DPI's new organizational chart shows that responsibility for the Excellent Public Schools Act falls across most of the agency's departments to meet provisions such as providing assistance to low-performing schools, and to charter schools, and to implement a structure to report the status of public schools on an A through F grading basis."This is not the first time we've been down this path, ordering people to do things, and what they end up doing is shifting money around so they don't have to do what they were told to do," said state Rep. Craig Horn, R-Union, a member of the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee.He said that sits "very poorly" with him, recalling as a freshman legislator hearing from an agency that was ordered to make cuts but played a shell game with the funding instead."I asked the silly little question, 'Well, who goes to jail?' And everybody looked at me like I had two heads," Horn said."I think unrest or unease is pretty light in describing the view of the legislature" on this matter, Horn said."There's a number of legislators, and I'm among them, that don't look kindly at people who decide which laws they're going to enforce, and which ones they're not going to pay attention to," Horn said."At the end of the day, the role of the legislature is to make the law. The role of the departments is to implement the law. And the role of the governor, the executive, is to make sure those rules are implemented," Horn said. "It's the standard separation of powers. It has been far too many years since the Woke theology interlaced its canons within the fabric of the Indoctrination Realm, so it is nigh time to ask: Does this Representative Republic continue, as a functioning society of a self-governed people, by contending with the unusual, self absorbed dictates of the Woke, and their vast array of Victimhood scenarios? Yes, the Religion of Woke must continue; there are so many groups of underprivileged, underserved, a direct result of unrelenting Inequity; they deserve everything. No; the Woke fools must be toppled from their pedestal; a functioning society of a good Constitutional people cannot withstand this level of "existential" favoritism as it exists now, unending. I. Overview Despite repeated expressions of support for the Minsk process and recognition of Ukraines sovereignty over the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics (DNR, LNR), Moscows policy in Ukraines east looks more likely to strengthen those entities than prepare for the dismantlement the Minsk agreement envisages. The Kremlin views Ukraines European choice as a major security threat and the 2014 overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych as Western-backed and aimed at isolating Russia. It wants to keep Ukraine under its pro-Western leadership unstable, embroiled in open-ended military confrontation it cannot afford, so as to return it eventually to its sphere of influence. Moscow often seems to play with several options, but its tactical fluidity is dangerous. Almost 10,000 have died in the conflict, and tens of thousands of troops face each other along a 500-km line of separation. While recognising the risk of the Minsk process becoming a substitute for settlement, the international community should urge Russia to show its commitment to that process and remind it that sanctions will remain until Minsk is fully implemented. The ceasefire in the east has largely held since 1 September, casualties are down, and all sides express determination to implement the Minsk agreement. Few Minsk provisions have been fully implemented however, and the timetable for completion has been extended into 2016. This gives Moscow further opportunities to concentrate the parties more on process than a settlement. After showing little interest in building political institutions in the DNR and LNR or enthusiasm for funding social policies, Moscow has begun in the past four or five months to bankroll pensions, social benefits and salaries to local officials and the separatist military forces. If consistently maintained, this will cost it over $1 billion a year, a substantial sum for the Russian treasury in straitened economic times. Some observers in Donetsk are persuaded the measures are increasingly clear signs Moscow has decided to transform the crisis into a frozen conflict, a scenario international participants in the peace talks have long feared. Though a protracted conflict in eastern Ukraine would be very different from those in Abkhazia, South Ossetia or Transnistria, it would have the advantage for Russia of pushing the issue further off the international agenda. Rather more persuasively, some seasoned observers of Moscows tactics in the east, including senior separatist officials, suggest that the Kremlin is probably considering several options, from freezing the conflict while keeping Minsk alive, to dropping the entities at a convenient time. It may also be waiting to see how other global agendas with potential for cooperation between Russia and the West Syria, for example, and counter-terrorism are developing. Russia says it is pushing hard for complete implementation as quickly as possible, but Ukraine and its Western supporters maintain that it has not done enough to remove weaponry and discuss a troop pullout. The Kyiv government has been unable to assemble enough votes to pass crucial constitutional amendments Minsk requires, to the indignation of Russia and its separatist allies, and is reluctant to accept sweeping amnesty for separatists. There has been little progress on what Minsk envisages to be an all for all exchange of prisoners, though several hundred releases have taken place. The opposing sides are also still arguing over inclusive, internationally-supervised local elections that would in theory help normalise the political situation in the entities. Meanwhile, in addition to the many troops Russia retains on its side of the border who can deploy quickly throughout the DNR and LNR, separatist sources and Western officials say, it has a number of units inside the entities. One of the most useful steps Moscow could take to demonstrate its willingness to help resolve the conflict would be to quietly withdraw those units. This would substantially increase Ukrainian and Western confidence that it is indeed committed to Minsk. The international community could then ensure that Ukraine did not try to take advantage by moving across the line of separation. Another important step for Russia would be to reduce military supplies to the entities. Cuts in fuel, lubricants and ammunition for artillery and other heavy weapons would gradually diminish their forces mobility and effectiveness. As Russia still denies providing such items, this could be done with minimal publicity or face loss. The international community, including the U.S., might react with confidence-building measures, perhaps including a security dialogue in the region, or consultations on ways to dismantle the poorly-disciplined LNR and DNR militaries. Until there is a clearly positive change in the core Russian approach, the international community needs to build its policy toward Moscow over eastern Ukraine on the assumption that anything, including more serious fighting, is possible. For now, this may seem highly unlikely. Russia is embroiled in Syria, the Donbas has been banished from its media, and the economy is under great strain, due in part to sanctions, in part to low oil prices. But large Russian units have already fought twice in Ukraine, once (February 2015) even during peace talks. Moscow could resort to such means again should the lower-cost, lower-visibility approach of supporting the entities in a protracted conflict fail. The European Union (EU), especially member states Germany and France, and the U.S. should avoid the trap of letting a potentially lengthy resolution process and different interpretations of its provisions undermine their vital consensus on maintaining sanctions until Minsk is fully implemented. Research was conducted in Kyiv, Dnepropetrovsk, Krasnoarmiisk, Kurakhove and Moscow and during five visits to DNR/LNR-controlled areas of Donetsk city and oblast since July 2014. The briefing focuses on recent political changes in the entities, their relations with Moscow and the nature of Russias presence and control. Nearly every generation sees the birth of what, for it, will define modern life going forward. As uncertain as the twenty-teens have been, in retrospect economists may point to this decade as being as important as the tipping points of the 1870s and 1920s. If that turns out to be the case, there may be no better event to symbolize the beginning of the era than the Salesforce fiscal-year kick-off in San Francisco this week. It has been an eventful year so far for the company, its city (with Super Bowl festivities taking over much of downtown) and even the nation. The day after polling began in the presidential primaries (which were eventful in their own right), Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff laid out an annual plan and announced a reshaped product line that will contribute much to the story of what will be the new modern in enterprise software. Just back from the annual confab of the rich and the forward looking at Davos, Switzerland, he gave revenue guidance to the financial analysts pegging his companys work product at $8.1 billion for the fiscal year that was only a few hours old. As a subscription company, Salesforce reasonably can be sure of its guidance because most of those revenues already are under contract as unbilled deferred revenues, making climbing that $8.1 billion mountain much easier. Benioff mentioned the Fourth Industrial Revolution as a topic of discussion in Davos, which might correspond to the launch of a new long economic wave (aka a K-wave). Long waves often are associated with the late Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev, and I correlate K-wave formation with what I see as the inflection points around us today. Business Impact The product line received the lions share of visibility, but in one way, it seemed to me under-reported. While the technology was impressive, its impact on business is the real story, and that will take years to write. The Salesforce product line has been renamed using a Lightning moniker attached to nearly every cloud. For instance, Sales Cloud Lightning is now how to reference what was once simple SFA. Lightning-izing the product line brings a great deal of complexity to the technology, but this is largely hidden from the user so that we can more truthfully refer to it as sophisticated rather than complex. This is important because it directly affects the perception of new modernity. For a long time, CRM product sets have been on a ramp up to complexity as vendors, including Salesforce, layered subsystems on top of subsystems. These included collaboration, community, analytics, journey mapping, and wireless and mobile accessibility. The evolution of the multitenant, metadata-driven cloud platform is a key piece of the puzzle. Under this umbrella, all complexity can be consolidated and managed so that users can construct business processes on the platform without necessarily getting hip deep in code. Thats not sophistication, however. Sophistication happens when one can achieve Arthur C. Clarkes vision that new technology should be indistinguishable from magic. I think thats where were going. Making Magic Salesforce didnt get all the way to magic with its Lightning announcement, but it certainly put down a marker, which I believe will serve as a reference point for the birth of the modern. Fundamentally, the technology is accessible easily by those who need it, but it has been abstracted. A new layer that supports the user as if it were an assistant in a business process hides the complexity with a sophistication that borders on magic. As users are reminded, they are presented with data and information to enlighten their activities, and data that surfaces within a business process directly or through inference is captured and teed up for future analysis that will again inform users in their processes. This is cool stuff. Lets have a look at the announcements big parts. Lightning: The Platform Everything starts with the platform now known as Salesforce Lightning. Co-founder Parker Harris has, over several years, guided his developers to build a platform and stack that makes the magic possible. The Lightning-ization of Salesforce is largely the story of building the new platform full of services and of enabling all the apps to access these services and deliver them to the customer- and employee-facing applications. Sales Cloud Lightning SFA has been reimagined and added to so that it is a very different species than the one we started writing about in the 1990s. Then, SFA was a system of record, a tool for tracking basic contact information and the size of an order or a deal. The latest incarnation includes the following: CPQ from recently acquiredSteelBrick, which will accelerate, and for many companies standardize, the configuration, pricing and quoting process. Lightning Voice, an embedded telephony service for use in sales as well as service. Lightning Voice will enable reps to connect with prospects within the Salesforce application with all of its suggestions and prompts. Its functions include click-to-call, autologging of calls and call forwarding. SalesforceIQ Inbox, which brings the email inbox into the CRM suite through a suite of iOS, Android and Chrome apps that weave together Sales Cloud data with email and calendar apps of ones choice. Sales Wave App, which, just as youd expect, is analytics for the sales process. It is one of the sources of the information and suggestions that will change selling. Early SFA users could only imagine new dashboards for things like pipeline trending. Salesforce1 Mobile. The big news here is full offline capabilities for iOS and Android devices. There are also 20 new Lightning Sales Components, but I am getting tired and I recommend checking with Salesforce for even more detail. Check out Sales Path and Kanban. Service Cloud Lightning Service Cloud got the same treatment in that service processes have been reimagined, but Id say that this process of enhancement has been more evolutionary than revolutionary, occurring over several years. Nonetheless, there were some big announcements, including Field Service Lightning, which provisions CRM tools to dispatchers who will receive suggestions for service assignments based on location, technician training and skills, and availability. An Omni-Channel Supervisor gives call center managers more insights to better manage agents workloads. Product Milestones Salesforce is noting its 49th and 50th product releases in the coming year. Those milestones will bring to market further enhancements in virtually every part of the product line. For instance, the company will release Heroku for the Enterprise, aimed primarily at developers of highly scalable customer-facing apps. There will also be Marketing Cloud announcements later, in line with enhanced uses for Journey Builder, which in my estimation may be the most important part of any CRM going forward. Briefly, journey mapping enables vendors to bring scientific management to what have always been chaotic customer-facing processes. When used appropriately, journey mapping will enhance significantly the customer experience and drive better engagement. Its going to be a big deal. Pricing and Packaging Salesforce continues to use a gold, silver and bronze approach to product packaging and pricing, and it has taken this opportunity to reset the packaging to reflect the bulging product line. It would be a sales nightmare to sell this product line a la carte, and it also would be counterproductive to the user who needs all the pieces and parts to fulfill the vision of modern sophistication. The company will continue with three levels of pricing, albeit at somewhat higher rates, and it will pack more technology into each level, Benioff told me. See the company for details. Intelligent Engagement The Lightning-ization of Salesforce completes the solution set transition from a system of record to a system of intelligent engagement. Using all the capabilities together makes it difficult to do business as we always have done it, which is a good thing. I dont think its possible to sandbag deals anymore or generally hide things from the boss. CRM is no longer a chore to be performed on Friday afternoons. It is an assistant that will enable many people to work better, smarter and maybe more productively. But long as customers are involved, nothing I have seen will truly accelerate business processes beyond the acceleration on the vendor side. Customers still will think and deliberate about offers, thus presenting us with a kind of speed limit, much as the speed of light is the ultimate speed limitation in the universe. However, these reimagined tools do something as important as speeding up customer-facing processes, which I have discussed here before. They open the door to managing many more customer situations per employee. That will, of course, raise productivity. Even more important from a sales process standpoint, however, it make it possible to expand skinny pipelines, to make them fat and thus enable revenue acceleration, if not exactly shortening individual deal times. Singapore-headquartered CrossPoint Telecommunications is expanding its operations in Australia this year with several new hires and an eye for mergers and acquisitions. Steven Angelov, sales and marketing director of the 20-year-old IT service provider, told CRN that CrossPoint had set aside up to $20 million for M&A. We are currently in the early stages of identifying the companies. We are looking at merging with medium-sized, cloud-based IT services and unified communications companies, said Angelov. He said the acquisitions will be privately funded and would be completed by this year, adding that further detail was subject to a non-disclosure agreement. Angelov said CrossPoint had also recently spent close to $1 million to refurbish its office in Mascot, Sydney to give it a "Google-style feel". The expansion for the Australian market comes right after CrossPoint was named Polycoms marketing partner and grand prize winner for the Asia Pacific region at the TEAM Polycom 2016 annual partner conference held in the US last month. Angelov said that CrossPoint won the award for bringing in consistent revenues and proving best practice in reselling Polycoms products. CrossPoint specialises in unified communications, managed mobility, managed telephony and managed IT infrastructure. Headquartered in Singapore, the company claims to have clients in 65 countries. 12:30pm 5 Feb 2016: updated to clarify office refurbishment spend and 65-country presence. Telstras wholesale group executive Stuart Lee has stepped down after five years in the position. Lee will be replaced by Telstra Business group managing director Will Irving in the interim until a permanent replacement is found. Lee had been with Telstra and predecessor organisations for the past 45 years. He joined the Postmaster-Generals Department in 1971 as a cadet engineer. In 2005, Lee joined Telstras executive team as program office executive director and was appointed as wholesale group executive in 2011. Chief executive Andrew Penn thanked Lee for his years 45 working with Telstra. Stuart has been an amazing executive for Telstra, said Penn. Telstra Wholesale has substantially improved customer focus under Stuart's leadership while returning to growth after years of decline. He is widely respected for his courage, values and getting things done. Our major retail and wholesale competitors hold us in higher regard as a wholesale supplier. I am grateful to Stuart for his support of me during my time at Telstra and appreciate his wise counsel. Lee will finish work at Telstra on 31 March, to initially take long service leave. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has put its Australian and New Zealand distribution out to tender, with industry insiders expecting a consolidation of the roster. The vendor has one of the deepest lineups of distributors in the Australian market, something that can be a bone of contention among the members. The distributor panel includes Aruba's three distributors following HPE's acquisition of the networking vendor for US$2.7 billion in March 2015. HPE has five distributors in Australia selling some or all of its range: Dicker Data, Ingram Micro, Synnex, Lynx Technologies and Avnet. Aruba adds another three disties to the mix, with key partners Westcon and Distribution Central, along with point-of-sale specialist Sektor. Across the Tasman, Aruba's New Zealand distributors include Connector Systems, which was yesterday acquired by Ingram Micro. HPE and Aruba distributors have been jostling for access to the full range of Hewlett Packard solutions, according to well-placed sources. CRN understands all existing distributors were invited to take part in the closed tender, with submissions due on 18 January, followed by some post-submission activity. Disties are now waiting to find out of who is in and who is out. Asked to confirm the distribution tender, an HPE spokesperon would only say: "Hewlett Packard Enterprise was created to be a more nimble customer and partner-centric company. The company is committed to undertaking all efforts to ensure we can collectively deliver industry leading solutions and drive business transformation and growth for our customers in the most efficient way possible." Rationalised roster Industry sources expect the tender to lead to consolidation across the HPE and Aruba roster. One source within the distribution community welcomed a rationalisation, telling CRN that it was hard to justify the major investment required to support a vendor of HPE's size while facing such competition from other disties. Any shakeup would have significant ramifications, given the size of the Hewlett Packard Enterprise business and its importance to distributors. Dicker Data has long been regarded as HP's biggest Australian distributor, with the vendor worth upwards of a quarter of a billion dollars a year to the ASX-listed company. Another distributor that comes in for praise among resellers is Sydney-headquartered Lynx Technologies, which tends to fly under the radar but represents a large slice of HPE's storage business. Australia's only $2 billion-revenue distributors Ingram Micro and Synnex are also significant players, with Synnex the most recent HPE partner after adding the enterprise range to its existing agency for PCs and printers in August 2014. Avnet is also an enterprise partner across HPE's infrastructure and software. Some sources expect Aruba disties to do well out of the review, given the sway that the wireless vendor now holds within HPE's networking division. Networking in general and wireless in particular remain healthy, given a boost by the same transition to cloud that is putting pressure on compute and storage. Aruba's regional leadership hold top positions within the merged business, from Asia-Pacific head Steve Wood, down to Australia and New Zealand managing director Steve Coad and ANZ channel manager David Elliott. Next: partners judge HPE's channel strategy Mobility News BlackBerry Lays Off 200 In Software And Service Transition Lindsey O'Donnell Share this BlackBerry on Friday confirmed that it has laid off "a small number of employees" at its offices in Waterloo, Ontario, and Sunrise, Fla. The layoffs come as the mobile company sharpens its focus on security software, services and Android smartphones tailored for the enterprise market. As BlackBerry continues to execute its turnaround plan, we remain focused on driving efficiencies across our global workforce, the company said in a statement. This means finding new ways to enable us to capitalize on growth opportunities, while driving toward sustainable profitability across all parts of our business. [Related: Intel Partners: Possible Qualcomm-Google Venture Could Drive Innovation In Intel-Dominated Server Space] BlackBerry revealed its layoffs in response to a report by MobileSyrup claiming that the company is cutting 35 percent of its Waterloo headquarters office, or at least 1,000 employees. The company later revealed that "approximately 200 employees have been impacted in Canada and Florida." Among those leaving the company's Canadian headquarters is Gary Klassen, creator of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), a cross-platform instant messaging application. The company has revealed cuts before, back in May, when it laid off an unspecified number of employees in its device unit. Douglas Grosfield, founder and CEO of Five Nines IT Solutions, a Kitchener, Ontario-based strategic service provider, said the move could help BlackBerry as its transitions its "core strengths," including the enterprise market. "Hardware is a commodity, and while BlackBerry had a great track record of making cool and reliable devices, the lack of focus on the software hurt them," Grosfield said. "Today's BlackBerry is very different, and the incremental changes in staffing and processes clearly highlight [CEO] John Chen's laser focus on the changing company's core strength." BlackBerry's layoffs come months after the company introduced the security-based BlackBerry Priv, its first smartphone to run on Google's Android operating system as opposed to the BlackBerry 10 operating system, by which previous smartphone renditions were powered. BlackBerry Priv won't be the company's only smartphone to run on Android -- during an interview with the Economic Times, Damian Tay, senior director of APAC Product Management, said the phone is part of the company's transition to the Android platform. Grosfield said that this evolution makes sense for BlackBerry as it sharpens its focus on the enterprise market. "Android-based handsets secured by BlackBerry's DTek software provide a best-of-both-worlds solution to gain market share while staying true to the Waterloo-based company's proven track record of second-to-none security and manageability, especially in the enterprise market," he added. Entry regulations require would-be members of a specific profession to pass exams or meet education or experience requirements in order to obtain a license to work. Proponents claim that such regulations might improve the quality of service, but most studies have shown that there is no relationship between licensing and quality. Entry regulations may, however, increase income inequality by corralling poorer workers into lower-paying, unregulated fields or forcing them to operate illegally and incur the higher costs of doing so. If entry regulations require expensive education, testing, and fees, workers may choose instead to accept jobs that pay less and don't take full advantage of their skills. A new study for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University examines the relationship between income inequality and the number of regulatory steps necessary to start a business. Looking at 175 countries and multiple variables, the study finds that there is a positive relationship between entry regulations and income inequality. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City economist Kelly Edmiston writes: "Entrepreneurship may yield a double dividend in low and moderate income communities. Many of the retail and services establishments available in higher income areas, such as grocery stores, often are not available to low and moderate income people ... [who also] face transportation challenges. Entrepreneurial activity not only provides income to the entrepreneurs and perhaps others in the community, but also provides needed goods and services." Some studies have noted that large shares of entrepreneurs are centered in industries that rely on low-wage workers often the type of workers who find themselves below the poverty line, making those potential workers the most likely new hires for an entrepreneur.... It is for these classes of families that entrepreneurial endeavors are the most important. Evidence of how entrepreneurship can be a ladder out of poverty comes from the Aspen Institute. Researchers there conducted a five-year survey in the mid-1990s, following more than 1,500 low-income entrepreneurs across the nation. Close to three-fourths (72%) of those low-income entrepreneurs experienced an increase in their household income between $8,000 and $22,374. Their household assets increased by an average of more than $15,000 over five years. Perhaps most impressive, more than half (53%) had moved out of poverty in five years. Additionally, those who were on welfare before becoming entrepreneurs were able to generate enough income on their own that, on average, the amount of public assistance they accepted declined by 61 percent Last week I had the honor of speaking in favor of occupational licensing reform before a legislative oversight committee (you can view my presentation here ).Among other things, I spoke of research findings that occupational licensing depressed employment growth in the regulated industry, and that it negatively affected entrepreneurship, which negatively affects the poor most keenly.The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has released more research that buttresses these findings. A comprehensive study finds that "Countries with more burdensome entry regulations that is, countries where red tape makes it harder to set up a business tend to also have greater income inequality ."As stated in the summary (emphasis added):To be clear: By "positive relationship," it doesn't mean good relationship. It means as entry regulations increase, so does income inequality. It also means if entry regulations fall, so would income inequality. This newsletter (and the appendix of my Spotlight report on voluntary certification ) previously discussed the implications of a recent report from the Arizona State University Center for the Study of Economic Liberty. Namely, that road-blocking the poor from entrepreneurial activity is doubly harmful.The report, " How State Occupational Licensing Hinders Low-Income Entrepreneurship ," by Stephen Slivinski, uses research findings to argue that entrepreneurship can be a ladder out of poverty for low-income individuals as well as a boon to low-income neighborhoods.Here is an excerpt (with emphasis added):Entry regulations, especially occupational licensing , stand in the way. Slivinski ranked North Carolina tied for 13th highest among the states in percentage of low-income occupations licensed. So interest in reforming licensure here is very welcome. Last month I addressed data governance in "Preventing data breaches is a business problem not an IT issue." In that article I stressed that too many clients have the Technology and Processes down but many dont have the right staff in place or if they do have security staff they report to IT. We need a separation of duties between the IT department and an Audit or compliance department. Otherwise its the fox guarding the chickens. IT has a mission to push out new technology and fix it when it fails, so how can the IT department also oversee any real security and compliance function? The answer is they cant, as its the fox guarding the chickens. Enter data governance, which starts at the top. Too many clients dont know that Information Security Governance is a fundamental responsibility of senior management to protect the interests of the organizations stakeholders. This includes understanding risks to the business to ensure that they are adequately addressed from a governance perspective. The tone at the top must be conducive to effective security governance. It is unreasonable to expect lower-level personnel to abide by security policies if senior management does not, as noted by the IT Governance Institute 2003. This is a common issue for clients that dont do well on audits. A security and compliance function must be in place and it should be separate from the IT department if at all possible. If you work in the IT department one of your biggest fears may be the dreaded IT audit. Long before I was a consultant, I remember how our team felt when the IT auditors showed up. We had no idea what they were going to cover? How could we know, we were not IT auditors! But little did we know all we had to do was ask or better yet learn about the framework they were using and do our own self-assessment ahead of time. I often see clients that need help with (especially those without an independent security and compliance department or function) Audit and Compliance Frameworks. Earlier in my career I worked as an IT security staff member where I saw the importance of securing firewalls, servers and a multitude of IT devices, but later realized at that view point I was walking through a forest when I could have been flying over it. With an understanding of security and compliance frameworks you see the whole forest from a birds eye view and it takes on a totally different perspective, you no longer see security devices or individual gates; you will see a whole city that you must protect! Only this view from above via a security and compliance framework provides one with a complete risk management strategy. 10 common IT audit failures No policies or outdated policies. No vulnerability scanning or PEN testing. (Penetration Testing) No 2 factor authentication for remote access. No dedicated staff responsible for security 100%, its shared among IT staff. No disaster recovery plan, business continuity plan thats tested and up to date. No centralized log management. No IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) or IPS not properly managed, or monitored. No DLP (data loss Prevention) or controls of critical data at endpoints or in email or critical applications. No keeping up to date with OS, network and applications patching. No current network and system drawings showing network architecture and data flow. In our practice we constantly see very skilled IT departments that dont have the exposure to a robust security and compliance framework. By educating all IT staff members on the importance of compliance frameworks, a company can improve its audits and better, they can actually reduce risk by having everyone in IT on board to counter the dynamic threats we are all exposed to every day. The IT department can and should play a key role in responding to IT audits, audits that are there to assure the company meets this minimum standard that is the foundation for security. One excellent framework to learn is the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) Cyber Security framework. This particular NIST framework is the result of executive order 13636, Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity issued by the President of the United States. This was of course in response to the many data breaches that are hurting our country and its economy. Audit or compliance frameworks focus on using business drivers to guide cybersecurity activities and considering cybersecurity risks as part of the organizations risk management processes. This is where we move from an IT device centric mode to a total business risk mode. The NIST framework consists of three parts: the Framework Core, the Framework Profile, and the Framework Implementation Tiers. The Framework Core is a set of cybersecurity activities, outcomes, and informative references that are common across critical infrastructure sectors, providing the detailed guidance for developing individual organizational Profiles. Through use of the Profiles, the Framework will help the organization align its cybersecurity activities with its business requirements, risk tolerances, and resources. The Tiers provide a mechanism for organizations to view and understand the characteristics of their approach to managing cybersecurity risk. NIST 2014 NIST Figure 1 : Framework Core Structure The five framework core functions are defined below. These functions are not intended to form a serial path, or lead to a static desired end state. Rather, the functions can be performed concurrently and continuously to form an operational culture that addresses the dynamic cybersecurity risk. Identify Develop the organizational understanding to manage cybersecurity risk to systems, assets, data, and capabilities. The activities in the Identify Function are foundational for effective use of the Framework. Understanding the business context, the resources that support critical functions, and the related cybersecurity risks enables an organization to focus and prioritize its efforts, consistent with its risk management strategy and business needs. Examples of outcome Controls/Categories within this Function include:Asset Management; Business Environment; Governance; Risk Assessment; and Risk Management Strategy. Protect Develop and implement the appropriate safeguards to ensure delivery of critical infrastructure services. The Protect Function supports the ability to limit or contain the impact of a potential cybersecurity event. Examples of outcome Controls/Categories within this Function include: Access Control; Awareness and Training; Data Security; Information Protection Processes and Procedures; Maintenance; and Protective Technology. Detect Develop and implement the appropriate activities to identify the occurrence of a cybersecurity event. The Detect Function enables timely discovery of cybersecurity events. Examples of outcome Controls/Categories within this Function include:Anomalies and Events; Security Continuous Monitoring; and Detection Processes. Respond Develop and implement the appropriate activities to take action regarding a detected cybersecurity event. NIST 2014 Keep in mind this is a single governance framework, You may be familiar with other frameworks like ISACAs Cobit, The US government's FISMA, PCI DSS for retail credit cards, or HIPAA for healthcare. They each have their specific industry application, the NIST framework shown here is a good general framework to consider when you are not mandated to comply with PCI DSS or HIPAA or any other legally mandated compliance framework. Its a way for an unregulated business to do what it should do without regulators forcing it to do the right thing. What these frameworks all have in common is a baseline standard to measure your organization against. We are looking for gaps from your organization with an established standard. All compliance frameworks were created from best practices and the incorporation of what was learned from past data breaches or intrusions. This makes them impossible to be current with the threat of the week, but they are still the foundation for security. For more on why audit matters check out the latest Verizon data breach investigations reports. According to Verizons reports many data breaches were not highly difficult. All compliance frameworks include the measurement of data security, security awareness, access control, asset management, communications security, data backups, disaster recovery/business continuity planning and much more. Think of it as a standards check list with one major exception, it's risk based and therefore is not just a check list. For example: A company may have a list of assets, but it must be a current list and it must be relevant. The assets must include types of assets that the organization is trying to protect. An organization must take the asset list and consider real dynamic threats and vulnerabilities. For example, an asset may be a web server, a threat is a cybercriminal trying to hack into it and a vulnerability might be a missing patch, an unsecured server room or an insider that has a criminal record. This is just the tip of the iceberg and is not check box auditing, its risk management. You must look at and consider realistic threats to any asset and its data you are trying to protect. What makes this more interesting and challenging is that the vulnerabilities and threats can change daily or hourly! Take a look at this daily dashboard. See the latest vulnerabilities? The latest phishing attacks? NIST Figure 1: The NIST cyber security core framework with its functions & categorier or controls In the table above you can now see that the categories or controls, as many frameworks call it, like asset management and risk assessment are listed in their corresponding function in this example Identify. Data security falls under Protect, continuous monitoring falls under Detect and so on. An organization can use the framework as a key part of its systematic process for identifying, assessing, and managing cybersecurity risk. Putting it all together, lets see how to actually use this simple NIST cyber security framework. Remember we are trying to protect your data within an organization, this includes data that is stored, processed or transferred within technology and also includes paperwork on your desk. Step 1: Prioritize and scope. The organization identifies its business objectives and high-level organizational priorities. With this information, the organization makes strategic decisions regarding cybersecurity implementations and determines the scope of systems and assets that support the selected business line or process. The Board of Directors must be involved to assure the priority is in line with the business strategy and its mission. What is the most valuable to this company? What resources does it have to protect it? Will the company provide the necessary resources to protect it? Is it required to protect it by law? What compliance framework is mandated by law? Step 2: Orient. Once the scope of the cybersecurity program has been determined for the business, the organization identifies related systems and assets, regulatory requirements, and overall risk approach. We have assets, and want to protect them from the latest threats and vulnerabilities. This step looks at where is this critical data? Is it in a server? A database, online or internal? What laws govern its protection? In the end this step says what cyber security, compliance framework we will use. Step 3: Create a current profile. The organization develops a Current Profile by indicating which control or category outcomes from the Framework Core are currently being achieved. This is the baseline of our current operating environment. Step 4: Conduct a risk assessment. This assessment could be guided by the organizations overall risk management process or previous risk assessment activities. The organization analyzes the operational environment in order to discern the likelihood of a cybersecurity event and the impact that the event could have on the organization. This is where we actually look at risk and are not doing a check box audit. A check box audit is not realistic and therefore a waste of time. It was not too long ago that this was unfortunately, the focus of many audits. A risk assessment example: a company in Florida has a server at a beach side resort. The asset contains credit card or proprietary data, its threat model includes hackers, internal theft of data or the threat of a hurricane flooding the data closet its located in. We can either accept the risk, transfer it, or mitigate it, by putting the service in the cloud, or relocate the server to an office or center further from the rising waters on the beach. The cloud option mitigates risk but adds new risk. Do we trust the cloud provider not to copy and use the data for its own personal gain? Are they meeting good compliance standards that assure we are making a good decision? How likely is the cloud provider to be compromised? We must also consider our organizations risk appetite. Are we working in DoD, credit cards, financial, healthcare? All have different risk profiles. Healthcare has become a major target as it contains a persons full identity, not just a credit card that is only good for a very limited time. In the ongoing war against economic espionage especially by China - the good news for the American private sector is that machine learning (ML) and behavioral analytics, are offering some promise of detecting hackers before they start exfiltrating trade secrets and intellectual property (IP). The not so good news is that those businesses are not going to be getting much help from the government. That, say most experts, is the reality, even after last Septembers agreement between the U.S. and China that neither country would, conduct or knowingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellectual property, including trade secrets or other confidential business information, with the intent of providing competitive advantages to companies or commercial sectors. Even mainstream media organizations are reporting that the agreement has had little effect. The CBS TV news magazine 60 Minutes devoted a segment of its Jan. 17 show four months after the agreement to the continuing theft of trade secrets and IP of American companies, labeling it, "the great brain robbery of America." In the segment, Dmitri Alperovitch, cofounder and CTO of CrowdStrike, told correspondent Leslie Stahl that following the agreement between President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the hacking of U.S. companies continues. It has simply been transferred from the infamous Unit 61398 of the Peoples Liberation Army that has hacked multiple American businesses including the New York Times, to an intelligence unit that is Chinas version of the CIA. In effect, they said, You guys are incompetent. You got caught. We'll give it to the guys that know better, Alperovitch said. The combination of machine learning and behavioral-based detection and prevention is much more effective. Dmitri Alperovitch, cofounder and CTO, CrowdStrike CrowdStrikes 2015 Global Threat Report put it in somewhat more muted language, but the message was the same: The wording of the agreement, was described by most analysts as extremely vague and largely open to interpretation, the report said, adding that, China has demonstrated that their operators will resume normal activities when scrutiny has diminished. The cyber agreements appear to be an attempt to appease the U.S. (and) avoid economic sanctions Experts also say that even the highly publicized arrests last fall by the Chinese government of a handful of hackers connected to the catastrophic breach that exposed the personal data of more than 22 million current and former U.S. federal workers dont really change things. The Chinese government has a history of sacrificing individuals for the good of the state, said William Munroe, vice president of marketing at Interset. Arrests, convictions and jail sentences create a justifiable defense that the Chinese are following the agreement while covering up their illicit activities. And, while the U.S. government has issued multiple threats over the past several years that it will impose sanctions on China if the cyber economic espionage continues, it has not imposed any yet and nobody expects it will. The Chinese economy is already weak, and sanctions would only hurt it more, which would directly affect the U.S. economy and jobs, Munroe said. Arrests, convictions and jail sentences create a justifiable defense that the Chinese are following the agreement while covering up their illicit activities. William Munroe, vice president of marketing, Interset That leaves American companies essentially on their own to defend themselves, which has been the case since the beginning of the great brain robbery. But, security experts say defensive tools are improving, in part thanks to broad awareness that perimeter defenses are not nearly enough, and also because of the growing technological capacity to collect and analyze data. There is a growing shift in the industry away from signature-based technologies, as they are not enough to detect and prevent todays sophisticated adversaries, Alperovitch told CSO. Traditional detection technologies look for known sequences in files, and block those known to be associated with malware. The issue is that the signature for a given malware element can be quickly and easily changed far more quickly than anti-virus vendors can adapt to the changes, he said. This is why the combination of machine learning and behavioral-based detection and prevention is much more effective. There is still an ongoing debate over the value of ML. The research firm Gartner ranked ML among the top five technologies at the peak of inflated expectations in its 2015 Hype Cycle. But Ariel Silverstone, a consulting chief security and privacy officer, told CSO in December that he believes ML is, severely, significantly under-hyped. Not only can it detect intrusions, he said, it can predict them, to the point where it is possible to ask the machine, Will I be attacked next Tuesday from China at 3 p.m.? and get an answer that has a better than 99 percent chance of being accurate. Jason Tan, CEO and cofounder of Sift Science, agreed. One of the key benefits to machine learning is its versatility and adaptiveness, he said, allowing organizations to harness vast amounts of data to predict all types of fraudulent behavior including IP theft. Andrew Gardner, senior technical director, machine learning, at Symantec, is even more bullish. He said the major breaches of the past several years Target, Home Depot, Sony, J.P. Morgan and others could soon be a thing of the past if security solutions gain predictive capabilities that empower the CISO. Were able to identify oddities sooner by connecting the dots between behavioral and contextual signals that could signal an attack is likely. Andrew Gardner, senior technical director, machine learning, Symantec He said deep learning has helped his firm become three times more accurate in spotting zero days, because were able to identify oddities sooner by connecting the dots between behavioral and contextual signals that could signal an attack is likely. Alperovitch cites similar experiences. He said machine learning has made it possible to collect massive amounts of threat intelligence through crowdsourcing, and then analyze it for what he called Indicators of Attack. Those indicators make it much more difficult for an adversary to hide during the early stages reconnaissance, expansion and data-staging of an attack", Munroe said. In the past, attackers could hide their activities in the data logs of applications, directories, endpoint, net-flow and repositories, he said. But, machine learning and behavioral analytic will find these activities hidden in billions of event logs, connect them and surface them to security investigators. That doesnt mean everybody is using it, or knows how to use it. It also sounds expensive possibly much too expensive for SMBs, but Alperovitch said it is becoming both more accessible and more affordable. The industry is gradually moving towards making entry-level options available, he said, whether its access to intelligence or technology solutions. Also, leveraging technologies like the cloud allows vendors to offer more cost-effective means to deploy security tools in a scalable way with minimum pre-existing infrastructure requirements. The cloud is a real game-changer. Munroe has a similar message. Before the age of Hadoop and big data, most organizations did not have the data to feed a machine learning-based system, he said. But that has changed because even if you do not have this infrastructure you can use a cloud-based system. That combination of machine learning and behavioral analytics tools, he said, is good enough to catch even nation state-sponsored hackers. Dmitri Alperovitch, cofounder and CTO, CrowdStrike The combination of machine learning and behavioral-based detection and prevention is much more effective. William Munroe, vice president of marketing, Interset Arrests, convictions and jail sentences create a justifiable defense that the Chinese are following the agreement while covering up their illicit activities. Andrew Gardner, senior technical director, machine learning, Symantec Were able to identify oddities sooner by connecting the dots between behavioral and contextual signals that could signal an attack is likely. BRIDGEPORT A former mayoral candidate is facing criminal charges after allegedly causing a scene at a City Hall annex and then again at the citys Social Services Department. Bridgeport police arrested Tony Barr, a basketball standout at Notre Dame of Fairfield High School before becoming a drug dealer and then an inmate, on two counts of second-degree threatening and one of disorderly conduct Thursday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT No extra security is planned for Mayor Joseph Ganim after city activist Tony Barr, three months after he lost the mayoral race to Ganim, threatened to blow the mayors head off, police said. Barr, 51, was charged Thursday with threatening and disorderly conduct, misdemeanors. He was released after posting $25,000 bond. He could not be reached for comment. I believe we have more than adequate security in place to protect the mayor, said police Capt. Armando Perez. Of course this incident is concerning to me. I know Tony Barr and I had hoped, after his criminal history, he had turned the corner on his life. But the mayor doesnt feel threatened by Mr. Barr, and we will now let the court take care of it. A petitioning candidate for mayor, Barr became an outspoken city activist after serving 20 years in prison. More News Former Bridgeport mayoral candidate Barr charged In 1991, a federal jury found Barr guilty of taking part is a drug distribution ring in the city. During the trial, police testified that Barr, an enforcer for the ring, pointed a loaded semi-automatic handgun at an undercover officer. Police said Barr came into the government center building shortly after 3 p.m. on Thursday and demanded to see the mayor. A female security guard would not let him go farther than the front desk, but allowed Barr to call the mayors office from her telephone. Police said Barr then began to yell at the mayors receptionist, saying I want to talk to the (expletive) mayor now. ... Im going to shoot the (expletive) mayor. Im going to blow the mayors head off. Police arrived at the scene and arrested Barr. It was really scary, said a local resident who requested to remain anonymous and was sitting with his girlfriend in the Margaret Morton Center Thursday afternoon when Barr came in. There was this big guy, and he was yelling he was going to get the mayor. We thought he had a gun, the witness said Friday. He was really angry and he was going to get in. I thought he was going to attack the police officer. Barr was a successful athlete as a teen, but later fell into gangs and drugs. After his release from prison, he vowed publicly he was turning his life around and began attending city meetings. At those, he often recounted the details of his own downfall while calling for better advantages for city children. His enthusiasm sometimes got the better of him; two years ago, he was thrown out of a Board of Education meeting and told never to come back. It is not the first time a Bridgeport mayor has been threatened with harm. In March 2012, a former Marine was arrested after police said he threatened to kill then-Mayor Bill Finch and members of the City Council. Craig Copley, 62, who was convicted two years earlier of harassing employees at the Thomas Merton House, was charged with second-degree threatening and disorderly conduct in that case. At the time, police said they evacuated the City Council chambers after Copley approached an employee of the state Department of Education outside the chambers and told him he was there to kill Finch and everyone else inside. He then fled. Finch was not at the meeting. Copley served six months in prison. The week between Iowa and New Hampshire is a traditional period where American families gather to feast on political prognostication, pontification and panic. It can be great, but, like holidays, it can foster quarrels, indigestion and, in extreme cases, spite-voting. To help enjoy this pregnant pause, here are seven tips for the seven days between Iowa and New Hampshire. Tip 1 : Iowa is not America. Iowa's population is far whiter than the rest of America. Iowa is 92 percent white, America is 77 percent. Iowa has far fewer people born in other countries. In America, 21 percent of the population speaks a language that isn't English, but only 7 percent in Iowa. Iowa has no cities with a population over 210,000. Caucus-goers are themselves a very small slice of the population and a whiter slice, especially on the Republican side. The Iowa caucus results simply do not represent of the rest of America. Partly because of that, the outcomes in Iowa rarely predict what voters in the rest of the country will do. Tip 2: New Hampshire is not America. New Hampshire is even whiter than Iowa. Its largest city has 110,000 people in it. Its population is slightly more educated and well off than the rest of the country. Together, Iowa and New Hampshire tell us something about the voting behavior of white people who don't live in or near large cities. Blacks, Asians and Hispanics are basically excluded from the first two elections in the presidential nomination process. This distorts results for both parties, but it especially affects Democrats because minorities vote in Republican primaries far less. Hillary Clinton, for example, does far better than Bernie Sanders with minority voters in all the polling so far, so Sanders is lucky that Iowa and New Hampshire come first. The big contest after the first two is South Carolina, which has a large minority population. If Clinton wins big there, the Democratic race will suddenly look very different than it does today. Tip 3: America is not the same, old America, either. The U.S. is growing more diverse very quickly. For example, in 2012 there were 23.3 million Hispanic eligible voters; there are 27.3 million this year, making Hispanics the largest block of minority voters. In 2014, there were four states where minorities make up the majority; by 2044, the U.S. will be majority-minority. Demographic changes are usually written about more in post-mortems than predictions. But the current of demographic change works against the Republicans and the nativist, anti-immigrant rhetoric of Donald Trump and the other Republican candidates will exacerbate that. Tip 4: Bernie is not Barry. In 2008, the unknown Barack Obama creamed Hillary Clinton and a slick campaigner named John Edwards in Iowa. Obama lost to Clinton in New Hampshire and then mega-creamed Clinton in South Carolina. That is what you call a wave. Sanders is riding a pond ripple by comparison. He did well in Iowa, sure, and he'll probably win in New Hampshire - he lives next door. Obama quickly showed he could appeal to every kind of Democratic voter - eventually to a healthy majority of American voters - and that hasn't been true for Bernie. A wave might carry Sanders to the nomination, but it doesn't exist yet. Tip 5: Hillary is Hillary, period. There will be lots of stories, just as there have been most weeks since 2007, sagely advising Hillary to be softer, meaner, more genuine or more phony. Please, hold your fire. Hillary is not changing. More precisely, the public persona of someone who has been in the spotlight for as long as she has doesn't change short of some epic event, good or bad. Hillary is a wholly known quantity and the quantity is not going to vary. She is not a good campaigner, she doesn't have good political pitch and she is not a ham. That doesn't mean she can't win. Just ask Richard Nixon. Tip 6: Ted Cruz is not Rick Santorum or Mike Huckabee. Huckabee won Iowa in 2008 on the wings of the evangelical vote and Santorum did the same in 2012. They both flamed out soon after. That is not going to happen to Cruz, for many reasons. He is running second in New Hampshire and in many other states; he has cash-on-hand and a cadre of huge bankrollers; he is a champion debater; he is disciplined and so is his campaign; conservative media love him; he gets some of the anti-Trump vote. The Republicans haven't nominated a candidate so extreme since Barry Goldwater. Cruz remains a long shot but his candidacy is likely to last awhile. Tip 7: February is not June. Sorry, but this year's nomination campaigns are likely to be Napoleonic long and bloody. There is no incumbent. The schedule was rejiggered to make fast victories harder. The flow of funds to campaigns has never been freer. Nothing about Trump's campaign has been predicted. Neither party has a dominant front-runner. I truly hope I'm wrong on this last tip, but let's talk in the summer. Dick Meyer is chief Washington correspondent for the Scripps Washington Bureau and DecodeDC. Email: dick.meyer@scripps.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEWTOWN What started as a boycott of grocery stores in the region that allow customers to carry guns in the aisles has turned into a local crusade to ban guns in all businesses in a town still recovering from the 2012 Sandy Hook school shootings. The Newtown Action Alliance, one of the nonprofits formed after the 2012 Sandy Hook shootings, is calling for a townwide ban on weapons in businesses. I would think it would be easy for the businesses to side with our community members who are going through challenging times, said Po Murray, chairwoman of the Newtown Action Alliance. It has only been three years. The towns merchants have been hearing more talk about openly carrying guns while shopping, a business leader said Thursday. While merchants are willing to hear more about concerns, they are wary of getting mixed up in a controversy that could drive customers away. Its important that our businesses try to remain neutral because we serve a broad constituency of clients, and we have to be careful about the position we take, said Tim Haas, president of the Newtown Chamber of Commerce. In Newtown, we went through a lot with the tragedy that happened, Haas said. It affected a lot of businesses. We dont need another challenge that could impact business. After the 2012 killings of 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Starbucks, Whole Foods and a few other big-name companies in Connecticut announced firearms policies to restrict carrying guns in their businesses. But most businesses continued to follow Connecticut law, which allows anyone with a permit to openly carry a gun in public. That had been enough to keep the peace until January, when a woman noticed a man with a gun on his belt while the two were shopping at Caraluzzis Food Market in Bethel. The online boycott that grew from the womans correspondence with Caraluzzis owner spread to Big-Y and then reached the statewide Connecticut Food Association. The CFA pledged to craft a policy to help stores avoid the divisive gun debate. That didnt stop leading members of Connecticuts Washington delegation from urging the Connecticut Food Association president to promote a ban on openly carrying guns while shopping. The Newtown Action Alliance said this week the town was uniquely positioned to make a statement. I think Newtown can send a message to the county we dont need guns in stores, Murray said. It is proven that more guns equal more gun deaths. A leading gun-rights advocate disagreed. People are safer where law-abiding people carry firearms, said Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League. My question is if guns are banned from stores will the Newtown Action Alliance personally guarantee the safety of individuals who are shopping? Wilson suggested while the two sides were far apart philosophically, a compromise for stores was still possible. He said the wording of any policy to reduce in-store confrontations about openly carrying guns needed to be polite, reasonable and respectful of permit holders right to carry. If the store had a policy requiring patrons to please keep their arms concealed, that is certainly a lot more palatable to gun owners, Wilson said. rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342 NEW YORK Friday is shaping up to have a slippery commute. The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Friday morning. Rain in the area was expected to turn into snow overnight, with three to five inches of snow expected in Connecticut. The NWS said the alert would take effect at 1 a.m. Friday, lasting for nine hours. It warned of 10- to 20-mph winds with 30-mph gusts, and predicted hazardous travel due to snow and reduced visibilities. This will impact the morning rush hour. The waning covers all of Fairfield and New Haven counties and much of Long Island. While the NWS predicted a slightly warmer weekend with temperatures in the 40s, the service predicted snow may fall again Monday and Tuesday. University officials say they want to enroll economically diverse students. But when looking at the nations best colleges schools that have a five-year graduation rate at 75 percent or greater only a handful of schools make good on that pledge. And the best ones are on in California. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has been gathering information regarding the nation's crime statistics since 1930. Data such as homicides, property crimes, and weapons seized are just a small part of the collection that is compiled and published for use by researchers, politicians, and city leaders. But the figures can also be a tool for everyday citizens. Every year, the FBI produces the Uniform Crime Report that includes data on the nation's hundreds of colleges and universities. The numbers are based on the previous year. Ahead of the 2015 data release later in the spring of 2016, but just as students are receiving acceptance letters or gearing up for college visits, Chron looks at the 2014 numbers from institutions of higher education across the country. 'Joe Biden can have them': Mastriano vows to bus migrants to Delaware politics Amid Ian cone-troversy, season could see quiet conclusion | WeatherTiger As hurricane season counts down, less than 10% of historical U.S. landfall activity remains ahead, with under 2% occurring in November. A third of general parking at the University of Memphis will be eliminated when the university begins construction on a new recreation center and pedestrian bridge. As a result, the per semester parking fee will increase from $42 to $69 to cover the cost of a parking garage that will replace the lost spaces. BAILEY CLARK A third of general parking at the University of Memphis will be eliminated when the university begins construction on a new recreation center and pedestrian bridge. As a result, the per semester parking fee will increase from $42 to $69 to cover the cost of a parking garage that will replace the lost spaces. The Student Government Association voted in support of building a new parking garage by increasing fees for University of Memphis students and faculty, during a senate meeting Thursday. A A While, the student government does not have the power to raise student or faculty fees, the student senate voted that they agree with the university officialsa fee hike plan. The average student and faculty member would see their parking fees increase by more than 63 percent to build the $18.6 million garage when the plan goes into effect. A >>>See how much more you might have to pay in student fees if the $18.6 million garage is approved<<< Jonathan A. Capriel University of Memphis officials proposed building a new $18.6 million parking garage. In order to pay for it, parking fees would increase. Students paying for the general parking pass, which is the standard mandatory payment all full-time students pay, would increase the most. The new garage will be a general parking space, meaning open to all students and faculty. This cames because ofA discussionsA between of David Knowles, studentA governmentA president, and Angela Floyd, U of M's director of Parking Services. Currently all U of M garages are priority pass only. T Most full-time students pay $42 a semester to park on the main campus. Those same students will pay $68 a semester if the plan goes into effect. Most U of M faculty and staff members pay $15.30 a month for a general parking pass. Those same university employees would pay almost $25 a month to park on the main campus if state officials approve the garage. The student senate voted unanimously in favor of the fee increase, though only 16 voting members of the SGA senate's 31 total members were present to the meeting. There were also three non-voting members present as well.A Despite the student turn out, the higher ups of the U of Mas Student Affairs department, who are not normally at these meetings, were there to answer questions. Both Rosie Bingham, vice president for Student Affairs, and Danny Armitage, associate vice president for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, attended the meeting. The fee increase would take effect in fall semester 2017. Jonathan A. Capriel Building the new recreation center and pedestrian bridge will eliminate nearly one-third of general parking spaces. This is how the U of M will try to make up that loss. The need for a new garage comes because construction of the recreation center and pedestrian bridge will eliminate more than 1,400 parking spaces at the Southern Avenue parking lot. A The university plans to expand parking where it can, but without the garage there will likely be a 695 parking space deficit. An alternative plan was to have some students park at the Park Avenue Campus and take a Blue Line shuttle to the main campus. Several informal polls conducted by The Daily Helmsman seemed to show that many students were almost evenly divided on the two plans. The most recent poll of commuter students showed that about 47 percent of favored raising parking fees to build a garage while 53 percent preferred some students being forced to park at the Park Avenue campus.A The Daily Helmsman asked commuter students, in an informal poll, if they would rather pay a higher parking fee to build a new general parking garage or be forced to park at the Park Avenue campus and take a shuttle to the main campus. A majority said they would rather take the shuttle. The Helmsman interviewed 55 students for this poll. Nearly 90 percent of the university students are commuters. Student government will vote Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on whether they agree with a parking fee hike to pay for a parking garage. Correction: In a previous version of this story it said that SGA has at least 40 members, there are currently 31 members. Also, while there were 16 voting members of the senate during the meeting, there were also three non-voting members present. Lifestyle | Daily Life | News | The Sydney Morning Herald Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss Your RSS feed from RSSFWD.com. Update your RSS... The actor John Inman is the latest target of the increasingly insane Celebrity Nonce Squad. Far be it from me to point out that Inman died in 2007 and, just like Jimmy Savile, remains dead. Since when has the lack of a live suspect ever stopped them? Having failed to arrest Savile while he was still breathing, the Old Bill have been trying desperately to pin bogus charges of 'historic' sex abuse on everyone from disc jockey Paul Gambaccini to the former Prime Minister Edward Heath, who is also dead. This deranged witch-hunt has ruined the lives of countless innocent individuals and turned the basic principle of British justice on its head. All those accused are presumed guilty unless they can prove themselves innocent. In the case of war hero Lord Bramall, absurdly accused of being a member of a VIP paedophile ring, investigating officers took a full ten months before contacting key witnesses who could testify that the allegations against him were nonsense. The actor John Inman (pictured several ears ago) is the latest target of the increasingly insane Celebrity Nonce Squad All those accused are presumed guilty unless they can prove themselves innocent, writes Richard Littlejohn Speaking in a BBC interview yesterday, Lord Bramall said: 'I don't see how a level-headed policeman could believe a word of it.' Me neither. But the problem is we are not dealing with level-headed policemen, we are dealing with politically motivated, careerist zealots like Met Commissioner Bernard Hyphen-Howe and his ambitious sidekick 'Fat Pat' Gallan, head of the costly, utterly discredited, over-the-top Operation Midland investigation into rape and murder in high places. They have been cruising the graveyards, like Burke and Hare, trying to dig up charges of sex abuse against the dead, who are no longer around to defend themselves. Heavy-handed, very public, Stasi-style raids have been made on the homes of the living. Hyphen-Howe still hasn't explained why sending 22 yes, 22 officers to ransack Lord Bramall's country home is a proportionate response to an accusation levelled by a dubious fantasist, let alone a measured use of police resources. What the hell did they expect to achieve, other than to alert neighbours that they had a suspected sex offender living in their midst? That outrageous abuse of power alone, quite apart from his other manifest failings, should disqualify him from winning an extension to his contract. If Theresa May gives him a new three-year deal, she should be ashamed of herself. Inman (left and right), who died in 2007, is the latest victim of a deranged witch-hunt that has ruined the lives of countless innocent individuals, writes Littlejohn Having failed to arrest Jimmy Savile (right) while he was still breathing, the Old Bill have been trying desperately to pin bogus charges of 'historic' sex abuse on everyone, writes Littlejohn But, then again, this is a woman currently performing a cynical loop-de-loop on Europe, so she clearly has as little sense of shame as Hyphen-Howe himself. Even when the charges are proven to be baseless, the Commissioner can't bring himself to issue a proper, personal apology. As in the case of former Home Secretary Leon Brittan, who died with false allegations of abuse still hanging over his head, a subordinate is summoned to pen an insincere, weasel letter of 'regret' although we're told Hyphen-Howe will finally get round to saying sorry to Brittan's widow. Bit late for that, I'd have thought. Bold Bernard will never admit that the charges against most of those he decides to subject to ducking-stool justice are baseless. The explanation is always that there was 'insufficient evidence' to proceed even when there was absolutely no evidence at all. The clear implication is that there was no smoke without fire, and so the stigma lingers. It's character assassination by omission. At this stage, it is customary to acknowledge that the Savile Squad has managed to nail some serious creeps, such as Stuart Hall and Rolf Harris. But having failed to pin anything on a procession of entertainers, including Jimmy Tarbuck and Jim Davidson, they've now taken to targeting Seventies sitcoms. John Inman was best known for playing the effeminate shop assistant Mr Humphries in the BBC's long-running comedy Are You Being Served? Disc jockey Paul Gambaccini and former Prime Minister Edward Heath (pictured), who is also dead, have also been accused of historic sex abuse A 48-year-old man has responded to the police promise that all allegations of sex abuse no matter how bizarre or unfounded will be believed, by claiming Inman sexually assaulted him at a Torquay hotel in the Seventies. Inman's character was famously camp, so he must be guilty. Stands to reason, dunnit, guv? Perhaps the Torquay hotel in question was Fawlty Towers. In which case, no doubt John Cleese can expect a 6am knock on the door from the heavy mob any day now. In one episode, The Psychiatrist, Basil is caught fondling the breast of a young, female Australian guest. His explanation that he was only reaching for the light switch cuts no ice with Sybil nor, I imagine, would it convince Hyphen-Howe's historic sex crimes stormtroopers. How long before Cleese is hauled away in chains and charged with sexual assault? Following the allegation against Inman, I'm surprised the Savile Squad hasn't already mounted a dawn raid on Grace Brothers... Traffic in London's West End was brought to a standstill today as Scotland Yard sent a 200-strong squad of specialist officers to raid a well-known department store. A spokesman said they had received credible and true information that serious historic sex crimes dating back to the Seventies had been committed on the premises. The Press bureau refused to confirm or deny the name of the store in question, even though the building had 'Grace Brothers' above the main entrance in neon lights. Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan (pictured) died with false allegations of abuse still hanging over his head Armed officers in balaclavas could be seen rappelling down the side of the building from the rooftops, throwing stun grenades and tear gas through windows to catch the suspects off guard. While a police helicopter hovered overhead, teams of detectives, accompanied by a BBC camera crew, battered down the front door and swept from floor to floor gathering evidence. Sources said they first became aware that the store was a den of iniquity when a shopper known only as 'Nick, Nick' reported hearing disturbing references to 'Mrs Slocombe's pussy' coming from a changing room in ladies' lingerie. A middle-aged woman with purple hair was seen being led away in handcuffs, protesting loudly as she was thrown into the back of a Black Maria. Police also arrested a men's outfitting assistant, believed to be a Mr Lucas, for serial sexual battery. He is accused of repeatedly making unwanted advances to a female colleague, Miss Brahms, and pinching her bottom without obtaining the necessary consent in writing, in triplicate. Marksmen surrounded the executive dining room on the sixth floor, where a dirty old man known only as 'Young Mr Grace' was believed to be holed up with two nubile women forced to dress in skimpy nurses' outfits, stockings and suspenders. A senior officer told reporters that it was almost impossible to imagine the depths of depravity being plumbed in the store. Eventually they traced their number one target, Mr Humphries, who was surrounded as he was lifting some shirts and casual trousers into a display rack in the gentlemen's essentials department. Scotland Yard has announced it is launching an investigation into the comedian Benny Hill (pictured in the 1970s) 'Nick, Nick' claims Humphries touched him inappropriately while taking his inside leg measurement during a fitting for a new navy blue pinstripe, three-piece wool worsted, by Saxon Hawk. The veteran tailoring salesman was taken by surprise after being approached from behind by a pistol-packing policeman who ordered him to assume the position. One eye-witness, Mr Rumbold, who asked to remain anonymous, told reporters that when the 'Gold commander' leading the operation confronted the suspect, Humphries replied: 'I'm free!' 'No, you're not, chummy. Drop your Daks, you're bleedin' nicked!' A spokesman said last night that all those arrested will be held in limbo on police bail for the next four years until the case against them inevitably collapses because of 'insufficient evidence'. And in late-breaking news, Scotland Yard has announced it is launching an investigation into the comedian Benny Hill. After studying video evidence of Hill chasing scantily clad dolly birds round a park in South-West London, they believe they have enough to charge him with a string of historic sex crimes. Yesterday, in response to the crushing of any dissenting voices against Mr Camerons determination to keep Britain in an unreformed EU, the Mail asked: Who will speak for England? Today we ask: Is there anyone who will speak up for the Conservative Party? The question is prompted by the extraordinary revelation that the Prime Minister has told his MPs to ignore the views of their constituency associations when deciding whether to back him in the referendum campaign. Prime Minister David Cameron, pictured, has never felt truly at home with the conservative grass roots Perhaps this is no surprise. The Prime Minister has never truly felt at ease with Tory loyalists people his old Oxford chum, tennis partner and now multi-millionaire Tory Party chairman Lord Feldman once described as mad, swivel-eyed loons. First Mr Cameron imposed his A-list of centrally chosen candidates so many of whom turned out to be bitter disappointments on constituencies against their wishes. Then he rode roughshod over their opposition to legalising gay marriage. Now he has told MPs to disregard what they say on Europe. Their crime? They are mostly eurosceptic and disagree with their leaders claim that he has achieved radical reform with his proposed EU deal. So there you have it. The party activists the unsung heroes of local Conservative politics are told their views dont count. This is the same Prime Minister who is also muzzling his eurosceptic ministers. He mouths fine words about wanting the fullest debate on a vote which will shape our destiny as a sovereign nation, but at the same time stamps on any dissent. The sad fact is that rather than listen to the passionately-held opinions of ordinary Tories, Mr Cameron is siding with Britains Establishment elites; big business, the universities, the banks, the Civil Service and the BBC. All are engaged in a relentless propaganda campaign to terrify voters into believing it would be a catastrophe if Britain left the EU. Deeply-held concerns about loss of sovereignty over our borders, laws and economy are brushed aside. But Britains elitist institutions want to stick with Brussels because they are kindred spirits convinced they have a divine right to do as they please without being held to account. But then, of course, they are the people who know best. Significantly yesterday, Sir Konrad Schiemann, senior British judge at the European Court, made a mockery of Mr Camerons reforms, saying none would have legal force without treaty change, something thats extremely unlikely. And as to our much-vaunted exemption from ever-closer union, he said that would not achieve anything in particular. The truth is that Brussels has conceded nothing of any importance and Mr Camerons radical reforms are a charade. Shackled eurosceptic ministers know it, his backbenchers know it and so do thousands of ordinary party members. The arrogant bank Speaking of arrogant, unaccountable elitist organisations, US bank Goldman Sachs, once dubbed the vampire squid for its predatory behaviour, claimed yesterday that a British exit from the EU would lead to a collapse in the pound. Apart from the fact that prominent economists have said the opposite, why should we believe this scaremongering? US bank Goldman Sachs, once dubbed the vampire squid was once fined billions for mis-selling toxic loans This is the bank that was fined billions for mis-selling toxic mortgage securities and advised on Greeces disastrous switch from the drachma to the euro. It is also a major donor to the In campaign. Trips to Paris Fashion Week, hobnobbing with Valentino and helping out with styling at Oscar de la Renta - sounds like all the trappings of a celebrity lifestyle. But it's all in a day's work for Lagos-born Temi Otedola, 19, the daughter of one of Nigeria's richest men. Born in London, she returned to Nigeria for the first seven years of her life before coming back to attend boarding school, and is now settled in the capital. Temi's is the youngest daughter of energy tycoon Femi Otedola - worth an estimated 650million. He was listed as the 16th richest man in Africa by Forbes in 2015, and in Nigeria, where money is measured in dollars, he's referred to as a billionaire - with a fortune of $1.57billion. Scroll down for video Style blogger and aspiring designer Temi Otedola, 19, is the daughter of one of Nigeria's richest men. Her favourite pastimes include visiting Paris and Milan fashion weeks and she's been lucky enough to have dinner with Valentino Temi and her mother Nana recently attended the opening night of the opera in Milan as guests of the design house Bottega Veneta But Temi insists that despite her family's wealth, her father and mother Nana have never spoiled her or her brother Fewa and two older sisters Florence and Christine, and is determined to prove herself on her own merits. 'We were brought up knowing all the success and money my father has made is his and we have to work for ourselves,' Temi told FEMAIL. 'We've definitely had that instilled in us. 'He might be bluffing but we certainly take him at face value. Anyway, we would not feel very good about ourselves just living off him.' While her father is currently supporting her as she studies for a degree in art history at University College London, Temi hopes to become independent by making a success of a career in fashion and has set up her own style blog JTO Fashion. She picks up inspiration by travelling to Paris and Milan for fashion week, listing Balenciaga, Marni and Valentino as her preferred fashion shows, and shares photos of her adventures with her 13,500 Instagram followers. 'I tend to go out only about twice a month and Cirque and Libertine are my favourite bars in London. But I'd rather go to Paris for the weekend and go to a few shows. Temi and her sister Florence (left) attended the King's School Canterbury where fees are 11,480 for boarders On a trip to Rome for the Valentino Haute Couture show Temi was treated to a private tour of the Vatican and met Valentino himself. She describes him as being 'extremely elegant' in his manner Temi, who attended the 26,800 a year American School in St John's Wood London, has also managed to hone her fashion credentials with an internship at Oscar de la Renta on Mount Street in London 'My favourite fashion moment was probably last summer when I attended the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome for three days,' she recalled. 'My sister Florence and I were invited. 'It was an unforgettable trip including a private tour of the Vatican and meeting Mr Valentino himself at dinner the night before the Haute Couture show. 'It was a completely surreal moment because I've absolutely adored his line even before the creative directors Maria Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were at the helm. 'We were just talking about the whole experience and the upcoming show and he struck me as being extremely elegant and kind in his manner. He was really, really lovely.' Temi's father Femi Otedola may be a Nigerian billionaire, but is rarely extravagant, according to his daughter. He only learned to use an iPad a year ago and still uses an old pay-as-you-go-phone Style blogger Temi says that her biggest indulgence is shoes and beauty products and counts her mother Nana as one of her biggest style inspirations Another social highlight of recent months was attending the opening night of the opera in Milan as a guest of Bottega Veneta. 'It was the first time I'd been to the opera and it was incredible, really impressive,' Temi said. The teenager was invited with her mother Nana, who cuts an equally stylish figure. 'I would almost say she's the reason I got into fashion,' Temi said. 'She's so eccentric and eclectic in her dress sense and she's even more daring than me.' Temi's greatest extravagance is shoes, although not the Louboutins her sister Florence adores. She's a fan of boots, with one recent indulgence being a pair of 998 Chloe Susanna ankle boots. Temi was born in London, but her family moved back to Nigeria shortly afterwards. Then, when she was seven, her mother sent Temi and her sister Florence to the King's School Canterbury where fees are 11,480 for boarders. Nana Otdeola (right) now lives full time in Knightsbridge and while Temi has moved to private halls in Bloomsbury to be closer to campus, she returns to her mother's home every weekend Femi lives in Lagos but comes to London regularly to see his family. The self-made business man is Africa's 16th richest according to Forbes She went on to attended the 26,800 a year American School in St John's Wood London as she wanted to have an American college experience. Nana now lives full time in Knightsbridge and while Temi has moved to private halls in Bloomsbury to be closer to campus, she returns to her mother's home every weekend. Femi divides his time between Lagos and London, coming to the UK about once a month. 'He's very modest,' Temi explained. 'He's self made and he's always been very careful with money. 'He loves his yachts but that's his only indulgence. He still uses an old pay-as-you-go Nokia phone and he only recently learned how to use an iPad.' One extravagance that Femi did allow for, however, was a lavish party for his youngest daughter's 18th birthday. Temi is studying art history at University College London and hopes to progress her career in fashion. She says that the family name has helped, but is determined to make it on her own merits For her 18th birthday the teen celebrated with a Moulin Rouge themed party at One Mayfair, which was documented by society bible Tatler Temi is focused on her studies and style blog and prefers to go to Paris for fashion shows than to party in London, although her favourite bars when she does go out are Cirque and Libertine Temi hired One Mayfair and threw a Moulin Rouge-themed party for 180 guests, which was documented in the society bible Tatler. 'I thought it would be amazing to recreate 1830s Paris,' Temi recalled. 'I went to my Mum and Dad and said, "Please, please can I have a big party". 'They thought I was being a bit militant but I saw it as being the one big party of my life.' Temi's sister sister Florence, 23, known as DJ Cuppy performed a set - and she's no stranger to a lavish bash either. The music lover who has DJ'd at Prive, Jalouse, District, Funky Buddha celebrated her graduation from Kings College, University of London with a degree in business and French, by throwing a party at the ballroom of the five star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge. Florence Otedola, 23, is Temi's older sister and also loves a party. Known as DJ Cuppy she celebrated her graduation and the launch of her album House of Cuppy with a lavish bash The French Revolution themed bash doubled as the UK launch of her compilation album, House of Cuppy. Temi's sister dressed as the legendary French queen Marie Antoinette while guests were served a banquet by footmen in traditional 18th century costumes. 'She was inspired by a recent trip to Versailles,' Temi explained. Afterwards, it was on to ski lodge themed Bodo's Schloss in Knightsbridge where Cuppy took to the decks. She's now in New York studying for a masters degree and interning at Jay Z's label Roc Nation, and is an ambassador for the Nigerian tourist board. Last year she landed a prestigious gig, DJing at the inauguration of Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari. Cuppy dressed as Marie Antoinette (left) for the lavish bash in the ballroom of the five star Mandarin Oriental. Guests were served by footmen in traditional 18th century garb Cuppy is now in New York completing her masters degree and interning at Jay Z's record label Roc Nation She's had to face something of a backlash from commentators in the Nigerian media who've said she's managed to get where she is because of her father's name. 'There has been negativity,' Temi admitted. 'There always will be. My sister was DJing before I got started with my blog so I was prepared for it. 'But it just gives me the passion that I have lots more to prove. People will say my blog is only a success because of who my father is, but there is weight behind it. If there's no substance the name would only get you so far.' Meanwhile, Temi said that nowadays she's so focused on her fashion blog and her studies that she doesn't have much time for partying. 'From a very young age I knew I wanted to work in the fashion or art industry,' she explained. Cuppy is an ambassador for the Nigerian tourist board and last year she landed a prestigious gig, DJing at the inauguration of the coutnry's President Muhammadu Buhari Cuppy takes to the deck as a charity fundraiser at the Gladstone Gallery in New York 'I grew up reading personal style blogs but could never fully relate to any of the bloggers, and thought there would be other Nigerians, and even Africans in general who felt the same. 'So I decided to start my own blog to bridge the gap between Western and Nigerian fashion and hopefully become a worldwide voice for Nigeria.' Temi blogs about her favourite beauty products and outfits, with clothes from her favourite brands including Emilia Wickstead, a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge, Rag & Bone and All Saints. She also likes to shop at boutiques such as One Vintage and Feathers near her family home in Knightsbridge where she returns every weekend, as well as Browns Focus, and Alara Lagos, which stocks brands such as Valentino, Dries Van Noten, Marni. Balenciaga, Marni and Valentino are Temi's favourite runway shows at Milan and Paris fashion weeks Temi has launched a new initiative called Afternoon Tea in Ankara to encourage emerging ethnic talent to get ahead in the fashion industry Temi has also managed to hone her fashion credentials with an internship at Oscar de la Renta on Mount Street two summers ago. 'It was an amazing experience being able to be so hands-on,' she said. 'I dealt with private shopping and bridal appointments, organised the boutique floor, and helped styling incoming collections. 'It was fascinating to see the ins and outs of their Mount Street flagship. I definitely plan to start doing more brand collaborations that could lead to capsule collections and ambassadorships.' For now, however she's working on an new initiative called Afternoon Tea in Ankara to encourage emerging ethnic talent to get ahead in the fashion industry. She wants women to know they can have children and be sexy with a bag By sharing her story she hopes to raise awareness and support others She was still able to have children, but her pregnancies were complicated She had an ileostomy and has a bag on her stomach to collect her waste Mrs Miller, 32, had part of her large and small Krystal Miller is not afraid to show people the ileostomy bag she has attached to her stomach. In fact, the Perth mother-of-two started a Facebook blog to share empowering photos of herself and the bag that has become a part of who she is. When Mrs Miller, 32, was 15 years old doctors diagnosed her with Crohns disease, a condition that made her so sick at times she could not even brush her teeth without vomiting. Scroll down for video Facing bowel disease: Krystal Miller, 32, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a teenager after severe vomiting and diarrhoea 'Bag Lady Mama': She underwent surgery to have part of her small and large intestine and anus removed and an ileostomy put in its place: an opening in the abdomen attached to the bowel that collects waste in a bag Just before she turned 22 she underwent surgery to have her large intestine, some of her small intestine and her anus removed and an ileostomy bag put in its place to collect her waste. The surgery was invasive and the recovery gruelling, but Mrs Miller told Daily Mail Australia she hopes by sharing her story she can help and empower other people with a similar condition and educate the wider community about life with a bag. I want to be a famous advocate for bag ladies like myself, Mrs Miller, whose Facebook page is titled Bag Lady Mama, said. And let them know they can live a full life, they can have children, thats a big thing for women. Changing perceptions: Mrs Miller hopes by sharing her story she is able to raise awareness about Crohn's disease and other bowel diseases and normalise living with a bag Managing her illness: When she was sick as a teenager Mrs Miller would sleep for up to 22 hours a day WHAT IS CROHN'S DISEASE? Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the bowel, including the large and small intestine. It can affect any part of the digestive track from the mouth to the anus. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, fever, weight loss and fatigue. People with Crohn's disease have an immune system that overacts to substances and bacteria in the intestine. White blood cells invade the intestinal wall and cause inflammation. Crohn's can also be genetic. Treatment depends on the severity of the disease and can include anti-inflammatory agent, immunosupressants, antibiotics or surgery. There is no cure. Source: Centre For Digestive Diseases Advertisement Mrs Miller first knew there was something wrong when she was a teenager. She was constantly sick with vomiting and diarrhoea and would sleep for up to 22 hours a day. I just wanted to wish the time away, she said. With Crohns disease you get significant cramping, diarrhoea, vomiting and blood loss. I was just so sick, youre trying to be a typical 22 year old and go out with your girlfriends and drink and have fun but you cant, its impossible. Mrs Miller underwent blood transfusions and tried different steroid and drug treatments, to no avail. When doctors suggested having the ileostomy, it was an easy decision. I just didnt want to be dying anymore, because thats what it felt like, she said. I just wanted to be healthy and have a different life, because the life I was living wasnt one. Starting a family: Mrs Miller has two children but her pregnancies were complicated - during pregnancy with her son her bowel was perforated and caused her to turn septic Easy decision: I just wanted to be healthy and have a different life, because the life I was living wasnt one,' she said of her surgery Doctors removed six kilograms of large and small intestine from Mrs Millers body. The surgery worked and, with a new lease on life, she travelled to London where she took part in charity events to help other people with ostomy bags wear underwear and swimwear that makes them feel sexy. She hopes her blog will help further that cause in Australia. Body love: When Mrs Miller travelled to London she modelled at charity events to help other people with ostomy bags 'I just felt epicly sexy in this picture': Through her Facebook blog she shares candid photos and stories of her life with a bag to empower others Online following: She started her page a week ago and already has 722 likes Despite initially being told she would be unable to have children, Mrs Miller fell pregnant with her son, Lukas, four years ago. WHAT IS AN ILEOSTOMY? An ileostomy procedure involved removing part of the diseased bowel. The healthy part is then pulled through a small incision in the abdomen called a stoma. The healthy bowel is sewn to the stoma. A bag is attached to the stoma to collect the waste. Source: Better Health Victoria Advertisement The pregnancy did not go to plan, and at 37 weeks her bowel was perforated a condition that went undetected until four months after she gave birth. The condition caused her body to turn septic and she required further surgery to remove more bowel. Mrs Miller spoke about her experience in a blog post titles: Near Death. What was it like for you? After her first pregnancy, falling pregnant with her second child was terrifying. She suffered four miscarriages before she fell pregnant with her daughter, Arabella, and again the pregnancy did not go to plan. The opening in the stomach that her bag attached to, called the stoma, was being pushed out and was extremely painful. Mrs Miller was able to go without surgery and gave birth naturally. Complications: During her second pregnancy her stoma was being pushed out of her stomach, a condition that was extremely painful Maintaining her bag: Mrs Miller empties her bag every few hours and changes the base plate and bag every few days Maintaining her bag is something Mrs Miller does on a daily basis. I empty the bag every couple of hours and every few days I change the actual base plate and bag, she said. The bag does not stop her from wearing tight clothes, and she said she wears underwear that helps keep it flat against her body. Mrs Miller said she has the support of her husband, Shannon, who supports her blog and never questioned her bag. 'Invisible illness': Her condition has not stopped her from wearing tight clothes and she wears underwear that holds her bag flat against her body Since she started her Facebook blog a week ago she has gone on to receive 722 likes on her page. She said she hopes to raise awareness about bowel disease which she described as an invisible illness. Just because you dont look sick doesnt mean youre not, she said. A mother has released shocking photos that show her baby suffered horrifying injuries after the doctor delivering her pulled at her daughter's head three times with a suction cup. Louise Greene, 19, from Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex, and her fiance Tommy Acott have revealed how Scarlett was born with a bruised scalp and a horrific 6cm cut across her head after a complicated birth. The newborn, who is now a year old, was delivered in Basildon Hospital weighing 7lbs 6oz, and was rushed into intensive care in an incubator - looking like a bloody mess. Louise Greene, 19, pictured recently with Scarlett, said: 'When Scarlett arrived, they immediately took her way from me. I was so worried. They covered her up, all I could see were her eyes and nose' Baby Scarlett Greene, who is now a year old, arrived in Basildon Hospital (pictured) weighing 7lbs 6oz, but was immediately rushed into intensive care after her delivery left her face a bloody mess Scarlett, pictured in intensive care, had a large wound on her head when she was born and had to have an X-ray to see if her skull was fractured' However a spokesperson for the hospital told how staff were forced to act as 'quickly as possible' after the baby's heart rate dropped, indicating she was in distress. Tommy, 20, and Louise, 19, who are childhood sweethearts and have been together since college, said they have been through hell and back with the ordeal - which has 'put us off having another child for life'. Louise said: 'Even today I'm angry because I missed out on the first moments of life with my little girl. 'Whenever I look at those photos of her, it breaks my heart into tiny pieces. Scarlett won't remember it but Tom and I have to live with it for the rest of our lives.' Scarlett was born just after midnight late February 2015. During the final hours of labour, mother Louise was exhausted, and when she was offered an epidural she readily agreed. Louise (pictured with Scarlett in hospital after the birth last year) and her fiance Tom have said the ordeal has put them off having another child Louise, pictured recently with partner Tom and Scarlett. 'Whenever I look at those first photos of her it breaks my heart into tiny pieces,' Louise reveals In theatre, Scarlett was finally manipulated into the correct position and then safely delivered but with horrific injuries (pictured) that included a 6cm cut across the top of her head (right) Yet the labour was unable to progress any further because Scarlett was apparently in the wrong position. It was impossible for her to be delivered naturally. With the baby becoming distressed, the midwife rushed to prepare theatre where she could be safely turned to the right position. Left alone, the consultant gynaecologist - a male locum doctor - on call took matters into his own hands. He attempted to deliver Scarlett three times using a vacuum suction cup. With the cap attached to the babys head each time, he pulled repeatedly - without success. The third time she claims that he pulled so hard he fell off his chair and Louise nearly fell off the delivery bed. Louise from Horndon-on-the-Hill, Essex, and her fiance Tommy Acott have revealed how Scarlett (pictured together recently) was born with a bruised scalp and a horrific 6cm cut across her head Undeterred, according to Louise, he then began pulling Scarlett out with forceps clamped at each side of her head. When the midwife returned and saw what he was doing, according to Michelle, who was outside the delivery suite, she screamed at him to stop. In theatre, Scarlett was finally manipulated into the correct position and then safely delivered but with horrific injuries. Tommy and Louise didnt get that first precious cuddle with their baby girl. Instead she was rushed into neo-natal intensive care where the damage of her brutal delivery was assessed. For the following week, Louise stayed in a private room out of sight of other mothers - recovering from her own internal injuries. Scarlett remained in neonatal intensive care where she was unable to feed normally for the first three days Scarlett remained in neonatal intensive care where she was unable to feed normally for the first three days. According to medical paperwork, Scarletts scalp suffered bruising and a laceration of 1cm x 6cm. There was also bruising around her mouth and on each side of her face. Louise said: 'I was induced because of diabetes, at 10pm that night a male doctor walked into the suite. I was very uncomfortable about it. 'He didn't explain he wanted to use the vacuum or forceps.' 'When Scarlett arrived, they immediately took her way from me. I was so worried. They covered her up, all I could see were her eyes and nose.' Tommy (pictured with Scarlett in hospital) and Louise didnt get that first precious cuddle with their baby girl. Instead she was rushed into neo-natal intensive care where the damage of her brutal delivery was assessed Her partner Tom said: 'It's put us both off for life having another child. I'd never put Louise, myself or a child through that again.' Tom's mother Michelle Acott, a mother-of-five who was outside the delivery room at the time, said: I thought the worst. I just knew it was Scarlett and that something had gone terribly wrong. There was a medical team racing alongside her as they headed to intensive care. My instincts proved correct. But even I couldnt have anticipated how bad things had been in the delivery suite. My darling little granddaughter's scalp was a bloody mess. Her face was not only swollen, it was black and blue. Michelle, who was with Louise and Tommy for much of the labour, said: My granddaughter stayed in the Special Care Baby Unit for a week after being butchered during her delivery. She even had to have an X-ray to see if her skull was fractured. The stress was unimaginable. All smiles from Scarlett, pictured above age 1, but things were very different after her birth. She was in so much pain you could see it in her face. I welled up every time I looked at her,' says grandma Michelle The wound on her head was enormous. Her little face was black and blue. She was in so much pain you could see it in her face. I welled up every time I looked at her. Even though mother and baby arrived home after a week, Michelle said their meeting with the hospital complaints team was cancelled on two occasions. It finally happened in April some two months later. The wound on her head was enormous. Her little face was black and blue. She was in so much pain you could see it in her face. I welled up every time I looked at her According to a recording of a complaints meeting, Dr Sharma - the head of the maternity unit - apologised to Michelle. Over the past 12 months, Louise has had counselling to get over the ordeal and baby Scarlett has been examined by experts including a plastic surgeon and an ophthalmologist. No one knew what the long term impact of Scarletts injuries could be. Weve seen an eye specialist to check her vision hadnt been damaged, Michelle said. Then there was a plastic surgeon who examined her face and scalp too. Louise was given physiotherapy exercises to do with Scarlett to enable her to move her neck properly. There are still fears that Scarletts hair isnt growing as it should and that it might be due to the scarring on her scalp. While a year on the physical injuries have cleared, the mental scars still remain for Scarletts family. Weve had the apologies, we know the NHS is under stress, this isnt about seeking compensation from them, Michelle said. I dont want any other family to go through the hell weve endured. Over the last 12 months, Louise has had counselling to get over the ordeal, baby Scarlett, pictured recently, has been examined by experts from a plastic surgeon to an ophthalmologist A spokesperson for Basildon Hospital told FEMAIL: 'This was a very complicated birth and we have met with Scarletts family on a number of occasions to discuss their concerns. 'During Scarletts birth it became clear that her heart rate was dropping which indicates she was in distress. 'A decision was taken by the doctor responsible for her care to make an assisted delivery using a ventouse suction cup followed by forceps to help deliver the baby as quickly as possible. Both are recognised clinical options when there are concerns about a babys heart rate. 'Unfortunately in Scarletts case this led to significant bruising and a cut which can be complications of assisted deliveries. There is nothing more irritating than heading out to work and snagging your black tights. Quite frankly, it can ruin your whole day and make you feel like a child in an adults world. Our delicate hosiery can be ruined by the inside of our boots, a heel on the other foot as we nudge off a shoe, the zip on a coat, a long necklace and more often than not a broken finger nail. Many companies promise to solve our woes with 'ladder resistant' tights. But can any item so delicate as hosiery really be immune to the dreaded ladder? Blogger Megan Taylor and FEMAIL writer Siofra Brennan put seven brands to the test to find out. Each pair was torn at with fingernails; snagged with jewellery; rubbed with Velcro; poked with the heel of a shoe and cut with scissors and all underwent the same process. Scroll down for video Many brands promise their tights are ladder resistant so Femail put tights from Boots, Asda, M&S, Charnos, Heist, Spanx and Pretty Polly to the test to find out if they really deliver Boots Ladder Resist 80 denier: 8 My initial thoughts are that they are a lot more expensive than the other pairs and being a higher denier I am expecting them to resist any laddering whatsoever. They are wonderfully soft on the body but with a little stretch and a tug they seem to have a weird tiger print woven in. Is this something to do with their ladder resistant technology? I tried to make a hole or a ladder with the heel of my shoes and some jewellery but could not break through the yarn. Megan put Boots 8 Ladder Resist Tights to the test and found them wonderfully soft. Due to the 80 denier she wasn't expecting them to ladder, but initially thought they were a bit pricey To put the tights to the test, Megan tried to make a hole or a ladder with the heel of my her and some jewellery but could not break through the yarn. In the end she had to resort to cutting a hole Despite tugging at the hole, she still didn't manage to create a ladder. Impressed she awarded the tights full marks, saying they do exactly as is claims on the packet I decided to attack them with a pair of scissors, then give the fabric a tug, still nothing. I then cut a hole on a thinner bit of the fabric and still nothing. All I was left with were holes that I myself had created with a pair of scissors. These tights really do what they say on the packet and possibly more. Verdict:10/10 Marks & Spencer Autograph - Ladder Resist 10 denier: 4 I know I'm not supposed to be judging the colour here but these are labelled as 'nearly black' yet they were positively pale grey. These tights were lovely and soft and my broken nail didn't snag the tights at all whilst pulling them on. Megan was unimpressed by the colour of Autograph Ladder Resist tights from M&S which were labelled as 'nearly black 'but were positively pale grey Even when Megan stuck her star shaped necklace into them there were still no laddering or holes created Even Megan's dog wanted to get involved in testing the tights, but her claws didn't create any snags at all With a lot of scratching with the bottom of my shoes the tights only snagged a little. Even when I stuck my star shaped necklace into them there were still no laddering or holes created. Whilst taking photographs my dog wanted to help me test the tights and her claws didnt snag these tights at all. I snipped a little hole with my scissors and it unfortunately immediately laddered very easily. This being said, it was very difficult to create a hole in the first place therefore I would still give them a good rating. Verdict: 7/10 Charnos Run resist 10 denier: 4.99 I really struggled to break through the fabric of these tights, so I got my scissors and sliced a couple of holes. Neither hole laddered. The hole did get a bit bigger with a pull but there was no laddering at all. Megan really struggled to break through the fabric of these Charnos Run Resisr tights, 4.99, so she got her scissors and sliced a couple of holes but neither hole laddered The hole did get a bit bigger with a pull but there was no laddering at all. Still the Boots tights were Megan's favourite of the lot she tested Overall my favourite pair of tights for comfort, quality and resistance to laddering were definitely the pair of tights from Boots. This being said I was actually really impressed by all of the tights. They were all very difficult to actually try and break. With all my trying through doggy claws, necklaces and Velcro none of them laddered until I had opened the fabric with a pair of scissors. Verdict: 8/10 Pretty Polly Legs On The Go Ladder Resist Tights 10 Denier 6.00 These light compression tights are designed to reduce swelling in the ankles and claim to be ideal for long periods of standing or sitting, as well as being tough wearing. When I open the pack to reveal a pair of flimsy barely blacks, I feel certain these wont stand up to the test. I make sure to stick my toes out and pull them on really roughly, put they dont appear to sustain any damage. So far, so good but the colour is less appealing. Theyre supposed to be barely black, but they give my legs a greyish brown hue. Siofra tested Pretty Polly's Legs On The Go Ladder Resist Tights 10 Denier, costing 6.00. These light compression tights reduce swelling in the ankles and claim to be ideal for long periods of standing or sitting, as well as being tough wearing Siofra tested the tights by rubbing them with Velcro, which barely left an impression Even cutting the tights didn't create a ladder, but Siofra was put off by the greyish brown colour of the tights They sail through a day of wearing, but they look exactly like the kind of tights that would easily snag on a ring or a bracelet. So I load up with three rings and a heavy embossed silver bangle with a fastening chain that dangles from the side. I run my hand up and down inside the leg of the tights several times, but theres not one spot of damage to be seen. The Velcro test leaves a light impression on the nylon, but nothing noticeable. Even cutting them doesnt create a ladder. Considering the reasonable price and the fact theyre only 10 denier, Im really impressed. Unfortunately the colour really lets them down, but they come in 60 denier, which Id definitely be keen to try. Verdict: 7/10 George at Asda Ultimate Ladder Resistant Tights 15 Denier 4.00 With two in a pack, these tights are a real bargain, but my past experience of cheap tights is that they never last beyond two or three wears, especially when theyre this sheer. George at Asda Ultimate Ladder Resistant Tights 15 Denier cost 4.00 for a two pack and Siofra wasn't expecting much for such a bargain price She loaded up with three rings and a heavy bracelet with a dangling chain to put the tights through their paces. Despite the high risk of snagging on the jewellery the tights remained intact These newly launched tights contain LYCRA Xtra Life to prevent ladders and have the added bonus of a sandal toe. Im pleasantly surprised when I put them on to find that they dont look in any way cheap and shiny, and the colour is much more appealing than Asda's offering. An attack with the heel of my shoe does nothing, and they survive an onslaught of jewellery and Velcro. And even when I snip a hole and pull on the material I still cant ladder them. Taking into account the price, quality and durability these were definitely my favourite. Verdict: 10/10 Heist Tights Low Waistband 30 denier 19 Made from Italian double covered yarn with five times the spirals of regular tights, theyre completely seam free and claim to be ladder resistant. The toe seams tuck under so theyre invisible and theyre hand sewn for a better fit. Crucially they come with both a high and low waistband a godsend for us short folk who are used to hosiery that covers most of the rib cage. Heist tights comes in both high and low waistband tights and have been endorsed by Vogue, but at 19 a pair they're an expensive option Siofra tested the tights with a stiletto heel but there was no sign of any ripping or laddering Cutting a hole in the tights failed to produce a ladder and Siofra was impressed with the quality, but at such a high price they might not be an everyday purchase But when I try mine on I find that I strangely miss the support of something covering my tummy and it feels a bit odd. On the second day of wearing though, Im more used to it. The instructions say that they should be handwashed, but I put them through the machine several times and dont notice any difference. They pass all the other tests with flying colours. Id happily wear these again, but they do come with quite a high price tag and theyre 21 for the high waistband version. Verdict: 8/10 Spanx Luxe Leg Blackout tights 35 These ultra-opaque tights and have a built-in shaper which flattens stomach and firms your bottom and thighs, and the combination of nylon and spandex promises to render them virtually ladder-resistant. When I take these out of the packet theyre so sturdy I wonder if Ive accidentally been sent a pair of leggings. The waistband looks so tiny that I wonder how theyll ever go on. Spanx 35 Luxe Leg Blackout tights were extremely sturdy and passed all the tests, but felt more like a pair of leggings than tights - and they also have a high price tag A lot of pulling and tugging certainly puts the ladder resistance claims to the test, but once theyre on theyre actually quite comfortable. Not surprisingly these sail through the day without sustaining and holes, ladders or pulls and they pass the Velcro, jewellery and nails tests easily. When I cut a hole in them and give a good pull a small ladder forms. But youd really have to be dragged through a thorn bush to rip these in real life, and even then they would probably still come out unscathed. I cant fault their resilience, but theyre just too heavy and feel more like leggings than tights youd pair with a nice dress. It's been an epic journey but the shattering end is nigh. The BBC's hit drama adaptation of Tolstoy's War And Peace reaches its heart-wrenching climax this Sunday [7 February] with an extended 80 minute final episode that has had preview audiences reaching for the tissues. Sunday nights may feel empty without Lily James as Natasha on her rollercoaster ride of emotions, without the ballgowns and breeches, the romance, the heartache, the debauchery, not to mention the dazzling ballrooms and gruesome battlefields. But if you're wondering how you'll manage without all your favourite characters and scenes, you can still see them on the walls of galleries from London and Shropshire to Moscow and Massachusetts. The BBC's hit drama adaptation of Tolstoy's War And Peace reaches its heart-wrenching climax this Sunday (7 February) with an extended 80 minute final episode that has had preview audiences reaching for the tissues For many of the highlights of the TV series - which was shot on location in St Petersburg, Lithuania and Latvia - were painstakingly recreated by Bafta-nominated director Tom Harper, and his costume designer Edward K Gibbon, from paintings dating from Tolstoy's time. And here, exclusively for Mail Online, they share some of the secrets behind the glorious costumes worn by their hero and heroine, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (played by James Norton), and Countess Natasha Rostova (Lily James). They also reveal the paintings that inspired vital set-pieces for the series, from General Kutozov's tense gathering of his generals after the battle of Borodino to discuss a continued Russian retreat, to the happier night when Lily James as innocent and carefree Natasha danced among the bosom of her family at a vodka-fuelled party. Here they tell Andrew Preston how they brought the characters and canvases to life down to the smallest detail... RUSSIAN GENERAL'S COUNCIL OF WAR Council of War in Fili in 1812 Painting of 1812 Military Council in Fili by Alexei Kivshenko painted in 1880. After the bloody battle of Borodino in September 1812 - shown in last Sunday's Episode 5 - the Russian army retreated and set up camp near Fili This scene recreated the painting by Alexei Danilovich Kivshenko. Director Tom Harper said: 'I love the image of these grand Generals in all their finery in the very simple (...) peasant's hut' After the bloody battle of Borodino in September 1812 - shown in last Sunday's Episode 5 - the Russian army retreated and set up camp near Fili. One-eyed General Kutozov (Brian Cox) chaired a meeting with his senior members of staff in a wooden hut, to decide whether to fight on or to continue their retreat and abandon Moscow. The scene recreated this painting by Alexei Danilovich Kivshenko who completed it in 1882. Born in Venyov, just south of Moscow, Kivshenko studied in St Petersburg and became famous for painting battle scenes. This one can be found in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. 'This is where Kutuzov insists on his plan to retreat from Moscow,' says director Tom Harper. 'I love the image of these grand Generals in all their finery in the very simple setting of a peasant's hut. The scene in Tolstoy's book and the script fits perfectly with this image and so I wanted to recreate it. 'We found a wooden hut in Lithuania with a stove in just the right position which was lucky as it wasn't something that we would have been able to afford to build. I think what I love most about the painting is the little girl top left. Presumably she was asleep on top of the stove to keep warm, unnoticed as the council formed, and woke to witness this historic moment.' THE DASHING HERO Picture of an Unknown Man in a Yellow Waistcoat This is the outfit Prince Andrei (James Norton) wore in the opening scene of Episode One and again in Episode 4 when he arrived to propose to Natasha (Lily James). It is not just the waistcoat and frothy white shirt which proved to be an inspiration but also the extravagant dark curled hair and chiselled chin. This is the outfit Prince Andrei wore in the opening scene of Episode One and again in Episode 4 when he arrived to propose to Natasha. The extravagant dark curled hair and chiselled chin proved to be an inspiration 'Tom showed me this painting very early on in our prep period. For both of us it says a lot about how we wanted the clothes on this production to appear,' says costume designer Edward K Gibbon. 'As well as speaking to us both of Andrei, there is also something startling about its modernity and timelessness. 'It is not a formal straight-up portrait of the period, but rather a much more relaxed painting, almost a snap shot of a man which seems to capture the essence of his character. We both felt that this was what we wanted to try to achieve with the way we dressed our characters. We both love the yellow. It was a very Russian/ Eastern colour that helps to distinguish our world from the pastel comforts of English drawing rooms.' The painting by an unknown artist is now held in the Museum of Fine Arts in Springfield, Massachusetts MELANCHOLY HEROINE Lady in Persian Dress In episode 5, Natasha Rostova faced another painful emotional stage on her journey from innocence to experience. The costume was based on a painting by Frederick Richard Pickersgill from the 1840s, above In episode 5, Natasha Rostova (Lily James) faced another painful emotional stage on her journey from innocence to experience. She can be seen lighting a candle in church dressed with a scarf covering her hair. This costume is based on a painting by Frederick Richard Pickersgill from the 1840s which hangs in the National Trust's Benthall Hall in Shropshire. 'The feeling purveyed by this painting seemed to perfectly capture the melancholy of Natasha after she has rejected Andrei,' says Edward. 'The atmosphere and beautiful layering of textiles suggests a turning back on the world. She wants to hide away from prying eyes and cover her head almost in disguise when she goes to pray at the church.' She can be seen lighting a candle in church dressed with a scarf covering her hair. This costume is based on a painting by Frederick Richard Pickersgill from the 1840s which hangs in the National Trust's Benthall Hall Pickersgill's best-known painting The Burial of Harold at Waltham Abbey is part of the Paliamentary Art Collection and is currently on display at the House of Lords. ROGUE IN FANCY DRESS George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron in Albanian dress Painted in 1813 by portrait painter Thomas Phillips, Byron, with his swaggering good looks, had become a literary celebrity the year before this with the publication of the first part of poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage Roguish troublemaker Fedya Dolokhov (Tom Burke) wore 'Persian dress' according to Tolstoy to attend the opera. This was shown in Episode 4, at the start of the evening when the lecherous Anatole Kuragin (Callum Turner) begins his seduction of Natasha. If the image seems familiar it is because it is based on a painting of the nineteenth century poet Lord Byron which is in the National Portrait Gallery, London. Painted in 1813 by portrait painter Thomas Phillips, Byron, with his swaggering good looks, had become a literary celebrity the year before this with the publication of the first part of his long narrative poem Childe Harold's Pilgrimage. Roguish troublemaker Fedya Dolokhov (Tom Burke) wore 'Persian dress' according to Tolstoy to attend the opera. This was shown in Episode 4 The costume Byron wore for his portrait is also on display at Bowood House in Wiltshire. 'Tolstoy is fairly explicit in describing Dolokhov's entrance to the opera and this portrait of Lord Byron supplied the starting point,' says Edward. 'Although he is described as wearing Albanian dress, Persia and Albania had many links at the time. The dark and dangerous romanticism of Byron also seemed a good match for Dolokhov and his hell-raising antics.' VODKA-FUELLED PARTY The Party In Episode 4 Natasha and her family escaped the city to visit her uncle Mikhail in the countryside. When a young boy asks Natasha's father, how she knows how to dance to the music, he replies, 'It's in the blood' The scene was inspired by this painting from 1881 by Ilya Efimovich Repin, who was born in Ukraine. Repin then studied in St Petersburg and in Paris. He frequently painted country people. He also painted Leo Tolstoy In Episode 4 Natasha (Lily James) and her family escaped the city to visit her uncle Mikhail (Kenneth Cranham) in the countryside. 'Natasha's dance is one of the pivotal moments in the story,' says Tom, 'it's where Natasha is moved by the music played by the peasants at Uncle Mikhail's and reveals her irrepressible Russian soul through her instinctive dancing.' When a young boy asks Natasha's father, Count Rostov (played by Adrian Edmondson) how she knows how to dance to the music, he replies, 'It's in the blood.' The scene was inspired by this painting from 1881 by Ilya Efimovich Repin, who was born in Ukraine. Repin then studied in St Petersburg and in Paris. He frequently painted country people. In his later years, he also painted Leo Tolstoy. This picture hangs in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow. 'This painting has such a wonderful atmosphere and really captures the mood of what it might have been like to be in that room' says Tom. 'It makes me feel like I want to be there and to join in, and that's what I hoped to capture with the scene.' SUNSET CITY St. Petersburg at Sunset The very first sight of St Petersburg in Episode One was based on this 1850 painting by the Russian landscape painter Alexei Bogolyubov. Tom Harper said the painting: 'conveys the beauty, the scale, and the period'. The painting hangs in St Petersburg in the State Russian Museum The very first sight of St Petersburg in Episode One was based on this 1850 painting by the Russian landscape painter Alexei Bogolyubov. 'I really wanted to establish the world of War And Peace' says Tom Harper. 'So in the first shot of Russia, we see a wide shot of St Petersburg: Peter the Great's 'Window to the West'. 'We weren't allowed to fly an Octocopter drone carrying our camera along the middle of the River Neva due to strict regulations, but we were given permission to fly over the Peter and Paul Fortress [the original citadel and the birthplace of the city]. 'I really wanted to establish the world of War And Peace' says Tom Harper. 'So in the first shot of Russia, we see a wide shot of St Petersburg: Peter the Great's 'Window to the West'. 'This painting, with the water, the boats and the neoclassical buildings conveys the beauty, the scale, and the period all at once.' The painting hangs in the State Russian Museum, St Petersburg. The devil is in the detail. In Britain we do judge a person by small, seemingly insignificant minutiae. You may think youre pretty recherche but are you more Elephant and Castle than Alnwick Castle? Lets find out.... Fail to greet someone with a solid handshake and you may as well pack your bags and go home there and then, says etiquette expert William Hanson Handshake You can tell so much about someone from their handshake. Too firm and perhaps they are over compensating; too limp and theyre bound to posses a rather timid personality. A good handshake is firm, but not too firm and comes from the wrist, not the arm. Fail to greet someone with a solid handshake and you may as well pack your bags and go home there and then. How you greet someone Its not just how we shake hands but what we say to accompany it. The upper classes will all say how do you do, which is rhetorical. Pleased/nice to meet you is the definition of de trop. Saying it is treated as rather suspect. When the middle class Middleton family first entered into Prince Williams life, his peers referred to them as the Nice to meet you Middletons. Amongst other things. Braces Braces seem to be back into mens fashion, even with the increasingly androgynous ladies fashion, too. But men, make sure your braces are NOT clip-on ones. Ever been called a spiv? No? Well, wear clip-on braces if you want to become very familiar with the term. Braces that fasten to buttons sewn into your trousers are much more PLU (as well as secure). Colour of shoes On Mondays to Thursday, it's a must to wear black shoes to the city. Brown shoes are only permitted from Friday and weekends Perhaps one of the most silent of class signals is whether a person (male or female) wears brown shoes in London and big cities on a Monday to Thursday. Fridays and weekends are permissible for brown in town, however. This stems back to the era when men would travel to their country pile from working in the city on Fridays. Brown shoes are for country wear; black for cities. If you were wearing brown shoes in London on a Saturday it was presumably as you had travelled in from the country. This rule is less followed these days but the top tier still known. HKLP HKLP (Holds Knife Like Pen) is one of the most damning indictments that can be made of someone. For a start, a knife is a knife, not a pen. Secondly, you dont have as much control of what you are cutting when HKLP. Handbags Placing bags on tables is just not on. A real lady knows that a handbag rests in her lap, when rummaging for something, and then is placed on the floor or the back of a chair when not in use. Place it on the table especially a dining table will cause others in the know to reach for their own bags and withdraw the smelling salts. Placing bags on tables is just not on. A real lady knows that a handbag rests in her lap, says William Men removing jackets This is now pandemic at black tie events: men turning up (often the ones with ready-made bow ties) and the moment they reach their seat, whipping off the jacket and sticking it on the back. So vulgar! Once the dinner jacket is worn it stays on until you have returned home. Pocket handkerchief Forget what you see Craigs James Bond wearing, white pocket handkerchiefs folded to show just one line is never encouraged amongst the upper crust. If you wear one, and they are an accessory (so not compulsory), then it must always be in a plume, and never with the edges showing. Yes, the Duke of Edinburgh wears his in a straight-across line, but he is Greek. Colour of wallet Like with shoes, black wallets are always far smarter. Many cant afford to have two wallets (one brown for country engagements, one black for everything in cities) so plumping for one in black leather is the best choice. Hats must go back in their boxes at 6 oclock William Hanson said, and he doesn't approve of women who wear floppy hats for an evening out Watch Big chunky timepieces are the reserve of the North Cheshire set. Similarly, the men there all have metal straps for their watches. Etiquette expert William Hanson reveals the 12 silent ways everyone is judging your social class Something of a medium size and with a leather strap is preferred. Hats in the evening Young women now think it is smart to wear hats, usually floppy-brimmed ones, in the evening. Unless they have such an aversion to the sun that even at dusk they can risk sunstroke, hats must go back in their boxes at 6 oclock. Being over-dressed Perhaps due to the downmarket celebrity culture we are now all engulfed in, people have started getting far too dressed up for evening events, particularly in the north (although not exclusive to). Many seem to put too much effort into their outfit the biggest of social elephant traps, especially when in the country. In essence, rustic, if not frumpy, country clothes will always be considered far grander than the finest threads from the city. Even now at fashionable London dances and galas dowdy dowagers from the sticks, dressed from head to toe in taffeta, still have the edge over couture-clad WAGs of plutocrats and celebrities. A Florida police officer had a great day on the job recently when, after responding to a routine call at an animal shelter, he met the newest addition to his family: Kylo, a black and white pit bull puppy. The officer, Marcus Montgomery, was called to the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Fort Walton Beach to assess a situation with a former shelter employee. Marcus recalled to Buzzfeed that he was wrapping up a 20-minute long investigation when he spotted tiny Kylo in an employee's hands. Love at first bark: Florida police officer Marcus Montgomery was responding to a call at a local animal shelter when he met Kylo, a pit bull puppy, who he couldn't resist bringing home Sweet dreams: Kylo was abandoned in a box at the back door of the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society in Fort Walton Beach The force is strong: Both Kylo (right) and Marcus' other dog Vader (left) are named after Star Wars villains 'You could tell hed been sleeping because his eyes were heavy and he was yawning constantly,' he explained of their first meeting. He added that the puppy had actually been discovered at the back door of the shelter while he was conducting his investigation, explaining that one of the PAWS supervisors had heard the little dog crying, gone to investigate, and had found it curled up in a box outside. Marcus added that he warned the supervisor, 'Dont bring him in here, because I will take him home right now.' But even after seeing him from afar, he couldn't resist keeping him. Best buds: Marcus said that his older dog Vader loves playing with and meeting new dogs Pit bull bias: Marcus said he worried that people would look past Kylo because of his breed, which comes with more responsibility than others And Marcus is not the only one thrilled with the new addition to the household. The officer and his girlfriend Kristen Martin have another rescue pit bull at home who is named Vader, also a Star Wars villain, and the older dog couldn't be more excited about having a new playmate in the house. 'Our pit bull Vader was [at a shelter] for over a year, with so many folks looking past him. When we originally saw him, he was so depressed,' Montgomery told BuzzFeed. 'We knew Kylo, even at his age, people would just look past him and not want to deal with the responsibility that comes with a dog like him.' Kiera admits that dating is a challenge because 'people don't want to be burdened with the task of taking someone's virginity' The graduate of Miami University in Ohio says she hopes her blog will dispel myths and stereotypes about those who choose to wait to have sex her experience as an 'adult virgin' as part of her blog, Quarter Century Virgin A 25-year-old virgin has opened up about her decision to save herself for 'the one' in a candid series of blog posts about her adventures as an 'adult virgin' a life choice she insists has nothing to do with religion. Kiera Ford, an aspiring writer living in Texas, is chronicling the 'challenges and awkwardness' that comes along with being a Quarter Century Virgin on her blog, explaining that her writings are also meant dispel myths and stereotypes about those who choose to wait to have sex. 'Sex is so important to me. I dont think it should be shared with whoever I brought home from the club that night,' she told Metro. Sharing her story: Kiera Ford is candidly speaking about why she is waiting to have sex until she finds 'the one' as she chronicles her adventures on her blog, Quarter Century Virgin Kiera noted that although sex is a 'huge part of our daily lives', physical intimacy and virginity is 'still a taboo topic'. She admitted that whenever she tells someone she is a virgin, their immediate response is to ask 'Why'? 'Sex is so important to me. I dont think it should be shared with whoever And while people typically presume her decision is based on her religious beliefs, Kiera said it is purely a 'personal choice' for her. Kiera explained that her mother grew up in Mississippi, right below the Bible Belt, where conversations about sex were unheard of. Although the graduate of Miami University grew up in Ohio, she said abstinence was a part of her upbringing, but not necessarily something she agreed with. Her mother never gave her a formal sex talk, and instead told her to 'just don't do it'. 'My choice in saving myself though is more to do with not wanting to be with just anyone,' she explained. Living her life: The 25-year-old, who is living in Texas, said her decision to stay a virgin is a personal choice and has nothing to do with her religious beliefs Modern courtship: Kiera admitted that dating can be a challenge because people are uncomfortable with the idea of taking someone's virginity Kiera, who was born out of wedlock and grew up in a single parent home, went to a high school where it was normal to see a teen girl pregnant. She knew she didn't want to be a 'statistic' and be a teenager mother. During college, she witnessed first-hand how her friends who got pregnant had to change their lives to prepare for motherhood, while 'everyone was having sex', she just didn't find it 'that appealing'. However, while she never felt pressured to have sex when she was in high school, she said college felt different because it was a time where her peers were experimenting with sex while trying to find themselves. Kiera credits remaining her decision to stay a virgin to helping her discover who she is without a sexual relationship clouding her judgement. 'A lot of people dont want to be burdened with the task of taking someones virginity Unsurprising, she admitted that being forthcoming about her virginity while tackling the world of modern dating is challenging for her. Kiera explained that when she tells potential suitors that she is a virgin, they automatically assume they aren't having sex and try to figure out if she is worth the time and effort. 'A lot of people dont want to be burdened with the task of taking someones virginity,' she noted. While she has never physically been on the verge of having sex, she admitted there were a few guys that she though in her mind might be 'the one'. However, those relationships eventually ended, proving that her initial instincts were wrong. Kiera hopes her blog will be an outlet for virgins and non-virgins alike to discuss sex in a mature and open way that is free from judgement or stigma. And she admitted that writing her blog has helped give her the confidence to talk about a subject that she was raised to believe was taboo. Poster girl: When Alexa Chung wore this retro M&S skirt last year, it sold out - proving she has influence Comedian Noel Fielding recently observed: 'Nobody wants a real job any more. Everyone wants to be Alexa Chung.' He has a point. Miss Chung's name means next to nothing to millions of Britons over 40, but clever, pretty and exceedingly rich, feted by designers and fashion magazines alike and boasting a galaxy of famous friends, but with no discernible day job she leads an enviable existence. That life became a little more charmed this week with the news she has become the new face of Marks & Spencer. Chung, 32, is to create a clothes collection for the store based on designs from its archives. Whether it will impress its traditional clientele for whom Miss Chung's metropolitan world might as well be another planet remains to be seen. Pictures released yesterday showed her wearing a pie-crust blouse in baby pink and looking at a print of some androgynous brogue shoes a strong hint they will form part of the collection. Miss Chung told Vogue magazine, who declared the partnership a 'clever match', that she has 'always had an affection for Marks & Spencer'. She added: 'It was so fun to be given the keys to the M&S archive and such a treat to get to cherry pick the very best of its vast collection.' Given that Miss Chung's sometimes shockingly stick-thin limbs have caused concern even among her admirers, she is an unlikely poster girl for the fuller- figured M&S customer. Certainly, that she has been catapulted to such a coveted role seems like another stroke of luck in her oddly charmed life. But suggest this to Miss Chung and you will be met with short shrift. 'When I work really, really hard this is something that irks me,' she remarked. What this work amounts to has been a mystery to many. Following an early career as a model and a stint on music TV both noted graveyards of youthful ambition she has achieved fame among younger fashion lovers. Though as what is a moot point. For she has found a lucrative niche in being little more than someone who wears clothes that others copy. Chung, whose daily choice of outfits is studied forensically by her fans, has only to pair the strangest of garments for a new look to be born. She said: 'If I'm wearing something really normal and boring, it's like torture.' U.S. Vogue calls her: 'A style bombshell who flattens the best efforts of any American counterpart with the indescribable force of her courageous chic.' Mulberry went as far as to name a bag after her. Needless to say, the 1,100 Alexa bag became a bestseller, helping to boost the brand's profits by 72 per cent when it was launched in 2010. 'Thinspiration': Alexa bares her legs (left) and (right) at the 2010 GQ Men Of The Year Awards Never, it seems, should one underestimate the economic power of a very thin, pretty girl who looks adorable in a Peter Pan collar and loafers. In recent months she has been picking up contracts at a rate that would not disgrace one of the fame-hungry TOWIE mob. She is a face of L'Oreal hair dye and Longchamp bags, and has launched her own shopping app, Villoid. There is also a 'collection' with A G Jeans. The L'Oreal contract alone is said to be worth 300,000. The M&S deal for her 'curated' collection of 31 pieces will only add to her fortune, estimated at 5 million, but probably approaching double that. The most recently filed accounts for her company, The Last Battalion Ltd, show net assets of more than 3 million, with 1 million in cash and no loans. Last summer she set up two companies, Alpha Charlie and Yankee Zulu. She is on the books of Independent Talent, which looks after Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli. She has an agent for her occasional DJ work and a commercial agent in LA. Then there is a publicist, plus five model agents. Cult favourite: With her Mulberry Alexa bag It seems her party-loving persona she is often found in the private members' club Soho House with Pixie Geldof and pop star Rita Ora co-exists with a canny young woman who has carved out a role as the face of the younger generation. With a house in London's trendy Dalston and another in New York, and companies falling over themselves to give her freebies, hers is the most gilded of existences. She could probably never have to work again. So how did it all start? Alexa was raised with her three siblings in the Hampshire village of Privett by her father Phil, a retired graphics designer whom she describes as 'three-quarters Chinese', and housewife mother Gill. It is her mother to whom Alexa attributes her style. She was signed to Storm aged 16. She achieved two As and a B at A-level at her state school sixth form Peter Symonds College and was offered a place to study English at King's College London, but was too busy with her modelling career. She said in interviews the job gave her 'low self-esteem' and required her to 'strip in front of creepy men'. She has been cited on blogs as a 'thinspiration' by young women with eating disorders. She said: 'I understand how, if you don't know me and I just represent something, yeah [my body shape] might be annoying, but when people were going on about how thin I was, I thought, you don't know what's going on in my life.' Her big break came in 2006 when she became co-presenter of Channel 4's music show Popworld. She was noted for her sarcasm, famously correcting the grammar of a musician in mid-interview. She later said: 'I thought 'You're a bunch of idiots' and I guess I didn't hide it.' She was hired by the weekend youth strand T4 and her hectic social life, which included friendships with model Agyness Deyn and socialite Daisy Lowe, began to get her noticed. As did her romance with Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner not long after he had reputedly turned down Kate Moss. She has also reportedly enjoyed a flirtation with the newly uncoupled Chris Martin. She is onto her latest famous boyfriend, the Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgard. Meanwhile, she professes the fame is a little baffling and that she and all her famous friends think the same. 'It's fodder for us to laugh at.' Let's hope that the joke isn't now on M&S and its devoted but sometimes long- suffering customers. Design: The icon's collection Archive by Alexa has seen the star trawl through the company's archive in Leeds Carefully curated: The 31 pieces are handpicked by Alexa and the M&S design team and will hit stores in April I bet she's never even met a Size 16 woman By Sarah Vine for the Daily Mail Model-cum-muse: Alexa Chung To anyone paying close attention, the signs were there last September when, in a carefully orchestrated paparazzi photo-opportunity, top international model-cum-muse Alexa Chung was spotted wearing that wretched Marks & Spencer suede skirt. Remember that? It was the must-have of the new season, the fashion pages dutifully informed us. Except it wasnt really, since a) only the staff of Vogue actually bought the thing, b) it made anyone over a size 6 look like an obese Heidi and c) it cost 199, which is quite a lot for an ugly skirt. Now Marks & Spencer has gone the whole hog and hired Ms Chung to design a collection of what I fear will be similarly unwearable items. Based on classics from the M&S vaults in Leeds, the Chung Archive collection will consist of 31 pieces (as fashionistas like to call them; to you and I theyre clothes), reworked for a 21st century aesthetic. Of course, its possible that Ms Chung will produce a selection of wearable, stylish, timeless classics that will prove just the ticket to reviving the flagging fortunes of M&Ss womens clothing division. I, for one, would be absolutely thrilled if she did. After all, its ages since Ive bought anything in Marks & Spencer that after Ive looked at it at home hasnt instantly gone back in its recyclable bag, alongside the receipt, waiting to be exchanged for (yet another) pair of waist-sculpting pants or a bumper pack of 40 denier tights. But lets face it, the chances of her making Middle England fall back in love with Marks are even slimmer than Ms Chung herself. Because bless her, shes very gorgeous and looks absolutely super in photographs, but the idea that she has even the foggiest notion of what your average female shopper browsing the rails of Per Una wants or needs is, quite honestly, fantasy. There was a time, 20-odd years ago, when M&S clothing sales accounted for 20 per cent of the nations wardrobe spend. Over the years, that number has been dwindling. In 2015, their market share stood at 8.7 per cent. Soon, I imagine, it will be even less. And still the management refuse to listen to the message coming at them loud and clear from their customers: were not interested in high fashion or celebrity endorsements. We just want well-made, stylish, timeless clothes that fit well and dont cost a fortune. Twenty years ago, that was what M&S did. And it was brilliant. They made things like the wonderful black cape I still wear to this day, which cant have cost more than 40, and which always draws compliments. Their underwear didnt itch, their sizing was true (really not the case any more) and quality, value for money and customer service were at the heart of their offering. Now, its either frumpy jumpers in shades of mud or madcap creations that would struggle to shift in Top Shop. The middle ground is entirely barren. A nd yet the middle ground is and always has been M&Ss Unique Selling Point. Its what they do so brilliantly in their food division, where Fortnum & Mason pretensions are married skilfully to supermarket prices. They do it elsewhere, too, in beauty and menswear. And yet for some reason, they just cant get it right in womenswear. If theres one thing guaranteed to make Mrs Middle England, with her mummy tummy and aching feet and straining purse strings, absolutely incandescent with rage its the sight of Alexa sodding Chung skipping about in high-necked transparent silk chiffon and palazzo pants that most ordinary women couldnt even get past their cankles. The CEO has since apologized to Sherene - but only after claiming she was 'not mentally healthy' in an initial statement made about the controversy Horrified, Sherene quit her job and hit out at the company on social media Jessica also deleted images from Instagram featuring Sherene in the clothing and told them to find someone who was 'model material' instead The message, from the store's CEO Jessica Issler, claimed that only 'size small' women should be pictured in their clothes on Instagram Sherene Zarrabi, 24, a student at Oklahoma State University, was working at Dainty Hooligan in Stillwater when she There are plenty of bad emails you can receive from your boss that will have you out of a job soon after, but for one young woman in Oklahoma, the message she received from her higher-up sent her running out of her job in abject horror. Sherene Zarrabi, a 24-year-old student at Oklahoma State University, was, up until recently, working at the clothing store Dainty Hooligan in Stillwater. But all of that changed when Sherene was forwarded an email from the founder and CEO of the company, Jessica Issler, that not only showed that the company are not of the body positive sort, but actually body-shamed her for not being a 'size small'. Hitting back: Oklahoma State University student Sherene Zarrabi, 24, recently quit her job at the Stillwater location of Dainty Hooligan after her boss body-shamed her in an email Getting the word: CEO and founder of Dainty Hooligan, Jessica Issler, sent an email to the manager of the store saying that only 'stereotypical "model" types' 'Something I want to make sure you keep in mind: I want size small, the stereotypical "model" type to model our clothes,' said Jessica to the store manager in an email. 'Please use our pictures of our models if Stillwater store cant find someone who would be considered "model material". This is not to put anyone down but to communicate the expectations of presenting our brand.' The email went on to ask the staff to not 'take it personal' and to remove any images from Instagram of women who did not 'fit the criteria'. It soon became clear that Jessica had herself deleted images of Sherene and other women modelling the clothes off of their company's social media page before sending the message. Utterly mortified, Sherene posted the email on Facebook to announce she would be quitting over the ignorant comments. Insult to injury: Shortly before sending the email it seemed that Jessica had removed photos on the store's Instagram that featured Sherene modeling the clothes Branding: CEO Jessica said that the store needed to use women who were 'model material' because that was in line with 'the expectations of presenting our brand' DAINTY HOOLIGAN CEO JESSICA ISSLER'S EMAIL IN FULL Hello, Something I want to make sure you keep in mind: I want size small, the stereotypical "model" type to model our clothes. Please use our pictures of our models if Stillwater store cant find someone who would be considered "model material". This is not to put anyone down but to communicate the expectations of presenting our brand. Don't take it personal, all I ask for is really good representation. In exchange for the freedom, I ask you to take down all pictures of anyone that doesn't fit the criteria. Thanks Jessica Advertisement 'I just want to start by saying this: I am fully comfortable with who I am and the way I look,' Sherene wrote on Facebook. 'I have recently been attacked and discriminated against by the owner of Dainty Hooligan. 'She went on our store's Instagram and deleted all of the pictures where I was modeling the clothing and then sent this email to my manager,' she added. 'I do not want to represent or support a business that has such archaic values and beliefs. 'THIS is the reason young girls have body image issues. This is disgusting. I quit immediately and I suggest that my friends and family do not support Dainty Hooligan. Love yourself, no matter what you look like.' The post quickly took off around the community, being shared by thousands and eventually reaching the national media. Supporters on Twitter began posting with the hashtag #StandWithSherene and hit out at the CEO, with one saying that she 'should be praising this girl for promoting your styles in every size'. Following the backlash, company founder Jessica initially defended herself in an interview with The O'Colly, saying that she would not be 'apologizing for the unsaid fashion rule'. Walk out: Horrified by what she had read, Sherene quit her job at the store and shared her boss's hurtful words on Facebook Hit harder: After the backlash, the CEO initially stood by her comments and even went as far to say that Sherene had created a 'hostile work environment' and was 'not mentally healthy' News spreading: People on social media quickly came to Sherene's defense, with one saying that Jessica should rather be 'praising her' for bringing another size than small to her promotion 'My No. 1 priority is the safety of my staff, so the evil and lack of positivity is terrifying,' she said. 'This girl has now created a hostile work environment because she has a sad body image of herself.' She followed up the statement by branding Sherene 'not mentally healthy'. Unsurprisingly, the statements enraged critics further, and eventually, after online disgust from customers and widespread boycott of her wares, Jessica made a U-turn and apologized to her former employee. 'I can definitely see where feelings got hurt and negativity from there festered from something I take full responsibility for,' she said in an email to Sherene. 'I wish you the best of luck and honestly I don't have any ill or hard feelings toward you and I want to thank you for a very humbling experience.' After receiving the apology, Sherene claimed online that she appreciated the time Jessica took to respond, but that it didn't change the 'nasty, disgusting things' she subsequently said in interviews. This morning I woke in a glamorous suite at one of Londons most luxurious hotels and surveyed with a great sense of satisfaction all my worldly possessions neatly packed around me. Its been a whirlwind few weeks. First, I put my two London flats, including a penthouse overlooking the Thames, on the market for a total exceeding 1.5 million. Then, I sold, bartered or gave away 95 per cent of my large collection of designer clothes, jewellery and furs, as well as all of my memorabilia. Finally, I booked myself in with a cosmetic surgeon for a rejuvenating little facial treatment, to tighten up my wrinkles and turn back the clock a few years. Devoted: Wendy Leigh, and her mother Marion (left) lived life to the full spending Christmas at Kensington's Milestone Hotel in 2009. Above, Wendy and her mother at a party in Manhattan Travel: Wendy's mother asked her not to grieve for her in a letter she wrote when she battled cancer in 1993, which was not to be opened until she died. Above, Wendy aged 7 with her mother in Italy Invigorated, looking fabulous, feeling rested and with my entire life packed in just five brown suitcases, Im finally free to spend the rest of my days liberated from the tiresome chains of bricks and mortar and of the tyranny of possessions. Ive resolved to see out the rest of my life travelling the world, working as a journalist and author along the way. What might surprise you is that Im doing all this just a few weeks after the death of my mother, Marion, at a time when most bereaved people are still weeping, in shock or getting over the trauma of the funeral. Not me. I didnt even give my mother a funeral a fact, I know, many people will find shocking. Yet I am far from callous. This outwardly obscene display of extravagance and hedonism is, in fact, me acting the dutiful daughter and following my mothers instructions to the letter. Far from callous, I know I am doing exactly as she wanted. Mummy would have been horrified at the thought of me donning black robes, or moping around looking miserable. A fabulous hotel, a little bit of work and a grand world tour is honouring her memory in a way a few dour hymns, sung in the front row of a fusty crematorium, never could. She was, after all, a woman who knew all about loss and death and how to overcome them both. A German Jew, 36 members of her family were slaughtered in Nazi concentration camps. But instead of being broken by tragedy, she emerged with a fierce and defiant desire to live her life to the full. It is this spirit that is her legacy to me a particular brand of joie de vivre that deserves to be kept alive. Hedonistic: Instead of grieving, her mother wanted Wendy to stay in a beautiful hotel and buy something gorgeous to wear in her memory I was by her side when she died, aged 88, at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, at 7.30 am on December 22 last year, after a long but fiercely fought battle with cancer. Later that day, feeling tearful, I forced myself to go to her home, to look through her papers. Here I discovered an envelope addressed to me, headed: Not to be opened until after my death. After escaping the Nazis, Mum lived her life to the full Inside was a letter from Mummy, dated April 2, 1993, written when she was having chemotherapy for her first bout of cancer, and when she believed that she was about to die. Tears rolled down my face as I read it. I am determined to win this battle, she wrote. I am positive, hopeful and there is every chance. In case I dont, I thank you for being the most wonderful daughter in the world. You made up for any sadness I had in my life. Please dont mourn for me when I am gone. I hope and think you will read this letter when it is grey with age. I just feel like writing it tonight while the drip is going into my arm. It takes five hours or so and it is fine. Whenever the time that I have to pass on comes, I want you to know that you were the very best daughter any mother could ever have. The memories we have of each other are magic. I am now 65 and even if I do not reach old ageplease know that I feel very content and especially the last few years lived to the full. I have been married for 30 years this month, very much thanks to you being so sweet and encouraging me [I was always very supportive of her second marriage]. So you see, I can die so happy. Such a lucky loved mother and wife every day to the very last. Memories: Wendy went to the splendour of the Mistinguett Suite at Kensington's Milestone Hotel the day after her mother died in December That is why you must not grieve. It is natural that mothers die before their children. Whenever the day comes, go out with some of the money that you will have and do something really nice like staying in a beautiful hotel and buy something gorgeous to wear all in my memory. And remember, wherever you are, just go on living life to the full to the very end. Mum went on to enjoy her life for another 22 years, but the words stayed with me. After a tearful, sleepless night, I left her home and headed, not for the undertakers as youd expect the morning after your mothers death, but straight for the splendour of the Mistinguett Suite at Kensingtons Milestone Hotel, a five-star oasis of luxury, opposite Kensington Palace. Could there possibly be a more appropriate place go? I dont think so. Mummys other gift for me was to teach me to truly appreciate the finer things in life. One of our happiest Christmases was spent in that very same suite in 2009, and shed adored every minute of the experience. It seemed, therefore, a very fitting place to mourn and remember her properly. History: Her mother, a German Jew, escaped Nazi Germany before the war when she was 11. Above, Wendy with her parents As for her funeral, Mum had made clear she didnt want one, of any sort. Instead, like David Bowie, she wanted to be cremated, privately, with no one present. The money saved should be spent on more fun, luxury and adventure. And that is what I have resolved to do. This is no stunt or act of a thoughtless adventuress. The day after she died I checked into a 5-star suite Rather, its a deeply considered tribute of a grieving daughter to the mother she loved very much. I never tire of telling my mothers remarkable story: a cossetted and loved daughter of a German officer and his wife who lived a glamorous life in Berlin, aged 11 she was ripped away from her parents and put on the Kindertransport a rescue effort, prior to the outbreak of war, which saved thousands of predominantly Jewish children, from Nazi-occupied Europe bound for England. Her beloved father, a Prussian officer who had been awarded the Iron Cross, First Class, in the Great War, took her to the station. But as he was about to kiss her goodbye, he was knocked away from the train window by whip-wielding Nazi officers. My mother never saw him again. In England, she was fostered by a series of families and won a place at the London School of Economics a serious achievement for a woman in those times. She became a teacher, and met and married my father, who came from Vienna and was Sigmund Freuds great-great nephew. Family: Her mother divorced in 1960, but married Alexander Pigache (centre) in 1963 and managed three language schools Aged 19, she married and had a little boy, Anthony George, whom she named after her father, but he died of cot death after only nine weeks. I was born less than a year afterwards. Eventually, she and my father divorced in 1960. Mummy went on to volunteer to help refugee children from the ruins of war-torn Europe at the Pestalozzi Childrens Village in Sussex. She loved all children so much so that when she opened her first language school in Konstanz, Germany in the early Seventies, one of her earliest pupils was the granddaughter of Adolf Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust. My mother was kind to her, even helping her get her first job. After all, I am alive and her grandfather is dead, she said. This for the relative of a man who was the architect of the murderous regime that obliterated most of her family. She married for the second time in 1963 to Alexander Pigache, a dashing executive of French, Croatian and Serbian extraction. When she recovered from her first bout of cancer, she and her husband sold their three language schools and set off to travel the world. When Alexander died in 2003, my mother gave me a choice: Either we save your inheritance for your old age. Or we spend it living life to the full together. I chose the second option and never once regretted it. In the letter Wendy's mother left to be opened after her death, she wrote: 'I thank you for being the most wonderful daughter in the world. You made up for any sadness I had in my life'. Above, Wendy Leigh as a baby with her mother Mummy loved handsome men, right until the very end of her life. Her last love was an American of 49, whom she met when she was 83 and with whom she had a full-blooded relationship, Indeed, over the past painful months, as Ive remembered how my mother loved to live, Ive found myself questioning the value of objects that only serve to tie you down, that do not salve your soul or lift your spirits. There have been other revelations, too: I was forced to accept the fact that during her illness, four of her closest relatives did the absolute minimum to make her happy or to support me. Crises do not always bring out the best in people. Quite the reverse. To make matters worse, the man in my life for the past 13 years chose this particular time to break off all contact with me, other than sending a few texts so banal they would have put Hallmark to shame. Then, to top it all, someone whom my mother cherished stole her beloved husbands crest ring, which she always wore on her wedding finger, while she was on her deathbed. It was blow after emotional blow. Battered, but not bowed, and instead of wallowing in grief, I took a leaf out of my mothers book and decided to look to the future, instead. No possessions: Wendy has questioned the value of objects that only serve to tie you down After a stay in New York, where I am going to meet up with her American boyfriend, I plan to head to Connecticut, with my mothers 95-year-old cousin, Gary, who adored her. Then its back to New York again, where I shall be meeting some of her relatives, before heading off to Palm Beach in Los Angeles, and then to South Africa, where she also has much-loved family. Once I have found the perfect casket, Mummys ashes will be placed at the home of our friend Dwina Gibb, widow of the late Bee Gee Robin, in Thame, Oxfordshire. Indeed, Dwina has hung a portrait of Mummy there to remember her. Its a fitting resting place. My mother loved her visits there and spent hours talking to Robin, a history buff, about her life in Nazi Germany. Everywhere I go, I will do just as my mother wished, and live my life to the full. My tribute to my mother may be what some might call unorthodox dramatically unconventional when compared to the sorrows and bleakness of the usual mourning period many find themselves in. Relations between Bristol Palin and her Marine ex Dakota Meyer may still be sour thanks to their custody battle over baby daughter Sailor Grace, but thankfully it seems her children aren't being affected by any bitterness between them. Quite the opposite in fact. In an image posted to Instagram by Bristol, 25, on Thursday evening, her seven-year-old son Tripp can be seen cuddling up with his six-week-old half sister Sailor Grace in what appears to be his school cafeteria. Sharing the sweet snap with her 99,000 followers, mother-of-two Bristol commented: 'Lunch with a loved one at school today,' adding several heart emojis. Cafeteria catch-up! Bristol Palin shared this image of her seven-year-old son Tripp and his baby sister Sailor Grace enjoying lunch at his school cafeteria on Thursday Family photo: Bristol, who is pictured with her son Tripp, seven, and Sailor Grace on Monday, revealed last week that she was returning to work as a dermatologist, just one month after giving birth In the image, Tripp is seen grinning happily at the camera, while wearing a full camo-printed long-sleeved tee and trousers, while Sailor Grace appears to sleep happily in his arms, cuddled up in a white knitted beanie hat, a blue tee and a pair of animal-print trousers. Bristol did not indicate whether she was the one taking the photo, however last month she revealed that she was returning to work at a dermatologist near her home in Alaska, after just one month of maternity leave. And earlier this week, Bristol and her sisters were on-hand to help their mother Sarah Palin as she publicly supported Donald Trump in Iowa as he continues his presidential campaign. In an image shared on her Instagram account, Bristol captured her mother taking part in a TV interview in Iowa, revealing in the caption that her sister Willow had done their mother's hair, while her sister Piper had been responsible for Sarah's outfit. Luckily for her friends, family - and dedicated social media following - Bristol's travel plans and her decision to return to work haven't stopped her from sharing regular updates of her newborn baby's day-to-day life online. Bristol has been happily sharing images of her daughter on Instagram several times a week, posting another image of Sailor Grace just a few days ago. The image saw the little girl lying on a purple fleecy blanket which was printed with her name in all different fonts and colors. What's in a name? Over the weekend, the mother-of-two posted an image of her daughter lounging on a personalized purple blanket Mom's love: Last Thursday, Bristol shared this sweet image of Sailor Grace Grinning away while staring at something off camera, the tiny tot was pictured wearing a white babygro and a pair of brown moccasin-style booties, and was happily waving her arms around in the air while her mom snapped the pic. 'Two of our favorites right now,' Bristol captioned the sweet snap, referring to the purple-colored blanket - which she tagged as being from a brand called Cuddle Muffins Blankets - and Sailor Grace's booties - which she revealed are from babywear company Grace and Belle. Last Thursday night, Bristol shared another up-close picture of her baby girl Sailor Grace, who looked to be swaddled in a floral blanket in her arms. 'Lookin' like she's trying not to smile!' Bristol wrote about her little bundle of joy, whose birth she announced just five weeks ago. And this latest photo is not the first time that Tripp has been pictured with his little sister; moments after Sailor Grace's birth was announced, Bristol shared an image of her son meeting the precious tot for the first time; the adorable black and white snap showed Tripp leaning over towards his sister, who was staring back at him while sucking on a pacifier. Then a few weeks ago, when Bristol returned to work for the first time since giving birth, she shared an image of herself with both of her children, posing alongside Tripp as he prepared to head off for a day of school, while holding on to baby Sailor in a car seat. Special bond: Tripp, who is pictured meeting his sister for the first time, appears to be completely smitten with his younger sibling Overjoyed: Bristol announced the birth of her daughter in December by sharing this photo on social media 'Back to real life today! I was fortunate enough to take the last month off to stay home with my babies, today marks the first time I've left SailorG, but I could not be more thankful she's in the best of hands!! [sic],' she captioned the family photo. And while some people may think a one-month long maternity leave is too short, Brisol's mother Sarah Palin only took three days off after her youngest son Trig was born with Down syndrome in 2008. Despite her reality show and appearances on Dancing with the Stars, the daughter of the former Republican vice presidential candidate has apparently been working at Dr. Michael L. Cusack's office at Alaska Dermatology Laser and Skin Cancer Center in Anchorage for years. Bristol is currently in the midst of a custody battle with ex-fiance and Medal of Honor recipient Dakota, 27, who is making a bid to get joint custody of her one-month old daughter Sailor. Rather than copying his ex by sharing images of his baby girl online however, Dakota has been sharing mostly cryptic messages on Instagram. 'Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see,' read one of his latest posts, a quote attributed to Mark Twain. Broken romance: Bristol got engaged to marine Dakota (pictured), 27, in March, but eventually called off their wedding. They are now in a custody battle over Sailor Grace Dakota is now being forced to take a paternity test as part of the former couple's increasingly bitter custody battle over her new baby. Court documents seen by Daily Mail Online reveal that Meyer's bid for joint custody in a suit filed in Kentucky and Alaska has stalled pending the results of the paternity test. A question has also been raised over the actual birth date of Bristol's baby. The Instagram photo posted by Bristol announcing the birth of Sailor on December 24, places the birth date one day earlier. The date of birth on court papers filed in the custody case is also given as December 23. But the same Instagram picture posted by Dakota with the caption 'Best Christmas present ever!!' reveals a detail whited out in Palin's account the date scribbled on her IV line. Prince Harry visited residents affected by the flood today but he also had time to gallantly pick up a young girl's welly when she dropped it and put it back onto her foot. Harry, 31, stopped while being shown around the village of St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire, when he spotted the pink and green wellington boot on the floor. After picking it up, he checked with the parents while he held the boot then realised the owner was a young girl in a pushchair. Harry was visiting residents affected by the floods in Lancashire. He stopped while being shown around the village of St Michael's on Wyre in Lancashire, when he spotted the pink and green wellington boot on the floor Harry met children from Weeton Primary School and Honeypots Nursery, in Lancashire. One girl in particular, wearing a red parka, looked thrilled to meet the Prince He pointed to the boot while looking at the little girl then leaned in to push it back onto her foot. The young girl looks completely unaware while her mother, wearing a khaki scarf, looks happy. He then points to the young and girl and waves goodbye to her before moving on. He was being given a tour of places affected by the flood by Emergency Planning Officer John Blundell. Harry also made time to stop and delight local children as he travelled to Weeton army barracks in Lancashire. Harry was full of smiles as he entertained the pupils from Weeton Primary School and Honeypots Nursery, in Weeton, near Blackpool. The Prince laughed and joked with the children who had braved the cold to see him as he made his way to the Weeton Barracks to thank soldiers who had helped out with the floods. The pupils lined the road standing behind a yellow rope, but that didn't stop Harry from getting up close to playfully speak to the children. It looked like he was asking plenty of questions, while one girl in a red parka looked particularly delighted to see the Prince and beamed widely. Harry wasn't afraid to get hands on and helped by picking up the lost wellington and reuniting it with the owner, a young girl in a pushchair he then waved goodbye to the girl Harry appeared to ask the children questions and pointed at one young boy to give an answer while the children lined the street dressed in rain jackets The pupils stood behind a yellow rope but that didn't stop Harry from getting up close to playfully speak to the children and play games with them Harry donned a casual grey cagoule with navy chinos and sand-coloured boots with the children equally prepared for all weathers One young girl reached out to take Harry's hand and he happily shook it while talking to her The school pupils can't help but smile with one young child laughing while the prince entertains them Harry happily takes the time to speak to some of the children individually and bends down to hear them Harry poses as a young boy, left, takes the royal's picture on his tablet. Harry appeared cold rubbing his hands together One young boy raises his hand to answer Harry's question while parents also take snaps on the prince Harry donned a casual grey cagoule with navy chinos and sand-coloured boots with the children equally prepared for all weathers in rain coats. Harry was in Weeton to meet some of the soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who were deployed to Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria to aid recovery work in the recent floods. As a county, Lancashire was one of the worst affected by December's unprecedented flooding. It proved to be the wettest December ever on record and more than 1,700 businesses and homes were left damaged across its 12 districts. Prince Harry acknowledged the soldiers' efforts and called it 'a great opportunity' to meet those who had given up their Christmases to help others, adding: 'It's been an emotional month for you'. Lieutenant Peter Coates told the Prince their work had been 'challenging', but added: 'It was unexpected - but we just got on with the job.' Prince Harry asked Corporal Joseph Greenwood what it had been like on the ground of the affected areas, and he described it as a humbling experience. Prince Harry visited Weeton Barracks and met with soldiers to thank them for helping out with the floods and appeared to speak to the soldiers passionately on the subject Harry was in Weeton to meet some of the soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, who were deployed to Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria to aid recovery work after the recent floods The Prince heard that the troops worked tirelessly as they went from door to door to check on residents and supported the recovery work Harry told soldiers it was 'a great opportunity' to meet those who had given up their Christmases to help others, adding: 'It's been an emotional month for you' Cpl Greenwood added: 'We might have lost our Christmas but we haven't lost our homes, our possessions and our photographs. We can move our Christmas.' Prince Harry commended their efforts and later joked with officers: 'If it's not raining, it's not training, as they say,' a well-known expression in the Army. For more than four weeks in December, every member of the battalion - approximately 500 soldiers from the base near Blackpool, Lancashire - were positioned to help deal with the crisis. The huge Army presence was drafted in to assist flood-affected areas in Carlisle, Keswick, Kendal, Cockermouth, Appleby and Glenridding in Cumbria, and St Michael's in Lancashire. Prince Harry speaks to 97-year old Winifred Hodson during a visit to see the impact of recent floods in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire Harry chats to Winifred who had been affected by floods and looks casual in his attire with a pale-blue shirt underneath his cagoule Harry spoke to many residents whose property had been flooded in the storms and have skips outside to clear the debris from their houses Harry crosses the River Wyre with Emergency Planning Officer John Blundell, right, during a visit to St Michael's on Wyre in northwest England on February 5, 2016 a village that was effected by flooding in Decembe Many residents were evacuated from their homes and businesses, which were left underwater following the deluge of water from storms Desmond, Eva, Frank and Gertrude. The Prince heard that the troops worked tirelessly as they went from door to door to check on residents and support the recovery work. Harry also spoke to many residents whose property had been flooded in the storms and spoke to 97-year old Winifred Hodson who had been affected by the floods. Health officials in Brazil are warning pregnant women to refrain from kissing strangers, or sharing cutlery and plates with them, amid fears the Zika virus could be spread via saliva. The president of the country's top health research agency said the discovery of active Zika virus in saliva samples for the first time merits special precaution with expectant mothers, given the suggestion the disease can cause serious birth defects. The suspected link between the virus and microcephaly appears 'stronger and stronger', CDC experts said today. That warning came after the Brazilian government health institute, Fiocruz, confirmed scientists have discovered active traces of Zika in saliva and urine. Officials said they have launched an investigation into the possible transmission of the mosquito-borne virus through bodily fluids. President of the agency, Paulo Gadelha suggested pregnant women avoid kissing people other than a regular partner or sharing cutlery, glasses and plates with people who have symptoms of the virus. Though he added: 'This is not a generalized public health measure, for the love of God.' Scroll down for video The Zika virus has been detected in urine and saliva samples, Brazilian health officials warned today. They said an investigation has been launched into the possibility the virus could spread via bodily fluids Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil's health institute cautioned, the virus's ability to infect other people through the two body fluids requires further study and does not yet merit any additional health recommendation Scientists at the Fiocruz institute say they're trying to determine if the body fluids can spread Zika to new patients. The virus was deemed active, meaning that it was able to cause infection, but the scientists stressed that it was too early to say whether Zika could be transmitted by either fluid. 'That fact that the virus was found with the capacity to cause infection is not proof that it can contaminate other people through those fluids,' said Myrna Bonaldo, one of the scientists who made the discovery. World experts in infectious diseases were quick to reassure people, branding the possibility of transmission through salvia 'nigh on impossible'. Professor Jonathan Ball, a professor of molecular biology virology at the University of Nottingham, though it is possible for the virus to be detected in saliva and urine, the amount of Zika will be very low. 'Zika virus is spread by mosquitoes and there is no evidence that this is changing,' he said. ZIKA LINK WITH BIRTH DEFECT 'STRONGER AND STRONGER' - CDC The suspected link between the Zika virus and a birth defect known as microcephaly appears 'stronger and stronger' as researchers study whether there is a causal connection, the head of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday. Scientists are trying to establish whether infection with the Zika virus during pregnancy causes microcephaly, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and an underdeveloped brain. Dr Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, said the agency is also working with researchers in Brazil to study a potential link between Zika and a wider array of developmental disorders in babies. The CDC upgraded its guidelines for testing pregnant women who have traveled to areas affected by the outbreak on Friday. Advertisement 'Zika virus replicates mainly in the blood, but sometimes some of that virus can find its way into other body fluids such as urine and saliva. 'The amount of virus in these other body fluids will be low and the possibility of any of this virus finding its way into another person's bloodstream is so small as to be nigh on impossible. 'This is not something to be concerned about, Zika's primary route of transmission is the mosquito bite.' Professor Michael Bonsall, an expert in mathematical biology at the University of Oxford, echoed that sentiment. He said: 'The main route of transmission for these flavivirus (Zika, dengue and chikungunya) remains Aedes mosquitoes. 'Determining whether Zika occurrence in saliva and urine are really viable virus and then constitute additional routes of transmission requires a lot more robust investigation. 'Preventing mosquito bites is the first line of defence to breaking the transmission cycle.' The news Zika has been detected in urine and saliva samples comes a day after officials in the country, which is at the epicenter of the current outbreak, revealed they had detected two cases where the virus had spread via blood transfusions. And, just three days after the first sexually transmitted case of Zika was reported during the current crisis, which erupted in South America last summer. Experts at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed a person living in Dallas County had contracted the disease after having sexual contact with an infected partner, who had returned from an affected country. The latest revelation that the virus could spread via saliva, in particular, adds yet another dimension to the evolving crisis - raising the risk that it could be spread through kissing and other intimate contact. Brazilian health officials made the discovery after analyzing samples from two patients and carrying out a partial genome sequencing of the virus, Paulo Gadelha, president of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, as Fiocruz is formally known, said. Evidence has linked the virus to microcephaly, a devastating birth defect that can cause unusually small heads and permanent brain damage. Brazil has so far reported around 4,000 suspected cases There is no vaccine or treatment for the Zika virus, which has so far, been reported in 30 countries since it first appeared in the Americas last year. The World Health Organization declared the current outbreak of Zika virus, predominantly in South America, a global public health emergency, on Monday. WHO director-general Dr Margaret Chan said she was moved to do so, after growing evidence the virus can trigger potentially life-threatening birth defects in newborn babies. Brazil has reported 3,700 suspected cases of microcephaly. More than 30 people in the United States have been confirmed to have Zika after traveling to an affected country. 'ABSTAIN FROM SEX OR USE A CONDOM' SAY HEALTH EXPERTS US health authorities have today urged people to use condoms or refrain from sex if they live in or have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is circulating. The new interim guidelines from the US Centers from Disease Control are aimed at pregnant women and their partners. But they also apply to those people of childbearing age who are concerned about Zika, a primarily mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to birth defects. Earlier this week, US health officials confirmed the first case of sexually transmitted Zika, involving a person who had traveled to Venezuela and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon return. Advertisement In assessing the level of threat, Dr Chan said 18 experts and advisers looked in particular at the strong association, in time and place, between Zika infection and a rise in cases of microcephaly - where a baby is born with a small or incomplete brain. Dr Chan said: 'The experts agreed that a causal relationship between Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected, though not yet scientifically proven.' The virus has also been linked to the serious autoimmune disorder, Guillian-Barre syndrome that can cause paralysis. Alarm bells were first raised over transmission earlier this week, when health officials in Texas reported on Tuesday that a person in Dallas became infected after having sex with another person who had traveled in Venezuela, where the virus is circulating. It marked the first confirmed case of sexually transmitted Zika during this outbreak - there has been one other reported case, during an earlier outbreak - and the first case of the virus spreading in mainland America. Until then, the more than 30 people diagnosed with Zika had all returned from an affected region, where they became infected. With the potential for sexually transmitted Zika virus a rare, though possible reality, health officials in the US moved to offer advise to people. The CDC issued new guidelines urging pregnant women to abstain from sex or use condoms for the duration of their pregnancy, if their partner was at risk of having Zika. And concerns over transmission methods were furthered yesterday, when the news broke of two cases where the virus spread through blood transfusions. The virus, which is commonly found in parts of Africa and South East Asia spread to Latin America via French Polynesia. Last year more than 1.5 million people in South America became infected, before the virus jumped to the Caribbean, Mexico and Texas towards the end of 2015 The health department of Campinas, an industrial city near Sao Paulo, said a hospital patient with gunshot wounds became infected with Zika after multiple blood transfusions in April 2015. Officials said they determined that one of the people whose donated blood was used in the transfusion had been infected with Zika. Marcelo Addas Carvalho, the doctor who is the director of the blood centre at the University of Campinas near Sao Paulo, said genetic testing confirmed that a second man who received a blood transfusion using blood donated by another man infected with Zika in March 2015 became infected with the virus, although he did not develop symptoms. Brazil's Health Ministry said the first patient died of his wounds, not from the Zika infection. It said it was reinforcing instructions to blood banks that people infected with Zika or dengue not be permitted to donate blood for 30 days after their full recovery from the active stage of Zika infection. The suggestion that though rare, the virus can be transmitted via blood transfusions, adds weight to an appeal made by the Red Cross on Tuesday for prospective donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to wait at least 28 days before giving blood. While issuing the advise, the Red Cross noted the risk of transmitting the virus through blood transfusions remained 'extremely' low in the US. The 'self-deferral' notice for blood donors should apply to those who have visited Mexico, the Caribbean, or Central or South America during the past four weeks, the Red Cross said in a statement. The most common symptoms of Zika infection are flu-like, such as aches and fever. About 80 per cent of people infected show no symptoms whatsoever, said Susan Stramer, a microbiologist for the Red Cross. One in three doctors think the NHS should stop funding IVF treatment for couples who cannot conceive, a poll has revealed. The take-up of IVF has hugely increased in recent years, with around 50,000 women now undergoing the procedure annually in the UK. For many couples IVF is the only hope of having a baby - but a new report reveals that many family doctors think the procedure is a luxury that should be paid for privately. Fertility experts, however, said that blocking conception treatment would be grossly unfair and a huge backward step. One in six British couples have difficulty conceiving. Without access to NHS treatment they would be forced to pay for treatment, which costs an average of 5,000 per IVF cycle in private clinics. Many family doctors think IVF is a luxury that should be paid for privately, a poll has revealed The survey of 521 GPs, conducted by the research arm of the publishers of Pulse magazine, found 34 per cent of doctors think the NHS should stop funding IVF. More than half of GPs surveyed also believed drunk people should be charged for treatment in A&E, while two-thirds felt missed appointments should be charged. One in five said weight loss surgery for obese people should also be charged for. Magazine publisher Cogoras Primary Concerns 2015 report - which, in total, surveyed nearly 1,000 health professionals, including commissioners and nurses - also found little support for alternative medicines, such as homeopathy, chiropody and osteopathy. It comes as the NHS faces its biggest financial problems for years, which has seen commissioners tasked with saving 22bn over the next five years by NHS England and the Government. The report, which was based on discussions with more than 1,000 health professionals, also found that many GP practices are having to turn to locum doctors to solve the widespread staffing crisis. Of the practice managers and GP partners included in the survey, 47 per cent said their practice had increased their use of locum GPs over the past 12 months, while 16 per cent had increased the use of agency nurses. Almost 80 per cent of all those surveyed said the quality of care has worsened over the last 18 months. NHS watchdog NICE advises that women under the age of 40 should be offered three IVF cycles if they have failed to conceive naturally for two years. But because the guidance is not mandatory, standards differ wildly across the country - and fewer than one in five health boards actually offering couples in their area the three full cycles. One in five doctors surveyed also thought weight loss surgery for obese people should be charged for Some boards, such as Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, have already stopped funding IVF altogether, while others have limited the treatment to one cycle. One female GP, who did not wish to be named, told Pulse magazine: It is very complex, but personally I dont think infertility is a disease. I appreciate for some people it is and its very stressful. But it concerns me that people feel that having a child is a right. I dont think infertility is a disease. I appreciate for some people it is and its very stressful. But it concerns me that people feel that having a child is a right Anonymous female GP in the poll Experts think uptake of IVF has increased partially because more women are putting off starting a family while they concentrate on their careers. When they eventually try to have a baby, they realise they are too old to conceive naturally and have to turn to alternative methods. But there are also many other reasons for fertility problems, including medical conditions such as cancer or a hormonal imbalance. Professor Geeta Nargund, Medical Director of Create Fertility, which has five clinics in the UK, said that the proposals were deeply concerning. Infertility is a disease which affects one in six couples in the UK, she said. It has physical, emotional and societal implications. It would be grossly unfair if they considered stopping IVF on the NHS. Part of the problem, she said, is that there is no national standard tariff for how much fertility clinics charge the NHS, with costs varying from 2,000 to 6,000 per cycle. If this cost was standardised, it would reduce financial pressure on the NHS, Professor Nargund said. And more than half of GPs surveyed believed drunk people should be charged for treatment in A&E Dr Andrew Green, chair of the British Medical Association GP committee, said: When there is pressure on what you might call basic services, its fairly understandable that people look to things that arent life or limb and think well that should be cut. But he added: If you look at the unhappiness, distress and indeed depression that can come from having difficulty starting families, it is difficult to say they should not receive treatment. Richard Kennedy, a gynaecologist in Coventry and president-elect of the International Federation of Fertility Societies, said: The views of these doctors goes against the view of the World Health Organisation, which says that the ability to have a family is a human right. The suggestion that infertility is not a disease is also fundamentally incorrect, with three quarters of infertility stemming from a medical condition. To reduce funding for fertility treatment, even in these constrained times, would not be appropriate. Women who take HRT before start of menopause and for at least three years had better preserved brain structure (stock picture) HRT may protect women against dementia, a new study claims. Women who take oestrogen supplements before the start of menopause and for at least three years had better preserved brain structure. Their hippocampus was found to be 'significantly' larger than for untreated females, the Norwegian study found. In Alzheimer's disease, it is one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage, with memory loss and disorientation among the earliest symptoms. The hippocampus has a high level of oestrogen receptors and it therefore sensitive to any supplements. Lead author Dr Carl Pintzka of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) said: 'Oestrogen supplements can have a positive effect against dementia if women start early enough with treatment. 'We also examined the shape of the hippocampus and found that areas where hormone therapy had the greatest effect are the same areas that are affected by Alzheimer's disease in its early stages.' A medical doctor studying for his PhD at St. Olav's University Hospital in Trondheim, he added: 'It's true that the risk of some cancers increases with oestrogen supplements, but we also know, for example, that the risk of hip fractures and colorectal cancer drops with their use. 'Women who want to take oestrogen supplements should start early to benefit from the positive effect on the brain.' A sample of 80 women who had used oestrogen supplements through menopause was compared with 80 women who had never taken them. The age range of the participants from the Nord-Trndelag Health Study (HUNT), a general population-based study in mid-Norway.women was 5166 years. During menopause, women's oestrogen levels drop significantly compared and this has been linked to reduced function. The report in the journal Neurobiology of Aging reported: 'The main effect of hormone group showed a statistically significant difference in hippocampal volumes. 'Both the right (3.2%) and left (2.8%) hippocampal volumes were larger in the HT group but only significant for the right hippocampus.' Dr Pintzka said hippocampal size is associated with verbal memory performance, and recent evidence has shown that independent of age, menopause is followed by a decline in verbal memory, suggesting a negative effect of menopause on hippocampal function. The hippocampus has a high level of oestrogen receptors and it therefore sensitive to any supplements (stock picture) Just one hour's exercise a week can reduce the chance of Alzheimer's disease by almost half, it has been found (stock picture) He said that boosting oestrogen levels increases the volume of the hippocampus, if started at onset of menopause or before. 'The present study provides support for the critical window theory demonstrating that HT initiated in the perimenopause has neuroprotective properties. 'We further demonstrate, for the first time, regional sparing confined mainly to the CA1 subfield of the right hippocampus, an area that is closely linked to the development of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.' At present there are no drugs that stop or prevent the course of Alzheimer's disease, and instead scientists are looking at how to prevent or delay the onset of dementia. Just one hour's exercise a week can reduce the chance of Alzheimer's disease by almost half, it has been found. One in three people will develop dementia in their lifetime, and a rapidly ageing population means that the numbers are forecast to double within two decades. More than 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia most commonly Alzheimer's disease but government estimates suggest that just half of cases have been diagnosed. With elections knocking at their door, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone back to make effective use of social media to rake in votes, since it had tasted political success through Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. As West Bengal (WB), Kerala, Assam and Uttar Pradesh (UP) are warming up for electoral battles lined up one after the other, the party has already devised its social media strategy to take on its opponents and connect with the voters. This time around, the BJP has tweaked its social media strategy to make it more interactive and have decided to take it beyond the virtual world. BJP is using its official Facebook page to ask visitors to register their views, via a micro-site that has been attached for the purpose, on its official web page The party is not just reaching out to voters via social media platforms, but is physically reaching out to those online to get their views, especially the youth. The idea behind this shift is to create activists out of social media users, claimed sources in BJP. Youth connect We have decided that we will transform the use of social media from a one-way communication in virtual space and use it to reach out to the voters, especially to the youth, to know their demands and expectations. The youth are aspirational voters and we want to know their aspirations, Amit Malaviya, head of IT and digital communication at the BJP, told Mail Today. The party is using its official Facebook page to ask visitors to register their views, via a micro-site that has been attached for the purpose, on BJPs official web page. The party has also adapted a broad strategy to cover the specific needs of individual states. In West Bengal, the BJP has named its social media campaign Jan Barta or public dialogue. In Kerala, the social media campaign of the party goes by the name of The Lotus Dialogues. All these states going to polls have specific needs and issues which need to be addressed individually. In Assam, for example, we have started Assam Dialogues where we are using social media to address the voters at small and local meetings, which are chaired by party leaders, Malaviya said. We have planned such dialogues in six major cities. Guwahati has been covered while Dibrugarh is next. The rest will be completed by the middle of February, he added. Up-to-date Another way, more of a bolstering act than an innovation, in which the party is using the social media is to co-ordinate social media content with what the party is doing on the ground. The alleged killer threw his mobile phone onto a truck, mirroring a scene in the Ajay Devgn film Drishyam Inspired by the Ajay Devgn-starrer Drishyam, a 38-year-old man in Bihar allegedly tried to destroy the evidence of a murder he committed the same way as in the hit Bollywood movie. Patna Police arrested Rajnish Singh, a resident of Vaishali, more than a week after he shot dead a girl from Indore, Shristi Jain, who had come to Patna to discuss marriage with him. Rajnish reportedly confessed to his crime after his arrest earlier this week. According to police, he told interrogators that he had killed Shristi after their wedding talks fell through and tried to destroy the evidence. Rajnish, who had apparently seen the film last year, said that when he realised the police might trace him from his mobile location, he threw his phone on a passing truck to hoodwink the cops, just the way Devgn, or the protagonist Vijay Salgaonkar, did in the film. But the cell phone fell on the truck and got broken, he said. He also got his Royal Enfield motorcycle thrown in the Ganga, taking a leaf out of an identical scene from Drishyam. I hired a boat and paid the boatman Rs 500 to get the motorcycle thrown in the river, he added. Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said Rajnish had admitted to his crime but showed no remorse whatsoever. Shristi had met Rajnish on a matrimonial website. Though Rajnish was already married and had two kids, he wanted to settle in Delhi with a modern wife. He had posed as an affluent man on the matrimonial site and got a response from Shristi 10 days before she came to Patna to meet him. But Shristi apparently spurned him, which lead to a heated argument on January 25. The global Zika scare has put the government on alert. A day after leading pathology labs and diagnostics chains made announcements of rolling out test kits for the deadly virus, the Union Ministry of Health pulled up private players, saying they cannot cash in on a public health emergency. Dr Jagdish Prasad, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), in the Union health ministry, said: We called upon the private labs making such statements. In the current scenario, all the testing and research has to be done through approval of the government. No firm can cash in on a public health emergency like the Zika virus which has become a sensitive issue across the globe. The health ministry is fully equipped in research and testing of Zika. We are actively working on averting any kind of outbreak in the country. The World Health Organisation has reported 22 countries and territories in Americas from where local transmission of the Zika virus has been reported While Dr Lal Path Labs had reportedly said they were importing test kits for Zika, SRL Diagnostics claimed they are working on new technologies to detect the head-shrinking virus and may come up with tests soon. Quest Diagnostics and Star Imaging are also said to have made similar statements. The private labs reportedly quoted the cost of test around Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 and said the test will be available by mid-March this year. The ministry has also summoned Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, which claimed that it has worlds first Zika vaccine samples. We have also summoned Bharat Biotech that has claimed to have the first vaccine for Zika virus in the current scenario when there is no vaccine anywhere in the world. We want to check the authenticity of the claim and why they are announcing it without informing the government, Dr Prasad added. Firms claim In a press statement issued on Wednesday, Dr Krishna Ella from Bharat Biotech said: The company has two ZikaVac vaccine candidates in development; one is a recombinant vaccine and another inactivated vaccine that has reached the stage of pre-clinical testing in animals. On Friday, however, most of the private players back-tracked. Dr Vandana Lal from Lal Path Labs said: We dont want to talk on this matter. We dont have any tests for Zika virus and we are also not importing any test kits for the same. If at all we plan to do something, we will take the governments prior permission. Dr BR Das, president (research and innovation) at SRL Diagnostics, too, said the lab currently has no technology for battling Zika. We however have a robust research and development facility in place, but we will only begin something if the government asks us to. We abide by the government and will only chip into research and technology on Zika if the government tells us, Dr Das told Mail Today. Guidelines in place Earlier this week, the ministry had issued guidelines on Zika along with a comprehensive travel advisory. The ministry also said currently, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune have the capacity to provide laboratory diagnosis of Zika in acute febrile stage. These institutions were marked as the apex laboratories to support the investigation and for confirmation of laboratory diagnosis. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will strengthen 10 additional laboratories to expand the scope of laboratory diagnosis. RT-PCR test is the standard test for the disease. "As of now, there is no test available for Zika commercially. And we have not recommended any serological tests. Also, there is no vaccine or drug available to prevent or treat Zika virus disease at present, said Dr Prasad. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on February 1, 2016. Zika virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947. WHO has reported 22 countries and territories in Americas from where local transmission of Zika virus has been reported. The disease has the potential for further international spread given the wide geographical distribution of the mosquito vector, a lack of immunity among population in newly affected areas and the high volume of international travel. As of now, the disease has not been reported in India. However, the mosquito that transmits Zika, namely Aedes aegypti, that also transmits the dengue virus, is widely prevalent in India. A majority of those infected with Zika either show no symptoms (up to 80 per cent) or just mild symptoms of fever, rash, conjunctivitis, body ache or joint pain. UN says Zika-hit countries must allow abortions By AFP The United Nations (UN) on Friday urged countries hit by the dangerous Zika virus to let women have access to contraception and abortion. The UN human rights office said the South American countries now urging women to hold off getting pregnant over Zika fears had to offer them the possibility of controlling their fertility. How can they ask these women not to become pregnant, but not offer... the possibility to stop their pregnancies? spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly told reporters. A pregnant woman listens as a doctor explains how to prevent Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses in San Juan, Puerto Rico Many of these countries are conservative Catholic and have very restrictive abortion and contraceptive laws. An exploding number of cases of Zika virusbelieved to cause a condition called microcephaly in which babies are born with abnormally small headshave prompted several countries and territories in Latin America to warn women to avoid getting pregnant. But UN human rights chief UN rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein said this warning meant little in countries that ban or heavily restrict access to reproductive health services like contraception and abortion. The advice of some governments to women to delay getting pregnant ignores the reality that many women and girls simply cannot exercise control over whether or when or under what circumstances they become pregnant, especially in an environment where sexual violence is so common, Zeid said in a statement. In situations where sexual violence is rampant, and sexual and reproductive health services are criminalised, or simply unavailable, efforts to halt this crisis will not be enhanced by placing the focus on advising women and girls not to become pregnant, he said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is going to kick off its mega literature campaign to connect with the youth, children and women. This is just days after the BJPs national headquarters got a library in the Capital. The Sahitya Prasar Abhiyan, to be rolled out in Delhi on Sunday, will see participation of 10,000 RSS volunteers who plan to sell 1,000 packets of books at 1,000 locations across the city. RSS functionaries also told Mail Today that it was necessary to hit the streets to defeat the Opposition propaganda regarding its ideology The total number of books to be sold is 40,000 worth Rs 10 lakh. The organisation has pegged the books at nominal ratesRs 10-30 for a book. The theme of the books has been kept in line with the ideology of the RSS and the idea of cultural nationalism. There are five titles, each with numerous volumes that we will be circulated among children, women and the youth: Hanuman for Students, Gita for Students, Short Stories for Children, Bharat Ki Veer Krantikari Mahilayein or Revolutionary Women of India and a book dedicated to the RSS ideology and ideological allegations ascribed on the organisation. The last will be titled RSS Ek Drishtikona or RSS: A Perspective, Rajiv Tuli, Delhi prant prachar pramukh of the RSS, told Mail Today. Moreover, the RSS has also decided to take another step aiming towards wider reach as the books would be made available not just in Hindi, but in English too. Insiders told Mail Today that the move was aimed at reaching out to conventgoing students from relatively more affluent backgrounds. As an extension of the exercise, the RSS started with many stalls on the campus of the Delhi University from Friday. Countering Opposition RSS functionaries also told Mail Today that it was necessary to hit the streets to defeat the Opposition propaganda regarding its ideology and that of the BJP. According to Tuli, this is the third time in a row that the RSS would be organising the drive, the scale though is unprecedented this year. This campaign happens in different areas at different times of the year. In Delhi, we will be organising this to commemorate Vasant Panchami and Saraswati Puja celebrations. Saraswati is the goddess of learning, said Tuli. The RSS functionary also claimed that the entire exercise was devoid of any political import and that it was a way of proffering good books and the right Indian culture among the youth. These books are to inculcate and rekindle within the youth and children of the country, a culture of reading and reading the right literature that has progressively denuded over time, Tuli asserted. Interestingly, even as the RSS tried to brush off the suggestion of a subterranean ideological onslaught, the book on RSS ideology, meant to be a reader on the Hindu nationalist organisation, has been authored by longtime ideologue MG Vaidya. The book clarifies a number of misconceptions regarding the RSS as also tried to clear the air over controversies in which our name has been dragged, said an RSS functionary who did not want to be named. One of the many questions that have been answered in this book is regarding the RSS role in the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, an allegation that has stuck for a long time. Another major clarification that appears in the book pertains to MS Golwalkars controversial assertions in his book We or Our Nationhood Defined. The indoctrinating streak in the literature and the political nature of the exercise are also betrayed by the content of other books too. Inspiring young people Hanuman for Children, for instance, is aimed at highlighting the Indian gods singleminded devotion towards Lord Rama to inspire kids to emulate the sentiment for the nation. Two months after he walked free, it was time for yet another round of legal battles for Bollywood star Salman Khan with the Supreme Court on Friday commencing hearing of appeal filed by the Maharashtra government against his acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The court asked questions on the statement of several witnesses to ascertain if the Bombay High Court disbelieved crucial depositions. The judgment of the high court is a travesty of justice. Statements of injured victims were discarded, police witness disbelieved and a driver who surfaced after 13 years is believed by the high court, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi submitted before a bench headed by justice JS Khehar. AG Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Maharashtra government, told the Supreme Court that there was ample evidence that Salman Khan was driving the vehicle Referring to sequence of events and testimonies of some of the witnesses, Rohatgi said there was ample evidence that Salman was driving the vehicle and introduction of his driver Ashok Singh as the person, who was behind the wheels, was an afterthought that came to light after 13 years of the incident. The AG said the evidence of Ravindra Patil, who was with Salman in the Toyota Land Cruiser as his bodyguard, was very much admissible and its rejection was wrong. Patil had said Salman was driving drunk and had ignored his warnings. He died of tuberculosis in 2007 and when the high court examined his testimonies, it held the evidence was not admissible under law on the ground that he had not made the incriminating statements on the day FIR was lodged but two days later and there could be improvisation. At this stage, Justice Khehar asked the AG: When other prosecution witnesses were there, were they put to use? What did they say? to which Rohatgi replied: It is an important question, a very critical question. AG pointed out the HC had refused to rely on statements of injured victims also. The court also said it was important to know what various witnesses said on who drove the SUV. The bench said for the time being it will not issue notice and since it is a matter of appeal against acquittal, it would like to hear the state government further on February 12. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Salman, said the AG has told a very good story on the accident and he also has a lot to say to counter this. In its appeal, the Maharashtra government urged the SC to set aside the acquittal order. It disputed HCs observation that the investigation was conducted in a careless and faulty manner, claiming that there were many witnesses who corroborated the charges against Salman adequately. While acquitting Salman of all charges, the Bombay HC had on December 10 observed strong suspicion of guilt cannot be used to hold a person guilty. With the Centre not announcing any Confidence Building Measures as sought by the Peoples Democratic Party to create an atmosphere conducive to any re-alliance with the BJP, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday hardened her stance. She stated her father always preferred principles over power and it will remain a guiding code for her. Indicating that she wouldnt mind going back to people, Mehbooba said her father had left no assets in property but the legacy of more than half a century of public service that he established is enough to give democracy its real competitive edge. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti with her brother Tasaduq Hussain Sayeed during a party meeting in Jammu on Friday She added that Muftis vision was a roadmap for the party. We will have to strengthen our roots, go to the masses and carry forward that mission with renewed vigor, zeal and enthusiasm, which will be the biggest tribute to the great leader, she said while announcing in Jammu that her party will soon launch a statewide membership drive. The PDP chief described the three-year rule of Mufti from 2002 to 2005 as golden era in Jammu and Kashmir history. Mufti sahib remained chief minister for only three years before 2015 but his government outshined all previous regimes. The achievements on political, economic and development fronts during his three-year tenure have no match in the political history of Jammu and Kashmir. Mufti sahib always preferred principles over power and it will remain a guiding code for us, she further told the workers. The party expects announcement over several economic and political measures as spelled out in the Agenda of Alliance. "The belief that women are inferior human beings in the eyes of god gives excuses to the brutal husband who beats his wife, the soldier who rapes a woman, the employer who has a lower pay scale for women employees, or parents who decide to abort a female embryo." Jimmy Carter, 2009, Parliament of the Worlds Religions, Melbourne, Australia Once feared and avoided, Lord Shani is the new favourite of the god-fearing. Shani Shingnapur, a god-forsaken place until nearby Shirdi found its place on the religious map thanks to Sai Baba, has now become the Mecca of Shani-worshippers. Shani Shingnapur has now become the Mecca of Shani-worshippers Women are barred from coming close to the rock deity, and they see this rock as an obstacle in their right to worship. Shani, ironically, is the lord of obstacles. Omen Traditionalists say its a bad omen for women to stand close to the lord as he may cast an evil eye on them. Trupti Desai and her Bhumata Brigade dont believe in all that. She is spearheading a movement to defy the traditional bar on the entry of women to the Shani sanctum sanctorum. In Mumbai, the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan is fighting for womens right to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali dargah and touch the grave of Haji Ali as men do. There is a barricade that separates women from male devotees and limits their proximity to the saint they come to pray to. With this, the question of gender inequality at places of worship has come to the fore and in our living rooms, thanks to the noisy nightly debates on TV where dubious babas and malleable maulanas mansplain just how centuries-old tradition of inequality before the lord cannot be sacrificed at the altar of a modern idea of equality before law. I stand with the babas and maulanas on this one, for reasons different than what they prescribe and proscribe. Why do women need this as a right? Why do they want to enter places that treat them as inferior and impure? This is arguably the last thing women should be fighting for. Dowry deaths, punishment rapes, pay disparity, female foeticide, literacy rates, imposition of purdah, subjugation of their legal rights, honour killings: the socalled fairer sex has not got its fair share from the society yet. Yet, the right to worship Shani has become the issue at the moment, in the 21st century. It is an issue, but not the issue. Not in a world where equality remains a far cry. Right This fight for the right to worship is a faux fight. This demand for religious rights only reinforces the belief that religion matters. That religion matters is responsible for the systematic suppression of women in the society. All religions, all man-made of course, have done not much else but subjugate women by making them possessions of men. The phrase religious equality itself is an oxymoron. That women are religious, often more deeply than their male counterparts, is evidence of the grip of the Stockholm Syndrome. Since men always cited the text to domesticate and own them, women have grown to take the text as supreme. So when they want to follow the light of emancipation, they quote from the same text to justify their demand for freedom. After women cited selected religious texts that claim women are equal to men, men cited selected texts that dont allow the same status to women. Since the religious argument hasnt helped, Trupti Desai now wants the police to uphold the Constitution of India that guarantees them equality. The Constitution also wishes that her people developed a scientific temperament. That means calling a rock a rock. Beliefs The nonsensical beliefs in dead men and pieces of stone, in stories from books written thousands of years ago to draw boundaries for women, cattle and Shudras need to be consigned to the flames of knowledge and human rights, not embraced. Its time women stopped demanding newer shackles believing they will free them. Every time they demand a religious right, they acknowledge/dignify/justify religious beliefs, beliefs that have been the tools of oppression of women since the Stone Age. If women truly seek equality and emancipation, they have to rise up against the tyranny of religions, not acknowledge, accommodate and embrace them as they have done for centuries. Not fight for the right to bow their heads in front of a rock after touching the feet of a priest (who is a priest simply because he was born male in a family of priests). Lying at the feet of the self-declared agents of divinity, who declare menstruating women impure. Do not count your blessings, for they arent. Period. During these fractious times it can seem as if the only point of politicians is to put them in the stocks and pelt them with rotten eggs. But we shouldnt entirely forget that some of them are still doing excellent work on behalf of the public, often without fanfare. One politician every small investor should be thankful to have in the Commons is the Tory MP Andrew Tyrie, who chairs the Treasury Select Committee. Like a dog with a bone: Those who had shares in HBOS owe Andrew Tyrie a debt of gratitude Those who had shares in HBOS owe him and his fellow committee members a particular debt of gratitude for their dogged pursuit of the truth behind the collapse of the High Street lender. Mr Tyrie is like a dog with a bone in a good way as accounting regulator the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is now discovering. To recap, the FRC in 2013 decided there were no grounds for an investigation into the conduct of auditor KPMG, who did not ring a very loud alarm about the coming collapse of the benighted lender. Late last year, after a long-awaited report into HBOS was finally published by City watchdogs, the FRC decided it would, after all, look again at whether there are grounds to pursue KPMG for misconduct. It will, however, be examining only two areas. First, whether KPMG was right to sign off on the lender as a going concern in the 2007 accounts and second, whether HBOS should have disclosed any qualms about its viability in its financial statements. As Tyrie points out, this is highly unsatisfactory. The FRC will give no explanation as to why it has narrowed down its inquiries. Nor does it see the need to have independent oversight of its procedures, by, for instance, a senior QC, as happened with the main HBOS report. If it does think there is a basis for a misconduct case, the FRC will haul KPMG before an independent tribunal. If it does not, it will publish its reasoning. But this all means further delay and it is not clear whether there would be any effective means of challenging the FRC if it once again claims KPMG has no case to answer. The FRC should bring in an independent figure now to oversee its investigation and let him or her decide whether or not to hold a tribunal. This discredited organisation should not be allowed to act as judge and jury over whether KPMG is called to account or let off the hook again. The FRC has given every appearance of reluctance to pursue KPMG and of hiding behind rules and sophistry. If a regulator wants to mount a vigorous investigation, there is always a way to bulldoze through the red tape. Tyrie says the FRC needs to act quickly to maintain its public and professional credibility but without a major mindshift, that is a lost cause. Charity balls I havean element of sympathy with Age UK in this weeks row about it plugging energy deals from E.on that turned out not to be the cheapest: that ding-dong is as much an indictment of the ridiculous complexity of tariffs as anything else. But the idea that charities operate on a higher plane, run by saintly individuals and with every penny going straight to good causes has always been a convenient myth. The UKs large charities are big businesses: depending on what exactly they do, they may have multi-million pound investment portfolios, sizeable commercial arms, large numbers of volunteers and staff, and major logistical challenges such as delivering help in difficult countries. Recent scandals from Kids Company to the alleged hounding of elderly people for donations to Age UKs promotion of energy deals, insurance and funeral plans to pensioners have a common thread, which is lack of proper governance. Mia Tarantini completed a 96km through the wilds of Papua New Guinea with a 13kg pack when she was just 16 Mia Tarantini was already nervous enough at the prospect of trekking 96km through the wilds of Papua New Guinea with a 13kg pack and just a sheet of tarpaulin to sleep under at the age of 16. But the sight of men and even children waving machetes and guns at her and the rest of her group did nothing to calm her nerves as she made her way to start the infamous Kokoda trail. 'I was very on edge, just knowing that there were guns and such around made me very uneasy,' the schoolgirl from Casuarina, south of the Gold Coast, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Personally that was the first time I'd ever seen a gun in real life and to see people walking down the street and kids with massive knives was a bit of a shock.' Mia decided to take on the nine-day jungle trek, which covers the site of fighting between Japanese and Australian forces in the Second World War, as a way of thanking the soldiers for their sacrifice. But she was aware that retracing the steps of the soldiers through the Owen Stanley Range could also be fraught with dangers. The trail, viewed as one of the world's most physically and mentally challenging, has seen a number of attacks including one on a group of Australians in 2013 which saw two porters hacked to death. 'We felt safe on the track because we were with a professional group with more than 40 people including porters,' said Mia, now 17. 'It was a very emotional experience though because we could see where some of the fighting had taken place. It just made you think about all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting. 'There were rusty helmets, un-exploded grenades and ammunition scattered around. 'In the back of your mind youre always thinking about the soldiers who wouldn't have been walking they would have been running. Or rather than carrying 15kg they were carrying 35kg. 'It really puts the walk into perspective.' The schoolgirl, who completed the trek as part of the Kokoda Challenge Youth group in September 2015, said she found the first two days 'overwhelming' because of the lack of contact. Mia decided to take on the challenging nine-day Kokoda trail, the site of fighting between Japanese and Australian forces in the Second World War, as a way of thanking the soldiers for their sacrifice The trail, viewed as one of the world's most physically and mentally challenging, has seen a number of attacks including one on a group of Australians in 2013 which saw two porters hacked to death 'We never knew what time it was, there was no electricity, no running water and no way of contacting our family on our mobiles or anything. 'In the first one or two days it was really overwhelming. It was hard to process that I was in Papua New Guinea and actually doing the walk. 'We slept on the ground with just a tarpaulin covering us. I decided to carry my pack for the whole of the trek, so when I finished there was a huge sense of achievement. 'It weighed around 13kg, but that obviously got lighter as I ate my snacks. I was really surprised I didn't get any blisters or anything.' She said the group, which ranged in age from 16 to 18 plus leaders and porters, survived on rations of mainly spam, tinned tuna, biscuits and bananas. The schoolgirl, who completed the trek as part of the Kokoda Challenge Youth group in September 2015, said she found the first two days 'overwhelming' because of the lack of contact She said the group were respectful when they visited the memorial to the roughly 625 Australians that were killed fighting along the Kokoda Trail 'It was tough because we were hot, tired and hungry pretty much all the time. Obviously we couldn't take that many supplies because we had to carry everything. 'A few people in my group got a little ill with altitude sickness and we even had a helicopter on standby. The trail is so remote, so you really have to just keep pushing through. 'We all encouraged each other a lot and made sure no one was left behind. 'The track is rugged and there is no clear path because it is all covered in roots and dirt.' The schoolgirl said the group were respectful when they visited the memorial to the roughly 625 Australians that were killed fighting along the Kokoda Trail. 'We all sang the national anthem when we visited the memorial and I read out a poem. It was a very emotional moment.' The group spent five months training for the gruelling challenge and they would do long walks every Sunday ranging from 15km to 40km Mia is just one of the people who has been featured in Australias biggest crowdsourced film The Inspiring Story of Us The group spent five months training for the gruelling challenge and they would do long walks every Sunday ranging from 15km to 40km. 'I went to the gym most afternoons and we do a really tough hike every Sunday. I can remember looking up and seeing the first hill we were going to climb. I just thought 'I can't do this'. 'But I pushed through and it made the final hike so much better.' Mia is just one of the people who has been featured in Australias biggest crowdsourced film The Inspiring Story of Us. The film, commissioned by CommBank and directed by Gillian Armstrong, is made up of raw, amateur footage to create an intimate portrait of modern day Australia. Mexico's notorious Sinaloa crime gang headed by drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is pouring as much as $100 million worth of cocaine into Australia each month. It's estimated criminal syndicates try to smuggle as much as 500 kilograms into the country every month, with Sinaloa controlling more than 60 per cent of the local narcotics business. And in the past 18 months in Australia, at least eight men alleged to have connection to Mexican drug cartels have been arrested. Scroll down for videos Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. His Sinaloa drug cartel dominates the Australian cocaine market Guzman in the moments after his recapture in January after escaping in July of 2015 Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman is made to face the media as he's escorted to a helicopter in handcuffs by soldiers and marines at a federal hangar in Mexico City Guzman's second prison escape in 2015 from a top security prison though a tunnel had embarrassed President Enrique Pena Nieto and made his capture a national priority Mexican marines recaptured fugitive drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman in January in the north-west of the country, six months after his spectacular prison break embarrassed authorities A seizure of 71 kilograms of cocaine imported from Panama made by Australian Federal Police in December 'He's as bad as they come,' said Liz Hayes. 'El Chapo's drugs are absolutely coming to Australia, he's the major supplier go all the way through Europe, America, Asia and Australia. 'He has set up fairly impressive network in Australia, stemming the flow is a really difficult job, it's torrent. 'The structures are in place, it is home grown, and authorities say you can't arrest your way out of a drug problem.' Guzman is considered the 'biggest drug lord in the world' raking in $3 billion from cocaine sales alone. In a previous report issued on Mexican cartels, even the Australian Crime Commission conceded the gangs were attracted by the fact just one kilogram of cocaine could net upwards of $250,000 in Australia. A joint crackdown by Mexican and US authorities saw Guzman recaptured in a violent stand-off in early January after his escape from the maximum security prison in Santa Juana Centro last July. Operating around the Mexcian city of Sonoyta, along the Ariziona border, the Sinaloa cartel has smuggled millions of kilograms of illegal drugs, millions of dollars and weapons between the two countries. Mexican drug gangs are known to coerce migrants to smuggle drugs across the border, while also using underground tunnels to take larger loads of drugs into the US. Up to 22 members of the powerful Sinaloa cartel were arrested last week and two killed in police raid near the US-Mexico border. 60 Minutes walks viewers through the tunnel used by 'El Chapo' to make good his escape last July Images of the headlines in Mexico of Guzman's escapades are pinned to a wall El Chapo memorabilia and t-shirts have become an industry as well 23 metres down to the two kilometre long tunnel where 'El Chapo' broke out from prison Julian Layzaola, the chief of police who led the chase for 'El Chapo' is featured on the 60 Minutes program Liz Hayes ventures inside the elaborate tunnels where Guzman made good his escape. 'It was incredible, they were tunnelling under the feet of officials,' she said. 'In terms of a prison escape, a tunnel 23 metres deep and nearly two kilometres long in the middle of nowhere and with rail tracks, lighting, ventilation and a motorbike, you just say "wow". 'They found a hundred (tunnels) and they take a couple of years to build and cost a lot of money. 'It turns out he has tunnel gangs, part of his business is tunnel building. 'One tunnel can take a year and cost $2 million but that is paid by one shipment.' Liz Hayes spoke with police chief Julian Layzaola, describing him as 'the bravest policeman in Mexico'. 'When you go after a cartel they go after you, he has had numerous close shaves and if you are working on the ground over their it's a hair-raising job and your family gets threatened.' 'Corruption is the reason why El Chapo has been able to flourish, think if you are in a place of authority El Chapo has you in his sights.' The four remaining occupiers of a wildlife refuge in Oregon have been indicted by a grand jury today despite telling cops they will not leave while under the threat of arrest. Sean Anderson, 48, and wife Sandy, 47, from Riggins, Idaho, are still involved in the armed standoff with FBI agents alongside David Fry, 27, of Blanchester, Ohio, and Jeff Banta, 46, of Elko, Nevada. The group are now charged with felony conspiracy involving the use of intimidation to prevent federal officers from doing their work, a charge which carries a maximum sentence of six years. Today's indictments bring the total to 16, including leader Ammon Bundy and 11 others who are already in custody. Scroll down for video Sean Anderson, 48, and his wife Sandy, 27 (pictured) are among the four still involved in an armed standoff with the FBI in Oregon The indictment likely buries any chance that the foursome will leave on their own, raising the prospect of another armed confrontation a two weeks after LaVoy Finicum was shot dead. Also indicted today was David Fry (pictured), another of the holdouts who have pledged not to leave while under threat of arrest Fry's father, William Fry, was disappointed that his son has been charged, saying in an email: 'We were hoping for a more positive outcome.' He said his son is no different than those who believe 'our country is heading in the wrong direction'. 'He believes it so strongly he is willing to stand up with the hope that these actions might wake the nation up and lead others to get involved to change our country's course,' the father said. William Fry said he is still 'hoping and praying to welcome our son home safely'. The standoff began January 2, with the group demanding the federal government turn public lands over to local control and free two ranchers imprisoned for setting fires. Two conspirators traveled to the sparsely populated area of southeastern Oregon last October to warn the local sheriff of 'extreme civil unrest' if certain demands were not met, according to the indictment. Once the occupation began, the group brandished firearms to keep officials from carrying out their duties, threatened violence and intimidated locals 'to effectuate the goals of the conspiracy', the documents say. Defense attorneys have said at court hearings that their clients engaged in civil disobedience and are being punished for political speech. They say the only use of force during the standoff was by police, who shot and killed Arizona rancher Robert 'LaVoy' Finicum during a January 26 traffic stop. Standoff leader Ammon Bundy (left) and his brother, Ryan Bundy (right), have also been charged Shawna Cox (left), 59, and Jon Ritzheimer (right), 32, are also facing up to six years behind bars after being accused of using intimidation to prevent federal officers from doing their work Busted: Brian Cavalier, 44 (left), and Ryan Payne (right) were charged along with the others with conspiracy to impede federal officers Facing jail: Joseph O'Shaughnessy (left) and Peter Santilli (right) were arrested in Burns, Oregon Finicum's death led to protests this week by those supporting the occupation, while local residents rallied to urge the holdouts to leave, further dividing the strained community. Federal authorities fear those tensions could pop up elsewhere and have increased security at national wildlife refuges in southern Oregon, Northern California and Nevada and put the rest of the preserves nationwide on heightened alert. The additional security measures are in place at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which straddles the Oregon-California border; Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada; and Modoc National Wildlife Refuge in Northern California. Preserves and other national sites run by the Fish and Wildlife Service are being extra vigilant, said Gavin Shire, the agency's chief of public affairs. 'Due to the evolving situation in eastern Oregon, all service stations are on alert and being advised to take appropriate caution,' Shire said in a statement. Advertisement For tourists in New York, the Empire State Building's 86th floor observation deck has a magnetic pull, thanks to the sweeping views of Manhattan that can be seen through its high safety fence. And those who want to gaze out to the very horizon head still further up to the 102nd floor 'Top Deck', to gaze out across America from behind sturdy windows. But little do they know that there's yet another deck - a 'secret' deck, revealed on Tuesday by The Gothamist and photographer Navid Baraty that is one floor further up and accessible only by those in the know. And unless you have a strong head for heights, it is terrifying. Scroll down for video Dizzying: The views from the private 103rd floor of the Empire State Building allow visitors to look down on all but the tallest Manhattan skyscrapers. The floor is located in the metal mast on top of the tower, which was originally supposed to be a mooring point for airships Hello down there: Even visitors on the popular 86th floor observation deck look like ants from up on the 'secret' floor. The highest publicly accessible part of the tower is the 102nd floor just below, which allows visitors similar views, but from behind glass Distant shores: The 103rd floor gazes over the Hudson River and East River, allowing views of New Jersey (in the top left), Queens (in the top right) and The Bronx (in the far distance). Central Park and the Chrysler Building can also be glimpsed While the publicly accessible floors have safety measures to ensure that nobody can possibly fall from the iconic building, the 103rd floor has just a small knee-high ledge topped with a low railing. It's not a place for the faint-hearted. 'Your feet and hands tingle and sweat when you direct your gaze off the ledge,' writes The Gothamist's Jen Carlson. 'When the wind blows it feels like it will take you with it, and it probably could if it were strong enough. It really feels like the most special place to be in New York City.' Whoever ventures up there needs a good head for heights - there is very little between them and a long drop on some parts of the floor Hold on tight: Visitors to the floor many of whom are celebrities are protected from a long fall by just a low wall It's a small world: From some vantage points, New York looks like a video game or toy set rather than a sprawling metropolis It's a breeze: The balcony's height and its low walls make some feel like they could be blown away at any moment, but the sight of New York below is worth the nerve-jangling altitude The floor's tiny balcony is reached via a series of elevators that take visitors past the inner workings of the building its electricity boxes and pipes with the final approach to the summit being up a cramped, steep metal stairway-cum-ladder. Of course, any attempt to open the space up to the public would be a disaster, which is why it is mostly just visited today by celebrities, such as Taylor Swift, who was pictured on the vertigo-inducing balcony in 2014. The 102nd and 103rd floors are located in the 200-foot metal tip of the Empire State Building, which was originally supposed to be a mooring mast for airships, which at the time were considered the future of air travel. Standing tall: One World Trade Center is one of only two skyscrapers in New York taller than the Empire State Building, and even from this height it looks imposing Spire fight: Some say that the Empire State Building's mast was only added so it could beat the Chrysler Building to become the tallest building in the world, which it did in 1931. From the 103rd floor, even that extraordinary structure seems small Secret passage: Ascending to the top means visitors must walk 'behind the scenes' of the imposing structure, and climb steep stairwells The fiery destruction of the German passenger airship Hindenburg in 1937 killed the airship industry, but in all likeliness the mast would never have been regularly used as a dock for commercial passengers anyway, according to a New York Times article on the building. Photographs exist of airships moored to the structure, but the cramped passageways leading down from it would not have been comfortable or practical for many passengers to enter or exit ships. More likely its addition to the original plans, one year before construction started on the building in 1930, was intended to ensure the now-1,250-foot Empire State Building would tower over the 1,046-foot-high Chrysler Building, then still under construction. Fearless: Taylor Swift shows no qualms about leaning over the railing separating the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building from the dizzying drop below in this photo from 2014. Celebrities are some of the few people permitted up to the 103rd floor Grande views: Ariana Grande looks happy with the extraordinary sights as she takes a break from lighting the Empire State Building's lights for the the 2013 Macy's Day Parade Love on high: In 2012, Vanessa Hudgens and boyfriend Austin Butler celebrated her 24th birthday with a visit to the 'secret' floor If the mooring mast that houses the 103rd floor was made to beat the Chrysler Building then it worked: The Chrysler Building was the tallest building in the world for 11 months, until the completion of the mast in 1931. However, in a 1929 interview with The New York Times, Alfred E Smith, leader of the Empire State Building's investors, denied the claim, saying 'We are measuring its rise by principles of economic investment rather than spectacular standards.' But whatever the reason for its existence, the 103rd floor remains one of New York's most spectacular hidden views. His prices range from 5.80 for a mug and 20.25 for a long sleeve shirt He is selling souvenirs including clocks and clothes to help achieve dream The man volunteering to be the guinea pig for pioneering head transplant surgery is selling souvenir mugs and t-shirts to pay for the 14million operation himself. Russian Valery Spiridonov, who suffers from a genetic muscle-wasting disease, wants to go under the knife of maverick Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero, dubbed Dr Frankenstein. And to help achieve his dream, the 31-year-old is marketing a range of souvenirs, including clocks, coasters and caps with the logo 'Desire for Life' and showing an image of his head on a healthy, muscular body. Scroll down for video Hopeful: Valery Spiridonov, 31, from Russia, wants to become the first human to undergo a head transplant and is selling souvenirs to try and raise money for the controversial surgery Dr Frankenstein: Valery is trusting Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero (pictured) to decapitate him and fix his head on a healthy human body. The plans have been slammed by some medical experts He has spoken exclusively about his quest to raise funds for the risky operation, which he hopes could be as soon as next year. Valery has also hit back at critics of new research in China and South Korea, which has involved transplanting the heads of a monkey, a rat and mice, which he claims is vital to his hopes of obtaining a new body. He intends to go under the knife as Canavero's guinea pig - trusting that after his head has been severed by a super-sharp blade, it can be fixed successfully onto a healthy human body. 'We have a souvenir shop with symbols of our movement - Desire for Life,' he said, emphasising that 'all the income will be spent on scientific research aimed at preparation for the main surgery'. Valery has the potentially fatal Werdnig-Hoffman disease, also known as spinal muscular atrophy, and has been physically handicapped since childhood. He needs to raise an estimated 14million needed for the research and surgery, but wants to do all he can to realise his dream to go under the knife. So far his online shop is only in Russian, but he intends to offer an English language version soon. Valery and the surgeon now say the procedure, which is strongly opposed by many medical experts, is expected to go ahead in Russia if legal clearance is granted, with the help of a team of senior medics. The operation is penciled in for late next year. Souvenirs: Valery's prices range from 5.80 for a mug and 20.25 for a long sleeve shirt. He is also selling iPhone cases, thermos flasks and clocks to help raise money for the operation Ground-breaking: Valery Spiridonov (left) wants to go under the knife of surgeon Sergio Canavero (right) VALERY'S BRANDED SOUVENIRS Organic T-shirt - 1,085 roubles (9.60), Polo shirt (ladies) - 1,305 roubles (11.55) Long sleeve shirt (men) - 2,290 roubles (20.25) Long sleeve shirt (ladies) - 2,140 roubles (18.95) Thermos flask - 1,249 roubles (11.05) iPhone case - 869 roubles (7.70) Mugs - from 655 roubles to 790 roubles (5.80 to 7.00) Clock - 1,440 roubles (12.75) Baseball cap - 640 roubles (5.65) Computer mouse pad - 690 roubles (6.10) Advertisement Valery admitted: 'I am not rushing to go under the surgeon's knife. I am not shouting - come and save me here and now. 'Yes, I do have a disease which often leads to death, but my first role in this project is not that of a patient. 'First of all, I am a scientist, I am an engineer, and I am keen to persuade people - medical professionals - that such operation is necessary. 'I am not going crazy here and rushing to cut off my head, believe me. The surgery will take place only when all believe that the success is 99 per cent possible.' The Italian medic this month appealed to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for finance, while also calling on Russia's moneybag oligarchs to cough up the money he claims he needs to make the head transplant surgery a reality. Ren Xiaoping, a surgeon from the Harbin Medical University in China, is working with Canavero to perform the controversial procedure after 'successfully' attaching one monkey's head to the body of another. While no scientific articles have yet been published on the experiment, Dr Canavero claimed the monkey survived 'perfectly without injury', but was then put down for ethical reasons. Canavero's supporters also claim 'the first studies on human cadavers have already begun in China and will be expanded shortly'. Valery has hit out at backlash from scientists over the monkey and rodent tests. Bioethicist Arthur Caplan, of New York University School of Medicine, told New Scientist starkly: 'When it gets published in a peer-reviewed journal I'll be interested... I think the rest of it is BS.' He accused the Italian neurosurgeon of seeking to jump before he could walk, urging him to concentrate on finessing his techniques to help spinal cord injuries as an initial step. Support: Valery, pictured aged 16 with his mother Viktoriya, has been physically handicapped since childhood 'It's like saying I want to fly to the next galaxy when it would be nice to set up a colony on Mars, and I think about the same odds,' said Caplan. But Valery told MailOnline: 'Let me say a bit more about this rat. 'In this case, the rat's head was not completely separated from the body - only the spine, or the spinal cord, was cut, then some polyethylene glycol was added along with some other patented substances, and it took one month for the spinal cord to knit together and the rat regained the ability to operate its own body. Valery's head will be detached from his body and transferred to another one in a matter of seconds, and brain's blood flow will start in about 15 minutes Italian surgeon Sergio Canavero 'This experiment is an important piece of our puzzle because now we know for sure that it is possible for a spinal cord to grow back together. 'I can tell you that within the last 18 months, about 1,000 similar surgeries were performed in China, and I can say that this very rat is not the best sample. 'We will say more as soon as the information is published in the scientific magazines, because until then it is restricted by copyright.' Valery added: 'About the monkey, a different technology was tested here. It was about regaining blood circulation. 'The head was cut off completely but nothing was done to the spine. Blood recirculation and refrigeration of the brain - down to 15C - was tested. 'In other words, other pieces of the puzzle were tested here. And again, it is important that the circulation was regained in the end in a situation when the head was completely cut off the body.' Valery added: 'Of course I am glad to see that elements of the puzzle are matching and getting together. 'There is no doubt that nowadays we possess the technology which is far above all that was known earlier in terms of knitting back together the spinal cord. Trapped: The 31-year-old, pictured here aged seven in Russia with his mother (left) and father (right) suffers from a muscle wasting disease, which means he has been confined to a wheelchair for much of his life Trusting: The technique planned involves freezing the head and body, severing the patient's neck, then using polyethylene glycol to enable the head to attach to the donor body and spinal cord 'This technology works and I am sure that at the end of April all professional doctors will be convinced of it when the research materials are published. 'Every day the number of people who trust Canavero, and what he is doing, will only grow.' Valery insisted that a number of clinics and top surgeons in Russia are ready to work with the Italian, although they have not yet gone public to say so. 'Our only problem is lack of financial resources, this is what stops any serious research in Russia,' he said. The technique planned by the Italian professor involves freezing the head and body, severing the patient's neck, then using polyethylene glycol to enable the head to attach to the donor body and spinal cord. 'Valery's head will be detached from his body and transferred to another one in a matter of seconds, and brain's blood flow will start in about 15 minutes,' Canavero promised. Canavero admits he does not have the funds to undertake the surgery on Valery and also acknowledged the risks. Under the knife: Valery and the surgeon now say the procedure, which is strongly opposed by many medical experts, is expected to go ahead in Russia 'I have no single penny,' he said. 'I have received several offers but anonymously. This is not an option for me. 'There should be no mysteries and misunderstandings in this case. I'm waiting for a particular person to announce in public: here is the cheque, do the surgery.' He added: 'Can I guarantee that everything goes successfully? Gagarin went to space in 1961. Half-century has passed since then but rockets keep blowing up. 'Something may fall through in our case - but I am optimistic.' The would-be head transplant patient added: 'If I manage to replace my body and if everything goes well, it will allow me to be free of the limitations I am experiencing.' Mexican actress Kate del Castillo feels 'betrayed' and 'used' by Sean Penn over their meeting with drug lord El Chapo Mexican actress Kate del Castillo feels 'betrayed' and 'used' by Sean Penn over their meeting with drug lord El Chapo, her attorney has said. Del Castillo did not know Penn was planning to write an article for Rolling Stone about the interview, which took place while Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman was on the run in the Mexican jungle, lawyer Harland Braun said. Del Castillo, who was looking into developing a movie about the then-fugitive cartel boss, feels 'used' by Penn and two others who helpe her broker the meeting, he claimed. 'She didn't know Penn was going to write for Rolling Stone. Would you meet with El Chapo and approve to have the interview for publication?' the attorney asked. 'After the interview she had no choice about it. Once Penn and Guzman agreed on the article, what was she going to do? She signed off after they had done so. 'That's what made her feel really betrayed by these people. The three of them go together and basically used her and didn't tell her.' The secret meeting took place in October last year and came after del Castillo and the kingpin shared a raft of flirtatious text messages. El Chapo was captured in the Mexican city of Los Mochis in January - a day before Penn's article was published - and he is now back in the maximum security prison he escaped from last summer as he fights extradition to the United States. Del Castillo's attorney's comments came as prosecutors in Mexico issued an order demanding she return to her native country for questioning as part of an investigation into money laundering involving her tequila business and El Chapo. She is considered a witness and has not been accused of any crime, Mexican Attorney General Arely Gomez said. Scroll down for video Del Castillo did not know Penn was planning to write an article for Rolling Stone about the interview with El Chapo, her attorney said The secret meeting between El Chapo (left) and Penn (right) was brokered by del Castillo and took place in October last year Mr Braun says del Castillo is happy to talk to the Mexican authorities, but that she would rather do so in the U.S.. Both Penn and del Castillo were criticized for communicating with and then meeting with El Chapo without alerting officials. But the Mexican authorities later said that the stars' meeting with the cartel leader led them to him, even if they did not meant it to. 'We're not afraid of anything because she didn't do anything to hurt anyone,' Mr Braun said. 'She didn't do this to expose Mr Guzman.' Mr Braun said 'the Mexican government knows that there's no money laundering'. 'You can find out very quickly by looking financial records,' he said. He also denied there was any relationship between El Chapo and del Castillo. El Chapo was captured in the Mexican city of Los Mochis in January - a day before Penn's article was published - and he is now back in prison A series of flirtatious text messages between the unlikely pair were revealed by the Mexican newspaper Milenio, in which the kingpin clearly had more interest in the actress than Penn. The two had planned to meet again, and the messages sometimes veered into gushing expressions of mutual admiration 'He obviously was a fan of hers, Mr Braun said. 'She was trying to encourage him because he wanted to make a movie about his life. That's it. They're obviously friendly but that's it.' 'You would not, if you're trying to make a movie about a person's life, antagonize them, right?' The court order only applies in Mexico. If del Castillo was found to be in the country then she would be detained to make a statement as a witness and then released after doing so. She has loved in Los Angeles for years and is currently there, her attorney said. El Chapo, who made billions of dollars smuggling drugs from the east of Mexico into America, was first captured by authorities in 1993 when he was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. However, he was free again in 2001 after bribing prison guards with a reported $2.5million to turn a blind eye as he was wheeled out of jail in a laundry basket. It took authorities 13 years to relocate El Chapo, who narrowly avoided capture several times, before he was locked away again in 2014. Despite repeated warnings by U.S. authorities that Mexico did not have the means to hold El Chapo, he was again thrown into their most secure prison, and freed himself for a second time in 2015. This time his audacious escape used a mile-long tunnel dug underneath his cell complete with oxygen pipes, lighting and a motorbike mounted on rails to help him get away. El Chapo was recaptured by Mexican marines after a fierce firefight in January this year and is now facing life behind bars on drug trafficking and murder. This time Mexican authorities have agreed to have the cartel boss extradited, a move which his lawyers are bitterly resisting. According to legal experts, the appeals process available to El Chapo means that the move could take a year or more to pull off. An animal shelter in an Oklahoma town that has euthanized dogs by shooting them is under intense criticism by residents. Bristow Mayor Leonard Washington said on Thursday the practice is rare but would be stopped while the shelter is investigated. Residents of Bristow, a town of about 4,200 people southwest of Tulsa, have accused the animal shelter of fatally shooting at least three dogs in the past week and have petitioned the mayor to end the practice. Scroll down for video An online petition asked for guns not to be used when putting down animals in Bristow, Oklahoma Washington said: 'We are not going to shoot dogs anymore and we will try to work with local vets to help us. 'Shooting dogs is not a common practice, and this was a rare situation.' Washington told the Daily Beast Wednesday: 'This is something that's been a practice for 40 years. I don't know why it's a controversy... why such outrage now?' Oklahoma law requires that animals be euthanized in a humane fashion, but does not define humane. For cities under 10,000 people, the law allows for 'any humane method' to euthanize shelter animals. A Change.org petition claimed: 'Using gunshot technically may be legal but the practice certainly is not in the best interests of the residents, businesses, and pets of Bristow; is socially irresponsible and morally controversial; and earns the community a negative and embarrassingly poor image to the rest of the state and the nation.' There are 5,623 supporters for the petition started by Oklahoma Alliance for Animals. Resident Beth Roberts (pictured) is fighting state laws that can allow animal control officers to euthanize strays with guns Washington told local media that shooting the animals was legal. He said an animal control officer decided whether to take an animal to a vet for euthanasia or use a gun to end its life. He told Fox23 a pit bull and two other dogs were shot in the past week. While speaking to the Daily Beast, Washington said: 'Of course, you're going to have costs when you take it to the vet. 'If you got 20 dogs you're going to put down in X amount of months, you're going to incur a lot of costs. It's a matter of how you want to deal with it.' According to a Thursday report from the Bristow News, an animal control officer 'shot a number of dogs in the head last week.' Resident Beth Roberts is fighting state laws that can allow animal control officers to euthanize strays with guns. She said: 'The city and the animal control officer have an excess of euthanasia solutions on hand to use, but the animal control officer chooses to use a bullet over the solutions because..."it's cheaper."' Roberts told the Daily Beast: 'We need to eliminate the practice of shooting these dogs in the head. It's barbaric. It's not up to the times. People are outraged.' According to the Central Oklahoma Humane Society, the most accepted form of humane euthanasia is by injection but many rural communities lack resources when dealing with stray animals. A high school teacher has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual relationships with two former students. Gary Bettencourt, 40, of Turlock, California is accused of having a relationship with one victim, 17, from early 2015 until she graduated last June at Pacheco High and another student over the course of two years when he worked at Los Banos High ten years ago. The most recent victim has also accused Bettencourt's girlfriend, 22-year-old Devyn Egan, of molesting her as well. Egan was formerly a student of Bettencourt's in high school. Scroll down for video Trouble: High school teacher Gary Bettencourt (left) of Turlock, California is accused of having a sexual relationship with two students while his girlfriend Devyn Egan (right) is accused of molesting one of the victims Details: The pair allegedly had a relationship with one victim, 17, from early 2015 until she graduated last June at Pacheco High (above) Prosecutors filed charges against the couple on Monday according to ABC, and believe that there could possibly be more victims. 'Throughout the investigation, we received several pieces of evidence which included social media. We recovered information from computers so we were able to tie some information to our second victim,' said Los Banos Police Chief Ray Reyna. 'Their charges involve unlawful sexual acts with a minor, lewd contact, and several other charges related to that type of conduct.' Reyna later added; 'We believe there are more victims, and the detectives are working to identify them through the social media communications.' Drugs and alcohol also played a part in these relationships according to the Merced Sun-Star. Dr. Steve Tietjen, the superintendent for Los Banos High where Bettencourt worked from 2002 to 2010, said; 'It's very disturbing. You hope that it never happens during your career, and when it does, it's like a punch in the stomach and it's a betrayal of the profession.' After just 44 disastrous days in No10, Liz Truss took to a lectern outside the famous black door to confirm her departure, sealing her fate as the shortest-serving premier in modern political history. Revealing she had informed the King of her decision, she said: 'I cannot deliver on the mandate.... I will remain as PM until a successor has been chosen.' Ms Truss - who insisted she was a 'fighter not a quitter' barely 24 hours ago - said the Tory leadership contest will be completed over the next week. Giving her valedictory statement, she was watched by husband Hugh. Attention immediately turns to the leadership battle - with Jeremy Hunt ruling himself out within minutes. However, there are claims that Boris Johnson - currently on holiday in the Caribbean - will bid for a shock return just six weeks after he left office. Friends of Rishi Sunak told MailOnline he is almost certain to stand, Suella Braverman and Kemi Badenoch are likely to run, and Penny Mordaunt's 'grassroots' campaign Twitter account has already fired up. Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis is also considering throwing his hat in the ring, although the number of nominations from MPs needed to appear on the ballot is expected to be very high. One close Sunak ally told MailOnline there would be a 'natural logic' to him facing off against Ms Johnson. 'It will be a battle for the soul of the party,' they added. Advertisement He owns $50 million worth of real estate and recently signed for his 200th piece of property - and he's still only 30 years old. Nathan Birch has made his fortune buying houses at the lower end of the market and predicting that their worth will increase over the years. He uses the buy and hold method, where an investor buys stocks - in this case property - and holds on to them for a long time. Mr Birch just gradually raises the rent in each property as they increase in value. With over $3.5 million in gross rental income a year and a net profit of $500,000, Mr Birch, from western Sydney, is definitely the man to listen to when valuable real estate tips are being handed out. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO The first house that Nathan Birch bought (pictured) in 2004 was in Mount Druitt, Sydney, and it was riddled with termites. He bought it for $248,000 and it's worth $600,000 today 'The first thing is not to get emotional about it. When it's for an investment, it's purely about the numbers. It has to be treated like a business and your numbers don't lie,' Mr Birch told Daily Mail Australia. 'Don't get caught up in other people's opinions. They generally don't know what they're talking about. Free advice can turn out to be the most expensive. 'If you're looking to invest make sure you have a clear plan. Each property has to serve its purpose towards your end goal. If you have a 10-year plan, calculate where you want to be and work backwards. Work out what you want to be buying that fits in with your projected 10-year plan. In 2009 this Mount Druitt villa was bought by Mr Birch who paid $137,000 for it. It is now worth $380,000 today This property in Penrith NSW was bought by Mr Birch for $234,000 in 2008 and is worth $600,000 today Also in Penrith in Western Sydney, NSW, the real estate developer paid $248,000 for this house and it's now worth $550,000 In 2008 Mr Birch paid $140,000 for this white house and it is now worth $360,000 Nathan's top five real estate tips 1. Don't let emotion take over. It's purely a numbers game. 2. Don't get caught up in other people's opinions. Free advice can be the most expensive. 3. If you're looking to invest make sure you have a clear plan of action. Each property has to serve its purpose towards your end goal. 4. If you have a 10-year plan, calculate where you want to be and work backwards. It'll give you an outline on what you can spend. 5. Treat it like a business - your numbers don't lie. And take action. Just don't talk about it. Advertisement 'When I first started buying the properties, they weren't attractive properties or anywhere I'd aspire to live in. They were based purely on what I could afford. You then just do it in steps. Stick to the 10-year projection that you've worked out. 'The final thing is to take action. A lot of people have great ideas but don't do anything about it. The richest place on earth is the graveyard because most of the people take their ideas with them when they die.' For a man who never went to university his impressive career says a lot for putting your mind to something and just doing it. He bought his first house at the age of 18 in 2004, while he was earning roughly $30,000 a year. The house was in Mount Druitt and he paid $248,000 for it and its rent was $600 per week. Two years later it was worth $435,000, and it's worth $600,000 today. 'I remember it well. It was a c****y house, riddled with termites and while I was doing some renovations on it I sat there thinking "if this is what property investment is all about they can keep it",' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'But I had a goal and I needed to stay focused on it. I knew what I needed to do. It was the first of 10 properties that I got. Some times I thought it was going to be impossible but I just kept pushing myself.' Mr Birch, from Western Sydney, is definitely the man to listen to when valuable real estate tips. He bought his first home at 18 This Mount Druitt unit in Western Sydney cost $158,000 initially in 2009 and is now worth $380,000 He went on to own 14 properties by the time he was 24 years old. It was then he founded his own real estate company Binvested, and from here things really took off. His main aim now is to be a billionaire by the time he hits 40 years of age. 'My father dropped dead when he was 62. He worked two jobs his whole life to support his family, but he never really got to live life on his terms and I want to live life on my terms,' Mr Birch said. 'So I thought if I can sacrifice 10 years of my life I will be able to do what I want when I want. 'I started off working two full-time jobs - 20 hours a day, seven days a week - wife, kids and all that just had to wait. Now I just want to keep setting myself goals.' And he is showing no signs of stopping, with his next project a shopping centre he has bought in NSW's Central Coast that he is planning to redevelop into units. This property was bought in St Leonards in Sydney, NSW, for $161,000 and is now worth $230,000 Marek Kruger had been charging the lifeline phone under his pillow because he wanted it next to him so he could call on his carers A cancer patient died after suffering smoke inhalation and 64 per cent burns to his body when his iPhone overheated and burst into flames while charging as he slept. Marek Kruger, 53, had been charging the lifeline phone under his pillow because he wanted it next to him so he could call on his carers. The bedridden father-of-two was suffering from a terminal brain tumour which had left him immobile on the right-hand side of his body, so kept the phone within his reach, an inquest in Reading was told. But lack of ventilation around the phones battery caused it to overheat and catch fire. Mr Krugers wife Iryna, told the inquest the iPhone phone acted as a lifeline for her husband and he would often have it stored under the covers or pillow while he slept. She said: He used to put the phone and wallet just under the pillow because he wanted to have his phone next to him. He felt unsafe sometimes when the girls [his carers] had not been around and I was at work. Jonathan Fuguet, a consultant scientific adviser, told assistant coroner Ravi Sidhu the phone had burst into flames one night in August last year because it had been covered while on charge. He said: The heat generated by the phone while charging could not dissipate because of the insulation. Mr Fuguet said the fire was so intense that parts of the iPhone 5s copper battery - with a melting temperature of 1,084c - had disintegrated. No faults were found in either the phone or the charger and Mr Fuguet pointed to Apples advice that devices be kept below 35C and are not covered while charging. Mr Krugers son, Przemyslaw, had been upstairs at a friends flat in the same building in Chatham Place, Reading, when they first smelled burning plastic at around 12.45am. He rushed downstairs to find fire crews already on scene after neighbours raised the alarm. When he opened the door firefighters rushed in to find Marek alight on the bed where they doused him with a wet towel found in the bathroom. Mr Kruger was declared dead at the scene after attempts to revive him by firefighters and paramedics. A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Fawaz Musa recorded the cause of death as smoke inhalation couple with unsurvivable burns to 64 per cent of Mr Krugers body. Recording a narrative conclusion, Mr Sidhu said: I am persuaded that in all likelihoods, had that iPhone been charged in an environment where the heat could have been dissipated as it charged, we would not have to be here. The likely cause was the battery overheating in circumstances where it had been covered and heat was retained to a degree where it was heating up more than it was able to cool. That in turn caused other material to be ignited which in turn caused fumes to be ejected. Regrettably, Mr Kruger was in close proximity to those fumes in a way that he could not extricate himself because of his medical condition. Vegetables grown in ground are also at risk and fruit that is hand packed Dodgy chicken notoriously gets the blame when people come down with a bout of serious food poisoning, but often it can be the unsuspecting fresh fruit, vegetables and even reheated rice that causes the problem. Lettuce is the latest food to cause a widespread food poisoning outbreak in Australia after at least 28 people fell ill from eating salad that was found to contain salmonella. Popular salad mixes at Coles and Woolworths were urgently recalled after they were linked to the salmonella outbreak and food delivery service Lite n' Easy also issued warnings to its customers to not eat their meals containing salad. Scroll down for video Lettuce is the latest food to cause a widespread food poisoning outbreak in Australia after at least 28 people fell ill from eating packaged supermarket salad that was found to contain salmonella Lydia Buchtmann, a food expert at the Food Safety Information Council, said cooking is what kills bacteria so there is an increased risk of developing food poisoning from eating foods like salad. 'There is a myth that vegetarians dont get food poisoning because salmonella is normally linked to raw meat, poultry and eggs... but it can be found in vegetables,' Ms Buchtmann told Daily Mail Australia. WHY IS LETTUCE LINKED TO SALMONELLA? Food poisoning outbreaks related to lettuce usually happen in warmer months because bacteria can breed. In past outbreaks, salmonella has been linked to contaminated irrigation water. Something may have gone wrong in the washing process. A food handler may have been sick with gastro. Advertisement Ms Buchtmann said an outbreak related to foods like lettuce was more likely to happen in warmer months because bacteria can easily breed, but it would take some time to work out the cause of salmonella in this most recent outbreak. 'In past outbreaks, it has been linked to irrigation water thats been contaminated. But something might have gone wrong with the washing process or it could be a food handler who has been sick. Its illegal to handle food if you have had gastro,' she said. Bacteria like salmonella can often take 72 hours, or in some cases a week, to take hold so sometimes it is difficult for people to pinpoint exactly what causes their food poisoning. So what are some of the foods that can pose a food poisoning risk? Rice or pasta Bacteria can grow very easily when people leave their pot of pasta or rice to cool down on the stove before putting it in the fridge Food experts advise to package and freeze or refrigerate leftover rice or pasta right away because bacteria is not killed when it is reheated in the microwave Cooked rice or pasta is one food people often dismiss when it comes to food poisoning. Bacteria can grow very easily when people leave their pot of pasta or rice to cool down on the stove before putting it in the fridge. 'Don't let them cool slowly and then refrigerate. Package and freeze or refrigerate right away,' Ms Buchtmann said. 'Nasty toxins can grow in them and it's not killed by reheating in the microwave.' Raw vegetables and fruit Lettuce and other vegetables grown in the ground can attract E. coli because of the soil with a past food poisoning outbreak involving sprouts Tomatoes can often be contaminated by salmonella when hand packed for sale These foods, while they are healthy, can attract bacteria from the soil they are grown in and by the people who handle them before you buy them. Lettuce and other vegetables grown in the ground can attract E. coli because of the soil with a past food poisoning outbreak involving sprouts. Tomatoes can often be contaminated by salmonella when hand packed for sale. Just last year packaged frozen berries were recalled from supermarkets because of potential hepatitis A contamination. 'For foods that you aren't going to peel before eating, put them in a plastic bag to store. You should store salad, veggies and fresh fruit in plastic bags and keep them away from raw meat when you're shopping,' Ms Buchtmann said. It is recommended to wash and dry fruit and vegetables before using them and to store potatoes in a cool dark place where they won't start sprouting. Eggs Dishes that contain uncooked or minimally cooked eggs are high risk, including some desserts like mousses and tiramisu, hollandaise sauces, fresh mayonnaise and aioli Eggs can cause food poisoning if they are not handled or cooked properly. Dishes that contain uncooked or minimally cooked eggs are high risk, including some desserts like mousses and tiramisu, hollandaise sauces, fresh mayonnaise and aioli. If you are going to eat raw egg foods, prepare them just before you are going to consume them and refrigerate immediately. Chickens, turkey and duck Poultry meats can carry salmonella and campylobacter and notified cases of these illness have doubled in Australia in the past 20 years Poultry meats can carry salmonella and campylobacter and notified cases of these illness have doubled in Australia in the past 20 years. 'Its cooking that kills bacteria,' Ms Buchtmann said. So food poisoning can be avoided if chicken and other birds are cooked thoroughly. Sauces Ms Buchtmann said it was important for people to stick to used by dates and follow the correct storage directions on a package. 'You find a lot of sauces, like tomato sauce, have less sugar now. It means it's healthier but there's less preservatives, which means they need to be refrigerated,' she said. It is important to stick to used by dates and follow the correct storage directions on a package, including sauces. Sauces have less sugar now and less preservatives, which means they need to be refrigerated Up to 8,500 bed-blocking patients are stuck in hospitals each day because of a lack of care at home, a major report warns today. The crisis is costing the health service 900 million a year and is far worse than previously thought. Separate figures show that the NHS is short of an estimated 50,000 doctors, nurses and other clinical staff. Almost 6 per cent of posts at hospitals and other organisations are vacant and they are relying heavily on agency workers. A new report commissioned by the Government estimates that the NHS could save up to 5 billion a year by becoming more efficient. Up to 8,500 bed-blocking patients are stuck in hospitals each day because of a lack of care at home, a major report has warned (file photo) It was written by Labour peer Lord Carter, who spent 18 months comparing how a sample of 32 hospital trusts are run. His main findings reveal that: Patients having hip and knee operations at some hospitals are eight times more likely to develop infections than at others. More than two-thirds of space in some hospitals is taken up by offices, store rooms and labs not wards treating patients. Some trusts are ten times more expensive to run than others. NHS staff take an average of two-and-a-half weeks off sick each year. The NHS is facing its worst financial crisis in a generation as it struggles to meet the needs of the ageing population and pay for increasingly expensive treatments. Three-quarters of hospital trusts are currently in the red, and they are expected to record a combined deficit of 2 billion this year. Lord Carter a businessman who has chaired several Government reviews was commissioned in June 2014 to look at hospital waste. But one of his main concerns is that hospitals are wasting valuable time and money caring for patients who shouldn't be there at all. NHS figures for bed-blocking are currently amongst the worst on record. In the last recorded month a total of 153,000 days were lost due to patients not being discharged because they cannot be looked after in the community. Labour MPs and health experts blame Government spending cuts, which means councils have less money to pay for elderly care at home. The government commissioned report foudn the bed blocknig crisis is costing the health service 900 million a year and is far worse than previously thought (file photo) Lord Carter's report urges trusts to set up 'cottage hospital'-style wards to house patients who are well enough for discharge, but not ready to live independently. This is being trialled by Mid Yorkshire NHS trust, based in Wakefield, which has set up a 42-bed unit outside the main hospital. Lord Carter said that if hospitals implemented all his recommendations they would save 5 billion a year by 2020. He said: 'My experience of the NHS and hospitals internationally is that high quality patient care and sound financial management go hand in hand. 'To improve the quality of care hospitals must grasp resources more effectively - especially staff - which account for more than sixty pence of every pound hospitals spend. 'Giving hospitals the tools and support to better manage resources will make it easier for boards to follow the example of the best trusts and mean every patient can receive the same world class care and taxpayers will also receive a fairer return on their significant investment in the NHS.' Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who commissioned Lord Carter to carry out the review, added: 'I want to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world, capable of providing the same world class care every day of the week, powered by a culture of transparency and learning. 'This groundbreaking review will help hospitals care for patients, making sure every penny possible is spent on frontline patient care and bureaucracy is slashed so doctors and nurses can concentrate on caring.' Lord Carter also found that the average NHS worker is absent for 6 per cent of their working year. This is equivalent to 13 days working days two-and-a-half weeks and three times the amount of sick leave taken by private sector employees. The report, written by Labour peer Lord Carter, found more than two-thirds of space in some hospitals is taken up by offices, store rooms and labs not wards treating patients (file photo) The new report said hospitals must ensure that offices, labs and store rooms take up no more than 30 per cent of their space. It also warned that deep wound infection rates following hip and knee replacements varied from 0.5 per cent at the best trusts to 4 per cent at the worst. This means patients are eight times more likely to develop infections at some hospitals. The report estimated that 6,000 patients would avoid becoming infected if the worst trusts improved care. Meanwhile, separate figures from the National Audit Office estimate that 6 per cent of clinical posts are vacant at hospital trusts and other NHS organisations. This equivalent to almost 50,000 doctors, nurses and other staff, including physiotherapists and radiographers who read x-rays. Labour MP Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: 'Demand for healthcare is increasing but the numbers of clinical staff in England is not keeping pace. 'More than one in twenty of clinical posts are unfilled, putting services and patient care at risk. 'Alarmingly these posts are budgeted for, so the money is there to pay staff but still they are unfilled. Aircraft flying into the UK from countries hit by the Zika virus will be sprayed with insecticides to stop the virus spreading, the government said yesterday. The virus feared to cause abnormally small skulls and brain damage in babies is carried by mosquitos. Yesterday the first case in Europe of a pregnant woman being diagnosed with the virus was reported in Spain. To combat mosquitos that might have entered aircraft travelling to Europe in the cabins, insecticide will be sprayed to kill them off. Precaution: Flights to the UK from countries hit by the Zika virus are to be sprayed with insecticides to stop the virus spreading. Pictured is a plane in Thailand being sprayed in June 2015 to stop the spread of MERS The zika virus feared to cause abnormally small skulls and brain damage in babies is carried by mosquitos Planes arriving in the UK from all countries where cases of Zika have been confirmed in South America and the Caribbean will be sprayed as a precautionary measure. But yesterday Florida, a major tourist destination for Britons, declared a health emergency over the virus after nine cases were detected there. The Department for Health said the precautions known as disinsection - already occur on many flights from the region as a precaution against mosquito-bourne malaria. The WHO warned this week that Europe could be hit by the disease as mosquitos capable of carrying the disease are found in much of southern Europe raising fears of the bug hitting holidaymakers in the Med. But the DfH said the virus is extremely unlikely to be able to survive and breed here given the lower temperatures in the UK. Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: Disinsection is a highly precautionary measure to reduce the risk to passengers during flights to the UK. I want to reassure people that the risk to the UK population is extremely low. We advise people travelling to affected areas to reduce the risk of themselves being bitten by wearing mosquito repellent, long sleeves and trousers. Insecticide will be sprayed to kill off any mosquitos that might have entered the cabin of an aircraft travelling to Europe. Workers in protective suits are pictured spraying an antiseptic solution to counter MERS in Thailand Yesterday the first case in Europe of a pregnant woman being diagnosed with the virus was reported in Spain Pregnant women should consider avoiding travel to countries with the Zika virus - or if travel is unavoidable, they ought to seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance of their trip. Disinsection involves spraying a quick-acting insecticide spray immediately before take-off with passengers on board. In addition, interior surfaces of the plane are treated with a residual insecticide spray, with the exception of food preparation areas. Disinsection is a highly precautionary measure to reduce the risk to passengers during flights to the UK Public Health Minister Jane Ellison The WHO advises it has found no evidence that insecticide sprays used in planes are harmful to human health when used as recommended. The disease has already been linked to nearly 4,000 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. The Spanish health ministry said the woman infected, who has not been named, had recently returned from Colombia, where it is believed she was infected. Zika, which is spreading through the Americas, has been linked to babies being born with underdeveloped brains. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the microcephaly condition, linked to the mosquito-borne virus, a global public health emergency. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have advised that pregnant women who have travelled to countries affected by Zika in the Americas and Caribbean will be given extra ultrasound scans to check for abnormalities in their developing foetus. Mothers with babies affected by the bug will be offered the option of an abortion. But yesterday anti-abortion groups said that Zika should not be used as an excuse for terminations. Fumigating: Officials say as many as 100,000 people may have been exposed to the Zika virus in the city of Recife, Brazil, the so-called epicenter of the crisis. A worker fumigates in an attempt to eradicate the mosquito Separately, Paul Tully, deputy chief executive of the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC) has criticised calls for babies with microencephaly to be aborted. He said: Killing the babies affected is not prevention and wont prevent more cases. Rather, families should be supported and steps should be taken to establish evidence for the cause of the condition so that effective steps to prevent it can be put in place. The abortion lobby is playing on the fears of expectant mothers in order to promote its own agenda, which includes discrimination against disabled children. The public are not being told that the degree of disability that microcephaly causes is very varied. A 24-year-old Brazilian journalist, Ana Caceres, who has microcephaly has criticised comments from the Brazilian government that Brazil would have a damaged generation because of the condition. She said: Microcephaly is a box of surprises. You may suffer from serious problems or you may not. So I believe that those who have abortions are not giving their children a chance to succeed. Three more cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Florida, taking the number of infected people in the state to 12 as the state's governor warned people to 'prepare for the worst'. Florida Governor Rick Scott insisted the state was still safe for tourists as he extended a state of emergency to a fifth county. Scott said all of the Zika cases involved people bitten by infected mosquitoes outside of the United States before coming to Florida. He said he was treating the outbreak as if it were 'a hurricane' and said he will do everything in his power to keep Florida safe. Scroll down for video Three more cases of the Zika virus have been confirmed in Florida, Governor Rick Scott (pictured) said The Zika virus is suspected to cause microcephaly, a brain deformity, in newborn children. Pictured, Cassiana Severino holds her daughter Melisa Vitoria, born with microcephaly in Recife, Brazil 'We have to ensure that Florida's safe,' he said. 'Just like in a hurricane, we always say to ourselves, "We'll prepare for the worst and hope for the best". And we're going to do everything we can to stay ahead of the Zika virus,' he added. The counties covered by the health emergency declaration are Broward, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade and Santa Rosa. Florida has the facilities to check 475 pregnant women for viral antibodies but has called on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to send another 1,000 testing kits. 'With 20million people and over 100million tourists, we need the CDC to immediately provide these kits to Florida so we can protect our families and of course all of our visitors,' Scott said. As well as the 12 cases of Zika in Florida, the first case of the virus has also been confirmed in Georgia, officials said, while another case has been found in Texas. Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared a health emergency in four counties due to the Zika virus after 12 cases of the mosquito-borne illness were detected in the state. Pictured, the larvae of Aedes aegypti mosquito The Zika virus is primarily spread through mosquito bites and is linked to brain deformities in babies. However, it is causing concern among public health officials and investigators are exploring the possibility that it cam be sexually transmitted. U.S. health officials on Tuesday said a person in Texas became infected with Zika through sex, in the first case of the illness being transmitted within the United States. They said the patient there acquired Zika through sex with an ill person who returned from Venezuela, where the virus was present. More than 30 people in the United States have been confirmed to have Zika after traveling to an affected country. Experts have warned the Zika virus could be rife in Southern US states by the spring. The states at greatest risk are those along the Gulf Coast - Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida (dark red) Although there has been only one report of transmission within the United States, experts believe that will increase as the weather warms up, the local mosquito population multiplies and many more travelers return to the country. However, experts warned today that the virus is likely to entrenched within the United States by April or May as temperatures rise. The states at greatest risk of the virus are those on the Gulf Coast, including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, but all areas where mosquitoes are typically a problem could see localized outbreaks. Futhermore, it is almost impossible to declare an area of the US safe from Zika, because travelers arriving back from an affected region could also spark an outbreak. Until now, the best weapon against disease-carrying mosquitoes in the United States has been outdoor pesticide fog sprayed by truck and airplane. But health experts fear the typical approach will do little to eradicate the Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries Zika. Controlling that mosquito requires pesticide sprayed under beds, on the walls and in closets, said Gonzalo Vazquez-Prokopec, who studies disease transmission patterns of mosquitoes at Emory's School of Public Health's Department of Environmental Sciences. The virus, which is commonly found in parts of Africa and South East Asia spread to Latin America via French Polynesia. Last year more than 1.5 million people in South America became infected, before the virus jumped to the Caribbean, Mexico and Texas towards the end of 2015 A city worker fumigates a public school to combat the Aedes aegypti mosquito, known to transmit dengue, Chikungunya and Zika, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras Though there could be localized US outbreaks, most likely along the Gulf Coast, federal officials said they hope the wide use of air conditioning, window screens and regular garbage collection will mitigate the risk. The World Health Organization declared the Zika outbreak an international health emergency this week after evidence linking the virus to microcephaly - a devastating birth defect that can cause unusually small heads and permanent brain damage. Brazil has reported around 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly. The outbreak is now affecting at least 25 countries and territories, most of them in Latin America and the Caribbean. It could infect up to four million people in the Americas, according to the WHO. 'All it takes is one of those individuals who arrives back in the United States at the stage where they have virus in their blood,' said Scott Weaver, an expert in mosquito-borne viral diseases at the University Texas Medical Branch's Galveston National Laboratory. At that point, he said, a single mosquito biting the affected person could spread the disease to others. Meanwhile, WHO has also said the reported case of sexually transmitted Zika virus in Texas is raising concerns. Spokesman Gregory Hartl says WHO is organizing and supporting research about the mostly mosquito-borne virus and under what conditions is it transmitted and via which routes other than the mosquito route. Speaking in Geneva on Wednesday, Hartl said that, for now, WHO believes nearly all of cases are caused by transmission by mosquitoes. WHO says it has not yet issued any guidance on possible prevention of sexual transmission of Zika. FINLAND: President calls for rethink of the Geneva Convention Too many migrants are using the outdated Geneva Convention to enter Europe when they are not in genuine need, Finlands president has warned. Sauli Niinisto called for a rethink of the 1951 UN treaty that obliges signatories including Britain to offer sanctuary to those fleeing danger. He said it was not right that anyone could say the word asylum on arrival and have the right to cross into Europe. Scroll down for video Finland's president Sauli Niinisto, pictured, has described the 1951 Geneva Convention as 'outdated' and wants the mechanism changed to place additional restrictions on asylum seekers looking to move to Europe His comments came as the European Commission warned that the huge influx of refugees into Europe could trigger a new economic crisis. Addressing politicians at the opening of parliament in Helsinki, Mr Niinisto said the migrant crisis posed a serious threat to Western values and called for tougher rules to stop those moving simply in search of a better life. Mr Niinisto said: Migration is a serious problem. Europe, Finland, the western way of thinking and our values have all been challenged by it. This is a stark transformation. Just a few years ago we were exporting our values and regarded them as unquestionable, now we are having to consider whether even we ourselves can preserve them. The Finnish leader said the majority of asylum seekers were not fleeing immediate danger. The Geneva Convention, signed by 145 countries in the aftermath of the Second World War, has been criticised for preventing migrants being returned to Turkey because it does not recognise the rights of refugees from the Middle East. It also takes no account of the impact of large numbers of asylum seekers on the nations they arrive in. Mr Niinisto said: The flow of immigration into Europe and Finland is largely a case of migration rather than a flight from immediate danger. Mr Niinisto said the majority of asylum seekers were not in immediate danger and were looking for a better life All estimates predict that the flow of people will increase this year. This is challenging the ability of western democracies to help and also challenging the very structures underlying the idea of Europe. The international rules were drawn up and their interpretation evolved under quite different circumstances. I feel sure that if these international regulations, and the national regulations based on them, were drawn up now, their content would be fundamentally more stringent, while still taking account of human rights and helping those in need. Mr Niinisto said there were no good options, but insisted leaders had to ask themselves whether we aim to protect Europes values and people and those who are truly in acute danger or inflexibly stick to the letter of our international obligations with no regard for the consequences. Last night the European Commission warned of fresh economic turbulence if the flow of migration continued. In a report, it said the unprecedented inflow presented a major political challenge. Another million people driven from their homes by conflict are expected in Europe this year. But failure to deal with it could derail the already fragile economy, said eurocrats. The public perception of the increased number of refugees could impact negatively on economic confidence and thereby lower the growth momentum of private consumption, said the report. Fewer than a quarter of Britons think the UK should accept more refugees from Syria, a poll reveals. The figure fell from 40 per cent in September when two-year-old Syrian Alan Kurdi was pictured dead on a Turkish beach to 24 per cent. Some 41 per cent say Britain should take fewer arrivals, according to a Comres survey for BBC local radio. TURKEY: Mass exodus of Syrians after airstrikes Tens of thousands of new refugees have fled towards Turkey after Russian airstrikes targeted a Syrian city. Civilians were said to have been slaughtered as government troops, backed by Russian bombers, severed a main rebel supply route into Aleppo. The campaign forced a mass exodus of civilians fleeing towards Turkey which is desperate to join the EU. Tens of thousands of Syrian refugees have abandoned Aleppo and are heading for the Turkish border Turkish authorities have been forced to use water cannon to disperse protests in Istanbul, pictured President Bashar Al-Assads troops also managed to break a siege by rebels on two regime-held towns. Meanwhile, Russia accused UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond of issuing misleading statements saying the attacks were helping Islamic State, arguing that the opposite was true. On Wednesday, the UN suspended the first Syria peace talks in two years. Turkey, which has backed the Syrian rebellion, called for the US to take a more decisive stand against Russia. Speaking at a Syria conference in London, Turkish officials claimed that up to 70,000 refugees from Aleppo were moving towards their country. Russias ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, attended the conference but attacked Britain for not inviting dictator Assad. Fara Atassi, a spokesman for Syrias main opposition group in the peace talks, called on the international community to intervene and force Russia stop its indiscriminate bombings. GREECE: Tear Gas fired on 50,000 protesters Violence erupted in Athens yesterday as 50,000 protesters marched against austerity imposed after Greeces third international bailout. Petrol bombs and stones rained down as an otherwise peaceful protest in support of a general strike against pension reforms was hijacked by dozens of anarchists. Bus stops were smashed and vehicles set alight as a hardcore group their faces hidden by bandanas and masks engaged in running battles with police. During a game of cat-and-mouse, they repeatedly clashed with riot police who responded by firing off tear gas rounds and stun grenades. Riot police clashed with protesters during a 24-hour General Strike in Athens with 50,000 people on the streets Protesters threw petrol bombs at police as the demonstrations associated with 24-hour strike Several officers were caught in one bomb blast, their clothes sprayed with burning petrol. Outside the capital, another 14,000 protesters took to the streets of Thessaloniki in support of the 24-hour industrial action, police said. The Greek government, run by radical Left-wing party Syriza, is trying to overhaul the countrys ailing pension system by increasing social security contributions to avoid cuts. The reforms are needed in part to meet demands of international creditors. But opposition has been fierce, with some claiming the changes will lead many to lose two-thirds of their income. Pensioner Nikos Ghinis said: They should be strung up ... Im getting 740 euros (566) a month for 40 years of work. The backlash has united a wide range of professions including farmers, taxi drivers and doctors. Yesterdays general strike saw ferries between Greeces islands and the mainland held in ports, while only limited public transport was operating in Athens. Taxis stayed off the streets and more than a dozen domestic flights were cancelled, while farmers maintained blockades of highways forcing motorists to take detours. State-run hospitals were functioning with emergency staff only, while many schools, pharmacies and petrol stations were shut. Anti-austerity prime minister Alexis Tsipras, who came to power in January 2015, was forced to sign up to belt-tightening reforms under an EU-IMF bailout package worth up to 66billion. GERMANY: Terror police raid refugee shelters Two men and a woman were arrested during massive police raids on suspected Islamist militants in Germany yesterday. Refugee shelters in Hanover and Attendorn and addresses in Berlin were targeted in a series of dawn raids across the country as police hunted four Algerian fanatics. Police spokesman Stefan Redlich said the four were being sought for their suspected links with IS terrorists in Syria. Berlin police said the four from the jihad scene are under investigation over suspicions that they are planning a serious act threatening the security of the state. German police raided a house in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin in a search for suspected ISIS militants The three arrested yesterday were the subject of existing warrants. Police said one of the men is wanted for belonging to IS by the Algerian authorities who say he was trained in Syria. He and his wife, who was also detained, had registered their address at an asylum seekers residence. The other man was arrested for having fake ID documents. The arrests and manhunt coincided with the start of Colognes annual carnival. Police patrols have been doubled after a series of robberies and sexual assaults targeting women at New Year, which officers said were mostly carried out by foreigners. Angela Merkels popularity is at its lowest level in four years with more than 80 per cent of Germans thinking she has lost control of the migrant crisis, says a poll by broadcaster ARD. FRANCE: Sick boasts of Paris attack ringleader The ringleader of the Paris terror attacks posed as a Romanian vagrant as he boasted of murdering 130 people like hed just been shopping, it was claimed yesterday. According to a witness who helped police track him down, Abdelhamid Abaaoud told how easy it was for dozens of Islamic State terrorists to flood into Europe by mingling with refugees. Referring to the civilians killed on November 13 as they socialised outside cafes, Abaaoud told the witness who asked to be referred to only as Sonia the terraces, that was me. Paris ringleader Abelhamid Abaaoud posed as a Romanian vagrant while boasting about his role in the attacks French riot police now routinely patrol the Calais migrant camp known as 'The Jungle', pictured Sonia, a friend of the killers cousin, told Pariss RMC radio: For me he was a Romanian. Also, he was smiling, he did not look like a terrorist. He spoke about the attacks as if he had been shopping and had found a box of discounted washing up liquid. He was happy. That was it. She met Abaaoud two days after the attacks, on an industrial estate where Roma travellers set up shanty towns. She was with his cousin, Hasna Ait Boulahcen. Abaaoud told her around 90 jihadis including some from Britain had returned from Syria using false papers and were ready to spread further carnage. She dialled an emergency number set up in the aftermath of the attacks, and told security agents that Abaaoud had moved to a flat in the suburb of St-Denis with his cousin. On November 18, police raided the flat killing Abaaoud, his cousin and Chakib Akroh, another IS operative. LUXEMBOURG: EU row over kicking out criminals The UK cannot automatically deport foreign criminals if they have a British child, Europes top court is set to rule. Non-EU offenders with children who have British nationality should only be booted out in exceptional circumstances if they present a serious threat to the public, the European Court of Justices top adviser said yesterday. If the Luxembourg-based ECJ chooses to follow Advocate General Maciej Szpunars advice and the judges rarely disagree it could open the door for hundreds of low-level foreign criminals to claim the right to stay. His ruling came in a case of a Moroccan woman who is the sole carer of her son, who has British citizenship, after she divorced his British father. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, pictured, ruled that Britain cannot deport a convicted criminal In 2012 she was jailed for 12 months after trying to smuggle a mobile SIM card into a prison. After her jail term, she was given a deportation notice but immigration judges ruled this amounted to constructive expulsion of her son from the EU because there were no family members he could live with in the UK. They added that sending him to Morocco would breach his human rights. BMX legend Dave Mirra was found dead in his truck of an apparent suicide on Thursday, and now officials are suggesting a brain injury may have caused him to become depressed. The 41 year old, who also hosted two seasons of the popular MTV show Real World/Road Rules Challenge, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while visiting his family in Greenville, North Carolina, according to local police. He was discovered in his car less than 1,000 feet from a local high school, just after meeting up with a friend. He leaves behind a wife, Lauren, and two daughters, Mackenzie and Madison. Scroll down for video Tragedy: Dave Mirra was found dead in his truck of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot would on Thursday afternoon in Greenville, North Carolina Scene: Mirra's truck is seen being towed away on Thursday. Mirra was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound At a Friday morning press conference, officials seemed to suggest that head injuries sustained during his years of BMX riding may have had an adverse effect on Mirra's mental health. The condition CTE has been in the spotlight lately, with many researchers looking into whether there's a connection between head injuries sustained in sports like football with issues like depression and dementia. Depression is a symptom of CTE and multiple football players who have committed suicide have been diagnosed with CTE posthumously. The disease can only be diagnosed during an autopsy. 'This is a young man...that had a pretty rugged sports career and took a lot of injuries,' Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said Friday. 'You have to give pause and think and wonder, just as we hear about brain trauma in football and other sports and activities, whether that played a factor.' Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas seemed to suggest that Mirra may have suffered from CTE when he said the BMX biker 'had a pretty rugged sports career and took a lot of injuries' 'I don't know if that's the case but...it really gives pause to think about someone who put his life out there, his body out there, for so many years if that's something. WHAT IS CTE? Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head. This trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau. These changes in the brain can begin months, years, or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement. The brain degeneration is associated with memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia. Source: Boston University CTE Center Advertisement 'I hope we're able to solve that mystery,' Thomas said, before referencing Junior Seau - a former pro-football linebacker who committed suicide in 2012. Thomas went on to say that he had even talked with Mirra just two hours before his death, and that he seemed fine. He says he ran into Mirra outside of a restaurant around 1.30pm and that they spoke for about 20 minutes about Mirra's plans to teach local children about cycling sports. 'I wish I could've picked up on something - anything, go back to Dave and just put an arm around him. Say, "look brother you have two beautiful girls who need you. Nothing is more important than that. We will get this figured out,"' Thomas wrote on his Facebook on Thursday. Thomas said he is still processing the tragedy and that he hopes out of Mirra's death 'lives might be saved across this community'. 'Dave Mirra was more than just a sports figure... he's a loving member of this community, and that remains,' Thomas said Family: The 41-year-old BMX legend, who hosted two seasons of Real World/Road Rules Challenge, leaves behind a wife and two daughters (pictured above on Facebook) Last comment: Mirra posted two Instagram photos shortly before he killed himself, one of him and his wife The second post (above) was a photo of himself riding his bike, the caption reading the school near where his body was found At the press conference, Greenville Police chief Mark Holtzman said that Mirra was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the 200 block of Pinewood Road around 4pm on Thursday. The friend who had been visiting with Mirra just before the suicide was shocked to hear about it, Hotlzman said. When asked if the BMX rider had dealt with depression, Hotlzman said it was apparent Mirra had been struggling with issues but he wouldn't go into specifics. Mirra posted two Instagram photos shortly before he was found dead, one of him and his wife and a photo of himself riding his bike, with a caption reading where his body was found. 'My rock! Thank god,' wrote Mirra alongside the photo of his wife. The last photo, of himself riding his bike, was posted just moments before his body was discovered and said; 'Rose high school Greenville Nc.' He also posted a picture of himself boxing on Wednesday, writing; 'Fight to win! We all have a battles to fight. Never back down. Love you all. #diewithyourbootson.' His family said that they would appreciate privacy during this very difficult time. 'Daves wife and family are shocked and saddened by the loss of such a remarkable person whom they loved so deeply,' Mirra's agent and friend Steve Astephen said in statement. 'Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers and for respecting their privacy through this difficult time.' Day before: Mirra also posted a picture of himself boxing on Wednesday, writing: 'Fight to win! We all have a battles to fight. Never back down. Love you all. #diewithyourbootson' Legend: Mirra (left in 2009, right in 2010) was one of the most successful X-Games athletes of all time thanks to his BMX talents Close: Mirra frequently posted photos of his wife and children on social media, writing about how much he loved them Mirra was born in New York but grew up in Greenville, and became one of the most successful X-Games athletes of all time thanks to his BMX talents. He participated in the inaugural games in 1995 and medaled at every appearance through 2008, taking home 24 medals along the way - 14 of them gold. Mirra then became known to fans outside the sport when he hosted two seasons of Real World/Road Rules Challenge in the early 2000s at the height of the program's popularity. He hosted The Inferno season in 2004 and then, in 2005, The Inferno II season. Mirra also appeared on MTV's Punk'd around this time in an episode where host Ashton Kutcher led him to believe that he had been accused of fraud by the IRS. In recent years he had continued to compete, this time in Iron Mans and long distance bike races. Tony Hawk, perhaps the most famous former pro-skateboarder, wrote: 'Goodbye Dave Mirra, a true pioneer, icon and legend. Thank you for the memories... we are heartbroken.' Remebering: 'Words can't explain how much I love these guys. Very sad day for myself and the entire Bmx community Gods speed,' said Tim 'Fuzzy' Hall Tribute: 'I'm in complete shock. Angry, heart broken and just sad at the passing of my friend Dave. Heart broken 4 his daughters and wife,' wrote friend and fellow BMX rider Carey Hart 'I'm in complete shock. Angry, heart broken and just sad at the passing of my friend Dave. Heart broken 4 his daughters and wife,' wrote friend and fellow BMX rider Carey Hart on Twitter Thursday. Tony Hawk, perhaps the most famous former pro-skateboarder, wrote: 'Goodbye Dave Mirra, a true pioneer, icon and legend. Thank you for the memories... we are heartbroken.' 'Words can't explain how much I love these guys. Very sad day for myself and the entire Bmx community Gods speed,' said Tim 'Fuzzy' Hall. 'Thank you for everything Dave. Gonna miss you brotha. R.I.P.,' wrote Corey Bohan. ESPN also released a statement, saying; 'Dave Mirra, your courage, determination and natural skill in everything you pursued pushed the world of action sports to become a better place. From all of us at X Games and ESPN, we salute your contributions. Our sincere condolences go out to Dave's wife, Lauren, his daughters Mackenzie and Madison, the BMX community and friends of Dave Mirra.' Snyder insists he was only made aware of the Legionnaires' outbreak in January this year There have also been ten times more residents diagnosed with the chronic pneumonia since the switch It was swapped back in October after tests found water wasn't treated properly causing toxic lead contamination Flint switched its water supply to the Flint River in April 2014 to save money while under state management Since then ten people have died from the disease amidst a city-wide health crisis caused by lead-infected water outbreak and possible link to Flint River water last March, emails reveal Officials in Michigan knew about Legionnaires' cases in Flint nearly a year before Governor Rick Snyder (pictured) claims he was told, leaked emails reveal Officials in Michigan knew about Legionnaires' cases in Flint nearly a year before Governor Rick Snyder said he was told, leaked emails reveal. Snyder's principal aide, Harvey Hollins, was made aware of the outbreak and a possible link to the use of Flint River water last March, emails obtained by activist group Progress Michigan show. Since then 10 people have died from the disease in Flint as the city reels from a health crisis caused by lead-infected water. Flint has seen an uptick in the number of residents diagnosed with the chronic pneumonia since switching its water supply to the Flint River in April 2014 to save money. At least 87 cases have been reported in the last 18 months - more than 10 times the average for previous years, which hovered between six and 13 cases a year. And 47 per cent of the victims live in areas where their primary water source was from the Flint River. The 'dramatic' leap in cases means there is a 'very strong likelihood' the infected water was a driving factor, a water expert told the Detroit Free Press. State officials said they could not make a direct connection. Snyder said in January he had just learned about the rise in Legionnaires' cases. But Progress Michigan Executive Director, Lonnie Scott, argued: 'Are we to believe that a top staffer with years of experience would not inform Governor Snyder of a possibly deadly situation?' he group point to an email between Hollins and former head of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Dan Wyant from March 2015 revealed they were aware on an increase Legionnaires' disease in Genesee County - where Flint is located. Thousands of bottled of water had to be shipped out in the midst of the crisis as residents were unable to drink the contaminated water Flint switched the source of its tap water from Detroit's system to the Flint River but the water was not properly treated (pictured resident Jessica Owens holds a baby bottle full of contaminated water) The email, obtained by activist group Progress Michigan, also showed that a county health official was attributing the cases to the Flint River. A spokesman for Snyder rejected the report by the group yesterday and said that the DEQ emails called attributing the link to problems with Flint water 'beyond irresponsible.' They said that after it was first brought to his attention, Hollins had asked the department to investigate and, if they found the concerns were credible, tell Snyder. 'The issue was not brought to the Governor's attention until January of this year,' the spokesman added. Flint, a city near Detroit, was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when it switched the source of its tap water from Detroit's system to the Flint River in April 2014 to save money. Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager when it switched to the Flint River (pictured) to save money But the river water was not treated properly and lead from pipes leached into Flint homes. Lead is highly toxic and can damage the nervous system. Thousands of bottled of water had to be shipped out in the midst of the crisis as residents were unable to drink the contaminated water. The city switched back last October after tests found high levels of lead in children's blood samples. Several Democratic lawmakers on Thursday invited Snyder to Washington to testify on the Flint water crisis on February 10. Michigan's top environmental regulator said this week that the state should have required Flint to treat its water for corrosion after the elevated lead levels were first discovered a year ago. Keith Creagh, director of the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, said state officials 'relied on technical compliance (with the law) instead of assuring safe drinking water.' In prepared testimony for a congressional hearing on Wednesday - the first on Capitol Hill since the lead contamination crisis erupted last year - Creagh said that while immediate treatment of the water was not required under federal law, 'corrosion treatment should have been required by the MDEQ.' Creagh, who took over as head of the state agency last month following the resignation of Dan Wyant, said all levels of government deserve blame in the Flint crisis. City officials did not follow proper protocol in conducting lead sampling of homes, he said, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 'did not display the sense of urgency that the situation demanded.' A June 2015 memo by an employee in EPA's Midwest regional office was not formally delivered to state environmental officials until November after the state had begun taking actions to address the lead problem, Creagh said. 'Legitimate concerns raised by EPA's own expert staff were not elevated or provided to either the city or the state for review and action until after the state's response was well underway,' Creagh said. On Tuesday, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver told reporters she wants lead pipes removed from the city's water distribution system as soon as possible. She said she would like to start the pipe-removal process at the 'highest-risk homes of kids under 6 and pregnant women.' Snyder's office plans to propose $30 million in state funding to help pay the water bills of Flint residents. Detroit schools emergency manager Darnell Earley, who was state-appointed emergency manager for Flint when its water source was switched, had been asked to testify at Wednesday's hearing but declined. The oversight committee issued a subpoena to Earley on Tuesday but his lawyer refused service, a committee staffer said. WHAT IS LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE? Legionnaires' disease is a type of pneumonia caused by bacteria. Most commonly, sufferers inhale mist from a water source - such as cooling towers, air conditioning units and showers - that has been infected with legionella, a form of bacteria. Symptoms include fever, chills, a cough and often aching muscles. It is not spread human-to-human. The illness, which affects 8,000 to 18,000 Americans a year, is most common among smokers, people with a low immune system and the over-50s. Sufferers are treated with antibiotics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cite a 5 per cent to 30 per cent risk of death. The first recorded case was in 1976 at a Philadelphia convention for the American Legion, a veterans organization, which left 25 dead and 130 hospitalized. It subsequently became known as Legionnaires' disease. Sources: MedlinePlus and the CDC Advertisement The hearing comes as the FBI said it is working with a multi-agency team investigating the lead contamination in Flint. FBI spokeswoman Jill Washburn told the AP in an email that the agency is 'investigating the matter to determine if there have been any federal violations.' She declined to say when the FBI got involved. Officials haven't said whether criminal or civil charges might follow the investigation. Several local, state and federal officials have resigned since doctors revealed last year that using the Flint River for the city's drinking water supply caused elevated levels of lead in some children's blood - which has been linked to learning disabilities and other problems. Michigan's governor has apologized repeatedly for the state's role. In addition to the FBI and the EPA, the federal team includes the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said Gina Balaya, a U.S. attorney's spokeswoman in Detroit. In November, the EPA announced it was auditing how Michigan enforces drinking water rules and said it would identify how to strengthen state oversight. An independent panel appointed by Snyder has determined that the state Department of Environmental Quality was primarily responsible for the water contamination. David Cameron endured the wrath of Conservative activists yesterday after he ordered his MPs to ignore local parties views on Europe. Association chairmen, grassroots campaigners and Tory grandees savaged the Prime Minister, who was accused of showing contempt for members views. On Wednesday Mr Cameron told MPs they should not decide their view on the EU referendum because of what your constituency association might say. Prime Minister David Cameron, pictured here with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a conference for Syria in London yesterday advised his backbenchers to ignore their constituency associations over the EU vote In the House of Commons, he said MPs should ignore members and not consider the implications of having to reapply for their seats following the forthcoming Parliamentary boundary review. If you passionately believe in your heart that Britain is better off out, you should vote that way, he said. If you think Britain is, on balance, better off in, go with what you think. Dont take a view because of what your association may say, or a boundary review. But yesterday party figures from across Britain told the Mail the PMs comments were annoying and an insult and that it was an obligation of MPs to listen to their constituents views. The episode raised memories of the 2013 incident in which Lord Feldman, the party chairman and a close friend of the PM, was accused of describing activists as mad, swivel-eyed loons. He furiously denied the accusations. Osman Dervish, a councillor and chairman of Romford Conservative Association in East London, said of Mr Camerons comments: Every constituency chairman has to take their members on board. We should not just show contempt for what the members say. You cant just ignore them. There are concerns among the grassroots about the remarks he has made about us in the past. This reinforces them. Former Conservative Party Chairman Lord Tebbit, pictured, is believed to think the PM is wrong in asking his MPs to ignore the views of the local constituency organisations when it comes to the EU referendum debate Nigel McCrea, constituency chairman of Braintree Conservatives in Essex, said: Of course MPs should listen to their constituents. Thats one of the obligations of being a Member of Parliament. But at the end of the day, he or she has to vote according to their conscience. Alan James, chairman of the Stone Conservative Association in Staffordshire, said: If you want to get elected, you cant disregard us. Ian Trigger, a retired judge who chairs the Clwyd West Conservative Association, said: Conservative associations, up and down the country, are the bedrock of the Conservative Party. Anyone who does not bear that in mind is making a mistake. Aidan Ruff, chairman of Berwick-upon-Tweed Conservative Association, said: They have got to listen to what the grassroots are saying. I think what the PM was saying was do not be pressured by a small number of people trying to push their views, take a balanced view. Andrew Mackness, chairman of the Conservative Association in Rochester and Strood, Kent, said: I am annoyed the Prime Minister told MPs they should ignore their associations. They are the people who put them there, not the Prime Minister. I take exception that I receive emails and letters from the Prime Minister on Conservative Party letterhead that only presents his side. Ed Costello, chairman of Grassroots Conservatives, an independent activist group, said Mr Cameron had deliberately ignored what associations had to say since he became PM, leaving them to feel pointless and useless. Robert Woollard, former chairman of Wycombe Conservative Association, who founded Grassroots Conservatives said: The loyal foot soldiers... deserve better than this. Cameron and his entourage seem to inhabit a different planet from the rest of us on occasion. Several other constituency figures told the Mail they did not want to speak out for fear of the reaction from Tory HQ. Former Tory Party chairman Lord Tebbit is understood to believe that Mr Cameron is wrong to tell Eurosceptic members to ignore the partys supporters and follow their conscience, while whipping his Cabinet colleagues to do the opposite. A Downing Street source denied Mr Camerons remarks were an attempt to put pressure on MPs to ignore their constituents. But writing on the grassroots website Conservative Home, commentator Mark Wallace said MPs were more worried about potential revenge by the party leadership if they back the Leave campaign than vengeance by Eurosceptic members if they vote to stay in. He wrote: Its rather odd that, in listing possible influences which may get in the way of MPs voting with their hearts, he mentioned the influence of the grassroots, but neglected to mention the influence of the leadership. This week, in the humour section of bookshops, you may see a slim volume entitled My Little Book Of Tweets by Gerry Adams. A parody, surely! One looks for the words as told to Craig Brown, the signature of this newspapers satirical columnist. Nope. These really are the light-hearted tweets of the president of Sinn Fein, who was for many years one of the most feared men in Ireland. Acting the goat: Gerry Adams - now an MP in the Irish parliament - as he appears on his new book cover The grey-bearded, unsmiling Adams now an MP in the Irish parliament has been accused of many things. For example, ordering the brutal murder of a mother of ten children, whose six-year-old twins clung on to her legs, screaming, as she was dragged away to be tortured. But possessing a whimsical sense of humour isnt one of them. On the contrary, Adams is notorious for his self-importance. This wee bit of craic is intended to change all that. Craic, as I expect you know, is Gaelic for gossipy fun. The introduction to the book, signed by a couple of admirers calling themselves Tom and Ted, tells us that Adams is not afraid to act the eejit. And heres the evidence a mix of observations and adventure, wry commentary and random twitterings. Example: Everyone else got a strawberry on their pavlova except me. Why? Heres another: Still in the Dail chamber, boringggggg. Sean Crowe has joined me, cheered me up. He sez Crowes dont tweet. Caw Caw. Crowe, crow geddit? The 67-year-old Adams thinks he has the gift of the blarney, God help us. Crowe is a fellow Sinn Fein politician and the Dail is the lower House of the Irish parliament, where Adams has represented Louth since 2011. Previously, he was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and before that the abstentionist Sinn Fein MP for West Belfast meaning he refused to sit in the House of Commons. The slim volume is entitled My Little Book Of Tweets by Gerry Adams, and includes gems like this From 1988 to 1994, the British government banned Gerry Adamss voice from the airwaves - to deprive him of the oxygen of publicity- Judging by these incoherent tweets, it might have been more effective to let him waffle on, writes Damian Thompson He does sit in the Dail though, judging by the torrent of his 11,000 tweets, hes awfully distracted by Twitter. Since I started writing this piece a few minutes ago, he has tapped another five into his mobile phone. My Little Book Of Tweets contains the highlights. The gems, if you like. Still on the train. Chooo Chooo Choooo. Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Hes not exactly Oscar Wilde. This Twitter account took on a life of its own, explain Tom and Ted. This little book is a sample of some of the saner tweets. But who are Tom and Ted? The introduction doesnt make it clear. A pair of Sinn Fein sycophants, I assumed. Possibly a gay couple? Yes Tom & Ted are a same sex couple. But thats their business, tweeted Adams in February 2013. But wait a second. They arent a human gay couple. Theyre Gerry Adamss teddy bears. And theres an awful lot about them in My Little Book Of Tweets. Tom and Ted waiting for Voice of Ireland result. Left Ted in Dublin . . . hope he is OK. Miss him 2night. Tom is nice. Wants 2 move in. Im OK with this. And, after a bath with his plastic ducks, its Tom & Ted time. Last September it was revealed that Mr Adams (left) would not be prosecuted in connection with the IRA murder of Belfast mother-of-ten Jean McConville (right) Its all a bit creepy and surreal. From 1988 to 1994, the British government banned Gerry Adamss voice from the airwaves to deprive him of the oxygen of publicity, explained Margaret Thatcher. Judging by these incoherent tweets, it might have been more effective to let him waffle on. At least we now know who wrote the fawning introduction to the anthology. Tom and Ted are Adams himself. The tweets themselves have been analysed forensically, he writes. Some of Gerry Adamss detractors in the media are obsessed with his twitterings. Really? A Google search reveals headlines such as 38 Bonkers Tweets From Sinn Fein Leader Gerry Adams and 38 Utterly Bizarre Tweets By Gerry Adams. So far as I can work out, analysed forensically means speculating whether the old boy is off his rocker. Does Adams talk to his teddy bears? I wouldnt rule it out. After all, they cant answer back. So, the Sinn Fein veteran can snuggle up to Tom and Ted, secure in the knowledge that neither of them will ask: Uncle Gerry, can you tell us who ordered the killing of Jean McConville? Thats the name of the widowed mother of ten who was secretly butchered by the men in the balaclavas. Last year, the New Yorker a liberal American magazine based in a city once notorious for its IRA sympathies published a 15,000-word article investigating her disappearance in 1972. Her remains were not discovered until 2003, when they were spotted by a man walking his dog on a beach in County Louth. Her crime? She was spotted comforting a soldier shot and wounded outside her home on the Falls Road. The New Yorker reported that the order to disappear Mrs McConville came from the head of the Belfast Brigade of the IRA Gerry Adams. It also claimed that Adams was present during the planning of the IRAs first co-ordinated car bomb attack on the British mainland in 1973, which injured hundreds of people in London. The New Yorkers sources were Adamss friend Brendan the Dark Hughes and Dolours Price two vicious IRA terrorists. Both are now dead. Adams insists that he had absolutely nothing to do with the death of Jean McConville or anyone else. Ever. Indeed, he maintains that he was never even a member of the IRA. Thats a bit like the retired pope, Benedict XVI, claiming he was never a Catholic. Enda Kenny, the prime minister of Ireland, says that Adams was not only a member of the IRA but sat on its ruling Army Council. Adams is allowed to rewrite history because he is seen as an architect of the peace process, and too much digging figuratively and literally might blow it apart. And so he is left to play the role of the Irish Nelson Mandela. On his teddy bears, Mr Adams tweeted: 'Yes ted&tom r same sex couple.But thats their business.And not the issue. RG still sez they r 2 young.Hopefully it will b ok.Codladh samh x' He later announced their engagement Yet few people ever bought into that fantasy and hell find it even more difficult to sustain now hes touring shopping centres flogging a book of tweets featuring photos of his rubber ducks. One of them is captioned: My bestest pressie! The queen of all rubber ducks, a high class kinda ducky. Theres a picture of his little white dog called Snowie. A mighty dog for one dog, he says. Thats a joke, I think. He also poses with a goat. Another tweet, underneath a photo of Adams with an unidentified baby, reads: Ally bally, ally bally bee, sitting on your daideos knee, lukin 4 a wee bobbin 2 buy some Coulters candy. He loves baby-talk, does Adams. And also the Irish language. He lapses into it as if he were bilingual. Theres no mention of the special courses taxpayer-funded, of course that he and five other Irish MPs took in order to brush up their Gaelic. He does tell us, however, that he has bad breath. And that flatulence is a curse. Last May Prince Charles became the first royal to meet Gerry Adams, warmly shaking his hand in a momentous step in the Northern Ireland peace process at the National University of Ireland Thats too much information, as they say, from a man who when it comes to the horrors of his past is happy to keep us in the dark. But we cannot forget his past at the heart of the Republican terror movement and how much blood he has on his hands. Even if My Little Book Of Tweets were full of one-liners worthy of the great Irish comedian Dave Allen, this isnt a book youd want in the house. As it is, there isnt even a flash of wit. The President of Sinn Fein, once a genuinely sinister terrorist godfather, has become a rambling egomaniac. There was a time when, if Adams walked into a bar, drinkers recoiled in terror. And now? If theyve read My Little Book Of Tweets, theyll still head for the door. David Cameron last night hailed a 7billion boost to tackle the Syrian crisis amid warnings that tens of thousands more refugees are heading to Turkey. International leaders pledged the huge sum apparently the largest ever pledged in one day for a humanitarian crisis during a meeting in London. The Prime Minister said the aid, including an extra 1.2billion from Britain by 2020, would save lives and give hope. Britains pledge compares with an extra 1.8billion from Germany by 2018 but is much more than the 700million put forward by France and 600million from the United States. The European Union has pledged 2.3billion. Scroll down for video Prime Minister David Cameron today praised the 7 billion raised to help the Syrian humanitarian crisis John Kerry, pictured at today's pledging conference in London, called on the Russians to end the bombing of civilian areas in Syria Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, pictured left today with Mr Kerry, backed the remarks on the sidelines of today's conference in London Russian President Vladimir Putin has been under fire since entering the Syrian civil war in support of the Assad regime and Mr Kerry today urged the Kremlin to stop bombing civilian areas Australia, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Austria, Switzerland, Estonia, Denmark and Finland also committed funds. It came as the Turkish prime minister said an estimated 70,000 Syrians fleeing bombing were moving towards his country. Ahmet Davutoglu blamed Russian raids for making the crisis worse by bolstering the murderous regime of President Assad and cutting off a crucial aid corridor. Last night, Russia accused Turkey of actively preparing to invade Syria. Mr Cameron said rich nations had now promised 4.1billion to be spent this year, and a further 3.4billion by 2020. Britain has more than doubled its funding to 2.3billion over the next four years. Countries neighbouring Syria have also agreed to educate refugee children to ensure there is no lost generation, he added. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon declared: Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis. Downing Street said much of the money will be spent on building schools and creating jobs to make it more attractive for refugees fleeing Syria to stay in the region rather than attempting to reach Europe. Mr Cameron said that the conference had sent out a clear message to the people of Syria and the region. We will stand with you and we will support you for as long as it takes to secure peace in Syria, to restore stability to the region and to give Syrian refugees a chance to go back and rebuild their homes and their country, he said. David Cameron, pictured on stage at today's summit with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, hailed the more than 7billion in pledges as a 'good day's work' The meeting heard from leader's around the world today, including from left UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, and British Prime Minister David Cameron Mazoun Almellehan, 17, made a passionate plea to world leaders gathered at the conference in London to help Syria's refugee children learn so they could fulfil their dreams She was introduced by human rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai, left today at the event, who said the Syrian teenager was her 'inspiration' He urged Russia to use its influence with the Syrian regime to bring an end to violence against civilians and help foster a ceasefire. The Prime Minister said one million children currently not in school would be given access to education by the end of the next school year. He said: This is not just morally right. It is vital for long-term stability. We cannot have a generation of refugees left out of school, unable to get work, vulnerable to extremism and radicalisation. Countries in the region have agreed to open up their economies to create new jobs and the move will be backed by 27billion of loans from international financial institutions and access to European markets. As a result there will be over one million new jobs in the region for refugees and residents alike, Mr Cameron said. More than 4.6 million Syrians have fled the country since the civil war broke out five years ago, with the vast majority finding refuge in neighbouring countries, pictured right David Cameron, pictured today arriving at the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre, announced Britain would be doubling its contribution to the Syrian aid campaign to more than 2billion German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is co-hosting the London conference also made a large pledge at the London gathering, pictured today on stage at the QEII with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, left, and Mr Cameron, right Mazoun, left at the conference today, was introduced to speak by Malala Yousafzai, also pictured at the London gathering of world leaders sis in Syria surely it is now. Queen Rania of Jordon arrived at the conference today, left, as did Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned, from Qatar, right The morning session of the conference heard from a string of foreign dignitaries today, including Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam, left, Jordan's King Abdullah II, centre, and Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu Mr Cameron, pictured today on stage with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, is expected to continue his EU talks on the margins of the conference - but at times the pair appeared far apart At other moments the two leaders - who are co-chairing the conference almost appeared to first bump as the proceedings continued Human rights campaigner Malala Yousafzai was among the first to arrive, left, as David Cameron, centre, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, right, also arrived at the summit German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived with a pledge of money, while the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, centre, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, were also attending Prince Charles meets the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah at Clarence House during his visit to London for the Syria donors conference David Miliband, pictured left, is visiting London for the conference. He has warned that Britain leaving the EU would make the refugee crisis worse for the UK UN ruling has no legal effect on Britain and Sweden - but adds pressure Julian Assange has lashed out at the British Government for rubbishing a UN decision that he is being unlawfully detained, claiming he has been 'vindicated'. Earlier today, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the UN panel's report on Assange 'ridiculous' and said the WikiLeaks founder is a 'fugitive from justice' avoiding lawful arrest by hiding out at the embassy. But in a speech from the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Assange has declared the UN report a 'victory of historical importance'. He told a scrum of journalists and supporters: 'How sweet it is! This is a victory that cannot be denied. It is a victory of historical importance. 'There have been comments by Philip Hammond, the foreign minister of this country and says this changes nothing. Hammond may be a perfectly nice person but his comments are merely rhetoric. Julian Assange lashed out at Philip Hammond for rubbishing the UN's decision that he is being unlawfully detained, and claimed that the UN panel's ruling is 'legally binding' Assange holds a copy of the UN report which claimed he was being 'arbitrarily detained' in the embassy, while claiming to assembled media that it proved he had been vindicated In a short speech to those assembled outside, he claimed it was time his children 'had their father back' Brandishing a hard copy of the panel's opinion, he was dressed in a charcoal suit and tie and squinted in the daylight as he spoke. He paused frequently, apparently overwhelmed. Referring to his children, the 44-year-old Australian said: 'It's time that they had their father back. That will happen one way or the other. 'I'm tough, I'm hardened by this process and I can take it. However, what right does this government or the US government or the Swedish government have to deny my children their right to their father for five years? 'My children are completely innocent parties to what has happened. They are not in the business of holding government to account. They are in the business of being children.' He further claimed he was under an 'illegal, immoral, unethical detention' after British police said they would arrest him as soon as he sets foot outside the embassy onto British soil to extradite him to Sweden. 'It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over.' Earlier today, speaking via video link, Assange said the U.N. panel's finding that he has been arbitrarily detained is a 'vindication', falsely claiming that the decision is legally binding. 'I've read this morning this comments of Philip Hammond insulting the United Nations, calling the decision ridiculous,' the 44-year-old said. 'I find those comments to be beneath the stature that a foreign minister should express in this situation.' Both Sweden and the UK have made it clear that they reject the UN panel's findings, saying they have no legal force, and that the arrest warrant for Assange still stands. Both Sweden and the UK have made it clear that they reject the UN panel's findings, while Philip Hammond today declared it 'ludicrous', and said Assange is a 'fugitive from justice Prosecutors in Sweden, where Assange is wanted for questioning over an alleged sexual assault, last year offered to interview him at the embassy in London, but he refused Looking extremely pale, Assange made a rare appearance on the Ecuadorian embassy balcony in London today to address the panel's findings In December, prosecutors in Sweden, where Assange is wanted for questioning over an alleged sexual assault, offered to interview him at the embassy in London, but Ecuador refused access. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond had stated: 'I reject the decision of this working group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers. 'Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy. He can come out any time he chooses... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. 'This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it.' The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said in a statement that it 'considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention'. Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the expert panel, added: 'The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation.' The panel's decision was not unanimous: Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member, disagreed with the other three voting members because he did not believe the group had a mandate to investigate the case because he did not believe Assange had been detained. The fifth member of the panel recused herself because she is Australian, as is Assange. Earlier today Assange spoke via video link from his refuge-of-three-years, the Ecuadorian embassy in London British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the UN working group's report on Assange 'ridiculous' and said the WikiLeaks founder is a 'fugitive from justice' Statement: Philip Hammond took to Twitter to add to his previous statement on Julian Assange The ruling has caused outrage among women's rights groups, in particularly in Sweden, where the UN panel has been accused of being rape apologists. 'Evidently the UN thinks that the justice of the women who have been assaulted and raped is less important than the right of a possible offender to walk freely in the streets,' Clara Berglund, General Secretary of the Swedish Women's Lobby, told The Local. Zozan Inci, the chairperson of Roks, a lobby group representing shelters for women affected by male violence, added: 'There is a girl in Sweden who's been [allegedly] raped. He needs to come here and go through the process that everyone else goes through.' 'What disturbs me is that the UN is putting men's human rights before women's human rights - as they always do in these situations. Elizabeth Fritz, the lawyer for the woman who has accused Assange of rape, said the UN ruling was offensive to her client. 'That a man who is wanted on an arrest warrant for rape should be awarded compensation for intentionally hide from the judicial system for more than five years is offensive to my client and to the human rights of all victims of crime,' she said in a statement. Members of the media stand outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London earlier today, where the WikiLeaks founder has been living since June 2012 The Swedish government also said it did not agree that Assange's stay in Ecuador's London embassy amounted to 'unlawful detention'. 'The government does not agree with the assessment made by the majority of the Working Group,' the Swedish foreign ministry said in a letter to the panel, adding that the body does not have the right to 'interfere in an ongoing case handled by a Swedish public authority'. Swedish authorities issued a pan-European warrant in 2010 for his arrest over a rape allegation and was detained in London before being released and later seeking asylum at Ecuador's embassy. 'Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point and Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay at the embassy,' the Swedish ministry said. 'Mr Assange can therefore not be regarded as being deprived of his liberty due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities.' In addition, the UK Foreign Office has today said the UN's decision 'changes nothing' and that Britain will formally contest the working group's opinion issued earlier in Geneva. 'Assange is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy,' a government spokesman said Friday morning. 'An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden.' Left, the logo of WikiLeaks, an organisation co-founded by Julian Assange. Right, Assange speaks from the Ecuadorian embassy in London in 2012 Showing support: Dame Vivienne Westwood, shows her passport as she visits Assange at the Ecuadorian Embassy on Thursday afternoon The Swedish Prosecution Authority has said the ruling 'has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law.' Former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, who is part of Assange's legal team, said Sweden and the UK are bound to abide by a U.N. panel's finding that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained. He says both countries cooperated with the panel and it is 'absurd' for them to ignore its decision because it went against them. Mr Assange has endured a self-imposed imprisonment in a single room after being given diplomatic asylum at the embassy in London's Knightsbridge. The embassy - strewn with red, yellow and blue Ecuadorian flags - takes up a single floor of an imposing block behind Harrods. Initially, Assange slept on an inflatable mattress donated by embassy staff, but when it became clear his stay was not going to be temporary, a small room was transformed into his living quarters and a bed installed. He is thought to have stood in direct sunlight for only about 20 minutes during his incarceration, when he emerged on the balcony to address his supporters in August 2012. He has a specially adapted lamp to mimic sunlight in his room - which measures just 15ft by 13ft - and his only exercise taken on a treadmill donated by the Left-wing film-maker Ken Loach. Sources have said his health has suffered ever since he walked in almost four years ago, and there is a suspicion Assange, still unapologetic about his role in leaking government secrets, is pushing to leave because of illness. Holed up: Julian Assange has been living inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, and while the Metropolitan police ended its 24-hour guard last year, the building remains under covert surveillance Mr Assange believes he will be transported to the U.S. to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited to Sweden. There is an espionage case against him in the U.S. He filed a complaint to the UN against Sweden and the UK in September 2014, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. The Metropolitan Police have said they will make 'every effort' to arrest the WikiLeaks founder should he leave the embassy. Police have ended a 24-hour guard outside the embassy, but the building remains under covert surveillance. Married MP Huw Merriman looked 'sheepish' in his pants the morning after a one-night stand with a former colleague at collapsed bank Lehman Brothers, a tribunal heard today. Mr Merriman, an MP for Bexhill and Battle, and lawyer Patronia Campbell, 49, spent the night together in June 2011 when they worked at the legal department of the investment bank. Ms Campbell is suing the Lehman Brothers (LIBE), which went bankrupt in 2008, for 250,000, claiming she was harassed, victimised and unfairly dismissed by executives after falling out of their favour. During an earlier part of the hearing Ms Campbell claimed she was left feeling 'queasy' when father-of-three Mr Merriman told her he was turned on by her legs and later said he wanted to marry her. Tribunal: Married Tory MP Huw Merriman (pictured left) is said to have told solicitor colleague Patronia Campbell (right) he was turned on by her legs and wanted to marry her. She is suing him for unfair dismissal She claims she had a fling with Mr Merriman after boozy work drinks and when she rejected his pleas to have an affair he subjected her to unjustified criticism, engineered situations to allow criticism of her, and unfair ratings in an annual review. She was eventually signed off work 'feeling like a zombie.' Mr Merriman, who became an MP in 2015, married in 2001 and has three young daughters, denies the one night stand took place. Today an employment tribunal in east London heard from Ms Campbell's friend and former landlord who said he was woken up by the pair in the early hours cooking whilst drunk. Simon Carter, who lived in Bromley Street in Limehouse, said he agreed Merriman could stay over because he had missed his last train home. 'I met Mr Merriman briefly, offered him a glass of wine, chatted for a while then went to bed. 'Ms Campbell and Mr Merriman were drunk and decided to cook something to eat,' Mr Carter said. 'I heard their voices coming from Ms Campbell's bedroom, which is right next to mine. It was clear that Mr Merriman spent the night in Ms Campbell's bedroom. 'There was only one double bed in her room and Mr Merriman didn't sleep on the sofa. 'I did see Mr Merriman the next morning. I woke up to hear a sound in my bathroom and waited outside the door. 'I knocked on the door and Mr Merriman opened the door and sheepishly said 'good morning' before walking up the stairs to Patti's room which is next to mine.' He added: 'It is very unlike Ms Campbell to have a casual fling. 'However, she had explained that she and Mr Merriman had a brief relationship some years back, that it was a mistake and it only happened because she was drunk.' Claim: Ms Campbell says she and Mr Merriman (pictured with his wife Victoria) had a one-night stand after a work night out but he then became obsessed, told her he loved her and embarked on a campaign of bullying Mr Carter said the pair were 'making a lot of noise and mess,' cooking around 3am when he came down to complain. 'In the morning I came out briefly. I think it was Huw cooking. I told them to stop. I was pretty peed off because I had been woken up and the kitchen was a mess,' he continued. 'There were lots of pots and pans everywhere and they were clearly very drunk. 'I heard them in the room next door and I can't say he didn't spend any time on the sofa, because I was not looking at the sofa the whole night. 'I did hear them talking and giggling in the room next door.' Asked what he thought had happened, Mr Carter responded: 'It's safe to say I suspected they were not discussing the weather channel. 'I did suspect that something had happened that was not just friends. She didn't seem to want to talk about it. 'He said 'good morning' and it was very clear he could not wait to get past me quick enough and disappear. I must have waited 10 minutes [outside the bathroom]. 'He is in his pants, coming out of my bathroom first thing in the morning in a stranger's house - I would have been sheepish.' Ms Campbell told the tribunal: 'He said that he was turned on by me in the office, especially my legs.' Describing the one night stand Ms Campbell earlier told the East London tribunal: 'Huw and I cooked and drank more wine. 'We discussed our time at Greenwich NatWest, he kissed me after dinner and we ended up in my bed and had sex. 'I woke up in his arms; he asked me if I was OK and I said yes but that it would never happen again. According to Ms Campbell, the only person she told about the one night stand was her sister, but did reveal her house mate would have known Mr Merriman had slept in her bed. Ms Campbell told the tribunal their previous relationship in the late 1990s was not sexual and she ended it because Mr Merriman had a girlfriend in New York, who later became his wife. Following a Christmas lunch at The Gun pub in 2012 Mr Merriman 'insinuated' he wanted a sexual relationship, she told the tribunal. Ms Campbell, who claims Mr Merriman was a notorious womaniser who's had a string of affairs, said he wanted to marry her after a Christmas lunch in 2012. Ms Campbell was made redundant in 2014, which she claims was unfair. In court Thursday, he revealed why: police academy instructors helped him cheat on the test during CPR training Landau has previously said he didn't attempt to Akai Gurley, 28 (pictured), was unarmed when he was shoot and killed by an NYPD officer in 2014 The partner of a rookie NYPD officer on trial for killing an unarmed man in Brooklyn told jurors Thursday that he didn't make any attempts to revive the victim because the police academy had helped him cheat on his CPR certification test. Officer Peter Liang shot Akai Gurley, 28, to death in an unlit housing project stairwell in November 2014. After the shooting, Liang and his partner, Shaun Landau, argued for several minutes about whether to report the incident to a superior, and left the task of performing CPR to a friend of the victim, although they were both trained to perform first aid, according to a police report. During examination in court Thursday, Landau revealed why. 'You're certified in CPR?' Landau was asked by the defense lawyer of his partner, Robert Brown, after admitting he didn't try to resuscitate the victim. 'Yes,' Landau answered, according to the New York Post. Shaun Landau (center) enters court in New York Thursday where he made the testimony saying he had help cheating on his CPR certification test 'And at that moment you didn't know what to do?' the defense lawyer asked, to which Landau said yes again. Next, Landau explained that although he was certified, he wasn't actually capable of performing CPR because his instructors at the academy had told him the questions and answers for the exam in advance. 'During the time they were teaching that information, were they talking about the questions that would be on the exam?' the lawyer asked. 'You were fed the questions and the answers?' 'Correct,' Landau replied, according to the Post. 'We are not going to comment on statements made during an ongoing criminal trial,' a New York Police Department spokesperson told Daily Mail Online. A man who shot two New York City police officers as they were patrolling a housing complex in The Bronx Thursday night then ended his life by turning the gun on himself inside his girlfriends bedroom. Officer Patrick Espeut, 29, was shot in the cheek. He was expected to be released from the hospital Friday. Diara Cruz, 24, struck in the torso, remained hospitalized in stable condition, police said. The alleged gunman, 23-year-old Malik Chavis, was discovered dead from a gunshot wound to the head inside his girlfriends seventh-floor apartment at Melrose Houses a short time after the shootings. Scroll down for video Suicide: Malik Chavis, 23, pictured in an undated mugshot, shot himself in the head inside his girlfriend's room after opening fire on two NYPD officers in The Bronx Thursday Cops down: Officer Patrick Espeut (left), 29, was shot in the cheek and was set to be released home. Officer Diara Cruz (right), 24, was struck in the torso and remained hospitalized Friday Weapon: This is the .32 caliber handgun police say Chavis used to shoot the two officers as they were patrolling a housing project in The Bronx Thursday night Chavis reportedly used this shotgun to take his own life just minutes after the shootings According to a witness talking to New York Daily News, the gunman stormed into his girlfriends room with the words, 'I just shot that b****. I just shot a cop in the face.' Police said Chavis was carrying a shotgun in a bag and asked one of the people in the apartment, Michael Fagnani, 22, to kill him. When the man refused, the 23-year-old took matters into his own hands As police officers surrounded the apartment, Chavis reportedly led all the inhabitants of the unit, among them three children, into one room and himself went into another room, gun in hand. Wanda Simes, the mother of Chavis' girlfriend, recounted to the News how the 23-year-old then took off his chain, called his father to tell him he loved him, kissed his girlfriend goodbye and then shot himself in the head. His last words were said to have been: 'I'm dead. I'm done.' In the moments before Chavis suicide, Simes said the 23-year-old told her he wasn't going back to jail. He also told her he was sorry. A female NYPD officer was shot in the chest and a male officer suffered a graze wound to the face in a housing complex in the Bronx on Thursday. Pictured above, emergency officials gather near the site The incident occurred at about 8pm on Thursday. One of the suspects, Malik Chavis, killed himself at the scene and two others were arrested Police officers gather at the emergency entrance of the Lincoln Hospital following the shooting of two New York police officers Police say the officers encountered two people in a stairwell at 320 East 156 Street Thursday evening when one of them, later identified as Mr Chavis, pulled a gun and opened fire. Both officers were struck. Police say the shooter fled into the seventh-floor apartment, which belongs to his girlfriend's family. . 'I just shot that b**** cop,' the shooter told the four occupants inside the apartment, according the Daily News. 'I ain't going back to jail.' Chavis had 17 priors for crimes including attempted robbery, weapon possession and various drug crimes, and there was an open warrant for criminal possession of controlled substance, according to police reports. He was released from prison in December 2014 after serving three years for a robbery charge and violated parole twice, according to state correction records. Officers responding to the scene say they found Chavis in the apartment dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Witness Kendrick Joseph, 18, told the Daily News that the female officer was shot just below her bulletproof vest. 'She was holding her chest as they took her out on a stretcher,' Joseph, the witness, told the News. 'It looked like her vest caught it. Her pant leg was ripped open and she was bleeding from it.' Police say the shooter, identified as Malik Chavis, 23, fled into an apartment. Chavis reportedly knew someone in the apartment, who let him in. Chavis reportedly told other people in the apartment that he 'ain't going back to jail' Police investigators enter the building where the shooting occurred on Thursday night in the Bronx neighborhood of New York The officers were patrolling the Melrose Houses in the Bronx section of New York when the shooting occurred As for the male officer, his 'head was wrapped and he was covered in blood. He was sitting up in the stretcher, but I don't know how he was alive,' Joseph added. 'I don't know how anyone could shoot a cop,' Joseph said. 'What goes into that?' Police say a handgun and a shotgun were found inside the apartment. The .32-caliber handgun had been purchased legally in Tennessee in 2010 and was never reported missing, according to police reports. 'Proud of my officers, hopeful for their speedy recovery, grateful for the many expressions of concern and support on their behalf,' Police Commissioner Bill Bratton tweeted. Mayor Bill De Blasio was delivering his State of the City speech about five miles away when the shooting happened. The mayor was briefed as soon as he left the stage and was headed to the hospital, Hinton said. 'We'll know more as soon as the Mayor is briefed by the NYPD,' Hinton said. 'Obviously we're very trouble and concerned.' New York Gov Andrew Cuomo tweeted out a message to the injured officers. 'My thoughts are with the 2 #NYPD officers shot tonight in the line of duty,' he wrote. 'The #NYPD truly are New York's finest, and I join all New Yorkers in praying for their recovery.' Democratic New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was delivering his State of the City speech about five miles away when the shooting happened. What were Iowa Democrats voting for at their caucuses? In simple terms they were choosing their Democratic candidate for the White House. But in reality the caucus is the first stage of four rounds of voting by Iowa Democrats. The result declared by the Iowa Democratic Party that gave Hillary a 'victory' is far from the final word. When Democrats went to the caucuses on Monday, they were choosing delegates to attend party conventions in their counties mostly either Clinton backers or Sanders supporters. At the county conventions, a smaller set of delegates will be chosen for district-level conventions. Those people will meet months later to pick delegates for the state convention. That's the event that will finally decide how most of the 56 delegates Iowa sends to the Democratic National Convention will vote, either for Clinton or Sanders. Clinton already has a handful of 'superdelegates' mostly party bosses and elected officials pledged to back her. But Hillary Clinton won by a 701-697 margin. What does that actually mean? The numbers released by the Democrats in Iowa are 'state delegate equivalents.' They use a mathematical extrapolation based on how Iowans in each precinct voted in the last two national elections. The state party's computer system converts each precinct's votes into what the support should translate into in the final state-level convention this summer. Normally this would be straightforward since winning candidates in the past have had clear margins of victory and the conventions are seen as rubber-stamps that validate the initial caucuses. But on Monday the margins were wafer thin. People at the county, district and statewide conventions will have to decide how to allocate support which is split almost precisely 50-50, making the computer's formula largely irrelevant in the end. What actually happened at the caucuses? Each precinct voted for a set number of delegates based on their population from just one in the smallest areas to up to 26 in the largest to go to the next stage of voting, which are the county conventions. Those county delegates, who have still to be publicly named, are supposed to reflect the popular view of the precinct. In a one-delegate precinct, if a majority of the caucus voted for Hillary Clinton, the delegate will support Hillary when the county convention convenes. Larger precincts split their delegates along voting lines, with leftover delegates going to whomever has more votes. So if there are 10 delegates to award, and Hillary beat Bernie by a 60-40 margin, six would be given to Clinton and four to Sanders. If the result were 65-35 in favor of Clinton, she would claim the seventh delegate. In reality, the votes were split nearly 50-50 in many areas, leading to crucial extra delegates being awarded on the basis of tiny majorities. Some precincts with odd numbers of delegates to award tied exactly, leading to a rule-book decision to flip a coin. What we do not know yet is how the total numbers of county delegates line up. Improbably, Martin OMalley also claimed a handful of delegates who will be free-agents at their county conventions. Why are 'county delegates' important? County delegates will go to conventions on March 12, where they will decide on district delegates who themselves go to an April 30 convention to choose a smaller slate of state delegates. The state delegates then meet on June 18 to choose 48 of the 56 delegates who will got the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia and represent Iowa Democrats' popular will as best they can. The number released by the Iowa Democratic Party on Monday night counts 'state delegate equivalents,' but thats a computer-generated estimate that might not materialize since the county delegates do not have to vote exactly as their precincts did: Just like at the precinct caucuses, they can be persuaded by other delegates to change camps before a final tally is made and delegates are actually allocated to Clinton or Sanders. That means that every delegate in theory could decide to vote for Clinton or equally for Sanders. Crucially, the county delegates could alter the outcome of the popular vote. And the same process happens again at the district and then the state conventions. That means it is practically impossible to know whether Clinton or Sanders will have a majority of the 48 delegates who are up for grabs. Clinton, though, already controls the eight superdelegates. Q Why hasnt this happened before? Iowas Democratic caucuses have never seen such a small margin of victory in past years. The delegates have a duty to follow the popular will. But where that's hard to discern in a virtual dead heat it is up to them to work out what happens next and whom to support. While many are highly unlikely to switch sides, some could jump ship and change the outcome. Q What do the candidates say? Hillary Clinton has declared victory already, and the state and national parties support her. Bernie Sanders is keeping his powder dry but wants the 'raw' voting numbers released. That would show what the popular vote in each precinct was, which would clearly have a psychological impact on how each delegate behaves when they are lobbied at the conventions. If Sanders somehow were shown to have won the popular vote if Hillary won the 'state delegate equivalent' count as a result of several rounding errors he would claim the moral high ground and expect to be given a majority of the state's delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Both camps will urge their supporters to lobby county delegates as soon as their identities are known in the hope of securing their votes. Q Will this affect the race for the White House all that much? A man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl was 'drunk at the time' and 'didn't have a girlfriend'. Lloyd Allen, 61, pleaded guilty to indecently treating a girl under 16 in 2010 in Gladstone, Queensland, when he entered the room the room she was staying in at his house and fondled her breast before she woke up. She recalled waking up finding a 'hairy arm' lying across her stomach and a hand touching her breast before she fled the room, and her family left the house immediately, The Gladstone Observer reported. The victim recalled waking up to a 'hairy arm' across her stomach and a hand fondling her breast (stock image) Lloyd Allen, 61, pleaded guilty to indecently treating a girl under 16 (stock image) Allen was drunk at the time of offending and had consumed at least one bottle of rum, his lawyer said (stock image) Crown prosecutor Matt Hynes told the Gladstone District Court that Allen had told him during a phone call last year that he 'expressed his regret at what happened. He was very drunk at the time, didn't have a girlfriend'. He had gone into a room she was sleeping in at his house and she awoke to find him fondling her breast under her clothes, she said. In a victim impact statement before, the girl, now an adult, said she 'suffered ongoing psychological repercussions', The Gladstone Observer reported. Although the family had been staying in his home, he had never met them before, and blamed his drunkenness on rum. Allen was sentenced in the Gladstone District Court to nine months in prison, of which he will serve three then be placed on 18 months parole (stock image) Allen's defence lawyer, Jordan Ahlstrand, said his client has consumed between one and one-and-a-half bottles of rum before entering the girl's room. He said Allen had 'limited recall' of the event. Allen, who was 55 at the time of the offence, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment, but will serve three months before being released on 18 months parole. Judge Brendan Butler SC the age difference was an 'aggravating' factor. However, he found it was not a breach of trust as he had only just met her. Although Allen had reportedly told Mr Hynes last year of his regret, he later denied the offence to police. He had earlier denied it to the girls' parents in 2010, The Observer reported. Evidence showed the offending to be out of character, it reported. His lawyer said: 'He is a man of otherwise excellent character. He apologises to her and the community for his behaviour.' Defense Secretary Ash Carter today confirmed that the Air Force is shelving plans to scrap the A-10 Thunderbolt until at least 2022. The Pentagon had previously argued that the money and personnel being dedicated to running the A-10s, nicknamed Warthogs, was needed for the much-delayed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. However, Carter said that the Warthog's unique ability to provide close air support to troops is proving invaluable in the fight against ISIS, and so the aircraft will be kept. A Lt Colonel in the US Air Force, checks the exterior of his A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft in 2002 The A-10, nicknamed The Warthog, has seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, where it has battled against ISIS. Pictured above is a flight demonstration in 2007 Close air support involves firing on enemy soldiers at low altitude and low speed when fighters are too close to friendly units to drop bombs. Because the A-10 is unusually maneuverable at low speeds and altitudes it is particularly adept at the role, and its huge fuel capacity means it can keep supporting troops during long battles. Key to this ability is the aircraft's 30mm, seven-barrel Gatling gun mounted into the nose which is capable of firing depleted uranium bullets at 3,900 rounds per second. The F-35 is still expected to eventually replace the A-10 Thunderbolt, but the project is badly behind schedule and over-budget. The A-10 has seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria, where it has battled against ISIS - also known as ISIL. Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee, celebrated the fact that the A-10 is not being retired just yet. An A-10 Thunderbolt fires rockets as it flies by smoke rising during a demonstration in Nevada in 2007 He told CNN: 'There is no weapon in our arsenal that offers more effective close-air support to American ground troops serving in harm's way than the A-10 aircraft. 'I look forward to seeing our A-10 pilots continue to make important advances in the fight against ISIL in the Middle East, boosting NATO's efforts to deter Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, and supporting vital missions for U.S. national security wherever they are needed.' It may not be the 'endorsement' Donald Trump wants - and the man making it is certain not to vote for him. But Jimmy Carter has chosen the billionaire chosen as his preferred Republican. Admittedly it was a strictly limited choice, as Carter was asked to choose between him and Ted Cruz. The unusual intervention by a former resident of the White House has been pointedly ignored by Trump, but is being greeted with glee by Cruz. Scroll down for video Hard choices: 'I think I would choose Trump. Ted Cruz is not malleable. He has far right-wing policies, in my opinion, that would be pursued aggressively if and when he would become president.' Gilded: Jimmy Carter was in London, where he spoke at the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the British parliament. Its staff wear formal dress and are seen to his right He has tweeted a video of Carter choosing Trump, and claimed the former president had 'endorsed' the billionaire, who is ahead of him in the New Hampshire and national polls, despite coming second Iowa. Carter was speaking at the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the British parliament, about his campaign against guinea worm, when he was asked to choose between Trump and Cruz, who are in first and second place in national polls and New Hampshire. 'I think I would choose Trump which may surprise some of you, but the reason is Trump has proven already that he's completely malleable,' he said. 'I don't think he has any fixed opinions that he would really go to the White House and fight for. 'Ted Cruz is not malleable. He has far right-wing policies, in my opinion, that would be pursued aggressively if and when he would become president.' Cruz, on the stump in New Hampshire, took advantage of the apparent backing of a liberal figure for Trump, with whom he has been at odds publicly in recent weeks after rising in the polls to second place. 'Today - and I'm not making this up - Jimmy Carter endorsed Donald Trump,' CBS reported him as saying. Head to head: Trump and Cruz's increasingly bitter exchanges have marked the week 'Here's what Jimmy Carter said: "the reason is Donald's views are malleable, he has no core beliefs on anything... This Cruz guy actually believes this stuff."' Cruz added: 'I want the video, and I am going to pay to air Jimmy Carter attacking me.' In fact he did air a portion of the video on his twitter feed today. Cruz's attacks on Trump this week have included coining the phrase 'Trumpertantrum' for Trump's description of his rival's Iowa win as 'fraud', and claiming that if the frontrunner's finger was on the nuclear button he would mistakenly bomb Denmark. Trump has accused him of stealing the election, lying about what Trump says on Obamacare, and compared him to Howard Dean. 'Anybody who watched all of Ted Cruz's far too long, rambling, overly flamboyant speech last nite would say that was his Howard Dean moment!' he tweeted after the Iowa results. He has also questioned Cruz's right to run, as the Texas senator was born in Calgary, with the question of whether that makes him a 'natural-born citizen' as required by the const An anti-halal campaigner has admitted to eating kebabs and says they taste 'f***en awesome at 3am' after pictures emerged of a fellow anti-Islam supporter ordering from a kebab shop. Blair Cottrell, an infamous anti-Islam campaigner who helped lead a boycott against halal certification, was spotted on Wednesday at Karingal Kebabs in Frankston in Melbourne - a store which locals claim is halal certified. Photos of Mr Cottrell at the kebab shop were shared online and his supporters were quick to defend him saying he had only ordered an orange juice from an 'Aussie' employee. Scroll down for video Reclaim Australia supporter Scott Moerland, who admits to be anti-halal, says he likes eating kebabs after a fellow anti-Islam campaigner Blair Cottrell was photographed ordering from a halal kebab shop But it sparked an angry response from Reclaim Australia supporter Scott Moerland who contacted Daily Mail Australia to say he also eats kebabs. 'I am more anti-Islam than Blair, I am more anti-Halal than Blair and I eat kebabs,' he said. 'Yeah that's right do you know of any non halal kebabs shops? I don't and as much as I hate the halal certification rort let's not get carried away! 'Kebabs taste f***en nice especially at 3am when you're blind rotten drunk. 'Here is another little bit of info for you 75% of the meat you buy at the supermarket is halal but is not marked, that's the point.' Mr Moerland was one of the organisers and speakers at the Reclaim Australia rally in Brisbane. Mr Cottrell has also been aligned with both Reclaim Australia and United Patriots Front - groups known for 'outing' restaurants and suppliers with halal certified products because they believe the practise funds Islamic terrorism. Blair Cottrell, aligned with anti-Islamic campaigners against halal, United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia, was spotted ordering from a halal certified kebab store in Frankston, Melbourne on Wednesday Scott Moerland, who was one of the organisers and speakers at the Reclaim Australia rally in Brisbane, said he was more anti-halal than Mr Cottrell and still ate kebabs While those in support of Mr Cottrell denied he ordered a halal kebab and posted an edited version of the photo to prove his point, the group who initially posted the photos disagreed. The administrator for Melbourne AntiFascist said Mr Cottrell had indeed ordered a kebab mixed with hummus, garlic yoghurt and barbeque sauce. 'We also understand although can't confirm that it was ordered as part of a combo with fries and an orange juice,' the administrator said, adding that he ordered 'a big ol zub with extra tzatziki'. Others in the comment thread pointed out Mr Cottrell was then pictured sitting with his unopened orange juice, which suggests he was most likely waiting for food to arrive. An administrator at Melbourne AntiFascist, who posted the images on Wednesday morning, claimedMr Cottrell ordered a kebab mixed with hummus, garlic yoghurt and barbeque sauce One of the images was later posted to a Facebook page that supports Neil Erikson, a fellow far-right campaigner. The image had been edited to say Mr Cottrell ordered an orange juice and that the employee was 'Aussie' A screenshot of a text message conversation allegedly between Mr Cottrell and a UPF member 'Blair Cottrell visits the kebab shop? Wait, what? Hahahahahahahahahaha,' the Melbourne AntiFascist post said. The images were later shared by fellow anti-fascist page Slackbastard, who wrote: 'Bloody hell you know things are crook when even Der Fuhrer is happy to be halalified.' When the images were shared to the United Patriots Front, one person mocked Mr Cottrell: 'I think all Muslims want to kill me and take over the world but I like there [sic] food.' A screenshot of a text message conversation allegedly between Mr Cottrell and a UPF member appears to show him warn against sharing the images. It apparently shows Mr Cottrell warn against what the fellow member was 'about to do', potentially referring to sharing or posting the images. The other person replied: 'I'm being an actual Australian and eradicating poor behaviour from so called leaders.' Mr Cottrell then allegedly replied: 'There will be consequences.' Daily Mail Australia has attempted to reach both Mr Cottrell and Karingal Kebabs. Late last year Mr Cottrell became the face of anti-Islamic rallies, going so far as staging a fake beheading and drenched a council chamber floor with fake blood. Although he publicly declared he is not neo-nazi, Facebook posts later surfaced which showed him supporting Hitler, while making offensive rants against Jews, Muslims and women. Mr Cottrell was previously aligned with Reclaim Australia, before splitting to United Patriots Front. He was then ousted as leader but has maintained a following as an anti-Islamic campaigner. It has not been confirmed whether the takeaway joint at Frankston, south-east Melbourne is halal certified. Several locals claim it is Late last year Mr Cottrell became the face of anti-Islamic rallies, going so far as staging a fake beheading and drenched a council chamber floor with fake blood (pictured) Mr Cottrell is aligned with United Patriots Front, who last year protested against a proposed mosque at Bendigo in Victoria (pictured) A high-ranking Chinese official has been fired from his post for 'disloyalty' to the ruling Communist Party as President Xi Jinping cracks down on corruption. Deposed Sichuan Governor Wei Hong joins a long list of those sidelined in a clampdown on dissent, civil society and corrupt officials. The accusations against Wei are unusual in that they make no mention of crime, which some observers take as a sign that Xi has become powerful enough to take down major politicians without charging them with criminal activity. Fired: Deposed Sichuan Governor Wei Hong (centre) has been removed from his post for 'disloyalty' to the ruling Communist Party Wei was accused only of violating 'party discipline', not of breaking the law, demoted to a vice departmental post and removed from his party duties. He had been 'disloyal to the party, dishonest and failed to value the many opportunities to receive education and rectify his wrongdoing,' the party's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in an unusually long statement on its website. Along with 'seriously violating political and organisational discipline', he also sought to subvert the investigation, refused to confess and interfered with judicial activities, the commission said. No details were given about the specific accusations against Wei, who has spent most of his career in the Sichuan party apparatus and was also a delegate to the national party and government congresses. The commission also announced an investigation into a vice governor of the southern province of Guangdong on the same charge. It said Liu Zhigeng was under investigation but gave no details about his alleged violation of party discipline. The accusations appear to show an expansion of Xi's anti-corruption campaign to include those who fail to profess fealty to his leadership rather than just those who have engaged in criminal activity, said Willy Lam, who closely follows China's elite politics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Whereas previous leaders tolerated some degree of factionalism, Xi appears intent on removing all who fail to toe the line, Lam said. Wei may have been suspected of being under the sway of one of Xi's two predecessors, Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, he added. 'This is a warning to party members that they can lose their place,' Lam said. 'It is an alarming development in the personality cult around Xi.' Power: More so than usual, Xi has dominated state broadcaster CCTV's newscasts in recent days The son of a founder of the Communist state, Xi has increasingly turned to well-worn methods of state propaganda to promote his image. He has appeared on decorative plates, medals and billboards, and even established a presence on social media within China's narrowly confined online world. More so than usual, Xi has dominated state broadcaster CCTV's newscasts in recent days, visiting mountainous areas of central China where the nascent Communist Party established its foothold in its early days. During the visit, local residents grasped Xi by the arm - clapping, smiling and singing revolutionary folk songs. Xi then held forth in front of local government officials and military units, cementing his image as the paramount leader. Xi now appears to be moving to elevate his status to the 'core' of the party leadership, rather than simply its general secretary, Lam said. Left his post: Israels former ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub (pictured), was returned to Jerusalem amid concerns that a series of late-night visits to his London residence could leave him open to blackmail Israels former ambassador to the UK was returned to Jerusalem amid concerns that a series of late-night visits to his London residence could leave him open to blackmail, it has emerged. Daniel Taub was repeatedly warned about security breaches at his home in St John's Wood after welcoming visitors without clearing their arrivals with Israeli security or British diplomatic protection, an Israeli official said. According to the Daily Telegraph, the source added: 'There was nothing criminal about it, but it could be seen as a kind of impropriety. 'This is the kind of situation that could make you vulnerable to blackmail.' The British-born diplomat, who left his post last year, was identified after speculation intensified in Israeli media about the involvement in an alleged scandal of a senior Israeli diplomat in Europe. However claims that appeared online this week relating to aspects of Mr Taubs behaviour were strongly denied by Israels ministry of foreign affairs, according to the Guardian. After insisting it had determined that there had been 'no criminal or disciplinary' wrongdoing, the ministry told the newspaper it 'expressed its disgust at the publication of untruthful allegations regarding one of the finest members of its foreign service'. It has been claimed that Mr Taub, 55, had been asked by British security to stop the visits, saying they were 'hurting' the UK's ability to protect him. But the ambassador continued anyway, according to the Haaretz newspaper. The Oxford-educated lawyer, who is a married father-of-six, served in London from 2011 until last year. He had been eager to remain in the role for another year before being returned to Jerusalem. An investigation was opened into his conduct but, after being questioned over the affair, Mr Taub is said to have satisfied officials. Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement: 'It was determined that there had been no criminal or disciplinary wrongdoing and that the issue related to a breach of security protocol. The issue has been addressed and concluded.' Returned: Mr Taub (pictured meeting the Queen) was repeatedly warned about security breaches at his home after welcoming visitors without clearing their arrivals with Israeli security or British diplomatic protection Such an embarrassment is said to have cost Mr Taub the chance to take up a post as the ministrys top legal adviser. He was considered a strong candidate but lost out after the incidents in London. Mr Taub will now be replaced by Mark Regev, the foreign language spokesman for Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Security patrols involving senior Israeli diplomats are a sensitive subject at present, particularly amid concerns they could open themselves up to pressure from foreign intelligence agencies. It follows a recent debate about the extent to which Israel has been targeted for intelligence gathering after a series of revelations. Last week it emerged that the UKs GCHQ and its US equivalent, the NSA, had hacked video feeds from Israeli drones and jets. US intelligence officials claimed Thursday that the number of ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq is decreasing. From a previous estimate of 31,000, a report revealed by the White House suggested the terror group's troop count has shrunk to 25,000. Battlefield casualties and desertions, as well as a US-led military campaign, may have led to the roughly 20 percent decrease in fighters, officials said. The number of people fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq has decreased from around 31,000 to 25,000, US officials said in a report Thursday ISIS continues to be 'a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have decreased,' White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. 'ISIS has sustained significant casualties,' Earnest said. Ground fighting efforts by coalition partners of the United States, as well as endeavors by US-backed Iraqi security forces, tribal militias and moderate opposition groups in Syria, have also contributed to the progress in the fight against ISIS, officials said. Also, the flow of foreigners trying to join the ranks of the terror group has been stemmed thanks to international efforts, officials said. 'ISIL is having more difficulty than they've had before in replenishing their ranks, and we have long been aware of the need of the international community to cooperate to stop the flow of foreign fighters to the region,' said Earnest. View of a plume of smoke rising above a building during an airstrike in Tikrit, Iraq by US-led coalition forces in March last year The new intelligence report of 19,000-25,000 Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria compares to 2014 estimates of 20,000-31,000 fighters. 'The decrease reflects the combined effects of battlefield deaths, desertions, internal disciplinary actions, recruiting shortfalls, and difficulties that foreign fighters face traveling to Syria,' said Emily Horne, a spokeswoman for the National Security Council. Some North African jihadists who might otherwise have traveled to Syria to join Islamic State may instead have heeded calls by the movement's leadership to head to Libya, where the Islamists are fighting to expand their grip on territory on the Mediterranean coast. The intelligence report did not account for the Islamic State's affiliates in South Asia, other parts of the Middle East and North Africa, where its Libyan branch is expanding. There appear to be conflicting U.S. estimates of the strength of the movement's Libyan affiliate. Defense officials put the number at some 3,000, while other U.S. officials put it at 5,000-6,000. Police have linked them to several similar offences in Alabama and Georgia A couple suspected in a series of robberies and abductions in Alabama and Georgia have taunt police on Facebook in the midst of a manhunt. Suspects Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Nicole Harper are also accused of stealing guns from a Missouri home a few days before the crimes. According to ABC, Harper posted on Facebook this week: I wasnt planning on going for a run today but those cops came out of nowhere. The site said that friend later wrote to Harper: I dont want u to die But I am afraid u are headed in that direction. Brittany Harper wrote on Facebook that she 'wasn't planning on going for a run today but those cops came out of nowhere'. She and Blake Fitzgerald are being hunted for a brazen crime spree in Alabama and Georgia The couple are also accused of stealing guns from a Missouri home a few days before the crime spree began Police say the armed couple robbed the Murphy Express on Sam Nunn Boulevard on Monday night and abducted the female clerk The couple are wanted after a crime spree in Alabama on Sunday, but authorities say they also struck a gas station in Georgia on Monday Joplin police Cpl Chuck Niess told The Associated Press on Thursday that police in Joplin, Missouri, wanted to Fitzgerald and Harper about the January 22 break-in, 'but they obviously left the area. The home reportedly belonged to a doctor and at least two guns were taken from the residence, according to AL.com. It is not known if the couple knew the doctor, who has not been identified. Police have linked the Missouri couple to a series of crimes in Alabama and Georgia, saying the offenses fit a similar pattern: People are robbed, kidnapped and let go unharmed, usually after a vehicle is stolen. Just this week, an Alabama hotel clerk, who was abducted at gunpoint, says the 'Bonnie and Clyde' captors revealed they were going to Panama City, Florida, to get married and he fears they'll 'go down shooting' if cornered by police. Kyle Dease, the night clerk at Microtel Inn and Suites in Tuscaloosa, claims he was held captive for nearly two hours in his own car by the couple on Sunday. Kyle Dease, the night clerk at Microtel Inn and Suites in Tuscaloosa, says he was held captive by the couple for two hours Fitzgerald and Harper were last seen traveling south on Interstate 75 in a stolen silver Ford Edge (pictured) 'They're making this up as they go,' Dease said. 'They're improvising at every little setback, and that's when people get hurt.' He doesn't believe the couple want to hurt anyone, adding 'even the nicest person in the world when backed into a corner will lash out.' He said Fitzgerald said he 'hated' using the gun and claimed he 'kind of lost a piece of himself every time he had to use it'. 'I want them to turn themselves in or get where they need to be and stop terrorizing people,' Dease said. The latest in the alleged crime spree happened when a gunman held up a young female clerk at a Murphy Express station along Interstate 75 in Perry, Georgia, at around 11pm on Monday. The suspect took money from the safe and cigarettes before forcing the clerk into an SUV where his female accomplice waited, authorities said. The couple drove about 15 miles before releasing the clerk unharmed on a highway overpass, said Perry police Lt Ken Ezell. In each case, Harper (pictured left and right) and her accomplice released their hostages unharmed Fitzgerald's lengthy criminal record includes more than 100 charges dating back to 2003, including rape Fitzgerald and Harper appear to be in a relationship, according to pictures on his Facebook page. The 31-year-old man also appears to have a young daughter They were last seen traveling south on I-75 in a stolen silver Ford Edge, police said. Ezell said on Tuesday afternoon he was preparing arrest warrants charging them with kidnapping and armed robbery in Georgia. 'As far as their motives behind things, there's really not one,' Ezell said. Perry Police Chief Stephen Lynn said the couple may be abducting their victims to delay reports being made to police. 'They haven't hurt anybody so far and that's great,' Lynn said. 'I hope we catch them before somebody does get hurt.' Fitzgerald is facing one count of first-degree burglary, one count of first-degree kidnapping and one count of first-degree theft of property in relation to the incident in Vestavia Hills. Harper is charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping and first-degree theft of property. First target: Fitzgerald and Harper are suspected of kidnapping a night manager from this Microtel Inn and Suites in Tuscaloosa and stealing his car Second target: The suspects then drove to this McDonald's in Hoover, where they made an attempt to carjack and rob a restaurant worker, but they left empty-handed after she raised the alarm Both are also charged with first-degree robbery in Hoover. In Tuscaloosa, both face robbery, kidnapping and theft charges. According to ABC3340, Fitzgerald's vast criminal record includes more than 100 charges dating back to 2003, including assault, rape and burglary. He was arrested in Missouri for robbing a 63-year-old woman at knife-point in 2013, Al.com reported, and was on probation stemming from a 2015 case in which he assaulted a man at a nightclub. Meanwhile, the US Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force has been called in to assist with the hunt. Tuscaloosa police Lt. Kip Hart said a $10,000 reward was being offered for information that helped lead to an arrest and conviction. Anyone who spots the pair or the silver Ford Edge - with tags 2720AG7- is urged not to approach them, but immediately call police. Contact Vestavia Hills Police at 205-978-0140 or Perry Police Department's Detective Lieutenant Ken Ezell at 478-338-0255 or email Ken.ezell@perry-ga.gov. Third target: The pair then drove to the Birmingham suburb of Vestavia Hills, where they allegedly kidnapped a woman from her home as she was having breakfast with her family An attorney for Making A Murderer's Steven Avery believes she may have stumbled across a new forensic test that could prove his innocence. Kathleen Zellner, who now represents Avery, has sprayed the home and garage where cops claim Teresa Halbach was murdered with a chemical called Luminol, Access Hollywood reports. The chemical, which was not available to investigators during Avery's 2007 trial, can be used to detect trace amounts of blood at a crime scene even decades after the crime has been committed. It is thought that Zellner is trying to prove that there is no blood inside either the house or garage, meaning it was impossible for Halbach to have been killed there. Kathleen Zellner, Steven Avery's current lawyer, is thought to be testing the home and garage where Teresa Halbach was killed with a chemical known as Luminol Luminol is used to detect trace amounts of blood at a crime scene (Avery's house, pictured) and can be effective even decades after the crime took place It is thought that Zellner is trying to show there was no blood inside Avery's house or garage (pictured), where Halbach was supposed to have been stabbed and then shot, meaning Halbach could not have died there However it is not clear whether any blood residue was found. While Luminol is able to detect the presence of blood, DNA testing would also be required to reveal who that blood belonged to. While visible blood belonging to both Avery and Halbach was found inside the Toyota RAV4 she was driving when she disappeared, no visible blood was found at the crime scene. That fact posed considerable problems for prosecution lawyers at Avery's initial trial after Avery's nephew, Brendan Dassey, told police that a prolonged and grisly murder had taken place. According to Dassey, Halbach was tied down to Avery's bed where she was repeatedly raped, stabbed and beaten. Still alive, Dassey told police in an interview that she was then dragged to the nearby garage where she was eventually shot in the head. Luminol, a chemical compound, binds to the iron found in hemoglobin inside red blood cells before emitting a glowing light, and is regularly used by police in investigations At Avery's trial back in 2007, the issue of there being no blood at the crime scene was brought up by his defense lawyers (Jerome Buting pictured, left) but was dismissed Brendan Dassey (pictured), Avery's nephew, confessed to police that Halbach had been stabbed in Avery's house, before being taken to the garage and shot in the head, which would have left a large amount of blood Despite multiple soft furnishing in Avery's home which could have soaked up Halbach's blood, and piles of junk in the garage that would have been exceptionally difficult to clean, no blood was ever found in either of the properties. At the time, Avery's lawyers Jerome Buting and Dean Strang argued that this showed no murder had actually taken place there, but prosecutor Ken Kratz successfully argued that Avery had managed to clean the property spotless. If no blood was discovered under a Luminol test, however, it might prove significant because the chemical can detect blood even after the surfaces have been cleaned. This is because it bonds to the iron contained in blood, which is extremely difficult to entirely remove from a crime scene, and does not break down afterwards. Avery's brother Earl and niece Brittany told Access Hollywood of their hopes that any new evidence will help exonerate their relative. Avery's extraordinary story began in 1985 when he was accused of the brutal rape of Penny Beerntsen, a crime for which he would serve 18 years in jail despite being innocent. Halbach (pictured) went missing in November 2005 after being seen on Avery's property before her badly burned bones were discovered in Avery's back yard Upon his release, Avery announced that he was suing the Manitowoc Sheriff's Department, who were responsible for the investigation that saw him locked away, for $36million. Shortly after key figures in Avery's previous arrest and conviction were deposed, he was arrested for the murder of Halbach, who vanished after being seen on his property in November 2005. Halbach's badly burned bones were later discovered in a burn pit outside Avery's house, his blood was found inside her car which was parked on his property, and the key to the car found in his bedroom. Brendan Dassey, Avery's nephew, also testified that Avery convinced him to help him rape and kill Halbach in his home, though he attempted several times to retract the confession, and it was not used at trial. Avery's lawyers argued that their client was again being accused of a crime he did not commit as punishment for suing the department, and alleged that evidence was planted to secure his guilt. Despite the Manitowoc County Sheriff's Department pledging to step back from the investigation, attorney's were able to show detectives from the department had been involved at almost every key evidence-gathering stage. Avery was eventually convicted of first-degree murder and is currently serving life in jail. A victim of the Cologne mass sex attacks has told how was ambushed and knocked to the ground by two migrant men on New Year's Eve. The woman, named only as Miriam, said she and a friend were attacked near her home as they walked back from the celebrations in the city centre. Her friend said noticed someone following them and they turned round to find two 'North African' men approaching them. Scroll down for video Crowds of gather outside Cologne train station on New Year's Eve when hundreds of women were mobbed and sexually assaulted by gangs of migrants. One victim has told how she and a friend were ambushed by two 'North African' men who knocked them to the ground and tried to snatch her mobile phone Miriam said: 'One of them tried to hug me. I pushed him away then I took out my mobile and said "Im going to call the police if you dont let us go". 'He was talking back at me in a language I didnt understand.' She turned to see her friend on the ground while being hit on the head by the other man. 'He was pulling her by the hair,' she told BBC World Service. 'I moved closer to help and he started hitting me. 'He pulled me to the ground and tried to grab my phone. I was crying for my mother, but she couldn't hear me.' Large numbers of police have taken to the streets in Cologne to prevent any repeat of the mass sex attacks High profile police patrols are taking place in areas that were out of control on New Year's Eve The men described as aged about 25-20 and having 'dark hair and darker skin eventually fled and the girls ran home. Miriam accused the police of failing to investigate her report, leaving it to her mother, Jozi, to return to the scene, where she found a pair of glasses belonging to one of the men and cigarettes. Cologne prosecutors say they have received 1,037 criminal complaints over the New Year's events, including 446 allegations of sexual assault, three of them rape. Criminal proceedings have begun against 50 individuals, of whom 11 are in custody, said Cologne prosecutor Ulrich Bremer. Authorities ordered the massive police presence to reassure partygoers and to act as a deterrent The German government confirmed that 91,000 asylum seekers arrived in the country in January Most of the suspects are from Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, he said. Several are asylum-seekers. Cologne has now been placed on high alert as it prepares for ladies' night at a carnival this weekend. Festivities this year have been overshadowed by security concerns, prompting police to double the number of officers on patrol to more than 2,000 in an effort to reassure the public. Miriam said she will go to the carnival, but fears suffering a similar attack again. The attacks have fuelled the debate in Germany about the country's ability to cope with the huge number of migrants that have arrived over the past year. A Connecticut town located just 45 minutes by car from Newtown, the site of the third-deadliest school shooting in US history, is considering arming its school teachers. Elected officials in Kent, Connecticut voted 2-1 Wednesday to present information about a program called 'FASTER Saves Lives' to the town's Board of Education. 'FASTER' is an acronym that stands for Faculty/Administrator Safety Training and Emergency Response. The Kent Center School is the town of Kent's only school. Elected officials in the town are proposing to arm teachers According to a website devoted to the program, it aims to provide 'training in armed response, crisis management, and emergency medical aid.' 'The FASTER program pays for tuition and lodging and local school boards authorize these trained staff members to carry firearms in school,' the website reads. The training consists of a three-day class with 26 hours of lessons. The program was launched by the Buckeye Firearms Foundation on December 20, 2012, only six days after a gunman killed 20 six-and-seven-year-olds and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut was the site of one of the most deadly school shootings in US history and is located a 45 minute drive from Kent People in Newtown react to the 2012 school massacre that killed 20 children and six adults at an elementary school 'I guess I'm really on the fence,' Kent parent Paulette Menniti told the news station WFSB. 'That's a really touchy subject. It's really hard to make that call. I want my children safe, but at the hands of someone who is extremely well-trained and someone with a good mind and sound mind. That, of course, is up to opinion.' Only one of three officials who voted on Wednesday is against the program. 'I didn't feel that our small elementary school is ready for, or needs armed people,' First Selectman Bruce Adams told WSFB. Connecticut governor Dannel Malloy spoke out against the program on Thursday, objecting to a stipulation of the program that would allow anonymous volunteers to carry guns at school. 'If any board of education would approve this, I'd be shocked, frightened and disappointed,' Malloy told the Associated Press. 'It makes no sense. And no school system in the state of Connecticut should be allowed to do this.' 'The idea that we're going to have a volunteer receive 26 hours of training or teachers and principals receive 26 hours of training, that's just unacceptable,' Malloy said. 'It puts children in more danger, not less.' Jeffrey Parkin, who first came up with the idea to propose the program in Kent, told the Danbury News Times the reaction to the proposal has 'gotten out of hand.' 'It's being suggested that teachers would be walking around the school visibly packing guns,' Parkin said on Thursday. 'But if Kent went into this program, the gun or guns would be concealed. It would be up to the Board of Education how the gun would be kept, possibly in a safe with access for trained staff. It's not for me to say. But the program would be totally opaque. No one would know staff had access to guns.' Kent Board of Education chairman Paul Cortese told the News Times the board does not have plans to discuss the proposal. Children are being led from Sandy Hook Elementary School by state police officers after the 2012 massacre A leading charity accused of receiving millions of pounds for steering the elderly towards expensive energy contracts was last night said to have made 21million by selling insurance. Energy watchdog Ofgem has launched an inquiry into claims Age UK was handed commission when pensioners switched to the E.ON gas and electricity contracts after its recommendation. The charity made a further 21million from selling Ageas home, travel and car insurance, the Financial Times reported last night. It was also said to have made 9.4million by selling funeral plans in a deal with Dignity. Charity Age UK, which has been accused of receiving millions of pounds for steering the elderly towards expensive energy contracts, was last night said to have made 21million by selling insurance (file photo) Age UK Enterprises, the charitys commercial arm, made 23.2million in 2013/2014 through its insurance products, which included a bonus from Ageas for hitting targets. Overall, Age UK Enterprises, made 47.6million of revenue in 2014/15 and 8.2million of pre-tax profit, which it passed to the charity. The Ofgem probe is focused on allegations Age UK received commission for every customer who switched to an E.ON deal on its recommendation. But the organisation faces claims the E.ON tariffs were not the cheapest available, resulting in people paying 200 a year more than they need to. MPs say if the claims are true, the charity and the energy firm should refund the estimated 152,000 pensioners involved. The Sun said Age UK received 41 commission for each customer who switched but the charity says the figure was 10. It said it received 6 million in total from E.ON. Age UK denies the allegations, insisting the E.ON deals were the cheapest of their kind when launched. It said customers could have moved to cheaper deals subsequently launched by energy firms without any financial penalty. Energy Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured) said she took the allegation that Britains pensioners are being misled 'very seriously' and had immediately contacted Ofgem to investigate the matter urgently Energy Secretary Amber Rudd said: People expect a fair deal when it comes to their energy bills I take very seriously this allegation that Britains pensioners are being misled, so immediately contacted Ofgem who will investigate this urgently and report back to me. Tory MP Dr Dan Poulter, of the Commons energy select committee, said his research suggested the claims were true, adding: You have got to trust a charity that is purporting get the best deal for vulnerable older people. That is something that I believe E.ON has exploited. Perhaps the charity is not that commercially savvy. There is a moral obligation for the charity and on E.ON to recompense some of the most vulnerable energy consumers. Beth Porter, 73, of Frant, East Sussex, said she regretted taking out a two-year fixed deal with E.ON, telling the BBC: I fell for this so-called good deal I really cannot afford to receive notice of my latest dual fuel bill and find it was double what Ive usually been paying. Age UK said: We strongly reject the allegations and interpretation of figures. The Age UK fixed two-year tariff offers a good deal and was the market-leading two-year tariff when launched in January. The Age UK fixed two-year tariff is over 100 cheaper than the E.ON standard variable tariff and is cheaper than other variable tariffs with E.ONs support we have managed to maintain our level of charitable work. The charity added: Age UK is proud of the social enterprise that has been successfully supporting the charity for many years. We are completely open that profits from our social enterprise support Age UKs charitable work. E.ON said: We always work to make sure our tariffs are competitively priced. Crucially, any of our customers can switch to any of these products at any time. Ageas said: The long-term commercial partnership includes a typical commission to Age UK that is in line with commission arrangements in the insurance market. Funeral care group Dignity said that in the 28 years it had worked with Age UK, the charity had demonstrated the highest levels of customer commitment. They are expected to criticise the US Government over The heartbroken family of Kayla Mueller who was killed after being kidnapped and tortured by ISIS terrorists are to go public about their attempts to pay her ransom demands. Marsha and Carl Mueller are to make a statement today which is expected to criticize the US government after attempts to save their daughter Kayla, 26, failed a year ago. The humanitarian worker, from Arizona, was killed in Syria after being held captive by the Islamic State for almost two years. Scroll down for video A new photo the family of Kayla Mueller (left) with her parents has been released one year on after her death was confirmed in Syria - this was taken on her final time in America before heading to the Middle-East It is still not clear how she died - if through the hands of her captors or even as a result of a coalition airstrike. Kayla was tortured while she was being held and, according to some fellow captors, was taken as a 'wife' and raped by the terror group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The statement, along with a newly-released photograph of Kayla by the family, is the first to be made since confirmation of her death was received in February last year. It describes the young woman and her desire to help those affected by Syria's long-running civil war. Kayla Mueller, 26, was an American humanitarian worker from Arizona who went to Syria to help refugees Kayla's boyfriend, documentary photographer, Omar Alkani, with her before she was taken hostage - the photograph was taken in Lebanon in 2012 As reported by Yahoo News, the family said: 'Kayla was given a special heart and mind to not only see suffering in its many forms but to reach out and find a way to help those God placed before her.' But the statement strongly hints that the family will say more on the actions of the Obama administration and the attempts made to save Kayla's life. The family are thought to be deeply frustrated with how the case was handled. One issue which is likely to be raised in the dispute will be the family's wish for the ransom demanded by the ISIS terrorists to be paid in an attempt to rescue her. Carl and Marsha Mueller during a memorial service held for their daughter in March last year - the family is expected to criticise the US Government over its handling of the case Candles alight for Kayla: The lights flicker during the memorial service which was held in Yavapai College Performance Hall Kayla was in the Middle-East helping refugees and was committed 'to serving the most vulnerable'. The Muellers are reported to have not followed administration policies when they pushed for the ransom demand to be paid which effectively prohibited the process. Other families of American hostages, including those of James Foley and Steven Sotloff, who were both executed in beheading videos posted on the internet released by ISIS, also struggled to get ransom demands paid. It is thought the FBI over the years has assisted families with paying ransoms but other government departments, including the Treasury and State Department, have taken a different approach. Those officials are thought to have maintained a position that any payments would only encourage further hostage-taking and could even violate US law by providing support to terror groups. The families of Foley and Sotloff went public with accusations they were threatened with legal action in a tense White House meeting between the hostages' loved-ones and officials if they paid the ransom demands. This provoked an internal review that led to a new policy to deal with hostages and their captors last year. Kayla's brother Eric Mueller talks about his sister during the memorial - her death was confirmed the previous month by the family and US officials United States Senator John McCain speaks during the memorial service for Kayla Mueller in the Yavapai College Performance Hall in March last year The new stance is that the Government will not prevent families from 'communications with hostage takers' - which seems to raise the possibility of ransoms being paid in the future. Barack Obama said official threats to the families that they might be taken to court were 'totally unacceptable'. But the Muellers' anger over their case has not diminished. In an NBC News interview, shortly after their daughter was confirmed killed, members of Kayla's family confirmed that they had engaged with her captors and tried to raise the demanded ransom of $6.2million. Talks then fell apart after the White House agreed in 2014 to trade American soldier Bowe Berghdahl in exchange for five Taliban detainees being held at the U.S. detention facility in Guantanamo. 'That made the whole situation worse,' Eric Mueller, Kayla's brother said. 'Because that's when the demands got greater. They got larger. They realized that they had something. They realized that, 'Well, if they're gonna let five people go for one person, why won't they do ths? Or why won't they do that.' The Muellers are said to be still frustrated about the lack of information and help they received from the White House. A spokeswoman for the White House is reported to have not responded to a request for comment. A jury's decision to clear lawyer Andrew Houston of causing a horror smash on the A9 that claimed three lives was last night condemned as a denial of justice A jury's decision to clear a lawyer of causing a horror smash on the A9 that claimed three lives was last night condemned as a denial of justice. Andrew Houston, 48, had been accused of causing the death of his wife and daughter as well as a German tourist by careless driving. But he was cleared of that charge after a harrowing four-day trial and found guilty of the lesser charge of careless driving. Houston was fined 1,000 and banned from driving for a year. His wife Abigail, 42, daughter Mia, seven, and German doctor Mohammad Hayajneh, 62, died in the crash. Speaking outside Inverness Sheriff Court after the verdict yesterday, Dr Hayajnehs grieving wife Ursula, 59, and son Jonas, 22, condemned the decision. The family, from Duisburg, Germany, read from a statement on the steps of Inverness Sheriff Court after the jury of eight women and six men returned their verdict following two hours and 20 minutes of deliberation. Jonas Hayajneh said: We are shocked at this verdict and believe justice has not been done. We dont feel hatred towards Mr Houston and at no point did we want him to go to prison. But we wanted him to be found guilty since all the evidence suggested he was and we are convinced this tragedy could have been avoided. We now face the prospect of never gaining proper closure. The jury concluded that Mr Houston was on the wrong side of the road due to careless driving but that he didnt cause the accident because of careless driving since he unsuccessfully tried to get back on the proper side of the road at the last moment. He added: This verdict is irrational and illogical. Now the family will pursue a civil action against Houston, of Edinburgh. The solicitor advocate, who is the sole partner of McSporrans solicitors in the capital, made no comment as he left the court. He was accompanied by the mother and sister of his late wife. Defence counsel Frances McMenamin said after the verdict: His mother and sister-in-law have been fully supportive of my client since the tragedy and it hardly needs saying that Mr Houston will always carry the burden of the loss of all those lives and knows the grief and loss to others. His wife Abigail, 42, (left) daughter Mia, seven, (right) and doctor Mohammad Hayajneh, 62, died in the crash Doctor Mohammad Hayajneh, 62, pictured here with his wife Ursula, died in the crash. His wife condemned the jury's decision to clear Andrew Houston Mr Houstons daughter Lily, 12, (pictured), who was badly hurt in the crash, has recovered from her injuries It has taken its toll on him both emotionally and physically and he has found it psychologically difficult to cope with. He expresses his inevitable sadness for what this loss has meant to others. Miss McMenamin said Houstons 12-year-old daughter Lily, who was badly hurt in the crash, had recovered from her injuries. The four-day trial heard that Houston crossed into the opposite carriageway on the A9, near Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, on July 9, 2013. His Audi A4 collided head-on with a silver Jeep Cherokee being driven by Mrs Hayajneh. Mr Houston's wife Abigail was killed in the accident There were daily emotional scenes in the courtroom, as Houston and the German doctors widow frequently broke down while the evidence was outlined. Mrs Hayajneh could not control her anger on Wednesday afternoon and leapt to her feet after Miss McMenamin had asked the jury to solely find her client guilty of careless driving. She shouted: He has killed three people, before being calmed down by her son. Miss McMenamin also suggested that Mrs Hayajneh was driving too close to a Peugeot in front of her before it suddenly swerved to the left, off the road, to avoid hitting the Audi. A video of Houston reliving the horrific moments after the crash was also played to the court during the trial. He told officers he had tried to free himself from the wreckage to help his dying wife and daughter. He wept as he told police officers: I have no idea what caused the collision. I wish I knew. He told police he held his wifes hand, watching as two men gave Mia CPR as her then ten-year-old sister Lily comforted her. Seconds earlier, the children had been watching a DVD in the back of the car. Houston spent two weeks in hospital with cracked ribs and a broken foot. Because of his fragile mental state it was five months before police interviewed him. More than two dozen Democrats from the Montana Legislature will gather at Fairmont Hot Springs this weekend to brainstorm priorities for the 2017 legislative session and have said the meeting will be open to the public. Last month, plans for the caucus retreat drew media scrutiny after Sen. Mary Sheehy Moe, D-Great Falls, urged party leaders to be cognizant of public notice requirements should enough legislators attend to trigger open government laws. Legislative leaders from both parties say a 2015 civil suit, which sought to ding Republicans for not providing public notice of a caucus meeting, has confused when such notice is required. The courts are a little unclear about the specifics, said House Minority Leader Chuck Hunter, D-Helena. So anytime we meet and theres a quorum we will follow not only the letter, but the spirit, of the law and make those public. Hunter said he plans to speak with Republican legislative leaders later this month about requesting an opinion from Attorney General Tim Fox to provide guidance on how to comply with the states legal and constitutional requirements for open government. House Majority Leader Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, said he would have to hear the details to decide whether such a request had merit. The Montana Freedom of Information Hotline, a group that advocates for government transparency, disagrees with legislators that the 2015 case has changed anything. In 1995, 22 Montana news outlets filed suit to secure public access to legislative caucuses gatherings of each political party to set priorities and strategize citing a section of the Montana constitution that all legislative meetings are open to the public. The case concluded in 1998, with District Judge Thomas Honzel finding the public has a right to observe their discussions. Specifically, the public has the right to attend any meeting where enough legislators gather to constitute a quorum and the public must receive advance notice of all such meetings, although state statute does not provide specifics on how soon that must be done. Just before the 2015 session, Republican legislators gathered for a caucus meeting in the basement of a restaurant without notifying the public. The meeting was cut short when two reporters showed up to cover the gathering. Montana news media followed with a lawsuit seeking to hold the caucus in contempt of the 1998 ruling. District Judge Kathy Seeley dismissed the case in January 2015, saying that caucus meetings must be open to the public but that the 1998 ruling did not specifically require caucuses to provide advance notice. While many legislators say the dismissal has left them uncertain whether they must provide public notice of caucus meetings, Helena attorney Mike Meloy, who volunteers with the hotline, said a dismissal cannot be construed as a reversal of the 1998 ruling, so open government requirements have not changed. For that same reason, Meloy doubts Fox would weigh in on the matter even if asked by legislative leaders. It has long been the policy of the Attorney General not to entertain opinion requests of legal issues that have been resolved by a court, he said. While our Supreme Court has not yet weighed in on the issue, a district court has and determined that both in-session and out-of-session caucuses are subject to Montanas open meetings laws. Legislators could instead amend open government laws to be more explicit. Currently, the amount of public notice should increase with the relative significance of the decision to be made, according to a previous attorney general opinion. Some states set explicit deadlines, such as five days before the meeting. Both Hunter and Knudsen said amending the law would be difficult given the sensitivity of the subject and doubted any such measures would surface in the next session. Likewise, although both said having closed caucuses could be valuable in encouraging members to speak freely, neither expected any effort to amend the constitution to exclude legislative caucuses from open government requirements could succeed, noting that would require three-quarters of legislators to support it in order to pass. A British couple have been found dead in their Cyprus apartment from suspected gas poisoning from a faulty heater. Ken Lincoln, 59, and his wife Linda, 56, were discovered in their living room in the town of Paralimni on Tuesday. Police were alerted after Mrs Lincoln failed to show up for work at a nearby school and did not answer her phone. After gaining entry to the flat, officers noticed an intense smell of gas which led them to believe the couple were killed by a leak. Double tragedy: Linda Lincoln and her husband Ken are believed to have been killed by gas poisoning from a faulty heater at their apartment on Cyprus The Lincolns are thought to have used the gas heater on Monday night just hours before they were found dead. Police have launched an investigation into the tragedy. State pathologist Sofoclis Sophocleous carried out a post mortem examination on the two victims on Wednesday morning at Nicosia general hospital. But further forensic tests are to be carried out in a bid to establish the exact cause of death. Famagusta police spokesman George Economou ruled out foul play and said the gas heater was being examined by experts. Police have not confirmed what kind of heater it was. The couple are thought to have lived on Cyprus for several years. Mrs Lincoln worked as an administrator at the local Xenion private school and Mr Lincoln is understood to have worked as a construction worker. They were permanent residents in the Famagusta area of Cyprus but had strong links with the Wymondham area of Norfolk near Norwich. Residents of Morley-St-Botolph, where the couple used to live, told of their shock and sadness at the news. Carol Lawrence, 69, said: 'They were neighbours of ours for several years. They were a lovely couple and a nice family. 'I think they holidayed in Cyprus quite a lot and moving out there was something they always wanted to do. 'They were just a lovely couple and obviously we're all very shocked and saddened to hear what happened.' Police were alerted after Mrs Lincoln failed to show up for her job at a school and did not answer her phone The British couple had moved to Cyprus after living in the the Wymondham area of Norfolk Ms Lawrence said Linda worked at the local college and 'Kenny' had his own building firm in the village. Morley Methodist Church steward Robert Hendry lived next door to the couple and remembered them both fondly. The 62 year-old said: 'I remember they used to come to the church, they were nice people, there was nothing much wrong with them. 'They lived next door to the church and their boy used to come to the youth club so we became friends. 'Kenny was a builder and used to help out in the church. We had a broken panel and he came round and fixed it straight away for nothing. 'I can't remember exactly when they moved but I think she wanted to go more than him. 'I didn't realise it was them until I called a few people.' Mrs Lincoln's Facebook page says she studied at West Anglia College, King's Lynn. Katelitsa Phylactou, director of Xenion School where Mrs Lincoln had worked more than nine years, said they would stage a memorial service for them on Monday. Mrs Phylactou paid an emotional tribute to 'a valuable member of staff'. 'A very special person and valuable member of staff': Mrs Lincoln worked as an administrator at the Xenion private school (above) for more than nine years. The school plans to hold a memorial service on Monday She said: 'Many of Linda's friends will be here and all of the school will attend. 'Linda was a very special person and a valuable member of staff. 'She has been working here for nine years so it's the least we can do for her. Linda will be greatly missed.' A tribute was also posted on the school's Facebook page, where dozens of people left messages of support for the couple's family and friends. A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said it was supporting the couple's family and would stay in touch with local authorities. Famagusta, on the south east coast of Cyprus, has been a top resort for years after becoming a focus of violence between the island's warring Greek and Turkish communities in the 1960s and 70s. The island itself has long attracted expatriates as well as visitors. The savage dog that bit off most of a five-year-old girl's nose as she played with it in her front yard belonged to the child's aunty who now wants it 'destroyed', according to reports. The girl has undergone surgery to re-attach part of her nose after she was mauled by a Bull Arab-Great Dane cross at her home in Sydney's west at around 7.30pm on Thursday. It is believed that the dog was chained up and may have just been fed before the attack in the front yard of the home in Pendle Hill. The five-year-old is now in a 'stable' condition at The Children's Hospital at Westmead after suffering deep cuts under her right eye and nostril. A five-year-old girl (pictured) has undergone surgery after a dog bit off most of her nose A Bull Arab-Great Dane (pictured) has bitten most of a five-year-old girl's nose off The Daily Telegraph reported that the dog belonged to the girl's aunty who had recently moved into the family home. It has now been seized by police and officers are currently liaising with the council over whether it should be destroyed. NSW Police Inspector Robert Toynton said: 'Information we've received is that there was food in close proximity where the animal was. That may have contributed to the incident.' He described the attack as 'horrendous' and urged people to be careful having food around pets when young children are also present. The attack occurred in the front garden of the girl's family home in Pendle Hill in Sydney's west 'The message from police is that when children are around animals you need to be aware that animals can be unpredictable at times, in particular when there is food around,' Inspector Toynton told the ABC. Neighbour Gay Buckworth described the five-year-old as a 'very nice little girl'. 'It's a terrible thing to happen to a little girl. She'll probably have scars for the rest of her life,' she told Nine News. She revealed that the family had previously owned a dog and described often seeing the girl playing in the back yard with her younger brother. Emergency services were called to the home to treat the girl at about 7.30pm on Thursday Danielle Jacobs pictured with her Rottweiler Samson. Police shot her dead yesterday after she allegedly attacked an officer with a knife in a suicidal episode A woman who warmed the hearts of the world with a touching video of her dog helping her cope with Asperger's syndrome has been shot dead by police. Danielle Jacobs' video showed her having a meltdown and trying to punch herself, but Rottweiler Samson came to her aid and parried the blows with its paws. Police say they visited her home in Mesa, Arizona, yesterday at 11am over concerns she was attempting to commit suicide, and were forced to open fire when she attacked officers with a knife. Her mother, Stacia, who is in her 70s, claims that the shooting was not necessary and said her daughter seemed fine when she had spoken to her the day before. She told The Daily News: 'Before the police arrived she wasn't posing a threat to the community at all. And the police came into her own place. 'They shot and killed a 24-year-old autistic, mentally ill individual whom they had been familiar with and were aware of her special needs.' Mesa Police Department had responded to another suicide call in the same home - an apartment next to her parents' - two years ago, Detective Esteban Flores told AZ Family. The shooting is less than a year after Jacobs bravely filmed herself being comforted by her service dog during a depressive episode to raise awareness about the disease. She wrote 'This is what having Asperger's is really like' as she posted the footage of the intensely personal moment on her YouTube channel in June last year. In the clip, her loyal dog Samson, who is trained to stop her from self-harming, can be seen using his paws to keep Danielle from hitting herself. Scroll down for video Officers on the scene after Miss Jacobs, whose video of her dog helping her during a meltdown attracted two million views, was killed by officers in her home in Mesa, Arizona 'Please no negative comments this really happened and it's not easy to open myself and share what it's like on a daily basis,' she added in the caption. The video begins with Danielle, from Arizona, standing and crying as she pounds her chest with her fist. Samson immediately jumps up and uses his paws to pull her arms down. Danielle continues to sob, and soon, she is repeatedly hitting her head with the palm of her hand. One again, Samson jumps on his two feet as he pushes her hands away. When Danielle finally sinks to the ground, Samson curls up next to her and licks her face. 'This is what's considered a meltdown,' Danielle explained of the footage. 'Yes, Samson is alerting. I trained him to alert to depressive episodes [or] self harm [but] not both, but [still] he alerted.' She added: 'It appears the response is late, but it's actually supposed to be as I'm coming out of the meltdown as I tend to have a panic attack after.' It is one of a number of videos she has posted about her experiences with the condition, including one where she is devastated at not being given support in quest for a college education. The video has recently been made private but had been viewed more than two million times since it was posted, with many people commending Danielle for sharing such a private moment. Protective pet: Danielle Jacobs' dog Samson can be seen jumping and using his paws to stop her from hitting herself Man's best friend: Samson can be seen pulling Danielle to the ground (L) where he continues to comfort her (R) 'As an older brother to a 13-year-old boy with autism, this is truly heart-warming and powerful. Thanks for sharing,' one person wrote. The added: 'EDIT: I didn't realize that YOU are the one who uploaded this video! Very courageous of you to do so. You are very lucky to be so intelligent and highly-functional with ASD. Best of luck to you in life! [sic]' Another poster whose son has autism agreed. 'It is very brave of you to share your most fragile moments with the world,' he wrote. 'My son has Autism and his meltdowns are also heartbreaking to watch. Many, many people who have heard about meltdowns but, have never actually seen one, will finally understand how traumatic they can be. Thank you! [sic]' He added: 'Also, this is another example of how our pets are emotionally connected to us much more than we may realize. Your dog is awesome.' And many other noted how wonderful it is that Danielle has Samson to turn to in times of need. Australia has been criticised for the banning families of fallen British soldiers from the First World War Battle of Fromelles centenary commemorations. The Battle, which saw 1,000 UK soldiers lose their lives, involved British and Australian troops who attempted to divert the Germans from the main action at the Somme 50 miles away. But it turned into a bloody massacre with more than 7,000 Allied casualties and it went down in history as the worst 24 hours in Australian military history. Relatives of the British men had hoped to pay their respects at a special service to mark the 100th anniversary of the event later this year only to find they are not invited. Excluded: Australia has been criticised for the banning families of fallen British soldiers from the First World War Battle of Fromelles (pictured) centenary commemorations The Australian Department of Veterans' Affair are organising the event and are only allowing Australian passport holders and the French to attend. More than 3,000 seats will be set up for Australian and French families and VIPS at the Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, which was built in 2009 after the bodies of 250 Allied soldiers were discovered in a war grave nearby. But visitors from other countries, including Britain, will have to make do with viewing the ceremony on large TV screens in the town itself. Relatives of British casualties at Fromelles are outraged they cannot attend the service at Pheasant Wood and have accused the Australians of 'airbrushing' the British role from the battle. Michael Bemrose, whose grandfather Gunner Fred Bemrose was killed by a gunshot wound to the head in the battle, has visited Fromelles regularly to pay his respects to his ancestor. Mr Bemrose, a 57-year-old electrical engineer, said: 'The British involvement at Fromelles could be considered as a minor event in the overall events of 1916, but it still resulted in the loss of over 1,000 British men in less than 24 hours. 'Every year there is a ceremony at Pheasant Wood and I have been to a couple of them. The first year the cemetery opened we had to apply for a pass and parking permit but that wasn't a problem. Fallen heroes: Pte Harry Dibben (left) and Gunner Fred Bemrose were killed in the Battle of Fromelles in 1916 'Being the centenary year of my grandfather's death we intended to go and pay our respects but the Australians have taken complete control of it. 'They have made a unilateral decision to bar the British by restricting access to Australian passport holders 'My family, and I suspect many other British families, feel totally insulted by the attitude of the Australian authorities. BATTLE OF FROMELLES: THE RELATIONS BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND BRITAIN The Battle of Fromelles went down in history as the worst 24 hours in Australian military history and it did a great deal to sour relations between senior army commanders from both countries. But the subsequent years seemed to heal the rift between the two nations. In 2009, archaeologists excavated several mass burial pits at Pheasant Wood near Fromelles. The remains of 250 British and Australian soldiers were recovered from the mass burials made by the Germans. And in 2010 the first bodies were buried at a new cemetery - Pheasant Wood in France. Both British and Australian relatives attended a series of funeral services at the start of the year as the dead soldiers were reburied. One final reburial took place as part of the cemetery's dedication, which was held on July 2010 to mark the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles. Advertisement 'It was a British run battle with the Australians. Men from both countries fought together and died together but now the Australians want to airbrush the British out of the battle.' One of the 250 men whose remains were found at Pheasant Wood in 2009 was Private Harry Dibben from Buckland Newton, Dorset. His great-nephew Richard Dibben, from Buckland Newton, Dorset, had also hoped to go the ceremony. Mr Dibben, 61, said: 'I think it is grossly unfair.' The ill-prepared attack at Fromelles was the Australian Army's first action on the Western Front and ended with more than 5,000 of its soldiers killed or wounded. Outrage: The great nephew of Private Harry Dibben, Richard said the decision to ban British relatives was 'grossly unfair' A miscommunication in the battle resulted in the Australians failing to withdraw when they should have. The Germans encircled them and inflicted heavy casualties. The aftermath of the disastrous action led to tension between the British and the Australians. The Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs has confirmed the Fromelles service will be for Australian and French citizens only, stating the UK government is organising numerous events at the Thiepval Memorial to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme. Jennifer Stephenson, of the DVA, said: 'Most governments have chosen to commemorate the centenary of the Somme Offensive with a single ceremony with managed attendance providing a priority for their citizens. 'Due to the small site at Fromelles the number of visitors in the seated area has to be limited. 'The ceremonial focus will be on the Australian role in the battle and on the Australian soldiers lost. 'A decision has been made by the Australian government to prioritise Australians and French in the seated area. This is not to diminish the role of other nations but simply a recognition of the Australian focus of the event we are organising. A fugitive who brazenly taunted police through Facebook after fleeing to Spain has finally been caught and sent to jail. Steven Johnson, 40, used Facebook accounts under various aliases and gloated 'Catch me if you can!' after going on the run while on parole. He posted pictures from the south of Spain showing him living the high life - including posing in front of supercars and smoking cannabis. Steven Johnson used social media to taunt police, posing with supercars and bragging about living the high life in Spain The 40-year-old, who used various aliases on Facebook, was wanted for recall to prison. He was originally sentenced to six years and 11 months in prison for possession with intent to supply class A drugs Police finally caught up with Johnson this week, arresting him in Merseyside. He has now been jailed for seven years Under one of his various Facebook aliases - 'Simon Woods' - Johnson posed next to a fleet of luxury yachts (above) and bragged 'Life's been good to me' The convicted drug dealer, from Merseyside, took selfies and boasted about growing cannabis, going for massages and spending time around luxury boats and cars Johnson, who was jailed for almost seven years for his role in a drugs gang, boasted: 'You will never find me! Hahaha. 'Going to pick me goats up! 100 goats need milking everyday!' In another post, Johnson is seen standing next to a luxury car. The caption reads: 'Just got out of bed. Off the yacht and in the porches bed head. Going for a massage.' And standing in front of a Porsche, he taunted police by daring: 'Catch me if you can.' Johnson, formerly of Prescot, Merseyside, got his comeuppance on Wednesday when police arrested him at an address in Knowsley in Whiston. He had been wanted since January 2014 after breaching the licence conditions of his parole. Johnson had been wanted on recall to prison for two years but instead he ridiculed police on Facebook Clearly enjoying the high life, Johnson gloated about having a new car every day, adding, 'Don't you just love it! I love the lottery' Posing next to a red Ferrari, Johnson wrote on Facebook 'catch me if you can' The 'catch me if you can' criminal formerly of Prescot, Merseyside, was arrested by police at an address in Knowsley in Whiston Sergeant Mark Worrall, from Merseyside Police, said: 'The arrest of Johnson shows that we never give up. 'Johnson has been wanted on recall to prison for two years and he has obviously been living the high life abroad, but that has been cut short and he's now back behind bars.' Johnson was originally sentenced to six years and 11 months for possession with intent to supply drugs. His home was used as a safe house by a gang which peddled huge volumes of cocaine out across the North West. Police didn't give up trying to track Johnson down, eventually catching up with him back in the UK. He took a series of selfies during his time abroad, even posing with cannabis plants Left, Johnson takes a selfie while smoking what appears to be cannabis and right, he posts an ironic picture posing behind window bars - which look like the bars of a jail cell A student who sneaked out of a girl's bedroom after a one-night stand was humiliated when she posted about his performance on Facebook after he left his phone behind. Ulster University student 'Mark', 23, who has declined to use his full name, said he met a girl known only as 'Sarah' on a night out in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, and woke up with her in bed the next morning. Mark then crept out of her home without her noticing, but left his mobile in her room containing offensive messages about her he had sent to a friend. 'Sarah' posted a message to shame 'Mark' after he disappeared following a one-night stand The post has been shared more than 1,000 times and many of Mark's friends have seen the funny side She then got revenge by posting on his Facebook account, which had been left open on the phone, leaving a message for all his friends to see that quickly went viral. The post was shared more than 1,400 times but Mark has since changed his story and said the entire incident was a prank carried out by his friends. Sarah wrote: 'Hi Mark, it's Sarah from last night. Bet you thought you were clever sneaking out of my house this morning before I got up but you left your phone in my room. 'Looked through your messages to try and find someone to get your phone back to only to see you call me a 'fat s***' a 'tramp' and a 'box of s***'. 'If you want your phone back come back to my house and get it. Love from the 'big girl' that certainly made a wee man out of you last night.' Mark, who studies history at Ulster University, said: 'I had originally sneaked away in the morning just because I wanted to avoid any awkwardness, which is quite ironic now. 'It was very embarrassing having to go back to hers to get my phone but there was nothing really to say. I apologised to her for what I had said in the text messages but she didn't really reply. 'I don't think she forgave me for it to be honest. I was only having a laugh with my friend in those messages because I was drunk - I didn't actually mean those things I said. 'People obviously think it's hilarious but it doesn't really bother me. It is what it is.' Mark said he had been out with five friends and had consumed 'too many vodkas' and does not remember much about the night. He said he and his friends had met Sarah for the first time in a club and gone back to hers for a house party, where eventually his friends left him to stay the night with Sarah. Mark said: 'When I woke in the morning my first thought was to try to 'get out' - I didn't want to just lie about. 'I wanted to avoid the awkward situation of the morning after so I quietly got dressed and crept out, so she definitely didn't hear me go. Mark is a history student at Ulster University, pictured, and his predicament has gone viral online 'I was still really tired though so I went straight to bed when I got home and didn't even think to look for my phone until I got up at about 6pm or so. 'The moment of realisation was not nice and obviously it got worse when I saw the message she had left on Facebook. 'I don't even remember sending those messages to my friend to be honest. I do feel bad for her obviously. 'I eventually plucked up the courage to call her but it must have been on vibrate as she didn't answer the first few times. 'When she did, all she said was 'your phone is here, come and get it'. So yeah, I could tell she was clearly not happy with me. 'I've had a lot of stick from all my friends and clearly it's taking off on social media and so on but I'm just keeping my head down trying to ignore it. 'I'll meet up with the boys later to talk to them face to face and tell them the crack. But I'll be steering clear of Facebook for a bit.' Earlier this afternoon Mark claimed three of his female friends had played a joke on him by uploading the status on his behalf. He said: 'Sorry to disappoint folks, this was just a very well played frape! The main culprits being and Rachel Fullen, Niamh Greene and Hannah Dunn. So a big shout out them!' Mark later published a Facebook status, pictured, claiming the incident was a hoax by his friends Speaking to MailOnline, he said: 'It is amazing how viral and out of control this went, and something which was just a wind-up.' Mark said he had fallen victim to a routine internet prank, and that there were 'loads of examples of these that have been around for years.' He said: 'I got a call from a friend telling me about the message, but we laughed it off and thought nothing more of it. 'But then I thought about the implications with the way these things can go on your record and I panicked a bit, especially as to how it might look for me wanting to go for my PGCE. 'It was a joke but it's gone too far. I'm amazed how seriously people take it.' Mark said he and the girls had laughed about it to begin with and he holds no grudges. He said, 'The girls are feeling much worse about it than I am, because they have realised how wide it has gone.' Mark also said his previous 'confession' about the incident was another joke that got out of hand. Earlier his mother had explained the hoax at his Banbridge, Co Down home and said it was 'a load of nonsense'. She said: 'Mark found out that three girls he knows from college got hold of his phone and posted this message but apparently this is years old and they lifted it and put his name on it. 'Anyone who knows him knows Mark isn't like that, he would never do that or speak like that about anyone. PM reiterated his support for staying in the EU as he arrived in Warsaw The campaign for Britain to leave the European Union was today given a massive boost after a poll gave it a nine point lead - the first since David Cameron unveiled his draft EU deal. The record lead for the Brexit campaign suggests voters have overwhelmingly rejected the Prime Minister's plans for an emergency brake for EU migrants' access to benefits and a 'red card' for national parliaments to veto EU laws. It deals a blow to Cameron as he kick-started his charm offensive to persuade EU leaders to agree to the deal before a crucial Brussels summit later this month. Scroll down for videos Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, pictured alongside Cameron at a press conference in Copenhagen this afternoon, hailed Britain as a voice of 'common sense' in the EU David Cameron met Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo, pictured right, in Warsaw this morning as he began his efforts to persuade his 27 EU counterparts to agree to his draft renegotiation to keep Britain in the EU Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo has been a stumbling block to Cameron's hopes of securing changes to benefit rules but today expressed support for his draft deal to keep Britain in the EU The first survey of public opinion since Tuesday's deal found 45 per cent of voters will opt to quit the EU, while just 36 per cent want to remain. It is the biggest lead for Brexit since the wording of the referendum question was confirmed last summer. But crucially, one in five voters have yet to decide which way they will vote. according to the YouGov survey for The Times. Today Cameron was forced to reject claims that his deal could be reversed by EU leaders in the future. Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, said 'nothing is irreversible' when asked whether MEPs could amend Britain's renegotiation. But the PM hit straight back, saying there was 'no way' Britain would ever agree to a reversal of the reforms and reiterated his claim that all changes will be 'legally binding'. The Danish PM, pictured right in Copenhagen this afternoon, gave Cameron's deal a thumbs up Mr Cameron (left) leaves the Hotel Bristol after meeting with chairman of Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski in Warsaw This afternoon Cameron won the backing of Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, who hailed Britain as a voice of 'common sense'. Appearing at a press conference alongside Cameron in Copenhagen, he said the package of reforms put forward earlier this week was 'a good basis for negotiations' over the coming days and weeks. 'It contains many elements which Denmark strongly supports and which we will work hard to retain,' he said. On plans for an 'emergency brake' on migrants' access to benefits - the most controversial of the reforms proposed - Mr Rasmussen said it was 'perfectly understandable and acceptable'. He added: 'Denmark will work hard to ensure a result which can help the British Government win a referendum and remain a key member of the European Union.' POUND WOULD DROP 20% IF BRITAIN LEAVES EU, BANK WARNS Banking giant Goldman Sachs has warned that Brexit could cause an immediate 20 per cent drop in the value of the pound. This would make foreign holidays more expensive and would also increase the cost of petrol for drivers, the bank said, although the weaker sterling would benefit exporters. A Brexit would alarm foreign investors and dry up the inward capital flows, Goldman warned. The US investment bank, which is a financial backer of the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign, has predicted voters will opt for staying in the EU. It said the 8 per cent fall in the pound's value since November could be explained by uncertainty about Britain's future membership of the EU. The Goldman report said: 'An abrupt and total interruption to incoming capital flows in response to a 'Brexit' could see the GBP decline by as much as 15-20%.' Earlier this week the credit ratings agency Moody's said a June referendum would minimise the damage caused by the uncertainty over the outcome of the vote but said Britain quitting the EU would be negative for the country's AAA credit rating. Advertisement Cameron said: 'Good work has been done, there are still two weeks to go. I still need all 28 countries to agree to the changes, there are still important details to be filled in and work to be done on this negotiation. 'But I think if you look at what we are actually achieving, in the areas of things people care about, that is what we promised in our manifesto and that is what we are delivering.' If he can seal his deal in just over two weeks, the PM will have just months to convince voters he really has achieved the 'best of both worlds' for Britain's relationship with the EU at a referendum in June. This morning Cameron reiterated his support for Britain's continued membership of the EU as he arrived to meet Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo in Warsaw. 'I think Britain is better off in a reformed European Union if we can achieve those changes and I think it is something that will be good for Britain, good for Europe and also good for Poland. European Parliament president Martin Schulz, pictured left with David Cameron in Downing Street last night, said that many MEPs privately wanted Britain to leave the European Union Polish Premier Beata Szydlo, pictured with Cameron this morning, was the first of EU leaders the PM met as part of his two-week charm offensive to persuade EU leaders to agree to the draft EU deal John Whittingdale, pictured left, became the first cabinet minister to test Cameron's rules on opposing EU membership by refusing to rule out backing Brexit while David Davis, pictured right, ridiculed Mr Cameron's deal as a 'waste of time' 'We want to make sure that our cooperation is as close as possible in the months and years to come.' The Polish premier has been a stumbling block for Cameron as he sought changes to rules on EU migrants claiming benefits in Britain, expressing concern that the 800,000 poles who live in the UK will be hit. But speaking this morning, she signalled she would support Cameron's draft deal. VOTERS ARE 'CRYING OUT' FOR AN EU TV DEBATE Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage debated the pros and cons of the EU in two TV debates ahead of the 2014 European Parliament elections A leading democracy campaigner has claimed voters are 'crying out' for national TV debate on the EU referendum. Ahead of the elections for the European Parliament in 2014 Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage went head-to-head but David Cameron and Ed Miliband refuesed to take part. Katie Ghose, the chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said televised TV debates had become something voters saw as fundamental to national elections. She said: 'We strongly support the idea of a TV debate for the EU referendum as a way to engage people in the run-up to the vote, and we would urge participants to give voters the quality of information and debate that they are crying out for.' Advertisement Cameron's enthusiastic backing for his renegotiation deal has led to claims he is gagging his Eurosceptic ministers while racing ahead with his own campaign and the pressure from his Eurosceptic MPs has intensified over the last week. Last night Culture Secretary John Whittingdale became the first cabinet minister to test Cameron's rules on opposing EU membership by refusing to rule out backing Brexit. The Prime Minister has agreed to suspend the 'collective responsibility' rules and allow his ministers to publicly oppose him on the EU referendum - but only once he has finalised his negotiation and presented it to the Cabinet. 'I have a track record where I've been highly critical of the way the EU works and I have opposed measures for closer integration and it certainly needs reform. 'I hope the Prime Minister will get that agreement and then I'll look at it when he comes back with it.' Asked if he would rule out backing Brexit, he replied: 'I wouldn't.' His intervention came just hours after David Davis, Mr Cameron's former leadership rival, launched a bid to lead the Out campaign. In a speech yesterday, Mr Davis ridiculed the Prime Minister's EU renegotiation deal as 'so unambitious as to be a waste of time'. Today's poll will vindicate the Tory Eurosceptics and shows that in just one week the Out campaign has risen three points, while the In camp is down by two compared to the previous YouGov survey. The poll, which was carried out after Cameron announced his draft deal on Tuesday, shows that once undecided voters are excluded, the out campaign is on 56 per cent and the In campaign on 44 per cent. Cameron also came under fire from association chairmen, grassroots campaigners and Tory grandees last night after he ordered his MPs to ignore local parties' views on Europe. Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday he told MPs they should not decide their view on the EU referendum 'because of what your constituency association might say'. Association chairmen, grassroots campaigners and Tory grandees savaged the Prime Minister, who was accused of showing contempt for members' views. Osman Dervish, a councillor and chairman of Romford Conservative Association in East London, said of Mr Cameron's comments: 'Every constituency chairman has to take their members on board. We should not just show contempt for what the members say. You can't just ignore them. There are concerns among the grassroots about the remarks he has made about us in the past. This reinforces them.' Andrew Mackness, chairman of the Conservative Association in Rochester and Strood, Kent, said: 'I am annoyed the Prime Minister told MPs they should ignore their associations. They are the people who put them there, not the Prime Minister. I take exception that I receive emails and letters from the Prime Minister on Conservative Party letterhead that only presents his side.' Advertisement These stunning images document the everyday lives of the men, women and children of the Mentawai tribe, an indigenous people in Indonesia that has managed to keep their traditional ways, far from modern society. The Mentawai people, a native population in Indonesia, are famous for their decorative tattoos and for living a semi-nomadic life on the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, the series captures a glimpse of life on the island, where the tribe clan is everything and any problem can be solved by a medicine man. Scroll down for video Inside the tribe: Two men of the Mentawai tribe, a native population in Indonesia, use guns to hunt and forage for food Lifelong wisdom: An elderly Mentawai warrior lifts a large handrolled cigarette while sitting in his house furnished with the skulls of prey Familt unit: A woman kneels on the wooded floor of the communal Uma, whilst fixing a handmade fishing The 42-year-old photographer from Kelantan, Malaysia, visited the tribe to document their way of life. He said: 'They all live completely in land and secluded from the modern world. 'The woman walk around with no clothes on and their lives depend entirely on natural resources. I wanted to go to the island to showcase the everyday lives of the tribe.' The tribe consists of around 64,000 people, living in homes which are known as Umas and built using bamboo, wood and grass, and are furnished with the skulls of hunted prey. The Mentawaian's social life revolves around their clans, and at the centre is the communal long house. The clans vary in size between 30 to 80 members. It is claimed that the tribe members believe that all living objects including plants are supposed to have spirits. The only specialist in the community is the medicine man that is responsible for communication with the spirits and the souls - in case of misfortune or illness, he is called in to restore harmony within the group. Professional snapper Mohammed was fortunate enough to spend some time with the Mentawai Warriors during the month of July 2014. 'I was very lucky to receive the opportunity to take these photos when I was helping out a friend who actually one lived with the Mentawai people for a period of time,' he said. 'Most of the men in the tribe are regarded as heroes, everyone on the island is very happy. 'They love it when people from the outside world come to visit because they like to show their way of living and their island.' Tranquility: Two women of the tribe wear traditional handmade skirts to catch fish in the local river All together: A young boy helps a woman to prepare what appears to be cassava or palm hearts as they stand in the river All for one:The Mentawaian's social life revolves around their clans, which vary in size between 30 to 80 members. One for all, all for one: At the centre of life in a Mentawai clan is the communal long hous, where they all live together Short rest: A Mentawai woman takes a cigarette break during a fishing expedition to the local river A Mentawai warrior brandishes a machete knife and his hunting equipment as he prepares to go spear fishing Gone fishing: Two women of the tribe wear traditional skirts made from leaves as they go fishing using hand-held nets Making their mark: The Mentawai people are famous for their decorative tattoo, seen here on an elderly warrior Generations: An elderly Mentawai warrior shows a young boy how to fold what appears to be large palm or banana leaves Community living: One member of the Mentawai tribe walks through an area where fresh vegetables are grown Taking a break: A Mentaway warrior wearing traditional necklaces and a headband decorated with flowers sits by the river The series captures a glimpse of life on the island as the Mentawai men smoke and hunt for food and the children play in the river Shot by professional photographer Mohammed Saleh Bin Dollah, these photos captures a glimpse of life on the island One soul: It is claimed that the tribe members believe that all living objects including plants are supposed to have spirits Learning by doing: Three young Mentawai boys play in the local river, setting fire to bamboo sticks Clan first: A young family sit together and use natural resources to create essential items for their communal home One member of the Mentawai tribe uses a large handmade bow and arrow to hunt and forage for food Decorated: A Mentawai warrior smokes whilst wearing traditional head piece and accessories Blow: Theresa May has been told that they cannot deport foreign criminals with British-born children after a key test case involving a jailed Moroccan mother of one A Moroccan single mother with a British-born son cannot be deported just because she has a criminal record, the EU's top court has ruled. The unnamed woman, named CS in court papers, was due to be thrown out of the UK after serving a 12-month sentence for smuggling contraband into jail in 2012. CS divorced her British husband and secured custody of their four-year-old son but claimed that she could not be deported because there will be no-one else to care for the boy. Now Europe's highest court has ruled the UK cannot automatically deport foreign criminals who have a British child if they are the sole carer. Britain must also prove that the criminal is a threat to national security. The blow to Theresa May came from the European Court of Justices (ECJ) top legal adviser who said non-EU offenders whose children have UK nationality could not be booted out simply because they have committed a crime. But in a crumb of comfort for the Home Secretary, ECJ Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said expulsion should be allowed in exceptional circumstances. He said a foreign offender who was sole carer of a British child aged under 16 could be flown home if they presented a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to society, including public security. If the ECJ backs his preliminary opinion and the judges rarely disagree it potentially opens the door to hundreds of low-level foreign criminals to claiming the right to stay in Britain. Under current immigration laws, Britain automatically serves a deportation order against all non-EU offenders who are sentenced to more than one year in prison, irrespective of their family circumstances. Upset: The ruling by European Court of Justices (ECJ) top legal adviser on the Moroccan mother was 'crazy' In May 2012, CS was jailed after attempting to smuggle contraband a mobile phone SIM card into a high-security prison and sentenced to 12 months in jail. After completing her sentence, she was handed a deportation notice. A subsequent request for asylum was rejected as there was no likelihood of persecution if she were to return to her native Morocco. But immigration judges ruled that deportation amounted to constructive expulsion of her son from the EU. Because there were no other family members he could live with in the UK, sending him to Morocco would breach his human rights. Mrs May appealed against that decision but the case was sent by the British courts for a ruling from the Luxembourg court. Britain had argued that CS's serious criminal offence represented an obvious threat to the preservation of social cohesion and of the values of its society. In his legal advice, which gives a strong guide to the courts eventual verdict, Advocate General Szpunar declared that in principle it would violate EU laws to deport a non-EU criminal who had sole care of a British child. But he said expelling parents such as CS was permissible in exceptional circumstances, after the government has examined the personal conduct of the criminal and assessed whether they present a serious risk to public security. Last night Eurosceptic Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: This is yet another crazy judicial ruling and underlines the need for us to finally leave the EU and to abolish the Human Rights Act. By being a member of the EU and the human rights act we are effectively unable to decide which people we want in the country and which people we do not. The case intensifies pressure on David Cameron, whose renegotiation has not touched on the powers of the ECJ over British law. He has promised to bring forward legislative proposals soon that will put beyond doubt the sovereignty of the Commons over European law. Amber Guscott knows every inch of her house. She helped built the Habitat for Humanity house all the way from its early stages in the parking lot of the ReStore to its foundation and framing work at its final location in the Heights. Every Saturday since September, as well as some weekdays, Guscott helped with the construction. Throughout a 16-month process, she put in more than 500 hours of labor and prep work to take over the house for her and her two sons. Now when she walks across the wooden floor and down the hallway through the new home, shell remember the hours of work and the faces of the volunteers who built it. On Thursday, Guscott was handed the keys to her Habitat for Humanity House. She plans to move in on Saturday with her two sons, Tiburon, 8, and Jayce, 6. Big change, Guscott said on Thursday amid a whirl of handshakes and well-wishes. First move my boys have ever had. The ceremony took place in Guscotts living room, which could hardly hold all of the supporters who came for the event. The level of giving required for the project was demonstrated by the long list of sponsors, friends, project volunteers and public officials in attendance. Yellowstone County Commissioner Bill Kennedy had to squeeze his way in the front door to give a speech. The Guscott home is the 73rd project in the Billings area for Habitat for Humanity. It sits at the end of a cul-de-sac, surrounded by previous projects. Its the fifth finished home in the newly forged subdivision. Work on the house started in September, though Guscotts process started nearly a year before that. Sticking to the organizations model, construction relied on volunteer labor provided by families, organizations and companies. Among the volunteers are crew leaders, who were on site for every construction day to lead other laborers and lend technical know-how. Steve Cold Iron, construction manager for Guscotts house, gave special consideration to that group. These are the folks that lead them, show them how to do things and do them right, he said. Financial support came in from all around. Businesses and one large anonymous donation covered a lot of the cost. Detail costs, like loan closing fees, were covered by a bank donor. Its a multi-pronged approach for Habitat, which plans to complete four projects this year. Thank you two words dont seem adequate, said Jim Woolyhand, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Mid-Yellowstone Valley. Two volunteers became very close with Guscott. Bob and Charlotte Grover signed on as the family partners on the project. Guscott said that they were the first line of support throughout the entire process. Tears formed during the ceremony as the Grovers and Guscott spoke about their work together, what Bob Grover called such a pleasant journey. The Grovers presented Guscott with a Bible; Guscott gave them a piece of art that her friend made, depicting the two families in front of the house. I want to thank you so much for what you have done for me, Guscott said. To make the house feel a bit more like a home, the Yellowstone Valley Quilters Guild presented Guscott, Tiburon and Jayce with their own quilts. The boys ran to put them in their rooms. Guscott offered heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to the project. And before everyone broke for food and refreshments, Woolyhand dug into his pocket and handed Guscott the keys to her home. Death: Cambridge graduate student Giulio Regeni, 28, originally from Italy, has been found dead in Cairo, reportedly having been tortured and suffered a 'slow death' according to Egyptian prosecutors A Cambridge student tortured to death in Egypt had been writing anti-government articles for a newspaper under a pseudonym over fears for his life. Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old PhD candidate, was found with multiple stab wounds, cigarette burns and other signs of torture after suffering a 'slow death' on a roadside on the outskirts of Cairo. The Italian graduate had been researching labour rights in Egypt a sensitive issue under the military-backed government and wrote about it in the left-wing Italian newspaper il Manifesto. The newspaper's foreign desk editor, Simone Pieranni, said the articles were written under an alternative name for fear of reprisal attacks. Pieranni said: 'I imagine it was for security because the articles were about workers and unions. 'It's clear that when you speak about social rights and workers' rights in Egypt you are implicitly denouncing the lack of freedom.' In an editorial, the paper added: 'He feared for his safety. 'From this insistence repeated several times in his emails, we understood he was very worried.' Regeni went missing on January 25, the fifth anniversary of the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. His body was found on Wednesday. News of the slaying and evidence of torture spurred diplomatic tensions. An Italian government delegation cut short a visit to Cairo and Italy summoned the Egyptian ambassador in Rome, calling for a full investigation with participation by Italian experts. Regeni's disappearance came at a time when Egyptian officials and media have often depicted foreigners as plotting against Egypt and particularly as seeking to foment unrest surrounding the January 25 anniversary. In the days leading up to the anniversary, police were on high alert, conducting sweeps aimed at preventing any possible protest. Pro-democracy activists were arrested and some foreigners whose visas had expired were deported. Egypt is also battling an insurgency by militants who have sworn allegiance to ISIS. The militants are mainly active in the Sinai Peninsula but have also carried out attacks in Cairo and elsewhere, including kidnapping and beheading a Croatian oil worker last year and setting off a bomb outside the Italian consulate in Cairo. Scroll down for video Murdered: The body of Mr Regeni was found on naked from the waist down on the side of a Cairo highway, bearing signs of torture, including stab wounds and cigarette burns On Thursday, Egyptian media accused 'evil hands' of orchestrating Regeni's killing to damage Egyptian-Italian relations. The term is usually used to refer to Islamists, who have been targeted by a ferocious crackdown since the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Authorities justify the campaign by pointing to the fight against the militants, who have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers over the past four years. The Italian media, meanwhile, pointed fingers at the Egyptian security forces. A business daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, said 'the strong suspicion' was that Regeni was 'killed by Egypt... by the system, by the security apparatus.' Regeni had been in Egypt since September conducting research on workers and labour rights a sensitive topic, since disgruntled workers were among the forces in the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising and authorities still worry about worker discontent. He was last seen on January 25 heading from his apartment to meet a friend in downtown Cairo. He entered the subway, which was packed with security personnel scanning bags and checking commuter's IDs. In the days following his disappearance, friends and colleagues launched a search, circulating Regeni's picture widely on social media. His body was found Wednesday in an empty lot along a highway in the 6th of October suburb on Cairo's western outskirts. He was identified by his Egyptian roommate, said prosecutor Ahmed Nagi, who heads the investigation team in the case. 'All of his body including his face' had bruises, cuts from stabbings and burns from cigarettes, Nagi said, adding that Regeni appeared to have suffered a 'slow death.' Later Thursday, Nagi said an autopsy showed the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. Asked about possible police involvement, he said: 'We don't rule out any possibility.' Earlier, the deputy head of criminal investigations in Cairo's twin province of Giza, Alaa Azmi, had cited initial findings he said indicated Regeni was killed in a car accident. Demonstrations: On the day Mr Regeni went missing, residents took to the streets to mark the fifth anniversary of the Arab Spring. Pictured, supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi march in Cairo For years, rights groups have accused Egyptian police of regularly torturing detainees. Over the past year, they have also accused them of using 'forced disappearances' detaining suspected activists or Islamists in secret without reporting their arrest. The Egyptian Association for Rights and Freedoms documented 314 cases of forced disappearances in 2015, said lawyer Halem Henish. Most later turned up in prison, but at least five were found at the morgue, including one with signs of torture like burns and electric shocks. He said the group has documented 35 disappearances so far in 2016, including at least two of whom died. Meanwhile, in Regeni's hometown of Fiumicello in northeastern Italy, locals were 'destroyed' by the news of his death, said Mayor Ennio Scridel. The town of 5,000 declared Sunday a day of mourning. 'If you go into a bar, you see dark faces, silences, looks that let escape all the sadness of a small community like ours,' Scridel told Sky Tg24. He described Regeni as 'an extraordinary person, who comes from a good family.' News of Regeni's death prompted Italy's economic development minister, Federica Guidi, to cut short a visit to Cairo and head home. Guidi had been heading a delegation of 60 business people to help companies set up business in Egypt. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi by telephone and pledged to coordinate efforts with Italian authorities to 'unravel the mystery' surrounding Regini's death, el-Sissi's office said. The Italian news agency ANSA said a seven-person team of Italian and Interpol investigators was heading to Cairo on Friday to participate in the inquiry. Egyptian authorities have come under criticism for lack of transparency in several investigations, particularly the October 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula. Another incident included the September killing of eight Mexican tourists and four Egyptian guides by a security forces helicopter that opened fire on their desert safari. As many as 115 workers were trapped underground in a gold mine in the town of Barberton, northeastern South Africa earlier today. Around 76 miners have been rescued following the devastating collapse of the mine, which caved in at the main entrance. Mike McChesney, chief executive of the small gold producer Vantage Goldfields told Reuters that 115 workers had initially been trapped at Lily mine, but most had been rescued and the rest would probably emerge soon. As many as 115 workers were trapped underground in the gold mine in the town of Barberton, northeastern South Africa earlier today Fatalities in the mining industry have been falling due to both improved safety practices and a reduction in the labour force as production declines 'As we speak they might already all be out. Most have been evacuated,' he told Reuters. Speaking from the company's offices in Barbeton town in Mpumalanga province about 360 km east of Johannesburg, he confirmed no fatalities have been reported. South Africa's mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world. Fatalities in the industry have been falling due to both improved safety practices and a reduction in the labour force as production declines. The collapse occurred at the main entrance to the mine, the company said in a statement. Vantage Goldfields is an Australia-based company mining gold at Barberton, a town that traces its origin in the country's 19th century gold rush. Vantage was delisted from the Australian bourse in January 2015. Rescue operators having been working hard to try and free all of the workers trapped underground Huge piles of rubble block the entrance of Lily mine in the town of Barberton, northeastern South Africa 76 miners have been rescued following the devastating collapse of a gold mine in South Africa Manzini Zungu, spokesman for the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), said some 115 union members were trapped underground after a cave-in at the mine also known as Makonjwaan. 'At this point, it's unclear what caused the disaster,' he said. Some 76 mine workers had been brought to the surface so far and another 42 people were still unaccounted for, police spokesman Selvy Mohlala said. A father-of-four wanted in connection with the murder of his wife has been detained in London following a nationwide manhunt. Kent Police said they made 'extensive searches' to locate the man, named locally as Stuart Andrews, after they discovered the body of Caroline Andrews, 52, at a property in The Street in Benenden on Thursday. A post-mortem examination took place earlier today and the death is now being treated as a murder inquiry. The company director was located in the London area this afternoon and taken to hospital for treatment to injuries. A team of armed police on board a train in Kent last night in scenes one passenger said were 'like SWAT' It came after armed police stormed a busy commuter train in the village of Benenden home to one of Britains top girls schools, where Princess Anne was educated as part of a search for a man following the death of a mother-of-four in a Kent village. Up to 30 officers carrying guns piled onto the train as it pulled into Gillingham station and searched it for around an hour and a half. Passengers looked on as armed officers checked under seats and in bins in their search for clues as part of a massive manhunt. Police helicopters were also scrambled as part of the search for the 54-year-old man after a woman, 52, was found dead in the village of Benenden. Neighbour Derek Catlin confirmed the property in Benenden was the home of Caroline and Stuart Andrews, who lived in a bungalow with their four children aged from in their early to late teens, and two dogs. Neighbour Derek Catlin said the property in Benenden was the home of Caroline and Stuart Andrews, who lived in a bungalow with their four children aged from in their early to late teens, and two dogs A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Police can confirm that a 54-year-old man wanted in connection with a suspicious death in Benenden has now been detained.' 'Police searches throughout parts of Kent, including the rail network, had been ongoing since the afternoon of February 4 and the man was located in the London area this afternoon and taken to a hospital for treatment to injuries.' Mrs Andrews taught at the local Benenden Church of England Primary School. Head teacher Gill Knox paid this tribute to Mrs Andrews, who served as a supply teacher. She said: 'The tragic death of Caroline Andrews has left the staff at Benenden CE School shocked and saddened. 'Caroline and her family live in the village and are well known to the school. Caroline has been a loved and well respected supply teacher here for a number of years, who has enriched the lives of the many children she has taught. The village green in Benenden, Kent, pictured following the death of a women yesterday as Kent Police launch a manhunt for a man in connection with the incident Police outside Dover Priory as they searched for a man after a woman was found dead in Kent 'At the present time we cannot comment on what has happened but our thoughts and prayers are with her family, and all who knew her and will miss her.' The Andrews landlord Charles Lenox-Conyngham, 81, said the family starting renting the property six years ago so their daughters could attend Cranbrook grammar school, and Andrews worked long hours in London as an IT consultant. He said they had been desperate to buy the cottage but had been unable to secure a mortgage. Mr Lenox-Conyngham said: Eventually I gave them three months notice to leave the property by February 17. One woman working at the school, who asked not to be named, said: She worked as a teaching assistant doing crafts and all sorts with the younger ones. Everyone liked her. We are all totally devastated. Stuart Curran, 37, who works at The Bull pub in Benenden close to the home said he saw police swarm to the village yesterday afternoon. He said: 'I saw four vehicle yesterday in total and there was also a forensics van and a response can which was still driving around the village with its lights when I went home at 1am. General view of Benenden where police are investigating the suspicious death of a woman A county-wide manhunt for a 54-year-old man in connection with the death had been taking place since around 4pm on Thursday afternoon 'There was police everywhere which is really unusual for a place like this. They were all here until about 10pm and then there was a vehicle which went down to the house and one can circuiting the area. 'It's like Midsomer Murders here. It's a close knit village and everyone knows everyone and if they don't it's because they are new. Landlady of the pub, Lucy Baron-Reid, 45, said Caroline had helped teach her children at the village primary school. She said: 'She was a teacher at the primary school and I would always say hello if I saw her. 'It's a shame for the village and all the children knew her. She wasn't a full time form teacher and she taught my two children. 'If it is her I am shocked that anything like that could happen.' A neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: 'We only moved here three years ago and they were here before then. We only knew them really to say hello and send Christmas cards. 'There was the wife and husband and their four children. They must have been aged between 13 and 17. 'You would see them come to the home two or three times a week. They had a lot of dogs too.' The drama unfolded at the station in Gillingham, Kent, at 9pm last night as officers stormed a train bound for London. Transport for London worker Wesley Tabi, who was on his way to a night shift when the train was stopped, told KentOnline: 'We pulled into Gillingham and the doors opened briefly, but then they shut and the conductor said there was going to be a bit of a delay. Police officers at Gillingham station during their hunt for a man following the death of a woman 'Then suddenly a load of [police] flooded the station. There must have been 30 of them with their machine guns. It was like SWAT. 'They started walking up and down the train and there were some on the platform with dogs. 'I read online that a man was missing, but they were looking under the seats, in bins, everywhere. I asked if they were looking for a firearm or explosive, but they wouldn't say. 'I heard someone say they might have to take the train back to the depot to do a forensic search on it.' Passengers say they were kept on the train for more than an hour and a half as officers searched the carriages. Armed police at Gillingham Station in Kent yesterday during a manhunt following the death of a woman A group of police outside the train last night. It is understood they were searching for a 54-year-old man Mr Tabi, from the Isle of Sheppey, said: 'It was like a sweat box on there. The doors weren't opened. It was sweltering and people were getting irate. Kent Police confirmed today they are searching for a man in connection with the death of a woman in Benenden, near Cranbrook, Kent. A Kent Police spokesman said: 'Kent Police was called at 4.20pm on Thursday following the death of a woman at an address in The Street, Benenden. 'The death is being treated as suspicious and efforts are on-going to trace a man in connection with the incident. The woman and man are known to each other. 'Searches have been carried out since the afternoon throughout parts of Kent, as well as the rail network and are ongoing.' Passengers were held at Gillingham station in Kent as armed police stormed a busy commuter train A British teenager claims to have been gang-raped in a Spanish resort after being dragged into a car by a group of Moroccan men, it was reported today. The 18-year-old claimed she was attacked while walking home from work late at night in Sabinillas, near Marbella. Police are said to be investigating a group of Moroccan men in the area. A British teenager has reported being gang-raped after being dragged into a car by a group of Moroccan men behind the Mercadona supermarket in Sabinillas (file picture of different store) A friend of the victim told The Olive Press: 'She is absolutely devastated. 'I hope the police catch these men and they get what they deserve. They are the lowest of the low.' It is not clear when the attack took place or whether the suspects were migrants or tourists. The report comes as countries across Europe have recorded a huge spike in the number of alleged sex attacks by migrants arriving from North Africa and the Middle East. In Cologne, Germany, prosecutors say they have received 1,037 criminal complaints over the New Year's events where women were subjected to mass sex attacks by gangs of North African men. The attacks have fuelled the debate in Germany and across Europe about the ability to cope with the huge number of migrants that have arrived over the past year. Last month, Denmark also became one of the latest countries to warn of a surge in migrant sex attacks against women. One Syrian man said if new arrivals 'see a girl, they go nuts... they simply can't handle it' as women in at least three Danish cities reported being harassed by asylum seekers. In Norway, migrants are being given rape prevention classes to teach them appropriate sexual behaviour following the attacks in Cologne. The alleged attack took place in Sabinillas, just 40km from the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta where hundreds of migrants try to enter from Morocco in the hope of gaining asylum in Europe Spain, itself, has fought a persistent battle to stop migrants sneaking into its North African enclave of Ceuta, which is located across the Strait of Gibraltar just 40km from Sabinillas. Ceuta, along with Melilla to the east, are Spanish territories on the northern coast of Morocco that together form the European Union's only land borders with Africa. Spain has fortified fences in the two territories in response to a rise in the number of migrants trying to jump over the barriers from Morocco. A spokesman for the Guardia Civil in Malaga, which covers Sabinillas and would investigate crimes in the area, said: 'We are aware of a local newspaper article reporting the gang rape, but are not aware of any such incident taking place recently. 'I have made check calls to investigators but am drawing a blank.' A worker at the Mercadona supermarket in Sabinillas, where the gang rape is said to have taken place behind, added: 'The Guardia Civil station is right near us and I'd expect to have seen officers in here making inquiries if there'd been an incident like this. 'But no-one's been in. The only reason I know about this is because a customer came in this morning saying he'd read something in the paper. 'It doesn't mean it's not true but I haven't heard anything. 'I remember an English girl was raped a while back. Police had to break his car's windows in an attempt to rescue the man His money slipped out of his hand and he A hungry diner got his head and neck stuck when he went to get a McDonald's drive-thru meal. Police had to break his car's windows in an attempt to rescue the man at the fast-food restaurant in Utah, America. The 19-year-old got into difficulties when he went to get his burger and chips from the drive-thru counter only for the car to lurch forward into a wall. He was about to pay for his meal when his money slipped from his hand to the ground. As the man opened the door and reached down he inadvertently hit the accelerator and sent the vehicle forward, colliding with the building. Scroll down for video How did this happen? Police arrive at the scene of the stuck vehicle and begin to work out their options to save the man who was trapped between the car's door and door frame First attempt: An officer takes action and uses his truncheon to start breaking the vehicle's windows in an attempt to rescue the man and put it out of gear Second attempt: Having failed to lift the man out of the vehicle after breaking its windows, a group of officers work together and try and push the car away from the wall Off the wall: The officers' attempt was a success as the vehicle comes away from the wall allowing them to attend to the injured man The man became trapped as a result, with his head between the door, which was wedged tightly against the wall, and the door frame. Tanya Turnbow, from Tooele Police Department, said the man was unresponsive and was not breathing when officers arrived on scene. Police broke a window in order to get into the vehicle and shift it out of gear before first responders were eventually able to push the car away from the building and free the pinned victim. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to a hospital, where he is in a stable condition. Panama is the latest country to consider releasing millions of genetically modified mosquitoes on its territory to try and combat the spread of the fast-moving Zika virus. The country's health ministry is looking into the 'viability and feasibility' of expanding a study that killed off disease-carrying mosquito populations by genetically altering the lifespan of their offspring. It involves introducing male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes whose genes have been altered to mate with the females. A worker fumigates for mosquitoes in the centre of Panama City. The country has seen 50 confirmed cases of the virus, but may yet launch a new initiative aimed at wiping out infected mosquito populations The Aedes aegypti mosquito (pictured), which also transmits dengue fever and chikungunya, is responsible for spreading Zika The Zika virus hsa been linked to more than 3,500 cases of a birth defect in Brazil that causes abnormally small skulls and brain damage in babies But their genetic modifications mean the males' offspring then die at the larvae stage - far before reaching reproductive age. The genetically modified 'father' mosquitoes themselves don't spread disease because only the females bite. In 2014 the original project, carried out in a town west of Panama's capital, resulted in a 93 percent decline in the mosquito population in the area. However, Panamanian officials cautioned that while the results were encouraging, the project's cost was 'high'. TONGA CONFIRMS EPIDEMIC The tiny South Pacific nation of Tonga said today it has a Zika epidemic after five people tested positive for the virus and another 265 are suspected of having it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in addition to Tonga, the Pacific islands of American Samoa and Samoa have also reported Zika outbreaks and it is warning Pacific travelers to protect themselves from mosquitoes, which spread the virus. Tonga Health Minister Dr. Saia Piukala said the outbreak is the island's first and it is awaiting the results of more blood tests that have been sent overseas. He said many people aren't being tested because of the cost, but are being diagnosed anyway because of their symptoms. Piukala said there haven't been any reported cases of pregnant women contracting the virus. 'We hope that the pregnant women out there who have signs and symptoms of Zika come forward,' he said. Advertisement Because of that, the government needed to work out if the money would be better spent on genetically tinkering with mosquitoes or boosting public information campaigns to urge eradication of breeding spots for the insects. In Panama there are 50 confirmed cases of Zika infection, all of them in its Caribbean coastal region. Last month it emerged Brazil had authorised the use of the modified bugs to combat the disease, which has been linked to a sudden spike in birth defects in the country's north. The Zika virus is believed to be behind more than 3,500 cases of microcephaly - a rare condition in which newborns have smaller than normal heads and their brains do not develop properly. Fewer than 150 cases of microcephaly were seen in all of 2014. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is responsible for spreading Zika. It also transmits dengue fever and chikungunya. Joseph Conlon, a technical adviser for the American Mosquito Control Association, called the results 'novel and potentially efficacious.' Conlon said the procedure is not 100 per cent effective, but if it is allowed to proceed to full measure, it will 'reduce the mosquito population below disease transmission levels with minimal effect on the environment.' He added that the Aedes aegypti 'are notoriously difficult to control by conventional spray methods such as truck or aerial sprays.' Pope Francis will become the Roman Catholic pope in history to meet a Russian Orthodox patriarch in what could be a historic step towards healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity. The Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate announced that the pontiff will visit Cuba on his way to Mexico on February 12 to hold talks with Patriarch Kirill. The Pope said the leaders would hold several hours of private talks at Havana airport, deliver public speeches and sign a joint statement. Historic move: Pope Francis (right) will visit Cuba on February 12 to hold talks with Patriarch Kirill (left) Modern popes have met in the past with the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarchs, the spiritual leaders of Eastern Orthodoxy, which split with Rome in 1054. Those patriarchs play a largely symbolic role, while the rich Russian church wields real influence because it counts some 165 million of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians. The meeting was brokered by Cuban President Raul Castro, who hosted the pope in Cuba last year. Significantly, the Vatican helped arrange the recent rapprochement between Cuba and the United States. Such a meeting eluded his two immediate predecessors, Benedict and John Paul, who both tried but failed to reach agreement with Kirill and previous patriarchs to hold talks on the prospects for eventual Christian unity. Senior Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Hilarion said long-standing differences between the two churches would remain, most notably a row over the Eastern Rite church in Ukraine that is allied with Rome. But he said they are being put aside so that Kirill and Pope Francis could work together against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Pope Francis will become the Roman Catholic pope in history to meet a Russian Orthodox patriarch. Pictured: Patriarch Kirill Both Pope Francis and Kirill have often decried their oppression and killing by Islamist militants. The Russians had previously said outstanding differences had to be ironed out before any high-level meeting could be held. 'The situation shaping up today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa and in some other regions where extremists are carrying out a genuine genocide of the Christian population demands urgent measures and an even closer cooperation between the Christian churches,' Hilarion said. 'We need to put aside internal disagreements at this tragic time and join efforts to save Christians in the regions where they are subject to the most atrocious persecution.' Violence, excommunications and a bitter rift which has lasted a thousand years: How the Christian church was split between East and West Relations between the two Christian churches were framed by the bitter legacy of the Great Schism of 1054 and the recriminations, including mutual excommunications and the violence associated with the Crusades, that followed. The Orthodox Church's refusal to accept the authority of the Roman pontiff has long been the primary barrier to reconciliation. In the Eastern tradition, all bishops are considered equal with church governance the responsibility of synods. Pope Francis has also made a priority of improving relations between Roman Catholicism and other religions Culturally-rooted differences over forms of worship and observance, such as the eating of unleavened bread, contributed to the schism although many historians see it as having been primarily driven by the prevailing political forces. More recently Vatican-Moscow relations have been strained by the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine. Russian Orthodox officials have accused Catholics in Ukraine, who use Eastern forms of worship but are loyal to Rome, of both evangelism and fomenting Ukrainian nationalism. There is also a festering dispute over the ownership of church properties confiscated from Eastern Rite Catholics during the reign of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, some of which were reclaimed from the Russian Orthodox church following the fall of communism. Since becoming Pope, Francis has met twice with Patriarch Bartholomew, an Istanbul-based cleric who is considered the ecumenical head of the Eastern Orthodox church but does not have the same ecclesiastical clout as Russia's Kirill. The various Orthodox churches count some 260 to 300 million followers, with the Russian branch accounting for 165 million of them. In comparison, the Catholic church claims 1.2 billion members around the globe. Pope Francis has also made a priority of improving relations between Roman Catholicism and other religions. and Harper allegedly robbed two stores at gunpoint in Walnut Hills and Destin, Florida Missouri couple were suspected in a series of robberies and abductions spanning four states Shootout with police in Santa Rosa County was preceded by car and foot chase Brittany Harper, also 30, was taken to a hospital with gunshot wounds to her legs A suspect in a series of robberies and kidnappings spanning four states used his girlfriend as a human shield during an early-morning standoff with Florida deputies before he was shot dead while trying to break into a house, officials revealed. Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said during a press conference Friday that Blake Fitzgerald died at the scene in Santa Rosa County and his accomplice, Brittany Nicole Harper, was taken to a local hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. The Missouri couple, dubbed 'Bonnie and Clyde' in the media, were cornered by law enforcement officials following a high-speed chase prompted by a shoe store robbery. In online video posted by Pensacola, Florida, station WEAR-TV, a volley of gunshots can be heard amid flashing police lights on a rural road in Milton, Florida. Scroll down for video It's over: Wanted man Blake Fitzgerald (left) was killed in a shootout with police in the Florida Panhandle early Friday morning. His girlfriend Brittany Harper (right) was wounded in the gun battle Final stand: The duo were cornered by police in Santa Rosa County, Florida, at 1.30am Friday after a high-speed chase spanning two counties Shots rang out on a rural road at Garcon Point and Saragon Lane after an intense hour-long pursuit Cowardly act: Officials revealed that Fitzgerald used Harper as a human shield before he was shot dead by cops Crime spree: The couple were wanted by police after a crime spree in Alabama on Sunday, but authorities say they also struck a gas station in Georgia on Monday, two more targets in Florida on Wednesday and two additional ones on Thursday Addressing reporters in Pensacola, Sheriff Morgan said that just before 8pm Thursday, a 911 operator got a call from a Famous Footwear shoe store at University Town Plaza on North Davis highway about an armed robbery. According to witness accounts, a bald white male accompanied by a white female pulled a gun on a sales clerk and demanded cash. About two hours later, Escambia County deputies spotted a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle the suspects had been seen driving and gave chase, but the pair were able to get away. The vehicle was spotted about just after 10.15pm parked outside a private home. People living in the house told authorities the suspects held them hostage and then took off in their red pickup truck. Deputies and US Marshals spotted the truck and followed them couple into Santa Rosa County, where the duo were cornered in a residential neighborhood in Milton. After a 15-minute standoff, Fitzgerald emerged from the stolen vehicle and tried to run into a nearby home, at which point officers opened fire on him. The sheriff said neither Fitzgerald nor Harper had any ties to the people living the house the man had attempted to enter. During the news conference, officials declined to say whether at any point during the confrontation the 30-year-old man had pointed a gun at the deputies on the scene, only saying that he was armed at the time. Authorities have linked the Joplin, Missouri, residents, both age 30, to a long series of crimes in Missouri, Alabama and Georgia, saying the offenses fit a similar pattern: People are robbed, kidnapped and let go unharmed, usually after a vehicle is stolen. TIMELINE OF 'BONNIE AND CLYDE'S' TWO-WEEK CRIME SPREE: Bonnie and Clyde: The Missouri couple were being hunted for a brazen crime spree in Alabama, Georgia and Florida January 22: The couple is suspected of stealing guns from a house in their hometown, the southwest Missouri city of Joplin. Joplin police Cpl. Chuck Niess says police had hoped to speak with them about the robbery, but "they obviously left the area." JANUARY 31: Early Sunday morning, the pair enters the Microtel Inn and Suites in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, saying they'd run out of gas and were trying to get to Panama City, Florida, night clerk Kyle Dease tells Al.com. Moments later, the man pulls a semiautomatic pistol and forces Dease into a car and the three head toward the Birmingham, Alabama, area, he recounts later. Fitzgerald and Harper are charged with kidnapping, theft and robbery in that incident. Later Sunday, the couple tries to rob a McDonald's manager outside her restaurant in the Birmingham suburb of Hoover, demanding money and her car keys, Hoover police say. The manager screams and the couple flees, Hoover police Capt. Gregg Rector says. Rector said the hotel clerk was still being held in the backseat during that robbery attempt, but was later released unharmed. About 15 minutes later, a family in nearby Vestavia Hills is eating breakfast when a man enters the home through an open garage door, saying he's having car trouble, police said. He pulls a gun, demands the family's SUV and forces the woman to get inside, Vestavia Hills police Lt. Kevin York said. The woman is later released unharmed about 10 miles away. FEBRUARY 1: On Monday night, a gunman holds up a young clerk at a Murphy Express station along Interstate 75 in south Georgia, taking money from the safe and cigarettes before forcing the clerk into an SUV, where his female accomplice is waiting, authorities say. The couple drives about 15 miles before releasing the clerk unharmed, Perry police Lt. Ken Ezell said. FEBRUARY 3: On Wednesday, the couple is suspected in two additional robberies in the Florida panhandle in Walnut Hill, Florida; and in Destin, Florida, U.S. Marshal Martin Keely says in a statement. FEBRUARY 4: The US Marshals announce they are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Fitzgerald and Harper's arrest. FEBRUARY 5: Authorities catch up with the couple in the Florida Panhandle and a shootout ensues. Fitzgerald is killed and Harper is wounded and taken into custody. Advertisement Police say the armed couple robbed the Murphy Express on Sam Nunn Boulevard on Monday night and abducted the female clerk US Marshals spokesman Martin Keely says the couple is also suspected in two Florida robberies in Walnut Hills and Destin on Wednesday, and possibly two more on Thursday. Calling them a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, the US Marshals announced Thursday that they were offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to their arrest. The final stage of the week-long search for the duo started at around 12.30am when Fitzgerald and Harper were spotted heading from Escambia County into Santa Rosa County, according to AL.com. Members of several law enforcement agencies went in hot pursuit of the runaways, chasing them at various times by car and on foot. The manhunt ultimately ended in a hail of bullets off Garcon Point and Saragon Lane just before 1.30am. According to the US Marshals Service, Fitzgerald was pronounced dead on the scene. Harper was shot in the legs by police and taken to Sacred Heart Hospital where she will remain under guard until doctors give the green light to have have transported to jail. Joplin police Cpl Chuck Niess told The Associated Press on Thursday that police wanted to question Fitzgerald and Harper about the January 22 break-in, 'but they obviously left the area. The home reportedly belonged to a doctor and at least two guns were taken from the residence, according to AL.com. It is not known if the couple knew the doctor, who has not been identified. In each case, Harper (pictured left and right) and her accomplice released their hostages unharmed Police have linked the Missouri couple to a series of crimes in Alabama and Georgia, saying the offenses fit a similar pattern: People are robbed, kidnapped and let go unharmed, usually after a vehicle is stolen. Just this week, an Alabama hotel clerk, who was abducted at gunpoint, says the 'Bonnie and Clyde' captors revealed they were going to Panama City, Florida, to get married and he fears they'll 'go down shooting' if cornered by police. Fitzgerald's lengthy criminal record includes more than 100 charges dating back to 2003, including rape Kyle Dease, the night clerk at Microtel Inn and Suites in Tuscaloosa, claims he was held captive for nearly two hours in his own car by the couple on Sunday. 'They're making this up as they go,' Dease said. 'They're improvising at every little setback, and that's when people get hurt.' He said Fitzgerald said he 'hated' using the gun and claimed he 'kind of lost a piece of himself every time he had to use it'. On Monday, Fitzgerald allegedly held up a young female clerk at a Murphy Express station along Interstate 75 in Perry, Georgia. The suspect took money from the safe and cigarettes before forcing the clerk into an SUV where his female accomplice waited, authorities said. The couple drove about 15 miles before releasing the clerk unharmed on a highway overpass, said Perry police Lt Ken Ezell. The next sighting occurred at around noon Wednesday when Fitzgerald and Harper allegedly walked into the Alvin's Island department store in Destin, pulled a gun on the cashier and fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. At around 4.40pm the same day, the pair allegedly hit a Piggly Wiggly in Walnut Hills. According to the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, a man matching Fitzgerald's description strode into the store, showed a gun to the clerk and demanded cash. During Friday's press conference, officials said they were looking into the circumstances of the Piggly Wiggly robbery after receiving conflicting reports about the suspect. At 7.56pm Thursday, just hours before the final standoff with police, officials say the pair pulled off another robbery at the Famous Footwear store in Pensacola, which sparked a chase. Fitzgerald and Harper appeared to have been in a relationship, according to pictures on his Facebook page. The 30-year-old man also appears to have a young daughter Fitzgerald had been facing one count of first-degree burglary, one count of first-degree kidnapping and one count of first-degree theft of property in relation to the incident in Vestavia Hills. Harper is charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping and first-degree theft of property. Both are also charged with first-degree robbery in Hoover. In Tuscaloosa, both face robbery, kidnapping and theft charges. According to ABC3340, Fitzgerald's vast criminal record includes more than 100 charges dating back to 2003, including assault, rape and burglary. Ringleader: Darren 'Biggs' Vassell grabbed victim Mohammed Mirza and bundled him into a van and later tried to slice off his ear during three-days of torture A gang inspired by Reservoir Dogs who tortured a devout Muslim during Ramadan by trying to force feed him Kentucky Fried Chicken and pouring beer down his throat were jailed for 71 years today. 25-stone ringleader Darren Biggs Vassell even tried to cut off victim Mohammed Mirza's ear during days of abuse reminiscent of Quentin Tarantinos 1992 film. Mr Mirza, 35, who had been bundled into a car three days earlier as part of plan by six men to extort money, was beaten with a metal bar and a steam iron before they tried to cut out his tongue. They tried to make him eat fried chicken when he was fasting for Ramadan and when he asked for water made him drink beer, abusing the teetotal victim's deepest beliefs. Police found the blood-soaked Mr Mirza cowering in a corner in Vassell's Uxbridge home last June and the six members of the gang were jailed for 71 years. Sentencing the gang at the Old Bailey, Judge John Bevan QC told them: 'Bullies tend to be cowards and this exhibition of cruelty is a truly shocking example of sadistic behaviour amounting to torture'. Darren Vassell had forced Mr Mirza into the back of a white Vauxhall van with Derek Johnston, 40, Jamal McLaughlin, 34, and Carlton Rodney, 50, during a shakedown at Kimms Kutts salon in Hounslow, south-west London, last June 18. Two months earlier Vassell had planted a foot-long package of skunk at Mr Mirzas former workplace, Shine Salon in Hounslow, to give him an excuse to demand money. Johnston and McLoughlin bought fried chicken from a KFC in Greenford while Vassell set a 3,500 ransom for Mr Mirza and initiated a three-day torture ordeal during the Holy month of Ramadan. The gangster told Mr Mirza he should eat what they eat as he chewed on chicken wings in front of the Muslim barber and made the chilling remark: We havent even started yet. Gang: Aaron Ellis helped beat the victim over the head and left him with gaping wounds while Jamal McLoughlin was the man who bought the KFC to taunt him during Ramadan Attackers: Derek Johnston also hit Mr Mirza with an iron and Marvin Vassell - Biggs' brother - laughed maniacally as he beat Mr Mirza with a metal bar Mr Mirzas friend offered to pay 2,000 for his release, but Vassell ordered Johnston and McLoughlin to drive him to Pepes Piri Piri in Greenford where he ordered more chicken and screamed: You have to eat. It was Ramadan and he was fasting - his head was spinning, said Jonathan Polnay, prosecuting. When Johnston and McLoughlin returned with some KFC fried chicken, they offered some to Mr Mirza. Mr Mirza refused, stating that he was fasting. Accomplice: Carlton Rodney helped bundle Mirza into a van before three days of torture Darren Vassell stated that he was kidnapped and he should eat what they eat, and when he was told to. All of the group made threats. Vassell locked Mr Mirza in the back of the van overnight where he was forced to urinate into an empty water bottle. The next day he was thrown into a room at Vassells house and suffered brutal torture from which he is yet to fully recover. Vassells brother Marvin Vassell, 40, laughed maniacally as he beat Mr Mirza with a metal bar and left him lying in a pool of blood. As blood started pouring up, Darren tried to restrain his brother, though they were both laughing, said Mr Polnay. He could hear a childs and a womans voice. He heard the woman complaining about there being blood all over the flood. She said we have kids here. Aaron Ellis, 22, joined Johnston and the brothers as Mr Mirza was beaten over the head with an iron and left with gaping wounds from repeated stabbings. Biggs Vassell, who weighs more than 20 stone, sat on Mr Mirza as Ellis heated a fork on the gas ring and pressed it onto his legs. Vassell put Mr Mirza in a chair and used a knife to cut his hair and beard and sliced through an inch of his left ear as he tried to cut it off. Darren Vassell tried to cut off Mr Mirzas ear with a knife, said Mr Polnay. Mr Mirza put his hand up to try and stop him, causing an injury to his finger. He added: On occasions a telephone would ring. It would be put on speaker phone so that the person on the other end could hear Mr Mirzas screams. The group said they wanted him dead. Shocking: Mr Mirza was starving himself during Ramadan but the gang kept bringing food from this Woodford KFC to taunt him and try to force feed him That evening Darren and Marvin Vassell tried to cut out Mr Mirzas tongue, and Darren broke a breadknife as he tried to stab him in the neck. When he begged for water Marvin Vassell forced him to drink beer. Mr Polnay said: Mr Mirza is a Muslim and does not drink alcohol. Mr Mirza was forced to drink the beer. He described feeling totally violated. Police were tipped off by DS Neil Turner who heard a man shouting get up, get up, get up from Vassells house at 4.34am last June 20. When police officers stormed the house at 7.30am last 20 June and arrested the brothers, Marvins clothes were still stained with Mr Mirzas blood. Darren Vassell was injured and told an ambulance team: Oi, wipe my arse, feels like Ive got some shit in it as they transported him to Hillingdon Hospital. Once they arrived he said: To be honest, Im not a bad guy. The geezer owed me money, he didnt pay. It seemed worse than it is. Sentencing the gang Judge John Bevan QC said: Im not going to repeat the appalling and disgusting facts as outlined by the Crown. Darren Vassell selected Mr Mirza deliberately by effectively planting an amount of cannabis on him, in what became an excuse to exercise your enjoyment of depraved violence. Darren Vassell, of Uxbridge, southwest London, was jailed for 18 years after pleading guilty to kidnap, blackmail, two counts of false imprisonment, and causing grievous bodily harm. His brother Marvin Vassell, of the same address, was jailed for 13 and a half years after pleading guilty to blackmail, false imprisonment, and causing grievous bodily harm. Johnston, of Hounslow was jailed for 21 years after pleading guilty to kidnap, blackmail, two counts of false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm. Ellis of Hillingdon as jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to false imprisonment and causing grievous bodily harm. McLaughlin of Shepherds Bush was jailed for six years after being found guilty of kidnap, blackmail and false imprisonment. Advertisement Standing in the ruins of their shattered city, these Syrians are the latest victims of the country's five-year civil war. Rebel-held districts of Aleppo have been reduced to rubble in attacks by Russian-backed government forces. Tens of thousands have fled the city to seek sanctuary in Turkey. By last night 50,000 people had arrived at the Bab Al-Salama checkpoint on the border. Although the gates at the crossing-point remained firmly shut the sheer scale of the exodus suggests Europe's refugee crisis is about to get worse. Rebel-held districts of Aleppo have been reduced to rubble in attacks by Russian-backed government forces, forcing tens of thousands of civilians (pictured) to flee and seek sanctuary in Turkey A Syrian boy who has lost his parents as Syrians flee the northern embattled city of Aleppo, at ab-Al Salama, next to the city of Azaz The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor that relies on a network of sources on the ground, estimates that 40,000 people have fled the regime offensive near Aleppo A man and a child walk on as part of thousands of Syrians fleeing the area due to the regime offensive taking place nearby Turkey has served as a stepping stone into Europe ever since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011. What was initially a trickle turned into a flood last summer as conditions deteriorated in Turkish refugee camps and Angela Merkel offered Germany as a haven. As many as half a million Syrians have paid people-smugglers for the hazardous journey to Greece. From there they follow the well-trodden routes through the Balkans and into northern Europe. The ports of Calais and Dunkirk are targeted by those usually young men who are eager to live in the UK. There are also warnings that the huge and chaotic influx is being exploited by terrorists, including the Paris attackers. Yesterday Hans-Georg Maassen, head of Germany's home intelligence agency, said: 'We have repeatedly seen that terrorists ... have slipped in camouflaged or disguised as refugees. This is a fact that the security agencies are facing.' German refugee officials also revealed yesterday that they have a backlog of around 770,000 asylum applications. Turkey hosts 2.5million Syrian refugees more than any other country in the region. A woman holds a baby in Bab-Al Salama, near a Turkish crossing gate on the border between the two countries A young girl smiles as part of thousands of Syrians fleeing the area of Bab-Al Salama. Turkey has said it is bracing itself for a wave of tens of thousands of refugees Fleeing: Thousands of Syrian men, women and children gather at the frontier post of Bab al-Salama bordering with Turkey after fleeing a major regime offensive backed by Russia near Aleppo Tens of thousands of Syrian civilians are reported to have joined the exodus after fierce fighting by advancing government forces backed by Russian air strikes near Aleppo The country's prime minister, Ahmet Davutoglu, promised the displaced at Bab Al-Salama would not be left without food or shelter but did not say whether Turkey would admit them. Last night, aid agencies were putting up tents on the Syrian side of the border. Aleppo, Syria's former economic powerhouse, has been divided since mid-2012, with the opposition controlling the east and the forces of Bashar Al-Assad's regime holding sway in the west. But the rebel supply line to Turkey was severed on Wednesday by a government offensive backed up by Russian warplanes. The advance prompted tens of thousands of people to flee the fighting. 'The situation in the north countryside of Aleppo is catastrophic,' said Maamoun Al-Khateeb, an activist and journalist. 'Civilians are now besieged from three sides and have just one road to the Turkish territories.' Islamic State jihadists also pose a threat, he said. Mr Davutoglu said 60,000 to 70,000 people were 'rushing towards the Turkish border in order to have a safe haven'. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based group that relies on a network of sources on the ground, estimates 40,000 people have fled the regime's offensive near Aleppo. Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday that up to 70,000 people were heading to his country, with 10,000 already waiting at the border Crisis: With nearly 80,000 already at, or heading for, the Turkish border, there is a huge risk of a humanitarian crisis at the border posts Long wait for freedom: Syrians wait to enter Turkey at the Bab al-Salam border gate, Syria It said Russian airstrikes killed at least 21 civilians on Thursday. With much of the city in ruins, the remaining civilians are hiding in basements and in shelters among the rubble. Russian president Vladimir Putin launched the massive aerial campaign last September to prop up Assad. The defence ministry in Moscow said its warplanes have hit 875 targets in Syria this week. Five thousand sorties have been mounted so far. Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg says the airstrikes that mainly target opposition forces are 'undermining efforts to find a political solution'. Amnesty International claims at least 200 civilians died in October and November. The human rights group accused Russia of using cluster bombs in civilian areas, which could be classed as a war crime. Moscow dismissed the claim as false. Yesterday, Columb Strack, senior Middle East analyst at IHS Jane's Information Group, said the Syrian government was now likely to achieve a complete encirclement of Aleppo. He warned that the remaining population in rebel-held districts of the town would probably face a humanitarian crisis. Sherif Elsayed-Ali, deputy director of global issues at Amnesty International, said: 'The joint Syrian-Russian onslaught on Aleppo is taking a huge toll on the civilian population, forcing many thousands to flee the attacks and fuelling fears of a potentially brutal ensuing siege as supply routes to opposition-held areas are cut. Construction vehicle tries to clear the debris of collapsed buildings after the Russian army carried out airstrikes on opposition-controlled residential areas at the al-Shear neighborhood in Aleppo on Thursday 'The international community can hardly claim to be surprised that we are now seeing this exodus.' Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday accused Russia of complicity in the deaths of 400,000 people in the Syrian civil war. Speaking during a state visit to the West African country of Senegal, Mr Erdogan said Russia was trying to set up a 'boutique state' for its ally Assad. He said: 'Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders. By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000.' The ISIS terrorist claiming to be a Syrian refugee: Shocking image shows Algerian posing with cache of weapons and ammunition before being arrested at German shelter for asylum seekers This is the extraordinary image recovered by German police from an Algerian Islamic State terrorist who was posing as a Syrian refugee. The 34-year-old man, arrested at a refugee shelter in the town Attendorn on Thursday, poses with a handgun alongside a huge cache of weapons and ammunition at an undisclosed location. The suspect, who police believe received military training in Syria, crouches in front of grenades, machine guns, gun cartridges and a tactical helmet and military-style webbing and a backpack. A handout picture provided by the German police shows a 34-year-old Algerian man posing next to firearms and ammunition in an undisclosed location He is wearing a headband with Arabic writing similar to those widely worn by IS militants and combat fatigues. The man, whose identity has not been given by police, reportedly arrived in Germany with his family at the end of 2015. Police said he had applied for asylum with his family, claiming to be a Syrian fleeing the countrys civil war. In fact, they believe he was part of a terror cell aiming to massacre civilians. His wife was also taken into custody during the raid. They were among three suspects arrested as 450 heavily-armed police officers raided properties, including two refugee centres, across Germany on Thursday. The third suspect, a man, was arrested over fake identification documents. Experts say Germany is long overdue a terrorist attack by jihadists because of its support for military operations against the group in Iraq and Syria. He was among three suspects arrested as 450 heavily-armed police officers raided properties, including two refugee centres, across Germany on Thursday Critics have long argued that Chancellor Angela Merkels open door policy towards refugees could allow terrorists to come into Germany posing as refugees from war and terror. The picture was released last night as it emerged the German authorities are struggling to process hundreds of thousands of asylum applications, the head of its refugee office admitted yesterday. Up to 770,000 asylum seekers who arrived there last year are yet to receive a decision with more than half of them yet to file a full claim. Details of the bureaucratic nightmare emerged as the head of Germanys domestic intelligence yesterday warned Islamic State militants have slipped into Europe disguised as refugees. Germany has been struggling to cope after more than 1.1 million asylum seekers arrived last year encouraged by Angela Merkels open doors policy. In January, a further 91,674 came. Frank-Juergen Weise, who is head of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, said yesterday that the backlog for applications to be processed was an unacceptable situation. Its serious and unacceptable for people to have to wait so long, he added. Its bad for the prospects of integration and also bad for the job market when it takes so long. Experts say Germany is long overdue a terrorist attack by jihadists because of its support for military operations against the group in Iraq and Syria Before an asylum application can be filed, newcomers have to first be registered by the authorities and are then sent to states across the country according to a proportional quota system. Hans-Georg Maassen of Germanys BfV intelligence agency yesterday said Novembers terrorist attacks in Paris had shown the IS terror group was deliberately planting terrorists among the refugees flowing into Europe. We have repeatedly seen that terrorists ... have slipped in camouflaged or disguised as refugees. This is a fact that the security agencies are facing, said Mr Maassen. We are trying to recognise and identify whether there are still more IS fighters or terrorists from IS that have slipped in. The Berliner Zeitung newspaper cited Mr Maassen yesterday [Friday] as saying the BfV had received more than 100 tip-offs that there were Islamic State fighters among the refugees currently staying in Germany. The Germans authorities cancelled a friendly international soccer match in Hanover last year and closed stations in Munich at New Year due to security concerns. Mr Maassen, however, warned against alarm, adding: We are in a serious situation and there is a high risk that there could be an attack. A Saudi prisoner was granted an stunning wedding inside jail that many law-abiding citizens could only dream of including a special suite for his 'honeymoon' and a 1,800 gift from a prince. The unnamed bridegroom was given an elaborately furnished room for himself, his bride and guests for the ceremony in the high-security prison in the central town of Buraidah. The wedding, which was held in the central prison in the central town of Buraidah, was attended only by the couple's relatives, including 19 women who were given special permission to enter the jail. Ball and chain: A Saudi prisoner was granted an stunning wedding inside a high-security jail that many law-abiding citizens could only dream of including a special suite for his 'honeymoon' and 1,800 from a prince Lag of luxury: The bridegroom was given an elaborately furnished room for himself, his bride and guests at the jail in the town of Buraidah The wedding was attended only by the couple's relatives, including 19 women who were given special permission to go inside the jail Prison management gave dinner to all guests and presented a 1,830 cheque to the groom from a wealthy benefactor who is a Saudi prince Prison management later gave dinner to all guests and presented a 1,830 cheque to the groom from a wealthy benefactor who is a Saudi prince. In November, a similar cellblock wedding in Saudi Arabia saw a man serving time for breaching security laws tie the knot in luxury and in his case he even got a cheque from the country's interior minister. The unnamed prisoner, believed to have been jailed for breaching security laws, was able to host the lavish party because he had friends in high places, it was claimed. A similar cellblock wedding in Saudi Arabia in November saw a man serving time for breaching security laws tie the knot in luxury. The wedding ceremony, held in a prison in Dammam, included pink mood lighting (above) No expense spared: Special tables and chairs were used for the ceremony, while towers of food were also displayed Guests at the reception were offered a stunning array of food while dining under purple lights at a previous wedding last year Among them was Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who gave the prisoner a 1,760 cheque as a wedding present, the newspaper Sada Al-Balad reported. The lavish nuptials were held in a jail in the eastern Saudi port of Dammam where although the man is currently incarcerated. Pictures of the wedding were published by Arabic language daily paper Sada Al-Balad, along with a copy of the cheque made out in Saudi currency. Fancy chairs line the wall of the prison, while complimentary waters rest on the tables nearby The paper reported the man's family paid for the jailhouse reception, which featured tables of fine food and drink, mood lighting and expensive furniture brought in. The Sada report said: 'The prison management also made decorations and arrangements for the couples honeymoon inside the prison.' The details of the term the man was serving, or the length of his prison honeymoon, were not revealed. These are the horrific second-degree burns suffered by a baby girl on a long-haul flight - when an air hostess handed her six-year-old brother boiling hot tea. Lily-Mae Sorensen, 14 months, could be scarred for life after the horrific incident on a flight to Australia with her mum Rachel and brother Riley. While Rachel was served by one stewardess, Riley told another that he wanted some tea - so she handed him a scorching cupful. But as she did so, Lily-Mae turned in her seat and pulled the cup from her brother's hands, spilling the liquid all over herself. Lily-Mae Sorensen (centre) could be scarred for life after she was burnt on a flight to Australia with her mum Rachel (right) and brother Riley (left) Rahcel said the drama, which unfolded on the final leg of a three-part journey from London to Melbourne with China Southern Airlines, ruined the holiday of a lifetime Rachel, 24, has now been landed with a medical bill for the emergency care of more than 680. She said the drama, which unfolded on the final leg of a three-part journey from London to Melbourne with China Southern Airlines, ruined the holiday of a lifetime. The family, including Rachel's mum, was flying to Australia to spend Christmas with other relatives. Rachel, of Taunton, Somerset, said: 'As my mother and I were being asked what we wanted to drink an air hostess asked my son what drink he would like. 'Being only six, he replied 'a cup of tea', so without our knowledge she handed him a boiling hot cup of tea. 'His little sister turned in a second and pulled the cup but luckily, my mum saw them and stopped the other half falling on them too. 'My kids screamed in pain and we rushed to take the babygrow off her. 'As I stripped them both off, my daughter had massive swollen blisters on the top of her thigh and my son escaped with a red blistering mark.' Rachel said she ran down the plane and asked a stewardesses for a cold towel. Lily-Mae was left with second-degree burns and painful blisters 'They then made announcement for a doctor or nurse to come forward and help,' the shop assistant said. 'Eventually a man came forward and told them to sit with a bucket under her leg and pour water on it. 'They did this until they had to take seats for landing and we were told an ambulance was on its way to the airport.' As soon as they landed, paramedics, a fire crew and border enforcement boarded the plane as they had been told there was an explosion with two child casualties. Rachel added: 'I was billed $1,146 just for the ambulance. Lily-Mae ended up with second degree burns. Her leg still hasn't healed. 'The airline rang us two days after to see how she was and we've filed a complaint, but heard nothing.' She said the incident ruined their holiday, which was supposed to be a treat over the Christmas period. They paid more than 2,500 for their flights and are now seeking compensation - but have had no response from the airline since they complained last week. Rachel said: ' I cannot believe the hostess thought it was sensible to hand a hot drink to a six-year-old. 'It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to take my kids to see their uncle and newborn cousin in Australia. 'Little did I know the last two hours of my flight from China was going to be hell. Our holiday of a lifetime was a disaster.' China Southern Airlines has not responded to requests for a comment. A leading British law officer has dismissed plans set to be unveiled by David Cameron to make clear the sovereignty of the British parliament, saying they would not work. The Prime Minister told MPs earlier this week that he wanted to put beyond doubt the sovereignty of the House of Commons and Downing Street said proposals for how UK courts could uphold British sovereignty will be introduced in the coming weeks. But Sir Francis Jacobs, a former advocate general at the European Court of Justice, said EU law will always prevail as long as Britain remains in the 28-state bloc. Scroll down for video David Cameron, pictured right, is set to unveil plans to make clear the sovereignty of the British Parliament in a bid to secure the support of Boris Johnson, left, who will play a big role in influencing voters David Cameron met Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo today, pictured, in a bid to win over her support for his draft EU deal, which includes plans for a 'red card' for national parliaments to block unwanted EU law He also said proposals to copy Germanys constitutional court, which judges whether EU laws is incompatible with German law, would only create another powerless talking shop and would only be able to raise doubts over EU law. The move to reassert the sovereignty of the British parliament, which will run parallel to Camerons proposals for a red card for national parliaments to reject unwanted EU law as part of his EU renegotiation, is a bid to win Boris Johnsons support. Sir Francis, asked whether EU law would remain sovereign under Camerons proposals, said: The answer is clearly yes. If the European Union is to work at all then European Union law has to prevail over the law over the member states. If the 28 member states are each taking a different view of what European Union law should mean then it would be impossible for the European Union to function so it does require that European law should be recognised as prevailing over national law. He added that the only way to regain sovereignty for the British Parliament would be to leave the EU entirely. Cameron has already unveiled plans for a 'red card' to hand national parliaments the power to block EU laws but wants to go further by making clear the British Supreme Court outranks the European Court of Justice There is simply no alternative to the view that European law must prevail over national law. The Prime Minister is expected to make clear the British Supreme Court outranks the European Court of Justice, making it similar to Germanys constitutional court. But Sir Francis played down the significance of the German court, saying it simply raises doubts about European law and that can be very useful. Securing the Mayor of Londons backing for the In campaign would likely guarantee Cameron faces few truly big beasts in the referendum race to polling day, expected on June 23 if the remaining talks go well. Mr Cameron first floated some of the ideas at a Chatham House speech in November and Justice Secretary Michael Gove has been tasked with drawing up the new laws. Mr Gove himself is the centre of speculation today after The Times reported he was torn between the case for leaving and loyalty to Mr Cameron. Mr Gove's spokesman said the minister would not decide until a deal was struck: 'Like the prime minister, he has not ruled anything out.' Mr Johnson again fuelled speculation over which way he would vote after only saying the Prime Minister had made the best out of a bad job, adding: Lets wait and see where this whole thing goes. Speaking at Westminster, Mr Johnson later said one of the measures he was seeking was a law to 'assert the sovereignty of this House of Commons'. Mr Cameron immediately revealed that work to produce new legislation was underway, with Justice Secretary Michael Gove taking the lead. Securing the backing of Mr Johnson is considered crucial by Number Ten since it would leave the Out campaign without a high profile leader. Eurosceptics are already reeling from the news that Theresa May is almost certain to side with Mr Cameron. The leading contenders to front the Out campaign now are Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling, ex-defence secretary Liam Fox and ex-shadow Home Secretary David Davis. Work and pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith a passionate lifelong Eurosceptic will also speak out in favour of leaving. Boris Johnson, pictured, said Cameron had done the 'best out of a bad job' with his draft negotiation deal The 'sovereignty' bill is expected to be introduced at the same time as the PM completes his negotiations with Brussels later this month - shoring up a deal which has been condemned by Eurosceptics as a 'slap in the face for Britain'. This could then provide Mr Johnson with a chance to formally back the In camp. One option is to ask the UK's the Supreme Court to act as a 'constitutional longstop' if the European Court of Justice passes laws the UK Parliament does not like. The ECJ could then be asked to look at the issues again. In a speech in November, Mr Cameron said he wanted to see whether the UK could adopt rights similar to those of Germany's Constitutional Court in reviewing whether European directives and European court rulings overstep the EU's powers when applied domestically. Number Ten confirmed that plans will be brought forward 'within weeks'. Government officials have privately voiced doubt on whether the plan will work. They point out that, if ministers were to ultimately ignore EU law, they could be hit with massive fines running into millions of pounds. The German Constitutional Court the model for the changes - has never disapplied EU law in practice. One insider said: 'This might buy Britain some time in its dealings with the ECJ. It is hard to see it protecting us completely.' Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary, has said trying to formulate a new law is 'complex'. He is expected to publish his proposals alongside the long overdue British Bill of Rights, which will replace Labour's Human Rights Act. A South Florida man who fatally shot his wife and posted a photo of her body on Facebook has been sentenced to life in prison. A judge in Miami imposed the maximum sentence on Friday on 33-year-old Derek Medina. He was convicted in November of second-degree murder for killing 27-year-old Jennifer Alfonso in 2013, who was shot eight times in the couple's kitchen. Medina, who did not testify during his trial, told police in a videotaped statement that he shot his wife during an altercation in which she threatened him with a knife. Scroll down for video A judge in Miami imposed the maximum sentence on Friday on 33-year-old Derek Medina, a South Florida man who fatally shot his wife and posted a photo of her body on Facebook. Medina pictured in court on Friday During Friday's sentencing hearing, Medina spoke in open court for the first time, in which he called on President Obama to focus on corruption and said he did not get a fair trial Medina was convicted in November of second-degree murder for killing 27-year-old Jennifer Alfonso in 2013, who was shot eight times in the couple's kitchen. The couple pictured together in a Facebook photo Trial testimony showed that Medina admitted to taking a cellphone photo of his wife's body and uploading it to Facebook. He added in a posting that said he expected to go to prison but was forced to kill her after years of physical abuse. During Friday's sentencing hearing, Medina spoke in open court for the first time, in which he called on President Obama to focus on corruption, according to Local 10. 'Focus, Barack Obama, president, on this corrupted world that I will be suing,' he said. 'Focus again, presidents and future presidents, of the world. OK. I will be suing this world. 'Not only that, on Freddy the movie by Universal Pictures, came out with a movie before my trial, which was unfair. OK, which is bias. 'And, um, pretty much the point I'm trying to make is I did not get a fair trial. I will be taking action. 'I will be suing, and I want Barack Obama, the president of the United States of America, to focus on corruption. 'Corruption is a big problem that we have in the United States of America and all over the world. Nothing further. Oh, God knows the truth, and nothing further.' Medina, who did not testify during his trial, previously told police in a videotaped statement that he shot his wife during an altercation in which she threatened him with a knife Trial testimony showed that Medina admitted to taking a cellphone photo of his wife's body and uploading it to Facebook (shown above) The unsettling post left several of Medina's friends puzzled, asking him for an explanation of what happened He added in a posting that said he expected to go to prison but was forced to kill her after years of physical abuse (shown above) Prosecutors had said Medina vowed to kill Alfonso if she tried to leave him, which she told friends she planned to do. They also pointed out that at 6ft and about 200lbs, Medina could have easily overpowered his 5ft 6ins without shooting her. Trial testimony showed the couple began fighting in their upstairs bedroom because Medina had failed to wake up his wife early that morning to watch a movie, as he had promised. Investigators testified that Alfonso threw mascara containers and towels at Medina, who pointed a gun at her in the bedroom but did not fire. Carolyn Knox speaks during the sentencing hearing on Friday for Medina, who killed her daughter, Jennifer Alfonso Above Knox kisses a relative in the courtroom during the hearing in Miami In a text message to a friend that morning, Alfonso said she 'felt like ripping his face off' and was 'about to explode' because of Medina's actions and added she just wanted more attention. 'I just want to spend time with him but I'm not going to beg,' she wrote shortly before her death. Later, the altercation continued in the downstairs kitchen - some of it captured on one of the home's interior surveillance cameras. Medina told police Alfonso pulled a large kitchen knife on him and that he was able to disarm her, then went back upstairs for the gun and shot his wife when she kept fighting with her fists. Above a defense attorney looks at a 2012 or earlier video of the murder victim Jennifer Alfonso and defendant Derek Medina, making contact in a home surveillance video during the trial in November Medina was previously convicted of illegally firing a weapon inside a dwelling and with child neglect because Alfonso's 10-year-old daughter (pictured leaving the scene) was in the home at the time of the slaying, but did not witness the killing Medina pictured in court in November. A medical examiner testified eight shots were fired downward toward Alfonso, and that the position of her body on the kitchen floor indicated she had been cowering on her knees when killed 'She was trying to take me out,' Medina said in the statement at the time. A medical examiner testified that the eight shots were all fired downward toward Alfonso, and that the position of her body on the kitchen floor indicated she had been cowering on her knees when killed. Medina was previously convicted of illegally firing a weapon inside a dwelling and with child neglect because Alfonso's 10-year-old daughter was in the home at the time of the slaying, but did not witness the killing. Matt LeBlanc suggested today that his Top Gear presenting duties will be a throwback to his role on Friends, saying that he and Chris Evans will be like Joey and Chandler. The US TV star was revealed yesterday as the new co-star of the BBC motoring show in a shock move apparently designed to boost the programme's popularity with women and American viewers. He said this morning that he had been 'ducking paparazzi' following the announcement as he chatted with Mr Evans in a preview of their future collaboration. Star: Friends actor Matt LeBlanc is to be one of the new presenters of Top Gear, the BBC has announced Joke: The actor shared this photograph of himself reading a book about the popular BBC show today The former Friends star called into BBC Radio 2's Chris Evans Breakfast Show, speaking from his home in the US where it was still Thursday evening at the time. 'Thanks to Top Gear and the BBC, my day has been ducking paparazzi all day long, and now I'm relaxing with a glass of wine at my bar,' LeBlanc, 48, said. 'I can't believe the response. I mean I knew Top Gear was a big show, but, wow, it was on the front page of The New York Times, did you know that?' The DJ, who was appointed to host Top Gear after Jeremy Clarkson's sacking last year, asked his future co-star which double act from the past they would most resemble. LeBlanc rejected the suggestions of Tom and Jerry, Laurel and Hardy, and Friends couple Rachel and Ross, replying instead: 'Joey and Chandler'. Excitement: Chris Evans, pictured today, talked about how excited he is to start working with his new co-star In the long-running sitcom he portrayed the playboy Joey while Matthew Perry was his uptight and sarcastic flatmate Chandler. Evans asked him if he has a passport because they will 'need them a lot', and LeBlanc answered: 'I do have an up-to-date passport, yeah. I looked at the schedule. I have a question for you, do I get the frequent flyer miles?' The DJ revealed that the pair would be going to South Africa, and added: 'Do you want to stay at mine because I'll get you a new key cut, or do you want me to look for a place for you?' Speaking after his appointment yesterday, LeBlanc said: 'As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I'm honored and excited to be a part of this iconic show's new chapter. What a thrill.' Announcement: LeBlanc said he was 'really honored' to be appointed as the new co-presenter yesterday Experience: He holds the record for the fastest ever celebrity lap of the Top Gear track He has previously appeared on the show during the Clarkson era, setting the record time for the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car' segment. Evans added: 'Matt's a lifelong fellow petrolhead and I'm thrilled he's joining Top Gear. Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we'll both be debating some epic road trip ideas.' LeBlanc suggested on Twitter yesterday that one of his first guests could be co-star Stephen Mangan, who appeared alongside him on the sitcom Episodes. In a message to the actor, he wrote: 'Here's your chance to beat my time. You better come on the show.' Old guard: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will appear on a new Amazon motoring show He also shared a photograph of himself reading a book about the show early this morning. The new-look Top Gear is set to make its debut later this year following the major overhaul which came after Clarkson was sacked for punching a producer in a row about a steak. In the wake of his departure co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May and longtime producer Andy Wilman all announced that they were quitting the programme too. A former public schoolboy is making thousands of pounds from selling air from the British countryside to the Chinese for 80 a bottle. Leo De Watts 'farms' fresh-air from Dorset, Somerset, Wales, Wiltshire and Yorkshire and sells the bottles to people in smog-plagued Beijing and Shanghai. His team put bottles in specially adapted fishing nets and hold them aloft as they run through fields to 'harvest' the product. Leo De Watts 'farms' fresh-air from Dorset, Somerset, Wales, Wiltshire and Yorkshire and sells the bottles to the smog-plagued elite of Beijing and Shanghai His team put bottles in adapted fishing nets and hold them aloft as they stride through a muddy field to 'harvest' the product They then leave it open for up to 10 minutes to capture the area's aroma, but also ensure no grass or bugs get into the 'organic' product. In just a few weeks of launching the barmy venture Mr De Watts, 27, has sold 180 580ml containers to customers. Once unbottled, the 'experience' of inhaling the fresh-air for the consumer lasts just a few seconds. People are also buying the breeze. Mr De Watts, who is from Gillingham, Dorset but now lives in Hong Kong, asks friends and family members to go out on land that is as far away from pollution as possible to bottle the air. Mr De Watts, who runs an events company as his day job and went to 34,000 a year Sherborne School, described British breeze as the 'Louis Vuitton or Gucci' of fresh-air and said each area has its own unique aroma. He said: 'I would say on the whole that Dorset air seems to pick up a few more scents of the ocean, as the breeze flows up the Jurassic Coast and over the lush pastures. Once unbottled, the 'experience' of inhaling the fresh-air for the consumer lasts just a few seconds. People are also buying the breeze Mr De Watts, who is from Gillingham, Dorset but now lives in Hong Kong, asks friends and family members to go out on land that is as far away from pollution as possible to bottle the air 'Whereas air from the Yorkshire dales tends to filter it's way through much more flora, so the scent captures the subtle tones of the surrounding fields, giving different qualities to the collection. 'We go up to a hill top, for example, and collect all the products there which are all packaged and bottled up, sent to Dorset and then directly to China. 'Our customers all have high disposal incomes and want to buy gifts for someone or someone wants to use it. 'There is a serious point to this though as Beijing, Zhuhai, and Shanghai are the major places where pollution is quite bad, whether it is the fault of the rest of the world or its China's responsibility, we have a case of people living in smog.' Although a Canadian company is already sending bottled Rocky Mountain air to China, Mr De Watts is leading the British charge. He said: 'I saw a few reports of people importing bottles of air and thought it was a bit ridiculous myself, and then I thought about it. 'When someone bottled water everyone thought it was ridiculous, now you have Evian and Volvic - why not bottle air? 'We are priced as is a luxury item it is not for every day customers, if they want something that is cheaper they can buy it. 'Think of us as being the equivalent of Louis Vuitton or Gucci, so we are not likely to appeal to a mass market. 'It is really a cottage industry at the moment we have got a few people around the country who go out and bottle it. It doesn't require that many people and you can collect quite a lot in one go and you don't have to pay for it.' MEPs could undo months of talks and thousands of air miles by voting to reverse the deal, despite PM claiming all changes will be legally binding Speaking in London he said many EU leaders privately want UK to leave The European Parliament has emerged as the biggest threat to David Camerons renegotation deal with the EU with MEPs threatening to block any plans that could lead to an a la carte Europe. Martin Schulz, the Parliaments president, warned many MEPs now wanted Britain out of the EU and said that Britain was testing the patience of his colleagues with its continuous demands. Many of my colleagues say behind closed doors: Dont stop a rolling stone. If the Brits want to leave, let them leave., he said. Scroll down for video European Parliament president Martin Schulz, pictured left with David Cameron in Downing Street last night, said that many MEPs privately wanted Britain to leave the European Union Cameron, pictured in Copenhagen this afternoon alongside Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, hit back at Schulz's comments, saying there was 'no way' Britain would ever agree to a reversal His words came as it emerged that Britain will have to wait for a year after the referendum to get an emergency brake that cuts benefits for EU workers. It will take 12 months to pass the necessary legislation to curb in-work benefits the centrepiece of the Prime Ministers renegotiation deal. It risks creating a free-for-all period in which vast numbers of migrants from Eastern Europe could pour into the UK before the new regime comes into effect. As the rancour intensified yesterday: Mr Cameron slapped down Mr Schulzs suggestion that the deal could be blocked or even reversed by the European Parliament; It was revealed barely one in 10 EU migrants who arrived in the past four years would have been affected by the emergency brake; The Prime Minister faced scepticism in Europe as he began a tour to drum up support in Poland and Denmark. MEPs yesterday threatened to derail Mr Camerons renegotiation as they insisted they would not sign off on the proposed reforms until after the referendum. Mr Schulz said the British had tested the EUs patience and good will with their continuous demands. Many of my colleagues say behind closed doors: Dont stop a rolling stone. If the Brits want to leave, let them leave, he added. The uncertainty caused by the European Parliaments refusal to agree on the deal until after the referendum is problematic for Mr Cameron, as he will not be able to guarantee his reforms will come into reality when voters go to the polls. At a meeting in Brussels, where officials from Britain and all other 27 member states discussed the draft deal that was unveiled on Tuesday, a representative of the European Parliament warned the agreement should not lead to an a la carte approach to the EU. The Danish PM, pictured right in Copenhagen this afternoon, gave Cameron's deal a thumbs up David Cameron met Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo, pictured right, in Warsaw this morning as he began his efforts to persuade his 27 EU counterparts to agree to his draft renegotiation to keep Britain in the EU Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo has been a stumbling block to Cameron's hopes of securing changes to benefit rules but today expressed support for his draft deal to keep Britain in the EU In a speech at the London School of Economics, Mr Schulz added that proposals which cater to narrow self-interests, risk undermining the common good, or would set dangerous precedents for a Europe a la carte will meet with resistance from the European Parliament. Schulz, pictured in London yesterday, said he was personally in favour of the UK remaining in the EU He said: The European Parliament needs to see its concerns addressed early on to avoid a serious roadblock later on when legislation will need to be debated and adopted in the European Parliament. But Mr Cameron slapped down Mr Schulzs suggestion that it would be reversed. Speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen, he said: It would only be reversible if all 28 countries including Britain agree to reverse it, he said. Mr Cameron has kick-started a two-week charm offensive to persuade EU leaders to agree to the draft EU deal he unveiled earlier this week. He hopes his fellow 27 EU leaders will agree to his renegotiation deal at a crunch summit on February 18. His emergency brake will stop EU workers getting full tax credits for their first four years in the country when services or welfare system are under pressure. Mr Cameron won the backing of Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen yesterday, who hailed Britain as a voice of 'common sense'. He said the package of reforms put forward earlier this week was 'a good basis for negotiations' over the coming days and weeks. 'It contains many elements which Denmark strongly supports and which we will work hard to retain,' he said. On plans for an 'emergency brake' on migrants' access to benefits - the most controversial of the reforms proposed - Mr Rasmussen said it was 'perfectly understandable and acceptable'. Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, pictured alongside Cameron at a press conference in Copenhagen this afternoon, hailed Britain as a voice of 'common sense' in the EU Mr Cameron (left) leaves the Hotel Bristol after meeting with chairman of Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski in Warsaw Polish Premier Beata Szydlo, pictured with Cameron this morning, was the first of EU leaders the PM met as part of his two-week charm offensive to persuade EU leaders to agree to the draft EU deal Cameron and Schulz, pictured, met at Downing Street last night but today exchanged a war of words over whether the changes to Britain's membership would be reversible LEAVE EU CAMPAIGN DESCENDS INTO CHAOS WITH RIVAL GROUPS AT WAR Bitter infighting between the rival groups campaigning for Britain to leave the EU descended into open warfare last night amid legal threats and accusations of dirty tricks. The founder of the Leave.EU campaign, Arron Banks, launched a highly personal attack on senior figures within the rival Vote Leave organisation. The multi-millionaire Ukip donor said the rival Vote Leaves campaign director Dominic Cummings and chief executive Matthew Elliott were two of the nastiest individuals I have ever had the misfortune to meet, who he said he wouldnt trust to run a sweet shop. He accused them of making false and defamatory briefings to the Press which he said had led to legal warnings being issued to the groups board. Mr Banks said Labour people involved in the supposedly cross-party group had been treated with absolute contempt. It followed the leaking of an email from millionaire John Mills, a senior Labour figure within Vote Leave, who warned damaging and unnecessary infighting was undermining its campaign efforts. Yesterday it was also claimed Vote Leaves Labour offshoot, Labour Leave had split from the organisation and declared itself independent. An email from Brendan Chilton, Labour Leave Campaign Co-ordinator said the group does not endorse Vote Leave. But last night, Mr Mills, who founded Labour Leave said it remained part of the group. He said: I am the founder and co-owner of Labour Leave. It is an independent campaign but corporately it supports Vote Leave. Advertisement He added: 'Denmark will work hard to ensure a result which can help the British Government win a referendum and remain a key member of the European Union.' Cameron said: 'Good work has been done, there are still two weeks to go. I still need all 28 countries to agree to the changes, there are still important details to be filled in and work to be done on this negotiation. JUST ONE IN TEN TO LOSE OUT Barely one in ten EU migrants could be affected by David Camerons benefits clampdown, official figures suggest. They show that only 111,000 migrants who arrived in the UK or had been issued a National Insurance number during the previous four years actually received tax credits in 2013/14. That amounts to fewer than one in ten of the 1.2million who registered for work in that period, it was claimed. The statistics, released by HM Revenue & Customs, also showed that 84,000 households contained at least one EU migrant who had received tax credits in the past four years. Downing Street said the figures showed that his emergency brake on benefits would have a large effect as tax credits would be removed from these people. But critics said the numbers affected were quite low compared to the number of migrants meaning the brake would have little impact. Advertisement But the curbs will only apply to new arrivals creating an incentive for people to come before they kick in. Anybody here before the law is officially changed will be completely unaffected by the brake which is much weaker than Mr Cameron originally promised. A significant delay to the emergency brake being applied would therefore be likely to lead to a spike in arrivals. 'But I think if you look at what we are actually achieving, in the areas of things people care about, that is what we promised in our manifesto and that is what we are delivering.' If he can seal his deal in just over two weeks, the PM will have just months to convince voters he really has achieved the 'best of both worlds' for Britain's relationship with the EU at a referendum in June. There was speculation earlier this week that the brake could take months to be cleared by the Brussels machine, but this was played down by No10. Government officials said they expected any delay to be between one and three months. Now, however, the European Commission has told member states the brake will not come into force for a year. Countries in Eastern Europe have been reassured it will not be rushed and there will be time to modify the proposals as they pass through the Brussels machine. This will include time for the Commission to draft amendments to regulations. In turn, these must be agreed by the European Council and European Parliament. At the same time UK would need to draft secondary legislation, an EU official said. One in five voters are still making up their minds about the EU referendum, a poll has suggested. The poll of 1,675 people, the first since Mr Cameons renegotiation plan was published, also put the leave campaign ahead by nine points. However, the results are likely to be questioned given the appalling record of pollsters in predicting the result of last years election. A woman from Florida claims an 'elusive goat rapist' is repeatedly assaulting her animals. Sharon Cruz-Pecina has called on police to arrest the person she is convinced is trespassing on her property and having sex with her three pets. She thinks the animals have been attacked since last summer. Sharon, from Caryville, Florida, told local TV news station WJHG: 'He's been attacking them and raping them. I'm not jumping to conclusions.' She bought the goats five years ago because her husband is lactose intolerant but is not affected by goat milk. Scroll down for video Mystery: Sharon, from Florida, told local TV news station WJHG, that a man had been 'attacking' her goats and 'raping them' - she has contacted police In April last year Sharon was housing her goats about a mile away from her home when a man was spotted and identified lingering in the area Sharon Cruz-Pecina (pictured here) said she wasn't 'jumping to conclusions' but wanted police to take action in the case and make an arrest In April last year she was housing her goats about a mile away from her home when a man was spotted and identified lingering in the area. The man was charged in 2014 with engaging in sexual activity with an animal, Sharon added. 'There is numerous people within the mile, two miles of this guy's home who've had problems of him attacking their goats,' she said to the news channel. She also has photographic evidence the goats have been assaulted. 'I have had the officers out here a few times. I didn't call again because I don't think they are taking me seriously,' she explained. She even tried to catch the suspect herself and goes to the length to have her animals tested and is waiting on DNA results. Now she hopes the sheriff's department catches the suspect before he does more damage. Sharon has been trying to catch him on video but has not captured any incriminating footage so far. She wants him to be arrested, get the 'help he needs' and 'repent'. An investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office is under way. A spokesman told NewsChannel7 that officers had received a complaint from Sharon and was investigating an 'open case'. 'We are investigating this case as diligently and as thoroughly as we would any criminal investigation,' he said. Despite attempts to change the law in the state in 2008 it is still not a major offence to have sex with an animal. In 2011, lawmakers finally passed a bill making the offence a misdemeanor but it took them at least three tries to make it law. An investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office is under way over the allegations - a spokesman told NewsChannel7 that officers had received a complaint from Sharon and was investigating an 'open case' Walter Carpio-Galicia, 32, (pictured) is accused of molesting his 15-year-old relative, then stabbing her eight times before fleeing to Georgia A New York man is said to have stabbed his 15-year-old relative repeatedly after she accused him of touching her inappropriately. Walter Carpio-Galicia, 32, is accused of stabbing the girl in her Spring Valley, New York, home just one week after he was arrested for molesting her. Carpio-Galicia posted bail and was let out of jail the same day he was arrested. A judge issued an order of protection forbidding the man to return to the girl's home. He disobeyed that order not to go near the teen and went to the girls home, waiting for her to get home from school. Allegedly when the high school student entered the home, Carpio-Galicia began stabbing her before fleeing the state. The 15-year-old called 911 and was taken to Westchester Medical Center, where she is in stable condition Carpio-Galicia then drove about 800 miles to Appling,Georgia, where he crashed his car on an interstate and was re-arrested. Georgia authorities are preparing to extradite him back to New York state. The girl's mother and brother told NBC 4 New York that the girl is in stable physical condition but is emotionally a wreck. When Carpio-Galicia returns to New York, he'll be charged with second-degree attempted murder in the stabbing. Carpio-Galicia fled 800 miles to Appling, Georgia, where he was arrested after crashing his car on a highway An Australian man who allegedly sold fake 'Fleshlight' sex-toys is being sued by the American creators of the sex toy. Jos Schoonenberg, formerly known as a Gold Coast porn king, allegedly stocked the counterfeit products which bore the logo of the original 'Fleshlight' range by American Company, Interactive Life Forms. Sex toy magnate, ex-cop and owner of the intellectual property rights attached to the brand, Steven Shubin, has filed against Schoonenberg and his Sexy World adult store chain, The Sydney Morning Herald reports. American CEO of Interactive Life Forms, and the designer of the Fleshlight, Steven Shubin, is suing a Queensland man for allegedly counterfeiting his product Interactive Life Form's Fleshlight has made more than 7 million sales world wide and is ranked among the most popular male sex toys on the market. It is alleged that Mr Schoonenberg sold the fake products in his store between August and October 2015, at this time he was apparently caught selling the products in a 'trap purchase' made by employees from the Australian Branch of the company. Matthew Esber, General Counsel of Interactive Life Forms has said 'counterfeiting operations like this essentially are defrauding customers.' 'We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original intellectual property, not steal ours.' The alleged counterfeit products were being sold by Jos Schooneberg, who owned Sexy World in Bundall, Queensland 'In the end, those losses impact our product development, operational areas and ultimately they impact our customers,' Mr Esber said. According to court document the official 'Fleshlight' was sold at the store prior to the alleged counterfeit stock. Court documents show Mr Shubin and Mr Schooneberg were in communication over the alleged breach of intellectual property right, but failed to come to an agreement. A preliminary hearing at the Federal Court in Sydney has been set down before Justice Anna Katzmann next week. Daily Mail Australia attempted to contact Mr Schooneberg through the sex shop in Bundall. Police say one school resource officer was punched but no one else was hurt Videos showing the some of the fights were sent into NBC Philadelphia Police say the fights were not related A high school is on high alert after a 'fight week' hashtag has spurred a series of tussles among its students. Abington Senior High School in Montgomery was forced to take special measures after at least five fights broke out in the school over the last few days. According to a letter sent to parents yesterday, Superintendent Amy F. Sichel said she was writing to 'set the record straight' after the hashtag #AbingtonFightWeek spread 'misinformation', reported NBC Philadelphia. Scroll down for video Three videos were posted on the Abington Fight Club page on Instagram before it was taken down. The hashtag #AbingtonFightWeek spread 'misinformation' following a series of fights that broke out at the school in the last week Videos of the fights have been sent into NBC10 and show two boys fighting in the bathroom and punching each other She wrote: 'In one case, a young man was out of control and punched our School Resource Officer.' And added: 'At no time were any of the students who participated in the fights injured, and no other student or staff member was injured. There have been no weapons involved.' 'Unfortunately the use of social media blows these situations out of proportion and sensationalizes the matters, which only adds to the issues.' Sichel also said that all of the situations leading to the fights had begun out of school and reassured parents that students were safe. She said school administrators were working closely with the Abington Police Department to keep the school safe, reported NBC. According to Sichel, social media had blown the fights out of proportion. Videos of the fights have been sent into NBC10 and show two boys fighting in the bathroom and punching each other. Another shows two boys brawling on the stairwell, before an older woman intervenes. Three videos were posted on the Abington Fight Club page on Instagram before it was taken down. Philly Voice reported a large police presence at the school yesterday, with two police cars parked by the entrance and an office on patrol in the parking lot. John Spiegelman, an Abington Township Commissioner, told Philly Voice that fights have been happening for years among teenagers and that fears expressed on social media had exasperated the situation. Sruperintendent Amy F. Sichel said: 'At no time were any of the students who participated in the fights injured, and no other student or staff member was injured. There have been no weapons involved He added: 'It's important to say that you've got to make good choices. But the way you react to adversity ... is going to send a lesson to your kids.' According to Fox News, the fights began last Friday and continued into this week but police said that they believed they were unrelated. And despite the #AbingtonFightWeek handel, there was no organised fighting inside the school. In a statement released yesterday Sichel said: 'Today was a very good day at Abington Senior High school with no incidents at all. 'It was very quiet and calm and the students behaved in a most appropriate fashion. 'Unfortunately rumours continue and people are still posting on social media. Scammers are targeting grocery stores with skimming devices at self-checkout kiosks to steal customer's credit/debit card information Scammers have seemingly entered new territory by targeting grocery stores with skimming devices at self-checkout kiosks to steal customer's credit card information. Skimmers are electronic devices that are hidden inside or oven over a slot for a card that scan the card's information and steal the data when consumers swipe their cards. Small cameras or fake keypads record the personal information number (PIN) code as customers punch them in, granting thieves instant access to a bank accounts or credit card information. In recent years, the devices have been found at ATMs and gas stations due to their somewhat remote locations that allow thieves to install them without any alarms being raised. Scroll down for video Beware: Scammers have seemingly entered new territory by targeting grocery stores with skimming devices that scan consumer's card information and steal data to access bank or credit card accounts (file above) Now, thieves are targeting grocery stores with placing skimmers at the self-checkout kiosks (file above) Now, thieves are targeting grocery stores with placing skimmers at the self-checkout kiosks. According to security side Krebes on Security, skimmers which were found at the supermarket chain Safeway in December, included a PIN pad that allowed hackers to record shoppers' PIN code. The devices were found at a number of stores across the country including in Colorado and Maryland, according to Krebes on Security. In addition, the Secret Service has launched a six state investigation into card skimmers being placed on automatic teller machines. Georgia is included as one of the states, but officials have declined to name the others, according to WSB. Matt Schulz, senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com told CBS News that people need to be more cautious. Small cameras or fake keypads record the personal information number (PIN) code as customers punch them in at grocery store kiosks, granting thieves instant access to a bank accounts or credit card information (file above) 'It really is further proof that people need to be really, really diligent when it comes to their credit card information,' Schulz told CBS News. 'The bad guys are always coming with new, innovative ways to steal their information.' HOW TO PREVENT FROM FALLING VICTIM TO SKIMMERS: There are several steps consumers can take from falling victim to scammers using skimmers: When at self-checkout kiosks at supermarkets, tug on the terminal to see if it moves or if there's a sign of an overlay on top of it. If so, alert staff at the store to the machine to inspect it. Using mobile payment options like Apple Pay can also provide more protection for consumers than magnetic cards. It's also advised that consumers use chip-enabled cards if the readers are available at stores. Checking bank and credit card statements regularly can tip off consumers to notice any fraud as soon as it begins. Advertisement There are several steps in which consumers can protect themselves from falling victim to scammers using skimmers. When at self-checkout kiosks at supermarkets, tug on the terminal to see if it moves or if there's a sign of an overlay on top of it, according to CBS News. If so, alert staff at the store to the machine to inspect it. Schulz told CBS News that mobile payment options like Apple Pay can also provide more protection for consumers than magnetic cards. Experts also advise that consumers should use chip-enabled cards if they are available at stores. According to a survey last year from merchant-services provider Harbortouch, only one out of five Americans have used chip-enabled cards, CBS News reported. Lastly, checking bank and credit card statements regularly can tip off consumers to notice any fraud as soon as it begins. '[Supermarket skimmers are] further proof that people have to be their own last line of defense,' Schulz told CBS News. 'No one cares as much about your money as you do.' His parents Sally Lane and John Letts say they were arrested by police for trying to send money to Syria for him to use to buy new glasses The parents of a British Muslim convert accused of joining Islamic State (ISIS) in Syria said they were arrested by Oxford police after trying to send him money. Jack Letts, 20, who now goes by the name Abu Mohammed, was suspected to be the first white Briton to join the terror group after leaving his Oxford home for war ravaged Syria last year. His parents Sally Lane and John Letts said they have since been arrested under the terrorism act after trying to send him money for new glasses. The parents of Jack Letts, the British ISIS fighter dubbed 'Jihadi Jack', fear he will never make it home alive In a revealing interview, his parents Sally Lane (left), and John Letts (right), an organic farmer and baker, also told of how he suffered from 'really severe' OCD Letts told his parents Sally Lane and John Letts that he was going to study Arabic in Kuwait before secretly travelling to Syria. He is now thought to be living in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, where he has a son with an Iraqi woman he married. Friends described the Letts, who has since claimed to be a 'frontline' ISIS fighter, as a 'typical middle class kid'. In an exclusive interview with Channel 4, his father, an organic farmer and baker, said: 'If you know he's in danger or can't see straight, what parent isn't going to try get their child a pair of glasses if he can't see straight. 'Any parent's going to act the way we have and feel the way we do. You wouldn't be a parent if you didn't try to protect your child.' 'Your child is about to fall off a cliff and they [the police] are holding you back even though he's crawling forward to the edge and they won't let you help him. Friends described Letts (left), who has since claimed that he is a 'frontline' ISIS fighter, as a 'typical middle class kid' Letts' (pictured) parents have also claimed they were arrested under the terrorism act after trying to send him money for new glasses Oxford born Letts posted this photograph on his Instagram account in May, telling a friend he was 'travelling' Ms Lane said: 'My greatest fear is that he won't get out of this alive. It's the worst feeling in the world. 'You feel completely helpless. Your child is out there. They have no support. They're still reliant on you. 'He's sending desperate messages to us saying it's cold or he doesn't have food or he can't see. We know that legally we're not allowed to help him. I just don't understand that.' The couple say their son was diagnosed with 'really severe' OCD as a child after his behaviour became increasingly strange. They both still have doubts that Letts is fighting for the terror group, which has wreaked a bloody warpath through Iraq and Syria, saying the police have 'put two and two together and made ten'. Mr Letts said: 'If there is any evidence that he's done anything violent, if anyone can prove any of these allegations... If you can show me any of that I'll be the first to believe it and I'll be the first to report it. Letts (pictured at home in Iraq) claimed he was a frontline fighter for the brutal jihadi group and lives with his Iraqi wife and his son Muhammed in the Iraqi city of Fallujah Letts' parents (pictured) still have doubts that Letts is fighting for the terror group, saying the police have 'put two and two together and made ten' 'Because I don't want a son who would do that type of thing, because that is not how he was raised, and I don't think that's him. That is not the kid that I recognise.' Ms Lane said: 'We have directly asked him. We know he won't lie about his religion because anything to do with his religion he thinks he'll go straight to hell. Romoland School District said principal's action was to stop a 'general disruption in the school environment' But Austin said his principal believed it 'attracted too much attention' Austin Lacey, 13, was forced to take off the Elsa costume he wore for a Disney-themed spirit day at his middle school this week A 13-year-old California boy is speaking out after he was forced to remove an Elsa costume he wore for his middle school's Disney-themed spirit day. Austin Lacey said he was just trying to have some fun when he donned the long braided blonde wig and sparkling blue gown Elsa wears in Frozen, the most successful animated film of all-time. The costume was likewise a huge hit with his classmates at Ethan Chase Middle School, who asked Austin for selfies throughout the day, but the eighth grader said his principal saw otherwise. 'He told me that it attracted too much attention,' Austin told KTLA. 'I never expected what happened today to happen. I wore it for fun because I'm just one of those people, I like to go all out.' Brooke Francev, Austin's mother, said the principal instructed the school's campus supervisor to take her son's dress and wig away from him. Francev said Austin was later informed his principal did not believe boys should be dressed like girls. 'I can't believe there are still people out there that hold those beliefs, especially on a day when it was all intended on good fun,' she told the news station. 'It really shouldn't have been an issue.' Austin (pictured with his mother Brooke Francev) said he was told the principal at Ethan Chase Middle School in Menifee, California believed the costume was attracting too much attention The Elsa costume comes from the Disney film Frozen, the most successful animated film of all time Francev said that her son is not a transgender student, but that the experience has inspired Austin to take a stand on 'the rights that all people have'. The Romoland School District has since said that the principal's action was based on the need to 'stop a general disruption to the school environment'. 'This action was taken in accordance with district policies,' District Superintendent Dr. Julie Vitale wrote in a statement. 'At no time was there an indication that the student was expressing any particular message.' 'The Romoland School District prides itself on having policies and practices that support all students regardless of gender identity or gender expression.' The principal's office at Ethan Chase Middle School did not immediately return a message to DailyMail.com seeking comment. The eighth grader said his students loved his costume and were asking to take selfies with him all day Austin dressed up for his school's 'spirit week', the themes of which were posted in a list on its Facebook A victim of 'sextortion' has spoken out after he was tricked into exposing himself online then threatened with blackmail. Jon Pearn, 62, was sent a friend request on Facebook by a mystery woman who convinced him to send her revealing photos and videos. But within minutes he was being threatened with blackmail by people who said they would post the images on the internet unless he handed over cash. Jon Pearn, 62, was sent a friend request on Facebook by a mystery woman who convinced him to send her revealing photos and videos The threats continued over a number of days - telling Jon the pictures would be sent to family members whose names they had taken from his Facebook profile. Carpenter Jon, of Lipson, Devon, decided to make a stand and refused to part with his money - telling them he didn't care what they did and called police. He has now gone public as a warning to others - but admits his mates find it 'hilarious'. Jon said: 'I saw someone wanting to be my friend on Facebook a couple of weeks ago who I didn't know. 'I'd been in hospital for ten days - I thought it was heart problems but it turned out to be a hiatus hernia. I was in a mate's office and logged on and there were three friend requests. I didn't know them and pressed yes on one by accident. 'Half an hour later I got a private message saying thank you and this woman called Marie Laverly started chatting to me. 'She asked if I had Skype and asked me to go on that.' After sending photographs over the internet, the Devon carpenter was threatened and told his pictures would be sent to family members, friends and colleagues The blackmailer attempted to force Jon to part with money - but he failed to give in and alerted police. He is now trying to alert others to the perils of sending revealing photos over the internet 'Marie' initially started writing in French before changing to English and claiming to be from Leicester. Moments later Marie was urging Jon to turn on his camera and asking if he 'liked sex'. Jon wrote back: 'Yes, I think we all do.' Marie did not waste time in getting to the point of what she wanted. Jon said: 'I'd spent nearly two weeks in hospital and I was bored. She was asking if I wanted to see her on camera, so I said yes. The next thing there's this woman stripping off, a stunning blonde.' However, she repeatedly asked Jon to return the favour, insisting he show an intimate part of himself, so he obliged. Marie asked Jon to call her 'Angel' and requested revealing photos of him. But within moments the exchanges became increasingly aggressive, threatening to release Jon's photos to his friends, parents, relatives and workplace. Despite the increasingly threatening nature of the messages, Jon said he found it hilarious - as did his friends - but he is keen to warn others who may not see the funny side She began to name Jon's nieces and nephews he was friends with on Facebook before making her intentions clear. She wrote: 'Then you have to pay for that I do not publish. Tell me how much you can pay for your video.' Despite her clear blackmail attempt, she tried to incite Jon's sympathy, claiming: 'I'm asking you still care my sister is very ill and I'm ready to suck the life out of you if you do not pay me 500 of your change, believe me, I'm not kidding because I do not would hesitate a second released this video of you on all the canvas by placing it on all major video sharing sites online in the world.' Despite the threats, Jon called her bluff and alerted police. He said: 'I told her 'I think you've picked on the wrong person here - you should go and pick on someone who cares. Because of the names of my nieces and nephews were on Facebook I blocked her immediately. A few of my nieces would've laughed about it anyway.' Marie then began to call Jon on Skype, adding: 'So tell me how can you pay to do away with this story and that it stays between us two'. Realising Jon was not bothered by her threats, 'Marie' reduced the blackmail figure to 100 and wrote: 'I'm not afraid of the police and to know that I'm a guy and I belong to an organization and the police can't find me lol'. Jon said: 'I've already had another trying to reach me through Skype. I just ignored it. 'It's for gullible people who were stupid or scared enough to pay They picked on the wrong person because I just didn't care. 'Most of my mates think it's hilarious and say 'that's typical of you'. I'm not doing this [going public] for me, I'm doing this for people who would be upset and afraid and pay. I don't want them to do the same thing to other people. 'If you don't know the person asking to be your friend, then don't agree to it. If they have no friends of your friends then have nothing to do with them. 'My advice is if this has happened to you go to the police - you've got nothing to be ashamed of. 'Me? I thought it was hilarious. The only thing I was really gutted about was her stopping showing me her body. 'Saying that, looking back, I can't say for sure whether it was a real person or a video. I think the blackmailer realised they were getting nowhere.' Detective Constable Helen Batten of Plymouth CID said she had investigated a number of local cases and gathered statistics which show the crime is on the rise. From February 2015 to January 2016 there had been 16 cases in Plymouth, an increase of 45.5 per cent compared to the previous 12 months when there were 11. She said the most recent 'sextortion' report was made to Plymouth police on February 2. Det Con Batten said: 'This crime affects both male and female victims with some extremely embarrassed about how gullible they have been. 'Many were concerned about the impact it would have on their relationships, family and work colleagues should the videos have been posted on their Facebook pages. 'The scam is worldwide and the scammers are generally from overseas. The language used in the texts and messages are usually poorly phrased. 'As soon as the victims have compromised themselves on video the texts and messages become threatening and abusive. 'The only way to avoid becoming a victim is to keep your clothes on when on video chat sessions.' Cobb had no prior history of violence and had worked as a school resources officer at a local high school A police officer who shot and killed an 18-year-old at a Richmond, Virginia car wash had his bail set at $25,000 by a judge Friday, the day after a grand jury indicted him on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. David Cobb, 47, who has been an officer with Richmond police for nine years, confronted 18-year-old Paterson Brown Jr at a suburban car wash in October when Brown entered Cobb's car and drove it out of the bay it had been parked in. Cobb's attorney said that Cobb, who was not on duty, then told Brown to leave the car, and when Brown refused the pair got into a confrontation. Prosecutors said that Cobb had his gun drawn for over three minutes before discharging the shot that passed through Brown's abdomen and ultimately killed him. Scroll down for video Confrontation: Officer David Cobb (left) shot 18-year-old Paterson Brown Jr in October after Brown drove Cobb's car out of a car wash and refused to leave it. Cobb was indicted for second-degree murder Thursday Prosecutors also said that Brown posed no threat to Cobb, and that he had merely tried to close the car's door. Cobb's family were also present, and his stepdaughter spoke on his behalf, according to CBS6 news channel. Cobb, who had no prior history of violence and had been a school resource officer at John Marshall High School, appeared to be weeping during his court appearance, the report said. In a statement, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said: 'Simply put, this is an unfortunate and tragic situation for all involved. Officer Cobb is an outstanding police officer and has served the department and the community well. 'He worked well with youth on a daily basis in his assignment as a school resource officer [at John Marshall High School]. We have to now allow the judicial process to take its course.' Shot: Cobb shot Brown once in the abdomen at this Richmond car wash; Brown died later, after being transferred to Chippenham Hospital In October, soon after the shooting, CBS6 spoke to Raheim Moore, one of Paterson's friends, who said: 'I was talking to Paterson two weeks ago about music, about how our lives are getting better as a person. And then, goes out and this happens. Why? Why would he go out and do something so crazy?' Moore told CBS6 that Brown, who was described as 'acting a little strange' around the time of the shooting by a car wash employee, was 'really smart' but succumbed easily to bad influences. 'He was a person where if he was around the right people he could do a lot of good stuff, and if he were with the bad crowd. He could go off with the bad crowd and do the most craziest stuff,' he said. "We lost him to that bad crowd.' Cobb is currently on supervised administrative leave without pay and has handed in both his department-issued sidearm and his personal gun. His next court date is set for February 25. Navinder Sarao, dubbed the 'Hound of Hounslow' over his alleged financial dealings, faces possible extradition to the US over fraud charges A trader dubbed the 'Hound of Hounslow' after making multi-million pound deals from his parent's bedroom did not do anything illegal, his lawyers have claimed. Navinder Sarao is facing extradition to the US over allegations he manipulated financial markets through a process called 'spoofing', contributing to a 350billion 'flash crash'. If extradited, the 37-year-old faces 22 charges of wire fraud, commodities fraud and market manipulation between June 2009 and April 2014. But his defence team said today that he should not be sent to the US because his actions were not illegal in the UK. James Lewis QC defending Sarao told Westminster Magistrates Court: 'The prosecution's case is that Mr Sarao is guilty of spoofing or layering, which is a type of spoofing. 'In the US the practice know as spoofing is illegal. But the prosecution has to prove that this conduct amounts to a criminal offence in the UK. 'Quite simply that is not the case. There isn't an English crime of spoofing. 'No one in this county has ever been convicted of the conduct Mr Sarao is said to have committed. That in itself is a good indicator of whether it is a criminal offence.' The defence team argued that placing bids on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and then cancelling them was not fraudulent. Mr Lewis added: 'Cancelling orders is common place, if it was illegal then many other orders placed would be illegal. It is accepted that 99 per cent of all orders are cancelled. 'All high volume traders cancel orders. Even the prosecution had to accept that they are cancelled all the time. 'The fact he utilised an automatic programme to fulfil that doesn't make it dishonest.' The crash Sarao allegedly had a hand in lasted 36 minutes and saw the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunge 998.5 points - its biggest intraday point drop. But lawyers for the 37-year-old say the activities he is alleged to have done aren't illegal in the UK Joel Smith also defending Sarao said the defendant should not be extradited because it was not in the interest of justice. He said: 'In the interest of justice we say he is a British citizen, he is based in this county and has never been to America. We say it is proper for him to be tried in this country.' But he added that the UK authorities had shown no interest in doing so. Mr Smith added: 'The idea there is any causal link between Mr Sarao and the Flash Crash is nonsense. 'If we look at the Flash Crash, Mr Sarao did not make a trade for two minutes in the moments before the crash. In trading terms this is an age.' The case continues. Free: Magnus Meyer Hustveit, 25, confessed to repeatedly raping his girlfriend while she slept A Norwegian man who avoided a prison sentence despite admitting to repeatedly raping his sleeping girlfriend while he was living in Ireland may still end up behind bars. Magnus Meyer Hustveit, 25, from Sandvika, near Oslo, confessed to sexually assaulting the 28-year-old Irishwoman up to ten times over the course of a year when they lived together in Dublin. Despite his full confession, an Irish judge handed down a suspended seven-year sentence in July last year. Now, prosecutors are appealing the suspended sentence, saying it was unduly lenient and that the judge had made an error by not acknowledging that the crime merited jail time. Mary Rose Gearty SC told the Court of Appeal that as the assaults combined a sleeping victim and a relationship, the betrayal of trust was extraordinary, The Irish Independent reports. The victim has previously revealed how she was completely unaware of the attacks for months, until she woke up after being assaulted finding evidence of intercourse on her body. She confronted her Norwegian then-partner, prompting Hustveit to write an email for her to use as evidence against him. The victim that the attacks had caused her to develop anxiety issues and an eating disorder, as well as leading her to attempt suicide, the Irish judge decided not to jail Hustveit. Speaking at the time of sentencing, Justice Patrick McCarthy said that it was 'important' to take into consideration that Hustveit had confessed to the crime from the first confrontation, adding that without the confession a prosecution would have been impossible. He also pointed out that in his email to his then girlfriend, Hustveit had actually encouraged her to prosecute him. 'In truth this case comes here today out of his own mouth,' he said before suspending the sentence. During the trial the victim described how Hustveit had admitted raping her in early 2012 - just a few months after the couple moved in together. Letting him off: At Dublin Central Criminal Court Justice Patrick McCarthy said that it was 'important' to take into consideration that Hustveit had confessed to the crime from the first confrontation The victim, who is described as a deep sleeper, told of waking up to find herself covered in semen. Upon asking Hustveit what happened, he is said to have immediately admitted to raping her. Despite her horror over the incident, the couple continued to live together. But several weeks later the victim woke in the middle of the night to find Hustveit penetrating her while watching pornography on his computer. Several months later Hustveit wrote his email to his by then ex-girlfriend confessing to using her body for his sexual 'gratification' - although he attempted to shift the blame on to the victim by claiming he had only done so because she had not allowed him to watch pornography. According to the Irish Mirror, the email read: 'It is really difficult. I did it for short term gratification. I convinced myself it was a victimless crime because you were asleep.' 'I didn't want to hurt you...I used the fact I wasn't allowed watch porn or masturbate as an excuse.' 'Now I've written this, you can have me prosecuted. I hope you won't,' he said. Having subsequently moved back to Norway, Hustveit flew to Dublin for the trial, where he pleaded guilty to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. Perth mother Janice Taylor was bitten by a deadly brown snake on the foot A mother's face turned a sickly shade of purple and blood started running down her swollen cheeks after she was bitten on the foot by a deadly brown snake. Janice Taylor was walking down a foot path outside the Safety Bay Bowling Club near Perth in Western Australia when she believes she was bitten by the snake, 9 News reported. Thinking it was nothing more than a bee sting, she hopped in her car and began driving home. Scroll down for video Perth mother Janice Taylor was bitten by a deadly brown snake while walking along a foot path last week The venom from the brown snake rapidly spread through her body, causing her blood to thin and face to swell She was raced to hospital as her condition deteriorated. Seven hours after the bite, doctors took a calculated risk and administered anti-venom for a brown snake It wasn't until she stepped out of the car that the powerful venom spreading through her body began to hit her. 'My head was spinning, my brain was spinning, I couldn't move my legs,' she told 9 News. Smashing head-first onto the asphalt ground, she was quickly rushed to Rockingham General Hospital for treatment. Initially the doctors believed she was suffering from heart problems. But when her blood started thinning and face began bleeding, they quickly realised she had been bitten by a snake. It had been close to seven hours since the bite when doctors took a calculated risk and injected anti-venom for a brown snake - the second most venomous in the world. Ms Taylor's condition was deteriorating rapidly. 'At 5am they (doctors) said to me do you want us to call your kids because we don't know if you'll be talking to them in 20 minutes,' she remembered. Miraculously, Ms Taylor made it through the next day and is now on the slow road to recovery (pictured a week after the snake bite) Brown snakes are considered the second most venomous in the world. Without treatment, their bites can be fatal Miraculously, Ms Taylor made it through the next day and is now on the slow road to recovery. Almost a week since the bite, she still has impressive bruising across her arm and the left side of her face, and must keep her face cool to avoid further injuries. Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Gannon said Ms Taylor could easily have not made it through the night. '(There were) quite dramatic signs of active bleeding into the soft tissues in the face and scalp, that to me - in an area that wasn't injured - suggests to me she was very lucky to survive,' he said. The thankful mother is now calling on the bowling club and other nearby businesses to put signs up warning people to keep an eye out for snakes. The District Courts verdict is in: Montana needs more judges to handle growing caseloads. That fact was evident to many Montanans in the fall of 2014 when the national court standards review indicated that the statewide caseload called for about 20 more judges than were on the bench. But with the 2015 Legislature starting in a few months and the judiciary budget already proposed, no additional judges were requested. Instead, lawmakers created the Judicial Redistricting Commission to assess whether revision of district boundaries is necessary to even out the workload. That seven-member commission chaired by Yellowstone County District Judge Gregory Todd met this week and reached consensus that redistricting probably isnt going to solve the court overload problems. Busiest judicial district Todd is one of six judges in the states busiest district. According to national standards, Yellowstone County should have had six additional judges to handle the 2015 workload. Its important to note that this judicial district saw an increase in case filings of 8.56 percent last year double the state average. Altogether, Yellowstone County District Court counted 9,750 cases filed in 2015. That's 835 more than in 2014. Not only did the number of cases rise, but also the county saw a big increase in the most time-intensive cases: civil child abuse and neglect. Counting new and reopened cases, the Yellowstone County attorneys office filed cases to protect 512 children who were found to be abused or neglected. The court workload is calculated with a formula that weighs cases based on time intensity; the formula also factors in travel. Thats a major consideration for Montana judges who cover more than one county and regularly spend hours shuttling between distant courtrooms. Yellowstone County judges are the most overloaded, according to the statewide study. However, they are not the only ones. The districts including Helena, Missoula, Great Falls and Kalispell each need two more judges. Bozeman needs one more. Most other districts are ranked as needing more judicial help, but less than another full-time judge. Only the 14th and 15th judicial districts are ranked as have adequate judicial staffing. The 14th (Golden Valley, Mussellshell, Meagher and Wheatland counties) is ranked as having 0.38 of a judge more than needed for the 2015 caseload. The 15th Judicial District (Daniels, Sheridan and Roosevelt counties) had a mere 0.04 of a judge more than needed. Each of those districts has just one District Court judge now. A revision of the 14th District boundaries might help a little, but it wont significantly ease the overload problem that exists in all the states largest cities. Judges and their staff are paid out of the state budget. Counties are responsible for providing the space for the judicial offices and courtrooms. That will be a challenge in Yellowstone County, where courthouse office space is fully occupied. Frugal budget requests The Montana judiciary has historically been frugal, and Chief Justice Mike McGrath has continued that policy in his budget requests. The last time the Legislature was asked to fund six new judges, the data showed Montana needed a dozen. The Legislature approved three, including one for Yellowstone County. Mary Jane Knisely was elected to that judgeship. Now that Knisely is completing her first six-year term, demands on the Yellowstone County District Court have grown so much that six additional judges can be justified. Nobody expects the Legislature will fund all 21.2 judges that would be needed to meet national workload standards. Frankly, it will be surprising if the judiciary gets as many as six new judges and as many special masters, who are attorneys appointed to do some of the work of judges. Lawmakers as well as candidates for the Legislature need to hear from people who have business before Montana courts. When the courts are overloaded, cases may take much longer to resolve. Child protection cases and criminal charges get priority. Other civil cases wait. The Judicial Redistricting Commission is providing due diligence on judicial staffing. Its finding more evidence that the case of court overload must be resolved by adding judges in 2017. Police are confident it was an accident and are investigating the theatre Doctors in Italy have today declared the actor clinically brain dead The Italian actor who accidentally hanged himself on stage during a performance has been declared brain dead by doctors. Raphael Schumacher, 27, was appearing in Mirages, an experimental theatre production staged in Pisa when the incident occurred. Doctors said Friday that the 27-year-old is now clinically dead, after spending nearly a week in a coma. Tragedy: Raphael Schumacher, 27, has been declared clinically dead by doctors in Pisa, Italy on Friday While police are now satisfied the incident was accidental, they have begun investigating the theatre for any signs of negligence. It was only when a medical student in the audience realised Mr Schumacher was actually being strangled that he was detached from the noose. On Thursday, Pisa Today reported doctors as saying his condition was worsening and he was not responding to treatment. Reports indicate that a box on which Schumacher was supposed to stand while he wore the noose was moved. He was also supposed to wear a body harness. 'The noose should have been fake and a harness should have caught him if he fell,' a source said. 'I cannot explain how an incident like this happened.' Mr Schumacher was appearing in an experimental theatre production staged in Pisa when he was accidentally hanged in a lynching scene that went wrong Mirages is a six-scene immersive performance staged in different parts of the theatre, with the audience walking betwen them. Schumacher's ill-fated act took place in the courtyard of the theatre, where a rope had been suspended from a fig tree. He was wearing a mask for the scene, which was performed successfully earlier in the same evening, but a recent medical graduate saw him trembling and realised something was wrong. 'We are shocked,' Gabriele De Luca, the art director at the theatre, said. 'No one, not even us, understands how this happened and it will be up to the police to shed light on it.' However, De Luca told Italian newspaper Il Giorno that Schumacher changed the script at the last minute, opting for the noose instead of gunshots. 'The original monologue included a fake gunshot but he eventually decided for the hanging - without telling us,' he said. The actor's mother, from Como, northern Italy, rejected the theory explored by police that he may have tried to commit suicide. She said: 'My son recently lost his father and had ended a relationship but had found his serenity again. A set of graphic photos that were leaked to the media this week purport to show the badly bruised face of a Hollywood makeup artist after she was allegedly attacked by Orange Is The New Black star Taryn Manning in 2012. According to the accuser, Holly Hartman, she and Manning have been involved in a series of physical altercations over the past four years, most recently in November when the 37-year-old actress allegedly headbutted her former friend, doused her with a cleaning solution and dared her to stab her. The newly released images of Hartmans bloodied face were reportedly taken sometime in 2012 after her first alleged brawl with Manning. Graphic: Leaked photos purport to show makeup artist Holly Hartman with scratches on her eyelid and a large bump above her left temple in 2012. The woman has accused actress Taryn Manning of repeatedly beating her This image appears to show an indentation in the wall where Manning had allegedly bashed Hartman's head during the brawl four years ago Tough times: Manning also reportedly got into a messy brawl with her make-up artist (pictured together in Beverly Hills in 2011) in November 2015 The photos show the stylist with what appear to be scratches on her eyelid, a bruise on her left cheekbone and a massive bump above her left temple. During the fight, the actress allegedly punched and kicked her make-up artist pal, scratched her face and bashed her head against the wall after a night of heavy drinking. Manning was initially arrested and charged with assault and obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, but Hartman ultimately decided not to pursue the case. In the aftermath of the alleged November attack, which took place inside Manning's apartment in New York, Hartman filed a restraining order against the Hustle & Flow star and shared her story with TMZ. It is claimed that Manning whipped Hartman with a wet towel, headbutted her in the face, put her in a headlock and even sprayed Windex in her eyes and mouth according to court documents obtained by the gossip site. Perhaps the most shocking accusation from Hartman was that she claims Manning shouted: 'Pick a knife. I'm wearing a white shirt there will be a lot of blood. You will be famous for killing Taryn Manning.' There was a slight hiccup in the filing of the restraining order as the documents were filed in Los Angeles but the alleged confrontation happened in New York. Due to the location issues, the judge denied the restraining order for now, according to the site. Not the first time: Back in 2012, the now 37-year-old star was arrested for attacking Hartman but the charges were dropped eventually Representatives for Manning have responded to the allegations with a statement from her counsel released last week which read: 'The court has already denied the request by Ms. Hartman for a temporary restraining order. 'The application for the order is suspect because Ms. Manning has had no contact with Ms. Hartman in many months due to Ms. Hartman's actions against Ms. Manning which are currently under criminal investigation in multiple jurisdictions. 'These investigations have long predated these entirely fabricated allegations. Ms. Hartman is under investigation for stalking Ms. Manning and for theft and other crimes. It is clear that Ms. Hartman's camp has leaked these allegations which were not available publicly to elevate her own position and obscure her own wrong doing.' In fact, TMZ also reported last Thursday that an insider connected to Manning claims she is planning to take legal action against Hartman and that the retraining order was a 'preemptive tactic' that did not quite work out. Manning is best known for her work as Tiffany 'Pennsatucky' Doggett in Netflix series Orange Is The New Black. Signature role: She is best known for her role as Tiffany 'Pennsatucky' Doggett in Netflix series Orange Is The New Black Ms Manning was also arrested in 2014 on a contempt charge in an unrelated incident involving another woman, Jeanine Heller, who accused the actress of threatening to kill her. Both women had mutual restraining orders against one another. Manning has repeatedly accused Heller, 32, of stalking and harassing her. The film and TV star was ultimately given a reprieve when a judge declined to prosecute her on the contempt charge. Last July, Heller was jailed for the fourth time for sending the 8 Mile actress text messages in violation of Manning's order of protection. Advertisement A memorial service has been held in memory of Miles Frost, the son of broadcaster David Frost. Financier Mr Frost collapsed and died last summer after going for a jog near the family's holiday home in Oxfordshire. It later emerged he died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a congenital heart condition that if left untreated can lead to sudden death at any age. The service at Arundel Cathedral was attended by the Duchess of York with her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York. Cressida Bonas, the actress and former girlfriend of Prince Harry, outside a memorial service to Miles Frost, the son of broadcaster David Frost Ms Bonas wore a long brown coat and floral headband, which she matched with a red handbag, for the service in memory of the financier, who died due to a heart condition The Duchess of York with her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York attended a memorial service in memory of Miles Frost, the son of broadcaster David Frost today Miles's mother, Lady Carina Frost, with her sons Wilfred and George at Arundel Cathedral today Sir David Frost's son Miles died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the age of 31. His brothers have said doctors failed to warn them the rare yet preventable heart condition had been passed on from his father Today's service was also attended by socialite Jemima Goldsmith, lyricist Sir Tim Rice and media executive Greg Dyke. Sir David Frost died at the age of 74 in 2013 from a heart attack, and just under two years later his eldest son, Miles, died suddenly from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition which leads to the thickening of the heart's walls. Miles' family, including his two brothers Wilfred and George, and their mother Carina, only discovered that their father's post-mortem examination had identified him as a sufferer four months after Miles' death. On Good Morning Britain earlier this week, the two brothers said that if Miles had been tested and diagnosed, his death could have been prevented, and appealed for people to find out about the condition and get tested if they think they might be at risk. Socialite Jemima Goldsmith (left) and Jemima Jones (right), the wife of Ben Goldsmith, also attended Mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith, Snatch actor Ade, ex-footballer Sol Campbell and comedian Rory Bremner Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and his family were among those who attended the service today Also among those at the service was former chairman of the BBC Michael Grade (left) and PR man Alastair Campbell and his partner, journalist Fiona Millar (pictured together, right) Chairman of The Football Association Greg Dyke (left) and former football executive David Dein (centre) Wilfred Frost said: 'There's not an automatic system in place which clicks in when it's identified in someone which needs to change.' Each child of someone with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy has a 50% chance of inheriting the condition but the genes responsible for the condition can often be identified. Family members of those diagnosed can be offered a potentially life-saving genetic test to find out if they are at risk and then treated. George said: 'After Dad died, Miles was a rock to us all, literally dragged us up and got all of us through it, none more so than Mum, who is the strongest woman I know, and was instrumental in that. 'To lose him as well - there's a horrible irony that the person who managed to get us through Miles' death was Miles himself in terms of everything he taught us.' Lady Carina Frost embraces Princess Eugenie of York outside the cathedral shortly before the service Princess Beatrice, in a dark blue coat, was seen comforting Mr Frost's family before the church service began Ben Elliot, the nephew of the Duchess of Cornwall and his wife Mary-Clare Winwood were in congregation Conservative peer Lord Maurice Saatchi (left) and lyricist Sir Tim Rice (right) outside the cathedral today The family have also set up The Miles Frost Fund with the British Heart Foundation in a bid to raise 1.5 million to ensure that immediate family members of those affected with the condition can undergo genetic testing. George added: 'If we can stop just one family from going through what Mum has had to go through, what Wilf and I have had to go through, then that would provide a little bit of solace.' The family are launching a fund in partnership with the British Heart Foundation with the aims of increasing awareness of the condition. The Miles Frost Fund is aiming to raise 1.5 million for facilities to provide clinical and genetic testing across the country. Millionaire Peter de Savary and his wife Lana were among the high-society figures at the service today Miss Jones, a former lingerie model who married Ben Goldsmith in 2014, was seen with her dog Bertha Philanthropist Sir Victor Blank, the former Chairman of Lloyds TSB, and his wife Lady Blank The man suspected of being involved in the death of a Florida toddler pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter on Friday, weeks after he led authorities to the child's remains and said the boy drowned in a bathtub while he and the mother had sex. William Ruben Ebron Jr., 32, got a plea deal after he led investigators to Lonzie Barton's remains, which were found last month amid discarded tires and trash in a wooded area in Jacksonville. Under the deal, Ebron will receive a 20-year prison sentence. Scroll down for video William Ruben Ebron Jr., left, got a plea deal after he led investigators to Lonzie Barton's remains. Lonzie's mother, Lonna Lauramore Barton, right has previously pleaded guilty to child neglect 'There was only one person who could lead us to Lonzie's grave. Just one person who could make sure Lonzie was recovered from an unmarked, isolated, shallow grave and brought home to his loved ones,' State Attorney Angela Corey said at a news conference. Lonzie's mother, Lonna Lauramore Barton, 26, has previously pleaded guilty to child neglect. Prosecutors would not comment on whether further charges were forthcoming. Corey told WOKV: 'The problem with these cases - when they're both lying, and it's a finger pointing contest liked these cases tend to be - what pulls us out, what saves law enforcement and the prosecution, at the physical findings that refute what either or both are saying. 'We did not have that in this case, there was not a shred of tissue left on this child's remains that can be analyzed.' In a letter, Ebron said he and Lauramore Barton, whom he was dating at the time, bear responsibility for the toddler's death. 'This was a tragic accident made far worse by our horrible decision making. All we can do now is pay for the mistakes we have made and hopefully learn from them,' Ebron wrote. Lonzie Barton's remains were found last month amid discarded tires and trash in a wooded area in Jacksonville, Florida. In a letter, Ebron said he and Lauramore Barton (right), whom he was dating at the time, bear responsibility for the toddler's death For months Ebron denied involvement in Lonzie's disappearance, but after Lauramore Barton pleaded guilty last month and agreed to testify against him, things changed Ebron said the boy drowned while unattended, but the remains were too decomposed for the medical examiner to determine a cause of death, Corey said. Ebron's father William Ebron Sr. told WKMG: 'They've got an ultimate judge they've go to answer to. They've got to come to terms with their maker. 'This child deserved better.' Lonzie was 21 months old in July when Ebron reported him missing. He told police he had left the boy alone in his car for a few minutes to retrieve something from the house. He said when he returned, Lonzie and the car were gone. But police later released surveillance video that showed Ebron's car driving past the camera, and later a man they believed to be Ebron running back the other direction. For months Ebron denied involvement in Lonzie's disappearance, but after Lauramore Barton pleaded guilty last month and agreed to testify against him, things changed. An emotional Ebron led a convoy of investigators down a long, dark road to a wooded area, Corey said. Ebron's father William Ebron Sr. (pictured) has said: 'They've got an ultimate judge they've go to answer to. They've got to come to terms with their maker' Jacksonville Sheriff's Office chief Tom Hackney told WOKV: 'The Ruben Ebron that I saw out there in a jumpsuit, a pair of socks, and a pair of slides, fighting through ankle-deep water to find that little boy that night- that was the Ruben that I wanted to see from the first day.' After searching for hours, an investigator saw a bone sticking out of a tire in a pile of garbage. There was evidence that the boy's ribs had been broken previously and had healed, and there was some damage to his skull, according to the medical examiner's report. Ebron also pleaded guilty to child neglect, giving false information to police and tampering with evidence. He apologized to his parents and to Lonzie. According to News4Jax, he wrote: 'I apologize most of all to Lonzie Arin Ray Barton - we failed to provide you the care you needed and I failed to protect you from the harm of others. 'I have and will continue to ask for forgiveness for what I did and for what I failed to do. 'You were so young and you experienced far too much in your short life. 'You've touched so many lives but were taken from us too soon. Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders are viewed the most positively by voters across the country Democrats are feeling the Bern so much that the Vermont senator is practically tied with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a new nationwide poll. Quinnipiac released the numbers this morning showing Bernie Sanders at 42 percent and Clinton at 44 percent. That's a huge improvement for Sanders who, at last Quinnipiac polling in December, was getting just 30 percent of nationwide Democratic support, versus Clinton who received 61 percent. 'Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton,' said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. The survey also found that Sanders is now polling more strongly against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in theoretical head-to-head match-ups. If Sanders and Trump were to compete in the general election, the democratic socialist would edge out the billionaire by 10 points. Sanders would also win against Sen. Ted Cruz, who won the Iowa caucuses earlier this week, by four points. The Vermont senator would tie Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who came in a close third place in the caucuses. Clinton would also win over Trump, but by five points. She ties Cruz. And Clinton would lose to Rubio by seven points. Rubio has often suggested on the campaign trail that he's the Republicans' best hope to go up against Clinton and her impressive resume, as he could run on youth and change. Clinton and Trump have something in common in the poll: net unfavorable ratings. Trump as a 25 percent unfavorable rating, while Clinton has a 17 point negative impression. Sanders has a 9-point favorable rating. Rubio has the best numbers, being seen favorably by 14 percent. The poll surveyed 484 Democrats and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percent. The razor-thin win for Clinton in the Iowa caucuses looks to have put Sanders in play. If Sanders wins New Hampshire that will only help continue the trend. In the most recent CNN/WMUR New Hampshire poll, which dropped last night, Sanders was now besting Clinton by 31 points. Charged:Taffy Timbrelee Wheeler, 31, said she was raped on Sunday, but police didn't believe her Police have charged Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, resident with filing a false police report, saying that her claim to have been gang-raped on Sunday was fabricated to hide an affair with a former colleague from her husband. Taffy Timbrelee Wheeler, 31, of Ocean Lakes Family Campground, claimed that four men had approached her on Surfside Beach on Sunday night before pushing her to the sand and brutally raping her while 'laughing hard'. However, police say that when they interviewed Wheeler, her story fell apart: according to NBC's News2, police reports state that her story 'changed with each officer she talked to' and that she 'did not have any signs of physical injuries and the only dirt on her clothes [was] at the heel of her pants'. But Wheeler's sister, Sugar Wheeler Kirk, has disputed this claim on social media, saying that her sister had trouble remembering the attack because of post-traumatic stress disorder, and that she cleaned sand off her body before the police were able to question her. Affair: Police say Wheeler told husband Scott Schmidt that she had been raped in order to hide an affair. He reported her claim to police, which ultimately led to her being charged with filing a false police report Love: Wheeler and Schmidt in happier times. The couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary at the end of December Wheeler's husband, Scott Schmidt, told police that they had been out on Saturday night and that he had gone to bed at around 2am, thinking that his wife would join him. However, when he awoke to hear her calling for help from the living room, he called police. However, during the course of the investigation, police say they came to doubt Wheeler's claim. They say that when an officer confronted her with inconsistencies in her story, she said to her husband 'we need to tell him the truth' and explained that she had fabricated the claim to hide an affair with a former colleague. However, both Schmidt and Wheeler's sister are denying the reports online, and when Wheeler went before a judge on Tuesday she pled not guilty to a charge of filing a false police report. Her lawyer argued that she was not a flight risk nor a danger to her community, and her bail was set at $1,000. Playful: One of several playful pictures Wheeler posted of Schmidt on her Twitter feed. This one is captioned 'I made him wear my awesome shades! Muahaha!' Snapped: Wheeler's Twitter account includes many selfies, with many featuring Schmidt (pictured) In Facebook posts dated Tuesday, Schmidt railed against the treatment of his wife by the authorities. 'Leagal [sic] system my ass,' he wrote. 'Hey everyone! Dont ever call 911. You will be arrested!!!!!' He then added that people should not 'believe the fabricated soap opera drama that the news has created... We are very upset at the way everything has been handled and spun. Nothing is true.' The same day, Wheeler's sister, Sugar Wheeler Kirk, wrote: 'In response to the media title: She told me tonight with much vehemence, "I never had an affair, never have had an affair the entire time I've been with Scott Schmidt." She also wrote that Wheeler had cleaned sand off her body and hair after coming home, saying this was why police had trouble finding any. Angry: Wheeler's husband feels that she has not been treated fairly by the authorities Drama: Schmidt characterizes claims that his wife faked her story as 'a fabricated soap opera' in this angry Facebook post Wheeler's reported rape came shortly after the couple's second wedding anniversary. In a Facebook post on 31 December last year, Schmidt wrote: 'Happy 2 year anniversary my love Taffy Wheeler Schmidt!! I love u for the last 6 years!!! best of my life! And happy new year to everyone else!' A post made on Sunday reads, 'Thank you everyone for your concern and support. We are hanging in tough and trying to get through this horrible event,' presumably in response to Wheeler's claim. Friends replied with prayers and messages of support. One friend wrote: 'There are no words except don't let these scum of the earth defeat you or Taffy. Stay strong!! Your love for each other will get you through this.' Nicholas Churchill, 40, led police on a 30mph chase in his 20-tonne dumper truck after arguing with his bosses about air conditioning in his cab has been jailed A labourer who led police on a 30mph chase in his 20-tonne dumper truck after arguing with his bosses about air conditioning in his cab has been jailed. Father-of-one Nicholas Churchill, 40, left a 26,000 trail of destruction when he became enraged because he was too hot in his truck on a summer's day at a quarry in Spixworth, Norfolk. He was followed by six police cars and a helicopter for two hours over 40 miles across Norfolk and Suffolk, ramming and wrecking three patrol vehicles along the way. Video footage shows the dramatic police chase, where Churchill veered across busy roads and dodged police road blocks. He was today jailed for 14 months for dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving while unfit through drugs after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. He was also banned from driving for two years. At Norwich Crown Court, Judge Anthony Bate said: 'You left a trail of destruction and damaged police vehicles in your wake. It was a shocking piece of sustained dangerous driving.' Footage taken from a helicopter, CCTV and car-mounted cameras showed him veering wildly across busy roads, including the A140, A11 and A13. An officer who was inside one of the cars said in a statement read to the court: 'I thought I was going to die, I was petrified and never felt anything like this before in my career. 'I believe the vehicle was so large and heavy it could have driven over our police car.' A female officer involved in the pursuit said: 'In my 30 year career, I've been kicked, punched and spat at. I've never been so petrified.' Prosecutor Andrew Oliver said that after driving around the Norwich ring road - forcing cars to swerve out of his way - Churchill headed to the A11 dual carriageway. He continuously swerved in an 'act of aggression' against police chasing him. Father-of-one Nicholas Churchill, 40, left a 26,000 trail of destruction in his truck (pictured) when he became enraged he was too hot in his truck on a summer's day at a quarry Churchill wrecked three police cars by ramming into them and smashed down signs and bollards as he reached top speeds of 30mph during the chase. A Volvo police car is pictured after the rampage Officers deployed a stinger device to disable the truck but its tyres were so heavy that it did not work. Churchill then drove the truck towards the police officer who was standing on the grass verge to deploy the stinger. Shoppers scattered as his truck careered down a high street and over a pedestrianised square before coming to a halt near his home in Brandon, Suffolk. He was arrested using incapacitating PAVA spray in a residential road in Brandon. Mr Oliver said Churchill had been working at a quarry near Spixworth, Norwich, at 12.36pm on July 20 last year. He began his journey after being told the air conditioning could not be fixed and he should carry on working. Video footage captures the moment police officers arrested Churchill following the pursuit in July last year Shoppers scattered as his truck careered down a high street and over a pedestrianised square (pictured) before coming to a halt near his home in Brandon, Suffolk At one point, CCTV footage captures him veering across a busy duel-carriageway before officers caught up with him Footage shows Churchill drive across a grass verge as a police car is parked on the other side of the road In fact, it was a mild day of about 13 degrees centigrade and he felt hot because he had been taking amphetamines, Mr Oliver added. He said: 'This is in itself a dangerous vehicle to be driven on public roads - it is not allowed and was not insured to do so. 'It caused massive disruption and a massive involvement by Norfolk and Suffolk police. 'He put the lives of members of the public and police officers at risk.' The damage to the police cars cost about 25,000 to repair. Churchill was today jailed for 14 months for dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and driving while unfit through drugs after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing Lindsay Cox, mitigating, said: 'It may not have been hot that day but it had been a period of very hot weather and the defendant, for what's it worth, had repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction at doing hot work in the hot cab of this vehicle. 'He was effectively told 'like it or lump it, carry on working or go home' and the red mist descended.' Investigating officer, Detective Constable Andy Vinsen, from Norwich CID welcomed the sentence and said it was lucky no one was hurt. He said; 'Churchill got into the vehicle after an argument with his employers knowing he was unfit to drive and under the influence of drugs. 'It's a miracle no one was injured when the vehicle was driven on main roads through heavy traffic, which could have easily led to an innocent member of the public being hurt. 'During the pursuit, Churchill purposefully rammed into three police cars. Thankfully, no officers were in the cars at the point of impact, but this could have ended very differently. Chelsea Clinton made an embarrassing slip by referring to her mother's rival as 'President Sanders' while talking to her mother's supporter's in Minnesota. The former first daughter had been talking about her mother's democrat rival when she made the unfortunate mistake, immediately correcting herself as the crowd laughed. She had been trying to criticize Sanders for his position on legal immunity for gun-makers, which had voted for, and college tuition fees when she accidentally handed him the win. Slip: Chelsea Clinton (pictured yesterday) accidentally referred to her mother Hillary's Democratic rival as President Sanders when talking to her supporters in Minnesota on Wednesday Hillary Clinton reacts as she is introduced to supporters by former Vermont Governor Howard Dean after taking part in the Democratic presidential primary debate with Senator Bernie Sanders Chelsea said: 'We also need to strip away the immunity that President Sanders... Senator sanders excuse me, I hope not President Sanders, voted for.' Chelsea, who has been on the campaign trail for her mother, also talked about Republican opposition. She criticized the tone of the campaign, which she said is based on hate and America should not subscribe to. 'I find the rhetoric on the Republican side deeply troubling. I find the normalization of hate speech profoundly distressing,' she said, as she answered questions for 35 minutes in Eden Prairie. The same day, Hillary Clinton had said that she wanted to set the record straight on Donald Trump, saying 'we were not friends'. In excerpts of a People magazine interview released on Wednesday, Clinton, a former US senator from New York, said: 'We knew each other, obviously, in New York. I knew a lot of people.' Sanders clashed with Clinton on foreign policy and Wall Street in the first televised debate in New Hampshire yesterday Chelsea Clinton also talked about the Republican candidate, calling their 'normalization of hate speech' troubling. It was hours after Hillary had told the press that her and Republican Donald Trump (pictured), known for his outlandish statements on minorities, 'are not friends' after he had praised her in the media Trump, the real estate billionaire whose standing as Republican front-runner was dented by a second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, had long touted his friendship with Bill and Hillary Clinton. In a March 2012 Fox News interview, Trump praised Clinton as a 'terrific woman.' 'I am biased because I have known her for years. I live in New York. She lives in New York. I really like her and her husband both a lot. I think she really works hard,' Trump told Fox. But the Clintons, who attended Trump's 2005 wedding, were fair game on the campaign trail. In November, Trump said Hillary Clinton did not have strength or stamina to be president and called her the worst U.S. secretary of state, a post she held from 2009 to 2013. A woman who turned up at her own funeral after surviving an attempted assassination plot ordered by her partner has been forced to move away from her home in Melbourne. Noela Rukundo has started a new life with her eight children after some members of the local community blamed her for the jailing of her husband Balenga Kalala. Mr Kalala is serving nine years in prison for incitement of murder after paying $7,000 to a gang of hitmen to murder his wife while she was attending her mother's funeral in Burundi. Recalling the moment of her kidnapping, Noela described how she opened the hotel's gate and was confronted by a man with a gun Now one year on, Noela Rukundo recalled the moment she was abducted and learnt of her husband's betrayal before secretly returning to Melbourne to seek justice. 'Kill her.' The chilling words Noela never thought she would hear her husband say down the phone. The order which was supposed to seal her fate had come just 24 hours after her partner had been comforting his wife after she arrived in her native Burundi for the funeral of her mother. Struggling with the humid temperatures, Noela took a nap in her hotel in the Burundian capital of Bujumbura before the phone rang. Her husband was on the line and after a short conversation, Mr Kalala suggested she go for a walk and get some fresh air. Balenga Kalala (above), from Kings Park in Melbourne's north-west, paid kidnappers $7,000 via Western Union to abduct his de facto wife of 10 years and mother of his children, Noela Rukundo Recalling the moment of her kidnapping, Noela described how she opened the hotel's gate and was confronted by a man with a gun. 'He just told me, 'Don't scream. If you start screaming, I will shoot you. They're going to catch me, but you? You will already be dead,' she told the BBC. She was driven to a building, where her captives phoned 'the boss' and curiously asked her what she had done to him. Confused by the question, Noela asked them who they were talking about before they revealed it was her husband of 10 years who was paying them. She couldn't believe what they were saying and initially she thought they were tricking her. It was only when they called 'the boss' that she heard her husband's familiar voice. 'I heard his voice. I heard him. I felt like my head was going to blow up. Then they described for him where they were going to chuck the body,' she said. Yet unbeknownst to Mr Kalala, his vile plan failed. After extorting more money out of him for the job, Noela's captors told her they did not kill women and were going to release her. She described how the gang told her: 'You must learn something: you people get a chance to go overseas for a better life. But the money you are earning, the money the government gives to you, you use it for killing each other!' They gave her a memory card with the incriminating phone conversations with her husband as well as the bank transfer receipts in order to allow her to exact revenge. Two days after her release, Noela secretly returned to Melbourne on 22 February, only confiding with a pastor about what had happened. Mr Latalala had already informed the local community about her supposed death, telling people that she had died in an accident in Burundi. At first, Kalala denied he had taken out a hit on his wife, but Victoria's Supreme Court (above) was told Kalala admitted he had paid for her to be killed and pleaded with Ms Rukundo to forgive him Seeing the mourners and well-wishers entering her home, Noela waited until her husband was alone before approaching him. The father-of-three was stunned to see she was not dead as she told him: 'Surprise, I'm still alive. You are a wicked man. Why did you want me to be killed? What about your small children? Who was going to look after them?' At first, Mr Kalala refused to admit he had taken out a hit on his wife, but Victoria's Supreme Court was told he admitted he had paid for her to be killed and pleaded with Ms Rukundo to forgive him in a phone call on February 28, which was secretly taped by police. The husband said he had wanted to get back at his wife for her alleged infidelity. 'He say he wanted to kill me because he was jealous. 'He think that I wanted to leave him for another man,' Ms Rukundo said. 'Sometimes Devil can come into someone, to do something, but after they do it they start thinking, 'Why I did that thing?', later,' the Congolese forklift operator said as an explanation for his actions. Kalala pleaded guilty to one charge of incitement to murder and and was sentenced to nine years in prison on 11 December 2015. After her ordeal, Noela moved away from her old home after some members of the local African community criticised her for her husband's conviction. David Cameron, pictured in Warsaw today, claimed his 'emergency brake' would have a 'substantial' impact on reducing EU migration to the UK but figures released by HMRC cast doubt on his claims Barely one in ten EU migrants could be affected by David Cameron's benefits clampdown, official figures suggest. They show that 111,000 migrants who arrived in the UK or had been issued a National Insurance number during the previous four years received tax credits in 2013/14. That amounts to less than one in ten of the 1.2 million who registered for work in that period, it was claimed. The statistics, released by HM Revenue & Customs, also show that 84,000 households contained at least one EU migrant who had received tax credits in the past four years. Downing Street said the figures showed that his 'emergency brake' on benefits would have a large effect as tax credits would be removed from these people. They said that, including in-work benefits such as housing benefit, the numbers affected by the brake would top 120,000. But critics said the numbers affected were 'quite low' compared to the number of migrants meaning the brake will have little impact. Mr Cameron's proposals for reforming Britain's relationship with Brussels include an emergency brake to restrict benefits for migrant workers with benefits phased in over the four-year period. He kick-started his two-week charm offensive today as he tries to persuade EU leaders to agree to his reform package and on a visit to Warsaw this morning he won cautious backing for his 'emergency brake' proposals from the Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo - who previously expressed concerns at curbs on benefits. The Prime Minister was also handed a boost by Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, who hailed Britain as a voice of 'common sense' at a press conference in Copenhagen this afternoon. But Jonathan Portes, principal research fellow at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, said the figures released by HMRC showed the PM was guilty of misleading the public over the impact of his 'emergency brake' plans. Cameron's plans for an emrgency brake have come under fire from Tory Eurosceptics, such as David Davis, pictured right, who yesterday predicted they would have 'no impact whatsoever'. But Cameron won backing from Polish prime minister Beata Szydlo, pictured left with the PM in Warsaw this morning The PM won support for his EU deal from Danish prime minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen, pictured alongside Cameron in Copenhagen this afternoon The Prime Minister visited Warsaw, above, as he kick-started his two-week charm offensive to persuade EU leaders to sign up to his renegotiation Mr Portes said: 'This new data shows that the Prime Minister's claim that 40 per cent of recently arrived European migrants were dependent on benefits was at best selective and misleading. TWO HOURS ON THE RACK: THE SHARPEST BARBS THROWN AT DAVID CAMERON BY TORY MPS Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg led criticism by claiming the 'thin gruel had been further watered down' Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, said: 'The thin gruel has been further watered down. You have a fortnight, I think, in which to salvage your reputation as a negotiator.' Harwich and North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin, meanwhile, suggested the legal assurances contained in the proposals were the equivalent of 'male bovine excrement'. John Redwood, the Tory MP for Wokingham, also criticised the deal, insisting: 'As we are driven in the EU vehicle towards ever closer union and to political union how does it help to try and fit a couple of emergency brakes that lie within the control of the EU and not us?' Corby MP Tom Pursglove said: 'Whilst the Prime Minister is trying his best to renegotiate the position, would he not agree that the reforms as they stand do nothing to make the immigration system in this country fairer regardless of where people come from in the world?' Grandee Sir Bill Cash said: 'But now it will be stitched up by a political decision by the European Council and not by a guaranteed treaty change at the right time and this, I have to say to the Prime Minister, is a wholly inappropriate way of dealing with this matter.' Advertisement 'Given that well over a million European migrants registered for National Insurance numbers over the period in question (and far more since) this suggests that claim rates among newly arrived migrants are, as researchers have always argued, quite low. 'Once again this suggests that the PM's focus on this issue is misguided - the 'emergency brake' will have only a modest impact on benefit receipt, and is highly unlikely to have a significant impact on migration flows. 'This latest data still leaves some important questions unanswered. In particular, the Government is still refusing to tell us - for obvious political reasons - how many recent European migrants are recorded as being active in the UK labour market.' The figures will vindicate Tory Eurosceptics who reacted angrily to Cameron's plans for an emergency brake earlier this week. David Davis, who narrowly lost out to Cameron in the 2005 Tory leadership race, ridiculed the proposals as 'so unambitious as to be a waste of time'. 'The prime minister 's emergency brake on migrant benefits would not stop a push bike,' he said in a speech in London yesterday. 'And we now discover we would have to ask Brussels's permission to even use it. 'In any case, the whole concept of an emergency brake is flawed. 'Migrants are coming to Britain from Eastern Europe not to claim benefits but to earn more money. 'My figures show that they can readily earn three to four times as much working in low-skilled jobs in Britain. 'No amount of tinkering with our welfare rules will make a blind bit of difference to immigration numbers and the Prime Minister is being disingenuous to pretend otherwise.' Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson, the leader of Labour's campaign to remain in the EU, agreed with Mr Davis, saying the emergency brake would have no impact on immigration as in-work benefits were not a factor in drawing people to the UK. 'The issue of in-work benefits isn't a draw factor and indeed in terms of, this is a two-way process, no country has more of its people working in other developed countries than Britain more than Poland, more than any other country in Europe,' he said. 'Go to a pub in Paris, go to a pub in Madrid you will hear English voices. 'It's not a draw for them, either, there's all kinds of factors why people choose to move around the European Union to work. I don't think that's one of them.' Davis claimed that plans to curb EU migrants' access to benefits with an 'emergency brake' would have 'no impact whatsoever' The Haltemprice and Howden MP said George Osborne's new minimum wage, which will rise to 9 by 2020, will encourage even more EU migrants to come to the UK Asked whether Mr Cameron believes the proposed 'emergency brake' will cut immigration, a Downing Street spokesman said that migrant families were currently able to claim an average of 6,000 a year in tax credits and some 10,000 were claiming 10,000 or more. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond dismissed Mr Davis' attack, saying people who wanted Brexit 'are obviously going to attack whatever the package contains'. He suggested the UK would be able to act to bolster sovereignty over EU laws, telling the BBC: 'We have the power, quite separately from our European Union partners ... to do things in our own domestic legislation.' Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, left, dismissed Mr Davis' attack, saying people who wanted Brexit 'are obviously going to attack whatever the package contains' but the pro-EU Alan Johnson, right, backed up Mr Davis' remarks by saying the emergency brake would have little impact on migration Mr Cameron was looking at 'how we deliver our commitment to a British Bill of Rights as part of that process', the Foreign Secretary said. 'Just because we have done a deal with the European Union - assuming we get to that deal - doesn't in any way inhibit us from passing domestic legislation to clarify things we want to clarify in our own law.' Despite concerns from legal experts, Mr Hammond said other lawyers believed 'there are ways to address this issue, maybe not the perfect solution but there are ways to assert the supremacy of our Parliament and to give us a much stronger position than we have had in the past'. A federal judge has denied a request to halt the planned capture and slaughter of bison migrating from Yellowstone National Park. U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl on Friday turned down an injunction sought by a wildlife advocate and a journalist who sued to gain access to the slaughter program. Federal and state officials plan to kill up to 900 bison this winter through slaughter and hunting. It's part an effort to prevent the spread of brucellosis, a disease carried by many bison. During the capture operations, portions of the park are closed near its border with Montana. Public access also is restricted at a corral for captured bison. Stephanie Seay with the Buffalo Field Campaign and journalist Christopher Ketcham claim in their lawsuit that the restrictions violate free speech protections. As parents dropped off their children at schools in Okay, Oklahoma this week, they were greeted by signs warning them that the staff may be armed. Certain staffers are now legally able to carry guns in Oklahoma public schools, thanks to the passing of the Special Reserve School Resource Officer Act in May. One sign reads: 'ATTENTION: Please be aware that certain staff members at Okay Public Schools can be legally armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.' School officials in Okay say they decided to put up signs advertising that new right in hopes of dissuading any potential school shooters. Scroll down for video Gun-toting teachers: Okay, Oklahoma school officials erected four signs like the one above this week in an attempt to prevent school shootings 'Having a sign in your front yard saying "this is a gun-free zone" just tells the idiots, "Come on in, because we cant defend ourselves,' Superintendent Charles McMahan told Tulsa World on Wednesday. '(Okays) sign might be enough to send somebody down the road looking for some other soft target. If thats what it does, its helping our school district out.' McMahan said his schools are even more vulnerable since the local police department disbanded in 2014, and they have only the sheriff's department to rely on for security. Mark Hayes, principal of Okay High School, says he's relieved that some staff can carry guns in the school 'There have been numerous shootings in the country, and we want to keep our students safe,' he told the Muskogee Phoenix. 'These are our kids.' Armed staffers have also given parents some sense of calm, sending their children off to school. 'I think it's great. I mean it really gives me a peace of mind. with issues at school. You know I'm not really worried. much and I really have faith in our school system,' parent Jody Fulton told KJRH. Relief: Parent Jody Fulton says she was happy to see the signs. 'It really gives me a peace of mind,' she said But not all are happy with the move, and surrounding school districts have not gone so far as to brag about the new right to bear arms in the classroom. Porum Public Schools Superintendent Curtis Curry told Fox News, 'we just don't think it's safe'. According to the new legislation, certain staff members are allowed to carry firearms in schools but must receive training provided by the Board of Education. herself on the monkey bars Officials believe she slipped and A five-year-old girl in Georgia was found dead by her kindergarten teachers this week while playing on the monkey bars at school. Officials say that Andrea Tyrah Debruhl - who went by Tyrah - was found unconscious around 1pm Monday at the Newton County Theme School in Covington. She was hanging from the bars, WSBTV reported. The school said that several teachers were supervising the students at the time. Scroll down for video Tragic: Five-year-old Andrea Tyrah Debruhl - who went by Tyrah - was found dead at her Georgia school on Monday. Officials believe she slipped on the monkey bars and accidentally asphyxiated herself Scene: The playground set at Newton County Theme School in Covington, Georgia, where Tyrah was found 'She leaves behind a rich legacy': She loved to sing, dance and write journal entries, her obituary said Debruhl is believed to slipped and asphyxiated herself. The coroner has ruled the death accidental, and an autopsy listed the official cause of death as asphyxiation. However the investigation is complete. Authorities are now trying to work out how the little girl got into the position she was found in. The incident has shocked the small community of Covington and devastated students at the school. A vigil was held on Wednesday night at the First United Methodist Church in Covington, with more than 100 people attending. 'She leaves a rich legacy behind, a legacy of love, a legacy that the community came together on her behalf,' Gwendolyn Green, a woman who attended the service, told WSBTV. Newton County Theme School said that 10 teachers were in the playground at the time of the incident The little girl is survived by her parents, Lee Andree and Latanya Marie DeBruhl, of Covington, Georgia and brothers Andree Tyson and Andrew Tyler DeBruhl The death has devastated the students at Newton County Theme School, who have been offered counseling The school said that 10 teachers were in the playground when the incident occurred. Police do not anticipate that any charges will be laid. Counselors have been brought in to speak with the children. 'They need prayer. They need love. They need friendship, and it's just God's constant love is what they need. 'I could only imagine in a time of loss like this. It just breaks my heart.' According to her obituary, Debruhl loved to dance sing and write journal entries. Villagers are seeing an increase in business with the lunar calendar's 'Year of the Monkey' Macaques are trained to ride bicycles, walk on stilts and even catch knives as they balance on a board The rural village of Baowan, in China's Henan province, boasts a a centuries-long tradition of training monkeys Advertisement These are the disturbing pictures of terrified monkeys in a Chinese village, where they have been trained from sunrise to sunset to perform for tourists to make money. Wearing tight metal collars, the macaques crowd together and look pleadingly at their trainer, who will force them to ride bicycles, handstand on bars, walk on stilts and even catch knives as they balance on a board. This centuries-old, cruel business takes place in the village of Baowan, Xinye county, in China's rural Henan province, where the land is too hard and rough to grow crops. Scroll down for video Xinye county boasts a centuries-long and lucrative history of raising and training monkeys for performance A macaque monkey catches knives as it works with a trainer at the Qilingang Monkey Farm in Baowan village, Xinye county Farmers say most of the monkeys are bred and raised for domestic zoos, circuses, and performing groups, but add that some are also sold for medical research in China and the United States In Xinye, villagers are seeing an increase in business with the lunar calendar's 'Year of the Monkey' Monkey breeding and raising is illegal across China without a proper licence, but with a population of 2,500, Baowan is an exception. As the Year of the Monkey approaches, the villagers are hoping to bolster the already lucrative business. A small temple devoted to the deity of the Monkey King, a popular figure from Chinese folklore and literature, sits on the outskirts of Baowan. 'Since this will be the Year of the Monkey, and we will be putting on (monkey performance) competitions for tourists, we all need to visit this temple and burn some incense,' Zhang Zhijiu, a 60-year-old former monkey busker, said after praying. Despite the popularity of the tradition, critics contend the training methods and conditions constitute animal cruelty. A small temple devoted to the deity of the Monkey King, a popular figure from Chinese folklore and literature, sits on the outskirts of Baowan Macaque monkeys are taught to ride bicycles, handstand on bars, walk on stilts and even catch knives as they balance on a board A Chinese monkey trainer teaches his macaque monkey to walk on stilts during a rehearsal for an upcoming show Despite the popularity of the tradition, critics contend the training methods and conditions constitute animal cruelty Macaque monkeys hold plastic tubes as part of their training. Fan Haoran, 57, a trainer at Qilingang Monkey Farm who travelled the country monkey busking for decades, has been training monkeys since his youth. He says the key is to develop a relationship Zhang Junran, president of Xinye County's monkey breeding association, admitted that Baowan's treatment of its 400 trained monkeys has been controversial. But he says the situation has changed now, and argues that current methods are humane. 'Our way of training monkeys to perform was not the most educated (in the past). Especially when it came to their living conditions... But these monkeys also have lives, and they have brought us so many benefits, which have made such major changes to our lives. We must be good to our monkeys,' said Zhang. Fan Haoran, 57, a trainer at Qilingang Monkey Farm who travelled the country monkey busking for decades, has been training monkeys since his youth. He says the key is to develop a relationship. Zhang Junran, president of Xinye County's monkey breeding association, admitted that Baowan's treatment of monkeys has been controversial. But he says the situation has changed now, and argues that current methods were humane Macaque monkeys hold plastic tubes as part of their training at the Qilingang Monkey Farm in Baowan village, Xinye county Monkeys are held in cages at the Qilingang Monkey Farm in Baowan village A trainer sits with his three macaques during a rehearsal for an upcoming show 'Firstly, you have to show concern and take care of them. Secondly, you must proceed slowly, little by little, and not rush. For instance, when shaking hands - from the beginning, little by little - and then it will remember your hand. Zhang Zhijie, 57, keeps a four year-old macaque tied on a leash just outside his home. Zhang comes from a line of monkey trainers and has made a small fortune performing across the country. 'It started from my grandfather, then my father, and then it was passed down to me. My kids studied in primary school, and then went college. Their education was completely paid for by money made from our monkey performances,' he said. But the family business may be coming to an end - his children are not showing the same interest in the family tradition. Farmers say most of the monkeys are bred and raised for domestic zoos, circuses, and performing groups, but add that some are also sold for medical research in China and the United States Terrified monkeys huddle together and look pleadingly at their trainer. The centuries-long practice has caused a controversy A macaque monkey is seen behind the bars of its cage at a monkey farm in Henan province She was identified as the daughter-in-law of radical cleric Abu Hamza today as CS, jailed for a year for smuggling a sim card into prison A Moroccan criminal who cannot automatically be deported from Britain has been named as the daughter-in-law of hate preacher Abu Hamza. Ministers are determined to kick the woman out of the UK after she spent a year in jail for smuggling a mobile phone SIM card into his high-security prison under her burka. The European Court of Justices top legal adviser has indicated that because she is sole carer for her four-year-old British son she cannot be expelled unless she poses a serious threat to society'. The Moroccan woman who cannot be deported because of a European court order has been identified as the daughter-in-law of radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza (pictured) Tory MP Philip Davies today identified the woman as Hamza's daughter, before later clarifying that he understood her to be his daughter-in-law. There is an order banning media from naming her. In January, Hamza was jailed for life by a New York judge who told him he was 'barbaric' and showed no remorse or sympathy towards his victims. He was found guilty of helping in a hostage taking in Yemen in 1988 that left three Britons and an Australian dead. His other convictions related to inciting violent jihad in Afghanistan and trying to set up a terrorist training camp in Bly, Oregon. It also emerged last month that one of the Paris attackers was a devotee of one of Hamza's former disciples at the Finsbury Park Mosque in North London. The judge said a life sentence was the only option as she could never conceive of a time when he would not be a danger to the public - even 20 years from now. Raising a point of order in the House of Commons, he said: 'My understanding is that the person concerned is the daughter of Abu Hamza, which is a very, very serious matter for the security of this country. 'And surely this is something that should be raised in this House, that the Home Office minister should be making a statement about today. Tory MP Philip Davies today identified the woman as Hamza's (pictured) daughter, before later clarifying that he understood her to be his daughter-in-law 'Have you had any indication that the Home Office intend to make any kind of statement about this issue?' CS divorced her British husband and secured custody of their four-year-old son but claimed she could not be deported because there will be no-one else to care for the boy. Home Secretary Theresa May wanted to deport her but the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) top legal adviser said non-EU offenders whose children have UK nationality could not be booted out 'simply' because they have committed a crime. In a crumb of comfort for the Home Secretary, ECJ Advocate General Maciej Szpunar said expulsion should be allowed in 'exceptional circumstances'. He said a foreign offender who was sole carer of a British child aged under 16 could be flown home if they presented a 'genuine, present and sufficiently serious' threat to society, including public security. If the ECJ backs his preliminary opinion and the judges rarely disagree it potentially opens the door to hundreds of low-level foreign criminals to claiming the right to stay in Britain. Under current immigration laws, Britain automatically serves a deportation order against all non-EU offenders who are sentenced to more than one year in prison, irrespective of their family circumstances. Upset: The ruling by European Court of Justice's (ECJ) top legal adviser on the Moroccan mother was 'crazy' In May 2012, CS was jailed after attempting to smuggle contraband a mobile phone SIM card into a high-security prison and sentenced to 12 months in jail. After completing her sentence, she was handed a deportation notice. A subsequent request for asylum was rejected as there was no likelihood of persecution if she were to return to her native Morocco. But immigration judges ruled that deportation amounted to 'constructive expulsion' of her son from the EU. Theresa May was told that the UK cannot deport foreign criminals with British-born children after a key test case involving a jailed Moroccan mother of one Because there were no other family members he could live with in the UK, sending him to Morocco would breach his human rights. Mrs May appealed against that decision but the case was sent by the British courts for a ruling from the Luxembourg court. Britain had argued that CS's 'serious criminal offence represented an obvious threat to the preservation of social cohesion and of the values of its society'. In his legal advice, which gives a strong guide to the court's eventual verdict, Advocate General Szpunar declared that 'in principle' it would violate EU laws to deport a non-EU criminal who had sole care of a British child. But he said expelling parents such as CS was permissible in 'exceptional circumstances', after the government has examined the 'personal conduct' of the criminal and assessed whether they present a serious risk to 'public security'. Last night Eurosceptic Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: 'This is yet another crazy judicial ruling and underlines the need for us to finally leave the EU and to abolish the Human Rights Act. 'By being a member of the EU and the human rights act we are effectively unable to decide which people we want in the country and which people we do not.' The case intensifies pressure on David Cameron, whose renegotiation has not touched on the powers of the ECJ over British law. He has promised to bring forward legislative proposals soon that will 'put beyond doubt the sovereignty of the Commons over European law. Mrs May, a frequent critic of EU free movement rules, has hinted in recent days that she will campaign to remain in the European Union. Plan would also allow U.S. to have the same access over in Britain But UK authorities would not have access U.S. citizens - only Brits would have access to a range of data including live communication Britain may be given authority to directly serve wiretap orders on U.S. communications companies - such as Google and Facebook - in criminal and national security inquiries. US officials confirmed yesterday that Britain and America have been negotiating a plan aimed at allowing British authorities access to a range of data - from intercepting live communication to archived emails - relating to British suspects. But UK authorities would not have access to records of U.S. citizens, reported USA Today. Britain and America have been negotiating a plan aimed at allowing British authorities access to a range of data - from intercepting live communication to archived emails - relating to British suspects Discussions over these plans were necessary because of the increasing threat of potential terror plots Under the proposed plan, congressional approval would be required of any deal that is struck between the two countries. Discussions over these plans were necessary because of the increasing threat of potential terror plots and criminal enterprises that are playing out on communication platforms around the world, according to one U.S. official. But talks have sought to preserve privacy protections that were at the center of the debate over access to American's telephone records, that was part of a secret program that was exposed by Edward Snowden, said one official speaking to USA Today. They added: 'These communications are happening with the speed of light, and law enforcement agencies need to keep pace with these communications.' But the agreement would also work both ways, meaning that U.S. law enforcement authorities would have the same access. The official said: 'Such an agreement would ensure U.S. access to data stored in the United Kingdom in support of law enforcement, terrorism and other transnational threat investigations.' Talks have sought to preserve privacy protections that were at the center of the debate over access to American's telephone records, that was part of a secret program that was exposed by Edward Snowden Eric King, a privacy advocate and visiting lecturer in surveillance law at Queen Mary University of London, told the Washington Post: 'What it means is they're going to allow a country that doesn't require independent judicial authorization before getting a wiretap to continue that practice, which seems to be a pretty fundamental constitutional protection in the United States. 'That's being traded away.' A police union chief in Florida has taken to social media to blast the civilian vigilante who decided to give a police officer a piece of her mind on video after the Miami woman believed the cop was speeding. Filming from her driver's seat, Claudia Castillo shot three videos total of Miami-Dade Police Officer Daniel Fonticiella moving quickly through traffic on Dolphin Expressway and her confronting him after he pulled over on January 29. Javier Ortiz, the Miami Fraternal Order of Police union president, called Castillo out in several posts to Facebook and Twitter, including a photo that appears to be her in a bikini driving a boat while drinking a beer. On the picture of her, Ortiz wrote: 'Nobody is above the law Except me when I'm driving.' Scroll down for videos Javier Ortiz, the Miami Fraternal Order of Police union president, called Castillo out in several posts to Facebook and Twitter, including a photo (above) that appears to be her in a bikini driving a boat while drinking a beer Ortiz blasted Castillo on social media with photos (above) of her appearing to drink a beer and drive a recreational vessel Ortiz shared an image (above) of Castillo taken during an interview she gave with NBC Miami about the viral video and wrote that she is a 'cop wannabe' in the caption In another post that has since been deleted, he shared Castillo's business card with her phone number and wrote: 'Feel free to call Claudia Castillo at her cell and let her know drinking and driving on a boat isn't safe. #shesNOTaboveTheLaw #wesupportmdpd It's important that law enforcement is aware of this woman.' Ortiz also shared an image of Castillo taken during an interview she gave with NBC Miami about the viral video. He captioned the photo: 'Oh look, cop wannabe (sic) Claudia Castillo got cited for careless driving 2 weeks ago. Sounds like a #COPhater.' Court records show that since 1998, Castillo has been cited at least 14 times for speeding, speeding in school zones, driving without a license and accidents, NBC Miami reported. Her latest crash happened two weeks ago, as she is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol for the alleged reckless driving incident. In another post that has since been deleted, Ortiz shared Castillo's business card with her phone number Javier Ortiz (left), the Miami Fraternal Order of Police union president, has shared several posts blasting Castillo on social media, including the image on the right he shared of her driving a boat with a beer in her hand Castillo pulled over Miami-Dade police officer Daniel Fonticiella because she thought he was speeding 'To keep up with him I've had to push the limit and everything and I actually know he was going about 100mph because I was going about 80,' Claudia says in the video as she follows the officer. Ironically, to catch the allegedly speeding officer Claudia herself had to speed about 20mph over the 60mph speed limit on the Dolphin Expressway. Claudia says in the video at one point when she was able to catch up to him due to the highway congestion, she flashed her lights and honked her horn to get him to pull over. Eventually when she does get him to pull over it's because he was worried she was having an emergency. Court records show that since 1998, Castillo has been cited at least 14 times for speeding, speeding in school zones, driving without a license and accidents Castillo's (left) latest crash happened two weeks ago, as she is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol for the alleged reckless driving incident. Javier Ortiz, the Miami Fraternal Order of Police union president, is picture right Fonticiella pulls over with his lights on and Claudia begins to lecture him about his speeding. 'The reason I pulled you over today and I'm asking you to come over and have a conversation is because I saw you, since Miller Drive when you were first jumping onto the Palmetto, and you were pushing 90 miles an hour,' Claudia says to Fonticiella in the video. 'Really?' OK,' he responds. 'You were pushing 90mph because I was going right behind you and you passed me. 'I was going like 35mph down Miller and you passed me like I was standing still,' she says continuing to reprimand the officer. Claudia chases officer Daniel Fonticiella down the Dolphin Expressway in Miami as they both race through traffic When Claudia finally catches up with the officer, she honks her horn and flashes her lights to get his attention She begins to explain how she followed him from one highway to another and says: 'I was pushing 80 and I was still eating your dust and I just wanted to know what's the emergency?' Fonticiella tells her he doesn't believe he was speeding and that he's 'on his way to work'. He goes on to tell her she's 'entitled to her opinion' and that he was fearful she had an emergency, which is why he pulled over. She replies: 'No everything's fine. It's just your speeding.' The officer offers to give her his name and badge number, but she says no and continues to lecture him about 'being a leader in the community'. The officer turns on his lights and pulls off the road, believing it is Claudia who is having the emergency Claudia followed the officer down South Florida's Dolphin Expressway before she was able to get him to stop She tells him she drives in the car with her boyfriend's son and she has seen other cops speeding. The officer, appearing to want to move on, tells her to take care and be safe before going back to his vehicle and driving away. Miami-Dade's top cop praised Fonticiella for his professionalism but advised citizens against chasing down or pulling over law enforcement on Tuesday. 'The best way to denounce something, to launch a complaint against an officer, would be to just get the car number or badge and then call us and let us handle it,' Miami-Dade Police Director Juan Perez told NBC Miami. Stumping for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Tinder is getting some women banned from the online dating app after sending campaign messages to prospective matches. Two women - one from Iowa and the other from New Jersey - confirmed to Reuters on Friday that they received notices from Tinder in the previous 24 hours that their accounts were locked because they had been reported too many times for peppering men on the site with messages promoting Sanders' candidacy. Robyn Gedrich, 23, said she sent messages to 60 people a day for the past two weeks trying to convince them to support the U.S. senator from Vermont in his race for the Democratic nomination against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Robyn Gedrich (pictured left) , 23, and Haley Lent (pictured right), 22, say they were kicked off of Tinder for trying to get their matches to vote for Bernie Sanders 'Do you feel the bern?' her message to other Tinder users read, parroting a Sanders campaign slogan. 'Please text WORK to 82623 for me. Thanks.' Gedrich, an assistant store manager at retailer Elie Tahari who lives in Brick, New Jersey, said a text would prompt people to start receiving updates from the Sanders campaign, as well as a link where they could sign up and volunteer. She has been unable to sign back into Tinder since logging off on Thursday. Haley Lent, 22, a photographer from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, told Reuters in a Twitter message that she also got locked out of the app on Thursday night after sending messages trying to convince people to vote for Sanders the previous night. Lent, who is married, said she talked to 50 to 100 people on the app. She had even bought a Tinder premium membership, which allows users to change their location, for a month so that she could reach people in New Hampshire and promote Sanders. 'Do you feel the bern?' Gedrich's message to other Tinder users read, parroting a Bernie Sanders (pcitured) campaign slogan. 'Please text WORK to 82623 for me. Thanks.' 'I would ask them if they were going to vote in their upcoming primaries,' she said. 'If they said no or were on the fence, I would try to talk to them and persuade them to vote.' A spokeswoman for Tinder, which is part of Match Group Inc, owned by IAC/InterActiveCorp IAC.O, did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The two women are the not only ones making unusual use of Tinder, better known as a 'hook-up' app, as a campaign tool. A Facebook (FB.O) group 'Bernie Sanders Dank Tinder Convos' has 782 members. On Yahoo's (YHOO.O) Tumblr microblogging site, a thread titled 'Tinder Campaigning, The adventures of a perpetual right-swiper in the efforts of electing Bernie Sanders' has dozens of conversations referencing Sanders pulled from Tinder. 'Swiping right' is a colloquial reference to approving of a potential match on Tinder. Gedrich said she got mixed responses from the 300 Tinder users who replied. 'Some people would ask what is this for, and I would kind of explain,' she said. 'Some of them would unmatch me or report me as a bot.' A bot (or robot) account is a scam profile used to send spam messages. Some responses simply read, 'Trump2016,' expressing support for Republican candidate Donald Trump, the real estate tycoon. 'It was really alarming to see that a lot of people don't know what's going on in the world,' she said. None of her matches resulted in an actual date, she said. An illegal immigrant has been arrested over the murder of an American nanny who had given him shelter at her Vienna apartment. The 24-year-old Gambian had been wanted by police since the death of Lauren Mann, 25, from Grand Junction, Colorado last month. He was arrested on Thursday in Bern, Switzerland, at an asylum center there after his mobile phone use was traced. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Lauren Mann (pictured in a Facebook photo) was discovered lying half-naked, face-down on a mattress at her fourth district address on Tuesday 26 January. Her alleged murder has finally been arrested Police and firefighters had to force open the door to Ms Mann's apartment inside this building in Vienna after her employers became concerned by her unexplained absence from work The location of the arrest suggests he was trying to use the immigration system to avoid being returned to his home country. He was named by prosecutors in Austria only as Abdou I., under a legal convention that the surnames of alleged criminals are not released until they are convicted. No mugshot was released by authorities in either country. Austrian newspaper Krone also reported that he was already known to police, having raped an underage girl in Germany. The case is likely to highlight concerns which are growing in Europe over sex-crime related to the wave of immigrants arriving in the continent - although Abdou I. is from West Africa rather than the Middle East, from where the vast majority are currently arriving. Austrian authorities will now have to request his extradition from neighboring Switzerland. Nina Bussek, spokeswoman for the Austrian State Prosecutor, told Daily Mail Online: 'A suspect has been arrested in Switzerland. We can't provide any further details at the moment. 'The arrest is supported by concrete evidence, but I can not say what this evidence consist of, since it is part of an ongoing investigation and cannot be made public. 'We have handed in a extradition request at a Vienna court. Whether they have made a formal request by the Swiss authorities yet I can't say, but the request has been made by our office to have the suspect handed over to Austrian police.' Concerns:The alarm was first raised on Monday when she failed to show up to her au pair job at the home of Michael Kuen and his wife Verena Jaschke-Kuen. She helped care for their family Mourned at home: In Grand Junction, Lauren's brother-in-law told Daily Mail Online she was being remembered as 'a brilliant, beautiful person'. Investigation: A forensic examination of the 550-euro ($600) a month studio apartment where the student lived was carried out after he body was found Local reports in Austria suggested that the Gambian had failed in his attempt to stay in the country but had been taken in out of compassion by Mann to avoid him being deported. The arrest also meant that prosecutors confirmed that they believe Mann was murdered. Initially they had said they were waiting for toxicology tests after an autopsy found the nanny and part-time student had been suffocated. One theory they had been revealed to have considered is whether the death was a 'sex game' gone wrong - which was angrily rejected by her family. By announcing that they are treating the case as a murder and Abdou I. as a murder suspect, prosecutors are effectively dropping that theory. Her brother-in-law had told Daily Mail Online that the au pair would 'never' have got involved in anything like that. 'I knew Lauren and she wasn't like that,' he said. 'She would never have done anything like that. She just wasn't that kind of a person. 'There's been a lot of inaccurate stuff written and it's just not right.' Instead of dwelling on her death, Doutis said he would always remember her as 'a brilliant, beautiful person'. 'It's so terrible what happened to her,' he added. 'We're all really upset. 'She was so excited about living in Europe - she had always wanted to move there. It's a really hard time for all of us.' Neighbors on the peaceful Wiender Hauptstrasse were skeptical of the theory and insisted that Lauren was 'a very lovely girl' and a 'model tenant . The theory had also been met with skepticism by the University of Colorado graduate's friends in Vienna. The alarm was first raised on Monday 25 January, when she failed to show up to her au pair job at the home of Michael Kuen and his wife Verena Jaschke-Kuen. Sealed: The apartment where Lauren Mann was found dead has been shut by police and its landlord has not been allowed access to it Austrian police were looking for an illegal immigrant from Gambia who was living with Ms Mann in the apartment complex, pictured, and he was finally arrested yesterday in Switzerland Authorities say the 25-year-old's body was found surrounded by a 'considerable amount of blood' as police confirmed they are treating her death as a homicide While Kuen alerted authorities, his wife began a frantic social media search for the 25-year-old. In a post made on Facebook on Monday, she wrote: 'Lauren didn't show up for work today without any notice and her phone is flat. 'This has never happened before and therefore we are a bit worried. Did anyone hear from her or see her today? ... and Lauren, please give us call when you see this. Thank you!' Lauren is thought to have been killed at some point over the weekend and was discovered on Tuesday 26 January in her Wieden apartment with a sweater over her head. Mann paid 550 ($600) a month for the studio. She was one of the few tenants in the building who was not a friend of the owner as she had taken the apartment over from a university friend who is the daughter of a Greek diplomat in Vienna. Mann was studying at the University of Vienna, where she had enrolled in October 2014. She was a high-flying student who had got the top grades, 1s and 2s, in the three courses she had completed towards her degree, for which she had to complete a minimum of 23 courses. Her au-pair work had meant that she was effectively studying part-time. Mann had studied piano and French at the University of Colorado-Boulder's music school before moving to Europe to study German in Vienna. Eddie Jordan is set to be named as the next presenter on Top Gear Former Formula One team owner and presenter of the BBC's coverage of the sport Eddie Jordan is set to be named as the next presenter on Top Gear. It is believed that the 67-year-old is set to sign a contract for the BBC2 show's revamp following the departure of long-standing presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. The news comes a day after former Friends star and petrolhead Matt Le Blanc was named as Chris Evans' first co-presenter. An insider told the Guardian that Evans and Jordan have known each other for years and his expert technical knowledge will be an asset to the show. The BBC has declined to comment on the third presenter role. It is thought that Eddie will become part of a five-person presenting team, with German racing driver Sabine Schmitz and motoring journalist Chris Harris set to sign on. The new-look team could make their first appearance together at an event in Liverpool later this month. After the announcement that he was joining the show, LeBlanc said: 'As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I'm honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show's new chapter. What a thrill!' The actor is no stranger to presenting for Top Gear and recently hosted a spin-off called Top Gear: The Races. The seven-episode series saw him going through the stand-out racing moments from the first 21 series of the show. Evans said LeBlanc, best known for his role as goofy lothario Joey in Friends, is a 'lifelong petrolhead'. 'Acting out our craziest car notions on screen is a dream job and I know we'll both be debating some epic road trip ideas,' Evans said. LeBlanc appeared on the original show in 2012 when he set the fastest-ever time for their Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment. Friends actor Matt LeBlanc with Chris Evans and The Stig following the announcement he will be on the show Chris Evans pictured leaving BBC studios today, holding Chris Packham's Amazing Animal Journeys book According to the official Top Gear website, he set an unbeaten lap time of 1m 42.1s in a Kia cee'd. Evans was announced as the new face of Top Gear last year, following the high profile departure of Jeremy Clarkson. Clarkson's contract with the BBC was not renewed following a 'fracas' with one of the show's producers, Oisin Tymon. Shortly afterwards his co-hosts, Richard Hammond and James May, confirmed they would not be returning to the show. Eddie Jordan pictured with a guest at the Autosport Awards in December The trio have signed what is reportedly a lucrative deal and are set to launch their own motoring show on Amazon Prime later this year. May recently told the Radio Times he would like to see Evans's reboot of the show doing well. 'It's a ballsy call to continue it. I wouldn't want to be the one presenting it when we'd just finished, but there must be a way of reinventing it. We always said it would survive beyond us,' May said. In the run-up to the announcement of Evans' official co-hosts, other names speculated to be joining him were former F1 driver David Coulthard and motoring journalist Chris Harris. Coulthard was recently confirmed as a presenter for Channel 4's F1 coverage, officially ending speculation that he was set to join the Top Gear team alongside Evans. Recent reports suggesting the new show may not be ready for its May debut were also dismissed by the BBC. A BBC spokesman said: 'Filming on Top Gear continues as planned and on schedule.' Before its airing, the new show has also seen one of its executive producers, Lisa Clark, leave after just five months of working on the show. She said in a statement that she was 'moving on to new projects', and added: 'I'd like to wish production all the very best with the show.' The BBC issued a statement thanking Ms Clark for her 'incredible work for the last five months readying new Top Gear for its busy filming schedule in 2016 and planned return in May'. Bookmakers William Hill said it was such a surprise bit of news, that not one bet had been made on LeBlanc. William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: 'This is an astonishing bit of secret keeping - nobody predicted Matt LeBlanc and if anyone had enquired we would have made him a 500/1 outsider.' 'We need joy... And Carnival is the easiest way of doling out a stiff dose of joy,' said store owner Angela Pessanha But millions of Brazilians have shed their worries - and clothes - to enjoy a five day long festival of non stop parties The virus has been linked to thousands of cases of microcephaly, which causes babies to be born with small skulls Advertisement Millions of Brazilians are taking to the streets to celebrate the fabulous Carnival festival despite growing fears over the rampant mosquito borne Zika virus. Experts have branded the five day long celebration an 'explosive cocktail' for the spread of Zika because of the potent combination of heat, crowds and exposed skin. But the vast majority of revellers, dressed in colourful bikinis and short sequined dresses, exposing their bare torsos and legs, have ignored the advice to cover up and slather on insect repellent. Millions of Brazilians (pictured in Rio de Janeiro) are shedding their worries - and clothes - to celebrate Carnival despite growing fears over the rampant Zika virus This year's Carnival celebrations (pictured in Rio), which began today, come at a time when Brazil has little to be happy about Experts have branded the five day long celebration an 'explosive cocktail' for the spread of Zika because of the potent combination of heat, crowds and exposed skin (pictured, revellers in Rio de Janeiro) Health workers prepare to fumigate an area of Sao Paulo to help stop the rampant spread of the mosquito borne Zika virus They say that trousers, long sleeve shirts and bug spray go against the hedonistic, out-of-control spirit of Carnival. 'We need joy... And Carnival is the easiest way of doling out a stiff dose of joy to everyone,' said Angela Pessanha, a self-described 'Carnival nut' and owner of a home furnishings store. But this year's celebrations, which began today, come at a time when Brazil has little to be happy about. The nation is mired in its worst recession for generations, impeachment proceedings loom over their President Dilma Rousseff and the Zika virus has caused birth defects in thousands of newborn babies. On Monday, the same day the World Health Organisation branded Zika a 'global emergency', Brazil's top health official said the outbreak was proving to be even more disastrous than first thought because most cases show no symptoms. It has sparked fears among pregnant women after experts linked the virus to thousands of cases of microcephaly - a condition which causes newborns to be born with small heads and underdeveloped brains. The vast majority of revellers, dressed in vibrant clothing and short dresses, have ignored health advice to cover up and slather on insect repellent A party goer performs at the 'Carmelitas' block party during Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, being attended by millions of people Brazilians are using the Carnival as a distraction to the corruption scandal rocking the country, and the Zika virus spreading through Latin America Two girls sit next to a coffin containing an Aedes aegypti mosquito puppet - the same one that spreads Zika - before the start of the 'Burial of the Mosquito' parade in Olinda, Pernambuco state Young revellers joke with each other as they lay on the shade during the 'Burial of the Mosquito' carnival block parade Rio de Janeiro's Mayor Eduardo Paes Eduardo Paes (centre) dances with the second princess of the event Uillana Adaes (right) after opening the Carnival of Rio Brzilian scientists recently announced they had found live Zika virus in saliva samples (pictured, two revellers kissing at Carnival in Olinda) Labs are being set up around the country to test for the virus, which has no vaccine or cure, said Health Minister Marcelo Castro. Despite accusations of rampant corruption and the dangerous virus spreading across Latin America, many Brazilians are still shedding their worries - and their clothes - for the world famous Carnival. Many say they have endured a stream of corruption scandals and have survived through a long line of outbreaks, including dengue and other viruses transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads Zika. 'I've put it all out of my mind,' said college student Pedro Maciel, as he filled up a shopping cart with 12-packs of beer and bottle after bottle of the cheapest domestic vodka. 'Of course these are all important issues that as a Brazilian I care about, but I won't give them a second thought till the day Carnival ends.' The world's Carnival capital, Rio de Janeiro, has not been as badly affected by the Zika outbreak as the country's poor northeastern region, where most cases both of the virus and the birth defect microcephaly have been concentrated. A reveller dressed in a traditional costume dances at a street party in Olinda while officials say as many as 100,000 people may have already been exposed to the Zika virus in nearby Recife A reveller wearing a mask depicting the 'The Joker' comic character attends the 'Carmelitas' block party during Carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro Many Brazilians (pictured in Rio) say they have survived a long line of outbreaks, including dengue and other viruses transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads Zika The world's Carnival capital, Rio de Janeiro (pictured), has not been as badly affected by the Zika outbreak as the northeastern states Health workers have been urging revellers to cover up, but those admonitions appear to be falling on deaf ears (pictured, in Rio) Still, epidemiologists have called Carnival an 'explosive cocktail' for the spread of Zika because of the mass of exposed skin and heat. This has prompted Rio authorities to step up their efforts against the mosquito. Fumigators have been plying the Sambadrome, where thousands of dancers will perform during this weekend's samba school parades. Health workers will be deployed to many of the city's more than 500 street parties, or 'blocos,' where thousands of revellers will gather to drink, dance, sweat and rub shoulders. They are urging revellers to cover up, but those admonitions appear to be falling on deaf ears, judging by the amount of bare skin on display at the pre-Carnival parties that have flooded the streets in recent days. Tuesday's announcement by health officials that a person in Texas has become infected with Zika through sex may put another kink into Carnival, where promiscuity is held as a core value. Worries grew stronger Friday with the announcement that scientists at Brazil's Fiocruz research institute had found live Zika virus in saliva samples. Although the party continues in Rio and Sao Paulo, official Carnival festivities have been cancelled in dozens of cities nationwide due to budget constraints The 50,000-strong municipality of Capivari in Sao Paulo state has cancelled the City Hall-funded Carnival celebrations (pictured, Carnival in Rio) Institute chief Paulo Gadelha called for special precautions to be taken with pregnant women, and suggested they avoid kissing people other than a regular partner or sharing cutlery, glasses and plates with people who have symptoms of the virus. He added: 'This is not a generalized public health measure, for the love of God' - stressing both the seriousness of the discovery and reality that it was too soon to say how it could impact the epidemic. The party won't be happening everywhere. The 50,000-strong municipality of Capivari in Sao Paulo state has cancelled the City Hall-funded Carnival celebrations, saying it intends to invest the $25,000 in savings into efforts to stamp out Aedes. Official Carnival festivities have also been cancelled in dozens of other cities nationwide due to budget constraints. Even in places where Carnival is rolling on, apparently unscathed by the chaos afflicting the country, this year's festivities are shaping up to be leaner than usual. Regina Rodrigues Alves, who sells kitty-ear tiaras, pirate eye patches, plastic crowns and other Carnival essentials at a stand in Rio's beach front Ipanema neighbourhood, says sales have been appreciably down from last year. Pregnant women are covered with mosquito nets at the Women National Hospital in an effort to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes that might carry Zika in El Salvador U.N. officials also called on many Catholic-majority countries in Latin America to loosen their abortion laws to allow women to terminate pregnancies if they fear the fetus may be at risk of microcephaly (pictured, pregnant women in El Salvador) In a sign of mounting global concern over the Zika virus, health officials in Latin America warned pregnant women to think twice about the lips they kiss and called on men to use condoms with pregnant partners (pictured, a pregnant woman in Puerto Rico) Health Ministry worker Carlos Lopez shows larvae of mosquitoes he found during a fumigation campaign at a neighborhood in Guatemala City 'You can tell people are trying to scrimp and save. They're now trying to bargain you down, or not even buying at all,' said 58-year-old Alves, adding she's seen revellers dragging along their own portable coolers to save on alcohol. In a sign of mounting global concern over the Zika virus, health officials in Latin America warned pregnant women to think twice about the lips they kiss and called on men to use condoms with pregnant partners if they have visited countries where the virus is present. BUTTE Heightened security will be in place at the courthouse next week because of a murder trial and bomb threats that have forced evacuation of the building six times since mid-January, Butte District Judge Kurt Krueger said Wednesday. Chief Executive Matt Vincent sent an email to courthouse employees, elected officials and department heads informing them of an order Krueger issued late Wednesday afternoon. It includes steps that will be taken because of a retrial set to begin Monday for 25-year-old Adam Hatfield, who is accused in the beating death of his father in 2008. Krueger, who noted the protocol during previous bomb threats was to evacuate the building, said that would not be done if more threats are received while the trial is going on, unless authorities deem them necessary. Krueger said that decision was based on the importance of the legal system and protecting the rights of all parties in the court system. He said he also heavily weighed the interests of security of all those who work and visit the courthouse. He and Vincent said the extra steps starting next week include having all employees enter the building from the rear door. They must have their county-issued ID cards to get in and all bags, purses and backpacks carried by them or the general public will be subject to search. People using the parking garage will be asked to ensure that the garage door is closed before leaving their vehicle to come inside and before driving away after departing. Basement access will be restricted to essential personnel, Vincent said in his email, and anyone making deliveries must come through the rear door. The public will only be allowed to enter the courthouse through the main Granite Street entrance unless they require handicapped access. The building will be examined at the beginning of each day before it is open to employees or the public to confirm no threat exists. Vincent attached Kruegers three-page order with his email and asked all employees to review it. In that order, Krueger noted that recent bomb threats have occurred in many places throughout the U.S. and elsewhere in Montana. He said they are automated calls to existing numbers and are disguised through a spoof or swatting system. During the last several incidents, Krueger wrote, there has been no confirmation of the existence of a credible threat after such phone calls have been made. Krueger said the normal evacuation protocol shall be held in abeyance during the trial but during that time, Butte-Silver Bow law enforcement and county officials would be responsible for the elevated level of security. And they are authorized to evacuate if they feel it is necessary, he said. Courthouse employees have grown increasingly frustrated by the bomb threats. The last one was received in Butte District Court at 1:43 p.m. Monday. Police and firefighters have responded each time and searched the building but have turned up nothing. Some meetings and proceedings have been moved to nearby county offices during the bomb scares so work could continue. Vincent said in his Tuesday email that law enforcement, fire services, emergency preparedness officials and information technology staff have been working diligently to evaluate and update our procedures in these types of critical events since the first instance. He said he was coordinating with Krueger on the safety protocol order to be issued Wednesday. The updated procedures he is working on, Vincent wrote, will be released but not be in effect until after the trial. Cindi Shaw, chairwoman of the Council of Commissioners, said earlier Wednesday that Vincent should notify all county employees not just department heads and elected officials about steps being taken given the bomb threats. She said numerous employees have asked her what is going on. I feel that our chief executive should be giving some kind of assurance to the general public and to the employees that work on this is being done, she said. It would be nice to hear an assurance that things are being worked on throughout the county and other offices. When asked about that earlier Wednesday, county spokesman Jeremy Gatz-Miller said Vincents office was about to release updated plans but put them on hold pending Kruegers order. Sheriff Ed Lester said Wednesday that security will be enhanced significantly during the Hatfield trial. Undersheriff George Skuletich said Wednesday that the bomb-threat calls seem to be from a computer-generated program that is voice-activated with pre-recorded messages and responses. The response doesnt necessarily match the questions were asking, he said. They appear to be coming from outside Montana and might be coming from outside the U.S, he said. Butte police continue to work with the federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to investigate the threats. Skuletich said it was quite a substantial investigation that the FBI was leading now. The phone numbers from the calls arent attached to anything, he said. They arent to a cellphone, they arent to a business, they arent to a person, he said. Theyre just a number that floats out there. Skuletich said the murder trial could span two weeks and authorities were meeting to discuss security, including steps to take in case of more bomb threats during the trial. Mother Nature played a joke on Donald Trump on Friday, sending a winter storm with heavy, wet snow into New Hampshire just four days before the crucial presidential primary election. The Donald canceled a 12:30 p.m. rally in the town of Londonderry less than 24 hours after adding it to his schedule. He is scheduled to hold a similar event later in the evening, in the warmer climes of Florence, South Carolina. 'Due to the weather and the airports being closed Mr. Trump is unable to attend today's Town Hall at the Londonderry Lions Club,' his campaign said in a statement. Trump press secretary Hope Hicks added a few details, telling DailyMail.com in an email that he 'was planning to travel to New Hampshire in his plane. However, there was a temporary [airport] closure in New York and Manchester that prevented him from doing so.' 'He will be here on Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday,' Hicks emphasized. Scroll down for video MAKE AMERICA SHOVEL AGAIN: New Hampshire voters will have to contend with a new batch of snow as Tuesday's primary election draws near FROSTY: A snowman interrupts a sea of Democratic campaign signs in Manchester, N.H. HE WAS JUST HERE: Trump spoke in Exeter, N.H. on Thursday night but went home to New York City instead of staying in the state overnight and was stranded when the storm hit New England Trump's Boeing 757 suffered an engine failure Wednesday on its way to Little Rock, Arkansas and had to divert to Nashville, Tennessee for an emergency landing. Trump continued on to the rally in a smaller chartered jet and delivered his speech nearly two hours late. Hicks said Friday that the 757 was no longer in Tennessee. In New Hampshire, locals had their first real taste of winter, with 150,000 people losing electricity as snow pummelled and snapped power lines. Some areas of the state are expected to see as much as a foot of the white stuff. The storm was New England's biggest snowstorm so far this season, coming two weeks after a massive blizzard engulfed much of the Eastern Seaboard but largely spared Boston and points north. Trump, a billionaire real estate developer who leads the Republican field by 10 points in a Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released Friday morning, wasn't the only New Hampshire front-runner to be affected by the storm. TROLL! Jeb Bush made fun of Trump for canceling an event in Londonderry, N.H., tweeting a picture of his elderly mother and a small girl who made it to his campaign event just fine MULTI-STATE SNOWSTORM: Massachusetts got hit with the white stuff as well, creating lots of work for snow plow drivers HE'S GOT A DRIVER! Bernie Sanders' Secret Service motorcade drove through the heavy, sticky snow on Friday morning Bernie Sanders, who leads Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side of Tuesday's election, called off a 2:45 p.m. press conference in Exeter, New Hampshire, where his campaign had said he would 'announce a new endorsement from a prominent civil rights leader.' A campaign aide at the site, where Sanders himself did show up to deliver a stump speech and field questions, told DailyMail.com that the cancellation was weather-related. The event ended up going on as a 4:00 p.m. media phone call, where the mystery endorser was revealed as Ben Jealous, a former NAACP chairman. Trump tweeted that his Londonderry event would be rescheduled as well. 'Big storm in New Hampshire. Moved my event to Monday. Will be there next four days,' a tweet read. THE SATELLITE TRUCKS MADE IT: The Lions Club in Londonderry, N.H. was to be the site of Trump's Friday afternoon rally but it was postponed when the star attraction could get to the Granite State in time PACK IT UP, BOYS: Television news photographers broke down their equipment at the Londonderry Lions Club after it was announced that The Donald would be a no-show WIPEOUT: Interstate 93 was a mess on Friday as motorists spun out and drove into ditches Jeb Bush, the former governor of Florida who is polling in fifth place in the state, trolled Trump on Friday for not showing up. 'My 90 year old mother made it out to campaign,' he tweeted along with a picture of former first lady Barbara Bush shaking a young girl's hand on the campaign trail. 'She met Destiny, age 5.' Unlike Trump, Bush and most of the other Republicans running in Tuesday's New Hampshire contest haven't left the state since the morning after Monday's Iowa caucuses. Ohio Gov. John Kasich was also campaigning without a hiccup. The Associated Press reported that he approached a 6-year-old girl at an event in the town of Atkinson and asked her, 'Don't you want to be out in the snow?' and then told her father, 'Dad, why don't you take her out in the snow?' The storm was New England's biggest snowstorm so far this season, coming two weeks after a massive blizzard engulfed much of the Eastern Seaboard but largely spared Boston and points north. IT'S ONLY A LITTLE SNOW: Bill Simmons, 64, of Salem, N.H., walked away from the the Lions Club after he was told Trump wasn't coming STRONGER THAN THE STORM: New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie made it to his events on Friday, sending supporters out into the snow with yard signs The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory from Delaware to New Jersey and a winter storm warning for most of New England. Many school districts across the region closed for the day. Every public school in Rhode Island was closed except for the lone school on Block Island, which was expected to get much less snow than the mainland. Travel was treacherous; police across the region reported dozens of spinouts. In New York City, a crane being taken down because of windy conditions collapsed during a snow squall, killing one person. The storm was expected to leave 6 to 8 inches of snow in the Boston area, 6 to 10 in the Worcester area and 4 to 8 inches in Providence, Rhode Island, according to the National Weather Service. Maine could get more. Meteorologist Mal Walker in Caribou said Maine's eastern tip could see up to 11 inches. Former NAACP head Ben Jealous officially announced today that he was backing Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president. 'I think it will be a tremendous boost to our campaign,' Sanders said. The endorsement comes at an excellent time for the surging senator, who has a comfortable lead in New Hampshire, is practically tied with Hillary Clinton nationally and needs to quickly make inroads in South Carolina, a state filled with black voters who have deep ties with the Clintons, so much that Bill Clinton earned the nickname the 'first black president.' 'We have made huge progress nationally. We have made huge progress in Iowa, we made huge progress in New Hampshire, we are going to make huge progress in South Carolina,' Sanders said today on a call with reporters, alongside Jealous. 'But our goal is to win South Carolina and that's what we intend to do,' Sanders said. Scroll down for video Former NAACP head Ben Jealous today announced his support for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary and said he hoped to get other Southern black leaders on board Bernie Sanders appeared today in Exeter, New Hampshire, at the same venue Donald Trump took over yesterday, in the height of a snowstorm and boasted about his campaign's momentum At both his rally, and on the phone with reporters, Bernie Sanders railed against unemployment among black high school graduates, which stands at 51 percent. 'This is a national disgrace,' Sanders said While Sanders was always expected to do well in New Hampshire, which is situated next to his home state of Vermont, the South , in this 2016 race, has been considered Clinton country. But Sanders noted things could change, 'pretty quickly.' He pointed to President Obama, who won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and then went on to win the Democratic nomination and the White House. 'He wasn't doing all that well in South Carolina as I recall,' Sanders said. Jealous explained to reporters that Sanders' stance on social justice issues, institutionalized racism and poverty all swayed him to side with the senator. 'He's the only remaining candidate that opposes the death penalty,' Jealous noted, suggesting that Democrats should push Clinton on the issue. Sanders also spoke a lot about youth unemployment today, both on the press call and at a rally in Exeter, discussing how it disproportionately effects black high school graduates. Ben & Jerry's founders Ben Cohen (left) and Jerry Greenfield (right) introduced Bernie Sanders today in Exeter, New Hampshire Sanders said he wished he would have had more time to have campaigned in South Carolina, where Hillary Clinton holds a huge lead, but it was important for him to campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire first Today in Exeter, Bernie Sanders talked about issues like criminal justice and youth unemployment - issues that he believed would resonate with black Southern voters as well Of black grads, 51 percent are unemployed. 'This is a national disgrace,' Sanders said. 'We need to invest in our young people through jobs and education,' the senator continued. 'To substantially reduce those numbers.' As for South Carolina, which is the next state on the primary calendar after Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, one reporter asked if maybe Sanders would do too little, too late to boost his numbers. At last polling, Clinton was ahead by 37 points in the state. 'This is what I think, we are going to create more than 24 hours to the day and more than seven days to the week,' Sanders cracked, explaining that it was important to spend so much time in Iowa to 'show that we can win.' Even though Clinton ended up slightly ahead in the first caucus state, the delegates of two Democrats are practically even. 'I've been in touch with a range of grassroots black leaders throughout the south to get involved with this campaign,' Jealous said, saying he planned to help build out the Midwest as well. 'I think frankly that we do have the agenda that will make sense to the African American community both in terms of economic and criminal justice and other issues,' Sanders said, explaining that part of his South Carolina will be to get that message out aggressively. Winter weather in New Hampshire today threw many presidential candidates' schedules for a loop. For Bernie Sanders, that meant that Ben Jealous wasn't able to personally make an endorsement in Exeter With just four days until New Hampshire voters hit the polls, candidates are making their closing statements to crowds across the state - even in the snow Asked if Clinton beating him just by 10 points would count as a 'win' in that key Southern state, Sanders gave a not quite. 'My understanding of winning is when you get more votes than the other guy,' Sanders said, vowing to spend as much time as possible in both South Carolina and Nevada. Sanders was originally supposed to appear with Jealous in Exeter, New Hampshire, after a campaign rally where he was introduced by Ben & Jerry's founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Snow, however, delayed Jealous' arrival and so the duo did a call instead. The winter weather didn't affect the Bern many New Hampshire voters were feeling as the Exeter town hall building, which Donald Trump had filled to its occupancy limit the day before, was once again packed to the brim, with 450 snuggled inside. 'You know what momentum is? What momentum is, is that in the midst of a snowstorm you can't get all the people in the room,' the Vermont senator told the crowd. Suicide rates in young adults has gone up every year since 2010 and is continuing to rise, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown. People aged 10 to 24 who end their life by suicide has increased by 13 per cent from 2010. In 2014, the most recent year with statistics available, 5,504 people in the 10 to 24 age range killed themselves. That number is up from the previous year by 240 people. Experts are prepared to see official 2014 and 2015 statistics that will show a continued increase in young people's death by suicide. Ritu Sachdeva (pictured, left) and Hillary 'Kate' Kuizon, (pictured, right) both 17, committed suicide hours apart The two girls from Plano High School (pictured) were described as smart, beautiful and nice and it is not known why they both chose to kill themselves or if they had planned it together Maureen Underwood, clinical director for the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide, told FoxNews.com: 'Many kids do not understand that once they're dead, they're dead forever. They don't understand the finality of it. 'As adults, we think with our frontal lobe. Teens think from the amygdala the part of the brain responsible for our feelings.' Ms Underwood said teens do not have a fully developed the frontal lobe of the brain, which is involved with problem solving, language, judgement, impulse control and many other key functions. Across the country the suicides of young people have continued to make tragic headlines. Ritu Sachdeva and Hillary 'Kate' Kuizon, both 17, were seniors at Plano East Senior High School. The girls both committed suicide hours apart and police are investigating if the deaths are connected. Miss Sachdeva died from a medication overdose inside her home and Miss Kuizon died by hanging herself on January 31. 'We are seeing significant increases in suicide for those ages. 'When you go back to 2007, the rates in that age group have gone up every year,' Dr. Thomas Simon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's suicide expert, told FoxNews.com. It's not clear what's causing the rise, according to those collecting the data. 'The data allows us to track the trends over time but they don't allow us to look at the causes behind those trends. 'We don't have good explanations for why we're seeing this increase,' Dr Simon said. This map shows young people in the mid-west and rural states have an increased risk of committing suicide David Molak, 16, (pictured left) and Reid Adler (pictured right) killed themselves in January after being bullied David Molak's (pictured, left) brothers took to Facebook to speak out against bullying after his death Christopher Lanni (pictured) killed himself two days before Christmas after his parents said he was bullied While there isn't a solid explanation as to what is causing the increase, a person's sex and location can be factors in an increased risk. 'Boys are four times as likely as girls to kill themselves, and the rate of teen suicide is higher in rural Western states, where there is greater social isolation and more difficult access to mental health care,' according to FoxNews.com Some of the reasoning for suicide increase can be something as obvious as cyberbullying to something as subtle as an underlying mental health disorders to economic factors. Two days before Christmas, a 14-year-old from Connecticut named Christopher Lanni died in a hospital after the teen hung himself. Peter Lanni and Cornelia Gallo, Christopher's parents, requested an investigator to determine if the teen had been bullied in an open letter to the head of the town's school system. 'We request a thorough, professional investigation of allegations that Christopher was being bullied at school and/or on social media platforms (i.e. Instagram) by his fellow Staples students,' they wrote. Earlier this year a 16-year-old named David Molak was found hanging in the backyard of his parents' home in Texas after months of cyberbullying. 'In today's age, bullies don't push you into lockers, they don't tell their victims to meet them behind the school's Dumpster after class, they cower behind user names and fake profiles from miles away constantly berating and abusing good, innocent people,' Cliff Molak, David's brother, wrote on Facebook. Also in January, a 15-year-old boy named Reid Adler killed himself after months of being bullied. 'It's the irrational thinking in suicide that makes it so complex for us to understand. 'I certainly think that social media has contributed to it but every kid who's bullied doesn't choose suicide. 'Almost all kids who are bullied have some vulnerability that led them to be targets of bullies,' Ms Underwood said. An emotionless Ethan Couch was photographed on Friday for the first time since arriving back in the United States last month. The 18-year-old 'affluenza' teen seemed cold and detached and looked incredibly unkempt with dyed-black hair and a scraggly red beard as he sat for a booking photo at the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department in Texas. From there he was sent to the Tarrant County Lon Evans Correction Center while he awaits his trial. It is an adult jail as opposed to a juvenile facility. Records from the Tarrant County Lon Evans Correctional Center show that Couch was moved to the facility from a juvenile detention center in Fort Worth where he had been held since he was deported from Mexico last month. Couch, who avoided jail time but received ten years' probation after killing four and injuring nine in a 2013 drunk driving accident, will appear in court on February 19 as a judge decides whether he will be tried as an adult after violating his probation and going on the run with his mother in Mexico. Scroll down for video Ethan Couch was seen for the first time since arriving back in the United States as he posed for a booking photo Friday (above) Couch, pictured last month being processed by Mexican immigration officials ahead of his deportation to the US, was moved from a juvenile center to an adult jail in Texas Friday Temporary home: Couch will be house at the Tarrant County Lon Evans Correctional Center pending his next court hearing set for February 19 Deported: On January 28, Couch, pictured with Mexican immigration agents, was placed on a commercial flight and sent back to Texas If he is regarded as an adult, Couch could be jailed for 120 days if he is found to have breached his probation by playing beer pong at a party. AFFLUENZA TEEN'S LEGAL TIMELINE February 19, 2013: Ethan Couch, then 15, is caught in a truck with a naked, unconscious 14-year-old girl. He is sentenced to probation, an alcohol awareness course and community service. June 15, 2013: Couch kills four people in a 70mph DUI crash in Texas. He was more than three times over the blood alcohol limit. December 10, 2013: A judge spares Couch jail and gives him 10 years of probation following his 'affluenza' defense. December 3, 2015: A video emerges appearing to show Couch playing beer pong, which would violate his probation. December 15, 2015: An arrest warrant is issued for Couch after he and his mother, Tonya, go missing. December 28, 2015: Couch and his mother are arrested in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. December 30, 2015: Tonya Couch is deported to the United States. January 28, 2016: Ethan Couch is deported to the United States. Advertisement If he is treated as a child then he could be held in juvenile detention until his 19th birthday in April, when he would be eligible for parole. Friday's move opens up the possibility of Couch being released on bond, an option not available to him in juvenile detention, legal officials said. No bond amount was listed on his online jail records. The transfer came as a result of a judge's order, law enforcement officials said. Couch's attorneys, Scott Brown and Reagan Wynn, did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on the status of the case. Couch was 16 and had a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit for adult drivers when he swerved off a road near Fort Worth and hit a disabled car, killing its driver and three people helping her. Several other people were injured. Breanna Mitchell, 18, had broken down at the side of a highway in Texas and was trying to fix her vehicle alongside Hollie Boyles and her daughter Shelby, who lived nearby, and youth minister Brian Jennings, who had also stopped to help. Couch left the road while traveling at 70mph and hit the group, killing all of them, and paralyzing friend Sergio Molina from the neck down after he was thrown clear of the truck. Couch was sentenced only to probation for the accident in juvenile court. During the sentencing phase in the trial, a defense expert invoked the term 'affluenza' when arguing that Couch's wealthy parents had coddled him into a sense of irresponsibility. In December Couch was apparently filmed playing beer pong while at a party - a likely violation of that order. Cuffed: Couch and his mother, Tonya, were detained in the resort of Puerto Vallarta in December Tonya Couch faces up to 10 years in prison for helping her son flee to Mexico Texas authorities launched an investigation and tried to contact Couch and his mother before revealing they had no idea where the pair were. They were eventually traced to the resort of Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, where they were arrested on December 28. Tonya did not attempt to fight deportation and within days was back in Texas where she posted bail of $75,000 and is now awaiting trial for hindering the apprehension of a felon. Meanwhile, Couch launched an appeal against deportation and has been held in Mexico until today. He dropped that appeal on Monday and his attorney, Scott Brown, hinted that Couch could have been taken to Mexico against his will. Couch did not appear to be being held unlawfully when he was captured and was caught after using a credit card to order pizza. It later emerged that he had been to a strip club while he was on the run with his mother and spent $2,000 on a single night. Tonya Couch faces up to 10 years in prison for helping her son flee to Mexico. Couch was sentenced to 10 years of probation which bars him from drinking or driving after he killed four people while joyriding his father's truck (wreckage pictured) back in 2013 A laptop computer may have hidden the explosives used to blow a hole in the side of a passenger jet flying over Somalia, investigators have said. A source close to the investigation and a Western official based in Mogadishu told CNN that the bomb contained military grade explosives after receiving the initial analysis of residue from the jet. However a US government source warned that such tests have a high false-positive rate and further tests are under way. Horror at 14,000 feet: A explosion ripped a hole in the side of the Airbus A321 just five minutes after it took off from the Somali capital Mogadishu Carnage: In the blast, which ripped open the side of the cabin, one passenger told MailOnline how thick smoke filled the plane and passengers screamed in the chaos Analysts yesterday said that the bomber may have smuggled a bomb on board the plane in his wheelchair before moving to a different seat once on board, a Western diplomat briefed on the investigation told the Wall Street Journal. The flight, which originated in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but had stopped off at Mogadishu Airport, was thought to be flying at between 12,000 and 14,000 ft when the bomber blew a hole in the fuselage. One man was killed when he was sucked out of the Daallo Airlines aircraft mid-flight on Tuesday, and his body was found 30km north of Somalian capital Mogadishu. Blast: A hole measuring six feet by three feet tore through the Airbus A321 fuselage and an elderly passenger in his 60s was sucked out of the cabin Damage: A blast blew a huge hole in the side of the plane just five minutes after it took off from Mogadishu He has been named by local officials as Abdullahi Abdisalam Borleh, 55, from Somaliland, but they did not confirm if he was the suicide bomber. The charred body of a man, who may have fallen from the plane, was found in Balad, 18 miles from Mogadishu. While no claims of responsibility for the attack have been made, experts have named Islamic extremists Al-Shabab as the most likely culprits. The militant group have been behind some of the worst violent attacks in Somalia in recent years. Survivor Hassan Mohamed Nur said the cabin went black and filled with thick smoke as passengers screamed in terror. Mr Nur said the passenger, an elderly man, caught fire before he was sucked from his seat and out of the Airbus A321. I saw the passenger, a man in his early 60s, get sucked out of the plane,' he told MailOnline. 'There was a huge bang. A big hole appeared in the side of the jet and the man disappeared through it. One minute he was sat in his seat, the next it he was gone. Hed been sucked out of the plane. People were screaming. We all thought we were going to die. Two people were injured before the pilot was able to land safely back at Mogadishu Airport. Syed Bokhari (left, with his wife), 28, was handed a nine-month sentence for raiding an electronics shop in Ealing , West London, at the height of the 2011 riots The rabble-rouser who spent his honeymoon at a squalid migrant camp in Calais was jailed for being part of a gang of looters in the 2011 riots, the Daily Mail can reveal. Syed Bokhari was handed a nine-month term for raiding an electronics shop at the height of the unrest, which caused hundreds of millions of pounds in damage across Britain. The 28-year-old former asylum-seeker, who was born in Pakistan, targeted a shop owned by an elderly man who migrated to the UK from India in the 1960s. Today Bokhari supplies food and clothes to the thousands of migrants who wait in the French port to slip illegally into UK-bound lorries and trains. But on his Facebook page, he boasts about his prison term, writing: 'I'm happy to prove to you fools that I ain't no humanitarian.' He was last week exposed as a far-Left activist who has marched alongside anarchist groups whom French police say encourage migrants to riot in Calais. Now the Mail has established that the university graduate was part of a group which stormed Seba Electronics in Ealing, West London. Looters broke through the security shutters before stealing TVs and other luxury electronics worth 200,000. Last night the store owner, 84-year-old Bridj Seghal, called Bokhari a hypocrite and said he should be 'exposed so the migrants know what he is really like'. He said: 'The raid on my shop was highly organised and the whole place was destroyed. I was on the other side of the road as they cleared out the shop. There was nothing I could do to stop them. He talks about wanting to help migrants on the one hand but on the other hand is trying to steal from one.' Bokhari pleaded guilty to entering the shop as a trespasser with intent to steal at Thames magistrates' court in August 2013. He was then jailed for nine months by a judge a Wood Green Crown Court. Bokhari was last week exposed as a far-Left activist who has marched alongside anarchist groups whom French police say encourage migrants to riot in Calais (pictured, migrants storm towards the port of Calais) Since his release, he has repeatedly called on his followers to attend far-Left demonstrations where he has stirred up the crowd with incendiary rants alongside his German wife Mona Dohle. On his Facebook page, he wrote: 'Two years ago the state made the mistake of letting me out of their dungeons. Couple of years down the line my life is back on track but they won't leave me to live it out in peace. '[I'm] still revolutionary there might not be a Bolshevik party but I'm still a Bolshevik. Two years ago the state made the mistake of letting me out of their dungeons. Couple of years down the line my life is back on track but they won't leave me to live it out in peace Syed Bokhari on his Facebook page Anyone who wants to [say] 'Syed [is] just a charity worker now' I'm happy to prove to you fools that I ain't no humanitarian.' He concludes his rant by saying: 'A big f*** you to the Met police, Special Branch, MI5, GCHQ, the whole of France, David Cameron and the Conservatives.' Bokhari and his bride were lionised in the Communist newspaper Morning Star for spending their honeymoon visiting migrants at the squalid Jungle camp at Calais. The pair run an organisation called London2Calais, which supplies food and clothes for migrants from the Middle East and Africa who are trying to reach the UK from the French port. Last November he was detained under the Terrorism Act 2000 for three hours for questioning by British police working in Calais. 'We are routinely delayed, questioned and treated like criminals because of the solidarity we bring to refugees stuck in The Jungle in Calais,' he said at the time. His wife, a multi-lingual journalist who works for a British financial and investment publishing company, has complained on social media that she is being watched by Special Branch and was recently questioned by British border police in Calais when her German passport was temporarily taken from her for examination. Today Bokhari supplies food and clothes to the thousands of migrants who wait in the French port to slip illegally into UK-bound lorries and trains (pictured, migrants at a camp in Calais) Earlier this month, during a protest against government immigration policy outside the Eurostar terminal at London St Pancras, Miss Dohle told a crowd of banner-waving London2Calais supporters: 'David Cameron and Theresa May, they're killing people, and that's something we can't accept.' Bokhari's communist leanings were evident during his years as a politics student at Sussex University when he described himself as a 'revolutionary agitator'. In his third year he was suspended over allegations that he held senior staff hostage during a protest. He was also heavily involved in the Muslim Defence League, which is dedicated to fighting Islamophobia, racism and fascism, until he was banned from the organisation. Valizadeh lives in the basement of his mother's house in Silver Spring, MD, and today called in a private security guard The self-styled 'King of Masculinity' has called in his own private security guard after claiming he had been threatened Roosh Valizadeh, who used a blog post - which he later said was satirical - to say that if a woman was on private property she could be legitimately raped, hired the bodyguard as global revulsion over his views grew. When Daily Mail Online attempted to speak to Valizadeh at his mother's basement where he is in hiding, his guard leaped up and warned our reporter off. He said: 'I can't let you go there. I have got to protect him and myself. Nobody is going near his door.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Closely guarded: Daryush 'Roosh' Valizadeh, 36 - the self-proclaimed 'king of masculinity' - hired a security guard and refused to emerge from his home today. He claims to have received threats over a blog attacked by critics as 'pro-rape' Disheveled: This was the scene yesterday when. dressed in a t-shirt with sweat-stained armpits, and shorts, Daryush Valizadeh was seen for the first time since the storm erupted over his 'pro-rape' views He said Valizadeh, 36, was not at home, but the bodyguard's cell phone rang twice during the conversation and a voice could be heard saying: 'Don't tell him anything.' The man dubbed a 'hateful misogynist' had already called in police to protect him claiming he had received death threats, mainly from around the US, Canada, Australia and the UK, where 80,000 people signed a petition to have him banned from entering under hate laws. But local police have declined to offer him round-the-clock security and stayed only a few minutes after he dialed 911 from the basement of his mother's house where he is in hiding. Today, he was the targeted by Twitter followers who questioned how he could celebrate his so called masculinity and claim he is an international 'Don Juan' and still live under his mother's roof. One wrote: 'Did your mother make you change T-shirts at least. Sweat stains are hardly threatening.' Another asked: 'Did you tell mom if you will be home for dinner or not?' A separate Twitter writer said: 'How are you getting there? Is your mum letting you borrow the mini van? Don't forget to be home by curfew.' When Daily Mail Online called at his home yesterday an elderly woman answered the door, denying she was his mother and that she was the 'house cleaner'. She said Valizadeh was not home and that she did not speak English. She then ran her finger over her sealed lips before closing the door. But Valizadeh emerged in his stained T shirt and shorts minutes later when police answered his call. He told officers that he had only written an article which critics say condones rape to gain attention but hadn't expected so much focus and was frightened. Valizadeh, 36,is on record as advocating women be banned from voting, describing a woman's value as dependent on her 'fertility and beauty', and stating that women with eating disorders make the best girlfriends. But in a highly criticized blog he said a woman could be legally raped if the attack happened on private property. He told police he'd written it in early 2015 and had since put a disclaimer on the piece saying it was satire. But asked when he had added the disclaimer he admitted it had been placed only the day before. The internet geek, who has written a series of books teaching what he says is the best way for men to use their testosterone to bed women, likes to portray himself as an global businessman. Valizadeh, who used the alias Roosh, said he was cancelling the worldwide city weekend meetings of his followers after the threats. Not going according to plan: Valizadeh claimed the would hold a press conference tomorrow, but some Twitter users wanted to ask questions before he was ready to give answers The Scottish city of Glasgow appeared was claimed to be the source of a particularly large backlash against the self-proclaimed King of Masculinity. It is unclear if this was what had prompted his decision to hire a security guard The meetings had been planned for Saturday and he had banned homosexual men from attending as well as all women. If a pretty girl approached a man attending, his advice online to followers was 'Get her number and then tell her to buzz off. Do not allow women to attend the meeting.' He said he could 'no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend'. In a statement he posted online, he apologized to his supporters and said they would be let down. But he was widely mocked and described by some as 'Roosh the Douche'. Valizadeh graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in microbiology and soon after started a local blog called DC Bachelor His first book called Bang was 'a textbook for picking up girls and getting laid.' He wrote several other books with the word 'Bang' in the title such as 'Day Bang'. In America, he was placed on a 'misogyny list' by the social justice organization Southern Poverty Law Center. But Valizadeh celebrates the title given to him when he visited Romania of 'World Don Juan.' The U.K. government has called for him to be 'ridiculed' and welcomed the cancellation of his meetings. Both Canada and Australian governments also condemned his organization for its views on women. As he likes to be seen: This is the image Valizadeh likes to portray of himself, when not in hiding protected by a security guard This is the heartwarming moment a California doctor and his patient played violin and guitar together before going into surgery. Dr William Sloan, a physician at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital, asked patient Sergio Vigilato, if he wanted to play a duet together after he had become nervous ahead of his surgery. As they sat in the pre-operation room last month, the pair were captured on video as they made music - an act that ultimately led to Vigilato getting over his fear of hospitals. Scroll down for video This is the heartwarming moment a California doctor and his patient played violin and guitar together before going into surgery last month Patient Sergio Vigilato had become nervous before undergoing an operation when Dr William Sloan asked if he wanted to play a 'soothing duet' Vigilato recalled with tears in his eyes how a little over a month ago Dr Sloan used an analogy at the time to help calm him about his upcoming surgery, according to CBS Los Angeles. The urologist told him, 'Sergio, don't worry, your body is like a fine instrument, I'll tune it.' However, Dr Sloan had one request for his patient. 'I said, "Look, if you don't bring your guitar to surgery, the surgery is going to be canceled,"' Sloan told the musician. Only minutes before undergoing surgery, he played a soothing duet with Dr Sloan, who said it was a first in his pre-operation room. Vigilato recalled with tears in his eyes (left) how a little over a month ago Dr Sloan used an analogy at the time to help calm him about his upcoming surgery. Dr Sloan told him: 'Sergio, don't worry, your body is like a fine instrument, I'll tune it' However, Dr Sloan (pictured) had one request for his patient ahead of surgery - he told him to bring his guitar to the surgery or it would be cancelled 'I never had a patient that could play in the operating room,' he told CBS Los Angeles. Director of Surgery Brian Gold captured the moment on his cellphone as the duet ended with a round of applause from staff. 'It happened literally in the gurney, in the pre-op area, and even he went on that same gurney into the OR,' Gold told CBS Los Angeles. Now that he has been rid of his fear of hospitals, Vigilato, who calls the hospital a 'happy place', hopes to return there soon to play for other patients. The hospital wrote on Facebook that they are 'moved and inspired' by relationships like Dr Sloan's and Vigilato's that 'heal the mind, body and soul.' Only minutes before undergoing surgery, Vigilato played a soothing duet with Dr Sloan, who said it was a first in his pre-operation room The hospital shared the video of the duet on Facebook and said they are 'moved and inspired' by relationships like those between Dr Sloan and Vigilato They shared the video of the pair playing together on January 16 which has been viewed nearly 16,000 times since. The video was flooded with comments from people who praised the hospital and Dr Sloan. 'Such a wonderful thing to do for a doctor before the procedure being done to his patient. God bless you Dr. Sloan. I may not know you but I feel that your heart is pure,' Melba Obinguar Macauling wrote. Another person wrote applauding how the hospital takes great care of its patients. Said by its makers to offer 'a superb balance of refinement and capability', the Range Rover Vogue SE is one of the most sought-after luxury vehicles on the market and the shiny new three-litre model delivered to Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe last autumn was no exception. It boasted an array of state-of-the-art features, including a 2,215 'phone kit' and a 1,000 backseat television system to allow the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to watch Sky News while being chauffeur-driven around the capital. All told, the vehicle cost British taxpayers a cool 65,000. The purchase, at a time when Sir Bernard was complaining about proposed budget cuts (which, he claimed, could mean the loss of 8,000 officers), duly generated a controversy when it was made public last month. Yet it also helped send a message: that here was a successful police chief at the peak of his powers, who expected to remain at the helm of Britain's largest police force for a long time to come. Before Christmas, The Times had reported 'two separate sources close to Sir Bernard' saying that he expected soon to be granted a three-year extension to his 280,000-per-year contract Before Christmas, The Times had reported 'two separate sources close to Sir Bernard' saying that he expected soon to be granted a three-year extension to his 280,000-per-year contract. Such a move, it was pointed out, would make Hogan-Howe, who was appointed in 2011, the longest-serving Commissioner in modern history, overtaking his revered predecessor, Sir Paul Condon, who served for seven years during the Nineties. Not bad for a working-class boy from Sheffield, who'd been raised by a single mother and cut his professional teeth on the front line of the miner's strike in his native South Yorkshire. But that was then. A few weeks down the line, the view from the expensively upholstered seats of 58-year-old Sir Bernard's high-end Range Rover looks considerably less rosy. As, to be brutally honest, do his long-term job prospects. To blame is the growing stench of scandal surrounding Operation Midland, the Metropolitan Police's shambolic inquiry into VIP child sex abuse and murder. One of the most high-profile investigations in the history of British policing, it was this week revealed by the Mail to be on the verge of a deeply humiliating collapse. Although Sir Bernard authorised no fewer than 27 officers to spend 14 months on the operation at a cost of more than 2 million they have been unable to find a shred of significant evidence to justify its protracted existence. To informed observers, this is hardly surprising. Operation Midland, launched with great fanfare in late 2014, revolved almost entirely around a single witness known only as 'Nick', who claimed he'd been sexually assaulted by an Establishment paedophile ring in the Seventies and Eighties. The group's alleged members, he claimed, included the former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, the late Home Secretary Leon Brittan, the D-Day hero Lord Bramall, ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor, and the heads of MI5 and MI6. These men, who between them controlled the British security system, had, according to the mysterious 'Nick', secretly murdered at least three victims. Operation Midland revolved almost entirely around a single witness known only as 'Nick', who claimed he'd been sexually assaulted by an Establishment paedophile ring in the Seventies and Eighties. The group's alleged members included the late Home Secretary Leon Brittan (pictured with his wife - now his widow - Lady Diana Brittan) It also included D-Day hero Lord Bramall (pictured with the Queen in August 1995) One was supposedly a boy who was stabbed to death with a penknife 'over a period of 40 minutes' during a sex party at Dolphin Square, a block of luxury flats near Parliament. Another young boy is meant to have been mowed down by a car in broad daylight during a hit-and-run attack in Kingston upon Thames, between May and July 1979. A third was supposedly killed during a depraved assault at a different sex party. It was sensational stuff. But behind the headlines, there was one big problem: 'Nick' was unable to provide even the slightest piece of corroborating evidence to support his outlandish claims. Strangely unbothered by this fact, Hogan-Howe's Scotland Yard decided, in December 2014, to authorise Operation Midland's lead detective, Kenny McDonald, to give a TV interview describing 'Nick's' testimony as 'credible and true'. Then, over the ensuing months, his officers conducted highly publicised raids on the homes of Lord Brittan, Lord Bramall and Harvey Proctor. They interviewed the latter two under caution. Unsurprisingly, given that this is believed to be the first murder investigation in the history of the criminal justice system to have been opened without either the existence of a body or anyone knowing who had been killed, no significant evidence whatsoever was forthcoming. As the months went by and Midland began to look more and more misguided, supporters of the accused men started complaining, loudly, that they had been wrongly smeared by association with the operation. Then, in September 2015, Hogan-Howe's force issued a 1,200-word statement admitting it had been wrong to describe the unsupported allegations as 'credible and true'. Days earlier, the Mail had revealed that officers close to the inquiry had 'grave doubts' about 'Nick' and believed him to be a Walter Mitty fantasist who had made up his story of abuse and murder. The following month, the force released another lengthy statement saying it had 'serious concerns' about a Panorama documentary which shed further light on the outlandish nature of Nick's claims. This statement failed to prevent the programme from being aired. On the eve of its broadcast, Scotland Yard grudgingly admitted that Leon Brittan had been exonerated of a separate rape claim made by another suspected fantasist called 'Jane'. The news came too late for Lord Brittan. He had died nine months earlier without that shadow being lifted from him or his family. In September 2015, Hogan-Howe's force issued a 1,200-word statement admitting it had been wrong to describe the unsupported allegations as 'credible and true' Days earlier, the Mail had revealed that officers close to the inquiry had 'grave doubts' about 'Nick' and believed him to be a Walter Mitty fantasist who had made up his story of abuse and murder Intriguingly, a review into the Met's investigation of 'Jane's' claims was published this week. It controversially exonerated Hogan-Howe's force, describing her as a 'credible' and 'compelling witness' and failed to mention the fact that she in fact had a history of mental illness and of making false abuse claims, and is a Labour Party activist. With this in mind, Tory grandee David Mellor dubbed the supposedly 'independent' review (carried out by officers from Dorset police) a 'whitewash' which 'insulted the intelligence of people who believe in justice'. Last month, Lord Bramall learned that he, too, will not face charges over Operation Midland. However, the Met has refused, despite growing pressure, to say sorry for its heavy-handed investigation instead putting out a self-serving 890-word statement which contained not a single word of apology. The only living 'suspect' who has not yet been cleared is Harvey Proctor, but he is expected to be formally told this month that he faces no charges. All of which means that Operation Midland will be effectively scrapped without having identified a single criminal, or even having confirmed that a crime (as described by 'Nick') actually took place. It is, all told, an utter shambles. And while Hogan-Howe and his advisers are duly preparing another statement to announce the failure of the inquiry, Nicholas Soames, the Tory MP, warned this week: 'No slimy PR spin from the Met will ever disguise its repulsively dishonourable treatment of Lords Bramall and Brittan and Harvey Proctor.' Neither will it be able to answer another pertinent question: why did the Commissioner decide, at a time of rising crime and diminishing resources, to devote huge resources to such bizarre and apparently flawed claims? According to figures released under Freedom of Information, the 14-month inquiry burned through 1.8 million in staff costs in its first year alone. This did not include the cost of travel, equipment and expert advice, and it's not clear if it even covered Midland's overtime bill. Operation Midland will be effectively scrapped without having identified a single criminal, or even having confirmed that a crime (as described by 'Nick') actually took place. It is, all told, an utter shambles Nicholas Soames, the Tory MP, warned this week: 'No slimy PR spin from the Met will ever disguise its repulsively dishonourable treatment of Lords Bramall and Brittan and Harvey Proctor In light of such profligacy, it will not be lost on Londoners that, during the past year, murders in the capital increased by more than 25 per cent, violent crime by almost 18 per cent to more than 200,000 incidents, rape by almost 9 per cent to 5,415 (15 a day) and other sexual offences went up by 15 pc. Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, has to this end complained of 'experienced detectives [being] taken off murder squads . . . and put into teams dealing with historic sex allegations'. Yet even if Sir Bernard manages to explain the decision to put 27 detectives on Operation Midland, it's difficult to see how he can also defend the extraordinarily botched nature of the investigation they subsequently pursued. On Thursday, Radio 4 aired an interview with Field Marshal Lord Bramall which laid bare a staggering failure by detectives to properly deal with what he called the 'absurd' case. The 92-year-old war hero told how more than 20 officers had raided his rural home at breakfast time, in the presence of his dying wife, before interviewing him under caution six weeks later. So preposterous were 'Nick's' allegations, he said, that 'if it hadn't been so serious, I felt like roaring with laughter. I just don't see how a level-headed policeman could have believed one word of it, without corroboration, which he didn't bother to get.' Instead, Bramall said: 'It was I who had to prove I couldn't have done it.' In one surreal moment, he revealed that an interrogating officer had asked the retired soldier (who helped secure the beaches of Normandy in 1944) if he could swim. When he replied in the affirmative, the officer's face 'lit up' since he apparently considered that to be evidence that Bramall might have attended a sex party in a swimming pool. More worrying still was the fact that Radio 4's reporter Alistair Jackson was, in a matter of days, able to identify a number of demonstrable untruths in 'Nick's' evidence, some of which Hogan-Howe's 27 full-time detectives had apparently failed to turn up in more than a year. 'Nick' had, for example, accused Lord Bramall of abusing him at Imber Village, a Wiltshire military facility, in 1975. That's hardly likely: at the time, the Field Marshal was actually serving in Hong Kong. Jackson also quickly found two key witnesses who immediately provided compelling evidence of Bramall's innocence. Both said it had taken ten months for detectives working on Operation Midland to bother to make any contact with them. On Thursday, Radio 4 aired an interview with Field Marshal Lord Bramall which laid bare a staggering failure by detectives to properly deal with what he called the 'absurd' case During this time, of course, a terrible cloud of suspicion hung over the Field Marshal's head. Nor are these the only blunders. A third potential witness, who would also have exonerated Bramall, has never been contacted. And neither, extraordinarily, has 'Nick's' ex-wife. A casual observer might wonder what, precisely, the 27 detectives have bothered to do with their time. Hogan-Howe, for his part, has never sought to justify the high-profile raids on the homes of Bramall, Proctor or Brittan. He has instead appeared to devote himself to the politically expedient business of avoiding any scrutiny whatsoever over the botched investigation. In October, for example, he refused to appear before the Home Affairs Select Committee to discuss his force's treatment of Lord Brittan. MPs were told he was away on 'operational police business'. It later emerged that the Commissioner had actually flown to Oman to give a 20-minute speech at a conference on security at a five-star hotel. Tim Loughton, a Conservative member of the committee, said: 'I would question Bernard Hogan-Howe's sense of priorities. He should have attended the Select Committee hearing instead of going to a conference held at a luxury hotel in Oman.' Last month, meanwhile, his force was accused of attempting to 'bury' news that Lord Bramall would not be charged by releasing details to the media without warning at 8.27 pm on a Friday, a claim the Met denies. The move came despite an explicit request that afternoon from Bramall's lawyer, Drew Pettifer, for his innocent client to be given 48 hours to prepare himself for the announcement. The Met claims it 'would not have been practical' to delay releasing the information, and denies any cynical media manipulation. Since then, Hogan-Howe has continued to devote himself to avoiding public scrutiny. According to reports, Sir Bernard pulled out of an appearance at the Davos economic forum last month because of fears that it would attract criticism when the Met was under fire. Last month, meanwhile, his force was accused of attempting to 'bury' news that Lord Bramall would not be charged by releasing details to the media without warning at 8.27 pm on a Friday, a claim the Met denies According to reports, Sir Bernard pulled out of an appearance at the Davos economic forum last month because of fears that it would attract criticism when the Met was under fire At first the Met was reluctant to discuss his late withdrawal with the Daily Mail. A press officer laughed off the question about why he had not turned up. Days later, a spokesman told another newspaper which had got wind of his non-appearance: 'The Commissioner was on a pre-planned period of annual leave in Europe last week. He had intended, during his time away, to attend a panel discussion on cybercrime at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday January 22, to which he had been invited. 'During his annual leave it was necessary for the commissioner to spend considerable amounts of time dealing with urgent [police] business, including discussions about Operation Midland, and as a result of this workload the decision was taken to cancel the visit to Davos.' All of which means that the Commissioner has not been properly cross-examined about Midland since September. Back then, he blithely described it as 'a very thorough and professional inquiry'. That's one way of putting it though we might also wonder why none of the 27 detectives on Operation Midland appear to have twigged that 'Nick' had, a few years ago, appeared on a TV documentary under a different pseudonym, claiming (again with no evidence) to have been a victim of Jimmy Savile. We should mention here that 'Nick' also claims to have witnessed Edward Heath persuading Harvey Proctor not to castrate him with a penknife, and to have been trafficked out of England in a private jet to be abused by Saudi royals in Paris. The taxpayer will be glad to hear that after a fruitless search of airfields from where he was supposedly spirited out of the UK, Scotland Yard has abandoned that line of inquiry. The Commissioner has not been properly cross-examined about Midland since September. Back then, he blithely described it as 'a very thorough and professional inquiry' Does Hogan-Howe intend to take responsibility for presiding over such a shambles? Who knows. In response to a series of questions from the Mail about his stewardship of Operation Midland, Scotland Yard yesterday released a statement attempting to distance him from its blunders. 'On most days, the Commissioner meets with members of his senior team and is briefed on many issues,' it read. 'Decision-making on individual cases is down to the investigative lead so it is wrong to suggest the Commissioner is driving the decision-making of investigations including approving searches . . . drafting letters, or agreeing what officers will or will not say publicly.' The Met are entitled to their view. But some might argue that, when it comes to dealing with very serious allegations against a former Prime Minister and an ex-Home Secretary, the ex-Chief of the Armed Forces and the one-time heads of MI5 and MI6 that 'driving the decision-making' is exactly what Hogan-Howe is supposed to do. He surely isn't paid 280,000 a year to merely rubber-stamp misguided decisions by junior officers. To critics, Hogan-Howe's increasingly slippery behaviour therefore represents an abject failure of leadership. Little wonder, perhaps, that General Sir Mike Jackson, another former head of the British Army, should have this week described Hogan-Howe as 'that wretched man'. Yet the Commissioner's apparent dislike of being held to account is, at the very least, true to form. He is, after all, the police chief who spent around 14 million on Operation Elveden a highly controversial investigation into the payment of whistleblowers and other public officials (especially police sources) by journalists. No fewer than 70 detectives were assigned to the inquiry, and 62 journalists were arrested. Yet despite 29 being charged as a result, only one case went to trial resulting in a conviction though not a jail sentence which is now being appealed. (One other reporter pleaded guilty under a 13th-century law of misconduct in public office, and received a suspended sentence.) Several high-profile and expensive trials ended in acquittals. Since taking office in 2011, Hogan-Howe has also effectively criminalised all contact between his officers and journalists. Indeed, police risk losing their jobs if they have coffee with a journalist without logging details at HQ. (How different things were during his rise up the force ladder, when he had close dealings with several reporters.) So draconian are the rules Hogan-Howe has introduced to prevent stories about the Met from leaking that officers say they must file a report if they bump into a reporter on a train and have a polite conversation. In 2014, meanwhile, the Met chief used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act a piece of legislation supposedly intended to help catch terrorists to access phone records of a Sun journalist in an effort to find the identity of a police source who briefed about the Plebgate scandal, in which Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell was accused of verbally abusing Downing Street police. Hogan-Howe, for his part, has never sought to justify the high-profile raids on the homes of Bramall, Proctor or Brittan Many, of course, wonder if this draconian approach to the media has been enforced to prevent the Met from coming under proper scrutiny, and to keep public interest scandals (such as the growing furore over Operation Midland) under wraps. Certainly, there is a perception that Hogan-Howe has exploited the chilling effect of the post-hacking scandal Leveson Inquiry for his own benefit. Unlike his predecessors, he refuses to meet crime journalists for a Q&A session on a monthly basis. Sometimes they have to wait five or six months to put him on the spot about issues of real importance. Whether this will save his skin will become clear in the coming weeks and months. In that time, Sir Bernard is likely to meet Lord Brittan's widow to explain why his detectives pursued unfounded claims against the peer. One wonders what will go through her mind when she finally gets to look him in the eye. The period should also, finally, see him face cross-examination at the hands of the Home Affairs Select Committee. After that, Theresa May, the Home Secretary, will announce whether she intends to renew his contract. The chances of him securing the three-year deal mooted last autumn would already appear to have shrunk considerably, since London Mayor Boris Johnson last week recommended that he should instead get just a year's extension. That news prompted Mr Proctor to declare: 'The Home Secretary should not be giving him a contract extension, she should be sacking him or seeking his resignation.' Mr Proctor, by way of a final cloud on Hogan-Howe's horizon, is publishing a revelatory memoir of his experiences at the hands of Operation Midland in April. It is unlikely to be very complimentary. And it's yet another reason why Britain's most powerful police officer may soon find himself having to pay for his own 65,000 Range Rover. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders had their most passionate debate of the 2016 election cycle last night in Durham, New Hampshire. Most Americans weren't watching, though, according to CNN money, which reports that the MSNBC-sponsored talk fest had just 4.5 million viewers. That's a new low for Democratic debates this year, coming in below this cycle's other New Hampshire debate in December, the weekend before Christmas, that ABC News put on. The MSNBC-sponsored talk fest in New Hampshire had just 4.5 million viewers, a new low for a Democratic debate this cycle Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders had their most passionate debate but no one was watching The ABC News debate and others sanctioned by the Democratic Party were on the schedules for weeks, if not months, in advance, however. The one hosted by MSNBC last night was last-minute, with negotiations dragging out between the candidates until the day before. Sanders said he'd participate if Clinton agreed to a debate in Brooklyn, New York, his birth place and her campaign headquarters. She balked and for a time it was unclear if he would back out. Clinton called his bluff and predicted that he'd show up with the New Hampshire primary just around the corner. New Hampshire votes on Tuesday in the first primary of the 2016 election cycle. Sanders is expected to score a win, possibly in the double-digits, as a lawmaker from a neighboring state. In the end they both agreed to come and MSNBC put on a show that was highly lauded by political observers. It 'was easily the best of the campaign so far,' wrote Taegan Goddard on his Political Wire blog. For what is likely a combination of reasons, regular viewers didn't show up for the entire thing. At a Sanders event today in Manchester, New Hampshire, two young, undecided attendees said they tuned in and out of the debate because the candidates seemed to be repeating themselves. 'They went a bit more in depth, but at the same time, they went more off track,' one of them, Rhode Island resident Thomas Mancini, said. The candidates seemed to be 'splitting hairs' over who was more progressive and and saying 'the same things a different way,' he said, as his girlfriend, nodded in agreement. The debate was last-minute, with negotiations dragging out between the candidates until the day before, giving MSNBC fewer days to promote it than the network would have otherwise had Regardless of the reason, the MSNBC debate wasn't a hit and had half the viewers of one that aired on its parent network, NBC, in January, which clocked in at 10.2 million. Several past GOP debates featuring undercard candidates that aired in the early evening even did better, Politico pointed out. Even when he's not been on stage, however, Donald Trump has been the star of the GOP debates, pushing viewership for the first one that aired during prime time up to a record-setting 25 million viewers. Democratic debates have included far less fireworks - before last night that is - and viewers may have preemptively tuned out. Wyomings overall K-12 enrollment is up from last year, but some individual districts have seen losses, putting pressure on some of the states most vulnerable schools. Enrollment determines the amount of state funds a district is given from the School Foundation, the block grant that guarantees funding for schools according to the number of students attending. With Wyoming facing budget cuts, including a possible $45 million over the next two years to the K-12 School Foundation Account, many fear their schools will take a double hit, losing money from state cuts and from declining enrollment. This year, 94,002 students attended K-12 public schools in Wyoming, as of an enrollment snapshot on Oct. 1, according to the Wyoming Department of Education. Thats up from 93,303 students in the 2014-15 school year. However, for smaller districts the funding that comes with each student represents a greater percentage of the overall budget. Enrollment is down this year for Big Horn County School District No. 3, a district of 520 students. They lost 19 students from last year, which accounts for about $17,000 per student for the district budget, said Superintendent Barry Bryant. The decline in student numbers does not spell immediate doom for districts, thanks to a safety net in the Wyoming funding model. School districts are given money based on the greater of two numbers the previous year's average attendance, or the average attendance over the last three years. The caveat exists to protect school budgets from sudden drops in enrollment. But districts such as Big Horn are still nervous. Big Horn is the fourth-poorest district in the state, after the districts on the Wind River Reservation, Bryant said. Dependent on the bentonite industry and the railroad, district officials have seen the evidence of a decline in industry and fear a continuation of the same, he said. Its gonna hurt us," he said. "Weve been hurting from the last three years." Fremont County School District No. 38 in Arapahoe, on the Wind River Reservation, lost 20 students, leaving them with 426 enrolled this year. The departments numbers do not account for enrollment declines that continued after the October count. Lincoln County School District No. 1 was down by 27 students in October, but has lost 12 more since then, said Superintendent Teresa Chaulk. The district had 631 students enrolled last year and 592 as of Thursday. Still, across the state, large declines in enrollment due to the oil, gas and natural resources bust are yet to be seen in the yearly totals. Hot Springs County School District No. 1 gained 49 students since last years count, as did many others such as Sublette County No. 1, Park County No. 1 and Campbell County No. 1. The largest districts in Wyoming, Laramie County No. 1 and Natrona County No. 1 have seen increases over the last year. Laramie County had 13,761 students in 2014-15. That district has 14,029 students this year, according to the department. Natrona Countys enrollment increase is modest, with only 23 more students this year. Sloppy practice by the criminal record checking service is putting innocent people at risk of being mistaken for paedophiles, a damning inquiry has found. Such an error could result in a person being wrongly barred from working with children, potentially ruining their career. Failures by the Disclosure and Barring Service could also lead to officials missing the past convictions of a sex offender seeking a job in a school or hospital. Sloppy practice by the criminal record checking service is putting innocent people at risk of being mistaken for paedophiles, a damning inquiry has found (file picture) Inspectors found staff used loose papers, which they are in danger of muddling up, meaning the wrong information could end up in a file. These critical weaknesses make a mockery of the checks, intended to protect children and vulnerable adults from dangerous criminals. The audit of the DBS which deals with more than four million cases a year exposed an unacceptable level of risk. It also reveals so-called all hands incidents when staff scramble to search for a lost file and are ordered to do no other work until it is found. The handling of paper files was inconsistent and could lead to loss or damage (e.g. loose papers placed inside), the report published by the Home Office warns. Users seem to be working on a number of files at any one time which leads to multiple case files on their desks. There is a risk that users may muddle up the papers and the wrong information could end up in a file and potentially lead to barring decisions being made on incorrect data. The DBS, which replaced the Criminal Records Bureau, receives around half of its applications for checks on paper. Officials have examined plans to switch to a paperless operation but no decision has been taken. The audit was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which was sent into the DBS to review its use of data. It concluded changes are needed as a high priority. The Home Office categorises this as critical weaknesses that would result in serious risks and/or an unacceptable level of risk to the delivery of objectives. Josie Appleton, of the Manifesto Club which campaigns for less regulation in everyday life, said last night: These sloppy practices would be fitting of a car rental company, not a quasi-judicial organisation with powers to bar people from large sections of the workforce. MOTHER LABELLED VIOLENT DRUG ADDICT AFTER APPLYING FOR CHECKS Amanda Hodgson was wrongly branded a violent junkie after applying for a CRB check A mother volunteering to help at her childrens school was wrongly branded a violent junkie. Weeks after applying to the Criminal Records Bureau the DBSs predecessor Amanda Hodgson received a letter claiming she was a recovering heroin addict who had assaulted police. When I first read the letter, I didnt fully understand, she said. I was horrified when I realised. I have done nothing wrong. The mother of two had applied to be the schools welfare assistant after staff said she would be perfect for the role. But the CRB sent her the record of a criminal with the same name and date of birth. It told Mrs Hodgson, from Preston, it was up to her to prove her innocence. The CRB investigated but said it could not be sure she was not the person named in the report. Mrs Hodgson showed she had only taken that surname after marrying in 1993, four years after the first offences she was accused of. But even this was not sufficient proof. Her fingerprints had to be checked against all unsolved UK crimes, before she was finally cleared to volunteer. Advertisement A decision to bar someone can have a catastrophic effect on someones career and life. Even if errors are successfully rectified this can take some months and the damage can be done. Since its inception, the barring system has had big questions around it about the professional judgment of the case workers and the fairness and thoroughness The fact they are losing evidence and potentially mixing up files can only add to these concerns. DBS checks were introduced after the 2002 murder of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman by school caretaker Ian Huntley in Soham. Past allegations against the killer were missed by the authorities. Last year 4.1million people were vetted, the most since 2010/11 when the figure was 4.3million. The total fees charged for the checks rose to a record 146.4million in 2014/15, up 11 per cent in 12 months. The inquirys revelations will infuriate charities and schools which rely on the checks to keep their users safe. Critics say the DBS is doing far too much work, rather than focusing on key jobs making mix-ups more likely. Ministers have failed in a pledge to cut the number of checks being carried out. Freedom of Information requests by the Manifesto Club found that in 2014/15 there were 199 checks on volunteer bellringers, 726 on choir members, 57 on grandparent volunteers and 23 on flower arrangers. There were 24,935 checks on parent volunteers in schools. The Manifesto Club said the norm should be that parent volunteers are not checked, unless there are unusual circumstances or particular suspicions. More than 2,000 people died last year under Belgiums euthanasia laws The number of people to die by euthanasia in Belgium has more than doubled in just five years, new figures have shown. More than 2,000 people died last year under the countrys euthanasia laws, which cover children as well as adults, and which allow people to be killed without giving consent. The rapid increase in the euthanasia total mirrors the rate of euthanasia in neighbouring Holland, where mercy killing laws were brought in in 2002, a year before those in Belgium. The figures provoked fresh warnings in Britain over the risks of any shift of the law here in the same direction. Anti-euthanasia campaigner and former government adviser on terrorism Lord Carlile said: I am shocked by these figures in Belgium. They show a poorly compliant ethical regime which ought to be examined. There is a real danger that elderly vulnerable people in particular are having their rights violated. The newly-released figures show that, from less than 300 in 2003, the year the countrys euthanasia law was introduced, numbers of those who died by euthanasia in Belgium reached 2,021 last year. The level was higher than 2,000 for the first time and more than double the 954 recorded in 2010. The real total of euthanasia deaths may be higher still. Professor Wim Distelmans, the doctor who heads of the Belgian governments euthanasia commission, suggested there were probably more cases of euthanasia than indicated by the figures because such deaths were under-reported. Remember, there could be some euthanasia cases carried out but which are not declared so we cannot say for certain what the position is, Dr Distelmans said. In the Netherlands, euthanasia deaths followed a similar pattern. Few cases were recorded in the early years after the legalisation of euthanasia, but from 2008 numbers rose at a rate of around 15 per cent each year, and such deaths are expected to pass the 6,000 mark this year. British MPs voted heavily against an Assisted Dying Bill in the the Commons last year, with the idea that doctors could be permitted to presribe poisons to kill their patients rejected by 336 votes to 118. But the courts in this country continue to lean in favour of laws permitting assisted dying. Assisted suicide laws were transformed after former DPP and now Labour MP Sir Keir Starmer brought in new prosecution guidelines at the request of Law Lords. These effectively mean that no-one who helps someone to die will be prosecuted for assisting a suicide, a crime that carries a 14-year maximum sentence, unless they did so for financial reasons. The Supreme Court which replaced the Law Lords suggested in 2014 that a special court could be set up in which judges would have the power to decide case by case whether someone can be helped to die. In Belgium euthanasia is used increasingly on people with depression or non-terminal conditions. Those killed include deaf twins Marc and Eddy Verbessem, 45, who were granted their wish to die in December 2012 after they learned they were likely to go blind. Last year Nancy Verhelst, 44, a transsexual, was also killed by euthanasia after doctors botched her sex change operation, leaving her with physical deformities she felt made her look like a monster. Assaults on doctors is an increasing A grieving woman turned on medical staff and attacked them after her relative died in a hospital in Hainan province, southern China. Despite their best efforts, doctors couldn't save the life of 72-year-old Wang who suffered a heart attack on January 29, the People's Daily Online reports. Upon hearing the news, a female relative of the deceased became aggressive and stormed into the hospital on February 2 with three other family members to attack relevant medical staff. Angry: The woman attacked the doctor after becoming angry after her relative died of a heart attack The CCTV footage shows family members speaking with a doctor before the woman in a yellow coat starts beating the man with her handbag at around 10am. Some of the doctor's colleagues attempt to help him but get kicked and punched by the woman in the process. The doctor manages to make an escape before being chased by the woman. Hospital officials say that five medical staff were injured in the attack and one doctor was treated for concussion. Police attended the scene and restored order at the hospital. The hospital held a press conference yesterday releasing a statement saying that while they sympathised with the relatives, people should always try and resolve issues rationally rather than resorting to violence. According to China Daily, there are increasing cases of doctors being attacked in China as people look for someone to blame after the death of a relative. In 2014, a nurse in Nanjing, eastern China was paralysed after the parents of a patient were unhappy with the treatment their daughter had received. It's not every day you see 'giant panda's' on leads walking down a busy high street whilst shopping. But that's exactly what pedestrians in Singapore were greeted with on January 31 when they passed three panda-like dogs strolling in the city with their owner, reports the People's Daily Online. The cute animals are actually Chow Chows named ToDuo, YuMi and DouDou, which literally translates from Chinese to English as Potato, Sweetcorn and Beans. They were pictured walking down Orchard Road in Singapore. Scroll down for video Panda dogs: These adorable fluffy Panda-like Chow Chows were pictured in Singapore on January 31 Celebrities: The pups have their own Instagram page 'pandachowchows' with regular updates of their day A Chow Chow is a dog breed originally from China, where it is known as the 'fluffy lion-dog' in Chinese. According to Asia One, their owner stressed that the black and white pups are safe and have been coloured with organic dye. When their owner named Meng Jiang took the dogs for a walk on January 31, she posted a picture on the dogs' very own Instagram page with the quote the same day: 'Went shopping with mommy on Orchard Road yesterday! So many people were coming over to say hello!' Their page 'pandachowchows' has around 500 followers and pictures are posted with messages from the dogs, as if they are in control of the account. Look-a-like: Once they are dyed, Potato, Sweetcorn and Beans do look very similar to a real Giant Panda Cruel: The dogs owner parades her Panda-like Chow Chows down a busy street in Singapore on January 31 The account also links to a website called pandachowchows.com, offering a photo experience with the three Panda-like Chow Chows where you can also 'enjoy playing, stroking and feeding treats to the dogs.' As you are doing this, 'experienced photographers will be around to capture all your magical, exciting moments,' says the website. also claims that it's not all dye on the dogs, the white parts of their body are their natural coat of fur, and only the black areas are dyed. A patch test is always done before the dye is applied to the dogs. 'The dye used is professional dog hair dye and is 100 per cent organic, non-toxic and safe for dogs,' stated the site. The three pooches are also available to hire for special appearances at events. Meng Jiangs website that advertises her Panda-like Chow Chows has recently received criticism in Singapore, and a petition was set up on Change.org, to stop the ill treatment of the Chow Chows. The petition, addressed to Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng, has received over 1,296 signatures as of writing. It urges that such commercial businesses do not see the light of day. Safe: Their owner stressed that the black and white pups are safe and have been coloured with organic dye Growing trend: Chow Chows that are dyed to look like pandas are also being sold in pet shops in China Dyeing pets as part of a fashion statement has become increasingly popular in parts of Asian, they can be seen as a sign of status. Chow Chows that are dyed to look like pandas are also being sold in pet shops in China, to satisfy demand among the country's new middle class who want the cute dogs as pets. Sadly, these kind of images circulating online can often mean that others may view it as a trend and carry out similar actions on their own pets. Speaking to the Mail Online, Alyx Elliott, Head of UK Campaigns at World Animal Protection said: 'Dyeing a pet in this way could not only be damaging, stressful and potentially fatal, but encourages the use of animals as props or playthings of which they are neither. 'There is nothing stylish, or fashionable about animal cruelty.' An artist in China has created a lavish bra made from hundreds of pieces of jade stones. Guan Qingsong, a sculptor from Yunnan in south-west China, says the piece of underwear took him three years to make, the People's Daily Online reports. According to the jade expert, he created the luxurious lingerie with the aim of giving thanks to his own mother. Pricey: According to the creator, the bra is fully wearable although there are doubts if whether it is comfortable Ma! The artist has won national prizes for his jade carvings and decided to make a bra inspired by his mother The usual artwork, named 'Mother of Nation' by Guan, is made up with 223 gemstones, including jade, pearls and rubies. Featured in the design is a floral carving along with tassles holding flowers at the end of them. The artist, who started learning jade-carving in 2007, spent three years creating the opulent underwear which he said would be at the forefront of his latest exhibition. Guan Qingsong used traditional carving techniques to make the wearable piece of art. He told reporters from People's Daily Online: '[The techniques] ensure the underwear will fit the body. It will be as comfortable as normal lingerie.' Guan is listed as one of the jade-carving masters and has won awards for his jade carvings including a national prize for his piece 'Peaceful China', according to jaadee.com, a website dedicated to the niche art. According to Chinese media, the extravagant bra has received high praises from industry insiders in China since its launch this month. Although Guan claims the item is wearable, it's not clear how comfortable it would be. Probably not the most comfortable: The wearable underwear features jade stones along with pearls and rubies For several years, Russian oligarchs have been snapping up expensive properties in Britain. Now a luxury London townhouse, based on a traditional 'Dacha' - or second-home in Russian - has come onto the market. But it may only be the oligarchs who can afford the 15m price tag. The six bedroom property in London's fashionable Chelsea is a few moments walk from the King's Road and the River Thames. The 15m townhouse in London is based on a traditional Russian 'dacha' (translated as second-home in Russian). The house is an unusual design and includes an impressive vaulted reception room. Many of the rooms in the house have been decorated with distinctive panelling. The panelling continues in the dinning room, where the wood design makes a striking impact. The generous rooms in the townhouse lend themselves to plenty of entertaining and relaxing. The word 'Dacha' means second home and owning one is seen as essential to be part of the Russian elite. The London townhouse is designed for entertaining, with an impressive first floor vaulted reception room, an outdoor sitting area and a generous cinema room. There is also a large panelled dining room. Mark Harris, chief executive of mortgage brokers SPF Private Clients, said: 'It is ironic that buyers looking for a safe haven for their money, from countries such as Russia, have succeeded in pushing up Prime London property prices to a level which only they and their compatriots can afford. 'Fashionable Chelsea with its central location has plenty of appeal for an oligarch looking for a London bolt hole - close enough to feel in the thick of things but with plenty of like-minded neighbours with similar backgrounds.' Dachas originated in the 17th century and by the 18th century became popular as summer holiday retreats, with the nobility using them for social events such as masquerade balls and firework displays. State dachas are used for meetings, press conferences and state visits. Many state meetings took place at Joseph Stalin's Moscow dacha called Blizhnyaya (Russian for 'the closest'). He also reportedly had dachas on the Black Sea and in his native Georgia. Today, the Russian president has three official dachas - in Zavidovo, in Novo-Ogaryovo (10 miles west of Moscow) and at the summer retreat of Bocharov Ruchei in Sochi. There are six bedrooms in the property, which have each been individually designed. The kitchen looks out to the entertaining area in the large garden. The outdoor space includes a large section dedicated to entertaining and relaxing. Keen amateur interior designers are again being put to the test in The Great Interior Design Challenge, the third series of which started this week. Eye for design: Judges Daniel Hopwood and Sophie Robinson alongside presenter Tom Dyckhoff Its a simple format. Each contestant has to reinvigorate a room over three days using only 1,000. Now, we might not all have 1,000 to spend, but bringing new life to a tired space over a weekend is an appealing concept. And the show might just inspire some of us to take action. So, if you have an unlovely room, where do you start? We asked the judges and here are their answers . . . SURVEY THE SCENE Tidy up, says interior architect Daniel Hopwood. Yes, that might sound obvious, but its the cheapest thing you can do. Experts such as Marie Kondo, Japanese author of The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying, have made thousands showing us how. Then look in your wardrobe, says Daniel. People are always trying to find their own sense of style, and looking at what you wear is an easy way to analyse what you really like. And dont worry about what others think. Its only paint you can always gloss over mistakes. Be brave. The feature wall is dead we call it the wall of fear, he says. Paper all four walls that will really transform a room. In the mood for blues: Blue tones work well in our northern hemisphere because of the light PICK A PALETTE Think about how you want to feel in the room, says Sophie Robinson, fellow judge and interior stylist. Do you like being cosy or invigorated? That will inform the shades you choose. Yellow, for example, is bad for a bedroom because its uplifting and energising when you want to relax. And dont think of white as a quick fix. It wont always make a room look bigger and brighter. In a north-facing room, it can be depressing and dingy. Try dark colours, even in older houses, as they can be cosseting. They also blend well with beams and make the whole effect look less stripey. Though, be wary of acidic bright palettes, especially in period houses. Heritage colours are a safer bet, but keep ceilings white. Blue tones work well because so much light is blue. If you use soft greys, add lots of texture otherwise they can end up feeling bland and flat. There are plenty of inexpensive accessories on the High Street. H&M Home has a tropical array of cushion covers. Their coral geometric one costs 7.99, and their fun jungle print versions start from 6.99, hm.com. Zara Home offers embroidered, printed and knitted accessories, all of which will add warmth, zarahome.com. Peppy print: Adding textures, patterns and bright colours can lift a room painted in shades of grey GO YOUR OWN WAY Avoid anything that has become ubiquitous its boring, says presenter and historian Tom Dyckhoff. London is full of generic bars that have recreated a sepia-tinted view of prohibition New York. In the last series of The Great Interior Design Challenge, there were a lot of filament light bulbs. This year, the looks have been more eclectic. Perhaps that reflects the fashion for mixing vintage finds and contemporary pieces. WHERE TO INVEST Buy wisely and think about space. Homes being built in this country are some of the smallest in the developed world, says Dyckhoff. Plus, theres a generation of people under 40 who cant afford to buy and are renting. Ikea has been forward-thinking in this respect, offering multi-functional furniture ranges and all manner of storage options. The PS range has a drop-leaf table (140) and corner easy chair (175). There are other clever touches such as shelves with drawers (Ekby shelf with drawer, 41, ikea.com). Now that's a bed: The 16th century Great Bed of Ware on display in London's Victoria and Albert Museum Spend money on a bed and a good sofa. Though when we first met, my now wife noticed I had nice cushions I think she fell for those. Scandinavia does the best lighting. In the dark days of winter, they celebrate light. Skandium is a good resource for sculptural lighting, skandium.com. Enormous lights are big for this year, according to Hopwood and BHS has a very good, reasonably priced lighting range. HISTORIC INSPIRATION For inspiration, Dyckhoff suggests spending an afternoon at a stately home places such as Blenheim Palace, Castle Howard and Chatsworth where people have spent small fortunes on the interiors. Or visit the Victoria & Albert Museum: Basically a history of the stuff people put in their homes. One of its most famous exhibits is The Great Bed of Ware, a 16th century carved oak four-poster bed, which is 10 ft wide and, reputedly, can accommodate four couples. The bedposts bear the initials of those who have slept there. Babies have the remarkable ability to see things that are invisible to adults. At around three to four months-old, they are able to recognise the fine-details of objects - even when they see them in different contexts. As adults, we lose this relatively simple skill as our brains attempt rapidly make sense of the world around us. Now, a study by a team in Japan has revealed just how differently babies see the world compared their parents. Scroll down for video How much would you bet that they are different shades of grey? Place one finger along the centre of the line blocking the darker and lighter parts, and your eyes will begin to tell the truth. The two blocks are the exact same colour and only appear different due to the effect of the darker and lighter shading across the middle WHY OUR BRAINS ARE TRICKED SO EASILY BY OPTICAL ILLUSIONS Humans, at around the age of five months, are all susceptible to something known as 'perceptual constancy.' This refers to the tendency to perceive an object you are familiar with as having a constant shape, size, colour and brightness, despite the stimuli changes that occur. The trait evolved to help early humans survive encounters with fast predators, but it also means that we can be easily fooled by simple illusions. Advertisement Humans, at around the age of five months, are all susceptible to something known as 'perceptual constancy.' This refers to the tendency to perceive an object you are familiar with as having a constant shape, size, colour and brightness, despite the stimuli changes that occur. To test this, take a look at the grey blocks. How much would you bet that they are different shades of grey? It seems obvious that they are not the same, but place one finger along the centre of the line blocking the darker and lighter parts, and your eyes will begin to tell the truth. The two blocks are, in fact, the exact same colour and only appear different due to the effect of the darker and lighter shading across the middle. Our perception of how colours are affected by bright light compared with shade causes us to perceive the two blocks as different. Jiale Yang, of Chuo University in Japan explains humans evolved these shortcuts to help them understand what they see in the natural world. The biggest clue that this is an evolutionary trait is the fact that babies are not born with perceptual constancy, but develop it over several months after birth, according to a report in Scientific American. The left and middle snails look nearly identical to adults, but in reality there are huge differences in terms of their pixel intensity. Babies, however, are able to discern this difference, according to new research The coloured tiles illusion tricks you into thinking the square on top of the cube is brown whereas the square on the side in shadow is orange. In reality both squares are the same colour Up until five months, babies see differences so that they can recognise the same object in different environments. Yang highlights an image of three snails that look similar to one another. The left and middle snails look nearly identical to adults, but in reality there are huge differences in terms of their pixel intensity. In a study published in Current Biology, Yang found the opposite response for infants of up to 3-4 months of age. Her team looked at how long 42 babies, aged 3 to 8 months, looked at pairs of images of from real 3D objects. Babies tend to look at something longer if it's an object they haven't seen before. The researchers in Japan used this as a premise to find out if a baby could recognise an object in different contexts. Our eyes have a type of cell that has a way of 'leaking' this light information to neighboring cells. The video describes how this creates a visible halo when you're looking at certain high contrast images. The effect can be seen in this famous illusion, the Hermann grid If you put a bike-spokes pattern behind two, straight horizontal lines, the lines will look warped, even though they are straight. When your brain sees the pattern, it focuses on the point in the middle, as if you're moving towards it. Your brain then thinks the two parallel lines are approaching you Three to four-month-old babies have a 'striking ability' to see image differences, a recent study has found. We lose this ability as adults The results should that three to four-month-old babies have a 'striking ability' to see image differences. However, scientists believe they lose this skill around the age of five months. Previous research by University of Oslo University has found an infant of two to three days can perceive faces, and perhaps also emotional facial expressions, at a distance of 30cm. This corresponds to the distance between a mother and her nursing baby. And while they may not be able to talk, babies as young as seven months are able to subconsciously recognise fear in someone's eyes, another study claims. Infants can read human expressions by looking at the whites of the eyes - or sclerae - in split seconds. They seem to react more in response to fear, than happiness, according scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig. As January came to a close, extreme weather events pelted the US with precipitation for 10 days, ringing in February with destructive snowfall, tornadoes, and hail. Now, satellite data from Nasa shows just how much precipitation fell across the country, with the most extreme levels seen over Alabama and Mississippi. The estimates were calculated from January 25 through February 3, merging data from satellites around the world. Scroll down for video Satellite data from Nasa shows just how much precipitation fell across the country, with the most extreme levels seen over Alabama and Mississippi. The estimates were calculated from January 25 through February 3, merging data from satellites around the world THE 10-DAY 'BIBLICAL' STORMS On January 27, tornadoes ripped across southern Florida and sent automobiles flying. Just days later, on the 31st, a winter storm brought strong rain, winds, and thunderstorms to southern California, and at least one person was killed. Nasa says these storms also brought hail to the areas, ranging from the size of a pea, to an inch in diameter. Winds from these storms tore down power lines and trees, and the blizzard that came next dropped more than 18 inches of snow across the Great Plains. Advertisement The images provided by Nasa reveal how these destructive storms moved from an overhead view, using the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG) to merge data from international satellites. On the map, precipitation is colour-coded, with blue being the lightest amount, magenta representing roughly nine inches, and white showing amounts over about 18 inches. The weather events across the country early this month and late last year were extreme, with the map showing which areas were hit with the most precipitation. As the storms moved in, Alabama and Mississippi experienced the most precipitation, with Nasa estimating roughly 7.9 inches falling over this area, indicated in purple. On January 27, tornadoes ripped across southern Florida and sent automobiles flying. Just days later, on the 31st, a winter storm brought strong rain, winds, and thunderstorms to southern California, and at least one person was killed. On the map, precipitation is colour-coded, with blue being the lightest amount, magenta representing roughly nine inches, and white showing amounts over about 18 inches. The green, blue, and yellow indicates precipitation roughly three inches and below, which builds as it moves into the US THE EFFECTS OF EL NINO In 2015, weather around the world saw the effects of a record-breaking El Nino. 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 Advertisement Nasa says these storms also brought hail to the areas, ranging from the size of a pea, to an inch in diameter. Winds from these storms tore down power lines and trees, and the blizzard that came next dropped more than 18 inches of snow across the Great Plains. The researchers say the extreme weather events of this winter are likely to continue, due to the powerful El Nino in effect. At the beginning of this month, a new video was released to show the hypnotic movements of weather systems around the world over the course of the past year. The visualization was created through international efforts, using data from meteorological agencies in Europe, the United States, and Japan to map global conditions. By monitoring weather over last thirty years, and continuing to do so in the future, researchers can predict storms to warn populations ahead of time, and track changes in the climate over time. The video, posted to YouTube, is narrated by Mark Higgins, Training Manager at European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). Red and purple indicates rainfall between six and nine inches. As the storms moved in over the 10-day period, Alabama and Mississippi experienced the most precipitation, with Nasa estimating roughly 7.9 inches. The researchers say the extreme weather events of this winter are likely to continue, due to the powerful El Nino Imagery from the geostationary satellites of EUMETSAT, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) were pieced together to create the animated map. At the beginning of the year, the map shows the weather in the Northern Hemisphere winter, and Southern Hemisphere summer. During this time, storms move from west to east in the North, and bringing weather patterns across continental landmasses. When meteorological spring begins in March, Higgins explains, the sun moves toward the North from where it previously hovered over the Southern Hemisphere. This time period shows cyclone activity northeast of Australia, and storms flowing steadily toward the Philippines. Tracking these storms with satellites allows researchers to view them clearly as they develop and move. 'This shows the importance of having these data, so that forecasters are able to predict the storms and effectively warn the populations that they're coming,' Higgins says in the video. Higgins notes that April 1st marks the birthday of monitoring the Earth and Space, as the first meteorological satellite TIROS-1 was launched on this day in 1960. As spring progresses, the western Pacific Ocean becomes active with tropical storms, which require warm sea surface temperatures to thrive. One of the challenges of these methods, the narrator explains, is effectively warning populations of the oncoming storms. But, as the satellites provide images for the weather at any given moment, meteorologists can view the developments and changes as they occur. Information collected from these satellites can also provide the model for future understanding of climate conditions. 'Satellites are an important part of monitoring Earth's climate,' Higgins explains in the video. 'With these data you can see all of the earth. For climate monitoring purposes, we have this record going back for thirty years now, so we can see what the Earth's atmosphere has done over the last 30 years and how it's changed.' It's said the truth is out there, but we might not like what we find if we ever uncover it. A leading scientist involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Seti) has said that if aliens visit our planet, they could take control thanks to their use of superior technologies. This would give them an edge and ultimately lead to them 'making the rules'. A leading scientist involved in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (Seti) has warned that if aliens visit our planet (illustrated), they could take control thanks to their use of superior technologies Astronomer and co-founder of the Seti Institute Jill Tarter told TechCrunch: 'If they showed up on our doorstep that means they have technologies that are considerably advanced with respect to ours. 'And because of that, they're going to be the ones that set the rules.' However, she explained that a species can perhaps only develop sophisticated technologies, such as the ability to travel long distances across space, if it has learned to behave in a peaceful way. This suggests ET may be relatively friendly and co-operative - good news for humans if Earth is invaded. Seti is looking for radio waves and optical signals in the universe that could be signs of alien technology, but Dr Tarter admitted: 'We may not have invented the right way to do this yet.' Parkes radio telescope pictured ALIENS: FRIENDS OR FOE If there are any intelligent alien life forms out there, Stephen Hawking thinks we're playing a dangerous game by trying to contact them. The physicist believes if aliens discovered Earth, they are likely to want to conquer and colonise our planet. 'If aliens visit us, the outcome could be much like when Columbus landed in America, which didn't turn out well for the Native Americans,' he said in an interview. But co-founder and former director of the Seti Institute, Jill Tarter, doesn't think this will be the case. She argues any aliens who have managed to travel across the universe will be sophisticated enough to be friendly and peaceful. 'The idea of a civilisation which has managed to survive far longer than we have...and the fact that that technology remains an aggressive one, to me, doesn't make sense,' she said. Advertisement Seti is looking for radio waves and optical signals in the universe that could be signs of alien technology, but Dr Tarter admitted: 'We may not have invented the right way to do this yet.' Dr Nathalie Cabrol, who is leading the hunt for alien life at the Seti Institute in California told MailOnline an advanced alien civilisation may be trying contact Earth, but we can't detect the signals. While astronaut John Grunsfeld said last year that if aliens are out there, they already know we exist. He said an advanced alien civilisation may spot humans from afar by tracking the changes we've made to Earth's environment. 'We put atmospheric signatures that guarantee someone with a large telescope 20 light years away could detect us,' said Grunsfeld at the Astrobiology Science Conference in Chicago. 'If there is life out there, intelligent life, they'll know we're here.' Dr Cabrol believes that in our lifetime we will find simple alien organisms close to Earth and a replica of our planet in another galaxy. Nasa's chief scientist Ellen Stofan agrees, he recently said we could find evidence of extraterrestrial life in 20 to 30 years. 'We know where to look, we know how to look, and in most cases we have the technology.' Jeffery Newmark, interim director of heliophysics at the agency, added: 'It's definitely not an if, it's a when.' 'We are not talking about little green men,' Stofan said. 'We are talking about little microbes.' Astronaut John Grunsfeld (pictured left) said last year that if aliens are out there, they already know we exist. He said an advanced alien civilisation may spot humans from afar from the changes we've made to Earth's environment. The Parkes Radio Telescope that has picked up strange radio bursts from space is shown right However, another group of experts believes we haven't been visited by aliens, or detected them ourselves, because they are already extinct. A group of astrobiologists at the Australian National University claimed that life on other planets, if it managed to get going at all, would likely be brief and would die out quickly. They believe that while many planets could have potentially been habitable, and may have once teemed with microbial life, runaway heating or cooling would have left their surfaces inhospitable. In their theory, the researchers looked at the role life can play in helping to control the climate of a planet, making it more habitable in the process. They argue that life may well have emerged multiple times on other planets following the heavy bombardment of wet rocky worlds by asteroids. But they said almost all of this life would rapidly go extinct unless it was able to evolve fast enough to regulate greenhouse gases and so maintain stable surface temperatures. Dr Aditya Chopra, the lead author said: 'The universe is probably filled with habitable planets, so many scientists think it should be teeming with aliens. 'Early life is fragile, so we believe it rarely evolves quickly enough to survive. Most early planetary environments are unstable. 'To produce a habitable planet, life forms need to regulate greenhouse gases such as water and carbon dioxide to keep surface temperatures stable.' The study, published in the journal Astrobiology, said life in the universe may depend on something they call the Gaian bottleneck. This is where life plays a key role in modifying and regulating its environment to ensure its survival. Earth provides a classic example of this as early organisms began regulating the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and eventually produced enough oxygen for other new organisms to emerge. A judge ruled Thursday a Casper man may have intended to kill someone when he wielded a gun at a local strip club last month. John Tramaine Knox, 29, is charged with attempted second-degree murder for the Jan. 16 incident at Racks Gentlemens Club. During Knoxs preliminary hearing in Natrona County Circuit Court, his attorney argued Knox may be guilty of aggravated assault, but not attempted murder. Not once did we hear testimony that Mr. Knox used the weapon at all, public defender Kurt Infanger argued. There was not even any threat by Mr. Knox to use the gun or to kill anyone. No one was injured when Knox allegedly retrieved a handgun from his car after a fight at the strip club. Bar patrons and staff barricaded themselves inside the building, and Knox left the area without firing the gun. During the hearing, prosecutor Daniel Itzen called Natrona County Sheriffs investigator Sean Ellis to testify about the case. In addition to the attempted murder charge, Knox faces a charge of aggravated assault and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent. Judge Michael Patchen decided Knox could stand trial for all three charges. Before announcing his decision, the judge asserted Knox could have left the area following an argument with other patrons. Instead of driving away, he loads ammunition into a magazine and racks the weapon, Patchen said. The judge said two bouncers tried to stop Knox from walking toward the bar with the gun. Knox only left after the bouncers went inside the strip club and locked the doors, he said. Prosecutor Dan Itzen had argued a victim does not have to be shot or wounded in any way for there to be intent in a crime. Your honor, it seems abundantly clear Mr. Knox was heading back to the bar to engage in combat, Itzen said. Theres no reason to load the gun, judge, unless you plan to ultimately use it. According to a court affidavit, Knox had been part of a brief fight at the strip club. Afterward, someone made a comment to Knox, stating, Everyone thinks they are MMA fighters, the affidavit states. Knox took offense to the comment and challenged the man to a fight. The mans friend, Todd Cabrera, stepped in between the two men. The attempted murder charge lists Cabrera as the victim. Knox took a swing at Cabrera and missed, according to the affidavit. Cabrera swung back but wasnt sure if he hit Knox. According to the affidavit, the clubs bouncers escorted Knox from the bar. While doing so, Knox told one of the bouncers, Get him out here. Im going to grab my banger. Knox entered the passenger side of an SUV parked in the lot and retrieved a black handgun, the affidavit states. One bouncer saw Knox rack the slide of the gun and approach the club with the weapon in his right hand. The other bouncer said he saw Knox waving the gun in the air. Witnesses said they saw one of the bouncers push Knoxs hands down as he walked toward the strip club. When Knox didn't leave, the bouncers retreated into the bar and closed and locked the front door. They asked everyone to stand away from the entrance and requested someone call 911. Knox got back into the car, which drove away from the bar but was quickly stopped by a Natrona County sheriffs deputy, according to the affidavit. As of Thursday afternoon, Knox was being held at Natrona County Detention Center. Knox will enter pleas to the charges against him at an arraignment hearing in the future. A newly-recognised syndrome that runs in families could explain why some people become morbidly obese and have mood swings along with mental and behavioural problems. Scientists at the University of Manchester discovered the syndrome after studying six problem families from around the world. With only a small number of identified sufferers, the researchers said it is not yet possible to estimate how common this new syndrome may be - and it doesn't even have a name. Scientists discovered the syndrome after studying six families who have a genetic condition that affects chromosome 6 (stock image pictured). It causes obesity along with mental and behavioural problems. Researchers said it is not yet possible to estimate how common it is - and it doesn't yet have a name The discovery was made by a team of international researchers, including Dr Siddharth Banka from the University of Manchester. Along with colleague Dr Eric Glasgow of Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, Dr Banka found the chromosome 6 deletion affects cells in the hypothalamus that produce a hormone called oxytocin. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs including two copies of chromosome 6 - one copy inherited from each parent, form one of the pairs. CHROMOSOME 6 AND THE BODY Dr Siddharth Banka found the chromosome 6 deletion affects cells in the hypothalamus that produce a hormone called oxytocin. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes in each cell, divided into 23 pairs including two copies of chromosome 6 - one copy inherited from each parent, form one of the pairs. Chromosome 6 spans around 171 million DNA building blocks, or base pairs, and represents around 6 per cent of the total DNA in cells. It likely contains 1,000 to 1,100 genes that provide instructions for making proteins and these proteins perform a variety of roles in the body. There are already a number of genetic conditions linked to changes in particular genes on chromosome 6, but Dr Banka believes this one has never been seen before. Advertisement Chromosome 6 spans around 171 million DNA building blocks, or base pairs, and represents around 6 per cent of the total DNA in cells. It likely contains 1,000 to 1,100 genes that provide instructions for making proteins and these proteins perform a variety of roles in the body. There are already a number of genetic conditions related to changes in particular genes on chromosome 6, but Dr Banka believes this is new. Along with colleague Dr Eric Glasgow of Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC, he found the chromosome 6 deletion affects cells in the hypothalamus - a region of the brain that produce a hormone called oxytocin. This in turn has effects on behaviour, including controlling hunger and thirst, learning ability, and social bonding. Dr Banka told MailOnline the first family identified with the syndrome came from Manchester, and that others were then identified in London, Spain, Sweden, Italy, and France. Details about the identity of these families have not been released, however the study shows that 10 family members with the condition range from the age of 4 up to 61. Details about the identity of these families have not been released. However, trhe study reveals that four of them had mild learning difficulties, five had moderate and one had a severe disability. All but one had a birth weight in the 50th percentile or higher. The 21-year-old weighed 10.5lbs (4.8kg) putting him in 98th percentile As part of the study, tests on the chromosome have been carried out on zebrafish (pictured) to confirm the affect the chromosome 6 deletion leads to increased weight and mental problems. As the syndrome is so new, in terms of knowledge and research, there are no treatments or symptom information available A total of four of them had mild learning difficulties, five had moderate and one had a severe disability. All but one had a birth weight in the 50th percentile or higher. The 21-year-old weighed 10.5lbs (4.8kg) putting him in the 98th percentile. WHAT IS THE HYPOTHALAMUS? The hypothalamus is a small, almond-sized structure buried deep in the brain which controls a number of the body's activities. It regulates the metabolism and autonomic nervous system, and secretes neurohormones which in turn control pituitary hormones. The hypothalamus also controls body temperature, thirst, sleep, and some important behavioural activities including parenting. Advertisement Dr Banka added that he knows of a few more patients already, and expects others to be identified by doctors around the world now that the research is public. The condition can pass down the male or female line, and children of a parent with the chromosome 6 deletion have a 50/50 chance of inheriting it. 'Any race or background should be equally susceptible to it' Dr Banka added. This new condition does not yet have a name, and the conventional approach would be to name it after either the genetic sequence or the discovering scientist. This condition, then, will either be known as 6q16.1 deletion syndrome, or Banka syndrome. As the syndrome is so new, in terms of knowledge and research, there are no treatments or symptom information available. As part of the study, tests on the chromosome have been carried out on zebrafish to confirm the affect the chromosome 6 deletion leads to increased weight and mental problems. Pain is likely due to bundles of 88 per cent of rats with nerve injury showed a pain response to signals Rats received a nerve injury to simulate the pain of an amputation Study has provided evidence of a link between pain and radio signals After years of conflicting reports that signals from mobile phone towers can raise various health concerns, a new study claims to provide the first evidence that links the signals with nerve pain. Scientists in the US report that the radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic signals can cause whats known as a pain response in amputees. They claim they now have scientific evidence to support the anecdotal reports made by people with amputated limbs. Scientists in the US report that the radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic signals can cause whats known as a pain response in the nerve endings (artist's impression pictured) in amputees. They claim they now have scientific evidence to support the anecdotal reports made by people with amputated limbs The research, published in the journal PLOS ONE, found that in rats with an amputation-like injury the animals showed clear evidence of pain in the presence of the signals. Dr Mario Romero-Ortega, senior author of the study and an associate professor at the University of Texas at Dallas, said: Our study provides evidence, for the first time, that subjects exposed to cellphone towers at low, regular levels can actually perceive pain. Our study also points to a specific nerve pathway that may contribute to our main finding. The study is one of the first to look at electromagnetic fields (EMF) in an animal with a nerve injury, in which they report a persistent and significant pain response when exposed to radio frequency and EMF. Rats received either a nerve injury to simulate the pain of an amputation, or a sham operation in which the nerve was not damaged. Rats received either a nerve injury to simulate the pain of an amputation, or a sham operation in which the nerve was not damaged. Researchers believed the damaged nerves would form clumps called neuromas, in which endings become inflamed and sensitive, and would potentially be more sensitive to RF and EMF signals Researchers believed the damaged nerves would form clumps called neuromas, in which the endings become inflamed and sensitive, and would potentially be more sensitive to stimulation, such as from RF and EMF signals. FIRST EVIDENCE OF A LINK The study is one of the first to look at electromagnetic fields (EMF) in an animal model of nerve injury, in which they report a persistent and significant pain response when exposed to radio frequency and EMF. Rats received either a nerve injury to simulate the pain of an amputation, or a 'sham' operation, in which the nerve wasn't damaged. The rats were then exposed to EMF signals equivalent to standing near a mobile phone tower almost 131ft (40 metres) away. Animals received exposure for ten minutes, once a week for eight weeks. They found that after four weeks, 88 per cent of rats with the nerve injury showed a definite pain response to the signal, while only one rat in the sham group showed a pain response, within the first week. Dr Romero-Ortega, who led the study, said: My hope is that this study will highlight the importance of developing clinical options to prevent neuromas, instead of the current partially effective surgery alternatives for neuroma resection to treat pain. Advertisement The rats were then exposed to EMF signals equivalent to standing near a mobile phone tower almost 131ft (40 metres) away. Animals received exposure for ten minutes, once a week for eight weeks. They found that after four weeks, 88 per cent of rats with the nerve injury showed a definite pain response to the signal. Many believe that a neuroma has to be present in order to evoke pain. Our model found that electromagnetic fields evoked pain that is perceived before neuroma formation; subjects felt pain almost immediately, explained Dr Romero-Ortega. My hope is that this study will highlight the importance of developing clinical options to prevent neuromas, instead of the current partially effective surgery alternatives for neuroma resection to treat pain. Analysis of the animals cells showed that one protein in particular, TRPV4, may play a key role in the nerve-damaged rats pain response and, said Romero-Ortega, is worthy of further exploration. The scientists said sensitivity in humans is often labelled as psychosomatic, and so the phenomenon is not given the attention it requires. Dr Romero-Ortega concluded: In our study, the subjects with nerve injury were not capable of complex psychosomatic behaviour. Their pain was a direct response to man-made radio frequency electromagnetic energy. If you talk slowly but still dominate a conversation, and impatiently hang up the phone when youve been put on hold for too long, theres a strong chance youre from the East Coast. A nationwide study from analytics firm Marchex examined speech patterns across the United States to determine the overall chattiness and impatience of each state, along with the speed at which people are talking. The researchers analysed more than four million consumer phone calls over a two year span, and found that residents in some states are crunching in six words for every five spoken in different locations. A nationwide study from analytics firm Marchex examined speech patterns across the United States to determine the overall chattiness and impatience of each state, along with the speed at which people are talking As technology is speeding up, so are Americans, the study found. More efficient ways of communicating are pushing people to cram the most amount of information into as little time as possible. On the whole, people across the country are talking faster than ever before, speaking an average of 110-150 words per minute. But, conversation patterns aren't uniform across the 50 states. The team used Marchex Call DNA technology to log speech, silence, ring tones, and hold times during four million phone calls, placed by consumers to businesses from 2013-2015. In three maps, the analysts highlight the top and bottom ranked states for each category. When it comes to wasting time, the researchers write that urgency is a dire issue across the states. The study predicts that Americans will waste more than 900 million hours on hold this year, and many states will not tolerate this. States shown in green on the map are the most impatient, meaning they are more likely to hang up the phone if put on hold for too long. States shown in green on the map are the most impatient, meaning they are more likely to hang up the phone if put on hold for too long. Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, and West Virginia make up the top five impatient states. More tolerant states are shown in magenta Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, and West Virginia make up the top five impatient states. The Southeast is largely a patient region, the study reveals, along with some states across the middle of the country. These states, shown in magenta, were more tolerant of being put on hold, with Minnesota, Illinois, Florida, Colorado, and Louisiana making up the five least-impatient areas. States in the northern US were found to sling out words fastest, with Oregon, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Kansas, and Iowa ringing in is as the top five speed-talkers. States in the northern US were found to sling out words fastest, with Oregon, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Kansas, and Iowa ringing is as the top five speed-talkers. Fast talkers are shown in orange. The south, on the other hand, dominated the slow-talking states, indicated in magenta Florida is the lone southern state to fall into this category, shown in orange, and Alaska, which isnt indicated on the map, comes in 7th. The south, on the other hand, dominated the slow-talking states, indicated in magenta, with Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama, and North Carolina as the bottom five. While New Yorkers were found to be slow speakers, that doesnt mean theyre not chatty. The research found that New Yorkers, along with the entire Eastern seaboard from Maine to South Carolina, talk the most. While New Yorkers were found to be slow speakers, that doesnt mean theyre not chatty. The research found that New Yorkers, along with the entire Eastern seaboard from Maine to South Carolina, talk the most, indicated in blue. Least conversational states spread across the northern-central states, pictured in magenta New York claimed the number one spot in this category, shown in blue, with California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Maryland also filling the top five. The least conversational states were spread across the northern-central states, as pictured in magenta, where the researchers suggest you go if youre looking for chat that is straight to the point. And, the difference was not minute the study reveals that New Yorkers use 62 percent more words than people from Iowa for the same conversation. Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Oklahoma are the five least-chatty states. Researchers suggest that the findings of the analysis, in particular the impatience index, are indicative of need for businesses to improve customer experiences, and slash hold times. HOW THE 50 STATES RANK IN EACH CATEGORY The team used Marchex Call DNA technology to log speech, silence, ring tones, and hold times during four million phone calls, placed by consumers to businesses from 2013-2015. On the whole, people across the country are talking faster than ever before, speaking an average of 110-150 words per minute. But, conversation patterns aren't uniform across the 50 states. The researchers have ranked each of the states in order of fastest talking, most chatty, and most impatient, listed below. Who are the fastest talkers?: Oregon, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Kansas, and Iowa ring in is as the top five fast-talkers Who talks the most?: New York, California, New Jersey, Nevada, and Maryland are the top five chatty states Who's the most impatient?: Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, and West Virginia make up the top five impatient states Advertisement The man behind Uber's radical redesign of the brand has left the firm. Earlier this week the firm unveiled a radical new look, replacing the familiar U with colourful geometric shapes, which are unique for each market and if your are a drive or a rider. However, the logo caused uproar online, with users deriding it as a 'wrong turn' for the car firm. Scroll down for video If you had trouble locating your Uber app sometime today, it's because they released a new logo. Users will now see colourful geometric shapes, which unique for each market and if your are a drive or a rider. This new move is to reflect 'what Uber actually is -- a transportation network' Now, the man behind it has revealed he has left the company. In a Medium post, published just 24 hours after Uber's branding unveil, Andrew Crow explained that he is 'using our recent successes as a chance to take time off to rest, reflect, and recharge. ' 'Today, I am moving on from Head of Design & Brand at Uber,' he wrote. 'I leave an amazing team who works to create great experiences, shaping the way people and things move through the world. The new logo aims to reflect 'what Uber actually is - a transportation network', the company said. But many have ridiculed the strange design for being nothing more than a corporate re-branding exercise. 'The old Uber was black and white, somewhat distant and cold,' Travis Kalanick, Uber's CEO and co-founder, wrote in a blog post. 'This belied what Uber actually is a transportation network.' The iconic 'U' is now a circle with a square in the middle set on a colourful background for riders. If you're a driver, you will see a hexagon with a square in the center and again set on a colourful background. The iconic 'U' is now a circle with a square in the middle set on a colourful background for riders. If you're a driver, you will see a hexagon with a square in the center and again set on a colourful background. All of the rebranding of the firm was done in-house and logos began as concepts instead of just icons INSPIRATION FOR THE LOGOS During their brainstorming, the team focused on a blog post Kalanick wrote in 2013, 'Bits & Atoms', which compared Uber to bits and atoms. Bits is the firm's technology Uber's mapping and dispatch software. And the atoms are a representation of the people. Another concept emerged in the drawing board of small square tiles, similar to the ones that line bathroom floors. The team agreed on a design and decided to use colours, patterns and images unique to each specific market. Uber says it was inspired by Mexican pink and patterns in the local tiles in Mexico. In Ireland, the Georgian architecture and lush greens will be highlighted. And in Nigeria, from the Ankara, which 'came up again and again because of its bright colours and beautiful geometric patterns'. Advertisement All of the rebranding of the firm was done in-house and logos began as concepts instead of just icons, reported Wired. During their brainstorming, the team focused on a blog post Kalanick wrote in 2013, 'Bits & Atoms', which compared Uber to bits and atoms. Bits is the firm's technology Uber's mapping and dispatch software. And the atoms are a representation of the people. Another concept emerged in the drawing board of small square tiles, similar to the ones that line bathroom floors. The team agreed on a design and decided to use colours, patterns and images unique to each specific market. 'To bring out this human sidethe atomswe've added color and patterns,' reads the blog post. 'The team has spent months researching architecture, textiles, scenery, art, fashion, people and more to come up with authentic identities for the countries where Uber operates.' For example, Uber says it was inspired by Mexican pink and patterns in the local tiles in Mexico. In Ireland, the Georgian architecture and lush greens will be highlighted. And in Nigeria, from the Ankara, which 'came up again and again because of its bright colours and beautiful geometric patterns'. Uber feels every city has its own character and its 'long term goal is to have unique designs as well as countries. Although Uber sees its new logo as a great milestone and a way of moving forward, users think otherwise and have turned to Twitter to voice how they fee.And of course they came quick and in a huge wave of unanimous 'No's' Another concept emerged in the drawing board of small square tiles, similar to the ones that line bathroom floors. The team agreed on a design and decided to use colours, patterns and images unique to each specific market. Pictured are the patterns and colours Uber has chosen fo the logo in China 'To bring out this human sidethe atomswe've added color and patterns,' reads the blog post. 'The team has spent months researching architecture, textiles, scenery, art, fashion, people and more to come up with authentic identities for the countries where Uber operates'.Uber was inspired by the lush hills for Ireland Over time, hundreds of colours and patterns will be added to represent each market. Although Uber sees its new logo as a great milestone and a way of moving forward, users think otherwise and have turned to Twitter to voice how they feel. And of course they came quick and in a huge wave of unanimous 'No's'. More than just a handful have made comments about the app being hard to find and that it works slower since the new update. And many social media users said that the new look won't make Uber-users out of people who oppose its business practices. Twitter users branded the new logo 'ugly' and expressed confusion about why they had made a change 'for changes sake' More than just a handful have made comments about the app being hard to find and that it works slower since the new update. And many social media users said that the new look won't make Uber-users out of people who oppose its business practices Twitter users branded the new logo 'ugly' and expressed confusion about why they had made a change 'for changes sake' When Uber was a young company, Kalanick was seen as aggressive, hostile and always looking for a 'fight' with regulators, the taxi industry and other competitors The service was available to about 100 riders who could request BMWs and Lincoln Town Cars, which is the reason behind the sleek, luxurious 'U' logo. But now Uber understands it is no longer just catering to a few big spenders looking for a joy ride When Uber was conceived it was designed for individuals who wanted to 'roll around San Francisco like ballers'. The service was available to about 100 riders who could request BMWs and Lincoln Town Cars, which is the reason behind the sleek, luxurious 'U' logo. But now Uber understands it is no longer just catering to a few big spenders looking for a joy ride. 'The early app was an attempt at something luxury' Kalanick told Wired. AIRBNB HITS BACK AFTER ITS 'VAGINA LOGO' GETS RIDICULED Uber isn't the only one to have faced controversy over its new logo. In 2014, Airbnb was forced to defend its controversial new logo, claiming it will become as recognisable as the Nike swoosh. However, many believed it looked more like a vagina. 'It's just like: Go ahead, laugh all you want, guys,' said Airbnb co-founder and CTO Nathan Blecharczyk at a dinner in San Francisco. 'We wouldn't want to design a logo that caters to the lowest common denominator.' The logo, created by UK design firm The Design Studio, drew comparisons to various body parts now only because it didn't have the Airbnb brand attached to it yet. Uber isn't the only one to have faced controversy over its new logo. In 2014, Airbnb was forced to defend its controversial new logo, claiming it will become as recognisable as the Nike swoosh. However, many believed it looked more like a vagina Airbnb's CEO Brian Chesky said the logo was inspired by famous logos from around the world, like the Olympic rings and Batman symbol. 'We've created a symbol for us as a community,' he said in a blog post announcing the change. 'It's an iconic mark for our windows, our doors, and our shared values. 'It's a symbol that, like us, can belong wherever it happens to be.' Twitter user shaunpendy designed an infographic providing one possible explanation for how the logo came to be. In addition to people, places, and love, he said the final component was 'truck nuts.' User mbraaten hypothesised what the meeting to decide on the symbol might've been like. In her scenario, one person says they're all out of ideas, and another person responds, 'Balls!' Advertisement 'That's where we came from, but it's not where we are today.' Presently, Uber is available in 400 cities in 65 different countries around the world and about two-thirds of its 6,000 or so employees have been with the company less than a year. 'There is an evolution here, for the found as well as for the company,' said Kalanick, 'because really they're very connected. When Uber was a young company, Kalanick was seen as aggressive, hostile and always looking for a 'fight' with regulators, the taxi industry and other competitors. Kalanick has said in previous interview that this was all misrepresented by the media. 'When you don't really know who you are', he explained, 'it's easy to be miscastas a company, or as a person.' Kalanick believes this 'rebrand has been an act of self-exploration'. Kalanick has said in previous interview that this was all misrepresented by the media. 'When you don't really know who you are', he explained, 'it's easy to be miscastas a company, or as a person. Uber was inspired by the bright colours in Mexico (pictured) Twitter is using spam-fighting technology to seek out and automatically flag accounts that might be promoting terrorist activity. The company announced it has suspended more than 125,000 accounts on its social media site for threatening or promoting terrorist acts mainly related to the Islamic State group in the last eight months. The news signals a move toward automation as the U.S. government has pressured social media companies to respond more aggressively to reports of abuse. A member loyal to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) waves an ISIL flag in Raqqa: Twitter is now using spam-fighting technology to seek out and automatically flag accounts that might be promoting terrorist activity. 100,00 TWEETS A DAY Last year Europes police chief warned Jihadis are sending up to 100,000 Twitter messages a day to plot terrorism. In a chilling account of how IS is exploiting technology, Rob Wainwright, the director of Europol and ex-MI5 officer, urged social media firms to help authorities stem the terrorist threat, saying that encrypted communications were the most significant challenge to tackling terrorism. IS is known to use encrypted tweets to recruit fighters and jihadi brides, including the three British girls who fled to Syria earlier this year. Advertisement 'Like most people around the world, we are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups,' Twitter said. 'We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service. 'As the nature of the terrorist threat has changed, so has our ongoing work in this area. Since the middle of 2015 alone, we've suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts, primarily related to ISIS.' The firm also said ithas increased the size of the teams that review reports, reducing response time significantly. 'We also look into other accounts similar to those reported and leverage proprietary spam-fighting tools to surface other potentially violating accounts for review by our agents. 'We have already seen results, including an increase in account suspensions and this type of activity shifting off of Twitter.' The firm also said it cooperates with law enforcement entities 'when appropriate' on the project. In July 2015, FBI Director James Comey recognized Twitter's commitment to blocking terrorist content, praising us as 'very good and thoughtful and hardworking at trying to shut down [terrorism-related] accounts.' The firm said it has 'always sought to strike a balance between the enforcement of our own Twitter Rules covering prohibited behaviors, the legitimate needs of law enforcement, and the ability of users to share their views freely including views that some people may disagree with or find offensive.' HOW ISLAMIC STATE USES TWITTER Web-savvy militants fighting for the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq could control as many as 90,000 Twitter accounts worldwide, allowing them to spread their sickening propaganda with ease. The terror group is able to 'exert an outsized impact on how the world perceives it' because of its shrewd use of social media and sheer number of online followers, terror experts have concluded. Recommendations in the report by the Washington-based Brookings Institute report last year include governments and social media companies working together to find new ways to tackle the problem of pro-ISIS accounts spreading horrific murder videos and images and jihadist rhetoric. Advertisement 'As many experts and other companies have noted, there is no magic algorithm for identifying terrorist content on the internet, so global online platforms are forced to make challenging judgement calls based on very limited information and guidance. 'In spite of these challenges, we will continue to aggressively enforce our Rules in this area, and engage with authorities and other relevant organizations to find solutions to this critical issue and promote powerful counter-speech narratives.' Last year Europes police chief warned Jihadis are sending up to 100,000 Twitter messages a day to plot terrorism. In a chilling account of how IS is exploiting technology, Rob Wainwright, the director of Europol and ex-MI5 officer, urged social media firms to help authorities stem the terrorist threat, saying that encrypted communications were the most significant challenge to tackling terrorism. ISIS VS ANONYMOUS ISIS militants have hit back at hacking collective Anonymous' attempts at declaring a cyber war, branding them 'idiots'. The hacking group promised to hunt down militant jihadists online following the terrorist attacks in Paris last week which left 129 people dead. However, ISIS jihadists, who use a number of encrypted apps an internet services to communicate and use social media under the radar, are clearly unimpressed with Anonymous' efforts. In response to the declaration of war, ISIS affiliate the Islamic Cyber Army took to encrypted smartphone-messaging app Telegram to dismiss Anonymous as 'idiots'. 'What they gonna hackall they can do is hacking twitter accounts, emails, etc,' the Islamic Cyber Army wrote according to New York Magazine. 'Do not make your email same as your username on twitter this mistake cost many ansar [users sympathetic to ISIS] their accounts and the kuffar [non-Muslims] published their IP, so be careful.' Advertisement IS is known to use encrypted tweets to recruit fighters and jihadi brides, including the three British girls who fled to Syria earlier this year. Saying that IS has 50,000 Twitter accounts, Mr Wainwright told a BBC radio investigation: Weve built our counter-terrorist capability in recent years very much on the basis of being able to monitor their communications. 'As the communications of terrorist networks and criminal groups have moved increasingly [online], its opened up a whole new wave of problems for us even in the open internet, let alone the Darknet. Last year Europes police chief warned Jihadis are sending up to 100,000 Twitter messages a day to plot terrorism. Earlier this year, ISIS militants have hit back at hacking collective Anonymous' attempts at declaring a cyber war, branding them 'idiots'. The hacking group promised to hunt down militant jihadists online following the terrorist attacks in Paris last week which left 129 people dead. However, ISIS jihadists, who use a number of encrypted apps an internet services to communicate and use social media under the radar, are clearly unimpressed with Anonymous' efforts. Would you trust your finances in the hands of a robo-advisor? Wealthy investors have been flocking to automated services in recent years, and even some major lenders are planning to integrate this technology. Robo-advisors come at a much cheaper rate, often charging half of what a traditional broker would, and could be managing as much as $2.2 trillion in four years. Would you trust your finances in the hands of a robo-advisor? Wealthy investors have been flocking to automated services in recent years, and even some major lenders are planning to integrate this technology. Robo-advisors come at a much cheaper rate, often charging half of what a traditional broker would THE RISE OF ROBO-ADVISORS AI advisors generate investment advice using computer programs, at half the rate of human brokers. Roughly 15 percent of robo-clients at Charles Schwab Corp. have at least $1 million in the company, Bloomberg writes, and the trend is increasing across the board. Schwab was one of the first major firms to adopt these practices, and in the first nine months of AI services, it reeled in $5.3 billion to its offering, a spokesman told Bloomberg. Elsewhere, the trend is growing among wealthy investors and financial giants. Some have estimated that these services will manage $2.2 trillion by 2020. Advertisement According to Bloomberg Business, brokerages including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America Corp., and Wells Fargo & Co. all have AI in the works to meet employee and customer needs. This is in efforts to keep up with the growing popularity of robo-advisors, who are moving money for millennials and small investors along with financial giants like Wealthfront Inc. and Betterment LLC. AI advisors generate investment advice using computer programs, and run at a much cheaper rate than traditional, human, brokers, who can charge at least one percent of the assets being managed. An Aite Group study reveals that assets in automated portfolios spiked 210 percent in 2015. This, however, reflects $50 billion of investments within the $20 trillion wealth-management market. Still, these numbers are only growing, Bloomberg suggests. As robo-advisors gain acceptance, consulting firm A.T. Kearney estimates that they will manage up to $2.2 trillion by 2020. Its real money moving, Kendra Thompson, am Accenture Plc managing director, told Bloomberg. Youre seeing experimentation from people with much larger portfolios, where theyre taking a portion of their money and putting them in these offerings to try them out. As robo-advisors gain acceptance, consulting firm A.T. Kearney estimates that they will manage up to $2.2 trillion by 2020. Schwab was one of the first major firms to adopt these practices, and in the first nine months of AI services, it reeled in $5.3 billion to its offering, a spokesman told Bloomberg Roughly 15 percent of robo-clients at Charles Schwab Corp. have at least $1 million in the company, Bloomberg writes, and the trend is increasing across the board. Schwab was one of the first major firms to adopt these practices, and in the first nine months of AI services, it reeled in $5.3 billion to its offering, a spokesman told Bloomberg. Some firms, including Morgan Stanley and Wells Fargo are saying that robo-advisors could act as complimentary services alongside human employees. Robo is a positive disruptor, Jay Welker, president of Wells Fargos private bank, told Bloomberg. We think of robo in terms of serving multi-generational families. A passenger on board an Etihad Airways flight has captured rare footage of lighting hitting a plane as it flew through turbulent weather. The fascinating video shows the passenger jet flying through clouds when its right wing is hit. Passenger Mitchell Stewart recorded the incredible footage as he flew from Abu Dhabi to Paris on Wednesday. Passenger Mitchell Stewart captured the incredible moment on a flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris Stewart, who was in a window seat, said the plane went on to make a safe landing after the lightning strike Stewart, who was in a window seat, said the Boeing 777-300ER was on its approach to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport when the lightning strike occurred. He said the plane went on to make a safe landing in Paris shortly after. According to online flight tracking services, the flight landed at about 2pm local time after a seven-hour journey from Abu Dhabi International Airport. A spokesperson for Etihad said: 'Around the world, aircraft are struck by lightning on a daily basis, and are equipped with devices which prevent the accumulation of static electricity. 'Following a reported lightning strike a maintenance procedure is completed before the aircraft is released for its next flight. 'The amazing footage captured by our guest on flight EY37 from Abu Dhabi to Paris demonstrates this brilliantly.' Stewart captured the fascinating clip while the plane was approaching Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport Aircraft are built to withstand a direct lightning strike and often suffer little or no damage as a result Stewarts video went viral after he posted it on YouTube, where it has had more than 50,000 views, and it was shared on social media websites such as Reddit and Facebook. Viewers were mesmerised by the clip. One wrote on YouTube: The movement of the plane as it created that connection is just awesome to see. The continuing residual trail was even better. Incredible capture.' Reddit users said the video doesn't capture a direct hit. One wrote: 'That is a static discharge. The strike was on the opposite wing.' It is not uncommon for aircraft to be struck by lightning while flying in bad weather and they are built to withstand a direct hit. Most strikes cause little or no damage to the plane, an expert said. Mitchell Stewart's video has gone viral after he posted it on YouTube and it was shared on social media British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) spokesperson Captain Steven Draper previously told MailOnline Travel: 'Lightning strikes do not affect the flying of an aeroplane, although when flying near or through thunderstorms, pilots might employ specific procedures. Pilots use the weather radar to avoid the worst areas of a storm. 'Aeroplanes have a published "turbulence speed" which provides the best passenger comfort and protection from the turbulence. In a storm the pilot may adopt that speed. 'Other procedures a pilot might employ include turning up the flight deck lighting to reduce the dazzling effect of lightning and ensuring the aircraft ice protection is on.' He added: 'Most of the time lightning strikes do not need any specific action, although a reassuring PA to the passengers can help if it has caused concern. 'In many cases there is little or no damage caused by lightning strikes. However, sometimes a small part - often the nose cone - needs to be replaced. Areas that are prone to lightning damage are normally fairly straightforward to replace. 'After landing the pilot would make an entry in the Aeroplanes Technical Log referring to the lightning strike so the engineers can check the aeroplane for damage. There are also some other forms to fill out.' Airlines are changing their routes for some flights in Asia over fears that passenger jets could be hit by falling debris from a North Korean rocket. With the secretive country planning to launch a satellite-bearing rocket between February 8 and 25, several carriers, including the two largest in Japan, have said they will divert planes that fly over waters off the Philippines and South Korea, where missile parts are expected to fall. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines said their passengers will not experience severe delays, however, as the diversions are expected to add just five to 10 minutes to their journeys. All Nippon Airways said it is planning to divert three planes that fly over the waters off the Philippines Three ANA flights will be affected from Tokyo Haneda to Manila, from Manila to Tokyo Narita, and from Jakarta to Narita. The changes will affect two Japan Airlines flights one from Jakarta to Narita, and one from Narita to Manila. At least 36 flights operated by Korean Air and Asiana Airlines will adjust their routes, adding about six minutes to each journey. South Korea's government said nearly 40 flights to and from the southern resort island of Jeju will be diverted most are from Korean Air and Asiana, although a few are operated by Chinese carriers. This undated photo from the South Korean Army shows its multiple launch rocket system during a drill Debris from the satellite launch is expected to fall in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of South Korea and in the Philippine Sea. Pyongyang's planned launch would violate UN Security Council sanctions that prohibit North Korea from using ballistic missile technology. North Korea revealed its plans in a formal notification sent to the UN and the missile launch has been condemned by the international community. Pyongyang provided flight coordinates similar to its last successful launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012. North Korea insists its space programme is purely scientific in nature, but the United States and allies including South Korea say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an inter-continental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday condemned Pyongyang's plan to launch the rocket, calling it 'a serious provocation'. 'The reality is that it is a launch of a ballistic missile,' Abe added, rejecting Pyongyang's insistence its space program is purely scientific in nature. Separately, Japan has deployed PAC-3 surface-to-air missile defence systems in at least three bases in Tokyo and its environs, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters Tuesday. Nakatani added that the ministry 'is taking every necessary measure' to address contingencies linked to a possible ballistic missile launch by North Korea. During previous recent launches Japan's military has issued orders to shoot down any rocket or debris that threatens its territory. A British man has been arrested and charged with theft after allegedly pocketing cash that he found in an envelope at a busy airport. Darren Chapman, 49, was arrested as he went to check in at the Bangkok Airways counter after police circulated his image throughout the airport after identifying him as the mystery man who had taken the contents of the abandoned envelope. The envelope containing US dollar bills worth just over 200, and around 50 in Canadian dollars, had been lost by a Tunisian tourist who had left it lying on the counter, but when he went back to get it the cash was gone and the empty envelope was lying on the floor. British tourist Darren Chapman (centre) has been arrested and charged with theft after allegedly pocketing cash that he found in an envelope at a busy airport Chapman, 49, was arrested as he went to check in at the Bangkok Airways counter after police circulated his image throughout the airport He complained to police at Phuket International Airport, on the north-western part of Phuket island on the west coast of Thailand, who looked at the security camera footage. Police spokesman Teerachai Hasso confirmed: 'Mr Chapman confessed that he took the money.' He said that it had been returned to the Tunisian tourist Issam Barhoumi, 40, who had reported it missing after misplacing it. 'CCTV footage clearly showed Mr Chapman taking the money, so it was easy to catch up with him and make the arrest.' He said that Chapman had been charged with theft. Advertisement If you ever fancied living like a lord or lady in a vast country manor house with a library, your own lake and a pirate adventure park - now is your chance. One of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions, Westport House, is on the market for 10million (7.7million). The owners are selling their picturesque property, along with the surrounding 455-hectare estate, after it has been in their family for over 300 years. One of the Ireland's popular tourist attractions, Westport House, is on the market for 10million (7.7million) The owners are selling their picturesque property, along with the surrounding 455-hectare estate, after it has been in their family for over 300 years The historic house, which was built in 1730, is one of the oldest in the country and has been open to the public for over 50 years The historic Co Mayo property, which was built in 1730, is one of the oldest in the country and has been open to the public for over 50 years. Boasting scenic grounds, the house is one of the county's biggest tourist attractions, welcoming 160,000 visitors last year. Some of the major lures to the estate are the impressive views of Clew bay and Croagh Patrick, as well as numerous rides, slides, bouncy castles, giant swan pedalos and a high-ropes course at the adventure centre. Decked out with extravagant period interiors and impressive grand architecture it makes an ideal function space for weddings and regularly hosts numerous events. According to the Irish Examiner, in a report conducted on behalf of Mayo County Council, the estate provides employment to 47 local people, and contributed 1.7million to the local economy in 2014. Ten years ago, 380 acres of the estate were put up as a security on a loan of 6.5million, but the loan was hit by recession and acquired by National Asset Management Agency (Nama). Now the Browne family have reluctantly been forced to list their ancestral home, Westport House on the market after they met with the estate administrators. As one of the county's biggest tourist attractions, Westport House welcomed 160,000 visitors in 2015 Some of the major lures to the estate are the impressive views of Clew bay and Croagh Patrick, as well as numerous rides, slides, bouncy castles, giant swan pedalos and a high-ropes course at its adventure centre In a statement issued by the family, Sheelyn Browne said: 'This is a very sad and emotional day for our family as we have done everything in our power to try to save the House and Estate over the last eight years but now have to admit defeat in this battle as we have neither, the resources or the energy to continue. 'The High Court appointed administrators are very clear that this is the only course of action open to us for both legal and financial reasons. 'Our fervent hope and wish is that someone will buy the House and Estate and keep it open to the public so that it can continue to be the cornerstone of the tourist offering in our beloved Westport.' Although no decision has been made on the sale of the contents of Westport House, included in the deal are a range of cottages and buildings. The new owners will acquire a number of tourism and accommodation opportunities including the old farmyard, estate offices, the Pirate Adventure Park, Gracys Bar and a Caravan Park. Tourists will still be able to enjoy visiting Westport House in the coming season as business will continue as normal, the statement added. With its extravagant furnishings the property has been used as an events and weddings function space Ten years ago, 380 acres of the estate were put up as a security on a loan of 6.5million, but the loan was hit by recession and acquired by Nama No decision has been made on the sale of the contents of Westport House, but included in the deal are a range of cottages and buildings, as well as a number of tourism and accommodation opportunities including the old farmyard, estate offices, the Pirate Adventure Park, Gracys Bar and a Caravan Park The owners said they were sad and emotional about the decision to sell their ancestral home but they do hope it will continue to be the cornerstone of the tourist offering in Westport JACKSON A Circuit Court judge has rejected a plea agreement for a man accused of killing a trophy deer in a Jackson Hole residential neighborhood. Ninth Circuit Judge James Radda ruled Wednesday that 29-year-old Travis Gros would have to pay more than a $250 fine and $40 court cost. Wyoming Game and Fish Department warden Jon Stephens recommended $1,060 in fines and a three-year loss of hunting privileges. Gros was cited in October for reckless endangerment, trespassing, failure to tag big game and wasting or abandoning big game. He is accused of gunning down a trophy buck in someone's yard while they were at home. Without the plea deal, proceedings against Gros will continue at a Feb. 22 hearing. Pakistans state-owned airline has admitted that it has no idea how many of its passengers are stranded or where amid an ongoing strike by its staff. With no end in sight, the industrial action forced Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to suspend all of its flights to domestic and foreign destinations, including London and New York grounding thousands of travellers and crippling the countrys major airports. The strike is in its fourth day as employees protest plans to privatise Pakistans flag carrier, which was previously dubbed the worlds least productive airline. Pakistan International Airlines suspended all its flights, including London, as the strike entered its fourth day Airline spokesman Danial Hassan Gillani told Bloomberg: We have no data available on how many and where passengers with confirmed PIA tickets are waiting, because the entire system is shut, servers are down and no booking is being done. Bloomberg called PIA the worlds least productive and most overstaffed airline, saying each of its 15,000 full-time workers earns the airline 61,000 rupees (400, $585) a year, the lowest among 72 carriers tracked by the news agency. Gilani said agreement had been reached with rival airlines to fly all domestic and international passengers. However, customers must pay the difference if the rival companys fare is greater and the backlog is expected to take days to clear. The strike is in its fourth day as employees protest government plans to privatise Pakistans flag carrier Earlier this week, two protesting employees were shot dead and several more wounded at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport Pakistans largest hub when clashes broke out between security forces and staff, though authorities denied opening fire. Pakistani domestic workers trying to fly to the Middle East are among those who are stranded in Karachi. Sualma Jia, who works at a hotel in Dubai, told AFP: My visa is about to expire in the next three days and I have to reach Dubai before that but here I am stuck at the airport. She said she was not even able to retrieve her luggage from the airline, adding: My future is at stake here, I tried a few private airlines but they have raised their fares by almost three times. The strike continues despite Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's warning the demonstration was illegal and those taking part could face up to a year in prison under a law that restricts union activity in state-administered sectors. Khloe Kardashian firmly believes that you can stay friends with an ex. And on Wednesday, the 31-year-old discussed her good relationship with her former boyfriend, rapper French Montana. The ex-couple were both guests on sister Kylie Jenner's radio show, Kylie Radio. The 18-year-old's best friend Jordyn Woods also made an appearance. Scroll down for video No beef: On Wednesday, Khloe Kardashian, 31, revealed that she is still on good terms with her former boyfriend, rapper French Montana, also 31. The duo are pictured in July of 2014 'We have history and we've had a relationship and a great friendships and I love that we are still friends,' revealed Khloe according to E!. 'I don't believe in f***ing and ducking. We had a great relationship and I like that we can still be friends.' The duo were previously in a relationship for eight months in 2014, before calling it quits in September. They reconciled for a short time, but split again that December. See Khloe Kardashian updates as she discusses close friendship with ex French Montana It can work: While some believe it's impossible to be friends with a previous partner, the Kocktails With Khloe hosts begged to differ French, who is also 31, was the first person Khloe had a relationship with after filing for divorce from husband of four years Lamar Odom in 2013. While the former couple were the guests of honour, they weren't the only topic discussed that evening. Fans called into the talk show, and Kylie took part. Her turn: While the duo were the guests of honour, they weren't the only topic discussed that evening. Fans called into the talk show, and Kylie took part At one point, the reality star, who recently celebrated 50 million Instagram followers, discussed her celebrity status, and admitted she 'didn't' predict her fame. 'I used to think I was big and popping one or two years ago and it just keeps growing,' Kylie shared. 'I didn't think I was going to be this big.' The teenager added: 'I actually don't think I'm that big or famous.' Sofia Vergara suffers for her fashion. The 43--year-old revealed in a recent interview with The Edit that she bleeds after every awards show. Sofia blamed the bleeding on what she called her 'stripper boobs' which she has to work to keep under control while on the red carpet. Scroll down for video Bleeding for her art: Sofia Vergara revealed in a recent interview with The Edit that she bleeds after every awards show 'People will often say that I wear the same thing on the red carpet, but I know my body: its very voluptuous and Ive got the boobs of a stripper,' the Colombian actress said. 'Theyre a 32DDD and because theyre real, theyre everywhere, so I need my dresses to have structure - and under armor. There is so much going on under my dresses that I bleed at the end of award ceremonies.' Vergara then discussed the prospect of undergoing the knife in the future: 'In 10 years I think it would be good to have a reduction.' Suffering: Sofia blamed the bleeding on what she called her 'stripper boobs' which she has to work to keep under control while on the red carpe, pictured at the SAG Awards on Saturday 'People will often say that I wear the same thing on the red carpet, but I know my body: its very voluptuous and Ive got the boobs of a stripper,' the Colombian actress said 'I dont think its even going to be an option not to [have surgery], because Im going to start having back pains. I wouldnt make them too small - just enough that I dont end up looking like an old stripper.' She also talked in the same interview about planning on having children with her second husband of three months, Joe Manganiello. 'My husband is [four years] younger than me and he wants kids so we're trying to figure out what we're going to do,' the 43-year-old actress told Net-A-Porter's weekly digital magazine The Edit. 'The idea of doing it all again doesn't scare me but, hey, it's not like it's going to happen naturally, is it?' She also talked in the same interview about planning on having children with her second husband of three months, Joe Manganiello Make-under: Photographer Sebastian Kim captured a surprisingly covered-up, understated Sofia for the stark, spread in The Edit The Modern Family diva was only 20 when she had son Manolo, 23, with her first husband, high school sweetheart Joe Gonzalez. 'It's funny to see some of my girlfriends raising young kids. In the US, women postpone motherhood, but in Latin America most of my friends have kids my son's age,' Vergara noted. It's a surprising response from the curvy Colombian, who's still locked in a bitter legal battle with ex-fiance Nick Loeb over their frozen embryos. Back in October, a judge ruled that the Onion Crunch king could move forward with his civil case to get custody of the female embryos, whom he views as 'his daughters.' 'My two loves': The Modern Family diva was only 20 when she had son Manolo, 23, with her first husband, high school sweetheart Joe Gonzalez Photographer Sebastian Kim captured a surprisingly covered-up, understated Sofia for the stark, spread in The Edit. The four-time Golden Globe nominee donned designs by Roland Mouret, Michael Kors, Wolford, Elie Saab, and Arme De LAmour. Vergara sported minimal make-up by Kayleen McAdams - whose sister is Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams - and her brunette locks coiffed by hairstylist Kylee Heath. Here comes the bride: The four-time Golden Globe nominee donned designs by Roland Mouret (pictured), Michael Kors, Wolford, Elie Saab, and Arme De LAmour Glam squad: Vergara sported minimal make-up by Kayleen McAdams (M) - whose sister is Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams - and her brunette locks coiffed by hairstylist Kylee Heath (L) The Latina bombshell said: 'In 10 years I think it would be good to have a reduction. I don't think its even going to be an option not to [have surgery], because I'm going to start having back pains. I wouldn't make them too small just enough that I don't end up looking like an old stripper' Sofia currently plays Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on the seventh season of Modern Family, which airs Wednesdays on ABC. 'Watching myself age onscreen is awful!' the Wild Card star lamented. 'There is nothing more disturbing than watching an episode of Modern Family from the first season, then one from seven years later, but what can I do? Ill be sad when the wolf whistles stop. I'm already sad that men have started calling me "Senora." I get really p***** off: "What? It's Senorita!"' It was one of the glitziest events of the year thus far, bringing out the biggest names in Australian television, film, and fashion. But The Bachelorette's Davey Lloyd seemed to get the dress code mixed up on Thursday night when he attended the TAG Heuer event in Sydney to celebrate Chris Hemsworth's signing to the luxury watch company. While every other man at the party opted for sharp suits and dressy shirts, the 26-year-old showed up in a pair of ripped three quarter jeans and a plain white t-shirt. Scroll down for video The odd man out: The Bachelorette's Davey Lloyd ignored the ritzy dress code for the TAG Heuer event on Thursday by wearing ripped jeans a t-shirt instead of dressy attire The casual star also sported a pair of bulky boots instead of fancy footwear like the rest of the guests. Despite not dressing appropriately, Davey was still able to mingle with all the A-listers at the celebrity soiree - and was even able to get a photo with Mr. Chris Hemsworth himself. The aspiring model, who is from Sydney's Northern Beaches, attended the ritzy party with his Bachelorette co-stars Dave Billsborrow and Alex Cameron. Let's party! Despite being an A-list event, Davey and his Bachelorette co-stars Alex Cameron and Dave Billsborrow were still able to score an invite Rubbing shoulders with the stars: Dave and Davey were able to snap a photo with Chris Hemsworth The man of the hour: The elegant event was held to celebrate Chris Hemsworth's new endorsement deal with luxury watch brand TAG Heuer Unlike Dave, the pair were both dressed appropriately in shirts, pants, and smart blazers. Speaking to the Daily Mail Australia at the A-list shindig, the trio all expressed their willingness to return to the small screen. 'Nothing's come our way,' said Billsborrow, before adding that he was 'definitely' open to the opportunity if it presented itself. Following in her footsteps: Davey is keen to follow The Bachelor's Laurina Fleure by appearing on Channel Ten's 'I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!' Alex said 'never say never' when asked if he'd like to do The Bachelor, but added: 'I have to wait for them to make that phone call first.' Davey then revealed that he'd love to do I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, which currently stars season two Bachelor beauty Laurina Fleure. Other guests at the TAG Heuer event included Jessica Gomes, Fiona Falkiner, The Bachelor's Tim Robards, Jodi Anasta, Sylvia Jeffreys, Rugby star George Burgess, Samantha Jade, and model duo The Stenmark Twins. Stunning display: Model Jessica Gomes and Chris looked every bit the A-list pair as they posed at the event Getting it right: Unlike Davey, Tim Robards looked sophisticated in a stylish suit that was appropriate for the glamorous party Gorgeous girls: Jodi Anasta, Samantha Jade, and Fiona Falkiner all looked stunning in their finest cocktail attire Fashion forward: Model and MTV star Kate Peck put on a stylish display in a trendy black outfit Advertisement The attendees of InStyle's EE Rising Star party seemed to have had the same idea on the cleavage front on Thursday night. While Millie Mackintosh had party-hopped across town from the red carpet premiere of Zoolander No.2, still wearing her racy backless Balestra Couture gown from WilliamVintage gown, she seemed to fit in well with the second crowd, which included Ashley James and Emily Atack. Original Made In Chelsea castmember Millie plumped for black just like her old castmate Ashley, though David Walliams' rumoured flame was being yet more bold with sheer fabric at the BAFTA party, held at 100 Wardour St in London. Scroll down for video Racy displays: Millie Mackintosh (left), Ashley James (centre) and Emily Atack (right) competed on the cleavage front as they stepped out for the InStyle EE Rising Star party at 100 Wardour St on Thursday night Millie called on the company of best friend Gizzi Erskine inside the soiree, hanging off the celebrity chef with her upper thigh peeping out of the floor-sweeping gown. It had been the perfect outfit choice for the film premiere earlier that night and earned her the attention of many lenses, despite red carpet competition from Hollywood actresses Penelope Cruz, Kristen Wiig and Natalie Dormer. Ashley's ensemble would have been less appropriate for a run on the movie sequel's bright blue arrivals carpet though, since hers was completely see-through from all angles. Ladies in black: Doina Ciobanu, Gizzi Erskine and Millie Mackintosh matched in black as they cosied in for a photo Party hopping: The brunette hit Leicester Square's red carpet premiere (centre) that night and then went across to a BAFTA party (left and right) Stylish duo: Pink-ahired Portia Freeman (left) shared some shots with Millie Busty display: Emily was stylish in a red jumpsuit, which featured a low-cut plunge, while Ashley was bold with a sheer fabric While she seemed to go braless in the high-neck number, she made a display of her other undergarments in the thigh-skimming dress, which featured a beaded detail in gold to accentuate her curves. Though Millie and Ashley didn't seem to speak at the bash, it's well known that they shared the screen during the early years of E4 reality TV show Made In Chelsea, along with Rosie Fortescue, who was also at the party. Actress Emily received her television debut on the same channel, though fans will remember her from comedy The Inbetweeners when she played Charlotte 'Big Jugs' Hinchcliffe. Rising star: Emily has broken away from television in recent years and stars in the new big screen remake of Dad's Army Soon to be a winner: She's sure to a BAFTA winner in the coming years with her current trajectory Polished: Up close, the star's make-up was polished, and finished with gold glitter detail Looking leggy: She completed the look with a simple blazer and patent heeled shoes She lived up to her nickname with a neckline that plunged almost to her waist but cut a sophisticated figure by comparison to her peers in a straight-legged jumpsuit. The stylish garment featured an of-the-moment choker collar and flattered her curves perfectly when she tipped it with barely-there gold sandals to elongate her legs. Breaking away from her television career, Emily is the star of this month's big screen remake of Dad's Army, where she stars alongside Hollywood royalty Catherine Zeta Jones, as well as her old acting pal Blake Harrison who used to play Neil in The Inbetweeners. Stylish line up: Olivia Wayne, Rosie Fortescue, Ashley James and Kara Rose Marshall made quite the line-up Dancefloor diva: Suki Waterhouse's little sister Immy hit the dancefloor in a cute jumpsuit with a velvet top detail Posing up a storm: Former Downton Abbey star Laura Carmichael (left) posed with Jack Lowden (far left) and Joanna Vanderham (far right) Dinner party friends: Konnie Huq, Jonathan Ross and Jane Goldman shared a few drinks at the party Family affair: Jonathan was pictured with his wife Jane and daughter Honey Kinney (left) Emily will no doubt be not too far off a BAFTA nomination herself in the years to come but spent the evening celebrating the break-through stars of 2015, who will be honoured at the annual awards ceremony, due to take place in 10 days' time. The party was hosted by British fashion magazine InStyle with special attention to the EE Rising Star Award; a category that is now in its 11th year and honours the industry's favourite up and coming star. Taron Egerton, Bel Powley, Brie Larson, Dakota Johnson and John Boyega are all nominated, with a catalogue of films such as Star Wars, 50 Shades Of Grey, Room and Kingsman already in their back catalogue. All in: (From left) Jack Lowden, Laura Carmichael, Joanna Vanderham, Henry Lloyd Hughes and Thomas Brodie-Sangster posed together Floral fancy: Game Of Thrones star Maisie Williams clashed her blue floral frock with stunning canary yellow shoes, completing her look with Swarovski jewellery and a gold and silver clutch bag Glamour puss: Olivia Grant was equally elegant in bright florals, along with a tropical-coloured bag Stunning star: The redhead looked exquisite with her long locks tossed over one shoulder Fashion fiends; Gemma Chan (left), Rosie Fortescue (centre) and Stacey Martin (right) displayed their style credentials All white on the night: Lucy Mecklenburg arrived late in a white tuxedo jacket dress with fluffy heels Representing the acting world, Olivia Grant, Laura Carmichael and Thomas Brodie-Sangster were all in attendance on Thursday night, rubbing shoulders with an eclectic mix of stars from fashion, TV, sport and theatre. On the fashion front, model Stacey Martin was looking suitably kooky in clashing print, while musician Pixie Lott brought along fashion model boyfriend Oliver Cheshire. Movie critic and chat show host Jonathan Ross also made an appearance, alongside wife Jane and daughter Honey Kinney, who shared drinks with former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq. Cute twosome: Oliver Cheshire (left) and girlfriend Pixie Lott shared a date night at the event in London Feathered fancy: The pop princess looked incredible in a dramatic, feather embellished strapless gown Firm friends: Olivia Wayne, Rosie Fortescue and Ashley James posed as they rubbed shoulders with the stars Glam girls: Lady Kitty Spencer mingled with Rosie inside the fun party to celebrate the best in rising talent Proud dad: Gary Linekar (right) took his handsome son George (left) to the event with him on Thursday Model behaviour: Pals Esme Drummond and Immy Waterhouse larked around for the cameras in their glam ensembles Remember him? Love Actually child actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster proved he's turning into quite the gentleman Jewel hues: Presenters Lilah Parsons (L) and Laura Whitmore (R) wowed in colourful satin dresses Party pals: Gizzi Erskine and Laura cosied up for snaps in the celeb-packed London venue Dapper gent: Nicholas Pinnock was looking sharp in a charcoal suit with a red tie and a pink shirt Leading ladies: The stage and screen actor shared some shots with Georgina Campbell (left) and Jing Lusi (right) Steady as she goes: Millie made a dignified exit from the bash at a sensible time, picking up her dress to save tripping Heading home: The brunette hoiked up her dress after a long night of party hopping Joint exit: Pixie and Oliver left together, her leading the way and him guiding her through the street Is she fur real? Lucy Mecklenburg shrouded her shape with a giant puffball coat that matched her shoes Still smiling: Singer Pixie left with a cheeky smile on her face, evidently having enjoyed the soiree Calling it a night: Rosie, Melanie and Laura (L-R) were in high spirits as they exited the star-studded bash The long goodbye: She was steady on her heels as she walked without her gal pals around any more She's been working hard to build up strength after landing roles in two action films. And Ruby Rose appears to be keeping up her fitness regime, taking to the gym for yet another intense session on Tuesday. Sharing snaps from her workout, the 29-year-old posed in a yellow lycra sports bra with her biceps flexed for the camera. Scroll down for video Dedicated: Ruby Rose flaunted her biceps and abs in a yellow crop-top and leggings during another workout on Tuesday Looking down towards the floor, the beauty proudly flaunted her toned abs in the barely-there top which she had paired with some tight leggings. Despite being in the middle of a workout her short brunette tresses fell perfectly in front of her face for the picture. Captioning the image, Ruby wrote: 'Tiny little guns, what are they? Guns for ants???'. See Ruby Rose updates as she displays her impressive biceps and abs in yellow sports bra Had enough? The 29-year-old looked less impressed after the workout as she lay on the floor covered in sweat In another photograph she appeared lying on the floor, flipping her middle fingers up towards the camera. She showed off the numerous tattoos that are splashed across her arms and captioned the image: 'Sweat it off, sweat it off...' The Orange Is The New Black star recently spent time in Europe where she filmed scenes for the forthcoming film, John Wick 2. Bear hug: The Aussie actress bundled up in the cold and posed with a huge stuffed polar bear while in Prague Celebation: Ruby was unable to attend the SAG Awards in Los Angeles on Saturday to receive the award As a result she was unable to attend the SAG Awards where Orange Is The New Black received the award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The Australian star took to Instagram and Twitter from Europe to congratulate co-stars, writing: 'Life long friends who changed everything about life as I know it. 'Something so special to be so proud of so many people, to be part of such an important show. I will forever be grateful I was lucky enough to be cast in this series. People took a chance on me. 'It's because of this show I'm here in Europe shooting a film and that my life will never be the same.' He returned to Australia last year after living in Los Angeles for nearly a decade. And it seems Chris Hemsworth is happy to be home, revealing that he feels instantly at ease every time touches down in his motherland. Speaking to the Today Show's Sylvia Jeffreys on Friday, the 32-year-old Melbourne-born star admitted that while he 'loved' living in America, it never felt 'like home'. Scroll down for video Happy to be home: Chris Hemsworth has told of his joy at returning to Australia after spending a decade living in Los Angeles 'LA, I loved it, it was great being there with the opportunities with work, [but] it didn't feel like home,' he said when asked what he looks forward to most about arriving back in Australia. 'Instantly, when I get off the plane, I'm back,' he continued, having moved to Byron Bay with his wife Elsa Pataky and their three children India Rose, three, and twins Tristan and Sasha, one, in 2015. He added that choosing to live on the coast was similar to how he grew up 'Which is I think is essential to what we want to give [the children].' Chris was recently announce as the new face of luxury watch brand TAG Heuer. Speaking of the appointment, he told of his excitement at joining the likes of Hollywood stars to become an ambassador for the company. See more on Chris Hemsworth as he opens up about moving back to Australia Homecoming: The family of five decided to move to Byron Bay in early 2015 'Following in the footsteps of Leonardo Di Caprio, Brad Pitt and people like that is great company,' he said. Playing down his own star quality he shied away from labelling himself at the 'top of his game' when prompted by Sylvia. 'Nice for someone else to say that, I'm not sure where I'm sitting in the scheme of it all,' he mused. He also spoke of his first comedic role in the forthcoming Ghostbusters remake. 'It was new, but scary,' he said, saying that it was sometimes difficult to keep up with the fast-paced improvisation with co-stars Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy. 'Walked on set the first day, I was scared out of my mind,' he said. 'It's essential': The Thor star said that by living by the coast, he is giving his family and children the upbringing he wants Revelation: Chris told of the relocation during an interview with the Today Show's Sylvia Jeffreys on Friday 'It was new, but scary': The hunk said of his role in the upcoming all-women remake of the '80s classic Ghostbusters in which he plays the nerdy receptionist At the TAG Heuer cocktail party in Sydney on Thursday night the star said that he still has concerns when it comes to the volatile nature of the film industry. The global brand ambassador told reporters at the event: 'There is always that fear or anxiety about what's next and so on.' It came after the Thor star admitted that every so often he has to pinch himself about his life. He explained that the anxiety is motivational for the most part: 'It keeps me wanting to achieve new things and try to be a part of different environments and different films and directors and so on.' Trumbo (15) Verdict: Rousing tale of movie folk Rating: Hollywood, like its stars, has always enjoyed gazing in the mirror. Movies about the movie industry are almost as old as Tinseltown itself. But heres a story really worth telling: that of Dalton Trumbo, the illustrious screenwriter who was blacklisted during the Communist witch-hunts of the late Forties and Fifties. Bryan Cranston, still best-known as Walter White in the TV drama Breaking Bad, is immensely engaging in the title role, and fully deserves his Academy Award nomination. It is a peach of a performance in a peach of a part. For Trumbo was the worlds highest-paid screenwriter before falling victim to rising paranoia about the perceived Red Menace, whipped up in Washington DC by Senator Joe McCarthy, and in Hollywood by the likes of Hedda Hopper, the powerful, ultra-conservative gossip columnist (played with thunderous charisma by Helen Mirren). Scroll down for video Trumbo tells the tale of Dalton Trumbo (played by Bryan Cranston, pictured with Helen Mirren as Hedda Hopper), the illustrious screenwriter who was blacklisted during the Communist witch-hunts Trumbos Left-wing credentials were not imagined, however. He really was a member of the Communist Party, and a classic example of what would now be called a Bollinger Bolshevik and was then labelled a swimming-pool Soviet. That his Communist sympathies had been hatched in response to the rise of fascism cut no ice with the FBI. And when Trumbo stood up to the now-notorious House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), he was sent to jail. After his jail term, Trumbo, like the other writers on the blacklist the so-called Hollywood Ten lived as a pariah, unable to append his name to screenplays. His Academy Awards for Roman Holiday (1953) and The Brave One (1956) were won secretly, the first by allowing another writer to take the credit, the second under the pseudonym Robert Rich. Jay Roachs film tells this fascinating story with elan and humour, if, at times, far too simplistically. Trumbo is such a paragon of non-stop wit and wisdom that even his more radical friend Arlen Hird (played by the comedian Louis C. K., and a composite of several real people) observes: Do you have to say everything like its going to be chiselled into a rock? The great screenwriter himself, I feel, might have produced a subtler screenplay than John McNamaras, which portrays all those genuinely terrified by the spectre of Communism, and alarmed by what they considered to be the very real prospect of its pernicious message being disseminated by movies, as either pusillanimously dim or poisonously horrid. Trumbo was sent to jail after he stood up to the now-notorious House Un-American Activities Committee John Wayne (David James Elliott), the president of the admittedly absurd-sounding Motion Picture Alliance for the Preservation of American Ideals, exemplifies the former camp, Hedda Hopper the latter. When she forces Jewish studio head Louis B. Mayer (Richard Portnow) to fire Trumbo, Hopper reveals herself as a vicious anti-Semite. More ordinary anti-Communists throw Coke in Trumbos face, and dead fish in his swimming pool. Of decent, honourable folk worried about the enemy within there is no sign. Still, there is welcome ambiguity in the characterisation of other real-life players in this tale. John Goodman gives a glorious, larger-than- life performance as Frank King, who produces B-movies Actor Edward G. Robinson (Michael Stuhlbarg) is, at first, a staunch ally of Trumbos, but later, unable to find work, denounces him before the HUAC. And Trumbo himself, though a devoted family man, becomes increasingly difficult to live with, all but ignoring his loyal wife (nicely played by Diane Lane) and children (one of whom, Nikola, was a consultant on this film) as he writes frantically, mostly in his favoured workplace, the bathtub. That he has so much work is mostly down to Frank King (a glorious, larger-than- life performance by John Goodman), who with his brother produces schlocky B-movies with titles such as The Alien And The Farmgirl and refuses to be intimidated by the McCarthyites. The Kings need scripts like an army needs toilet paper. So Trumbo organises a team of blacklisted writers, all deemed unemployable, yet all busily employed. Gradually, Trumbo himself starts getting more mainstream work. To Hoppers fury, Kirk Douglas (Dean OGorman) hires him to write Spartacus. When Otto Preminger (Christian Berkel) restores his name to the credits on Exodus, the blacklist is effectively torn up. Its a rousing tale, and just the kind of exercise in self-scrutiny that movie folk adore. After all, even in condemning some of its great names of the past, Hollywood emerges as heroically liberal now. She adds a touch of glamour to any event she attends. And Lucy Mecklenburgh certainly made a unique statement at the InStyle EE BAFTA Rising Star party on Thursday night. The former reality star, 24, was anything but cold in a super snug faux fur grey and blue coat as she arrived at 100 Wardour St, London. Scroll down for video Furry nice! Lucy Mecklenburgh, 24, certainly made a unique statement at the InStyle EE BAFTA Rising Star party on Thursday night The brunette beauty wore the eye-catching number over a plunging v-neck white dress which flaunted the Essex girl's cleavage. The white garment showed off Lucy's deep tan while her cute marabou slippers were the perfect complement for the coat. Wrapped up: The former reality star was anything but cold in a super snug faux fur grey and blue coat as she arrived at 100 Wardour St, London Pristine: Underneath, the brunette beauty wore a plunging v-neck white dress which flaunted the Essex girl's cleavage Unsurprisingly, she removed her fur as soon as she made it inside the venue and occupied her hands with her clutch. The fitness fanatic was more than happy to pose for the cameras and put on a smiley display as she stood on the dancefloor. Never one to neglect a face of make-up, Lucy sported perfectly applied mascara, eye shadow and lipstick. Her brunette tresses were well-coiffed sitting in a stylish bob. This year's BAFTA Rising Star Award category is packed full of talent with John Boyega, Taron Egerton, Brie Larson, Dakota Johnson and Bel Powley all contending for the award. According to BAFTA, 'The EE Rising Star Award honours a young actor or actress who has demonstrated exceptional talent and ambition and has begun to capture the imagination of the British public.' Clean cut: The white garment showed off Lucy's deep tan while her cute marabou slippers were the perfect complement for the coat Dance the night away: The fitness fanatic was more than happy to pose for the cameras and put on a smiley display as she stood on the dancefloor Previous winners of the award include Tom Hardy, Kristen Stewart, Noel Clarke and James McAvoy, and it's the only one at the ceremony voted for by members of the public. In a recent interview with List, Lucy explained what her future with gymnast beau Louis Smith could be like. She revealed: 'I'd absolutely love a family as well as a career. I'll never stop working, that's for sure. I've always been prepared to work hard - my parents instilled that in me.' But a family of their own appears to be a some way off as they currently have no plans to move in together. She said: 'Not right now. He built his house in Peterborough and I've nearly finished building mine in Essex. It wouldn't work at the minute. 'It's important to have your own space and not to plan things around someone else. We live our own lives and see each other when we're both free.' Justin Bieber has swarms of fans who ardently admire him and Rebel Wilson is one of them, so it seems. The 35-year-old Aussie actress made that fact clear - with a smile and wink - in a Valentine's Day video message taped at Wednesday's red carpet premiere of How To Be Single in New York City. Rebel, who first met the 21-year-old pop star at the opening of Jennifer Lopez's Las Vegas show, suggested they've got so much in common in the clip captured by E! News. 'Happy Valentine's Day, Justin': Rebel Wilson (pictured on Wednesday) let her boy crush Justin Bieber (pictured last November) know she'll be thinking about him in a fun Valentine's Day video message Giving the camera lens a come hither look that Bieber might appreciate, the comedienne said: 'I think we're a good match.' Rebel was dressed appropriately in red and the festive dress featured slimming black panels down the sides and was made of a clingy material that stopped at the knees. The blonde star's message began: 'Happy Valentine's Day, Justin. I'll be thinking about you. Not in like a weird way or anything. Just like in a fun way. Seeing sparks? The Aussie actress, 35, and the pop star, 21, met at Jennifer Lopez's first-ever Las Vegas residency on January 21 'You are like the most eligible pop star out there right now and I'll just put this out there, I am the most eligible female Australian living in America and does international hit feature films right now and who is in the age bracket of 25 to 35.' 'So just consider that,' Rebel said, adding with a wink: 'I think we're a good match.' Rebel got to meet her singing idol on January 21 in the VIP area of the AXIS Theater at Planet Hollywood during JLo's first ever Vegas residency. 'I think we're a good match': Rebel told Justin via video, 'You are like the most eligible pop star out there right now and I'll just put this out there, I am the most eligible female Australian living in America' Just in time: Rebel's new romantic comedy How To Be Single - which co-stars, L to R, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann and Dakota Johnson - is due out in US theatres on February 12 and two days ahead of Valentine's Day The bubbly Australian appeared to be having a fun chat with Justin who pledged they would hang out soon. Trouble is, it hasn't happened yet. The Valentine's Day video was obviously Rebel's polite push to make it happen. Rebel certainly has a string of successes to her name including Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2, and now How To Be Single. Her latest flick, which comes out in the US on February 12, just in time for Valentine's Day, is a romantic comedy that also stars Dakota Johnson, Leslie Mann and Alison Brie. It follows a group of singles searching for love in the Big Apple. A Rock Springs man who works in the energy industry has entered the race for U.S. House the first Democrat who lives in Wyoming to seek the office. Ryan Greene, 33, is a political newcomer who describes himself as a news buff, political junkie and voter. The other Democrat in the race for Wyomings lone House seat has quit his campaign. Richard Grayson, 64, lives outside the state. He had been running to motivate Wyoming Democrats to step up. Greene was not available to talk to the Casper Star-Tribune on Wednesday, despite efforts by the newspaper to reach him by phone. His campaign manager sent a statement attributed to him. This isnt the first time the bubble burst here in Wyoming, the statement said, referring to the energy downturn. So why werent our officials ready? There was a plan for the boom but not for the bust. Greene believes Wyoming needs a representative ready to put forth realistic solutions. The Rock Springs native is a pipe welder who began working at the family business as a teenager checking hoses and cleaning tools when it was a small operation working in the Jonah Field. Since then, the company has grown. He is now the operations director at Greenes Energy Services, which works in oil, natural gas, coal, trona, fertilizers and renewable energy. Our company does business with Wyomings natural gas, coal, trona, wind and solar sectors so why doesnt Wyoming back all of them? the statement said. They all create jobs, and we need a representative that will support all of them with actions, not just words. As Wyomings voice in the U.S. House of Representatives, I will strongly and consistently back proposals that promote developing all of Wyomings resources putting people back to work. Greene is married to Lindsey Greene, a teacher in Rock Springs. They have two children. Crowded field There are 11 candidates running for U.S. House an open seat after Republican U.S. Rep. Cynthia Lummis announced she is not seeking re-election. Republican candidates include Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, state Rep. Tim Stubson, state Sen. Leland Christensen. Also joining the GOP field are Darek Farmer of Guernsey, Mike Konsmo of Powell, Paul Paad of Casper, Rex Rammell of Gillette, Jason Senteney of Yoder and Charlie Tyrrel of Casper. John Meena of Buford is running as an independent. Farewell Grayson Greenes entry into the race marks the exit of Richard Grayson, a Democrat who splits his time between Brooklyn, N.Y., and the Phoenix area. He promised that once a Democrat from Wyoming entered the race, hed drop out. Hes living up to that campaign promise. Yes, I said I'd drop out once there was another Democratic candidate, and I'm keeping my word, he said. Grayson is now running for U.S. House in Idahos second Congressional district, which runs along Wyomings western border. Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson has no Democratic challenger in that race. Once someone files in (the second district) as a Democrat, I quit there, and I'll go to (the first district) 1 or another state where there's no Democrat running for Congress and file there ... all the way to Louisiana's deadline in July unless the Long Island Psychic can assure me Democrats will be running everywhere, he said in an email, referring to psychic Theresa Caputo's upcoming visit to Casper. More members of Wyomings minority party could enter the race. Ive heard from a couple other people who have expressed interest who were following up with, said Aimee Van Cleave, executive director for the Wyoming Democratic Party. I dont think Ryan is the last Democrat who is going to announce. He's one of the most enigmatic figures in the history of pop music - and is known for his love of surprises. And recording artist Prince didn't disappoint fans this week when he unveiled last minute plans to tour Australia and New Zealand. The Purple Rain superstar made the announcement on Friday, and will be jetting Down Under later this month. Scroll down for video He's back! Recording artist Prince, 57, pictured here on stage at the Stade de France in Paris in June 2011, thrilled fans on Friday by announcing a surprise tour of Australia and New Zealand This follows the 57-year-old's decision to cancel several European dates in the wake of the Paris terror attacks in November. In true Prince fashion, there has been absolutely no fanfare or build-up to the Piano And A Microphone tour. The pop-funk star dropped his last album Hit n Run Phase Two in a similar fashion last December. The last time Prince visited Australia was for an arena tour in 2012. His upcoming shows will mark his first time ever playing live in New Zealand. Announcement: As news of the Australia and New Zealand tour was released by promoters Dainty Group and Kerry O'Brien publicity, Prince himself tweeted this announcement which sent social media into a frenzy In contrast to Prince's previous stage shows, his new tour is a far more intimate affair, in which he will perform alone while accompanying himself on piano. He kicked off the tour in January in his home state Minnesota, playing the first solo show of his career at his personal recording complex Paisley Park. His performance has been praised across the board, with several reviews highlighting his virtuosity on piano. Australian fans also expressed their delight and shock on Twitter following Friday's announcement. Hot under the collar: This Prince fan said she needed 'to cool down' after hearing about the tour Careful! Twitter user @disey_p joked about having 'heart palpitations' upon hearing the surprise news Social media frenzy: @DJKatG was among thousands of Australian fans tweeting about the tour on Friday But unfortunately they won't be able to locate ticketing and venue information, none of which has been released yet. Twitter user @AlwaysInUrHair wrote, rather excitedly: 'HELP! I need to cool down!' Perhaps exaggerating, @disey_p tweeted: 'R U SERIOUS??!! We are having heart palpitations right now!!!!!!!!!!' After news broke of the split on Thursday morning, the former Charmed star still had things to do. Rose McGowan attended a fashion launch in West Hollywood sporting a less-than-sheepish look. The 42-year-old actress donned an avant garde ensemble featuring a netted top which provided a glimpse of her black bra straps. Same old style: Rose McGowan attended a fashion launch in West Hollywood sporting a less-than-sheepish look A solid front panel embroidered with 'LA' provided a bit of coverage on the top, while she opted for some baggy black trousers on the bottom. White socks and eye-catching platform leather Oxfords rounded out the distinctive look. It seemed like the Grindhouse star had freshly shaved her head for the outing, while a slick of light crimson lipstick provided just a bit of color. Peek-a-boo: The 42-year-old actress donned an avant garde ensemble featuring a netted top which provided a glimpse of her black bra straps Out and about: It seemed like the Grindhouse star had freshly shaved her head for the outing, while a slick of light crimson lipstick provided just a bit of color The divorce comes after only two years of marriage. The former Charmed star has filed for divorce from artist Davey Detail - who she married in October 2013 after less than two years of dating - citing 'irreconcilable differences', TMZ reports. The couple have no children and the 42-year-old actress - who is worth an estimated $18 million - has asked the judge to reject any claim for spousal support. Scroll down for video It's over: Rose McGowan has filed for divorce from artist Davey Detail after two years of marriage. They are pictured here in August 2014 It is unclear whether the pair had a pre-nuptial agreement, but the court documents state there will be a 'stipulated judgment', which is believed to mean they have already reached a settlement. Davey (real name David Leavitt) proposed to Rose in July 2013 after one year together, and they married that October. Rose - who previously dated rocker Marilyn Manson and director Robert Rodriguez - hasn't spoken out about the split. The actress was in a relationship with Manson for three and a half years, and engaged for two, but revealed they broke up due to 'lifestyle differences'. Over a year ago: The former couple were photographed as recently as December 2014 in West Hollywood The way they were: The former couple cuddled up during an appearance in Los Angeles for a Dsquared2 event in October 2014 Winter wonderland: The actress and Davey were bundled up as they attended an event in Park City, Utah in January 2014 The former couple's relationship ended in 2001. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live over the summer, the actress was asked by Andy during the show's Plead The Fifth question-and-answer session for one example of a lifestyle difference between them. 'Scarface,' Rose replied. Andy was perplexed until Rose asked him to think about the 1983 film starring Al Pacino as a Miami druglord. 'Coke,' Andy said as her cocaine reference sunk in. 'He did too much blow and you were not down for it?' Last seen: The actress last shared a photo of herself with the ring on her wedding finger from an event in West Hollywood in February 2015 Has a nice ring! The starlet showed off her ring on Instagram 'Love': The actress shared a snap of herself with Davey on their wedding day in February 2015 The actress then said, 'It was me...Actually, I don't know. I plead the fourth.' 'I'm honest, always, I can't help it,' she added. Rose and Rodriguez were also engaged for two years, from October 2007 until October 2009, when they called off the wedding. The star recently slammed the 'boring' industry and claimed she stepped away from life in front of the camera because there are not enough 'intelligent and daring' films. There he is: The actress shared a snap of Davey in April 2015, in what appeared to be one of her final images she Instagrammed of him Not there: McGowan first shared an Instagram snap of herself without the ring in March 2015 Something's missing: The star was photographed as early as March 2015 without her ring No ring: The actress was noticeably without her wedding ring when she stepped out to attend an event in Park City, Utah in late January 2016 Out and about: The star stepped out without her wedding ring in Los Angeles in November 2015 In an Instagram post, she wrote: 'Thoughts on the current state of tent pole films aka superheroes. I'd like to petition for other stories to be added to the slate. Where are the human stories? 'I don't want green goblins and tight outfits. I want intelligence, daring, work that drives society forward. I want a mirror, not every cliche regurgitated ad nauseum. From Scarface, to Lebowski, to M, to Anchor Man, to the sublime Carol, to Chinatown,to Sullivan's Travels-. Let's bring complexity back. Let's be the badasses we used to be. Open up the director's chair and it'll change. 'think of all the stories not on screen because women are blocked by the status quo. F**k the status quo. Honestly, it got so boring in front of the camera I had to quit. Boring often times egomaniacal tyrants not making art. Hmmm.. Why ever should that change? Add women. Change the conversation. Promote depth. (sic).' Wedding bells: Davey (real name David Leavitt) proposed to Rose in July 2013 after one year together, and they married that October The tenth series of Britain's Got Talent is due to return to television very soon. So as the judges rounded up the Birmingham auditions, the ensemble were pictured as they arrived back at their hotel. Leading the pack, Simon Cowell was in good spirits as he wrapped another day on set and opted to call it a night. Scroll Down For Video Leader of the pack: Simon Cowell smiled on Thursday night as he headed to his hotel after the BGT auditions Another day, another round of auditions: Alesha Dixon and David Walliams were spotted arriving at Hotel du Vin Ready to hit the hay, Simon smiled as he greeted waiting photographers and was then seen walking up the stairs with Amanda Holden. Following behind, Alesha Dixon was a stunning as always as he hair and make-up remained intact as she stopped to gift a fan with an autograph before heading inside. Meanwhile, David Walliams looked especially excited to get in bed with his shirt and tie loosened. The judges were also seen arriving back at Hotel du Vin with show hosts Ant and Dec. Helping hand: Simon and Amanda Holden walked with their arms wrapped around one another Pals: Cowell and Holden looked ready to count some some sheep as they headed up the stairs Still looking glam: Alesha was still in her chic outfit and full makeup as she strutted back to rest her head Handing out her autograph: Dixon was seen gifting an admirer with her signature Happy to be hitting the hay: Show hosts Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly beamed were also in tow Ahead of their night out, Amanda proved that she hard indeed earned her stripes as one of the longest serving judges on the show. Arriving at the Birmingham auditions for the new series, Holden was hard to miss on Thursday. Taking to the red carpet, the 44-year-old gave a glimpse of her toned torso as she slipped into a monochrome creation. She's earned her stripes! Amanda Holden flashed her toned torso at Birmingham BGT auditions on Thursday Hard to miss: The 44-year-old slipped into a one shoulder monochrome number with cut out details For the latest rounds of auditions, Amanda wore an off-shoulder asymmetric dress by Mugler which featured cut-out detail and a large gunmetal button. With her blonde tresses styled in a sleek centre parting, Holden added height to her frame thanks to a pair of white Casadei stilettos. The Portsmouth born star opted for a strong brow, dark eye make-up and nude lipstick. Strike a pose: Holden stunned in a picture she posted to Instagram to give fans a preview of her ensemble In good company: Amanda was joined on the red carpet by fellow judge Alesha Dixon Catching up: Holden and Dixon shared their pearly whites as they appeared to share a joke Coordinated co-stars: Before Alesha opened up her leather trench coat, the two were perfectly matching Taking to Instagram ahead of the photocall, Amanda posted a flawless selfie as she offered fans a preview of her outfit. She captioned the photograph: 'Thank you @angiesmithstyle and @mrvermaak for my Birmingham @bgt look! 'Wearing @muglerofficial @casadeiofficial @sweet_pea_jewellery_london @feiliufinejewellery and nails by @sharonbnails'. Sartorial sass: The girls looked pretty as a picture as fans keenly snapped away on their phones Close display: Alesha and Amanda put their arms around each other on the red carpet Making time for those who matter: Amanda was seen chatting away with some fans before heading inside BGT is celebrating its tenth series this year, with head judge Simon Cowell hinting the ITV favourite could bring back former popular contestants and winners to mark the milestone. Last month Simon told OK!: 'From what I've seen of what the show's going to look like, I think it's going to feel fun. A big celebration of its 10 year past. 'Got to bring back some big moments from over the years, and try and make it as surprising as possible. I would say probably not past judges, but probably yes past acts,' he teased. Double act: Ahead of the photocall, Holden and Dixon were seen leaving the Hotel du Vin She famously shed a whopping 20kg four years ago, and has worked hard to maintain her svelte figure ever since. So it's no wonder comedian Julia Morris, 47, has been more than happy to showcase her silhouette in a series of body-skimming outfits as she hosts I'm A Celebrity.... Get Me Out Of Here. On Thursday night, Julia took to Instagram to share a photo of her evening's on-screen attire, which consisted of a slinky wrap dress in leopard print by Australian designer Wheels And Dollbaby. Scroll down for video Va va voom! Julia Morris,47, took to Instagram on Thursday to share a photo of her evening's on-screen attire, which consisted of a slinky wrap dress in leopard print by Australian designer Wheels And Dollbaby Her jungle-inspired ensemble was completed with a set of dramatic gold jewellery by Doury Accessories. Posing in front of the tree-top studio set of I'm A Celebrity....Get Me Out Of Here, Julia wrote in the caption: 'Turning up the @imacelebrityau heat with @wheelsanddollbaby making all bodies look sexy Jx.' Earlier that day, the brunette funnywoman shared another photo of herself clad in a leopard-printed look, this time in the form of a silk kaftan top designed by iconic Australian label Camilla. She's wild! Earlier that day, the brunette funnywoman shared another photo of herself clad in a leopard-printed look, this time in the form of a silk kaftan top designed by iconic Australian label Camilla Dressed to impress! Ever the clotheshorse, Julia shared a third outfit photo on her Instagram that day, this time featuring a kaftan dress by Camilla paired with a set of strappy heels and an set of chunky cocktail rings. In the photo, she can be seen standing on a jungle hiking track next to Chris, who looks dashing in his khaki shorts and blue button-up shirt. 'Delighting in a magnificent @camillawithlove top & @wheelsanddollbaby skirt & @witcheryfashion wedge', wrote Julia in the caption before adding the funny hashtag, #junglecatwalk. Ever the clotheshorse, Julia shared a third outfit photo on her Instagram that day, this time featuring a kaftan dress by Camilla paired with a set of strappy heels and an set of chunky cocktail rings. It's the latest in a slew of designer garbs donned by Julia, who is currently hosting the reality survival-style show in the South African jungle with co-host Dr Chris Brown. Sultry: On Tuesday night's episode, Julia slipped into a little black dress with gold sleeves by Down Under designer Leona Edmiston On-screen chic! A day earlier, the show-woman strutted her stuff on set wearing a neon pink and red pencil dress by Sonia Capellazzo On Tuesday night's episode, Julia slipped into a little black dress with gold sleeves by Down Under designer Leona Edmiston. She added a pop of colour by applying a slick of ruby red lipstick. A day earlier, the show-woman strutted her stuff on set wearing a neon pink and red pencil dress by Sonia Capellazzo. But it was during the premiere episode of the show on Monday when Julia pulled out all the fashion stops, donning a sapphire-blue ballgown by couturier Philippa Galasso. This reality star turned jail bird's wings are no longer clipped. Teresa Giudice had a lot to celebrate with her house arrest finally lifted and her daughter Milania turning double digits. The 43-year-old star kicked off her freedom week early on Tuesday by taking her large family to an indoor skydiving centre in Westchester, New York. Scroll down for video Flying high: Teresa Giudice celebrated the end of her house arrest - which was officaly declared iver Thursday - and her daughter Miliania's birthday at an indoor skydiving centre in Westchester, New York, on Tuesday And Teresa was certainly flying high - both literally and metaphorically - with the Real Housewives Of New Jersey star unable to take the smile off her face - even in the wind tunnel. The formerly incarcerated Bravo-lebrity was joined by husband Joe, birthday girl Milania and her other daughters Gia, 15, Gabriella, 11, and Audriana, 6. Teresa - who was released from prison after almost 12 months on December 23 - made up for lost time and threw a dream birthday for her second youngest. As Milania loves everything pink, the star and her husband - who will soon be headed to the big house himself - hired a bright pink stretch Hummer to take their birthday princess to the iFly centre. Family affair: The formally incarcerated Bravo-lebrity was joined by husband Joe, birthday girl Milania (far right) and her other daughters (L-R) Gabriella, 11, Gia, 15, and Audriana, 6 Colourful chariot: As Milania loves everything pink, the star and her husband hired a bright pink stretch Hummer limo to take their birthday princess to the iFly centre While they did not have pink jumpsuits for the group to wear, the group donned the red and blue ones provided. Despite her recent incarceration, it was not the jumpsuit that made Teresa nervous but the thought of getting into the wind tunnel did. According to an onlooker, both Teresa and Joe 'showed their lighter sides' for the special day. Feeling good: Teresa took to Twitter ti express her gratitude on Thursday as she finished her house arrest Bittersweet: While the little girl got to have her mom at her birthday this year, it will be her last with both parents as Joe is now scheduled to serve his 41-month prison term The onlooker said: 'Teresa appeared nervous at first, but eventually gave a thumbs up as she practically flew.' The group stayed for two hours before heading home where they munched down on a big cake. Posting a picture on her Instagram of her little girl blowing out her candles, the star wrote: 'Happy 10th Birthday to my Beautiful Milania! Mommy & Daddy Love You.' Nervous flyer: Despite her recent incarceration, it was not the jumpsuit that made Teresa nervous but the thought of getting into the wind tunnel did - but an instructor made sure she felt safe There to capture the big day for both Teresa and Milania was, of course, a camera crew. Teresa took to Twitter ti express her gratitude on Thursday as she finished her house arrest. She write: 'Feeling blessed today [emojis of pray symbol] xo.' Teresa's lawyer confirmed to People Magazine that the Bravo star's house arrest was officially over as of Thursday - she had permission for her probation officer for previous excursions. Sweet treat: The group stayed for two hours before heading home where they munched down on cake The attorney said in a statement: 'Effective this morning, Teresa is no longer subject to the parameters of home confinement. She is now free in all aspects from the custodial portion of her sentence. 'The restitution has been paid in full and what remains is a two-year period of supervised release, the terms of which we will remain in full compliance with. 'Teresa is very much looking forward to closing this dark chapter in her life and moving forward both personally and professionally.' Teresa owed the Federal Government $414,588 which she paid off with cash, a portion of her Real Housewives pay checks as well as handing over her 2005 Maserati. Teresa was meant to serve 15 months for fraud at the Federal Correctional Institution, a minimum-security satellite camp for women in Danbury, Connecticut, starting January 5 2014 but was released just before Christmas. While the family appeared to have a great day, this will be Milania's last birthday with both her parents for a long time. Joe is set to start his almost three and a half year sentence - 41 months to be specific - in March. As Joe is not an American citizen - he was born in Italy - there is no guarantee he will not be deported after his release. She sent the internet into meltdown when her sexy LOVE Club magazine cover dropped earlier this week. And Gigi Hadid looks just as jaw-droppingly gorgeous in the latest seductive snaps to emerge from the fashion magazine shoot, shared on social media on Friday. The 20-year-old model sports two equally racy looks in the editorial spread, first showing off her cleavage in a blue lace bra. Scroll down for video Sexy shoot: Gigi Hadid looked better than ever in newly-released images from her LOVE Club magazine shoot, showing off her figure in a barely there lace bra Gigi set off her boudoir chic meets glam rock look with a glitzy gold jacket, a tiered choker necklace and heavy electric blue eye shadow. The blonde bombshell then switched things up in a less revealing outfit, donning a white shirt worn underneath a sheer navy dress. The striking star's black underwear is visible through the see-through material and her long legs were accentuated thanks to over-thew-knee boots. See more Gigi Hadid updates as she poses for LOVE magazine photo shoot Sheer delight: The 20-year-old It girl looked incredible as she modelled black lingerie and a see-through blue dress for photographer Carin Backoff Gigi was modelling DKNY clothing in the seductive photo session, shot by Carin Backoff and styled by Sally Lyndley. The new images come after the first look at Gigi and her best friend Kendall Jenner on the LOVE Club issue for Spring/Summer hit the internet. Gigi leads the glamour in the high fashion editorial, teasing fans with a seductive shot of her flashing some underboob while teasingly lifting up her T-shirt. Meanwhile, BFF and fellow catwalk queen Kendall opts for a kooky look, sporting a wacky pink wig and sandals while lying with her legs open on a bed. Flirty: GigI teased fans by flashing in a seductive shoot for LOVE magazine's Spring/Summer issue, which took the internet by storm earlier this week In bed with Kendall: Fellow catwalk queen Kendall opts for a kooky look for her shot, sporting a wacky pink wig and sandals while lying with her legs open Gigi, 20, opens up about her meteoric rise to fame in an interview with Paul Flynn for the publication, and talks about the age old discussion of what makes a supermodel. She says: 'I was always told as a kid that you need five Vogue covers to be a supermodel. I dont know if I consider myself a supermodel, but that was what I was told you need to do. 'There was Italia, Netherlands, Brazil, Spain. Theres another one. Im forgetting. I think I got six, shooting another tomorrow, another comes out in a couple of weeks in the UK. Crazy, right?' But she has been trained by the best - the beauty reveals that Naomi Campbell herself gave her runway strut the thumbs up during a personal catwalk class. See Kendall Jenner updates as she poses with BFF Gigi Hadid for LOVE magazine shoot There for you: In an interview accompanying the shoot, Gigi reveals she turns to Kendall when online criticism from online trolls gets too much Learning from a legend: The beauty reveals that Naomi Campbell herself gave her runway strut the thumbs up during a personal catwalk class at a hotel in Italy Saucy issue: The new magazine also features Emily Ratajkowski in a blue wig and a stomach-flashing crop top Gigi added: 'I go to her hotel and we end up practising walking in the hallway of the hotel. Italian families are coming out to watch and shes like, "Dont look at them, keep walking, theyre your audience." 'She said, "Dont apologise, dont do it. You are perfect the way you are. Everyone said my walk was weird too."' But with fame and fortune comes criticism. Gigi - who is currently dating Zayn Malik - explained that she has learned to turn to Kendall when things she sees online affect her. 'When people are really harsh? I live with my best friend from high school, but usually Im going to call Kendall because Kendalls the one who will always be like, "You dont need that, just let it go." 'And I know that if thats working for her then it can work for me.' Read the full interview in LOVE 15, the LOVE Club issue for Spring/Summer 2016, which goes on newsstands 8 February. Not so innocent: Pop star Selena Gomez stuns in a black and white snap for the issue, which hits newstands on February 8 He's transformed himself into a range of characters over his varied acting career. And Tom Hardy was proving his versatility once again as he filmed scenes for the BBC and FX period drama, Taboo, in Essex on Friday. Donning a black top hat and thick coat, the Oscar-nominated actor, 38, was virtually unrecognisable as he played the role of a Victorian adventurer. He's a Legend! He's transformed himself into a range of characters over his career and Tom Hardy was proving his versatility once again as he filmed scenes for the BBC period drama, Taboo, in Essex on Friday Sporting a retro goatee, the Legend star seemed to be very hands-on with the filming, chatting with the crew and taking instruction from the director. Whipping off his top hat between scenes, the star still sported his signature half-shaved hairstyle, whilst he kept warm in a camouflage print coat. Tom was no doubt keen to impress on-set as Taboo is based on an original screenplay by his father, Edward 'Chips' Hardy. Hat's off to him! Donning a black top hat and thick coat, the Oscar-nominated actor, 38, was virtually unrecognisable as he played the role of a Victorian adventurer Taking note: Sporting a retro goatee, the Legend star seemed to be very hands-on with the filming, chatting with the crew and taking instruction from the director Hair raising! Whipping off his top hat between scenes, the star still sported his signature half-shaved hairstyle, whilst he kept warm in a camouflage print coat Well groomed: On-set the star had her beard and goatee groomed by the make-up department Directed by Kristoffer Nyholm, the eight-part American and British miniseries will also star House Of Cards actor Michael Kelly, Brazil star Jonathan Pryce and Game Of Thrones Oona Chaplin. Set in the 19th century, Taboo follows the story of an adventurer who returns to Britain from Africa to seek vengeance for the death of his father. After refusing to sell the company and in the possession of 14 illegal diamonds, the plucky star soon finds himself in deeper trouble than he would have thought. Following his father's footsteps: Tom was no doubt keen to impress on-set as Taboo is based on an original screenplay by his father, Edward 'Chips' Hardy Leading man: Set in the 19th century, Taboo follows the story of an adventurer (played by Tom) who returns to Britain from Africa to seek vengeance for the death of his father Diamond drama: After refusing to sell the company and in the possession of 14 illegal diamonds, the plucky star (Tom) soon finds himself in deeper trouble than he would have thought Polly Hill, Controller BBC Drama commissioning said in a statement: The talent on-and off-screen is incredible and I am so excited to see Steves captivating scripts come to life. Tom Hardy and the rest of the cast are set to bring this original and spectacular story to life in a unique and epic way. A release date has not been set for the series, but it is expected to air later this year on both BBC One and FX. Time to spare: A release date has not been set for Taboo, but it is expected to air later this year on BBC and FX She's said he's the man she will always be with. And Geri Horner, 43, was close by husband Christian's side when the pair attended the annual Zoom F1 charity auction at the InterContinental Hotel Park Lane, London on Friday night. The loved-up couple looked thrilled to be in attendance as they smiled side by side for cameras upon arrival. Scroll down for video Mr and Mrs: Geri Horner, 43, was close by husband Christian's side when the pair attended the annual Zoom F1 charity auction at the InterContinental Hotel Park Lane, London on Friday night Known for her bold, eye-catching attire in the past, Geri put on a reserved display in an all black ensemble. Her auburn hair fell in waves over her shoulders, while her blue eyes were framed with lashings of mascara and a slick of red lipstick introduced a small amount of colour. Meanwhile, Christian, 42, went for a smart casual look wearing an unbuttoned white shirt under a dark brown blazer. He sported some designer stubble and teamed the garments with dark jeans and shoes. Glowing: Her auburn hair fell in waves over her shoulders, while her blue eyes were framed with lashings of mascara and a slick of red lipstick introduced a small amount of colour Close display: The loved-up couple looked thrilled to be in attendance as they smiled side by side for cameras upon arrival Covered up: Known for her bold, eye-catching attire in the past, Geri put on a reserved display in an all black ensemble Joining the couple at the prestigious event, which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, were Suzi Perry, Nick Knowles, Charley Boorman and Dominic Littlewood. The event, which is the only one of its kind in world sport, sees the drivers and team principals of every F1 team asked to take a photograph of a chosen subject. The signed snaps will then be auctioned off in a bid to raise funds for the much-loved children's charity. According to the official Formula 1 website, reigning champion Lewis Hamilton snapped his bulldog Roscoe sitting in front of the Colosseum in Rome, while Red Bull Racings Daniel Ricciardo's effort is from a trek through the desert with camels, and Jenson Button went for a mountain bike trail in Australia prior to the Grand Prix. The images are signed and auctioned by Coys at a star-studded annual gala event alongside cameras provided for Zoom by Nikon. Thrilled! Motorsports presenter Suzi Perry flashed a huge grin when she was photographed Full-bodied: Suzi showed off her curves with her hands on her hips in a slinky navy number Revealing: TV presenter Charlie Webster put on a busty display in a tight sheer number Blonde beauty: The Gadget Show's Pollyanna Woodward looked every inch the rock chick in a stylish black leather jacket Geri and Christian married in May last year in Woburn, Bedfordshire. In a recent interview with Event Magazine, she said: I do cook for him, I do like to see that hes happy. When I go to the Formula 1 races, Im not about all the glamour. Ive been there and done that. I never thought Id meet the man who I knew I would be with always. I can be myself with him, I can breathe out. I dont ever want to get divorced. Scrubs up well: DIY SOS's Nick Knowles was close to clean shaven for the charity bash Don't get done... Dominic Littlewood looked dapper in a grey suit and black overcoat Father figure: Lewis Hamilton's dad Anthony was one of the guests in attendance Geri who has a nine-year-old daughter, Bluebell, with former boyfriend, screenwriter Sacha Gervasi insists she is not betraying her feminist principles. I believe in equality but Im proud to be a wife and this is me saying I believe in the union of marriage and everything that goes with it, she says. I want to share his name. I want me and Christian and Bluebell to have the same name, to be our family. Happy chappy: Motorbike enthusiast Charley Boorman teamed a navy jacket with a light blue shirt Better together: Charley's wife Olivia joined him for the unique auction Formula One's finest: Adrian Newey OBE, chief technical officer of Red Bull Racing, supported the occasion Up and coming: Renault driver Jolyon Palmer will make his debut in Formula One this season Australian actress Bella Heathcote has been cast opposite Jamie Dornan in the Fifty Shades of Grey sequel Fifty Shades Darker in the role of Leila Williams. Having been the subject of much speculation for some time, Deadline Hollywood can confirm the role of Christian Grey's jilted ex-lover will be played by the 28-year-old Melbourne-born star. Bella, who broke into Hollywood with her role in Tim Burton's 2012 horror comedy Dark Shadows, will join an all-star cast that includes Oscar winner Kim Basigner. Scroll down for video Aussie talent: On Saturday, it was confirmed Australian actress Bella Heathcote play Christian Grey's ex-lover Leila in Fifty Shades Of Grey sequel Fifty Shades Darker She will also join existing cast members Jamie as Christian Grey, Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele, and Rita Ora as Christian's sister Mia for the film that is set for release in 2017. On Tuesday, it was announced Kim will portray Elena Lincoln, the woman who introduced a 15-year-old Christian Grey to the world of sexual bondage, dominance and submission. As the second installment of the highly lucrative adaptations of E.L. James' erotic novel trilogy of the same name, Fifty Shades Darker picks up three days after the first novel finishes. The film is currently in pre-production, with its release date set for February 2017. Stars: Bella will star alongside heartthrob Jamie Dornan, taking on the role of his character's former lover Hollywood veteran: Oscar winner Kim Basinger will also be joining the cast as Elena Lincoln, the woman who introduced a 15-year-old Christian Grey to the world of sexual bondage It is understood the final film in the trilogy, Fifty Shades Freed, will be shot back-to-back. James Foley will also replace Sam Taylor-Johnson as director. Bella is most known in her home country in the recurring role of Amanda Fowler in the long-running Australian soap Neighbours. New role: She will join Dakota Johnson who shot to international fame in her role as Anastasia in the film She shot to stardom quickly when she was selected by Tim Burton to play Victoria Winters and Josette du Pres in his gothic comedy Dark Shadows alongside Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer. The blonde beauty also starred in the film clip for The Killer's song Shot In The Night, and was part of the Spring/Summer 2014 campaign for Miu Miu alongside Lupita Nyong'o and Elle Fanning. She has just welcomed the release of the film adaption of the comedy horror film, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a parody of the classic Jane Austin story Pride and Prejudice. Chloe Moretz is enjoying a relaxing vacation in Mexico with family and friends before she begins work on the live-action film The Little Mermaid. The 18-year-old star resembled a fish out of water as she braved the strong tropical winds in a new Instagram share on Friday. Chloe was looking toned and tanned in a black bikini in the scenic snap that showed her standing on a rocky beach leading, one assumes, to the sea. Scroll down for video A little windy: Chloe Moretz got caught in a wind current while clad in a black bikini during her vacation in Mexico with family and friends She also happened to be in the midst of a swirling wind current that blew her blonde hair like the blown palms in the background. Chloe took it all in stride, inviting her followers to feel free and 'Insert sentimental free spirited quote about the wind.' The tall and nicely pruned palm trees were framed by an azure sky with puffs of white cloud. 'La Vida Mexicana': The 18-year-old was seen in silhouette while soaking up the Mexican sun with brother Trevor Duke Moretz, 29 'Sirena Mexicana': Chloe showed off her amazing abs poolside with her sibling And just beyond the rock-strewn shore were huts amid lush green vegetation. Chloe earlier in the week shared more snaps from her holiday. 'La Vida Mexicana,' she wrote in the caption of one photo that showed her and brother Trevor Duke Moretz, 29, in silhouette while soaking up the sunl. In another picture posted to Instagram three days ago, Chloe modeled a blue bikini while sitting poolside with her sibling, writing: 'Sirena Mexicana.' The Little Mermaid: The If I Stay star is soon to begin work on the live-action film The Little Mermaid based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale about a young mermaid who forsakes the sea after falling for a human prince Chloe will soon be in a lot of water, playing the title role in the forthcoming romantic fantasy flick The Little Mermaid. Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson, the story revolves around a young mermaid gives up her life in the sea when she falls in love with a human prince. Chloe spoke about the role during a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live on January 12, and the challenges she'll be facing. 'I cant really swim,' the young star told Kimmel. 'I mean, I can but Im not a strong swimmer. Maybe thats the new story - a mermaid who learns to swim.' Chloe continued: 'It definitely was one of the most exciting things Ive ever booked because its just something I grew up with. The Little Mermaid - we all kind of grew up with it, at least knowing it.' New York unveils Brooklyn-Queens streetcar plan New York City on Thursday unveiled plans for a streetcar line along the East River that would link the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, connecting neighborhoods that are poorly served by the subway system. Dubbed the BQX, or Brooklyn Queens Connector, construction for the estimated $2.5 billion project could begin in three years with completion expected around 2025. Plans call for a 16 mile (25.7 kilometer) line, with the streetcar traveling at an average speed of 11.3 miles per hour (18 kilometers per hour) in a dedicated lane. New York City unveiled plans for a streetcar line along the East River, seen here from Brooklyn, that would link the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens Spencer Platt (Getty/AFP/File) "It's something I think is going to make a huge impact for hundreds of thousands of people," Mayor Bill de Blasio told Hot 97 radio before the formal announcement of the plan at his state of the city speech Thursday night. "This connects the two biggest boroughs and just makes people have a lot more ability to get around, a lot more opportunity. And I think it's going to increase the quality of life in those neighborhoods," he said. The areas served by the proposed streetcar line are growing in population and currently include nearly 50,000 public housing residents, de Blasio said. If the project goes ahead, work could begin in 2019-2020, lasting about five years, according to the mayor. US withdrawal will hurt Afghan troop training: general The planned withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will hurt efforts to train and support local forces, the top US and NATO military commander in the war-torn country said Thursday. General John Campbell, who is reaching the end of an 18-month tour in Afghanistan and is expected to retire, said plans to draw the current US presence of 9,800 troops down to 5,500 would leave "very limited" capacity to support local forces. "To continue to build on the Afghan security forces ... we'd have to make some adjustments to that number," Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington. US army and Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel stand outside a control and command base in the Khogyani district in the eastern province of Nangarhar on August 12, 2015 Wakil Kohsar (AFP/File) Afghan forces have just completed their first full year leading the fight against Taliban and other insurgent groups, with NATO and US forces remaining in a "train, advise and assist" role. But the Afghans have suffered several major setbacks, including the brief Taliban capture of the city of Kunduz. Further complicating the fragile security situation is the emergence of Islamic State jihadists in parts of the country. They are trying to establish a base in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border. "Afghanistan is at an inflection point," Campbell said. "If we do not make deliberate, measured adjustments, 2016 is at risk of being no better, and possibly worse, than 2015." Campbell's replacement will be Lieutenant General John "Mick" Nicholson, assuming he is confirmed by the Senate. During repeated questioning from committee chairman Senator John McCain about whether the troop level of 5,500 is sufficient, Campbell said he would carry out what he had been ordered to do. "I believe the right thing to do is to prepare to go to 5,500 as I am ordered," he said, though he noted that he would prefer additional troop pull-outs to be "conditions-based" rather than predicated on arbitrary Washington timelines. President Barack Obama in October announced that 9,800 US forces would remain in Afghanistan through most of 2016 -- backtracking on an earlier pledge to pull all but 1,000 US troops from the country. Campbell said the troop draw-down to 5,500 would likely begin in the fall. Obama floats $10-a-barrel oil tax US President Barack Obama on Thursday proposed a controversial $10-a-barrel tax on oil firms to pay for much needed infrastructure improvements. The $10 charge, phased in over five years, would be levied on companies -- but the costs could well be passed on to consumers. "For too long, bipartisan support for innovative and expansive transportation investment has not been accompanied by a long-term plan for paying for it," the White House said in a statement. The $10-a-barrel tax on oil, phased in over five years, would be levied on companies -- but the costs could well be passed on to consumers Adrian Dennis (AFP/File) The proposal comes amid current low oil prices and is also designed to wean Americans onto more climate-friendly fuels. The plan is highly unlikely to pass muster in the Republican-controlled Congress. "A $10 tax for every barrel of oil produced would raise energy priceshurting poor Americans the most," said Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, Paul Ryan. Australia's Ewan wins Herald Sun Tour stage 2, Sky keep overall lead Caleb Ewan won a tough second stage of the Herald Sun Tour in Australia on Friday, but Team Sky's Peter Kennaugh and Chris Froome did enough to stay on top in the overall standings. Rising Australian sprinter Ewan, who won two stages of the Tour Down Under last month, completed the 144.2-kilometre stage in three hours, 29 minutes and six seconds. The 21-year-old Orica GreenEDGE rider came in just ahead of American Tanner Putt (UHC) and Sky team-mates Kennaugh and Froome, followed by Australian Jack Bobridge (Trek-Segafredo). Australian cyclist Caleb Ewan of Orica-Greenedge (R) celebrates as he wins stage two of the Herald Sun Tour cycling race, Yarra Glen to Moe, in Victoria, southern Australia, on February 5, 2016 Mal Fairclough (AFP) "On the final climb I knew Bobridge and Kennaugh were strong," Ewan said. "I fought for dear life and was able to stay with them. It's a real confidence boost to be able to win on terrain like this when it's tough." British road champion and Olympic gold medallist Kennaugh, who won the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race last week, leads the overall standings on 6hr 33min 21sec, 13 seconds ahead of two-time Tour de France winner Froome. Friday's race, which began in the grazing farmlands of South Gippsland's Yarra Junction and ended in the town of Moe, saw several riders break away early. But they were ultimately reeled in by the peloton driven by Orica-GreenEDGE and Team Sky. Bobridge made a move towards the end, with Kennaugh, Ewan and Australia's Jack Haig (Orica-GreenEDGE) going with him and Froome and Putt joining the group soon after. The six fought it out to the finish line with Ewan crossing first. "I gave it one last dig at the end but I knew it was always going to be hard to shake Caleb off," said Kennaugh. The race has its longest stage of 146.2 kilometres on Saturday before Sunday's final stage of 121.8 kilometres which ends in Arthurs Seat in the Mornington Peninsula. Three killed in Somalia car bomb targeting airport official: police Three people were killed Friday in a car bomb targeting an airport official in Somalia's capital, police said, as investigators probe an airplane blast experts fear was also a bomb. "An airport security official was targeted but he survived the attack, three other people including a woman were killed in the blast," police official Ali Dahir told AFP. Witnesses described an enormous explosion with the car bursting into flames. The man believed to have been targeted had just left the vehicle to go into a chemist shop. Somalia federal government soldiers conduct random check of public transport vehicles during a patrol on the streets of Mogadishu on February 18, 2015 Mohamed Abdiwahab (AFP/File) "A man got out of the car and entered a pharmacy, but before he returned a huge blast ripped through the car. I saw several people burned," said Aded Mohamed, who was near the explosion. No group has claimed responsibility for the car bomb, but Somalia's Al-Qaeda-affiliated Shebab extremists have carried out a raft of similar attacks in the past. The car bomb follows a blast on a commercial airliner that ripped a hole in its fuselage, 15 minutes after take-off from Mogadishu on Tuesday. It is unclear whether the two blasts were in any way related, but security has been boosted around the already heavily fortified airport. One passenger, named by the government as Abdulahi Abdisalam Borle, was killed in the mystery plane blast, apparently sucked out through the ragged hole ripped in the metal. Two other passengers were slightly injured, but the rest of the around 70 passengers and crew were unhurt - One killed in plane blast - Aviation experts and the pilot who landed the plane safely in Mogadishu after the mid-air explosion have said they fear the blast was a bomb. There has been no official confirmation of the cause of the explosion. Mogadishu airport is surrounded by blast walls, and adjoins the capital's main base of the African Union mission to Somalia, the 22,000-strong force backing the government in the battle against the Shebab. The insurgents have lost ground since being routed from Mogadishu in 2011 but continue to stage regular shooting and suicide attacks. They have launched mortar attacks on the airport compound in the past. They have made no claim of carrying out a bomb attack on the plane. The airline and government aviation experts have been examining the blast, with foreign experts due to begin work on Friday. "Foreign experts are coming regarding the blast on the plane. They will establish facts and see if it was really a bomb that went off on board," a Mogadishu airport security official said, asking not to be named. Photographs showed a large hole -- about a metre in diameter -- just above the engines on the right wing, with streaks of soot on the plane. Minister for Transport Ali Jama Jangeli called on people to await the results of the investigation. "We don't want to speculate on this matter. There is no need to make suspicious links with any group at the moment," Jangeli told reporters. "There are investigations going on to establish what caused the airplane make the emergency landing." Pilot Vladimir Vodopivec has said he believed it was likely caused by a bomb, a claim backed by aviation safety expert Xavier Tytelman, who compared images of the blast with photographs of previous explosions. Syrians mass on Turkish border as regime advances Up to 20,000 Syrians were stranded on the Turkish border Friday after fleeing a major Russian-backed regime offensive near Aleppo, where a new humanitarian disaster appeared to be unfolding. Tens of thousands of civilians have joined an exodus to escape fierce fighting involving government forces who severed the rebels' main supply route into Syria's second city. On Friday, clashes between the two sides in and around Ratyan, a town near Aleppo, cost 120 lives, said Britain-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Men stand on a roof of a vehicle as Syrians fleeing the northern embattled city of Aleppo wait near a Turkish crossing gate on February 5, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP) The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it estimated "up to 20,000 people have gathered at the Bab al-Salama border crossing and another 5,000 to 10,000 people have been displaced to Azaz city" nearby. Western nations have accused the Syrian government of sabotaging peace talks that collapsed this week with its military offensive, and Washington has demanded Moscow halt its campaign in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. US Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday told reporters Russia had said it was prepared to stop the bombings, which he blamed for killing women and children "in large numbers". "Russia has indicated to me very directly they are prepared to do a ceasefire," he said, adding that another key Assad ally, Iran, had also pledged to support a halt to the violence. "We will have a much better sense in the next few days of how serious each party is." The UN Security Council met earlier in the day to discuss the faltering peace process, as NATO head Jens Stoltenberg warned Russian air strikes were "undermining the efforts to find a political solution" -- a charge dismissed by Moscow. - 'Rebels on the retreat' - The Observatory estimates 40,000 people have fled the regime offensive near Aleppo. "Thousands of people, mainly families with women and children, are waiting to enter Turkey," director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP. OCHA spokeswoman Linda Tom said another 10,000 people were thought to have been displaced to the Kurdish town of Afrin, elsewhere in northern Aleppo. "The fighting has also disrupted major aid and supply routes from the Turkish border," she said. Aleppo province is one of the main strongholds of Syria's opposition, which is facing possibly its worst moment since the country's brutal conflict began in 2011. "The trajectory for the rebels is downwards, and the downward slope is increasingly steep," said Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. "The rebels are on the retreat everywhere." Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Thursday up to 70,000 people were heading to his country, which already hosts about 2.5 million Syrian refugees. Early Friday, the main border crossing in northern Aleppo was closed and quiet on the Turkish side near the town of Kilis, with no sign of arriving refugees. But footage released Thursday by activists showed hundreds of people, including many children, heading towards the frontier, some carrying their belongings in plastic bags on their backs. More than 260,000 people have died in Syria's conflict and more than half the population has been displaced. - 'Empty words' - Aleppo city, Syria's former economic powerhouse, has been divided between opposition control in the east and regime control in the west since mid-2012. Syria's army has recaptured several key rebel towns in Latakia province and advanced in Aleppo province and in Daraa in the south since Russia began its aerial campaign on September 30. On Friday, the army seized the village of Mayer, north of Aleppo, and half the town of Ratyan with support from dozens of Russian air strikes. Pro-government troops backed by Russian warplanes also retook a rebel bastion in Daraa used as to launch attacks on the provincial capital, the monitor said. "What frustrates the rebels the most is that the countries that claim to be their friends are happy with empty words and sitting on the fence," said activist Maamoun al-Khatib. "Meanwhile Russia and Iran are occupying and violating Syrian territory." Top diplomats from countries trying to resolve the conflict are set to meet again on February 11 after UN-brokered peace talks collapsed this week. In New York, the UN Security Council met for closed-door consultations with envoy Staffan de Mistura, who has suspended the floundering Geneva negotiations until February 25. But tensions remain, with Moscow accusing key opposition backer Ankara of actively preparing to invade Syria, a claim Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed as "laughable". A divided Syria AFP (AFP) A woman holds a baby as they wait in Bab-Al Salama, next to the city of Azaz, northern Syria on February 5, 2016 Bulent Kilic (AFP) Trucks cross Nepal border as blocked checkpoint reopens Cargo trucks drove through a Nepal border crossing for the first time in months on Friday, police said, following a blockade that has caused a crippling shortage of fuel and vital supplies in the landlocked country. Demonstrators from Nepal's Madhesi ethnic minority have led a blockade of the key border crossing in Birgunj, 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of Kathmandu, since September. "There is no blockade at the checkpoint right now, and over 150 small and big vehicles have passed through since this afternoon," local police chief Raju Babu Shrestha told AFP. Demonstrators from Nepal's Madhesi ethnic minority have led a blockade of the key border crossing in Birgunj, 90 kilometres (55 miles) south of Kathmandu, since September Diptendu Dutta (AFP/File) Shrestha said that Nepali and Indian businessmen and locals had dismantled the protesters' tents and opened the blocked border. However, Shiva Patel, general secretary of the Sadbhawana political party that represents the Madhesi minority, said that protesters had not withdrawn the blockade. "Black market goons and police forced our supporters off the crossing. There was a large mass (of people) there, and it was not safe for us to return," Patel said. "We will have a meeting tomorrow morning to discuss what to do next." More than 50 people have been killed in clashes between police and people protesting against the Himalayan nation's new constitution, which demonstrators say leaves them politically marginalised. The unrest has triggered concern in neighbouring India, with New Delhi criticising the charter and urging Nepal to hold talks with the Madhesis, who share close cultural, linguistic and family links with Indians living across the border. Landlocked Nepal is heavily dependent on India for fuel and other supplies, but slow movement of cargo in other checkpoints since the protests broke out prompted Kathmandu to earlier accuse New Delhi of imposing an "unofficial blockade". In a bid to break the deadlock, parties tabled a bill to amend the constitution, promising to increase the presence of the Madhesi -- who mainly live in the southern plains -- in government bodies through proportional representation. The bill was passed in January and will likely generate more seats for lawmakers in the densely populated southern plains that are home to most Madhesis. However, the Madhesis argue the amendment is incomplete and does not address their main demand to revise the federal state borders laid out in the charter that they fear will limit their representation in parliament. Ongoing discussions between the government and the United Democratic Madhesi Front, an alliance of protesting parties, have failed to reach an agreement. "We want to resolve these issues through negotiations and have been holding meeting with the leading parties," said Mahanta Thakur of the Tarai-Madhesh Democratic Party, part of the alliance. "I cannot comment on the shape of our protests until our alliance sits together for talks," he said. Palestinian throws petrol bomb at soldiers, shot dead: army A Palestinian teenager threw a petrol bomb at Israeli soldiers in the south of the occupied West Bank and was shot dead on Friday, the Israeli military said. At least two Palestinians threw a Molotov cocktail at a military jeep on patrol close to Halhul north of the West Bank city of Hebron, a military spokeswoman said. Responding to an "immediate threat", the soldiers fired on them, killing one. The other was arrested, she said. Israeli security forces (L) in a military ambulance stand next to a stretcher carrying the body of Haitham al-Bau, shot dead by Israeli soldiers after throwing a petrol bomb at a military jeep Hazem Bader (AFP) The Palestinian health ministry confirmed the death, identifying him as 17-year-old Haitham al-Bau. His death brings to 165 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in four months of violence. More than half of them were alleged assailants, while others were killed during protests. Since October 1, 26 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean have also died. Elsewhere on Friday clashes erupted during a new "day of rage". Near Ramallah in the West Bank, clashes broke out as around 100 youths threw stones at Israeli soldiers who responded with live fire after using tear gas and rubber bullets, an AFP journalist said. Clashes also broke out between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers along the Gaza-Israel border. The Palestinian health ministry said eight protesters were shot and wounded by army gunfire, including a 13-year-old boy left in critical condition by a bullet in the stomach. 37 dead in India as bus plunges into river A packed passenger bus plunged off a bridge into a river in western India Friday killing at least 37 people, an official said, in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years. The incident happened when the driver lost control and veered off the road into Purna river in Navsari district, some 285 kilometres (180 miles) from Ahmedabad, the main city of Gujarat state. "The death toll has risen to 37. At least 24 others are admitted to hospital for treatment," senior administrative official Remya Mohan in Navsari told AFP. India has some of the world's deadliest roads, with more than 230,000 fatalities annually, according to the World Health Organization Chandan Khanna (AFP/File) Television images showed locals and rescuers in the water, using their bare hands to carry people to ambulances in bedsheets and remove parts of the mangled bus wreckage. The Gujarat government announced 400,000 rupees ($5,900) in compensation for the families of those killed. Fatal traffic accidents are common in India, which has some of the world's deadliest roads. In October, 15 members of a wedding party, including three children, were killed when a vehicle they were travelling in collided with a bus in southern India. In 2013, a speeding bus exploded in a ball of flames after crashing into the central reservation of a southern Indian highway, killing 45 passengers as they slept. The number of deaths on Indian roads -- more than 231,000 every year, according to a World Health Organization in 2013 -- is disproportionately high. India owns only one percent of global vehicles but accounts for 15 percent of traffic deaths around the world, according to the World Bank. Campaigners say commercial drivers are largely unregulated, meaning many work long hours overnight which raises the danger of falling asleep at the wheel. Transport analysts attribute the huge number of accidents to poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving. Sanders, Clinton neck-and-neck in White House contest: poll Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are now running neck-and-neck for the Democratic presidential nomination, with the Vermont senator lagging only two percentage points behind his White House rival, a nationwide poll showed Friday. The survey, carried out after this week's Iowa caucuses which Clinton won by a hair, reveals Sanders closing in on the former secretary of state and longtime frontrunner. Clinton and Sanders now stand at 44 to 42 percent, according to the Quinnipiac University poll of registered voters, revealing a drastic shift since December 22 when the pair stood at 61 and 30 percent respectively. US Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders shake hands before the MSNBC Democratic debate at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on February 4, 2016 Jewel Samad (AFP) "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Senator Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," Quinnipiac University Poll assistant director Tim Malloy said. In the Republican camp, frontrunner Donald Trump, who came second in the Iowa nomination contest behind arch-conservative Ted Cruz, still has a strong national lead, Quinnipiac said. Trump is polling at 31 percent nationwide, ahead of Cruz on 22 percent and Florida Senator Marco Rubio who is snapping at their heels with 19 percent support. Neurosurgeon Ben Carson is on six percent -- the only other Republican candidate to pass the three-percent mark. In a presidential contest, Clinton would beat Trump 46 to 41 percent and tie Cruz 45 to 45 percent, the Quinnipiac figures suggest. Sanders, meanwhile, would wallop Trump by a resounding 49 to 39 percent and beat Cruz by 46 to 42 percent, Quinnipiac said. When voters across the political divide were asked whether they viewed a candidate favorably or unfavorably, Sanders fared the best while Trump was worst off. "While Trump, Clinton and Cruz wallow in a negative favorability swamp, by comparison, Rubio and Sanders are rock stars," Malloy said. Fifty-six percent of participants had an unfavorable view of Clinton, compared to 39 percent who viewed her favorably. For Trump the numbers ran at 59 and 34 percent respectively. For Sanders, 44 percent viewed him favorably against 35 unfavorably. Similar numbers were seen for Rubio, who 42 percent viewed favorably compared with 28 percent unfavorably. On Thursday night, Sanders and Clinton faced off in a nearly two-hour debate at the University of New Hampshire during which the former first lady mounted a sharp attack on her democratic socialist rival, warning his promises of revolution "don't add up." The Quinnipiac poll was released four days before the state of New Hampshire votes in the first primary of the 2016 election race. Canada lifts Iran sanctions Ottawa announced Friday the lifting of economic sanctions against Tehran, which will allow Canadian firms access to Iran after a deal on its nuclear program recently came into force. Canada, however, will maintain restrictions on exports of nuclear goods and technologies and anything that could help Iran in the development of ballistic missiles, it said. And it will maintain a list of people and entities with which dealings are prohibited due to concern over their "relation to the risk of proliferation and to Iran's ballistic missile activities." Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement: "Canadian companies will now be able to position themselves for new trade opportunities, but we will also maintain rigorous controls on any exports that raise serious proliferation concerns" Michael Bradley (AFP/File) "Canadian companies will now be able to position themselves for new trade opportunities, but we will also maintain rigorous controls on any exports that raise serious proliferation concerns," Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement. Canada's exports to Iran peaked at Can$772 million (US$556 million) in 1997 and declined to Can$67 million (US$48 million) in 2014, comprising mostly food products exempt from sanctions. Ottawa has also offered to restore diplomatic relations with Tehran, which were severed in 2012. At the time, the previous Tory administration issued a strongly worded attack on the Islamic republic's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, its "incitement to genocide" against Israel, and its leaders' failure to account for their nuclear program. Ties were also strained by Tehran's jailing of Iranian-born Canadians. Iran does not recognize dual nationality and authorities have denied Canadian detainees consular protection. Moscow rejects blame for Syria talks breakdown Russia on Friday curtly rejected Western accusations that it had sabotaged Syria peace talks in Geneva, and said it had some "new ideas" on how to move the stalled negotiations forward. Western countries renewed their charges that Moscow torpedoed the talks by using its air power to back a Syrian government offensive in Aleppo while the sides were gathered in Geneva. A diplomat said the United States, France and Russia had "animated exchanges" on the topic at a close door meeting of the UN Security Council on Syria. Syrian government forces drive in the village of Tal Jabin, north of the embattled city of Aleppo, on February 3, 2016 George Ourfalian (AFP/File) Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin brushed off the accusations before the meeting began. "It's in bad taste. This is not a good time for recriminations," he told reporters. Afterward, Churkin said his government had ideas on how to move things forward at the next international meeting on Syria in Munich later this month, "especially as far as a ceasefire is concerned." "We are going to bring some new ideas to the table and we hope other members of the international support group are going to shoulder their responsibilities," he said. UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura briefed the council on his decision to suspend the Geneva negotiations until February 25. In an interview with the Italian daily La Repubblica, de Mistura said the Munich meeting will test the will to reach peace in Syria among the main countries involved. - 'Smoke screen' - French ambassador Francois Delattre said his government fully supports de Mistura's decision to suspend the talks, and condemns the "brutal" Russian-backed Syrian offensive. "One cannot expect the opposition to negotiate with a gun to their heads," he told reporters. Paris remains committed to a "credible negotiation" but "the negotiations cannot be a smoke screen allowing the regime to continue quietly its massacres," Delattre said. British ambassador Matthew Rycroft also criticized the Russian military campaign, blaming it for the breakdown in the talks. "He needs to look in the mirror and understand where the responsibility lies," he said of Churkin. "The opposition needs to see that we mean it when we say we want to build their confidence." "Russians need to do what they said in the first place: to be in Syria to fight Daesh," he said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group, an extremist movement that is fighting the Syrian regime but which is opposed by the West. "If they did that, yes, we would be cooperating very effectively," Rycroft said. Asked about the chances of the Geneva talks resuming soon, he said, "A lot depends on the confidence building measures, we need as strong a package as possible of measures that will help rebuild the faith of the Syrian opposition." "At the very least, it is going to involve opening up humanitarian access and an end to indiscriminate aerial bombardments," he said. The Syrian opposition has insisted on those two points, as well as the freeing of prisoners, as conditions for its participation in the Geneva talks. - 'Not a Russian escalation' - Churkin defended the Russian air strikes carried out around Aleppo in support of regime forces as they advanced on rebel fighters. "It is not a Russian escalation but intensified efforts by the Syrian government to fight the terrorists," he said. He added that sieges had been lifted on certain Syrian communities in recent days. Churkin said he was "hopeful" the UN-mediated "proximity talks" in Geneva between representatives of the regime and the opposition, would resume before February 25. Diplomats said that in the closed door consultations de Mistura had noted that it was evident to everyone in Geneva "that violence on the ground was increasing while we were conducting the talks." "The Syrian people need to feel that this time there is really an improvement on the ground," diplomats quoted him as saying. The Russian Federation's permanent pepresentative to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, defended Russian air strikes carried out around Aleppo in support of regime forces Bryan Thomas (Getty/AFP/File) Rubio looks to NH to peg himself as a Republican for all LACONIA, N.H. (AP) Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio is using every bit of momentum his campaign received from the Iowa caucuses to show New Hampshire voters that he not his competition is the Republican for all Americans. Rubio describes caucus winner Ted Cruz as chronically "calculating" and points to the failure of others to pull in higher numbers as testament to their inability to lead. He calls New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie a sore loser after Christie accused him of being the "boy in the bubble" who won't take questions. Rubio's attacks on his opponents come with one glaring exception: billionaire Donald Trump, who edged him for a second-place finish in Monday's caucuses. Rubio has reasoned that Trump has unveiled insufficient policy, and therefore, hasn't given him reason enough to criticize him, even though they disagree on several fundamental issues. Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. speaks during a town hall meeting in Laconia, N.H., Wednesday Feb. 3, 2016. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Instead, Rubio appears to be biding his time, quietly courting his rivals' potential voters. By doing so, he's pursuing a course of consolidation. "He needs to coalesce the vote before he can challenge Trump," said Republican pollster Greg Strimple, who is unaligned with any of the campaigns. He said he has been impressed with what he calls the Rubio team's "message and strategic discipline." Rubio captured headlines with his strong third-place finish in the leadoff contest Monday, finishing behind Cruz the heavy favorite among Iowa's disproportionately influential evangelical conservatives and less than a percentage point behind Trump, who had seesawed with Cruz between first and second place in most preference polls in Iowa. If Rubio tops Cruz in New Hampshire's primary on Tuesday and finishes ahead of candidates such as former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, he will have more evidence to support a point he's been hammering for weeks: He is the candidate to unite the party. "When I am our nominee I can bring this party together," Rubio told more than 300 people at a campaign event Wednesday in Bow, New Hampshire. "We cannot win if we are divided against each other." While Republican voters in Iowa skew more toward the evangelical conservative, the New Hampshire Republican primary often draws independents and more fiscally conservative voters. Rubio's campaign is hoping he can show support in two states with very different electorates as evidence of a campaign with longevity and fortitude. With his wife and four children in tow, Rubio maintained a dizzying schedule in New Hampshire this week, squeezing every drop of energy out of his better-than-expected finish in Iowa. By Tuesday, a sleep-deprived Rubio kicked off the day in New Hampshire doing 15 television and radio interviews to local stations. Rubio's bus was rolling up to the lakes region north of Concord on Wednesday on a schedule of a dozen public appearances between Tuesday and Saturday's last pre-primary debate at St. Anselm's college in Manchester. While Rubio was criticizing various rival candidates at times during the interviews, Trump's name never came up. When asked about it, he said Trump has laid out few plans, and that he had no public policy quarrel with Trump. "So when the time comes and it's appropriate, we'll do so," he said. Still, Trump differs sharply from Rubio on immigration policy by supporting the deportation of all people in the U.S. illegally. Rubio supports deporting "criminal aliens" but is open to a process by which people in the country illegally may stay after immigration security is addressed. On Tuesday, a woman asked Rubio his opinion of Trump's public mockery of a New York Times reporter who is disabled. "I think we all, obviously, not just disagree with it, but find it distasteful," Rubio answered quietly. "I think he's been called out for that repeatedly and I think people see it for what it is." It's part of a pattern of careful treatment of Trump by Rubio. By contrast, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush released a full-page newspaper ad attacking Trump and was airing a two-minute campaign ad in New Hampshire featuring clips of Trump's on-air insults. Haiti parliament convenes but doesn't discuss looming crisis PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Haiti's new parliament has convened in its first session but there was no public debate about a looming constitutional crisis with the weekend departure of the president. Twenty-two senators and 92 deputies were present Thursday to open the troubled country's National Assembly. The matter of the presidential vacuum was listed on their agenda but they closed the brief session without formally discussing it. President Michel Martelly is constitutionally required to leave office Sunday. A supporter of presidential candidate Jovenel Moise of the PHTK political party, waves a Haitian national flag, during a march to demand elections be reinstated, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016. Haiti had been scheduled to hold a presidential and legislative runoff Jan. 24. But the now-splintered provisional electoral council canceled it for a second time amid the protests and suspicion that the first round was marred by widespread fraud favoring President Michel Martelly's chosen candidate, Moise. (AP Photo/Dieu Nalio Chery) Sen. Francois Anick Joseph said: "We hope we can find a solution by Sunday." The two legislative leaders departed without taking questions. A presidential runoff has been indefinitely postponed amid violent protests and suspicions of electoral fraud. Biker clubs claim self-defense in deadly Denver brawl DENVER (AP) Two biker clubs that clashed during a weekend motorcycle show in Denver say their members acted in self-defense during the brawl that left one person dead and seven others shot, stabbed or beaten. A member of the Mongols motorcycle club was killed when he tried to disarm an Iron Order member who was pointing a gun at a crowd, Las Vegas attorney Stephen Stubbs said Thursday in the latest salvo in the clubs' ongoing dispute over who sparked the melee. Victor Mendoza, 46, charged toward the gunman and was shot, Stubbs said during what he described as the Mongols' first-ever press conference, held at a VFW hall. He was flanked by two club members who refused to speak or give their names. Flanked by members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club who did not release their names, the club's counsel, Stephen Stubbs, speaks during a news conference in Denver on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, saying one of the club's members was killed when he tried to disarm a member of the Iron Order who was pointing a gun at a crowd. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Stubbs had no comment about the seven others hurt during the Saturday melee at the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, where biker clubs from around the country gathered. Iron Order's attorney, John C. Whitfield, said a Colorado Department of Corrections officer who belongs to the club opened fire during the brawl in self-defense after its members were jumped by a group of Mongols. Stubbs' account makes no sense, he said. Iron Order's ranks are composed largely of law enforcement officers, prison guards and military personnel. No charges have been filed. Denver police would not comment on either side's account of the fight, saying detectives were still interviewing people involved. They have said more than one person opened fire, and they were analyzing more than one gun to determine who fired the fatal shot. "Running to the top of the stairs, pointing a gun at a crowd below, and shooting an unarmed man that bravely tries to disarm you cannot be self-defense," Stubbs said, reading from a prepared statement. Conversely, he said, "if you are an unarmed man that is charging some intoxicated lunatic at the top of the stairs that is waving a gun at a crowd of people, that is definitely self-defense." Corrections officer Derrick Duran was put on paid leave while authorities investigate. He did not immediately return calls seeking comment Thursday. Stubbs called Mendoza a dedicated family man who sacrificed his life trying to save others. Others involved in the brawl have not been identified. Iron Order is "doing everything we can to assist the investigation so the truth will be known," Whitfield said. Flanked by a member of the Mongols Motorcycle Club who did not release his name, the club's counsel, Stephen Stubbs, center, speaks during a news conference in Denver on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, saying one of the club's members was killed when he tried to disarm a member of the Iron Order who was pointing a gun at a crowd. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Flanked by members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club who did not release their names, the club's counsel, Stephen Stubbs, center, concludes a news conference in Denver on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, where he said one of the club's members was killed when he tried to disarm a member of the Iron Order who was pointing a gun at a crowd. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Flanked by members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club who did not release their names, the club's counsel, Stephen Stubbs, center, speaks during a news conference in Denver on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, saying one of the club's members was killed when he tried to disarm a member of the Iron Order who was pointing a gun at a crowd. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Capitol Hill Buzz: Alicia Keys flirty appeal to Speaker Ryan WASHINGTON (AP) Singer Alicia Keys has a flirty message for Speaker Paul Ryan: He can be her Valentine if the House acts on criminal justice reform. In a YouTube video, Keys speaks directly to Ryan in a sultry tone and refers to old photos of Ryan lifting weights. "I never saw the Speaker of the House working out before," Keys said in the video. "He must be cool. Are you cool, Paul? Show me how cool you are." FILE - In this April 15, 2015, file photo, Alicia Keys speaks after being awarding the Recording Academy's Recording Artists' Coalition Award at the Grammys On The Hill Awards in Washington. Keys has a flirty message for House Speaker Paul Ryan: He can be her Valentine if the House acts on criminal justice reform. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File) She says she's sending him a Valentine sponsored by an advocacy group called "We are Here" that is pushing for overhaul of the nation's criminal justice system. The video links to a website weareheremovement.com where her fans can fill out their own Valentines to Ryan. "Help bring justice reform to a vote, so we can keep families together and reunite those that have been unjustly torn apart by excessive incarceration instead of just getting the help they needed," Keys says. She ends the video by blowing a kiss, saying Ryan is "so special." Ryan has said he'd like to move on the issue this year. House and Senate committees have approved bipartisan legislation that would give judges discretion to give lesser sentences than federal mandatory minimums and create programs to help prisoners successfully re-enter society. Asked about the video on Fox News on Wednesday, Ryan said: "I didn't even know she knew who I was," and added that the bill is "well on its way here in the House." Fraternity, U of Chicago leaders condemn racist emails CHICAGO (AP) The University of Chicago and leaders of Alpha Epsilon Pi on Thursday condemned emails circulated by members of the fraternity that contained racist and other insulting language. According to officials, emails that circulated from 2011 to 2015 contained a racial slur referring to blacks, disparaged an event celebrating Martin Luther King Day and referred to a female Muslim student as a "terrorist." The emails were obtained by BuzzFeed, which posted some excerpts. It's the latest in a string of racial incident involving members of Greek organizations in recent years. Last year, the University of Oklahoma banned the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and expelled two students after members were caught on video doing a racist chant. In March 2015, a University of Maryland student resigned from the Kappa Sigma fraternity after being suspended after a 2014 email containing racially and sexually suggestive language about black, Indian and Asian women was made public. And in December 2014, Sigma Alpha Epsilon was forced to suspend activity at Clemson University after white students dressed as gang members at a "Cripmas" party. In a message sent to University of Chicago students Thursday, vice president Karen Warren Coleman said the sentiments expressed in the Alpha Epsilon Pi emails are "unacceptable, violate the university's core values, and conflict with our strong commitment to ensuring that people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives can thrive on our campus." The fraternity's executive director, Andrew Borans, said as a Jewish fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi "is especially sensitive to hate speech and behavior toward any minorities." The fraternity was founded in 1913. On its Facebook page, the University of Chicago chapter expressed sorrow that it "was ever a safe haven for the kind of vitriol you have now all seen." Josh Benadiva, president of Alpha Epsilon Pi at the University of Chicago, also said he and the chapter leaders plan to investigate and confront fraternity members who sent the emails. "To our friends who feel hurt, betrayed, or let down, we ask for an opportunity to regain your trust and confidence," he said in a statement. The Council on American-Islamic Relations called for an investigation of the fraternity and its emails and a review of how the university deals with such incidents. "The comments made by members of this fraternity against Muslims and African-Americans are deplorable and do not belong anywhere in the vicinity of higher education," said Ahmed Rehab, executive director of the organization's Chicago chapter. Zola twitter story in development for James Franco to direct LOS ANGELES (AP) The Zola twitter story about a wild road trip to Florida that went viral late last year is in development to be turned into a feature film that actor James Franco will direct. Franco's publicist confirmed on Thursday reports that Franco, Andrew Neel and the production company Killer Films were working to adapt the Rolling Stone article about Aziah "Zola" Wells' 148-tweet account of the road trip with a stripper and her boyfriend and a pimp. Zola's story took the Internet by storm in October, captivating everyone from Ava DuVernay to Missy Elliott who both tweeted about the saga. FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2015 file photo, actor James Franco attends the LA Premiere of "The Night Before" held at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. The Zola twitter story about a wild road trip to Florida that went viral late last year is in development to be turned into a feature film that Franco is to direct. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) Ferd Kaufman, longtime AP photographer, dead at 89 DALLAS (AP) Ferd Kaufman, an Associated Press photographer who was at Dallas police headquarters as authorities brought in President John F. Kennedy's assassin, has died in Texas. He was 89. Ida Kaufman, his wife, said Thursday that her husband died Wednesday in a local hospital after several months of failing health. The Sapulpa, Oklahoma, native joined The AP in 1957 and during his 20 years with the news cooperative in Texas helped cover the initial days after Kennedy was killed. CORRECTS DATE TO FEB. 3, NOT FEB. 4 - Former Dallas Associated Press photo staffer Ferd Kaufman is shown in a June 27, 2015 photo in Richardson, Texas. Kaufman, who in 20 years as a photographer with The Associated Press in Texas helped cover the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, in a local hospital after several months of failing healthaccording to his wife, Ida Kaufman. He was 89. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin) Friend and former Associated Press colleague Harold Waters said Kaufman was awaiting Kennedy's arrival at the Dallas Trade Mart on Nov. 22, 1963, where the president was to speak, when his editors alerted him to Kennedy's shooting and recalled him. When he arrived, Kaufman and Waters were dispatched to the Texas Theatre in the city's Oak Cliff section in response to a police report of an arrest of a suspect in the fatal shooting of a police officer. With Kaufman at the wheel, the two were hurtling over the Trinity River bridge when a police car passed them from the opposite direction, lights flashing but with no siren, Waters said. Kaufman turned around. "He said, 'I may be looking for work tomorrow, but I'm going to follow that car,'" Waters said. Arriving at police headquarters, Kaufman got his camera, got out of the car, told Waters to find a parking spot and hustled into the city jail. Just as he was entering the jail, an elevator door opened and detectives entered with the man later to be identified as Lee Harvey Oswald, Waters said. Kaufman shot two frames, gave them to Waters to take to the office and remained on station. Waters, 98, said he and Kaufman remained on the job from that Friday through the day and night Saturday. He remembers he and Kaufman waited in the corridor of police headquarters with dozens of reporters, photographers and television cameras as Oswald was hustled back and forth between news conferences and police questioning. Also milling in the crowd were interested members of the public including nightclub owner Jack Ruby, who would fatally shoot Oswald Nov. 24 in the basement of police headquarters. Kaufman retired from the AP in 1977. A memorial is scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Richardson, Texas. Burial will be private at Restland Cemetery in Richardson. Official: Massive LA-area gas leak could be capped in a week LOS ANGELES (AP) A California official outlined a plan Thursday to cap a massive Los Angeles-area gas leak by the end of next week. The final phase to intercept the ruptured Southern California Gas Co. well is expected to begin Monday, said Wade Crowfoot, an adviser to Gov. Jerry Brown. If all goes according to plan, it should to take contractors about five days to permanently seal the well that has been leaking since October. The announcement at a public meeting is ahead of the company's worst-case prediction that it would be plugged by the end of the month. The well has been leaking for 15 weeks and has been a major disruption for the upscale Porter Ranch community in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. FILE - In this Dec. 9, 2015, pool file photo, crews work on a relief well at the Aliso Canyon facility above the Porter Ranch area of Los Angeles. A California official outlined a plan Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, to cap the massive Los Angeles-area gas leak by the end of next week. The announcement at a public meeting is ahead of the company's worst-case prediction that it would be plugged by the end of the month. The well has been leaking for 15 weeks. (Dean Musgrove/Los Angeles Daily News via AP, Pool, File) The well blowout at the largest natural gas storage facility in the West has uprooted thousands of residents and spewed more than 2 million tons of climate-changing methane in what environmentalists have said is the worst crisis since the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Residents have complained of headaches, nausea, nosebleeds and other symptoms. Public health officials blame the woes on an odorant added to the gas, but they said there shouldn't be long-term health problems. The governor declared an emergency last month, and several public agencies are investigating the leak and have ordered the company to stop it. Crowfoot said that once the leaking well is intercepted a mile-and-a-half underground, mud and fluids will be pumped into it to stop the gas that is gushing out. When no gas is leaking, cement will be pumped down the old well to permanently plug it, Crowfoot said. It should take a couple days for the cement to cure. When state regulators determine the plug is solid and the well is not leaking, they will declare it killed, he said. SoCalGas Vice President Gillian Wright cautioned that the outlined plan was tentative and several steps had to be taken before it could be put in place. "We are very close to the end of the leak, however we are also in the most technically demanding phase of the work," Wright said. "So that's a tentative schedule. It's not a definitive schedule." The utility paid $50 million through December to relocate residents and try in vain to plug the leak, according to financial regulatory filings. It hasn't provided a cost update since. But the number of relocations has soared to 4,400 households, and the company is facing more than two dozen lawsuits from residents and several public agencies. SoCalGas was charged this week by the Los Angeles district attorney with misdemeanor criminal charges for failing to notify state emergency officials about the leak for three days after it was detected on Oct. 23. ___ U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Mont., out-raised his Democratic challenger Denise Juneau 10 to 1 in 2015, according to campaign finance reports released this week. The incumbent raised $2.72 million in 2015 according to Federal Election Commission reports. Juneau who launched her candidacy last November, raised slightly less than $264,000 in two months. The reports offer the first side-by-side funding comparisons between the first-term representative and Juneau, currently Montanas superintendent of the Office of Public Instruction. Ryan Zinke is building record levels of support, with more than 1,500 new supporters in the first month of 2016 alone, said Heather Swift, spokeswoman with the Zinke campaign, Many of whom are low-dollar contributors who donate a couple bucks here and there because they believe in Zinke's service and leadership and just want to get involved any way they can. Republican enthusiasm is high, Swift said. She noted that while Montanans donated more than $600,000 for presidential candidates both Republican and Democrat Zinke raised $500,000. Lauren Caldwell, Juneaus campaign manager, wasnt buying into Zinkes success. The incumbent also had $1.9 million in net operating expenses. Congressman Zinke has already spent 75 percent of his contributions in 2015, to the tune of $2 million this year on Hollywood image consultants, out-of-state fundraising firms, debt from overspending on his 2014 campaign, and swanky hotel stays, Caldwell said. Thats not an advantage for Zinke; its wasteful spending. Zinke did have rollover debt from his 2014 race against Democrat John Lewis. Spending was high in that race. Zinke spent $4.6 million in the 2014 election cycle to Lewis $1.69 million, according to the FEC. In the past three months of 2015, Zinke paid off the last $33,400 of his 2014 election debt. The campaign did have rollover debt from 2014 that we were consistently paying off, which isn't uncommon with first-time candidates in tough races, said Swift, speaking for the Zinke campaign. If you recall, the Zinke-Lewis race was close until it broke in late October. Second, we have made smart investments in building a solid foundation of grassroots support. Targeted campaign mailing and printing services focused on fundraising topped Zinke's list of expenses, at roughly $600,000. As a result, Zinke received 5,445 individual donations from donors in every state. Juneaus campaign describes two months of fundraising as record breaking. Only 18 percent of what Congressman Zinke has raised is from Montanans, Caldwell said. Denise Juneau is raising the majority of her money from everyday Montanans who believe in her campaign. In fact, 85 percent of Denises individual donors live right here in Montana. By the numbers, Juneau has 166 individual contributions totaling $166,500 from Montanans to Zinke's 401 in-state contributions totaling $280,000. Juneau managed 226 individual contributions from 16 states in the past two months. As a percentage, Juneau is also taking more of her money from political action committees, known as PACs. Those sources of campaign donations accounted for 17.3 percent of Juneaus funding, with education groups playing a prominent role. PACs represented 11 percent of Zinkes donations, but in dollars they contributed $301,200. Energy and agriculture groups played strong roles in Zinke donations by PACs. Energy, particularly coal energy, promises to be a big political issue in Montana races this year as the state addresses federally mandated cuts to greenhouse gasses under the Clean Power Plan. The EPA has prescribed a 47 percent cut in Montana carbon dioxide emissions by 2035. Zinke contends the EPAs actions are overreaching and damaging to Montanas economy. Juneau is backing Democratic Gov. Steve Bullocks plan to come up with a way to comply with EPA regulations. She had no funding from energy Super PACs in 2015. Caldwell said Juneau will be accepting money from a variety of sectors in the months ahead. Debate Takeaways: Clinton, Sanders mix it up over Wall St. DURHAM, N.H. (AP) For months, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have campaigned against each other with a velvet touch, eager to distinguish their race for the Democratic presidential nomination from the combative contest taking place in the Republican primary. No more. The pair tangled again and again during their first one-on-one debate of the 2016 race, battling over who is the best liberal standard-bearer for a party that's moved to the left during President Barack Obama's eight years in the White House. Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton answer questions during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Durham, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Clinton cast herself as a "progressive who gets things done." Sanders attacked her as being part of a political "establishment" in the pocket of big Wall Street donors. And that was just the start of it. Here's some takeaways from Thursday night's debate: ___ AN "ARTFUL SMEAR" Eyebrows and voices were raised by both candidates as Clinton and Sanders targeted each other in a series of contentious exchanges. The subject more often than not was Wall Street. Clinton called Sanders out for "attacks by insinuation" after he referenced the millions of dollars raised by an outside political group supporting Clinton's campaign from donors with ties to the nation's financial industry. She argued Sanders was saying that "anybody who ever took donations or speaking fees from any interest group has to be bought." She went on, "I think it's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out." It went both ways. When Clinton said Sanders voted against regulating some kinds of financial trades blamed for contributing to the Great Recession, the Vermont senator shot back that there was "nobody who fought harder" for such efforts. "Go to YouTube today. Look up Greenspan-Sanders. Listen to what I told them then," he said. "I helped lead the effort against deregulation." Joked moderator Rachel Maddow after that sharp exchange, "Obviously we touched a nerve." ___ WHO IS MORE LIBERAL? OR IS IT PROGRESSIVE? The two Democratic candidates repeatedly argued over who was worthy of being considered the most progressive the preferred term among some Democrats for "liberal." Asking if Obama should be considered a progressive, since he supports a major trade deal with Asian nations opposed by many liberals, Sanders turned the question around. The debate over progressivism, he said, started when he cited a comment Clinton made at a September campaign event when she said she was "guilty" of being a moderate. "It wasn't me paraphrasing her," Sanders said. "It is what she said, and all that I said was there's nothing wrong with being a moderate." Clinton fired back, saying Sanders was "cherry picking" quotes and accusing him of setting a liberal standard that Obama, Vice President Joe Biden or the late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone, a liberal icon, could not meet. "You being the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism, I don't know anyone else who fits that definition, but I know a lot of really hard-fighting progressives," she said. ___ MORE ON WALL STREET Clinton struggled when asked whether she would release transcripts of her paid speeches, many of which she made to Wall Street firms. "I will look into it," she told moderator Chuck Todd. "I don't know the status, but I will certainly look into it." She later tried to push back on the criticism, saying contributions to her campaign have no impact on her positions. And besides, she added, Wall Street is only part of the problem. She would go after "a broader target list" as president, including oil and pharmaceutical companies. Sanders wasn't interested: "Wall Street is an entity of unbelievable economic and political power. That's a fact." Many of the contracts for her speeches, drafted by her team, stipulated there would be limited public coverage of her comments. The Associated Press and numerous other media organizations have requested transcripts from her campaign, and have been rebuffed. ___ FOREIGN POLICY STRENGTH On foreign policy, Sanders and Clinton agree: She has more experience. "That is not arguable," Sanders said. "But experience is not the only point, judgment is," he said, noting as he often has during the campaign that Clinton voted to support the invasion of Iraq and he did not. But the former secretary of state was stronger at deflecting attacks on what amounted to her turf. She took viewers through a tour of the world's toughest diplomatic disputes, even going so far as to surmise what current Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is trying to accomplish in Russia. And she skillfully raised questions about Sanders' command of foreign policy, turning around his argument about her Iraq war vote, cast more than a decade ago. "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS," she said. "We have to look at the threats that we face right now." ___ Friday, February 12 Today is Friday, Feb. 12, the 43rd day of 2016. There are 323 days left in the year. Highlights in history on this date: 1554 - Lady Jane Grey, who claimed the throne of England for nine days, is beheaded after being charged with treason. 1577 - Don John of Austria, new Governor of the Netherlands, issues edict to settle civil war. 1610 - France's King Henry IV signs alliance with German Protestant Union. 1689 - Declaration of Rights in England, in which William and Mary are proclaimed King and Queen for life. 1733 - James Oglethorpe and a group of unemployed and newly freed British debtors land in Savannah, Georgia, as part of England's colonial expansion plan. 1736 - Nadir Shah becomes King of Persia. 1870 - Women in the Utah Territory gain the right to vote. 1885 - German East Africa Company is chartered. 1895 - Japanese forces score impressive victory at Wei-hai-wei in China. 1899 - Germany buys Pacific islands of Marianas, Carolines and Palau from Spain. 1909 - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is founded in the U.S. 1912 - Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, abdicates, ending more than 2,000 years of imperial rule. 1915 - The cornerstone for the Lincoln Memorial is laid in Washington. 1924 - George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" premieres in New York City. 1934 - More than 1,000 people are believed killed in clashes between the Austro-Fascist government of Engelbert Dollfuss and leftist workers. 1953 - Britain and Egypt agree to end Anglo-Egyptian rule of Sudan and take steps toward granting self-rule. 1970 - Israeli air raid on scrap metal plant in Egypt kills 70 civilians. 1974 - Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Soviet Nobel Prize winner, is arrested at his Moscow apartment and is exiled the following day. 1986 - Andrija Artukovic, 86, is extradited from United States to Yugoslavia to stand trial for war crimes during World War II. He later dies awaiting execution. 1993 - Ousted Mali dictator Moussa Traore and three top aides are sentenced to death for ordering killing of unarmed pro-democracy protesters. 1994 - Norwegian Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" is stolen from a museum in Oslo. It is recovered three months later in a police sting operation. 1998 - Cuba releases "several dozen" prisoners, whose freedom was sought by Pope John Paul II during his January trip to Cuba. 1999 - U.S. President Bill Clinton is acquitted by the Senate in an impeachment trial stemming from the Monica Lewinsky scandal. 2002 - Pakistani authorities arrest Ahmad Omar Saeed Sheikh, a British-born Islamic militant, as the prime suspect in the January kidnapping of Daniel Pearl, a U.S. reporter for the Wall Street Journal newspaper. 2007 - An Iraqi court sentences Saddam Hussein's former deputy to death for his role in the killings of Shiites in the Iraqi town of Dujail in 1982. The court ruled that Taha Yassin Ramadan's earlier sentence of life in prison was too lenient. 2011 - Thousands of Algerians defy government warnings and dodge barricades and riot police to rally in their capital, demanding democratic reforms a day after mass protests toppled Egypt's autocratic ruler. 2012 Greece's parliament approves an austerity and debt-relief bill, crucial for the country to avoid bankruptcy and remain in the eurozone. 2013 North Korea conducts its third nuclear test, taking a crucial step toward its goal of building a bomb small enough to be fitted on a missile capable of striking the United States. 2014 Medical experts say a Salvadoran fisherman who says he drifted at sea for more than a year, surviving on raw fish, turtles and bird blood is in stunningly good health but psychologically fragile. 2015 The warring sides in eastern Ukraine attempt to bolster their positions ahead of a weekend cease-fire deadline that is part of a peace deal that the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France signed in the Belorussian capital of Minsk. Today's Birthdays Charles Darwin, English scientist (1809-1882); Abraham Lincoln, U.S. president (1809-1865); Franco Zeffirelli, Italian director (1923--); Michael Ironside, Canadian actor (1950--); Christina Ricci U.S. actress (1980--); Josh Brolin, U.S. actor (1968--). Thought For Today: Chinese using carpooling apps to get ride home for holidays SHANGHAI (AP) The hundreds of millions of Chinese heading home for Lunar New Year have a relatively new travel option this year: mobile apps to find carpool partners to share costs in what is a novel concept for most Chinese. The apps give an alternative to pricey airfares and hard-to-score train tickets. Software developer Li Jin in Shanghai used one after he had to abort his flight plans because of last-minute work demands, and found that the only train tickets left going to his hometown in northwestern Shaanxi province were for expensive business-class seats. Then he tried using the Didi Chuxing (pronounced "dee dee choo shing") carpool app and found a driver, real estate agent Chen Xiao, going his way. In this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, Chen Xiao, a real estate agent, checks on her smartphone as she prepares to leave her house to go back to her hometown for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shanghai, China. The hundreds of millions of Chinese heading home for Lunar New Year have a relatively new travel option this year: mobile apps to find carpool partners to share costs in what is a novel concept for most Chinese. The apps give an alternative to pricey airfares and hard-to-score train tickets. (AP Photo/Paul Traynor) "She said she still had a free space, so we agreed and now I'm using this way to get home," Li said. Li paid Chen 400 yuan ($60) for his seat home, roughly the same cost for a second-class train ticket for the same journey. He shared the ride in a BMW sedan with three other passengers, including a child. The road trip through clogged highways was nearly 23 hours, twice the travel time of an express train, but Li said he appreciated the companionship. "I think I will do the same for my return trip after the new year, because I get to know new friends, and it's an experience," he said. Carpooling is still unusual in China, but government officials welcome the idea as a way to alleviate the enormous burden placed on the public transportation system during the Lunar New Year holidays, China's most important vacation period when hundreds of millions travel to their hometowns. All told, Chinese will make a total of 2.9 billion trips this holiday season, and 2.5 billion of them will be by road, according to official estimates. "We encourage car-pooling services that are not intended to make profits," transportation official Wang Shuiping was quoted as saying by state media outlets. "We also remind that parties to the services must be clear on each side's rights and obligations to avoid disputes." Leading the nascent inter-city carpooling market is Didi Chuxing, an Uber-like mobile car-hailing service that has been most commonly used for hailing city rides, but the company began to offer carpooling services for city commuters over the past year and, by the end of September, introduced car-sharing services for inter-city trips among 343 Chinese cities. Users can pick the departure city and destination city and enter the desired date of travel to find private drivers with the same itinerary and an empty seat. "We launched this matchmaking function to help us make this inter-city car sharing service another means of transportation alongside planes, trains and other forms of public transport," Didi Chuxing spokesman Wang Mingze said. Wang said 300,000 used the service in the first of week of the holiday travel, which began Jan. 24. As the Feb. 8 start of the holiday drew closer, the usage jumped to 100,000 per day, and nearly half of the orders involved trips longer than 500 kilometers (310 miles), he said. Wang estimated that the platform would serve more than 1 million people by the end of the 40-day travel period. Another player in the market is 58 Ganji Group, China's largest online classified ad service, where users have been for years posting carpooling information and which also now has a mobile app. Huang Wei, a vice president, said the site expects to have more than 1 million posts for carpooling this holiday season, up from last year's 700,000 posts, although the company does not track the completion rates. "China does not have a carpooling culture yet, but you see a spike during the holiday season, when the demand goes up because people cannot secure train tickets and seek alternatives," Huang said. He said the routes posted in online classified ads conform to the migration patterns in China, where migrant workers flow from inner provinces to the more prosperous coastal provinces for work. Didi Chuxing says it has purchased insurance for its users. Bill Russo, an auto industry analyst at Gaofeng Advisory Company in Shanghai, said the app is another example how the technology is empowering the public. "It's growing even more popular as an alternative to individual car ownership or public transportation." __ Tang reported from Beijing. In this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, real estate agent Chen Xiao, top center in white, poses with passengers from left top, He Shaolei, Han Ajuan, Han's son Miao Ruijing, Zhang Tao and Li Jin before they start their journey back to their hometown for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shanghai, China. They met on the ride-share app of Didi Chuxing, an Uber-like mobile car-hailing service. Carpooling is still unusual in China, but government officials welcome the idea as a way to alleviate the enormous burden placed on the public transportation system during the Lunar New Year holidays, Chinas most important vacation period when hundreds of millions travel to their hometowns. Three others in bottom are another group, from left, Zhang Xiaohui, Yang Chuang and Xu Peng. (AP Photo/Paul Traynor) Afghan Taliban close ranks around new leader KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) Afghanistan's Taliban are closing ranks around their new leader after months of infighting that followed the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar, which could allow the insurgents to speak with one voice in hoped-for peace talks but will also strengthen them on the battlefield. The Afghan government's announcement last summer that Mullah Omar, the reclusive one-eyed founder of the group, had died two years earlier in Pakistan aggravated longtime rifts within the movement. Many senior figures said his deputy-turned-successor, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, had deliberately misled them. The upheaval led to the collapse of Pakistan-brokered face-to-face talks between Kabul and the Taliban after just one round, and clashes flared between Mansoor loyalists and a splinter group led by Mullah Mohammad Rasool, which declared him the leader of the Taliban in November. FILE - In this Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, file photo, a Taliban fighter sits on his motorcycle adorned with a Taliban flag in a street in Kunduz, Afghanistan. Afghanistans Taliban are closing ranks around their new leader after months of infighting that followed the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar, which could allow the insurgents to speak with one voice in hoped-for peace talks but will also strengthen them on the battlefield.(AP Photo, File) But Abdul Rauf, a Taliban commander close to Rasool, said senior Taliban figures who had objected to the rapid and secretive succession are now reluctantly returning to the fold. "We all took a stand against Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, but now one by one we are joining with him without demanding any changes," he said. Relatives of Mullah Omar, notably his brother Manan and son Yaqub, had objected to the selection of Mansoor, which was done by a small inner circle of senior Taliban leaders. But they were persuaded last year to drop their objections and publicly declared their loyalty to Mansoor. Rauf said Abdul Qayum Zakir, a military commander sacked by Mansoor in 2014, and former Rasool loyalists Abdullah Jan and Niaz Mohammad, had also reconciled with Mansoor. Mullah Hassan Rahmani, who was governor of southern Kandahar province when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, issued a statement last month saying he too would support Mansoor. The Taliban's former foreign minister, Mohammad Ghaws, said he hoped the united front would help future peace talks succeed. "I am not in favor of or against any faction," he said, but if Rasool had continued to oppose Mansoor and the majority allied with him it would have brought "no good to the Taliban or to Islam." While Rasool has yet to reconcile, Mansoor had sent his representatives to meet with him in western Farah province, Ghaws said. "There is no religious reason for him (Rasool) not to come with the majority, and so I believe we will be fully united very soon." The Taliban's growing unity brokered by religious scholars within the movement has raised hopes that the group can be brought back into peace talks to end 15 years of war. Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States and China plan to hold a third round of talks on Saturday to lay the groundwork for the renewal of direct talks between Kabul and the Taliban. The Taliban's top leadership is widely believed to be based in Pakistan, and Islamabad is seen as having a key role in bringing them to the table. Afghanistan has vowed to wipe out any insurgents who do not join the peace process, while the Taliban have adhered to their demands for the withdrawal of all foreign forces, the release of Taliban prisoners and the establishment of some form of Islamic rule. "Hopes for peace are increasing because the United States and China are involved these two world powers have a great influence on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and can pressure both countries to encourage the armed opposition to come to the negotiating table," said Abdul Hakim Mujahid, a senior member of Afghanistan's High Peace Council, which is tasked with negotiating an end to the war. Political analyst Nazar Mohammad Mutmaeen said the Taliban's newfound unity would be "effective and useful" for the peace process. But it could also make them even more formidable on the battlefield. The Taliban have advanced on a number of fronts since the U.S. and NATO formally ended their combat mission and shifted to a supporting role more than a year ago. As the snow melts in the rugged mountains along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in the coming months, the insurgents are expected to launch their annual springtime offensive. Even with all the infighting, the Taliban managed to seize the northern city of Kunduz last year and hold it for three days, marking the insurgents' biggest foray into a major urban area since 2001. "The Taliban leadership is fragile, but the movement is not," said a Western official in Kabul who has seen intelligence reports on the group. The official was not authorized to brief media on the subject so spoke on condition of anonymity. Mansoor is "first among equals, but there are many equals whose support he doesn't have," the official said. Those commanders now appear to have set aside their misgivings about him because of a "realization that it is better to be working together." ___ O'Donnell reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writer Humayoon Babur in Kabul contributed to this report. FILE - In this Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 file photo, Afghan Taliban fighters listen to Mullah Mohammed Rasool, unseen, the newly-elected leader of a breakaway faction of the Taliban, in Farah province, Afghanistan. Afghanistans Taliban are closing ranks around their new leader after months of infighting that followed the death of Mullah Mohammad Omar, which could allow the insurgents to speak with one voice in hoped-for peace talks but will also strengthen them on the battlefield.(AP Photo, File) NYPD officer who was shot in cheek released from hospital NEW YORK (AP) One of two New York City police officers who was shot and wounded in the stairwell of a public housing project was released from the hospital Friday to cheers from fellow officers. Officer Patrick Espeut, 29, was shot in the cheek. He was wheeled out through a throng of police including Commissioner William Bratton before standing up and waving. Officer Diara Cruz, 24, struck in the torso, remained hospitalized in stable condition, police said. The gunman killed himself after opening fire, police said. Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) The two officers and another were on the sixth floor of the Melrose Houses complex in the Bronx on Thursday night when police said they encountered two people and asked for identification. Malik Chavis, 23, said he needed to get his ID and was walking with police to an apartment on the seventh floor when he turned, pulled a gun and fired twice, police said. Two officers returned three shots total. Chavis ran into the apartment and barricaded himself, saying he had just shot a cop and didn't want to go back to jail, witnesses told police. He had 16 prior arrests for crimes including attempted robbery, weapon possession and various drug crimes, and there was an open warrant for criminal possession of controlled substance, according to police reports. He served three years for a robbery charge and violated parole twice, according to state correction records. Police said he apparently shot himself in the head with the same weapon he used to fire at the officers. The .32-caliber handgun had been purchased legally in Tennessee in 2010 and was never reported missing, according to police reports. The handgun and a shotgun were found inside the apartment, police said. The second person who encountered the officers in the stairwell was taken into custody, and three people in the apartment were questioned, but police said no arrests have been made. The shooting happened about 5 miles from where Mayor Bill de Blasio was delivering his State of the City address Thursday night, much of which was dedicated to praising the work of police officers. De Blasio, a Democrat, was told about the shooting as he finished his speech and left the stage. He met with the family of one of the officers at the hospital. "Our brave officers were doing their jobs tonight in our public housing on patrol keeping residents safe," de Blasio said. "Both officers are alert and communicating, and we are praying for the best here." The officers are assigned to the Housing Bureau and have been on the force for about two years. They were shot while they were conducting a vertical patrol, where officers start in the lobby of a public housing project and walk the stairwells up to the roof and back down. In January, a police officer responding to a large street fight in the Bronx was shot in an ankle. And in October, a police officer responding to a report of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood was killed. There was no number listed at the address for Chavis, or any of his prior addresses. Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) CORRECTS ID OF MAN AT RIGHT TO NYPD CHIEF OF DETECTIVES ROBERT BOYCE, NOT JAMES O'NEILL - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, speaks at Lincoln Hospital, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in the Bronx borough of New York after two police officers were shot in a public housing project in the Bronx by an armed suspect who apparently turned the weapon on himself not far from where Mayor Bill de Blasio was delivering his state of the city address Thursday evening. New York City Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, listens, right. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) CORRECTS ID OF MAN AT RIGHT TO NYPD CHIEF OF DETECTIVES ROBERT BOYCE, NOT JAMES O'NEILL - New York City Police Department First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker left, listens as New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, center, speaks at Lincoln Hospital, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in the Bronx borough of New York after two police officers were shot in a public housing project in the Bronx by an armed suspect who apparently turned the weapon on himself not far from where de Blasio was delivering his state of the city address Thursday evening. New York City Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, listens, right.. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) CORRECTS ID OF MAN AT RIGHT TO NYPD CHIEF OF DETECTIVES ROBERT BOYCE, NOT JAMES O'NEILL - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio listens as New York City Police First Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Tucker speaks at a hastily called press conference at Lincoln Hospital, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in the Bronx borough of New York after two New York City police officers were shot in a public housing complex int he Bronx by an armed suspect who apparently turned the weapon on himself not far from where de Blasio was delivering his state of the city address Thursday evening. New York City Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, listens, right. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Emergency officials gather near the site where two police officers were shot in the Bronx section of New York, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. Two police officers were shot while on patrol in a public housing project on Thursday night and suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and a suspect was in custody, authorities said. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) 4 questions for the next CEO of Delta Air Lines NEW YORK (AP) On May 2, Ed Bastian takes over as the new CEO of Delta Air Lines, replacing the retiring Richard Anderson. Bastian has been Anderson's close deputy, helping to turn around the airline from bankrupt carrier to one of the world's leading airlines, one whose playbook is often copied by others. Bastian has been with Delta except for a brief break since 1998 and has held various leadership roles including chief financial officer and his current post as president. Wall Street analysts expect Bastian to continue running Delta with the same general strategy as Anderson. They did, after all, work side by side on most of the changes. FILE - In this Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, file photo, Delta Air Lines President Edward Bastian smiles as he listens to questions from the media during a news conference in Tokyo. On May 2, 2016, Bastian takes over as the new CEO of Delta Air Lines, replacing the retiring Richard Anderson. Bastian has been Andersons close deputy, helping to turn around the airline from bankrupt carrier to one of the worlds leading airlines, one whose playbook is often copied by others. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa, File) The Associated Press interviewed Bastian by phone following his appointment. The incoming CEO explained the need to still invest internationally, improve the airline's regional jet service and continue its efforts to make passengers want to fly Delta because of the experience, not the ticket price. The answers have been edited for length and clarity. __ Q: Low fuel prices have caused other airlines to irrationally set prices and routes. How do you defend against that? A: There's always going to be a low-cost competitor in our marketplace. The answer about how it is different today, compared to how we've competed in the past, is that we've got the staying power. We've got the cash returns that we're investing in the product, service and our people. Price is always an important part of a travel decision. But we've been very clear that we don't see our product as a commodity. We're out to break the commoditization cycle. Q: Are increased labor costs a problem? A: Our people need to share in the success of the airline. We're paying out bonuses equal to 21.4 percent of annual salaries, across the board. But we've got to stay disciplined. When we look back at our fourth-quarter results, we retained about two-thirds of the fuel savings to the bottom line. Some of it went, as it should, to improved employee profit-sharing and compensation, some of it went to lower fares, which were down 5 percent on average. Q: What is the role of regional airlines? A: They play an important role but less than they have in the past. The regional fleet is smaller. Four or five years ago, we were at over 700 regional jets and we'll get down close to 400 by the time we're done with the fleet changes we're making. But they're still a very important part of the product. What are the things Delta needs to do to improve in the future? I would say the space with the greatest opportunity still for improvement is the quality of the regional experience. Q: You have a stake in Brazil's GOL. Any concerns? A: Brazil is in a tough place. There's no question about it. It's a tough place from the economy, from a political situation, from a currency perspective, commodity prices are really hurting the local economy there. But it's also the most important market in Latin America. We own about 10 percent of GOL currently and we are assisting in its restructuring, in terms of trying to raise additional liquidity because the next two years will be tough. We do think that GOL, over time, will have the staying power and strength. We're very impressed with the quality of the product and service. __ Assange sex case sinks in international quagmire LONDON (AP) It started more than five years ago as what appeared to be a fairly simple sex crime case: two women in Sweden came forward to accuse Julian Assange of sexual misconduct. Now the case has mutated into a complicated international drama involving Britain, Sweden, the United States, Ecuador, a host of human rights lawyers and the United Nations. But when the dust settles from an unexpected U.N. working group's finding Friday that Assange has been unlawfully detained, the painful stalemate is expected to continue, and Assange though claiming full vindication will most likely remain cooped up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. holding a U.N. report speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The panel said his stay at the embassy which he entered voluntarily in 2012 constitutes arbitrary detention and that he should be set free and compensated for lost time. Lawyer and legal blogger Carl Gardner said the finding "beggars belief" and pointed out it isn't legally binding. "Nobody will have to do anything," as a result of this finding, he said. The sex crime allegations came at the height of Assange's fame as the founder of WikiLeaks, an organization that had made a name for itself by releasing hundreds of thousands of pages of classified government documents. He had challenged, and embarrassed, U.S. officials with his disclosures, and feared a secret indictment in U.S. courts that could lead to prosecution there. One woman said Assange intentionally damaged a condom and pinned her down while having sex. A second woman said Assange had sex with her without a condom while she was asleep. In Sweden, having sex with an unconscious, drunk or sleeping person can lead to a rape conviction punishable by up to six years in prison. A Swedish investigation into the crimes was launched, then dropped for lack of evidence, and then started again as prosecutors sought to question Assange about possible molestation and rape. The computer hacker facing no criminal charges left Sweden for Britain, and the legal palaver begun. Once he left, it became much more complicated for Swedish prosecutors to determine if the evidence against him was convincing enough to merit a criminal charge. When prosecutors decided they needed to question him about the women's allegations, they sought an international arrest warrant for him that was issued in November, 2010. By then, Assange was in London, where he was seen by many as a hero in a "David versus Goliath" struggle pitting scrappy WikiLeaks against the mighty U.S. government. He was the toast of the town at least among a group of wealthy friends from the film and media worlds who enjoyed the discomfort he brought to the high and mighty. The arrest warrant would not go away, however, and Assange surrendered to police in London and was detained until his bail was granted. He got public support from filmmakers Oliver Stone and Michael Moore and human rights activist Bianca Jagger, and spent his time under court-ordered "house arrest" at a luxurious country estate owned by his friend, the journalist Vaughan Smith. Assange repeatedly said his resistance was based on the overriding fear that once he was in the hands of British or Swedish authorities, he would be extradited to the U.S. to face trial there on charges related to his WikiLeaks work. He denied the sex charges, and said they were part of a larger conspiracy to land him in a maximum security U.S. prison. But Assange lost a series of legal attempts to block extradition. His final strategy failed in June, 2012 when Britain's Supreme Court refused his bid to reconsider its earlier rejection of his appeal. Assange had come to an uncomfortable crossroads: Return to Sweden to answer questions or take radical action to place himself beyond the prosecutors' reach. On June 19, he took those steps, calmly walking into the Embassy of Ecuador in central London to seek asylum. He's been there ever since, in a prolonged state of legal limbo, unable even to stroll to a corner store. He occasionally entertained celebrity visitors like actor John Cusack and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, but the flurry of magazine cover stories, books and even films about Assange started to subside as WikiLeaks generated fewer and fewer headlines. In 2013, it became clearer than ever that his stay inside the embassy was no longer really about the sex crime inquiries when he said he would stay inside even if the investigation was dropped for fear of extradition to the United States. U.S. officials have not revealed whether there is a secret indictment of Assange in U.S. courts, but in 2015, U.S. government representatives reiterated in court that a "sensitive" law enforcement investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. In March, a U.S. federal court confirmed there are "active and ongoing" attempts to prosecute him and WikiLeaks in an investigation involving espionage, conspiracy, and computer fraud. Meanwhile, an attempt to question Assange inside the embassy which would presumably allow Swedish prosecutors to decide whether to pursue or drop the case has foundered because of sniping between Swedish and Ecuadorean officials. Last year, Swedish prosecutors dropped the molestation inquiries because of the statute of limitations. But the rape investigation remains open. The case seemed to be going nowhere until this week when a legal maneuver that had largely gone unnoticed paid big public relations dividends for Assange and his team. They had filed a complaint with the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention against Sweden and Britain more than a year earlier charging that he had been unfairly detained. The five-person board, operating under the auspices of the U.N. human rights chief, investigated, took evidence from both sides, and came out backing Assange's position by a 3-1 vote, with one member deciding not to vote because she, like Assange, is Australian. Cut to Assange emerging triumphant on the embassy balcony, like Winston Churchill and the royal family at the conclusion of World War II, claiming total victory. A supporter shouted, "We love you Julian" as he went back inside the embassy for what might be a very long time. British and Swedish officials said Friday they won't be swayed by the working group's opinion, and it is five more years before the statute of limitations on rape expires. The lawyer for the Swedish woman who has accused Assange of rape said Friday Assange should answer questions now. Elisabeth Massi Fritz said in a statement that Assange should "pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor." She said the panel's decision is "insulting and offensive" toward her client and the rights of all crime victims, and that it is "important to remember that Assange had violated the law and is willfully defying the courts' decisions." ___ Jamey Keaten in Geneva, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark and Jill Lawless and Malin Rising in London contributed. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses the media from the London embassy of Ecuador Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Media wait in front of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) A demonstrator holds a banner outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group investigating his claims decides that the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorean Embassy doesn't amount to illegal detention. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Christophe Peschoux, chief of section of protection and Human security at the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights speaks to the media during a press briefing at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Christophe Peschoux,,chief of section of protection and Human security at the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights speaks to the media during a press briefing at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Christophe Peschoux,, chief of section of protection and Human security at the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights speaks to the media during a press briefing at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses the media from the London embassy of Ecuador Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses journalists in foreground by video link from the London embassy of Ecuador, Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses the media from the London embassy of Ecuador Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange onto the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, to address supporters and the media Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walks onto the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy to address waiting supporters and media in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to journalists and supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks to journalists and supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Latest: Assange hails 'victory' from embassy balcony GENEVA (AP) The Latest on the U.N. panel's determination that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained (all times local): 6:05 p.m. Julian Assange has addressed supporters from the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, calling a U.N. panel's findings "a historic victory." Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) He said "this is a decision under international humanitarian law." In a reference to British and Swedish authorities, he warned that "there will be criminal consequences" for parties that breach international human rights treaties. The WikiLeaks founder has not left the embassy since June 2012, when he took shelter there to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning about sexual assault allegations made by two women. To cheers from a small crowd of supporters and shouts from a lone heckler Assange accused British, Swedish and American authorities of denying his children their father. ___ 5:05 p.m. The lawyer for the Swedish woman who Julian Assange is accused of raping says the U.N. panel apparently has "a lack of understanding" that rape "is one of the most serious abuses and violations of human rights." Elisabeth Massi Fritz says she is "relieved" that the panel's ruling that Assange has been arbitrarily detained "is not legally binding." In a statement to the AP she said it is "insulting and offensive" toward her client and the rights of all crime victims to suggest that a man who is suspected of rape should be compensated for intentionally withholding himself from the judicial system for more than five years. She says Assange should "pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor." She said it was "important to remember that Assange had violated the law and is willfully defying the courts' decisions." ___ 3:55 p.m. The Swedish government says it rejects the finding of a U.N. panel that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained. Anders Ronquist, legal chief at Sweden's foreign ministry, says Assange voluntarily entered the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in 2012, and "is not being deprived of his liberty there due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities." Assange fears extradition to Sweden would lead to him being sent to the United States to face charges over WikiLeaks' publication of secret U.S. documents. But in a reply to the U.N. group, Ronquist said Sweden has not received any extradition request from American authorities. ___ 3:05 p.m. Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino has reacted to the U.N. panel report by renewing calls for Britain and Sweden to free the WikiLeaks founder. He told the Telesur network Friday that "it's time that they free Julian Assange." He says the decision "shows clearly that we are talking about political persecution." ___ 2:50 p.m. A member of the U.N. panel that has called for Julian Assange to be freed says the WikiLeaks founder has been in "arbitrary detention" too long and is challenging Britain and Sweden to uphold their international commitments. Roland Adjovi was one of three out of four members of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention who wrote an 18-page opinion released Friday that said Assange should be allowed to leave freely from self-imposed hiding at the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. Adjovi, a native of Benin and an international law professor at Arcadia University near Philadelphia, said in a phone interview that the panel believed it was "not good" that Assange had spent five years without a formal indictment from Swedish prosecutors. Adjovi said the panel operates on the authority of the U.N.-supported Human Rights Committee, which has the backing of Britain and Sweden. "What's the point of having a dispute-resolution mechanism, if they don't want to comply with the outcome?" ___ 1:55 p.m. Former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon says Julian Assange's lack of freedom is worse than prison and to detain him further might amount to torture. Garzon, who represents the WikiLeaks founder, says "every right that could be violated was violated" and the U.N. convention on torture "might be applicable" to Assange's situation. He said Swedish authorities should cancel their arrest warrant for Assange immediately. ___ 1:40 p.m. Former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon says Sweden and the U.K. are bound to abide by a U.N. panel's finding that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained. Garzon, who is part of Assange's legal team, says that as members of the U.N. the two countries must respect the findings of the U.N. He says both countries cooperated with the panel and it is "absurd" for them to ignore its decision because it went against them. The two nations say the findings have no legal force. ___ 1:25 p.m. Julian Assange says a U.N. panel's finding that he has been arbitrarily detained is a "vindication." The WikiLeaks founder says it is "now a matter of settled law" that he has been wrongly detained. Assange spoke to journalists by video from the London embassy of Ecuador, where he has been holed up for 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. Assange said Britain and Sweden cannot appeal the panel's finding, but Britain has already indicated it will challenge. ___ 1:20 p.m. A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says a U.N. panel finding shows that he has been subjected to "mental torture." Melinda Taylor said part of his arbitrary detention has included round-the-clock covert and overt surveillance while seeking refuge at the Embassy of Ecuador in London. She said Friday his rights have been repeatedly violated and that Sweden and Britain have to "step up to the plate" and set him free." 1:10 p.m. A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says the finding of a U.N. panel represents a "resounding victory" for Assange. Jennifer Robinson praised the panel's finding that Assange has been a victim of arbitrary detention and should be freed. Assange has sought refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London since 2012 to avoid questioning in Sweden on allegations of sexual misconduct. Robinson said Assange has exercised his legal rights in a lawful manner. She called the decision "incredibly important." ___ 11:55 a.m. One of Julian Assange's lawyers in Sweden says the country "has no other option but to submit itself to" the opinion of a U.N. human rights panel. Thomas Olsson says Sweden where Assange is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape in 2010 has "committed itself to the rules and decisions that exist in the U.N. human rights charter." Olsson welcomed the ruling that Assange has been arbitrarily detained, which he called "a pretty positive message," adding it was "totally in line with the argumentation we have presented." He said time should be given to the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the case, who was traveling on Friday, "to analyze this ruling . and then take a decision ___ 11:20 a.m. One of four voting members of a U.N. panel disagreed with the majority opinion that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed from "arbitrary detention" an unusual show of dissent on the panel. U.N. human rights office official Christophe Peschoux said the dissenter was Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The 3-1 vote in the case came after an Australian member of the five-person panel recused herself from the proceedings because she shares the same nationality as Assange. ___ 10:15 a.m. Britain's Foreign Office has rejected the United Nations panel's finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. Officials said in a statement Friday morning that Britain will formally contest the working group's opinion issued earlier in Geneva. The statement says Britain is "deeply frustrated" by the Assange situation. "The opinion of the U.N. working group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system," the statement says. "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." The statement points out that an allegation of rape is still outstanding and that a European Arrest Warrant is in place. It says Britain has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning. ___ 9:35 a.m. The Swedish Prosecution Authority says the call from the U.N. working group for Julian Assange to be released and compensated "has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law." Spokeswoman Karin Rosander said the prosecutor responsible for the case is traveling and has not yet been able to comment on the case. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he would be sent to the United States. ___ 9:25 a.m. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling ways. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks on the balcony of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses the media from the London embassy of Ecuador Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses journalists in foreground by video link from the London embassy of Ecuador, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) A police motorcycle passes outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group investigating his claims decides that the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorean Embassy doesn't amount to illegal detention.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) FILE - In this Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012, file photo, Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks speaks to the media and members of the public from a balcony at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Wedneday Feb. 3, 2016 that he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group investigating his claims decides that the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorean Embassy doesn't amount to illegal detention. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File) A demonstrator holds a banner outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group investigating his claims decides that the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorean Embassy doesn't amount to illegal detention. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Christophe Peschoux,,chief of section of protection and Human security at the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights speaks to the media during a press briefing at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) Christophe Peschoux,, chief of section of protection and Human security at the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights speaks to the media during a press briefing at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses the media from the London embassy of Ecuador Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen on a screen as he addresses journalists in foreground by video link from the London embassy of Ecuador, Friday Feb. 5, 2016, where he has been holed up for some 3 years to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning about alleged sexual offenses. A U.N. human rights panel says Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Media wait in front of the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. A U.N. human rights panel says WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been squirreled away inside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London to avoid questioning by Swedish authorities about sexual misconduct allegations, has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Demonstrators hold banners outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if a U.N. working group investigating his claims decides that the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorean Embassy doesn't amount to illegal detention. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) NATO chief meets EU defense ministers to discuss cooperation AMSTERDAM (AP) European Union defense ministers huddled Friday with NATO's secretary general to discuss closer cooperation between the military alliance and the 28-nation bloc to tackle looming threats to the region. The EU and NATO are working to beef up their responses to threats such as Russia's increased military activity to the east and the Islamic State group's threat amid violent conflicts in the Middle East and Libya. "It is clear that no member state will be able to face" these challenges on its own, Dutch Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said after the meeting. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, is flanked by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, right, and Netherlands Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert as they pose for a picture at the Maritime Museum prior to an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) "There is war out there," Hennis-Plasschaert added. "Nobody can deny it, and we cannot continue writing papers, we have to act." Foreign Ministers joined their defense colleagues for lunch to discuss a united front in defense and foreign strategy that is likely to be presented to EU leaders in June. Ahead of the meeting, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the Obama administration's announcement this week that it will propose quadrupling spending on its troops and training in Europe as part of the U.S. military's accelerating effort to deter Russia after Moscow's annexation of Crimea and incursion into eastern Ukraine. Stoltenberg called the U.S. move "an important sign and part of the adaptation of the Alliance to a more demanding security environment." The NATO chief said the alliance is closely monitoring developments in Libya amid reports that IS, also known by the acronym ISIL, is gaining strength there. Libya has been split between two rival governments since 2014, a consequence of the chaos that engulfed the country after a 2011 uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi. "This just underlines the importance of fully supporting efforts to find a political solution, to reach a cease-fire and to have an agreement on a unity government in Libya," Stoltenberg said. "Because that will be an important first step, also to be able to fight ISIL." 10 Things to Know for Today - 5 February 2016 Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. FIREWORKS FLY IN FIRST ONE-ON-ONE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE Hillary Clinton accuses Bernie Sanders of subjecting her to an "artful smear" regarding her Wall Street links while Sanders suggests the former secretary of state is a captive of America's political establishment. An audience member listens during a Democratic presidential primary debate between Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, and Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton at the University of New Hampshire Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, in Durham, N.H. (AP Photo/David Goldman) 2. U.N. PANEL RULES FOR WIKILEAKS FOUNDER Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010, and should be freed and compensated, the rights group says. 3. EXPERTS DOWNPLAY PLANNED NORTH KOREA LAUNCH Pyongyang's rockets look like space launch vehicles and aren't necessarily helping them get that much closer to having a reliable, long-range missile capacity. 4. DESPITE ZIKA SCARE, PARTY GOES ON As tens of thousands descend on Brazil for the annual Carnival festival, there are fears the crush of humanity will be a perfect opportunity for the virus to spread. 5. TALIBAN CLOSING RANKS AROUND NEW LEADER The move could allow Afghanistan's insurgents to speak with one voice in hoped-for peace talks but will also strengthen them on the battlefield. 6. WHAT SECTOR OF ECONOMY IS STILL STRONG Despite U.S. manufacturing shrinking, corporate profits declining and goods piling up on warehouse shelves, hiring continues to buck the recessionary trends. 7. HOW POLICE SHOOTINGS ARE CHANGING THE DEBATE A dispute is erupting among police organizations over new proposals that would govern when officers should use force during violent arrests. 8. WHERE JAPAN IS FACING A CULTURAL DILEMMA Japanese are mulling changing the traditional "manji" symbol identifying Buddhist temples on maps that is often confused with the Nazi swastika. 9. HOW CASINOS ARE TRYING TO LURE MILLENNIALS Tattoo studios, mixed martial arts competitions and other offbeat attractions are designed to attract a younger clientele. 10. SUPER BOWL ADVERTISERS STICKING TO CLASSICS Talking animals, celebrity cameos and crowd-pleasing rock songs are the themes that marketers hope to win over Big Game viewers. Public health workers wear Aedes aegypti mosquito costumes during a street carnival block party as part of a campaign to warn people about the spread of the Zika virus, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. With no hope for a vaccine to prevent Zika in the near future, authorities are focusing on the most effective way to combat the virus: killing the mosquito that carries it. (AP Photo/Andre Penner) Author Susan Wefald will present a free program, "Important Voices," at 2 p.m. Sunday at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum. Seventeen women have been elected to statewide office in North Dakota in the past 125 years. Wefald will present the stories of these women, based on her book, "Important Voices, North Dakota's Women Elected State Officials Share Their Stories 1893-2013." Wefald will be available for book signing following the presentation, with books available to purchase at the Museum store. The first woman to serve on the North Dakota Public Service Commission, Wefald was re-elected to three more terms for a total of 16 years. She is the author of several books, including award-winning "Spectacular North Dakota Hikes Bring the Dog." For more information, call 701-328-2792. The Latest: France says Turkey must fight trafficking groups BERLIN (AP) The Latest on the influx of migrants into Europe (all times local): 9:15 p.m. The French interior minister says Turkey must reinforce its fight against trafficking networks who "are at the root of the tragedies" suffered by migrants who risk the perilous sea crossings to Greece. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve speaks to the media during a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart Efkan Ala in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The European Union has ratcheted up pressure on Greece to start managing its borders properly or face the prospect of measures being imposed from Brussels.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) Bernard Cazeneuve said Friday that Turkey has a key role to play to decrease the flow of migrants by preventing people from departing for Greece. He spoke to reporters following talks with his Turkish counterpart, Efkan Ala, who said Turkey has cracked down on some 4,500 smugglers since 2012. He added that policing Turkey's "difficult" and "indented" coastline was an onerous task. Turkey agreed in November to fight smuggling networks and help curb migration. The European Union pledged 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to help improve the conditions for refugees in Syria in return. ___ 5:45 p.m. Officers from Greece's coast guard joined colleagues from the police and fire service in a stage demonstration in central Athens against austerity measures and a planned overhaul of the pension system. More than 2,000 officers joined the march to parliament, chanting "We are people too." Coast guard patrol boat captain Vassilis Delibitis told the AP he and his colleagues felt left down by the government, despite their work in rescuing refugees and migrants reaching Greece's shores from Turkey. "All the measures taken by this government should be taken back because they are leaving us in extreme uncertainty," he said. "We feel like we are being punished." The government says 103,000 refugees and migrants were rescued in 2015 by the Greek coast guard, roughly one-in-10 of the entire number that traveled to the European Union. ___ 4:15 p.m. A European Union official says Greece is making "rapid progress" in overcoming delays in building screening centers for migrants and refugees on islands facing Turkey, after involving the armed forces in the effort. The official, who met with Greek government officials in Athens this week, asked not to be identified as he was not authorized to speak directly to the news media. He said Friday that armed forces involvement had improved preparations to build screening centers, or "hotspots," on Greek islands and transit camps on the mainland. Greece is facing mounting European pressure to complete the screening centers on four islands this month, with the project already three months behind schedule. The official said that the armed forces would provide an additional 8,000 places at two new transit camps being set up near Athens and the northern city of Thessaloniki with 3,000 of those places available this month. By Derek Gatopoulos in Athens. ___ 1:05 p.m. The interior ministers of France and Germany have stressed Europe must urgently tackle its migration crisis to safeguard the continent's borderless Schengen area, and urged greater information-sharing among police and security services. Bernard Cazeneuve and Thomas de Maiziere spoke Friday while visiting Greece, which is on the front line of Europe's massive refugee influx. With a lengthy sea border with Turkey and thousands of kilometers of coastline, Greek islands have been the favored way for people fleeing conflict and poverty to reach Europe. Cazeneuve visited Lesbos, the island that has seen the most arrivals and where one of the "hotspot" registration centers will be set up, on Thursday. Both ministers stressed the need to reduce migration flows. De Maiziere said Germany was sending 100 police and two coast guard vessels to Greece. ___ 12:20 p.m. The German government says Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Ankara on Monday to meet with Turkey's prime minister as she tries to reduce the migrant influx to Europe. Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday Merkel and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu decided on the trip when they met at this week's aid conference for Syria in London. Turkey, a key country on the migrant route to Europe, is central to Merkel's diplomatic efforts to reduce the number of migrants coming to Germany. She has resisted pressure for unilateral measures such as a national cap on refugee numbers. Turkey agreed in November to fight smuggling networks and help curb irregular migration. The European Union pledged 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) to help improve the condition of refugees in Syria in return. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, and his Turkish counterpart Efkan Ala speak to the media during a joint news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The European Union has ratcheted up pressure on Greece to start managing its borders properly or face the prospect of measures being imposed from Brussels.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, left, and his Turkish counterpart Efkan Ala shake hands after a joint news conference in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. The European Union has ratcheted up pressure on Greece to start managing its borders properly or face the prospect of measures being imposed from Brussels.(AP Photo/Burhan Ozbilici) Ukrainian minister hopes resignation will speed up reforms KIEV, Ukraine (AP) The Ukrainian economy minister whose resignation plunged the country into yet another political crisis said on Friday he hopes it will help create momentum for economic reforms. Aivaras Abromavicius resigned on Wednesday, saying he and his team could no longer drive forward the much-needed reforms because of resistance to their efforts from government officials. Abromavicius, a former investment banker advocated deregulation and wide-scale privatization in Ukraine. He was appointed as 14 months ago along with a cadre of other political newcomers from the private sector including American-born finance minister Natalia Jaresko, which was viewed as an indication that the new government would go through with the long-overdue reforms. Ukraine's Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, a Lithuanian national, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Abromavicius says routine efforts from government leadership to shoot down reforms further damaging the country's already crippled economy prompted him to resign from his post. Aivaras Abromavicius wrote in his resignation letter published on Wednesday Feb. 3, 2016 that Ukraine's leadership lacks the political will to enact much-needed changes and has routinely obstructed reforms. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) In an interview with The Associated Press, Abromavicius said that he is glad his resignation has served as a "cold shower" for the political establishment and expressed hope that it could help to accelerate the pace of reforms. "Everyone's agreed it's a great opportunity now when the cold shower was basically given to really demand some things from top political elites in order to accelerate the reform," he said. "We are either two steps away from a break-through or we are two steps away from a break-down." The Lithuania-born minister said he would not withdraw his resignation, but would "take a pause and reflect on what has happened." Ten ambassadors, including those from the United States, Britain and Canada, expressed their disappointment at Abromavicius' resignation in an open letter earlier this week. Abromavicius is believed to be one of the strongest opponents of Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, who has been accused of using his post to put lucrative industries under control of Ukrainian oligarchs. Although the outgoing minister did not name Yatsenyuk, he said the government should be led by Jaresko who has no shady ties with Ukrainian tycoons. Ukraine's Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, a Lithuanian national, speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Abromavicius says routine efforts from government leadership to shoot down reforms further damaging the country's already crippled economy prompted him to resign from his post. Aivaras Abromavicius wrote in his resignation letter published on Wednesday Feb. 3, 2016 that Ukraine's leadership lacks the political will to enact much-needed changes and has routinely obstructed reforms. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) AP Interview: Syrian opposition official blasts Russia GENEVA (AP) The main Syrian opposition group is unlikely to return to Geneva to take part in indirect peace talks because of Syria and Russia's "arrogant" and "merciless" bombing campaign, its chief negotiator said. Mohammed Alloush, who represents the powerful Army of Islam group, told The Associated Press late Thursday that the opposition did not withdraw from the U.N.-sponsored talks in Geneva because it "didn't want to get blamed" for their failure however he added that they could not return to the negotiating table while the bombing continued. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced Wednesday there would be a "temporary pause" in the indirect peace negotiations between the government and opposition, saying the process will resume Feb. 25. In this Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016 photo, the chief negotiator for the main Syrian opposition delegation Mohammed Alloush speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at his hotel in Geneva. Alloush said the opposition delegation is not likely to return to Geneva as long as Syrian government and Russian bombardment continues and siege imposed on rebel-held areas is not lifted. (AP Photo/Bassam Hatoum) The announcement came as Syrian troops and their allies intensified their offensive, capturing several areas in the northern Syrian province of Aleppo and ending a more than three-year siege of two Shiite villages. Alloush said that the Syrian government and Russia, who has been carrying out airstrikes in support of its ally since Sept. 30, were behind the failure of the talks. "The reason behind the collapse of the talks in Geneva was the arrogance of the Syrian regime and the arrogance of the merciless Russian airstrikes on civilians," said Alloush at his Geneva hotel. The Russian Defense Ministry said its warplanes hit 875 targets in Syria this week, including in the area of the government offensive. Alloush said that the main opposition group, the High Negotiations Committee, would not come "as long as the situation remains the same." "The political process will not be launched as long as Russia, the regime and Iran want to win militarily the battle on the ground," he added. However, he said that although the Syrian government and Russia's military intervention is increasing "the pain of Syrians," he did not believe they would be able to achieve a decisive military victory in Syria, pointing to how the balance of power has shifted regularly since the war broke out in March 2011. The peace talks in Geneva had a rocky start this week with both the government and opposition denying that they had even formally begun. The HNC has demanded an end to Syrian and Russian bombardment, a lifting of sieges imposed on 18 rebel-held areas and the release of political detainees, including women and children. The opposition says none of these conditions have been met, other than a small concession by government to allow two dozen trucks carrying emergency aid to enter two besieged suburbs of the capital earlier this week. The Syrian government and Russia say Alloush's group, the Army of Islam, is a terrorist organization. Alloush said that those who bomb civilians and use chemical weapons against their people are terrorists, referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. The 45-year-old political chief for the Army of Islam is the cousin and brother-in-law of the group's founder, Zahran Alloush, who was killed in a government airstrike near Damascus in December. Alloush, who has a degree in Islamic Studies and worked in publishing in Saudi Arabia until the crisis began five years ago, said that if Assad is removed the opposition wants elections to be held in Syria. The Army of Islam, which has been fighting against government forces and members of the Islamic State group mostly in the suburbs of Damascus, has been accused of human rights violations in recent years. Some opposition groups blamed the Army of Islam for the December 2013 disappearance of four prominent activists, including human rights defender and lawyer Razan Zaytouni. Alloush denied these charges, calling their forced disappearance a "crime that has no legal or moral justification." He said his group had defended Zaytouni and her colleagues before their disappearance. They are, however, believed to have been abducted from an area under Army of Islam's control. One of the worst human rights violations linked to the group came late last year, when fighters forced men and women from President Assad's minority Alawite sect into cages that were displayed in public areas and markets in Damascus to be used as human shields against government airstrikes. Alloush said his group had nothing to do with the incident, saying angry residents stormed a jail and put some people in two or three cages. He added that nearly two hours later the Army of Islam forced those people free the detainees. "Those who did it violated the law," Alloush said. Chief negotiator for the main Syrian opposition body, Army of Islam, Mohammed Alloush attends a press conference after Syrian peace talks, at the President Wilson hotel in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Feb.3, 2016. U.N. Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura announced Wednesday there would be a "temporary pause" in the indirect peace talks between the government and opposition, saying the process will resume Feb. 25. (Martial Trezzini/ Keystone via AP) Ai Weiwei wraps Zodiac Heads to protest migrants' condition PRAGUE (AP) In a protest about the plight of migrants coming to Europe, Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has wrapped golden thermal blankets around his bronze animal heads meant to recreate the traditional Chinese zodiac. The series of 12 massive, open-mouthed bronze animal heads known as the Zodiac Heads are on display in front the National Gallery's Trade Fair Palace in Prague. They are part of an exhibition, officially opening late Friday, to mark the gallery's 220th anniversary. Ai describes his display as "a gesture...in defending the dignity of the refugees." Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei poses for a photograph standing next to his 12 sculptures installation called Zodiac placed in front of the National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Ai Weiwei has wrapped with thermal blankets his bronze animal heads meant to recreate the traditional Chinese zodiac to protest the situation of the migrants coming to Europe. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) The heads has been displayed in New York City and elsewhere, but Aid Ai says it's his first time to see it due to various travel restrictions. Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei poses for a photograph standing next to his 12 sculptures installation called Zodiac placed in front of the National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Ai Weiwei has wrapped with thermal blankets his bronze animal heads meant to recreate the traditional Chinese zodiac to protest the situation of the migrants coming to Europe. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) A woman walks her dogs near the twelve sculptures installation called Zodiac by Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei in front of the National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Ai Weiwei has wrapped his bronze animal heads with thermal blankets meant to recreate the traditional Chinese zodiac to protest the situation of the migrants coming to Europe. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei, center, poses for a photograph standing next to his 12 sculptures installation called Zodiac placed in front of the National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Ai Weiwei has wrapped with thermal blankets his bronze animal heads meant to recreate the traditional Chinese zodiac to protest the situation of the migrants coming to Europe. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) National parks face $12 billion backlog for maintenance work WASHINGTON (AP) The National Park Service is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, but the system faces a multibillion dollar maintenance backlog that officials say is no cause for rejoicing. Long-delayed projects range from replacing water works at the Grand Canyon to making sure the Jefferson Memorial doesn't sink into the Tidal Basin to improving roads at Yosemite National Park. The bill for deferred work is nearly $12 billion nationwide a $440 million increase over last year. About half the total is for road work. The remainder is for buildings, campgrounds, trails and infrastructure such as water systems and wastewater treatment. FILE - In this June 2, 2013 file photo, the Jefferson Memorial is seen from the Washington Monument in Washington. As the National Park Service celebrates its 100th anniversary, it faces billions of dollars in delayed maintenance for projects ranging from replacing water works at the Grand Canyon to making sure the Jefferson Memorial doesnt sink into the Tidal Basin. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) Hoping to take advantage of the Park Service's August centennial, President Barack Obama has proposed spending $900 million over three years to reduce the backlog, with another $300 million targeted for restoration projects. Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said the annual bill for maintaining America's national parks is nearly twice as much as appropriated by Congress, with expenses growing every year. Still, Jarvis said he is encouraged that Congress seems to be getting the message after years of complaints. Lawmakers approved $547 million for maintenance in the current budget year, a $118 million increase over last year. The figure includes spending in the agency' budget and in the five-year transportation law Congress approved in December. "We have a lot yet to do, but I think everything is moving in the right direction," Jarvis said Friday, adding: "Congress has pitched in." The Park Service also hopes to expand a Centennial Challenge project that enables the agency to leverage private contributions to complete important projects that improve visitor services in the parks, Jarvis said. Congress provided $15 million for projects this year that will be matched by almost $33 million from more than 90 park partners, Jarvis said. The centennial project includes $4 million to support the "Every Kid in a Park" program that provides opportunities for children, especially 4th graders, to experience national parks. Most of the nation's 409 park sites have a piece of the maintenance backlog. Alcatraz, the former federal prison in California, has crumbling walls and deteriorating windows. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky needs to have dirt trails replaced for safety. And a historic hotel at Montana's Glacier National Park needs a new fire sprinkler system and other work. "Failure to rehabilitate this building will pose serious health and life safety threats to park visitors and park and concession employees," the Park Service said in a report to Congress detailing its budget requests. Emily Douce, a lobbyist for the National Parks Conservation Association, a nonprofit advocacy group, said spending increases approved by Congress "will add up to vital improvements for park visitors across the country." Still, lawmakers can do more, Douce said. "Congress can ensure our parks are better prepared for another century by dedicating significant funding for the Centennial Challenge program so it can continue to successfully attract outside funds that will help operate and maintain our parks," she said. ___ Complaints over sexual harassment at Cologne Carnival double BERLIN (AP) Police in Cologne say they have received more than twice the usual number of criminal complaints alleging crimes of a sexual nature during the first day of this year's street carnival. A spokeswoman for Cologne police attributes the rise to greater awareness and sensitivity following the public uproar over sexual assaults in the city on New Year's Eve. Twenty-two allegations, ranging from insults of a sexual nature to one case of rape, were filed with police Thursday and overnight. A Belgian TV reporter was groped live on camera by an unidentified person. Security checks a traditional reveler in front of a pub during the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. After a string of robberies and sexual assaults on New Year's Eve in the city that police say were committed largely by foreigners, German authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of those events during the five-day street party. ( AP Photo/Martin Meissner Last year there were 10 such criminal complaints. Police spokeswoman Dorothee Goebel said Friday that "the way people file criminal complaints has changed since New Year's Eve, and that's good." Female revelers dance in the street during the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016. After a string of robberies and sexual assaults on New Year's Eve in the city that police say were committed largely by foreigners, German authorities are keen to avoid a repeat of those events during the five-day street party. ( AP Photo/Martin Meissner The Latest: FBI agent says cell data in 'Serial' case solid BALTIMORE (AP) The Latest on a hearing for a convicted murderer seeking a new trial in a case that was examined in the podcast "Serial." (all times local): 3:30 p.m. A prosecution witness in a hearing for the convicted killer at the center of popular podcast "Serial" has testified that crucial cellphone tower data presented during the man's original trial was accurate. Adnan Syed enters Courthouse East in Baltimore prior to a hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016 in Baltimore. The hearing, scheduled to last three days before Baltimore Circuit Judge Martin Welch, is meant to determine whether Syed's conviction will be overturned and case retried. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/The Baltimore Sun via AP) WASHINGTON EXAMINER OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT FBI Special Agent Chad Fitzgerald took the stand Friday as the first prosecution witness. He told a judge that cell site data placing Adnan Syed in a park where Hae Min Lee's body was found is solid. Syed was convicted in 2000 of killing his high school girlfriend and sentenced to life in prison. Syed is asking a judge for a new trial because of questions about the cell tower date and because of allegations his original lawyer was ineffective. ___ 2:30 p.m. An attorney has told a judge that a witness who could have provided an alibi for the convicted killer at the center of the popular "Serial" podcast would have been "critical" in the man's first trial, had she been contacted by his original defense team. David Irwin said Friday that the failure of Adnan Syed's attorney to call Asia McClain to testify crippled his defense. McClain, now called Asia Chapman, testified Wednesday and Thursday in a hearing for Syed, who was convicted of killing his high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 2000. Syed's attorneys are asking for a new trial on the grounds that his counsel was ineffective by failing to contact Chapman. ___ 12:30 p.m. A librarian says there were security cameras at the library where an alibi witness said she saw murder suspect Adnan Syed during the time prosecutors said Syed's girlfriend was being killed in a case profiled in the "Serial" podcast. During a Friday hearing, Michelle Hamiel testified that there were security cameras at Baltimore's Woodlawn Public Library. However, Hamiel also said the footage was erased every month. Syed was arrested roughly six weeks after Lee was killed. An alibi witness testified earlier that she spotted Syed at the library on the day prosecutors say he killed Hae Min Lee at a different location. He was convicted in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison. Today is the third day of a hearing to determine whether Syed gets a new trial. ___ 11:45 a.m. An investigator says he located 41 possible alibi witnesses for the defendant in a murder case profiled in the podcast "Serial," but only four told him they were contacted by the original defense team for the 2000 trial. Sean Gordon testified Friday as a hearing continued for Adnan Syed, who was convicted of murdering his high school girlfriend Hae Min Lee in 2000 and sentenced to life in prison. Gordon testified that out of 83 potential alibi witnesses, he was able to reach 41. Of those, he said, only four said they were contacted by Cristina Gutierrez, Syed's original lawyer, and none were asked to testify. Deputy Attorney General Thiru Vignarajah presented memos that showed members of Gutierrez's team did, in fact, contact some witnesses on the list. Syed is asking for a new trial, arguing that his counsel was ineffective. ___ 4:30 a.m. As a hearing enters a third day for the convicted killer at the center of popular podcast "Serial," the focus of testimony has shifted away from an alibi witness toward cell tower data that defense attorneys contend was misleading. Prosecutors used cell tower data during the first trial of Adnan Syed, saying it placed him at the scene where the body of Hae Min Lee was found in 1999. Attorneys for Syed, who was convicted of killing his high school girlfriend in 2000 and is serving a life sentence, have said the data was given to a jury without a fax cover sheet warning that it referred only to outgoing calls, and any information about incoming calls is unreliable. Quieter, smaller Guantanamo as debate rages on prison's fate GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) Empty cells outnumber occupied ones. There are fewer prisoners than the assorted medical personnel to care for them. The number of hunger strikers is down to a handful. After 14 years, the detention center on the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, appears to be winding down despite opposition in Congress to President Barack Obama's intent to close the facility, which once held nearly 700 people, and confine the remaining prisoners someplace else. A military task force of 2,000 is now devoted to holding just 91 men, a number expected to drop by a third this summer. In this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, a detainee is seen in the communal area inside Camp 6 in the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. President Barack Obamas administration is working to reduce the number of men held at Guantanamo as it prepares to ask Congress to close it down. Now, with the population at its lowest level since it opened in January 2002, there are more empty cells than full ones, fewer prisoners than there are doctors, nurses and other medical personnel to care for them. (AP Photo/Ben Fox) The military this week allowed journalists inside the detention center, a cluster of camps encircled by razor wire amid the rolling hills and cactus of southeastern Cuba, for the first time since a series of recent releases brought the population below 100, the lowest number since shortly after it opened to hold suspected enemy combatants. Officials portrayed the environment as calmer, with few attacks on the Army soldiers who guard the men and fewer disciplinary problems overall, perhaps related to the fact that for many their long period of confinement is nearing an end. "I believe there is some optimism on the part of the detainees who are left here that they might be next," said Army Col. David Heath, commander of the guard force. Obama is expected later this month to submit a Guantanamo closure plan to Congress, where it is likely to encounter the same resistance that has prevented the president from making good on the vow to close the facility he made shortly after taking office. Soon, however, officials hope there may be so few prisoners that some of the opposition will melt away. The remaining prisoners include 34 who authorities have determined can be released without a security risk, most of whom are from Yemen. The U.S. won't send Yemeni prisoners to their homeland because it is too unstable and it must find other countries to take them. Lee Wolosky, the State Department's special envoy for Guantanamo Closure, said in January that it was expected to be done by the summer. The remaining 57 pose a more complex challenge. Some cannot be charged because there is insufficient evidence against them or what there is has been tainted by their treatment in custody. Some were either designated for prosecution or for indefinite detention under the international laws of war. Seven of those in custody are in the early stages of trial by military commission, including the five men accused of planning and aiding the Sept. 11 terrorist attack, and three have been convicted and are serving sentences. But military commissions have proven to be grindingly slow so the government is looking at "alternative dispositions" that would include transferring them overseas for prosecution in another country, according to an administration official. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to discuss internal matters, declined to say which prisoners or where they might be sent but said they number about a dozen and would be sent to places whose citizens were victims of terrorist attacks. The Justice Department is also considering an argument by lawyers for Guantanamo prisoners that some could be charged in federal court, something that had previously not been considered legally feasible. That option would increase the number who could be charged following court rulings that limited the jurisdiction of military commissions in terrorism cases. Wells Dixon, a lawyer for a prisoner who pleaded guilty in the military commission and is awaiting a chance to testify in the slowly moving Sept. 11 case as part of a plea agreement, welcomed that approach. "I do think as a general matter that if the administration is serious about closing Guantanamo they are going to have to think creatively about options like federal court prosecutions," he said. The administration official said that through a combination of measures they could reduce the number of prisoners currently held at Guantanamo to an "irreducible number," that could be small enough to make their presence in the United States acceptable to Congress. "We are looking at ultimately two dozen people who we would be looking at holding in the United States. It's a lot better than 90," the official said. At Guantanamo, which held nearly 680 prisoners at its peak in 2003 and about 245 when Obama took office, the dwindling population has made for a quieter detention center and one that is only partially being used. Half of the eight blocks in Camp 6 are being used and three of the four in Camp 5. Much of an area known as Camp Delta that used to house hundreds of prisoners is now used for administrative offices. Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command until he left the post last month, said the operating budget for the detention center is about $100 million. For now, officials at the base said there are no plans to reduce the guard force or cut back troops, though they may consolidate prisoners within the camps. "We are looking at different ways to create efficiencies here and reduce the bill for the taxpayer," Heath said. In this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, a detainee is seen going up the stairs at Camp 6 in the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. President Barack Obamas administration is working to reduce the number of men held at Guantanamo as it prepares to ask Congress to close it down. (AP Photo/Ben Fox) In this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, military guards exit an area known as Camp Delta at the Guantanamo Bay detention center, in Cuba. After 14 years, the detention center appears to be winding down despite opposition in Congress to President Barack Obamas intent to close the facility and confine the remaining prisoners someplace else. (AP Photo/Ben Fox) In this Feb. 2, 2016 photo, military personnel patrol outside Camp 6 at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After 14 years, the detention center appears to be winding down despite opposition in Congress to President Barack Obamas intent to close the facility and confine the remaining prisoners someplace else. (AP Photo/Ben Fox) This Feb. 2, 2016, photo, shows two Arabic newspapers that are provided to detainees at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After 14 years, the detention center appears to be winding down despite opposition in Congress to President Barack Obamas intent to close the facility and confine the remaining prisoners someplace else. (AP Photo/Ben Fox) DEAR DOCTOR K: I have been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. My doctor wants me to have surgery. But recently I read about a study that said not all women with this type of breast cancer even need to be treated. Can you help clear this up? DEAR READER: Ductal carcinoma in situ is a type of breast cancer. In DCIS, the cancerous cells are contained within the breast's ducts, which carry milk to the nipple, but have not invaded surrounding tissue. The standard treatment for DCIS is surgery. This might mean a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast and usually some nearby lymph nodes. Or it might be a lumpectomy, which removes only the cancerous tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it. Surgery may be followed with radiation therapy, designed to kill any possible remaining cancer cells in that breast. But a recent study suggests standard treatment may be too aggressive. The researchers studied more than 108,000 women with DCIS. The main finding of the study was that the chance of premature death in women of all ages who had DCIS was no greater than in women without DCIS. However, the chance of death from breast cancer was higher in women younger than age 35, and in African-American women, who had DCIS. Some media coverage of this study left the impression that DCIS doesn't need to be treated. In fact, all patients in the study received some form of treatment. What the study does say is that none of the treatments differed very much from one another with respect to ultimate survival. Here is the dilemma: DCIS constitutes about 20 to 25 percent of all breast cancers that are found by screening tests (usually mammograms). Under the microscope, the cancerous cells of DCIS have a similar appearance to the cells of breast cancers that are invading the breast. Even though DCIS is not invading the breast, it looks like it might do so in the future. About 50,000 to 60,000 DCIS lesions are removed each year in the United States. Yet the number of cases of invasive breast cancer has not gone down. That seems to mean that in most women who have the DCIS surgically removed, it never would have invaded the breast or spread. But in a few, it would have. The problem is, we haven't yet figured out a way to identify the relatively few DCIS tumors that will invade and spread from the larger number that won't. You and your doctor are going to have to consider your individual risk factors. If your doctor thinks that not having surgery, just closely monitoring the DCIS, is an option, you would need to decide if you are comfortable with that plan. Some men face a similar dilemma. Some prostate cancers never spread. There are pretty good, but not perfect, ways of identifying those "indolent" cancers. Often, men and their doctors choose not to remove these cancers, but just to monitor them. Fortunately, the majority of women with DCIS have an excellent prognosis. Their cancer does not spread. (Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Go to his website to send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com.) 180-year-old piano likely heard by Lincoln to play again SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) The music score, displayed on an incongruous iPad, sits above the ivory keyboard of a piano that Abraham Lincoln likely heard. Jane Hartman Irwin, an accomplished pianist who's performed with everyone from Dizzy Gillespie to Tennessee Ernie Ford, rises after a run-through of "Ben Bolt," said to be one of Lincoln's favorites while he was a lawyer. "You've got to be gentle," Irwin said, looking as though she got caught touching something she shouldn't. "You can't use full 'concert arms.'" This Feb. 1, 2016 photo shows the recently restored square grand piano Abraham Lincoln likely heard when he courted Mary Todd at Edwards Place in Springfield, Ill. Manufactured in Philadelphia about 1835, the restored 180-year-old instrument will debut Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at Edwards Place _ the citys oldest home that was owned by the husband of Mary Lincolns sister and a haunt of the future 16th president. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) Until last month, the 180-year-old instrument that's believed to have been in the Springfield parlor where Lincoln courted and later married Mary Todd hadn't been heard for decades. Persuaded enough of the Lincoln link, the Springfield Art Association raised $17,000 to restore it. It will debut Saturday night at the association's Edwards Place the city's oldest home that was a haunt of the future 16th president. "What an amazing opportunity to hear the same music Lincoln enjoyed on the actual instrument," said Erika Holst, the association's collections curator. "It's transcendent." Holst acknowledged there's no "smoking gun" in the piano's provenance, nor is there record of the legendary storyteller waxing about the piano, even if its melodies underscored the wooing of his wife in the sitting room of Ninian Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth. That home no longer stands. But family history, news articles and other evidence is strong enough to warrant the investment, Holst said. Manufactured by E.N. Scherr of Philadelphia between 1835 and 1840, the square grand piano remained in the Edwards family for decades. In 1895, Frances Todd Wallace, another sister of Mary Lincoln, said in an interview that Lincoln "liked to hear the piano, and he liked to hear us sing." It was purchased by the state in the 1920s and later went to the National Park Service, which donated it to the art association in 2011. The workmanship impressed Steve Schmidt, owner of The Piano People in Champaign, who restored it. Schmidt struggled to find the correct density of felt and proper distance that each hammer should be from the strings, but the original parts vital to its music-making viability were intact. The result, he said, is a "charming little sound." But is it what Lincoln heard? "It probably sounds very similar to the way it did," Schmidt said. "There's no way to know." Hartman Irwin said she'll let the music express the "spirit of nostalgia" when she plays the instrument, which she calls "a very sweet responsibility." "He probably, countless times, was there, enjoying somebody playing it, probably standing there with his hand on it," Schmidt said. "It's kind of goofy but people like that, it gives them a kind of connection." ___ Online: http://www.edwardsplace.org/ ___ Contact Political Writer John O'Connor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/john-oconnor. In this Feb. 1, 2016 photo, pianist Jane Hartman Irwin sits at a recently restored piano with an iPad displaying "Ben Bolt," said to be one of Abraham Lincoln's favorites while he was a lawyer, at Edwards Place in Springfield, Ill. The 180-year-old instrument, thats believed to have been in the Springfield parlor where Lincoln courted and later married Mary Todd, will debut Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at Edwards Place _ the citys oldest home that was owned by the husband of Mary Lincolns sister and a haunt of the future 16th president. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) This Feb. 1, 2016 photo shows the recently restored square grand piano Abraham Lincoln likely heard when he courted Mary Todd at Edwards Place in Springfield, Ill. Manufactured in Philadelphia about 1835, the restored 180-year-old instrument will debut Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at Edwards Place _ the citys oldest home that was owned by the husband of Mary Lincolns sister and a haunt of the future 16th president. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) In this Feb. 1, 2016 photo, Erika Holst, curator for the Springfield Art Association, shows off the sound board of a recently restored square grand piano that Abraham Lincoln likely heard when he courted Mary Todd, in Springfield, Ill. The association raised $17,000 to restore the 180-year-old instrument that will be played for the first time in decades in a benefit concert Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 at the association's Edwards Place _ Springfields oldest home that was owned by the husband of Mary Lincolns sister and a haunt of the future 16th president. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman) John Scofield goes back to the future on Grammy-nominated CD NEW YORK (AP) Jazz guitarist John Scofield went back to the future on his Grammy-nominated CD "Past Present," reuniting members of his acclaimed quartet from the early 1990s to play his new compositions. Though nominated twice before, the 64-year-old Scofield has never won a Grammy. But at the Feb. 15 awards ceremony in Los Angeles, he's up for two Grammys for best jazz instrumental album and best improvised jazz solo for the CD's title track, which the guitarist describes as "futuristic blues." Scofield credits his wife and manager, Susan, for coming up with the album's title, which he says has multiple meanings. FILE - In this July 14, 2009 file photo, American jazz guitarist and composer John Scofield performs on the Miles Davis Hall stage during the 43rd Montreux Jazz Festival in Montreux, Switzerland. Scofield is nominated for two Grammys for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for the CD's title track, which the guitarist describes as "a futuristic blues." (AP Photo/Keystone/Dominic Favre, File) Most of the compositions were written when Scofield's son, Evan, a writer and poet, returned to the family's home in Katonah, New York, while undergoing treatment for sarcoma, a cancer that claimed his life at age 26 in 2013. The soul-jazz "Get Proud" and the breezy "Enjoy the Future!" take their titles from his son's favorite catchphrases. The mid-tempo ballad "Mr. Puffy" refers to a humorous nickname Evan used to describe his bloated appearance after chemotherapy. "He's in the past but he's always present with me," said Scofield. "I feel his essence because he's a part of me." To play his compositions Scofield reassembled his mostly acoustic quartet featuring tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano and drummer Bill Stewart, which combined post-bop jazz with blues, funk and R&B, a departure from his electronic jazz-funk fusion groups of the 1980s. Bassist Larry Grenadier replaced Dennis Irwin, who died of cancer in 2008. "We do have this shared past, but it doesn't feel like retro to me," Scofield said in a telephone interview. "It's very much in the present when we play together. We're playing the same kind of music we were trying to play back then but we've gotten better at it." Scofield and Lovano first got together in the early 1970s when they were students at Boston's Berklee College of Music. The guitarist likened playing with Lovano to his feeling when performing with Miles Davis from 1982-85, calling it "music communication on the highest level." "John plays with a lot of feeling, he's soulful, funky and it's happening," said Lovano. "He's one of the most swinging accompanists on guitar in the rhythm section. ... But he's also a front-line player playing the melody. It's like playing with another horn player." Scofield has performed with Grateful Dead electric bassist Phil Lesh, the Southern rock band Government Mule and the avant-jazz-funk jam band Medeski, Martin & Wood as well as his own groups. His eclectic tastes are reflected on "Past Present" through compositions with catchy melodies reflecting his affinity for pop music that each have a distinctive flavor yet remain jazz. The opener "Slinky" is funky but its 5/4 rhythm references the Dave Brubeck Quartet's classic "Take Five." ''Chap Dance" is an Americana melody that Scofield says was inspired by the "faux Western music" of the Broadway musical "Oklahoma!" It presages his next recording that will feature jazz versions of country hits, from George Jones' "Just a Girl I Used to Know" to Shania Twain's "You're Still the One." Scofield says the title "Past Present" also has a deeper meaning reflecting the essence of jazz: "We have to be absolutely in the present in order to have the music be spontaneous and feel like jazz, but everything we play is rooted in the past because it's a shared language and you have to know the music's history." ___ Online: www.johnscofield.com ___ Life in prison for man who shot wife, put photo on Facebook MIAMI (AP) A Florida man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his wife eight times during an argument, a slaying that gained international notoriety after he posted a photo of her bloody body on Facebook. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Yvonne Colodny imposed the maximum possible sentence on Derek Medina, 33, for the August 2013 killing of 27-year-old Jennifer Alfonso at their South Miami home. According to trial testimony, Medina told police he shot his wife during an altercation in which she threatened him with a knife but jurors didn't buy his self-defense claim. In a recorded statement to police, Medina admitted to taking a cellphone photo of his dead wife's body and uploading it on Facebook. He wrote in a posting that said he expected to go to prison but was forced to kill Alfonso following years of physical abuse. Derek Medina appears in court during his sentencing in Miami on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Medina, 33, was given life in prison for fatally shooting his wife, Jennifer Alfonso, eight times during an argument in August 2013, a slaying that gained international notoriety after he posted a photo of her bloody body on Facebook. (Walter Michot/The Miami Herald via AP, Pool) Colodny told Medina that in the posting "you foretold your future. You wrote on Facebook that 'I am going to prison.' And that is where you will be going." Medina had faced between 25 years and life behind bars and is not eligible for parole. Prosecution evidence showed that Medina had vowed to kill Alfonso if she tried to leave him, which she told friends she planned to do. Prosecutors said that at 6 feet and about 200 pounds, Medina could have easily overpowered his 5-foot-6 wife without shooting her. Assistant State Attorney Scott Dunn said evidence showed that Alfonso tried to defend herself but was "cornered like an animal" in their small kitchen by Medina. Adding to the brutality of the crime, he said, was the callousness Medina showed in posting the Facebook photo. "It wasn't enough that he had to take an innocent person's life. He had to make a spectacle out of it," Dunn said. Several Alfonso family members urged the judge to impose the maximum prison sentence. "She wasn't just a body on the floor to be discovered. She was a wonderful, amazing person. She had so much to give, and now that's gone," said the victim's mother, Carolyn Knox. Medina spoke briefly, in a rambling statement that in part urged President Barack Obama to fight corruption. He also vowed to fight his conviction through appeals. "I didn't get a fair trial," he told the judge. "God knows the truth, and nothing further." Trial testimony showed that the couple began fighting in their upstairs bedroom because Medina had failed to wake up his wife early that morning to watch a movie, as he had promised. Investigators testified that Alfonso threw mascara containers and towels at Medina, who pointed a gun at her in the bedroom but did not fire. Later, the altercation continued in the downstairs kitchen, with some of it captured on one of the home's interior surveillance cameras. Medina told police Alfonso pulled a large kitchen knife on him and that he was able to disarm her, then went back upstairs for the gun and shot his wife when she kept fighting with her fists. A medical examiner, however, testified that the eight shots were all fired downward toward Alfonso and that the position of her body on the kitchen floor indicated she had been cowering on her knees when killed. Medina also was convicted of illegally firing a weapon inside a dwelling and with child neglect because Alfonso's 10-year-old daughter was in the home at the time. The girl was in an upstairs bedroom and did not witness the slaying or find her mother's body. But she was left alone for several hours while Medina went to turn himself in to police. Colodny sentenced Medina to 15 years for the weapon conviction and five years for neglect. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Medina is not eligible for parole. ___ Follow Curt Anderson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Miamicurt Carolyn Knox kisses a relative during the sentencing hearing for Derek Medina, who killed Knox's daughter, Jennifer Alfonso, in Miami on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Medina, 33, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his wife eight times during an argument in August 2013, a slaying that gained international notoriety after he posted a photo of her bloody body on Facebook. (Walter Michot/The Miami Herald via AP, Pool) Derek Medina speaks in his own behalf during his sentencing hearing in Miami on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Medina, 33, was given life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his wife, Jennifer Alfonso, eight times during an argument in August 2013, a slaying that gained international notoriety after he posted a photo of her bloody body on Facebook. (Walter Michot/The Miami Herald via AP, Pool) Derek Medina speaks to his attorney, Saam Zangeneh, at his sentencing hearing in Miami on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Medina, 33, was given life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his wife, Jennifer Alfonso, eight times during an argument in August 2013, a slaying that gained international notoriety after he posted a photo of her bloody body on Facebook. (Walter Michot/The Miami Herald via AP, Pool) Carolyn Knox speaks during the sentencing hearing for Derek Medina, who killed Knox's daughter, in Miami on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Medina, 33, was sentenced to life in prison Friday for fatally shooting his wife, Jennifer Alfonso, eight times during an argument in August 2013, a slaying that gained international notoriety after he posted a photo of her bloody body on Facebook. (Walter Michot/The Miami Herald via AP, Pool) Doctor gets 30 to life after painkiller overdose deaths LOS ANGELES (AP) A Los Angeles-area doctor convicted of second-degree murder for prescribing pain killers that killed three patients was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in prison in a landmark case that many in the medical community believe will create a chilling effect among physicians across the country. Dr. Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng received the lengthy sentence after she apologized to the families of her dead patients and others who became addicted to prescription drugs under her care. "I suffer every day from the impact and I will do everything I can to take responsibility," she said. "I have learned a very hard lesson on this that will stay with me forever." FILE - In this March 16, 2012 file photo Dr. Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng sits in a Los Angeles courtroom during her arraignment. Tseng, convicted of murder for prescribing "crazy, outrageous amounts" of painkillers that killed three patients, faces a life sentence Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, after her conviction on second-degree murder charges in a landmark case.(AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) That did little to sway Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge George Lomeli, who said Tseng wrote reckless prescriptions even after learning her patients were dying. "(She's) a person who seemingly did not care about the lives of her patients in this case but rather appeared more concerned about distributing dangerous controlled substances in an assembly line fashion so as to collect payments which amounted to her amassing several million dollars," Lomeli said. The mother of two children, 8 and 11, will be over 70 before she has a chance at release. She had asked Lomeli for a 15-year prison term. Prescription drug abuse has skyrocketed in recent years. Opioids primarily prescription painkillers and heroin were factors in more than 28,000 deaths across the U.S. in 2014, and opioid overdoses have more than quadrupled since 2000, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tseng's murder conviction has sent a message to doctors across the U.S., said Dr. Bill McCarberg, president of the Chicago-based American Academy of Pain Medicine. "Prescribers see that and they say to themselves and I say to myself, 'What did she do wrong and could that happen to me?'" McCarberg said. The reaction will leave some people in legitimate pain unable to get painkillers, a problem that already has emerged amid a crackdown on improper prescriptions, McCarberg said. "Providers are very hesitant to give any medication for pain, so they'll give a Motrin or an Advil," he said. But more hesitation among doctors may not be such a bad thing, said Larry Driver, a pain medicine and clinical ethics professor at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and president of the Texas Pain Society "It may be an opportunity to pause and reflect for a moment and think rationally about appropriate care for a patient," Driver said. He and McCarberg said they'd like to see state medical boards better police their own, rather than having cases escalate to criminal charges. Deputy District Attorney John Niedermann told jurors during Tseng's trial that the doctor prescribed "crazy, outrageous amounts of medication" to patients who didn't need the pills. Twelve of her patients died, but she was charged with just three murders because other factors were involved in the other deaths, including drugs prescribed by other doctors and a possible suicide. Defense lawyer Tracy Green has said the 46-year-old doctor had been naive to prescribe so many medications and didn't think her patients would abuse them. Tseng's patients often hid addictions to painkillers and Tseng thought she was helping ease their pain, Green said. After the sentencing, Tseng's 72-year-old mother wept outside the courtroom, saying 30 years is too much prison time. "My heart is broken," she said. The Drug Enforcement Administration says Tseng wrote more than 27,000 prescriptions over a three-year period starting in January 2007 an average of 25 a day. She operated a storefront medical clinic with her husband in the Los Angeles suburb of Rowland Heights. The first of her patients to die had received prescriptions from Tseng two days earlier for oxycodone, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the muscle-relaxer Soma, prosecutors said. Vu Nguyen, 29, of Lake Forest, Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert, and Joseph Rovero, 21, an Arizona State University student from San Ramon, died of overdoses between March and December 2009. Ogle's mother, Desiree Ogle, said her son died eight hours after getting a methadone prescription from Tseng. "She actually stopped his heart," Ogle said. "She froze time for us that day." ___ US doctor gets 30 years to life for prescription drug deaths LOS ANGELES (AP) A Los Angeles-area doctor convicted of murder for prescribing exorbitant amounts of painkillers that left a dozen patients dead was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in prison. The conviction of Dr. Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng and her long prison sentence are rare for a doctor in the U.S. Minutes before she was sentenced, Tseng apologized in court to the families of her dead patients and others who became addicted to prescription drugs under her care. FILE - In this March 16, 2012 file photo Dr. Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng sits in a Los Angeles courtroom during her arraignment. Tseng, convicted of murder for prescribing "crazy, outrageous amounts" of painkillers that killed three patients, faces a life sentence Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, after her conviction on second-degree murder charges in a landmark case.(AP Photo/Nick Ut, File) "I suffer every day from the impact and I will do everything I can to take responsibility," she said. "I have learned a very hard lesson on this that will stay with me forever." In handing down the harsh sentence, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge George Lomeli said he found it egregious that Tseng continued to write reckless prescriptions even after learning her patients were dying. "(She's) a person who seemingly did not care about the lives of her patients in this case but rather appeared more concerned about distributing dangerous controlled substances in an assembly line fashion so as to collect payments which amounted to her amassing several million dollars," Lomeli said. The mother of two children will be over 70 before she has a chance at release. Tseng had asked Lomeli for a 15-year prison term. Tseng prescribed "crazy, outrageous amounts of medication" to patients who didn't need the pills, Deputy District Attorney John Niedermann told jurors during her trial. "Something is wrong with what you're doing if your patients are dying," Niedermann said. Twelve of Tseng's patients died but she was charged with just three murders because other factors were involved in the other deaths, including drugs prescribed by other doctors and a possible suicide. Tseng's lawyer, Tracy Green, has said the 46-year-old doctor had been naive to prescribe so many medications and didn't think her patients would abuse them. Tseng's patients often hid addictions to painkillers and Tseng she thought she was helping ease their pain, she said. The powerful painkillers Tseng prescribed included oxycodone, sold as Percocet and other brand names, and hydrocodone, popularly known under the brand name Vicodin. The first of her patients to die had received prescriptions from Tseng two days earlier for oxycodone, the anti-anxiety drug Xanax and the muscle-relaxer Soma, prosecutors said. Tseng was convicted of three counts of second-degree murder and all but one of 21 drug-related counts. She was also charged with illegally writing prescriptions for two of the deceased patients and 16 other people, three of them undercover agents. Vu Nguyen, 29, of Lake Forest, Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert, and Joseph Rovero, 21, an Arizona State University student from San Ramon, died of overdoses between March and December 2009. Ogle's mother, Desiree Ogle, said after the sentencing that her son died in April 2009 eight hours after getting a methadone prescription from Tseng. "She actually stopped his heart," Ogle said, adding that she thought Tseng's lengthy prison term was appropriate. "She froze time for us that day." ___ Cruz's 2016 strategy focuses on turning out white voters PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) Ted Cruz has mapped out a path to the White House that all but ignores the explosion of minority voters in America. The Texas senator's general election strategy depends almost wholly upon maximizing turnout among millions of conservative white voters mostly evangelical Christians and the white working class who didn't participate in the last presidential contest. At the same time, Cruz's team is banking on a sharp decline in black and Hispanic support for the 2016 Democratic nominee, whoever it is, returning to voter trends before Barack Obama shook up the electorate as the nation's first black president and won an overwhelming share of support from non-white voters. FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas speaks to media in Weare, N.H. Cruz has mapped out a path to the White House that all but ignores the explosion of minority voters in America. The Texas senators general election strategy depends almost wholly upon maximizing turnout among millions of conservative white voters, mostly evangelical Christians and the white working class, who didnt participate in the last presidential contest. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) It is a strategy that defies the conventional wisdom in the GOP that says the party can win the White House again only if it appeals to political moderates and non-white voters who are becoming a greater share of the voting-age population as each day passes. "I'm an outlier," said longtime Cruz aide Jason Johnson, the chief architect of the Cruz playbook, which he concedes is not in line with modern-day Republican thinking. Yet with overwhelming confidence born from a year of studying voter trends, Johnson insists the first-term Texas senator can win the general election by motivating a coalition of his party's most reliable supporters. "It is absolutely the case that in 2012, there were a little over 2 million fewer white non-Hispanics that voted compared to 2008," Johnson said this week in an interview with The Associated Press. "They sat it out." The strategy will not be tested unless Cruz survives the long road ahead in his party's hotly contested nomination process to represent the GOP in November's general election. Still, general election viability has emerged as a major theme in the days leading up to New Hampshire's Feb. 9 primary among the leading Republican candidates. Many Washington Republicans warn that Cruz is simply too conservative to appeal to the wide swath of voters that typically decide general elections. "They are just wrong about this," said Republican operative Matthew Dowd, who served as the chief political strategist for George W. Bush. "It is about both motivation and persuasion. You can't motivate your base and at same time turn off moderates and independents." But Cruz this week repeatedly declared that his team assembled a coalition in Iowa that would translate into general election success. "We saw conservatives and evangelicals and libertarians and Reagan Democrats all coming together," he said during a town hall-style meeting at a Portsmouth Toyota dealership. "If we're going to win, if we're going to win the nomination and we're going to win the general election, we've got to bring that coalition together." "That's what it's going to take to win the general election," he said. The Cruz strategy is born by necessity. While his team notes he won 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in his 2012 Senate election in Texas, and Cruz has the potential to become the nation's first Hispanic president, hardline conservative rhetoric on illegal immigration has defined his short political career. He has promoted endorsements from far-right conservatives such as Iowa Rep. Steve King, Cruz's national campaign co-chairman who has compared immigrants in the country illegally to drug mules and livestock. GOP leaders commissioned an exhaustive report after the 2012 elections calling for candidates to adopt more welcoming tones on immigration. But a hardline stance on immigration remains popular among white voters across America who make up the majority albeit a shrinking majority of the voting-age population and tend to vote Republican. Trump's sustained popularity is based in part on such anti-immigrant rhetoric. And more than 60 percent of Republicans polled by CNN last summer said the U.S. government should focus on stopping the flow of immigrants in the country illegally and deporting those already here. About 30 percent of Democrats said the same. Johnson, Cruz's top strategist, believes that Cruz can win in November even if he earns only 30 percent of the Hispanic vote nationally a modest increase from Mitt Romney's 27 percent four years ago. And among black voters, Johnson envisions Cruz winning over roughly 10 percent, which is in line with the GOP's performance in 2000 and 2004. Cruz has no plans to back off his hardline stance on immigration. His team has determined there is no evidence that immigration policy alone is a major factor in winning over Hispanic voters. "It's not a panacea," Johnson said of immigration reform, citing internal and public polling. "Even if we had to do better than 30 percent, that wouldn't do it." Yet the country's demographic shifts have prompted some Republicans to reach the opposite conclusion and work harder to appeal to non-white voters, who by 2052 will make up a majority of the eligible voting-age population, according to a study by conducted last year by Washington think tanks representing both parties. GOP leaders such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and recently departed presidential candidate Rand Paul have spoken extensively about poverty alleviation and criminal justice reform issues that particularly resonate among black and Hispanic voters. The share of all voters nationwide who are white has dropped consistently since 1996, according to census data. Even 2004, a year in which the total number of white voters increased by more than 10 million, failed to reverse that trend. Yet Cruz's team is correct to note that millions of white voters sat out the 2012 elections. Census voting data shows about 2 million fewer white voters cast ballots in 2012 than 2008 the only time since 1996 that the total number of votes cast by a racial group has decreased from one presidential election to the next. Some Republican strategists, including Dowd, suggest the missing voters are concentrated in states that aren't likely to be contested in the general election. They argue that even if Cruz gets them to vote, they won't improve his November prospects. Cruz's team won't ignore minority voters altogether. The campaign has an African-American outreach director, and Cruz this week promised to campaign in Hispanic and African-American neighborhoods at some point. His major challenge is to drive white turnout while not completely alienating minorities. "You can't just go out and throw red meat on the table just because you know it will help turnout on one side of the equation," he said. "We're either right or wrong." ___ Associated Press News Survey Specialist Emily Swanson contributed to this report from Washington. ___ Speeches that earned Clinton millions remain a mystery MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) Hillary Clinton told voters in the latest Democratic debate there's "hardly anything you don't know about me." Just minutes later, she got tangled in a question about a part of her resume that is an enduring mystery. In the 18 months before launching her second presidential bid, Clinton gave nearly 100 paid speeches at banks, trade associations, charitable groups and private corporations. The appearances netted her $21.7 million and voters very little information about what she was telling top corporations as she prepared for her 2016 campaign. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, accompanied by, from right, Lilly Ledbetter, right, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and others, speaks during a campaign stop, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) What she said or didn't say to Wall Street banks in particular has become a significant problem for her presidential campaign, as she tries to counter the unexpected rise of Democratic rival Bernie Sanders. He's put her in awkward position of squaring her financial windfall with a frustrated electorate. Asked in the debate and not for the first time about releasing transcripts of those speeches, she said: "I will look into it. I don't know the status, but I will certainly look into it." She added, "My view on this is, look at my record." Clinton addressed a broad swath of industries, speaking to supermarket companies in Colorado, clinical pathologists in Illinois and travel agents in California, to name several. Many of the companies and trade organizations that she addressed are lobbying Congress over a variety of interests. She typically delivered an address, then answered questions from a pre-vetted interviewer. Her standard fee was $225,000, though occasionally it could range up to $400,000. "That's what they offered," said Clinton, when asked this week whether her fees were too high. Clinton defended her appearances Friday, saying she thought the speeches were "a good way to communicate" and answer questions about her experience as secretary of state. "It was a useful exercise for me, because it also enabled me to think through, kind of, where I was in the assessment of what I would do next," Clinton told MSNBC. Other than her fees, which her campaign disclosed in response to media inquiries, details about most of her closed speeches are nearly impossible to find. The Associated Press and other news organizations have asked repeatedly for transcripts, and did so again Friday after her promise to review the issue. Last month, she laughed and turned away when a reporter specifically asked for transcripts of her speeches to Goldman Sachs. "I don't think voters are interested in the transcripts of her speeches," Joel Benenson, Clinton's pollster, told reporters Friday. But it was a voter who asked about her transcripts at a town-hall event on CNN on Wednesday. AP's inquiries to the campaign about her appearances before several Wall Street banks went unanswered. Deutsche Bank, which paid Clinton $475,000 for addresses in New York and Washington, declined to comment, as did Goldman Sachs. Although many of her remarks were given to large groups, they were frequently barred to media coverage and few recordings are available online. In many instances, Clinton's contract prohibited her comments from being broadcast, transcribed or "otherwise reproduced," according a copy of one such agreement with the University of Buffalo. In a few cases, details trickled out through company blogs and trade publications. At the time, and increasingly as the months wore on, she was considered a likely prospect to run for president, despite the fact she said little to tip her hand publicly on whether she would. When she addressed the National Multifamily Housing Council in April 2013, she focused on foreign affairs, including the Arab Spring and North Korea, and domestic issues like the federal debt, and answered questions from the chairman. She deflected questions about whether she was considering a presidential run. "That is certainly a question I haven't been asked in all of 12 minutes," she cracked, according to a post on the organization's website. "I'm just returning to civilian life and getting reacquainted with something called normal life." That post has since been taken down. A reporter from the real estate blog The Real Deal was at her October 2014 speech to the annual convention of a commercial real estate women's network in Miami Beach. Clinton focused on boosting the number of women in the field and achieving parity with men. "It's so important for women like us to get out of our comfort zones and be willing to fail," she said, according to the blog. "I've done that, too, on a very large stage." Speaking to a private crowd of 10,000 real estate people in San Francisco in November 2013, Clinton "affirmed the role realty places in American culture," according to another blog post. Press was banned but participants at the conference, hosted by the National Association of Realtors, tweeted photos of her on stage. Many organizations she addressed were reluctant to share details or even confirm her attendance, in part because contracts for those kinds of speakers typically prohibit sharing that information. "I made speeches to lots of groups," Clinton said this week. "I told them what I thought. I answered questions." ___ Associated Press business writer Ken Sweet contributed to this report from New York. ___ Lord Bramall condemns Met Police's 'absurd' child sex probe Former armed forces chief Lord Bramall has launched a blistering attack on the Metropolitan Police for its handling of child sex abuse allegations against him. The 92-year-old D-Day veteran, whose home was raided by police last March while he had breakfast with his terminally ill wife, said detectives "didn't bother" to get any corroboration for the claims before launching the inquiry. And he said he was left to prove the allegations were not true. Lord Bramall criticised Scotland Yard for the way it investigated allegations against him The probe was dropped by the Met last month after an inquiry that saw him publicly named as a suspect. Lord Bramall alleged that officers did not speak to witnesses who cast doubts on the allegations against him until 10 months after he was first spoken to. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, he said that had the allegations not been so serious, he would have roared with laughter. Lord Bramall said: "Allegations had been made about me. I said, 'what are they?'. All they said was the allegation was I had abused an under-age male 40 years ago." Referring to one specific claim, he added: "Hardly, if the man's a field marshal, he's likely to choose Remembrance Sunday to have a sex party. "I just don't see how a level-headed policeman could have believed a word of it without corroboration, which he didn't bother to get. "It was I that had to prove I couldn't have done it. The same with the sex pool parties ... absurd business of the policeman saying, 'can you swim?'. And I said, 'yes, I can swim'." Lord Bramall described seeing the officer's face "light up" at this information. He was questioned as part of the Met's Operation Midland - a controversial inquiry into alleged child sex abuse and murder linked to VIPs. According to reports, that operation is on the verge of being scrapped, although Scotland Yard said on Wednesday that the probe was "ongoing". The investigation was launched in November 2014 following allegations that boys were sexually abused by a paedophile ring centred around Westminster more than 30 years ago. There were claims that sex parties were held at the exclusive Dolphin Square apartment block near the Houses of Parliament. The inquiry - which centred on allegations by a man known as "Nick" - was ratcheted up when police announced they were also looking into the alleged murder of three young boys. Scotland Yard said it would not comment on the new criticism from Lord Bramall, and in a statement last month refused to apologise for its handling of the investigation. Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan said: "I fully recognise how unpleasant it may be to be investigated by the police over allegations of historic abuse. "For a person to have their innocence publicly called into question must be appalling, and so I have every sympathy with Lord Bramall and his late wife and regret the distress they endured during this investigation." In a lengthy statement, the senior officer said police would be put off investigating claims if they had to apologise when inquiries did not end with a suspect being charged. "The Metropolitan Police accepts absolutely that we should apologise when we get things wrong, and we have not shrunk from doing so. "However, if we were to apologise whenever we investigated allegations that did not lead to a charge, we believe this would have a harmful impact on the judgments made by officers and on the confidence of the public. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange remained inside the Ecuadorian Embassy today, launching an attack against the Government for its "insulting" response to a UN working group report on his detention. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group's findings on the "arbitrary detention" of Mr Assange as "frankly ridiculous" and said the Australian was "hiding from justice". He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorian embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than three years The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement. Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful. He said comments by Mr Hammond were "beneath" the minister's stature and insulting to the UN. There had been intense interest in whether Mr Assange would leave the embassy, but it was clear he will remain inside the building as long as there is a threat of arrest. He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over a sex allegation, which he has always denied, and believes he will be taken to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited. He told the news conference that the UN Working Group's decision was legally binding, insisting there was no higher authority on whether detentions were lawful. "It is insulting for the UN to call the decision ridiculous. Those comments were beneath the stature of a foreign minister." Mr Assange said Sweden and the UK had opportunities in the past few weeks to appeal against the decision but had not taken any action, so the matter was now a "settled law". He continued: "The UK and Sweden had their opportunities to lodge appeals in the last two weeks. They did not lodge an appeal. You cannot take part in a process and then at the end of it come out with press statements saying you disagree." Comments such as those made by the Foreign Secretary were for "domestic consumption". Mr Assange said: "It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over. "It is now the task of the states of the UK and Sweden to implement the verdict. They cannot pretend to look tough." Mr Assange said the decision had strengthened the ability of the UN to deal with complex cases. He finished his comments by saying he missed his family, adding: "We have a really strong victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well." Melinda Taylor, part of Mr Assange's legal team, said the UN report made clear that the WikiLeaks founder was neither a fugitive from justice, nor could he just walk out of the embassy. She called it a "damning indictment" of the way Mr Assange has been treated and showed his willingness to co-operate with the Swedish investigation. "There is light at the end of the tunnel. We need the UK to step up to the plate so Julian can finally come out into the light." Baltasar Garzon, another member of the legal team, told the news conference: "It is imperative they (UK and Sweden) respect the decision", adding that it was "mandatory to comply". He also said it is one of the strongest decisions the Working Group has ever issued. Today Seong-Phil Hong, who heads the expert UN panel, said: "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention. "The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation." But Mr Hammond said: "I reject the decision of this Working Group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers. "Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy. "He can come out any time he chooses ... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. "This is, frankly, a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." Ms Taylor told the Press Association that the decision of whether compensation will be sought would be up to Mr Assange. On any potential amount, she said: "How do you quantify the loss of your family life? That is time you never get back." Former UN judge Jeffery Robertson QC said Sweden must now withdraw the warrant for things to proceed. He said: "He could stay in there unless the stalemate is broken. "Hopefully this judgment will require Sweden and the United Kingdom to put their heads together to comply to it and that will lead to the cancellation of the arrest warrant." He said if that does not happen, Mr Assange will be in the embassy "forever". Mr Garzon told reporters that Mr Assange's human rights have been "systematically violated" at most stages. Lawyer Jennifer Robinson said Britain "cannot uphold the law by breaking the law". "The decision has found the arbitrary detention unlawful. We hope the UK and Sweden will respect this decision," she said. Media outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been living David Cameron faces grassroots backlash over EU referendum David Cameron faced a Tory grassroots revolt over the European Union referendum, with local party chiefs complaining about his direction to MPs not to worry about their views on Brussels. The Prime Minister was accused of showing "disrespect" to party activists in a letter signed by representatives from more than 40 local Conservative associations. But in a boost to Mr Cameron, one of Margaret Thatcher's closest advisers suggested the former prime minister would have backed his proposed deal for a new relationship with Brussels. David Cameron angered local Tory party chiefs when he told MPs to ignore their opinions on the EU referendum Lord Powell of Bayswater, Mrs Thatcher's former private secretary and foreign affairs adviser, used a Sunday Times article to say that although the so-called Iron Lady might have "raged more mightily" at Brussels than Mr Cameron "she would have gone along with what is on offer, indeed negotiated something similar herself". Europe has long been a source of division with the Tory ranks and the approaching referendum has threatened to deepen the splits. The letter by local party chiefs to The Sunday Telegraph came in response to Mr Cameron's plea in the Commons for his MPs to ignore the views of their constituency associations when deciding on the EU question. "Don't take a view because of what your constituency association might say, or you're worried about a boundary review, or you think it might be advantageous this way or that way," he told MPs on Wednesday. In a letter to The Sunday Telegraph, the Conservative associations say Mr Cameron has "undermined" the goodwill that existed among loyal members and warned him: "No prime minister has a divine right to rule." The missive is signed by 44 chairmen, executives, former chairmen and Tory activists, representing 43 local party associations across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A Downing Street spokesman told the newspaper: " The PM has the greatest of respect for Conservative associations across the country. He was simply making the point that everyone should ultimately vote with their conscience." Meanwhile, speculation continued to surround the likely positions of Cabinet ministers when the referendum campaign finally gets under way. Reports suggested that employment minister Priti Patel is likely to back a Brexit, while The Sunday Telegraph claimed Mr Cameron had personally appealed to Justice Secretary Michael Gove not to join the campaign for the UK to sever ties with Brussels. The Sunday Times reported that Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, a prominent Eurosceptic expected to campaign for Brexit, had told friends Mr Cameron's deal was a "load of rubbish" which would be challenged in the European courts. The confusion in the Brexit camp deepened as a third group indicated it was considering applying to be officially designated as the main Leave campaign. Grassroots Out (Go) said it could seek the Electoral Commission designation, potentially fighting it out with Vote Leave and Leave.EU - although it has close links with that campaign. Dear Annie: My mother-in-law has a decor that was personalized for her by my husband's long-term ex-girlfriend. Every time I go to her house, it's the first thing I see and it really bothers me. The problem is, I don't feel I can say anything to her because after all, it's her house and the decorating was a gift. It's not like I can tell her, "Hey, get rid of it." The second problem is that my mother-in-law already feels that I'm a "jealous wife" due to our past conversations (which turned into arguments) when she told me about all of the things she caught her son doing with the ex and what a "cute girl" she was. It made me angry, and I said so. Any suggestions about the house decor? -- Bothered Wife Dear Bothered: Yes. Control your reaction and leave it alone. You are right that this is not your house and you have no decision-making control over what's inside. Until Mom wants to redecorate, which can be pricey, speaking up about it will only confirm her opinion that you are jealous. And she won't change anything. She might, in fact, enjoy your negative reaction. So don't give her the satisfaction. Your mother-in-law may have made an emotional investment in the ex and isn't ready to move on and accept that her son chose differently. Instead of silently fuming, try to win her over. Admire some of the decor (it will make her less attached to it as a knife to twist). Tell her how lovely her home is and that the ex did a good job. Ask Mom to help you out the next time you are shopping for a new lamp or arranging pictures on your walls. You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Dealing with diapers Dear Annie: Like the wife of "Embarrassed," I am one of many with an incontinence problem. I thought I was keeping my house and myself odor free until my daughter told me otherwise. (My sense of smell has diminished.) First of all, she should use panty liners made for this problem and change them when necessary. Change any clothing that may get wet, and thoroughly rinse and dry them before putting in the hamper. Dispose of the pads in a closable plastic bag and when it's full, place the bag in the outdoor garbage container. I no longer have the odor in my house or on my person. I was also embarrassed, but thankful my daughter told me. -- Anonymous Dear Anonymous: We heard from hundreds of incontinent readers and those who love them. Here's a sample: From New York: I have a similar problem, and I wear the newer adult diapers that are thin and look like regular underpants. No one can tell. If she's too embarrassed to buy them, her husband can do it for her. California: "Embarrassed" complained about the smell because his wife doesn't launder her undies fast enough. How about if HE does the laundry? Coping With Aging: "Embarrassed" can use a deodorizing spray like Lysol. It's not an accusation, he's just taking care of it. She may appreciate his efforts, and begin to feel more comfortable coping with her situation. He can express his love (in sickness and in health) by giving her a little practical TLC. (Annies Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Today's column is adapted from one in 2009. Email questions to anniesmailbox@creators.com or write to Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 Third St., Hermosa Beach, Calif. 90254.) Pc David Rathband's family defiant after losing High Court negligence case The family of shot Pc David Rathband remained defiant after losing a High Court negligence case against his former employer and being ordered to pay at least 100,000 costs. Mr Justice Males found that Northumbria Police was not negligent in failing to pass on a warning that gunman Raoul Moat had called 999 and threatened he was "hunting for officers". Less than nine minutes after the call Pc Rathband was alone and defenceless on a roundabout above the A1 in Newcastle when Moat blasted him twice in the face. Pc David Rathband was shot by Raoul Moat The judge said he was "desperately unlucky to be the victim of Moat's cruelty and hatred" and he was surprised he survived the attack in July 2010. But he ruled Superintendent Jo Farrell, in charge of the manhunt for the murderer that night, was not negligent by not immediately warning officers of the threat. And even if she had ordered it to be sent out, it might have been too late for Pc Rathband to act upon. Mr Justice Males said it was "well established law" that the police did not owe the public or officers a "private law duty of care" when making operational decisions, "particularly when such decisions have to be made under pressure of crime". Although this led to hardship in individual cases, it has been held to be in the public interest, he said. Issuing such a warning could have adversely affected officers' ability to protect the public throughout the force area on a busy night, the judge said. He ordered the claimants must pay the force's costs with an interim payment of 100,000 due in 21 days. The cost of the eight-day trial, which involved QC barristers on both sides, plus hundreds of hours of legal preparation, was not revealed. After the judgment was handed down at Newcastle's Moot Hall, Pc Rathband's sister Debbie Essery and his twin Darren hit out at the force. Their statement said they were "disappointed although not surprised" by the judgment. They said: "Mistakes were made, policies and procedures have been changed, that fact remains. "The arrogance and insensitivity of Northumbria Police throughout has been cruel to say the least. "The public perception appears to be that police officers are looked after by their own force, this was definitely not the case for David, he was left alone on July 4 and thereafter not only by the force he was so proud to serve but by others whom he loved too." Northumbria Police Chief Constable Steve Ashman said the judgment "emphatically" showed that Pc Rathband, who killed himself almost four years ago, was not let down. He said: "This has been a sad and difficult case for all concerned. "It was a tragic incident which occurred five-and-a-half years ago and our thoughts have always been with David and his immediate family." He added: "Moat's actions created an unprecedented situation for Northumbria Police but the judge has recognised that operational officers have to make high pressure, complex decisions in tight timescales and in doing so they must focus not only on officer safety but on the safety and welfare of the public." His predecessor Sue Sim said: "My thoughts, prayers and best wishes remain with Kath and their two children, together with the other close family members who have been affected by these terrible events. "David was acting in the best tradition of policing when he was brutally shot by Raoul Moat." Debbie Essery, sister of Pc David Rathband, reads a statement outside Newcastle Crown Court. Di Maria just wants to forget his 'sad experience' at Manchester United Angel Di Maria does not want to be reminded of his "sad experience" at Manchester United as he looks to drive Paris St Germain on to domestic and European success. The 27-year-old arrived at Old Trafford in a much-heralded 59.7m switch from Real Madrid in August 2014, but left for France last summer after 32 appearances in his one season. And Di Maria has no regrets about his 44m switch to join Laurent Blanc's squad, who are the runaway leaders of Ligue 1 and face Chelsea for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Angel di Maria (left) spent just one season at Manchester United before leaving to join Paris St Germain "Manchester United was a sad experience. Things didn't go as I had hoped. I was disappointed and it didn't help me to rise to the surface," Di Maria told L'Equipe. "Honestly, I don't even remember any more what happened and I don't want to remember. I am happy to be here and that's the most important thing." Di Maria is confident he can continue to impress for PSG, having scored eight goals in Ligue 1 and created many more alongside Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and fellow South Amercians Lucas Moura and Edinson Cavani. "Every day here I feel better and better integrated into the team, the club and the city and that's reflected in my performances," he said. Angry Assange in embassy balcony tirade over UK response to 'detention' report WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has made a rare appearance on the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy after launching an attack against the Government for its "insulting" response to a UN working group report on his detention. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond branded the working group's findings on the "arbitrary detention" of Mr Assange as "frankly ridiculous" and said the Australian was "hiding from justice". He spoke out after the UN panel had ruled Mr Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" in the embassy in London - and called for him to be paid compensation. Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Swedish and British authorities should end Mr Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement. Mr Assange spoke via Skype to a press conference in London, saying the UN report had brought a smile to his face, and insisting his detention had now been formally ruled as unlawful. He said comments by Mr Hammond were "beneath" the minister's stature and insulting to the UN. He later spoke to a crowd of his supporters from the embassy's balcony, holding up a copy of the UN report and saying he had won a "sweet victory" which the UK and Swedish authorities could not deny. "What right do the governments of the US, UK or Sweden have to deny my children their father for five and a half years," he said to cheers from a small crowd of supporters. He said he had become "tough" through what had happened to him over the past few years, but spoke of his children, saying they had nothing to do with the case. "It is time they had their father back. That will happen, one way or another." He is wanted for questioning in Sweden over a sex allegation, which he has always denied. He believes he will be taken to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited. He told the news conference that the UN Working Group's decision was legally binding, insisting there was no higher authority on whether detentions were lawful. "It is insulting for the UN to call the decision ridiculous. Those comments were beneath the stature of a foreign minister." Mr Assange said Sweden and the UK had opportunities in the past few weeks to appeal against the decision but had not taken any action, so the matter was now a "settled law". Mr Assange said: "It is the end of the road for legal arguments by the UK and Sweden. Those arguments lost and the time for an appeal is over. "It is now the task of the states of the UK and Sweden to implement the verdict. They cannot pretend to look tough." He finished his comments by saying he missed his family, adding: "We have a really strong victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well." Melinda Taylor, part of Mr Assange's legal team, said the UN report made clear that the WikiLeaks founder was neither a fugitive from justice, nor could he just walk out of the embassy. She called it a "damning indictment" of the way Mr Assange has been treated and showed his willingness to co-operate with the Swedish investigation. Baltasar Garzon, another member of the legal team, told the news conference: "It is imperative they (UK and Sweden) respect the decision", adding that it was "mandatory to comply". But Mr Hammond said: "I reject the decision of this Working Group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers. "Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy. "He can come out any time he chooses ... But he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. "This is, frankly, a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange looks out before speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London Julian Assange speaking from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where he has been living for more than three years A protester outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been living for more than three years WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange speaks from the balcony of the Ecuadorian Embassy Julian Assange speaks at a news conference at the Front Line Club in London via video link from the Ecuadorian Embassy A police officer outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been living for more than three years Italy PM asks Egypt to return body of slain student - source ROME, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi spoke to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Thursday, urging the swift return of the body of a slain Italian student who was found with cigarette burns on his body, a government source said. Renzi asked for 28-year-old Giulio Regeni's corpse, which was discovered on Wednesday on the outskirts of Cairo, to be returned "soon" to Italy and his family. He also asked for "full access by our representatives to follow the developments in the investigation first hand and find those responsible for this horrible crime and bring them to justice," the source said. Ukraine government puts on united front amid political crisis By Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets KIEV, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Three Ukrainian cabinet members who had previously tendered their resignations will now remain in their posts, the government announced on Thursday, a show of unity a day after the abrupt exit of a key minister. Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk held an emergency cabinet meeting that looked to repair the damage from the departure of Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, which had been seen as a major blow to Ukraine's fight against corruption. Abromavicius quit saying he would not become a "puppet" for corrupt vested interests, and accused a close ally of President Petro Poroshenko of trying to siphon off state funds. The move has highlighted deep divisions within the ruling coalition and prompted Ukraine's western backers to warn that the country is reneging on the reform promises it made in exchange for billions of dollars in financial aid. Yatseniuk said the government was determined not to stray from its reform drive. "Our principle is one for all and all for one. We came as a united team and we will work as a united, team," he said. "We demand ... an end to blackmail, political pressure (and) under-the-table dealings for positions of ministers, their deputies or the heads of state companies," he said. The health, agriculture and infrastructure ministers, who had also previously tendered their resignations, said they would continue to work in the cabinet provided they would be allowed to pass reform initiatives without political interference. However Abromavicius, whom Ukraine's international supporters championed as a key reformer, does not appear to have reversed his decision. Television footage of the meeting showed an empty chair next to Finance Minister Natalia Yaresko, where the economy minister would normally sit. His resignation, followed by several of his deputies, has raised concerns among local politicians that Kiev's relations with its Western backers could sour, threatening vital loan aid. AID MONEY Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Groysman earlier said Ukraine was entering a "deep political crisis" and called for a government reshuffle. The episode has shone an uncomfortable spotlight on Ukraine's efforts to tackle corruption, which the government pledged to do when it came to power after the Maidan protests in the winter of 2013/2014. "What happened is a catastrophe for the whole country," Leonid Yemets, a lawmaker with People's Front that belongs to Yatseniuk, told Reuters. "Think about it: how can we now talk with out partners in the West, with our donors, after the minister comes out and says that the deputy head of the president's faction is corrupt. Who will want to speak with us after this?" Abromavicius accused Ihor Kononenko, an ally of Poroshenko, of lobbying to get his people appointed as heads of state companies, culminating in an attempt to appoint one of his people as Abromavicius's deputy. Kononenko denied the accusations as "completely absurd", and said Abromavicius was trying to shift blame for his own failures in running the ministry. Ukraine relies on aid money from its Western backers, including the International Monetary Fund, the United States and the European Union, to stay afloat. In Washington, IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said that Abromavicius' resignation was "of concern" but mentioned no changes to Ukraine's funding program. "If the allegations that he makes in his resignation are correct, then it's obviously an indication that the anti-corruption measures that were committed to by the government are not yet working," Lagarde told a media briefing on Thursday. She added that such measures need "to be implemented and enforced rigorously, because the authorities are accountable not only to the Ukrainian people, but also to the international community." Ukraine's economy shrunk by more than 10 percent last year, dragged down by its war against pro-Russian separatists, who have taken control over a swathe of the country's eastern industrial heartland. The government is hoping the IMF will soon decide to disburse a third tranche of loans - worth $1.7 billion - which has been delayed since October. Reuters Health News Summary Following is a summary of current health news briefs. Nicaragua says detects Zika in three pregnant women Nicaragua said on Thursday it has confirmed its first three cases of Zika in pregnant women in different parts of the country, taking the total number of cases in the Central American country to 29. Government spokeswoman Rosario Murillo, who is also Nicaragua's first lady, said the women were each three to four months pregnant, and that the country was forging ahead with a fumigation program. Brazil Zika cases raise concern of virus transmission beyond mosquitoes Authorities in Brazil, where a Zika outbreak has been linked to severe birth defects, on Thursday disclosed two cases of transmission tied to blood transfusions, adding to concerns over the spread of the virus. The virus, spreading quickly across Latin America and the Caribbean, is usually transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. Brazil confirms Zika infection from a blood transfusion Brazilian health authorities confirmed on Thursday a case of transmission of Zika through a transfusion of blood from a donor who had been infected with the mosquito-borne virus that is spreading rapidly through the Americas. The health department of Campinas, an industrial city near Sao Paulo, said a man with gunshot wounds became infected with Zika after multiple blood transfusions in April 2015. Officials said they determined that one of the people whose donated blood was used in the transfusion had been infected with Zika. Tanning salon users may have more mood, body issues Women who use indoor tanning salons are more likely to have mood or body issues than the average person, suggests new research. Compared to the general population, women who reported tanning at least 10 times in the last year were more likely to be obsessed with real or imaginary flaws in their appearance, to have episodes of depression related to changes in seasons and to have high stress levels. Michigan emails show officials knew of Flint water disease risk Emails between Michigan state officials show they knew about an uptick in Legionnaires disease and that it could be linked to problems with Flint water many months before Governor Rick Snyder said he received information of the outbreak. Snyder said in January that he had just learned about the rise in Legionnaires cases. However, emails obtained by the liberal group Progress Michigan and released to reporters on Thursday show Snyder's principal adviser, Harvey Hollins, was made aware of the outbreak and a possible link to the use of Flint River water last March. Exclusive: Top airlines offer to re-assign crew from Zika-hit routes Major U.S. airlines United, Delta and American and Europe's Lufthansa and Air France are offering to re-assign certain flight crew concerned about contracting the Zika virus from routes to affected countries. The previously unreported policies by the U.S. airlines show how the mosquito-borne virus, linked to thousands of birth defects in Brazil, looms as an issue not just for airline passengers but for flight attendants and pilots as well. Many cancer survivors face increased risk of heart disease Many adult cancer survivors face an increased risk of heart disease, worsening their long-term survival odds beyond the effect of tumors alone, a U.S. study suggests. In a study of about 110,000 people, survivors of certain cancers - including tumors in the lung, ovaries, bone marrow and lymph system - had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease than individuals with no history of malignancies, the study found. Lab criticized as slow to act in fatal French drug trial An initial inquiry into a clinical drug trial that left one person dead and five others hospitalized in France last month found that the laboratory conducting the tests was slow to react when the first patient fell ill. A full investigation aimed at identifying the exact causes is expected by end-March, French Health Minister Marisol Touraine said on Thursday. Shkreli laughs off questions from lawmakers, calls them 'imbeciles' Former drug executive Martin Shkreli laughed off questions about drug prices and tweeted that lawmakers were imbeciles on Thursday, when he appeared at a U.S. congressional hearing against his will. Shkreli, 32, sparked outrage last year among patients, medical societies and Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton after his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, raised the price of 62-year-old Daraprim by more than 5,000 percent to $750 a pill. Bowing to pressure, FDA to reform painkiller approval process Canada to move cautiously on lifting Iran sanctions - Trudeau By Nia Williams CALGARY, Alberta, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Canada will not rush to lift sanctions against Iran, despite calls to scrap the measures quickly so Canadian companies can compete for contracts, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday. Last week, Canada confirmed for the first time that it is planning to lift sanctions against Tehran, and said companies like aircraft maker Bombardier Inc should be allowed to export there. The United States, the European Union and other major nations have already lifted some of their punitive measures following a deal struck last month between Iran and world powers, in which the Islamic Republic agreed to scale back its atomic energy program. Speaking to reporters in Calgary, where earlier in the day he met with oil industry leaders, Trudeau said the deal had helped dampen Iran's nuclear capabilities but there were still significant concerns around what he called the country's state sponsorship of terrorism and abuse of human rights. "We're going to be very careful and thoughtful, working and coordinating with our allies in the way that we move to reengage and lift sanctions on Iran," he said. "We're going to be responsible about it. I understand the need and interest in Canadian businesses ... to engage but we're going to be doing it the right way because that's what Canadians expect of us," he said. Oklahoma ex-patrolman to be arraigned for traffic-stop sexual assaults OKLAHOMA CITY, Feb 4 (Reuters) - An Oklahoma judge on Thursday allowed a case to proceed against a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol officer accused of pulling over three women at separate traffic stops and sexually assaulting them, a legal official said. Eric Roberts, 43, is set to be arraigned on Tuesday at a court in Sapulpa, southwest of Tulsa, on 11 criminal counts including sexual battery, indecent exposure, rape by instrumentation and second degree rape, the official said. During a hearing on Thursday, District Judge Douglas Golden dismissed a defense motion to quash the charges due to procedural matters. Roberts has previously pleaded not guilty to all the charges and denied the accusations. The case comes weeks after a former Oklahoma City officer convicted of raping four women and sexually assaulting several others while on duty was sentenced to 263 consecutive years in prison, the maximum allowable sentence. Roberts was suspended in July 2014 after a woman filed a federal lawsuit claiming the patrolman raped her during a traffic stop. Two more women later made similar allegations. Roberts resigned from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in September 2014. The federal lawsuit claimed Roberts pulled the woman over and began asking her a series of sexual questions. He later drove her to a remote location while forcing her to watch a pornographic video on a cell phone. He then raped her, discarded a condom and used bottled water purchased along the way to clean himself, the suit said. The next day, the woman reported the incident to Oklahoma Highway Patrol, which investigated. They went to the scene of the reported assault and a condom was recovered, the suit said. Unreliable phone data helped convict Maryland man in 'Serial' case - expert By Donna Owens BALTIMORE, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The murder conviction of a Baltimore man that was explored by the 2014 podcast "Serial" was based in part on unreliable cellphone data, a forensic expert testified at a court hearing on Thursday. Adnan Syed, 35, was convicted in 2000 of kidnapping and strangling his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, 18, and is serving a life sentence. He is seeking a retrial based on new evidence about his case amid questions about the fairness of his conviction raised by the podcast. Gerald Grant, a communications forensics expert, testified in Baltimore City Circuit Court that jurors should have been told that AT&T cellphone records used to place Syed at the site where Lee's body was buried were flawed. The AT&T engineer who testified in the original trial was not aware that outgoing phone calls were reliable but incoming calls were not, he said. A sheet accompanying the faxed records included that disclaimer but was misplaced or overlooked. "There were instructions that should have been followed," Grant, who examined the case's evidence and files, said under questioning from C. Justin Brown, Syed's lawyer. The engineer in the original trial has filed an affidavit saying that if he had known about the disclaimer, his findings might have been different Grant said during the second day of the three-day hearing that Syed's case was among the first to include cellphone location technology. A second witness, Asia McClain Chapman, a high school classmate of Syed's, testified that he was calm when she met him at a library the day on which Lee later was reported to have gone missing. She said she was never contacted to provide a possible alibi at his trial. Prosecutor Thiru Vignarajah pressed McClain Chapman about her recollections and focused on letters she wrote Syed after his arrest. In one, she wrote, "I have reason to believe in your innocence." McClain Chapman also denied that Syed had helped McClain write a second letter which contained details of the case. Lee's slaying was the subject of "Serial" which began in October 2014 and was released by Chicago public radio station WBEZ. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals returned the case to Baltimore City Circuit Court last year for post-conviction proceedings. Snowy Zhou, a Chinese transplant residing in California, has been searching for her missing daughter since last summer. After hiring a private investigator, Zhou found her daughter, Jessica Tsao, at the Burleigh County Detention Center. Zhou says it feels like her daughter is trapped in a living hell locked behind the bars in a jail cell and floundering in a prison system ill-equipped to handle mental illness. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in April at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, Calif., Tsao is plagued by delusions and voices that tell her everyone is against her, according to Zhou. Tsao, 29, who has been in jail since Aug. 29 for not returning a rental car from her home state of California, is scheduled to get a mental health assessment within the next month to determine whether she is competent to stand trial. Getting that evaluation done and it has been delayed is key to getting help, said Bismarck attorney Tom Dickson, who is representing Zhou in her daughter's case. Her case is not singular. Burleigh County Detention Center officials are looking at the wait times for mental health evaluations which can be lengthy, said Maj. Steve Hall. The jail's most recent data show that during a five-month period in 2015, 33 percent of inmates self-diagnosed that they needed further mental health screening, Hall said. The county jail was approved for a $150,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice last week to help officials identify alternatives to incarceration for those with mental health and addiction issues. Hall said that money would be used to gather statistics to show whether the jail has a problem with incarcerating mentally ill individuals and determine the extent of the situation. "Theres a prevalence of mental health individuals being housed in the county jail, and were looking at alternatives to incarceration," he said. A long road not home In July, Tsao left her familys home in San Jose, Calif., and drove to North Dakota after the death of her father. She used a credit card for the car and drove to Bismarck, where she had lunch at the Ramada hotel and was unable to pay for her bill. When police were called, Tsao was arrested for stealing the rental car and jailed at the Burleigh County Detention Center. Tsao may have taken the 1,600-mile trip to Bismarck because she was heading to Lincoln, Neb., where she grew up, Zhou said. Zhou said her daughter is sick and needs help. At this point, without medication, her daughter's paranoia extends to her mother: She refuses to speak to Zhou. Attempts by a Bismarck Tribune reporter to speak with her also were rejected. "Sometimes, I feel helpless, Zhou said. "I want to help my daughter. Finding Tsao Around the time Tsao disappeared after her father's death, Mary Lin, a lawyer in the Bay Area in California, said she was helping Zhou with estate planning, helping to transfer wealth and assets after her husband died. I remember there was no word for months and months, and we werent sure if she was alive or dead, Lin said of Tsao. Under her mental condition, her daughter just thinks that Snowy, like everyone else in the world, is against her, said Lin, who speaks Mandarin and is serving as a translator as she helps Zhou gather medical documents to aid in Tsao's defense. Rerouting a case Lin sought out Dickson, who is representing Zhou. Tsao, whose bail was set at $1,000, has been assigned Kent Morrow as her public defender. Dickson, who met Zhou around the time of her daughter's preliminary hearing in October, said he and Zhou requested the states attorneys office to file a petition for involuntary commitment so a mental evaluation could be done. We need an evaluation because the criminal process takes too long, Dickson said. We need sort of a baseline of where she is because we dont know if shes capable of pleading guilty or not guilty. Initially, the judge ordered a mental health evaluation for Dec. 8 at the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown. That did not happen, and Dickson said the assessment has been rescheduled for March 23. Dickson said he successfully found another agency to do the evaluation: West Central Human Service Center in Bismarck agreed to do an earlier assessment, which is to be conducted within a month. That process was approved late last week. While Assistant States Attorney Justin Schwarz said he's not sure why the evaluation was moved from December to March, but agrees an earlier evaluation would be beneficial. The sooner we get that done, the better, Schwarz said. We arent seeking a delay of it for any reason. Morrow said he's had difficulty speaking to Tsao, who initially refused to meet with him or anyone else. "There appears to be some apparent mental illness, but we need a professional to make that determination," Morrow said. Backlog of evaluations The North Dakota State Hospital is seeing a backlog in mental health evaluations called a competency criminal responsibility evaluation as there is a shortage of staff available to conduct them, said Rosalie Etherington, hospital superintendent, who added that the turnaround time for the process is usually within three weeks. During that time, the hospital would need to receive criminal and medical records, including a police report, victim statement and hospitalization records, she said. If the hospital doesn't get the needed records before the scheduled evaluation, Etherington said the evaluation would be canceled or delayed. Etherington said this situation is rare, though, citing only two times in the past year and a half when the hospital had an evaluation scheduled and then canceled and deferred it to another time. "We generally have a staff of five forensic psychologists working on these ... but we are down two staff," she said. Because of this, the hospital's wait time is 60 days, which Etherington describes as "fairly atypical." Etherington said, two weeks ago, other hospital psychologists have been taking on additional evaluations to make up for the shortage. "We've actually started taking some of our other psychologists that are on staff, that are generally our clinical psychologists, and they fill in when needed," she said. The hospital also hired two temporary, part-time, contracted psychologists staff members to assist, she said. Holed up in Ecuador's embassy, WikiLeaks' Assange to win support from U.N. panel By Guy Faulconbridge LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid a rape investigation, was detained arbritarily in contravention of international law, a U.N. panel will rule on Friday. Assange, who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, appealed to the panel saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. The former computer hacker denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Britain said it had never arbitrarily detained Assange and that the Australian had voluntarily avoided arrest by jumping bail to flee to the embassy. But the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in Assange's favour, Sweden said. "Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," Assange, 44, said in a short statement posted on Twitter. He had said that if he lost the appeal then he would leave his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, though Britain said he would be arrested and extradited to Sweden as soon as he stepped outside. The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with his leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. STEPPING OUT? While the ruling - which will be published on Friday - may draw attention to Assange's fate, it is unlikely to immediately affect the current investigations against him. "We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," a British government spokeswoman said. Swedish prosecutors said the U.N. decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A U.S. Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was unclear what impact "a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on the situation." "But, you know, but he's facing serious charges inside of Sweden," Earnest said. Assange said that he had been deprived of fundamental liberties including access to sunlight and fresh air, adequate medical facilities and legal and procedural security. China calls for crackdown on illegal fundraising platforms SHANGHAI, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Beijing has called on local authorities to crack down on illegal fundraising platforms after China's largest online peer-to-peer (P2P) lender was found to have collected more than 50 billion yuan ($7.6 billion) for fake investment projects. The State Council said on its website late on Thursday that strict precautions must be taken to prevent future illegal fundraising cases, and that the government would work to educate the public better about such financial risks. Detained executives from the parent company of Ezubao, once China's biggest P2P lending platform, have said the firm was a Ponzi scheme that advertised products promising annual returns of up to 14 percent, attracting 50 billion yuan from more than 900,000 investors. The case has underscored the risks created by China's fast-growing $2.6 trillion wealth management product industry. Many products are sold through loosely regulated channels, including online financial investment platforms and privately run exchanges. Poland - Factors to Watch Feb 5 Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour): CAMERON British Prime Minister David Cameron will meet on Friday his Polish counterpart Beata Szydlo in Warsaw to discuss Poland's role in the debate on Britain's future in the European Union, Polish government spokesman told private internet radio Wnet. RETAIL TAX Polish retailers will protest in Warsaw next week against the retail tax Law and Justice's (PiS) government is planning to impose on the sector, Rzeczpospolita daily reported. CHILD BENEFIT Central bank governor Marek Belka told TVP Info that the child benefit program 500 plus will support the economy growth, PAP news agency reported. MCI Czech private equity fund Rockaway Capital will pay 325 million zlotys ($68.35 million) for Invia.pl, the company which owns travelplanet.pl portal, Puls Biznesu daily reported. 80 percent of Invia belongs to Polish MCI fund. FX RESERVES The central bank will publish January foreign exchange reserves data at 1300 GMT. ORANGE The Polish unit of the French telecoms group Orange said on Thursday that Jean-Francois Fallacher will replace Bruno Duthoit as the chief executive of Poland's Orange as of May 1. ****Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** PRESS DIGEST - Bulgaria - Feb 5 SOFIA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - These are some of the main stories in Bulgarian newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. -- The European Commission forecast economic growth of 1.5 percent this year for Bulgaria on expectations for smaller inflows if EU funds in the beginning of the new programme period. (Trud, Standart, Sega, Capital Daily, 24 Chasa) -- Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said that the European Union should close its borders temporarily for migrants until it comes up with a comprehensive plan on how to deal with asylum seekers and other migrants already in it. (Trud, Standart, 24 Chasa) -- Bulgaria will nominate its candidate to head the United Nations by the end of March, Prime Minister Boiko Borisov said. (Capital Daily, Standart, 24 Chasa) PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - FEB 5 MOSCOW, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. VEDOMOSTI www.vedomosti.ru - The combined impact of anti-Russian sanctions and low oil prices could cost Russia up to $600 billion, analysts say. - Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of Russian gas giant Gazprom, plans to develop its own gas business, a senior official of the company is quoted as saying. - Russia's central bank notes a growinjg number of fake dollar and euro notes on the market after the devaluation of the rouble. - Luxury retailers working in Russia are cutting prices at the expense of their own revenues to lure customers who used to shop abroad. - The Industry Ministry is working on "ration cards" to guarantee equal access by the poor to staple foods. KOMMERSANT www.kommersant.ru - The number of Russians who view the economic situation as negative has for the first time prevailed over optimists and reached 54 percent, according to a survey by the Public Opinion fund. - Iran wants to finance the construction of new reactors at its Bushehr nuclear plant with the help of Russian credits. - Moscow's international airport Domodedovo is planning to stick to its earlier investment plans and spend up to 47 billion roubles ($607.78 million) by 2018. - Police detained two leaders of a group of bankers in Yaroslavl involved in laundering billions of roubles in the last three years. The suspected criminals could have gained up to 300 million roubles from the illegal operations, police said. RBC www.rbc.ru - Police prevented hackers from stealing about 1.5 billion roubles ($19.40 million) from Russian banks last year via a payment system registered abroad. - Pollsters forecast that the risk of mass protests could materialise in Russia in 12 or 18 months when people run out of patience due to the severe economic crisis. IZVESTIA www.izvestia.ru - Russia's Central Bank intends to oblige commercial banks to register with the Centre for Financial Certification to avert threats of cyberattacks, the number of which has grown by about 30 percent lately. - The Industry Ministry forecasts a shortage of medicines in the very near future, which will result in a sharp price hike. - Parliamentarian Sergei Obukhov has asked Finance Minister Anton Siluanov to authorise tax collectors to check the activity of U.S.-based provider of taxi services, Uber, which operates in Moscow. NEZAVISIMAYA GAZETA www.ng.ru - The success of offensive operations confucted by the Syrian army is in part due to the assistance of Russian military advisers working in the country. - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko could follow the example of his own ministers and resign, the daily writes, commenting on a possible impact of the row caused by the resignation of the economy minister this week. Syrian army, allies seize town in southern province Deraa - Al Manar, monitor BEIRUT, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Syrian government forces and allied fighters seized the town of Ataman near Deraa city on Friday, Hezbollah's Al Manar television and a Syrian monitoring group said, building on gains made last week in the southern province. The recapture from rebels of Ataman, around 3 km (2 miles) north of Deraa, came a day after dozens of air strikes believed to be carried out by Russian warplanes targeted the area, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Since Russia's intervention on its side in September, Damascus and its allies have pressed assaults throughout the west of the country, including Aleppo in the north, the coastal province Latakia and in Deraa, which lies south of Damascus and near the Jordanian border. The Syrian army and its allies, which include Lebanese group Hezbollah, have in recent days made significant advances against insurgents in Aleppo province. The Russian-backed assaults have helped derail peace talks in Geneva. A recent government gain in Deraa province was the recapture of the strategic town of Sheikh Maskin on Jan. 26, which secured army supply routes from the capital to the south. Control of Ataman, considered the northern gateway to Deraa, would allow the army to reassert control over most parts of the city. The old quarter of the city, adjoining the Jordanian border, is still under rebel control. The move also allows the army to expand its control in rebel-held areas in the eastern countryside of Deraa, where most towns have been in insurgent hands for two to three years, and could provide a more direct supply line to Deraa city. A spokesman for Liwa al-Mutaz, the main rebel group in Ataman, said there had been heavy shelling of the area. "It is the first time this happens with every weapon, (including) artillery and barrel bombs, aided by intensive Russian bombing," he said. The spokesman did not confirm Ataman's fall, saying that heavy fighting continued. U.S. and allies aim to track North Korean rocket; launch window from Monday By Jack Kim and Tim Kelly SEOUL/TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The United States has deployed missile defence systems that will work with the Japanese and South Korean militaries to track a rocket North Korea says it will launch some time over an 18-day period beginning Monday. China, the North's sole major ally but opposed to Pyongyang's nuclear programme, appealed for calm. North Korea has notified U.N. agencies it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25, triggering international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme. But it is barred under U.N. Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology. Coming so soon after North Korea's fourth nuclear test, on Jan. 6, also barred by Security Council resolutions, a rocket launch would raise concern that it plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles, giving it the capability to strike South Korea, Japan and possibly the U.S. West Coast. China has told North Korea that it does not want to see anything happen that could further raise tension, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, describing "a serious situation", after a special envoy from China visited North Korea this week. The United States has urged China to use its influence to rein in its neighbour. Speaking to President Park Geun-hye, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he hoped all parties could bear in mind the broader picture of maintaining peace and stability on the peninsula, and "calmly deal with the present situation", China's Foreign Ministry said. "The peninsula cannot be nuclearised, and cannot have war or chaos," Xi said, also repeating a call for dialogue. Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper quoted Pentagon officials as saying that fuelling of the rocket appeared to have begun.It cited satellite footage showing increased activity around the missile launch and fuel storage areas, suggesting preparations for a launch could be completed within "a number of days" at the earliest. A launch would draw fresh U.S. calls for tougher U.N. sanctions that are already under discussion in response to the nuclear test. What would likely be an indigenous three-stage rocket will be tracked closely. South Korea and Japan have put their militaries on standby to shoot down the rocket, or its parts, if they go off course and threaten to crash on their territory. "We will, as we always do, watch carefully if there's a launch, track the launch, (and) have our missile defence assets positioned and ready," U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Thursday. "We plan a lot about it. We and our close allies - the Japanese and the South Koreans - are ready for it." South Korea has said its Aegis destroyers, its Green Pine anti-ballistic missile radar and early warning and control aircraft Peace Eye are ready. A U.S. Navy spokesman confirmed the missile tracking ship USNS Howard O. Lorenzen arrived in Japan this week but declined to say if it was in response to the North's planned launch. SEARCH FOR CLUES Boosters and other parts will also be tracked as they splash into the sea, in the hope they can be retrieved and analysed for clues on Pyongyang's rocket programme. "Retrieving parts or objects from the launch vehicle are the most important part of the rocket analysis," said Markus Schiller, a rocketry expert based in Germany. North Korea said the launch would be during the morning and gave coordinates of where the boosters and payload cover would drop in the Yellow Sea off the Korean Peninsula's west coast and the Pacific to the east of the Philippines. The U.S. Navy has sonar equipment and unmanned vehicles that could be used to help recover parts, according to Navy officials. It was not clear if that equipment is in the region. North Korea last launched a long-range rocket in December 2012, sending what it described as a communications satellite into orbit. South Korea's navy retrieved the section of the first stage booster that was part of the fuel tank and one of the four steering engines that confirmed the presence of technology and materials that North Korea had not been known to possess. Analysis pointed to a launch vehicle capable of carrying a payload of about 500 kg (1,100 lb) more than 10,000 km (6,200 miles), according to South Korea. A typical nuclear warhead weighs about 300 kg, although North Korea is not believed to have been able to miniaturise a nuclear weapon to that size. Recovered parts allowed experts to conclude that the second stage booster likely used Soviet-era Scud missile technology and did not use advanced propellant, indicating the rocket was suited for satellite launch but unfit to deliver a warhead. "My guess is that if you took the rocket they used last time and put a warhead on it you probably would not be able to reach the United States," said David Wright, co-director and senior scientist at the Global Security Program of the Union of Concerned Scientists. The search for information on the North's rocket programme will not be easy. "Some of the more interesting parts, high-efficiency engines and guidance systems, are in the upper stages, and those usually fall far out to sea, at high speed into deep water," said John Schilling, an aerospace engineer. WikiLeaks' Assange calls on Sweden, Britain to allow him freedom after UN panel report By Costas Pitas and Andy Bruce LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange called on Britain and Sweden on Friday to let him freely leave the Ecuadorian embassy in London after a U.N. panel ruled he had been arbitrarily detained and should be awarded compensation. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Both Britain and Sweden denied that Assange was being deprived of freedom, noting he had entered the embassy voluntarily. Britain said it could contest the decision and that Assange would be arrested if he left the embassy. Assange, an Australian, appealed to the U.N. panel, whose decision is not binding, saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. It ruled in his favour, although the decision was not unanimous. Three of the five members on the panel supported a decision in Assange's favour, with one dissenter and one recusing herself. Brandishing a copy of the U.N. panel's decision from the balcony of the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, Assange called on Britain and Sweden to implement the ruling. "How sweet it is. This this a victory that cannot be denied," said Assange, wearing a loosened gold tie with the top button of his shirt undone "What right does this government, or the U.S. government, or the Swedish government have to deny my children their father?" he said below the yellow, blue and red Ecuadorian flag. When a heckler persistently asked whether he planned to stay for five more years in the embassy, Assange quipped: "Can someone close that person up." Assange, 44, denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the accusation is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," the group's head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. "(It) maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation." Ecuador's foreign minister, Ricardo Patino, said Assange must be allowed to go free. "What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?" he told South American broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Patino said Ecuador was analysing its next steps. NO CHANGE The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. In 2010, the group released over 90,000 secret documents on the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, followed by almost 400,000 U.S. military reports detailing operations in Iraq. Those disclosures were followed by release of millions of diplomatic cables dating back to 1973. The U.N. Working Group does not have the authority to order the release of a detainee - and Friday's ruling in unlikely to change the legal issues facing Assange - but it has considered many high-profile cases and its backing carries a moral weight that puts pressure on governments. High-profile cases submitted to the U.N. panel include that of jailed former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, an Iranian-American jailed in Iran until a prisoner swap last month. But governments have frequently brushed aside its findings such as a ruling on Myanmar's house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi in 2008, a call in 2006 for the Iraqi government not to hang former dictator Saddam Hussein, and frequent pleas for the closure of the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. "Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the Ecuadorian embassy," British foreign minister Philip Hammond said. "This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it." U.N. police base in Mali's Timbuktu retaken from Islamist militants By Adama Diarra and Tiemoko Diallo BAMAKO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Malian troops backed by U.N. helicopters stormed a U.N. police base in the city of Timbuktu and recaptured it from suspected Islamist militants who had seized it hours before on Friday, the United Nations said. Malian Defence Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly told reporters that an army commander was killed in the rescue operation as well as three of the attackers, whom he called terrorists but did not identify. A fourth assailant blew himself up while others were being sought, he added. The incident followed a series of bold attacks by al Qaeda militants in West Africa, including a hotel siege in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou last month in which 30 people including many foreigners were killed. A group of around six militants drove up to the U.N. base in the former Hotel Palmeraie at the entrance to Timbuktu at dawn and detonated a car bomb before holing up inside, security sources said. A gunbattle ensued. "It's over now," said U.N. mission spokesman Olivier Salgado. "They are now inspecting the site and looking for explosive devices." The former hotel had been taken over exclusively by a Nigerian U.N. police contingent. In an apparent lucky break for the United Nations, Salgado said the premises were empty at the time of the attack, barring a few guards, as the contingent was in the process of moving out. A military source at the site said Nigerian policemen at the site had managed to flee and were never taken hostage. Islamist militants briefly held Timbuktu, an ancient trade and cultural hub, in 2012 and other northern towns until French forces drove them out a year later. But the militants have stepped up attacks in Mali in recent months as part of a growing regional insurgency. During the invasion, Timbuktu's famous mausoleums were destroyed by Islamist jihadists and restoration work was only officially completed at the UNESCO site this week. However, residents have in recent weeks voiced concern that militants from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb known to operate in remote areas near Timbuktu are infiltrating the city. In a sign of the dangers, a Swiss missionary living in the city was kidnapped last month. "This city is infested with terrorist collaborators," a street vendor who declined to be named told a visiting Reuters reporter in late January. Poland's Kaczynski says "satisfied" after talks with Britain's Cameron WARSAW, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Poland is satisfied with the outcome of talks over a proposed EU-Britain deal with British Prime Minister David Cameron who is visiting Warsaw on Friday, head of the Polish ruling Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski said. Speaking to reporters immediately after meeting Cameron in a hotel in central Warsaw, Kaczynski said: "We have gained really very, very much, and we are satisfied." "Poland has ... gained here really very much, full safety, above all, for all those who are in Britain right now, but also that those who have children in Poland will continue to receive benefits, they may be adjusted, but they will get them anyway." Monday was Parson Weems Day. This is my designation to mark the voting in Iowa as the end of the first lying season. The Rev. Mason Locke Weems (1759-1825) is the source of the story about George Washington and the cherry tree. When asked by his father if he had cut down the tree, the young Washington confessed. "I cannot tell a lie," he said. Alas, the story itself is a lie. The truth here is immaterial. What matters is that the tale's once-wide acceptance shows how much we used to value honesty in our leaders. Now, though, they lie with abandon and, when caught, double down. You could call it the art of the deal. I have just reviewed the herculean efforts of The Washington Post's fact-checkers, limiting myself to the work they did following the GOP debates. Hands down, Donald Trump is the biggest liar of them all. (I'll get to the Democrats another time.) Trump said that "25 different (news) stories" proved he was always against the war in Iraq, stated that "almost every other country" does not grant birthright citizenship (even though about 30 do), said he hadn't sought to open a casino in Florida, denied calling Marco Rubio "Mark Zuckerberg's personal senator" and concocted a tale that the family and "girlfriends" of the 9/11 hijackers went home to Saudi Arabia where "they wanted to watch their boyfriends on television." Like his fable that "thousands" of other Muslims in New Jersey cheered the collapse of the Twin Towers, none of that happened. Neither did a correction. It would be unfair to the other liars to concentrate only on Trump. Carly Fiorina did very well indeed for a largely undercard candidate. Her most creative and passionate fib was that she had seen a video of a "fully formed fetus on the table, its heart beating, its legs kicking," about to be carved up by Planned Parenthood for sale of its body parts. It's entirely possible she was convinced she had seen something like that, but when confronted by the fact that no such tape exists, she insisted she had seen it. The woman does not have the truth in her. Chris Christie also ranks high. Mr. Tell-It-Like-It-Is insisted on saying that he was "appointed" U.S. attorney for New Jersey on Sept. 10, 2001, a momentous one day before the terrorist attacks. Actually, his nomination came Dec. 7. When fact-checkers the world over pointed this out, Christie responded by saying it again. My perusal of the fact-checkers' work indicates that Jeb Bush and John Kasich did not do their share of lying. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz had their innings and it was hard to tell if Ben Carson was lying or merely on meds. Still, no one approaches Trump. I think he would be proud. Back in the 1950s, Sen. Joseph McCarthy played the press for chumps. He lied, made false accusation after false accusation, concocted figures the number of purported communists in the State Department, for instance and newspapers printed nearly every word of it. The press felt its hands were tied. It had to publish what an important senator said. It could not label a lie as a lie. That was a determination for the reader to make. Trump has similarly played the media for chumps. For some cable networks, he is a profit center and they have often covered him live, to the point of exhaustion. The proliferation of fact-checkers missing in the McCarthy era has not made any difference. Trump, like Fiorina in particular, never even concedes a mistake. He saw Muslims cheering in Jersey City on Sept. 11. She saw a fetus, alive and literarily kicking. Politics is not beanbag, we are incessantly told. I get the point, even though I am not sure what beanbag is. And I know also that lying is very American. It is the basis for advertising after all, one product is often little different than another. Even as a kid, I never fell for that bit about George Washington and the cherry tree. But as an adult, I have come to value its larger message: Honesty is a virtue and lying is a vice. It is not news to me that politicians sometimes lie, but the frequency and blatancy of it in this election cycle are really astounding. This time, it's not the media that are being played for chumps. It's the American people. (Richard Cohen writes for the Washington Post. His syndicated column appears Fridays.) Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric suspends weekly political sermons BAGHDAD, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric said on Friday he would no longer deliver regular weekly sermons about political affairs, which for years have been a source of guidance for Iraqi politicians and his millions of followers. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani did not give a reason for suspending the sermons, which have lately focused on the government's battle against Islamic State militants and anti-corruption efforts. "It has been decided not to continue this on a weekly basis at the present time, but only as demanded by events", Sistani's aide Ahmed al-Safi, who delivered the message, said in a televised speech from the southern shrine city of Kerbala before reciting a prayer. Sistani, a reclusive octogenarian, enjoys almost mythical status among millions of Shi'ite followers and wields authority that few Iraqi politicians would openly challenge. His political sermons have ranged over issues such as security, elections and the economy. He called in June 2014 for Iraqis to take up arms against the Sunni ultra-hardline insurgents of Islamic State after they seized nearly a third of the country's north and west. Tens of thousands of Shi'ites heeded the call. Sistani then endorsed the sidelining of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. Last summer, he called for an overhaul of Iraq's corrupt political system, emboldening Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to launch a reform campaign which Sistani later criticised as slow and ineffective. A spokesman for Sistani's office was not immediately available to comment on the decision. A sermon two weeks ago expressed frustration at inaction in solving Iraq's myriad security, political and economic challenges. "All these issues have been repeated endlessly until our voices became sore," Sistani said at the time. A Friday sermon was also broadcast live on state television from the main mosque in Ramadi, the western capital retaken from Islamic State insurgents about a month ago following a six-month siege. Abdul Lateef al-Himayim, head of Iraq's government body overseeing Sunni religious sites, thanked the security services and urged displaced people to return to their homes. More than 3.3 million Iraqis have been displaced by the fighting, most of them Sunnis. Government forces are still dismantling bombs left by Islamic State in Ramadi, the capital of the predominately Sunni province of Anbar, and much of the city's buildings and infrastructure needs to be rebuilt. New Slovakia poll shows ruling left's lead shrinks before March vote BRATISLAVA, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Slovakia's ruling leftists are slowly losing support a month before a parliamentary election and will likely not reach the outright majority it currently enjoys, a second opinion poll in a row showed on Friday. Prime Minister Robert Fico's Smer party scored 36.3 percent in the poll by the Focus agency released late on Thursday. That put Smer far ahead of its rivals but it has lost one percentage point in each of the past two months. The survey shows Smer would win 66 seats in the 150-seat parliament in the March 5 vote, and a coalition with the nationalist SNS party, its most likely ally, would have 79 seats. The newcomer centrist party Siet, which has sought to establish itself as the main opposition force, polled 13 percent after 13.2 percent a month ago. A strong result for Siet and other centre-right and ethnic Hungarian parties could lead to either a wider coalition led by Smer, a grand coalition of Siet with Smer or a wide coalition of opposition parties that would eject Smer from power. The make-up of parliament remains uncertain, however, given that several parties have been polling close to the 5 percent threshold for winning seats. The result shows the same trend as a separate poll by polling agency MVK, which reported on Thursday support for Smer fell to 32.1 percent from 40.0 percent in October. SUPPORT FOR SLOVAK PARTIES (PCT) DATE INSTITUTE Smer Siet KDH Most SNS OLaNO SaS Feb '16 Focus 36.3 13.0 7.1 7.7 7.3 6.4 5.5 Feb '16 MVK 32.1 14.6 8.2 6.0 10.1 5.9 3.4 Jan '16 Focus 37.0 13.2 7.0 7.0 7.2 6.1 5.1 Jan '16 Polis 41.0 13.8 6.0 8.0 7.9 6.0 4.2 Jan '16 MVK 34.5 14.7 8.6 6.5 10.1 5.0 3.4 Dec '15 Focus 38.4 13.4 7.4 6.6 6.3 6.4 5.3 Dec '15 Polis 40.0 13.0 7.1 8.9 8.2 6.0 4.0 Nov '15 Focus 39.0 12.9 7.7 7.0 6.0 6.6 5.2 Nov '15 Polis 40.1 12.6 7.7 7.8 8.5 6.6 4.0 Nov '15 MVK 36.0 14.9 10.1 6.7 6.8 6.6 3.7 Oct '15 Focus 39.1 12.6 7.1 7.3 6.1 6.7 5.2 Oct '15 Polis 38.5 12.4 7.6 7.7 8.0 6.8 4.7 Oct '15 MVK 40.0 8.3 10.8 6.9 7.6 4.3 3.7 ---------------------------------------------------------------- March 2012 election 44.4 --- 8.8 6.9 4.6 8.6 5.88 Time to free Assange, Ecuador says after U.N. panel decision CARACAS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange must be allowed to go free from the Ecuadorian embassy in London following a U.N. panel ruling calling for that on Friday, the South American country's Foreign Minister said. "What more do they want to be accused of before they start to rectify their error?" Ricardo Patino told regional broadcaster Telesur, in reference to Britain and Sweden. Assange, a computer hacker who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, has been holed up in the embassy since June 2012 to avoid a rape investigation in Sweden. Armed with new US money, NATO to strengthen Russia deterrence By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Backed by an increase in U.S. military spending, NATO is planning its biggest build-up in eastern Europe since the Cold War to deter Russia but will reject Polish demands for permanent bases. Worried since Russia's seizure of Crimea that Moscow could rapidly invade Poland or the Baltic states, the Western military alliance wants to bolster defences on its eastern flank without provoking the Kremlin by stationing large forces permanently. NATO defence ministers will next week begin outlining plans for a complex web of small eastern outposts, forces on rotation, regular war games and warehoused equipment ready for a rapid response force. That force includes air, maritime and special operations units of up to 40,000 personnel. The allies are also expected to offer Moscow a renewed dialogue in the NATO-Russia Council, which has not met since 2014, about improved military transparency to avoid surprise events and misunderstandings, a senior NATO diplomat said. U.S. plans for a four-fold increase in military spending in Europe to $3.4 billion in 2017 are central to the strategy, which has been shaped in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. The plans are welcomed by NATO whose chief, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, says it will mean "more troops in the eastern part of the alliance ... the pre-positioning of equipment, tanks, armoured vehicles ... more exercises and more investment in infrastructure." Such moves will reinforce the message from U.S. President Barack Obama, in a speech he delivered in Estonia in 2014, that NATO will help ensure the independence of the three Baltic states, which for decades were part of the Soviet Union. Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas openly described Russia as a threat in comments to Reuters last June, but many European countries in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are wary of upsetting the continent's biggest energy supplier. With such concerns paramount, diplomats and officials say NATO will not back requests for permanent bases by Poland, which has a history of fraught relations with Russia. "I am a great proponent of strong deterrents and to improve our resilience, but I do think that the best way to do it is to do it on a rotational basis," Dutch Defence Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert told Reuters. Stoltenberg has also said he will not be "dragged into an arms race." Russia has made clear it would regard any moves to bring NATO infrastructure closer to its borders a threat and the Kremlin has warned it would take "reciprocal steps." Western powers' relations with Russia have deteriorated over the almost two-year-old conflict in Ukraine but the West also need Russia's help in dealing with terrorism and the battle against Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. PERSISTENT, NOT PERMANENT If approved by Congress, Washington says one U.S. armoured brigade combat team's vehicles and equipment will be stored in warehouses in Germany and the east, from Bulgaria to Estonia. Moving equipment nearer a potential front is seen as crucial to be able to combat quickly Russia's surface-to-air missile batteries and anti-ship missiles in its Kaliningrad exclave that can prevent forces from entering or moving across air, land and sea. A study by the RAND Corporation, a U.S. defence think tank, found tat Russia could overrun the Baltics states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania within three days, leaving NATO and the United States no good options to respond. While avoiding a return to the Cold War when 300,000 U.S. service personnel were stationed in Europe, NATO generals describe it as a "persistent" but not a "permanent" presence, and want to adhere to a 1997 agreement with Moscow not to station substantial combat forces on the NATO-Russia border. Some diplomats say NATO's plans recall allied support for West Berlin in the 1950s, when British, French and U.S. forces ensured the Soviet Union could not control all Berlin, although this time many more countries would rotate through. "You will have small contingents in the east as a symbolic presence. It means you are not just attacking Estonia, but Britain, France or the United States," said one NATO diplomat. That drives home the commitment enshrined in NATO's founding treaty that an attack on one ally is an attack on all, meaning all 28 NATO nations would be required to respond in the case of any potential Russian aggression. "NO RAMSTEIN IN POLAND" Details of the plan are far from finalised and the defence ministers meeting next week in Brussels will seek political agreement among all allies before mapping out the strategy. Issues such as how NATO nuclear weapons in Western Europe could play into any potential conflict are extremely sensitive. Allies say there will not be permanent NATO bases in Poland or the Baltics despite strong campaigning by the new conservative Polish government. Warsaw will host the next summit of NATO leaders in July and sees offers of British and French troops for exercises as signalling a permanent presence, though diplomats deny this is the case. "There will not be another Ramstein in Poland," said one NATO diplomat, referring to a large U.S. Air Force base in southwestern Germany. Primary Health Properties bets on govt reform, to boost spending By Esha Vaish Feb 5 (Reuters) - British landlord Primary Health Properties Plc plans to invest about 100 million pounds ($145 million) annually to develop new properties over the next three years, betting on upcoming healthcare services reforms to lift growth. The London-based real estate investment trust (REIT) leases properties to general practitioners and the National Health Service (NHS), which is expected to benefit from a 6 billion pounds booster by the end of this year as promised by Finance Minister George Osborne. "The NHS is embarking on a programme of modernising its primary healthcare facilities ... We're ready to play our part in that," Managing Director Harry Hyman told Reuters on Friday, a day after the company announced full-year results. ` The UK government's move to modernise primary healthcare is expected to rejuvenate cash-strapped NHS, which is struggling with staff shortages even as demand rises from an ageing population. NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens has said he plans to make the service more efficient and offer it through the week by 2020. It is now available five days in most places. Property stocks linked with the NHS are considered stable investments as their long-term leases offer a better guarantee of payouts - a draw for investors at a time when markets are choppy due to uncertainty over a referendum to decide whether the UK will remain in the European Union. Primary Health Properties (PHP) also plans to invest 100 million-150 million euros in Ireland, where a similar modernisation of healthcare services is underway. "The Irish opportunities are attractive because funding costs are very low and yields available are substantially higher than those in the UK," Hyman said. PHP's Hyman said the new investments would help the company increase its portfolio to about 1.5 billion pounds, from 1.1 billion pounds as of Dec. 31. The company, which has a spot on London's main market, spent 44 million pounds to add eight properties last year. Its shares, which have risen 11 percent over the past year, trade at 19.6 times forward 12-month earnings. Assura Plc , its closest rival, trades at 27 times. Hotel fire in Iraqi Kurdistan kills 17, including foreigners ERBIL, Iraq, Feb 5 (Reuters) - A fire at a hotel in the capital of Iraq's Kurdistan region killed 17 people on Friday, the governor of Erbil told a local media network, and the hotel manager said they included foreigners. Governor Nawzad Hadi told Rudaw TV that 14 of the victims were not from the autonomous region, but that their nationality was not yet known. The cause of the fire was not clear, but Hadi said an electrical fault was suspected. The manager of the Capitol Hotel told Rudaw the fire had started in a massage parlour next door and that some of those killed were from the Philippines. Italian student killed in Egypt criticised Cairo govt in articles By Steve Scherer ROME, Feb 5 (Reuters) - An Italian student found dead by a roadside in Cairo with cigarette burns and other signs of torture on his body had written articles critical of the Egyptian government, according to the Italian newspaper that published them. Il Manifesto, a historic left-wing newspaper based in Rome, published Giulio Regeni's final article on Friday, written by the 28-year-old graduate student before his Jan. 25 disappearance. His body was found on Wednesday. The article describes the difficulties faced by independent unions in Egypt under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The paper ran it on the front page under the headline "The Witness". "President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi presides over the Egyptian parliament with the highest number of police and military personnel in the history of the country, and Egypt ranks among the worst offenders with respect to press freedom," Regeni wrote in the first paragraph of the story. "He feared for his safety," the newspaper said, explaining that Regeni asked to use a pseudonym on this article and on his previous articles, which were also critical of Sisi's governemnt. Regeni did not mention any specific threats. "We do not know who his assassins were or why they committed this crime," the newspaper added. "But we ask for the truth." On Thursday, the Italian Foreign Ministry "urgently" summoned the Egyptian Ambassador to express concern about the student's death, and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi telephoned Sisi, asking for a joint investigation and the swift return of his body to Italy. Regeni's corpse is due to be returned to Italy on Saturday, where it will undergo an autopsy, sources at the Foreign Ministry and in the prime minister's office said. Regeni, a postgraduate student at Britain's University of Cambridge, disappeared on the fifth anniversary of the start of the uprising that ended former leader Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule. His body was found in a ditch along the main road between Cairo and Alexandria, security officials said. Rights groups say Egyptians are often detained by police on little evidence and beaten or coerced. Scores have disappeared since 2013. Egypt denies allegations of police brutality. Although the cause of death is still unclear, Regeni's case could hurt Egypt's efforts to attract more tourism and foreign investment after years of political turmoil and Islamist militant violence. Turkey's Erdogan: Russia must be held accountable for killings in Syria -Dogan ISTANBUL, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed in Syria, saying Moscow and Damascus were together responsible for 400,000 deaths there, Dogan News Agency reported on Friday. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart while on a state visit to the West African country, Erdogan also said Russia was engaged in an invasion of Syria and accused it of trying to set up a "boutique state" for its longtime ally President Bashar al Assad. "Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders," Dogan quoted him as saying. "By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000." Turkey's Erdogan: Russia must be held accountable for killings in Syria -Dogan ISTANBUL, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed in Syria, arguing that Moscow and Damascus were together responsible for 400,000 deaths there, Dogan News Agency reported. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Senegalese counterpart while on a state visit to the West African country, Erdogan also said Russia was engaged in an invasion of Syria and accused it of trying to set up a "boutique state" for its longtime ally President Bashar al-Assad. "Russia must be held accountable for the people it has killed within Syria's borders," Dogan quoted him as saying. "By cooperating with the regime, the number of people they have killed has reached 400,000." His comments are likely to further enrage Moscow. Relations between Turkey, a NATO member, and Russia hit their worst in recent memory in November after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane Ankara said had violated Turkish airspace from Syria. The two are on opposing sides of the five-year-old Syrian civil war, where Russia's intervention with airstrikes to help the Assad regime has tipped the war in Damascus' favour, reversing gains rebels made last year. Russia has accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Ankara has dismissed this as propaganda intended to conceal Russia's own "crimes". Pope, Russian Orthodox patriarch to hold historic meeting in Cuba By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Pope Francis and the head of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in what could be a landmark step towards healing the 1,000-year-old rift between the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity. The Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate announced on Friday that Francis will stop in Cuba on Feb. 12 on his way to Mexico to hold talks with Patriarch Kirill, the first in history between a Roman Catholic pope and a Russian Orthodox patriarch. There, they will appeal for an end to persecution and killing of Christians in the Middle East, the Russian side said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has aligned himself closely with the Russian Orthodox Church, making the meeting in Cuba not just a religious event but politically charged as well, especially when Russia is at odds with the West over Ukraine and Syria. Modern popes have met in the past with the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarchs, the spiritual leaders of Eastern Orthodoxy, which split with Rome in 1054. Those patriarchs play a largely symbolic role, while the rich Russian church wields real influence because it counts some 165 million of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians. The Vatican said the leaders would hold several hours of private talks at Havana airport, deliver public speeches and sign a joint statement. The meeting was brokered by Cuban President Raul Castro, who hosted the pope in Cuba last year. The Vatican helped arrange the rapprochement between Cuba and the United States. Such a meeting eluded Francis' two immediate predecessors, Benedict and John Paul, who both tried but failed to reach agreement with Kirill and previous patriarchs to hold talks on the prospects for eventual Christian unity. CLOSER COOPERATION Russia's ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeyev, told TASS news agency the meeting showed Russia could play an important role in shaping Christianity. "In conditions of Western sanctions, the meeting of the two church leaders is a confirmation of the Christian civilisational role of Russia," Avdeyev said. Senior Orthodox cleric Metropolitan Hilarion said long-standing differences between the two churches would remain, most notably a row over the activity of the Eastern Rite Catholic church in Ukraine that is allied with Rome. Hilarion said the Ukraine dispute was "still on the agenda, and it remains an unhealed and a still bleeding sore thwarting normal relations between the two Churches". But he said it was being put aside so that Kirill and Francis could work together against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. They have often decried their oppression and killing by Islamist militants. A spokesman for The National Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate also welcomed the move. "It seems that Moscow is now looking for all opportunities to restore relations with the civilized world," Archbishop Yevstratiy Zoria told Reuters, stressing he was speaking in a personal capacity. "If the Pope manages to return the Kremlin to the fold of common sense, international law and civilized relations, let God help." The Russians had previously said outstanding differences had to be ironed out before any high-level meeting could be held. "The situation shaping up today in the Middle East, in North and Central Africa and in some other regions where extremists are carrying out a genuine genocide of the Christian population demands urgent measures and an even closer cooperation between the Christian churches," Hilarion said. "We need to put aside internal disagreements at this tragic time and join efforts to save Christians in the regions where they are subject to the most atrocious persecution." The Russian Church has accused Catholics of trying to convert people from Orthodoxy after the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, a charge the Vatican has denied. U.S. officials say North Korea may be nearing launch By David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Satellite images taken this week of North Korea's Sohae rocket launch site show apparent fueling activity seen in the past shortly before a rocket launch, a U.S. think-tank said, as U.S government officials signaled that a launch could occur as early as Monday. North Korea has told U.N. agencies it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite some time between Feb. 8 and Feb. 25, triggering international opposition from governments that see it as a long-range missile test. On Friday, U.S. government sources said U.S. intelligence agencies believed North Korea could be ready by the U.S. Super Bowl kickoff on Sunday, which will be Monday in Korea. Activity at the site was consistent with a launch in the time frame given by Pyongyang, U.S. officials said. U.S. Pacific Command said it was closely monitoring the situation and had many missile defense assets in the region that would provide "a robust defense." "No one should doubt that U.S. Pacific Command forces are prepared to protect the American homeland and defend our allies in South Korea and Japan," said Pacific Command spokesman U.S. Air Force Captain Cody Chiles. Commercial satellite images from Wednesday and Thursday show the arrival of tanker trucks at the launch pad, said Washington-based 38 North, a North Korea-monitoring project. It said the presence of the trucks likely indicated the filling of tanks within bunkers at the site rather than a rocket itself. "In the past, such activity has occurred one to two weeks prior to a launch event and would be consistent with North Korea's announced launch window," the group said. On Friday, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke by telephone with President Xi Jinping of China, North Korea's main ally and neighbor, and agreed that a North Korean launch would represent a "provocative and destabilizing action," the White House said. Obama and Xi also said they would coordinate efforts to respond to North Korea's nuclear test last month and said they would not accept North Korea as a nuclear weapon state. "The leaders emphasized the importance of a strong and united international response to North Korea's provocations, including through an impactful UN Security Council Resolution," the White House said. Washington and Beijing have appeared divided over how to respond to North Korea, with the United States urging tougher sanctions and China stressing the need for dialogue. Earlier on Friday, Xi told South Korea's president that China was dedicated to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula. The 38 North report said activity could also be seen around a building at the launch site used in the past to receive and assemble rocket stages. It said the imagery showed vehicles including one or two buses and a crane, a level of activity similar to that seen before the previous launch in 2012. The group said the images indicated no significant changes at the launch pad itself, where work platforms on the gantry towers remained folded forward. It said coverings obscured whether a space-launch vehicle was present on the pad. North Korea says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space program. But it is barred under U.N. Security Council resolutions from using ballistic missile technology. Coming so soon after North Korea's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6, a rocket launch would raise concern that it plans to fit nuclear warheads on its missiles, giving it the capability to strike South Korea, Japan and possibly the U.S. West Coast. U.S. Pacific Command said it had Aegis ballistic missile defense systems, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense batteries and the Sea-Based X-Band Radar in the region, which would work with Japanese and South Korean militaries to detect the launch. The USS Benfold, a guided-missile destroyer, arrived on Friday in Otaru, Japan, one of five U.S. destroyers equipped with Aegis ballistic missile defense systems that are girding for the potential launch, according to several sources. Ecuador sacks military top brass over questioned land deal QUITO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa on Friday said he had fired the Andean country's top military brass for allegedly overcharging the Environment Ministry by $41 million in a sale of land in 2010. The Armed Forces apparently sold 66 lots to the Environment Ministry for $48 million, but a report from the Attorney General's office this week said they were worth only $7 million. "With great pain I had to prematurely end the High Command. We will not allow anyone to manipulate soldiers or the country," Correa said on Twitter, adding he would discount $41 million from the state's annual social security contributions to the military. The military says the sale's terms were clear and has requested the government review its decision. Al Qaeda group claims kidnapping of Australians in Burkina Faso CAIRO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The militant group al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of two Australians near Burkina Faso's border with Mali on Jan. 15, according to an audio statement on Friday. The recording by the al Mourabitoun branch of AQIM, released on its official Telegram channel, also said the group had decided to release one of the captives - a woman - unconditionally. "The primary motive behind their kidnapping was an attempt to (gain) release of our captives who sit behind bars and suffer the pain of imprisonment, as well as being deprived of their basic rights," the recording stated. Dr. Ken Elliott and his wife Jocelyn, who are in their 80s, have operated a 120-bed clinic in the town of Djibo for over 40 years. They were abducted from the town as al Qaeda fighters raided a restaurant and hotel across the West African nation in the capital Ouagadougou - an attack that left dozens dead, most of them foreigners. Despite Libya urgency, hurdles to quick action against Islamic State By Phil Stewart, Warren Strobel and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - The United States and its allies are probably many weeks or even months away from launching a new military campaign against Islamic State in Libya, despite mounting concern about the group's spread there and its attacks on oil infrastructure, U.S. officials say. The Pentagon has warned in recent weeks of the dangers posed by Islamic State's growth in Libya. The U.S. is developing military options, which were discussed at an inconclusive meeting last week of President Barack Obama and his top security aides, officials said. Those options include increased air strikes, deploying U.S. special operations forces and training Libyan security forces, officials say. But the U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said enormous hurdles stand in the way of increased American military involvement. The largest is the formation of a unified Libyan government strong enough to call for and accommodate foreign military assistance. Getting some allies on board could also require a new mandate from the United Nations, they said. "We're not there yet," said one U.S. official. He and other officials with knowledge of internal deliberations cautioned that it is too soon to estimate when military action might begin, but cautioned it could take many weeks or even months. "As far as I'm aware, there is no clear intention to go ahead with the military-style action. There is a lot of thinking, a lot of thinking, a lot of planning," said a Western diplomat. U.S. and European officials describe Islamic State's presence in Libya as increasingly worrisome, although not on the scale of its rule over swaths of Iraq and Syria. Islamic State forces have attacked Libya's oil infrastructure and taken control of the city of Sirte, exploiting a power vacuum in the North African country where two rival governments have been battling for supremacy. Estimates of Islamic State fighters in Libya range from 3,000 to 5,000-6,000. Officials openly worry that the group could use its Libya haven to relieve the pressure from U.S. air strikes and local forces against its home base in Iraq and Syria. POLITICAL FOCUS FOR NOW Under a U.N.-backed plan for a political transition, Libya's two warring administrations are expected to form a unity government, but more than a month after the deal was agreed in Morocco, its implementation has been dogged by infighting. Ben Fishman, a former White House aide under Obama who dealt with Libya policy, said there is concern in the Obama administration that military action now could disrupt the government formation process. It might, he said, prompt moderate forces in Libya to back away. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chief of Staff, appeared to reference those concerns last month. "You want to take decisive military action to check ISIL's expansion and at the same time you want to do it such a way that's supportive of a long-term political process," he said. Still, Fishman said, "I think we have to do something on the ground soon, because they (Islamic State) are pretty much acting with impunity." Forming a unified Libyan government could pave the way toward Tripoli formally requesting greater international assistance. But with Libya in chaos, it would likely take a new government some time to get on its feet, officials said, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this week that the focus of the international community on Libya is political, not military. Once a government is in place, "we have indicated a willingness, along with a number of other countries, to help them secure the country," Carter said. He noted that "the Italians have indicated that they would take the lead in that, rather than the United States, which is fine with us." The U.S. military has been laying the groundwork for greater action, sending U.S. special forces into Libya to establish contact with local armed groups to get a better picture of who the international community might be able to work with. U.S. officials also say the amount of intelligence collection about Islamic State's activities in Libya has also increased in recent weeks. A Tanzanian woman was assaulted, stripped and paraded by a mob in Bangalore. Apparently, the mob mistook her for the Sudanese who had run over a local woman, and brazenly vented out its rage on the hapless 21-year-old. Whatever the catalyst(s) for this mob fury, what does this shocking incident tell us about the Indian male? Or, broadly speaking, what does it tell us about male psychology in the subcontinent? I will make a digression before I take on this question. In 2013, the deputy consul general of the Indian consulate in the United States, Devyani Khobragade was indicted and then arrested for visa fraud. The incident not only led to a diplomatic standoff between India and the US but the countrys media was up in arms. Outrage was directed at the US and charges of racism were spewed volubly by all and sundry. How the Devyani case panned out need not detain us, but what is significant here is the selective moral outrage that the incident elicited from all sections of the society. Now, if a comparison is drawn between the Khobragade incident and the one involving the hapless Tanzanian woman, what does it reflect? We are a bunch of squeamish hypocrites is the answer. Now let me address the core question that I had posed: what does the Bangalore incident tell us about the Indian/subcontinental male? Admittedly inferential, the conclusion about the typical subcontinental male that can be drawn is that he is a frustrated misogyne and a frustrated racist. There may be psycho-social and historical reasons for this misogyny and inverted racism, so to speak. Women historically have been objects and subjects in the subcontinent; it is only with the percolation of education to many sections of the society that women have been seen as sentient beings and not merely as chattel with a role broader than the instrumental and functional ones to play in society. But alas, viewing women as equal members at par with males with rights inhering in them as human beings still remains an ideal in the subcontinent. The deep and wide perspectival change that allows men to view women as dignified and beings bearing rights has not really occurred in the subcontinent. At another level, Hindu iconography portrays and depicts almost all the deities of the Hindu pantheon as fair. Almost all the deities are white; the aura and halo around these deities is depicted in white, and black is almost invariably associated with evil. This is not an idle point. Iconographies denote the deep psychical world of a people and inevitably colour their world view and perceptions. (This may, to en extent, explain the fascination with fair" skin in India and an aversion to dark skin). Both these points - male chauvinist misogyny (which is also reflected in the subcontinental preference for a male child over a girl), and a psychosocial, plus religious sanction and approval for fair skin - were at play in the Bangalore incident. The hapless Tanzanian woman was black and a woman - a foreign black woman who had apparently run over a local. She was then the natural victim of the mob fury. The misogynistic impulse coupled with the passive-aggressive personality of the typical subcontinental male, the need to demonstrate and assert power against a hapless female victim all must have come into play. This is the prosaic but grotesque psycho-social attitude and orientation of the subcontintental male. This incident and the disease that it reflects also calls into question the nature of modernity in the subncontinent. If modernity is a temper, which besides connoting rationality and a certain outlook by which the inherent equality of individuals is ingrained in the collective consciousness of the people, the subcontinent is far away from modernity. We are then an irrational, somewhat primitive peoples who wear a patina of superficial modernity on our sleeves. That is, while we may be modern in form, the spirit of modernity eludes us. The Bangalore incident then calls not only for sincere apologies to and compensation for the female victim, and reaching out to the small African community, but also deep introspection. The attitude and orientation of males in the subcontinent hark back to an age of ignorance and superstition. These need to be discarded and replaced by a more enlightened attitude in which equality of and for all becomes the norm and not the exception. Rahul Gandhi doesn't expect to be prime minister in 2019. His target is 2024. Time is on his side. In May 2024, he will still be only 53. Narendra Modi, even if he wins a second term in 2019, will be 73 in 2024. Rahul believes that his time will then have come. Prediciting so far into the future in politics is of course foolhardy. Events can overturn the best-laid plans. Still the Gandhi family's blueprint is clearly etched. Sonia Gandhi will hand over the Congress presidency to Rahul in the course of the next one year, possibly earlier. She will turn 70 in December 2016: a good time to bequeath the fief. Congress old-timers who've blocked Rahul's coronation for a while, fearing their own obsolescence, have more or less come around. Rahul's hyperactivism in recent months has been directed as much at them as at the BJP. The old guard in the Congress has for long doubted whether Rahul had fire in his belly. They persuaded Sonia to carry on as president last year. She radiates a European sense of purpose. Her body language is assertive. She speaks with firmness that brooks no dissent. Rahul, half-European, quarter-Kashmiri and quarter-Parsi, is milder. It has taken him 12 years in Parliament to capture the aggression his mother projects effortlessly. And yet, when it comes to the crunch, Sonia is ruthless, Rahul conciliatory. A recent example highlighted the difference between mother and son. When the party journal Congress Darshan called Sonia's father a fascist she had the magazine's editor sacked in 24 hours. Sanjay Nirupam, in overall charge of the publication, was also on the chopping block despite his contrite apology. When Rahul visited Mumbai, he met Nirupam and accepted his apology. Sonia was still furious. The F-word (fascist) had hit a raw nerve. She insisted on Nirupam's sacking till Rahul intervened. Nirupam survived. Unfortunately for Rahul, he is not a natural politician. But then neither was his father. Rajiv Gandhi joined politics at the age of 36, contesting his first Lok Sabha by-election in 1981 from Amethi, months after younger brother Sanjay Gandhi's death in an air crash. By 40, he was prime minister, following his mother Indira Gandhi's assassination. At 46, he was dead. By contrast, Rahul's progression has been glacial. He will be 46 this June and has still not held a constitutional post. As vice-president of the Congress, a family company, he has not had to deal with meaningful opposition within. He doesn't have to report to anybody. He isn't accountable to anyone. At his age, Rajiv had been prime minister for five years, faced huge crises, including the defection of close confidants VP Singh, Arun Singh and Arun Nehru, carried out complex negotiations in Sri Lanka, Punjab, Assam and Mizoram, and countered fierce media attacks over Bofors before becoming an outspoken opposition leader in Parliament for over a year. In comparison, Rahul has had it easy. Out of power, he has the advantage of attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi without fear of serious retaliation. As the prime minister, Modi has to preserve the impression of being above the fray. The aggressive campaigner Modi of 2014 was a very different politician from the high-minded prime ministerial-Modi of 2016. Rahul has taken full advantage of this. But the question remains: does Rahul have the stomach for the top job? The same question was asked of Rajiv when he assumed the prime ministership following his mother's assassination. In the recently published second volume of his memoirs, President Pranab Mukherjee writes that on the flight from Calcutta to Delhi after hearing the news of Mrs Gandhi's assassination, Rajiv asked him if he "would be able to manage as prime minister". A few months after that conversation, I interviewed Pranab Mukherjee. After also interviewing others who were on that Calcutta-Delhi flight along with Rajiv, this is what I wrote in my biography Rajiv Gandhi: The End of a Dream (pg 136-139), published by Penguin: "After reading the message twice over I asked the policeman near our car to do three things immediately," Mukherjee told me. "First, to ascertain whether a pilot could be contacted at Calcutta by wireless and, if so, to keep him standing by to fly to Delhi by an air force jet. Second, to contact simultaneously the air force bases in Kolaikunda and Calcutta and keep one air force jet standing by at both places. And third, to keep us informed every five minutes over the car radio about the latest news from Delhi." By now it was 9.45am. Mukherjee, Ghani Khan Chowdhury and Rajiv (still accompanied by his security officer) abandoned their Ambassador and got into a Mercedes (which was a part of the convoy) and sped off towards the junction at Kolaghat. "We thought the Mercedes would make better time than the Ambassador, hence the switch," Mukherjee told me. Meanwhile, Rajiv put on the car radio and tuned into BBC. At around 10.00am the three men, sitting silently in the back seat of the Mercedes, now speeding towards Kolaghat at eighty miles per hour, heard the news of the assassination with shocked disbelief. BBC did not confirm Mrs Gandhi's death but did report that she was at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in critical condition. The broadcast went on to give details, sketchy as they were then, of the shooting and the suspected assassins. The men sat in the car in grim silence. "The only words Rajiv spoke," recalls Mukherjee, "turning to look sideway at me, were: 'Is this all she deserved?'" The three men flew by helicopter to Calcutta, 30 miles away. Two aircrafts were standing by at the Calcutta airport. Within minutes Mukherjee, Chowdhury and Rajiv were on board an Indian Airlines (IA) Boeing in which they were joined by Uma Shankar Dikshit, his daughter-in-law Sheila Dikshit, Lok Sabha speaker Balram Jakhar and veteran Congress leader Shyamlal Yadav. Accompanying them were Lok Sabha secretary S Aggarwal and Rajya Sabha secretary S Kashyap. The IA Boeing left Calcutta for Delhi at 1.15pm. Inside the plane the mood was sombre. Mukherjee, Dikshit and Rajiv sat in seats 2A, 2B and 2C, just behind the cockpit; Rajiv was seated next to the aisle. Within minutes he made his way to the cockpit where he had spent 12 of the last 16 years as an airline pilot. In the cockpit, the atmosphere was equally tense. The pilot, in continuous touch with ground control, kept Rajiv informed of the latest situation in New Delhi. At around 1.25pm the news Rajiv had subconsciously expected, but dreaded to hear, came crackling over the aircraft radio. Mrs Gandhi had succumbed to her injuries. A few minutes later, at 1.30pm, an expressionless Rajiv came out of the cockpit and told Mukherjee and Uma Shankar Dikshit that Mrs Gandhi had died. His voice was calm, his composure striking. "He was in complete control of himself," recalls Mukherjee, "though he was obviously in deep shock." Mukherjee, as the seniormost minister in Mrs Gandhi's cabinet, was now unofficially in charge of the government. "I broke down completely and wept," he confessed to me. "I went to the bathroom and was there for half-an-hour trying to compose myself. I don't remember what happened for the next 30 minutes." Balram Jakhar, who as speaker of the Lok Sabha would have a pivotal role to play in ensuring an orderly succession, finally asked Mukherjee bluntly: "Do you think Rajiv should be inducted as prime minister?" In his interview with me, Mukherjee recalled the conversation: "I said yes, he must be inducted as prime minister. Further, I pointed out that if we announced Mrs Gandhi's death at that stage, the country would be without a government. President Zail Singh was also out of town, remember. I urged them all to ensure that All India Radio and the national TV network should not announce the death till Rajiv had been sworn in as PM." Everyone agreed with Mukherjee on this point and it was thus that AIR and Doordarshan did not officially broadcast the news of Mrs Gandhi's death till evening, long after the international media had confirmed the news. By then Rajiv was about to be sworn in as the prime minister. Rahul has a bit of Rajiv in him. But he has a lot more of Sonia. The mother-son duo run a tight ship. The Congress has no credible leader to challenge the family. Historian Ramachandra Guha said recently that Rahul is unfit to be prime minister because he simply isn't bright enough. Guha is wrong. You don't need to be brilliant to be prime minister. If you did, a neuroscientist or physicist would be one. What you need is common sense - and the common touch. The Budget session of Parliament beginning on February 23 will reveal whether Rahul has matured as a political leader. The first job of such a leader, of course, is to reject dynastic privilege and build the party of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Netaji Subhas Bose and Maulana Azad into a genuinely democratic organisation. Bobby Jindal, Supriya Jindal Outgoing Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal waves to the crowed with his wife Supriya during the inauguration event of John Bel Edwards on the steps of the Louisiana Capitol in Baton Rouge, La., Monday, Jan. 11, 2016. Jindal left a sizable budget mess for the incoming governor. (Max Becherer/The Associated Press) BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Thursday that he is ending Louisiana's lawsuit against President Barack Obama's administration over the Common Core education standards. Edwards' predecessor, Republican Bobby Jindal, filed the federal lawsuit in 2014, as he was readying his failed bid for the GOP presidential nomination and as the multistate math and English standards drew increasing ire from conservatives. Jindal lost the first round of the litigation. Edwards' office said the Democratic governor won't continue with an appeal, instead directing his executive counsel to drop the lawsuit and scrap the contract for the outside lawyer handling the case. Jindal accused President Barack Obama's administration of manipulating billions in federal grant money and policy waivers to illegally pressure states to adopt the Common Core standards and associated testing. But a judge ruled Jindal offered no evidence to support the claim. Edwards' office said a recently signed federal law barring the government from mandating standards, combined with Louisiana's work to rewrite its public school standards, makes the lawsuit "educationally and financially unnecessary." "It does not benefit students to continue to use time and resources to pursue litigation that no longer has any bearing on classrooms in Louisiana," Edwards said in a statement. "Instead, we need to focus on doing everything possible to provide students and teachers with the support they need to ensure a quality educational system." The lawsuit cost Louisiana thousands of dollars. Jindal's contract lawyer, Jimmy Faircloth, was paid at least $450,000 to represent Louisiana on the case, according to Edwards' office. After Edwards' announcement, Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry suggested he might try to keep the appeal alive. Landry said he will look into the details of the case before deciding. The Common Core standards are math and English benchmarks adopted by more than 40 states to describe what students should know after completing each grade. Like Jindal, Edwards opposes Common Core. In his lawsuit, Jindal claimed the U.S. Department of Education's actions forced states to move toward a national education curriculum in violation of the state sovereignty clause in the Constitution and federal law. The Obama administration responded that while it encouraged states to use the standards, Louisiana's decision to adopt Common Core was voluntary. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick rejected Jindal's allegations against the Obama administration in September, saying Jindal didn't prove Louisiana was improperly coerced. Faircloth began work on a challenge of Dick's decision to a New Orleans-based appeals court. But federal legislation later approved by Obama appeared to make the lawsuit moot. In December, Obama signed an overhaul of the No Child Left Behind education law that says the federal government can't mandate or give states incentives to adopt or maintain any particular set of academic standards. Meanwhile, Louisiana is rewriting its math and English standards under a review process required by state lawmakers. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will consider the reworked standards in March. Edwards suggested Jindal's lawsuit was unnecessary spending in a state struggling with budget problems. "My administration will not continue the practice of wasting taxpayer money on lawyers and lawsuits that instead could be much better used in the classroom," Edwards said. Swingster building 003.jpg Jackson County supervisors have voted to tear down the old Swingster building in Ocean Springs -- although that action could ultimately be tabled if the city attracts a developer who would tear down the building at his own expense. (Warren Kulo/Gulflive.com) OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors voted Monday to demolish the old Swingster building on Government Street in downtown Ocean Springs, with a caveat. The sprawling (by small town standards) building has sat on Government Street across from what is now the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Arts Center since the 1950's, when Jackson County purchased the property under a federal program which allowed governmental entities to purchase property, construct a building and then lease the building to a company which would guarantee a number of jobs. The 50,000-square foot building originally housed the E.R. Moore clothing company, which later gave way to the Swingster clothing company. In June 2006, Camp Victor, a ministry founded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, used the building to help with rebuilding needs along the Mississippi coast. More than 50,000 volunteers worked though Camp Victor repairing more than 2,000 homes from 2006 to 2012. The building has remained vacant since Camp Victor closed in 2012. Supervisor Troy Ross said county officials have been considering the fate of the building for some time and had budgeted funds for its demolition this year. "We've been inside the building and looked at it and quickly realized it would be cost-prohibitive to try and repair it," Ross said, adding that he estimates it would cost the county in excess of $100,000 to take the building down. However, Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran has spoken with supervisors about the possibility of her city launching a redevelopment authority which would help attract a developer. She has spoken with one developer, she said, who is interested in the property and willing to take the building down at his own expense. "We'd love to see that building redeveloped," Moran said. "We're fully in favor of the county taking the building down, unless we do get a developer to do it himself." Moran said the roof of the building has major leaks and it has become something of an "eyesore" in the downtown area. "We'd love to see someone come in and redevelop the property, which in turn would increase tax revenues and create jobs," she said. Just over a year ago, a movie company -- which was never identified by name -- expressed an interest in redeveloping the property, but that deal never fully materialized. For now, Ross said the county will proceed with plans to demolish the building. They are currently gathering cost estimates on the demolition, although Ross added they would likely do the work in-house to reduce the cost. WAYNESBORO, Mississippi -- Emergency management officials are on the scene of a train derailment in Wayne County. WDAM-TV reports about five cars jumped the tracks around 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Deputy Director of Wayne County Emergency Management Agency Keven Stevens says the 26-car train was carrying 22 cars of corn, flour and soy to the Mar Jac plant in Waynesboro when the accident occurred. Stevens says the derailed cars have not overturned and the loads are still intact. Officials with Meridian Southern train company are headed to the scene to assess the situation. No injuries have been reported. GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Two Gulfport police officers suffered minor injuries after a fender bender involving three of the department's patrol cars on U.S. Highway 90. Sgt. Damon McDaniel tells The Sun Herald several officers were dispatched to a call regarding what was reported to be a "large fight." McDaniel says the cars were eastbound on U.S. 90 Wednesday night when the lead cruiser slowed for traffic. When the lead car slowed for traffic, McDaniel says the traffic stopped and the last police vehicle hit the bumper of the police vehicle in front of him which hit the bumper of another patrol car. McDaniel said the officers were released from the hospital later Wednesday night. He says no arrests were made in regard to the fight call. Sooner or later, many of us will face an ethical dilemma in the workplace. Some will do what they are asked regardless of their own ethical beliefs because they fear the repercussions on their career. Author and educator Mary Gentiles work focuses on giving people the skills to manage these conflicts without committing career suicide. Gentile will be at Dalhousie on Wednesday, January 20 as part of the Shaw Lecture Series for a talk entitled Stand Up, Speak Up: The Art of NOT Selling Out. Family through the years The Shaw family, many of whom are Dal alumni, honour the memory of Nova Scotian industrialist, social activist and humanitarian Lloyd Shaw by bringing elite speakers to Dalhousie as part of an endowed lecture series. The topics are varied, and past speakers have included former UN Ambassador Stephen Lewis and former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Carolyn McAskie. Dan Shaw, director of Dalhousies Corporate Residency MBA program, is Lloyd Shaws grandson. My grandfather was a bit of a paradox, he says. He had different parts to his personality. He was a hard-nosed business guy and a demanding boss but at the same time he was also very left wing and very progressive. He sold much of his company to his workers giving them stock in the company. He was very socialist which is unusual for someone who owns a big, industrial business. The Shaw family has a number of connections to Dalhousie, including his aunt, former leader of the federal and Nova Scotian NDP Alexa McDonough. She did her Bachelor of Arts then her Masters of Social Work, and she used to teach in the School of Social Work. And then Alexas son Travis McDonough is a 93 kinesiology grad, hes a successful local entrepreneur. The first two Shaw Lecture topics were of Alexas choosing, and followed the theme of Lloyds passion for peace. This year, Dan and his father Robbie are taking the lead, and choosing to explore some of Lloyds business values. He was really interested in the role business plays in society. So we thought that a topic around values and ethics would be a good fit. Robbie, a Dalhousie law graduate and a retired executive with almost 30 years of corporate board work, is presently chair of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Among his past roles are serving as CEO of the IWK Health Centre Foundation, Dalhousie's vice-president Finance and Administration and an executive advisor to Dalhousie's Dean of Management. Speaking from experience Gentile, the speaker for this year's lecture is best known for her book Giving a Voice to Values. Shell be addressing how individuals can gain the skills required to voice and act on your values under opposing pressure in the workplace. The lecture will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Robert Orr (CEO and managing partner of Cuna del Mar LP), Robert Hanf (president and CEO of Nova Scotia Power) and Peggy Cunniham (right, R.A. Jodrey Chair in the Rowe School of Business). Dr. Cunningham, past dean of Dalhousies Faculty of Management, teaches Ethics in Corporate Social Responsibility and uses Gentiles book in her class. She is looking forward to opening up Gentiles ideas to a wider audience at the lecture. Cunningham says shes faced ethical dilemmas several times in her career. I didnt always handle it as well as I could have. You do get better at it if you reflect on those situations and are willing to grow and learn. Marys work and teaching is meant to teach people the skills in advance of facing that. If you feel something isnt right how do you make sure you are heard without being confrontational? Gentiles free public lecture Stand Up, Speak Up: The Art of NOT Selling Out, part of the Shaw Lecture Series, takes place Wednesday, January 20 at 5 p.m. in the Potter Auditorium of the Rowe Management Building. All are welcome to attend. Ending cruel practices like cockfighting is not just about putting a stop to animal abuse; there is plenty of evidence that shows these kinds of operations often serve as fronts for hardened and even organized criminals. Photo by Alex Gallardo/For The HSUS 282 shares Two recent incidents in Youngstown, Ohio, provide more evidence of how rampant cockfighting is in the state. Despite an agreement reached between The HSUS, the Ohio Farm Bureau, and the Ohio Poultry Association in 2010 to strengthen the states anti-cockfighting law, a handful of lawmakers have thwarted progress on legislation, leaving Ohio with one of the three most anemic anti-cockfighting laws in the nation. This toothless law has made Ohio a magnet for fighting enthusiasts, with lawbreakers from West Virginia, Indiana, and elsewhere scrambling into the Buckeye State because they know law enforcement has little incentive to act. Last month, when U.S. marshals launched a manhunt for a suspect who escaped while being arrested for a domestic violence incident, they found plenty of evidence, debris, and death that made it plain that his residence doubled as a den for cockfighting: 20 live birds and around 25 dead birds were inside the home. According to news reports, the bones of many more birds were in a fire pit behind the house, and the bodies of still more were in trash bags strewn about the property. A day later, neighbors alerted Mahoning County law enforcement officials to another possible ring, and humane agents seized 30 more birds after the investigation revealed a fighting pit and steroids. The 50 birds are now in the custody of Happy Trails Farm Animal Sanctuary in Ravenna, a group well familiar with the responsibility of caring for the victims of cockfighting in Ohio. But by the time cockfights are in progress or breeding and fighting operations established, much of the abuse and cruelty has already occurred. We need laws to prevent this kind of depravity from happening in the first place. Ohio is aligned with Alabama and Mississippi as having the most flaccid anti-cockfighting laws. In Ohio, the maximum fine for cockfighting is $250. There has been some progress on a bill that would strengthen Ohios cockfighting law, making it a felony under certain circumstances. In June 2015, with the support of committee chairman Jim Butler, the House Judiciary Committee unanimously passed HB 215. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Sears and Rep. Heather Bishoff, would create a felony if certain aggravating factors are present at the cockfighting site, such as illegal gambling, using devices like razor-sharp knives attached to roosters legs to increase bloodletting, or bringing a child to the fight. In addition to the support of agriculture and humane groups, law enforcement and religious groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention, back the measure. The Ohio legislature has had years to pass this sensible and long overdue measure. I can see a groundswell developing in the state: if theres no decisive and favorable action in the legislature this year, therell be a strong push to launch a comprehensive ballot campaign. Any such ballot measure would inevitably be broader, designed to remedy a range of defects in the states anti-cruelty laws. Its an embarrassment that cockfighting, puppy mills, and other forms of cruelty persist in the state. The time for making excuses is over, and something must be done. Ending cruel practices like cockfighting is not just about putting a stop to animal abuse; there is plenty of evidence that shows these kinds of operations often serve as fronts for hardened and even organized criminals. A U.S. Department of Agriculture agent who brought down a large cockfighting operation in Kentucky this last year stated in an affidavit that Mexican organized crime figures had frequented the cockfights there, and had even brought in a hit man to kill a cockfighter who had laundered money. Federal investigations continue to reveal cockfights can be intricate illegal gambling enterprises, often associated with the distribution of large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and meth. We look forward to a favorable vote on HB 215 when the Ohio legislature convenes next week. And we look forward to action in the Ohio senate on this issue. Its time for Governor John Kasich to use his great influence in the state to call on lawmakers to upgrade the states law. Their union is emblematic of a gradual thaw in relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus, home to one of Europe's most enduring conflicts. (Photo: Representative image) Kiti, Cyprus: They met though social media, inspired by their love of music. But musicians Larkos Larkou and Hatice Ardost are no ordinary couple, and until at least a decade ago their relationship would have been unheard of in a country riven by conflict and distrust. "It's not really a subject of discussion in our household," Larkou, 43, says somewhat awkwardly as he sits cradling a cup of tea by the kitchen counter at the home he shares in Cyprus with Ardost, 34, his wife. "Whether Hatice is a Turkish Cypriot and I'm a Greek Cypriot might be a subject for others, but for us, this is completely natural." Ardost nods vigorously. "Two human beings being together is not a miracle." Their union is emblematic of a gradual thaw in relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus, home to one of Europe's most enduring conflicts. The island has been split since a Turkish invasion in 1974 prompted by a Greek Cypriot coup. The two populations were kept almost entirely separate until rules for travelling across the dividing line were eased in 2003. On-off peace talks over the years have repeatedly foundered over the property rights of thousands of internally displaced people, different interpretations of how close a new reunion will be, and the influence of Turkey over any reunified Cyprus. With two moderates now at the helm of talks, diplomats are now hopeful that a deal is within reach to solve the Cyprus conundrum after years of failed initiatives. But while politicians slog it out at the negotiation table, Cypriots on both sides of the divide have taken matters into their own hands. Ardost and Larkou are among a small, but growing community of mixed-marriage Cypriot couples, transcending psychological and physical barriers. They married within two months of meeting in 2014, and are expecting their first child later this year. 'Brainwashed' Growing up on an island split down its middle with reels of barbed wire and home to one of the oldest peacekeeping missions in the world, both grew up wondering what lay on the other side until checkpoint crossings were eased. They came from what they describe as open minded households - Larkou's mother is learning Turkish. Ardost's family "wanted peace in Cyprus before anyone started talking about it," she said. "When I was growing up we were brainwashed at schools, we used to think there was something bad on the other side," said Ardost, who grew up in the medieval city of Famagusta, on the island's eastern coast. "It was only when we grew up that we were able to understand that all Cypriots can live together," he added. Larkou, whose family was displaced in Turkey's invasion in 1974, agrees. "It was exactly the same for us. That the Turks were bad. But Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots should have the chance to live together," he said. Both prefer identifying islanders as "Greek speaking" or "Turkish speaking" Cypriots. Larkou is the founder of "Kyprogenia", a musical collective which draws on a fusion of traditional Cypriot music genres with jazz, classical, rock and improvisation. Lyrics are in the Greek or Turkish Cypriot dialects, languages which borrow heavily from the influences of various cultures which have passed through Cyprus over the ages, and which share many common words. Acknowledging their work, Ardost and Larkou were recipients of an award last year given by Stelios Haji-Ioannou, the Greek-Cypriot founder of low-cost airline EasyJet, along with a number of other individuals, for fostering bi-communal contacts, actively supported by the leaderships of both sides. Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, the Greek Cypriot leader, has reported a "common understanding on an important number of issues" with Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, a moderate elected in early 2015. However Anastasiades is keen to point out that the sides should avoid creating expectations that a deal is within immediate reach. In an unusual move, he is due to brief parliament on Feb. 11 on the state of play in negotiations. "There is progress, but there is still a distance to cover," Anastasiades told Cypriot TV station Sigma in an interview aired on Tuesday. For tactical reasons, the sides have been careful to avoid saying publicly precisely which issues still divide them. From their home close to the coastal town of Larnaca in the government controlled south, Ardost and Larkou monitor the present round of talks, held at a United Nations compound in the divided capital Nicosia, with a slight detachment. Past Disappointments Peace initiatives have flopped before, most spectacularly in 2004, when Greek Cypriots rejected a United Nations reunification blueprint in a referendum. That plan was accepted by Turkish Cypriots, but with no deal a partitioned island was allowed to join the European Union, and effective membership of the bloc confined to the areas run by the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot government. Northern Cyprus is a breakaway Turkish Cypriot state, recognised only by Ankara. Larkou was among a Greek Cypriot minority who voted in favour of the 2004 plan, believing the benefits outweighed its drawbacks. Yet today, Ardost thinks that the intervening 11 years helped cement then-budding relationships among Cypriots who were then just recovering from years of non-contact, making prospects for a deal now greater. "This time there is more of a chance," she said. Larkou chooses his words carefully when asked if he is optimistic this time around. "I'm hopeful (of a breakthrough) and I am positive about it. This is our chance. I would like to see all Cypriots ready for this. Because this is a big change. Personally I'm ready, and many people around me are ready," he said. Its all about compromise, he says. He worries however whether people are committed enough to see those compromises through, or yield at the first sign of difficulty. "We really have to understand that we have to make sacrifices, forgive, and realise mistakes," he added. But the stars on Cyprus have been in alignment before, only to be blown spectacularly apart. Ardost says she would not be too disappointed if a deal fell through, believing that the common bonds islanders share will bring reunification, one day. "I will just say its not the right time," she says quietly. "Peace will happen. It has to happen," said Ardost. Denver is the first large, traditional school system to receive an A rating from the Brookings Institutions annual ranking of districts by levels of school choice. The fifth annual Education Choice and Competition Index compares the countrys largest 100 school districts plus a few others of special interest, such as New Orleans Recovery School District. Districts are graded and ranked based on how many types of schools they havedistrict, charter, magnet, virtual, and affordable private schools. They are also judged on whether there is a system to help families get into a school thats a right fit for their children, whether there are policies to support the growth of popular schools (and shut down unpopular ones), and if there are supports to help low-income families access schools, such as money for transportation. The ECCI only looks at school choice, it does not take into consideration the overall performance of the district. So even if a district earns an F grade for schools choice, it may still be a high-performing district in terms of student achievement. Under those guidelines, New Orleans Recovery School District gets the highest ranking, but that is a small, unique state-run district made up of only charter schools. Denver is a close second. Among the factors that earned Denver that distinction is a single application system for all the citys district and charter schools which uses a computer algorithm to match families to schools based on a list of their top picks. The report also gives a nod to Denver for helping parents make side-by-side comparisons of schools and reserving spaces in schools for families who move into the district mid-year so they can still choose where to send their children. Denver has managed to implement a sophisticated school choice system without the rancor that has been associated with the imposition of a similar system in Newark, N.J., wrote the reports author, Brookings Senior Fellow Russ Whitehurst. Clearly there is a lot to be learned from Denver about the politics of school choice along with the design decisions that are the focus of the ECCI. Its also worth noting that charter schools in Denver are authorizedapproved and overseenby the Denver school district. Heres the list of the top 10 ranked school districts: New Orleans, La. (Recovery School District) Denver New York City Newark, N.J. Washington, D.C. Houston ISD Pinellas County, Fla. Boston Baltimore Tucson, Ariz. To see the full ranking of all 112 districts, check out the Education Choice and Competition Index 2015 here . Related stories: Hafiz Saeed, alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and leader of the banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) group, encouraged further violence following the air base assault in Pathankot. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: Central intelligence agencies are fully alert to 26/11 mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeeds latest outburst, warning of more Pathankot-style attacks in India. New Delhi on Thursday termed Saeeds activities a matter of grave concern and, putting the onus on Islamabad, MEA spokesman Vikas Swarup made it clear it was for Pakistan to rein in the Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief. Ahead of Kashmir Solidarity Day being observed in Pakistan Friday, the banned JuD also released a video claiming Kashmir Banay Ga Pakistan (Kashmir will become Pakistan), that carries an image of Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif. Hafiz Saeed is a globally-designated international terrorist. His claim that his front organisations are carrying out charitable work in not even a fig leaf... He indulges in terrorist activities and terrorist financing. It should be a matter of grave concern to everyone that a terrorist like Saeed and his associates continue to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities, Mr Swarup said, adding that New Delhi was waiting to see what action would be taken to bring the perpetrators of the Pathankot attack to justice. He said the national security advisers of India and Pakistan as well as the foreign secretaries were in touch with each other. In his latest round of tweets on @HafeezSaeedJUD, Saeed even hailed Islamabads decision to not allow Indian actor Anupam Kher into Pakistan. The video, released by JuD ahead of Kashmir Solidarity Day, with an image of Pakistan Army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif and an Urdu caption saying Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan. Video has Afzal Guru pictures The video released also carries photos and videos of Afzal Guru, hanged to death by India for his role in the 2011 Parliament attack, and Kahmiri separatist leader Masarat Alam, besides others. Intelligence sources said they are alert to threats and the latest social media propaganda launched by the JuD. The video has been created by Dawa Productions, and was posted on the Twitter page of JuD. While Pakistan has banned media coverage of JuD in November, it has claimed the organisation is not banned. In his latest provocative statements and threats, Saeed had said, while addressing a rally in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir: You have only seen one attack on Pathankot. Matters could easily escalate. He alleged that Indian troops were committing genocide on Kashmiris and added: Dont they have a right to carry out Pathankot-style attacks for their defence?. At Wednesdays rally, Saeed also lauded Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council (UJC), that claimed responsibility for the January 2 attack on the Pathankot IAF base. Last month, Saeed appeared on a private Pakistani TV channels talk show despite Pakistans ban on media coverage of militant outfits like the JuD and Lashkar-e-Tayyaba Saeed had made an appearance on a talk show on Channel 24 on January 27. He glorified his organisation's public welfare works and talked about how India and the US were pressuring the Pakistani government to take action against organisations like the JuD and Jaish-e-Mohammad, which is believed to be behind the Pathankot attack. US District Judge Vernon Broderick ruled that Francis Lorenzo can be prosecuted in a United Nations bribery case. New York: A Manhattan judge has ruled that a US citizen serving as a foreign diplomat is not immune from criminal prosecution. US District Judge Vernon Broderick ruled on Thursday that Francis Lorenzo can be prosecuted in a United Nations bribery case. Lorenzo had claimed he was entitled to diplomatic immunity as an ambassador from the Dominican Republic. The judge says Lorenzo's interpretation of law would mean he could not be criminally prosecuted for any crime as a US citizen. Broderick said diplomatic immunity was not designed to give diplomats with dual citizenship a "get out of jail free card." Broderick says Lorenzo can still claim immunity from prosecution for official acts taken in connection with his diplomatic position. Defense lawyer Brian Bieber says he was extremely disappointed. Lorenzo is free on bail. A five-member team from the Ministry of External Affairs, including the High Commissioner of Tanzania, will arrive in Bengaluru on Friday to reassure the African students in the wake of Sundays incident in which a Tanzanian woman was stripped and assaulted by a mob. The team will meet and assure the African students who are our guests. There are more than 5,000 African students studying in various institutions across the country. This is a regrettable incident, but an isolated one, Vikas Swarup, MEA spokesperson, said here on Thursday. The governments efforts in describing the Bengaluru incident as a stray case without any racial undertone comes against the backdrop of terse criticism from the Tanzanian High Commissioner John W H Kijazi who described the mob attack and assault on the young woman and her friends as a racial one. Kijazi said the victims alleged that they were attacked because they were black and it was a case of racial discrimination. Everybody is entitled to their own assessment, but there is an element of mob justice and racism. Thats my assessment. She was attacked because she was black like the guy who caused the accident, he said. After being informed that five suspects have been arrested by the police, the African diplomat noted that it was a good progress. The reason behind delayed police action, Swarup said, was because the girl filed the complaint two days after the incident. Besides the Tanzanian High Commissioner, other members in the Central team are senior MEA officials and the regional director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, which is in touch with the foreign students. The MEA teams plan to travel to Bengaluru was firmed up at a review meeting chaired by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who received a report from the Bengaluru police commissioner about the incident. Sushma also spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to ensure safety and security of all foreign students in the State. Earlier, the High Commission of Tanzania in India sent a note verbale about the attack on African students in Bengaluru to the MEA, asking the government to follow up on the matter and take necessary legal action against those involved in such attacks and to ensure safety and security of all African students in India. An Uttar Pradesh legislator lost his prized possession, which happened to be a cycle, to unidentified thieves. Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhadohi assembly constituency, Zahid Begs cycle was allegedly stolen from his official residence here on Wednesday night. The theft came to light on Thursday morning and a report was lodged at Hazratganj police station. He came to know about the matter through his aides. It was indeed a prized possession. I had bought it for Rs 5000 last year. I used to ride it to the state assembly to attend its sessions, Beg told Deccan Herald over telephone from Bhadohi. The cycle was also the electoral symbol of the SP, and indeed was a prized one. Shocked at the theft, the legislator said he had no idea who might have stolen his cycle. I have no idea why should someone want to steal a cycle, he said. The theft of a cycle would not have mattered much for the police but for the fact that it belonged to a ruling party legislator. A case was immediately registered by the police and a hunt was launched to trace the culprits. UP cops, who seldom registered cases of thefts of cycle reported by the common people, were seen trying to frantically recover the stolen cycle of the MLA. We are working on the matter. We expect to nab the thieves soon. We are quizzing some people, who live in the vicinity, said police. While almost all the legislators travelled to the assembly in their huge SUVs, Beg stood apart while riding his cycle. It remains to be seen if the MLA does get back his prized possession. With the High Court staying the Delhi governments order of scrapping management quota in the ongoing nursery admissions on Thursday, parents who were hoping for the contrary were left disappointed. I was hoping of a positive outcome. There would have been an increase in the number of seats for general category parents like us had the quota been scrapped, said Rashi Jain, who has applied to a total of 15 schools for her ward. The government tried restricting such practices which can lead to corruption but nothing can be done now. I am very disappointed as already the chances of my child are less. I was banking on the scrapping of management quota, said a parent, who did not wish to be identified. He was able to fill forms only in eight schools due to the lack of a valid residential proof as rent deeds are not accepted by most of them. When the Delhi government scrapped the quota, I was hopeful that at least 20 per cent chance has increased, the parent said. Most of the schools in the capital have a 20 per cent management or discretionary quota for nursery admissions. The Delhi government in its January 6 order had scrapped it along with other arbitrary and discriminatory criteria listed by schools on their websites and only retained the 25 per cent quota for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). Management quota is not a transparent way of conducting the admission process. The government should have passed it through the Delhi Assembly and not by an office order, as the High Court said, says Ritu Anand, a parent. Some confused While some were disappointed over the development, others were left confused over the 11 points defended by the school associations in the High Court and retained in the judgment. Kapil Verma got a mail from Ambience School on Thursday evening saying that it has cut 10 points previously assigned for first-born child. Even though the criterion is in the list allowed by the court, the school has revised its point system. When contacted, Ambience School Principal Jeania Aibara said that she had done it to provide level playing field to every parent. Even after the court order, there is no assurance of what changes can happen till the process is completed. So we decided to cut the points for first born child, she said. Parents are totally confused about the point system and are not sure what points would be allocated, the original or the 11 points allowed by court. Some schools have even removed points allowed by court which have made situation total confusing and some schools have started calling parents for admission without even waiting for 15 February, said education activist Sumit Vohra, also the founder of online portal admissionsnursery.com. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that its respects the court order and the efforts for bringing transparency in admission process would continue. A suspected Sonipat-based gang has been threatening toll plaza attendants in outer Delhi to demand an extortion of Rs 10 lakh. It is alleged that the gang members went to the toll plazas with country-made pistols, swords and lathis, police said on Thursday. A case has been filed over a complaint filed with Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ravindra Yadav. It states that local goons and bad elements have been demanding extortion money from toll nakas at KGT Narela Zone, said a police officer. The complaint is from the authorised contractor for collecting toll and Environment Compensation Charges (ECC) on behalf of South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). The incident occurred hours after the toll plazas began collecting ECC from commercial vehicles entering Delhi. The charges are payable at the rates of Rs 700 for light duty vehicles and two-axle vehicles and Rs 1,300 for three-axle and above. The toll plazas were told to collect green tax by SDMC in a letter dated January 29. According to police, a staff named Ravi Chokkar informed his seniors that the gang arrived at Jounti, Kutabgarh, Auchandi, Punjabkhor and nearby tolls under KGT Narela Zone on the afternoon of February 1. They were carrying country-made pistols, swords and lathis and threatened our staff. They refused to allow our company to collect government revenue without a payment of Rs 10 lakh, Ravi stated in his complaint to police. It is also alleged that the gang illegally captured the toll booths and forcibly collected toll and ECC from vehicles entering the capital. It caused heavy financial loss to the government, Ravi added. The gang left after abusing and threatening the staff with dire consequences. The leader identified himself as Sonipat-resident Bhuka. He was there with his accomplices Neeraj Ghoja and Sunny. Due to the threats, many of the toll plaza attendants have left the KGT Narela Zone. A case under Indian Penal Code and Arms Act has been filed over Ravis statement with crime branch police station. The charges under Indian Penal Code are of sections 385 (putting person in fear of injury to commit extortion), 387 (putting person in fear of death to commit extortion) and 506 (criminal intimidation). A complaint has also been filed with SMDC Additional Commissioner-1. In a bid to check high pollution levels in the capital, the Supreme Court had imposed ECC on commercial vehicles, in addition to the toll tax, from November 2015 for four months on a trial basis. The apex court had directed the Delhi Government to issue appropriate notifications. The Dalit student suicide is an issue between patriotic people and political aspirants, ABVP Hyderabad Central University president N Sushil Kumar on Thursday told a press conference on the Rohith Vemula suicide issue. Accused of abetting Vemula suicide, Kumar said the students suicide note never mentioned him or his student outfit. With the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad facing allegations of siding with the anti-Dalit politics across campuses in the country, Kumar accused some ultra-Left student organisations of fanning unpatriotic sentiments. He said the members of Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) beat him up for opposing their protest against Yakub Memons execution. The ABVP leader said he was forced into posting an apology letter on Facebook. They never want to have a constructive debate. And why will I write an apology if Im simply accused of not supporting someones view? he said. They gave communal colour to student politics. Campus polarisation is because of them, he said, adding that scuffle among student organisations is not new on the university campus. They breached our freedom of expression, Kumar told reporters. On the Dalit scholars suicide in HCU early this month, he said, Its really unfortunate that such a thing happened. We lost a great political opponent. There was never, ever, a personal grudge between anyone in our university between SFI (Students Federation of India) and ABVP and ASA and ABVP. It was never a Dalit and non-Dalit issue, he added. He remembered Vemula as a person who confronted situations in his life and said his fellow scholars from the ASA failed to identify his suicidal tendencies. He also demanded for a judicial inquiry into his suicide. In his defence against accusations of abetting Vemulas suicide, Kumar said he was faced reverse discrimination from the so-called supporters of Dalit rights. He showed pictures of ASA students holding placards with slogans such as Ek Yakub marogey toh har ghar se Yakub niklega (You kill Yakub, each house will produce a Yakub) and Yakub tere khoon se inquilab niklega (Yakubs bloodshed will usher in an uprising) and alleged that the pictures were pulled down from Facebook after the student suicide. The BJP and ABVP leaders had earlier accused Vemula of offering namaz for Yakub Memon after he convicted for his role in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. Memon was sent to gallows on July 30, 2015. Protests grew bigger on Thursday causing much inconvenience to people living in east and north Delhi while the AAP government and the three municipal corporations indulged in unfruitful deliberations as the indefinite strike entered ninth day. Municipal employees, however, are hopeful that some positive solution will come out from their meeting with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday. The amount (Rs 693 crore) issued by the city government is not sufficient. If only the amount given by the city government is increased then we might consider ending the agitation, said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha. Legal action Earlier in day, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation issued a notice asking striking employees to resume duties failing which legal action will be taken against them. While mayors of the three municipalities echoed the municipal employees concern and sought a permanent solution to the present predicament from Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the minister said that he would ask Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to make Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to clear corporations dues. North and East Corporation employees, including sanitation workers, doctors, teachers, nurses, para-medical staff and engineers have been on strike demanding timely payment of salaries. Even the South Delhi Municipal Corporation sanitation workers have struck work showing solidarity with their coworkers. A delegation of three mayors met Sisodia on Thursday. We need a permanent solution. This interim relief (Rs 550 crore) will help to give salaries of the employees for January only, said North Corporation Mayor Ravinder Gupta. We will treat this amount as grant under the Third Finance Commission, he added. East Delhi Mayor Harsh Deep Malhotra echoed similar concerns. Both the North and East Corporations need Rs 307 crore to pay salaries to their employees for February. We asked the Deputy CM to give corporations funds under the Third Finance Commission and implement the recommendations of the Fourth Finance Commission. But in vain, he added. Gupta also said that the city governments move to impose conditions such as demanding jurisdiction over DDA, municipal hospital, Delhi Police in lieu of extending services to citizens is irresponsible and baseless. The Deputy Chief Minister said that he would speak with the LG and the CM regarding various issues being raised by the corporations, he added. The North Corporation had said that the civic agency has spent Rs 1,995 crore for employees related expenditure so far in 2015-16 financial year and it had received only Rs 890 crore from the city government under non-planned heads. Sisodia urged mayors to persuade employees to end the strike and resume duties. Met all 3 Mayors just now. They hv assured me that they are making all efforts to get the striking employees back to work, Sisodia tweeted. The ninth day of the strike saw higher heaps of garbage, multiple protests and traffic snarls in many areas of Delhi. The City police on Thursday arrested five people in connection with the molestation of a Tanzanian national and the violence that followed after an accident involving an African student's car on Hesaraghatta Main Road on Sunday night. The police said all those arrested were locals. They are Lokesh alias Bangari (40), a member of the local water supply unit; Venkatesh (37), a flour mill owner; Bhanu Prakash (25), a hotel employee (all residents of Acharya College Road); Salim Pasha (31), an employee of a vehicle service station and a resident of Dwarakanagar, and Rehamathullah (42) of Chikkabanavara. Director General and Inspector General of Police Om Prakash and Commissioner of Police N S Megharikh on Thursday visited the scene of the incident. They also met the victim. The top police officers recorded the statements of the 24-year-old Tanzanian woman who is a student of Bachelor of Architecture at Acharya NRV School of Architecture and her friend Jamal Ibrahim, 29, also a Tanzanian national and an MBA student in a private college. The Commissioner submitted a detailed report to the government later, the police said. Home Minister G Parameshwara said Additional Commissioner of Police (West) K S R Charan Reddy had been asked to probe the case and submit a report within 48 hours. The probe would also look into charges that the Soladevanahalli police failed to receive the victim's complaint which she filed two days after the incident. The incident would be investigated by the Central Crime Branch (CCB), while Reddy would look into lapses, if any, after the incident. If there were lapses on the part of the police, then serious action would be taken, he said. A senior police officer said the incident of molestation came to light only after it was reported on a TV channel. Till then, the victim had not approached the police on the day of the incident or the following day. She turned up at the police station only after being summoned. Violence broke out on Hesaraghatta Main Road on the night of January 31 after a Sudanese student mowed down a woman. He drove the car in an inebriated state and knocked down three motorcycles as well. Locals torched two cars, including the one that belonged to the Tanzanian woman. D.C. Might Pay People to Not Commit Crime You know the old saying, "crime doesn't pay," but did you know that there could come a time when you get paid to not commit crime? A bill under consideration in Washington D.C. proposes to provide stipends to 50 people annually to learn life skills and avoid crime. The proposal is not the first of its kind. The D.C. proposal is modeled on an existent program and would create a new office to identify individuals "who pose a high risk of participating in or being a victim of violent criminal activity," reports The New York Times. Reducing Richmond Murder Rates Such a program is already in place in Richmond, California. It is credited with a substantial drop in gun-related murders. There are 68 graduates of the California program, and it is apparently most popular among participants for reasons other than money. Successful participants reportedly go on adventures, and this more than the stipends motivates people. They are eligible for "horizon-building educational excursions" that could even mean traveling internationally to London, Paris, or South Africa, the NY Times reports. According to the Richmond program creator and director, DeVone L. Boggan, the challenge lies in getting along with an old foe. Not everyone will go beyond California -- some just see a state college campus. To be sent abroad they must travel with a companion they might have once tried to kill. "And oftentimes," Boggan told the NY Times, "what they find out through the experience is that they actually like the guys that they've been trying to kill better than the guys they've been hanging out with." How Are Participants Targeted? It is fair to wonder how precisely these individuals -- crime victims and likely perpetrators -- are targeted. There is no mention of the selection or screening process in the NY Times story and perhaps the proposed Washington D.C. bill. That may be because the obstacles facing creation of this program are more basic. For now what is known is that it seems to have widespread legislative support but how to pay for it remains a mystery. The district's chief financial officer, Jeffrey S. DeWitt, has reportedly raised questions about the total crime-prevention bill under consideration now, estimating its cost over 4 years at $25.6 million, which he says is too steep under current budget constraints. Have You Been Accused? If you or someone you know is accused of a crime, do not delay. Meet with a lawyer today. Many criminal defense attorney consult for free or no fee and would be happy to assess your case. Related Resources: The US has launched anti-dumping investigations into a certain category of tyres from China, India and Sri Lanka that might have harmed the domestic industry. This is for the first time that anti-dumping investigations have been launched into the tyres coming to the US from India, while Chinese tyres have faced a similar investigation in the past. In a statement, the US Department of Commerce said the investigations cover certain new pneumatic off-the-road tyres designed for off-the-road (OTR) and off-highway use such as in agricultural fields, forests, construction sites, factory and warehouse interiors, airport tarmacs, ports and harbors, mines, quarries, gravel yards and steel mills. The investigations against China cover only off road tyres that are mounted to wheels or rims as Commerce currently has antidumping (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD) orders on new pneumatic off-the-road tyres from China that have been in place since September 2008. Countervailing is when a foreign government provides financial subsidies to a company for the manufacturing of products and ties those subsidies to export performance. For India and Sri Lanka, the scope of these new investigations not only covers the same scope of merchandise as the ongoing orders against China, but it also covers tyres whether or not they are mounted to wheels or rims. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) is scheduled to make its preliminary injury determinations on or before February 22. Reputed International Trade Attorney Dharmendra N Choudhary warned that more anti-dumping cases against Indian tyres may be coming soon. "Going forward, the Indian producers and exporters of passenger vehicle and light truck tyres as well as truck and bus tyres could likely face anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigation in USA, should they succeed in significantly increasing their market share," Choudhary told PTI. "Indian OTR tyre exporters would need to stay within 10 per cent combined anti-dumping and countervailing duty rate based on the fact that in the last concluded AD proceeding on Chinese OTR tyres, the AD duty rate on top Chinese exporters was only 11.34 per cent and the CVD rates on leading Chinese OTR tyre exporters were generally in low single digits," Choudhary said. In its statement, the US Department of Commerce said if ITC determines that there is a reasonable indication that imports of certain new pneumatic off-the-road tyres from China, India, and/or Sri Lanka materially injure, or threaten material injury to the domestic off road tyre industry, the investigations will continue, and Commerce will be scheduled to make its preliminary CVD determinations in April and its preliminary AD determinations in June 2016. Director: Sunny Deol Cast: Sunny Deol, Soha Ali Khan, Om Puri, Aanchal Munjal, Narendra Jha, Tisca Chopra, Nadira Babbar, Ramesh Deo The frenzied thrusts and parries of Sunny Deol's Ghayal Once Again, a vengeance drama constructed as a hackneyed tale of an anti-corruption crusader, reeks of the past. That isn't surprising. This film is after all a follow-up to a super hit of a quarter century ago. It isn't just the lead actor's two-and-a-half kilogram fist that has long outlived its utility. The film's overly anachronistic feel is also accentuated by plot elements that simply do not belong in contemporary times. While the corrupt politics-big industry nexus is still very much a live issue, it cannot be denied that large swathes of this youth-dominated nation has broken away from the moral shibboleths that 1980s Hindi cinema peddled. A young female journalist in Ghayal Once Again kills herself after she is sexually assaulted by her boss. Didnt anybody tell the girl that a rape victim has the right to live like anyone else and fight to bring the perpetrator to justice? That necessary reality completely eludes Ghayal Once Again, produced, written and directed by Deol himself. He seems to be out of touch with the times. The once-popular star, in the guise of a fearless editor battling crime and subterfuge, goes hammer and tongs at an evil business empire presided over by a man who will leave no stone unturned to shield his murderous son. In Ghayal Once Again, taking off from where he left in Ghayal, boxer-turned-crusader Ajay Mehra comes to the aid of a quartet of youngsters who stumble upon a cold-blooded homicide committed by the industrialist's son. The business tycoon, on his part, unleashes the might of the entire Mumbai law and order machinery in a bid to intimidate Ajay and his supporters into submission. The male protagonist has his own neurological disorder to reckon with he faces blackouts when assailed by memories of his dark and tragic past alluded to in the early portions of the film through the means of black and white flashes of scenes from 1990's Ghayal. The hero's shrink (played by Soha Ali Khan) stands by him and gives him timely anti-depressants to ensure that he remains fighting fit. The plot does not throw up any major surprises barring one relating to Ajay and the daughter that he has given up for dead. As a result, Ghayal Once Again is a rather dreary film that despite some high-octane action scenes orchestrated by a Hollywood stunt coordinator does not deliver too many blows that could be regarded as effective. With Sunny Deol given full play by the screenplay, the character actors in the film, Sachin Khedekar, Tisca Chopra, Nadira Babbar, Ramesh Deo and Om Puri among them, have little scope to make their presence felt. As for the actors essaying the roles of the four youngsters on whose behalf the male protagonist takes up cudgels, they are no more than components of the backdrop and come to the fore all too rarely. Ghayal Once Again, trapped in a time warp, is only for nostalgia freaks who are willing to risk having their brains addled by a cinematic concoction that has absolutely nothing new to offer. Four more persons have been arrested and two police officials suspended in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student here that has triggered a nationwide outrage. With this, nine persons have been arrested so far since the incident happened on Sunday night when the 21-year old student went through the ordeal in a vigilante justice by an angry mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here. Inspector Pravin Babu and Constable Manjunath have been suspended, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said. "Babu has been suspended for dereliction of duty and Manjunath for not taking action even though he was present at the spot," he added. The four accused were arrested last night, Megharkh said and added that they have been booked for assault, unlawful assembly, arson, rioting and outraging a woman's modesty. Megharikh said police have been interrogating the suspects and there are chances of arresting some more people. Asked whether one of the arrested is a member of BJP, Megharikh said, "He is a panchayat member." A team from Delhi comprising the Tanzanian High Commissioner John W H Kijazi and External Affairs Ministry officials will meet the students here and get the assessment of the state government on the incident. The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot with the miscreants mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has denied that the Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked, claiming that it was not a racial attack. For the first time in over four months, trucks from India entered Nepal through a key border trade point today as local traders from both sides burned down tents set up by Madhesi protesters who had imposed a blockade that led to severe shortages of fuel in the landlocked nation. Trucks entered Nepal through the Birgunj-Raxual border crossing in Bihar. A huge convoy of freight containers entered Nepal after local entrepreneurs from Nepal and India set ablaze the tents set by Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) protesters at Dasgaja's Miteri Bridge in Birgunj, 90 kilometres south of Kathmandu. "There was no official announcement of lifting of the blockade by India, though with no protesters obstructing the border point, few vehicles have entered into Nepal from Raxaul, said Yadav Koirala, Nepal home ministry spokesperson. "There is no blockade at the checkpoint right now, and over 150 trucks have passed through since afternoon," a senior police official said. Locals chased away Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Jitendra Sonal who reached the scene claiming the border blockade had not been officially ended. The Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding the new Constitution be amended to include their concerns. There is a strong presence of police and locals in the bridge. Meanwhile, small vehicles and rickshaws are plying in and across the bridge. A group of Indian traders came to the border and set ablaze the tents while some Nepalese locals also extended support to their action by chasing away few protesters sitting near the border area. After the removal of the tent and vacating the protesters from the border area few dozens of vehicles including some containers entered Nepal, according to officials. The opening of the major Indo-Nepal border point comes as the protesting Madhesi leaders indicated that they would change the form of protest and the border blockade was likely to be lifted. Meanwhile, security arrangements have been intensified in the area to prevent any untoward incident. For more than four months, life in the southern Nepal plains have been seriously affected with the Madhesi Front-led protests against the country's new Constitution that was adopted by the Constituent Assembly on September 20. The Madhesis have been agitating over the new Constitution demanding more representation. They are also protesting division of their ancestral homeland under the seven-province structure and have led the blockade of key border trade points with India. So far, 55 people have died in the violent Madhesi-Tharu agitation launched by Nepal's marginalised groups. There has been growing pressure on the Madhesi Front to lift the blockade at the border as landlocked Nepal faced acute shortage of fuel, cooking gas and medicines among other essentials due to the blockade. The Indian Army has deployed specialised earth penetrating radars to locate the bodies of 10 soldiers who were buried alive in an avalanche in the Siachen Glacier. The radars are being taken to the spot, at an altitude of 19,600 feet, by IAF's Cheetah helicopters, in a knocked down version. The indigenous Dhruv helicopters, bigger than the Cheetah, were unable to land there due to lack of proper space. The Army meanwhile released the names of the 10 soldiers who were buried alive. They are: Subedar Nagesha TT from Karnataka, Havildar Elumalai M from Tamil Nadu, Lance Havildar S Kumar from Tamil Nadu, Lance Naik Sudheesh from Kerala, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad from Karnataka, Sepoy Mahesha from Karnataka, Sepoy Ganesan G from Tamil Nadu. Sepoy Rama Moorthy N from Tamil Nadu, Sepoy Mustaq Ahmed of Andhra Pradesh and Sepoy Nursing Assistant Suryawanshi of Maharashtra were also among those who were killed in the avalanche early on February 3. India and Sri Lanka today agreed to find an "innovative and lasting solution" to the fishermen issue, a major irritant in the bilateral ties, as the foreign ministers of the two countries reviewed the progress made in various sectors like defence, aviation and trade. The two countries also signed MoUs in education and health sectors after visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera co-chaired the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting here. The two sides also agreed that Sri Lankan fisheries minister Mahinda Amaraweera would travel to India to hold talks to resolve the fishermen issue. "There was an agreement that we need to find an innovative and lasting solution to this issue," said External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Renu Pall. "The fishermen issues was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved," she said. India has invited Sri Lankan fisheries minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, officials said. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. Under the MoUs that were signed today, India would help Sri Lanka in renovating 27 schools in the northern province. The second MoU is on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East. Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up Special Economic Zone in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in the aviation sector. Swaraj and Samaraweera also agreed to take forward the revised bilateral air services agreement. The two sides also discussed plans to enhance cooperation in aeronautical research and use of Indian satellite system 'Gagan' by Sri Lanka, officials said. "The joint commission has acknowledged the depth and intensity and uniqueness of this relationship," they said. The two ministers took stock of preparation underway on agreement in economy and technology cooperation. The preliminary exchanges in this regard were held in December when the commerce secretary of two countries met in New Delhi. India will organise a workshop here later this month on this subject. The two ministers also took recognisance of the reconstitution of the CEOs forum which is currently underway in both the nations. "They spoke about various projects which has been under discussion for sometime, including the upgradation of Palalli airport and about infrastructure development at Kankesanthuri port where four phases have been completed. Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) will send a delegation soon to take it further," they said. The officials also informed that Sampur power plant has got environment clearance. The project to construct two power plants with 250mw capacity was long overdue. On tourism, the officials said the second meeting of joint working group on tourism will be held in mid 2016 to take forward the collaboration on development of Ramayana circuit in Lanka and extension of Buddhist circuit in India. Sri Lanka also proposed on cooperation on oil tanks farm in Trincomalee. The ONGC and ministry of oil and petroleum will send a delegation here in this regard. The two sides also discussed cooperation in energy, railways, education, agriculture, defence, counter terrorism, health care and traditional marketing medicines. On housing project, the officials said 44,000 houses in North have been completed and work on 4,000 will start soon. Noting that Lanka has sought more seats for its medical students in Indian universities, they said the joint commission also discussed the potential of private universities opening their campus in Lanka. The Joint Commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January, 2013. Swaraj, who is here on a two-day visit, was earlier received by Samaraweera at the airport. She will tomorrow call on President Maithripala Sirisena and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga besides meeting other top leaders. India-Sri Lanka relations had seen lows during last few years of the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was voted out of power, even as China had expanded its footprint in the country by building ports, highways and participating in other infrastructure projects. The ties gained momentum after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in March last year, the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in over 25 years. Swaraj had visited Sri Lanka in March 2015. Expecting a huge growth in the super bike segment, particularly in the 500 cc category, UK-based high-end motorcycle manufacturer Triumph plans to sell about 1,800 bikes per year by 2020. We would like to almost double our volumes by 2020. We are aiming to sell around 1,700 to 1,800 bikes by that time, Triumph Motorcycles India Managing Director Vimal Sumbly said after launching three models in the Auto Expo. Triumph has launched three models of its iconic Bonneville range Street Twin, T120 and Thruxton R in De. The company has priced its 900 cc Street Twin at Rs 6.90 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), and its 1,200cc model T120 at Rs 8.70 lakh. However, it is yet to announce the price of Thruxton R, delivery for which would start from July 2016. Heavy competition Triumph competes with brands like Harley Davidson, Ducati, Kawasaki and Suzuki in the top-end segment. The company, which started its operations in the country two years ago, has sold 2,500 units so far. We have almost 30 per cent market share in India in 2015 in 500cc category as per industry data, Sumbly said. Triumph Motorcycles India has a network of 12 dealers. Triumph has one assembling unit in Manesar, Haryana and produces seven bikes out of its total range of 15. Its portfolio spans across superbike categories of classics, cruisers, roadsters. Toyota unveils hybrid Prius Aiming to push alternative fuel technology vehicles in the Indian market, Japanese auto major Toyota unveiled its all-new version of hybrid car Prius. The new fourth generation Prius combines a premium styling and an enjoyable driving dynamics, to showcase the advanced technology and the Prius DNA which Toyota intends to carry forward in future. Considering the rising oil imports and increased pollution, environment-friendly vehicles will go a long way. We are working to promote hybrid and other environment-friendly vehicles, based on our stance that these vehicles can have a positive impact on the environment, only if they are used widely, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Managing Director Naomi Ishii said. Armed to close FY2016 with $1 billion in annualised GMV, Askme is now set to address What next? Askmebazaar is now a marketplace, where over 16 million SMEs can be discovered. But, we cant just stop at discovery. It is now time for us to present a search-plus strategy, said Askme Group CMO and Head (Digital Strategy) Manav Sethi. The company has clocked $800 million as of January, 2016, in annualised GMV (gross merchandise value), and is building on its two latest acquisitions across the furniture and grocery verticals to lead its future growth. As we see it, grocery shopping, which is a mundane task, can be made into a popular shopping category online. Next, furniture-buying can be quite cumbersome, and online shopping fits the bill here too. On a standalone basis, both show great potential to become billion dollar businesses themselves, he said. As a horizontal marketplace, Askmebazaar caters to categories ranging from electronics to apparel and grocery to home interiors, among several others. However, within the year-end, the company plans pan-India launches of Askemgrocery.com and Askmefurniture.com (as the company plans to rename Mebelkart.com). Post the acquisition of Bestatlowest.com at $10 million, about nine months ago, grocery operations for the portal have scaled from one city, Delhi NCR to 38 cities across the country. Mebelkart.com, on the other hand, which the company acquired about three months ago for $20 million, has gone to add up to 2,000 merchants to its existing 2,500 merchant base. With Askmebazaar.com, we already have the merchants on board, so, there is no incremental cost in doing this. We have a resilient back-end in place, so, this is the logical step forward, he asserted. Tier II cities will play a big role, as we expand operations this year. The basket sizes for grocery and furniture are bigger in tier II cities, he added. State Sugarcane Growers Association president Kurbur Shanthakumar on Friday gave a clarion call to farmers to revolt against the elected representatives, who were visiting villages to campaign for Zilla and Taluk Panchayat elections scheduled to be held in two phases on February 13 and 20. Addressing media here, Shanthakumar said, It has become a habit for elected representatives to play with the lives of the farmers. The only time to mend them is during the run up to the elections. If farmers protest, the representatives may take some measures in the interest of the agrarian community, at least for the fear of losing the polls. He warned of staging a protest in front of the houses of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and District In-charge Minister V Srinivas Prasad, if the sugar factories fail to pay a fair and remunerative price (FRP) before February 10. Shanthakumar said, When the farmers laid siege to Bannari Amman Sugar Factory on January 12, the management had promised the District Administration, in writing, to settle the amount (Rs 2,469 per tonne) within two weeks. However, the management has failed to keep its promise and the District Administration is yet to initiate action. Both, the elected representatives and the District Administration, should interfere and take measures to settle the amount at the earliest, he added. He also appealed to the Centre to divert the resources generated from gold deposit scheme for the benefit of farmers. Also, the recently launched crop insurance scheme for farmers should cover all the crops, he added. Knife Attacks and Knife Laws in NYC We're just over a month into 2016 and already New York City has seen a significant spike in knife attack numbers. The New York Daily News reports slashings and stabbings have jumped 24 percent over the same period last year, with 381 incidents in 2016 alone. The rise in knife attacks comes at the same time the city's knife laws are under federal judicial review. So what are the knife laws in NYC, and why are they not working? NYC Knife Laws In general, knives are legal to carry, but every state and city has their own knife laws. For instance, New York's weapon statute bans the possession of any "gravity knife, switchblade knife, pilum ballistic knife, [or] metal knuckle knife" at all, as well as any "dagger, dangerous knife, dirk, razor, [or] stiletto" with the intent to use it unlawfully. It's the prohibition on "gravity knives" that has caused a recent uproar. Gravity knives are defined as "any knife which has a blade which is released from the handle or sheath thereof by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force which, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever or other device," which outlaws everything from butterfly knives to utility knives. The law dates back to the 1950s, and a recent Village Voice article in the Village Voice points out that New York City law enforcement have used the law to imprison thousands, sometimes for five years or more, just for having a common folding knife sold in hardware and sporting goods stores. Opponents have field a suit, claiming the law is unconstitutionally vague and should therefore be void. NYC Knife Attacks The number of knife attacks in New York City is up above ground and below. As the Daily News points out, "cops were investigating seven slashings and three stabbings on the rails this year," up from three slashings and two stabbings over the same time period last year. The article highlighted three separate attacks on Tuesday alone: An 18-year-old sliced on his way home from school in Brooklyn. A 31-year-old slashed on his way out of a barber shop in Harlem. A 65-year-old cut on his way home from work in the Bronx. NYC's recent enforcement of its old knife law hasn't deterred knife attacks in the city. And we'll wait to see what the court will say about the law going forward. If you've been charged with a knife crime, you should talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Related Resources: The Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, College of Fisheries and National Fisheries Development Board will organise a 15-day national training programme on aquatic medicine at the Fisheries College from February 8. Speaking to media persons, Dean and Course Director Dr K M Shankar said the college has taken the lead in introducing teaching and research in aquatic medicine with the help of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (New Delhi). The teaching in aquatic medicine-pharmacology, toxicology and chemotherapy or the undergraduate BFSc programme is approved at the national-level by the ICAR from 2016. Development of monoclonal antibodies-based field-level kits for detection of antibiotic residues in fish and research of pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in shrimp are some of the recent efforts of the college in this direction. In addition, there is a need for creating awareness on aquatic medicine among the in-service personnel of the State government and universities in the country. In-service officials and teachers /scientists representing State government and universities of nine states are attending the training programme, he said. Dr Shankar said microbial diseases are a stumbling block in aquafarming. Annually, India is losing crores of rupees due to diseases in aquaculture. Farmers are using antibiotics, drugs, chemicals, pesticides and their resides in fish is a concern from both fish and consumers safety point of view. Antibiotic resistance in human/fish pathogens through aquaculture products is another important dimension. At present, the use of drugs in aquafarming is not regulated properly mainly due to lack of education and research, mode of action and pharmacokinetics of the drugs /antibiotics in these cold blooded vertebrates/invertebrates is entirely different compared to warm blooded vertebrates. This calls for the introduction of aquatic medicine as a new area of venture in fisheries education and research, he said. Dr Shankar said India produces 10 million tonnes of fish per year. The fish production in the past is mainly from mechanised fishing and aquafarming is contributing only a small portion of the total production. However, in the last two decades, the aquafarming has growing tremendously and is contributing about 54 per cent of total production. Currently, 23 lakh acre is under aquafarming for fish and shellfish production in fresh, brackish and marine waters in India, he explained. Dalit leaders expressed displeasure over delay in the payment of compensation for the victims of atrocities under SC and ST(Prevention Of Atrocities) Act at a meeting convened to redress their grievances at the SPs office here on Friday. They claimed that compensation has not been paid in some cases even after three years. Raising the issue in the meeting, Dalit leader S P Anand said the police file the chargesheet on atrocities within 90 days and submit a report to the social welfare officer. There is a delay in pursuing the case in the Social Welfare Department. The compensation should be paid at the earliest, to help the victim to lead life. The victims are not begging. The compensation is the right of the victim, he said. Additional Superintendent of Police Vincent Shanthakumar said he will look into the issue with the social welfare officer. He said atrocity related cases can be filed in the police stations round-the-clock.The station house officer need not wait for the inspector to file the case, he stated and said that he will issue a direction to all the head constables to receive the atrocity-related cases. Anand urged the police to file a criminal case against those who have illegally acquired the land reserved for the SC/ST at Arambodu in Belthangady taluk. The individuals who had acquired the land have constructed a huge building on the land. The issue was brought to the notice of the DC and he had directed the tahsildar to stop the work. Though the work has been stopped during day time, the work continues at night, he alleged. Dalit activist Raghuveer Sutterpete said Dalit students face problems which Hyderabad Central University research scholar Rohith Vemula face and urged the police to organise legal awareness camps to create awareness on the laws for the protection of community members. Most of these problems arise due to lack of awareness about the laws that protect them. The awareness programmes should be organised in colleges, he said. Shanthakumar directed the police officials to conduct a workshop for the college students in their jurisdiction. Dalit leader Keshav said the incidents of untouchability and slavery continue in rural areas. Citing a case, he said people from upper class assaulted a Dalit labourer at Bajirodi in Puttur recently. The police have arrested the assaulters and they should ensure that the perpetrators are punished, he demanded. The Dalit leaders also expressed anguish at the misuse of funds meant for the welfare of SC/ST communities in ULBs and Gram panchayats. Gangadhar said he has been asking Bantwal Town Municipal Council to install streetlights and lay a road leading to SC/ST colony in Bantwal for the last 10 years. In spite of funds available for the welfare of SC/ST communities, the civic body has failed to act in this regard, he charged. When INS Sahyadri visited Vietnams port city Da Nang and Japan last October, Chinese expressed concerns on whether Vietnam and Japan would be joining hands with India to form diplomatic and security ties to contain China from both sides. Asked about the India-China relation, Rear Admiral Yu Manjiang from the 21 Task Force of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy said, We are neighbouring countries with common issues. We should improve our relationship. Two PLA Navy guided-missile frigates, Liuzhou and Sanya, are participating in the international fleet review. Interestingly, Rear Admiral Yu came to Visakhapatnam within weeks of visiting Pakistan with these two ships for an exercise. With India and China competing for supremacy in the Indian Ocean region, presence of 100 warships from 49 countries in the Bay of Bengal demonstrates how India used naval diplomacy in securing international support in opposing Chinas muscle flexing in the Indian Ocean.With China being one of the guests at the mega maritime show, Indian officials are not officially commenting on Chinese submarines forays in Indias neighbourhood and the South China Sea controversies.But New Delhis position on the high seas being global commons where everyone should have freedom of navigation, received support from other nations attending the mega maritime show.India led the IONS (Indian Ocean Naval Symposium) initiative, which the UK is happy to support. We also believed in freedom of navigation and following the UN convention on the laws of the sea, said an UK official.In the last one and half years, the Indian Navy revived its diplomatic role, making port of calls in more than 50 nations. One of the unstated objectives behind those voyages was to garner support from others in opposing Chinas naval overreach. Two soldiers, one from Hassan and another from Dharwad, are believed to be among those feared dead in the avalanche that struck Siachen Glacier on February 3. An eerie silence filled the house of T T Nagesh of Tejuru, on the outskirts of Hassan, where his wife Asha and his two children Amit (11) and Preetham (7) live. Nagesh was deputed to Siachen only a day before the accident and had informed his family about his posting over phone. The avalanche struck the following day and the government confirmed the death of all the 10 soldiers on Thursday. According to sources, the Army office had called Nageshs relative on Thursday around 12 noon and informed that Nagesh may be among the 10 trapped under the glacier and efforts were on to trace them. However, they were not contacted again, said Annappa, Nageshs relative. The news has left Asha and her children shocked and they are awaiting information from the Army. Neighbours and relatives have been visiting the family since yesterday. Nagesh, 41, has been in service for 22 years and had visited Hassan about five months ago, said Annappa. Nagesh was constructing a house at Tejuru and work was still in progress. Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, the other Army man from the state killed in the avalanche, is a native of Betadur, a small village in Kundagol taluk of Dharwad district. Till Friday night, there was no official communication from the Army to the family and even the office of the Superintendent of Police had not received any official communication. Youngest of four Hanamanthappa is the youngest of the four sons of Ramappa Koppad, who died a few years ago. Hanamanthappa was part of a joint family which owns three acres of land with his brothers engaged in farming. Hanamanthappa, who had been in the Army for 14 years, was married four years ago and has a two-year old daughter. He had visited the village six months ago. Hanamanthappas eldest brother Govindappa said they had not received any information from the Army so far. Hanamanthappa had called us on Tuesday and enquired about all of us. We have a few acquaintances working with him and they informed us that he had gone missing after the avalanche. We tried to contact him, but in vain. We came to know about his demise from the TV, said Govindappa, whose son Ramappa is undergoing Army training at Bengaluru. The Maharashtra government on Friday told the Supreme Court that the Bombay High Courts acquittal of actor Salman Khan in the 2002-hit-and-run case was complete travesty of justice. It claimed that the high court ignored the statements of important witnesses including actors bodyguard Ravindra Patil. After hearing arguments by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi for about 40 minutes, a bench of Justices J S Khehar and C Nagappan, however, said, We are still making up our minds we must remember it is an appeal against an acquittal. Rohatgi, on his part, submitted the apex court had very wide powers under Article 136 of the Constitution. He said there is no restriction on this court to entertain an appeal against acquittal. Moreover, this is not just a case of acquittal but a case of reversal of conviction, he added. He said that the appeal must be admitted and notice must be sent to Salman. The court fixed February 12 as the next date of hearing. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the actor, said he also has a lot to say and counter arguments by Rohatgi. Salman, awarded five-year jail term by the trial court, was acquitted by the high court in last December. The state government questioned the high courts conclusion that it was not clear who was driving the Land Cruiser on September 28, 2002 when the SUV ran over a man sleeping on the pavement, leaving him dead. Rohatgi read out statements of two witnesses, contending there were only three persons in the car Salman, his friend Kamal Khan and actors bodyguard Ravindra Patil. The Delhi Police have arrested a 28-year-old Mumbai resident over his suspected links with extremist militant group Islamic State (IS). Mohsin Abrahem Sayeed was acting as a financier and had given Rs 50,000 to four persons who were arrested in Uttarakhands Haridwar district last month for planning terror strikes. The group had been collecting matchboxes to make bombs using explosives attached with the head of the sticks. They allegedly planned to target the ongoing Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, trains heading there and strategic locations in Delhi and NCR. According to the police, Mohsin was arrested at north Delhis Kashmere Gate ISBT and Rs 85,000 was recovered from his possession. The money was channelised through hawala route. Mohsin was arranging funds for the four men and was given the job to arrange for logistics. He had come to Delhi to meet his associates, said Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep. Mohsin is one of the three Mumbai youths who went missing in December 2015. Earlier, the Mumbai Police had said that they suspected these youths to have followed the lead of another youth, who went missing in October 2015 and is now suspected to be in Kabul and joined the terror outfit. Mohsin told the police that he was planning to go to Syria. He claims there are camps in Syria to fight for the Islamic State. During questioning, Mohsin told the police that he was radicalised by the Islamic literature he found on the Internet. He later contacted some persons on the Internet. He was made to go through some texts and speeches after which he owed his allegiance to the outfit. Mohsin was in touch particularly with Akhlaq ur-Rehman, one of the four persons arrested last month, Deep added. Ghayal Once Again Hindi (U/A) Cast: Sunny Deol, Narendra Jha Director: Sunny Deol The man has aged, but his dhai kilo ka haath hasnt. So when Sunny Deol returns after 16 years still licking his first wound more baddies are bound to be battered by those heavy-duty limbs. Deol dutifully goes through the beating-to-pulp routine, but restrains his lungs, thankfully. The vigilante of 1990-hit Ghayal did a fresh job then. Nobody could better him. Now, after two decades, when he takes on the corrupt system once again, the hangover shows. With no formidable opponent and with just four students to protect, our man (who is also the films director) just lets his superhero powers snooze in the office of Satyakam a media group of which he is the heart, soul and expose expert. An RTI activist (Om Puri) is murdered and Deol gets to work his muscles upon a bunch of phoren goons. The men are sent by an industrialist an effective and suave Narendra Jha who has a finger in every Mumbai pie. The tycoon and his spoilt son keep Deol on the job for the rest of the movie. The action is gripping and the chase sequences first-rate. A CGI helicopter, though, undoes the good work in the end. Deol fans may enjoy the hulking show. The others neednt get hurt a second time. Cosby Criminal Sexual Assault Case Proceeds in PA A Pennsylvania judge ruled this week that a criminal sexual assault case against Bill Cosby will proceed, NPR reports. This despite claims that the comedian received immunity from prosecution over a decade ago in connection with the civil suit filed by alleged victim, Andrea Constand. The immunity claim was supported by the statements of a former District Attorney that he orally agreed not to prosecute Cosby. The agreement was allegedly given to Cosby's now-deceased attorney at the alleged victim's lawyers' request. The judge apparently was not buying it and the criminal case will proceed. Beware the Headlines Even though Judge Steven O'Neill refused to dismiss the case against Cosby, stemming from an alleged assault against Temple University employee Andrea Constand in 2004, it is not yet clear that he will be tried criminally. The next step is a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for a prosecution at this point.. Some media outlets, like NPR, are reporting that Cosby is going to trial. The truth is just that his trials -- in the existential sense -- continue as his legal team fends off attacks from all sides, sometimes successfully. Apart from this criminal prosecution, which may not proceed if prosecutors cannot show sufficient evidence, the comedian faces accusations of defamation and assault in civil suits around the country. Mixed News Weekly Yesterday the busy Cosby legal team got good news when a former Playboy model moved to dismiss a civil suit for sexual assault, filed last year. But Chloe Goins, the alleged victim, asked to dismiss without prejudice, meaning she's reserving the right to file her claim again. Goins did not explain this move but prosecutors did recently decide not to go forward with a criminal case, stemming from an alleged 2008 assault. Every week it seems there are new developments in the Cosby cases, claims and counterclaims, dismissals and prospective prosecutions. Regardless of the outcome of any one particular case, however, it is safe to assume that the once-beloved comedian feels defeated by the highly litigious and not at all amusing turn his life has taken. Follow FindLaw for Consumers on Facebook and Twitter (@FindLawConsumer). Related Resources: Protesting against the TDP governments failure to fulfill its poll-time promise to declare Kapus as a backward caste, members of the community protested across Andhra Pradesh beating empty plates. Protestors skipped their lunch and gathered in their respective localities to express dismay over the governments let down. Kapu leader and former Kakinada MP Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife Padmavathi began their indefinite hunger strike at 9 am Friday at their residence in Kirlampudi in East Godavari district. The strike is a symbolic representation of the widespread poverty of the Kapus against the general notion that they are economically advanced. My demands are simple, grant Rs 1900 crore for the Kapu Corporation for the two years and grant BC status to Kapus, Mudragada told the media before sitting on hunger strike, adding he was prepared to give up the strike even if the government reduces the BC commissions timeframe from six to three months. A team of doctors monitoring his health said Friday evening that his sugar levels have dropped. Despite police imposing section 144 across the district and restricting movement between Kirlampudi and nearby towns, a steady stream of Kapu activists and well-wishers have been reaching Kirlampudi to express solidarity with Mudragada. Police were seen allowing supporters in batches to Mudragadas residence. Signalling that it is open for negotiation, the state government Thursday night despatched its Kapu leaders Tota Trimurtulu, Bonda Umamaheswar Rao and Boddu Bhasakara Rama Rao to persuade Mudragada to give up the strike action. But the leaders returned to Vijayawada without any assurances from the former MP. On Friday four ministers out of the six Cabinet Sub-Committee members have met Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu who is in Visakhapatnam for the International Fleet Review and apprised him of the situation. Objecting to the governments handling of the Kapu agitation for a BC status, opposition YSR Congress said it supports Mudragada Padmanabhams strike action. Speaking to reporters here Friday, party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu said police are harassing Kapu community in the Godavari districts by taking their pictures and threatening action against them, instead of including them in the reservation list without affecting the BCs. President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday cautioned on shortfall in foodgrain production against the backdrop of second consecutive drought year and dry spell that followed. Despite the advancements made, Indian agriculture is yet to be completely out of the clutches of weather, Mukherjee said addressing the 54th convocation of the Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) here. Indian farmers had posted a record harvest of 265 million tonnes of foodgrain in 2013-14, a year that saw normal monsoon, but farm out put slumped to 253 million tonnes the following year when rainfall was 12 per cent deficient. Nature has not been kind to us this year as well. A deficient monsoon followed by a further dry spell is likely to affect agricultural production for the second year in a row. This is an area of grave concern, Mukherjee said. The President said climate change could aggravate such problems and institutions such as the IARI must leverage opportunities from frontier sciences to develop climate- resilient technological solutions. Innovation in agricultural techniques and practices must be supported through infusion of funds, mentoring of ideas, and technical assistance. The risk-taking ability of farmers must be boosted. The newly-launched crop insurance scheme will leverage technology to provide risk cover to the farmers, he said. The Tanzanian student, in her complaint on February 3, stated that the mob had attacked her and her friends, and stoned their car when they were going to get something to eat. She had claimed that she was unaware of the accident. However, a police inspector who claimed to be on the spot on Sunday night, said that the Tanzanian student was among the four people who were in the car that caused the accident. After they pleaded, the police let her and the two others go. The African students assured the police that they would come back for questioning the next day in connection with the accident, the officer said. I was one of the officers who was on the spot. Though I belong to a neighbouring station, I rushed to the spot as I have often dealt with such incidents involving African students. We subjected car driver Mohammad Ahad to alcometer test. We presumed that the incident might take a serious turn and let the three others go. We trusted her and thought that she would come back. We never imagined that she would backtrack and cook up a story, he said. The officer claimed that the mob pushed her down when she attempted to rescue Ahad. Some people warned her not to intervene. The police also claimed that she narrated the truth when she met her college principal the next day. She is a fourth year degree student at Acharya NRV School of Architecture. Meanwhile, sources told Deccan Herald that she had also told a senior IPS officer that she was in the car that caused the accident. Juma Charles, a student of Aerospace at Alliance University, said the Tanzanian girl was in a different car that passed through the accident spot 20 minutes after the accident. Asked about the presence of the Tanzanian woman in the car which caused the accident and if she was in an inebriated state as claimed by the officer, Bosco Kaweesi, legal advisor, All African Students Union, Bengaluru, told Deccan Herald: If at all she was present in the car that caused the accident, the people saying this should prove that. Also, if she was drunk, let them come out with an alcohol test certificate. Vice-President of Cameroon Students Association said: I dont think the police version is true. What has come in media is a fact. The case of assault and molestation of a Tanzanian girl student has taken a new twist with the police claiming that she was in the very car driven by a Sudanese national that fatally knocked down a woman on Hesaraghatta Main Road in north Bengaluru on Sunday night. Indicating that well-intentioned IT firms are ready to finance urban mobility projects in the City, Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Thursday drew attention to Infosys readiness to release Rs 100 crore for the Electronics City flyover. In an interaction with Deccan Herald, Murthy stressed that Infosys was prepared to be a proactive citizen to make urban commute easy for everyone. Murthy had lent his support to the Bengaluru Blueprint to formulate a structured framework for the citys growth. In this regard, he identified four areas to make the City more liveable: Transportation, pollution, security and water. The first priority, he said, will be to create user-friendly and congestion-free transportation means. Citizens should be able to commute from East to West and North to South easily. Pollution levels in the City have to be arrested before it gets beyond control. Instead of waiting for that reaching the unbearable level, we should work ahead to take on it, he noted. Commuter safety, especially during night, was another area that Murthy wanted the spotlight to be on. He was clear that we have to take proactive steps in this regard. Identifying availability of water as a critical factor that would determine Bengalurus future, Murthy said the northern part of the City faced water shortage and the South was heavily dependent on supply from River Cauvery. But, he cautioned, the river itself is in bad shape because of bad rain last year. We have to improve the availability of water and also educate citizen on how to use the resource very sparingly. Many challenges The challenges are many. But Murthy felt City Development Minister K J George was keen to make a difference to Bengaluru. Discussions related to boosting the Citys infrastructure are on at multiple levels. Many eminent citizens are being consulted, the co-founder of Infosys said. Would the IT sector support steps to maximise available resources such as boosting the rail network passing close to Electronic City? He was non-committal, but added: We will have to talk to George. I dont want to give a half-baked knowledge. We are working to extend the Metro to Electronic City. Despite thousands of MBA seats going unfilled every year due to plunging interest levels in the state, a recent national survey however revealed that aspirants still considered Bengaluru the third most preferred destination for pursuing the course. The survey was conducted among 87,700 people who showed an interest in pursuing an MBA. For as many as 85 percent of the respondents, going to national B-schools like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) with MBA programmes, was a priority. This, irrespective of their location. After the national B-schools, respondents chose Delhi and the NCR (National Capital Region) as the second most preferred destination. These accounted for about 62 percent of the total respondents. A number of well-known private institutes like MDI (Management Development Institute) and others like the FMS (Faculty of Management Studies) are quite well known and it is no wonder students chose this region, said Amit Agnihotri, chairman, MBAuniverse.com, an MBA preparation portal, that compiled the survey. Bengaluru came a close third with 57 percent of the respondents choosing the City as their preferred destination for the course. Besides the Indian Institute Management, Bangalore (IIMB) there are a number of private colleges offering the course. However, Agnihotri was of the opinion that many of these institutions were not getting the exposure that is required to attract more students. After Bengaluru, 43 percent of the respondents said they would go to Pune for their MBA. Dr M S Subhas, vice-chancellor, Vijayanagara Krishnadevaraya University, Ballari said there was a need for MBA institutions in the City and the state to introduce measures for institution building like pedagogy, admissions and even placements. Experts also point out to a number of deterrents that discourage students from coming to the state to pursue the course. These include late entrance exams and a proliferation of low quality institutions. Fertility Organization Removes Price Caps for Donor Eggs How much is a life worth? Or, more accurately, how much is a donor egg that could begin a life worth? For more than a decade, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has set the price guidelines for donor eggs, suggesting that donated human eggs should not be sold for more than $5,000 without justification, and that a $10,000 price tag was "beyond what is appropriate." Unsurprisingly, the women donating or selling their eggs weren't pleased with the price caps, and filed an antitrust lawsuit against ASRM, alleging the suggested prices amounted to illegal price fixing. And this week, ASRM settled the case, and agreed to remove the language from its guidelines. Antitrust, Pro Free Market Antitrust laws are designed to ensure fair competition among businesses, and outlaw artificially fixed prices. Normally this arises when several firms in the same industry agree to set prices to either drive out new competitors or gouge customers. In this case, four women who donated their eggs claimed ASRM's guidelines artificially suppressed the price of their eggs, and was illegal under federal antitrust laws. While the guidelines were not mandatory, 90 percent of the nation's fertility clinics are members of the society, and therefore follow the pricing suggestions. Less Oocyte Price Oversight The lawsuit was filed as a class action, and ASRM decided to settle the case before more plaintiffs joined in. As it stands, the group will pay $1.5 million in fees and costs, along with $5,000 to each of the four women. ASRM has also agreed to remove the pricing language from its pricing guidelines: "ASRM will amend the challenged report concerning donor compensation by removing numbered paragraph 3 (which reads 'Total payments to donors in excess of $5,000 require justification and sums above $10,000 are not appropriate.') and by removing the following language from page 4: 'Although there is no consensus on the precise payment that oocyte donors should receive, at this time sums of $5,000 or more require justification and sums above $10,000 are not appropriate' and 'A recent survey indicates that these sums are in line with the practice of most SART member clinics.'" How donor eggs will be valued going forward will probably depend on either the fertility clinic setting its prices independently or negotiating with the donor. Both sides expect the settlement to be finalized in the coming weeks. Related Resources: Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda had to face the ire of residents of Ganapathipura on Friday, when he went to visit the house of Shabana Taj who was mowed down recently by a speeding car driven by a Sudanase student in the area. When Gowda approached Tajs house to offer his condolences to her family members, the local residents stopped him. They said those arrested by the police following an assault on a 21-year-old Tanzanian student were innocent. The attack on the student was a mob fury after Taj died in the accident, they said. Politicians were rallying behind the Tanzanian student but did not bother to promptly visit the family of the deceased, they said. Special squad Speaking to reporters, Gowda blamed the government for failing to protect law and order in the State. The State government, instead of admitting its lapses, was blaming the Centre, he said, adding that it was the duty of the police to ensure that foreign students followed the law of the land. The State government should form a special squad to keep a watch on foreign students, he said. If the State government cannot control the law and order situation, then it will lead to a much bigger problem in the days to come. I urge the government to constitute a special squad to monitor foreign students, Gowda said. He also demanded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Taj. He said several foreign students had been staying in the City despite the expiry of their visa permit. He said he would also discuss the issue with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. A police inspector and constable were suspended on Friday for dereliction of duty in controlling the mob violence that led to the attack on Tanzanian students on Hesaraghatta main road in northern Bengaluru on the night of January 31, 2016. G Praveen Babu, inspector of Soladevanahalli police station, and Manjunath, a constable attached to the Peenya police station, who was patrolling the area on a Cheetah motorcycle, have been suspended, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said. The inspector was suspended as he failed to properly investigate the incident while the constable, who was on the spot, didnt alert the senior police officers about the mob going on a rampage and burning two cars, he added. The mob had gone berserk after a drunk Sudanese student mowed down a woman and injured her husband. The Tanzanian students were attacked when they happened to pass by the area half an hour later. The incident has attracted nationwide outrage with the Tanzanian High Commissioner insisting that the students, who were no way connected to the accident, were targeted because they were black. A senior police officer, who did not want to be named, said that the inspector had failed to conduct blood alcohol test on the people in the second car, including the driver, to check whether they were drunk. Soon after a Tanzanian man named Jamal Ibrahim was assaulted, the Hoysala patrol squad rushed him to hospital, but it forgot to check on the Tanzanian woman who was also assaulted and molested. Case registered It was only on February 3 that the Tanzanian woman came out stating that she was molested and thats when the inspector recorded her statement and registered a case under section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC, the officer said. The inspector also failed to ask Ibrahim about the number of people present with him in the car and what happened to them when the mob went on the rampage. Besides, had the constable passed on the information, more policemen could have rushed to the spot and things would not have gone put of hand, he added. The management of Acharya Group of Institutes, where hundreds of students from African nations and the Middle East are pursuing their education, have constituted three groups comprising its employees to instil confidence and sense of security among the overseas students. Such a measure has been taken following the recent violence on Hesaraghatta Main Road, where a Sudanese student was assaulted and Tanzanian woman, studying in Acharya College of Architecture, was molested. The foreign national students are reportedly living in fear after the incident on Sunday night. Ramakrishna Gowda, administrator of Acharaya Group of Institutes, told Deccan Herald, The management has constituted three groups of four members each. The three groups will go around Soladevanahalli, AGB Layout, Chikkasandra, MEI Layout and Kirloskar Layout to ensure the safety of the overseas students . Also, the groups will take necessary steps to instil confidence among the students and reassure them that they won't be attacked. We have also deployed around six security guards, who work at the Acharaya Institute, to the areas, where foreign students live to make sure that no student is troubled, he added. Also, there were rumours that the locals were planning to attack the foreign students again. The jurisdictional police, however, have dismissed the rumours. A few policemen are being deployed in Soladevanahalli and near the college and constant patrolling is being carried out, said a police officer. African students on Friday expressed the problems they were facing in the City during their meeting with Tanzanian High Commissioner John W H Kijazi and senior officials of Ministry of External Affairs. About 60 students attended the interaction meeting held at the police commissioners office. Some of the students voiced issues like frequent tiffs with autorickshaw drivers, shops charging more for commodities, house owners hiking the rent exorbitantly and misundertsanding with locals due to language problems. The students said that they came to Bengaluru for academic programmes. They also said that they respect the Indian law and expect the Bengalurueans to treat them like human beings. After the meeting, which was also attended by senior police officers, students said they were satisified with the assurances made by the police. Meanwhile, the High Commissioner expressed satisfaction over the safety measures for African students in Bengaluru. I dont think the Bengaluru incident will have any adverse impact on Indo-African ties and relations including ties with Tanzania. The Indian government has expressed its commitment for the safety of African nationals in India he told reporters after the meeting. The African community does not carry any negative opinion about the police and the locals. We had a detailed discussion regarding measures to prevent violence in future. A large number of African students stay in Bengaluru, Mumbai and other major cities in India and Bengaluru houses highest number of African students. We have highest respect for the law on the Indian soil, he said. DG and IGP Omprakash said that local police station inspectors had been directed to hold meetings once a month to redress the grievances of Africans. City Police Commissioner N S Megharik said that the African students have called off their protest in the City on Saturday after the assurances made by the police. Tanzanian High Commissioner John W H Kijazi on Friday toned down his earlier suggestion that a woman from his country was targeted by a mob on January 31, 2016, because she was black. After an hour-long meeting here with Home Minister G Parameshwara, State police chief Om Prakash and Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh along with officials of the Ministry of External Affairs, he said, I dont want to dwell too much into racism. You people (media) take too much interest in that. We are not here to discuss the issue of racism. Speaking to reporters earlier, Kijazi had said that the attack on the Tanzanian woman and four men, all from different African countries, was racist. After taking note of the accident that claimed the life of a woman and the subsequent investigation, the High Commissioner said that he was satisfied with the police action. The notion of racism has come out due to a friction between local residents and African people. Each of us has our own translation of racism and that is the reason I dont want to dwell into the point of racism. We believe that the local community can live in harmony (with African community). We must look at the future and build confidence on both sides, he said. On a question about repeated incidents of friction between the African people and the local residents, the High Commissioner passed a message to his fellow countrymen. The friction shouldnt be escalated beyond a point. I think the African students also need to follow the rule of the land and respect the leadership of the state and local community. We need to work together to institute a system where local residents and students can interact more often, he said. Joint Secretary (States), Ministry of External Affairs, Partha Satpathy, said that certain short- and long-term plans were discussed at the meeting with Parameshwara. The attack on African nationals was an isolated incident and the consequence of a series of incidents. There is no conflict between the State and the Centre. Our objective is to ensure the safety of African nationals. We want to give a message that African nationals are welcome in this country, he said. Parameshwara said that the Bengaluru police had been asked to submit a report on the incident within 48 hours. The High Commission delegates are convinced with our swift response to the situation. We have already arrested nine people involved in the mob attack on the students. We have also expressed our sympathy for the family which lost an earning member in the accident. In an effort to have a long-term plan, we are considering forming committees involving both local residents and African students. The students involved in the January 31 incident have complained about the loss of their passports and other documents. The High Commission has assured them of all the help, he said. Sierra Nevada Space Systems of Louisville won a piece of a multibillion-dollar NASA contract on Thursday to ferry supplies to and from the International Space Station starting in 2019. The win comes just 16 months after Sierra Nevadas Dream Chaser was left out in the cold in bidding for NASAs new crewed space taxi program, a disappointing loss that the Nevada-based corporation unsuccessfully protested. For Space Systems chief Mark Sirangelo, winning part of the cargo contract was not so much vindication as satisfaction. The team I have around me could have all decided to go home, get other jobs. What we saw is a group of people saying, We almost won the Super Bowl and were not going to go back and have a losing season. Were going to make sure that next time out, we win, he said. This competition is quite a bit bigger than the one we lost we came back and won a contract that has a $14 billion potential to it. Sierra Nevada, and its cargo-modified Dream Chaser, was one of three companies to win a Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract, joining existing NASA cargo haulers Orbital ATK of Dulles, Va. and SpaceX, the privately-held California company headed by billionaire Elon Musk. The uncrewed, reusable Dream Chaser Cargo System will be guaranteed at least six trips to the space station between 2019 and 2024, NASA officials said in a press conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. SpaceX and Orbital will also get at least six flights each. The total value on the contracts will depend on the type of missions ordered, officials said. They declined to give an estimate other than to say the final tally should be nowhere near the maximum approved amount of $14 billion. Sierra Nevada said it expects to significantly expand operations in Colorado and throughout the U.S. to support the contract requirements. The Dream Chaser program will continue to be based in Louisville, and the spacecraft assembled in Colorado. In such a major competition, we are truly humbled by the show of confidence in SNC and look forward to successfully demonstrating the extensive capabilities of the Dream Chaser spacecraft to the world, Sierra Nevada Corp. president Eren Ozmen said in a statement. SNCs receipt of this award is an American Dream come true for all of us. None of the new cargo missions have been scheduled yet, although the first orders are likely to come later this year, NASA officials said. NASA intends to mix and match missions from all three companies, choosing the spacecraft based on the space stations needs. Approximately four missions will occur every year. Sirangelo said Dream Chaser will be ready in time for the first launch under the new contracts, anticipated in late 2019. We dont have one ship in the Navy. We dont have one plane in the Air Force having a variety of spacecraft, thats a smart move, Sirangelo said. NASA did it right this time. While declining to detail the rationale for their selections, NASA officials did have good things to say about what Dream Chasers gentler landings and rapid return of science experiments could mean for the space station program. Sirangelo said their mini space shuttle is only vehicle that can meet all the missions NASA requested, whether thats ferrying pressurized or unpressurized cargo to the station, disposing of the space stations trash upon re-entry or bringing science experiments safely back to Earth. It can also dock with the station in multiple ways. The other two guys are capsules like we sent to the moon. They land in the ocean or the desert. We land on a runway, any runway a 737 can land on, Sirangelo said. Within a few hours of leaving the space station, we can be on the ground in Florida and they can be unloading the critical (experiments). Sierra Nevadas win is truly good news for the whole Colorado aerospace industry, said Edgar Johansson, president of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, at its Waterton Canyon campus in Jefferson County, is among the local companies that have been directly involved in the Dream Chasers development. The rocket that launches the shuttle is built by Centennial-based United Launch Alliance. We are the No. 2 space state in the U.S. and this is just more proof of why were in the top tier Sierra Nevada is winning NASA contracts and theyre right here in Colorado, Johansson said. It means so much for the state and for Sierra Nevada and for the whole aerospace community, he said. We are all celebrating. Emilie Rusch: 303-954-2457, erusch@denverpost.com or @emilierusch WASHINGTON One of the laboratories involved in the global fight against the Zika virus is the Fort Collins office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which six years ago nearly had its funding slashed by the Obama administration. The Colorado facility is the headquarters of the CDCs Division of Vector-Borne Diseases which focuses on illnesses carried by critters such as fleas and ticks. Since at least 2007 it has led U.S. efforts to combat the Zika virus that is spread by mosquitoes and can lead to birth defects in babies. But that nearly wasnt the case. As part of its 2011 budget request, the Obama administration in 2010 proposed a crippling cut to the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases that would have reduced its budget by $26.7 million. The idea was to use some of that money to bolster a broader infectious-disease program, but the plan ran into a wall of opposition from scientists and Colorado lawmakers. Researchers were concerned that cuts to the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, which now has branches in Atlanta and San Juan, Puerto Rico, would mean the CDC would have a diminished ability to scan the horizon for future threats. If youre not doing surveillance youre going to miss these things until you have a major outbreak, said Laura Kramer, a virologist at the New York Department of Health in Albany, to the publication Science at the time. Members of Colorados congressional delegation shared that anxiety and were concerned about job losses at the Fort Collins office. According to one estimate, a $26.7 million cut would have lead to a loss of nearly 100 jobs mostly at the Colorado laboratory. In response, three Colorado Democrats, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall and U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, lobbied their colleagues and the White House to restore the funding. I remember the basic point (the) scientists were making was that this was an incredibly short-sighted budget decision, Bennet said. Instead of having a proactive approach to the work we are going to be in completely reactionary mode. Not only is that bad from a disease-control perspective, but its not great from a budget perspective, he added. That made a lot of sense to me, and we were able to argue with the appropriations committee to get them to restore the proposed cuts that the presidents budget made. The campaign ultimately was successful, and the final version of the 2011 budget restored most of the $26.7 million in cuts, his office said. Since then the divisions 300 workers have been busy notably with the Zika virus. Dr. Lyle Petersen, director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, said his team of scientists from veterinarians and zoologists to physicians and molecular biologists has gone into overdrive to combat the latest outbreak. This is our highest priority right now, he said. Petersen added the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases has paid special attention to the Zika virus since 2007, when it popped up on the small island of Yap, east of the Philippines. Our division mobilized and went out there and examined that outbreak, he said. Nine years later, the division is at the forefront of efforts to deal with the current spread of the Zika virus, and team members have been dispatched to the CDCs emergency operations center in Atlanta. The illness is especially worrisome to pregnant women, as scientists suspect a link between the virus and microcephaly, a birth defect in which babies are born with heads smaller than average. Weve been working very extensively on this ever since this birth defect issue came about, Petersen said. But even as the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases works to combat the Zika virus, Petersen warned the future could be busier. Whats happening with all these mosquito-borne viruses is they are all increasing dramatically. And we have had to deal with more and more and more incoming infections that cause these giant outbreaks, he said. Mark K. Matthews: 202-662-8907, mmatthews @denverpost.com or @mkmatthews In a rare move, the Mongols Motorcycle Club held a news conference Thursday in Denver where a bow-tie-wearing lawyer, flanked by unidentified club members, spoke about Saturdays biker brawl that left one man dead. Las Vegas attorney Stephen Stubbs read from a statement and rarely veered from the script, which he described as important and pointed. The statement included the Mongols version of what happened in the fight between their club and the Iron Order Motorcycle Club at the Denver Motorcycle Expo at the National Western complex. The Mongols Motorcycle Club is confident that the many independent witnesses will tell the truth and this matter will be handled appropriately, Stubbs said. Everyone has the right to defend themselves from physical confrontation. If someone is threatened or attacked, that person has the right to stand up for himself and use appropriate force to defend against that threat. However, any force used to defend yourself must be reasonable. Victor Mendoza, a 46-year-old Mongol, died from a gunshot wound he received during the brawl. Seven others were injured, including someone who was stabbed. Each side has blamed the other for starting the fight. Stubbs statement said Mendoza was trying to disarm an Iron Order member who pointed a gun at a crowd of people. Mendoza was acting in self-defense, he said, and the shooters actions were unreasonable. He was a dedicated father and husband, Stubbs said of Mendoza. A true brother and friend with the talent to make kids smile. Victor Mendoza sacrificed his life attempting to save others. There is no greater love than this. Stubbs described the shooter, who has not been identified, as some intoxicated lunatic. A Colorado Department of Corrections officer, Derrick Duran, fired a shot in the fight. He is on administrative leave. Police have not said whether Durans shot struck anyone. Duran, who used the nickname Kong, has been identified as a member of the Iron Order. John C. Whitfield, an attorney for the Iron Order, said the Mongols version of the fight is fantasy. He also criticized the club for holding a news conference but refusing to cooperate with the police investigation. Its one thing to hold a press conference, Whitfield said. Its another thing to do what law-abiding citizens do and thats cooperate with the investigation. On Thursday, Denver police spokesman Doug Schepman said detectives continued interviewing witnesses and the investigation was ongoing. Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or @Noelle_Phillips Why Were My Social Security Disability Benefits Denied? Top 3 Reasons Disability insurance can give you a source of much needed income if you're too injured or sick to work. That's if it pays out. All too often, Social Security disability insurance claims are denied, for a variety of reasons. This can be a disheartening experience, but it's important to know that a denial is not the end of the process. It is possible to appeal a denial of your disability benefits, but the first step in the appeals process is figuring out why your claim was denied in the first place. Here are three of the most common reasons Social Security disability benefits are denied: 1. Paperwork Issues Filing a Social Security disability claim can mean mounds of paperwork and reams of instructions. And the majority of the initial denials of disability claims are based on missing or incomplete paperwork. Make sure you not only have the necessary forms filled out completely, but that you also collected all the necessary supporting documents, like medical records and treatment notes. Social Security staff are very particular about having forms filled out correctly, so don't be sloppy filling out the forms and make sure they aren't missing any vital or required information. (And don't lie on your claim forms. Filing a false claim can be a crime, and you could be charged with insurance fraud or making false statements to the government.) 2. Procedural Issues Every legal process has time limits, and Social Security disability claims are no different. While there is no hard deadline for when disability claims must be filed, there are limits to how long benefits are paid and the amount. So don't wait to long to file your claim. Also, the paperwork may not be the entire process. You may also need to release medical records, answer questions from the SSA, attend hearings or medical examinations, or otherwise cooperate with the agency. Any failure to do so could mean your benefits will be denied. 3. Medical Issues We already warned you not to lie about your medical condition, but that might not be the only medical reason your Social Security disability benefits will be denied. In some cases the SSA may disagree with your doctor's diagnosis, and you may need a second opinion. But the big one is following through on any treatment prescribed by a physician. If you fail to attend treatment sessions or physical therapy, or refuse to take prescribed medication for your condition, your claim may be denied. As we noted above, it is possible to appeal the denial of Social Security disability benefits. If you want to appeal your disability claim denial, you might want the help of an experienced disability attorney. Related Resources: A day after legislation to provide the right to assisted suicide was defeated in a state Senate hearing, Coloradans passionate for and against the bill filled a House committee hearing to have their voices heard again. Roland Halpern, who works for nonprofit Compassion & Choices, dedicated to expanding choice at the end of life, said he had a feeling the bill intended to make it legal for Colorado doctors to prescribe aid-in-dying medication to terminally ill patients was not going to make it out of the Senate. It was a done deal before it even started, Halpern said. The bill was struck down by three Republicans on the five-person committee Wednesday. The defeat did not deter supporters and opponents, who fear such a law would be abused, from turning out again Thursday. House Democrats passed the bill on a 6-5 party-line vote just before midnight at the end of hearing that started at 1:30 p.m. This bill is sold as choice and control, but when you look at the bill and what it actually says it does its stacked against the patient, said Margaret Dore, president of anti-assisted-suicide group Choice is an Illusion. Theyre sitting ducks, legally, under this. Halpern declared the turnout, if nothing else, a success. Im glad the people here had the opportunity to air their grievances, Halpern said. Bill supporter Laurie Brock agreed. I think its a process, she said. Itll take time, but its good that people are getting educated. Halpern suspects people will pay more attention to this issue in coming years, making it an election talking point in the state. An aid-in-dying law is going to be a reality in Colorado, Halpern said. Whether its this year, Im not sure, but it will happen. Elizabeth Hernandez: 303-954-1223, ehernandez@denverpost.com or @ehernandez [This is a disaster. CSIRO is a world-class research organization for climate science, on par with the UKs Hadley Centre for Climate Research , NASAs Goddard Institute for Space Studies , and Germanys Potsdam Institute of Climate Impact Research . Crippling Australias climate science capability deals a significant blow to humanitys struggle to survive our greatest existential threat: abrupt climate change. Des] By Peter Hannam 4 February 2016 (Sydney Morning Herald) Fears that some of Australias most important climate research institutions will be gutted under a Turnbull government have been realised with deep job cuts for scientists. Fairfax Media has learnt that as many as 110 positions in the Oceans and Atmosphere division will go, with a similarly sharp reduction in the Land and Water division. Total job cuts would be about 350 staff over two years, the CSIRO confirmed in an email to staff, with the Data61 and Manufacturing divisions also hit. The cuts were flagged in November, just a week before the Paris climate summit began, with key divisions told to prepare lists of job cuts or to find new ways to raise revenue. Climate will be all gone, basically, one senior scientist said before the announcement. [] It is understood just 30 staff will be left in the Oceans and Atmosphere unit and they will not be working on climate issues related to basic data gathering. This staggering attack on climate science is an act of political vandalism, pure and simple, and if the government doesnt back down on this its ordinary Australians who will ultimately pay the price, Nadine Flood, national secretary of the Community and Public Sector Union, said. [] Andy Pitman, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science at the University of NSW, said the scale of the cuts was jaw-droppingly shocking. Its a catastrophic reduction in our capacity to assess present and future climate change, Professor Pitman said. It will leave us vulnerable to future climate change and unable to take advantage of any positives that result. The impact will extend not just to the science being conducted in and around Australia but also to the ability of the country to retain and attract scientists, he said. They will focus on North American and European problems [when they go], not Australias, Professor Pitman said. [] The cuts had the potential to devastate climate science in Australia, Todd Lane, president of the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society, said. Not only does CSIRO play a key role in climate monitoring, it underpins all of the climate modelling activity in Australia, Associate Professor Lane said. If that is cut significantly, it will set us back at least a decade and will undermine our ability to predict future climate risk. [ more ] Climate science to be gutted as CSIRO swings jobs axe By Adam Morton, Peter Hannam, and Marcus Strom 5 February 2016 (Sydney Morning Herald) Australia will break a commitment made at the Paris climate summit less than two months ago if CSIRO goes ahead with its plan to axe its research programs, one of the agencys leading scientists has warned. John Church, a globally recognised expert on sea level rise and one of CSIROs most decorated researchers, said organisation chief Larry Marshall had misled the public by claiming there was now less need for climate research because the problem had been proven. It came as US scientist James Hansen, sometimes described as the father of climate change awareness, suggested the decision to cut the jobs was wrong. Dr Marshall announced via email on Thursday that 350 jobs would go over two years as the organisation moved away from observing and modelling climate change to working on solutions to the problem. Details of the cuts have not been finalised, but it is understood one of the worlds three major atmospheric greenhouse gas recording stations at Cape Grim, in Tasmanias north-west, is under threat. It is the only station of its type in the southern hemisphere. The future of programs run by the $120 million RV Investigator research ship, launched amid fanfare in late 2014, are among those that are unclear. CSIRO staff were forthright in their unhappiness at the cuts at briefings at midday on Friday, describing it as a flawed strategy. About 100 jobs are planned to go from units dedicated to research in areas including greenhouse gas levels, sea level rise, ocean temperatures, ocean acidification and assessing what is required to keep global warming to two degrees. The jobs would be replaced by new positions in other areas. Dr Church, who has worked at CSIRO since 1978 and expects to lose his job, said the cuts would make it difficult for Australia to uphold its part of the Paris deal, which agreed there should be greater investment in climate research, including improved observations and early warning systems. He said the work of CSIRO was considered particularly important because of Australias role as the major developed country in the southern hemisphere, with a focus on Antarctica and the Pacific. There is need for climate science there are clauses in the Paris agreement that say that. There is a clear need for ongoing sustained and enhanced observations. The science community is actually struggling to address these issues already and so further cuts mean it will be very difficult. Thats at variance with what the chief executive has been saying, that climate science is done. Thats clearly not the case its inaccurate, misleading information. [] Dozens of scientists issued statements in response to Dr Marshalls announcement. Many were incensed by the former venture capitalists suggestion that climate change science was a narrow field that had been proven to be a problem, and therefore no longer needed to be a focus. Dr Church said it was true climate change was proven, but more detail was needed if the world was going to adapt. To talk about it being a narrow science is completely inaccurate its a very broad area. It would be great if CSIRO could invest in mitigation. I dont see any signs it is doing that significantly. James Hansen, a former NASA scientist known for his testimony to US Congress in 1988 that arguably put concern about climate change on the map, said he was stunned by the announcement. Holy shit! That is unbelievable, he said. Is a conservative denier government in power? This seems to be a clear-cut case of shooting the messenger with the bad news. However, the messenger is needed to figure out what to do about the problem. [more] THE source for news of bluegrass and old-time music events in Ireland - and more Send in news or queries to the Bluegrass Ireland Blog (BIB) by e-mail , please; we can't send a direct reply to a comment on a post. The BIB does not do reviews or accept posts with 'marketing messages'. Thinking of touring in Ireland? Look at the BIB's THINKING OF TOURING IN IRELAND? page. Liberal Politics from the Heart of Bluegrass Country You can leave a response , or trackback from your own site. by Kathleen Gilbert BEIJING, September 7, 2012, (LifeSiteNews.com) Escaped Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is leading international opponents of forced abortion in calling upon the worlds largest company to end compliance with the Chinas one-child policy. Family planning police have targeted employees (569) Sign up below to have the hottest Catholic news delivered to your email daily! Close Sign up below to have the hottest Catholic news delivered to your email daily! Church Militant, we need to band together to protect our religious liberties and win the culture war! The Minister made the remarks during the Chin-Lushai Conference and ZoRO Convention, held by the Zo Reunification Organization (ZoRO) at Vanapa Hall in Mizoram States capital Aizawl on 28 January. Lal Thanzara, Mizoram State's Information & Public Relations Minister He said: No matter where we have been born or brought up, we will not lose our common identity of being Zo descendants. Interstate borders or international borders cannot separate our brotherhood. At the close of the meeting ZoRO made a declaration urging the governments of the countries where the Zo live to accept the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and to help the ethnic tribes to use the declaration for their benefit. The ZoRO declaration also stated: Although the India and Myanmar governments have signed the UNDRIP, their parliaments are still not applying it in their treatment of indigenous people. The Indian Confederation of Indigenous people and ZoRO jointly submitted a formal message to the Indian government and the Mizoram State Legislative Assembly adopted it [UNDRIP] on 8 October 2015. We request that the parliaments of India, Myanmar, and Bangladesh adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2007 for the benefit of ethnic tribes. ZorO is based in Aizawal, Mizoram State, India and it has been trying to unite the Zo tribes that live in India, Burma and Bangladesh under a single administration. Translated by Thida Linn Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI A new study finds that taller people are more sensitive to insulin, which could explain why they have a lower risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). German researchers collaborated with the Harvard School of Public Health and Medical School for this new research, published in The Lancet. They explained that previous studies have found taller people are less likely to have CVD and type 2 diabetes, but more likely to have a higher cancer risk. Epidemiological data show that per 6.5 cm in height the risk of cardiovascular mortality decreases by six percent, but cancer mortality, by contrast, increases by four percent, said study author Professor Matthias Schulze, German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam. The researchers highlighted that the height of children and adults has been increasing worldwide, and set about analysing the causes and medical effects of this increase in height. Although high BMI and waist circumference, as estimates of total and abdominal fat mass, are now accepted as predictors of the increasing incidence of these diseases, adult height, which also predicts mortality, has been neglected, the authors wrote. They discovered that height has an important impact upon mortality from certain disease, regardless of body fat mass and other confounding factors. One of the mechanisms the researchers believe could drive the increase in height is insulin and insulin-like growth factor signalling pathways. These pathways are thought to be activated by overNutrition, especially increased intake of milk, dairy products, and other animal proteins during different stages of child development, they wrote. The researchers hypothesise that tall people are more sensitive to insulin and have lower fat content in the liver. According to Professor Norbert Stefa, Department of Internal Medicine IV, this may explain their lower risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. However, the activation of these pathways could also be related to an increased risk of certain cancers, such breast cancer, colon cancer, and melanoma. Researchers have therefore advised physicians to consider growth and adult height more in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, CVD and cancer. Limiting overnutrition during pregnancy, early childhood, and puberty would avoid not only obesity, but also accelerated growth in children and thus might reduce risk of cancer in adulthood, they concluded. Human trials have begun to assess if stem cell treatment could eliminate insulin injections for people type 1 diabetes. San Diego-based ViaCyte have teamed up with Johnson and Johnson to further the development of a stem cell technology that has already proved successful in animal tests. The companies claim it is the first stem cell treatment to make it to patient testing. The VC-01 therapy consists of human pancreatic progenitor cells, known as PEC-01 cells, which are contained in the Encaptra drug delivery system a semi-permeable encapsulation device. These PEC-01 cells are prompted to turn into insulin-producing cells during therapy, and the capsule ensures they remain protected from immune system attack in patients with type 1 diabetes. These cells are human cells, but theyre not the patients cells, so the patients immune system would want to remove those cells attack those cells, said ViaCyte Chief Executive Officer Paul Laikind. Animal studies have shown that the cells not only survived, but did exactly what they were supposed to do. In human patients with type 1 diabetes, successful treatment could eliminate the need for daily insulin injections and provide long-term control of blood glucose levels. A small number of US and Canadian patients with type 1 diabetes will have the capsule implanted under the skin as part of the STEP ONE clinical trial. If human testing is successful, the treatment could be available in a matter of years. It could also eventually help insulin-treated type 2 diabetes patients. This one is potentially the real deal, Dr. Tom Donner, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, told Associated Press. Its like making a new pancreas that makes all the hormones needed to control blood sugar. Last month, further progress was made in the fight against type 1 diabetes when Harvard researchers announced they were able to halt the disease for six months. The government has signed a deal with Uber to allow people to sign up for driving with the service via the National Career Service online portal The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has signed an agreement with Uber to let people sign up for driving for the service via the National Career Service online portal. The portal aims to connect those looking for work with career counsellors, placement organizations and employers. With this agreement, Uber aims to find drivers through a government recognised career portal. The labour ministry wishes to encourage micro-entrepreneurship via technology platforms like Uber. The cab hailing company would offer an alternative to the increasing use of on-call scheduling, or zero hour contracts. These minimise labour costs by keeping employees on a constantly changing schedule. Uber claims that since they do not have any specific schedule lined up, their employees would be free to work when they want to. In order to promote these opportunities, Uber will create a new Start Your Business page on its website. As per the company, this would offer an easier way for people to sign up to drive with them. It will also provide them with a way to access vehicle financing services in case they do not have a car of their own. Shankar Aggarwal, Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment said, We partnered with Uber to help people across India to become micro entrepreneurs as there is tremendous need for this kind of independent, flexible work. "We partnered with Uber to help people across India to become micro entrepreneurs as there is tremendous need for this kind of independent, flexible work", said Shankar Aggarwal, Secretary of Ministry of Labour and Employment. Yesterday, Uber announced that it was changing its logo. In the companys official blog, the CEO of Uber, Travis Kalanick explained that there were a number of reasons for the change in logo, but the most important reason was that Uber is getting ready to go global. However, not everyone understood the need to change the logo and social media was a awash with people trolling the company over the new logo. Source: Economic Times Theorists believe that an ancient Greek sculpture shows a woman using a laptop, while others argue that it is nothing more than a wax tablet A quick internet search will tell you that the first portable computer, aka a laptop, was the Osborne 1, which was made in 1981. However, there are some people who believe that the laptop was invented much earlier, in about 100 BC, or that someone took a modern laptop back in time. A theory is has been floating around the internet has resurfaced, and claims that an Ancient Greek sculpture shows a woman using what appears to be laptop. The sculpture called Grave Naiskos of an Enthroned Woman with an Attendant and is kept at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California. It depicts a woman reclining on a chair, while she reaches out to touch the lid of an object held by a small girl, most probably servant. Theorists say that the object is either an ancient laptop, or proof that time travelers took a modern laptop to the past. They also say that the holes at the side of the object are USB ports. YouTuber, StillSpeakingOut posted a video in which he says that the object is too narrow to be a jewelry box. He adds, But when I look at the sculpture I cant help but think about the Oracle of Delphi, which was supposed to allow the priests to connect with the gods to retrieve advanced information and various aspects. He also wonders if this is where the technology company Oracle and the programming language Delphi, got their names from. However, it is most likely that the object shown in the nothing more than a wax tablet. It was a made of wood with a layer of wax upon which people could write using a pointed instrument called a stylus (which is where the term come from). This tablet would often be linked to another tablet, which would then cover it. When someone wanted to erase what was written, they could heat the tablet. This would melt the wax, leaving behind a clean slate. As for the holes, Kristina Killgrove, a contributor for Forbes, believes that the holes could be used to hold wooden or any other perishable object. In addition, the official description of the sculpture on Gettys site says that it was originally a three-sided grave monument, but three elements have been cut. Killgrove says that the holes could relate to any of the missing pieces. However, YouTube user TheSerbTube may have the most compelling argument as to what the object is and what is being depicted. One Media 's music services suffered in 2015, with the company blaming the shift in consumer habits from downloading to streaming in a trading update on Friday, ahead of its final results. The AIM-traded intellectual property and media rights owner said it was primarily due to unfavourable currency exchange rates, and the shift from the consumer digital downloading model to the streaming model. Chairman and CEO Michael Infante, who had previously commented on the shift in consumer habits, said digital stores were realigning their content offering in line with the demographic they were pursuing. "This turbulent time will affect our entire industry while the consumer adopts their preferred route to music consumption", he said. "It is our belief that, as emerging digital markets - such as China, India and Russia - mature, new consumers for the group's content via the subscription model will provide growth", he added. Infante said One Media was reactive enough to meet the changes required by the changing industry landscape. The company's board said the firm remained profitable, comfortably cash resources and would continue its investment programme in line with the changing market. Wishbone Gold transitioned into a new phase of development on Friday, announcing the purchase of Precious Metals International Group (PMI), including its wholly-owned subsidiary Black Sand FZE , in an all-share transaction. Black Sand holds a gold, precious metals and gem trading licence to operate in the United Arab Emirates, the AIM-traded company said, adding that it also had agreements in place for importing gold from Colombia and Honduras with a pipeline of other supply deals from parts of South America. The company said PMI Group made a nominal loss of 5,564 in the year ended 30 June 2015, and had gross assets of 454. It had not yet produced any revenue but was in the process of transferring trading relationships from its predecessor company, Multinational Commodities FZE. "This moves Wishbone into a position where, rather than being just another exploration company with promising properties, it will now be in a position where it also has the support of cash flow from the trading operations in Dubai", said chairman and CEO Richard Poulden. "I look forward to this being a new phase in Wishbone's development", he added. Under the terms of the acquisition, Wishbone would make an initial payment of 240m ordinary shares of 0.1p each, with a further payment of an additional 240m shares once the annual profit after tax of PMI exceeded 1m. This valued the initial consideration for the PMI Group at 648,000, based on the company's closing mid-market share price on 3 February of 0.27p per share. Oil and gold futures headed lower on Friday, along with much of the base metal complex, as weekend profit taking in Europe and mixed data from the US weighed on trading patterns. At 1743 GMT, the Brent front-month oil futures contract was down 0.23% or eight cents to $34.38 per barrel, while WTI was down 0.88% or 28 cents to $31.44 per barrel. US employers added 151,000 jobs, compared with consensus expectations for a 190,000 gain and a downwardly-revised 262,000 the previous month, according to the Labor Departments non-farm payrolls data. The unemployment rate fell to 4.9% from 5% in December, nearing an eight-year low. Economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged at 5%. Average hourly earnings rose 2.5% year-on-year in January, beating forecasts for a 2.2% increase. Meanwhile, the US trade deficit expanded in December to a seasonally adjusted $43.36bn from the previous months $42.23bn as exports fell 0.3% and imports increased 0.3%. Analysts had expected a deficit of $43.20bn. Elsewhere, German factory orders fell 0.7% in December compared to a month earlier, which was a steeper decline than the 0.5% expected by economists. Analyst at Barclays said, Headwinds are mounting for US production as hedges roll off, credit redeterminations near, and $30 oil and $2.30 gas begin to take their toll on producer cash flow. We forecast US crude oil production to average 9.0m barrels per day in 2016, down 460,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, under a controversial proposal by US President Barack Obama, the countrys oil exploration and production companies would be asked to pay a tax of $10 (6.85) on every barrel they extract. The White House said the tax would raise $20bn per annum to expand "national transit systems and invest in low-carbon technologies." However, the proposal is highly unlikely to make it through the Republican-controlled Congress. It would also be unpopular with many voters, as adding $10 to the cost of oil production would drive up the cost of gasoline at the pump. Headline base metal futures were largely in negative territory on the London Metal Exchange at 1635 GMT. Three-month futures contracts of copper (down 1.4%), nickel (down 2.9%), lead (down 2.3%) and zinc (down 2.4%) headed lower. Liz Grant, senior account executive at Sucden Financial, said, During the overnight Asian session, LME metals opened close to unchanged but moved lower through the session tracking oil and business was thin as we approach the Chinese New Year break. During the London morning prices traded narrowly but with a brief spike to the upside when LME warehouse stocks were released showing drawdowns across the board. However, LME prices edged lower through the afternoon led by nickel which hit sell stops through 8365 triggering a move to 8155. Precious metals saw the safe haven influenced uptick of the week fizzle out. On the COMEX, the front-month gold futures contract was down 0.03% or 30 cents to $1,157.30 an ounce, while spot gold was broadly flat at $1,157.33 an ounce. COMEX silver fell 0.57% or eight cents to $14.77 an ounce, while spot platinum fell 0.54% or $4.95 to $903.75 an ounce. Finally, agricultural commodity futures were largely on a negative patch. CBOT corn (down 0.54%), wheat (down 1.37%), ICE cotton (down 0.22%) and CME live cattle (down 0.90%) headed lower in early trading calls stateside. A United Nations legal panel has said Julian Assange should be entitled to his freedom of movement and to compensation, but the UK has rejected the report. The Wikileaks founder claimed asylum in Londons Ecuadorean embassy in 2012, after an international arrest warrant was issued in 2010 for a rape allegation, which he denies. He feared if he was extradited to Sweden, he would then be extradited to the US to face charges over his Wikileaks website for the peaceful exercise of his freedoms. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said it believed Assange was arbitrarily detained by the Governments of Sweden and the UK. The Working Group considered that Mr. Assange has been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth prison which was followed by house arrest and his confinement at the Ecuadorian Embassy, the group said in a report released Friday. Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the Working Group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr Assange. The UN group said Sweden and the UK needs to assess Assanges situation to ensure his safety and physical integrity, to facilitate the exercise of his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner, and to ensure the full enjoyment of his rights guaranteed by the international norms on detention. It also said his arbitrary detention should end and he should be compensated. However, BBC News reported that Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the panel's opinion was "ridiculous" and that Assange was a "fugitive from justice". The broadcaster also reported the Metropolitan Police said it will make "every effort" to arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy. A spokesperson from the Foreign Office said it will contest the findings of the working group. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. The spokesperson said the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him as a European Arrest Warrant is still in place. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise diplomatic asylum. Grainger has sold its stake in its FRM German residential rented portfolio and its German business platform to Heitman for 124m (94m). It followed the sale of its German joint venture with Heitman at the end of last year and is the another step in the FTSE 250 companys exit from its German operations to simplify the business. The FRM Portfolio will be acquired by Heitman's newly launched close-ended fund, Heitman European Residential Investment Partners, for 55m (42m), with the buyer assuming debt of c.69m (c.52m). Its German business platform Grainger Deutschland will be acquired by Heitman for a nominal sum. Grainger chief executive Helen Gordon said the sale will help the company focus on the UK private rented sector. We are pleased that Heitman has identified our platform and these assets as an attractive starting point for its new European residential fund. The sales process for our remaining German assets is underway and we look forward to updating the market in due course." The deal is expected to be completed at the end of the month. They started as "Millennials for Jeb" and now they're called "Millennials Rising," but since the beginning, the dark-money-spouting Super PAC has been 95% funded by rich white guys over the age of 60. They make a great ally to the Black Americans for a Better Future Super PAC, which is also entirely funded by rich old white guys. Boy, those rich old white guys sure are filled with empathy for other kinds of people. The twitter account of Millennials Rising describes Millennials Rising as "started and run by Millennials." Its website calls for "limited government" and simultaneously decries both the national debt and taxes as too high. Four other non-millennials have donated to Millennials Rising, three of whom are listed in FEC filings as "retired": Harry McMahon, 61, gave $1,000. McMahon was an investment banker with Merrill Lynch for three decades until he resigned last year. George Thompson, 71 years old and retired, gave $300. Daniel Hillman, 58 years old and retired, donated $250. Richard Agnew, 64, donated $750. Agnew is chairman of Van Ness Feldman, a large Washington, D.C. law firm specializing in the energy sector. "Millennials Rising" Super PAC Is 95% Funded by Old Men [Jon Schwarz/The Intercept] Resource stocks headed higher on Friday, while housebuilders took a hit ending the week in negative territory. The FTSE 100 closed 0.86% or 50.70 points lower at 5848.06, while the FTSE 250 ended down 0.53% or 84.45 points lower at 16,002.28 on mixed US data. US employers added 151,000 jobs, compared with consensus expectations for a 190,000 gain and a downwardly-revised 262,000 the previous month, according to the Labor Departments non-farm payrolls data. The unemployment rate fell to 4.9% from 5% in December, nearing an eight-year low. Economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged at 5%. Average hourly earnings rose 2.5% year-on-year in January, beating forecasts for a 2.2% increase. Meanwhile, the US trade deficit expanded in December to a seasonally adjusted $43.36bn from the previous months $42.23bn as exports fell 0.3% and imports increased 0.3%. Analysts had expected a deficit of $43.20bn. Elsewhere, German factory orders fell 0.7% in December compared to a month earlier, which was a steeper decline than the 0.5% expected by economists. At 1743 GMT, the Brent front-month oil futures contract was down 0.23% or eight cents to $34.38 per barrel, while WTI was down 0.88% or 28 cents to $31.44 per barrel. Headline base metal futures were largely in negative territory on the London Metal Exchange at 1635 GMT. Three-month futures contracts of copper (down 1.4%), nickel (down 2.9%), lead (down 2.3%) and zinc (down 2.4%) headed lower. Precious metals saw the safe haven influenced uptick of the week fizzle out. On the COMEX, the front-month gold futures contract was down 0.03% or 30 cents to $1,157.30 an ounce, while spot gold was broadly flat at $1,157.33 an ounce. COMEX silver fell 0.57% or eight cents to $14.77 an ounce, while spot platinum fell 0.54% or $4.95 to $903.75 an ounce. Nonetheless, resource stocks rallied. Anglo American (10.68%) and Antofagasta (3.72%) led the FTSE 100 gainers, while Evraz (up 6.02%) and Vedanta Resources (up 5.67%) were the FTSE 250 resource sector stocks to register the higher gains. Among the aforementioned companies, Anglo American rallied for a second day after Blackrock increased its stake in the miner. However, housebuilders tumbled lower with Berkeley Group (down 4.99%) and Persimmon (down 3.63%). Retailing company Kingfisher and fashion label Burberry rose as news came that January sales lured bargain hunters back to the High Street in January, according to figures released by accountancy and business advisory firm BDO. Finally, Just Eat advanced as it ordered four online takeaway food businesses in Spain, Italy, Brazil and Mexico for a total of 125m (94.7m). Ocado was up after a relatively positive note from Exane BNP Paribas. The investment bank retained its rating at neutral but cut its target price to 275p. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Circleville Pumpkin Show 2022: What you need to know if you plan to go Civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson is running for mayor of Baltimore. He would get my vote if I lived there. I have come to realize that the traditional pathway to politics, and the traditional politicians who follow these well-worn paths, will not lead us to the transformational change our city needs. Many have accepted that our current political reality is fixed and irreversible that we must resign ourselves to accept the way that City Hall functions, or the role of money and connections in dictating who runs and wins elections. They have bought into the notion that there is only one road that leads to serve as an elected leader. A member of the Black Lives Matter movement, Mckesson has done much to draw the public's eye to America's lingering problems of race and power, especially when it comes to policing. The Baltimore Sun says his jump into politics, though, is a surprise. He said he planned to release a platform within a week. He said it would include a call for internal school system audits to be made public. Mckesson was the 13th and final candidate to jump into the primary race. In deep-blue Baltimore, the Democratic primary has long determined the winner of the general election. Watch for this narrative in the media: that he's just a protest candidate. Then, if he does too well for their comfort, watch for this one: that by seeking to win, he's becoming like all the other politicians, i.e. betraying the role they prefer him to play. Subscriber content preview Expectations were low at the start of open enrollment, but 12.7 million people signed up. The administration had projected between 11 million and 14 million initial enrollments. By RICARDO ALONSO- ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON Still facing political jeopardy, President Barack Obama's health care law beat expectations by earning solid sign-ups this year, according to figures released Thursday by the administration. About 12.7 million people signed up for individual private insurance policies or renewed their coverage for 2016, said Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. That means Republicans running in this year's elections may find it harder to deliver on their promise of repeal, while Democrats may yet be able to tap the newly insured as a voting constituency. . . . PCL Construction puts final touches on $138M museum and library in Alaska The 118,000-square-foot building will open in mid-May. By AMY FLETCHER Capital City Weekly Michael Penn/Juneau Empire via AP [enlarge] This Bristol Bay double-ender fishing boat shrouded in a protective plastic sheet came from the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle. JUNEAU, Alaska From Willoughby Street, the State Library Archives and Museum Building looks mostly finished, tempting passers-by with glimpses of an interestingly patterned wood ceiling through its huge second floor windows. But inside, it's a serious construction zone, humming with noise and activity as PCL Construction workers, specialty contractors, and SLAM staff members busily fulfill diverse roles in different parts of the building. The $138.4 million, 118,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to have its opening on May 15, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony June 6. The project is on time and on budget. During a recent media tour, SLAM director Linda Thibodeau, deputy director Bob Banghart and project engineer Jennifer Pepin of the state Department of Transportation and Public Facilities provided an early look at what Alaskans and visitors have to look forward to when the doors officially open. Here's a brief overview of what we saw. First floor On first entering the building, visitors come in to the atrium, a dramatic high-ceilinged lobby that includes a new eagle tree and staircase at the far end, and a giant, detailed map of Alaska integrated into the floor. Overhead, a sky bridge connects the second floor reading room on the left with administrative offices on the right. A small cafe sits to the right of the entryway, and, across the lobby, a store. Behind the store, along the front wall, is the new Science on a Sphere room, a purpose-built space tall enough to allow the sphere to be retracted toward the ceiling. (Developed by NOAA, Science on a Sphere is a three-dimensional global display system that uses computers to project information onto a globe.) Also in the lobby area is an auditorium and a classroom. The museum's permanent gallery opens off to the left of the lobby. Immediately inside the exhibit hall doors is an orientation area and a section on Alaska's origins. A Tlingit clan house, set at an angle to the door, will introduce visitors to the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast. Constructed of hand-adzed cedar by a team overseen by Todd White, project manager on the Chief Shakes restoration project in Wrangell, the clan house will include a central (digital) fire pit and soon-to-be installed drawers that visitors can pull out to reveal artifacts, as well as weavings. Farther along the exhibit floor are areas devoted to Athabascan, Yupik, Inupiaq, Aleut and Alutiiq peoples. At this point the sole artifact in this area is a walrus-skin Inupiaq umiak, a 34-foot boat whose frame was built around 1920 by Jonathan Onalik in Wales. Pepin said the delicate umiak was among the last items to be removed from the old museum and the first to come in the new one. We actually had to move in some of the artifacts before we finished building the (exhibit hall) walls, and that was one of them, she said, gesturing to the umiak. Along the back wall will be exhibits devoted to exploration and contact. An area devoted to resilience highlights the fact that Alaska's indigenous cultures didn't fade out after contact, but rather adapted and found ways to thrive in a changing environment. Creative adaptive technology from the very beginning of man's inhabitance until now is one of the overarching themes of the exhibit floor, Banghart said, as is the idea of self-reliance. Around the corner from the resilience section are areas devoted to resource extraction and maritime history, respectively anchored by two major pieces already in place: a segment of the Alaska pipeline and a Bristol Bay double ender (a single-sail wooden fishing boat). The latter was shipped up from the Center for Wooden Boats in Seattle, and, according to the CWB, represents one of the finest examples of the work of the Davis family of Metlakatla. The double ender will be displayed with a new sail created by Ketchikan sailmaker Louie Bartos. Next to the maritime section are exhibits on World War II, political history, transportation and modern Alaska. In the center of the exhibit floor is the children's Discovery Room, which will include a brand new boat, currently in progress, and a vinyl floor featuring a mother humpback and her calf. The children's area is enclosed by a glass wall. Immediately adjacent to the permanent gallery are three spacious temporary galleries, where rotating exhibits will be shown. Banghart said the museum has not yet opened the application period for solo shows, but has a number of early exhibits planned, including the Alaska Positive Statewide Juried Photographic Exhibition and the All-Alaska Biennial. Library and archives On the second floor, above the museum exhibit space, is perhaps the most dramatic room in the building, the Richard Foster Reading Room. (Former Rep. Foster, from Nome, was a frequent visitor to the state library and archives.) The reading room includes a soaring wood ceiling (now visible from the street) and huge windows overlooking town and the mountains. At the time of the tour, the library stacks had not yet been installed. Vibrant multicolored cast-glass panels, designed by Portland artist Walter Gordinier, have been placed at intervals along the interior, lobby-facing wall of the reading room, and are visible from below; Gordinier will soon have other pieces installed elsewhere in the building. At the back of the room, between the library's reading and research areas, a glass and wood panel by Ketchikan artist Evon Zerbetz will be installed. This will be Zerbetz' first piece in this medium. Gordinier and Zerbetz' artworks are two of the SLAM building's three pieces in the Percent for Art program; the third will be nine hand-built benches created by Martin Shelton, yet to be installed on the mezzanine level. The library's research area, where visitors can request materials kept in the vault, will be shared by the archives department, which contains official government records going back to 1884. Here visitors can also request material from the Historical Collections department of the library. Both the archives and Historical Collections departments also contain photographs and audiovisual materials. An integrated vision In addition to SLAM's public spaces, the building has numerous back of house staff areas, including paper and object conservation labs, a micrographics department, electronic records area, and a wood and metal shop that Banghart called the best shop in town. We can build anything short of thermonuclear devices (in here), he joked. SLAM director Thibodeau said in addition to working together on the physical building, the previously diverse departments of the state museum, library and archives have been learning to work together toward a common goal a development that promises long-term benefits for both staff and the public. It's been a real team-builder for us, she said. We have a team that we didn't have when we started this and we'll have it when we finish. We won't just have a building. We'll have a more integrated vision. Banghart agreed, adding that perseverance is among the challenges of a project of this scale. It's a difficult thing sometimes for people to grab a hold of a project and understand that it's a five-year commitment to staying focused, he said. As staff and others prepare to share this major addition to Juneau's cultural landscape with the public, the energy in the building is palpably positive. Asked if the project was shaping up the way he envisioned, former museum curator Paul Gardinier, who has been working as a contractor on the design of the exhibit floor for the past three years, responded with a wide grin. Even better, he said. I'm ecstatic with how it's progressing. The SLAM building is officially known as the Father Andrew P. Kashevaroff State Library, Archives and Museum Building, named for the first librarian and curator of the Alaska Historical Museum and Library. Previous columns: Subscriber content preview SoCalGas has spent more than $50 million trying to cap the leak and relocate people. By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press LOS ANGELES Top prosecutors in Los Angeles County and the state of California are the latest to make moves against a utility for a massive and still-flowing gas leak, joining a growing group that now includes several levels of government along with parts of the private sector. LA Countys District Attorney Jackie Lacey filed misdemeanor criminal charges Tuesday against Southern California Gas Co. for failing to immediately report the natural gas leak that has been gushing nonstop nearly 15 weeks. . . . Seems the charges are "reckless endangerment and aviation in and over the city." Via Philly.com A New Jersey man was arrested on Thursday after a drone he was flying crashed into the 40th floor of the Empire State Building in New York City, police said. The 29-year-old man was taken into custody after a small aircraft he was piloting struck the iconic building before coming to rest on the 35th floor on Thursday evening, the New York City Police Department said. The man asked building security personnel for his drone back after they retrieved it, but instead they called authorities, a police spokesman said. A design students innovative window dressing displays have won her a place in the final of a competition held at the UKs only international eyewear convention. Pei-Chia Chen, studying Design Innovation (MA) at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) will be showcasing her window display design as part of the 100% Optical eye show at Londons ExCeL arena between February 6 and 8. Representatives from top eyewear designers Karl Lagerfeld and Michael Kors will be at the event, and Pei-Chia has already beaten off lots of competition to may her way to the final shortlisting stage. She said: I think itll be a good chance for me, Im very excited to go down to London for the experience. Im nervous as I need to set up the stand, but its going to be a brilliant opportunity for me. The competition asked designers to construct imaginative window displays or visual merchandising to be used in eyewear retail. Four finalists including Pei-Chia were then chosen and each will have their design on show at the event in London, where an overall winner will be chosen. RELATED NEWS Graduate's DJ design named one of the planet's best Graduate lands prestigious design opportunity at Warehouse Come and see how our design courses could launch your career Pei-Chias theme is Travel, and her display presents everyones life as being a unique journey, one which Pei-Chia can directly relate to, having come from Taipei, Taiwan to Leicester in August 2015 to study. INNOVATIVE: Pei-Chia's striking window dressing design She said: I really like being here, because I lived in the capital of Taiwan, it is nice to live somewhere a bit quieter and multicultural. My cousin is studying Fashion and Textile (MA) and I followed her here, Im really glad I did! The Design Innovation (MA) course gives students the framework for developing innovative design products; with marketing and business strategies key too, something which Pei-Chia has enjoyed during her studies. She added: My tutors have a lot of experience in the industry, they have provided a lot of time for me in tutorials and by encouraging me to enter competitions like this one. DMU offers a lot of opportunities and resources I especially like the library. My tutors, the library tutorials and my English teachers have helped to improve my language skills since I arrived here. Id like to enter a job in marketing, promoting brands after my degree. For more information on the Design Innovation (MA) course click here. The United States and its allies Japan and South Korea, are working together to track a long-range missile that North Korea planned to launch sometime soon, even as ally China told North Korea not to do anything that could further raise tension in the region. The US has deployed missile defence systems that will work with the Japanese and South Korean militaries to track a rocket that North Korea planned to launch sometime over an 18-day period beginning on Monday. The North Korean move to test-fire a missile (or rocket as it claims) follows last month's testing of what Pyongang claimed a hydrogen bomb, which has already raised tensions in East Asia. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said Beijing had sent its special envoy to Wu Dawei to North Korea over the nuclear issue, in what he described as "a serious situation". He said China needed contacts "with all parties", mentioning the United States, South Korea and Russia. "At the same time, we also need to have necessary contacts with the North Korea side, to listen to their opinions," Wang told Hong Kong's Phoenix Television in London after Wu had returned from North Korea. "Of course, an important point is to express China's clear position to North Korea. We don't want to see anything happen that could cause further tensions," he said. North Korea insists that it is purely a space programme and that it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme, although the US and other governments suspect such rocket launches are actually missile tests and have called on Pyongyang to abandon the plans. North Korea, meanwhile, notified UN agencies that it will launch a rocket carrying what it called an earth observation satellite sometime between 8 and 25 February, triggering international opposition. China is North's sole major ally but it disapproves of its nuclear programme. The United States has urged China to use its influence to rein in its neighbour. Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun quoted Pentagon officials as saying that fuelling of the rocket appeared to have begun with increased activity around the missile launch and fuel storage areas. A launch would draw fresh US calls for tougher UN sanctions that are already under discussion in response to the nuclear test. dpa ElectionsData With dpa ElectionsData you get access to a unique collection of data. Via a programming interface (Rest-API), your developers can access detailed information, candidate profiles and live results for all national elections in the European Union and important international elections, like the US Midterm elections etc. The data pool also includes all heads of state and government as well as about 20,000 elected members of parliament throughout the EU. In addition to their data (name, party, constituency or list position), we collect social media profiles and official websites of individuals and parties. After years of fumbling, deference and mismanagement, Canada's telcoms regulator, the CRTC, laid down a landmark net neutrality rule and demanded that Bell, the nationally founded telcoms giant, would have to share its infrastructure with new entrants to the market. Bell wasn't out of allies, though: the mayors of Toronto and Ottawa sent letters in support of Bell's right to operate without competition to the CRTC, in a way that implied that they were writing on behalf of their cities. It turns out that the mayors were writing in their personal capacities, and now Toronto City Council has overruled Mayor John Tory and passed a motion introduced by Councillor Mike Layton in direct opposition to the mayor, on behalf of Torontonians, defending competition and open, fast broadband for the city. It turns out that the Toronto and Ottawa filings were not submitted on behalf of the cities, but rather reflect personal letters from the mayors of those cities. In Toronto, the letter raised the ire of city council, which yesterday debated a motion introduced by Councillor Mike Layton to express support for a more competitive approach and the CRTC decision. The motion stated: 1. City Council support competitive and affordable internet prices for its residents and support the CRTC decision of July, 2015 for large telecom companies to make their fibre-optic networks available to small competitors at wholesale prices. 2. City Council forward a copy of this decision to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Canadian Heritage. 3. City Council request, similar to the City of Calgary, an opportunity to consult with the Minister relating to the Minister's recommendation to the Governor-in-Council on Bell's Petition against the CRTC decision. The motion was passed 28-5, representing a significant rebuke to Mayor Tory, and making Toronto the second major Canadian city to have its council consider the issue and express support for the CRTC decision. Toronto City Council Sides With CRTC in Rejecting Mayor Tory's Support of Bell Appeal [Michael Geist] (Image: The inaugural meeting of the newly elected Toronto City Council in January 1911. ) Boston's uber-historic Old North Churchknown best as the then-soaring signal point for Paul Revere and other revolutionaries on their late-night warning rideis undergoing an $8,000,000 renovation and restoration. It's hoped that the work on the Salem Street site, perhaps the most-visited of all of Boston's tourist attractions, will be completed by the Episcopalian church's tricentennial in 2023, and, two years after that, the 250th anniversary of Revere's midnight gallop. Along the way, the meticulous restoration is revealing quite a bit about the early eighteenth-century building. For one thing, the process could reveal up to 20 figures painted on the upper arches of the church's nave around the time of its construction in the 1720s. Moreover, per Brian MacQuarrie at the Globe, the painstaking work of conservators has shown "that the walls once were bathed in a reddish wash. That hue would have served at least two purposes: to add color to the interior, and also to create an illusion of hardwood." In general, that is the restoration's purpose: to get behind and beyond the build-up of two-plus centuries to what's originalor close to itabout what one conservator working on the project describes as "the first important Georgian-style church of its type in English North America." Stay tuned. All shall be revealed. Old North Church Preps for $8 Million Makeover [Globe] Our History Lessons archive [Curbed Boston] Skoda has teased its new full-sized SUV with its Vision S concept, which will be on display at the upcoming 2016 Geneva motor show. The new SUV will be built on Volkswagen's flexible MQB platform and will share its underpinnings with the new Volkswagen Tiguan which is due out later in 2016. The large SUV - rumoured to be called Snowman - will be available in both five- and seven-seat layouts which the Tiguan will also offer. Skoda Australia has previously told Drive that the new SUV is clearly earmarked for Australia and will offer a genuine SUV in the Australian market compared to its high-riding Octavia Scout wagon. With Skoda Australia director Michael Irmer saying, "the SUV will be a genuine SUV that will fit well into the segment and open Skoda to new buyers." Skoda's new design language is present in the teaser with more flowing lines than its current Yeti compact SUV, it features large wheel arches and sloping almost coupe-like roofline with a long spoiler and tapered rear. However, the production version would be expected to feature more subtle exterior design changes, and pre-production version spotted undergoing testing in Europe show the larger SUV to resemble the brand's boxy Yeti. The new SUV is expected to offer similar engines to its Tiguan cousin which will offer eight engine options, four petrol and four diesel. There will be 92kW, 110kW, 132kW and 162kW petrol engines while the diesel engines will output 85kW, 110kW, 140KW and 176kW respectively. Volkswagen Australia hasn't confirmed which of these engines will be offered locally yet. The Skoda VisionS will be revealed at the Geneva show in March with the five-seat layout expected to go on sale in 2017 followed by the seven-seat variant roughly a year after. Australia's fiercely-contested small car battleground is set for another contender. Suzuki has announced plans to sell its new Baleno locally, giving the brand a rival to popular machines such as the Toyota Corolla and Mazda3. The Baleno name returns to Australia having been offered as a sedan, hatch and wagon between 1996 and 2001, but details surrounding the upcoming model are slim. It is sold in India with five doors, a 7.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay connectivity, front and side airbags and a decently roomy boot. Power comes from a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol motor with 62kW and 115Nm or a 1.3-litre turbo diesel with 55kW and 190Nm. The range could be topped locally by a variant of Suzuki's 1.4-litre "Boosterjet" motor that makes 103kW and 220Nm under the bonnet of the upcoming Vitara turbo. Transmissions available overseas include a five-speed manual unit and CVT automatic. Local details will be available closer to the model's launch. Suzuki is enjoying a strong period of late having idled along in recent years. The brand's cut-price Celerio has proven popular locally, the Vitara secured critical acclaim and a new Ignis to rival the Mazda2 should arrive by the end of the year. NEW DELHI (PTI): As India and the US hold fresh talks on three contentious defence foundational agreements, a top American military official on Wednesday batted for the pacts, saying these are an opportunity for deeper collaboration and cooperation in the key sector. "I think there is a shared understanding that these agreements have value. They provide structure for exchange. I think they provide opportunity for enhanced cooperation," said the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) of the US military, Admiral John Richardson. Interacting with a select group of journalists here, the officer said there is a shared understanding to put in place these agreements. "There is a very dedicated effort to put everything into place. So, we are optimistic about closing some of these arrangements," he added. The American side had raised the issue of signing of the Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA), Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) during the recent visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to the US. While the previous UPA government had refused to sign these, sources said that Parrikar has asked the US to address India's concerns over these agreements for holding further talks, particularly on CISMOA and BECA. Richardson arrived here Tuesday on a five-day visit to help deepen maritime partnership between the two countries. He said enhanced collaboration and cooperation is being pushed from the very top in both governments. "To do this, to take advantage of this window of opportunity, these agreements can be part of that. So, I think there is a sense of optimism that we might be able to get some things done," he said. Talking about the Joint Working groups on Aircraft Carrier and jet engine technology, he said that both sides are making good progress. Asked if the US will continue to help India if it chooses nuclear propulsion for its next aircraft carrier, he said it was a hypothetical question. Though India has still not decided on this matter, navy officials here have indicated that they may go for nuclear propulsion. Richardson said the two sides are collaborating and sharing lessons gathered from undertaking the design and building of an aircraft carrier. Talking about what he described as China's aggressive posturing in the Indian Ocean, he said that Beijing should make its intentions clear. Richardson welcomed a larger role for India in the region and the world, saying the country can become an exporter of security. During his visit, the officer will meet key national security officials here to discuss navy-to-navy relations and opportunities for further technical and security cooperation. He will then travel to Visakhapatnam to participate in the Indian Navy-hosted International Fleet Review, which will have participation from 50 countries through visiting warships, tall-masted ships, and chiefs of navies. "A central line of effort for CNO is to expand and strengthen our network of partners," a statement by the American Embassy said. Castleblayney-based Kingspan Insulation is using its roof space to generate clean, renewable electricity, resulting in savings for the business without any upfront capital costs. The 300kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, consisting of 1,200 panels, becomes the largest solar PV project in the Republic of Ireland. It is expected that the system will save over 3500 tons of CO2 over the project life. The project was developed and installed by Kingspan ESB, a joint venture company delivering funded rooftop solar PV systems. In the Funded Solar model a business pays for the energy it consumes from the Solar PV system, and not the capital cost of the system itself. It was part-funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as an innovative demonstration project with a unique financing structure and a bespoke performance monitoring system. Providing about 15 percent of the factorys annual daytime load, all of the electricity generated by the system is purchased and used onsite by Kingspan Insulation. The project also contributes to Kingspan Groups Net Zero sustainability targets and ESBs generation decarbonisation ambitions. Fergus Sharkey, General Manager at Kingspan ESB, says: The installation of the countrys largest solar PV system at Kingspan Insulation in Castleblayney is a significant milestone for renewable energy. Almost 100 percent of the energy generated by the solar PV system will be used directly on site by Kingspan Insulation helping them control their energy costs and reduce CO2 contribution. It is the first funded PV project in the Republic, where the consumer pays for the energy produced from the system with no upfront capital cost. With solar PV installations still relatively rare in Ireland, the project will also provide a research platform for staff and students at Dundalk IT Kevin OGrady, Operations Director at Kingspan Insulation, says: We are very pleased to have the largest solar PV system in Ireland operating at our facility. The project helps us meet our 2020 Net-Zero Energy targets, while also helping to control energy costs, with no capital investment from ourselves. The installation of the project had no impact on our business operations, and has no visual impact on our facility. There has been a good deal of heavy fighting this week, both on the East and West fronts, but no serious but no serious attempts by either party to execute a forward move. The weather has been bad everywhere. In the Russian marshes the Germans have been flooded out of miles of their trenches, especially in the vicinity of Pinsk. In France an incessant and heavy bombardment of enemy trenches resulted in the blowing up of several ammunition deposits., and frequent mine explosions have driven the Germans out of forward trenches. An attempt to penetrate the British lines near Ypres on Wednesday was repulsed. The Anglo-Indian expeditionary forces in Mesopotamia are still safe. General Townsends force at Kut is in communication by wireless with General Aylmer's 20 or 25 miles further down the river; but they are separated by miles of inundated country, due to exceptionally heavy floods, as well as by hostile Turkish forces. These latter have been compelled by the floods to fall back from their trenches near the river. Both positions held by the Anglo-Indian troops are comparatively strong, and it is not recorded that they are short of either food or munitions. Reinforcements,comprising Indian troops recently released from service in France, are on the way up the Tigiris to strengthen General Aylmer's brigade. In the mountainous country north of Mesopotamia, Russian troops are pushing back the Turks in vigorous fashion. The town and fortress of Erzeroum. In which the Turkish army defeated in the Caucasus four weeks ago took refuge, is being attacked and unless the Turks can bring up reinforcements, it will probably fall. Salonika is a still waiting awaiting attack. A Zeppelin dropped bombs on the town and port four days ago, doing no important damage; but there no movement on the part of the enemy troops concentrated in Macedonia and Thrance for the investment of the town. The Austrians have made little progress in their sweeping movement through Montenegro and Albania, so far. The attempt to disarm the Montenegrins led to serious street fighting in two towns. The Austrians have occupied San Giovanni de Medua, a small port near Scutari; and the Albanian and Serbian troops in that part of the country have fallen back on Durazzo. The heir to the Turkish throne, who was a strong opponent of the young Turks and Germans, has been found dead with his throat cut. It is represented as a case of suicide. Quite a number of Turkish princes, who were in the way of more energetic aspirants, have from time to time died this way. Any entrepreneur looking to break ground in the online marketplace sector will be familiar with this conundrum: you need to raise capital to launch the business, but without the business and proof of concept, you cant get the capital. Much like the centuries old argument: which came first, the chicken or the egg? Raising capital for any marketplace pre-launch is near impossible Eden Shirley speaks to Dynamic Business about his journey in the online marketplace sector; from running lean to revenue increases of 293 per cent, delivering 6.5 million services annually. Raising capital for any marketplace pre-launch is near impossible as investors want to see proof of concept and traction before they invest, said Eden. Eden was inspired to start his own comparison marketplace after having owned a digital marketing agency where he worked with several hotel booking and comparison sites including Hotel.com.au. Then, in 2000, a move from Melbourne to the Gold Coast gave Eden the idea he needed for execution. No longer surrounded by his regular contacts and trusted service providers, Eden became increasingly frustrated by the significant price variances and lack of consistency when he attempted to get his car serviced. He became determined to take the guess work out of the marketplace. After capturing the interest of 100 workshops who signed up to the concept, his idea became ready for reality. Launching in 2009, Fixed Price Car Service was the worlds first comparison site for car servicing allowing consumers to compare quotes from a range of local mechanics, book online and pay on pick up. The model is simple enough, mechanics join for free but pay a commission once a booking has been fulfilled. It may take several years for the business to build momentum But launching was only just the beginning. According to Eden, it might take considerable time before before a business in this industry starts to fruit. Eden said we raised $200k in seed funding and launched knowing full well that it may take several years for the business to build momentum. Running lean for the first 4 to 5 years was extremely challenging. It tests your commitment and resolve like nothing I have experienced prior, and you have to be incredibly disciplined regarding cash flow. For the first 6 years, Eden said growth averaged 40 to 50 per cent year-on-year and their network of service providers hovered around 400 to 500. However, over the last 12 months, the repairer network has tripled, Australian users have doubled and bookings revenue has increased by 293 per cent. The workshop network is expected to increase to 2,500 this year. At our current growth trajectory we will deliver 6.5 million in services to our valued workshop network in 2016, said Eden. In full swing and no longer running lean With the business in full swing and no longer running lean, Eden is very much looking at how far this momentum will carry them. Our focus over the next 2 years is to diversify our product to include general repairs and mechanical, tyres, brakes, batteries, windscreens and much more. Australians spend over 15.3b on vehicle servicing and mechanical repairs and we will remain focused on increasing local market share before considering expansion internationally or into adjacent sectors. Flying high but with feet firmly on the ground, theres no sense of complacency either. In the age of disruption, Eden expects to see significant changes in technology and consumer behaviour that will disrupt many sectors influenced by the automotive trade. Nonetheless, Eden asserts that its an exciting time to be involved in the automotive sector and we are looking forward to a technology driven future. Defending Mauna Kea: Hawaiian Heaven v$ the American Empire Mauna Kea needs a lawyer. Most sacred mountain of Native Hawaiian and Earth-spirit cultures, under siege by industrial developers and military domination, seeks an educated legal representative before the World Court of opinion. And UNESCO. Also, a PR agency would be excellent, to break the media silence in America.The history of Hawai'i in the last century has been largely a matter of what invading and occupying interests could "get away with." Under the threat of force by the military American state, industrialist families "overthrew" the Hawaiian Kingdom and imprisoned their Queen, which allowed for a white-controlled Republic to become the 50th State of the USA. All the while land was bought and sold, military bases and bombing ranges expanded, foreign populations flooded in, and America looked the other way, embroiled in their own foreign wars of occupation.If American media would simply show the truth of what has taken place here in the Hawaiian islands, to Native Hawaiian culture and people, the devastation of the land, hell, simply show what building a modern "telescope" on a pristine volcanic landscape looks like... the nation would rise up in shock and protest. But the don't see the bombing and destruction of Kaho'olawe, most sacred navigation beacon in the heart of the islands, they know absolutely nothing of the gigantic bombing range between the two largest and most sacred volcanoes on Earth, "Pohakuloa Training Area"... in the most endangered bird habitat in the USA.So while Native Hawaiian leaders and cultural practitioners confront a vast governmental-industrial cultural empire seeking to build the largest telescope yet, the 13-story TMT project on their most sacred heavenly mountain, US media ignores and looks the other way to more important stories, like Donald Trump running for a Presidential election more than a year away. While the most dramatic First Nation cultural clash in recent years takes place in the most cinematic locations in "Paradise", America pretends it doesn't know anything about Hawai'i, once again.Maybe this appeal from an academic scholar could break through "cognitive dissonance"?When I say Mauna Kea is sacred, I do not mean to use sacred the way most people use that term. I mean sacred not in the same sense of worship. I use sacred in the sense of precious and so important that nothing else countsI apply it to those things and people that we care so much about that we would do anything, even flout and break the law, to preserve their existence.The child of a parent, especially a young child is sacred in this sense. So are parents to their children. So are grandparents. Even the family pet is sacred. If your house was burning down would you risk your life to go into the burning house to rescue your children, your mother, your grandparents, even your beloved dog or cat? Would you go even if forbidden by first responders, firemen or policemen? Yes, many of us would go without hesitationwithout thinking of the consequences. Would you give a kidney to save or extend the life of your child, your brother, your uncle? Would you spend all of your money to save a loved one from cancer? from Lou Gehrigs disease or from a life in prison without parole? Yes, we all would.Moreover, we praise such emotions and desires of others who make such sacrifices every day. We understand the soldier who sacrifices himself by instinctively jumping on a grenade. We understand the parent or grandparent who gives all their money to see their child or grandchild through college.Whether one worships Mauna Kea or not, whether one considers it sacred does not matter as much as understanding the instincts that drive those to defend and save Mauna Keamuch as one would understand the absolute love for a child, or a parent even if such acts break the law.When we see the instinct of family, of brotherhood, of sisterhood of love for mankind in others we celebrate thatwe gravitate to that. We love and defend Mauna Kea because it reminds us what makes us human. Sacred is not necessarily a place. It is a relationship, a deep visceral relationship: beyond reason, beyond law, beyond rationality.Mahalo and Mahalo Ke Akua.Williamson ChangProfessor of LawThis millennium has uncovered new understandings of what has happened in Hawaii. As Dr. Sai states, In 2001, the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, acknowledged that, in the nineteenth century the Hawaiian Kingdom existed as an independent State recognized as such by the United States of America, the United Kingdom and various other States.However, the US continues its illegal occupation, abuse of human rights and desecration of sacred lands. Te Wharepora hou have maintained their stance of solidarity with native Hawaiian peoples who presently struggle for the continued protection of Mauna a Wakea. Dr. Lee-Penehira advises, Protectors of Mauna a Wakea have been occupying the sacred ancestral mountain on the island of Hawaii for over 100 days now, to prevent the construction of the worlds largest telescope; the planned Thirty Metre Telescope (TMT) project.This is a direct attack on the physical, spiritual and cultural integrity of the maunga and the wellbeing of the Hawaiian People and the generations to come. Dr. Sai and I will be joining other supporters of Mauna a Wakea in a dawn ceremony of solidarity on Saturday morning here in Auckland.It is time, as Dr. Sai states, for the world to understand the violation of human rights and war crimes that continue to take place on a grand scale whilst hidden under a cloak of deception and lies. These abuses are now coming to the forefront."Majority populations, cognizant of outside pressure and knowing that they should not resort to mass murder, have turned instead to cultural genocide as a second best politically determined substitute for physical genocide."" Ethnocide means that an ethnic group is denied the right to enjoy, develop and transmit its own culture and its own language, whether collectively or individually. This involves an extreme form of massive violation of human rights and, in particular, the right of ethnic groups to respect for their cultural identity." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnocide Wendell Berry, the 81-year-old award-winning poet, fiction writer and essayist, has continued throughout his life to care for the Kentucky farm that generations of his family have tended. Seeking to pass on their farming legacy to a new generation, Berry and his family have formed an alliance with Saint Catherine College, a small Catholic liberal arts college run by the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Correspondent Judy Valente talks with Mary Berry, Wendell Berrys daughter, and with nuns, students, and faculty members at the college about the lessons and values that spring from having a spiritual kinship with the land. Visit the new sales centre at Taylor Wimpey's Radius development in Wandsworth Property-seekers in south-west London can now find it even easier to purchase their dream home with the launch of a brand new Sales Information Centre at Taylor Wimpeys sought-after Radius development in Wandsworth. The Sales Information Centre opened its doors at the development on Saturday 30th January, giving potential homebuyers a chance to speak to the Taylor Wimpey Sales Executive on site and take their pick from the fabulous apartments currently on sale in this popular location. Prospective purchasers will need to move fast though, as only a handful of two and three-bedroom apartments still remain on sale in the current phase, priced from 630,000. Sarah Pasco, Regional Sales and Marketing Director for Taylor Wimpey, says: Were delighted to have officially opened the brand new Sales Information Centre at Radius, our fantastic development located in a highly-desirable part of London. With a prime setting near the banks of the River Thames, its no surprise that our high-quality properties at Radius are proving a huge hit with customers, who appreciate the wonderful lifestyle that can be enjoyed in this fabulous location. Id advise any hopeful buyers to get in touch quickly and reserve their favourite plot as we dont expect these magnificent homes to be available for long! Among the remaining properties available to reserve at Radius is the three-bedroom apartment (plot 87) in block B, currently priced at 860,000. This impressive property features a stunning open-plan kitchen/living/dining room with double doors leading to a terrace, plus three good-sized bedrooms one of which boasts en-suite facilities and a private balcony and a main bathroom. The property also benefits from two allocated parking spaces outside. Each of the new homes at Radius is completed to a high standard specification, including energy efficient central heating, double glazing and a fitted kitchen with integrated oven, hob and hood. Radius is located in Osiers Road, Point Pleasant, between Putney Bridge and Wandsworth Bridge. There are a host of places to eat and shops on the doorstep, as well as quick links into central London within easy reach. Just a few minutes stroll from the new homes is Wandsworth Park. The independent shops, cafes and bistros of Old York Road, and the Southside shopping centre, cinema and restaurant complex are located on Wandsworth High Street. Regular direct services operate to Waterloo from Wandsworth Town railway station in as little as 14 minutes. East Putney underground station is also just a short walk away and lies on the Wimbledon branch of the District line, making Radius an ideal location for commuters. River taxis run at peak times in the morning and evening between Putney and Blackfriars and stop at Wandsworth alongside the Riverside Quarter development, making commuting to work by river a stress-free option. The new Sales Information Centre at Radius is located at Osiers Road, Point Pleasant, SW18 1NL and is open daily from 11am to 6pm (Thursdays from midday to 7pm). Alternatively, visit taylorwimpey.co.uk. Bowing to immense pressure from faculty, students, employees, education activists, as well as the general public, the Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents finally gave notice that it is ending its intralocal agreement with Gov. Snyders failed experiment on Detroit school children known as the Education Achievement Authority (EAA) this afternoon. The move came after what can only be described as a face-saving move by EAA Chancellor Veronica Conforme who yesterday bizarrely encouraged the Board of Regents to put an end to the organization that employs her and that she has so vociferously defended since she began working there as a consultant under the disgraced former Chancellor John Covington. If this move makes you happy (it makes ME happy), dont get TOO happy. Theres a clause in the intralocal agreement that means it wont be officially ended for nearly a year and a half: Section 8.02. University Withdrawal. The University may withdraw from the Agreement prior to the expiration of the term of this Agreement if any of the following apply: [] (b). After December 30, 2014, the University provides notice of its intent to withdraw on the first June 30th at least 180 days after the notice. A withdrawal under this paragraph is effective on the first June 30th at least 180 days after the notice. In other words, we will continue to have the EAA to kick around until June 30, 2017. Funny thing, though: If the Board of Regents had pulled out of the EAA back on December 8, 2015 when they last met, their agreement would end this June. But, because they inexplicably delayed the decision by two months, the EAA gets an extra year. I say inexplicably but my hunch is that it was intentional because delaying it by a year gives all the players time to find new gigs spreading their distorted vision of public education and education reform across the country. The EMU Faculty Senate passed a vote of No Confidence in the Board of Regents on Wednesday. As someone who has followed this story and written about it extensively (136 posts!), I took a vote of my own and, by a narrow margin of 1 to zero, gave them a vote of No Respect. On Monday, Michigan Democrat David Knezek introduced Senate Bill 734. The bill contains a single sentence: The local financial stability and choice act, 2012 PA 436, MCL 141.1541 to 141.1575, is repealed. Wouldnt it be beautiful if the entire anti-democratic failed experiment known as Michigans Emergency Manager law, a law and policy that has done so much harm to our state, was brought down with a single sentence? There has never been a time in Michigan when it was more clear that taking away democracy with the imposition of an Emergency Manager and the entire concept of Emergency Management is completely flawed and failed. There is a direct line between the presence of Emergency Managers in Flint and the poisoning of their drinking water with lead. There is also a direct line between Emergency Managers in Detroit public schools and the massive debt that has been run up in the past seven years and the scandalously deplorable and heartbreaking conditions inside so many of their school buildings and classrooms. The time for pretending that the patriarchs in our state legislature and our state government the same people who rant about Big Government Overreach and overregulation are not equipped or qualified to run an entire school district much less an entire city via a single governor-appointed overseer. That hasnt stopped the Republicans water carriers on the op-ed pages of our states newspapers from running to the defense of this failed experiment, however, and today we have the most laughable example of that in an op-ed in The Detroit News penned by the unfailing apologist Dan Calabrese. Heres a taste of his drivel: Its no surprise that were already hearing voices demanding that Michigans emergency manager law be repealed, with the Flint water disaster as the rationale for why this needs to happen. That would be a huge mistake. The emergency manager law did not cause the Flint water crisis. People making bad decisions including, but by no means limited to, the emergency manager caused it. Whats more, people making bad fiscal decisions caused Flint to come under an emergency manager in the first place. [] Emergency managers have to make better decisions than we saw in Flint, but until city councils stop mismanaging their way into financial desperation, emergency managers will continue to be necessary. Calabrese is engaging in the same sort of red herring argument that is used whenever you see conservative corporatist pundits weighing in on the side of getting rid of the inconvenience of democracy in order to take over cities. He wants you to believe that the fiscal crises in Detroit, Flint, Benton Harbor, and other cities are the result of corruption, malfeasance, and incompetence on the part of the elected leaders. These things happen, of course. They happen in municipalities all the time. Thats the messy part of democracy. But we have mechanisms in place to fix these sorts of problems over time. The common term for that fix is elections (i.e., more democracy.) The common thread in all of the cities and school districts that have found themselves in deep financial trouble is the implosion of their manufacturing base through offshoring of their workforce to other countries and disinvestment by local, state, and federal governments. Anyone who attempts to ignore the historic events that led to the fiscal problems in these cities without even an acknowledgement of the complex causes of urban decay and distress should, frankly, be ignored. They are simply redirecting your attention away from how we as a society have so tragically failed our schools and urban cities for decades. And, more often than not, its the policies of corporatist Republicans that are at the core. The outrageous defunding of public education in Michigan is, of course, an obvious example. Calabrese and people like him want two things: to destroy unions and to privatize as many public services as possible to funnel tax money into corporate bank accounts. He isnt even trying to hide it. In his op-ed, he claims the reason Michiganders want to restore democracy in Michigan is to stop Emergency managers from having the power to rip up contracts between cities and public employee unions. This power is, he says, one of the greatest threats imaginable to the Democratic Party. They believe that running government like a business is the answer to all our states woes and continue to hold onto that precept tightly with both hands even in the face of incontrovertible evidence that it is wrong. Nice try, Dan. It might be worth your time to pick up a copy of Thomas Sugrues The Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit. A little history lesson like this might enlighten you about the true causes of the crises faced by our urban areas and our school districts today. The two-dimensional view you have of the world we live in today is the comic book version of reality; shallow, uninformed, and lacking in historical perspective. President Obama now has less than a year left in his final term in office. But that hasnt stopped the drumbeat of calls for his impeachment among the most fervent haters of the countrys first African American POTUS. This past week, the Michigan 7th Congressional District Republicans passed a resolution asking Congressman Tim Walberg to introduce articles of impeachment. In their resolution, these legal geniuses accuse the president of Usurpation of the Oval Office via criminal identity fraud, Malfeasance, misconduct and abuse of the Oval Office, and Aiding and abetting known enemies of the United States. They say that impeachment is the proper constitutional solution to Obama treason, tyranny and treachery. In other words, they are classic racist tea party birthers. I am a member of the 7th Congressional District Democratic organization. At our meetings, we talk about how to restore our economy so that every Michigander has a shot at the American dream, how to increase voters access to their constitutional right to vote, how to ensure that women are paid the same as men and have full access to reproductive health care, how to make sure workers have a fair shot at good wages, basic benefits, and the ability to retire in dignity, and how to make sure government isnt a game rigged by corporations for their own financial benefit. Seven years after his election and reelection and Republicans in the 7th District are still arguing over whether or not Barack Obama is a Kenyan usurper. How do we lose to these guys? [Facepalm CC image credit: Alex Proimos | Flickr] Alternative energy has become a real growth engine during the last several years. It seems to bounce up and down, depending on the leadership in the White House. President Obama is a supporter, so growth has been relatively strong in recent years. The big question is, what will happen under a new president? That is a question every investor and industry worker is asking. We all want to work and invest in a growth sector. Many people have hitched their wagon to the growth engine in the energy space, and that has been a good call. Will the Growth Engine Slow? However, worries that things will change and growth will slow are starting to set in. What happens will depend in large part on who we elect as president. Energy is important, but it is just one of many important factors we must focus on going forward. In general, voters wont focus on one issue, like energy, when there are multiple problems like security, economic growth and jobs. That said, growth in energy, especially alternative energy, will continue. The question is, will it be at the same rapid pace or will it slow? If you are working for or invested in the right companies in the alternative energy space, you likely will continue do well. Choosing Growth Companies How do you choose the right growth-oriented companies? That question is easier to ask than to answer. Alternative energy is an industry driven by innovation, reinvention and politics. The hot companies and new technologies always will capture the attention of the media and industry watchers. That means those companies should be the focus for investors and workers. The life span of a hot opportunity in the energy space may be short. A company or technology that is new and hot today may give way to the next hot company or technology in the blink of an eye. That happens in every industry. Consider the mobile phone marketplace. Motorola led the space early on. Then in the 1990s, Nokia and BlackBerry took the No. 1 position, sending Motorola to the basement. In the 2000s, Apples iPhone and Googles Android OS took the lead, sending Nokia and BlackBerry to join Motorola in the basement. Leadership Changes Things change quickly. Leadership changes quickly. Sometimes leaders stay leaders by creating the next growth wave to ride. Most times they do not they ride that wave up and then down again. Consider the iPhone, which has been under scrutiny for slowing growth. Apple remains a beloved company in the eyes of its customers. However, its growth lately has not been quite up to what analysts predicted, so thestock has been hit and some media outlets have been trashing it. There are two distinct sectors to balance: the customer and the investor. Sometimes they are on the same growth track, but other times they take different paths. Expect the same thing to happen in the energy space. Investors can use the lessons they learned from the wireless wars in the energy arena. Choose the right companies and technologies to work for or to bet on with your investment dollars. Energy Tables Turn Quickly The hottest energy industry segments are solar, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal energy. There will be plenty of winners and losers in each. Determining which to bet on is the biggest challenge. Stay alert the tables can turn quickly. That might happen with the change in leadership in Washington. However, even if the new president has an alternative energy focus, the industrys volatile growth will continue. Alternative energy will continue to grow its the pace of growth that is the big unknown. Be prepared to make a series of strategic moves. Staying alert in the rapidly growing and changing alternative energy space will help you stay on the winning side of the growth curve. Worldwide downloads of Android apps in 2015 were double those for iOS, but revenues from iOS apps were nearly twice those of Android, according to anApp Annie report released this week. First-time device owners in emerging markets drove the huge increase in Android downloads, researchers found. This growth opens up avenues for publishers to create new markets by targeting unmet needs of users in a given region, the report says.Meanwhile, app revenue increased notably year over year as iOS cemented its position as app store revenue king. Biggest Revenue Generator While the growing download disparity doesnt seem to be closing the revenue gap between the two mobile operating systems, it could impact revenues in another area. This massive disparity could mark the beginning of major changes in mobile marketing, including substantial increases of Androids share of mobile ad spend, the report says. During the year, iOS revenue growth was driven by sales in China, the United States and Japan, which contributed to 90 percent of the revenues at Apples App Store, it notes. Of all the app categories, games easily topped the list of revenue generators for both Google and Apple, the report says, producing 90 percent of the app revenue for Google Play and 75 percent of the app revenue for iOS. People are always buying new games, unlike other applications, noted Tom Cummings, director of account management atFiksu. Indies Thriving As a gamer, you might be interested in 20 games a year, he told the E-Commerce Times. Youre not going to be interested in buying 20 notepads a year. The brisk sale of games offers opportunities for developers absent from other app categories, according to the App Annie report. Games continue to drive huge volumes of downloads and store revenue, yet we are seeing new trends emerge as indie developers challenge top publishers, it says. However, games reach the end of their life cycle very fast, making it important for publishers to find success for new games faster than ever, the report notes. You dont see a new Angry Birds popping up everywhere, but you still see indie games popping up and doing well, Fiksus Cummings pointed out. Long-term growth, though, is hard. Reason for Revenue Gap The revenue gap between iOS and Android app sales has existed for some time. iOS users tend to be more affluent and as a result spend more on apps, Ross Rubin, senior director for industry analysis at App Annie, told the E-Commerce Times. In addition, iPhone users are more likely to use apps on their phones than Android users are. Google Play has many more users, but for many of them, those Android phones are used like feature phones, said Jonathan Godfrey, vice president of public affairs forACT | The App Association. Its hard to buy a feature phone these days, so people at the low end of the market are buying smartphones and using them as feature phones, he told the E-Commerce Times. Income Discrepancies Phones priced at $50 are very popular in places like India and China because people dont have a lot of money to spend on them, noted Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst atMoor Insights & Strategy. The less money you have to spend on hardware, the less money you have to spend on software, he told the E-Commerce Times. However, the chasm in app revenue numbers on a per-unit basis might close if comparisons were made between owners of high-end Android phones and iPhones, Moorhead noted. I believe that if you looked at app purchases by premium Android phone users and Apple phone users, the numbers would be similar. TV Opportunities Theres a bright place for apps in the changing TV marketplace, the App Annie report suggests. This long-standing money-making screen holds huge opportunity for app sales and advertising in 2016 and beyond, it says. Its also an opportunity for consumers and developers, App Annies Rubin added. Apple TV and Googles Nexus Player are relatively inexpensive ways to enter Apples and Googles app ecosystems, he said. As those devices proliferate, it opens up new opportunities for developers and a mix of capabilities on TV that we havent really seen before, Rubin continued. The new TV apps also can fill a gap in the gaming market, which has two extremes and no middle, observed ACTs Godfrey. You have this huge market between $10 apps on a mobile phone and $80 console games that TV apps can fill. California State AssemblymanJim Cooper last week introduced a bill seeking to ban the sale of smartphones that include unbreakable encryption. The bill would require smartphones made on or after Jan. 1, 2017, and sold in California to be capable of being decrypted and unlocked by their manufacturers or OS providers. Knowingly failing to comply would subject a seller or lessor meaning a carrier or other company such as Walmart, which supplies smartphones to end users to a fine of $2,500 for each device sold or leased. The seller or lessor would not be able to pass on any portion of the penalty to purchasers. The bill would authorize only the California attorney general or a district attorney to bring a civil suit to enforce these provisions. The legislation fails to recognize the broad, tangible benefits of encryption, and rather than making anyone safer, will only succeed in making most smartphone owners more vulnerable while doing nothing to limit the ability of criminals to operate outside the purview of law enforcement, Amie Stepanovich, U.S. policy manager atAccess Now, told TechNewsWorld. Protecting Children The bill would help fight human traffickers, who use smartphones as a tool, argued Cooper, a former sheriffs captain. There are many convincing emotional appeals that can be made to justify enabling violations of peoples Fourth Amendment right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches, said John Gunn, VP of communications atVasco Data Security. This is just one more, he told the E-Commerce Times. Law Enforcement Efforts The California bill and another in New York State reflect sentiment among law enforcement for such a move. Last year, theInternational Association of Chiefs of Police and theNational District Attorneys Association held a summit on what they called Going Dark the inability of law enforcement to address the problem encrypted communications pose to public safety. The organizations want to ensure that its possible to collect evidence by court order, not expand governments surveillance authority, according to a report on the summit. The report includes the following recommendations: Provide guidance and recommended strategies to address the issue of Going Dark; Create an electronic data and privacy policy framework; Prepare an analysis of current legislation that relates to evidentiary collection of electronic data; Work with domestic and international partners to continue dialogue about the effects; and Focus on educating congressional and other policy leaders on the issue. Senior federal officials met with Silicon Valley executives recently in whats been viewed as a bid to get high-tech firms to cooperate with government requests for data and, possibly, introduce encryption backdoors. Apple CEO Tim Cook has rejectedcalls to weaken encryption, sparking a rejoinder from AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson that decision-making on encryption policy is Congress call. AT&T cooperated with the Bush administration in turning over details of calls made on its networks. The Downside of Coopers Bill The encryption genie is out of the bottle, and recent proposals to outlaw it wont stop criminals, said Dwayne Melancon, CTO ofTripwire. Encryption protects electronic financial transactions, private Internet communication, and much of our national critical infrastructure, he told TechNewsWorld. It is a fundamental requirement in a wide range of government regulations designed to protect sensitive data from hackers, nation-state attackers and others with malicious intentions, Melancon continued. Anything we do to restrict or weaken [it] would weaken the mechanisms we use to secure the Internet. The Cooper bill will not remove readily available applications that do strong encryption, Christian Lees, CISO atInfoArmor, pointed out. It would likely also drive government organizations to embrace secondary applications that support strong encryption, he told the E-Commerce Times. (Photo: REUTERS / Alexei Druzhinin / RIA Novosti / Kremlin)Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) speaks with Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill during a visit to St. Sergius of Radonezh Cathedral in Tsarskoye Selo, outside St. Petersburg, December 8, 2014. Greece's openly atheist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has held tense a meeting with the head of Russia's Orthodox Church while he was on a visit to seek closer ties with Moscow. Tsipras greeted Patriarch Kirill, who has a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with a strained smile at his official monastery residence. It followed a two-day offensive to charm the Kremlin, Agence France-Presse reported on April 10. When Tsipras was on February 21 after his Syriza party won the elections in Greece, he chose not to take a religious oath at the ceremony in the country where the Greek Orthodox Church has strong roots. Tsipras, whose left-wing party has opposed austerity measures as a crippling imposition by the European Union, broke from tradition when he decided to take a civil, rather than a biblical oath. Newsweek reported in February that a religious icon of Jesus in a small village in Greece had been "weeping" ever since Syriza won the Greek elections at the end of January, witnesses say. It cited Corinth TV and the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, which said the icon, which dates from early in the 20th century and is housed in the church of St. Nicholas in the village of Asprokampos, Corinthia, had been secreting an oily liquid Tsipras, stormed to power on January 26. EUROPEAN ATHEIST LLEADERS The digital news site Quartz had reported it had identified at least two other European leaders who have also said they are atheists - French President Francois Hollande and Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic. In Moscow Kirill congratulated Tsipras on his election win, but according to AFP, he promptly pressed the prime minister to take on a moral as well as political role in national life. "I hope that your government will do all it can to preserve the spiritual foundations and morality of your people," the patriarch said. "Don't forget that being Christian is not a political stance," he noted, saying that only with a "spiritual base" could a country hope for true social justice. The AFP report said Tsipras was clearly exasperated and said that said that he was glad the religious leader had "taken the time do some research on my personal convictions." In post-communist Putin's Russia as in Greece the Orthodox church and the State are closely intertwined. Greece and Russia both have devout Orthodox Christian populations, with ecclesiastical hierarchies sharing close historical ties. Although the meeting was strained Kirill and Tsipras had some common ground. In their meeting lasting less than one hour the pair also agreed on the need to put an end to the EU-imposed sanctions said to have badly hit Russia's economy since it seized Crimea and was accused of supporting separatist rebels in Ukraine during 2014. The Russian Orthodox Church has become one of the bulwarks of President Vladimir Putin's return to traditionalism and conservative values, The Moscow Times reported on April 7. Putin is known to have close ties to Kirill and is seen attending Orthodox church services, something he might not have officially done during his days serving in the KGB during the Soviet era, which espoused atheism. While the federal government's burgeoning reliance on the Russian Orthodox Church "is a tool aimed at consolidating society, in using it the authorities risk giving the clergy too much power, an issue that may eventually backfire against the Kremlin, experts told The Moscow Times. "When the economy is in crisis, [regional governments] need the Church, because it often has more legitimacy among the local populations. "Imagine if a governor comes out and tells people that there is no money to pay pensions, and then imagine if a priest comes out and says that though money may be scarce, people still need to rally around the national leader, to defend against an external enemy: who do you think people will find more credible?" Alexei Malashenko, chair of the Carnegie Moscow Center's Religion, Society and Security Program, told The Moscow Times. (REUTERS / Sergei Gunyeev / Ria Novosti / Kremlin/Files)Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill arrive for the meeting with Russian Orthodox church bishops in Moscow February 1, 2013. As troops loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin were seizing control of Crimea, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow deduced that an "internal political crisis" in Ukraine was threatening its territorial integrity. Picture taken February 1, 2013. Pope Francis will meet the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill for first time for an historic meeting in Cuba, the Vatican has said. The Holy See sees the meeting of great significance in Catholic-Russian Orthodox relations. The private meeting will last two hours and take place in Havana on Feb. 12 while the Pope is heading to Mexico for a pastoral visit. "After centuries it is the first time that the pope will meet with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. It is an event of extraordinary importance," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombarid said Feb. 5. The meeting will be the first top-level encounter beteen the two churches since the 11th century. "The Holy See and the Patriarchate of Moscow are pleased to announce that, by the grace of God, His Holiness Pope Francis and His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia will meet on February 12 next," the joint statement issued by the Vatican and the Russian Orthodox Church said.. "Their meeting will take place in Cuba, where the Pope will make a stop on his way to Mexico, and where the Patriarch will be on an official visit. It will include a personal conversation at Havana's Jose Marti International Airport, and will conclude with the signing of a joint declaration. "This meeting of the Primates of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, after a long preparation, will be the first in history and will mark an important stage in relations between the two Churches. The Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate hope that it will also be a sign of hope for all people of good will." Patriarch Kirill has been the head of the Russian Orthodox Church since February 2009, while Pope Francis took up his role in March 2013. The Roman Catholic Church has more than a billion members worldwide, while the Russian Orthodox Church numbers about 165 million and is the biggest Orthdox church. The Orthodox Church is made up of more than 10 separate churches. The Vatican has existing ties with the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew. The pace of reconciliation between Russia, the biggest country in the world, and the Vatican, the smallest, has been swift, The New York Times reported. The two agreed to establish formal diplomatic ties at the end of 2009, and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Francis in June 2015, in what was seen as a break of Russia's isolation from the West over the crisis in Ukraine. The Orthodox Church has close relations with the Kremlin and Kirill and Putin are said to have a close relationship. The Cuba meeting was not an "improvisation," Father Lombardi said, Catholic News Service reported. Tt took two years of intense planning and negotiations to schedule. Even when the idea of a meeting was just a vague hope, both Catholic and Orthodox officials insisted it would have to take place on "neutral" territory rather than at the Vatican or in Russia. 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. Al menos 200 millones de ninas y mujeres, distribuidas en unos 30 paises del mundo, han sufrido mutilacion genital, segun un informa publicado por la Unicef. Del total de victimas, 44 millones corresponde a ninas de 14 anos o mas jovenes. La mitad de los casos se concentran en tres naciones: Egipto, Etiopia e Indonesia. El informe publicado por la Unicef detalla que la cifra aumento en unos 70 millones de acuerdo con los ultimos calculos de 2014. Entre los paises mas afectados se encuentran Indonesia, Egipto y Etiopia, donde se concentran la mitad de los casos. A pesar de las alarmantes cifras, el organismo afirma que cada vez son mas los sectores y paises que se oponen a esta practica. The Elliott Wave Principle is a detailed description of how financial markets behave. The description reveals that mass psychology swings from pessimism to optimism and back in a natural sequence, creating specific Elliott wave patterns in price movements. Each pattern has implications regarding the position of the market within its overall progression, past, present and future. The purpose of Elliott Wave Internationals market-oriented publications is to outline the progress of markets in terms of the Wave Principle and to educate interested parties in the successful application of the Wave Principle. While a course of conduct regarding investments can be formulated from such application of the Wave Principle, at no time will Elliott Wave International make specific recommendations for any specific person, and at no time may a reader, caller or viewer be justified in inferring that any such advice is intended. Investing carries risk of losses, and trading futures or options is especially risky because these instruments are highly leveraged, and traders can lose more than their initial margin funds. Information provided by Elliott Wave International is expressed in good faith, but it is not guaranteed. The market service that never makes mistakes does not exist. Long-term success trading or investing in the markets demands recognition of the fact that error and uncertainty are part of any effort to assess future probabilities. Please ask your broker or your advisor to explain all risks to you before making any trading and investing decisions. 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. The picture of a 7-month-old baby lying dead on a sidewalk between his parents has caused fury in Mexico. The picture shows the family of three moments after they were shot to death outside a convenience store in the city of Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca state, according to the Oaxaca State Attorney's Office. Several armed men shot and killed the family, authorities said. Oaxaca prosecutors told CNN the father, identified as 24-year-old Juan Alberto Pano Ramos, was carrying Marcos Miguel Pano Colon in his arms when they were shot Friday at 8:40 pm. The 17-year-old mother, identified as Alba Isabel Colon, also was killed. The picture focusing on the baby in a bloodstained white onesie, lying head down between his father's torso and left arm, has gone viral in Mexico. The young mother, wearing denim shorts and a red blouse, lies in the background. Many are comparing the image with that of Aylan Kurdi, the 3-year-old Syrian refugee boy whose body was found on a Turkish beach after he drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. Drug-related violence has plagued the state of Guerrero in recent years. Guerrero had 2,016 homicides last year, the most of any Mexican state, according to government figures. That violence is spilling over into Oaxaca, where the baby's parents had recently moved, according to authorities. The same night the family was gunned down in Pinotepa Nacional, another family of three, including a 14-year-old girl, were shot and killed in the municipality of Miahuatlan. Teen burglar who was spared prison had struck before Douglas Courthouse A teenage burglar who was spared jail last month has appeared in court - charged with another burglary. 18-year-old Anthony Collis admitted stealing cash, a computer game and stamps from a property on Grafton Street on June 29th last year. Appearing before the Magistrates Court yesterday he also entered guilty pleas to two counts of theft. The Douglas man stole over 3,000 from a friend who was staying with him between July 27th and August 12th. In January Collis was handed a Combination Order - a mix of probation and community service - after pleading guilty to burgling a house in Willaston last October. He will be committed to the Court of General Gaol Delivery on February 19th. Re: ... Nyon or Lausanne? Quote: kcexpat If this is your main reason for not wanting to live in Geneva, then you're definitely going to want to choose Nyon. Lausanne is actually a much more lively city than Geneva. The latter is quite orderly, often called "dead" by locals, and generally pretty empty outside of normal business hours. Lausanne has much more of a young, student-centered feel, with lots of bars and concerts and events. So if quiet village is what you're going for, Nyon is a much closer match. Thanks a lot! Well, we do not mind at all bars & people - I doubt we will take advantage of the nightlife any soon, but we like having people around... what we do not like is traffic and not a lot of "nature" around. Friends told us Geneva is quite bad from that perspective - is that true? here we are used that the kid can basically go around on the lake shore with his scooter and there are no cars, the biggest danger is represented by quite agressive swans I was a couple of times both in GE and Lausanne, but I could not really say how they are different from this perspective... Anyway, Nyon is the top choice at the moment- what attracts me of Lausanne are the nice building d'epoque, I like old apartments, wood, decorations, nice view, etc. Nyon does not seem to offer much of that... Thanks a lot! Well, we do not mind at all bars & people - I doubt we will take advantage of the nightlife any soon, but we like having people around... what we do not like is traffic and not a lot of "nature" around. Friends told us Geneva is quite bad from that perspective - is that true? here we are used that the kid can basically go around on the lake shore with his scooter and there are no cars, the biggest danger is represented by quite agressive swansI was a couple of times both in GE and Lausanne, but I could not really say how they are different from this perspective...Anyway, Nyon is the top choice at the moment- what attracts me of Lausanne are the nice building d'epoque, I like old apartments, wood, decorations, nice view, etc. Nyon does not seem to offer much of that... Netflix has made the bold decision to renew Orange Is the New Black for three more seasons! How Will Alex Treat Piper For Dismissing Her Paranoia On 'Orange Is the New Black'? Orange Is the New Black has been renewed for season 5, 6 and 7, as revealed by a new Netflix press release Friday. Series creator and executive producer Jenji Kohan spoke about the renewal in the press release, clearly expressing her excitement. "Three more years! Not quite a political term, but still plenty of time to do some interesting things. In some cultures, 'May you lead an interesting life,' is a curse, but I don't live in those cultures," Kohan said. "Here's to keeping it interesting. Thanks Netflix! Both thanks and you're welcome Lionsgate! And kudos and gratitude to the stellar cast and crew and writers and producers and editors and musicians and mixers and shleppers... with whom I have the pride and honor of crafting this show. Three more years! Three more years!" 'Orange Is the New Black' Star Dascha Polanco Talks Bennett & Daya's Future Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs also spoke on being proud of their continued relationship with Netflix. "Jenji's brilliant creative vision and a truly amazing cast have catapulted Orange is the New Black to the forefront of the platinum age of television, and we're pleased that Orange fans around the world will be rewarded with another three seasons," he said. The series has the benefit of a location where characters come and go all the time, making it easy to introduce new characters or bid goodbye to old ones. Over the first three seasons we've seen the exit and return of Alex (Laura Prepon), the arrival and exit of Vee (Lorraine Toussaint), the exit of Miss Claudette (Michelle Hurst), Bennett (Matt McGorry) and Nicky (Natasha Lyonne) and more. And considering how original lead character Piper (Taylor Schilling) has become just another character in the ensemble, it's conceivable that even she could exit the show at one point. It remains to be seen what developments within the Litchfield prison might go down in season 4. Orange Is the New Black season 4 will be released in full on Friday, June 17 on Netflix. The Power at the End of the Economy by Brian Massumi, Durham/London: Duke University Press, 2015; pp 136, $21.95. Criticisms of neo-liberalism tend to be dismissed as nostalgia for either the bourgeois humanist subject or homo faber and the two types of society associated with them. There is an element of truth in this, but critics are also returning to the past because a coherent ideology that opposes neo-liberalism has not really emerged, while the doctrineand its practiceshould be opposed because it has serious faults. In London, perhaps the archetypal Western neo-liberal city, there is an ever-widening gulf between rich and poor, cutting back of government services, extensive redevelopment that homogenises neighbourhoods and a general commodification of culture, in spite of the daily trumpeting of its virtues in the Evening Standard. For India, rapidly becoming the archetypal non-Western neo-liberal country since Narendra Modis election, one has only to read the intellectually-sophisticated and richly-documented articles in this journal that regularly attack neo-liberal policies. In spite of triumphalist talk of expansion, creativity and opportunity, there is real social injustice, exclusion and an underlying conformist hegemonic impulse, while economics has subsumed all aspects of life and individual greed is seen as good because the market coordinates all greed for the good of all, including even the exploited. The relationship of neo-liberalism to the great French philosophic texts from the late 1960s and early 1970s is very complex. Radical philosophies of difference, complexified identity, immanence and contestations of universals and absolutes emerged in these texts, often in exciting dialogue with each other. It is hard though to be precise about exactly what kind of world these texts envisaged. They combined abstract, technical argument with complicated and sometimes ambiguous literary styles and had cultural and social historical references that were not meant to be illustrative. One almost has to intuit the philosophy across and between these elements. They also deliberately resisted the programmatic, seeking a middle voice in the classical Greek sense: neither an active forging of ones way nor a passive going with the vibes. This middle voice is very hard to pin downnot that pinning down is enoughand can easily be confused with the many fag ends of postmodern rhetoric that float around in the neo-liberal world. Respect for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Geneva Convention is extraordinarily patchy, and governments spend much time and ingenuity in dodging them. All the clever tricks to deny refugees their supposed rights have been very much evident in the latest rash of flights to the European Union. While the rulers of the world seem set upon locking up populations in little national prisons, they should be asking themselves: how can the opportunity of new and different citizens be embraced? The flight of people across borders is supposedly governed by international law, embodied most substantially in the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, in Geneva (Geneva Convention). This stipulates that refugees have a right not to be expelled (Article 3), a right not to be punished for entering a country illegally (Article 31), a right to work (Articles 17 to 19) and rights to housing, education, public relief and assistance (Article 23). Furthermore, the United Nations (UN) Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that people have the right to leave their country (although they have no automatic right to enter another). Of course, unlike law, as we normally understand it, there is no authority to enforce these rights, to police implementation and punish transgressions. Hence, in practice, respect for these rights is extraordinarily patchy, and governments spend much time and ingenuity in dodging them. Many of the rights only come into operation if a refugee succeeds in landing in a country, so governments bend their best efforts to prevent this; as United States (US) coastguards have kept offshore Haitian refugees to make sure they would not be in a position to claim protection of the law (but have allowed Cubans to land and settle as a weapon of foreign policy against Castros Cuba). European Union All the clever tricks to deny refugees their supposed rights have been very much evident in the latest rash of flights. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children have been trudging across Europe for many months, monitored daily by the media in excruciating detail. Many have drowned crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece, or the Mediterranean from Libya to Lampedusa, Malta or Sicily. Now, some Afghans have cut across north to Moscow to escape the obstacles in Central Europe, and are cycling through the snow to Norway; come the spring, and thawing corpses will be found in the roadside ditches. Given all the blather about European values (preservation of life, especially for women and children, etc), you would have thought the good burghers of Brussels would have quickly hired cruise ships (now mothballed for the winter) or mobilised idle naval boats to go to the coasts of Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and Libya to pick up the refugees and carry them safely to Europe. Then, the refugees would have escaped the depredations of the people smugglers.1 They would have avoided shipwreck and drowning, being assaulted by border guards or others in Bulgaria, Macedonia or Croatia, pushed up against the razor wire fences now surrounding a fascist Hungary (it is all very evocative, just like the good old times in the old Soviet Bloc, except, then, people were trying to get out, not in), or being arrested there and interned indefinitely without charge or trial. European values are not all they seem. Most political leaderswith the splendid exception of Angela Merkelrefused point-blank to accept refugees for settlement and some are copying Hungary by building fences. Some give their ban on refugees a weird Islamophobic twist by saying they might take in Christians only. After the Paris bombings, a dozen or more Republican governors in the US said they would not take in Syrians because they might be terrorists. The centre-right which currently governs much of Europe is terrified of a takeover by the xenophobic right; compassion is watered down by the need to stay in power. As always, the xenophobic right pulls the centre rightwards. Now, the European governments have turned to bribing Turkey (which, with 2.2 million refugees has the most in the world) not to allow the refugees to leave for Greece, and to various African governments not to allow departures. But, the principle is clear: to hell with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Populations should be locked up where they were born, and not allowed to migrate or flee. Borders exist not to keep people out, but to imprison them. In sharp contrast to their governments, many thousands of ordinary citizens made collections of clothes and blankets to give the travellers, even offering food and places for them to sleep. A group in Berlin has already set up a free online educational programme to teach the newcomers German and other skills (Kiron University). Australia Afghans, Iraqis, Burmese Rohingyas have fled southwards to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, and thence on to Australia. The Australian government has spent the last decade dodging its supposed obligation under the Geneva Convention to protect those fleeing for their lives by diverting flows to concentration camps on two Pacific islands for indefinite detention. That way the refugees never get to land on Australian territory and so cannot acquire the rights granted under the Geneva Convention. Nor has the government relented, now that the Myanmar governments genocide policy for the Rohingyas is clear. Conditions in the camps are, by all accounts, appalling (the camps are run by private companies, so the government cuts costs and escapes responsibility). There have been riots, demonstrations and hunger strikes. It is embarrassing to the government, so some ingenuity has been devoted to how to get rid of these wretched people. Cambodia was bribed and bullied to take some (it amounted to four in all), but there was such an outcry from decent Australians, the scheme was ended. Now Indonesia is being pressured to take them so they can be fed back into the trafficking networks and Thai bonded labour. Of course, the Australian government says it has an asylum policy for orderly entry to those given permission. So, of course, the queue jumpers have to be gaoled (or in an earlier incident, allowed to drown). In late 2015 an Australian naval vessel intercepted a refugee boat in Australian waters, about to land on Christmas Island, turned it round and sent it back to Indonesia (there are accounts that the government has bribed crews on refugee boats to take their cargo back again). Of course, when the Australian government is caught so blatantly and publicly breaking international law, it maintains a discreet silence, admitting nothing; only brave journalists expose the crimes. Then, there are the thousands hanging on trains rattling north through Mexico, a flow now beginning to revive after the slump. The bodies collected along the Rio Grande or in unmarked graves in the Arizona Desert show it is often no safer making the transition to North America than breaking into Europe. The privatised internment camps (and bent judges) ensure a virtually unending stream of income for those involved. And, dozens of other cases, too small to be noted in the press, as with the hundreds of Eritrean refugees being deported from Israel to Rwanda, Uganda and Sudan. One assumes the right palms were greased. Creating National Prisons Has the world gone insane? Think of the glorious 19th century and the preceding centuries with virtually uncontrolled migration across the Americas or within the British empire. Did open borders then mean the collapse of civilisation? How did Karl Marx spend half his life in London, or Vladmir Lenin secure temporary sanctuary a few years later? Or the 26,000 Communards who fled Paris after the brutal destruction of the Commune? Or the thousands of Jews fleeing Tsarist Russia in the 1890s, heading for London and New York? Only the extreme authoritariansTsarist Russia, Prussia, medieval France, Tokugawa Japan, Nazi Germanylocked up their populations (an approach copied in the old Soviet Union and its satellites as well as China; as also, on occasions, the USthink of Paul Robeson). Since then, there have been periodic sudden bursting of the borders, and floods of people searching for safety: think of the 12 million people of German extraction expelled from eastern Europe after 1945; of the 12 million or so fleeing as the result of the British botched evacuation of India in 1947; the 8,00,000 boat people fleeing from Vietnam (19781990); the six million forced out of Afghanistan as the result of the Soviet invasionthree million to Pakistan, three million to Iran; and the 10 million fleeing from East Pakistan to India in the war to create Bangladesh. In fact, despite the misery, persecution, and many deaths along the way, when people had the right to settle and work, immense numbers were absorbed and found new lives. Indeed, as is now well known, increased immigration tends to lift economic growth and raise the living standards of the native born. Migration should lead not to the question currently concerning Europehow can the burden of refugees be shared?but, to the question: how can the opportunity of new and different citizens be embraced? No wonder, years ago economist J K Galbraith (1979: 7) puzzled that, Migration is the oldest action against poverty. It selects those who most want help. It is good for the country to which they go; it helps break the equilibrium of poverty in the country from which they come. What is the perversity in the human soul that causes people to resist so obvious a good? The rank hypocrisy of governments is one thing, but more glaring is the irrationality. All states need people; they can never have enough. In the past, rulers rejoiced when they were able to steal part of the labour force of another ruling class without paying the costs of raising the worker from birth. But, now, when vastly improved and cheapened means of transport make increasing circulation possible, the rulers of the world seem set upon locking up populations even more tightly in little national prisons (the walls supposedly set up to keep foreigners out, keep the natives in). In fact, the need for more workers, especially the young and relatively well-educated Syrian refugees, is becoming ever more urgent as ageing threatens to reduce radically the labour forces of many of the richer countries, most strikingly Japan, Russia, Germany, etc. Demographically, the population of Germany is set to lose 1,50,000 persons a year over the next two decades. Elsewhere, carers, building workers, and agricultural workers, are all scarce even when employment is high.2 Right at the moment, the US armed forces cannot recruit enough. They may revive the old scheme of granting citizenship to the undocumented if they join up. Or, true to neo-liberalism, the Pentagon might outsource recruitment to competitive international auction. Then, the Gurkhas might win the contract to be US marines. The apparent irrationality of governments is compounded by the extraordinary costs of maintaining control of movement. The bureaucracy, border controls and policing, internment camps and courts, in sum, is a system of pure state parasitism, with no useful outcomes but heavy costs imposed on anyone who travels. The fantasy rationale is that borders exist to protect citizens from an army of threats, from bugs to jihadists (and the media loyally concentrates on how terrible the abroad is). But, borders do not protect. They are irrelevant in a world of intercontinental and space missiles, of clandestine circulation of narcotics, goods and people. The dramatic pantomimes along bordersfrom Calais to the Rio Grandeare strictly that, copy for the tabloids and Fox News. In Europe, the majority of undocumented migrants do not cross borders, but enter by air on tourist visas and overstay their validity. And, the tourist trade is far too valuable to risk it with more controls. Similarly, universities will be strangled in global recruitment with more restrictions on movement. A global economy requires all states to maintain open borders as a condition of economic survival. As for stopping jihadists, the current European hysteria, they do not cross borders. They are born and brought up inside the fortress. Global Economy v Xenophobia The condition of a global economy is the free flow of capital, and of labour. But, workers are also citizens, the supposed building block of political sovereignty. Mass migration, the establishment of the same conditions of movement outside states, as usually pertain within states, seems to pose an existential threat to the old national state: the required mobility of the factors of production seems incompatible with the territorial immobility of the state. Thus, paradoxically, economic globalisation, far from washing away nations, exaggerates nationalism and xenophobia, the defence of the local ruling classs hold on one territory in opposition to the weakening of sovereignty implicit in globalisation. At present, the national ruling classes are set to hang on to their territorial power even at the cost of wiping out their national populations (as in Syria). When they are not at waras in Syriathe glue that holds together the national political entity is xenophobia, refuelled by periodic campaigns to hate and even kill foreigners. Putins little games in Georgia or now in the Ukraine (closely matching his popularity ratings) vividly illustrate the dialectic, as also Beijings absurd games in the South and East China seas. Far more troublesome is the rise of xenophobic parties in Europe for whom the arrival of Syrias destitute millions is a godsend. All aspire to a new illiberal model of the state: authoritarian, with tight state control of the media, toleration of expanded police powers, prisons, torture, severely limited human and civil rights, tight control of migration, etc. The 19th century model of the bourgeois state is ending. The combination of the Paris bombings and the flight of refugees has offered a marvellous opportunity to the xenophobic right to expand its power. This is not just Hungarys Viktor Orban rebuilding the national razor wire border fence. It is the toleration in public life of, more or less, open Islamophobia (the Muslims have become the Jews of the 1930s),3 and the quiet acceptance that Schengen, and possibly the European Union, will unwind in order for the old national ruling classes to concentrate their power on survival. However, the great surges of population movementas we now see in Europethat threaten to wash away the boundaries of the states are, along with all the misery and spectacular hardship for hundreds of thousands, also a blow for freedom. The worlds inhabitants are reclaiming the world, for so long partitioned and policed by the worlds territorial ruling classes. Will the world finally break out of a political system of warring national prisons or will it destroy itself in war, not the common ruin of the contending classes but contending nations? Or, can a reformist adjustment be achieved without war, creating a world ruling class (its links to particular territories broken), whereby states administer territories but populations move freely between them as they choose, acquiring or giving up residency as they move? Given the present global reach of the Islamic Caliphate, ISIL, the events in Paris and the universal terrors of attack from abroad, the prospects of systemic self-reform are not good. Notes 1 The politicians, in fact, love the traffickers as a means, while snarling at them, to divert attention away from the real problem, the refugees. If the people smugglers registered as non-governmental organisations, they would be in line for Nobel prizes for saving lives and helping people along their way (in contrast to governments). 2 The Philippines government seems to be the only one that currently recognises the reality by overproducing nurses and merchant naval officers, to export them to the worlds hospitals and merchant navies. 3 Three days after the new Polish government was sworn in, there was a demonstration in Warsaw under the slogan, No Islam, no atheists, a Poland for Catholics. More chillingly, one press report recorded a demonstration outside Warsaw where a mock stuffed guy, an ancient caricature of a Jew, was publicly set on fire. Learn lessons from history? Forget it. Reference Galbraith, J K (1979): The Nature of Mass Poverty, Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. By 2050, the number of older adults representing minority groups is projected to rise to 39%, up from nearly 21% in 2012. The largest increases in the proportion of older adults are projected to be among Asian, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander populations. What's more, the proportion of older Hispanic adults is projected to more than double over the next 40 years. Delivering high-quality health care for this ethnically diverse group means that all clinicians, no matter where they practice, should develop interpersonal skills that enable them to navigate culture to meet healthcare needs. To that the end, the American Geriatrics Society's Ethnogeriatrics Committee has developed a set of culturally sensitive indicators to help healthcare providers deliver the best possible care. The AGS committee suggests that these indicators can help practitioners improve health outcomes in this diverse older adult population and can also help curb ineffective care. The AGS recommends that practitioners ask these questions of all older adult people and document answers in medical records. 1. What is your ethnicity? 2. What is your preferred language? 3. Do you know that interpreter services are available free of charge? 4. Do you want to choose one of the available interpreter services (online, telephone, in person)? 5. How much education did you complete (None; less than 7th grade; 7th grade or higher)? Since the language a patient speaks is closely linked to his or her culture, assessing a patient's preferred language and effectively using interpreter services is essential for enhancing communications. Practitioners should seek qualified interpreters--not family members. The most effective collaborators are trained medical interpreters who are consistently better at communicating medical information to people whose English skills may be limited. Aside from language, other factors may come into play for practitioners who treat minority older adults. For example, many people of various ethnicities use complementary or alternative health practices, including home healing therapies and techniques. The AGS committee also noted that practitioners should be self-aware of their own biases and perceptions by considering how personal cultural groups have influenced practitioner values. What's more, practitioners should consider how their perceptions are different than those of people from other cultural backgrounds. ### You can access the entire AGS Culturally Competent Care Statement here. Members of the AGS Ethnogeriatrics Committee are Carmel Bitondo-Dyer, MD; Charles Cefalu, MD; Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, MD, MSc, PhD; Dulce Cruz-Oliver, MD; Lenise Cummings-Vaughn, MD; David Elliott, PharmD, AGSF; Ashish Goel, MD; Seema Limaye, MD; Douglas Miller, MD; Irene Moore, MSSW, LISW, AGSF; Wadie Najm, MD; Joseph Nnodim, MD, PhD; Mary Beth O'Connell, PharmD; Ugochi Ohuabunwa, MD; Thuan Ong, MD, MPH; VJ Periyakoil, MD; Ravi Ramaswamy, MD; Vivyenne Roche, MD; Brooke Salzman, MD; Pushpendra Sharma, MD; Marie L. Villa, MD; Blythe Winchester, MD, MPH; and Michi Yukawa, MD, MPH. About the Health in Aging Foundation This research summary was developed as a public education tool by the Health in Aging Foundation. The Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly 1 million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit http://www.HealthinAgingFoundation.org. Driving a car is a key factor in independent living and life satisfaction for older adults. In the U.S., driving is considered an important aspect of personal freedom and gives people a sense of control over their lives. Most adults continue to drive as they age--in fact, 81 percent of people aged 65 and older hold a driver's license in this country. However, age-related declines in physical and cognitive functions make driving more difficult for older adults, and many people eventually reduce or stop driving altogether. In a new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, researchers reviewed 16 studies that examined the health and well-being of older adults after they stopped driving. The researchers concluded that, when older adults stop driving, their health is impacted in a variety of ways. In particular, not being able to drive nearly doubles the risk of developing symptoms of depression. The team also noted that stopping driving (also known as "driver cessation") may lead to faster declines in physical and mental health function and increased risk of death. Several factors are likely responsible for these findings, noted the researchers. Among them: Ex-drivers have fewer out-of-home activities, and as a result may have fewer opportunities for social interaction. "For many older adults, driving is more than a privilege. It is instrumental to their daily living and is a strong indicator of self-control, personal freedom, and independence. It is almost inevitable to face the decision to stop driving during the aging process as cognitive and physical functions decline. When decision time comes, it is important to take into consideration the potential for adverse health consequences of driving cessation and to make personalized plans to maintain mobility and social activities," said Guohua Li, MD, DrPH, the senior author of the study, who is a professor of epidemiology and the founding director of the Center for Injury Epidemiology and Prevention at Columbia University. However, Dr. Li notes, simply making alternative transportation available to older adults does not necessarily offset the adverse health effects of driving cessation. Effective programs that can ensure and prolong an older adult's mobility, as well as physical and social functioning, are needed, Dr. Li suggests. ### This summary is from "Driving Cessation and Health Outcomes in Older Adults." It appears online ahead of print in the February 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study authors are Stanford Chihuri, MPH; Thelma J. Mielenz, PhD; Charles J. DiMaggio, PhD; Marian E. Betz, MD, MPH; Carolyn DiGuiseppi, MD, PhD; Vanya C. Jones, PhD; and Guohua Li, MD, DrPH. About the Health in Aging Foundation This research summary was developed as a public education tool by the Health in Aging Foundation. The Foundation is a national non-profit established in 1999 by the American Geriatrics Society to bring the knowledge and expertise of geriatrics healthcare professionals to the public. We are committed to ensuring that people are empowered to advocate for high-quality care by providing them with trustworthy information and reliable resources. Last year, we reached nearly 1 million people with our resources through HealthinAging.org. We also help nurture current and future geriatrics leaders by supporting opportunities to attend educational events and increase exposure to principles of excellence on caring for older adults. For more information or to support the Foundation's work, visit http://www.HealthinAgingFoundation.org. WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 5, 2016) --They return to the United States with multiple types of trauma, and suffer from one of the highest rates of chronic pain of any population in the United States. They are U.S. veterans. A major challenge for health care providers is how to help them alleviate pain that will last a lifetime. Now, a new study suggests veterans may be empowered to help themselves with the practice of meditation. A small pilot study conducted at the Washington, D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center reveals that veterans who practiced meditation reported a 20 percent reduction in pain intensity (how bad pain hurts or feels), as well as pain interference, how pain interferes with everyday aspects of life, such as sleep, mood, and activity level. The reductions were consistent across several methods by which doctors commonly measure pain in patients. "Meditation allows a person to accept pain and to respond to pain with less stress and emotional reactivity. Our theory is that this process increases coping skills, which in turn can help veterans to self-manage their chronic pain," said Thomas Nassif, Ph.D., a professorial lecturer in American University's Department of Health Studies, researcher at the D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and lead author of the new study published in Military Behavioral Health. Pain is a significant health issue among the approximately 2.6 million service members who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq since these conflicts began in 2001, according to the Veterans Health Administration. Musculoskeletal pain conditions are the most frequently diagnosed medical issue, exceeding any other medical and psychological concern. Chronic pain is also found in most combat veterans who sustained a traumatic brain injury. The form of mindfulness meditation administered in the study, Integrative Restoration Yoga Nidra, or iRest, is used at Veterans Health Administration medical centers and active-duty military facilities nationwide. The Army surgeon general's Pain Management Task Force has cited iRest as a Tier I intervention for managing pain in military and veteran populations. The pilot study consisted of four male veterans who received iRest meditation treatment, and five who did not. All study participants served in combat and returned to the U.S. with chronic pain and moderate TBI. The study participants attended meditation sessions twice weekly at the D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center and were given iRest recordings to engage in self-practice as well. By the end of eight weeks, the study participants had acquired useful mindfulness skills that empowered them to use meditation as a tool to help manage their pain, Nassif said. "In many cases, primary care physicians are the ones expected to help individuals overcome their chronic pain," Nassif said. "One of the most commonly used tools we have in our toolbox is opioids. Veterans in this study, and many who come to meditation sessions, find that opioid medication is a short-term solution. Meditation could be a useful tool to help veterans manage their pain over the long term." The study calls on health care providers to promote self-management in patients by disseminating strategies and techniques to help patients prevent, cope with, and reduce pain, and concludes that iRest represents one promising self-management approach. More research should be conducted, Nassif said, and future studies should include quantitative measures and a greater number of participants. ### Author contributors include Julie C. Chapman, Psy.D., director of Neuroscience, Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Deborah O. Norris, Ph.D., founder and executive director, The Mindfulness Center, Bethesda, Md.; Friedhelm Sandbrink, M.D., neurologist and pain specialist, Neurology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; Karen L. Soltes, LCSW, iRest Instructor; Matthew Reinhard, Psy.D., director, War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C.; and Marc R. Blackman, M.D., Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C. American University is a leader in global education, enrolling a diverse student body from throughout the United States and nearly 140 countries. Located in Washington, D.C., the university provides opportunities for academic excellence, public service, and internships in the nation's capital and around the world. Philadelphia, PA, February 5, 2016 - Since 2012, at least 1,500 individuals have developed Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), resulting in more than 500 fatalities. Only now are results being reported of the first autopsy of a MERS patient, which was performed in 2014. Not only do these findings, published in The American Journal of Pathology, provide unprecedented, clinically-relevant insights about how MERS progresses, they challenge previously accepted ideas about MERS and the relevance of current animal models. With the number of autopsies performed on the decline, these findings underscore the critical information autopsies can provide regarding emerging infectious disease. "The article by Dianna L. Ng et al exemplifies the value of a well-performed study of an autopsy. The long interval between the emergence of this dangerous disease three years ago and the first autopsy reminds us of the lost opportunity that the decline of the performance of autopsies, particularly research-oriented post-mortem examinations in the United States represents," commented noted expert in the field David H. Walker, MD, Director of the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases. The 45-year-old male patient analyzed by autopsy was one of a large patient cluster treated at a hospital in the United Arab Emirates in April 2014. He worked in a storage room at a paramedic station, with no patient-care duties or exposure to camels. Between April 2 and April 10, 2014, he rapidly progressed from having fever, runny nose, and cough to death. On the last day of his life, he was treated with 100 mg of the steroid hydrocortisone every eight hours. The autopsy was performed 10 days after his death. The autopsy showed that the lungs were the main target organs of MERS, with diffuse damage to the air sacs (alveoli) observed. Using immunohistochemistry, the researchers identified anti-MERS-CoV antibodies in specific cells in the lungs (pneumocytes and epithelial syncytial cells) and bronchial submucosal glands. "Infection of bronchial submucosal glands is a likely source of viral shedding in respiratory secretions leading to human-to-human transmission," explained lead investigator Sherif R. Zaki, MD, PhD, Chief of the Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta). Patients with MERS often show signs of acute kidney failure, and MERS-CoV has been found in the urine of MERS patients. In this case, although certain signs of pathology were seen in this patient's kidneys, immunohistochemistry showed no evidence of MERS-CoV. "This suggests that the acute renal failure in this patient was not caused by direct renal infection, but likely by other factors such as hypotension," noted Dr. Zaki. Such new insights suggest that MERS researchers and clinicians treating MERS patients should focus their infectious control strategies on the lungs. Similarly, no sign of MERS-CoV infection was found in the brain. In many ways findings from this autopsy differ from observations made using animal models. "In the case of MERS, development of numerous animal models was undertaken prior to knowledge of the human pathology," remarked Dr. Walker. "Although these experimental studies were able to suggest the target cells of the virus and histopathology of MERS, only some of the features of the animal models conform to the observations in the human autopsy. Until the truth-testing of a large series of autopsies is reported, judgment will favor those models supported by the observations in a single postmortem examination." He cautioned that reliance on animal models can undermine the value of the results generated when they are used to test MERS vaccines or antiviral treatments. Noting the dramatic reduction in the number of autopsies performed in the U.S. in recent years, Dr. Walker observed that the problem will worsen as pathologists' expertise in autopsy erodes as more of their time is allocated to analyzing surgical tissue from a single organ rather than conducting comprehensive analyses of all organ systems. The MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first isolated from the sputum of a patient who died of respiratory and renal failure in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Although more than three-quarters of MERS cases have originated in Saudi Arabia, including an outbreak of 515 cases in the spring of 2014, the syndrome has been reported in 26 countries including the U.S. Clinically, patients may show symptoms of upper respiratory tract illness, severe pneumonia, and multi-organ failure, although some infected individuals may exhibit no symptoms. MERS is diagnosed most often in elderly men and patients suffering from other serious chronic illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or chronic renal, lung, or heart disease. MERS is thought to spread to humans from infected humans or infected dromedary camels. ### A first-ever interlaboratory study of four versions of a therapeutic protein drug--all manufactured from living cells--reports that an established analytical tool akin to magnetic resonance imaging reliably assessed the atomic structures of the biologically similar products, yielding the equivalent of a fingerprint for each. The findings, described today in Nature Biotechnology, demonstrate that the method--known as two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, or 2D-NMR--"can be a robust and powerful complementary technique for companies and regulators" when assessing these biosimilars, said Robert Brinson, a research chemist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This type of assessment is part of a set of comparisons required to determine whether a follow-on biological product is highly similar to an existing product, so that there is no "clinically meaningful" difference between the two. "Other analytical methods provide useful information, but 2D-NMR is one of the few approaches that can yield complete assignment of three-dimensional structure across the entire molecule in solution at atomic-level resolution," Brinson explains. "Our study indicates that 2D-NMR data can yield a precise and unique 'fingerprint' of structural information in a biological product," he said. Results were reported for measurements of four independently manufactured versions of filgrastim, a biological drug used to help ward off infection and anemia in cancer patients. At four laboratories, researchers used 2D-NMR to map the atomic structures of the original--or reference--filgrastim product licensed in the U.S. and three unapproved biosimilar versions. A biosimilar, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a biological product shown to be "highly similar to an FDA-approved biological product, and has no clinically meaningful differences in terms of safety and effectiveness." Only minor differences in clinically inactive components are allowable in biosimilar products. Biosimilar versions of approved biological drugs at the end of their patent life are expected to cost less but be as safe and effective for licensed clinical uses. To date, the FDA has approved one biosimilar (a version of filgrastim), while the European Union has approved about 20 biosimilars over the last 10 years. Unlike chemically synthesized drugs--aspirin, for example--biological drugs usually are composed of large, complex protein molecules and are produced by living systems. This makes producing exact duplicates impossible, even from batch to batch in the same biomanufacturing process. For specified health conditions and symptoms, the nearly exact copies that result must be shown to achieve the same clinical effects as the already-licensed biological product. Samples of the four filgrastim products were measured on six NMR instruments made by two manufacturers and distributed across laboratories at NIST, FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the Medical Products Agency of Sweden, and Health Canada's Center for Biologics Evaluation. Each sample of filgrastim--a chain of 175 protein building-blocks known as amino acids--was independently measured in each participating laboratory. Rendered as a complex pattern of peaks corresponding to signals from hydrogen and nitrogen in the sample, the data were gathered on each instrument and then analyzed together. Statistical analyses determined how tightly the signals were clustered when data from all six instruments were superimposed. Across all samples on all six instruments, measurements hardly varied. The experimentally determined precision limit of 8 parts per billion for the interlaboratory comparison, the researchers write, is "well below" the threshold beyond which structural differences due to mutations, changes in three-dimensional shape, or other causes might be obscured. The atomic structures of all four filgrastim versions were determined to be the same within the tight precision limits of the NMR data. Separately, NIST researchers repeated measurements on all four samples one year after the interlaboratory comparison to assess their stability. Using the same 2D-NMR method, they did not find significant structural changes in any of the four biologics. NIST's Brinson stresses the importance of proper instrument calibration and control of laboratory conditions to ensure that results are reliable. Early on in the interlaboratory study, the research team identified deviations in data gathered with two instruments. Variations in temperatures were subsequently determined as the cause of the differences, and recalibrated measurements largely eliminated the deviations. In addition to reporting on the utility of 2D-NMR for high-precision measurement of the detailed atomic structure of biosimilars, the new paper describes statistical methods used to assess biosimilarity. They include one for rapid analysis of many datasets, which can be generated, for example, when monitoring batch-to-batch variation during production. In the next phase of the work, Brinson says, NIST and collaborators will compare 2D-NMR measurements of a monoclonal antibody--molecules able to bind to specific targets such as cancer cells--that NIST is developing as a reference material. Monoclonal antibodies are the largest class of approved protein therapeutics in the world, and the ability to extend 2D-NMR methods to this class of therapeutic would represent an important landmark in their analytical characterization. Thirty laboratories on five continents will participate in the upcoming project. Beyond ascertaining the precision of 2D-NMR across a large network of laboratories, the effort is expected to yield a catalog of best practices to ensure the reliability and repeatability of results. ### Paper: H. Ghasriani, D.J. Hodgson, R.G. Brinson, I. McEwen, L.F. Bushe, S. Kozlowski, J.P. Marino, Y. Aubin and D.A. Keire, Precision and Robustness of 2D-NMR for Structure Assessment of Filgrastim Biosimilars, Nature Biotechnology, published 5 February 2016. 10.1038/nbt.3474. A NASA team has successfully demonstrated the handling and loading of a new-fangled, Swedish-developed "green propellant" that smells like glass cleaner, looks like chardonnay, but has proven powerful enough to propel a satellite. As part of an international agreement with the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the team simulated a flight-vehicle loading operation with LMP-103S Green Propellant at Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. The team demonstrated the proper storage and then loading of the propellant into a flight-like tank provided by the New York-based Moog Inc., an aerospace company interested in green-propulsion technology. This was the first-ever demonstration of its type on a U.S. range, said Henry Mulkey, an engineer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, who led the effort. The demonstration, which took place late in 2015, will be followed this year by two other tests. Goddard's Propulsion Branch is carrying out a fracture test to determine the behavior of a flight tank should it crack while loaded with the propellant. And at the end of 2016, the branch also plans to test fire two Swedish-developed spacecraft thrusters powered by LMP-103S, said Caitlin Bacha, associate head of the center's Propulsion Branch. All tests are designed to show that LMP-103S is a viable, higher-performing, safer, and less-expensive alternative to hydrazine, a highly toxic propellant that requires personnel to don cumbersome, full-body protective gear when handling and loading the propellant into spacecraft. By way of comparison, Mulkey said he mixed LMP-103S wearing just safety glasses and a smock. The propellant, which a Stockholm-based company, ECAPS AB, began developing about two decades ago with SNSB funding, is based on ammonium dinitramide, a high-energy salt. It made its debut about five years ago aboard PRISMA, a Swedish spacecraft equipped with two one-Newton thrusters. (A Newton is a unit of force.) Over the years, 70 LMP-103S-powered thrusters have been built and used in different applications. NASA's Pre-Aerosol, Clouds, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission also is investigating the use of LMP-103S-powered thrusters. "We gained a lot of knowledge and hands-on experience from this pathfinder activity," Mulkey said. "We can take this experience and directly apply it to other flight-loading activities." The Other 'Green' Propellant Goddard's experimentation with LMP-103S is just part of NASA's green propellant story. Goddard, as well as a handful of other NASA centers, also is participating in the Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM). GPIM, which NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate expects to launch in 2016, will carry 31 lbs. of another green propellant -- AF-M315E -- developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory in California. During the demonstration to be carried out by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., of Boulder, Colorado, the spacecraft's five engines or thrusters will burn in different operations, testing how reliably the engines perform. Aerojet Rocketdyne, of Redmond, Washington, built the thrusters. For its part, Goddard carried out fluid testing on GPIM's systems and components, Bacha said. In particular, the test team carried out the first-ever "surge" and flow testing on AF-M315E. Surge is a phenomenon that occurs when an isolation valve opens to allow propellant to rapidly fill empty manifold lines. These pressures, if too high, potentially can damage sensitive flight components downstream. Flow testing, meanwhile, reveals how individual components perform in a system using the propellant. No data of this type existed for the AF-M315E prior to Goddard's surge and flow testing, Bacha said. "We have so many balls in the air with green propellant," she added. "We appreciate the opportunity to get our hands dirty, so to speak, with these propellants." Another Alternative Although the more traditionally used hydrazine will not be completely displaced due to its long heritage and widespread use, the two green propellants do offer compelling advantages. In addition to being easier to handle, they are more tolerant of low temperatures and could bring about less-expensive, more flexible mission designs. Furthermore, both green propellant options are better performing than hydrazine, meaning that a spacecraft could carry out more maneuvers on one tank of propellant or could reduce the needed propellant leaving room for additional flight instruments. "It's beneficial that we understand both," Mulkey said. "The change is coming." ### For more Goddard technology news, go to https://gsfctechnology.gsfc.nasa.gov/newsletter/Current.pdf WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Pollens, the bane of allergy sufferers, could represent a boon for battery makers: Recent research has suggested their potential use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. "Our findings have demonstrated that renewable pollens could produce carbon architectures for anode applications in energy storage devices," said Vilas Pol, an associate professor in the School of Chemical Engineering and the School of Materials Engineering at Purdue University. Batteries have two electrodes, called an anode and a cathode. The anodes in most of today's lithium-ion batteries are made of graphite. Lithium ions are contained in a liquid called an electrolyte, and these ions are stored in the anode during recharging. The researchers tested bee pollen- and cattail pollen-derived carbons as anodes. "Both are abundantly available," said Pol, who worked with doctoral student Jialiang Tang. "The bottom line here is we want to learn something from nature that could be useful in creating better batteries with renewable feedstock." Research findings are detailed in a paper that appeared on Feb. 5 in Nature's Scientific Reports. Whereas bee pollen is a mixture of different pollen types collected by honey bees, the cattail pollens all have the same shape. "I started looking into pollens when my mom told me she had developed pollen allergy symptoms about two years ago," Tang said. "I was fascinated by the beauty and diversity of pollen microstructures. But the idea of using them as battery anodes did not really kick in until I started working on battery research and learned more about carbonization of biomass." The researchers processed the pollen under high temperatures in a chamber containing argon gas using a procedure called pyrolysis, yielding pure carbon in the original shape of the pollen particles. They were further processed, or "activated," by heating at lower temperature - about 300 degrees Celsius - in the presence of oxygen, forming pores in the carbon structures to increase their energy-storage capacity. The research showed the pollen anodes could be charged at various rates. While charging for 10 hours resulted in a full charge, charging them for only one hour resulted in more than half of a full charge, Pol said. "The theoretical capacity of graphite is 372 milliamp hours per gram, and we achieved 200 milliamp hours after one hour of charging," he said. The researchers tested the carbon at 25 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius to simulate a range of climates. "This is because the weather-based degradation of batteries is totally different in New Mexico compared to Indiana," Pol said. Findings showed the cattail pollens performed better than bee pollen. The work is ongoing. Whereas the current work studied the pollen in only anodes, future research will include work to study them in a full-cell battery with a commercial cathode. "We are just introducing the fascinating concept here," Pol said. "Further work is needed to determine how practical it might be." Electron microscopy studies were performed at the Birck Nanotechnology Center in Purdue's Discovery Park. ### Note to Journalists: The research paper is available from Emil Venere, 765-494-4709, venere@purdue.edu. The work was supported by Purdue's School of Chemical Engineering. The electron microscopy studies at Birck were funded by a Kirk exploratory research grant and were conducted by doctoral students Arthur D. Dysart and Vinodkumar Etacheri. An XPS measurement was conducted by Dmitry Zemlyanov at Birck. Other support came from the Hoosier Heavy Hybrid Center of Excellence (H3CoE) fellowship, funded by U.S. Department of Energy. Writer: Emil Venere, 765-494-4709, venere@purdue.edu Source: Vilas G. Pol, 765-494-0044, vpol@purdue.edu IMAGE CAPTION: This scanning electron microscope image shows bee pollen studied for potential use as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. Color was added to the original black-and-white image. (Purdue University image/ Jialiang Tang) A publication-quality photo is available at https://news.uns.purdue.edu/images/2016/pol-pollen.jpg ABSTRACT From Allergens to Battery Anodes: Nature-Inspired, Pollen Derived Carbon Architectures for Room-and Elevated-Temperature Li-ion Storage Jialiang Tang & Vilas G. Pol * School of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University *E-mail: vpol@purdue.edu The conversion of allergic pollen grains into carbon microstructures was carried out through a facile, one-step, solid-state pyrolysis process in an inert atmosphere. The as-prepared carbonaceous particles were further air activated at 300 C and then evaluated as lithium ion battery anodes at room (25 C) and elevated (50 C) temperatures. The distinct morphologies of bee pollens and cattail pollens are resembled on the final architecture of produced carbons. Scanning Electron Microscopy images shows that activated bee pollen carbon (ABP) is comprised of spiky, brain-like, and tiny spheres; while activated cattail pollen carbon (ACP) resembles deflated spheres. Structural analysis through X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirmed their amorphous nature. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of ABP and ACP confirmed that both samples contain high levels of oxygen and small amount of nitrogen contents. At C/10 rate, ACP electrode delivered high specific lithium storage reversible capacities (590 mAh/g at 50 C and 382 mAh/g at 25 C) and also exhibited excellent high rate capabilities. Through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies, improved performance of ACP is attributed to its lower charge transfer resistance than ABP. Current studies demonstrate that morphologically distinct renewable pollens could produce carbon architectures for anode applications in energy storage devices. This news release is available in French. Montreal, February 5, 2016 - A new therapeutic approach tested by a team from Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (CIUSSS-EST, Montreal) and the University of Montreal gives promising results for the treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer of the bone marrow currently considered incurable with conventional chemotherapy and for which the average life expectancy is about 6 or 7 years. The study was lead be Dr. Jean Roy, a haematologist at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital and professor at the University of Montreal, between 2001 and 2010 with 92 newly diagnosed patients. Using an approach developed at Maisonneuve-Rosemont, consisting of an autograft to reduce tumour mass followed by a family allograft three to four months later to clean the bone marrow of myeloma cells with immune cells from a family donor (immunotherapy), the study resulted in a total cure rate of 41%, a record level using this strategy. Moreover, patients in complete remission six months after the allograft had a relapse-free survival rate of 60%. Overall, the autograft strategy followed by allograft resulted in relapse-free survival rates of 20-25% in the long term. "In many hospitals, doctors have abandoned the use of allografts for multiple myeloma due to the risk of toxicity and relapse. Our results, on the other hand, have led us to offer the treatment to more patients, especially younger patients and those with poorer prognoses," said Dr. Roy. The results of this research were published in the specialized journal Bone Marrow Transplantation. Other encouraging data Moreover, in the same study, the mortality rate associated with this treatment over ten years was 10%, an extremely low rate following a family donor allograft. And while 50% of patients experienced a relapse of their myeloma, the subsequent treatment showed marked efficacy: 50% of these patients were alive five years after the relapse. Based on these results, a new study aiming to reduce rates of relapse and complications is currently underway at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, with still preliminary but very encouraging results. ### The study was supported by the University of Montreal's William Brock Fund. This news release is available in German. This news release is available in German. Stars are born inside a rotating cloud of interstellar gas and dust, which contracts to stellar densities thanks to its own gravity. Before finding itself on the star, however, most of the cloud lands onto a circumstellar disk forming around the star owing to conservation of angular momentum. The manner in which the material is transported through the disk onto the star, causing the star to grow in mass, has recently become a major research topic in astrophysics. It turned out that stars may not accumulate their final mass steadily, as was previously thought, but in a series of violent events manifesting themselves as sharp stellar brightening. The young FU Orionis star in the constellation of Orion is the prototype example, which showed an increase in brightness by a factor of 250 over a time period of just one year, staying in this high-luminosity state now for almost a century. One possible mechanism that can explain these brightening events was put forward 10 years ago by Eduard Vorobyov, now working at the Astrophysical Department of the Vienna University, in collaboration with Shantanu Basu from the University of Western Ontario, Canada. According to their theory, stellar brightening can be caused by fragmentation due to gravitational instabilities in massive gaseous disks surrounding young stars, followed by migration of dense gaseous clumps onto the star. Like the process of throwing logs into a fireplace, these episodes of clump consumption release excess energy which causes the young star to brighten by a factor of hundreds to thousands. During each episode, the star is consuming the equivalent of one Earth mass every ten days. After this, it may take another several thousand years before another event occurs. Eduard Vorobyov describes the process of clump formation in circumstellar disks followed by their migration onto the star as "cannibalism on astronomical scales". These clumps could have matured into giant planets such as Jupiter, but instead they were swallowed by the parental star. This invokes an interesting analogy with the Greek mythology, wherein Cronus, the leader of the first generation of Titans, ate up his newborn children (though failing to gobble up Zeus, who finally brought death upon his father). With the advent of advanced observational instruments, such as SUBARU 8.2 meter optical-infrared telescope installed in Mauna Kea (Hawaii), it has become possible for the first time to test the model predictions. Using high-resolution, adaptive optics observations in the polarized light, an international group of astronomers led by Hauyu Liu from European Space Observatory (Garching, Germany) has verified the presence of the key features associated with the disk fragmentation model -- large-scale arms and arcs surrounding four young stars undergoing luminous outbursts, including the prototype FU Orionis star itself. The results of this study were accepted for publication in Science Advances - a peer-review, open-access journal belonging to the Science publishing group. "This is a major step towards our understanding of how stars and planets form and evolve", says Vorobyov, "If we can prove that most stars undergo such episodes of brightening caused by disk gravitational instability, this would mean that our own Sun might have experienced several such episodes, implying that the giant planets of the Solar system may in fact be lucky survivors of the Sun's tempestuous past". ### Publication in Science Advances Hauyu Baobab Liu, Michihiro Takami, Tomoyuki Kudo, Jun Hashimoto, Ruobing Dong, Eduard I. Vorobyov, Tae-Soo Pyo, Misato Fukagawa, Motohide Tamura, Thomas Henning, Michael M. Dunham, Jennifer Karr, Nobuhiko Kusakabe, Toru Tsuribe: "Circumstellar Disks of the Most Vigorously Accreting Young Stars", published online February 5, 2016. Two years ago, Ellen Martinsen, was collecting mosquitoes at the Smithsonian's National Zoo, looking for malaria that might infect birds--when she discovered something strange: a DNA profile, from parasites in the mosquitoes, that she couldn't identify. By chance, she had discovered a malaria parasite, Plasmodium odocoilei--that infects white-tailed deer. It's the first-ever malaria parasite known to live in a deer species and the only native malaria parasite found in any mammal in North or South America. Though white-tailed deer diseases have been heavily studied--scientist hadn't noticed that many have malaria parasites. Martinsen and her colleagues estimate that the parasite infects up to twenty-five percent of white-tailed deer along the East Coast of the United States. Their results were published February 5 in Science Advances. IN HIDING "You never know what you're going to find when you're out in nature--and you look," says Martinsen, a research associate at the Smithsonian's Conservation Biology Institute and adjunct faculty in the University of Vermont's biology department. "It's a parasite that has been hidden in the most iconic game animal in the United States. I just stumbled across it." The new study, led by Martinsen, was a collaboration with scientists at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Park Service, the University of Georgia, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee--and UVM biologist and malaria expert Joseph Schall. Though Martinsen and Schall are quick to note that they anticipate little danger to people from this newly discovered deer malaria, it does underline the fact that many human health concerns are connected to wider ecological systems--and that understanding the biology of other species is a foundation to both conservation and public health management. Zika virus is recently making worrisome headlines and "there's a sudden surge in interest in mosquito biology across the United States," says Schall. "This is a reminder of the importance of parasite surveys and basic natural history." In 1967, a renowned malaria researcher reported he'd discovered malaria in a single deer in Texas. But the received understanding was that "malaria wasn't supposed to be in mammals in the New World," says Schall, who has studied malaria for decades. "It was like the guy was reporting he saw Big Foot," and no other discoveries were made after that. But now Martinsen and her colleagues have discovered that the deer malaria is widespread--though it's "cryptic" she says, because the parasites occur in very low levels in many of the infected deer. "Ellen spent days and days looking through a microscope at slides that were mostly empty," Schall says, but eventually found the parasites. Combined with sensitive molecular PCR techniques to understand the genetics, the team confirmed a high prevalence of the disease--between eighteen and twenty-five percent--in sites ranging from New York to West Virginia to Louisiana. NATIVE SPECIES The new discovery fundamentally changes our understanding of the distribution and evolutionary history of malaria parasites in mammals, Martinsen says. Some scientists wondered if the deer malaria could have jumped from people or zoo animals in the recent past. But the new study suggests otherwise. The team's data shows that the deer actually carry two genetic lineages of the malaria parasites--"probably different species," she says--and that the two lineages are substantially different from each other. This divergence between the two forms of malaria was used by the scientists as a kind of molecular clock. "We can date the evolutionary split between those two lineages," Martinsen says--to 2.3 to 6 million years ago. Which probably means that when the ancient evolutionary ancestors to white-tailed deer traveled from Eurasia across the Bering Land Bridge to North America in the Miocene, some 4.2 to 5.7 million years ago--malaria came along for the ride. "We think malaria is native to the Americas," Martinsen says, "that it's been here for millions of years." Malaria is a major problem for people in many parts of the world--and for many species of wildlife too. It has been devastating bird species in Hawaii and Bermuda, among many epidemics. Whether it is hurting white-tailed deer in America is an open question. Martinsen suspects not, because she'd expect to see more obviously sick animals. But Schall wonders if, like some human malaria infections, the disease causes a low-level burden that hurts deer populations. They both agree that it is an area that calls for more research--and that the new study raises many other questions, including whether the parasite might infect dairy cows or other hoofed species. Ellen Martinsen completed her undergraduate and doctoral training at UVM in Joe Schall's lab and went on to do her postdoctoral research at the Smithonian Conservation Biology Institute's Center for Conservation Genetics. The new discovery drew on a team of scientists and veterinarians at the Smithsonian and other institutions, who studied samples from both live and necropsied deer as well as mosquitoes. Additionally, Martinsen returned to Schall's lab for some of the new research. "Malaria is a top parasitic disease in humans and wildlife," Ellen Martinsen says. "It's important that we gain a better understanding of its diversity and distribution not just across humans but across other species too." ### A 15-year study carried out in Kilifi, Kenya and funded by the Wellcome Trust and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance has shown that there is no need to give a Hib booster to toddlers to extend immunity into later childhood. The study provides the evidence public health officials need to be confident that Hib spread and infection in Kenya is under control. Hib bacteria can cause meningitis, pneumonia and other potentially lethal infections, with children under five most at risk. The vaccination programme introduced in Kenya in 2001 is designed to build immunity to the bacteria in infancy and prevent spread between young children. Doses are administered to babies at six, ten and 14 weeks. An additional booster dose of Hib vaccine is used in most high-income countries, including in the UK where it was introduced after immunity in children was found to wane. Kenya, like most low-income countries, has followed a World Health Organization (WHO) vaccination regime with no booster dose. Professor Anthony Scott, who is based at the KEMRI-Wellcome Research Programme in Kilifi, Kenya and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and who lead the study, said: "We had expected that over time population immunity would subside, but we have waited 15 years and it still hasn't happened." He added: "Despite our fears, which were influenced by the UK experience, we can clearly say that a fourth dose of the Hib vaccine is not needed to control this invasive bacterium in Kenya," he said. Dr Laura Hammitt, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and the first author of the study, said: "Our findings suggest that the current Hib vaccine programme in Kenya is highly effective and no booster dose is currently required. It is important to continue surveillance to determine if effective control persists." The research team in Kenya believe that similar bacteria to Hib in the environment may provide a natural boost to the immune system keeping antibody levels high even though the Hib bacterium has stopped circulating in the community. In addition, a stronger antibody response to the vaccine course has given Kenyan infants longer protection than children in developed countries such as the UK. The same may occur in other tropical regions of Africa, although eastern Gambia experienced an unexplained resurgence of the disease last year after more than ten years of control using a programme without a booster. The Kenyan team analysed blood samples from more than 38,000 children under 13 years old admitted to hospital in Kilifi between 2000 and 2014 to monitor trends in invasive Hib disease. The team found that the vaccine reduced the chance of Hib disease by 93 percent over this period. They also repeatedly tested samples from healthy children in the community to find out how well Hib immunity lasts into later childhood. Eight years after the introduction of the vaccine they found that 79% of children in the disease risk group, aged 4-35 months, had antibodies at levels indicating long-lasting protection. The team also tracked Hib bacteria in the general population by looking in nose swabs. Once a year, between 2009 and 2012, random residents of all ages were invited to undergo a nose swab sample. Although Hib was commonly transmitted between the noses of children before the introduction of Hib vaccine, 8-11 years after the vaccine was introduced they found Hib in the nose of only one child out of 600 Dr Charlie Weller, Vaccine Strategy Lead at the Wellcome Trust, said: "The Hib vaccine is a public health success story for Kenya and a powerful example of the positive impact that long term vaccination programmes can have on the health of a population." She added: "By evaluating the vaccine over a long period, the researchers have highlighted that children can have slightly different levels of response to the same vaccine in different countries. We can now use this data to inform the most appropriate vaccine schedule for each country." "It is very rare to be able to track the success of a vaccine consistently over such a sustained period, but this is the only way to provide answers to important public health questions in vaccine programmes," said Professor Scott. "It was a relief to find that children are successfully protected from this invasive disease using the WHO approved vaccine schedule and this also means that the residents and government won't have to take on the logistical and financial challenge of bringing children back for an extra dose in their second year of life." Gavi provides funding the five-in-one pentavalent vaccine, which includes Hib, in the world's 73 poorest countries. Kenya was one of the first African countries to benefit. In the coastal community of Kilifi, a monitoring system has been in place since 2000 closely recording births, deaths, migrations and episodes of disease in a population of 280,000. The data provide unique insights to inform policy in East Africa. ### Funding was contributed by Gavi, the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases and the Wellcome Trust. The research is published today in Lancet Global Health. Notes to editors Reference: 'Effect of Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination without a booster dose on invasive H influenzae type B disease, nasopharyngeal carriage, and population immunity in Kilifi Kenya: a 15-year regional surveillance study' is published in Lancet Global Health. Contact Clare Ryan Senior Media Officer Wellcome Trust T: +44 (0)207 611 7262 E: c.ryan@wellcome.ac.uk The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation dedicated to improving health. We support bright minds in science, the humanities and the social sciences, as well as education, public engagement and the application of research to medicine. Our investment portfolio gives us the independence to support such transformative work as the sequencing and understanding of the human genome, research that established front-line drugs for malaria, and Wellcome Collection, our free venue for the incurably curious that explores medicine, life and art. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk About the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world-leading centre for research and postgraduate education in public and global health, with more than 4,000 students and 1,000 staff working in over 100 countries. The School is one of the highest-rated research institutions in the UK, and among the world's leading schools in public and global health. Our mission is to improve health and health equity in the UK and worldwide; working in partnership to achieve excellence in public and global health research, education and translation of knowledge into policy and practice. http://www.lshtm.ac.uk A Life Well Lived Beloved Lord of Refuge, how can we can never repay your kindness. Merging into the expanse of Wisdom you will continue to benefit countless beings If you dont reflect on death and impermanence There will be no way to practise Dharma purely. Practice will remain an aspiration, One that is constantly postponed. And you may feel regret the day that death comes, But by then its too late! Kyabje Chadral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche While working on the final stages of the book, (Who Lives? Who Dies) I received the news, early one morning, that my teacher Chadral Sangye Dorje had passed away in Parping, Nepal. A few days earlier I had received a warning that he was unwell and had immediately thought to put together a list of things I would need to do and pack should I have to leave quickly for Nepal. I knew very well that if I received news that he had passed away I would very likely be in no state of mind to attend to all the details of making a sudden and hasty departure. Surely enough, that word came on the 5th of January 2016. He had actually passed into Tukdam (final meditation state) on the 30th of December 2015 at 17.35 but as he had requested his close family members not to announce his passing until he had fully merged into Maha Paranirvana, they carefully kept the occurrence a very strict secret. Not even people working on the premises inside Rinpoches compound were aware of what had taken place. Chadral Rinpoche lived to the considerable age of one hundred and four, counting by the Tibetan system which includes the months of gestation prior to birth. His had been a grand and long life and one which had been of benefit to countless sentient beings. He guided and took care of me for more than twenty years and the gratitude I feel along with the sense of the deep connection which will always exist between us is something which is not possible to describe in words. Along with the late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche he was one of the central and most important people in my life. Since 2009 it had not been possible to meet face to face with Rinpoche but for me personally, this had not been an issue. I had had the great fortune to be able to spend much time with him and was guided closely through my retreat years. I had been extremely fortunate to be able to go to him when I needed his advice or to verify experiences. Others were not so fortunate however and a whole new group of people both young and old from all walks of life and all parts of the world missed that precious opportunity of direct contact with him. Nevertheless, his influence continues to reach far and wide. Before 2009, Rinpoche was very accessible although he never lingered too long in any one place. There were a few occasions when things might not have gone the way some people might have expected but this was part of the beauty of his style and expression. He was never a Lama to compromise on the things that he held dear, neither could he be brought around once a decision about something or other had been made. A hundred and four years is a long time to be alive in the world. Rinpoche met with and was and an influential force in the lives of so many people. He saved countless lives and lived out his term without compromising his convictions in any way. His life was one of simplicity and integrity and stands as a testament and shining example for all those of us who were fortunate enough to witness at least a part of it as also for those who were not. He spent time in worlds so incredibly different. Imagine Tibet in the early nineteen hundreds long before the Chinese occupation and try to compare that world with the one in which we live now? He moved seamlessly through both, never missing a step, never faltering in his determination to benefit sentient beings. Practical and Yet Spontaneous Rinpoche was a supremely practical man who did not possess even an ounce of hypocrisy. He was so direct and to the point that some feared him. Although he was very much a Tibetan Yogi he could also be quite traditional. However, it simply was not possible to narrow him down and label him as either traditional or non-traditional because he rose to meet every occasion from a place of complete spontaneity. His focus was always on the essence of things, and he had little time for or interest in anything else. He was a living embodiment of the Buddhas teachings, which he had so completely owned through his own practice and experience and he encouraged all of his students to do the same. Rinpoches spontaneity arose from his moment-to-moment capacity to live in the present, which gave rise to many unexpected little incidents, some of which could be quite humorous. I remember one morning when we were buzzing around and preparing for a trip up into the hills of Darjeeling. We thought we had things pretty well in hand but when it was announced that the car had arrived, Rinpoche suddenly leapt up from his seat and began to head towards the door. We quickly grabbed the warm clothes that he would need that day, and awkwardly tried to dress him as he moved. Once he got into motion it could be difficult to pin him down. His daughter Semo Tara Devi was there on that occasion and between the two us we managed to put a jumper on him and also drape his trangju and sen (yogi skirt and shawl). But then suddenly he was heading towards the door again so Tara grabbed one shoe and I the other. Only when Rinpoche was actually climbing into the car were we able to see that he had a different shoe on each foot. Certainly, Rinpoche had not noticed. Dry words in a book on a shelf were for the scholars. Rinpoche moved freely through the fields of experience. There was joyfulness around him and a scintillating sense of freedom without boundaries. Even so, it should be noted that Rinpoche was also a brilliant and prolific scholar who authored, at least, three volumes of works which are widely read. Authentic He was tremendously learned in an organic way; his learning came through experience, and it revealed itself with considerable authority and power because it was so completely authentic. This authenticity never moved me more profoundly than on an occasion when a small group of woman students gathered one afternoon in his room in Salbari Gompa in order to receive the Bodhisattva vows. Some weeks before this event, a long-time Western student and I had been discussing the practice of Guru Yoga in general and Chadral Rinpoches Guru Yoga in particular. I had been deeply impressed by the way my friend had recounted some of his personal experiences in this regard. He had discussed the various qualities of different sadhanas (practices) but then pointed out that the Guru Yoga of Chadral Rinpoche was so potent that the blessings which flowed from it were almost palpable. He had said something to the effect that you can almost hold the blessings in your hands and feel the weight of them. The image which his description had conjured in my mind remained with me very clearly, and that afternoon when we gathered to receive the vows I kept remembering it. I had taken Bodhisattva vows already on several occasions with other teachers; however, a European student of Chadral Rinpoches requested that he give them to her, and I found myself in the fortunate position of already being present in the room and therefore able to be part of this small group. I was delighted by this happy occurrence. There might have been five or six of us present that day. If I remember correctly, we were just two foreign women, a couple of Tibetan nuns and one or both of Rinpoches daughters. At that time, Rinpoche was staying in the small room upstairs in his house in the Salbari compound. We were called together and then he beckoned us to enter the room and close the door behind us. We stood before him in a line across the width of the room. Rinpoche meanwhile, sat on his meditation cushion on the floor ensconced in a large furry cape. Although I had spent a lot of time around Chadral Rinpoche in an informal way, I had only been present on a small number of occasions when he gave formal teachings or empowerments. This turned out to be one of those rare occasions. Rinpoche asked us all to make prostrations and as we did so, he picked up his bell and damaru (small hand drum) and began to chant the lineage prayer of the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition. Rinpoches lineage is a remarkably short and powerful one originating in Kuntuzangpo, which passes on to Jigme Lingpa, Gyalway Nyugu then on to Patrul Rinpoche, Nyoshul Lungtok and Khenpo Ngachung, who in turn passed it on to Chadral Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khenpo. I dont recall that I had any particular expectations of what was to come except a pleasant sense of anticipation which in no way could have prepared me for the impact of what was to follow. As soon as Rinpoches deep and rich voice began to intone the lineage prayers I felt myself suddenly and quite inexplicably catapulted into a timeless state which was absolutely saturated with blessings, so much so, that even though I had barely completed my three prostrations, a surge of tears rose up and began to flow. I was not at all prepared; no handkerchief, no tissues, not even a long shirt sleeve to come to my rescue. These were not the emotional tears of joy or sorrow; these were tears that overflowed from some previously untapped source in my being. With every passing moment, it was as though Rinpoche was opening wider and wider the faucet on a stream of grace. Not only did the tears flow from my eyes but my nose was also streaming. I had never had any such reaction in previous gatherings where we had all taken these same vows. This was something quite unprecedented and really took me by surprise. For the entire duration of the gathering, this flow continued. I recall feeling some embarrassment at not being able to control what was happening or even blow my nose. I was a complete mess, so much so that I did not notice if anyone else was as affected as I was. I only recall how relieved I felt when it all ended and I could rush off to my room and wash my face and re-compose myself again. As Conventional as He was Unconventional In many ways, Rinpoche could be quite conventional, and yet in others, he was quite the opposite. One instance of the manner in which Rinpoche could be unconventional, and which most people would not have been aware, prior to his passing away, caused many some surprise. This only emerged when the family compound in Parping was opened to the public. On the walls of the Lhakhang, which had been built inside the compound, were painted the Hindu deities of Shiva with his consort Parvati. On the left side of the shrine; Krishna with his consort Radha and their entourages along with various other representations of this kind. Directly in front of the temple entrance, and housed in its own separate building, a Shiva lingam of generous proportions. To some traditional Buddhists, this would seem like a grave eccentricity in the Lama and something quite inexplicable. However, Rinpoche had gone beyond the narrowness of needing to confine himself solely to the accepted and traditional Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. He saw no conflict of interests. What these images represent is an expression of energy in its many and varied forms and this energy is universal. On more than one occasion I was with him when we visited a Hindu shrine. One which he dropped into regularly, was the shrine on Tiger Hill near Darjeeling and there were others in various locations. Integrity There was complete integrity in all that he did, and this is no doubt why he could carry so powerfully the traditional alongside the non-traditional. He made it very clear that he would not perpetuate himself in the lineage of Tulkus and requested that no one search for his reincarnation. In recent years, after the passing of several great masters, a number of Tulkus were put forward as candidates, and much controversy ensued. Rinpoche made his position crystal clear on this point and thus avoided any future complication. He had always steered clear of the monasteries and large institutions and consistently underlined the importance of doing practice in solitary retreats in order to have direct experience of the essential points of the dharma. On several occasions Rinpoche made the comment that some people who came to him and who were dressed like practitioners actually had no stable inner experience, while there were those who seemed to be very ordinary and who did not have the appearance of being a practitioner yet who were in fact true practitioners. To Rinpoche, a true practitioner was someone who had recognized the natural state and achieved a measure of stability in settling into That. He underlined for us the fact that we cannot judge anyone by appearances alone. He established many retreat centers after he moved to India in the late 1950,s so that those who came to him would be able to practice in suitable locations and thereby actualize the teachings by gaining first-hand experience of them. Practice He clearly pointed to the fact that one has to practice the dharma in order to gain benefit from it for ones self and in turn for others. He had spent many decades of his life doing just that and often under the most trying conditions. For many years he had wandered around Tibet, staying in the caves or in a small tent with little more than what he could carry over his shoulder. He could easily have passed his days in comfort and plenty in one of the rich monasteries. He truly had lived as an example of what he later encouraged others to do. The master is not able to give us something that we do not already possess. He/she simply alerts us to our true and inherent potential. It is for us to understand and gain true experience of our inmost natural state by taking his/her advice to heart. Rinpoche gave his students every opportunity to do this, providing the conditions needed to really settle down and practice. He established many simple places where practitioners could come together, or where they could be alone in order to practice the Dharma without distraction. He always emphasized the need to gain experience in retreats and almost all of his direct students have undergone a retreat or two under his guidance and care at one time or another. Compassion That our lives should be an expression of what can bring benefit to others is the motivation of a true Bodhisattva whose every action is geared to turning others towards the truth which is within themselves. Rather than spending our precious lives and energy in meaningless activities and distractions, he encouraged us to benefit beings through sincere and concerted practice motivated by Bodhichitta. As with the perfume of a flower which need not do anything particular and yet which affects and purifies the whole surrounding area with its scent, so too should our practice radiate its fragrance throughout space. Soon after Rinpoche escaped to India from Tibet he took a vow renouncing the consumption of meat. This happened in nineteen sixty, long before it became fashionable. Prior to that, he had been as rabid a meat eater as any other Tibetan. Once he decided to abstain, however, his stance was unshakable, and all the temples and retreat centers under his guidance became no meat zones. Here again, he was an example of what he preached and living to a grand age underlined the fact that human beings can subsist very healthily and happily on a vegetarian diet. He made it a mission to release countless fish from the fish farms in Kolkata and elsewhere. Other kinds of wildlife were also rescued in a similar way. His compassion revealed itself through a long stream of activities that brought freedom, on one level or another, to countless sentient beings. The Humor It was a delight to spend time in Rinpoches company. There was always plenty of laughter and light-hearted banter. There were so many humorous incidents, but one instantly springs to my mind. One year, we were in the Lhakhang retreat center up in the Helambu Region of Nepal. At that time a group of devotees had come up from Sermatang to accompany Rinpoche to their monastery. Around thirty of the older and higher ranking people from the village had made the journey on foot in order to welcome Rinpoche and accompany him back. They brought with them a sturdy little pony which Rinpoche was to ride on the way down the trail to the village. This particular pony was an old favourite of Rinpoches and had carried him around on other such occasions in the past. On the morning when we were due to leave everyone gathered near Rinpoches hut. He climbed onto the pony, a big happy smile spreading over his face. One lama went ahead of our group wielding a large kukri blade in order to make sure that the pathway was cleared of any debris or stray branches and the rest of us followed behind. Barely had the small horse begun to move than it let out a loud fart. We could see Rinpoche ahead shaking with laughter and everyone behind followed suit. The animal continued on in this vein every few minutes all the way to the Sermatang. Goodness knows what he had eaten for breakfast. Suffice it to say, we kept a respectful distance behind The View Above all else, Chadral Rinpoche encouraged us to recognize our true nature, because absolutely nothing else will be of any use to us in the long run. This and this alone is the chief and crucial point. In recognizing and practicing, one brings into balance all other factors in ones life. It is the great panacea, the one thing which brings resolution to all that causes confusion and suffering in this world. On one incredibly precious occasion when he gave a couple of us some pith instructions, he referred to the advice given as the blood of his heart. Such treasure has the power to liberate countless beings; we need only open our hearts and pray with one-pointed devotion. Our devotion is like the sun that melts the snow on the top of the mountain of the Gurus blessings. Devotion A few days after the news had been broken about his passing, I made my way up to Nepal from the South of India. I had gone to Nepal for the first time in almost a decade in August of 2015 and had the great good fortune to see Rinpoche on a number of occasions. I had gone in order to pay my respects while I was still in the region and had made my way over from Darjeeling, having spent the summer months in my retreat hut in one of his centers in the hills. The latest visit, however, although following just a few months after was under very different circumstances and carried with it a very different mood. Being the middle of winter and in the grip of not only the cold but also profound economic and political misery, there was an added dimension to the sense of sadness at his passing. Crippling power cuts and shortages of every kind were the order of the day and these were not due to the after-effects of the powerful earthquake that had struck only months before. These had been brought on by the greed and short-sightedness of an elite few. Despite all of this, however, or perhaps because of it, the population near and far came to Parping. They came in droves to pay their respects and receive the blessing of the reliquary. Initially, I had passed some days inside the temple shrine and participated in the ceremonies that were taking place. However, it soon became too crowded so I withdrew to a spot outside and below the temple area. Every evening before the prayers ended, I would head up to the temple building and stand near an open window in order to recite the words of the Guru Yoga prayers with all the Lamas who were gathered inside. For me, this proved to be the most moving moment in the days during which I could be present. Invariably, as soon as the Umsey (chant leader) began to sing this particular prayer, his voice would crack and waver. Sometimes he would have to stop chanting all together and then another Lama would take over. Rinpoche had brought so many of us together and the feeling that we were and are one big family remains. How can we ever forget his kindness? A Life Well Lived Day after day I sat and watched the stream of humanity, young and old, rich and poor pass by and through the temple precincts in which the Kudung was being housed. It was not easy for these people to make this journey to the fringes of the Kathmandu valley. Their transport was inadequate and often terribly over-crowded. It was a costly journey for most people and also extremely uncomfortable. Yet they came and kept coming. It is profoundly moving and humbling to see how one life, which is motivated towards the good of others can influence so many in juxtaposition with those who are motivated by temporary gain and greed at the expense of so many. What a stark contrast and the more moving for being so. We need good examples of how to live our lives and how to give precedence to what is most meaningful. It is not as though we are going to have endless chances to do this. Everywhere we look we can find countless examples of lives spent in dissipation and distraction while a well-lived is a rare thing indeed. I can only rejoice in Rinpoches example which was and remains so deeply meaningful not only me but to so many. The radiance of what he gave the world will continue to have its beneficial effect long into the future if in fact, humanity has a long future before it In these days and times, we can be sure of nothing except the one true thing of which we have spoken repeatedly throughout this tome. May we be moved to discover this for ourselves and thereby make our own lives resonate with what is truly meaningful. With the pure motivation of Bodhichitta (the wish to achieve enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings), each one of us has the power to transform our world. May we keep this in our mind and heart; always. Precious Bodhichitta, the highest attitude Where it is unborn, may it arise Where it is born, may it increase, rising ever higher and higher. Prayer by Shantideva A couple of years ago prominent evolutionary biologist David Barash opened a remarkable window on his classroom teaching. Writing in the New York Times, he described a yearly talk The Talk he gives to his students at the University of Washington. In The Talk, he explains why Darwinian theory, if faced squarely, undermines belief in a benevolent, controlling creator. His candor is to be commended. Many biology students likely receive a similar message, perhaps more implied than explicit, from their teachers. But what about the conclusion he draws? Does what we know about biology run counter to the idea of purpose or design behind life? In the Wall Street Journal, the prolific Dr. Barash recently highlighted a particular challenge, as he sees it, to intelligent design. I put the phrase in quotation marks because the only example of design thinking he gives goes back well over a century and a half, to the Bridgewater Treatises (1833-1840), while skipping over modern evidence of intelligent design altogether. But leave that aside. In the article, he reviews two new books that describe the evolutionary mess that our bodies are a hodgepodge, so this argument goes, of barely good enough solutions to physiological problems, a collection of compromises that leave us prone to injury and disease, according to the authors and according to him. I havent read the books in question, but Barashs piece provides an occasion to examine the often-heard argument for unintelligent design. Theres an undercurrent that runs through that argument, sometimes visible on the surface, sometimes below the water, tugging our feet out from under us. That ripple on the surface goes something like this: our design isnt perfect. Thats the visible part. Then theres the undercurrent: If there were an intelligent designer he would have made perfect things. Barash, ever frank, says this directly. Giving examples like the optic nerve and the prostate gland, he says, An intelligent designer wouldnt have proceeded this way. Therefore we are the product of patchwork evolution and there is no designer. Note, that undercurrent is an assumption. Who knows what an intelligent designer capable of creating life would have done? Theologians who believe the designer is God may argue about that, but science provides no insight. Its another assumption that good design never breaks down. Not many human machines can last seventy years without breaking down sometime. A 1940 Cadillac, top of the line, in continuous use, would have needed considerable refurbishing by now to keep it running and looking decent. Its leather seats would likely have cracked and its paint job cracked and dimmed, numerous sets of tires worn out, its brakes replaced numerous times, and its valves and pistons either machined or replaced. At the same age, many human beings look pretty good by comparison, since we generally keep running without replacement parts long after our warranty has expired. Any human designer knows that good design often means finding a way to meet multiple constraints. Consider airplanes. We want them to be strong, but weight is an issue, so lighter materials must be used. We want to preserve peoples hearing and keep the cabin warm, so soundproofing and insulation are needed, but they add weight. All of this together determines fuel usage, which translates into how far the airplane can fly. In 1986, the Rutan Voyager made its flight around the world without stopping or refueling, the first aircraft ever to do so. To carry enough fuel to make the trip, the designers had to strip the plane of everything except the essentials. That meant no soundproofing and no comfortable seats. But the airplane flew all the way. This was very special design. Last, despite what some, like Dr. Barash, would tell you, our bodies are marvels of perfection in many ways. The rod cells in our eyes can detect as little as one photon of light; our brains receive the signal after just nine rods have responded. Our speech apparatus is perfectly fit for communication. Says linguist Noam Chomsky, Language is an optimal way to link sound and meaning. Our brains are capable of storing as much information as the World Wide Web. We can run long distances, better than a horse and rider sometimes. For an amusing comparison of our fastest times compared to various animals, have a look here. But bear in mind, not one of those animals can run, swim, and jump as well as we can. Then there are our incredible fine-motor skills think concert pianist and our capacity for abstract thought, an activity you and I are engaged in right now. Before allowing some evolutionists to drag us under, lets remember and be grateful for all the things that go right and work well. Intelligent design does not mean perfect design, or design impervious to aging, injury, and disease. It means being a product of intelligence, whatever the source might be, giving evidence of care, intention, and forethought, as our bodies surely do. When seeking to convince a wary public to legalize assisted suicide, euthanasia pushers ooze with promises and assurances that it will only be a last resort never actually a legal requirement and that doctors and religious facilities can always opt out. But once euthanasia consciousness is widely accepted by a population, we find that these promises were made to be broken. In Oregon, doctors are protected in law if they dont wish to assist suicides, and religious medical institutions can legally opt out which many do. That doesnt sit well with David Grube, a national medical director for Compassion and Choices the George Soros-funded organization that promotes assisted suicide and facilitated death. Writing an op-ed in the Eugene, Oregon, Register Guard, he says he wants religious medical facilities forced into cooperation. From the article: However, some dying and suffering Oregonians are still not allowed the choice of a death with dignity as they would define it. Some private institutions, particularly those owned and operated by religious institutions, do not allow their employed staff (physicians, hospice workers, etc.) to participate in the process. You see, there can never be enough assisted suicides. Actually, Compassion and Choices has a list of death doctors ideologically predisposed to lethally prescribe. Indeed, the majority of Oregons assisted suicides have the hemlockers fingerprints on them. What to do? Coerce, of course. No physician who is personally opposed to helping her or his competent and dying patients end their suffering is obliged to participate. But all physicians should consider referring their patients when the occasion arises and, in my opinion, no institution should prevent their medical providers from considering legal medical decisions. The state of Oregon, not the church, licenses physicians and determines their competencies and privileges. Institutions have the right to choose who can be on their medical staffs. Forcing a Catholic hospital (say) to employ or give staffing privileges to death doctors would violate the free exercise of religion, the right to free association, and all the (false) assurances made by the right-to-die crowd when they cajole people into legalizing prescribed death. Lest you think religious institutions will never be forced to act lethally, they already are in Quebec, where euthanasia is euphemistically called aid in dying. From all appearances, thats an approach that will be taken throughout Canada when the euthanasia-is-a-right Supreme Court decision goes into effect nationally. This despite the Canadian Charters guarantee of freedom of conscience and religion. Image: Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH, by John Phelan (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons. Cross-posted at The Corner. We would like to share our story with the forum as it has been incredibly helpful to us over the past year or so, and we feel as if a detailed account of our case will reveal a lot to those caught in this same bewildering immigration system especially those applying under Category C (tax-free academic stipends), which seem to be little understood by Home Office decision makers. I am a British national and have lived in the UK all my life, except for several overseas employment assignments. My Trinidadian partner of 4 years (who I had met while working overseas) and me, after reviewing the eligibility criteria, made our application for a UK unmarried partner visa to Kingston, Jamaica in September 2014. By this stage, we had lived together for almost 3 years. Though we did not have co-rental agreements for 2 full years we provided letters from landlords and friends attesting to the fact we had been living together for more than 2 years. We planned to continue our life together in the UK where I had secured a 4 year doctoral scholarship and where we hoped my partner would be able to commence working as a junior doctor within the NHS. Our unmarried partner visa application that we originally submitted to the High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica in September 2014 was refused on financial grounds in October 2014. This meant that the authenticity of our relationship, my partners English language ability (which we had to prove, even though my partner is from the English- speaking Caribbean), her TB- free status, and the existence of lodging for us in the UK, had all been accepted. We were only refused because it was adjudged we had insufficient financial means, according to the financial rules. We were applying with a combination of Category C (my tax-free academic stipend) and Category D (our cash savings). The relevant rule here that states the tax-free income requirement (15,800) for academic stipends is 6.4.2. As far as we could understand from the very vague and poorly written refusal letter, the ECO had a problem with our level/presentation of cash savings. We submitted our appeal in November 2014, a couple of weeks after receiving our refusal, after consulting a lawyer who confirmed the correctness of our understanding of the complex rules. In the appeal, we attempted to address the ECOs concerns by supplying in-bank, signed, and stamped statements (in our original application a couple of the statements had been online statements cross-referenced with official bank letters, which we thought would suffice). We received our Notice of Appeal in November 2014 and were informed that we would be contacted again in April 2015 to be told of our appeal hearing date. In the meantime, because we had addressed the ECOs concerns about our finances and because we believed we had shown beyond doubt that we satisfied the financial requirement, we still had some hope of our refusal being overturned in the ECM process. In April 2015 we received some doubly bad news: the ECM review had not resulted in the decision being overturned, and our appeal was listed for 6 months time: October 2015. Further, and distressingly, we were provided no explanation in the Posts bundle of why the decision was not overturned in the ECM review, even though we had proven we met the financial requirement and had supplied exhaustive documentation. (More on the absence of this ECM explanation below). The Posts bundle also contained a statement from the ECO saying that the Post had lost our original application documents. We submitted our appeal bundle to the First Tier Tribunal and to the Home Office Presenting Officers Unit in April 2015, including a letter expressing our willingness to travel anywhere in the UK to have an earlier hearing, which was ignored. Having then waited for almost a full year for our appeal hearing, we finally had our hearing at the First Tier Tribunal in October 2015. At this hearing we realised two things: firstly, that there HAD been an ECM review and an explanation of why the original ECOs decision had been upheld only this had been (inadvertently or deliberately) withheld from us until the actual day of the hearing, when we saw it for the first time. It had NOT been sent to us in the Posts bundle in April 2015, and our letters to the Home Office, our MP, and the Post itself about the absence of this ECM review went ignored. Imagine, though, how distressing this would be to see this ECM review explanation for the first time on the day of your hearing. Secondly, we realised that, although the ECM review information was completely new to us, it fortunately did not introduce any information that would alter our case. It if had done, we would have been at an extreme disadvantage (probably generating the kind of distress that the Home Office wants), as we would have missed out on the opportunity to consult lawyers and properly prepare for the case between April and October 2015 while we waited for our appeal. Anyway, as it was, this ECM explanation merely showed us that the ECO, in his/her original assessment of our application in September 2014, and the ECM in the review that took place between November 2014 and March 2015, had both maintained that we did not satisfy the financial requirement while incorrectly using the assumption of the 18,600 financial requirement in order to appraise our case. This was in spite of the fact that, for our original application and appeal, we spelled out numerous times that because we were relying primarily on Category C, my tax-free academic stipend, our actual financial requirement was 15,800. This is based on section 6.4 of the 1.7 FM financial rules document, which we repeatedly drew the decision makers' attention to. Because my academic stipend (commencing within one month of application and lasting for 48 months) was worth 13,863, we calculated that we were required to hold 20,842.50 worth of cash savings for the 6 months prior to application. This we calculated as follows: 15,800 - 13,863 is a shortfall of 1,937 per year; 16,000 + (2.5 x 1,937) = 20,842.50. (I had held a minimum of 21,625.01 and a maximum of 24,410.32 for the 6 months prior to application amounts above the requirement of 20,842.50 at all times). Having made our case to the judge at the First Tier Tribunal in October 2015 (against a Presenting Officer who continued to maintain that the 18,600 figure was the correct one to be using, even while making reference to the example in 6.4.4 that shows how an example applicant successfully meets the figure of 15,800), we were told by the judge that we would hear of their decision "within the next couple of weeks." This would have been earlier that the Home Offices guidance, which states that a decision should be received within 4 weeks. After 7 weeks of waiting we were told that the judge had still not communicated their decision to the tribunal. The tribunal also told us (and seemed to be now telling people) that it was currently taking "on average 3 to 12 weeks to inform appellants of the judge's decision. We suggested that the Home Office amend their website to inform appellants that they should expect a 12 week wait. Finally, a few days before Christmas, 11 weeks after our hearing, we received the judges decision letter, in which the judge allowed our appeal on the grounds that an error of law had been made in the original refusal due to the incorrect financial requirement of 18,600 being used as the basis for assessing our application. We had a slight panic on reviewing the judge's letter closely when we noticed a typographical error the judge had made in referring to the incorrect law, and we spent a frantic couple of weeks trying to contact the Home Office to make sure that they were not going to challenge the judge's decision (whose meaning was nonetheless clear) because of this clerical error. Through our MP in early January 2016 we received confirmation that the Home Office was not going to challenge the judge's decision, and had sent the determination to the Post so that they could reconsider the original decision in the light of the judge's decision. On January 14th 2016, my partner received an email from the High Commission requesting her passport as the decision had been overturned. She received her passport with the visa on 4th February 2016 almost 18 months after the original application. Hope this account helps those thinking of applying (and appealing). It has been a tough year-and-a-half. The bottom line is: the UK does not want anyone to succeed in this process, and the system is rigged against you. Applications will seemingly be refused for no good reason, forcing appellants into the murky tribunal system, in which you will languish for a year or more calling tribunal staff on general enquiries numbers which will tell you nothing - during which the government hopes you will give up. The flexibility and discretion that is supposedly built into the system at the Post-ECO level is rarely exercised, meaning that the slightest mistake on application (even a clerical mistake) will lead to a refused application rather than a simple follow-up email from the Post asking for clarification. Errors accidental or deliberate characterized every stage of our application: from the original application to the High Commission (my partners nationality and visa classification were both written incorrectly), to the ECM review, to the tribunal. If you are in the right, you will succeed in the end, but be prepared for a lot of frustration. Our one regret is that we didn't submit another application - as well as appealing - when we were originally refused. It is a lot of money, around 1000 I think now, and we also couldn't face being refused again in vague circumstances; but if you have the money it is worth doing, because the tribunal experience is extremely painful. Good luck. COLUMBUS, Ohio The 2016 Ohio Grape and Wine Conference will be held Feb. 15-16 in Dublin, Ohio, featuring a number of experts from around the country who will cover key topics for the industry including fruit quality, winemaking and product branding practices, and spring frost protection. The conference is being jointly organized by the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University, the Ohio Grape Industries Committee, and the Ohio Wine Producers Association. It will be held at the Embassy Suites Columbus-Dublin, 5100 Upper Metro Place, Dublin. Full conference registration costs $225. There are additional options for partial registration. For complete registration information, visit go.osu.edu/BKps. This years conference consists of both general and concurrent sessions covering a wide range of interesting topics for grape growers and winemakers, said Imed Dami, associate professor in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science and Ohio State University Extension viticulturist. Both the department and OSU Extension are part of the college. Conference highlights include four Monday general sessions: James Osborne, enology Extension specialist at Oregon State University, will talk about fruit quality as it relates to processing considerations in the cellar. He will also provide an overview of Oregons grape and wine industry. Bill Oliver, owner of Oliver Winery in Indiana, will focus on branding and the steps taken by his winery to achieve the success it enjoys today. Oliver will also provide an overview of wines, winemaking and vineyard practices at his winery. Glenn McGourty, winegrowing and plant science advisor, University of California Cooperative Extension, will present some of his research on chemical trials in grapes for spring frost protection. John Tull, research vineyard manager at the University of Minnesota Horticultural Research Center, will talk about his experiences with cold-hardy varieties and their characteristics as alternative grapes for Ohio growers. Many of our sessions will focus on disseminating important information regarding new or alternative varieties of interest for commercial grape and wine production, Dami said. This stems from the possibility of replanting due to the harsh winter conditions we have experienced over the past two years in Ohio. Ohio State experts will also give presentations on a variety of topics, including vineyard disease and weed control, grape insect management, managing grapevines after winter damage, herbicide drift protection, winemaking regulatory updates, and yeast strain selection. The full schedule is available at go.osu.edu/BKps. For more information, contact Dami at dami.1@osu.edu or 330-263-3882. New report backs farmers' calls for better waste crime policies Two recent busts in Mahoning County call attention to issue With two Ohio cockfighting rings uncovered in the last week, farm groups are calling for tougher penalties for participants. As reported by the Dayton Daily News, State Reps. Heather Bishoff, D-Blacklick, and Barbara Sears, R-Sylvania, are pushing House Bill 215, which would make staging or witnessing cockfighting an unclassified felony, punishable by fines of up to $10,000. Supporters of the bill include the Ohio Farm Bureau and the Ohio Poultry Association. Police in Mahoning County busted two different cockfight operations on Jan. 26 and Jan. 28. According to a report in the Youngstown Vindicator, in the most recent bust, more than 30 birds were found inside the home. They also found steroids used to bulk up the birds, or make them more combative. Describing the scene, one authority said there were several family members, including young children, in the home, and birds were in upstairs and basement rooms. One room, about 6-by-6 feet, had bloodstained carpeted walls. In May 2014 police seized over 72 roosters and arrested 52 people in a cockfighting ring in Fulton County. Criminals are coming to our state to participate in this cruel blood sport because Ohio has notoriously lax penalties for cockfighting. Indiana and Michigan, as well as all other Great Lakes states, have punished cockfighting as a felony for years, said Corey Roscoe, Ohio state director for the Humane Society of the United States. Yet Ohio has failed to catch up; the maximum fine for cockfighting in our state is $250. Only Alabama and Mississippi treat cockfighting more leniently. Fayetteville man sentenced in 2020 strip mall parking lot killing Damarcus Jerome Ray, 22, was sentenced to at least nine years and five months in prison by Cumberland County Judge Claire V. Hill on Oct. 7. Four years after renovations to his Nkandla homestead were completed, South Africa President Jacob Zuma has finally agreed to pick up the tab or some of it at least. The change in his position follows the publication in March 2014 of a 443-page report by the Public Protector. The report concluded that Zumas conduct was inconsistent with his office as a member of the cabinet. Zumas response was not immediate. It took until last week for the presidents office to state that: While President Zuma remains critical of a number of factual aspects and legal conclusions in the report, he proposes a simple course to implement what the public protector recommended as remedial action contained in his report. The remedial action proposed was that the president should reimburse the taxpayers for a reasonable part of those improvements. The president didnt specify how much he would repay. Jacob Zuma, the government, and his ANC party have always said the $23 million of improvements to the homestead were for security and for no other purpose, and that they were necessary and fitting for a president of the Republic of South Africa forgetting perhaps that the government paid $22,000 to secure the home of FW de Klerk and $2.9 million on Nelson Mandelas. So which of the absolutely necessary security improvements should be paid for by President Zuma and which by the taxpayer? Obviously the swimming pool which was not in fact a swimming pool but an emergency water supply from which water could be pumped in case of a fire should be paid for by the taxpayer. As should the cattle pen, a necessary source of food and milk should the presidents homestead become surrounded while Mr. Zuma is in residence and unable to escape. Similarly the chicken run a source of food and protection South African chickens being renowned for their vocal prowess and like the geese of ancient Rome much better guards than dogs. And the amphitheatre no one can begrudge the president that in times of crises it would be necessary to gather his four wives, 20 children and staff in one place to give them instructions on how to make themselves safe. So of the necessary security improvements, it seems obvious to the fair and impartial observer that President Zuma should be asked to pay very little at all. Which is perhaps as well. Because even on a salary of $272,000 a year, it might take the president a while to come up with $23 million unless of course he has some other source of funds. ____ Bill Waite is a contributing editor of the FCPA Blog. Hes one of the founders of The Risk Advisory Group, established in 1997 with the objective of building Europes leading independent risk management consultancy. He serves as the groups CEO and general counsel. He formerly practiced as a criminal barrister before joining the U.K. Serious Fraud Office in 1991 as a prosecutor. He can be contacted here. The Same Sky is the First Novel that Broke my Heart There were times when I thought I had to put the novel aside. I could hear the voice of Carla, a young girl who risks everything to try to find her mother, so clearly that it hurt. During difficult times in her journey, I cried as I typed the pages. I could barely sleep until I had brought her to safety. I Love Barbecue When Carla's story was hard to write, I worked on the sections of the book about Alice, who owns a barbecue restaurant. Researching barbecue (and eating lots of it--all in the name of authenticity, of course) was a great way to take a break from the more heartbreaking passages of the book. My husband makes incredible barbecue--a magazine even wrote up his recipes here: http://tribeza.com/archives/past-articles/barton-hills-block-party I Write in Pajamas The best thing about my job is that I can work in my pajamas. I just got a new, black-and-white striped pair I adore. My Most Important Tool is Index Cards When I'm dreaming up a new novel, I write scene ideas on index cards. Then I lay them on the floor in a big row to see what the book is about. Sometimes I Don't Understand Where My Books Are Going I have learned to trust the characters, even when I have no idea what they're up to. Sometimes, I'll put a character on a plane bound for Paris...but it lands in Morocco. I have to toss all the index cards set in Paris and try to figure out what's going to happen in Morocco. I Read A Book A Week When I'm not writing, I'm reading. I have three children, and my favorite activity in the world is to lounge and read on the couch in our living room, as the children whirl around me. A very close second is reading more deeply, once they're all tucked in. I Didn't Leave the USA until I was 20 I grew up in New York, and my first trip abroad was from JFK Airport to Nairobi, where I spent a university semester. Travel was like a drug to me...landing in a new place is the most incredible feeling. I still travel every chance I'm able--from Hong Kong to London to new parts of my own city, Austin, TX...I'll go anywhere! My Husband is the First Kind Person I Ever Dated To keep myself out of trouble with ex-boyfriends, I'll say no more! My Favorite Book Is the One I'm Writing No matter how proud I am on books I've finished, it's impossible to beat the excitement of an unfinished novel. As Ann Patchett said, the book in your imagination is like a perfect butterfly. The Same Sky Ethan Hawke has described his experience of working on The Magnificent Seven as 'awesome.' Ethan Hawke Filming is still underway on the remake of the 1960s classic - which was based on Japanese film Seven Samurai - and will see Antoine Fuqua back in the director's chair. The movie has been a reunion of sorts for Hawke as the film sees him work with Fuqua for the first time since Brooklyn's Finest. The movie also sees the actor reunite with his Training Day co-star Denzel Washington. Speaking to Collider about the upcoming film, Hawke said: "It was awesome. It was fantastic to be on the set again with Denzel (Washington) and Antoine (Fuqua) and then to have the situation be so different. We weren't making a sequel to Training Day. We were in the middle of the desert riding around on some horses. "We had Chris Pratt there who's quickly turning into a national treasure and Vince D'Onofrio who's one of my all-time favourite actors. And I was introduced to some new guys - a Mexican actor and a Korean actor and a Native American actor - all of whom were wonderful. Manuel Garcia-Rulfo and Byung-hun Lee and Martin Sensmeier. "So, it was a great experience. It was what you call an adventure. Some movies are work, and some movies are all about acting and character, but this was about learning to ride a horse and shoot a six-gun at the same time. I really enjoyed it." The Magnificent Seven is the first film for Fuqua since Southpaw while John Lee Hancock and Nic Pizzolatto have penned the film's screenplay. Hawke, Washington, Pratt, D'Onofrio, Garcia-Rulfo, Lee, and Sensmeier are all on board and are joined by Matt Bomer, Cam Gigandet, Peter Sarsgaard, Sean Bridgers, and Luke Grimes. We haven't seen Hawke on the big screen since the release of Regression back in the autumn but he has already completed work on In a Valley of Violence and Maudie. The Magnificent Seven is released 23rd September. by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Dad's Army has hit the big screen in the UK this morning and is set to be one of the must-see films this weekend. Dad's Army The movie is inspired by the much-loved television series and sees Oliver Parker back in the director's chair. He has brought us movies such as St Trinian's, Dorian Gray, and St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold during his career, but this is his first feature since Johnny English Reborn back in 2011. If you are heading out to see the film this weekend, we have a trio of great clips to whet your appetite. Check them out: Dad's Army boasts one of the most impressive cast lists of 2016 as Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Bill Paterson, Danny Mays, and Blake Harrison star as Captain Mainwaring, Wilson, Jones, Godfrey, Frazer, Walker, and Pike. Catherine Zeta-Jones, Mark Gatiss, Sarah Lancashire, and Alison Steadman complete a terrific line-up of talent. It is 1944 and World War II is reaching its climax. The Allies are poised to invade France and finally defeat the German army. But in Walmington-on-Sea morale amongst the Home Guard is low. Their new mission then - to patrol the Dover army base - is a great chance to revive spirits and reputation, that is until glamorous journalist Rose Winters arrives to write about their exploits, setting the pulses racing and putting the local women on red alert. MI5 then discover a radio signal sent direct to Berlin from Walmington-on-Sea. There's a spy on the loose! The outcome of the war is suddenly at stake, and it falls to our unlikely heroes to stand up and be counted. Dad's Army is out now. by Helen Earnshaw for www.femalefirst.co.uk find me on and follow me on Britain's Duchess of Cornwall has invited a prisoner to decorate the palace. Britain's Duchess of Cornwall During a visit to Brixton Prison, where she toured construction skill workshops put on by charity Bounce Back, the 68-year-old royal invited Darren to do a spot of painting at the royal's London residence of Buckingham Palace. He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "She even asked me if I would come and do the palace! I think that was a joke but of course I said yes and that I would come and meet Charlie. "I was a bricklayer before but I didn't really know anything about decorating. Even if I don't do it as a job I will be able to do up my own place." Meanwhile, the Duchess was also on hand to recommend a book as she joined a number of prisoners at their reading group. Ensley, who took part in the discussion, said: "I asked her what she would recommend and she suggested this book about a soldier who lost both his legs in Afghanistan. I am most definitely going to be taking up her recommendation of 'Anatomy of a Soldier'. "Books Unlocked is really important because of the knowledge and because you have so much time - it's an escapism. It's a way to get outside. You can get anywhere with a book. You can lose yourself even though you only have a really small space in the prison." Britain's Prince Harry has congratulated a team of amputee rowers who have successfully crossed the Atlantic. Britain's Prince Harry The team of four - Cayle Royce, Paddy Gallagher, Nigel Rogoff and Lee Spencer - completed their 3,000 mile row from the Canary Islands to Antigua's English Harbour yesterday (04.02.16) to raise money for injured servicemen. Cayle, who leaded the team, told the Evening Standard newspaper: "We are so proud to be the first all-amputee team to row an ocean and extremely humbled by the support we have received. We are very proud to be able to support injured servicemen and women everywhere through the Endeavour Fund, Help for Heroes and Blesma. "Although totally exhausted, we are ready to celebrate the fact we have just conquered 3,000 miles in the world's toughest ocean rowing race. There is life beyond injury - that's our message, we hope it's out there." The team suffered a bit of a setback earlier on in the month when they were forced to take a break during their journey because of the bad weather but were cheered up by a surprise phone call from the 31-year-old royal. A spokesperson for the team said at the time: "It gave them a real boost. It was a surprise phone call - they had no idea. He asked them about the storm and wished them well for the rest of the journey. They have been in good spirits throughout, which is a testament to their determination." There is finally some good news for India's cotton exporters. The country 's cotton shipments are expected to rise more than 21 per cent to 70 lakh bales during 2015-16 on the back of a spike in demand from Pakistan.Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta told reporters in Mumbai that exports during the previous cotton season, which begins from October 1, stood at 57.72 lakh bales. There is finally some good news for India's cotton exporters. The country's cotton shipments are expected to rise more than 21 per cent to 70 lakh# "The demand in Pakistan has grown due to crop damage in Punjab region. Almost 33 per cent of cotton crop in Pakistan has been damaged from whitefly. In the first three months till December 31, Pakistan has already imported 16.60 lakh bales from India, while it had imported overall 3.79 lakh bales in the entire year of 2014-15," she said.Given Pakistan's requirements, it is likely to overtake Bangladesh as the top importer of Indian cotton, Gupta added.India's cotton output is estimated at 352 lakh bales for 2015-16, down from 380 lakh bales in the previous season mainly on account of crop damage in Punjab due to whitefly, white ball worm in Gujarat and drought in Karnataka.Gupta has also formed a five-member committee that will look into best practices in the cotton sector and will submit a report in six months.The panel's mandate is to look at research and innovation, best practices and the possibility of replicating them in India and techniques of conserving water, among other things that would help in making cotton farming more sustainable, she added. (SH) Fibre2Fashion News Desk India Visaka Industries, an India based manufacturing house serving many industries including textiles, will expand the production capacity of its textile unit in Nagpur, Maharashtra by approximately 26 per cent, according to a statement filed by the company with Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). The company will add 576 spinning positions to its Nagpur unit for the capacity expansion. The board of directors approved to the expansion of its textile unit in Chirvah Village, Mouda Taluqa, Nagpur in a meeting held on February 4, 2016, the filing said. Visaka Industries will expand the production capacity of its textile unit in Nagpur, Maharashtra by approximately 26 per cent.# Additionally, the board also approved a policy on determination of materiality of events and information in the meeting. Visaka reported total income of Rs 72,915.4 lakh from operations in nine months, ending on 31 December, 2015, in its financial results filed with the BSE. (MCJ) Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India The various heads of departments within the Ministry also signed their business plans in the presence of acting permanent secretary, Esala Nayasi. Foreign missions representing Fiji abroad are instrumental in securing markets and technical assistance for improving local capacity.Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, speaking to his staff during the Annual Corporate Plan launch, highlighted the important role of the Ministry and the expectations of Government from it.Our impressive economic growth figures in the last few years have underlined the importance of our overseas missions roles in securing markets and technical assistance for improving local capacity, Minister Kubuabola said.The Foreign Minister also urged the staff to step up and meet Governments aspirations of public servants.Let me say that personal philosophy determines public performance. Our Government is calling on us to be better servants of the state. We should endeavour to heed that call, Minister Kubuabola said.The Ministrys ACP, said Minister Kubuabola, sets to meet the tone of Governments pursuit for enhanced service delivery and increased returns on investments.The document will complement the Foreign Policy Statement and the Ministrys Strategic Plan 2016-2020 while the envoys will also work with the Governments Green Growth Framework and the Trade Policy Framework.We also look forward to the launch of the National Development Plans, Minister Kubuabola said. There are also plans to start poultry projects by the end of this month, a team will be organised to oversee the operation of these livelihood programs. The Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation through a coordinated taskforce continues to address the plight of those who are found begging on the streets. A team lead by the Minister, Hon. Rosy Akbar recently conducted a profiling exercise of those begging on the streets of Nadi, Lautoka and Ba.The Ministry has established a dedicated response team called, Operations Loloma with assigned vehicles, one in the western division and one in the central that continually monitors the streets.Working together with relevant agencies is the way forward to tackle the street begging, says Minister Akbar.We have taken a collaborative approach to address the issue, we work with the municipal councils and police to help us identify and address the root causes. We have taken a very caring and compassionate approach to address the challenges of those who resort to begging. Few of them have been trained and put into income generating programs, some are doing well while others still need lot of mentoring and support. Changing their mindset continuous to be a challenge, however, the Ministry is persistent in its approach to reach out to them and find the best way possible to help them acquire a dignified life, Minister Akbar said.In the western division alone, 52 have been profiled into categories of mentally challenged, homeless, single mothers, widows, senior citizens and physically disabled. In Suva, 82 of them had been profiled, and 15 of them have been assisted through income livelihood programs. The Ministry had also reunited some of them with their families, once again we reiterate on the importance of their family support to restore peace and happiness in their lives.Meanwhile, there are 12 residents currently living at the Colo-i-Suva Rehabilitation Centre known as the, Good Samaritan Inn, that was officially opened last year by the Ministry.Currently the main income generating project that the Centre provides is agriculture, the residents plant and sell root crops and vegetables. Two of the residents have found employment as security guards and 2 other are also waiting for confirmation into employment sector, Minister Akbar said.The Ministry is also working closely with the Church of Nazarene to create new opportunities for skills training and full time employment for its residents. The residents are also provided with mentoring and counselling sessions to help them regain their confidence to start a new life, to develop their self-esteem and to live an independent life. Mr Lahiouel is married with two children and will be based in Canberra, Australia. His Excellency the President, Major General (Retd) Jioji Konousi Konrote today welcomed the new Ambassador of the Peoples Democratic Republic of Algeria to Fiji, His Excellency Abdelaziz Lahiouel.The Head of State formalised the appointment as he accepted the letters of credence following a 25 member guard of honour by members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces that was accorded to the new envoy.The non-resident ambassador comes from a Foreign Service background.Mr Lahiouel completed his undergraduate studies in the field of Economics and Finance at the National School of Administration, in Algiers, Algeria and completed his postgraduate studies at the European University in Nancy, France.He also undertook training at the Economic and Social Committee, Division of Financial Affairs of the European Economic Community EEC) in Brussels, Belgium.Mr Lahiouel has represented the African state as ambassador to Tanzania and Poland besides the various international organisations and committees he has served in.He was the head of the Algerian delegation to Ministerial UN Conference on Climate Change (COP 14) in Poznan, Poland in 2008 and was in charge of South South Cooperation, United Nations Commission for Africa, Multilateral Financial and Monetary Oragization (MFA) from 1982-1986. The Ministry of Health & Medical Services encourages the public to get screened for cancer, as it can be treatable and preventable if detected early. With the theme, We can. I can. Prevent Cancer this message is being reiterated as February 4th marks World Cancer Day. The Hon. Minister for Health & Medical Services Mr Jone Usamate said that people must understand that cancer can be treated if detected early, and this can only happen through cancer screenings. Health screenings must be a priority for every individual. It is important that you do not wait to fall sick to get screened, be it for your overall health or cancer screening. Even if you are well it is important to get screened regularly to keep on keeping well, Minister Usamate said. However, if through the screenings some medical concerns arise, it will give you an opportunity to seek treatment early so that you are able to live a productive life. Females between the ages of 30-50 are encouraged to get screened for cervical cancer every 3 years. Women of any age should do breast self-examinations regularly and if any abnormalities are found it is recommended to visit a doctor. These screenings are offered at the divisional hospitals and health facilities can be contacted for more information. Men above the age of 40 years old are also encouraged to get screened for prostate cancer. In Fiji, cancer is the 3rd leading cause of death and about 4742 cancer cases were recorded from 2010-2013. There was a marked increase in cancer cases in 2013 compared with other years. Recent statistics reveal that in 2014, there were 248 cases of breast cancer and 236 cases of cervical cancer. Also, there are of course many unreported cases of cancer. This year for World Cancer Day the Health Ministry is encouraging its staff to get screened for cancer with the aim to walk our health talk (setting an example). This is also important as health staff are at the forefront of receiving cancer patients. It is important that they fully understand cancer, including cancer screening processes and treatment. This way they will be able to assist any person that walks into a healthy facility by making them feel comfortable, accepted and able to cope with cancer. The Health Ministry remains committed to addressing the prevalence of cancer in Fiji. Cancer screenings are available at various health facilities, chemotherapy is available to people free of charge, and transport is available for free to get to/from hospital (funded by Fiji Cancer Society). The Ministry also provides surgery to remove cancers in major hospitals. The Ministry is a member of the Union for International Cancer Control and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the prospects of setting up a cancer hospital. The Health Ministry also works closely with the Fiji Cancer Society. All Fijians are encouraged to visit the Health Ministrys Facebook page to take part in the cancer awareness raising campaign, Talking Hands. HON PM BAINIMARAMA REMARKS AT DRASA SEAWALL OPENING Bula vinaka and a good morning to you all.Its a pleasure to be here in Matawalu. Im very glad that I chose to extend my stay in the West another week, so I have the chance to be here with you all today and continue to witness and assess all the development that is coming to the Western Division.My Government is responsible for many things. We identify and respond to problems and issues as they arise. We put policies in place that make our economy competitive and sustainable. And most importantly, we listen to the people so that we can discover solutions and create progress together.But it is ordinary Fijians who really drive Fiji forward. The work you do to better yourselves and your communities has lifted Fiji into a new era of success and prosperity, so it is also the responsibility of my Government to make sure you see the full value of the wealth youve helped create. The projects, infrastructure and services that are coming to the West arent hand-outs. They are developments that will allow you to build on your accomplishments, so that you can keep doing great work for Fiji.Fijians are at their best when we are working together. One man or woman, working alone, can only achieve so much. But when we harness the abilities of everyone in our communities, when we combine our strengths and stay focused on a common goal, we can build great things.This Drasa Double Barrel Floodgate is an example of just that. It has been made possible because of the efforts of the many, not only of the few. This project is also a part of my Governments commitment to Fijis Green Growth Framework, which outlines our strategy to be resilient to climate change and disasters and also to preserve our environment by growing in a sustainable way.Ladies and gentlemen,Developed and emerging countries are pumping greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere that are warming our planet and causing our sea levels to rise to record-high levels.There is much that can be done to prevent this from happening, and my Government is doing all we can to demand that the global powers responsible for this crisis are held accountable -- but in the short-term we have to deal with the effects already at our doorstep.All over the country, we are doing what we can to boost our climate resilience and protect our people. My Government is currently conducting a thorough analysis of how to best allocate our resources so we can limit the damage climate change can cause.We wont allow all the development and progress Fiji has made to be risked by global warming, so rest assured, we are working overtime on the global stage and at home to keep Fiji safe. This floodgate is a barrier between your farms and the ocean. The project itself includes 1,250 metres of sea wall and 2,940 metres of internal drains, which have been completed at a cost of $81,747. These systems will protect your land from the salt water that can flood into low-lying areas and put an end to the kind of flooding we had in the West during severe storms, such as occurred during Cyclone Evan.This floodgate has a catchment area of nearly 300 hectares and will protect the labours and lands of 68 farmers. This area produced nearly 7,600 tonnes of sugar cane last year, and more than 2,700 tonnes came from the Drasa 1 drainage scheme area. This continues the flood-control efforts we have been making in this area for more than some 30 years. And we will be here with you, improving and perfecting our ability to control damaging seawater, for another 30 years if necessary.As you know, salt water can have disastrous effects on the quality of our soil. Farming is the economic backbone of your community, so quality soil isnt a luxury, it is a necessity. You have put your sweat and your capital and your hopes for the future in this land. We cant allow your hard work and your hopes for the future to be washed away in a tide of seawater. You have established yourselves on this land, you have invested in this land and you have called this land home. With this new sea wall, you and your investments are protected your food, work and families are secure.You arent the only community that is threatened by climate change, and you wont be the only community my Government assists. We will continue to remain vigilant and do what we can to allow Fijians to focus on their work and their families, and free of the fear that climate change can destroy everything they have worked for.Ladies and gentlemen,This is a solution we have put in place that will protect you now and well into the future. As we battle the immediate effects of climate change and sea-level rise, we also have to focus on the long game. The larger battle to curb global carbon emissions is one we cannot afford to lose, for our sake and our childrens sake.This brings me to another important topic, one that is also concentrated on our future. Fiji is finding a new national flag. Our old flag has served us well I have served under it proudly, and it will always have a special place in our hearts but Fijians deserve a flag that represents the great beauty and rich history of Fiji. A flag that doesnt only look to our past, but to the future.We have extended the deadline for flag submissions until February 29. In March we will announce five final flag designs and seek advice and opinions from the public, and then on Constitution Day, which is 7 September, Fiji will finally raise a flag that captures the essence of our people, country and vision for what we can achieve, together.I hope all of you will fully participate in this important national conversation. Submit designs and make your voices heard in our public consultations. Every additional voice will make the selection process more effective so I urge you all to have your say.Ladies and gentlemen,This sea wall will allow your community to keep working hard and protect what youve already achieved. Our fight against climate change and its effects will continue, but rest assured knowing that your farms, your homes and your people are safe from harm.Thank you. Vinaka vakalevu. Yesterday February 5, 2016, actor Abhishek Bachchan turned 40 and he celebrated his born day along with family including parents Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and daughter Aaradhya Bachchan. His entire family went to Maldives. Now, Abhishek along with Aishwarya and Aaradhya is here in Bangalore to cheer his own kabaddi team, Jaipur Pink Panthers. Along with the trio, actress Preity Zinta also spotted cheering the team and having gala time wth the little munchkin, Aaradhya. As always, Aishwarya is looking simply stunning. Whereas, Aaradhya can be also seen in a cheerful mood and enjoying the match to the fullest. The adorable pair, Abhishek and Aishwarya was also seen clicking selfies with Aaradhya and posing for the media happily. Reportedly, after the match, Aish has planned to throw a lavish birthday bash for hubby Abhishek. According to the reports of Mid Day, a source close to the Bachchan parivaar says, ""Since his birthday coincided with the match in Bengaluru, Aishwarya decided to throw a party there. She has some surprises lined up for him. She has planned an intimate get together with his close friends at their hotel suite post the match and is also overseeing the decoration bit.'' ''The party menu includes all dishes of Abhishek's choice. He is hoping his team wins tonight so that celebrations can begin from the stadium itself," the sorce said." Keep watching this space and we will be right back here with some more exclusive updates. Stay tuned. For the second year running, FinanceAsia has ranked the finance ministers of the Asia-Pacific regions 12 largest economies. We're releasing the results day by day, from lowest to best. For the results so far, click here. For last year's results, click here. FinanceAsia considers several factors when thinking about how to compare the performance of these men over the past 12 months. The roles responsibilities and powers vary between countries but each minister contributes to fiscal policy and the budget, accesses capital markets, regulates financial institutions, and drives reform. Investor perceptions are one way to view how good a job they are doing, particularly when times are tough. But the hardest criterion is independence. Most finance ministers serve at the pleasure of their prime ministers, presidents, or military dictators. Their ability to get things done requires political deftness, mastery of policy, sway over the bureaucracy, and the will to fight for the public interest. Today's choice is counting down the days to the end of his term in office after the governing party lost office in a landslide amid a weak economic picture. Ranked No9: Chang Sheng-ford, Taiwan After a successful 2014, Taiwans finance minister Chang Sheng-ford has since had a tough time sustaining the islands economic growth as demand has weakened in neighbouring countries. The outgoing finance minister put forward measures in 2014 to constrain property speculation and improve the sustainability of the government budget by encouraging public-private-partnership projects. But last year Chang failed to overturn a steep decline in exports, traditionally a central pillar of the islands economy. Taiwanese exports sank by 10.6% in 2015 compared with the previous year, contracting in each of the final 11 months of the year, cementing the countrys worst trade performance since the global financial crisis of 2008. Click above for more stories With manufacturing declining for seven straight months from May to November, Taiwanese industrial production is also on course to decline compared with 2014. Behind it all is a global slowdown in PC and smartphone shipments. But instead of trying to take corrective measures to protect the technology-heavy economy, Chang spent much of last year persuading lawmakers and politicians to retain the capital gains tax on stock investments that he advanced in 2012 to help increase government revenue. The stock gains tax was one of the factors blamed as trading activity shrunk on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Its eventual scrapping in November was a decision welcomed by both of Taiwans biggest political parties, the Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party, as well as by the Financial Supervisory Commission. As a result of plunging exports, the Taiwanese economy slipped into reverse in the third quarter of last year, contracting by 1.01% compared with a year earlier. Tomorrow: a new appointee with elections in mind Singapores gleaming Changi International Airport has overtaken Hong Kong International Airport as Asias favourite airport for executive flyers, according to FinanceAsias latest annual survey of business travellers. Rival Cathay Pacific, though, comes out top on the two blue-ribbon business routes from Asia to New York and London, thanks to its fully flat seats with direct aisle access. The Hong Kong-based carrier also comes top in the best airport lounge category.Some things haven't changed though. Singapore Airlines reigns supreme again, topping the charts for first-class and business-class air travel after working with Michelin-starred chefs to add a bit more culinary expertise and finesse to its in-flight meals. The survey of 257 frequent Asian flyers, almost half of whom spend between 21 and 50 nights a year in hotels, was conducted over a two-month period at the turn of the year and reinforces among other things just how welcome a cold beer is after a tough day globetrotting on business. Cathay's Pier lounge in HK In spite of a relatively lacklustre first six-month period as the various air incidents of 2014 including that of flight MH370 continued to weigh on regional air traveller sentiment, Changi airport handled a record-breaking 55.4 million passengers last year. Helping matters were 10 new routes, including four to China, which means Singapore now has 32 direct city links to the country. Plans by Singapore Airlines to add new services connecting the Lion City to Dusseldorf, Canberra, and Wellington should also help in 2016. Its not all glamour though. The results of FinanceAsias annual travel survey suggest that for all the regions growing affluence, some business travellers in Asia face a less profligate, expenses-happy world than they did prior to the 2008 global financial meltdown, a feeling perhaps reinforced by recent market volatility and Chinas anti-graft campaign. Helping Cathay Pacific, meanwhile, is its newly renovated Pier First-Class Lounge in Hong Kong that features amongst other things 14 shower cubicles, eight suites, a la carte dining and a cocktails, a bespoke fragrance plus complementary foot, neck and shoulder massages. As a result, more than 30% of those polled said they expect to travel more by economy class this year. The results in detail Asia's top airports 1 Singapore Changi (pictured) 2 Hong Kong International Airport 3 Incheon (ICN) International Airport Best Business/First-Class Service 1 Singapore Airlines (pictured) 2 Cathay Pacific 3 Emirates Preferred Airline to London 1 Cathay Pacific (pictured) 2 Singapore Airlines 3= British Airways 3= Emirates Preferred Airline to New York 1 Cathay Pacific 2 Singapore Airlines 3 Emirates Check back next week for part two: the region's finest hotels TSX:ORV TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX:ORV) (the "Company" or "Orvana") reports the results following the annual shareholders' meeting held on February 3, 2016 in Toronto (the "Meeting"). The following nominees were elected as directors of Orvana: Jacques McMullen; Gordon J. Bogden; Daniella Dimitrov; Juan Gavidia; Ed Guimaraes; Sara Magner; Gordon Pridham; and Audra Walsh. Mr. John Wilson has retired from the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") and therefore did not stand for re-election. The Board and management of Orvana would like to thank him for his contributions, support and guidance as a director for the past four years. Mr. Jacques McMullen was elected as chairman of the Board immediately after the Meeting. After the Meeting, Mr. Juan Gavidia stepped down as a director to permit him to instead provide certain consulting services to the Company. The Company also reports the re-appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company's independent auditor. For full voting details please see Orvana's voting results as filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. About Orvana Orvana is a multi-mine gold and copper producer. Orvana's operating assets consist of the producing gold-copper-silver El Valle mine in northern Spain and the producing gold-copper-silver Don Mario mine in Bolivia. Additional information is available at Orvana's website (www.orvana.com). Cautionary Statements - Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this information constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates" or "intends" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "are projected to" be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements herein relate to, among other things, Orvana's ability to achieve improvement in free cash flow; the potential to extend the mine life of El Valle and Don Mario beyond their current life-of-mine estimates; Orvana's ability to optimize its assets to deliver shareholder value; the Company's ability to optimize productivity at Don Mario and El Valle; estimates of future production, operating costs and capital expenditures; mineral resource and reserve estimates; statements and information regarding future feasibility studies and their results; future transactions; future metal prices; the ability to achieve additional growth and geographic diversification; future financial performance, including the ability to increase cash flow and profits; future financing requirements; and mine development plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in this information, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions set forth herein and in Orvana's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form in respect of the Company's most recently completed fiscal year (the "Company Disclosures") or as otherwise expressly incorporated herein by reference as well as: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at El Valle and Don Mario being consistent with the Company's current expectations; political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; certain price assumptions for gold, copper and silver; prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Orvana's current expectations. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper; the need to recalculate estimates of resources based on actual production experience; the failure to achieve production estimates; variations in the grade of ore mined; variations in the cost of operations; the availability of qualified personnel; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals and licenses; the Company's ability to use cyanide in its mining operations; risks generally associated with mineral exploration and development, including the Company's ability to continue to operate the El Valle and/or Don Mario and/or ability to resume operations at the Carles Mine; the Company's ability to acquire and develop mineral properties and to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the Company's ability to execute on its strategy; the Company's ability to obtain financing when required on terms that are acceptable to the Company; challenges to the Company's interests in its property and mineral rights; current, pending and proposed legislative or regulatory developments or changes in political, social or economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; general economic conditions worldwide; and the risks identified in the Company's Disclosures under the heading "Risks and Uncertainties". This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Disclosures for a description of additional risk factors. Any forward-looking statements made in this information with respect to the anticipated development and exploration of the Company's mineral projects are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements made in this information are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future operating activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes. For further information: Daniella Dimitrov, President & CEO, T (416) 369-1629, Eddimitrov@orvana.com; Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer, T (416) 369-6275, E jjobin@orvana.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The Australian dollar fell to 2-day lows of 1.5604 against the euro and 83.89 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.5560 and 84.03, respectively. Against the U.S. and the Canadian dollars, the aussie dropped to 0.7176 and 0.9873 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7198 and 0.9902, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.60 against the euro, 81.00 against the yen, 0.70 against the greenback and 0.97 against the loonie. 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The New Zealand dollar weakened against the other major currencies in the Asian session on Friday. The NZ dollar fell to 2-day lows of 1.6729 against the euro and 78.24 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.6663 and 78.46, respectively. Against the U.S. dollar, the kiwi dropped to 0.6691 from yesterday's closing value of 0.6720. The kiwi edged down to 1.0741 against the Australian dollar, from an early 2-day high of 1.0671. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.71 against the euro, 76.00 against the yen, 0.64 against the greenback and 1.09 against the aussie. 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Australian and the New Zealand dollars weakened against their major counterparts in the Asian session on Friday, as regional shares fell reflecting weakness in the financial and oil sectors. Investors are treading cautiously ahead of the release of key U.S. jobs data later in the day. The Australian dollar fell earlier after the release of nation's retail sales data. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed that the total value of retail sales in Australia was unchanged in December on a seasonally adjusted basis. That missed forecasts for an increase of 0.4 percent, which would have been unchanged from the November reading. Sales were up 0.6 percent in October. In other economic news, the Australian Industry Group reported that the construction sector in Australia remained in contraction in January with a PMI score of 46.3. That's down from 46.8 in December, and it moves further beneath the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction. Thursday, the Australian dollar rose against its major rivals due to rising risk appetite, as gains in crude oil prices as well as other commodity prices on the back of a weaker dollar lifted resource stocks. The Australian dollar rose 0.75 percent against the U.S. dollar, 0.34 percent against the yen and 0.47 percent against the euro. Meanwhile, the NZ dollar showed mixed trading against its major rivals. While the NZ dollar rose against the U.S. dollar, it held steady against the yen and the euro. In the Asian trading, the Australian dollar fell to 2-day lows of 1.5604 against the euro and 83.89 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.5560 and 84.03, respectively. If the aussie extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.60 against the euro and 81.00 against the yen. Against the U.S. and the Canadian dollars, the aussie dropped to 0.7176 and 0.9873 from yesterday's closing quotes of 0.7198 and 0.9902, respectively. The aussie may test support near 0.70 against the greenback and 0.97 against the loonie. The NZ dollar fell to 2-day lows of 1.6729 against the euro and 78.24 against the yen, from yesterday's closing quotes of 1.6663 and 78.46, respectively. If the kiwi extends its downtrend, it is likely to find support around 1.71 against the euro and 76.00 against the yen. Against the U.S. dollar, the kiwi dropped to 0.6691 from yesterday's closing value of 0.6720. The kiwi may test support near the 0.64 region. The kiwi edged down to 1.0741 against the Australian dollar, from an early 2-day high of 1.0671. On the downside, 1.09 is seen as the next support level for the kiwi. Looking ahead, preliminary Japan leading index for December is due to be released at 12:00 am ET. Subsequently, German factory orders for December is slated for release in the pre-European session at 2:00 am ET. At 7:00 am ET, European Central Bank Vice President Vitor Constancio is expected to speak on the occasion of the awarding of the German Bernacer Prize organized by the Bank of Spain in Madrid. In the New York session, U.S. trade balance for December, U.S. non-farm payrolls report for January, Canadian trade balance data for December, Canada Ivey purchasing managers index for January, U.S. Baker Hughes reg count data and U.S. consumer credit for December are set to be published. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Following a virtual dead heat in the Iowa caucuses, tempers were a little more frayed than usual when Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders went head to head Thursday in the latest national debate. Squaring off at the University of New Hampshire five days before that state's primary, the candidates were a little less cordial this time around as they tried to shine a light on the differences in their respective campaign platforms. Clinton, the former Secretary of State, hammered away at her record - both at home and abroad. And in a shot at Sanders, she said: 'I'm going to get things done. I'm not going to make promises that I can't keep.' She also pointed out that Sanders has little foreign policy experience, and done little to outline any plans in that area. Sanders, the Vermont Senator, put forth a spirited drive for campaign finance reform - citing Clinton's involvement with political action committees. He freely admitted that Clinton has more experience, but said that there is more to the job than experience - he said he simply has better judgement. But despite a few well-placed jabs, the candidates still showed that they agreed on more than they didn't - and they were considerably more civil that their counterparts in the Republican Party. Both went to great lengths to talk about Wall Street and the need for regulation, as well as the need to keep U.S. ground troops out of the Middle East. They also agreed on the need to fix the Department of Veterans Affairs - not privatize it, as Republicans have suggested. The next Democratic debate is February 11 at UW-Milwaukee in Wisconsin. The next Republican debate is Saturday at St. Anselm's College Institute of Politics. After New Hampshire, the next contest is February 20 - in Nevada for the Democrats and South Carolina for the Republicans. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - As President Barack Obama runs the last lap of his second presidential term, he might be wading into muddled waters, although with a good motive. The President is reportedly considering a proposal to tax oil companies in order to fund green energy initiatives. Obama, who is set to unveil his final budget next week, is likely to propose billions of orders of investments in mass transit, self driving cars and high-speed rail, all in a bid to reduce carbon emission. Now, with the federal government running on a deficit, how the government plans to meet the expenditure is a moot point. The budgetary deficit for 2015 was $439 billion or 2.4 percent of GDP. It is estimated, the deficit would rise to $474 billion in 2016, accounting for 2.5 percent of GDP. Here is what the President proposes. Oil companies would be taxed $10 per barrel of oil. Will the industry embrace the measure without a whimper? Oil's freefall since early 2014 has left these companies high and drug. Bleeding profusely on the bottom line, oil giants such as BP (BP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), Shell (RDS) and Total are struggling to maintain their capital spending budget in an investment intensive industry. However, the relief is that oil companies can pass on the burden of the tax to consumers. Even this move has its own pitfalls. Cautious consumers, who are preferring to put earnings into savings rather than spending in this uncertain economic times, will be forced to be even more circumspect. Personal savings rate, a data released along with the Commerce Department's personal income & spending report, showed a two-tenths of a percentage increase to 5.5 percent in December. The probability of the proposals being approved is remote, as the Republican controlled Congress is unlikely to support these in an election year. At the same time, the Democrats may also be uncertain about putting their weight behind a move that places additional burden on the taxpayers. It is estimated that the proposal under consideration may raise the cost of gasoline by about 25 cents per gallon. At least, the proposals would jumpstart conversation on a greener tomorrow, as the world grapples with serious environmental degradation. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de BW Offshore will release its Q4 2015 results on Monday 8 February at 07:30 (CET). The company will host a presentation of the financial results 09:00 (CET) the same day at Hotel Continental in Oslo, Norway. The presentation will be given by CEO Carl K. Arnet and CFO Knut R. Sthre. The presentation will be broadcasted via webcast, and will also be available for replay. Please visit www.bwoffshore.com (http://www.bwoffshore.com/) for login-details. For further information, please contact: Kristian Flaten, Vice President IR and Corporate Finance, +47 9509 2322 About BW Offshore: BW Offshore is a leading global provider of floating production services to the oil and gas industry. BW Offshore is the world's second largest contractor with a fleet of 14 FPSOs represented in all major oil regions world-wide. The company also operates additional 2 FPSOs. BW Offshore has a long track record on project execution and operations, as well as a robust balance sheet and strong financial capabilities. In more than 30 years of production, BW Offshore has executed 38 FPSO and FSO projects. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Further information is also available on www.bwoffshore.com This information is subject of the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. 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: BW Offshore via Globenewswire HUG#1983992 Successful sale improves balance sheet and reduces operating risk Proceeds to be used to reduce company debt by 5 million through a pro rata tender offer to bondholders Remaining uses of funds will be invested in core growth activities in critical power Management affirms guidance and positive outlook for 2016 3W Power S.A. (ISIN LU1072910919, 3W9K), the holding company of AEG Power Solutions Group, a global provider of power supply solutions and service for critical infrastructure, announces the completion of the sale of its subsidiaries Fluxpower GmbH and Primetech Srl. to an international industrial group. AEG PS today completed the sale of Fluxpower and Primetech. Of the net proceeds, 5.0 million will be used to pay down long term debt and the remainder will be reinvested into the Company's core Industrial UPS business. Under the terms of the Company's Bondholder agreement (DE000A1ZJZB9), AEG PS will make a pro rata tender offer in February which will reduce the principle amount from 50 million to 45 million and cut its interest expense up to 1.7 million through 2019. The sale further improves the Company's balance sheet and reduces operating risk through the continued process of simplifying business activities and improving focus. Jeffrey Casper, AEG PS CEO explained, "I am very pleased that we have managed to both further simplify our business and find a suitable home for Fluxpower and Primetech. The management teams of Fluxpower and Primetech have been terrific additions to AEG PS these past years. Consistent with our plan to narrow our focus and grow in our core markets of critical infrastructure, these divestments enable us to accelerate our progress." The company finished 2015 very much within expectations and has a confident outlook heading into 2016. Despite recent volatility and issues in industrial markets, AEG PS benefits from vertical market and geographic diversification. The core business of critical power is somewhat insulated from volatility because of the mission critical nature of its applications. The Company expects to grow like for like in 2016 and improve its profitability with a medium term outlook of double digit top line growth and improving profit margins toward an EBITDA margin of 10%. Looking forward, Jeffrey Casper stated, "I am excited about the future of AEG PS. After a long road of operational improvement and restructuring, we have substantially reduced risk, simplified and improved our operations. We have retained, promoted and recruited exceptional talent. This is all beginning to show in improved business performance and a far brighter outlook. Add to the fact that we are in times of economic uncertainty, I believe critical power is an highly attractive place to be." A separate notice in the legally required form will communicate the tender offer for bondholders and the relevant aggregate amount in February 2016. -- End of Announcement -- About 3W Power/AEG Power Solutions: 3W Power S.A. (WKN A114Z9 ISIN LU1072910919), based in Luxembourg, is the holding company of AEG Power Solutions Group. The Group is headquartered in Zwanenburg in the Netherlands. The shares of 3W Power are admitted to trading on Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: 3W9K). For more information, visit www.aegps.com This communication does not constitute an offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or exchange any securities of 3W Power. This communication contains forward-looking statements, which include, inter alia, statements expressing our expectations, intentions, projections, estimates, and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are based on the reasonable evaluation and opinion of the management but are subject to risks and uncertainties, which are beyond the control of 3W Power and, as a general rule, difficult to predict. The management and the company cannot and do not, under any circumstances, guarantee future results or performance of 3W Power and the actual results of 3W Power may materially differ from the information expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. As a result, investors are cautioned against relying on the forward-looking statements contained herein as a basis for their investment decisions regarding 3W Power. 3W Power undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160204006734/en/ Contacts: For further information, please contact: Hillermann Consulting Investor Relations for AEG Power Solutions Christian Hillermann, +49 40 320 279 10 investors@aegps.com LONDON, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --Global brand strategy, design and experience firm Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) today announced the completion of a rebranding initiative for GAM, one of the world's leading independent asset management groups. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160204/329932LOGO Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120123/NY39544LOGO Zurich-based GAM engaged Siegel+Gale to unify their global operations and amplify their unique value, following a decade of two corporate ownerships. By developing a progressive brand purpose to - "Advance the potential of capital" - Siegel+Gale synthesized the smart solutions and services GAM offers, as well as the organisation's fundamental belief in the potential of capital. The new digital experience establishes GAM as a modern leader in active asset management. Inspired by technical blueprints, Siegel+Gale developed a refreshed brand identity that brings to life the agile, collaborative and decisive hallmarks of the refreshed brand, reinforced by a new logo redesign. "This brand is a reflection of who we are today and part of our strategic investment in our future. The world knew only the company we used to be - and that needed to change," commented Alexander Friedman, Group CEO at GAM. "From the outset, our ambition was simply to show the GAM brand as a representation of the people behind it and the work they do for their clients. A super-smart team of investors unwilling to follow the herd, unafraid to go with their intuition, looking for new ideas and focused on advancing the potential of capital for their clients; represented by the blueprint illustration style and contrarian voice. The new brand provides a platform for GAM to be the go-to commentator in the Active Asset Management space," commented Philip Davies, President EMEA, Siegel+Gale. About Siegel+Gale Siegel+Gale (www.siegelgale.com) is the simplicity company. We seek it, defend it and embrace it in everything we do to help brands reach their true potential. Simplicity is the centrepiece of the strategies we develop that reveal the unique truths of an organisation, the engaging stories we create that connect brands with their audiences and the meaningful experiences we deliver that are both unexpectedly fresh and remarkably clear. Since 1969, Siegel+Gale has championed simplicity for leading corporations, nonprofits and government organisations worldwide. We have offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Dubai, and Shanghai, but we're willing to fly just about anywhere. We're also not alone. As part of the DAS Group of Companies, we have strong partners all around the world. About the DAS Group of Companies The DAS Group of Companies, a division of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE: OMC) (www.omnicomgroup.com), is a global group of marketing services companies. DAS includes over 200 companies in the following marketing disciplines: specialty, PR, healthcare, CRM, events, promotional marketing, branding and research. Operating through a combination of networks and regional organizations, DAS serves international, regional, national and local clients through more than 700 offices in 71 countries. About GAM GAM is one of the world's leading independent, pure-play asset managers. It provides active investment solutions and products for institutions, financial intermediaries and private investors, under two brands, GAM and Julius Baer Funds. Its core investment business is complemented by private labeling services, which include management company and other support services to third-party institutions. GAM employs over 1,000 people in 11 countries with investment centres in London, Zurich, Hong Kong, New York, Lugano and Milan. The investment managers are supported by an extensive global distribution network. Headquartered in Zurich, GAM is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and is a component of the Swiss Market Index Mid (SMIM) with the symbol 'GAM'. The Group has assets under management ofCHF 119.5 billion (USD 122.3 billion)*. Nichola Seeley Marketing and Communications Manager Siegel+Gale T: +44 (0)20 8618 1951 M: +44 (0)77 1091 7186 E: nseeley@siegelgale.com To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/asset-management-group-gam-unveils-new-brand-identity-developed-by-siegelgale-300215882.html PUNE, India, February 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- DeepResearchReports.com adds 2016 Market Research Report on Global Denim Fabric Industry intelligence study to the textiles business research collection of its Store Complete report on Denim Fabric market spread across 151 pages, profiling 33 companies and supported with 249 tables and figures is now available athttp://www.deepresearchreports.com/152020.html . This is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Denim Fabric market with a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Denim Fabric market analysis is provided for the international markets including development trends, competitive landscape analysis, and key regions development status. Development policies and plans are also discussed and manufacturing processes and cost structures analyzed. Denim Fabric market import/export consumption, supply and demand figures and cost price and production value gross margins are also provided. The report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. The report focuses on global major leading industry players of Denim Fabric market providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity production, price, cost, production value and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Denim Fabric market development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered. With 249 tables and figures to support the Denim Fabric market analysis, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. 2016-2021 forecasts for Denim Fabric market provided in this report include 2016-2021 Denim Fabric capacity production overview, production market share, sales overview, supply sales and shortage, import export consumption and cost price production value gross margin. 2016 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Denim Fabric are Canatib, Vicunha, Isko, Arvind, Aarvee, Nandan Denim Ltd, Sudarshan Jeans, Orta Anadolu, Jindal Worldwide, Etco Denim, Raymond UCO, Bhaskar Industries, Oswal Denims, Sangam, Suryalakshmi, Cone Denim, KG, Bossa, Black Peony, Weiqiao Textile, Foshan Zhongfang Textile, Xinlan Group, Foshan Seazon Textile and Garment, Zhejiang Sitong Textile Fashion, Jiangyin Chulong, Bafang Fabric, Haitian Textile, Weifang Lantian Textile, Advance Demin, Shandong Wantai, Zhejiang Hongfa, Shunfeng Textile, Suyin, Changzhou Shuangyan Dyeing and Weaving. Order a copy of Global Denim Fabric Market Report 2016 research report at http://www.deepresearchreports.com/contacts/purchase.php?name=152020 . Some of the tables and figures provided in 2016 Market Research Report on Global Denim Fabric Industry research report include: Table Major Raw Materials Suppliers of Denim Fabric with Contact Information Table Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers of Denim Fabric with Contact Information Table Major Suppliers of Denim Fabric with Contact Information Table Key Consumers of Denim Fabric with Contact Information Figure Supply Chain Relationship Analysis of Denim Fabric Table New Project SWOT Analysis of Denim Fabric Table New Project Investment Feasibility Analysis of Denim Fabric Explore more reports on theTextiles marketat http://www.deepresearchreports.com/cat/textiles-market-research.html . Related research titled "2016 Market Research Report on Global Denim Fabric Consumption" focuses on global major leading industry players providing information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials and equipment and downstream demand analysis is also carried out. The Denim Fabric Consumption development trends and marketing channels are analyzed. Finally the feasibility of new investment projects are assessed and overall research conclusions offered. With 257 tables and figures the report provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. Browse a copy of complete research report at http://www.deepresearchreports.com/147896.html . About Us: Deep Research Reports is digital database ofsyndicated market reports for global and China industries. These reports offer competitive intelligence data for companies in varied market segments and for decision makers at multiple levels in these organizations. We provide 24/7 online and offline support to our customers. Connect with us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deepresearchreports Twitter: https://twitter.com/DResearchReport Google+: https://plus.google.com/117151957945248166335 Contact: Ritesh Tiwari UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune- 411013 Maharashtra,India. + 1 888 391 5441 sales@deepresearchreports.com Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius AB, identification code 304151376, registered office placed at Aguonu str. 24, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. The total number of registered ordinary shares issued by company is 894 630 333; ISIN code LT0000130023. The Vilnius Regional Administrative Court dismissed the Company's complaint asking to repeal the Resolution No. O3-947 "Regarding scheduled inspection of LESTO AB" of the National Commission for Energy Control and Prices" (hereinafter - the Commission) of 19.12.2014, including Resolutions No. O3-944, No. O3-945, No. O3-946 adopted on its basis and the Commission's Resolution No. O3-960 of 23.12.2014 and to obligate the Commission to assess income not received by the Company and additional expenses sustained due to illegal upper price limits determined during the period of effect of these resolutions when determining the upper prices limits for the Company's prices for the next periods. The Company is examining the reasons of the court ruling and will make a decision on the appeal against it under the appellate procedure. Information is not confidential. Representative for Public Relations Martynas Burba, tel. (8~5) 2514516. 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. In a depressed global economy, intelligentization is like a ray of sunlight in a chilly winter, driving market development. SHANGHAI, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --AWE2016,an important event for the Chinese household appliance industry, is set to kick off in March 2016. Household intelligentizationhas begun to take off as theChinese household appliance industry transforms into a high-end industry. From a global market perspective, household intelligentization is driving the global household appliance industrytowards a brand new era, becoming a springboard for mid- and low-level Chinese household appliance enterprises to develop into high-end enterprises. In view of the domestic market, the steadily growing high-end market has stood in sharp contrast to the depressed middle and low-level market. Many market research agencies invariablyhave predicted that in the following 3 to 5 years, the smart home market will reach 100-billion. The promising market has not only attracted many international giants like Apple, Google, and Bosch, but has also drawn attention from Chinese enterprises. Core household enterprises such as Haier and Midea have put their smart home strategy into implementation in 2014. The internet enterprises presented by Alibaba and JD.com have also strived to occupy a space in the Chinese smart home market. Huawei, a company specializing in communication, has also entered thesmart home field. In 2015, the "giants" successively built cooperative relationships with each other, for example, Haier cooperated with Huawei, Midea with MI, and GREE with JD.com. Also, many supporting-service enterprises, like intelligent modules, smart chips and SmartCloud platform have sprung up like mushrooms in recent years. The entire smart home industrial chainis fully covered. An "ecosphere" centering on smart homes is gradually taking shape in China. To some extent, China has become a pioneer in the smart home field.In March 2016,giantsof thehousehold appliance industry will demonstrate their achievements in the smart home fieldat AWE2016alongside a large number ofgrowing smart home industry enterprises. According to the AWE organizer, the Smart Home Exhibition Hall will be specially set for participating companies to exchange their opinions and share experience. TVs which can automatically push information, refrigerators which can manage foods, washing machines that can automaticallyadd detergent, and even smart housekeeper J.A.R.V.I.S in Iron Man will come to the real world. AWE will become an important platform to display smart home and smart household appliances. One day, these intelligent products will eventually enter our daily life,helping to spurthe rapid development of global household appliance intelligentization. About AWE AWE (Appliance & Electronics World Expo), organized by the China Household Electrical Appliances Association (CHEAA), now has more than 20 year history. AWE, together with CES and IFA, are called the three exhibitions of the global appliance & electronics industry. AWE2016 will be held in the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from March 9-12, 2016. The exhibition then will be more than 100,000 m2, with estimated 600 exhibitors and over 20,000 products. Product categories include: consumer electronics, environmental & healthy appliances, smart products, kitchen & bath appliances, white goods, accessories and components. The number of visitors will be around 150,000. Next AWE: March 9-12, 2016 Location: Shanghai, China Booth Map of the AWE2015: http://awe.com.cn/en/contents/112/3159.html AWE Video: http://awe.com.cn/en/contents/101/3154.html AWE Official Website: http://awe.com.cn/en/ Contact: Ms. Cara WANG Tel: +86-10-67093609 Email: cara.wang@cheaa.com FRANKFURT, Germany, February 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Participants can win a six-night vacation in Vietnam for two persons inclusive of airfare and accommodation Worldhotels, a leading group of independent luxury and upscale hotels, is offering travel agents the chance to win an attractive prize of a six-night vacation in Vietnam for two persons inclusive of airfare and accommodation (four-night accommodation at the Caravelle Hotel Saigon and two-night accommodation at the Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa Nha Trang) by entering its new social media "Hug an Agent" competition. With this campaign, Worldhotels would like to show their appreciation for their travel agency partners and encourages travel agents to share a "virtual hug". To participate, travel agents should follow the below instructions: 1. Follow @worldhotels_ag on Instagram. 2. Upload a photo onto Instagram, which reflects the 'Hug an Agent' theme. 3. Include both hashtags worldhotels_ag and hugagent. 4. Accept the Instagram request that Worldhotels will be able to follow the participant's profile in order to confirm the participation. The contest will run until 4 March, the winner will be randomly selected from all eligible contest entries received during the applicable contest period and will be informed latest by 18 March. Visit http://www.worldhotels.com/travel-agents/hug-an-agent-contest for more information and the possibility for travel agents to book deeply discounted travel agent rates during the contest period. Media Contact: Kyra Zanner Worldhotels Tel: +49(0)69-660-56-252 E-mail: kzanner@worldhotels.com LONDON, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year, Longleat House in the UK is hosting the Festival of Light, a lantern exhibition centred on two of the most famous Chinese dynasties, where iconic moments from Chinese history will be brought to life. Organized in conjunction with Zigong Lantern New Asia Cultural Industry Co., this event is just one of many being held across the UK and around the world. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329153 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329154 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329155 Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160203/329152 2015 saw events reach from Beijing to Benin, and from Spain to Senegal, covering cultural activities from dumpling-making, to traditional acrobatics and Sichuan opera. 2016 will see even farther flung festivities, with lion dancers and martial artists alike sharing the message of 'Happy Chinese New Year' across the globe. A cultural official from the Chinese Embassy in London said, "These events offer a great opportunity for people across the globe to be a part of Chinese New Year, and to better understand Chinese culture and traditions. Collaborations in historic spaces like Longleat House and Trafalgar Square allows us to create fantastic experiences for all to attend." Roots Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year, is one of the most important cultural events in China. 2016 will welcome the Year of the Monkey, part of an ancient tradition in which the Chinese Zodiac attaches animal signs to each of a cycle of 12 years. Back in China, the celebrations, which will begin on Monday the 8th of February, will continue for two weeks. The period will see the earth's biggest human migration, with an estimated 2.8 billion trips using public transport networks last year, as the customary journey home sees people from across China travel back to re-unite and spend time with family. International Overseas Chinese will also come together for the festival. London's annual Chinese New Year celebrations, the biggest in the world outside China, will bring a swathe of Chinatown life to the city. In New York, an annual parade winds through the streets of Manhattan's Chinatown, bringing colors and costumes.Singapore residents and visitors will gather at the River Hongbao for giant lanterns, exotic delicacies and spectacular fireworks. These cities represent just some of the locations across the globe that will celebrate the festivities. The events are a reflection of the expanding international recognition of Chinese culture and traditions. As Chinese New Year continues to spread further around the world, everyone will a have chance to join in. Contact: Mark Scott Ogilvy Public Relations +86 18611341742 Mark.scott@ogilvy.com The Hong Kong Delegation visits the historical site of Humayun's Tomb in Delhi (4 Feb) HKTDC Communication and Public Affairs Department Nick Waters Tel: +852 2584 4517 Email: nick.waters@hktdc.org For India please contact Cumulus PR Communication: In Mumbai: Akbar Askari Tel: +91 9971339654, Email: akbar@cumulus.net.in; akbar.cumulus@gmail.com In Delhi: Rajani Vickram Tel: +91 9999765958, Email: rajani@cumulus.net.in; rajani.cumulus@gmail.com HONG KONG, Feb 5, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - More than 200 business leaders from Hong Kong and India attended a high-level business dinner in Delhi yesterday. CY Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Amitabh Kant, Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India were guests of honour at the dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) at the Shangri-La Eros Hotel in the Indian capital.The dinner was the concluding event of a successful high-level Hong Kong business mission to India this week to explore business and investment partnership opportunities and to foster closer bilateral ties between Hong Kong and India. Mr Leung led the mission (2-4 Feb) comprising a delegation of 40 prominent businesspeople representing the city's leading industries, such as financial services, professional services, logistics, shipping, telecommunications, construction and engineering.Taking bilateral relations to new levelsSpeaking at the dinner, Mr Leung said his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day had been a positive one. "The Prime Minister and I agreed to take our cooperation to new levels and also to broaden the scope of our cooperation," said Mr Leung, who added that technology cooperation was an area of great potential. "We welcome, and indeed look forward to, Indian research institutions and businesses to work with Hong Kong, and make use of the platform provided by us to advance and promote science and technology. I look forward to seeing the results of our joint research efforts."In his remarks, Secretary Kant described Hong Kong as one of the most innovative and creative cities in the world, and said the decision to bring a large business delegation to India would help to boost ties between India and Hong Kong. "I am confident that this initiative will lead to great all-round and comprehensive development of bilateral relations," he said.Margaret Fong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, urged Indian companies to take full advantage of the Council's business promotion platform. Ms Fong highlighted the HKTDC's presence in India including offices in Mumbai and Delhi and also urged more Indian companies to take part in more than 30 international conferences and trade fairs organised by the HKTDC in Hong Kong annually."Every year our trade fairs in Hong Kong attract some 800 Indian exhibitors to market their products and services to global buyers. And close to 14,000 Indian importers, traders and merchandisers come annually to source quality products for their customers," said Ms Fong.Hong Kong: Bridging India and China along the Belt and RoadA key theme of the business mission was to explore new opportunities brought about by stronger business links between India and Hong Kong, and Hong Kong's role as a bridge connecting India to the Chinese mainland market, especially in light of the Belt and Road Initiative spearheaded by the Chinese government.The Belt and Road Initiative aims to connect Asia and Europe via the Middle East and Africa by a series of transport and infrastructure developments to facilitate trade and cross-border connectivity. By improving infrastructure and facilities in Central Asia and Eastern Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, the Belt and Road Initiative will boost financial integration, trade and cultural bonds. India, being a key country along the Belt and Road, can play a crucial role in linking markets together.On a mission to build tiesThe Hong Kong delegation received a valuable insight into India's infrastructure development by visiting the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd yesterday. The US$1 billion Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) is billed as the world's largest infrastructure project aiming to develop new industrial "smart" cities and converge next generation technologies across different sectors.With technology collaboration regarded as an area of great potential for future investment and business partnership opportunities between India and Hong Kong, the delegation also visited the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.HKTDC connecting India and Hong KongAs well as the business dinner in Delhi, the HKTDC also hosted a luncheon in Mumbai on Wednesday (3 Feb) which attracted more than 120 business and government leaders and welcomed Minister of Industries, Ports, Employment & Self Employment, Government of Maharashtra, Subhash Desai, as guest of honour. During the Mumbai leg of the visit, the delegation attended briefings from leading Indian conglomerates including the Mahindra Group and the Tata Group and visited the Bharat Diamond Bourse and The Capital Building as well as the BSE stock exchange.Long and strong business linksHong Kong and India enjoy close and strong bilateral ties formed over more than 150 years of business and cultural links. In 2015, India was Hong Kong's fourth-largest export market with total exports to India expanding 8.1 per cent year-on-year to US$13.1 billion. Major export items included telecom equipment & parts (US$5.1 billion, 39.3% share) and pearls, precious & semi-precious stones (US$4.7 billion, 36.3%). On the other hand, India was Hong Kong's ninth-largest source of imports in 2015, amounting to US$10.6 billion. India is Hong Kong's seventh-largest trading partner globally with bilateral trade of US$23.7 billion last year.Photo Download: http://bit.ly/1S4yZIGTo 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. VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - Austria's wholesale prices continued to decline at the start of the year, though at a slower rate than in the previous month, preliminary figures from Statistics Austria showed Friday. The wholesale price index fell 2.3 percent year-over-year in January, following a 3.0 percent decrease in December. Prices have been falling since June 2013. On a monthly basis, wholesale prices slid 1.0 percent in January, after a 1.6 percent drop in the preceding month. It was the eighth month fall in a row. 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. NOVI, MI--(Marketwired - February 05, 2016) - The Home Builders Association (HBA) of Southeastern Michigan is privileged to present a special charity concert at Suburban Collection Showplace, Diamond Banquet and Conference Center, February 17, 2016. Doors open at 6 p.m. Lansing Firefighter Dennis Rodeman, 35, was a seven-year veteran of the Lansing Fire Department (LFD). He died tragically on Sept. 9 after being struck by a hit-and-run driver while collecting money for the annual "Fill the Boot" campaign to support muscular dystrophy research. Rodeman was a volunteer firefighter in Vermontville, Mich. and also served with the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq before joining LFD. He married his wife, Kate Rodeman -- an ER nurse -- in June 2015. She is expecting their first child in April 2016. Sadly, his wife Kate was on shift at Sparrow Hospital's ER when her husband was brought in with his injuries. "Members of our industry have a long tradition of helping others. That is why the Great Lakes Builders Show 2016 is honored to present this charity benefit concert. Our goal is to raise at least $20,000 to help Kate Rodeman and their unborn child," said Michael Stoskopf, CEO of HBA of Southeastern Michigan who's planning the two-day Great Lakes Builders Show event. Performing is Your Generation in Concert' featuring Fifty Amp Fuse, a live multimedia spectacular celebrating six decades of American and British pop/rock hits. Led by a nine-piece band, the audience will be transported on a musical journey through the soundtrack of their lives. Concert tickets cost $45 per person, which includes concert entry, two (2) drink tickets and heavy hors d'oeuvres. Twenty dollars ($20) per concert ticket sold will benefit the Rodeman family. Parking for this event is free courtesy of the Suburban Collection Showplace, Diamond Banquet and Conference Center. To purchase tickets, visit: https://novihomeshows.webconnex.com/CharityConcert. The HBA of Southeastern Michigan is a professional trade association with membership including builders, remodelers, property owners, developers and suppliers to the residential construction industry. The HBA of Southeastern Michigan is affiliated with the Home Builders Association of Michigan and the National Association of Home Builders. For more information, visit www.builders.org/. Contact: Gretchen A. Monette Agency: All Seasons Communications Phone: (586) 752-6381 Email: Email contact -- The total return for the year was 15% for the Class A shares and 11% for the Class C shares, compared with 10% for the SIXRX total return index.-- Net asset value was SEK 160/share on December 31, 2015, representing an increase of 1% for the year, and 5% including reinvested dividend. Earnings per share for the year were SEK 7.18 (12.62). Net asset value was SEK 155/share on February 4, 2016.-- At the AGM on May 6, 2015 Fredrik Lundberg was elected as new Chairman of the Board, and in September 2015 Helena Stjernholm took office as new CEO.-- In order to increase Industrivarden's financial flexibility and capacity the Board of Directors has decided on a new dividend policy and a new debt policy.-- The Board of Directors proposes a dividend of SEK 5.00 per share (6.25), corresponding to a dividend yield of 3.4% for the Class C shares.CEO's messageSince taking office as CEO nearly a half-year ago I have dedicated myself primarily to learning more about Industrivarden and our investments. A great deal of time has also been spent on the review of Industrivarden's strategy. The aim is to improve our asset management model with the goal of maximizing our full potential. This work has been conducted in close dialog with Industrivarden's board of directors. I have also benefited greatly from all of the meetings I have had with shareholders, co-investors and other key stakeholder groups as well as with my co-workers. A few important insights that I have gained from this review are that there are not any direct synergies between the portfolio companies, and that every investment must be evaluated on its own merits. It is also important that we increase our room to maneuver by achieving a lower level of debt over time. Last, but not least, Industrivarden should have a dividend policy that enables a positive cash flow and that gives us flexibility to adapt to external circumstances.Based on my analysis and on my previous, professional experience, I can say that Industrivarden stands on firm ground. We have substantial knowledge and experience as an owner, a long-term asset management perspective, strong positions of influence, and investments with good growth potential. At the same time, there are areas in need of development. Industrivarden's overall strategy - to be a long-term, value-creating asset manager through active ownership in Nordic companies - remains firm. Within the framework of this strategy we are now taking a number of important development steps in order to strengthen our ability to create shareholder value. In some cases it is a matter of more concrete measures, while in others it is about a changed approach that will bear effect over time. In short, it is a matter of bringing about an accelerated pace of change and having less patience with low-performing investments.A stronger IndustrivardenThe development steps that are now being taken are summarized in the following points: We are sharpening our focus on returns and clarifying our active ownershipIndustrivarden invests with a long-term time perspective. This is a natural consequence of the fact that we have chosen an asset management strategy that builds upon involvement through active ownership. Long-termism is a strength that gives us the opportunity to support short-term, difficult development steps that can generate a high return over time. At the same time, it is a challenge to determine when it is time to exit or reduce our holding in a portfolio company in favor of some other alternative. We are now sharpening our focus on returns, which will likely affect the pace of change in the portfolio over time.As an active owner with substantial shareholdings, we have the opportunity to exert influence over our investments. It is therefore important that we become clearer in exercising our ownership role. We are doing this by strengthening our involvement in the board nomination process, among other measures. Industrivarden will be represented by individuals from the Company's board or management. I personally have the benefit of participating in this important work in my position as chair of the nominating committees of Handelsbanken, SCA, Skanska and SSAB. Within the framework of this nominating committee work we are continuously broadening our network with talented individuals who we can nominate for board election. This is having an impact already during the current board nomination season.We will also work in various ways to bring about a faster pace of change in portfolio companies facing substantial challenges. The appointments of new CEOs at Sandvik and Volvo by those companies' boards are good examples of important changes that we support in our role as an engaged owner. Finally, steps have been taken to strengthen Industrivarden's corporate governance structure, among other things by preventing so-called personal constellations. We are strengthening our relationships with other owners and various capital market actorsBy developing our relationships and cooperation with other owners and important market actors, we can increase our ownership influence. We will be a responsive and professional investor that is perceived as being an attractive business partner. This is work that will permeate the entire organization, and for my own part, I have already met a large number of representatives in the areas I mentioned above, and this work is continuing. We are broadening our investment universeIndustrivarden will continue to invest in Nordic, listed companies with good return potential. Our active ownership in companies will build upon a foundation of trust and ownership-based influence. Our share of ownership should therefore amount to at least 10% of the votes. We are now broadening our investment universe by also looking at slightly smaller companies than previously. For new investments, a portfolio company candidate should have a minimum market cap of roughly SEK 3 billion. In cases where we invest in a company with a market cap between SEK 3 billion and SEK 10 billion, an ownership share of 20%-30% of the capital is desirable. The idea is to have a genuine position of influence and that the investment's potential return will make a tangible contribution to the equities portfolio as a whole.Relatively good growth in value in 2015Global growth slowed somewhat in 2015, but remained on par with a year earlier and the IMF's forecast for 2016-2017. Certain, positive signs can be seen in the U.S. and Europe, while emerging markets such as China have shown weaker performance. This also applies for Latin America as a result of falling commodity prices and political uncertainty, among other factors. From a global perspective, falling commodity prices, low productivity growth and geopolitical tensions are a major challenge.Despite the uncertain outlook, the stock market continued to perform well, and in 2015 the Stockholm Stock Exchange gained 7%, after reaching a peak in April, when the market was up 19%. Industrivarden's equities portfolio had mixed performance in 2015, with SCA's stock generating a very good total return of nearly 50%. For other portfolio companies the total return was below the market, and SSAB showed a clear negative return. From a three-year perspective, ICA Gruppen and SCA have generated clear excess returns, while Volvo, Sandvik and SSAB have performed considerably worse than the market. Other portfolio companies have generated a return that is level with the market's return index.During the year, net asset value grew by SEK 0.7 billion to SEK 69.1 billion, or 5% including reinvested dividend, compared with 10% for the total return index. The total return was 15% for the Class A shares and 11% for the Class C shares. The considerably higher growth in the share price during the year than the growth in net asset value points to a sharp narrowing in the discount to net asset value. During 2015 stocks were sold for SEK 1.9 billion, net. The single largest stock sale pertained to Kone, where the entire holding was sold for SEK 1.2 billion.Investments with favorable return potentialDuring 2015 our portfolio companies had varying performance. Handelsbanken, SCA, Ericsson, ICA Gruppen and Skanska are showing favorable, stable performance, while Sandvik and Volvo are undergoing major, strategic change processes. Following its merger with Ruukki, SSAB is developing in the right direction, but is affected by very difficult market conditions.Handelsbanken continues to perform well and is growing organically primarily in the UK. Like other banks, its business is adapting to changed regulations and digitalization in society. During the year Frank Vang-Jensen took office as new CEO, and Par Boman was elected as new Chairman of the Board.SCA is performing very well both operationally and in terms of value. Over several years the company has focused its business, carried out a number of product portfolio changes, and strengthened its positions in its core businesses, hygiene and forest products. A split into two divisions is therefore a natural step in SCA's ongoing development. In 2015 Magnus Groth took office as new CEO, and Par Boman was elected as new Chairman of the Board.The Volvo Group is currently in a process of change and is facing major challenges. This work is being led by CEO Martin Lundstedt, who newly took office during the year and has many years of experience from the heavy automotive industry. An extensive process is now being carried out in an effort to simplify the company's structure, increase profitability and strengthen its presence in key growth markets. Volvo has overall strong market positions and favorable conditions to develop well over time.Significant management changes were also carried out at Sandvik in 2015. Johan Molin was elected as new Chairman of the Board, and Bjorn Rosengren took office as new CEO. The company has been carrying out a transformation process for the past couple of years, but a number of important steps remain before Sandvik will be able to realize its full potential. With a foundation in the company's exceptional products, dedicated employees and strong brand, I feel that Sandvik has good prospects for future value creation.Ericsson is showing an impressive ability to adapt and build strong positions in a rapidly changing industry with continuously shifting technology. Ericsson's strategic partnership with the IP company Cisco is a good example. At the same time, Ericsson must gain a better financial outcome from its positions of strength and increase profitability in several areas of its business.During 2015 ICA Gruppen made several important structural deals, including the divestment of ICA Norway and the acquisition of Apotek Hjartat. The company has an impressive market position and is showing favorable, stable performance.Skanska continued to deliver growth in its profitable construction business and value-creating project development business. At the end of 2015 a new, strategic plan was presented for the coming five years. Skanska's business plan and financial targets have been updated, but is strategic direction remains firm. The company's nominating committee has proposed Hans Biorck for election as Chairman of the Board at the 2016 Annual General Meeting.For SSAB, 2015 largely involved creating continued synergies following its merger with Ruukki as well as improving the efficiency of operations and adapting to the difficult market situation. At its 2015 Annual General Meeting, Bengt Kjell was elected as the new Chairman of the Board.Strong position for competitive returns over timeIndustrivarden is in a favorable position in many respects to conduct a successful, long-term asset management operation with a foundation in active ownership. With a starting point from our strengths, a professional organization and the development steps that are now being taken, I look forward to lead the business to generate competitive shareholder value over time.Stockholm, February 5, 2016Helena StjernholmAttachment:https://cns.omxgroup.com/cds/DisclosureAttachmentServlet?messageAttachmentId=545556 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Estee Lauder Companies Inc. (EL) said that it expects third-quarter net earnings per share, before charges associated with restructuring activities, to be between $0.53 and $0.58. Net earnings per common share, including charges associated with restructuring activities, are projected to be between $0.50 and $0.55. Net sales are forecasted to increase between 2% and 3% versus the prior-year period. Net sales are forecasted to increase between 6% and 7% in constant currency. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect the company to report earnings of $0.76 per share and revenues of $2.65 billion for third-quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The Company expects to take charges associated with restructuring activities in its fiscal 2016 third quarter of about $16 million, equal to approximately $.03per diluted common share. The approximate 4% negative currency impact on the sales growth equates to about $.03 of earnings per share. On a constant currency basis and before restructuring charges, third-quarter earnings per share are expected to decrease 15% to 22%, reflecting the Company's planned strategic investments to fuel growth momentum. Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, 'In the second half of the fiscal year, we will continue to fuel our growth momentum with strategic investments to build upon our strengths, capabilities and infrastructure to further enhance our long-term competitive advantage. We expect to continue to outperform global prestige beauty and we are raising the bottom of our full fiscal year constant currency sales growth estimate to between 7% and 8%. In light of market challenges, expected continued currency headwinds and our decision to invest in sustaining our growth momentum, we are maintaining our forecasted adjusted constant currency earnings per share growth estimate of 10% to 12%, before charges, for the 2016 fiscal year.' Looking ahead for Fiscal 2016, the company projects net earnings per share before charges associated with restructuring activities to be between $3.07 to $3.12. Net earnings per common share, including charges associated with restructuring activities, are projected to be between $2.98 and $3.05. Net sales are forecasted to increase between 4% and 5% versus the prior-year period. Net sales are forecasted to grow between 9% and 10% in constant currency. Net sales adjusting for the effect of the accelerated retailer orders are forecasted to grow between 7% and 8% in constant currency. Wall Street currently is looking for fiscal year 2016 earnings of $3.18 per share on annual revenues of $11.20 billion. Reflecting the strength of the U.S. dollar, foreign currency translation is expected to negatively impact sales by approximately 5%. The Company expects to take charges associated with restructuring activities in fiscal 2016 of between $40 million to $50 million, equal to $.07 to $.09 per diluted common share. The approximate 5% negative currency impact on the sales growth equates to about $.29 of earnings per share. On a constant currency basis and adjusting for restructuring charges and the effect of the accelerated retailer orders, diluted earnings per share are expected to grow between 10% and 12%. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de AB Klaipedos Nafta (hereinafter - the Company), as the operator of the liquefied natural gas (hereinafter - LNG) terminal (hereinafter - the Operator), informs that on the 4th and 5th of February, 2016 the Company has signed Terminal Usage Agreements with UAB "Lietuvos duju tiekimas" (hereinafter - Contract no. 1) and AB "Achema" (hereinafter - Contract no. 2) respectively. According to the Contract no. 1 the following Terminal capacities were allocated to Terminal user UAB "Lietuvos duju tiekimas": 1. LNG regasification capacities: LNG regasification capacities 2.383.478.060 kWh with reference conditions: natural gas upper heating value- 11.90 kWh/nm3, expansion coefficient- 1:578 (m3 LNG/ nm3 natural gas), combustion/measurement temperature -25/0 C, pressure - 1.01325 bar. 2. Terminal capacity usage period: from the 5th of February, 2016 until the 30th of September, 2016. According to the Contract no. 2 the following Terminal capacities were allocated to Terminal user AB "Achema": 1. LNG regasification capacities: LNG regasification capacities 7.238.034.070 kWh, reference conditions: natural gas upper heating value- 11.90 kWh/nm3, expansion coefficient- 1:578 (m3 LNG/ nm3 natural gas), combustion/measurement temperature -25/0 C, pressure - 1.01325 bar. 2. Terminal capacity usage period: from the 15th of February, 2016 until the 30th of September, 2016. Marius Pulkauninkas, Director of Finance and Administration Department, tel. +370 46 391763 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. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Loews Corp.'s (L) fourth-quarter results are due to released before the bell on Monday, February 8. Consensus estimate calls for earnings of $0.78 per share for the quarter, according to analysts compiled by Thomson Reuters. In the previous quarter, Loews reported lower profit, as its major segments suffered a reduction in revenue compared to the previous year. The company operates as a commercial property and casualty insurance company primarily in the United States. While Diamond is mostly being affected by the cyclical downturn in the offshore drilling market, with its conservative capitalization, strong liquidity position and the added bonus that all of its six generation rigs are contracted, I'm confident that the company will be able to weather this cycle and emerge well-positioned for the rebound. Boardwalk's focus has been on developing organic growth projects backed by long-term contracts. CNA's strategy continues to be to deliver improved underwriting margins and its commercial business is the strongest it's been in years. For the third-quarter, net income attributable declined to $182 million from $208 million last year. On a per share basis, earnings were $0.50, down from $0.55 a year ago. On average, 3 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.59 per share. Total revenue for the quarter decreased to $3.169 billion from $3.523 billion in the previous year. Revenue for CNA financial was $2.203 billion, down from $2.374 billion a year ago. Diamond Offshore recorded revenue of $608 million, compared to $737 million in the previous year. Revenue for Broadwalk pipeline was $296 million, slightly up from $279 million, while Loews hotels also reported a higher revenue of $146 million compared to $126 million a year ago. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de VAL-D'OR, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Abitibi Royalties Inc. (TSX VENTURE: RZZ) ("Abitibi Royalties" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a binding Letter of Intent with Frontline Gold Corp. ("Frontline") to acquire an additional 1% net smelter royalty ("NSR") on its Menderes Gold Project, increasing the Company's NSR interest to 2%. The Menderes Gold Project surrounds Eldorado Gold Corporation's Efemcukuru gold mine in Turkey on three sides (Fig. 1). This is the eleventh royalty purchased near an existing mine since the "Royalty Search" was launched on June 9th. Additional 1.0% NSR's Purchased on Menderes Gold Project (Fig. 1) In exchange for the additional 1% NSR on the 6,194 hectare Menderes Gold Project, Abitibi Royalties has paid Frontline Cdn$16,000. Abitibi Royalties will pay the cash consideration from its cash flow. The Company's NSR interest on the Menderes Gold Project now totals 2%. Since launching the Royalty Search on June 9th, eleven royalties near existing mining operations have been acquired (pending TSX-Venture approval for the two royalties highlighted in the news release dated December 14th, 2015), which include royalties surrounding or near Agnico Eagle and Yamana's Canadian Malartic mine in Quebec, Agnico Eagle's Lapa mine in Quebec, Alamos Gold's Young-Davidson mine in Ontario, Eldorado's Efemcukuru mine in Turkey, Goldcorp's Red Lake mine in Ontario, Hudbay's 777 mine in Manitoba, Metanor Resources Bachelor mine in Quebec and New Gold's Rainy River mine in Ontario. A list of these royalties can be found here. The Royalty Search (www.abitibiroyalties.com) is an easy to use website that allows mining companies and prospectors a quick way of accessing capital in this difficult commodities market. Abitibi Royalties is offering to pay the annual claim fees/taxes related to: 1) Existing mineral properties or 2) Staking of new mineral properties. In return for paying these fees, Abitibi Royalties would be granted a NSR on the property. To date, approximately 80 properties have been submitted through the website and 11 agreements have been finalized. Update on Cash Flow To date, the Company's total cash flow in 2016 has totaled approximately Cdn$250,000. Update on Share Repurchase Program Since receiving approval to begin the Company's Normal Course Issuer Bid ("NCIB") on October 6th, 2015, Abitibi Royalties has repurchased approximately 43,000 Common Shares of the Company. The NCIB allows the Company to purchase up to 546,300 Common Shares (representing 5% of the Company's total issued and outstanding Common Shares as of September 21, 2015) over a period of twelve months. The NCIB will expire no later than October 5, 2016. Restricted Share Unit Grants The Company has granted an aggregate of 72,500 restricted share units (the "RSUs") to certain directors, officers and consultants pursuant to the Abitibi Royalties 2015 Share Unit Plan (the "RSU Plan"). The RSU Plan was approved by shareholders at the annual general and special meeting held on June 25th, 2015 and the RSU Plan received final approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V") on July 27th, 2015. Each RSU entitles the holder thereof to receive one common share of the Company and will vest in accordance with the following schedule: (i) 1/4 of the RSUs vested on February 4th, 2016; and (ii) the remaining RSUs will vest equally in annual installments until the third anniversary of the date of grant. Following the aforementioned grant of RSUs, Abitibi Royalties will have 824,269 RSUs remaining for issuance under the RSU Plan. About Abitibi Royalties Abitibi Royalties holds a 3% NSR on the Odyssey North discovery, Jeffrey Zone and the eastern portion of the Barnat Extension and a 2% NSR on portions of the Gouldie and Charlie zones all at the Canadian Malartic mine near Val-d'Or, Quebec. In addition, the Company is building a portfolio of royalties on early stage properties near producing mines and it holds 100% title to the Luc Bourdon and Bourdon West Prospects in the Ring of Fire, Ontario. The Company owns 3,549,695 shares of Yamana Gold and 444,197 shares of Agnico Eagle Mines. Golden Valley Mines and Rob McEwen hold approximately 51.3% and 8.7% interest in Abitibi Royalties, respectively. Forward Looking Statements: This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or realities may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. 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 news release. Contacts: Abitibi Royalties Inc. Ian J. Ball President and CEO 416-346-4680 ian.ball@abitibiroyalties.com IRVING, TX -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- DynaResource, Inc. ("DynaUSA", and "the Company") (OTCQB: DYNR) is pleased to announce that Mineras de DynaResource S.A. de C.V. ("DynaMineras"), the 100% owned subsidiary of DynaUSA and the exclusive operator of the San Jose de Gracia Property in northern Sinaloa, Mexico ("SJG"), is reporting the delivery for sale on February 5, 2016, of an approximate 400 Oz gold contained in concentrates (exact weights in gold and silver oz. to be determined at final settlement). DynaMineras further reports that the Pilot Mill Facility at SJG produced an approximate total of 740 Oz gold contained in concentrates in 25 days of pilot milling operations in January 2016 (exact weights in gold and silver oz. to be determined at final settlement). DynaMineras further reports the below summary of January 2016 operations (test underground mining and pilot mill processing) at SJG, with assays reported according to internal lab reports: a) 3,165 tons mined at San Pablo, including 285 tons of waste material; b) 2,880 mineralized tons mined at San Pablo; c) 11.89 g/t Au; average grade of mined mineralized tonnage; d) 2,521 tons feed material processed; e) 11.3 g/t Au; average grade of mill feed; f) 740 Oz gold produced (exact weights in gold and silver oz. to be determined at final sale); g) 967 tons at 14.62 g/t Au (Inventory of high grade mined tonnage in stockpile at San Pablo; previous mined tonnage inventory plus additional tonnage mined in January); h) 360 tons at 16.14 g/t Au (Inventory of high grade mined tonnage in stockpile at Plant; previous mined tonnage inventory plus additional tonnage mined in January); DynaMineras further reports that the contract mining at San Pablo mine, and test mill runs of the pilot mill facility at SJG are continuing. DynaMineras - Mine Plan and Mill Operations (Pilot Operations) DynaMineras is conducting operations at SJG according to internally developed mine plans for San Pablo (compiled by Pedro I. Teran Cruz using Surpac software), and through the internally designed SJG Pilot Mill facility (consisting of a basic gravity-flotation circuit) which was previously operated by DynaUSA during the 2003-2006 period. There is no preliminary economic assessment report completed for SJG so the precise cutoff grade for underground mining has not yet been determined. The operations are being funded internally by DynaMineras and DynaUSA. The mine plan was developed from the block model of resources as defined in the DynaMexico NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate; and from the analysis of underground mining works conducted in 2003-2006. SJG Ownership DynaResource de Mexico SA de CV ("DynaMexico") owns 100% of the SJG Project. DynaUSA currently holds 80% of the total outstanding Capital of DynaMexico, and, DynaUSA currently holds 100% of DynaMineras. General Manager appointed at San Jose de Gracia Project On February 4, 2016, DynaUSA announced the appointment of Mr. Rene L.F. Mladosich as General Manager of the San Jose de Gracia Project, effective February 1, 2016. (See DynaResource, Inc. news release dated February 4, 2016.) On behalf of the Board of Directors, K.D. DIEPHOLZ; DynaResource, Inc.; Chairman and CEO IMPORTANT CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING CANADIAN DISCLOSURE STANDARDS The Company is an "OTC Reporting Issuer" as that term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 51-509, Issuers Quoted in the U.S. Over-the-Counter Markets, promulgated by various Canadian Provincial Securities Commissions. Accordingly, certain disclosure in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of United States securities laws. In Canada, an issuer is required to provide technical information with respect to mineralization, including reserves and resources, if any, on its mineral exploration properties in accordance with Canadian requirements, which differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") applicable to registration statements and reports filed by United States companies pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As such, information contained in this news release or other disclosure provided by the Company concerning descriptions of mineralization under Canadian standards may not be comparable to similar information made public by United States companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the SEC and not subject to Canadian securities legislation. This news release or other disclosure provided by the Company may use the terms "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". While these terms are recognized and required by Canadian regulations (under National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects), the SEC does not recognize them. United States investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted to reserves. In addition, "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian securities legislation, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, although they may form, in certain circumstances, the basis of a "preliminary economic assessment" as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. U.S. investors are cautioned not to assume that part or all of an inferred mineral resource exists, or is economically or legally mineable. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This News release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27 A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Certain information contained in this news release, including any information relating to future financial or operating performance may be deemed "forward-looking". All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that DynaResource expects to occur, are "forward-looking information". These statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Company's expectations regarding the future growth, results of operations, business prospects and opportunities of DynaResource. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current internal projections, expectations or beliefs and are based on information currently available to DynaResource. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "projects", "potential", "scheduled", "forecast", "budget" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. Certain assumptions have been made regarding the Company's plans at the San Jose de Gracia property. Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of DynaResource and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. Such factors include, without limitation: capital requirements, fluctuations in the international currency markets and in the rates of exchange of the currencies of the United States and Mexico; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; discrepancies between actual and estimated production, between actual and estimated reserves and resources and between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; changes in national and local governments in any country which DynaResource currently or may in the future carry on business; taxation; controls; regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which DynaResource does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses and permits, diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; competition; loss of key employees; additional funding requirements; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; accidents; labor disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and gold bullion losses (and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance, to cover these risks) as well as those risks referenced in the Annual Report for DynaResource available at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and actual results and future events could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. All of the forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements. Although DynaResource believes that the forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on reasonable assumptions, readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking information. DynaResource expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise. For further information on DynaUSA, DynaMineras, and DynaMexico, please visit www.dynaresource.com or contact: Brad J. Saulter DynaUSA V.P. Investor Relations US Telephone: 972-868-9066 K.D. Diepholz DynaUSA Chairman / CEO DynaResource de Mexico-Presidente Mineras de DynaResource-Presidente MONTREAL, QUEBEC and TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (the "Corporation" or "Osisko") (TSX: OR) and Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. ("Barkerville") (TSX VENTURE: BGM) (collectively the "Companies") are pleased to announce that they have closed their previously announced royalty financing and private placement. Sean Roosen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko commented on the transaction: "This is an important milestone in respect to our investment in Barkerville and we look forward to working with the team in place to create additional value at the Cariboo Gold Project." Tom Obradovich, Chief Executive Officer of Barkerville commented: "We are pleased to have Osisko as a strategic investor and technical partner. With this financing now completed, we can work aggressively to resume gold production, define the Cow Mountain Resource and develop additional resources through targeted exploration." Private Placement On November 30, 2015, Osisko and Barkerville announced that they had entered into a binding letter agreement whereby Osisko agreed to purchase 32 million common shares, issued on a flow-through basis (the "Flow-Through Shares") of Barkerville (the "Private Placement"). On December 24, 2015, Osisko and Barkerville announced the completion of the first portion of the Private Placement, whereby Osisko subscribed for 18,750,000 Flow-Through Shares at a price of $0.32 per share for gross proceeds of $6,000,000. Today, the Companies announce that Osisko has purchased an additional 13,250,000 Flow-Through Shares at a price of $0.32 for total gross proceeds of $4,240,000, representing the balance of Flow-Through Shares issuable pursuant to the Private Placement. Osisko now holds 47,625,000 common shares and 4,687,500 common share purchase warrants of Barkerville. Osisko has filed an Early Warning Report in connection with the Private Placement. Royalty Financing The Companies also announce that they have closed the acquisition of a 1.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Cariboo Gold Project for a cash consideration of $25 million, as previously announced on November 30, 2015. In connection with the purchase of this NSR royalty, the Companies have also agreed to negotiate a gold stream agreement ("Gold Stream Agreement") following the completion of a feasibility study by Barkerville on the Cariboo Gold Project. Following a 60 day negotiation period, if the Companies have not entered into a Gold Stream Agreement, Barkerville shall either grant a right to Osisko to purchase an additional 0.75% NSR royalty for consideration of $12.5 million, or make a payment of $12.5 million to Osisko. Appointments and Technical Advisory The Companies also announce that Sean Roosen has been appointed a director and Co-Chairman of Barkerville, and Chris Lodder, currently a director of Barkerville, will serve as Osisko's second nominee to Barkerville's board of directors. Chris Lodder has been appointed as President of Barkervile, and Luc Lessard has been appointed as Barkerville's Chief Operating Officer. Tom Obradovich will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The two companies have entered into a technical advisory agreement whereby Osisko will review data and provide technical advice to Barkerville during the exploration, development and construction of the project. About Barkerville Barkerville is focused on developing its extensive land package located in the historical Cariboo Mining District of central British Columbia. BGM's mineral tenures cover 1,164 square kilometres along a strike length of 60 kilometres which includes several past producing hard rock mines of the historic Barkerville Gold Mining Camp near the town of Wells, British Columbia. The QR Project, located approximately 110 kilometres by highway and all weather road from Wells was acquired by Barkerville in 2010 and boasts a fully permitted 900 tonne/day gold milling and tailings facility. Test mining of the Bonanza Ledge open pit was completed in March 2015 with 91,489 tonnes of ore milled producing 25,464 ounces of gold. Barkerville has completed a number of drilling and exploration programs over the past 20 years and is currently compiling this data with all historical information in order develop geologic models which will assist new management and provide the framework to continue to explore the Cariboo Gold Project. An extensive drill program is currently underway with the goal of delineating additional high grade gold mineralization. About Osisko Osisko is a precious metals royalty company with two world-class gold royalty assets. These two cornerstone assets are a 5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the world-class Canadian Malartic gold mine, located in Malartic, Quebec, and a 2.0-3.5% NSR on the Eleonore gold mine, located in James Bay, Quebec. Osisko also holds a 2-3% NSR royalty on the Island Gold Mine, a 2% NSR royalty on the Lamaque South Project, a 3% NSR royalty on the Malartic CHL property as well as a 2% NSR royalty on the Upper Beaver, Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef gold exploration projects in Northern Ontario. The Company also owns a 9.8% equity interest in Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corporation. Osisko's head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2. Forward-looking statements Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Osisko and Barkerville expect to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur including, without limitation, the realisation for Osisko and Barkerville of the benefits deriving from the entering into the royalty financing, the private placement, the technical advisory agreement and the appointment of new director and senior executives of Barkerville. Although Osisko and Barkerville believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, market conditions and other factors relevant to the strategic decisions of Osisko and Barkerville, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Osisko and Barkerville caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on the forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Osisko and Barkerville believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Contacts: Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. John Burzynski Senior Vice President, New Business Development (416) 363-8653 jburzynski@osiskogr.com Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. Joseph de la Plante Vice President, Corporate Development (514) 940-0670 jdelaplante@osiskogr.com Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. Tom Obradovich President & Chief Executive Officer (416) 361-2511 tobradovich@barkervillegold.com CLAREMONT, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation (OTC PINK: KWBT) reported today that its China regional agent, Kangtan Gerui (Beijing) Bio-Tech Co., Ltd. ("Gerui"), has launched sales of Kiwa's fertilizer products in Hunan province from February 2016. This follows an extended period of testing of the products in the province. Gerui had previously signed an agreement with Hunan Anbang Agricultural Material Chain Co., Ltd. for the marketing of Kiwa fertilizers in Hunan province in September 2015. Pursuant to that agreement, Kiwa's fertilizer products were tested in Hunan province. Based on the new agreement, after completion of testing, Anbang will start purchases of not less than 500 tons of Kiwa's fertilizers per month, with projected annual sales of at least US$3 million per year. Established in 2004, Hunan Anbang A-mop Chain Co., Ltd. is the largest agricultural enterprise in Hunan and a significant dealer in fertilizer products. Kiwa's CEO, Mr. Jimmy Zhou stated that, "The introduction of Kiwa's fertilizer products in Hunan, Hainan, Heilongjiang and other provinces in 2016 is an important step forward for the Company in the implementation of its strategic plan." About Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation We develop, manufacture, distribute and market innovative, cost-effective and eco-friendly bio-technological products for agriculture. Our main product groups are bio-fertilizer, biologically enhanced livestock feed. Our products are designed to enhance the quality of human life by increasing the value, quality and productivity of crops and decreasing the negative environmental impact of chemicals and other wastes. Our businesses include bio-fertilizer and bio-enhanced feed. Kiwa's strategy is to implement increased visibility for marketing Kiwa's current bio-fertilizer products, together with the development of a "green agriculture" safe food platform in China. Our goal is to build market penetration for our Kiwa brand in China's trillion dollar "green" agricultural produce market. For more information on Kiwa and its products, please refer to the Company's website at www.kiwabiotech.com or the Company filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, available for free at www.sec.gov This press release contains information that constitutes forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any such forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results described by the forward-looking statements. Risk factors that could contribute to such differences include those matters more fully disclosed in the Company's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking information provided herein represents the Company's estimates as of the date of the press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause the Company's estimates to change. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking information in the future. Therefore, this forward-looking information should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates of its future financial performance as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. CONTACT: Kiwa Bio-Tech Products Group Corporation Yvonne Wang yvonne@kiwabiotech.com VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - Jeep, the 4x4 vehicles, which has developed a strong bond with its masters, is aggressively on an expansion mode in its 75th anniversary year. Its fans have always been in love with the famous tag 'Go Anywhere, Do Anything.' Jeep was originally designed for U.S. military, and started production in 1941. It is claimed to be the first 4x4 drive vehicle in mass production. The brand is currently manufactured by FCA US LLC, under Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The shares of the original owner American Motors were bought by former Chrysler Corp. in 1987. To boost its global expansion, Jeep started production from Melfi in Italy in 2014 and in the next year, it started rolling out from factories in Brazil and China. The company has invested $1.3 billion in Brazil and has a production capacity of 250 thousand jeeps. The other day, the Jeep brands was introduced to India at the Auto Expo in New Delhi. Jeep wrangler Unlimited, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT models will be available in India, the fifth largest automobile markets in the world, from mid 2016. Fiat India Automobiles in partnership with Tata Motors Ltd will invest $280 million for India expansion. The company plans to reassemble the vehicles at its joint venture facility in Pune, from knock down kits produced in some other location. In last five years, India has recorded 22 percent increase in Jeep sales. Mike Manley, Head of Jeep Brand said, 'Our aggressive expansion in international markets is one of the key drivers behind our current global sales momentum.' Last year, the company that offers extraordinary journeys with a sense of security had recorded sales of more than 1.2 million units across the globe. It hopes to increase the annual production by more than 590 thousand by 2016, and to reach sales target of 1.9 million. Jeep has been recording a steady increase in sales since 2009. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Prime Minister's Office The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, His Excellency, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, will be in Ottawa and Montreal on a working visit, from February 11 to 13. Canada is an active and committed member of the United Nations - not only because the UN provides essential support to millions of people in need - but also because it serves Canada's interests. A more peaceful world is a safer and more prosperous world for Canada, too. During the Secretary-General's visit, Canada will reaffirm its commitment to the UN, to effective cooperation, and to renewed leadership on the world stage. The Prime Minister will highlight Canadian engagement on a number of key global issues, including: climate change and climate finance; the situation in Syria, Iraq, and surrounding countries; refugee resettlement; and the health of women and children around the world. The Prime Minister and the Secretary-General will also meet with Canadian youth and discuss the importance of building diverse and resilient societies that promote peace and broad-based economic growth. Quotes "Secretary-General Ban has made invaluable contributions to the UN, in particular in spearheading real action on climate change and sustainable development, and in bringing global attention to key humanitarian crises. We are honoured that Mr. Ban has accepted our invitation to visit Canada so early in the government's mandate." - Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "If we are to build a more peaceful and prosperous world - a world where our diversity is seen as a strength- then a strong United Nations is essential. Canada is proud of the part it has played in the UN's successes, from protecting human rights to peacekeeping. I want to restore Canada's voice and leadership role at the UN." - Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada Quick Facts -- Secretary-General Ban will also meet with Governor General David Johnston, prior to his visit to Montreal on February 12. -- In Montreal, the Secretary-General will meet with the Premier of Quebec, M. Philippe Couillard, and the Mayor of Montreal, M. Denis Coderre. -- He will deliver an address at McGill University, and meet with the Secretary-General and President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN specialized agency based in Montreal, and other UN staff based in the city. -- Mr. Ban will be accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Ban Soon-taek. Associated Link - Canada and the United Nations This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca. Contacts: PMO Media Relations: (613) 957-5555 CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Modern Canadian investment firm, OmniArch, today announced the launch of the company's Global Fixed Return Bond, a fund that offers a unique and diverse suite of investment opportunities in multiple asset classes. OmniArch has assembled a globally experienced investment team that will manage the fund targeted towards European Bonds, Corporate Bonds, Government Debt, CMBS (Commercial Mortgage Backed Security) and RMBS (Residential Mortgage Backed Securities). "We built this fund so we could provide monthly cash flow for everyday, qualified investors. We select our bonds for their credit worthiness and the ability to provide asset backed cash flow for the fund, while offering a passive income stream with above average returns to our investors. We are finding huge demand for this type of fund given the unpredictable nature of our current economic climate," said Jay Modi, Executive Chairman of the OmniArch Group of Companies. The new fund has a fixed yield to investors at 7.2% interest annually, paid out monthly, and is the second in a signature series of alternative income investment vehicles that OmniArch will be building, launching and offering to Canadian investors. Portfolio Manager for OmniArch, Ron D'Vari commented on the fund today, "Investors want diversity, and OmniArch offers an innovative way for qualified investors to get exposure to a universe of ABS, and asset-based private credit that is generally available only to larger institutions." Chairman, Jay Modi added, "At the core of our company is our client, and as Ron states, our goal is to continually offer investment opportunities that they ordinarily wouldn't have the ability to be part of. We have built our success by developing ROI driven platforms that benefit our partners in the short and long term." OmniArch had previously over subscribed its signature asset backed securities fund raising over $125 Million with over 4000 investors. OmniArch is part of the OmniArch Group of Companies and offers investment opportunities to qualified investors in the exempt market across Canada, and supports multi-language communities including French and Chinese. The company is led by a group of investment specialists, market experts and visionaries, providing finance first solutions with a modern vision and a future-ready perspective. Invest differently. www.omniarch.com. Contacts: OmniArch Sophie Nicolaou 310 367 3901 Sophie.nicolaou@omniarch.com www.omniarch.com TOLEDO, OH -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- To meet the growing demand for pizza in the growing states of South Dakota and Montana, Marco's Pizza franchise is seeking to partner with entrepreneurs who want a slice of the action. How big is the demand for pizza in South Dakota and Montana? The oil boom in North Dakota has added a ton of momentum behind the economies of South Dakota and Montana. The two states are rightly known for their natural beauty, featuring attractions such as Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills and Glacier National Park that bring in millions of tourists every year. With so many folks discovering the natural beauty of South Dakota and Montana, the two states will be a great place to own a pizza franchise for years to come. That kind of growth makes it a perfect location for a Marco's Pizza. Their Ah!thentic Italian-style pizza is fresh-made with delectable cheeses, meats and vegetables, and they have several prime locations in South Dakota and Montana available for franchise partners who want to be part of the nation's fastest-growing large pizza chain. For Marco's Pizza, business in South Dakota and Montana is booming. South Dakotans and Montanans are voting with their wallets and their tastebuds -- ordering fresh-made, Ah!thentic Italian pizza rather than settling for the bland pizza of lesser chains. The Department of Agriculture recently published a study on American eating habits that found that on any given day, 13% of the entire U.S. population is eating pizza. When applied to the South Dakota and Montana area -- population 1.9 million -- that statistic means that more than 245,000 South Dakotans and Montanans are eating pizza every single day. Marco's Pizza prides itself on making the best pizza money can buy. It is hand-made in the Italian tradition, using fresh, never-frozen cheeses, making the dough in stores daily and using only premium meats and vegetables. Founded in Toledo in 1978, Marco's is the only Top 20 pizza chain founded by a native Italian. Marco's has enjoyed stunning growth in recent years and is on pace to open 1,000 restaurants by the end of 2017. The brand's proven business model and sustainable growth have been heralded by the likes of Forbes, Consumer Report, Entrepreneur, Franchise Times and Nation's Restaurant News. "Our franchisees come from a remarkably wide variety of backgrounds. But there's a common thread among our franchisees -- passion for the Marco's product. Almost half of them were Marco's consumers first. They fell in love with our product," said Cameron Cummins, Chief Development Officer for Marco's Pizza. Marco's Pizza is growing faster than the overall pizza industry Marco's Pizza has the fastest unit growth, according to Nation's Restaurant News, which named the beloved pizza franchise as part of its Second 100 List. That list analyzes businesses that are smaller but are focusing on growing around the nation. The publication states that while the pizza industry is mature and growth is limited, Marco's Pizza is the exception. Not only is Marco's growing faster than other pizza franchises, Marco's Pizza sales growth also is higher than any other pizza franchise. The publication reports that Marco's Pizza sales growth is tops for system-wide sales in the Second 100 pizza segment. Marco's Pizza franchise seeks friendly, passionate entrepreneurs in South Dakota and Montana Marco's Pizza wants welcoming, friendly individuals who remember customers' names and are passionate about the product to join the Marco's Pizza franchisee family. The investment required to start a Marco's Pizza franchise is typically about $350,000. The pizza franchise is looking for people who have a net worth of $150,000 and a minimum liquidity of $100,000. To learn more, visit www.marcosfranchising.com. Embedded Video Available Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960313 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960315 Embedded Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960317 Contact Cameron Cummins Chief Development Officer ccummins@marcos.com ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- HeartStitch announced that it has successfully passed its review and audit by the National Center for Expert Review of the Medical Products. Representatives from the NCER flew from Kazakhstan to the HeartStitch facility in California to perform an extensive regulatory audit. This audit consisted of review of the company's manufacturing facilities, personnel training, procedures, and quality and regulatory systems. Additionally the auditors reviewed the product technical files, design history files, CE approvals, and FDA clearances -- as well as clinical data for the NobleStitch EL -- as part of the HeartStitch registration application for approval of the the NobleStitch EL for PFO closure and Cardiac suturing in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The two-day audit was supervised by Professor Anthony Nobles, Chairman and CEO of HeartStitch, and Kazbek Aubakirov, Director of HeartStitch's ROK operations. During the audit HeartStitch staff provided extensive documentation for review, as well as performed product testing and manufacturing processes specifically for inspection by the auditors. At the conclusion of the audit, the final review was presented. The auditors' preliminary review stated that there were no significant observations or warnings, and that they would recommend approval of the facilities as a certified medical device manufacturing facility. Following final review by the NCER, HeartStitch has received its formal approval and certification of its California facility as a medical device manufacturer for the Republic of Kazakhstan. "This audit was different than any previous audit we have undergone, although it covered all of the items we normally see with our European Notified Body and FDA inspections. It also required us to repeat initial product qualification testing so they could see the original testing during the audit. This was something that is not done in traditional audits, and we are proud to say that our extensive systems and repeatable processes performed perfectly, which led to this successful result," commented Edith Ramos, Director of Quality and Acting Director of Regulatory Affairs for HeartStitch's California operations. "This is an important step in getting approval for our products made in California, to be able to be registered here in Kazakhstan. After the successful audit we believe we will receive approval of the NobleStitch EL in the next few days. This is also an important step in setting up our Kazakhstan-based manufacturing facilities, where we will be using the same quality system and procedures, and which we expect to open in this upcoming month," stated Kazbek Aubakirov, Director of HeartStitch's ROK operations. "I was very impressed by the auditors' level of expertise, and their knowledge of US and European standards. Their ability to review broad ranges of technologies with such efficiency would normally be difficult even in one's native language, however they were very detailed and professional in their approach. We are very proud of our relationship in Kazakhstan and this successful audit further strengthens that bond," said Professor Anthony Nobles, Chairman and CEO of HeartStitch and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the West Sachsen University, Zwickau. About HeartStitch HeartStitch Inc. was founded by Prof. Anthony Nobles with the intent of leveraging its technologies in the structural heart marketplace. HeartStitch is focused on the innovative suture-based systems for remotely providing suture repair of structural heart defects and other vascular structures. The HeartStitch TA and HeartStitch MR are FDA cleared for vascular suturing in the United States. The NobleStitch EL is FDA cleared for vascular suturing in the United States and CE Marked for cardio-vascular suturing and PFO closure in the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan respectively. HeartStitch manufactures and markets the NobleStitch EL under and exclusive license. HeartStitch is a registered trademark of HeartStitch, Inc. HeartStitch TA for cardiac suturing and transapical access and closure Covered by or for use under U.S. and international patents including one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 5860990, 6117144, 6245079, 6551331, 6562052, 6733509, 7004952, 7090686, 7803167, 8197497, 8348962, 8469975, 8496676, and 8709020. HeartStitch MR for suturing an anatomical valve Covered by or for use under U.S. and international patents including one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 5860990, 6117144, 6245079, 6551331, 6562052, 6733509, 7004952, 7090686, 7803167, 8197497, 8348962, 8469975, 8496676, 8709020, and 8771296. NobleStitch EL for PFO closure Covered by or for use under U.S. and international patents including one or more of U.S. Patent Nos. 5860990, 6117144, 6245079, 6551331, 6562052, 6733509, 7004952, 7090686, 7803167, 8197497, 8197510, 8246636, 8348962, 8372089, 8469975, 8496676, 8709020, and 9131938. For more on HeartStitch visit www.HeartStitch.com Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960331 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960333 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960335 Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960337 For more information, please contact shareholder representatives: USA Dru Dobbs P. +1 714 427 6348 F. +1 714 427 6343 ddobbs@HeartStitch.com In Kazakhstan Kazbek Aubakirov P. +7 777 5009005 kaubakirov@HeartStitch.com Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recentglobal connectors marketreport. This research report also lists 16 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. Competitive vendor landscape The global connectors market is in a consolidation phase, with major vendors concentrating on M&A to increase their market share and broaden product portfolios. Top vendors hold a majority of the market share, and stood at close to 59% in 2015. Several M&A coupled with organic growth due to factors, such as global manufacturing footprints and broader product offerings, have contributed to market share gains by the major vendors in the market. Lead analyst Anju Ajaykumar, from the Technavio tools and components research team, says, "Although the major vendors dominate the market, there are many smaller companies that focus on a particular product or region. These companies offer various advantages to end-users in the form of more advanced technology with respect to a particular product, competitive pricing, or lead times." The competition for market share is intensifying with connector manufacturers aggressively looking to boost their sales using strategies, including expansion of their product portfolio, diversification of end-user applications, and most importantly, acquisition of smaller companies. One of the trends observed in the market is the shift of manufacturing facilities to Asian countries, prominently China, from developed regions such as Europe and North America. Currently, six of the top ten connector manufacturers globally are based in APAC. Top five global connectors market vendors Amphenol Amphenol is one of the largest manufacturers of connectors worldwide and is headquartered in Connecticut, US. The company serves various industries such as automotive, broadband communications, commercial aerospace, industrial, IT and data communications, military, mobile devices, and mobile networks. In 2014, the company accounted for sales of USD 5.3 billion and was expected to be the fastest growing company in the market with its rapid M&A activities. Molex Molex, a subsidiary of Koch Industries, is a manufacturer of connectors, and headquartered in Illinois, US. The company serves various industries such as telecom, automotive, industrial, and consumer appliances. It manufactures connectors in four categories, namely wire-to-board, board-to-board, wire-to-wire, I/O connectors, FFC/FPC, and sockets. In 2015, the company accounted for approximately 7% of the total market share. TE Connectivity TE Connectivity is one of the largest players in the global connectors market and is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The company manufactures products to connect signal, data, and power, which are used in a significant number of end-user industries, including energy, automation, and other industrial applications segments. The company generated revenue of USD 13.9 billion in 2014. In 2015, the company accounted for approximately 16.4% of the total market share. Delphi Delphi, headquartered in Kent, UK, offers a comprehensive range of design services with advanced technologies, which produces high-performance connection systems at a competitive cost. Delphi Connection Systems manufactures products such as fiber optic connectors, heavy duty connectors, power connectors, and made-to-order connectors. The company has a high market presence in regions such as North America and Europe. Delphi is increasingly investing in R&D to broaden its product portfolio. They invested USD 1.7 billion in engineering and research activities in 2014, making two major acquisitions to boost their position in the high-growth connectors market in the same year. In 2015, the company accounted for approximately 5.7% of the overall market share. Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology trades as Foxconn Technology Group and is headquartered in New Taipei City, Taiwan. They design, manufacture, and sell consumer electronics, communications, and computer products. The company also provides mechanical tooling and engineering services. Hon Hai is a leading manufacturer of products such as PCB connectors, I/O rectangular connectors, IC sockets connectors, and telecom connectors. They also manufacture connectors for the IT sector. The company has a high market presence in APAC, specifically in South-East Asia. Browse Related Reports: Global Valves and Manifolds Market 2016-2020 Industrial Valves Market in the APAC Region 2015-2019 Electric Wires and Cables Market in India 2016-2020 Purchase these three reports for the price of one by becoming a Technavio subscriber. Subscribing to Technavio's reports allows you to download any three reports per month for the price of one. Contact 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/20160205005287/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 630 333 9501 UK: +44 208 123 1770 www.technavio.com SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- NuBryte today announced that its award-winning, easy-to-install smart home and security console, NuBryte Touchpoint, is helping consumers "smart-ify" their homes all across the U.S. The product launched at CES to extremely positive reviews by technology and home design media, and initial customer feedback has been quickly leveraged to further enhance the accessible functionalities of the console. LUCIS is now shipping its console to customers who order online. The NuBryte Touchpoint smart home console includes all of a household's connected needs, such as automated lighting, home security, and an intercom/messaging system. The simple-to-use, streamlined system, which easily replaces a traditional light switch and is compatible with standard dimmable LED, CFL and even incandescent light bulbs, also provides easy-to-understand energy reporting to help people reduce energy usage and save money. Don't feel like getting up to turn the lights off while watching a movie? No problem, adjust the lights from the free app on your iPhone. Did your kids forget to turn off their bedroom lights before coming downstairs? Easy, shut them off from the Touchpoint LED screen on your first floor, or enable motion sensing mode to have them turn off automatically. TWEET THIS: Making your home "smart" is easier than ever with the @NuBryte Touchpoint! smarthome homesecurity DIY gonubryte www.nubryte.com Having to learn and manage separate smart home gadgets that each solve different issues can make even the most tech-savvy users feel overwhelmed. Not to mention the costs associated with purchasing them and paying ongoing service fees. With the NuBryte Touchpoint, users of all ages and technical abilities can access all the features they need on one affordable touchscreen console. Whereas many people are worried they don't have the technology background to manage such a system, the NuBryte Touchpoint was designed with busy families in mind. To help make lives easier, not complicate them. Early customer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. According to Nicole, a NuBryte owner in Kenockee, Michigan, "It's an amazing addition to our home. Kids love it. It's very easy to use. Love feeling safe." Sean in Ann Arbor, who also owns the console commented, "I know a few friends who were interested in trying out some new home automation features but were put off by the high cost of entry. NuBryte is an inexpensive and exciting way to try out home automation that anyone can do." The NuBryte Touchpoint is available for purchase starting at $199 for a single switch-gang unit with no monthly monitoring or maintenance fee. Visit www.nubryte.com for details and to place your order today! About NuBryte NuBryte, a division of Silicon Valley's LUCIS Technologies, builds innovative technologies and products for energy management, smart home, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Its flagship smart home lighting and security console, NuBryte Touchpoint, helps consumers easily upgrade to smart homes. It intelligently dims lights, offers home security and energy reporting, and more, to save energy and lower monthly bills. For more information, visit us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, or www.nubryte.com. Press Contacts Ashley Domescik LUCIS Technologies (NuBryte) 1-408-416-4444 Email Contact Jane Vaden For LUCIS Technologies 1-916-402-4033 Email Contact NEW YORK, NY -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Woops!, the premier macaron franchise, has announced the launch of its dynamic franchise website, woopsfranchise.com, which provides entrepreneurs with a detailed overview of the benefits of investing in a Woops! franchise. The brand's new content-driven franchise website features a variety of information for franchisee candidates who are interested in learning about ownership opportunities with the fast-growing macaron franchise. Prospective Woops! owners can learn more about the business with documentary videos regarding the brand's meteoric rise and can stay up to date with the latest news about Woops!'s growth and development. "We've tested our business model and the quality of our products in New York and the Tri-State area, and what we found was that people really do crave our authentic international pastries," said Raj Bhatt, co-owner of Woops! "Before franchising, it was very important to us to prove the success of our business model. Coming from a background that includes being a franchisee of an espresso bar franchise, I know how important it is to have a business model that is easy to manage, is potentially profitable and is scalable. This is what we have developed with Woops!, and we are very excited to roll out our brand across America." Woops! is the premier macaron franchise The Woops! franchise capitalizes on two important trends: more people are seeking boutique, high-quality neighborhood sources for espresso and artisanal baked goods; and globally popular desserts like the classic French macaron are rising in popularity. The website, woopsfranchise.com, explains the business model behind one of the hottest brands in America's baking industry. The site features interviews with franchisees and the company's management team, and it also reveals startup costs and financial performance information for the macaron franchise. "We provide our customers with the rare experience of getting artisanal European-style food for remarkably affordable prices," Bhatt said. "Our average ticket is anywhere from $8 to $10, which is incredibly affordable for the quality of treats our customers are buying. From the franchisee's perspective, these small tickets add up quickly. The 16 locations we have in New York and the Tri-State area are always busy. These locations are profitable because all of our products are fast-frozen at our artisanal bakery and are quickly shipped to our other locations for a very reasonable cost. Our fast-frozen methods allow us to retain the high level of flavor in our products and provide an on-site, sensory baking experience that our growing base of customers loves." Costs and fees of owning a Woops! macaron franchise Woops! is uniquely poised to capture a sizable share of the $310 billion American baking industry as it rapidly expands across the country. Woops! is actively seeking savvy investors and entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing European-style pastries, sandwiches and coffee to their communities. With investment starting at $52,000 for a macaron kiosk and $168,500 for an in-line bakeshop, Woops! offers investors a low initial investment with a high potential return: the brand's in-line bakeshops generated average sales of $62,000 a month in 2014, and its average kiosk generated $252,000 in sales in the same year. Embedded Video Available Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960414 Embedded Video Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=2960418 Contact Ellie Lippel Vice President of Marketing and Business Development ellie@bywoops.com 866-339-7194 CARPINTERIA, Calif., 2016-02-05 18:30 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worldwide purchases of goods and services generated by credit, debit, and prepaid cards is projected to reach $48.670 trillion by 2024 according to the annual report Global Card Spending in the current issue of The Nilson Report, the top trade journal covering the card and mobile payment industries. These card-present and card-not-present type payments were initiated by credit, debit, and prepaid cards with American Express, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, MasterCard, Mir, RuPay, UnionPay, Visa, and PIN-based EFT system brands.A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e8aa086f-7c27-4351-bd94-215b7 1a50087Cards issued in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to generate $27.768 trillion, or 57.05% of worldwide purchase volume in 2024, up from a 48.67% share of global purchase volume in 2014.The United States held a 25.48% share of global purchase volume for general purpose cards in 2014. That share is expected to decline to 22.37% by 2024, when card spending is projected to reach $10.887 trillion.In Europe, credit, debit, and prepaid cards with general purpose brands accounted for 17.83% of global purchase volume in 2014. This is projected to fall to 14.01% by 2024, but purchase volume will reach $6.820 trillion.Latin America's general purpose payment cards accounted for a 3.58% share in 2014, and market share is expected to fall to 2.95%, reaching $1.435 trillion by 2024. Payment cards issued in Canada held a 2.96% share of the global market in 2014. By 2024, they are projected to fall to 1.96% when purchase volume is expected to reach $0.953 trillion.In the Middle East/Africa region, market share of global purchase volume tied to cards was 1.49% in 2014, and projected to increase to 1.66% of the global total by 2024. Purchase volume is expected to reach $0.806 trillion.About The Nilson ReportThe Nilson Report is the most widely read source of global news and analysis about the card and mobile payment industries, with subscribers in 88 countries. The publication, which does not take advertising or sponsored content of any kind, provides in-depth rankings and statistics on the current status of the industry. David Robertson, Publisher of The Nilson Report and a recognized expert in the field, is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and is regularly quoted in publications worldwide. Contact Lori Fulmer at lfulmer@nilsonreport.com for a complete copy of this report in the current issue of the newsletter.For more information: Lori Fulmer lfulmer@nilsonreport.com 805-684-8800 Technavio's latest semiconductor industry report covers the present scenario and growth prospects for the global semiconductor photolithography equipment market during the period 2016-2020. In this report, Technavio research experts announce their key market highlights for the global semiconductor photolithography equipment market. Their findings include: Global semiconductor photolithography equipment market to reach USD 6.5 billion by 2020 The global semiconductor photolithography equipment market was valued at USD 4.23 billion in 2015 and is expected to grow to USD 6.5 billion by 2020, growing at a CAGR of 9% during the forecast period. "Technological advancements in semiconductor wafer specifications due to miniaturization of electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and the increase in demand for semiconductor devices, especially ICs used in computers, storage, and memory devices, have been driving the growth of the semiconductor photolithography equipment market. The increasing demand for high-definition, mid- and small-size LED panels, used in manufacturing of advanced TVs such as ultra-high definition (UHD) TVs, is also leading to the growing adoption of photolithography equipment for manufacturing semiconductor ICs," said Asif Gani, a lead research analyst for semiconductor equipment at Technavio. Technavio estimates that due to an oversupply of semiconductor ICs in 2016, the capital spending by semiconductor device manufacturers will decrease in 2015 and 2016, which will reduce the overall demand for lithography systems including photolithography equipment. However, the market will bounce back from 2016 onward. It is the cyclical nature of semiconductor industry that will aid the market to recover after 2016. Request sample report: http://goo.gl/Oa85JY Asia-Pacific (APAC) will continue to dominate the market APAC's market share will continue to grow during the forecast period, accounting for 72.14% of the total global semiconductor photolithography market shipments by 2020. The market in the Americas is expected to grow moderately and maintain its market share in the global space by 2020, while market in EMEA is growing at a comparatively lower rate due to the presence of low number of semiconductor device manufacturers in this region. EMEA's share is expected to decline to 5.49% by 2020. "In APAC, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan are the key contributing countries. The presence of a majority of prominent semiconductor foundries, such as TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.), United Microelectronics, and Semiconductor Manufacturing International, is propelling the demand for photolithography equipment in the region. The presence of dominant players in the consumer electronics and mobile devices market, such as Samsung, Sony, LG, Toshiba, and Panasonic, in the region is supporting the demand for semiconductor devices in the area," said Asif. Growing number of fabless semiconductor companies emerging as key trend Semiconductor companies are gradually becoming fabless to minimize costs and other overheads in operations and maintenance of foundries. Semiconductor companies are preferring to focus more on the design and development of their solutions, outsourcing their fabrication and other foundry-related activities to companies that concentrate on manufacturing, assembly, and testing of semiconductor ICs. As a result, the ratio of foundries and fabless companies is 1:11 in the global semiconductor market. The growing number of fabless semiconductor companies leads to an increase in net aggregate demand for semiconductor ICs, which will fuel demand for photolithography systems. Key vendors listed in the report: ASML TEL Applied Materials SUSS MicroTec Browse related reports: Global EUV Lithography Market 2015-2019 Global Semiconductor Packaging and Assembly Equipment Market 2016-2020 Global MEMS Pressure Sensors Market 2016-2020 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/20160205005285/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 WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil prices tumbled Friday, extending weekly losses amid dwindling hopes for an OPEC production cut. Members of the cartel are hesitant to trim output as they fear losing market share, keeping crude oil prices near 12-year lows. Here in the US, Baker Hughes reported the seventh straight weekly decline in U.S. oil rig count. Huge layoffs are expected to continue in the US and Canadian oil sector, with companies unable to deal with such low prices. March oil settles at $30.89/bbl on Nymex, down 2.6 percent for the day, and 8.1 percent for the week. Traders considered a mixed US jobs report that raised concerns about another winter economic lull. Non-farm payroll employment climbed by 151,000 jobs in January compared to economist estimates for an increase of about 188,000 jobs. Still, the unemployment rate still edged lower to 4.9 percent and hourly wages were up. 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. NEW YORK, NEW YORK -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: INF), Brookfield High Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: HHY), Brookfield Mortgage Opportunity Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: BOI) and Brookfield Total Return Fund Inc. (NYSE: HTR) (each, a "Fund," and collectively, the "Funds") today announced that their Boards of Directors declared their monthly distributions. Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. declared a monthly distribution of $0.1167 per share, payable on February 25, 2016 to stockholders of record on February 18, 2016. The ex-distribution date is February 16, 2016. Based on the NYSE closing price of $10.47 on February 4, 2016, the Fund's annualized distribution rate was 13.38%. Brookfield High Income Fund Inc. declared a monthly distribution of $0.075 per share, payable on February 25, 2016, to stockholders of record on February 18, 2016. The ex-distribution date is February 16, 2016. Based on the NYSE closing price of $6.46 on February 4, 2016, the Fund's annualized distribution rate was 13.93%. Brookfield Mortgage Opportunity Income Fund Inc. declared a monthly distribution of $0.1271 per share, payable on February 25, 2016 to stockholders of record on February 18, 2016. The ex-distribution date is February 16, 2016. Based on the NYSE closing price of $14.74 on February 4, 2016, the Fund's annualized distribution rate was 10.35%. Brookfield Total Return Fund Inc. declared a monthly distribution of $0.19 per share, payable on February 25, 2016 to stockholders of record on February 18, 2016. The ex-distribution date is February 16, 2016. Based on the NYSE closing price of $23.49 on February 4, 2016, the Fund's annualized distribution rate was 9.71%. Shares purchased on or after the ex-distribution date will not receive the distribution discussed above. Please contact your financial advisor with any questions. Distributions may include net investment income, capital gains and/or return of capital. The distribution rate referenced above is calculated as the annualized amount of the most recent monthly distribution declared divided by the stated stock price. Any portion of the Fund's distributions that is a return of capital does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." The tax status of distributions will be determined at the end of the taxable year. Brookfield Investment Management (the "Firm") is an SEC-registered investment advisor providing real assets public securities strategies including global listed real estate and infrastructure equities as well as corporate credit and securitized credit. With nearly $17 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2015, the Firm manages institutional separate accounts, registered funds and other investment products for clients, including financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and high net-worth investors. Headquartered in New York, NY, the Firm and its affiliates also maintain offices in Boston, Chicago, London and Toronto. Further information is available on www.brookfieldim.com. Brookfield Investment Management Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, a leading global alternative asset manager with over $200 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2015. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com. Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc., Brookfield High Income Fund Inc., Brookfield Mortgage Opportunity Income Fund Inc. and Brookfield Total Return Fund Inc. are managed by Brookfield Investment Management. The Funds use their websites as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Funds are routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfieldim.com. Contacts: Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. Brookfield High Income Fund Inc. Brookfield Mortgage Opportunity Income Fund Inc. Brookfield Total Return Fund Inc. Brookfield Place 250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor New York, NY 10281-1023 (855) 777-8001 funds@brookfield.com OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- The following matter was voted upon at the Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders of Calian Technologies Ltd. (TSX: CTY) ("Calian" or the "Corporation") held on February 5, 2016 in Ottawa, Ontario. This and other matters voted upon are described in greater detail in the Notice of Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders and Management Proxy Circular dated December 3, 2015. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are set out below. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- % Votes Name of Nominee Votes For % Votes For Votes Withheld Withheld ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenneth Loeb 4,501,390 99.66% 15,507 0.34% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Tkachuk 4,471,567 99.00% 45,330 1.00% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ray Basler 4,501,890 99.67% 15,007 0.33% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Richard Vickers 4,497,412 99.57% 19,485 0.43% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- George Weber 4,500,490 99.64% 16,407 0.36% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kevin Ford 4,501,090 99.65% 15,807 0.35% ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- About Calian Calian employs over 2,500 people with offices and projects that span Canada, U.S. and international markets. The company's capabilities are diverse and include the provision of business and technology services to industry and government in the health, training, engineering and IT services domains as well as the design, manufacturing and maintenance of complex systems to the communications and defence sectors. Calian's services are delivered through two divisions. The Business and Technology Services (BTS) Division is located in Ottawa. This division delivers outsourcing services for a variety of technical and professional functions and provides health services to numerous domestic customers. Our strength lies in understanding clients' needs, recruiting highly qualified personnel who understand and meet those needs, and then effectively managing those personnel within our customers' framework. Calian's Systems Engineering Division (SED) located in Saskatoon plans, designs and implements complex communication systems for many of the world's space agencies and leading satellite manufacturers and operators. SED also provides contract manufacturing services for both private sector and military customers in North America. For further information, please visit our website at www.calian.com, or contact us at ir@calian.com Contacts: Kevin Ford President and Chief Executive Officer 613-599-8600 Jacqueline Gauthier Chief Financial Officer 613-599-8600 KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 02/05/16 -- FISSION URANIUM CORP. (the "Company" or "Fission") (TSX: FCU)(OTCQX: FCUUF)(FRANKFURT: 2FU) is issuing this news release to clarify certain of its disclosure. Non-compliant disclosure of Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") (February 5, 2016) - The Company disclosed the results of the PEA of its Patterson Lake South Property ("PLS") in its January 27, 2016 Corporate Presentation ("Presentation") and in its September 17, 2015 CEO Corner article ("CEO Article"). Both the Presentation and the CEO Article were previously available on the Company's website and did not include the proximate cautionary language and details required by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Accordingly: 1. The Company wishes to remind investors that the PEA is considered preliminary in nature, based, in part, on inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves; 2. The Company also notes that the PEA considers the PLS project as a stand-alone mine and mill operation, which includes development and extraction of the R00E and R780E zones (Triple R deposit) and that the PEA study is based on a number of qualifications and assumptions including the following (all values in C$ unless otherwise noted): Physicals: -- Three years of pre-production and 14 year mine life, processing nominally 1,000 tonnes per day (350,000 tonnes per year) -- Total Tonnes Processed: 4.8 million tonnes at 1.00% U3O8 average grade; open pit mining of 1.56 million tonnes at 2.21% U3O8 -- Underground mining of 3.25 million tonnes at 0.42% U3O8 -- Process recovery of 95%, supported by metallurgical testwork -- Production of 100.8 million lbs U3O8; an average of 13 million lbs U3O8 per year for 6 years, followed by an average of 3 million lbs U3O8 per year for 8 years Revenue: -- Long term uranium price of US$65 / lb U3O8 -- Exchange rate of 0.85 US$ / C$1.00 -- Gross revenue of $7.71 billion, less Saskatchewan gross revenue royalties of $556 million -- Less product transportation charges of $34 million -- Net revenue of $7.12 billion Operating Costs -- Average OPEX of $16.50/lb (US$14.02/lb) U3O8 over the life of mine -- Unit Operating Costs of $346 per tonne processed. Combined Mining $154 per tonne processed -- Processing: $114 per tonne processed -- Surface and G&A: $78 per tonne processed -- Operating cash flow of $5.45 billion Capital Costs -- Pre-Production capital costs of $1.1 billion -- Open pit mining $363 million (includes dyke, slurry wall, and overburden removal) -- Process plant $198 million -- Infrastructure $117 million -- Indirects $209 million -- Contingency $208 million -- Sustaining capital costs of $189 million (includes completion of overburden stripping, all underground mine capital costs, and tailings dam lifts) -- Reclamation and closure cost of $50 million -- Cash flow from operations of $4.12 billion Investors are reminded that while these qualifications and assumptions were determined to be reasonable at the time of the PEA report they are based on preliminary information and the actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed in the PEA. 3. reference the comparative post-tax values from the PEA report noted below: -- base case pre-tax Net Present Value ("NPV") of $1.81 billion, post-tax NPV of $1.02 billion (10% discount rate) -- base case pre-tax Net Cash Flow over the proposed mine life of $4.12 billion, post-tax Net Cash Flow of $2.53 billion -- base case pre-tax Internal Rate of Return ("IRR") of 46.7%, post-tax IRR of 34.2% -- pay back estimated at 1.4 years (pre-tax), pay back at 1.7 year (post- tax). since disclosing pre-tax economics without also including the comparative post-tax values may substantially overstate the value of the project. The Company's September 3, 2015 press release announcing the details of the PEA report (the "PEA Release") included a quotation from Ross McElroy, President COO and Chief Geologist for Fission. That quotation is retracted since it might imply that the Company had a feasibility-level study rather than a PEA. Similar concerns have been identified with certain words used in the CEO Article and on the Company's website content. Given the preliminary nature of a PEA that is based upon inferred mineral resources, these words and statements might be potentially misleading. Accordingly the words and statements have been removed from the Company's website. Investors are reminded that the Company's PEA is preliminary in nature and is based on inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. Non-compliant disclosure of Mineral Resources The Presentation also disclosed mineral resources without including the following disclosure: 1. a caution that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that the results presented in the PEA will be achieved; and 2. a reference to the Company's September 14, 2015 PEA report entitled "Technical Report on the Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Paterson Lake South Property, Northern Saskatchewan Canada" which is filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and which includes: -- a reference to the July 28, 2015 effective date of the mineral resource estimates; -- key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resources; -- any known legal, political, environmental or other risks that could materially affect the development of the mineral resource. Reporting Gross In-Situ Metal Value Slide 14 of the Presentation disclosed gross in-situ metal value on a gold equivalent basis. This disclosure is hereby retracted and the public should not rely upon such disclosure. Disclosure of gross metal value is restricted under NI 43-101 because it does not take into account the operating and capital costs, recovers, smelter costs and other factors relating to the potential mining extraction and recovery of metals which are described in the full PEA report. The Presentation, CEO Article and certain other disclosure have been removed from the Company's website. The technical information contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and has been reviewed by Ross McElroy, P. Geol. President and COO for the Company, a qualified person. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Ross McElroy, President and COO Cautionary Statement: Certain information contained in this press release constitutes "forward-looking information", within the meaning of Canadian legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur", "be achieved" or "has the potential to". Forward looking statements contained in this press release may include statements regarding the future operating or financial performance of Fission including the net present value, metal recoveries, capital costs, operating costs, production, rates of return and payback which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties which may not prove to be accurate. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in these forward-looking statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market conditions and other risk factors listed from time to time in our reports filed with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made as of the date of this press release and the Company and Fission Uranium disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Contacts: Fission Uranium Corp. Rich Matthews Investor Relations TF: 877-868-8140 rich@fissionuranium.com www.fissionuranium.com 21 Investimenti, the Italian branch of private equity firm 21 Partners, closed its third fund, at 343m. 21 Investimenti III, which surpasses the initial target of 300m, received support from existing institutional investors as well as key new partners, both from Europe and the US. According to a note, more than half of the capital was raised outside of Italy. The fund focuses on making control growth investments in Italian SMEs with enterprise values ranging from 50m to 200m. It has already completed two investments in: SIFI, an Italian provider of innovative pharmaceutical treatments, instruments and equipment for eye care and Poligof, a provider of backsheet films for hygienic disposable products. Since its creation in 1992, 21 Investimenti has invested in 37 companies and exited 27. Based in Treviso and Milan, it is now part of 21 Partners, a European private equity group led by Alessandro Benetton and Gerard Pluvinet, which invests in companies based in France, Italy, Switzerland and Poland. FinSMEs 05/02/2016 Farmdrop, a London, UK-based online marketplace that allows consumers to buy fresh food direct from local farmers, raised 3m in funding. The round was was led by Atomico with participation from JamJar Investments, Jonathan Goodwin, Jason Goodman, Alex Chesterman, and Quentin Griffiths. The company intends to use the funds to grow its customers and producer base. Led by Ben Pugh, Farmdrop leverages a tech platform to allow people to select food from over 70 farmers and producers and place their order. Producers then prepare the order and the company delivers the food to peoples home via little electric vans. The company currently offers home delivery across most of London, for free for orders over 25. FinSMEs 06/02/2016 Lamudi, a real estate network for the emerging markets, raised 29m (approx. $31.4m) in funding. Backers included Asia Pacific Internet Group, which is a joint venture of Rocket Internet and Ooredoo; Holtzbrinck Ventures and current investor Tengelmann Ventures. The company will use the funds to grow its operations across Latin America and Asia. Launched in October 2013 by Managing Director Paul Philipp Hermann and Rocket Internet, Lamudi is a global real estate portal operating exclusively in the emerging markets offering sellers, buyers, landlords and renters a secure platform to find or list properties online. It is currently active in nine countries across Asia and Latin America (Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Colombia and Peru). In February 2015, the company had raised 16m in funding to boost its Latin American and Asian operations and Asian operations. FinSMEs 05/02/2016 Maruti Suzuki unveiled the Ignis concept compact SUV at the 2016 Auto Expo. The Ignis is based on the iM-4 concept that was showcased at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and was showcased in India for the first time. The Maruti Suzuki Ignis concept features a huge grille with squared off projector headlamps with LED DRLs. A single slat chrome strip runs across the grille with the Suzuki logo bisecting it. The bumper gets a large dam with fog lamps surrounded by chrome bezels. The wheel arches are beefed up and get plastic cladding to add to... Indian actor Irrfan Khan has refused a part in a Steven Spielberg film because he didnt find enough meat to explore himself as an actor. I felt the character did not have enough meat to explore myself as an actor. Hence, I said no Else who wouldnt want to work with Steven Spielberg? Irrfan said in a statement. The Slumdog Millionaire and Life of Pi actor was offered work in a Spielberg film, which also stars Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson. Times Of India reports that Irrfan Khan is not short on offers from Hollywood, despite turning down the Spielberg offer. Sharing that it is more than a dilemma for him to choose or deny films, Irrfan said: I am at a stage in my career where I am trying my best to surprise my audience with every role and give them some. I am hoping the future holds something so path-breaking and so empowering for me as an artiste that no will not be an option. Irrfan's small but shining Hollywood filmography includes films like 'The Namesake' and 'Jurassic World'. The 49-year-old actor will be next seen with Tom Hanks in 'Inferno', says PTI. With IANS inputs Adani Power Ltd will soon sign a deal to set up a $2.2 billion coal-based power plant in Jharkhand, two people with knowledge of the matter said, as its controlling shareholder aims to nearly double capacity this decade. Following the news breakout, the company's shares rose to as high as Rs 26.40 intra-day and eventually ended 3.8 percent higher on BSE at Rs 26.15, with strong recovery in broader markets also aiding the stock performance. The utility, controlled by billionaire Gautam Adani, plans to build two power units with a total capacity of 1,600 megawatts (MW) and construction could begin by December, one of the people said, adding there is a meeting scheduled in Jharkhand next week and a deal would be sealed this month. The other person, a Jharkhand government official, said most government approvals were in place already. An Adani Power spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The electricity generated from the Jharkhand units would be sold to power-deficient Bangladesh, where Gautam Adani is trying to expand as part of his goal to make the group a multinational energy and infrastructure conglomerate. Flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd, which is fighting legal challenges to start a $7 billion coal mine near the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, wants to take its electricity generation capacity in India to 20,000 MW this decade through Adani Power. Reuters Success Quotient is a weekly feature that appears every Friday on Firstpost, which looks at the pains and joys en route to success for a head honcho - whether a CEO, MD or an entrepreneur. The column looks at the ideas that helped launch a company, its highs and lows. When Naiyya Saggi, Co-Founder and CEO of the Mumbai-based BabyChakra (www.babychakra.com) was in college, her mother was worried about her future. My mother wondered what I would make of my life, she says laughing. One of the reasons was that her academic records were not exactly in shining order when in school. Like school students of her age who are not clear about their goals which keep shifting as brighter choices come their way, Saggi was unclear what she wanted to take up as a career choice. It was then that she heard interesting stories about the National Law School (NLS), Bangalore in the city, where her sister was studying. Hearing the captivating stories about law and its possibilities nudged Saggi towards studies in law. I liked to hear of my sisters experiences at the NLS. My mother was worried as she felt I might regret going to NLS, says Saggi. Not one to give in to family or peer pressure, Saggi describes herself as 'stubborn' and says when something interests her enough, she is committed to it. So it was to Bangalore that she went after clearing the `tough' entrance exams. Getting focus Saggi found that she enjoyed academic life for the first time ever. That spurred her to excel in whatever she did at the Law School. I had a wonderful training platform at the NLS. The law is a living, breathing embodiment. My professors at school would tell us that there is law, but it is dictated by context. What it gave me was the courage to say what was written was not the gospel. Even in the field of law. That was the beautiful part of studying at NLS, says Saggi. The other 'exciting' part of being at the NLS was the opportunity it gave Saggi to intern with important people and platforms like with former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan and in the War Tribunal at the International Bar Association, London. "Law gave me a perspective on how deeply I could engage with issues. It was satisfying to solve problems of clients who approached me, recalls Saggi. The NLS gave a shape to her future career. She had an opportunity to work with Pratham, an NGO, where she worked on rehabilitation of slum kids and women. Interacting with people closely at the NGO, clients in the legal field and with legal luminaries during her internship, Saggi realised that whatever role she chose in the future, it had to positively affect a large number of people. I realised that I wanted to do something that would impact a generation. I was searching for a purpose to my life for long and I seized upon the realisation, says Saggi. With clinical precision, she outlines what she had to do to get to her dream. Will and determination alone would allow me to do something different that would impact on scale, she says. Saggi, whose future her mother feared for, bagged a JN Tata and Fulbright scholarship to Harvard Business School. Harvard was a dream for me and remains so for most people I know. It is multi-cultural. I enjoyed academics here, too, she says. At HBS, Saggi worked on health care interventions and how to scale it up. Entrepreneurship wagon Back home after Harvard, Saggi was grappling with changes in the Indian technological space. When she moved to the US for studies, mobile applications were unheard of in India. However, the scene changed dramatically when she returned. Mobile apps had become common parlance. In trying to figure out the correct method for launching in the new India she saw,Saggi decided to meet people who had built verticals and scaled businesses. I wanted to know what had worked for them and what did not. Those interactions and information was quite valuable on hindsight, says Saggi. Around that time, it was by chance that Saggi met with an old friend, Mohit Kumar, her co-founder at BabyChakra at an accelerator program BabyChakra was part of. An IIT graduate from Delhi, Co-Founder, Kumar had had his own start-up which was later acquired. Meeting Mohit was serendipitous. We got talking and decided to build on BabyChakra. With friends who were new mothers complaining of lack of knowledge of the various facilities and healthcare available for their babies, Saggi and Kumar decided to do their own research in the area and realized the sector was ripe for disruption. BabyChakra was launched in December 2014. Chakra in BabyChakra means a cycle or a 'life cycle', as Saggi informs, around which all services for babies and baby care is available on the platform. To the founders surprise and joy, they had interested investors like Mumbai Angels and Singapore Angel Network early on. When we got funded, we used the funds to build and launch an app in mid-December 2015. There have been 7500 dowloads in less than one month already. There is a very high engagement level, Saggi says. BabyChakra is a parenting and child-care platform. The market size is at a conservative $37-30 billion and Baby Chakras share in it is 10-15 per cent, reveals Saggi. Her dream that she now works towards is to make Baby Chakra a 'must app' that every parent would have on their phones. The revenue model is two-fold through commissions and transactions. The company will be launching a service app soon. "Everyday we see over 250 calls being made through our platform to businesses we profile. From February 2016, BabyChakra will get into payment mode whereby customers can buy services and products on the platform. BabyChakra gets users from over 60 cities in India and also the Indian diaspora from Middle East Asia and South East Asia. Work-life balance Saggis husband works for a consulting firm. What helps us in the marriage is that both of us have a larger vision to lead our lives. My husband understands my dreams. That makes for a good work-life balance, she says. It should not be surprising to know that she is buried in her spare time with Peter Thiels Zero to One: Notes on Startups. "I read a lot about technology and the latest advances," she says. I also make time to help new entrepreneurs and understand their issues. If I ever make a lot of money, I would like to help other start-ups. Painting is another hobby that Saggi pursues. She does oils on canvas. Painting is very meditative for me and it takes a couple of months to finish a portrait," she says. Saggi's mother still can't stop worrying about her though. On the few occasions in the week that she gets Saggi on the phone, her question is: What is new at BabyChakra? That question has no new answers every week and so I try and avoid that, says Saggi laughing. Bengaluru - Former Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata on Thursday hoped Prime Minister Narendra Modi succeeds in bringing investment to India as the nation needs a refreshment of new manufacturing companies which would be a real shot in the arm in terms of supply-chain and research. "I hope Prime Minister Narendra Modi is successful in bringing companies to India because the country does need a refreshment of new manufacturing companies which will be a real shot in the arm in terms of supply-chain and research in India," he told reporters in response to a query on 'Make In India Slogan' here. Tata further said people would come to India if it makes business sense for them, either in terms of cost or closeness to the market and raw material and fair prices. "So the real test comes when they are making their due diligence to decide whether India is the place to invest, not just on the basis of Mr Modi's promise," he said. Tata said government should step in and support startups at this point of time. But the question was how justifiably it would turn down or support these small ventures. "At this point of time, the government does need to step in and support (the startups). The question is how they will support and how justifiably they may take decision on whom they support and whom they turn down," he said in response to a query. Tata was here to attend Invest Karnataka Global Investors' Meet. Tata believes that the government's support to startups is promising, which hasn't been spelt out totally as yet. "It is a good thing for startups' industry. It is not going to provide all the answers, but it is going to provide some support which is worthwhile," he said. Tata said there would be some failures and successes, but hopefully there would be less failures. "I think we need to accept there will be some successes and some failure in anything we do. Hopefully we will have less failures," he said. Tata said in India there was no venture capital community earlier like in the US and its presence now in the country is a good development. PTI Last year, Snapdeal had distanced itself from actor Aamir Khan after his statement on intolerance, and has now decided not to renew the contract with the Bollywood actor, reports said. According to The Economic Times, the year-long endorsement ends later this month. Snapdeal's announcement comes almost a month after Incredible India, the signature advertising campaign for the tourism ministry to promote India globally, dropped the actor as its brand ambassador. The decision, at that time, was attributed to Khan's remark on "rising intolerance in India", but the government tried to distance itself from that controversy. Khan, as we all know, has been the target of an evolving social media revolution which started with his statement on intolerance when he said that his wife Kiran Rao had considered leaving India because of rising intolerance. Analysts and columnists said for a thinking man like Aamir, who wears his Lagaan-esque patriotism on his sleeve, such a statement was a result of poor timing and poor judgment. That Snapdeal is preparing to dump him as a brand ambassador, in such times, does not come as a surprise, but this has nothing to do with the brand's ideology or stand on the intolerance debate. Prathap Sulthan managing partner of Bang In The Middle, a Gurgaon-based advertising agency said, "I think the brand is being harsh on its brand ambassador. While it is good to go with the popular, the brand completely ignored the goodness that the actor is known for... It could have shown great character if it had stood by Khan." But why should they? As a brand, the decision makes complete sense. Khan is the brand ambassador, and if the ambassador gets himself enmeshed in a controversy which is as sensitive as this one, it hurts the brand. The company faced a massive backlash on social media for having him as the face of the brand, and it had stopped using him in the 'dil ki deal' ads after the controversy came to light. Snapdeal (or any other brand for that matter) cannot afford bad press. The decision is a purely business decision and not a personal one. So intense was the backlash that arch rival Flipkart too thought it wise to point out there was no connection between the brand and the personal views of its ambassador. Sachin Bansal, the co-founder and CEO of Flipkart, had tweeted at the time: This is a flawed logic. Brands don't buy into brand ambassadors personal opinions. @snapdeal shouldn't face this https://t.co/Y1sPvnXQgs Sachin Bansal (@_sachinbansal) November 25, 2015 It should be borne in mind, however, that Khan's brand value is what put Snapdeal up there with e-commerce leaders in India like Flipkart and Amazon. Prior to Aamir's dil ki deal, Snapdeal hardly had any prominence in the market, apart from the occasional entry to the spam folder of your email. In fact, reports said that a wave of uninstallations and mass-downvoting of Snapdeal's Android app by people protesting against Aamir's comments about intolerance ironically led to a spike in the app's ranking. According to app data aggregator AppAnnie.com, on 23 November 2015, Snapdeal was ranked No 25 in India among all applications, and No 4 in shopping applications. Over the next three days, despite the furore over the actor's comments, the app moved up to No 20 in India, and No 3 among shopping applications. Money can't buy that kind swift a leap in market standings. That being said it still makes zero business sense to retain a star, even as enterprising as Khan, as brand ambassador when a controversy as sensitive as this surrounds him. The e-tailer is incurring losses which shot up five-fold as the Delhi-based company doled out discounts to grab buyers and acquired companies at hefty valuations. According to this article in The Times of India, Hong Kong Stock Exchange showed that Snapdeal's losses rose from around Rs 270 crore in March 2014 to nearly Rs 1,350 crore in March 2015 as the company shelled out $25 million (over Rs 150 crore) a month as discounts and marketing expenses. Even though the e-commerce market in India might be growing, Snapdeal is feeling the heat of rising debt. Keep this as the backdrop and sample this: According to industry estimates, Snapdeal was paying an endorsement fee in the range of Rs 15-20 crore to Khan when they roped him in. In fact, he is one of the most expensive 'brands' to have if this report is believed. Associated with the 'quality that never fails', Khan's policy of doing two to three endorsement deals per year which is similar to his strategy of making and acting in select films over a specific time period helps him charge a premium and the actor trumps Shah Rukh Khan when it comes to endorsement fees. In contrast with Mr Perfect, Shah Rukh charges Rs 1 crore per endorsement. It makes no sense for a loss-making company to have a costly brand ambassador, particularly one who is bringing home bad press. And this practice is not an unheard one. When an ambassador says or does things in public that hurt the brand, he/she gets dropped. Take for example, Lance Armstrong. After the news broke in 2012 that he had been taking performance-enhancing drugs, the athlete didn't just lose seven Tour de France jerseys, he also lost lucrative sponsorships with Nike, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Trek Bicycle Corp, FRS and Honey Stinger. And it took less than a week for the companies to do it. The winner of the most Olympic gold medals in history, Michael Phelps found himself in hot water in 2008 after a photo emerged of him smoking a bong at a party. He lost a sponsorship with Kellogg's, which chose not to renew its contract. US departmental store Macy's joined Univision, NBC and a host of other companies in dropping business magnate and US President candidate Donald Trump in light of his comments about Mexican immigrants where he characterised them as rapists and drug dealers. Brands are agnostic about their ambassador's personal life and ideologies. But when the personal starts messing with the business and the brand itself, it is best to cut one's losses. After all, it's all business, not personal. By Darshana Mitra What is racism? Talking heads have spent a lot of time debating this over the last couple of days, with some claiming that race opens a Pandoras Box, and others claiming that such a box needs to be opened. But what is this racism experienced by students from African countries in Bengaluru? When accused of racism, we are often quick to respond that we are not personally prejudiced. However, racism need not only be individual it can also be systemic, as when institutions and structures discriminate against persons on the basis of their race. How does this work? In light of the attack against four Tanzanian students in Bengaluru, lets take a look: There are around 7,000 students from different African countries studying in Bengaluru. Most of these students study in the innumerable private colleges that have been set up in the city. All of these colleges charge foreign students much higher fees than they do Indian students, and many of these colleges have a large base of foreign students who pay them huge sums of money in the hopes of a good education. Students are often approached in their home countries by agents of these colleges, who get a cut from the fees receives by the colleges. Agents approach students, and convince them to come and study in India. Students often make a down-payment in their home country, and they are then given an admission letter, on the basis of which they apply for a student visa. Their problems start once they come to India. Firstly, after they come to India, students are constantly pestered and harassed by colleges to pay money over and above the fees. This could be in the form of additional semester fees, blazer fees, computer fees or simply attributed to a change in exchange rates. When students are unable to pay this money, they are harassed by college authorities. This harassment can be in the form of withholding their examination hall tickets, or worse, withholding bonafide certificates. Bonafide certificates are issued by colleges certifying that the student is indeed studying in the college. Every foreign national requires a residential permit over and above a student visa, and the residential permit for students is often issued yearly, on the basis of the bonafide certificate. Therefore, if the student does not have a bonafide certificate, the student will not be able to extend his/her residential permit. As a result, he/she will be guilty of an offence under the Foreigners Act, and may be arrested. Students are blackmailed to ensure that they pay huge amounts of money to the colleges. If a student is unable to pay, and his bonafide certificate is withheld, as a result of which his residential permit expires, then the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), which is the visa and residential permit issuing authority, will force the student to take an exit visa and leave the country. Never mind the fact that the students inability to renew his/her visa is because of the cheating and harassment from the college. There have been cases where students passports have been illegally taken by the college, as a result of which their visas and residential permits have expired, and consequently they have been arrested for overstay. Secondly, in many cases, the facilities in the college do not match those promised in the prospectus. Buildings look different, laboratories are non-existent, and the faculty is often transitory and almost always under-qualified. Students often try complaining to the parent university, but the complaints of a handful of students carry little water with university authorities. The deaths of the three medical students in Villupuram, Tamil Nadu should tell us about how little colleges and universities care about the quality of education. These students have spent large sums of money to come to India, and often, on seeing the lack of facilities, they wish to change colleges. But for that, they need a no-objection certificate from the college in which they are enrolled. Colleges routinely refuse to issue NOCs to students, or charge them exorbitant sums of money for that simple certificate. More importantly, they withhold the original certificates of the students, and refuse to return them. What does a student do if he/she is being harassed by a college? Maybe, go to the police? But, as the students of Sree Omkar College of Commerce experienced in 2014, the jurisdictional police are often hand-in-glove with college authorities, and may threaten the students with arrest. The student may approach the FRRO, but the FRROs domain extends only to visas and residential permits, and not the actual lives of foreign students. They can approach the concerned university, and wait for months while the bureaucratic machinery churns out ineffectual stock responses to their complaints. Many students manage to avoid all of this and complete their courses. Sometimes they may have a couple of back-papers that they expect to finish in the following year. But when they approach the FRRO for a visa extension so that they can finish their back-papers, they are told to leave, and come back on a new visa. Alternatively, they are told to get an undertaking from their colleges that they shall not engage in any illegal activities while in India. No college will ever give such an undertaking. Why? Can you think of a single college that will vouch to the police for what their students do outside college hours? On one occasion, students were forced to approach the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission, which fortunately passed an order stating that no student can be forced to produce any such undertaking for visa extensions. All students who approached the FRRO subsequently went armed with a copy of this order. This is what systemic racism looks like when governmental and non-governmental institutions operate together to deny students from African countries their rights. This is deliberate to the extent that students from Africa are simultaneously seen as easy targets of exploitation, and as persons prone to criminal activities and the breaking of law and order. This coincidence in different forms of harassment is not reported by students from any other part of the world. Neither are students from any other part of the world so vulnerable to violence. In July 2015, six Nigerian girls were attacked by a bus conductor. One of the girls was badly injured, but the police, instead of taking her to the hospital, made her and the other girls sit in the police station for hours, while they took the bus conductors statement. Subsequently, the girls were charged with assault, despite there being no injuries to the conductor. The girls spent two nights in custody before being released on bail. They are yet to complete their education, and are currently running from pillar-to-post to get their bonafide certificates so that they can get their visa extended. The reaction of the state to these incidents is two-fold complete denial or victim-blaming. Students who go to the police to complain are routinely lectured on the criminal proclivity of all Africans. What about the drugs, they ask? What about the loud music, the fast cars and the drinking? Never mind that in March 2015, eight Nigerian students were brutally beaten up by a mob in Kothanur, Bengaluru. In August 2015, a student from the Ivory Coast was refused cigarettes by a shopkeeper, and when he protested, the student was beaten up by locals. In all of these cases, arrests were made only after the intervention of lawyers and activists. Most importantly, when students of African countries complain of racism, they are not simply referring to racial slurs and racially-motivated attacks. They are referring to the systems that enable their exploitation, that render them vulnerable to the police, that obscure their difficulties, and at the end of the day, make them convenient targets for misplaced anger. Yet, when the state encounters these incidents, its unwavering response is to deny the underlying racism. As if structures do not systematically deny justice to an entire group of students simply because of the colour of their skin. As if in the instance that a Kannadiga had hit and killed a woman on the street with his car, a mob would have stopped the next car driven by a Kannadiga, burnt it, and chased and beaten the occupants. Racism, like casteism, thrives on its denial and the more the state denies, the greater the impunity it grants to all these actors to continue exploiting and harassing these students. Everybody makes money from this thriving economy of education. The agent gets a cut from the fees, the colleges receive payments worth thousands of dollars. Local landlords charge the students much more than they charge Indian tenants. Rickshaw-drivers regularly overcharge African students. However, no one intervenes when students are harassed and abused. Like the two policemen in the case of the Tanzanian students, everyone prefers to stand back, and occasionally shove a student back into the mob. This is what racism looks like: The systematic exploitation of students from African countries, from the point of entry, to the point of forceful exit. New Delhi: A controversy erupted on Friday over Jet Airways suspending five cabin crew members after singer Sonu Nigam was allowed to use the public address system on a chartered flight to belt out Bollywood numbers with the action being slammed by him as "Real Intolerance". The Bollywood fraternity and social media reacted with outrage to the punishment handed out by the private airline following an order by aviation regulator DGCA but the civil aviation ministry justified the action. The incident occurred on a chartered flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai on 4 January, when the "errant" crew members allowed Nigam, 42, to hold a sort of musical concert on board following a request from fellow passengers, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources said. The matter came to DGCA's notice after a video of Nigam, 42, singing on board the flight went viral on social media. Action has been initiated against the crew members since allowing a passenger to use the public address system on board a flight amounts to violation of safety norms, the sources said. "All cabin crew on the flight have been taken off flight duty for inquiry and corrective training to reinforce strict adherence to operating procedures," Jet Airways said in a statement. The DGCA has summoned Jet Aitways officials on 10 February over the issue. When contacted, a Jet Airways spokesperson said that he was not aware of it. As per approved procedures, Public Address (PA) system of a flight is required to be used only under certain conditions, a senior DGCA official said, adding in this case, "the system was used for song which is violation of procedures." "Besides, the forward galley was unattended and there were number of passengers standing in aisle area," the official said, adding, "since the aircraft was descending "(standing) passengers could have been hurt in case of a weather turbulence." The official also pointed out that both the commander and his deputy were also not informed of the activity inside the cabin and the "act of cabin crew was not as per requirements." As per a Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) on training and licensing of cabin crew, issued by DGCA in 2010, "the PA (public address) system and interphone system are tools for relaying safety information". "It is not meant to sing songs and such violations cannot be tolerated by DGCA," the official said, adding there were two incidents recently wherein passengers were hurt due to inflight turbulence when they were moving in the aisle when the aircraft was descending. But Nigam in a sharp retort said that when he sang there were no announcements that needed to be made and the action against the cabin crew was "utter nonsense". "Pity there's no one to question such harshness except the Media perhaps. Indians, need to loosen up. This act of lack of Common Sense, according to me, is Real Intolerance," Nigam said in a statement. PTI Navsari: A total of 37 people were killed and 24 injured, four of them seriously, when a state transport bus in which they were travelling plunged from a bridge into Purna river in Navsari district of South Gujarat on Friday, police said. "Thirty-seven people have died in the incident, while 24 others are injured when a bus fell from a 20 feet high bridge on Purna river," Navsari Superintendent of Police MS Bharada said. Though police are investigating the cause of the mishap, some survivors and eye-witnesses said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle when it was passing the bridge and it hurtled down into the river after breaking iron railings. The SP said the condition of four out of the 24 injured passengers was serious. "The injured have been shifted to four hospitals in Navsari. We are also checking the possibility of shifting those who are seriously injured to hospitals in Surat if needed," the officer said. The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus was headed towards Ukai when the accident took place near the village, situated around 12 kms away from the district headquarters. "We do not know the exact number of people travelling in the bus, but it is said that it was full (to capacity)," Bharada said. He said the agencies like police, fire brigade, 108 ambulance services were engaged in rescue operation at the spot. Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel condoled the loss of lives on Twitter. https://twitter.com/anandibenpatel/status/695602348647981058 https://twitter.com/anandibenpatel/status/695602680421552129 PTI New Delhi: India on Thursday asked Pakistan to rein in JuD chief and internationally-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed after voicing grave concern over his activities in that country, a day after the Mumbai terror attack mastermind warned of more Pathankot-style attacks. Hafiz Saeed is globally-designated international terrorist. His claim that his many front organisations are carrying out charitable work in not even a fig leaf. He indulges in terrorist activities and terrorist financing. It should be a matter of grave concern to everyone that terrorist like Saeed and his associates continues to enjoy the freedom to indulge in their activities (in Pakistan), External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. Addressing a rally yesterday, Saeed had said,800,000 Indian troops are committing genocide on Kashmiris. Dont they have a right to carry out Pathankot-style attacks for their defence?You have only seen one attack on Pathankot. Matters could easily escalate. Asserting that it was up to Pakistan to rein in Saeed, the Spokesperson also noted that Pakistan had imposed a ban last year on the media coverage of militant groups like the JuD and LeT but contrary to that ban, the electronic media was showing Saeeds speeches. Asked about the status of Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks, Swarup continued to maintain that no mutually convenient date has been agreed upon between the two countries. National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan as well as the Foreign Secretaries are in touch with each other, he said, adding while the NSAs have been discussing the Pathankot terror attack investigation by Pakistan government, the two foreign secretaries are in touch on the dates issue. Asked about the progress on Pathankot probe by Pakistan and if that country has sought any fresh evidence, the Spokesperson did not give a direct answer and said the government was also looking at what action was being taken to bring the perpetrators of Pathankot attack to justice. PTI By Smita Deshmukh A professor of Islamic studies and a well-known global scholar on the subject of Islam, Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali has authored several books explaining what the Quran says about Muslim women. At the forefront of the campaign to allow Muslim women to enter the Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai, Ali believes that all traditions banning women in the heart of religious shrines and temples depicts our societys deep-rooted women-phobia. Firstpost interviewed Ali, here are a few excerpts: How do you look at the traditions that ban women to enter the sanctum sanctorum in all religious places? The Shani Shingnapur temple and Haji Ali dargah issue reflects the misogynistic attitude and patriarchal assertions of male domination. It is surprising to see this in a secular democracy like India, where the Constitution gives equal rights to all. Haji Ali dargah has recently barred women (from 2012) from entry, reverting its earlier stand. Perhaps visiting graves was not held permissible for men and women alike in early Islam as attachment and supplication to the dead were widespread and in Islam worship is meant only for God. But once the teachings of Islam were well-established, visitation to the graveyards was recommended and encouraged by the Prophet. Women were not excluded from this approval. This is because the concept and wisdom of visiting graveyards was said to be twofold one, the reminder of the inevitability of the death and accountability for actions in the Hereafter; two to offer prayers for mercy and forgiveness for departed ones. Men are, by no means, more in need of this reminder than women. There is no authentic prohibitory order forbidding women to enter graveyards. Many scholars like me hold it permissible for women to visit graves. Is there enough evidence to show women clearly visited graveyards after it was permitted? Yes. There are many incidents. Hazrat Ayesha lived in the Masjid-Un-Nabi wherein lies the grave of the Prophet and prayed to Allah. Fatima, the daughter of Prophet used to visit the grave of her grand uncle and would pray there. Does that mean there is a systematic attempt to undo the social changes that took place in this century that altered the status of women in the society? Of course! Just look at the way the Prophet treated women. The Quran clearly shows how the Prophet gave material, spiritual, marriage, divorce and above all leadership rights to women. It states that whoever man or woman is intelligent must rule. The Quran extols the leadership of Queen Bilques as a woman ruling over them provided with every requisite. Her qualities of leadership are not measured by her gender but by her capacity to fulfill the requirements of her office, her political acumen, the purity of her faith and her independent judgment. The Quran does not uphold or assert conceptions of female inferiority nor can a woman be judged as less rational, more emotional or less competent than men on the basis of divine law. It is clear from many sunnah that the Prophet consulted women and weighted their opinions seriously. My book Empowerment of Women in Islam which came 10 years ago specifies all steps taken by the Prophet to give women their rightful place. But today, there is a clear attempt to turn the clock in the name of traditions and superstitions. This needs to be challenged. Even during the menstrual cycle days, the focus is on hygiene not to stress and avoid fasting. But this is turned into superstition. Banning women into the sanctum sanctorum of a dargah goes against the spirit of equality granted to women in Islam. The Haji Ali dargah matter is reaching the Supreme Court, what do you make of it? Yes. Politicians are afraid to take stand on religious issues, they are too cautious when it comes to personal laws. I wish the SC listens to scholars than religious heads and activists. It is an important matter to women in India and here Im giving all evidence. Ive heard Sri Sri Ravi Shankar also intervening in the issue. It is a positive step. But the Constitution is supreme and clearly speaks of no discrimination on the basis of religion, caste or gender. And Islam endorses this Constitutional clause. Dont Muslim women in other parts of the world visit shrines? The negative implication in the contemporary Muslim world where women are barred from entry to sanctum sanctorum is not witnessed in several Muslim countries. In Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Iran and other countries, both men and women visit Sufi shrine and tombs alike. In India, without fuss, men and women of every faith visit the celebrated shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Mohinuddin Chisti and several others. I recently visited Afghanistan and saw so many women in their Parliament they are modern and educated. Such a contrast in a country where there is Taliban. Out here, we are still unable to bring 33 per cent women reservation! Coming to Section 377 debate, you have been emphatic that Islam does not endorse homosexuality, are you open to having a debate? It says complete no to homosexuality. Islam looks at marriage as a pact between a man and woman and procreation (family) is an important aspect. I agree whatever happens between two people in their private space is their personal matter. In the changing world, we need a healthy, open debate on the issue of decriminalising section 377. Im for it. At the same time, we must discuss the issue of child abuse and trafficking also. In the run up to the Presidential elections in the US, a lot has been said about Muslims by Donald Trump, how do you see those narratives? In whatever he says, Donald Trump belittles the US. He is merely playing it to the gallery, taking advantage of the troubled times we live in. Daesh (I refuse to call them Islamic State because they do not represent anything that represents Islam) a group of orthodox, violent, misinformed people are creating problems for the whole world. They have created a climate of vengeance, though the Quran clearly states to win over your enemies with peace. In the vicious cycle, wars are fought everywhere, arms are supplied in abundance. It has nothing to do with religion. But it is projected as one. This confuses everyone and Donald Trump adds to that confusion. Smita Deshmukh is a senior journalist and communications expert based in Mumbai. You can follow her on twitter @smitadeshmukh New Delhi: Passengers on a chartered flight, who knew each other and were probably returning from a wedding, got lucky when Sonu Nigam belted out two of his hit songs mid-air through the flight's public announcement (PA) system. This happened on a Jet Airways' flight on 4 January, more than a month back. And till now, most of us were enjoying the videos clicked by passengers of Nigam lounging against the PA system and singing. But after aviation regulator DGCA has swung into action and grounded five cabin crew members of Jet Airways over this incident alleging safety violations, social media has begun merciless mocking of the DGCA. Which is plain silly, given the issues involved. Don't get me wrong. I have been a fan of Nigam's singing for many years and would have surely enjoyed the vocal treat, mid-air or anywhere else. But what the DGCA has faulted Jet Airways and this flight's crew for, is serious. A series of violations were committed which may seem frivolous as the flight landed safely. But they are violations and the violators must be punished. If Nigam wanted to sing, why use the flight's PA system? Why not sing without a mic in hand? During the 2014 Holi celebrations, two pilots of a SpiceJet flight were suspended after the cabin crew performed a dance sequence in the aisle while the flight was mid-air. Of course passengers were clapping and later uploaded videos of this dance on YouTube. Little realising that this jig could have easily become a safety hazard. At that time too, the social media vigilantes had cited numerous foreign airlines where singing, some dancing and other fun activities carry on mid-air. One must remember that safety is serious business and more so in the times we live in, with numerous external threats to Indian aviation. Aping western airlines is juvenile, we need to take matters a little more seriously when a flight is at 30,000 feet above the ground. In the Jet Aiways' singing incident too, safety concerns were put aside for what appears to be harmless fun but the DGCA has rightfully flagged the issue. I would tend to agree with the Twitterati on one count though. The DGCA has not been the best of regulators. It sometimes over-reacts to alleged safety violations, is slow and bureaucratic and may be faulted on myriad other counts too. The regulator got into the act a month after the incident happened and here too it must be pulled up for an inexplicable delay. But let us not hand the babus manning the DGCA for doing their job this once. One look at the count of violations the regulator has listed out while suspending the cabin crew and many would agree that action should have been taken. Singing is fine as long as it is done on terra firma and not by using a flight's PA system. According to DGCA officials, there were a series of safety violations during this singing epissde: 1) The PA system was used for singing when it is to be used only for specific purposes like cabin crew making announcements before the flight commences, if there is any delay in departure, prolonged aircraft taxiing or return to the gate for any reasons. Of course, it must be used in emergency situations too. Definitely not to sing songs! 2) During this period, the forward galley of the aircraft remained unattended 3) A number of passengers were standing in the aisle area. DGCA officials said recently there have been incidents of passengers getting hurt due to turbulenece. 4) DGCA says the passengers were standing when aircraft was descending, something contested by Sonu who says no seat belt signs were on. 5) Flight crew, which means the pilots in the cockpit, was not informed about this activity in the cabin. The Twitterati had a field day defending the cabin crew and making the obvious snide remarks against the regulator DGCA. "Forget having a sense of music, looks like DGCA does not even have a common sense", tweeted Tinu Cherian Abraham. https://twitter.com/neeta_com/status/695509242946531328 Journalist Chitra Subramaniam (chitraSD) uploaded a video of some Finnair cabin crew dancing on a flight to India to celebrate Independence Day. https://twitter.com/chitraSD/status/695509341269524480 It wasn't clear if the dance was happening when the aircraft was still on ground. Nigam himself seemed most angry over DGCA's cabin crew suspension and even linked this to intolerance! That India is a different aviation market from much of the world is evident from the regulations each airline must follow here. For example, while most international airlines allow alcohol to be served on board international as well as domestic flights, India does not allow any alcohol on domestic flights. Yes, it is a silly restriction but one which probably helps hapless cabin crew members keep some sanity on board remember the unruly, uncouth Indian flyer who usually cannot hold his drink? In a somewhat similar sense, it is best to not copy international practices mid-air and take a rather conservative approach to safety by eschewing mid-air singing or dancing in the Indian airspace. As for the suspended cabin crew members, they should be back at work after a refresher course in no time. Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday ordered a probe into the recent fire and smog in suburban Deonar by a panel headed by a senior IPS officer. "The CM has asked Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Lohiya to investigate the fire and subsequent smog which inconvenienced people and even led to the closure of schools in that area for a couple of days," said a senior official in the Chief Minister's Office. A fire at Deonar dumping ground last week had led the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to shut down 74 schools run by it for two days as the smoke from the ground caused breathing trouble in the area. The schools are located in M-ward, where people complained about a foul smell arising due to the burning of garbage, a BMC official said. Schools in M-ward, including those in Chembur, Deonar, Tilak Nagar, Pestom Sagar, Shivaji Nagar, Mankhurd and Baiganwadi, were closed for two days (last Friday and Saturday). Deonar is one of the biggest dumping grounds in Mumbai and the amount of garbage that ends up there is increasing by the year, leaving people fuming and complaining. Fadnavis recently spoke to BMC Commissioner Ajoy Mehta, who informed him that the smoke at Deonar was substantially under control. "I've asked CP, Mumbai, to inquire into the possibility of a sabotage," Fadnavis had earlier said after talking to the BMC chief. Mumbai Police have filed a case against three unknown persons for starting the fire at the Deonar dumping ground. Since last Thursday, a thick blanket of smog has engulfed parts of Mumbai due to various factors, including a drop in the minimum temperature, the fire at the Deonar dumping ground and high levels of particulate pollutants in the city, leading to poor air quality in the metropolis. PTI New Delhi: The Maharashtra government on Friday told the Supreme Court that the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting Bollywood star Salman Khan in the 2002 accident case was "wishy-washy" and sought its reversal. As Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi took an apex court bench of Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan through the details of the case and the proceedings before the trial court, the apex court said that since it was a matter of acquittal, they will examine the evidence before deciding to issue notice to Salman Khan. Assailing the High Court verdict, Rohatgi told the apex court that its finding that Salman was not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident is suspicious. He also assailed the surfacing of Salman's driver in the case after a gap of 13 years. Asking Rohatgi to the apprise the court on the material in support of their plea for reversal of acquittal order, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing to 12 February. Salman Khan's counsel Kapil Sibal told the court to direct the summoning of the translated version of the trial court record in the case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court admitted in January Salman Khan's caveat, urging it to grant him a hearing before passing any order on the Maharashtra government's appeal in the 2002 accident case, in which one person was killed and four others were injured. Salman Khan was found guilty by a sessions court on 6 May, 2015 and convicted for, among others, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and sentenced to five years in jail for the accident, in which one person was killed and four others injured. However, on 10 December, 2015, the Bombay High Court acquitted him of all charges and quashed the lower court verdict. IANS If you are a parent and have tried getting your child admitted to any private school in Delhi, let alone a nursery school, you know how harrowing the experience is. Come admission time, principals in some schools transform into gods, mostly inaccessible and invisible, and the security guards at the school gates treat you with some disdain. You would have noticed parents begging at the school gate for a meeting with the school authorities, possibly you have done it too. You swallow the insult in school after school. Its a matter of the education of your kid; you simply cannot let bruised self-respect come in the way. Perhaps you may have heard of desperate parents touching the feet of principals. Parents normally apply in many schools, the better ones always on the wish-list. But in most cases they have to settle for least preferred schools because there are no seats available in the good ones. It does not matter whether your kid is intelligent enough, it is the managements discretion. Those who can pull a few strings manage you may have done it too - but even that does not always work. There are people with better connections. You dont feel like blaming them because that is how school admission in many of Delhis private schools works. Not finding a decent school for your child is ultimately your failure as a parent. You accept that grudgingly. Why have things come to such a sorry pass? The AAP governments argument while scrapping the management quota in nursery schools explained that rather well. It maintained that the practice of management quota was unreasonable, exploitative, wholly non-transparent and prone to misuse. It is an inherently discriminatory mechanism which allowed the authorities to make money by selling seats and thus created an uneven playing field for students seeking admission. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had said earlier that the quota had to go because it was the biggest scandal going around. According to his governments directive, henceforth 25 percent of seats would be reserved for students from the Economically Weaker Section category while the rest will be left open to all. Most private schools earmark 20 percent of seats under management quota, but theres no transparency about it. Kejriwal is known to take the high moral ground on various issues. Here nobody would find fault with him for speaking up for hapless parents. But there are several questions for him too. Maybe he is speaking only half the truth. We shall get there later. The managements appear justified in arguing that since as promoters they have to invest funds in the schools, they must have autonomy in decision-making, including admissions. The high court in its order on Thursday said as much while putting off hearing on the matter. It also said the governments order was in conflict with an order of the Lieutenant Governor in 2007, which allowed 20 percent management quota in unaided private educational institutions. The Supreme Court and other higher courts have also defended their position earlier. But if everything is hunky-dory with private schools, why parents have to suffer so much every admission season? Why is there debate in the first place? Coming back to the AAP governments position, is it a solution to the nursery school admission problem in any way? It is the failure of the education system in general that so many children have to run after so few schools. If the government schools ensured good quality education, there would be no need for parents to run after private schools. It is one big weakness that private players are cashing in on. They obviously cannot be blamed for that. Has Kejriwal created one school that would serve as a model for other government schools? What has his government done so far to improve the quality of education in government schools? Nothing. In the end it is the parents and very young students who have to take the brunt. Perhaps the court should get into the activist mode and have a look at the big picture. WHY DONT YOU READ THESE? New Delhi: A section of municipal corporation doctors on Friday ended the strike they had called to press for payment of salaries, urging authorities to refrain from taking "punitive action" and cutting salaries for participating in the strike. "The executive body of Municipal Corporation Doctors Association today decided to call off the strike," President of the Association Dr RR Gautam said. A delegation of the Association earlier met Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain who assured them that the "official process" has been started to meet their demand of taking over of municipal corporation health services by the government. "Deputy CM Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain assured us that official process for taking over Health Services of corporations has been started as a permanent solution," Dr Gautam said. Delhi government has already given a "bailout package" of Rs 693 crore for payment of salaries and the ministers also assured that there will be no problem in future salary payment, he said, lauding Delhi government's action. Dr Gautam also said that they want to join duties in public interest but requested that there be no "punitive action" and "salary cut" of doctors and employees of other health services by the municipal corporation authorities. "If such an action is taken against us, we will again go on strike," he said. However, the leaders of Resident Doctors' Association stressed that their strike was on and that a final decision on it will be taken by a general body meeting on Saturday. "We have not called off our strike yet. A general body meeting of the Association will be held at 10 am tomorrow (Saturday) for a final decision about the strike," president of the association Dr Aditya said. PTI Names of the 10 soldiers who laid their lives in the line of duty on Wednesday (3 February) owing to a deadly avalanche in the Siachen Glacier were released on Friday by the Ministry of Defence. The soldiers belonging to the Madras Regiment had little chance to protect themselves as tonnes of snow covered them in no time, making it even tough for the rescuers to even retrieve their bodies despite the best efforts of both men and machine combined. The graveness of the situation can be gauged from the fact that the Army is even having difficulties in contacting the rescue team which had gone to trace the bodies. While four soldiers were from Tamil Nadu, three of them were natives of Karnataka. The states of Kerala, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh lost a brave son each in the tragedy. Following are names of the martyrs along with details of their ranks and their native places: (1) Subedar Nagesha TT r/o vill Tejur, Hassan Dist, Karnataka. (2) Havildar Elumalai M r/o vill Dukkam Parai, Vellore Dist, Tamil Nadu. (3) Lance Havildar S Kumar r/o vill Kumanan Thozhu, Teni Dist, Tamil Nadu. (4) Lance Naik Sudheesh B r/o vill Monroethuruth, Kollam Dist, Kerala. (5) Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad r/o vill Betadur , Dharwad Dist, Karnataka. (6) Sepoy Mahesha PN r/o vill HD Kote, Mysore Dist, Karnataka. (7) Sepoy Ganesan G r/o village Chokkathevan Patti, Madurai Dist, Tamil Nadu. (8) Sepoy Rama Moorthy N r/o vill Gudisatana Palli , Krishna Giri Dist, Tamil Nadu. (9) Sep Mustaq Ahmed S r/o vill Parnapalle, Kurnool Dist, Andhra Pradesh. (10) Sepoy Nursing Assistant Suryawanshi SV r/o village Maskarwadi, Satara Dist, Maharashtra Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Thursday mourned the loss of these soldiers on Twitter. "Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families," Modi had tweeted. Reports had said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi also expressed shock and deep distress on the confirmation of the demise of the ten Army personnel. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had also tweeted, saying he was "very sad to know that 10 of our brave soldiers lost their lives." The situation was already grim as a defence spokesman had earlier said that chances of finding any survivors were "very remote" after the deadly avalanche hit the affected army post at an altitude of 19,600 feet. "Rescue teams are braving adverse weather and effects of rarified atmosphere to locate and rescue survivors. However, it is with deepest of regrets that we have to state that chances of finding any survivors are now very remote," Defence PRO (Northern Command) Col SD Goswami had said in a statement in Jammu. The Siachen Glacier in the Karakorum range is known as the highest militarised zone in the world. Thousands of Indian and Pakistani troops contest an area at altitudes above 20,000 feet where they must deal with altitude sickness, high winds, frostbite and temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius. An estimated 8,000 troops have died on the glacier since 1984, almost all of them from avalanches, landslides, frostbite, altitude sickness or heart failure rather than combat, local media reports have said. By Lt Gen Prakash Katoch (Retired) The news of 11 Army personnel, including a JCO, having buried in an avalanche in Siachen glacier has been tragic. The Prime Minister has expressed grief on their sacrifice and the whole nation salutes these braves with hearts going out to their next of kin in this hour of sorrow. No compensation is enough. Siachen is the highest battlefield of the world. The conditions are so daunting that the tenure of troops in northern, central and southern glacier are three months, six months and one respectively in descending order. Some coincidence that according to a media report of today, the 7th CPC has recommended risk allowance for troops serving in Siachen to be Rs 31,500 per month while a civil servant serving in Shillong, Guwahati or Leh has been recommended to get a risk allowance of over Rs 54,000 per month - talk of discrimination against the military! But wait, the all bureaucrat review committee appointed by the government may recommend an even higher allowance for the civil servants. After all such occurrences, debates get going about avoidable casualties, excessive expenditure, so on and so forth. But what about the casualties on account of vagaries of weather; it is not the Siachen area alone that suffers avalanches. Avalanches have been occurring periodically elsewhere in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the Kargil Sector and along the LoC in the Kashmir Valley. Some time back entire crew of a gun position was buried in an avalanche in Dras area of Kargil. Doesn't mean we should vacate our borders. Again, fiscal expenditure cannot be viewed in isolation and certainly cannot be weighed against national security. Siachen is a flowing frozen body of water. India is holding the dominating Saltoro Range lying west of Siachen, in its entirety less one small post that Pakistan has in the Central Glacier, which she retained by backtracking on the physical agreement by both parties to vacate during initial years of occupation of Saltoro Range. The fact today is that no Pakistani soul or bird is anywhere close to Siachen Glacier. More importantly, Pakistan herself wanted to occupy the Saltoro Range because of its strategic importance but was preempted by India in 1987, as admitted by Musharraf in his autobiography 'In the Line of Fire'. Jahan Dad Khan, commanding Pakistan's 10 Corps in 1983-84, writes in his book 'Pakistan Leadership Challenges' that an SSG Company was sent to Bilafond La in summer of 1983 but had to fall back as they were not equipped for winter. In 1984, when India pre-empted the Pakistani Army planned move, Dad Khan writes, "This was a great setback for Pakistan. We had obviously failed to appreciate the timing of the Indian move and our intelligence agencies had failed to detect the brigade size force in the area in April 1984." The Cease Fire Line (CFL) drawn under 1949 Karachi Agreement under aegis UN ran up to NJ 9842 in Ladakh, beyond which it only said "thence North to the Glaciers". NJ 9842 has never been occupied by any side. Pakistan now draws a straight line in a northeasterly direction from NJ 9842 up to the Karakoram Pass on its perceived boundary with China. If a CFL was to be drawn north from NJ 9842, it should have run north to Dafdar in Taghdumbash Pamir near Beyik Pass (bordering Wakhan Corridor), the northwestern extremity of undivided State of Jammu and Kashmir that was legally ceded to India. Saltoro Range is the wedge between Indian and Pakistani positions in the area, with India atop the Saltoro and Pakistani positions on much lower ground to the west. Its strategic importance is much greater now with the Chinese not only occupying the Shaksgam Valley (illegally ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963) but PLA having entered the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region in connivance Pakistan, plus aggressive Chinese incursions and claims in Eastern Ladakh. Besides, the northern slopes of the Indra Col (northern tip of Saltoro Range) lead to the Shaksgam valley. Additionally, the value of Siachen as a fresh water source cannot be ignored. Much before becoming Army Chief, Musharraf gave a presentation to Pakistani Defence Ministry that the per capita availability of water in Pakistan from 6000 cusecs of water in 1947 had already come down to 1000 cusecs per capita and this was reason enough for Pakistan to annex J&K. Consequently, Pakistan started claiming the LC from NJ9842 directly to Karakoram Pass so that entire Siachen Glacier becomes Pakistani territory. There have been reports in the media that in 1992, an agreement had been reached for mutual withdrawal from Siachen but the fact is that this was just the individual view of Narasimha Rao, then PM and Foreign Minister without reference to even MEA, leave aside the MoD or military. During the regime of UPA-II also vested international mediation through Track II diplomacy was at play to recommend Indian withdrawal from Siachen. In fact, Sanjay Baru in his book 'The Accidental Prime Minister' says that then PM Manmohan Singh too wanted this. Was Manmohan Singh eyeing a Noble Peace Prize for himself despite the strategic disadvantage that India would suffer? The fact remains that the situation on ground has changed drastically from yesteryears, as discussed above, because of Chinese activities in PoK and eastern Ladakh. Any withdrawal from Siachen will seriously threaten defence of Ladakh. Such withdrawal would imply gifting away Sub Sector North (east of Siachen Glacier) to China, as positions there will become untenable. With the next defence line south of the Shyok River, not only will India require deployment of minimum two Divisions (instead of the one Brigade on the Saltoro Ridge) at mammoth expenditure that it can ill afford, Leh will come within enemy artillery range. China, through Aksai Chin will link up with Pakistan in GB area, enlarging the collusive China-Pakistan threat further. What also needs to be noted is the prime occupation of Pakistani Military in spawning terrorism. Withdrawal from Siachen area will open avenues of infiltration and terrorism into Ladakh. Since late 1990s, Pakistan's ISI has been nurturing Shia terrorist organizations including Tehreek-e-Jaferia (TJP) and its many sub groups with an eye on Ladakh and Zanskar Range south of it. Infiltration into Ladakh and initiation of terrorism will have reverberations through the Zanskar Range right down to Kulu-Manali in Himachal Pradesh, requiring deployment of perhaps another two Corps to control the area. Siachen Glacier also happens to be one of the largest fresh water reserves of India which is vital for our precarious water situation. But finally where does the question of discussion on Siachen come in at all when whole of Jammu and Kashmir is Indian Territory. Lack of strategic forethought and political unilateralism has been typical to India ever since Independence. More significantly, ambiguity and deceit have been the hallmarks of China and Pakistan. Ask yourself have they ever bothered about world opinion? Has Pakistan despite the little Obama-Carry cajoling made even a wee attempt to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in PoK? On the contrary, hasn't the rabid mullah Hafiz Saeed been given free run despite being branded international terrorist? In 1984, when both India and Pakistan rushed for Gyong La in Central glacier, an agreement was reached following a flag meeting for both parties to withdraw. Indians did, but the Pakistanis re-enacted their back-stabbing legacy and occupied the pass in clear violation of the agreement made hours ago. Pakistan is at great strategic disadvantage in Siachen area and this equation must not change. Yes, the avalanche incident has been tragic and yet may recur in future too. The citizens can be rest assured, the soldiers will remain steadfast. Shillong: Two policemen were injured in a bomb blast triggered by Garo militants in Meghalaya on Friday, police said. The incident took place in South Garo Hills district and the injured policemen have been admitted to hospital. "Two policemen -- Robert Nonglait and Tennyson Ch. Marak -- were injured in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast. Militants of the Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) planted the IED by the roadside in Jadigittim area," Inspector General of Police (Operations) G.H.P. Raju said. He said the policemen were attacked while they were proceeding on bus to unload rations for the police personnel stationed at Baghmara, the district headquarter town of South Garo Hills. "We have launched an operation in the area to flush out GNLA militants hiding in the area," the police official said. Raju said one of the perpetrators has been identified as Rakkam, who was directed by Sohan D. Shira, self-styled military wing chief of GNLA. The GNLA, which claims to be fighting for a separate Garoland in western Meghalaya, is headed by police officer-turned-rogue Champion R. Sangma, who is lodged in Shillong jail after being arrested from near the India-Bangladesh border in 2012. IANS Bengaluru: Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda on Friday asked the Karnataka government to form a special squad to keep a watch on foreign students, in the wake of an alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian woman here. Attacking the Congress-led state government for not acting on locals' complaint regarding the "wrong" behaviour of certain foreign students, Gowda sought the Central government's intervention to find the truth about the assault on Sunday night. He also said that innocent people should not be arrested as was being alleged by the locals. "If state government cannot control law and order situation then it will lead much bigger problem in the days to come. I urge upon the government to constitute a special squad to monitor foreign students," Gowda said. Speaking to reporters after visiting the family of a woman who was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here, which led to the Tanzanian student being attacked, he said, "I have come to know that more than thousands of students are staying here and functioning even after their visa having expired." Holding the state government responsible for the death of the woman, Gowda said government and authorities should have kept a watch on the earlier developments and taken adequate law and order measures. He also demanded compensation of Rs 25 lakh for the family of the victim, pointing out that two children have lost their mother. A Tanzanian woman student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after the 35-year old woman was mowed down by a car on Sunday night. The incident has taken a serious diplomatic turn. A team including the Tanzanian High Commissioner, who is also the Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, is presently visiting Bengaluru. The team also includes joint secretary (states), director for Eastern and Southern Africa in the Ministry of External Affairs and the regional director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it. City police have so far arrested nine persons in connection with this case. Gowda said that the behaviour of a section of foreign students have been brought to the notice of the police by locals, but they have failed to act on the complaints. He said that these students were indulging in illegal activities and it was "intolerable". Stating that innocent people should not be arrested, Gowda said, "I have received several complaints since yesterday that police are visiting houses of our karyakartas (workers) and harassing them saying they will be arrested." He said Central government should intervene and find out the truth as state government is inactive. As Gowda was returning after meeting the family, he was gheraoed by locals who complained that innocent people have been arrested in the case, and that they should be let off. One of the family members of the arrested fainted infront of the minister. "Police who were on the spot know what had happened that day. This college has been here for last twenty years, there has been no single incident where any student was harassed so far. How much inconvenience we are facing is there in police records," a local said. Another resident said, "Is there no value to our lives that is there for foreigners;....people who are arrested are good, they are not the sort of people who can misbehave with a woman." "Our children can't prepare for exams, they (foreigners) always keep shouting after getting drunk. People who are here are being tortured by them...." a woman alleged. PTI Bhopal: The upcoming bypoll to Maihar Assembly seat, a part of Satna Lok Sabha constituency in Madhya Pradesh, is not only crucial for opposition Congress but also for BJP following its drubbing in the Bihar state elections. For Congress, the Maihar bypoll, slated for 13 February, is a prestige issue as it won the seat in 2013 despite BJP getting over two-thirds majority in the state Assembly. However, Congress suffered a jolt in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when its Maihar MLA, Narayan Tripathi, switched to BJP. Political experts say that led to the defeat of Congress candidate and former Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Ajay Singh, in the battle for the Satna Lok Sabha seat in 2014. Now, in order to win Maihar, BJP has fielded Tripathi from the seat. And, leaving no stone unturned to ensure Tripathi's defeat, Congress has given the ticket to Manish Patel to consolidate backward class votes in the Brahmin-dominated seat. Patel had joined Congress after quitting Bahujan Samaj Party. "We are going to teach a lesson to party hopper Tripathi this time. BJP has also realised its mistake by taking him into its fold as Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had earlier announced that he will be in Maihar since the beginning for campaigning, has not yet arrived here," Ajay Singh told PTI from Maihar. "Now, we have heard that he will be coming only for the last three days of electioneering, which shows that the fight is not easy for them," he said. However, state BJP president Nandkumar Singh Chauhan exuded confidence about winning the Maihar seat. "It is not true that the Chief Minister is not campaigning in Maihar. Both I and the CM already campaigned and addressed a large meeting there. I am sure BJP will win the seat," he said. Asked about claims that people in the area were angry over Tripathi hopping parties, Chauhan quipped, "Now he has come to the right place and will not go anywhere." Congress got Patel into its fold after he clinched over 40,000 votes in the 2013 Assembly elections while contesting on a BSP ticket, proving his strong presence in the area. Congress has roped-in actress-politician Nagma for its campaign in Maihar and she held a road show there on 3 February. Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Kamal Nath, too, has canvassed for Patel. Party general secretary in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Prakash, and state Congress president Arun Yadav, too, are actively campaigning for Patel. Congress has won the seat eight times since 1957 while Janata Party, an Independent candidate, Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and BJP have each won once in Maihar. Tripathi won the seat on a Congress ticket in 2013. He had defeated BJP's Ramesh Prasad by a margin of 6,975 votes. BSP's Manish Patel had come third. In 2003, Tripathi had won the seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket. BJP won in Maihar for the first time in 2008 with its candidate Motilal Tiwari getting 34,385 votes. Meanwhile, BSP has announced former MLA Ram Lakhan Singh Patel as the party's candidate for the Maihar bypoll while Samajwadi Party has nominated Ram Niwas Urmalia. The counting of votes will be held on 16 February. PTI Jammu: Hardening her stance, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday made it clear that she will not form the government with BJP in Jammu and Kashmir if the Narendra Modi dispensation does not create a "conducive atmosphere" by committing confidence building measures (CBMs) for the state. "There are problems within problems. To face these difficulties, we need to have support and to have that conducive atmosphere (for forming government). If we get that, it is fine but if that does not happen, we will continue to move as we are moving today," Mehbooba told party leaders at a meeting in Jammu on Friday. Flanked by her brother Tassaduq Mufti and senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh, she indicated that she was not looking for any financial package but the CBMs sought by her should focus on political aspect of the problem. "It is not the matter of money. How much money has come and how much we have spent? When and how it came? But the issue is how will we create a conducive atmosphere so that the new government gets a new path and fillip to go ahead and create a goodwill among the people," she said. Her remarks reflect hardening of stance over forming coalition government with BJP in the state which is under Governor's Rule since 8 January, a day after the demise of her father and the then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. PDP, with 27 MLAs in the 87-member Assembly and BJP with 25 legislators, ran a coalition government headed by Sayeed for 10 months before his death. Contending that she was not "resorting to blackmail or bargaining (with Centre)", the PDP chief said, "The decision of Mufti sahib is acceptable to us... Mufti sahib had taken this decision (of formation government with BJP) for the welfare of the people. His commitment is my commitment. But it is a tough trial for me in the wake of void created by his demise." Arguing that Jammu and Kashmir is not like any other state of the country, she said, "It is not Punjab, Rajasthan or Assam. We face a lot difficulties here. There are problems within problems. To face these difficulties, we need to have strength and to have that conducive atmosphere." "We are going ahead on the path chosen by Mufti sahib. Mufti sahib choose his ideology and welfare of the people when the situation had risen for him to choose between power, welfare of people and his ideology (Usool)," Mehbooba said. "We cannot form government in the air. The point is how to create a conducive atmosphere so that if a new government is formed, there is a way forward for creating goodwill among the people," she said. Asking PDP cadres to work to strengthen the party, she said, "whether the government is formed or not, we should not depend on that." Suggesting that she was willing to remain out of power, the PDP chief said her father and party patron "had done commendable job even while being out of the government as well. "He remained out of the government for 40-50 years. He remained in the power for 10-12 years. Those who have remained in power for 20-30 years have not achieved that much as Mufti sahib have achieved." Asserting that there can't be any compromise with the principles of her late father, Mehbooba said, "I will not allow harm to be done to his respect, hard-work and conviction, whatever may happen." Referring to the criticism faced by her father within the party, she said, "Some people were unhappy against the decision of Mufti sahib to have alliance with BJP. May be people will have complaints. But Mufti sahib had a goodwill and people would trust him." She said, "several people on the two sides in Kashmir and Jammu may have not liked BJP-PDP tie up but even after taken such a major decision, Mufti sahib went to downtown (old) area of Srinagar and was welcomed there. This was his goodwill." The old areas of Srinagar are considered to be pro-separatists. Citing Mufti, Mehbooba said if peace is to be restored in Jammu and Kashmir, then India and Pakistan have to come together. "We need to work towards this," she said. Describing her father as her role model, Mehbooba said "We cannot think like Mufti sahib, but we are carrying forward the vision of Mufti sahib. We were promised in 1947 that it (J&K) will be a showcase window to the world... but unfortunately it has not happened." "The people of Jammu and Kashmir were caught in quagmire of uncertainty," she said. "Despite his ailment, Mufti strongly worked at the grassroot level because he wanted to do something good for the people of this state. He worked very hard for past ten months," she added. PTI Beijing: China's internet watchdog said it banned hundreds of websites and thousands of accounts with illegal content including pornography, gambling and terrorism, the media reported on Friday. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) on Thursday said it has closed down more than 200 illegal websites and some 6,000 accounts from various social media platforms, the Global Times reported. The banned websites included a platform for illegally trading firearms, some that fabricated rumours or distorted history, and those engaged in illegal recruitment of students with foreign education or fake degree certificates. The CAC also banned user accounts fabricating information about the stock and property markets and those containing pornographic content or promoting the Nazi ideology. The closed accounts came from Sina Weibo, Baidu Tieba community, Tencent QQ and WeChat platforms. The CAC asked the public to inform them about illegal content and promised to reward those who provided useful tip-offs. As Spring Festival approaches, rumours about food safety, public health and transportation are on the rise. IANS New York: In a relief to Rajat Gupta, the India-born former Goldman Sachs director, a US court has agreed to rehear his appeal to throw out his 2012 insider-trading conviction that landed him in jail. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan on Thursday agreed to revisit its rejection of 67-year-old Gupta's appeal, five weeks before his release from home confinement on 13 March. Gupta, who was also the global managing director of McKinsey & Co, in the past too had filed several appeals, including to the US Supreme Court to overturn his conviction and a two-year prison term but the courts rejected his arguments and affirmed his sentence. Gupta, the highest-profile corporate executive found guilty in the US crackdown on insider trading, was convicted in 2012 of passing illegal tips about Goldman Sachs to Galleon Group founder Raj Rajaratnam while serving on the Goldman Sachs board. Rajaratnam is serving an 11-year prison sentence after his 2011 conviction on insider-trading charges. Gupta and Rajaratnam were the most prominent people rounded up in the US government's crackdown on insider trading. He was freed early on January five from Federal Medical Centre Devens, a correctional facility in Massachusetts, after receiving credit for good behaviour. He spent 19 months in jail. However, he has to stay confined to his apartment until 13 March with an ankle bracelet that will monitor his movements. Rajaratnam, 58, is serving an 11-year sentence in the same federal prison complex for masterminding a multimillion-dollar insider scheme. He is set to be released in July 2021. At the age of 45, the IIT and Harvard-educated Gupta became the first Indian CEO of the consulting giant McKinsey. He co-founded the prestigious Indian School of Business with fellow McKinsey executive Anil Kumar, who had pleaded guilty to insider trading and testified as a government witness against Gupta in his trial. PTI LONDON WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 to avoid a rape investigation, was detained arbritarily in contravention of international law, a U.N. panel will rule on Friday. Assange, who enraged the United States by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables, appealed to the panel saying he was a political refugee whose rights had been infringed by being unable to take up asylum in Ecuador. The former computer hacker denies allegations of a 2010 rape in Sweden, saying the charge is a ploy that would eventually take him to the United States where a criminal investigation into the activities of WikiLeaks is still open. Britain said it had never arbitrarily detained Assange and that the Australian had voluntarily avoided arrest by jumping bail to flee to the embassy. But the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention ruled in Assange's favour, Sweden said. "Should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me," Assange, 44, said in a short statement posted on Twitter. He had said that if he lost the appeal then he would leave his cramped quarters at the embassy in the Knightsbridge area of London, though Britain said he would be arrested and extradited to Sweden as soon as he stepped outside. The decision in his favour marks the latest twist in a tumultuous journey for Assange since he incensed Washington with his leaks that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Vladimir Putin to the Saudi royal family. STEPPING OUT? While the ruling - which will be published on Friday - may draw attention to Assange's fate, it is unlikely to immediately affect the current investigations against him. "We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," a British government spokeswoman said. Swedish prosecutors said the U.N. decision had no formal impact on the rape investigation under Swedish law. A U.S. Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks is ongoing. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was unclear what impact "a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on the situation." "But, you know, but he's facing serious charges inside of Sweden," Earnest said. Assange said that he had been deprived of fundamental liberties including access to sunlight and fresh air, adequate medical facilities and legal and procedural security. Since he sought refuge in the small embassy, British media have reported Assange has suffered from an irregular heartbeat, a chronic cough and high blood pressure. (Editing by Ruth Pitchford) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Washington: The Islamic State militant group is trying to capitalize on the "political chaos" prevailing in certain parts of the world to establish footholds in those areas apart from Iraq and Syria, the US has said. "The US has long been mindful of the strategy that ISIL (IS) has used to try to capitalize in other areas where there's political chaos to establish a foothold," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Thursday. "We saw that that's what they were able to successfully do in Syria. And again, that's why we continue to go back to the failed leadership of Bashar al-Assad as the root cause of this chaos and ISIL's (IS) growth," he said. "And we saw they capitalized on some weakness and instability inside of Iraq to spread there. So we've been mindful of the fact that they might be looking to spread other places, like Libya and even like Afghanistan," Earnest said. "We are going to continue to do that. We're going to continue to watch how the threat in Libya evolves, and we're going to continue to be prepared to take action," he said. As per the latest White House assessment, the number of fighters fighting on behalf of ISIL (IS) in Iraq and in Syria has come down from 31,500 to 25,000 fighters now. "Now, that means they continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined. And that's a testament to the efforts of our partners on the ground who are taking the fight to ISIL, (IS)" Earnest said. "The United States and our coalition partners have taken a number of air strikes that have taken a number of ISIL (IS) fighters off the battlefield. ISIL (IS) is having more difficult than they've had before in replenishing their ranks," he said. According to Earnest, ISIL (IS) is "trying to establish caliphate inside of Iraq and in Syria. As we apply significant pressure on them there, it will make it harder for them to capitalize on political instability in other places. But right now, we know that they do have that capacity, and that's why we are mindful of the threat that is posed by ISIL in places like Afghanistan and Libya". President Barack Obama is also ready to use military action and to take military action where necessary to take ISIL (IS) fighters off the battlefield, he said. "Ultimately, a political situation that will be required solve the issue. I think that this is a problem that the next President is going to have to deal with from the very beginning," he said. PTI Geneva: Britain's Foreign Office has rejected the United Nations panel's finding that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. Officials said in a statement Friday morning that Britain will formally contest the working group's opinion issued earlier in Geneva. The statement says Britain is "deeply frustrated" by the Assange situation. "The opinion of the UN working group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system," the statement says. "He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." The statement points out that an allegation of rape is still outstanding and that a European Arrest Warrant is in place. It says Britain has a legal obligation to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning. Meanwhile, the Swedish Prosecution Authority says the call from the UN working group for Julian Assange to be released and compensated "has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law." Spokeswoman Karin Rosander said the prosecutor responsible for the case is traveling and has not yet been able to comment on the case. Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy since 2012 to avoid arrest and extradition to Sweden, from where he fears he would be sent to the United States. Earlier, A UN human rights panel said WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said his detention should end and he should be entitled to compensation. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling ways. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. AP Tokyo: US satellite data suggests North Korea may have already begun fuelling a rocket it plans to launch this month in the face of international opposition, a Japanese newspaper reported today, citing a US defence official. Pyongyang has announced it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket sometime between 8-25 February, which is around the time of the birthday on 16 February of late leader Kim Jong-Il, father of current supremo Kim Jong-Un. The North insists its space programme is purely scientific in nature, but the US and allies, including South Korea, say its rocket launches are aimed at developing an interconti-nental ballistic missile capable of striking the US mainland. North Korea "will finish preparations for the launch as soon as the next several days", the unidentified US Defence Department official told the Asahi Shimbun. Since Friday, satellite images have shown increased movement of people and equipment around the launch pad and a fuel storehouse at North Korea's Sohae satellite launch complex in the country's northwest, the official said, according to the Washington-datelined report. The United States judged that fuelling appears to have started as it has been monitoring Pyongyang's movements via military intelligence satellites which can analyse objects as small as 30 centimetres, the official was quoted as saying. Given the difficulty in stopping the process once fuelling begins, preparation work normally finishes within several days of that, the official told the Asahi. UN sanctions prohibit North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, and the imminent launch would amount to another major violation of UNSC resolutions following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test last month. In its formal notification sent to UN agencies, North Korea provided flight coordinates similar to its successful launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket in December 2012. The separated first stage was predicted to fall in the Yellow Sea off the west coast of South Korea, followed by a second stage splashdown in the Philippine Sea. In order to avoid any possible collision, Japanese and South Korean airlines will be rerouting a number of flights during the launch window period. Japan's two biggest airlines -- All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines -- said they would be diverting planes that fly over waters off the Philippines. The change will affect three ANA flights -- from Tokyo's Haneda airport to Manila, from Manila to Tokyo's Narita International Airport, and from Jakarta in Indonesia to Narita, the airline said. Two JAL flights -- one from Jakarta to Narita and another from Narita to Manila -- will also be rerouted. AFP Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday called for resolving the lingering issue of Kashmir in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, saying the credibility of the global organization will be at stake if it fails to implement its own resolutions. Sharif spoke to lawmakers in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan's part of Kashmir, as Pakistanis celebrated "Kashmir Day." Pakistan observes the day by holding rallies and arranging seminars on the issue of Kashmir, which is divided between Pakistan and India. "Only implementation of United Nations Security Council resolutions can amicably resolve the Kashmir issue. Until then peace in the region will remain an elusive dream," he said. He also expressed his hope for early resumption of bilateral talks between Pakistan and India, which were to be held in January but were delayed following an attack on an Indian air base. Seven Indian soldiers and all six attackers were killed in the assault in Pathankot, close to India's border with Pakistan. Indian investigators at the time said phone intercepts suggest that the gunmen in the assault came from Pakistan. Pakistan denounced the attack and detained several suspects for questioning. Meanwhile, Sharif in a separate statement paid tribute to Kashmiris for showing resilience "in their struggle for freedom from Indian subjugation." He urged the international community to take notice of human rights violations in the Indian part of Kashmir. The nuclear-armed neighbors have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir after gaining independence in 1947. UN security council resolution 47, adopted in 1948, calls for a vote among Kashmir residents to determine the disputed region's fate. But the resolution was non-binding and has never been implemented. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Kashmir insurgents in its portion of Kashmir. Pakistan says it only provides moral and diplomatic support. Recently, a video surfaced featuring Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Asiya Andrabi and Hafiz Sayeed, along with an Urdu caption saying 'Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan'. The video is part of a larger campaign launched by the JuD ahead of 'Kashmir Solidarity Day'. Read the full story here. With inputs from AP WASHINGTON Jeb Bush brought out his famous family four days before the crucial U.S. presidential primary in New Hampshire, tapping his mother on Friday to scold Republican front-runner Donald Trump over his use of profanity and treatment of women. In a last ditch attempt to make a mark on a Republican primary campaign he was supposed to own, Bush lashed out at both Trump and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the one-time protege who has eclipsed Bush as the party's establishment candidate in the 2016 White House race. New opinion polls following Monday's Iowa caucuses showed Trump retaining a double-digit lead in New Hampshire's primary next Tuesday with Rubio rapidly rising into second place in the state as Republicans battle for the nomination in November's presidential election. Bush, the former governor of Florida, leaned on his well-known family for support. While former President George W. Bush appeared in a new ad praising his brother as having "a good heart and a strong backbone" and being able to unite the country, Jeb Bush sat with his mother for an interview with CBS show "This Morning." The two attacked Trump as misogynistic and vulgar after he used a four-letter word in a recent campaign appearance. "I don't think a president would have ever shouted profanities in a speech in front of thousands of people with kids in the crowd," Jeb Bush said. "He does it all the time." His mother lambasted Trump for criticizing Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly after she had quizzed him at a Republican debate in August. Trump made comments widely interpreted as referring to her menstrual cycle. "I don't know how women can vote for someone who said what he said about Megyn Kelly," Mrs. Bush said. "It's terrible. And we knew what he meant, too." Much loved by today's Republicans, the former first lady herself raised eyebrows in 1984 when she reportedly made a derogatory reference to Democratic vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party ticket, saying, "I can't say it, but it rhymes with rich." "ALMOST TOO POLITE" Trump has dismissed Jeb Bush as a "low-energy" loser. The son and brother of U.S. presidents who was expected to glide to the Republican nomination, Bush has struggled to seize the offensive and trails in the single digits in many national polls. Mrs. Bush, who was campaigning for her younger son in New Hampshire, said "America needs" Jeb and drew an implicit contrast to the brash swagger of Trump. "He's got the same values that America seems to have lost. He's almost too polite." While rivals took aim at him, Trump was forced to miss a rally on Friday in Londonderry, New Hampshire because of a snow storm. He returned to New York and Thursday, a spokesman said, and could not get back to the state. Trump has eschewed much of the one-on-one retail politicking of typical campaigns in favour of large rallies. But in New Hampshire, where voters are used to having candidates' close attention, the strategy could hurt. Jeb Bush seized the opportunity to make fun of Trump on Twitter, pointing out that even his mother was able make it out despite the weather. "My 90 year old mother made it out to campaign, he wrote in response to Trump's tweet that he was moving a campaign event to Monday due to a "big storm." An attached photograph showed Mrs. Bush, wearing a pearl necklace, shaking hands with a five-year-old girl in New Hampshire. Jeb Bush also stepped up attacks on Rubio as lacking in experience and accomplishments, saying on MSNBC the first-term Florida lawmaker had done "nothing" in the U.S. Senate. Rubio got a bounce from his Iowa performance with a WMUR/CNN poll showing him rising 7 points to 18 percent. Trump held steady at 29 percent, while Cruz gained 1 point for 13 percent. An NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist survey showed Trump with 30 percent, Rubio at 17 percent and Cruz 15. For the Democrats, opinion polls show U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders from Vermont with a double-digit lead in New Hampshire over rival Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state. Clinton went on the attack against Sanders on Thursday in their most contentious presidential debate yet. (Additional reporting by Emily Stephenson in New Hampshire, Amy Tennery in New York, Mohammad Zargham in Washington; Editing by Bill Trott and Alistair Bell; For more on the 2016 presidential race, see the Reuters blog, Tales from the Trail; here) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. BEIRUT Tens of thousands of Syrians fled an intensifying Russian assault around Aleppo on Friday, and aid workers said they feared the major city could soon fall under a full government siege. Iran reported one of its generals had been killed on the front line, giving direct confirmation of the role Tehran is playing along with Moscow in what appears to be one of the most determined offensives in five years of civil war. The government assault around Aleppo, and advances in the south and northwest, helped to torpedo Geneva peace talks this week. Russia's intervention has tipped the war President Bashar al-Assad's way, reversing gains rebels made last year. The last two days saw government troops and their Lebanese and Iranian allies fully encircle the countryside north of Aleppo and cut off the main supply route linking the city - Syria's largest before the war - to Turkey. Ankara said it suspected the aim was to starve the population into submission. Aleppo would be the biggest strategic prize in years for Assad's government in a conflict that has killed at least 250,000 people and driven 11 million from their homes. Video footage showed thousands of people massing at the Bab al-Salam crossing on the Turkish border. Men carried luggage on their heads, and the elderly and those unable to walk were brought in wheelchairs. Women sat on the side of the road holding babies and waiting to be allowed into Turkey. Rights group Amnesty International urged Turkey to let in those fleeing the latest violence, after reports the border remained closed. "It feels like a siege of Aleppo is about to begin," said David Evans, Middle East programme director for the U.S. aid agency Mercy Corps, which said the most direct humanitarian route to Aleppo had been severed. "The situation in Aleppo is a humanitarian catastrophe, said an opposition spokesman still in Geneva after the ill-fated peace talks. The international community must take urgent, concrete steps to address it. NON-STOP RUSSIAN AIR STRIKES "The Russian (air) cover continues night and day, there were more than 250 air strikes on this area in one day," Hassan Haj Ali, head of Liwa Suqour al-Jabal, a rebel group fighting in northwest Syria, told Reuters. "The regime is now trying to expand the area it has taken control of," he added. "Now the northern countryside (of Aleppo) is totally encircled, and the humanitarian situation is very difficult." Syrian state TV and a monitoring group said the army and its allies had seized the town of Ratyan north of Aleppo. Haj Ali said the town had not yet fallen, but that there were "very heavy battles". The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said some 120 fighters on all sides had been killed around Ratyan. Hezbollah's Al Manar TV and Syrian state TV later on Friday said forces had taken another nearby town, Mayer. The Syrian army and its allies broke a years-long rebel blockade of two Shi'ite towns in Aleppo province on Wednesday, cutting off a major supply line from Turkey to Aleppo. Aleppo, Syria's commercial hub, has been divided for years between a section under government control and areas in the grip of rebels. Much of the UNESCO heritage old city is in ruins. Any government siege would target the rebel-held parts, where more than 350,000 people live. Well over a million live in the areas under government control. Haj Ali said most of the fighters on the government side were "Iranian and from Hezbollah, or Afghan". A non-Syrian senior security source close to Damascus told Reuters on Thursday that Qassem Soleimani, commander of foreign operations of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, was overseeing operations in the Aleppo area. Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier-General Mohsen Ghajarian had been killed in Aleppo province, as had six Iranian volunteer militiamen. The five-year-old civil war pits the government led by Assad, a member of the Alawite sect derived from Shi'ite Islam, against a range of insurgents who are mainly Sunni Muslims, backed by Saudi Arabia, other Arab states and Turkey. Western countries have lined up in opposition to Assad. Since 2014, the Sunni jihadist group Islamic State has run a self-proclaimed caliphate in eastern Syria and Iraq, under air assault from a U.S.-led coalition. Russia launched its own separate air campaign four months ago to aid its ally Assad, transforming the battlefield. But swathes of the country are still in the hands of armed rebels, including Islamic State in the east, Kurdish militia in the north, and a mosaic of groups in the west who have been the target of many of the Russian air strikes. ARMY GAINS IN DERAA Syria's government forces and allies have made further gains in the southern province of Deraa, recapturing a town just outside Deraa city. It has been backed by some of the heaviest Russian air strikes since it began its bombing campaign in September, a rebel spokesman in the area said. The talks convened this week in Geneva were the first diplomatic attempt to end the war in two years but collapsed before they began in earnest. The opposition refused to negotiate while Russia was escalating its bombing and government troops were advancing. NATO said Moscow's intensified bombing campaign undermined the peace efforts and warned Russia was creating tensions by violating the airspace of Syria's neighbour Turkey, a NATO member which shot down a Russian warplane in November. Russia has accused Turkey of preparing a military incursion into northern Syria. Ankara dismissed this as propaganda intended to conceal Russia's own "crimes". Aleppo was threatened with a "siege of starvation", and Turkey had the right to take any measures to protect its security, it said. Moscow says its targets in Syria are restricted to Islamic State and al Qaeda's Syrian branch, the Nusra Front, both of which were excluded from peace talks and unacceptable to the countries supporting the insurgents against Assad. "Why did the opposition that left Geneva complain about the offensive in Aleppo, which is actually targeted against Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front) and other radical extremist groups?" said Russia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Alexey Borodavkin. That position is rejected by Western and Arab countries, which say most Russian strikes are against other opponents of Assad, not the banned groups. Nusra Front said in a statement on Friday it had killed 25 Iranian fighters and Shi'ite militiamen in fighting in Aleppo. "The intense Russia air strikes, mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria, is undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," said NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Russian violations of Turkish airspace were "causing increased tensions and ... create risks". Saudi Arabia said it was ready to participate in separate U.S. ground operations against Islamic State. The United States welcomed the Saudi offer, although Washington so far has committed only to small scale operations by special forces units on the ground in Syria. (Additional reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi in Amman, Humeyra Pamuk in Istanbul, Parisa Hafezi in Ankara and Tom Miles in Geneva; writing by John Davison and Peter Graff; editing by Andrew Roche) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Miami: US health authorities on Friday urged people to use condoms or refrain from sex if they live in or have traveled to areas where the Zika virus is circulating. The new interim guidelines from the US Centers from Disease Control are aimed at pregnant women and their partners, and at people of childbearing age who are concerned about Zika, a primarily mosquito-borne virus which has been linked to birth defects. Earlier this week, US health officials confirmed the first case of sexually-transmitted Zika, involving a person who had traveled to Venezuela and infected a sexual partner in Texas upon return. "Men with a pregnant sex partner who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission and their pregnant sex partners should consistently and correctly use condoms during sex (vaginal, anal, or oral) or abstain from sexual activity for the duration of the pregnancy," said the CDC in a statement. "Consistent and correct use of latex condoms reduces the risk of sexual transmission of many infections, including those caused by other viruses." The CDC urged couples in which a partner is not pregnant to "consider using condoms consistently and correctly during sex or abstaining from sexual activity." But as to how long such measures should be followed, the agency could not say. "The science is not clear on how long the risk should be avoided," said the CDC statement, urging people to talk about testing with their healthcare providers. "Research is now underway to answer this question as soon as possible." - Protecting pregnant women Meanwhile in Brazil, the nation's top research institute said that Zika has been detected in urine and saliva, but added that there was no proof the virus could be transmitted through those fluids. Asked during a conference call with reporters how likely it might be that Zika could spread through saliva and urine, Frieden said "we just have no data to inform that." Thousands of children in Brazil have been born with shrunken heads in the past year -- a birth defect that could result from Zika infection, though a definitive cause has not yet been proven. Until now, cases of Zika-linked microcephaly have been mainly in Brazil and in Hawaii, where a woman who had traveled to Brazil recently had a baby with the birth defect. Frieden said health officials are not surprised that cases have been largely isolated to Brazil "because of the time frame between infection and delivery." Health officials are watching for a potential rise in microcephaly in other nations in Latin America and the Caribbean region, where the virus has spread, he said. Asked by a reporter for more specifics on when such cases could be anticipated, Frieden said it depends on many factors, including how much Zika was present in an area and how likely it is that a Zika infection may result in a birth defect. "There are lots of unknowns here. That is why we have teams on the ground now, heading out today, tomorrow and next week to different places to partner with countries around the continent so that we can learn more," he said. He also made clear that the latest CDC guidance does not apply to men who have sex with men. "Our primary concern and priority here is the protection of pregnant women," said Frieden. The "bottom line" for the CDC is to urge women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant to avoid traveling to areas where Zika virus is circulating, he said. Those who live in these countries and territories should protect themselves by "rigorously using mosquito protection" such as wearing repellent, long sleeves and pants, using air conditioning and screens, Frieden said. "Zika reminds us that -- over and over -- nature is a formidable enemy," he added. "We wish we knew more. We wish we could do more. AFP How often can you say youve walked across a country, from one coast to the other, in one day? Not too often I suspect, but in New Zealand, you can. You can do this in Auckland via the Coast to Coast Walkway, a 16-km route that takes you from the Waitemata Harbour on the Pacific Ocean to the Manukau Harbour on the Tasman Sea. Walking the Coast to Coast was a farewell present for myself. I had spent almost two months in New Zealand, most of it in Auckland, and I wanted to do something special before I left. I prefer walks that are closer to nature, but an urban walk is a wonderful way to learn more about a city, especially one that you love. A good urban walk takes you through the history and geography of the place and allows you to explore the architecture, so you emerge at the end with a better appreciation of a city, even one you may have lived in all your life. Heres a .pdf file of a map of the Coast to Coast Walkway from the Auckland Council website: map. The first twenty minutes or so into the walk involves going through the city centre from Princes Wharf, Customs Street and Princes Street. I actually made a quick detour to the shopping district at Queen Street at this point, then turned back to join the walkway. The route at this stage is clearly marked at road crossings and traffic lights. Auckland is a city of parks and that day I discovered Albert Park. It was a clear day and the Sky Tower was visible from where I sat: Princes Street is also where some of the Auckland University buildings are located, such as this lovely old house: Leave Princes Street and the route takes you along Grafton Road and before long, youll reach Auckland Domain, the citys oldest park. Its a beautiful park but Ill admit that I pretty much breezed through it, wanting to complete the walk before it got too late. Exit the Auckland Domain via Park Road until you reach Maungawhau, or Mount Eden, Aucklands highest volcano. Its a bit of a walk from Park Road but totally worth it. One little-known fact about Auckland is that the city has the largest concentration of volcanoes in the world. The city is built on the Auckland Volcanic Field on which lie at least 50 volcanoes within a land area of 360 square km. The truly interesting (and rather scary bit) is that although the volcanoes are dormant, the volcanic field is active. The Coast to Coast Walkway passes five volcanic sites. Mount Eden, which last erupted 15,000 years ago, has a crater 50 metres deep. The crater can only be truly appreciated from above, way up above, as seen in this incredible photo from GNS Science: After the route heads farther south through Epsom, it arrives at what I consider one of Aucklands most gorgeous spots Cornwall Park and the One Tree Hill Domain. These parks lie next to each other and together, they form the citys largest parkland. I stayed at my brothers house on Pah Road during my time in Auckland and from there, it took only five minutes to get to Cornwall Park. I took many walks around the neighbourhood so in a nerdy sort of way, I was overjoyed to see some familiar streets on this section of the Coast to Coast. The One Tree Hill Domain is where another of Aucklands 50 volcanoes is located. Maungakiekie (One Tree Hill, the same one in that song by U2) is the largest and most complex volcano in the southern hemisphere. Maungakiekie has three craters all covered in lush green in the summer- and for centuries was home for 5,000 Maori villagers who built terraces, food storage pits and defensive structures on the sides of the volcano. Id walked around that section of Epsom and gone up One Tree Hill numerous times, but now that I was following the Coast to Coast Walkway, I began to see the park and neighbourhood differently. I began to notice and appreciate new things, like other entrances to the park, those I hardly used because they were on the opposite side. Like corners of Manukau Road Id walked past but never really paid attention to. There was no big celebration when I reached the end of the walk at Onehunga Bay later that evening. There wasnt even anyone near enough to take a photo of me by the board that marked the end of the walk. There were a few kayaks in the bay and a man and his dog some distance away, but that was it. The funny thing was that after I reached the end, I didnt stop. I went on walking for another 4kms around Onehunga, bringing my total that day to 20km. Tired? My feet certainly were. Hey, they had just walked across New Zealand, sort of. On the bus back to Pah Road, the first thought that came to mind was how much more of Auckland I had seen after walking the Coast to Coast. It dawned on me how much further we explore, both the path and within ourselves, every time we take a new route, and yet this is something we already know deep inside. We already know that to explore, we need to move away from the usual and see things with fresh eyes. After all, wasnt that how we saw the world as children? Werent we curious about everything? Didnt we run around and explore when we were kids? Yet many of us still take the same old routes, the same old buses and trains, walk on the same old streets in our cities. We are too comfortable with the familiar. Taking a different route to Mount Eden and Cornwall Park made me notice new things about Auckland. This came naturally that day: the traveller-writer-photographer in me cannot help but notice things that are new and different. If its our habit to keep a record of our wanderings, whether in the form of words, sketches or images, we programme ourselves to pay attention. Which led me to another thought: noticing new things is a good thing. It opens your eyes and mind to the space youre walking in, whether its the countryside or city. It happens when you step away from the familiar and take a different approach. When youre braver and throw away the map. When you explore. So what else is there for us to do, but to be brave, take a different route, and explore. 2016, Anis. All rights reserved. BONANZA88 JP: Situs Judi Slot Online Gacor Slot88 Bonanza Slot Terbaru Bonanza88JP adalah situs judi slot online slot88 terbaru dan terpercaya yang memberikan info bocoran rtp live admin jarwo bonanza slot terlengkap di Indonesia. 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After two separate E.coli occurrences that sickened 60 customers of Chipotle Mexican Grill, the federal agency that monitors public health announced that the outbreak is now over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement on Monday that the most recent illness in connection to the outbreak was reported last December 1. However, the investigators also said that they still could not pinpoint a specific contaminated food or ingredient responsible for the illnesses, which occurred late last year in 14 different states. Chipotle officials even say that there could be a possibility that they may never identify what caused the sickness. The CDC was able to confirm that 57 percent of those who were affected by the first outbreak and 80 percent of the people affected by the second were female. There were no reported deaths, but 22 of the 60 total people who became ill were confined to the hospital. "We are pleased that the CDC has concluded its investigation, and we have offered our full cooperation throughout," Chris Arnold, a spokesman for Chipotle, said in a statement. "Over the past few months we have taken significant steps to improve the safety of all of the food we serve, and we are confident that the changes we have made mean that every item on our menu is delicious and safe." The outbreak caused the company's stock to plunge at about 26 percent over the past three months. Chipotle's shares bounced back by 4.3 percent on Monday, closing at $472.64, after the CDC announcement. Before the health scare, their shares traded around $747. The question remains, however: Will the restaurant's loyal customers come back, or will the outbreaks cause a permanent dent on Chipotle's reputation as an establishment that serves "food with integrity"? Only time will tell. Everyone wants to skip buying their lunch just because they are in rush to the office. Well then, these healthy, easy and cheap lunch recipes given below are just for them. The recipes are made with the very cheap ingredients that will be available in a nearby store. The recipes will help to cut down the cost of buying lunch from outside and make you healthy as homemade food is good. Fancy Turkey Sandwich Lay the turkey on the whole wheat grain. Then toss the apple or pear slices. Instead of usual boring topping you can prefer cheddar or brie. Now the yummy Turkey sandwich is ready to go in just a touch. You can keep the fruits readily sliced the before night itself. A Brunch as Lunch For people who are in a hurry to really do something and still have the taste for something sweet then this recipe will always suit them well. Just add blueberries with cottage cheese. Then top it with some walnuts. This will make a -in no time- lunch that is quite tasty too. You can even use Greek yoghurt as another ingredient for a different taste. Quick Veggie Pita Decorate the whole grain pita with the veggies sauteed and roasted in the olive oil. Don't forget to add the hummus which gives necessary protein. It can be done with the re-heated veggies too. But the former will be tastier because of the freshness. Tasty Tuna Salad Take a bowl and empty the tuna pouch into the bowl. Mix tuna with the tasty cooked cannellini beans. Then add the cleanly rinsed and dried chick pea or black beans to add flavors. You can add colors to the salad by adding whatever you have like finely cut onions, carrots and celery. You can top it in your own style. This recipe can be done just in a swift gesture. The above recipes will costs as less as $5 as the ingredients are very cheap and available easily in any nearest shop. Feeling a little bit nostalgic and hungry? We challenge you to go through the article by Kristina Bornholtz from the Food Network, without your mind wandering and mouth watering as we list down the 10 childhood snacks we definitely miss and can't eat because: Adults! 1. Scooby-Doo Fruit Snacks More than watching the afternoon cartoon TV programs, nothing more made children of the 90's rush back home than the gummy-scented snacks that filled the air upon opening the package. How can anyone forget the green Mystery Machine flavor? Also, did you know adults who miss eating this decided to explore the right way of eating this Scooby Treat! 2. Lunchables Whenever mom fails to create a very well prepped up lunch, we know its time for Lunchables! The thick-cut, round meats from the package plus a few crackers and other combine-it-yourself ingredients seems like to solve any problem in life. Check out this video where adults eat and react to this kiddie meal! 3. Shaped Pancakes Nothing makes us feel more special than food especially made for us, exerted with effort. Remember when your mom never ran out of ideas on what to make with your pancakes next? Breakfast didn't get any better than that! 4. Pigs in a Blanket As a kid full of imagination, a bite-sized hotdog wrapped in crescent roll dough is not just hotdog wrapped in dough-it's art and we really treasured every bite! (and said sorry to every piggy.) We wish these are the ones they serve in business meetings. Why not try this Grown Up Version Recipe? 5. Easy Cheese Before whipped cream in can rose to fame, Easy Cheese was the bomb. You were a cool kid when you bring one to school and take "squirts" in between classes. 6. Spaghetti O's Maybe grown adults found it weird that kids during that time adored flimsy round noodles swimming in some neon red colored sauce-but we didn't care, and we still don't care. But we care about the recent choking controversy! Yikes! 7. Chicken Patty The happiest school day was the Chicken Patty for lunch day! Never mind that two pieces of limp bread hugs a thin slice of processed chicken don't cater the nutrients we needed, it was delicious, that was what's important! 8. Go-Gurt What we loved about this goodness is when we eat it straight from the plastic tube! 9. Dino Nuggets Because of the amount of shaped foods back when we were kids, it makes you wonder, who said adults don't need them in their grown up life? Remember feeling dominant over dinos when you rip their flesh with your teeth? 10. Hot Pockets You are not a true 90's kid if you didn't get your tongue burnt after eating hot pockets fresh from the microwave! We loved it nonetheless. McDonald's was rained with critism and complaints through social media by disappointed and furious customers after finding out that the newest offering of the biggest fast food brand seems to be lacking one important ingredient. According to netizens who aired out their frustration online, they were served "cheese-less mozzarella sticks". Customers posted photos of their orders-a hollow breadcrumb-crusted log and nothing more on their Twitter and Facebook profiles. Described as 'melty mozzarella cheese breaded with a golden crust', these mozzarella sticks are the newest finger food McDonald's included in their US and UK menu, available for $1 for three sticks. US Based citizens shared pictures of the infamous treat, along with endless rants and complaints online. @HeyAmber021 said that her excitement to try the tempting meal was not worth what she got. Her craving was far from satisfied. All of the six sticks were empty-clearly, that was not a mistake. Courtney Wright expected 'real' mozzarellas, but no, there was no mozzarella at all. She pointed the disappointed emoji, with the caption: "'When you get mozzarella sticks but there is no cheese in them.' Another Twitter user and 'Cheese-less' mozzarella stick customer, April Chavez tweeted: 'Excuse me McDonald's there's no cheese in my mozzarella sticks?!', while Francesca Stubbs seemed confused, asking: 'What is this?' with a picture of her mozzarella stick and asked 'how is that even possible?' With utmost sarcasm, @CheeseburgerCas pointed out 'When I order mozzarella sticks I generally want cheese.' She posted a box full of the "mozzarella" snacks empty on the inside, without cheese. And now, as proof that this is something that can't just be shrugged off, a man from California, who was given a cheese-less mozzarella sticks too, filed a lawsuit and asks for $5 Million as damages. He is being representative of the other 40 customers who decided to take their complaints to the next level. If you think that they are just over reacting, McDonald's may be doing something illegal. According to Eater, "3.76 percent of the cheese portion of McDonald's mozzarella sticks is actually starch filler. Federal guidelines reportedly prohibit the use of starch in products that are labeled "mozzarella cheese". It is considered fraud and deception, and unfair advertising since the fast food chain claims it actually contained mozzarella cheese. McDonald's, on the other hand, has spoken on the issue and denied the allegations that they are manipulating and cooking something up in their kitchens except happy meals. The company will face charges and prove that they are selling meals as promised, in this case legit mozzarella sticks. It's an urban legend that has been around for a long time, but you may want to think twice now before making another meme about it. Fast food giant KFC came out triumphant after filing a lawsuit in China against three local tech firms for spreading out allegations on social media accusing the Yum Brands restaurant of selling genetically modified chickens with "six wings and eight legs". In their official statement, Xuhui District People's Court ordered Yingchenanzhi Success and Culture Communication, Taiyuan Zero Point Technology and Shanxi Weilukuang Technology to issue an official apology and to pay up a combined amount of 600,000 yuan, or $91,191. Yum initially asked each company to shell out 1.5 million yuan ($227,977) each for damages to its name. "We brought suit against these individuals for making false statements about the quality of our food and we are pleased with the outcome," Cindy Wei, a China-based spokeswoman for Yum, said in emailed comments sent to Reuters. The controversy started with a fake photograph that went viral sometime in 2013, showing images of horribly deformed chickens allegedly bred by KFC. It bore false captions like, "These so-called 'chickens' are kept alive by tubes inserted into their bodies to pump blood and nutrients throughout their structure." "They have no beaks, no feathers and no feet. They grow with multiple legs and wings on one 'chicken.' Their bone structure is dramatically shrunk to get more meat out of them. This is great for KFC because it saves them money for their production costs," said another hoax story. The original artist of the photo has since claimed responsibility for the photo, which he said was not intended to deceive. Earlier this week, another food scandal in 2014 that involved KFC and its rival McDonald's came to a close after a Chinese court fined US food supplier, OSI Group, and ordered jail terms for ten of its executives over accusations of reusing returned products to cut down losses. Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A -1.82%) (BRK.B -1.73%) has long considered American Express (AXP -1.08%) an integral part of its portfolio. He includes it in the list of so-called "big four" investments, which together dominate its holdings of public securities. Berkshire Hathaway currently holds 151.6 million shares of the company, about as many split-adjusted shares as it held in 1995 (148.4 million). Thanks to share repurchases, Berkshire's stake in the card company has only grown as a percentage of ownership, despite the fact that the number of shares owned by Berkshire has hardly grown at all over the past 20 years. (Buffett alluded to the fact that Berkshire cannot buy more American Express because it is a bank holding company at the 2013 annual meeting.) What may be more interesting is the extent to which Buffett has defended American Express. ValueAct reportedly acquired more than $1 billion of American Express shares, but blew out of the position when Buffett wasn't open to management changes at the card company. It's rumored that ValueAct wanted to replace key insiders like Ken Chenault, Amex's CEO, who has been with the company for decades. Buffett wanted nothing to do with it. Cashing in Increasingly, American Express appears to be a has-been company -- a once-great company that has slowly lost its competitive position and is destined to generate lower returns for investors going forward. Even Charlie Munger, Warren Buffett's right-hand man at Berkshire Hathaway has said just that. Munger, who once said that "it would be easier to screw up American Express than Coca-Cola or Gillette, but it's an immensely strong business" at the 2000 meeting of shareholders recently sang a different tune. Munger opined that "Amex had a long period of achievement and prosperity. It doesn't look quite so easy going forward as it once did" at the 2015 meeting of Daily Journal shareholders. Why doesn't Berkshire sell its American Express stake? Taxes certainly play a role. Berkshire's 151.6 million shares were acquired at an average cost basis of $8.49 per share. Selling at today's depressed price would trigger a huge tax bill, something Buffett has preferred to defer for as long as "forever." Of course, Buffett could minimize the tax consequence by pairing American Express with a loser. The company's stake in IBM is both sizable and underwater. With an average cost basis of more than $171 per share at the end of 2014, Berkshire could take losses in IBM to offset gains in American Express. The net result is that Berkshire would free up billions of dollars in cash, divest from a company that Munger (and many others) view as having a shrinking moat, and allocate the capital elsewhere. IBM shares, if truly a bargain, could be repurchased later. Food for investing thought While it's sometimes seen as sacrilege to disparage the decisions of one of the world's greatest investors, one has to wonder if, at times, a desire to defer taxes might lead to sub-optimal outcomes for Berkshire Hathaway's public stock portfolio. This has been debated for years. You can go all the way back to the late 1990s, when many debated the rationality of owning Coca-Cola stock at 50 times (low-quality) earnings. It's become a classic case in earnings quality, as the soda company made numbers by tapping into gains by buying and selling its bottlers, a finite source of one-time earnings help. More recently, Buffett took a short-term round trip in Exxon shares, buying and later selling to fund an acquisition. There is some precedent for Buffett making active portfolio management decisions, albeit with smaller stakes. That's neither here nor there. Buffett isn't much for change. Deep down, I think we all know it's unlikely that he becomes more active in managing Berkshire's biggest positions. But it's good food for thought to ask yourself if maybe, just maybe, Berkshire's shareholders might be better off from a little more activity. Even if the price of oil stays at $30 a barrel for the next nine months, Bank of America (BAC -0.65%) says that it will have to write off only $700 million worth of energy loans. This should come as a relief to investors given that the $2.1 trillion bank has already built up a $500 million reserve against those loans that would be used to absorb the losses. To be clear, $700 million is a lot of money -- even to the nation's second biggest bank by assets. Bank of America is currently earning an average of roughly $3.5 billion a quarter. Reducing that figure by $700 million would result in a 20% decline. But there are two things to keep in mind. First, most of this loss has already made its way through Bank of America's income statement. Each quarter, a bank assesses its loan portfolios for potential problems. When it identifies loans that could default, it records a loan loss provision. In the latest quarter, for instance, Bank of America's provision for credit losses was $810 million, allocated over its entire $900 billion loan portfolio. These provisions then pour into a bank's loan loss reserves, which hold the funds until losses actually materialize. As a result, even if Bank of America does in fact have to write off $700 million in energy loans over the next nine quarters, only $200 million of that will hit its income statement, thanks to its $500 million in accumulated reserves. Here's how CFO Paul Donofrio explained this on the bank's fourth-quarter conference call: So we've got a reserve on our energy portfolio of $500 million. That is 6% of those 2 subsectors that we think are high risk. And we have done modeling -- stress test modeling at various oil prices. The one we've been talking about in this call has been at $30, and that's over nine quarters. And so if oil stayed at $30 for nine quarters, we would think that our losses over those nine quarters would be $700 million. Again, that would go against the $500 million we already have reserved. The second thing to keep in mind that is Bank of America is widely diversified, both geographically and across industries. Its energy loans account for only 2% of its total loan portfolio. And within that, only 39% of its energy portfolio stems from loans to the higher-risk subsectors of oil-field servicers and those engaged in exploration and production. This isn't to say that Bank of America won't experience losses in other areas of its energy portfolio, but any that rear their heads should be less severe than those in subsectors that are particularly vulnerable to low oil prices. It's worth keeping in mind as well that Bank of America has $163 billion worth of Tier 1 common capital. While a $700 million hit might render a smaller bank insolvent, in other words, the $200 incremental impact on Bank of America should be relatively negligible so long as its estimates prove to be accurate. Lumber Liquidators (LL 0.28%) was sentenced for importing hardwood from protected forests in Russia in violation of the Lacey Act, a conservation law that protects plants, fish, and wildlife. The flooring specialist will have to pay more than $13 million for having lied about its flooring's origins, saying it came from Germany rather than actually being manufactured in China from eastern Russian trees that were illegally harvested from habitats for endangered Siberian tigers. The sentencing closes a particularly ugly chapter in Lumber Liquidators' history, one that threw the flooring retailer into tumult and contributed to the resignation of three executives in quick succession: the CEO, the CFO, and the chief compliance officer. But the travails of the company may not be over. The larger issue still hanging over Lumber Liquidators is the health risks posed by its flooring. While questions about the off-gassing of formaldehyde fumes have floated around for years, it wasn't until hedge fund operator and noted short seller Whitney Tilson funneled the allegations to the 60 Minutes news program, which aired a segment on the issue, that they really gained traction. Despite Lumber Liquidators' having plenty of advance warning that the show was going to air and put the company in a bad light -- it even announced the potential for damage during the company's earnings conference call the month before the show aired -- as well as having a very valid rebuttal to the allegations, it did not respond to the issue when it broke. Lumber Liquidators let the matter fester for nearly two weeks before it issued a statement that indicated the tests 60 Minutes had referred to were flawed. By then, though, the damage was done and its stock cratered, losing half its value. The subsequent announcement by the Consumer Products Safety Commission that it was going to investigate the matter didn't help, even though the agency said it would test the products in a way Lumber Liquidators says it found preferable. Instead of destroying the flooring it by cutting the wood, as 60 Minutes did, the agency will test it as it's used in the home. That ought to result in a finding favorable to Lumber Liquidators. But having failed to respond to the charges and then getting investigated for the illegal importation of protected wood crushed the flooring specialist's sales. In November it said revenues over the first nine months of the year fell 4%, but the decline was accelerating, as third-quarter revenues tumbled more than 11%, to $236 million, from the year-ago period. Rivals such as Home Depot (HD -2.19%) and Lowe's (LOW -3.07%) may be the beneficiaries of Lumber Liquidators, which could make it more difficult for the flooring specialist to bounce back. Home Depot generated about 7% of its sales from the flooring department in 2014, while Lowe's got about 6% of its annual revenues from the segment. Both have also taken major strides in eliminating harmful chemicals from their products. Not even Tilson's covering his big short bet against the flooring company in December helped Lumber Liquidators stock, which now trades at less than $13 a share, an 80% loss of value from when the matter first broke and a near 90% plunge from its all-time high achieved two years ago. While it's reasonable to suspect the CPSC investigation will fall its way, there are no guarantees, and Lumber Liquidators remains a risk. Its reputation has been damaged by these separate incidents and the company's response to them. The flooring specialist may have turned the page on its illegal wood importation charges, but the chapter on the health risks of its products hasn't been written yet, and it still needs to rehabilitate its image with consumers. There's a long way to go before we can say the book is closed. Republicans this week took the first step back from the ledge on which theyd been perched and began to rethink their infatuation with Donald Trump. Lousy income growth and worries over immigration perhaps dont justify turning the party over to a vulgar xenophobe after all, a large majority of Republicans in the Iowa caucuses seem to have said. Not that their first choice, Ted Cruz, is probably any more electable than Trump. Maybe less so, in fact, given his strident right-wing history. But Cruz at least comes from an identifiable political perspective and can articulate his positions with clarity, in contrast to Trumps reliance on celebrity bluster. A party prepared to turn its future over to a strongman-like figure who seems to believe mainly in himself is a party on the verge of meltdown. To be sure, Trump still holds big leads in New Hampshire and national polls and his legion of admirers are likely to consider the blow from Iowa merely a temporary setback. Which of course it might be. Moreover, his poisonous effect on the GOP field will linger. His surprising strength, for example, has driven Marco Rubio from an original upbeat campaign message toward angry and sometimes excessive rhetoric on immigration and national security and even second thoughts about an important trade agreement hed been supporting. Meanwhile, Hillary Clintons camp has to deal with the fact that although she was the official winner of the Democratic caucuses, she essentially finished in a dead heat with a self-proclaimed socialist who cobbled together a campaign on the fly and who virtually no one believes could win a general election. Like Trump, Sanders extravagant rhetoric (not to mention reckless spending plans) has nudged his worried rival away from the mainstream in order to co-opt his support. Also like Trump, Sanders happens to be ahead in the New Hampshire polls. Clinton will almost certainly regroup and assert her dominance in later primaries, but her appeal even to many Democrats appears decidedly lukewarm. To the extent that this is partly fatigue with someone whos been in the public eye for so long is understandable (see Jeb Bushs deflated campaign). But its worrisome, too, insofar as Sanders showing also seems to represent a resurgent appeal in America of economic ideas that should have been discredited decades ago. Both parties identities, it seems, remain up for grabs as they head toward the next electoral test. The Denver Post When I was a kid, one of my favorite places to go was Newport on the Levee. I was mesmerized by the cooks at... Talks of prescription drug prices are hitting the presidential campaign trail, while former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli pleaded The Fifth during a congressional hearing on drug pricing in Washington, D.C. on Thursday. During an interview on FOX Business Networks Countdown to the Closing Bell, 2016 GOP presidential candidate and Ohio Governor John Kasich said government needs to take a look at the pharmaceutical industry. I believe the whole industry has to undergo a review, he said. I happen to believe that we probably are paying for things in research and development that the taxpayers already funded, that perhaps companies are marking up. Kasich added: I like to have competition. I also don't understand why people in Europe can pay much lower prices for the same drugs we pay higher for, because we paid for the R&D. To me, that's a total rip off on us. More on this... Trump talks prescription drug costs on the campaign trail On his 2016 campaign, Kasich said one of the keys to being successful is positivity. If you're all negative and you're not positive, then I don't know how you're going to put a coalition together and govern the country, he said. Winning an election and not being able to unite people is really false victory. So for us, we're going to continue to be positive. I mean if I get attacked I'll have to defend myself, but basically we're living on the sunny side of the street up here in New Hampshire. Investing in Americas infrastructure may not be the top issue on the 2016 campaign trail, but some candidates are adding it to their political agenda. In late November 2015, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton unveiled a five-year infrastructure plan with a hefty price tag of $275 billion. The domestic proposal is part of Clintons jobs agenda aimed at creating middle-class jobs while investing heavily in improving the countrys highways, airports and ports. Clinton called the plan a down payment on our future and said she would go further than the legislation currently being considered by Congress. In early December 2015, the House and Senate passed a bipartisan long-term transportation bill costing $305 billion over a five-year period. The bill, which was signed into law by President Obama, is the largest transportation package in more than a decade. According to data from the White House Council of Economic Advisers, every $1 billion invested in infrastructure creates approximately 13,000 jobs. Each dollar put towards infrastructure leads to an estimated $1.60 increase in gross domestic product (GDP) the following year and twice that over the coming 20 years, according to Clintons campaign statement. American workers and businesses are the engines of a dynamic, entrepreneurial, and growing economyan economy that supports good jobs with high wages. But by failing to invest in our infrastructure, we are forcing these engines of growth and job-creation to run on second-rate fuel, Clinton said in a statement. Clintons strategy includes some of the following specifics: ? The plan will work to ensure that federal infrastructure investments are resilient to both current and future climate risks, and will partner with states, cities and rural communities to develop regionally coordinated, resilient infrastructure strategies. ? The plan would fix and expand roads and bridgesreducing congestion and cutting the pothole tax. ? It also calls for expanding public transit options to lower transportation costs and unlock economic opportunity for Americans in opportunity deserts. ? It would connect small businesses, farmers, and manufacturers to their customers and suppliers with a national freight investment program. ? The plan would accelerate next generation aviation technology and invest in creating world-class American airports saving travelers time, cutting down on delays, and reducing carbon emissions- and connect all Americans to the digital economy with 21st century Internet access. The Republican National Committee released a statement criticizing the plan: "With Hillary Clinton's spending binge already at a trillion dollars and counting, its clear she wants to treat Americans tax dollars like every day is Black Friday with no plan to pay the bill. Democratic presidential rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, also proposed an infrastructure plan of his own called the Rebuild America Act. The stimulus program would generate 13 million new jobs by spending $1 trillion to improve or rebuild roads, bridges and transit systems over a five-year period. Sanders plan is meant to supplement the existing federal highway program, with annual expenditures of about $148 billion on top of the current $50 billion a year in highway spending. For most of our history, the U.S. proudly led the world in building infrastructure that grew our economy, gave our businesses a competitive advantage, and provided our workers a decent standard of living. Sadly, that is no longer the case, Sanders said in a statement. Sanders' strategy includes some of the following specifics: ? The Rebuild America Act would more than double the current level of funding for the highway and transit accounts of the Highway Trust Fund, and would create a National Infrastructure Bank to leverage private capital to finance more than $125 billion in new projects. ? It will invest $75 billion to upgrade our passenger and freight rail lines, to move people and goods more quickly and efficiently. ? The Act will invest $12.5 billion to improve airports across the country, and $17.5 billion to bring air traffic control system into the 21st century by accelerating deployment of NextGen technology to make skies safer and airports more efficient. ? It will allocate an additional $15 billion over five years to clear the backlog of projects to improve inland waterways, coastal harbors and shipping channels. ? It will invest $6 billion a year so states can improve the drinking water systems that provide Americans with clean, safe water; and $6 billion a year to improve the wastewater plants and storm water infrastructure that protect water quality in our nations rivers and lakes. On the Republican side, most of the top tier candidates have only mentioned the need for investing in infrastructure. GOP front runner Donald Trump has not outlined a specific plan at this point but has been the most vocal about his concerns to rehabilitate the infrastructure system. In an interview on Fox News last month, Trump said, We have to rebuild our country. Our country is a mess. Our infrastructures crumbling and we owe $19 trillion. In December 2015, Trump told CNN the United States shouldve spent $4 trillion to fix our roads, our bridges, and all of the other problems; our airports and all of the other problems we've had, we would've been a lot better off. The month before on the FOX Business Network, the billionaire businessman suggested the U.S. has been fighting the battles of the world for so long, and our country is becoming third world. We owe $19 trillion - we have to rebuild our country, our infrastructure. Trumps biggest Republican presidential rival, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, has not rolled out an extensive plan to rebuild Americas infrastructure. Cruzs website does suggest any investment in American infrastructure would be concentrated in the energy sector by approving the Keystone Pipeline and empowering the private sector to create good-paying American jobs. The Texas senator also says he would remove federal impediments to energy exploration, development and trade, but does not offer specifics. In December 2015, Cruz was one of the Republicans in the Senate that voted against the $305 billion measure to fund roads, bridges and rail lines. The bill passed Congress and was signed by President Obama. Unlike Trump and Cruz, Republican presidential hopeful Florida Senator Marco Rubio has outlined a plan concerning investment in American infrastructure. The proposal, Marcos Plan for Transportation in the New American Century , is not as detailed as his Democratic rivals but it does outline some concrete steps. However, similar to Senator Cruz, Rubio also voted against a $305 billion bi-partisan bill to fund roads, bridges and rail lines. Rubios outlined plan on his campaign website includes the following: ? Cut Outdated Gas Taxes: Reduce the federal gasoline tax rate by 80%and Veto any gas-tax increase. ? Empower States to Innovate: Turn back control of the highways to the states, stopping special interests in Washington from building Bridges to Nowhere and engaging in other wasteful spending. Free states from the strings that come attached to federal funding and remove barriers to public-private partnerships. ? Find Common-Sense Savings: Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act that inflates government costs by billions every year and is a giveaway of taxpayer dollars to labor unions. Phase out the Mass Transit Account, which loots the Highway Trust Fund and stop diverting highway funds to unnecessary pet projects. Ohio Governor John Kasich has addressed concerns for the need to invest in infrastructure, but unlike Rubio has not offered a point-by-point plan. He is a proponent of directing infrastructure investment away from the federal government into the hands of states. Kasich made his stance clear last summer in a Time Magazine editorial, Gov. John Kasich: Let the States Fix Our Crumbling HighwaysInstead of Washington. Some states are so desperate that they are taking matters into their own hands, but they lack the authority to make real progress. Six states recently increased their gas taxes to try to fund their own needs, but that only puts more pressure on consumers and job creators at a time when the economy is still trying to get going. These tax hikes wouldnt be necessary if Washington made some common-sense reforms, like take itself out of the picture, said Kasich in the editorial. On his campaign website, the Kasich Action Plan breaks down some of his infrastructure improvement ideas in greater detail. Austan Goolsbee, former Economic Advisor to President Obama, discussed the outlook for the U.S. economy with FOX Business Networks Stuart Varney. Goolsbee addressed concerns about the slowing U.S. economy and the possibility of another recession. I dont disagree with that on either count, I think we have been slowing and when Ive been on your show before Ive been saying I was worried about the Fed moving too quickly because the rest of the worlds borderline meltdown was going to have implications for the U.S. and meant we were likely to slow down. You cant rule out the possibility that we would even go into a recession if they had a really hard landing in China and Europe deteriorated. Goolsbee responded to Varneys argument that Republicans calls for tax cuts to stimulate the economy is a better solution than Democrats calls for more taxes and spending. Well its not that in spirit that youre wrong, its that youre mischaracterizing the positions of both sides in the policy-sphere. First, the Democrats are not for lets just raise all taxes and spend money on nothing thats important for growth and the Republicans have not proposed anything like the judicious pro-growth policies you are describing. When Varney pointed out Reagans tax cuts and subsequent economic growth to support his view, Goolsbee said, It was terrific growth, it was the second best in U.S. economic history following the first best which was under Clinton when they raised high-income tax rates. Despite their opposing views on how to stimulate the economy Goolsbee proposed a plan. What I want you to do Stuart is start looking around the world and you and I together plot how we are going to protect this country from the collapses in China and Europe. Though less volatile than previous weeks in terms of violent day-to-day swings, it was an ugly week for Wall Street. The major averages stumbled through the last five days, ultimately capping the period solidly in negative territory. By the closing bell Friday, the Dow dropped 1.7% with the S&P losing just more than 3%. But the steepest losses came on the Nasdaq after a sharp drop in technology shares, taking the tech-heavy index down more than 3% for the week. Zooming out to a more macro view, Wall Street digested several key economic reports this week including data on both the manufacturing and services sectors, and a big jobs report on Friday. These are the biggest headlines you might have missed. Manufacturing, Services Slow in January The week kicked off with data from the Institute for Supply Management, which showed the U.S. manufacturing sector notched its fourth-straight month of contraction as the gauge rose slightly to 48.2 in January from 48 in December. The reading was below the 50 mark that separates expansion from contraction. Not only was the headline figure weak, the employment component recorded its lowest reading since June. The outlook on the manufacturing sector of the economy didnt perk up on Wednesday when the Commerce Department released its factory data showing orders at the gate saw the biggest drop in a year in December. Meanwhile, ISMs gauge of service sector growth showed a slowdown in that area of the economy in January as well. The gauge dropped to 53.5 last month from 55.8 in December. It was the lowest reading since February 2014. Andy Kapyrin, director of research at Regent Atlantic, said the manufacturing-sector slowdown was something investors should have seen coming. The U.S. dollar has been really strongthat really hurts manufacturing because to the extent that we still manufacture, its high-quality goods that are exported abroad, he explained. Its not a surprise at all that manufacturing is struggling. I wouldnt read that as negative data for the most part because we should have seen this. Despite that, he said this weeks data, and how its likely to help keep consumers cautious, could be more ammunition to prevent the Federal Reserve from hiking rates again at its March meeting. January Jobs Has Something for Everyone The Labor Department was out with its non-farm payrolls report for January on Friday, and investors all over the map had something to keep them satiated. The economy added 151,000 jobs during the month, far less than the 190,000 jobs analysts expected, and well below the 262,000 added in December, a downward revision from the 292,000 initially reported. However, the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.9%, the lowest level in eight years, from 5%, amid expectations for it to remain unchanged, while the labor force participation rate rose to 62.7% from 62.6%. Unexpectedly, especially on the heels of the weak data from ISM earlier in the week, factory jobs were a bright spot in the first month of the year. In the sector, 29,000 jobs were created, well above the expectation for a loss of 2,000 jobs. The December figures were also revised up to 13,000 from 8,000. Average hourly earnings, meanwhile, were up 2.5% from a year ago. The jobs report on the whole is a good thing because what it says is today, if youre looking for a job, you have a relatively easy time finding it. People are coming back into the workforce, which is a complete about-face from the trend over the last few years, but the biggest thing it says iswe might see meaningful wage growth again, Kapyrin said. Earnings Season Rolls On A large swath of the nations companies have so far reported fourth-quarter results, with a big chunk of them out this week including names like Alphabet Googles parent company (NASDAQ:GOOGL), Exxon (NYSE:XOM), Pfizer (NYSE:PFE), General Motors (NYSE:GM) and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP). According to S&P Capital IQ, aggregate earnings for the quarter are expected to decline 5.11% from the same period last year with only four sectors showing positive results. The health care, telecommunications and consumer discretionary were seen as the leaders with growth of at least 9.3%, while energy continues to be the biggest laggard with -75% growth. Of the 317 S&P 500 companies that have so far reported their results, 211 have beat analysts estimates, while 60 missed and 46 met. Kapyrin said this quarter was generally a repeat of the third quarter localized weakness in energy and some exporters. He pointed to Chevron, which reported its first full-year loss in more than 10 years. This might be a sign that were coming to the end of the energy-crisis cycle, he said. Next week, Wall Street looks for 13% of S&P companies to release their quarterly results. What to Watch Next Week In addition to quarterly score cards for Corporate America, investors look forward to a relatively calm week on the economic front with few key releases until the end of the week. ? Monday: No significant releases ? Tuesday: Wholesale trade ? Wednesday: Federal budget ? Thursday: Weekly jobless claims ? Friday: Retail Sales, import and export prices, consumer sentiment. Toyota Motor Corp raised its full-year net profit forecast on Friday due to improvements in its Chinese operations, while the Japanese automaker also lifted its sales forecast for the North American market, where demand has been booming. The world's biggest-selling automaker said it expected to post a record net profit of 2.27 trillion yen ($19.43 billion) in the year to March, up slightly from a previous forecast of 2.25 trillion yen, as operating income in Asia picks up due to increased production efficiencies in China. Along with favorable exchange rates in the region, this has lifted earnings even as economic weakness among some Asian countries has resulted in lower vehicle sales. "Our Chinese operations have improved, which has increased our profitability. This is why we've raised our profit forecast," Managing Officer Tetsuya Otake told a results briefing. Toyota raised its full-year vehicle sales forecast for the North American market to 2.87 million from 2.85 million, as a stable U.S. economy keeps demand strong for its SUVs and pick-up trucks. Japan's biggest automaker has been enjoying solid growth in the United States, its largest market which posted record annual sales last year as an improving economy and lower gasoline prices have cranked up demand for higher-margin SUVs and pick-up trucks. The automaker sold 10.15 million vehicles globally in calendar 2015, beating out Volkswagen, which has seen its sales suffer due to an emissions-cheating scandal, to keep its title as the world's best-selling automaker. While a sharp fall in the Japanese yen versus the U.S. dollar in recent years has boosted profitability, Toyota said its impact has started to subside. For the year, it has set a U.S. dollar rate of 120 yen, compared to a previous forecast of 118 yen. A stabilizing yen against the U.S. dollar following months of deep losses, along with an appreciation in the Japanese currency against the euro and other currencies weighed on the company's third-quarter operating profit, which fell 5.3 percent from the previous year to 722 billion yen. This was lower than forecasts for 780 billion yen taken from 12 analysts according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S/. Toyota said domestic vehicle output would likely be impacted by a stoppage in domestic production next week due to a steel shortage following an explosion at a steel plant owned by one of its affiliate companies. The company said it had yet to factor in any possible impact into its earnings. ($1 = 116.8300 yen) (Reporting by Naomi Tajitsu; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman) Billionaire businessman Donald Trump may be what Republicans want, but Florida Senator Marco Rubio is what they need to win the 2016 presidential election, according to a national poll from Quinnipiac University released Friday. Trump is still the frontrunner in the GOP field with 31% support from Republican voters nationwide. Texas Senator Ted Cruz comes in second place with 22% and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is in third with 19%. However, in a head-to-head general election matchup, Rubio beats Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton 48% to 41% and ties with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders with 43% support. In a race against Trump, Sanders beats the real estate mogul 49% to 39% and also wins against the Texas senator 46% to 42%. Rubio and Sanders are the strongest contenders in the general election, but if former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg enters the race, he could be a threat to Sanders. In a hypothetical 3-way election, Sanders gets 35% of the vote, Trump takes 36% and Bloomberg garners 15%. However, Sanders beats Cruz 37% to 36% with Bloomberg at 15%. In the Democratic race, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton holds 44% support nationwide while Senator Bernie Sanders has 42%, with 11% still undecided. In the December poll, Clinton held a substantial lead with 61% compared to Sanders 30%. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll in a statement. When it comes to high favorability ratings, Sanders and Rubio score the highest among American voters. The Vermont senator has 44% while the Florida senator has 42%. On the flip side, Clinton, Trump and Cruz hold the highest unfavorable scores. Clintons negative rating is 56%, Trumps 59% and Cruzs 42%. "While Trump, Clinton and Cruz wallow in a negative favorability swamp, by comparison, Rubio and Sanders are rock stars," said Malloy. Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,125 registered voters nationwide from February 2 4, with a margin of error plus or minus 2.9 percentage points. The survey includes 507 Republicans with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points and 484 Democrats with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. At least 25 percent of children and adolescents have suicidal thoughts at some point during their lives, but what causes a young person to attempt, and succeed, in taking his or her life requires a unique set of conditions. Conditions that drive suicide clustering the instance of several consecutive suicides in a single window of time and space, and usually in one geographic region are even more complex, psychologists say. Suicide clustering, though less common than isolated suicide cases, has occurred numerous times throughout history, including in Japan, Germany, Australia, Canada and even the United States. In Japan, suicide pacts made over the Internet in 2000 reportedly led to at least 1,000 suicides by inhaling fumes from household cleaning products. In Del Mar, Calif., 39 members of the cult Heavens Gate also made headlines in 1997 after committing suicide simultaneously by using sedatives and vodka, and then suffocating themselves with plastic bags. A unique and grim version of the phenomenon has re-entered the international spotlight this spring after a documentary on a now infamous British county, Bridgend where 99 young people have committed suicide since 2007 was released on Netflix. In the U.S., suicide clustering is currently plaguing an Indian reservation in South Dakota, where media report that seven teenagers have killed themselves since December. We know that suicide actually is not contagious, Nadine Kaslow, professor and chief psychologist at Emory University, and 2014 president of the American Psychological Association (APA), told FoxNews.com. Contagion means you catch it. You dont really catch it, but whether it becomes part of a culture, it looks like there are some examples that would suggest thats possible. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not have a formal monitoring system for recording suicide clusters, but statistics suggest they account for between 3 to 5 percent of total suicides committed in the United States, said Alex E. Crosby, a medical epidemiologist in the division of violence prevention in the CDCs Injury Center. Kaslow said accurately recording single suicides alone is challenging as it is, as many families whose loved ones have committed suicide decline to share details and often dont admit their family members true cause of death due to stigma. According to 2013 statistics from the CDC, the most recent data available, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 34, and the third leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 14. That year, among those groups, nearly 5,000 people and 6,350 people, respectively, took their lives. Although the CDC does not track suicide attempts in particular, in 2013, about 494,170 visited a hospital for injuries due to self-harm behavior, which suggests that about 12 people harm themselves for every reported death by suicide, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Suicide as a whole is the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more people than any other cause of injury, including car crashes. A lumpy rug In South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, few weeks will pass without a suicide attempt, suicide-prevention workers in the region say. Between 16,000 and 40,000 members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe live on the 2 million-acre reservation, one of the largest in the United States. According to the Star Tribune, almost 1,000 suicide attempts were recorded on the reservation between 2004 and 2013. Tribe members attribute the epidemic to sparse job availability and destitute living conditions. While suicide clusters like the aforementioned in Japan and California can be traced to a concrete source suicide websites and a specific cults rituals, respectively popular theories that explain why the consecutive suicides in Bridgend have occurred span from seasonal affective disorder to a sense of malaise among the population. In Bridgend, a community located two hours outside of London, most of the young people who have killed themselves have done so by hanging. The documentary Bridgend details the grim turn of events: family members, friends, classmates participating in a cult-like cascade of deaths for reasons unexplained. As media reports circulated worldwide in the years following the beginning of the epidemic, suicide rates in Bridgend continued to climb. That trend instilled fear in the community, prompting a gag order on Parliament, a media embargo, and talking restrictions on police mechanisms imposed to try to prevent further injury, but efforts that ultimately increased the stigma of suicide, said Bridgend director John Michael Williams. Suicide is epidemic now, Williams told FoxNews.com, so clearly this theory of lets not talk about it, of copy cats, that it will put suicide in peoples minds I think its bulls***. You sweep it under the rug, and you end up with a lumpy rug. Some studies have speculated that the way media report suicide may glamorize the act and promote imitation suicide behavior, but most experts, including Kaslow and Crosby, say not talking about suicide ultimately prevents people who need help from coming forward. People have a lot of feelings after someone dies, said Kaslow, of the APA. And the more those become silences, secret or stigma, the less likely people are to cope with their distress and worry and fears. Unfortunately, death by suicide can pull a family or community apart. An underlying issue Were living in very trying times and very difficult times, Annecy Baez, an associate professor of social work at the Touro College in New York, told FoxNews.com. We need to educate people on seeking help sooner, and we need to create communities where theres better awareness. Baez, who has been a clinical social worker for 30 years and has counseled suicide patients, said preventing suicide requires being able to spot warning signs, and that preventing suicide clustering specifically requires communication and having response teams in place when suicides do occur. Those fleets, which can consist of counselors and therapists, are already established at most U.S. colleges, but communities can also create them with teachers, parents, law enforcement officials and crisis center counselors. According to the CDC, suicide warning signs include a family history of suicide, a history of depression or other mental illness, a history of alcohol or drug abuse, a stressful life event or loss, as well as exposure to other peoples suicidal behaviors. Among those teens who commit suicide, four out of five will present clear warning signs. Even if theres some clustering effect, I dont think you do it just to do it, Kaslow said. The people who [commit suicide] are struggling in their own way whether its depression, substance abuse or anxiety, or difficulty dealing with the stress of whatevers going on in their life, loss or abuse or whatever. I think that the presence of a suicide in a community is only one of the risk factors. Each year, more than 39,000 Americans take their own lives, and in 2013, suicide rates were highest among people ages 45 to 64, according to the CDC. But with regard to suicide clustering, historically, youth appear to be especially at risk. They (suicide clusters) tend to occur among adolescents and young adults, said Crosby, of the CDC. We rarely see them among middle-age adults or older adults. Studies show the brain does not fully develop until a person reaches his or her mid-20s, and youth have been known to be especially impressionable and unable to regulate their emotions to the extent that adults can. In Bridgend, in some instances after young people committed suicide, those peoples friends would add memorial pages on the social networking site Bebo. But then, many of those people ended up taking their lives, too. Those memorials have since been removed from the site. As a social worker, Baez said she has seen how modern technology in general and especially social media can exacerbate the mental wellbeing of young people and sometimes impact suicidal thoughts. Young people are more exposed in the sense that on Facebook they see these lives that are so amazing, and think their life is not quite there. But they dont know that people put their best face forward, she said. So its not a real picture, but it doesnt matterthats how people see it, and theres a lot of comparison, and [the thought of] Am I living up to these specific standards? Do I look the right way? But the individual has to have a risk there people dont commit suicide without a previous psychiatric disorder, she said. Reducing the stigma Williams said while filming Bridgend, he had to persuade every single family who appeared on camera to open their door and speak to him. But, when they did open their mouths, it was like opening a dam, he said. They needed to talk about it. They couldnt keep it in, he said. And I think it was almost cathartic for them. Arguably, its their greatest life event or trauma you dont talk about it, and they are somehow supposed to keep it under-wraps? I think they had the feeling by and large that they would do anything to spare someone else the agony they were going through. I have never in my life felt such palpable grief. In the immediate years following the beginning of the Bridgend suicide cluster, charities began rolling out suicide-intervention training in schools and colleges. Many media outlets attributed the epidemic to a lack of suicide prevention strategy in Great Britain. But most experts agree that those prevention systems, regardless of whether they are in place, can only be effective in the absence of stigma. Baez said she wishes suicide could be treated like substance abuse disorders, and have support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) at youths disposal when a suicide occurs or for anyone who thinks of acting on suicidal thoughts. Its not diabetes or cancer, so there is a stigma, she said. I wish it could be seen like other issues. Bridgend director Williams referenced actor Robin Williams death in August and recalled that within an hour, media reports swirled that the actors suicide was the result of money and career problems. Nobody could believe that maybe he was just at the end of it, John Michael Williams said. We live in a country where [if] you break your leg or get cancer, you can get treated, but if you lose a loved one or youre really devastated, the ability to be treated is hard and is looked down upon as a weakness. Everyone knows someone whos ended their life, but we dont handle death well, period, and suicide is even worse because its not a natural cause of events, Williams added. But I want people to talk about it. I want people to teach their children: Dont smoke cigarettes youll get cancer dont drink and drive, dont take drugs, and dont murder other people, and dont murder yourself. I want people to take this out of the darkness and demystify it. next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 Authorities in Brazil, where a Zika outbreak has been linked to severe birth defects, on Thursday disclosed two cases of transmission tied to blood transfusions, adding to concerns over the spread of the virus. The virus, spreading quickly across Latin America and the Caribbean, is usually transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. Marcelo Addas Carvalho, the doctor who is the director of the blood center at the University of Campinas near Sao Paulo, said genetic testing confirmed that a man who received a blood transfusion using blood donated by another man infected with Zika in March 2015 became infected with the virus, although he did not develop symptoms. Carvalho said another man, who had suffered gunshot wounds, also became infected with Zika after receiving multiple blood transfusions that included blood donated by an infected person in April 2015. Carvalho said that infection probably was caused by the transfusion but genetic tests have not yet been conducted to confirm it. He said it was very unlikely the infection was caused by a mosquito bite because the patient was in a hospital intensive care unit for three months. The patient later died from his gunshot wounds and not the Zika infection, health officials and Carvalho said. "Transmission of the virus through blood transfusion is very rare and not an important factor in the epidemic. Governments and society in general should focus on eliminating the mosquito, which is the main form of transmission," Carvalho said. The Brazil cases, along with a reported case of sexual transmission of the virus in Texas add a new dimension to efforts to limit Zika's spread. The cases have emerged at an awkward time because Rio de Janeiro is preparing to host the Olympic Games in August when tens of thousands of athletes and tourists were expected to visit Brazil's second largest city. Brazil is investigating more than 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly, a condition in which infants are born with abnormally small heads and can suffer developmental problems, that may be linked to the outbreak. Scientists have begun to study whether Zika infection in pregnancy can cause microcephaly. The World Health Organization, citing strong suspicions of a link between the two and the spike in cases in Brazil, declared a global health emergency on Monday. Sexual contact and blood transfusions as modes of transmission of the virus have been matters of concern for experts since the beginning of the outbreak, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. But Schaffner questioned whether either will lead to widespread transmission of Zika. "A little bit of transmission? Sure," Schaffner said. "But the main engine of transmission that has led this virus to be spread widely throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean is, of course, the mosquito." Procedures for blood donations have been tightened in the countries including Brazil to protect blood supplies from Zika. U.S. health officials are still working on national guidelines. Following word of the Texas case on Tuesday, U.S. health officials urged the use of condoms to prevent spreading sexually transmitted infections. Brazil said it was reinforcing instructions to blood banks that people infected with Zika or dengue not be permitted to donate blood for 30 days after full recovery from the active stage of Zika infection. The American Red Cross has urged prospective donors who have visited Zika outbreak zones to wait at least 28 days before giving blood, but said the risk of transmitting the virus through blood donations was "extremely" low in the continental United States. It asked donors who give blood and subsequently develop symptoms consistent with Zika within 14 days to notify the Red Cross so the product can be quarantined. In the Texas case, a person in Dallas became infected with Zika after having sex with another person who had traveled in Venezuela, where the virus is circulating. Dallas County health officials said on Thursday both those people have fully recovered from the virus. Schaffner said uncertainties remain about sexual transmission of the virus, including how long a person might be able to transmit it or whether an infected person must have had symptomatic Zika in order to be able to transmit Zika through sex. Most infected people do not develop any symptoms. While health authorities have not provided such details, Schaffner said he suspected a man transmitted Zika to a woman. "We don't know whether it can move from a woman to a man. We assume also that if a man can transmit it to a woman, that a man could also transmit it to another man," Schaffner said. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday expanded his state's free Zika testing to include all pregnant women who have traveled to countries where people have been infected. Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a public health emergency on Wednesday in four counties with travel-related cases of the Zika virus. Scott extended his order to a fifth county on Thursday. He has also ordered increased mosquito control efforts in some of the southeastern state's most heavily populated locales including Miami and Tampa. Health officials issued new recommendations this week in an update to the vaccine schedule for children, including a recommendation to get a new type of vaccine against HPV, and an update to the timing of this vaccine for some children. The updated schedule for children and teens was released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with a corresponding policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The update is an opportunity to remind people that "vaccine-preventable disease is at historically low levels for almost every single vaccine," said Dr. Cody Meissner, a co-author of the new policy statement and a pediatric infectious-disease specialist at Tufts University in Boston. "And the reason for that is because vaccine uptake is at historically high levels." "If we have a decrease in immunization rates, we are going to see these diseases return," Meissner said, citing the recent outbreaks of measles and whooping cough as possible examples of this. One change in the updated schedule is the introduction of a new type of HPV vaccine, called 9vHPV, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December 2014. The previously recommended vaccine, called 4vHPV, offered protection against four types of HPV associated with certain types of cancer. The new vaccine adds protection against five more types of HPV linked to cancer, particularly cervical cancer, Meissner said. [5 Dangerous Vaccine Myths] "That means that the HPV-4 vaccine covered about 65 percent of the viruses that cause cervical cancer, and the HPV-9 will prevent about 80 percent of the viruses that cause cervical cancer," Meissner told Live Science. The new schedule continues to recommend that the HPV vaccine be given to children beginning at age 11. However, the new schedule now recommends that children with a history of sexual abuse receive the first dose of the vaccine at age 9, because they have an increased risk of HPV infection. This increased risk is partly because children who have suffered abuse are more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age, Meissner said. Meningitis prevention The updated vaccination schedule now also includes the addition of the meningococcal B vaccine for some adolescents. The vaccine protects against the rare but potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that can affect the brain. The vaccine is recommended at age 10 for children who are at an increased risk of contracting the disease. This high-risk group includes kids with certain immunodeficiencies, such as those who have had to have their spleen removed, Meissner said. Individuals who don't have a high risk of contracting the disease can be considered for the vaccine between ages 16 and 18, depending on their doctor's recommendation. The meningococcal B vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 in response to several outbreaks of bacterial meningitis at colleges in the United States. Vaccination schedules for children and teens are approved annually by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the CDC, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The AAP policy statement was published Monday (Feb. 1) in the journal Pediatrics. Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The recent suicides of two girls from the same Texas high school were among the latest such tragic deaths to shake a disbelieving community, and underscored what experts say is a troubling national trend. Ritu Sachdeva and Hillary "Kate" Kuizon, both 17-year-old seniors at Plano East Senior High School, knew each other, according to police, who are investigating whether the deaths are connected. Sachdeva died Jan. 31 from a medication overdose inside her home, the medical examiner ruled, while Kuizon died by hanging herself in a wooded area not far from a middle school in Murphy, a suburb of Plano. "We dont have good explanations for why were seeing this increase." Dr. Thomas Simon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Their deaths as well as other recent teen suicides to make national headlines -- from Westport, Conn., to Omaha, Neb., -- are part of a steady rise in self-inflicted deaths among young people, ages 10 to 24, since 2007, according to health officials. "We are seeing significant increases in suicide for those ages," Dr. Thomas Simon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's suicide expert, told FoxNews.com. "When you go back to 2007, the rates in that age group have gone up every year." According to the CDC, 5,504 people ages 10 to 24 died by suicide in 2014, the most recent year in which statistics are available. The figure was up from the grim 2013 tally of 5,264, and the number has risen every year and up 13 percent from 2010. Experts are braced for official 2014 and 2015 statistics to show a continued upward trajectory. Males are four times as likely as females to kill themselves, and the rate of teen suicide is higher in rural Western states, where there is greater social isolation and more difficult access to mental health care, experts say. It's not clear what's causing the rise, according to those collecting the data. "The data allows us to track the trends over time but they dont allow us to look at the causes behind those trends," said Simon. "We dont have good explanations for why were seeing this increase." Families, psychiatrists and suicide prevention advocates offer explanations ranging from cyberbullying to underlying mental health disorders to economic factors. On Dec. 23, two days before Christmas, 14-year-old Christopher Lanni, of Westport, Conn., died at Yale-New Haven Hospital in what the state medical examiner ruled was suicide by hanging. His parents, Peter Lanni and Cornelia Gallo, wrote an open letter to the head of the town's school system, requesting an investigation into reports Christopher may have been the target of bullying. "We request a thorough, professional investigation of allegations that Christopher was being bullied at school and/or on social media platforms (i.e. Instagram) by his fellow Staples students," they wrote of their son, who was a student at Staples High School. Cyberbullying may have played a role in other recent teen suicides. On Jan. 4, 16-year-old David Molak was found dead by hanging in the backyard of his parents' San Antonio, Texas, home after months of being bullied over social media, according to his family. His older brother, Cliff, later posted on Facebook that months of online torment had left his brother -- the youngest of three -- a "shell of a person." 'In today's age, bullies don't push you into lockers, they don't tell their victims to meet them behind the school's Dumpster after class, they cower behind user names and fake profiles from miles away constantly berating and abusing good, innocent people,' Cliff Molak wrote on Facebook. According to local media reports, such cruel online messages included, "Let's put him in a body bag" and 'We're going to put him six feet under." In Omaha, some 900 miles away, another teenage boy took his own life on Jan. 7 after months of being bullied by classmates, according to family. Joni Adler, the mother of 15-year-old Reid Adler, told KETV that her son planned to go to school the next day because he finished all of his homework. I know it was a very snap decision. Teenagers make snap decisions a lot, she told the station. Adler and her husband, Ralston School Superintendent Mark Adler, said they later learned Reid had been bullied for months -- with one student threatening to post embarrassing photos of him online, according to the station. On Feb. 1, a sophomore at Fordham Preparatory School -- an all-boys Jesuit high school in Bronx, N.Y. -- was struck and killed by a commuter train in what authorities called a suicide. The boy's death came weeks after another student at the school -- identified as 16-year-old Owen Kelly -- jumped in front of a New York City-bound train on Jan 18. Mental health experts say the deaths may have been a case of "suicide contagion," when news of a suicide can inspire another depressed person to harm himself. While cyberbullying may help to explain an increase in self-inflicted teen deaths, suicide prevention advocates say its one factor among several. "Its the irrational thinking in suicide that makes it so complex for us to understand," said Maureen Underwood, clinical director for the Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. "I certainly think that social media has contributed to it but every kid whos bullied doesnt choose suicide," Underwood told FoxNews.com. "Almost all kids who are bullied have some vulnerability that led them to be targets of bullies." Underwood also noted that the frontal lobe of the brain -- involved with problem solving, language, judgement, impulse control and many other key functions -- is not fully developed until well into adulthood. "Many kids do not understand that once theyre dead, theyre dead forever. They dont understand the finality of it," said Underwood. "As adults, we think with our frontal lobe. They [teens] think from the amygdala the part of the brain responsible for our feelings." Dr. Eric Caine, director of the Injury Control Research Center for Suicide Prevention at the University of Rochester Medical Center, noted another potential factor in the rise of teen suicides nationally. "Around the world, starting with the great recession, suicide rates went up," Caine told FoxNews.com. "When families become disrupted, that impacts kids. One of the biggest predictors [of teen suicide] is family turmoil." If a person is at risk, he or she or a family member is urged to called the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Warning signs include talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose, talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain, talking about being a burden to others, increasing the use of alcohol or drugs, acting anxious, agitated or recklessly and withdrawing or feeling isolated. In Texas, meanwhile, authorities are struggling to make sense of the deaths of two teen girls whom had everything to live for. "It took everyone by surprise," Murphy Police Chief Arthur Cotten told FoxNews.com Thursday. "Its a terrible blow for the families and for everyone involved in the event." The Facebook page of Suchi Sachdeva, Ritu's sister, shows a beaming teenager described by her family as "bright, beautiful, quirky, and just all around amazing, inside and out." "Everyone loved her so so so much," Suchi Sachdeva wrote in a Jan. 31 post. "Our family and friends are devastated. It's going to be extremely difficult to move on from this tragic loss. Nothing is going to be the same; her birthday, holidays, going to restaurants, going on family vacations, etc.," she said. "I'll always be thinking of her when doing anything good." Cristina Corbin is a New York-based reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaCorbin. Federal health officials are recommending men who have traveled to countries with Zika activity use condoms or abstain from sex to avoid spreading the virus to their pregnant sex partners. Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidelines for preventing sexual transmission of Zika virus. The guidance comes three days after Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) in Texas announced that a local patient had become ill with the virus after having sex with an infected traveler who had recently returned from Venezuela, a country with Zika activity. Federal health officials say the Texas patient represents the first case during this outbreak in which the Zika virus was transmitted to a non-traveler in the continental United States. Although this case confirms its possible to spread the Zika virus through sex, CDC officials say mosquito bites are the primary way the virus is transmitted. Nevertheless, the CDC advises pregnant women to discuss with their health care providers any potential exposures their male sex partners may have had to the virus. Most people infected with Zika virus experience no symptoms. For the one out of five who become ill, symptoms are usually mild. However, international health officials suspect a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil may be linked to that countrys reported increase in cases of microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by babies with unusually small heads and, often, brains that have not developed properly. The CDC website currently lists 30 countries and territories where active Zika virus transmission is taking place. In an effort to keep young military enlistees from leaving to start a family, the Pentagon is going to start offering to freeze their eggs and sperm, the New York Times reports. According to the Military Times, nearly 72 percent of enlistees are 30 or youngerprime years for starting a family. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says freezing soldiers' eggs and spermwhich will start as a two-year pilot programwill "provide greater flexibility for our troops who want to start a family." He says it will also give soldiers facing injury "additional peace of mind." As the New York Times notes: "Hundreds of veterans suffered injuries to their reproductive organs in Iraq and Afghanistan." Having a store of frozen sperm or eggs on hand means a genital injury wouldn't keep soldiers from having a baby. But the program brings up a host of issuesboth moral and financial. The military will have to deal with numerous ethical questions surrounding the preservation of reproductive materials, such as whether the wife of a soldier who dies in battle can then use his frozen sperm. And the procedure to freeze eggs, a relatively new science, can cost up to $10,000. The Pentagon is still working out the details of the pilot program and estimates a cost of $150 million over five years. The program is part of the military's "Force of the Future" initiative, which includes increased parental leave and child care. A major goal of the initiative is to increase retention among female enlistees. After 10 years of service, the number of women staying in the military is 30% lower than their male counterparts. This article originally appeared on Newser: Military Will Start Freezing Soldiers' Eggs and Sperm More From Newser next Image 1 of 3 prev next Image 2 of 3 prev Image 3 of 3 As the number of birth defects linked to a mosquito-borne virus surpasses 4,000 in Brazil, and scientists scramble to create a vaccine to protect against the untreatable disease, public health officials are bracing themselves for a potential outbreak in the United States. The threat has some advocacy groups pushing for tighter health screenings among travelers and immigrants from Zika-afflicted countries, while public health officials and tropical disease experts argue preparing to fight the Aedes aegypti, an insect that doesnt respond to common pesticide, is more pressing. First of all, I think Zika will come to America, and actually I think it may be more important than the messaging were getting out of Washington and [The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], Dr. Peter J. Hotez, dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, told FoxNews.com. Fighting Zika may be tougher in the US than in Latin America The Aedes aegypti the primary vector for Zika ravaged parts of Central and South America by infecting thousands with dengue fever and yellow fever between the 40s and 60s. But in recent years, it has struck the region again after governments discontinued a reduction effort that involved spraying the controversial insecticide DDT to eradicate the pest. In most places, DDT has been banned after scientists discovered its chemicals can cause environmental wreckage, as well as vomiting, tremors and seizures among humans, as well as other life-threatening side effects. Joe Conlon, a technical adviser at the American Mosquito Control Association, said the U.S. government would never deploy DDT for precisely those reasons. [DDT]s got too much emotional baggage and environmental baggage associated with it, Conlon told FoxNews.com. Anyone who would try to use it would be excoriated. We have other means to get rid of these mosquitoes. Hotez thinks Washingtons take on the current Zika virus outbreak in Latin America may be a matter of nuance, but that he takes issue with the implication of the term small outbreak, which the federal government has said the U.S. could see some of among Gulf Coast states. Zika has the ability to cause birth defects, Hotez said. By saying small outbreaks are going to affect Florida and Texas, are we saying we can tolerate small outbreaks of microcephaly in these states? I would say, No, we dont have any tolerance. Microcephaly, a condition that causes babies to be born with partially formed brains and abnormally small heads, has been linked to Zika and has impacted nearly 4,100 children in Brazil. In the U.S., which has reported two Zika cases that may have been sexually transmitted, at least one child, in Hawaii, has been born with microcephaly after his or her mother traveled to a Zika-afflicted country. The CDC has advised pregnant women against traveling to more than two dozen regions in the Americas, Oceania and Africa, but it has said more evidence is needed to confirm a link between the virus and microcephaly. Hotez said conditions in many of the lower-income areas in the South mimic those of Brazil and other places that have seen a Zika outbreak. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes like to breed in pools of water that accumulate in discarded car tires, flower pots, and filled drinking cups left outdoors. I believe all of the conditions where theyre present in Latin America and the Caribbean are also present in Texas and other Gulf Coast states, said Hotez, who predicted the number of Aedes aegypti, which already reside in this part of the U.S., could start multiplying in March, when the weather warms up. Which means we have time [to prepare] and nows the time to do it, he said. But controlling the main mosquito that carries Zika may prove more challenging in the U.S. than in Latin America, where governments are going into homes and spraying walls with pesticide, Hotez and Conlon said. Unlike other common mosquitoes in the U.S., they like to feed on humans during the day, which means people who live in homes without window screens would have a high infection risk, Hotez said. This is a day-biting mosquito, and that gets to be problematic because if youre spraying when children are out playing were going to have to make a better assessment of that, Hotez said. Conlon said standard mosquito control practices in the U.S. wont work on the Aedes aegypti. Down in Central and South America, theyre using these thermal foggers that can work and knock down the mosquito, but in the U.S, theyre not going to allow federal and state folks to allow them into their homes to do that, Conlon said. Its not something that mosquito abatement will do, but public pressure may make them do that. People might demand something like that of their own volition. In preparation for the potential arrival of U.S.-borne Zika cases, Hotez called on Gulf Coast municipalities to provide people with protective window screens if they dont have them. Conlon echoed Hotez and said he expects mosquito control to lie primarily in the hands of municipalities. He called on local governments to begin spreading public awareness campaigns about the dangers of Zika and how to protect their homes and families against the Aedes aegypti. In Texas which has seen a case of sexual transmission and reported the first U.S. Zika case in mid-January the department of health has prioritized such tracking and awareness campaigns, said Chris Van Deusen, spokesman for the Texas Department of State Health Services. Thats very much the discussion were having right nowmaking sure we know what the latest science is, and watching infections to see where theyre occurring, and if theyre traveling from Central and South America or the Caribbean if they have gotten sick with Zika, Van Deusen told FoxNews.com. Public informationthats our first line of defense, said Van Deusen, who added the state is working with municipalities and the CDC to educate travelers about prevention methods. Conlon also called on the federal government to provide funding to municipalities so they could test mosquitoes in labs, so we can identify people who are bringing that disease into the country and marshal our resources to rapidly wipe it out, once it occurs. How the Zika virus outbreak may change US immigration policy The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) already has guidelines in place for screening immigrants for communicable diseases before they enter the U.S. But screening for Zika may prove challenging because only one in five cases presents with symptoms, unlike Ebola, which could be suspected with the sign of a fever. Yet for some individuals and advocacy groups, the Zika outbreak feels all too familiar. That episode with Ebola should be a warning for the government, but Im not seeing that, Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which advocates for reduced immigration to the U.S., told FoxNews.com. Im seeing the same things nothing to worry about here, this is not going to affect us, we dont need to have any steps in place and that worries me. Vaughan said she predicted an increase in immigrants from Zika-afflicted countries but couldnt quantify that prediction due to a lack of updated information. She also said she could only speculate as to whether policy in places like El Salvador and Colombia, which have advised women against pregnancy during the outbreak yet do not legally allow abortions, would impact immigration rates to the U.S. I am in no way a public health expert, but I find it remarkable that officials in these countries would be recommending against having children because of the threat of this, and I think that should be an alarm for U.S. authorities to take this seriously, Vaughan said. Its hard to say what the immigration implications of that would be, but I do think that one thing we know for sure is theres currently a very large flow of people from El Salvador [who are] coming illegally, and have been able to stay, she added, referencing Obamas open-door policy to El Salvadorian women and children who may seeking asylum after fleeing domestic or generalized violence. Its very possible that women in El Salvador will see an opportunity to come here not only because they may see that they have more opportunity here, she said, but if theyre afraid that there may be some health problems with having children, they know theyre going to get better care here or at least they can perceive it. Vaughan urged the federal government to consider requiring people traveling from Zika-afflicted areas to get certified before they are allowed to enter the U.S. on a tourist or temporary visa. That will affect a lot of people, but thats what immigration controls are for, she said. We shouldnt hesitate to use them. SARS was a problem in Asian countries, and they had no apologies or qualms at all about imposing travel restrictions. For some reason, we have difficulty saying, No to people. Ali Noorani, executive director of the National Immigration Forum, an advocacy group for immigrants in the U.S., said restricting the U.S. economy from the rest of the world wouldnt be worth it to try to suppress Zika. When you go back to SARS when you go back to any of these epidemics the primary mode of transmission is really business, travel tourism, and then you get immigration, Noorani, who received a masters of public health in epidemiology and environmental health from Boston University, told FoxNews.com. Sandro Galea, dean of the school of public health at Boston University, wrote an editorial in the Boston Globe that argued against comparing Zika to Ebola. He told FoxNews.com that he believes tightening immigration restrictions would be ineffective at preventing Zikas spread to the U.S. Our approach to Zika should be of prudent caution to make sure people at high risk which is women at early stages of pregnancy should avoid areas where Zika is currently endemic, Galea told FoxNews.com. But using Zika as an excuse to make arguments against immigrations or those people is really based on a deep misunderstanding of the science and biology of Zika, and I think betrays pre-held views of people that are looking for an excuse to make a particular point. He called for more investigation into whether Zika may be sexually transmissible but said, ultimately, Zika is an arbovirus, meaning it is transmitted primarily through insects, and in this case, mosquitoes. I think using Zika as an anti-immigrant push is ridiculous, Galea said. Noorani argued for more scientific study of Zika before health officials and the public jump to conclusions. Frankly, the science needs to catch up to the information, and it just seems that there is a lot of information out there that is changing very quickly, but the science isnt necessarily backing up the info yet, Noorani said. So what we want to make sure happens is, No. 1, that the science proves what the right screening measures are for the individuals who are in these countries, but most importantly that the public doesnt panic. What's your biggest fear? Being buried alive? Dying alone? A mauling by an enormous swan? Getting cancer? That last one was never on my list of fearsI'm a buried alive guybut then a urologist sat me down in his office and told me the bad news: I had testicular cancer. And Righty needed to come out ASAP. The first question people always ask is, how did I know I needed to go in? That something was wrong? Let me tell you: you know. I was on a flight back home to L.A. Marley & Me tugged at my heartstrings, but the tears in my eyes were the result of the hellscape in my pants. It felt like someone was slowly squeezing me down there and wouldn't let go. Should I run to the bathroom and check the situation? No chance. I'd chosen the window seat and the big guy on the aisle was fast asleep. It would have taken a feat of in-flight parkour to escape. So I'm trapped, aware that something is wrong, my groin in agony, and I'm stuck in a metal tube for four hours. I stared out the window wondering what kind of evil had seeped into my sack. I crossed and uncrossed my legs roughly a million times, desperately hoping to find a position that alleviated some of the pressure. Nothing worked. Dread set in. It was just me, testicular pain, and Owen Wilson's awful dog training skills until we hit the ground. RELATED: 10 Secrets of a Lower-Calorie Lifestyle When we finally landed at LAX, I felt like Kuato from Total Recall was going to pop out of my scrotum. I sprint-waddled off the plane to call my doctor. Having delicately explained in very general terms that something was very wrong in a very sensitive area, the doctor's receptionist put me through to the doctor, who immediately referred me to the urologist who would go on to administer my testicle's last rites. The following week, I had the first surgery of my life. When I woke up, I was relieved to know that the cancerous testicle was gone, but stunned. I was now permanently unbalanced. RELATED: How to Get a Superhero Body in 90 Days or Less Chemo, The World's Worst Antivirus Software If you're going to get cancer, testicular cancer is definitely the way to go. According to the American Cancer Society1, if the cancer hasn't spread outside of your scrotum (Stage I), the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. If it travels to your lymph nodes (Stage II), as mine did, that number drops to 96 percent. Not horrible at all. Those are strong odds. Compare that with the survival rate for men with lung cancer (only 15 percent survive beyond five years) and you can find a certain gratitude living here in Halfsack City. For some people with testicular cancer, losing the offending ball is the extent of the ordeal. For me, it was the beginning. Cancer is an insidious sweaty-faced anarchic hacker in the body. It attacks one system to get in, but then, if you don't catch it early enough, it starts digging around in other parts of you until there are little pieces of its cancer-hacker-code everywhere. You need to run a pretty gnarly anti-virus program to get rid of it, and that program is chemo. RELATED: The Hottest Women of the 21st Century Two weeks after my surgery, I sat down in a giant room full of old people and annoying beeps to start my first chemo cycle. The chemo treatment plan, a blend of bleomycin, etopocide, and cisplatin known as B.E.P. (not a Swedish house DJ collective), is both exceedingly effective and exactly as terrible as you'd expect of a medicinal cocktail that literally pumps liquid platinum through your veins. My treatment was administered in three three-week cycles: five days the first week, then one day in each of the next two weeks. Each treatment lasted five to six hours. and I would sit in a La-Z-Boy-type chair in a large open-plan treatment room alongside at least twenty other people being pumped full of similar chemo meds. I was hooked up to an I.V. drip in my own little semi-private stall, where I'd watch daytime talk shows on a tiny TV or surf the Internet (chemo bonus: free Wi-Fi!), counting down the minutes until I could go home. Every day I wondered if this all could have been avoided if I kept my cell phone further from my nuts (I was told no, but still...). At the end of each three-week cycle, my immune system, suppressed to the point that I competed with AIDS patients for lowest white blood cell count, I felt like shit. What's the opposite of fun? Chemo. Chemo is the opposite of fun. RELATED: 10 Important Habits of Skinny People Life Without Eyebrows Outside of chemo, you still have a whole life to live. That's the part nobody tells you about. In the three weeks of a BEP chemo cycle, the actual kicking cancer's ass part took up maybe forty hours total. The rest of the time, I enjoyed the weirdest staycation of my life. Cancer became a superpower. It wanted to kill me, sure, but there is no better excuseto others, and to myselfthan cancer. I napped the way Chicagoans vote: early and often. If I wanted to skip an acquaintance's birthday party, I mentioned the crippling effects of chemo. If I felt that smoking a ton of weed would help me briefly forget my cancer to me, I smoked a ton of weed. And then I would binge on a dozen doughnuts, because my nurses implored me to eat whenever I could (and because god bless medical marijuana for giving me back my appetite). Cancer stripped away all of the shoulds and shouldn'ts. I did what I wanted, whenever I wantedat least when I wasn't puking my guts out from the chemo's side effects. RELATED: Amber Rose's Racy GQ Photo Shoot When you're going through treatment, you only have one job: to get better. For the first time in my life, I wasn't beating myself up about performing at work or finding a girlfriend or staying in shape. Cancer made it okay not to focus on the mundane stuff of everyday life. So I started a podcast. I took walks by myself. As strange as it is to say, cancerat least my 96 percent survivable form of cancerlet me step back from the grind and enjoy my life a little more. RELATED: Hollywood Superstars Who Never Seem to Age Of course, I was also nauseous all the time. I couldn't concentrate, which made writing fairly impossible. The full medicine cabinet worth of drugs I'd been given to combat the chemo's side effects made me look like a totally different person. My face ballooned thanks to the steroids. By the end of the second round of treatment, my hair began to abandon me. I would wake up to homemade Furbys on my pillow, so at some point I decided to just shave it all off. Nobody really stares at a bald guy. Plenty of men lose their hair. But let me tell you: people stare when you lose your eyebrows. Don't take your eyebrows for granted, guys. They're a key indicator that you're a human. When you're fighting off cancer, feeling human is really all you want. Normalcy becomes something you crave. Which explains why I went on a date the night before I started chemo. Click for more from GQ.com. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Puerto Rico Governor Alejandro Garcia Padilla on Friday declared a public health emergency because of the mosquito-borne Zika virus, a government statement said. Puerto Rican health officials have confirmed 22 cases, including a pregnant woman and a man with Zika who developed Guillain-Barre syndrome, a separate government statement said. Guillain-Barre is a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the nerves. Health authorities would track the Zika cases and report results weekly, the government said. The virus is having an impact on tourism, with some tourist groups canceling reservations, particularly weddings in hotels on the Caribbean island. There were no reports of conventions being canceled, the statement said. Puerto Rico reported its first case of Zika in December, the virus having emerged at a difficult time for the U.S. territory as it tries to resolve an economic and fiscal crisis. The island, struggling to restructure its debt, will run out of fiscal emergency measures by June, the Government Development Bank president said on Friday. A British woman developed a rare neurological condition after bending over to pick up a party balloon and must use a wheelchair when she leaves her home. Claire Brown, 27, of Salisbury, England, is now fundraising on GoFundMe to help cover the cost of multidisciplinary rehabilitation and has raised over $8,600 of her $72,000 goal. Brown was cleaning up after a Halloween party at her home in 2014 when her back went out, The Sun reported. According to her GoFundMe page, she developed acute lower back pain. Subsequently, she suffered continuing pain that eventually led to leg tremors, myoclonic jerks and loss of bladder function, for which she had to have a catheter fitted in July 2015. Brown was diagnosed with Functional Neurological syndrome with tremors. According to Functional Neurological Disorder Hope (FND Hope), a nonprofit that aims to promote awareness of the condition and provide support for affected individuals, the disorder is caused by a problem with nervous system function. The organization says the condition is thought to derive from the brains inability to send and receive signals properly. FND Hope notes that, for patients, getting the diagnosis can be a long and difficult journey. According to her GoFundMe page, Brown relies on her family and friends for everyday support, and uses crutches around the house, but she must use a wheelchair outdoors. "I can't sit for very long, and when I lay down my muscles jerk. Plus my memory is also really bad, she told The Sun. Brown also suffers blurred vision. Her general practitioner referred her to Glenside Hospitals Neuro Rehabilitation Unit, which suggested she undergo a 15-week in-patient stay, but the National Health Service (NHS) reportedly refused her funding for rehabilitation from the National Health Service (NHS). According to The Sun, the treatment would cost $72,441. The NHS also reportedly denied funding for treatment at Southampton General Hospital. Brown herself worked for the NHS in November 2014 as a screening technician. "I've spoken to people on forums with the same condition who have been through the same thing it helps as I feel less alone, she told The Sun. With her fundraising effort, which she calls her last resort, Brown has already received support from more than 200 people in eight days. Your generosity and contributions are greatly appreciated, she wrote on the site. Imagine Hillary Clintons relief, come Wednesday morning, when she no longer has to grovel before New Hampshires famously prickly primary electorate. It means no credibility leapfrogging as in 2008 when, following a third-place humiliation in Iowa, she told a New Hampshire debate audience: Im running on 35 years of change. Or, on Thursday night in Durham, New Hampshire, with Clinton repeatedly invoking the Bin Laden raid be it her hard work on behalf of President Obama -- or her hard work, post-Obama, on the speech circuit. About Thursday nights Democratic debate the only time Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders will meet before Tuesdays Granite State primary, some observations: A Damsel. In Distress? Eight years ago in New Hampshire, Hillarys back was against the wall: another decisive loss to Barack Obama and her campaign would come to an abrupt end. We remember it now as the week in which Hillary departed from her icier norm and shed a tear. The question in 2016: is Clintons current position anything to cry about? Yes, she ended up in a dead heat in Iowa with Sanders despite enjoying a 40-point lead there last summer. New Hampshire is problematic: its a 20-point deficit, if this post-Iowa NBC News/Marist poll is to believed. But Sanders is no Obama neither in his organizational skills or ability to build a majority coalition among Democratic voters. Unlike 2008, when she was on the wrong side of history (with a party and a nation looking to make a larger statement), Clinton neednt panic in the moment. Which begs this question about the candidate other than if and when shell shed a tear between now and Tuesday: Why Cant She Be Herself? As the Clinton team ponders how to move on post-New Hampshire, it might want to place a call to the past campaigns of Mitt Romney, John McCain and Bob Dole. All were presidential nominees in their 60s or 70s, running a second (in Doles case, a third) and final time as their partys establishment choices. All made the tactical error of election-year conversions to more ideological personae that rang hollow with their partys grassroots activists. Of course, all three lost. The sames true of Hillary at present: atop the Democratic pyramid longer than Americans have owned iPhones, shes a known quantify resume-solid, most likely a dealmaker like her husband should she get his former job. Yet her oft-repeated Im a progressive who likes to get things done sounds too much like a catchphrase when stacked up against a 74-year-old fervent socialist who says what he means and means what he says, Leninist though it may be. From the debates outset, an edgy-looking Clinton was intense and intent on making the point that Sanders 18 trillion wish list of expansive government is but pipe dream. Shes right, of course. But shes missing the point: Successful Democratic presidential candidates thrive on personality and passion. The partys most fabled standard-bearers JFK, Bill Clinton, Obama ran as optimists, not scolds. The sooner someone convinces Clinton that its time to shift from upbraid to upbeat and stop trying to beat up Bernie the better her long-term prospects. Bernie Didnt Burn Her. When the debate reached its big expected moment Clinton and her Goldman Sachs honoraria, on the heels of Sanderss ad attacking Goldman Sachs economic impact Bernie whiffed. Sanders didnt use Clintons Willie Sutton-like defense of accepting $675,00 from Goldman Sachs for three speeches (thats what they offered) against her MNBCs Rachel Maddow had to bring it up. As Clinton repeatedly invoked unspecified hedge-fund billionaires vested in her political demise, Sanders passed on any mention of Clintons son-in-law who is a hedge-fund manager. Making a quick buck is a Clinton family trait. Bill and Hillary have amassed over $25 million in speaking fees since 2014. Daughter Chelsea earned $600,000 annually as an NBC News special correspondent" by one estimate, she made about $26,724 for each minute she appeared on air (then again, probably a sore subject at a MSNBC-run debate). But it ties to a larger point that will haunt Hillary come the general election: as with the server controversy, the Clintons have a penchant for cutting corners, offer strained justifications and live by a different set of standards and rules. Its part of why voters struggle with Hillarys trustworthiness, yet Sanders lacks the cutthroat skill to exploit it. Clintons lucky a more adroit rivals not in this race. What Went Missing. Bill Clinton went largely unmentioned in the 90-minute debate. In what may be a campaign first this election cycle, America was spared any talk of Donald Trump. Trump wants a recount in Iowa, as do some Democrats. To its credit, MSNBC raised the topic though it should have been in the debates opening moments, not 80 minutes later. MSNBC missed the chance to press Sanders on whether hell endorse Clinton should she prevail. In 2009, Clinton joined her former rivals administration. Is there a place for Sanders in a Hillary administration? She dodged a question about making him a running mate, but said Sanders would be her first courtesy call should she become the nominee. Earlier this week, Gallup released this analysis finding that 20 U.S. states are red (solidly or leaning Republican) versus only 14 blue Democratic states. In 2009, Gallup painted 33 states blue and only five red. As the two candidates argued over which one of them would be the more devoutly progressive after eight years of a decidedly liberal president, the irony was front and center and to the left: Hillary or Bernie will win this Democratic battle. Meanwhile, their partys losing the war. Another heartbreaking tale of bullying hit the media recently, and this one ended even more tragically with the death of a precious young girl. We felt her familys anguish as we learned of another dear soul cruelly singled out for taunting, abuse, and, in this case, much worse. The subject of bullying continues to gain more attention, and deservedly so. I recall my own experiences with bullying, and it still can bring hot tears to my eyes. Born with severely crossed eyes and a learning disability, school was often tortuous for me, and the teasing I received from other students often drove me to stay indoors during recess. At first, I simply didnt understand, and came home crying from school one day to ask Mommy, am I cross-eyed? The pain on my mothers face let me know that something was truly wrong with the way I was treated simply for looking different. In my experience, bullies cant be reasoned with or forced to changeone cannot mandate morality and kindness. No, bullies can only be contained with strict boundaries and consequences with the hopes that a change of heart will occur. Even still, whatever is done to restrict the behavior of a bully often feels almost inconsequential compared to the lifetime scars they leave on others. My heart goes out to those individuals who carry scars of that sort. I know a bit about scars and wounds. A severe car accident in college left me permanently disabled and eventually cost me both legs. Yet, I wear my prosthetic limbs without skin covering now, and I am amazed at the transformation of a frightened little girl who avoided recessinto a woman who has stood before countless audiences on metal legs, including both President George W. Bush and his father, President George H.W. Bush. Maybe I learned fortitude through my childhood torments; maybe I trusted God a bit more with my weaknesswhich He allowed to become strengths. Whatever the case, I say to anyone bearing the scars of bullying, You are more than the insults and injuries that assailed you. Those hurts dont always go away, but we can learn to transcend them. I recall once on the set of a national television show that I was worried over the camera angleand if it would make me look cross-eyed. My eyes were surgically repaired decades ago, but my left eye still wanders a bit, and old wounds have a habit of resurfacing. Chuckling at me, my husband, Peter, whispered, Baby, you have metal legs and youre wearing a skirtI dont think folks will be looking at your eyes! I had to laugh at myselfand I think thats what Id like to offer wounded hearts who carry the pain of being bullied. That pain, Ive discovered, can serve as a catalyst to propel us to heights of confidence and success that we may have never dreamed of achieving. I learned to place my scared hands into HIS scarred hands, and discovered that what Christ told the Apostle Paulwas equally valid for me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. When Paul heard that statement, he went on to write, Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) I am deeply moved to consider that we have a Savior who understands this in ways we cannotHe allowed Himself to be bullied on our behalf. There will always be bullies in this broken world. While we may be victimized, we dont have to live as victims. Together, we can encourage each other, strengthen each other, look out for each other, protect each other, and comfort one another we the same comfort that we ourselves have received. (2 Corinthians 1:4) Youve probably heard it said that domestic violence spikes on Super Bowl Sunday. Its the kind of sad statement that just sounds true. Its a day of heavy drinking and machismo, and by the end of the day, half the people watching arent happy. If you look at the research, though, you wont find any data to suggest a Super Bowl spike. Its a debunked myth that nevertheless persists. What the research shows is that the reality is even worse: Domestic violence is a crisis for millions every single day. Every minute, 20 people are victims of intimate partner violence. Every day, three women die from it. In their lifetimes, one out of every four women in the United States will be victims of physical violence by an intimate partner. Heres another horrifying truth: Even though we know that legal help is crucial for survivors to escape dangerous partners, gain independence, and rebuild their lives, youre more likely to get a lawyer if youre the abuser than if youre the survivor of abuse. In the U.S., abusers have the right to a lawyer to defend against criminal prosecution, while survivors are often on their own to secure a protective order from an abuser or full custody of their childrenmatters handled in civil court. Thats because, in civil cases, there is no constitutional right to an attorney if you cant afford one. If were serious about fighting our domestic violence crisis, one solution is clear: We must invest in civil legal aid organizations to give all survivors the legal help they need to end the vicious cycle of abuse. Research shows that providing legal assistance to survivors dramatically reduces domestic violenceby as much as 21 percent, according to one study. Last year, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid helped a woman named Julie escape her husbands abusive hold over her and her child by securing a name change for them and protecting Julie from her husbands vindictive lawsuits against her. Half of all domestic violence survivors who got help through Mid-Minnesota Legal Aids program successfully left their abusers within one year. But right now, were failing to invest in the one solution we know works. We simply dont put enough resources into civil legal aid to support all survivors. Only 11 percent of domestic violence programs have the resources to offer legal representation to survivors, according to a recent survey by the National Network to End Domestic Violence. Whether youre rooting for the Panthers or the Broncos, we can all agree that millions of women shouldnt have to face violence in their own homeson Sunday or any other day of the year. We can help put a stop to this crisis by increasing our investment in civil legal aid, so survivors can get the legal help they need to build a new life for themselves and their children. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed sharply Thursday over who is more progressive, at a debate that saw the former secretary of state ratcheting up her criticism of the Vermont senator on several fronts even accusing him of engineering an artful smear with suggestions she could be bought by donors. The debate, the first since the Iowa caucuses and last before next weeks critical New Hampshire primary, was by far the most confrontational of the Democratic primary race. Clinton, coming off a narrow Iowa win and trying to shrink Sanders huge lead in Granite State polls, stayed on offense for most of the night. She slammed Sanders campaign promises as too costly, while standing firm in claiming shes a true progressive despite Sanders comments to the contrary. Sanders, meanwhile, dug in as he questioned whether Clinton really walks the walk of the progressive cause and described her as the candidate of the establishment. Secretary Clinton does represent the establishment. I represent, I hope, ordinary Americans, he said, stressing that he, unlike Clinton, doesnt enjoy super PAC backing and is funded in large part by small-dollar donations. The verbal jabs flew quickly, and Clinton left few allegations unchallenged, visibly fed up with a campaign trail narrative that has painted her as the candidate of Wall Street. She rebutted Sanders establishment charge by questioning whether someone running to be the first female president can carry that label. The most heated moment at the MSNBC-hosted debate in Durham, N.H., came when Clinton told Sanders she rejects the suggestion that anyone who takes donations or speaking fees from interest groups can be bought. Enough is enough, Clinton said, telling Sanders the attacks by insinuation are not worthy of him. Clinton said if Sanders has something to allege, say it directly, but: You will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received. She closed: I think its time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out in recent weeks. That line earned a groan from Sanders and some boos from the audience. Sanders went on to link Wall Street deregulation with billions spent on lobbying and campaign contributions. Some people think, yeah, that had some influence, he said. Clinton, meanwhile, described herself as a progressive who gets things done, and ripped Sanders for suggesting Clinton cannot be a moderate and a progressive at the same time. She teased Sanders as being the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism and said she doesnt know anyone who fits his definition. The fireworks underscored the tight state of the race going into New Hampshires contest next Tuesday. Clinton arrived on the debate stage clearly ready to rebut Sanders proposals and accusations notably his oft-repeated criticism that she, as senator, erred by voting to authorize the use of force in Iraq. A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS, she countered. Yet as Clinton stressed her secretary of state experience and Sanders said that factor is not arguable, the Vermont senator noted experience is not the only point. Judgment is, he said, again pointing to the 2002 Iraq vote. One of us voted the right way, and one of us didnt. As she has at prior debates, Clinton also challenged the senators proposals for free college and universal health care. The numbers just dont add up, Clinton said. She questioned how the country could, for instance, pay for free tuition at public colleges, as Sanders wants, and accused him of wanting to effectively scrap ObamaCare a charge he denied. Sanders defended his plans, particularly for universal health care. I do believe we should have health care for all, he said. The former secretary of state met the Vermont senator on stage in Durham, N.H., after eking out a narrow victory in Mondays caucuses. While her campaign celebrated the win, Sanders strong showing in the state nevertheless has helped boost his fundraising and he heads into New Hampshire with a steady double-digit lead in the polls. There remains an ongoing dispute, however, over the Iowa results. The Des Moines Register editorial board earlier Thursday called for an audit of the Democratic caucus results, citing problems and confusion at polling sites. Asked at Thursdays debate about the editorial, Sanders said, I agree with the Des Moines Register. He said after speaking with precinct captains, the campaign believes they may have at least two more delegates. Yet Sanders, who has complained how some local delegates were allocated based on coin tosses, also said they should not blow this out of proportion. This is not the biggest deal in the world, Sanders said. Asked if shed participate in an audit, Clinton said, Whatever they decide to do, thats fine. Clinton, separately, said she's "100 percent confident" nothing will come of the FBI probe into her personal email use as secretary of state. The Democratic debate on Thursday was the first to feature Clinton and Sanders one-on-one, with former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley now out of the race following his distant third showing in Iowa. The debate was one of four added to the calendar earlier this week, after the Democratic National Committee and the two campaigns agreed to the terms. The party had come under criticism for its sparse schedule, and was accused of trying to shield Clinton from debates. Im starting to get the impression that Donald Trump and Ted Cruz dont like each other very much. The two of them are going nuclear. I mean that literally. "Were liable to wake up one morning and Donald, if he were president, would have nuked Denmark, Cruz said the other day. Trump, meanwhile, says that what Cruz did in Iowa was disgusting, that it was a disgrace, that it was a fraud, and that his victory in the caucuses should be thrown out. Remember when these guys had only nice things to say about each other? That seems like years ago. With just a few days before the New Hampshire primary, the entire Republican race has turned ugly. Any substantive discussion of issues is being utterly drowned out. The campaign is now a street brawl, with battered candidates trying to bruise each other. Thats not entirely a bad thing, as Ill explain in a moment. Trump had a perfectly legitimate beef with the press for portraying his second-place Iowa finish as a calamity and Marco Rubios third-place showing as fabulous. (Yes, I know its because Trump underperformed the final polls and Rubio overperformed, but what if those polls were wrong? And the complicated caucuses are notoriously difficult to poll because of turnout.) But then Trump, after a gracious concession speech, went on a Twitter rant about Iowa that has ratcheted things up. I fail to understand what he gets out of this, since there isnt going to be an Iowa do-over and he headed into New Hampshire with a huge lead in the less-than-perfect polls. Of course, Trump knows a thing or two about dominating media coverage with strong comments. But Cruz has gotten his share of attention by hitting back at The Donald. Trumps first beef is that the Cruz campaign sent out an official-looking voter-shaming mailer to try to guilt-trip supporters into showing up at the caucuses. Whats gotten far less attention is that Rubios campaign sent out a milder version of the same mailer. The mailer feels like below-the-belt politics, but it cant have influenced enough voters to change the Iowa outcome. The second charge in the indictment is that the Cruz camp spread false rumors that Ben Carson was dropping out of the race. This began with tweets from CNN reporter Chris Moody: Carson won't go to NH/SC, but instead will head home to Florida for some R&R. He'll be in DC Thursday for the National Prayer Breakfast. And that was accurate. Since its highly unusual for a candidate to take a break between Iowa and New Hampshire, that did carry the implication that Carson might be stepping aside. Unfortunately, Dana Bash, one of CNNs best reporters, was confusing on the air: We should say that our Chris Moody is breaking this news that Ben Carson is going to go back to Florida to his home, regardless of how he does tonight here in Iowa. Hes going to go there for several days, and then afterwards hes not going to go to South Carolina; hes not going to go to New Hampshire. Hes going to come to Washington D.C. and hes going to do that because the national prayer breakfast is on Thursday. Moody immediately clarified on Twitter: Ben Carson's campaign tells me he plans to stay in the race beyond Iowa no matter what the results are tonight. The Cruz camp then sent a notice to its ground troops for use at the caucuses: CNN is reporting that Ben Carson will stop campaigning after Iowa. Make sure to tell all of your peers at the caucus supporting Carson that they should coalesce around the true conservative who will be in the race for the long haul: Ted Cruz." The Texas senator has since apologized to Carson. Trump now says Cruz stole the election Cruz responds that his rival is engaging in a Trumper tantrum, that hes losing it, and that Americans shouldnt want the billionaires fingers on the button. And when you get tired of these two guys pounding each other, theres Chris Christie calling Rubio the boy in the bubble and making other disparaging remarks. All of this is catnip to a press corps that loves conflict. But theres a silver lining. This is a chance for voters to see how candidates react to pressure and how they handle attacks, fair and otherwise. Its also a chance to watch how candidates cope with setbacks and whether they can pick themselves off the canvas. In short, its a character test. The high-intensity atmosphere of a campaign doesnt begin to approach the pressures of the presidency, but it provides an approximate glimpse. And after New Hampshire votes, well have a better idea of who passes that test. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie landed the endorsements Friday of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, as he seeks a boost in the Northeast heading into the New Hampshire primary. Right now, our country is in dire need of Governor Christies tested, and strong leadership, Baker said in a statement. The Christie campaign announced Friday that Baker and Polito will join the Republican presidential candidate at a rally Saturday morning in Bedford, NH. Christie finished a distant 10th in the Iowa caucuses earlier this week, but is hoping for a turnaround in New Hampshire. Still, hes only polling at about 5 percent in the state, according to the RealClearPolitics average. Christie, seeking to appeal to New Hampshires famously independent electorate, touts his ability to work across party lines, serving in New Jersey as a Republican governor with a Democrat-majority legislature. Baker hails from a similar political environment, as a GOP governor in a blue state. He garnered national attention in the 2014 midterm elections when he defeated the two-term attorney general, Martha Coakley. Christie also has received the endorsement of another Republican governor who defied the odds in a midterm upset, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is set to attend the rally in Bedford. He currently has the most endorsements from sitting governors, including from Maine Gov. Paul LePage. Hillary Clinton defiantly claimed at Thursdays Democratic presidential debate that she is 100 percent confident nothing will come of the FBIs investigation of her email practices and has no concerns about the controversys impact on her chances in the race. I have absolutely no concerns about it whatsoever, the former secretary of state said at the MSNBC-hosted debate in New Hampshire. The comments come less than a week after the State Department confirmed that, as it releases thousands of Clinton emails, it is withholding 22 emails containing information too top secret to release. But Clinton pointed Thursday to emerging reports that former Secretary of State Colin Powell and the immediate staff of former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also received classified national security information on their personal email accounts. The details were included in a memo written by the State Department watchdog that was released Thursday. IG Steve Linick said in the memo that two emails sent to Powell and 10 emails sent to Rice's staff contained classified national security information. Powell and Rice were the top diplomats under Republican President George W. Bush. "None of the material was marked as classified, but the substance of the material and 'NODIS' (No Distribution) references in the body or subject lines of some of the documents suggested that the documents could be potentially sensitive," Linick wrote. In a statement, Powell said the emails were from his executive assistant. He said that while the department now has said they are "confidential," which is a low level of classification, both messages were unclassified at the time and there was no reason not to forward them to his personal account. Powell's office said two FBI agents visited Powell in December for a general discussion about email practices during his time at State. Clinton pointed to those developments in arguing that those officials are now facing the same scrutiny shes facing, suggesting investigators are going too far in their handling of the absurd situation of retroactive classification. She dismissed the controversy as similar to Republican criticism of her over the Benghazi terror attacks. Earlier, however, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., challenged the campaigns everybody did it defense. The attempt to paint her predecessors in the State Department as equal offenders in mishandling classified material is an insult to what we now know to be the truth, Issa said in a statement. Official investigations have confirmed that Secretary Clintons unsecure server stored more than 1,000 emails containing classified information, including some classified at the very highest levels. Her guarantee to the nation that the number was zero now seems more like desperation than news cycle spin. At Thursdays debate, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders once again declined to criticize Clinton over the email scandal. I will not politicize it, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. **Want FOX News First in your inbox every day? Sign up here.** Buzz Cut: The Edge: Iowa loss turns down Trumps volume in N.H. Jeb says plan was to deploy Dubya nearing the end Bush, Christie camps coordinate to kill off Rubio Debate, poll foretell long slog for Hillary Still gotcha THE EDGE: IOWA LOSS TURNS DOWN TRUMPS VOLUME IN N.H. We know that Iowa caucus results can change the discussion in New Hampshire and heres the proof. Prior to Monday night, Donald Trump dominated media mentions within the state of New Hampshire the same way he dominated polls. But, according to research by The New Analytics Company, Trumps lead in mentions has been cut in half. Second-place Marco Rubio slipped a fraction of a point but Trumps share of media time was robbed by a host of other candidates, especially those who are placing long-shot bets on the Granite State. Trumps slippage brings him nearly into parity with Rubio in the New Hampshire media. Iowa winner Ted Cruz got a boost and now the overall discussion in the first-in-the-nation primary state reflects what polls have been showing: a three-man race with no one else even close. The team at New Analytics has built The Edge, a unique tool to measure which candidates are being talked about the most, and provided the first look to Fox News First. Here are the rankings for the candidates shares of media mentions in New Hampshire after the Iowa caucuses. Points gained or lost from before Iowa are listed in brackets. See the full results here. Donald Trump, 31.67 [-7.35]; Marco Rubio, 26.09 [-.45]; Ted Cruz, 21.58 [+1.48]; Jeb Bush, 7.28 [+3.77]; Chris Christie, 5.61 [+5.22]; John Kasich, 5.27 [-4.88]; Ben Carson, 13.97 [+2.21] Q Poll shows three-man race - Fox News: A new national poll shows Republicans continue to back Donald Trump for a White House bid but believe Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has the best shot of beating a Democratic candidate in the general election. Trump leads the GOP pack with 31 percent, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 22 percent and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 19 percent, according to the Quinnipiac University National poll released FridayThe poll found that the strongest candidates to go head-to-head in a general election match-up would be Sanders and Rubio. JEB SAYS PLAN WAS TO DEPLOY DUBYA NEARING THE END MSNBCs morning show has become something of a therapy session by those upset by the rise of Marco Rubio. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush joined host Joe Scarborough, a former Republican Florida congressmen famous for his Rubio resentments, for some therapeutic venting this morning. Bush and Scarborough commiserated about the success of a candidate whom they both deem unworthy, but Bush slipped a bit when talking about his own campaign. Bush was asked by another host why it took him so long to deploy his brother, former President George W. Bush, in the primary race. The super PAC trying to keep Jeb Bushs campaign afloat unveiled an ad featuring the 43rd president, a sharp departure from the original campaign strategy of distancing him from his older brother. The struggling presidential contender explained the timing by saying that the intention was to do it nearing the end. Who would have thought that the end would be near for former frontrunner Bush even before the first primary was held? Righteous brother - We are righteous in making sure theres no coordination [with the super PAC he founded to back his campaign]. But I knew [George W. Bush] was going to campaign for me in South Carolina, for which Im gratefulI love my brother and a lot of Republicans do as well. Jeb Bush on The Kelly File Watch here. Bush, Christie camps coordinate to kill off Rubio - NYT: Members of the Bush and Christie campaigns have communicated about their mutual desire to halt Mr. Rubios rise in the polls, according to Republican operatives familiar with the conversations. While emails, texts and phone calls between operatives in rival campaigns are not uncommon in the tight-knit world of political strategists, the contact among senior aides in the two campaigns has drifted toward musings about what can be done to stop or at least slow Mr. Rubio, the operatives said. In a sign of a budding alliance, the aides have, for example, exchanged news articles that raise potential areas of vulnerability for Mr. Rubio. There is no formal coordination, the operatives stressed, but rather a recognition of a shared agenda. We do have similar goals, an adviser to Mr. Christie said. [The Hill: Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) will endorse Chris Christie in the Republican presidential race, a new report says.] Jeb & Co. focus on Santorum accomplishments stumble - USA Today: The intra-party battle against Marco Rubio is focusing on his Senate experience or lack thereofBush told MSNBCs Morning Joe, and the net effect is that were languishing as a nation. Christie has leveled similar criticisms, noting that one of Rubios new endorsers former presidential candidate Rick Santorum couldnt cite any specific Rubio accomplishments in the Senate. The New Jersey governor also describes Rubio as a bubble boy who avoids tough questions. Rubios poll numbers in New Hampshire are rising in the wake of his strong finish in Iowa. Christie and Bush are looking to bring down those numbers, seeking to become the main establishment alternative to Iowa winner Ted Cruz and the still-well-polling Donald Trump. [NROs Jonah Goldberg makes the case that calling Rubio the Republican Obama may not actually be a bad thing.] Fox News Sunday: The Anti-Rubio caucus - Mr. Sunday has the whole crew of candidates hoping to knock of Marco Rubio in New Hampshire: Jeb Bush, Chris Christie, and John Kasich. Watch Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET on the Fox News Channel. Check local listings for broadcast times in your area. WITH YOUR SECOND CUP OF COFFEE The ethics of animal conservation can be tricky. Sometimes conservation of one species requires the elimination of another. The New Yorker brings us the tale of the Channel Island Turkeys, which were eradicated from the islands to save the native foxes, but the story goes deeper than that: The sheep on Santa Cruz Island, off the coast of Southern California, were the first to go. They had been imported by schooner in the mid-nineteenth century, and, beginning in the early nineteen-eighties, tens of thousands of their feral descendants were eradicated. Later it was the hogs turn to face the gun. Between 2005 and 2006, more than five thousand were killed. By the following year, Santa Cruz was certified pig-freea boon, perhaps, for the islands oak trees, whose acorns the animals particularly loved. The next round of exterminations targeted several hundred turkeys. Got a TIP from the RIGHT or the LEFT? Email FoxNewsFirst@FOXNEWS.COM POLL CHECK Real Clear Politics Averages National GOP nomination: Trump 33.2 percent; Cruz 20.7 percent; Rubio 13.3 percent; Carson 7.8 percent New Hampshire GOP Primary: Trump 32.4 percent; Rubio 15 percent; Cruz 12.6 percent; Kasich 11 percent; Bush 9.8 percent National Dem nomination: Clinton 50.5 percent; Sanders 37.2 percent New Hampshire Dem Primary: Sanders 57.8; Clinton 35.5 percent General Election Clinton vs. Trump: Clinton +2.7 points Generic Congressional Vote: Republicans +0.5 DEBATE, POLL FORETELL LONG SLOG FOR HILLARY A contentious, sometimes nasty, Democratic debate between presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton and her rival, socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., foreshadowed a long, ugly march to victory for Clinton. And a new poll out today shows just how long it might be. The Quinnipiac University national poll shows Clintons support has collapsed since the last survey in December, losing nearly 20 points to fall into a statistical tie with Sanders. Clinton is still popular with Democrats, but hard sentiment seems to be growing. Some 22 percent of Democrats hold unfavorable views of Clinton, more than double Sanders. The Vermont senator also holds the highest overall favorability among any candidate in either party at 44 percent and performs better in the general election matchup against all Republicans than Clinton. Thats strong evidence that her electability argument isnt working. Clintons battering of Sanders in Thursdays debate suggests she is aware of her predicament. But she likely worsened her plight as she not only went scorched earth after Sanders but also made several head-scratching claims including that she was not part of the Democratic establishment. She can still be considered a lock for the nomination but it is almost as if her preparations for a long, ugly process was a prediction rather than a precaution. [Dan Balz was ringside for fight night at the University of New Hampshire. Read his blow-by-blow account here.] POWER PLAY: SANDERS CHILLS HILLARY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is giving presumed Democratic nominee a run for her money in the Granite State. Hes favored to win and being from a neighboring state his favorability makes sense. But does his win actually hurt Hillary? GOPAC Inc., Chairman Dave Avella and Democratic strategist Joe Trippi weigh in to Chris Stirewalt. WATCH HERE. Dem chairwoman holds the line for Hillarys contested Iowa win - There are over 1,800 precincts in Iowa. The party ran a caucus that is very complex. At the same time, in every one of those precincts. That said, challenging job, the closest race that we have had in their caucus history and Im confident the process and outcome was effective and without question. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC chairwoman, on the DMR editorial slamming the Iowa Democratic caucus in an interview with Shannon Bream. [Manhattan Institute health care scholar Yevgeniy Feyman finds lots of similarities between the health plans proposed by Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.] #mediabuzz - Host Howard Kurtz heads to New Hampshire this week to talk with New Hampshire Union Leader editor Joe McQuaid ahead of his states pivotal primary. Watch #mediabuzz Sunday at 11 a.m. ET, with a second airing at 5 p.m. STILL GOTCHA CBC: Mousetraps: they just dont make em like they used to. A Victorian mousetrap is still doing what it was designed to do, catch mice albeit accidentally. Isnt it amazing that a mousetrap that is 155 years old is still doing its job? says Guy Baxter, an archivist with the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, England. Baxter says the mousetrap, which was on display at the museum captured a mouseThe trap was manufactured by Colin Pullinger & Sons in 1861. Its a time when Queen Victoria was on the throne, the U.S. Civil war had just started and Canada was still British North America. They also had mice. Lets pay tribute to the Victorians, and how wonderfully they managed to make things, Baxter says. Chris Stirewalt is digital politics editor for Fox News. Want FOX News First in your inbox every day? Sign up here. Jeb Bush, who initially tried to downplay his family name on the campaign trail, is now making his run for office a family affair as he seeks a comeback in New Hampshire. The Bush-supporting Right to Rise super PAC has released a new ad featuring his brother, former President George W. Bush. The former president explains the importance of leadership and experience and vouches for the former Florida governor, saying: Jeb will unite our country. He knows how to bring the world together against terror. The former president, and their mother Barbara Bush, are both joining Jeb on the campaign trail. Jeb Bush told Fox News that his brother will campaign for him in South Carolina, though said he did not know Right to Rise planned to air the commercial. I didnt know he was doing that, to be honest with you. We are righteous in making sure theres no coordination, he told Fox News. Barbara Bush appeared on the campaign trail alongside her son in New Hampshire this week. Though she only spoke for two minutes, she touted his temperament and ability to make the tough decisions required for the job. "He's decent and honest. He's everything we need as a president," she said. Bush was accused earlier on of distancing himself from the family name, especially the controversial legacy of his brothers administration. His campaign logo notably displays only his first name. Hes turning to his famous family after a sixth place finish in the Iowa caucuses, battling to place in the top tier in New Hampshire where no fewer than five candidates, including Bush, are fighting for the second slot in the polls, under Donald Trump. General Electrics big move to Boston this summer could mean much more than leaving an empty corporate campus behind. Residents and small business owners in the tiny town of Fairfield, Conn. home to GEs global headquarters for more than four decades are bracing themselves for the collateral damage after the company announced last month it would be moving to Massachusetts and taking 800 jobs, millions in grants and opportunities for expansion with them. But thats not even the half of it. The trickle-down devastation triggered by GEs move is predicted to spare no sector. The real estate market is expected to suffer as residents pick up and leave for better job prospects. Small businesses and infrastructure projects also could start to see setbacks in the near future, as the high taxes blamed in part for GE's move remain. Probably half of the higher-end homes that used to house the GE executives will sit either unsold or foreclosed because no one else living in the area can afford them at their current price, Christopher Mills, president of C. Mills & Associates, which manages real estate portfolios nationwide, told FoxNews.com. While there is a slight possibility a large company could swoop in and save the city, the odds arent in Fairfields favor. [Its] not likely to happen because the same tax and legislative hindrances that chased GE out will keep other companies away, he said. Those hindrances are what have to be removed to prevent a localized depression. GE, which has a market value of nearly $290 billion, made good on threats to leave Connecticut following two of the largest corporate tax hikes in the states history in 2011 and 2015. Massachusetts often referred to as Taxachusetts -- ranks 25thin a 2016 Tax Foundation survey of positive tax climates in the U.S. Connecticut, though, comes in a distant 44th. Connecticuts corporate income tax rate stands at 7.5 percent but bigger companies have to pay more in corporate tax liability. GE likely paid 9 percent due to surcharges on growth income. Theyll pay 8 percent in Massachusetts, Jared Walczak, a policy analyst at the Tax Foundation, told Reuters. Connecticut also has several corporate tax structures that are less favorable than other states, including rules that could put more of GEs global sales within the states tax grasp. Given the cost of corporate relocation, I suspect that GE anticipates substantial tax savings from the move, Walczak said. Republican state lawmakers slammed Gov. Dannel Malloy and the Democratic-led legislature for driving away one of the states largest employers. This is proof positive that the Democrat majoritys fiscal plans are failures, Connecticut Senate Minority Leader Leonard Fasano said in a statement, blaming the states tax policies and warning many more businesses could follow in GEs footsteps. The hikes and bipartisan bickering about the states long-term economic goals could hurt the state permanently. Nothing is so hostile to business as uncertainty, Fred Carstensen, an economics professor at the University of Connecticut, wrote in the Hartford Business Journal. Connecticut, it seems, has become the state of uncertainty. Malloy tried to downplay the impact of a GE move on the state but admitted, Taken as a whole, there is no denying that Connecticut has had more good days than days like today. GE, which has a global workforce of more than 350,000 and ranks eighth on the Fortune 500, will be the largest publicly traded company based in Massachusetts. David Lewis, president of Operations Inc., a human resources consulting company based in Connecticut, said a move like this is a seismic event for Fairfield. The move casts doubt and sends a message about whether the county is a viable place to do business, he told FoxNews.com. GEs move, coupled with a threat by banking heavyweight UBS to leave nearby Stamford, Conn., raised real concern with residents who are worried what a mass corporate exodus could mean for the state. Connecticut specifically Stamford -- has had the bad luck of housing the U.S. headquarters of two European banks that have been slammed following a series of debt crises. Prior to the financial crisis, RBS and UBS each set up large offices with huge trading floors in Stamford. UBS, whose arrival in Stamford helped spur redevelopment in the area, has since relocated staff to Manhattan, while RBS has slashed its staff. The state has had a problem with the way it has treated business overall for the last 10 years, Lewis said. A lot of anti-business policies have raised the question whether the state is pro-business or not. In a separate interview with WNPR, he said Fairfield would have a difficult time staying relevant following GEs move. "Why would anyone pick Fairfield County to move their business?" Lewis said. "We have a high cost of living. We have a traffic issue that makes commuting into the county a challenge. ... Then there is the state government, who has a track record of passing mountains of anti-government legislation." Chris Raveis, president of residential sales at William Raveis, Massachusetts LLC, told FoxNews.com that GEs decision to leave Connecticut delivered a powerful psychological blow to the entire area that will be felt for years. I think everybody wants to be optimistic, but at this point, they are very discouraged, he said, adding that reversing the damage could take some time. Peter Gioia, an economist for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, told the Hartford Courant, the absolute, intense psychological impact of GEs move should not be minimalized. He added that the companys exit is a glaring black eye for economic development. A new national poll shows Republicans continue to back Donald Trump for a White House bid but believe Florida Sen. Marco Rubio has the best shot of beating a Democratic candidate in the general election. Trump leads the GOP pack with 31 percent, followed by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz with 22 percent and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio with 19 percent, according to the Quinnipiac University National poll released Friday. In a Democratic match-up, Hillary Clinton edged out Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders 44 percent to 42 percent. Clinton led the same poll by 61-30 percent in December. Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton, Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said. The poll found that the strongest candidates to go head-to-head in a general election match-up would be Sanders and Rubio. Tinder is swiping left on Bernie Sanders supporters so to speak. The Vermont senator's famously enthusiastic backers reportedly are getting banned from the dating app for trying to use it to blast out campaign messages in support of their candidate. Reuters reported on the cases of two women who got notices their accounts were being locked after being reported for sending too much pro-Sanders material to prospective matches. Robyn Gedrich, an Elie Tahari employee in New Jersey, confirmed to Reuters that her account was suspended by Tinder after she sent an average of 60 messages per day urging men on the app to support the presidential candidate. Her messages included links to volunteer forms and introductions asking if matches feel the Bern. Haley Lent, an Iowa native, also said her account was suspended after she spent the night before the Iowa caucuses sending her matches pro-Sanders messages. She even had the Tinder premium membership, giving her unlimited swipes and allowing her to change location to various cities throughout Iowa. While a Tinder rep did not comment for the report, many modern dating apps have measures in place to make them more user-friendly and are known to block users who are vulgar or harass others. Maybe she had come for the hazelnut coated wild prawns or the stunning sea views. Whatever the case, a sickly sea lion caused quite a stir at a San Diego restaurant this week. It was found by staff sleeping in a booth early Thursday overlooking the ocean. It was soon was roused from its slumber and began poking around the restaurant. Related: Hundreds of starving sea lion pups stranding on California beaches; rescue centers overwhelmed I got to tell you when you see a little pup like this, it touches your heart. Its such a cute little thing, the Marine Rooms executive chef Bernard Guillas told FoxNews.com. It looked good to me. It was alert. Then they gave me the news, very much underweight. Ouch. I guess they need to be nice and chubby. We found This little guy in the The Marine Room restaurant this morninghe was a little bit early for his high tide breakfast reservationas it is this weekend on Sunday and Monday Posted by Bernard Guillas on Thursday, February 4, 2016 Guillas, who joked on his Facebook page that the sea lion had turned up early for a reservation, said it was the first time anything like this had happened. A few times we have had big boys like the big sea lion standing in front of the door, he said. But they never made it inside. The restaurant staff called the Sea World San Diego rescue team, which took the 8-month-old pup to its rescue center. Weighing only 20 pounds and about the size of a small dog, it is considered a micro pup because it is about half the weight it should be for its age. Related: Worst of this El Nino expected in coming months Despite its sickly state, Sea World officials told FoxNews.com that they were cautiously optimistic that they could nurse it back to health and eventually return it to the wild. It is currently in Sea Worlds rehabilitation center, where veterinarians and animal care specialist are stabilizing the pup and hydrating it. Sea World officials believe the sea lion found into its way into the restaurant a warm, dry place to rest. The pup is only the latest young sea lion to turn up in a strange place along the California coast. With high tides as well as warming waters from El Nino limiting the sea lions food supply, they have been increasingly washing up on shore since 2013 - turning up on beaches and found wandering on California city streets. In San Diego alone, Sea World has rescued 40 sea lions already this year and 990 in all of 2015 a record number of rescues in a year. A number of taxi drivers have reported seeing ghost passengers in Ishinomaki in Japans Miyagi Prefecture, an area that was devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Asahi Shimbun reports that Yuka Kudo, a senior at Tohoku Gakuin University majoring in sociology, interviewed more than 100 taxi drivers in Ishinomaki for her graduation thesis. Kudo asked the drivers whether they had any unusual experiences after the March 2011 disaster. Related: Scientists solve 50-year-old mystery of Alaska tsunami While many of the drivers ignored her or became angry, seven told the student about their strange experiences in the aftermath of the tsunami. One driver, in his 50s, related a story about a woman who got into his cab near Ishinomaki Station. The woman told him to take her to the Minamihama district. The driver then asked her The area is almost empty. Is it OK? The woman replied, in a shivering voice, Have I died? Related: New Mexico police catch a 'ghost' on camera When the driver looked back at his rear seat, no-one was there, according to the research. Another driver, who was in his 40s, related how a man, apparently in his 20s, got into his cab and pointed toward the front. When the driver repeatedly asked the man for his destination, he replied Hiyoriyama" (mountain). However, when the taxi arrived at the destination, the man had disappeared. Related: The Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay in pictures The seven drivers all started their meters for the phantom journeys according to the report. One driver showed Kudo his drivers report, which noted an unpaid fare. The magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast of Japan triggered massive tsunami waves, devastating parts of the country. More than 18,000 people lost their lives in the disaster. Psychiatrists have identified grief hallucinations as a reaction to bereavement. A study published in 2007 by Agneta Grimby, a researcher at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, surveyed 14 men and 36 women during the first year after the death of a spouse. Post-bereavement hallucinations or illusions were very frequent and even considered helpful, according to the research. In the wake of Apple's earnings announcement last week, CEO Tim Cook and COO Jeff Williams held court at a Town Hall meeting for employees. For those unfamiliar with Apple's Town Hall meetings, they're internal and private affairs intended to give employees a somewhat rare opportunity to ask the company's top brass anything that happens to be on their mind. Detailing some of the highlights from Apple's most recent Town Hall event, the exceptionally reliable Mark Gurman over at 9to5Mac provides us with an interesting peek into what employees wanted to know about Apple's future plans and what Apple executives were comfortable divulging. UP NEXT: How Samsung became Samsung, and why Apple is still Apple Much like on Apple's earnings conference call, Cook took a few minutes to beam about Apple's iPhone sales during last year's holiday quarter. Though year over year sales didn't increase by much at all, 74.7 million units sold is nothing to scoff at. So in an effort to frame Apple's quarterly iPhone sales in an impressive light, Cook said that Apple sold enough iPhones last quarter to "cover the populations of New York, London, Beijing, and Shanghai." Looking ahead, there have been some analyst concerns about Apple's bottom line being too iPhone dependent, no doubt fueled by Apple projecting that iPhone sales will soon experience a year over year drop for the first time in company history. Addressing such concerns, Cook confidently called the iPhone the "greatest business of the future" and indicated that emerging markets, most notably India, will help keep sales of Apple's iconic smartphone robust in the years ahead. As for the iPad, Cook reportedly said that "he expects iPad revenue growth to return by the end of 2016." This is quite a bold statement given that iPad sales have been decreasing steadily for many consecutive quarters now. In fact, iPad sales during the always-busy holiday quarter fell by 25% year over year, seemingly unfazed by the release of the iPad Pro. The upcoming unveiling of the iPad 3 admittedly seems intriguing, but one wonders if Cook is becoming so beholden to the iPad as to ignore the reality of slumping sales. Moving along, Cook also touched on the somewhat new Apple TV, saying that it will herald a "bright future for Apple in the living room." Of course, Apple would arguably need to make some headway on its reportedly stalled TV subscription service before one might consider the Apple TV a true must-have device for the living room. Either that, or the Apple TV will need to usher in an app revolution a'la the original iPhone. As for future products in the pipeline, Cook obviously didn't reveal too much. Gurman's report notes: It's interesting to note here that Apple is always in active development of future products that won't see the light of day for a few years down the road. As we highlighted previously, you might recall that an unearthed Steve Jobs memo from October 2010 (back when the iPhone 4 was still somewhat new) made reference to iPhone 5 hardware, a device that didn't end up shipping until September 2013, nearly three years later. Other points of interest from Apple's Town Hall include: Apple Watch holiday 2015 sales were greater than iPhone holiday 2007 sales Apple may begin expanding its range of services to non-iOS platforms, a'la Apple Music on Android Apple will begin moving into its new spaceship campus in January of 2017 Cook believes that China will play an integral role in Apple's future success All interesting stuff, but don't let Cook's Apple Watch to iPhone sales comparison fool you too much as iPhone sales during the 2007 holiday quarter checked in at under 3 million units. Twitter has suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts since mid-2015, the social media site announced Friday. The sites were primarily related to Islamic State, Twitter explained, in a blog post. We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service, it said. As the nature of the terrorist threat has changed, so has our ongoing work in this area. Related: Widow sues Twitter over ISIS' 'unfettered ability' to use platform ISIS is adept at using social media, including Twitter, as a propaganda and recruitment tool. In its blog post, Twitter explained that it has also increased the size of the teams that review reports, significantly reducing its response time. We also look into other accounts similar to those reported and leverage proprietary spam-fighting tools to surface other potentially violating accounts for review by our agents, it said. We have already seen results, including an increase in account suspensions and this type of activity shifting off of Twitter. Since mid-2015, we have suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts. Read more here: https://t.co/FQJeOTtPLz Policy (@policy) February 5, 2016 The social media firm also highlighted its cooperation with law enforcement, when appropriate, citing comments made by FBI Director James Comey last year recognizing Twitters commitment to blocking terrorist content. Related: ISIS supporters may operate over 46,000 Twitter accounts, study says Additionally, Twitter said that it partners with organizations working to counter extremist content online. A study released by the Brookings Institution in March 2015 warned that ISIS supporters may be operating more than 46,000 Twitter accounts. The study found that almost one in five ISIS supporters selected English as their primary language when using Twitter. Three quarters selected Arabic. Twitter has come under fire for its handling of extremist groups accounts. Citing ISIS "unfettered ability to maintain official Twitter accounts," the widow of an American killed last year in an attack at a police training center in Jordan has sued the social media company for allowing the group to spread its message. The San Francisco-based company called the lawsuit meritless, but said it was deeply saddened to hear of this familys terrible loss. Two New York City police officers were shot and injured while patrolling a Bronx housing project by a suspect who later took his own life late Thursday. Authorities said both injured officers were in stable condition. One officer's nose was grazed by a bullet, while the other was shot in the hip. One of the officers is a 29-year-old man, and the other is a 24-year-old woman, said Robert Boyce, the police department's chief of detectives. The officers, who are assigned to the Housing Bureau, have been on the force for about two years. Police would not provide the names of the officers or the suspect. Investigators said the officers were on the sixth floor of an apartment building in the Melrose Houses complex when they encountered two people in a stairwell. One of the people pulled a gun and opened fire. The gunman fled into an apartment on the seventh floor, New York Police Department First Deputy Commissioner Ben Tucker said. Officers responding to the scene found the gunman in the apartment dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound. A handgun and a shotgun were found inside the apartment. The second person who encountered the officers in the stairwell was in custody, and three people in the apartment were being questioned, Tucker said. The shooting occurred approximately five miles from where New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio was delivering his State of the City address. De Blasio was was told about the shooting as he finished his speech and left the stage. He met with the family of one of the officers at the hospital where they were being treated. "Our brave officers were doing their jobs tonight in our public housing on patrol keeping residents safe," de Blasio said. "Both officers are alert and communicating, and we are praying for the best here." The head of the police officers' union, Patrick Lynch, said the shooting shows the dangerous nature of the job. "We need your support to teach our young folks that pulling a gun on a police officer works for no one," he said. "This goes to show the dangers police officers face each and every day." He said the shooting shows the difficulty and danger of vertical patrols, on which pairs of officers start in the lobby of a public housing project and walk the stairwells up to the roof and back down. In January, a police officer responding to a large street fight in the Bronx was shot in an ankle. And in October, a police officer responding to a report of shots fired and a bicycle stolen at gunpoint in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood was killed. Click for more from Fox5NY.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A fiery debate last night in New Hampshire. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton in a contentious debate where the gloves came off on both sides. Hillary Clinton accusing Sanders at one point of smearing her with innuendo. Bernie Sanders hammering Clinton again and again over speaking fees and her ties to Wall Street. Hillary Clinton suggesting Bernie Sanders wasnt a real Democrat and that by his standards no Democrat is progressive enough, and daring him to give an example of when contributions got her to change a vote on anything. Heres how Dan Balz put it in the Washington Post, Hillary Clinton is not going down in defeat to Sen. Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire without a fight. That was the overriding message that came through when the two Democrats met for their first one-on-one debate of what has become a competitive and spirited contest for their party's nomination. For months, Clinton and Sanders had waged a relatively polite and respectful campaign against each other. Clinton originally saw no particular interest in going after Sanders, and the senator from Vermont claimed that he had never run a negative campaign in his life and wouldn't do so. In fact, the two have been edging closer and closer to outright attacks. On Thursday night, it all boiled over on the debate stage. Gabriel Debenedetti in Politico writing, Escalaing the brawl that's defined the Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders viciously attacked each others progressive credentials at Thursday nights debate, with Clinton accusing Sanders of smearing her record and treating her differently because shes a woman. New polling suggests Hillary Clinton will lose to Bernie Sanders in New Hampshire on Tuesday by as much as 30 (!) points. One note of caution though, we may be seeing some changes in the Clinton/Sanders face off in NH. WHDH reporting that their tracking poll shows Hillary gaining since Iowa versus Sanders, Watch out Bernie, here comes Hillary! Hillary Clinton is surging, and Bernie Sanders is flirting with free-fall. We could be watching a re-run of the comeback kid. Sanders is number one, but weakening. He gets 55%, after losing 3 per centage points over night, while Clinton, with 40%, gained 4 points since yesterday. Undecideds are now 4%, down one point. The tracking poll shows Clinton's dramatic rise: She's now just fifteen points behind Sanders, after trailing him by 31 when we started polling this week. 1215EST -- Hillary Clinton holds a Canvass Kick-off event. YWCA, Manchester, NH. LIVE via LiveU 1300EST -- Sen Sanders holds a rally. Exeter Town Hall, Exeter, NH. LIVE via LiveU On the GOP side, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie are stepping up attacks on Marco Rubio as he continues to consolidate support (and raise money). Barbara Bush and former President George W Bush have stepped up their presence in Jeb Bushs campaign with new advertisements and interviews. Chris Christie has been particularly vicious in his attacks on Rubio calling him the boy in the bubble, and suggesting he cant handle the press without handlers. Some of the air appears to be coming out of the Donald Trump campaign. After a stinging loss in Iowa after leading all the pre-caucus polls, Trump appears to be tweaking his campaign. Recent polls suggest some of his strong lead in New Hampshire ahead of Tuesdays voting has slipped away. Ben Schreckinger in Politico today writing, Three days after his loss in the Iowa caucuses, Donald Trump is coming down to Earth. On Thursday, the candidate who criss-crosses the country holding mega-rallies and boldly predicting victory in Mondays caucuses shifted gears, adding humble retail stops to his campaign schedule and warning his supporters not to assume he will win Tuesdays primary. 1130EST -- NJ Gov Christie holds a town hall meeting. Timberland, Stratham, NH. LIVE via LiveU 1230EST -- Donald Trump holds a town hall meeting. Londonderry Lions Club, Londonderry, NH. LIVE 1230EST -- OH Gov Kasich holds a town hall meeting. Lawrence Barn Community Center, Hollis, NH. LIVE via LiveU 1310EST -- NJ Gov Christie pre-tapes interview with O'Reilly. LIVE New polling out by NBC News/WSJ/Marist in New Hampshire shows a huge surge by Marco Rubio. It puts Trump as the front runner still with 30% followed by Rubio at 17%, Ted Cruz at 15%, John Kasich at 10%, Jeb Bush at 9% and Chris Christie at 4%. Its jobs day and well get a good idea of how the U.S. economy is holding up in the face of a dramatic downturn worldwide.. led by China. Analysts are expecting 200,000 jobs were added in the U.S. in January with the unemployment rate unchanged at 5%. Theres growing fears that toxic loans around the world are holding economic growth back. A New York Times analysis explains the trouble in a big investigative piece today. A diplomat says an explosion on a plane this week was caused by a terrorist bomb. Its believe the bomber blew himself out of the plane when the device exploded. Its believed he boarded the plane in a wheelchair and was able to escape detection by security because of that chair. He was the only one killed but it blew a hole in the fuselage before the plane landed successfully. Al Shabab likely behind the plot. Syrian troops are advancing on the rebel stronghold of Aleppo in Syria as the civil war rages on there. More than a quarter of a million people have died. A volcano erupted in Japan. Well look for video. For more news, follow me on Twitter: @ClintPHenderson Kentucky State Police announced Thursday they are investigating a string of diesel fuel thefts across the state, including fuel that was stolen from a Federal Aviation Administration radar tower. The FAA reported two diesel fuel thefts within three days of each other, according to the news release. The first robbery was reported on Jan. 28 when 600 gallons was stolen from a radar tower near the Virginia border. A second theft of 55 gallons reported on Feb. 1 at the same location. The total value of the fuel taken from the FAA is estimated to be more than $2,200, according to police. Two days later, police received a report of 475 gallons of diesel fuel being stolen from Forrest Products Incorporated located in Harlan County. Police said that three Motorola two-way radios, five CB radios and several hand tools were also reported stolen. The value of the fuel stolen from the company is estimated at $1,700 and the other stolen items are valued at $1,500, according to police. The fuel stolen from the two sites is No. 2 grade fuel, which is designated for off-road use and could be used to heat homes, police said. Kentucky State Police said they believe the three thefts are connected and are urging the public to call police if theyve purchased fuel from private individuals. Anthony with information is urged to call Post 10 in Harlan County at 606-573-3131. Los Angeles authorities charged two teenage gang members with murder Thursday in the deaths of a 19-year-old woman and her 17-year-old friend last fall, leaving their bodies near a popular hiking trail where a woman walking her dog had found them. Jose Antonio Echeverria, 18, known as Klepto, and Dallas Stone Pineda, 17, known as Trippy, were held without bond. Echeverria could face the death penalty and Pineda, as a minor, could get a life sentence. Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said Echeverria and Pineda knew the victims, Gabriela Calzada, 19, and Briana Gallegos, 17. Both of their bodies were found on Oct. 28 near a path in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park in Montecito Heights, nearly five miles from downtown Los Angeles. Beck described the scene as horrific and declined to say whether the victims had gang ties or why police think they were targeted. "This was motivated by hatred between gangs, and unfortunately these two very young, very innocent victims fell prey to that," he said. "These were young, vibrant women who certainly did not deserve to die." Calzada and Gallegos were fully clothed and showed no signs of sexual assault. Their head wounds were significant enough that they were barely recognizable, police have said. The girls deaths have shaken the community around the park. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said that Calzada had been a leader in a youth group and had committed to turning her life around, according to KTLA. "This type of crime obviously shakes a community down to its core," Capt. Martin Baeza said. "We've had a community on edge for about four months." He said police were holding a town hall meeting in the neighborhood on Thursday night, partly to assure residents that the crime was not random and that police are continuing to patrol the area. Echeverria was charged with attempted murder and shooting an occupied vehicle in a separate incident. The attempted murder charged stemmed from a Jan. 29 incident, according to KTLA. Pinedas mother told KTLA Wednesday that her son had initially been ruled out as a suspect in the murders. She said he had been questioned a week after the bodies were found. All Ive got to say is, hes innocent, she told the station. The suspects are to be arraigned March 8. It's unclear if the pair have attorneys. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from KTLA. Authorities in far northeast Ohio say a sheriff's deputy responding to a reported stabbing fatally shot a suspect who confronted officers with a gun. A Friday statement from the sheriff's office says Lake County deputies were called to a Perry Township home Thursday night by a woman who said she'd been stabbed repeatedly. It says responders were met outside by an armed man who refused orders to drop the firearm, and a deputy fired when the suspect raised the gun. The 54-year-old man was pronounced dead at a medical facility. The sheriff's office says the 55-year-old woman who'd been stabbed in the chest and back was flown to a Cleveland hospital. No update on her condition was available early Friday. Authorities planned a news conference to discuss what happened. The multi-state crime wave of a Missouri couple likened to Bonnie and Clyde ended in the wee hours of Friday morning when police picked up their trail on a Florida highway and engaged them in a shootout that left Blake Fitzgerald dead. Fitzgerald's female accomplice, Brittany Harper, was wounded after the pair led police on a chase from Escambia County into Santa Rosa County, according to AL.com. A shootout between the couple and authorities occurred around 1:30 a.m. "The Escambia County Sheriffs Office can confirm Blake Fitzgerald is deceased and Brittany Harper, wounded taken into custody and transported to a local hospital," the agency said on its Facebook page. Law enforcement authorities were planning a news conference at 9:30 a.m. EST. U.S. Marshals said Fitzgerald was pronounced dead at the scene. Harper was wounded in her legs and was taken to a local hospital, according to AL.com. Her condition was unclear. The paper reported the chase started late Thursday near Pensacola International Airport. The couple then led authorities on a foot chase near East Pensacola Heights. Just before 1 a.m., another car chase ensued as the couple crossed Pensacola Bay into Santa Rosa County. Multiple gunshots were heard in the vicinity of Garcon Point and Sargon Lane, according to WEAR-TV. Fitzgerald and Harper both believed to be in their 30s had been on the run since Sunday and are suspected of committing crimes in Missouri, Alabama, Georgia and Florida in the last week. Thursday nights chase and Friday mornings shootout are believed to have followed a Famous Footwear robbery. Police said the couple started their crime spree in Missouri on Jan. 26. They are wanted in two separate car chases, according to Cape Girardeau Country Sheriffs Office Capt. David James in Missouri. James said a Cadillac was stolen from a used car lot and when officers spotted the car, the driver failed to pull over and was chased until officers lost sight of them. Later that day, the couple allegedly broke into a Cape Girardeau house, ditched the Cadillac, and stole a red Chevrolet Trailblazer, which may have been used to drive to Alabama. Investigators said the couple drove to Alabama and abducted a hotel clerk, tried to rob a McDonalds manager and briefly kidnapped a woman outside Birmingham before stealing her SUV on Sunday. Those crimes happened within a two-hour span across a 60-mile distance, according to authorities. The couple was then involved in an armed robbery Monday night at a central Georgia gas station. Perry Police didnt give any further details of the robbery. After the alleged gas station robbery, Fitzgerald and Harper entered Alvins Island Tropical Department store in Destin, Fla. The couple walked around the store checking out items before meeting in the back of the store, Okaloosa County sheriffs spokeswoman Michele Nicholson said. Harper left the store while Fitzgerald put items in the basket and brought it to the cashier. Nicholson said as the cashier began to remove the items from the basket Fitzgerald pulled out a handgun and took an undisclosed amount of cash from the register. According to AL.com, Fitzgerald and Harper were seen heading east. Hours later, Escambia County Sheriffs Office spokeswoman Amber Southhard said the couple was suspected of robbing a Piggly Wiggly. A white, bald man was described as entering the store and escaping with more cash. Southard said the man was wearing an American Eagle sweatshirt and got in a pickup truck driven by a female in a hooded sweatshirt. No one has been hurt in the string of robberies. Fitzgerald and Harper are both from Joplin, Mo. The U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Task Force was asked to assist the manhunt and a $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to their arrest. "We have no idea why they're running or where they're running from or running to,"Tuscaloosa police Lt. Kip Hart said earlier this week. Missouri public records show Fitzgerald was no stranger to legal troubles. In 2013, he and an accomplice were charged with burglarizing a Joplin woman at knifepoint in her home and making off with her purse, jewelry, electronics and a car. Fitzgerald entered an Alford plea not admitting guilt but acknowledging the prosecutors had sufficient evidence for a conviction and was sentenced in 2014 to a suspended seven-year prison term. Fitzgerald also was sentenced in southwestern Missouri's Jasper County to a simultaneous 120-day term in a drunken-driving case. Last July, Fitzgerald pleaded guilty in a Missouri assault case and was sentenced to a suspended five-year prison term. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from AL.com. A recently retired Ohio police officer will now get a chance to buy his beloved K-9 partner for $1, officials said Thursday. Marietta Police Officer Matt Hickey worked with his dog Ajax for three years and the two even lived together during that period. However, when Hickey made his plans to retire, the police dog was going to be sold at auction because, according to state law, it was city property and the dog could still work. Earlier this week, city officials said it would allow Hickey to keep the job if he accepted an auxilary position at the police department. Hickey refused, noting he retired in January over health concerns. Hickey said he initially offered $3,500 (what a police dog trainer told him Ajax was worth) to police Chief Robert Hupp. However, Hupp declined the offer. When news about the auction spread, Hickey received an outpouring of support. As of late Thursday, Hickey received more than $72,000 to buy Ajax from the planned auction. But since the money doesnt seem to be necessary at this moment, Hickey promised to donate the left over money to a K-9 charity that buys bulletproof vests for dogs. The city made the decision Thursday for Hickey to buy Ajax. Hickey said hes speechless and very grateful that he gets to keep Ajax. In wake of the controversy surrounding the Marietta Police Department, state lawmaker said Wednesday he was working on a bill so that retiring police officers can keep their dogs, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Democratic Sen. Lou Gentile, of Steubenville, announced that officers will be able to buy either their K-9 partner or equine unit horses at fair market value from law enforcement. Officers are only allowed to keep their police dogs if the dog itself is going to retire, in which case the officer can purchase the dog for $1. I really, really do appreciate him (drafting the bill), Hickey told the paper. I guess a number of phone calls got to him, and he decided to do something. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Click for more from The Columbus Dispatch. Officials at an Oklahoma school district said they wanted to send a clear warning to protect against potential attacks, so they put up signs on Monday alerting that staff members could be carrying guns. The signs were erected at public schools in Okay, according to the Muskogee Phoenix. The town's police department was reportedly disbanded in 2014, and even though sheriff's deputies are available, Superintendent Charles McMahan says that may not be enough. "We don't want to be a soft target," he told the newspaper. One sign reads, "ATTENTION: Please be aware that certain staff members at Okay Public Schools can be legally armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our students." Other nearby school districts have not enacted such a policy. Porum Public Schools Superintendent Curtis Curry said, "we just don't think it's safe." Under the policy approved in August for Okay, employees who wish to carry firearms must receive training and Board of Education approval. The principal of Okay High School, Mark Hayes, reportedly pushed for the new gun policy. "There have been numerous shootings in the country, and we want to keep our students safe," he told the Phoenix. "These are our kids." Okay is roughly 9 miles north of Muskogee, and 50 miles southeast of Tulsa. Click for more from the Muskogee Phoenix. Canada has dropped many of the sanctions it imposed on Iran over that country's nuclear ambitions. Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said Friday that he wants to re-open a dialogue with Iran. The dialogue effectively ended in 2012 when the previous Conservative government severed relations, closed Canada's embassy in Tehran and expelled Iranian diplomats. Dion says the easing of sanctions on financial services, imports and exports reflects Iran's compliance with an international agreement to curtail its nuclear research programs. Dion says the changes do not mean a wide-open market. Some exports or services that could assist in the development of ballistic missiles will still be restricted. The sister-in law of self-professed Islamic State "caliph" Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is being held in a Kurdish prison following a failed suicide bombing attack several years ago, and FoxNews.com has obtained an exclusive photo of the VIP terrorist. The 24-year-old woman, Duaa Amid Ibrahim, is the sister of one of Al Baghdadis three wives, and has been held by Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) security forces since she was caught entering Erbil with a suicide vest beneath her burqa. Kurdish authorities say she was sent by Al Qaeda on a mission that long predated her brother-in-laws rise to power. Now that Baghdadi is arguably the most powerful terrorist in the world, Ibrahim appears to have major clout behind bars. Her mind might have changed from wanting to be a suicide bomber, but her ideology is still the same. Kurdish official on Duaa Amid Ibrahim She is very popular, the other women really like her, said a KRG official, who said years behind bars has done nothing to soften her radical beliefs. Her mind might have changed from wanting to be a suicide bomber, but her ideology is still the same. Ibrahim was a teenage widow of an Al Qaeda fighter when she was arrested, and bears a tattoo of his name on her right index finger. When a FoxNews.com reporter recently visited Erbil, Ibrahim refused to leave her cell to be interviewed. Kurdish authorities did provide FoxNews.com with a photo of her. A high-ranking intelligence and security official from Erbils security agency Asayish who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Ibrahims case is still proceeding through the legal system, although it is likely she will receive a life sentence. Ibrahim is regularly monitored by the international Red Cross along with dozens of other jailed female jihadists in compliance with international laws. She even has a television in her cell that allows her and other inmates to follow the bloody exploits of ISIS and the international communitys efforts to stop the black-clad jihadist army. ISIS Iraqi stronghold in Mosul lies just 55 miles west of Erbil, and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces clash almost daily with ISIS along the frontlines. Ibrahims infamous brother-in-law rose through the ranks of Al Qaedas Iraqi arm following his release from the U.S.-run Camp Bucca detention center in southern Iraq in 2004 when he was known as Ibrahim Awad Ibrahim al-Badry. It is not known if he played a role in the plot that would have killed his sister-in-law, the sibling of Saja al-Dulaimi. Al Dulaimi is one of three and the most prominent - of the terrorist kingpins wives and has been referred to in local reports as caliphess or calipha. Al Baghdadi announced his split from Al Qaeda and the formation of ISIS in August, 2013. Even as the terrorist group seized power, land and international headlines, the Kurds had no idea that the failed suicide bomber they had captured five years earlier was a close relative. The connection was made soon after the Lebanese Army detained Al Baghdadis wife and son as they crossed from Syria in late 2014. While there were conflicting reports at the time about whether Al Dulaimi was still married to the ISIS chief, she was seen as a crucial source of intelligence about the mysterious Al Baghdadi, whose history and current movements are so mysterious and guarded that they have taken on a mythical aura. Al Dulaimi was released late last year in a prisoner exchange in which the Lebanese government brought back Lebanese soldiers imprisoned by Al Nusra Front, Al Qaedas Syrian arm. No such exchange has been proposed for Ibrahim. Authorities would not say what, if any, information Ibrahim has provided about her brother-in-law. Given the duration of her captivity, whatever information she may have may be of little use. Despite periodic rumors of his death, Kurdish officials believe he is alive and shuttling between the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Ramadi. He has not been seen publicly since the summer of 2014, when video surfaced of him speaking at a mosque in Mosul and demanding all Muslims obey him. Were getting some more source information, but it is not easy to find him, said a Kurdish official. The propaganda battle between North and South Korea is getting even dirtier. To highlight its contempt for the South, North Korea has started sending balloons over the border filled with cigarette butts, police told the New York Times. The balloons were timed to detonate their payloads, but some failed to function and landed onto rooftops and cars in South Korean villages. We can confirm that they included cigarette butts, Kim Hak-young, a chief police superintendent, told the newspaper on Thursday. The balloons also carried thousands of messages that called South Korean leader Park Geun-hye a filthy president. The two countries have been ramping up their propaganda war since Jan. 6, when North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test. The South has been blaring pop songs and criticism of Kim Jong Un over loudspeakers positioned near the border. Click for more from the New York Times. North Korea is expected Friday to complete fueling a long-range missile and could be ready to launch it as early as the day after the Super Bowl, a U.S. defense official tells Fox News. The latest estimate from U.S. intelligence expects the North Korean missile launch to occur as early as Monday in a window between Feb 8-10. In anticipation of the North Korean launch in the coming days, the U.S. Navy has positioned a Japan-based guided-missile destroyer, outfitted with the latest anti-ballistic missile defense technology to successfully shoot down the missile if the U.S. military thinks it is a threat to the homeland. So far, the Pentagon anticipates North Koreas expected launch next week will mirror a similar one in 2012 that brought a satellite into space, and does not anticipate the missile will carry a nuclear warhead. But a U.S. defense official told Fox News earlier this week the concern is "the components are the same" between launching a satellite into space and launching a nuclear weapon capable of taking out Los Angeles. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Thursday the U.S. military would track the North Korean missile launch. Carter declined to name specific assets in the region nor discuss any ship movements. Earlier this week, North Korea notified the U.N. that it will launch an earth observation satellite sometime between Feb 8-25. This development comes weeks after North Korea detonated a nuclear weapon deep underground at a known nuclear test site. North Korea claimed it tested a hydrogen bomb, but Carter said "I dont think they were as successful as they claimed" earlier this week. Ahead of the expected launch, Japan has deployed PAC-3 missile batteries in the downtown Tokyo to shoot down any rocket debris, according to the Associated Press. The last time North Korea launched a rocket into space was 2012 to deliver a satellite into orbit. It is unclear if that satellite remains in space. At the time, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said the missile "deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit." The United States condemned the launch as "provocative." The U.N. Security Council also condemned the 2012 North Korean rocket launch days later saying it violated a 2009 council resolution banning any missile launch "using ballistic missile technology." The December 2012 launch of a Unha 3 rocket bringing the "Bright Star" satellite into space was hailed in North Korea as a matter of great national pride. In April 2015, the U.S. commander of NORAD, tasked with protecting the homeland was confident the U.S. could shoot down a North Korean nuclear missile. Should one get airborne and come at us, I'm confident that we'll be able to knock it down, said Gortney. But Gortney warned that the latest U.S. intelligence estimate said North Korea did have the capability to launch a nuclear strike on the continental United States. Our assessment is that they have the ability to put it on -- a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland. And that's the way we think. That's our assessment of the process. We haven't seen them test the KN-08 yet and we're waiting to do that. But it doesn't necessarily mean that they will fly before they test it. Russia has stepped up its military maneuvers to a level unseen since the height of the Cold War, according to a new report released by NATO Thursday. Jens Stoltenberg, the alliance's secretary general and author of the report, noted that Moscow has conducted at least 18 large-scale exercises over the past three years, "some of which have involved more than 100,000 troops." Those exercises included several simulated nuclear attacks against NATO allies and partner nations, such as Sweden in March 2013. The report was released two days after the Obama administration proposed spending $3.4 billion on its troops and training in Europe as a direct result of Russia's recent action in the regions, including the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. "We haven't had to worry about this for 25 years, and while I wish it were otherwise, now we do," said Defense Secretary Ash Carter Tuesday. Moscow's military adventurism has raised fears among other NATO members, most notable Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, that they could be next. The Pentagon has already increased the pace of troop rotations in and out of Europe, providing training and other advice and assistance to the region. In Tallinn, Estonia, last June, Carter stood with his Baltic counterparts and announced that the U.S. would spread 250 tanks, armored vehicles and other military equipment across six of the former Soviet bloc nations. And he promised NATO that the U.S. would contribute weapons, aircraft and forces, including commandos, for the alliance's new rapid reaction force. Despite such measures, a recent analysis by the RAND Corporation released earlier this week suggested that Russian tanks could overrun NATO's current forces in the Baltic states and be in their respective capitals within 60 hours. Signs of Russia's military buildup are also present at sea. British Royal Navy Vice Adm. Clive Johnstone, told the defense analysis group IHS Janes that NATO has observed "a level of Russian capability that we havent seen before," according to The Washington Post. IHS James reported that Russia has recently commissioned two new types of submarines and are also modernizing several older vessels. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A United Nations human rights panel sided Friday with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost -- a decision hailed by Assange as a vindication. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which falls under the offices of the U.N. human rights chief, said Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010, when he was first sought for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. He remains in the Embassy of Ecuador in London, where he sought refuge more than three years ago. The panel's finding has no legal force, British and Swedish officials maintain, but it represents a public relations victory for Assange, who argues that the allegations against him are part of a plot to send him to the United States to face more possible charges related to WikiLeaks' release of classified documents. The WikiLeaks founder said Friday it is "now a matter of settled law" that he has been wrongly detained. Assange spoke to journalists by video from the London embassy of Ecuador and said Britain and Sweden cannot appeal the panel's finding, but Britain has already indicated it will challenge. One of his lawyers, Melinda Taylor, said the finding shows that Assange has been subjected to mental torture. She added that part of his detention has included round-the-clock covert and overt surveillance while seeking refuge at the Embassy of Ecuador in London. Taylor called on Sweden and Britain to "step up to the plate" and set him free." One of Julian Assange's lawyers in Sweden, Thomas Olsson, says the country "has no other option but to submit itself to" the opinion of a U.N. human rights panel. Olsson said Sweden has "committed itself to the rules and decisions that exist in the U.N. human rights charter." He said time should be given to the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the case, who was traveling on Friday, "to analyze this ruling, and then take a decision. The panel's decision was not unanimous: Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member, disagreed with the other three voting members because he did not believe the group had a mandate to investigate the case because he did not believe Assange had been detained. The fifth member of the panel recused herself because she is Australian, as is Assange. It is not clear if U.S. judicial officials are seeking Assange's arrest on U.S. charges. No charges have been filed against Assange in Sweden, but Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. The panel criticized Sweden's approach, noting that Assange was never formally charged in Sweden only placed under preliminary investigation. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said panel chairman Seong-Phil Hong in a statement. Citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that has 168 state parties including both Sweden and Britain, the panel said "the adequate remedy would be to ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation." British officials argue that Assange is free to leave the Ecuadorean Embassy at any time although he would face arrest from British police because of a European Arrest Warrant issued at Sweden's behest. He is also sought by Britain for jumping bail. The panel's decision, which was given privately to the governments before it was released to the public, seems to have stunned officials in Sweden and Britain who maintain proper procedures have been followed at all times. Karin Rosander, spokeswoman for the Swedish Prosecution Authority, said that under Swedish law the panel's conclusion will have no "formal impact." British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond called the panel's finding "frankly ridiculous". The panel criticized a "disproportionate" reaction by Swedish prosecutors in issuing a European arrest warrant rather than seeking to question Assange using bilateral agreements with Britain, and insisted that the Swedish prosecutor refused to consider other ways of interviewing him compatible with his right to asylum which it said was not properly respected. Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement it would formally contest the panel's opinion. "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system." It countered that Assange was "voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." The case has also been complicated by uncertainty surrounding Assange's legal status in the United States. The U.S. government has not revealed whether he has been indicted grand jury proceedings are secret there but has indicated that sensitive investigations into Assange and WikiLeaks have been made. The working group said Assange could face "refoulement" to the United States being handed over to a country where he could face violence or prison. The U.N. upholds the principle of non-refoulement prohibiting that practice. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The presumed leader of the Islamic State operatives who attacked Paris in November boasted that he slipped into Europe among refugees from Syria as part of a team of dozens of militants, according to a key witness. If true, the testimony adds urgency to a continentwide effort by security services to track down people with links to the extremist group. Authorities fear that Islamic State smuggled many of its fighters into Europe among the hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled Syria and Iraq in recent years, officials say. The investigation into the Paris attacks has raised questions about Europes ability to screen those refugees for potential threats. At least two people involved in the Paris attacks had registered as refugees on a Greek island in the months before they surfaced in Paris. The latest testimony, which was reported by French media Thursday, came from a woman who provided information that led French police to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a Belgian who is believed to have orchestrated the Nov. 13 killing spree in Paris that left 130 dead and hundreds injured. The woman, who spoke under the pseudonym Sonia, accompanied Mr. Abaaouds cousin, Hasna Ait Boulahcen, to a hidden encampment along a highway north of Paris in the days after the attack to meet Mr. Abaaoud. She said Mr. Abaaoud told them that he arrived in Europe without documents, among the refugees, along with 90 other operatives, including French, British, German, Iraqi and Syrian citizens, an official familiar with her testimony said. The woman testified that Mr. Abaaoud said his network had operatives in the Paris region and elsewhere in Europe, the official said. About 50 to 60 of the operatives in Mr. Abaaouds network entered the European Union by sea or land through Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, according to a Western counterterrorism official. The operatives traveled from Syria through Turkey to reach the EU borders, and then spread to various countries including France, Germany, Spain and the U.K., the official said. No other details about their movements or the time frame over which they arrived were provided. Mr. Abaaoud asked his cousin for help with the next attack he was planning: assaults on a commercial center, a police station and a nursery school in La Defense, the business district outside Paris, the friend testified. I said to him, You have killed innocent people! the woman, speaking on RMC radio, said she told Mr. Abaaoud. He said to me, No, they arent innocent. You have to see whats happening with us in Syria. A French official confirmed the woman on the radio was the one who had testified. After the meeting, she contacted police several times to disclose Mr. Abaaouds location and his plans for another attack. Her testimony was crucial, said Clemence Bectarte, a lawyer with the International Federation for Human Rights who is helping to represent her. It is the piece of information that helped them get to Abaaoud. Mr. Abaaoud was killed during a raid on an apartment hideout in the Paris suburb of St. Denis, shortly after the woman tipped off the police. Ms. Ait Boulahcen and another accomplice in the Paris attacks, a Belgian Islamic State fighter named Chakib Akrouh, also were killed. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal. According to sources from Bukavu, 57 Rwandan refugees were abducted by FARDC soldiers in Rurimba, Fizi in the South Kivu Province. This group of refugees were trying to seek refuge in Zambia. They are thought be in transit to a Bukavu detention centre where several other refugees are being held in very precarious conditions, including women whose only crime is that their husbands were ship to a prison in Lisala in the Equateur, Province where they have been been undergoing all kinds of mistreatment at the hands of FARDC. According to a UN source, the Congolese military is planning to ship all the Refugees from both Walungu and Kanyabayonga to Gbadolite. This move goes against what these refugees agreed to when some of the group who are former freedom fighters agreed to lay down their weapons. To this day there seem to be no UN inquiry into the abduction and mistreatment of these refugees at the hands of FARDC. Pierre MUNYEMANA GOMA, NORTH KIVU, DRC. Source Art Van Findlay To Assist Victims Of North Main Street Apartment Fire With Furniture Vouchers WARREN, Mich., Feb. 4, 2016 // PRNewswire // -- Art Van Findlay, in partnership with the Findlay Fire Relief Foundation, has announced it will donate over $9,000 in vouchers towards the purchase of furniture for the families impacted by January's devastating North Main Street apartment fire. Victims of the North Main Street apartment fire who are interested in receiving a voucher towards the purchase of furniture will first need to apply to the Findlay Fire Relief Foundation. Upon confirmation of need, victims will receive a $300 voucher, good towards any purchase at Art Van Findlay. "Many families were devastated by the fire, and lost everything, not just furniture," said Tony Rettig, Art Van Furniture Findlay franchise store owner. "We know that our donations cannot replace personal possessions, but the hope is that by extending a helping hand, we can lessen the hardship for them." Art Van Findlay will also take donations from members of the community who would like to help by donating their own gently used furniture for the families in need. Drop offs can be made Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Art Van Findlay, located at 10300 W. US ST RT 224 in Findlay. Individuals are asked to check in at Guest Services prior to making any furniture drop offs. For additional information, visit artvan.com. About Art Van Furniture Art Van Furniture is the Midwest's largest furniture retailer and America's largest independent furniture retailer. The company operates 100 stores throughoutMichigan, six stores in Chicagoland, one store in Toledo, Ohio, one store in Fort Wayne, a full service e-commerce website, plus 38 freestanding Art Van PureSleep bedding stores in Michigan and Ohio. Founded in 1959, the company is family-owned and headquartered in Warren, Michigan. Visit artvan.com for more information. SOURCE Art Van Furniture ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus IHG Opens First Holiday Inn Express & Suites Hotel in Mexicali, Mexico One of the fastest-growing hotel brands expands in Northern Mexico February 05, 2016 // Franchising.com // Mexicali, BCS. InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the worlds leading hotel companies, announces the opening of the new-build 126-room Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mexicali hotel. This is the first Holiday Inn Express hotel and the first IHG property to open in Mexicali, Mexico, a growing industrial city that is also home to a great deal of natural beauty. Gerardo Murray, Regional Vice President of Distribution and Commercial Marketing, Mexico, Latin America and The Caribbean, IHG said: We are extremely excited to open our first property in Mexicali and are confident that this new hotel will become a top choice for the growing number of business and leisure travelers visiting the city who appreciate the simple and efficient stay experience the Holiday Inn Express brand provides. The Holiday Inn Express brand is the smart choice for value-conscious travelers seeking a hotel that will help them rest and go while staying productive, delivering exactly what they need and nothing they dont. The more than 2,400 Holiday Inn Express hotels worldwide provide a great nights sleep and the uncomplicated yet personal service travelers expect from the brand all at a competitive price. Located inside La Gran Via, the newest and largest shopping mall in Mexicalis golden zone, home to the citys most luxurious neighborhoods, shopping and restaurants, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Mexicali hotel is one of the closest hotels to the airport and only five minutes to the United States border crossing. The city of Mexicali is adjacent to its sister city Calexico, California, with which it forms a dual-state, center of population, CalexicoMexicali. Mexicali is a growing industrial area and home to assembly plants in the automotive, aerospace, health, telecommunications, metallurgical and manufacturing industries. It is also one of Mexicos primary agricultural centers, exporting several different vegetables. Guests to the area can also enjoy ecotourism and adventure by visiting the Hardy River ecological zone of Campo Mosqueda, where families can experience nature and the beauty of the river by going fishing and building campfires, for example, and Rancho Baja Cucapah, which provides experiences such as nature tours and other outdoor adventures. The hotel offers a 24-hour fitness center, guest laundry, an outdoor swimming pool and two meeting rooms with capacity for up to 120 people. Guest rooms feature contemporary styling, comfortable queen, king-sized or two double beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary coffee. The hotels 53 suites are further equipped with a microwave, refrigerator and sofa. The complimentary Desayuno Express bar showcases a full range of breakfast items, including a rotation of egg and meat selections, pastries, yogurt, fruit, coffee, juices, and regional dishes such as carne asada beef tacos. The hotel, located at Calzada Cetys 1950, Col. Rivera, is owned and managed by Desarrollo de Activos S.de R.L. de C.V. The Holiday Inn Express brand is part of IHGs diverse family of brands in nearly 100 countries and territories. The scale and diversity of the IHG family of brands means that its hotels can meet guests needs whatever the occasion whether an overnight getaway, a business trip, a family celebration or a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-HOLIDAY or by going to IHG.com/HolidayInnExpress. The Holiday Inn Express brand participates in IHG Rewards Club. The industrys first and largesthotel rewards program is free, and guests can enroll at IHGRewardsClub.com, by downloading the IHG App, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any of IHGs more than 5,000 hotels worldwide. The hotel also participates inIHG Green Engage and offers unique programs to ensure sustainability. About the Holiday Inn Express brand Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travelers. Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers. Guests Stay Smart at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start breakfast bar with new healthier offerings, free high-speed Internet access and free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only). There are currently more than 2,400 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations around the globe. For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, visit www.ihg.com/hiexpress. Find us on Twitterhttp://www.twitter.com/hiexpress or Facebook www.Facebook.com/holidayinnexpress. About IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites andCandlewood Suites. IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,000 hotels in nearly 100 countries, with more than 1,300 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG Rewards Club, the worlds first and largest hotel loyalty programme with more than 90 million members worldwide. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Groups holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 350,000 people work across IHGs hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihg.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc. SOURCE IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) Media Contacts: Dolores Avalos Raz Guzman Avalos Asociados Comunicacion Corporativa davalos@avalosyasociados.com 5251-5247 o Cel. 55-3707-1713 Shelby Lits IHG helby.lits@ihg.com +1(770) 604-8343 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Marco's Pizza Announces Expansion Plans for South Dakota and Montana One of the Fastest-Growing Pizza Franchise Chains in the Nation Is Seeking Entrepreneurs in South Dakota and Montana TOLEDO, OH - (Marketwired - Feb 5, 2016) - To meet the growing demand for pizza in the growing states of South Dakota and Montana, Marco's Pizza franchise is seeking to partner with entrepreneurs who want a slice of the action. How big is the demand for pizza in South Dakota and Montana? The oil boom in North Dakota has added a ton of momentum behind the economies of South Dakota and Montana. The two states are rightly known for their natural beauty, featuring attractions such as Mount Rushmore, the Black Hills and Glacier National Park that bring in millions of tourists every year. With so many folks discovering the natural beauty of South Dakota and Montana, the two states will be a great place to own a pizza franchise for years to come. That kind of growth makes it a perfect location for a Marco's Pizza. Their Ah!thentic Italian-style pizza is fresh-made with delectable cheeses, meats and vegetables, and they have several prime locations in South Dakota and Montana available for franchise partners who want to be part of the nation's fastest-growing large pizza chain. For Marco's Pizza, business in South Dakota and Montana is booming. South Dakotans and Montanans are voting with their wallets and their tastebuds - ordering fresh-made, Ah!thentic Italian pizza rather than settling for the bland pizza of lesser chains. The Department of Agriculture recently published a study on American eating habits that found that on any given day, 13% of the entire U.S. population is eating pizza. When applied to the South Dakota and Montana area - population 1.9 million - that statistic means that more than 245,000 South Dakotans and Montanans are eating pizza every single day. Marco's Pizza prides itself on making the best pizza money can buy. It is hand-made in the Italian tradition, using fresh, never-frozen cheeses, making the dough in stores daily and using only premium meats and vegetables. Founded in Toledo in 1978, Marco's is the only Top 20 pizza chain founded by a native Italian. Marco's has enjoyed stunning growth in recent years and is on pace to open 1,000 restaurants by the end of 2017. The brand's proven business model and sustainable growth have been heralded by the likes of Forbes, Consumer Report,Entrepreneur, Franchise Times and Nation's Restaurant News. "Our franchisees come from a remarkably wide variety of backgrounds. But there's a common thread among our franchisees - passion for the Marco's product. Almost half of them were Marco's consumers first. They fell in love with our product," said Cameron Cummins, Chief Development Officer for Marco's Pizza. Marco's Pizza is growing faster than the overall pizza industry Marco's Pizza has the fastest unit growth, according to Nation's Restaurant News, which named the beloved pizza franchise as part of its Second 100 List. That list analyzes businesses that are smaller but are focusing on growing around the nation. The publication states that while the pizza industry is mature and growth is limited, Marco's Pizza is the exception. Not only is Marco's growing faster than other pizza franchises, Marco's Pizza sales growth also is higher than any other pizza franchise. The publication reports that Marco's Pizza sales growth is tops for system-wide sales in the Second 100 pizza segment. Marco's Pizza franchise seeks friendly, passionate entrepreneurs in South Dakota and Montana Marco's Pizza wants welcoming, friendly individuals who remember customers' names and are passionate about the product to join the Marco's Pizza franchisee family. The investment required to start a Marco's Pizza franchise is typically about $350,000. The pizza franchise is looking for people who have a net worth of $150,000 and a minimum liquidity of $100,000. To learn more, visit www.marcosfranchising.com. SOURCE Marco's Pizza Contact: Cameron Cummins Chief Development Officer ccummins@marcos.com ### Add to Request List Added Request Information Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus OpenWorks Experiences Record Franchise Growth in 2015 PHOENIX, AZ (PRWEB) February 05, 2016 - OpenWorks, one of Americas leading integrated facility services franchises, experienced tremendous growth in 2015 by adding a record 69 new franchise locations across seven markets. It marked the first time that OpenWorks exceeded its annual franchise sales goal for a given year. OpenWorks expanded into two new territories in 2015, first breaking into the Northern California market with the opening of an office in Emeryville, CA, and then adding an office in Denver later in the year. The first franchise in Colorado was sold in December. This business growth added hundreds of jobs around the country and increased the total amount of facilities now served by OpenWorks to more than 1,900. Under the direction of a franchise manager and a team of regional directors, OpenWorks was able to strategically identify their target audience for franchise candidates through extensive market research. They also received a number of internal referrals from existing franchisees that often provide top recommendations for potential candidates within the field. The company also redesigned their franchisee training program in 2015 to help attract and prepare owners who do not have a background in the cleaning industry. OpenWorks will continue their growth with plans to expand into six additional regional markets in 2016, starting with offices in Tampa Bay and Atlanta in the first quarter. They also intend to open 103 new franchises across the country this year. By the end of the month they will complete the hiring of 14 new employees in their existing and upcoming markets. As a result of the business growth, OpenWorks recently promoted three Regional Directors - Matt Hamilton, Steve Moore and Spencer Stevens - to Divisional Vice Presidents. The company will hire new Regional Directors, and the team will work to reach their sales goals as well as improve franchise and sales training. OpenWorks is aggressively adding customers in territories across the country, which is a tremendous benefit to prospective franchise candidates as they know there is an established market for their services. Along with a growth in franchises and markets, OpenWorks made several major additions to their line of services in 2015 to include work such as landscaping and pest control. By expanding the scope of their work, OpenWorks is now able to offer a comprehensive selection of services to their customers to better meet the extensive needs of each facility they serve. Their cleaning, maintenance and repair work now covers areas such as exterior care, handyman services and HVAC units. OpenWorks Founder and CEO Eric Roudi said the company was able to build upon their growth from last year and has set high standards for expansion in 2016. This is a time of unprecedented growth and success for OpenWorks, said Roudi. After exceeding our franchise sales goals last year, we plan on adding more than 100 new locations this year while nearly doubling the number of markets in which we operate. This record expansion is a testament to our hard working sales teams, talented franchisees and the fantastic comprehensive integrated facility services offered by OpenWorks. About OpenWorks: Established in Phoenix, AZ in 1983, OpenWorks is a leading national commercial cleaning franchise that offers integrated facility services through highly reputable local affiliates. In 30+ years, the company has grown to 330 franchise locations in seven states from Illinois to California. OpenWorks is guided by a simple philosophy: a cleaner, safer and healthier environment means a more productive workplace. The OpenWorks franchisees and preferred partners who serve more than 1100 facilities each day offer more than simple cleaning and maintenance - they help their clients fundamentally improve their work environment. Each OpenWorks representative implements an environmentally friendly Green Clean program using the highest quality equipment. The OpenWorks difference is all about open, flexible relationships. Each OpenWorks customer receives customized solutions that fit the needs of their specific facility. For more information on OpenWorks, please visit http://www.openworksweb.com. SOURCE OpenWorks Contact: Kevin Behan OpenWorks +1 (919) 459-3595 ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Scooters Coffee Expands South Dakota Location Newest Location in Sioux Falls Celebrates Grand Opening February 05, 2016 // Franchising.com // Sioux Falls, SD Scooters Coffee, the Midwest-based coffee franchise that has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, will increase their presence in South Dakota with its latest Grand Opening Celebration at 3650 E 10th St in Sioux Falls, SD on Friday, February 5. To celebrate the opening, the new location will offer giveaways and samples all weekend, followed by a week of specials. This new location will be the sixth location in the state of South Dakota. Its been wonderful seeing the Scooters Coffee brand grow in Sioux Falls, said Don Eckles, CEO and co-founder of Scooters Coffee. The members of this area have embraced our brand with open arms, and we look forward to opening many more stores here in the future. On Grand Opening Day customers can expect free t-shirt giveaways and pastry samples as well as mug and other product giveaways throughout the following Saturday and Sunday. The weekend is followed by a Week of Specials, with half off different Scooters espresso drinks or smoothies each day. Customers can then receive a free $5 gift card with purchase of $5 to end the week. When you walk into a Scooters, you dont necessarily feel like youre in a national coffee franchise, stated owner and operator, Travis Rhoades. Most of my regular customers know me, my wife, and our children. Theres a real feeling of camaraderie and togetherness. I look forward even more relationships in the community at this new location. The locations grand opening marks the latest move in the companys extraordinary growth. With nearly 130 stores in soon-to-be 14 states, Scooters recently signed a large Area Representative Agreement in Phoenix along with several other Multi-Unit Agreements in Florida, Oklahoma and Arkansas. The company also recently opened its first location in Georgia (Roswell) and plans to build several more stores in the Atlanta area. About Scooters Coffee Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooters Coffee roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. Scooter's success over 17 years of history is simple: Stay committed to the original business principles and company core values. The Scooter's mantra, often recited to franchisees, customers and employees is: "Amazing People, Serving Amazing Drinks, Amazingly Fast. It represents the company's business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal customers. For more information, visit scooterscoffee.com or Facebook.com/ScootersCoffee. SOURCE Scooters Coffee ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Starwood Hotels & Resorts Debuts Sizzling aloft Brand in Asuncion, Paraguay aloft Asuncion Brings Cutting Edge Style and a Vibrant Social Scene to the Buzzing Capital STAMFORD, Conn. - February 5, 2016 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced the debut of its sizzling aloft brand in Paraguay - one of Latin Americas fastest-growing and tech-savvy economies - with the opening of aloft Asuncion. Located in the heart of the citys financial district, aloft Asuncion marks the first aloft hotel in Paraguay and the sixth in Latin America. With seven more properties in the pipeline, aloft is set to more than double its footprint in Latin America from six to 13 hotels by 2018, with new openings in Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay. The 120-room aloft Asuncion is sure to transform Paraguays hotel landscape with its vibrant atmosphere that brings travelers and locals together in design-forward spaces with a buzzing social scene and tech-savvy mindset. Located in the hotel zone, steps away from shops, restaurants and nightlife, aloft Asuncion also offers easy access to World Trade Center, the citys financial hub where multinational corporations have a strong presence. aloft has become our fastest growing brands in Latin America, thanks to its innovative and social approach which has transformed the select service category, said Jorge Giannattasio, Senior Vice President and Chief of Operations for Starwood in Latin America and the Caribbean. We are thrilled to open the doors of aloft Asuncion today and are certain that this will also transform Paraguays hotel landscape. aloft Asuncion features a rooftop terrace with 360 degree views of the city and a lively social scene with music and cocktails, and a Splash pool that provides the perfect setting for relaxing and refreshing. Re:Charge, the hotels fully equipped gym, allows guests to maintain a healthy routine and recharge. Dining options include Nook, a full service restaurant serving international and local cuisine for lunch and dinner; Re:Fuel grab and go cafe, open 24/7, offering light bites and drinks; as well as WXYZ Bar and REMIX lounge where guests can enjoy a refreshing cocktail and catch the latest up-and-coming music acts as part of the brands signature Live At aloft Hotels music series. It also features Tactic, a unique 600-square foot space for board meetings with state-of-the-art audio visuals and tech-forward features. Fast and free WiFi is available throughout the hotel. aloft remains one of the fastest growing brands in hospitality with more than 100 hotels in 16 countries now open. Fueled by accelerating demand in dynamic markets worldwide, aloft experienced incredible growth momentum in 2015 with a 65% increase in signings over the prior year. Lets get social. Follow @aloftHotels on Twitter, check us out on Instagram @aloftHotels, or head to Facebook.com/aloftHotels. About aloft Hotels With more than 100 hotels now open in 16 countries around the world, Starwoods aloft brand delivers a fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel landscape. For the always on next generation of traveler, the aloft brand offers a tech-forward, vibrant experience and a modern style that is different by design. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com. aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest program, the industrys richest loyalty program. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com. SOURCE Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. Media Contact: Ashley Chapman Global Public Relations aloft, Element & Four Points 212-380-4015 ashley.chapman@starwoodhotels.com ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus PASADENA, Calif. With all the changes in television over the past few decades, Dick Wolf has remained resilient and is now resurgent. A few years ago, the producer behind the Law & Order empire at NBC saw his three prime-time shows cut back to one, and was stung when the original series was canceled just shy of setting a record for the longest-running scripted prime-time show. He settled for a tie. Now, Wolf makes the Chicago trilogy of dramas for NBC. Chicago Fire started four years ago and averages 10 million viewers a week. Chicago P.D. is in its third season and was joined in November by Chicago Med. Law & Order: SVU is still breathing, too. NBC recently signed a new production deal with the prolific producer, ensuring an 18th season of SVU and the continuation of his Chicago trilogy of dramas. The deal, announced Monday, binds Wolf with NBC Universal through 2020. In this day and age, were just trying to build something bigger than one show in the middle of hundreds of other shows, and I think now we have sort of a Chicago zeitgeist, said Bob Greenblatt, NBC Entertainment president. I think its innovative and fresh, and were just seeing more build as the weeks go on with these shows. Besides, he quipped, were getting good kickbacks from [Chicago Mayor] Rahm Emanuel. Chicago Med was the only new fall program to get higher ratings for subsequent episodes than it did for its premiere, Greenblatt said. The ripped-from-the-headlines dramas are more dependable than sexy, and they provide plenty of cross-pollination opportunities for NBC. Med and Fire run back-to-back on NBCs Tuesday schedule, with P.D. airing Wednesdays. February will have a crossover story that involves all of the series, with characters from each show appearing within the others. The new deal promises a second season of Chicago Med. NBC had earlier renewed Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. NBC said Wolf is also developing a fourth series, Chicago Law. Hes also at work on a reality series, Law & Order: You the Jury, where the audience decides the verdict in a court case. Hes been a defining voice of NBC for over a generation, and he is most welcome at this company forever, said Greenblatt. Wolf said his relationship with Greenblatt is better than hes ever had with a network chief. Ive been in the same office, with the same phone number, for 30 years, he said. Im glad people wont have to learn a new one. Staying was really a foregone conclusion. RICHMOND The Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill Thursday to make major changes to how localities negotiate public concerns with developers, with a significant amendment planned to alleviate objections by Henrico County. The bill, House Bill 770, would reform the proffer system, which allows local governments to extract cash payments from developers for public infrastructure and request architectural changes through the rezoning process. The legislation would prohibit localities from denying rezoning requests to residential developers based on unreasonable proffers. The bill, which is causing concern in suburban counties around the state, including the Fredericksburg area, passed on a 6827 vote. Dels. Mark Cole, RSpotsylvania, Mark Dudenhefer, RStafford, Bobby Orrock, RCaroline, Margaret Ransone, RWestmoreland, and Speaker Bill Howell, RStafford voted against the bill. Dels. Buddy Fowler, RHanover, and Chris Peace, RHanover, who both represent part of Caroline County, voted for the bill. Henrico, which does not use cash proffers but has vigorously defended its right to seek architectural proffers from developers to ensure high-quality housing, appears to have won a battle to get the bill changed. The patron of the legislation, Del. C. Todd Gilbert, RShenandoah, said that the bill would be amended before final passage to apply only to cash proffers. We are going to commit to removing the interior and exterior architectural proffer language from the bill moving forward, Gilbert said. I think that alleviates some fears. Supporters of the bill have said it would restore fairness and rein in a system that localities have used to pump revenue from developers and micromanage the design of residential projects. Critics have said it would prevent local governments from being able to effectively manage growth and diminish public input in the planning process. EASTON, Md. At least $1 million in federal money earmarked to build new oyster reefs on the Eastern Shore will instead go to Virginia after Maryland officials asked that the project be delayed. An oyster restoration project in the Tred Avon River began in 2015 and had been scheduled to resume early this year. However, in December the Maryland Department of Natural Resources called for a delay, and the Army Corps of Engineers said Tuesday it didnt expect to restart the efforts until at least October. Corps spokeswoman Sarah Gross says the delay affects the final 8 acres of an initial 24-acre project. As a result of this delay, Gross says the Corps plans to send a portion of its available oyster restoration funding in 2016 to the Corps Norfolk District for Bay restoration in Virginia. Virginia voters who want to have a hand in deciding either the Republican or Democratic nominee for President will be able to cast a ballot in the states March 1 dual primary without loyalty oaths or other meaningless paperwork. The State Board of Elections agreed yesterday to the Republican Party of Virginias request to drop a requirement that voters sign a form stating that they are Republicans before getting a GOP ballot on Super Tuesday. Virginia Democrats will also vote on their nominee that day, but the state party has no loyalty pledge. State Republican leaders last Saturday reversed their decision to impose the unpopular pledge, officially known as the statement of affiliation. Dropping it is the correct thing to do. Its too bad the GOP didnt act before the state spent more than $62,000 to print 3 million copies of the pledge to hand out at polling places across Virginia. Nearly 6,000 absentee ballots went out to voters before the board acted yesterday, and 1,300 were returned with signed pledges. Thats a big waste of time and effort. Conservative independents, new and minority voters drawn to the large Republican field of presidential candidates roundly criticized the pledge, saying it sends the wrong message about inclusion in the political process at a critical time in our nation. GOP hopefuls such as Donald Trump and John Kasich spoke out against the pledge as unwelcoming to voters the party needs to win back the White House. Traditionally, Virginia primaries are open to all eligible voters because the commonwealth doesnt register people by party as many states do. Both political parties have wrestled with loyalty oaths in primary elections over the decades. Party leaders want to ensure that voters support the eventual nominee in the November general election, even though theres no way to enforce that. Virginia Republicans proposed voter pledges for the 2008 and 2012 primaries, but dropped them before those elections. In 2000, GOP voters had to sign one in the presidential primary between George W. Bush and John McCain. By the time the primary was held, Bush had the nomination locked up. Virginia Democrats faced a major split in 1972 when liberals in the party imposed a pledge in an attempt to get conservative state party members to support nominee George McGovern, who lost in a landslide to Richard Nixon. Given the divisive nature of the pledges and their lack of effectiveness, the General Assembly is considering a bill that would ban them. Senate Bill 686, sponsored by Sen. J. Chapman Chap Petersen, DFairfax City, would prohibit any party from requiring voters to sign a loyalty pledge in state-run presidential primaries, according to the Richmond TimesDispatch. Another approach, Senate Bill 650, would allow registration by party beginning next year. Sponsored by Sen. John A. Cosgrove Jr., RChesapeake, the legislation would ask voters to declare when they register whether they are a Republican, Democrat or independent. Voters registered prior to Jan, 1, 2017, would be designated as independent unless they provide a political party designation in writing to their registrar. Voters could change their status in writing before registration is closed prior to an upcoming election. Independent voters would still have the option of voting in either partys primary, the TimesDispatch said. If either measure becomes law, the pledges would become a thing of the past. It will be interesting to watch the debate unfold on those bills. But right now, the March 1 primary is fast approaching; the deadline to register is this Monday at 5 p.m. Residents may sign up at their local voter registrars office or online at elections.virginia.gov. Virginians who have already registered can check their status on the state boards website and make sure their address and other information is up to date. A quick check can ensure that nothing is standing in the way of your precious right to vote. Indian Restaurant in Montreal Serves Enormous 6-foot Dosa An Indian restaurant in Montreal has become the first eatery in North America to offer a spectacular six-foot long dosa on a daily basis via their regular menu. -- An Indian restaurant in Montreal has become the first eatery in North America to offer a spectacular six-foot long dosa on a daily basis via their regular menu. Thanjai, dubbed by many as the best Indian restaurant in Montreal, is well known for its truly authentic South Indian flavours. Unlike many other Indian restaurants in Canada, Thanjai chefs use a huge variety of spices, homemade masala and a limited amount of oil to produce dishes that are both healthy and bursting with flavour. Now, the restaurant is drawing in even more customers keen to try their epic six-foot dosa. The enormous dosa is served with masala, two chutneys and sambar, and is proving a popular choice with families and large groups who want to tuck into a sharing dish. The owner of Thanjai restaurant, Kumaresan Muthukrishnan, explained that the dosa was originally created as a challenge for the chefs when they installed a new six-foot long dosa maker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o29vh8ecU4I Excited to take on the challenge of creating a six-foot dosa, the kitchen team began experimenting and after multiple attempts managed to create a dosa that was properly cooked and that could remain in one piece to be served to a dining table. "I always wanted to do something fun and innovative, but what started as a one-off challenge has now become a special item on our menu," Kumaresan explained. "It's really putting our restaurant on the map and we're very proud to be the only restaurant to serve a six-foot dosa as a regular dish." Thanjai chefs have perfected their technique so well that they're able to serve the six-foot dosa on their regular menu six days per week. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to cook, and is available alongside a whole host of other delicious dishes, including newly introduced items such as pancharatha lentils, mini tiffin, chilli parotha and bhindi masala. The impact that Thanjai's cuisine is having on the Montreal foodie community is certainly impressive, with one customer stating that the restaurant's dishes have completely changed their attitude towards Indian food. "The flavours of Thanjai's dishes are just so fresh and totally different to any other Indian restaurant I've been to. You can tell the recipes are authentic, and when you eat here it really does feel like you're having home cooked food right from a South Indian dinner table. It's made me think completely differently about Indian food!" Currently, Thanjai is in the process of implementing an online reservation system to make it easier than ever for diners to book a table. With the restaurant soaring in popularity it is becoming busier day by day, but the online system will help diners to secure a table in order to taste for themselves the impressive six-foot dosa, or any of the other 50 varieties of dosa on the menu. The restaurant is also preparing to launch a new downtown branch in April, giving Montreal diners even more opportunities to sample delicious and authentic South Indian cuisine. To learn more about Thanjai restaurant or to explore their menu, visit http://thanjairestaurant.com/. ### About Thanjai: Thanjai is South Indian Restaurant located at 4759 Van Horne, Montreal, which specialises in serving truly authentic Indian dishes. Owned and managed by husband and wife team Geetha Kumaresan and Kumaresan Muthukrishnan, originally from Tamil Nadu, the restaurant was established to showcase true South Indian flavours to Montreal diners. For more information about us, please visit http://thanjairestaurant.com/ Contact Info: Name: Kumaresan Muthukrishnan Organization: Thanjai South Indian Restuarant Address: 4759 Van Horne, Montreal, H3W 1H8, Quebec Phone: +1 514 433 5833 Release ID: 102996 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Baker Electric Solar Applauds CPUC's Renewed Net Metering Commitment California Public Utilities Commission's affirmation of net metering for solar power will appropriately support an important technology as it makes further inroads, Baker Electric Solar reports San Diego, CA -- February 4, 2016 (FPRC) -- The California Public Utilities Commission vowed to continue with the state's existing net metering arrangement for rooftop solar panels, an important victory for proponents of the renewable energy source. With net metering coming under fire as utilities around the country seek to claw back revenues lost to rooftop solar power generation, the Commission's decision means that California homeowners and businesses will be able to confidently make their own investments into the technology. "We're pleased to report that our state's Public Utilities Commission prudently decided to keep net metering of rooftop solar power in place," Baker Electric Solar representative Amanda Bailey said, "Despite intense pressure from utility companies and other special interests, the commissioners rightly concluded that net metering is the simplest, sanest, most effective way of accounting for the real benefits that rooftop solar power generation delivers. For those looking into solar panels for your home or business, the decision is welcome news." As residential and commercial photo-voltaic solar panels generate electricity from the light of the sun, they often produce more than a home, office, or other facility might need at the time. Rather than wasting this valuable energy, the traditional answer to surpluses of this kind has been to allow meters that measure the usage of electricity to effectively roll back as the extra is pushed back out onto the grid and delivered to other customers. While that simple, straightforward arrangement was the norm across the country for many years, it has recently been attacked by utility companies and investors looking to maximize their own profits. Net metering rates in Nevada were recently slashed, for example, after intense lobbying by major utilities, putting into doubt the future viability of rooftop solar energy generation in that sun-drenched state. With the recent California Public Utilities Commission decision to uphold existing net metering arrangements in an updated form, the state and its residents and businesses avoid this unfortunate fate, making it much more likely that the considerable potential of solar will continue to be realized. As one of the leading san diego solar companies, Baker Electric Solar, for example, experienced 200% year-over-year growth for 2015, with the Jan. 16 opening of The Solar Store by Baker Electric in Murrieta and a major milestone of one gigawatt of total installed capacity for the company this year further reflecting the remarkable strides the technology has made. Those interested in learning more about the benefits of solar power for residential or commercial customers can do so at the Baker Electric Solar website. Visitors there can also sign up for a free quote and will find an actively updated blog that will keep them informed about the latest solar power developments, like the recent California Public Utilities Commission decision. About Baker Electric Solar: As part of a family-owned group of companies that has served Southern California for more than 75 years, Baker Electric Solar is a leader in solar power technology, with more than a full gigawatt of installed generating capacity to the company's credit. Send an email to Amanda Bailey of r (877) 543-8765 Recent Press Releases By The Same User ShapeHost Launches New Spring Sale Offering Savings Of Up To 35% On VPS Packages (Tue 8th Mar 16) Paypro Finance Launches their Consumer Financing for Small Business Program (Mon 7th Mar 16) Kuber Ventures Publishes New Infographic To Show Difference Between EIS for Pensions and SIPP (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Pregnancy Exercise Publishes New Guide Into Training For Fitness While Pregnant (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Centex Hosting Launches Newly Redesigned Website To Herald Expansion Into VPS Hosting (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Royal Cliff Receives ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Certification (Wed 2nd Mar 16) Ledger Law Launches E Lawsuit Info To Lead The Charge As Verdict Opens Gates For Risperdal Victims Juries are ruling against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson, in cases of Risperdal induced gynecomastia, and the attorneys at Ledger Law are helping people find representation through their ELawsuit.info resource. Newport Beach, CA -- February 5, 2016 (FPRC) -- Risperdal is an anti-psychotic drug used to treat mania, bipolar mania, schizophrenia and more. The drug has been widely prescribed despite the allegation of having unfortunate side-effects, including causing Gynecomastia, in which male users of the drug develop female breast tissue, greatly exacerbating the self-esteem and mental health issues that they have been taking the pills to help. As a result of recent rulings against manufacture Johnson & Johnson, scores of litigants have retained The Ledger Law Firm in the last thirty days alone seeking justice against Jansen Pharmaceuticals for significant irreversible injury caused by Risperdal. They have just launched a new website, ELawsuit.Info, to help people find out if they are entitled to compensation related to a Risperdal Lawsuit. The website explains the background to the allegations, the precedents set by existing individual claims, and includes a contact sheet so individuals can quickly receive a professional evaluation of their suitability to make a claim. In February of 2015, a Philadelphia jury ruled in favor of a plaintiff who claimed Risperdal spurred the onset of gynecomastia. The jury's verdict ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $2.5 million in damages. It is alleged that the drug's maker, Johnson & Johnson, did not provide users with adequate warnings about Risperdal's risks. Many of those who have taken Risperdal also allege that Johnson & Johnson also failed to perform its due diligence in terms of researching the possible side effects of the medication. Individuals who believe they have been negatively impacted by Risperdal are encouraged to visit E-lawsuit.info for legal information. E Lawsuit Info also explains how such side effects are possible - the breast tissue development is due to the drugs alleged stimulation of the hormone prolactin. The Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology reported that risperidone, the generic version of Johnson & Johnson's Risperdal has the potential to cause the onset of gynecomastia. Ledger Laws Risperdal attorney Emery Ledger, who is leading the Risperdal Litigation, explained, These cases are heart breaking. Many young boys were taking Risperdal to help with depression and other mental issues and the resulting side effect of growing female breasts have exacerbated that depression tremendously. It is clear that legal recourse for compensation to pay for hospital bills, surgical costs, pain and suffering as well as other damages is within reach. Gynecomastia is therefore emotionally, physically and mentally punishing to the most vulnerable in society. The website is our resource to help those people find all the information they need to make the first steps to getting the compensation they deserve. About E Lawsuit Info: E Lawsuit Info is an online resource center created to help those seeking legal reparations for damage done by the pharmaceutical anti-psychotic and anti-depressant Risperal, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. The website is regularly updated with the latest information on successful claims against the pharma company, and advice on how individuals affected may qualify to claim. For more information, please visit: http://elawsuit.info/ Send an email to Matthew Kovach, Media Relations of r 800-300-0001 Recent Press Releases By The Same User ShapeHost Launches New Spring Sale Offering Savings Of Up To 35% On VPS Packages (Tue 8th Mar 16) Paypro Finance Launches their Consumer Financing for Small Business Program (Mon 7th Mar 16) Kuber Ventures Publishes New Infographic To Show Difference Between EIS for Pensions and SIPP (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Pregnancy Exercise Publishes New Guide Into Training For Fitness While Pregnant (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Centex Hosting Launches Newly Redesigned Website To Herald Expansion Into VPS Hosting (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Royal Cliff Receives ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Certification (Wed 2nd Mar 16) IAA Announces A Revolutionary Online Learning System in Aesthetic Medicine, Dental Esthetics and Cosmetic Surgery Training International Academy of Aesthetics (IAA) developed the worlds first social online learning management system that is dedicated to aesthetic medicine, dental esthetics and cosmetic surgery training. Beverly Hills, California -- February 5, 2016 (FPRC) -- From Botulinum Toxin and dermal fillers to dental esthetics and non-invasive surgery training, the International Academy of Aesthetics (IAA) hosts the industrys most comprehensive aesthetic courses online on a single platform. I truly believe that a monumental shift is underway as more practitioners realize the value of online training, says Kareem Assassa, Founder of International Academy of Aesthetics (IAA). The current method of conducting an aesthetic medicine, dental esthetics or cosmetic surgery training course is to reserve a date, strive to fill the seats, and attempt to relay a plethora of concepts in a limited amount of time. Its just not practical. We created an online platform that not only revolutionizes the way medical practitioners acquire training, but also transforms how training organizations deliver their content. Educators can now host an online course for didactic concepts and conduct an in person hands-on training session for the practical training ultimately maximizing efficiency and increasing quality while minimizing costs and decreasing uncertainty. With IAA, educators can operate their entire training organization from virtually anywhere in the world with just a few clicks of a mouse or a few taps of a fingertip. The IAA online learning management system provides interactive training tools such as live video broadcasting, virtual conference rooms, web-based courses, live webinars, and group discussion boards benefitting both the learner and the educator on a global scale. About IAA International Academy of Aesthetics (IAA) was founded on September 24th 2015. IAAs vision is to become the world's most recognized online academy where medical professionals can learn and teach the proper knowledge and skills to contribute to the global advancement of care and quality in the field of aesthetic medicine online, dental esthetics and cosmetic surgery. IAAs mission is to provide a single platform for medical professionals to learn, develop, connect, network, and teach aesthetic medicine, dental esthetics and cosmetic surgery through the most globally accessible and interactive social learning management system available. For more information, visit https://iaaesthetics.com , add IAA on Facebook, or connect on IAAs LinkedIn. Send an email to Yara Al Khatib of r +1-844-532-7642 Recent Press Releases By The Same User ShapeHost Launches New Spring Sale Offering Savings Of Up To 35% On VPS Packages (Tue 8th Mar 16) Paypro Finance Launches their Consumer Financing for Small Business Program (Mon 7th Mar 16) Kuber Ventures Publishes New Infographic To Show Difference Between EIS for Pensions and SIPP (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Pregnancy Exercise Publishes New Guide Into Training For Fitness While Pregnant (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Centex Hosting Launches Newly Redesigned Website To Herald Expansion Into VPS Hosting (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Royal Cliff Receives ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Certification (Wed 2nd Mar 16) International Business Consultant Irwin Katsof Leads Successful U.S. Commerce Department Trade Mission to Hong Kong Irwin Katsof is recognized as a businessman, author, educator and serial entrepreneur. In 2011, he was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Locke to advise the U.S. Commerce Department on international trade issues. -- The Katsof Consulting firm continued to fortify its position in the international business arena last week during its three-day trade mission to Hong Kong for Private Equity, Venture Capital, Infrastructure and Real Estate Fund Managers. The 2015 Global Financial Centers Index ranks Hong Kong as the number one Asian financial center, and number three in the world, after London and New York. The exclusive, certified Hong Kong trade mission was set up to aid U.S. Private Equity,Real Estate and Venture Capital Funds in the discovery and exploration of new Limited Partner investors. The mission is organized in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, U.S. Commercial Service, the U.S. Embassy in Hong Kong, and the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New York City. Forty-two one-on-one personal meetings were set up with pre-screened institutional investors from Hong Kong's largest insurance companies, pension funds, and family offices. The trade mission is an opportunity for intimate interaction between U.S. GPs and foreign LPs. "The Katsof Consulting firm assembled a dynamic group of U.S. Fund managers to present alternative asset funds", says Irwin Katsof. "The mission bring benefits for both the Limited Partner investors and the Fund Managers equally." A select group of financial service executives, family office heads and fund managers serve as Hong Kong Chairmen to Katsof Consulting. It is through their personal knowledge and extensive relationships, in partnership with the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Embassy, that they are able to ensure a quality selection of Chinese investor LPs attend the Trade Mission. The Hong Kong Co-Chairmen included Wong Poh Weng, managing partner at RSM, Evan Chow, managing partner at MCL financial, James Ogilvy-Stuart, managing director at MCL Financial, Henry Lee, managing partner at Hendale Capital, Stanley Ng, director of Family Offices at Academy INK and Tom Ng, Real Estate investor for Crystal Properties. Several of United States' most prominent U.S. Private Equity,Real Estate and Venture Capital Fund managers joined Irwin Katsof on this Trade Mission. The feedback from the trip was tremendously positive. One participating group sent an email to Katsof Consulting after arriving home: "Since this was our first event of this kind, we did not know what to anticipate. We both thought that the event was very much worthwhile in terms of both cost and time. Out of our meetings, there are a dozen or so "pursuable" parties. Most importantly, five of them specifically asked for follow up information and meeting. We believe these are great results." As another participant observed, "The potential for raising capital in Hong Kong is tremendous." About Katsof Consulting: Irwin Katsof is recognized as a businessman, author, educator and serial entrepreneur. In 2011, he was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Locke to advise the U.S. Commerce Department on international trade issues. Irwin Katsof founded Katsof Consulting in 2013. The firm is an extension of Global Capital Associates, also founded by Irwin Katsof, and Katsof Energy Consulting. These companies were established in a determined effort to help entrepreneurs around the world connect with sources of capital. Katsof Consulting has successfully helped many of America's chief corporate executives, fund managers and entrepreneurs get access to capital, developing markets and profitable partnerships. For more information, go to http://katsof.com For more information about us, please visit http://katsof.com Contact Info: Name: Irwin Katsof Organization: Katsof Consulting Source: http://marketersmedia.com/international-business-consultant-irwin-katsof-leads-successful-u-s-commerce-department-trade-mission-to-hong-kong/103119 Release ID: 103119 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Market in US 2016 Industry size, Share, Growth, Forecast of CAGR 8.19% by 2020 Global Market News has released report on Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Market in US 2016. Deerfield Beach, FL, United States of America February 4, 2016 /GlobalMarketNews.us/ Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) technology involves the use of IONM devices to assess the function of the nerves and spinal cord during surgeries. Intraoperative Neuromonitoring market in the US to grow at a CAGR of 8.19% over the period 2015-2019. It can be used in various surgical procedures including neurosurgery, vascular surgery, ENT surgery, orthopedic surgery, cardiac surgery, genitourinary surgery, interventional radiological procedures, and other general surgeries. It plays a vital role in surgery to provide immediate feedback and warning to the surgeon before permanent nerve injury occurs. IONM employs various electrophysiological modalities such as SSEP, MEP, EEG, and EMG. The use of IONM modalities depends on part in which nervous system is at risk. It considerably reduces the rates of injury and mortality during an operation. SSEPs measures the transmission of sensation below and above the area of surgery and this technology is widely used by surgeons. MEPs measure neuroelectrical signals recorded from the spinal cord and peripheral muscles. EMG is used to detect the electrical potential produced by muscle cells, whereas the EEG is used to detect defects associated with the electrical activity in the brain. Request For Free Report Sample @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/intraoperative-neuromonitoring-market-1849#requestSample Covered in this Report This report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Intraoperative Neuromonitoring market in the US for the period 2014-2019. To calculate the market size, the report considers the revenue generated from outsourcing IONM and insourcing IONM. The IONM products and IONM services used by hospitals and service providers are considered in the report. Also, the report covers three main methods that are used for IONM: EP Monitoring EMG Monitoring EEG Monitoring Enquiry About This Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/intraoperative-neuromonitoring-market-1849#reportPriceDetails The report also includes the use of IONM during various surgical procedures: Neurosurgery Vascular Surgery ENT Surgery Orthopedic Surgery Cardiac Surgery Interventional Radiological Procedures Genitourinary surgery Other General Surgeries Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Market in the US 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. It covers the Intraoperative Neuromonitoring market in the US landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Read More Research with TOC @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/car-sharing-market-in-japan-1804 Key Vendors Biotronic NeuroNetwork Computational Diagnostics Medtronic Natus Medical Neuro Alert NuVasive Sentient Medical Systems Specialty Care About Market Research Store Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. Contact us: Joel John 3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USA Tel: +1-386-310-3803 GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 email: sales@marketresearchstore.com The post Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Market in US 2016 Industry size, Share, Growth, Forecast of CAGR 8.19% by 2020 appeared first on Global Market News. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Global Retro-Reflective Sensors Market 2016 Industry Size, Trends, Demand Review & Forecast 2025 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Research on Global Quatrz Oscillator Market 2016 Industry Analysis, Review & Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Private Branch Exchange(PBX) Market 2016 Industry Size, Trends, Research, Demand & Forecast (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Print Mark Sensor Market 2016 Industry Size, Research, Trends, Growth & Analysis 2022 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global OLED Lighting Device Market 2016 Industry Trends, Demand, Analysis & Review Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Network Card Market 2016 Industry Size, Research, Trends, Demand Review & Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Online Corporate Meeting Services Market 2016 Industry size, Share, Growth, Forecast of CAGR 9.6% by 2020 Global Market News has released report on Global Online Corporate Meeting Services Market 2016. Deerfield Beach, FL, United States of America February 4, 2016 /GlobalMarketNews.us/ About Online Corporate Meeting Services Online corporate meeting has changed the way of business communication in organizations. It is the most attractive choice for organization to hold active online meetings and make contact with others instantly when communication is required. Online corporate meeting services comprise of communication services through video conferencing services and web conferencing services. In particular, video conferencing is essential when enterprises need face-to-face collaboration between colleagues in a distributed workforce environment. This technology facilitates video communications along with rich-media applications, voice and data sharing among participants that offers greater efficiency and boosts productivity while pruning travel costs and reducing the travel time typically associated with in-person meetings. Global online corporate meeting services market to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% percent over the period 2014-2019. Covered in this Report The global online corporate meeting services market can be segmented into two: web conferencing services and video conferencing services. It covers information about the geographical segmentation of the market. Global Online Corporate Meeting Services Market 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the Americas, APAC, and EMEA; it also covers the market landscape. The report includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Request For Free Report Sample @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-online-corporate-meeting-services-market-2015-2019-28178#RequestSample Key Regions o Americas o APAC o EMEA Key Vendors o Adobe o Avaya o Citrix Systems o New Row o Vidyo o WebEx o Zoho Enquiry About This Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-online-corporate-meeting-services-market-2015-2019-28178#InquiryForBuying Other Prominent Vendors o AnyMeeting o Arkadin o AT&T Connect Support o Bridgit o Blue Jeans Network o BT Conferencing o ClickMeeting o Communique Conferencing o EyeNetwork o Fuze/FuzeBox o hotComm o HP Virtual Rooms o LifeSize Communications o Infinite Conferencing o InstantPresenter o Glance Networks o Glowpoint o HP Virtual Rooms o InterCall o MegaMeeting o OmniJoin o OnStream Media Read More About This @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-online-corporate-meeting-services-market-2015-2019-28178 About Market Research Store Market Research Store is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. Market Research Store is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. Contact us: Joel John 3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USA Tel: +1-386-310-3803 GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 email: sales@marketresearchstore.com The post Global Online Corporate Meeting Services Market 2016 Industry size, Share, Growth, Forecast of CAGR 9.6% by 2020 appeared first on Global Market News. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Global Retro-Reflective Sensors Market 2016 Industry Size, Trends, Demand Review & Forecast 2025 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Research on Global Quatrz Oscillator Market 2016 Industry Analysis, Review & Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Private Branch Exchange(PBX) Market 2016 Industry Size, Trends, Research, Demand & Forecast (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Print Mark Sensor Market 2016 Industry Size, Research, Trends, Growth & Analysis 2022 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global OLED Lighting Device Market 2016 Industry Trends, Demand, Analysis & Review Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Network Card Market 2016 Industry Size, Research, Trends, Demand Review & Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Local Furniture Company Invests in Cutting Edge Technology Anthony Mullan Furniture is now experiencing the benefits of Cefla Prima Spray technology. -- Anthony Mullan Furniture are an award winning, independent furniture company based in Berkshire, manufacturing kitchens, bedrooms and study room furnishings. As a family business established in 1999, they take pride in creating dream interiors, whilst delivering a stress-free, friendly and reliable experience. Having grown into a 2m business, Anthony Mullan Furniture are constantly expanding, recently investing in the Cefla Prima spray booth. Founder of the business, Tony Mullan states that the furniture company has a very "hands on approach". He claims that "delivering a quality product that meets, and hopefully exceeds, the customer's expectations is very important to us. We are always looking for ways to improve our products and services which is why we have invested in top quality automated woodworking and finishing machinery". Mullan expresses the huge stress on the business from last December, as the demand was high with customers wanting their kitchens finished by Christmas. "To cope with this demand we employed five trained sprayers who were working a 14 hour shift to try to get the work completed on time. As you can imagine, working such long hours had a negative impact on the standard of the sprayers' work." "The quality of finish that we look for in our products was suffering and it was costing a fortune paying for all that skilled labour. That in turn put a huge amount of stress on me over the Christmas period, and I knew that this situation couldn't be allowed to continue without dire consequences to the business". The immense pressure of this Christmas period kicked Mullan into thinking of investing in the Cefla Prima spray booth, a decision he had been deliberating and mulling over for quite a few years. He got in contact with Roger Wilks, who gave him all the available information about the machine, and arranging for him to go and see the Cefla in action at another business. "Discussing the benefits with this company was music to my ears" states Mullan. "They explained how the Cefla was consistently producing a high quality finish, faster and with less labour. It was exactly what I was looking for, so without hesitation I placed an order for the machine". To see a selection of the furnishings produced by the machine visit the company website: http://www.anthonymullan.com The Cefla does not need to be controlled by a qualified sprayer, which obviously reduced the cost of labour which Mullan had been so concerned about. By only hiring one qualified sprayer, every product is still finished to a superb standard, with no visible variance. Mullan stated that "the consistency of the output is fantastic". "The speed is another benefit. The machine eats up the work and because we are now using PU paint the drying time is dramatically reduced. This means our turnaround is a lot quicker and yet our consistency remains top notch". Mullan shows not only a great enthusiasm for the Cefla machine, but with the relationship it has built with Homag UK. The willingness to help that Homag UK offers is a huge plus for Mullan, their friendliness and professionalism making them a pleasure to work with. Mullan finishes by saying, "The service engineers are particularly good. They are always very helpful and if they need to come out to sort an issue on the machines it is clear that their priority is to get the machine fixed and minimise downtime. They plainly know exactly what they are doing". For more information about us, please visit http://www.anthonymullan.com Contact Info: Name: Tony Mullan Organization: Anthony Mullan Furniture Address: Hornbuckle Farm, Drift Road, Maidenhead, SL6 3SU Phone: 01628 632033 Source: http://marketersmedia.com/local-furniture-company-invests-in-cutting-edge-technology/103174 Release ID: 103174 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Thermal Power in Spain Market Outlook 2025 - Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles Global Market News has released report on "Thermal Power in Spain Market Outlook 2025 Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles". Deerfield Beach, FL, United States of America February 5, 2016 /GlobalMarketNews.us/ -- Thermal Power in Spain Market Outlook 2025 Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles Summary Thermal Power in Spain, Market Outlook to 2025, Update 2015 Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles" is the latest report from GlobalData, the industry analysis specialists that offer comprehensive information and understanding of the thermal power market. The report provides in depth analysis on global thermal power market with forecasts up to 2025. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Spain(includes thermal, nuclear, large hydro, pumped storage and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2025. The research details thermal power market outlook in the country and provides forecasts up to 2025. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2001 to 2025 in Spain thermal power market. A detailed coverage of thermal energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to thermal is provided in the report. The research also provides details of active thermal power plants in the country, upcoming thermal installation details and company snapshots of some of the major market participants. The report is built using data and information sourced from proprietary databases, secondary research and in-house analysis by GlobalData's team of industry experts. Visit Complete Report : http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/thermal-power-in-spain-market-outlook-to-2025-19334 Scope The report analyses global thermal power market, Spain power market and Spain thermal power market. The Scope of the research includes A brief introduction on global carbon emissions and global primary energy consumption. Historical period is during 2001-2014 (unless specified) and forecast period is for 2015-2025. Detailed overview on the global thermal power market with installed capacity and generation trends, market forces analysis (drivers, restraints and challenges), installed capacity by fuel type, installed capacity split by region, installed capacity split by major countries and cross country comparison among thermal sources such as coal, oil and gas. Power market scenario in Spain and provides detailed market overview, installed capacity and power generation trends by various fuel types (includes thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) with forecasts up to 2025. Detailed overview of Spain thermal power market with installed capacity and generation trends, installed capacity by fuel type, net capacity addition by fuel type, owners share, market size of major equipments such as steam generator and turbine, and information on major active and upcoming projects. Key policies and regulatory framework supporting thermal power development. Company snapshots of some of the major market participants in the country. Reasons to buy The report will enhance your decision making capability in a more rapid and time sensitive manner. It will allow you to Identify key growth and investment opportunities in Spain thermal power market. Facilitate decision-making based on strong historic and forecast data for thermal power market Position yourself to gain the maximum advantage of the industry's growth potential. Develop strategies based on the latest regulatory events. Identify key partners and business development avenues. Understand and respond to your competitors' business structure, strategy and prospects. Get Sample Copy of Report: http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/thermal-power-in-spain-market-outlook-to-2025-19334#requestSample About QY Market Research QY Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. QY Market Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. Contact us: Joel John 3422 SW 15 Street, Suit #8138, Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USA Tel: +1-386-310-3803 GMT Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 email: sales@qymarketresearch.com The post Thermal Power in Spain Market Outlook 2025 Capacity, Generation, Investment Trends, Regulations and Company Profiles appeared first on Global Market News. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Global Retro-Reflective Sensors Market 2016 Industry Size, Trends, Demand Review & Forecast 2025 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Research on Global Quatrz Oscillator Market 2016 Industry Analysis, Review & Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Private Branch Exchange(PBX) Market 2016 Industry Size, Trends, Research, Demand & Forecast (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Print Mark Sensor Market 2016 Industry Size, Research, Trends, Growth & Analysis 2022 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global OLED Lighting Device Market 2016 Industry Trends, Demand, Analysis & Review Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Global Network Card Market 2016 Industry Size, Research, Trends, Demand Review & Forecast 2020 (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Plateau Village in Coquitlam Chooses Invisalign Over Braces ( February 05, 2016 ) Coquitlam, BC -- Coquitlam, British Columbia, January 29, 2016 - Invisalign has been building their brand of invisible braces for many years, and many dental patients are becoming more aware of this alternative to traditional metal braces. Plateau Village, Coquitlam's local dental practice, has been a provider of Invisalign for years and is proud to offer clear braces in Coquitlam to teens and adults. Straightening your teeth can be a life changing decision. An aligned smile has both aesthetic and functional advantages. Not only will you have a straight smile that you will be proud to show off, but also you'll find chewing more comfortable when your bite is lined up properly. Invisalign allows you to straighten your teeth in a virtually invisible way, that also allows you to brush and floss your teeth properly, remove the trays at any time, and eat the foods you want. With Invisalign, you're not held back by metal braces and can live more freely and conveniently. How do the clear Invisalign teeth trays work? Dr. Shen of Plateau Village Dental Centre explains, "you wear each pair of aligners for a two-week period, allowing your teeth to gradually evolve into the beautiful smile you always desired". "Treatment length varies, depending on your dental condition and the severity of your case," Dr. Shen continues, "but often, a full program of treatment takes less than one year". It's best to consult your Coquitlam Invisalign provider to complete a comprehensive assessment of your mouth, teeth, and jaw, to see if Invisalign is the right option for you. About The Plateau Village Dental Centre : Plateau Village Dental Centre is committed to helping patients improve their oral hygiene and aesthetics in order to optimize their dental health and smile. They are located at Unit C5-1410 Parkway Boulevard, Coquitlam, BC, and can be reached by phone at (604) 927-2525. To learn more, visit the Plateau Village Dental Centre website at www.plateauvillagedental.com and like their Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/PlateauVillageDentalCentre. For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Matteson Partners Taking On New In-House Legal Recruitment Clients (Mon 29th May 17) Huong Nghiep A Au Vocational Guidance School Launches New Major (Thu 25th May 17) FSP unveils new Industrial and Gaming power solutions at COMPUTEX 2017 (Wed 24th May 17) The Best Free Keylogger of 2017 Has Been Announced by the Official Remote Keylogger (Tue 23rd May 17) The Remote Keylogger Development Team Announces An Update to the Official iPhone Keylogger (Thu 11th May 17) CaptureStream Announces its New Streaming Video Recorder and Downloader (Mon 8th May 17) VIP Pain Relief Launches New Website Dedicated to Back Pain Patient Advocacy Liaising between physicians and patients helps streamline the treatment process and foster healing, publishes vippainrelief.com Dallas, Texas -- February 5, 2016 (FPRC) -- Studies recently released by the American Spinal Decompression Association reveal 80 percent of Americans suffer from chronic back pain at some point. Reports from the health care industry rate this issue the second leading motivation for medical visits across the country as well as the primary factor in disability claims. Due to the prominence of back pain, VIP Pain Relief has launched an online patient concierge website ( www.vippainrelief.com ). Spokesperson Ike Ukawuba, who's had back surgery in 2002, is one of the founders of this online service offering to patients. Ukawuba explained, "We understand back pain can be a life-altering issue, causing activities that were once routine tasks to become monumental undertakings. Those experiencing this type of suffering need top-notch medical care they can trust first and foremost; unfortunately, access to this level of treatment isn't always readily available. Our team acts as an advocate for patients, connecting them with the necessary physicians and providing a wide range of support." Services provided by the staff of VIP Pain Relief are complementary. The team operates in conjunction with a network of physicians throughout the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. Among their patient services are aiding in the search for specialists, confirming insurance coverage and participation, scheduling appointments and coordinating various elements of treatment. Representatives additionally inform patients of changes in appointment times, treatment plans and other factors affecting their care. Patient education is also listed as a company priority based on numerous medical and psychological studies indicating this factor generates greater interaction during treatment while potentially leading to improved results. Informational resources are available via the new website. VIP Pain Relief representatives engage in regularly scheduled meetings with professionals in their network to relay patient feedback and discuss aspects in need of improvement. Back pain sufferers seeking assistance may contact the company at http://www.vippainrelief.com/contact-us/ . Ukawuba concluded, "Our team has made more than 1,000 clinic visits, and we're on a first name basis with the physicians and their staff in the area. This means we can help our patients avoid the lengthy waiting periods and frustration involved in getting through to the right physician. We take care of scheduling and care coordination, so our clients can concentrate on healing. We've provided a patient education library to foster better understanding of the conditions causing back pain; at the same time, we act as the voice of our patients, ensuring any negative experiences they may have with a medical professional are resolved." About VIP Pain Relief: Acting as a liaison between back pain sufferers and physicians, VIP Pain Relief provides care coordination services, education and advocacy at no charge to patients. The company believes giving clients a voice and the informational tools to actively take part in their recoveries is crucial to healing. Send an email to Ike Ukawuba of r (844) 540-7246 Recent Press Releases By The Same User ShapeHost Launches New Spring Sale Offering Savings Of Up To 35% On VPS Packages (Tue 8th Mar 16) Paypro Finance Launches their Consumer Financing for Small Business Program (Mon 7th Mar 16) Kuber Ventures Publishes New Infographic To Show Difference Between EIS for Pensions and SIPP (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Pregnancy Exercise Publishes New Guide Into Training For Fitness While Pregnant (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Centex Hosting Launches Newly Redesigned Website To Herald Expansion Into VPS Hosting (Thu 3rd Mar 16) Royal Cliff Receives ISO 22000 Food Safety Management Certification (Wed 2nd Mar 16) DestROYER Competition Marketing Reviews Jon Bowtell's eCom Subscription Pro DestROYER Competition Marketing will be celebrating the launch of Jon Bowtell's new eCom Subscription Pro System that includes a set of bonus' including a PDF Transcript and Access to a Private Facebook Group. Find out more at http://www.EcomSubscriptionProReviewAndBonus.com -- In an International Product Launch change of pace, DestROYER Competition Marketing (San Diego, CA), will be celebrating the launch of Jon Bowtell's new eCommerce System that includes an amazing set of bonus' including a Full PDF Transcript eBook, a Full 4 Hour Audio of the Training, Resource Guide and Contacts List and Access to an Ultra Secret Facebook Group. It's reported the event will take place on Friday, February 4th, 2016. In a space where most competitors simply give away a bunch of buggy old software that doesn't work any more, and fail to cause much of a stir, DestROYER Competition Marketing has opted to be much more aggressive with Jon's eCom Subscription Pro launch. This revolutionary new system is NOT eBay. It's NOT Amazon. And it's NOT Shopify. This is something totally new and totally different. For those who act quickly, the eCom Subscription Pro System will also include an incredible "Double" Bonus: The Crystal Ball Software. This simple to use software tool will allow anyone to accurately predict if a product will work or not under this system AND accurately forecast out six months profits. No company offers anything like this in the market today and it will only be made available to eCom Subscription Pro System customers. Mark Royer, President at DestROYER Competition Marketing, says: "We wanted Jon's International Product Launch of the eCom Subscription Pro System to be a massive success because we want to give everyone and anyone the chance to be ultra successful with their own eCommerce business. We're hoping that tens of thousands of entrepreneurs will take advantage of this amazing offer that could change their lives forever." eCom Subscription Pro is set to launch Friday, February 4th, 2016. To find out more, visit http://www.EcomSubscriptionProReviewAndBonus.com For further information about DestROYER Competition Marketing, visit http://www.destroyercompetition.com For more information about us, please visit http://www.EcomSubscriptionProReviewAndBonus.com Contact Info: Name: Mark Royer Email: mark@destroyercompetition.com Organization: DestROYER Competition Marketing Address: 2658 Del Mar Heights Road #209, Del Mar, CA 92014 Phone: +1 619.723.5208 Release ID: 103158 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Pompano Beach Plumbers Launches New Emergency Plumbing Repair Service In a slightly different approach to launching its new Emergency Plumbing Repair service, Pompano Beach Plumbers, a Plumbing Contractor in Pompano Beach, Florida has decided it will be giving 50% of launch day profits to charity, and this is expected to take place March 1st. -- In a slightly different approach to launching its new Emergency Plumbing Repair service, Pompano Beach Plumbers, a Plumbing Contractor in Pompano Beach, Florida has decided it will be giving 50% of launch day profits to charity, and this is expected to take place March 1st, 2016. Where most businesses tend to just do absolutely nothing, Pompano Beach Plumbers has decided to be a little more unique with the start of its new Emergency Plumbing Repair service. Donald Reed, Head of Marketing at Pompano Beach Plumbers, says: "We wanted to be unique with the launch of our new Emergency Plumbing Repair service because we wanted to put our name on the map. It should be really worthwhile and we're hoping it will give people something to talk about. It should go great unless we anger the Gods in some way!" Pompano Beach Plumbers has always made a point of standing out when compared to other Plumbing Contractors in the Pompano Beach area. This launch celebration is just one of the many ways it does so. This is a great chance for Pompano Beach, Florida residents to meet new people and support a trustworthy local business. Pompano Beach Plumbers has been serving the Pompano Beach, Florida area since February 2015. To date it has served over 75 customers and has become recognized as one of the most popular in the area. It can be found on East Atlantic Blvd. Donald Reed also said: "While Pompano Beach Plumbers may not be the only business with this kind of offering, local residents are choosing us because we have the fastest response time in town. "When asked about the new Emergency Plumbing Repair service, Donald Reed said: "We think it's going to be a hit because it will finally put an end to our people's biggest complaint when using a service like ours". Further information about Pompano Beach Plumbers and the new Emergency Plumbing Repair service can be discovered at http://www.pompanobeachplumbers.net. Interested parties are encouraged to visit the companies Facebook page and Twitter feed for updates on the new service. For more information about us, please visit http://www.pompanobeachplumbers.net Contact Info: Name: Donald Reed Organization: Pompano Beach Plumbers Address: 2335 E. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 367, Pompano Beach, Florida 33065 Phone: (954) 715-4605 Release ID: 103020 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sarasota Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Strausser Awarded Top Doctor for Seventh Year Sarasota Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Strausser has been honored with the Top Doctor Award by US News & World Report and Castle Connolly for the seventh consecutive year (2009-2015). With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Strausser provides superior plastic surgery services in Sarasota, FL. -- SARASOTA, FL February 2016 - Sarasota Plastic Surgeon Dr. John Strausser has been honored with the Top Doctor Award by U.S. News & World Report and Castle Connolly for the seventh consecutive year (2009-2015). With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Strausser provides superior plastic surgery services in the Sarasota and Venice Florida areas. Being nominated for a Top Doctor means being approved through each top doctor selection process, where nominations are determined by medical professionals in the Sarasota area. These medical professionals are surveyed to nominate board-certified physicians that have notable performances in their respected field. Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report have recognized Dr. Strausser as a Top Doctor due to his expertise and ability to provide innovative care to his patients. Dr. Strausser is one of the most sought-after plastic surgeons in the area for his attention to detail, achieving "natural" improvements in facial and body rejuvenation. With his dedicated team and state of the art facility, Dr. Strausser offers efficient and cost-effective services for his patients. His plastic surgical suite is one of the few certified and approved by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF) since 1989. Patients come to his practice knowing he will provide leading-edge surgical techniques and technology for various procedures, such as tummy tucks, breast augmentation, liposuction, facelifts and more. Anyone requesting more information about the Sarasota practice or looking to schedule a consultation with Dr. Strausser is encouraged to contact hisoffice at 941-955-9096 or visit www.plasticsurgeryofsarasota.com. About John L. Strausser M.D. Board-certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Strausser works diligently to provide exceptional care and services to his patients in Sarasota. He serves as the current president of Sarasota Plastic Surgery Education Foundation and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery of the FSU College of Medicine. Dr. Strausser holds privileges in plastic surgery at both Sarasota Memorial Hospital and Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, as well as many other area surgery centers. His private practice, in service since 1983, provides a variety of procedures, which reflects his interest in all aspects of cosmetic, aesthetic, reconstructive and cancer operations. Dr. Strausser and his staff offer the very best in personal, safe, and affordable surgery. For more information about us, please visit http://www.plasticsurgeryofsarasota.com/ Contact Info: Name: Marianne Strausser Organization: Aesthetic & Cosmetic Surgery of Sarasota Address: 1900 S Tamiami Trail Phone: 941-955-9096 Release ID: 103120 For more information visit r Recent Press Releases By The Same User Agarwood Essential Oil Market Expected to Grow at CAGR 4.2% During 2016 to 2022"> (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Cyber Weapon Market by Type, Product, Application, Region, Outlook and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Landscaping and Gardening Expert Trevor McClintock Launches New Locally Optimized Website (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Sleep apnea devices Market is Evolving At A CAGR of 7.5% by 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Agriculture Technology Market 2017 Global Analysis, Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Global VR Helmet Market by Manufacturers, Technology, Type and Application, Forecast to 2022 (Fri 2nd Jun 17) Former shadow pensions minister Gregg McClymont has suggested one solution to the advice gap would be to expand guidance services to give individuals a better idea of their options, whilst stopping short of an actual recommendation. Speaking yesterday (4 February) at a TUC pensions conference, Aberdeen Asset Managements head of retirement savings commented: Most people see advice as a different world... it would be more sensible to expand guidance and give people simpler options. He argued that rather than there just being a financial barrier to advice, its actually more of a cultural gap, pointing out that most people have never taken financial advice, nor do they know anyone who has. Therefore, expecting financial advisers to solve this problem is unfair, as the issue at the heart of the Financial Advice Market Review is essentially one of demand. One way to approach the demand problem in the mass market would be to expand guidance so that Tpas [The Pensions Advisory Service] or another body could explain options in detail to individuals, while of course not providing an actual recommendation; which would be advice. Mr McClymont added that his wider view was that financial advisers must not be tasked with solving a gap they did not create and that the reasons individuals do not take financial advice, or indeed guidance, are complex and not solely or mostly about the price tag. Earlier this month, speaking to FTAdvisers sister paper Investment Adviser, he warned that further pension reforms could signal the end of occupational and retail pensions as they have been understood in the UK for nearly a century. In opposition Mr McClymont was critical of many aspects of government pension policy, but last March he conceded that his party would monitor, but not unwind, the pension freedoms. peter.walker@ft.com The Baillie Gifford Japan Trust is playing tightness in the labour market as the countrys economic reforms boost employment figures and wage growth. The unemployment rate in Japan fell to a 10-year low in 2015, ending the year at 3.1 per cent. Andy Brown, part of Baillie Giffords Japanese equities team, said labour market tightening had prompted the initiation of two extra positions in manager Sarah Whitleys trust. The 330m vehicle now holds around 2.5 per cent in temporary staffing business Temp Holdings and 0.7 per cent in Outsourcing. Mr Brown said Temp Holdings was a traditional temporary employee business, which benefited from shifting employment demographics, particularly among women. Temporary staff wages [are] going up quicker than permanent staff, he said. We are also seeing a lot of females going back into the workforce, in temporary roles initially. The stock returned 58 per cent in 2015, leading to a 0.7 percentage point contribution to returns. Mr Brown said Outsourcing had a slightly difference structure, hiring seasonal workers and then leasing them to companies. He said that this meant Outsourcing did not need to bid up for workers, and firms did not need to deal with hiring. It is quite an interesting model and the first-mover advantage has proven very successful, he added. Outsourcing returned 85 per cent over 2015, also leading to a 0.7 percentage point contribution to the fund, which holds between 40 and 70 stocks overall. The trusts bottom-up focused investment team holds thematic discussions as part of its research. Alongside the labour market, the team has recently identified foreign tourism and improving corporate governance as two areas of interest. Mr Brown said: The growth in inbound tourism has surged in the past 12 months, much faster than people expected. But thats a bit more difficult to find great businesses. The Japan Trust does not fiddle too much with [its] holdings, with a lot of its other strong performers held for some years. It typically invests over a five-year term. However, more recently the team has invested in real estate firm Iida Group Holdings, a build for sale company that sells condominiums in the Japanese market. The Japanese real estate market is having something of a revival after a long period of decline, Mr Brown said. He noted the firm had become the go-to place to buy a new condominium at a time when affordability metrics were becoming more attractive. Its cheaper to take out a mortgage for an Iida Group condominium than to rent in a similar area, which underpins the opportunity. Other property companies the trust owns have not fared as well. These include office real estate firms Tokyo Tatemono and Mitsubishi Estate. Tokyo Tatemonos share price fell 30 per cent in the 12 months to January 18, with Mitsubishi Estate dropping 5.9 per cent. This is slightly confusing to us. The office market is tightening strongly and we bought these companies as they have the most attractive real estate in Tokyo, Mr Brown said. A pan-European pension regime would not need to be sold through advisers because it would be low-cost, highly standardised and have in-built consumer protections, Eiopa has said. The European Union pensions regulator made the comments in its latest consultation on proposals, which could see the introduction of a continent-wide pension regime. Under the proposals products offered under the regime would have standardised limited investment choices, regulated caps on cost and charges and regulated switching and transfer of funds. But there would be no specified way in which the savings built up through one of these schemes would be decumulated. In the 110-page consultation document, Eiopa said: Eiopa recognises that advice is very important for many individuals in aiding them to make the best decisions when purchasing financial products or services. However, Eiopa believes that the objective in the case of Pan-European Personal Pension (Pepp) should be to develop default investment options in a way that would see them capable of being automatically designated as non-complex investments. This approach would support the introduction of a simple, low-cost product (where distribution costs are a significant factor in terms of overall costs) which still offers a high level of consumer protection by virtue of the high levels of regulation of the product itself. Eiopa believes it will be crucial for the Pepp that nonadvised online sales of the default option are possible in a cost effective manner. In addition Eiopa has said it is essential that providers of these products do not create incentives for sales staff and intermediaries to sell one offering over another in conflict with its proposed requirement to act in the savers best interest. The EU regulator is proposing that potential savers should be informed in advance in a clear way about the types of remuneration and incentives that the seller will receive for the sale. Eiopa first consulted on the proposals last year as part of the European Commissions bid to create a Capital Markets Union by 2019. Its proposals have been disapproved of in the UK, with the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association warning it would muddy the waters of pension regulation. But the regulator said the lack of, or limited, provider access to the whole of the EU market is evidence of a fragmented and imperfect market that ultimately prevents pension providers from achieving both economies of scale and growth potential. The EU regulator added: On the consumer side, an inefficient single market means that EU citizens, who are also increasingly mobile, cannot reap the benefits of wider provider choice, better quality and lower prices due to the lack of EU-wide competition between market players. Eiopas consultation runs until 26 April. A wasteful vaccination scheme to prevent tuberculosis in badgers should be permanently abandoned, say Welsh farmers. The Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) made the plea after the Welsh government suggested a suspended badger vaccination pilot in north Pembrokeshire could restart in 2017. The pilot scheme was suspended a year early in late 2015 due to a global shortage of vaccine although government scientists believe it has still reduced TB in badgers. See also: Vaccine shortage suspends badger TB programme The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) was commissioned to identify the likely effect the non-availability of badger BCG in 2016 would have on the vaccination project in west Wales. Its report concludes that despite not being able to complete the fifth and final year, four years of badger vaccination would achieve a reduction in prevalence of TB in badgers. APHA modelling showed vaccinating for four years, missing year five, and returning to vaccinate in year six is not different from vaccinating for five consecutive years. Welsh deputy farm minister Rebecca Evans said the government would continue to engage with farmers, the veterinary profession and other stakeholders in the intensive action area (IAA) where the pilot is taking place. We will also continue to evaluate the effect of all interventions within the IAA, including vaccination, cattle surveillance and controls and the enhanced biosecurity measures. But FUW deputy president and north Pembrokeshire farmer Brian Thomas said the vaccination scheme should be abandoned and replaced by badger culling instead. Ministerial advice in 2012 suggested vaccination could cost Welsh farmers and taxpayers an additional 3.5m compared with a badger cull, he said. Results after four years appeared to support the original assessment that vaccination would cost millions and save far fewer cattle than badger culling. Mr Thomas said: Based on trials in other areas, we could have expected a 30-40% reduction in cattle herd TB incidences by now, had the original plan to cull badgers gone ahead. He added: Instead, matters in the area are no different to other comparable areas where badger vaccination has not taken place. A possible return to badger vaccination in 2017 would mean returning to a pointless and costly exercise which had yet to show any positive effects, said Mr Thomas. Badger culling as originally planned would already have resulted in significant reductions in TB incidences, he said. Mr Thomas said there was also no guarantee the vaccine used on badgers in the pilot area would be available again by 2017. There is currently a global shortage of BCG vaccine, he said. Given that one badger dose can vaccinate 20 infants in regions where human TB is a huge problem, such as Africa, it would be immoral to deplete global vaccine stocks by vaccinating badgers. San Jose, Costa Rica The old expression says theres no such thing as a free lunch, but those people clearly never heard of Americas Cardroom . The US-facing online poker site today announced that the popular $150,000 Freebuy Super Series will return for a third time from Friday, February 26th through Sunday March 6th. All the tournaments in the 10-day series are free-to-enter with $0 buy-ins, while offering real money prize pools. "Were only a little into the New Year and things couldnt be better with a High Five Tournament Series last month and now bringing back the Freebuy Super Series," stated Michael Harris, spokesperson for Americas Cardroom. "The opportunity to win part of $150,000 in guaranteed prize money with no risk is hard to pass up, so we expect a huge turnout." The Freebuy Super Series first launched in May 2015 and then had a second edition in August due to heavy player demand. All the tournaments in the 10-day series are free-to-enter with $0 buy-ins, while offering real money prize pools. Players are allowed to do real money rebuys and add-ons. All that is needed to participate in the Freebuy Super Series is an Americas Cardroom account, as no deposit is necessary. An initial bankroll is recommended however as many players do end up deciding to rebuy/add-on. A Freebuy is an Americas Cardroom innovation that combines freerolls and buy-in poker tournaments. Registration for each Freebuy tournament opens two hours prior to the start and closes two hours after the event begins. Players will receive a 1,000 starting chip stack when they register. Rebuys are available for 2 hours after the tournament starts and gives players an additional 2,500 chips. After 3 hours, a 10,000 add-on is made available. The Freebuy Super Series III also includes a leaderboard with the top player in the series winning an extra prize that will be announced shortly. A Pinch of Salt: To vote now or to vote later that is the question The Altrusa Club of Corvallis is asking for community members to donate jewelry for its May 7 jewelry sale. Donation boxes are now in local businesses, including Fitness Over 50, Coldwell Banker Real Estate, Blackledge Furniture, The Hair Palace, and all three Citizens Bank locations (downtown, Circle Boulevard and Philomath). Receipts are attached to the donation boxes for people who itemize on their tax forms. This will be the third annual Altrusa jewelry sale. Costume jewelry and fine pieces are needed in any condition, including pins, rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and more. The Altrusa Club of Corvallis has been serving Corvallis and Benton County since 1958. All funds raised from the sale will support service projects such as the Career Closet (with Soroptimists), scholarships, College Hill High School, Habitat for Humanity, Drug Court, and literacy projects. Call 541-760-6016 with questions about jewelry donations or the jewelry sale. CORVALLIS The Corvallis man shot at Sharis Restaurant was lured out for a smoke break by his fiancee's foster mother while the foster mother's boyfriend waited in the parking lot with a .223-caliber rifle to kill him, according to documents recently unsealed in the case. Forest Grove residents Michael A. Deyette II, 43, and Brooklyn Shepard, 35, have been charged with murder in the shooting death of Jason Scott Williams. According to arrest and probable cause affidavits unsealed Tuesday and Wendesday, police believe Shepard arranged for Williams to be in a specific place (Sharis Restaurant) at a specific time so that Deyette could shoot him which resulted in his death. According to the affidavits in the case, Shepard and her husband, Wayne Hintergardt, invited Williams, Williams fiancee Chauri Strait-Cobray (also known as Cecei Strait), and the couples young daughters out to dinner in Corvallis and pulled into Shari's at around 7 p.m. on Jan. 15. Williams was reportedly shot just before 7:45 p.m. in the parking lot. Shepard told police during interviews following the shooting that she is not Straits biological mother, but considered herself to be her foster mom or adopted mom for the last 10 years, according to the report. Shepard also reported to police in interviews following the shooting that Hintergardt and Deyette live across the street from Shepard in Forest Grove. Shepard also reported that she and Hintergardt are married and in an open relationship. Ryan Joslin, chief assistant district attorney for Benton County, said Wednesday that Hintergardt is not in custody and there has been no arrest warrant issued for him. Joslin could not comment on whether Hintergardt is a suspect in the case. Based on information in the affidavits filed in the case, this is what police believe happened on the night of Jan. 15: Shepard and Hintergardt drove to Corvallis from Forest Grove and picked up Williams, Strait and the couples children at Community Outreach Inc. where the family had been staying. The group then headed to Sharis Restaurant at around 7 p.m. and parked their vehicle in the south side of the restaurant parking lot. While eating dinner at the restaurant, Shepard invited Williams outside for a smoke break underneath the covered bicycle rack on the east side of the restaurant. Shepard, Williams and Strait went outside while the couples young children stayed inside the restaurant with Hintergardt. During the smoke break, Shepard walked to the parked vehicle on the south side of the restaurant, got inside briefly and walked back to the couple when Williams was shot multiple times in the parking lot and Shepard was hit by a bullet fragment in her right leg just before 7:45 p.m. According to the affidavits, which included initial findings from an autopsy report performed by the Oregon State Medical Examiner, Williams was shot four times with high velocity bullets in his upper back, just below his chest and in his left and right arms. Shortly after the shooting, police searching the area located seven spent shell casings for a .223-caliber rifle on the pavement on the south side of the Sharis parking lot. Police also found a black SOG-brand backpack about 10 feet from the casings. After being granted a search warrant for the backpack, police reported finding a metal 30-round AR-15 style magazine with .223 ammunition and casings, a .38 special caliber Derringer handgun, and .38 special ammunition. Ten minutes after the 911 call reporting the shooting, a Benton County Sheriffs Office deputy reportedly questioned a man walking away from the shooting area down the alley east of the Coldwell Banker building at 1109 N.W. Ninth St. The man, who would later be identified by the deputy as Deyette, said he was in the area to get a taco when he came over after hearing a shot. The deputy reported that he patted down Deyette, took his identification information and searched him, finding no weapons. Police later received initial findings from an Oregon State Police Forensic Laboratory report that fingerprints discovered on the backpack at the scene were positively identified as belonging to Deyette. Shepard later told police that she believed Williams to be abusing Strait and/or the children, and possibly dealing drugs, and that Deyette had been following Williams earlier in the week in an attempt to take photographs of Williams doing something illegal. Shepard also told police in the interview that Deyette did not know Williams personally, but that she had told Deyette about her suspicions and that Deyette cared about Strait and the children. Deyette was arrested outside a house in Forest Grove at about 1:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, on a Benton County warrant. He was taken into custody without incident with the help of the Washington County Tactical Negotiations Team and Forest Grove Police Department and was transported to the Benton County Jail, where he has remained since on $1 million bail. He has pleaded not guilty to murder, conspiracy to commit murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon and second-degree criminal mischief. Shepard was arrested at around 6:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, in Forest Grove on one count of murder and one count of conspiracy to commit murder. She also is being held in the Benton County Jail on $1 million bail. Residents of Flint, Michigan, have been living with a horrific water situation since April of 2014, when the city hooked up its water system to the Flint River. The corrosive Flint River water caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply, causing extremely elevated levels of lead. In Flint, more than 5,000 children have been exposed to drinking water with high levels of lead and they may experience a range of serious health problems. Can this happen here? What safeguards are in place in Corvallis to prevent lead contamination? City Public Works Director Mary Steckel told the Gazette-Times that there are no lead water pipes in the citys distribution system and that the main way lead contamination could exist would be in individual plumbing systems older than 1987. Here is a Q&A on the subject with Steckel, with the answers edited for clarity and length. Question: Is there potential for lead in the citys water system? Answer: Both of our water treatment plants treat surface water. Lead is rarely found in rivers, wells, or reservoirs. It has never been detected in the Corvallis water sources or distribution system. There is a potential for lead contamination once water enters a customers plumbing system. Prior to 1987, lead solder was used on copper pipes (and lead from such pipes can bleach into the water). There are no lead water pipes in the citys distribution system. Depending on age, our mains are cast iron, ductile iron, or PVC. The water treatment plant adds soda ash to maintain optimal pH levels in water leaving the treatment plants. This provides corrosion control in the distribution system and helps minimize the chances that lead will leach from customers plumbing. Q. Where might lead contamination occur and what would cause it? A. Lead can contaminate water through a few routes. Communities which have lead service pipes in their system are at risk if corrosion control is inadequate. However, there is also some natural protection. As lead is exposed to oxygen, it forms lead oxide. This is a hard substance, and it can prevent water from coming into contact with reactive lead. Q. What has the city done to protect water users? A. Operators at Corvallis two water treatment plants adjust the treatment process to achieve optimized corrosion control. This significantly reduces the chances that lead will get into the water. The city also does testing on the water distribution system as proscribed by state regulations, working with a sample of residents to test water at the tap. Q. What can residents do to protect themselves? A. If standing water is in contact with lead for several hours, some lead may leach into the water. If people are concerned about lead in their plumbing or fixtures, an easy solution is to flush out the pipes. Simply run the tap until the water feels noticeably colder (30 seconds to two minutes). This method may not be effective in larger buildings with extensive plumbing systems. Also, this is one reason residents should only drink water from the cold water tap hot water is more effective at leaching metals such as lead. If people want to find out if lead is entering their water from their plumbing fixtures or from lead solder in their home, they can have their water tested for lead. People can purchase a test kit that costs between $20 and $100, or they can have their water tested by a laboratory. Laboratory testing is more reliable, and people should be sure to use a certified laboratory. Q. How often and how is the water tested? What has been found? A. Regulations require the city to test for lead every three years in homes most likely to test positive for lead; if levels reach the action level in 10% of homes sampled, water providers must begin extra treatment. Lead has never been detected in the citys raw water sources. The regulations for the distribution system are that 90% of the homes tested must have less than 15 parts-per-billion of lead detected. In the latest round of testing in 2014 the citys results were in compliance with the regulations. More information about the citys water quality can be found in the Consumer Confidence Report, mandated by the EPA (see information box). This log includes incidents in which there might have been a public disturbance or a risk to the public. Information comes from the Corvallis Police Department, the Benton County Sheriffs Office and Oregon State Police. It does not include all calls for service. The status of incidents might change after further investigation. Locations are approximate. People arrested or suspected in crimes are considered innocent until proven otherwise. THURSDAY, FEB. 4 OUT OF THE FRYING PAN: 5:02 a.m., 23000 block of Timber Supply Road, Philomath. Deputies responded to an assistance call and spoke with a 74-year-old man who had called 911 to report that his 21-year-old caregiver did not make the mans french fries quickly enough. The man later agreed that, even though he was upset, it was not a police matter. The man said he would eat the french fries as soon as they were ready. ADAIR VILLAGE The longest journey, they say, starts with a single step. Armed with just over $4,000 in grants and donations, Adair Living History is about to begin the process toward renovating a military-surplus building in downtown Adair Village and converting it into an interpretive center to showcase the communitys rich historical legacy. The 25-foot-by-125-foot wooden structure is left over from Camp Adair, an Army camp that was erected in 1942 and trained more than 100,000 GIs for combat during World War II. At its height, the camp had some 1,800 buildings and housed up to 40,000 people, making it the second-largest city in the state. But when the war ended in 1945, Camp Adair was no longer needed. Most of the buildings were sold at auction and broken up for building materials. But some survived, including two that wound up on the campus of Santiam Christian School in Adair Village. In 2010, the school donated both to the city, which spent about $100,000 to move the two identical structures to a spot just north of City Hall with the idea that they would become the centerpiece of a new civic center. Both buildings got new roofs and new siding, but much work remains to be done. While the city plans to shoulder the cost of converting one of the buildings into a community hall, Adair Living History is in charge of raising funds for the interpretive center. At first, the group tried going after big grants to tackle the project all at once, but that strategy didnt pan out. Were a little teeny-tiny group that doesnt have much money, and before a granting agency writes a big check, they want to see that you have some matching funds in the bank, explained Barbara Melton, president of the nonprofit organization. So we decided to break the project down into a lot of little bites. Those tactics were rewarded recently when the group received a grant for $2,830 from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund and another from the Benton County Cultural Coalition for $1,150. It has also raised several hundred dollars in private donations and is now just $875 short of what it needs to pay for its first renovation project. That project, expected to cost $5,000, will involve adding a second door to the interpretive center building and making the existing entry handicapped-accessible with a wider door and a wheelchair ramp. While still far short of the interpretive centers estimated $850,000 in total costs, those simple improvements will be enough to open the building to the public for the first time. Weve never been able to bring people in for events because theres only one door its not fire code-compliant for a crowd, Melton said. A lot of the people who come in to see the area are older, including some World War II veterans, she added. We wanted to make that building available to them, regardless of their physical ability. Sandberg Construction of Scio is scheduled to begin work soon while Adair Living History continues to solicit donations to pay for the job. The group plans to offer its first public tours of the building on May 21 during the inaugural Founders Day event in Adair Village to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the citys incorporation in 1976. Melton hopes that letting the public tour the vintage wooden structure will help generate excitement for Adair Living Historys fundraising campaign, dubbed Raising the Barracks. Ultimately, the plan is to create a replica of a Camp Adair barracks in one end of the building. We cant make it completely authentic that ship has already sailed, Melton said. But we can make it look the way it looked when it was in use. Adair Living History has already obtained a pot-bellied stove that once warmed one of the buildings at Camp Adair, as well as some wooden benches from one of the mess halls. The group doesnt have a lot of memorabilia on hand (mainly for lack of storage space), but it has been offered lots of artifacts from the World War II era, including a truck and a jeep. The interpretive center will also include lots of historical displays, room for classes and special events, office space and restroom facilities. While much of the focus will be on Camp Adair, the facility will also feature information about Native American tribes, Euro-American settlers and the vanished community of Wells, which was demolished to make room for the Army training camp. Theres a lot of history here, Melton said. What I see is an opportunity for people to come in here and learn everything they want to know. We want to feed that curiosity. Adair Village officials see the interpretive center as a key part of their plans for the new civic center. The second structure on the site will be converted into a community hall to house youth programs, meeting space and other community activities, according to City Administrator Pat Hare. Plans also call for a parking area and a concrete plaza that will connect the two buildings and form a public square for this community of 900 people located 6 miles north of Corvallis. Hare said the city plans to give both buildings a fresh coat of paint and hopes to get the square paved this summer. Like Adair Living History, the city cant pay for everything all at once but hopes to start tackling the project one piece at a time. There are going to be funding opportunities, and were going to jump on those as they develop, Hare said. He sees the interpretive center as a tourist draw that will attract visitors interested in the areas military history. After Camp Adair shut down, Adair Village housed a Navy hospital and was later home to an early warning station operated by the Air Force. We get a lot of people that served here or their parents served here. Theres just so much history here its incredible, Hare said. We definitely see it as a good part of our future downtown plans. Leaders, it's an emergency. Our planetary life support system is being poisoned and is getting worse every year. The world's climate scientists have been warning us about this for many years but they are largely ignored. The Paris Agreement is inadequate. Anything is inadequate that includes 2030 or 2050 reduction targets, while the world's climate is on fast forward due to too much heat energy already added to the climate system. This includes ocean temperature increases, an El Nino event on steroids, and specific feedback loops that are increasing the rate of warming as we speak. Many people are not aware of this because the six mega-corporations, which own 90 percent of our news media, never even suggest that extreme weather events and droughts are due to climate disruption. Lately they mention an extremely strong El Nino event as the culprit, but they never point out that the ocean and atmosphere are all part of one global climate system, where each component affects all others. Thankfully, the pope added his voice to the climate warnings. Many other faiths agree, including my own, recognizing that it is immoral incredibly immoral to go about business as usual while watching our own, and our children's, futures being destroyed! Leaders, we are counting on you to help us confront this worldwide emergency before it is too late. Most citizens are concerned but don't feel they can act without your leadership! We desperately need you to lead locally, nationally, and in the Oregon Legislature! Rachel Ozretich Corvallis (Feb. 2) Karneval in Bonn : Women take over BONN Karneval got off to a smooth but soggy start on Thursday. The women took over town hall and all was calm mostly. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Big day, not only for female carnevalists: the traditional Weiberfastnacht, or womens carneval, was drenched in rain yesterday but that didnt disturb the thousands of Bonners who showed up in costumes of all kinds to celebrate the first of the last six days of Karneval in Rhineland. The mood was overall cheery and peaceful despite the sometimes soggy conditions. Local police authorities reported no major incidents. In preparation for yesterdays festivities, the police forces kept in mind what happened on New Years Eve in Cologne, when more than a thousand men mainly from northern Africa had harassed, molested and abused several hundred women. None of that happened in Bonn, also probably due to the fact that police and other security forces kept a high profile in the streets, at transportation stops, and in festivity halls. They had also conducted prevention work at refugee shelters. Bonn police forces were backed up by patrols from the towns of Bochum and Monchengladbach. The only moment of concern came up around noon, when several hundreds of mainly young people started gathering under the Kennedy bridge in Beuel and started pushing against the barriers which block access to the river. Breaking these could have had disastrous consequences so police pushed the crowd back and prevented them from possibly falling in the water. On the river itself, rescue boats were patrolling and ready to help in case of emergency. Meanwhile more than a thousand young carnevalists were having their traditional after school party in a large tent on Bonns Munsterplatz. Alcohol and cigarettes were prohibited but that didnt affect the mood of the party goers. The event, which is organized by the city of Bonn, was sponsored and supported by Haribo with a sum of 15,000 Euros. Later in the afternoon around 3,000 people gathered at Beethovenhalle for another big local event: the legendary after job party. Participants had to be patient this year, since security inspections at the entrance were very thorough and took longer than usual. But like every year, the biggest crowd gathered already in the morning in front of the Beuel Town Hall (Rathaus). Traditionally a selected group of women headed by the Wascherprinzessin Tessa I. (washer womens princess) and her accomplice, the Obermohn Ina Harder (representative of the more astute ladies in town) try to storm the building and take over the rule of the city. This playful affair has become more and more refined over the last decades. This year Mayor Ashok Sridharan of Bonn and his Beuel colleague Guido Deus did their best to defend their offices but after a lot of kerfuffle the ladies finally overcame all obstacles by using a crane to lift them right onto the balcony of the building from where they snatched the golden key to the door of the City Hall. The reign of the women will last until Ash Wednesday, when Karneval 2016 will definitely be over. My love of Berlin is well documented with many blog posts extolling its virtues. I thought Id finish on one final post covering some of the best things I think there are to do and see if you visit this glorious city. Get your portrait done in a PhotoAutomat. There are numerous photo automats around the city. They areold-fashionedd, analog portrait booths and as part of a project, these guys are working to keep the old film booths alive. The prints you get from them have a beautiful feel and we found 5 booths around the city. This one below is just near Mauer Park but youll also find them in Prenzlauer Berg, Kreuzberg and central too. Take a selfie at Brandenburg Gate. However trendy we think we are, everyone loves a bit of a tourist trap and Brandenburg gate is just that, probably one of the most famous German landmarks there is. Post WW2 when Berlin was split into East and West, the gate sat right on the edge of the border and from what Ive read and seen, was very symbolic when the wall came down in 1989. Just around the corner, youve also got the Reichstag home of the German government but the queues are always massive so Id say, have a look and move on! Drink all the Gluhwein. This is definitely a winter activity but if you find yourself strolling the streets of Berlin on a cold crisp day, you absolutely must stop at every chance for a cup of steaming gluhwein. A great tip is to also ask for a shot of amaretto. Perhaps its not the best advice to drink it before lunch but its so warming and totally moreish, I have to admit we did have one boozy mid-morning! Visit the wall. You can see parts of the wall all over the city but the main touristy bit can be found at Potsdamer Platz. Of course, take your time to read the exhibits and view sections of the wall but I prefer to look down at the pavement and see the snaking path of the wall and where it once ran. Also look out for the little red and green men on the traffic lights they are different in West and East Berlin to this day. Eat crisps on a stick. We loved this basically a man with a drill and a wooden skewer he spiralled a potato using the drill before deep frying and covering liberally in salt. Im sure you can find these stalls all over the more touristy bits of the city but we found this stall (next door to some great gluhwein) in Mitte just near St. Nicholas Church. Go to Mauerpark flea market & eat Currywurst. Situated in Prenzlauer Berg (where we were staying), Mauerpark is huge and every Sunday they have a big flea market, with live music and stalls selling everything from old cameras to vintage clothes. There are food stalls there too and of course, currywurst. You can get this all over the city as its basically an institution but we enjoyed having it here because the atmosphere was just great. Drink cocktails and eat Pork Knuckle in Kreuzberg. People bang on about Kreuzberg so special and trendy? We visited twice in search of the trendy bars and supposedly, some of Germanys best coffee. Seek and ye shall find erm nope. Not in our case. Prenzlauer Berg is definitely, for us, a better area. I would make the comparison of Kreuzberg being Shoreditch full of wanky types loving their own hype and Prenzlauer Berg being Brixton (although this time, not south of the river). Foodie, fun, a little bit rough around the edges but with a real charm. That said, we did visit a couple of cool places in Kreuzberg. Bateau Ivre with its Chinese lanterns was fun for a couple of drinks, as was Bar 39 for excellent cocktails. Dave also enjoyed earwigging into Korean phone conversations outside Angry Chicken a bizarre little Korean takeaway just down the road. For food, we looked at Kreuzburger featured on the Guardians guide to the area but we opted for Max und Moritz instead. An old fashioned Wirtshaus on the edges of the district. On first attempt we couldnt get in, they had some kind of concert on and were fully booked despite it being a weekday. My advice book ahead. Anyway, we returned later on and got a table. There was one thing on both of our minds pork knuckle. It looks (lets face it) rank. but actually tasted pretty good. With a bratwurst sausage, gammon steak, mustard, sauerkraut, potatoes and gravy this was not a light meal but Im glad I had it. Definitely one to tick off the list. Walk around Prenzlauer Berg. This is where we were staying and we loved it as an area. Lots going on, plenty of bars and restaurants (including Spreegold and Blumencafe). Also lots of Asian and Korean restaurants which is great if you like that kind of food. If I moved to Berlin, this is where I would live. Just take time to walk along the streets and soak it all up. Walk for around 20 minutes and eventually you find yourself at Alexander Platz and in the centre of town. We also managed to find Jablonski Strasse, made famous by one of my favourite books in the whole world (and now a film) Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallader. My final thoughts: Berlin is great city and I plan to go back to soon. We loved the unpretentious feel of the bars and as a history graduate, theres more than enough history to keep me occupied. Berlin has a feel about it its alive in a way other cities havent felt to me. Perhaps its the U-Bahn raised above and below the streets providing the beating heart to this city. Have you been to Berlin? Please share your top tips with me so I can learn even more about this great city on my return! Like this: Like Loading... Buhari - It's Disgraceful Nigeria Imports Toothpicks, Rice and Tomato Puree ' bayonel3 at 5-02-2016 04:13 PM (6 years ago) (m) In an interview with BBC this morning, President Buhari described the importation of toothpicks, rice and tomato paste by Nigeria as shameful. See more of what he said during the interview after the cut as shared by BB's correspondent Sam Piranty. In an interview with BBC this morning, President Buhari described the importation of toothpicks, rice and tomato paste by Nigeria as shameful. See more of what he said during the interview after the cut as shared by BB's correspondent Sam Piranty. Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:13 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Eazyatumeyi at 5-02-2016 04:17 PM (6 years ago) (m) Its really shameful o. Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:17 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Its really shameful o. Reply kp45 at 5-02-2016 04:20 PM (6 years ago) (m) Na today? Chai!!! Una just dey wake up. Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:20 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Na today? Chai!!! Una just dey wake up. Reply gogoman at 5-02-2016 04:21 PM (6 years ago) (m) bahari baba, i dey with u jare Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:21 PM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero bahari baba, i dey with u jare Reply Trueyarn at 5-02-2016 04:37 PM (6 years ago) (m) PMB,nah now you know,all this small small stuff nah em suppose dey create job opportunity for graduates"vision less leaders". Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:37 PM (6 years ago) | Hero PMB,nah now you know,all this small small stuff nah em suppose dey create job opportunity for graduates"vision less leaders". Reply ujmaria at 5-02-2016 04:46 PM (6 years ago) (f) Shameful, Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:46 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Shameful, Reply ficull at 5-02-2016 04:56 PM (6 years ago) (m) PMB... carry go jare. 16yrs of destruction. Carry on and cleanse the system. Posted: at 5-02-2016 04:56 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac PMB... carry go jare. 16yrs of destruction. Carry on and cleanse the system. Reply Ennyolalekan at 5-02-2016 05:02 PM (6 years ago) (m) Nigeria haa! we can never improve Posted: at 5-02-2016 05:02 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Nigeria haa! we can never improve Reply favuman at 5-02-2016 05:05 PM (6 years ago) (m) all this small small stuff nah em suppose dey create job opportunity for graduates how we go dey import toothpick na wow oh Posted: at 5-02-2016 05:05 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming all this small small stuff nah em suppose dey create job opportunity for graduates how we go dey import toothpick na wow oh Reply rashjr at 5-02-2016 05:36 PM (6 years ago) (m) Yeah you are right. . . . Posted: at 5-02-2016 05:36 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming Yeah you are right. . . . Reply dareper at 5-02-2016 06:00 PM (6 years ago) (m) Okay, oya.do something to stop it Posted: at 5-02-2016 06:00 PM (6 years ago) | Hero Okay, oya.do something to stop it Reply nwaafoigbo at 5-02-2016 06:35 PM (6 years ago) (m) na tadey Posted: at 5-02-2016 06:35 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming na tadey Reply concentrate at 5-02-2016 06:35 PM (6 years ago) (m) I thought he was going to say blame jonathan Posted: at 5-02-2016 06:35 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac I thought he was going to say blame jonathan Reply umokoro at 5-02-2016 06:44 PM (6 years ago) (m) Really shamefull Posted: at 5-02-2016 06:44 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming Really shamefull Reply akinmanchy at 5-02-2016 06:52 PM (6 years ago) (m) So shameful, how can a country as big as Nigeria imports tootpick Life na jeje so just try to take am softly Posted: at 5-02-2016 06:52 PM (6 years ago) | Hero So shameful, how can a country as big as Nigeria imports tootpick Reply Bebold at 5-02-2016 07:39 PM (6 years ago) (m) Any Country that looks up to the government to create job will be dead, the citizens create job not Government, all that toothpick, tomato paste and so on is the citizens job to start producing them and create job for the people Posted: at 5-02-2016 07:39 PM (6 years ago) | Gistmaniac Any Country that looks up to the government to create job will be dead, the citizens create job not Government, all that toothpick, tomato paste and so on is the citizens job to start producing them and create job for the people Reply winace at 5-02-2016 08:33 PM (6 years ago) (f) Now dat u know, wat next. Posted: at 5-02-2016 08:33 PM (6 years ago) | Addicted Hero Now dat u know, wat next. Reply princeoshone at 5-02-2016 08:36 PM (6 years ago) (f) I tire o Posted: at 5-02-2016 08:36 PM (6 years ago) | Upcoming I tire o Reply emma4love3 at 5-02-2016 08:39 PM (6 years ago) (m) na today the......is long the importation day.... so him won stop am now Posted: at 5-02-2016 08:39 PM (6 years ago) | Hero na today the......is long the importation day....so him won stop am now Reply Energy from cellphone towers ups pain in amputees: Study News oi -GizBot Bureau Living near cellphone towers that produce radio-frequency electromagnetic fields can amplify pain in amputees, suggests new research. "Our study provides evidence, for the first time, that subjects exposed to cellphone towers at low, regular levels can actually perceive pain," said senior study author Mario Romero-Ortega, associate professor of bioengineering at University of Texas at Dallas, US. SEE ALSO: 9 Expert Hacks To Improve Your Apple iPhone 6s Storage Until this study, published online in the journal PLOS ONE, there was no scientific evidence to back up the anecdotal stories of people, who reported aberrant sensations and neuropathic pain around cellphone towers, the researchers said. "Our study also points to a specific nerve pathway that may contribute to our main finding," Romero-Ortega noted. Most of the research into the possible effects of cellphone towers on humans has been conducted on individuals with no diagnosed, pre-existing conditions. This is one of the first studies to look at the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in a nerve-injury model, Romero-Ortega said. The team hypothesised that the formation of neuromas -- inflamed peripheral nerve bundles that often form due to injury -- created an environment that may be sensitive to EMF-tissue interactions. To test this, the team randomly assigned 20 rats into two groups -- one receiving a nerve injury that simulated amputation, and the other group receiving a sham treatment. Researchers then exposed the rats to a radiofrequency electromagnetic antenna for 10 minutes, once per week for eight weeks. The antenna delivered a power density equal to that measured at 39 meters from a local cellphone tower. Researchers found that by the fourth week, 88 percent of rats in the nerve-injured group demonstrated a behavioural pain response, while only one rat in the other group exhibited pain at a single time point, and that was during the first week. SEE ALSO: 14 Google Maps Features You Never Knew Existed "Our model found that electromagnetic fields evoked pain that is perceived before neuroma formation; subjects felt pain almost immediately," Romero-Ortega said. The researchers believe that the protein TRPV4, which is known to be a factor in heat sensitivity, could be a mediator in the pain response for these rats. Source IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Top 10 Best Samsung Galaxy Smartphones to buy in India in February 2016 Features oi -Harish Samsung has been ruling the smartphone industry with its number of smartphones ranging from higher end to mid-lower segment in India. At Samsung Forum event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the company announced its 2016 edition of Galaxy A5 and Galaxy A7 smartphones. The South Korean smartphone giant has also hosting "Samsung Unpacked 2016" on February 21, just a day before the MWC 2016, in Barcelona. SEE ALSO: Top 20 Best Fingerprint Scanner Enabled Smartphones to Buy in India this 2016 The Unpacked 2016 event is expected to see the company's upcoming flagship smartphone the Galaxy S7 and other variants. However, Samsung has already launched hand-full of smartphones in India with a starting price of Rs. 7,000. Today, we have jotted down the 10 best Samsung Galaxy Smartphone to buy in India this year. Have a look at the slider below. Samsung Galaxy J7 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) Octa-Core (1.4GHz + 1GHz) Exynos processor 1.5GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with microSD Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash, 120-degree wide-angle lens 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 3000mAh battery Samsung Galaxy On7 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD display 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 410 (MSM8916) processor with Adreno 306 1.5GB RAM 8GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with microSD Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED flash, f/2.1 aperture, 1080p video recording 5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS/ GLONASS 3000mAh battery Samsung Galaxy J5 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD IPS display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) 1.2GHz quad-core 64-bit Snapdragon 410 processor with Adreno 306 GPU 1.5GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable up to 64GB with microSD Dual SIM 13MP rear camera with LED flash 5MP front-facing camera with LED flash 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+ Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 2600mAh battery Samsung Galaxy On5 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5-inch (1280 x 720 pixels) HD display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) 1.3 GHz quad-core Exynos 3475 processor with Mali-T720 GPU 1.5GB RAM 8GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with microSD Dual (micro) SIM 8MP rear camera with LED flash, f/2.2 aperture, 1080p video recording 5MP front-facing camera, f/2.2 aperture Dimensions: 142.3 x 72.1 x 8.5mm; Weight: 149g 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS/ GLONASS 2600mAh battery Samsung Galaxy A8 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.7-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) Full HD Super AMOLED display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) Exynos 5430 Octa-Core (1.8GHz Quad A15 + 1.3 GHz Quad A7 ) with Mali T628 MP6 GPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-Core (1.5GHz Quad A53 + 1.0 GHz Quad A53 ) with Adreno 405 GPU 2GB RAM 32GB internal memory expandable up to 128GB with microSD 16MP rear camera with LED flash, f/1.9 aperture 5MP front-facing camera 4G LTE / 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS/ GLONASS 3050mAh battery Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Click Here To Buy Key Features A 5.7-inch Quad-HD (14402560 pixels) Super AMOLED display with a pixel density of roughly 515ppi Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with Touchwiz UI a 64-bit octa-core Exynos 7420 SoC (4 cores Cortex-A57 clocked at 2.1GHz + 4 cores Cortex-A53 clocked at 1.5GHz) 16 Mega Pixel Auto Focus Rear Camera With Smart OIS 5 MP Front Camera 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM 4G LTE, NFC, MST, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi, GPS/ A-GPS 3000 MAh Battery Samsung Galaxy A5 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5-inch HD Super AMOLED display Android 4.4 (KitKat) 1.2GHz quad-core processor 2GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable up to 64GB with microSD 13MP rear camera with LED flash 5MP front-facing camera 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2300 mAh battery Samsung Galaxy S6 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.1 inch 1440p SAMOLED Display Exynos 7420 2.1/1.5GHz A57/A53 Android v5.0 (Lollipop) OS 2G / 3G / 4G LTE (Category 6 LTE) Network 16MP (5132 x 2988) Rear Facing w/ OIS, f/1.9, object tracking AF Camera 5MP Front Facing, f/1.9 Camera 3GB LPDDR4-1552, 32/64/128GB NAND Memory 2600 mAh, Li-ion Battery Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.7-inch Quad HD (25601440 pixels) (518ppi) Super AMOLED curved dual edge display Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) Octa-Core (Quad 2.1GHz + Quad 1.5GHz) 64 bit, 14 nm Exynos 7420 processor 4GB LPDDR4 RAM 32GB internal memory 16MP rear camera with LED Flash, OIS, f/1.9 aperture, 4K(UHD) video recording 5MP front-facing camera, f/1.9 aperture Heart rate sensor, Fingerprint sensor 4G LTE / 3G HSPA+ Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bluetooth 3000mAh battery, Fast Charging (wired and wireless) Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.6 Inch Super AMOLED Quad HD Display 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Processor 3 GB RAM Bluetooth 4.1 WiFi B/G/N/Ac 16 Mega Pixel Auto Focus Rear Camera With Smart OIS 3.7 MP Front Camera With f1.9 32 GB On-Board Storage NFC 3220 MAh Battery Samsung Galaxy A3 Click Here To Buy Key Features 4.5-inch qHD Super AMOLED display Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat), upgradable to v5.0.2 (Lollipop) 1.2GHz quad-core processor 1GB RAM 16GB internal memory expandable up to 64GB with microSD 8MP rear camera with LED flash, 1080p video recording 5MP front-facing camera 4G LTE / 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 1900 mAh battery Samsung Galaxy A5 (2016) Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.2-inchFHD (19201080) Super AMOLED display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) 1.6GHz Octa Core processor 2GB RAM 16GB Internal Storage expandable (up to 128GB) via micro SD slot Dual SIM ( nano + nano) 13MP rear camera, OIS 5MP front camera Fingerprint Scanner 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE) 2,900mAh battery, Fast Charging Samsung Galaxy A7 (2016) Click Here To Buy Key Features 5.5-inch FHD (19201080) Super AMOLED display Android 5.1 (Lollipop) 1.6GHz Octa Core processor 3GB RAM 16GB Internal Storage expandable upto 128GB via micro SD card Dual SIM ( nano + nano) 13MP rear camera, OIS (F1.9) 5MP front camera (F1.9) Fingerprint Scanner 4G LTE Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n Bluetooth v 4.1, ANT+, USB 2.0, NFC (UICC, eSE) 3,300mAh battery, Fast Charging Best Mobiles in India Facebook launches initiative to combat Zika virus News oi -GizBot Bureau At a time when the world is bracing itself against the growing Zika virus, social networking giant Facebook has partnered with Brazil's non-profit Abrasco Divulga to help combat the disease that has spread to more than 20 countries. In a Facebook post, its founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that as a community, "we can help fight the Zika virus by raising awareness". "The Zika virus is one of the biggest public health challenges right now. SEE ALSO: 8 Smart Ways to Fix Bad Reception Issues on your Cell Phone: Problems and Fixes For pregnant women who get the virus, it has been linked to brain damage for their babies," the 31-year-old billionaire posted. "The virus is carried by mosquitoes. There are no medicines to treat or prevent the virus yet, so right now the most important thing is to try to avoid mosquito bites," he added. Zuckerberg also posted a video link http://www.who.int/csr/disease/zika/ from their campaign that, he hopes, will provide valuable information to expectant mothers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared an international emergency over the Zika virus. SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5 launched for Rs. 29,400 and Rs 33,400: What's the Difference? The mosquito-transmitted Zika virus outbreak in some countries of the Americas, notably Brazil, has been linked to cases of microcephaly, which causes underdeveloped brains in babies. The casual relation between the Zika infection during pregnancy and microcephaly is strongly suspected. Over 1.5 million Brazilians are estimated to have been infected by the virus over the past few months. Source IANS Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Pushkar-Gayathris Vikram Vedha showcases that a film can be made in any language or for any audience, can be told with the premise & outcome without deviating and keeping the narrative tight. WikiLeaks founder criticizes UK for his 'unlawful detention' Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 1:20PM WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been hold-up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012, urges British and Swedish authorities to allow him walk free from the 'arbitrary detention'. Speaking via videoconferencing on Friday, Assange said his "detention without charge was unlawful" adding that the legal arguments given by Sweden and Britain against him were "flawed". Assange's legal team has also urged the two countries to accept the finding of a UN panel. 'We can ask the prosecutor for a review of the arrest warrant but we will first let the prosecutor have a chance to show that they respect the UN report,' Assange's lawyer in Stockholm, Thomas Olsson said. The Geneva-based UN working group has already stood in support of the WikiLeaks founder saying his "arbitrary detention" must end. "Assange was arbitrarily detained by the governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.' The panel issued a statement criticizing legal action against Assange and blamed the two countries for preventing him from leaving the Ecuadorian embassy. "The Swedish and British authorities should end Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and "respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement". The UN working group said Assange can claim compensation from Britain and Sweden. The 44-year-old Australian whistle-blower sought refuge in June 2012 in the Ecuadorian embassy to avoid the threat of arrest and extradition to Sweden where he was wanted for questioning over a rape allegation. Assange has since confined himself in a small embassy room with a rare appearance in a balcony to speak to media. On Friday, Assange appeared in the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy holding a copy of the UN report. He said he was deprived of his family for about five years. He also warned that parties involved in his deprivation may face criminal proceedings if they don't abide by the international humanitarian law. Meanwhile, Britain and Sweden have rejected the panel's ruling, which is non-binding. The UK foreign office called the UN ruling "ridiculous." 'This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion,' a British government statement said. And the Swedish foreign ministry said in a letter to the UN panel that ' its government does not agree with the assessment made by the majority of the Working Group'. Swedish authorities want to speak to Assange about a rape allegation but he fears that he could then be sent to the US for the questioning over Wikileaks' activities including the release of some 500,000 secret military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables. Washington was infuriated by the publication of the classified files. The main source of the leaks, US Army soldier Chelsea Manning, was sentenced to 35 years in prison for breaches of the Espionage Act. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Snowden Docs Reveal GCHQ's Metadata Collection Details Sputnik News 04:09 05.02.2016(updated 12:05 05.02.2016) Currently wanted by the US government for revealing the extent of the NSA domestic and global spying apparatus, whistleblower Edward Snowden's latest leak reveals that Britain's GCHQ also collected enormous amounts of metadata. The leak includes a 96-page e-book written in 2011 by the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research in Bristol, as well as a shorter document entitled 'What's the Worst That Can Happen?' Leaked by Edward Snowden and published online by Internet culture website Boing Boing, the documents serve as 'a kind of checklist for spies who are seeking permission to infect their adversaries' computers or networks with malicious software.' 'Some of the problems in this book look at ways of leveraging GCHQ's passive SIGINT [signals intelligence] capabilities to give us a cyber edge, but researchers should always be on the look-out for opportunities to advance the cyber agenda,' the document reads. According to the files, the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), relied heavily on metadata since it was provided with a legal loophole. 'There are extremely stringent legal and policy restraints on what we can do with content, but we are much freer in how we can store and use metadata,' the document reads. 'Moreover, there is obviously a much higher volume of content than metadata. 'For these reasons, metadata feeds will usually be unselected we pull everything we see; on the other hand, we generally only process content that we have a good reason to target.' One passage suggests that the intelligence agency is aware that bulk metadata collection, is potentially impractical. 'It is important to point out that tolerance for false positives is very low: if an analyst is presented with three leads to look at, one of which is probably of interest, then they might have the time to follow that up. If they get to a list of three hundred, five of which are probably of interest, then that is not much use to them.' Speaking to Ars Technica, a GCHQ spokesperson said that, 'We have no comment to make on the story. It is a longstanding policy that we do not comment on intelligence matters.' The spokesperson took the time, however, to observe that all GCHQ activity is conducted within a strict legal framework. After exposing the extent of the spying apparatus used by the United States and United Kingdom in 2013, former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia. He currently resides in Moscow. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the UK, UN panel finds 5 February 2016 The founder of the WikiLeaks website, which published confidential diplomatic information, has been arbitrarily detained by Sweden and the United Kingdom since his arrest in London in December 2010, as a result of the legal action against him by both Governments, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said today. In a public statement, the expert panel called on the Swedish and British authorities to end Julian Assange's deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement, and afford him the right to compensation. Mr. Assange, detained first in prison then under house arrest, took refuge in Ecuador's London embassy in 2012 after losing his appeal to the UK's Supreme Court against extradition to Sweden, where a judicial investigation was initiated against him in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct. However, he was not formally charged. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the expert panel. "The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr. Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation," Mr. Hong added. In its official Opinion, the Working Group considered that Mr. Assange had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth Prison in London, followed by house arrest and then confinement at the Ecuadorean Embassy. According to a press release issued by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the experts also found that the detention was arbitrary because Mr. Assange was held in isolation at Wandsworth Prison, and because a lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor's Office in its investigations resulted in his lengthy loss of liberty. The Working Group further established that this detention violates two articles of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and six articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WikiLeaks Founder Assange Calls UN Ruling 'Vindication' by Luis Ramirez February 05, 2016 A U.N. panel's finding that Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained is a 'vindication,' said the WikiLeaks founder Friday from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been living to avoid extradition. Speaking by video from inside the embassy, Assange said it is 'now a matter of settled law' that he has been wrongly detained. The panel ruled Assange has been arbitrarily detained since 2012. Assange wants to leave the embassy where he has sought refuge for nearly four years, but faces arrest by British police. Sweden wants him for investigation of rape, an allegation he denies. British officials have dismissed the U.N. ruling and say it will arrest Assange if he leaves the embassy. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a panel of independent experts, issued a statement early Friday, saying, "The various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention.' Not legally binding The panel called for him to be released and compensated for time lost; but, the ruling Friday is not legally binding. Sweden says it plans to keep up its investigation of him. Britain and Sweden on Friday said Assange sought refuge at the embassy of his own accord and has not been detained. Britain's foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, dismissed the U.N. panel's ruling, saying it was "frankly ridiculous." Assange earlier said he intended to leave the Ecuadorian embassy on Friday. His supporters said he would hold a news conference at the Frontline Club, a London press club. Instead, he spoke from the embassy, where hundreds of reporters monitored his remarks from the street. Later, he emerged onto the embassy's balcony and read a statement to his supporters, calling the ruling a "historic victory." Assange, an Australian national, has said he wants his passport returned and a termination of all attempts to arrest him. Release of secret US govt. files The former computer hacker angered the United States by releasing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. government files. He has since been linked in Sweden with a number of crimes, including one of rape in 2010. The statute of limitations has run out on the other allegations, but the one on rape stands and Swedish officials have said a U.N. ruling would have no impact on their investigation. His supporters say the Swedish woman in the rape case has said Swedish police "railroaded" her into accusing him. That is not the view of the woman's lawyer, who called Friday's ruling "insulting and offensive." In a statement, Elisabeth Massi Fritz criticized the U.N. ruling, saying the panel appeared to not understand that rape "is one of the most serious abuses and violations of human rights." She said she is relieved that the ruling is not legally binding. She said Assange should 'pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor.' Among the secret files that his website published were hundreds of thousands of documents detailing U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also released a video of a 2007 U.S. helicopter gunship attack in Baghdad that killed 12 people, including two staff members of the Reuters news agency. WikiLeaks back story Documents leaked included thousands of diplomatic cables from U.S. embassies around the world dating back several decades. Those cables, in some cases, contained details of what U.S. diplomats were saying about other world leaders; revelations that embarrassed U.S. officials. In the United States, a grand jury is still investigating the leaks. White House spokesman Josh Earnest on Thursday said Britain and Sweden would have to resolve Assange's case. "It's unclear to me exactly what impact a pronouncement from the United Nations would have on this situation,' Earnest said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Campbell to SASC: Afghanistan Not a Short-Term Problem By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, February 4, 2016 The situation is extremely complex in Afghanistan, but one simple truth is that 2016 cannot be a repeat of 2015, Army Gen. John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. Campbell, the commander of NATO's Resolute Support Mission and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the Taliban were emboldened by the U.S. withdrawal and the concomitant reduction in close air support. The Taliban "have fought the Afghan security forces very tough, and we can't let that happen as we move forward," he said. Campbell told the committee that the current plan, which calls for a reduction in U.S. service members in the country to 5,500 by Jan. 1, 2017 would limit the train, advise and assist mission in Afghanistan. "The 5,500 plan was developed primarily around counterterrorism," he said. "There is very limited train, advise and assist [funding] in those numbers. 'To continue to build on the Afghan security forces, the gaps and seams in aviation, logistics, intelligences, as I've talked about, we'd have to make some adjustments to that number," he said. Prepare, Adjust Campbell said he is, of course, prepared to pare U.S. numbers in Afghanistan to 5,500 -- from about 9,800 -- by the end of the year. "I believe the right thing to do is to prepare to go to 5,500 as I am ordered, but at the same time take a look at conditions on the ground, look at the capabilities not the number -- and to provide those adjustments to my military leadership, and then make those adjustments to the capabilities," he said. "If we don't have the capabilities, or if the assumptions that we made for the 5,500 plan don't come out true, then of course, we have to make those adjustments," he said. Any adjustments would have to be made early this year, Campbell said, and preferably before summer. Campbell stressed that Afghanistan is not a short-term problem and that it must be viewed in years. NATO and partner nations need time to prepare troops and equipment for deployment, he explained. A five-year cycle "gives them the ability to plan, to resource," Campbell said. "Again, any budget one year at a time is very, very hard to do. So I think NATO's completely on board with that. All the countries continue to provide the assistance that they pledged at the Chicago 2012 conference. Again, the United States is the biggest contributor, but the NATO countries continue to provide and have done so." In addition to internal training requirements, the general said a long-term commitment also serves to give confidence to the Afghan government and people. "It sends a message to Pakistan, it sends a message to the Taliban, and it sends a message to NATO," Campbell said. "Talking those kind of terms, conditions based on the ground, is the way we need to move forward to enable the Afghans to have a predictability and stability." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Patriot Visits Otaru, Japan Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160204-09 Release Date: 2/4/2016 10:19:00 AM By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ryan C. Delcore, Naval Air Facility Misawa Public Affairs OTARU, Japan (NNS) -- USS Patriot (MCM 7) pulled into Otaru, Japan, Feb. 4 for a scheduled port visit. The ship's crew will be given the opportunity to experience the word-famous Sapporo Snow Festival and Otaru's Snow Light Path Festival during the visit. 'This is the Patriot's first visit to Otaru and the crew and I are excited to interact with the community,' said Lt. Cmdr. Emily Royse, commanding officer of the USS Patriot. Sapporo is a popular winter destination for Japanese citizens and other people from around the world. 'Our crew looks forward to spending some time off in Otaru and the surrounding areas, seeing the beautiful Snow Light Path Festival as well as the snow festival in Sapporo, and, of course, enjoying the fantastic cuisine,' said Royse. Patriot is a mine countermeasures ship forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan. Patriot serves under Task Force 76, which serves as the U.S. 7th Fleet's mine countermeasures arm in forward-deployed operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2016 Exercise Sharpens First Responders' Skills Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160204-25 Release Date: 2/4/2016 3:41:00 PM By Barbara Wagner, Naval Support Activity South Potomac DAHLGREN, Va. (NNS) -- The words of Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP) Chief of Police Bob Brooks were still fresh in the minds of exercise participants at Wednesday's Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield security exercise at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head, Feb. 3. 'We have a number of different commands [that] are very active in supporting the warfighters,' Brooks said. 'It's a well-known fact that they operate within our fence line and any faction that considers the United States a potential enemy will be looking at us as a target.' That is how Brooks summed up why annual training with an exercise like Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2016 is so vital to the security of the command. Solid Curtain is designed to test the emergency management skills and abilities of the NSASP first responders and ensure they are prepared for any situation. A Navywide annual event, the Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield exercise is designed to not only 'test the mettle' of the emergency responders, but also to refine the installations' crisis management practices and enhance the security measures in place. The exercise is important to ensure that NSASP and all service members and civilians are prepared and protected and that Navy property is secure in a crisis event. Even as the exercise was underway, a pre-brief held the week before ensured that those who would be taking an active role in the exercise were prepared for the event. 'It adds realism to the fact that 'hey, I have to lock a door or go through a window' and now I am in a situation where I actually have to do that it helps to identify any shortcomings or issues,' Brooks said. With Brooks' training guidance of, 'Run, hide, fight,' it becomes important for the participants to work out concerns they might encounter with contingencies they might have planned ahead of an event. 'We see shortcomings in plans, for instance if an office has planned to shelter in a particular room and during the exercise they discover that perhaps the door doesn't lock or realize the room is too small or even if they can't get to the room because the shooter is in between,' Brooks said. 'There are a lot of things that come out during these training evolutions that really highlight the ability of those inside the structures to learn what they should do in the event of an active shooter.' Brooks held rapt attention from participants at the pre-brief as he traced the historical evolution of 'active shooter' events in the United States. As those types of events increased, law enforcement tactics evolved to meet the threat and Brooks explained how the role of police officers is often the difference between life and death. 'It's all well and good to have a plan,' Brooks explained. 'But if you don't take it out and exercise it, it's not worth the paper it's written on. Doing this kinetic work of actively and physically going through to identify the weaknesses and initiating that muscle memory of what we are actually going to do is critical.' The active exercise began at Naval Support Facility (NSF) Indian Head with an active shooter drill that took place in Building 1558. The premise of the scenario could have been taken straight from the headlines: a disgruntled employee decides to lash out violently. Portrayed by Gunner's Mate 1st Class Josef Muench for the training, the employee gained entrance into the secure building and systematically swept through the building in search of fellow co-workers with whom he had issue as well as taking aim at 'collateral targets', individuals who happened to cross his path while on his way to his intended target. Even though employees from Bldg. 1558 participated in the pre-brief and were prepared for the day's events, the view from the inside taken from a 'victim's' perspective was tense and apprehensive. From the starting 'shot' that began the exercise, the employees proceeded per their training, preparing to meet at a rally point at a nearby building. Left behind however, several employees who were unable to retreat took their training to heart and sought safety in offices, barricading themselves inside to wait out the 'active shooter.' The acrid sulfur smell lingered in the hall from the starter pistol that alerted the workers that the exercise was actively underway. Life-sized dummies represented the victims who were unable to move out of the way of the gunman before he could reach them. As Muench moved through the building in search of his prey, he tested doors throughout the halls, finding some securely locked and others open but empty. Outside of the facility, the NSASP Police Special Response Force (SRF) was already on the move, calculating the safest entry in to the building. NSASP sent in relatively new staff to ensure that everyone on the NSASP SRF had the opportunity to experience this sort of event first hand. The team members worked in unison methodically sweeping through the building, checking the same doors that just moments before the gunman had rattled, in search of the perpetrator. Following a brief 'exchange of fire,' the officers apprehended and cuffed the gunman. His victims were rapidly assessed and the information relayed back to dispatch and the Emergency Response Team (ERT) who were standing by for the all clear. Once the reported single gunman was neutralized, NSASP SRF began clearing the building, searching for potential other shooters and clearing the rooms of remaining staff trapped inside during the ordeal. On this second sweep, responding to the alert from the officers, doors began to crack and the remaining employees nervously peered out to ensure that it was safe to exit their secured location. Workers streamed out with arms up, filed out, and made their way to the safe location in an adjacent building. As employees made their way to safety, they assessed their numbers and began to question the location of others who were co-workers. 'It was terrifying,' Jonelle Walters said. 'I knew it was a drill but it was still terrifying. It was pretty effective I think, better than I had expected.' Walters shared that prior to the event, she and her co-workers questioned the extensive preparations and briefings they had received, all agreeing it seemed very calculated. 'I don't think we could have handled it if it had not been as calculated,' Walters said. 'It would have seemed too real, now I understand.' Walters went on to share how a phone call just minutes before the event brought home the seriousness of the event.' 'Just literally two minutes before the exercise started I got a call from my husband,' Walters said. 'I told him I couldn't talk and that I had to go and as I hung up I thought, what if that was the last conversation we had?' NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Embassy Condemns Czechs For Refusing To Extradite Suspects February 04, 2016 by RFE/RL The U.S. embassy in Prague has criticized a decision by the Czech Republic's justice minister not to extradite a Lebanese man to the United States to face weapons smuggling charges. Prague's Municipal Court on February 4 ordered the release of Ali Taan Fayad after Justice Minister Robert Pelikan refused to allow Fayad's extradition. Fayad, who also is known as Ali Amin, is wanted in the United States along with two citizens of Ivory Coast who allegedly tried to sell weapons to undercover U.S. law enforcement agents. A U.S. embassy statement on February 4 said 'We are dismayed by the Czech government's decision" to release Fayad and Ivorian Khaled El Merebi. The Czech government still has to decide about the fate of the other Ivorian suspect. Czech Defense Minister Martin Stropnicky said five Czech citizens who went missing in Lebanon in July were released by their captors in exchange for a guarantee that Fayad would not be extradited. But Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek later denied that there was an exchange deal. The five Czech citizens were released from captivity in Lebanon and put on a Czech Air Force jet that arrived in Prague on February 4. The affair, as complicated and dramatic as a paperback thriller, drew in not only on Czech, Lebanese, and U.S. interests, but also deposed Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and, reportedly, the Colombian guerilla group FARC. Stropnicky told reporters the five Czech citizens were returning from Lebanon 'on condition that Fayad will not be extradited to the United States. The cases are linked.' That prompted a blunt statement from the U.S. Embassy in Prague, which noted that Fayad and Merebi had both been charged in U.S. federal court. It said: 'There is no justification for the release of these dangerous individuals, which deals a blow to the cooperative relationship of our two countries' law enforcement agencies, and which will only encourage criminal gangs and terrorists around the world.' In Washington, the Justice Department deferred questions to the State Department, and did not respond to requests to release the indictments against Fayad and Merabi. The State Department did not immediately respond to request for comment. Hostage Situation Fayad, a Lebanese who holds a Ukrainian passport, was wanted by U.S. authorities for conducting smuggling operations across Europe and in Colombia, according to Czech press reports that cite unnamed security officials. Washington reportedly accused Fayad and the two Ivorian suspects of planning to exchange Ukrainian weapons for cocaine from FARC. Fayad reportedly also served as a manager in Ukraine's state-controlled arms export company Ukrspecexport and prior to that as an advisor to Yanukovych, who was ousted as president of Ukraine in early 2014 when months of protests culminated in violent clashes in Kyiv. Czech authorities had looked set to extradite Fayad and his two associates to the United States. But in July, the five Czech citizens -- including a lawyer from Fayad's defense team -- went missing while visiting Lebanon. Lebanese media reported that the group was picked up in Beirut by a van driven by Fayad's half-brother, and that the van was later found abandoned near the Syrian border with no trace of its occupants. The Czech daily MF Dnes quoted unidentified officials as saying that the lawyer, Jan Svarc, was the intermediary for an offer by Lebanese intelligence officers to provide information about another Czech national who went missing in Libya last year. The Czech civil intelligence branch reportedly refused the offer, but a military affairs journalist who is believed to be close to the military intelligence branch accompanied Svarc to Beirut along with two reporters from Czech regional TV stations and an interpreter. That has led to suggestions that Fayad's supporters somehow orchestrated a hostage situation to pressure Prague. Fayad's defense team has said Svarc's trip to Beirut was not unusual and that Svarc had visited Lebanon repeatedly to secure documents for Fayad's defense. As recently as February 3, officials in Prague tried to dispel any notion that a hostage exchange might be under negotiation. 'We don't make deals with terrorists. That is our long-term position," Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said. With reporting by RFE/RL's Kristyna Foltynova in Prague and AP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/prague-lebanese-ali- fayad-released-extradition-us/27532663.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia donates $59 million to UN agency assisting Palestine refugees 4 February 2016 Shelters, schools and health centres in Gaza, the West Bank and Jordan will benefit from $59 million donated by Saudi Arabia to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in the Near East under three agreements signed today. The first agreement for $43.5 million will support ongoing projects in Gaza, including the repair of more than 7,500 shelters for Palestinians whose homes were damaged during the 2014 conflict with Israel and the maintenance of three UNRWA schools. A second agreement for $8 million will provide funds for much-needed maintenance on nine UNRWA schools and 10 health centres in Jordan, while the third, valued at $7.5 million, will provide funds for the reconstructing, furnishing and equipping of three health centres in the West Bank. "I am extremely grateful to the government and the people of Saudi Arabia for the sustained support that the Kingdom has extended to UNRWA over the years," UNRWA Commissioner-General Pierre Krahenbuhl said in London, where he signed the agreements with Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Managing Director Yousef al-Bassam. "Their contributions have made an enormous difference in the lives of thousands of Palestine refugees. I would like to express particular appreciation for the role played by the Saudi Fund for Development in delivering Saudi assistance. Our partnership with the Fund is deeply rewarding." Saudi Arabia has contributed more than $500 million to UNRWA to date. Over the past three years, it has become the Agency's third largest donor. "UNRWA is playing a vital role in providing basic needs and social services for Palestine refugees," Mr. al-Bassam said. "The Government of Saudi Arabia, through the Saudi Fund for Development, will continue its support to the Palestinian people in all fields," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Army Commander: Troop Cuts Would Hurt Afghans' Training by VOA News February 04, 2016 The senior U.S. military commander in Afghanistan told Congress on Thursday that training for Afghan forces would be severely constrained if the number of American troops there was cut to 5,500, as President Barack Obama has proposed. Obama is planning to cut the number of American forces in Afghanistan from the current 9,800 troops to the 5,500 figure by the end of 2016. But Army General John Campbell told the Senate Armed Services Committee that would mean that 'very little' additional training of Afghan soldiers would be possible. Campbell, who is expected to retire soon, said, 'I want to keep 9,800 as long as I can before I drop down to 5,500.' But he said he was prepared to reduce the U.S. deployment 'as I am ordered.' Congressional critics of Obama's military operations against Taliban fighters in Afghanistan say reduced U.S. troop levels there will undermine the lengthy American effort that started shortly after the 2001 al-Qaida terrorist attacks in the U.S. that killed nearly 3,000 people. Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who lost the 2008 presidential election to Obama, said a reduced force would not be able to carry out its dual mission of training Afghans and conducting counterterrorism missions. 'This smaller American force will inevitably be forced to shoulder a higher level of risk to themselves, to their mission and to the national security of the United States,'' McCain said. Initially, Obama said he would cut the U.S. deployment to 5,500 by the end of last year, but as that time neared and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan forced a reassessment, he reversed course and pushed the deadline to the end of 2016. Obama has named Army Lieutentant General John Nicholson to replace Campbell; confirmation of his appointment is pending in the Senate. Nicholson has promised a further review of U.S. troop levels once his command takes effect. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Panel: Burundian Rebels Trained by Rwanda by Margaret Besheer February 04, 2016 Allegations that Rwanda has been recruiting and training Burundian rebels on its territory with the goal of ousting Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza resurfaced Thursday in a confidential U.N. report. A group of experts monitoring U.N. sanctions implementation in the Democratic Republic of Congo said it had interviewed 18 Burundian fighters in DRC's South Kivu Province. They all told the experts that "they had been recruited in the Mahama Refugee Camp in eastern Rwanda in May and June 2015," and were given two months of military training by instructors who "included Rwandan military personnel," according to the U.N. experts. Their findings were first reported by Reuters. Allegations The report, seen by VOA, quoted the fighters as saying they trained at a camp in the Rwandan forest and were instructed on the use of "grenades, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, mortars and rocket propelled grenades." They said they were transported around Rwanda in the back of military trucks, often with Rwandan military escort. They told the monitors that "at least four companies of 100 recruits each" were being trained at the camp when they were there. Six of the 18 fighters were minors or child soldiers under international definitions. They said the instructors were aware of their youth. The fighters told the monitors that they "crossed the Rusizi River in small groups at night from Rwanda into the DRC," carrying fake Congolese identification cards. The monitors said the fighters told them "their ultimate goal was to remove Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza from power." Burundi has been mired in a sometimes violent political crisis since April of last year, when Nkurunziza sought and won what is widely seen as an unconstitutional third term. Observers fear the violence which has killed at least 439 people and caused 230,000 more to flee the country could tip into another civil war or worse, in the ethnically mixed Hutu-Tutsi nation. Arms Smuggling The U.N. experts also reported Congo's arrest of six individuals in October and November of last year on suspicion of arms smuggling in Goma, North Kivu Province. "The perpetrators are Rwandan or Congolese nationals and were caught at the Congolese-Rwandan border post with the weapons," the report says. Burundi's president has accused Rwanda of interfering in his country. Late last month, he told a visiting U.N. Security Council delegation that "the threat is not from within Burundi it comes from outside. The Rwandan government must be told to stop." The Rwandan government has dismissed the U.N. panel's findings as "unfounded." Rwanda's Ambassador to Brussels Olivier Nduhungirehe, who is vocal on social media, tweeted: "Mass graves, sexual terrorism, torture, extrajudicial killings, hate speech; and @BurundiGov wants to convince us that it's #Rwanda's fault!" At the Security Council Thursday morning, Russia's Deputy Envoy Petr Iliichev told reporters the allegations are "troubling" and the council would have to look at the report. Asked if there should be a message sent to Rwanda, he said there is a framework agreement in which the countries agreed not to interfere in each other's internal affairs and support negative elements. "You signed, you agreed, you pledged, and now you have to fulfill your pledges," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release SOUTHWEST ASIA, February 5, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces have continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today. Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports. Strikes in Syria Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted nine strikes in Syria: -- Near Raqqah, a strike struck an ISIL staging area. -- Near Hawl, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions. -- Near Ayn Isa, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Manbij, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed an ISIL building and two ISIL fighting positions. -- Near Mar'a, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL vehicle and an ISIL command and control node. Strikes in Iraq Bomber, fighter, ground attack and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 21 strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government: -- Near Fallujah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar position. -- Near Habbaniyah, two strikes struck a large ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL rocket position, an ISIL fighting position and an ISIL boat. -- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed an ISIL bomb-making facility. -- Near Mosul, five strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL fighting positions, six ISIL weapon caches, three ISIL assembly areas and an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed three ISIL rocket positions, an ISIL weapons cache and two ISIL fighting positions. -- Near Ramadi, three strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed three ISIL staging areas, four ISIL weapon caches, an ISIL bed down location and an ISIL vehicle. -- Near Sinjar, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units. -- Near Sultan Abdallah, three strikes struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed five ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL weapons cache and two ISIL command and control nodes. -- Near Tikrit, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle. Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Part of Operation Inherent Resolve The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said. Coalition nations conducting strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations conducting strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, France, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Department of Defense Press Operations News Release No. NR-041-16 February 05, 2016 DoD Releases 2014 Annual Report on Suicide Today, the Department of Defense (DoD) released its 2014 calendar year Suicide Event Report (DoDSER), which details the number of suicide attempts and deaths for U.S. service members. The DoDSER also includes detailed assessments of demographic information, behavioral health history, and deployment history. Data for each DoDSER report were collected by the services and augmented by data from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES; for active duty suicide decedents) and the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC; for suicide decedents and suicide attempts). In 2014, there were 269 deaths by suicide among active component service members (compared to 259 deaths by suicide in 2013). There were 169 deaths by suicide among the selected reserve component in 2014, 80 in the reserve and 89 in the National Guard (compared to 220 deaths by suicide in 2013). The suicide rate per 100,000 in 2014 was 19.9 for active component service members, 21.9 for the reserve, and 19.4 for National Guard. The 2014 DoDSER findings are available at www.dspo.mil. Service members and their families in crisis should seek help immediately by contacting the Military and Veteran Crisis Line at 800-273-8255, (press 1 for military) for 24/7 crisis support. The crisis line also provides an online chat (www.militarycrisisline.net) and text service (838255). The Military and Veteran Crisis Line provides 24/7 confidential support to all service members and their families. http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/651182/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General discusses closer cooperation with EU Defence Ministers NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 05 Feb. 2016 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is meeting with EU Defence Ministers on Friday (5 February 2016) to discuss shared security challenges and stronger cooperation between the European Union and NATO. He stressed the importance of working more closely to address hybrid threats and violent instability in the South. Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed the United States' plans for an increased military presence in Europe, calling it "an important sign, and part of the adaptation of the Alliance to a more demanding security environment." He also welcomed the commitment of European Allies to step up defence spending, noting that "last year the cuts in defence spending in Europe practically stopped." He added, "the picture is still mixed, but we are moving now in the right direction." The Secretary General also highlighted NATO's support for all efforts to find a peaceful, political solution to the conflict in Syria. "What we have seen is that the intense Russian airstrikes, mainly targeting opposition troops in Syria, is undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict," said Mr. Stoltenberg. He noted that Russian military presence in Syria "is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace," and called for calm and de-escalation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNO Attends Kickoff of Indian International Fleet Review Navy News Service Story Number: NNS160205-03 Release Date: 2/5/2016 9:27:00 AM From From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs VISAKHAPATNAM (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, along with senior representatives from more than 50 navies around the world, joined Adm. RK Dhowan, Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, in opening the International Fleet Review Feb. 5 in Visakhapatnam, India. The event is the Indian Navy's premier international engagement for 2016, allowing the host nation an occasion to display its maritime capabilities and the 'bridges of friendship' it has built with other maritime nations. During an opening press conference Dhowan told the audience navies and coast guards of the world must work together to keep the world sea lanes safe and secure. 'Security stability and safety in the global commons is the responsibility of coastal states and navies of the world,' said Dhowan. No one navy can do it by themselves--it is the responsibility of all of us in 'white uniforms' to do it together. CNO is on a five-day visit to India, his first since taking office in September. During a stop in New Delhi, he met with key national security officials from across the government of India to discuss strategic relations between the two countries, as well as opportunities for greater security cooperation. 'Today, U.S.-India defense ties are strong and continue to grow stronger with each passing engagement. We are two countries with similar values--democratic governments, civilian control of the military, all volunteer forces. There is much that binds our nations and navies together.' At a press conference on Tuesday, CNO told reporters that the U.S. has a vested interest in seeing a stable, secure, and peaceful maritime domain to support the global economy, but it cannot do it alone. 'We value partners of like-minded countries, such as India,' said Richardson. 'A close, continuing, and expanding partnership is important for security and stability in Asia and for effectively managing Indian Ocean security in the twenty-first century.' In addition to participating in Fleet Review events, while in Visakhapatnam, CNO will meet with Sailors from USS Antietam (CG 54) and USS McCampbell (DDG 85). The two ships are representing the U.S. Navy in the 'President's Fleet Review' Saturday. Richardson and other heads of Navy will join Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on the Presidential Yacht as he reviews the International Fleet and observes a 45-aircraft flyover. A central Line of Effort for CNO is to expand and strengthen our network of partners. The visit to India and interactions with Indian and other Navy leaders help to deepen relationships and expand shared maritime interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Malian forces take back UN police base from assailants Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 1:18PM Malian forces, backed by UN helicopters, have managed to retake a UN police base in the city of Timbuktu hours after it was seized by yet unidentified assailants. 'It's over now," spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali (MINUSMA) Olivier Salgado said on Friday. He did not provide any information about possible casualties, but said, 'They are now inspecting the site and looking for explosive devices.' The UN earlier said unknown attackers had seized the police base on Friday morning while security sources said a Malian army checkpoint in Timbuktu had also come under fire. The news comes a day after at least four soldiers were killed in a gun attack and landmine explosion in the West African country's northeastern region. Mali has been witnessing violence linked to militant activity in its northern regions since 2012. The area remains vulnerable to attacks despite a military operation led by France in 2013, which came after the UN Security Council passed a resolution on the deployment of MINUSMA. Last June, Tuareg separatists, who have launched a number of uprisings since the 1960s, signed a peace deal with the Malian government. The peace agreement, brokered by Algeria, raised hopes for an end to years of unrest in the country; however, its implementation has proven challenging. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni tribes call for mobilization against Saudi Arabia Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 12:54AM Yemeni tribes from across the country have called for mobilization against Saudi Arabia's deadly war on the Arab world's poorest nation, Press TV reports. Men of Hamdan, one of Yemen's most powerful tribes, rallied to the north of the capital, Sana'a, vowing to provide support in the form of potential mobilization for the country's fighters resisting the Saudi aggression. "Tribesmen of Hamdan have marched in support of the popular resistance against the Saudi invasion and occupation of our country. Anyone who dares to invade our territories should know that Yemen has been and will always be the graveyard of invaders. As we trust Allah, we do not fear their internationally-banned weapons as victory is on our side," said one demonstrator. Hundreds of tribesmen from the southern parts of the country held a gathering in the capital. The participants pledged union against what they described as a US-Israeli initiative targeting the country, which was being implemented by Saudi Arabia. "Yemenis from the north and the south are united against such US-Saudi project," said a keynote speaker at the event. Yemen has been under military attacks by Saudi Arabia since late March last year in a bid to bring the country's fugitive former president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a Riyadh ally, back to power. Over 8,270 people, among them 2,236 children, have been killed and 16,015 others injured since the onset of the aggression. The strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the impoverished country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories. A recent damning UN report verified that the aggressors have targeted civilians in Yemen, documenting 119 sorties that violated international humanitarian law. "We know that the United Arab Emirates also has an interest in keeping our port of Aden under its domination. They want terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and Daesh to gain power in Aden," the speaker added. The Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has exploited the volatile conditions and the breakdown of security in Yemen since the beginning of the Saudi war to tighten its grip on parts of southeastern Yemen. The Daesh Takfiri terrorist group has also gained ground in and around Aden. Ansarullah fighters, along with allied army units, are fighting the Takfiri militants and countering the Saudi aggression against the war-torn country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-led drone strikes kill 18 in eastern Afghanistan Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 10:48PM At least 18 people have lost their lives when US-led foreign forces carried out a string of drone strikes in Afghanistan's eastern province of Paktika. A provincial security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on Thursday that the Wednesday night aerial assaults struck Barmal district in the province, located approximately 175 kilometers (108 miles) southeast of the capital, Kabul. The official identified the deceased as members of the Taliban militant group, noting that they hailed from Pakistan's mountainous northwestern region of Waziristan, and had sneaked into Afghanistan's soil through the area. The attack came only a day after US forces carried out a drone strike in the Achin district of the troubled eastern province of Nangarhar, killing three members of the Daesh Takfiri militant group. US drone strikes also killed 30 people in the same province last week. The CIA spy agency regularly uses drones for airstrikes and spying missions in Afghanistan as well as Pakistan's northwestern tribal belt near the Afghan border. Washington has also been conducting targeted killings through remotely-controlled armed drones in Somalia and Yemen. The United States says the airstrikes only target members of al-Qaeda and other militants, but according to local officials and witnesses, civilians have been the main victims of the attacks in most cases. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish Prime Minister Calls on Kurds to 'Leave Barricades' Sputnik News 17:24 05.02.2016(updated 18:36 05.02.2016) Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday called on Kurds to 'leave the barricades' and instead unite and live in peace. MARDIN (Turkey) Sputnik Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Friday called on Kurds to 'leave the barricades' and instead unite and live in peace. Earlier in the day, Davutoglu arrived in the southeastern Turkish city of Mardin to deliver a speech at the Brotherhood Meetings conference. For safety reasons, the meeting is being held in a closed room with only officials in attendance. 'I urge [the Kurds]: leave the barricades, we have a parliament, let's work in commissions on the democratization of the Constitution,' Davutoglu said. In December, Turkish forces launched a large-scale offensive in the southeast, in an attempt to liberate the region from Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters who had built barricades there. The Turkish prime minister announced that he had a 10-point 'master plan.' The plan stipulates changes in the general atmosphere in the country, particularly in relations between the Turkish and Kurdish populations. The plan also calls for the creation of public security in the country and 'the democratization of the Constitution.' The city of Mardin in eastern Turkey, which is populated mainly by Kurds and Arabs, has become one of the focal points of clashes between Kurdish militants on the one side and the Turkish army and police on the other. Tensions in Turkey escalated in July 2015, after 33 Kurdish activists were killed in a suicide blast in Suruc and two Turkish policemen were later murdered by the PKK, which led to Ankara's military campaign against the group which it considers a terrorist organization. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Briefing: The new Jihadist strategy in the Sahel By Obi Anyadike, Africa Editor NAIROBI, 4 February 2016 (IRIN) - Security has been intense over the last few weeks in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, with police and soldiers on the streets, vehicle searches, and round-ups of alleged Islamist militants. It's the response to the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) attack in Burkina Faso on 15 January that left 30 people dead. Until the assault on the Cappuccino restaurant and the Splendid Hotel, next door on Ouagadougou's trendy Kwame Nkrumah Avenue, Burkina Faso, like Senegal, felt safe from the jihadist violence that has destabilised other countries in the region. "We thought we were not really concerned by terrorism, that we were shielded by our armed forces and our diplomacy," Ousmane Ouedraogo told IRIN outside his cellphone shop on Kwame Nkrumah Avenue. "But now we know we are vulnerable." That vulnerability stems from the political instability in Burkina Faso following the youth-led toppling of Blaise Campaore after nearly three decades in power. But there is a more fundamental fragility that has its roots in the legitimacy and authority of governments across the Sahel region, which AQIM, AQIM-linked groups, and, more recently, the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) are seeking to exploit. The Burkina Faso attack was carried out by the militant group al-Mourabitoun, which had recently pledged allegiance to AQIM. The targets were popular with Western aid workers, businessmen, and soldiers serving with Operation Barkhane, France's regional counter-insurgency mission. The raid put together a team of young men based in Mali (AQIM named three but there are suggestions three escaped); at least one of the identified men seems to have been Fulani a pastoralist ethnic group that spans West Africa; and their cars had Niger license plates. It was, then, a fine example of regional militant integration. It followed an earlier al-Mourabitoun attack in November that killed 21 people at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital, Bamako. It's a fairly safe prediction that these two events are the beginning of a trend that will continue in 2016. "Three years ago, AQIM's plan was to hold territory in northern Mali. That has changed," Jean-Herve Jezequel, the senior Sahel analyst at the International Crisis Group, told IRIN. "The new strategy is that instead of managing territory, they want to show they can impact a much larger area by attacking the capitals of countries collaborating with Western forces." Why should Senegal worry? The heightened security in Dakar is a recognition of how tempting a target it is. It's the regional base of scores of international organisations. Senegal is a pro-Western partner, especially of France and the United States, and Dakar has provided troops to the French-backed African Union military intervention in Mali. More than 500 people have been picked up in the current crackdown. There is ample evidence of Senegalese recruitment to various jihadist causes. Senegalese are among IS forces in Libya; a small group of Wolof speakers (an almost exclusively Senegalese language) were believed to have fought alongside Islamist militants in northern Mali; men speaking Wolof were among the kidnappers of Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler in Niger in 2008; young militants from the large Senegalese diaspora are believed to be with IS in Syria; and there have been periodic arrests of individuals, most recently four activists detained for alleged ties to Nigeria's IS-linked Boko Haram. But Senegal is also a traditionally tolerant and democratic society. Although 90-percent Muslim, for the first 20 years of independence it was ruled by a still well-regarded Catholic president, Leopold Senghor. Four popular and powerful Sufi brotherhoods dominate religious practice. The brotherhoods have been described as the gatekeepers between the people and the state, conferring legitimacy on the latter. Salafism, a more conservative literal interpretation of Islam, is growing in popularity backed by Gulf state money. But Salafism does not equal jihadism and there have been no clashes with the state. The bulk of the 500 arrests made so far are likely to have been of people simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, explained one Dakar-based analyst, who asked not to be named. "Although there is certainly a credible terrorist threat to Senegal from AQIM and related groups, the recent crackdown seems to be far in exaggeration of what would constitute even reasonable suspicion," Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, told IRIN. Roots of radicalism AQIM's lineage extends back to Algeria's Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), and further still to the brutal insurrection of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA), which took up arms after Algeria's French-backed military annulled the election victory of the Islamic Salvation Front in 1992. GSPC militants looking for a safe base began crossing into remote northern Mali in 2003. Among the pioneers was the one-eyed Mokhtar Balmokhtar, who built the foundations of the "Sahara Emirate". By 2006 he had aligned with AQIM and was attracting followers from across the West African region. In an example of the fluidity of the armed groups, he split with his superior in Algeria, formed a new unit the 'Masked Battalion', merged with the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), and then set up al-Mourabitoun, the 'Signed-in-Blood Battalion'. Other like-minded formations have ranged across the region for years, kidnapping and attacking perceived Western targets in Mali, Niger and Mauritania. Mali has been an excellent choice as a militant hideaway. Foreign jihadists established themselves in the communities in which they operated through marriage, kinship connections and largesse. Key to their survival was a tacit agreement with the Malian military and state officials that largely left them alone. In Mali's dysfunctional political system, the north has historically been marginalised, with what limited central control there was exerted through patronage, proxies and pay-offs. Taking a slice of the region's lucrative informal economy from drugs, to migration routes and famously, in the case of Balmokhtar, contraband cigarettes provided yet more impunity. The message Beyond Islamic ideology, in a region that often distrusts Western intentions, AQIM and other related movements have framed their message as one of fighting a neo-colonial enemy bent on stealing Africa's riches. They have also tailored their narratives to fit their local contexts reflecting some of the concerns of the diverse ethnic groups, Tuaregs, Arabs/Moors and black African Fulani and Songhai. "A lot of this is to do with justice," said the Dakar-based analyst. "The feeling that the world is not right, the state is oppressive, the global economic system is unfair. Basically, you are living with nothing while ministers have mistresses and big cars. It's a very populist story of resentment. People can easily connect their personal life stories with a global discourse around the idea of justice and injustice, which at its very core says religion can make it right." Socially complex northern Mali has long been a region of simmering discontent. On-off peace over the years between Bamako and secessionist-minded Tuareg, the government's manipulation of ethnic-based militia, and a lack of state services have all contributed to the stew. Full-scale rebellion was triggered by the fall of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2012, when some Tuareg that had served in his army returned with their weapons, helping form the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad. The north splintered as competing groups emerged some narrowly ethnic, others throwing in their lot with the jihadists. French military intervention in 2013 was instrumental in clearing the militants from the cities they controlled. But the north remains volatile, despite an Algerian-brokered peace deal signed in Bamako in June 2015. Unable to impose its authority, the government has resorted to its old policy of using proxy militia. But this has only succeeded in further militarising the region it does not deliver the governance, accountability and freedom from corruption that can generate stability. But, according to an ICG report released in December, a detente has begun to emerge between leaders of the Coalition of Azawad Movements, the main rebel coalition, and those of the Algiers Platform, the pro-government coalition, as a result of negotiations in Anefis. "In the last few months these guys, the businessmen, the warlords and key politicians have come to realise neither side can win. The war is too costly and bad for business," said ICG's Jezequel. The ceasefire has lasted for five months but remains fragile. There is the "persistent threat posed by radical groups excluded from the peace process", warned the ICG report, and it urges all sides "to refocus attention on the implementation of the Bamako agreement." Among the key outstanding goals are the setting up of a transitional authority in the north and a Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme. The idea of DDR is that at the end of the process the only people holding guns will be the security forces, and the now easy-to-identify Jihadists. But in reality, ideological affiliation can be fluid, with divided loyalties within individual families. "I'm not convinced that among the local security forces in the north there won't be connections with radical groups, and that you will be willing to target your cousin or your brother who may be with the jihadists," said Jezequel. Niger and Mauritania Mali's policy of accommodation of the radicals has infuriated its neighbours, Mauritania, Niger and Algeria. All have suffered attacks at the hands of the jihadists. But in Mauritania, whose Islamic schools and Salafist mosques have turned out a cadre of senior members of AQIM, there is currently stability, although it cannot be taken for granted, Mauritanian specialist Zekeria Ould Ahmed Salem told IRIN. Among the reasons for the apparent calm are: major reforms of the security sector, with a special focus on anti-terrorism training; a strong intelligence network in northern Mali; and a deradicalisation programme, working with mosques and detainees, with the goal being their reintegration. Excluded from that programme are AQIM members convicted of attacks in Mauritania, said Salem, author of an influential study on the subject. There has not been an attack in northern Niger since the 2013 raid on the French-owned Areva urnanium mine in Arlit, 1,000 kilometres from the capital Niamey. Niger is the base of French and US special forces and a drone programme, and its military is seen as capable. But of far greater concern to the authorities, said Jezequel, is the expansion of Nigeria's Boko Haram violence into the southern Diffa region, which shares the same ethnicity as the people across the border, and the same lack of opportunities that can spur recruitment. Regional response The Western donor response has been "some 16 different stabilisation strategies". But the "lack of coordination among the actors involved, and weak ownership at the local level, cast doubt on their overall effectiveness," noted a report by Clingendal, the Netherlands Institute of International Relations. "They have been accused of feeding insecurity precisely because of their security-specific focus." In 2014, the leaders of Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso formed the G5 a regional organisation to strengthen cooperation on development and security in the Sahel. The African Union's Nouakchott Process expands the number of participants in enhanced security cooperation, which includes regular meetings of security chiefs. But the area is vast, the terrain unforgiving, and regional security forces are small. "The emphasis should not be on securing borders," said Jezequel. "The emphasis should be on providing exactly what's missing social services, state services. It's a huge project, a long-term project, but it's the central issue." oa/ag Theme (s): Conflict, Governance, Sahel Crisis, Security, Copyright IRIN 2016 This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States. All IRIN material February be reposted or reprinted free-of-charge; refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use. IRIN is a project of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fewer Fighters in Iraq/Syria as IS Focuses on 'Third Capital' by Jeff Seldin February 04, 2016 Some U.S. officials are heralding new intelligence on the number of Islamic State (IS) fighters as a sign the tide is starting to turn in the battle against the terror group but there are concerns the self-declared caliphate's larger, global strategy remains very well intact. The terror group, also known as ISIL or ISIS, now has a force in Iraq and Syria of just 19,000 to 25,000 fighters according to the most recent assessment, the White House said Thursday. National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne called it "the lowest assessed range since we began conducting rigorous reviews of the group's manpower." Earlier estimates had put the number of IS frontline fighters at anywhere from 20,000 to 32,000, including what defense officials said were about 17,500 "hardcore members." The new, lower estimate reflects a variety of factors, including battlefield deaths, desertions and recruiting shortfalls. "They continue to be a substantial threat, but the potential numbers have declined," said White House spokesman Josh Earnest. "ISIL is having more difficulty than they've had before in replenishing their ranks." No 'Knockout' Punch The downgrade of the IS force in Iraq and Syria comes almost a year-and-a-half after the U.S. and its coalition partners began launching airstrikes against the group, credited with killing as many as 28,000 fighters. But until recently, U.S. officials had said IS was able to replenish its ranks, in large part due to a constant influx of about 1,000 foreign fighters a month, many coming across the porous Turkish-Syrian border. "That's a testament to the efforts of our partners on the ground," said Earnest, who credited Turkey with cracking down on the border. "It also is a testament to the success that we're having in starting to staunch the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and in Syria." Still, there is a high degree of wariness. "ISIL is not likely to go down by a single knockout punch," a U.S. official told VOA on condition of anonymity. But he added, "The coalition's repeated body blows against ISIL are wearing on the group.' On the Rise in Libya Yet even as IS's numbers appear to be on the decline in Iraq and Syria, the group's numbers in Libya are on the rise. Pentagon officials Thursday confirmed figures previously reported by VOA that IS is now up to about 5,000 fighters in Libya - and growing. Included in that number, officials say, are numerous key military commanders and officials, including Abu Ali al-Anbari, a top deputy who previously reported directly to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in Syria. Such direct linkage to IS's core leadership is unique among the group's many self-declared provinces. "That's what fundamentally different about Libya," says a U.S. official also speaking on condition of anonymity. "Libya is a true branch." At the White House Thursday, spokesman Josh Earnest tried to downplay concerns about the growing IS presence there, saying it is "dangerous but it's different" from the group's self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq. "We've been mindful of these other places," he said. "We're going to continue to watch how the threat in Libya evolves and we're going to continue to be prepared to take action." Tightening its Grip in Libya Already, the Pentagon has put special forces on the ground in Libya to look for groups "who might be worthy of U.S. support" while U.S. and European diplomats work to support a potential unity government. But there are fears, the longer it takes for the U.S. and its European allies to act, the stronger IS's grip on Libya will become. "The situation in Libya grows much more grave by the day," said Nathaniel Barr, a research manager at Valens Global, who cautions the drop in IS's force size in Iraq and Syria is not entirely due to U.S. and coalition efforts. "A large part of that is the Islamic State redirecting foreign fighters, specifically foreign fighters from the Sahel, North Africa and parts of east Africa as well to Libya rather than Syria and Iraq," he said. "This is a long term approach," Barr added. "Sirte could be the third capital of the Islamic State after Raqqa and Mosul." Smaller Force May Be Strategic Officials and analysts also warn against reading too much into the smaller IS fighting force in Iraq and Syria, saying the group's leadership is showing few signs of conceding. "ISIS can actually survive even if it loses its terrain inside Iraq and Syria," says to Harleen Gambhir, a counterterrorism analyst at the Institute for the Study of War. U.S. officials estimate IS has lost 40 percent of the territory it held at its peak in Iraq and anywhere from five to 30 percent of the territory it once claimed in Syria. But Gambhir says how much territory has been lost is not as important as where that territory is. "That pressure is on the edges of its core areas of control," she said. "No one is forcing Isis to defend its core areas of control along the Iraqi-Syrian border, along the Euphrates River Valley." There are also concerns that the ongoing civil war in Syria could play to the terror group's advantage, as Russia targets the multitude of opposition groups arrayed against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad "It's unlikely any party will try to expel ISIS from eastern Syria or try to hold that terrain because so many actors are focused on the fight in Western Syria," Gambhir warned. And the U.S. and it's allies could see their options dwindle. "As Russia slowly wears down and radicalizes the Syrian opposition, it's really taking away any kind of anti-ISIS force that we would want to deploy," she said. VOA's Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb and White House correspondent Mary Alice Salinas contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan to Move Patriot Missile Systems in Response to N Korea Rocket Launch Sputnik News 15:02 04.02.2016(updated 15:28 04.02.2016) Japan began redeploying its Patriot missile systems to the southernmost archipelago of Sakishima from the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) in Hiroshima to prepare for North Korea's announced satellite launch, Japanese media reported Thursday. TOKYO (Sputnik) An MSDF transport vessel has left the Kure base loaded with PAC-3 surface-to-air missile launchers in response to Pyongyang's stated aim to launch a satellite sometime this month, the NHK broadcaster said. It is planned that the upgraded systems, which have anti-ballistic missile capabilities, are to be deployed near the 'expected flight path of what is widely believed to be a ballistic missile,' the broadcaster specified. Japanese media cited government officials as saying last week that North Korea was preparing a missile launch. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said, on Tuesday, that the PAC-3s were deployed near Tokyo and at the Asaka and Narashino military bases. Tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs heightened on January 6, when Pyongyang announced that it had successfully carried out a hydrogen bomb test, triggering a wave of condemnation from the international community. North Korea has notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of its plan to launch a satellite between February 8 and February 25. South Korean Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said Seoul would view any satellite launches by Pyongyang as a ballistic missile test. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China Confirms 3 Hong Kong Booksellers' Arrests by Joyce Huang February 05, 2016 Police in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong have confirmed the arrest of three missing Hong Kong booksellers who mainland authorities said are under investigation for 'illegal activities.' Analysts said the official confirmation spells bad news for the trio's fate, as it indicates their low level of cooperation in building up a legal case against their employer, Gui Minhai. He allegedly riled Chinese authorities by intending to publish a book about the private life of Chinese President Xi Jinping, including purported love affairs. In a letter responding to Hong Kong police, mainland authorities stated that Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee were suspected of involvement in a case relating to Gui. Hence, 'criminal compulsory measures were imposed on them,' according to a press statement released by Hong Kong police late Thursday night. The official explanation came more than three months after the trio's disappearance in late October, without specifying the charges on which they're being held. Pressuring Gui The latest development showed that Chinese authorities are not satisfied with the three men in terms of implicating their boss, said political analyst Willy Lam, a well-connected columnist. "What the [mainland] police want is some incriminating evidence against Mr. Gui, who was kidnapped in silence in October. So, Gui is the main target of these investigations," Lam said. A Swedish national, Gui owner of the Hong Kong publishing firm Mighty Current disappeared in Thailand in late October. On January 17, he was shown on state-run CCTV confessing to a drunk-driving accident in 2004 and asking the Swedish embassy to respect his decision to turn himself in. But Lam argued that the real reason behind Gui's detention was his close connection with Xi's rivals within the Communist Party, who were likely the sources behind his yet-to-be-published book. It's said to detail the unknown life of Xi. 'The Chinese wanted to find out who provided these juicy stories about Xi Jinping's lovers or other embarrassing facts, perhaps about the business activities of the Xi family and so forth,' the Hong Kong-based analyst said. Apparently, Gui's three employees haven't been a big help in identifying Gui's sources. As a result, the trio may be held for a longer-than-expected time or even given a jail term, Lam speculated. Another disappearance The disappearances go beyond Gui and his three employees. Lee Bo, husband of another Mighty Current shareholder, also vanished from a Hong Kong warehouse in late December. Three weeks later, Chinese police confirmed that the British national was in China cooperating with an investigation. Guangdong police on Thursday presented a letter handwritten by Lee, who said he didn't need to meet with the Hong Kong police at the moment and would contact Hong Kong authorities if necessary. Lee's wife confirmed the letter's authenticity. Nonetheless, Leung Chun-ying, Hong Kong's chief executive, told reporters on Friday that his administration would continue to seek a meeting with Lee, who appeared to be arrested in Hong Kong. The former British colony was guaranteed autonomy under the framework of 'one country, two systems' after its return to China in 1997. In early January, Leung claimed that Chinese authorities have no rights to enforce laws in Hong Kong, which is viewed as a blunt violation of the Basic Law. Leung criticized Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Ho said he doubted Lee had made his decision freely, lambasting what he said was the chief executive's failure to safeguard Hong Kong citizens' basic rights. 'We regret that he has not done [enough] to allay concerns of Hong Kong people,' Ho said. Leung 'should have liaised directly with the Hong Kong police office or even up to a higher level. I think he has failed his duty.' Ho vowed to take the case to the United Nation's Human Rights Committee. Chilling effect The five booksellers' disappearances have sparked outrage in Hong Kong. 'Don't ever believe [China's promise] that nothing change[s] in Hong Kong over the next 50 years,' one user of the Weibo social media website wrote in a post Friday. Another wrote, 'The claws are crossed, [the city's] civilization will experience a regression by 500 years.' The arrests also is likely to have a chilling effect on many of the city's publishers, one observer said. 'Some of them might self-censor out of fear, but some of them are going to worry about their own personal safety, and worry more about the future of Hong Kong,' said William Nee, China researcher for the Amnesty International human rights organization. 'So, it really would make sense strategically for the mainland government to resolve this case in a way that is transparent and on international law standards,' Nee said. He urged China to clarify doubts surrounding the five men's detention and their rightful access to family members and lawyers. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China 'seriously concerned' about DPRK satellite launch plan People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:54, February 04, 2016 China is 'seriously concerned' about the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) plan to launch a satellite later this month, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. Spokesperson Lu Kang told a daily press briefing that Beijing hopes Pyongyang will exercise restraint on the issue and deal with it prudently so as to avoid possible escalation of tension. The DPRK is entitled to peaceful use of outer space, yet this right is restricted by resolutions by the United Nations Security Council, Lu said. China will continue to communicate with all parties concerned to safeguard peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, he said. It is a shared responsibility of all parties concerned to maintain peace on the peninsula, and regional stability is in the interests of all sides, the spokesperson said. A UN spokesperson said on Tuesday that three UN organizations have been informed that the DPRK plans to launch an earth-observation satellite between Feb. 8 and 25. When asked whether the DPRK's announcement of a satellite launch plan is 'an unmistakable slap' in face to China, as stated by US Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel, the senior US diplomat for East Asia, Lu pointed at the United States. 'It is only in the years when the six-party talks have stalled and certain countries' create an outcry for constant pressure and sanctions that the DPRK has done nuclear tests once and again,' Lu said. 'In this sense, the DPRK did slap some countries in the face. As for whose face the DPRK slaps, the country itself knows it well in its heart,' he said. Lu said US State Secretary John Kerry also made it clear during his visit to China last week that sanctions are not an end, while the key is to resolve the issue. As the chair of the six-party talks, which also include the United States, the Republic of Korea, Russia and Japan, China has made unremitting effort to promote the denuclearization on the Peninsula and push forward parties concerned to achieve the Sept.19, 2005 Joint Statement and the Feb. 13, 2007 Agreement. In a joint statement on Sept. 19, the DPRK said it is committed to abandoning 'all nuclear weapons' and 'existing nuclear programs' and returning, at an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards. In the Feb. 13 Agreement, the DPRK agreed on the first step toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. 'Yet regrettably, the agreements have not been implemented for several reasons, which are known to all and are not caused by China,' Lu said. 'We hope countries concerned can solve the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue via negotiation. We do not want to see any escalation of tension. But if some countries insist on doing so, we are not able to stop them,' Lu said. He said as a close neighbor of the DPRK, China will never allow chaos or war to break out on the Peninsula. 'We will also never allow any country to reach its private goals within the framework of the denuclearization of the Peninsula,' Lu said. China firmly adheres to solving the denuclearization of the Peninsula via dialogue, he reaffirmed. As for Chinese chief nuclear envoy Wu Dawei's visit to the DPRK, Lu confirmed that Wu is currently in Pyongyang to exchange views with the DPRK, but he declined to give details of the visit. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia urges North Korea to shun rocket launch plan Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 3:36PM Russia has expressed its disapproval of North Korea's planned rocket launch, urging Pyongyang to avoid such moves that could further heighten tensions in the region. Russia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that it had summoned the North Korean ambassador to Moscow to hear Moscow's objection to Pyongyang's recent announcement that it will launch a satellite-bearing rocket this month. 'The Korean side has been insistently urged to refrain from actions that can further escalate tensions in the region,' the statement read, calling for 'unconditional observance of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions.' Russia further called on North Korea to resume dialog over its nuclear program and other issues. The two Koreas remain technically at war after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. Pyongyang walked away from the six-party talks on its nuclear program in 2008. On Tuesday, Pyongyang notified three UN agencies that it plans to launch an earth observation satellite sometime between February 8 and 25. The announcement angered South Korea and Japan, with both of them threatening to destroy any projectile or debris that falls on their territories. North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2005 and carried out several nuclear weapon tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. It also conducted its fourth nuclear test in January, triggering condemnation from the international community. Pyongyang is under UN sanctions over launching missiles considered by the US and South Korea as ballistic and aimed at delivering nuclear warheads. North Korea says it is boosting defense capabilities in the face of enemy threats. The country is irked by joint military maneuvers by South Korea and the US and views them as direct threats against its security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Experts Doubtful About North Korea's ICBM Capability by Baik Sungwon February 04, 2016 When North Korea notified international organizations of its plan to launch a long-range rocket this month, it said the move is part of its 'space development program.' The communist country said Tuesday that it plans to 'launch Earth observation satellite Kwangmyongsong pursuant to the national space development program' in a letter sent to the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization (IMO) this week. The announcement is raising concerns in the United States and neighboring countries that the planned launch is a cover for a test of a long-range missile. 'Given North Korea's openly stated intention of pursuing the development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, any satellite launch can only be viewed as furthering the development of these programs,' Francois Lasalle, a spokesperson for Canada's Foreign Ministry, told VOA by email. Extended range Pyongyang's last long-range rocket launch showed that the country had made some progress in its effort to extend the range of its rocket. 'Initial indications are that the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit. At no time was the missile or the resultant debris a threat to North America,' said the North American Aerospace Defense Command in a statement after Pyongyang fired a long-range rocket in December 2012. U.S. military analysts say Washington's primary concern is whether Pyongyang has the capability to fire an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that could reach the U.S. mainland. 'Our assessment is that they have the ability to put a nuclear weapon on a KN-08 and shoot it at the homeland,' Admiral William Gortney, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, told reporters in April 2015, referring to North Korea's new road-mobile missile. U.S. officials say Pyongyang has not yet tested the missile believed to be an ICBM. Many analysts, however, remain doubtful that Pyongyang has such a missile. Joseph Bermudez, a chief analytical officer at AllSource Analysis, says Pyongyang lacks a proven capability to miniaturize a nuclear bomb that could fit atop an ICBM. 'If you look at the state of their technology, they should in theory be able to do it. Whether they can is a different story all together. We simply don't know at this point,' Bermudez said. Bermudez said Pyongyang may need more tests to possess full ICBM capability. ICBM accuracy unclear Jonathan McDowell at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said Pyongyang might have improved the capability to guide a missile to its target since the test in 2012. The newly announced launch plan calls for areas where a rocket is expected to fall to be smaller than those of the previous test, according to the astrophysicist. 'It may be they think they've tuned the guidance system a bit so that it's a bit more accurate,' McDowell said. Despite the apparent improvement, it appears North Korea has not acquired re-entry vehicle technology to deliver a weapon from space through the atmosphere to detonate, another hurdle for Pyongyang in its pursuit of the long-range missile. 'The missiles that North Koreans have right now entered the earth atmosphere quite fast, but not nearly as fast as a long-range intercontinental missile would do,' McDowell said. Bruce Bechtol, an associate professor at Angelo State University in Texas, warned that Pyongyang might have already acquired the re-entry vehicle technology, given that it has conducted tests of short- and medium-range missiles multiple times. Rising tensions On Thursday, South Korea and Japan said they will shoot down any debris that falls on their soils from a long-range rocket that North Korea plans to fire. South Korea's Defense Ministry said North Korea appears to be preparing the launch at its west coast launch site. Pyongyang told the IMO that it will conduct the launch between February 8 and 25. The move follows the country's fourth nuclear test last month. Washington condemned the plan, calling it 'another destabilizing provocation on the part of North Koreans.' U.N. sanctions ban the North from conducting nuclear tests or any launches using ballistic missile technology. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. seeks international consensus on tougher sanctions against DPRK People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:18, February 05, 2016 WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 -- The United States is seeking international support for imposing tougher sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). 'We all like to see there is a strong international consensus here, to hold the North (DPRK) to account for these continuing destabilizing activities, specifically for the test in early January,' State Department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing on U.S. foreign policy Thursday. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have escalated since the DPRK conducted a hydrogen bomb test on Jan. 6, which aroused international criticism. On Tuesday, the DPRK informed three UN entities of its intentions to launch an earth-observation satellite between Feb. 8 and 25. The United States condemned the DPRK's new satellite launch plan, urging the international community to swiftly respond to what it called 'another irresponsible provocation.' It also vowed to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang. 'I will not specify what those measures ought to be,' Kirby said. 'We are pursuing in the U.N., the possible development of additional tougher sanctions.' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called on the DPRK to refrain from using 'ballistic missile technology,' according to his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China was 'seriously concerned' about the DPRK's plan, hoping that Pyongyang will exercise restraint on the issue and deal with it prudently to avoid possible escalation of tensions. Kirby said the United States will 'continue the conversation with China' on the DPRK issue bilaterally and multilaterally through the United Nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US looking for global support on North Korea sanctions Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 5:26AM The United States seeks to garner international support to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea after recent escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula. 'We all like to see there is a strong international consensus here, to hold the North to account for these continuing destabilizing activities, specifically for the test in early January,' State Department spokesman John Kirby told a briefing on US foreign policy Thursday. Tensions on the peninsula have escalated since Pyongyang conducted a "hydrogen bomb" test on January 6, which aroused international criticism. On Tuesday, the North informed three UN entities of its intentions to launch an earth-observation satellite between February 8 and 25. The United States condemned the new satellite launch plan, urging the international community to swiftly respond to what it called 'another irresponsible provocation.' It also vowed to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang. 'I will not specify what those measures ought to be,' Kirby said. 'We are pursuing in the UN, the possible development of additional tougher sanctions.' UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday called on North Korea to refrain from using 'ballistic missile technology,' according to his deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China was 'seriously concerned' about Pyongyang's plan, hoping that it will exercise restraint on the issue and deal with it prudently to avoid possible escalation of tensions. Kirby said the United States will 'continue the conversation with China' on the Korean issue bilaterally and multilaterally through the United Nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Seeks to Buy New Russian Weapons - Adviser to Supreme Leader Sputnik News 17:05 04.02.2016(updated 17:43 04.02.2016) Iran wishes to acquire new Russian weapons, and the defense cooperation between the two countries is developing, adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Akbar Velayati said Thursday. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Iran wishes to acquire new Russian weapons, and the defense cooperation between the two countries is developing, adviser to Iran's supreme leader Ali Akbar Velayati said Thursday. 'As far as I am aware, the defense cooperation between our countries is developing. Iran wishes to purchase additional volumes [of weapons] from Russia, and the Russian government also has a desire to positively respond to such requests. Considering this, the sides should be able to reach an understanding,' Velayati told reporters. On Monday, Velayati arrived in Russia for a four-day visit to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues with Russian senior officials. He has met, among other officials, with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, with whom he has also discussed military-technical cooperation between the two countries, particularly with an aim to ensure regional and international security. Last month, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Dehghan, signed an intergovernmental agreement on long-term military cooperation in Tehran. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran to Continue Development of Missile Program - Armed Forces Commander Sputnik News 15:10 04.02.2016(updated 16:11 04.02.2016) Iranian Armed Forces Commander said that Iran will continue to develop its missile program since it does not violate the agreement on the country's nuclear program. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Iran will continue to develop its missile program since it does not violate the agreement on the country's nuclear program, Iranian Armed Forces Commander Ayatollah Salehi said Thursday. "We are fulfilling our work and will continue in the future to strengthen and develop our missile program," Fars news agency quoted Salehi as saying. The international community has long suspected Iran of trying to develop a nuclear weapon, and the UN Security Council imposed two resolutions on Tehran seeking to curtail its activities involving ballistic missiles. On July 14, Iran and a group of six international mediators Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany signed an historic deal to guarantee the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. On January 16, the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran met its requirements under the deal, paving the way for sanctions relief. In January, the US Treasury Department sanctioned 11 entities and individuals, including six Iranians and one Chinese citizen, over their involvement in procurement on behalf of Iran's ballistic missile program. The move came after media reported that Iran tested a surface-to-surface Emad (Pillar) missile in October in violation of a UN Security Council resolution. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraq slams Turkey bombing of northern village Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 6:2AM Baghdad has condemned the Turkish military's recent bombardment of a village in northern Iraq and renewed calls on Ankara to withdraw all its forces from the Arab country. Nasir Nouri, a Defense Ministry spokesman, slammed Ankara on Thursday for violating Iraq's sovereignty, saying the Turkish forces should leave the Iraqi soil without any preconditions. Earlier in the day, Turkish warplanes targeted a village in the northern province of Dohuk in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region as part of Ankara's military operations against militants of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey has deployed some 150 ground forces to the outskirts of Mosul, the capital of Iraq's Nineveh province. Ankara claims its troops had been deployed in northern Iraq to train Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters against Daesh. Baghdad has, however, voiced anger over the deployment of Turkish forces to its territory and urged Ankara to pull the soldiers out. Nouri said Baghdad has resorted to diplomacy to end the Turkish troop deployment and protect its national interests. He added that Iraq will try other options if political approaches fail. Last month, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Turkish troops deployed to northern Iraq were causing a "lot of tension," and that there was no reason for their deployment deep inside the Iraqi border. Abadi also said Ankara viewed the Kurdish population within its border as a greater problem than the Daesh Takfiri group. Ankara launched airstrikes against PKK positions in Iraq and Turkey as well as purported Daesh targets in Syria after a July 20, 2015 bomb attack attributed to Daesh terrorists left over 30 people dead in southeastern Turkey. A shaky ceasefire between Ankara and the PKK that had stood since 2013 was declared null and void by the militants following the Turkish airstrikes against the group. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bomb attacks leave six people dead, 26 wounded across Baghdad Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 9:37PM At least six people have lost their lives and over two dozen others sustained injuries when a series of bomb explosions ripped through residential neighborhoods in Iraq's capital, Baghdad. Iraqi security and medical officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two people were killed and nine others injured on Thursday when an improvised explosive device went off close to an outdoor market in the southern al-Rashid neighborhood of Baghdad, Arabic-language al-Baghdadia satellite television network reported. Separately, a bomb detonated close to a restaurant in the Baiyaa neighborhood of western Baghdad, leaving two civilians dead and six others injured. Earlier on Thursday, one civilian was also killed and nine others sustained injuries when an explosion ripped through Nahrawan, a southeastern commercial district of the capital. Moreover, a bomb attack struck Dora neighborhood of southern Baghdad, leaving two civilians injured. Elsewhere, in the Baladiyat district of eastern Baghdad, a school director was killed when an explosive device, which had been attached beneath his car, went off. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq says a total of 849 Iraqis were killed and 1,450 others injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in January. According to the UN mission, the number of civilian fatalities stood at 490. Violence also claimed the lives of 359 members of the Iraqi security forces. A great portion of the fatalities was recorded in Baghdad, where 299 civilians were killed. Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh Takfiris launched an offensive in the country in June 2014, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory. The militants have been committing vicious crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians and others. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address S.Korea to intercept debris of DPRK rocket if falls in territory People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:50, February 04, 2016 SEOUL, Feb. 4 -- South Korea's defense ministry warned on Thursday of intercepting debris from a rocket, launched by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), which fall on its territory and territorial waters. Defense Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-Gyun told a regular press briefing that the military is strengthening air defense readiness to shoot down the DPRK's missile or part of fragments that may land on the country's territory or territorial waters. Moon said intercepting the DPRK missiles that fly over South Korea's territory is an exercise of self-defense rights, noting that the military will take adequate actions from a perspective of self-defense. The warning came as the DPRK informed international organizations on Tuesday of its plan to put what it called a Kwangmyongsong earth observation satellite into orbit between Feb. 8 and 25. The satellite will be carried by a rocket, which Seoul denounced as using a banned ballistic missile technology. UN Security Council resolutions ban the DPRK from using such technology. The rocket launch plan came about a month after Pyongyang's claim on Jan. 6 that it had tested its first hydrogen bomb. The country fired long-range missiles months before or after its previous atomic bomb tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013 respectively. Two months before its third nuclear detonation in February 2013, the DPRK launched a Kwangmyongsong-3 earth observation satellite into orbit, delivered by a three-stage Unha-3 rocket. To intercept possible debris from the first stage of a DPRK rocket that are expected to fall on the west waters, the South Korean military will deploy PAC-2 interceptors, the spokesman said. The PAC-2 can shoot down missiles at an altitude of about 15 km, one of key factors of South Korea's own missile defense system, called the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), together with long-range surface-to-air missiles (L-SAM) and medium-range surface-to-air missiles (M-SAM) that are being developed with indigenous technology. According to estimated trajectory, the DPRK missile is expected to fly over South Korea's western border island of Baenggnyeong at an altitude of about 180 km, the spokesman said. But, he said the territorial air is below around 100 km, indicating little possibility for intercepting the DPRK rocket. The DPRK is expected to test-launch its upgraded long-range ballistic missile at its main Tongchang-ri rocket base on its west coast. The rocket launch station has been covered to conceal detailed preparations for the launch. Moon said that the DPRK is preparing to launch long-range missiles between Feb. 8 and 25 at the Tongchang-ri missile launch site, without elaborating on details. He noted that the military is closely monitoring the preparation with all available surveillance assets to detect and track the missile. Meanwhile, South Korean President Park Geun-hye warned that Pyongyang's ballistic missile launch is not to be tolerated. 'North Korea (DPRK)'s announcement of long-range missile launch plan, after conducing nuclear test, is an act to threaten peace of the Korean peninsula and the world that will never be tolerated,' Park said in a statement read by Kim Sung-Woo, senior presidential press secretary. Park said that the DPRK's repeated acts of conducting provocations and raising tensions aimed to threaten South Korean people and maximize their fears, stressing the need for cooperation with the international community. The DPRK's announcement of rocket launch plan, despite the ongoing discussions on new UN sanctions, reflected a fact that Pyongyang is never scared of UN restrictions at all, Park said. The president noted that the only way to stop the DPRK's misjudgment is to tighten UN sanctions and make the DPRK recognize that it cannot survive unless the country gives up its nuclear program. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Russian Submarines to Embody 'Best Features' of Predecessors Sputnik News 13:32 04.02.2016(updated 14:12 04.02.2016) The Russian submarines to be built over the next 20-30 years will embody the 'best features' of their predecessors, the Russian Navy said Thursday. ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) The Russian submarines to be built over the next 20-30 years will embody the 'best features' of their predecessors, the Russian Navy said Thursday. 'Each of the prospective submarine projects to be built will embody all the best features of its predecessors,' Navy Deputy Commander-in-Chief for Armament Viktor Bursuk said at an annual high command meeting. The new submarines will feature more robotics, stealth capabilities, reduced noise levels and increased service life, Bursuk added. He noted that further progress in the development of high-precision systems and 'air-independent' propulsions was expected in the next two to three decades. 'Together with industry officials, we will discuss a number of priorities for the prospective construction of submarines under the state shipbuilding program,' Bursuk said at an accompanying conference on prospective Russian Navy ship layouts. The Navy's main priority, according to Bursuk, is to reduce the variety of its nuclear-powered strategic and multi-purpose projects. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cash Crunch, Stretched Military Spur Russian Troop Cuts Near Afghan Frontier February 05, 2016 by Farangis Najibullah In April 2015, the commander of Russia's military base in Tajikistan said its size would swell to 9,000 troops by 2020. But Russia reversed course last week, saying it will opt for fewer boots on the ground in a country the Kremlin sees as its bulwark against Islamic militants across Tajikistan's long and vulnerable border with Afghanistan. The troop presence at the 201st Military Base, Russia's biggest non-naval military facility beyond its borders, will be downsized from a division to a brigade, a senior Russian general said on January 30. The about-face may seem counterintuitive, coming against the backdrop of repeated Russian warnings that the threat from Afghanistan has grown since the rise of the Islamic State militant group and the pullout of most U.S. and NATO troops. But analysts say it reflects a struggle by the Russian military to build or maintain strength on several fronts while contending with the need to keep costs under control at a time when the collapse in world prices for oil, the country's key export, has hit the economy hard. The effects of Western sanctions imposed to punish Russia for its interference in Ukraine -- including the military occupation and subsequent seizure of Crimea and what Kyiv and NATO say has been ample military support for separatists in eastern Ukraine -- have added to the economic woes. 'Running an entire division is too excessive as Russia is facing an economic crisis,' Russian military analyst Vladimir Mukhin tells RFE/RL. The military has revealed no numbers and said last week it had not yet decided how many troops would remain in Tajikistan. But Aleksandr Golts and other Russian military analysts say a brigade normally consists of 3,000 to 5,000 military personnel. Not Enough To Go Around It's not just a matter of money, according to Golts. Russia's military is overstretched with its involvement in conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, he says. After supporting the Syrian government with weapons and advisers throughout its war against opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, Russia stepped up its military presence in the Middle East state last year and began a bombing campaign on September 30. President Vladimir Putin has put no time limit on Russia's biggest operation outside the former Soviet Union in decades. Kyiv and NATO say that Russia has sent heavy weapons and thousands of troops to eastern Ukraine to support separatists in a war that has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014. Russia denies it despite a growing body of evidence. The seizure of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine have sent tension between Russia and the West skyrocketing. The atmosphere of confrontation is stoked by Kremlin assertions that the United States and NATO are out to weaken Russia or even oust Putin from power. Golts says Russia is focusing more military power in its western borderlands. In January, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia would create three new military divisions on its western flank, calling it one of the most important tasks for his ministry in 2016. Keeping Boots On The Ground The new array of imperatives does not mean Russia will forget about Tajikistan, where a contract signed in 2012 allows it to keep the base through 2042, or the surrounding region. Golts says that Central Asia will remain a priority for the Russian military -- a point that the Russian authorities have been at pains to make. The officer who announced the plans to reduce the 201st base to brigade size, General Vladimir Zarudnitsky, was quick to add that 'its role as Russia's outpost and as guarantor of peace and stability in the region will remain unchanged.' He also announced organizational changes in Russia's smaller military presence in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, where it has an air base, but announced no reductions there. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a security alliance that is one of several groupings Moscow uses to maintain influence in the former Soviet Union and a buffer zone in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe. Zarudnitsky said the changes in the two countries were part of broader measures 'to optimize the organizational structure' of the military, including its bases abroad. Russia has already pulled its 149th Motorized Rifle Regiment back from the Tajik town of Kulob, just over 40 kilometers from the Afghan border, to the capital, Dushanbe. Mark Galeotti, a professor at New York University and expert on Russian security issues, says the reorganization does not mean Russia has stopped worrying about Afghanistan. 'Here in Moscow security circles seem very aware of the potential and growing risks from Afghanistan,' Galeotti says by e-mail from the Russian capital. 'I suspect it is a combination of a rationalization of assets and also a sense that -- not that they would admit it openly -- maybe Tajikistan is hard to defend and that they also need to be thinking more seriously about a second line of defense along Russia's southern border,' he adds. That would fit in with statements made by Zarudnitsky when he announced the shift. He said that in 2015, Russia formed a motorized mountain brigade in the Tuva Republic, an antiaircraft regiment in Krasnodar Krai, and a tank division in Chelyabinsk Oblast. All three regions are on Russia's southern border. Close Ties A smaller, more consolidated Russian military presence in Tajikistan could also reduce the risk of violent incidents -- such as attacks on Tajik civilians by Russian soldiers -- that have added to tensions between the two countries, whose interdependence is sometimes a source of friction. Russia relies on Tajikistan as a buffer, while remittances from Tajik migrants working in Russia have been a key source of money in the much poorer Central Asian country -- though that cash flow has dwindled during the Russian economic downturn. Galeotti says how many troops Russia will maintain in Tajikistan remains to be seen. 'I suspect that this plan to shift to brigade strength means [the Russian authorities] may simply say they will not be adding the extra 2,000 troops, claiming they need fewer administrative and command staff, especially with the shutting of Kulob base,' he says. Galeotti says that 'the deployment to Tajikistan of extra Mi-24P attack and Mi-8MTV assault helicopters last year, and the plans to reequip this brigade, not least with BTR-82A personnel carriers' mean that 'even with cuts the Russian force will be more effective.' Russia will also help equip and train Tajik troops, part of what Russian media have reported are plans to grant Tajikistan $1.2 billion in military aid in the next few years. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov, who has called Tajikistan 'an outpost of the CSTO' and said Moscow was 'greatly troubled by the situation on the southern frontiers' of the alliance, visited Tajikistan this month and reaffirmed Russia's interest in the country. Tajik Defense Ministry spokesman Faridun Mahmadaliev told reporters that Russian military assistance to Tajikistan and the situation in the Tajik-Afghan border dominated the agenda of February 3 meetings with Antonov. Russia has long voiced alarm about the potential for violence in Afghanistan -- where the Soviet Union fought a disastrous war of occupation for nearly a decade before withdrawing in 1988 -- to spill over into the mostly Muslim countries of former Soviet Central Asia. Inroads by Islamic State militants in Afghanistan and a militant offensive in the country's north last year have added to the concerns. In October, when Taliban militants briefly took over the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, whose province borders Tajikistan, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yury Borisov said he would not rule out reestablishing Russian control over the Tajik-Afghan border. Russian border guards patrolled the mountainous, 1,300-kilometer frontier until 2005. Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-troops-cuts- tajikistan-afghanistan-border/27534647.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Missile Cruiser Varyag to Be Modernized by 2020 Sputnik News 13:58 05.02.2016(updated 14:36 05.02.2016) According to a source in the Russian defense industry, the flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Guards' missile cruiser Varyag, will undergo a modernization until 2020. MOSCOW (Sputnik) The flagship of the Russian Pacific Fleet, Guards' missile cruiser Varyag, will undergo a modernization until 2020, a source in the Russian defense industry said Friday. 'An overhaul and modernization of the Pacific Fleet's Guards missile cruiser Varyag will be carried out in the period until 2020,' the source told RIA Novosti. He added that the modernization implies equipping of the cruiser with new radioelectronic weapons, and upgrading of the propulsion system. The Varyag is a Slava-class guided missile cruiser commissioned in 1989. It was designed as surface strike ship with anti-air and anti-submarine warfare capability, and has a primary armament of sixteen P-1000 Vulkan nuclear-capable supersonic cruise missiles. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kerry demands Russia halt bombing campaign in Syria Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 11:16AM US Secretary of State John Kerry has demanded that Russia halt its bombing campaign in Syria, implicitly blaming Moscow for the collapse in the UN-sponsored peace talks. Speaking ahead of a Syrian donor conference in London, Kerry said he had called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, for a 'robust' discussion on the issue, AFP reported on Thursday. Kerry said he and the Russian foreign minister discussed the need on how to implement a ceasefire and ease the humanitarian situation in Syria. 'I had a conversation this morning with Foreign Minister Lavrov. We discussed, and he agreed that we need to discuss, how to implement the ceasefire and also how to get (humanitarian) access by both parties,' Kerry told reporters Thursday. Moscow began a campaign of airstrikes against Daesh and other terrorist groups in Syria on September 30 last year upon a request by the Syrian government. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed the air campaign will last for as long as it is necessary as Moscow's goal is to help Damascus defeat the terrorists. In Geneva on Wednesday, the UN special envoy to Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said that the Syrian peace talks were postponed until February 25. 'I have concluded frankly that after the first week of preparatory talks there is more work to be done, not only by us but by the stakeholders,' he said following a meeting with Riad Hijab, the head of the main Syrian opposition group, the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC). The foreign-sponsored conflict in Syria, which flared up in March 2011, has reportedly killed more than 260,000 people and left over one million injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia regrets suspension of Syria peace talks Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 12:1PM Russia says it regrets the suspension of Syrian peace talks, expressing hope that the negotiations could continue. President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday the Kremlin hoped that it would 'soon' become clear when and how the talks would resume. 'One can express regret in this regard but no one expected that everything will be simple and quick,' he said. 'Of course it is obvious that moving forward will be difficult and we are hoping that the break will be followed by another round of these truly difficult talks,' Peskov added. UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura announced Wednesday the suspension of peace talks to end Syria's war. The Syrian government delegation blamed the opposition for the 'failure' of the Geneva peace talks, accusing it of pulling out because it was losing the fight on the ground. On Wednesday, the Syrian army advanced against militants north of Aleppo, choking their supply lines from Turkey to the city. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday peace talks were pointless while Syrian forces and Russia continued their attacks in the country. The US and France also accused the Syrian government of undermining talks to end the war, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying Moscow and Damascus sought a military solution to the conflict. China, however, called upon representatives of the Syrian government and the opposition to show sincerity during the course of peace talks. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said all parties should work hard and maintain the momentum for the talks, he noted. "We really hope that all parties involved in the peace talks can proactively take confidence-building measures, show sincerity, meet each other halfway and cooperate with the mediation efforts of the UN special envoy," he said. Russia said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kerry had agreed during a telephone conversation that the pause in inter-Syrian talks must be 'as short as possible.' In a statement, Russia's Foreign Ministry said Lavrov and Kerry 'agreed to take necessary steps so that such a break will be as short as possible.' NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi says ready to deploy ground troops in Syria Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 6:48PM Saudi Arabia has voiced readiness to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition allegedly targeting terrorists decides to start such operations. "The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the [so-called] coalition (against Daesh) may agree to carry out in Syria,' Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, an adviser to the Saudi defense minister, told the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV on Thursday. Asseri said Saudi Arabia had carried out more than 190 aerial missions as part of the coalition. He said that Saudi Arabia believes that to defeat the Daesh Takfiri terrorists, the US-led coalition needs to bolster aerial assaults with ground operations. 'If there was a consensus from the leadership of the coalition, the kingdom is willing to participate in these efforts because we believe that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations,' Asseri said. Asked about the comments, US State Department spokesman John Kirby also said Washington favors having partners contribute more in the so-called fight against Daesh, but added, 'I would not want to comment specifically on this until we've had a chance to review it.' Saudi Arabia is a member of the US-led coalition that has been conducting air raids against what are claimed to be the Daesh terrorists inside Syria without any authorization from Damascus or a UN mandate since Since September 2014. The air assaults in Syria are an extension of the US-led aerial campaign against purported Daesh positions in Iraq, which started in August 2014. The US-led strikes have on many occasions targeted infrastructures and left many civilians dead. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said during an interview in March 2015 that the US-led military campaign does not aim to "do away" with the terror group. Washington and its regional allies, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have been backing militants fighting against the Syrian government and people. Since the Syria conflict started in 2011, they have been providing military and financial aid to the militants who are accused of widespread war crimes and crimes against civilians. Daesh Takfirism is largely influenced by Wahhabism, the radical ideology dominating Saudi Arabia and freely preached by Saudi scholars. Despite, the Saudi king's pledge, such preachments continue unabated. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Adviser 'Killed By IS Fire' In Syria February 04, 2016 A Russian military adviser was killed by mortar fire in Syria on February 1, the Russian Defense Ministry has said. Russia's Novaya Gazeta reported on February 4 that the adviser died in a hospital in Syria after sustaining serious wounds in a shelling of a Syrian Army training center in the province of Homs by the Islamic State (IS) militant group, citing Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov. Konashenkov told the newspaper that four Syrian Army cadets were also killed in the same mortar shelling. The ministry said the officer will be posthumously awarded a medal, but didn't identify him or specify where he died. The officer's death is the third in combat the Russian military has reported since it launched its air campaign in Syria in September. A Russian pilot whose warplane was downed by a Turkish fighter at the Syrian border was shot dead by militants as he descended by parachute on November 24. His crewmate survived and was evacuated to safety, but a Russian marine was killed in action during the rescue mission. Besides sending an unknown number of military advisers to Syria, Russia has deployed ground troops to guard the Russian air base in the coastal province of Latakia. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and TASS Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-military-adviser- killed-islamic-state-mortar-fire-syria/27531250.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudis Say They May Send Ground Troops To Syria Against IS February 04, 2016 U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on February 4 that the government of Saudi Arabia has indicated it is willing to do more in the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants. Carter made the comment hours after the Associated Press quoted a Saudi military spokesman as saying that the kingdom is ready to send ground troops into Syria to fight IS provided the U.S.-led coalition agrees to the proposal. Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri said on February 4 that the proposal would be discussed with coalition leaders at a gathering in Brussels later in February. Asiri did not say how many Saudi troops Riyadh was prepared to deploy. In Washington, Carter said he was aware of the reports of Saudi readiness to deploy troops. Carter also confirmed that the proposal is on the agenda of the Brussels talks. The Saudi announcement came a day after tentative, UN-mediated Syria peace talks in Geneva were put on hold. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/saudi-troops-islamic-state/27532850.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks at the Syria Donors Conference Remarks John Kerry Secretary of State London, United Kingdom February 4, 2016 Well, your excellencies all, I'm cutting down significantly because we were originally given a little more time, but I'm very happy to try to fit it all in as quickly as I can. After almost five years of fighting, it's pretty incredible that as we come here to London in 2016, the situation on the ground is actually worse, not better. And the suffering in Syria grows; it's not diminishing. So we all understand and I'm not going to go through all of it; as the secretary said, we know most of the details of what is happening. But obviously, people are reduced to eating grass and leaves and killing stray animals in order to survive on a day-to-day basis. That is something that should tear at the conscience of all civilized people, and we all have a responsibility to respond to it. So we are called on to act today, and act we will. To date, the United States has provided over 4.5 billion to help Syrian refugees and those displaced within Syria, and I am proud that that makes us to date the largest single donor from external in the world. There are countries like Turkey and others who have a huge burden internally, and out of their budgets they're trying to meet that. So today the United States is announcing our latest contribution, which is over $925 million. That includes more than 600 million in direct humanitarian aid to provide food, shelter, water, medical care, and other vital relief to millions of people inside of Syria and across the region. It also includes 325 million in development assistance, 290 million of which is new funding specifically to support schooling for 300,000 refugee youth in Jordan and Lebanon meeting directly, hopefully, the challenge that we face here today. Now, ultimately the (applause). Obviously and a number of speakers have addressed this today the challenge is to not just write a check every other year to increase refugees; it's to stop the flow of refugees. It's to end the war. And we know that in the International Syrian Support Group, we're trying to do that, and I just want to take a quick moment. In keeping with the spirit of Chancellor Merkel's exhortation that today should be a day of hope, let me just say that the UN Resolution 2254 on which the talks in Geneva are based and which all the parties have accepted says the following paragraph 12: "calls on the parties to immediately allow" this is when we passed it on the 18th of December "to immediately allow humanitarian agencies rapid, safe, and unhindered access throughout Syria by" the "most direct routes, and allow immediate humanitarian assistance to reach all people in need, in particular in all besieged and hard-to-reach-areas," and also "demands that all parties immediately comply with their obligations under international law," "demands that all parties immediately cease any attacks against civilians and civilian objects including attacks against medical facilities and personnel, and indiscriminate use of weapons, including through shelling and aerial bombardment." That is mandatory. That was passed at the United Nations. That is the basis of these talks. There is no precondition. These were what should be immediately implemented starting in December and has not happened. So this morning, I talked to Foreign Minister Lavrov. And we have agreed that we are engaged in a discussion about how to implement the ceasefire specifically, as well as some immediate possible confidence-building steps to deliver humanitarian assistance in keeping with the UN resolution. So obviously, we're compelled to respond to the immediate needs on the ground, and we're doing so today. In September, President Obama will convene a high-level summit on refugees at the UN General Assembly. And between then and now, we call on the global community to increase by at least 30 percent the overall response to humanitarian funding appeals for refugees. We urge at least 10 countries to make pledges that have never made pledges before. We urge 10 nations to open their doors to refugee admissions that have not done so in the past. We urge multilateral development banks to find ways to help countries like Jordan and Lebanon by offering concessional finance for programs that support services or job creation, and to help host communities. And we urge special attention to the problem not simply of housing but of helping refugees through education and employment, to build self-reliance and to resume a normal life. So I thank you, Mr. Secretary-General. We are following the admonition of a Syrian refugee named Mohamad who lost four of his sons to this conflict. And he said it best. He said, "Our dreams are very simple to have a decent living so that we can be self-sufficient and not put out a hand to beg. We want people to look at us as humans." And that is why it is so imperative that next week the ISSG find a combination to produce a ceasefire and to produce humanitarian access. And I can assure you we will get back to these talks in Geneva, and we will do the business that the nation and the world has set out for us. Thank you. (Applause.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address $10B Aid Pledge for Syria Overshadowed by Upsurge in Fighting by Henry Ridgwell February 04, 2016 World leaders meeting in London have pledged $10 billion in humanitarian relief, jobs and education to people fleeing the war in Syria. Optimism over the outcome of the conference, however, has been overshadowed by intense fighting around the rebel-held city of Aleppo. Arriving at the Syria Donors' conference Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry implored the world to act fast. 'If people are reduced to eating grass and leaves and killing stray animals in order to survive on a day-to-day basis, that is something that should tear at the conscience of all civilized people and we all have a responsibility to respond to it,' he said. The response was better than many had hoped for - $10 billion were pledged for 2016, and a further $5 billion in the years up to 2020. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon hailed the achievement. "Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis," he said. The money will help provide millions with life-saving care and give refugees access to education and jobs. The Amar Foundation, an aid agency, provides schooling and health care across the region. Its chair, Emma Nicholson, welcomed the pledges but said world leaders must keep their promises. "Last year, [only] 35 percent of the pledges were forthcoming. And of course there's always not just forthcoming expenditure, there's the handing over of the funding, and on top of that is the actual expenditure of the money,' she said. 'So at the very far end of the line, those children waiting for education in Syria and the region, they still are waiting." Syria's neighbors pledged to open their economies to provide more jobs for refugees - aided by $40 billion in loans and the opening of European markets. The optimism in London was overshadowed by the breakdown of talks between Syria's warring parties in Geneva. A surge in fighting has extinguished any fading hopes of a cease-fire. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces, backed by Russian air support and Hezbollah fighters, have cut off the rebels' supply route into Aleppo. Turkey says around 70,000 refugees are fleeing toward its border. Moscow has accused Turkey of preparing for a ground incursion to prevent Aleppo from falling into government hands. There was no immediate response from Ankara. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria liberates more towns from militants' control in Aleppo Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 6:22PM Syrian forces push ahead with a major offensive north of the country, recapturing more towns in areas close to the Turkish border. Syria's official SANA agency said on Friday that army units backed by popular volunteer fighters managed to seize control over the towns of Rityan and Mair in the northern countryside of Aleppo Province. The recapture came days after pro-government forces broke a long-running siege on two Shia-dominated towns of Nubbul and Zahra, in a major blow to al-Qaeda-linked militants operating along the Turkish border. The army, backed by the Russian air force has dealt a series of heavy blows to terrorists across Syria over the past couple of months. Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu says some 15,000 civilians, who have been fleeing the battle in Aleppo, have arrived at the Turkish border. Elsewhere to the south of Syria, the military managed to take full control of Atman town in the countryside of the southern city of Dara'a, a military source told SANA. Advances were also reported in other areas, with SANA saying that Syrian forces killed scores of terrorists from the so-called Jaish al-Fateh group in the province of Hama. The Syrian Air Force also launched airstrikes against militants in the countryside of Hama and neighboring Idlib Province, inflicting huge losses on their properties and forces. For nearly five years, Syria has been grappling with turmoil. Estimates show that more than 260,000 people have been killed and millions displaced since March 2011. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi military intervention in Syria amounts to war: Russian deputy Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 3:51PM A Russian deputy has warned Saudi Arabia that any military ground operation in Syria without the Damascus government's consent amounts to a declaration of war. 'Syria has to give official consent, to invite, otherwise it will be a war. The same applies to international law,' Pavel Krasheninnikov, the head of the State Duma committee, told Interfax on Friday. Krasheninnikov said that by promising a ground operation in Syria Riyadh now 'intends to send troops to the territory of a sovereign state essentially without declaring a war.' Saudi Arabia on Thursday voiced readiness to participate in any ground operations in Syria if the US-led coalition allegedly targeting terrorists decides to start such operations. US State Department spokesman John Kirby also welcomed the Saudi decision. Saudi Arabia is a member of the so-called US-led coalition that has been conducting air raids against what are claimed to be the Daesh terrorists inside Syria without any authorization from the Syrian government or a UN mandate since September 2014. The US-led strikes have on many occasions targeted infrastructures and left many civilians dead. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said during an interview in March 2015 that the US-led military campaign does not aim to "do away" with the terror group. Washington and its regional allies, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have been backing militants fighting against the Syrian government and people. Since the Syria conflict started in 2011, they have been providing military and financial aid to the militants who are accused of widespread war crimes and crimes against civilians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia censures Syria opposition for UN talks walkout Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 2:51PM Russia has condemned Syrian opposition delegation for leaving the UN-brokered peace talks aimed at finding a political solution to ongoing conflict in Syria following government's successful offensive in the Aleppo province. Russia's ambassador in Geneva Alexey Borodavkin made the remarks during an interview with Reuters on Friday, adding that the delegation should have welcomed the government's assault on terrorists. 'Why did the opposition that left Geneva complain about the offensive in Aleppo, which is actually targeted against Jabhat al-Nusra and other radical extremist groups?' Borodavkin asked. 'Jabhat al-Nusra is a terrorist organization recognized by the UN Security Council. It's a branch of al-Qaeda. The opposition should be happy that terrorists are defeated. But, on the contrary, they were disappointed and left negotiations,' he added. The ambassador also condemned the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura's decision to suspend the peace talks in Geneva on Wednesday as deeply regrettable, and urged him to be 'more meticulous' about deciding whom to include. The talks between delegates from the Syrian government and divided opposition were suspended only three days after their shaky start. The Geneva negotiations were halted after the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a Saudi-backed anti-Damascus opposition group, failed to show up. Borodavkin also said he hoped the next round could start before de Mistura's proposed date of February 25. The nearly five-year long conflict in Syria has killed more than 260,000 people and forced millions from their homes since its onset in 2011. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey has no plan for military incursion in Syria: Official Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 11:39AM A Turkish official denies secret preparations for a military intervention in Syria, saying Ankara has no plan for such an "incursion" in the Arab state. "Turkey does not have any plans or thoughts of staging a military campaign or ground incursion in Syria," a senior Turkish government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters on Friday. The official, instead, accused Moscow of increasing its military campaign in Syria. "Turkey is part of a coalition, is working with its allies, and will continue to do so. As we have repeatedly said, Turkey will not act unilaterally," the official added. The remarks came after Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said Moscow registered "a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish Armed Forces for active actions on the territory of Syria." "We are recording more and more signs of concealed preparations by the Turkish military," he added. Moscow and Ankara have been at loggerheads over developments in Syria since a foreign-backed militancy erupted in the Arab country nearly five years ago. Turkey seeks the overthrow of the Syrian government while Russia has been supporting Damascus in the fight against terrorism. On Friday, the commander of a US-supported militant group said the northern countryside of Aleppo province was completely encircled by Syrian government forces and its allies. Syrian government troops broke through militant defenses to reach two villages in northern Aleppo province on Wednesday, choking their supply lines from Turkey to Aleppo city. Hassan Haj Ali, the head of the Liwa Suqour al-Jabal that has received US military training in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, said the aerial bombardment continued. 'The Russian cover continues night and day, there were more than 250 airstrikes on this area in one day,' he told Reuters. Syrian forces are now trying to expand the area they taken control of, he said. 'Now the northern countryside (of Aleppo province) is totally encircled.' Hezbollah's Al Manar television said government forces and allied fighters had taken over the town of Ratyan, which lies close to areas they captured on Wednesday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the capture of Ratyan. The US, Turkey and their other allies have stepped up their calls on Russia to stop its airstrikes amid militant losses. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria crisis must be solved through dialogue: Iran official Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 7:45AM A senior Iranian official has ruled out any "military solution" to the crisis in Syria and said all Syrian sides should stick to dialogue to end violence gripping the Arab country. Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said on Thursday that a "political" solution is the only way out of the deadly conflict in Syria. The comments came a day after UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura suspended peace talks in Geneva three days after its shaky start. He said the talks will not resume until February 25. "As for a peaceful settlement in Syria, the dialogue should be held between the Syrian people, government and representatives of the opposition," Velayati said at a press conference in the Russian capital, Moscow. The Geneva negotiations were halted after the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a Saudi-backed anti-Damascus opposition group, failed to attend a meeting. The Syrian government delegation blamed the opposition for the failure of the peace talks, accusing it of pulling out because it was losing the fight on the ground. The HNC's pullout came as Syrian armed forces, backed by Russian air cover, made significant gains against Takfiri militant groups on several fronts. In a major blow to Takfiri groups, Syrian troops liberated the strategic towns of Nubl and Zahra near Aleppo on Wednesday, choking their supply lines from Turkey to the city. They also recaptured Atman, only four kilometers (2.4 miles) north of Dara'a. Velayati, who is also head of Iran's Center for Strategic Research, defended the Syrian military operations against terrorists and said the Damascus government has the "legitimate right" to protect the nation. "The fact that the Syrian government and the Syrian people protect their lives, interests and integrity is their right and this has nothing to do with the talks," Velayati said. Also on Thursday, Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said during a visit to London that Tehran hoped "the pause in the Geneva talks is only temporary," and called for an immediate ceasefire in Syria. "Ceasefire, based on everybody's interpretation, does not include giving a breathing space to recognized terrorist organizations," Zarif noted. He said having a ceasefire is different from stopping the fight against terrorists groups. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that peace talks were pointless while Syrian forces and Russia continued their attacks in the country. The Syrian government, however, blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for the failure of the talks. Bashar al-Ja'afari, Syrian government's chief negotiator, said the opposition delegation was "instructed by its backers to make the talks fail." He described opposition representatives as "irresponsible" and "uncommitted." Russia also said the "unconstructive position" of the opposition delegation was to blame for the halt in the Geneva negotiations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria oppositionists linked to al-Qaeda: Russia Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 6:33AM A Russian envoy to the United Nations says the Western-backed opposition in Syria is affiliated with Jabhat al-Nusra, which itself is linked to the terrorist al-Qaeda group. 'These oppositionists are affiliated with al-Nusra, which is, in turn, affiliated with al-Qaeda," Russia's Ambassador to the UN Office in Geneva Alexey Borodavkin said on Thursday. "Therefore, we ask ourselves again what do our Western partners think of when they support such oppositionists? It looks like the repeat of the mistakes that have already been made,' he added. Borodavkin said, "Syria should not become a 'slightly retouched version' of Daesh as a result of the political transition, but we have an impression that this is exactly what some of the opposition members seek." The Russian envoy called on the West to stop support for shadowy militant groups. "Our Western partners should think better who they help and who they support." He also called for the inclusion of Syrian Kurds in the next round of the Syrian peace talks, which he urged to be resumed no later than February 25. He said that the Kurds, who are "effectively fighting against Daesh," have the right to "determine their country's future." According to Borodavkin, the country's political and humanitarian issues cannot be resolved without the participation of the Kurds in the talks. Borodavkin also denounced the three-week suspension of peace talks, announced by the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura on Wednesday. The talks in Geneva unraveled less than a week after they had kicked off. The Russian diplomat said the reason for the halt had been the "unconstructive position" of the opposition delegation. The talks halted after the so-called High Negotiations Committee (HNC), a Saudi-backed anti-Damascus opposition group, failed to attend a meeting. The nearly five-year long conflict in Syria has killed more than 260,000 people and forced millions from their homes since its onset in 2011. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Newest Su-35 Will Remain on Standby 24/7 at Hmeymim Airbase Sputnik News 17:31 05.02.2016(updated 20:49 05.02.2016) Newest Russian Su-35 figter jets will be on constant standby at Hmeyimim airbase in Syria, representative of the Russian Air Forces in Syria told journalists. "The planes will be kept in a state of constant readiness, with a pair of Su-35 ready to take off at a moment's notice to provide assistance to other aircraft. A pair of Su-35 jets is capable of increasing other planes' 360-degree detection radius up to 400 kilometers," a representative of the Russian Aerospace Forces battlegroup in Syria told journalists. According to the representative, the Su-35 is a multirole combat aircraft which will be used as an escort for the Russian aviation in Syria, as well as for attacks against ground and underground targets. 'At present, we have a task to use these jets as effectively as possible. These jets can carry all kind of bombs,' the representative said. Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry's spokesman Igor Konashenkov said that the advanced supermaneuverable Su-35S multirole fighters began combat missions in Syria. Syria has been mired in a civil war since 2011, with the country's government fighting against multiple opposition factions and extremist groups. The Russian Aerospace Forces have been conducting an aerial campaign against Islamist positions in Syria since September 30, following a request from President Bashar Assad. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian Army Cuts Al-Nusra Militants' Supply Line Between Aleppo and Turkey Sputnik News 08:56 05.02.2016(updated 09:34 05.02.2016) Several key supply routes of the Al-Qaeda-linked Al-Nusra Front have reportedly been destroyed by the Syrian Army in an area of Aleppo Province which borders Turkey. The Syrian Army and the National Defense Forces (NDF) have managed to cut off several main supply lines of Al-Nusra Front militants in the town of Mayer located between the city of Aleppo and the country's border with Turkey in northern Aleppo Province, according to media reports. Also, the Syrian troops took captive at least three terrorists near the town of Maarasta al-Khan in the northwestern part of Aleppo Province, sources said. The developments came after the army broke the militants' four-year siege of the towns of Nubel and al-Zuhra, mostly populated by Shiite Muslims.The towns have been under siege since 2012; the Syrian air force has been delivering ammunition and humanitarian aid to residents during the siege. In another development on Thursday, the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) managed to liberate two villages in the northwestern parts of Nubl and al-Zahra, driving Al-Nusra Front terrorists out of the area, according to the Iranian news agency FARS. Also on Thursday, tens of Daesh militants were reportedly killed and many more wounded after Syrian troops and the NDF cracked down on the terrorists' strongholds in the village of Jab al-Kol in the southeastern part of the town of Tal Maksour in Aleppo. According to sources, military operations are still under way on the eastern outskirts of Aleppo near Kuweires Airport, where the army is tasked with clearing the area of militants. Earlier, it was reported that Syrian Army fighter jets had pounded Daesh militants' positions in the countryside and within the city of Aleppo. Adding to the Syrian Army's anti-terror effort is Russia's ongoing air campaign in Syria, which 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 and Al-Nusra Front targets in Syria at the behest of Syrian President Bashar Assad. In addition, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed earlier this month that advanced, super-maneuverable Su-35S multi-role fighters had begun their combat mission in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia May Deploy Thousands of Troops to Syria Sputnik News 05:15 05.02.2016(updated 10:18 05.02.2016) Saudi Arabia could send thousands of ground forces to Syria, likely in coordination with Turkey, in order to take part in the fight against Islamic State radicals, The Guardian reports. MOSCOW (Sputnik) On Thursday, the Saudi embassy in Washington, DC said in a Twitter message that the Saudi Ministry of Defense stands ready to deploy ground troops to Syria to aid in the international anti-Daesh coalition efforts. The Guardian said on Thursday citing unnamed Saudi sources that Saudi Arabia could deploy 'thousands of special forces,' 'probably in coordination with Turkey.' Riyadh has been a nominal member of a US-led international coalition that has been launching airstrikes against IS in Syria since September 2014, without the permission of Damascus or the United Nations. In December 2015, Saudi Arabia started its own Muslim 34-nation coalition to fight Islamic extremism. Turkey has recently come under intense criticism for allegedly purchasing oil from Daesh, which the terror group has been stealing from Syria and Iraq, as well as supplying Daesh with weapons. The Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that there were 'serious grounds' to suspect Turkey of preparing for a military incursion in Syria. Turkey has previously deployed 250 military personnel and equipment in northern Iraq's Nineveh province with a stated aim of training local troops that fight against Daesh. The move drew international condemnation and calls to respect Iraq's sovereignty. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey Ignored Russian-US Flight Safety Memorandum Over Syria - Russian MoD Sputnik News 10:18 05.02.2016(updated 13:29 05.02.2016) Russian Deputy Defense Minister said that Turkey refused to conform with a flight safety memorandum on flights over Syria even before it downed a Russian bomber jet. MOSCOW (Sputnik) Turkey refused to conform with a flight safety memorandum on flights over Syria even before it downed a Russian bomber jet in November, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said Friday. In 2015, the military from Russia and the United States signed a document to curtail possible air incidents over Syrian skies. Turkey is a participant of the US-led coalition in Syria and Iraq. 'The Americans were obliged within the framework of the memorandum to not only inform all of the coalition participants on the essence of the agreements, but also guarantee that all of its participants strictly followed the contents of the document. We have a written confirmation from the United States that Washington has fulfilled all of the formalities on cooperation with its partners,' Antonov told journalists. He said, however, that Turkey refused to confirm its compliance with the memorandum. 'But the Turkish military that is formally part of the US coalition refused to confirm their compliance with the memorandum, stating that this given issue is the responsibility of the foreign ministry. Moreover, they unilaterally blocked the hotline and didn't answer our immediate requests. In the end, the Turkish Air Force knowingly downed the Russian bomber jet on November 24, killing Russian servicemen,' Antonov said. According to Antonov, Russia has deployed an air defense system in the region in order to avoid a repeat of such scenario. 'This will enable to discover threats to Russian planes in a timely manner that are completing military tasks in Syria and if necessary, take appropriate measures to provide security of their flights,' Antonov added. In Syria, which has been torn apart by a civil war since 2011, Russia and the US-led coalition have been conducting separate air campaigns against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, which is prohibited in many countries including Russia. Moscow is acting at the request of Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the coalition forces have not received the approval of the official government in Damascus. Russian-Turkish relations deteriorated following the downing of a Russian Su-24 aircraft by a Turkish F-16 fighter in Syria on November 24. In response to this 'stab in the back,' as it was described by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Moscow has imposed a number of restrictive measures on Turkey. Moscow and Ankara have divergent positions in Syria. Turkey believes that Bashar Assad has no role in the country's future, while Russia supports Assad as the legitimate authority in Syria. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine soldier killed as clashes intensify in volatile east Iran Press TV Fri Feb 5, 2016 2:27PM A Ukrainian soldier has been killed and three others wounded amid escalation of clashes between government troops and pro-Russia forces in the country's restive east. 'Over the past 24 hours, as a result of hostilities one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another three were wounded,' Ukraine's military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters on Friday. The soldier was reportedly killed in a mortar attack in the village of Zaitseve, 55 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Donetsk. Lysenko added that fighting along the front 'has escalated' hugely, claiming that the pro-Russians had violated a shaky ceasefire 81 times since Thursday. For their part, pro-Russia forces said that government forces had sharply increased the number of their ceasefire violations. Under international supervision, the two warring sides had pledged to honor a ceasefire agreement that had been reached in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk in February 2015 and renewed in September. Kiev and the pro-Russia forces repeatedly accuse each other of breaching the terms of the internationally-monitored truce. More than 9,000 people have been killed in Ukraine's Russian-speaking provinces of Donetsk and Lugansk since the conflict started in April 2014. The United States and its European allies have imposed a number of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures. Moscow has retaliated with sanctions of its own. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IMF Chief 'Concerned' About Corruption Charges In Ukraine February 05, 2016 by RFE/RL International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said she is concerned about the sudden resignation this week of Ukraine's reformist economy minister, citing government corruption. 'I would like to pay tribute to his efforts. His recently announced resignation is of concern,' Lagarde said on February 4 when questioned about the resignation of Aivaras Abromavicius to protest alleged influence-peddling and graft by a top ally of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, among others. 'If the allegations that he makes in his resignation are correct, then it's obviously an indication that the anti-corruption measures that were committed by the government are not yet working,' the IMF managing director said. The IMF is the main source of rescue financing for Ukraine as the cash-strapped country contends with crises ranging from falling commodity prices to a new trade embargo by Russia, its main market for agricultural and industrial goods in the past. The Fund has a $17.5 billion bailout program for Ukraine which is conditioned on the government enacting free-market economic reforms and fighting corruption. 'There's more progress to be had in this area,' Lagarde said. 'A lot of work needs to be done, and it has to be implemented vigorously because the Ukrainian authorities are not only accountable to the Ukrainian people but also to the international community.' While Lagarde did not discuss the status of its loan program for Ukraine, Kyiv is hoping the IMF will decide soon to disburse a third tranche of loans of $1.7 billion which has been delayed since October. Ukraine is battling an economic depression which saw the economy shrink by more than 10 percent last year, a downturn made worse by its war against pro-Russian separatists, who have taken control over parts of the country's eastern industrial heartland. The IMF and other western lenders in Europe and the United States are apprehensive about Ukraine's instability amidst war and recession. Abromavicius is the fourth reform-minded minister to tender his resignation since Ukraine's 2014 break in ties with Russia and turn toward Europe. 'The consequences of his announcement are hard to predict, but it's clear that they are very negative,' a Kyiv lawmaker from Poroshenko's faction told Reuters. 'It could lead to the postponement of the IMF tranche.' Poroshenko held last-ditch talks with the Lithuanian-born Abromavicius on February 3 in a bid to change his mind and reassure him that all his charges would be investigated in full. But there was no indication afterwards that the minister had changed his mind, although the government announced that three other Ukrainian cabinet members who had previously tendered their resignations said they would remain in their posts. Poroshenko arranged a meeting with ambassadors from the Group of Seven economic powers on February 4 to reassure them, while Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk held an emergency cabinet meeting to try to repair the damage and demonstrate unity in the deeply divided government. Yatseniuk said the government was determined not to stray from its reform drive. 'Our principle is one for all and all for one. We came as a united team and we will work as a united team,' he said. 'We demand...an end to blackmail, political pressure, [and] under-the-table dealings for positions of ministers, their deputies, or the heads of state companies,' he said. The health, agriculture, and infrastructure ministers, who had previously tendered their resignations after Abromavicius' announcement, said they would continue to work provided they would be allowed to pass reform initiatives without political interference. But Parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Groysman said Ukraine was entering a 'deep political crisis' and called for a government reshuffle. One legislator raised the prospect of holding a vote of no confidence in the government. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/imf-chief-lagarde- concerned-corruption-charges-ukraine/27533335.html Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US nuclear secrets dumped in trash can for years Iran Press TV Thu Feb 4, 2016 2:55PM The US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has slammed a contractor for compromising the country's nuclear secrets by dumping loads of classified documents into unprotected trash cans. The security blunder was first discovered in June 2014, when a worker at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Tennessee found highly sensitive documents inside a trash bag marked for disposal along with other junk materials, the Daily Beast reported on Wednesday. A more thorough inspection found 19 more documents in the bag that were either classified or contained sensitive details. Further investigation by the NNSA revealed that nuclear secrets had been thrown away with lax security at the plant for more than 20 years. The documents detailed how the department's employees and contractors worked with nuclear explosive materials, such as highly enriched uranium, stored at the facility. That bag and many others were awaiting burial in an open landfill where Y-12 workers routinely dump garbage that poses no risk on national security. "(They) then decided not to search any additional containers because they were, given the prior results, presumed likely to contain additional classified information," said the Energy Department's enforcement in a preliminary notice of violation issued Tuesday. Earlier this week, Frank Klotz, head of the NNSA, wrote a letter to the contractor named Babcock & Wilcox Technical Services, citing the company for three violations, although it was replaced by another contractor in July 2014. "Actual or high potential for adverse impact on the national security," and "a significant lack of attention or carelessness" with the potential to harm national security were some of the mishaps outlined in the notice. "Some workers indicated that this process for discarding work-related paper had always been in place (i.e., for over 20 years) until discovery of the security event," the notice added. Klotz initially threatened to fine the company nearly a quarter-million dollars. But after negotiations Klotz forgave the $240,000 in proposed fines, arguing that the company had suffered enough. He noted in his letter that the NNSA withheld bonus money from Babcock & Wilcox in fiscal year 2014 for "numerous safeguards and security issues, including deficiencies in B&W Y-12's information security program." Protection of nuclear secrets and materials kept at Y-12 has closely been investigated since July 28, 2012, when an 82-year-old nun and two other peace protesters penetrated the facility and drew graffiti on a storage vault full of weapons-grade nuclear materials. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwired - Feb 4, 2016) - US Oil Sands Inc. ("US Oil Sands" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:USO), a company focused on oil sands exploration and production in Utah, announces that it has completed a detailed review of its PR Spring Phase 1 Project (the "Project") in light of continued low oil prices and the closure of two key contractors' Utah-based operations. Construction of the Project is approximately 85% complete with costs coming in below budget. However since additional capital will be required for commissioning, start-up and continued operations thereafter to validate the proprietary bitumen extraction process technology, the Company has decided to reduce the pace of field construction in order to maintain working capital flexibility. As the Company has not completed its previously-announced US$10 million royalty financing, US Oil Sands will be pursuing other financing options including the possibility of equity financing. As US Oil Sands is in the pre-production stage, low oil prices do not impact the Company's current financial position. The low price environment has impacted the Project as two of the Company's key contractors have closed their operations in Utah and have caused delays to the Project. Project work will continue at a reduced level, and is expected to focus on critical path items and areas that will lead to the most efficient restart of full construction operations in the future. In spite of delays and increased costs that will occur with restart of full construction operations, the Company is still targeting completion within the original US$60 million approved budget. Currently, the Company has in excess of US$10 million of cash remaining, which will provide sustaining capital for the Company well into 2017 in the event commodity prices remain low for a prolonged period. "The oil industry is facing one of the most challenging environments it's ever seen and it is prudent for us to adjust our construction plan accordingly," said Cameron Todd, CEO of US Oil Sands. "But the Company's value proposition remains sound. Low oil prices accentuate the need for a new approach in our industry. The Company believes the PR Spring Project will demonstrate the commercial effectiveness of our breakthrough bitumen extraction technology. We are well-positioned to rapidly emerge from the current downturn and complete our work. In the long-run, companies that are the most efficient, have the lowest capital cost, and are the most environmentally sustainable will achieve success in the future. The Company's actions today help ensure US Oil Sands will be a future industry leader." ABOUT US OIL SANDS INC. US Oil Sands is engaged in the exploration and development of oil sands properties and, through its wholly owned United States subsidiary US Oil Sands (Utah) Inc., has a 100% interest in bitumen leases covering 32,005 acres of land in Utah's Uinta Basin. The Company plans to develop its oil sands properties using its proprietary extraction process which uses a bio-solvent to extract bitumen from oil sands without the need for tailings ponds. The Company is in the pre-production stage, anticipating the commencement of bitumen production and sales once it has arranged suitable financing. The foregoing contains forward-looking information relating to the future performance of the Company including information relating to the development and construction of the PR Spring Project, commencement of commercial production, construction costs, sustaining capital requirements and financing activities. Forward looking information is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in our forward looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, changes in world commodity markets or equity markets, the risks of the petroleum industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes, change in government and changes to regulations affecting the oil and gas industry, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities (available at www.SEDAR.com). Forward-looking statements are made based on various assumptions and on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking information contained herein. The proposed financing remains subject to negotiation of definitive agreements and obtaining all regulatory approvals and accordingly there is no certainty that the transaction will be completed on the terms described herein or at all. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these assumptions, beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Osisko Nominees Appointed to Board and Management Technical Services Agreement Concluded MONTREAL, QUEBEC and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb 5, 2016) - Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd. (the "Corporation" or "Osisko") (TSX:OR) and Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. ("Barkerville") (TSX VENTURE:BGM) (collectively the "Companies") are pleased to announce that they have closed their previously announced royalty financing and private placement. Sean Roosen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko commented on the transaction: "This is an important milestone in respect to our investment in Barkerville and we look forward to working with the team in place to create additional value at the Cariboo Gold Project." Tom Obradovich, Chief Executive Officer of Barkerville commented: "We are pleased to have Osisko as a strategic investor and technical partner. With this financing now completed, we can work aggressively to resume gold production, define the Cow Mountain Resource and develop additional resources through targeted exploration." Private Placement On November 30, 2015, Osisko and Barkerville announced that they had entered into a binding letter agreement whereby Osisko agreed to purchase 32 million common shares, issued on a flow-through basis (the "Flow-Through Shares") of Barkerville (the "Private Placement"). On December 24, 2015, Osisko and Barkerville announced the completion of the first portion of the Private Placement, whereby Osisko subscribed for 18,750,000 Flow-Through Shares at a price of $0.32 per share for gross proceeds of $6,000,000. Today, the Companies announce that Osisko has purchased an additional 13,250,000 Flow-Through Shares at a price of $0.32 for total gross proceeds of $4,240,000, representing the balance of Flow-Through Shares issuable pursuant to the Private Placement. Osisko now holds 47,625,000 common shares and 4,687,500 common share purchase warrants of Barkerville. Osisko has filed an Early Warning Report in connection with the Private Placement. Royalty Financing The Companies also announce that they have closed the acquisition of a 1.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Cariboo Gold Project for a cash consideration of $25 million, as previously announced on November 30, 2015. In connection with the purchase of this NSR royalty, the Companies have also agreed to negotiate a gold stream agreement ("Gold Stream Agreement") following the completion of a feasibility study by Barkerville on the Cariboo Gold Project. Following a 60 day negotiation period, if the Companies have not entered into a Gold Stream Agreement, Barkerville shall either grant a right to Osisko to purchase an additional 0.75% NSR royalty for consideration of $12.5 million, or make a payment of $12.5 million to Osisko. Appointments and Technical Advisory The Companies also announce that Sean Roosen has been appointed a director and Co-Chairman of Barkerville, and Chris Lodder, currently a director of Barkerville, will serve as Osisko's second nominee to Barkerville's board of directors. Chris Lodder has been appointed as President of Barkervile, and Luc Lessard has been appointed as Barkerville's Chief Operating Officer. Tom Obradovich will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The two companies have entered into a technical advisory agreement whereby Osisko will review data and provide technical advice to Barkerville during the exploration, development and construction of the project. About Barkerville Barkerville is focused on developing its extensive land package located in the historical Cariboo Mining District of central British Columbia. BGM's mineral tenures cover 1,164 square kilometres along a strike length of 60 kilometres which includes several past producing hard rock mines of the historic Barkerville Gold Mining Camp near the town of Wells, British Columbia. The QR Project, located approximately 110 kilometres by highway and all weather road from Wells was acquired by Barkerville in 2010 and boasts a fully permitted 900 tonne/day gold milling and tailings facility. Test mining of the Bonanza Ledge open pit was completed in March 2015 with 91,489 tonnes of ore milled producing 25,464 ounces of gold. Barkerville has completed a number of drilling and exploration programs over the past 20 years and is currently compiling this data with all historical information in order develop geologic models which will assist new management and provide the framework to continue to explore the Cariboo Gold Project. An extensive drill program is currently underway with the goal of delineating additional high grade gold mineralization. About Osisko Osisko is a precious metals royalty company with two world-class gold royalty assets. These two cornerstone assets are a 5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the world-class Canadian Malartic gold mine, located in Malartic, Quebec, and a 2.0-3.5% NSR on the Eleonore gold mine, located in James Bay, Quebec. Osisko also holds a 2-3% NSR royalty on the Island Gold Mine, a 2% NSR royalty on the Lamaque South Project, a 3% NSR royalty on the Malartic CHL property as well as a 2% NSR royalty on the Upper Beaver, Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef gold exploration projects in Northern Ontario. The Company also owns a 9.8% equity interest in Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corp.. Osisko's head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2. Forward-looking statements Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Osisko and Barkerville expect to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur including, without limitation, the realisation for Osisko and Barkerville of the benefits deriving from the entering into the royalty financing, the private placement, the technical advisory agreement and the appointment of new director and senior executives of Barkerville. Although Osisko and Barkerville believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, market conditions and other factors relevant to the strategic decisions of Osisko and Barkerville, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Osisko and Barkerville caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on the forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Osisko and Barkerville believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. A hamper from Cake Wines, which will open a wine bar-cellar door in Redfern. Photo: Supplied The wine obsessives involved in the Archi-bottle Prize and Sydney's school of wine are opening a wine bar/cellar door next month in Redfern. Cake Wines owners' Glen Cassidy and Mike Smith plan to bring that wine fever to the Eveleigh Street venue, which isn't your average cellar door. Head winemaker Sarah Burvill will run masterclasses and blending sessions. The wines are not available to take away, but they can purchased at the cellar door with free home delivery. If that's sounding a bit like a weekend in a wine region, it's even better. Redfern-ites don't live on wine alone, so there'll also be beer, cider and craft spirits on the menu. Yee sang long life noodles at XO Restaurant. Photo: Supplied For a special celebration of the lunar new year head to XO Restaurant in Narrabundah. They're hosting a series of eight-course Chinese New Year feasts featuring traditional dishes such as yee sang, a salad which is tossed at the table for prosperity (pictured) and long life noodles. Other dishes include silky tofu with century eggs, crispy skin chicken, and toasted pandan cake with sea coconut and lime granita to finish. It's $80 a head and the dinners start on February 8 (the number eight brings luck and wealth in the Chinese culture). 16 Iluka Street, Narrabundah; bookings: 6295 9696 or xo-restaurant.com.au Or head to Lanterne Rooms in Campbell, where the Chinese New Year feast comes from a special guest, the head chef of Capella, a five-star Singaporean resort. The theme is "Red Earth and Ocean" and the menu will be an evolving series of dishes in collaboration with the Lanterne Room chefs. It also starts from February 8. 3 Blamey Place, Campbell; bookings: 6249 6889 or lanternerooms.chairmangroup.com.au Plaque being placed in honor of Uziyah Garcia at San Angelo Kid's Kingdom A plaque will be placed in the San Angelo Kid's Kingdom in honor of Uziyah Garcia, a San Angeloan who was killed in the mass shooting in Uvalde. SHARE Chemical levels remain high By Monique Ching Although the approach of winter usually means lower water usage, the Hickory Aquifer and water quality were still key issues at Tuesday's City Council meeting. To update the council on water quality, Greg Pope, treatment expert with Carollo Engineers ? the firm in charge of the Hickory project ? explained the causes of increased trihalomethanes in the city's drinking water, a matter that came under notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which said the city's water supplies exceeded allowable levels of the chemical group. Trihalomethanes, or THMs, are a family of four chemical compounds: chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane and bromoform, Pope said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates THMs to 80 micrograms per liter as the maximum contaminant level. Long-term exposure to water containing THMs can cause health problems, Pope said. He noted there are several factors that affect THM formation, including source water quality, water pH levels, water age, and disinfectant type and levels. The water quality is affected by the amount of natural organic matter, or NOMs, and bromide. The normal THM levels are 5 to 10 micrograms per liter, Pope said. His presentation showed that the city's treated surface water contained THM levels of more than 150 micrograms per liter. "There's more bromide here than seen nationally," Pope's said. Councilman Kendall Hirschfield asked why this was only being brought to the city's attention now. "My best guess is the source water quality is slightly going downhill," Pope said. Through analysis of what he knows about San Angelo and similar issues in other West Texas cities, Pope noted that the bromide levels probably rose because of the drought. In addition, the temporary disinfectant switch from chloramines to free chlorine also would have contributed to the increased THM formation. Most cities choose to use chloramines to disinfect drinking water because chlorine alone increases THM formation, Pope said. "The perfect storm was happening this past summer," said Will Wilde, director of the city's Water Utilities Department. Wilde noted that the city has switched back to using chloramine and the process should stabilize within the next couple of weeks. Pope proposed two solutions to reducing THM levels in drinking water. By blending treated surface water with treated groundwater ? which has very low levels of THM ? it will bring the THM levels in the drinking water closer to the EPA compliance standard. Research also shows that increasing the pH levels in the water ? making it more alkaline ? from the usual pH 7.5 to pH 8.3, drastically decreases THM formation, Pope said. "We're doing everything we can to bump up the pH," Wilde said, despite the city not having proper mixing facilities for the needed amounts of sodium hydroxide. The city announced late Friday it will adjust the pH by adding sodium hydroxide to the water. The city said in notices sent out that water users "do not need to use an alternative water source." Hutch Musallam, vice president of Carollo Engineers, presented an update on the Hickory Aquifer project to the council. The construction of the well field piping is complete, Hutch said. The projected final completion dates are Sep. 14, 2013, for the transmission main and July 17, 2013, for the booster pump station and well field. The water treatment facility is still pending approval from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board for ion exchange treatment. The company is selecting the supplier, so the completion date should fall between June to September 2014, Musallam said. "That's six months too long," Councilman Hirschfield said. Hirschfield noted the project was given direction to proceed Aug. 21 and feels that the process should be further along than it is. While he understood that things can change, Hirschfield said he wanted to see a schedule with a more specific timeline. "We have everybody on it," Musallam said. He assured the council the company had a sense of urgency about the project, but the project funds will not be released until approval from TCEQ and TWDB are through. Hirschfield said he would like a more detailed update on the project. "I don't want to hear in March or in April, we're going to be behind by three months ... if there's anything we need to do, we need to know today," Hirschfield said. Associated Press Mei Mei, voiced by Kate Hudson, performs a ribbon dance in a scene from Kung Fu Panda 3. SHARE '13 Hours' "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," adapted from Mitchell Zuckoff's book, is about many things, but it tries to zero in on that moment when six contract soldiers who knew the country and the threats more keenly than anyone tried to do the right thing in a difficult situation. It's a bombastic and often thrilling exercise in patriotic machismo that relies too much on video game aesthetics and sentimentality to be a great film. Rated: R for combat violence, bloody images and language Grade: B- 'The 5th Wave' "The 5th Wave" imagines a world in which an alien race takes over the planet and starts eradicating the human species. The panicked surviving humans band together in the woods until their children are rounded up by the army for "protection." Teen Cassie (Chloe Grace Moretz) escapes the collection and sets out to find her little brother, Sam. The twists and turns of the plot are telegraphed from miles away, so there's not an ounce of suspense. Rated: R for combat violence, bloody images and language Grade: C- 'The Boy' An American nanny is shocked that her new English family's boy is actually a life-size doll. After violating a list of strict rules, disturbing events make her believe that the doll is really alive. Rated: PG-13 for violence and terror and some thematic material Grade: Not available 'Daddy's Home' When biological dad Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) unexpectedly shows up on stepdad Brad's (Will Ferrell) doorstep, Brad wants to be a cool, enlightened stepparent. But threatened by Dusty's virility and the way in which he wins over the kids, Brad gets sucked into competing. The trailers have showcased obvious, lowest-common-denominator humor that doesn't look too promising, but "Daddy's Home" is much funnier than it appears. Rated: PG-13 Grade: B 'Dirty Grandpa' Dick Kelly (Robert De Niro) a senior citizen with sex on the brain and a vocabulary limited almost entirely to expletives notices his grandson, Jason (Zac Efron), has grown into a joyless lawyer with the usual castrating fiancee (Julianne Hough). Dick pressures Jason into driving him to Daytona Beach, where he hopes to find a nubile Spring Breaker to sleep with and, perhaps, convince Jason to loosen his own collar. "Dirty Grandpa" is nasty-humored, poorly made and desperately unfunny. Rated: R for language, nudity, drug use Grade: D- 'Fifty Shades of Black' An inexperienced college student meets a wealthy businessman whose sexual practices put a strain on their relationship. Rated: R for crude sexual content including graphic nudity, and for language throughout Grade: Not available 'The Finest Hours' "The Finest Hours," based on the true story of the valiant 1952 Coast Guard rescue of a sinking oil tanker off the coast of Massachusetts, splits in two, much like the wounded vessel at its heart. There's the film that's set on the sea, and much of that is pretty terrific. And then there's film set on land, and that one runs aground. Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of peril Grade: C+ 'Kung Fu Panda 3' A bull named Kai (J.K. Simmons) banished to the spirit realm is on a mission to steal the chi energy of all the kung fu masters in China. Simultaneously, goofy panda Po (Jack Black) is being promoted to kung fu teacher. While he struggles with his new role, a mysterious panda, Li (Bryan Cranston), appears in town, and the two discover that Po is Li's son. The only one who can best Kai must be a master of chi, so Po and Li set off for the secret panda village for chi, and panda, lessons. The engaging and heartfelt story, coupled with eye-popping animation, makes "Kung Fu Panda 3" a total knockout. Grade: B+ 'The Revenant' Frontiersman Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) guides trappers through hostile and uncompromising territory for beaver pelts circa 1823. Arrows from all around sail into them before Ree tribesmen, searching for a stolen daughter, stream into their camp. The throbbing intensity of survival is played out across harsh, wintry terrain in a series of flights and pursuits between men seeking a variety of vengeances. Rated: R for strong violence including gory images, a sexual assault, language and brief nudity Grade: B 'Ride Along 2' Detective James Patton (Ice Cube) heads south after uncovering a USB drive from a drug dealer with a hacker's calling card leading him to Miami. His sister's beau (Kevin Hart), now a police academy graduate, begs to go along. The plot itself is run-of-the-mill cop comedy stuff, but it has its moments, particularly when Hart hits the gas on his signature zingers. Rated: PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and drug material Grade: C+ 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' The evil Empire has been replaced by the even more evil First Order, the Republic continues to fight the good fight, and everyone wonders where Luke Skywalker has been hiding for all these years. Sometimes the Force is with this film, sometimes it decidedly is not. Rated: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence Grade: B SHARE Polls show record turnout of voters By Kate Linthicum The nation's growing Latino electorate long has been described as a "sleeping giant," with lots of potential to influence elections but a bad track record of turning out to vote. In Iowa this week, it appears the giant woke up. As part of a record turnout of voters in Iowa's presidential caucuses Monday, more Latinos voted than ever before. That's according to an analysis of exit polls by the League of United Latin American Citizens, a Latino organization that launched a voter-registration drive in Iowa last summer in response to Donald Trump's disparaging remarks about immigrants and Mexicans. The group estimates that 10,500 to 13,000 Latinos attended the caucuses, based on exit poll data indicating Latinos comprised about 4 percent of Democratic caucusgoers and 2 percent of Republicans. By comparison, only around 1,000 Latinos voted in the 2012 caucuses, and 2,500 in 2008. The analysis should be taken with a grain of salt. Exit polls have a margin of error, and the potential margin grows substantially when analyzing a subset of the data, such as the Latino vote. Moreover, the turnout is still tiny. Iowa has an estimated 169,000 Latinos, less than 6 percent of the state population. Official turnout data from the caucuses won't be available until Iowa's Democratic and Republican parties release lists of those who voted. Latino advocacy groups had predicted a record turnout in response to successful voter registration and caucus education drives, and widespread concern about some of the GOP candidates' comments. LULAC, a nonpartisan Latino advocacy group, launched its voter registration drive in July after Trump vowed to build a wall on the southwest border and described Mexicans as rapists and drug dealers. The organization persuaded 10,000 people to sign pledge cards saying they would vote, said Joe Enriquez Henry, who led the registration campaign. Larry Hettick (from left), Sarah Negotevich and Ken Roberts star in Five Course Love. SHARE Photos by Elena Kent Larry Hettick (left) and Ken Roberts appear in Five Course Love. Sarah Negotevich in Five Course Love. Musical deals with romance in five scenarios By Michelle Gaitan of the San Angelo Standard-Times In the pursuit of love, Be Theatre is presenting its first-ever Valentine's Day-themed performance this month. The musical, "Five Course Love," has three local actors playing 15 characters in five separate scenarios, each taking place in a different themed restaurant. San Angelo usually comes alive during February with the rodeo in town, and the theater wanted to offer something a little different and related to the month, said Elena Kent, artistic director of Be Theatre. Love has its first turn when the opening scene begins with a blind date that goes wrong at Dean's Old-Fashioned All-American Down-Home Bar-B-Que Texas Eats. Next, the musical performance heats up when a mob wife has a secret rendezvous behind her husband's back at the Trattoria Pericolo. The 90-minute show is fast-paced, with loud music that mimics each of the themed restaurants from operatic to '50s-style music with a bubbly, lollipop feel, she said. Moving further into the musical, the audience is caught in the middle of a love triangle between a waiter, a dominatrix and her kept man at the Der Schlupfwinkel Speiseplatz restaurant. In Ernesto's Cantina, a hill bandit and his rival battle for the hand of the beautiful Rosalinda, and at the Star-Lite Diner, a waitress pines for her true love with a little help from Cupid. The actors began learning the music in December and have rehearsed at least 15-20 hours a week since January, she said. It's going to be a great show for couples, friends or just a fun night out, Kent said. The theater is a small venue that can seat 60 people and has a wine bar, so it gives off a cafe type atmosphere, she said. The musical is rated PG-13 for mature subjects and language, but Kent said she recommends audience members be at least 16 years old. If you go What: Five Course Love When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12-13 and 18-20; 2 p.m. Feb. 21 Where: Be Theatre, 19 W. Beauregard Ave. Cost: $18-$20 Contact: 325-716-4125 or betheatre.com Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times Members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection stand alongside a Predator B unmanned aircraft system at San Angelo Regional Airport on Thursday. Tests of the aircraft will continue for the next three weeks in San Angelo. SHARE Michelle Gaitan/Standard-Times Monitor screens inside the ground control center where pilots operate the aircraft follow a live video of the Predator B as it makes its way toward Del Rio after launching from the San Angelo Regional Airport. By Michelle Gaitan of the San Angelo Standard-Times In addition to its usual flights to and from Dallas-Fort Worth, San Angelo Regional Airport's runway is being used to test an unmanned aircraft system used for border security. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations began testing the Predator B aircraft last Thursday, and operations will continue for another three weeks. AMO is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. CBP, which is a component of the Homeland Security. AMO conducts law enforcement and homeland security missions at and beyond the U.S. borders. San Angelo was chosen because of the weather, which right now is more favorable for launching the aircraft than the high-speed winds of Corpus Christi, said John Wassong, director of Air Operations at the National Air Security Operations Center in Corpus Christi. "We're trying to see if this is a logical place to keep it. It should be," Wassong said. "We're going to do the same (border security) mission we do in Corpus." This is the first U.S. drone deployment at a civilian airport. San Angelo Regional Airport Operations Manager Mitch Sprunger said he and airport Director Luis Elguezabal were excited about being approached to host the testing. "This is an opportunity for potential growth with the CBP here at the airport and can lead to more operations," Sprunger said. Sprunger said there hasn't been any interference with the airport's commercial airplanes, and he has heard good feedback from air traffic control that everything has been running smoothly. On Thursday, local media was invited to watch the aircraft take off from the runway headed toward Del Rio, operated by pilots on the ground. The aircraft has a 66-foot wingspan, is 36 feet long and about 12 feet high and averages about 10,000 pounds when it's fully loaded, he said. The $10 million aircraft's purpose is to maintain border security more effectively. "The airplane provides a long persistence," Wassong said. "So instead of leap-frogging multiple other airplanes or helicopters, you can look at one thing, if you want, for a long time or you can point out illegal activity to other assets that will go there." Currently, seven unmanned aircraft monitor the border area stretching all the way from San Diego to Central Houston, he said. "There is always somebody sitting in our pilots' seats with our airplanes," he said. "There's a pilot and sensor operator, and depending on which facility is flying it, there is always someone there." Two aircraft, which can both fly over 20 hours, will be tested and kept at the airport during the remainder of the operation. "(The testing is) really to see if San Angelo is going to be a good place for us to come back next year and fly more because the weather is better and just get the logistics straightened out better," he said. "Just to see how this is going to work." Whether San Angelo's airport could become a permanent location to operate the drones is a discussion that is a "little far off," Wassong said, but so far testing has gone well. SHARE By David S. Cloud WASHINGTON The Obama administration wants to boost military spending in Europe next year to stockpile heavy weapons, armored vehicles and other military equipment in eastern and central Europe, a substantial expansion of efforts to counter a resurgent Russia. The proposed $3.4 billion initiative will permit the Pentagon to keep the equivalent of a 4,000-soldier armored brigade in the region at all times on rotational deployments, though no troops will be formally based there, officials said. "We asked for the amount we think we'll need" to counter "the Russian challenge in Europe," Defense Secretary Ashton Carter told reporters Wednesday during a visit to a naval weapons research facility in China Lake, north of Los Angeles. The proposal, part of the Pentagon's $583 billion budget request, must be approved by Congress. The administration is expected to unveil the budget next week. The administration also plans to double spending for the battle against the Islamic State group. American aircraft have conducted so many airstrikes in Iraq and Syria since mid-2014 that the Pentagon is running out of smart bombs and missiles; it will seek $1.8 billion next year to buy 45,000 more. But in a speech Tuesday, Carter listed Russia as the primary threat to U.S. interests, citing President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea and military operations in eastern Ukraine that potentially threaten the Baltic nations. "We're reinforcing our posture in Europe to support our NATO allies in the face of Russia's aggression," Carter told the Economic Club of Washington. "We haven't had to worry about this for 35 years, and while I wish it were otherwise, now we do." Gov. Wolf signed a bill Wednesday that would delay for two years the use of high-school graduation exams, thus allowing time to study whether such tests should be a requirement.The bill would make the 2018-19 school year the earliest the state could administer the so-called Keystone Exams, which have been marked by logistical and cost issues and criticized as being overly burdensome on school districts."While we should have high academic and educational standards in the commonwealth," Wolf said, the state needs to look at Keystone alternatives."My administration is currently engaging teachers, administrators and students, community leaders, stakeholders and advocates from around the state to develop a comprehensive school accountability system that will support schools and help Pennsylvania students succeed," he said.The legislation passed the General Assembly unanimously.The administration said the reasons for the delay included the fact that higher numbers of students are failing to demonstrate proficiency in the Keystone subject areas, which are algebra 1, biology, and literature.The superintendent of the West Chester Area School District said during the summer that the exams could cause some struggling students to give up on being able to graduate.Wolf said that school districts are shouldering the financial burden of helping students pass alternative tests.Wolf said he believed testing has a place in determining student readiness, but agreed that the Department of Education should investigate other methods for students to demonstrate proficiency for graduation.The bill he signed Wednesday requires the department to study that very question and report its findings within six months to the legislature. In Legislatures, Tough to Turn Back the GOP Tide Odds and Ends This was a busy week in politics -- but then, practically every week is. That's whyis offering this new weekly newsletter.We won't cover the presidential campaign -- you can find plenty of that elsewhere. Instead, we aim to share with you the most interesting and important developments in state and local politics.You can sign up for a free subscription here. Republicans hold big majorities in state legislatures, and that's not likely to change this year. At least according to Shap Smith, who's not only the Democratic speaker of the Vermont House but a board member of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), an organization whose mission is to elect more Democrats nationwide."I don't see any structural change right now that would allow us to take a bunch of houses back," said Smith. "I do think this [Republican] high-water mark is likely to last at least another cycle or two."Following the GOP's sweeping success in the 2014 elections, Republicans control 68 of the nation's 99 legislative chambers. They have supermajorities in a substantial number of them.Democrats clearly want to win back several of the chambers lost in 2014, including the Maine Senate, the Minnesota House and the Washington Senate. One of their best opportunities may be in Nevada, where some Republicans concede that holding onto the two chambers could be a challenge in a presidential year."The GOP is playing so much defense this year," said DLCC communications director Carolyn Fiddler. "Our recruiting efforts this cycle have been incredibly successful. We're running a ton of really strong candidates with deep ties to their communities."Robin Vos, the Republican speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly, admits that his party will have to play defense in his state too to hold on to some of the seats it's accumulated. "We have 63 of the 99 members of the Assembly in a state that hasn't voted Republican for president since 1984," said Vos.At a time when more people are voting a straight party line, the outcome of the presidential election will strongly influence legislative results.Speaking at's annual Outlook conference Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., Vos said he expected Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic nominee, and added that he didn't think she would hurt Democrats downballot. But, he said, "if it's Ted Cruz or Donald Trump [on the Republican side], I think it will have negative downballot effects for candidates in our party." (Vos is backing Marco Rubio in the presidential race).Despite any possible headwinds from the top of the ticket and the amount of ground the GOP has already conquered, Vos predicted that "Republicans will continue to dominate state legislatures, probably until the next redistricting," and insisted there are still a few pickup opportunities for them.He cited, for example, the ground the GOP has already gained in the Kentucky House through recent party-switching. Control of that chamber -- the only one still held by Democrats in the South -- could soon be tied, depending on how four special elections play out next month.Speaker Smith, while rooting for a different result, doesn't argue with that analysis. Over the medium to long term, Smith believes demographic changes will come to favor Democrats at the legislative level, putting some Western chambers into play and even some in the South in the not-too-distant future.But some of the party's best chances may not be ready for the plucking until 2018 or 2020, said Smith. "I look at the map this year and it could go a couple of chambers either way," he said. "But we're not going to see a huge change this year in state legislatures."The federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) has given the greenlight to states wanting to require voters to show proof of citizenship when they register.Brian Newby, EAC's new executive director, sent letters to Alabama, Georgia and Kansas last Friday approving changes to their instructions on federal voter registration forms. Newby, an ally of Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, insisted in an interview with MSNBC that the change was strictly administrative. But it represents a shift in policy, since the agency had twice previously refused to approve the change in Kansas.Thomas Hicks, the lone Democratic commissioner, complained that Newby had overstepped his authority. The move can now only be undone by a unanimous vote of the three commissioners -- which is unlikely -- or through a legal challenge.A federal grand jury has subpoenaed records from recent campaigns run by Allison Lundergan Grimes, the secretary of state in Kentucky.Before her successful re-election bid in November, the Democrat ran a high-profile challenge in 2014 against Mitch McConnell, the U.S. Senate majority leader. Republicans complained that she received illegal in-kind contributions for that race. Documents have also been subpoenaed from her father Jerry Lundergan, a former legislator and state party chair whose companies provided more than $60,000 worth of services to her Senate campaign.Grimes' attorneys insist that neither she nor her father are targets of the investigation. "She has great confidence in the integrity and the skill of the members of her campaigns who worked tirelessly to ensure compliance with all campaign rules and regulations, said attorney David Guarnieri in a statement.The former constituents of Sheldon Silver and Dean Skelos will be getting new representation soon. Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo has set April 19 as the date for special elections to fill their seats, along with two other vacancies. Silver, the former Assembly speaker, and Skelos, the former Senate majority leader, each resigned and was convicted on federal corruption charges last year.GOP Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama gave his State of the State address on Tuesday. Nothing unusual there. More surprising was the fact that another statewide elected official of his own party, State Auditor Jim Zeigler, chose to deliver a rebuttal to the governor's speech. Zeigler detailed a list of policy areas where he disagreed with Bentley, saying the matters on which they do agree is shorter. A federal appeals court dealt a potentially serious blow to Maryland's landmark 2013 gun control law and similar measures across the country, ruling Tuesday that a lower court was wrong when it upheld the state's ban on assault rifles.In a 2-1 decision applauded by gun rights advocates, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit concluded that the semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines banned by Maryland's Firearm Safety Act "are in common use by law-abiding citizens." As a result, they don't fall under the exception to the right to bear arms that applies to "unusual" weapons such as machine guns and hand grenades, the court said.Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh said Thursday that the decision "conflicts sharply with rulings of other federal appellate courts." Frosh said he would appeal -- either to the full 15-member 4th Circuit or to the U.S. Supreme Court.The National Rifle Association issued a statement hailing the ruling.Chris W. Cox, executive director of the group's Institute for Legislative Action, called the decision "an important victory for the Second Amendment.""Maryland's ban on commonly owned firearms and magazines clearly violates our fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms for self-defense. The highest level of judicial scrutiny should apply when governments try to restrict our Second Amendment freedoms," Cox said in a statement.Matthew A. Clark, a spokesman for Gov. Larry Hogan, said the governor's office was studying the ruling but would have no comment.The judges sent the challenge to Maryland's gun law back to the U.S. District Court with instructions to apply the difficult constitutional test of "strict scrutiny" when considering whether the ban violated the Second Amendment. Previously, U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake had found the ban constitutional under the less-stringent test of "intermediate scrutiny."If the appeals court's decision reaches the Supreme Court, the ruling could have national importance because it would give justices the opportunity to settle the question of whether states can ban assault weapons and magazines that hold a large number of bullets.Mark Graber, a law professor at the University of Maryland, said the ruling poses a serious challenge to the law -- a signature achievement of former Gov. Martin O'Malley and of Frosh, a state senator when it was passed."Strict scrutiny is just that. It is stricter than the ordinary form of scrutiny," he said. Almost all challenged laws fail the test, he said.Graber said the decision is one of national importance."It almost looks like what the court really wants is for this to go up to the Supreme Court," he said.Adam Winkler, a law professor at UCLA, gave the law a slightly better chance in the lower court than Graber did."About three in four laws subjected to this standard of review are struck down," he said. But Winkler added that gun laws have a better chance of ending up in the 25 percent that survive because they're based on a justification of public safety.Winkler said the decision is the first in which a federal appeals court has questioned bans on "military-style" rifles and high-capacity magazines."These laws are at the very heart of the gun control movement's agenda today," he said.Chief Judge William B. Traxler Jr., an appointee of President Bill Clinton, and Circuit Judge G. Steven Agee, who was named by President George W. Bush, agreed on the main part of the ruling affecting the assault gun ban. Judge Robert B. King, a Clinton appointee, dissented.Winkler, author of "Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America," said party affiliations are a poor predictor of how judges will vote in gun control cases."We've seen both Republican judges and Democratic judges have voted to uphold gun control laws more or less consistently," he said.Traxler noted that the ban applied to keeping assault weapons in one's home."Any prohibition or restriction imposed by the government on the exercise of this right in the home clearly implicates conduct protected by the Second Amendment," the judge wrote.The 4th Circuit panel said it recognizes that other courts have reached opposite conclusions about similar bans, but said that "we ultimately find these decisions unconvincing."In his dissent, King said no Supreme Court precedent compels the court to insist on a strict-scrutiny standard. He disagreed with the conclusion that the semiautomatics covered by the ban are standard for home defense."Let's be real: The assault weapons banned by Maryland's [law] are exceptionally lethal weapons of war," King wrote.The clash among federal circuits sets up several possibilities. The state could let the case go back to the District Court and hope to win there under the stricter standard. It could seek Supreme Court review or appeal to the full 4th Circuit, which once had a reputation as the nation's most conservative appeals court but has become more centrist under President Barack Obama.The full circuit court could decide to hear the case on its own, said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond."This would be a very good case for that," Tobias said. If it goes to the full court, he said, "I think it would be close."The ruling leaves the ban on assault rifles in place pending a decision by the District Court. UCLA's Winkler said it could take a long time before the case reaches the Supreme Court -- if it ever does."It's not even a slam dunk that the Supreme Court would take the case,' Winkler said.Maryland advocates on both sides of the issue found something to cheer about.Dan Blasberg, president of the gun rights group Maryland Shall Issue, said the ruling "turned my day upside-down but in a good way." He said the case, in which his group was a plaintiff, could force the high court to consider the issue."This certainly could be a vehicle to get there," he said. "Our legal counsel is fairly confident they could present a good enough case to prevail."But Vincent DeMarco, president of Marylanders Against Gun Violence and one of the chief lobbyists for the 2013 law, claimed victory on another point."The gun lobby never even challenged the most important part of the law, which is the requirement that handgun purchasers be licensed and fingerprinted," he said. "That is the part of the law that will save the most lives."DeMarco said he has confidence that Frosh will successfully defend the assault rifle ban. On Wednesday, in the morning, at Government House, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC hosted at breakfast the Premier of Queensland, the Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP. Following, at the Executive Building, the Governor presided at a meeting of the Executive Council of Queensland. In the evening, at Government House, the Governor and Mrs Kaye de Jersey hosted a reception in recognition of outstanding Queensland contributors. Read the Governor's reception speech here. Report a 'Horrible Boss' MySidewalk Templates Simplify Data Visuals 3 Civic Hackathons Coming Soon Civic tech company SeeClickFix is attempting to market an app for employees to report terrible employers. Buzzfeeds Caroline O'Donovan writes about the app, which is still in the design phase and doesn't yet have a name, but will be launch soon through the Workers Lab, a labor rights group based in Oakland, Calif. When released, the app will retrieve a users location and connect them with a list of local labor authorities.When making a complaint, the app simplifies labor codes by walking an employee through a short questionnaire that identifies the grievance and shoots it to correct authority. SeeClickFix CEO Ben Berkowitz said his team of engineers is harnessing the same framework used by the companys well-known 311 apps to let citizens report potholes, graffiti and other non-emergency issues.Despite good intentions, the app's success or failure for hinges on whether it can ensure workers are safely guarded against reprisals. Berkowitz said SeeClickFix is investigating how best to handle privacy issues, a task he told BuzzFeed was not unsurmountable and something he was confident his team could achieve.Even so, privacy among a user, a company and other users is one thing; privacy between a plaintiff and defendant (in this case, the employer) is another. The pursuit for anonymity complicates itself further when considering the fact 89.6 percent of employers, according to 2012 U.S. Census figures, are small businesses with less than 20 employees.But this isnt to say the app cant provide a meaningful service. In higher profile cases that deal with sexual harassment, discrimination and workers comp issues, it could be a go-to app to decipher the complexities of labor codes while holding employers accountable. Further, if enough complaints are submitted against a company, it might prompt the U.S. Department of Labor to investigate or serve as a springboard for a class action lawsuit.Data and data visualizations may seem a perfect pairing, but for many cities and states, the two often "mix" like oil and water. In a company blog post , MySideWalk CEO Nick Bowden unraveled the issue as he revealed his team labors to provide government agencies and departments a solution.Many of mySidewalks users urban planners in the tiniest Midwestern towns to principals at global architecture firms dont lack data, Bowden said. But a good number are swimming (or, more often drowning) in data by the time they come to us.The problem, he said, isnt in the data gathering, but knowing which datasets to gather to create a meaningful discoveries. With this in mind, the company has gone to great lengths to construct a series of interactive graphic templates, what it calls its Template Library, for its citizen engagement platform.In addition to a data-enriched map, each template includes charts, layers and/or filters aligned to a theme, Bowden said.The templates offer insights for uses in U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant applications, housing affordability studies, transportation, emergency response, and economic development plans.Exploring a template to gauge location affordability for median income residents, Bowden said that by inserting data sets like rental occupancy, home ownership and commuting statistics, officials could easily estimate the average percentage that income earners pay on transportation and housing typically, the two biggest expenses.Here's a quick shout out to a few notable hackathons in the coming months at each level of government:In partnership with Code for Sacramento; the Center for Digital Government, owned by Government Technology's parent company e.Republic; and the Sacramento Area Council for Government, Sacramento County launches Hack4Sac to develop new solutions that improve customer service and help residents and businesses.March 1 - April 12: First place $5,000, Second $2,000, third $1,000For the first time ever, the Department of Homeland Security, Commerce Department, State Department, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Dickinson-Wright and Northof41.org have come together with the tech community in Chicago to develop APIs, which allow entrepreneurs to develop software solutions to simplify the importing and exporting process.Feb. 26-28, 2016$15,000 for winning teamsThe first installment of the 2016 Hack Indiana Series pits developers, coders and designers against challenges from state government agencies to hack for the greater good.Feb 26 27, 2016$1,500 Cash Prizes (TNS) -- President Obama will propose a $10-per-barrel tax on oil in next years budget to modernize the U.S. transportation system, using the fossil fuels tax to pay for a transition to clean energy, administration officials said Thursday.A leading Republican immediately said the plan, to be included in Obamas final budget proposal Tuesday, will go nowhere in Congress.House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, whose district produces oil, said the tax would undoubtedly be passed along to consumers, adding that much more to every energy bill and trip to the gas station. ... It goes without saying that the House has no intention of adding more costs on the American people."The administrations proposal includes another run at making high-speed rail a viable alternative to flying in major regional corridors, a big element of Obamas 2009 stimulus known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. California was one of the few states to accept the stimulus money for high-speed rail and moved forward with a plan to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles by bullet train. But Republicans have cut off further funding to the project, which is two years behind schedule.National Economic Council director Jeff Zients said Obamas overall proposal reflects his promise to tackle problems that have been simmering for decades, in this case, chronic transportation underinvestment that loads businesses with higher freight expenses and costs Americans 7 billion hours in wasted time as they sit in cars and trucks snarled in traffic. Zients called these costs a hidden $160 billion annual tax, $960 for each commuter, that is harming U.S. competitiveness.The $10-per-barrel fee on oil, levied on imports but not exports, represents a limited version of a carbon tax that would discourage greenhouse gas emissions and encourage cleaner fuels. The fee, to be paid by oil companies, would be much broader than the current gasoline tax paid by drivers. Reluctance by both parties in Congress to raise the gas tax has led to chronic funding shortfalls for highways and transit.The plan calls for big new investments in rail and other non-car options for urban commuters, technologies to support driverless cars, and regional refueling systems for low-carbon vehicles.Over five years, the Obama plan would boost investment by 50 percent over the bipartisan transportation bill that Congress passed last year after 36 short-term extensions.Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said the plan would change federal funding programs by rewarding states that cut carbon pollution from transportation, a provision that would aid California disproportionately since the state has more electric vehicles than the other 49 states combined. The program would also reward such things as better land-use planning and investments in transit.Foxx called the proposal a bold new plan that will create a clean transportation system and increase overall investment in ways that give America communities more climate friendly choices. a popular online health site, patients can videoconference with physicians on a host of maladies, from skin rashes and flu diagnoses to getting a prescription for an eye infection. On Maven, a telemedicine app targeted to women, nurse practitioners chat with patients on issues such as birth control, breast feeding and postpartum depression. Opternative offers online eye exams that it says are just as accurate as in-person tests. Its a boom time for telehealth. Just as smartphone apps have revolutionized ride-hailing and apartment-sharing, telemedicine technology is upending health care.States have been playing catch-up. As recently as 2011, only 11 states had telehealth parity laws, which require that insurers reimburse telehealth providers exactly as they would for an in-person visit. Today, 29 states and the District of Columbia have parity laws. In those jurisdictions, if a patient with a sore throat wants to confirm she has a strep infection and receive a prescription for antibiotics, it makes no difference to insurance companies whether the visit occurs over the computer or in an office. Forty-eight state Medicaid programs (every state but Connecticut and Rhode Island) offer some form of coverage for telemedicine. Congress is expected to take up legislation this year that would expand telehealth coverage for Medicare enrollees.More than 200 telemedicine bills were introduced in state legislatures in 2015. Not all of them passed, but it has given an indication that the time has come to have [the telemedicine] conversation, says Jonathan Linkous, CEO of the American Telemedicine Association.Despite the momentum, there are still plenty of gaps and question marks when it comes to telehealth policy. The 21 states without a parity law arent uniformly liberal or conservative. Kansas, South Carolina and Utah dont have one, but neither do Illinois or Pennsylvania. Massachusetts, a state known for progressive health-care policies, doesnt have a parity law. It currently only covers telemedicine under Medicaid with certain managed care plans, and not for fee-for-service payments.Even among states that do have parity laws, the patchwork of policies can vary widely from one state to the next. Texas, for example, requires insurers to cover telehealth, but it mandates that a patients first appointment with a new doctor must be an in-person visit. Within Medicaid programs, about half of the states require that a patient be in a medical facility for telehealth appointments, rather than at home. The differences among states can be frustrating for telemedicine providers. Kofi Jones, vice president of public relations and government affairs for the telehealth company American Well, says she has 30 binders in her office filled with state-by-state regulations and legislation. Im waiting for the day when parity laws are uniform across the country, she says. I suspect itll continue to be a slog, but when that day comes, Im having a binder-burning party.Traditional health-care providers can be slow to integrate new technology. After all, almost half of doctors offices polled in 2013 still used paper records, according to a survey from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Other recent surveys have found that only 2 percent of patients nationwide have access to video visits with their primary care physician. Less than half -- 45 percent -- even receive a traditional phone appointment reminder.But the explosion of born-online health-care services is fueling a rising consumer demand for more telehealth options. Telemedicine advocates see it as a way to cut down emergency room visits and increase health-care access for rural patients. Many in the medical community, however, maintain strong concerns about patient privacy and overall quality of care. As states move toward more inclusive telehealth policies, they must confront those issues along with a more basic question: Just how good is the medical care you get over the phone?And with its large population of seasonal snowbirds and transplanted retirees, Florida presumably has a lot of people who would like to seek medical help from their doctor back home. But the state, which doesnt have a parity law, is like the Wild West when it comes to telehealth, says Christian Caballero of the Telehealth Association of Florida, a trade group formed last year to push for parity legislation in the state. The association in July received a planning grant from the state Health Resources and Services Administration to implement telehealth options in north Florida, which is more rural and underserved than other parts of the state. When you give people health care on the front end, that just drives down the overall costs of health care, says Caballero. Now its up to us to give people in underserved areas those options.Florida lawmakers have considered telehealth bills in recent years, but none of the measures have become law. Advocates were optimistic about a proposed telemedicine bill last year, because unlike previous proposals, it stripped out language that would have required Medicaid to reimburse providers at the same rate as for in-person visits. But the bill died in committee.The difficulty in passing legislation in Florida echoes broader conversations about telemedicine across the country. In many cases, doctors have urged caution when it comes to adopting new technologies. The American Optometric Association, for instance, has come out hard against online eye exams, calling them a substandard model of care. The American Medical Association (AMA) is more open to telemedicine but has taken a cautious approach. The group released recommended guidelines for telehealth coverage and payment in 2014, but held off on releasing an ethics policy in November after concerns were raised that the draft proposed wasnt thorough enough. This is something Im passionate about, and Ive been engaged with it for a while, says AMA board member Jack Resnick. But we need to make sure that were doing it right -- telehealth cant just become another silo in health care. Its important to us that a physician using telehealth practices understands a patients full medical history and is able to coordinate that care with their other providers.The problem, Resnick says, is that telehealth appointments are often one-off visits, where information isnt relayed back to that persons primary care provider. Mobile telemedicine apps may or may not catalog a patients health data from one session to the next; regardless, its up to the patient whether she chooses to share that information with her primary physician. Thats bad care, says Resnick, and a potential hazard of telemedicine.Theres also the issue of privacy when it comes to patient data. Many medical professionals worry about the potential for hackers to access and expose patients sensitive medical information. Some private companies, including American Well, Doxy.me and Teladoc, offer HIPAA-compliant interfaces for physicians to use -- at no cost, in some cases -- which the companies say are safe and reliable ways to protect information. The concern over hackers is legitimate but overblown, says Robert Pearl, chairman of the Council of Accountable Physician Practices. And patients arent likely to care anyway: If someone were to hack into your health and financial information, most people would be more freaked out over financial information, he says. Yet that possibility doesnt stop people from online banking and ordering from Amazon.Cross-state licensure is another big issue that has stymied telehealth expansion in the past: How can a physician licensed in Virginia treat a patient who lives in New Mexico? But that, too, is changing rapidly. The Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, an agreement initiated by the Federation of State Medical Boards, provides an expedited way for doctors to have their licenses recognized by multiple states. Since the compact was introduced in late 2014, a dozen states have signed on -- Wisconsin became the 12th in December -- and bills are pending in at least nine more states. Its easy to imagine that in a very short time, a doctor whos licensed to practice anywhere in the country will be licensed to practice everywhere in the country.Telehealth advocates dont imagine e-health ever fully replacing face-to-face interactions between patients and physicians. Instead, the idea is for video chats, texts and phone calls to become more seamlessly integrated into the existing health-care system. Linkous, the American Telemedicine Association CEO, has been with the group since it was founded in 1993, when telemedicine mostly involved primary care physicians in rural areas communicating in real-time with a specialist in the next big city. As technology has advanced over the past 20 years, attitudes and expectations have changed too. That will continue to happen, Linkous says. Who nowadays would ever use a bank that makes you come in to a branch to access your money? Five years from now the question will be, Who is going to go to a doctors office that makes you come in every single time you have the sniffles? Michael Schumacher's former boss has caused a stir by suggesting the health condition of the F1 legend is "not good". "I constantly get news about him and it is not good," former Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo said. The Italian was speaking at an anniversary event for the Quattroruote magazine, adding: "He was a great driver, but a ski accident has ruined him." Montezemolo's comments might be interpreted as alarming, given the lack of official information about Schumacher's condition following his return home to Switzerland in late 2014. 68-year-old Montezemolo, now the Alitalia airline chief and also heading Rome's 2024 olympics bid, was also asked about Ferrari's hopes for the 2016 F1 season. "It's a different Ferrari to my day, another thing, but I follow it. After all, it was and is my family and the most important thing in my life," he said. (GMM) Kevin Magnussen has expressed his sympathy for the plight of Pastor Maldonado, who was ousted at the last minute by Renault for 2016. It is Magnussen who is replacing the controversial Venezuelan, and the young Dane said: "Pastor has my full respect. "I have been in the same situation as him (at McLaren) and know how hard that is. But I am sure that he will succeed in whatever he does next," said Magnussen. Maldonado was due to be paired with Lotus' 2015 reserve Jolyon Palmer this year, and the British driver commented: "He is a really nice guy -- I worked with him for a year and we got on very well. "So I do feel for him, because it was pretty late." Palmer, however, sounded relieved that he managed to survive the uncertainty of Lotus' 2015 situation and the Renault takeover, explaining: "I don't know where he stood, but there was always this uncertainty. "So maybe it was not completely unexpected (for Maldonado)." From Renault's perspective, new team boss Frederic Vasseur said the late driver change is not a problem. "It would be if there was a difference of 20 kilograms between the drivers, but that's not the case," he added. Indeed, Renault is taking a very cautious approach to its first year back as a full works entrant, as managing director Cyril Abiteboul explained: "We have to be realistic. "We have approved this programme very late. So we cannot expect that we will have absolutely top drivers. For this first year we have the ideal driver pairing," he is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "It is a combination of young, hungry, talented drivers, and with Magnussen we even have the advantage of some experience," he added. (GMM) In four campaigns over the year-long study, the team from the University of Toronto measured emissions 15 meters from the roadway, then converted the measurements to fuel-based emission factors (EFs). BC (black carbon) EFs were in the 73 rd percentile; BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene-xylenes) EFs were in the 8090 th percentile; and size-resolved PN (particle number) EFs were in the 75 th percentile during wintertime measurements. A study of emissions from gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles in an urban near-road environment in Toronto over a wide range of weather conditions (February 2014 to January 2015) found thatother than for NO x and COthe GDI engines had elevated emissions compared to the Toronto fleet. For three campaigns, a second platform for measuring PN and CO 2 was placed 1.53 meters from the roadway to quantify changes in PN with distance from point of emission. Mean PN EFs at 15 m from the roadway were up to 300% higher than EFs at 1.5 m from the roadway. This microscale spatial variability was highest in the winter and smallest in the summer, indicating that the relative increase in particle emissions is influenced by ambient temperature. In comparison, average PN EFs from a PFI vehicle exhibited less spatial variability, with mean PN EFs 15 m from the roadway 17% lower than those measured 3 m from the roadway. One response by automakers to increasingly stringent fuel economy requirements is the use of GDI engines, which offer up to a 25% improvement in fuel economy compared to port fuel injection (PFI) engines. Market share of GDI vehicles is increasing rapidly; between model years 2009 and 2014 there was a 10-fold increase in GDI engine sales. Some projections expect the 2016 market share of new LDVs with GDI engines to exceed 50%. It is already well-known that GDI engines emit substantially more particulate matter than PFI engines due to incomplete fuel volatilization causing fuel impingement on cylinder and piston surfaces and incomplete fuel mixing with air resulting in pockets of fuel rich combustion. Accurately characterizing GDI PM is also a measurement challenge; compared to diesel, the University of Toronto team noted, the large aromatic fraction in gasoline is expected to produce PM with a larger organic mass fraction and with higher volatility. Hence, GDI PM mass loadings and chemical composition may vary depending on the measurement environment or exhaust conditioning. The researchers carried out their campaigns at the Southern Ontario Centre for Atmospheric Aerosol Research (SOCAAR) Field Measurement Facility in downtown Toronto, Canada. The sampling site is north of a four-lane roadway that experiences relatively high traffic volumes ranging from 16,00025,000 cars per day. All measurements for the study were taken from 3:00 am to 6:00 am when traffic volume was at a minimum to isolate the signal from the GDI vehicle and to eliminate the effects of photochemistry. The vehicles in the study were 7 2013 Ford Focus light-duty SE sedans equipped with gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines fueled with commercially available gasoline. For the winter 2014 and spring 2014 campaigns, the researchers used a 2000 Honda CR-V equipped with a PFI engine to compare GDI and PFI PN emissions. From this study, it can be concluded that particles in GDI vehicles have PN, BC, and BTEX EFs in the upper end of the fleet distribution and the exhaust plumes exhibit dynamic behavior in the near-road (15 m) region, with increasing PN EFs at increasing distance from the roadway. This suggests that as GDI vehicle market penetration increases, there may be negative impacts on local air quality, especially in urban environments near roadways. The observed near-road PN dynamics were unique to GDI vehicles, as the same effects were not observed for heavy-duty diesel garbage trucks or a PFI-equipped vehicle. From comparing GDI vehicle size distributions at different distances from the roadway, rapid particle growth of sub-5 nm cores due to condensation of low volatility organic gases is proposed to be the dominant growth mechanism in GDI vehicle exhaust. Given the rapid integration of GDI-equipped vehicles, understanding the impacts of GDI vehicles on local and regional air quality presents a significant measurement challenge, because exhaust PN and BTEX concentrations were found to be strongly influenced by meteorological conditions. Going forward, there is a need to explore GDI emissions from more vehicles to better quantify the effect on vehicle fleet emissions, and to understand the longer term behavior of GDI vehicle exhaust in real-world settings through more detailed experiments, aerosol aging studies, and micro-scale modeling. Zimmerman et al. Resources RIO DE JANEIRO A Brazilian health official warned pregnant women to think twice before giving a kiss as global measures mounted Friday against the Zika virus suspected of a link to birth defects. The U.N. human rights agency called for some nations to loosen strict laws against abortion and U.S. health authorities recommended men who have visited areas with the Zika virus use condoms if they have sex with pregnant women. Paulo Gadelha, president of the Fiocruz research institute, said at a news conference that scientists have found live samples of the virus in saliva and urine samples, and the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids requires further study. He said that calls for special precaution to be taken with pregnant women, and suggested they avoid kissing people other than a regular partner or sharing cutlery, glasses and plates with people who have symptoms of the virus. "This is not a generalized public health measure, for the love of God," he added. Brazil plunged into Carnival season on Friday a time when people commonly kiss strangers they meet at massive street parties. Scientists at the Fiocruz institute say they're trying to determine if the body fluids can spread Zika to new patients. Meanwhile in Geneva, spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the OHCHR was asking governments in Zika-affected countries in Latin and South America to repeal any policies that break with international standards and restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion. "We are asking those governments to go back and change those laws," she said. "Because how can they ask those women not to become pregnant but also not offer them first information that is available, but the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish?" Pouilly said that about a quarter of women had experienced physical or sexual violence in El Salvador in the past year. "So that also shows that many of these pregnancies are out of their control and countries obviously have to take that into account," she said. Pouilly said that safe abortion services should be provided to the full extent of the law. "The key point is that women should have the choice and (make) informed decisions," she said. "Women should be able to have an abortion if they want." Meanwhile, U.S. health officials said men who have visited an area with Zika should use condoms if they have sex with a pregnant woman for the entire duration of the pregnancy. The guidance issued Friday also says men might consider abstaining or using condoms even if they have sex with a woman who isn't pregnant. Zika virus disease is mainly spread by mosquitoes. In most people it causes mild or no symptoms. But officials recently detected a case of sexual transmission of the disease in Texas. Officials previously recommended pregnant women postpone trips to more than two dozen countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Several Latin American nations have urged women to postpone pregnancies. To date, the mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas, including some where sexual violence is rampant. Brazil responded to complaints it had been slow to share data about the illness by announcing late Thursday that it's sending a set of Zika samples to U.S. health authorities. The announcement came hours after The Associated Press revealed that international health officials were frustrated at Brazil's refusal to share enough viral samples and other information to answer the most worrying question about the outbreak: Whether the disease is truly causing a spike in babies born with abnormally small heads. Clients of Simon Pearce will have an opportunity to meet the fellow Vermonter artisans behind ShackletonThomas on Thursday in Greenwich. The work of pottery expert Miranda Thomas and handcrafted furniture maker Charles Shackleton is currently featured in the Greenwich Simon Pearce vignette space and will be on display through Feb. 29. The artists will be in the store from 2-7 p.m. Thursday and at 5:30 p.m., and will each give an illustrated speech titled A life of Art and Adventure. Greenwich Police arrested a student at Greenwich High School Tuesday for allegedly making a threat against a teacher via social media. Thomas Walker, 18, of Ferris Road, was charged with breach of peace Tuesday shortly afternoon. Police said they were called to the school shortly after noon regarding Facebook messages of a disturbing contact. According to the arrest report, Upon arrival it was learned that Thomas Walker was in class when the victim took his cellphone away for texting while in the classroom. The victim saw her name on the screen of the phone and opened up the messages. That Walker had written to unknown friends about plans to jump his teacher and that she needs to die. That the victim became afraid and contacted the school Student Resource Officer. School officials provided with screen shots of the Facebook messages. Walker was released without bail. Police were not releasing additional details on the arrest beyond the initial report. We just want to eat and get out of here. Photo: Thomas Hawk/Flickr Dennys history with black customers could be described as strained, and a new lawsuit thats just settled out in California certainly isnt going to improve that relationship. Henry Williams and Renee Hebert claimed that back in 2014, an L.A. Dennys made them prepay for their meal a tactic with a history of being discriminatory because they were black. Williams fronted the eatery about $80, which manager Ali Rahman eventually tried to return. When he tried, it seemed obvious to them that Rahman knew hed screwed up, because Williams says he had to plead with Rahman to stop coming over to the table and bothering them. After he offered free dessert, they told him theyd actually rather just take their food to go, so they got it boxed up and left. Williams and Hebert say that nobody else was asked to prepay and that they waited longer than the other guests. In court this week, a customer seated nearby at the time testified that theyd handled the situation pretty impressively. They were black, Im white, Ive never been asked to prepay, he told the jury, adding, I thought it was appalling for someone in that year and time to be discriminated against like that. Both Dennys and Rahman admitted it was a mistake, but argued they had at least two excuses: The order was huge, and that location was in the midst of problems with customers walking out on checks. Williamss and Heberts attorneys pointed out this isnt really a defense, and, coincidentally, that nearby customer claimed to have seen the staff ask other black customers to prepay in the weeks prior. The lawsuit was ultimately settled out of court Thursday, with Dennys reps saying the terms are confidential. Given Dennys bad rap already in this area (it agreed to pay $54 million in 1994 for similar discrimination against black customers), the chain was no doubt working with some haste to resolve this case. [MyNewsLA, NBC LA] Actual quote from the website: Its not that weird, we promise! Bulletproofs fans exhausted from having to find, then melt their own yak butter for upgraded morning coffee are about to be in biohacked heaven: A rival called Grass Fed Coffee, the worlds first ready-to-drink butter coffee, has just shattered its Kickstarter goal by raising $86,000 to bring to market a concoction thats part cold brew, part German butter, and all mental clarity. The real novelty, though, is that these guys are canned just pop the top for eight immediate ounces of butter, a blend of Peruvian coffees/coffee extracts, MCT oil, and chicory. Grass Feds creators describe the product as creamy and delicious, but they caution restraint for first-timers: Start with half a can, since the effects (mental clarity, focus, energy, and whatnot) can be very strong at first for beginners. Bulletproof founder Dave Asprey, whos in the middle of transforming his e-commerce business into a retail chain with spinoffs like Fat Water, a product understandably described as having an appetite-suppression effect, apparently hadnt thought up the idea of bottling his oily coffee yet. Despite having practically the same ingredients and claiming to offer the same purported health benefits, Grass Fed has no relation to Bulletproof, which means this new start-up can probably expect a hail of scoffs from Gwyneth Paltrows doctor, Third Eye Blind, and the rest of Dave Aspreys followers. [Daily Coffee News] Photo: iStockphoto Welcome to Grub Streets weekly survey of the most-talked-about, must-visit restaurants in New York. The list below features spots both new and old, ranked according to one important, ever-fluctuating (and admittedly subjective) metric: Who has the most buzz? Perhaps a famed chef has taken over the kitchen or theres a new dish you absolutely must order. Maybe the restaurant is just brand new or the critics are raving about it. Whatever the reason, these are the 12 hottest restaurants in New York right now. 1. Le Crocodile (10) Would you like some Barbuto-style roast chicken with a big pile of crisp, skinny fries? Of course you would and so, it seems, does Times critic Pete Wells, who this week gave three stars to this Williamsburg brasserie, writing, Nearly everything Ive had at Le Crocodile has made me want to come back for more. 2. Barbuto (7) Then again, if you want your Barbuto-style chicken from Barbuto, you will be very happy to learn that the restaurant is now back in action, albeit around the corner from the original location. Everything, and everyone, you love from the original version is back, too, so the restaurants legions of regulars should have no trouble settling right in to the updated space. 3. Thai Diner (2) Suddenly, everythings a diner including Soho Diner, Jose Andress Spanish Diner, and chef Sam Yoos very excellent Golden Diner and now the Uncle Boons team unveils the aptly named Thai Diner. As you might guess, its equal parts Greek-American diner and Thai restaurant with a wild mix of food (kanom krok, eggs with Thai sausage, chicken liver with pineapple and Thai herbs, straight-up cheeseburgers) that is something like a free-for-all of deliciousness. 4. Rule of Thirds (1) The new Japanese spot at the Williamsburg-Greenpoint border is off to a good start. The bar is huge, the drinks are solid (including a list of sake for natural wine lovers), and chef JT Vuongs menu is filled with hits, like a tofu-and-Camembert hot pocket, and a deeply comforting vegan riff on kasujiru, a mushroom-and-bean-laden stew thats infused with the flavor of sake lees. 5. Ernestos (3) Chef Ryan Bartlows impressive menu is filled with all sorts of food you find yourself thinking about long after youve left his new downtown Spanish restaurant: chicken croquettes with a beautiful custardy interior, that Instagram-famous pile of potato chips and Spanish ham, pots of long-cooked tripe, squid stewed in its own ink, and peppers stuffed with tender lamb neck. 6. Jua (4) Chef Ho Young Kims Korean tasting-menu spot is open, and quickly finding fans. The food on the $95 set menu is polished with an ambitious approach that marries Korean and Western techniques and the entire room smells pleasantly of the wood fire that Kim uses to cook much of his food. 7. Karazishi Botan (7) Returning to the idea of everythings a diner how about a ramen diner, this one from chef Foo Kanegae, who is best known here for his work with Ippudo? Its in the space that was previously home to Battersby, which you may recall is, um, cozy. You might also know that everyone loves ramen and that this particular diner will not accept reservations. All of this is to say: Expect a wait! 8. Leo (8) Whats not to like about this Williamsburg pizza joint? The vibe is as casual as it gets, the pizzas are exceedingly solid, you can just grab whatever wine you want off the wall (or from a cooler up front), and everyone just seems so exceedingly happy to be here. Also: those beans! 9. 232 Bleecker (11) Chef Suzanne Cupps has teamed up with the Dig chain for this new neighborhood spot in Greenwich Village. There is a massive grill, Cuppss signature way with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and lasagna made with Moses Sleeper cheese from Vermonts Jasper Hill Farm. 10. Da Toscano (12) Speaking of highly revered New York chefs arriving in new spaces, Michael Toscano has returned to the city with an upscale Italian spot that promises to hit all the carby, meaty notes his fans will remember and love. 11. Veronika (9) What does Adam Platt think of Stephen Starrs newest restaurant, a gilded homage to the European luxury of yesteryear? Our critic recently wrote that much of chef Robert Aikenss cooking is extremely polished the duck-stuffed chou farci and chicken Kiev are lovely but as dinner progresses at Veronika, theres a sense that the kitchen, like this latest Starr concept in general, is missing that little creative twist that in cooking (and theatrical) circles is sometimes called a point of view. 12. Saltbae Burger (New this week) You probably shouldnt actually go here, but when something is universally understood to be the worst restaurant in NYC right now it has to make you a little curious, no? Less than a couple of months after Samsung took its patent battle with Apple to the US Supreme Court, Apple has requested the country's highest court not to take up the South Korean company's appeal. For those who aren't in the know, Samsung moved the Supreme Court after agreeing to pay Apple $548 million to settle their yearslong patent legal case. The company is seeking a re-examination of the decisions made in the case so far, arguing that the jury isn't given all the details on how to understand the patents when dealing with design patent-related cases, as well as questioning the way damages are calculated in these cases. In its arguments filed yesterday, Apple said it sees no reason for the court to review Samsung's verdict. "Samsung had its day in court many days, in fact and the properly instructed jury was well-justified in finding that Samsung copied Apple's designs and should pay the damages that the statute expressly authorizes," the iPhone maker said. "While this litigation may be high-profile, it is legally unexceptional, and Samsung has shown no reason for this Court to prolong it." In its response to Apples filing, Samsung said, "If the legal precedent in this case stands, innovation could be diminished, competition could be stifled, and opportunistic lawsuits could have negative effects throughout the U.S. economy." Via Last year Samsung managed to anger many Note series fans in Europe by not officially launching the Galaxy Note5 on the continent in 2015. For some reason, Samsung decided that only the Galaxy S6 edge+ was to be sold in Europe, at least at first. While the Note5 did eventually become available too, many early adopters didn't like how they were forced to pick the phablet with the curved screen even if they wanted the one with the S Pen. Amazingly, Samsung seems to have learned something from that ordeal. If a new report is to be believed, the Korean company will not repeat that story. What's more, its strategy for this year's flagship phablets seems to be exactly the opposite, at least for the UK. Namely, it's said that Samsung will bring the Note 6 to the UK from the beginning, while the Galaxy S7 edge+ will not see an official launch in the country. Ever. It's probably safe to assume that the same thing will happen in Continental Europe. The information allegedly comes from a "source high up at one of the UK's major networks". The reason for the change in strategy has to do with a "backlash from loyal Note fans" over what happened last year. And sales of the S6 edge+ (pictured above) in the UK were quite disappointing, which is possibly why that market won't see its successor. The Galaxy Note 6 is due for release in August. The 5.1-inch Galaxy S7 and the 5.5-inch S7 edge are going to be unveiled on February 21 at MWC in Barcelona, and they are to go on sale in early March according to the same source. Hopefully you have taken all of this with a grain of salt, since we're still many months away from the Note 6's announcement - hence, even if these plans are true right now, there's still time for them to change. Source Google has just announced the latest update to the Android Wear platform. The new software is going to be rolled out to all smartwatches running Android Wear. It's expected to reach all the devices within the next few weeks. Here's what to expect when that update notification finally hits your watch. The new version of Android Wear brings with it support for built-in speakers for wearables (and the Huawei Watch already has one, for example, along with the 49mm Asus ZenWatch 2). This means you'll be able to take and make calls from your watch. It's also possible to listen to audio or video messages through certain apps. New gestures have been incorporated into this release too. You can expand a card, bring up your apps, or return to your watch face with a push, lift, or shake. These gestures arrive in addition to the already available ones that let you scroll up and down your card stream by simply flicking your wrist. Finally, support for sending messages with your voice has been expanded to include popular third party apps. So with this update you're able to say something like "OK Google, send a WhatsApp message to George: I'll be right there". And, of course, that will result in George receiving a WhatsApp message containing those exact words. The other apps supported for this functionality are Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, and WeChat. Source The Galaxy S7 is just around the corner (February 21 announcement confirmed) and it's fair to say that Samsung will have little to surprise us with on the keynote. Specs and looks have been leaked time and time again to the tiniest detail, and the smartphone just can't come soon enough for us to actually put it through its paces. In the meantime, reports keep coming in on the S7's performance and it's hard not to be impressed with its alleged 2-day battery life. And now we're being treated to some GeekBench scores of what is likely a near final unit bound for US carrier T-Mobile. The Galaxy S7 in question is powered by the Snapdragon 820 (Exynos 8890 versions should also supposedly exist) and posts some pretty high numbers. The single-core result in particular is mightily impressive at around 2,300 points, while the Huawei Mate 8 we reviewed recently only managed about 1,600 with one of its Cortex-72 cores. Mind you, today's numbers are much higher than initial reports suggested, meaning Samsung and Qualcomm held back on performance in early designs. Today's figures are virtually the same as what Qualcomm's reference units were able to put out, which leads us to believe this is the Snapdragon 820 in its final form. That said, a single one of the Kryo cores inside Qualcomm's top chip is still behind (if only slightly) one of Apple's Twister cores in the A9 SoC found in the latest iPhone 6s. All four cores in the S820, on the other hand, easily top Apple's CPU, which only has a pair of Twisters. That said, T-Mobile's Galaxy S7 is still no match for the Mate 8 in the multi-core test. We'll be anticipating the Exynos 8890 to see how all of this year's flagship chips measure up. And if you believe none of this is actually relevant in the real life anymore, when high-end chips have surpassed the average user's needs, you may be half-right. But there are those that will take any performance improvement they can get - even better if paired with excellent battery life. Source | Via Samsung dropped the support for Galaxy S II a long time ago and officially the phone is stuck on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (up from 2.3 Gingerbread) forever. But the Galaxy S II is one of the most popular Samsung smartphones ever, and it has been seeing various third-party ROMs throughout the years. Cyanogen, the most popular ROM maker out there, has granted the Galaxy S II support for KitKat and Lollipop. As of yesterday, the Cyanogen team released the first nightly build of CyanogenMod 13 based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Being a nightly ROM means there will be bugs and the OS is probably not stable enough for everyday usage. We are sure the fans still keeping their Galaxy S II units will be happy with the Marshmallow news. If you are interested in updating your Galaxy S II beyond Jelly Bean, Cyanogen is your best option right now. Source | Via Haiti - Elections : Department of State urges the Haitian authorities to reach an agreement Thursday, the United States urged the executive and legislative authorities in Haiti to reach agreement on how to govern the country, before the current President Michel Martelly left office Sunday, February 7, in addition to advance towards democratic election of a new President. "The United States urges the government and parliament, the constitutional authorities of Haiti, to reach an agreement on a roadmap to govern the country until a new President is elected," declared a spokesman for the US Department of State, urging to "conclude this agreement before February 7, when the constitutional mandate of President Martelly will end." Reiterating that the Government of Barack Obama supports "all efforts to find solutions and reach consensus to conclude the electoral process in a quick manner." Before concluding "The United States, with their international partners in Haiti, urge the Government of Haiti, its institutions and all political actors to reject violence and take all necessary measures to pave the way for the peaceful election of a new President and the remaining seats in parliament, as required by the Constitution." See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16418-haiti-elections-statement-by-state-department.html SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Reconstruction : Inauguration of the new Ministry of the Interior Thursday, President Michel Martelly, went to the Champ de Mars for the inauguration of the new building expected to house the Ministry of Interior and Territorial Communities (MICT), in the presence of among others of Lener Renauld, Minister of Defence and of Foreign Affairs, Ardouin Zephirin, Minister of Interior, of great servants of the State, government members, representatives of the diplomatic corps, personalities of the civil society and of the business sector. This building located at the corner of Paul VI and Monseigneur Guilloux, on the site of the General Tax Directorate (DGI) destroyed during the earthquake of 2010, is part of the project of the City Administrative. The prime contractor was the MICT with as delagate prime contractor the Housing Construction Unit and Public Buildings (UCLBP). It is the firms "Constructora ROFI" (Dominican) and "Overseas Engineering & Construction Company" (Taiwanese), who were responsible for executing the work. "This new achievement demonstrates once again the efforts of my administration to rebuild the country," said President Martelly, satisfied with having laid the foundations for the reconstruction of Downtown still called "administrative city" https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11362-haiti-reconstruction-new-downtown-the-government-rejects-the-accusations-of-the-opposition.html The 5-storey building that will houses the MICT staff, was funded by the Treasury and the PetroCaribe funds, includes offices, meeting rooms, infirmary, cafeteria and a parking area with a capacity of 120 vehicles and parking in the basement for about thirty vehicles. The building comprises three lifts and two emergency staircases "All measures have been taken to ensure that the construction of this building meets modern standards and standards," reassured Clement Belizaire, Executive Director of UCLBP. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16321-haiti-reconstruction-the-new-ministry-of-interior-almost-ready.html HL/ S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Electoral Zapping... Sunday, Michel Martelly will leave office without regret Thursday, on the sidelines of the inauguration of new premises of the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16519-haiti-reconstruction-inauguration-of-the-new-ministry-of-the-interior.html President Martelly declared "I say thank you to all those who allowed me to serve my country. It was an honor for me. I do not regret a day, I do not feel that I failed one day [...] I do not want to keep power an extra day, nothing makes me feel that, I'm not afraid of anything [...]" He thanked his team members and the international cooperation with which he was able to run many projects in the country and commended to have contributed to improve Haiti's image on the international stage, but regrets that political troubles have come tarnish that image. He concluded by wishing "that the next Government can do better by continuing irreversibly the reforms [...] The idea is to make each day a little more... It is never easy and it will never easy ". The European Commission is concerned This week, during a debate on Haiti to the European Parliament, the European Commission expressed its "concern" about the political situation in Haiti and called on all parties to seek consensus "We hope that will found a consensus for the electoral process to resume," said the European Commissioner for regional policy, Corina Cretu, calling on all parties not to fall into violence. "Our recommendation is that the second round is organized," stressing that once passed on 7 February, when President Martelly, has completed its mandate, there is a risk that the interim government continues to face "a problems of legitimacy." "Don Kato" advocates the union and listening of the street "It would be important all sectors of national life come together to see if they can get the country out of the current political crisis. It is important that politicians listen to the cries of the masses demonstrating in the streets," indicated the Senator of West Antonio Cheramy aka eDon Kato". The G8, a exit from the crisis in 3 points Thursday, Samuel Madistin the G8 spokesman renewed the G8 proposal to end the crisis that goes through: the establishment of a Provisional President from the Court of Cassation; a consensual Prime Minister from the Sector Policy and a Government from the political class and other vital sectors of national life. 2 absent only in the National Assembly Late Thursday afternoon was held the session in National Assembly https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-16506-haiti-flash-convocation-of-the-national-assembly.html , 22 senators and 92 deputies were present. Senators Steven Benoit and Edwin Zenny were the only absentees from the session. Senator Jocelerme Privert, President of the National Assembly has indicated in his speech that Parliament will take all measures to prevent an institutional vacuum after February 7, 2016. HL/ HaitiLibre Covenant Worship, the music ministry of Covenant Church will release their Integrity Music album, Take Heart. The album is available as both a 14-track physical album and a 16-track digital album, as well as a physical songbook and a CD-ROM digital songbook. Recorded last fall at Covenant's annual worship arts conference, Take Heart features worship pastors David and Nicole Binion and team members including Joshua DuFrene and Colin Edge. The four co-wrote the songs included on Take Heart, as well as on Covenant's previous albums, including Kingdom and Standing. Expanding on the title song and underlying theme for Take Heart, David Binion explains: "In the Old Testament, Moses was instructed to write a song and teach it to his children and his children's children so that they would remember what God said. So as we search the scriptures for inspiration, we lean in to hear what God is saying, then we translate it to music to make it easy to remember. If the world ever needed to hear the Voice of God, it certainly does in this season... He is always speaking. It is up to us to listen." "My greatest desire for this project is that it would bring hope and encouragement to everyone that hears it," adds DuFrene. "One of the things we were very intentional about during the writing process for this record was making sure we had the name of Jesus in our lyrics. There is something unexplainable that happens when we sing His name together. The atmosphere changes... I want people to play these songs and experience the hope, freedom, healing, and victory that comes when we lift up the name above every name, the matchless name of Jesus." Stand out tracks for Take Heart include the title song along with "Beautiful," a ballad cowritten by Nicole Binion and led by her and her daughter Gracie, "There Is A Name," written and led by DuFrene, and promise-filled songs like "The Battle Is Yours," also performed by Nicole, and "God Is In Control," led by new team member Nathan Walker. Gracie also adds her voice to several tracks and takes the lead alongside Walker on the song "Motivation." "Sometimes we can forget the power that we have when we worship together," comments Colin Edge. "The Word says that two can put ten thousand to flight, and the way a song can unify people in one voice is an incredible thing. So when we sing these songs that remind us how big our God is and how we are strong as his Church, courage always rises up in the hearts of everyone who hears." In addition to the 14-track physical album, the 16-track digital album also features two bonus tracks, including "Isn't The Name," a song penned and led by Jonathan Stockstill, pastor and worship leader for Bethany Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Take Heart album will be available in Christian retail stores and through all major digital service providers with the songbook available through ChristianBook.com, Amazon and directly through Integrity athttp://www.integritymusicdirect.com. Tags : Covenant Worship Covenant Worship New Album take heart covenant worship news integrity musicc Published on 2016/02/04 | Source The damage lawsuit between Kim Hyun-joong, who is currently in the military, and his ex-girlfriend Choi, has been postponed. Advertisement The case was going to be held on February 3rd at the Seoul Central Court but the date has been postponed to March 18. The fifth case was previously postponed from December 23 to February, based on decisions by the court and it's the same this time around. Human resource matters led to this decision. Kim Hyun-joong has been in a court battle with Choi regarding abuse, pregnancy and miscarriage since last year. Choi has asked for 1.6 billion won in compensation and Kim has sued her for defamation, threat and more. Choi gave birth in between and the latest issue of the case was whether or not Kim was the father of the child. According to Seon Jong-moon, the DNA tests that were conducted in January came back with positive results and Kim is 99.9999% the father. Lawyer Lee Jae-man and Kim's parents said, "We've made it clear that Kim Hyun-joong will take responsibility of the child. We will do what the court tells us to do for the child's happiness and we hope the child doesn't get involved in this media mess. However, the case will continue for the sake of Kim Hyun-joong's image". Note : 1.6 billion won case ~ $US 1.6 million Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help Published on 2016/02/04 | Source Actor Kang Ha-neul is coming back as a romantic fool once again. He's never been in a smooth relationship with the ladies in the various dramas or movies that he's been in. In "Incomplete Life", which brought him to stardom and the movie "Twenty", he's always been a character who is always too shy to express his feelings for anyone. In real life, he's a good talker but not on the screen. Advertisement We met Kang Ha-neul at a cafe in Seoul on the 4th for an interview. He plays a poet in the movie "DongJu, The Portrait of A Poet" and a composer named Soo-ho in "Like for Likes". We told him he was made to be a romantic fool but he laughed and said that wasn't true. "I'm not an expert, but I'm not a fool, either. I'm not even a guy who has been single since birth". Kang Hae-neul said, "I think Soo-ho and I synchronized the worst out of all the characters in "Like for Likes". It was easier to think of him as someone who was too shy to say anything to the ones he likes". In "DongJu, The Portrait of A Poet", he acted out a part where he took a walk with Lee Yeo-jin (Shin Yoon-joo) whom he liked. Dong-joo liked her but walking the night with her was just plain awkward. Kang Ha-neul said, "I tried to be awkward. I was surprised by something director Lee Joon-ik said and that was a phrase from poet Yoon Dong-joo's poems; I have never loved a single woman before. I read this line when I was very young so I believed it but Lee Joon-ik told me it was a paradox". "He said the poet said that because he was in love. It was something he wrote because he was in love and now that I think about it, that could be right. So instead of thinking that Dong-joo was single since birth, I decided to think that he'd expressed a woman he once loved in lyrical terms". Kang Ha-neul looked back at the movies and dramas he did and smiled. "Why do I keep doing roles like that? I was a shy man in "Incomplete Life" too. The same goes for "Angel Eyes"". "I guess I was never in a movie or drama where I am actually in a relationship. I was dumped in "Monstar" and "The Heirs". I was dumped in "C'est Si Bon" too". "I don't know why but I guess the writers and directors see me that way instead of a playboy. I also think I wouldn't be right as a playboy". "I think being timid is my thing. I probably won't be able to do anything as a playboy". "Like for Likes" and "DongJu, The Portrait of A Poet" are coming out on the 18th. Harlow is a former New Town in Essex with a population of 86,000. Located in the upper Stort Valley, it was built in the decades after the Second World War to ease overcrowding and London and provide homes for people bombed out during the Blitz. It includes Britain's first pedestrian precinct and first modern residential tower block, The Lawn. Old Harlow, the historic part of the town, was mentioned in the Domesday Book. David and Victoria Beckham's former home, Rowneybury House, nicknamed 'Beckingham Palace', is nearby. 15:19, 20 OCT 2022 Is there any point throwing a Christmas party? le holidays usually signal a welcome relief during the working year, HR managers should be aware that not all employees like to take mandatory leave when they are told to do so.Employers need to be mindful that employees can dispute the issue of forced holidays with the Fair Work Commission , says employment lawyer Josh Bornstein.Technically, employees own their holidays but employers can set conditions on this and force employees to take holidays if this is deemed fair and reasonable, Borstein, a principal at Maurice Blackburn, told AFR.However, he cautions that each Fair Work Commission judge or commissioner may have a different view on what is a reasonable demand, or a reasonable case for exception."It can be a tricky issue for people juggling their leave and trying to ensure they get a proper break," Bornstein told AFR.HR professionals can avoid legal pitfalls by setting out leave arrangements in the employees award or workplace agreement.If they are not covered by these arrangements, an employer can force the issue if it is deemed fair, Australian Human Resources Institute board member Rhonda Brighton-Hall told AFR.Reasonable employers must ensure they give staff plenty of notice ahead of shutdown periods, and workers should approach their manager early if they dont agree to take leave during this time, Brighton-Hall said.Employers need to ensure workers are taking breaks for the sake of workplace health and safety, and also so their leave balance sheets dont turn into a financial liability.Since leave is paid at the rate earned by the employee at the time they take it, rather than at the rate they were paid when they earned it, leave balances grow in value over time and can leave employers facing a big pay-out.Good employers should remember that the purpose of leave is for the benefit of employees not for the employer, says group managing director of consultancy ThoughtWorks, Angela Ferguson."People have lives and have pressures outside of work, Ferguson told AFR.She says the Christmas shutdown period at ThoughtWorks usually takes up around three days of staff annual leave, however the company is flexible and allows some teams to work through.The company usually schedules training courses for the Christmas-New Year break, and staff use the time to do pro-bono or low-urgency work, Ferguson says."The opportunity cost is minimal," said Ms Ferguson.On the flip side, companies such as Netflix offer their staff unlimited paid holiday leave, as long as they complete all their work in the process. Italian man has been cleared of a sexual harassment allegation after a court ruled his actions were driven by an immature sense of humour; and not sexual desire. The 65-year-old man was accused by a junior colleague of touching her sexually and by a second of spanking her, like a little girl... as if he were giving me a light slap on the behind, court documents stated. Despite the man admitting to the behaviour, judges in the Sicilian court in Palermo ruled that he was not touching his staff for sexual pleasure, declaring the contact as not lascivious. Objectively, it was brought on by an immature and inappropriate sense of humour, mixed in with a veiled abuse of power and an albeit improper way of establishing hierarchical relationships in the office, the judges said in their ruling. The courts decision has since been met with outrage; a well-known commentator declaring the decision as worthy of lawmakers in Saudi Arabia. The august assembly seems to suggest that the women who were felt up caused the real offence, he wrote in a front-page opinion piece in La Stampa newspaper. [The ruling] ignores the sensitivity and dignity of the working women and at the same time unfathomably permits the sexual violence, which was perpetrated even if on a small scale, the UIL labour union representatives said in a statement. According to The Daily Mail, a whopping third of Italian women between the ages of 16 and 70 are said to have suffered some sort of physical or sexual violence. Does your workplace have that office funny guy whose offensive comments seem to rub his colleagues the wrong way? While theres a time and place for humour, HR managers need to ensure staff are aware of appropriate behaviour policies in the workplace, or face legal risks, says Emma Thornton, a Senior Associate in Employment and Industrial law at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. An employer should always make clear to employees their expectations about appropriate behaviour, including comments and humour, Thornton says. Thornton says employer expectations will differ between workplaces and what is appropriate on a building site may not be appropriate in an office setting. It is fundamental for any employer to ensure that employees are aware that humour of an unlawful kind that is, for example, humour that is discriminatory and offensive because it is racist, sexist, homophobic, ageist or offensive to people with disabilities, will not be tolerated in their workplace, This not only protects the employers legal interests, but importantly, protects other employees from being humiliated or offended at work, Thornton says. In the recent case of Hengst v Town and Country Community Options Inc. (2016), the Fair Work Commission upheld that a man had been fairly dismissed after a co-worker overheard an inappropriate comment he had made to a colleague. Despite being a long-standing employee with a good performance record, and claiming that his inappropriate conduct amounted to a slip of the tongue, Hengst lost his case for unfair dismissal. This case was a finely balanced one between such an employee, facing disciplinary action for one incident and an employer who had lost confidence in the employees ability to act appropriately with co-workers and clients of his employers business, Thornton said. The Deputy President deciding the case weighed up all of the considerations carefully and found in the employers favour. Whether offensive comments are grounds for instant dismissal depends on whether they are directed at a particular individual and said with malice, she says. However, an employer should take significant steps to educate, train and advise employees that some humour, like the comments described above that are prohibited by law are not tolerated and depending on the severity, may result in termination, All employers should also have in place policies or a clause in their enterprise agreement that provide for a clear disciplinary procedure that allows for transparent investigations of any complaints or instances of inappropriate behaviour, including offensive comments. In any case of an employee making offensive comments, the employer should follow this process carefully, ensuring the employee accused is afford procedural fairness, Thornton says. The key aspects of procedural fairness that ought to be given to each employee is to know the details of the allegations against them, be given sufficient information and time to enable them to defend themselves and access to an unbiased decision maker, she says. If an employee is found to have said offensive things then HR must undertake an exercise to weigh up all the factors leading towards and away from dismissal for example, the nature of the comments, if they were intended to be heard by particular parties, whether they were made in public, the effect on those who heard them, the employees contrition, their length of service and history of behaviour issues that have been raised with them in the past. Thornton says the most important thing an HR person can do is ensure there are robust and appropriate policies put in place covering workplace conduct and discrimination. These policies should be well promoted in the company with regular refresher courses which will help prevent offensive comments being made in the first instance, she says. Thorntons top tips for HR managers include: h MNCs continuing to expand throughout the Asia-Pacific, HR is expected to effortlessly step into the role of managing a regional workforce. HRD talked with three global HR professionals about how they deal with this complex task. The myth of the Asian territory Theres a common perception to think of Asia as one homogeneous region, said Carolyn Moore, the former regional HR director of JWT Asia Pacific; Its not. Its so diverse. Its important to remember that each country has its own characteristics when it comes to languages, culture and social & economic development. You have Australia and Japan which are highly developed countries, through to Pakistan which is war-torn at the moment, Vietnam and Laos which are developing, and the new tiger economies. It adds layers of complexity to everything we do in HR. Striving for regional consistency Perhaps my greatest challenge as a global head of HR is finding the right balance between global and regional in initiatives and control, said Eileen Burnett-Kant, executive global head of HR at Orica. The key is to aim for some consistency throughout the region, getting agreement from local employees about which aspects stay the same across the board and which show some local variation. In the end, theres no substitute for getting out to listen to people, she said. Connect with them on a personal level and make sure you understand what theyre trying to achieve and vice versa. The need for flexibility and understanding APMEA is a highly diverse region, said Mike McCarthy, the group head of HR for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa at MasterCard. This, in addition to differing cultural and legal frameworks, necessitates a great deal of flexibility based on an understanding of the differences and nuances present in each jurisdiction. It is important that both HR and the business exhibit a global outlook, treating regional staff as the local experts and openly listening to their suggestions, he added. Tweetsie Railroad North Carolinas first theme park will host its annual Job Fair on Saturday, February 27, 2016, from 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. at the Tweetsie Railroad Palace Saloon. The park expects to hire approximately 250 employees to operate the facilities and entertain guests during its 2016 season, which runs from April 8 through October 30. Tweetsie Railroad has seasonal openings in the following areas: custodians, food service, ticket office, accounting, ride operations, retail shops, photographers, first aid, entertainers, landscaping attendants/mowers, Deer Park attendants and night security, as well as special event positions. Special event positions require availability that aligns with special event schedules including Letterland, Day Out With Thomas, July 4th and the Ghost Train Halloween Festival. Benefits of employment include competitive wages, and an enjoyable work environment. The Job Fair will provide the opportunity to learn more about 2016 employment opportunities, and to ask specific questions of Tweetsie Railroads management team. Interested candidates 16 years of age or older should bring a completed application and a positive attitude. To learn more about available opportunities or to download an application, visit www.tweetsie.com/employment/job-opportunities/. Applications can also be picked up at Tweetsie Railroads Ticket Office or Administrative Office. Tweetsie Railroad is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Offers of employment are contingent on the result of a background check and drug screen. For more information or questions regarding employment at Tweetsie Railroad, call (828) 264-9061, ext. 200. Tweetsie Railroad will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting April 8, and seven days a week from May 27 through August 21. The park returns to the weekend schedule from August 22 through October 30, including Labor Day Monday. The 2016 season ends Sunday, October 30. The parks regular hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., but will be open until 9:00 p.m. on July 4th for the Fireworks Extravaganza and July 9, 16, 23 and 30 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $44 for adults and $28 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 23 through October 29 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with an admission price of $36 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com. Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2016 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877.TWEETSIE (877.893.3874). Find Tweetsie Railroad on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tweetsie and Twitter and Instagram, @TweetsieRR. Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Reddit Pocket Genre: Adult fiction (but really goof for YA) Pages: 286 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (my 2016 Google Reading map USA (DE)I borrowed this book from my school libraryA boy and a girl who fall in love. Tw families whose hopes collide with destiny. An extraordinary novel that offers a resonant new definition of what it means to be American. Arturo and Alma Rivera have lived their whole lives in Mexico. One day, their beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter, Maribel, sustains a terrible injury, one that casts doubt on whether she'll ever be the same. And so, leaving all they have behind, the Riveras come to America with a single dream: that in this country of great opportunity and resources, Maribel can get better.When Mayor Toro, whose family is from Panama, sees Maribel in a Dollar Tree store, it is love at first sight. It's also the beginning of a friendship between the Rivera and Toro families, whose web of guilt and love and responsibility is at this novel's core.Woven into their stories are testimonials of men and women who have come to the United States from all over Latin America. Their journeys and their voices will inspire you, surprise you, and break your heart.I think this book would be a really good one for high school students. It would give non-immigrants an honest and touching look at what it is like to arrive in the US legally, but without resources. I also think immigrant students would like this book as they would relate to it well and see that there is literature out there that has connections to their experience.The story centers on a family of three (mom, dad, and 15-year old daughter) who arrive legally in Delaware. During their first few weeks in the apartment building they make friends with the neighbors whose stories of arrival are interspersed throughout the book. Each story is different and equally poignant, showing us the varied lives of immigrants.About fifty pages from the end I started to wonder how the book would end as it feels like more of a character study than a plot driven novel. However, there is an end. Definitely. I want people to read this book. Stay in touch with us! An individual customer has no choice but to pay because power grid operators have a natural monopoly in their area of operation, Eloranta argues in a blog entry . Jarkko Eloranta, the president of the Trade Union for Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL), has lashed out at Caruna for what he estimates is a horrible arrangement to cover the costs of its recent power grid acquisition and siphon its profits out of Finland. Fortum sold its power grid to Caruna, which is mainly owned by foreign equity investors, in 2013 for a price of 2.55 billion euros. Caruna is currently using its customers to cover the costs of the acquisition with interests, he states. Eloranta points out that such arrangements are typical of the sales and privatisations of important public utilities. The buyers are making taxpayers and service users pay for services and infrastructure they have already paid for, he slams. The case of Caruna is made even more outrageous by the fact that the company pays hardly any taxes on its profits to Finland, adds Eloranta. Caruna, he points out, has transferred its profits from Finland to the Netherlands as payments for interests on internal loans in order to ensure its operations in Finland remain loss-making. Caruna reported profits of more than 50 million euros in 2014 but only paid taxes of 1.6 per cent to Finland, he highlights. It utilised internal arrangements to ensure its Finnish operations showed a loss and, therefore, had to pay no taxes to Finland. The Netherlands, meanwhile, is a well-known tax haven in the EU that makes generous tax agreements with multinational companies, he continues. The increases in electricity transmission charges adopted by Caruna have whipped up controversy in Finland in recent days. Prime Minister Juha Sipila (Centre), for example, has criticised the tax planning of Caruna. Overall, the tax planning is repulsive, he said in an interview with Iltalehti earlier this week. We may yet be able to intervene in this under-capitalisation, he added. Eloranta urges policy-makers to take into account the consequences before continuing the sales and privatisations of public utilities. The Government of Sipila is intent on opening up more public services to market forces. This is what is taking place in the fields of rail transport and health and social care. The health and social care market is worth tens of billions, and private operators see vast potential there. One would hope that the long-term consequences are assessed before another massive wave of outsourcing and privatisation, he writes. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Jussi Nukari Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi We have also become too accustomed to raising our voices at one another. Men, women, the tolerant, the intolerant and many others including the police have been criticised. We have indeed verbally abused each other in the most thoroughgoing manner, he stated. President Sauli Niinisto did not mince his words in criticising the debate culture in Finland at the opening ceremony of the new parliamentary session on Wednesday. He admitted that some of the unprecedented debate has been warranted but warned that Finns would be making a terrible mistake if they presume that they can solve the problem of uncontrolled migration by scrutinising the deeds and words of others. Niinisto also echoed the assessment of Antti Pentikainen, a special adviser to the Government of Juha Sipila (Centre) on the migrant crisis. There is also a risk that refugees will be used as pawns of cynical power politics, said Niinisto. Pentikainen estimated in an interview with Uusi Suomi in January that people in distress are used cynically as weapons against Europe. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Martti Kainulainen Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Jokisipila is hesitant to estimate whether the speech and reactions were utterly unprecedented but acknowledges that the speech has stirred up an unusual flurry of comments and criticism. The speech delivered by President Sauli Niinisto at the opening ceremony of the new parliamentary session on Wednesday was exceptional both in terms of its content and the subsequent reactions, Markku Jokisipila, the director at the Centre for Parliamentary Studies of the University of Turku, gauges in an interview with Uusi Suomi. The speech was exceptional also due to the context in which it was delivered: The speeches delivered at the opening ceremonies of parliamentary sessions are typically routine-like and declarative rather than opinionated, points out Jokisipila. It is similarly uncommon for Members of the Parliament to publicly lash out at the President for his statements. The speech has aroused scathing criticism especially among the members of the three largest opposition parties the Social Democrats, the Green League and the Left Alliance. Members of the three ruling parties the Centre Party, the National Coalition Party and the Finns Party have contrastively commended the speech. Mikko Karna (Centre) points out on his blog that some representatives of the opposition were confused and surprised by the contents of the speech. The ruling parties, on the other hand, have praised Niinisto for his speech, he writes, calling attention to the divide between the reactions. Jokisipila estimates that Niinisto did not comment specifically on party politics although the views he expressed fall closer to the right end of the political spectrum. He reminds that the main focus of the speech, the migrant crisis, falls within the ambit of the President who is not only the commander-in-chief of the Defence Forces but also responsible for steering foreign policy-making with the exception of EU affairs in co-operation with the Government. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Markku Ulander Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Big Block Dodge headlines fundraiser for Nepal at SAB Hendersonville native Kristian Gaylord had been visiting Nepal and hiking around Mt. Everest for about three weeks when he read about a poor village in desperate need of medicine and other aid in the aftermath of the April earthquake. Related Stories He walked two days to reach the village of Laprak, where he encountered people living in tents and tin shacks and heard that several villagers had died of exposure while others were malnourished in the severe Himalayan winter. He became determined to raise money for medicine, blankets and other supplies. Gaylord, a 2015 high school graduate, has been traveling the world during a gap year between high school and college. Hes raised $6,000 and made two deliveries to the village, said his father, Ken Gaylord, a Hendersonville architect and contractor. He made his last delivery about a week ago. Hes basically out of money. Hes delivered the last of the money. Nevertheless, the effort to help the earthquake victims will go on this weekend at Southern Appalachian Brewery in a fundraiser with music by Big Block Dodge. The event is at 7 p.m. at SAB, 822 Locust St. Any additional money will be distributed through Care Nepal, an organization that is helping earthquake victims, Gaylord. Kristian wont be there because hes currently in Bangkok, Thailand. The son of Gaylord and his wife, Denise Layfield, Kristian attended Christ School and then the North Carolina School of Science and Math, graduating in 2015. He will enroll in August at SciencesPo in France, a dual program of the French university and Columbia University. Hell spend two years in France in a Middle Eastern studies program before finishing the bachelors degree program at Columbia in New York City, his father said. He speaks French and Arabic. Here is what Kristian wrote to a friend about his reaction upon reading upon the devastation: I packed all my things and took a bus as far as I could towards the village of Laprak that I had read about in the paper. Then I walked for two days. When I got to the village, it was immediately clear that the people were pretty desperate. It was between 5-10 degrees (F) outside at night and they were living in emergency shelter tents and tin shacks provided by relief organizations with almost no ability to keep warm. The only reason the whole camp hasnt died is because they build a fire inside of their shelters (you get hit by a massive, eye-burning, lung-choking wall of smoke when you step in) and sleep below the smoke line to stay warm at night. Its quite incredible. Seeing such an extreme need was pretty intense, so I made the trip back to the nearest major city (two days walk) and got to work raising money. Kristian made one last trip to the village before leaving Nepal. "I have just returned to Kathmandu from my second trip up the mountain to bring supplies to Laprak and neighboring villages." he wrote in a blog post on his fundraising site. "I was able to bring medicine to restock what we underestimated the need for in Laprak the first time, as well as a full supply for Gumda, a village just across the valley to the east. I was also fortunate enough to deliver 300+ books, sponsored by Hadaya Toys, to the temporary school shelter in Laprak, which resulted in a lot of happy faces running around the camp this weekend!" Amnesty International have branded comments by the Egyptian ambassador to Ireland about the imprisonment of Ibrahim Halawa as "farcical." Fresh allegations have emerged surrounding the conditions under which the Tallaght teen is being detained in a Cairo prison. The Dubliner - who has spent some 900 days behind bars awaiting trial - has told human rights organisation Reprieve that some prisoners were being tied up naked in a crucifix position. He also said others had been electrocuted using pools of water to increase the pain. Mr Halawa's sister Somaia told the Herald that their latest visit had made them worry for their brother's mental health. Ms Somaia has said her brother's head had been shaved, all of his books had been confiscated and said the small windows in his cell door had been glued shut. Beaten It has also been alleged that Mr Halawa (19) is regularly beaten with rubber bars, and has been singled out by one senior guard for particular abuse. Responding to the claims last year, Egypt's newly-installed Ambassador to Ireland said Mr Halawa's allegations were "false." "Ibrahim's lawyers allegations that he has been beaten and tortured while in prison are false," said Soha Gendi. "Defence teams of the accused need to stop making this a human rights case, because it's not. It's a clear case of terrorism and if they don't stop the propaganda campaigns and start dealing with the evidence they are not going to be able to help the accused." Ms Gendi defended Mr Halawa's imprisonment, but stressed that justice would be done. "It is a very serious terrorism case, in which many have been involved, it led to the death and injury of many Egyptians. Justice should be applied to everyone, unless those who call for his freedom think that some people are better than others," she said. Amnesty International Ireland executive director Colm O'Gorman said the ambassador's claims were not credible. "The ambassador's statement, which suggests that torture is not an issue in Egypt is simply not credible," he said. "To then suggest that Ibrahim Halawa will face a fair trial is farcical." Mr Halawa faces a mass trial along with 493 others, and his trial has been postponed on 12 occasions so far. A Norwegian man who was given a wholly suspended sentence for raping his girlfriend multiple times while she slept must wait to hear whether he will be sent to jail following an appeal by prosecutors. Magnus Meyer Hustveit (25), had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against his 28-year-old girlfriend between 2011 and 2012. He was given a suspended seven-year sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13, 2015. Hustveit, whose former partner Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill waived her right to anonymity so that his identity could be published, returned to his native Norway after sentencing. Review In seeking a review of his sentence yesterday on grounds that it was "unduly lenient", prosecuting counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC, cited a former Chief Justice when she said that it wasn't easy to imagine circumstances which would justify a non-custodial sentence for rape. Ms Gearty said there were multiple rapes in this case and a "shocking betrayal of trust". Ms Gearty claimed the judge erred by not acknowledging that this class of conduct merited a lengthy period of custody. Counsel for Hustveit, Caroline Biggs SC, said the exceptional circumstance in this case was "the all important email" Hustveit had sent to his former partner in which he acknowledged what he had done. He pressed 'send' knowing the email could incriminate him because she had asked him to explain, Ms Biggs said. She needed to understand what he had done so she could get closure. The affect of the email and other mitigating factors - his previous good character, young age, low risk of re-offending, and his guilty plea - put this case out of the normative range. The three-judge Court of Appeal yesterday reserved its judgment to a later date. A woman who became reclusive after her parents died and her marriage ended lay dead in her home for nearly a month. Ellen Casey (68) was found in the back bedroom of her home on Lally Road in Ballyfermot on January 21. Her family paid tribute to her as a hard worker. The youngest of five, she worked in the Thomas Gear jewellery shop in the Ilac Centre, as well as a jewellery shop on O'Connell Street, and was in contact with her sister Mary Anne Forrester who lives just across the road from her. But when her parents died over 20 years ago, and her short marriage failed, she withdrew into herself and shunned attention, her family said. Sad Ms Casey had not been seen by her family for around three months but preliminary investigations show she died sometime early in the New Year, as she had collected her pension on December 31. "It's very sad. We would call over to her but she would tell us to go away and close the gate, and she would also spend time in hospital because her health was bad. "She wouldn't let us in. The only person she had regular contact with was my daughter Ann Marie," said Ms Forrester. Ann Marie explained how she used to travel with her aunt Ellen into town to collect her pension in the GPO. "We would do a bit of shopping and have a bit to eat, and then come home. "She would only talk to me because she would say I was the only person that could handle her ways," she said. But Ann Marie has had health issues of her own in recent months and has spent a lot of time in hospital. "My mother thought Ellen was in hospital, because she had poor health and would often be away from home getting treatment, but I had a feeling she was in the house, and when I couldn't get an answer I called the gardai. "They forced their way in and I told them to check the back bedroom, and they found her there. "She was a very lonely person, and it was a sad way to go. She was a loner," she explained. The family described how Ms Casey had her own ways of going about things. "She wouldn't collect her pension in Ballyfermot, she insisted it was the GPO, and if she was getting a taxi home she would get it to Chapelizod and walk the rest of the way. "It was like Ballyfermot wasn't good enough for her. She had these kind of thoughts, God bless her," said her grandson David. Ms Casey's funeral will take place tomorrow at 11.30am in the Church of the Assumption in Ballyfermot. No foul play is suspected and it is thought she may have fallen in the house. Gardai called Father Richard Delahunty from the local church to the scene after they discovered her body. "It is a very sad case and is an example of how we should keep tabs on our neighbours and relatives, even those who lead very private lives," he told the Herald. Missed The discovery of Ms Casey's body was the first of two within the space of a week in Ballyfermot where it is suspected the deceased lay undiscovered for a long period. On January 26 Edward Quinn (43), who was originally from Millbrook Lawns in Tallaght, was found in his flat on Decies Road. He was found when his landlord called and could not get an answer at the door. It is believed he may have been dead for around three weeks. Funeral arrangements are being made by his family who said he died unexpectedly and will be sadly missed by his relatives and friends. Hagerstown man found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in 2021 shooting Hagerstown resident Gage J. Coles was convicted Thursday in the October 2021 shooting death of John A. Leonard IV and the shooting of Jaseye Stephens. This weekend might be the last warm one we have in awhile Dr. Richard Signer, who played a leading role in establishing not one but two of Central Florida's leading children's hospitals, is retiring this week after a 40-year career at Florida Hospital. Dr. Signer arrived in Central Florida in 1976, at which time he was only the second pediatric surgeon in the region. He went on to found Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in 1989, followed by Florida Hospital for Children in 2000. "I want to acknowledge the tremendous kindness and generosity those associated with Florida Hospital have shown toward me and, even more importantly, toward the children of Central Florida," Dr. Signer said. "To be able to spend my career working with so many talented doctors, nurses and administrators has been a blessing that I can cherish always." Dr. Signer practiced pediatric surgery in Central Florida for 32 years. For five of those years, he was the only pediatric surgeon in the Florida Hospital system. Over the 32-year span, he performed more than 15,000 surgeries. He was also the first chief medical officer of Florida Hospital for Children, a position he held for 14 years. Marla Silliman, senior executive officer of Florida Hospital for Children and Florida Hospital for Women, praised Dr. Signer's many contributions. "If it weren't for Dr. Signer, we would not have many of the physicians that we have here today, and we would not have the level of children's hospital that we have today," Silliman said. "We thank him for his tremendous dedication over the past 40 years." Dr. Michael Keating, a pediatric urologist, also spoke about Dr. Signer's legacy. "Dr. Signer's commitment to the care of children in Central Florida will be sorely missed," Dr. Keating said. "His pioneering vision and tireless efforts have been instrumental to the establishment and continued growth of the Florida Hospital for Children." A New York native, Dr. Signer graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, then earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School. During medical school he married Helaine Weiss. They have two sons, Brian and Mathew. Dr. Signer completed his internship and residency in general surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Bronx Municipal Hospital. He completed his Pediatric Surgery residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. For those who would like to contact Dr. Signer, he can be reached at rds11544@aol.com. USF students express their disagreement with the Student Government's vote for BDS on campus by wearing statements on their t-shirts and taping their mouths shut because they were not allowed to express their opinions. The University of South Florida (USF) Student Government (SG) Senate voted on Jan. 19 to approve a joint resolution, titled "In Support of Student Voices," calling for the university to divest from companies it deems "complicit in human rights violations." Authors of the resolution, senators Muhammad Imam and Rema Hamoui, specify the companies to divest from support tobacco products, fossil fuel use and the Israeli army in anti-Palestinian issues. The vote passed 32-12 with four abstentions. "I would have never thought that I would feel as exhausted, betrayed, and silenced as I did during last night's USF Student Senate meeting," said Hannah V., USF Class of 2016. "My eyes were opened to the terrifying reality that anti-Semitism still exists, when the Senate passed a bill calling on the University to divest from Israel. It was claimed by the sponsors of the resolution that it is not anti-Semitic. How can this be the case when the only country mentioned in the resolution as the sole violator of human rights in the world is Israel?" According to Rabbi Ed Rosenthal, executive director and campus rabbi of the Suncoast Hillels, the SG submitted the resolution over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. "There was little time to prepare," Rosenthal said, "but many students were able to rally and more than 50 students who support Israel attended the meeting wearing t-shirts that read 'B.igotry, D.ouble S.tandards,' 'BDS=Anti-Semitism. Anti-Semitism is not a USF Value,' and a quote by Dr. Martin Luther Kind, Jr.: "When people criticize Zionists, they mean Jews, You're talking Anti-Semitism.'" Students who opposed the resolution were at a disadvantage. Those in the gallery were not allowed to speak to the resolution, and there weren't enough pro-Israel senators to fight the onslaught from those in favor. "It took a great amount of will power and control to not scream and point out the lies that were being spewed," Hannah stated. "Our voices were not heard at the Student Government meetings. Not only were our voices not heard, they were silenced," said Lauren S., USF Class of 2017. "We were not allowed to speak; to defend Israel. Instead, we were failed by the very institution that was put in place to protect the students and our rights." Rosenthal explained that for the past four years, USF students have had to deal with anti-Semitism and hate spewed forth by haters of Israel on campus. Students for Justice in Palestine had a controlling number of seats in the USF Senate, and after collecting more than 10,000 signatures on a petition calling for BDS in the spring of 2014, they were able to pass the resolution. Senators in opposition expressed concern about the possible illegality of the resolution because of the current resolution condemning BDS that was just introduced in the Florida Legislature (see the Jan. 15 Heritage issue, "Florida is fifth state to introduce resolution condemning BDS). Both the student body president, Andy Rodriquez, and student body vice president, Michael Malanga, vetoed the resolution. In an executive memorandum, they wrote: "As the elected representatives of over 41,000 students attending the University of South Florida, we believe that the message being sent does not reflect an aggregate student voice, and we are not comfortable with the precedent this resolution sets... "We believe that bringing a topic as polarized and politically driven as this into the realm of Student Government serves only to divide the Student Body and to disparage students with opposing viewpoints, instead of uniting our students. ..." Rosenthal shared his concern that anti-Semitism will rise on campus and his concern is not farfetched. Tammi Rossman-Benjamin, head of Jewish student advocacy group the AMCHA Initiative, said there is a "clear relationship" between anti-Israel BDS activism and anti-Semitic acts against Jewish students on campuses across the United States. "The more BDS activity there is, the more likely it is we're going to find Jewish students and Jewish events suppressed or shut down," she stated. Rossman-Benjamin also said that the Birthright program is under attack. In the past year alone, according to Rossman-Benjamin, there have been 302 acts of anti-Semitism at 109 college campuses in 28 states. Stanley G. Tate, chairman of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations (PJTN) Board of Directors, is calling on USF's Board of Trustee's to veto the student government's recent passage of the resolution. "This BDS effort seeks to do one thing, intimidate Jewish and Christian Zionist students across the state. That is morally reprehensible and completely unacceptable," he stated. In response to one concerned parent's letter, Cindy Visot, Ed.D, chief of staff/assistant corporate secretary, wrote: "The measure that was voted upon this week is a non-binding resolution of the Student Senate, which means it does not compel any action by the USF Foundation nor the university administration. As with Student Senate resolutions on any issue, it is up to the elected representatives in the totality of Student Government to evaluate if the resolution genuinely reflects the views of USF's large and diverse student body, is consistent with the organization's procedures, and is within its jurisdiction. At this time, the resolution is a reflection of one branch of Student Government. A similar resolution was presented to the USF Foundation Board last year, and the Board voted unanimously to reject the resolution and not revisit the topic. "USF is a public institution where free speech and the collegial exchange of ideas and opinions may be expressed in civil dialogue. The rights of individuals and groups to share their views on topics-including social, environmental and political issues-are respected, both as part of this exchange of ideas and as part of the academic process. USF is committed to preserving a campus environment that reflects the values of inclu sion and acceptance, and our first priority is creating a safe and secure environment in which our students can learn. This includes learning about ongoing global conflicts and their roles in finding productive solutions." USF students Hannah and Lauren spoke of their shared concerns. "We were not fully prepared with the knowledge necessary to sway the votes of the undecided. Education plays such a fundamental role in defeating anti-Semitism, and we are not educated in a way to defeat the ignorance held by SJP and their constituents... We need courage to stand up to what has proven to be so blatantly wrong," said Lauren. Hannah expressed, "Yes, my eyes were opened to the terrifying reality that anti-Semitism still exists. And it exists on my campus." Bnai Brith International condemns the recent remarks of U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. During a session earlier today Ban spoke to the U.N. Security Council stating, It is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism. This speech is an unacceptable rationalization of terrorism, and Palestinian violence is not a natural reaction to Israeli policies. It is, sadly, an easily foreseeable consequence of continuous Palestinian incitement to hatred against Israel, Israelis and Jews in general by Palestinian leaders, in school curricula and through television and other media. When some leaders in the international community seek to excuse this violent behavior, it only gets reinforced, leading to the possibility of more terrorist attacks. Terrorism against civilians would never be considered acceptable in any other conflict situation. Only when the murdered are Israelis do we hear within the halls of the United Nations blaming of the victims. Neither Ban nor anyone else of authority in the international community would ever justify an act of brutal terrorism, if the perpetrator were Israeli, on the grounds that such deliberate violence against innocents is a natural/understandable response to frustration or grievances. Todays speech is part of a worrying pattern from the secretary generals office in response to the latest wave of Palestinian violence. Bnai Brith has spoken out about this troubling pattern and has written to Ban previously to express our concerns. If Palestinians are indeed frustrated by their political situation, then they must look to their corrupt leadership, which has consistently refused to make necessary compromises in negotiations toward a two-state solution. The oft-repeated U.N. rhetoric that the murderers of Israeli civilians are frustrated by the political situation is a fundamental misreading of reality. They murder because of hatred of Jews, not of any specific Israeli policy. They are not looking to bring about a two-state solutionthey want to destroy Israel. The United Nations cannot be taken seriously as a partner for dialogue on issues relating to the conflict as long as top officials are seen to be giving justifications for Palestinian terrorism against Israeli civilians. Simply, the international community must condemn the murder of Israelis without any equivocation. Not doing so only allows terrorism to fester, and to lead those who carry out terrorist acts to believe they have license to do so. In July 2014 in Berlin, Germany, demonstrators carry a picture of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and protest against the Israeli military's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. Berlin-based scholar Benjamin Weinthal tells JNS.org that Germany, despite overcoming its Holocaust past, has "failed to internalize that modern anti-Semitism-hatred of the Jewish state and the delegitimization of Israel via product labels, for example-is the main problem." While Germany takes pride in confronting its Holocaust past and maintaining a strong relationship with Israel, the European nation's recent influx of more than a million Middle East migrants-many originating in countries like Syria and Iraq, which have deeply rooted anti-Israel and anti-Semitic cultures-has generated fear among German Jews that the refugees will undermine their safety. In October, an official German state intelligence document leaked to the German weekly newspaper Welt am Sonntag warned that the mass migration could conflict with modern German values and lead to "instability in our land." "We are importing Islamic extremism, Arab anti-Semitism, national and ethnic conflicts of other peoples as well as a different societal and legal understanding," the document said. After the events in the German city of Cologne over New Year's Eve, when hundreds of women accused migrants of sexually assaulting them, more Germans have grown skeptical about the Mideast refugee situation. A poll released Jan. 15 by public broadcaster ZDF found that 60 percent of Germans doubt the country's ability to cope with the refugee influx. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has faced growing backlash from the public and members of her own Christian Democratic Union political party, which recently pledged to "tangibly reduce the number of refugees arriving." This anxiety has been expressed by some prominent German Jewish leaders, who fear that the migrants will bring anti-Semitism from their home countries. Jutta Wagemann, a spokesperson for the Central Council of Jews in Germany, told JNS.org "there are concerns in the Jewish community about the anti-Semitism of the Middle East refugees." In a joint op-ed with World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder, the Central Council's president, Josef Schuster, wrote in September that "huge numbers of refugees are of course a big challenge for Europe." "It is also important that those who at present can't return to their home countries will become familiar with our Western values. In Germany, that means respect for the values enshrined in the Constitution and also an acceptance that support for Israel is part of the political DNA of this country. Moreover, society by and large agrees that the Holocaust must be remembered," they wrote. This sentiment was shared with Merkel during an October meeting between the Central Council and the leadership of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union party. "Many refugees come from countries where Israel is an enemy; this resentment is often transferred to Jews in general," the Jewish leaders warned. More recently, prominent German Jewish leaders have been outspoken in expressing their growing fears of the refugee influx, Islamic extremism, and attacks by far-right pro-Nazi extremists. "No, we are no longer safe here," said Daniel Killy, leader of the Jewish community in Hamburg, Germany, citing the disintegration of state power, the excesses of the far right, the loss of political credibility, and "the terrible fear of naming Islamism as such" as contributing to an insecure environment for Jews, the German news outlet Tagesshcau.de reported. Salomon Korn, president of Germany's Frankfurt Jewish community, said that most of the new arrivals come from countries that do not enjoy an "enlightened" version of Islam, the German daily newspaper The Local reported. "Many of the refugees had grown up in environments rife with anti-Semitism and a belief in Muslims' mission to spread their religion," Korn said. Despite their fears, Jewish groups have also been at the forefront of helping refugees settle in Germany. "Many individuals and official representatives of many local communities as well as the Central Council for Jews in Germany and the Central Jewish Social Organization have extended their hands to the newly incoming refugees, have participated in welfare work, and for example explicitly visited refugee homes," Stefanie Schuler-Springorum, head of the Berlin-based Center for Anti-Semitism Research, told JNS.org. "At the same time, many voiced their fear of 'imported anti-Semitism,' albeit again in a large variety of tones," Schuler-Springorum added. Many of Germany's Jews were refugees themselves, fleeing the former Soviet Union during the latter half of the 20th century. The fact that many Jews chose Germany as their new home was a testament to the country's post-war efforts in confronting its own dark history of anti-Semitism. Yet Benjamin Weinthal, a Berlin-based fellow for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, believes that the "challenges are enormous" for Germany, given the fact that the country has had a growing presence of Islamic extremists. According to Weinthal, Germany is also home to 950 active Hezbollah members, 300 Hamas members, and a powerful radical Salafist movement with 7,000 radical Sunni Muslims. "The Salafists in Germany export fighters to ISIS (Islamic State) and Al-Qaeda in the Syrian and Iraqi war theaters. Many have returned to Germany with combat experience," Weinthal told JNS.org. "When you factor in Germany's support for a BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement) measure-EU product labeling [of Israeli settlement products]-with the hotbed of jihadism in the country, one can see why Germany has no real political will to tackle the anti-Semitism of many of the refugees and immigrants from Muslim-majority countries." The summer of 2014 can be seen as a watershed moment in modern anti-Semitism in Germany, with a number of protests against Israel's Operation Protective Edge in Gaza leading to an increase in anti-Semitic sentiments and attacks on Jews. At the time, reports indicated that anti-Israel protesters were heard shouting "Gas the Jews," while a video of a radical Berlin imam shows him telling his followers to "kill them (Jews) to the very last one." Regarding Germany's challenge of integrating more than a million migrants, Schuler-Springorum believes that it is possible "with time, money, and the political will to [meet the challenge], even in face of negative events like [New Year's Eve] in Cologne." Schuler-Springorum cited the historic precedent of Germany's success in dealing with its anti-Semitic past as providing hope that Germany can successfully educate and integrate the current Mideast refugees. "As my colleague Michael Brenner wrote some weeks ago: Where, if not in Germany, with its achievements in dealing with our own anti-Semitic past-due especially to many grassroots organizations, civil society initiatives, and NGOs-can this be expected to be successful? Not tomorrow, of course, but hopefully in the non-too distant future," Schuler-Springorum said. But despite Germany's success in overcoming its Holocaust past, Weinthal argues that the country has "failed to internalize that modern anti-Semitism-hatred of the Jewish state and the delegitimization of Israel via product labels, for example-is the main problem." As such, Weinthal believes that many German Jews will seek aliyah as a viable option, much like their counterparts in France who are moving to Israel in droves, especially after the Islamist terror attacks in Paris last January and November. In 2015, about 200 German Jews made aliyah. "The threat to the safety of German Jews will continue," Weinthal said. "Aliyah as an escape hatch for German Jews will be the natural result of Germany's failure to protect its small Jewish community and stop modern anti-Semitism." On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the second grade students from Jewish Academy of Orlando got the lesson of a lifetime, and it was not in the classroom. They were able to visit a Habitat for Humanity Winter Park-Maitland construction site at 507 S. Capen Ave., Orlando, to bring to life the lessons they have been learning at school during their Social Studies unit on economics. At Habitat for Humanity, the students conducted mock inspections of a home under construction, putting mathematical (measurement, money) and Social Studies (what does safe, decent housing provide for a family?) concepts in perspective. Hal George, construction manager and co-founder of the Winter Park affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, guided the students on their visit. The students presented Mr. George and Habitat for Humanity a check for $961! The money was raised during their second-grade seventh annual "Fun Run" held at the school earlier in the month to benefit the organization. The Jewish Academy wanted their students to understand, especially during this holiday season, that not all families can meet their basic needs with their jobs or income. "Our students are so fortunate to live in comfortable homes, have clothing to spare, and food on the table each night," said principal Shari Wladis. "Taking the kids to the Habitat for Humanity worksite was an eye-opening experience. Our second graders wanted to help Habitat for Humanity in their mission to provide simple, affordable shelter to families in need. We want them to understand that it is a mitzvah to help others through volunteerism, which is what Habitat for Humanity is all about." For more information about the Jewish Academy of Orlando or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Jessica Mishael, admissions manager, at jmishael@myjao.org or 407-647-0713. On Jan. 27, 2016, International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, and the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, a unique ceremony honoring Righteous Among the Nations was held at the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. President Barack Obama, introduced by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who is dedicated to recording and preserving the testimonies of those who suffered the horrors of the Holocaust and those who risked their lives to save them, spoke at the gathering. "Here, tonight, we must confront the reality that, around the world, anti-Semitism is on the rise," Pres. Obama stated, "We cannot deny it. When we see some Jews leaving major European cities because they no longer feel safe; when Jewish centers are targeted from Mumbai to Overland Park, Kansas; when swastikas appear on college campuses; when we see all that and more, we must not be silent." The event, jointly hosted by the Israeli Embassy, Yad Vashem and the American Society for Yad Vashem, marks the first time that a ceremony presenting medals and certificates of honor to American Righteous Among the Nations was held in the United States. The Righteous among the Nations, Americans Roddie Edmonds and Lois Gunden and Polish citizens Walery and Maryla Zbijewski, were all recognized by Yad Vashem for risking their lives to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Yad Vashem, located in Jerusalem, is the world center for Holocaust research, documentation, education and commemoration, and is tasked by the State of Israel to recognize the Righteous among the Nations. The medals and certificates of honor were accepted on the Righteous' behalf by their next of kin. Holocaust survivors who were rescued by the Righteous, were also present and spoke at the event. In addition to President Obama, Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Ambassador Ron Dermer, Rabbi Israel Meir Lau, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Council and himself a Holocaust survivor who was rescued by Righteous among the Nations, and Leonard Wilf, Chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem, offered remarks. Before the event took place, Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev noted that the thousands of men and women recognized over the past six decades as Righteous among the Nations stood up in a way that went against the active evil or passive silence that dominated their surroundings. Instead, they fought for the universal values that help our common civilization endure and prosper. "We're gratified that President Barak Obama will be participating in this event. The legacy of the Righteous serves to inspire us all, proving that human beings can always choose good over evil", said Shalev. "The president's presence illustrates his identification, and that of the United States, with core moral values." Leonard Wilf, Chairman of the American Society for Yad Vashem said, "As a son of Holocaust survivors who dedicated themselves to furthering Holocaust remembrance and commemoration, my family and I are committed supporters of continued Holocaust research and education. I believe that this event-honoring American heroes on American soil-has special and unique significance. Not only do we give due honor to these incredible men and women; we also proclaim that despite the years that have passed, these stories carry timeless lessons for us all." Ambassador Ron Dermer: "It is a great privilege to recognize, on behalf of the Jewish state, the heroism of those to whom the Jewish people owe the highest debt of gratitude. I also deeply appreciate President Obama's acceptance of our invitation to speak at this historic event." The Rescue Stories: Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds of Knoxville, Tennessee, participated in the landing of the American forces in Europe and was taken prisoner by the Germans. In January 1945, the Germans ordered all Jewish inmates in the Stalag IXA POW camp to report the following morning. Understanding the imminent danger in which this would place his fellow Jewish prisoners, Master Sergeant Edmonds ordered all the POWs-Jews and non-Jews alike-to report together. When the German officer in charge saw that all the camp's inmates standing in front of their barracks, he said: "They cannot all be Jews." To this Edmonds retorted: "We are all Jews." Edmonds did not waver, even when the German took out his pistol and threatened to shoot him. "According the Geneva Convention," said Edmonds, "we have to give only our name, rank, and serial number. If you shoot me, you will have to shoot all of us, and after the war you will be tried for war crimes." The German finally gave up and left the scene, and the Jewish POWs were saved from certain death. Paul Stern, one of the Jewish POWs saved by Edmonds recalled: "Although seventy years have passed I can still hear the words he said to the German camp commander." According to Edmonds' diary, these events took place on January 27, 1945. In 1941 Lois Gunden, a teacher of French from Goshen, Indiana, volunteered to work for the Mennonite Central Committee in southern France. She established a children's home in Canet Plage, which became a safe haven for a number of children, including Jewish children whom she helped smuggle out of the nearby Rivesaltes internment camp. Gunden pleaded with the parents to separate from their children and give them to her in order to save them from deportation. Ginette (Drucker) Kalish, one of the children saved by Lois Gunden, told Yad Vashem: "At the time I was 12 years old and certainly scared, but Lois Gunden was kind and passionately determined to take me and these other Jewish children... to protect them from harm." Gunden fearlessly protected the children when the French police arrived at the home, and ran the children's center even after the United States entered the war and she became an enemy alien. She continued her work until January 1943, when she was detained by the Germans, only to be released in 1944 in a prisoner exchange. On July 22, 1942, the Germans began mass deportations from the Warsaw ghetto. By September 21, Yom Kippur, some 260,000 inhabitants of the ghetto had been deported to the Treblinka extermination camp, where they were murdered. Janina Ferster and her daughter Elzbieta managed to flee the ghetto and go into hiding. After staying for two months at the home of acquaintances, Tadeusz and Eugenia Kucharski, who also received recognition as Righteous, Janina brought her daughter to the home of Walery and Maryla Zbijewski, until she was able to rent an apartment under a false name and take her daughter back. Despite the enormous danger-the Germans publicly announced that helping Jews would be punished by death-the Zbijewskis cared for Elzbieta and protected her until her mother was able to collect her. Over 60 years ago, when establishing Yad Vashem, the State of Israel made a point of remembering the rescuers, the non-Jews who stood by the Jewish people's side in their darkest hour. Thus, the law establishing Yad Vashem as a center of Holocaust commemoration, documentation, research and education, added another mission to its tasks-to pay tribute to the non-Jews who risked their lives to rescue Jews during the Holocaust. Since 1963, a public commission, headed by an Israeli Supreme Court Justice, has been responsible for making the decision as to who will be recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. Thus far, some 26,000 individuals have been recognized as Righteous among the Nations, including five Americans and more than 6,500 individuals from Poland, which was at the heart of the Final Solution. On International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the 71st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, President Obama spoke at the Righteous Among the Nations Award Ceremony at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. He was introduced by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who is dedicated to recording and preserving the testimonies of those who suffered the horrors of the Holocaust and those who risked their lives to save them. "Here, tonight, we must confront the reality that, around the world, anti-Semitism is on the rise. We cannot deny it. When we see some Jews leaving major European cities because they no longer feel safe; when Jewish centers are targeted from Mumbai to Overland Park, Kansas; when swastikas appear on college campuses; when we see all that and more, we must not be silent." The U.S. and U.K. have reportedly been spying on Israel for the past 18 years, watching for a potential strike on Iran and keeping tabs on Israels drone technology. U.S. and British intelligence secretly tapped into live video feeds from Israeli drones and fighter jets, monitoring military operations in Gaza, watching for a potential strike against Iran, and keeping tabs on the drone technology Israel exports around the world, The Intercept revealed in a breaking news feature on Friday. Under a classified program code-named Anarchist, Israeli drones were systematically targeted by the UKs Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) together with the US National Security Agency (NSA) from a mountaintop in Cyprus. GCHQ files provided by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden include a series of Anarchist snapshotsthumbnail images from videos recorded by drone cameras. The files also show location data mapping the flight paths of the aircraft. In essence, US and British agencies stole a birds-eye view from the drones, the article says. This activity has been ongoing since 1998. GCHQ documents state that analysts first collected encrypted video signals at Troodos in 1998, and also describe efforts against drones used by Syria and by Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to the report. The snapshots include, for example, a subset collected in 2009 and 2010, apparently showing drones carrying missiles, although they arent clear enough to be conclusive, The Intercept explains. They do, however, offer rare visual evidence to support reports that Israel flies attack drones. Theres a good chance that we are looking at the first images of an armed Israeli drone in the public domain, said Chris Woods, author of Sudden Justice, a history of drone warfare. Theyve gone to extraordinary lengths to suppress information on weaponized drones. This access is indispensable for maintaining an understanding of Israeli military training and operations and thus an insight to possible future developments in the region, a GCHQ report from 2008 enthused. In times of crisis this access is critical and one of the only avenues to provide up to the minute information and support to U.S. and Allied operations in the area. According to The Intercept, this activity highlights the conflicted relationship between the US and Israel. Although they are close counter-terrorism partners and have a memorandum of understanding, dating back to 2009, that allows Israel access to raw communications data collected by the NSA. Yet they are nonetheless constantly engaged in a game of spy versus spy. GCHQ and the Israeli Defense Forces declined to comment, The Intercept said, adding that the NSA acknowledged receipt of an inquiry but did not respond to questions by the time of publication. In March 2015, American Intelligence claimed that Israel spied on the US in order to obtain details on the Iran nuclear negotiations. Israel denied the allegations, which included the claim that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed sensitive information during his address to Congress. The Obama administration began limiting information-sharing with Israel after the latter objected publicly to the concessions made by the P5+1. It is one thing for the US and Israel to spy on each other. It is another thing for Israel to steal US secrets and play them back to US legislators to undermine US diplomacy, a senior American official told the Wall Street Journal. According to the report, US intelligence agencies concluded that Israel was spying on them after their own spies noticed information in Israeli intelligence communications that could have been discovered only through espionage. Nonetheless, Israel claims that its information did not come from direct espionage on the US, but from monitoring communications with other parties, including Iran. An official in the Prime Ministers Office said, These allegations are utterly false. The state of Israel does not conduct espionage against the United States or Israels other allies. The false allegations are clearly intended to undermine the strong ties between the United States and Israel and the security and intelligence relationship we share. Despite promises to keep Israel fully apprised of progress in the nuclear negotiations with Iran, the US admitted to concealing information. This article was written by the United with Israel staff. Non-Orthodox, Diaspora leaders and Netanyahu praise Western Wall compromise JERUSALEM (JTA)A chorus of non-Orthodox and Diaspora leaders praised the landmark interdenominational compromise on the Western Wall. The compromise will expand the walls egalitarian section and place it under the authority of a pluralist committee while solidifying haredi Orthodox control over the sites traditional, Orthodox section. Women of the Wall, the womens prayer group that holds monthly services in the Orthodox section, will move to the non-Orthodox section once the deal is implemented. If and when this transition is complete, the new section will make way for great change, read a statement from the womens group endorsing the change. Women will pray at the Kotel as equals, as active participants and leaders in rituals, ceremonies and of course in reading from the Torah. The agreement was negotiated among Women of the Wall, the sites haredi Orthodox leadership, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Israeli government, and the Reform and Conservative movements. All parties praised the decision as path breaking. Speaking to JTA, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky said the compromise ensured that everybody wins in the end, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal a fair and creative solution. A poll by the Ruderman Family Foundation released Sunday found overwhelming Israeli support for accommodating non-Orthodox movements at the site. Four-fifths of Jewish-Israelis said all Jews, including Reform and Conservative, should feel that the Western Wall belongs to them. The Israeli and American branches of both the Reform and Conservative movements also backed the deal. Rabbi Gilad Kariv, CEO of Israels Reform movement, said in a statement that the compromise is just the beginning of our efforts to ensure that the Jewish state of Israel is indeed a state where all forms of Judaism are practiced freely and without state prohibition. Karivs counterpart with the Conservative movement, Yizhar Hess, said in a statement that the deal enshrines a legal precedent of ensuring non-Orthodox rights. The right to equality has received governmental recognition, Hess said. From now on, solutions to arguments on issues of religion and state will require recognition of the legal right to freedom of choice. The Jewish Federations of North America, which lobbied heavily for the compromise, said in a statement that it sends a powerful message to Israelis and Jews across the Diaspora about the permanent value of Jewish pluralism and about what we can do when we work together. Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites, said he heard the decision approving the agreement with a heavy heart and a sigh of relief. Ever since the fringe and vociferous group of Women of the Wall started its mass-media activity, the Western Wall went from being a unifying site to one of incessant quarrels, Rabinowitz said in a statement. The chilul Hashem (defamation of G-ds name) that this group and its supporters have caused is terrible, and it will take years to repair it. He added: We must do everything to put this terrible chapter behind us. Not everyone lauded the deal. Moshe Gafni, a haredi Orthodox lawmaker who chairs the Israeli Knessets powerful Finance Committee, said he would not recognize the decision. Reform Jews are a group of clowns who stab the holy Torah, Gafni said, according to Walla news. There will never, ever be recognition for this group of clowns, not at the wall and not anywhere else. Netanyahu: French threat to recognize Palestinian state undermines peace initiative JERUSALEM (JTA)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a French threat to recognize a Palestinian state if an international peace conference under Paris auspices fails is an incentive for the Palestinians to come and not compromise. We are prepared to enter into direct negotiations without preconditions and without dictated conditions, Netanyahu said Sunday at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting. The substance of negotiations is compromise and the French initiative, as it has been reported, in effect gives the Palestinians in advance reasons not to do so. Netanyahus comments followed the announcement on Friday by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at a meeting of French diplomats in Paris that if the French initiative to convene a peace conference fails, then Paris would officially recognize a Palestinian state. Unfortunately, Israeli settlement construction continues. We must not let the two-state solution unravel, Fabius reportedly said. It is our responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. On Saturday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas welcomed the French announcement. The latest round of peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians were held in April 2014 under the auspices of the United States. 3 Israeli soldiers wounded in West Bank shooting by Palestinian police officer JERUSALEM (JTA)A Palestinian Authority police officer opened fire on Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, wounding three, before being shot dead by a soldier. One soldier was in serious condition following the attack Sunday near Beit El, another was in moderate to serious condition and another was lightly injured, according to reports. The Israeli military confirmed all the injured men are soldiers. The assailant, 34, was identified as a police officer from Nablus, the Palestinian Maan news agency reported. According to the Israel Defense Forces, he drove up to the checkpoint near Ramallah, left his car and opened fire on soldiers manning the area. He was shot dead during the attack. Also Sunday, the driver of a car that attempted to ram soldiers on Highway 443, a main road to Jerusalem, was shot by soldiers and seriously injured. No soldiers were injured in the attempted attack, which took place near the West Bank settlement of Beit Horon, where Shlomit Krigman, 23, was stabbed and killed by a Palestinian assailant in the communitys supermarket. New immigrant, 17, from Brooklyn stabbed in Jerusalem JERUSALEM (JTA)A 17-year-old New Yorker who reportedly left his family six weeks ago to serve in the Israeli army was stabbed in the back in Jerusalem. The haredi Orthodox teen, from Brooklyn, was stabbed Saturday evening just outside the Old City, next to the Damascus Gate, shortly after praying at the Western Wall, according to reports. He was lightly wounded and treated at Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus. Surveillance video captured the attack by a group of Palestinian teens, police said. Three boys, ages 15 and 16 from eastern Jerusalem, are being held by police in connection with the attack. One suspect turned himself in hours after the attack, which was caught on surveillance video. Other arrests are expected, police said. The victim, who is studying at a pre-military academy near Jerusalem, told Ynet that the attack has not changed his desire to serve in the army. I was stabbed, and now Im going to join the army and give it my all, he told Ynet, adding that he wants to join the elite field intelligence-gathering Sayeret Matkal unit. Court adds to prison terms for arsonists of Jewish-Arab school JERUSALEM (JTA)Israels Supreme Court added to the prison sentences of two brothers who pleaded guilty to an arson attack on a Jewish-Arab school in Jerusalem. On Sunday, the sentences for Nahman and Shalom Twitto, 18 and 22, respectively, were each increased by eight months in response to an state appeal of what the state viewed as lenient sentences handed down in July. Nahman Twitto had been sentenced to 2 years and his brother 2 1/2 years, as well as some financial reparations. The two were convicted as part of a plea agreement in April for setting fire to a classroom at the Max Rayne Hand In Hand Jerusalem School on Nov. 29, 2014. Death to Arabs and There is no coexistence with cancer were among the anti-Arab epithets spray-painted on the walls. The Twittos and Yitzhak Gabai, who was found guilty in September of the arson attack, are active members of Lehava, a far-right organization that tries to prevent marriages and coexistence programs between Jews and Arabs. The Hand In Hand Jerusalem School is Israels largest joint Arab-Jewish school and the only such primary and high school in the city. Five Hand in Hand schools are located throughout the country. 3 Jewish teens charged in vandalism of Jerusalem monastery JERUSALEM (JTA)Three Jewish-Israeli teens were indicted in the vandalism of a Jerusalem monastery with anti-Christian graffiti. The indictment was filed Sunday in Jerusalem District Court in the Jan. 17 attack on the Dormition Abbey, located on Mount Zion just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. The graffiti, written in Hebrew, included Christians to Hell, May his name be obliterated, and Death to the heathen Christians the enemies of Israel. The identities of the boys, who were arrested on Jan. 20, are not public since they are minors. Anti-Christian graffiti was previously painted on the Benedictine abbeys walls in 2013 and 2012. Pope Francis celebrated Mass at the abbey during a visit in 2014. The abbey is believed to be the site where the Virgin Mary died and near where the Last Supper was held. It is located next to the site considered to be the tomb of King David. Israeli spy vulture captured in Lebanon (JTA)Lebanese citizens captured a vulture they said was carrying Israeli spy equipment. The residents of the southern Lebanese town of Bint Jbail caught the bird on Jan. 26. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority said the griffon vulture was wearing a tracking device, the Jerusalem Post reported. Lebanese media reported the vulture was released after it was determined that it was not a threat. Israels parks authority could not confirm the reports. We hope that the Lebanese will take care of him and release him, avian ecologist Ohad Hatzofe told The Jerusalem Post. The vulture was brought to Israel from the Catalonia region of Spain in July of last year in an attempt to bolster the population of the endangered species in the Middle East. This is not the first animal reported by Israels neighbors to be spying for the state. Last summer, Palestinian media reported that Hamas had captured a dolphin off the Gaza coast that they said was outfitted with Israeli spy equipment. In 2010, an Egyptian official claimed that sharks in the Red Sea wearing Israeli spy gear attacked tourists. Right-wing group sorry for calling Israeli artists foreign agents (JTA)A right-wing Israeli group apologized for a controversial campaign calling leftist artists foreign agents. Matan Peleg, the director of the group Im Tirtzu, wrote last Friday on Facebook that his organization did not sufficiently consider the new campaign. Dear friends, we erred, the group wrote on its official Facebook page. We posted a mistaken post on a topic that is very important and essential, and precisely because of that we should have been more careful. On Jan. 27, Im Tirtzu posted a banner on social media with the title Foreign Agents in Culture. Below was a list of famous artists, including Amos Oz, David Grossman, A.B. Yehoshua and Gila Almagorwho in the past have expressed support for dovish groups and parties. Im Tirtzu used the Hebrew adjective shtulim, which literally means implanted. There was neither a campaign nor were there any statements about traitors that the media stuck to us and we never said. We take full responsibility and promise to continue to work with great faith for the sake of Israel and IDF soldiers, the statement continued. We will continue to deliver sharp criticism of organizations that present IDF soldiers as war criminals and against those who call for a boycott of the state. On Jan. 28, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a speech that he objects to labeling critics of certain policies traitors, in what Israeli media interpreted as a reference to Im Tirtzus banner, and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon denounced the obnoxious and dangerous move by Im Tirtzu. Yesh Atid party chairman Yair Lapid called members of the organization extremists who are out of their minds and said their campaign of hatred incites violence and crosses a red line. 5 Palestinians sentenced for killing 4-year-old Jewish girl (JTA)An Israeli military court sentenced five Palestinians to 15 years in jail for killing a 4-year-old Jewish girl. The five young men, who were minors aged 16 or 17 at the time of the incident three years ago, were not convicted of premeditated murder because of their young age when they threw stones at the car carrying Adele Biton, causing a collision, Army Radio reported after the sentencing Thursday night. Instead, the military prosecution indicted the five killers from the West Bank village of Hares with manslaughter. They were identified as Muhammad Mahdi Suleiman, Tamer Ayyad Ahmad Souf, Ammar Abd al-Nayif Souf, Ali Yassin Ali Shamlawi and Muhammad Jumaa Muhammad Kleib. Adele, the daughter of a settler couple living in the West Bank, was severely injured in March 2013 and died of complications related to her injury in February last year at 4. The Yesha Council, which represents Israeli settlers living in the West Bank, cited Adeles case as an example of the danger of stone throwing, which the councils leaders said was not being dealt with strongly enough by authorities. The military court also ordered Adeles killers to pay several thousand dollars in damages to the Biton family. Amid tensions with Turkey, Israel announces alliance with Greece, Cyprus (JTA)The leaders of Israel, Cyprus and Greece entered a trilateral partnership that they said was not meant to exclude other partiesin a possible reference to Turkey. The announcement about the trilateral agreement came on Jan. 28 during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus visit to the island of Cyprus, whose northern half is under Turkish occupation. The three leadersNetanyahu, his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras and Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiadesagreed to strengthen the cooperation between [the] three countries in order to promote a trilateral partnership in different fields of common interest and to work together towards promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Mediterranean and the wider region, they wrote in a joint statement. The partnership comes amid sustained tensions among Greece, Cyprus and Turkey over the occupation, and a crisis in relations between Turkey and Israel over various issues, including Israels blockade on the Gaza Strip and Turkeys hosting of Hamas officials. Vice President Joe Biden called Netanyahu after the announcement to discuss ongoing efforts to improve Israel-Turkey relations and advance energy cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean, Bidens office said in a one-sentence statement. The United States is taking a keen interest in reviving Israel-Turkey ties, considering the nations its two most important allies in the region. In 2009, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of deliberately killing Palestinian children. The following year, diplomatic relations between Jerusalem and Ankara broke down after Israeli troops killed nine Turkish activists aboard the Mavi Marmara a Gaza-bound ship attempting to break the blockade. The troops were attacked with knives and clubs as they boarded the ship to enforce Israels blockade. Talks on restoring relations are reportedly ongoing. Israel, Greece and Cyprus share common democratic values, principles, and interests, and have, to this end, agreed on the importance for closer cooperation and a coordinated set of policies, the statement read. Our partnership is not exclusive in design or nature, and we are ready to welcome other like-minded actors, it added in a possible reference to Turkey. Noting the discovery in recent years of substantial natural gas deposits around Israel and Cyprus, the statement also said that the three countries view the energy sector, and in particular, natural gas and renewable energy, as a solid foundation for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean basin. Another week, another litany of ugly incidents targeting Jews, along with expressions of concern about rising anti-Semitism around the globe, and even the odd solution offered up. But as weve been slowly learning since the turn of this century, not much really changes. Lets start with France, where in the last four years Islamist terrorists have executed two massacres at Jewish sitesfirst at a school in Toulouse in 2012, which resulted in the murders of a teacher and three children, and then at the Hyper Cacher market in Paris in January 2015, where four people lost their lives. On Jan. 11, 2016, a Jewish studies teacher in Marseille was brutally attacked with a machete. What identified him as a Jew to his Muslim assailant was his yarmulke. Consequently, French Jewish leaders have been passionately debating the wisdom of Jewish men covering their heads in public. They have good reason to feel insecure; a poll conducted by the magazine Paris Match revealed that 71 percent of French citizens believe that anti-Semitism is rising. Perhaps encouragingly, 70 percent feel that Jews should not refrain from donning yarmulkes if they wish. But that does not allay the communitys fear that wearing a yarmulke has become an invitation to assault. Then there is Germany. It was only a year ago that Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed genuine shock at the notion that Jews were, yet again, doubting their future in the land that served as the Holocausts cauldron. Her reassurance that she was glad and grateful to have a Jewish community was duly noted and appreciated, but the nerves have only increased with the mass influx of refugees from Syria and other Muslim-majority countries over the last few months. Recently, Jewish leaders in Hamburg and Wuppertal have underlined the insecurity prevailing in those two communities. Across the English Channel, Jews in the United Kingdom continue to grapple with anti-Semitism masquerading as anti-Zionism. The latest manifestation of this phenomenon was on display at London Universitys venerable Kings College, where a Jewish society meeting featuring Ami Ayalon, a former head of Israels Shin Bet security service and presently a peace activist, was obstructed by rioting pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Windows were smashed and fire alarms were set off as a baying mob of overprivileged students rampaged through what their own university deems a safe space. In America, too, there has been a graphic reminder of the overlap between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism. Julio Pino, a Kent State University academic known principally for screaming Death to Israel at a 2011 meeting featuring Ishmael Khaldi, an Israeli diplomat who is also a Muslim and a Bedouin, is reportedly under investigation by the FBI over possible links to the Islamic State terror group. If that sounds far-fetched, it shouldnt. The hatred of Jews and Jewish empowerment that lies at the heart of Islamic States ideology is also what animates the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, of which Pino, a convert to Islam, is a part. As Ive written before, anti-Semitism expresses itself these days less as a sudden cataclysm and more as an accumulation of offenses that slowly chip away at the confidence of Jewish communities. A beating here, a stabbing there, and an occasional gun attack or bombing is what accompanies the drumbeat of anti-Zionist agitation on social media and in the corridors of academia. Each community, moreover, has its own strategy of dealing with the problem, and its own set of relationships with national authorities. What is very much a global challenge lacks a global strategy. When renewed anti-Semitism became a public concern after the 9/11 atrocities, Western politicians organized conferences, appointed envoys, and confirmed at every opportunity that there was no place in the new century for this oldest of hatreds. But as the years have passed, anti-Semitism has become, to a worrying degree, a presence that is expected. The slow yet reliable repetition of anti-Semitic incidents, along with a discernible uptick in European Jewish immigration to Israel, suggests that anti-Semitism will percolate at this same pace for some time to come, thereby dampening any sense of urgency on the part of governments. Indeed, the idea that there is something normal about anti-Semitism may explain why U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry didnt bother to mention the Hyper Cacher massacre in his message commemorating the first anniversary of the January 2015 week of Islamist terror in Paris. It may also explain why Russian dictator President Vladimir Putin, ever the opportunist, issued a bizarre invitation to Jews to escape anti-Semitism by moving to Russia. According to Russian media reports, Putin made the offer at a meeting with European Jewish Congress (EJC) leaders in Moscow, for good measure wiggling his forefinger in a come hither gesture. As reported by Tablet magazines Vladislav Davidzon, EJC head Moshe Kantor showed signs of experiencing visible difficulties in containing his laughter... All six fellow Jewish delegates sitting around Kantor likewise giggled. That was certainly a brave thing to do in Putins presence, but the fact remains that the Russian presidents invite sounds like the opening gambit of a Jewish joke. (If anyone can think of a punchline, drop me an email.) So why not just enjoy the humor and then forget about it? Heres why. The debate should not be about which countries Jews can safely emigrate to. It should be about what is causing anti-Semitism in the societies where they live nowand that means explicitly identifying Islamism, Islamists and their fellow travelers on the left and right as the root of the problem. In Europe, ironically, they are more willing to do that than in America, where the Obama administration is still selling the nonsense that using the word Islamist is an insult to all Muslims, but there is still a lack of coherence about why anti-Semitism persists and what to do about it. In my view, the two most robust answers to anti-Semitism are sovereignty and democracy. Sovereignty takes the form of the State of Israel, which has always been and will continue to be a haven for Jews experiencing harassment and persecution. As for democracy, the argument here is a little more complicated, but it boils down to this: a polity like Russia can never be a true haven for Jews as long as it remains an authoritarian state that cracks down on dissent. Fighting anti-Semitism effectively requires a broader commitment to democratic rights, and an explicit acknowledgement that a culture of liberty is a necessary condition for a flourishing Jewish community. Vladimir Putin will never understand that. The current crop of Western leaders dont seem too bothered by it. Thats why, like I said, nothing really changes. 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). On Jan. 26, the Roth Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Orlandos Facebook page posted a letter from Executive Director David Wayne explaining that the Jewish Academy of Orlando had received a bomb threat, but that the area was found clear and everyone was safe. The story circulated throughout both the local and global Jewish media, but a Jan. 28 Google search for maitland bomb threat brought up no results more current than the actual day of the incident, Jan. 26. Even if the outside world forgets, the Jewish Community of Central Florida must continue to live with the threat hanging over our heads. We must consider whether it is safe enough to attend an event a day or 100 days after the threat on the same premises. The families who sent their children to the Jewish Academy of Orlando, along with the other two Jewish schools targeted on the same day elsewhere in Florida, must try to put aside concerns for their childrens safety that would warrant pulling out of the respective schools. Such an overall effect on the daily lives of Jewish Floridians leads to a crucial point in addressing the incident, namely, that the perpetrator must be sought as a terrorist and prosecuted according to the highest judicial means available. The incident at the JCC was a terror attack. Terrorism does not only include actual physical violence itself; it also includes the threat of violence with the intent to induce fear. Not taking incidents like the bomb threat as seriously as incidents of actual physical violence is a grave mistake and allows for both to continue. As I advocated for on the occasion of the Paris terror attacks, legal counterterrorism standards must be tightened. The greatest threat to domestic safety in the United States is domestic, not a group an ocean away. The group across the sea, be it the Islamic State or neo-Nazis based in Germany, has its roots in an ideology and a system that it is as present in the American homeland as it is wherever in the world a terror group may be located. Because of these points, domestic legal standards for addressing terrorism and terror related threats must be tightened. The terror watch list mentality must be dropped. People of the sort who are behind the JCC bomb threat must be taken much more seriously than they are at present by the authorities and by the general public. Of course, the persons affected by the bomb threat take the incident very seriously. So, what about as an individual Jewish Floridian? How does the individual Jew living near and attending events on the premises of the affected three Florida Jewish Community Centers move forward? One Jew living abroad had these simple words of support for the Central Florida Jewish Community: Stay Strong. Hashem veils over His children. Indeed, to change our daily lives because of the threat goes along with what the terrorists want. We must find the strength to operate in the appropriate balance of maintaining our daily lives while still exercising effective safety measures to protect ourselves from potential attacks in the future. Caleb R. Newton is a global affairs analyst living in Central Florida and the founder of Global News Breakdown. Find him at Global News Breakdown, Dissecting Society, and the Times of Israel. Contact him at calebrnewton@globalnewsbreakdown.com. Dear Editor: In the Jan. 22, 2016, issue of the Heritage it was reported that Ina Porth, Rhonda Forest, Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), and the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando voted to stand with all those who unequivocally condemn and reject hateful interpretations of Islam. I am in full agreement and condemn the second paragraph of the Hamas Charter that states, Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it (The Martyr, Imam Hassan alBanna, of blessed memory). I condemn the fundraiser supporting Hamas filmed at Muhammad Musris Islamic Society of Central Florida Mosque on June 4, 2009, with George Galloway. I reject and condemn this hateful interpretation of Islam, Quran (3:85) - And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers. Islamists believe the Quran, is a divine revelation from Allah/God, transmitted to the Archangel Gabriel, transmitted to Mohammad and cant be changed, altered, or innovated upon according to Islamic doctrine and theology. This doctrinal fact is non-negotiable. Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, cannot be achieved by the JCRCs letter of instant moral gratification and effortless armchair recreational compassion. To gain true understanding and dialogue, Jews, Muslims, and Christians must talk with each other like mature adults about these ideological and political differences instead of walking on politically correct eggshells. Alan Kornman Chuluota There is sadness along with satisfaction in recent stories of Palestinians captured or killed as a result of their attacks against Jews. A 13-year-old girl was shot to death as she charged, with knife raised, against a security guard on the border between a Palestinian town and Jerusalem. Subsequent pictures showed where she had lived in a cluster of Bedouin tents and shacks alongside the buildings of Anata. It could not have been comfortable during winter cold and rain, without decent heat, running water, electricity and toilets. We hear that she had an argument with a sister, took a knife and ran from the home saying that she wanted to become a martyr. Her father went after her. By the time he arrived at the scene, she had achieved her goal. He is accusing Israeli personnel of a nonjudicial execution. An Arab Knesset Member of Meretz has made the same charge. However, a security video shows the girl in attack mode, running with her arm raised and knife poised, with the guard initially running away, then turning and shooting when she was only a few steps away. At that point, one can justify aiming for the upper body rather than the churning legs, for the purpose of having the surest target most likely to save ones life. It only took security personnel a couple of days to locate the killer of the religious mother of six in a West Bank settlement. Hes a 15-year-old boy, taken out of his bed and brought to Israel. He explained his actions by what he saw on Palestinian television. These stories provide insight into much of what has happened here in recent months, or more correctly what has been the situation in occasional waves of violence since the 1920s, or decades earlier with the onset of modern Jewish migration. It also resembles in its small proportions what has been occurring with much larger numbers in Muslim countries since the onset of Arab Winter. Or maybe since 9-11. Or maybe since Ronald Reagan set in motion the recruitment of Muslims to fight Russians in Afghanistan. Its a fuzzy science to conclude when any of this began. Its also a fuzzy science deciding how much of this ought to be laid at the door of Islam. Fuzziness is not a reason to abandon the charge, but it is a reason to be careful. Most Muslims are not jihadists, seeking to impose a severe view of their faith on the rest of us, with sword, knife, gun, or rampaging automobile. However, there are Muslims who preach hatred, and believers who move across countries or find targets close to home, and take up the handiest weapon to advance the cause, likely at the cost of their own lives, perhaps with expectations of heavenly rewards. Whats been happening among Palestinian kids isnt all that different from the recruitment of others, elsewhere, to the ranks of what is casually lumped into the Islamic State. Its a label that fighters use for themselves in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Sinai, and several other places, without a cohesive and central leadership for their movement. Individuals with a background in military intelligence or an academic specialty in the Middle East parse the differences and similarities between the Islamic State, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, Jabhat al-Nusra, Hamas, Hezbollah, Muslim Brotherhood, and a variety of other jihadist movements, as well as the underlying tensions between Sunnis, Shiites, and those calling themselves Salafis. Their analyses add to an understanding of warfare between the sects as well as their generalized opposition to non-Muslim westerners. Other experts overlook what they see as subtle differences between these movements, and claim that it is more efficient to emphasize their common antagonism to non-Muslims or the wrong kind of Muslims, and their extreme violence. They have charismatic preachers and local commanders or warlords, and web sites in a number of languages promoting hatred and recruiting newcomers. Some recruits act locally, largely on their own. In this cluster we may put most young Palestinians who have acted recently, along with those of San Bernardino and the major at Ft Hood. Others take off in the direction of Turkey for the purpose of getting into Syria, with the Turks occasionally stopping them and occasionally letting them through. Reports getting to families from Syria and Iraq indicate a high incidence of fatalities among those fighting or providing other services. Again, the information is fuzzy, but its a dangerous activity. It is no easier summing up the opposition to the violence. There is considerable dissonance in reports about cooperation and competition between the US and its European allies, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar, other Gulf Emirates and Iran with respect to which cadres they are attacking in Syria and Iraq, as well as their care in avoiding attacks against civilians. No doubt the hopeless economic prospects of young people throughout Muslim societies makes its contribution to the recruitment of violent cadres. Whether it is Palestine or any other Muslim regime, there is widespread corruption of officials, and lesser likelihood of decent public services than incitement against Jews, Israel, the US or some other enemy. Outsiders cant hope to do much to relieve the misery on the other side of this cultural divide. European and American governments pour aid into the Palestine Authority, without seeing that it ends incitement in schools or the media. Ban Ki-Moons speech to the U.N. Security Council that places the blame for Palestinian frustration and violence on Israeli occupation is as evil as it is intellectually limited. It overlooks several Israeli efforts to reach an agreement, the extremism and corruption of the Palestinian leadership, as well as the murky legal history of the West Bank. It is evil in showing the leadership of the U.N. firmly in the hands of those so opposed to Israel as to suggest the label of anti-Semitism. The recruitment that occurs via the mosques and web sites in Muslim communities located in western countries occurs alongside a reluctance of outsiders to interfere in Muslim religious matters, and the shyness of moderate Muslims with respect to extremists. Outsiders, whether near to or far from the actual violence, can worry about the tragedies of millions made homeless, or children guided to an early death by their sacrifice for an ephemeral cause. However, all the sadness that might be appropriate should not deter us from self defense. Its us toward whom the knife is pointed, and its our decent if imperfect regimes that are targeted for destruction. If our protectors kill, its us they are protecting. Comments welcome.Ira Sharkansky (Emeritus), Department of Political Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, irashark@gmail.com. Dear Editor: I want to compliment the leadership of the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando for reaching out to the local Muslim community. It is through interactions such as this that we as Jews can learn more about the Muslim community and Islam. We have much to learn! How many are aware that the early chapters of the Quran were written in Mecca and talk of tolerance and co-existence but the later, and superceding chapters, were written in Medina and are filled with violence, espousing death to infidels (kafirs), submission, sex slavery, permission to make false statements (taquiya) in order to promote Islam, authorizes the taking of child brides, encourages abuse of females, and much more. It is this part of the Quran which is being practiced by the fundamentalist Muslims, such as the Islamic State (IS), Al Qaida, the Wahabis, the Salafis, Boko Haram and others. This is the one we, as non-Muslims, should fear. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans are not educated in the truths behind Islam. They hear only the abrogated versions of Islam and the Quran. The topic of the Medina chapters of the Quran is never openly discussed as it should be. The slow introduction of sharia law into our American way of life is also not discussed openly and therefore not understood. We need to learn about Islam as though our lives depend on it... because they do. Laurence Morrell Maitland In my studies, I have read that only one out of seven or 14 percent of Christians actually know a practicing Muslim. Depending on where you live in America, I would guess that the percentage there is much lower especially in the south. Many of the Muslims I know are my relatives and friends who have raised their children to be law abiding, respectful and peace-loving citizens. Many are childhood friends. I remember attending Mosque 10 together growing up in Atlantic City, N.J. and those friendships continue to this day, well over 50 years later. I remember Muslim gentlemen wearing suits and bow ties coming to the pool halls lecturing us on the perils of drugs and alcohol. My friends back home are serious about their faith. They have been good parents, dedicated employees and community servants. Many are retired today, enjoying the good life of being doting grandfathers and grand mothers. My Muslim friends will come out to a Christian church on a revival night just to hear me preach each time I go back home to Atlantic City. I see them sitting around the church some in their respectful Muslim garb, some in suits and some dressed casually. They give me a nod of approval for what Jesus has done for me in my life, and I likewise acknowledge their presence with a nod of appreciation for what Allah has done in their lives. While I am home we find time to come together, Christian and Muslim, to break bread and celebrate that we are still here still friends after all these years. The Muslims that I know are the Muslim Imam state prison chaplains who have shared resources and wisdom with me for over 28 years as a prison chaplain. The Muslims that I know include the Muslim son of a woman who attended my church years ago. He brings me a delicious bean pie every week, and I enjoy sharing it with those around me who have come to appreciate our Muslim neighbors in Hickory. The Muslims I know includes a family who owns a store where I occasionally buy a suit, a pair of shoes or a shirt. They are always kind to me. The Muslims I know own a convenience store near my house where I have purchased gas for years. They have always treated me with the utmost respect. The Muslims that I know include the two Imams who came to my church eight years ago, sitting with me in my pulpit to celebrate a joint Mother's Day service. Many Muslims joined us that day - fathers, mothers and children who stayed to share a meal with my congregation afterwards. We need to remember that Muslims serve in our military to protect our freedom and keep us safe. Muslims raised over $100,000 to help rebuild black churches that have been burned by racists. Muslims raised over $200,000 to help the victims of the San Bernardino terrorist attack and donated over 30,000 units of bottled water to help people in Flint, Michigan. If we would spend more time getting to know and understand our neighbors better, it would be easier for us to respect one another more. Instead of allowing our faith to be a source of division, it could be a good catalyst for unity. Peace-loving Christians and Muslims that I know are horrified by the evil being perpetrated by radical terrorists. Let's not allow them to rob us of the dignity and integrity of our faith or our ability to love our Muslim neighbors. President Obama spoke of identity in his inaugural address with words people of faith can embrace. "For we know our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-believers. We cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall some day pass, that the lines of tribe shall dissolve. As the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself, and America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace." I pray that God will use our heartfelt reactions to these negative ads as a catalyst for more interfaith cooperation in the days to come, so that we can help usher in a new era of peace in our community and the world. Rev. Reggie Longcrier is the Executive Director of Exodus Homes in Hickory. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/ The call drop menace continues to haunt customers in Delhi, Mumbai and many other cities as telecom operators, including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, MTNL, among others, have failed to improve their quality of network and services, according to a report released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Thursday. The telecom regulator had conducted the tests on 2G and 3G networks during December 2015 to January 2016. According to the TRAIs benchmark, not more than 2% calls on a telecom operators network should get automatically disconnected. MTS, Idea Cellular, Tata Teleservices, Reliance Communications, Aircel and BSNL also have failed to improve call drop in various parts of the country. The report said none of the operators improved service quality in Mumbai, Pune and Bhubaneswar. In Delhi, both 2G and 3G network of Airtel, and Idea and Vodafones 3G network performed better, and achieved the call drop benchmark. State-run MTNL was the worst performer in Delhi and Mumbai, where it operates. MTNLs 3G network reported call drop at a level of 15.58% in Mumbai, and 23.65% in Delhi. In Pune, call drops in Tatas 3G network stood at 42.93%, Idea at 20.96%. Ideas 2G network was the worst performer and recorded a 18.97% call drop. In Bhubaneswar, where all operators failed tests, the maximum call drop was witnessed on Aircels 3G network and RComs 2G CDMA network. In Kolkata, only CDMA networks of MTS, Tata Teleservices and RCom were compliant to the call drop benchmark, while other operators failed to meet the benchmark. Even the GSM networks of Reliance Communications and Tata failed the test. The highest call drop of 8.86% was noticed on BSNLs 3G network followed by 8.58% on Vodafones 2G network in the city. Only Tata Teleservices CDMA network in Surat was compliant, while other failed. The maximum call drop in this city was noticed on Ideas 3G network. In Indore, 2G networks of Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance Communications CDMA and Tata CDMA complied with call drop norms while others failed. Here maximum call drops were witnessed on BSNLs network in 3G category and Idea Cellulars 2G network. Has Snapdeal, Indias second-largest ecommerce company after Flipkart, discontinued the services of brand ambassador Aamir Khan? The company said it was in no position to comment on the celebritys status. But in a telephonic interaction, a company executive said, Wait till next week, and you will hear something. Khan was embroiled in a controversy after he said at a conference in November that his wife had asked if they should leave the country amid growing intolerance. There was an immediate backlash on social media and Snapdeal stopped using the actor in its ads. The ecommerce company signed Khan as its brand ambassador in February last year and launched the Dil ki Deal campaign. The campaign continues without Khan. The contract signed then was for a year, extendable by another year. An extension appears unlikely. It is a fair assessment for Snapdeal. You cant have someone like that as a brand ambassador, considering Snapdeal has a consumer connect, said Suhel Seth, managing partner of consultancy Counselage India. Actor Shahrukh Khan found himself in a similar controversy when he aired his views on intolerance in the country, after which vandals attacked theatres where his film Dilwale was being screened. Actress Sonam Kapoor said in an interview that both Aamir and Shahrukh would be afraid of voicing their opinions after such incidents. Its a travesty that in India a brand ambassadors personal point of view affects the image of the brand that they are endorsing, Seth said. Snapdeal might not continue with Khan any more, but it is still not clear if the online marketplace will find his replacement in another star. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Delhi government has slashed more than Rs 400 crore from its annual publicity funds, officials have said, a move seen as an attempt to funnel more money to other departments in the midst of a severe financial crisis in the BJP-led municipal corporations. Officials said that the budgetary proposal of Rs 521 crore for the department of information and publicity which handles the governments advertisement drive -- was cut to Rs 100 crore for the current fiscal, a cut of Rs 421 crore. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had come under severe criticism after his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government increased the budgetary allocation for publicity to Rs 521 crore in 2015-16 from Rs 24 crore in the previous fiscal. Besides radio spots and TV ads, the Delhi government had run aggressive outdoor campaigns besides advertisements in newspapers throughout the year on some of its pet projects including the recent odd-even scheme. Also Read | Mufflerman Kejriwal odd-even ad irks BJP, Cong Officials said the saved funds are being allocated to other departments, adding that reallocation was also needed in view of tax collection failing to meet the governments fixed targets. Departments like the Delhi Jal Board have also demanded more funds, an official said. Sources said department of information and publicity has also been able to spend only around Rs 25 crore till now. The liabilities outstanding with the department are of around Rs 35 crore. With the current fiscal closing in about two months, its unlikely that the department would be able to spend the rest Rs 40 crore, a senior official added. The development comes in the midst of the AAP governments face-off with the BJP-led municipal corporations over funding of salaries for civic employees whose agitation has left roads strewn with garbage and hospitals locked. Read More | MCD workers tell Jung funds offered by AAP insufficient More than 130,000 employees have been on strike since Wednesday, bringing municipal schools and hospitals to a standstill apart from leading to a breakdown of the state sanitation machinery. While the BJP has said that the government has not released funds to the corporations, Kejriwal has attributed the current financial condition to corruption and lack of municipal reforms. Read More | CM Kejriwals Rs 550 crore loan offer fails to end Delhis civic strike SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Another suspected IS operative was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Thursday. The arrest was made from ISBT Kashmere Gate, police said. Mohsin Abrahem Sayeed, a resident of Mumbai, is reportedly an associate of the four alleged terrorists arrested from Uttarakhand last month for planning a terror strike. Sayeed allegedly was arranging funds for the four men and was given the job to arrange for logistics. He had reportedly come to Delhi to meet his associates, sources said. A sum of Rs 85,000 was also recovered from his possession. Sayeed told the police that he was himself planning to go to Syria and had also given Rs 50,000 to one Iqlaq to arrange for his passport, Visa and tickets. He told the Police that he was to go to Syria to the IS camps to fight for the Islamic state. During questioning he revealed that he was radicalised by the Islamic literature he found on the Internet and then contacted some persons on the Internet. He was made to go through some texts and speeches after which he owed his allegiance to the outfit, police sources said. This is the 21st arrest in the Pan India Operation by intelligence agencies including NIA and Special Cell. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Seventeen - year- old dance trainer, apprehended in September last year with his girlfriend-cum-dance partner for kidnapping and killing a 13- year- old schoolboy, has been held for allegedly killing a 67-year-old woman in south Delhis BK Dutt colony last month. The juvenile killed the elderly woman on January 31, barely 48 hours after counselling by an expert and two months after his release from the correction home for the murder of the schoolboy. The woman, Mithilesh Jain, was murdered metres from the Jor Bagh Karbala, which is guarded 24X7 by at least 100 policemen. The juvenile entered Jains house on the pretext of having a glass of water, attacked her with a blunt object and then strangled her in the kitchen. The juvenile was handed over his parents after they deposited the surety for his release from the correction home. His girlfriend-cum-partner in crime was also released on the grounds that they both wanted to pursue their studies. This time he took to crime apparently to pay for taking part in a popular TV dance reality show. Fully aware of the legal protection for juveniles in conflict with the law, the teenager showed no hurry in leaving the crime scene. He inspected the kitchen and took food and beverages kept in the refrigerator as the womans body lay on the floor, police said. After finding the keys, he opened the cupboards, took out the jewellery and cash and locked them. While leaving the house, he picked up Jains iPad and her two mobile phones -- gifted to her by daughter and son settled in the US and Singapore, respectively. The crime went undetected for almost 24 hours and discovered only when an employee of Jains son-in-law, Ashok Aggarwal went to the house to get the keys to Aggarwals office on the first floor. He found Jain dead in the kitchen with blood oozing out of her nose and mouth. Jains death became a mystery for the local police who for the next three days considered it a case of natural death and allegedly hushed up requests for an investigation by her family who were suspecting foul play. The local police kept on insisting that she died of a cardiac arrest without even waiting for her autopsy report. They hurriedly registered a case of murder for robbery after her autopsy report confirmed that Jain had been smothered. As soon as the police brass got the tip, they put together a professional team of investigators. On Thursday around 2 am, the team apprehended the juvenile from his Faridabad home while he was asleep. His involvement was verified with the help of electronic surveillance which confirmed that he had used Jains robbed mobile phone for a brief period. The teenager said he easily gained entry into Jains house as he knew her. His mother had earlier worked at Jains house as a domestic help. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday offered a Rs 300-crore loan to the capitals civic bodies, asking them to end their strike. The Aam Aadmi Party earlier urged Jung to look into the situation arising out of the ongoing strike, party leader Somnath Bharti said. Employees of North Delhi Municipal Corporation, South Delhi Municipal Corporation and East Delhi Municipal Corporation have been protesting the non-payment of their salaries and wages over the past few months. They have directed their ire at both the Delhi and central governments and have remained on strike since the past 10 days, adversely affecting the citys schools, hospitals and sanitation services. Jung met the mayors of the corporations and the representatives of the employee unions at his residence. Delhi government had released an amount of Rs 693 crores to the corporations. The additional Rs 300 crores would take the amount given to north and east corporation to a total of Rs. 1,000 crore. The amount of Rs 1,000 crore will take care of the salaries of all employees/officials till 31st March 2016, said the statement from the LGs office said. An AAP delegation of legislators Alka Lamba, Vishesh Ravi, Nitin Tyagi, Kartar Singh Tanwar and Anil Bajpai met Jung in New Delhi and handed over a memorandum about the raging issues in the civic bodies. We have given a memorandum (to the lt. governor) and it summarises the issues which we have raised before him, Bharti said. The Delhi government has already paid all the dues to the municipal bodies but the amount meant for salaries has been diverted or misused, the memorandum said, adding that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) owed Rs 1,555 crore cumulatively to the three civic bodies and the amount, if released, will take care of the salaries of a majority of the staff. We expect him (Jung) to come (down) heavily on the MCD to fix this issue. We are waiting for his reaction and the moment the strike gets resolved, we will believe that he has done something, he added. Raising an alarm on the MCD employees strike in Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police has expressed that the agitating sanitation workers may now resort to self immolation to attract public and media attention. Deputy Commissioner KK Vyas has written the letter to Municipal Corporation commissioners asking them to address the grievances of the agitating employees and importantly for maintaining peace and tranquillity in the city. The strike of the MCD employees entered 10 day on Friday. Sanitation workers, teachers and others have been on roads demanding the payment of salaries, due for several months. The police fears with passing days the strike would intensify with the medical fraternity having extended their support. On Friday the MCD employees blocked NH24, Jahangirpuri in north Delhi, in Central Delhi Vikas Marg has been blocked and Laxmi Nagar in east Delhi. In his letter, the commissioner has also said that strike has led to serious law and order situation in the city, affecting smooth movement of traffic. The police also fears outbreak of epidemic due to piling of garbage. Any attempt to lift the garbage by other agencies will be strongly opposed by agitating MCD employees and can result in clashes between them. Any situation necessitating use of force or any untoward incident causing injury of any of the striking employees or even natural death can further aggravate the situation, said the letter, a copy of which is with HT. Police has also suggested that corporations should release ad-hoc funds for peaceful resolution of the issue. To support twin humanitarian national campaigns - Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Green India, the Miss Earth India pageant will be held in Delhi in July this year. The pageant will help in nurturing candidates as a part of global eco-movements, Singapore-based Growbiz Consult executive director Pradeep Maithani said today. Miss Earth India to be held in Delhi will take the two-theme message of save and educate your daughter and waste-free India to the participants from 90 countries at the finals in Manila in October. Contestants for the Indian pageant will be short-listed from March with final to be held in Delhi on July 16. Read: Manekas Gandhis idea- Tell woman gender of foetus, then track child The integral mix of green and glamour in this campaign stamps the Miss Earth India trademark to be more than just an ordinary pageant. It will nurture candidates as a part of a global eco-movement which is part of over 90 countries campaigning for the protection of our environment, said Maithani, an Indian-origin Singaporean. It will also promote waste free India and save girl child right from birth to throughout the life cycle issues, where the girl faces gender biases in many parts of the country, said Maithani, also the national Director for the pageant. Read: Parineeti is Haryanas brand ambassador for Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao Growbiz Consult team will work on these two causes and educate people to support girls, many of whom are aborted as fetuses once the sex is determined medically, said Maithani. Growbiz Consults co-founder and national director Cheryl T Hansen will lead the grooming of candidates to the finals. Irrfan Khans stream of big Hollywood movies has made him Indias biggest acting export right now. With roles in both indies and blockbusters, he has turned into one of the most in-demand working actors. In fact, we are tempted to say that as far as Hollywood goes, to them there is only one Indian actor in existence: Irrfan Khan. But whats scary is that it could have been even bigger because as unlikely as it seems, Irrfan Khan occasionally says no. Weve found 4 major roles the star turned down. Just last week, news arrived that Irrfan had turned down a role in a new Steven Spielberg movie starring Scarlett Johansson that may or may not be the sci-fi adventure Robopocalypse. I didnt feel the character offered to me gave me much scope. So I said No; though Scarlett Johansson is an actor I would have loved to share screen space with, he said in an interview to NDTV. Read: Why Irrfan Khan rejected Steven Spielberg film with Scarlett Johansson But something is off. A few months ago, Khan admitted just as much. I am also in talks for another project with Spielberg, he told HT. That was in November. Now, a full 2 months later, he says the role wasnt good enough, which frankly isnt a decision that takes 2 months to make. We smell contractual disputes. In any case, this is not the first time he has turned down big Hollywood directors. We arent just saying this because of some inferiority complex that dictates all foreign films are better than our Bollywood movies. No. One look at the names he has turned his back on is enough to cause outrage. Body of Lies (2008) Director Irrfan turned down: Ridley Scott Actors Irrfan missed the chance to work with: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe Replaced by: Mark Strong Reason he gave: It just didnt work out. Still got to chillax with Golshifteh Farahani. *drops mic* Interstellar (2014) Director Irrfan turned down: Christopher Nolan Actors Irrfan missed the chance to work with: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway Replaced by: Either David Gyasi or Matt Damon (unclear). Reason he gave: They expected a huge commitment from my end. I had to stay in the US for four months at a stretch. I tried to work out my schedule and suggested if I could shuttle between India and the US as it wouldnt have been possible for me to be there for that long. I wanted to be here for The Lunchbox and D-Day. They couldnt allow that. I dont have a tendency to regret what I do, but knowing its a Christopher Nolan film, I can say that this has been one of the most difficult decisions Ive made, he told TOI. He directed Batman you say? *scoffs* My movie did Rs 10000 crore. Beat that Christopher Nolan. The Martian (2015) Director he turned down: Ridley Scott (he needs to take a hint) Actors Irrfan missed the chance to work with: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels Replaced by: Chiwetel Ejiofor Reason he gave: I had committed my dates to Shoojit Sircars film, and no regrets about that. Piku is an important film in my career, he said to Bollywood Hungama. Boom! Take that Sir Ridley Scott. Irrfan Khans international adventure began with a leading role in Asif Kapadias The Warrior. He quickly followed that up with acclaimed performances in small films like The Namesake, A Mighty Heart and The Darjeeling Limited. Sensing he was on to something, Khan began taking smaller roles in bigger films like Life of Pi, The Amazing Spider-Man and Slumdog Millionaire. The icing on the cake came in the form of a pretty substantial role in one of the biggest movies in history: Jurassic World. With that, Irrfan Khan became an international star and dropped his surname to prove his showbiz cred. Now, he says Hollywood offers are exploding. Read: Tom Hanks is a bigger man than he is an actor: Irrfan Khan He will now appear in the third Robert Langdon movie with Tom Hanks, who, as it turns out, was spared. Inferno is the sequel to The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. It is directed by Ron Howard (lucky man) and is expected to arrive in theatres in October. Follow @htshowbiz for more Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Assam Gas Cracker Project on Friday in the northeastern states Dibrugarh district, the eighth premier to be associated with a venture envisaged 32 years ago. Modi is also scheduled to address a public rally at Moran nearby before inaugurating the project, which has come to be known as the all gas project for all its missed deadlines and overshot budget. The petrochemical project, executed by Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymers Ltd (BCPL) will use naphtha and natural gas from Assams oilfields to produce ethylene, the feedstock for manufacturing polymers that are basic building blocks of plastics. Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) has 70% stake in BCPL while Oil India Limited, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd and Assam government have 10% each. The project was envisaged by Indira Gandhi in 1984 and given a shape by Rajiv Gandhi to be associated with the anti-foreigners agitation-ending Assam Accord of 1985. Five more PMs between Modi and the Gandhi mother-son duo were involved with the project, as an advertisement issued by the Assam government on Thursday recollected those days in an apparent bid to prevent the BJP take all the credit from the Congress. The ad underlines the failure of Third Front prime ministers HD Deve Gowda (1996-97) and IK Gujral (1997-98) as well as NDAs Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998-2004) in kick-starting the project. It was only when Dr Manmohan Singh took over as prime minister in 2004 that the detailed feasibility report was prepared and approvals were given in 2005-06, the ad issued by the state Department of Industries and Commerce said. Singh, it further said, facilitated all arrangements of huge central government support and laid the foundation stone at Lepetkata, 530 km east of Guwahati, on April 9, 2007. The ad also remembers PV Narasimha Rao who had laid the foundation stone for the project at another place Tengakhat in November 1995. But it avoids relating why Tengakhat, 45km east of Lepetkata, had to be abandoned. Besides opposition from some locals, the defence ministry had objected to the selection of Tengakhat as it was close to the air forces strategic Dinjan base. Lepetkata turned out to be wiser choice since it did not involve displacement. Much of the 3,000-bigha land for the project belonged to tea estates and the government. The ad, though, recalls with bitterness how Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) belied hopes and kept delaying the implementation under one pretext or the other before walking out of the project. BCPL, however, kept missing deadlines in completing the project. As a result, the project has overshot its initial estimated cost of Rs 500 crore in 1985 by 1993%. What matters is that it is finally ready, and we hope it benefits the plastic-based industries in the northeast. But the entire purpose will be lost if plastic-based industries do not get the raw material at a much better price than Haldia and Panipat, Amit Jain, vice-chairman of Federation of Industries of North Eastern Region, told Hindustan Times. According to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, the state government will soon commission a 1,500-bigha plastic park in Tinsukia district to accommodate 400 downstream plastic processing units. He had laid the foundation stone of this park in February 2011. The gas cracker project will provide indirect employment to nearly 100,000 people when these units come up, he said. Once commissioned, the project is expected to produce 220,000 tonnes of ethylene, 60,000 tonnes of propylene, 60,000 tonnes of polypropylene, 55,000 tonnes of raw gasoline and 12,500 tonnes of fuel oil annually. The plant will produce various ranges of polymers for different applications in sectors such as packaging film, injection, raffia and blow-moulding which will be marketed with assistance from GAIL. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court told dissident Congress MLAs from Arunachal Pradesh on Friday that it would examine if there was a sinister or genuine motive behind the governors decision to shift the assembly session from January 14 to December 16. A constitution bench headed by Justice JS Kehar did not accept the rebel MLAs contention that the governor had absolute discretion in changing the dates, a key event that led to the state into a political crisis before it was put under Presidents Rule. Courts can interfere if there is a perceived sinister motive, the bench told senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi. The Congress government in Arunachal was suspended after 14 of its legislators defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party and held a session of their own outside the Assembly. They, along with the opposition BJP, also selected a chief minister from among themselves. The SC is hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the governors decisions to advance the session dates and recommend Presidents Rule. The judges asked Dwivedi what prompted the governor to prepone the session. Dwivedi, on behalf of the breakaway group of Congress MLAs, continued to rely on constitutional provisions and said the governor had absolute immunity from judicial review of his actions. But, the bench had another view. Even assuming the governor had discretionary powers, yet, that may not perhaps justify his action of preponing the assembly session, it told Dwivedi. Let us accept for arguments, the governor has a discretion... Is it such an expeditious discretion that a speakers power should be curtailed at any point of time (by governor) because one person has moved a resolution, or say two persons or three persons, the bench wondered. A packed passenger bus plunged off a bridge into Purna river in Navsari district of South Gujarat on Friday killing at least 37 people, an official said, in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years. Thirty seven people have died in the incident, while 24 others are injured when a bus fell from a 20 feet high bridge on Purna river, Navsari superintendent of police MS Bharada said. Though police are investigating the cause of the mishap, some survivors and eye-witnesses said the bus driver lost control of the vehicle when it was passing the bridge and it hurtled down into the river after breaking iron railings. The SP said the condition of four out of the 24 injured passengers was serious. The injured have been shifted to four hospitals in Navsari. We are also checking the possibility of shifting those who are seriously injured to hospitals in Surat if needed, the officer said. People carry out rescue work after a state transport bus fell off a bridge into the Purna river. (PTI) The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus was headed towards Ukai when the accident took place near the village, situated around 12 kms away from the district headquarters. We do not know the exact number of people travelling in the bus, but it is said that it was full (to capacity), Bharada said. He said the agencies like police, fire brigade, 108 ambulance services were engaged in rescue operation at the spot. Expressing grief over the incident, chief minister Anandiben Patel twitted, Deeply pained to learn about the unfortunate bus accident on Purna River Bridge in Navsari. My prayers are with victims & families. I have directed Navsari collector & concerned officials to expedite rescue & relief ops and provide required help to victims & their kin, she tweeted. A high-level team from New Delhi, including the Tanzanian high commissioner to India, will leave for Bengaluru on Friday in connection with the assault on a Tanzanian woman in the Karnataka capital. The decision to send the team was taken at a high-level meeting convened by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi on Thursday that was attended by Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha and other senior officials of the ministry. A team is going to Bengaluru which includes the high commissioner of Tanzania, who is also the dean of the African diplomatic corps, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said at a media briefing here after the high-level meeting. Read more: Why do you want a lawyer? Bengaluru Police asks Tanzanian woman The team also includes the joint secretary (states), director (east and southern Africa) in the ministry of external affairs and the regional director of ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations), which liaises with the students who come here on ICCR scholarships, he said. Five people suspected of assaulting the Tanzanian woman student were arrested early on Thursday, Bengalueu Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik said. We have arrested the five accused after interrogating them on Wednesday night under detention in the case registered on the victims statement in a road rage incident, Megharik said. Read more: Tanzanian woman was not stripped, attack not racist: Karnataka min The commissioner, however, did not disclose names and ages of the five accused. In a case of mistaken identity, a mob assaulted the victim suspecting her to be a friend of a Sudanese student, Mohammad Ahad, whose car ran over a woman pedestrian (Shabana Taz) injuring her fatally while driving drunk on Sunday night. We condemn this unequivocally, Swarup said at the media briefing. The external affairs minister, in her tweets on Wednesday , has also said that we are deeply pained over the shameful incident, he said. He said Sushma Swaraj immediately spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sought an official report. Secretary Sinha also spoke to Tanazanian High Commissioner John W.H. Kijazi and expressed regret at the incident. Our Joint Secretary (States), Partha Satpathy, who happened to be in Bengaluru, liaised immediately with the state and local authorities, Swarup said. He also said that a report has been received from Bengaluru Police Commissioner Megharik. The commissioner has assured us that stringent measures are being taken to prevent occurrence of such incidents in the future, the spokesman said, adding that our African friends have been assured that necessary legal action would be taken and stringent punishment would be given to those involved in the incident and that all steps would be taken for the safety and security of African students in India. There are around 5,000 African students in India. As for the team gong to Bengaluru on Friday, Swarup said that we will extend full cooperation of the state and central governments to the investigation of this case. The ministry and the state government will also be reaching out to African students in the state to reassure them that their security and well-being is our primary concern, he added. The Snow and Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) at Chandigarh had issued a Low Danger warning to the army on February 2 regarding an avalanche in the general area of Siachen glacier. The avalanche eventually struck on February 3 and the 10 missing army personnel were declared dead by the army on Thursday. Our warning was low danger level. It was meant for snow avalanche activity only. It, however, was an ice avalanche which is more difficult to predict, said SASEs director Ashwagosha Ganju. The SASE comes under the ministry of defence and was set up to combat the hazards of snow in order to help the armed forces stationed mountainous regions. Sometimes high danger is involved when there are abnormal winds and snowfall coupled with other snow instability factors. There are cases when we are sure that an avalanche will trigger in an area. Then we issue a specific alert, Ganju added. When asked whether the army follows their advice as earlier too accidents had taken place despite SASE issuing a warning, he said, I cant talk about the operational role of army. I deal with science. I inform them as and when situations warrant and they take a call depending on their operational commitments. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) prodded Karnataka authorities on Friday to act against the attackers who last week allegedly stripped and paraded naked a young Tanzanian woman in suburban Bengaluru, spurring widespread debate on racism in India. The panel sought a report within two weeks from the state chief secretary and director general of police on steps initiated after taking note of media accounts of the assault that is threatening to cast a shadow over Indias growing engagement with Africa. If the contents of the report are true, the incident would amount to a serious violation of human rights, including racism, said the NHRC. The commissions response came on a day authorities suspended two policemen for failing to stop the mob and not registering a complaint while the number of suspects arrested went up to nine. Battered by a wave of criticism, the states Congress-led government has rejected claims that this was a racial attack while maintaining that the mob violence was a case of mistaken identity after a local woman was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese man. The 21-year-old victim and her three male friends, all Tanzanians, were assaulted when they were passing by the accident site minutes later, officials said. While the BJP has hit out at the Karnataka government and demanded chief minister Siddaramaiahs resignation, the Centre has sent a high-level inquiry team to Bengaluru including the Tanzanian high commissioner and offered assurances of safety to 5,000 African students in India. The envoy, John WH Kijazi, swivelled round from his Thursdays remarks that this was a racial attack, while he praised the local administration for the action taken so far. I dont want to dwell too much on racism. You people from the media are too interested in that, he said after a meeting with state officials. We are not here to discuss the issue of racism. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi promised that the state government would take strict action in the matter while he condemned the attack that has triggered nationwide outrage. Union law minister Sadananda Gowda asked Karnataka authorities to form a special squad to keep a watch on foreign students and also criticised the administration for not acting on complaints by locals regarding the wrong behaviour of some students from overseas. The political storm intensified after reports emerged that one of the men arrested was a member of the BJP, though the party distanced itself from the suspect, Lokesh Bangari, saying political allegiances of panchayat members are not permanent as polls are not fought on party symbols. Local police are facing flak for allegedly failing to stop the attack after the student said she pleaded with some cops at the spot for help, while one of the male victims told HT that officers had threatened them and asked them not to speak to anyone, particularly the media. Read: Bengaluru incident: Centre orders probe, Tanzania envoy a part of team The death of 10 soldiers in an avalanche at Siachen has brought the spotlight back to the harsh conditions faced by troops at the worlds highest battlefield and also its strategic importance to India. Islamabad has made repeated demands for demilitarising the glacier invoking the aspect of long-term peace but India has always taken a cautious approach on the issue. Defence officials say that as long as the glacier is under Indias control, the Pakistani army cant link up with the Chinese and pose threat to Ladakh. It acts as a wedge between the Shaksgam valley under Chinas control and Baltistan, which is occupied by Pakistan. Also Read | Siachen tragedy: Army declares 10 jawans dead, PM salutes soldiers The Indian Army launched Operation Meghdoot in April 1984 to secure the glacier after Pakistan army occupied the heights at Siachen, a 76-km river of slow moving ice. Several rounds of talks between India and Pakistan on demilitarising the Siachen glacier --- an old sore in bilateral ties -- have failed with Islamabad refusing to authenticate troop positions on the ground. In fact, India deployed its soldiers on Siachen after Pakistan began allowing international mountaineering expeditions to the glacier, sending out a signal that it controlled the area. Different interpretations of the 1949 ceasefire agreement by the two countries also aggravated the dispute. Also Read | No romantic notion here, Siachen should be a peace mountain India, which spends Rs 5 to Rs 7 crore daily on guarding the strategic glacier, has deployed around 3,000 soldiers at Siachen where temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees. The location at 19,600 feet where the 10 soldiers died often sees temperatures plunging to minus 42 degrees. Soldiers have to trek for almost 28 days covering a stretch of 128 km to reach some of the farthest pickets on the glacier, one of the most desolate places on this planet. Also Read | Avalanche study centre had issued warning to army on Feb 2 Almost 80% posts on the glacier are located above 16,000 feet, with Bana towering above the rest at 21,753 feet. Bana post is named after Subedar Bana Singh who was awarded the Paramvir Chakra for his helping secure the glacier in 1984. Indian Army has cautioned against withdrawing from Siachen until Islamabad authenticates troop positions on the ground as it would be a formidable task to reclaim the glacier. India currently occupies dominating positions on the Saltoro ridge with Pakistani posts located 3,000 feet below. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that the development of eastern parts of India is a core priority for his government and small towns must have employment opportunities. Inaugurating two projects in Dibrugarh at Assam, Modi said, The development of eastern parts of India is a core priority for our government because that is the way to all-round development. One of the projects that the PM inaugurated was the Assam Gas Cracker Project, a venture envisaged 32 years ago. Modi, however, said that he shouldnt have had the opportunity to inaugurate the projects and it should have been done long time ago. I dont think I should have for the opportunity to inaugurate these projects. This should have been done long ago, said the prime minister. The PM said that when projects get delayed, the cost also increases. Here are the highlights of PM Modis address: # The projects inaugurated today offer immense employment opportunities to the people of Assam. # It is important to think ahead of time when it comes planning schemes and initiatives. Also important to chalk out the roadmap. # Employment opportunities have to be created and they cant be created in big cities only. Smaller towns must have employment opportunities. # Government of India believes in cooperative federalism. Centre and states have to work together for development. # The development of eastern parts of India is a core priority for our government because that is the way to all-round development. The petrochemical project, executed by Brahmaputra Crackers and Polymers Ltd (BCPL) will use naphtha and natural gas from Assams oilfields to produce ethylene, the feedstock for manufacturing polymers that are basic building blocks of plastics. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi on Friday termed the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case a travesty of justice and criticised the star for allegedly running away from the spot after the incident. Arguing the Maharashtra governments appeal against the acquittal, Rohatgi insisted before the Supreme Court that the high court erred in discarding the evidence of those injured after the actor allegedly ran them over in a drunken state. The actors Toyota Land Cruiser had crashed into five men sleeping outside a bakery in Bandra, killing one of them. Pressing for a hearing of his appeal before a bench headed by justice JS Khehar, Rohatgi tried to make a case for the court to issue a notice to the actor. He said Khans defence that his driver was at the wheel during the accident was feeble and false. The driver, an employee of Khans family for 20 years, mysteriously surfaced 13 years after the incident when the trial reached the stage of defence evidence, Rohatgi said. Where was he for so many years? What was the accused doing? And if he (Khan) knew that his driver was the real culprit then why didnt he hand him over to the police? If the drivers version is true then the star is responsible for shielding an offender. He should then face prosecution for the same, Rohatgi told the bench. The court did not seem to be in a hurry to accept or reject the appeal at the outset. We are still trying to make up our mind since its a petition against the acquittal, the bench told Rohatgi who said the state was not asking for immediate conviction of the star. We just want a hearing, he said when the court fixed February 12 for further hearing. The high court let off the accused in December after rejecting the prosecution theory that Khan was responsible for the incident. It said the police failed to establish Khan was at the wheel and overturned a trial court verdict that had sentenced him to five years in jail. Rohatgi said there was enough circumstantial evidence to prove the incident on September 28, 2002 was caused by Khan after a night out drinking. The forensic test conducted on his blood sample 48 hours after the accident showed presence of alcohol in his body, the attorney general said. Following the success of the grand alliance in Bihar, the Janata Dal-United (JD(U)) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are looking at merging their political forces ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh due next year. The move could considerably dent the prospects of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state. Nitish Kumars JD(U) and Chaudhary Ajit Singh-led RLD have agreed in principle to merge their parties and project Jayant Chaudhary the RLD chiefs son as the combines chief ministerial candidate. We are also in talks with smaller parties including the Apna Dal and the Peace Party in pursuance of plans to firm up a broader alliance, Singh said. The Bihar model will be replicated in Uttar Pradesh. The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) do not have the clout to take on the BJP. An alternative political vertical is emerging, JD(U) spokesman KC Tyagi told Hindustan Times. Mulayam Singh Yadavs SP is likely to hurt the most, a scenario the JD(U) will relish considering the SP chief pulled out of Bihars grand alliance which included the JD(U), Congress party and Rashtriya Janata Dal at the last hour. However, BSP chief Mayawati could retain her core support base. Speculations that BSP may align with the BJP post elections could further favour Mayawati. Broad contours of the JD(U)-RLD merger were worked out at a meeting held on Wednesday at the New Delhi residence of Ajit Singh attended by JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his political strategist Prashant Kishor with Jayant Chaudhary. Claiming that the states electorate was fed up with the politics of the SP and BSP, Singh said, Both are interested in furthering personal and family rule. Farmers are facing a tough time, but none of the political leaders are bothered about the agrarian distress. The emerging alliance of the JD(U) and the RLD will fill this vacuum. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has identified educational institutes run by affiliate Vidya Bharti to increase its outreach. It has also managed to get the attention of the government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a four-day conference of Vidya Bharti school principals on February 12 in the capital. The event will also be attended by human resource development minister Smriti Irani. Vidya Bharti functionaries claim YSK Sheshu Kumar, chairperson of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and Prof. Hrushikesh Senapaty, director of the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), will also be in attendance. There is however, no official confirmation on their presence. The four-day conference is being organised in New Delhi from February 11 to February 14 to underscore the need for imparting moral values in society through curriculum. Participants are expected to brainstorm on issues like curriculum framework, moral education in schools and how to lighten the school-bag. The conferences underlying theme however is social reform through students. The idea is to reach out to over 50 lakh families whose children attend Vidya Bharti schools and colleges. We see students as agents of social change and an important means to bring about social reforms, a senior RSS functionary told Hindustan Times. As many as 1250 principals of Vidya Bharti schools from across 527 districts will attend the four-day meet. NCERT and CBSE officials have been invited to share their best practices with these principles as well as to gain understanding of how moral education needs to be imparted, the functionary said. Education these days has become a means for earning money; students are churned out as packages. Our aim is to draft an education plan that will produce citizens who will assist in nation building. Principals from the Vidya Bharti schools, some of which are run from the remotest corners of the country, will get knowledge on how to groom model citizens, said a Vidya Bharti functionary. Vidya Bharti runs 12,364 schools and 49 colleges, with a combined enrollment of nearly 35 lakh students. There are also 2,37,691 students enrolled in 9806 Saraswati Sanskar Kendras, that Vidya Bharti runs and the plan is to have one lakh such Kendra or Ekal Vidyalayas in far off villages and tribal areas by 2019. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Peoples Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti hinted on Friday she could snap ties with coalition partner BJP if the Centre didnt announce confidence-building measures (CBMs) to end the political stalemate in Jammu and Kashmir and form a government. At a meeting in Jammu, Mehbooba told party workers the new measures were aimed at creating a positive atmosphere before the new government was formed. She said the announcement shouldnt be construed as a blackmailing tactic. You cant form a government in the air. The point is how to create an encouraging atmosphere so that if a new government is formed, there is a way forward for creating goodwill among the people. And for it you need the support of the government. If we get it is fine, if not, then we will move on as we have been doing till now, the 56-year-old leader said. The state has been under governors rule since former chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed died on January 7, leaving behind a rocky coalition of ideologically-divergent partners. Mehbooba hinted that the new measures should be political and not economic in nature, a day after governor NN Vohra appointed two advisers, a move interpreted as a pressure tactic by the Centre to show it was not averse to prolonging governors rule. The appointment of former IAS officers Parvez Dewan and Khurshid Ganaie as advisers was seen as a response to Mehboobas CBMs, although BJP leaders on February 2 sought from the governor 10 days to reply on government formation. The governor needs people to run an administration. He cant do everything single-handedly. Nothing much should be read about the appointment of advisers, former minister and BJP leader Bali Bhagat clarified. A political observer said the BJP was exploring options in the event of the PDP continuing with its reluctance but such tactics wouldnt work on Mehbooba. The BJP too is not in a hurry to form a government. The Centre can earn goodwill with immediate pro-people decisions and effective administration. State BJP leaders believe the CBMs cant be implemented immediately and under pressure. But Mehbooba is in no mood to relent. Its not about finances. There could be a delay in getting finances but if the government has to be formed there has to be a way for forward movement, she said at the meeting where her brother, Tassaduq Mufti, was present. The political CBMs hinted at could include holding peace talks with separatists and Pakistan, a major bone of contention between the coalition partners. A man allegedly tried to commit suicide inside social activist Anna Hazares office in Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, police said on Thursday. The man identified only as Balu consumed poisonous substance inside Hazares office, a police official said. He was rushed to a hospital with the help of Parner police who have lodged a complaint, he said. An aide to Hazare said land dispute led the man, a farmer, to take the step. Reacting to the incident, Hazare said land dispute matters should be resolved in court and suicide wasnt a solution. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday took their political rivalry to the inauguration of a PSU petrochemical plant, seeking credit for a venture which took 31 years to fructify. Election to the 126-member Assam assembly is due within three months. Inaugurating the Rs 9,965-crore gas cracker project of Brahmaputra Cracker & Polymers Limited at Lepetkota in eastern Assams Dibrugarh district, Modi said he was fortunate to unveil a plant that his predecessor could not. Read More | 32 yrs later, Modi to inaugurate Assam gas cracker project today It appears our government is destined to give shape to all unfinished projects. Had this gas cracker project been completed 25 years ago, the second generation of people in Assam could have found employment. We have had this tendency to delay so much that a project that should have cost Rs500-crore instead of Rs 10-11,000-crore, he said. The NDA government, he said, fast-tracked the gas cracker project as part of its Act East policy to ensure Assam and the northeast keep pace with development elsewhere in India. I dont mind (getting credit for UPA projects) as long as the country benefits, Modi said. Read More | Development of eastern parts of India priority of govt: PM Modi The prime ministers sarcasm was apparently directed at Gogoi, who in his address said chemicals and fertilisers minister Ananth Kumar should ideally have given credit to former PM Manmohan Singh and the state government for facilitating the project. Kumar had earlier insisted that Modis vision had made the gas cracker project, in the making for years, possible. Projects of such magnitude are not built in a day, and subsidies of 53% ensured by Dr Singh helped the gas cracker plant come up. Ananth Kumar perhaps does not like us, Gogoi said. The gas cracker project is part of the 1985 Assam Accord that locals are sentimental about. Modi, who had taken a chopper to Lepetkota after landing at Mohanbarie Airport in Dibrugarh, left for Moran, 30km from the project site, to address a rally of BJP workers from 36 assembly constituencies of eastern Assam. The BJP is desperate to win the forthcoming election, having declared its Mission 84, targeted at winning as many seats. It has tied up with the tribal Bodoland Peoples Front that is yet to be defeated in 12 seats across the Bodoland Territorial Council straddling western and north-central Assam. Read More | BJP relives Vajpayee days in domain of tribal ally The BJP had won five seats in the 2011 assembly polls, which was half the seats in its kitty in 2006. The Congress, on the other hand, won 78 seats in the last election. But dissension has troubled it since 2013 and 10 MLAs, including former health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, quit to join the BJP last year. Read More | Assam Congress rejigs strategy as nine rebels set to join BJP SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind a prominent organisation of Indian Islamic Scholars on Friday asserted before the Supreme Court that courts could not test the validity of Muslim personal law as it was based on the Holy Koran. Opposing the courts move to do away with gender bias against women, the organisation contended that judiciary could not examine the constitutional validity of the practices of marriage, divorce and maintenance under Muslim personal law on the ground of violation of fundamental rights. Last year, the SC had decided to examine Muslim personal law to scrap provisions biased against women, often victims of polygamy and arbitrary divorce. Personal laws do not derive their validity on the ground that they have been passed or made by a legislature or other competent authority. The foundational sources of personal law are their respective scriptural texts, the organisation told a bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur. The Mohammedan Law is founded essentially on the Holy Koran and thus it cannot fall within the purview of the expression laws in force as mentioned in...the Constitution, it said in an application. The SC allowed the organisation to become a party to the case. The court, which had earlier issued notices to the Attorney General and National Legal Services Authority, will take up the matter after six weeks. India has separate personal laws for each religion governing marriage, divorce, succession, adoption and maintenance. While Hindu Law overhaul began in the 1950s, any attempt to reform Muslim law has met stiff resistance from conservative elements. The young Tanzanian woman who was allegedly stripped and assaulted by a mob on the outskirts of Bengaluru last week was not the primary target. She came under attack only after two policemen, who were guarding her, left her side, a friend of the victim told HT on Thursday. My friend, Hasheem, approached two uniformed policemen who were standing and watching (the attack). The police threw him back into the crowd, the victim told HT in a brief conversation at the office of Bengalurus DCP (north) TR Suresh, who quickly intervened and ushered the woman into his chamber. Read more: Centre orders probe, Tanzania envoy a part of team Her friend said the crowds attention was focused on three Tanzanian men who were travelling with the woman in a car. When I reached the spot, she was standing with two policemen. Some distance away, the mob was chasing one of the men, said Brighton, a Tanzanian student who rushed to the spot to rescue his friends. Once the three men managed to escape, the crowd started setting fire to the car. They were breaking off branches from trees, setting them on fire and shoving them into the vehicle. The two policemen who were standing (with the Tanzanian woman) could have stopped them, but they did nothing, he said. Read more: Bengaluru police ask Tanzanian woman to switch off phone, not comment After the car was set ablaze, the policemen walked away from the scene, leaving Brighton and the woman at the mercy of the angry crowd. Thats when the mob purportedly attacked Brighton and the woman. They tore her clothes and kept taking turns to beat us, he said. When he tried to cover her, they thrashed him even more. Read more: Why do you want a lawyer? Bengaluru Police asks Tanzanian woman One good Indian man ran toward us, gave her his shirt and quickly ran away. After some time, four Samaritans, Indians, intervened and slowly started taking us away from the mob. One of our Iranian friends came at that point and took us to his house, Brighton said. The womans lawyer, Darshana Mitra, told HT, her client asked the policemen for help but they didnt do anything. In a serious violation of aviation rules, an Air India (AI) pilot travelling as a passenger had obtained clearance from the air traffic control (ATC) for the ill-fated flight to Hyderabad in which a technician died after being sucked into the engine, sources told Hindustan Times. The incident took place on December 16 last year when AI flight 619 was being pushed back for departure at the Mumbai airport. Read more: Air India staffer sucked into jet engine at Mumbai airport, dies Sources said Capt AG Sharma, who was to operate the Hyderabad flight, had landed in Mumbai from Rajkot. While Sharma was still in the aircraft that had come in from Rajkot, another pilot travelling as staff on duty crew travelling as passenger on company ticket entered the cockpit of the Hyderabad-bound aircraft and contacted the Mumbai ATC and obtained route clearance for the flight. ATC clearances have to be obtained by pilots who are flying and not by a passenger, even if he is a qualified pilot, as the pilots who are going to fly have to understand the clearances. This was a grave violation, said a senior AI official. Read more: Departure from set procedures may have caused Air India mishap If such a thing has happened, its a breach of regulations and standing operating procedures, said Capt Shakti Lumba, former operations head of IndiGo and Alliance Air. AI and Sharma refused to talk when contacted by HT. Sources said while it should have taken a minimum 30 minutes for the pilots to shift to the other aircraft after landing from Rajkot, the procedure took just under 15 minutes, indicating that things were done in a hurried manner. After Sharma landed in Mumbai, he had to do a post flight inspection and fill the pilots sector and defect reports. On the Hyderabad-bound flight, the pilots would then have had to prepare the cockpit, do an external inspection, conduct a pre-flight briefing, obtain ATC clearance and then start the engines. This would have taken 30-40 minutes. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A West Bengal courts verdict awarding death penalty to 11 convicts, including a Trinamool Congress leader, for the murder of a woman has raised questions over the doctrine of rarest of rare propounded by the Supreme Court. Aparna Bag, a resident of Ghughurgachi of Nadia district of West Bengal, was murdered by a group of people on November 13, 2014 over a land dispute. On Thursday, a court in Krishnanagar handed death sentence to the 11 accused. Death penalty in India In India, death penalty is prescribed for murder, gang robbery with murder, abetting the suicide of a child or insane person, waging war against the government and abetting mutiny by a member of the armed forces. Capital punishment is also awarded under some anti-terror laws for those convicted of terrorist activities. Murder convicts get life imprisonment Generally, courts award life imprisonment to convicts in a murder case. Only in rarest of rare cases, murder convicts are given death penalty. Death sentence is imposed on the convict only when the court comes to the conclusion that life imprisonment is inadequate having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case. Also Read | Bengal: 11 given death sentence for killing woman to grab land in Nadia Section 354(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which was added to the Code in 1973, requires a judge to give special reasons for awarding death sentences. Capital punishment can be inflicted only in gravest cases of extreme culpability and in choosing the sentence the condition of the convict is also to be taken into account. What is rarest of rare? In 1980, in the Bachan Singh case, the Supreme Court propounded the rarest of rare doctrine and since then, life sentence is the rule and the death sentence the exception. There is no statutory definition of rarest of rare. It depends upon facts and circumstances of a particular case, brutality of the crime, conduct of the offender, previous history of his involvement in crime, chances of reforming and integrating him into the society etc. Test for rarest of rare The generally applied test while sentencing a convict to death is whether the survival of an orderly society demands extinction of life of the person who has committed the offence and whether failure to impose death sentence on him would bring to naught the sentence of death provided under Section 302 of IPC. Pre-planned, brutal, cold-blooded and sordid nature of a crime, without giving any chance to the victim, are generally taken into account to decide whether a particular case falls within the parameters of rarest of rare. What does Supreme Court say? Death penalty should be imposed when collective conscience of the society is so shocked that it will expect the holders of the judicial power centre to inflict death penalty irrespective of their personal opinion as regards desirability of otherwise of retaining death penalty, said the Supreme Court in Bachan Singh Vs. State of Punjab. The crime has to be viewed from various angles manner of commission of murder, motive for commission of murder, anti-social or socially abhorrent nature of crime and magnitude and personality of victim of murder. Are trial courts following rarest of rare doctrine? But the manner in which death penalty is being given in a large number of cases raises a serious question. Are trial courts in India giving a go by to the rarest of rare doctrine? The question becomes all the more relevant because not all convicts awarded death penalty are executed in India. The number of death sentences pronounced has been very high despite the rarest of rare doctrine that limits the scope of awarding capital punishment. According to an Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) report The State of Death Penalty in India 2013 Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 370 death sentences, followed by Bihar (132). But sentences for 4,321 convicts were commuted from death penalty to life imprisonment during this period. This, of course, included many convicts who were given death penalty before 2001. The highest number of commutation 2,462 happened in Delhi, followed by Uttar Pradesh (458). But thousands of convicts still remain on the death row. Huge gap between death sentence and actual execution Data show there is a huge gap between death sentences pronounced and actual executions. According to an ACHR report based on National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, there have been several death sentences between 2001 and 2011, but only a few of these have actually been carried out. Indian courts awarded death penalty to 1,455 convicts from 2001-11, an average of around 132 convicts per year. But an overwhelming number of death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment during this period. Also Read | Delhi: HC commutes serial killers death penalty to life term The only convict to be executed during this period was Dhananjoy Chatterjee (2004) who was hanged for the murder and rape of a 14-year old girl in Kolkata. This was the countrys first execution since April 27, 1995, when Auto Shankar, a serial killer, was executed in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Thereafter, there have been only three executions Mumbai terror attack case convict Ajmal Kasab in 2012, Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru in 2013 and Mumbai serial blasts case convict Yakub Memon in 2015. Is SC becoming averse to death penalty? The president and governors are exercising the power to grant pardons, etc., and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases, given to them, under Articles 72 and 161, to save a fairly large number of convicts from the gallows. While the executive have been refusing mercy pleas of only terror convicts, judiciary is not following the same. Of late, the Supreme Court has refused to impose capital punishment in cases in which one would have expected it to send the convicts to the gallows. Many were surprised when the SC declined to award death sentence to the convicts in the Graham Staines, Jessica Lall and Priyadarshini Mattoo murder cases on the ground that these did not fall within the category of rarest of rare. It commuted the death penalty of Rajiv Gandhis killers to life imprisonment in February 2014 on the ground of inordinate delay in deciding their mercy pleas. A month later, it also commuted the death sentence of 1993 Delhi terror convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar to life imprisonment on the grounds of delay in deciding his mercy petition and that he suffered from a mental illness. Punishment is natural response to crime This principle is almost universally accepted and that letting off criminals can result in vigilante justice. Also, the punishment has to be proportionate to the degree of wrongdoing and mitigating circumstances have to be considered while deciding the quantum of punishment. Should India abolish death penalty? India has been voting against a UN resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty. But in effect, there has been a near moratorium on the death penalty in India. According to Amnesty International, in India, at least 100 people in 2007, 40 in 2006, 77 in 2005, 23 in 2002, and 33 in 2001 were sentenced, but not executed, to death. Indias figure is minuscule compared to China which executed thousands, Iran (1,663), Saudi Arabia (423), the US (220) and Pakistan (171) during 2007-12. ACHR director and coordinator of the National Campaign for Abolition of Death Penalty in India, Suhas Chakma, says: The sanctity of the rarest of rare doctrine has been eroded considerably and awarding death penalty has become routine for courts in India. India should abolish death penalty altogether and join the comity of civilised nations that have done away with this extreme form of punishment, says Chakma. Also Read | Keralas Hummer billionaire gets life term for crushing security guard The application of a bank officer, who mentioned Valentine as a festival on a loan form, has gone viral on social media. Twenty-five-year old Digvijay Singh, a probationary officer in State Bank of India in Junagarh at Gujarat, recently applied for an advance festival loan for Rs 42,970, mentioning Valentine as the festival. But the bank rejected his request, saying it was an invalid festival. According to Digvijays friends, the young man again applied for a loan, this time mentioning Basant Panchami as the festival, which was accepted by the bank. Singh says that he was not seeking publicity when applying for the loan. Though Singh had applied for the Valentine festival loan recently, he goofed up in mentioning on his loan application the year for which he was applying for the advance and also the year of his joining. It was a mistake But, it is not a matter worth discussing in the media. I have already explained the matter to my higher authorities and I am not authorised to speak to the media. You may contact my superiors on this matter. However, I wish to put it straight that I did not do it for cheap publicity, he said when HT contacted him on phone. He, however, refused to provide numbers of his superiors to HT. A senior official of SBI in the Junagadh division, under which the branch falls, said on condition of anonymity, I am not aware of this particular case. But as per our policy, we offer loans only for festivals, and not for days like Valentines Day, Fathers Day or Mothers Day. A resident of Ballabgarh in Faridabad district of Haryana, Singh joined the bank in December 2014 as a probationary officer at Chuda, Junagarh branch in Gujarat. Bank officers are entitled to a maximum of one months gross salary as advance festival loan. The interest-free loan has to be returned in 10-month equal instalments. (With inputs from HTC, Ahmedabad) A 20-year-old woman gave birth to conjoined twins at a private hospital in Agra on Wednesday. Doctors at hospital said the girls were born with one liver, two hearts, two lungs, four hands and four legs. The twins were born to Mohini, wife of a labourer Pradeep. The woman was unconscious but fine, according to doctors. Gynecologist Dr Shahsi Gupta, who along with Dr Sandeep Gupta handled the birth, claimed that such twins are one in one lakh. Watch | Rare conjoined twins born in Agra She said that the separation of twins was an expensive operation but it can be done . I dont have enough money to take care of the twin but would do my best till the time they can manage to survive, said Pradeep, father of twins. Last year in November, a team of doctors at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh successfully separated two conjoined sisters Jannat and Mannat performing one of the rarest surgeries. In another instance in Mumbai, conjoined twins Riddhi and Siddhi, who were surgically separated at BJ Wadia hospital in Parel in 2014, continue to live in the hospital. Members of the hospital staff told HT that the twins parents have not visited the hospital for more than a year, making them suspect that the family has abandoned the children. The girls were brought to the hospital from their village in Raigad district in May 2013 by social workers from Pratham, a not-for-profit group. Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh on Friday condemned the racial slur against India-born Sikh Canadian defence minister Harjit Sajjan in the Canadian parliament. Every Indian, especially every Sikh, feels hurt over the racial slur against Sajjan, whose contribution to the Canadian nation remains unparalleled, Amarinder said in a statement here. He dubbed the remarks made by Canadian opposition MP Jason Kenney as racial and outrageous, saying Kenney must apologise, and in case he didnt, he must be reprimanded in accordance with the Canadian legislative business procedures. The state Congress president said Sajjan was a decorated soldier who had served in Afghanistan and Bosnia. It was only because Sajjan was from a different race and ethnicity that the opposition Conservative lawmaker made an outrageously racial remark against him, which must be condemned, he added. Notorious gangster Akul Kumar alias Khatri escaped from police custody at Aur town here on Thursday after his four accomplices attacked the two cops who were accompanying him in a taxi. Khatri was being taken back to the Faridkot jail from where he was brought here in connection with a hearing in a case. Sources said the cops, who had brought Khatri to Nawanshahr in a bus, hired a taxi from Chandigarh chowk here for the return journey. When they reached outside a marriage palace in Aur, Khatri allegedly faked illness to divert attention of the cops. As cops took him out of the car, a white Ford Endeavour arrived there. Three masked men alighted from the vehicle and told cops to hand over Khatri to them. When constable Chamkor didnt budge, one of the assailants opened fire at the cop, leaving him critically injured. The assailants later fled from the spot along with Khatri. The role of the second cop, Paramjeet Singh, has come under the scanner as he allegedly stood a mute spectator when Khatri was being taken away by his accomplices. The attackers also snatched Chamkors AK-47 that was later thrown away. The injured cop has been admitted to the civil hospital with bullet injuries on his thigh. Nawanshahr police officials rushed to the spot and recorded the statement of cops. Inspector general of police Arpit Shukla told the Hindustan Times that a manhunt had been launched in nearby districts to nab the accused. Khatri is facing two cases of attempt to murder and four under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in various police stations. He is a member of Jaggu and Goru gang and was lodged with them in the Faridkot jail. On January 30, a picture of Goru and Khatri was uploaded on formers Facebook page. The Chandigarh Bench of the Armed Forces Tribunal has come down heavily on Punjab Police and asked the state police chief to get the absconding Pakistan spy Kuldeep Singh arrested. Kuldeep was dismissed from the army after a court martial found him guilty of spying and committing theft of army property in 2006. While being in army, Kuldeep, a resident of Gurdaspur, crossed over to Pakistan along with his service weapon. He remained absent for four years and eight months from 196 Field Regiment till he was apprehended by troops of 25 Punjab. He was charged with committing theft of the property belonging to the government as while leaving he took one carbine gun; twenty 9 mm ball ammunition and one carbine magazine with him. Between December 1999 and August 2004, Kuldeep had passed on secret information pertaining to the Indian military to Pakistan. Kuldeep had filed an appeal before the Punjab and Haryana high court, which granted him bail in 2010 till the pendency of his appeal. After the formation of AFT, the case was transferred to it. Kuldeeps appeal was dismissed in January 2014, and it was ordered that since accused was on bail, he should surrender to military authorities within 15 days from the date of the order. As he did not surrender, non-bailable warrants were issued but couldnt be executed by the office of the Panchkula deputy commissioner of police. Thereafter, the non-bailable warrants were issued again in May 2015 and sent to Gurdaspur superintendent of police for its execution. The SP was also instructed that if Kuldeep could not be apprehended due to any reason, the details of his immovable property be obtained from the revenue agency and compliance thereof be reported to the AFT. However, Kuldeep could not be apprehended nor the details of his property were sent. The AFT again sent a reminder to the Gurdaspur SP but in vain. All these facts are staring at us where the police (executing agency) should have shown concern...there appears to be a lukewarm response to such a grave situation. Indeed it is a very serious matter as the petitioner stood convicted and sentenced for serious offences, he could be a grave hazard to the security of the nation, said the bench comprising justice Surinder Singh Thakur and Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra (retd). The bench asked the Punjab DGP to ensure that Kuldeep Singh is arrested (by an officer not below the rank of an SP) at the earliest. The copy of this order should also be sent to the Punjab home secretary, said the bench. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON From far-off Taiwan, the name of musk melon Muskaan has not been lost in translation. And like its name, it brings a smile on the face of 43-year-old Parduman Singh every time he talks about it. As he guides his men removing weeds from 16 acres of musk melons growing in long rows enveloped under mulch sheet and paddy straw, Parduman does not have to worry like many Punjab farmers if there will be enough rain for water-guzzling paddy in June-July. His crop of Muskaan and Bobby, another Taiwan variety he grows, will be ready for harvest as early as April-May and unlike the local musk melon varieties, has a longer shelf life and fetches a higher price. Till the musk melons arrive, what is already in full bloom on another eight acres of Pardumans farm at Rukali Mangarh village in Rupnagar district are lush-red strawberries. The variety has come from California, and like the musk melons, made its way to Punjab through suppliers based in Pune (Maharashtra). Just a few farmers are growing California strawberries in Punjab and many more may do so as the market grows, he says. The economics of the strawberry musk melon crop cycle were lucrative enough for Pardumans 27-year-old nephew Raspinder Singh, an economics graduate, to join him. And he now helps his uncle market the produce to Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar, and through commission agents, to other states. Workers busy in a strawberry field at Rukali Mangarh village. (HT Photo) The strawberries fetch between Rs 200 and Rs 400 for a 2-kg box of eight packets. The prices shoot up in the winter months till the soaring temperatures bring both the shelf life and the prices down, says Parduman. The demand for strawberry remains high till juicy mangoes, litchis and melons arrive in the markets, so they now also plant some late varieties that can be harvested till the onset of summer. The strawberry season the sowing of the early varieties starts in mid-October and is harvested by December and the late varieties can be harvested till May brings in a sumptuous profit of Rs 3-4 lakh an acre! Catering to a niche market, though the strawberries are pricier than the musk melons, the latter, too, bring a profit of Rs 1-1.5 lakh an acre. The input cost, including labour, land contract price, and seeds, for musk melons is ` 1 lakh an acre. They fetch up to Rs 2-2.5 lakh an acre. The shelf life of local musk melon varieties is just a few days; if damaged by rain, they can also cause food poisoning. But Muskaan and Bobby can be stored for up to 20 days, he adds. ADDING ACRES With not enough land to divide among Parduman and his two brothers, the family began their diversification story by moving away from paddy to mushrooms. They also grew bell peppers, cucumber, potatoes and tomatoes. When Punjabs own strawberry started arriving in the market, they left mushrooms too. Though the Punjab horticulture department and DD kisan channel were of great help, they got the strawberry farming right through a lot of enterprise and a little help from the internet. Earlier, the strawberry variety we were growing did not give fruit of good quality and taste. We were facing problems marketing the crop. Also, the consumption of the fruit was low. Three years back, we searched on the Net for better varieties and found suppliers of the California variety in Pune. Since then, there has been no looking back. The nearby hawa-pani green fields and Neelon canal lends a rich taste and colour to the strawberries. They are not just lush-red and shiny but also taste the best. We sell them at a better price than those grown in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttarakhand, says Parduman. The returns have been equally sweet and the brothers are adding more acres to strawberry and melons, year after year. The fruits now grow on 24 acres, eight of their own and the rest on contract. Their company, PM Agrotech Ltd, is now into big business, with its own pick-up vans transporting strawberries and musk melons, packed in boxes bearing the companys name, to commission agents. NOT WITHOUT A HARD DAYS WORK But it has not come without a hard days work. Strawberries cannot withstand extreme heat and cold. To save them from dip in temperatures during Punjabs frosty winter nights, they have to be meticulously covered with mulch sheets. The weeds have to be removed every day and the crop also has to be saved from fungus in the soil through layer of paddy straw. Also, during winter months, the shelf life of strawberries is three days. It goes down to just one day after February. So, their timely marketing becomes a daily challenge. But they intend to grow more strawberries and melons. Using the poly- house on their farms for cucumber and bell peppers, Parduman and Raspinder are now experimenting with preparing the nursery of musk melons in the polyhouse through hydroponic technique (farming without soil, using minerals such as cocopit and vermicompost) and later replicate it on their open farms. They also plan to bring a Taiwanese watermelon variety into Punjab markets this year. A BETTER LIFE The strawberries have brought fame to Rukali Mangarh village. The brothers still live together in a big house next to their farm, but much has changed in the past few years. The rooms have air-conditioners and LCD television sets. From just one Maruti car, they now have a Maruti Swift and two Mahindra Boleros. Pardumans son is studying in Canada and his daughter is pursuing an engineering course. It has also helped us know more people, from officers in the horticulture department to high-end customers, as strawberries are in high demand during weddings and the festival season, says Raspinder. Lying enveloped under paddy straw on Punjab farms, these exotic fruits are reaping a harvest of hope for farmers such as Parduman and Raspinder beyond paddy. They still grow paddy on a few acres, but only to fill in between the strawberry-musk melon cycle. For those still growing it, the message is: straw is not a waste till its wasted. TOMORROW: Not cattle class anymore SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After visiting the family of a farmer who committed suicide in Jaga Ram Tirath village in Bathinda, Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Charanjeet Singh Channi on Thursday said the `3 lakh compensation was driving farmers to take the extreme step. Why cannot we improve the agrarian situation in the state? Rather than giving the compensation after the death of a farmer, financial aid should be provided before the situation worsens to this level. This is only driving them to commit suicide, Channi said while speaking to Hindustan Times here. He earlier visited the family of farmer Babu Singh (55) who ended his life after failing to pay a debt of around `20 lakh. He said he was compiling a record of all the cases of farmer suicide and will raise the issue in the upcoming budget session of the assembly. I will visit all the families who had to face this tragedy and will demand the state government to waive off their loans, he added. Asked whether waiving off the debt of farmers will add to the financial burden on the state government, Channi targeted the central government to bail out the state out of this crisis. When Manmohan Singh was the PM, he waived off most of the farm debts in Punjab. I strongly appeal that if the state government is facing financial stress, the central government must bail it out by providing financial support, he said. Asked if political parties are politicising the issue of farmer suicides, the Chamkaur Sahib MLA said this was not a political issue for him. I dont see this as a political issue. Neither are we highlighting it for any political mileage. Once I will finish compiling the details of the suicide cases, I will even propose solution to end this crisis in Punjab, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The double murder of 84-year-old Pushpawati and daughter-in-law Sarita Aggarwal, who were the grandmother and aunt of Ola Cab CEO Bhavish Aggarwal, has been solved with the arrest of their 24-year-old former driver, who killed the two for Rs 5,000. The police arrested Sukhpal Singh of Phallewal village from Barewal Chowk on Friday and recovered Saritas purse from him. The police claimed that he had confessed to the crime. Sukhpal, a matriculate, had left the job with the family around three months ago as he wanted to go to Dubai for another job. He contacted a travel agent, who duped him of money and fled. Meanwhile, he wanted to marry, so he demanded Rs 5,000 from Sarita. Commissioner of police Paramraj Singh Umranangal said Sukhpal was visiting the house of Dr Rakesh Aggarwal at Sher-e-Punjab Colony on Barewal Road since January 25. Sarita asked him to meet her husband Dr Rakesh Aggarwal for the money. In an inebriated condition, Sukhpal visited the house on January 29 around 1 pm and demanded money. When Sarita refused, an infuriated Sukhpal hit her with a flower vase. Sarita ran towards her room. The accused followed her and took a hammer and bludgeoned her. Later, he took a kitchen knife and slit her throat. On hearing the screams, Pushpawati came out. He bludgeoned her also with a hammer and slit her throat with the knife. Umranangal said that then Sukhpal washed his hands in the sink and fled the house taking away Saritas purse that contained Rs 1,500 and jewellery. Sukhpal dumped his blood-stained shoes on the way and bought chappals from Barewal Road before going to his house at Phallewal village. How the case was cracked Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Narinder Bhargav said the police had prepared a list of people who had visited the house three to four days before the killings and questioned them. The police suspected Sukhpal and brought him under the scanner. When the police confirmed his role in the killings, he was arrested. He said the police were also questioning domestic help Pooja who had informed the police about the killings. Tension mounted in Ludhiana on Thursday after shopkeepers resisted Shiv Sena Punjabs attempt to force a shutdown, protesting against the murderous attack on saffron outfits youth wing president Amit Arora. No arrest has been made in this case so farthe second shooting in over two weeks in Ludhianaeven as the police launched a multi-pronged probe to gather vital clues and crack the conspiracy that has the potential to vitiate communal harmony. On Wednesday night, two men on motorcycle had shot at Arora (35) near Basti Jodhewal Chowk while he was driving. The bullet hit Arora in the neck but now he is reported to be out of danger. During the shooting, a security officer was with Arora, police sources have said. On January 18, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist Naresh Kumar had a lucky escape when some motorcyclists opened fire on him at Shaheedi Park locality of Kidwai Nagar area during the morning drill of the RSS. That case is still unsolved. Apparently, concern over two attacks in as many weeks brought director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora to Ludhiana on Thursday. Forensic experts from Punjab Police Academy (PPA), Phillaur, collected samples from the scene of crime to know the distance and the weapon from which the bullet had been fired. Police sources say the Ghanauli group of Shiv Sena Punjab had on January 26 reported a provocative bill stuck to the outer wall of its office in Sector 32, Ludhiana. Prepared purportedly on the letter head of a pro-Khalistan outfit, it listed eight Sena activists as prime targets. A few days ago, a militant outfit had threatened us and we had lodged a complaint with the police, said Shiv Sena Punjab chairman Rajiv Tandon. On Thursday, from Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), where Arora is admitted, a protest march moved to Chaura Bazaar, where the Sena raised slogans against Khalistan and blamed Sikh hardliners for the attack. As it tried to force a shutdown over the latest attack and the shopkeepers resisted, it led to a heated argument and police had to intervene. The shops remained open. Youth Akali Dal (YAD) leader and Akalgarh shopkeepers association head Gurdeep Singh Gosha condemned hooliganism by the Shiv Sena in the old city. What is the fault of shopkeepers of Chaura Bazaar in the crime that happened in another part of the city? said Chaura Bazaar Market Association chairman Somnath Grover. Shiv Sena Punjab chairman Rajiv Tandon said the protest would continue, if the police did not solve the case by Sunday. Over this, the Sena men had a meeting with police commissioner PS Umranangal, who said there was no headway yet. Capt flays attack Chandigarh: Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh has condemned the attack on the Shiv Sena Punjab youth wing president. Some people are trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in an election year to reap electoral harvest out of communal polarisation, he said, adding: We may strongly differ with the ideology of the RSS and Shiv Sena but we condemn any act of violence against anyone. Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma visited Amit Arora in hospital and asked police to find out people behind the attacks on the RSS and Shiv Sena leaders. A man was killed and another seriously injured when a train rammed into a peter rehra at an unmanned railway crossing near Marar Kalan village on Thursday. Vijay Kumar (40), a resident of village Marar Kalan in Muktsar, was killed on the spot while Sarabjeet Singh (35) was seriously injured in the accident. The victims worked as junk dealers and were coming back to their village when the accident took place. Vijay was driving the peter rehra, also known as jugad, while Sarbjeet was sitting along with him. The vehicle was passing through the crossing as the Kotkapura-Fazilka DMU train rammed into it, flinging it away at a distance. Injured Sarabjeet Singh was rushed to the civil hospital, Kotkapura from where he was referred to Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot. The government railway police have registered a case against Vijay Kumar for carelessly driving the vehicle which led to the accident.Peter rehra, which is an unauthorised vehicle, had been banned by the Punjab and Haryana high court. After being slapped with a contempt of court notice and summons to appear in the Punjab and Haryana high court on March 2 in the case pertaining to the illegal hotels in the Galliara area, the Amritsar municipal corporation on Thursday seemed to have awakened from its slumber over the issue to take cognisance of the matter. Not only did the civic officials held a meeting to discuss a plan of action in this regard, but they also sent the senior town planner (STP) to the area to take stock of the situation. While it is yet to be seen whether the MC initiates any action in this regard or not, the STP has confirmed the presence of illegal structures in the area, with many more coming up at present. STP Shakti Sagar Bhatia, who visited the vicinity of the Golden Temple, said he had spotted some illegal hotels and other commercial buildings in the area. These buildings have come up in gross violation of the building bylaws, he said. He added that he had also witnessed the work being undertaken on some fresh constructions. Work on at least four fresh constructions is underway at present. I shall present a report in this regard to the higher officials. A plan of action shall be chalked out to deal with these structures, a majority of which are likely to be sealed, he said. Notably, last year the MC had made at least four attempts at sealing these illegal hotels, but had failed miserably in the face of resistance posed by their owners who had held protests, besides even approaching Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal in this regard. Meanwhile, the Punjab government, too, has time and again made it clear that it supported the demands of the owners of these illegal hotels, as in 2014 it had initiated measures for offering relief to them through one-time settlement. A year ago, it had directed the MC to bring into force old building by-laws to offer relief to the owners of these hotels. In keeping with the same, the MC, in its meeting held in its house meet held in August 2014, gave its nod for the second time to the proposal of bringing these hotels under the old building bylaws, dating back to 1976. While the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) had filed a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana high court in this regard in 2010, the high court in an order in 2012 had banned the sanction of fresh building plans in the Galliara area. However, the constructions of hotels in the vicinity of the Golden Temple continued all the same, resulting in filing of a contempt petition in this regard. Police rounded up a suspect on Thursday during investigation into the murder of the grandmother and aunt of Ola Cabs CEO Bhavish Aggarwal in Ludhiana, nearly a week after the two women were found dead in their Ludhiana residence. Pushpawati Aggarwal (84) and her daughter-in-law Dr Sarita Aggarwal (55), a gynaecologist, were found dead in their house at the Sher-e-Punjab Colony in Ludhiana on January 9. They are suspected to have been bludgeoned to death. Police Commissioner Paramraj Singh Umranangal said on Thursday that the cops were close to cracking the case. Police sources said that a maid working for the family has come under the scanner after she made a call to police before the murders were suspected to have been committed. Police sources said the help, identified as Pooja, called up the PCR around 1 pm and told police about the murders. The autopsy report revealed that the two women were killed between 1.30 pm and 2 pm. Also, it was Pooja who called up relatives of Dr Aggarwal and told them about the killings. Though police had detained Pooja for questioning they had to release her following protests by slum dwellers, who accused cops of harassment. Police have also grilled a driver, who was sacked by the family some months ago. Punjab Agricultural University police station in-charge sub-inspector Surinder Chopra said the investigation was on in the case. Bhavish Aggarwal launched the taxi aggregator popularly known as Ola in 2010 and is now one of the most successful start-ups in India. Several Sikh organisations held Friday rallies in North America and Europe in protest against Indias attempt to get Khalistani terrorist Paramjit Singh Pamma extradited from Portugal. Pamma is in the Beja jail near the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, where his parents, Amrik Singh and Rattan Kaur, were among the 200-odd protestors outside the Portuguese Parliament, seeking that he be sent him back to the United Kingdom, where he has been given indefinite asylum since 2000. A Portuguese court last month extended Pammas detention till February 15. The Portuguese minister for justice now has less than 10 days to decide whether to deny Indias request or to proceed with the judicial process of extradition. In the memorandum to the Portuguese government, the Sikh delegation requested it to recognise the refugee status that Britain has given to Pamma and any request for his extradition. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser to US-based human rights group Sikhs For Justice that is fighting Pammas case in Portugal, said: We reminded the Portuguese government that as a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TEFU), it was duty-bound to recognise Pammas refugee status and repatriate him to UK, where he has a valid refugee status. I am sure that they will take action in our favour. Besides Lisbon, rallies were held in London in the UK; New York and Washington in the US; and Toronto in Canada, where similar representations were submitted to the Portuguese embassies. The Federation of Sikh Organisations (FSO), Sikh Council and Kesari Lehar from the UK, Mar-Movement from Switzerland; and US-based SFJ were behind these rallies. Punjab Police, whose team returned from Lisbon recently after applying for Pammas extradition, is confident the request would be accepted in spite of strong resistance from Sikh associations. A senior police official on that team said: We have tabled enough evidence to prove that Pamma was wanted in terror and criminal cases in Punjab. Moreover, both countries are bound by an extradition treaty. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Superintendent of police Narinder Singh, 46, who represented India in two Olympics in judo, committed suicide at his residential quarters on the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) campus here on Friday night. Police sources said he was found hanging from the ceiling fan with a wire by his wife and brother who rushed him to a private hospital near BMC Chowk. He was under depression following his suspension two years ago. He had been placed under suspension after a case was registered against him under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC in Delhi after he opened fire in the air following a tiff over parking. Before his suspension, he was the assistant commandant of the 5th Indian Reserve Battalion in Amritsar. An Arjuna awardee, he represented India in judo at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the Atlanta Games in 1996. PAP additional director general of police Sanjiv Kalra said the post-mortem would reveal the cause of the death. Narinder Singhs brother Surinder Singh is a physical education teacher at the PAP School. Patiya village, a hamlet in Jharkhands Dhanbad district was illuminated by electric bulbs on Wednesday, a dream they had been dreaming for decades. Manual labour by villagers and infrastructure by a corporate house together helped the village get power connection. We had been waiting for this day for long. Our problem aggravated at night, especially in the monsoon. The roads were unsafe and travelling for village folks, especially for the women and girls at night was impossible. Women had stopped going even to the local markets after sunset. All this will be history now, said Haradhan Mahto, a local. Dhanbad and Jharkhands surrounding areas have abundant coal mines. Coal from this area helps steel plants burn their furnaces and also helps power plants across the country produce thermal power. However, several villages around the mines still do not have power. Tata Steels Jharia division extended help to enthusiastic villagers to dig poles and extend wires, linking this village with the nearest feeder, around six kilometres away. Sugun Mahato, a local, said they had approached the local electricity department many times in vain. Sanjay Singh, general manager Jharia division of Tata Steel, lit the first bulb of the village on Wednesday evening and assured the villagers of connecting four more villages that fall between Sijua to Jamdova in the next phase. It is a part of our CSR. The company has always endeavoured to work towards of the community and society, he said. This is for all you married people out there. If you think cheating was the main reason why most couples opted for divorces or annulments, youre wrong. According to an extensive study, most divorces are actually caused by one behaviour and that is contempt. Contempt, a mix of anger and disgust, is far more toxic than simple frustration or negativity. It involves seeing your partner as beneath you, rather than as an equal. Read: Will it last? Do rebound relationships help deal with break-ups? Psychologists John Gottman from the University of Washington and Robert Levenson from University of California at Berkeley led a study of 79 newly-married couples in a span of 14 years, which found out that contempt caused by superiority complex is a real relationship killer for many married people. Read: Here are all the important 2015 Hollywood makeups and breakups Contempt is the kiss of death for relationships and can predict divorce with an accuracy level of 93%, according to Gottman. Contempt and superiority complex can kill relationships because a person with contempt will have a hard time relating to and understanding the feelings, opinion and perspective of his or her significant other. If you want to enjoy a long, loving marriage, then you may want to dump the contempt, listen well and pump up the positivity. The emergence of the Islamic State and the splintering of the Taliban have added to the complexities of the fragile process aimed at bringing the militants to the negotiating table, Afghan chief executive officer Abdullah Abdullah tell HT in an interview. Heres the full text of the interview: Q. Has Afghanistans National Unity Government, which you described as a unique experience, been a success? A. I would say yes, as a whole, I put it in the context, if youre look at it, the expectations of the people were much higher than what has happened. But if you look at the legacy, in terms of security and other challenges that we had to deal with, I would say that yes. We shouldnt be satisfied with our record, we should have done much better. The people expected this from us and they deserve the right to have expected us to deliver better. There might have been missed opportunities as well but if you put it into the bigger context in the background i would say that it was very important that this happened Q. Are steps being taken to institutionalise the chief executives role? A. The point is our system is presidential. It is unitary and it will be unitary throughout. Thats the essence of our constitution. At the same time, the agreement which was there for the formation of the unity govt, it says that after the elections and the constitutional Loya Jirga, this role will be formalised. While the current circumstances, it is as it is. Q. Recently October 15 was announced as the date for parliamentary polls. Is that doable? A. The process has to start, its important. Once the process starts, then lots of activities will start. The focus will be on the political situation, if it left in a sort of ambiguous way, then nothing will start. There is no doubt that there are challenges, there are security challenges and other problems. Do we have an alternative for parliamentary elections? No. Since thats the case and there is no intention of skipping the parliamentary elections, its important that the activities should start sometime. Q. Does it bother you that the increasing attention on Daesh in Iraq and Syria could lead to Afghanistan slipping off the radar? A. Why not? That bothers the people. The fact that it was announced that they will continue to support and that they will stay longer than it was decided at the beginning, and the support continues. The focus has not shifted as such but to the natural extent, why not? There are very serious situations in Syria and Iraq and other parts of the world and that attracts focus and resources. Thats not just the military-security side of it there is also the civilian assistance. But our expectation is that since things were started here, and the terrorist groups have always maintained focus on Afghanistan, those who want to see a different situation well, the situation is different today from what it was 15 years back, (when) Osama bin Laden will have the whole territory, most part of the territory and the population under his control, and then planning things for New York, Washington and elsewhere, thats not the case anymore but there is no doubt that the challenges are still there. And the West especially has one experience of pulling out, or disengagement in Afghanistan, in the 1990s after the Soviet withdrawal and that left a vacuum which is part of the factors behind what is happening in our country but also relevant to other parts of the world. Q. You have spoken of the Daesh in Afghanistan being different from the Daesh in Iraq and Syria... A. That does not mean that its not a threat to Afghanistan it is a threat in Afghanistan, there is a Daesh threat in Afghanistan, the nature of it is different. Q. Will the emergence of the Islamic State and some Afghan groups joining it affect the process aimed at starting talks with the Taliban? A. It will have an impact on the peace talks. Apart from that, there are different groups now among the Taliban. Taliban are divided into different groups and this will have an impact on the talks. The talks have not started yet, so thats the point. Q. The Afghan government has indicated that womens rights, education and the democratic process are red lines for the outcome of any talks with the Taliban... A. This has always been the position of the government and the people of Afghanistan. The situation and the position have not changed. Q. Reports have linked the attack on Pathankot airbase and the strike on the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif. Could this be a blowback for Indias decision to provide four gunship helicopters to Afghanistan? A. Incidents had taken place earlier as well, in the same old manner, there are things which had happened earlier as well. So this sort of detailed security issues, better to leave it to the (security people). Q. Do you fear Afghanistan becoming the scene of a proxy war between competing powers? A. What we are saying is stability in Afghanistan, and the stabilisation of Afghanistan in the interests of all countries and all of the region. It has to be taken in that context. It has to be seen from that lens. That is our expectation. If there is any country who can claim that stability in Afghanistan is not in their interest, how come? There is no such thing, there is no body. Looking at it from that angle, what india has been doing has been in support of the Afghan govt and empowering the Afghan people, institutions, that is in the interest of stabilisation. Stabilisation means the well-being of the people, it means not just the well-being of our people but the much wider region. And in this there is a win-win situation for everybody. Q. In the quadrilateral process involving Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the US, could the close ties between China and Pakistan give Islamabad greater leverage in the process? A. China has some investment in Afghanistan and is also faced with the same common threat, which is terrorism. The point is that once the talks start, it will be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. At this stage, it is for the countries which are part of this to use their leverages to see how they can facilitate that. Once it starts it will be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and it will be the interests of Afghanistan that will drive the outcome of the talks and negotiations. Q. There was a lot of criticism in Afghanistan last year of a reported agreement between the intelligence agencies of Pakistan and Afghanistan. What is the status of that agreement? A. Do you want to take us to bygone issues (laughs)? The point is that yes, there was an issue there. The point is that we need to work, as...the Afghan government, its the interests of the country which drives our actions or our attitude. And Afghanistan wants good relations with all neighbouring countries and countries of the region, and we have shown our seriousness and sincerity in this regard and at the same time, we have made important decisions in this regard and we will continue to make efforts to come to a common understanding to deal with that common challenge. Also, its not just dealing with common challenges, not just the negative side of that, its also the positive side of it which is the great opportunities that are there not just for Afghanistan but for the region as a whole, South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East. While the interests of Afghanistan will always be utmost in our mind, at the same time, we have tried to encourage all the players to work together with sincerity. Q. Is the intelligence agreement still on the table? A. Still there are security contacts between us and Pakistan. Gen Raheel Sharif visited us a few weeks ago and those contacts will continue at different levels and different sectors. Because there is one issue in front of us and thats the issue of terrorism and radical groups which are creating insecurity and contributing to instability and its in our common interest to work together. Q. Under the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, Afghan trucks can carry goods to the Indian border but have to go back empty as they cannot carry Indian goods. Has this been taken up with Pakistan? A. I can assure you that this has been a topic of discussion in our economic commission throughout. It has been and we will continue to focus on that as thats in our interest as well as the interest of the region. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Less than four months after he assumed office, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has run into rough weather, with both his coalition partners and the people questioning his performance. Olis woes mirror the problems that plagued his predecessors it is easier to come to power in Nepal than to retain it. Since 2008, when the first constituent assembly polls were held, the country has had seven prime ministers. The 64-year-olds progress report on providing relief to people affected by the earthquakes of April and May last year, and his handling of the Madhesi protests against the constitution have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. The governments performance hasnt been satisfactory, said Dinanath Sharma, spokesperson of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, the largest party in the ruling coalition after Olis Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist. The UCPN-Ms standing committee recently criticised the government for failing to take effective steps to lift the blockade of border trade points by the United Democratic Madhesi Front and to control the black marketing of petroleum products. Oli is also facing heat from within his party. Former prime ministers Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhalanath Khanal have accused Oli of running the government in a dictatorial manner without consulting the party on key issues. Instead of providing relief to the quake-affected and resolving the Madhes crisis, Oli concentrated on strengthening his government by including a lot of parties in his coalition. Attempts to keep all partners happy have affected his performance, said former foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey. UCPN-M chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda told reporters this week that a national consensus government, including the main opposition Nepali Congress, the largest party in parliament, is the need of the hour. His party believes such a government, which could also include the protesting Madhesi parties, is the only way to end the current crisis. Despite the disenchantment with Oli and his government, there seems to be no immediate threat to both, observers said. Olis political adviser Bishnu Rimal dismissed reports of the Prime Ministers likely ouster as baseless. There is no coherence in those reports. There is no trouble among the coalition partners and absolutely no threat from opposition parties, including the Nepali Congress, he said. The UCPN-Ms dissatisfaction with the governments performance notwithstanding, even that partys spokesperson Dinanath Sharma agreed that there is no likelihood of the government being toppled soon. Oli took office in October, soon after the new constitution was promulgated and the UDMF, which comprises four Madhesi parties, began protests against the statute and blocked key border points with India, resulting in a severe shortage of essential goods and fuel. Despite several rounds of talks and an amendment of the constitution last month, the protests have continued in the Terai, the plains in southern Nepal bordering India where the Madhesis live. The UDMF rejected the amendment and sought a package deal, including fresh demarcation of federal boundaries and proportional representation for Madhesis in state bodies. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on Friday led a march in Islamabad and his outfit across several cities, ranting on the Kashmir issue, showing defiance in the face of India asking Pakistan to rein in the terror group. A day after Saeed warned of more Pathankot-style attacks, the Jamaat Ud-Dawah men took out rallies in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. The JuD chief led the rally in Islamabad while his relative Hafiz Abdur Rehman Maki addressed a big gathering in Lahore. The ruling PML-N, Jamaat-i-Islami and other political and religious parties also held rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris. The JuD also held several camps in Lahore which showed videos about atrocities in Kashmir on big screens. Pakistani supporters of the banned organisation Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) listen to speech of their leader Hafiz Saeed during a protest to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day in Islamabad. (AFP) Addressing a Solidarity Kashmir Conference in Mirpur on Thursday, Saeed said Pakistan should be thankful to Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council that had claimed responsibility for the Pathankot terror attack. Syed Salahuddin is a great well-wisher of Pakistan. He has taken Pakistan out of trouble by accepting the responsibility of Pathankot airbase attack. Pakistan should be thankful to him, said the founder leader of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. Saeed warned India that if war in Kashmir further prolonged it would have to pay a heavy price for it. On Thursday, India asked Pakistan to rein in the JuD chief, voicing grave concern over his activities after the Mumbai terror attack mastermind warned of more Pathankot-style attacks. Read: India protests after Paks Hafiz Saeed warns of Pathankot-style attacks The JuD chief said, On the occasion of Kashmir Day I want more intensity in the freedom struggle. Every child in Pakistan is ready to sacrifice his life for Kashmirs freedom. Our Constitution also demands us to support Kashmiris in their freedom struggle, he added. Saeed asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to sever relations with India and said that there should be no relations with it till Kashmir is freed. The UN declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. The US has already put a USD 10 million bounty on his head. Saeed, who orchestrated the November, 2008, Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan despite being a designated terrorist and has made many anti-India remarks and speeches. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday reiterated his desire to talk peace with India, saying Pakistan is ready to cooperate on all issues, including terrorism. Addressing a joint sitting of the legislative assembly and council of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Muzaffarabad, he said the solution to all outstanding issues with India, including Kashmir, lies in dialogue. Time has once again come for the leadership of Pakistan and India to resolve matters, he told the audience on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day, which is observed every February 5. The differences between the two sides are not unusual but not being able to resolve issues for decades is a matter of concern, he said. Sharifs remarks came against the backdrop of bilateral relations being strained by the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase, blamed on the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed. Though reports suggested Sharifs government has detained some JeM operatives, including the groups founder Masood Azhar, there have been few other signs of progress in Pakistans probe into the attack. Sharif said Pakistan has taken the initiative for peace but, at the same time, it is his governments priority is to give the people of Kashmir their due rights. The people of (Jammu and Kashmir) in 2016, are still fighting for freedom, the way they did in 1947, he added. The Kashmir issue, he said, is a test for the leadership of India and Pakistan and the people of both countries cannot prosper till the lingering issue is resolved, he said. He hoped the comprehensive bilateral dialogue process will move forward in days to come. A day earlier, during a meeting with the army chief and other top officials at the ISI headquarters, Sharif had said his government and the nation is standing behind Pakistans armed forces and intelligence agencies to stamp out terrorism from the country. In remarks that were widely quoted in the media, Sharif said: We will collectively defeat all designs of our enemies and make Pakistan a secure and prosperous country. The meeting reviewed internal and external threats to Pakistan, including terrorist networks and their links. The role of hostile intelligence agencies and their collaborators in fomenting instability in Pakistan and undermining Pakistans interests was discussed in detail, said a statement from the militarys media arm. The term hostile agencies is perceived as a reference to Indian agencies. The emergence of the Islamic State and the splintering of the Taliban have added to the complexities of the fragile process aimed at bringing the militants to the negotiating table, chief executive Abdullah Abdullah said on Thursday. The National Unity Government will not compromise on red lines laid down for the peace process, such as protecting womens rights, education and the democratic process, as it attempts to woo the Afghan Taliban, he said. There is a Daesh threat in Afghanistan...It will have an impact on the peace talks. Apart from that, there are different groups now among the Taliban...and this will have an impact on the talks, Abdullah said in an interview with Hindustan Times. The talks have not started yet, so thats the point, he said, two days before the quadrilateral process involving Afghan, Chinese, Pakistani and US officials meet in Islamabad on February 6 to chart a roadmap for the negotiations. Abdullah skirted questions on links between the attacks on the Pathankot airbase and the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif last month both blamed on the Jaish-e-Mohammed and whether such incidents were also linked to Indias recent decision to supply four gunship helicopters to Afghanistan and only said such assaults had occurred in the past too. Read the full interview with Abdullah Abdullah here On the possibility of Afghanistan witnessing a proxy war between competing regional powers, Abdullah said his countrys stability and stabilisation were in the interests of the region. It has to be seen from that lens. That is our expectation, he said. What India has been doing has been in support of the Afghan government and empowering the Afghan people (and) institutions, that is in the interest of stabilisation. With Western powers devoting more resources to counter the Islamic State, Abdullah hoped the world community had learnt a lesson from the vacuum that was created after the West disengaged with Afghanistan in the 1990s following the Soviet withdrawal. There are very serious situations in Syria and Iraq and other parts of the world and that attracts focus and resources. Thats not just the military-security side of it there is also the civilian assistance, he said. But our expectation is that since things were started here, and the terrorist groups have always maintained focus on Afghanistan, those who want to see a different situation (will continue to focus on the country). As Afghanistan tries to attract more trade and investment as part of efforts to stabilise the country, Abdullah said his country will continue to press Pakistan to allow direct trade with India. Under the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement, Afghan trucks can bring goods to the Indian border but are barred from ferrying Indian goods on the return journey. I can assure you that this has been a topic of discussion in our economic commission throughout, it has been and we will continue to focus on that. Thats in our interest as well as the interest of the region, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bull Moose Industries, the North America-based group owned by London-based industrialist Swraj Paul, has completed the acquisition of Iowa-based XL Specialized Trailers (XL), which manufactures customised heavy-haul trailers. Paul told Hindustan Times: This acquisition is dedicated to the memory of my beloved son, Angad, who had initiated the whole process. Angad Paul, who was CEO of Caparo Industries, died after falling from his penthouse in central London last November. XL manufactures customised heavy-haul trailers for the commercial, construction and agricultural markets. Bull Moose Industries, founded in 1962 as Bull Moose Tube Company, has sought to build on its success as a leading manufacturer of tube steel by focusing on continued company growth. The purchase of XL Specialized Trailers furthers Bull Moose Industries goal to expand into other industrial manufacturing markets via acquisition, the company said. XL Specialized Trailers has grown from its founding in 1995 to become the second-largest player in the customised heavy-haul trailer market. Its strong market position, potential for further growth and solid leadership team were contributing factors in Bull Moose Industries decision to purchase XL. We are confident that the purchase of XL Specialized Trailers provides both of our companies with a solid opportunity for growth, said Michael Blatz, CEO of Bull Moose Industries. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vice-president Hamid Ansari on Friday called on Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, on whom India has decided to bestow the first world Sanskrit Award. Sirindhorn, a 60-year-old scholar of Sanskrit who was the Royal Patron of the World Sanskrit Conference held in Bangkok last year, will be travelling to India in this regard, secretary (East), ministry of external affairs, Anil Wadhwa said. Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will be travelling to India to receive the first world Sanskrit Award which has been conferred on her by the government of India, said Wadhwa, who was accompanying Ansari during his visit to Thailand. Before leaving for home, Ansari called on Princess Sirindhorn at the Sra Pathum Palace this morning and inspected the Chitralada Project inside it. Hers will be among the several visits by top Thai leaders expected this year including Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. There is an invitation to the Prime Minster of Thailand to visit us this year. We have also extended an invitation to Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to visit India at mutually convenient dates and he will be hosted by Vice President, Wadhwa said. We also look forward to the visit of deputy prime minister and defence minister to India at the invitation of our Defence Minister. So that is the fourth visit that we expect... he added. Over 600 Sanskrit scholars from 60 countries participated in the five-day conference last year which was inaugurated by external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Wadhwa also lauded Thailand for successfully hosting the 16th World Sanskrit Conference. The more than three-year-long impasse over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange lodged in the Ecuadorean embassy here continued after a series of developments, including a UN panel ruling in his favour, Britain rejecting it and a widely publicised news conference by him on Friday. Assange, 44, continues to face arrest if he steps out of the embassy in central London, Britain insisted, as it is obliged to execute a European Arrest Warrant on behalf of Sweden, where he faces allegations of sexual assault. After the UN working group on arbitrary detention panel said Assange had been a victim of arbitrary detention, Twitter erupted with cryptic comments from people about being detained in coffee shops for 19 minutes, or in departmental store queues for some time. The Guardian called it all a publicity stunt by Assange, and said: WikiLeaks made its name by exposing those who ignored the rule of law. Its editor-in-chief should recognise that applies to him as well as the US government. As a large number of international journalists gathered outside the embassy, Assanges aides made presentations at a news conference before his statement via Skype. He did not take questions but claimed Britain is bound to follow the UN panels findings. Foreign secretary Philip Hammond said the UN panels opinion was ridiculous and called Assange a fugitive from justice. He said Assange can come out any time he chooses but will still have to face justice in Sweden. Read | UN panel rules in Julian Assanges favour, says he should be released The Foreign Office said: This (the UN panels ruling) changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion. Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. It added: An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise diplomatic asylum. Scotland Yard reiterated that it will make every effort to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. After exhausting legal avenues in Britain to prevent extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault, Assange was given asylum by Ecuador in 2012 and has since lived in the countrys embassy. Read | I will surrender tomorrow if UN rules against me: Julian Assange SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A UN panel of independent experts said on Friday that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was being detained arbitrarily in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and should be released and compensated. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention, the groups head, Seong-Phil Hong, said in a statement. The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation. The Swedish government has, however, maintained that it does not agree with the assessment made by the majority of the UN working group on Assange. There was a war of words between the British government and Julian Assange on Friday, with the former dismissing a UN panels opinion in his favour as ridiculous and the WikiLeaks founder calling it a vindication of his position in the prolonged impasse. Prime Minister David Cameron, foreign secretary Philip Hammond and the Foreign Office were one in rejecting the opinion of the UN working group on arbitrary detention, which said Assange had been deprived of his liberty. He has lived in the Ecuadorean embassy since he was granted asylum in 2012. Camerons spokesperson called the panels opinion ridiculous, while Hammond described Assange as a fugitive from justice. Assange called Britains response insulting to the UN and Hammonds comments as beneath the dignity of a foreign secretary. Assange, 44, continues to face arrest if he steps out of the Ecuadorean embassy in central London, as Britain said it is obliged to execute a European Arrest Warrant on behalf of Sweden, where he faces allegations of sexual assault. As the days developments unfolded, Twitter erupted with cryptic comments from people about being detained in coffee shops for minutes, or in departmental store queues for some time. The Guardian called it a publicity stunt, and said: WikiLeaks made its name by exposing those who ignored the rule of law. Its editor-in-chief should recognise that applies to him as well as the US government. As a large number of international journalists gathered outside the embassy, Assanges aides made presentations at a news conference before he appeared via Skype to make a statement. He did not take questions, but claimed Britain is obliged to follow the UN panels findings. Hammond said Assange can come out any time he chooses but will still have to face justice in Sweden. The Foreign Office said: This (the UN panels ruling) changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion. Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. It added, An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise diplomatic asylum. Scotland Yard said it will make every effort to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. After exhausting legal avenues in Britain to prevent extradition to Sweden to face the allegations of sexual assault, Assange was given asylum by Ecuador in 2012. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, R-Calif., on Wednesday demanded that Secretary of State John Kerry explain a $1.7 billion debt that the U.S. paid to Iran last month, which some Republicans suggest was a "ransom" payment designed to secure the coinciding release of five American prisoners held in the country, reported The Washington Post. Royce wrote in a letter to Kerry that the State Department's failure to consult with his committee before paying out the settlement to Iran, along with timing of the settlement payment, "has led some to express concern that the payment represents a de facto 'ransom' for the release of American hostages." Kerry announced on Jan. 17 that the U.S. would repay Iran a $400 million debt along with $1.3 billion in interest to settle a 1981 suit related to arms payments, according to AFP. The announcement came the same day that Iran released four Americans from prison and one day after the international nuclear deal was implemented. "The Department had ample opportunity to seek Congressional input on this matter. Yet, it never raised this potential financial settlement with the Committee," Royce wrote. "It is unclear how this $1.7 billion payment is in the national security interests of the United States." Royce asked Kerry to provide by Feb. 17 a list of all U.S. individuals who negotiated with Iran about the settlement agreement, the prisoner release and the nuclear deal. He also asked Kerry for a detailed timeline of payment negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, an explanation of how the $1.3 billion interest payment to Iran was calculated and a legal analysis of the dispute, according to Fox News. After the settlement was made, Obama defended the amount by saying that a one-time payment was better than letting it accumulate more interest, and insisted it was "much less than the amount Iran sought." State Department spokesman John Kirby confirmed to Reuters that Kerry received Royce's letter and planned on responding soon. "We can confirm receipt of Chairman Royce's letter, and as with all Congressional correspondence, we'll respond as appropriate," Kirby said. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United Nations peacekeepers based in the Central African Republic allegedly raped or sexually abused at least seven women and girls in October to December of last year, according to a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) published Thursday. Victims of the exploitation include a 14-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman, who recounted being gang-raped by peacekeepers in the town of Bambari. "In a country where armed groups routinely prey on civilians, peacekeepers should be protectors not predators. Sending peacekeepers back home is not enough," said Hillary Margolis, a women's rights researcher at HRW, according to The Guardian. She declared that the U.N. should "insist that troops' home countries bring rapists and other abusers to justice, and that survivors get the support they need." The U.N. says that it is investigating the new claims, which follow more than 20 previous accusations, and in a press release on Thursday, the organization announced that 120 of its peacekeepers will be sent home from the region during the investigation. The press release identifies the soldiers implicated in the allegations as being from Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. "I will not rest until these heinous acts are uncovered, perpetrators are punished, and incidents cease," the U.N envoy for Central African Republic and head of the U.N. mission Parfait Onanga-Anyanga said during a visit to Bambari, as Reuters reports. He reminded the troops that "sexual abuse and exploitation is a serious breach of the U.N. regulations and a human rights violation; a double crime that affects the vulnerable women and children you were sent here to protect." Last year U.N. whistleblower Anders Kompass brought international attention to the sexual abuse of children by French peacekeeping troops involved in restoring order to the Central African Republic since 2013. The U.N. was criticized last year for not taking concrete action to address the allegations, as outlined by The New York Times. Anthony Banbury, assistant secretary general to the U.N., said that there are around 69 confirmed allegations of sexual abuse or exploitation among the U.N.'s 16 international peacekeeping missions, for the whole of 2015, as reported by The Globe and Mail. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will be releasing a report with details of all of the 2015 allegations later this month. Sectarian violence between Christians and Muslims broke out in the Central African Republic in 2013, following decades of instability since gaining independence from France. It is estimated that 6,000 people have been killed as a result of the violence, with 450,000 people being internally displaced, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Saudi Arabia has offered for the first time to dispatch ground troops to Syria to aid the U.S.-led coalition in the fight against the Islamic State group. "The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against Islamic State) may agree to carry out in Syria," Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri told the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV, reported The Independent. If coalition forces agree, Saudi Arabia could deploy thousands of special forces troops in coordination with Turkey, sources told The Guardian. Saudi Arabia has been actively conducting airstrikes with the coalition against the Islamic State group since the campaign began in September 2014, but the strikes are not having the expected impact, Asiri said. "If there was a consensus from the leadership of the coalition, the kingdom is willing to participate in these efforts because we believe that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations," he said, adding that they are determined to "fight and defeat Daesh." Saudi Arabia, like the U.S., has backed various extremist rebel groups in Syria who are fighting against both the Islamic State group and the Syrian government. Iran and Russia, on the other hand, are supporting the Syrian government as it fights against the rebels and Islamic State group. President Obama has repeatedly said that he would not put boots on the ground in Syria, but he has made an exemption for Special Operations forces, and Defense Secretary Ash Carter recently said that the administration will eventually be sending in a larger number of combat troops, reported Fox News. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said that he had not yet seen Saudi Arabia's proposal and therefore did not want to comment, but he emphasized that the coalition generally accepts additional help from coalition members. "I would not want to comment specifically on this until we've had a chance to review it," he said. The Saudi announcement came a day after the United Nations temporarily suspended peace talks aimed at ending the five-year-long Syrian civil war. Talks began just days before, but they were postponed until Feb. 25 after pro-Assad forces cut of a vital supply line for rebels north of Aleppo. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Let's hear it for the boys in blue and the guys with the pipes and ladders! Police and firefighters don't just come to the rescue of humans; they are incredible when it comes to saving the four-legged citizens of their towns, like Tucker, the yellow Labrador who owes his life to the uniforms of the Orange County Sheriff's Department and Lake of the Woods Fire and Rescue in Locust Grove, Va. and Bobo Bear, the Newfoundland hound who started the week's pond rescues in nearby Spotsylvania. Early on Tuesday morning, the Orange County Sheriff's Office was called about reports of a yellow Labrador who was stuck in an icy pond on Rapidan Hills Road in Locust Grove. Upon arrival at about 6:23 a.m., "the deputy observed a large yellow lab had broken through the ice and was stranded about 50 feet from shore," according to the office's Facebook post. "... As deputy turned to walk back to the vehicle to call for help, the lab started barking in desperation." Lake of the Woods Fire and Rescue, a volunteer unit, was called. "He was scared and he wasn't coming back," firefighter Aaron Lovell said of the terrified pup stuck in 10 inches of icy water, according to fredericksburg.com. Lovell put on an ice rescue suit and the team extended a ladder over the ice. Lovell pushed the ladder bit-by-bit to the hole in the ice where the dog was stuck. Lovell then crawled up the ladder to get close to the dog. Then, the ice broke. Lovell fell in, but was still able to grab the yellow Lab. "Lovell helped the dog onto the ladder and firefighter Jeff Leibold and Deputies Broyles and Cutone, pulled Aaron and the dog to shore," according to the sheriff's account. "The dog was soaking wet and violently shivering. The lab was taken to Lake of the Woods Veterinarian office for emergency treatment." At 6:23 am this morning, February 2, deputies were dispatched to a residence on Rapidan Hills Road for a dog trapped in... Posted by Orange County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 Good news: the dog has recovered and he's doing great. Want better news? Tucker, the rescued Lab, was reunited with his human! Apparently, the mischievous 12-year-old got out the night before he was daringly rescued, according to the sheriff's department. Update The yellow lab rescued from the pond yesterday has been reunited with his owner! Tucker, 12 years old,... Posted by Orange County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Maybe Tucker wanted to be famous too after he heard about the Newfoundland hound named Bobo Bear who followed a duck onto a nearby icy pond on Monday. The duck was on the ice, but Bobo Bear fell through the ice. "He clung whimpering to a patch of ice some 25 feet from shore," reported fredericksburg.com. The local heroes of Spotsylvania Fire and Rescue came to Bobo Bear's rescue. Capt. Paul Hemming was one of those heroes. He has two rescue pit bulls of his own and told fredericksburg.com that he considers himself a dog person. Lucky for duck-chasing doggies like Tucker and Bobo Bear! Well done rescue! Note: Firefighter Lovell is also a Lieutenant in our department (FREM). Posted by Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 Hopefully, both cheeky companions will stay home where it is warm and wait until the summer to venture back to the pond. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. has been aggressively pushing for the involvement of tech companies in the war against the Islamic State. President Barack Obama, for instance, personally met with industry leaders to solicit their cooperation amid the use of the Internet as a propaganda and recruitment platform by terrorists, according to Digital Trends. While Google has not announced that it will allow government access to private data or let it enforce some form of control, it has revealed that it will now be pushing anti-ISIS ads in search results. Google explained that when a user searches certain keywords and phrases related to Islamic extremism, the result will be directed to an anti-ISIS advertisement that exhorts the search user to pursue a different path, Engadget reported. The program was disclosed in a home affairs committee hearing at the British Parliament. This new initiative will mainly be working with non-governmental organizations, which would create and place counter-radicalization advertisements. Google wants to make sure that when people put potentially damaging search terms into the search engine, "they will also find this counter narrative," Anthony House, senior manager for public policy at Google, told The Guardian. "We should get the bad stuff down, but it's also extremely important that people are able to find good information, that when people are feeling isolated, that when they go online, they find a community of hope, not a community of harm." The program, which is identified as part of the Google AdWords Grant program, is just one of the two pilot anti-radicalization schemes. The other involves the YouTube platform, which follows the same framework at Google's search engine. Anti-ISIS content will be pushed forward for queries about Islamic extremism or terrorism. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History have uncovered DNA evidence in ancient bones of humans living in Europe across a 30,000-year timespan that reveal that there was a major population shift 14,500 years ago due to inconsistent climate characteristics. "We uncovered a completely unknown chapter of human history: a major population turnover in Europe at the end of the last Ice Age," Johannes Krause, lead author, said in a press release. The team reconstructed the mitochondrial genomes of 35 hunter-gatherers from Italy, Germany, Belgium, France, the Czech Republic and Romania from the time period of 35,000 to 7,000 years ago in order to shed light on the missing history. "There has been a real lack of genetic data from this time period, so consequently we knew very little about the population structure or dynamics of the first modern humans in Europe," Krause said. The study reveals that the mitochondrial DNA of three people who live in present-day Belgium and France before the coldest period of the last Ice Age represented the genetic group haplogroup M. This group is completely absent from modern European genetics despite being very common in current Asian, Australasian and Native American populations. Krause and his team believe that their discovery of maternal lineage originating in Europe years ago points to non-African populations dispersing approximately 50,000 years ago. Years later, the M haplogroup completely disappeared from Europe. "When the Last Glacial Maximum began around 25,000 years ago, hunter-gatherer populations retreated south to a number of putative refugia, and the consequent genetic bottleneck probably resulted in the loss of this haplogroup," said Cosimo Posth, first author of the study. Another surprising finding was of the climate warming that stimulated a major turnover in Europe's population approximately 14,500 years ago. "Our model suggests that during this period of climatic upheaval, the descendants of the hunter-gatherers who survived through the Last Glacial Maximum were largely replaced by a population from another source," said Adam Powell, another co-author on the study. The findings are available in the Feb. 4 issue of Current Biology. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina did not make the cut for Saturday's GOP debate in Manchester, N.H., leaving her as the only major candidate to be left off the stage. Host network ABC announced the candidate line-up on Thursday, saying that it would extend invitations to the following candidates: Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, former Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. Chris Christie and Gov. John Kasich. After several candidates dropped from the race following poor performances in the Iowa caucuses this week, Fiorina is the only major candidate not invited. Fiorina called the Republican National Committee in an open letter on Wednesday to intervene on her behalf, saying that the process is "broken" and that the media should not decide who gets on the stage. "Networks are making up these debate rules as they go along - not to be able to fit candidates on the stage - but arbitrarily to decide which candidates make for the best TV in their opinion," she wrote, Politico reported. "Now it is time for the RNC to act in the best interest of the Party that it represents." Several prominent Republicans called on ABC to put Fiorina on the stage, including 2016 rival Ted Cruz , who told reporters Thursday, "I would encourage the organizers of the debate to put [Carly Fiorina] there. She deserves to be there," The Hill reported. ABC will not hold an undercard debate, and candidates received an invitation for the main stage if they did one of the following: placed among the top three finishers in the Iowa caucuses, placed among the top six in an average of national polls, or placed among the top six in an average of New Hampshire polls, according to ABC News. However, Fiorina finished seventh in Iowa. In recent polling, she is in seventh place in New Hampshire with 3.2 percent support, according to recent averages compiled by RealClear Politics. Nationally, she is in ninth place with 2.2 percent support and only ahead of Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, both of whom dropped from their 2016 bid this week after poor showings in Iowa. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump shifted tactics on Thursday while on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, hammering his GOP rivals less and the current holder of the White House more. "We have a president who can't get anybody to do anything," Trump said during a rally at Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, N.H., according to The Hill. Trump continued to hit President Obama on the issue of leadership. "Here's the problem - nobody wants to make a deal," Trump said. "What's missing is a leader. It's crazy what we're allowing to happen just because our leaders are incompetent. Washington is gridlocked and nothing good is going to happen. Nothing good's going to happen again if you people vote in more of these politicians." Trump also criticized Obama on his policies, including "lopsided" trade deals and the Affordable Care Act, which he plans to overturn as president. "ObamaCare is out of control," he said. "A lot of people forget about the $5 billion website. We are going to terminate it and replace it with something great. How about your deductibles? You have to be dead before you can use them. You have to have a 14-year, slow-moving disease just to use them." Although Trump has never been shy about attacking Obama, it marks a shift in his standard campaign trail rhetoric, which has often focused on insulting his GOP rivals. He did, however, return to talking about himself. "Every once in a while, you like to brag a little big," Trump said, Time reported, adding, "I happen to be underrated, by the way. It's very good to be underrated." In recent polling, Trump leads in New Hampshire by more than double the points of Marco Rubio, who is in second place. According to an average of recent polls compiled by RealClear Politics, Trump sits at 32 percent support. Rubio is in second at 15 percent, followed by Cruz at 12.6 percent, Kasich at 11.2 percent and Bush at 9.8 percent. Trump's choice to not talk about the other Republican candidates vying for the White House may reflect his sensitivities to the negative reactions to his claim that Ted Cruz did not win the Iowa caucuses, but rather "stole" them. "Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he stole it. That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!" Trump said in a Twitter post Wednesday morning. "Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified," he tweeted in a follow-up. For his part, Cruz shot back, mocking Trump for his "Trumpertantrum," which caught on, on social media. "It is no surprise that Donald is throwing yet another temper tantrum - or if you like, another Trumpertantrum," Cruz said at a press conference in New Hampshire, according to National Review. "It seems his reaction to everything is to throw a fit, and I understand that Donald finds it very hard to lose. But at the end of the day, the people of Iowa spoke." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. German Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing some hard times. A little under two months after being named TIME's Person of the Year for her handling of Europe's refugee crisis, her approval rating has declined to 46 percent - the lowest it has reached in more than four years. As about eight of 10 people in Germany feel the government has lost control of the refugee crisis, her "open-door" asylum policy to migrants from the Middle East and North Africa is being scaled back. Germany took in roughly 1.1 million refugees in 2015 - the most of any country in the EU. "Merkel has become a prisoner of her own politics," Jurgen Falter, a political scientist at Mainz University, told The Washington Post. "I think the likelihood is about 60 percent that her policies don't work out and she throws in the towel." Now, the German Parliament is poised to vote on a series of plans approved by the German cabinet which tightens restrictions on refugees entering the country. The plan includes the exclusion of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia from Germany's asylum list, designating the three North African countries as safe states. This means that not only are refugees from those three nations restricted from entering the country as refugees, but any who are already in Germany now face deportation, according to The Guardian. Other facets of the plan include a two-year ban on family reunification and a measure that requires asylum seekers to pay a fee from their government-provided stipends to cover the price of integration courses. These developments come not just after Germany received a record number of refugees in 2015, but also as the direct fallout of the New Year's Eve attacks in Cologne. That night, hundreds of men of North African and Middle Eastern descent reportedly broke up into groups and robbed and sexually harassed German woman around the main train station in Cologne, according to the Los Angeles Times. Police did little and many reports were suppressed due to the political ramifications of the incidents and the fear that they could be used to incite xenophobic sentiment. These fears played out when the public and media caught wind of the events, though its likely they would have either way, and now Merkel finds herself at her lowest rating since the Eurozone economic crisis of 2011. "I don't think there is any question anymore," said Werner J. Patzelt, a political analyst at Technical University Dresden. "Angela Merkel is really in trouble." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange must be permitted to leave the embassy and be paid for his "deprivation of liberty," a United Nations legal panel declared. The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) found that Assange had been subjected to initial detention in Wandsworth prison, then house arrest and, finally, confinement at the Ecuadorian Embassy. The group also found that his detention was arbitrary because "he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention," as well as the "lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations," which led to his lengthy detention. The ruling did not sit well with the U.K. Foreign Office, which declared that the report "changes nothing" and it will "formally contest the working group's opinion." Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, called the opinion of the panel "ridiculous" and said Assange was a "fugitive of justice." The Met Police added that they will still create "every effort" to arrest Assange if in case he leaves the embassy, according to BBC News. Assange has been embroiled in a controversy for sexual assault allegations for the past six years. He has relentlessly denied these allegations and insisted the relations were "consensual." Since then, he has been seeking asylum at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London so he could avoid extradition to Sweden, HNGN previously reported. @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tunisian authorities announced Thursday that it is lifting a nationwide curfew declared last month following the worst bout of social unrest witnessed in the country since its 2011 revolution. A development that marks a sign of progress for the North African country, but hardly an indicator that unrest over the nation's economy is over. "In light of the improvement in the security situation," the Interior Ministry stated, according to the Voice of America. "it was decided that from Thursday ... the curfew on all Tunisian territory will be lifted." The 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew was implemented by officials on Jan. 22 in a bid to counter large-scale demonstrations over a lack of jobs and abundance of poverty. One protester died after he was electrocuted during a Jan. 16 demonstration and an unspecified number of police officers and demonstrators were injured in various clashes. Prior to the mandate, Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi admitted the protests focused on legitimate problems the country faced, but argued they were ones his government inherited from ex-President Mocef Marzouki's administration and wouldn't be fixed overnight, according to CNN. Protests mirroring those in January also forced authoritarian President Zine el Abedine Ben Ali to flee in January 2011, making Tunisia the first of many within the Arabic-speaking region in North African and the Middle East to oust longtime leaders. Such oustings were seen in Libya and Egypt, but were soon followed with turmoil. Tunisia is credited as being the sole exception to this trend, with the political transition between administrations being seen as relatively peaceful. Despite this, just like with many other Arabic nations in the region, terrorism is still a persistent problem in the region, reported AFP. ISIS has been responsible for a bevy of attacks in the country, including two that left 59 foreign tourists dead - damaging the tourism industry which accounts for seven percent of the country's GDP. Those attacks and others like it have caused the country to lose more than a third of its tourism revenues in 2015, and adding further insult to injury, investors are staying clear from the country, damaging it even more. "The climate in Tunisia does not encourage investment," Essebsi said in a televised interview Wednesday. "We have to take reality as it is. The head of the government said he had 'no magic wand'. It's true. But a lot can still be done." @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. On Saturday night, ABC will host the eighth installment of Republican debates, sponsored by the Independent Journal Review, set to be held at St. Anselm's College in New Hampshire at 8 p.m. This debate will feature seven candidates ahead of the First-In-The-Nation Primary, to be held next Tuesday, Feb. 9. There will be no undercard debate this time around. This debate will feature a shift in tone from the previous debate, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Marco Rubio emerging as real close competition to front-runner and first-time politician Donald Trump in the New Hampshire polls, according to Red State. Trump did not participate in the previous debate hosted by Fox News in late January and lost to Cruz in Iowa a few days later, with Rubio jumping into third place behind him. Trump has since taken a slightly calmer tone post-Iowa, implying that the Trump we'll see on Saturday may be different than what we've seen in debates past, noted Newsweek. With the backing of the establishment Republicans and media outlets like Fox News, momentum is on Rubio's side. For what it's worth, he was also recently endorsed by fellow candidate Rick Santorum, who dropped out of the race shortly after the Iowa caucus. Cruz has held on to second in the polls, and Rubio is fast on his heels, moving into second place in New Hampshire. The most recent national polls from Quinnipiac University actually show a slight dip for Cruz but a huge bump for Rubio, according to The Washington Post. This debate will also provide Jeb Bush whose numbers have fluctuated over the course of the election cycle to show he's still a serious candidate, as well as give Ben Carson an opportunity to bounce back from a lackluster effort in Iowa and limited campaigning in New Hampshire. What: The eighth Republican presidential debate. When: Saturday, Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. Where: St. Anselm College's Institute of Politics in Manchester, N.H. Who: Moderators include David Muir, anchor of "World News Tonight," and Martha Raddatz, co-anchor of "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." Candidates participating 8 p.m. debate - Donald Trump will be center stage. To his left: Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Chris Christie. To his right: Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush and John Kasich. Rules The candidates must have placed among the top three in the Iowa caucuses, or have placed in the top six in the national or New Hampshire polls, according to ABC News. How To Watch The debate will be aired on ABC, and will be streamed live on ABCNews.go.com. Online: Follow HNGN's President and Editorial Director Michael Bullerdick (@mbullerdick) for his live tweets during both events! Bullerdick's Predictions: Following the Iowa Caucus, look for all-out war between the first- and second-tier candidates. Bush and Rubio will go hard at Trump and Cruz, who both fared better when they maintained a truce. Their bickering, with Trump doing everything he can to smear Cruz, has allowed Rubio to gain a foothold in the race. Outcome: Donald will be at his nastiest, Cruz will hold his own despite battles from all sides, and Rubio, the establishment media's flavor of the month, will be declared the winner no matter how he performs. Drinking games! After a calculated, deep investigation, we found these sites' drinking games to be most exciting and fun for viewers, regardless of party affiliation. Or if you are solely watching to get drunk. Debate Drinking A word to the wise, though! Know your limit and drink in moderation, because as Surgeon General Vivek Murthy points out, "You simply can't drink every time one of these guys says something silly... It's just a formula for disaster." This is only the eighth debate of the 2016 presidential cycle. Many more are set to take place. Some have exact dates and sponsors already set, while others are still being planned. Check below to see all of the debates scheduled between now and election day 2016, courtesy of USPresidentialElectionNews.com. Remaining Debate Schedule February 13, 2016 CBS News Republican Debate Aired On: CBS Location: South Carolina Sponsors: CBS News Candidates: To be determined February 26, 2016 NBC/Telemundo Republican Debate Aired On: NBC and Telemundo Location: Texas Sponsors:NBC/Telemundo, National Review Candidates: To be determined March, 2016* Fox News Republican Debate Aired On: Fox News Channel Location: TBD Sponsors: Fox News Candidates: To be determined March 10, 2016 CNN/Salem Republican Debate Aired On: CNN Location: Florida Sponsors: CNN, Salem Media Group Candidates: To be determined @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits. Tuesday, October 25, 4:30 7 p.m. Orr Area EMS Open House Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798. Orr Fire Hall 4540 Lake St., Orr Tuesday, October 25, 12 6 p.m. Essentia Health Job Fair Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org. 901 9th St. N., Virginia It looks like you've reached a page that doesnt exist (anymore). Please use the navigation or search above to find content on Hospitality Net. Go back to home In year-over-year comparisons, occupancy decreased 0.4% to 55.7%. Average daily rate for the week was up 2.4% to CAD136.13. Revenue per available room increased 2.0% to CAD75.82. The Canadian hotel industry reported mostly positive results in the three key performance metrics during the week of 24-30 January 2016, according to data from STR, Inc. In year-over-year comparisons, occupancy decreased 0.4% to 55.7%. Average daily rate for the week was up 2.4% to CAD136.13. Revenue per available room increased 2.0% to CAD75.82. Among the provinces, Prince Edward Island recorded the largest year-over-year increases in occupancy (+16.0% to 46.3%) and RevPAR (+16.5% to CAD48.10). Two additional provinces reported double-digit growth in both occupancy and RevPAR. Nova Scotia experienced a 12.9% increase in occupancy to 49.2% and a 16.2% spike in RevPAR to CAD56.76. New Brunswick saw a 10.9% rise in occupancy to 42.9% and a 14.9% increase in RevPAR to CAD47.74. British Columbia posted the largest rise in ADR, up 7.6% to CAD152.21. Newfoundland and Labrador reported the largest decreases in each of the three key performance metrics. Occupancy in the province dropped 20.2% to 42.2%; ADR was down 5.4% to CAD131.22; and RevPAR fell 24.6% to CAD55.35. Alberta also saw a double-digit decline in both occupancy (-15.1% to 48.8%) and RevPAR (-19.3% to CAD66.87). About STR STR, Inc. provides clients - including hotel operators, developers, financiers, analysts and suppliers to the hotel industry - access to hotel research with regular and custom reports covering the United States, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean. STR provides a single source of global hotel data covering daily and monthly performance data, forecasts, annual profitability, pipeline and census information. STR founded the STR family of companies and is proudly associated with STR Global, STR Analytics and Hotel News Now. STR also founded the Hotel Data Conference. For more information, please visit www.str.com. The time has come. After weeks of promotion, which included a new pre-order song every Friday, OVO production duo, Majid Al Maskati and Jordan Ullman b.k.a Maijd Jordan, have finally released their highly anticipated self-titled debut album today on iTunes. Laced with 12 tracks in total, the follow up to 2014s debut EP, A Place Like This, contains a lone feature from Drake, who appears on the previously heard hit single My Love. With several songs already surfacing thanks to the duos friendly release strategy, fans can now stream the rest of the album in its entirety for free thanks to the good folks at Spotify. Suggest you hit play and enjoy the new vibes from Torontos next big thing. Heres a little message the two posted along with the release: When we met 4 years ago we never would have imagined the journey that lead to this album. Thank you to our friends, family, and mentors for making this project possible. We are beyond excited to share this piece of us with you all. Majid Jordan available now on iTunes. Majid Jordan The Californian bands new album Gore will go on sale April 8 Deftones premiered a new track Prayers/Triangles from their upcoming album, entitled Gore, yesterday on Zane Lowes Beats 1 Radio Show. The record which follows their 2012 release Koi No Yokan is set to go on sale April 8. On their decision to introduce Gore with this particular track, Chino Moreno told the radio presenter, "It's one of those songs that's very Deftones-esque." Advertisement The frontman described the LP as a good representation of where the band is at, that dynamic is there as far as that ebb and flow, those parts that go at your throat, but it also has a soothing quality to it. That dichotomy I think is what makes us who we are it's sort of our DNA. The Californian rock group are scheduled to kick off their tour this spring with an appearance at Musink Festival in Costa Mesa, California on March 5. The Rolling Stones played fans their 1967 hit 'She's A Rainbow' on the first leg of their South American tour in Chile on Wednesday night. The Rolling Stones gave fans a rare treat on the first leg of their South American tour on Wednesday night by playing their 1967 hit 'She's A Rainbow' for the first time in almost two decades. Hours before taking to the stage at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile the band asked fans to choose which track they would most like to hear for the request portion of the show. Fans attending the show were then able to vote via the bands website. Fans were given the option to choose one of four tracks that they rarely play live, 'She's a Rainbow', 'Anybody Seen My Baby' 'She's So Cold' and 'Like a Rolling Stone'. 'She's A Rainbow' won with the most votes and fans were treated to it only six songs into the set. Advertisement It was the first time The Stones have played Shes A Rainbow which appears on the 1967 LP Their Satanic Majesties album since 1998 and only the 11th time in the bands 50-year history it has ever been played live. The Stones continue their South American tour with three nights in Argentina starting on Sunday February 7th. The South American leg of the tour is expected to finish on March 17th in Mexico City. This article can only be read with a Premium Account A couple of days ago, a landing page and a video popped up. They're hosted by Finest Penny Stocks and towards its end, the voice from the video proudly proclaims I'm Keith Richie, Editor of Finest Penny Stocks, and Cloudweb Inc (OTCBB:CLOW, CLOW message board) is my red hot stock pick this month. The voice isn't completely honest. The fine print under the video says that Any first, middle, and/or last name referring to our editor, analyst, copywriter, or any other title or name is purely fictitious and statements by such fictitious characters should not be relied upon. Remind you of someone? Stock Tips, with its equally fictitious editor, Mike Statler, used similar techniques to pump penny stocks, but unfortunately for the people behind what was once the most influential promotional outfit, this led the newsletter nowhere and Stock Tips can now safely be declared dead. The similarities between the pump for CLOW and the ones carried out by Stock Tips don't end there. Like Stock Tips, Finest Penny Stocks have also received a fat wad of cash ($220 thousand, to be precise) in order to tout CLOW and a few other newsletters have also jumped in which means that the total amount paid by Sunrise Holdings LLC, the entity responsible for the pump, sits at more than half a million. The campaign is certainly doing its job. A couple of fairly active sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday were followed by an absolute explosion yesterday when in a matter of six and a half hours, investors traded more than $8 million worth of shares. On day one, the ticker surged from just $0.06 all the way to more than $0.46. It then wiped out a third of its value, but during Thursday's session, it gained a whopping 92% which means that it's now sitting at a hair under $0.60 per share. The colossal volume and the market cap which currently sits at just under $186 million have drawn the attention of the OTC Markets. They took a good look at the company and they decided to put a Buyer Beware sign on CLOW's profile. We reckon that the stock deserves it. A market cap of nearly $190 million is absolutely ridiculous when you have in mind that there's no current financial information regarding the company's operations. CLOW closed the acquisition of a UK-based web hosting company mere days ago and the results of the new subsidiary have yet to be posted. The only financial information that the new management team did disclose is that the hosting business has so far recorded an average annual revenue of 40 thousand. That's just over $58 thousand. They also informed us that the number of issued and outstanding shares currently sits at 312,513,800 and they said that 252,500,000 of them are held by Liao Zhi De, CLOW's new CEO. And that begs the question: Who could be in possession of the other 60,013,800 shares? About a year ago, the public entity currently traded under the CLOW symbol was called Formigli Inc and it was trying to get its stock listed on the OTC Markets. In order to do that, it sold 600,138 shares to various parties in exchange for $60,014. In December, shortly before closing the web hosting business acquisition, CLOW went through a 100 for 1 forward split which means that the various parties suddenly found themselves holding on to... that's right, 60,013,800 shares of CLOW common stock. Thanks to the voice from the video, the current market value of these shares sits at a little less than $36 million. In a predictable bout of two more press releases, Medical Marijuana Inc (OTCMKTS:MJNA, MJNA message board) announced opening a new branch of HempMeds in Mexico. The market was more impressed with this news than it was with the previous couple of rapid-fire, same-day press releases and sent the price up 8.5% to a close at $0.0369 per share. The first of yesterday's press announcements was just MJNA being MJNA and announcing that the company was covered in a the same Reuters article we quoted in our previous article. Nothing like hammering home the progress the company is making in Mexico with a third consecutive release, largely mirroring the content of the previous two! In a second, more relevant announcement, MJNA formally informed shareholders about the launch of an entity called HempMeds Mexico yet another branch of the HempMeds network, following the one aimed at distributing CBD oil in Brazil. The name HempMeds Mexico was present in MJNA's Feb 2 press release as well, but yesterday's PR formally announced its launch. MJNA seems to be betting big on Mexico and CEO Mr. Titus really seems to believe in his $1 - $2 billion revenue opportunity in Mexico, given the fact that MJNA will move lab, manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities to the country over 2016. So far the two permits the Mexican government issued were for families with children suffering from rare diseases. Whether there will be sufficient demand for CBD products that could scale up to the billions of dollars in expected revenues remains to be seen. The HempMeds Mexico website lists a 10-gram oil tube with a $250 price tag. MJNA did surge on the announcement of Brazil approving RSHO as a prescription-only import product back in May 2015. Given the market response to the news about Mexico so far, a similarly big run doesn't seem very likely. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. 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Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email FlexJobs Announces the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Telecommuting Jobs in 2016 To guide job seekers interested in legitimate remote job opportunities, FlexJobs has released its third annual list of the top 100 companies that hire telecommuters Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 02-05-2016 3:23 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Boulder, CO, January 27, 2016FlexJobs today released its list of the Top 100 Companies to Watch for Telecommuting and Remote Jobs in 2016. This list is based on an analysis of over 40,000 companies and their telecommuting job posting histories in FlexJobs database during 2015. To be considered, companies had to offer a telecommuting-friendly component to some of their jobs, such as an arrangement to telecommute entirely, or part of the time, as an option. Small, medium, and large-sized companies across a variety of industries are represented, with jobs ranging from entry-level to executive, part-time to full-time. According to FlexJobs data, there was a 36 percent increase in the number of telecommute-friendly jobs posted in its database from 2014 to 2015, compared to a 26 percent increase from 2013 to 2014. Dell, UnitedHealth Group and IBM were among the top ten companies with the highest number of remote jobs posted in 2015. Some companies, such... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. 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You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Fraser Institute News Release: CPP has no clear cost advantage compared to large public-sector pension plans Media Contact:Aanand Radia, Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute, (416) 363-6575 ext. 238, aanand.radia@fraserinstitute.org Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 02-05-2016 3:05 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes TORONTOWhen comparing the CPP to large public-sector pension plans in Ontario, bigger doesnt necessarily translate into lower investment and administrative costs, finds Philip Cross, former chief economic analyst for Statistics Canada, in a study published today by the Fraser Institute.Proponents of expanding the Canada Pension Plan and those in support of launching the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan often trumpet claims of economies of scale, implying the relative costs of these plans decline as they grow and accumulate more assets. Those claims are simply not true, Cross said.The study, Comparing the Costs of the Canada Pension Plan with Public Pension Plans in Ontario, compares the total costs (investment and administrative) of five large public-sector pension plans in Ontario with the CPP (all headquartered in Toronto).The analysis of these pension plans, ranging in asset values from $17 billion to $269 billion, finds that the plan with the highest asse... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Steven Douglas Associates announces promotion of Elizabeth Jacobs to Executive Vice President Steven Douglas Associates is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Elizabeth Jacobs to Executive Vice President. Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 02-05-2016 5:41 am Currently 0.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 0.0 from 0 votes Fort Lauderdale, Florida (PRWEB) February 02, 2016Elizabeth has been an invaluable member of the firms senior team for 14 years and an integral part of our growth said Matt Shore, President. Elizabeth has always served as a go-to person and mentor not only to her team, but to many others within the company. It is only fitting that she assume the title of Executive Vice President as we look to build upon the success weve already achieved.With a proven track record for successfully leading and growing the Finance and Accounting search practice, Elizabeths leadership skills are well suited to SDAs efforts as we continue to expand our footprint. Her practice is focused on providing executive search services in the financial arena for mid-market to Fortune 500 companies. The scope of her teams services includes accounting, financial reporting, finance, treasury, tax and audit searches from mid-level management to &... Close Forgot Your Password? Enter in your email address and we will send it to you. Send Email An HR.com member profile provides you with access to a multitude of information and education along with the opportunity to network with the largest HR community on the web. If you need any help, call .877.472.6648 and ask for our Member Experience Co-ordinator. Hi Please check your email for an activation link. If you do not receive your activation email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or call our Help Desk at 1.877.472.6648 For faster assistance, dial extension 4. Thank you! Continue Hi Verification error - Please enter the correct code above. Verified Wow! You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile YourNurse - Innovation or common sense? New service provides integrated physical and mental health services for employees with easy single-point access and transparency for employers Posted by Press Releases on Friday, 02-05-2016 3:09 am Currently 1.0/5 Stars. 1 2 3 4 5 1.0 from 1 votes MARKHAM, Ont. (January 20, 2016) Replacing programs such as Employee Assistance Plans, Medical Second Opinion, Disability Support, Caregiving/Healthcare Navigation and Chronic Disease Management Services, YourNurse provides a single point of contact to help employees navigate their health benefits with experienced nurses as their guides.Employee health services have focused on either a physical or mental health concern, but employees challenges are often more complicated. 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You have successfully verified the account Continue Hi your HR.com account is ready Your Profile completion: 30% Complete your profile Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot and Turkish Media Review, 16-02-05 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 TURKISH CYPRIOT AND TURKISH MEDIA REVIEW No. 24/16 05.02.2016 [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Burcu: We will create a new structure with the solution [02] Burcu denied the claim that Akinci supports a solution which will be achieved through the evolution of the Cyprus Republic [03] CTP "deputy" Candan explained their EU contacts in Brussels 4 Ambassador of the Netherlands: We are ready to contribute to the solution [05] The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Lefkosia visited the People's Party [06] Ozgurgun: Turkey's guarantees are the Turkish Cypriots' indispensable red lines [07] Atalay: There are no restrictions regarding the offering or religious courses [08] Turkey refuses Russia's request for observation flights over Syria border [09] Summary of proceedings against HDP co-chairs sent to the Justice Ministry [A] TURKISH CYPRIOT / TURKISH PRESS [01] Burcu: We will create a new structure with the solution Turkish Cypriot daily Havadis (05.02.16) reports that Baris Burcu, spokesman of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, stressing that while the negotiations are continuing to reach a solution on the Cyprus problem, the Greek Cypriot side has entered the electoral process, said: "Our request to them is to act according with their responsibilities in this process and to abstain from any statements or distortions that may harm the solution process". In a written statement, Burcu explained that the position of the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, as it was announced during his election campaign, was not to reject the existing reconciliations, but rather to proceed by accepting them as the basis. Stressing that in this context the Joint Declaration of February 11, 2014, is an important document, Burcu noted that the negotiations are being conducted within this framework. He also said that substantial progress has been obtained on the chapters of Governance and Power Sharing, Economy, the EU and Property. Underlining that although the issue of how the new state will emerge has been discussed throughout for many years now, it is a blind alley issue, Burcu said: "Accordingly the two sides do not recognize each other and accordingly the confederation of two separate sovereign states is not being negotiated, it is natural that we will establish a United Federal Cyprus of two constituent states (translator's note: according to the Oxford Turkish-English dictionary, the definition of the Turkish word "kurucu" can be translated as constituent or founding). The Joint Declaration of 11 February, 2014, is very clear within this framework". The statement continued as follows: "However, this situation does not mean that we accept the existing 'Republic of Cyprus', from which we have been excluded for years now and represents only the Greek Cypriot community, and that we strive to amend it. On the contrary, as our 'president' has stated in various occasions, we will create a new structure with the solution. As our 'president' said in his statement dated September 1, 2015, '...This structure to be formed will be a federal structure ? will be a new structure from A to Z with its name and flag -. However, this new structure will not include applying again to the UN and to the EU for membership. This new structure will be taking the place of the old one in those institutions as well. This is the case. The TRNC (translator's note: the breakaway regime in the occupied area of the Republic of Cyprus) itself is a core establishment. And I am the 'president' of this establishment. This establishment will find itself in the new settlement. It will turn into a Constituent State. Just as the structure solely led by the Greek Cypriots right now will be turning into a Constituent State led by the Greek Cypriots and just as we will be taking our place in the federal partnership, which will be created by these two structures?This is what is essential in Cyprus.' This position, which has been repeatedly explained to the public by our 'president' is extremely clear and nobody has the right to distort this. According to the written statement: "It is important, of course, to convince at least a big part of the majority of the 75% of the Greek Cypriots who voted 'No' in the Annan Plan, to ratify a solution". It concluded by writing that there is another important point, which is the necessity of convincing the majority of the Turkish Cypriots, who were not rewarded for its peace efforts to be reintegrated into a solution. Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci sees the process in this framework. (DPs) [02] Burcu denied the claim that Akinci supports a solution which will be achieved through the evolution of the Cyprus Republic According to illegal Bayrak television (online, 05.02.16), Baris Burcu, Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci's spokesman, evaluating the Cyprus talks in programme on "BRT" this morning, said that the requirements of the Parliamentary elections to be held in the government controlled area of Cyprus in May are different than the requirements of a solution and added that it is normal to have a separation in the atmosphere. "What is important while going to elections is to create a perception that an agreement is possible and if so to postpone the elections and to hold a referendum after enough discussions are held on a plan. Our target and aim is this. We still believe that this is possible", he said. Stating that it is natural for both sides to feel the need to share their positions with their communities, he said: "While expressing a position, it is not right to harmonize our 'president' (editor's note: the Turkish Cypriot leader) into that position and try to show that the 'president' is sharing the same views on this position". He explained that claims made by Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades that Akinci is in support of a solution which will be achieved through the evolution of the Cyprus Republic, are not reflecting reality. Warning that the Turkish Cypriot press should not make propaganda by accepting the speculative news reports of Greek Cypriot media as true, Burcu reminded that Akinci, on various occasions, said that the new structure will be established with a new name and a new flag. Noting that the issue of security and guarantees was brought to the agenda recently by the sides which are not in favour of a solution, he said there is no fair war between manipulation and reality. Claiming that they have been doing the right things and have achieved strong progress in the negotiations, he said that due to the principle of "nothing will be agreed until everything will be agreed" and the "principle of confidentiality" they could not share all the details. Explaining that progress is achieved on the Governance and Power Sharing, EU, Economy and Property issues and that no progress is achieved on the issue of territory, security and guarantees, Burcu noted that some statements are made by reflecting news reports by the Greek Cypriot media as reality and with the intention of ruining the current atmosphere. Stating that there is a level map on the issue of territory, he said: "There is a level map which was mutually agreed. Following the necessary arrangements on the first three chapters, let's bring the agreement to the maximum. And once sufficient progress has been made on the property issue by linking this progress with the territory issue, let's start discussing territory." Noting that taking up the territory issue after completing the property issue may create technical problems in the future, he expressed the need for making the territorial arrangements and decisions on the aspects of the property regime in the territorial arrangement in order for the positions on property to be clear. Also touching upon the issue of guarantees, he said this issue will be discussed at the end of the process as all related sides will have to come together. [03] CTP "deputy" Candan explained their EU contacts in Brussels Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris (05.02.16) reports that self-styled deputy of the Republican Turkish Party (CTP) Armagan Candan briefed yesterday the so-called assembly of the breakaway regime in the occupied area of Cyprus on the EU contacts of the "parliamentary delegations". He added that "reviewing the work with the EU is continuing intensively". Candan noted that everyone they met in the EU so far is expecting good news on the Cyprus problem. Stating that the EU delegation's visit to Cyprus every week and meeting with Turkish and Greek Cypriot representatives in order to review the work on the EU Acquis, Candan said that this work has been continuing intensively for the last 3 months. Explaining that they conveyed to the EU officials their requests for Turkish to be an EU official language, Candan added that they also conveyed their positions regarding the EU parliamentary elections after a possible solution. (DPs) [04] Ambassador of the Netherlands: We are ready to contribute to the solution Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.02.16) reports that the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Lefkosia, Brechje Schwachofer stated that she hopes that a settlement will be reached in Cyprus soon and added that they are ready to contribute towards the solution of the Cyprus problem. She made these statements in an interview she gave to Kibris on the occasion of the Netherlands taking over the EU presidency. Schwachofer stated that the Netherlands , holding now the Presidency of the Council of EU, will be next to the two communities in Cyprus, adding that it is ready to safeguard any assistance needed that could contribute to the solution of the Cyprus problem. She also said that they are ready to help Anastasiades and Akinci if they ask for it. She also stated that the negotiation process is a process of the Cypriots and it is important to note that it will be carried out by them. "The people of Cyprus will decide about their own safety, it's up to them. Depending on how they want to shape their future. If they want the EU to play a more active role, then the EU will work to fulfil this wish", she stated. Referring to the opening of new chapters by Turkey, she stated that they will look into how much progress can be made towards this direction. (CS) [05] The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Lefkosia visited the People's Party Turkish Cypriot daily Kibris newspaper (05.02.16) reports that the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Lefkosia, Brechje Schwachofer visited the People's Party (GHP) and held a meeting with HP's chairman Kudret Ozersay. According to the paper, the High Commissioner of Australia Alan Sweetman, will also visit the HP's offices today. (CS) [06] Ozgurgun: Turkey's guarantees are the Turkish Cypriots' indispensable red lines Illegal Bayrak television (05.02.16) broadcast that the leader of the National Unity Party (UBP) Huseyin Ozgurgun said that "Turkey's active and effective guarantees are the Turkish Cypriots' indispensable red lines". Ozgurgun was responding to statements made by President Nikos Anastasiades. Ozgurgun also alleged that the Greek Cypriot side was trying to end Turkey's guarantees on the island. "We as UBP are calling on the Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades and those like him who are trying to end the guarantees on the island, to give up on their efforts as they are not serving towards a solution process" said the UBP leader. [07] Atalay: There are no restrictions regarding the offering or religious courses Turkish Cypriot daily Afrika newspaper (05.02.16) reports that Talip Atalay the "head of the religious affairs department" stated that there is not any law or any restriction regarding the offering or religious courses at the Theological School of the breakaway regime or by mosques. He made these statements during a speech he delivered in Necmettin Erbakan Univesity in Konya, Turkey about Cyprus and Islam leaders. He stated that compared to the past the issue of religion in the occupied area of Cyprus is in a very good point and added that there is a great demand from students who want to study at the Theological School or take religious classes. He stated that 800 persons studied at that Theological School and 600 more studied in theological faculties at universities. (CS) [08] Turkey refuses Russia's request for observation flights over Syria border According to Turkish daily Sabah (online, 04.02.16), the agreed program of observation flights by Russian surveillance aircraft will not take place over Turkey, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Tanju Bilgic said on Thursday. Bilgic said that an agreement could not be reached on the mission plan between the two countries. He also noted that Russia imposes restrictions on observation flights to be conducted over its soil, which is known by all members of the Open Skies Treaty. Omer Celik, Spokesman and Vice President of the Justice and Development Party (AKP), stated that Russia requested to fly parallel to Turkey's Syrian border. "Of course it is not possible due to security problems, problems in that area, and force majeure," Celik said. "We have a hot and fresh crisis with Russia. We let the public interpret what a demand like 'flying overlapping the Syrian border' means in this environment." [09] Summary of proceedings against HDP co-chairs sent to the Justice Ministry According to Turkish daily Hurriyet Daily News (online, 05.02.16), a summary of proceedings against five opposition lawmakers, including the co-chairs of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), has been sent to the Justice Ministry, the Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency has reported. The Diyarbak?r Public Prosecutor's Office prepared a summary of proceedings against HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, as well as HDP Deputies Selma Irmak, Sirri Sureyya Onder and Ertugrul Kurkcu, and sent it to the Justice Ministry. Probes against the five lawmakers were launched over crimes against the constitutional order after they attended a meeting of the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) in south-eastern Diyarbak?r province between Dec. 26 and 27, 2015. The establishment of "democratic autonomous regions" was presented as a solution to the Kurdish problem during the meetings in Diyarbak?r. The attendees also asked for "self-governance" and embraced the "legitimate insurgency" in a number of south-eastern districts, while also urging the people of Turkey to support their cause. The grounds for the investigations were laid out as "making terrorism propaganda", "inciting a crime" and "encouraging sedition," in addition to violating Article 302 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) by "disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state". When a probe is launched against lawmakers, a summary of the proceedings needs to be prepared to lift their immunities in order to begin a trial process. TURKISH AFFAIRS SECTION http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio (DPs/ ICh) Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article Jennifer Graham/CP A Saskatchewan minister is threatening legal action against the CBC, after the news organization broke a story alleging that the minister made an inappropriate land deal in 2014. According to a CBC story published Wednesday, Minister of the Economy Bill Boyd asked a government-owned corporation to buy a piece of land for two to three times more than the appraised value. Advertisement The deal, which concerned a 204-acre plot of land on the west side of Regina, netted a $5-million profit for the company that sold it. The government later sold it as a loss. Saskatchewan's NDP called for an investigation into the complicated string of transactions. NDP deputy leader Trent Wotherspoon told The Regina Leader-Post "the whole deal stinks." Boyd approached the Conflict of Interest Commissioner who ruled in Boyd's favour, reported Global News. Now, Boyd is threatening legal action against the CBC's investigative journalist who broke the story. Premier Brad Wall said in a statement that he supports Boyd, and would support any action he chooses to take against the CBC. Advertisement Also on HuffPost: A convicted animal killer who's been described as an "affectionless psychopath" will be allowed to travel into her community without supervision. Kayla Bourque, who currently lives in New Westminster, B.C., will be allowed out between 9 and 11 a.m. on Thursdays at a parole officer's discretion, according to The Vancouver Sun. Advertisement The high-risk offender will have to explain where she plans to go in a letter given to authorities and wear a GPS tracker at all times, Global News reported. Bourque moved to the Metro Vancouver city after being released from custody in September 2015. Crown supported the idea of unsupervised outings because they give Bourque a chance to prove she can act responsibly, according to CTV News. Warning: Graphic details below In 2012, Bourque was sent to prison for butchering the family cat and dog. She also admitted to having fantasies about murdering a homeless person while studying at Simon Fraser University in 2010. Court decisions related to Bourque's case described her as a sexual sadist with antisocial personality disorder who found joy in torturing and killing animals. She's also an "affectionless psychopath" who isn't able to show affection or concern for others, according to those decisions. Advertisement In 2013, Bourque appealed her lifetime ban on owning animals, but was denied. "Ms. Bourque has a history of killing and torturing animals," Justice Elizabeth Bennett said at the time. "She takes pleasure from this conduct, and has no insight into the harm and suffering she causes these creatures. Her condition is life-long, and is not situational. In my view, there is nothing to support a request for leniency on this prohibition. Ms. Bourque has lost the privilege of having the companionship of animals by betraying their trust in her." Bourque is still living under 47 court-ordered conditions, including staying away from public places where children under the age of 18 may be located, staying off social media, and not owning any weapons. With files from the Canadian Press Also on HuffPost Monkey Business Images/Stockbroker via Getty Images Overhead View Of Place Setting At first, Zachary Bell's doctors thought he was just a picky eater. The 12-year-old Edmonton boy hasn't eaten anything other than a specific selection of beige-coloured foods since he was a baby. Fries, pretzels, toast with peanut butter, cookies, garlic bread, cheerios and explicitly McDonald's chicken nuggets are the only items on the menu, Bell's mother Kathy told Edmonton's Vue Weekly. Advertisement For years, doctors said Bell would outgrow it or told Kathy to force her son to eat. They said hes not going to starve himself, Kathy said, in an interview with Metro News. Later, she admit he didn't eat for two days once. You could hear his stomach growling. We just traumatized him more than anything. It didnt solve anything. Finally, last year, Bell was diagnosed with a rare new eating disorder: avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). "I just want people to know that's it's not picky eating." ARFID was only added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) in 2013, making it a relatively unknown eating disorder. Advertisement Unlike picky eaters, people with ARFID will only eat foods that follow an extremely particular criteria. One example would be a child who refuses to eat any food they have to chew, according to the Eating Disorders Review. If left untreated, children and teens may be left with serious, long-term complications, Dr. Debra Katzman, an eating disorders specialist at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children told Good magazine. Bell, who's being treated with supplements and is seeing a psychologist for his social anxiety, is hoping to raise awareness so others with the disorder won't be pegged as just "picky." "I don't want people to think it's picky eating and get forced to eat food," Bell told CBC News, during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which runs from Feb. 1-7. "I just want people to know that's it's not picky eating, it's ARFID," he said. Advertisement Also on HuffPost: Remember your first trip to Europe? The magical streets of Paris, the ruins of Rome, the canals of Amsterdam it was pure bliss, wasn't it? It was on that historic continent where you probably gained an appreciation for good coffee, sweet croissants and of course, luxurious fashions. But you, being young and naive, may have committed a major fashion crime. Advertisement As you strolled the streets, you noticed vendors selling handbags. Everything from Chanel to Louis Vuitton was there. You needed one and they were only, like, five Euros! How could you pass up the opportunity to bring home a designer bag and make all your friends utterly jealous? Without thinking, you purchase it. And there you have it: you're now the proud owner of a FAKE Louis Vuitton bag. Hey, we feel you. Desperate times call for desperate measures, you could never afford a real luxe bag anyway. Thus, the counterfeit. But girl, you've now put yourself in danger. Now, on the streets everyone will be scrutinizing your bag. "Is it real? Is it fake?" All the whispers pour in. Advertisement For your next Europe trip, we recommend you brush up on the tips in the above video, where Texas-based Closet Revival owner, Cynthia Riley, walks you through how to spot a fake handbag. A brief key? On that LV purse, you don't want the handles to have the colour of "Barbie's legs." You want them to be a honey colour. The brighter the colour, the cheaper the bag is. Continue to watch for more great tips! Follow Huffington Post Canada Style on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter! Also on HuffPost CP A Conservative MPs outburst toward Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan earlier this week has riled parliamentarians and spurred calls for an apology in India. Amarinder Singh, a popular Punjab politician, criticized Jason Kenneys alleged request for an English-to-English translation of Sajjans remarks earlier this week about the governments plan to combat the so-called Islamic State. Advertisement Singh, who is a current member of Parliament in the Indian National Congress, tweeted on Friday that the remark was an example of racial humiliation. Every Indian & every Sikh, in particular, feels genuinely hurt over #racialhumilation of @HarjitSajjan. It must be condemned by one and all Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 5, 2016 He expanded on his sentiment in a statement obtained by India Today, describing Kenneys remarks as outrageous and clearly and undoubtedly racial. He urged the Opposition MP to apologize to Sajjan or be admonished and reprimanded in accordance with Canadian parliamentary law. Advertisement Every Indian in general and every Sikh in particular feels hurt over the racial slur against Mr Sajjan whose contribution to the Canadian nation remains unparalleled, he said. Former chief minister of the Indian state of Punjab and Congress Party candidate for Amritsar's parliamentary seat Amarinder Singh addresses supporters at Khasa village, near Amritsar, on Apr. 3, 2014. (Photo: Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images) According to DNA India, Punjab-based Conservative Sikh political party Shiromani Akali Dal also labelled Kenneys comment as racist behaviour that should not be condoned by political leaders. I think he should feel sorry about this as already across the globe, Indians are facing many racial abuses and this will again give rise to such kind of atrocities towards Indians, Delhi leader of the party Manjit Singh GK said. Advertisement Kenney: Sajjan a role model The controversial exchange in the House of Commons followed questions from Conservative defence critics about the Liberal governments promised to withdraw Canadian fighter jets from the ISIL mission. Conservative MP Jason Kenney asks a question during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb.1, 2016. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) On Monday, Tory MP Pierre Paul-Hus criticized the Liberals for be unable to deliver a clear plan to combat ISIL, asking why should Canadians trust this government to keep them safe? Sajjan, an Afghan combat veteran and rookie minister, responded by saying consultations with allies take time in order to put together a strong framework for an effective plan. Advertisement We have to make sure that we take our time with this, make sure that we consult our allies, and make sure that we assess what the enemy situation is, Sajjan said. I have huge respect for Mr. Sajjan. Jason Kenney I want to make sure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, because every single time we make those mistakes as political leaders, we send our men and women into harm's way for no reason. I will not repeat those mistakes. It wasnt until after question period when Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux used a point of order to single out Kenney for making an inappropriate comment. Lamoureux claimed Kenney was overheard saying from across his seat that we need to have English-to-English translation amid Sajjans answer, and urged the Tory MP to explain and apologize for his remark. "The minister's answer was totally incoherent, so there is nothing to apologize for," Kenney told the House. Advertisement The outspoken Tory MP later responded to the backlash over his heckling by saying he has huge respect for the defence minister. @rajliberal 1/ I have huge respect for Mr. Sajjan. As CIC Minsiter I featured him as a role model in the Discover Canada Citizenship guide! Jason Kenney (@jkenney) February 1, 2016 Unfortunately, I find his answers on ending combat against ISIS to be at best unpersuasive & at worst incoherent. Thats the point I tried to make, Kenney explained himself on Twitter. He apologized if his words were misconstrued by some. He's a fine, intelligent man but, in my humble opinion, his position is wrong, he said. Sajjan was born in India and moved to Canada with his family at the age of five. He later became the first Sikh regimental commander in the Canadian Army. Advertisement Also on HuffPost: An Australian woman shocked her partner last year when she showed up at their home because he had ordered her killed. Balenga Kalala had paid almost AUS$7,000 to have his common-law wife Noela Rukundo murdered, because he believed she was cheating, according to The Age. Advertisement However, her kidnappers freed her because they didn't want to kill a woman. Last February, Rukundo was in Burundi for her stepmother's funeral when she was kidnapped, according to the outlet. While she was still being held, one of the men called Kalala to tell him that the job was done. After they let Rukundo go, they also gave her records of phone calls with Kalala and a receipt for his payment. She made it back to Australia a few days later, where Kalala had been telling people she died in an accident, she told the BBC. Mourners had been coming to their home all day, and some had been donating money. But when she showed up, he could barely believe his eyes. "When I get out of the car, he saw me straight away. He put his hands on his head and said, 'Is it my eyes? Is it a ghost?'" Advertisement "Surprise! I'm still alive!" she responded. That day she called the police, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. In September, Kalala pleaded guilty to one count of incitement to murder, and was sentenced in December to nine years in jail. Also on HuffPost A group of boys at Californias Buchanan High School showed up to class in dresses to protest the schools discriminatory dress code. The student protest last week was in response to a new policy that banned boys from having long hair and wearing earrings. According to Fresno Bee, the new dress code also implied that dresses and skirts were only for girls. As a result, female students also got involved with the protest by wearing male button-down dress shirts to school. Advertisement The reason we switched gender norms for the day was to make the statement that what we wear does not define us as students, Emma Sledd, senior student at Buchanan, explained. Our districts dress code should not favor or discriminate any gender. We believe everyone should be able to express themselves equally. A boy with long hair is no less of a hard worker than a girl with long hair. If we can dress like them, they can dress like us. pic.twitter.com/owGIH155Et Emma Sledd :) (@EmmaSledd) January 29, 2016 In addition to the protest, the students also started a petition urging Clovis Unified School District to approve a gender-neutral dress code. The petition now has nearly 3,500 signatures. Advertisement Interestingly, the districts policy goes directly against the state law that protects gender expression, and American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California called them out on this. nick and all the other boys that wore dresses looked beautiful today!!! #dresscodesucks #cusddresscodesucks A photo posted by Nina Bash her in the face (@ninabasher) on Jan 29, 2016 at 4:14pm PST Teachers are also backing up their students. While some teachers dress-coded a few of the people in protest, most of our upper administration is supportive of what were doing, Rei Bioco, junior student at Buchanan, told Buzzfeed News. This isn't the first time students have protested their school dress code. Watch the video above to find out more. Also on HuffPost Back To School FAILS See Gallery boumenjapet via Getty Images Young woman drinking coffee from disposable cup Well, this is a neat idea. The City of Vancouver is floating a ban on disposable, hard-to-recycle items as part of its mission to become the greenest city in the world by 2020. Staff were urged to consider restricting or banning the use of plastic bags, coffee cups, and other wasteful products in a city council meeting on Tuesday. Advertisement Coun. Andrea Reimer said it's a potential move that's been years in the making. Vancouver is aiming to be the greenest city in the world by 2020. (Photo: Getty) "We've spent a long time trying to work with the province on the possibility of doing a province-wide ban," she told The Huffington Post B.C. on Friday. "The reason for this coming forward now is that, in six years [of talks], we've decided that maybe they won't be moving and it would be good for us to look at what we can do." The first step, Reimer said, would be a voluntary program for businesses to opt out of distributing the one-use bags and cups. Advertisement That would, ideally, influence a change in Vancouverites' behaviour, making the waste taboo something that would lead to less demand. "They're paying for things to hand to their customers that their customers will throw away within 20 minutes." Step two would be financial pressure on businesses, created by changes to city licences, Reimer said. "[One-use products are] a big cost item for companies, too. They're paying for things to hand to their customers that their customers will throw away within 20 minutes," she said. "We could offer even more financial incentive to ditch the cups." Part of the city's 10-step "Action Plan" to combat climate change is to reduce the amount of garbage being sent to landfills by half, in comparison to numbers measured in 2008. Advertisement Those levels have already dropped by 18 per cent. The next "key" step, according to Tuesday's report, is to get a handle on everyday, single-use items that "end up as litter on public streets." "Ten years from now, we'll look back and think wow, that was such a crazy time in North America," Reimer said of the paper-cup era. "I'm excited about it." Vancouver's overall 'green-print' Last July, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson's trademark penchant for fighting climate change earned him an invite to a two-day conference at the Vatican. "Human-induced climate change is a scientific reality and its effective control is a moral imperative for humanity," the mayor told The Canadian Press from Rome. Advertisement Robertson was also the only Canadian mayor invited to talk climate change with the U.S. secretary of state at the Our Cities, Our Climate initiative in Washington, D.C. in October. Follow Us On Instagram Silberkorn via Getty Images Close-up of two Glasses Rose / Pink Champagne, selective focus Aah, Valentine's Day. That one day a year we celebrate all things love - even secret, unrequited love. Yet very little is known of Saint Valentine of Rome for whom this day was created. According to Wikipedia he "is a widely recognized third-century Roman saint commemorated on February 14 and associated since the High Middle Ages with a tradition of courtly love." Advertisement The HISTORY Channel believes medieval English poet Geoffrey Chaucer may have invented Valentine's Day. He often took satirical liberties with history by placing fictional characters and poetic spin into factual historical situations. No record exists of romantic celebrations on Valentine's Day prior to a poem Chaucer wrote around 1375. In his work "Parliament of Foules," he links a tradition of courtly love with the celebration of St. Valentine's feast day-an association that didn't exist until after his poem received widespread attention. The poem refers to February 14 as the day birds (and humans) come together to find a mate. When Chaucer wrote, "For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day / Whan every foul cometh ther to choose his mate," he may have invented the holiday we know today. The notion of a medieval poet inventing this saintly day of love is in itself the epitome of romance. Many a sonnet has been penned about love and love lost , an admiring verse delivered in secret, and Odes expressing lust and longing have endured centuries of quiet contemplation. Today, we have greeting card companies to do the hard work of putting pen to paper and we merely sign our name accompanied with - xo. In a fast-paced world it's nice that we have Valentine's Day to pause and appreciate those around us that hold a special place in our hearts and we can credit the Romans and Chaucer equally. This February 6th VINTAGES has some delicious sparkling Roses hitting the shelves. Sexy bottles and packaging are sure to entice even the most scrupulous buyer. Pair them with chocolate dipped strawberries, truffles, liquid cherries, red roses, and you've got a date! They make a perfect gift as well. There's a sparkler for every taste and budget while knowledgeable LCBO Product Consultants are always ready to help you with suggestions and tasting notes. I've also included a couple of VQA sparkling wines currently available now. Advertisement Ontario VQA Refreshing Niagara acidity with plenty of fresh field berries, zest, yeast and minerality. Available now. Vibrant acidity and persistent delicate mousse awakens the palate and waits for the next gulp. Made in the methode Champenoise with superb craftsmanship. One of my go-to faves. Available now. Pale ballerina slipper pink with some larger persistent bubble. Fresh picked field berries, citrus,Niagara tree fruit, biscuit. Lively acidity. February 6 release. Lakeview Cellars Cabernet Franc Icewine 2013 $30 Your sparkling wine alternative. On it's own it IS dessert or pair it with a rich assortment of desserts or salty cheeses for pure decadent pleasure. This Lakeview Icewine could be the perfect Valentine paired with chocolate covered strawberries. February 6 release. France Good value for Champagne and nice quality. Elegant and supple in the mouth with delicate mousse. Bright acidity. February 6 release. Advertisement Sexy black bottle and long jellybean finish. Blend of three signature French grapes - Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault culminate in a vibrant wine with aromas and flavours of fresh red berries, red apple, black currant, lavender and I detected a hint of toffee. February 6 release. Budget friendly French sparkling wine. Definitely quaffable with fresh cut oxidized apple, raspberry, toast, and biscuit aromas/ flavours. Refreshing acidity. February 6 release. Taittinger Millesime Champagne 2008 $98 Your sparkling Rose alternative. Pure decadence. This Champagne will leave you wondering, " Does it get any better than this?" Sip on it's own as a toast or...just because. *sigh* February 6 release. Happy Valentine's Day! Until next time... wine * food * run Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: BSIP/UIG via Getty Images Radiologist As world oil prices and the Canadian dollar slide perilously, Albertans must become more inventive and rigorous in managing our costs -- and our expectations -- especially in high-cost areas like infrastructure, education and health care. Health care is the biggest challenge. We cannot turn off the population's health care needs simply because provincial revenues are declining. Illness is oblivious to low commodity prices and market share. Advertisement Unless we become inventive, health service declines are inevitable. The temptation to reduce surgeries such as hip and knee replacements and cataract removal will be irresistible. The general public will notice these changes as increased wait times. In fact, we've already seen increases in wait times for hip and knee replacements in Alberta -- one of the leading indicators of our health care system's performance. Yet hip and knee replacement is actually an area where we have inventive opportunities waiting to be tapped. "Gain sharing" is one such innovative approach. Health care teams in hospitals around Alberta, supported by Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute (ABJHI) and Alberta Health Services' Bone and Joint Strategic Clinical Network, have for the past five years led efforts to improve the quality and efficiency of orthopaedic care. Advertisement As a result, patients undergoing hip or knee replacement require fewer blood transfusions, are up and mobile sooner after surgery, have less pain and better physical outcomes, and are home from hospital sooner. The savings in hospital beds freed up by patients returning home sooner and from blood transfusions have exceeded $40 million to date. Allowing these health care teams to share in the gains they make by reallocating resources to more operating room time and more dedicated hospital beds to enable more surgeries would create a virtuous circle of improved performance and decreased wait times. It might also add an element of competitiveness as health care teams look to out-gain each other to the benefit of patients and the health system. Alberta could further put some of the savings from this success into smart investments like an orthopaedic registry that would serve as a valuable storehouse of rich and current data on health care performance in critical areas of quality, such as recovery of joint function, pain reduction and implant safety. Advertisement Alberta has made strides in collecting wait time data, but there is no single registry in the province or anywhere else in Canada that collects the range of performance data needed to guide modern medical practice and service planning in orthopaedics. A storehouse of reliable information across a broad range of quality indicators would have positive effects on clinical decision-making and resource planning. The value to both patients and the health system would be enormous and the investment very modest. One area of clinical decision-making that would have broad implications for patient satisfaction, economic savings and wait times is patient appropriateness for surgery. Patient feedback analyzed by ABJHI suggests that almost two in 10 knee replacement patients in Alberta derive little to no benefit from their surgery. A research team working in Alberta is now developing criteria to help surgeons and their patients assess the likelihood of benefit from knee replacement. Applying such criteria could reduce wait times for those who need -- and are likely to benefit from -- the surgery with some of the savings produced used to enhance non-surgical treatments known to produce excellent outcomes. Advertisement There are silver linings in those dark economic clouds over Alberta. If we are resourceful and make evidence-based, intelligent decisions now, there is no doubt the province will be much better off when the sun shines again. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: Ruskpp via Getty Images While Canada is still out of sync with its international partners on Iran, the Liberal government has committed to reversing its inherited Iran policy as it brings Canadian foreign policy out from the cold. Indeed, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has recognized that Canada risks being isolated from its allies if it maintains sanctions against Iran. To this end, he has promised to lift United Nations-mandated Canadian sanctions against Iran now that implementation of the nuclear deal is in effect. To be sure, as much of the world re-engages Tehran, Ottawa still has time to play catch up. Indeed, Canada's G7 and NATO allies are in advanced stages of their re-engagement strategy with Iran. Case in point: the British have restored full diplomatic relations; Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and French President Francois Hollande both recently hosted Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in their capitals; and US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have developed a strong rapport culminating in a week full of diplomatic victories for US-Iranian relations as evidenced by the return of American sailors within 14 hours, the official implementation of the nuclear deal, a prisoner exchange and the settlement of a 36 year financial dispute. Advertisement What is becoming clear is that the world is re-engaging Iran on security and economic issues. For instance, Iran was invited to partake in the Vienna Process on the Syrian civil war; a forum that Canada should have been involved in due to its role in the fight against the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Economically, China and Iran recently announced a ten year $600-billion partnership. On his trip to Italy, Iranian President Rouhani and Italian Prime Minister Renzi ushered in deals amounting to $16 billion. In France, Iran signed deals with oil company Total, car manufacturer Peugeot and aircraft producer Airbus. This latter deal is reportedly worth $23 billion for over a hundred airliners to replace Iran's aging and dilapidated fleet. To be certain, significant business opportunities exist in Iran in all sectors now that sanctions have been lifted. Due to Canada's unilateral sanctions, however, Canadian businesses are prevented from exploring these opportunities. For instance, Canadian company Bombardier, which has been struggling as of late, is unable to place bids for contracts in Iran's aviation sector. Economics aside, Canada's national interests can be served if it engaged Iran on cultural, social and political matters. Culturally and socially, Canada is home to a large number of Iranian Canadians who maintain links to their homeland. These individuals are unable to access consular services for common transactions such as passport renewals. There are also mutually beneficial opportunities for academic exchanges to foster cultural links and exchange knowledge between Canadian and Iranian institutions. Politically, when the previous Canadian government closed its embassy in Tehran, it deprived itself and the United States of a key listening outpost in the capital of an important regional player. It also deprived itself the ability of communicating its disagreements, say over human rights, with Iran directly. After all, diplomacy is most useful when used to talk to those you disagree with than with your friends. Advertisement Re-engaging Tehran does not mean that Canada and Iran will become strategic partners, however, if Canada can engage with Saudi Arabia, a country with which little is shared in terms of values, then surely it can engage with Iran whose population is highly secular and Western-leaning. Iran observers have highlighted potential obstacles in Ottawa's pursuit of re-engagement with Iran. Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottawa has noted that two main obstacles exist: Iran's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism pursuant to the 2012 Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, which enables victims of terrorism to sue countries that are listed as supporters; and, political backlash due to Iran's ties with organizations such as Hezbollah. Importantly, these obstacles do not prevent Canada from talking to Iran, but may add complications in restoring formal ties. Clearly, moving forward, the Liberal government must determine the legal path to re-establishing ties with Iran, which at some point will require unilateral sanctions relief. Given that Iran was added to the state sponsor of terror list with an Order-in-Council decision, theoretically, the same can be done to remove it from that list. If legislative action is required, the Liberal government can take advantage of its majority status accordingly. Politically, the Liberal government may have to engage a public which includes pockets of Iran skeptics. The same was done in the United States when President Obama expended significant political capital to inform the American body politic of the merits of the Iran nuclear deal. In facilitating re-engagement with Iran, Canada can use its Mission at the United Nations to reach out to Iran's Mission. Another option is to take advantage of global fora such as the World Economic Forum, which just passed, to have delegations interact. Indeed, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif reportedly met privately with a leading Canadian banker with close ties to the Liberal government. The next major forum is the Munich Security Conference which could present engagement opportunities if both countries attend. Moving forward, Canada can adopt a similar approach to that of the United Kingdom in re-establishing formal ties with Iran, by exchanging non-resident charge d'affaires as an interim measure to reopening embassies and exchanging ambassadors. To be prudent and effective, re-engagement should be step-by-step, perhaps limited to a handful of issues including the resumption of trade and business transactions and restoring consular services. What is more, in pursuing its objective of being an honest broker on the global stage, Canada can use the global attention it has garnered as of late to help bridge divides that exist between regional foes, Iran and Saudi Arabia. Advertisement Canada's friends around the world are demonstrating that diplomacy works with Iran; in this respect, there is literally no better time than the present to sync Canada's Iran policy with that of its closest partners. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: martinwimmer via Getty Images blackboard concept, signs of world religions - major religions group chalked on a blackboard Upon the arrival of the British and the French in the late 15th century along the shores of the Canadian Atlantic as new immigrants, the concept of the educational institutions came into light. During the French ruling of Canada, the establishment of schools was given to religious bodies. The first schools in New France were operated by the Catholics. In the early 19th century, the colonial governments moved to set up publicly funded education systems. Protestants and Catholics were deeply divided over how religious and moral education should be taught. Advertisement In Upper Canada, the Catholic minority rejected the Protestant practice of biblical study in schools. In Lower Canada, on the other hand, the Protestant minority objected to the education system instilling Roman Catholic dogma. Thus, in both these areas, two school systems were established: one Catholic and one Protestant. When Confederation took place, these school systems were enshrined in the British North America Act, 1867. British Columbia established a non-sectarian school system in 1872. Based on the aforementioned piece of Canadian history, it becomes clear that religious schools per se are mainly run by religious bodies, their curricula circulate, and focus on theological studies. Although some contemporary courses may be given in such educational institutions, teaching is motivated and revolves around religious concepts and doctrines. On the other side of the token comes what could be called community schools. This type of school arose upon the influx of waves of immigrants that considered Canada their country after the establishment of the Confederation in 1867. The nation started to witness the constitution of community schools across the country. Advertisement Community schools are used as hubs to bring educators, families and community partners together to offer a range of supports and services to children besides the main objective of learning. Normally, every community school responds to unique local needs. In the minds of the founders and administrators of the community schools, such educational bodies have a climate, a culture and minimal universal religious teachings that enable students to develop cognitive, social, emotional, civic and ethical competences, and help them develop the capacity to thrive and continue their learning cycle and life journey within the society at large. Both the community and the public schools that are funded by the provincial governments in Canada follow defined curricula set by the local ministries of education, work under similar general guidelines and rules, and share the same learning guiding principles at all teaching cycle levels. A legitimate question may be raised: Why is there confusion between what a religious school is and what a community school is, since their definitions are clearly understood? It should be noted that perceptions and understanding of words may diversify depending on the linguistic and cultural background of the speakers on one side and of the listeners on the other side. Such a difference in comprehension may generate some confusion and misunderstanding of terms and expressions used by various ethnic and cultural communities that constitute one society in nations such as in Canada. Advertisement The word "religion" in the context of the Western contemporary societies that originated in Europe is more of a theological doctrine, while in some societies originating in other part of the world, it reflects cultural identity, rituals, conviction and social habits. Another clear example of such misconceptions can be demonstrated by the confusion about the nature of Muslims or Islamic schools across Canada. There is general belief that these institutions are religious educational bodies, and the kind of courses taught is based on Islamic theology. This is a false understanding. It is important to note that the majority of these schools are either don't or only partially receive subventions from provincial authorities. The fact is that the provincial governments grant permits to run the ordinary operations of these schools similar to any other public and private ones. Furthermore, Muslim schools follow official curricula. For example, in Quebec the class' programs contain 35 to 37 periods, including two to three sessions per week that may be considered of Islamic nature, such as reading the Quran, which is used to teach how to read Arabic and universal Islamic values and ethics. Advertisement On such a ratio, certainly schools can't be considered religious organizations. Muslim community schools are run by civic volunteers and not religious personnel. Muslim Canadians share other communities to establish the social fabric of the nation to the bounty of multiculturalism adopted in the 70s of the last century. "Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, can take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging" is a golden statement that supports the notion of community pride, equality of all citizens and love for Canada. Public/private and community schools, whether ones for the Muslim community or ones for others in our society, both share most of what the conventional education is all about. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook MORE ON HUFFPOST: Michael Grimm via Getty Images My search for authentic truffle recipes, not found on the Internet nor in cookbooks, brings me to some inspiring places. Here, in the heartland of truffle culture, in the Central Apennines, I knew I would find something special because this is the only place where truffles can be eaten fresh all year round. There are nine types of truffles indigenous to this mountain area and they are harvested at different times of the year. I ventured to Ascoli, to meet a chef of a restaurant, known for its use of fresh wild truffles. Famed as the most beautiful Renaissance city after Florence, it comes as no surprise that Ascoli abounds with stunning architecture. Ascoli's timelessness is heightened by the central area being traffic free, with no traces of tourism and sometimes with hardly any commerciality. When we passed along a street with the oldest shops - the bottega - nothing had changed outwardly except more contemporary signage. Advertisement 'Everyone stops to take photos here,' one of my Ascolani hosts commented. We were descending the hill on Via Pretoriana and the palaces on either side of the cobblestone walkway frame a view of mountains rising up from the river, encrusted in vines and olives with green-grey leaves on this Febuary day. The pedestrians were dressed in Brueghel type browns, black or grey creating timeless silhouettes, as though we were walking through a living museum. Ascoli has a particularly ancient lineage. While Tuscany was under Etruscan influence, Ascoli was inhabited by Greeks from the area of Crete, although the city existed long before their arrival. At this time the city was called Askilaioi, and the Ascolani today are their descendants, who later formed the Piceni tribe. The chef was surprisingly young. It is perhaps fitting that Riccardo lives in the mountains where truffles are particularly prevalent. Like many people here, he and his father have a truffle plantation. While he doesn't hunt truffles in the wild, many of his friends do and he's grown up in this truffle culture. 'To be honest,' Riccardo said, 'I wasn't amazing at school. But I'm good with my hands. When I first started working in a kitchen, I knew nothing. But I learned fast... In the beginning I wanted to be a cook so I could travel. I wanted to work and live in different places. That hasn't happened,' he laughs. 'It doesn't matter now. I'm happy here. About truffles, what do you know? Tell me everything you want to know.' One reason why few cooks in Ascoli use fresh truffles is because up-market restaurants like 'Desco' where Riccardo works only have a few covers at lunch and a modest number of clients in the evening. Partly this is a result of a small population, lack of tourism and a recession. Since fresh truffles should not be kept for much more than a week this presents difficulties. Advertisement 'Not everyone wants to eat truffles all the time,' the restaurant owner Nives relates. 'After we have spent over 100 Euro on a truffle, we often end up eating it ourselves. That's fine now and then, but it adds up. I can't keep them under oil because when a customer orders fresh truffles they want them fresh. Fresh! I've found storing them in a sealed, glass jar filled under uncooked rice works best.' This ingenious idea solves the problem of having to daily change the tissue or the napkin, which is always put in the sealed jar with the truffle to absorb moisture. The rice absorbs the moisture, covers the truffle, helping it retain its perfume. It may be kept for two weeks depending on how fresh the truffle is. Thereafter you cook your truffle-flavoured rice. Most restaurants, even in this area so famous for truffles, use truffle oil or truffle sauce made of chemicals designed to replicate the smell and taste of truffles. While these products dominate the Anglo-Saxon market because they are affordable and Anglo-Saxons are known to like a strong truffle sensation - it seems that now many Italians are becoming the same. Riccardo explained that since these sauces are everywhere people become accustomed to the artificially created taste. Real, fresh truffles are more delicate. People are sometimes disappointed. Riccardo has found a healthy solution. By combining indigenous truffles with indigenous porcini mushrooms, growing in the same mountain location, Riccardo creates a more pronounced sensation of truffle. It seems the porcini flavour makes a sonorous backdrop accentuating the taste of the truffle; usually the Black truffle (Tuber melanosporum). It makes it resonate in the mouth. Advertisement In this way they are able to use around 3gm of fresh truffle per serving and create a stronger truffle taste than if it were served in abundance without the porcini. Riccardo gives Canadians the recipe he invented (See below). Nives, the owner of Desco, believes wild truffles are the best. She considers them more pure and she wants mountain products. She explained they source all their vegetables from the mountains because of the pure quality of mountain water. She claims the quality of the water creates better tasting vegetables. When she eats a tomato she can taste if it is grown in the lowlands or the mountains. What about wines to accompany truffles? From the mountains and local, comes their reply. Riccardo is particularly keen on the Pecorino, an autochthonous wine from the Sibillini Mountains. This interesting and now prized white wine was saved from extinction allegedly due to the effort of one wine grower. In fact the last few surviving vines, used to create a new plantation, were found in a mountain village at the southern edge of the Monti Sibillini National Park. The only truffle Riccardo doesn't use is the Tuber aestivum var. uncinatum Chatin. It is not farmed in this part of Italy and the wild product can vary too much depending on what host tree it is found on, the type of earth, etc. Too often it may not be worth eating. It is fascinating to think this same truffle, the Tuber aestivum var. uncinatum Chatin, is considered highly desirable in France, where it is called the Burgundy truffle and cultivated in abundance. This is further evidence of how the taste of truffles is determined by the natural environment, more than other food products. Here's Riccardo's recipe for Tagliatelle Funghi e Tartufo, with my comments and adaptions in italics. He hopes you will love it. Buon appetito Canada! Advertisement PER 4 PERSONE - 400 g tagliatelle (home made) - or store bought - 100 g funghi porcini fresh - you may need to use dried porcini - 200 g fondo bruno - this is meat stock you will make for which you need 100g of meat, a carrot, celery and onion - 50 g parsley - 6 g tartufo nero pregiato (Tuber melanosporum) - 20 g butter PER LA CREMA DI CASTAGNE - 200 g chestnuts - 500 g milk METHOD Cut the mushrooms into small pieces and prepare as instructed if not fresh porcini. Make a meat stock (fry a piece of meat with celery, carrot and onion, then add the water (220g) and simmer for 2/3 hours). Prepare the chestnut cream by boiling the chestnuts in milk. After cooking the chestnuts till they are soft, blend the mixture with an electric mixer making it as smooth as possible, like a puree. Now lightly cook the mushrooms in a frying pay with some butter. Boil water in a pot and toss in the pasta. After two minutes remove the tagliatelle from water and put it into the pan with the cooked mushrooms. Now add your meat stock and the rest of the butter. In a separate pan heat the cream of chestnuts. Chop your parsley quickly. Serve on the plate, creating a bed with the chestnut cream and above it the pasta with the sauteed mushrooms. Finish with the black truffle shavings and a sprinkling of parsley. Follow HuffPost Canada Blogs on Facebook ALSO ON HUFFPOST: Jeremy Corbyn has said lecturers and university staff should be doing more to assist students seeking help for mental health problems. The Labour leader said that all too often young people were being let down by a lack of adequate, easy to access services which maintained discretion on campuses. Corbyn told a rally at Parliament on Wednesday evening: "Invest the money now, give the young people the support they need, they benefit, we as a society benefit." Advertisement Corbyn has said universities must do more on mental health (file picture) He continued: "Down the line it becomes worse and much, much more expensive. "We need to work with young people to stop mental health problems ever taking root. "But we need also to educate those that teach, those that run our schools, those that run our colleges, and those that run our universities." Corbyn regularly asks whether university mental health services are accessible and discreet Touching upon the unique experiences of students living with mental ill health, he said: "It's very difficult for any young person to say to their peers that they suffer from depression. It's notoriously difficult in universities. Advertisement "As I travel around the country I visit a lot of colleges and universities, I always ask them what therapies are available, what support is available, how accessible is it, how confidential is it, and how discreet is it?" Corbyn also hit out at the mainstream media, arguing its coverage of mental health rarely reflects the sheer scale of the problem. He said: "Only a quarter of the children who experience mental illness get the help they need. In the UK, 60,000 people take their own lives and of those a third have mental health problems. The number of lives lost is rising. "Have you read all that on the front pages of our national newspapers? Have you heard that on the mainstream media where it should be heard all the time?" Meanwhile, the number of students seeking support for mental ill health is rising. Writing on the Huffington Post UK, National Union of Students Vice-President Welfare Shelly Asquith has highlighted the growing need for well-funded mental health services. Advertisement She wrote: "The number of students seeking mental health support services is up by 132 per cent - services that are in many places undergoing cuts. A Tory MP shocked the House of Commons today after revealing that a Moroccan woman with a criminal record whose fight against deportation has been boosted by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) advocate general is the daughter-in-law of radical cleric Abu Hamza. Despite an order banning media from naming the woman, who is referred to as CS in court documents, MP Philip Davies used parliamentary privilege to reveal her identity. Advertisement Davies said: "This is a very serious matter and is something that this country and this House should be aware of." The woman has a British son and, in a preliminary opinion, the ECJ advocate general has ruled that European Union law means the UK cannot automatically deport her simply because she has a criminal record unless she is deemed to pose a "serious" threat to society. The opinion, which was given yesterday, states that deporting someone who is the sole carer for an EU national child is "in principle contrary to EU law", The Press Association reports. Advertisement Abu Hamza Raising a point of order in the House of Commons, Mr Davies called for an urgent statement from a Home Office minister on the matter. He said: "I'm very surprised that there isn't a statement today in the House. "You may have seen the reports in the newspapers yesterday that European judges have ruled that a foreign Moroccan criminal cannot be deported from the country despite the Home Office saying that she committed serious offences which threaten the values of society." Philip Davies said the woman known as 'CS' was Abu Hamza's daughter-in-law He went on: "Surely this is something that should be raised in this House, that the Home Office minister should be making a statement about today? "Have you had any indication that the Home Office intend to make any kind of statement about this issue?" Advertisement Replying, Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said: "I don't think I'm going to shock you by saying I've had absolutely no indication of anybody coming forward with a statement. "What I would say quite rightly as ever - you have raised it, it is on the record and I'm sure that people will be listening in different departments as we continue with this debate." The Guardian reported yesterday that the woman was jailed for attempting to smuggle a banned item, a mobile phone Sim card, during a prison visit. While serving the sentence, she was told that she was liable for deportation from the UK. The ECJ advocate general's opinion follows a request from judges in the Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) about the case. Advertisement In its press statement on the case, the ECJ said the UK had argued that ''CS's serious criminal offence represented an obvious threat to the preservation of that Member State's social cohesion and of the values of its society''. It added: ''The Advocate General considers that expulsion is, in principle, contrary to EU law but that, in exceptional circumstances, such a measure may be adopted, provided that it observes the principle of proportionality and is based on the conduct of the person concerned (conduct that must constitute a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society) and on imperative reasons relating to public security.'' The Advocate General's opinion is not binding on the ECJ and its judges will now deliberate and deliver a judgment at a later date. Armed police hunting a murder suspect boarded a train at Gillingham Station on Thursday and held it during their pursuit. Kent Police made "extensive searches" after officers discovered the body of Caroline Andrews, 52, at a property in The Street in Benenden, Kent, earlier on Thursday. A 54-year-old man was arrested on Friday afternoon. Advertisement Armed officers at Gillingham Station searching for the suspect As part of the investigation, armed police boarded the train on Thursday night in north Kent, The Press Association reports. The spokesman said a search was launched after officers were called about the woman's death earlier in the day, at 4.20pm. Armed officers held the train at Gillingham station from around 9pm for more than an hour-and-a-half. Advertisement Police aboard the train Officers on the platform Footage shows officers walking down the train carriage holding guns, with one distressed passenger demanding to be let off because he was claustrophobic. A policeman can be heard saying: "It is a very serious incident and we can't really say what it is about, but you can see we are taking it very seriously." Other travellers were reportedly not allowed on to the platform while the train was being searched. A post-mortem examination took place earlier today and the death is now being treated as a murder inquiry. The arrested man was located in the London area this afternoon and taken to hospital for treatment to injuries. Advertisement Neighbour Derek Catlin, 71, described the Andrews family as "normal, very pleasant people". He said: "I went out at about 4pm to the fish shop up the road, I came back but all was quiet, then the police arrived at about 4.30pm. "All I saw was an accumulation of police vehicles, probably three police cars and later a detective interviewed my wife and I. "I have been here for three years. We knew them as neighbours but I feel shock really, because there was nothing to make us think there was anything peculiar." He added: "They were very normal, very pleasant people. This makes us all feel very odd. The police say there is nothing to worry about. It's an extraordinary thing to happen on your doorstep." Advertisement A police car in the village Another local, Karen Callaghan, 49, said: "It's very sad for the village. Everyone knows everyone round here. The locals have been here a long time." A police cordon was in place outside the large property on a sprawling private estate opposite the village green. The scene is down the road from the exclusive Benenden School and off the village's main street. A potentially lifesaving "chemo bath" treatment is to become available to bowel cancer patients across England. The treatment is designed to be received by patients while they are undergoing surgery. Once the surgeon has removed as much cancerous tissue as possible from the patient's affected area, they fill the cavity with a heated chemotherapy liquid. According to a report from Sky News, the treatment has been found to cure 50% of patients with "certain types of the disease". Advertisement Previously, many of these patients would have only received palliative, end of life care. Professor Sarah O'Dwyer, a consultant cancer surgeon, told Sky News the treatment transforms the outlook for patients. "It eliminates cancer cells we can't see with the naked eye," she said. The treatment was pioneered at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and is currently also available at the Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. However, there are plans to extend the amount of places offering the treatment throughout 2016, with the hope that it will benefit around 300 patients each year. Advertisement The news comes after Cancer Research UK released new data showing that cancer death rates in the UK have fallen by 10% in the past 10 years. Commenting on the positive news, Sir Harpal Kumar, Cancer Research UKs chief executive, said innovative treatments are largely to thank. "Were increasing our efforts into key areas of research such as how to achieve earlier diagnosis, and how best to manage cancers which are currently hard to treat. Our scientists are developing new tests, surgical and radiotherapy techniques, and drugs," he said. "Its important to celebrate how much things have improved, but also to renew our commitment to saving the lives of more cancer patients. Together we can all do something to reduce the impact of this devastating disease." European Parliament President Martin Schulz speaks during a press conference with Iran's Parliament speaker Ali Larijani after their meeting in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) Ebrahim Noroozi/AP David Cameron has been warned the European Parliament could present a "serious roadblock" to his attempts to renegotiate Britain's membership of the EU Speaking at the London School of Economics today, Martin Schulz, the parliament's president, said the prime minister's hopes for an "emergency brake" on migration would be difficult for MEPs to swallow. Advertisement "The European Parliament needs to see its concerns addressed early on to avoid a serious roadblock later on when legislation will need to be debated and adopted in the European Parliament," he said. He added: "Solutions cannot come at the price of discriminating against EU citizens. This is a fundamental principle of our Union. "The European Parliament will support all proposals which fairly address real problems which may emerge from free movement - as long as they do not cause discrimination and undermine European values." Schulz also said renegotiated membership of the EU could be reversed after the referendum. He told Sky News: "Nothing in our life is irreversible. Legally binding decisions are also reversible." Advertisement The comment will be unhelpful to Cameron, who hopes his new deal for Britain, currently being negotiated with other EU leaders, will be enough to persuade the British public to vote to remain inside the union at the upcoming referendum. And the prime minister told a press conference in Denmark the deal would never be able to be reversed as it would require Britain to agree. "Theres no way we will agree to reverse it," he said. Schulz also told an audience at the London School of Economics that some European politicians in Brussels are reportedly so fed up with Britain's "continuous demands" they would be happy to see the UK leave the EU. The MEP said he wanted the UK to remain a member, but added: "I admit this quite frankly - that the British often test our patience and good will with their continuous demands. "They are demanding. They push hard. They insist. They just don't let go. Many of my colleagues say behind closed doors: 'Don't stop a rolling stone. If the Brits want to leave, let them leave'." Advertisement Schulz added: "I do not support this line that just because the UK can be frustrating it would be in our interest to let it go. I believe we need the UK to make the EU stronger and better." He also warned of the consequences for Britain of Brexit. "For the UK, leaving the EU would entail the risks of a second Scottish independence referendum, losing foreign investment and damaging London as a leading financial market place," he said. This morning a new poll revealed the prime minister's proposals for reforming the EU have failed to win over Britons with 45% intending to vote for the UK to leave. On Thursday evening a cabinet minister dropped a big hint that the European Union referendum will be held on June 23. Advertisement Energy secretary Amber Rudd told BBC Question Time the government hoped to hold the vote "at the end of June". BBC A cabinet minister has dropped a big hint that the European Union referendum will be held on June 23. Energy secretary Amber Rudd told BBC Question Time on Thursday evening the government hoped to hold the vote "at the end of June". Advertisement Earlier this week, David Cameron added to the speculation around the date after he said the referendum would not be held "within six weeks" of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland elections which take place on May 5. Rudd refused to be drawn on whether she would vote for Britain to leave or remain in the EU, telling Question Time presenter David Dimbleby it "depends how the next few weeks go" as the prime minister attempts to secure a new deal for the UK. "If we get an agreement in the February council we will have it at the end of June, we hope. We are not going to be rushed about timing, we want to get the best deal that we can," she said. Advertisement This morning a new poll revealed the prime minister's proposals for reforming the EU have failed to win over Britons with 45% intending to vote for the UK to leave. Support for Brexit has increased in the face of a package of measures that would change the UK's relationship with Brussels, a survey for The Times found. The poll was carried out in the two days after publication of the outline deal and found the number of voters wanting to quit had risen by three points on the previous week. Some 36% of voters want Britain to remain in the 28-strong bloc but nearly a fifth, 19%, are yet to decide or plan not to vote, the YouGov survey said. Advertisement Cameron has agreed to meet the heads of the political groups in the European Parliament on February 16, two days before the leaders' summit. But Cameron is facing a tough task at home as Eurosceptics in his party continue to heap criticism on the package. John Whittingdale has become the most senior figure in the party to suggest he is ready to campaign for Britain to quit since the proposals were put on the table on Tuesday. The culture secretary pointed to his track record of being "highly critical" of the way the 28-strong bloc is run as he refused to rule out backing a Brexit. He told The House magazine: "My position is that the prime minister is out there trying to negotiate the best deal he can for the country. Advertisement "I have a track record where I've been highly critical of the way the EU works and I have opposed measures for closer integration and it certainly needs reform. I hope the prime minister will get that agreement and then I'll look at it when he comes back with it." If you thought it was odd that Jeremy Clarkson hadnt even mentioned the fact that Matt LeBlanc has joined the Top Gear presenting team, it would seem that's because he's too busy being pulled over by the police. READ MORE: The former host of the BBC Two motoring show, who was famously sacked following a fracas with a producer last year, has shared a picture on Twitter which appears to show him after his car was stopped by police officers. Advertisement The snap showed a police car pulled up in front of a black motor, believed to be Jeremys. Sharing the photo on Twitter, he simply wrote: My night. Jeremy Clarkson The photo was posted on Thursday, hours after it was revealed that former Friends star Matt will join Chris Evans on the rebooted series of Top Gear later this year. Many fans couldnt get over the fact it meant Joey from Friends would be fronting the BBC Two motoring, but commenting on his new role Matt said: As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I'm honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic shows new chapter. What a thrill! Advertisement Matt LeBlanc will join Chris Evans on 'Top Gear' The US stars appointment marks the first time the show has ever had a non-British host in its 39-year history. He will join production of the new Top Gear immediately, with additional cast members to be confirmed shortly. Meanwhile, Jeremy and his former Top Gear co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May are busy recording their new Amazon Prime series, after signing a multi-million pound deal with the streaming service. Both shows are set to launch in May. 'Top Gear': The Best Bits See gallery WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has condemned the "insulting" British government response to the UN ruling that he is being "arbitrarily detained" by hiding in an embassy to avoid extradition over alleged sexual offences. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention panel called on Swedish and British authorities to end Assange's "deprivation of liberty" but the Foreign office said: "This changes nothing." Advertisement Foreign secretary Philip Hammond said the ruling was frankly ridiculous and flawed in law. He said the 44-year-old was hiding from justice". Assange speaks via video link Assange is wanted for questioning over an alleged sex offence in Sweden, which he denies, and is fighting against extradition. He has not left the Ecuadorian Embassy in Knightsbridge, west London, since June 2012. Speaking via video link from the embassy, Assange called this response "insulting". He added the UN decision was was a "vindication" and supposed wrongful detention was "now a matter of settled law". Advertisement After speaking for 10 minutes, Assange closed by saying: "I would like to say thank you, that I miss my family. That we have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face and I hope many others as well." The UK government has confirmed that it will formally contest the opinion of the UN panel. In a statement the Foreign Office said: "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion. Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas Convention, we do not recognise diplomatic asylum. We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end. Americas Minister Hugo Swire made this clear to the Ecuadorean Ambassador in November, and we continue to raise the matter in Quito. Advertisement Julian Assange has said he would hand himself in on Friday if the UN ruled against him A former WikiLeaks employee was among some to reject the statement that Assange is being "arbitrarily detained". James Ball said: "If this is the new standard of arbitrary detention, pretty much every country in the world would have to let out most of their prisoners" If this is the new standard of arbitrary detention, pretty much every country in the world would have to let out most of their prisoners James Ball (@jamesrbuk) February 5, 2016 While others followed suit: If someone is free to leave a property as they wish, and once outside expected to comply with the law, that is not 'arbitrary detention'. David Allen Green (@DavidAllenGreen) February 5, 2016 Advertisement The only person "arbitrarily detaining" Assange in an embassy was Assange.So presumably it's Assange who owes Assange compensation, right? Hadley Freeman (@HadleyFreeman) February 5, 2016 Sweden: "Mr #Assange is free to leave the Embassy at at any point. Thus, he is not being deprived of his liberty" esther addley (@estheraddley) February 5, 2016 Jessica Elgot, a reporter for The Guardian, said that one member of the UN working group disagreed with his colleagues on Assange. One member of the UN working group, Vladimir Tochilovsky, disagreed with his colleagues on Assange. This is his take pic.twitter.com/s9Zwaeoi00 Jessica Elgot (@jessicaelgot) February 5, 2016 Assange is due to take part in a news conference after the UN panel's decision. He believes he will be transported to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited to Sweden. There is an espionage case against him in the US. Advertisement He filed a complaint against Sweden and the UK in September 2014 which has been considered by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The group of legal experts has made previous rulings on whether imprisonment or detention is lawful, which have led to people being released but Swedish prosecutors said the ruling will have no impact on its investigation, while the UK Government will argue that it is an opinion rather than a legally binding decision. Assange had said he would hand himself over to police for arrest on Friday if the UN group ruled that he had not been unlawfully detained. The Metropolitan Police have said they will make "every effort" to arrest the WikiLeaks founder should he leave the embassy. Police have ended a 24 hour guard outside the embassy, but the building remains under covert surveillance. Advertisement A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The operation to arrest Julian Assange does however continue and should he leave the embassy the MPS will make every effort to arrest him." A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy." An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden." A Downing Street spokesman declined to comment on leaks of the UN panel's reported finding, saying the Government would not respond until its official publication.But he added that the findings will not be "legally binding". The lone dissenter on the UN group that held Julian Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" blamed the WikiLeaks founder for his predicament and said the group should not even have considered the case. Assange has welcomed the ruling by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, calling it a "vindication" that should compel Britain and Sweden to stop pursuing him over an allegation of rape. He has hidden from extradition in the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightsbridge for three-and-a-half-years. Advertisement Of the group's five members, one recused herself and another, Ukrainian international law expert Vladimir Tochilovsky, vehemently disagreed with the others. Julian Assange and Vladimir Tochilovsky Tochilovsky, the longest-serving member of the group, said his colleagues were "assuming" that Assange's prolonged embassy stay was due to him being detained by British authorities. "In fact, Mr Assange fled bail in June 2012 and then stays at the premises of the embassy, using them as a safe haven to evade arrest," he wrote. Advertisement He even said the case went beyond the working group's remit because it had previously ruled it should not consider "situations that do not involve deprivation of liberty". This meant Assange's "self-confinement" was a matter for an another, "appropriate" UN body or The European Court on Human Rights. He said any application by Assange to these bodies could be declared inadmissible because the working group had already reviewed his case. "[The ruling] raises serious questions as to the scope of the mandate of the working group," he wrote. He also disagreed with the panel's finding that Assange's time on police bail in Britain, before he entered the embassy, amounted to arbitrary detention. While Assange challenged his extradition through the courts, he lived at the East Anglia country mansion of his friend Vaughan Smith, during which time his bail conditions required he regularly report to police and stay in the mansion overnight. In his dissent, Tochilovsky wrote: "Mr Assange was allowed to leave the mansion where he was supposed to reside while litigating against extradition in the courts of the United Kingdom. "As soon as his last application was dismissed by the Supreme Court in June 2012, Mr Assange fled the bail." The ruling that Assange was arbitrarily detained was agreed by three of the group's members, South Korea's Seong-Phil Hong, Mexico's Jose Guevara and Benin's Setondji Adjovi. They said Assange had suffered "continued deprivation of liberty that had been conducted in breach of the principles of reasonableness, necessity and proportionality". Advertisement The WikiLeaks Twitter account, which many believe is run by Assange himself , tweeted "a prosecutor from Ukraine" was the lone opinion. The lone dissenting opinion in the UN Assange judgement is a prosecutor from Ukraine. WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) February 5, 2016 Journalist Anshel Pferrer replied: A country which unlike @wikileaks has refused to be dominated by Putin's Russia https://t.co/uELrOL7uVv Anshel Pfeffer (@AnshelPfeffer) February 5, 2016 Dominic Grieve, human rights lawyer and former attorney general, said he found the UN group's opinion "very strange". He told Radio Four's World At One that Assange's 550 days under "house arrest" was simply police bail conditions and he spent the time in a "rather large house". Advertisement "The reason why this lasted 550 days was he spent those days challenging the extradition all the way to the Supreme Court," Grieve added. "That's what it actually too so long. It's rather difficult to conclude that there was anything arbitrary about this process." He also queried the group's conclusion that the European Arrest Warrant was unlawful because the UK has subsequently changed the law on such warrants. He told the programme: "That's something his lawyers could seek to get further review in our courts. I don't think it would get very far but it's something he could do. People queue at an entrance to Oxford Circus station, London, as workers try to get home before a strike by Underground workers closes the capital's entire Tube system. John Stillwell/PA Archive Commuters are set to face seven more days of travel chaos in the coming months, as one of London's biggest rail unions announced plans for a fresh wave of strikes. RMT workers will stage the series of full-scale walkouts over "lethal" safety issues, with the first strike to hit Londoners as early as next week. Advertisement Union members have threatened action that will run for 24 hours rom 6:30am next Friday. There will then be subsequent stoppages running up to June, with a total of seven separate strikes planned. RMT general secretary Mick Cash blamed transport bosses for forcing the strikes on Londoners. Scheduled Strike Dates: Friday February 12 Sunday March 6 Friday March 25 Sunday March 27 Sunday April 24 Sunday May 15 Sunday June 12 "Nobody should dare to underestimate the severe impact on track safety that the changes bulldozed through by London Underground have unleashed and which have forced our members to take a prolonged period of industrial action to protect both themselves and their colleagues," he said. "From a situation where everyone knew how to access the track, we now have anarchy and uncertainty. Into this mix we have engineering train movements that we believe will lead to someone being killed and this union will not sit back and wait for a disaster to happen. Advertisement "These ill-conceived and lethal changes to track access must be reversed. RMT remains available for talks." Story continues below How The Media Covered The Tube Strike (LIST) See gallery Steve Griffiths, chief operating officer at London Underground, retorted that extensive discussions with both workers and their unions were already underway over the changes, and maintained safety remained their highest concern. "Talks are already planned with the RMT union next week at Acas to resolve this issue," he said. "Safety is always our top priority and we have robust and comprehensive procedures in place to ensure that any staff working on the track are kept safe and are aware of any train movements. "We have talked to our trade unions extensively about the changes we have made to track access for engineering work and will continue these discussions next week." Advertisement Young adult with an adhesive tape over her mouth ilyast via Getty Images A free speech society, set up at a London university to challenge the growing trend of censorships and "safe spaces", is facing being banned. The Speakeasy society, set up little more than a week ago by LSE students Charlie Parker, Chiara Cappellini and Christian Benson, hopes to challenge the "problem" of student unions banning speakers and objects in case students are offended. Advertisement "Our society is emerging from this growing sense of censorship that seems to be a problem on loads of campuses in universities across the country," Parker previously told the Evening Standard. Ironically, the society itself is now under threat of being banned. A motion submitted by another LSE student to have the group barred means students have the opportunity to vote on it. The vote, which will take place in a few weeks' time at the LSE students' union's (LSESU) general meeting, will decide the fate of the society. Writing for LSE's student paper, the Beaver, Maurice Banerjee Palmer said: "Well to be honest, I dont really want to ban the Speakeasy/ Free Speech society. But I want to make a point; that, and it would be hilarious if the anti-ban society was actually banned. Advertisement "Firstly, they are ill-informed. At best Speakeasy/Free Speech seems to be naive to the limits on freedom of expression. At worst they pretty much endorse hate speech (which is illegal). "Secondly, they are self-important." On banning the anti-ban society - both sides of the debate in @beaveronline this week https://t.co/qKvPQSLJhlpic.twitter.com/CKVjheZtYR LSE Students' Union (@lsesu) February 4, 2016 Speakeasy outreach officer Connor Naylor told spiked: "We first heard about the motion to ban the Speakeasy in a Facebook thread but we really thought it was just a joke or a clever bit of irony. "If anything, its only strengthened us, and our support as well." Charlie Parker, president of the society, added: "Obviously, its a ludicrous motion, but the fact that there is a motion to ban our society, after just over a week of its existence and before weve even held an event, proves the need for this group better than we ever could." Advertisement A statement from LSESU, posted on Tumblr, read: "There has been some recent coverage concerning a forthcoming motion to be debated at the UGM about whether we should ban the recently approved Free Speech Society. As is the case with all motions like this, any student is able to put a motion forward and all students are able to vote on it. ABC "Surprise! I'm still alive!" These are the words Noela Rukundo never thought she would have to say. Five days earlier, Noela had been visiting her native Burundi from Australia when she was taken by a group of masked men, who said her husband had ordered her death. Tied to a chair in a rural warehouse, Noela recalls the moment she heard her husband's voice echoing from one of the men's mobile phones. Advertisement "Kill her," Noela recalls him saying. "I heard his voice. I heard him. I felt like my head was going to blow up." At that point she passed out. Noela Rukundo moved to Australia in 2004 Noela's story is an extraordinary one, and one which has captivated people across the world since it came to light last year. Speaking to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in December, Noela spoke of her ordeal and the subsequent trial and sentencing of her husband Belenga Kalala, 39, for nine years for his part in attempting to have her killed. Advertisement Her ordeal began when she left her hotel in Bujumbura. She told ABC: "A man, when he come close to me [I see] he have a gun." "He pointed it at me and then he said 'see that car there? Go slowly by yourself and enter the car'." After being blindfolded she was taken to an unknown building and tied to a chair. "I hear the men and they said 'you woman, what did you do for this man to pay us to kill you?' "I said, 'What are you talking about?' "The boss says 'Balenga sent us to kill you'. I say 'You lie. My husband can't send anyone to kill me.' They laughed and said 'You're a fool, you're stupid'," she recounted being told to listen to a phone conversation confirming the hit. "I fainted because I heard his voice." Advertisement Belenga (right) and Noela (left) on their wedding day After coming to, Noela realised that she was still alive and that the men might not carry out her murder. "I said to myself, I was already dead. Nothing I can do can save me," she told the BBC on Thursday. "But he looks at me and then he says, 'We're not going to kill you. We don't kill women and children.' "He told me I'd been stupid because my husband paid them the deposit in November. And when I went to Africa it was January. He asked me, 'How stupid can you be, from November, you can't see that something is wrong?'" Noela had been staying in Bujumbura, Burundi Meanwhile, back at the hotel, Noela's concerned brother contacted her husband in Australia and asked him to send money to aid a police investigation into her disappearance. He agreed. Advertisement She was eventually freed by the men after around two days in captivity. They had held up the pretense that Noela had been killed to her husband - she claims they were even able to extract even more money from them, on the promise of covering up the killing. "'We give you 80 hours to leave this country,'" Noela told the BBC the gang told her. "'Your husband is serious. Maybe we can spare your life, but other people, they're not going to do the same thing. If God helps you, you'll get to Australia.'" Noela returned to Melbourne to confront her husband Three days later, on 22 February 2015, Noela was back in Australia, close to her home in Melbourne. She quickly learned through a trusted local pastor that her husband had declared her death to the community - even soliciting donations and organising a memorial service. In the knowledge her death was very real to her husband, Noela staked out her own sham funeral to deliver the perfect revenge. Advertisement Spotting her husband among the crowd of mourners, Noela bravely walk towards him. Is it my eyes? she recalls her husband saying, is it a ghost? Balenga Kalala arrives at the Melbourne Supreme Court for sentencing Noela continues to suffer nightmares and has since been ostracised by many in Melbourne's African immigrant community, painting a somewhat bleak picture for her - and her eight children's - future in the country. Speaking after his conviction and sentencing, she has issued a remarkably inspiring message, despite the horrific situation. "But I will stand up like a strong woman," she told the BBC. An irate audience member on BBC's Question Time has slammed Conservative minister Amber Rudd and other Tory MPs, who are supposedly backing a Brexit from the EU, for staying silent on the issue. The Yorkshire woman labelled the Energy Secretary a "Eurosceptic" who would "rather look after her own interests than actually come out and lose her cabinet position." Advertisement The comment during the show, shot in Bradford, comes amid David Cameron's ruling that ministers are not allowed to speak out against the EU until a renegotiation deal is secured in a fortnight's time. Audience member (left) slams Amber Rudd (right) "David Cameron knows she (Rudd) hasn't done enough. That's why he is gagging his cabinet ministers from saying what they really think," the unnamed woman said. "Reportedly, Amber Rudd, you're a Eurosceptic and what really disappoints me is that people like you would rather look after your own interests than actually come out and lose your cabinet position because he's threatened to sack you. And that isn't good enough unfortunately," the audience member said. Advertisement In response Rudd said she is yet to decide how to vote, continuing: "I would say that it's perfectly reasonable for the whole cabinet to support the Prime Minister in getting the best negotiation possible. "Whether there are people who still think they'd prefer to be out, they still support the fact we have the referendum they want the British [people] to have the best choice. "And the best choice is going to be the best negotiation we could have or out. You wouldn't want a worse negotiation or out, you would want to have the best so that's the cabinet support it." Rudd also dropped a big hint that the European Union referendum will be held on June 23. The Energy secretary said the government hoped to hold the vote "at the end of June". Earlier this week, David Cameron added to the speculation around the date after he said the referendum would not be held "within six weeks" of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland elections which take place on May 5. Advertisement The Prime Minister has recently revealed he would vote to stay in the EU under the proposed deal and repeatedly said he will urge Britons to back membership if there is sufficient reform. The five things you need to know on Friday February 5, 2016 1) POLE POSITION As part of his mammoth bid to win more EU Air Miles than any other PM in history, David Cameron has landed in Poland. He has fresh talks with PM Beata Szydo, before heading off to Denmark later. Advertisement The chat with the Poles wont be as easy as the one with the Danes but No.10 sounds confident Warsaw can come on board. Szydlo caused Cameron some problems at their last live press conference, pointing out how she didnt want any Poles in the UK to be discriminated against by curbs on migrant benefit. She may again play to her home audience today, but the FCO is confident the Poles want to stop their own brain drain of top talent, while defending freedom of movement. Syzdlo tells the Times the Tusk plan doesnt make me happy and "the proposals as they stand are not good enough. EU sources have also told the BBC the draft deal is causing angst among many EU leaders now they've seen the detail. But is that all part of the choreographed row? On Question Time last night, Amber Rudd became the latest Cabinet minister to strongly suggest a June date for the referendum. Lord Lawson in the Lords debate however marked his first appearance since heading the Vote Leave campaign by dismissing Daves Deal as inconsequential scraps. The House magazine has an excellent scoop with Culture Secretary John Whittingdale refusing to rule out campaigning for Brexit. The Sun has its own exclusive that Cameron dumped plans for a cap on EU migrants after polling found the voters didnt trust the idea. A source close to the PM said: We tested a migration cap. The public hate the idea of any number coming in - any number at all is too big for them, so we would have got no credit for it. More worrying for No.10 should be the ECJ ruling yesterday that suggested any change to EU directives would not stop a migrant criminal - known as CS - from using her human right to a family life to stay in the UK (she has a son here). Advertisement As for the backbench Eurosceptics, they had another muted day in the Commons and there was fresh evidence of a lack of joined-up action. John Barons motion didnt even have a vote because there were no tellers around, much to the Speaker's surprise. Julian Lewis, who should have been present, was heard to say oh well, too late. 2) POLL POSITION The Times/YouGov poll has made waves with its 9-point lead for the Leave campaign in the EU referendum (45% Leave, 36% Remain, 19% Dont Know). Of course, everyone treats polls these days with a tonne of salt and plenty other surveys have given the Remain camp its own lead of late. But it does point up once again why Stuart Rose is not just any In campaigner, hes an M&S In campaigner - and not in a good way. Proving that he lacks a politicians eye for an elephant trap, he told the Press Gallery yesterday that he expected Brits to vote to stay in the EU by a substantial margin. Cue Nigel Farage accusing him of stupendous arrogance. As for polls, the Express prompted ridicule online last night with its splash that 92% Want To Quit The EU. The figure came from its own online poll of its readers. Even UKIP Tweeted (since deleted) that the splash was stupid, damages credibility of the whole movement. Blimey. The Times and Guardian report more infighting in the Brexit camp. And its Dom Cummings, Michael Goves ex-spad (whose loathing of David Cameron is heartily mutual) who is again in the thick of it. Labours Kate Hoey has quit the group amid claims from former chairman (and Labour donor) John Mills that Cummings was generating more and more ill feelingentirely unnecessarily. Advertisement On the BBCs Question Time last night, Shabana Mahmood (who recently replaced Steve Rotheram as the PLPs backbench member of the NEC) seized on UKIP deputy Paul Nuttalls insistence that his party have a heart and wont deport all migrants. 3) GOT CARTER Labour peer Lord Carters report is out and it underlines the huge challenges the NHS has in hitting the Governments target of 22bn efficiency savings by 2021. Carter, as expected, says 5bn alone could be saved in the hospital sector through smarter working and procurement. But the Mirror splashes on the finding that bed-blocking is costing 900m a year, and the paper repeats Labours charge that the main reason is Tory cuts to social care. The Health Service Journal has an interview with Carter in which he says hospitals must take more responsibility for post-discharge services. The Times reports NHS chiefs saying extra staffing levels are now taking second place to balancing their books. And the Guardian has possibly the best political story: Jeremy Hunt may need an emergency injection of extra money so the NHS can pay its bills between now and the end of next month. Meanwhile, the HSJ also revealed that the DH is cutting 650 jobs, and moving its staff from three sites into one building in London. Vacating Richmond House would certainly free it up for Parliaments relocation and the creation of a temporary Commons chamber, as first revealed on HuffPost. Advertisement BECAUSE YOUVE READ THIS FAR Watch this woman driver pull over a cop for HIS speeding. 4) SHEFFIELD STEEL Former miner and council veteran Harry Harpham sadly died yesterday from cancer, aged 61. Tributes flowed in from Tom Watson and other MPs on Twitter. But in the rough old world of modern politics, already talk has started about the by-election. His Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough seat had a 13,000 majority last May and Labour should retain it. UKIP will fancy their chances as the by-election now looks likely to take place in the middle of the EU referendum campaign, and Farages party may see it as a proxy for the referendum. The battle for the Labour nomination will be interesting, with some left-wing ex-MPs close to Jeremy Corbyn keen to make a swift return to Parliament. 5) NO MEANS NO The Julian Assanges circus may continue today, although No.10 made clear to us yesterday that if he stepped outside the Ecuador embassy hed be nicked and face extradition to face a rape charge in Sweden. Parliament yesterday took a firm stand against sexual violence against women. First we had the urgent question condemning pro-rape blogger Roosh V (he says rape should be legalised if it is on private property). MPs, including minister Karen Bradley, suggested the Americans stance was an attention seeking move designed to compensate for the size of his manhood. In the Westminster Hall debate later on the wider issue, Jess Philips revealed how she had been assaulted as a teenager. Perhaps her critics will cut her a bit more slack over her remarks on women who faced sexual baiting on Broad Street. Advertisement COMMONS PEOPLE Our latest CommonsPeople podcast is out HERE. Ken Clarke tells us that IDS will still back Brexit even if David Cameron returned from Brussels with a statue in gold - of IDS. Plus chat on womens pensions, lifestyle choice of benefits and our usual Quiz of The Week. This week Johnny Foreigner or Johnny English?, see if you can guess which EU countries have most British expats on welfare. If youre reading this on the web, sign-up HERE to get the WaughZone delivered to your inbox. Former Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan is set to join Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc on Top Gear, according to reports. READ MORE: The racing fanatic is expected to sign a contract to appear as the pairs co-host in the next few days, with sources telling RadioTimes.Com that is it as good as a done deal. Advertisement Eddie Jordan The 67-year-old, who was the founder and owner of Jordan Grand Prix from 1991 to 2005, is no stranger to being on camera, has he acted as the lead analyst on the BBCs F1 coverage from 2009 to 2015. Producers are hoping that Eddie will bring this level of knowledge to the show when it returns to BBC Two in May. It was announced that former Friends star Matt was joining the presenting team on hit motoring show on Thursday (4 February), which came as a shock to fans, who couldnt get over the fact it meant Joey from Friends would be hosting the show. Advertisement Matt LeBlanc will join Chris Evans on 'Top Gear' He has since called in Chris Evans Radio 2 Breakfast Show to discuss the new series, admitting he was amazed by the reaction to his appointment. "I knew Top Gear was a big show," he said. "But, wow, I was on the front page of the New York Times. "There was so much I couldn't read it all. "Thanks to Top Gear and the BBC, my day has been ducking paparazzi all day long." Ex-Formula One driver David Coulthard was also said to be part of the new line-up, but quit before the show even made it to air, choosing to front Channel 4s F1 coverage instead, after they poached the rights from the BBC. Advertisement Meanwhile, Jeremy, Richard and James are busy recording their new Amazon Prime series, after signing a multi-million pound deal with the streaming service. Both shows are set to launch in May. On Saturday evening, heavyweights Donald Trump and Ted Cruz will be throwing haymakers. The businessman and Texas senator, frontrunners for the Republican presidential nomination, have spent the days since Monday's Iowa caucuses circling each other in the playground, waiting for the first punch. At the ABC News debate in Manchester, N.H. (the eighth Republican debate so far), the pair will come out swinging at the final debate before the primary. Pulled into conflict by the gravity of the political process, last years unconvincing truce morphed into a cold war in January with Cruzs rising poll numbers. Advertisement Trump and Cruz at the Fox Business Network debate at the North Charleston Coliseum, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, in North Charleston, S.C Cruzs surprise victory in Iowa, accompanied by some nasty accusations of voter fraud, has made conflict this weekend inevitable. Trump is irked that people working for the Cruz campaign erroneously told caucus-goers that retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, God-fearing nectar to the states evangelicals, was exiting the race. Carson was not, but Trump contends with some justification that enough voters may have been taken in by the ruse to skew the result. Cruz, for his part, apologised to Carson before accusing the 69-year-old reality TV star of throwing a Trumpertantrum. Advertisement Hes losing it, said Cruz said on TV, before suggesting that a President Trump might nuke Denmark in a fit of pique. Expect Cruzs Canadian birth and Trumps inability to offer a coherent policy position beyond building a brick partition with Mexico to feature heavily in the firestorm. Yet Saturdays rumble isnt just a one-on-one. Florida Senator Marco Rubios third place showing in Iowa has given the GOP candidates beyond the Cruz-Trump axis a clear target. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie set the anti-Rubio tone this week, repeatedly calling him the boy in the bubble. The insinuation is that the Florida senator can't go beyond his stock speech and memorised debate answers. Bush, Rubio's former ally, has joined the attack. Campaign wisdom suggests that only one candidate will emerge from the outsider feud of Cruz-Trump, leaving an opening for one establishment candidate to mount a challenge. Rubio currently has the momentum, meaning Christie, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich will all be trying to bring him down. Carson no doubt will look on giggling. Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief and the only woman in the GOP lineup, did not make the debate cut, according to ABC News criteria. Unlike previous offerings, Saturdays event will not have an undercard debate after Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee dropped out of the race this week. The debate, which starts at 8pm EST/1am GMT, will be available via ABC News. Iowa Caucuses 2016 See gallery A woman claims her face turned as green as the 'Incredible Hulk' after using a bottle of tanning mousse. Kirsty Reeves beauty blunder was so severe her dad nicknamed her Princess Fiona, after the ogre character from the Shrek movies. The horrified fake tan fan said the bright green colour took days to fade and she was unable to leave to house until her face returned to normal. Advertisement The 27-year-olds unhappily ever after began when she sent boyfriend Ty to get her a bottle of the popular San Tropez dark mousse. According to the couple, Ty went to the Boots store, at Tollgate, in Stanway, Essex, and when the product was not on the shelf, he asked a worker who got a can from the stock room. Bur after using it Kirstys face suddenly turned an unbecoming shade of green and she was so mortified she refused to leave her home, in West Bergholt. Advertisement Kirsty, 27, said: "I put it on for the first time and it is usually tinged a bit green because it has a green undertone to it. I left it for about 45 minutes as usual but it was getting greener and greener. I only put it on the bits you are going to see. I thought it wasnt going well and it didn't come off. "I rang my friend, who is a beauty therapist, and sent her a picture. She said it looked like the tan had got air in it." Kirsty, who has used the 33 product before, said she frantically tried to remove the green colour with a standard makeup wipe. But the colour refused to budge and it was three days before her face returned to its normal colour. Even after the green shade had faded she was left with a large angry red mark on her face. Advertisement Kirsty claims she has only been offered a 15 voucher which she says is an insult after her ordeal. She said: "Im on a zero-hours contract, but there was no way I could go to work. I didnt go out. I was horrified. I knew I didnt have an allergic reaction. I knew it was the product." She said: "My dad was calling me Hulk and Princess Fiona." Kirsty visited the store with the product, pictures of her green face, and a bank statement to show proof of purchase. She said the manager filled out a complaints form to send to head office. After chasing the complaint, she was told it had never arrived and she was advised to contact the manufacturer directly. She said: "The manufacturer said when you put the product with oxygen it changes colour. "They said more than likely whats happened is it hasnt been stored properly. Boots keeps saying it cant do anything because it is the product and have only offered me a 15 voucher. "No one is taking responsibility. That's whats really annoying." A Boots UK spokesman said: "We are very sorry to hear about our customers experience. The quality of the products we sell is of utmost important to us and we will investigate this matter further with the supplier." The manufacturer of St. Tropez was contacted for comment by Cascade News, but did not respond. In a statement given to The Huffington Post UK a spokesperson from St. Tropez said: "St. Tropez has identified some isolated quality issues with a small quantity of St.Tropez Self Tan Dark Bronzing Mousse in products manufactured over two years ago. "The guide colour of some tanning products containing higher levels of DHA such as the Dark Bronzing Mousse have a tendency to go green when they get warm. This is because increased levels of DHA in heat can cause the red dye to leach from the guide colour so that it looks green instead of brown. "Brown is made when you combine three primary colours, yellow, blue and red. When the red drops out you are left with a green guide colour. We recommend that all tanning products containing high levels of DHA are stored below 30 degrees (as indicated on pack). Advertisement "We advise any customers who find their St. Tropez product has discoloured before use to call our customer service team: 020 7845 6330." A non-Muslim friend of mine texted me on Sunday morning with the following: "Interesting that you're not on Nicky Campbell's show this morning. Lots of people. Lots of differing opinions. Was interesting for the first half an hour and then descended into chaos and I switched it off." I decided to check the debate on the iPlayer. After watching it I am so glad I didn't take part. It was not a debate but a shameful fracas between many Muslims. I had been invited to take part on the BBC Sunday Morning Live debate entitled "The British Islam" but due to prior engagements I declined the offer. There was a lot of heat in that shambolic debate but very little light for the viewers at home. Many of our non-Muslim friends who switched on to the show to learn what British Islam would or could look like were left aghast by the sheer belligerence of the participants. The Muslim experts gathered from a wide variety of life were only engaged in deconstructing each other's arguments and not providing the imperative answer to the question posed: "Is there, could there or should there be a British Islam?" If yes, what would it look like, and if not what form of Islam would British Muslims be practicing? Advertisement Upon watching the debate one could place the Muslim experts into three distinct camps: revisionist, traditionalist and rejectionist. The British Islam "debate" was dominated by the rejectionists. Their main proposal was that the traditional reading of Islam must be rejected and a more secular version be adopted by all Muslims. They were proposing that Islam must be rewritten and altered. That Islam must drop its objection to homosexuality as it violated the modern notion of equality and human rights, that it must reject Hadith (the written traditions of the blessed Prophet) as it was the main obstacle towards secularization of Islam and that Muslims must accept that religion is a private matter and should only be confined to people's personal and private choices. In other words Islam - or any other religion - should never have any space in the public domain. The problem with the rejectionist proposition is that they wish to throw out the baby with the bath water. You cannot cherry pick aspects of Islam. It appeared during the debate that they were interested only in embracing those aspects of Islam that suits them and rejecting those they disagreed with. I am afraid the Quran is emphatic about acceptance of all aspects of Islam. The Islamic equation is all or nothing. Either you are a Muslim or you are not. Let me cite two specific verses to illustrate what the Quran actually says: 1."Do you, then, believe in some parts of the divine writ and deny the truth of other parts? What, then, could be the reward of those among you who do such things but ignominy in the life of this world and, on the Day of Resurrection, commitment to most grievous suffering? For God is not unmindful of what you do." (Quran Chapter 2: verse 85) Advertisement 2."O you who have attained to faith! Surrender yourselves wholly unto God, and follow not Satan's footsteps, for, verily, he is your open foe." (Quran 2:208) The vast majority of Muslims from all walks of life would immediately find the rejectionist assertion of Islam totally devoid of any authenticity, credibility and truth. They may believe in this model - and they are entitled to their views - but that is not an Islamic model under any authentic interpretation, and Muslims would never accept this. Secularisation of Islam, while it may sound enlightening and romantic to some people, would be the death knell of Islam as a religion of absolutely clear creed, worship, morality and practices. The traditionalists in the debate kept reacting to the accusations levied against them by the rejectionists. They spent a lot of time explaining their own position and failing to articulate their understanding of the traditional vision of Islam. Their modus operandi during the entire debate was to defend Islam. They came across as the victims, not the visionaries. Traditional Islam was clearly marked by the woman wearing a niqab and the imam wearing Pakistani cultural clothes. This produced an immediate cultural and visual alienation between the British non-Muslim viewers and the traditionalists. It was hardly a recipe for providing the vision that was going to captivate the hearts and minds of the masses. British Islam was served a severe blow. There was a lot of confusion too. It was interesting that one of the proponents of secular Islam was addressing the Imam in the traditional address as "Imam Saab" which is more akin to the way Imams are addressed in the sub-continent by the masses showing their religious reverence and undertone. As a secular person who was promoting secular Islam, surely she should have secularised even the way an Imam is addressed. There lies the real problem in that debate: confusion compounded by ignorance and ego. The revisionists didn't even get a chance to appear on the screen. Maybe they were not invited or were not given an opportunity to speak or were simply drowned out by the dogfight between rejectionists and traditionalists. I was very disappointed at the Muslim participants for being so unenlightening and promoting such a tunnel vision for Islam in the UK. My wife remarked that the real winner in the debate was Nicky Campbell, because he was able to facilitate the debate without it descending into a fistfight. I thought Nicky appeared more Islamic than most Muslims there! Advertisement There is a whole science in Islamic tradition called "ethics of disagreement", which requires respect, honour, tolerance, humility and acceptance. The most important principle of this science is accepting the possibility that I may be wrong and the other person may be right. I believe the Muslim experts who were invited to this programme miserably failed to follow some of the cardinal principles of ethics of disagreement. It is important to note that ethics of disagreement is embedded in British values and British Muslims must embrace them. The question about British mosques was discussed rather frivolously. British mosques can be with or without minarets just like British churches can be with or without steeples; they do not have sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or gender exclusion orders; it is open to all people who are willing to respect it as a place of worship. Mosque is not a private property of any individual and it is called the house of God, therefore anyone who entres the mosque becomes a guest of God. This should be a contentious issue for British Islam at all. The question about British Islam dominates much of the current discourse and it needs a robust response. It needs an articulated vision that would be inclusive of the currents realities and context of the world around us while remaining true to the original teachings of Islam. I do not subscribe to the narrow prism of the traditionalist depiction of Islam confined to a set of dogmas and outward displays; at the same time I wholeheartedly refute the rejectionist agenda for Islam, which is all about bending the rules and not mending their erroneous ways. I subscribe to Islam that I find in the readings of the Quran and the life of the blessed Prophet, which includes a very simple yet most profound philosophy of life. This vision of Islam is universal - whether you live in Sydney or California, Iceland or South Africa, your Islam will always remain the same. Islam is about managing two relationships. One is our relationship with the creator of the universe: God as One, Absolute, does not have parents or children and there is nothing like God. The other is our relationship with each other. It proposes a lifestyle and interpersonal relationship that is based on balance, justice, excellence, compassion, forgiveness, love and tolerance. It places moral responsibility on each and every human being that they should stand against all sorts of evil including shamelessness, lewdness, malevolence, criminality and transgression. Islam encourages people to be conscious of their presence and purpose in life; it reminds them of their duties, rouses them to be conscientious in every aspect of life, to remain responsible for their actions and propounds the certainty of the life of the hereafter. Advertisement Islam proposes a higher purpose in life, not mere material pursuits. British Islam, just like Islam in any other country, would encourage the same. It would inspire people to enjoy the freedom that life offers, to create a society based on rule of law, to work towards democratic governance, equitable distribution of wealth, care for the vulnerable and universal social responsibilities. This vision of Islam is applicable wherever you live. You can be Australian, American, British, French, Dutch or any other nationality. Your Islam and your local identity should not clash. There is no conflict between your local roots and universal Islamic values. The bottom line is this: if you want to call yourself a Muslim there are rules you have to accept and abide by. If you do not want to be a Muslim then you are free to be that, as stated in the Quran: "let there be no coercion in religion". So if somebody wishes to be a Muslim consciously, why force him or her to change? Any attempt to change the essence of Islam will be counter productive and will never win the support of the majority of Muslims. Despite what you may have read in the Sun, the Daily Mail or the Telegraph recently, "barmy" eurocrats are not trying to ban the good old British paper round. The truth behind this story is quite different, and a bit more complicated. Bear with me. Back in 1961, the UK voluntarily signed up to the European Social Charter, a legally-binding international treaty overseen by the 47-nation Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The charter sets out various economic and social rights that people should have in areas such as employment, education and healthcare - in other words, as they go about their daily lives. Advertisement The signatory countries tasked the European Committee of Social Rights with monitoring how well they put the charter into practice. The committee is made up of 15 independent judges, professors and other legal experts from across the continent. Its members are elected by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers. One way the committee checks that countries are sticking to the standards they set themselves is by publishing annual "conclusions" focusing on the implementation of different articles of the charter. It does this on the basis of reports provided by the national authorities, as well as information from NGOs, trade unions and other sources. Advertisement The latest set of annual conclusions - covering 31 different countries and focusing on the social rights of children, families and migrants - were published at the end of January. The committee found that the UK was meeting its commitments under the charter in seven areas but falling short in nine. In three further situations, the committee did not have enough information to reach a conclusion. The reference period was 2010-2013. Among the findings was the fact that the minimum wage for UK workers aged 16-18 (3.72/hour) was 41% lower than for workers over 21. The committee said this was unfair, especially given its previous findings that the adult minimum wage was not sufficient to secure a decent standard of living. The committee also re-stated its clear position on corporal punishment: no ifs, no buts - hitting children should be banned. There is a broad and growing consensus on this at European and international level, and the UK is one of a small number of Council of Europe members which are lagging behind. The conclusions also said that the right of Roma/Traveller families to housing is not effectively guaranteed in England. It highlighted a January 2015 High Court ruling which found that it could take over six months to process applications from Roma people which should ordinarily take two days or less. Advertisement Concerning migrants, the committee pointed out that family members of an expelled migrant worker can be removed from the UK regardless of their own personal circumstances. It also found the language and financial conditions for family reunion to be excessive: almost 50% of British workers did not earn the amount required (18,600 per year) for a settled migrant worker to sponsor his or her spouse - alone - to join them in the UK. Furthermore, the committee flagged up that children involved in prostitution can still be treated as offenders under UK law, that the age of criminal responsibility (10 in England and Wales, and 8 in Scotland) is "manifestly low" and that the level of maternity benefits is inadequate. And, yes, the committee expressed concern about the number of hours of paid work that schoolchildren could be doing and the effect this might have on their education and well-being. It said that allowing children in compulsory schooling to work up to 8 hours a day and 35 hours a week during the holidays was a bit much. Advertisement The committee also highlighted a previous finding that children under 15 working two hours a day, from 6am, for five days a week before going to school was not in line with the charter. In other words, delivering newspapers or working during the holidays was not a problem but there should be limits and excessive hours of "light work" for schoolchildren could potentially be an issue. So what did the newspapers make of all this? "Barmy eurocrats call for UK ban on 'child cruelty' paper rounds" was the headline in the Sun. "Report claims paper rounds and holiday jobs breach children's rights", said the Mail. "Fury as self appointed EU quango launches attack on way Britain treats migrants' rights" added the Express, quoting an MP bemoaning "barmy interference from unelected bureaucrats" which is "only going to get worse if we vote to stay in the European Union". (N.B. This article has since been corrected following a complaint.) The basic factual errors are predictably frustrating: the Council of Europe is not part of the European Union, the conclusions were not drawn up by "unelected bureaucrats" but by legal experts elected by national governments, and the committee was not "interfering" but doing its job. However, what is really depressing is that - rather than generating any serious discussion about the many important issues raised in these conclusions - the take-away "story" for most people in the UK was that barmy foreign bureaucrats are yet again trying to do away with all that is great about Britain. Advertisement At first glance, it's tempting to agree with the UKIP statement entitled "Banning newspaper rounds utter nonsense". Until you actually read it and realise that they, too, have got the wrong end of the stick. January is synonymous with overhauling our lives with positive intentions. When my doctor suggested to focus on regulating my stress levels, he assured me that everything else that I desired for the new year, would fall into place. After reviewing my blood work and scans, it became clear that my exhaustive pursuit of trying to be healthy was sending my hormones on a stressful roller coaster ride. When I was offered a reflexology treatment by the Association of Reflexologists, I was intrigued to see if I could unwind, in a way that I hadn't before. Reflexology has been practiced for thousands of years, dating back to Ancient Egypt and Ancient China. It is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates the nerve endings on our hands, feet and ears which trigger certain organs, tissues and glands in the body. While reflexology will not cure ailments or illness, it can alleviate stress which helps to regulate hormones and ease muscle tension. Treatments are bespoke to each client, focusing on specific areas of concern. Prior to my treatment, Alexandra Swann, my reflexologist, inquired about my health and other aspects of my life that might affect my wellbeing. From start to finish, the experience was therapeutic. The lights were dimmed, candles lit and soothing music filled the room. My feet were bathed, I was draped in a warm blanket and was instructed to relax. The treatment itself took place in a special reclining chair, which elevates the feet so that they are parallel to the heart. As Alexandra got to work using her hands to manipulate my feet, I realised that this was much more than just a massage; she was examining every square inch of my foot. In the early part of my treatment, I felt my throat become a bit tight and I tried to swallow saliva several times to clear it. That was when she informed me that she was working on the part of my foot that was associated with my throat. I was fascinated that I could actually feel the connection and tried to see if I could sense any other correlations. Advertisement After my treatment, Alexandra pinpointed what stood out in her assessment. She could feel through my feet that there was something amiss in my ovaries and pituitary gland. Coincidentally, these are two areas of the body that regulate hormones. I hadn't spoken about my hormone imbalance before my treatment as I did not think that it was relevant. Little did I know! Interestingly, my feet did not indicate that I stored too many toxins in my body (my slap-dash attempt at 'Dry January!') and that I did carry quite a bit of tension in my neck and upper back. Coincidentally, my chiropractor also focuses on this area of my spine. How did I feel after my treatment? That same evening, I took a Bikram class during which I was more energised and focused than usual. My mind wasn't as preoccupied with tackling an endless to-do list, I didn't find myself scrutinising my body in the mirror or worrying about trivial bits of life. Reflexology helped me unwind and for that, I am grateful. Since having reflexology, I have read a lot about how strong the relationship between stress and our hormones is. The stress hormone, cortisol, for example wreaks havoc on our immune system; increases inflammation; affects metabolism, digestion, and fertility; can lead to high blood pressure and even heart disease. There have been many studies that suggest that reflexology can relieve the internal effects of stress. If reflexology can help us reduce stress, relax our muscles and ease tension, I'd recommend it to anyone who's body is looking for a bit of TLC. Advertisement Thank you to the Association of Reflexologists and Alexandra Swann for treating me. All opinions are my own. "I want to talk about inequality in the public sector - and beyond - and why it matters for building a society in which all can reach their potential." Words declared earlier this week by the Paymaster General, Matt Hancock MP, at the publishing of the Bridge Report. A pledge to deal with inequality is something we have all heard by previous governments time and time again and nothing much ever seems to change. Advertisement This time it is different. This Government is determined to put its words into action. This Government is taking inequality seriously. This Government is preparing to battle inequality head on to ensure we build a society where everyone is given the opportunity to unlock their potential, a society where no one is defined by the circumstances of their birth, a society where all are given a chance to climb the ladder of opportunity. The Bridge Report is the first of its kind published by any employer in the country and is dedicated to finding ways to deal with the lack of social mobility across both the public and private sectors. Recommendations the Government is putting into practice in the public sector, whilst encouraging other major employers to do the same. This Conservative Government is a Government that knows it is not enough for them to merely tell people what to do, but they must set the example and lead the way forward. I am living proof the Paymaster General himself personally puts potential ahead of polish. I am from a working family, born and bred in Dewsbury in West Yorkshire. I am a twice University drop-out who was working part-time stacking shelves in a supermarket when I optimistically applied for a role in his Parliamentary Office. I expected my application to get laughed off, jobs in Parliament are hugely competitive and jobs with Government Ministers even more so. Instead I received an invitation to interview, followed soon by an invitation to a second interview and soon after that, a job offer. Advertisement I remember Matt telling me during a phone interview with him, 'I am not worried about you having dropped out of University twice. It is clear it was not because could not cope, you obviously are intelligent. You just need to find where you fit and you will flourish. You need a chance.' He did not just tell me this. He gave me my chance. He took a risk on me, gave me my place to fit and, under his guidance, I did flourish. Despite me recently taking up a new job back in West Yorkshire, Matt continues to mentor and support me in every way possible, helping me up each rung of the ladder of opportunity. Making it so each individual receives their opportunity, regardless of background, is genuinely on his heart and I can say, with confidence, he will do all he can to put this into practice across the workplace and beyond. The Government is leading by example by ensuring the Civil Service carries out recommendations in the report and will be encouraging other employers to do the same. These measures include rolling out name-blind recruitment, to ensure that people are recruited on merit alone, and publishing pay ratios in the Civil Service. The Government is also planning to take graduate recruitment out of London and to regional assessment centres across the country, as well as shortening the recruitment process to make it less intimidating. Apprenticeships and mentoring are central to this Government's strategy to give opportunity to all. Over 200,000 apprenticeships will be created in the public sector by 2020, giving more young people the opportunity to get their foot on the ladder. The Government will also continue to roll out its mentorship scheme, giving mentors to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Young people who are the future leaders of tomorrow. While leading the way, the Government will do all it can to urge other major employers to take a similar approach so we can tackle inequality across the whole workplace. Advertisement As the Paymaster General concluded, "It's harder to climb the ladder of opportunity if the rungs are further apart. We've got to put more rungs in that ladder." My father, a 55-year-old airplane technician, has worked the same job since the age of 16. I on the other hand, a 23-year-old working in PR, have already interned and worked in at least ten different places. We keep hearing that Millennials are the screwed generation: we will probably never own a house, we'll most likely be re-paying our student loans until retirement, we're everything but settled. Yet, there is one thing we have that previous generations didn't get: the chance to shape and enjoy our own working life. We've all heard about the Google model: work hard and your company will reward you. During my brief Couchsurfing stay in Silicon Valley I had the chance to visit Google's iconic Mountain View campus. My hosts in there were picked up by the company from their San Francisco home to then be driven back every night. They had incredible dinners and huge sporting facilities. They were encouraged to take up side projects, travel and better themselves through work. Now, the Google model is no longer news. Sure, not every company can build beach volley courts as part of their offices, but more and more firms now have their employees' happiness at heart. Advertisement The start-up culture has had a massive influence on this. Simone Cimminelli, Managing Director of the London-based start-up accelerator iStarter that helped companies such as Italian Kingdom, BidToTrip and Readbug to launch, says: "The working world is evolving so quickly that MDs need to keep their companies ahead of the curve. Allowing your employees to better themselves however they please and have enough free time to get involved in side projects drives happiness and willingness to work hard." Like many start-ups, iStarter has a four-day, Monday to Thursday working week. Fridays are for the team to follow their own projects, whether they're work-related or not. Companies producing innovative products or content are leading the charge for a better working life. You just don't accept your job as it is anymore: you shape it until you make it. Advertisement During our 2015 Manifestival innovation summit in Lisbon, Manifest London's managing director Alex Myers unveiled our plans for 2016. This year we will all have input into what our job title will be based on our area of interest and expertise. This will ensure that clients value us for our expertise and consultancy rather than our seniority - a development that shows how little hierarchies matter when creativity is involved. More importantly, this decision will empower all employees to tailor their day-to-day tasks to what they want to become in the future, with a focus on employee happiness and fulfillment, often only found in some of the largest, most forward-thinking global companies like Google. This new development came with unlimited paid time off as well as maternity and paternity leave policies that have been deemed among the best in the UK PR industry. So a successful craft beer company sells out to the corporates. Shock horror - the Camden Town Brewery, a fledgling, for-the-love-of-it startup just half a decade ago, has done so well that it's now being sold off to a major. The sum, as you may have guessed, is no small beer. There's nothing all that unusual about majors swallowing up minnows of course - and nothing unusual about plucky startup entrepreneurs suddenly finding themselves rich. It's the spirit of our age after all. But there's an added twist to this one. Camden Town Brewery may have made great craft beer, but they had more than a little help along the way. "We think there's a real appetite for a company that can grow while staying true to its roots," the company said on the pitch for its 2014 crowdfunding campaign, which included a zippy video hosted on Crowdcube. "There's something special about drinking great beer here that originated in Camden." Advertisement Keep it local, do something for the community - this was a David vs Goliath campaign that appealed to the Little Guy in the face of all the nasty corporates. And it worked: CBT would smash their total and go on to raise 2.75 million. Hooray for community spirit! So it was perhaps a little bit of a surprise to the people who helped fund the company's growth that CBT has turned round and used that growth to help sell out to a rather less community-minded outfit: drinks global megacorp Anheuser-Busch InBev. David might have thrown a few rocks at Goliath, but the hostilities are apparently over. Now they're having dinner together. It's not the first time a crowdfunding campaign premised on beating the faceless corporates ended up joining those very same faceless corporate once the chequebook came out. But the CBT sale is interesting because it tells us about something more than just crowdfunding. It's an example of a growing business trend: to employ the language of creativity, community and collaboration to give a more caring sheen to the profit motive. Look at the example of Tidal, an "artist-owned" streaming service set up by powerful industry players in late 2014. "If you want to hear the most beautiful song, then support the artist," gushed Jay-Z to the New York Times in a promotion for the company, which was established by sixteen celebrity stakeholders to challenge the likes of Spotify and Pandora and charged higher fees in order to return more to the musician (75% of revenues go back to the industry in comparison to the usual 50%). Sounds good - right? Advertisement Well, maybe. But there was something a little odd about the press announcements. The celebrities involved must have owed substantial repeat fees themselves on the number of times they spat the phrase "artist owned" in interviews - as if to suggest that Tidal was somehow grassroots, of the people. Kind of like a co-op, yeah? Ah, but wait. Like United Artists last century, Tidal was actually a for-profit venture by multi-millionaires with massive industry clout who'd come together to get a better deal for themselves (together with some unseemly bleating about how their vast fortunes are being eroded by streaming sites). It wasn't owned by the vast majority of the artists getting streamed. It was owned by a board of millionaire celebrities and entrepreneurs. You'd have to work hard to spin that as a co-op. Tidal was hardly an isolated example, though it's one of the better known ones. Back in 2012 crowdfunding poster-girl Amanda Palmer appealed to her fans to help fund an album. On the face of it this seems fair enough: in a world determined to get music for free, it seems only reasonable for musicians to monetize in other ways. Palmer smashed her target and went on to raise over $1 million from her backers, releasing her album and setting off on tour. Thanks, community! One thing though: the million dollars wouldn't actually go on anything as prosaic as actually paying guest musicians. It had apparently all gone on "airfare, mailing costs, and personal debt". Palmer may have turned community spirit into her own handy loan repayments, but the musicians invited would be getting paid in hugs. "I'll feed you beer, hug/high-five you up and down (pick your poison), give you merch, and thank you mightily," she chirped on her website as she attempted to crowdsource a little free labour - or rather artists sufficiently motivated by community spirit that they were prepared to work for free. Because after all, isn't that what artists do these days? Advertisement Despite constant coverage of ISIS, known by their Arabic name as Daesh, Western media has overlooked the fact that a large proportion of their victims are ordinary Sunni Muslims - the very people they claims to represent. By doing this they are unwittingly aiding the narrative that Daesh is representing all Muslims against the West. The news cycle has been inundated with reports on the death of Mohammed Emwazi, also known as 'Jihadi John', and the recent video with his de facto successor, Siddhartha Dhar, known as Abu Rumaysah, who led the execution of five men accused of spying for Britain. The common focus throughout is the phenomenon of Westerners fleeing to Syria to join Daesh, which has elicited fear mongering and sensationalism throughout the Western news cycle. In the video with Siddhartha Dhar, five men "confessed" to being British spies. However, their testimonies indicate they were all from either Syria or Libya. Of course, if these men were Shia Muslims, Daesh wouldn't need the excuse of their "spying for Britain" to justify killing them, as in their viewpoint, Shiites are not Muslim. To kill a Sunni Muslim while still claiming to represent their interests, Daesh has to find a way to justify their paradoxical policy to fit with their narrative. They do this by labelling them apostates - traitors to their religion. Advertisement Of the countless thousands of Sunni Muslims Daesh has executed since their founding, they have justified these killings with a plethora of excuses, in one case saying they were "drowning" in alcohol and drugs, in another they were said to be spying for the Egyptian military. It appears that Daesh can and will kill any Muslim they wish and easily maintain their image by rationalising it within their extreme interpretation of a Sharia context. In Management of Savagery by Abu Bakr Naji (the de facto manifesto for Daesh), it celebrates the lack of remorse they should experience in their killings, exclaiming, "Praise be to God, we are confronting...the apostates and their army. Thus, there is nothing preventing us from spilling their blood". If Daesh convinces their members that their Sunni victims have gone against their faith, they will have no ideological concern in killing them as they would no longer be considered Muslims. Essentially, built into the Daesh ideology are convenient loopholes that allow the killing of anyone that gets in their way. However, this method does not always work. One Daesh defector from Syria spoke on his reason for leaving: "Everybody in Syria, is [considered a] kafir (an apostate). Period. They treat people in this way, which is wrong. Even by [Daesh's] standards, that's clearly wrong. They are Muslims, they have to be treated as Muslims." If people do not discover this hypocrisy until they join Daesh it is usually already too late. Once there it is nearly impossible to get out alive. Western media needs to expose Daesh for what they are - the real apostates. The narrative they are propagating, of a caliphate against all things non-Islamic, is false. And Western media coverage is unintentionally helping to spread their message. The biggest difference between the coverage of Emwazi's videos and Dhar's is the clear lack of focus on Dhar's victims. These men are all from the Arab world and are apparent Sunni Muslims, but Western media hardly mentioned it. Contrary to this, Emwazi's victims, like American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff and British aid worker David Haines, received significant media coverage. In Emwazi's video when he killed American Peter Kassig, coverage virtually ignored the remaining part of the video showing the execution of over a dozen Syrians. This distinction helps Daesh reinforce the 'us and them' mentality between the Muslim world and the West. Daesh only benefits from this intense coverage of their Western victims and lack of interest in their Muslim victims. As the most influential jihadist group in terms of attracting foreign fighters, they know the potential value the media has in spreading their message. Western media needs to avoid inadvertently helping them justify themselves to potential recruits. Advertisement Moral arguments aside, it is strategically unwise to help spread this narrative. In speaking with counterterrorism expert Dr. Sajjan Gohel of the Asia-Pacific Foundation, he points out, "Daesh's greatest strength is its illusion of power, which actually serves as its most vulnerable weakness. Clever spin is not needed to expose Daesh's half-truths. Articulating the truth is powerful enough. Yet the problem is that there aren't enough sustained efforts to show the truth of how the Daesh death cult is un-Islamic". I personally love Valentine's Day, all of the fun with none of the pressure. It really doesn't matter what gift you buy for your loved one, or how much it cost, just that you spared a thought to get something you know they'd like! Well I have put together 11 rather fabulous gift ideas for him and for her to help you on your way to a lovely Valentine's Day together. 1. Cinema Lightbox A4, The Little House Shop, 30 I love the idea of leaving each other personal messages on this little Cinema Lightbox, and for making movie nights that little bit more of an occasion! Advertisement Image Credit: The Little House Shop 2. Prestat Heart Assortment, 16.50 If it's a chocaholic you are dating, then spoil them with the ultimate Prestat truffles. The packaging reminds me of something straight out of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory! Image Credit: Prestat 3. Filofax Tablet Case, Raspberry, from 30 Stylish and practical, this is such a fun present and will be appreciated long after Valentine's Day. Advertisement Image Credit: Filofax 4. Susie Watson Winter Lovebird Cushion, 56 Cosy on up over one of these beautiful love bird embroidered cushions from Susie Watson, such a thoughtful gift for someone who enjoys gifts for the home. Image Credit: Susie Watson Designs 5. Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil, 40 For some serious luxury and a clever alternative to the dozen red roses, get the Jo Malone Red Roses Bath Oil. Anything from this brand is such a special gift and will arrive beautifully gift wrapped. Image Credit: Amazon UK 6. Susie Watson Hand Painted Mug, 18 For a small token gift, you really can't go wrong with a stylish mug from the Susie Watson pottery collection. Advertisement Image Credit: Susie Watson Designs 7. Dolce and Gabanna The One For Him 26, Amazon.co.uk For the man in your life, spoil him with his (and your) favourite bottled scent. Image Credit: Amazon UK 8. Bloom & Wild Flowers, From 30 If it's flowers you're after then head straight to Bloom & Wild for a whole new way of buying your flowers. Not only is the price very reasonable compared to your usual mainstream sites at this time of year, you could opt for a 3 month flower subscription for an extra special gift. Image Credit: Bloom & Wild 9. Champagne Saucers LSA International, 42 Flutes are soooo 2015, so if you are celebrating Valentine's Day with a romantic meal at home, splash out on drinking your pink champagne out of these super stylish saucers with rose gold edges. Advertisement Image Credit: LSA International 10. Chupi Just The Two Of Us Hawthorn Twig Circle Necklace in Silver, 111 Whatever the occasion, jewellery is pretty much always the answer. Chupi do the most stunning collection of romantic silver, gold and rose gold jewellery - you must check them out! Image Credit: Chupi 11. Nike Women's Running Shoes, from 70.64 For extra brownie points this Valentine's Day, think outside the box and go for a regular gift, but get it in pink! Like these fabulous Nike trainers from Amazon UK available from their new Running department. Advertisement Image Credit: Amazon UK Five years into the conflict in Syria, the conferences taking place in Geneva and London this week could not have been more critical. The Syrian crisis has become overwhelming; with the killings continuing within the country and an acute lack of funding in the neighbouring countries struggling to cope with 4.6 million refugees. It's with a heavy heart, but no surprise, that I received the news that the peace conference in Geneva had been suspended and that face to face talks between the warring parties remain a distant prospect. I think of the refugees who I recently met in Lebanon who are losing all hope; living in sub-zero temperatures with inadequate clothing and shelter. Advertisement These are poor families from rural Syria who used all the money they had to get to Lebanon. They are not making their way to Europe; all they want to do is to return home. But when will this ever be possible? Only a political solution can bring an end to this conflict and spare the Syrian civilians further violence, trauma and misery. The $10 billion pledged at the Supporting Syria conference in London yesterday is welcome and will go a long way towards addressing humanitarian needs within Syria and neighbouring countries. But for real and lasting change, the warring parties need to show they are serious about the peace process by immediately putting an end to the indiscriminate targeting of civilians and their homes, schools and hospitals. Advertisement Islamic Relief welcomed the fact that participants at the Supporting Syria conference pledged to use their influence with all parties of the conflict to halt abuses of international humanitarian law and allow humanitarian agencies, such as Islamic Relief, rapid, safe and unimpeded access to besieged areas. The tragedy of almost 50 people dying of starvation in Madaya has hit the headlines across the world, and Islamic Relief, among many other agencies, is providing emergency food aid. But not without huge difficulties. The situation is crucial, with hundreds of people suffering from severe malnutrition and all aid agencies and the UN need to be given unimpeded and extended humanitarian access. Madaya is only part of the story. There are 400,000 Syrians living under siege in 15 locations in the country and Islamic Relief is beginning to provide food aid in six of them - East Ghouta, West Ghouta, Southern Damascus Suburb, Northern Homs Suburb, Darayya and Moadamiyeh. Food, medicine and other essential supplies are urgently required. Unfortunately as the needs increased, donor funding started to drop. In 2015, the UN's Syria Appeal was just 43% funded, down from 48% in 2014 and 68% in 2013. Advertisement So this conference in London, hosted by UK Prime Minister David Cameron, could not have come at a more critical time. Aid agencies like Islamic Relief have committed a huge amount of resources within Syria and the neighbouring countries, but it's a drop in the ocean compared to what's needed. I saw the effects of the lack of funding recently in Lebanon. I met a widow struggling to survive on $13/month with four children. Things were so desperate that her 13 year old son was doing manual work in a garage to help make ends meet. She said that the support she received from the UN and aid agencies had significantly decreased over time. I saw how so many children had lost hope as they were forced to give up their education. The conflict in Syria is creating a lost generation. 1 in 4 schools in Syria have been damaged or destroyed and more than half of Syrian refugee children are not in school. The participants' commitment to ensure that 1.7 million children - all refugee children and vulnerable children in host communities - will be in quality education by the end of 2016/17 gave me hope that a better future awaits children in Lebanon and Jordan. But little progress was made to provide education inside Syria where 2.1 million children are currently out of school. Advertisement Many of the children are traumatised by their experiences and Islamic Relief is supporting them with psychosocial assistance but this support needs to be drastically scaled up. I was very moved by the resilience of the children I met in the refugee camps, but they need and deserve more. The health facilities in the camps I visited were also inadequate. I particularly remember one mother struggling to cope with her epileptic child, who wasn't receiving the treatment he needed and was regularly fitting. Islamic Relief is running hospitals and clinics but they are overwhelmed by the needs and the lack of facilities. Hopefully the funding pledged at the conference will make a significant impact in improving health care available for displaced people within Syria and refugees in neighbouring countries. As the conflict moves into its sixth year it is evident that more long-term solutions are needed. As such, the commitment of refugee hosting countries to provide more job opportunities was a welcome move, as was the support from the conference participants to help them to achieve this. Advertisement Most Syrian people were well educated, had good jobs and lived full lives. They were forced to leave all of this amid the horror of the conflict. Hopefully the support pledged at the conference will provide more lasting benefits; help refugees to provide for their families, contribute to the host countries' economy and build a better future. Pledging the money is easy. These funds need to be transferred as soon as possible. The Syrian people have suffered too much for too long. When Jeremy Corbyn stormed the Labour leadership election, gaining the biggest mandate of any Labour leader in history, the left in Britain were beginning to relish the idea of a (semi) socialist government harking back to Old Labour, challenging the Tories at every stage. Yes, we had Big Ed, labelled "too left wing" by former PM Tony Blair , but in reality, no opposition leader had strayed beyond centre left for a good while. A good old right against left in Britain was emerging, a rare calling in centrist based modern politics. At the same time Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders , a self described democratic socialist, was in the midst of his unlikely race to the White House. Trailing massively behind Establishment candidate Hillary Clinton, he remained true to his leftist principles. He appeared as equally impressed and surprised at Corbyn's election as the British left, commenting "At a time of mass income and wealth inequality throughout the world, I am delighted to see that the British Labour Party has elected Jeremy Corbyn as its new leader,". Strange as it was, there and then appeared a resurgence (or perhaps last stand, for the pessimistic) of the left. Two old, white men who had fought for many causes throughout their life, whether it be civil rights or anti-war, threatened the status quo of the Establishment which is ever shifting right. Advertisement Iowa's causus on the first of the month reflected exactly how far Bernie has come. While Clinton has slipped over 10% since February 2015, Bernie's numbers have risen from a paltry 4.1% to his caucus performance, at 49.6%. We are constantly told 'Britain/America doesn't want a socialist leader' yet the polls speak differently. Bernie's stance of taking on wall street, enabling free college tuition and taxing corporations is identifying with the American middle class, who are being squeezed from the top. Let's remember, Sanders, with the raw numbers he attained, could have declared a victory in Iowa, but six coin tosses all won by Clinton means that she may have a slender lead of 23-21 in terms of representatives delegates for the Primary. Both Sanders (and Corbyn) of course, have had to compete with a media onslaught, with constant jibes from the increasingly right wing US media. Gandhi's proverb rings fantastically well here: 'First they ignore you then they laugh at you then they fight you then you win' Sanders in particular was seen as a joke candidate until a few months ago, but the strength of his grassroots movement, which has blown away Hilary's corporate donors, was unprecendented. One can point to the equal success of Donald Trump on the far right; people are tired of Establishment politics, and people such as Bernie provide such change. While the MSM have given Trump, Clinton and the right-of-centre significant coverage, Bernie has been largely ignored or vilified as a communist. The statistic about Bernie's popularity with young people (and Hilary's with the seniors) , in which 91% of people under 30 pledged their support for the candidate (compared to 8% for the 'hip' Clinton) could simply be down to the tendency of young people to find their news sources on the internet, a wider, more neutral source, rather than older viewers who conventionally allow Rupert Murdoch to dictate to them. Advertisement The other day I was fortunate enough to spend the day with 300 'Women of Silicon Roundabout' in London. Apart from being massively impressed by the talent and enthusiasm of the attendees, I was struck by how many women used the word 'love' when talking about their jobs. It seems that for this group at least, that technology is a vocation rather than a job and the rewards go way beyond the financial. Why does that matter? Well, as many of us know from personal experience, if you do something because you love it you'll: 1.Do a better job 2.Work harder to resolve challenges you meet along the way 3.Evangelise Yet - we also heard that there's an issue in female representation at the executive ranks in corporates and in STEM education. If women love their jobs so much, why are they not making it to the top and why is the message not getting through to - or convincing - the next 'generation'. Advertisement One hypothesis proposed by Rebecca Muir of ExchangeWire is that the role models we are offered in tech are just too remote, too perfect or apparently unattainable. Marissa Mayer and Angela Ahrendts may be inspirational, as are Elon Musk and Bill Gates, but, as Rebecca Muir argues, for most of us they're not really easy to identify with. Indeed, in the corporate world, according to the latest Davies Report less than 10% of exec board roles (at least in the UK) are taken by women so you could say there is something of a shortage of visible role models overall. And we're still some way from addressing that shortage, though a number of corporate and political initiatives try to improve the situation. We need all the digital talent we can get so it's worth understanding whether there's a blockage somewhere in the system. What holds females back? Is it that women love their current tech jobs so much they don't want to move through the corporate ranks - or even become CEO? Are they missing opportunities? Or not asking for promotion? In my experience most successful people I've come across, male or female, corporate execs or entrepreneurs, share three characteristics: talent, resilience, and self-belief. Advertisement According to research from KPMG, YSC and The 30% Club in View from the Top: How CEOs are Cracking the Code, plenty of women get into tech jobs, so talent doesn't seem to be the issue (though STEM education is another point). As for resilience - we saw a lot of evidence of it in London last week. Take Adriana Vasiu's story: brought up in a remote village in Transylvania, by the age of 14 she had never used a computer, but she heard that it was a cool machine that smart people use so she simply entered a competition to win one, along with a place in one of Romania's top high schools. She won the computer, of course, and was off on her tech career. So I guess if all of these women in tech are talented and resilient, then could the missing element be self-belief? KPMG says we still need to bust a few myths like women not asking for pay rises (they do) or being reticent about looking for promotion (they're not). But they're not getting through to the executive board. Why not? Surely not as simple as lack of Self Belief or esoteric as CEOs missing subtle ambition 'signals' from female employees? After several years leading corporate and social responsibility initiatives at Benetton Group, I'm about to move to New York in a new role at the United Nations, seeking and building partnerships with third party organisations to help address many of the biggest issues facing our world. It's fashionable to bash big corporations and be sceptical about their societal impact but, based on my own experiences, I really do believe global companies can make world a better place. Today they expect to be active as stakeholders, making a concrete contribution towards human rights or protecting the environment through their behaviors and operations - rather than simply through philanthropy, as in the past. Their impact on local communities can be very significant - and positive - which is why it's crucial for companies and the private sector in general to take a real role in partnerships targeting societal issues on the global agenda, within the Sustainable Development Goals. Indeed this often requires multi-stakeholder engagement: Civil society, NGOs, Institutions, the local communities, consumers. Only by having all of them on board it is possible to bring about lasting changes. Advertisement Benetton has been trying to follow this approach in order to help make the world better - following an instinct that is deep in its DNA. This is a company that several decades ago started launching provocative messages against discrimination (when everybody was still very shy about speaking out on such things) and directing this message to youth, the real agents of social change. But changing the world takes more than communications. If companies really want to make a difference they must have something concrete to offer on sustainability and social issues. Benetton has been, and is still doing, a huge amount of work around sustainability throughout its supply chains. I really believe that only once a company has become a credible agent of change can it become a credible partner for development. At Benetton we have also experimented with innovative ways of partnering - for example with the United Nations. For example, the UNHCR wanted to communicate statelessness but wasn't able to to build widespread public awareness of the fact that millions of people in the world practically do not exist as a result of having no state. Benetton's strength in global communications helped to put this issue in the public eye and so helped international support to end statelessness. Another good example is the UNHATE Foundation, set up to implement programmes and projects addressing social issues highlighted in Benetton's campaigns. The foundation has supported a wide variety of global projects that have nothing to do directly with the business of the company but can help to make a real impact on communities by supporting positive actions - such as ending violence against women in public places in Africa. Advertisement International Institutions like the UN are now looking for credible business partners to open a dialogue - which actually started many years ago - and now needs to be more focused and results oriented. But private sector partners must earn their credibility, based on their own actions and initiatives to bring about real change, shown in a transparent way to all the stakeholders. Though it isn't something I shout about very often, I like Vladimir Putin. I wish I didn't, but I can't quite help myself. Like supporting the policy of the death penalty or airstrikes in the Middle East, such political position-taking is bound to attract animosity, just or not. Despite some lingering reluctance, my own unwavering British patriotism has allowed me to see Putin's side of the coin. Because unlike so many in the west, I've taken the time to understand him. Vladimir Putin is a sinister tyrant, no question. I don't think any rational person would deny this. Links to sporadic poisonings, unruly imprisonment and a rather blatant disregard for civil liberties have certainly soured his presidency. Western hard right-wingers and a few other social pockets aside, the Russian president has attracted the criticism of just about anybody to the west, from European Union officials to Human Rights campaigners. Putin has helped to galvanise his critics in recent years though, I'll freely admit. I don't like his attitude towards homosexuals, nor the ruthlessness with which he has taken on opponents in business and politics in Russia. Anybody with any knowledge of Russian society knows that the country is in desperate need of the due process of law. Lawlessness in the form of poisonings and the imprisonment and censorship of journalists is now well attested. Advertisement A tyrant? Undoubtedly. Uniquely intolerable and deserving of endless (and often hypocritical) criticism? Sorry, no. Without attempting to excuse the inexcusable, it would be reasonable to suggest that the role of Russian president, largely in part to the country's turbulent history and lack of western trust, will occasionally demand fierce leadership. Contentious borders shared with NATO, China and the Middle East, as well as heavy competition in the Black Sea from Iran and Turkey require the guise of a strong-willed, determined leader; a checklist Putin fills rather nicely. Under President Yeltsin, Russia was a much closer ally to the United States and to Europe. Democratic, capitalist policy-making, though, made Russia much more appealing to foreign investors, and as a result, corporate greed and corruption took hold of the newly-independent state in the late 90s. The perils of privatisation were mercilessly exposed, and it became clear to Putin that a new economic strategy was in order. Corruption, while still rife in Russia, has returned to normal, satiable levels similar to those in western countries. Putin knew that, though his policies may marginalise his country from western powers, a more socialist approach was necessary to encourage national economic recovery. Taking advantage of plentiful supplies of gas and oil, the Putin-styled Russian government managed to increase export revenue, maintain key allies and ensure Russia's place among fellow world powers at the very top tables. Advertisement Vladimir Putin's resistance against open borders, free trade, internationalism and stupidly fluid, hypocritical Human Rights conventions is a particularly refreshing aspect to his tenure. Hallmarks of governance in Europe and the United States, Putin has decided not to be drawn in by politically libertarian policies and things which we now know make countries weaker, less sovereign and cause social disruption. 'Russia does not need ethnic minorities, ethnic minorities need Russia' he famously coined in a speech a few years ago. Whether you agree with him or not, his determination to preserve Russian-dominant communities and a single culture must be admired. A failed campaign to enact a cross-continent policy of multiculturalism in Europe (through neglecting to encourage migrants to integrate and adopt western norms) has stirred a far-right uprising and social decay which likely will not end any time soon. Putin also stands for national sovereignty and patriotic pride; two concepts now extremely unfashionable in the northern hemisphere. The Russian president has, through defending his country's interests in both Eastern Europe and Syria, bolstered Russia's importance on the world stage, and ensured that the same, silly mistakes made by foreign powers are not made all over again. Or that, at least, viable alternatives exist. Vladimir Putin remains an important political figure because he is willing to stand up to the US and say: 'No, you're wrong'. His foreign policy and military record isn't too shabby either. He was right on Crimea, right on Georgia and right on Syria, yet still finds himself marginalised in the grand scheme of things. Had the world's major powers taken notice of Putin back in 2003, the Middle East would perhaps not be the volatile power-vacuum that it is today. Tyrannical and thoroughly disagreeable though he is, Mr Putin stands for nationalistic pride, a crucial buffer against the perils of American foreign policy and a determination to defend a revived Russia on the world stage, and her citizens abroad. Three things I respect, and three things a shrinking world desperately needs. Advertisement This week major international players came together at the Supporting Syrians conference to agree a way forward on helping the Syrian people. A welcomed 6.8 billion was pledged towards the Syrian crisis. A boost in humanitarian funding couldn't have come sooner - since the conflict in Syria began almost five years ago, over half the population has become displaced and over three quarters of its people now live in poverty. However, beyond the pledges, governments need to continue to hear-out what NGOs and Syrian organisations in the field are relaying and focus on implementing a successful strategy. Last week I was joined by two former international development secretaries, Andrew Mitchell and Clare Short, on a delegation to the Turkish-Syrian border to witness some of the colossal challenges facing the Syrian people. The politicians have of course, honorably relayed the incredibly upsetting circumstances Syrians are living through. But they also witnessed the incredible work being undertaken by charities part of the Muslim Charities Forum, like Human Appeal's distribution of aid, which reaches 2.5 million Syrians every month. Advertisement The truth is, I have never met a Syrian refugee that wants to live permanently in any host country or indeed in Europe - they all long to return to their homeland but are restless after five years of war inside Syria, or hopeless in severely underfunded refugee camps in the region. Refugees entering Europe are being trafficked and exploited by smuggling gangs and only those with enough money, often the most educated, are able to pay these criminals - a brain-drain for the future rebuilding of Syria, perhaps? Just like Aylan thousands have died at sea, 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children are 'missing' in Europe and the cost of looking after a refugee in Europe can be one hundred times more than in-and-around Syria. We should absolutely do more to help and host the 4% of needy Syrians that have fled to Europe - as such, it is encouraging that our future focus is on 'there' and not 'here'. Until recently, Syria was a proud middle-income country, its population was among the most highly educated in the region. The conflict looks set to bring a different future for the generations to come. In Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey I've met endless numbers of refugee children, often orphaned, who have no access to any education and often children as old as eleven and twelve have completely lost the ability to read and write. With 2.8 million out of education since the start of the crisis and millions more with limited access, their futures are increasingly bleak. This year, we must deliver on our word and get every Syrian child in to full-time education, it is after all, their human right. Advertisement In addition to education, livelihoods must be a priority as millions of Syrians are without income or work. In stark contrast with Turkey; Jordan and Lebanon simply do not have the economy or infrastructure to support the number of refugees arriving. The average stay of refugees in camps being 17 years, and political stability in Syrian beyond the horizon, it is not enough to continue to deal with this as an emergency response. Investment in livelihoods, training and economic capacity support for major host nations must be seriously addressed. The greatest catastrophe, is of course inside Syria. Any international humanitarian plan must address the stranglehold on humanitarian access. The 42,000 people in Madaya, dying from starvation in the dozens, is just one of 14 areas that host up to 500,000 people inside Syria where humanitarian access is a near-impossibility. Three million more are in hard-to-reach areas. We desperately need to be much more principled in applying international humanitarian laws, whilst monitoring for war crimes (these are not mentioned enough) - any party that causes continued suffering, like strategic starvation of civilian populations, should face the consequences of their actions. Protection of humanitarian work must also be prioritised - we can't spend enormous amounts on building schools and hospitals inside Syria, only for them to be bombed the next day. Funding for the Syrian crisis has been limited over the past 5 years, with UN agencies are facing a shortfall of 40-60% in funds and NGOs simply not having enough financial support. The materialisation of these pledges will clearly have a positive impact. However, there must be a concomitant strategic vision for a joint humanitarian and development response between all actors. This Sunday chances are your local mosque will be hoping for a visit from you. It will be "Visit my Mosque" day, a nation-wide event organized by the Muslim Council of Britain on Sunday 7 February in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Visitors of all faiths and total secularists are welcome to visit one of the participating mosques, like this one in central London, where we are all urged to ask questions, have guided tours, and meet the leaders and volunteers at their places of worship. Advertisement It is important to ask the most difficult questions you have about Islam and about the curse of terrorism being carried out in the name of Islam. You will not be regarded as impolite. Rather, this kind of heart-to-heart dialogue is vitally important, both for our Muslim communities, and for everyone who sees Islam as a threat to local culture and a breeding ground for appalling acts of cruelty. "The day will allow for people to meet face-to-face, get to know each other and tackle misconceptions," says one of the organizers who knows that the pervasive mistrust of Islam is affecting the 2.7 million Muslims in Britain. Hate-speech and Islamophobic violence are on the rise. 'No bombs, no blood, no news' "No bombs, no blood, no news," an international professor teaching at a Moroccan university told me last week. We were discussing the global tendency to report acts of terror carried out in the name of Islam, but not the efforts by Islamic leaders and their followers to speak out against the killing and cruelty - and, even more important perhaps, to make clear that terrorism violates some of the most fundamental principles of Islam (the word itself means "peace"). It is therefore not surprising that there has been scant international publicity for a ground-breaking event held in Morocco last week to raise the Islamic banner of peace. Advertisement Nearly 300 of the highest ranking Islamic religious leaders from over 120 countries gathered in Marrakesh from 25 to 27 January. Over the two and a half days they discussed the urgent need to protect religious minorities living in their countries, many of whom are facing suppression and the risk of extinction. They invited government ministers from 10 countries, as well as representatives of other faiths and major international organizations like the United Nations, to be part of the deliberations. Victims from the threatened minorities also spoke, including a Syrian Christian priest who testified in no uncertain terms: "We are up to our necks in blood." Seen by many as historic, the gathering was essentially a global Islamic peace and human rights conference, with scholars, clerics and leaders from a wide range of traditions including both Sunni and Shia. They adopted an extensive "Marrakesh Declaration". An executive summary in English is now online. The declaration states that "it is unconscionable to employ religion for the purpose of aggressing upon the rights of religious minorities in Muslim countries." Advertisement It calls on representatives of the various religions, sects and denominations "to confront all forms of religious bigotry, villification, and denegration of what people hold sacred, as well as all speech that promote hatred and bigotry." In a particularly moving passage, it calls on all religions to "address their mutual state of selective amnesia that blocks memories of centuries of joint and shared living on the same land." "We call upon them to rebuild the past by reviving this tradition of conviviality, and restoring our shared trust that has been eroded by extremists using acts of terror and aggression." Among those attending from the UK was the Senior Imam at Makkah Mosque in Leeds, Qari Asim. He is also the senior editor of ImamsOnline.com. Writing in The Huffington Post (which has an honourable tradition of highlighting such voices) he said: 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. Muslim scholars gathered at the summit made it clear that religious minorities living in Muslim countries must enjoy safety and security, granted by Islam, unconditionally. Conflicts, tensions and divisions amongst faiths feeding animosity must be resolved through mediation, diplomacy, and dialogue. It is against this background that I urge you to consider visiting your Mosque this Sunday. Don't hold back from putting your toughest questions or your worst fears to the people you meet. They want all this out in the open; that is why they are opening their doors. If ever there was time for open-hearted speaking, it is now. Ten billion dollars? That's an impressive-sounding sum of money to be spent on helping Syrian refugees - until you compare it to the $9 billion that, according to The Economist, Germans spend on chocolate every year. Beware of big numbers. Yesterday's London donor conference on Syria made all the right noises - they always do - but if past experience is anything to go by, the right noises rarely translate into ready cash. Meanwhile, the Turkish government says up to 70,000 refugees are heading towards the Turkish border after renewed fighting near Aleppo, Syria's largest city. Still, I did think it made a pleasant change to see David Cameron grappling with a real crisis, rather than wasting his time negotiating meaningless changes to the EU's rule book for the sole purpose of keeping his backbenches quiet. Advertisement The details of the pre-referendum deal that he is trying to sell us are of no real consequence. I cannot imagine that there is a single person anywhere in the country whose decision on how to vote will be based on the precise wording of whatever document is finally presented to us. It is a gigantic waste of everyone's time, not just Mr Cameron's - and it is the risible result of Mr Cameron's pressing tactical need three years ago to spike Ukip's guns. To misquote Aesop's fable, he has laboured mightily and brought forth a mouse. I have no great love for the EU, but I still think Europe is a better place with it than without it, and that the UK is a better place in it than outside it. The same goes for the United Nations, which, like the EU, is far better at staring at its own navel than at the world around it, and far happier organising conferences than tackling the world's most pressing problems. The faults of the EU and the UN are, in reality, the faults of the government leaders who make the decisions. Last year's unprecedented flow of refugees from Syria to Europe was a direct result of a catastrophic shortfall in funding for the camps in Turkey and Jordan - and the responsibility for that shortfall lies with donor governments. So too does responsibility for the failure to agree on a burden-sharing deal that would relieve the pressure on Greece, Italy, Germany and Sweden, which have borne the brunt of the crisis. If the EU is meant to enable Europe's leaders to come up with common solutions to common problems, well, excuse me, but what is the refugee crisis if it is not a common problem? And if it is impossible for EU governments to agree on a common solution - which is obviously the case - then we need to ask serious questions about some governments' commitment to the EU project. Advertisement To be specific: are the governments of, for example, Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic prepared to accept the responsibilities of being members of the club at the same time as they enjoy its benefits? They like the fact that their citizens are free to seek work anywhere in the EU (and send their family allowances back home) and they like the open border trade arrangements that enable them to sell their goods in Germany and elsewhere tariff-free. But they don't like the idea of accepting their fair share of refugees from Syria and Afghanistan. The (relatively) painless and peaceful end of Soviet domination in central and eastern Europe was one of the miracles of the post-war era. The fragile flowering of multi-party democracy in the region owes much to the blandishments offered by the EU in return for an acceptance of basic democratic norms. The people of the former Warsaw Pact countries have much to thank the EU for, as do the rest of us. But they need to be reminded that they signed a deal, and they need to stick to its terms. There is a growing fear in European capitals that the refugee challenge is threatening to overwhelm Europe and destroy the EU. As Gideon Rachman pointed out this week in the Financial Times, if the UK leaves the EU, weakened as it is, it could even hasten its collapse. 'Given Europe's bloody past and troubled present, helping to destroy the major vehicle for European co-operation cannot be a good idea.' EU-haters may welcome the prospect, but they would be wrong. For one thing, the refugees will not stop coming just because the EU is in pieces. For another, Russia will be even more likely to nibble dangerously at its neighbours if they have no alternative power bloc to call on for help. Ask the governments of Latvia or Ukraine how they would feel if the EU were to collapse. And then remember why first the League of Nations and then the UN and the EU were born from the ashes of two world wars and built on the graves of millions of dead. So the sooner this wretched referendum is out of the way the better. And if, as I hope, the UK votes to remain in the EU, perhaps Mr Cameron will then devote more of his attention to helping it come up with a more effective and more humane solution to the refugee crisis. He and Angela Merkel, who despite her falling poll ratings is still the most powerful leader in the EU, seem to have developed a decent working relationship. It is time for them to work together on something more important than how to keep Boris Johnson from snapping at the prime minister's heels. Advertisement Groundbreaking research on Sharia councils in Britain was presented at a debate in the House of Lords on 12th January. Chaired by Labour MP George Howarth, and hosted by the Henry Jackson Society, Dutch academic Machteld Zee spoke on her new book "Choosing Sharia? Multiculturalism, Islamic Fundamentalism and Sharia Councils". From evidence garnered on Sharia councils in London and Birmingham, Machteld argued that these were leading to 'marital captivity' - an important new addition to the legal lexicon - and called on the UK government to enact Dutch-style laws that allow women whose husbands refuse to grant religious divorce, to undertake civil or criminal proceedings. The crossbencher Baroness Cox has proposed a bill which makes it illegal to treat the evidence of a man as worth more than that of a woman - which is the norm in Sharia councils and Muslim arbitration tribunals. Also speaking was Dutch legal scholar David Suurland who pointed out that in 2003 and 2004, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that 'Sharia is incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy'. He further argued that a laissez faire attitude to Muslim communities had allowed for Salafist and Islamist dialogues to operate beneath the criminal court in the Netherlands. The Dutch solution to this has been the monitoring of all Salafi organisations, in particular of rigorous checks on the sources of funding of new mosques from outside of Netherlands. Advertisement It was refreshing to witness two young Dutch scholars making powerful presentations to British parliamentarians, the press, and other interested parties at a packed event, and calling on the UK government to follow the lead given by the government of the Netherlands with respect to these unsavoury phenomena. In my presentation, I tried to explain the reasons for the appeal of Sharia jurisdiction among some British Muslims. What is being demanded seems to be pretty minimal - restricted to family law focusing on marriage, divorce, and maintenance. There is certainly no call for Sharia laws being applied to criminal matters such as theft, violence, and murder, so that there is no question of punishments that are rife in some Muslim countries, such as amputations of limbs for theft, beheadings, crucifixion, lashes, and stoning to death for various criminal offences. That said, in a 2008 Channel 4 documentary 'Divorce Sharia style', the Secretary General of the Islamic Sharia Council, Suhaib Hasan, averred that if Sharia law was implemented in Britain: 'then you can turn this country into a haven of peace because once a thief's hand is cut off nobody is going to steal. Once, just only once, if an adulterer is stoned nobody is going to commit this crime at all. We want to offer it to the British society'. But why are some Muslim citizens of this country, living under a legal system that ensures equality before the law, choosing for Sharia? Remember that this is a legal code that systematically discriminates against women, children, apostates, blasphemers, non-believers (infidels), adulterers, and homosexuals. My argument is that such separatist demands stem from the problems that have become entrenched in our supposedly multicultural society. The origins of this view actually have good intentions: in a free society, people should be free to lead lives as they wish without government restrictions. This was also meant to be anti-racist whereby the cultures and religions of newly-settled ethnic minorities should be shown respect. Advertisement But, sadly, many a road to hell is paved with good intentions. Under multiculturalism and its successor, multifaithism, this separatist dynamic has been allowed free rein. Britain like other West European countries has generally accommodated to Muslim demands - the latest example is of changing the exam schedule during the Ramadan fasting month. So there has been little need for Muslims to integrate into an increasingly irreligious mainstream society. Unsurprisingly, the result is that we are living in a country with high levels of segregation of Muslims and of other religious-ethnic communities. But it does seem to be especially true of large numbers of Muslims. At its extreme, some have become 'psychically detached' from the rest of society so that even though they are geographically located in the UK and Europe, their mode of thinking, belonging, and living is rooted elsewhere: that is, their alienation from the host society is such that they might as well be living in another land. They have values, beliefs, and practices that are profoundly different to those of mainstream society. Because of segregation, they have few interpersonal relationships with those who are not Muslim and they show little identification with the host society. Indeed, for radicalised Muslims, who wish to fly the banner of jihad, the rejection of the host society can reach violent, terrorising, levels. So given this reality, it is not surprising that there are demands by some Muslims for aspects of Sharia as an alternative to the law of the land. The danger is that this can be a slippery slope to a parallel legal system, what is known as legal pluralism. Rather than a universal legal system, we risk different laws for different people. There has been far too much concern that rejecting separatist demands from Muslims - which in reality are privileges - is seen as racist or Islamophobic. But it is no such thing. There is mounting evidence that in Britain and in other west European countries, the population at large is very much concerned by what has come to pass. For example, two opinion polls last year (by Survation and YouGov) found that only 22% of the population think that the values of Islam are compatible with the values of British society. Similar attitudes exist in other EU countries. In Germany, a survey by the Bertelsmann Foundation in January 2015 found that 57% of Germans considered Islam "very much" or "somewhat" of a threat and that 61% believe that Islam is "incompatible with the western world". In France, an opinion poll conducted by IFOP in October 2012 found that 60% of respondents consider the influence and visibility of Islam in France are too high, and that 43% of French believe the presence of a Muslim community in France is a threat to the French identity; only 17% consider this is a source of enrichment. Given the events in Paris last year, these poll numbers will have undoubtedly worsened. Marc Jacobs Beauty, the New York designer's eponymous makeup line has finally launched in the UK. This long-awaited launch has been one of the most hotly anticipated on British shores since it was introduced to the US market in August 2013. American beauty bloggers flooded the internet with tales of its superior quality and brilliant shades whilst UK customers sulked, desperately trying to find friends visiting the States who could bring pieces back for them. I visited New York just after the US launch and, as a total Marc Jacobs fan girl and makeup hoarder, even the thought of it was nirvana. I went to the Bleecker Street store thinking I'd try maybe a couple of pieces and, after a luxuriously long afternoon playing with products and taking advice from the super helpful staff - who incidentally remembered me the next year when I came back to restock, such fantastic customer service - I came out with a whole new makeup collection. Advertisement Since then I've tried the majority of the products as the standout thing I really respect and appreciate about Marc Jacobs Beauty is that it absolutely does what it says and then some. They say it's a shiny nail polish? It's going to be the most luxurious, shiniest damn nail polish you've ever seen. They say their mascara will give you longer thicker eyelashes in three strokes? I 100% believe them and the new Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara is top of my shopping list, along with the brand's Under(Cover) Perfecting Coconut Face Primer which I've heard amazing things about. Whilst some colours may not be right for me - because, skin tones - their formulations are always flawlessly on point, reasonably-priced given the quality and have that Marc Jacobs insouciance to them which I just love. The combination has really inspired trust and loyalty in me as a customer. So, as the products are now available in the UK exclusively from Harrods, both in store and online - HALLELUJAH! - here's my rundown on a few of the line's key products. Read on under the slideshow... Advertisement Marc Jacobs Beauty Launches in the UK Exclusively at Harrods See gallery The Kiss Pop lip colours look like tiny metal chubby pencils and are too cute to go without - they were the first things I was drawn to. But there were too many gorgeous shades to choose just one so I got three. They easily last all day and are super fun and flattering. The Enamoured Hi-Shine nail lacquer is crazy glossy and densely pigmented so in literally two coats the polish looks like a professional gel manicure. Shades range from sophisticated - Daisy is a wonderful neutral for a polished look - to edgy and bold. The Genius Gel Super-Charged Oil Free Foundation comes in 12 shades with the 10 Ivory Light being perfect for those of us who are so white we're almost see-through. A blob the size of one-to-two tic tacs will give great coverage if you use a Beauty Blender. It lasts all day without fail with or without a primer, although with always looks more polished but that probably depends on your skin type and its condition. The (P)outliner Longwear Lip Pencil - think you don't like lip liners? Try this one. Believe me this is nothing like your 90s lip pencils. It feels hydrating yet stays put and gives a great outline. I use Honey(Bun) and have tried colouring inside and outside the lines for a natural and Kylie Jenner pout and both ways, as long as it's applied over foundation if you're over-lining, it totally works and genuinely is long-wearing. Advertisement The Shameless Bold Blush(I use 'Reckless') and the Style Eye-Con Eye Shadow No 7 palette (I use 212 The Dreamer) are - like the rest of the range - highly pigmented which means a little goes a lot further allowing for a less 'caked' look to get the depth of colour you want. The finish is basically the difference between trying to colour in with a felt pen that's full of ink and one that's running out. My favourite red 'lipstick' of all time - I use the commas as it's actually a gloss but it's more like liquid lipstick - is the Enamored Hi Shine Lip Lacquer which is simply glorious. It lasts longer than a regular gloss, leaves its 'marc' like a lip stain and has a beautiful vinyl finish that's more chic than a real wet-look lip. I have this in a few shades - the red is by far my favourite though - and they all tingle in a nice way and smell good too so double winner. I'm wearing it here with the Shameless blush and O!Mega Lash Volumizing Mascara. My ex-wife's new husband spent 26 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Now 50, Bruce Lisker was just 17 when he was arrested for the murder of his mother at her home in Los Angeles. Ever since, he has claimed that police detectives not only ignored evidence of his innocence but also fabricated evidence of his 'guilt'. Finally exonerated and released in 2009, Bruce was recently awarded $7.6million compensation by Los Angeles City Council. But how can any amount of money compensate for 26 lost years? Wrongly convicted I met up with Bruce and Kara, my ex, (long story, fine now, thanks for asking) when I was working in Hollywood. We had tea at a friend's Malibu beach house. As the sun sparkled on the ocean and we marvelled at a pod of dolphins cresting the waves, it was hard to imagine a starker contrast with the harsh confines of the US prison system in which Bruce had been unjustly incarcerated for more than a quarter of a century. How does anyone deal with such a hammer blow? How do they cope with the fury and frustration? How do they rebuild their life? Making a Murderer Millions of us are mesmerised by miscarriages of justice, as evidenced by the huge global audience for Netflix's Making A Murderer, the compelling ten-episode documentary chronicling another true-life horror story. Steven Avery served 18 years behind bars, wrongfully convicted of sexual assault. Championed by the Wisconsin Innocence Project, he too was exonerated and released, only to find himself charged almost immediately with the brutal murder of photographer Teresa Halbach and convicted a second time, on (highly) dubious evidence. Along with his co-accused, hapless nephew Brendan Dassey, Avery is currently behind bars with no hope of parole, although the success of Netflix's riveting series has prompted calls to reopen the investigation. Advertisement High profile cases We all remember the headline-grabbing case of Amanda Knox, Rafaelle Sollecito and murder victim Meredith Kercher, back in the news only last week and still the subject of much controversy, especially in Italy. And then there's Adnan Syed, another convicted murderer whose rollercoaster ride through the US criminal justice system was examined in forensic detail in blockbuster podcast Serial and is currently subject to a case review. But lest we in the UK are in danger of feeling smug about our own criminal justice system, there's a long 'roll-call of dishonour' closer to home. Familiar names include Barry George, wrongly convicted of murdering TV presenter Jill Dando, and Sion Jenkins, sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his foster daughter, Billie-Jo. Following two appeals and two retrials, Jenkins was finally acquitted after six years in prison. He maintained his innocence throughout. I believe our fascination with miscarriages of justice is down to three factors: A sense of outrage that innocents can find themselves swept up in such nightmarish situations. Nagging doubts: are all exonerees really innocent? Sheer terror that it could happen to any of us. There but for the grace of God go I... As I drank tea with Kara and Bruce Lisker, soaking up the Malibu sunshine, the seeds of an idea were sown. Although my psychological thriller Without Trace has absolutely nothing to do with Bruce's case, at the heart of the book is a miscarriage of justice and a single mother, Morgan Vine, doggedly loyal to her childhood sweetheart and desperate to believe that he's innocent of the murder of which he's been convicted. But when he's freed by the Court of Appeal and her own teenage daughter goes missing under mysterious circumstances, Morgan is forced to question everything she thinks she knows about the love of her life. She fought to free him. Now is he free to kill? Happy endings Happily, no such questions plague my ex wife and her new husband. The recent announcement of Bruce's $7.6 million settlement from the City of Los Angeles is about much more than money. In the language many cynics and sceptics understand best - hard cash - the award is a cast-iron rebuttal to anyone who persists in believing 'there's no smoke without fire'. Advertisement For Kara and Bruce, the blazing inferno has been well and truly extinguished. I hope they live happily ever after. As Hassan Rouhani, the smiling, so-called moderate President of Iran, travelled around Europe last week signing lucrative commercial deals with business leaders in Italy and France, his boss, the sinister Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was doing anything but smile. Khamenei's steely grip on power is crumbling as he faces defeat after defeat and he views with growing suspicion anyone who may threaten his supremacy. Although Rouhani is no moderate, having backed more than 2,300 death warrants since he took office two and a half years ago, his stock has continued to rise in Iran on the back of his sanction-busting nuclear deal with the West. There is no doubt that among the Iranian elite many regard Rouhani as a reasonable alternative to the corrupt and pathological Khamenei. Khamenei has now ordered the disqualification of hundreds of Rouhani supporters from standing for election, favouring instead 'hardliners' who will owe their entire allegiance to him. Elections to the 88-member Assembly of Experts will take place on February 26th with elections to the 290-seat parliament being held on the same day. But last week, the 12-member Guardian Council, which is comprised of leading clerics who take their orders directly from Khamenei, disqualified four fifths of the candidates seeking election to the Assembly of Experts and 7,000 of the 12,000 candidates who had registered to stand for election to the Iranian regime parliament. Anyone considered even loosely as a moderate or a reformist was axed, including, controversially, Hassan Khomenei, the 43 year-old grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini. Dozens of sitting MPs have also been axed from the candidates' list. Advertisement Ali Khamanei is desperately trying to shore up his position. The nuclear agreement was a major setback for him. He had coveted the top-secret project to develop a nuclear bomb for the past 20 years and was dismayed when its existence was revealed to the West back in 2003 by the main organised opposition PMOI. Their continuous revelations and international campaigns, did not allow Iran to surprise the world like North Korea. The imposition of tough sanctions by the West crippled the Iranian economy and left Khamenei with no alternative but to instruct Rouhani to enter into talks. But although the ending of sanctions will lead to more than $150 billion in frozen assets being released, much of this capital is owed to China and other nations who have lent money to Iran during the sanctions era. The some 80 million Iranian citizens who are looking forward to a new economic boom with the lifting of sanctions are going to be sorely disappointed. Iran's economy is in a mess. The plummeting oil price has caused a massive problem for the mullahs. Their future budget was predicated on oil prices rising from $112 to $130 a barrel. Today it has fallen to $30 and some experts predict it will fall to $20. This is catastrophic for Tehran, whose main export is terror. They currently fund not only the brutal Shi'ia militias in neighbouring Iraq, but Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the Houthi militia in Yemen; they also continue to pour money into expensive missile technology, in direct breach of UN resolutions. Advertisement The Supreme Leader Khamenei also faces defeat on the international stage. His efforts to shore up the gore-encrusted regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria have cost Iran dearly in blood and treasure. Despite spending $ billions, Iran has seen little progress in Syria. In Iraq, hundreds of Shi'ia militias are being financed by Iran and led by Quds force commanders. They have taken over from the shambolic Iraqi military and are now waging a genocidal campaign against the Sunni population in Diyala, Salahuddin and Anbar provinces. The Iranian people are fed up. They don't want to be international pariahs. They don't want to witness people hanging from cranes in their city squares. Despite the lifting of sanctions the Iranian currency - the rial - has continued to fall. Welfare handouts are being savagely cut, food prices continue to rise; the black market is burgeoning. While the top leaders live a life of luxury, anger is building amongst the poor. Increased repression, mass arrests, public hangings and floggings have been the regime's response, because what they fear more than anything is popular fury spilling over into a new revolution. Not very many of us would dispute the importance of receiving medical first aid training... Although it is still not mandatory in schools or workplaces, (a highly contentious subject in itself), the knowledge of how to administer CPR, or recognise a stroke or heart attack could be incredibly important at some point in our lives. It could well be the difference between life and death. The British Red Cross and St John's Ambulance run courses up and down the country teaching members of the public, employees, and front line workers how to carry out life saving measures. But what about when it comes to our mental health? After all, statistically we are far more likely to be suffering from a mental illness in our workplace than we are likely to have a heart attack, or serious burn or electric shock. Advertisement How many of us even know the signs that someone is struggling with their mental wellbeing? Granted, it is not as obvious as the signs of a stroke, and not as immediate. It requires being perceptive, asking questions, and most importantly, listening. But in the same way as medical first aid training, knowing how to approach a potential mental health issue is very important. In some circumstances it can also be the difference between life and death. I recently went on a two day Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Course run by Twining Enterprise, and even though I work in mental health, the amount of new things I learnt was astounding. So I thought I would share some of them with you as they changed my idea of how we approach mental health with the people around us. 1)We are all on the spectrum, so let's talk about it! 'Mental health' affects all of us, whether we are at the healthy end of the spectrum right now, at some point we might not be, and being able to open up when our mental health is slipping is as important as being honest about our physical health. One in four people will experience mental illness at some point in their lives, if you think about all of the people that you know, that's a pretty significant number. Knowing how to talk to them about it is essential. 2)Prolonged stress is one of the leading causes of anxiety and depression This isn't rocket science. If you are exposed to a stressful situation for too long, and nothing changes then your mental processes lose the ability to cope. Your ability to deal with stress changes throughout your life depending on your level of vulnerability at the time, which can be to do with your physical health, your home life, or a number of other factors. But the source of stress isn't set in stone. Having an honest conversation with your boss about a stressful element in your job may well lead to a reduction in your stress levels. The most important thing is to not let the stress build to breaking point before questioning its source. Advertisement 3)Listening doesn't mean giving advice Asking someone what is going on in their life, or how their feeling, doesn't mean you that you have to solve the problem for them. Sometimes it is enough to just to sit, listen, empathise and don't judge. As someone who has suffered from a mental illness I would say that just having someone who I felt understood in even a small way how I felt was a great comfort. You might not necessarily change the way they are feeling, but you can assure them they are not alone, and you are there to help if they need it. 4)If you suspect someone is suicidal, don't be afraid to ask them about it! This is the subject that usually scares people the most. It can be easy to pass off a remark about killing yourself as empty, or a cry for attention, but asking the right questions can lead to someone opening up and seeking help. It is estimated that 75% of people who commit suicide have not had any contact with a mental health professional in the past year. This means that generally they have not been receiving any help or support. If someone mentions they are going to kill themselves, then don't dismiss it, and don't be afraid to ask them if they thought about how they would do it. This can help to clarify if you think they are serious, and they are in immediate danger. Whatever answer they give it's important to signpost them to mental health support, tell someone else, and if you think they are in any immediate danger stay with them and call 111 or 999. 5)Panic attack? Slow down their breathing When someone is having a panic attack it can be a very scary thing. Not only for the person involved but for whoever is close by. It can also be difficult to know what to do. The most important thing is to get them to slow down their breathing. Fast and shallow breathing leads to too much oxygen which makes them feel like they are having a heart attack. Get them to look at you, breathing slowly in and out. To get them to focus it can be helpful to get them to follow the motion of your arm as it moves up for three seconds with the in breath, down for three seconds with the out breath. Once they regain a normal speed of breathing the panic attack should stop. 6)Self harm isn't just cutting yourself When we think about self harm this is what most of us think about. In fact, self harm can be anything from sleeping too little, drinking too much, smoking, eating badly, or overworking. It is basically any act in which we are neglecting our wellbeing. I think if most of us look at that list then we would admit to at least one of those at some point in our lives, if not regularly! Do we consider them as harming our mental health? Probably not, we just consider them as part of our modern day lives. Advertisement Co-authored with Maaike Engels Friday January 15th, on our last day of shooting for our documentary 'Calais: Welcome to the Jungle' we were attacked by three migrants, armed with a knife and pepper spray. Thanks to two other refugees who came to our rescue, nothing serious happened. We were able to film the incident and decided to put the 40 seconds footage on Youtube , accompanied by a sober and factual caption. Within a few days our video went viral with nearly 700.000 views. A small media storm ensued. Over 50 newspapers picked up the incident worldwide, we were invited in TV talk shows, Channel Four, Russian TV, Huffington, the Mail on Sunday interviewed us and our story was used by obscure websites such as Pamela Geller and Breitbart. The heated discussions on social media escalated in virtual brawls. We were criticized by liberal journalists and the refugee lobby as well as by right wing, anti-migration activists. Both sides accused us of fuelling the propaganda of their opponent. Both camps urged self-censorship, warning that we could not fully assess the implications of going public with this footage. It was all very reminiscent of Cologne Advertisement However, we deliberately decided to put our attack video online. The 40-second clip is a condensed and simplified representation of the very complex refugee crisis and the diversity of the migrant population. There are predatory, 'bad' refugees attacking us, however, there are also brave, valiant refugees who come to our rescue. The audience's response to this image reflects their view on migration. The fierce reactions on our clip prove exactly how the immigration debate has become extremely polarized: Each side has dug itself in its own, self-confirming bubble, 'information cocoon' in the words of economist Joseph Stiglitz. Both camps protect and shelter themselves from opinions and facts that challenge their viewpoints. Each side is thoroughly convinced of its own rights, swallows in moral superiority and accuses the opposite camp of either inhumanity or plain stupidity. Social media have exacerbated this trend, offering people the possibility to voice their opinions impulsively and anonymous. An opinion that is not to be discussed, but serves solely to establish one's ranking on a moral scale. The social pressure to show emotional involvement is high. The undercurrent stream of intense, but ephemeral emotions determines the discourse on the surface. And that is neither substantial nor constructive. The picture of the drowned toddler Aylan caused an outpour of support for refugees. Whoever did not share his photo on Facebook was a monster. After extent of the New Year's Eve sex attacks in Cologne became slowly clear, the public opinion towards refugees flipped within days. The heated reactions online on our clip perfectly illustrate this bipolar, schizophrenic attitude dividing society. We think a healthy debate and constructive policies should be based on rational arguments and facts, not on prejudices, wishful thinking, day dreaming, peer pressure, but foremost, not on superficial emotions caused by sharing dramatic images on social media. Advertisement As sincere journalists who value freedom of speech, we disapprove of any form of censorship. And we think that self-censorship is eminently paternalistic. We love to think our audience is mature enough to handle the information provided by us in a responsible way. That this is not always the case, is sad, but does not legitimize a selective distribution of information. In our documentary, we show all different perspectives without offering an ideological framework. As objective as possible, we present voices and the points of view from migrants, aid workers, volunteers, activists, politicians, authorities, law enforcement personnel and last but not least, the vox populi, the man on the street in Calais. By posting our clip, we have invited the vox populi from the online and anonymous world. It is very interesting to see the wild array of responses. We have been accused of being leftwing, naive dangerous idiots, we have been accused of either being pro-Muslim or anti-Muslim, people called us fascists, some are convinced the attack scene was fake and staged for publicity purposes. To have evoked this extreme emotional response, is an unintended social experiment, which we will use in our documentary. The only thing we hope for is to stimulate a sophisticated, mature and realistic debate on migration. For this, we write lengthy articles and make our documentary of which we have placed a controversial preview online. The attack video does not only show the inconvenient truth of the Jungle in Calais, above all it painfully reveals how the current migration debate is driven by emotion and the lowest common denominator instead of clear arguments. Teun Voeten and Maaike Engels, January 2016 Supplied Feet in the white sand, looking out at the crystal clear water, Kristin Young didnt have a care in the world, let alone a worry she, at 47, would be diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. She was due for an operation upon her return home from three weeks holidaying in Samoa but the doctors said there was nothing to worry about. Thats the thing with ovarian cancer. Its hard to detect and when it is detected, it has spread so far it is hard to cure. Only 43 per cent of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will still be alive five years later. Advertisement A new report released on Saturday reveals Australian women suffering from ovarian cancer want affordable access to treatments increasing their quality of life, as much as treatments saving it. The report, conducted by the Centre for Community Driven Research (CCDR), reveals ovarian cancer patients want new treatments with more tolerable side effects -- called targeted treatments -- to not only be available in Australia, but affordable. Many new treatment programs are not on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and consequently hugely expensive, with the Australian health system often questioning the cost-effectiveness of treatments only improving the quality of lives. Australian ovarian cancer patients currently cannot access new treatments as quickly as those in Germany, Canada or the UK. Advertisement Chief Executive of the CCDR and leader researcher Dr Catherine Holliday told The Huffington Post Australia treatment programs benefiting the quality of ovarian cancer patients lives are currently fairly limited and hugely expensive. Theres currently a lot of discussion about clinical efficacy and economic value, but there needs to be more to value the opinions, Holliday told HuffPost Australia. They need to be made a bigger part of the decision making process. On Saturday -- as part of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month -- the first of a series of Ovarian Cancer Community Forums will be held in Sydney, where researchers and clinicians will join women with ovarian cancer to discuss the challenges faced in both the disease and the health care system treating it. Given such a low survival-rate, it is critical that these women have the opportunity to improve their quality of life, Ovarian Cancer Australia CEO Jane Hill told HuffPost Australia. Kristin is now 53 and one of the 43 per cent of Australian women to still be alive five years after diagnosis. Advertisement Six and a half years later, after five months of chemotherapy, remission, a relapse and chemotherapy again, Kristin is in remission. Shes currently taking part in a clinical trial to be taking the treatment she wants. The main quality of life benefit is it keeps chemotherapy at bay. More time without chemo -- thats what I get out of this," Kristin said. And with a love of the pacific, Kristins managed to travel to more remote countries than you can count on two hands. Her next trip in April is to Wallis and Futuna, a tiny French island in the South Pacific. Kristin Young with locals in Samoa. Each trip you plan, you have to assume its the last one, Kristin told HuffPost Australia. Fairfax Supporters of people abused in Australian institutions say they have spoken with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over the Federal Government's response to calls for a national independent redress scheme. CLAN, which represents thousands of Care Leavers who suffered abuse in Australia's orphanages, children's homes and in foster care, staged a silent protest outside Mr Turnbull's Edgecliff electorate office on Friday afternoon. Advertisement Mr Turnbull is also a patron of CLAN. "He listened to us," CLAN executive director Leonie Sheedy told The Huffington Post Australia. Sheedy said shortly before the protest she spoke with Mr Turnbull via phone and voiced her concerns about what approach the government was taking to redress. She described the prime minister as an "ally." "I said we didn't trust the state governments as our legal parents, they never cared about us in the orphanages or cared about us in the intervening years and we don't want to go back to them," she said. Last week Attorney General George Brandis and Social Services minister Christian Porter released a joint statement supporting a "nationally consistent approach" to Redress for victims of institutional child sexual abuse. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse recommended in September the Federal Government set up a 10-year, $4.3 billion national redress scheme covering more than 65,000 people -- including apologies, counselling, apologies and payments ranging from $10,000 to $200,000. Advertisement Sheedy earlier said her organisation was bitterly disappointed by the government's "attempts to drag the process out and shift responsibility" onto state governments. "They make us wait and wait and we are terrible waiters," Sheedy told the Huffington Post Australia. "We have waited all our lives." We've now taken over 28,400 calls, held over 4,700 private sessions and made over 930 referrals to authorities. pic.twitter.com/Nv9kTPOej3 CA Royal Commission (@CARoyalComm) February 2, 2016 She said survivors needed a one-stop shop for national redress, with the government taking responsibility to ensure dignity and respect for all Care Leavers abused in institutions, not just those who suffered sexual abuse. "We urge Prime Minister Turnbull, our patron, not to look the other way. We want to see some compassion from this government," she said. "The Federal Government must show it is serious about delivering justice to some of Australia's most injured and marginalised people." Advertisement The Abbott government had previously rejected a national scheme as being too constitutionally complex. In the joint statement, Brandis and Porter said the Commonwealths starting point was that government and non-government institutions should take essential responsibility for the wrongs committed under their care. "The Commonwealths general view -- to be advised by the impending negotiations -- is that, while substantial responsibility for the operation of the redress process will reside with the jurisdiction in which the offending institution was or is located, it is essential all governments commit to core principles and processes for the assessment and payment of redress," the statement said. "Accordingly, the Commonwealth will seek the cooperation of the States and Territories to develop a nationally consistent approach to redress through an agreed set of national principles." Little Progress From Commonwealth On National Approach To Redress - https://t.co/pkVmgF3WaV#springst Vic Government News (@VicGovtNews) January 29, 2016 Advertisement Responses to the government's announcement have been mixed. Lawyer representing victims of institutional sexual abuse Dr Judy Courtin told HuffPost Australia the government had a great opportunity to show true leadership. "This is huge for survivors. It has to do with being acknowledged, acknowledging the truth and all of those things," she said. "The longer this goes on, the more harm for victims and families. "We don't want more suicides. The suicides are certainly continuing and this is a big part of that." The Catholic Church's Truth, Justice and Healing Council chief executive Francis Sullivan reportedly welcomed the government's announcement but said it was "disappointing" plans were not further advanced considering it had the redress recommendations for months. "This is, at best, a tentative start to what has been a very long wait for child sexual abuse survivors," Mr Sullivan told Sky News. This piece was co-written by Adam Milstein and Marc A. Greendorfer. In recent years, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement has gained increasing traction at universities, academic associations, municipalities, churches, unions, pension funds, and investment portfolios in America and around the globe. The pro-Israel community is now waking up to the seriousness of the danger that this movement poses to the Jewish state, the Jewish people, the American people and the U.S. Yet, as we mobilize our community to action, it's important to recognize that BDS is nothing new. Those behind this campaign have simply put old wine in a new bottle. Anti-Israel and anti-American boycotts initiated in the Middle East have been a part of American life since the early 1970s - and past experience in fighting these anti-Semitic Movements should guide our response in the present. Arab boycotts of Jewish interests in the Land of Israel started as early as 1922, more than two decades before the establishment of a Jewish state in 1948. Arabs who violated this boycott were physically attacked by their brethren. Increasingly restrictive boycotts were instituted in 1933, 1934 and 1936. An official organized boycott of the Jewish community in Palestine was adopted by the Arab League in December 1945, and persisted against Israel after its founding, with the goal of isolating the Jewish state from the international community. Through the years, this boycott spread like a virus across the globe, resulting in institutionalized discrimination against Israeli goods and businesses. Advertisement The effects of the Arab League boycott in America were as disruptive as they were outrageous, causing energy shortages, gas lines, rationing, economic stagflation and discrimination against Jewish Americans. The 1973 oil boycott by the Arab Middle East countries not only cost the American economy billions of dollars, it turned American businesses and consumers into unwilling participants in an anti-Semitic campaign to destroy Israel and demonize the Jewish people. In 1977, U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approved legislation to protect American interests, making it a criminal offense to adhere to the Arab League boycott and imposing fines on American companies that were found to be complying with it. An office was opened in the U.S. Department of Commerce to conduct surveillance and implement the law. A large number of states followed the federal legislation with their own anti-boycott laws, which were generally successful in dramatically reducing the effects of the Arab League Boycott in the United States. Those behind the Arab League's Boycott campaign continued to search for a way to circumvent anti-boycott laws. They found this avenue in 2001 at the UN's "Conference on Racism" held in Durban, South Africa, hijacking the conference's agenda to force through a series of racist declarations attacking Israel. At the conclusion of the conference, the Arab League met to formally call for a resumption of its boycott, which became the framework for the subsequent organization of the BDS Movement. In many ways, the latest boycott is even more toxic than the original, as those behind BDS have learned the lessons of the Arab League's failures. BDS has effectively branded itself as a human rights movement, hiding from the public its true intentions - the destruction of Israel, the demonization of the Jewish people and the erosion of the values at the heart of America's way of life -- and obscuring the role of extremists, terrorists, and radicals in driving its agenda. Advertisement The BDS Movement has effectively exploited the general language of existing anti-boycott laws, claiming that these laws only apply to activities directly connected to the Arab League boycott by name. The pro-Israel community must begin to draw the unmistakable connection between these two efforts, ensuring that Federal, State, and Local agencies are enforcing existing anti-boycott laws. Yet, this is not enough. New laws should be enacted that specifically address BDS and close any purported loopholes that BDS supporters exploit. Recently, this was accomplished at the federal level, when Representative Peter Roskam's anti-BDS language was included in the Trade Promotion Authority passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama. Congress may also consider utilizing anti-discrimination measures to combat the BDS movement, which promotes hatred and discrimination against Jewish Americans and other pro-Israel supporters, especially on college campuses. We can also work at an organizational level to fight BDS. The United Auto Workers (UAW) union recently nullified a resolution adopted by a local UC chapter that endorsed BDS. The union explicitly dismissed BDS supporters' claims that it was a human rights movement, stating that "...despite semantical claims to the contrary, [BDS] can easily be construed as academic and cultural discrimination..." and the UAW deemed BDS support to be a program of "...discrimination and vilification against Israelis and UAW members who are of Jewish lineage..." BDS threatens a return to the same kind of economic and social turmoil that the Arab League boycott created within the United States in the 1970s. We, as Americans, have to stop BDS in its tracks before it's too late. The future of Israel - and America - is at stake. Adam Milstein is an Israeli-American philanthropist, National Chairman of the Israeli-American Council, real estate entrepreneur, and President of the Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation. Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamMilstein and @AdamMilsteinIAC. One of the world's longest running conflicts--the three-way struggle between Morocco, the separatist Polisario Front and its protector, Algeria--is finally posed to come to a peaceful end. Morocco put forward an enhanced autonomy plan more than 10 years ago.The plan would allow the Polisario fighters to lay down their arms and move home without fear of arrest or persecution in exchange for running a semi-independent government inside of Morocco. It would enjoy sovereignty similar that of a state in the U.S. The plan was quickly dismissed by the Polisario, a rebel group holed up in Saharan wastes outside of Tindouf, Algeria, as well as by the Algerians themselves, who use the rebels as a tool in their regional rivalry with Morocco. The three-way conflict might have made sense during the Cold War, when Morocco was America's ally and Algeria often travelled in a Soviet orbit, but those days are long gone. Advertisement Now Algeria and Morocco face a common foe: religious extremists. Increasingly, it appears that some members of Polisario Front have been assisting terrorists and drug dealers cross the desert and find guns or foot soldiers. "Le Quotidien d'Oran", an Algerian weekly that is generally pro-government, warned that terrorism's threat should make the Algeria rethink its support for the Polisario. This June 2005 article has proved to be prescient. Now, business and political leaders are starting to say the same things.Even a former prime minister of Algeria is now says what was once unthinkable: it is time to put aside support for the Polisario in exchange for regional unity against terrorism. Finally, in the Polisario camps outside of Tindouf, through radio broadcasts and smart phones, young adults are starting to see the conflict in a new way. They know that they are among the very poorest people in the world and are entirely dependent of aid from European and United Nations agencies. They know that war has kept them poor. They long for change. A royal welcome for King Mohammed VI on his visit to the Moroccan Saharan province of Laayoune, February 4, 2016. Advertisement They also know that the diplomatic deadlock between Morocco and Algeria is but an illusion. ISIS' new North African allies and the al Qaeda's armed bands are changing the priorities of European and American diplomats. The Paris attacks and the migrant crisis in Europe has accelerated NATO's desire to maintain North Africa's stability. They know the consequences of failure. One French official put it this way: If the North African governments fall, it is like pulling the cork out of an upside-down bottle--millions of refugees will flow into Europe. Algeria itself is changing. It is weary from decades of fighting Islamic radicals in its southern desert and in its cities. As oil prices sink and debt climbs, Algeria is tottering on the edge of financial crisis. Polisario leaders would be wise to make a deal before Algeria, pushed by economics and self-interest, forecloses the option and abandons them. For all of these reasons, the youth of the Polisario camps seeks a peace deal. Time may be running out for a deal. Internet-enabled phones from allow Polisario camp dwellers to see what life is really like in the disputed territories of southern Morocco. It is akin to East Berliners watching West German soap operas and being captivated by the prosperity that should be theirs. In the end, the wall fell because the Easterners knew what was on the other side. Are the Polisario youth any different? There is no doubt that, within the disputed territory in southern Morocco, the people, the land and the economy have been transformed in the past 40 years. In the 1960s, in the so-called Western Sahara, people lived largely as they did in the 600s. Today most inhabitants live in high-rise apartment buildings, not nomad tents. Billion-dollar investments have brought water, power and prosperity. Indeed, the southern provinces now enjoy an economic development on par with that of Morocco's northern provinces. Advertisement When the Moroccan king travels to the south, it is never as a war leader--it is a providers of investment. The Moroccan Government has invested billions of dollars in the past 15 years as have many Europeans and Americans. During those visits, the last in 2015, and then again this week, the king's plane brings entrepreneurs, executives, and project developers. New Western hotel towers surround new marinas which are joined by new highways to schools, hospitals and airports. From the sky, it looks more like California than Africa. Morocco is poised to make history soon -- when the first phase of one of the world's largest concentrated solar power plants starts generating electricity. When fully operational, it will produce enough energy for more than one million Moroccans, with possibly extra power to export to Europe. Located on the edge of the Sahara desert, the Noor-Ouarzazate power complex is putting Morocco on the map as a solar superpower. Moroccan King Mohammed VI dedicates the Noor1 and Noor2 solarpower ventures in Ouarzazate, south-central Morocco. The first phase, titled Noor 1, will be operational this week after King's visit to Sahara. "Morocco stands at the forefront of climate-friendly policies in the region," Inger Andersen, World Bank Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, says in a CNN report. Advertisement These projects will change lives of Sahrawi. And the people of the Polisario camps yearn for the life offered in Southern Morocco--they want their leaders to make peace so that they can enjoy prosperity and freedom too. For the first half hour of the opening two-way debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, both candidates appeared tired. Endless months on the campaign trail seemed to have taken their toll, which is not surprising when you consider that neither leading player exactly qualifies as an ingenue. But thirty minutes in, Clinton sprang into action, forcefully striking back at Sanders for criticizing her acceptance of corporate campaign donations. "Enough is enough," she declared from her perch just inches away. "If you've got something to say, say it directly." Then, for good measure: "It's time to end the very artful smear." And with that flash of righteous indignation, the debate suddenly took a turn for the livelier. It is strange that Beltway media folks regard Clinton as something less than fully human. In this debate she was all too human in exercising her instinct for self-defense. If anything, she verged on an excess of umbrage, when moments of humorous deflection might more effectively have done some of the heavy lifting. Clinton has particular difficulty addressing uncomfortable topics like her decision to hit the speaking circuit in search of pay dirt. A logical argument can be made that giving high-dollar speeches at corporate events is not unusual for someone in her position, and that any one of us would leap at the chance to make that kind of money, but she appears incapable of making the case in a way that passes the smell test. Advertisement Clinton's worst moment of the debate came when co-moderator Chuck Todd read a question from a voter asking if she would be willing to release the transcripts of her Goldman Sachs speeches. The candidate's response -- "I'll look into it" -- came across as both dismissive and full of crap. Surely Hillary Clinton is smart enough not have said anything in her paid speeches that would doom her in the public realm. What could possibly be gained by withholding the transcripts? When the discussion pivoted to international affairs, Clinton regained her footing, even as Bernie Sanders betrayed his lack of foreign policy chops. Because he is not on solid ground in these discussions, Sanders tends to talk about international issues in the broadest of brush strokes. Clinton, on the other hand, weaves a dense tapestry, citing Afghani leaders by name, fluently describing North Korea's missile program, offering nuanced insights into Saudi-Iranian relations. When Chuck Todd asked Sanders why he has not yet laid out a foreign policy doctrine or given a major foreign policy speech, the senator could muster no real response. Though Sanders was solid and impassioned on the issues he cares about -- corrupt politics and a rigged financial system -- he floundered on topics like terrorism, Russian aggression, and instability in the Middle East. Now that he is riding high in the polls, Sanders ought to be showing growth in his areas of vulnerability. Instead he continues to put all his rhetorical eggs in the same familiar basket. More positively, Sanders deserves credit for refusing to get exercised about this week's murky results from the Iowa caucuses, and for steering clear of the latest faux-scandal surrounding his rival's e-mails as Secretary of State. This high-mindedness is not just posturing; he is that rare politician who seems honestly reluctant to get down in the mud. Yet even as this unwillingness to engage in political slagging endears Bernie Sanders to his supporters, it raises questions about how courteous he might be against his Republican counterpart in next fall's general election debates. Advertisement Recently, a caller asked Hank Hanegraaff ("The Bible Answer Man") about the message of grace that I share in my book "The Naked Gospel." Below are Mr. Hanegraaff's comments, along with my thoughts in response. Hank Hanegraaff: "Andrew Farley teaches that the Lord's Prayer is an old covenant prayer, and therefore it doesn't apply to new covenant saints. One of the reasons for this is that, in his view, a Christian need never to pray 'forgive us our trespasses.' And this is old covenant stuff; once Christ has come, that kind of prayer doesn't apply anymore. This kind of biblical interpretation is chilling." Andrew Farley: If anyone would like to pray the Lord's Prayer, they certainly can. But to be consistent, make sure that you include Jesus' conclusion (Matthew 6:14-15) to the prayer by saying this to our God: "Father, if I forgive others for their sins, then you will forgive me. But if I fail to forgive those around me, then you will not forgive me either." Logically, then, this would be your gospel: God's forgiveness of your own sins would be entirely contingent upon you fully forgiving others first. Advertisement Meanwhile, I'll be praying a very different prayer, an opposite prayer in fact, based on the finished work of Jesus Christ accomplished at the Cross: "Father, I choose to forgive those around me, because you have already forgiven me first according to Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13. Thank you, Father, for initiating through the Cross so that I could be a totally forgiven person today. Thank you for a forgiveness that is not contingent upon my own performance as a forgiver of others but instead is fully dependent on the blood of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ." Take a few moments to compare Matthew 6:14-15 (the conclusion to the Lord's Prayer) with Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13. When given an honest look, do they not convey opposite messages? So why is this the case? Simple. Matthew 6 is directed at Jews before the Cross, while Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3 are taught after the Cross. Don't we believe that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his shed blood make a difference when it comes to the forgiveness we enjoy today? They certainly do! In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus was showing how hopeless we would be if our forgiveness were truly contingent upon our performance in forgiving others. Similarly, he told the Jews around him to amputate body parts in their fight against sin, and he urged the rich man to sell all of his possessions to gain entrance into the kingdom. Yet these are moves that we know do not earn us salvation. Meanwhile, after the Cross, the Apostle Paul is showing us that Jesus did it all. He fully forgave us "once for all" by His blood, so that we can now rest in that forgiveness, celebrate it, and then pass it on to others, forgiving others just as God already forgave us (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Advertisement Hank Hanegraaff: "Once you go down that path, that method of the art and science of biblical interpretation, you end up in all kinds of difficult tributaries, including this notion that [Farley] has that Christians have been perfectly cleansed, and, as a result, have been made perfectly righteous at our core through spiritual surgery. This is nonsense!" Andrew Farley: If the idea that Christians have been perfectly cleansed is "nonsense", then please label me nonsensical. I will cherish the label. As I see it, this is precisely what has happened to us because of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Here's just a small number of Scripture passages that communicate this: Hebrews 8:12- God remembers our sins no more. Hebrews 10:10- We have been made holy by Jesus' sacrifice. Ephesians 1:7- Forgiveness and redemption are both given together in Christ. Colossians 1:13-14- Forgiveness and redemption are both given together in Christ. Hebrews 9:26-28- Christ appeared once for all to do away with sin. 1 John 2:1-2- Jesus Christ appeared to take away our sins. Hebrews 10:11-14- After Jesus made one sacrifice for all time, He sat down. Hebrews 10:14- By one sacrifice we've been made perfectly forgiven forever. Colossians 2:13-14- We have been forgiven (past tense) of all our sins. 1 John 2:12- Our sins have been forgiven (past tense). Ephesians 4:32- God forgave us (past tense). Hebrews 10:17-18- Our sins have been forgiven (past tense) and no further sacrifice is needed. In fact, the whole reasoning behind Hebrews 10:1-3 is that if old covenant people had enjoyed the type of forgiveness that we have today, then they would have been "cleansed once for all" (see verse 2). So this is exactly what we have through Jesus Christ: a once-for-all cleansing. Yet Mr. Hanegraaff calls it "nonsense" when I proclaim that Christians have been "perfectly cleansed." One has to wonder whether he thinks the blood of Jesus accomplished any more than the blood of bulls and goats in the Old Testament! As for being made perfectly righteous at our core through spiritual surgery, this too is Christianity 101. Romans 6 explains that, at salvation, we are placed into Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. The result is that we are the new self, the new man, the new creation. This means we have new spiritual hearts that no longer desire sin. We are "dead to sin and alive to God", Romans 6 tells us. Advertisement This is why we should regard (reckon/count) ourselves as having died and having become new. This is the "heart surgery" that has occurred within us by God's grace. This should not be a controversial message but instead should be normal, everyday teaching within the Christian faith. We find these truths expounded upon in Ephesians 2:4-7, Colossians 2:11-13, and in Galatians 2:19-20, among other places. The Apostle Paul believed that these truths should be among the first to appear in his letters. Because of our death, burial, and resurrection to new life in Christ, Paul announced that we believers actually become "the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21)! In conclusion, the idea that Christians are perfectly cleansed by the blood of Christ "once for all" and are now righteous at the core (due to new birth) is not a "difficult tributary" of interpretation, as Mr. Hanegraaff claims. These are Scriptural truths within the main stream of the Gospel that should be mainstream today. Hank Hanegraaff: "We continue to struggle with the sin nature. Even the great Apostle Paul who wrote two thirds of the New Testament epistles recognizes that ongoing struggle." Andrew Farley: Yes, we continue to struggle. Of course, we do. No one is even remotely claiming that there is not a battle occurring within the life of the believer. Advertisement But the term "sin nature" (or "sinful nature") is old and tired and is easily discredited. For four decades, the term "sinful nature" had been found in the New International Version (NIV) Bible released by Zondervan in the 1970's and then updated in 1984. Consequently, many Christians presumed that we are essentially "old creations" and "new creations" at the same time, possessing two spiritual natures. In reality, the Greek term "sarx" is best translated as "flesh", not as "sinful nature." In early 2009 as I was finishing my book "The Naked Gospel" (Zondervan), I addressed this issue with my editor. Then he presented my concern to someone within executive leadership at Zondervan. I don't know the specifics that occurred within committee deliberations after that, but in the latest edition of the NIV Bible (released in 2011) we find that Zondervan changed the term "sinful nature" to the more accurate term "flesh" in many passages. These NIV verses now jive with dozens of other versions of the Bible that have always accurately used the term "flesh" instead of "sinful nature." Still, this leftover misunderstanding about Christians having a "sinful nature" persists with many Christians, apparently including Mr. Hanegraaff, who may have been taught and/or still teaches from the older NIV Bible. Why is it so important to understand that our struggle is with the flesh and not with a so-called "sinful nature"? The reason is that, with use of the inaccurate term, Christians may assume they have one new spiritual nature and then a second (old) spiritual nature. Essentially, they may live out a dual-personality existence, believing themselves to be two different people at the same time. It's like telling Christians they have two spiritual hearts or two sets of spiritual desires which are their own. In contrast, the Bible tells us that we used to be slaves of sin, but now we have become "obedient from the heart" (Romans 6). We have one spiritual nature. We have one spiritual heart. We have one set of spiritual desires given to us by God. Then, at a shallower, fleshly level, there is the tug of temptation. But these temptations come from fleshly mindsets, old programming, or worldly thinking within our old attitudes. They do not come from our spiritual heart or nature. Advertisement Yes, we need a renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2), but as for our spiritual "nature" (self), we are already new. Christ cleaned house, and then He moved in. After all, the Holy Spirit doesn't live in dirty hearts. We have new hearts. We have become the new self (Romans 6), partakers of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), and these are true because He aligned our nature with His nature and our hearts with His heart. There is an obvious struggle with sin. But the struggle is not "a good me" against "a bad me." The struggle is me (the new creation united with Christ) against the flesh, which is essentially our old thinking patterns, our old programming, or the world's way of coping with life and getting needs met. This is precisely why Christians need an ongoing renewing of the mind but do not need a new heart, or a new spirit, or a new nature, since we already have these. Hank Hanegraaff: "While positionally we are made righteous before God, practically we still struggle with the sin nature. Now, it is true that those who come to faith in Christ not only are positionally accounted righteous before God, but have the ingrafted life of Christ within." Andrew Farley: Mr. Hanegraaff acknowledges that something real has happened within us. He calls it the "ingrafted life of Christ within." That's a good start. But it is high time that respected Bible teachers present these matters more accurately using Scriptural words, not invented terminology like "positional" and "practical" which are simply ways to suppose that something is true in one sense but not true yet in another. This is an inaccurate way of expressing Scriptural truth, as the apostles themselves never communicated in that way or used those terms. Advertisement Instead, the struggle we have with sin can easily be explained by teaching on the "new self" versus "the flesh" and "sin" as seen in Romans 6-8, for example. No other terminology is needed. We need to be telling believers that we indeed have a new heart and a new spirit and God's Spirit (not just positionally but actually!), yet our minds are often consumed with fleshly thinking. Over time, we are learning and growing, and God is renewing our mindsets (see Romans 12:2) so that they will match who we are as new creations. So let's acknowledge the obvious struggle we have with temptation. But let's also teach believers that there has been a transformation in our hearts and that our identity has literally and actually changed. After all, this is the straightforward meaning of our being "born again" and our being "born of the Spirit." Hank Hanegraaff: "But that ingrafted life of Christ within must be cultivated through life practices or living disciplines, through partaking of the means of grace by which grace is dispensed into the life of the believer." Andrew Farley: We carry out "practices" and "disciplines" and then God dispenses grace to us? This sounds like, by our efforts and by our life choices, God rewards us with more grace being dispensed in our direction. Advertisement The Gospel says the opposite. By God's grace we have already been given everything that we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), lacking nothing. Grace abounds to us (Romans 5:20; 6:1). At salvation, God lavished us with His grace and we have all that we'll ever need (Ephesians 1:7-8). Grace is not dispensed in portions, and we certainly do not earn new portions of grace through practices or disciplines. Instead, it is God's abundant grace, already supplied, that allows us to wake up, start our day, and live upright, godly lives. For 12 days, I have been volunteering with incredible humanitarian groups to help the refugees here in Lesvos, Greece. The more I learn and become involved, the more I fight this feeling of futility. People have worked so hard and given so much. Yet, the problem is much more complex and so vast that it seems we may never fix it. In the following days, I witnessed firsthand how the Moria Refugee Camp really works and the impact that we, individually and collectively, really make. 1. Every miracle counts. When supplies run out and there is a shortage of volunteers, something or someone always pulls through at the last minute. For example, I spent a day packing men's socks with aluminum thermal foils to keep feet dry and warm. It was a rainy, cold day and eventually the clothing distribution tent ran out of men's socks. We checked storage and there was nothing. The volunteer coordinators made a few frantic phone calls and within one hour, we had a new supply of men's socks. Whenever something was depleted, somehow, a new shipment arrived from a warehouse, or a volunteer who had raised funds would spend their funds to purchase new supplies. I witnessed this countless times. Advertisement Entire organizations were built over the last few months from initiatives that grew like this - one donation at a time. 2. See the humanity in everyone. With volunteers from dozens of cultures all here to contribute, and each possessing their own way of doing things, frustration sometimes comes easily. NGOs each have their own rules and politics. Then you have refugees who are selective about what clothing they want. We try to give them a sturdy pair of walking shoes for the long journey ahead and instead they want the flashy, but flimsy, sneakers. Sometimes, you want to tell them the truth of it - you need the boots. Then, I remember that they are just like you and me. Refugees are humans who have preferences like the rest of us. They want to look good. They want to feel human and receive humane treatment. 3. Stop Labelling. There are no "bad guys" in these situations. Choosing to label the police and the government as the perpetrators or non-Syrian refugees as criminals does nothing to heal the situation. Instead, it creates more labels and more separation. What we really need is for people to start treating each other with kindness and empathy. Advertisement Volunteers are literally the buffer between police and refugees. Treating all parties involved as human beings does more than some realize. Exercising humanity and compassion means refugees and police will not fight and that volunteers can serve, safely. These interactions have the potential to create the capacity for global peace. 4. Find where your gifts fit and use them fearlessly. I was fortunate to connect with Shah, a long-time, highly committed volunteer at Better Days for Moria. I told her I felt useless only doing grunt work when I had this massive platform on Periscope where I share enlightening stories. She told me, "You say, 'please, thank you.' You treat people with dignity. You have a big smile and you have your online platform, so use it. Understand the situation, find where you fit in and then give it your all." Instead of forcing myself to show up to back-to-back volunteer shifts, I realized that I could make a big difference by helping to share the stories of what is really happening on the group. Now, that is a big part of how I help. My interview with the founders of The WorldWide Tribe. Photo by Edward Jonkler" Volunteering with the refugees is not about finding a glamorous photo op to share on FB. It is about serving in whatever way you feel called. Every little bit counts. It is up to us as individuals to find something that ignites our souls to contribute and not wait for someone else to tell you what to do. There is incredible work being done by independent volunteers and grassroots initiatives. At the same time, there are larger powers that are at play that can dismantle all of their efforts within days. Still, every effort counts. I am humbled to be in the midst of such brave, incredible souls - both volunteers and refugees, alike. 5. Do everything with love. In my short time here, I have served in various ways. Whether it was offering refugees tea, sorting through clothing donations, washing dirty laundry, setting up campsites, serving hot meals, or scoping daily to raise continued awareness, I served. Admittedly, I walked into this not knowing what to expect. Therefore, I surrendered to the universe my one purpose - to serve. Advertisement Now, I realize serving is not limited to me spreading my message via Periscope and other social media platforms. Serving is a warm cup of tea given to the chilled hands of someone who has travelled for weeks by boat. It is offering a place to sit and rest after endless sleepless nights. Serving is a reassuring smile in uncertain times - expressing my deep love and compassion for the refugees' struggle while acknowledging their courage and tenacity. It is my soul bowing to and honoring the divine light within each of us. Photo by Edward Jonkler It does not matter whether we donate $1 to a humanitarian effort, volunteer on the front lines, or spread the message on social media. Every action and intention counts. It is one of many threads woven together in a beautifully complex tapestry and held together by the human spirit. I'm here in this place that should be Heaven on Earth: on the island of Lesvos, Greece. You can see turkey in the distance. Gorgeous hills. Quaint villages. Mighty coastlines. But as we drove along the coastline to get to the North of Lesvo, we could see that the beaches were all littered with rubber boats and life jackets. It's haunting. and yet so easy to ignore as just trash if I didn't know the refugees' stories. If I hadn't hugged them and seen their smiles. If I hadn't seen the desperation in their eyes. If I haven't heard the stories of what they when through to get this far from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and more. Although the Number refugee boats have slowed from a few months ago, the issue still remains. I do my best to serve at the refugee camps here but it makes me think of... Advertisement HOW MANY TIMES have I walked past a homeless man at home and thought, that's someone else's problem? The difference is I came all the way out here to reach out to people, instead of letting them shiver in the cold. At first it was awkward, but now it feels normal to reach out in kindness and give someone a cup of tea because they could use it more than me. Why do we have this invisible barrier that stops us from helping others at home?! It blows my mind everyone that I meet here is here to HELP and contribute in some now. No one is thinking - oh, how can I "monetize" this? People flew from across the world, armed with their film cameras, shovels, donated clothing, and just started asking - how can I help? At home, maybe 10/100 wanna help. And so it's becomes acceptable to not help. After I pay for the mortgage. After I get my iPhone upgraded. Because that's what everyone else is doing.I can see the real tangible difference that the of first handful of volunteers made just by showing up with the intention to serve. And now the entire village is flooded with people who have all helped in some way. What if all lived at our 100% capacity to serve with our gifts and talents? What if we always reached out to those in need? I want to live there. I am here. Please consider donating to my Gofundme so that I can help support more of the incredible work of independent NGO's here: Advertisement The right kinds of food, how much to buy, plus all the other things (coolers!) you probably didn't think about. A United States of America presidential election voters pin. Whether you are Republican, Democrat or Independent, show your candidate some support with this red, white and blue button. Vector illustration. One of the most interesting puzzles of this election cycle for both academics and pundits alike has been trying to explain exactly who exactly are all these Donald Trump supporters in the GOP voting base. Answers have focused on a variety of possible answers, including demographics, personality characteristics, and racial/identity attitudes. There is some evidence that there may be another factor at play, however: "American" ancestral self-identification. The U.S. Census Bureau regularly asks Americans a version of this question: "What is this person's ancestry or ethnic origin? (For example: Italian, Jamaican, African Am., Cambodian, Cape Verdean, Norwegian, ... and so on.)" While most Americans indicate ancestries originating in Europe, Africa, or Latin America, in the 2010 Census about 20 million people (or 6.5 percent of the population) indicated "America" or "United States" as their place of "ancestry or ethnic origin." Most of these individuals are obviously not Native Americans, but rather white Americans who for one reason or another choose to report that their ancestors came from America. Some have referred to this group as "unhyphenated Americans" as they reject labels such as "German-American," or "Irish-American." (See here and here for more information.) Advertisement An examination of Census data reveals that the majority of these unhyphenated Americans are concentrated largely in the Southern and Appalachian regions of the United States: Compare the map in the link above to the geographical distribution of Donald Trump supporters in the GOP electorate. Advertisement Of course, correlation is not causation and this possible connection is based entirely on aggregate data patterns making it impossible to conclusively link ancestral self-identification to voting patterns using only this information... but it is hard to ignore the similarities in the geographic concentration of unhyphenated Americans and Donald Trump supporters. Washington DC Yesterday, February 4, National Cancer Prevention Day 2016, was observed on Capitol Hill with cancer prevention experts and legislators, students and others in a program sponsored by Less Cancer. As I reflect on this monumental day, I realize that cancer prevention must be more than an idea, but rather real world action that saves lives and prevents the many types of suffering that come with both the disease and its treatment. Our recipe for less cancer is straightforward and focused. Our core activity is to educate the public about where cancers come from and how they can be prevented, so they can make informed decisions. We also work to educate policy makers so they can, in turn, protect the public. Another part of our focus is that we carefully vet all of our corporate sponsors, so that we are in no way associated with companies that may be contributing to the very cancer-causing activities we are fighting. Education includes everything from alerting people to the dangers of indoor tanning and e-cigarettes, to harmful and cancer causing chemicals that can be found in consumer products. As an organization we are committed to seeing regulation that protects consumers from those toxins. We also would like to see the regulation of e-cigarettes for their potential to hook the next generation on tobacco. Growing evidence about e-cigarettes and their health risks shows that we need to do all we can to prevent any potential use of tobacco, responsible for over 480,000 deaths per year in the United States. Our commitment going forward is to raise the bar on human health in lifestyles and clean environments. This year we joined forces with the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for a social media program called the #9minutemeal to promote quick and healthy recipes that can be made at home as a way of engaging Americans in reducing cancer risk. National Cancer Prevention Day first came about through a House of Representatives resolution on February 4, 2013, which states that work to prevent cancer impacts human health, the environment, and the economy. The Resolution was first introduced by Representative Steve Israel, Co-Chair of the House Cancer Caucus. At the time Steve Israel said, Advertisement "There are far too many who have been touched by cancer, both directly or indirectly. Today on National Cancer Prevention Day, we commit ourselves to prevention and reducing our risks as much as possible through healthy lifestyles and clean environments. Less Cancer has been a true partner in this fight, and I applaud them for that." We honor Representative Israel for his vision and his commitment to protecting the public. Progress in prevention is happening across the United States and will continue. This past year, physician and author of A World Without Cancer and Less Cancer board member Dr. Margaret I. Cuomo initiated and helped to establish the first-ever Cancer Prevention Summit of New York, possibly the first summit of its kind in the nation on a statewide level. Dr. Cuomo's home state of New York is doing cutting-edge work to protect public health. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has supported the passage of the Child Safe Products Bill. In November of 2015, the Governor signed into law a bill protecting nail salon workers from potentially dangerous chemicals. He also supports legislation that would require regulation of a broader list of consumer products affecting adults and children in New York. Governor Cuomo recognizes that the federal TSCA Act is outdated and ineffective and that consumers deserve protection from chemicals that increase their risk of cancer and other diseases. Advertisement The work continues in places like New Hampshire, where Less Cancer chairman and founding board member, Tom Sherman, M.D. provides his expertise as a doctor and a legislator, and who last year went to bat to teach peers in New Hampshire about the risks of indoor tanning. Now, tanning beds in New Hampshire are banned to minors. Since the founding of National Cancer Prevention Day, it has developed into a critical national forum, attracting the best leading experts connecting science with policy for action. For these last years, Dr. Cuomo has given her time, talent and expertise as moderator of the panel and as curator of medical and scientific content. She meticulously researches the evidence on cancer prevention to ensure we bring the most accurate science to Capitol Hill. National Cancer Prevention Day has been critical in educating legislators and the general public in reducing cancer risk. As part of this process, the work continues on the national level as well. I am excited that Representative Debbie Dingell of Michigan, in support of the work of Less Cancer, founded the U. S. Bipartisan Cancer Prevention Caucus, which is Co-chaired by Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania. The first Cancer Prevention Caucus was held on February 3. I look forward to working with the Caucus so we may better help Americans reduce cancer risk. Less Cancer's efforts to protect the public is unlike any other organization. We represent those who have suffered many losses from cancer. We strive to prevent cancer today and for future generations. Young Man Yawning tired while Studying at Night It took me one semester of six all-nighters, a three-week cold and some dramatic shifts in my social life for me to get it: sleep matters. It's no secret that college students don't get enough sleep. Between late-night homework hours and early-morning phone alarms, bad sleep habits are all too prevalent in today's college culture. These habits coupled with students' busy class, work and social schedules leave all too many college kids burned out and dangerously exhausted. Advertisement Last semester, I was one of those students. I experienced the frightening first-hand effects that a lack of sleep and an overloaded schedule can have on a college student. I found myself working on homework well past 1 a.m. every night, only to wake up again for the daily grind at 6:30 a.m. During midterms, I even pulled two back-to-back all-nighters... yes, it was as bad as it sounds. As a result, my whole life started to change. I was sick more often, my attention span shortened and my attitude was worse. I grew distant from my friends and rarely spoke to or visited my family. Looking back, I even found my performance at my three jobs declined (which is ironic because I was staying up late primarily to keep on top of my workload). Everyone who was close to me seemed to notice that something was off, and it took me until this semester to realize what that something was: my sleep habits. My story is far from abnormal. I see college students every day who struggle with the same balance of sleep and work. Here at the University of Southern California, words like these are shared far too often: Well, I got a great view of the sunrise from the library this morning. #finalsweek Bobby Nahill (@bobbynahill) December 14, 2015 Advertisement I'm most productive after 11 p.m. Veronica Quezada (@veronicaqm) December 29, 2015 Mom: honey are you getting enough sleep? Me: sometimes when I sneeze my eyes close. College Student (@ColIegeStudent) November 14, 2015 What's most upsetting is the praise that immediately follows these sorts of statements. College students always seem impressed when one of their sleepy counterparts brags of a restless week or a 4 a.m. bedtime made possible thanks to copious caffeine levels. Regrettably, I even find myself applauding students who suffer from frequent late work nights. As a tour guide for USC, I point out our 24-hour library on every tour and explain, "It's said you aren't a true USC student until you've seen the sun rise from one of the library's windows." But why is pulling an all-nighter in an empty library the act that makes someone a "true" USC student? There's a whole lot more to college than a sleepless night, and those who avoid seeing that sunrise are the students we should really be commending. It seems we live in a culture that has assigned a degree of respect to anyone who proudly proclaims, "Yeah, I pulled an all-nighter." We shouldn't be impressed; we should be sorry. Advertisement Every day, researchers and medical experts are pushing to raise awareness of the detrimental effects poor sleep habits can have on people. Julia Kirby of the Harvard Business Review summarized the severity of neglecting sleep by sharing a shocking chart that equates fatigue to alcohol impairment: This means that a person running on three hours of sleep has the same level of performance as someone who has a blood alcohol concentration of .08%--the legal limit for driving under the influence of alcohol. Next time you're planning on staying up an extra few hours to finish your paper, consider that you will have the perception and judgment of someone who is legally too drunk to drive. Sadly, too many students make that exact decision regardless of the warnings. As a result, their health pays the price. Many medical experts say sleep deficiency can age your skin, cause weight gain, lead to heart disease and even weaken your sex drive. One study from the University of North Texas suggests the risk for developing depression is ten times higher for people with insomnia compared to those with healthy sleeping habits. All that in mind, is the late-night grind really worth the results? This semester, I decided it's not. I've made some changes to my schedule, my priorities and my life. I enrolled in slightly less demanding classes, took on a less time-consuming job and allotted for more free time in my schedule. I've been more active, more happy and all around more successful. Some of the most accomplished business leaders across the country are beginning to recognize the correlation between success and sleep as well. Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, has become one of the most outspoken advocates for the benefits of sleep. Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, who gets seven-and-a-half hours of sleep every night, has also become a major sleep supporter as he often speaks out against applauding unwise sleeping decisions. Advertisement This semester, I made the choice to prioritize sleep and success. I urge you to do the same. It's up to us to change college culture and usher in a new generation of students--a generation that strips the pride associated with all-nighters and grants glorification to those who sleep well. Let's start paving the path toward a healthier, more successful future. It is the shrine of great taste gilded dome and minarets, One of Shiite imams who is the brother of Imam Hussein bin Ali bin Abi Talib, Located in the city of Karbala, south of Baghdad. by Mariya Taher - Follow @Mariyataher83 What I'm about to tell you is a secret--or, at least, it was intended to be a secret. Now, more and more women are speaking up about it. They're risking alienation from their families and religious communities in order to do so. It needs to happen because speaking up about the practice of female genital cutting is the only way it will ever stop happening. On December 1, 2015, for the first time, 16 women publicly signed a petition calling for the Ministers of Women and Child Development, Law and Justice, and Health and Family Welfare, to pass a law banning the practice of female genital cutting (FGC) in India. Since it started, the petition has received close to 40,000 signatures. Advertisement The World Health Organization considers FGC to be a violation of women's rights. Yet, within India, the Dawoodi Bohras are the most well-known for practicing female genital cutting--otherwise known to the community as khatna. The practice involves removing a small sliver of skin from the prepuce of the clitoris and is often performed on girls around the age of seven. The World Health Organization reports that an estimated 90% of cases include Types 1 or 11 and cases where genitals are "nicked" but no flesh removed (Type 4), and about 10 percent are Type 3. In general, the practice is carried down from mother to daughter, with usually no involvement from the male members of the family. The ritual was traditionally carried out by midwives but mothers and grandmothers now also take girls to hospitals or clinics, particularly in the bigger cities. The reasons behind the practice are varied and complex--different groups give different reasons for its continuation. However, the overarching idea behind its continuation is that it preserves the cultural identity of the group. Various justifications are given to why this preservation is needed--such as to control a woman's sexuality by reducing her ability to obtain sexual fulfillment, which helps maintains the purity of a woman by keeping her a virgin until marriage and faithful to her husband once married. For the Dawoodi Bohras, the custom is considered a religious requirement. Often, social pressure by family and friends also create an environment in which the practice becomes an informal or formal requirement for social acceptance, and/or is a marriageability requirement. Advertisement The above petition signed by 17 women is not the first time in which a petition has been started by a member of the Dawoodi Bohra community calling for an end to the practice. In 2011, a woman who went by the pseudonym of Tasleem started a petition calling on the then Dai (the community's spiritual head), Syedna Burhanuddin, to end the practice. The petition was ignored by the religious clergy and the following statement was given by the Dai's community spokesperson, Qureshi Raghib: "I have heard about the online campaign but Bohra women should understand that our religion advocates the procedure and they should follow it without any argument." Over the years, there have been various attempts by Dawoodi Bohra women around the world to speak out against female genital cutting and to call for an end to this practice. One of the first studies that I am aware of regarding the practice of FGC in the Dawoodi Bohra community is "All for 'Izzat': The Practice of Female Circumcision Among Bohra Muslims in India." This small case study documenting the practice was done in 1994 by Rehana Ghadially. In the last few years, other voices have called for action through articles in magazines, other publications, and blogs by survivors of khatna as well as their supporters. In fact, I have also written about my own experience for the Imagining Equality Project. This tradition does not just happen within Dawoodi Bohras in India, but also to diaspora groups of Dawoodi Bohras that now reside worldwide. For example, Australia recently tried their first case of female genital cutting within the Bohra community there. There are many other ethnic, religious, and cultural communities worldwide that still follow this tradition as well. In 2015, the Population Reference Bureau even reported that in the United States, half a million women and girls are at risk of undergoing this practice. The practice is now found in nearly every country in the world, and Equality Now reports that FGC has been found to occur in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, Latin America, New Zealand, North America and Western Europe. Advertisement It is only in the last few years that the true pervasiveness of this practice has begun to be recognized around the globe--and yet, this is a huge accomplishment. The Change.org petition begun by the 16 signatories of the petition is a big step forward in recognizing that khatna is, in fact, the same as female genital cutting--and that it too should be banned. This khatna does indeed cause physical as well as emotional harm, and can be traumatic for young girls who are too young to understand what is happening to them or to be able to give consent. We congratulate these 16 women for stepping forward, and I hope that others reading this article will take a minute of their time to sign their petition and encourage the Indian Government to pay attention to this form of gender violence. Mariya Taher is currently pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at Lesley University, MA. She received her Masters in Social Work from San Francisco State University and her BA from the University of California Santa Barbara, where she majored in Religious Studies and double minored in Global, Peace, and Security & Sociocultural Linguistics. Prior to attending Lesley University, she worked in the gender violence field for seven years. She has contributed articles to Solstice Literary Magazine, Global Voices, The Express Tribune, The San Francisco Examiner, BayWoof, and the Imagining Equality Project put together by the Global Fund for Women and the International Museum of Women. Divorce rates are on the rise across the world. Here in the U.S., the divorce rate is higher than 50%, with Spain, Portugal and Belgium almost 20% higher than the rest of the world. In China, the divorce rate continues to rise and because of the increase, Asian countries are marketing against divorce hoping to encourage marriage and family unity. One Asian ad campaign titled "Rejoice" asks those struggling in their marriages to reevaluate divorce and instead choose love. With the rise in divorce, it's not surprising there are unusual situations that may arise, calling for quick attention and expertise. One such situation occurs when a child is abducted by a parent and taken to another country. In 2014, data from the U.S. Department of State shows 434 new reported cases of child abduction across the world. Keith Hotten, a barrister, mediator and matrimonial law professor in Hong Kong says parental child abduction issues commonly arise because of the large community of ex-pats living overseas. If your ex kidnaps your child and moves to another country, what results is a legal battle both expensive and complicated because of the litany of laws both in your home state and overseas. So what should you do if you are faced with this obstacle? There are three essential steps you should consider: Advertisement 1. Contact Your Local Authorities: If your ex takes your child to another country without your permission (or violates court orders), it is imperative to contact local authorities. This is especially important if you are concerned about the safety and well-being of your child while in the care of your ex. 2. Seek Legal Counsel: This is a situation which calls for immediate attention and assistance from a professional attorney who can help with the return of your child. Specifically, you will want to find a family law attorney who is well-versed in this area of law and has successfully negotiated the return of a child from a foreign jurisdiction. Once a child is taken out of the country, there are many hurdles a parent must go through and if you are not properly armed with an outstanding legal team, it will be that much more difficult. If you are concerned about the whereabouts and well-being of your child, it is very important to keep your attorney apprised of all communications with your ex. 3. Research the Hague Convention Treaty: If your child is taken out of the country, you will want to determine if the destination country is a party to the Hague convention. The Hague Convention of October 25, 1980 is an international treaty that seeks to protect children from wrongful removal or retention in a foreign country. Not all countries are part of the Hague convention, so it's important to determine whether the country holding your child is a party to the treaty. Do your research and don't be afraid to ask your attorney tough questions about how the Hague Convention treaty, along with other U.S. domestic laws will affect your case. Maria Fatima is the chief of Maudemo, a village in Timor-Leste where life has long centered on small-scale farming. "Farmers are important, because they are the ones who provide food for the other people," she says. "If there are no farmers, there will be no food." Advertisement But with output from village farms facing rising competition from cheap, factory-processed foods, Maria spends much of her time helping her community look for ways of producing better tasting, higher-value food both for them to eat themselves and sell in nearby markets. The villagers have had some success with snails. Long considered nothing more than a pest, they now collect and prepare them in a way that they can be eaten. Treatment of cassava is also undergoing a rethink. Long the third most important source of calories after rice and maize for people in tropical regions, traditionally villagers would just peel it, boil it and then eat it. Now, says Maria, they prepare it into chips that are both tastier and retain more nutrients. These photographs are drawn from a series commissioned by Oxfam Australia, which is working with local partners in Timor-Leste to reduce hunger and malnutrition. Maudemo, Timor-Leste | Photographer: Rodney Dekker "The Other Hundred" is a series of unique photo book projects aimed as a counterpoint to the Forbes 100 and other media rich lists by telling the stories of people around the world who are not rich but whose lives, struggles and achievements deserve to be celebrated. Advertisement The second edition of "The Other Hundred" focuses on the world's everyday entrepreneurs. The book offers an alternative to the view that most successful entrepreneurs were trained at elite business schools. Here are people who have never written a formal business plan, hired an investment bank, planned an exit strategy or dreamt of a stock market floatation. Find out more about the upcoming third edition, "The Other Hundred Educators," here. Six female southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum) at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park's new Rhino Rescue Center are undergoing reproductive exams this week, in the first steps of a worldwide, collaborative master plan to save the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros from the brink of extinction. An international team of the world's leading reproductive and genetic experts are visiting San Diego to conduct the exams and to attend meetings to discuss the next stages of this conservation initiative. Collaborators include experts from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin, ZOO Dvur Kralove of the Czech Republic, Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, San Diego Zoo Global and other international and domestic institutions. Advertisement "San Diego Zoo Global is pleased to welcome leading scientists from around the world to San Diego this week, to take very important steps of a groundbreaking conservation initiative to save the northern white rhino," stated Randy Rieches, curator of mammals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. "San Diego Zoo Global has been working on rhino conservation initiatives for many years, and to join forces with so many prestigious partners working towards the same goal is thrilling. Conducting the reproductive exams on these beautiful, important southern white rhinos is the first step to saving one rhino species from extinction." The female rhinos, between 4 and 7 years of age, were relocated to the Safari Park from private reserves in South Africa in November 2015. Researchers at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research and their collaborators are discussing possible reproductive options to save the northern white rhino, and may help to save other species as well. Possible options could include artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, or embryo transfer. DNA materials stored in the Frozen Zoo at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research and the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) in Berlin could be used to develop northern white rhino embryos to be implanted in the closely related southern white rhinos, to serve as surrogate mothers. The reproductive system of rhinos is very complex, and there is still much to be learned. There are many challenges ahead, but the collaborative team is optimistic that a northern white rhino calf could be born from these processes within 10 to 15 years. Only three northern white rhinos remain in the world after the Nov. 22, 2015 death of Nola, an elderly 41-year-old northern white rhinoceros at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The northern white rhino is the world's most critically endangered rhino, and the three that remain reside at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Advertisement San Diego Zoo Global has been working for decades, along with other accredited zoos, to keep a sustainable population of rhinos safe under human care while working to protect them in sanctuaries in the wild. To further this commitment, the Rhino Rescue Center was built to house the six southern white rhinos, establishing the Safari Park as a sanctuary to protect them--at a time when an average of three rhinos are killed each day in the wild by poachers. Rhinos are poached for their horns, which are made of keratin, the same material as human fingernails. At the current rate of poaching, rhinos could become extinct in 15 years. By Christopher Zoukis Midway through his first term as governor of California, in 1976 Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown Jr. signed into law a strict mandatory sentencing measure. The "determinate" sentencing bill set fixed lengths of time that had to be served before an inmate could be considered for parole. Now, almost 40 years later, Governor Brown has announced he'll work to get a ballot initiative before state voters this November to undo parts of the law he signed, allowing earlier parole eligibility and consideration of a prisoner's behavior behind bars. In making his announcement, Brown estimated the change could give new hope of early release to thousands of prisoners now incarcerated. Like California governors before him, Brown is under orders from federal judges, who had already taken control of the corrections system's medical and mental health care, to reduce the state prisons' population. Numerous lawsuits had attacked the corrections system, which usually housed twice as many inmates as the system was designed to hold, as violating civil rights laws and the Eighth Amendment constitutional guarantee against "cruel and unusual punishments." Advertisement Plaintiffs in those cases asked the courts to order reductions in the size of California's prison population; as early as 2009, a three-judge panel of the federal Ninth Circuit ordered the state to reduce its inmate population by about 40,000 of its 150,000 inmates. When the state's efforts - which included transferring prisoners from state prisons to county jails - did not satisfy the judges, California unsuccessfully sought to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, but by a 5-4 vote, the high court rebuffed that attempt. Speaking for the majority in the sharply split court's 2011 Brown v. Plata decision was Justice Anthony Kennedy, a California native; he was joined by the court's four liberals. Kennedy recounted the corrections system's many shortcomings and upheld the panel's order that the state reduce its prison population. The court's four dissenters produced two separate minority opinions attacking that action on jurisdictional and constitutional grounds. A stinging opinion from Justice Antonin Scalia criticized the panel's open-ended order as leaving management of the state's corrections system to the "policy preferences" of the review panel judges. The ballot initiative announced by Brown on Jan. 27 would amend the fixed-sentence law Brown signed in 1976, to make prisoners found guilty of a non-serious, non-violent and non-sexual crimes eligible for parole; the governor estimated this might make as many as 7,000 inmates eligible to seek parole. Advertisement The governor's plan also calls for creation of a new system of time off for good behavior, to be run by prison officials, which might affect even more inmates than would the changes in parole eligibility. The governor's plan does not spell out the specifics of that credit system, leaving it to me detailed in regulations (which would be written later by the corrections system, if the initiative passes). To get the measure on this fall's election ballot, initiative supporters will have to collect almost 600,000 valid signatures from state voters. If the sentencing initiative makes the Nov. 8 ballot, it could join initiatives on such other subjects as gun control, the death penalty, and marijuana legalization - although Gov. Brown says the sentencing proposal is the only one he is proposing. He admits a major cause of prison overcrowding stems from what he calls the "unexpected consequences" of earlier get-tough proposals, including some he backed. He argues laws restricting the chance of parole, or sentence reductions for inmates' good behavior, are counter-productive, since they remove incentives for prisoners to improve themselves. The icons for Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s messaging applications WeChat, left, and QQ are displayed on an Apple Inc. iPhone 5s smartphone in an arranged photograph in Hong Kong, China, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. The success of messaging services QQ and WeChat has helped boost Tencents market value to about $161 billion, making it the most valuable Internet company in Asia. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- As technology hubs from Silicon Valley to Bangalore work hard at devising digital approaches to finance that could alter the global banking landscape, mobile banking penetration in China has already exceeded 390 million people. And for Chinese-owned Tencent Holdings, the world's fifth largest Internet company, China's 1.3 billion-strong market is just the beginning. The tech giant's best-known social network, WeChat, is fast gaining traction in Africa, and mobile banking is one area in which its influence is spreading. Outside China, WeChat is largely misunderstood. Referred to as "Twitter on steroids" as often as WhatsApp's "rival messaging service," the mobile app has arguably outgrown even its Chinese name, Weixin, which translates as "tiny message." Five-year-old WeChat is far more than a social network or messaging service. The mobile app can perhaps be more accurately described as a gamified WhatsApp-Facebook hybrid, with all the social applications of both, along with a Tinder-like dating feature, voice and video calls and a multi-functional digital wallet, all rolled into one. Advertisement The African market is a logical next step in WeChat's growth trajectory. The majority of Africans will first gain access to the Internet through mobile devices, and acquiring market share during the relatively early stages of Internet adoption on the continent is key. The African market is a logical next step in WeChat's growth trajectory. "They've missed the entire desktop, PC, laptop, whatever thing, and because of that, I think we're seeing innovation come out of Africa from a mobile perspective that is just leagues ahead of anywhere else on earth really," said Brett Loubser, the head of WeChat Africa. The local insight that is steering Tencent's expansion into African markets -- and South Africa's in particular -- stems from a longstanding partnership between the Chinese firm and Naspers, Africa's biggest media company. Naspers acquired a 46.5 percent stake in the Chinese startup in 2001 for $32 million. Fast-forward to the present, and Naspers' stake (now diluted to 34 percent) is worth approximately $65 billion, a staggering 95 percent of its market capitalization on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Despite accusations that Naspers is riding on Tencent's coattails, South Africa's biggest media group's experience in Internet services, print media and the continent's biggest pay-TV business is invaluable to Tencent. The two firms have formed the joint venture, WeChat Africa, to focus their efforts on continent-wide expansion. Advertisement WeChat is already estimated to have some 5 million registered users in South Africa. By contrast, U.S.-based WhatsApp, which was acquired by Facebook in February 2014, gained its over 10 million-strong South African user base over a period of seven years. WeChat's success at home will no doubt be difficult to replicate outside China, but much of its experience in a developing market with no revenue model can be applied to Africa, too. WeChat's success at home will no doubt be difficult to replicate outside China, but much of its experience in a developing market with no revenue model can be applied to Africa, too. When Tencent launched its original instant messaging service QQ in 1998, just 0.2 percent of China's population were Internet users, according to World Bank data. Today, digital banking, investing and lending have gone mainstream in China, with millions of consumers skipping straight from cash to mobile finance. The African market shows similar potential. "If you look at the landscape in Africa from a mobile money perspective, Africa is leading the charge globally, we are way ahead," Loubser told Memeburn. Few historic bars in the United States have the pedigree of Seattle, Washington's oldest bar, Merchant's Cafe. While a lot of bars in the U.S. may be old, and many others have a pretty sordid past, it's not always easy to find them in the same place. So you can imagine how happy we were to find them both at Merchant's. The terra cotta brick building you find sitting at 109 Yesler Way in Pioneer Square (read, oldest) section of town, started out life quite humbly. Advertisement Originally there was a two-story wooden building built by John Hall Sanderson, an early Seattle businessman and land developer, on this spot. However, it was burnt to the ground in 1889 during the Great Seattle Fire, which swept through what is now downtown Seattle. Since most of the buildings at the time were made out of wood, the area was leveled. In pictures of the aftermath all that can be seen are smoldering piles of ash where businesses and residences once stood. Making sure that didn't happen again, Sanderson commissioned the building be rebuilt out of brick in 1890 and designed it specifically to hold a liquor store/cafe on the bottom floor and a hotel on the top two floors. The building was later sold in 1892 and the name of the bar was changed to Merchant's Exchange Saloon. It was at this time that the upstairs apartments began to accept hourly rentals. Charles Osner, the new owner, recognized how lucrative prostitution was in a town full of burly - and lonely - lumberjacks and gold miners and so imported women (discreetly called, "seamstresses") into Seattle and housed them upstairs. At the back of the saloon were a number of framed paintings of these "seamstresses". It's reported that this collection was, in essence, the menu for the happenings upstairs. The gentleman (to use the term very loosely) pointed to the one he wanted to have "hem" his trousers, and then paid the proprietor before making his way upstairs to have his inseam taken in. Advertisement The building was sold again in 1898 to a gold-rich businessman named Franz Xavier Schreiner. Schreiner, or "FX" as he was known, set up a bank downstairs and exchanged cash for gold dust. He would reportedly cash out as much as $100,000 in gold over a weekend. As it did all things, prohibition tried to put the kibosh on the good times here in 1916 (early dry laws in Seattle), but instead of giving up the bar, FX simply paid off the police and moved the alcohol sales (as well as an illegal gambling room) downstairs to the basement. Okay, now let's flash forward a hundred years to what we have today. We think FX would be happy with what is left after almost a century since he sold Merchant's to its next owners. Sure, there isn't still a brothel upstairs (we asked), however there is a boutique hotel now, so the rooms ARE for rent (Netflix and chill anyone?). And yes there's no longer the need for the speakeasy (they've even done away with the card room), but they do still have the bar downstairs which is a great place to lounge and drink. Inside the space on the ground floor you'll still find the intricately-carved bar that was shipped around Cape Horn in the late 1800s. You'll still find the wooden floors, the pressed tin ceilings, and decor reminiscent of 1898 - a few beer signs but nothing tacky (though they do have a few televisions for local sports). You'll also find a great bar program. The manager, Luke, told us that either the Old Fashioned or the Margarita would be great drinks to order--yes they are worlds apart, but so are people's tastes--because each is made traditionally with fresh ingredients. We tried the Old Fashioned and were really happy with them, especially the fourth one, which went down even better than the first three. Advertisement They also have a full menu with a wide variety of items, most of it pub grub, though locally themed. The only food we tried (unless you count the cherry garnishes on our cocktails, and those were quite tasty) were the cheese curds, and they were pretty damned good. But the menu's simplicity means that probably anything you order is a safe bet. At the back of the bar you still find the picture gallery that the burly lumberjacks and miners pointed to with trembling fingers as they chose their companion for the evening. One of those paintings, the "Oriental Girl", is said to be haunted. Also they've had many reports of hauntings on the ground floor in the women's bathroom, AND downstairs in the underground bar. It's in the underground bar, in fact, where two small children died in a fire in 1938 and still apparently roam and play tricks on guests. Granted we didn't see or feel any ghosts, and honestly we never do, but a number of television shows and online programs have done ghosts hunts and all swear that the place is filled with spirits (aside from those behind the bar). We'll take their word for it. All in all, Merchant's Cafe is a great find. It's got history, ambience, a great story, and maybe even ghosts! This is definitely a place to drink at when you visit Seattle. Cheers! Why Go: Oldest bar in Seattle, opened in 1890, great ambiance, warm locals and ghosts. What to Order: Old Fashioned or Margarita, both freshly made. We didn't really try the food (except for deep fried cheese curds, not sure that qualifies us to talk about the food though). Advertisement Businessman Holding Happy and Sad Masks Poor Donald Trump. He was just so thoroughly swindled by Ted Cruz it's not even funny. Yes, this is the New York City billionaire we're talking about here. Supposedly the big-time deal-maker. This is the guy who wrote the book, "The Art of the Deal." Trump is constantly bragging about his ability to make great deals. He'll beat the Chinese. He'll beat the Japanese. He'll beat the Mexican government. Nobody is supposed to be able to pull one over on Trump. Advertisement Yet along comes Ted Cruz and, with the ease of taking candy from a baby, he swindles Trump out of his shorts right off the bat. It all began a few months ago in the summer of 2015. Cruz identified his clueless mark well in advance, like a Texas rattler spotting a hapless rodent from afar. Cruz actively sought out Trump and courted his attention, mainly by simply plying Trump with compliments. Trump has such a ridiculously inflated ego that he is a sucker for flattery, and Cruz zeroed right in on Trump's weakness. It worked like a charm. Cruz landed a meeting with Trump in his office in Trump Tower in New York City. "I don't know why I'm meeting the guy, to be honest," Trump said. Poor Trump. He never even saw it coming. Trump was quickly ensnared in Cruz's little trap. The bromance was on. The two competing Republican candidates declined to attack each other, and instead began publicly complimenting each other. Trump even spoke at an event in Washington, D.C. hosted by Cruz to protest Obama's historic nuclear agreement with Iran. Advertisement But Ted Cruz had ulterior motives in striking-up this little fling with Trump. In September of 2015, Trump was enormously popular with around 31% in the national polls, and Cruz was down in the doldrums with around 6%. So Cruz saw the opportunity to gain popularity for himself by hitching his wagon to Trump's wagon. By appearing to be an ally of Trump, and suckering Trump into talking about Cruz and saying positive things about Cruz, the massive fan-base of Trump supporters would get to know Cruz, warm-up to Cruz, and even begin to like Cruz. Trump fell for it like a rookie. It seems blatantly obvious to everyone what Cruz was doing. Well, everyone, that is, except for Trump, who couldn't seem to see past Cruz's disingenuous flattery. Cruz was simply playing nice-nice with Trump in order to position himself to one day be able to steal Trump's supporters. In fact, Cruz was caught admitting this on a secretly recorded audio tape during a closed-door fundraising session with donors. Cruz told his donors that even though he was saying nice things about Trump in public, Cruz personally believed that Trump did not have the judgment to be president, and that Trump's campaign would eventually bring itself down. Cruz admitted that his strategy was to "bear hug" Trump and "smother [him] with love" so that when Trump faltered, the lion's share of Trump's supporters would shift over to Cruz. Advertisement Indeed, Cruz is a cunning little conniver who had Trump duped. By December-January, Cruz had climbed his way up in the polls to second place behind Trump and far above all the other candidates. And suddenly, Cruz became Trump's biggest competitor. Trump finally recognized the threat posed by Cruz and reportedly told his staff that Cruz "is hanging around the top too long. Time to take him down." Thereafter, Trump began fervently attacking Cruz for potentially being ineligible to serve as president due to Cruz's birthplace in Canada, and for loans that Cruz received from Wall Street to help fund his 2012 senate campaign that Cruz did not properly disclose. The bromance was over. By this time, however, it was too late. Cruz had already built-up his base of supporters. And lo and behold, Cruz skated past Trump to win the Iowa caucuses, thereby rendering Trump a loser. Poor Trump. Outsmarted, used and abused. So much for Trump being some sort of a super-hero deal-maker. On his very first outing he was outwitted by Cruz in a simple little maneuver. How in the world could Trump handle world leaders, much less national affairs, when he got so smoked by Cruz in Iowa? Well, this all seems to clear things up. We can now see that Trump is full of bluster, but empty in substance. Advertisement This little tale has also shed an unfavorable light upon Cruz. While he is shrewd and cunning, we see that Cruz is also highly dishonest. His entire outward display of affection for Trump was completely false and part of a highly calculated grand deception. Wow. This guy wasn't just telling a fib or two, but he was acting out an elaborate and pre-meditated false scheme. And he was good at it, too! We clearly see that this wasn't his first rodeo in lying and deceiving. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect is that the central theme in Cruz's entire campaign is that he is the candidate for "truth." Wow. Now this is hypocrisy on a whole new level! This guy is dangerous. Neither of these men belong in politics. But they do seem to have a lot in common. They should both drop-out of the campaign and rekindle their bromance. US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks during the MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate with Hillary Clinton at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on February 4, 2016. Clinton and Sanders face off on February 4, in the first debate since their bruising Iowa clash that the former secretary of state won by a hair, as they gear for a battle royale in New Hampshire. / AFP / Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) The worst moment of the entire 2016 presidential campaign was when Bernie Sanders first uttered the phrase "democratic socialist." Why? Because since last summer, it seems like every online discussion regarding the election has involved slapping a label on an issue or policy and then spiralling into a fruitless debate about its precise application or meaning. And I blame the word "socialist." Advertisement Ignoring a cardinal rule of the internet, I read the comments section of one of my recent political posts to bring you the following captivating examples: "Four more years of a socialist in the White House would be the final nail in our coffin." "Give it up folks, there's no way this country elects a Senior Citizen that's a lunatic socialist." "There is to much IF"S [sic] with Sanders! All those social programs for instance, are you ready for a Socialist society---------I'm not!" He has a point: there most certainly "is to much IF"S." [sic] My problem with these comments, and with current political discourse in general, is not with the obvious fact that there is a definitive difference between socialism and democratic socialism. That's another conversation that has been discussed enough. My problem is that while these labels may make it easy to conveniently categorize something, they also deliberately distract from the actual thinking or reasoning behind an idea. Advertisement For example: I do not care whether our police and fire departments are socialist, communist, Marxist, Klingon, whatever--I just know that fire departments are a good thing for me to have in my life. Here's how fire departments work: I pay taxes, and if my house is engulfed in flames, then I can dial 9-1-1 and someone will drive to my house and try to extinguish the fire. It's a system that I am fine with. I literally do not care what label you put on that system, because that system is beneficial to me. You could tell me that the concept of the municipal fire department is Satanic, and I'd still support it as long as it would decrease the probability of all my physical possessions being incinerated in a raging inferno. So, are some ideas socialist? Maybe. But might one of those ideas also be a good idea? Yes. And that should always be the question. Is Bernie Sanders a Democratic Socialist? Or is he a Socialist Democrat? How far to the left does he lean? Is he a Republican Bull Moose? Is he a populist? Is he a Jewish Nazi? Are Nazis Democratic Socialists? Is Bernie Sanders more like Lenin or Stalin? Is there such thing as a Communist Nazi? What are we even talking about at this point? None. Of. This. Matters. At the end of the day, issues are more important than labels. Bernie Sanders wants to change a lot of things. He supports universal healthcare, free college tuition for public colleges and universities, and a $15 minimum wage, and wants to change the fact that ninety-nine percent of all new income generated today goes to the top 1 percent of people in this country. When Americans--both Democrat and Republican--hear Bernie Sanders discuss these issues, perhaps they shouldn't react simply by screaming "socialist!" or saying "to much IF"S, because LABELS" before immediately dismissing his ideas. Maybe Americans should look at each of the issues being discussed by Bernie Sanders and other candidates on both sides of the aisle and ask themselves "is that a thing that should be changed?" And then they should figure out whether they agree with the means by which a candidate wants to bring about that change. Advertisement Many voters have expressed concerns about the difficulty of finding funding for Bernie Sanders' proposed programs, and those are perfectly legitimate concerns. But simply decrying the ideas "because LABELS" is asinine. "But Cody," you might be saying right now, as your anticipation at writing me a scathing comment pointing out my astonishing stupidity makes your loins tingle, "socialism / communism / Marxism has destroyed every country that has ever had anything to do with it and policies that fit under one label are all evil and a gateway drug to fascism and dictators and we'll turn into Cuba and everyone will be poor and the water of the Mississippi will turn into red blood and swarms of locusts will consume us all!" While you have an excellent point, that is still not quite as valid of an argument as asking "how do we pay for all this?" (And by the way: I have had enough of the insistence that socialism--or any other "ism," for that matter--has wrought destruction and misery on every nation in the world that adopted any socialist policies ever. Policies do not exist within a vacuum. Some socialist countries are also democratic and some are totalitarian, and there is a massive difference. There are a lot of moving parts within nations and within politics. Even if all of Bernie Sanders' proposals magically passed within the next year--which even I realize won't happen--it still would not make the United States a socialist country in which every single policy and ideology perfectly matched any other socialist country that has ever existed. Hitler is credited with the first public anti-smoking campaign. Americans run anti-smoking campaigns. Does that mean we're all Nazis?) Ideologies do matter. But they are not the only thing. We just need to understand them, and know when they're being used to manipulate or deceive or avoid independent thinking. Advertisement My purpose in writing this post is that I hope voters and political commentators alike will stop this never-ending mutual masturbation of a debate about semantics. There is nothing to be gained. Look at a policy proposal, and if you think it could benefit you or your fellow Americans, then support it. Period. Much has been made over the years of the United Nation's bias against the State of Israel. This one-sided view that routinely condemns all actions of the Jewish state has led many supporters of Israel to disregard any statement or policy put forward by the UN and question the very relevance of this once great body. This is a mistake. The UN remains the most stabilizing international entity and still retains the potential to make the world a safer and more peaceful place. This is why the latest declarations by General Secretary Ban Ki-moon are so infuriating. In a statement to the Security Council, the Secretary General had the audacity to qualify his condemnation of Palestinian terror by attempting to justify this ugly violence and explaining that it is due to "the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process." When innocent civilians were murdered last year in France and California by Islamic extremists the Secretary General did not try to excuse these heinous acts. He simply condemned the "despicable terrorist" without attempting to justify their crimes by incorrectly attributing their actions to outside factors. Advertisement It seems that the Secretary General only looks to justify terror when Israelis like Dafna Meir are killed. Meir, a nurse dedicated to saving human lives and a loving foster mom, was stabbed to death in her home by a Palestinian terrorist while protecting her young children just a few weeks ago. In the days before Mr. Ban-moon's statements an Islamic fundamentalists stabbed a pregnant peace activist, while yet another killed a young woman on the cusp of her adult life who was shopping for groceries. Only when it comes to Israelis does the Secretary General dare to justify these acts of terror by repeating false propaganda of the Palestinians. Unfortunately, these statement are part of a disturbing pattern. This past December a report issued to the Secretary General's office described a heinous terrorist attack in which two Palestinians butchered five Israelis at prayer in a Jerusalem synagogue as an "incident" in which "five Israeli men and two Palestinian men were also killed." That same report went on to differentiate between Jews killed in pre-1967 Israel from those who were murdered in Judea and Samaria. In addition to these statements justifying and probably even encouraging more terrorism, they are also completely divorced from reality, and just plain wrong. How does the Secretary General explain the hundreds of Jews massacred in the Holy Land before Israel was declared a state in 1948? What excuse does he make for the thousands of terror attacks that took place before the 1967 Six Day War and the so-called occupation? What about the thousands of Israelis murdered in the streets at the same time that successive Israeli governments offered unprecedented concessions to the Palestinians with the hope of achieving peace? If the Secretary General is looking for the root causes of terrorism, he should start by listening to the terrorists themselves. Just last week one apprehended terrorist openly admitted that it was the hate-filled the anti-Semitic programming on President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority official TV channel that inspired him to set out and stab a young woman. What is worse is that the hateful propaganda broadcast on official radio and television pales in comparison to the calls for murder and human butchery on Palestinian social media. Advertisement Statements like the ones made by the Secretary General serve only to fan the flames and further justify the sick and twisted logic presented to youngsters that freedom and self-determination will come to the Palestinians by murdering woman and children. As the first nation-state to gain our freedom from colonialism and receive recognition from the General Assembly, we in Israel want more than anyone else for the UN to reclaim its mantel of promoting international peace and security. This can only be achieved by stopping the lies and making the Palestinians face the truth. Last week, troubled for-profit college company ITT Tech settled a series of lawsuits brought by shareholders that charged ITT with various securities law violations. Under , on Jan. 29 but still subject to objections by investors, ITT will pay lawyers for the plaintiffs $1.1 million and commit to a series of "corporate governance reforms," including ITT commitments that: Two-thirds of the ITT board of directors will be independent. Bonuses and separation agreements will take into account executives' compliance with the law. ITT will publicly disclose its insider trading policy. ITT will adopt a "Clawback and Recoupment Policy" that requires executives who engage in misconduct that results in an accounting restatement by the company must reimburse the company for bonuses or stock sale profits in the period. ITT will maintain a whistleblower policy, "for the reporting of instances of fraud and other violations of law or corporate policy, in the company's Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for at least five years." "ITT will maintain its Employee Ethics Alert Line, a confidential ethics hotline operated by a qualified third-party vendor, for at least five years. Information relating to the Employee Ethics Alert Line will be communicated to employees via a number of awareness distribution methods, including ITT's employee web portal and poster displays in areas such as employee break rooms. Three different shareholder derivative lawsuits filed in New York and Indiana were combined into this case, with shareholders claiming collectively that ITT had engaged in breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, abuse of control, corporate waste, and gross mismanagement. Advertisement The joint court filing by ITT and lawyers for the shareholders states that ITT denies all the claims in the case and believes it has done nothing wrong. ITT also announced last week that it was paying a $515,000 bonus to its CEO, Kevin Modany. The money represents a fraction of the earnings Modany received a few years ago, when for-profit college profits and abuses were at their peak -- in 2009 Modany got $7.6 million in total compensation; by last year he was down to about $3 million. But given that Modany has presided over a disastrous period in the company's history and in fact was slated to resign before apparently changing his mind on New Year's Eve, and given that taxpayers have been paying most of his salary, it still seems like an awful lot. In the same SEC filing, ITT announced a series of criteria for determining bonuses going forward, including: resolve legal matters, increase graduation rates, improve nursing license exam passage rates, "Design, develop and obtain the necessary regulatory authorizations to offer an alternative delivery methodology for an accredited degree program," and "Design, develop and implement a revised marketing and advertising campaign for ITT Technical Institute." Some of these criteria seem to move in the direction of positive reforms, while others raise new questions. The ITT announcements revive issues addressed last summer when, days after leaving his post as student loan ombudsman at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rohit Chopra sent a letter to ITT shareholders seeking corporate reforms. Chopra wrote, "I have serious concerns that ITT is not properly managed. Unless investors provide more vigorous oversight over management and the board, ITT will continue to harm both its students and its shareholders." Chopra called in the June 2015 letter for ITT investors to "seek new board members who can provide necessary supervision and direction," "to strengthen executive compensation policies, such that they are aligned with the interests of students and shareholders," and to "make improvements to management culture." Advertisement ITT responded at the time that Chopra's letter "is a perfect example of the myopic view pervading some in D.C. regarding taxpaying educational institutions" and "demonstrates a personal bias against our institutions.... Allegations are not facts and we think our investors will not take action based on simple assertions from someone with an ideological axe to grind." (Chopra joined the Department of Education last month.) ITT, which has been getting as much as $1.1 billion per year from federal aid, about two-thirds of its revenue, has a troubling record. Last May 12, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued ITT, CEO Modany, and ITT's former CFO, charging that the company "made various false and misleading statements and omissions to defraud ITT's investors by concealing the extraordinary failure" of its student loan programs. The SEC charged that ITT management "engineered a campaign of deception and half-truths that left ITT's auditors and investors in the dark concerning the company's mushrooming obligations" regarding its private student loan program. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau also has sued ITT, charging in a 2014 complaint that "ITT subjected consumers to undue influence or coerced them into taking out ITT Private Loans through a variety of unfair acts and practices designed to interfere with the consumers' ability to make informed, uncoerced choices." The attorney general of New Mexico has sued ITT for alleged "unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable acts and practices ... in connection with the advertising, marketing, and selling of educational services" to prospective students. At least thirteen more state attorneys general -- from Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington -- are probing ITT. Advertisement A federal whistleblower lawsuit unsealed last month added more allegations of awful abuses, such as ITT admitting a blind student to a computer networking program that was unsuited to assisting the student, who dropped out within weeks and got stuck with the bill. ITT denies it has done anything wrong and is contesting the pending charges. But the company is also in precarious financial condition. ITT stock trades today at about $2.7o a share, down from $92.30 in July 2011. In October the U.S. Department of Education put delays and new restrictions on the delivery of student aid to ITT, after the Department concluded that ITT had failed to properly account for federal aid money since at least 2009 and failed to comply with prior Department orders to strengthen financial controls. The Department had already, in 2014, placed ITT on a probationary "heightened cash monitoring" status and required the company to post an $80 million letter of credit. Yet ITT still has some 130 campuses, with more than 55,000 students, in 38 states. Last year ITT received $664 million in taxpayer money from student grants and loans. UPDATE 02/05/16 1 pm: Raul Valdes Pages, a former for-profit college CEO and long-time industry consultant who has become critical of industry practices, writes me, "ITT governance has changed little. [Private equity executive John] Cozzi, et al are still on the Board. In my opinion, [Modany] is Cozzi's and Board's puppet. I believe this is nothing more than a gambit to plead for leniency while awaiting for change at the Department [of Education] after Obama is gone. The culture has not changed at all and my opinion is that they will continue to look for the path of least resistance." I had just returned from a four-night mission at a tiny little village on the outskirts of Zabul Province, Afghanistan when I stumbled upon this little gem. I was exhausted, hungry and in desperate need of a shower when an Army chaplain picked me up from the Blackhawk landing zone to take me back to base. He chatted incessantly as we slowly made our way around the Kandahar Airfield and I sleepily responded with a few "uh-huh's" while desperately hoping he would pick up the pace. He finally dropped me off in front of my 'chew' and politely got out and helped me unload my gear before wishing me a peaceful night. As I stumbled toward the door, he quickly grabbed something out of his truck and jogged back over to me. He handed me a book and told me I looked like someone who needed some help. As he drove away, I glanced at the title and inwardly laughed... love wasn't on my priority list. Advertisement It was a few months before the missions slowed down enough for me to have the energy to look at the book again. When I finally read it, though, I realized how much I needed that information. I was married for one short year before deploying to Afghanistan as a photo-journalist with Special Forces and my young marriage sorely suffered. We were young and in love but we had no idea how to show each other love in a language that the other person understood. The 5 Love Languages, a book written by Dr. Gary Chapman, is really simple to understand and use on a daily basis. Let me walk you through the languages and I guarantee you'll be changed forever. Words of Affirmation: If you receive love in this language, hearing "I love You" or other unsolicited favorable compliments are very important to you. You're not being needy... you're just being you. In the same token, if you're berated, belittled or spoken to rudely, it can shatter you. Quality Time: If you receive love in this language, you don't need to hear "I love you," you just need someone to give you their undivided attention. It's not as simple as just watching a movie or eating dinner together. You want someone to sit down, engage and really listen to what you have to say. Receiving Gifts: If you receive love in this language, you get immense joy out of the thought and effort that someone else put into giving you a gift. This doesn't make you materialistic and it doesn't insinuate that all gifts should be expensive. You feel loved and appreciated when others' show they understand you by giving you thoughtful and meaningful gifts. These gifts mean the most to you when you least expect them. Acts of Service: If you receive love in this language, you feel loved when others do something to ease your responsibilities. It can be simply taking out the trash, washing the dishes, getting the fuel changed in your car or offering to do something they wouldn't normally do. Physical Touch: If you receive love in this language, you feel loved the most when others give you hugs, hold your hand, or physically touch you in a way that says, I'm here for you and you can depend on me. This doesn't relate to sex. For these people, someone else's physical presence provides a sense of safety and security. Advertisement Don't try to guess what your love language is... go here and take this FREE quiz! It's very accurate and I bet you might be a little surprised with your results. Can you have more than one love language? Yes. I primarily have one but my husband has two. The KEY to this is remembering that you have a love language and your husband has a love language. What's the likelihood that these love languages will be the same? I don't have a percent for you but I haven't met too many couples who share the same love language. That's why it's crucial for BOTH of you to take the quiz and discuss your results together. Then, start practicing showing your love for your spouse or significant other in THEIR love language. This can be incredibly difficult and it will take work, time and constant reminders. Sometimes, I still find myself wondering if I've shown my husband love in the way that he receives love. We're human and it's natural to fall back on what comes natural to us. For example, my husband's primary love language is receiving gifts. For years, I believed my husband was very selfish and childish but now I understand this love language and I understand him (more than before at least). It's simple things, like bringing him home his favorite candy bar, buying him something off his Amazon wish list or noticing he needs new workout clothes and purchasing them for him. Alternatively, my husband still struggles with my love language: physical touch. He doesn't like to hold hands (but I love it) and he isn't a big fan of hugs. We make a joke out of it every day and he tells me I have a one-hug-a-day limit. He knows that if I'm upset, feeling stressed or really excited, what I need is a warm embrace, not a new necklace. For years he purchased jewelry for me... I'm glad he's finally kicked that habit! Advertisement With today's rapid pace of technological advancement, the world is getting more and more connected. Using the Internet, we can easily search what's happening out there and who's doing what. We are widely exposed to diversity. This is not limited to the cyber world. Especially living in a big city like New York, whether we like it or not, we encounter people from various cultural, social and religious backgrounds on a daily basis; in our work place, at a store, at a meeting, or on the street. Throughout human history, and today we see how mistrust and misunderstanding, especially among people of different faiths can destroy individual, society and country. So there is an urgent need for people of faith to work together to overcome mistrust and misunderstanding and build a peaceful co-existence. Therefore interfaith harmony is not an option but a necessity in a world of diversity. The Buddhist approach to religious diversity is very clear: there are different paths to Truth. As such, other faiths are not wrong; they are simply different. But, as human beings, we tend to regard what is different as wrong. Advertisement Sotaesan, the founding master of Won Buddhism, has a unique story that shows why Won Buddhism takes an active role in interfaith dialogue and cooperation. After years of searching for truth, Sotaesan reached enlightenment in 1916. When I read his life story for the first time, I was a little skeptical about his enlightenment, because I am reluctant to believe those who claim to be enlightened. But the following story was convincing enough to catch my attention. After his enlightenment, Sotaesan got some of the basic scriptures of Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, and some other teachings from eastern religions. After reading them he said: "ancient sages had known what I have come to know", which means that his awakened mind allowed him to see what other enlightened masters had already experienced. It made perfect sense to me that Sotaesan confirmed his awakening by understanding other spiritual teachings. Though they used different words to express their awakening according to different times and places, the ultimate reality they experienced was one. From this point of view, Sotaesan guided his students to be respectful and open minded to other religious traditions. People often ask me if they need to be a Buddhist to practice meditation and Buddha dharma. I tell them, "No, it's not necessary.' Actually, I'm not a big fan of using labels. Once we put a name on something, it is easily stereotyped and we start to draw a line between what is and what is not; between what is right and what is not right. We create a box and start to think that we have to be one way or the other. I call myself a Buddhist for the sake of convenience. Indeed, I am a Buddhist, more specifically a Won Buddhist. But when I really reflect on this, I see labeling myself is not always helpful. It can become another egocentric idea that i cling to. I need to remind myself I don't practice dharma to become a Buddhist, but that maybe it's the other way around; I practice dharma not to become a Buddhist. More precisely speaking, a true Buddhist is not a Buddhist, meaning that we don't cling to the idea of being a 'Buddhist'. A true Buddhist has no fixed name as a Buddhist realizing that everything is conditioned, changing and momentary. We practice dharma to remove all the labels that we hold on to: the idea of who I am, what I can do, or how the world is supposed to be. When we really let go of such labels, we can live life to the fullest. Advertisement Dogen, a Japanese Zen master wrote: To study the Buddha way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to be actualized by myriad things. When actualized by myriad things, your body and mind as well as the bodies and minds of others drop away. No trace of realization remains, and this no-trace continues endlessly. From the Buddhist point of view, interfaith harmony can be realized by understanding who we really are, and how everything is interconnected with one another. With this understanding, we can see what's beyond our different names and forms. Once we see this interconnectedness, then mutual understanding and respect will naturally arise, just as a shadow follows us. ---------------- Below is Pope Francis' video on inter-religious dialogue; ---------------- Fifty years ago, the Civil Rights Movement led to a series of laws banning public discrimination. African Americans were no longer barred from certain restaurants, some schools were integrated and fair housing laws created more living options. But today, it's clear that court rulings and legislation didn't change the root cause of conscious and unconscious bias - the widespread belief in racial hierarchy still exists. As a nation, we didn't understand the power of this belief, this misguided notion that some people are either superior or inferior because of the color of their skin. This bias manifests in many ways. Unarmed men and women are killed by police and civilians, the justice system seems tilted toward whites, and there remains unequal treatment for children and adults when it comes to health, education, housing and employment. David R. Williams, a sociology professor at Harvard University, cites studies showing that when whites, blacks and Hispanics visited hospital emergency rooms with the same ailment, white patients received pain medication more frequently than people of color. Advertisement Does that make the physicians racist? That may not be the case. With the advancements in neuroscience, we now know much more about the power of the mind. We understand that unconscious beliefs are deeply held, that centuries of this belief system have unconsciously shaped how some of us respond. But now, 21st century technology - YouTube, cell phones, dashboard cameras, body cameras - are leveraged to shape new beliefs about our humanity. They are capturing and exposing vivid samples of people of color abused and dehumanized. We must move beyond the absurd notion that some people have more value than others. What's promising is that recent polling data demonstrates a palpable desire for a positive change in how we view one another and how we shape our society to reflect the inherent value of all people. We have carried the burden and the weight of this mythology of a hierarchy of human value, allowing it to weigh our country down for centuries. We must jettison that belief and move forward with the truth of our equal values as a human family. It's significant that a polling analysis conducted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in conjunction the Northeastern University School of Journalism has found that a majority of whites now acknowledge that racism still exists, and that it creates bias in structures such as the criminal justice system. Furthermore, a majority of Americans believe more needs to be done to eliminate racism. In a poll last year, 53 percent of whites said more changes needed to be made to give blacks equal rights with whites, up from just 39 percent a year earlier. Those findings underscore that now is the time for the Truth Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) process, which the Kellogg Foundation launched on Jan. 28. More than 70 diverse organizations and individuals ranging from the National Civic League to the YWCA USA to the NAACP are partners in the TRHT process. This broad coalition seeks to move the nation beyond dialogues about race and ethnicity to unearthing historic and contemporary patterns that are barriers to success, healing those wounds and creating opportunities for all children. Advertisement Specifically, the TRHT process will prioritize inclusive, community-based healing activities and policy design that seek to change collective community narratives and broaden the understanding that Americans have for their diverse experiences. TRHT will assemble national and local commissions that will hold public forums on the consequences of racial inequity and work toward mobilizing systems and structures to create more equitable opportunities. In the forums, we will also discuss racial hierarchy and how best to dismantle it. Clearly, there must be broader knowledge of the harm that comes from the devaluation and from the structures of inequality. They create physical harm, they create mental and emotional harm, and when there's harm, healing is needed. When an unarmed black person is killed, I have a bodily reaction to that tragedy. I relive losses of my own, such as when I was a teenager in Cleveland. My first cousin was shot and killed by a white thrill-seeker in our segregated neighborhood. I recall that we buried her that week, while he enlisted in the Navy and left the city. It was the first funeral I ever attended. Despite all the joyful moments my cousin and I shared growing up together, my only lasting recollection is of her body lying in that casket. All of us must become more cognizant of the cost of violence and the harm. We must be willing to invest in the processes that help to bring about healing. woman silhouette with arms raised praying. The great Swami Satchidananda always said that we only need to have faith the size of a mustard seed. Such faith proved itself to us in an unusual way. We were teaching a weekend meditation program in Plymouth, a fairly rural town in Devon, England. On the Friday evening an excited student told us that Deepak Chopra had abandoned the Mind Body Spirit Festival in London, some 300 miles away, and had come to teach at the Heart & Soul Center in town. We were a little surprised to hear this, as we had met Deepak some years beforehand in New York and it sounded very unlike him to abandon anything, especially a prestigious program in London. We sent our best wishes to him. The next day this same student came conveying Deepak's blessings to us. She added that he no longer looked like the photo we had of him in our book, The Way Ahead, as he had just come back from a sojourn in the desert and lost a lot of weight. She also said how a group of students were staying up all night with him, having profound healings and insights. We agreed to meet with the man after our program was over. At the Heart & Soul Center we first saw a woman we knew leaving with bruises all over her face. However, an Indian man quickly replaced her as he came towards us and introduced himself as Deepak Chopra. Advertisement Deb immediately said, "But you're not Deepak!" "I am his spiritual brother," came the reply. As Deepak and Chopra are not unusual names in India, we said no more. Instead we sat and talked with this man for a while, somewhat impressed with his knowledge. Later that evening Deb called the owner of the Heart & Soul Center to make sure she knew he wasn't the real Deepak Chopra. She didn't, and it took Deb over a half hour to convince her. The following morning 'Deepak' was apprehended and accused of fraud. However, none of his 'students' would bring charges, so he was free to leave. It was then that we found the extent of his false persona included rape, violence, and financial extortion. The most interesting part for us was how quickly the profound healings disappeared. Those who were convinced the pretender was the real Deepak went through cathartic healings and personal transformations, until he was exposed as a fraud when suddenly those same students reversed to the distress they had had before. The power of faith was palpable. Let us make sure that what we have faith in is the real deal! S. To be really honest, I really don't know. For one I don't flip though magazines looking for inspiration. It literally comes to me from out of nowhere. This is the way I best describe it: The only way I am able to design is working at a table, with no noise, no distractions, with a lot of material sitting around me, and then I'll just go to town and start making things out of nothing. I like working from scratch. I don't like looking at things... I don't know... it just comes out of nowhere. There is no explanation for it. No one helps me, I really don't value anyone else's opinion. When it comes to me creating... creating and designing are two different things. Creating is when you are create something new, when you are completely building something that's going to shock people, that's when I like people to bother me. When I'm designing, usually when I'm making something for a quick shoot, or remaking a product that I already made in the past... that happens a lot, people see some of the stuff I made for Lady GaGa, and they want me to remake it... and I do it, but then I start questioning..."maybe I should change this up... that's when I value other people's opinions. I put a time line on it too. I stress myself out a little bit. If I haven't made anything in that time, then I have to make two things. Monday through Thursday are my creating days. I put a time line of 45 minutes to create something I'm proud of. Everything on my website is a one of a kind piece. If I make it and you buy it... that's it. I'm not doing it again. It took me so much time to make it, so much effort... and I think people like that. E. So you are preparing to go on tour after fashion week, where are you going, and what do you do on tour? S. I'm about to do Australia, Russia, Germany... I start my tour in New York, on February 13. I am basically like a rock star designer. I created the whole tour thing. Instead of me creating in London and Paris, and all the normal places, I started taking it to places where people haven't heard of me. I basically just show my line. Rafi Kopelan, 8, has Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare skin disease. Photo courtesy of Jackie Kopelan. Jackie Kopelan braces herself as she pulls up to her daughter Rafi's elementary school at the end of the day. The questions that have plagued her all day continue in a constant loop: How does my daughter feel? How is she managing? Has she been able to suck it up today? Before long, Rafi, her funny and stubborn 8-year-old is strapped in the backseat, singing Katy Perry's "Firework" at the top of her lungs. Jackie breathes a sigh of relief. She lets herself relax and enjoy her daughter's happiness, if only for a moment. Despite enduring what has already been an exhausting day, the hardest part is yet to come. Advertisement Rafi was born with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic connective tissue disorder that results in extremely fragile skin and blistering. Even the slightest contact can tear the skin or cause blistering. Rafi's subtype, Recessive Dystrophic EB, is one of the most severe. Her body is covered in what resembles third-degree burns, and she suffers from a dizzying list of additional complications: missing fingernails and toenails; fused toes and partially fused fingers; scarring on her cornea, leading to poor vision and dryness; dilated cardiomyopathy and anemia, draining her of energy; low hemoglobin levels that require blood infusions at least every four months; and esophageal scarring and blistering that necessitate routine surgery to help her swallow her own saliva. "She's either in pain or uncomfortable every single minute of every single day," Jackie says. "We give her prescription pain medications every day, but this is the type of pain where no medication can take care of it. On top of that, she's incredibly anxious because of her fear of the pain." This fear begins the second Rafi opens her eyes, before the sun even rises in her home of Ardsley, New York. She wonders if her clothes have stuck to her body overnight. She wonders how painful going to the bathroom will be, with the blistering inside her GI tract. She wonders how long brushing her teeth will take today and how much her gums will bleed. And then there's the bandaging process. Every morning Jackie or her husband, Brett, must delicately replace the bandages that cover Rafi from the neck down to avoid infection and further blistering. Advertisement When it's all over, she heads to school for a welcome break. Here, a nurse accompanies her in between classes. Adjustments inside the classroom, such as a smaller desk, enlarged worksheets and an iPad, allow Rafi to be independent while working alongside her classmates. After school lets out, however, Rafi faces the most challenging part of her day: bath and bandage change. Five evenings a week, the top or bottom half of her bandages must be removed while she takes a sponge bath with Hibiclens, an antiseptic skin cleanser. She tries to distract herself by watching Liv & Maddie or The Wonder Years, but nothing can push the pain to the background. The process is excruciating and can take two hours. If all goes according to plan, she'll have time for a quick story before bed. The routine starts all over again the next morning. --- Despite it all, Rafi is a happy girl who enjoys playing with friends and going to Girl Scout meetings. She loves wearing dresses and wishes she could wear more headbands and hair clips. (Her RDEB also causes alopecia, sudden hair loss.) Her parents take her to the Museum of Modern Art, where she admires the paintings. At home she creates her own masterpieces with watercolor and oils, covering sheet after sheet of paper with brightly colored rainbows and butterflies. She loves science and has started a computer coding class. And a remarkable self-confidence has led her to speak in front of audiences of hundreds, and to be featured in a recent commercial campaign for debra of America, a leading EB advocacy organization. "Anything she feels confident in, she really goes crazy with," Jackie says. At one point, Jackie and Brett didn't know if they'd see their daughter turn 1, let alone blossom into a curious and determined 8-year-old. Jackie gave birth to Rafi two weeks late in 2007 after a healthy pregnancy. When doctors discovered patches of skin missing from her feet and hands, they assumed she was simply "overcooked." But when blisters and open wounds started popping up, they placed her in the NICU. "She was wrapped in so many bandages she looked like the Michelin Man," Jackie says. Advertisement Two weeks later, the Kopelans received the devastating biopsy results. Though the life expectancy for people with EB is about 30 years, doctors warned that Rafi might not even make it a year. "It was super scary and super upsetting," Jackie says. When Rafi was 2, the Kopelans felt they had no choice but to try a stem cell transplant. Though things initially looked promising, Rafi contracted the Epstein-Barr virus and barely survived the procedure. One part of her body now produces the collagen 7 protein she was missing, but she hasn't seen or felt the effects. The Kopelans will not risk a similar surgery again. "There's a lot of great things on the horizon," Jackie says of EB research and drug trials. "You have to be hopeful. But most important, you have to get through every day." For Jackie, this means staying alert to the psychological hurdles Rafi faces, like the stares of strangers. "If you ask her if she thinks she's pretty, she'll say no," Jackie says. "I feel bad that she feels that way about herself. I try to tell her that looks are not your choice, but how you treat people shows your true beauty. If you're a good person, you become prettier. It's important to give as much kindness as she gets." According to the Kopelans, that's a lot of kindness. Their family, friends, community and school have provided overwhelming support over the years. Not surprisingly then, when the Kopelans dreamed up the idea five years ago for Rafi's Run, a 5k fun run in New York's Riverside Park to raise money for EB research, their whole support network rallied behind the cause. Advertisement This year's Rafi's Run will take place on Sunday, March 6, with the goal of raising $200,000. "I think people need to understand even little things can make a huge difference," Jackie says. "One should always be kind because you don't know what someone else might be going through. A smile can mean so much to someone." And that one smile could be what turns a difficult day into one worth singing about. --- Watch Rafi's commercial and others in the recently launched series from debra of America. Then share on social media with #ItWontHurtToWatch. (Warning: These videos contain graphic content that may be upsetting to some viewers.) To participate in Rafi's Run, visit rafisrun.com. To learn more about EB, visit debraofamerica.com. It isn't often that my conversation on The Dinner Party with Elysabeth Alfano results in my guest explaining that he sees himself as a french fry. However, maybe this isn't too much of a stretch when my guest is also the creator of such phrases as "spongeworthy", "shrinkage", "double-dipping" and "yada, yada, yada." Writer and Co-Executive Producer of Seinfeld, Peter Mehlman, joined me at the Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles to discuss how he fell into writing for the show and what it was like being a part of what the Writers Guild of America called the second "Best Written TV Series of All Time." Over an Alto Turkey Club (including french fries, of course) and Charred Octopus from Cavatina Restaurant, Peter and I dish on life during and after Seinfeld, how to not sweat the small stuff, his new interest in stand-up comedy, and his first novel, It Won't Always Be This Great. I contemplated on writing this as I didn't want to seem disingenuous as I've seen many journalists write articles honoring the life of journalist Michael J. Feeney and rightfully so. I didn't want to appear as if my public dedication to him was more about me than him because unlike most people who have written about him, we didn't have a long history with each other. When I logged into Facebook on Sunday, I was (and still am) shocked at the death of Michael J. Feeney. Initially, for the first few hours, it didn't quite register in my brain that someone I considered a reliable colleague and close confidant was no longer with us. I'm hesitant to use the word friend because I feel like using that word isn't quite genuine. However that's how he treated me - he never regarded me as someone to just network with, he was genuinely kind and nice to me. In 2012, before Hurricane Sandy, I was a journalism student at Long Island University and I was working at Staginto Media in New Jersey. My former professor, Curtis Stephen was very adamant about me becoming more involved in the New York Association of Black Journalists (NYABJ). At the time, I was working two jobs and enrolled full-time while living in the Rockaways and working in New Jersey. My plate was full but my professor kept me in the loop with local events I could attend. During the summer, I took my professor's advice and registered to attend an NYABJ event downtown Brooklyn near my campus. Naturally, I was a bit intimidated to go to the NYABJ event. I felt at the time that I was only an intern and to be in an environment with established, working Black journalists in every aspect of New York media was a lot to grasp at once. That fear also riled up my curiosity and sparked new admirations; I wanted to be them, I wanted to ask them lots of questions to understand how to be a successful media Black professional. So I convinced a few of my fellow journalists pals who were also students to come with - besides, it was walking distance from the campus so I had no reason not to go. It was a rooftop hotel party and of course I went straight to the bar - how else would I get the courage to talk to Black media greatness? So my friends who are more extroverted than I, found people they were interested in speaking and networking with and left me at the bar. Yes, I was still at the bar, ear hustling on conversations on my future mentors. I recall hearing major print, TV and radio networks being mentioned adjacent to titles such as producer, editor, anchor etc. Yes, I needed another drink because first impressions are indeed lasting. As I stumbled mentally on who I would approach first I turned to my right and noticed a shift in volume amongst this black media elite crowd. All I could recall was hearing people being seemingly more frantic, I wondered to myself, "Is this turn up time?". Still using the bar as a crutch and trying to pry myself to join the crowd, I see a tall man walk through the crowd and people were stopping him. They were hugging him, giving him back pats, women giving him kisses and I kept hearing the name Michael Feeney. I had an 'ahh' moment. I remembered when I registered for the event that his name was on the Eventbrite email. At the time, he was the president of the NYABJ chapter. I finally finish my drink and felt courageous enough to mingle. Even my friends were enjoying themselves I wandered around looking for a corner to occupy so I can get another drink. As I'm on the terrace, Michael was in the doorway being attentive and sociable. I thought to myself that he seems nice and I wanted to thank him for the invite personally. So I slowly walked closer to him while trying to put words together in my head on how to quickly thank him for being a nice host. Before I had a chance to open my mouth he was bombarded by more people trying to get his attention. I just continued to walk past and onto the terrace by myself. I really wanted to thank him because I didn't want to be rude. The sun was going down, people were more relaxed and I'm still being reclusive at this event where I need to be talking to people. Part of me was ashamed but at that time, being around that many professionals really stifled me. I needed to make my way to the restroom and I did. In the restroom and outside of it, I was able to chat with a few people and they were nice. They all gave me their business cards and social media handles and I was feeling ecstatic; small steps Erika, small steps. Back outside I go now and there's Feeney, he was located between the terrace and the bar - a perfect spot because everyone can see him and he can see everyone. I thought to myself, well that's pretty clever to position yourself like that. As I'm making my way to the terrace again, I see Michael isn't as occupied with people so I figured I need to take this chance and be swift! I walked up to him and extended my hand to offer a handshake and introduce myself. He looked at me with the most perplexed look and extended his long arms to reach out to hug me. I can't speak for everyone, but when someone hugs you that's a sign of comfort and trust and that's exactly how I felt. Advertisement As he was hugging me, I was able to thank him for being a good host and for the invite. He started talking to me not in a, 'what do you do in media' typical conversation by people who attend these type of events, but in a manner where he genuinely wanted to get to know me as a person. People were walking up to him and engaging him while he was talking to me and he would cut their conversations short because he was committed to talking to me without interruption for a few minutes. Again, this was something I never really expected from him. For a few minutes, me telling him about my studies, accomplishments thus far and future was all that mattered. It was that moment I knew Michael and I would be cool. He introduced me to a couple people and told me he had to talk to a few more people and gave me his card. I looked his card and saw he was a reporter for the New York Daily News - my reaction was holy shit! He told me to contact him and he'll keep me in the loop with stuff I would be interested in. That's what I liked about Michael the most - his ability to be professional and genuine. He didn't sacrifice his integrity for his profession. He's the perfect model on how to expand your network and make it work for you while having fun at the same time. That summer, he invited me to another NYABJ event and I took with great honor that he would personally reach out to me and ask me to come. Even though I never officially registered to become an active member of NYABJ, I did attempt to start a chapter on my campus. He extended his resources to me and even though I wasn't able to start a chapter on my campus, we remained in contact. So that was the context of our relationship. As I progressed academically and professionally, we would discuss topics and I would send him stuff I thought he could use for possible stories (but let's face the facts, Feeney didn't need any of my resources or tips, because he was just that good, but I still extended where I could). His Facebook page was so funny, they were often random, dressed in a little bit of snark with a lot of wit. I remembered when he filled everyone in about those cheap flights to Abu Dhabi and about half of New York bought flights. Michael and I were supposed to meet up at "The Wiz: Live" at the NBC exclusive watch party but he was ill. The last time I saw him was at the NYABJ event at Associated Press office. If Michael invited me somewhere, I went. The level of respect and admiration I have for him is indeed real and genuine. I was checking up on him but he never disclosed to me how sick he was. Before Christmas, I asked him how he was and he told me he still wasn't feeling well. I expressed my concerned and he just told me he'd be fine. Advertisement Because he has touched so many people, there will be two going away services. The information below was taken from his Facebook page posted by a family member: Homegoing Services for Michael J. Feeney To accomadate the outpouring of love and support for Michael, we will host funeral services in Harlem, NY and Englewood, Nj. Harlem, NY Homegoing Service: First Corinthian Baptist Church 1912 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd, NY, NY 10026 (Formally 7th Ave) and 116th St. Date: Monday, February 8, 2016 Time: Viewing 9-11 AM. Funeral Service Immediately Following. Englewood, NJ Homegoing Service: Community Baptist Church 224 First St, Englewood, NJ 07631 Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2016 Time: Viewing 4-6 PM. Funeral Service Immediately Following. Street parking is available and early arrival arrival is highly suggested. Watching the politicians running for president in 2015-2016 has become an exciting show. Big TV and a sprinkle of citizens chosen by TV ask the presidential candidates questions. The politicians then bluster their message. "Elect me," say the Republican presidential candidates to the American people, "and I will wipe out the terrorists in the Middle East and restore America to greatness." "Elect me," say the Democratic presidential candidates, "and I will raise the minimum wage and bring prosperity to the middle class." The Republican candidates come primarily from the world of big money, funded by millionaires, billionaires and corporations. Their vision is that of the super-rich. They are determined to maintain and expand the power and wealth of the oligarchs funding them. They see nothing wrong with corporations plundering America, but, still, America for them is an exceptional country. They have no doubt they are running the world. Republican president George W. Bush invaded and destroyed Iraq in 2003 and set the seeds for the greatest upheaval in the Middle East since the Mongol invasion of the Middle East in the thirteenth century. Bush did all this for oil companies and the industrial military complex. Advertisement Republican presidential candidates want to duplicate the Bush model of foreign policy. They keep talking about national security, terrorism, and how they plan to give the Pentagon more billions for more wars. In fact, they hate President Obama because Obama withdrew most of the American troops from Iraq. Republican presidential candidates ignore the home front. Faithful to the orders of those who fund them, they are silent on social and environmental crises, especially poverty in the US and the tragedy of global warming. Republican Donald Trump is a billionaire who routinely insults both his Republican and Democratic competitors. He is the personification of hubris, which is the emblem of any man with so much power. Yet, despite his riches, he does not have the heart to raise the minimum wage for millions of Americans living precariously and often working on more than one job to survive. He is also insulting foreigners, especially Mexicans and Moslems. Trump's colleagues Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio look to god and Jesus in particular for popular appeal. Listening to Ted Cruz uncovers a mind mired in dark-age thought. This Evangelical has zero respect for the separation of church and state. His biblical doctrines date back to Europe after the fall of Rome in the West. Barbarians swarmed over Western Europe and established kingdoms. The new barbarian kings then turned to Christianity to legitimize their rule. Cruz is doing the same thing. By mentioning Jesus repeatedly he thinks Americans are morons and cannot see through his deception, diverting them from life and death struggles to church catechisms. Advertisement Marco Rubio tells a sob story from poverty to riches. He demands more tax breaks for the rich and is promising to demolish the little that Obama accomplished. He also wants an almighty Pentagon to cleanse the world of terrorism. In contrast to the bellicosity, religiosity, plutocratic ambitions, and American nationalism of the Republicans, the Democratic presidential candidates are less inclined to divide the country into masters and workers. They are friendly to the millions of illegal immigrants in the US. They are selling themselves as friends of the middle class. They are also recognizing climate change as a threat and promise to promote solar and wind energy alternatives to oil, coal, and natural gas. Hillary Clinton makes a valiant effort to appear critical of Wall Street, but it does not work. She stumbled in her explanation of receiving $ 675,000 for speeches she made to the Wall Street bank of Goldman Sachs after she left the State Department. Bernie Sanders is capturing the imagination of the country. He openly opposes the oligarchy of the Wall Street banks and the insurance-medical complex. He wants to abolish the giant banks for modest banks serving the economy. He also advocates affordable health care for all Americans and promises free public college education. Sanders speaks passionately and looks Americans in the eyes. He is a genuine democrat that is revitalizing politics in America. In fact, by fighting for the important needs of the people and the country, he is probably one of a few politicians who is a true politician. After all, politics is the affairs of the polis: country and its people. Advertisement All presidential candidates, however, avoid addressing what the industry does to the health of Americans. Certainly, the Democrats have said they will do something about the looming crisis of global warming. But what about nuclear bombs? They are the number one danger. I add pesticides right after nuclear bombs because they have been contaminating our food, drinking water and the natural world for several decades. This danger comes from industrialized agriculture that has converted rural America into an agribusiness colony for corn, soybeans, cattle, chicken and hogs. This concentrated pollution and chemicals in the environment cause mass extinction, epidemics of disease and poisoning of humans, rivers, creeks, birds and wildlife. I did not expect the Republicans to utter a word about the human health and ecological effects of agribusiness. They did not. But why Clinton and Sanders said nothing about such vital issues of health, life, and democracy? Clearly, the Republican presidential candidates are risking both the health and the democratic politics of America. Clinton and Sanders are the best hopes for America. They need to expand the debate on the environment. A healthy natural world is absolutely necessary for a healthy America. Nuclear weapons, like pesticides and agribusiness, are incompatible with health, security and civilization. Alternatives exist. The ultimate test of politics in America will be to inform Americans about those alternatives and start facing out our existential danger. As people the world over raise their voices against female genital mutilation (FMG) this week, Dr. Flavia Bustreo of the World Health Organization considers FMG in the wider context of violence against women and girls. Every day, in every part of the world, women and girls suffer acts of violence, mostly at the hands of men. It happens in rich countries and poor, in every age group and in every stratum of society. All too often people turn a blind eye to these crimes, or wrongly accept them as part of everyday life. Female genital mutilation (FGM) is a form of violence against women experienced by 125 million girls and women alive today. This horrible practice persists because it is tolerated in some communities. It has no health benefits and is a gross violation of human rights. Advertisement 1 in 3 women experience violence As dreadful as it is, FGM is just one aspect of a global tidal wave of violence against women and girls. In 2013, the World Health Organization published global figures showing that 1 in 3 of all women experience some kind of physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetimes, much of it from close partners. Personally, I was shocked by these findings. Consider for a moment what they mean for every woman reading this article. We likely all know someone - a sister, a friend, a co-worker - who has been or will become a victim. Perhaps we have ourselves suffered violence. Professionally, my WHO colleagues and I are concerned because this is a public health issue of epidemic proportions and a blatant violation of human rights. FGM, emotional abuse by partners, human trafficking, forced and early marriages, honour killings - violence against women and girls takes many forms and it is linked to many negative health outcomes including depression, anxiety disorders, gynaecological problems, unwanted pregnancies and, all too frequently, death. Women and girls suffer in all countries, often as a result of deeply rooted gender inequality. Health sector response Last week, Member States of the WHO Executive Board reacted by agreeing on action to strengthen the health system's response to violence - in particular against women, girls and children. Countries have recognized both the urgency of the issue and the pivotal role that the health sector plays in addressing it, and at the World Health Assembly in May, they will be formally asked to commit to action. Health workers are frequently the first to witness the physical and psychological effects on victims, many of whom seek treatment for injuries or present with sexually transmitted infections or unwanted pregnancies. Advertisement Often a woman is unwilling to say she has been a victim of violence or does not want to take action against the perpetrator. In any event, health workers should be prepared to deal with the situation - and often they are not. A key role is to offer a safe space where victims feel able to speak openly about their problems. Health workers need the resources and training to identify the problem, listen empathically and then respond appropriately, providing confidential assistance that goes beyond essential medical care. They can also play an important role in offering access to social and others services for women exposed to or at risk of violence. FGM highlights the need for proper guidance and resources. Health workers need specialized training to treat victims of FGM expertly and provide appropriate counselling. They need to understand the immediate effects, such as shock, severe pain and bleeding, and the potential longer-term consequences - such as an increased risk of childbirth complications and newborn deaths. Above all, they need to divorce themselves totally from the practice. It is shocking that more than 18% of all FGM is performed by health professionals, a practice that WHO strongly opposes. Whatever type of violence against women and girls health professionals encounter, they require strong backing from political leaders, legislators and the community, as well as the training to tackle the problem. This is vital to help end impunity for the perpetrators and achieve justice, dignity and good health outcomes for their victims. Support for countries and health workers WHO is supporting countries that want to shape their own health sector response to the problem. We are developing standards and guidelines for health professionals, such as our clinical handbook and forthcoming new guidelines for health workers on FGM, training curricula for health care providers, and other tools to support the health system in addressing violence. We are also collecting evidence on strategies that either prevent the problem before it occurs or effectively address it when it does. Important as they are, these activities are just a start. This is a deeply rooted problem that spans continents and requires a co-ordinated inter-sector response. While recent research has helped, we still need more and better data to understand the magnitude and nature of the problem in all countries. Robust research shines a light into dark places, and is often a catalyst for action. Advertisement In the health sector, we must do more to equip health practitioners everywhere with knowledge, skills and tools to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. And lastly, but perhaps most importantly, political commitment at the highest level is essential to reinforce efforts to end it in all its forms. This has been a key factor in those countries already making progress on the issue. We know that 1 in 3 of all women suffer, with terrible consequences for them, their families and society as a whole. There is no time to waste in defeating these ubiquitous and abhorrent crimes. International Day against Female Genital Mutilation is a good place to start. By Tomas Miller and Veronica Trujillo Tomas Miller joined the Multilateral Investment Fund in 2000 and heads its Access to Finance Unit, overseeing a loan and equity portfolio related to microfinance, venture capital, early-stage equity, small business financing, and financial services for low-income people. How are financial inclusion and productivity linked? And why are these two pieces of the puzzle important for the economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean? Insufficient growth in productivity has been identified as a key factor in the relative backwardness of the economy of Latin America and the Caribbean compared with other regions of the world. Among the factors that limit productivity are large numbers of informal businesses; shallow credit markets; and a lack of investment in science, technology, and innovation. Increased productivity in the countries of the region is essential to generate greater prosperity for its citizens, and to encourage economic growth despite the current unfavorable international economic environment. Meanwhile, financial inclusion--conceptualized and analyzed from a multidimensional perspective--has been identified as an important factor in economic growth and in the stability of financial systems, and can have positive impacts on issues like inequality and poverty. Advertisement Financial inclusion goals should be aligned with increased productivity goals Financial inclusion initiatives seek to address the factors that stifle productivity. Globally, the goals of financial inclusion strategies include access to microcredit for formal and informal entrepreneurs, easier access to credit for small and medium-sized enterprises, and increasing the number of people with savings accounts, thereby boosting national savings. How then to promote financial inclusion in order to boost productivity? The answer is to identify how best to reach segments of the population until now excluded from the formal financial system, with financial products and services that empower them and allow them to become players in their local economy. This implies financial products that are designed to facilitate investments, either directly (credit, factoring, leasing, or any other product that finances business activities), or indirectly (through savings that make funds available to banks, which they can in turn use for credit, factoring, etc.). Financial institutions and entities that are supplying financial services based on new technologies (Fintech) should develop new and innovative distribution channels and appropriate financial services for young entrepreneurs, women, and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. In this way, financial inclusion also contributes to social inclusion. For example, Banco de Bogota, in partnership with the Federacion Nacional de Caficultores de Colombia [National Network of Coffee Producers of Colombia], has provided specifically designed services to more than 300,000 producers, giving them access to a range of financial services and reducing their costs: an ID that also functions as a debit card, transaction savings accounts, and access to ATMs and online banking. The partnership also has provided financial education for the coffee farmers, and set up a Red Cafetera [Coffee Maker Network] program that allows the producers to sell their beans to 38 cooperatives that have 480 points of sale throughout Colombia. The producers benefit in several ways. For example, the payments from the cooperatives go directly to the producers' accounts with Banco de Bogota. The convenient market for their beans reduces their transportation costs and their transactional costs. Advertisement Coffee pickers in Colombia's Coffee Triangle. Photo by McKay Savage, Flickr If policies to promote financial inclusion are to succeed, they must be coordinated, taking into account the potential impacts of each policy on the objectives of growing the economy, reducing inequality, and lowering still-high levels of poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean. In economies that are growing at a slower pace, the public sector must design financial inclusion policies that don't pose risks to the financial system or to consumers who are inexperienced in the use of financial services. The state of financial inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean Recent data speak to the need for further progress in terms of the depth and reach of financial systems in the region. Latin America and the Caribbean has: A low ratio of credit to GDP. This is around 40% in the region, which is mostly described as upper middle income. In comparison, the percentage in peer countries globally is about 90%, and in lower-middle-income economies like India it exceeds 50% (World Development Indicators, 2014) This is around 40% in the region, which is mostly described as upper middle income. In comparison, the percentage in peer countries globally is about 90%, and in lower-middle-income economies like India it exceeds 50% (World Development Indicators, 2014) Limited reach of financial services. Regional data indicate that levels of penetration in typically excluded segments are still very low. For example, agricultural credit represents around 5% of total loans in the formal financial system, while the rural population exceeds 20% of total population. Also, the number of microcredit borrowers represents only about 20% of total informal businesses in the region. Regional data indicate that levels of penetration in typically excluded segments are still very low. For example, agricultural credit represents around 5% of total loans in the formal financial system, while the rural population exceeds 20% of total population. Also, the number of microcredit borrowers represents only about 20% of total informal businesses in the region. Low levels of domestic savings. Recent studies indicate that domestic savings precedes investment, and to increase the current levels of investment, the region must increase its domestic savings so that it is not dependent on the volatility of foreign investment. Recent studies indicate that domestic savings precedes investment, and to increase the current levels of investment, the region must increase its domestic savings so that it is not dependent on the volatility of foreign investment. A credit gap for small businesses. The size of the financing gap for small and medium-sized enterprises may reach230 billion. The size of the financing gap for small and medium-sized enterprises may reach230 billion. Underserved groups whose financial needs are growing. The population that forms the base of the economic pyramid (70% of the total population) is growing and their income is increasing, and it is expected that by 2020, 16% of this segment will have migrated to the middle class and require more financial services. Future generations of youth are expected to be more educated and healthier, which over time will give them more disposable income and therefore more financial needs (investments, insurance, pensions, and so on). Yet today, only 37% of people under age 24 have accounts at a formal financial institution, and only 11% have savings in formal institutions (Global Findex 2014). The trend is similar for women, who are expected to continue increasing their participation in the workforce and the economy. However, nowadays only 45% of women have an account at a financial institution, and fewer than 10% have borrowed from one (Global Findex 2014). Recently we marked the 100th anniversary of Louis D. Brandeis' nomination to the US Supreme Court. In a year of discussion on diversity, this moment deserves special notice -- he was the first member of an American minority group to be so chosen. He served his country in spite of vociferous opposition and even hostile fellow justices. Justice James McReynolds famously would leave the justices' conference when Brandeis was speaking and even refused to sign the justices' traditional letter of farewell when Brandeis stepped down in 1939. Most of all, Brandeis commands our attention today because his opinions still matter; they still influence our sitting justices and our law. No better example of this can be found than the words that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg spoke in a tribute I witnessed last week before a crowd of over 2500 students and friends at Brandeis University, where I was proud to serve as President. As moderator of the event, I was joined by legal commentator Jeffrey Toobin, scholar Philippa Strum, Massachusetts Chief Justice Ralph Gants, and US District Judge Mark Wolf, each of whom addressed the ways in which Brandeis changed the law and the course of American history, as well as his continued relevance today. The real stars of the event were "the Notorious RBG," as Ginsberg biographers Shana Knizhnik and Irin Carmon have lovingly dubbed her in their recent book, and the man we may now call "the notorious LDB." Advertisement Justice Ginsburg described in great depth the influence on her own legal and judicial career of the so-called "Brandeis brief" in Muller v. Oregon (1908), the basis of the Supreme Court's historic decision upholding Oregon's law regulating the maximum hours that women could be required to work by their employers. Ginsberg revealed how this work challenged her during her earliest days as a young attorney fighting for women's rights, teaching her to ground her argument in facts, statistics and social history. While she came to realize that in Muller, Brandeis' actual argument ended up limiting women's rights, she followed his example on how to write and how to argue. So many lawyers and justices are limited by their preoccupation with theory and abstraction. For Brandeis and Ginsburg, both brilliant lawyers before becoming influential justices, theory must be grounded in facts. Brandeis was an exemplar not only of how a lawyer should argue, but how a lawyer should live. He understood the broad spectrum of the lawyer's role, from that of advocate for a client's interest, through that of "lawyer for the situation," through his celebrated role as the "people's lawyer." Law, for Brandeis, was the key to civil society and social change, and the role of lawyer included his or her obligations to client and society alike. As our panelists discussed, this was deeply personal to Brandeis. He was moved by Matthew Arnold's words: "Life is not a having and a getting, but a beginning and a becoming." Advertisement Our panelists of sitting judges, scholars and journalists recognized the challenges that the notorious LDB would face today, especially in light of the challenges to privacy presented by technology and by threats to national security. Brandeis will forever be linked with the legal protection of privacy. In 1890, he and his law partner, Samuel Warren wrote one of the best-known works in American legal history: "The Right to Privacy." The article in the Harvard Law Review was a tour-de-force, essentially creating a new right but basing it in its deep legal and philosophical roots and in the common law rules of tort law and property law. Brandeis biographer Melvin Urofsky quotes the observation of Harvard Law School Dean Roscoe Pound that the article "did nothing less than add a chapter to our law." Although the limits and scope of the right to privacy remains a subject of intense debate, the existence of the right is widely accepted and generally understood as a fundamental aspect of our legal system. Brandeis' role as influential writer went beyond his legal scholarship per se. Economic events of the past decade have brought renewed interest in and attention to a series of articles that he wrote for Harper's Weekly beginning in 1913 entitled "Breaking the Money Trust," later published as Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use It in 1914. The ideas and analysis proposed here had a major impact on the discussion of financial regulations and legislation governing the financial industry. They have a compelling resonance today. Brandeis's written opinions during his 23 years on the Supreme Court covered a wide range of issues. Among the aspects of constitutional law and theory that continue to bear his unmistakable stamp are judicial restraint in the face of legislative decision-making and experimentation, at both the federal and state levels, and the need for constitutional norms to adjust and adapt to evolving standards and contexts, as seen in his classic dissent in Olmstead v. United States (1928), in which the Court held that constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures did not apply to telephone wiretapping. (Significantly, Olmstead was overturned by the Supreme Court almost 40 years later in Katz v. United States.) Nowhere was Brandeis's judicial brilliance more keenly demonstrated than in the area of freedom of expression. Brandeis is often associated with Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. in this regard; they were the two great dissenters in a series of opinions in which the Supreme Court upheld restrictions on free speech. Brandeis and Holmes, however, approached the issue of free expression from different perspectives, as illustrated in the first sedition case in which the two justices did not vote together, Gilbert v. State of Minnesota (1920). Gilbert had been convicted of violating a Minnesota statute against interference with or "discouragement" of military service. He had given a speech in 1917 that was highly critical of American involvement in World War I. The Supreme Court affirmed Gilbert's conviction and upheld the constitutionality of the statute, finding that the expression at issue represented a "clear and present danger." Justice Brandeis alone dissented on free expression grounds. Advertisement The true power of Brandeis's position comes from his answer to a seemingly technical threshold question: what is the source of any constitutional protections that Gilbert might enjoy? Plainly the First Amendment on its face - "Congress shall make no law ..." -- could not reach action by a state. Brandeis was reluctant to seize on the approach the Court would ultimately adopt - selectively incorporating certain Bill of Rights guarantees into the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause. Instead he relied upon the "right to speak freely concerning functions of the Federal Government," which he described as a "privilege and immunity of every citizen of the United States which, even before the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, a State was powerless to curtail." The right of a citizen to take part, for his own or the country's benefit, in the making of federal laws and in the conduct of the Government necessarily includes the right to speak or write about them; to endeavor to make his own opinion concerning laws existing or contemplated prevail; and to this end to teach the truth as he sees it. Free expression thus derived its protection, according to Brandeis, from the very structure of the government created by the federal Constitution, a concept later expounded upon by my teacher Professor Charles Black in his celebrated Structure and Relationship in Constitutional Law (1969). This "structural" approach to free expression proposed by Brandeis is striking in two respects. First, it would provide a broad-based protection against state interference with any expression bearing on a national issue. Second, the underpinning of the "structural" approach differs dramatically from the marketplace of ideas notion that underlay the "clear and present danger" approach. The "structural" approach is driven by the need for debate in our political life. Such a comprehensive theory of free expression might avoid some of the pitfalls of the "clear and present danger" approach, which necessarily limits speech based on its expected consequences. Whereas Holmes saw the ultimate value of free expression as flowing from a "marketplace of ideas" that would produce the best results, Brandeis saw the value of expression as flowing from the very nature of a political and social community. To participate in public debate is not merely to try to reach the best idea but also to participate in civil society altogether. Free expression to Brandeis is at the heart of what it means to constitute a community. As vividly painted by Brandeis: "Like the course of the heavenly bodies, harmony in national life is a resultant of the struggle between contending forces." Advertisement "What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations do as well. That is why every woman, every man, every child, every family, and every nation on this planet does have a stake in the discussion that takes place here." These are the words of Hillary Rodham Clinton delivered at the 1995 United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. (See the full-speech transcript below.) They are words exemplary of the principles that Clinton has made central to her public policy throughout her career. And which, as it turns out, was the topic of this September 23, 2014 talk before Goldman Sachs Officials honoring 10,000 women entrepreneurs. It is one of the talks that Bernie Sanders has been asking Clinton to publicize but which has been on the web since October 2014. (Hillary Clinton begins speaking at the 3:50 mark.) Advertisement But beside considering the Beijing and the Goldman Sachs videos as testaments of Clinton's consistent concern for improving the lives of women in all parts of the world and at all economic levels, I should like to explain why so many of us care to defend Hillary Clinton's record. Millennial voters who grew up during -- or were born after -- the Bill Clinton presidency, have understandably found the Baby Boomer loyalty to and support of our former First Lady, New York Senator and Secretary of State, to be utterly inexplicable. But to the many Boomers supporting her, there is little if any mystery, given that it is Hillary Rodham Clinton's history itself that we share and that compels us to be loyal and even nostalgic. We even understand the flip flops regarding implementing liberal policies by the Clintons, given the degree of adversity facing liberal legislation required backtracking to salvage what gains could be pushed through a Republican-controlled Congress during the 1990s, all of which required giving some to gain some. Despite the compromises, we knew the Clintons were the main route for governmental progress. Advertisement Amid that history, perhaps no moment epitomizes Hillary Clinton's courage, activism, brilliance and defiance of convention and imposed authority than her challenge posed to the Chinese government when she spoke before the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing on 5 September 1995. It was a moment I was reminded of when Clinton took on Senator Bernie Sanders in the Thursday, February 4, MSNBC Debate in Durham, New Hampshire. It was in particular the moment that Clinton finally confronted one of the nagging complaints that the Left has had about her ever since she cast her 2002 Senatorial vote sanctioning US entry into Iraq. When Senator Sanders during the debate copy-catted then-Senator Obama in his 2008 debate with Clinton by raising her Iraq vote, he no doubt wished it would sink Clinton's chances to become President as it had done then. But this time Clinton was ready with what was the most resoundingly-singular soundbite of the night, and one that rings out, and will likely continue ringing, with clarion urgency. "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS. We have to look at the threats that we face right now." With this well-turned and agonizingly-urgent retort, Clinton finally carved out a path through the granite-like sediment of blame and condemnation that had been heaped around her by the Left for fourteen years. A blame that should never have proved so formidable an impediment to her political ambitions given that she was Senator to New York during 9/11 and throughout the years in which New Yorkers struggled to recover from the war visited on it by al-Qaeda's pilot hijackers. Clinton has been unfairly castigated considering that the majority of Congress took then-Secretary of State Colin Powell for his word when he testified that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction. It was also the majority opinion of the constituency Clinton served in New York State, as well as in the country, as disclosed shortly after the 9/11 attacks, by a Gallup poll that showed 74% of Americans wanted to enter Iraq, with just 20% of Americans opposed. By August 2002, Gallup reported that a near-unanimous majority believed that the Iraqi government trains and supports terrorists, with 86% stating they think "Saddam Hussein is involved in supporting terrorist groups that have plans to attack the United States." While many of us are rightly critical of Senator Clinton's vote, we should simultaneously consider that when she voted, she may have remembered how her husband had hesitated to embroil the US in the Balkans until after Milosevic's ethnic cleansing was well underway, and that he failed to even intervene on the Rwandan genocide. But while this confluence of hostilities, misjudgments, and constituency make Clinton's vote more understandable, the same man who wants us to consider that his Vermont constituency comprised of rural hunters accounts for why he voted against the Brady Bill and several other bills limiting access to firearms, he at the same time wants us to forget that Clinton too had a constituency to whom she had a duty to ensure there would never again be another 9/11 on American soil. But if Sanders persists in blaming Clinton, he also persists in blaming the majority of polled Americans who Senator Clinton was representing, that is many of us who will be voting in the primaries and the general election. When Clinton snapped back at Sanders Thursday night about her vote, I could not but remember the firm tone she took as First Lady as she distinguished herself from all other First Ladies (with the exception of Eleanor Roosevelt) upon addressing the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women, 5 September 1995, in Beijing, China. It more than any other speech by Clinton voices her determination to right the social injustices and bigotries, the economic, racial, religious and gender inequalities of not just Americans but of all citizens around the globe. You can watch and hear Clinton deliver her remarks in the Beijing video above while reading along from the text below. Hillary Rodham Clinton's Remarks to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women Plenary Session Advertisement Thank you very much, Gertrude Mongella, for your dedicated work that has brought us to this point, distinguished delegates, and guests: I would like to thank the Secretary General for inviting me to be part of this important United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. This is truly a celebration, a celebration of the contributions women make in every aspect of life: in the home, on the job, in the community, as mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, learners, workers, citizens, and leaders. It is also a coming together, much the way women come together every day in every country. We come together in fields and factories, in village markets and supermarkets, in living rooms and board rooms. Whether it is while playing with our children in the park, or washing clothes in a river, or taking a break at the office water cooler, we come together and talk about our aspirations and concern. And time and again, our talk turns to our children and our families. However different we may appear, there is far more that unites us than divides us. We share a common future, and we are here to find common ground so that we may help bring new dignity and respect to women and girls all over the world, and in so doing bring new strength and stability to families as well. By gathering in Beijing, we are focusing world attention on issues that matter most in our lives -- the lives of women and their families: access to education, health care, jobs and credit, the chance to enjoy basic legal and human rights and to participate fully in the political life of our countries. There are some who question the reason for this conference. Let them listen to the voices of women in their homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces. There are some who wonder whether the lives of women and girls matter to economic and political progress around the globe. Let them look at the women gathered here and at Huairou -- the homemakers and nurses, the teachers and lawyers, the policymakers and women who run their own businesses. It is conferences like this that compel governments and peoples everywhere to listen, look, and face the world's most pressing problems. Wasn't it after all -- after the women's conference in Nairobi ten years ago that the world focused for the first time on the crisis of domestic violence? Advertisement Earlier today, I participated in a World Health Organization forum. In that forum, we talked about ways that government officials, NGOs, and individual citizens are working to address the health problems of women and girls. Tomorrow, I will attend a gathering of the United Nations Development Fund for Women. There, the discussion will focus on local -- and highly successful -- programs that give hard-working women access to credit so they can improve their own lives and the lives of their families. What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations do as well. That is why every woman, every man, every child, every family, and every nation on this planet does have a stake in the discussion that takes place here. Over the past 25 years, I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children, and families. Over the past two and a half years, I've had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing women in my own country and around the world. I have met new mothers in Indonesia, who come together regularly in their village to discuss nutrition, family planning, and baby care. I have met working parents in Denmark who talk about the comfort they feel in knowing that their children can be cared for in safe, and nurturing after-school centers. I have met women in South Africa who helped lead the struggle to end apartheid and are now helping to build a new democracy. I have met with the leading women of my own hemisphere who are working every day to promote literacy and better health care for children in their countries. I have met women in India and Bangladesh who are taking out small loans to buy milk cows, or rickshaws, or thread in order to create a livelihood for themselves and their families. I have met the doctors and nurses in Belarus and Ukraine who are trying to keep children alive in the aftermath of Chernobyl. The great challenge of this conference is to give voice to women everywhere whose experiences go unnoticed, whose words go unheard. Women comprise more than half the world's population, 70% of the world's poor, and two-thirds of those who are not taught to read and write. We are the primary caretakers for most of the world's children and elderly. Yet much of the work we do is not valued -- not by economists, not by historians, not by popular culture, not by government leaders. At this very moment, as we sit here, women around the world are giving birth, raising children, cooking meals, washing clothes, cleaning houses, planting crops, working on assembly lines, running companies, and running countries. Women also are dying from diseases that should have been prevented or treated. They are watching their children succumb to malnutrition caused by poverty and economic deprivation. They are being denied the right to go to school by their own fathers and brothers. They are being forced into prostitution, and they are being barred from the bank lending offices and banned from the ballot box. Those of us who have the opportunity to be here have the responsibility to speak for those who could not. As an American, I want to speak for those women in my own country, women who are raising children on the minimum wage, women who can't afford health care or child care, women whose lives are threatened by violence, including violence in their own homes. I want to speak up for mothers who are fighting for good schools, safe neighborhoods, clean air, and clean airwaves; for older women, some of them widows, who find that, after raising their families, their skills and life experiences are not valued in the marketplace; for women who are working all night as nurses, hotel clerks, or fast food chefs so that they can be at home during the day with their children; and for women everywhere who simply don't have time to do everything they are called upon to do each and every day. Speaking to you today, I speak for them, just as each of us speaks for women around the world who are denied the chance to go to school, or see a doctor, or own property, or have a say about the direction of their lives, simply because they are women. The truth is that most women around the world work both inside and outside the home, usually by necessity. Advertisement We need to understand there is no one formula for how women should lead our lives. That is why we must respect the choices that each woman makes for herself and her family. Every woman deserves the chance to realize her own God-given potential. But we must recognize that women will never gain full dignity until their human rights are respected and protected. Our goals for this conference, to strengthen families and societies by empowering women to take greater control over their own destinies, cannot be fully achieved unless all governments -- here and around the world -- accept their responsibility to protect and promote internationally recognized human rights. The -- The international community has long acknowledged and recently reaffirmed at Vienna that both women and men are entitled to a range of protections and personal freedoms, from the right of personal security to the right to determine freely the number and spacing of the children they bear. No one -- No one should be forced to remain silent for fear of religious or political persecution, arrest, abuse, or torture. Tragically, women are most often the ones whose human rights are violated. Even now, in the late 20th century, the rape of women continues to be used as an instrument of armed conflict. Women and children make up a large majority of the world's refugees. And when women are excluded from the political process, they become even more vulnerable to abuse. I believe that now, on the eve of a new millennium, it is time to break the silence. It is time for us to say here in Beijing, and for the world to hear, that it is no longer acceptable to discuss women's rights as separate from human rights. These abuses have continued because, for too long, the history of women has been a history of silence. Even today, there are those who are trying to silence our words. But the voices of this conference and of the women at Huairou must be heard loudly and clearly: It is a violation of human rights when babies are denied food, or drowned, or suffocated, or their spines broken, simply because they are born girls. Advertisement It is a violation of human rights when women and girls are sold into the slavery of prostitution for human greed -- and the kinds of reasons that are used to justify this practice should no longer be tolerated. It is a violation of human rights when women are doused with gasoline, set on fire, and burned to death because their marriage dowries are deemed too small. It is a violation of human rights when individual women are raped in their own communities and when thousands of women are subjected to rape as a tactic or prize of war. It is a violation of human rights when a leading cause of death worldwide among women ages 14 to 44 is the violence they are subjected to in their own homes by their own relatives. It is a violation of human rights when young girls are brutalized by the painful and degrading practice of genital mutilation. Advertisement It is a violation of human rights when women are denied the right to plan their own families, and that includes being forced to have abortions or being sterilized against their will. If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women's rights and women's rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely -- and the right to be heard. Women must enjoy the rights to participate fully in the social and political lives of their countries, if we want freedom and democracy to thrive and endure. It is indefensible that many women in nongovernmental organizations who wished to participate in this conference have not been able to attend -- or have been prohibited from fully taking part. Let me be clear. Freedom means the right of people to assemble, organize, and debate openly. It means respecting the views of those who may disagree with the views of their governments. It means not taking citizens away from their loved ones and jailing them, mistreating them, or denying them their freedom or dignity because of the peaceful expression of their ideas and opinions. In my country, we recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of Women's Suffrage. It took 150 years after the signing of our Declaration of Independence for women to win the right to vote. It took 72 years of organized struggle, before that happened, on the part of many courageous women and men. It was one of America's most divisive philosophical wars. But it was a bloodless war. Suffrage was achieved without a shot being fired. Advertisement But we have also been reminded, in V-J Day observances last weekend, of the good that comes when men and women join together to combat the forces of tyranny and to build a better world. We have seen peace prevail in most places for a half century. We have avoided another world war. But we have not solved older, deeply-rooted problems that continue to diminish the potential of half the world's population. Now it is the time to act on behalf of women everywhere. If we take bold steps to better the lives of women, we will be taking bold steps to better the lives of children and families too. Families rely on mothers and wives for emotional support and care. Families rely on women for labor in the home. And increasingly, everywhere, families rely on women for income needed to raise healthy children and care for other relatives. As long as discrimination and inequities remain so commonplace everywhere in the world, as long as girls and women are valued less, fed less, fed last, overworked, underpaid, not schooled, subjected to violence in and outside their homes -- the potential of the human family to create a peaceful, prosperous world will not be realized. Let -- Let this conference be our -- and the world's -- call to action. Let us heed that call so we can create a world in which every woman is treated with respect and dignity, every boy and girl is loved and cared for equally, and every family has the hope of a strong and stable future. That is the work before you. That is the work before all of us who have a vision of the world we want to see -- for our children and our grandchildren. The time is now. We must move beyond rhetoric. We must move beyond recognition of problems to working together, to have the comment efforts to build that common ground we hope to see. Advertisement God's blessing on you, your work, and all who will benefit from it. Godspeed and thank you very much. by Rod Collins, Director of Innovation at Optimity Advisors What are your organization's most important assets? What is your company's primary means for creating value? What defines the true valuation of your enterprise? If you were to look at your business's financial statements, you might assume it's the value of your plant, property, and equipment. After all, what would happen to your company if, all of a sudden, your physical assets were totally destroyed--vanished and gone forever? How would your organization survive? Would you suddenly be forced out of business? While these might seem like hypothetical questions, they were very real circumstances for one company that was dramatically confronted by the unthinkable on September 11, 2001. The corporate headquarters of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield was located in the north tower of the World Trade Center. While nine of its employees and two consultants lost their lives on that tragic day, over 1,900 workers survived the terrorist attacks. Empire lost over 250 computer servers, over 2,000 desktop computers, and over 480,000 square feet of office space when the north tower collapsed. In a single instant, Empire had lost its headquarters facility and all of its equipment. Yet remarkably within three days Empire was fully operational. While the company had lost its machines, Empire was fortunate that almost all of its workers survived and its data had been backed up to another site on a regular basis. With its people safe and its data secured, Empire had the essentials it needed to be quickly back in business. Within in a matter of hours, the company was able to locate alternative facilities and make the computer hardware arrangements to once again begin processing health insurance claims. Advertisement An Important Lesson The New York state examiner's report on the recovery efforts of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield cited three contributing factors for the company's very effective response to the terrorist disaster. First, Empire's disaster recovery plan, especially its regular back up of electronic data, securely preserved the company's critical business information. Second, Empire's continuous quality improvement program created a business environment where all employees understood the operations of the whole company and were aware of how their individual functions impacted other departments and the company as a whole. As a result, despite the catastrophic disruption of their working arrangements, when the employees began reporting to their temporary locations, they understood the specific effects of the disaster and what needed to be done. But perhaps, most importantly, the continuous quality improvement program encouraged employees to act independently and move projects to completion. This proved to be crucial on September 11th between 8:46 a.m. when the first plane crashed into the north tower and 10:28 a.m. when the tower collapsed. Despite the chaos and confusion in those first moments after the attack, middle managers at other Empire locations did not hesitate to make critical decisions when they were unable to contact senior management. Their quick thinking and their bold initiative in making important decisions that were usually beyond their normal authority were essential contributions to the data preservation that enabled Empire's resilience. The important lesson we learn from the Empire story is that, for many twenty-first century businesses, their most critical assets are their data and their people. When yours is essentially a software business, as many--if not most--companies are today, you can literally lose your physical assets and still remain in business. However, if you lose your knowledge assets--your people and your data--you may find yourselves in an unrecoverable situation. Advertisement New World and New Rules In the fifteen years since the events of September 11th, the technology revolution has accelerated both the capacity and the productivity of knowledge assets. In that time we have witnessed the emergence of Wikipedia and Google as the primary information tools of everyday people as well as the birth of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the rest of the social media movement. At the heart of this revolution is the unprecedented networking of the world's people and their data. We now suddenly find ourselves in a new world with new rules--a highly hyper-connected world--where for the first time in human history, mass collaboration is not just possible, but highly practical and pervasive. In this short period of time, the fundamental way we structure the world has suddenly shifted from top-down hierarchies to peer-to-peer networks, and in the process we have discovered how to tap into the highest form of human intelligence: our collective intelligence. Google is, for most people, their first practical experience of mass collaboration. With their innovative search engine, Larry Page and Sergey Brin introduced the world to the first large scale application of collective intelligence, but more importantly, they convincingly demonstrated the superiority of collaborative peer-to-peer networks over bureaucratic top-down hierarchies as vehicles for producing extraordinary business results. Mass collaboration is creating entirely new ways of working together that only twenty years ago would have stretched the limits of believability. Who would have imaged that you could build a productive enterprise using only volunteers working without a plan, without assigned tasks, and even without pay? Yet today, Wikipedia, another enterprise that leverages collective intelligence, is the world's most widely used reference work and has completely displaced a two-century business model in a single decade Paradigm Shift The innovative architecture of Wikipedia and Google are examples of how the Digital Revolution has spawned a paradigm shift in the fundamental architecture for the ways we prospect data and the ways we organize people. If, as we learn from the Empire story, the knowledge streams inherent in a company's data and its people are their most important assets, then competitive advantage in twenty-first century business will belong to those who can best aggregate and leverage the collective intelligence distributed throughout their organizations and within their information systems. Advertisement In a rapidly changing world, the more voices you can get into the same space at the same time, the better the intelligence and the faster you can transform that knowledge into execution--provided that you have workable collective learning processes. Innovative collective intelligence platforms are furnishing an unprecedented capacity for organizations to leverage the power of people and data to solve complex problems far faster than they ever imagined possible, as was discovered recently in the health research scientific community. The Extraordinary Power of Collective Intelligence In the summer of 2011, Firas Khatib, a biochemist at the University of Washington, felt something needed to be done to accelerate the progress of solving a molecular puzzle that had stumped the world's best scientists for more than a decade. The evasive puzzle involved figuring out the detailed molecular structure of a protein-cutting enzyme from an AIDS-like virus found in monkeys. Because this enzyme plays an important role in the spread of the virus, Khatib knew that figuring out its structure could be the breakthrough needed to arrest the medical malady. That's when Khatib turned to Foldit. Foldit is a collaborative online video game developed by the University of Washington that enlists players worldwide to solve difficult protein-structure problems. There are no special requirements for joining the Foldit community. All comers are welcome, which explains why most of the more than 235,000 Foldit players have little or no background in biochemistry. Khatib recognized that the molecular challenge was a good fit for the capabilities of the Foldit game. Incredibly, what had evaded the world's best individual scientific experts for ten years was solved by collective knowledge of a diverse group of online gamers within only ten days. When you have the capability to aggregate and leverage collective intelligence and to turn that knowledge into extraordinary results, you discover that that your organization's most important assets are indeed its people and its data. First, a hug is a social gesture like a handshake. It is not an endorsement. People hug each other all the time and it is done between casual acquaintances. I have even hugged strangers at funerals -- it is social gesture. In France, you are more likely to get your cheek kissed, not once, but twice, than you are to get a hug or a handshake! Last night after the debate, debate moderator MSNBC's Rachel Maddow hugged both candidates. Big deal. And now? Some in the media are on fire giving her hell. Really? Is that what some are focusing on? A social gesture? Advertisement You should judge the quality of last night's debate and the debate moderators by their questions. Did they ask "what is your favorite color" or substantive and probative questions? So far today? I can find no one accusing Maddow or Todd of pulling punches or not asking substantive questions of both democratic candidates. The talk today -- rather than being about the post-debate social gesture hugs -- should be about the candidates' answers. Period. That is what is important. On Tuesday, New Hampshire voters are voting on the candidates. They will not be voting on the moderators, nor on social gestures nor on what others in the media find not acceptable by their competition. And while I am at it ... talking about Hug-gate... there is another Hug-gate controversy. Governor Christie is accused by many Republicans of hugging President Obama a few days before the 2012 election when the president was in New Jersey looking at damage from the super storm that decimated that state. Advertisement Not only was that not a hug (see the picture below) hugs are -- let me repeat -- social gestures between people who are casual acquaintances. It is a greeting. A politician should not get the death penalty for being polite and showing good manners. We really need to focus on the important: the issues. P.S. Rachel Maddow has recently given an interview in which she said we are friends. My answer? Guilty. We are. :) What disappoints me most about the media -- and I will throw myself into this -- is how we forget people, forget stories and move on. The truth is that we in the media can multitask -- do more than one story at one time. Yes, I know, everyone is currently consumed with politics (and that is an important story) but why not likewise talk about Bob Levinson? Even a tweet to the White House helps put pressure on the White House to help. Former FBI agent Bob Levinson has been missing in Iran since March 9, 2007. A proof of life photo showed he was alive in 2010. His family has been in agony -- they have no information. Advertisement Recently a deal was negotiated between US and Iran to return several Americans held in an Iranian prison (and I am thrilled they are home!) ... but not Bob Levinson. Why didn't the Obama Administration demand information about Levinson in connection with this deal? I don't know if Levinson is dead or alive, but I do believe Iranian government knows whether he is. I also think the White House knows something it is not telling the family (see below). That is mean. In January, the AP reported: "U.S. officials believe Robert Levinson may no longer be in Iran." If US believe he is no longer in Iran, upon what do they believe this? That means US knows something. Tell the family! It is cruel to keep them in the dark all these years. And the media? how about just a tweet about Bob Levinson to the White House? @WhiteHouse @HelpBobLevinson Advertisement And if you are not in the media, you can still help big time. You can likewise tweet @WhiteHouse @HelpBobLevinson. We should not leave Americans behind. We need to 'bang the drums' on this one. And even if the government won't help at least the Levinson people know we care. US Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton (R) and Bernie Sanders participate in the MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on February 4, 2016. Clinton and Sanders face off on February 4, in the first debate since their bruising Iowa clash that the former secretary of state won by a hair, as they gear for a battle royale in New Hampshire. / AFP / Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia both donated money to the Clinton Foundation. Either Trump and the Saudis share the same value system, or there are other reasons why they chose the same charitable organization. Even if you're certain that Hillary Clinton would make a great president, think about that for a moment. Basic logic isn't the hallmark of the Clinton campaign, nor is it an attribute needed to vote for the former Secretary of State. 72% of Independent voters and 59% of Americans find Hillary Clinton "not honest and trustworthy." However, some Democrats continue to ignore inconvenient facts pertaining to Clinton's decision-making and judgement. Advertisement The FBI is currently investigating Clinton's private server (the personal server circumventing government networks is the issue, not just the private email), she's experienced a foreign donor controversy and a weapons deal issue, and Clinton also accepted money from prison lobbyists. Good luck winning South Carolina with two major prison lobbyists funding a Democratic campaign. I explain why these prison lobbyists will hurt the Clinton campaign on The Benjamin Dixon Show. In terms of Hillary Clinton's character and value system, you make your own conclusions. NPR isn't a right wing think tank or publication, and a recent headline reads 22 Hillary Clinton Emails Dubbed Top Secret. If you believe Clinton used a private server to circumvent U.S. government networks for "convenience," then you also believe she "wasn't committed to running" for the presidency when taking $675,000 (for three speeches) from Goldman Sachs. Advertisement Wait, Clinton wasn't sure about running for the presidency when speaking to Goldman Sachs? What? President Obama once declared that Hilary Clinton was "wicked smart," but refrained to elaborate why he used the two adjectives in succession. Therefore, Americans should give up on overturning Citizens United. On the issue of campaign finance reform, who needs it? After all, millions in Wall Street money has never, ever influenced Hillary Clinton. Zaid Jilani writes in The Intercept that when it comes to Bill and Hillary, "Altogether, the couple are estimated to have made over $139 million from paid speeches." Bill is a great public speaker and Hillary is alright, but together I doubt they're worth $139 million, simply to perform speeches. Hillary Clinton was tutored on bankruptcy laws by Elizabeth Warren in the 90's, so it's doubtful Goldman Sachs executives needed stock tips or venture capital advice. The reality is that Wall Street cash has absolutely influenced Hillary Clinton. Robert Reich already explained (although not directly) why Clinton's Wall Street cash influenced the former Secretary of State's economic plan. In a Huffington Post article titled The Big Short and Bernie's Plan to Bust Up Wall Street, Reich compares the economic plans of both Democratic candidates: Advertisement Most importantly, the movie shows why Bernie Sanders's plan to break up the biggest banks and reinstate the Glass-Steagall Act (separating investment from commercial banking) is necessary -- and why Hillary Clinton's more modest plan is inadequate... Most of Hillary's proposals could already have been put into effect by the Fed and the Securities and Exchange Commission, but they haven't been -- presumably because of the Street's muscle. I love Robert Reich, and of course he never meant to insinuate that Clinton's ties to Wall Street influenced her to develop a "more modest" and "inadequate" plan that "could already have been put into effect by the Fed and the Securities and Exchange Commission." However, the reality is that Hillary Clinton chose to present a modest plan because of Wall Street's financial influence. It's doubtful that both Clintons could amass $139 million, primarily from Wall Street, with the intentions of breaking up Too Big to Fail Banks and reinstating Glass-Steagall. Robert Reich goes on to write exactly why America needs Bernie Sanders: More than a century ago, Teddy Roosevelt broke up the Standard Oil Trust because it posed a danger to the U.S. economy. Today, Wall Street's biggest banks pose an even greater danger. They're far larger than they were before the crash of 2008. Unless they're broken up and Glass-Steagall resurrected, we face substantial risk of another near-meltdown -- once again threatening the incomes, jobs, savings, and homes of millions of Americans. Reich explains that Bernie's economic plan is "necessary," while his rival's plan is sub-par. It's not a coincidence that Bernie Sanders, a man who hasn't taken money from Wall Street, is fearless about breaking up banks and reinstating Glass-Stegall. When explaining that Wall Street's business model is fraud, Sanders speaks freely and without watching his words. Only a person who quotes FDR as welcoming the hatred of Wall Street can implement the "necessary" economic plan needed to prevent future collapses. Advertisement Clinton is indeed influenced by tremendous Wall Street cash, because she refuses to break up the banks and implement the steps Robert Reich, Joseph Stiglitz, Nouriel Roubini, Bernie Sanders and many others advocate. Yes, Clinton has a moderate and establishment view of Wall Street reform, but moderate and establishment politics exemplify Wall Street's immense influence. We mustn't anger the investment banks, after all, it's just not realistic or pragmatic. Better to allow them one more round of Casino Capitalism before we bail them out once more, while the average American bears the brunt of Too Big to Fail madness. Clinton's willingness to appease Wall Street, under the guise of pragmatism, realism, and the all-knowing guidance of Barney Frank, underscores the debate over Citizens United. POLITICO once referred to Hillary Clinton as Wall St. Republicans' dark secret for a reason. As stated in a POLITICO piece titled Why Wall Street Loves Hillary, "As we have all seen repeatedly, Wall Street often gets what Wall Street wants." But remember, Clinton has never been influenced by Wall Street. Therefore, the following information about Citizens United and its consequences should be irrelevant, especially when we take a politician (who's taken enormous amounts of Wall Street cash) at their word. No amount of money can influence Clinton, therefore what's the issue with Citizens United? Advertisement According to a US News & World Report piece titled How Citizens United Has Changed Politics in 5 Years, America's political system has changed dramatically: The controversial Supreme Court ruling has remade how campaigns are run in the U.S. As a result, a small group of wealthy donors has gained even more influence on elections, and are able to maintain that influence once candidates take office. Of the $1 billion spent in federal elections by super PACs since 2010, nearly 60 percent of the money came from just 195 individuals and their spouses, according to the Brennan Center report. Thanks to Citizens United, supporters can make the maximum $5,200 donation directly to a candidate, then make unlimited contributions to single-candidate super PACs. Campaign reform advocates say the amount of money spent is not inherently a problem; rather, it's the fact that a tiny number of extraordinarily wealthy individuals are bankrolling the majority of that spending. Either the wealthiest Americans and most powerful corporations have an inordinate amount of influence, or they don't. Either we take politicians at their word, and believe them when they say millions in Wall Street cash hasn't influenced their decision-making, or we don't. American voters can't complain about the next Wall Street collapse, if given the opportunity to vote for Bernie Sanders, and another candidate is chosen. Advertisement Don't complain about money in politics, and never complain about lying politicians if Bernie Sanders isn't our next president. You have your chance to elect an honest, fearless candidate for president, and if you choose the wrong person, simply don't complain when the next financial collapse costs you a business, or your house. People who remember 2008 will vote for Bernie Sanders. People who have horrible short-term memories might vote for Clinton or Rubio. If you vote for Hillary Clinton in 2016, you'll vote for a politician who took millions from Wall Street, but miraculously was able to deceive savvy investment bankers and keep the money. Patrick Braila by Alexandra Carastoian Photography Patrick is sitting with his big warm smile across from me in a Bucharest pub, his goatee grown back now and his raven eyes smoldering with resolve. There was a time, in the early noughties, when the smile was, for all I knew, a tomboy's named Lolo, fresh out of film school, working in film production and looking to go into directing. For those of us who've known him that long, it's been a humbling experience, to see him go from Lolo to Patrick, the self-made man, from fledgling director to trans activist, living on his own terms in Romania, a country more prone to quashing diversity than taking the time to understand it. But for those who've known Patrick all his life, for his family, the change was a hard pill to swallow. "I first told my folks at 17, I was already having a hard time functioning as a girl... My mom kept silent, and then just left the room... just like that, speechless." Advertisement Patrick had the inspiration, and fortitude, to let his parents believe what they wanted, that it was just a phase, while he came to Bucharest to attend film school, and started work at Media Pro Pictures, back then the biggest production company in Romania. "I wanted them to see I was all right, they hadn't raised a nut-job." I'm glad to see Patrick's smile is still the right side up after all that -- moreover, that he's turning this personal experience, his coming out story, into the Abreast short, a film that's set to shake our society's skewed moral compass to its core. To see him now, a full-steam-ahead 30-year-old man, on a mission to mine and shatter the rich seam of hate in this country, it's hard to remember how out of left field it seemed to me once, his activist streak. Patrick's good friend Sasha founded TRANSform, the first NGO to serve the needs of Romania's transgender community, in 2013 (the same year they both started their HRT), with Patrick taking on the role of executive director. It was an unofficial support group at first, picking up, in a way, where Robyn McCutcheon, the first American diplomat in the history of the U.S. who transitioned while serving with the DOS, had left off. Sasha and Patrick met at one of the group meetings she used to convene at her home away from home, in Bucharest. Advertisement TRANSform fields questions from the farthest reaches of Romania, especially from young people living in villages that don't even have proper healthcare professionals around, let alone counselors, to help the community. To give you an idea of how cut-off and alone LGBT youths are in Romania, there are, statistically, thousands of trans people here, but only a little over a hundred have made their existence known by joining TRANSform. The handful of polls conducted on the matter turn in the same chilling numbers again and again: asked how bothered they'd be by a member of their family coming out, a staggering 48% of Romanians rate the notion as extremely upsetting -- it's no surprise then that, more than any other minority, LGBT people are the most rejected group in Romania. The work Patrick does with TRANSform has offered him the chance to interview Andrew Solomon, as well as being a launching pad for his efforts in promoting FAQiff, the first film festival in Romania honing in on LGBT subject matter. His voice has grown deeper with hormone therapy, but also louder with the voices of many, gathering strength from the stories of the community he's fostering -- stories of years spent under the microscope of an obtuse judicial system and incompetent medical practitioners, stories of forced sterilization, and of transgender women turning to video chat or worse for lack of fair employment opportunities. Even though it was touch and go at first, Patrick has carefully, lovingly, managed to maintain his relationship with his family. He's now confronted with the task of shooting this very intimate short, Abreast, in the village where he grew up... where his grandmother still lives, still in the dark about her beloved Lolo. She can't know, not even now. She's why Patrick's held off on getting the surgery or filing for his ID change -- it's for her that he shaves his beard every time he goes back home. Advertisement That's part of the reason why I'm shooting this independently, to keep the number of people there to a minimum... I've told the crew to address me as Lolo, to never use male pronouns, and not to let the script about the house... But I still get panicky and lose a lot of sleep over it... When my grandmother passes, I'll start the trial [to change my ID], and it will be open to the public, to the press, to whoever wants to come... so that when -- not if, when -- they dismiss my suit, it reverberates across the country. It's not pessimism, just cold hard facts: In over 25 years since the overthrow of communism, only a dozen or so cases filed by trans people searching to align their legal identity with their true self have been resolved in favor of the plaintiffs. It turns out, the drive to shoot films and the need to fight deep-seated, knee-jerk rejection are connected, and by pouring them into a work of art and activism, Patrick can bear down and push through the hate. As he puts it: [T]hat Abreast sees the light of day is important not just to me as its creator but to the community as a whole. Most of us have lived through some version of this moment I'm describing in my short, and we know first-hand how loved ones reacting badly when we're at our most vulnerable can hurt us, derail our dreams, even crush us beyond repair... [This film] has to happen in full view, to spark a conversation that is long overdue in this country, and it has to ultimately foster acceptance and respect. As the night settles in the pub, I listen to Patrick talk about his film, a community's hymn and his very personal way of fighting back. Advertisement The panic is there in his eyes, but there's love too, burning for all the people whose struggles have touched him over time. If there's a fight coming, over the lives of Romania's transgender sons and daughters, Patrick is the one person in the world I'd entrust to lead the charge, with the carnation and the bullhorn both. In the past several years, Harlem's empty lots and burned-out buildings have sprung up luxury condos, upscale restaurants, boutique shops, hotels, B&Bs and unimaginable improved services in an area the city had long forgotten. And the resentment of this shift has targeted both Harlem's recent and life-long LGBTQ communities. "Look out black woman. A white homo may take your man" a towering sign hung for months outside of ATLAH World Missionary Church on West 123rd and Lenox. The pastor of ATLAH, Rev. James David Manning opposes the gentrification going on in Harlem and has implored its residents and his congregants to boycott the new luxury condos, upscale restaurants, boutique shops and hotels. According to Rev. Manning the boycott would maim the "white homo" where it hurts him the most- his pockets. Advertisement And Manning expounded why on the church's online video. "He's usually got money -- a white homo usually has an American Express card. He usually has an opportunity at the theater -- homos love the theater. They love to go out to dinners, parties, they love that kind of a thing... " Next month Manning's church is scheduled for a public foreclosure auction due to over $1 million dollars in debt. The tragedy here is not in seeing Manning leave but rather the many life-long residents of Harlem and congregants of Manning's church who are now forced to, resulting in the permanent dislocation not only of a people but also of the inimitable culture, lifestyle and worship space they created.The query raised by many Harlem residents is why is their neighborhood that has been long forgotten and completely disinvested from both public and private real estate interest suddenly a hot land grab? The prevailing thought today in the area of urban development and city planning is that if you want to revitalize a decaying city and get rid of its urban plight you create gayborhoods. And new studies reveals that these enclaves have overall positive economic and cultural effects. Advertisement In February 2014 HuffPost Live did a show "Why We Still Need Gayborhoods." On the show was Janice Madden, a Professor of Regional Science, Sociology, Urban Studies and Real Estate at Penn, to discuss her new book Gayborhoods: Economic Development and the Concentration of Same-Sex Couples in Neighborhoods Within Large American Cities. Madden revealed that gay white men on the Northeast and West coasts had significantly greater income to create gayborhoods that are "close to or have easy access to the downtown and had older housing." But white gay men are not the culprits gentrifying Harlem, although the number of whites in Harlem in the last decade has nearly doubled from 9.9 percent to 16.6 percent. Harlem is unquestionably a community in transition -- and not only with its new residents. In June 2010, Harlem saw its first Pride. But Harlem still remains as both a complicated open and closeted queer social hot spot. Harlem's transgender community wrestles more than any of us LGBQs with Harlem's homophobia. With a new black and visible LGBTQ face emerging in Harlem in the last decade so too is a white one. When rents became prohibitive, especially in Greenwich Village -- NYC's gay mecca -- many Manhattan LGBTQs took either a bridge over to Brooklyn or a train up to Harlem. Advertisement These new LGBTQ residents in predominately poor communities and communities of color have brought unimaginable improved services to the area the city has long forgotten, like police protection, Starbucks, Wholefoods and boutique shops, to name a few. But their presence has also created great resentment by those who were forced to relocate from these communities, but also those left to see the uncomfortable changes. Many life-long residents wonder what will become of Manning's imposing edifice that's been in the community since 1957 as one of the revered Harlem churches in its day. Some of Harlem's land grab, however, can render not only good outcomes but also redemptive ones. The last thing Manning would ever fathom for the church space is it becoming NYC's largest homeless shelter and resource center for LGBTQ African American youth. And the Ali Forney Center (AFC) has launched a fundraising drive to grab the space. Ali Forney, who the center is named after, was an African American who identified as both gay and transgender and was murdered in December 1997. Needless to say, Rev. Manning will be outraged should the Ali Forney Center win its bid. But I'm reminded of the prayer Forney recited -- and no black pastor heard -- before his death at his favorite event of the year: Talent Night at Safe Space, a program for homeless youth in NYC. Advertisement "I believe that one day, the Lord will come back to get me. Hallelujah! All my trials and tribulations, they will all be over. I won't have to worry about crying and suffering no more, because my God, hallelujah is coming back for me." Many black churches, especially in Harlem like Manning's, continue to both unapologetically and unabashedly closed its doors to its LGBTQ population. And despite the fact these kids looked to the church for help these youth have neither a chance nor a prayer for assistance. By Meera Dattani Solo travel can be liberating, hassle-free and the ultimate in self-expression, but it can also be lonely and challenging. As a serial solo traveller, here's my take. It may feel scary Whether it's the first time or the tenth, striking out on your own can be daunting. Aim for an auspicious start by not getting scammed at the airport and research that first journey. Apart from obvious safety reasons, don't arrive too late, so you can switch accommodation if necessary, explore the area and even meet people in time for beer o'clock. You'll wish you hadn't over-packed Travel light; it's incredibly liberating. But don't skimp on a first-aid kit. If you get ill, the last thing you want to do, if you even can, is find a pharmacist. My must-haves include antiseptic cream/wipes, bandage, plasters, anti-diarrhoea meds, rehydration salts, anti-histamine cream and painkillers. Advertisement It's a lesson in self-awareness Solo travellers tend to meet numerous different personalities in a short spell of time, a valuable lesson in learning what you do and don't like about others - and yourself. Having total control of everything, from budgets to next destination can also be enlightening and empowering. You will make friends Unless you want it to be, it's rarely a solitary experience. You're easier to approach for a start. Having said that, if dining solo, I still take 'armour' to evening meals in particular - smartphone, book, notepad -or use the time, and wifi, to call home. On-the-road friendships can be erratic, intense, fickle In this bubble, it's easy to forge many 'special connections'. Enjoy these for what they are, then come what may. You may make lasting friendships, I know I have, but others are transient and even turn quickly if new friends find more compatible travel pals. You'll appreciate what you have Travelling makes you realise that nowhere is perfect. Travelling solo perhaps more so, as there's no-one connecting you to home. Some trips end up life-changing, others reinforce your choices, some inspire you to make small changes. And if they're just plain good fun, that's great too. Advertisement Take plenty of photos You may have ten Whatsapp groups with names such as 'Peru 2016 friends forever', but it's possible you'll lose touch over time... I'm always glad I was snap-happy to remind me of experiences which are no longer shared with anyone I'm in touch with. Not every day is perfect You may get lonely or ill. You may be in a funny mood or have not met like-minded souls for a few days. You might be tired of making every decision. It's fine. Indulge yourself in those moments; watch a film, have a night off or book a group tour for a few days. It's a trip, not a test. Returning home may be tricky Don't be surprised if conversations with friends revolve around topics you both relate to: so-and-so's relationship, the Tube, a new restaurant. It's tricky to describe then relate to someone's momentous experience. Sharing photos on social media is a saviour; show your 'amazing trip' without the pressure of summing it up in one chat. And if possible, book a short trip soon after your return. Don't feed the travel blues. However it turns out, you'll probably be glad you did it It's certainly a series of highs and lows. When you're lonely, it's worse without home comforts, but nothing tops a magical week. For some, once is enough. For others, we can't get enough. Just as Colorado's GOP State Chair Steve House is telling his fellow Republicans to talk more about education and less about guns, GOP Senate candidate Peggy Littleton is saying that one of her top priorities if elected would be to abolish the Department of Education. Asked by KCOL morning host Jimmy Lakey what she'd do if she were the "queen for a day" in the U.S. Senate, Littleton said: Littleton: I would love to see the Department of Education go away. I don't want those bureaucrats in Washington to deermine what our kids are going to learn and be able to do and have taken education away from the parents, which is where it originally belongs." Listen to Littleton on KCOL's Jimmy Lakey Show 1.26.16 "Education belongs in the hands of the parents, teachers and local school boards, not with unelected bureaucrats in DC," Littleton tweeted about her radio comments. Littleton, who's vying with about a dozen other Republicans to run against Democrat Sen. Michael Bennet, is following in the footsteps of a list of (mostly) failed Republicans who've called for the elimination of the Department of Education. (Usually they don't talk about the the Department's job training, grant making, and research functions.) Rick Perry remembered the Education Department during his Ooops Mooment, when he forgot one of the three federal departments he'd shutter. Advertisement Now this is something you will never hear mentioned by a Republican presidential candidate during any debate: the price of gas. The cost of fuel has not been uttered one time by a single candidate in any GOP debate; nor was the issue ever raised prior to the caucus in Iowa. Odd that, because fuel prices were previously trotted out as clear proof of Obama's incompetent handling of the economy. When prices go up, Obama is at fault; when prices decline, silence. No retraction of earlier claims of economic doom in the face of the alleged failure of White House economic policy. The Gold Standard of Double Standards In the last election, John Boehner (R-OH) said of gas prices, "This debate is a debate we want to have." Well I guess they do not want to have that debate anymore. Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio have all been persistently silent about the pesky fact that the price of gas today is the same as what we were paying nearly ten years ago. With a commodity price so easily quantified, we have the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that hypocrisy is truly the core foundation of right-wing thought and the basis for Republican politics. I challenge anybody to provide the equivalent of what you see below for the Democrats. We will demonstrate in black and white that the GOP vocally, loudly and undeniably blamed Obama for expensive gas as prices climbed toward $4 per gallon. The current silence is all the more noticeable because the right openly blamed the president not only for pursuing a bad energy policy but for actively seeking higher prices. Rick Santorum said that Democrats "want higher energy prices." On that basis he opined that "We need a president who is on the side of affordable energy." Hmmm; wouldn't that be Obama? Advertisement Here are just a few more examples of this outrageous double standard. When reading these, ask yourself what these politicians are saying today: Mitt Romney: Obama to Blame for High Gas Prices Romney said on Fox News (where else?) that he believes "absolutely" that Obama is responsible for high gas prices. To bolster his point, Romney noted that Obama does not allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), and his refusal to build the Keystone pipeline from Canada to Texas. Romney said of Obama, "His policies are responsible for not having America using the energy that we have in this country." Paul Ryan: Obama Gone to Great Lengths to Keep Gas Prices High Romney's vice presidential candidate said that... "what's frustrating about the Obama administration's policies are they've gone to great lengths to make oil and gas more expensive." He does on to say, "Let's not forget the fact that the regulations coming out of the EPA are making it harder for us to harness home grown American energy." House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) "The president holds the key to addressing the pain Ohioans are feeling at the gas pump and moving our nation away from its reliance on foreign energy. My question for the president is: what are you waiting for?" Getting more specific, Boehner claimed that, "The president's own policies to date have made matters worse and driven up gas prices." Advertisement Senator John Barrasso (R-WY): Obama Fully Responsible for High Gas Prices Senator Barrasso claimed "The president has been a complete obstructionist on that, and his energy policy, if you want to even call it a policy, has in my opinion actually contributed if not caused the pain at the pump, and he should be held fully responsible for what the American public is paying for gasoline." Representative Cory Gardner (R-CO): Obama Policies to Blame for High Gas Prices Cory Gardner jumped on the bandwagon, complaining that, "The longer we let politicians like President Obama continue to block responsible American energy production, the longer our nation will continue to suffer with high gas prices and limited energy security." National Review: Report Finds Obama Policies to Blame for High Energy Prices "What President Obama failed to accomplish through the so-called 'cap and trade' program, his administration is attempting to accomplish through regulatory roadblocks, energy tax increases, and other targeted efforts to prohibit development of domestic energy resources." Rush Limbaugh: Obama Wants Higher Gas Prices Oddly, in his rant against Obama, Rush asks, "Will the media ignoring the rise in gas prices be able to keep that from becoming a major factor in people's minds over the economy and Obama's role in it?" Funny given the torrent of news coverage on higher gas prices, and the GOP's consistent drum beat blaming Obama. Do these guys ever apologize for being so spectacularly wrong? High Gas Prices are President Obama's Fault In this article, the author claims that "The Obama administration's energy plan all along was based upon the rise in energy costs in order to force Americans to be 'greener.'" The piece goes on to say that "President Obama wants Americans to believe that he is powerless to stop the high rise of gasoline prices yet it is his (in)actions that have created the crisis... What the president fails to realize is that there is no one to blame for rising energy costs other than himself." Advertisement Billboard Blames Obama for High Gas Prices In this case, a conservative businessman by the name of Bret Eulberg posted for all to see the message: "Gas $1.85. Obama took office. Tight drilling regulations. No Pipeline. Obama- Higher Gas. Can any reader, of any political persuasion, even those who only watch Fox News, claim that the GOP did not openly, blatantly, consistently blame Obama and his failed energy policies for high gas prices? Can we be any clearer about that? No matter who you are, no matter your political persuasion, you simply cannot deny this fact. How is it then, if Obama is to blame for high gas prices, if Obama's energy policies have been disastrous, that prices have fallen to well below $2/gallon at the pump? After all, the fact of high gas prices was offered as proof that Obama had failed. But if his policies impact fuel prices, would they not be responsible for both the rise and fall of those prices? No sane person can claim he is at fault for higher prices but deserves no credit for lower costs. His policies influence price or not; nobody but the worst partisan could claim that Obama has no influence on gas prices as they decline, but that his policies are to blame for prices as they rise: such cognitive dissonance is a sign of mental instability, something that now seems to be a hallmark of the conservative movement. Tip of the Iceberg This outrageous double standard on fuel prices is not an anomaly. Republicans come down with a sudden case of amnesia when the subject turns to unemployment, the deficit, the stock market, the war on terror, and health care costs. As a small demonstration, let's just look at two of these: Health Care In spite of the intense, unyielding, never-ending opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, nobody can deny that Obama has tackled the problem of health care costs growing out of control when nobody before him would. And all signs point to success: Health care spending grew at 3.9% in the last three years, the lowest growth rate in 50 years. Advertisement "Although the economic downturn contributed to that slow growth, ACA provisions that incentivize providers to be more efficient while improving the quality of care, such as Accountable Care Organizations, medical homes and value-based purchasing, are helping to drive these encouraging trends, too. Some cost savings are even higher than expected. Before the ACA, Medicare spending was expected to grow 6.8% over the next 10 years, but new projections show a dramatic slowdown in spending growth to 4.8%. That 2% drop in spending will result in cost savings of $751 billion over the ACA's first 10 years." I will wager that "health care costs have lowest growth rate in 50 years" is not a soundbite you will hear on Fox News. Stock Market The DJIA was at 3310 on Bill Clinton's first inaugural day. The market was 6813 when he was next inaugurated. At the end of Clinton's second term, on the day Bush took office, the DJIA was at 10,578; that is the market Bush inherited from Clinton. When Bush left the Oval Office on January 20, 2009, the Dow was at 7,949, a decline of 25% over the eight years Bush was president. By March the DJIA had completed its tumble to bottom out with a 12-year low at just over 6500. Republicans blamed Obama for the continuing decline from 7,900 to 6,500 during his first month in office, but not Bush for the loss from 10,600 to 7,900 in eight years as president. Here is just one example: Wall Street Journal (March 6): "Obama's Radicalism is Killing the Dow." Author Michael Boskin prognosticated that, "It's hard not to see the continued sell-off on Wall Street and the growing fear on Main Street as a product, at least in part, of the realization that our new president's policies are designed to radically re-engineer the market-based U.S. economy, not just mitigate the recession and financial crisis." Perhaps most astonishing of all, John Tanny of Real Clear Markets, wrote on November 25, 2008, an article entitled, "This Is Obama's Market, Good and Bad." Obama was not yet president! That did not stop Tanny from writing that, "Lacking clarity, investors can only guess about what's ahead based on Obama's decidedly anti-business rhetoric used during the campaign. Whatever direction he takes, it should be clear that today's stock market is the Obama stock market, so it's up to him to decide its basic direction." Even though Obama was not yet president. Advertisement The stock market doubled in value during Obama's first 14 months in office; it is now well into the 16,000s even after recent declines. Republicans no longer mention talk about the stock market after Obama's nearly 8 years in power. Where is the talk about Obama's radicalism killing the Dow because he was re-engineering our economy? When the DJIA hit 17,000, did you hear conservatives say "this is Obama's market"? Hmmm? Cat got their tongue? Coin of the Realm US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during the MSNBC Democratic Candidates Debate with Bernie Sanders at the University of New Hampshire in Durham on February 4, 2016. Clinton and Sanders face off on February 4, in the first debate since their bruising Iowa clash that the former secretary of state won by a hair, as they gear for a battle royale in New Hampshire. / AFP / Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) There's no doubt that Hillary is the candidate of Wall Street. Even more dangerous, though, is that she is the candidate of the military-industrial complex. The idea that she is bad on the corporate issues but good on national security has it wrong. Her so-called foreign policy "experience" has been to support every war demanded by the US deep security state run by the military and the CIA. Hillary and Bill Clinton's close relations with Wall Street helped to stoke two financial bubbles (1999-2000 and 2005-8) and the Great Recession that followed Lehman's collapse. In the 1990s they pushed financial deregulation for their campaign backers that in turn let loose the worst demons of financial manipulation, toxic assets, financial fraud, and eventually collapse. In the process they won elections and got mighty rich. Advertisement Yet Hillary's connections with the military-industrial complex are also alarming. It is often believed that the Republicans are the neocons and the Democrats act as restraints on the warmongering. This is not correct. Both parties are divided between neocon hawks and cautious realists who don't want the US in unending war. Hillary is a staunch neocon whose record of favoring American war adventures explains much of our current security danger. Just as the last Clinton presidency set the stage for financial collapse, it also set the stage for unending war. On October 31, 1998 President Clinton signed the Iraq Liberation Act that made it official US policy to support "regime change" in Iraq. It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime. Thus were laid the foundations for the Iraq War in 2003. Of course, by 2003, Hillary was a Senator and a staunch supporter of the Iraq War, which has cost the US trillions of dollars, thousands of lives, and done more to create ISIS and Middle East instability than any other single decision of modern foreign policy. In defending her vote, Hillary parroted the phony propaganda of the CIA: Advertisement "In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members... " After the Iraq Liberation Act came the 1999 Kosovo War, in which Bill Clinton called in NATO to bomb Belgrade, in the heart of Europe, and unleashing another decade of unrest in the Balkans. Hillary, traveling in Africa, called Bill: "I urged him to bomb," she told reporter Lucinda Frank. Hillary's record as Secretary of State is among the most militaristic, and disastrous, of modern US history. Some experience. Hilary was a staunch defender of the military-industrial-intelligence complex at every turn, helping to spread the Iraq mayhem over a swath of violence that now stretches from Mali to Afghanistan. Two disasters loom largest: Libya and Syria. Hillary has been much attacked for the deaths of US diplomats in Benghazi, but her tireless promotion of the overthrow Muammar Qaddafi by NATO bombing is the far graver disaster. Hillary strongly promoted NATO-led regime change in Libya, not only in violation of international law but counter to the most basic good judgment. After the NATO bombing, Libya descended into civil war while the paramilitaries and unsecured arms stashes in Libya quickly spread west across the African Sahel and east to Syria. The Libyan disaster has spawned war in Mali, fed weapons to Boko Haram in Nigeria, and fueled ISIS in Syria and Iraq. In the meantime, Hillary found it hilarious to declare of Qaddafi: "We came, we saw, he died." Perhaps the crowning disaster of this long list of disasters has been Hillary's relentless promotion of CIA-led regime change in Syria. Once again Hillary bought into the CIA propaganda that regime change to remove Bashir al-Assad would be quick, costless, and surely successful. In August 2011, Hillary led the US into disaster with her declaration Assad must "get out of the way," backed by secret CIA operations. Advertisement Five years later, no place on the planet is more ravaged by unending war, and no place poses a great threat to US security. More than 10 million Syrians are displaced, and the refugees are drowning in the Mediterranean or undermining the political stability of Greece, Turkey, and the European Union. Into the chaos created by the secret CIA-Saudi operations to overthrow Assad, ISIS has filled the vacuum, and has used Syria as the base for worldwide terrorist attacks. The list of her incompetence and warmongering goes on. Hillary's support at every turn for NATO expansion, including even into Ukraine and Georgia against all common sense, was a trip wire that violated the post-Cold War settlement in Europe in 1991 and that led to Russia's violent counter-reactions in both Georgia and Ukraine. As Senator in 2008, Hilary co-sponsored 2008-SR439, to include Ukraine and Georgia in NATO. As Secretary of State, she then presided over the restart of the Cold War with Russia. The first time is terrifying, yet life changing. You will be instructed to take off your shoes and strip down to your bare essentials. If you have the courage to look around, you will see men and women contorted in grotesque positions, with various limbs bound and tied. You will lie back while someone spreads your knees and ties your ankles to your hips with a stiff canvas strap. A sandbag will be placed over your eyes and you'll be instructed to breathe through the discomfort. Perhaps it happened in a hot room swamped by lithe, malleable bodies beaded in perspiration. You were commanded to bend over. You felt a set of hands clutching your hips, guiding you further into compliance. Flushed and receptive, you kept a steady gaze, and held your position until the next set of instructions. Bondage and discipline coupled with dominance and submission is commonly seen as sadomasochism. It is practiced as a way to, ironically, unshackle us from the pain of life. If we look closely, yoga is not that different. Both employ techniques to free the mind from suffering. Both incorporate means to transcend pain and experience pleasure. Both involve a close relationship between the teacher and student. Both share the ultimate goal of attaining higher states of consciousness and bliss. Advertisement We all have an innate desire to be liberated from the struggles of life. Carl Jung believed there is no coming to consciousness without pain. As a society that runs from agony straight into the pleasure dome, it is hard to believe anyone would voluntarily gravitate toward pain, but we do, and it is helpful. For some, being bound, tied, and told what to do is just the type of discomfort we need to set us free. Pain is a necessary way to enhance pleasure. Beyond promoting the release of endorphins and other pain-killing hormones, pain can make pleasurable activities feel better. Anyone who has ever taken a hot bath after a long day working in the bitter cold knows this to be a fact. The old adage of no pain, no gain, holds true for the yogi who believes enduring discomfort promotes happiness. The teachings in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali share that transcendence of the ego through the practice of tapas (discipline, self-restraint, and torching inner impurities) is key in experiencing oneness with everything. Like the phoenix, we must burn in order to rise from the ashes if we want to evolve. Bikram yoga's high temperatures bring rise to that bird of rebirth. After feeling like a captured terrorist inside a military hot box, the moment the door opens and the cool air descends upon us, bliss abounds. Advertisement Iyengar yoga's props and contraptions are akin to what might be found in a sex dungeon or a medieval torture chamber. Racks, straps and wall slings are commonly used to tie and bind us into curious poses, all for the sake of liberation. Photo used by permission. Spanning the course of history, there have been numerous sexual allusions associated with yoga. In the Kama Sutra, the practice of slapping and biting our sexual partners was meant to promote mindfulness. The Yin and Yang of Taoist yoga rituals involved dominant and submissive role-playing to seek balance in natural forces. Ancient tantric yoga practices involved holding challenging sexual positions over long periods of time, for personal awakening. Contrary to popular belief, in order to gain positive psychological or spiritual benefits, neither sadomasochism, nor yoga for that matter, has to involve sex. While sadomasochism carries a certain stigma of insanity, research suggests those who engage in it are not mentally ill, they are inherently healthy and happy individuals. Current studies show non-sexual practices involving pain instill feelings of unity and connection with others. James Ambler, Brad Sagarin, and a team of researchers from Northern University, believe these altered brain states brought on by sexless sadomasochistic practices are similar to what can be experienced when people push themselves in [sexless] yoga. Advertisement "The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is responsible, in part, for distinguishing self from other," said Ambler. "If less blood flows to the brain during these intensely painful experiences, the result may be a feeling of oneness." "We think this may be indicative of the types of altered states of consciousness people might be seeking," noted Sagarin. Roy Baumeister, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Case Western Reserve University believes sadomasochism is a way for people to escape his or her egocentric identities. He says, "Like alcohol abuse, binge eating, and meditation, sadomasochism is a way people can forget themselves". However, sadomasochism and meditation are potentially less destructive than boozing and overeating. Disassociating from our identities frees the mind from suffering. The yogi believes surrendering the ego, especially when it involves a journey out of our comfort zone, is crucial to our spiritual development as human beings. However, some are not only capitalizing on this psychology, they are exploiting it for personal gain. "Open yourself completely every day. Don't worry about the beauty or the pain of it. There's no growth without distress and disturbance," said Swami Chetanananda, a spiritual leader who purportedly abused dozens of his followers, financially, sexually, and spiritually. Advertisement "When ego is lost, limit is lost. You become infinite, kind, beautiful," said, Yogi Bhajan, who was accused of rape and sodomy. "Yoga is really trying to liberate us from...shame about our bodies," said Rodney Yee, who admitted to having sex with his students. When any teacher-student or dominant-submissive relationship becomes infused with selfishness, someone inevitably becomes a victim. The current matters of Bikram Choudhury remind us of this sad truth. The path to enlightenment has many shades of grey. The dark side of yoga is littered with vanity, ego-centrism and a ravenous appetite for seduction and power. If we want a shot at enlightenment, we shall transcend wrongdoing in the midst of our pleasure-seeking practices. Something incredible is happening. An important conversation about race is unfolding in cities across the country, and I feel honored to be witnessing it. When I began writing my latest book, America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America, my hope was to help foster that new conversation on race in America -- and to point to the action that needs to come from it. Because only when we openly and truthfully speak to the roots of racism and inequality in our country -- white supremacy, white privilege, and the dehumanization and devaluation of black lives and bodies -- will we able to deal with the modern-day realities of that legacy and solve the obvious problems before us in racialized policing and the blatant racial disparities in our criminal justice, education, and economic systems. So we launched a "town meeting" tour that creates space for the voices of diverse local leaders in each city and allows for the multiracial, truth-telling conversations and actions we so urgently need across this country. I'm happy to say that tour has started, and it has been powerful to see and hear. Advertisement Already in New York, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Chicago we have experienced deep discussions with diverse leaders and community members about what repenting racism means. By repentance we do not mean just being "sorry" or admitting "guilt" but taking responsibility for turning around and going in a new direction -- for changing behavior and strategizing what this means "here." Christians, Jews, Muslims, and those with no religious or faith affiliation; academics and activists; professors and pastors, policy experts, and new and veteran public leaders -- they're all coming together around a new vision for the future. What does that future look like? In the next few decades, America will no longer be, for the first time in its history, a majority white country -- it will be a majority of minorities. Some political candidates have taken on the mantle of anger in this country, seeking to fuel racial fear and hate, and turn people against each other in direct efforts to prevent America's demographic change from changing us as a nation. Overcoming that overtly racial rhetoric, hateful thinking, and bigoted strategy will be one of the biggest challenges facing our country in the next 30 years. In the book I call that struggle building the "Bridge to a New America" and now we can actually see that bridge being built -- in town meetings, in packed out events that are multiracial, intergenerational, interfaith, secular, and intersectional. A new generation of black activists from Ferguson and across the country are helping build that bridge with their message of Black Lives Matter, directed to the heart of America's original sin, which said from the nation's founding that black lives mattered less than white lives. On this tour, I often quote what one of the young Ferguson leaders, Brittany Packnett, told me: "We don't just need allies, we need accomplices." In every forum we ask how we can all become those accomplices. I have often spoken against the notion of American exceptionalism, but Heather McGhee, President of Demos, during our first town meeting conversation on this tour said that successfully navigating our country into this new demographic reality -- in a way that removes both privilege and punishment of anyone based on race -- could be the first actual opportunity to truly realize our American exceptionalism. I agree. Advertisement Sojourners' website has the complete schedule of the town meetings that lie ahead, and more are being added. But you don't have to wait for a forum to come to your city--you can create one in your own congregation, between different congregations, in your small groups, your schools, your workplaces. In fact, we have created a very effective resource -- a free discussion guide for small groups, Bible study groups, book clubs, youth groups, and more. The guide is intended for all those who wish to honestly discuss and explore what it will take to achieve racial justice, and reconciliation in their communities and across the country. We hope that this guide will help you foster rich, constructive conversations and actions that help you to discern and clarify how to move your community towards racial justice and healing. Download the guide for free and get started today. Next Wednesday, Feb. 10, marks the beginning of Lent, which for Christians is traditionally a time for honest self-reflection and repentance -- a perfect time to focus not only on personal repentance but collective, societal repentance for America's original sin of racism and white supremacy. February is also Black History Month -- another worthy occasion to have these difficult but critical conversations to keep turning our society toward racial justice. So I hope you will do much more than just read this book. My deepest hope is that you will use the book and discussion guide to have the conversations and take the actions that need to happen in our nation -- urgently. It is becoming clear to me that Americans across many boundaries are hungry for the kind of conversation that really changes our lives and our nation. We all need to ask how we can best foster and create the spaces for this urgently needed reflection and action -- in our own worlds and communities. Join us. Jim Wallis is president of Sojourners. His book, America's Original Sin: Racism, White Privilege, and the Bridge to a New America, is available now. One of the great things about the filmmaking duo of Joel and Ethan Coen (aka the Coen brothers) is that you always know when you're watching one of their films. That's not true of many filmmakers, and for those few whose works fits that description, it can eventually become more of a criticism, serving as evidence of a lack of growth. But the Coen brothers -- who co-write, co-produce, co-direct, and co-edit all their films -- weave their sensibilities, humor, and love for tweaking genres through every scene of every film they make. And even as they repeat themes -- crimes spiraling out of control, would-be crooks getting in over their heads, unstoppable killers -- they manage to do it in a way that feels fresh yet familiar. The Coens' latest film Hail, Caesar! has the brothers returning to some of their favorite territory: kidnappings, old Hollywood, and the screwball comedy. And, as usual, it's a Coen brothers film through and through. Watch the trailer for Hail, Caesar! below. Advertisement Hail, Caesar! takes place in the 1950s and follows Edward Mannix (Josh Brolin), the head of physical production at Capitol Studios who also acts as Capitol's "fixer", responsible for putting out fires, managing gossip, and handling the studio's stable of stars. But he's confronted with perhaps his biggest challenge when Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), one of Hollywood's biggest names and the star of Capitol's upcoming prestige film Hail, Caesar!, is kidnapped in the final days of shooting and held for a $100,000 ransom by a group calling themselves the Future. It's up to Mannix -- with some help from up-and-coming hayseed western star Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich) -- to find Whitlock while keeping his disappearance out of the tabloids. Hail, Caesar! also includes a cavalcade of big-name but relatively short-lived appearances by Scarlett Johansson, Ralph Fiennes, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Channing Tatum, and Jonah Hill. As I said of Quentin Tarantino, the Coen brothers' work is so singular that their films can only really be judged against each other. In that respect, Hail, Caesar! doesn't rank among Coen classics like Fargo, the Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men, Raising Arizona, or Barton Fink. In fact, none of the Coens' previous screwball efforts (like Intolerable Cruelty or the Ladykillers) have managed to find a larger audience. However, the Coens aren't filmmakers who ever courted the mainstream -- the mainstream, over time, came to them. And when you look at any list of their best films, it's almost mind-boggling how different those films are in style and tone while still retaining that Coen DNA. When I see a Coen brothers movie, it's not to see if they can replicate their old hits, especially since so many of them share so many similar elements anyway. When I watch a Coen movie, it's for a chance to visit the kinds of worlds only the Coens seem to create, full of their humor, affections, and obsessions. Worlds so complete that it feels as if any character, no matter how small their role, has a complete story that could be a movie on its own. Advertisement In the case of Hail, Caesar! that world is Hollywood in its golden age, with cinematography by Roger Deakins that looks as if the camera lenses have been dipped in honey. The performances, dialects, and premise seem transported from a classic screwball film. Yet the subjects -- which includes the inner workings of the studio system -- are things that a film from that era would never address. It's the kind of genre tweaking the Coens do like no other filmmakers. And, as in Fargo and No Country For Old Men, we have a hero doing their best to battle or ignore their own cynicism and doubts to solve a mystery and hopefully make their small corner of the world a better place. Rarely do we ever think of studio heads as forces for good, but it's hard to watch Hail, Caesar! without being touched by the Coens' infectious love for movies and moviemaking with all its craziness, odd personalities, grandeur, creativity, spectacle, politicking, and rare but exalted moments of true transcendence. Hail, Caesar! is Hollywood as the dream factory, and it's people like Mannix who must protect it and keep it running. After all, what would life be like without our cinematic dreams, even if they "only" put a smile on our faces for roughly 100 minutes before fading from memory? China and America : two national flags face to face, symbol for the relationship between the two countries. Almost everyone in this presidential campaign sure is focused on being "tough." Anyone can call for America to defeat her enemies from a podium in my 'first in the nation' home state of Iowa--indeed, every president that ever was or ever will be has. What does actual "toughness" look like not through the rosy, poetic lens of a campaign, but in the harsh light of governance? Advertisement I've had my fair share of disagreements with the Obama Administration's foreign policy. There have been opportunities missed, and ponderous consideration overruling decisive action. I think it is absurd to call the President of the United States a "feckless weakling;" clearly, he is not one. But I do understand when critics bemoan his hesitancy and lack of boldness when it comes to military force. Nonetheless, one issue that candidates from neither political party are talking about where the administration has excelled in pragmatic, results-driven "toughness" is the United States' relationship with China. China has a bad habit of trying to alter the reality on the ground to fit their interests at the expense of everyone else. By building artificial islands into naval bases throughout the South China Sea, Beijing hopes to increase its territorial waters and better control the maritime traffic of its neighbors throughout the region. But President Obama didn't threaten any asinine, empty promises to "fly Air Force One" over those islands. Instead, he took real action: Sending a USS Destroyer within miles of the so-called islands, and sending the message in no unequivocal terms that the United States will maintain freedom of navigation around the world. Not everyone likes the TPP--many of my friends on the left aren't a fan of this or that detail in the deal, and their concerns are fair. But the administration's intention in rallying our partners and allies like Japan and the Philippines to a trade deal was rooted in the simple realization that fortune favors those who set the rules of the road. It's easy to lambast about "losing" to China on trade and call every deal a bad one, but the only way to actually "win" is take proactive steps to build the international order in our own image--not bellyache and bloviate about your own negotiating skill. At the end of the day, "toughness" can't become a constraint on flexibility. We want to ensure that China rises peacefully within the international community's norms--especially as far as our partners and its neighbors are concerned. Sometimes, that's going to mean engaging Beijing on common challenges facing the world. The administration did just that on climate change, securing the first-ever agreement wherein China agreed to set limits on its own conditions. Some folks may think those limits are insufficient, but do they think that threatening or belittling would've gotten a better result? Besides, it's awful hard to be "tough" on climate change if you don't believe in it in the first place. Advertisement Just like in any policy area, the Obama Administration hasn't been perfect on China. We've heard quite a bit about their "pivot to Asia," but it hasn't been reflected well in public policy priorities and it feels like a very slow pivot. I'm always looking for our government to do more around the world for better results on human rights, and China is a serious offender. And is often the case with this administration, the wins--like opening up Burma, or bringing Japan and South Korea closer together--have not been well-publicized. Still, the magnitude of today's world challenges clearly mean that our next commander in chief needs to be "tough"-not in the juvenile chest beating sense, but in the sense of sitting down at the table and pursing the interests of the United States through effective engagement. It seems to me that it is the times in history where force wasn't use to achieve a victory--the fall of the Berlin Wall, the resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis--that "toughness" matters just as much as when those times situations that require us to make the hardest call: Putting our men and women in uniform into harms way. Earlier this month New York city council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito co-hosted her final community meeting for residents of Spanish Harlem concerned about the city's housing plans. On its face, the meeting, the last in a series that began less than a year ago, would add resident input to the city's hotly-contested affordable housing plan. For months, anger over plans by the city to allow developers to build more lucrative luxury housing in exchange for 'affordable' (a definition itself often contested) units has led to near-unanimous opposition from community boards--including CB11 in Spanish Harlem. Viverito's meeting, said to engage "hundreds" of residents with snacks and break out groups, produced an "East Harlem Plan" (in just 6 public meetings) that would "inform the final neighborhood rezoning" that will be approved by the Department of City Planning. Facilitated by long-time social justice organization Community Voices Heard (who have otherwise protested de Blasio's public housing proposals), those meetings ultimately embraced the controversial upzonings being pushed by the mayor. Advertisement Andrew J. Padilla, a lifelong Spanish Harlem resident and creator of "El Barrio Tours", a documentary project profiling gentrification and displacement in America, has doubts about the process: "Residents were never asked if they wanted to be upzoned in the first place and told what that would practically mean. They were just told that if they wanted better schools, open space, parks, jobs and affordable housing, that a rezoning was the way they'd get those things. Rezoning has been described by "East Harlem Plan" facilitators in public meetings as 'neutral'. Upzonings are not neutral." Padilla points to other city neighborhoods that have been upzoned, like Williamsburg or Central Harlem, which "saw huge swaths of their working class communities of color displaced as property value, tax and rents skyrocketed." A few days after Viverito's meeting in Spanish Harlem, local immigrant-led group Movimiento Por Justicia En El Barrio hosted dozens of grassroots housing groups and small business owners who came together in their opposition to the city's plans. Speakers called on residents to aggressively reject and resist the city's plan, which Movimiento has described as a "luxury housing plan" that would fuel gentrification and displacement. Advertisement From El Barrio to the Bronx to Brooklyn, it seems people aren't buying what de Blasio is selling. Imani Henry helped organize the Brooklyn Anti-gentrification Network, a coalition of grassroots activists and tenants that highlight the intersection of gentrification and policing. Henry says much of the public discourse around public safety in the city, especially as it relates to quality-of-life policing like Broken Windows, is predicated on "what's 'safe' in the minds of gentrifiers." The drastic changes Brooklyn has seen has fueled economic and cultural changes that translate to increased police harassment for people of color. Parts of Brooklyn now hosting concerts with headliners like Ringo Starr and Josh Grobin are emblematic of a borough transformed. "Now cops are patrolling there," Henry points out. "You live there, shop there but you're being racially profiled because the neighborhood is now catering to white people." Summonsing, an "extra tax on poor people", and ticketing, often directed at dollar cabs (the unsanctioned transportation lifeblood of many of the city's neighborhoods of color), creates an atmosphere of police intimidation that only compounds the stress of rising rents for residents, Henry adds. Groups like Movimiento and BAN are doing some of the most effective pushing on the ground, scrutinizing the administration and organizing tenants. With rejection of two of de Blasio's key housing proposals, Zoning for Quality and Affordability and Mandatory Inclusionary Housing , community boards would seem to be channeling much of New Yorker's cynicism towards City Hall, too. The mayor dismissed community boards, accusing them of NIMBY-ism and reminding everyone that their votes were only advisory. His plan was above their democratic power, Bloomb--err, de Blasio concluded. However, community boards, whose members are largely hand-picked by the borough presidents, aren't reliable, Henry says. He describes the community board process, regardless of the opposition to the mayor at the present moment, as a "shitshow". "These people aren't beholden to us," he says. "The community boards are here to deliver the borough to developers... They're doing the bidding of [Eric] Adams." Adams is the Brooklyn borough president and a former police officer who, like the mayor and many city politicians, has taken plenty of money from the real estate lobby. Alicia Boyd, a Crown Heights resident and the founder of the Movement to Protect the People (MTOPP) has filed lawsuits against Adams and has gone toe to toe with her local community board, confronting board members at public meetings and exposing voting "miscounts". CB9 has responded by calling the cops on Boyd and her supporters, with police escorting Boyd out of a meeting or two. One frustrated CB9 board member has taken to incessantly blogging about her activism. Advertisement "There is a lack of accountability and transparency at community boards," Boyd says. Much of the gentrification that's already happened in Brooklyn was blessed by the community boards, she explains. "By the time the community found out about a lot of these deals, the community board has passed it and moved on." Part of the reason Boyd believes that the community boards broke with City Hall on the housing plan is because "so many people are feeling the crunch, they're seeing their neighbors be displaced and they know the culprit is development and politicians." She described the role of the community boards as largely an appendage to "the current political structure" which itself works hand-in-glove with developers. Clearly there's a danger in letting community boards, politicians and nonprofits (many of whom are funded by the city) assume the mantle of opposition. Having someone like Adams or Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, who denies gentrification occurs in the Bronx but voted no to zoning changes, steer the conversation is obviously a dead end. Additionally, whatever concessions can be negotiated with the administration (more affordable units, union jobs, etc) wouldn't deviate from the plan's ultimate effects. Meanwhile, housing advocates aren't only fighting the plan but the 'progressive' brand that de Blasio and his allies put forward. Padilla believes de Blasio is strategically trying make the impression that working-class communities of color are leading the zoning process (i.e. Viverito's meeting), in contrast to the famously autocratic style of former mayor Mike Bloomberg. Peddling a 'progressive' brand (which the mayor promotes nationally) means using buzzwords like ''community plan', 'robust', 'community-driven' and 'affordable housing', Padilla says. This veneer, he explains, "is crucial not only to the passage of these upzonings but to de Blasio and the speaker's credibility as progressive standard bearers beyond this term, beyond this city." 03 11 08 philadelphia pa ... Over the past several months, I've seen Hillary Clinton derided as a flip-flopper, a liar, and even a closet Republican. I want to address these unfair criticisms, which I believe result from a decontextualized view of the American political system, and, yes, even gender bias. In a representative democracy, our political representatives can be delegates, where they vote however their constituents want them to vote, regardless of their personal views, or trustees, where they are trusted by their constituents to vote however they see fit. I think our political leaders must combine both roles. Advertisement There are times when issues are too complicated or do not get enough press attention for the common people to develop meaningful opinions about them. There are also times when popular opinion might be morally wrong, as was the case with slavery in the South. In those cases, our leaders should serve as trustees. But at times when information is readily available to the populous, and absolute truth is not clear, I believe the delegate model is the better model to follow. And with a delegate model, it is only natural that politicians change their positions on issues. What people seem to forget when they scrutinize politicians is that the American people are constantly changing their minds. Over the past two decades, Americans have become more favorable toward gay marriage. We are becoming more favorable toward marijuana legalization. When the public changes its mind as a group, we call it cultural evolution. When a politician changes her mind, even to reflect the opinion of her constituents, we call it "flip flopping." So when people call Hillary a "flip flopper," I call her a delegate. Politicians change their stances not because they are untrustworthy people, but because it's part of their job. And for some reason, Hillary's shifts in policy stance are received quite differently from her peers'. Supporters of Bernie Sanders claim that Bernie never "flip flops," when he in fact recently changed his position on gun control. The fact that Barack Obama did not declare his support for gay marriage until 2012 is all but forgotten, while people continue to criticize Hillary for not supporting gay marriage until 2013. And there's an even bigger "flip flop" in Obama's political history that everyone seems to have forgotten. When Obama ran against Hillary in the 2008 primary, he was opposed to the universal healthcare plan that Hillary had long supported. It wasn't until after Obama was elected that he adopted Hillary's views on the issue. For his "flip flop," Obama is lauded by Democrats as the father of our new, revolutionary healthcare system. Hillary, for her "flip flops," is branded an opportunist, and a liar. Advertisement I simply cannot believe gender plays no role in the way people view Hillary's political evolution. Women in politics are often held to higher standards than men. They are expected to bring honesty and trustworthiness back into an institution that is already inherently corrupt--God forbid the men have any role to play in that process; apparently they're already too far gone. Hillary, it seems, is locked in a game she cannot win. Her political career is so long that she cannot play the uncorrupted feminine savior. But try as she might to play as one of the boys, she cannot scrub away her gender. I support Hillary. And I can only hope to help release her from this trap by calling attention to the ways she is unfairly and hypocritically criticized. People point to Hillary's donations from Wall Street to prove she is untrustworthy, and while I won't say those donations do not worry me in the slightest, I will say that there is no evidence Hillary has ever acted improperly because of a donation. I also believe Hillary's stance on campaign finance reform demonstrates an unprecedented level of professionalism in the political world. Hillary has promised to do what she can to overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, despite the fact that the original goal of Citizens United was to smear Hillary. Rather than criticizing the case because it began as an assault on her reputation, Hillary turns the other cheek, and, in doing so, faces her voters and promises them: "I will do what you ask of me." That's one of the main reasons I support Hillary: the fact that she always opts to be the bigger person. She prioritizes charting a path forward over correcting past affronts to her character. She listens to what the people want, and then draws up a plan to accomplish it for them. I'm voting for Hillary over Bernie because Hillary is grounded, while many of Bernie's proposals are simply not feasible. Bernie wants to make college free--and make no mistake, I think this is a fantastic idea--but college in the United States is not like college in countries like Germany where it is free. In Germany, far fewer students go to college, and their colleges lack the amenities that ours have. To make free the dorm rooms, the dining halls, the fitness facilities, the intensive advising programs, so on and so forth--that's a big burden on the taxpayers which simply cannot be accomplished. Advertisement Bernie wants to shift to single payer healthcare, which I also think is a great ideal, but our country is not ready for another massive overhaul of its healthcare system, after we barely managed to pass one only 6 years ago, and the Republicans are still fighting tooth and nail to repeal it. While Bernie's goals are progressive and idealistic, Hillary's are progressive and realistic--improve the ACA, make college more affordable, address income inequality by encouraging profit sharing. Hillary is also making an active effort to help more Democrats get elected so that her initiatives have a better chance of passing. During the Wednesday night Democratic Town Hall hosted by CNN, Secretary Hillary Clinton decided to underscore her reluctance to require women to register for the draft by adding something of a non sequitur: "the All Volunteer military," Clinton said, using a formal phrase to refer the United States' professional army, "has worked, and we should not do anything that undermines it." Clinton's remarks, which reflect upon a broad but not universal Washington DC consensus in favor of the All Volunteer Force (AVF), were not unprompted. The Secretary was responding to a suggestion made earlier by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing that "all eligible and qualified men and women should register for the draft," a stunning departure from the practice of imposing the previous obligation to serve, and today's obligation only to register, exclusively on men. For the moment, let's leave aside the important question of whether opening up combat positions to qualified females in the Armed Forces necessarily entails draft registration for all women, as Milley suggested before the Senate Committee, as well as the equally important question of what reforms within the military (particularly on sexual assault complaints) women will want to insist on as a precondition to their potential service. Here I simply want to note that, despite Secretary Clinton's warning, there is nothing about the obligation to register for the draft that disturbs the current Volunteer Force structure at all. We have a universal male obligation to register right now, yet the AVF remains intact, untouched, and for the most part unnoticed. Advertisement I join others in condemning the general neglect of the AVF as more than just a shame; it's a source of grievous harm to both the country and the military. In my opinion, it is fair to conclude that, contrary to her assurance that AVF has "worked well," Clinton harbors misgivings about the AVF as well. Why else would she characterize female registration for the draft as disruptive to the AVF when it is really only a dramatic opportunity to discuss it? The requirement that eligible women register would not make a draft force more imminent (one would think it would do the opposite, actually), but it would invite scrutiny of a system that has languished without it for too long. If seen as a tangential remark, Clinton's endorsement of the AVF becomes more interesting, not less. This kind of "move along, nothing to see here" answer betrays a kind of defensiveness over an approach to service that the Secretary has nevertheless gone out of her way to anoint as successful. Any real success can survive closer inspection. Perhaps Clinton's desire to close off rather than open discussion indicates that her commitment to the AVF, though obviously quite real, has to do with interest rather than intellect, and politics rather than policy. For me, Clinton's remarks on the AVF echoed and emblematized the fundamental differences that have divided Clinton from Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary contest. Or more accurately, they should have--except the fact that Sanders offers no systemic critique of the military's current force structure, unlike his insistence on "one big idea," no matter how unsettling, when it comes health care, banks, or campaign finance reform. But for the absence of any rejoinder from Sanders, the issue of military force structure aligns quite well with others contrasts drawn during the primary contest. For her part, Clinton can point to a slew of military experts who dismiss the service of citizen-soldiers as "amateurs," underscoring the long and specialized training needed to equip soldiers in technical warfare. As in other areas, Clinton's endorsement of AVF enjoys the blessing of the so-called "establishment," and all other associated benefits of an entrenched status quo (like campaign contributions). Advertisement Any given status quo has its defenders, and its detractors as well. In American politics, dissent is often consigned to the margins--so much so that even when mainstream figures like Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank express reservations regarding the injustice and dangers of the AVF, these views are received as an odd eccentricity, an errant misfire, rather than as a completely reasonable reaction to the inadequacy of the All Volunteer Force. Rather than respond to the indictment, the reigning powers in the political system depict their critics as idiosyncratic. Viewed in this context, the comparison between Clinton's support for AVF and the argument in favor of universal service (broadly defined to include social service) is particularly instructive. Clinton's arguments in favor of AVF are most persuasive if one takes the status quo as a given--a constant and not a variable--and further accepts that the only valid comparison is that of the combat soldier drafted into service versus the professional soldier. Under these constraints, and based upon this analysis, obviously the AVF is superior. But this is not the only lens through which to view this issue. Another equally appropriate framework would be American political tradition and the country's foundational documents. As is clear from the Constitutional convention and their voluminous writings, the country's Founding Fathers viewed a professional army as anathema, something that was deeply antagonistic to a democratic republic. Guided by historical admonitions, or more modern day sensibilities of fairness, if one shifts from "what is" to "what ought to be," the AVF becomes less defensible. Likewise the unit of analysis ought to be open to debate. A level of comparison aggregated above just the individual soldier yields a different result. Even the most gifted and experienced combat soldiers cannot turn the tide of an unjust discretionary war in Iraq, for example. Given that draft service entails a more equitable burden on society, its principal benefit lies in a more restrained exercise of military power. It seems plausible to suggest that this singular accomplishment of universal service in favor of better military strategy compensates for the numerous tactical disadvantages highlighted by supporters of AVF. As in other instances, if one is well cared for in the current system, then one is more apt to support Hillary Clinton. But if one is unduly burdened, estranged, or profoundly ill at ease with the status quo, then Bernie Sanders' quest to fundamentally restructure our way of doing business not only makes sense, it becomes necessary, even urgent. The "one big idea" vindicates its attendant disruptions with its righteousness and, more subtly, by its very assertion of what is yet achievable. When Clinton uses the term "possible" she is referring to present limitations; when Sanders invokes it, he is organizing for change. Both approaches have elements of the pragmatic in them, and both could rightly be accused of setting their respective followers up for disappointment. I view the most meaningful difference between them as whether one wants to be accountable to current power, or future progress. Advertisement Yet this primary contest, in so many ways an improvised audit on the health of our political system, lacks precisely this kind of dramatic contrast on one its most vital issues and seminal departure points: the US military. This is a genuine loss. Naturally I am unable to divine the motivations of the Sanders campaign in the face of its silence on the appropriate force structure for the US military. Suffice it to say, as I have lamented before, silence on the subject of military force structure is a dismaying and all too common feature of progressive politics. MAR 26 1972, MAR 27 1972; Sen. Marlow Cook, R-KY., Leaves Hospital after Hearing Ends; (Photo By David Cupp/The Denver Post via Getty Images) Marlow W. Cook first flashed across the horizon of Louisville and Jefferson County a little more than a half-century ago, full of ideas, enthusiasm and youthful energy. He brought something that our city, then the nation's 31th largest, needed badly: A vision for the future that would position metro Louisville for the 21st Century. Cook, at the age of 36, was leader of a reform political ticket, along with William O. Cowger and E.P. "Tom" Sawyer, who (like John F. Kennedy on the national level) wanted to get Louisville "moving again." That Cowger, Cook, Sawyer and others were Republicans and Kennedy was a Democrat didn't make much difference. In those days, ideology wasn't so important. Ideas were. Advertisement In the old City of Louisville, if you were a Democrat you were far more likely to be resistant to the wave of civil rights reform in the form of demonstrations and calls for changes in the Jim Crow laws that still gripped most of the South. In 1963, Louisville, under the Republican leadership of Cook, Cowger, Sawyer, former State Rep. Henry R. Heyburn and others, became the first big city south of the Mason-Dixon Line to pass a public accommodations law, providing an example to Congress (then struggling with similar federal legislation) and the rest of America that this could be done peacefully. (The offspring of some of those leaders have gone on to leadership in my generation, including Tom Sawyer's daughter, the network news superstar Diane Sawyer; Henry Heyburn's son John, who became a leading federal judge in the field of civil rights; and Bill Cowger's daughter, Ceci, who stood with black veterans of the civil rights era when memorials honoring the movement were erected a few years ago.) Not everything Marlow Cook, who died this week at 89, did was serious. He had a great sense of fun. For instance, there was the occasion when he heard that an old steamboat, the Avalon, was for sale. An adopted Louisvillian -- he had moved here as a teenager from upstate New York -- Cook shared a vision for the potential rebirth of the riverfront (at a time when Interstate 64 was being built right along the banks). With $34,000 in public money he bought the old boat, rechristened it the Belle of Louisville, and then raised the money to restore and improve the paddlewheel. For a time, it was derided as "Marlow's Folly." Today, it's impossible to picture our city without the Belle, surely one of our iconic images. The final, lasting achieve of the Cowger-Cook era was passage of a bond issue in 1965 that paved the way for a long list of future improvements to the community that included expansions at the University of Louisville, then still a semi-private municipal university, and the old General Hospital. It was in that period when Cook, following the lead of Louisville Courier-Journal publisher Barry Bingham, former Mayor Wilson Wyatt and others, decided that a vital step for the community's future was to merge city and county governments. That would happen more than three decades later, with Cook -- by then in retirement in Florida -- as a key supporter. Advertisement Cook was a barrier-breaker, though few remember him for that. He sought to be the first Roman Catholic elected to statewide office in the spring of 1967, when he ran in the Republican primary for governor against Barren County Judge Louie B. Nunn. I was a teenager living in Lexington during that campaign and witnessed with horror the blatant bigotry being peddled out in the state against the "big city Catholic" from Louisville. Louie Nunn barely beat Cook and went on to become the state's first Republican governor since the 1940s. A year later, Cook did make history by being elected statewide to the U.S. Senate to fill the seat held by another Republican, Thruston B. Morton, who was retiring. In Washington, "Judge" Cook cast his lot with the progressive wing of the GOP, including Tennessee's Howard Baker, Pennsylvania's Hugh Scott, Massachusetts' Edward Brooke (the first African-American senator elected since Reconstruction), and New York's Jacob Javits. Cook was given a prestigious seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, responsible for screening federal judges, including Supreme Court justices. If for no other reason, on April 8, 1970, Sen. Cook demonstrated a profile in courage by voting against G. Harrold Carswell, a Georgia judge nominated by President Nixon, for the Supreme Court. During the confirmation process, a long list of Carswell's racist, misogynist past was paraded before the Senate. In the end, two Republicans -- Sen. Margaret Chase Smith and Cook - were deemed crucial in the narrow vote that defeated Carswell. For his distinction, Cook earned the scorn of Richard Nixon's White House but the praise of others. The New York Times featured his photo on the front page April 9. The early 1970s proved to be dangerous times for Republicans in Washington, especially with the paranoid, lawless Nixon administration in the White House and running the national GOP. Despite his sound record, Cook was considered vulnerable when he sought re-election in 1974, little more than two months after Nixon had been forced to resign. Indeed, Gov. Wendell Ford polled 72,000 votes more than Cook in November and went on to a long and distinguished Senate career. Cook remained in Washington, where he became a successful attorney and spokesman for Kentucky interests. Over the years, he earned a role as a senior statesman, never again seeking public office. In time, he and his wife (whom he called "Miss Nancy") moved to Florida. He kept up with old political friends such as U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth of Louisville, who as a young man had worked as an aide in Cook's Senate office. He also enjoyed talking to old friends in journalism; I was always happy to hear from him. Advertisement Among the many young people he once encouraged, one came to earn his scorn: Mitch McConnell, who had worked in Cook's Washington office from 1968 to 1970, and then with Cook's blessing moved on to the attorney general's office. McConnell was twice elected to Cook's former job -- Jefferson County judge-executive -- but when he tried to move on to Washington by opposing Democratic Sen. Walter D. Huddleston in 1984, Cook opposed McConnell. Increasingly, in the years that followed, Cook expressed concern about McConnell's sharp ideological turn to the extreme right. The young aide who had helped him advance the Equal Rights Amendment became distant from many of the principles embodied in that important piece of legislation. Cook was the Senate's leading Republican advocate of the ERA. Then when McConnell became a fiery foe of the Affordable Care Act, Cook let him have it again in an interview with Mother Jones magazine: "If he had any knowledge of the lack of health and medical facilities in the hills of Kentucky, he'd know it's a problem we need to solve. For Mitch McConnell to decide the new health program is not good for Kentucky -- it tells me he's not looking out for his own constituency." Cook, who had not been a great ally of Bingham's Courier-Journal, warmed up to the newspaper in my era as an editor, and he also made a point of calling in from time to time. Perhaps my favorite moment in that period came in the early fall of 2004, when mainline Republicans of all sorts were distancing themselves from President George W. Bush, who was seeking re-election. Advertisement One morning, Cook called to chat about the race. As usual, he made inquiries about people he knew from Kentucky days, including my wife, Meme, who had grown up with his daughter, Christy. (Meme still remembers then-Judge Cook helping the girls put on productions of plays like "The Sound of Music" in the family's garage in suburban St. Matthews.) Then he got around to the point of the call. He was upset with the way Bush had conducted his first term, and he had decided that in 2004, he would vote for Democrat John Kerry. Not only did he intend to vote that way, but he wanted to share his dismay with the voters of Kentucky, hoping he might encourage a few other disenchanted Republicans to join him. The piece was published on the Forum page of The Courier-Journal: "For me, as a Republican," Cook wrote, "I feel that when my party gives me a dangerous leader who flouts the truth, takes the country into an undeclared war and then adds a war on terrorism to it without debate by the Congress, we have a duty to rid ourselves of those who are taking our country on a perilous ride in the wrong direction." On Thursday, Yarmuth told me that his conversations with Cook continued until four or five months ago. He was "still sharp" at 89, Yarmuth recalled. "After he left Washington, there's no question that the Republican Party moved way too far to the right for him. I know he felt more comfortable with the policies that most would call liberal today," said Yarmuth. "Whenever I spoke to him in recent years, he was consistently supporting Democrats over Republicans, at least on the federal level." Advertisement Tributes to Marlow Cook in his hometown and state never came his way during his lifetime. It's long overdue for something of note to be named for this remarkable man, who bucked politics and party to do what he thought was right. That it was right, so often, is something we can admire - and wish that more politicians today would strive to emulate. Image of world map On July 14, 2016, precisely one year following the conclusion of the landmark nuclear accord between Iran and the six major world powers, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, British Airways, will be re-launching direct flights between London and Tehran. The service was suspended in October 2012 as the company officials believed the route was "no longer commercially viable." The decision by the British airliner to resume return flights to the Iranian capital comes on the heels of new steps taken by the governments of Iran and Britain to normalize and improve their precarious relations, which plummeted to an all-time low after the British Embassy in Tehran was ransacked by a mob in 2011 when the ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was president. Shortly after the assault on the British diplomatic compounds, the then-Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that the Iranian diplomats would be expelled from London. He also ordered the immediate closure of British Embassy in Tehran. Advertisement Subsequent to the coming to power of Hassan Rouhani, the pragmatist, moderate cleric who had campaigned on a platform of "constructive engagement" with the international community in the 2013 presidential election and appealed to millions of Iranians fed up with redundant, pointless confrontations with the world under President Ahmadinejad, detente was unswervingly put on Tehran and London's agenda. For the first time since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the leaders of the two countries conferred in 2014, as President Hassan Rouhani went to British Prime Minister David Cameron's residence in New York to meet him on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Since then, the two nations steadfastly pursued their efforts to repossess normal relations and the British Embassy in Tehran was reopened in August 2015 upon a surprise visit to Tehran by the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, who became the first British government official to travel to Iran in more than a decade. The July 2015 nuclear agreement, implemented on January 16 this year - marked with the much-anticipated termination of draining economic sanctions against Iran - injected fresh blood into Iran's business, tourism and aviation sector and positioned the nation to reintegrate into the international community swiftly. Since last summer when the JCPOA was inked, 3,763 businesspeople from nearly 50 countries flocked to Iran to test the waters for the resumption of lost trade connections or inception of new links. The number of foreign tourists visiting the country has surged spectacularly and many European airliners, including Air France and Eurowings announced that they'll launch flights to Iran, while Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines said they'll increase flight frequencies to the Iranian capital, poised to become a blossoming commercial hub in the Persian Gulf region. Advertisement However, amongst all the auspicious developments taking place in the post-sanctions period for Iran and the new openings with the world that will eventually serve to uplift the livelihoods of Iranian people and take them out of economic strangulation, the rejuvenation of Iran's relations with Britain is important in a special way. The United Kingdom has historically been a close trading partner of Iran. According to the British Parliament, Iran was the 7th largest exporter of crude oil to the Kingdom in 2011, placed above such competitors as Venezuela, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Britain was Iran's third largest trade partner among the EU countries, and UK Trade and Investment's estimates have put the value of British exports to Iran at $1.24 billion for the 2005/06 period. More importantly, there's a dynamic, 70,000-member Iranian/Persian community across Britain that has been persistently contributing to the progress of the British society, and has nurtured many great figures in politics, academia, sciences, arts, business, media and even sports. Some of the familiar names include Nasser Khalili, the noted art dealer and philanthropist, who has been designated a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and as reported by the Forbes, is the 36th wealthiest person in United Kingdom. Mr. Khalili was honored as Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St Sylvester (KSS) by the late Pope John Paul II. The other indispensable name is Christiane Amanpour, a brilliant TV journalist hosting the CNN International's nightly interview program Amanpour in which she has interviewed dozens of prominent world leaders and famed politicians. According to the PR firm Burson-Marsteller, Christiane Amanpour is the journalist that most world leaders follow on Twitter. Her Twitter handle is followed by 1.64 million users, including 69 heads of state, government, foreign ministers and their affiliated institutions. The life peer in the House of Lords Haleh Afshar OBE, the Cambridge University economist Mohammad Hashem Pesaran and the Harvard Graduate School of Design Dean Mohsen Mostafavi are simply a few other names among hundreds of prosperous and distinguished British-Iranians who bring pride and glory to the Iranian community in Britain. Aside from the business and cultural bonds and the presence of a pretty vigorous Iranian community in Britain, the Kingdom is a well-liked country for Iranian students who prefer to pursue their academic ambitions somewhere in its deep-rooted, eminent institutions of higher education. As reported by QS, 3,372 Iranian students studied in Britain as of April 2015, constituting around 6% of Iranian students enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate programs abroad. According to the same report, UK is the third most popular destination for Iranian students after Malaysia and the United States. Advertisement With the elimination of hostilities that have been keeping the Iranian and British governments apart, there's apparently no reason for the two peoples to remain alien to each other. The Daily Telegraph travel reporter Lizzie Porter, who was unluckily denied an Iranian visa last year, is apparently an Iran enthusiast and beautifies her travel stories with photos of Iran's historical and natural attractions, and often posts tweets with the hashtag #MustSeeIran, a movement initiated by Iran's e-activists to promote the country's tourism and travel industry. Iran was featured by the UK edition of National Geographic Traveler as the first country in its list of top 16 travel destinations for 2016. In October 2015, Daily Mail published an elaborate pictorial report of the country's various ancient magnets, mosques, palaces and natural sites, posing the blunt question, "Could Iran be the top tourism destination of 2016?" With prudence and a serious commitment to settle one of the most tedious diplomatic disputes of the post-Cold War era through negotiation and logic, Iran demonstrated that it's not a pariah state and deserves respect. The new beginning in Iran's relations with Britain, which the Rouhani administration is committed to preserve and bolster, signifies that Iranians are bracing for a redefinition of their links with the international community, especially the people of Britain, which despite the ups and downs of the recent times, have always been willing to travel to this mostly undiscovered land and learn about the delicacies of life and culture in a country that inherits one of the world's oldest and most venerable civilizations. It is now 2016, the presidential primaries are beginning to close in, and it seems like each Democratic candidate is fetching for the endorsement of "Prominent DREAMers" to boost their immigration advocacy street credit. First Clinton, then Sanders, then O'Malley, and then Clinton again. But as we enter the next election season, the parade of endorsements raise a question of our movement, our power, and how change happens today. We didn't win DACA by stumping for Obama. We sat-in at his offices and shut them down until we got our executive order. It was only through repeatedly shutting down his deportation agency that we won its expansion. Individuals who have gained prominence from their part in advocacy may advance their careers through blanket endorsements, but it's unclear how that advances the lives of the undocumented communities currently living in the United States that are being spoke for. Advertisement Many of us who continued organizing since the failed DREAM Act have been trying really hard to leave the ghost of the DREAMer behind. We have come to understand that the self proclaimed DREAMer identity carries a heavy model minority, anti-black, anti-solidarity meaning that few if any of us could ever live up to or ever wanted to. It often ignores the oppressive structures that are purposely put in place to criminalize, incarcerate, and exploit us. Structures that have been created by "progressive" democrats, such as Hillary Clinton. We should be able to look at the bigger picture, and be more strategic about the way we handle relationships with elected officials/presidential candidates who should be serving us, not the other way around. Advertisement As undocumented people we're entitled to our own political ideals and beliefs, but we're not entitled to endorse a candidate on behalf of a whole entire population, no matter how relatable to our issues a candidate may seem. We have to remember that it has been a Democrat who proclaimed to be for immigrant rights that has brought us the most deportations in U.S. history! Furthermore, endorsing candidates only displays the lack of solidarity towards people in countries that have been robbed of their resources and independence through either war, or foreign policy enforced by the U.S. Moreover, making these type of endorsements strips us of our own autonomy, power, and decision making when it comes to the liberation of immigrants in this country. To be liberated means to live without Immigration and Customs Enforcement in our cities, to live in a nation without borders, in a nation that understands the flow of migration, a nation that doesn't enforce foreign policies on other nations so that slave wages advance the capitalist agenda that not only harms immigrants but citizens as well. For years we have tried to build undocumented power that can actually hold officials accountable either when they attempt to deport us or when they attempt to deceive us with false promises. In the Movement for Black Lives, they had a hashtag #WorkForThisVote but we're not doing the same and it is diminishing our power. To me, I endorse the undocumented youth, the trans and queer leaders, the people with records who these politicians might talk about but will never bring on stage. I watched the latest round thinking, whatever happened to the movement phrase "All power to the people?" Endorsing and standing by those who are most vulnerable--those who are being criminalized, abused, deported, and physically/mentally mistreated should be key into building and opening the doors toward power and real solidarity. Advertisement No politician deserves the praise that is being given to them through these endorsements. When the duty of movement leaders and the duty of elected officials is to serve the people--the only endorsement they should be getting is our pressure. Our movement will not be co-opted by any politician, we're not here to further their agenda or to turn out votes for, we're not political toys you can pull out of your toy box whenever you feel the need to, we're immigrants demanding nothing more than to be free. By Nancy and James Chuda founders of LuxEcoLiving and Healthy Child Healthy World Oslo Norway, The Chuda's for LuxEcoLiving What could be better. Two nights at The Thief in Oslo followed by an eight day cruise on Windstar's Windsurf. But first get ready to experience one of the most magnificent spas in the world... watch! The Thief gets our vote for one of the best hotels in the world. Unsurpassed beauty, excellent service, fantastic cuisine and best of all a delightful culture unto itself. The Norwegians really know how to enjoy life. And if you travel to find untouched beauty and nature ... this experience is for you. Advertisement Art by Bart/Art by Bart If your thinking of stealing away for a romantic weekend and are dying to leave the confines of your neighborhood haunts which by now are pretty boring... then book a flight on one of those Scandinavian airlines, don't expect much, in fact nothing at all in economy class except the sweet dispositions of the flight attendants. When you land, get ready for one of the most amazing stays in the Norwegian part of the world, Oslo. The Thief, truly a favorite among locals, whose sense of pilfering art (Edvard Munch's The Scream) name comes to mind. This icon is in center and sweet spot of Tjuvholmen. And it's name makes you want to beg, borrow, and steal to languish in it's luxury. Step inside the lobby of The Thief and you become engrossed by the artful and whimsical interior designs. The view from our suite was spectacular. Small but oh so inviting. Only 118 rooms and you hardly know whose in them. Set against the backdrop of one of the coolest Norwegian inlets- The Thief towers over and is the gemstone of the Nordic Choice Hotels chain. And there is originality in everything from the casual style in which guests enter and retreat. Advertisement You can literally live in your custom robe and slippers and steal away to the Spa and not be seen for hours. The treatments are excellent and so are the homemade elixirs made by an herbal mixologist clad in sauna and steam bath attire. Don't mistakenly drop your towel under any circumstances. The mix in the Thief Spa is very young and very rock star savvy. A one piece, black bathing suit will do. All good things happen for billionaires who want to showcase their art. Petter A. Stordalen's collection brings elevated meaning to anyone who engages in the opposite of artificiality. The Thief is positively stunning! Traveling with an architect can be challenging especially when you are in the process of reviewing hotels. We are happily married (36 and counting) with definitive tastes. Mine is for haute organic cuisine and luxury and his is for sustainable structures. The Thief has it all. Top of this list for this part of the world. Oslo is way ahead of the curve for green sustainable living. There is a beaten path along the waters edge that although packed with tourists seeking the best eateries, they leave no trace of themselves or litter. The architectural footprint of some of the high rise structures are contemporary. Oslo is known for its cutting edge architecture. From two of Europe's most outstanding 21st-century landmarks - the Oslo Opera House and Renzo Piano's Astrup Fearnley Museum are not to be missed. Along with the buildings themselves are museums and galleries where architecture is explored historically, artistically and culturally. The harbor (which the two new icons overlook) is the best place to begin almost any tour of Oslo, and the one we took probes deeper inland it leads through streets lined by examples of architecture from various centuries, including a look at how distinguished older buildings have been repurposed to modern uses. Advertisement Half of the schools and homes in Norway's capital are heated by burning garbage to generate electricity Politics I love the fact that Norway has a For decades - the political role of women in Norway has set landmark goals. The first woman prime minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Bruntdland, may be best known to Island Tides readers for her chairing of the World Commission on Environment and Development. The landmark report "Our Common Future" is often just known as the "Brundtland report." She also made dramatic changes to Norwegian society when she appointed 40% women to her government in 1986. It was not an easy move to make. Today in Norway, the government still reflects gender parity. And the move to equal rights did not stop there. Norwegian women are by law 40% of corporate board rooms both in government-run enterprises and in the private sector. A Must Do Visit Vigelandsparken is one of Norway's most visited attractions with more than one million visitors every year. The unique sculpture park is the life work of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron. The bronze statue of the little Angry Boy (Sinnataggen in Norwegian) is among the most famous sculptures, along with the Monolith (Monolitten) and the Wheel of Life (Livshjulet). Vigeland was also responsible for the design and architectural outline of the park - a monumental artistic creation with a human message that is well worth seeing. Advertisement Amenities Are A Must Nowadays in any 5 star hotel guests can and do expect more. Here's what I found fascinating and generous about The Thief. If you think you forgot something and you probably did check out the closet and open the drawers. iPod dock and stereo, hair dryer, iron, Nespresso coffee machine, bathrobe, slippers and a "shopping drawer," a kind of minibar selling socks, condoms, earplugs, nail polish, toothpaste and the best hair gels and wax. I mistakenly used the wax as a make-up remover because the insensitive security check person at the airport stole my expensive product. Don't you hate traveling? LuxEcoLiving -Art for the sake of art- photo credit Breakfast was heartfelt and delicious. Oslo has some of the finest dining in the world. Fresh fish is available 24/7 in every local restaurant. Fish is the pride of Oslo. You can't imagine fish until you have tasted it here. And when I say shrimp I mean fresh wild caught. Oh and one last thing. The Spa has one of the most beautiful custom designed indoor pools. Second on my list for soaking in splendor. And you must experience my first in Gstaad Switzerland DO NOT MISS THE FOLLOWING: THIEF ROOF has the best view in Oslo, a panorama of the fjord, the forest-clad hills and the capital's new skyline. Fresh champagne and summer cocktails characterise the bar menu, mixed by Head Bartender, Chris Grtvedt. Chris values good craftsmanship and only uses the highest quality ingredients. Light snacks are served at the seated section within the roof terrace. The hotel's rooftop bar and terrace, entry to the nearby Astrup Fearnley Museum, whose new Renzo Piano-designed galleries include works by Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons all free with unlimited use with your room key, the best hot breakfast buffet in town. And my favorite, Room Service, which places The Thief on the pedestal in Oslo as being the only hotel that offers 24/7 service. Advertisement And if you are thinking of stealing one of the most beautiful Norwegian hand loomed blankets at the end of your cozy king bed you better think twice. Those seemingly little reading lights attached to the headboard have laser vision. You might get caught! But then again you could say it was just a cover up. In Norway (Tromso) you can actually chase the Northern Lights Editors Notes: The Thief, Landgangen 1; 47-24-00-40-00, Oslo; That's the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar's headline for an article on the country's Press Syndicate that hosted this week's launch of a media ethics charter for online news sites and whose president nearly missed the occasion. In his remarks, the syndicate vice president, speaking on behalf of his tardy boss, couldn't distinguish between "electronic media" (i.e. online news media in local parlance) and social media, leading someone in the audience to quip that the man was probably addressing Mark Zuckerberg who he thought also attended the event. Interestingly, there were no women speaking for the news websites in question at the launch. Screen shot of Lebanese online media ethics code A report on the Lebanon Debate news site listed the code's clauses as follows: 1.Respect for the Lebanese constitution, the law's sovereignty, and the responsible handling of topics that may adversely affect national security and stability, and, refrain from covering security and legal issues that may destabilize security or undermine national unity. 2.A commitment to reaffirm national unity, coexistence, respect for religions, not resort to sectarianism or incitement to violence or commission of crimes, and refrain from the use of contemptuous language. 3.Seek efforts by electronic sites to support initiatives, projects and events aimed at renunciation of violence and segregation, to reinforce civil peace, and to respect human rights. 4.Adherence to the Lebanese government's official position on the conflict with the Israeli enemy and the danger of terrorism. 5.Adherence to rules that foster journalistic work and professional ethics. 6.Respect for individual freedoms and human dignity, verification of information, notably before publishing the names of victims, the injured or distressed, in the interest of loved ones. 7.Repudiation of racial discrimination and refraining from directly or indirectly attacking people's dignity. 8.Refraining from publishing pictures or video clips that insult the sanctity and dignity of victims. 9.Respect for intellectual copyrights as well as publication and authorship rights, and attribution of content to sources. 10.The undersigned express their solidarity to confront any violation or threat against media workers in electronic websites in the exercise of their profession. Advertisement Multi-stakeholders wrestled with the issue of Internet governance at a December conference in Beirut and the Maharat Foundation issued a report on Internet freedom in Lebanon, but the jury is still out on how to balance access to information, secure one's data, protect users' rights and implement the laws. Screen shot of "Internet Freedom in Lebanon report Bloggers, activists, citizen journalists and other types of online media practitioners not officially recognized by the state have had to face various degrees of harassment for tweets, Facebook posts, and content that have put them at odds with assorted and sundry. On some occasions they were hauled before the military court, or other bodies with criminal jurisdiction, while on different occasions they were summoned by the Publications Court, whose media laws date back decades, and is not qualified to handle online cases. Advertisement It's this sort of retrograde and tech-challenged approach to media innovation and disruption that is causing a ruckus in Lebanon, where more savvy youth eager for instant news, engagement and feedback are facing a wall of obstruction, half-measures, and ignorance from the powers-that-be. These powers are represented, among others, by an elderly lawyer in the position of information minister, whose pronouncements indicate negligible knowledge of what's at stake, much less who journalists today are and what skills sets they should master for ever-changing market needs. Another is the head of the Press Syndicate, whose election last year to replace his 90-year-plus predecessor was more of a political and sectarian tug-of-war within media ranks than the choice of a candidate able to meet 21st Century challenges. A committee of parliamentarians came up with draft legislation to overhaul Lebanon's antiquated media laws - print and broadcast media are currently adjudicated separately - with passing reference to online news outlets but the proposed law has languished in parliament for the past five years. The two unions representing print media have not been expanded to include radio, TV and online workers, and are not likely to under present circumstances. Advertisement Screen shot of current and past Lebanese Press Syndicate heads It's a lop-sided equation and the newly launched ethics guidelines have drawn the expected snide remarks from netizens who see the "code" as another example of cluelessness by those who formulated it. Previous attempts to regulate Internet use in Lebanon were met with a predictable outcry from all involved who saw them as attempts to silence them. One such move would have required journalists and bloggers to register their sites with the Ministry of Information. According to the NGO Social Media Exchange (SMEX), freedom of expression is regressing in Lebanon, online and on the ground. In workforce development, the phrase "demand driven" is common. The idea is that the job of workforce development organizations--including public agencies, community colleges and local nonprofits--should be to ascertain the skills and competencies that companies want, and then prepare people with those skills and competencies and place them in open jobs. If success is characterized as helping large numbers of people learn new employment-related skills, then many workforce development organizations can succeed. But if success is characterized as getting people into jobs in which they can support themselves, and maybe even a dependent or two, the "demand-driven" strategy cannot succeed. Before deciding to be "demand-driven," workforce organizations should take a closer look at where demand is driving us. Today's jobs numbers are a case in point. We see continued low rates of unemployment, but we also see retail trade and food services and drinking places as the industries creating the most jobs over the past month. These industries are large and growing sources of employment, but the majority of the jobs these industries create are low-wage, often part-time jobs with little connection to a career ladder. Certainly it is possible for an individual to find an entry-level job at a retail store or restaurant and to advance to a position that affords a decent livelihood, but it is not probable. Just looking at the structure of employment within most retailers and within food and drinking establishments reveals the discouraging odds of advancing to a decent job. Advertisement Given the growing demand for low-wage labor, "demand-driven" workforce development organizations are unlikely to help people support themselves through work. The good news, however, is this: businesses do not need to rely on employing large numbers of low-wage, economically insecure workers to be successful. There are restaurants and retailers, competing in very cost-sensitive segments of the industry, that nonetheless succeed by investing in workers, building their skills, and offering them autonomy and opportunities to contribute. As these workers build experience, stay with the company, and contribute more to the success of the business, they succeed along with the business. Zeynep Ton has written about retailers that operate in this way in her book The Good Jobs Strategy. Saru Jaramayan points out the success of what she calls "high road restaurants" in her recent book Forked. Both authors--one a business school academic and one a lawyer and labor advocate--find that businesses like QuickTrip and Zingerman's Deli succeed not despite investing in their workers, but because of it. President Obama announced a new Cuba policy on Dec. 17, 2014. It gave diplomatic recognition to the sole remaining dictatorship in the Western Hemisphere, unilaterally eased U.S. trade and travel restrictions, and commuted the prison sentences of three convicted Cuban spies, including one imprisoned for plotting the murder of three Americans shot-down by Cuban MIGs while flying over the Florida Straits. When Obama announced his new policy, describing it as "what change looks like," few believed that the "change" would be for the worse. Yet the policy has clearly proven to be counter-productive. Set aside the policy theories and debates. Instead, look simply at the irrefutable facts since the announcement: Political arrests have intensified. Throughout 2015, there were more than 8,616 documented political arrests in Cuba. In November alone there were more than 1,447 documented political arrests, the highest monthly tally in decades. Those numbers compare to 2,074 arrests in 2010 and 4,123 in 2011. A new Cuban migration is unfolding. The United States is faced with the largest migration of Cuban immigrants since the rafters of 1994. The number of Cubans entering the United States in 2015 was nearly twice that of 2014. Some 51,000 Cubans last year entered the United States; tens of thousands more are desperately trying to make the journey, via Ecuador and other South and Central American countries. When President Obama took office, the numbers were less than 7,000 annually. The number of "self-employed" workers in Cuba has decreased. The Cuban government today is licensing 10,000 fewer "self-employed" workers than it did in 2014. In contrast, Castro's military monopolies are expanding at record pace. The Cuban military-owned tourism company, Gaviota S.A., announced 12 percent growth in 2015 and expects to double its hotel business this year. Even the limited spaces in which cuentapropistas previously operated are being squeezed as the Cuban military expands its control of the island's travel, retail and financial sectors of the economy. Advertisement Internet "connectivity ranking" has dropped. The International Telecommunication Union's (ITU) Measuring the Information Society Report for 2015, the world's most reliable source of data and analysis on global access to information and communication. ITU has dropped Cuba's ranking to 129 from 119. The island fares much worse than some of the world's most infamous suppressors of the Internet suppressors, including Zimbabwe (127), Syria (117), Iran (91), China (82) and Venezuela (72). U.S. agricultural sales to Cuba have plummeted. Despite the Obama Administration's easing of sanctions, U.S. agricultural exports to Cuba declined by nearly 40 percent in 2015. In August alone, the value of U.S. agricultural exports dropped 84 percent to $2.25 million from $14.30 million in 2014. That's one of the lowest numbers since the United States authorized agricultural exports to Cuba in 2001. Religious freedom violations have increased tenfold. According to the London-based NGO, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), last year 2,000 churches were declared illegal and 100 were designated for demolition by the Castro regime. Altogether, CSW documented 2,300 separate violations of religious freedom in 2015 compared to 220 in 2014. Castro reneged on the release of political prisoners and visits by international monitors. Most of the 53 political prisoners released in the months prior and after Obama's December 2014 announcement have since been re-arrested on multiple occasions. Five have been handed new long-term prison sentences. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch noted in its new 2016 report, "Cuba has yet to allow visits to the island by the International Committee of the Red Cross or by U.N. human rights monitors, as stipulated in the December 2014 agreement with the United States."International political and economic pressure on Cuba has eroded. Despite the Obama Administration's prediction that the new U.S. policy would allow other countries to hold the Castro regime accountable for its repressive practices, the opposite is occurring. Presidents, foreign ministers and other dignitaries have flocked to Cuba to discuss business opportunities with Castro's state monopolies. None has made even a minimal gesture of solidarity with Cuba's civil society. International creditors have forgiven tens of billions in the Castro dictatorship's debts. Advertisement Supporters of Obama's policy point to the re-establishment of diplomatic relations as a sign of "success" in itself. Yet no progress has been made on pressing diplomatic issues like the extradition of one of the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted Terrorists, who continues to be harbored by Cuba's regime, or compensation or return of billions in Americans property confiscated by the regime. To the contrary, we've learned that throughout this process of negotiations and "changes" sought by the Obama Administration, that Cuba has had a stolen U.S. Hellfire missile in its possession and refused to return it. To make matters worse, defense experts fear Cuba may have shared information about this missile's technology with nations like North Korea. Innovation was the buzzword of the World Economic Forum. Not only was it used by political and business leaders alike. But, also pivotal leaders in the development sector as well. In Geneva, our unique mix of international organizations, think tanks, academic institutions and NGOs are driving a very specific kind of innovation: innovation for development. From global health to human rights, humanitarian action to disarmament - innovation is being prioritized across all hubs in Geneva. From all fields, actors are rejecting business as usual. Instead, they are pushing boundaries of all kinds to find new solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. At CERN, scientists are experimenting with new radioisotopes to revolutionize medical diagnosis and treatment. With International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) assistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has made similar progress. Through nuclear-derived diagnostic kits, detection of the Ebola virus was improved radically from several days to a few hours. The Open Geneva Hackathon 2016 next April will also tackle critical health challenges through innovation, for example harnessing didactic interface and wireless communication for a neonatal incubator. Advertisement Similarly, the United Nations Refugee Agency's Innovation Lab is working to invent the next generation of humanitarian shelters: a weather-proof, modular unit equipped with solar panels. This has the potential to reach millions in need with improved living conditions. The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is also using imagery analysis and satellite solutions to track the migration of people displaced by war, to target humanitarian aid to the right locations at the right time. Here, innovation is driving improved, more efficient solutions. The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Afrotech are also blurring boundaries between health and humanitarianism. They have designed drones not for warfare, but to carry life-saving medical supplies, like blood for emergency transfusions, to remote communities. Another noteworthy example is next week's DiploHack. This event will connect human rights experts, developers, designers and diplomats around the challenge to create new technological tools for human rights monitoring. Earlier this week, for the first time in his presidency, Barack Obama visited a mosque in the United States. Obama's speech at the Islamic Society of Baltimore should be cherished and applauded for its embrace of the freedom of religion. Some current presidential candidates, specifically from the Republican party, have spoken harmful words towards the Muslim community in America and across the globe. Sadly, this continues to perpetuate an unjust fear of the overwhelming majority of Muslims due the ugly and violent interpretation of Islam by groups like ISIS. Obama, however, sought to set a corrective and peaceful tone towards Islam and the freedom of religion in general. First, by calling out years of suspicion that he is a Muslim, Obama is bringing Islamophobia to light. In the last eight years since Obama has been in the spotlight, many Americans, Christians included, have questioned whether or not Obama is a Muslim. Yet suspicion about Obama is really about Muslims in general. The tone behind the "Obama is a Muslim" rhetoric is a fearful one that purports that Muslims are somehow deceitful and dangerous to others. This is patently false, and Obama pointed that out in Baltimore. He specifically called out the good and faithful citizenry of Muslims in America by feeding the poor, caring for the ill, and supporting the needy. Specifically, Obama cited Muslims in Kenya protecting Christians from terrorists. Like Christians and Jews, Muslims are peaceful and loving towards their neighbors. Advertisement Second, Obama, unlike some of the current Republican candidates for president, is serious about the freedom of religion. Obama said, "if we're serious about freedom of religion -- and I'm speaking now to my fellow Christians who remain the majority in this country -- we have to understand an attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths. And when any religious group is targeted, we all have a responsibility to speak up." And so we should. Many Christian Americans, like myself, are quick to champion the freedom of religion. Yet for many, this seems to only apply to the freedom to practice Christianity. Muslims do not seem to be afforded the same equal treatment when they are consistently viewed suspiciously of being violent. This isn't just the "average American" take, either. Consider these words that threaten Muslims, and thereby the freedom of religion in America. Donald Trump said in the third-person in December 2015, "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States." While other GOP candidates have not been so forceful with their language, the skeptical view of Muslims is rarely directly challenged. Support of Trump's statement, or that of any person who wants to stymie religious persons from citizenship or worship, should be viewed as an affront to religious freedom. Trump ostensibly has evangelical support throughout the country. If Christians genuinely care about the freedom of religion, they should champion the right of Muslims to freely worship throughout America. Any assault on the freedom for Muslims to worship according to their tradition is an assault on the freedom of religion itself. Advertisement Third, Obama stressed the unity amongst people of faith in America. In times when theological disagreements lead to harmful rhetoric, the right to religious freedom binds us together. The freedom of religion is a declaration of equality. No person, religious or irreligious, ought to be treated differently due to their beliefs. Religion has been mutated into dogma that separates communities. Instead, our core values ought to bind us together. It's afforded to all of us equally. That equality makes us family. As Obama concluded, "We are one American family. We will rise and fall together. It won't always be easy. There will be times where our worst impulses are given voice. But I believe that ultimately, our best voices will win out. And that gives me confidence and faith in the future." WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 03: A bottle of contaminated Flint tap water sits on the witness table while Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) speaks, during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the Flint, Michigan water crisis on Capitol Hill February 3, 2016 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony on the Federal Administration of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint, Michigan. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Taxes Matter. Government Matters. Governor Rick Snyder was inaugurated on January 1, 2010. Coming from big business and venture capital, he only took six weeks in office to propose a radical redistribution of the state's shrinking tax base. Snyder's budget completely gutted the state's complex business tax, replacing it with a significantly lower flat tax on corporations. This $1.7 billion loss of tax income was partially replaced by $1.5 billion in raised taxes on individuals. He specifically created a new tax on pension-related income, keeping a flat income tax rate of 4.25% (instead of the 3.9% rate it was supposed to drop to), and watering down the benefit of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). To add insult to injury (literally), the Governor called this massive shift in tax burden from business to individuals "shared sacrifice." Advertisement Governor Snyder is not alone in his governing strategies. In fact, at the Federal level, the difference in tax burden as a percentage of revenue between business and individuals hasn't been as high since the trickle-down era of the Reaganomics. But Governor Snyder didn't stop there. On March 16, 2011, Snyder signed a controversial bill into law that gave powers to appointed emergency managers in cities on the brink of bankruptcy, effectively creating management by fiat. The bill was repealed by voter initiative in November 2012. However, weeks later in December 2012 Snyder signed a revised version of the bill back into law. On December 22, 2011, Snyder signed into law The Public Employee Domestic Partner Benefit Restriction Act, which prevents the same-sex domestic partners of public employees at both the state and local level from receiving health benefits. On the morning of December 6, 2012, during a lame duck session of the Republican-controlled Michigan legislature, Snyder called a joint press conference with the legislative leadership to announce fast-track right-to-work legislation. The legislation passed both houses of the Michigan legislature quickly without committee votes or public hearings. A $1 million appropriation added to the legislation made it ineligible for repeal via referendum. Advertisement Governor Snyder is not an outlier. Many governors around the country have pushed radical agendas that tarnish the role of government. And they're doing much of it using "economic growth" as the reason. Co-authored by Prafulla Mishra, Regional Director at HelpAge International for East, West and Central Africa This year the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) marks a significant moment in women's history: as a global community, we could eliminate FGM/C within a generation. This can only become a reality, however, if we engage entire communities and use all cultural resources possible to facilitate change. Abandonment campaigns must be inclusive, and must engage some of the most powerful and effective-but too often overlooked-- agents for change: older women and men. Working with older women and men globally to develop their capabilities, reduce their vulnerabilities and alleviate the challenges within their communities, HelpAge International has proven time and again that older persons are not roadblocks to development. In fact, they are leaders capable of being powerful ambassadors for change in their communities, and should be actively engaged as champions against FGM/C. Advertisement Despite the severe medical consequences, in practicing communities FGM/C is often connected to beliefs around marriageability, womanhood, and misconceptions about reproductive health. To be cut, therefore, is not an individual choice taking place in a vacuum - the procedure has significant social and economic bearing for girls and their families. As such, awareness-raising and abandonment efforts that narrowly target the girl-child will continue to be limited in their success. This is particularly true in light of a recent and distressing trend: many communities have begun cutting girls as infants as opposed to adolescents, when they are unable to resist or refuse, and parents are less likely to be caught by authorities (FGM/C is criminalized in many practicing countries). And yet, a HelpAge analysis of ongoing FGM/C abandonment initiatives revealed that although nearly all actors recognized the influence of older persons - as the custodians of culture, gatekeepers of gender norms and marriage expectations, ascribers of stigma, forgivers of ridicule, and for some older women as the cutters themselves -- very few programmes work with older persons at all, much less consider engaging the community's custodians as critical change agents. If we are to reach the hardest to reach, realize the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women and girls, and fulfill Sustainable Development Goal 5, abandonment initiatives must adopt more inclusive, community-driven approaches. While we continue to empower the girl-child to abandon FGM/C, we must also empower her support network: her parents, teachers, religious leaders - and importantly, her elders. "While we continue to empower the girl-child to abandon FGM/C, we must also empower her support network: her parents, teachers, religious leaders - and importantly, her elders" Advertisement It is time that development actors recognize and include older people's immense capabilities to promote change in their communities. SAWATA, an association of older persons supported by HelpAge International in the Dodoma region of Tanzania, is leading the charge on culture change. In an interview, SAWATA's General Secretary explained that they have been visiting older persons' councils in surrounding villages to sensitize their elder peers on the negative consequences of the cut. They do so, he said, because "we know that the older people are the ones who are engineering it, are carrying this practice forward. ...Reactions at first were negative because elders believe [in the value of the practice], but now response is getting better and better and better." Similarly, The Grandmother Project's work in Senegal has found that older women have a pivotal role to play in promoting positive cultural values and supporting the health and development of youth, and--if well engaged--can be equally as influential in eliminating harmful traditions including FGM/C. As SAWATA and The Grandmother Project's work exemplifies, there is an incredible opportunity--and an urgent need--to engage older persons as activists, community leaders and change agents against FGM/C, as with many other community development initiatives. The recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals center around a pledge and ringing call to action: Leave No One Behind. If the global community is to see this to reality, duty bearers must not leave anyone out of the process, either. And for FGM/C abandonment in particular, we must not leave out the custodians of culture. "The recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals center around a pledge and ringing call to action: Leave No One Behind. If the global community is to see this to reality, duty bearers must not leave anyone out of the process, either. And for FGM/C abandonment in particular, we must not leave out the custodians of culture." If America is going to embrace its Muslim community, it needs to go beyond categories, beyond groups -- beyond stereotypes. The first blow came as a surprise, though it shouldn't have. It was the height of the Tehran hostage crisis, where 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days between 1979 and 1981. I never wore a hijab to my almost-entirely-white middle school in Cupertino, California, but surely the kids in the neighborhood had seen me on the weekends when I went to Islamic school to learn Arabic and read the Quran in a traditional shalwar kameez outfit, my head covered. Me, my sister and mother, after the Tehran hostage situation came to an end. It had been an ordinary day; I had gotten on the bus at my middle school, which was already loaded with kids from the nearby high school. Three boys -- probably sophomores or juniors -- followed me when I got off at my stop. I was near a big bush when they hit me with a rock to disorient me, pulled me out of view and then proceeded to punch, hit, and kick me until they were satisfied. Advertisement As they called me Iranian with hate in their voices, I remember wondering: Would it change anything if they knew I was actually from India? That I didn't like learning Arabic? (Or, if we could see into the future, know that I'd later convert to Christianity?) Likely not. Because they were not aware of me; they didn't see the individual that I am. *** I curled into a ball, simply waiting it out, knowing I had no power to change this outcome. Afterwards, I limped the short distance home with bruises all over my body, my clothes torn, my face, and hair covered in cobwebs and soil. I didn't feel sorry for myself. I just worked to cover it up. I showered, then washed, and stitched my torn clothes. I didn't want my mother, who worked nights and double shifts at the hospital to ensure we had clean and neat clothes, to see what had happened. Then I continued with my daily routine: starting dinner and doing my homework. I didn't say a thing to anyone. How would that make anything better? *** I'm sharing my story not because I want you to feel sorry for me, but to ask us to painfully wonder how commonplace this ugly reflex has become, in the years since 9/11 and the months since the Paris attacks. Whatever headlines there are, I suspect that like mine, the vast majority of incidents go unreported. "This is normal", some will say. "We're tribal by nature", they'll argue. It's our heritage to live out the "us" vs. "them" in response to threats. To be sure, tribalism is deeply rooted in human beings and has served humankind to align against invaders from "over there" and fight for one's own. But we're not in a feudal society anymore. And we're not a homogenous one, given that 38 percent of the country is non-white. Advertisement "But we're not in a feudal society anymore. And we're not a homogenous one, given that 38 percent of the country is non-white." There was a time when slavery was considered normal, and women were considered property. But that's no longer held as true. Today, we ask more of ourselves. We ask more of each other, and for each other. So, to those who argue that it's natural, let's counter-argue: We've worked decades and decades in protecting, appreciating, and reveling in our increasingly diverse nationhood. It's well past time for this kind of response. It just makes no sense any more. *** My friends who found out my story asked: Is there anything we can do today for girls like you? And I said, get to know them. Not as a member of a group, but as the person. When Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people -- including 19 children -- in Oklahoma City, Americans didn't decide to attack white people in revenge. Each person was seen distinctly enough to not draw wrong-headed conclusions. When you see someone only by a group, and not as a person, you miss something truly important: the human being. During a Trump rally last month, a Muslim woman was ejected. She said, "You don't even know me." If they did, they would have realized they had nothing to fear. And, if you're thinking to yourself -- well, those Trump rally people are a little nuts and I would never do something like that -- let me point out this kind of grouping happens all the time. Advertisement We do it when we tell a 15-year-old innovator is told he's "too young" to come up with a health care breakthrough, even though he has. Or when we tell an entrepreneur that her female-market startup serves "a niche" though women represent 52 percent of the population and 80 percent of purchasing power. Same goes for products that serve people of color, who are a majority of the world. "When society uses groups or stereotypes to sort, it discards the very thing that creates value. It's a lazy man's approach to thinking ... This laziness denies the very best thing each of us have to offer: ourselves." These are just examples from my own domain, innovation, that illustrate how pervasive the group framework is. In meetings, it's the admin who doesn't have the degree her colleagues have who is silenced. In offsites, it's the product manager who is encouraged to have her boss speak for her rather than to speak for herself. Sorting by group, quite simply, filters out valuable ideas. And this costs us all, whatever our age, our gender, our place of birth, our title, our rank, our lack of resources, those who feel voiceless, and even those of us who have previously been powerless have something to offer. And so we ought to fight for solution that serves us all. *** The truth is that each of us is an individual. Each of us stands in a spot in the world only they stand in. I call this onlyness: It's a function of one's history and experiences, visions and hopes. And from that spot come fresh perspectives, new insights, and even groundbreaking ideas. It's the unique and original that fuels our souls, and our economy. Advertisement So, when society uses groups or stereotypes to sort, it discards the very thing that creates value. It's a lazy man's approach to thinking. Or, maybe it's not thinking at all. This laziness denies the very best thing each of us have to offer: ourselves. It's been a quarter of a century since that hijab-tearing moment for me. And more than past time to see people as the individuals that they are. As he stands there with a wide smile and open arms at the Toronto airport in December welcoming the first refugee families from Syria off the plane where he will not only offer them housing, clothing, and food but also health insurance and citizenship, I think to myself "now there is someone who leads with love." Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, has shown us, as has Angela Merkel with her acceptance of millions of refugees, that there is another way to respond to violence and war. While Americans are busy thinking about how to build walls to keep out Muslims and Central Americans and defending their ability to own assault weapons, Canadians and Germans are busy figuring out how to effectively integrate Muslim refugees into their countries and fighting violence not with guns but with proactive strategies to combat violence at its root. They are busy thinking about how to build stronger and more inclusive communities and we are busy protecting our individual rights to bear arms and fighting over whose exclusionary agendas are going to win the presidency. Why are the Canadians and even the Germans in 2015 nicer than we are? The answers most likely lie with America's obsession with the self and individual rights to the exclusion of the community and human rights and to the stereotypes we perpetuate of each other. We tell our children not to listen to others and focus on themselves. We tell them, according to a Harvard University Research Study of parents across the United States, that academic achievement is more important than caring for one another. We define maturity and manhood as being self-sufficient and independent rather than being able to have and maintain healthy relationships. We flood the internet and our daily interactions with dehumanizing stereotypes about gender, race, religion, sexuality, and social class that disconnect us from each other and lead to more hate and violence. Yet it's hard to focus on caring and our common humanity when we see police officers kill innocent people, when we know about or experience sexual assault at college, when we hear about young men killing scores of people in schools and college campuses, or when ISIS is beheading Muslims and Christians alike. So, instead, we focus on hating. We hate the men who commit the violent crimes. We hate police officers. We hate the people who live in the countries with wars or the people with no jobs. We hate Donald Trump, the government, and/or Hillary Clinton. We blame these people for our alienation and our dissatisfaction. While some of the people we hate may be truly blameworthy, that's missing the point. The larger strategy of responding to hate with more hate and violence with more violence is simply not working. So what's the alternative? What would Justin Trudeau do? (WWJTD?) What if we responded to the hate and violence by building stronger families, schools, and communities? What if we responded to the next school shooting with town hall meetings to discuss how we can build more connected schools and communities that reach across differences rather than simply "tolerate" (or not) difference? What if we responded to the next terrorist attack by taking in, as Trudeau did, thousands of refugees and provide them with health insurance, housing, clothing, and food? What if we responded to the next sexual assault on campus by bringing together men and women on college campuses to have open and honest conversations about why such assaults are happening? What if we responded to the next shooting of a black man by a white officer with figuring out how to better support, financially and otherwise, community policing that entails officers and community members working together to protect their communities. In other words, what if we responded to the next act of hate with love. It is commonly heard in the news, and President Obama indicated as well, that Trump helps ISIS recruit. Trudeau and Merkel, however, hurt their recruitment efforts. Martin Luther King said in 1965 in a speech at Oberlin College (where I grew up): "What we are facing today is the fact that through our scientific and technological genius we've made of this world a neighborhood. And now through our moral and ethical commitment we must make of it a brotherhood. We must all learn to live together as brothers - or we will all perish together as fools. This is the great issue facing us today. No individual can live alone; no nation can live alone. We are tied together." What if we took his words seriously, made a "moral and ethical commitment" to our common humanity, and focused our efforts on building a stronger brotherhood, sisterhood, and a more just and humane world? Violence, suicide, and income inequality would surely diminish. The United States must figure out how to lead with love, as our Canadian neighbors are doing, if we don't want to "perish together as fools." Niobe Way is Professor of Applied Psychology at New York University's Steinhardt School and the Founder of the Project for the Advancement of Our Common Humanity (PACH). PACH is a sponsor of the Love Rally taking place in Washington Square Park in New York City on February 14th from 1-3pm. Plane tickets are expensive, but that's where the beauty of armchair adventuring comes in. If the lush African landscape described in Paula McClain's Circling the Sun had you dreaming of savannahs while you were stuck in suburbia, these are the books for you. We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo At just ten years old, Darling escapes paramilitary controlled Zimbabwe to live with her aunt in America, in search of its famous abundance, only to find that her options as an immigrant are perilously few. Shortlisted for Man Booker Prize, NoViolet Bulawayo's debut is a powerful tale of a young girl's coming-of-age. Read the review here Little Bee by Chris Cleave This novel of a young Nigerian refugee seeking asylum in Great Britain is a story of uncertainty, courage, and profound humanity rendered in brutal yet gorgeous prose. Advertisement Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller In this candid memoir, Alexandra Fuller recounts her childhood spent on a series of farms in southern and central Africa while her father fought on the side of the colonial government in the Rhodesian civil war. Unsentimental, gritty, and often hilarious, it is a captivating portrait of continental and familial unrest. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver charts cultural clashes, political upheaval, and failed fundamentalism in this ambitious epic. When an evangelical Baptist preacher moves his wife and daughters to the Belgian Congo in 1959, the African soil proves to be the family's undoing and salvation. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Set in Ethiopia and New York, this is the unforgettable story of twin brothers born of a secret union between an Indian nun and a British surgeon. As they come of age, passion and betrayal will tear them apart, but they can never truly escape their intertwined fates. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie The futile struggle to establish an independent republic in southeastern Nigeria in the late 1960s is brought to life by celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Told through the voices of five vivid characters, this graceful novel is humorous, heartbreaking, and uncompromisingly honest. Advertisement The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay In 1930s South Africa, a young boy experiences firsthand the brutality of racial hatred and comes to learn the hard way how to survive in an unforgiving environment. This fascinating and hopeful novel showcases the power of words to transform lives and the inspiring power of the individual. The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith The first novel in Alexander McCall Smith's widely acclaimed series tells the story of Botswana's best (and indeed, only) female detective, Precious Ramotswe, a good-hearted detective with a keen moral eye who specializes in everything from missing husbands and wayward daughters to con men and imposters. The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma When their strict father has to travel for work, four brothers skip school and go fishing. At the ominous nearby river, they meet a dangerous local madman who persuades the oldest of the boys that he is destined to be killed by one of his siblings. The Fishermen is the Cain and Abel-esque story of an unforgettable childhood in 1990s Nigeria. Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee Set in post-apartheid South Africa, Man Booker Prize-winning author J. M. Coetzee tells the story of a professor whose affair with a student leaves him jobless and friendless. His dramatic downfall symbolizes the chaotic aftermath of the overthrow of apartheid. What is the What by Dave Eggers The Sudanese civil war is poignantly rendered through the story of Valentino Achak Deng, a refugee now living in the United States. This moving and expansively human novel reveals the determination of one man as his world collapses around him. Advertisement The House at Sugar Beach by Helene Cooper Helene Cooper's account of her affluent childhood that was suddenly torn apart by a brutal coup d'etat is both a revealing memoir and an examination of Liberian politics. When her family flees to the United States, she undertakes a journey of forgiveness and rediscovery--and finally finds her way back home. Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen Isak Dinesen's narrative of her years spent on a 4,000 acre coffee plantation in the hills near Nairobi, from 1914 to 1931, is that of a master storyteller. Written after she had lost her beloved farm and returned to her native Denmark, her account looks back with an unsentimental intelligence to portray a way of life that is now gone forever. Wizard of the Crow by Ngugi Wa Thiong'o Fashioning the stories of the powerful and the ordinary into a dazzling mosaic, Wizard of the Crow dramatizes with corrosive humor and keenness of observation a battle for control of the souls of the Aburirian people. This magnificent novel reveals humanity in all its endlessly surprising complexity. rear view of teenage girl looking through curtain Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a widely-covered report on the increasing prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM) here in the United States. According to the report, as many as 513,000 girls were at risk in 2012 (the latest data available). In 1990, 168,000 girls were at risk of FGM. I heard from many people inside and outside the Washington beltway who were shocked and outraged to learn that so many girls in the United States are undergoing such violence. Advertisement FGM is a horrible procedure that is traumatic for girls. Very often, they live the remainder of their lives with serious health consequences like infections, pain, and infertility. For background, FGM is the partial or entire removal of a girl's outer genitalia. It's a traditional practice that's common in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Typically, older women in a community perform the procedure on girls before they turn 15, using unsterilized implements on one girl after another. As many as 140 million women and girls alive today have undergone the procedure, and the UN reports that another 15 million girls will undergo FGM by 2030 if current trends hold. Treated as a right of passage, FGM is viewed by many parents as a pre-requisite for their daughters to find suitable husbands. Now, with increasing immigration from countries where FGM is practiced, those rites of passage are being woven into the social fabric in a growing number of resettled communities in the United States. The CDC report came about because of a campaign led by Jaha Dukureh, an FGM survivor intent on bringing an end to the practice. She told The Guardian: Advertisement "I'm not really surprised because I've seen these numbers before and it just means that government needs to do more when it comes to education and outreach in these communities." February 6 is International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation. If Americans want to turn our outrage at FGM into action, we should focus on eradicating FGM at home and abroad. A good place to start is by advocating for congressional passage of the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). First introduced in 2007 by then-Senator Joe Biden, the International Violence Against Women Act would bolster on-the-ground efforts to create behavioral and cultural change in communities where FGM and other forms of gender-based violence exist. Eradicating harmful practices that have become foundational to a culture is some of the hardest work women's rights advocates do, but it's also some of the most rewarding. Pastoralist Child Foundation (PCF) in Kenya is one group doing community engagement to end FGM. The organization, a member of Women Thrive's Alliance for Women's Solutions, holds inter-generational dialogues with communities to give everyone the opportunity to express their views. They include girls, women, boys, men, elders, village chiefs, and circumcisers. Advertisement PCF's founder Sayydah Garrett told us recently: "After learning about the myths and harmful effects of FGM, teary-eyed men grab the microphone and say, 'If I had known that my wife and daughters suffer the way they do because of this, I would never have insisted they be cut.' Women passionately state, in front of all the men, 'I will never cut my daughters!'... In December, one village declared itself FGM-free. We expect many more villages to follow suit. We believe FGM will be eradicated within a generation." Work like the education and engagement dialogues that Pastoralist Child Foundation hold is vitally needed. And yet, women's rights organizations are constantly facing funding challenges. In December, I wrote about the importance of funding local, grassroots women's rights organizations. To ensure that development dollars go where they're most needed, the U.S. government needs a central lead office focused on gender programming and funding. The IVAWA would do just that by making permanent the Office for Global Women's Issues headed by the Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues at the U.S. Department of State, and the Senior Coordinator of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Without being codified into law, the next Administration can dismantle the Office for Global Women's Issues. That's a pretty scary thought when you look at the number of women and girls subjected to practices like FGM. Congress has yet to reintroduce the International Violence Against Women Act in 2016. International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM falls on a Saturday this year, but please commemorate the day by writing your congressional members or calling their office on Monday and urging support for this vital bill. You can also show your support on social media by posting a photo of yourself as part of the No1Nowhere campaign to end violence against women. Advertisement Robert Smithson, I'm immediately drawn to any film with the title of Troublemakers and this one does not let go. The film by James Crump does something that is rare for art documentaries: It is very beautiful and dynamic itself in examining work that is challenging. It meets the subject head-on. "Dear Virginia: Many Land sensations and projects already realized. So very positive. I urge you to consider closing of gallery and to consider world wide land operations. Walter De Maria "The story needed to be told now, with the express intention of retrieving the spirit of land art in the late 1960s and early 1970s," Crump says, Advertisement with the rebels who created the works that defined it. It is important to me that a new generation of much younger artists rediscover these troublemakers in order to fully realize that making art is not simply for the market and that celebrity or net worth are a rather inadequate justification for a career in the visual arts. The Land Artists, artists who defined themselves as "artist-explorers," including Michael Heizer, Robert Smithson, his wife Nancy Holt, Walter de Maria and Charles Ross, were a rebellious lot whose paths diverged from hermetically sealed commercial galleries to the wide open (mostly south) west which was uniquely suited to their grand visions and also acted as a collaborator for their work: In this case the unconventional medium: rock, stone, water, desert, sky, light, certainly was integral to the message Smithson Mono Lake at Dwan Gallery 1970 In "looking for a larger canvas," they rejected the frame, the plinth, even the wall, and sought to create experiences for themselves and for the viewer that would give the word "art" an entirely new dimension. Advertisement Dwan and Smithson, 1969 I hesitate to even say "they" for each forged his/her own unique set of tools to excavate this vision. They hiked and dug and hammered and Caterpillared their way to sorting out what they were trying to say, in some cases taking years to be able to interpret their own "connection with dark forces." They were "hardcore" and some say, macho, yet their angel, Virginia Dwan, a gallerist turned patron was very beautiful and brilliant and made a great deal of it possible. As one of 18 heirs of 3M, this Midwestern woman understood before anyone else, first in LA and then in NY, their challenges and was sympathetic to their nascent attempts. Dwan says there was "something devilish" in them. Virginia Dwan 1969 Coming at a time in the '60s when the Vietnam War, Civil Rights and murder of our heroes was the defining ethos, the Land Artists channeled the darkness of this era. Ambitious iconoclasts, they gave short shrift to the drift of contemporary art to commerce. But they were not unlike Pollock and de Kooning and Fontana and Burri who tore at the canvas in a different way. Destroying in order to create. Walter De Maria 1966 inscribed to patrons Robert and Ethel Scull They reminded me of David Foster Wallace in a way, who dug so deep into his darker forces to make his work that he could not survive it. But survival is what the film is testament to. Heizer's Levitated Mass took heaven and earth and a great deal of time and freeway management to arrive recently in Los Angeles at Lacma. Michael Heizer's Levitated Mass at Lacma The film shows him as incredibly dynamic, yet very still and quiet in the face of his massive works. Advertisement Smithson, known as more social and congenial, made some of his own films, but sadly ended up dying well before his time in a plane crash while surveying sites for a work in Texas. Smithson's notes on his movie project for the Spiral Jetty The film's images are thrilling and majestic. Anyone who has driven through the west (and you must drive -- though the work is also designed to be seen from the air) understands the overwhelming sense of the endless horizon, the scrub, the heat, the canyons, the layers of history. Though some claimed this sense of perspective came from Duchamp it is hard to travel from his Readymades to the scale of the spiral nebulas and giant cuts formed from millennia of rock formations. "My new brush is my Caterpillar" said de Maria. When they weren't in the desert, the competitive, instinctual, dynamic artists often held court at Max's Kansas City. They were seeking the eternal by hard labor, willing to sacrifice themselves on their caverns and pyramids but they liked to hang out also. Courtesy Holt/Smithson Archives I reached out to Virginia Dwan whose prized collection will open the National Gallery's revamp in the fall. She intrigued me (she needs a documentary of her own) and I asked her what drew her to these artists. "I had already been showing them in the gallery before the exhibition on his Mono Lake project. I was very excited by their ideas." Michael Govan, now Director of Lacma but earlier director of the Dia Foundation and one of the most important supporters of Land Art said, Advertisement Virginia Dwan certainly wasn't the most successful art dealer in terms of making money. But she ended up being one of the great art patrons of that moment. She had money and she had faith, like the very best patrons over time. And at that time she supported artists in what they did. Those were heady times. So much was new. Dwan also showed Chamberlain, LeWitt, and many other cutting-edge artists. Smithson Earthworks show at Dwan Gallery, 1968 "Many of these artists were my friends," adds Dwan. "I was very close with LeWitt, Andre, Smithson and Heizer. Perhaps closest with LeWitt and Heizer." (Govan adds, "Heizer and De Maria had patrons who were equally critical to their work in those same early days, namely Robert Scull, and Heiner Freidrich (co-founder of Dia)." "These relationships endured well past the gallery years -- to present with those still with us," adds Dwan's curator Anne Kovach. "She was incredibly attractive and desirable, so I would be surprised if all her artists weren't in love with her at some time," said Ronnie Sassoon, executive producer of the film and a patron herself. "She was a patron for these artists and unabashedly believed in their mad ideas," Sassoon continues "and supported them in whatever they were compelled to do. "Was she like Peggy Guggenheim without the histrionics, a patron and collaborator more than a dealer?" I asked Dwan. "No", she says, "I was influenced more by Leo Castelli [who was so close to his artists and supported their lives as well as their work] than Peggy Guggenheim." The archival material that Crump has pulled together is excellent (he himself did an interview with Heizer in 2003 ) and a capsule version of each artist and Virginia Dwan's participation is compelling. The film comes at a time when the notion of preservation of federal lands is under siege. The film provides a counterpoint to preservation, as the works do change the landscape and though art lovers are thrilled, I'm not sure that the guys who took a federal preserve hostage in Oregon last month would see these artist's work as any more important than their cattle and perhaps as pesky as the coyotes and foxes they're keen to annihilate. Advertisement But Aurora Tang, a researcher and curator, who did her thesis on the Smithson Jetty and is now a program manager at the Center for Land Use Interpretation said Michael Heizer's City's recent National Monument status is an interesting reversal of that... Land Art becoming federally protected land. "I've worked with ranchers around Heizer, De Maria, and [James] Turrell's projects" says Govan, and most have taken great interest and pride in the idea of preserving great American artworks in the land. Through efforts over many years, land has been purchased with government and private support to help preserve De Maria's Lightning Field in New Mexico, for example. Artists often use their own resources to protect their work -- especially in Heizer and Turrell's cases. And President Obama, with Senator Harry Reid's encouragement, has just created a National Monument to preserve a big swath of nature and the art of Michael Heizer's City project. Smithson's map of the Great Salt Lake Govan flies his own small plane to see the earthworks. But, he says, Contrary to the photography of Land Art in books and magazines,(and some indications in the film) most of those artworks are very much meant to be experienced from the ground, and I always prefer seeing them from the ground. Tang says, The [Great Salt] lake's water levels have been dropping. The Jetty has been above water the past few years. Salt Lake City based art historian Hikmet Loe has been informally tracking the lake levels. Via USGS you can see precise water levels for that part of the Great Salt Lake. For the last year or so, Dia (who has owned the work for years) has been working with two local organizations, The Great Salt Lake Institute at Westminster College and Utah Museum of Fine Art (UMFA) to help monitor. Tang visited the Sun Tunnels, a work by Nancy Holt, Smithson's wife, also a land artist and friend of Dwan's, in Nevada. Advertisement We went to the Cowboy Bar in Montello, NV (a very small town, and the closest to Sun Tunnels). She started chatting with one of the locals who was probably in his 40s, and who told her he remembered her coming to town in the 1970s, and what a big deal it was for him and the town. She was a private, spiritual person, who was 100 percent dedicated to her work and her work with Smithson until the very end. Accessing the sites themselves is easier than ever according to Tang. UMFA (who doesn't have any sort of official partnership with the Holt/Smithson Foundation) provides driving directions to Sun Tunnels on their website, and organizes public programming to the site every year or so. These vast projects which combine technology, information and history, nomadism are at the top of my bucket list. The road to Spiral Jetty was improved/leveled out several years ago, and directional signs were installed years before that, so the previously difficult 20+ mile stretch from the Golden Spike to the Jetty itself (which was captured in Tacita Dean's 1997 sound work Trying to Find the Spiral Jetty) can now easily be traversed by any type of passenger car. Govan adds, All were interested in having their work last over time, although perhaps that wasn't the most important issue in the early years 1968-1970. Not all art survives. We do our best to let future generations share the best art experiences we have. But that is difficult in the case of art that exists beyond the restricted confines of museums and requires land preservation as well as art preservation. There is hope though. All vintage photographs courtesy of the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian, unless otherwise credited. Advertisement The film opens in Los Angeles Friday February 5th and can be seen in other cities in the next month. Director James Crump will be doing a Q and A following the 7:20 screening at the Laemmle Monica. At the Institute for Politics based at the Harvard Kennedy School, the journalist talks about how she got into her profession, the power of journalism and her advice to young women. Jay Newton-Small is Washington correspondent for TIME and the author of Broad Influence, a book about women in politics. As a reporter, she has covered the White House, Congress, the 2012 Republican presidential campaign and foreign policy. The daughter of two United Nations diplomats, she grew up abroad, living in such places as Asia, Africa and Europe. Where did you grow up? I grew up all over the place. My parents worked at the United Nations. My mom was an international lawyer, specializing on trade and development and my dad was an economist, but really more a procurement officer, with the United Nations Development Programme. My dad was Australian. My mom was Chinese Malay. They met in Zambia, married in Malawi and I was born in New York. Advertisement How did you move into journalism? Growing up all over the place, I spent a lot of times in museums and I thought I was going to be an art historian, or a curator of a museum, so I studied art history in college. And then over a summer I interned at an auction house and I was completely disillusioned. I didn't want to spend the rest of my life sucking up to rich people, so I decided against art history. I ended up going with a friend to see a guy speak, an executive producer of Dateline NBC. I went to Tufts undergraduate and he also was a Tufts alum and he talked a lot about how journalism was the art of the curious. And I was like "Well, I am a curious person," and I kind of like seeing things for myself. I ended up going to work for him for a year and then I went to graduate school at Columbia, because I had not really done much journalism beforehand and so that's where I kind of really learned to be a journalist. What were your first steps to become a journalist? After I graduated, I was stringing for Agence France Presse at the United Nations and they ended up bringing me down to Washington D.C. where they had their headquarters for North and South America. I thought I was going to be there six months as I was subbing in for women on maternity leave. Washington really interested me. I was surprised in how interested I was in Washington. And my roommate's boyfriend at the time was the senior White House correspondent for Bloomberg and I ended up going to work for Bloomberg. Do you have a story that stands out during your time as a journalist? When I was covering the United Nations, I think what really cemented my interest in journalism was when I went down to Trinidad & Tobago for a story on HIV/AIDS. I was speaking to a bunch of UN groups in Trinidad and Tobago, a bunch of youth groups actually. They hadn't been funded by the ministry in months, and they were really living on a shoestring budgets. They told me to ask the minister, why if he was so dedicated to AIDS prevention, why they had no money. The last interview I did before I left was with the minister of health. Advertisement I did this whole interview, where I let him go on for twenty minutes about how dedicated he was to combating AIDS and everything. And then in the end I asked him why he hadn't paid these youth groups for months? He blanched and then asked for my telephone number and my deadline. Just before the deadline he called and said, 'There are some people here with me you should speak with.' It was the heads of the youth groups. In the end not only did the ministry pay everything they owed to those youth groups, but he paid a year in advance. 'We owe it to you,' they told me, 'because otherwise they would never have been paid.' It drove home to me how powerful journalism can when you just shine light on what's going on. If you had to give your younger self advice, what kind of advice would you give? I always regretted not going the foreign correspondent route. I wish I'd taken the time to do that. Once I was in Washington I was there for better or worse. I have done a lot of trips abroad with politicians and short trips abroad for stories. Some of them lasted months, but I never really got over and lived abroad the way I did when I was a kid with my parents. I guess I would probably tell myself to not be afraid about not having a safety net and just go ahead and do it. What do you love about journalism the most and what's your process like? I am probably one of the few people at TIME that enjoys reporting more than writing. I have never enjoyed the process of sitting in a dark room and struggling with sentences and syntax. I love being out in the field and I love interviewing people. I love seeing things for myself. I kind of tend to do all the reporting at the top end. And then I go away and sit down and write about what I think the story is about. I go through all my notes and all my interviews and go through all the transcriptions and flesh it out from there. Do you have a daily habit or routine that makes you a better journalist? When I am not writing a book, I generally read five papers every morning. It's always great to not only see how journalism is done but also see how they chose to present stories that day. If you read the paper every day you know a big story that has gone on for a while is slightly changing and it is a slightly different twist every day and so it interesting to see how people kind of take the story and twist it the next time. How do you imagine gender equality in the future? They say true progress is equality on all fronts and so just as much as women are permeating at the top levels of the workforce, you would see men be much more involved with their family lives and their children's lives. Advertisement If you could give advice to young women, what kind of advice would you give them? Be confident. A lot of young women that I know don't feel comfortable speaking up unless they feel they know a hundred percent of the data and every little aspect of the issue, whereas every young men I know feels confident speaking up with twenty percent of the data and not knowing what is going on. I think women are too tentative to speak out for fear of being wrong, for fear of looking dumb. I wish that they would be less afraid of that. And be more bold and just not worry so much of what people think and just speak up. I would tell them to speak your mind. Illinois schools have hit a big rough patch this year, what with Chicago Public Schools' huge budget gap, continuing funding disparities throughout the state and public colleges struggling to make ends meet in the midst of the state budget impasse. Gov. Bruce Rauner, in his 2016 State of the State address, touted 10 changes he said he believes will improve Illinois education. What are his goals and what do they mean? We'll list the governor's goals here and try to decode them, providing the context behind each goal. 1) Work closely with President Cullerton to significantly increase state support for education, focusing our additional resources more on low income and rural school districts so we can provide high quality classrooms in every community, without taking money away from any other districts. Illinois' school funding formula is a hot topic; in fact, Senate President John Cullerton recently called funding reform the "defining crisis of our time." The issue is the state provides the same foundation-level funding to every district, regardless of how poor the district and the students are. Since schools will then pull more funding from property taxes, that means schools in low-income or rural areas tend to have a lot less money to spend. The most recent attempt at funding reform will attempt to provide less state aid to richer districts, so poorer ones can get more funding. But some wealthier areas don't like that idea, especially ones that have raised taxes to provide more money for schools. Advertisement Of course, that's not the only issue with Illinois education funding. From WQAD: Local funding notwithstanding, many school leaders say the state also doesn't contribute enough to funding education. Illinois ranks 50th in the U.S. for the state's share of education funding. Only 28 percent of dollars spent on education come from the state in Illinois; while the national average is closer to 50 percent. 2) Provide proper funding for early childhood education while setting rigorous benchmarks for program performance, so we can continue to be national leaders in this important work. Early childhood education is recognized worldwide as a huge boon for kids, especially for low-income children. While affluent families are better able to provide resources -- like books -- for young kids, poor families often don't have that option. That's one way that preschool and other early childhood education programs can help close the gap, potentially even preventing students from dropping out later in their education. While Illinois has done well in the past with providing early education, the Education Week Research Center gave the state a D+ in it's Quality Counts report last year. Illinois still ranks in the top when it comes to how many 3- and 4-year-olds are attending school at almost 53 percent, but it didn't do well in closing the gap between affluent students and poor students when it comes to preschool enrollment. Advertisement 3) Give school districts more flexibility when it comes to bargaining, contracting, and bidding, to save taxpayers money, while enabling districts to pay higher teacher salaries. Some Illinois school districts have struggled to set up teacher contracts recently, notably CPS. But it's not the only one; Lake Villa School District 41 has been in contract talks since May and several Fox Valley districts went without contracts for months into the school year. From the Aurora Beacon-News: Charlie McBarron, spokesman for the Illinois Education Association, said that though all bargaining is done independently at the local level, the state budget situation could be affecting negotiations across the board. The Kaneland, Indian Prairie and Yorkville unions are affiliated with the Illinois Education Association. "A trend, I think, is many of the negotiations are more acrimonious than they have been in years past," McBarron said. "And that's all related to uncertainty over the financial situation." 4) Empower our universities and community colleges to reduce their administrative costs, work rules, pension liabilities and unfunded mandates, and then offer additional financial support to those schools that show real progress in putting more resources in the classroom. It's no secret some Illinois colleges and universities are struggling thanks to the budget impasse. Chicago State University has announced it won't be able to pay its bills after March 1, Western Illinois University is making faculty cuts and the University of Illinois is making plans to cut costs next school year. Advertisement Of course, colleges have more bills to pay than just instructor salaries. Some even blame rising administrative costs for the huge boom in higher education prices. From the New York Times: [...] a major factor driving increasing costs is the constant expansion of university administration. According to the Department of Education data, administrative positions at colleges and universities grew by 60 percent between 1993 and 2009, which Bloomberg reported was 10 times the rate of growth of tenured faculty positions. And some schools spend more money on administrative costs than others. You can view how much money colleges spend on administration versus faculty at the National Center for Education Statistics here. 5) Support more partnerships between high schools, community colleges, and local employers so that our young people who are not going to university, can receive the training to step into good paying careers beginning in their teenage years. Not all high school students are preparing to head to college. In fact, only 46 percent of students in Illinois are considered ready for college by scoring 21 or above on their ACT. The problem is -- even though a college degree is very expensive -- it's probably worth it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics a high school grad in 2014 could expect to make around $668 a week. A college grad could expect $1,101. Vocational training -- learning a specific skill for future employment -- may be a route to better pay and more stable jobs. President Obama also has pushed for more work training in high schools and colleges to provide more options for students. Advertisement Vocational training is more common in Europe than the U.S. There are signs it works well there. From U.S. News: Illustrations by Abbie Winters We're obsessed with what people in other countries eat, how they dress, and where they hang out -- after all, these habits are ways to understand and embrace cultures and customs that are different from our own. But have you ever thought about how people in other countries bathe? Military showers or long, lingering baths? Shower gel or bar soap? Daily or every other day? More importantly: Bidet or no bidet? Well, the answer may depend on one's postal code. Even within one country, people's bathing customs, preferences, and tendencies depend on so many factors: geographical location (city apartment dwelling, sprawling suburbs, or rustic countryside?), climate (boiling hot or cold and dry?), lifestyle, cultural beliefs, and more. From the U.S. to South Korea to France to Sierra Leone, when it comes to bathing habits, how different -- and yet the same -- we all are is fascinating. Which is why we decided to do a deep dive on all things hygiene -- pulling back the shower curtain, if you will, on how a diverse selection of people from around the world keeps clean. Read on to learn a few hacks that will make your own bathing experience more fulfilling, dispel quite a few stereotypes, and make you realize that Americans are actually kind of, erm, behind when it comes to post-bathroom hygiene. Advertisement Australia Considering the beach-and-surf culture in Australia, it should be no surprise that showers aren't limited to inside the home. "People regularly go for a cheeky swim or surf before or after work," says Sydney native and Brooklyn transplant Kate Williams, founder of Pistol PR. "Most beaches have cold-water showers on the edge of the sand to rinse off before heading home for a proper shower." Since Australia's climate runs temperate to "almost tropical," daily showers are the norm -- especially in the summer, when Aussies might even opt for a cold shower by choice. The environment is also top of mind. "We suffer from droughts and water shortages, so water is scarce," she adds. "Lots of people have custom showerheads that reduce the amount of water dispersed." So, obviously, brief showers are key, too. When lathering up, Australians look to water-based shower gels as opposed to bar soaps. "They leave you feeling fresh and clean in a hot climate," Williams says. "Lots of people use loofahs or exfoliating gloves, too. With all of that sun, we have natural tans [so we] aren't as [worried we will buff] off dead skin." In regards to total-body cleansing, there's just the shower since bidets aren't prevalent, plus "water is a luxury," Williams points out. But, she says, "Because of proximity, lots of Australians have experienced travels to Southeast Asia, where they are introduced to a tap or hose attached to the toilet." (More later on the handheld-showerhead contraption, or what's technically referred to as a "bidet shower" or "health faucet" -- a common sight next to toilets in Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East.) Feminine-hygiene shower gels are also quite rare in Australia, and wipes haven't caught on in the eco-minded country. "We're really careful about preserving our oceans and environmentally-minded, so wipes aren't a common thing," Williams says. Advertisement China The People's Republic of China is the most populous country in the world -- as in, over 1.35 billion people -- and it's the second largest in terms of sheer landmass. So, bathing and showering habits differ depending on a multitude of factors. U.S.-based fashion designer Nini Wang was happy to give us an overview from her experiences growing up in the eastern city of Qingdao. "For me and for my friends, we shower every day," Wang says. "There are people who shower twice a day, and also maybe once or twice a week. It really depends on the person. It's a very personal thing." In the city, quick showers are the norm and baths just aren't as common. In some circles, bathing habits stemming from ancient Chinese-medicine traditions are still practiced today. For example, the post-partum confinement period -- covered quite a bit by the Western media -- includes a ban on showering for a month after giving birth to avoid exposure to cold air. "It is still being said that women should not wash [their] hair during their periods because that may lead to a headache or even gynecological cancer later in their lives," Wang adds. "However, it's getting more and more convenient to shower nowadays, and we have blowdryers. So now, people tend to believe that showering during periods is fine as long as they can look out for catching a cold." The paid public shower and community sauna were common practice when Wang was growing up. With apartment living becoming more widespread in cities, people are showering at home these days, but they'll still include the exfoliation process with a bath towel. Although, body scrubs are gaining popularity. Some homes and hotels might have the shower bidet next to the toilet, but that and the traditional bidet aren't commonly used. But the Japanese washlet is slowly catching on in China. "A lot of my friends, when they're decorating their house or they're moving, they want to find a way to have that kind of toilet," Wang says. "It's a nice thing to have. It's good for hygiene and also it's very functional." Japan "Americans like to be clean, but people in Japan are even cleaner," says American-beauty-writer-turned-Tokyo-expat Cynthia Popper. "Face masks, washlet toilets, hand sanitizer: everywhere. It's a very hygienic culture." Daily bathing rituals, usually taking place in the evening, are the norm. Popper explains that the practice begins by sitting on a bench in the shower, washing off with a nozzle showerhead, and then finishing with a "relaxing bath." Sounds pretty luxurious, but the Japanese forgo any "bubbles, oils, soaps," and other accoutrements in the tub. "It's more like a personal Jacuzzi experience." Frequent hair washes are just as regimented. "The general consensus is that if you have product in your hair, you should wash it daily," Popper says. "There is no dry shampoo in Japan." Advertisement The hygiene protocols continue outside of the shower. In the sweltering summers in Tokyo, "people cool off with mint body sprays, which are lovely," Popper says. The chronically polite Japanese probably wouldn't ever voice their opinions on the necessity of a post-bathroom cleansing session. However, the answer is most likely "HELL YES," considering the genius Japanese electronic bidets that are rising in popularity around the world. (See, also, the "Everything Man" episode of Cougar Town.) "Washlet toilets are amazing and everywhere [in Japan]," Popper says. "They're equipped with bidets, sprayers, dryers, heaters... Some even play music. The washlet toilet is one of my favorite things about Japan." South Korea With K-beauty all the rage right now, South Korea offers some interesting bathing practices to incorporate into our own daily cleansing routines. One of the best authorities to consult is Charlotte Cho, cofounder and curator of everything K-beauty at Soko Glam, author of The Little Book of Skin Care, and New York certified aesthetician. While spending five years living in Seoul after college, the California native found that South Koreans' shower and hair-washing habits don't deviate much from Americans', but full-body exfoliation is an integral part of the experience. Their go-to scrub: a rough and very effective washcloth-like tool called an Italy towel. "They call it Italy towel because it's a type of exfoliating material that was produced in Italy," Cho says. "They brought it to Korea in the '60s, and the name stuck." Enjoying an intense scrub at the communal sauna is an essential part of South Korean culture. Cho discusses the experience in detail (and with humor) in a chapter of her book, aptly titled "The Magic of Exfoliation." At the sauna or spa, patrons either have a family member slough off all that dead skin or hire an employee to do the honors. But either way, the scrubee wears nothing during the process. "The act of being completely naked in front of your peers, your family, is completely normal," says Cho, as patrons of Spa Castle in New York or Wi Spa in Los Angeles know quite well. Considering Korea's close proximity to Japan, the electronic washlets are very popular -- seen everywhere from people's homes to the office. While most South Koreans may not openly discuss post-bathroom hygiene, they definitely make use of those fabulous hi-tech bidets. "When I was working at Samsung, [I knew] everyone was using them because you could hear the squirting of the water [in the public restroom]," says Cho. "I [used to think] it was disgusting to use a bidet, but after using it I was disgusted at myself that I [had] just started to use one." Advertisement For the rest of the piece, visit Refinery29. By: Fawnia Soo Hoo Also on HuffPost: Part of being a tourist in Cuba is sorting out the puzzle of its ideology and its struggling economy. With the country opening up to tourism, softening its controls on society, and preparing for the inevitable end of the Castro era, traveling here is filled with fun and curious insights. Fidel Castro is beloved by many for winning Cuba's independence from the dictatorship of Batista, and loathed by many for keeping the country out of the global economic and political mainstream. Visiting Americans who may be inclined to criticize Cuban policies compare the economy and civil liberties to their reality in the USA, and find it horrible. Others compare the economic reality of workers here to workers anywhere else in Latin America, and find it roughly the same (from a material wealth point of view) -- and note Cuba's comparative advantage in health care, education, stability, and safety. When it comes to crime, drugs, and gang-related violence, communist Cuba is far safer than capitalist Latin American countries. But this is not a democracy, and being a dissident here can land you in jail. While other countries have their economic elites in business, Cuba has its economic elites in high government posts. Advertisement In 1956, Fidel Castro and a few dozen fellow Cuban Revolutionaries motored a yacht from Mexico to Cuba intent on overthrowing the Batista dictatorship. (Batista was friendly with the big American corporations that dominated the Cuban economy. He also stripped Cuban people of many rights and arrested anyone who took a stand against him.) With a mix of heartless brutality, political brilliance, and liberty-or-death courage and idealism, Castro and his gang inspired Cubans to rise up and overthrow their government. And in 1960, Castro -- now the leader of the island -- found himself in Havana speaking to the masses who filled what was later renamed "Revolution Square." The Museum of the Revolution tells that amazing story from a Cuban point of view. It shows off the good ship Granma, in which Fidel Castro and the original band of 82 Revolutionaries cruised from Mexico to gain a toehold on the island and eventually rally the people to overthrow their corrupt dictator, Batista. The museum also displays, with simple typed descriptions in old-school glass cases, the humble artifacts of that stirring Revolution. Castro's right-hand man was Che Guevara. While you see lots of monuments to Che and the revolutionary hero from a century earlier (Jose Marti), you rarely see Fidel Castro's image on monuments. But he looms large in many Cuban hearts. Che Guevara is the classic dashing Revolutionary, and a big seller from souvenir shops to tattoo parlors. While a charismatic leader, he was also a brutal killer. I resist the temptation to celebrate Che. Advertisement CAIRO, EGYPT - FEBRUARY 02: A supporter of embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarek rides a camel through the melee during a clash between pro-Mubarak and anti-government protesters in Tahrir Square on February 2, 2011 in Cairo, Egypt. Yesterday President Mubarak announced that he would not run for another term in office, but would stay in power until elections later this year. Thousands of supporters of Egypt's long-time president and opponents of the regime clashed then today in Tahrir Square, throwing rocks and fighting with improvised weapons. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) Let me start with some facts. The Camel Battle is a name given to an armed attack that took place on February 2, 2011 in downtown Cairo, during the first 18 days of the Egyptian revolution. It was carried out by groups of armed Egyptian civilians, against unarmed Egyptian civilians who had staged a sit-in in Tahrir Square. The attack was carried out in medieval fashion; camels, horses and knives were deployed. Nearly a dozen people were killed and more than a thousand were injured. The Fact Finding Mission concluded that figures from the ruling regime were behind the attack. They had been trying to force protesters to leave Tahrir Square. The Fact Finding Mission pointed to parliamentarian Abdel Nasser Al-Gabri's involvement in plotting the attack. However, on October 10, 2012, an Egyptian court acquitted all the Camel Battle defendants. Advertisement Famous Chilean writer Isabel Allende once said: "Write what should not be forgotten." Writing is one of the weapons I rely on to confront the ongoing and expected betrayals to memory. There is an incident in particular that I don't want to forget. I don't want its memory to be betrayed. I want it to stay alive, I want the emotions I felt that night-- and that I experience anew as I type these words-- to resist disappearing as the years pass by. The night the Camel Battle started, I was spending the night in my office, a two-minute walk from Tahrir Square. A few days before the revolution, I had rented office space in the famous Al-Rowas building that overlooks Abdel Moniem Riad Square, just on the border of Tahrir Square. I was overcome with fear. I watched a crime being cooked up. I started pacing from the window to the computer screen in a panic. A colleague, who works as a journalist in the United States, had bought the apartment to use as headquarters for a law firm. At the time, I was looking for an office where I could start my own project-- a publishing house that I set up in Cairo two years later. I rented this office space from my colleague for a third of the asking price, because he had postponed his project. A supporter of embattled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak rides a camel during a clash between pro- and anti-Mubarak protesters February 2, 2011 in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt. (Chris Hondros/Getty Images) Since January 25 and the events that unfolded over the following days, it became difficult to go home every night because of the curfew, so I moved in to this office. On the night of the Camel Battle, I left Tahrir Square close to 7 p.m. I had planned to get some rest in the office and save my energy for the following day. But the attack had started a day earlier, and people were worried there would be another one. My anxiety peaked when I saw tweets reporting a second attack. Advertisement I looked out the window at around 11 p.m., and I witnessed everything. There were organized groups, holding rocks and facing the square. So, it wasn't a rumor? An attack was being plotted right outside my window. Innocent people were about to get hurt. I asked myself: What am I supposed to do? I had just left my friends at the Square a few hours earlier. One of them was my Mona Yassin, my colleague from Al Masry Al Youm newspaper. There was someone else with us, but I can no longer remember his name. Women and children were there too. I was overcome with fear. I watched a crime being cooked up. I started pacing from the window to the computer screen in a panic. I sent a message to a colleague who was at the time working in Washington D.C. Perhaps he could inform the media and people with power or do whatever with the information I had. But he was just as helpless as I was. He posted the tip on his page, and stopped messaging me. I wanted to stretch my arms into the clouds and pull the moon closer; perhaps its light would expose the perpetrators, stopping them from committing the crime they were plotting. I sent a message to another American colleague who was at the time working for Human Rights Watch. He replied, saying that he would try to pass it on to someone who could help. I couldn't calm down. A lot of emotion rushed through me, and my heart started beating faster. I was angry at my heart and at my lack of power. I felt intense sadness and panic. My heart was breaking for the innocent people who were standing in a public space in their own country, at risk of murder. The office was on the tenth floor. I decided to try to go out on the street, perhaps I'd find someone to help-- someone to help me stop the murderous thugs and the crime they were about to commit. I went to building's lobby, and saw something I will never forget. It was like something out of a movie. Soldiers from the Armed Forces, who had patrolled the borders of the square, were now in the lobby. They were spending the night here. At the time, I didn't know what to do. I asked myself: Should I tell them what I had seen? Some of them were standing outside the building, and could probably already see what was happening. I could see through my window, before I came down to the lobby, that they were letting people pass through the street. Advertisement Should I scream at them? Perhaps I could remind that that they took an oath to protect people's lives. Would they harm me? If I asked them to let me go to the Square, would they accuse me of breaking curfew? Would I get arrested? I was confused. Feeling angry, scared, and defeated, I returned to the tenth floor without saying a word. I looked up at the sky. I wanted to stretch my arms into the clouds and pull the moon closer; perhaps its light would expose the perpetrators, stopping them from committing the crime they were plotting. It was one of the deadliest nights; 11 people were martyred, and 2000 were injured. The next morning, I couldn't go to the Square, which was surrounded by gangs of mercenaries recruited to empty out the square. Later on, in one of the videos documenting the battle, I spotted a "colleague" from the institution I worked for at the time, working to arrange the entrance of the camels into the square. Advertisement Yes, retribution is now far away. But we have one last weapon: our memory. A Fact Finding Mission would set out to find the criminal and dictate his punishment. Events unfolded, and now we're here. Not a single person has been punished for their actions, and they've only continued to commit crimes. Crimes were committed by those who planned the attack, those who carried it out, and those who stood by and watched it happen-- all the while claiming that they were "protecting" the square. The Egyptian citizens who staged the sit-in, starting January 28, were theoretically in the protection of the Egyptian Armed Forces. Yes, retribution is now far away. But we have one last weapon: our memory. To fight forgetting, write what must not be forgotten! By Tanya Basu In 2004, Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology at Oxford University, published the first of many papers that marked him as the premier expert of the way sound and food work with our minds to create illusions of taste. He found, for example, that simply amping up the crispy sounds of a chip made otherwise-plain Pringles taste extraordinary. Rather blandly titled "The Role of Auditory Cues in Modulating the Perceived Crispness and Staleness of Potato Chips," the paper was anything but, fundamentally changing not only the way potato chips are created and marketed but also creating a niche field that Spence has become the leading expert in: how corporations tease your mind to make food seem more appetizing. One of the least understood but most fascinating ways to do so is with sound. Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful podcast, teamed up with Spence in a recent episode that explored sound, food, and their interplay in the recent episode "Why You Should Listen to Your Food." Try the experiment yourself. Grab a dark-chocolate bar or mug of coffee (some plain, no-nonsense beer will also work). Take a bite or sip, and really consider the flavor before you swallow -- is it sticky sweet? Slightly bitter? Acidic? Advertisement Once you've figured out how your chocolate/coffee/beer tastes in its normal state, take another bite and chew or swish thoughtfully while listening to this sound clip (it's subtle, so take a real listen/taste): Got that? Take another sip/bite and listen to this clip now: What you should have experienced is a nearly magical 360-degree taste evolution: The first clip should have made your bite or sip taste more bitter; the second clip should have made it taste sweeter. And yet the sip or bite in your mouth is from the same food. Advertisement How does that work? It's what Spence calls "sonic seasoning." Your brain has a previous conception of what bitter and sweet flavors should taste like, so when you take a bite of food, you have an expectation of where that food should be classified on the bitter and sweet scale. "Your brain cannot deal with so much information, [so] by playing that high-pitched music, [it] draws your attention to that sweet taste," he said. That sweet taste is actually a 10 percent jump in sweetness. Taste and flavor is an illusion, Spence argues, defending his work from being accused as "tricking" consumers. Indeed, British Airways has adopted Spence's work into a playlist designed to improve the taste of food at high altitudes, and restaurant critics have long included noise levels as measures of their dining experience. Maybe you should think twice before blasting Justin Bieber at dinner tonight or taking your date out to that bumpin' new cafe where you can barely hear them; after all, your taste buds depend on it. Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (Credit: Diva Magazine via Twitter) As Australia begins to make moves towards an attempt legalize same-sex marriage, it appears to stand alone as one of the last English-speaking majority nations in the World to be dragging its heels on extending marriage rights to its LGBT citizens. With Canada leading the way in 2005, the rest of the Commonwealth (and the World) seemed sluggish in catching up, with the year 2015 being a landmark year for LGBT marriage movements around the globe. At a glance, it seems like Britain and its former colonies have only suddenly come a long way in the past decade and that Australia is now lingering all alone in its anti-same-sex marriage closet. As a former temporary resident of Australia, it certainly feels that a majority of Australian citizens would be in favor of extending marriage rights to their LGBT countrymen and women but it might also be observed that outside of Australia's ever shifting political power focuses, an underlying culture of Australian machoism has thrived, rendering a plebiscite victory for marriage equality far from a foregone conclusion. Advertisement During ten months spent there, I discovered that I could walk around hand-in-hand with the man I was dating without any incident, but after dark, events could very easily take a turn for the combative and dedicated LGBT spaces would become the safest and less stressful option for LGBT bodies to socialize. Unfortunately -- at a time where India currently struggles to even legalize same-sex activity -- and excepting Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and arguably South Africa, the rest of the Commonwealth appear to persist, often to the extreme, in abnegation of a lot of basic rights to their LGBT citizens. In the UK, in early January of this year, Phyll Opoku-Gyimah -- a UK-based LGBT activist best known for founding UK Black Pride -- was one of 1,200 notables listed in the Queens New Year's Honors List. Inclusion on the list, which singles out artists, activists and individuals that are doing exceptional work in the United Kingdom, comes with the title of MBE, or Member of the British Empire. In reaction to the honor, Opoku-Gyimah told the UK.'s Diva magazine: If you're a member of a minority -- or multiple minorities -- it's important to be visible as a role model for others [and] for your successes to be seen. An honor is a very public statement that the establishment has decided that you, and what you do, are valued by the wider society. You've worked hard, and they've actually noticed. However, accepting the honor wasn't quite a clear cut issue for Opoku-Gyimah, who further explained: I don't believe in empire. I don't believe in, and actively resist, colonialism and its toxic and enduring legacy in the Commonwealth, where -- among many other injustices - LGBTQI people are still being persecuted, tortured and even killed because of sodomy laws, including in Ghana, where I am from, that were put in place by British imperialists. I'm honored and grateful, but I have to say no thank you. The plainest way to further underline these points would be to visualize the compartmental influence of the British Empire on the terms that Opuku-Gyimah mentions. The Commonwealth of the United Kingdom is made up of 53 member states comprised of 71 former or current colonial regions of the British Empire, wherein colonial-era laws were enforced by the British government. To this day, these laws continue to actively and adversely affect the lives of LGBT citizens. The below visualization does not distinguish between former and current colonies and protectorates (for example, Northern Ireland is a part of the UK and Australia is not but both are included as individual incidences in the data). Island territories, such as The Cook Islands and Jersey, are also included as individual data points. Advertisement Data: Equaldex and compiled by author (various sources) In percentages, 58 percent of Commonwealth regions (including UK territories) support laws where homosexual activity is criminalized, with 27 percent punishable by death or imprisonment, and Brunei and Southern Nigeria being the only two regions that carry a death penalty for same-sex activity. A further 35 percent of Commonwealth regions purport to uphold laws that point to somewhat toxic social climates for their LGBT citizens, namely where there are limited LGBT protections in employment or in acquiring goods and services, as well as in availing of legal recognition for their domestic partnerships. 7 percent of the Commonwealth (Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, as well as the Pitcairn Islands, which is the last British-governed territory in the Pacific Isles) can boast something close to full legal protections for their LGBT populations that extend as far as same-sex marriage. So in essence, we're looking at 93 percent of an Empire that is still struggling to come of from under the damaging legacy of British colonialism, which illustrates the veracity of Opoku-Gyimah's reasoning in rejecting the MBE accolade as a somewhat poorly thought out honor, on her own all-inclusive LGBT terms. Looking at this data on a member state-by-member state basis paints an even more shocking portrait of the legacy of the British Empire. Advertisement It outlines that a frightening 75 percent of Commonwealth member states are still in a somewhat extreme stasis where same-sex activity is still a criminal offence, and that a vast minority -- mainly the more westernized states -- have adopted legal provisions of any sort for their LGBT citizens. According to John Fingleton of the Kaleidoscope Trust, the changes for LGBT people living in Commonwealth member states have merely been incremental, with Mozambique having recently revised its colonial era penal code to legalize same-sex intimacy, and Malta having introduced a law that establishes rights for transgender and intersex people. In Kaleidoscope's Speaking Out 2015 report, which included testimonies from LGBT people in almost every Commonwealth country that reveal pervasive and debilitating discrimination and violence, a trans activist in Papua New Guinea named Elizabeth Taylor stated: Stigma, discrimination, abuse and violence are part of my daily life. It is not safe for me to walk around freely in my own country. My voice has not been heard when fronted up at the police station. I am not utilising my rights as a human because I am in fear. It seems indeed like it's been a tough legacy to outlive for LGBT people in these locations, regardless of any possible developmental, economic or political factors. It can be argued that cultural facets of homophobia may have been built up around archaic colonial systems of interconnected legal, social and religious oppression. Advertisement As previously stated, Australia languishes glaringly behind the rest of the Western world regarding LGBT rights, including its close neighbor and fellow Commonwealth member, New Zealand, which -- somewhat beautifully -- legalized same-sex marriage in 2013. Closer to Britain, Cyprus has long been known to be one of the least progressive European countries in terms of LGBT rights and has only gained the right to LGBT civil unions since December 2015. Recent progress may be due to the fact that since Cyprus began to seek membership to the European Union it has been urged to change its laws regarding sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as with other human rights areas. It is noteworthy that despite gaining independence from Britain in 1960, it took until 1993 for any legal challenges to arise against British colonial-era law regarding LGBT rights in Cyprus, and these challenges were actually made through the European Court of Human Rights. It was only in January 2014, in Northern Cyprus, Turkish Cypriot deputies passed an amendment repealing a colonial-era law that punished homosexual acts with up to five years in prison. Notably, the website 76 Crimes has been tireless in documenting human rights abuses against LGBT people in countries with both colonial and neo-colonial histories through looking at individual stories and using social media in an attempt to both engage and build visibility on how LGBT lives are affected around the World. Advertisement It was 2009 and the creative New Yorker, Satya Twena was working a desk job at a large interior design firm in the city while feeding her artistic soul taking sewing, knitting, and crochet classes. There's one class that fed her soul like none of the others, hat making. Before long, Satya was making hats for herself at home using pots and pans to create patterns. Hat making became an obsession. She would sell them here or there online, make them for her friends, and when her mom began losing her hair due to cancer treatment, Satya did what she did best, made her a hat. Ten months after making her first hat, Satya was in California talking to her mom about her dreams. Satya confessed that she often daydreamed of one day just making hats for a living. Her mother asked her a simple question. "Why wait?" She encouraged Satya to stop doing anything that didn't make her 100% happy, and to pursue her dream. Satya returned to New York, quit her job, hired two employees, and turned her apartment into a hat manufacturing facility, all while her husband was travelling on business. In the last 5 years, Satya Twena launched a business, saved a 40 year-old-hat-factory, and created a brand that has been featured in Oprah Magazine, Glamour, The Today Show, Forbes, Vogue, Glamour, Elle, and The New York Times, to name a few. She's a 32 year old entrepreneur, artist, and hat maker who says that if you had asked her six years ago where she would be today, she would have answered that she'd still be working her desk job at the interior design firm. But, somewhere along the line, with a bit of inspiration and encouragement, Satya said no to the desk job and yes to her dreams, turning her passion into art and into an empire. Hats off to Satya Twena. Here's what she has to say about indulging in your big dreams. Advertisement Net Worth = Network: Satya became a full time hat maker in 2010. She continued to run her hat company out of her New York apartment with her two employees. For larger orders and collections, she worked closely with a large hat factory in New York City. In 2014 the factory abruptly closed after forty years manufacturing hats. At first, Satya freaked out. There is a shortage of quality hat factories in the country and so this closing would make it all but impossible for her to fill large orders quickly. That's when Satya's husband suggested that she reach out to the factory owner and offer to buy the factory. That's exactly what Satya did. She soon had the factory under contract as she spent 30 days dialing for dollars to find the money to purchase it. Satya says that she didn't know where the money would come from, but she knew instinctually, the money would come. Six hours before the closing was to take place, the money was wired into her account, from a group of friends and family. Satya closed on the factory and soon realized that she didn't have enough money to run it. In a race to find the money to purchase the factory, she had overlooked the expensive operating costs. She had exhausted all resources in finding the money to buy the factory and so for operating costs she turned to Kickstarter. Once again, her network of advocates supported her in droves. She raised $191,000 in her Save the Factory campaign, all while selling tons of hats so that her employees would have hats to make upon re-opening. Satya says that building a network is easy; be kind, meet new people, and help people in your network when you can. She says that anything can be accomplished with the right army of advocates supporting you. Identity: Satya is now recognized around the world as a premier hat maker. I asked her how she's been able to grow into a trusted brand in five short years. She says it's a mixture of hard work, perseverance, and the lucky fact that her product creates a personal identity. She explained that there's no piece of fashion that can assist an individual in expressing their identity like a hat. She says that if you are at a networking event, there's rarely anyone wearing a hat, and so it's easy to say, "Did you meet Bob? He's the one over there in the blue hat!" Hats get you noticed. Hats make a statement. Hats become a part of one's personal brand. Satya says that when your business is to help others express their human brand to the outside world, it's easy to become noticed in a good way. Satya's hats have now graced the runways and shows in New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Fashion forward celebrities have used her hats to express their personal brands, and so Satya continues to build her brand and identity by creating high quality hats that make a statement. Advertisement A Hat For Every Head: Satya says that one mentor who has had a profound effect on her business is author, speaker, artist, and thought leader, Seth Godin. She says that early on in her business she believed that everyone was a potential customer because everyone has a head that could wear a hat. It was Seth who helped her see that her time and energy were better spent on targeting not everyone, but rather people who already consider themselves hat lovers. By concentrating on people that already love and appreciate a great hat, she could better tailor her branding, marketing, and hats, to serve a niche segment of the population who already value hats, rather than spending time, energy, and resources converting the non-believers. Satya says that she concentrates on making quality hats for hat loyalists, and those loyalists in turn, often turn the non-believers into newly indoctrinated hat enthusiasts who then become part of the audience to whom she speaks. Express You: Satya loves interesting hats, unique clothing, and face paint. For most of her life she says that she suppressed her authentic self, always scared that people would see her as different. Today she says that what she appreciates most about herself is that she is unique, different, and unusual. She's no longer afraid of standing out. If there's a girl in the room with tribal-like face paint around her eyes, hippy couture, and a fantastic hat, there's a good chance it's Satya. She might look different than most. She may stand out. But, the one thing that is for sure, she's the one in the room who is always expressing the most authentic version of herself. Satya says that in building a business, making art, or creating a great life, be brave enough to be the real you. Be a Sponge: Satya intensely listens to and studies everyone around her. She says that her mom is her greatest inspiration. She is an artist, survivor, and free-thinker who has encouraged Satya to pursue her dreams. Satya says she has also learned business lessons from her dad, an entrepreneur, and technology guru who always has told her, "Do what you love, the money will follow." She has learned from her sister to take the extra time needed to make well thought out decisions. She has learned from her brother to spend as much time on earth doing what she loves. Satya introduced me to several of her friends, other artists, and business owners, who have taught her how to live as an artist, be patient, to love, and to make a mark. She says that she has learned an exorbitant amount about life, loyalty, business, and love, from her husband of nine years who left his own highly successful career to give Satya a competitive advantage at her hat factory. She says he's her best friend, the love of her life, and the reason she has the opportunity to change the world with her art. Satya says that no matter who you are, there is a dose of entrepreneurial, artistic, business, and life advice sitting right next you, all you need to do is absorb it. When you get to know Satya, and when you see all she has accomplished in such a short time, it makes you realize that perhaps we are all just one brave brush stroke away from creating our best art. Hats off to Satya Twena, for bravely pursuing passion over a paycheck, making art that matters, and living authentically. We are Sebastien (left) and Stefan (right), a gay couple from France/UK, travelling the world and chronicling our adventures on our Nomadic Boys travel blog. We spent a month travelling through India just after its Supreme Court reintroduced the archaic Article 377 of the 1861 Penal Code. Just when we were getting all excited about dressing up in pretty saris and taking cheesy selfies with the Delhi gay boys, we unfortunately discovered that being gay in India is a criminal offence. Article 377 essentially criminalizes sodomy with up to 10 years in prison. Whilst there is positive progress with the Supreme Court recently announcing it will review this decision, until it does, being gay in India remains illegal. Advertisement Whilst we couldn't find any evidence of Article 377 being enforced, its very existence is a symbolic slap in the face to its LGBT community. We interviewed a gay Indian couple we met in Delhi on our blog anonymously, under the names Nick and Rhys. The boys admitted to us that Article 377 is sadly used by the authorities as a validation for all sorts of bullying and harassment of the LGBT community, in particular the Indian police who use it to get bribes. We experienced this first hand in Delhi. We set out to find a gay bar to celebrate our friend's birthday. As homosexuality is illegal, there are no openly gay hangouts. Everything is underground. Using Grindr, we were able to tap into the scene and discovered the venue of that week's party: Knight World Cuisine Lounge by Castle 9 at Connaught Place. Dolled up and ready to party, we hit the town. The party itself was a lot of fun. It was heaving full of Delhi gay locals, dancing, drinking, socializing and having a great time. Advertisement Just as we whipped out the selfie sticks to start capturing the evening, a burly bouncer quickly took us aside and sternly told us to avoid all photography. Taking photos is strictly prohibited to protect people's identities. At around 1AM, the music stopped. The lights went out, the window blinds pulled down. We were asked to stay in the club, be silent and under no circumstances, leave the building! The police had arrived. Everyone in the club was blaze about it. They were used to it. This happened at almost every party. We were of course freaking out. What if we ended up spending the night in a dodgy Indian prison? What was the number of our Embassy? What would the police try to do to us? All kinds of thoughts raced through our minds. Our Indian friends reassured us. This is just the way it had always been. They explained this is common at all their gay parties. The policemen were just looking for a bribe from the promoters. Once paid off, they would leave everyone else alone. Nothing to fear. This is just the way it had always been. We waited for around 20 minutes in the dark. At one point one young guy panicked and tried to leave through the back door. A burly bouncer grabbed him, hit him and told him to wait inside with everyone else to avoid antagonizing the police. Eventually the policemen's bribes were settled and we were all asked to leave via the back door, one by one and go straight home. Advertisement No one got hurt. Nobody was arrested. And most shocking for us, nobody seemed to care! This was all part of an average gay night out in Delhi. As we left, we each stared into the eyes of the policemen outside, wondering what they could possibly be thinking... Perhaps: 'What a nice way to finish the day's work...easy income earner' Or: 'Can't wait till next week's party, let's see how much we can get out of them then!' This would never in a million years happen back home in London! Any police presence in a club in Soho or Vauxhall would be to protect us from something, not for a bribe! Our police even have their own float at London Pride and let us kiss them and take silly photos with them. We were shocked that in India, the very people who are supposed to protect you are instead the ones you have to bribe to leave you alone. Does this mean gay travellers should skip India? On the contrary! We strongly believe that gay travellers should certainly visit countries with anti-gay laws, like India. Advertisement As a foreigner you will be quite safe -- no one wants embassy issues, least of all the police. But even more importantly, your very presence would not only help raise awareness with everyday folk that gays are like any other human beings, you would also be supporting gay friendly businesses and of course the LGBT community. And let's face it, India has the potential to become extremely gay. With over 1 billion (very charismatic) people, there's statistically around 100 million gays waiting to party with you. And, have you SEEN some of those carvings at places like the Khajuraho temples?! Giulio, Valeria, and Simone are our global heroes. They were the Millennial explorers, Italians of the new millennium. Their interests went beyond social networking, selfies and temporary jobs. They placed themselves on the front lines in conflict areas. They deeply cared about human rights issues. They mastered many languages, and were driven by a desire to discover the world, in its contradictions and its riches. They were more progressive and socially conscious than their predecessors. They were part of a generation currently voting for politicians the age of their grandparents. Just recently, in the Iowa primaries, 84 percent of Democrats between the age of 17 and 29 voted for 74 year-old Bernie Sanders. Millennials also supported Podemos in Spain, Syriza in Greece, and the 66 year-old socialist Jeremy Corbyn in the UK. Giulio Regeni, who disappeared in Egypt on January 25th and was found dead on February 4, with signs of torture on his body, was the young man every parent wishes they had. He was a committed, intelligent, and talented young man, according to the reports that have emerged following his death. Advertisement Giulio, Valeria and Simone: the three victims of conflict, terrorism, and war tried to use their knowledge of languages, the Internet and technology for growth and development. The 28-year-old student from Fruili chose to leave his small town and traveled to the Italian city Trieste and later to New Mexico, United States, and then to the UK. He studied at Oxford and Cambridge. Then he found himself in Cairo, finishing up his PhD and doing research for his thesis on trade unions and the local economy. As you reflect on Giulio's career path, you can't help but recall another young Italian victim: Valeria Solesin, the 28 year-old doctoral student killed during the Bataclan attacks in Paris last November. She was studying demography at the Sorbonne. We also have to remember the Roman reporter Simone Camilli, who worked with several press agencies, among them the Associated Press, and was killed in Gaza in August 2014. He died in a blast as police were defusing an unexploded missile. He was the first reporter to die in the 2014 Gaza conflict. Giulio, Valeria and Simone: the three victims of conflict, terrorism, and war tried to use their knowledge of languages, the Internet and technology for growth and development. Advertisement Like the generations that preceded them, they were after financial stability, but they didn't chase traditional jobs to achieve it. In 1271, when Marco Polo followed his father and uncle to China, he was 17. Magellan was sent to India at the age of 25. Columbus started sailing when he was 14. Their youthful experiences would come to change the world. Today, they would be called Millennials. Like Giulio, Valeria and Simone. WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 04: U.S. President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on February 4, 2016 in Washington, DC. The National Prayer Breakfast is in it's 63rd year. (Photo by Shawn Thew - Pool/Getty Images) However much Republican presidential candidates may complain about President Obama's strategy to defeat ISIS, they will end up embracing his policies in the end should any of them actually win the White House. Why? Because, given that the American public is against further military involvement in the Middle East, most of the contenders have already promised, as Obama earlier did, not to send U.S. ground forces into the conflict. This leaves all of them with the only strategy that can work -- namely Obama's approach. Obama's strategy has developed out of the military realities and regional constraints of the Middle East. First, he understood from the outset that, once there would be no American expeditionary forces, he could only employ air power to degrade ISIS troop strength and military assets. Since mid-August 2014, the U.S. and its coalition partners have flown more than 8,000 sorties against ISIS that have badly hurt the Islamic State militants, now estimated at 30-40,000 fighters. Advertisement Second, Washington is training both Iraqi troops and Free Syrian Army forces to handle most of the ground fighting, as a way to assure that the US does not have to intervene. Third, Washington has emplaced US Special Forces in Syria and Iraq to instruct, assist and deploy with the Arab forces. It now has over 3,500 in the area, with another 1,200 to be sent in the Spring. Fourth, the U.S. continues to exert pressure on the Iraqi government to include more minority Sunnis in its decision-making and has insisted that mostly Sunni soldiers lead the fight to retake the Sunni-majority cities. Fifth, it is working to restart peace talks in Geneva to resolve the Syrian civil war and undermine ISIS's raison-d'etre for existence. Its most controversial move is to veto any idea for a no-fly zone over Syria due to Turkish opposition, the danger of air clashes with Russia, and the high costs of the operation. Advertisement Much of what Obama is doing is showing signs of success. First, Obama obtained the necessary change of leadership in Iraq, helping to bring in a new Shiite Prime Minister who is willing to work with Sunnis. Next, his bombing campaign has gradually reduced the territory seized by ISIS by at least 25 percent. Obama has won back important cities, starting with a surprise victory in the Iraqi border city of Kobani, with the help of Kurdish troops, which forced an Islamic State withdrawal at a great loss of its fighting force. Subsequently, Obama's coalition has retaken the Iraqi cities of Tikrit and Baiji and has forced ISIS out of Sinjar in Iraq, cutting off the critical supply route between the two ISIS-controlled cities, Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. US air-strikes killed the infamous be-header, Jihad John. Last November, Obama launched "Operation Tidal Wave II" that took out ISIS oil fields, refineries and hundreds of tanker trucks in Syria. In December the alliance snatched back Ramadi in Iraq. The US Department of Defense released a slew of figures describing the breadth of the coalition destruction -- some 119 tanks; 340 High Mobility Vehicles or high maintenance trucks that carry men and materials; 510 staging areas; 3,262 buildings; 2,577 fighting positions; 196 oil infrastructure facilities; and 3,680 other targets. Such blows have critically damaged the ISIS insurgency. Last Christmas, the ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, released an audio address just days before Ramadi's fall, revealing the extent of his group's plight. Baghdadi blustered on about how well his Caliphate is doing, but he also delivered this stark message: "We urgently call upon every Muslim to join the fight..." His plea comes at the same time that his monthly terrorist magazine, Dabiq, put out the word that ISIS needs more Sunni professionals, doctors, mechanics and computer programmers -- an acknowledgement that highly trained Muslim technicians no longer are eager to enlist in ISIS. Advertisement Finally, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a humanitarian news organization that relies on a network of activists and non-traditional sources, announced that it had obtained an internal ISIS memo issued in January, stating that ISIS is cutting in half the salaries of all of its fighters. ISIS is, indeed, in severe monetary distress. A Rand Corporation study in May 2015 estimated that ISIS had accumulated almost $875 million in assets by June 2014 and was receiving an annual income of more than $1 billion. Most revenues came from taxes on everyday life in the cities ISIS holds. But that income has plummeted as traumatized residents have fled. So, too, ISIS's oil sales to Syria, Turkey and Iran have gone down precipitously due to the alliance's bombing campaign. And bank looting, once highly profitable, has slumped as ISIS has lost control of many cities. Further two US air strikes in January destroyed separate ISIS cash depots, one hitting a Mosul bank, wiping out over a half billion dollars in cash and gold. In December 2015, the UN Security Council passed an extra tough resolution hardening financial prohibitions on ISIS, exerting more pressure on its accounts. There have been other moves to tighten the noose on ISIS. The Turks closed their borders to potential ISIS fighters crossing over into Syria. That was a surprise since Prime Minister Erdogen had weaved and bobbed and ducked on this border issue for months as he was more interested in defeating the Kurds than defeating ISIS. There is, too, the so-called Saudi Arabian coalition of Sunni forces that may potentially intervene against ISIS -- though the Saudi's home-grown pro-ISIS fundamentalists and its ongoing feud with Tehran may constrict its efforts. A shadowy hacking group, Anonymous, has pledged to disrupt ISIS's on-line operations. Lastly, due to its supreme arrogance and unimaginable crimes, ISIS has rallied a mighty coalition of all the major nations on earth against it. These psychological hits on ISIS have dented its veneer of success. It can't hold cities and can't take new ones. It is losing followers. This does not mean that ISIS's collapse is imminent. Remember that ISIS is a death cult. It is willing to employ the bloodiest measures available to use against its enemies. It ruthlessly organizes super-sized car bombings, launches bulldozers stuffed with explosives driven by suicide bombers against its foes, mounts armed drones, uses tunnels to hide in or plant dynamite charges, sets off chemical weapons such as chlorine or mustard gas, and undoubtedly would use a dirty bomb if it could get its hands on one. In the remaining two large cities ISIS still retains, Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq, any battle to retake either city would result in the creation of municipal wastelands, as has already happened in Ramadi. Last night's Democratic presidential primary debate in New Hampshire included the first question on campaign finance policy so far in the 2016 race. Moderator Chuck Todd asked Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders why he "rails against big money in politics," but declined - as has every top-tier candidate - to participate in the presidential public financing program. Sanders opted instead to rely on private donations from individuals. The reason? The presidential public financing system is "currently very antiquated, and no longer applies to modern day politics," said Sanders; former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton nodded in agreement. That's true. The system needs to be repaired. Clinton and Sanders have robust plans to reform the role that money plays in politics, including commitments to support small donor matching systems. And there is a bill - the EMPOWER Act - pending in Congress that would modernize public financing for the 21st century, post-Citizens United landscape. But it's first worth considering for a moment the past success of the program. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan, and Jimmy Carter paid for their general election campaigns in part with public funds. All of them (except then-Gov. Bush in 2000) used it for their primary campaigns, too. In fact, every nominee of the Republican and Democratic parties from 1976 to 2008, with the notable exception of President Obama, used the program to finance their general election campaigns. Challengers beat incumbents, and vice-versa. Public financing creates dramatic differences in how candidates spend their time. For example, in his publicly-financed campaign for re-election in 1984, President Reagan attended only three fundraisers - all on behalf of the Republican National Committee rather than his own campaign, according to Trevor Potter, president of the Campaign Legal Center. In contrast, President Obama attended 223 fundraisers in 2012 for his re-election campaign. That is a lot of time talking to people with a lot of resources. The lesson of the Reagan-to-Obama evolution is that the system is badly in need of an update to empower everyday Americans and ensure that candidates aren't just raising money - and listening to - those at the top of the economic ladder. After the Supreme Court's 2010 decision in Citizens United, wealthy individuals and special interests spent more than $1.2 billion on behalf of federal candidates in 2012, per the Center for Responsive Politics. Almost every presidential candidate has a Super PAC backing his or her campaign that can take unlimited contributions from nearly any source. And while money certainly does not guarantee a win - just ask Gov. Jeb Bush - it is necessary to compete and shapes the campaign agenda. The good news is that with digital fundraising, well-organized campaigns across the spectrum are able to quickly raise money in small amounts at the click of a mouse. Still, most find it difficult or near-impossible to match the resources of groups that build their war chests with six- and seven-figure gifts from wealthy donors. The EMPOWER Act, introduced by Senator Tom Udall in the Senate and Representatives David Price and Chris Van Hollen in the House, is the overhaul that the presidential public financing program needs. It would match the first $250 that an individual contributes to a presidential candidate with public funds at a rate of six-to-one. That means that a $250 contribution would be worth $1,750 to the candidate. This would provide important incentives to donors of modest means to contribute to campaigns. In exchange, participating candidates would voluntarily cap contributions at $1,000 per donor - far less than the $2,700 that is allowed now. To compete with Super PACs, campaigns would not be subject to the voluntary spending limits of the old system. Political parties would also be able to coordinate more closely with candidates if the funds used come from small-dollar donors. Just as in the current system, Americans would be able to contribute to this program via the "check-off" on their tax returns without increasing their tax bill. Other proposals pending in Congress - the Government By the People Act, the Fair Elections Now Act, and the Empowering Citizens Act - would implement similar systems for congressional candidates. They are modeled in part off of successful programs in New York City, Connecticut and Maine, among other locales. By no means is public financing a cure-all for what ails our political system. But it is an important component of reform that will help reorder priorities in the White House and on Capitol Hill to address more fully the needs of the American people. VA Secretary Bob McDonald was in Los Angeles last week to unveil the much-anticipated master plan for the West L.A. Veterans Affairs campus and sat for an interview with KPCC, one of our local public radio stations. As you would expect, he's enthusiastic about the master plan. After all, it was his leadership that got the fight over the future of the campus out of the federal courts. Los Angeles has more homeless vets than anywhere else in the nation and the campus has acres of empty space and lots of vacant buildings. It just made sense - especially to veterans - that it be better used. The new plan, which will take years to execute, doesn't solve our veteran homelessness problem in L.A., but it will help. But what really caught my attention was McDonald's emphasis during the interview that shelter alone won't solve the problem. Advertisement "It's the wraparound care that really is customized to their needs and gets [homeless veterans] back on their feet," McDonald said. I can't tell you how gratifying it was to hear him say that. As the philosophy of "housing first" took hold across the nation over the last few years, I, along with scores of veteran service providers, continued to argue that taking homeless veterans off the sidewalks and putting them directly into permanent housing was only part of the solution. The real healing came about as a result of the kinds of services provided by U.S.VETS and others, who have more than 20 years of experience. These ongoing wraparound services are the long-term solution to the stubborn problem of homelessness. In his second inaugural address, President Lincoln affirmed our obligation to "care for those who shall have borne the battle." This most articulate of presidents used the word "care" not the word "house", to describe our mission of serving veterans. More than two years ago I wrote about "Housing First" and my misgivings about embracing this as a one-size-fits-all solution. That national policy was transmitted to communities and was often mistakenly interpreted as "housing only". Advertisement Housing is the final step for all of our vets, but our primary concern is for their long term well-being. Have we helped them address all the barriers that caused them to fall into homelessness? Have we prepared them to live a life that is meaningful and rewarding? Most veterans, once they have exhausted all of their own resources and become homeless, can benefit from a service intensive, comprehensive program to help them get back on track. Most importantly, this approach is also what the veterans themselves want. According to our own recent data, almost half of these clients will actively seek out and request service intensive transitional housing. They want to stay clean and sober. They want help finding jobs. As one of our vets said, "I want to be in a place where I get the moral support and confidence to get me through the difficulty of unemployment". Ask our clients about the long, tough hours they've put in toward a better life, and how U.S.VETS has helped them, and the word "structure" comes up a lot. These veterans are all grateful for the firm ground they were placed on through a variety of services--which made sure they didn't slip through the cracks. Troubled veterans - especially those who find themselves homeless - need a foundation as well as a roof. It's that palpable sense of peace that comes from a firm foundation, the feeling of complete and total support beneath your feet that we have strived to bring to homeless and at-risk veterans for the last 23 years. That's what lets a veteran's steps toward progress continue -when they've got something firm to walk on. Our comprehensive approach, I should mention, has an estimated 80 percent success rate all across the board for our 21 residential sites and 9 services centers in 14 cities across six states, D.C. and Guam. Advertisement As I wrote a couple years ago, no matter how vehemently we wish it were so, there simply is not a magical solution to the problem of veteran homelessness, the current count of which still stands at over 40,000 nationwide. Putting a roof over someone's head may technically equal shelter, but it will do nothing to quell the storms that may be raging in the psyche of a veteran living alone in his or her apartment. Some Uber drivers in New York City went on strike this week, after the company reduced rates on its basic service, UberX, in New York City by 15 percent. The protest was planned by a group of drivers known as the United Drivers Network over fare cuts and overall deteriorating conditions. Uber was pleased with the results of the new rates saying drivers spent 39 percent less time without a fare and saw a 20 percent increase in hourly earnings compared with two weekends earlier. Many drivers disagree. In fact, one was quoted as saying, "We can't understand how we're going to make more money if the fares are less and we have to work twice as hard to be making the same money." Advertisement The Solution Uber drivers have no right to strike and should be thankful for their jobs. The solution is getting passed this typical union bullying mentality. If the drivers don't agree with the compensation they receive, don't drive for Uber. If you're not happy, go find another job. Compensation is based on supply and demand, and Uber is no more obligated to over pay for labor than Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson or Apple. Unfortunately, we could see more of this. In Seattle, the city council voted unanimously in December to extend collective bargaining powers to drivers for services like Uber and Lyft. It became the first city to unionize Uber drivers. The unionized mentality has to stop. It's another archaic American institution that served a purpose in a bygone era and should be buried with the dead. Workers have become spoiled with inflated wages, tenure, and guaranteed work based on every factor outside of job performance and results. A few years ago, I was in Madison, Wisconsin, at the time teachers went on strike. I talked to more than a dozen teachers. All of them told me the same thing: they said they had the right to collective bargaining and to their job. When I asked them where job performance fit into the equation, I barely got a reply. They looked at me as though they didn't understand the question. And that's one of the biggest problems unions create: the idea that they have a right to a job, like it's an entitlement awarded at birth. Advertisement If you want to earn more money, bullying your employer with a mob isn't the answer. Production is. If you want to earn more money, provide more service. End of story. Unfortunately, some drivers want to cause even more trouble. The Uber Driver's Network Facebook page posted this message yesterday: Fellow Drivers, We have some B I G PLANS mapped out for the next few days. Please be ready to take more MASSIVE action that will shake Uber to its core foundation and everyone who supports them in their oppression against drivers. The fight has just begun: if what we did this past Monday was massive (#1 Trend on Facebook and still #3 World Wide News coverage), then W A I T and see what we have planned next [If I was Uber, I'd really rethink my strategies and clean house if necessary of those advising with destroying the lives of drivers and their families]. What's next you ask? something that will S T R I K E at the core. What would you call a place where you could breakfast on grilled bread with coconut jam, lunch on otak-otak (Malaysian fish mousse grilled in banana leaves), dine on Indian tandoori, and midnight snack on Indonesian sates? Where nonya (grandmother) style stingray seasoned with garlic, chile, and lemongrass and grilled in banana leaves shares your plate with minced and grilled Chinese sweet pork jerky? The maps call it Singapore. The nearly five million people who make up this island nation at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula call it home. I call it a grilling nirvana. Established as a British colony by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819, Singapore lies at Asia's strategic crossroads--Malaysia and Thailand to the north, Indonesia to the south, India far to the west, and China and Japan to the northeast. Limited in size and natural resources, Singapore has always lived by trade. For two millennia, the island nation has been port of call for Chinese sampans, Arabian dhows, Indonesian pinisi, English merchant ships, and American clippers. The constant flow of peoples, comestibles, and food cultures have made Singaporean barbecue some of the most diverse in the world. Singapore's government also helped. In Singapore, as throughout Southeast Asia, the best grilling (not to mention noodle dishes, soups, stir-fries, and the like) turns up not at restaurants, but at pushcarts and sidewalk cookshacks. In the 1970s the Singaporean government took the extraordinary step of registering and certifying all street vendors, relocating them to municipal hawker centers equipped with electricity, running water, and sanitation codes more stringent than those in the United States. Today, more than 10,000 street cooks--among them Singapore's top grill masters--ply their trade at 115 government-certified hawker centers, like the popular Newton Circus Hawker Centre, East Coast Lagoon Food Village, or Gluttons Bay. At almost any hour of the day or night, for a surprisingly affordable price, this is where the real Singapore eats. And so should you. Advertisement Adapted from Planet Barbecue! SIGN UP for Steven Raichlen's UP IN SMOKE newsletter to learn more about barbecue! -- sen. hillary clinton speaks at ... I am one of those "over 65" women who belong to the faceless, aging "demographic" with a Hillary sign on my front lawn. For weeks I've listened, fists clenched, while 19-year-olds and media pundits alike lavish praise on Bernie Sanders for his bold, revolutionary message and scorn Hillary for being "establishment." He is "heart" and she is "head"--a bitter irony for those of us familiar with the long history of philosophical, religious, and medical diatribes disqualifying women from leadership positions on the basis of our less-disciplined emotions. Advertisement He is "authentic" in his progressivism while she has only been pushed to the left by political expediency--as though a lifetime of fighting for universal healthcare, for gender equality, for children's rights don't pass the litmus tests for "progressive" causes. He is the champion of the working class while her long-standing commitments to child care, paid sick leave, the repeal of the Hyde Amendment, and narrowing the wage-gap between working men and women are apparently evaporated by her accepting highly-paid invitations to speak at Goldman-Sachs. As I witness Sanders become the gatekeeper of progressivism, while in the interests of his own campaign allowing a generation of twitter-educated kids to swallow a sound-bite generated portrait of Hillary, I am amazed at all that has gotten eclipsed by the terms of the current debate. The continuing virulence of racism in all its forms. The assault on reproductive rights. And, oh yes, that still inflammatory little "ism," Sexism. Bring it up nowadays and you will get accused of "playing the woman card." On the other hand, if you suggest that the election of Hillary to the Presidency would be a strike against business-as-usual, you will be reminded that she is not really a woman but one-half of that mythical unity, "The Clintons." She even gets blamed for Bill's infidelity--a tactic cooked up by Trump but taken seriously throughout the media, as pundits actually debated whether she should be held accountable for being "an enabler." Sexism and Hillary-hating are old comrades. When she was a candidate for the Democratic nomination in 2008, the media coverage of the primaries often seemed like a re-run of the relentless punishment she endured for refusing to stay in her place as first lady. Hillary's early transgressions--requesting a West Wing office, making health care (rather than, say, charity work or refurbishing the White House) her priority, not caring enough about fashion, and seeming to denigrate cooking-baking housewives--had made her "The Lady Macbeth of Arkansas", "The Yuppie Wife From Hell"; a New York Post cartoon pictured Bill Clinton as a marionette, with a ferocious Hillary pulling the strings. For a time during his presidency, her husband's bad behavior won her some sympathy, and her productive but low-key (Carl Bernstein called it "deferential") performance as a senator earned her praise. But then--oops--she started leaning in too much once again, trying for the Presidency, and the "hellish housewife" (as Leon Wieseltier called her) was reincarnated: Hillary was ""satan" (Don Imus): "Mommie Dearest," "the debate dominatrix" and "Mistress Hillary " (Maureen Dowd.) And it wasn't just the right wing. Chris Matthews (who in 2016 has thankfully changed his tune) saw her as a creature from the bowels of hell: "witchy" and a "she-devil." He wasn't the only one. You all remember, don't you? Don't you? Advertisement If you are a 19-year-old Bernie supporter, you probably don't; you were 11 years old. But Bernie Sanders remembers, and he remembers, too, that his isn't the first mass-movement of young people filled with anti-establishment fervor. A lot of us were "socialist" (or some version of it) in those days. But some of us, too, were women. Women who were charged with making coffee while the male politicos speechified. Women who were shouted down and humiliated for daring to bring up the issue of gender inequality during rallies and lefty confabs. Women whose protests were seen as trivial, hormonally inspired, and "counter-revolutionary." Women who were told, over and over, that in the interests of progressive change, we had to subordinate our demands to "larger" causes. Some of us could see that those "larger" issues were thoroughly entangled with gender; we would ultimately develop ways of understanding the world that couldn't be reduced to a single "message" but demanded complex analyses (and action) that looked at the intersections of race, gender, and class. In those days, though--before the women's movement--we often found ourselves simmering and stewing as our boyfriends and husbands defined what was revolutionary, what was worthy, what was "progressive." So it's somewhat deja vu for me all over again, as a charismatic male politico once again is telling women what issues are and aren't "progressive." I can only assume that those of you who booed Hillary at the Iowa caucus when she described herself as a progressive have no idea of either how the women's movement was born or Clinton's contributions to it. Ironically, the women's movement, along the struggle for racial justice, is one of the true revolutions of the 20th century--a revolution that you benefit from every day of your lives, and that is far from fully accomplished. The boo-ers have no idea, I can only assume, of the price Hillary has paid for being openly and vigorously feminist, for daring to fight for health care (yes, it was called "Hillarycare" in those days) before there was a movement to clap for her, for speaking her mind about what she accurately described as "a vast right-wing conspiracy" aimed at her husband (and now at Obama.) Instead, through some perverse and unconscious collusion between the decades-old Hillary-hating of the right, the headline-hunger of the media (which never tires of exploiting the latest faux scandal) and now, cruelest cut of all, the Bernie Movement, you have decided that she is simply "the establishment." I was born in 1947, the very first year of the post-war baby boom. I was a young teenager at the dawn of the sixties, just a few years younger than Bernie and half a year older than Hillary. I know how intoxicating it is--particularly now, for a generation numbed by a culture that has given you snapchat in place of community--to feel yourself on the side of "revolution" and to find yourself, shoulder to shoulder with like-minded others, with a cause to fight for. And I, too, am charmed by Bernie's scruffy white hair and unmodulated passion. I understand, I do. Do not make the mistake of thinking, though, that Hilary's caution is a sign of her "inauthenticity" or conventionality, rather than the price she has paid for attempting to be an effective public servant in world that has allowed men the privilege of political passion and labeled women "strident" and "shrill" when they did the same. Please remember, too, that while a "clear message" may make for a good political campaign, complexity--which doesn't lend itself to sound bites--is what the real is made of. In that complex real world, income inequality is not merely the product of Wall Street greed but survives only through the happy collusion of other inequalities that have been with us long before Goldman Sachs opened its doors. Susan Bordo is Singletary Chair in the Humanities at University of Kentucky. She is currently writing a book on how facts became obsolete in American culture and politics. On Tuesday, February 2nd, I had the amazing opportunity to join interfaith activists from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. as part of a national day of action to address gun violence. Leaders from several organizations from across the area joined Metro-Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) in front of Realco Gun Store in Maryland to call on the CEOs of seven of the world's largest gun manufacturers to explore safer gun technology and urge Realco and other gun shops to do their part in keeping guns out of the hands of people who would seek to do harm. It was incredible to hear these activists speak, and to see so many groups of people coming together - from religious organizations to people from different faith backgrounds - to talk about an issue that affects us all. As the Social Action Vice President for NFTY - The Reform Jewish Youth Movement, I represent over 10,000 teens from across the United States and Canada. One year ago NFTY launched our #NotOneMore campaign to end gun violence, an effort which has mobilized thousands of teens across the Reform Jewish Movement to educate others, advocate, and take action on the issue of gun violence. Joining organizations like the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Everytown for Gun Safety, and Metro- IAF's Do Not Stand Idly By campaign, young activists are contacting their legislators and local mayors to demand action, writing articles in their local and school newspapers, and utilizing social media to educate their peers. Growing up in a country where Isla Vista, Sandy Hook, and Virginia Tech are common vocabulary, we strive to add the underrepresented youth voice to an issue that has so heavily affected our generation's upbringing. Advertisement Tuesday's action day, though incredibly inspiring, is also heartbreaking. Since the beginning of my work on this campaign I've had the privilege to speak to many people who've been affected by gun violence so deeply, whether it's been the loss of a loved one, or in some cases being a survivor themselves. Though gun violence has left a deeper mark on some people than others, the widespread frequency of these horrifying incidents have left virtually everyone with some connection to this gun violence epidemic. I once spoke with a teacher in Atlanta who told me about watching almost half the hands in his middle school classroom go up when asked if they had witnessed or had known personally a victim of gun violence, and how almost all of the hands went up when asked if they had access to a gun. We're living in a country where this devastating issue is not just one person's heartbreak, but a nation's brokenness. And while the action that occurred on Tuesday was an incredible step towards progress, that's what it was, a step. If we are going to see true change brought to this issue, many more steps need to be taken. As Rabbi Esther Lederman said on Tuesday, "We cannot act alone... It will take people of faith, political leaders, law enforcement, families, and yes, gun manufacturers to begin to heal our nation". Advertisement Rwandan President Paul Kagame New Year's Eve announcement that he will run for a third term as presidentcame as no surprise to most observers of the tiny central African country. It was widely expected after a national referendum approved constitutional changes that allow Kagame to run his authoritarian, single-party state until 2034. The ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front's (RPF) public relations machinery claims that it is only Kagame himself who has the leadership acumen to oversee Rwanda's continued peace and prosperity. This is the dominant narrative of success that the RPF has painted for foreign audiences. Advertisement The reality is that there is no viable alternative to Kagame, within or outside his RPF. Political rivals have died, are jailed and have disappeared or have fled the country. Dubious poll and economic statistics It is alarming that the purported overwhelming popular support for the RFP has been accepted with such alacrity. The story fed to the world is that December's constitutional referendum was approved by more than 98% of voters and before that, when Rwandan lawmakers consulted 3.7 million voters, they could find only ten people opposed the idea of a third term for Kagame. That's an astonishing 99.9997%, which is just slightly higher than the average electoral percentage the RPF has received since taking office in 1994. These numbers should raise eyebrows. As researchers, we know that when we poll a group of 100 free-thinking individuals in the real world on whether or not the sky is blue, we don't get that kind of consensus. Advertisement The numbers from Kigali are literally off the charts - so much so that they discredit themselves. We might as well be told that 110% of Rwandans approve of extending Kagame's mandate. This does not even begin to address the fact that democracy since the 1994 genocide is not a system of majority rule, but rather is a complex system that protects the political interests of the RPF and its loyalists. Political opponents, journalists and ordinary citizens alike dare not voice dissent in Rwanda, as Anjan Sundaram's recent book Bad News carefully and persuasively documents. Kigali tells us not to worry because this movement is popular with the "majority". They say the West should mind its own business, leaving Rwandans to deal with Rwanda. Kagame devotees are quick to point out the country's economic successes, using reports produced by the Rwandan government itself to back up their claims. In recent years, the World Bank has indeed found Rwanda to be among the easiest countries in Africa in which to do business. Advertisement But in 2006, when the same World Bank found data that did not support the narrative of economic growth in Rwanda, that data was destroyed and the foreign researchers were expelled. Since then everything from the World Bank on Rwanda has been positive. Suppressing dissent knows no bounds. An absence of checks and balances In Rwanda today there are no checks and balances. There is no independent media in the country. Since he took power there has never been a Rwandan court decision that did not end the way that Kagame wanted it to. Every vote in parliament has produced the result Kagame desired. There has never been a popular vote in which people did not concede to Kagame's will. Foreign support of this decimation of democracy would also have us remove any remaining incentive for Kagame to show restraint in the coming years. His supporters argue that the country and region would most likely spiral into chaos if he were to step down. But what if Kagame were to suddenly perish? Kigali has no back-up plan. He has personally made sure of that. Irresponsible backers of this oppressive regime seem to think Kagame is immortal. Even using the Rwandan government's own impressive stats, Kagame is close to the limit of life expectancy for a man born during his era (1957). Life expectancy for Rwandan men is 63.8 years. Add the risk factors of military service, poor sleep habits and the weight of a stressful job and he is living on borrowed time. Advertisement Kagame's supporters argue that the country and region would most likely spiral into chaos if he were to step down. No-one who cares about Rwanda would wish for his sudden demise. That would have a catastrophic effect. But you cannot call his government sustainable if it has not prepared a succession plan for the one event that awaits us all. Susan Thomson, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies, Colgate University San Quentin State Prison in California, December 2015. REUTERS/Stephen Lam On January 27, California Governor Jerry Brown proposed a voter initiative to reform sentencing in the state. The initiative seeks to reintroduce parole hearings and early releases. If it passes, nonviolent felons will come up for parole once they complete the basic term for their original offense. Advertisement Brown's initiative is advertised as a cost-saving measure. As I argue in my book "Cheap on Crime," many recent criminal justice reform proposals use the language of cost to attract support. The governor also hopes to control prison overcrowding before federal court mandates force action. But more substantially, the initiative proposes to "stop the revolving door of crime by emphasizing rehabilitation, especially for juveniles." To understand the proposal, we must go back in time, to California sentencing before the 1970s. Out of the past: indeterminate sentencing In 1974, Robert Martinson published an article titled "What Works? Questions and Answers about Prison Reform." It examined evaluative studies of approximately 600 prison rehabilitation programs nationwide. The article grimly concluded that these programs did not reduce recidivism. The findings came as a shock to Californians, whose correctional system was based on rehabilitation. For decades, the state's voters had supported the use of prisons to teach inmates skills and reform them into productive, law-abiding citizens. This idea was reflected in California's sentencing regime, known as "indeterminate sentencing." At the time, California law did not list specific sentences for offenses. Judges would sentence defendants based on their characteristics and circumstances, and their actual release day would be determined by the parole board. For example, an inmate sentenced to three to 20 years' imprisonment would first come up for parole after three years. If not released, the prisoner would periodically reappear before the parole board until the members decided she had been rehabilitated. Advertisement The move toward determinate sentencing Martinson's research was published at a complicated time in California. A few years earlier, President Richard Nixon had been elected on a platform of crime control, capitalizing on media-fueled public fear of rising crime rates. Highly publicized violent crimes, such as the Manson family's Tate-LaBianca murders, frightened Californians into considering alternatives. The resulting change in sentencing was the product of a narrow coalition. Conservatives feared that early releases coddled serious offenders and put the public at risk; progressives claimed that the unfettered discretion of parole boards led to inequalities, disfavoring poor inmates and inmates of color. You may recall the cynical portrayal of parole hearings in the movie "The Shawshank Redemption." Jerry Brown, who was governor of California at the time, enthusiastically supported sentencing reform. California was the first state to implement the new sentencing regime, known as "determinate sentencing," that created inflexible sentences and required most inmates to serve their full sentences. This regime was then adopted by other states and by the federal system. The power of prosecutors Determinate sentencing shifted power away from judges and parole boards toward legislators and prosecutors. In California, felony sentences were set by the legislature. In the following decades, various voter initiatives added "enhancements" - dramatic increases in sentencing due to factors such as use of guns, a gang context or a prior felony record. Parole boards lost the authority to offer early releases, except to inmates serving life sentences. The emphasis on rehabilitation declined, and gradually funds for rehabilitative programs were cut. Advertisement Determinate sentences flowed almost automatically from the charges. Therefore, the prosecutors' power to choose the charges became the most important factor in sentencing. Fordham University professor John Pfaff argues that the massive growth in prison population was the result of the way prosecutors exercised their charging discretion. According to Pfaff's data, between 1994 and 2008, the probability that a district attorney would file a felony charge increased from one in three to two in three. Many people plead guilty in order to avoid the draconian consequences of more serious charges. This aggressive turn in felony charging goes a long way in explaining why there are more people in prison. Increases in sentence length are a less significant factor. Should we return to indeterminate sentencing? Is Brown's revival of parole boards a good thing? That largely depends on whether one trusts judges and parole boards over prosecutors. Pfaff's data are hard to argue with. However, the original concerns that drove Californians away from indeterminate sentencing in the first place should still give us pause. Advertisement First, the proposition will increase the number of parole candidates. In 2014, 19.9 percent of California prison inmates were lifers, and not all of them were eligible for parole. This initiative would add to the parole board's caseload the additional 29.3 percent serving time for nonviolent crimes. Can the parole board handle this additional caseload? And if doing so requires hiring more parole personnel, how much money would we save? It's important to keep in mind that all parole commissioners in California, who are appointed by the governor, come from law enforcement backgrounds. As I have found out during my ongoing study of parole hearings for lifers, commissioners currently receive some training on topics such as mental health and substance abuse. Once they are given the task of deciding more people's fate, would parole commissioners be educated as to implicit biases? If not, how would they avoid repeating the racially discriminatory outcomes that plagued parole releases in the 1970s? Another source of concern is that parole hearings have adapted to the punitive mindset of the determinate sentencing era. Advertisement Before the California Supreme Court's decision in the case known as Lawrence, parole boards regularly considered the severity of the inmate's offense as an indication of her dangerousness and risk. In Lawrence, the court forbade this practice and required the board to find evidence of dangerousness in the inmate's present conduct, not just in the original crime. But even after Lawrence, my qualitative study-in-progress of parole hearing transcripts reveal that parole boards tend to assume that inmates who committed serious crimes are more dangerous - even when several decades have passed since the crime was committed. Finally, the initiative extends indeterminate sentencing to offenders convicted of nonviolent felonies, under the understandable but misguided assumption that they are less dangerous or less likely to reoffend. This has the potential to entrench our negative social attitudes toward people incarcerated for violent offenses - even if they are elderly, ill or have redeemed themselves over a long period of time. Moreover, the initiative does not clearly explain what parole proceedings for low-level felons would look like. Would these cases receive the kind of attention awarded to lifers - or would they be abbreviated processes? Given the increased caseload, would the board rely more on the existing software to predict riskand less on their interviews with particular inmates? What would be the role of victims, who currently have an extensive right to be heard in lifer hearings? Can California afford to provide inmates with the rehabilitative programs they need to prepare them for a law-abiding life after release? Reasons for optimism There are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the governor's new initiative. In the decades since Martinson published his pessimistic study, we have found new and convincing evidence that, when conducted and evaluated properly, educational and vocational programs in prison can and do decrease reoffending. But we should not accept wholesale the premise that parole boards are categorically better than prosecutors at setting sentence length. Governor Brown is now seeking enough signatures to place his initiative on the California ballot. Many Californians who are dismayed by the injustice and expense of mass incarceration are likely to support it. If it passes, this initiative would be the first step in undoing determinate sentencing across the country. Advertisement In the next few months, I hope that supporters of the initiative will carefully consider how to hold parole hearings, so that we may learn from the past, rather than repeat it. (Jessica Lea/DFID) On Saturday 6th February, the world will mark the International Day for Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). As a global health and women's rights advocate, I join the call for zero tolerance for FGM and other harmful traditional practices because the practice has a drastic impact on health and strips young girls of their agency when committed without informed consent. The harmful effects of FGM on women's health are both physical and psychological. FGM can cause infertility, maternal death, infection, and post-traumatic stress disorder, impacting the future of the 200 million girls and women globally, living with the effects of FGM. A UNICEF report released today revealed that the number of women affected by FGM was 70 million higher than previously thought, emphasising that despite legislative changes across the world, FGM is practiced more widely than we know. Global Goal 5 has included the elimination of all harmful practices, such as child, early, and forced marriage and FGM within its targets. This inclusion will go a long way to encouraging countries that continue to permit FGM in making the requisite legislative changes to protect girls. However, making legislation a reality will require community sensitisation and mobilisation against FGM. In 2015, Nigeria banned FGM but a quarter of Nigerian women have already been affected by the practice. Legislation must be accompanied by cooperation with community and religious leaders to change cultural perceptions of FGM. Encouraging community reporting and vigilance will protect adolescent girls and women as we work together to enact this law. Advertisement As a women's health issue, we must also mobilise midwives as part of community responses to FGM and other harmful traditional practices. Across the African continent, local midwives are active in their communities and well respected by both men and women. As community focal points for health, midwives can educate communities about the importance of banning the act. Midwives can also be trusted confidantes for adolescent girls and women at risk of FGM and help communities 'self-report'. If you are a high school senior in the United States, or one's parent, the next few months will be a whirlwind as you wind down your high school career and begin receiving acceptance letters from the colleges and universities to which you applied. These letters represent the culmination of years of planning and preparation: working to get good grades, studying for SAT and ACT tests, researching colleges and completing applications that will make you stand out among your peers. Advertisement They also represent one of the most important decisions of your life. As acceptance letters come in, this should signal a shift in your entire perspective. As you applied to colleges, you sought to differentiate yourself from your peers so as to prove why you should be accepted or offered a scholarship. With acceptance letters in hand, you now become the decision-maker --with input from your parents and other trusted advisers, of course. This is a key point not to miss: With acceptance letters in hand, you are now in control, and the responsibility rests with the university to explain why you should choose it. This mindset can also be helpful for younger students who are looking ahead to their own college applications. Asking an educational institution to differentiate itself can equip you with the information to make the best decision for your future. In talking with students, educators and employers all across the United States through my work with Project Lead The Way -- and advising my four sons through the college-decision process -- I have identified a few questions worth considering. What do I want to study? According to one recent study, as many as 50 percent of students enter college without deciding on a major. An estimated 75 percent will change their major during their studies. Advertisement If you don't know what you want to pursue as a career, you are not alone, but as you decide, ask yourself these questions: Are there jobs available in that field? Will the money you make in that field enable you to have the standard of living you desire? These may be hard questions to answer, but knowing what you want to study will help you identify which college will give you the best education, or if college is even the best path for you. What is the best financial investment for me? What you choose to study can help determine if the financial investment of college is your best decision. If you're uncertain of your major, a community college may be the best first step. For a much lower tuition, you can earn your core credits and transfer them to a four-year institution once you've decided on a major. For certain career paths, a two-year degree or technical certification may be a better investment, especially if you want to go into a field that requires specific skills. Keep in mind, however, that the rapid pace of technological development is rendering many once reliable and high-paying trade jobs obsolete. A four-year degree, while more expensive, is more likely to equip you with the skills and expertise to adapt to an evolving job market over the long term. Advertisement Which of my choices will give me the best chance of employment in my field of study? If you know what you want to study and that a four-year college is the right path, the next question to ask is which college or university will give you the best chance at success. For some majors and career goals, the choice will be obvious, thanks to clear market signals. Top companies, such as Google, recruit at top technology schools, such as Stanford and MIT. Many big-name companies rely on schools to filter top talent and, like it or not, having Princeton or Yale on your resume will give you an advantage in the job market. For most students, however, the market signals are much less clear. To help determine which institution is best for you, ask your prospective schools how many of their graduates are employed in their major fields of study within three, six and 12 months of graduation. Don't settle for the percentage of all graduates - you want to know your chances of getting a job in the major you are investing your time and money in. Check out the federal government's new College Scorecard - it can be a helpful tool in determining which of your options gives you the best chance at success. Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, because it will have an enormous impact on your career options for the rest of your life. The best decision you can make is an informed one, and you can empower yourself with information by asking the right questions at the right time. Advertisement Thank you both. Let me move on to our next question here, and in fact it comes to us through New England Cable News. Secretary Clinton, it's addressed to you, and it's about this issue of the speeches, particularly to Goldman Sachs. This is what the questioner wrote verbatim. "I am concerned with the abuses of Wall Street has taken with the American taxpayers money," and then she asks whether you would release the transcripts of your Goldman Sachs speeches, and then added, "Don't you think the voting public has a right to know what was said?" But, let's make that bigger. Are you willing to release the transcripts of all your paid speeches? We do know through reporting that there were transcription services for all of those paid speeches. In full disclosure, would you release all of them? PTI A foreign ministry team comprising senior officials will head to Bengaluru today to review the situation after a A 21-year-old Tanzanian student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a mob in a case of mistaken identity. The High Commissioner of Tanzania, Joint Secretary (States), Director (East and Southern Africa in MEA) and Regional Director of ICCR will be part of the team. Advertisement Yesterday, at a press conference, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tried to play down the assault by saying that it was "an isolated incident" that got "out of hand because of the road accident." But the ministry will take "all steps to ensure the safety and security of African students in India", he said. "We have assured our African friends that necessary legal action will be taken. We will extend full co-operation to investigation of this case and stringent punishment will be given to the perpetrators. We condemn this incident unequivocally," Swarup said. The incident shouldn't be generalised, its an isolated incident: G Parameshwara, K'taka HM on #TanzanianGirl case pic.twitter.com/8tgs8TmbPX ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2016 Those who were attacked were innocent,they were not part of accident. Thats the truth-Bosco Kaweesi,Legal Adviser pic.twitter.com/FvIgEUcDaS ANI (@ANI_news) February 4, 2016 Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has said the incident was a matter of shame and no racial discrimination will be tolerated in the country. "For 200 years, India was enslaved by foreigners. We have been fighting racial discrimination. But in India itself, if there is racial discrimination, the government will take it very seriously. We will not allow racial discrimination to take place in the country. This is a matter of shame for the entire nation," the Minister of State for Home told reporters. For 200 years, India was enslaved by foreigners. We have been fighting racial discrimination. But in India itself, if there is racial discrimination, the government will take it very seriously. Five persons have been arrested in this connection. Tanzanian high commissioner John Kigazi has said the attack was definitely racist. Politicians were quick to seize the opportunity to score political points and trade blame. BJP targeted Congress for not initiating action against the culprits and questioned Rahul Gandhi's "silence" over the incident. The party accused the Congress government in Karnataka of covering up the incident and said its "inaction" has brought disrepute to Bangalore city. It also demanded immediate action, including transfer of DGP and suspension of police officers concerned. Advertisement Citing rape incidents in Tripura, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, where action is yet to be taken against the culprits, BJP said Rahul and other leaders pick and choose incidents to give them political colour and have no interest in victims. "Such a big incident has happened and so much time has passed, still Rahul and Congress are silent for something that has happened under the very nose of their government there. No action has been taken. This shows how much hypocrisy is there in them and how they play hypocritical politics," Union Minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said. "It is shameful that those who are experts in creating a mountain out of a molehill have suddenly turned silent and their silence seems to justify such an unfortunate incident," Naqvi said. On 31 January, a car driven by Sudanese student Mohammed Ismail mowed down a local woman out on an evening walk. Ismail was also injured and his car was set on fire. The Tanzanian woman, who is doing her Bachelor of Business Management course in a college in the city, reached the spot half an hour after the accident. She was immediately pulled out of their car by the angry mob, her companions were also assaulted and their vehicle was torched. Advertisement When the student tried to board a bus to escape, she was pushed out by other passengers. However the government of Karnataka yesterday denied that the incident was a racist attack. "There was no stripping and parading naked," Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters on Thursday. "This is definitely not a racial attack. It was just a response to the accident by the Sudanese student. I don't think Bangaloreans have that kind of a mindset." Contact HuffPost India SAM PANTHAKY via Getty Images Gujarat's first woman chief minister, Anandiben Patel looks on at the Town Hall in Gandhinagar, some 30 kms from Ahmedabad on May 21, 2014. Anandiben Patel was termed as the new Gujarat chief minister and will take the oath on May 22 in Gandhinagar. AFP PHOTO / Sam PANTHAKY (Photo credit should read SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images) New Delhi -- The Congress party has called for an independent investigation by a Special Investigation Team into the alleged allotment of 250 acres of land at Rs15 per square metre to a company owned by the business associates of Gujarat Chief Ministers daughter, according to a report. Congress leader Anand Sharma on Friday demanded immediate resignation of Gujarat CM Anandiben and accused prime minister Narendra Modi of turning a blind eye towards this allegedly shady land deal. Advertisement "Under PM Modi's watch when he was Gujarat CM, nepotism flourished and public land was plundered to promote commercial and business. For fair probe, it is necessary that then revenue minister and current Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel resign from her post, the report said, quoting Sharma. A report in The Economic Times on Friday said that a company called Wildwoods Resorts, owned by the business associates of Anandibens daughter Anar Patel, was allotted 250 acres of land near the Gir lion sanctuary at an official rate of Rs 15 per square metre. The company owns a total of 400 acres. The company got 250 acres of land for a mere Rs2 crore, calculations show. Wildwoods Resorts and Realties, promoted by Dakshesh Shah and Amol Shripal Sheth, business associates of 45-year-old Patel, the daughter of Anandiben Patel, owns a 400-acre plot near the Gir lion sanctuary in Gujarats Amreli district. ET's queries to the government of Gujarat did not elicit any response while Patel, Shah and Sheth insisted that all the transactions were above board. Advertisement Anandiben is also in charge of the revenue portfolio in her government. The original promoter of Wildwoods, a Dubai-based businessman named Sanjay Dhanak, told the paper that his initial plans of building a tourist resort on the land never took off. Meanwhile, the current promoters claimed they have received all the necessary regulatory clearances for the project and that there was no prohibition on building a resort on the 400-acre tract. Wildwoods was owned by Dhanak when the land allotment orders were issued in 2010. It was after this that Shah and Sheth took control of the company. At present, Parshva Texchem and Anil Infraplus, which are entities in which Anar has substantial stakes, own Wildwoods. Dhanak said he did not recollect how much was paid for the 422 acres of land. Dakshesh said he was not aware how much Wildwoods had paid for the land since he took a stake in the firm only in 2011 and was not aware of previous transactions. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE-In this June 30, 2015 file photo,an Indian girl holds a can filled with water and walks past railway tracks to defecate in the open in Mumbai, India. The World Bank has approved a $1.5 billion loan for a sanitation program in India, where millions of people have no access to toilets.The bank said in a statement Wednesday that the loan will be used to support government efforts to provide toilets in villages and end the practice of open defecation by 2019.More than 500 million Indians, especially in rural areas, continue to defecate in the open, despite efforts to encourage people to change their habits. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade, file) While Prime Minister Narendra Modi campaigns for a 'Clean India' and promises his government's support for the upliftment of Dalits, some people from the country's most impoverished and backward classes are, however, battling deeply ingrained prejudice for access to something as basic as a toilet. In Mehsana district of Gujarat, a Dalit family has been trying to build a toilet for over two years. However, some local upper-caste people are opposing it, reports Indian Express. Advertisement The village--Lakshmipura-Bhandu--has only 500 people, mostly belonging to upper-caste families. Life is not easy for the only Dalit family in the village. Bhikhabhai Senma, 65, is a landless farmer whose family has 13 members. Their house is at the entrance of the village and they have no toilet. Sometimes, they have to travel as far as half-a- kilometre away to defecate. We want to construct a toilet outside our house. However, some locals have not been allowing us to do it by raising an issue of encroachment on village gauchar (pasture land), Senma told Express. According to the Dalit villager, one of the upper-caste local wants to build a road on the same land. The land, he says, is an open piece of government wasteland. Advertisement After fighting over it for two years, the Dalit villager has decided to drop the idea of constructing a toilet. "We have approached a number of authorities, including the State Human Rights Commission, but nothing has happened, he said. The problem of toilets for Dalits is not new. According to a Census report published in 2012, while just over half of all Indian households dont have a toilet at home, for Dalit households that figure is two-thirds. Of Indias nearly 168 million rural households, 67.3% relieve themselves out of doors. Meanwhile, the figure for Dalit rural households, which total nearly 33 million, is 75%. In cities, 12.6% of households rely on the outdoors; for Dalit urban households the figure is 24%. In December, a Dalit community in a village in Coimbatore faced a similar issue. They filed a complaint accusing the local administration of alleged discrimination towards them in building toilets. The Dalit residents of Kendayur village took out a march to the office of the Collector, urging the officials to meet their demands for toilets. They alleged that the administration was reluctant in building toilets for them and claimed to have been defecating out in the open all these years. The villagers claimed that their repeated pleas were turned down by officials. Advertisement The discrimination has also existed in other forms. Last year, seven teachers of a Tamil Nadu school was arrested after they allegedly forced Dalit students to clean the toilets of the school. According to the report, the teachers forced 17 Dalit students to clean the school toilets while sparing students from other communities. Advertisement Contact HuffPost India Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service last month raided the offices of disgraced insurance magnate Alexander Chatfield Burns, whose empire collapsed in 2014 amid allegations of fraud.A dozen agents arrived at the offices of Southport Lane Management with a search warrant, afterward leaving with more than 20 boxes of material and copies of computer hard drives. The January 14 search is the first sign of a federal criminal investigation of Burnss insurance dealings, the Wall Street Journal reports.At the height of his influence, Burns still in his mid-20s controlled Southport Lane, a private-equity firm that owned several insurance companies. Then everything came crashing down.Burns checked himself into a mental-health ward at New Yorks Bellevue Hospital in early 2014, leaving behind an affidavit that described a series of unusual transfers of millions of dollars in assets. Soon afterward, he resigned from the company.Regulators seized control of the two main insurance companies under Southport Lanes control in April. One was liquidated and the other sold, with company losses nearly $250 million.Insurance investigators have been searching through the detritus for evidence of malfeasance; Delaware regulators in particular are looking for proof that Burns siphoned off millions of mainstream insurance holdings, replacing them with assets that were illiquid, grossly over-valued or hard to value, worthless and in some cases non-existent.One such asset that ended up on Burnss books was the rights to a purported Caravaggio masterpiece.Since his firms collapse, Burns has released statements through his lawyer calling the allegations baseless, instead blaming highly unexpected events at the companies for the restructuring of holdings. He has still not been accused of wrongdoing in any criminal or civil proceedings.Burns did not provide comment to the Journal, and a Justice Department spokesman said the agency does not confirm or deny the existence of investigations. by Richard BrownFormer AIG CEO Maurice Hank Greenberg may no longer support Jeb Bushs presidential bid and endorse another Republican candidate instead.Greenberg, one of the biggest contributors to the 2016 race for the White House, told Bloomberg that he will wait for one or two more state caucuses before deciding whether to back Florida Senator Marco Rubio.The insurance veteran had donated $10 million to a super-PAC financing the campaign of Bush, who came in sixth in Mondays Iowa caucuses, with about 3 percent of the votes. Rubio came in third, just behind billionaire Donald Trump.The former chairman and CEO of AIG, the 90-year-old Greenberg continues to hold the same positions at CV Starr & Co.Greenberg recently commented that AIG CEO Peter Hancock was right to resist pressure from outspoken activist investor Carl Icahn, who wants to split AIG into three separate companies to avoid tighter regulations from the Federal Reserve.Around 12.7 million people signed up for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, exceeding last years tally and government expectations for Obamacare enrolment in 2016.Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell said Thursday about 4 million new customers signed up for plans on HealthCare.gov after enrolment closed on 31 January. Another 5.6 million also returned to buy insurance again.The government still expects the numbers to rise since some states have extended their enrolment deadlines.Burwell noted that millions of Americans have gained health insurance under the law, calling the Obamacare enrolment for this year a success.It is clear that marketplace coverage is a product that people do want and need, Bloomberg quoted Burwell as saying.The government predicted last October that at least 11 million will sign up for individual health insurance or renewed policies at this point of the year. Around 11.7 million enrolled to Obamacare in 2015. The Insurance Information Institute announced Feb. 4 that organization president Robert Hartwig will leave the institute late this year to join the faculty of the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business.Hartwig was appointed president of the institute in 2007, and was previously the organizations chief economist.Previously, he was the National Council on Compensation Insurances director of economic research and senior economist in Boca Raton. Hartwig received his Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.He joins the Darla Moore School of Business, based in Columbia, South Carolina, in August.My decision to leave the institute was an extremely difficult one, Hartwig said in a statement during the announcement. I love this job, this industry and the daily thrill and privilege of working with amazing people both at the organization itself and throughout the I.I.I.'s membership.Hartwig later mentioned in his statement that throughout his 23 years in the insurance industry, he still cultivated his ties with the academic community. After 18 years at the Institute, now is the right time for me both personally and professionally to make a change. I am truly looking forward to my next important role attracting and educating young talent to this vitally important industry.Bob Hartwig has done an extraordinary job as president of the I.I.I., and finding a successor to fill his shoes will be a daunting task, said Insurance Information Institute chairman of the board Bruce Kelley, also the president and CEO of EMC Insurance Cos. When many business owners think of data breaches, they think of malicious hacker collectives going after Fortune 500 companies. And that image can lead to a risky assumption: that smaller businesses dont face a high enough risk to make cyber liability insurance worth the money.The assumption is so widespread that a January survey from Aviva found that as many as 44% of businesses believe they are unlikely to be subject to cyber loss.In reality, the idea of a hacktivist group trying to sew chaos for big corporations while not necessarily inaccurate is only a small facet of cyber risk, says John Novak, senior vice president for Guy Carpenter Small businesses often say, I have a website and a mobile phone and thats it. I have no cyber exposure, said Novak, a 23-year insurance veteran who has worked with cyber products since 2009. But in reality of course, cyber policies really cover what happens when you lose personally identifiable information, and that can happen in an electronic format or paper file, through nefarious activity or error.For small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), that accidental exposure is most commonly brought about by employees. Whether through malicious activity or error, workers continue to be the biggest source of cyber loss for smaller companies.One SMB had an employee who was laid off and then grabbed sensitive customer information in order to file fraudulent tax returns and intercept tax return money, shared John Novak, senior vice president with Guy Carpenter.Fraudulent wire transfer requests, downloading infected files and sending unsecured or unencrypted data to a publicly accessible cloud are also common sources of cyber loss, Novak said. Even lost or stolen laptops and lost or stolen paper files can lead to significant losses for small companies.And as for cyber crime? SMBs are not fully secure there, either, says Melissa Ventrone, an attorney and chair of the data privacy and security team with Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP in Chicago.Smaller businesses believe they are safe from attacks because theyre not an attractive target. It couldnt be further from the truth, said Ventrone. SMBs are perfect for targets for hackers because a lot of them lack resources necessary to combat cyber risk. Large corporations have the budget small ones dont.SMBs that outsource IT function are also at risk from a vendor perspective, as many do not have monitoring tools to determine what happened in the event of a breach. This makes them low-hanging fruit from the perspective of a hacker, Ventrone says.Luckily, a solid cyber insurance policy covers most of these scenarios. Expenses racked up from forensics or from notifying affected customers are often covered by the insurer, as well as options for attorneys or public relations resources if needed. 'Need to Take Clearance From Govt': BCCI President on Whether India Will Travel to Pakistan For Asia Cup Page Content MONTREAL, 4 FEBRUARY 2016 Consistent with the UN aviation agencys ongoing prioritization of the effective implementation in all States of global civil aviations standards and policies, ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu conducted a wide range of high-level meetings and consultations while visiting Ethiopia last week. President Aliu was in Addis Ababa for the 28th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Executive Council, and the 26th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly, and was joined on the occasion by ICAOs Regional Directors for its Eastern and Southern African and Western and Central African Offices, Messrs. Barry Kashambo and Mam Sait Jallow, respectively. A key goal of the Presidents visit was to continue to generate political will in support African States fundamental capacities for aviation safety and security oversight, air transport infrastructure modernization, training and skilled human resources development, and improved liberalization and open skies through greater multilateralism. Special focus in the training area was placed on taking better advantage of Africas Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), as well as aligning related goals with the recent AU prioritization of empowering women and greater opportunities for youth. President Aliu took the opportunity of the high-level AU Addis Ababa events to hold a number of bilateral meetings in support of these and other goals with Heads of State, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and a number of other senior government, UN and international and regional officials. Ms. Iyabo Sosina, the Secretary General of African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC), joined President Aliu for the bilateral meetings. The Heads of State met during his visit included the President of Namibia, H.E Hage Geingob; the President of Djibouti, H.E Ismail Omar Guelleh; the President of Liberia, H.E Ellen Johnson Sirleaf; and the President of Dr. Alius home State of Nigeria, H.E Muhammadu Buhari. Views were also exchanged with the Representative of Equatorial Guinea to the African Union. In addition, meetings were held with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Dr. Elham Ibrahim; AU Commissioner for Political Affarirs, Aisha Abdullahi; the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Dr. Carlos Lopes; the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Akinwumi Adesina; and the Chief Executive Officer of The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki. President Aliu also met with the Minister of Transport of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, H.E. Workneh Gebeyehu, senior management of the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority, Ethiopian Airlines and the Ethiopian Airport Enterprise, and was pleased to be provided a visit to Ethiopian airport, maintenance and training facilities. Throughout these many discussions, President Aliu consistently emphasized the need to strengthen regional and sub-regional cooperation in Africa, in order to achieve the objectives of ICAOs No Country Left Behind initiative and better enable African States to be able to access and prosper from the benefits of safe and rapid global air transport connectivity. There was also general agreement in many instances on the need for intensified cooperation between ICAO the many agencies now focused on optimizing African development cooperation and coordination. ICAO is grateful to Ethiopia for hosting this visit, and for the determined cooperation it and other African states offer towards finding multilateral solutions to civil aviation challenges, Dr. Aliu commented. Like all ICAO Member States, African countries will face significant but surmountable challenges as the air transport sector doubles its passenger and flight volumes over the next 15 years. They will, however, be able to count on our cooperation to foster conditions that enable the necessary infrastructure modernization and skilled personal development to take place, consistent with our No Country Left Behind priorities. Contact: communications@icao.int 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 The content you are trying to view is exclusive to our subscribers. To unlock this article: Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, has a new demand-driven skills training program with a job placement component in its host community of San Pascual, Batangas. Appropriately called Caltex TOOLS (Training in Occupational Opportunities for Life Skills), the pioneer project of this program addresses the gap between supply and demand both here and abroad for highly-skilled scaffolders by providing free technical and values training to qualified disadvantaged youths. TOOLS was borne out of the partnership between CPI, Hinch Tech and the American Chamber Foundation Philippines Inc. (ACF) that all saw the need for livelihood in the community and the mismatch between job needs from industrial employers versus available skills in the job market. With a glut of training on welding and automotive mechanics, the TOOLs project partners decided to focus on a livelihood training that offers higher pay for its beneficiaries. Scaffolding installation is classified as a high-risk specialized occupation in other countries, hence, the high demand for certified workers in the global labor market. As a highly specialized skill, scaffolding has great industry demand, making it a career with high return of investment and potential income. said Mr. Barny Hinch, president of Hinch Tech Hinch Tech, one of the leading technical schools in the country, boasts of trainers with international accreditations such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certification and the CompEx (Competency for Explosion Proof Materials) license. Since we launched Hinch Tech in 2014, we had a total of 100 graduates to date of which 10% has acquired CompEx license. This is an impressive record in this highly specialized industry. Our successful deployment of highly-skilled technical manpower here and abroad is the result of our schools world class training facility, complete with simulated work sites, training rooms and even accommodation for our outof-town trainees, added Hinch. CPI country chairman Peter Morris added that since scaffolding is a high risk job, the training will highlight global standards in safety a core value of Chevron. We wanted to give more value to our graduates. Today, it is not enough to give basic training. There is a need to match the technical and vocational skills of the people with the demand of the clients and the global standard in safety which is not being met by the quality of the available manpower. As the training will be situated in an industry hub, Caltex TOOLS targets at least 100% of its graduates employed within six months following the completion of the course. San Pascual municipality, where Hinch Tech is located, and adjacent Batangas City are home to vibrant shipping, energy, and transport industries where TOOLS graduates can readily ply their trade. More unique components of Caltex TOOLS are the job tracking and values training such as financial management and work ethics courses offered by ACF to ensure a more well-rounded development for the trainees. Theres a scarcity of people with technical training. The advantage of Caltex TOOLS is that graduates get jobs straightaway, local or international. The support for Caltex TOOLS means that these students are able to graduate faster, earn more money and contribute to the society quicker, added ACF president Edwin Feist. The Caltex TOOLS program is one of the undertakings of Chevrons Energy for Learning Initiative which supports projects that provide learning and skills to the disadvantaged. Back to top The history of the American fur trade is brief, yet pivotal, full of tales of daring but also grave destruction. Though the fur trade forged the romantic image of the mountain man idealized loners purportedly as rugged as the wilderness they felt beholden to tame -- the fur trade was also very much a business. In a sense it ushered in the first emergence of the archetypal Western entrepreneur, the visionary iconoclast who forges ahead answerable to no one but himself. This is the era of The Revenant, where trappers go into pristine landscapes among indigenous populations to extract resources and the question that comes up is: at what cost? Based on few written and memorabilia of Hugh Glass who is considered The Revenant, one who came back from the dead and played by Leonardo DiCaprio (this years SAG winner as Best Actor, Drama for Revenant role) in the titular role, is centric to the movies powerful theme. By the 1820s, the fur trade had reached the Rocky Mountains and become intensely competitive, with traders battling one another as well as Native tribes. Hugh Glass worked for the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, then newly on the scene. The company utilized the rendezvous system, which meant they built no cabins or forts. Instead, their trappers were expected to hunt their own food, build their own shelter and fight their own battles, enhancing their stoic reputations. Shooting outdoors in Canada and Argentina, in snow, wind and often at high altitude, the cast and crew of The Revenant faced remnants of the same dangers and conditions that people would have faced back then. Dangers in production ranged from avalanches to bears - the production even had a Bear Safety Coordinator on set every day. While cast and crew had a justified concern about local bears, no actual bear was used in the grizzly attack sequences. That was one of the few places Inarritu utilized CGI. Another major threat, as it is for Hugh Glass in the story, was weather. At one point, a blizzard brought minus-27 degree temperatures, and the need for crewmembers to keep an eye on each other for the signs of frostbite. I have learned that there is no bad weather, there are only bad clothes, Inarritu jokes, but he notes the intense cold gave the film a shivery reality shooting in tepid conditions could not. Typical of the films extremes, a record-busting hot spell (the warmest Canadian winter in 23 years) turned the filmmakers into snow diviners. Alberta is very susceptible to radical climate changes, says Inarritu. You can have seven different kinds of weather in a single day. In the beginning, we struggled with low temperatures and blizzards. Later on, we struggled with no snow. It was a winter of record high temperatures, and we went from chasing Chinooks to chasing ice. When the film ultimately came full circle, Inarritu assembled cast and crew just as he had in the beginning. He said to the group, To make a film like this is the journey of a lifetime. Its been a journey of wonder with challenging moments and tough ones and beautiful ones. I feel honored, thankful, humble, happy and sad that we achieved what we achieved. What we achieved is amazing. Every single day of the production was difficult, but I think this has been the most fulfilling artistic experience of my lifetime. The Revenant is now showing (opens February 3) in cinemas nationwide from 20th Century Fox distributed by Warner Bros. Also available in IMAX screens. Back to top Press Release: Statement by Christine Lagarde, IMFs Managing Director on her Meeting with Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia Press Release No.16/45 February 5, 2016 Ms. Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement after meeting with Mr. Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia today in Washington, D.C.: I had a very productive and positive discussion with President Santos today. We took stock of recent developments in the global economy, including lower oil and commodity prices and their implications for the overall prospects for Latin America and Colombia. Colombias economic performance remains solid. I commended the governments policy response to the sharp drop in world oil prices by strengthening fiscal policy more than required under the fiscal rule and by tightening monetary policy while allowing the exchange rate to depreciate. The agenda to upgrade infrastructure is a key reform that will improve the countrys prospects over the medium term. Finally, I congratulated the President for his unwavering commitment to conclude the peace process, which would enhance the climate for investment and growth, especially in rural areas. In this context, I have expressed my support for the governments tax reform, which will allow the government to accommodate the costs of peace in the face of lower oil revenues. Imperial Valley News Center New Era of Partnership between the United States and Colombia Washington, DC - Today President Barack Obama hosted Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the White House for a meeting in the Oval Office and a commemoration of 15 years of bilateral cooperation through Plan Colombia. The visit celebrated Colombias profound political, economic, and security gains since the inception of Plan Colombia in 2000 and underscored our continuing partnership as the Government pursues peace negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Because of the success of Plan Colombia, the relationship between our two countries has expanded laying the foundation for collaboration on new areas of mutual interest, including fighting the spread of Zika virus. Supporting Peace and Prosperity in Colombia U.S. assistance through Plan Colombia was instrumental in paving the way for the current peace talks by strengthening Colombias capacity to defend its democratic institutions, safeguard its citizens, and improve the lives of the Colombian people. Violence in Colombia is at its lowest level since 1973, including a 50-percent drop in homicides and a 90-percent decline in kidnappings since 2002. Thanks in part to increased security, Colombias economy has grown an average of 4.3 percent since 2007 and unemployment and poverty are at historic lows. U.S. support through Plan Colombia has helped Colombia expand and professionalize its armed forces and police, strengthen investigations of organized crime and human rights violations, implement a landmark Victims and Land Restitution Law, provide opportunities to Afro-descendant and indigenous communities, and establish a program to protect journalists, labor leaders, human rights defenders, and other vulnerable individuals. Plan Colombias success has stemmed from three principal factors. First, the program has enjoyed strong bipartisan support in Congress since its inception. Second, U.S. support was sustained throughout the life of the initiative, through three Administrations from both political parties. Third, Colombians took the lead, investing their own resources and demonstrating the political will to make tough decisions. The U.S. contribution of nearly $10 billion since 2000 represents just 5 percent of Colombias total expenditure on Plan Colombia. When it comes to our broader security cooperation, President Santoss visit to the White House highlighted the following areas: Supporting the Peace Process: The United States supports Colombias efforts to negotiate a just and lasting peace accord with the FARC. Colombias half-century of conflict and violence has killed more than 220,000 people, most of them civilians, and forcibly displaced some 6 million. In February 2015, President Obama appointed Bernie Aronson as U.S. Special Envoy to the Colombian Peace Process. In January 2016, the United States co-sponsored U.N. Security Council Resolution 2261, establishing a monitoring and verification mission to be put in place following the signing of peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the FARC. Peace Colombia: The President announced a new framework for bilateral cooperation in the event of a peace accord with the FARC: Peace Colombia. Building on existing efforts and with the support of Congress, this multi-year initiative would scale up catalytic U.S. support to help Colombia win the peace. Peace Colombia will focus future U.S. assistance under three pillars: 1) consolidating and expanding progress on security and counternarcotics while reintegrating the FARC into society; 2) Expanding state presence and institutions to strengthen the rule of law and rural economies, especially in former conflict areas; and 3) Promoting justice and other essential services for conflict victims. As part of that framework and to support the peace accord implementation, the President will request more than $390 million in FY 2017 bilateral foreign assistance. The Administration will also request funds in FY 2017 for other ongoing programs that would contribute to Peace Colombia goals such as humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations and Department of Defense counternarcotics programs that, if enacted by the Congress, would increase our overall level of effort to over $450 million. Global Demining Initiative for Colombia: As part of Peace Colombia, the President announced the United States will join with the Kingdom of Norway to launch a Global Demining Initiative to help Colombia meet its Ottawa Convention commitment to being mine-free by 2021. Colombia has the second highest number of landmine victims in the world behind Afghanistan. The United States will commit $33 million to the Global Demining Initiative for Colombia in Fiscal Year 2017. Norway will contribute an additional $20 million. Argentina, Canada, Chile, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay have agreed to join the initiative. The United States, Norway, and Colombia will host a Meeting of Experts in May 2016, where participating countries will be able to familiarize themselves with Colombias demining challenges and coordinate appropriate donation mechanisms. Expanding Investigations and Research Collaboration to fight the Zika Virus and Advance the Global Health Security Agenda Building on previous collaboration on health and infectious diseases, the United States and Colombia also agreed to accelerate investigations into the range of health impacts of the Zika virus and joint research into the Zika virus and the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and vector control tools to control the virus and mitigate its potential impacts. The United States and Colombia have agreed to: Share epidemiologic data and specimen samples, as deemed appropriate, to enhance our mutual understanding of Zika and advance research and development of new diagnostics, vaccines, and vector control tools. Engage joint research efforts to: assess the health of pregnant mothers, infants, and children to better understand the potential link between Zika infection and birth outcomes (including microcephaly), other neurological conditions, and impacts of Zika virus on the health of children; estimate the prevalence of microcephaly in Colombia and the change in incidence rates over time to determine whether there is causality of Zika virus infection and microcephaly; and assess risk factors associated with Zika virus infections and microcephaly or Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Conduct joint epidemiologic investigations of infections through the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Colombias Instituto Nacional de Salud. As members of Global Health Security Agenda(GHSA), commit to work regionally and multi-sectorally to establish capacity to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to infectious agents such as the Zika virus. In addition, the United States and Colombia have agreed to expand our broad-based scientific collaboration in the following areas. Utilize the United States-Colombia Science and Technology Agreement to promote cooperation in areas such as Colombias Field Epidemiology Training Program, infectious disease surveillance, and emergency response; Develop technical cooperation activities to strengthen the Colombian Instituto Nacional de Salud and Ministry of Health to improve their diagnostic, research, intervention and evaluation capacities in epidemics control of vector-borne diseases, such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya, as well as potential secondary effects. Promote science cooperation through the Department of States Embassy Science Fellow Program. The United States and Colombia invite applicants interested in collaborating with Colombian counterparts to work on Zika, particularly diagnostics. For the latest on Science Fellows activities, follow #USEmbScienceFellow and contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . To enhance regional and multilateral cooperation and collaboration throughout the Americas, we invite countries in the Western Hemisphere to join our partnership to defeat Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases by strengthening engagement with the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization; sharing epidemiologic data and specimen samples, as appropriate; and enhancing commitments and collaboration through the GHSA. L.A. County Sheriffs Deputies Involved in Use-of-Force Incident Against Shackled Inmate Found Guilty of Obstruction of Justice Los Angeles, California - Two Los Angeles Sheriffs deputies who were assigned to the 3000 Floor of the Mens Central Jail were found guilty this afternoon of falsifying reports with the intent to obstruct justice. The false reports were filed after an incident in which a shackled inmate was struck, kicked, repeatedly hit by a flashlight, and pepper-sprayed by the defendants. Concluding a two-week trial, a federal jury convicted former deputies Joey Aguiar, 28, and Mariano Ramirez, 40. Both men were found guilty of one count of falsifying records with the intent to obstruct justice, a charge that carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. The jury in the case was unable to reach a unanimous decision on a civil rights offense that alleges the deputies unlawfully beat the victim during the incident on February 11, 2009. The jury reported in open court that it was split 10-2 in favor of guilt. The jury acquitted Aguiar and Ramirez of conspiring to violate the inmates civil rights. United States District Judge Beverly Reid OConnell scheduled a sentencing date for April 25. Federal prosecutors have yet to decide if they will retry Aguiar and Ramirez on the unresolved civil rights charge. Aguiar was convicted of one count of falsification of records for submitting a report that falsely stated the inmate, Bret Phillips, who is now 44, was beaten after he had attempted to headbutt deputy Aguiars face and that Phillips violently kicked at Aguiar. Mr. Phillips did neither, according to testimony presented at the trial. It was undisputed that Mr. Phillips was waist-chained with handcuffs binding his hands to a chain around his stomach throughout the entire beating. During the trial, Chaplin Paulino Juarez, who was an eyewitness to the event, testified that he repeatedly raised concerns about what he had seen with senior LASD officials, but was rebuffed. Chaplin Juarez ultimately relayed his concerns to the ACLU. The information provided to the ACLU by the chaplain later came to the attention of the FBI. By this time the FBI had begun a wide-ranging investigation into civil rights abuses by the LASD in custodial settings, particularly excessive uses of force by deputies on the 3000 Floor of the Mens Central Jail. Another witness, who was an inmate when Mr. Phillips was beaten, testified that he hid in the shower to avoid being seen by LASD personnel as he watched the deputies beat a defenseless and unmoving inmate. Ramirez was found guilty of one count of falsification of records for submitting a report that falsely stated the victim had viciously kicked his legs at deputies. During the incident which allegedly involved an excessive and unreasonable use of force, according to the still-pending charge in the case Aguiar and Ramirez punched and kicked the victim before using pepper spray on him and then hitting him repeatedly with a flashlight, according to the testimony at trial. Soon after the incident, the deputies wrote the false reports, which formed the basis of a referral to the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office for potential criminal prosecution of Mr. Phillips. These defendants failed to report accurately the circumstances surrounding the beating of an inmate who was restrained with waist chains in an attempt to obstruct a subsequent investigation, said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. This failure to tell the truth and attempt to thwart oversight tarnishes the outstanding work of law enforcement officers everywhere. The case against Aguiar and Ramirez is the result of an investigation by the FBI, and is one in a series of cases resulting from an investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses at county jail facilities in downtown Los Angeles. As a result of the investigation, 17 current or former members of the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department have now been convicted of federal charges. Federal Jury in Fresno Finds Former National Guard Recruiter Guilty of Recruiting Fraud Fresno, California - Monday, after a seven-day trial, a federal jury found Joaquin Cuenca, 38, of San Diego, guilty of three counts of wire fraud in a scheme to fraudulently obtain bonuses in a recruitment program for the California National Guard, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. According to evidence produced at trial, Cuenca was a full-time recruiter for the California National Guard in Fresno and defrauded a military recruiting program out of thousands of dollars. The program, the Guard Recruiting Assistance Program (G-RAP), offered a financial incentive to members of the National Guard and others (called Recruiting Assistants, or RAs) who nominated new soldiers. If an RA referred a potential Guard member to a recruiting office and that person ultimately enlisted, the RA was typically eligible to receive $1,000 when a nominee enlisted and $1,000 more when the nominee left for basic training. Because the point of the program was to encourage other soldiers to join in the recruiting effort, GRAP incentives were not available for soldiers employed by the Guard as recruiters. Ultimately, G-RAP was discontinued following the discovery of widespread fraud. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Cuenca, was a recruiter and not eligible for bonuses through G-Rap. However, he fed information about new recruits to soldiers who were eligible for G-RAP. Those soldiers (or Cuenca himself) then would enter the information about the new solder online and claim a bonus even though the RA had not in fact referred the new soldier at all. Cuenca would often receive a portion of the bonuses. Cuenca joins the ranks of others who have been brought to justice for defrauding GRAP and the Army National Guard, said U.S. Attorney Wagner. Cuenca and his co-schemers discovered a natural flaw in the program and exploited it. The U.S. Attorneys Office will continue to uncover and prosecute fraud and abuse of taxpayer money. Joaquin Cuenca's greed and criminal activity permanently tarnished his military career and disrespected the sacrifice of the many men and women who serve our country with honor, said FBI Special Agent in Charge Monica Miller of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Sacramento field office. We thank Army Criminal Investigative Command for their continued partnership, ensuring criminals face justice when they allow greed to eclipse their duty to fellow serve members and the American people. Chris Hendrickson, Special Agent in Charge of the Western Field Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, said: Corruption strikes at the heart of good government and erodes public trust. The investigation of these offenses is a top priority for the DCIS, its investigative partners, and the U.S. Attorney's Office. Today's verdict demonstrates that there is zero tolerance for this type of shameful misconduct. "When individuals fail to live up to the values of the U.S. Armed Forces, they should be held accountable," said Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, California's Adjutant General. "We applaud the U.S. Attorney's Office and the law enforcement community in helping us keep the Cal Guard a force of which our communities can be proud." Cuenca is the second person to be convicted in this district in the last 10 days in connection with fraud with G-RAP. On January 22, 2016, Richard Sihner, 54, of Elk Grove was convicted by a jury in Sacramento of 18 counts of wire fraud and making false statements. Cuenca is scheduled to be sentenced by United States District Judge Dale A. Drozd on May 16, 2016. Cuenca faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables. This case is the product of an ongoing investigation by the Army Criminal Investigative Command Major Procurement Fraud Unit, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Tierney and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Alexis Loeb are prosecuting the case. Other National Guard members and recruiters have been charged in similar recruitingfraud schemes in the Eastern District of California. The following defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Final Defendant in Shoplifting Ring Sentenced to Prison Sacramento, California - The final defendant in a shoplifting ring that stole over $2.5 million in retail goods and resold them on eBay was sentenced today to three years in prison, United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced. Jason Nathaniel Reed, 36, of Aspen, Colorado, previously of Vacaville, California, is the seventh defendant sentenced to prison in this case. Jason Schroeder, 36, of Sacramento, was previously sentenced to seven years in prison, Kirk Arthell Sanderson, 37, of Walnut Creek, was previously sentenced to four years in prison; John Judah Young, 34, of Sacramento, was sentence to two and a half years in prison; and David Reed, 29, of Vacaville, was sentenced to one year in prison. Two others, Andrea Lynn Turner, 34, of Roseville, and Joshua Roy Payne, 30, of Vacaville, were each sentenced to two months in prison. On June 16, 2015, Schroeder pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. According to the plea agreement, in October 2012, a sporting goods company with retail stores in Sacramento called the FBI stating that an eBay account was listing items for sale it suspected were stolen. Follow-up investigation revealed that the account was controlled by co-defendant Schroeder using co-defendant Youngs name, and since 2009, it listed more than 17,000 items for sale, including sporting goods, household items, recreational equipment and pet care products. Most of the items were listed as new or with tags. Virtually all of the items sold on the account were stolen by Reed or others, and were sold at a discount to buyers across the country. According to the plea agreement, Jason Reed and Jason Schroeder took a road trip across the country to Miami to attend the Super Bowl. On that trip, Schroeder and Reed were stealing items on a daily basis, listing the items for sale on eBay in the evenings, and shipping the items out via FedEx. Wiretaps and surveillance also revealed the specific roles of other members of the conspiracy. According to court documents, David Reed assisted Schroeder with the packaging and shipment of the stolen merchandise. Sanderson assisted in moving items away from Schroeders residence when he learned of the federal investigation. Turner and Payne provided false statements to federal agents upon being interviewed regarding their assistance to Schroeder. This case was the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Jeremey J. Kelley are prosecuting the case. President Obama Proposes New First Job Funding to Connect Young Americans with Jobs and Skills Training to Start Their Careers Washington, DC - After the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, the United States is in the midst of the longest streak of private-sector job growth in our history, with more than 14 million new jobs created during the past 70 months. But for too many young people, getting a first joba crucial step in starting their careeris challenging. One of the main criteria employers screen for in the hiring process is work experience. revious experience allows potential employers to call references who can vouch for a candidate and assess what someone can do based on past accomplishments. Additionally, many of the skills employers value most can only be learned on the job. Once a young person gets their first job, it is much easier to get the next one. In his State of the Union Address, the President made clear that our goal is a growing economy that works better for everybody. The Presidents FY 2017 Budget includes nearly $6 billion in new funding to help more than 1 million young people gain the work experience, skills, and networks that come from having a first job. Today, the White House and the Departments of Labor and Education announced the details of that plan, including nearly doubling last years budget request for supporting young people who are out of school and work. Major investments of this plan include: A New $5.5 Billion Proposal to Open Doors to a First Job. The Presidents Budget will propose new investments nearly double last years request to connect more than 1 million young people to first jobs over the summer and year-round. It would also create a new $2 billion competitive grant program designed to re-connect disconnected youth to educational and workforce pathways. Summer Jobs and Beyond Grant Competition. Today the Administration is also taking a new step to connect more young Americans to work with the release of the application for a $20 million Department of Labor grant competition using existing funds that will award approximately 10 grants to communities to implement innovative approaches that connect young people to jobs and career pathways. New Proposed Investments to Give More Americans Skills for In-Demand Jobs. The President is also proposing in his Budget $3 billion to create an American Talent Compact that would expand talent pipelines in over 50 regions to fill open jobs and attract new jobs from overseas; a $500 million Workforce Data Science and Innovation Fund to create dynamic data sets on jobs, skills, and training to help training providers and workers keep pace with rapidly changing job needs; and a $2 billion Apprenticeship Training Fund to double the number of U.S. apprenticeships. The President is also calling on businesses to take action to give young Americans with limited resumes a better shot in the hiring process by providing internships, training, mentoring, and job interviews to young people who are not in school or working. With more than five million jobs open todaynear the highest levels on recorddeveloping the workforce of the future will be critical for businesses to grow, compete for new markets, and innovate. Budget Proposals to Help More Young Americans Start Their Careers When a young person struggles to get their first job, it can have a lasting negative impact on her lifetime income as well as her motivation, pride, and self-esteem. It is also a missed opportunity for the economy as a whole. A 2012 study found that people who endure a spell of unemployment between the ages of 16 and 24 earn $400,000 less over their careers than those who do not. Moreover, they estimate the lifetime cost to taxpayers of the 6.7 million youth who were neither in school nor in work was around $1.6 trillion. The Presidents Budget proposals help address these challenges, including with: A New $5.5 Billion Proposal to Open Doors to a First Job A Down Payment on a First Job for Every Young American. The Presidents proposal would invest $3.5 billion to create new partnerships with companies and communities to get nearly 1 million young people into first jobs over the summer and 150,000 young Americans who have been out of school and work into up to a year of paid work. o Funds would be distributed to states through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act youth formula program and be disbursed to localities to cover up to half of the cost of wages for a young person. o They would require a matched investment from either public, private, or philanthropic funding. o Additionally, the Department of Labor will work with Treasury to ensure that young people participating in these programs have access to safe and appropriate financial products and accounts, so that they can use their earnings to start building savings and gain money management skills which are critical for their future. Community Partnerships to Connect Young Americans to Opportunity. The Presidents proposals would invest $2 billion jointly administered by the Departments of Labor and Education to put youth who have dropped out or are most at risk of dropping out of high school on the path to get a diploma and connect to post-secondary education and jobs. Funding would be competitively awarded to communities, in required partnership with local education, workforce, and community organizations. The Departments would encourage proven approaches, such as work-based learning and internships, and re-engagement centers. A New $200 Million Proposal to Develop & Expand Youth Apprenticeship Programs Expanding Apprenticeships for More American Workers and Youth. The President is proposing to dedicate $200 million to support the development and expansion of youth apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs that let young people explore their interests in school through work and classroom-based training before starting a formal apprenticeship. This is part of a broader $2 billion proposal to create an Apprenticeships Training Fund to increase resources for state apprenticeship programs. New Actions Using Existing Resources Summer Jobs and Beyond Grant Competition. Today, the Administration is releasing the application for $20 million in existing funds available through DOL that will: Fund innovative models to connect young people ages 16 to 24 with limited or no work experience to summer and year-round job opportunities through partnerships between employers, workforce investment boards, local education agencies, and reengagement centers. Go to approximately 10 communities, with priority given to those communities facing high rates of youth unemployment, poverty, crime, and dropouts. Build on a recent $17 million DOL investment in Youth Demonstration grants to support disconnected young adults in seven cities, including Baltimore, Camden, Detroit, Houston, Long Beach, North Charleston, and North St. Louis. 2016 Summer Opportunity Project. On February 26th, the White House will launch a summer opportunity project and host a workshop that brings together state and local leaders, community-based organizations, private sector and philanthropic leaders, and schools. The project will call on all of these leaders to increase their efforts and investments to bridge the summer opportunity gap for this year and beyond in targeted communities across the country. At the event, we will release a Summer Opportunity Federal Resource Guide to make it easier for local governments and non-profits to identify and navigate Federal programs across agencies. Broader Proposed Investments in Innovative Training that Lead to In-Demand Jobs The 21st century American worker faces an increasingly complex and dynamic job market. Globalization, automation, and technological innovation are driving rapid changes in available jobs and demanded skills. The President is proposing a plan to ensure that our education and training systems do more to help workers keep pace as the labor market evolves. Creating a Talent Compact to Keep and Attract Jobs to the U.S. One of the main assets a business considers when deciding where to locate and grow is the availability of talent. The President is proposing in his Budget $3 billion in competitive funding to create more than 50 Talent Hotspots across the U.S. These Talent Hotspots would consist of employers, training programs, and workforce and economic development leaders that prioritize one sector and make a commitment to recruit and train the workforce to help local businesses grow and thrive, attract more jobs from overseas, and fuel the talent needs of entrepreneurs. This proposal would produce a pipeline of about half a million skilled workers over the next five years. Empowering Workers, Training Providers and Employers with Better Information on Jobs, Skills and Training. Supporting a more dynamic workforce requires good data. But today, little information exists about what skills employers are hiring for and what training works best. That is why the President is proposing: The creation of a new Workforce Data Science and Innovation Fund. DOL would recruit and deploy a best-in-class team to help states find new ways to use technology and data analytics to improve training programs and consumer choice. And similar to HHSs Open Health Data Initiative, DOL would partner with the Department of Commerce to develop new open source data on jobs and skills to spur the creation of new products to help match workers to better jobs. $40 million in Workforce Data Quality Grants to upgrade state data systems to produce information on the outcomes of training programs for consumers. $2.5 million to create a more real-time, dynamic data sets and common language for jobs and skills building upon O*Net (the Occupational Information Network) to fuel the development of new products and services for job seekers. Ensuring high-quality customer service for job seekers getting Federal services. Each year, 2,500 American Job Centers (AJCs) help approximately 17 million Americans get back to work and into better jobs. The Presidents Budget proposes $2.5 million to develop an easy-to-use tool for workers to quickly view customer satisfaction rating for the job centers in their area and to establish a technology platform that AJCs can use to report on customer service outcomes. Providing 21st Century Career Navigation. The Presidents Budget will propose $1.5 billion in new resources to states for Career Navigators who will proactively reach out to workers most at risk of not being able to reset their careers after spells of joblessness. Each year, Career Navigators will help more than 1 million people find jobs, matching them to appropriate training programs, and connecting them to the support services they need to succeed. Building on President Obamas Record of Progress for Young Americans New U.S. Assistance to Respond to Syria Crisis Washington, DC - Secretary Kerry announced today that the United States is providing nearly $601 million in additional life-saving humanitarian assistance for those affected by the war in Syria. This new funding brings U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to this conflict to more than $5.1 billion since the start of the crisis. Secretary Kerry also announced more than $290 million in U.S. development assistance for education to Jordan and Lebanon. The Syrian conflict is the largest and most complex humanitarian emergency of our time, with more than two-thirds of Syrias pre-war population17 million peoplein need of humanitarian assistance. Through this humanitarian funding, the United States continues to provide food, shelter, water, medical care, humanitarian protection, and other urgent relief to millions of people suffering inside Syria and 4.6 million refugees from Syria in the region. It also helps mitigate the impact of the crisis on governments and communities throughout the region that are straining to cope with the mass influx of refugees from Syria. The humanitarian assistance supports the operations of the United Nations, other international organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Through these organizations, the United States is able to provide assistance in all 14 governorates of Syria, helping the people who need it mostand ultimately saving lives and alleviating suffering amid daily threats of violence and deprivation. Our assistance supports critical humanitarian needs including those addressed in the 2016 UN appeal of $8 billion for Syria and the region. Part of the new funding responds directly to the appeal. Contributions from other donors are crucial to meeting emergency needs in 2016. The Assad regime continues to barrel bomb cities, use starvation as a weapon of war, and target civilians in schools, mosques, markets, and hospitals while violent extremist groups like ISIL and Al Nusrah Front also continue to brutalize Syrians every day. In addition to the horror of war in Syria, we also see the plight of refugees fleeing the region to European countries and are reminded of the need to provide humanitarian assistance and to promote inclusion and self-reliance in countries of first asylum. The United States reiterates that all parties to the conflict must cease unlawful attacks on civilians and comply with international law. More than $290 million in U.S. development assistance will continue to support the Jordanian and Lebanese ministries of education in their goal of increasing access to high-quality education and supporting learning for all students, including Syrian refugees. Our education assistance will reach approximately 230,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan, and 62,000 in Lebanon. The United States recognizes that along with emergency relief, we must address the long-term development needs of Syrias neighbors, and the funding we are providing will continue to support communities in neighboring countries that have so generously hosted those refugees. There are 4.6 million Syrian refugees in the region today, the vast majority of whom receive support in the first country to which they flee. As we saw with the exodus to Europe this summer, Syrians who cannot find protection and assistance in Syria and neighboring countries, make difficult decisions to undertake dangerous journeys at great personal peril. The humanitarian crises around the world have made painfully clear that despite our best efforts, all nations must do more. As Secretary Kerry recently announced, the United States is seeking commitments to expand the humanitarian safety net and create more long-term, durable opportunities for refugees worldwide. U.S. efforts to galvanize significant new global commitments will build toward a high-level summit on refugees hosted by President Obama at the United Nations General Assembly in September. This event will be the culmination of a vigorous, sustained diplomatic effort undertaken by the United States over the coming months to increase humanitarian assistance, access to resettlement and other legal forms of admission, and refugee self-reliance and inclusion through employment and education. The United States remains committed to assisting those affected by this terrible war and strongly urges all governments, organizations, and individuals concerned about the situation to support the life-saving aid efforts of UN and other partners. Highlights of Humanitarian Assistance: UNHCR: More than $191 million UNHCRs Syria operation is now the organizations largest refugee assistance operation; UNHCR provides both immediate support to new refugees and continuous support to vulnerable refugees. UNHCR also works with other UN agencies to assist persons in need inside Syria. The funding allows UNHCR to continue providing refugees and internally-displaced persons with shelter, protection (including registration, child protection, gender-based violence prevention and response, and mental health support), and daily necessities, either in-kind such as blankets, bedding, and cooking utensils or through cash assistance. UNHCRs efforts are increasingly focused on assistance to non-camp refugees and host communities as well as refugees in camps. In various locations throughout the region, in addition to the above, UNHCR also works in the areas of education, health care and employment support. WFP: $83 million Millions of Syrians, both inside the country and in neighboring countries, cannot independently fulfill their basic food needs and risk going hungry without continued international assistance. New USG funding will enable WFP to continue vital food assistance to millions of conflict-affected people inside Syria and to Syrian refugees in five neighboring countries. With USG support, WFP will continue to provide monthly household food parcels inside Syria, as well as vouchers to pregnant women and nursing mothers to improve their nutrition. In neighboring countries, WFP will continue to provide food voucher debit cards, which refugees use to buy groceries in local supermarkets, improving household nutrition and the appropriateness of available foods. To date, the food voucher debit cards have injected $1.25 billion into the economies of Syrias neighbors, creating economic benefits for the nations and communities hosting refugees. UNICEF: More than $73 million Syrias children continue to pay a heavy toll in the conflict. They constitute half of Syrias refugees and internally displaced persons. Inside Syria, over two million children are out of school and one of every four schools has been damaged or destroyed. As a result, many Syrian children in the country have little or no access to educational opportunities, and those arriving in neighboring countries as refugees are behind in schooling and face limited education opportunities. Todays announcement allows UNICEF to continue its child protection, education, child health, vaccinations and water and sanitation programs throughout the region, demonstrating the United States strong support of the No Lost Generation initiative to invest in the future of the region. Humanitarian Assistance Funding Numbers by Organization Secretary of State John Kerry Travels to Munich, Tirana, and Rancho Mirage Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Munich, Germany, from February 1014 to participate in the 52nd Munich Security Conference. While in Munich, he will attend an International Syria Support Group (ISSG) meeting to discuss how to accelerate an end to the Syrian conflict. Secretary Kerry will also have a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings. Secretary Kerry will travel to Tirana, Albania, on February 14 to meet with senior government leaders to discuss Albanias further Euro-Atlantic integration and strong bilateral cooperation with the United States. The Secretary will then travel to Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, California, to join President Obama at the U.S.-ASEAN Summit on February 15-16. This summit will further strengthen U.S.-ASEAN cooperation within the framework of our new strategic partnership and our common vision of a peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. Doctors would come to the aid of the NAGP and contribute the approximately 1 million necessary to mount a legal challenge, should the Consumer and Competition Protection Commission (CCPC), which has previously expressed grave concerns that conduct by the Association amounted to a contravention of competition law, bring charges against the representative body for GPs, its CEO believes. Chris Goodey told GP members: I think one of the reasons why we havent been successful in raising that amount or even half a million euro is because I can understand from GPs that well nothing has happened yet. If the Commission did suddenly come after us then suddenly everyone is writing cheques. I think thats my belief. He was responding to a motion by a Co Laois GP, which was withdrawn before vote by its proposer, who said he had just brought up the issue for discussion, recommending that the NAGP examine the potential to challenge the Commission as a matter of urgency. Acknowledging that the NAGP had already done very good work in preparing the groundwork for action the work on the Dutch Orchestra case, the lateral approach with new GP co-op formations, and setting up the legal fighting fund Dr David Rabinowicz proposed initiating legal charge against the CCPC. So its a high-risk strategy, but by the time we march on it may be late at some stage. I dont know the answers; I am just bringing it up for discussion. He felt had the action started earlier there might have been more hope for some GPs who had been dithering about signing up to the free GP care contract at that stage. NAGP representative member Dr Michelle OConnor said the simple fact of the matter was that more members had to contribute to the fund. We are looking for 1,000 GPs to give 1,000. Now we appreciate there are a lot of people who cant afford that much. There is a piecemeal option where you can pay on a monthly basis or a quarterly basis, or just give what you can afford. Every euro counts. She said as an Association the NAGP wanted to be able to challenge the Commission and wanted to get it in writing that they had the right to negotiate on behalf of their members. Besides, the NAGP could not initiate a case against the Commission before it challenged the Association, said Goodey, while maintaining the Association had not changed its position that as a trade union it would continue to act collectively to represent its members. He commented: According to Leo Varadkar we have been breaking the law consistently, but the Commission havent come near us so actually I dont think we are. A report in the Irish Medical Times says they are watching us again, so they can keep watching. We are not afraid of that. Obviously Michelle is absolutely right. If they did decide to press the button next week and we had to defend, we would need 1m in the bank. Thats what we estimate the cost is. lloyd.mudiwa@imt.ie Shashi Tharoor, Cat or Lettuce? UK PM Liz Truss's Resignation Has Twitter Looking for New Contender Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Morena Baccarin had many sci-fi admirers thanks to her roles in Firefly, V and Stargate Sg-1, but it was her nuanced performance in Homeland which brought her to wider attention. As the smouldering wife of Damian Lewiss character double-agent US Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody and a perfect foil to Claire Daness manic CIA operative Carrie Matheson, the Brazilian actress was subtle and mesmerising. At 36 years old, she is having a moment, cast as the female lead in the highly anticipated comic-book movie Deadpool, while also co-starring in the hit TV series Gotham. Its a really sweet time in my life, says Baccarin, who is expecting her first child with her Gotham co-star Ben McKenzie. When she signed on to play Gothams medical examiner Dr Leslie Thompkins, she hadnt expected to fall in love. Married to director Austin Chick in November 2012, the couple have a son Julius, now two-and-a-half years old, and news of her pregnancy with McKenzie was revealed after Chick filed for divorce last autumn. When we meet, her baby bump is proudly dressed in a figure-hugging, grey Raoul cashmere dress. Born in Rio de Janeiro, she was 10 when she moved to New York City with her father, a TV editor, and her mother, an actress. They enrolled her at a performing arts high school, the same one as her future Homeland co-star Danes. She later studied theatre at New Yorks renowned Juilliard School. My mom would take me to the theatre and my uncles are actors, artists and directors, she says. I have this internal cultural struggle where theres a side of me that is very Brazilian that misses the food and culture, and a side of me thats very American that really loves the structure and predictability here. I feel that my drive and ambition is more American, while the passionate, laid-back side of me is all Brazilian. Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Show all 14 1 /14 Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Bill Murray With only one Oscar nomination to his name (2003's Lost in Translation), Bill Murray is one oversight that - in many people's eyes - could easily throw the Academy Awards into disrepute. AFP/Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Samuel L. Jackson Considering he's one of the most bankable film stars in the world, it's a surprise that - with over 160 credits to his name - Samuel L. Jackson has only received a mere one nomination (Pulp Fiction in 1994). 2016 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Joaquin Phoenix With three previous nominations under his belt - for films including Gladiator and The Master - it was his performance as Johnny Cash in 2005 biopic Walk the Line that was expected to see him win an Oscar (he lost to the late Philip Seymour Hoffman's for Capote). 2015 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Brad Pitt The ever-present fixture he remains in Hollywood today, you'd think Brad Pitt would have won an Oscar by now; while serving as producer of 2014 Best Picture winner 12 Years a Slave, he currently has zero acting wins to his name despite three nominations (Twelve Monkeys, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Moneyball). 2015 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Tom Cruise Still one of the biggest movie stars on the planet, Tom Cruise seemed like a sure awards bet back in the Nineties with films Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire and Magnolia all earning him nominations - and yet, he never once emerged victorious. 2015 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Richard Gere Would you believe us if we told you Richard Gere has never even been nominated? Well, it's true - and, quite honestly, shocks us quite a bit. Poor guy. Juan Naharro Gimenez Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Gary Oldman One of the film industry's finest character actors, Gary Oldman has been nominated just the once for playing George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 2014 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Johnny Depp Despite his recent dip in quality, Johnny Depp has delivered several Oscar-worthy performances in the past. With a total of three nominations to his name - all for post-2000 releases including Pirates of the Caribbean and Finding Neverland - it's more a wonder he didn't receive more recognition for standout films such as Ed Wood and Donnie Brasco in the Nineties. 2015 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Harrison Ford Harrison Ford may now be the world's highest-grossing actor (sorry, Samuel) but still doesn't have the Academy Award to back up such a feat. In fact, he's now into his third decade of not receiving recognition from the Academy with his sole nomination arriving back in 1985 for Witness. Getty Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Edward Norton Edward Norton is just the kind of actor you'd assume would've scooped a statuette at some stage or another, but no - Norton just has three nominations to speak of; his first in 1996 (Primal Fear), his second in 1999 (American History X) and his third just last year (Best Picture winner, Birdman). AFP/Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't John Malkovich American actor John Malkovich was nominated once in 1984 (Places in the Heart) and again in 1993 (In the Line of Fire) but hasn't posed much of a threat since. 2013 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Annette Bening Poor Annette Bening, who has come close to victory four times (The Grifters, American Beauty, Being Julia and The Kids Are All Right) but is yet to clinch one. 2015 Getty Images Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Glenn Close ...well, it could be worse; she could be Glenn Close who has been on the shortlist six times for films including Fatal Attraction, Dangerous Liaisons and, most recently, Albert Nobbs. Actors you think have won Oscars but haven't Helena Bonham Carter Helena Bonham Carter may have received a Best Actress nomination for Wings of a Dove (1997), but it was her Best Supporting Actress nomination for 2012's Best Picture winner The King's Speech that seemed a sure bet; Melissa Leo's role in The Fighter won that round. 2015 Getty Images It was the easy-going version of herself that helped her to snag her latest role as Vanessa, a prostitute who falls in love with Ryan Reynoldss mercenary Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool. Im Vanessa, Im the girl, the woman. We meet in a bar, fall in love and then he gets cancer. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Not much of a comic-book fan, it wasnt until after the audition that Baccarin learned how Vanessa would ultimately morph into the shape-shifting Copycat, a role which stands to put her into an exclusive group of super-powered actresses that includes Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lawrence, Anna Paquin, Halle Berry and others. I was so dumb, she laughs. It wasnt until I was having a costume-fitting with the director and he said, Well, youre going to play this iconic character, and I was like What are you talking about? I thought I was just the girlfriend. I had no idea Vanessa turns into somebody else. Tim jokes about how I seemed totally unfazed at my audition, dropping all these F-bombs and talking to them like I was their friend, whereas all of the other girls were super-nervous. Is there a super-power she covets? The ability to cut through bullshit would be really great and to not get in trouble for it. She prides herself on her tough skin. You learn to not take things personally and to just let it roll off of you. "Of course you get upset about things. How could you not be affected by being fired from a job or getting told youre not right because your hair isnt blonde or your butts too big or your legs arent skinny enough? But its just somebodys opinion and you cant believe everything. Certainly she believes that women get the short end of the stick. You get scrutinised for every aspect of your body and your mind and anything that comes out of your mouth. A guy who behaves badly is sexy. A woman who behaves badly or just behaves like she wants to behave is slutty or looked down upon. She filmed the Deadpool role in a chilly Vancouver when her son was just 18 months old, and she unconsciously touches her growing belly when she says that she wouldnt want her children to follow her into showbusiness. My career has been very good to me but, really, the odds are really slim. Its a tough life and you deal with a lot of rejection and unemployment, and if youre lucky to have a career its not easy. So you just want to protect your kids from the pain of rejection. Thankfully, her own mother wasnt of the same persuasion and cast her in a church play, Mother Mary, when she was 14. She was great and whenever I felt, I dont know if I should do this. Im not working. I havent had a job in two months, she would always say, Dont worry about it. Its going to turn around. It is what it is. Consequently, despite some major career troughs, Baccarin never considered quitting. There was no real alternative. I thought I could supplement my career with waitressing but I dont have another skill. Acting is what I do. I dont know whether its dumb luck, but I have been able to support myself doing this. Her role in Homeland was a real game-changer. I think it took everyone by surprise, she says Jessica Brody could easily have been perceived as a victim, but the writers were wonderful in giving her substance and strength so she wasnt just this poor, suffering woman. Surprisingly, Homeland didnt lead to typecasting. No, I didnt get too many mom roles after that, she says. In the supermarket, I can spot a Firefly fan from a mile away. Homeland fans are typically more mature and reserved. Theyre not going to fan out, instead theyll say something like I enjoy your work. V fans tend to be fanatical. Still from the film Deadpool A little-known fact is that she once shot a pilot for the US sitcom Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia playing a transgender woman. Its a role she still wishes she could have taken. I know those guys really well because we went to college together, and they were shooting this themselves before it became a show or a pilot and we were all unemployed in Los Angeles. "I thought it was hilarious. When am I ever going to get cast as a chick with a dick? Thats never gonna happen. So I was Hell, yeah, I wanna play that. We had a blast but, unfortunately, when the show got picked up I was shooting something else, so I couldnt do it. She now divides her time between Los Angeles and New York, mostly living in NY where Gotham is filmed. She bought an duplex in Santa Monica with her first big pay cheque, renting out the second apartment to Mad Men actress Jessica Pare. We lived next door. GQ depicted us as having pillow fights together every night, which made me laugh because thats really not went on. Outside of her career, her main passion in life is her son and, of course, her unborn child. I also love cooking, she says. I like the simple things in life, sitting with friends and having a glass of wine, a nice meal and taking those moments that you rarely get. "I feel as if everything has gotten so rushed with social media and phones and tweeting and texting and emailing; you never have a free moment and, when you do, youre on your phone just trying to get stuff done. If an hour goes by, people are like, Did you get my thing? Sometimes its nice just to forget everything for a second. Second to supermodel Gisele Bundchen, she may be one of Brazils sexiest exports. I dont know Gisele, although I like that were in the same sentence because shes quite beautiful. Deadpool is released on Wednesday Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Theyre essential props that have been used in movies since the very beginning. Cigarettes feature in every genre imaginable and serve many different purposes. There may be sound reasons behind the World Health Organisations argument this week that films with smoking scenes should be given an adult rating, to not encourage the idea its cool among younger viewers especially when 36 per cent of films judged to be appropriate for young people by the authorities in 2014 contained smoking. But smoking is often integral to characters and their storylines. In early comedies, cigarettes had a comic function. You can watch old silent footage of Charlie Chaplin lighting a fag with a gun. Stan Laurel used his thumb for the same purpose. Fatty Arbuckle rolled his own. Harold Lloyd shared a cigarette with a monkey. In the hands of the right kind of comedians, there were infinite possibilities as to what could be done with a little smouldering tobacco. Recommended Read more What actors are actually smoking and snorting in movies Cigarettes were in demand out West, too. Come to where the flavour is, read the old Marlboro ad featuring the cowboy. Clint Eastwoods man with no name had a thin cigar in his mouth during the Mexican standoff with Lee Van Cleef and Eli Wallach in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The cigar signified calmness and imperturbability. In the face of violence and death, Clint kept puffing away. If cigarettes in movies do come with public health warnings and revised censorship guidelines, it may save kids from the terror of Cruella de Vil, the fag hag villainess from 101 Dalmatians who was rarely seen on screen without that immensely lengthy cigarette holder. Cigarette holders are ambiguous props. In the hands of Cruella or of George Sanders sneering critic in All About Eve, they signal malevolence. They are like a talon. Culture news in pictures Show all 33 1 /33 Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures 30 September 2016 An employee hangs works of art with "Grand Teatro" by Marino Marini (R) and bronze sculpture "Sfera N.3" by Arnaldo Pomodoro seen ahead of a Contemporary Art auction on 7 October, at Sotheby's in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 29 September 2016 Street art by Portuguese artist Odeith is seen in Dresden, during an exhibition "Magic City - art of the streets" AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 Dancers attend a photocall for the new "THE ONE Grand Show" at Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, Germany REUTERS Culture news in pictures 28 September 2016 With an array of thrift store china, humorous souvenirs and handmade tile adorning its walls and floors, the Mosaic Tile House in Venice stands as a monument to two decades of artistic collaboration between Cheri Pann and husband Gonzalo Duran REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A gallery assistant poses amongst work by Anthea Hamilton from her nominated show "Lichen! Libido!(London!) Chastity!" at a preview of the Turner Prize in London REUTERS Culture news in pictures 27 September 2016 A technician wearing virtual reality glasses checks his installation in three British public telephone booths, set up outside the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The installation allows visitors a 3-D look into the museum which has twenty-two paintings belonging to the British Royal Collection, on loan for an exhibit from 29 September 2016 till 8 January 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 An Indian artist dressed as Hindu god Shiva performs on a chariot as he participates in a religious procession 'Ravan ki Barat' held to mark the forthcoming Dussehra festival in Allahabad AFP/Getty Images Culture news in pictures 26 September 2016 Jean-Michel Basquiat's 'Air Power', 1984, is displayed at the Bowie/Collector media preview at Sotheby's in New York AFP/Getty Culture news in pictures 25 September 2016 A woman looks at an untitled painting by Albert Oehlen during the opening of an exhibition of works by German artists Georg Baselitz and Albert Oehlen in Reutlingen, Germany. The exhibition runs at the Kunstverein (art society) Reutlingen until 15 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 24 September 2016 Fan BingBing (C) attends the closing ceremony of the 64th San Sebastian Film Festival at Kursaal in San Sebastian, Spain Getty Images Culture news in pictures 23 September 2016 A view of the artwork 'You Are Metamorphosing' (1964) as part of the exhibition 'Retrospektive' of Japanese artist Tetsumi Kudo at Fridericianum in Kassel, Germany. The exhibition runs from 25 September 2016 to 1 January 2017 EPA Culture news in pictures 22 September 2016 Jo Applin from the Courtauld Institute of Art looks at Green Tilework in Live Flesh by Adriana Vareja, which features in a new exhibition, Flesh, at York Art Gallery. The new exhibition features works by Degas, Chardin, Francis Bacon and Sarah Lucas, showing how flesh has been portrayed by artists over the last 600 years PA Culture news in pictures 21 September 2016 Performers Sean Atkins and Sally Miller standing in for the characters played by Asa Butterfield and Ella Purnell during a photocall for Tim Burton's "Miss Peregrines Home For Peculiar Children" at Potters Field Park in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A detail from the blanket 'Alpine Cattle Drive' from 1926 by artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner is displayed at the 'Hamburger Bahnhof - Museum for Contemporary Arts' in Berlin. The exhibition named 'Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Hieroglyphen' showing the complete collection of Berlin's Nationalgallerie works of the German artist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and will run from 23 September 2016 until 26 February 2017 AP Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A man looks at portrait photos by US photographer Bruce Gilden in the exhibition 'Masters of Photography' at the photokina in Cologne, Germany. The trade fair on photography, photokina, schowcases some 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and runs from 20 to 25 September. The event also features various photo exhibitions EPA Culture news in pictures 20 September 2016 A woman looks at 'Blue Poles', 1952 by Jackson Pollock during a photocall at the Royal Academy of Arts, London PA Culture news in pictures 19 September 2016 Art installation The Refusal of Time, a collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh and Peter Galison, which features as part of the William Kentridge exhibition Thick Time, showing from 21 September to 15 January at the Whitechapel Gallery in London PA Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Artists creating one off designs at the Mm6 Maison Margiela presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer collections 2017 in London Getty Images Culture news in pictures 18 September 2016 Bethenny Frankel attends the special screening of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" to celebrate the 25th Anniversary Edition release on Blu-Ray and DVD in New York City Getty Images for Walt Disney Stu Culture news in pictures 17 September 2016 Visitors attend the 2016 Oktoberfest beer festival at Theresienwiese in Munich, Germany Getty Images Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Visitors looks at British artist Damien Hirst work of art 'The Incomplete Truth', during the 13th Yalta Annual Meeting entitled 'The World, Europe and Ukraine: storms of changes', organised by the Yalta European Strategy (YES) in partnership with the Victor Pinchuk Foundation at the Mystetsky Arsenal Art Center in Kiev AP Culture news in pictures 16 September 2016 Tracey Emin's "My Bed" is exhibited at the Tate Liverpool as part of the exhibition Tracey Emin And William Blake In Focus, which highlights surprising links between the two artists Getty Images Culture news in pictures 15 September 2016 Musician Dave Grohl (L) joins musician Tom Morello of Prophets of Rage onstage at the Forum in Inglewood, California Getty Images Culture news in pictures 14 September 2016 Model feebee poses as part of art installation "Narcissism : Dazzle room" made by artist Shigeki Matsuyama at rooms33 fashion and design exhibition in Tokyo. Matsuyama's installation features a strong contrast of black and white, which he learned from dazzle camouflage used mainly in World War I AP Culture news in pictures 13 September 2016 Visitors look at artworks by Chinese painter Cui Ruzhuo during the exhibition 'Glossiness of Uncarved Jade' held at the exhibition hall 'Manezh' in St. Petersburg, Russia. More than 200 paintings by the Chinese artist are presented until 25 September EPA Culture news in pictures 12 September 2016 A visitor looks at Raphael's painting 'Extase de Sainte Cecile', 1515, from the Uffizi Gallery in Florence during the opening of a Raphael exhibition at the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow, Russia. The first Russian exhibition of the works of the Italian Renaissance artist Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino includes eight paintings and three drawings which come from Italy. Th exhibit opens to the public from 13 September to 11 December EPA Culture news in pictures 11 September 2016 Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd perform during Otis Redding 75th Birthday Celebration - Rehearsals at the Macon City Auditorium in Macon, Georgia Getty Images for Otis Redding 75 Culture news in pictures 10 September 2016 Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers at the Last Night of the Proms 2016 at the Royal Albert Hall in London PA Culture news in pictures 9 September 2016 A visitor walks past a piece entitled "Fruitcake" by Joana Vasconcelo, during the Beyond Limits selling exhibition at Chatsworth House near Bakewell REUTERS Culture news in pictures 8 September 2016 A sculpture of a crescent standing on the 2,140 meters high mountain 'Freiheit' (German for 'freedom'), in the Alpstein region of the Appenzell alps, eastern Switzerland. The sculpture is lighted during the nights by means of solar panels. The 38-year-old Swiss artist and atheist Christian Meier set the crescent on the peak to start a debate on the meaning of religious symbols - as summit crosses - on mountains. 'Because so many peaks have crosses on them, it struck me as a great idea to put up an equally absurd contrast'. 'Naturally I wanted to provoke in a fun way. But it goes beyond that. The actions of an artist should be food for thought, both visually and in content' EPA Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures Culture news in pictures There are plenty of other movies, though, in which they suggest sophistication. Bryan Cranston uses one in his new film Trumbo, in which he plays blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. He likes to smoke through it in the bath as he works on a new screenplay. When he is thrown in prison, its a sign of how far he has fallen that he is reduced to using ordinary cigarettes with no holder in sight. In prison dramas, cigarettes often play an enhanced role. Theyre used as currency and sharing them is one of the few ways for those behind bars of expressing camaraderie. The same kind of cigarette holder that looked so threatening in the hands of Cruella de Vil and Addison DeWitt had a very different connotation as used by Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffanys. It suggested a supreme elegance and was as much a part of her appeal as the Givenchy gowns. The absurdly long cigarette holder also had comic possibilities, not least for setting fire to peoples hats in the party scene. In Todd Hayness Carol, Cate Blanchetts cigarette holder is a sign of social status as well as of sophistication. Along with her furs and expensive shoes, it makes it very clear she comes from an extremely affluent background. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Censorship may have stopped Hollywood showing couples having sex but it didnt stop the studios from showing them sharing cigarettes together. Many of Humphrey Bogarts most memorable scenes involved cigarettes. As fishing boat captain Harry Morgan in To Have and Have Not, he is utterly bewitched when a siren-like Lauren Bacall appears in the corner of his office with a cigarette in the corner of her mouth and purrs, anybody got a match. In The Big Sleep, Bogart and Bacall smoke a fair few cigarettes too, often at the most climactic moments. Irving Rappers melodrama Now, Voyager is full of scenes in which the cigarettes are an essential part of the courtship between Paul Henreids character and Bette Daviss repressed young heiress. Henreid has a famous gesture of lighting two cigarettes in his mouth at once and then handing one to her. They then both blow smoke in each others faces. In film noir, cigarettes served a dual purpose. They add to the mood. The cinematographers tend to be using chiaroscuro lighting anyway and a bit of smokiness heightens the atmosphere yet further. It also goes without saying that the private eyes and soulful villains liked to have a cigarette hanging from their bottom lip. Robert Mitchum in Out of the Past is a case in point. Jean Gabin, French cinemas equivalent to Mitchum who often played the down at heel bruiser with the tender, poetic soul, smoked as a matter of course, on screen and off. To make a movie, Jean-Luc Godard famously declared, all you need for a movie is a girl and a gun. He could have added cigarettes to that list too. Jean-Paul Belmondos charming thug is seldom without his Gauloise or Gitane. For teenagers in movies, cigarettes are both a symbol of defiance against the big, bad adult world and an expression of style. That is why James Dean paid as much attention to how he smoked as to the arrangement of his tousled hair in Rebel Without a Cause. For much of film history, cigarettes were ubiquitous on screen. Viewers knew long before Al Pacino and Russell Crowe told them so in The Insider that they werent good for you. Nonetheless, in the make-believe world of the movies, they were part of the mise-en-scene. Take them away and youd be removing what used to be a vital spark. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Becoming one of the greatest actresses of her generation wasn't enough for Cate Blanchett. She just had to go off and learn how to do the splits as well, didn't she? Blanchett showed off her talent while appearing on Vanity's Fair's limited YouTube series 'Secret Talent Theatre'; in which cover stars from the magazine's Hollywood Issue are asked to reveal their hidden talents to the world. Keep in mind that Cate 'Secret Gymnast' Blanchett is also a two-time Oscar winner, nominated once more for her role in Todd Haynes' heartbreaking Carol. The woman is truly a wonder. Jennifer Lawrence, who is Oscar-nominated for Joy, revealed her own mime skills; specifically, a lip curl which immediately places her as a front runner for any future Elvis Presley biopic. Helen Mirren brought half the set down when she showed off her whip-cracking skills but, boy, did she do it in style. Jane Fonda revealed herself to be the new Houdini; regaling the incredible story of how, when arrested in 1970 under orders from the White House, she discovered she was able to escape from handcuffs thanks to her double-jointed hands. Saoirse Ronan, Oscar-nominated for Brooklyn, took to the stage to teach the denizens of America how to make the "perfect" cup of tea. Irish-style. Last but not least, Lupita Nyong'o demonstrated the correct way to fold a fitted sheet. Which may not seem like so much of a talent at first, but that just means you haven't yet seen how good she is at folding a fitted sheet. You can watch the entire series on the Vanity Fair YouTube channel. The Hollywood issue hits stands on 8 February. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Actor James Franco is to adapt a Rolling Stone article about a stripper's event-filled trip to Florida which she told the world via Twitter. Journalist David Kushner published his article 'Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind The Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted' in November and now scriptwriters Andrew Neel and Mike Roberts are adapting it for the big screen. The article was an exclusive account of stripper Azia 'Zola' Wells who went to Florida with her friend Jessica, her boyfriend and erratic Nigerian pimp known only as Z. What ensued were 148 tweets detailing wild events which started with a trip to Hooters and unbelievably ended with a murder and somebody jumping from a fourth-floor window. Kushner said: "It reads like Spring Breakers meets Pulp Fiction as told by Nicki Minaj." Franco has directed several films including the William Faulkner adaptations As I Lay Dying and The Sound and the Fury which both received mixed reviews. He also worked alongside Neel on hazing drama Goat which premiered at this year's Sundance Fim Festival. The actor has directed five films yet to be released including a film about beloved cult The Room in which he stars as Tommy Wiseau. Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Londons blue plaques stud the facades of buildings where historical game-changers once lived, but are increasingly easy to overlook as the city grows ever more dense with chain stores and luxury apartment blocks. Yet behind two of of them is a a tantalising tale. Jimi Hendrixs badge of honour is close by that of George Frideric Handel, who, in the 18th century, long before guitars were plugged in and amps cranked up, lived next door. Fate, in its whimsy, separates a rock visionary from a classical icon by one wall and 200 years. Recommended Read more Jimi Hendrix London flat to be opened permanently to the public The first room visitors enter in the new exhibition that recreates in painstaking detail the flat that Hendrix shared with his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham in Brook Street, Mayfair, between July 1968 and March 1969, formerly served as Handels attic. It brings the presence of the mesmeric guitarist-vocalists illustrious neighbour into sharp focus. Legend has it that one night Hendrix saw the composers ghost waltz through the brickwork, prompting the resident American to quaintly dub the revenant German an old guy in a nightshirt and a grey pigtail. The exterior of the properties Handle and Hendrix lived in, 200 years apart (HENDRIX RECORD COLLECTION/MUSEUM) If that apparition was earnestly monochrome then the exhibition itself is lacking neither colour nor character. In its facts zone, which presents a useful synopsis of the artists career, Terence Donovans quite extraordinary portrait of Hendrix, swathed in enough eye-poppingly vibrant fabrics and beads to make him a Cherokee-Moroccan mosaic come to life, draws ones attention as much as his Epiphone FT79 acoustic guitar, housed relic-like in a glass cabinet. Hendrixs innovations with technology, largely aided by pioneering engineer Roger Mayer, are highlighted, as is his engagement with Swinging London, where Carnaby Street gave him threads, the Speakeasy club gigs, and the Mr Love restaurant down on the ground floor of the building he was up on the third steak and chips. Walk into Hendrix and Etchinghams bedroom, with its array of textiles, rugs, wall hangings and an oval-shaped mirror festooned with feathers, and you see a sanctuary that reflects some of the flamboyance of the man who painted rainbows of sound on Electric Ladyland. Yet the exhibition designer, Catherine Halcrow, was also keen to convey the prosaic side of Hendrixs existence: We wanted to give a sense of a real person rather than an icon. Brook Street was his first real home of his own. Indeed Hendrixs hitherto unstable, gypsy-ish, life as a gigging musician in America makes the sight of oh-so-British paraphernalia such as curtains purchased from John Lewis, a box of Quality Street, a tea set and a television he loved PG Tips and Coronation Street charming. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up But watching sitcoms didnt stop Hendrix from playing guitar or hosting anybody from George Harrison to Eddy Grant or Richie Havens. Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 2636580_1.jpg Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 210443.bin Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures SU-44-seventies3-getty.jpg Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 3298418.jpg Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 81928.bin Hulton Archive/Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 381630.bin Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 3295731.jpg Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 81922.bin Express/Getty Images Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 318606.bin Rex Features Happy 70th birthday Jimi Hendrix - life in pictures 14263.bin Bruce Fleming Equally fascinating is the former storage space next to the bedroom that is now used to display Hendrixs treasured record collection, a road map to the ground-breaking destination of his own music. There is blues Jimmy Reed, Elmore James, John Mayall. There is jazz Wes Montgomery, Charles Lloyd, Django Reinhardt. There is pop and rock Bob Dylan, Cream, the Bee Gees. And there is Indian and European classical music Ravi Shankar, Holst, and Mr nightshirt and grey pigtail, Handel. The range of music is large, says Christian Lloyd, the musicologist who was a researcher for the exhibition and the author of the accompanying book. I think he saw music as a continuum. On Up From the Skies he said, I want to see and hear everything, and was true to that. He had encyclopedic knowledge. He once said about his clothing, I love colours that clash. Maybe thats in the music too. He hated genres and the generic; he had a very open ear. Viewing the aforementioned discs pinned to a wall brings home to the visitor the disparate nature of the sources on which Hendrix drew. But there are other more revealing details. Dylan records have the distinction of the highest number of scratches because Hendrix wore them out. And the albums of Dylan covers by Joan Baez and The Hollies were acquired for the purpose of studying the competition, so as to be able to put a different spin on his own reprise of songs by the man who changed the face of pop. Job done on All Along the Watchtower. An interest in Dylan as well as a close friendship with Brian Jones kept Hendrix up to date with the pop world but his reverence for the great jazz soloists of the day, like Rahsaan Roland Kirk, whose imagination was so fertile he would play several horns simultaneously, would lead to more than just the purchase of their records. Of all the numerous jams that took place at Brook Street, the most celebrated happened when Kirk swung by after playing at Ronnie Scotts in nearby Soho. While that session is held up as a crucial harbinger of Hendrixs desire to stretch his aesthetic beyond the confines of rock, the records by classical composers that he slipped on to the state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen turntable in the bedroom were also subjected to listening that was far from superficial, as Lloyd explains: Visitors to the flat recall hed play along to them. He played along on his guitar to Handel. Handel's bedroom (HENDRIX RECORD COLLECTION/MUSEUM) This is borne out by the fact that Hendrix quoted Handels Messiah at his Winterland concerts in San Francisco in 1968, though its also worth noting that the guitarist pointedly declared that he dug Bach. As much as the blues were deeply rooted in Hendrixs musical life, they were not immovable. He was intent on branching out as much as his muse dictated, becoming a true audio adventurer willing to probe the timbral nuances of feedback, distortion and electronic noise as well as flout the norms of both the three-minute song and the three-piece band. Interestingly, Vernon Reid, founder of subversive black rockers Living Colour, one of the key groups of the Eighties, has argued that Hendrix was a multifaceted persona, not to be reduced to simplistic definitions: It was just one fluid thing his songs; his playing; his whole vibe. People tend to get fixated on his playing, but the thing about Hendrix is he created the context for his playing to exist. Thats the real genius. The exhibition reinforces that, and with plans to turn Handel House Museum into Handel & Hendrix in London, complete with a performance and learning space that will feature musical time travel between the two men, there is a debate to be had on where they fit in a cultural hierarchy. What value to give a wah-wah rhythm and a lyric about a voodoo child as opposed to a score for strings and voices for a divine saviour? What value to give electric rather than acoustic music? Hendrixs desire to be taken seriously as an artist rather than an entertainer made him a complex, mercurial and challenging figure. But whether the world can see beyond a rock god and appreciate a sensitive, resolute, creative individual is perhaps a moot point. On their respective blue plaques Hendrix is called a guitarist and songwriter whereas Handel is a composer. Make of these terms what you will. The Hendrix Flat opens on 10 February (handel hendrix.org) Sign up to Roisin OConnors free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Roisin OConnors email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Rolling Stones have embarked upon another tour and marked the event with a rare treat for fans: the first performance of their track "She's a Rainbow" in 18 years. Ahead of the show in Chilean venue Estadio Nacional, the rockers asked fans via their website which track they'd like to see them play. The choices included "Anybody Seen My Baby", "She's So Cold" and "Like a Rolling Stone." "She's a Rainbow" was the track that won out meaning the band performed it for the first time since 1998. Incredibly, it's been reported that they've only ever played the song live a total of 11 times previous to this occasion. It originally featured on their 1967 album Their Satanic Majesties Request. Mick Jagger has co-created new HBO series Vinyl alongside Martin Scorsese, Rich Cohen and Boardwalk Empire's Terence Winter. It stars Bobby Cannavale as a record executive in the Seventies music scene. The series begins 15 February in the UK, airing on Sky Atlantic. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Dubbed the Iranian Schindler, Islamic diplomat, Abdol Hossein Sardari, saved thousands of Jews from the Nazi regime by confusing the fascist group with their own propaganda. When the Nazis began implementing anti-Jewish laws in occupied France, Mr Sardari, head of the Iranian Consulate in Paris, used the Nazis own racial purity laws to convince the group Iranian Jews were actually Aryan and not subject to the Reichs racial laws. Issuing Iranian passports to occupied Jews, without the consent of his superiors, Mr Sardari helped 2,000 Jews escape the Nazi regime. Mr Sardari is just one of many people who feature in a new campaign honouring Muslims who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. Si Ali Sakkat, former mayor in Tunisia and descendent from Prophet Mohammed, protected 60 Jewish escapees Facebook (I Am Your Protector/ Facebook) Organised by I Am Your Protector (IAYP) - who describe themselves as a community of people who speak up and stand up for each other across religion, race, gender and beliefs the group is attempting to highlight the, often forgotten, stories of Muslims who helped Jews during one of historys deadliest genocides. Also commemorated is British Muslim war heroine Noor Inayat Khan. Ms Khan, served as a wireless operator during World War II and was recruited to spy for the Allied forces in Nazi-occupied France. Until her arrest she provided critical support to the resistance movement and was executed at the Dachau Concentration Camp. Thousands march at Auschwitz in memory of Holocaust dead Selahattin Ulkumen, a Turkish diplomat in Greece, is commemorated for organising boats to carry Jews to safety in Turkey. His interventions in the German occupation are believed to have saved up to 50 Jews from extermination. Kaddour Benghabrit, founder of the Muslim Institute at the Great Mosque of Paris, forged papers for Jews to certify them as Muslims and save them from deportation during the war. Si Ali Sakkat, former mayor in Tunisia and descendent of Prophet Mohammed, protected 60 Jewish escapees from a labour camp by hiding them on his estate. Khaled Abdul Wahab is remembered for saving two Jewish families by sheltering them in stables on his farm in near Mahdia, Tunisia. These stories, and many others, were commemorated last week on Holocaust Memorial Day, through a series of interfaith ceremonies held around the world, including in New York, Washington, Geneva and Albania. Noor, a young Muslim woman, devoted her life to fighting the Nazis during World War II Facebook (I Am Your Protector/ Facebook) Prominent faith leaders such as Imam Khalid Latif and Rabbi Yehuda Sarna attended the ceremonies, as well as Holocaust survivor, Johanna Neumann, who was rescued by Muslims during World War II. Dani Laurence, team leader of IAYP, told Al Arabiya English: "The way Muslims are often portrayed in the media, public discourses, can lead to fear and hatred. I Am Your Protector highlights Muslim Protectors." "In parallel we want to highlight non-Muslims who protect Muslims for example Churches and Synagogues who take a stand and take action to counter hatred and Islamophobia." An interfaith ceremony organised by I Am Your Protector Facebook (I Am Your Protector/ Facebook) Dani Laurence, co-founder of I Am Your Protector told the Huffington Post: We are exposing stories that show that no group, no community, is monolithic. They have not let a narrative, even if believed by the majority, make them hate the Other because they were the Other. Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the IndyArts email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Netflix has renewed its most-watched original series Orange is the New Black for three more seasons Showrunner Jenji Kohan will remain in charge of the hit comedy-drama for a fifth, sixth and seventh run. Three more years! Not quite a political term but still plenty of time to do some interesting things, she said. In some cultures, May you lead an interesting life is a curse but I dont live in those cultures. Heres to keeping it interesting. Thanks Netflix! Both thanks and youre welcome Lionsgate and kudos and gratitude to the stellar cast and crew and writers and producers and editors and musicians and mixers and shleppers with whom I have the pride and honour of crafting this show. Three more years! Three more years! Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Show all 14 1 /14 Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 House of Cards - Season Four - 4 March Last time we were in Frank Underwoods White House things werent looking to great for the President, his first Lady having just walked out on him. What will happen next in the critically acclaimed show is anyones guess. Netflix Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Daredevil - Season Two - 18 March Back in Hells Kitchen things were seemingly getting better. Kingpin is in prison and the crime syndicates should have dispersed - for the meantime at least. Unfortunately for Matt Murdoch, theres a new anti-hero in town: The Punisher. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Flaked - 11 March According to Netflix, Flaked is set in the insular world of Venice, California. It follows the serio-comic story of a self-appointed 'guru' who falls for the object of his best friends fascination. Soon the tangled web of half-truths and semi-b******* that underpins his all-important image and sobriety begins to unravel. Arnett plays Chip, a man doing his honest best to stay one step ahead of his own lies. Netflix Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Season Two - 15 April Following the story of 29-year-old Kimmy Schmidt on her journey through New York, season two is set to start right where the last left us. The Tina Fey created sitcom has already been renewed for a third season, so you know this one has to be good. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 The Ranch - 1 April A comedy starring Ashton Kutcher. Based on a failed semi-pro footballer who returns home to a Colorado ranch. It also has some of the producers from Two and a Half Men behind it, which just happens to be one of the most successful shows of all time. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Marseille - 5 May Netflixs first French language original is a tale of power, corruption and redemption. Sounding like it could very well be the next Narcos. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Grace and Frankie - Season Two - 6 May The tale of a retired cosmetics mogul and a hippie art teacher living together was a hit across the world, especially in the US. Starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, the show has already been renewed for a third season. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Orange is the New Black - Season Four - 17 June Another Netflix powerhouse, Orange is the New Black will see us returning to Litchfield Penitentiary. Prepare for more Piper, Alex and Red come June. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Stranger Things - 15 July Eight-episode series starring Winona Ryder that follows a small community as they look for a young boy who has seemingly vanished. It all sounds quite scary. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 The Get Down - August 12th "Told through the lives and music of a ragtag crew of South Bronx teens, The Get Down is a mythic saga of the transformation of 1970s New York City. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, this is sure to be as stylish as anything hes done before. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 The Crown - Spring Starring Doctor Who actor Matt Smith, the period drama reveals the political rivalries and romance behind Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped the 2nd half of the 20th century." Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Luke Cage - Fall 2016 First appearing alongside Jessica Jones in her Netflix series, Luke Cage will pic up the pieces, seeing Cage come to terms with his super-strength and impenetrable skin. It is unknown whether Kathryn. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 Narcos - Season 2 - Fall 2016 Its back. The Netflix series hyped to match Breaking Bad was an astounding success around the world, apparently watched more than Game of Thrones. Well find out what happens to Pablo Escabar now he doesnt have the protection of all his men. Netflix Inc. Netflix originals to look forward to in 2016 A Series of Unfortunate Events - Fall 2016 Netflix is set to revisit the much-loved childrens novel, putting Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf in a show that looks so much creepier than the 2004 film. Not much else is known - i.e. casting - but Lemony Snicket is on board as executive producer, so get excited. Orange is the New Black triumphed at the Sag Awards last weekend, winning best comedy actress for Uzo Abdua and best comedy ensemble, both for the second consecutive year. Uzo Aduba accepts the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series for her role in Netflix's "Orange is the New Black" at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California September 20, 2015 (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson) Netflix keeps its ratings data tightly under wraps but executives have previously confirmed that the show, set in a womens prison, is their most popular original. Cindy Holland, vice president of original content, praised Kohan for creating a phenomenal and impactful series that is both funny and dramatic, outrageous and heartfelt. It remains to be seen how many of the current cast will sign extended contracts, with the renewal heralding the longest commitment for a TV series in recent times. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Buying off-brand USB Type-C cables to save money could have disastrous results, as one man learned when a cheap cable ended up destroying his brand-new 800 laptop. The Type-C connector represents the latest generation of USB technology, and it's beginning to appear on a number of big devices, like Google's recent Nexus phones and their Chromebook Pixel laptop, as well as the new Macbook. However, a number of cheaper Type-C cables have serious wiring problems that could ruin users' expensive laptops at a moment's notice. The issue has been brought to attention by Benson Leung, a Google engineer, who has been helping out consumers by testing a number of cheap Type-C cables bought from sellers via Amazon. Leung claims that one cable, the Surjtech 3M, ended up seriously damaging his Chromebook Pixel laptop and destroying two USB-testing devices. Writing in an Amazon review, Leung claimed he found that that Surjtech had "completely miswired the cable," by using the wrong resistor and joining the ground connector on one end of the cable to the power connector on the other. You don't need to know much about electronics to see the danger of faulty products - Leung said the cable had completely stopped both USB ports on his Chromebook from working, and claimed his computer was forced to restart in 'Recovery Mode' due to the damage. The cable has since been removed from Amazon. A Chromebook Pixel costs around 800, and the new MacBook will run you much more - Leung's tests show that it's worth spending a few pounds extra on a proper cable if you want to avoid buying what is effectively a USB Killer. The Independent has contacted Amazon for a comment. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A United Nations human rights panel has said that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be able to walk free and been compensated for the three years he has spent inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. The UK and Sweden have sought Mr Assange for questioning since 2010, over rape allegations when he visited the latter country after WikiLeaks was in the headlines for releasing documents the war in Afghanistan to international newspapers, among other whistleblowing exercises. Mr Assange denies the allegations and has taken refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, which he has not left since June 2012 and where he said he has no access to sunlight. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said that Mr Assange had been arbitrarily detained by Britain and Sweden. Speaking of his indoor-existence in 2014, he said that his environment was a difficult one even for a healthy person to live in for so long. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg So, how does spending such a long period of time indoors affect a persons health? Vitamin deficiency The body gets up to 90 per cent of its vitamin D from sunlight. The condition means the body cannot properly absorb calcium and phosphate, leading to weak bones. Depression and heart disease have also been linked to the deficiency. But as Mr Assange has fair skin, letting sunlight hit his skin by a window could be enough to maintain healthy levels. Eating oily fish, eggs, as well as fortified foods can help to top up vitamin D levels. Dr Dr Stephen Parnis, the vice-president of the Australian Medical Association, said lack of vitamin D from sunlight can damage the body. You can de-condition relatively quickly, lose muscle bulk, lose bone-mineral density and some of your cardio respiratory fitness or aerobic fitness, Dr Parnis told SBS. If you do lose bone-mineral density, it isn't easy necessarily to get that back. That may manifest itself in years to come with things like fractures. If you are confined indoors for a prolonged period of time, it does carry significant risk. People have this after prolonged hospital admissions. Thats why good rehabilitation is so important. Mental health Simon Griffin, professor of general practice at Cambridge University previously told The Independent that being incarcerated can trigger depression, anxiety and stress. He added that going outside and seeing green space has advantages for mental health. Geoff Beattie, professor of psychology at Edge Hill University, told BBC News that he will likely have been affected by isolation He may have been able to talk to friends on the phone or via Skype, but that's not the same as person to person contact, Beattie adds. This would be exacerbated by the stress of an extradition. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Men must speak out to end the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) rather than regarding it as a womens issue, campaigners have said. The Men Speak Out project, launched on Friday in Brussels, is the first pan-European campaign to engage men in the prevention of FGM. Naana Otoo Oyortey, the executive director of Forward, a leading charity working in the UK to end the practice, which is part of the Men Speak Out project, said: So far the whole campaign around FGM has predominantly been focused on women. But research from Unicef in 2013 found a fundamental disconnect between the views of men and women on FGM. Women think they are doing it for men because men want it. But men do not really understand why women are doing it. We felt it was important to focus on men because that is not something that has been done in Europe. The project, which was launched to coincide with todays International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM, will recruit men in the UK, Belgium and Holland who come from communities where FGM is practised, to work as peer educators. The project is led by Gams Belgium, working with Forward in the UK, Himilo Foundation in The Netherlands and the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp. Anti-FGM campaigner interview - London Live Solomon Amare Zewolde, Forward project researcher for Men Speak Out said: For many years I have been talking to men in my community about the negative effects of FGM on girls and women. I noted that many men did not want to discuss this subject, or kept silent deciding to only marry women who have undergone FGM, thus perpetuating the continuation of the practice. Women have been championing this cause for decades with little or no support from men in the community. I am honoured to join Forward and this project to say that its my issue too and should be that of all fathers, husbands, brothers and uncles in communities where FGM continues. A case of FGM is reported in England every 109 minutes, according to official health figures. From April 2015 to September 2015, 2,421 instances of mutilation were reported the latest full six months of figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre this week. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The mosquito-borne Zika virus has been passed on to two people via blood transfusions, according to health officials. The two unrelated incidents are believed to be the first examples of the virus being contracted during the procedure. Zika is a relatively mild virus which does not cause symptoms in four out of five patients, however the World Health Organisation has labeled it as a global health emergency due it its suspected links to microcephaly a condition believed to cause brain damage and the appearance of a shrunken head in babies. Recommended Read more Why everyone is suddenly so terrified about the Zika virus A gun-shot victim and a transplant patient both tested positive for Zika after receiving blood transfusions from different donors, Brigina Kemp, a health official in the Brazilian city of Campinas, told The Associated Press. Doctors at the University of Campinas hospital became concerned about Zika when the gunshot victim had abnormal blood work after spending months at the facility. During this time, he received transfusions from 18 donors between February and May 2015 when he died. However, staff suspected that dengue was behind the abnormalities as the region was experiencing an outbreak at the time, according to Kemp. However tests showed the patient was negative for dengue and the blood was shelved. When a transplant patient tested positive for Zika, tests proved that the gun-shot victim had also contracted the virus. Days after giving blood, the donors were found to have suffered from Zika. Dante Langhi, president of the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy, said that the transplant case was to be featured in a study in a specialised medical journal. The Health Ministry said that the gun-shot case was not part of a study, but that it is to be used "among multiple investigations under way into the behaviour of the virus." The Zika virus - in pictures Show all 5 1 /5 The Zika virus - in pictures The Zika virus - in pictures A three-month-old, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil. A rise in microcephaly cases is thought to have been caused by the spread of the Zika virus in affected countries Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A mother holds her baby who has microcephaly Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A five-month-old baby, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A pediatric infectologist examines a two-month-old baby, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A baby affected with microcephaly Health officials at the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention previously warned of the risk of Zika being spread via a blood transfusion. Red Cross officials in the US have responded to the blood transfusion incidents by asking travellers to avoid donating blood for 28 days in outbreak countries. Cananda has banned people who have travelled outside of North America and Europe from giving blood for 21 days after their return. The cases come after the first case of the virus being caught in the US was believed to have been passed on during sex. Additional reporting by AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The contributions that your company makes to your pension could be taxed under changes set to be announced by George Osborne in next month's Budget. The move could raise an estimated 5bn for the Treasury and is needed to balance the books so the proposed new flat rate for pension tax relief can be launched. The Chancellor has already widely floated the idea of introducing flat-rate relief, but retirement experts have warned that his plans will only be possible if he introduces a tax charge on the money added by employers to workers' pension pots. "If the Chancellor opts for a flat rate on employee pension contributions, he will almost certainly make changes to company contributions for higher and additional-rate taxpayers," warned Steven Cameron, regulatory strategy director at the insurer Aegon. "If he doesn't, higher-rate taxpayers would be able to ask their employer to reduce their salary and have the employer pay the difference into their pension for them, commonly known as 'salary sacrifice'." At present, workers earn tax relief on pension contributions at their normal rate of tax. So for the majority that's 20 per cent. But for those who earn more than 42,835 a year, it's 40 per cent, while top-rate taxpayers earning 150,000 or more get 45 per cent relief. To put it another way, for every 1 that goes into your pension pot, you only need to put in 80p if you're a basic- rate taxpayer because of the government top up. If you're a higher-rate payer, you only need to put in 60p to get a 1 in your pension. The highest-rate taxpayers only need to contribute 55p. The Chancellor has proposed a single rate of relief, which will help basic-rate and non-taxpayers, but hit those on a higher rate. Experts reckon the rate could be 25 per cent or 30 per cent. This would mean that for every 1 that goes into a pension pot, people would need to pay either 75p or 70p, irrespective of their tax rate. Under what appear to be Mr Osborne's plans, the cost of this equalisation will have to be met by the UK's 4.9 million higher and additional-rate taxpayers. But anyone facing lower relief could simply use the existing salary-sacrifice scheme to restore the status quo. Under the scheme, workers accept a lower salary in return for higher pension contributions from their employer. Salary sacrifice is popular because it saves national insurance contributions for both employer and employee. But, crucially, money that your company puts into your pension remains tax free. So higher-rate payers facing lower pension benefits because of the introduction of flat-rate tax relief would simply have to boost their salary sacrifice to avoid it. "A flat-rate system would be simpler," said Tom McPhail at the adviser Hargreaves Lansdown. "However, in order to prevent higher earners gaming the system by using salary sacrifice, there would have to be a tax charge applied in respect of employer contributions made on behalf of higher earners." Recommended Read more Five questions on the pension charges cap But any change to the system of tax relief is likely to be complex and to create unintended consequences, warned former pensions minister Steve Webb, now director of policy at the insurer Royal London. "There is a prize to be had in the form of a simpler system which is easier to understand and provides better incentives to save for people on modest incomes. But change will create gainers and losers, including, potentially, among employers. The Chancellor faces difficulty trying to satisfy competing goals." Higher-rate payers have already complained over news of pension relief being cut; that their company contributions could be taxed for the first time too will fuel their anger. Salary sacrifice: how the new tax could work Say a higher-rate taxpayer earning 60,000 puts 5,000 into a pension each year. As they receive 40 per cent tax relief, the net cost to them at the moment is 3,000, with the government adding a further 2,000. If the rate of tax relief were to be set at 25 per cent, the same 5,000 would cost the individual 3,750 if paid as a personal contribution an extra 750 a year. The alternative is to ask for their employer to cut their salary to 55,000 and pay 5,000 as a contribution to the individual's pension. After 40 per cent tax, their take-home pay falls by only 3,000. And they don't incur the extra 750 cost. To stop this happening, employer pension contributions would become a "benefit in kind", taxed at the difference between the individual's "marginal" income tax rate and the flat rate. In our example, the difference is 15 per cent, so the 5,000 employer contribution would face a 750 tax charge the same as if they had made the contribution themselves. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} War hero Harry Penny celebrated his 94th birthday with his family on Monday. Sadly, he died suddenly on Thursday. But his son Nick reports that "he was still in fighting form" at the end. Harry fought injustice his whole life. He joined the RAF as an 18-year-old to fight the Nazis as a Bomber Command crewman and became a war hero after being shot down over Holland and having to spend 10 weeks dodging capture while making an arduous journey to safety in Gibraltar via Belgium, France and Spain. He continued serving with distinction after the war, receiving an OBE for service in Iraq tackling an uprising. And he was decorated in Singapore during the Indonesia conflicts in the 1960s. But his last few years were spent fighting the UK government over an injustice that hits more than half a million British pensioners. Their crime? They retired abroad but to the wrong country. Harry and Gaye, his wife of more than 70 years, moved to Australia in 1970 for work. The couple were unaware that, as a consequence, their state pension would be frozen at the rate applying when they left the UK. They didn't discover the anomaly until Harry eventually retired in 1987 and he was paid just 39.50 a week, while his wife was handed 24. If they had moved to, say, Germany or the US, they would have ended up receiving three times that. Harry told The Independent in 2014: "It's quite unjust. It's the principle. I wasn't aware that my British pension would be frozen; I would have otherwise thought twice about moving to Australia." He was an active member of the campaigning group British Pensions in Australia, part of the International Consortium of British Pensioners, which fights for justice for its members who mainly live in ex-Commonwealth countries. The injustice is that if any of the half a million pensioners had moved to a different country, they would be getting the full annual increase in their pension, as around 600,000 British expatriate pensioners do every year. Gaye survives Harry to continue the fight, but their son Nick had a bitter message for David Cameron and the current Tory cabinet: "The UK government will now not have to worry about an increase to my father's frozen pension." But Nick added: "Let us hope my mother's paltry payout will be rectified soon." There was some glimmer of hope for justice this week at a Westminster debate on the issue. Sir Roger Gale, MP, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Frozen British Pensions, said: "It's nonsense. You could live one side of Niagara Falls and be uprated or live the other side with a frozen pension. There are too many cases where people have to leave families and move back to the UK, becoming a burden on services." Ian Blackford, the SNP pensions spokesperson, said: "We need to hold the Government to account on this issue and take a more hard-nosed approach in our bid to unfreeze pensions. Pensions minister Ros Altmann should tell the Treasury to fix this." Angela Rayner, Labour's shadow pensions minister, said: "The situation is unfair, illogical and doesn't make sense and I welcome cross-party support on the issue. We have to find a solution." We do have to find a solution before more victims of this continuing injustice pass away. In the meantime, I hope Harry Penny may have at last found peace. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Q. You helped me last year (Questions of Cash, 11 September 2015) when my 91-year-old father was receiving demands from a debt collector for 434.26 for British Gas bills for a period when his house was unused and no gas or electricity was being used. You told me this was resolved and British Gas also told me, categorically, that it had written off the debt. But now a different firm of debt collectors is demanding 260.56. AC, by email A. We are sorry this was not resolved when we assured you it was after British Gas has assured us the debt had been written off. A spokesman for the company said: "I've double-checked on this and it looks like there was an issue with the debt collectors not properly reflecting the fact we'd written off the debt. We've spoken to them again to reiterate this and they have assured us they updated their records, so this should all be cleared up now." Hopefully your father will not be troubled again. A mass pursuit and the debt wasn't mine Q. I was fascinated to read (Questions of Cash, 12 December) about a reader who had been contacted about the debt of another person with a similar name. I have had the same experience. I was first contacted by debt-collection agency Transcom on behalf of eBay, and then by another debt collector, Akinika, eBay itself, PayPal, Transcom again and then eBay again. I have never used eBay, nor registered with it, nor with PayPal. The debtor was someone with the same surname, but a different first name and a man (I am a woman). I have never known anyone of that name and I have lived at my address, on my own, for more than 20 years. KG, London A. We are told by eBay that the systems operated by it, PayPal and by the debt-collection agencies that it uses should have stopped this happening. It promises you will not hear again from eBay or PayPal. We also contacted Transcom; it claimed that customer confidentiality issues prevented it from commenting. Akinika is owned by Capita, which told us that it had arranged with eBay that it would provide an agreed response. I just wanted a top-up: 3 put me through hell Q. I tried to buy a top-up for my dongle from 3 in November 2014, but these were no longer available. I was under considerable stress at the time and did not understand what I was being sold. As a result, I have a contract for 7 a month signed only by me, with no staff counter-signature. In April last year I realised for the first time that I was paying two monthly direct debits one for 7 and the other for 7.50 for a mobile phone I have never had. After I contacted 3, it eventually agreed that it had mis-sold me an account and refunded 57.49 of the 70 that I had paid them through a direct debit. The balance was a cancellation fee for the account, which closed on 12 August last year. Then, on 1 September 2015, two direct debits were taken from my bank account again one for 7, the other for 7.50. I reported the mistake to the shop, cancelled both debits and wrote to inform the complaints department at 3. On 10 January this year I received a statement from 3 saying I now owe it 45.04, plus a 57.62 cancellation fee for an account I have never had quoting an account number that was not mine. I feel I am being bullied. MJ, by email A. A spokesman for 3 responded: "We apologise for the problems experienced by [the reader] and for the inconvenience caused. We have written to the customer and explained that we have cleared the outstanding balance of the unwanted account and also waived the termination fee." I ordered a tablet but Currys made it hard Q. I went to a Cardiff store of Currys on 7 December to buy a black Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. As there were none in stock, I placed an order, paid 100 cash and asked for a business receipt, which I put in the name of the person the gift was intended for. I was told the tablet should be delivered the following day. The next day I was kept waiting 10 minutes and then told it was not there and would be delivered on the Friday. Over the next week I travelled to the store another three times, on each occasion waiting 10 minutes to be told it had not arrived. On 15 December I was told the tablet had not actually been ordered and there were none in stock at the warehouse, so I could not order one. I was offered a white tablet, or a refund or to I could go to the Bridgend store and collect one. I opted for the refund, but then a staff member told me it would be hard to process this as I had been given a business receipt, so the store manager would collect a tablet from Bridgend. I eventually picked up the tablet on 18 December, but feel I have not been treated well. I have complained repeatedly but got nowhere, other than the promise of a 20 voucher. HC, Wales A. A Curry's spokeswoman said: "Our customer service team has contacted [the reader] to apologise and we are picking this up with the store in question. We have provided her with the voucher number and advised her on how to redeem it, as well as giving her a direct line in case she has any further problems. We believe her to be happy with the resolution." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Julian Assange has called the United Nations ruling that he has been arbitrarily detained for more than five years a significant victory but announced no plans to leave the Ecuadorian Embassy. The WikiLeaks founder attacked Britain and Sweden for saying the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detentions findings would have no effect on their actions. Speaking to a press conference over a video link, Mr Assange said his short imprisonment at HMP Wandsworth and stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy had left him with great difficulty seeing his family and children. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange appears on screen via video link during a news conference at the Frontline Club in London, Britain February 5, 2016. (Reuters) Today, that detention, without charge, has been found by the highest organisation, the United Nationsto be unlawful he added. The working group is the world expert body in understanding the law of when someone is to be detained or not detained. Philip Hammond, the British Foreign Secretary, had dismissed the UNs report as frankly ridiculous and accused the WikiLeaks founder of hiding from justice. I reject the decision of this working group. It is a group made up of lay people and not lawyers, he added. He can come out any time he choosesbut he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so. Mr Assange told the press conference he found the comments insulting and said they were beneath the stature of a foreign minister. Dismissing the purely superfluous ad hominem attacks, he said the British Governments statements refuting of the findings were simply for domestic consumption, adding: They have no legitimacy in international law. Demonstrators hold banners outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying The ruling is not legally binding and Sweden has already said it will have no impact on its continuing criminal investigation into a rape allegation. Mr Assange claimed both countries had failed to formally appeal the findings over the past two weeks and were now attempting to validate their own actions. He accused them of undermining the UNs system and weakening an instrument of human rights and international law to which both countries are bound. Recommended Read more British government to fight UN ruling on Julian Assange The WikiLeaks founder speculated about consequences for the UK and Sweden in the eyes of the international community and possible enforcement measures. Edward Snowden, who has taken refuge from US prosecution in Russia after leaking classified information he gained as a contractor for the CIA, also condemned the response. This writes a pass for every dictatorship to reject UN rulings, he wrote on Twitter. Dangerous precedent for UK/Sweden to set. Mr Assange did not say what he will do next but claimed the decision as a significant victory. It adds to my freedom and justice for my children and it adds significantly to the ability of the UN to deal with complex cases of arbitrary detention, including those involving Western states, he added. I miss my family. Today we have a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face, and I hope to many others as well. Wikileaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012 in an effort to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces sexual offences charges (Oli Scarff/Getty Images) Mr Assange's lawyers said he would not leave the embassy until the European arrest warrant had been cancelled. One of his legal representatives, Melinda Taylor, said her client had been subjected to different forms of detention since 2010. Detention is not about bricks and mortar and bars, its about the deprivation of your liberty, she added. If you have no freedom, if you were subjected to 24/7 police surveillance, both covert and overt, then you are detained. Ms Taylor claimed that Swedish investigators refused to question Mr Assange inside the Ecuadorian Embassy as part of unreasonable and disproportionate treatment that was totally contrary to the presumption of innocence. Assange speaking to the media outside the Ecuador embassy in 2012 She said his legal team interpreted the UNs ruling to mean Mr Assange must be allowed to be free immediately but made no mention of plans to leave the embassy. Julian himself has become a victim because of his whistleblowing activities, Ms Taylor added. Finally with todays decision, there is light at the end of the tunnel, we just need the United Kingdom and Sweden to step up to the plate and let Julian step into the light. Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010, when revelations made by WikiLeaks on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were reverberating around the world. Mr Assange fears Sweden will extradite him to authorities in the US where he could be put on trial over the publication of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg He has consistently denied the rape allegations but refused to return to Sweden and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012 after being granted asylum. The British Government said it will formally contest that the Wikileaks founders stay constitutes a deprivation of liberty'' in violation of his fundamental human rights. This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention, a spokesperson for the British Government said. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. The spokesperson said that as a rape allegation against Mr Assange is still being investigated in Sweden and subject to a European arrest warrant, the UK has a legal obligation to extradite him For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Beamed into a room filled with the worlds media, like a figure from a far-off land, Julian Assange claimed vindication in his five-year battle to avoid extradition over rape claims after a United Nations panel decided he has been arbitrarily detained inside Ecuadors London embassy. For a few hours, rumours had abounded outside the South American diplomatic mission he entered in 2012 that the WikiLeaks founder might raise the stakes in his stand-off with the British and Swedish authorities by exiting the building in the hope that police outside had put away their handcuffs. Instead, the 44-year-old Australian was faded into vision via a videolink. He told a packed press conference held precisely 2.2 miles from his cramped quarters that Britain now stood in defiance of international law after the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) accepted his claim that he is in effect being unlawfully imprisoned and declared he should be awarded compensation. Recommended Read more Julian Assange appears embassy balcony calling an end to his detention The 18-page opinion from the Geneva-based panel of experts was greeted with disdain by the Government, which declared it would seek a formal review. The Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, said: Julian Assange is a fugitive from justice. This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it. Swedish prosecutors, who have been seeking to enforce a European Arrest Warrant to question Mr Assange about a claim of rape in 2010, also dismissed the report, saying it had no formal impact under the countrys law. ASSANGE BALCONY But Mr Assange and his legal team, led by former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, who in his previous role caused the detention in London of the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, took full advantage of the opportunity to underline that two Western powers had been called out for abuse of human rights by a UN body. The Australian, who has denied sexual assault and no charge has been brought against him, believes that an American grand jury investigation into WikiLeaks, which has published thousands of diplomatic and military files, means he would be extradited to the US should he reach Sweden. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg The lawyer for the Swedish woman who has accused Mr Assange of rape said the UN panels finding was insulting and offensive toward her client. Elisabeth Massi Fritz said Mr Assange should pack his bags, leave the embassy and start co-operating with the police and the prosecutor. The WikiLeaks founder, who described Mr Hammonds comments as insulting to the UN, told the press conference: We have today a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face. The lawfulness of my detention or otherwise is now a matter of settled law. In its report, the WGAD said Mr Assange had been the subject of different forms of deprivation of liberty in Britain since 2010 and a lack of diligence on the part of Swedish prosecutors, who have yet to question him, meant an excessive amount of time had been allowed to pass. Citing an international treaty to which Britain is a signatory, the UN group said Mr Assange should now be granted his right to freedom of movement and compensated. The decision was not unanimous. Ukrainian Vladimir Tochilovsky, the WGADs longest-serving member, said Mr Assange should be considered as self-confined and not detained. Mr Assange later took to the balcony of the embassy to address a crowd. He attacked the British, Swedish and US governments for keeping him from his children, saying: It is time they had their father back. That will happen, one way or another. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A United Nations ruling that Julian Assange must be freed from arbitrary detention by the UK and Sweden is being treated with scepticism on Twitter. The British Government has already said it will formally contest accusations that the Wikileaks founders stay in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London constitutes a deprivation of liberty'' in violation of his fundamental human rights. Many commenters using social media in the wake of the verdict appeared to agree on Friday, mocking the definition of arbitrarily detained with photos of locked toilet doors, cats on laps and train ticket barriers. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had called on the UK and Sweden to immediately end Mr Assanges deprivation of liberty'' and compensate him. Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010, when revelations made by WikiLeaks on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were reverberating around the world. Mr Assange fears Sweden will extradite him to authorities in the US where he could be put on trial over the publication of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents. He has consistently denied the rape allegations but refused to return to Sweden and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. When the UNs findings were leaked on Thursday, Mr Assange said he expected the immediate return of his passport and the termination of further arrest attempts. But the ruling is not binding and Sweden said it would have no impact on its continuing criminal investigation. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention, a spokesperson for the British Government said. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. The spokesperson said that as a rape allegation against Mr Assange is still being investigated in Sweden and subject to a European arrest warrant, the UK has a legal obligation to extradite him. We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue, the Government spokesperson added. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end. Americas Minister Hugo Swire made this clear to the Ecuadorean Ambassador in November, and we continue to raise the matter in Quito." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Julian Assange must be freed from arbitrary detention by the UK and Sweden, the United Nations has ruled. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said called on Swedish and British authorities to immediately end the WikiLeaks founder's deprivation of liberty'' and compensate him. Its findings were leaked by sources on Thursday but the official ruling was not released until Friday morning. Demonstrators hold banners outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying The UK Government is formally contesting the findings and denied that his "voluntary" stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy constituted arbitrary detention. But Mr Assange said he expects the immediate return of his passport and a stop to further attempts to arrest him. Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010, when revelations made by WikiLeaks on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were reverberating around the world. Mr Assange has consistently denied the allegations but refused to return to Sweden and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. Making its ruling on his case, the UNs Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) found the WikiLeaks founder had been arbitrarily detained by the Governments of Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The group said he was entitled to freedom of movement and an unspecified amount of compensation. Chelsea Manning, formerly known as Bradley, was sentenced to 35 years in military prison for leaking documents, videos and cables to WikiLeaks (Reuters) Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the Working Group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish Prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr Assange, it said in a statement. The Working Group therefore requested Sweden and the United Kingdom to assess the situation of Mr Assange to ensure his safety and physical integrity, to facilitate the exercise of his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner, and to ensure the full enjoyment of his rights guaranteed by the international norms on detention. The panel representative from Australia did not participate in the deliberations and an unidentified member disagreed with the ruling and argued that Mr Assanges situation does not constitute detention and so falls outside of its mandate. Video: Assange speaks from Ecuadorian embassy On Thursday, Mr Assange said he would leave the Embassy if the panel ruled against him and accept arrest by British police. However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me, he said in a statement. The Australian fears Sweden will extradite him to authorities in the US where he could be put on trial over the activities of the WikiLeaks website, which has published thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents. As the Swedish investigation continued in December 2010, Mr Assange was jailed in Wandsworth Prison in isolation for 10 days and then put under house arrest for 550 days under powers granted by an international arrest warrant. The Republic of Ecuador granted him asylum but Mr Assange has not felt able to leave its embassy, and endured extensive surveillance by the British police, the WGAD said. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg Scotland Yard stood down the 24/7 police presence outside the building in October last year but pledged to make every effort to arrest Mr Assange if he left. The UN panel found that his situation violates articles nine and 10 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which stipulate that no one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile and grants people full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal to hear criminal charges. Mr Assange was also found to have been held in violation of articles seven, nine, 10 and 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The findings were sent to the British and Swedish governments on 22 January but are not legally binding. The statement from the Working Group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law, said Karin Rosander, spokeswoman for Sweden's Prosecution Authority. Additional reporting by AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Maurice White, the founder of one of the classic 1970s bands, Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at age 74. His brother Verdine White, also a member, confirmed that the singer-songwriter had died at his home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep, he told The Associated Press. While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. With songs such as Boogie Wonderland, Shining Star and September, Earth, Wind & Fire produced music that became part of the soundtrack of the decade, with performances they described as a cosmic wave of peace, love and other happy vibrations. It proved phenomenally popular. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards. White, a former session drummer, was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease in 1992, when he was still in his early 50s and he was forced to stop touring three years later. However he remained involved in the band despite this. The US celebrity news website TMZ reported that his condition had deteriorated in recent months. Born in 1941 in Memphis, Tennessee, White began singing in the church choir at the age of just six. In high school, he took up the drums and later studied at the Chicago Conservatory Of Music. After becoming a studio percussionist at Chess Records in Chicago, he played with stars such as Booker T Jones, Etta James and Muddy Waters. He founded a band called the Salty Peppers in 1969, but soon changed the name to Earth, Wind & Fire after the three elements in his astrological chart. I wanted to do something that hadnt been done before, White once said. Although we were basically jazz musicians, we played soul, funk, gospel, blues, jazz, rock and dance musicwhich somehow ended up becoming pop. We were coming out of a decade of experimentation, mind expansion and cosmic awareness. I wanted our music to convey messages of universal love and harmony without force-feeding listeners spiritual content. The band's most successful period started with the 1975 album, That's The Way of The World, and continued through the rest of the decade. Other hits included Serpentine Fire, That's the Way of the World and a cover of the Beatles' Got to Get You Into My Life. The bands website, which appeared to be struggling to cope with the surge in traffic caused by Whites death, described the ethos of the band. Their performances blasted a cosmic wave of peace, love and other happy vibrations to audiences using a combination of eye-popping costumes, lights, pyrotechnics and plain old good music, it says. Sometimes they even threw in magic illusions. Earth, Wind & Fires message was one of universal harmony, in both musical and cultural senses. White put their success partly down to his spiritual beliefs. We live in a negative society, he once told Newsweek magazine. Most people cant see beauty and love. I see our music as medicine. The Associated Press contributed to this report For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A Belgian journalist has been groped by two men on live television while reporting from the Cologne carnival in Germany. Esmeralda Labye told The Local she had been left shocked at the incident. At first they were just making faces behind me," she said. "Then a hand landed on my breast. I was was shocked. The attack comes amid a wave of sexual assaults at the carnival and increased security presence. Police have confirmed there were 22 reported cases of sexual assault at the carnival and said 181 people had been arrested in total. Talking in a later news bulletin, the Radio Television Belge de la Communaute Francaise (RTBF) journalist described the chaos of the ordeal. My piece to camera was chaotic, people showing middle fingers, a man who was having fun miming a sex act behind me and above all the hand placed on my breast," she said. Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Show all 13 1 /13 Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism outside Cologne Cathedral on 5 January after the assaults Oliver Berg/EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Women protest against sexism in Cologne following the rash of sex attacks on New Year's Eve Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police initially failed to mention the assaults in report the following morning EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police officers patrol in front of the main station of Cologne, Germany AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks German far-right supporters demonstrate at Cologne`s train station (Reuters) Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police used pepper spray to control supporters of Pegida, Hogesa (Hooligans against Salafists) and other right-wing populist groups as they protested against the New Year's Eve sex attacks on 9 January, 2016 in Cologne, Germany Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use a water cannon during a protest march by supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016 Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Police use pepper spray against supporters of anti-immigration right-wing movement Pegida, in Cologne, Germany, January 9, 2016. Reuters Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Artist Mira Moire protests naked in Cologne against the mass sex attacks on New Year's Eve AP Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks A demonstrator holds a sign in German that reads 'No violence against women' during a demonstration in the wake of the sexual assaults on New Year's Eve, outside the cathedeal in Cologne, Germany, 09 January 2016. EPA Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Counter demonstrators hold up a sign reading "Against sexism, against racism" as they protest against a demonstration of the islamophobic movement PEGIDA at the train station in Cologne, Germany, on January 9, 2016. AFP/Getty Images Germany reacts to Cologne New Year's Eve attacks Demonstration by a womens group on Saturday (AP) AP Police have announced they will be investigating the case further. According to The Local, the attackers were men of European appearance and have been caught on camera. Cologne was the subject of a series of sexual assaults and robberies during New Years Eve, with large numbers of women being targeted in the attacks. In the attempt to stop similar incidents reoccurring at the week-long carnival, police decided to double the number of officers on patrol on the streets to 2,500. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Passengers have described their shock as armed police stormed train heading from Kent into London wearing balaclavas and carrying tasers and guns. The service was held at Gillingham for two hours on Thursday night as officers searched for a suspected killer after a woman was found dead earlier in the day. As the manhunt continued today, Kent Police would not confirm the cause of the woman's death or why armed officers were deployed. A man filmed the search from his seat, showing increasingly frustrated passengers pleading to be allowed off the train and demand they be told what was happening. Were looking for someone whos been involved in an incident, a police officer could be heard saying. I am sorry, we will get you on your way as soon as we can. When asked whether the missing man had a gun or a bomb, he said he could not divulge any more information. An incident has taken place and were looking for someone, the officer added. Its a very serious situation and we cant really share what its about. All trains were stopped on the line as the investigation continued, seeing police with sniffer dogs search the railway station. It caused severe delays and Southeastern was urging travellers to find different routes to and from London late into the night. Armed police boarded the train after it pulled into Gillingham station shortly after 9pm. Police at Gillingham Railway station on 4 February 2016 (Yeside Fawehinmi) Wesley Tabi, a railway worker from the Isle of Sheppey who was on the train, told Kent Online the doors opened briefly before shutting and locking everyone inside. "Suddenly a load of old bill flooded the station, he added. "There must have been 30 of them with their machine guns. It was like Swat. They started walking up and down the train and there were some on the platform with dogs. "I read online that a man was missing, but they were looking under the seats, in bins, everywhere. "I heard someone say they might have to take the train back to the depot to do a forensic search on it." Passengers were allowed to leave the train and board another service around two hours later. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty 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 A spokesperson for Kent Police said the search started following a call to a residential address in Benenden, where a woman was found dead at around 4.20pm. The death is being treated as suspicious and efforts are on-going to trace a man in connection with the incident, she added. The woman and man are known to each other. Searches have been carried out since the afternoon of 4 February throughout parts of Kent, as well as the rail network and are on-going. Next of kin have been notified of the death. As well as Gillingham, extensive searches were carried out in Faversham and the Weald area, including a helicopter search, but the man has not yet been found. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A former Ukip candidate who now heads anti-immigration group Pegida UK has said Muslims should not hold political power in Britain. Paul Weston, who will be leading a march through Birmingham on Saturday, also described all asylum seekers as migrant invaders and claimed there is no such thing as a Syrian refugee. He was speaking to LBC radio as the stations correspondent Tom Swarbrick followed Pegida UK around Europe, where the groups different factions are staging mass protests. Germany: EDL founder Robinson addresses thousands at PEGIDA rally in Dresden I dont want Muslims in areas of political power because they put Islam as their primary allegiance, Mr Weston added. He will be joined in Birmingham by Tommy Robinson, who founded far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) but left in 2013 after claiming he was concerned by the dangers of far-right extremism. But the activist real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon has resurfaced at Pegida rallies in Germany and has now risen back to prominence as part of the groups UK offshoot. Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the West) started in Dresden in October 2014, staging thousands-strong rallies that sparked counter protests and condemnation from the highest levels of German government. In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Show all 8 1 /8 In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Supporters of the PEGIDA movement, "Patriotische Europaeer Gegen die Islamisierung des Abendlandes," which translates to "Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamification of the Occident," take part in a rally in Dresden. More than 10,000 people demonstrated against "criminal asylum seekers" and the "Islamisation" of the country, in the latest show of strength of a growing far-right populist movement In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Participants hold German national flags and a banner during a demonstration called by anti-immigration group PEGIDA In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Participants hold banners and German national flags during a demonstration called by anti-immigration group PEGIDA, a German abbreviation for "Patriotic Europeans against the Islamization of the West", in Dresden In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany A counter protester holds up a sign during an anti-immigration demonstration In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Participants hold up their mobile phones during a demonstration called by anti-immigration group PEGIDA In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Participants hold German national flags during a demonstration called by anti-immigration group PEGIDA In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Supporters of the Pegida movement march with German flags at another of their weekly gatherings in Dresden In pictures: Anti-immigration demonstration in Dresden Germany Supporters of the Pegida movement march with German flags at another of their weekly gatherings in Dresden Angela Merkel urged citizens to reject hatred in their hearts and one politician described the group as Nazis in pinstripes. Numbers turning out for its demonstrations dwindled early last year but the intensifying refugee crisis, which saw Germany take in 1.1 million asylum seekers in 2015, breathed new life into the movement. Supporters going under the Pegida UK banner have been vastly outnumbered by counter-demonstrations in the past and were ridiculed in December after the man named their new leader, former soldier Tim Scott, struggled to elaborate on the truth about radical Islam in the UK. Pegida UK supporters carried a banner picturing Winston Churchill with the slogan 'no surrender to terrorists' (Hugo Campbell) He quit hours after the car crash interview and was released by Mr Weston, who stood as a Ukip Parliamentary candidate in 2010 before leaving for the now-defunct British Freedom Party, and then founding Liberty GB. Standing as an MP for the far-right party in Luton South, he polled just 158 votes in last years general election and announced his appointment to lead Pegida UK on 4 January. The group is staging a silent walk through Birmingham on Saturday in opposition to the silencing of British people and the rising influence of radical Islam. It has banned supporters from covering their faces, chanting, carrying flags and banners from other groups, alcohol and violence in an apparent attempt to prevent the clashes with counter-demonstrators and police seen at previous demonstrations. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The British Government is fighting a United Nations ruling that accused it of arbitrarily detaining Julian Assange in violation of his fundamental human rights. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called on the UK and Sweden to immediately end the WikiLeaks founders deprivation of liberty'' and compensate him. But a spokesperson for the British Government said it would formally contest the findings and denied that Mr Assanges stay at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London constituted arbitrary detention. Video: Assange speaks from Ecuadorian embassy This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention, he added. The opinion of the UN Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy. The spokesperson said that as a rape allegation against Mr Assange is still being investigated in Sweden and subject to a European arrest warrant, the UK has a legal obligation to extradite him. Demonstrators hold banners outside the Ecuadorean Embassy in London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is staying Britain is also not subject to the 1954 Caracas Convention, meaning it does not have to recognise diplomatic asylum. We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue, the Government spokesperson added. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end. Americas Minister Hugo Swire made this clear to the Ecuadorean Ambassador in November, and we continue to raise the matter in Quito. When the findings were leaked on Thursday, Mr Assange said he would leave the Embassy if the panel ruled against him and accept arrest by British police. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me, he said in a statement. Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010, when revelations made by WikiLeaks on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were reverberating around the world. But Mr Assange fears Sweden will extradite him to authorities in the US where he could be put on trial over the publication of thousands of classified military and diplomatic documents. He has consistently denied the rape allegations but refused to return to Sweden and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has made a rare public appearance on the balcony of the Ecuadorian embassy to demand an end to his "arbitrary detention" after a UN group concluded that he was being held unlawfully. The Australian journalist has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 to escape deportation to Sweden for questioning over rape allegations. Mr Assange and his supporters say the extradition request is a ploy by the US authorities to extradite him to America to face possible detention and torture over the Wikileaks revelations in 2010. Addressing his supporters and journalists outside the embassy in Kensington, London he said there will be "criminal consequences" if his "illegal, immoral, unethical" detention continues. Mr Assange entered the embassy voluntarily to claim asylum but will be arrested immediately if he leaves. It comes as the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that the UK and Swedish governments should end what they called Mr Assange's "deprivation of liberty" and said the situation was a violation of his right to freedom of movement. Commenting on the working group's decision UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said the conclusion was "ridiculous" and said it "changed nothing". Mr Assange said: "There have been comments from Philip Hammond the Foreign Minister [sic] of this country saying 'this changes nothing'. "Philip Hammond as an individual is a perfectly nice person but we must understand that those comments are merely rhetoric. "There is no argument in 'this changes nothing', it is not saying the UK is pulling out of the working group or the human rights group or even that it refuses to recognise the results." He said it "did not come as a shock" to have the "injustice [he] fought to expose inflicted on [him]" but said his detention was unfair on his children who were "innocent parties". "Im tough, I am hardened by this process and I can take it however what right does this government or the US government or the Swedish government to take away my childrens right to see their father for five and a half years without any charges in any country", he said. He thanked the UN working group for their verdict which he said was "binding under international law". He said: "How sweet this is, this is a victory that cannot be denied, it is a victory of historical importance not just for me, for my family, for my children but for the independent of the UN system". An arrest warrant for Mr Assange was initially issued in August 2010 after he was accused of one count of rape and one count of molestation. In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Julian-Assange.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange2.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' westwood-assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' assange.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange3_1.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange5.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange6.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-AP.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-REUT.jpg In pictures: Julian Assange's 'arbitrary detention' Assange-Still-Vimeo.jpg He was interviewed by prosecutors in Stockholm but denied the charges. In November a Swedish court approved a request to detain Mr Assange for questioning over the allegations and an international arrest warrant was issued. Mr Assange fought the extradition request in the UK courts and had appeals in the High Court and the Supreme Court rejected. After the Supreme Court rejected Mr Assange's plea to appeal their ruling he entered the Ecuadorian embassy on 16 June 2012 to claim political asylum which was formally granted two months later. Mr Assange has claimed a Grand Jury investigation into whether to bring charges against him over the Wikileaks scandal - which saw the publishing of highly classified documents - demonstrates the US wishes to extradite him. The Ecuadorian embassy where Mr Assange has lived since 2012 (Getty Images) Grand jury investigations are a routine measure in the US justice system to determine whether an offence has been committed and if there is enough evidence to prosecute. The proceedings are kept secret. Chelsea Manning - formerly known as Bradley Manning - is currently serving a 35 year prison sentence in the US for violating the Espionage Act by releasing the documents to Mr Assange. The lawyer for the Swedish woman who has accused Mr Assange of rape said the UN panels finding was insulting and offensive toward her client. In a statement, Elisabeth Massi Fritz said Mr Assange should pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} World leaders have hailed a landmark package of aid and economic support for Middle Eastern countries overwhelmed by refugees fleeing the devastating conflict in Syria. Close to $11bn (7.5bn) in aid was pledged by donors at an international conference in London on 4 February, along with around $40bn (27bn) in loans to support the creation of jobs and stimulate the economies of Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, who between them have taken in more than three million refugees. David Cameron, who hosted the conference along with the leaders of Kuwait, Norway Germany, and the United Nations, said the sum was the largest amount of money ever raised in one day in response to a humanitarian crisis. Up to $6bn has been pledged for 2016, and a further $5bn in pledged support up to 2020. The figure for 2016 is still well short of the target for $9bn set by the UN and the countries most affected by the refugee crisis. Aid organisations including Oxfam and Save the Children welcomed the new pledges but said humanitarian organisations would still be short of what was urgently needed. Recommended Read more Video shows thousands of Syrian refugees living in Jordanian desert In previous years, international humanitarian efforts to protect people in Syria and refugees in neighbouring have been woefully underfunded. Mr Cameron said the new pledges would help address the shortfall, bolster stability in the region and also help to stem the flow of refugees to Europe. He said that funding would see 1 million children currently not in school gaining access to education, while one million jobs could be created by economic stimulus packages. The bold promises came after former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that only an initiative as ambitious as the postwar Marshall plan would be enough to address a crisis that has seen 12m people displaced. From left to right: Norwegian Prime Minister Lrna Solberg, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah and Prime Minister David Cameron during the 'Supporting Syria and the Region' conference at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London (PA) The new measures also indicate growing recognition within the international community that the devastation of Syrian society, and the bleak prospects for peace and reconstruction, mean refugees require long-term opportunities for education and work in their host countries, as well short-term aid. The leaders of Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon all warned of the extreme pressures that the refugee crisis had placed upon their economies and societies. Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam praised the aid pledges but emphasised the importance of the international community delivering on its promises. He warned his country, which has a population of less than 6m but has taken more than 1m refugees, would no longer be able to contain an eruption of refugees from its borders that could involve further migration to distant shores, destabilisation andsecurity threats. King Abdullah of Jordan, which has taken in more than 600,000 refugees, said the country had reached its limit. The conference was also overshadowed by the suspension of peace talks aimed at finding a political solution to Syrias civil war, and by a steep escalation in hostilities around the northern city of Aleppo. The $11bn pledged includes a new 1.2bn package of support from the UK. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that Germany would contribute 2.3bn euros (1.75bn) up to 2018, including 570m euros (440m) for the World Food Programme enough to provide half of its needs for Syria this year. The USA pledged $925m (635m) for 2016, while EU Council president Donald Tusk committed EU member states to a total of 3bn euros (2.3bn) in 2016. He also set out plans for the EU investment bank to lend 12.5bn euros (9.6bn) to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt over next five years, in a programme which he said could be increased up to 23bn euros (17.7bn) to the whole of Middle East and North Africa. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} London Underground maintenance staff will stage a series of 12- and 24-hour strikes in a dispute over track safety concerns. The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said its members will walk out at 6.30am on 12 February for 24 hours, with seven further strikes planned until June. Commuters are being warned to prepare for more disruption ahead of a 48-hour walk out this weekend. Station staff are due to strike from 9pm on Saturday, 6 February, over a dispute concerning the closure of ticket offices and changes to work rosters under the "Fit for the Future" scheme. Zac and Sadiq clash on tube Strikes A page on Transport for London's website says: "The Tube strike affects station staff, and the impact is difficult to predict in advance. "We will open whichever stations we can, based on the staff who sign on to their shifts. Please allow more time for your journey on these days. "As staff shifts change over the course of the day on Sunday and Monday, some stations may only open in either the morning or the afternoon." In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) Show all 12 1 /12 In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London People queue for buses at Stratford station In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London Commuters crowd on a platform as they wait for a train on the c2c line at Upminster station In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London Metropolitan Police with crowds of people queuing for buses at Stratford station In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London People queue for buses in Stratford In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London People queue to get on a bus outside Victoria Station In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London A long line of people waiting at a bus stop in Wimbledon, south west London, as tennis fans leaving the All England Club faced a difficult journey home due to a tube strike In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London People wait in line for taxis in Wimbledon In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London A closed entrance to Stratford underground station, as commuters face travel misery trying to get to work because of a strike which has brought London Underground to a standstill In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London District Line tube trains parked at the Upminster depot during a 24-hour walkout of London Underground staff In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London Commuters try to board a tube train at Westminster station as workers across the British capital begin a 24-hour strike on 7 July In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London Commuters crowding around one of the entrances to Oxford Circus Tube station, the rush hour on 7 July started early in London as commuters left work to beat a Tube strike In pictures: Tube strike in London (July 2015) London Commuters crowding around one of the closed entrances to Oxford Circus Tube station. Picket lines were mounted outside stations by members of four trade unions involved in a 24-hour walkout in a row over the new all-night Tubes, due to start in mid-September RMT said the latest series of strikes involved 1,500 of its staff in a row over "basic safety issues". Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "Nobody should dare to under-estimate the severe impact on track safety that the changes bulldozed through by London Underground have unleashed and which have forced our members to take a prolonged period of industrial action to protect both themselves and their colleagues. "From a situation where everyone knew how to access the track, we now have anarchy and uncertainty. "Into this mix we have engineering train movements that we believe will lead to someone being killed and this union will not sit back and wait for a disaster to happen." London Underground's Steve Griffiths said: "Safety is always our top priority and we have robust and comprehensive procedures in place to ensure that any staff working on the track are kept safe and are aware of any train movements. "We have talked to our trade unions extensively about the changes we have made to track access for engineering work and will continue these discussions next week." Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Cabinets collective responsibility over Europe is under strain a a senior minister dropped a broad hint that he was preparing to campaign for Britain to leave the EU. John Whittingdale, the Culture Secretary, signalled he was contemplating arguing for Brexit in the EU membership referendum which the Prime Minister hopes to stage in late June. Recommended Read more Boris Johnson reportedly set to back staying in EU David Cameron is also facing pressure from Brussels over his planned deal to recast Britains relationship with the EU, following claims that none of his fellow leaders are happy with his reform proposals as they stand. There is a lot of frustration and concerns. Its clear the negotiations are going to be difficult, a source close to the discussions told the BBC. Mr Cameron flies to two European capitals on 5 February for further talks with the continental counterparts he needs to convince, having instructed Eurosceptic ministers to keep their counsel until he secures a deal for his reform plans from other EU leaders at a Brussels summit and presents it to the Cabinet shortly afterwards. He has said that ministers with long-standing and sincerely held views on the issue would then be free to argue for Britain to leave the EU. British Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, John Whittingdale (AFP/Getty) His strictures have provoked anger in the Out camp which has argued that senior Cabinet members such as the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, have already started making the case for remaining in the bloc. Mr Whittingdale is one of four Cabinet ministers who are expected to argue for a Leave vote, along with Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, Theresa Villiers, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Chris Grayling, the Commons leader. The Culture Secretary, a former political secretary to the late Baroness Thatcher, made plain his intentions in an interview in which he highlighted his well-known Euroscepticism. My position is that the Prime Minister is out there trying to negotiate the best deal he can for the country. I have a track record where Ive been highly critical of the way the EU works and I have opposed measures for closer integration and it certainly needs reform, he told The House magazine. He added: I hope the Prime Minister will get that agreement and then Ill look at it when he comes back with it. Asked whether he would follow Mr Hammonds lead and rule out backing Brexit, he replied: I wouldnt. He was speaking as the Prime Minister discussed his reform demands with other EU leaders in the margins of the London summit on the Syrian refugee crisis. Mr Cameron will travel to Poland and Denmark on 5 February for further discussions as negotiations intensify ahead of the EU summit in Brussels on 18-19 February. Speaking in Westminster, the head of the In camp, Lord Rose, predicted a comfortable victory in the membership referendum and promised not to run a campaign that would be based on fear over the impact of leaving the EU. A win is a win. If we get to 50.001 per cent it is a win. I want to win, but we will win by a substantial margin, said the businessman, who is chairman of Britain Stronger in Europe. He said: If we just keep going, beating the drum and saying what the facts are, then common sense will prevail. Another leading figure in the campaign, the former Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson, courted controversy when he said the Prime Ministers demand for restrictions on EU workers right to benefits would do nothing to cut immigration levels. Mr Johnson, the chairman of Labour In for Britain, said the benefits curb was never going to do that. He told BBC Radio 4: The issue of in-work benefits is not a draw factor. Indeed, this is a two-way process no country has more of its people working in other countries than Britain, more than Poland, more than any other country in Europe. On the other side of the debate, the senior Tory MP David Davis said: The prime ministers emergency brake on migrant benefits would not stop a push bike. Meanwhile, infighting between Out supporters intensified as Arron Banks, the founder of Leave.EU, accused senior figures in the rival Vote Leave campaign of putting their careers ahead of winning the referendum. Mr Banks claimed Vote Leave had dismissed his request for a merger after two senior figures, Matthew Elliott and Dominic Cummings, were sidelined in a reshuffle. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The European Parliament could present a serious roadblock to David Camerons drive to renegotiate Britains membership of the EU, the Prime Minister was warned as he stepped up efforts to win other leaders support for his reform plans. His most contentious demands, including limiting the entitlement of European migrants to in-work benefits, need to be approved by MEPs as well as EU leaders before they can come into force. The parliaments president, Martin Schulz, warned that Mr Camerons proposal to curb benefits would run into opposition from MEPs who fear it could amount to discrimination. Mr Schulz said: The European Parliament needs to see its concerns addressed early on to avoid a serious roadblock later on when legislation will need to be debated and adopted in the European Parliament. Speaking at the London School of Economics, he said: Solutions cannot come at the price of discriminating against EU citizens. This is a fundamental principle of our Union. The European Parliament will support all proposals which fairly address real problems which may emerge from free movement as long as they do not cause discrimination and undermine European values. Mr Schulz, who stressed he wanted Britain to remain in the bloc, also said that the UK makes continuous demands on Brussels and many EU politicians believe if the Brits want to leave, let them leave. Cameron on EU reform In further remarks, which will be seized upon by Eurosceptics, Mr Schulz argued that Mr Camerons reforms could still be undone even if they are agreed by EU leaders at a Brussels summit on 18-19 February. Nothing in our life is irreversible. Legally binding decisions are also reversible, he said. His comments were swiftly dismissed by Mr Cameron, speaking at a press conference in Copenhagen after flying visits to Denmark and Poland. The Prime Minister insisted: If it is agreed it will be agreed as a legally binding treaty deposited at the United Nations. It would only be reversible if all 28 countries, including Britain, agreed to reverse it. Mr Cameron has less than a fortnight to win the support of the 27 other EU leaders for his reform blueprint if he is to clinch a deal in Brussels and hold his promised EU membership referendum on his preferred date of June 23. A source close to the negotiations has been quoted as saying he is yet to secure the support of any of the leaders to his plans as they stand. He flew early on Friday to Warsaw for talks with the Polish Prime Minister, Beata Szydlo, who has said she does not see eye to eye with him over cutting the benefits of EU nationals. After their meeting she said: There are always topics that need to be ironed out. Over one million Poles live and work in Britain. Their work is growing Britains GDP and we want them to enjoy the same kind of opportunities for development as Britons. He travelled on to Copenhagen, where the Danish Prime Minister, Lars Lokke Rasmussen, offered his help to secure a deal. Mr Rasmussen said the reform package was a good basis for negotiations and contained many elements which Denmark strongly supports. An opinion poll has suggested the support for Britain to leave the EU had grown since Mr Cameron detailed his reform proposals. The YouGov survey for The Times found 45 per cent of people backed leaving the EU, while 36 per cent would vote to remain. Excluding dont knows, that produced a 56-44 majority in favour of Brexit. Lord Rose, who is leading the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign, has forecast a victory for the Remain camp by a substantial margin. Sign up to the Inside Politics email for your free daily briefing on the biggest stories in UK politics Get our free Inside Politics email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Politics email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Labour faces its second by-election test in a northern stronghold since Jeremy Corbyn became party leader following the death of a respected left-wing MP. Harry Harpham, who became the MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough at last years election, died from cancer at the age of 61. Mr Corbyn led tributes to the former miner, whom he described as a proud socialist who was dedicated to justice for working people. The Labour leader said: To the very end he was fighting for working people in Parliament. What a decent man he was and he will be sadly missed by all his friends in the Labour Party. Recommended Read more Labour MP Harry Harpham dies aged 61 Mr Harpham secured 57 per cent of the vote at the election, with a majority of nearly 14,000 over second-placed Ukip. Labour looks certain to retain the safe seat, which was previously represented by Lord Blunkett. But the size of its vote will be studied carefully for indications of any impact of the Corbyn leadership on Labour support. The party achieved an impressive victory in the Oldham West and Royton by-election in December. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Noela Rukundo sat in a car outside her home, watching as the last few mourners filed out. They were leaving a funeral her funeral. Finally, she spotted the man shed been waiting for. She stepped out of her car, and her husband put his hands on his head in horror. Is it my eyes? she recalled him saying. Is it a ghost? Surprise! Im still alive! she replied. Far from being elated, the man looked terrified. Five days ago, he had ordered a team of hit men to kill Rukundo, his partner of 10 years. And they did well, they told him they did. They even got him to pay an extra few thousand dollars for carrying out the crime. Now here was his wife, standing before him. In an interview with the BBC Thursday, Rukundo recalled how he touched her shoulder to find it unnervingly solid. He jumped. Then he started screaming. Im sorry for everything, he wailed. But it was far too late for apologies; Rukundo called the police. The husband, Balenga Kalala, ultimately pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nine years in prison for incitement to murder, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (the ABC). The happy ending or, as happy as can be expected to a saga in which a man tries to have his wife killed was made possible by three unusually principled hit men, a helpful pastor and one incredibly gutsy woman: Rukundo herself. Here is how she pulled it off. Rukundos ordeal began almost exactly a year ago, when she flew from her home in Melbourne with her husband, Kalala, to attend a funeral in her native Burundi. Her stepmother had died and the service left her saddened and stressed. She retreated to her hotel room in Bujumbura, the capital, early in the evening; despondent after the events of the day, she lay down in bed. Then her husband called. He told me to go outside for fresh air, she told the BBC. But the minute Rukundo stepped out of her hotel, a man charged forward, pointing a gun right at her. Dont scream, she recalled him saying. If you start screaming, I will shoot you. Theyre going to catch me, but you? You will already be dead. Rukundo, terrified, did as she was told. She was ushered into a car and blindfolded so she couldnt see where she was being taken. After 30 or 40 minutes, the car came to a stop, and Rukundo was pushed into a building and tied to a chair. She could hear male voices, she told the ABC. One asked her, You woman, what did you do for this man to pay us to kill you? What are you talking about? Rukundo demanded. Balenga sent us to kill you. They were lying. She told them so. And they laughed. Youre a fool, they told her. There was the sound of a dial tone, and a male voice coming through a speakerphone. It was her husbands voice. Kill her, he said. And Rukundo fainted. Rukundo had met her husband 11 years earlier, right after she arrived in Australia from Burundi, according to the BBC. He was a recent refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and they had the same social worker at the resettlement agency that helped them get on their feet. Since Kalala already knew English, their social worker often recruited him to translate for Rukundo, who spoke Swahili. They fell in love, moved in together in the Melbourne suburb of Kings Park, and had three children (Rukundo also had five kids from a previous relationship). She learned more about her husbands past he had fled a rebel army that had ransacked his village, killing his wife and young son. She also learned more about his character. I knew he was a violent man, Rukundo told the BBC. But I didnt believe he can kill me. But, it appeared, he could. Rukundo came to in the strange building somewhere near Bujumbura. The kidnappers were still there, she told the ABC. They werent going to kill her, the men then explained they didnt believe in killing women, and they knew her brother. But they would keep her husbands money and tell him that she was dead. After two days, they set her free on the side of a road, but not before giving her a mobile phone, recordings of their phone conversations with Kalala, and receipts for the $7,000 in Australian dollars they allegedly received in payment, according to Australias The Age. We just want you to go back, to tell other stupid women like you what happened, Rukundo said she was told before the gang members drove away. 'Dead' man wakes up in morgue Shaken, but alive and doggedly determined, Rukundo began plotting her next move. She sought help from the Kenyan and Belgian embassies to return to Australia, according to The Age. Then she called the pastor of her church in Melbourne, she told the BBC, and explained to him what had happened. Without alerting Kalala, the pastor helped her get back home to her neighborhood near Melbourne. Meanwhile, her husband had told everyone she had died in a tragic accident and the entire community mourned her at her funeral at the family home. On the night of Feb. 22, 2015, just as the widower Kalala waved goodbye to neighbors who had come to comfort him, Rukundo approached him, the very man whose voice shed heard over the phone five days earlier, ordering that she be killed. I felt like somebody who had risen again, she told the BBC. Though Kalala initially denied all involvement, Rukundo got him to confess to the crime during a phone conversation that was secretly recorded by police, according to The Age. Sometimes Devil can come into someone, to do something, but after they do it they start thinking, Why I did that thing? later, he said, as he begged her to forgive him. Kalala eventually pleaded guilty to the scheme. He was sentenced to nine years in prison by a judge in Melbourne. Had Ms Rukundos kidnappers completed the job, eight children would have lost their mother, Chief Justice Marilyn Warren said, according to the ABC. It was premeditated and motivated by unfounded jealousy, anger and a desire to punish Ms. Rukundo. Rukundo said that Kalala tried to kill her because he thought she was going to leave him for another man an accusation she denies. But her trials are not yet over. Rukundo told the ABC shes gotten backlash from Melbournes Congolese community for reporting Kalala to the police. Someone left threatening messages for her, and she returned home one day to find her back door broken. She now has eight children to raise alone, and has asked the Department of Human Services to help her find a new place to live. And lying in bed at night, Kalalas voice still comes to her: Kill her, kill her, she told the BBC. Every night, I see what was happening in those two days with the kidnappers. Despite all that, I will stand up like a strong woman, she said. My situation, my past life? That is gone. Im starting a new life now. Washington Post Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} If you are a pregnant woman, and have not been living on another planet, it is likely you will be aware of the Zika virus epidemic sweeping the Americas. You will be aware of the threat it could pose to your unborn child, were you to travel to Brazil or one of the other affected countries and be bitten by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Indeed, you may be aware of the latest Brazilian research, which appears to suggest Zika had been found in patients urine and saliva samples. Zika is symptomless in an estimated three-quarters of those infected and causes mostly mild effects a skin rash, joint pain in the remainder. That is, alas, not the full story. While most focus has been, rightly, on Zikas suspected link with microcephaly a malformation of the foetus in which the brain fails to grow normally leading to the birth of babies with small heads who will mostly go on to have learning difficulties the viruss other threat has had less attention: its potential to cause Guillain-Barre syndrome. Recommended Read more Scientists breeding special mosquitoes to fight Zika virus Guillain-Barre is a rare and sometimes life-threatening condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves causing paralysis. Hundreds of cases have been linked with the Zika outbreaks in Brazil and other countries and scores of people have been hospitalised. Some have died. Guillain-Barre can affect anyone. It often begins with numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, leading to muscle weakness which, if it spreads to the chest, can affect breathing and leave patients on life support. Most cases recover in weeks or months but in some paralysis or muscle weakness may last for years. Is the zika virus linked to birth defects? The syndrome was first described 100 years ago and is often linked with an earlier viral or bacterial infection which disrupts the immune system, leading it to attack the body. About 30 per cent of patients require ventilation but, with proper medical care, less than 5 per cent die. Experts from the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in the US are urgently investigating its link with Zika alongside officials in Brazil. It was first noticed in French Polynesia during the outbreak of Zika which swept the island group in 2013. French Polynesia has a population of 270,000 and there were 42 confirmed cases of Guillain-Barre, about eight times the normal number according to doctors. It was only later that the link with microcephaly was spotted in French Polynesia, after it had appeared in Brazil and officials went back to check the records. The link with microcephaly did not emerge earlier because the population infected was too small for the rise to be obvious. The Zika virus - in pictures Show all 5 1 /5 The Zika virus - in pictures The Zika virus - in pictures A three-month-old, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil. A rise in microcephaly cases is thought to have been caused by the spread of the Zika virus in affected countries Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A mother holds her baby who has microcephaly Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A five-month-old baby, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A pediatric infectologist examines a two-month-old baby, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil Getty Images The Zika virus - in pictures A baby affected with microcephaly In Brazil, doctors have reported dramatic rises in cases of Guillain-Barre. At the public hospital in Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, doctors said 16 people were ill with two paralysed by the syndrome, two weeks after they contracted the virus. The Hospital da Restauracao in Recife, in the north-east, treated a reported 94 patients with the syndrome during the rainy season, six times the normal number. In the Couto Maia hospital in Salvador, Antonio Bandeira, an infectious disease specialist, reported 24 patients had been admitted with Guillain Barre between May and July. Zika had been really bad from February to July and had since disappeared, he said. In Maceio, also in the north-east, Wellington Galvao, a haematologist, treated 43 patients with Guillain-Barre in 2015, compared with 10 to 15 in previous years. I estimate that Zika increases by about 20 times the probability that an individual can get Guillain Barre. It can be a nightmare for those who have it, he was quoted as saying. The association between Zika and Guillain-Barre is still just that an association. Other spikes have been observed in Colombia, which reported the first deaths from Guillain-Barre yesterday, and Honduras. However, there was a rise in cases in north-eastern Brazil in 2003-4 following an outbreak of dengue virus, also spread by mosquito. This highlights the difficulty of pinning down the precise cause. Health officials are nevertheless taking the suspected link with Zika seriously. The WHO named Guillain Barre as a potential threat of Zika in the headline on its emergency declaration last Monday. Public Health England (PHE), followed suit. But PHE, like the CDC, confined its travel warning to pregnant women and the risk of microcephaly. It did not advise against travel because of the risk of Guillain-Barre. Vincent Racaniello, professor of microbiology and immunology in the College of Physicians at Columbia University, New York, explained the discrepancy. Guillain Barre resolves, microcephaly does not, he said. Nathalie MacDermott, clinical research fellow in infectious disease at Imperial College London, said: In the vast majority of cases, microcephaly causes permanent neuro-developmental delay. We are talking about a significant impact on a generation of children. It may be that Zika causes Guillain-Barre but it may not be very severe. The vast majority of cases will make a full recovery. She added: It is worth remembering the highest risk from travel is often not disease. It is road accidents. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A white supremacist has admitted to a court that he planned to start a race war - allegedly by attacking black churches and Jewish synagogues. The FBI said that Robert Doyle was one of three men arrested for plotting to bomb the premises of such premises. They were arrested after trying to buy an automatic weapon, explosives and a pistol with a silencer from an undercover agent, posing as an illegal arms dealer. Doyle pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to affect commerce by robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Investigators said the three men were arrested after trying to buy weapons from an undercover agent According to NBC, when Judge Roderick Young asked Doyle if he understood that pleading guilty meant that he admitted to the charges, Doyle replied: I do understand that, and that is exactly what I am saying. The FBI said Doyle held a meeting on September 27 at his home in Chesterfield, Virginia, to discuss shooting or bombing the occupants of black churches and Jewish synagogues. The bureau said Doyle and another suspect, Ronald Chaney, met with an undercover agent posing as an illegal arms dealer on October 25. On November 8, the FBI said Mr Chaney met with the undercover agent to make the purchase, and was placed under arrest. Doyle - who will be sentenced on May 2 - was arrested later that day. A third suspect, Charles Halderman, was arrested on November 8 and charged with conspiracy to commit robbery. He has already pleaded guilty to the charges and will be sentenced on April 25. The FBI said Doyle and Chaney ascribe to a white supremacy version of the Asatru faith, or Odinism. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} At least 37 people have been killed after a bus plunged off a bridge into a river in India, the AFP news agency reports. The state transport bus fell into the Purna river in Navsari district in south Gujarat, according to the Times of India. Police superintendent MS Bharada said: "Twenty bodies have been taken out from the river after the bus fell off a bridge into Purna river near Supa village. "The bus was going from Navsari to Ukai when the accident took place. We do not know the exact number of people travelling in the bus, but it is said that it was full." The passengers included students and employees working in different private and government offices, the Indian Express reports. Police, fire brigade and ambulance services are engaged in a rescue operation. "The death toll has risen to 37. At least 24 others are admitted to hospital for treatment," senior administrative official Remya Mohan in Gujarat state told AFP. A World Health Organisation report found more than 230,000 people are killed in traffic accidents in India every year. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} A woman protesting the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) threw a sex toy at a New Zealand politician. "That's for raping away our sovereignty," the protester, Josie Butler, shouted, after throwing the sex toy at Economic Minister Steven Joyce. As she was led away from the media conference at Waitangi, she said: "That's for raping our country, because of the TPPA and selling away our rights and our freedom. I did it for our country." Ms Butler was taken away by police and later released without charge, according to a post on her Facebook page. Mr Joyce took it on the chin, joking on Twitter: He told TVNZ: "Fair to say I dont think those sorts of things happen everyday. "We actually thought it was a little bit humorous at the end of it all. New experiences in politics everyday, it's the privilege of serving." The controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been criticised for the ongoing secrecy of negotiations, which the public have no access to, and for the effects it may have on democracy, jobs and food safety. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Police in Bucharest have announced that they are treating as suspicious the death of a British travel writer, adventurer and activist who helped bring about the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Romania. David St Vincents decomposing body was found by his landlady in his Bucharest apartment on 12 January. His death was initially thought to have been from natural causes, but police said that the case had been handed to the Bucharest prosecutors office. Friends of Mr St Vincent, however, said his death may yet be found to have been from natural causes. They said the 48-year-old, who was epileptic, had blood pressure problems and labyrinthitis, an inner-ear infection causing dizziness and difficulties with balance. They also paid tribute to an extremely generous, larger-than-life character whom they described as a British eccentric in the best possible way, and their PG Wodehouse of the internet. In his online CV, Mr St Vincent, who worked for The Independents travel section in 2004, had included an unusual experiences section in which he listed: Chased by bear in Transylvania, Offered job as English language newsreader on Iranian TV on condition I married a Muslim. After reading Oriental studies at Oxford University, Mr St Vincent went to Iran to research a travel guide, but was deported in 1992 after being accused of plotting to import Salman Rushdies novel The Satanic Verses. He used the experience to ensure his Lonely Planet guide to Iran included such tips as Never underestimate the ruthlessness or strength of the Komiteh (a revolutionary committee). Undeterred, he went to Romania to write a travel guide and in 1994 he became a founder member of the Bucharest Acceptance Group, later renamed Accept. The group played a decisive role in achieving the decriminalisation of same-sex relationships in Romania in 2001, but initially had to hold its meetings in secret because of threats of violence. The Rev Chris Newlands, now the Vicar of Lancaster, who was the groups first chairman, said: As chaplain to the British embassy I had diplomatic immunity and could work with some measure of safety. Others chose to take a risk. David was a pretty fearless campaigner. Mr St Vincent returned to Bucharest about two years ago, his fondness for tweed jackets and Panama hats soon marking him out as one of the citys more noticeable characters. Rev Newlands, who will officiate at his friends funeral in Bucharest on 18 February, said: In a country where people werent too familiar with Brits, he loved playing the archetypal English gentleman. He was also extremely generous to his many friends. Beneath the rather idiosyncratic character that he cultivated was a very kind man. Florin Radu, of Accept, which organised Romanias first gay pride parade in 2005, said the group would hold a commemorative event for Mr St Vincent next week. Mr Radu, 46, a friend of Mr St Vincents for 10 years, said: We are very sad, but very grateful to David for what he did for gay rights. He was a very funny, very kind man who loved Romania. Mr St Vincents younger brother Peter Harris, 46, a property developer living in south-west France, said: I am very proud of Davids achievements, and of how he struck a chord with so many people around the world. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} In future the French can go for a picnic, not a pique-nique. While doing so, they can choose to eat an ognon, not an oignon. And if they write a postcard or more likely send a text message they dont need to place quite as many little hats on their is and us as they once did. A decision to implement a 26-year-old, very modest and non-compulsory reform of the spelling rules of the French language has caused an uproar in France. The circumflex the accent which looks like an old Chinese hat was being abolished! By edict of the education ministry, the spelling of hundreds of words was being changed overnight! Little of this, it turned out, was true. The circumflex will remain on its most common habitat, the e and the a. It can however, in some words, be left off an i or a u. A few words such as picnic and ognon will have these simpler alternative spellings, but the old ones will also remain acceptable. A total of 2,400 words are affected. All of this was agreed by the Academie Francaise, the 350-year-old watch-dog of the French language, in 1990. For reasons no one can quite explain, publishers have now included them in school text books for the first time. Why the outrage? It began with a perfectly accurate story on the website of the French television station, TF1. By the time that it had been spun and woven by social media, the circumflex was to be abolished overnight. Slogans appeared on Twitter and Facebook which proclaimed Je suis circumflex instead of Je suis Charlie. The right-wing student union UNI put out a statement attacking its favourite target, the Socialist education minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem. She, the union fulminated thinks she has the right to overturn the spelling rules of the French language. Recommended Read more The most difficult grammar quiz you will take this year The UNI managed, however, to make a spelling mistake in its declaration thus unintentionally supporting its assertion that French educational standards have gone to the chiens. The Education Ministry was perplexed. We have said or done nothing, they said. It is simply a question of publishers catching up with very old, recommended changes, which are already applied in Belgium and Switzerland. The variant spellings were approved by the Academie in 1990 in an attempt to make the French language easier for foreigners. Thus in brief: The circumflex can indicate where a word once contained a silent s but can also alter the pronunciation of a vowel. Now it is no longer obligatory in some words which contain a u or an i. Cout (cost) may henceforth be spelled cout. Paraitre (to appear) can be spelled paraitre. On the other hand, the word du, the past participle of the verb devoir (to have to do something) will remain du to distinguish it from the preposition du. The adjective mur (ripe) must always wear its hat to distinguish it from the noun mur (wall). All perfectly clear? Flexible language: Possible changes Before Oignon, Nenuphar, Extra-terrestre, Pique-nique, Evenement, Chariot, Cout, Paraitre, Porte-monnaie After Ognon, Nenufar, Extraterrestre, Picnic, Evenement, Charriot, Cout, Paraitre, Portemonnaie English Onion, Lily-pad, Extra-terrestrial, Picnic, Event, Chariot, Cost, To Appear, Wallet For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Supermarkets in France have been banned from throwing away or spoiling unsold food by law. The stores are now required to donate unwanted food to charities and food banks. To stop foragers, some supermarkets have poured bleach over the discarded food or storing binned food in locked warehouses. This law was voted unanimously by the French senate on Wednesday after a petition was launched by Courbevoie councillor Arash Derambarsh. It will apply to any supermarket with a footprint of 400 square metres or larger. If companies flout the law they coud incur fines up to 3750 Euros. Jacques Bailet from Banques Alimentaires, a network of Food banks, told the Guardian: "Most importantly, because supermarkets will be obliged to sign a donation deal with charities, well be able to increase the quality and diversity of food we get and distribute Food waste during Christmas "In terms of nutritional balance, we currently have a deficit of meat and a lack of fruit and vegetables. This will hopefully allow us to push for those products. In pictures: Food banks Show all 9 1 /9 In pictures: Food banks In pictures: Food banks Rev Hebden and the Bishop of Oxford They were met with police when they went to deliver their open letter In pictures: Food banks Cameron's constituency office refused to open the door In pictures: Food banks The congregation waited on the other side of the street In pictures: Food banks Reasons for using foodbanks Some of the data released from The Trussell Trust In pictures: Food banks Rising numbers using foodbanks under the Coalition In pictures: Food banks Food poverty Almost a million people have used foodbanks in the last year In pictures: Food banks Food poverty scandal The Mail on Sunday accused the Trussell Trust of giving out food parcels without properly checking peoples circumstances. Getty Images In pictures: Food banks Food poverty scandal Food bank operators report that people in low-paid work are turning up during their lunch breaks seeking help Susannah Ireland/The Independent In pictures: Food banks The BNP have set up their own foodbanks Nick Griffin tweeted: For the avoidance of doubt, our BNP food banks are for indigenous Brits only. 'Minorities' all have their own (taxpayer-funded) charities. Getty "That is very important for food banks because this is a real source of quality products, coming straight from the factory." Mr Derambarsh is now looking to get an EU-wide law banning supermarket food waste. He said: "The next step is to ask the president, Francois Hollande, to put pressure on Jean-Claude Juncker and to extend this law to the whole of the EU. "This battle is only just beginning. We now have to fight food waste in restaurants, bakeries, school canteens and company canteens." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Residents of a small German town have been left outraged after its mayor suggested young girls provoke sexual harassment. Jens Muller, Mayor of Bad Schlema, Saxony, made the comments at a council meeting last week, after a grandfather raised concerns young girls were being subject to harassment as they walked home from school, German newspaper FreiePresse reports. The man, who has not been identified, claimed his granddaughter, who he said was in grade 10 at school (meaning she would be 15 or 16), had been a victim of such behaviour. He said: The girls have been harassed by the refugee children" as they walked to their physical education classes at school. Image of the council meeting YouTube (YouTube) He raised further fears the harassment may increase when the girls wear less clothing in the summer months. In response to the comments Mr Muller said: Thats easy, just dont provoke them and dont walk in these areas. Its technically not necessary for the girls to walk there, he added. There are alternative routes for going to school. The comments sparked outrage among residents who accused the mayor of focusing on the victims rather than the perpetrators. Around 100 residents attended the meeting, according to FreiePresse, who reportedly attacked the mayor with boos and heckles following his remarks. The atmosphere was allegedly so heated, Mr Muller threatened to call the police and told local media the response from the meeting was scary". Germany: Thousands demonstrate against HoGeSa in Cologne One resident called on the mayor to resign after the comments saying, What kind of mayor is this? He should step down. Another member of the meeting said, Lets all keep a metre distance so easy, referring to comments made by the Mayor of Cologne, who said women should maintain an arms length distance from strangers following the sexual attack of women by 1000 men in Cologne on New Years eve. Cologne mayor, Henriette Reker, angered German citizens last month after suggesting women and girls should employ a code of conduct after the attacks. The proposed code, which includes suggestions such as sticking within your own group and asking bystanders for help if you become the victim of an assault, was criticised for directing too much attention on the victims' behaviour rather than the people who performed the attack. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} As feuds go, it was one of the longer-lasting ones. But after 1,000 years of mutual loathing and suspicion, the Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will mend fences with the Russian Orthodox Church by meeting its leader, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. The heads of the worlds two biggest Christian churches will shake hands in Havana, on 12 February when their paths briefly cross in the Caribbean. It will mark Patriarch Kirills seventh anniversary as head of the Russian Orthodox Church and the first time a Russian Patriarch has ever met a Pope. Vatican experts hailed the news as hugely important. And it adds to the feeling that Pope Francis is on a bit of a roll, after bringing about last years rapprochement between Cuba and the US, and boosting diplomatic ties with China and Iran. Holy See spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said at the planned two-hour meeting at Havana airport on 12 February, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill will swap presents and sign a joint declaration. He would give no clues on the nature of the declaration, but said it would be highly significant. Cubas President, Raoul Castro, will also be present. Pope Francis has constantly stressed the need to protect Christians in Middle East war zones. Metropolitan Hilarion, foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, said yesterday that, for this reason, greater cooperation between the Holy See and the Russian Church was vital. The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in other regions where extremists are perpetrating a genocide of Christians requires immediate action and an even closer cooperation between Christian churches, he said. Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us Show all 10 1 /10 Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us web-new-pope-2-getty.jpg Getty Images Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us pope-st-peters.jpg AP Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us francis-of-assissi.jpg Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us Pope-Francis-Vatican-REUT.jpg Reuters Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us Vatican-Pope-Francis-AP.jpg AP Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us pope-Francis-feet.jpg Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us Pope-Francis-afpgt.jpg AFP/Getty Images Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us pg-20-hell-1-getty.jpg Hulton Archive/Getty Images Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us pope-ford-focus-ap.jpg AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia Gallery: 10 ways Pope Francis has surprised us pg-34-pope-getty.jpg Getty Images Relations between Patriarch Kirill and the Holy See have worsened in the past few years because of the conflict in Ukraine. The Orthodox Church has accused Catholics there of evangelism and fomenting Ukrainian nationalism. But enmity between Rome and the highly conservative Russian church, which traces its origins back to the baptism of Prince Vladimir in 988 AD, has existed for centuries. This is due largely to the Great Schism nearly a millennium ago that split Christianity into Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. The defining moment came when Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I of Constantinople issued tit-for-tat excommunications after the four Eastern patriarchs refused to recognise the supreme authority of the Pope. Things went from bad to even worse with the sacking of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, which was seen as a direct military assault by Rome against the Byzantine Empire, and the Constantinople church. It wasnt until 900 years later, in 1965, that Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras I of Constantinople first among equals of the Orthodox leaders removed the mutual excommunications, although key differences remained, including as whether clergy could marry and the centralised power of the Vatican. Signs of Pope Franciss intention to further heal the near 1,000-year rift came in 2014 when the Argentine visited Jerusalem to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the meeting that led to the excommunications being lifted. It was the current Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, who asked Francis to join him in Jerusalem in 2014. But the forthcoming meeting with Patriarch Kirill is the real breakthrough that Pope Francis sought. He has previously said to him: Wherever you want, you call me and Ill come. Veteran Vatican watcher Robert Mickens said of the Cuba meeting: This is a huge event. Its the first time a Pope has ever met the Russian Patriarch and, after improving relations with Constantinople, relations with the Russian Church were still very poor. Mr Mickens said that Pope Franciss breakthrough had come because he was willing to compromise on the vexed issue of the Pontiffs supreme status. More than any other Pope hes shown hes willing to renegotiate the Popes primacy, he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Customs officials at Munich airport seized a suitcase containing the "reeking" skull of an ape last week. The 23-centimetre, 650-gram souvenir had not been cleaned properly, producing the terrible smell. Remaining fatty deposits in the skull meant it infringed Germany's disease control laws, The Local reports. The souvenir, which belonged to a man arriving from Thailand, was seized by customs officials and later destroyed. It is unclear whether the skull had been obtained legally, as the owner could not produce the appropriate papers under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITIES). In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Show all 13 1 /13 In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Bear mace A 10oz canister of bear mace confiscated at Anchorage Airport - canisters with less than 4oz are allowed In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Marijuana A suitcase stuffed with 81lbs of weed seized at Oakland International Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Throwing star A throwing star taken from luggage at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Throwing star Six folding blades taken from a carry-on bag at Las Vegas Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA IED training kit An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training kit found in checked luggage at Honolulu Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Novelty watch bomb It's actually not real is just a novelty item, but was seized nevertheless at Oakland International Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Shuriken Three throwing stars found within a carry-on bag at the Dallas Love Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Gun A firearm uncovered at Dallas Fort Worth airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Loaded gun A loaded firearm taken in a carry-on bag at AustinBergstrom Airport in Texas In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Comb knife You wouldn't brush your hair with this - found at the Detroit Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Samurai sword It was uncovered in a carry-on bag at Boston Logan International Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Inactive mortar round An inert 60mm mortar round found at the Washington Dulles Airport In pictures: Items confiscated by the TSA Smartknife TSA Last week, police at Thailand's Chiang Mai airport seized a life-sized doll used to smuggle 200 tablets of "yaba", a widely-used Thai amphetamine. In 2015, the US Transport Security Administration (TSA) faced a drastic review of its screening practices, after an internal investigation found glaring weaknesses in security checks at American airports. The investigation found TSA agents failed to spot fake weapons and explosives carried by undercover testers in 95 per cent of instances. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Therapists linked to a banned American Jewish group that tries to convert gays into heterosexuals are working openly and legally in Israel. Israels health ministry advises against so-called gay conversion or reparative therapy, calling it scientifically dubious and potentially dangerous, but no law limits it. A US-based organisation called Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing (Jonah) was shut in December for violating New Jersey consumer fraud laws by claiming therapy could heal homosexuality. But gays in Israel who contacted Jonah say they were referred to some of the 20 to 30 licenced psychologists and social workers, and 50 non-licensed therapists, who practice some form of conversion therapy in Israel. Rabbi Ron Yosef of the Orthodox gay organisation Hod, which calls for legislation against such therapy, said this was happening despite increasing acceptance of homosexuality that has led many rabbis in Israel to shun the therapies. Practitioners in Israel say their services are in demand from Orthodox Jewish men trying to reduce same-sex attractions so they can raise a family according to conservative values. Dr Elan Karten says he has treated 100 people with homosexual attractions (AP) Clients also include Jewish teenagers from abroad who study at post-secondary school level at Orthodox seminaries in Israel. Half of these students attend seminaries that require those who admit to having homosexual feelings to see reparative therapists, according to the Yeshiva Inclusion Project, which counsels gay prospective students. Since there is such a strong religious presence here, and political correctness isnt as prevalent, theres more openness about it, about this kind of therapy here, said Dr Elan Karten, a US-trained psychologist and Orthodox Jew who has treated about 100 people with homosexual attractions since he opened his Jerusalem practice eight years ago. Im extremely concerned, said Chaim Levin, a former client of Jonah in the US and a plaintiff in the lawsuit against it in New Jersey. Its exporting hatred and junk science. Leading medical organisations in the US and elsewhere say there is no proof that efforts to change sexual orientation are effective, and warn that such therapy can reinforce self-hatred, depression and self-harm. The Israel Psychological Association reached similar conclusions in a 2011 paper. But proponents in Israel say therapy does not convert clients, but boosts self-esteem and masculinity. AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The sending of ground forces by Saudi Arabia into Syria will have immense ramifications for the countrys civil war and the wider region. The question, however, is whether it will actually take place. The Saudi announcement comes at a time when prospects for peace have faded with the collapse of the Geneva talks and the conflict has intensified with regime forces attempting to encircle Aleppo backed by heavy Russian air strikes. The already sour relationship between Russia and Turkey, backers respectively of the Syrian regime and rebels, has also worsened. Ankara accuses Moscow of being complicit in trying to impose a starvation siege on Aleppo while the Russians claim the Turks are planning to invade Syria. 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty Any Saudi troops going into Syria will find themselves at the centre of a highly combustible situation. Although the ostensible reason for their presence would be to fight Isis, they may find themselves clashing with Iranian volunteers and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters. The leading Sunni state in the Middle-East, Saudi Arabia, will find itself in confrontation with the leading Shia state, Iran, and its allies. The bitter enemies have been engaged in proxy sectarian wars in a number of places, most currently in Yemen; this time they will be in the same battle-space. But will the Saudi ground intervention against Isis actually happen? The Saudi and other Sunni Gulf states are part of the US-led air campaign against Isis. But they have not even been taking part in this for months, forced to focus instead on air strikes on Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen who are proving far harder to see off than expected. Cameron on arms trading with Saudi Arabia.mp4 There was talk at the beginning of the campaign of an army of Sunni states going into Yemen. The Saudis did not offer to lead it, trying instead, unsuccessfully, to sub-contract this to the Egyptians and the Pakistanis. The task is now being largely undertaken by a force of mercenaries, including Latin Americans and South Africans, organised by a US company. On Thursday, Adel al Jubeir, the Saudi foreign minister, gave interviews to foreign media outlets. Surprisingly, he failed to make any mention of the proposed Syrian intervention. This came, instead, later from a relatively junior official, Ahmed Asiri, a spokesman at the defence ministry. The statement was carefully worded. Saudi Arabia is prepared to participate in a ground operation in Syria, it said, if there is consensus among coalition leaders. In other words the Saudis would join a ground force rather than be one themselves. There is a possibility that the Saudis may join the Turks if Ankara tries to set up a buffer zone, as they had proposed in the past, inside Syria. But such incursion may lead to clashes with the Kurdish YPG group, enemies of the Turks, but allies of the Americans against Isis. So, the scenario in Syria remains convoluted and confusing. There may be a bit more clarity on plans of the anti-Isis coalition after a Nato meeting in Brussels next week. It remains highly unlikely, however, that the Saudis will do anything on their own. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} One of the most fought over territories on earth, Iraqi Kurdistan had suffered at the hands of Saddam Husseins chemical weapons long before the appearance of the murderous Isis. Its cities are now dotted with half-completed hotels and apartments economic prosperity is a fantasy. The perceived incompetence and greed of Kurdish leaders tarnishes their success against Isis. And bitter experience makes the Kurds suspicious that they will be used as cannon fodder and then discarded. Hundreds of family members dressed in black were gathered this week at the Hamasur mosque in Sulaimaniyah, in eastern Kurdistan, to mourn 10 relatives who drowned when their boat capsized between Turkey and the Greek island of Samos as they tried to reach Europe. All the dead came from Halabja, the city where up to 5,000 people were killed in a poison gas attack carried out by Saddam Husseins forces against the civilian population in 1988. We only decided to go a week before we flew to Istanbul and paid a smuggler $2,500 per person to get us to Greece, said Sardar Hama Rashid, a waiter in a restaurant whose wife and daughter were drowned on the crossing. He was tearful and looked stunned by what had happened. A relative, a retired truck driver called Omar Hama Amin, said the reason so many Iraqi Kurds were trying to get to Europe was not because of the war but the economic disaster here. Iraqi Kurdistan is one of the most fought-over places on earth and the use of chemical weapons in Halabja was only one of the more atrocious massacres inflicted on its people over the past century. Mass graves filled with the bodies of men, women and children murdered by Isis have been unearthed weekly since the Kurds recaptured the city of Sinjar from Isis last November. But the initial terror when Isis attacked in August 2014 is over and the Kurds, helped by US air strikes, have retaken most of the territory they lost at that time. Isis can still launch surprise attacks, but in general it is the Kurdish Peshmerga who are slowly advancing. Though the outside world is well informed about the savage war being fought between Isis and the Kurds, there is much less awareness of the economic calamity that has devastated the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the disputed territories it has taken from Isis and the Iraqi government. The disaster stems from three main causes: the Kurdish leaderships quarrel, since 2014, with Baghdad over oil exports, which led to the Kurds no longer getting a share of Iraqs oil revenue; the rise of Isis and its capture of Mosul; and the fall in the price of oil sold independently by the KRG, which is today only $21 a barrel. Some 1.4 million Kurds out of a total population of six million work for the KRG or receive benefits from it. But over the past two years they have been paid only part of their salary or no money at all. Government expenditure is estimated to be $1.1bn a month and revenue only about $400m. The skylines of Kurdish cities are dotted with half-completed hotels and apartment buildings, their concrete shells sometimes housing displaced people and refugees. The slogan of only a few years ago about KRG becoming the new Dubai of the Middle East sounds today like an absurd fantasy amid the general economic ruin. Nobody has been paid for five or six months, said Mr Amin, explaining why his relatives had made their disastrous effort to get to Europe. I rent a house but there is no way I can pay for it. Anger runs deep at what is seen as the incompetence and greed of the Kurdish leaders. Asos Hardi, editor of the independent newspaper Awene, said: You can feel the anger in the streets over government corruption. When he investigated and exposed the theft of $18m three years ago, he was badly beaten up by thugs sent by the government official whom he had accused of taking the money. He said that many people blame the government for trying and failing to turn Kurdistan into an oil state independent of Baghdad. Agreeing with this, a Western oil expert said that the KRG made a gigantic bet on a high price for oil and they have lost. In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Show all 30 1 /30 In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani An explosion rocks Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by the militants of Isis group on a People's Protection Unit (YPG) position in the city center of Kobani, as seen from the outskirts of Suruc, on the Turkey-Syria border In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani An explosion rocks the Syrian city of Kobani during a reported suicide car bomb attack by Isis Getty In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani An explosion in the Syrian city of Kobani set off as fighting continues Getty Images In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Heavy smoke rises following an air strike by the US-led coalition aircraft in Kobani Getty Images In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani An unidentified armed man takes position near a building in the Syrian town of Kobani, as seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Kurdish fighters walk to their positions in Kobani In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Residents of Kobani walk in the streets of the besieged town, as seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani People's Protection Unit (YPG) fighters walk in the Syrian town of Kobani, as seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani People watch the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing, on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani A Turkish soldier stands on a top of a tank as he watches the Syrian town of Kobani from near the Mursitpinar border crossing, on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc. Kurdish forces defending Kobani urged a U.S.-led coalition to escalate air strikes on Isis fighters who tightened their grip on the Syrian town at the border with Turkey. A group that monitors the Syrian civil war said the Kurdish forces faced inevitable defeat in Kobani if Turkey did not open its border to let through arms, something Ankara has appeared reluctant to do In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Newly arrived People's Protection Unit (YPG) fighters walk in a line in the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Heavy smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani, seen from near the Mursitpinar border crossing on the Turkish-Syrian border in the southeastern town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Kurdish women mourn at the grave of a relative, who was a Kurdish fighter killed in fighting with the militants of the Islamic State group in Kobani, and was buried at a cemetery in Suruc In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Turkish army tanks mechanized units take position on top of a hill near Mursitpinar border crossing in the southeastern Turkish town of Suruc in Sanliurfa province In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Smoke rises after an US-led air strike in the Syrian town of Kobani. The air strikes pushed Isis fighters back to the edges of the Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobani, which they had appeared set to seize after a three-week assault, local officials said In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani A huge plume of smoke rises after an airstrike in eastern Kobani, Syria, behind a hilltop where militants with the Islamic State group had raised their flag on Monday AP In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Turkish Kurds watch as airstrikes hit Kobani AP In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Smoke rises from the Syrian town of Kobani as Turkish army tanks take position on the Turkish side of the border Reuters In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Military aircraft flies over the Turkey-Syria border as it nears targets in Kobani In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Smoke rises after a US-led air strike in the Syrian town of Kobani Reuters In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Turkish Kurds, on the Turkey-Syria border, watch over the border at the intensified fighting between Isis and Kurdish forces AP In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Smoke rises during airstrikes on the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds Getty In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani A huge plume of smoke rises after an airstrike outside west Kobani, Syria AP In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani A militant with the Isis group walks in the town of Kobani In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Militants with the Isis group, bottom, along with a machine gun-fitted pick up truck, partially seen bottom right, hold positions in Kobani, during intensified fighting with Syrian Kurds In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani People watch smoke rising from the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, after an air strike Getty In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Smoke rises from a strike at an area of a mosque that destroyed its minaret, in Kobani during heavy fighting between militants with the Isis group and Syrian Kurds In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani Militants with Isis hold positions in Kobani, Syria, during intensified fighting with Syrian Kurds AP In pictures: Fighting between Kurds and Isis intensifies in Kobani Kobani A partial view of Kobani with a mosque's minaret The high expectations among Kurds in the decade after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein shattered as their standard of living collapsed even more precipitously than the Greeks after 2008, and from a much lower level. But it is primarily an economic rather than a security disaster because, paradoxically, the Iraqi Kurds are politically and militarily stronger today than they have ever been in their history though this may not last. This is the view of a renowned Peshmerga (Iraqi Kurdish soldier) commander, Muhammad Haji Mahmud, a large landowner in the fertile valley between Sulaimaniyah and Halabja. He is also the general secretary of the Socialist Party, and reckons that he has been in 700 fights or battles over the past 40 years of warfare in Kurdistan and has been seriously wounded six times. After Isis captured Mosul and before they attacked the Kurds, he led 1,000 Peshmerga from his party to defend Kirkuk. His son Atta was killed in the fighting. In an interview with The Independent in his house, he says that, overall, the Kurds have gained more than they have lost in their struggle against the self-declared Islamic State. He lists the benefits: We have become a regular army, rather than a guerrilla force; are supported by US and European air power; can buy weapons openly; and are praised internationally for fighting terrorism. The Syrian Kurds won the battle for Kobani and we sent 150 Peshmerga to help them. While, in Iraq, we became a safe haven for Arabs and Christians. The KRG took advantage of the collapse of the Iraqi army in 2014 to expand its size by 40 per cent through seizing areas, often with mixed Arab-Kurdish populations, control over which had long been disputed with Baghdad. The danger is that these big political and territorial gains depend on the Iraqi government being weak and Isis strong, so the Kurds are courted by all as the best defence against Isis. World leaders treat the KRG as if it was a world power rather than an isolated quasi-independent statelet. My big fear is that, once Mosul is liberated and Isis defeated, the Kurds wont have the same value internationally, said Mr Mahmud. He believes that, with international support, the Kurds may keep the disputed territories, but not otherwise. Bitter experience has made the Kurds suspicious that, once again, they will be used as convenient cannon fodder by outside powers and then discarded when no longer needed. There is also a popular suspicion among Kurds, again rooted in harsh experience, that their leaders can justify and prolong their authoritarian misrule by presenting themselves as the patriotic defenders of their people, diverting attention from their corruption and failure to create a self-sufficient state in Kurdistan. A striking example of just how much resentment bubbles beneath the surface, though obscured by patriotic flag-waving, is the Halabja Memorial Museum. It is a peculiarly ugly building, like a concrete circus tent, but inside there is an affecting display of photographs, household goods and childrens toys, evoking the terrible events of 16 March 1988, when the poison gas cloud enveloped the unsuspecting town. It is not obvious to the first-time visitor, but the museum in Halabja today is in fact the second to stand on this spot. The first, more garish, folkloric and less effective than its successor, was burned out, though the concrete walls survived, during a demonstration by locals in 2006. The remarkable destruction of what was supposedly a memorial to the mass murder of their own relatives was an expression of local outrage that Kurdish officials had repeatedly taken American and other foreign dignitaries to the museum, but had completely ignored the grim living conditions of those in Halabja who were still alive. Ten years after the burning of the museum, the same rage is building up, not just in Halabja but across Kurdistan, against a government that provides security but is otherwise self-serving and dysfunctional. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Up to 20,000 Syrian refugees fleeing fighting in the north-western Aleppo province have gathered at a border crossing with Turkey, UN officials have said. Turkey has been forced to shut the border for the second day in a row after being overwhelmed by the number of refugees fleeing an offensive by pro-Assad forces in the region in recent weeks. The Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said they would continue to feed and shelter the refugees but did not say when or if they would be allowed in. On Wednesday, UN backed peace talks were temporarily halted after the army - backed by Russian air strikes - broke a three-year siege on government controlled villages in the region, Nubul and Zahraa, and disrupted a vital opposition supply line from Turkey to the city of Aleppo. Aid agencies in southern Turkey are frantically trying to help the people massing at the Bab al-Salam border crossing following the most sustained assault on the area in the five years since the civil war began. The advance has meant thousands are fleeing Aleppo - which had previously been a stronghold of the rebels - after a ground assault laid siege to the city to push the rebels out of the southern part they still control. UN officials have said up to 20,000 Syrians are massing on the border (AFP) Rebel groups in the area, including Jabhat al-Nusra, have said they could be forced out the next few days. The deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, Farham Haq, said the refugees were being temporarily housed in the towns of Azaz and Afrin in north-western Syria. Natos Jens Stoltenberg criticised Russia for undermining efforts to find a political solution to the conflict by using air strikes to help President Assad rather than specifically targeting Isis. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Russia must be held accountable for the civilians it had killed in Syria - saying between them Moscow and Damascus were responsible for the deaths of 400,000 people. 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. He accused the country of trying to set up a boutique state for Assad. But Russia countered saying it is only targeting groups it considers to be terrorists, and accused Turkey of preparing an invasion in northern Syria. Nato has criticised Russia for 'undermining' efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the war (AFP) 250,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the fighting over the past five years with 11m people displaced. Turkey has taken in more than 2.5m million refugees - more than any other country in terms of the total number. Additional reporting by Reuters Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The first thing I notice about Australia's Northern Territory is that it seems to be more or less constantly on fire. Columns of smoke hang in the huge skies, and the super-straight highways are littered with the corpses of animals that fled bush fires only to be hit by Winnebagos, SUVs or thundering road trains. Originally pioneered by Aborigines, this controlled programme of burn-off is to encourage regrowth, and indicative of the tension between man and nature in this dazzlingly hostile landscape. Fewer than 250,000 people live in this tropical swath of rock and charred forest. Its capital, Darwin, is closer to Asia than it is to Sydney. As well as fires, the unwary visitor must look out for razor-sharp shrubs, deadly spiders, biting ants, snakes and termites. Then there are the crocodiles: dainty, snout-nosed freshwater ones and the implacable, huge saltwater breed, whose yellow eyes express something more chilling than wickedness or hunger the sheer indifference of prehistoric creatures that can live a century or more, and are far more likely to find things to eat than things that will eat them. I was assured that a box jellyfish or rogue buffalo was more likely to be lethal than a croc, and that the punishing tropical heat (up to 37C one afternoon in Jabiru) would be the most likely cause of death for a hapless townie. But it's the reptiles that first put the Northern Territory on the map, 30 years ago this year, when Paul Hogan starred in Crocodile Dundee, the surprise screen hit about a romance between an outback bushman and a New York City girl. Though Hogan and his original audience may now be showing signs of wear and tear, the stark charms of the Northern Territory, including many of the film's beautiful locations, are largely unchanged, as is the no-nonsense attitude of the locals. The very few that aren't friendly will tell you exactly why they hate all Poms (except, weirdly, the Royal Family). And I should perhaps mention that in the Territory's capital, Darwin, I had a punch thrown at me for the first time in 30 years. Darwin itself is a pragmatic, architecturally blunt town with a mostly transient population serving the mining and fishing industries, ringed by gorgeous, empty beaches but with a populous wave lagoon and harbour beach protected by anti-croc defences. This is a hard-partying place where bars are boisterous, beer plentiful, steaks huge, and vegetables incidental. I fulfilled a lifetime ambition by ordering a crocodile burger in the Cornucopia cafe, by Darwin's excellent museum and art gallery, and asking the waitress to make it snappy. The main attractions of Darwin are the deckchair cinema, some Second World War oil tunnels and Crocosaurus Cove, where you can meet Burt, the croc who menaced Linda Kozlowski, Hogan's love interest in the film (and in real life: they were married for 24 years). You can also get dunked into a tank alongside one of Burt's scaly cohorts in a toughened acrylic cylinder. Mainly, though, Darwin is a jumping-off point for Kakadu National Park, where much of Crocodile Dundee was shot a hugely biodiverse area about the size of Slovenia, with a uranium mine right in the middle of it and for the wider Territory. Hats, water, factor-50 sunblock and ideally, a bloke with a 4x4 to ferry you around are essentials. North stars: Jim Jim Falls (Lonely Planet) On the Stuart Highway out of town, we passed airstrips for wartime Hurricane squadrons, the roadside site where Rod Ansell the rather less gallant real-life inspiration for Hogan's character was killed in a shootout with police, and a station for the luxurious Ghan train. (When the historic line from Adelaide was finally extended to Darwin in 2004, locals turned out to moon the first train through. Territorians tend to refer disdainfully to other Aussies, especially those from the south and east coast cities, as the latte set.) Further on is the 303 Bar in the Adelaide River Inn, in which Charlie, the buffalo tamed by Mick Dundee, now stands, stuffed and with a bemused expression on his face. A detour took us to the spooky Grove Hill hotel, an arid homestead built from old mine materials in 1935 and ringed with auto wrecks. You can see how this society inspired not only Crocodile Dundee but the Mad Max film franchise. It's not all frontier hardship and ruin, though. There are wide-screen scrolling skies and mile upon mile of (often charred) eucalyptus and paperbark trees, and then, suddenly, an area of simply breathtaking natural gorgeousness. One day, we hiked for an hour uphill to bathe in the blood-warm waterfalls and rockpools of beautiful Edith Falls; on another, we climbed the Ubirr rocks, site of Aboriginal paintings of disputed antiquity, to watch the red sun set behind a plume of smoke a mile high, like Sauron's eye from The Lord of the Rings. Paul Hogan as Crocodile Dundee (Alamy) We climbed a further slope to gain panoramic views of the Nourlangie escarpment, a sort of miniature geological version of Uluru, but without the cultural and religious significance, and stalked a huge variety of birdlife at the Anbangbang billabong. Sometimes, we were thwarted. A visit to Gunlom, the idyllic cliff waterfall and pool where Hogan and Kozlowski first fall for each other was curtailed because it took so long to drive there and back. A second planned swim in a rock pool at Magook had to be cancelled because the road to it had been engulfed in fire for three days. The distances are boggling. It's 1,500km (about 930 miles), or a 15-hour drive, from Darwin to Alice Springs, a further 450 km to Uluru (though there are internal flights). Thus lodges, campsites and roadhouses dot the Territory. They offer different levels of accommodation, from soft ground, where a hardened outback hand can bed down in a swag (halfway between a tent and a sleeping bag), to chalets for pampered types and parking spaces for Winnebagos. We met several grey nomads: fifty- and sixtysomethings who had taken the opportunity of early retirement, sold their houses, and spent their leisure years travelling the country in motor homes. From the Anbinik Kakadu Resort at Jabiru a town comprising two campsites, a hotel hilariously shaped like a crocodile, a bakery, and that's about it we took cruises on the Yellow Water Billabong, and past a multitude of leering saurians on the geographically correct but zoologically misnamed East Alligator River, the latter led by an utterly charming man called Tyrone whose grandfather, he proudly told us, appeared in Crocodile Dundee. Jabiru bird More than the unforgivingly spectacular landscape and the alien termite mounds and the enthralling Aborigine rock paintings, it was the Northern Territory's wildlife that blew me away. Not just the crocs, but the birds. I had only ever glimpsed a kingfisher once in my life, in the UK, and in the space of five minutes shortly after dawn on Yellow Water, I saw four of wildly different size and hue. Then there were the stilt-walking Jabiru birds, the theatrical darters, the egrets and vast, stately sea eagles I could seriously become a birder here. On our last day, we flew from Darwin by floatplane, landing on the water in Sweets Lagoon on the Finniss River System, and taxi-ing up to a pontoon on which were moored a helicopter and an airboat. Glenn, the baby-faced pilot, took us skimming over the trees in the chopper, but most exhilarating were two trips with Matt Wright, owner of Outback Floatplanes, on the airboat. On the first trip, which Matt accurately warned us would be fast and muddy, we blasted through the choked waterways and empty lagoons, throwing up rainbows of spray and skimming over mangroves and fallen trees. On the second, slower meander, Matt lured a semi-tame egret on to the boat, tempted a kingfisher to flash down and snatch a fish from his palm, and thwacked his cap in the water to lure an enormous crocodile called Bone Cruncher alongside. Matt is swarthily handsome with pale green eyes, a former cattle musterer, firefighter and star of National Geographic's Outback Wrangler. If anyone wants to remake Crocodile Dundee, and introduce the Northern Territory to a new generation, I know where they should start. Getting there Nick Curtis flew to Darwin via Singapore with Singapore Airlines (0844 800 2380; singaporeair.com) and its sister carrier SilkAir. Premium economy fares from Heathrow or Manchester start at 1,925. Staying there Anbinik Kakadu Resort (00 61 8 8979 3144; kakadu.net.au). Bungalows with shared bathrooms from A$125 (62) room only. Wildman Wilderness Lodge (00 61 8 8978 8955; wildmanwildernesslodge.com.au). Double cabins from $769 (380), half board. Cicada Lodge (00 61 8 8974 3100; cicadalodge.com.au). Twin rooms from A$695 (347) B&B. Visiting there Outback Floatplanes (00 61 8 8981 4881; outbackfloatplanes.com.au) offers tours by float plane and helicopter. More information australiasoutback.com Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} I first suggested the idea of doing a television series about Greece quite some time ago but it became more and more relevant given the financial and refugee crises in recent years. People traditionally associate the country with ancient history, beaches and, perhaps, the smashing of dinner plates, but few of us fully recognise its geographical position. We've embraced it as the bedrock of European civilisation, but it's also a place that's very much at the crossroads of east and west, where different cultures and customs have mixed and blended over the centuries. You get a very interesting cultural experience as a result. But the thing that surprised me the most was the variety and the exotic extremes of the country. This is a place that encompasses sunny shorelines in the south and forested mountains in the far north that look like the Canadian Rockies, a land where bears and wolves roam wild and the temperature often drops to well below freezing. Faith is foremost in Greece. Mount Athos, a mountainous peninsula that juts out into the Aegean Sea in the north, is a great spiritual centre and has been the emotional heart of the Greek Orthodox Church since 1054. There are around 20 monasteries, many of which are more than 1,000 years old, where women are forbidden from visiting, even today. Men go there to pray, think and connect with their maker. I was left in awe. We were only allowed to film in one monastery, Esphigmenou, which is home to around 100 rebel monks who have effectively broken away from the church and are doing their own thing. They've been accused of squatting, so it's a tricky but fascinating situation. We were given a tour and saw some of the common areas where normal life goes on: the wood-chopping shed, where they brew rakia, and the chocolate factory. They might not have temptations of the flesh, but there are certainly other temptations around. Crete is a revelation. I found the people among the most feisty and passionate Greeks I met. They're heroic and dramatic and very charismatic. Up in the mountains I met a chap called Father Andreas, a bear of a man and the local priest. He's also a trained bodyguard and president of the local gun club. Crete is an island obsessed with weapons. There are tens of thousands of weapons there because it was a smuggling route during the Balkan Wars and locals, on Crete at least, often whip out their handguns and fire them off in to the air at any given opportunity to celebrate. During my time in Greece I didn't see nor hear a single plate smashed; the Greeks have clearly moved on from that and now prefer to empty a magazine of bullets into the air, which is a bit more exciting. Simon in Greece (BBC) My favourite island, though, is not an obvious one. Symi is a tiny island just north of Rhodes that has one of the finest harbours in all the Mediterranean. My wife who's obsessed with Greece and even taught herself Greek introduced me to it and we have been there a number of times; it's glorious. If I had to live anywhere else aside from Britain, it would be Symi. Current problems aside, they have it pretty good: the way of life, the mentality, the passion, the food ... I find it all very appealing. Our days on Symi are always very leisurely. We take water taxis to quiet beaches, eat in local tavernas and go for long walks in the hills. It's also a good idea to move around a little bit. One of the great travel pleasures is to potter between islands on a public ferry. It's a wonderful way to see the country. Greece is, of course, going through a tough time but most holidaymakers won't notice or experience the economic hardships that are affecting the country. Most of the islands are sheltered from it thanks to tourism, but you certainly feel it in the more deprived areas of the bigger towns and cities. On the outskirts of Athens I visited a community where people live in converted shipping containers and queue for handouts of bread. The most heart-breaking thing I encountered, however, was an 83-year-old lady going through a dumpster. She had no money and her pension had been cut quite drastically. It was profoundly upsetting. Recommended Read more Louis de Bernieres on how Greece was let down by the EU Again, as a tourist, you're unlikely to encounter the refugee crisis that is affecting places such as Lesbos, which is receiving enormous numbers every day. It's an incredibly complex situation and many of those arriving have been through hell. We certainly don't shy away from these issues in the series. It's an aspect of the current Greek story that we couldn't ignore and it's important to show light and shade, the stunning views but also the reality of life. But deep down I think the future for Greece is bright. It's going to be a big challenge and it's not going to be helped if the brightest young Greeks head overseas, which is what's happening at the moment. Mount Athos (Alamy) Ultimately, though, it's going to be OK. The Greeks are survivors. You don't go through thousands of years of history without learning a thing or two. Interview by Nick Boulos 'Greece with Simon Reeve' starts on Sunday on BBC2 at 8pm (further information about Greece can be found online at visitgreece.gr). Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for weekly expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Simon Calders Travel email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Finn Lough Lodge, Ireland The heavenly bodies studding the ink-black, unpolluted skies of County Fermanagh can be seen from one of Ireland's quirkiest new hotel rooms. Opened last year, the two bubble pods on the grounds of Finn Lough Lodge, set in the forest by Lough Erne, provide 360-degree views and feature four-poster beds and a telescope. The domes are open all year, but January to March present the clearest views of the Milky Way. 41 Letter Road, Aghnablaney, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, Northern Ireland (028 68 380 360; finnlough.com). Doubles from 175, including breakfast. Awasi Atacama, Chile The unpolluted, high altitude and dry, clear skies of Chile's Atacama Desert combine to form the ideal climate for observing the cosmos. This 1,000km plateau sits at an altitude of about 2,400m, sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the mighty Andes mountain range. There are just eight adobe, stone and wood guest lodges at Awasi, just outside the town of San Pedro de Atacama in the high Altiplano. Guests can explore the other-worldly desert landscape by day and at night; guides come equipped with telescopes for star-gazing tours to explain the canopy that emerges when the sun goes down. Tocopilla 4, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (00 56 222 339 641; awasiatacama.com). Rates start at US$2,480pp (1,771) for a three-night programme, all-inclusive. &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibia Would-be astronomers can check in to &Beyond's remote Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, set in the Namib Rand Nature Reserve, which was designated Africa's first International Dark-Sky Reserve two years ago. The lodge has its own observatory with a Meade L200R 12-inch telescope and the hotel's resident astronomers are on hand for guided after-dinner walks to point out galaxies and constellations to guests. Each of the 10 stone-and-glass suites has a large skylight to continue the show after bedtime. NamibRand National Park, Namibia (00 27 11 809 4300; andbeyond.com). Doubles from N$11,030 (470), all-inclusive. The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats Show all 6 1 /6 The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats Pure Pods, South Island, New Zealand The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats Montage Deer Valley, Utah, USA The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats &Beyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge, Namibia The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats Awasi Atacama, Peru The Big Six: Star-gazing retreats Finn Lough Lodge, Ireland Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland The ethereal glow of the Northern Lights can regularly be seen at this resort; actually two small villages deep in Finnish Lapland, just 250km from the Arctic Circle. You can even view the aurora borealis from your own bed in one of the 16 new Kelo-Glass Igloos that opened late last year. These glass domes-cum-log cabins sleep up to six and have their own sauna, and are built from a fusion of local Kelo pine and glass for optimal viewing. The resort offers the full winter experience, with reindeer and husky safaris. Kiilopaantie 9, Saariselka, Finland (00 358 400 270 057; kakslauttanen.fi). Doubles start at 486, with breakfast. Montage Deer Valley, United States Park City might be the setting for the annual Sundance Film Festival, but you can see more than just movie stars in this elevated part of Utah. The Montage Deer Valley's team of constellation concierges takes guests out for informative nightly tours with the hotel's Celestron Skyscout instruments. The ski-in, ski-out super-lodge sits at the foot of the Wasatch Mountain Range and has access to the extensive slopes around Park City and Deer Valley. 9100 Marsac Avenue, Park City, Utah, US (001 435 604 1300; montagehotels.com). Doubles start at $300 (214), room only. Pure Pods, New Zealand You only get the exact location of New Zealand's Pure Pods when you book. The latest, Pure Pod Manakau, which opened this week, is set down an unmarked trail in the unspoiled wilderness in Kaikoura, South Island. Each pod is a futuristic looking glass box with no curtains or blinds, offering great views of the Southern Cross. This is splendid isolation, with no television or wi-fi, and offers a chance to reconnect with nature, walking the trails for views of the surrounding Seaward Kaikoura Mountain Range. Manakau, Kaikoura, South Island, New Zealand (purepods.com). Doubles from NZ$490 (225) per night. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} After losing up to 60,000 soldiers in five years of fighting, the Syrian army has suddenly scored its greatest victory of the war smashing its way through Jabhat al-Nusra and the other rebel forces around Aleppo and effectively sealing its fate as Russia provided air strike operations outside the city. The rebel supply lines from Turkey to Aleppo have been cut, but this does not mean the end of the story. For many months, the regimes own military authorities along with tens of thousands of civilians, including many Christians were trapped inside Aleppo and at the mercy of shelling and mortar fire by the Nusra fighters, who surrounded them until the army opened the main highway south. During this period, the only way to Aleppo was by plane because the army held a tiny peninsula of territory going to the airport I flew out one night on a military aircraft crowded with wounded Syrian troops. Recommended Read more A powerful visual representation of the human cost of the Syrian war But the tables have turned. It is the rebels themselves who are now surrounded, along with the tens of thousands of civilians in their sector of the city but they have no airport to sustain them. On the basis of so many other battles in this appalling war, there is unlikely to be any offensive for the centre of this greatest of Syrian cities; rather it will be a slow and grinding siege to force the insurgents to surrender. In an ironic twisting of recent history, the two Shia villages of Nubl and Zahra whose people had been surrounded by rebels and starved for three years, fed only by Syrian military airdrops have now been retaken by the Syrian military. The Shia, co-religionists of the Alawite people from which President Bashar al-Assad comes, have been cornered in several villages in the region, although their plight has gone largely unreported. 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 Now the people in the rebel-held part of Aleppo are going to feel the same sense of isolation and, no doubt, the shellfire of their besiegers. There has always been a movement of people between the two sectors of the city will these passages now be closed? And what of the tens of thousands of civilians streaming north towards Turkey? Aleppo itself was late to join the war. By some kind of historical miracle, it remained disentangled from the conflict until 2012 when rebels thinking they were en route to Damascus managed to infiltrate into the ancient city. Its streets were then burned out in months of fighting. Now it appears to be the first of Syrias large cities to be effectively back in the hands of the regime. What comes next? The retaking of the Roman city of Palmyra? The clearing of the lands around Deraa (of Lawrence of Arabia fame)? And, much more dramatically, how soon will the Syrian army, its Hezbollah allies and the Russian air force set their course for the Isis capital of Raqqa? Isis, which holds Palmyra, must be learning of the extraordinary developments of the past few hours with deep concern. The everlasting Sunni Islamic Caliphate in Syria doesnt look so everlasting any more. Is this why the Sunni Saudis have suddenly offered to send ground troops to Syria? And why the Turks are so flustered? I doubt if anyone is weeping in Shia Iran. Anyway, the Saudi military is already having its feet chewed off in the disgraceful Yemen war. As for the Turks sending their own Nato soldiers across the Syrian border presumably at risk of being attacked by the Russians that is a nightmare which both Washington and Moscow must avoid. Otherwise, well find ourselves in another Gavrilo Princip moment and we all know what happened in 1914. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Like the huge majority of men I was angry, disappointed, but not surprised this week to see that a minority of our own sex still do not understand or support - feminism. Daryush Valizadehs followers may have cancelled their international meeting day, but its very existence is proof that their neo-masculinist agenda succeeds in engaging a cohort of men who believe women and, specifically, feminism to be their enemy. So who are the neo-masculinists? Put simply, they are easily manipulated individuals. These insecure men are drawn to the simplistic rhetoric of Roosh and bolster his work with their outrage. Hypnotised by the boasts about his profitable lifestyle, they buy into the idea of a shady feminist conspiracy. Ironically, its exactly this kind of social manipulation, oppression and domination that feminism seeks to liberate both women and men from. The prejudices of sexism and racism, of hatred based on sexuality, of discrimination along lines of class, are all deeply related. Men are among the victims. And a recognition of systems of oppression through the lens of feminism can lead to making those mens lives better. The issues that "neo-masculinists" and Mens Rights Activists complain of arent caused by feminism. High male suicide rates arent induced by womens rights, but by a macho social code that prevents men from seeking effective guidance and therapy for mental health problems. Male-on-male rape within prisons is entirely a product of society that continues to brutalise men and women in a penal system no longer fit for purpose. And its not feminism that drives political warfare that has historically led to the loss of so many male lives. It is feminism, alongside other powerful political movements, that has done so much to liberate people of all kinds from the oppressive power structures of the past. The growing voice of women in politics, in business, and across society as a whole has been at the heart of every major social advance in the last century. Infant mortality rates have plummeted and economies have been boosted by their presence and their campaigning efforts. You only have to look at nations where women are still denied equality to see the brutal price also paid by all but the most powerful men. Daryush Valizadeh and his followers claim they would like to return to a time of kings. They must believe they would all be princes in that world. But the fact they are so easily dominated by a weak-willed dimwit like Roosh suggests they would all be slaves to the system again, flogged for exercising the free speech they think they deserve unreservedly, and even killed if they vocally disagreed with the status quo. Those are the risks feminists have taken, and the price thousands of women every year continue to pay, for the freedoms that even neo-masculinists enjoy today. I know I speak for most men when I say to the followers of Roosh V: shut up. Grow up. Read, widely and deeply, about the feminist ideals that you so clearly do not understand. Then perhaps youll stop being useful idiots to those who happily exploit you. Damien Walter is a writer and sci-fi geek. Follow him on Twitter @damiengwalter Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} The Top 10 in The New Review, the Independent on Sunday magazine, was Sieges. This was one of the most popular lists. A lot of people nominated Stalingrad, although I allowed myself to be swayed by a pedant who said that it didn't have fixed fortifications. The same goes for Leningrad. Here are some more that didn't make it, the run-down of the rest of the Top 20. 11. The Alamo, 1836. Heavily mythologised, as many of the best sieges are. Davy Crockett; war between America and Mexico over Texas. Graham Fildes tells me it was all about freemasons, which I didn't know. Also nominated by Dom del Nevo, John Peters and Finn Tel Darby. 12. Alesia, 52 BC. Julius Caesars huge siege in Gaul; his legions constructed 20 km of ditches and fortifications, encircling 80,000 Gauls, says Simon Mason. Stian Westlake also nominated it for sheer professionalism. 18. Balcombe Street, London, 1975. Four members of the IRA holed up with hostages and negotiated out by the Metropolitan Police. Nominated by Brendan O'Kane and Finn Tel Darby. 14. Calais, 1346 (the one with the Burghers during the Hundred Years' War). Nominated by John Peters. Calais was also besieged in 1348, 1436, 1558 (Mary Tudor, who said the town's name would be engraved on her heart), 1596 and 1940. 17. Jericho. James Tickell. 16. Mafeking, 1899-1900. Relief of, defeat of the Boers, Robert Baden-Powell. "Finally, the people at home took upon themselves the direction of the War and won it in a single night in London by a new and bracing method of warfare known as Mafeking" (1066 And All That). Nominated by Huw Pritchard and Josh Black. 15. Predjama castle (Predjamski grad) in Slovenia, 15th century (above). "This vast castle is built facing out from a huge cave and is almost impregnable. Very handy if you upset the Holy Roman Emperor as one knight (Erazem Lueger) happened to do, by killing one of the Emperor's friends. Forces laid siege to the castle for a year and a day but became both frustrated and fearful, when the knight lobbed fresh out of season cherries at them, thus earning the knight a reputation as a sidekick of the devil. He used a handy tunnel to access valleys on the other side of the hills, where spring came earlier than the castle's valley to keep his supplies replenished." Kerry Larbalestier. 19. Rochester, 1215. "During the First Barons' War when King John blew up the walls with exploding pigs," says Jon Stone. 13. Vienna, 1529 and 1683. "The Polish lancers coming over the hill to charge headlong into the Turks," says Brian Williams, although I'm not sure which siege that was, as there were Polish cavalry involved both times. 20. Vicksburg, 1863. Made Ulysses S Grant's reputation, says Joshua Worrad. "As important as Gettysburg in ending the Civil War," says Duncan Weldon. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} When the campaign to keep Britain in the EU ran focus groups, it found that many people do not know what the single market is. Perhaps some thought it was a club where one singleton could pick up another, rather than the largest tariff-free trade club in the world. It was a reality check but all was not lost: surprisingly, the group discussions showed that people knew about and liked the European arrest warrant, raising the In camps hopes that national security could be a vote-winner in the referendum. Pro-Europeans know they have a huge explaining job to do before the referendum not least because those who want to leave the EU will be much more likely to turn out. Differential turnout could be crucial in a tight race, and I suspect it will be close. Some Europhiles worry that, despite the Labours official support for the In campaign, Jeremy Corbyn is lukewarm. Alarm bells started to ring after the Labour leader told David Cameron in the Commons on Wednesday he was negotiating the wrong goals in the wrong way for the wrong reasons. He said the Prime Ministers much-trumpeted reforms were simply tinkering around the edges. They have little impact on what the EU delivers for workers in Britain or British businesses. Mr Corbyn hardly sounded like a cheerleader for the In crowd. He was right to describe the renegotiation as a Tory Party drama that is being played out in front of us. The clamour for a referendum came from the Conservative family rather than the country. The only questions to Mr Cameron that mattered after his Commons statement on the new deal were from Conservative MPs. I thought I had stumbled into the weekly meeting of the 1922 Committee [of Tory MPs], one Labour MP quipped afterwards. Some Labour MPs are frustrated that they cannot exploit the glaring Tory divisions on an issue on which Labour is broadly united. And it is the duty of all Opposition leaders towell, oppose. We can hardly expect a left-wing Labour leader to be an echo chamber for a Tory Prime Minister with whom he has so little in common. Although they agree in principle on Europe, they will not share a platform. It would be impossible to run a command and control In campaign with all parties singing from the same hymn sheet. Better Together tried it in the Scottish referendum, creating a cumbersome campaign in which everything had to be signed off by all the political parties opposing independence. Britain Stronger in Europe (always called BSE by the Outers) will make a virtue out of the pro-EU parties doing their own thing and sending different messages to different audiences. But will Mr Corbyn really make an effort to reach the parts that Mr Cameron cannot reach? Some Labour Europhiles doubt it. Mr Corbyn has form. He voted against EU membership in the 1975 referendum. Many in the labour movement were converted to the EU cause by Jacques Delors, then European Commission President, at the 1988 TUC conference. His landmark speech persuaded many that the EU could improve workers rights rather than be a capitalist club trying to erode them. Hilary Benn, the shadow Foreign Secretary, who voted to leave in 1975, was won over but his late father Tony, spiritual leader of the British left, was not. He regarded the EU as an attempt to build an anti-democratic empire. Mr Corbyn, a disciple of Tony, was with him rather than Hilary. It showed during last years Labour leadership campaign when at one point Mr Corbyn refused to rule out Labour advocating an Out vote in the referendum. But after winning the leadership, Mr Corbyn bowed to the inevitable: an estimated 211 of Labours 232 MPs support EU membership. Hilary Benn was reassured that Labour would still support the In camp. There was no great row. Mr Corbyn had more important fish to fry notably, persuading Labour to change tack and oppose the Trident nuclear weapons system. Labour Europhiles worry that Mr Corbyns instincts will hold back the In campaign. He doesnt like the West or its institutions like the EU or NATO, one MP groaned. He is not really an internationalist, despite the obvious merit of tackling issues like climate change at EU level. However, not all Labour MPs are fully paid up Europhiles. Some are haunted by the cross-party referendum campaign in Scotland, after which Labour lost 40 of its 41 Scottish seats at last years general election. But it is a false analogy: the Tories were hated in Scotland, but are not in England. Other Labour MPs worry about the threat from Ukip, which took more votes from Labour than the party expected last year and is now in second place behind Labour in 34 northern constituencies. Corbyn allies point out that he went to Brussels in December for positive talks with Labours sister parties when he did not have to. Yet some Europhiles fear the referendum could be lost unless the Labour leader puts his shoulder to the wheel. The public know that Cameron and Corbyn dont agree, so seeing them both making the case for Europe would be powerful, said one In campaigner. Mr Corbyn would be the perfect antidote to the Outers attempt to make the referendum a battle between an establishment In camp and an insurgent Out campaign representing the people. Whatever voters think of Mr Corbyn, they know he is not part of the establishment. He could be well placed to win over the white working class voters tempted by Ukip, who could decide the referendum. This would be in his own interests: if he is to win power for his party, he needs to extend his appeal beyond those among the professional middle classes who welcome him as a breath of fresh air (and are already likely to be pro-EU). On Europe and other issues, Mr Corbyn has to do more than preach to the converted. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} By any account, it was shoddy behaviour. My sons wallet was stolen last week. Or he dropped it. Who knows? However, someone got hold of his Oyster Zip photocard. Gabriel is 16, yet on his card he is still a beaming round-faced cherub of 11. The Zip is linked to my credit card, the idea being that my son will never be stranded. Great but now I was helping some low-life get around town. Via online tracking, it was clear that a right old travel spree was had. Off to Mansion House, up to Finsbury Park, down to Green Park, through the City, past the West End. Overground, underground. Wombling totally free, for about a week. Every time this person tapped in and out, they were stealing from me, again and again. With a card bearing the smiling face of a child. Its not the biggest crime to have been committed in London, but it is symptomatic of the shrugging acceptance of dishonesty which is depressingly apparent in almost every social arena. Fraud relating to travel perhaps because it seems victimless is one of the most egregious areas. Why bother handing in a childs travelcard when you can have travel for free? According to a study of passenger behaviour carried out by the travel watchdog Transport Focus, half the country seems to be energetically engaged in fare dodging, usually via the simple ploy of not buying tickets at unmanned stations, and then getting off a train early if they happen to see a guard on board. Whistling, no doubt. Its not just hardened commuters in the capital, either; the survey was conducted on the Northern Rail network, and concluded that fare evasion was so commonplace that a proportion of their fellow travellers had learned how to play the system. Fare-dodgers deprive the national rail network of about 200m a year. Shall I let that sink in, dashing highwaymen (and women) of the rails? Thats 200m which might otherwise be used on boring things such as improving services and reducing travel costs. My local London Overground station is often unmanned, but Transport for London has got so fed up with the number of Islingtonians commuting in from Canary Wharf without a 3 ticket that it has installed four inspectors who check everyones Oyster as they leave the station. That is four fewer people to deploy elsewhere. Or, if you look at it another way, four more employees pushing up TfLs running cost, which is then handed on to the public. Closing manned ticket offices is obviously part of the problem, but more than that is the notion that fraud, whether petty or grand, is wrong only if you are dumb enough to be caught. Witness Londons first kleptocracy tour this week, during which campaigners connected to Alexei Navalny, Russias opposition leader, lawyer and critic of corruption, visited a series of colossal piles which demonstrate just where you can get to in all this. The tour was led by Roman Borisovich, who wanted to demonstrate how oligarchs launder dirty money by investing in London property. A palatial property in Highgate, swanky apartments overlooking the Thames and a 136m penthouse in the West End were among properties cited by Borisovich as examples of how money gained from suspicious business practices is transferred to the West. Its no wonder theres a housing crisis, what with all the attractions we have here. London, a global centre for money laundering. The UK at large, a fabulous place for miraculously shrinking your tax bill. Nobody is watching, so chuck morality and honesty out of the window and dont bother buying a ticket. Frankly, why should you? Youre special and youre worth it, goes the thinking from the railway fare-dodger, to the British legal team for the Russian oligarch, to the Google tax-benders, to the MP claiming expenses on a non-existent second home. Being honest is for little people, as Leona Helmsley (sort of) once said. I remember walking in Cannizaro Park, Wimbledon, with my mother when I was about five. I wanted to pick some flowers. Dont pick the flowers, she told me. They are for everyone. If you take them then nobody else will be able to enjoy them. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Bernie Sanders was virtually unknown outside Vermont before announcing his candidacy for President of the United States in late May 2015. Nine months on, the self-declared Democratic Socialist attracts swathes of youth at rallies around the country and is threatening to usurp the Democratic presidential nomination from party stalwart and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Sanders is a 74-year-old senator from Vermont, a state in the countrys northeast, and though he is running for the Democratic nomination, hes spent his long political career as an independent. His participation in the Democratic primary is initially thought to have been simply a way to pull Clintons candidacy to the left. Sanders wanted to make sure Hillary Clinton didnt waltz to the nomination without addressing the questions of progressives, Donna Hoffman, a professor of American politics and elections at the University of Northern Iowa, said. His success has taken many Americans by surprise, however, particularly due to his self-identification as a Democratic socialist, a seditious term in the lexicon of American politics. Many analysts still believe his stance would prevent him from winning the general election. His politics are radically leftist by American standards, as his platform calls for polices including universal, single-payer healthcare, free university, and raising taxes. We call him a socialist and he might be on the American political spectrum, said Simon Marks, a British journalist who has spent the last 24 years in America and is covering his sixth presidential campaign, but hes not a European socialist. A better term for Sanders may be the same one used for Labours Jeremy Corbyn populist. Much like Corbyn, Sanders rise is largely down to a grassroots movement that has unsettled his partys establishment. Sanders and Corbyn are both career politicians with unwavering ideologies that fall to the left of their partys traditional talking points. They both draw much of their support from people under 30 and even struggle with the same demographics in their respective parties, which is mainly the BME vote. In pictures: US Elections 2016 Show all 15 1 /15 In pictures: US Elections 2016 In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after rival candidate Hillary Clinton was projected as the winner in the Nevada Democratic caucuses Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes photos with workers at her campaign office in Des Moines, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, second from left, prays before lunch with supporters at Drake Diner in Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland Governor. Martin O'Malley, speaks during a campaign stop in Waterloo, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks, as his wife Jane OMeara Sanders looks on, at a campaign event at Iowa State University Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio speaks at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson speaks at a campaign event at Fireside Pub and Steak House in Manchester, Iowa. Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum visiting supporters at a house party in West Des Moines, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Ted Cruz campaigns at Greene County Community Centre in Jefferson, Iowa AP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Senator Rand Paul speaks during a Caucus rally at his Des Moines headquarters in Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Republican candidate Jeb Bush speaks at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa AFP In pictures: US Elections 2016 Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin introducing the arrival of Donald Trump during a campaign rally in Cedar Rapids, Iowa Reuters In pictures: US Elections 2016 A portrait of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders at his campaign headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa Getty In pictures: US Elections 2016 Campaign badges on sale ahead of a Trump rally at the Ramada Waterloo Hotel and Convention Centre in Waterloo, Iowa Getty The Sanders and Corbyn phenomena differ though in what they represent for their respective parties. Whereas Corbyns leadership position could lead to a split in Labour, Sanders success is more indicative of a shift in the Democratic Party. The Democrat party is moving to the left and Republicans are moving to the right, said Ron Fournier, a senior political columnist at the National Journal, a political magazine based in Washington, D.C. This shift has opened up space for a candidate on the far left, Fournier said. A lot of young peoples ideals are mostly aligned with the Democrats but like most Americans they dont fit well into the party so they are creating their own movement. Hillary Clintons net worth is $25 million compared to Sanders $500,000, according to CNN. $48 million of the $163.5 million Clintons campaign has raised so far is through a Super PAC, a committee that raises money from corporations and other outlets for a political candidate. Sanders $75.1 million has come entirely from grassroots donations, granting him a level of credibility not shared by Clinton when discussing issues like putting limits on Wall Street and breaking up big banks. For Sanders supporters, Clinton represents a political establishment that has failed them. Many also see Clinton as less liberal than current President Barack Obama, whose presidency has garnered mixed results for leftists. Obamacare and marriage equality are now realities in America, but issues like college loan debts some reaching as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars - and the power of major financial institutions has been largely unaffected under Obamas presidency. Sanders is not Obama, Hoffman said. Theres the same optimism of wanting change but progressives became disillusioned with Obama, not because of him but promises and expectations were extraordinarily high [when he came to office.] Buoyed by Sanders focus on big banks, and his steadfast dedication to financial issues largely concerning Americas 20-somethings, the wispy-haired senator personifies the reaction to the lefts growing anger at the power brokers in Washington. Theres this radical anger and with new technology that means much more robust populism on the far left and the far right, said Fournier. Some are particular to Sanders because he comes across as authentic, and he is. Sanders is putting up a strong showing against Clinton in the early primaries. But the notion that Sanders policies are too radically leftist to win a general election hasnt changed. Even if he were to get past Hillary in the primaries and fend off the Republican challenger to be elected president, Hoffman believes Sanders would quickly encounter the divided political atmosphere of Washington, DC, much like Obama did during his tenure in office. Bernie Sanders wants free college and national (single-payer) health care and thats not going to happen, she said. The president cant do that. People forget the reality of the political system. Obama ran into it. DC is DC and reality doesnt fit the rhetoric. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} LGBT identities arent directly inherited from straight parents, and our history is usually not taught to us at school. This makes it all too easily lost, or rewritten. February is LGBT History Month in the UK and its important: knowledge of any history directs political energy and shapes ones sense of identity. So heres a list of the five most important landmark moments in LGBT history (in my opinion), worth educating yourself on, whatever your sexuality or gender identity: Section 28 This toxic Tory legislation banning the promotion of homosexuality in UK schools was repealed in 2003 but its legacy lives on. In 1988, it was enacted, stating that a local authority shall not intentionally promote homosexuality or publish material with the intention of promoting homosexuality or promote the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship. Many queer teens still learn about sex from porn and learn little about sexual health. The Terrence Higgins Trust estimates 1 in 8 men who have sex with men in London are HIV positive and many of these men are unaware of their status. The HIV prevention drug, PrEP, isnt available on the NHS and funding for LGBT sexual health services are being cut. Section 28 may have gone, but its worth remembering how recently this was a mainstream view in the Conservative party. The Berlin Institute of Sexology Trans people received healthcare, jobs, accommodation and legal protection at Magnus Hirschfelds pioneering Institut fur Sexualwissenschaft from 1919 until 1933, when the Hitler Youth burned its archives. Its residents almost certainly were executed in the Holocaust. While the human crime and the loss of the Institutes records are one of historys great tragedies, its important for young trans people to recognise we have always existed (yes, before Caitlyn Jenner) and we still must stand politically against all forces which deny us our needs: healthcare, financial security and housing. The origins of Pride Last year UKIPs LGBT wing lobbied to march at Pride, provoking a debate that often seemed ignorant of history. In fact, the first Pride in 1972 was not a festival or party but a radical protest, made up of anti-racist radical groups like the Brixton Fairies who would have balked at UKIPs policies. As Frankie Green, one of the first lesbian activists to march, wrote in an open letter: I believe most of us in that optimistic era never dreamt of a time when a group such as UKIP would co-opt our activismyou misrepresent the notion of inclusivity and render it superficial at best if you think we could be connected in any way to the kind of narrow, xenophobic views espoused by UKIP. The life of Lou Sullivan Lou Sullivan was the first transgender man to also be openly gay. Before Sullivans gender reassignment surgery in 1986, received medical wisdom insisted trans people should only be allowed to transition into heterosexuals. Sullivan successfully campaigned against this, championing the idea that gender and sexuality were distinct. Misogyny provokes a lurid societal fascination with trans women while the histories and lives of trans men are forgotten. When modern debates ask if trans people should stay within the LGBT bracket, Sullivans life crucially reminds us that some people are both trans and gay. Stonewall Riots Riots against police raids at the Stonewall Inn in June 1969 sparked the LGBT liberation movement. The leaders of those riots were people like Marsha P Johnson, a black drag queen. Five decades on, internalised homophobia and embarrassment about effeminate gays is rife - forgetting how we owe it all to drag queens and femmes, who refused to be respectable. Johnsons race must not be overlooked. When Ivan Massow, a millionaire who last year unsuccessfully bid to be the Tory London Mayoral candidate tweeted Hope black leaders aren't gonna bleat on about stuff said 30yrs ago. Just remember how whites/blacks alike cruelty [sic] attacked gays! (Still do) he seemed to forget that black LGBT people exist. A survey by FS magazine last year indicated racism is still prevalent on the gay scene. We should remember much of the LGBT movement was led by minorities who remain oppressed and let this shape our politics today. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} It makes me happy to know that plenty of viewers will be on tenterhooks this weekend to see how War and Peace concludes. So, spoiler alert! Tolstoy buffs will know that, after Pierre Bezukhov is captured by the French, he has ample time to ponder the meaning of existence. Shut up in a shed, and awed by the serenity of the angelic peasant Platon Karataev, Pierre learns not with his intellect but with his whole being... that man is created for happiness, that happiness is within him, in the satisfaction of simple human needs, and that all unhappiness arises not from privation but from superfluity. In his captivity, Pierre grasps the essence of the gospel Tolstoy would preach for the next 40 years, of the virtuous simple life as the shortest route to contentment: The satisfaction of ones needs good food, cleanliness, and freedom now that he was deprived of all this, seemed to Pierre to constitute perfect happiness. Outside Pierres shed, what defines happiness? And can any formal measurement register its presence, or its absence? Over the past decade, the calculus of content has moved out of the academic shadows and into the limelight where presidents and premiers appoint happiness tsars and insist that we must follow the graph of GWB (General Well-Being) as avidly as the fluctuating line of GDP. This week, the Office for National Statistics mounted its latest scientific attempt to net the rainbows of felicity. Its new study correlates reported levels of happiness to age groups: a spin-off from the larger surveys of National Well-Being that began in 2011, as state-supported happiness began to boom. The ONS found that no group expressed more overall disgruntlement than men from 45 to 59. They are, allegedly, the most miserable sods of all. Many pundits annotated the catalogue of mid-life male misery, from divorce and arthritis to redundancy and parental dementia. I blame a more fundamental, existential woe. For the funniest take I know on the torments of the middle passage, read Martin Amiss novel The Information. And what is the information that horrifies its dual protagonists? You will die, chum. Men seem to take this outrageous news delivered by the body, one wildcat stoppage at a time as slightly more of a personal affront than women do. So pity, please, the fiftysomething bloke in Wolverhampton. That is the unhappiest town in England, if you credit the ONSs previous gazetteer of grumpiness. Perhaps he should contemplate a move to Fermanagh in Northern Ireland, crowned last year as the UKs capital of content. I have been to Fermanagh and can vouch for the nonpareil cheeriness of the lovely lakelands around Lough Erne. Try Blakes of the Hollow pub on Church Street in Enniskillen as a sure cure for middle-aged melancholia. The Guinness is nirvana itself. And bear in mind that Portora Royal School up on the hill educated both Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. If youre going to die, my Midlands mopers, better die laughing. Homeless, limbless, trouserless, almost speechless, Becketts stripped-down figures often share with Tolstoys Pierre the knack of wrenching something that feels like happiness or at least, acceptance of their lot out of profound lack and loss. Ever since Stoics in Greece and Rome or Buddhists in India laid the groundwork for philosophical asceticism, traditional wisdom has often sought happiness in retreat and renunciation. To the trained mind, happiness can be cultivated even in especially in the squalid cell of a capricious tyrant where only suicide or execution beckons. This kind of happiness thrives in the teeth of fate. Shut in his shed, Pierre understands that as there is no condition in which man can be happy and entirely free, so there is no condition in which he need be unhappy and lack freedom. Even in Wolverhampton, as your 50th looms. Modern social science sees things very differently. With its mania for metrics, the study of well-being builds its evidence from a because rather than despite ideal of happiness. It measures not resilience in misfortune but the collection of tokens of advantage. The more you have, the happier youll be. In his handy introduction to the philosophy and sociology of happiness, Daniel M Haybron sums up the prevailing orthodoxy via a checklist that he defines with the acronym Soars. Here, S stands for security (not necessarily wealth, but a strong sense of sufficiency and protection), O for outlook (hopeful and altruistic, not fearful and selfish), A for autonomy (freedom to set your own goals, not multiple consumer choice), R for relationships (not exclusively close family and friends, but a network of trusted social contacts) and S again for skilled and meaningful activity (tasks that reinforce self-esteem and make sense of your world, whether paid employment or not). In a shrewd amendment to the Soars menu, Haybron asks if we should add contact with the natural world to the list of desiderata. Tolstoy would certainly approve. Social and psychological investigators have trudged this joy-and-sorrow beat for decades. In 1974, Richard Easterlin developed the Easterlin Paradox: the finding that, above a fairly modest level, subjective well-being does not rise along with income. Then, in 2005, Lord Richard Layard of the London School of Economics published Happiness: Lessons from a New Science, and inaugurated a new era of state-backed emotional inquiry. In the hoodie-hugging, husky-driving infancy of his leadership, David Cameron kept up the mood music when he asserted that Improving our societys sense of well-being is the central political challenge of our times. I have just discovered that he spoke those words at a Google Zeitgeist Europe conference. And we now know how much its sponsor bothered to contribute in tax for the sort of basic services that give citizens a fighting chance of avoiding the sickness, worry and insecurity that can drag even the cheeriest soul down into despondency. For a future prime minister to push the nebulous virtues of national well-being under the aegis of a world-class tax-avoider sums up the doubts that sceptics feel about the happiness agenda and its advocates. Its striking that the business of quantified happiness took off in the wake of the financial crisis, just as Western governments decided that they could no longer afford the level of social provision that had objectively enhanced the welfare of their citizens. Forget the cash; just feel the love. Beyond Britain, President Nicolas Sarkozy launched a Happiness Initiative in France. Canada, South Korea and even Dubai followed suit. Sheikh Mohammed, emir of Dubai, has proclaimed that The first objective for the Dubai Plan 2021 is achieving peoples happiness. In 2012, Richard Layard collaborated with economists Jeffrey Sachs and John Helliwell on the first World Happiness Report under UN patronage. Happiest country then? Denmark, a serial victor in this sort of ranking. Happiest in 2015? Switzerland. In the new report, the UK stands in 21st place out of 158 (thats Togo). Just ahead, at 20, comes the United Arab Emirates. Presumably, assessors do not count the right-less expat workers who make up the vast majority of UAE residents and often endure near-slavery conditions of bonded labour that might test the patience of a Roman Stoic. That sort of anomaly gives ammunition to the critics who find in the state-endorsed pursuit of happiness an anodyne detour from the tougher task of procuring justice, equity or even basic democracy still lacking in the UAE. Besides, if world-beating happiness on the Swiss model means slamming the door so hard on poorer, darker outsiders, should we seek it anyway? In Europe especially, the pursuit of happiness by number-crunching officialdom can look like the cosmetic mask slapped across the ugly mug of austerity. At the same time, some happiness-surveyors have used the vogue for their work as a way to smuggle proposals for more radical change under the noses of the powerful. Look at the latest World Happiness Report. Helliwell, Layard and Sachs defend the project against charges of apparent flakiness, and champion subjective self-reporting against more objective indices say, of health, wealth and crime. They write: We attach fundamental importance to the evaluations that people make of their own lives. This gives them a reality and power that no expert-constructed index could ever have. Yet, in practice, they not only factor in some fairly hard measurements, such as healthy life expectancy at birth. They go on to make stirring value-driven arguments for effective democracy, trust and transparency in public life as engines of well-being. Where does that leave the distinctly neo-feudal Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai? For all its grey areas and blind spots, the statistics-fuelled happiness agenda may serve as a stalking horse for freedom and justice at a time when, in many jurisdictions, those values dare not speak their name. Still, beyond all the variables and the coefficients, Pierre Bezukhov in his shed endures as a Stoic model of fulfilment snatched from adversity whatever your age, your income, your family or your locality. Quizzed about the towns wooden-spoon status in the league table of national bliss, a shopper in Wolverhampton replied this week: A place is what you make it. If youre a happy person, youll be in a happy place. Tolstoy himself could not have put it better. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }} Todays UN pronouncement that Julian Assange should walk free after five years of evading extradition to Sweden puts an end to one of the most bizarre cases of our time. Sadly, its also indicative of how society refuses to even contemplate the notion that a white, socially and financially privileged man might have to even answer allegations made by women - and how the rights of the accused in sexual violence always triumph over the rights of the alleged victims. For those unfamiliar with the convoluted case, it begins in August 2010 when Assange was accused of raping one woman and sexually assaulting another while visiting Sweden to give a speech. The WikiLeaks founder denied, and continues to deny, the allegations. In November, Swedish authorities investigating the allegations said that they wished to question Assange in relation to the allegations, but by this time he had travelled to London. An international arrest warrant was subsequently issued and he handed himself in to British police who then sought to extradite him to Sweden to answer to the charges. A British court ruled that he should be extradited, Assange appealed this and it went to the High Court where judges again ruled he should be extradited. He appealed this ruling as well, which then went to the Supreme Court where judges once again ruled that he should be extradited. Faced with having to finally go to Sweden to allow an investigation, it was then that Assange fled to the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he was able to evade arrest because of diplomatic immunity customs which forbid arrests in foreign embassies. Since then, British police officers have been standing guard outside the embassy, costing the British taxpayer some 12 million. Assanges time at the Ecuadorian embassy has run on for so long that the time to answer the sexual molestation allegation by one of the women has run out, but the rape allegation made by the second woman remains live until 2020. Today, the UN has come out in Assanges favour arguing that British police should let him walk free, stating that he was unlawfully detained by the UK government. We have no idea if Assange is a rapist - but why are so many people so opposed to the idea of finding out? Its because our society hero-worships some men and encourages and facilitates the belief that they are above the law, so long as its women who are alleged to have been hurt. Its because our caricatured and nonsensical notions that rapists look like grotesque ogres rather than 'real people' mean that some still refuse to even contemplate the possibility that a man can be a leading political activist and a sex offender. For many admirers of WikiLeaks work, it seems that they believe his work makes it impossible for him to have done anything hes accused of or that even if he were found guilty of such acts, it wouldnt really matter. Assange and his supporters have argued that he would not receive a fair trial in Sweden because of his notoriety and how many states harbour political grudges against him. They have never produced compelling evidence that this would be the case, but the concerns they cite are simply accepted as undermining his right to a just trial, without any consideration of the womens right to a fair trial means to them. Meanwhile, baseless accusations of the women having embroiled him in a conspiratorial honey trap situation to damage his political credentials have dogged the case. Its because legal structures around the world continue to be so heavily biased against those who make allegations of sexual violence that their need for justice is always overridden by any notion that someone might be wrongly accused. Speaking today of the UNs pronouncement, Assange said it is a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face. No doubt it has. His arrogant belief that he is above the law and can act with impunity simply because he is involved in political activism has been confirmed at the highest level. The dramatic charade of the last five years perfectly illustrates how, when it comes to sexual violence allegations, our society and some of our most important international institutions are still skewed in favour of privileged men. If they dont look like the stereotype of a back alley rapist and if they fit the socially powerful profile of someone like Assange then theres a sense that they shouldnt have to answer for crimes which, in the grand scheme of things, apparently arent important at all. Bank of Ireland will not be removing its restrictions on Iranian-related banking transactions despite the lifting of sanctions last month, the Irish Independent has learned. While Irish companies are being encouraged to explore opportunities in the country, Ireland's two main banks appear wary. AIB declined to comment when asked its plans. Iran emerged from years of economic isolation when world powers lifted sanctions against the Islamic Republic in return for Tehran complying with a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions. It's hoped that global companies that have been barred from doing business there will be able to tap into the market of almost 80 million people. Enterprise Ireland is targeting various sectors, including healthcare and financial services, in its push to get access for Irish exporting companies. But Sean Davis, EI's Dubai-based regional manager Middle East & North Africa, said companies that want to do business in Iran will need financial and banking support. "From a banking perspective, it does mean that client companies are going to need their bank to resume normal business, and that is going to take some time as well," Mr Davis said. "There are a number of different factors for trade to revert to what we might call normal." Bank of Ireland said that while certain sanction restrictions in relation to Iran have been lifted since January 16, "ongoing complications and risks persist, including the continued application of US primary sanctions". The latter relate to terrorism and human rights violations. In a statement, Bank of Ireland pointed out that it adheres to European Union, HM Treasury, United Nations and US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control Financial Sanctions requirements. "For these reasons, Bank of Ireland is still not in a position to process Iranian-related transactions," the statement said. "The matter is, however, kept under constant review." State-owned AIB declined to comment when asked about its intentions. The Iranian embassy in Dublin, which currently operates without banking facilities, said the Iranian foreign ministry had sent a letter to AIB requesting that an account be open. The Iranian Ambassador to Ireland said the ministry had opted for AIB because it is Government owned. AIB declined to comment. A spokeswoman for the ambassador also said that he had been given indications that Ireland's embassy in Tehran would soon be reopening. The source of the indications are not known to this newspaper. In response, Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said he was "conscious of the political, economic and trade factors" in favour of opening an embassy in Tehran. The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) owns a network of clinics in the UK and said it is now seeking investments across the Republic. A UK property fund is to targeting doctors' surgeries and HSE clinics in a wave of investment in Ireland. Primary Health Properties (PHP) plans to invest between 100m and 150m in Ireland from spring this year. The Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) owns a network of clinics in the UK and said it is now seeking investments across the Republic. "The primary care premises market is controlled by the NHS in the UK and largely influenced by the HSE in the Republic of Ireland, meaning there is little or no speculative development of new facilities," the REIT said. "Buildings are often located within residential areas which can lead to restricted alternative use potential. "Against this, initial lease terms are longer than in general commercial markets, more than 20 years on average and locally provided healthcare will continue to be a necessity for the foreseeable future," it said. While the HSE is unlikely to sell significant chunks of its property portfolio, PHP managing director Harry Hyman told the Irish Independent that the fund is targeting diagnosis clinics and some GPs. It is also looking at developing sites that will be leased to the HSE or other bluechip tenants. "It's about having good covenants and strong leases. That is the key thing for us," he said. "If you look at the Irish economy overall, the country has made great strides since the financial crisis. "The low yield on Irish government bonds reflects that. "We want to move cautiously but also as quickly as we can. We have allocated between 100m and 150m for Ireland and we are in talks with a number of potential sellers at present. "We expect to be able to close some of those sooner rather than later," Mr Hyman added. The company is believed to be in talks with developers who specialise in the healthcare space but may also do deals with individual GPs in sale and lease back arrangements. "In Ireland, the HSE makes a strong commitment to each primary care centre in order to create an integrated healthcare system alongside GP services. "The HSE presence, representing 60pc to 75pc of rent received at a centre, will underpin the long term secure income to be received from Irish properties," the company told investors. PHP is the latest UK property firm to invest in the Irish market. Another REIT - U+I - has spent heavily in the Dublin office market in particular. It is funding the development of a major office block on Burlington Road in Dublin 4 and has also developed apartments at nearby Percy Place along with a slew of other projects. The return on Irish property is still seen as being some way ahead of the UK market and this has brought in firms searching for yield. Tim OHara, CEO of Global Markets, Credit Suisse, at the official opening of the trading floor in Dublin. Photo: Conor McCabe Credit Suisse, the global financial services company, has posted its first full-year loss in eight years after the firm took a big impairment charge for its investment banking business. The news comes paired with the announcement of 4,000 job cuts across the business. Credit Suisse opened a trading floor in Dublin last week, which led to the creation of 100 new jobs. The event was attended by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Joan Burton. During early trading yesterday shares in the investment firm hit their lowest in 24 years after dropping 9pc. The firm's new chief executive, Tidjane Thiam, cited market conditions as a major contributing factor to the bank's stumbling. "Market conditions in January 2016 have remained challenging and we expect markets to remain volatile throughout the remainder of the first quarter of 2016 as macroeconomic issues persist," the firm's chief executive officer told Reuters yesterday. Credit Suisse posted a net loss of 2.94bn Swiss francs (2.63bn). Mr Thiam, who was appointed to the position of chief executive in July, is performing a major overhaul of the bank where he has raised new equity from investors and has increased its stake on wealth management. The impairment charge that the bank took was primarily association with the acquisition of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in 2000. Data Solutions, an Irish IT solutions distributor, is aiming to triple its business over the next three years after announcing a 5m investment. The investment will see the creation of 20 new jobs, doubling the firm's original workbase. Part of the 5m investment will be used to penetrate the British market with new offices being in Theale, Reading. The firm will look to bring its IT solutions from leading vendors Nutanix and Skyfii to the UK market. The 20 new positions are being divided evenly between Data Solutions Dublin headquarters and its new offices in Reading. Roles are spread across technical support, sales and marketing and will be filled by 2018. The company has already hired two new account managers in Ireland and a managing director and sales manager to run operations in the UK. Group managing director, Michael O'Hara, said that the firm is optimistic of its UK expansion. Weve achieved exponential growth in the Irish market over the past few years and now we want to do that in the UK. We have a strong network there already and were bolstered by our new partnerships to grow a real presence now," Mr O'Hara said. 'Goodbody economist Juliet Tennent said: "The rules are clearly having the biggest impact on the first-time buyers category" ' Photo: PA There was a fall in the number of first-time buyers drawing down a mortgage in the final three months of last year. New figures from the banks show that 3,813 new buyers took out a mortgage between October and December last. This was 220 fewer mortgages than in the same quarter in 2014. It was the first time since 2013 that there has been a fall-off in the number of first-time buyers in a quarter compared with a year earlier, according to the Banking and Payments Federation. Central Bank lending restrictions, which have hit new buyers hard, have been blamed for the drop. Some 8,103 mortgages were drawn down in the October to December period, valued at 1.451bn. This is an increase of 6.9pc on the previous year. However, the figure represents a considerable slowdown on the number of people drawing down a mortgage compared with the first half of last year. The Central Bank introduced lending restrictions last February, requiring a 20pc deposit for amounts borrowed over 220,000. Goodbody economist Juliet Tennent said: "The rules are clearly having the biggest impact on the first-time buyers category." Overall, last year there were 24,134 mortgages issued for house purchases. This compares with the 47,500 transactions recorded on the Property Price Register last year, with the data for 2015 not yet complete. Davy economist Conall Mac Coille said this meant half of purchases were made by cash buyers: "Cash buyers still account for close to 50pc of transactions - a little surprising given the end of capital gains tax exemptions in December 2014." He added that the returns from renting out a property were between 5pc and 6pc. "Residential property still represents an attractive asset for many investors, with bank deposit rates now close to zero." Meanwhile, figures provided to Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath show Longford has the highest level of mortgage arrears, with 16.83pc of mortgages in arrears in the county, compared with 8.83pc in Cork, which has the lowest level of arrears. 'Frank Money will issue mortgages through brokers and expects to compete hard with existing lenders, according to chairman of the Association of Expert Mortgage Advisers Trevor Grant' Photo: PA A new lender is hoping to get approval from the Central Bank to enter the mortgage market. Frank Money, founded by former Danske Bank executive Colin Cunningham, is aiming to shake up the stagnant mortgage market and pile pressure on other banks to lower variable rates, the Irish Independent has learned. The Dublin-based operation is awaiting approval from the Central Bank, and has funding from pension funds. It comes just weeks after Australian group Pepper entered the mortgage market. Frank Money will issue mortgages through brokers and expects to compete hard with existing lenders, according to chairman of the Association of Expert Mortgage Advisers Trevor Grant, who has been briefed on the new operation. "I understand the firm expects to be extremely competitive. We in the AEMA welcome any new lender coming in to shake up the market," Mr Grant said. He said the aim was to under-cut the existing lenders, but the moves last week by KBC Bank to reduce its rates for new buyers had changed the lending landscape. If it gets approval, the new lender would target new buyers and switchers, but especially those with large deposits, and switchers with equity in their current homes. It is understood the operation is funded from pension funds in Ireland and Europe. Frank Money is seeking approval from the Central Bank to operate as a retail credit firm, which would allow it to issue loans but not take deposits. This is the same form of authorisation used by Pepper. Asked if Frank Money was awaiting approval to operate as a lender, a spokeswoman for the Central Bank said: "We can't comment on any pending applications for authorisation." Frank Money's Mr Cunningham had no comment. The current high variable rates have made it profitable for new lenders to enter the market. At the moment, first-time buyers who get mortgage approval can expect to be charged between 3.2pc and close to 4.5pc. This is despite the record low ECB base rate of 0.05pc. Australian lender Pepper recently unveiled plans to begin lending here, seeking to capture a slice of a market that is dominated by the so-called "pillar banks" AIB and Bank of Ireland. And British-based mortgage provider Northview is mulling an entry to the Irish market. Representatives of the Northview group, known until recently as the Kensington Group and which includes mortgage lender Kensington and mortgage servicer Acenden, have been meeting industry players in Dublin to run the rule over the sector in Ireland. Issues with Eir and 3 Ireland spurred the largest number of customer calls to the telecoms watchdog, Comreg, according to new figures. Poor coverage, including dropped mobile calls and loss of service drove thousands of people to contact the regulator. While Eir attracted most complaints overall, 3 Ireland was the subject of over a quarter of all service-related issues in the last three months. The mobile phone company has had a series of challenges in integrating O2 customers following its takeover of the rival mobile network last year. It has run into several issues in its efforts to integrate 1.5m O2 Ireland customers into its own network. A recent Comreg survey indicated that 3 Ireland is lagging on 4G, with only half the 4G speeds of its main Irish rival Vodafone. A spokesman for 3 Ireland claims that the network's speeds have increased in recent months. Overall, 5,982 issues were raised with Comreg over Irish telecom operators in the last three months of 2015. The figure is marginally down on the previous three-month period. In relation to operator service issues, Eir was the subject of the most queries and also the highest number of complaints per capita. The majority of issues raised about Eir related to billing and charging matters, with contractual issues the next most raised item. The company is the only operator to have a universal service obligation, legally requiring it to provide phone services to every home in the country. It has encountered difficulties with storm damage in each of the last three winters. Meteor attracted the third highest number of complaints per capita but had a lower number of overall queries than rivals Vodafone or 3 Ireland. Vodafone Mobile attracted the smallest number of complaints per thousand customers, but its landline counterpart, Vodafone At Home, had the third highest number of complaints per thousand customers raised with Comreg. Virgin had the lowest number of problems per customer, while Sky had the second highest number of queries raised with Comreg, despite its low overall volume of complaints. The regulator did not release figures for rival virtual' mobile operators, Tesco Mobile, Lycamobile, Post Mobile, Virgin Mobile or iD, which represent almost 10pc of the Irish mobile market. All except Post Mobile operate off 3 Ireland's mobile network. Some rural TDs say that weak mobile phone coverage is a bigger issue among constituents than lack of broadband. "There is a real problem with coverage in large areas of the country," Helen McEntee, a Fine Gael TD for Meath East, told an Oireachtas committee hearing on communications last week. "I can't keep a call without it dropping on routes that I travel." Under Irish telecoms law, mobile operators are required to cover between 70pc and 80pc of the country's population with no legal requirement to cover rural areas. Mobile operators say that they face planning objections from local communities, despite the growing outcry over coverage blackspots. One in three applications for masts and other mobile network infrastructure is rejected by rural councils and An Bord Pleanala. However, the chairman of Comreg rejected claims that mobile phone signals are worse today than they were five years ago. "We conduct drive tests four times a year," said Jeremy Godfrey. "Coverage is over 90pc of the population. There's no evidence that those signal strengths have gotten worse in recent years." However, the regulation chief admitted that Comreg's testing procedure is limited to main roads around the country and does not penetrate some rural areas. "There are places where people were able to use their phone in their homes five years ago and they can't use them there now," Jeremy Godfrey, chairman of Comreg, told an Oireachtas committee hearing on communications last week. "We acknowledge that individuals sometimes have a worse experience than they previously had. Our evidence is that this is not due to any reduction in the signal strength being provided by operators. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a problem." Mr Godfrey said that the telecoms watchdog is considering the licensing of amplifiers to help boost rural mobile coverage. If someone told me an upstart would threaten to eclipse Facebook in a few years, I would have scoffed. Now seven-year-old WhatsApp has 1 billion monthly active users while Facebooks own chat app Messenger only has 800m, and rival Googles email service which is four years older than Whatsapp just hit a billion this year. This means 1 in 7 people on Earth use WhatsApp every month, making it arguably the second-most used app on the planet after its parent, Facebook. At its current rate of growth, WhatsApp will have 2bn users by 2020, who send 30 billion messages through the service every day. When Facebook bought Jan Koums app for what was then $19 billion (12.5bn), it seemed a hefty price tag for an app that made no money (and still doesnt). WhatsApp was explosively popular though, making it a major rival to Facebooks own messaging products, so many speculated that the acquisition was made out of fear, and it would ultimately be folded into Messenger. This will never happen. WhatsApp is Facebooks key to dominating the rest of the world. Its hard to imagine what Facebook still has left to conquer. With roughly 1.5bn users, its already got a global footprint. In fact, a study found that 1 in 10 Facebook users in Indonesia and Nigeria didnt know they were using the internet for them Facebook was the internet. But in countries like Russia and Japan, strong local players like Vkontakte or Line win out over Facebook consistently, while Chinas Tencent enjoys total dominance because of government censorship. In countries like India and Brazil, most of the population is still using feature phones, without internet connectivity. The next billion people who come online will do so from the developing world, on cheap smartphones with spotty connectivity. Facebook wants to reach them all. Zuckerbergs plan for global domination has been clear since 2013 when he launched Internet.org, his plan to connect the whole world to the internet via Facebook of course. As part of this initiative, Facebook has announced plans for internet-beaming drones for rural and developing areas, and satellites that could cover internet blind spots around the world. Facebook itself is now being designed to accommodate new geographies an internal program called 2G Tuesdays simulates slow internet connections in the Californian headquarters, so Facebook engineers can experience how people in non-Western countries use Facebook. A newly developed ad format called Slideshow allows advertisers to show a carousel of pictures, rather than data-heavy video ads. One of the social networks most controversial programs for global connectivity is Free Basics, a tie-up with local telecoms companies that gives people in 37 developing countries free internet access to a limited number of websites and apps, including Facebook. The program has been met with zealous opposition from the start. Regulators in India are attempting to ban it completely this week, while dozens of digital rights groups from Uganda, Ecuador and Indonesia have protested the plans, saying it threatens net neutrality. But Facebook has spent considerable effort and resource fighting back, taking out full page ads and billboards around Indian cities such as Mumbai, asking: Who could possibly be against this? Clearly, they are not willing to back down quietly. This is where WhatsApp comes in. David Marcus, boss of sister-app Messenger insisted in a recent interview with the Telegraph that the two chat apps were not competitive because each one is a preferred platform in different countries. This is WhatsApps single biggest value to Facebook. Broadly speaking, Messenger is more popular in Western countries, particularly the United States, where the the market is almost fully saturated. Meanwhile WhatsApp is used by everybody else. According to AppAnnie, WhatsApp is the leading messaging app in large swathes of Latin America 100m people use it in Brazil alone, Mark Zuckerberg has said. In countries such as India, Malaysia and South Africa, over 70pc of mobile users are WhatsApp users. The popularity of WhatsApp in Russia in particular could hugely boost Facebooks penetration in one of Europes fastest-growing internet populations. WhatsApp is the trusted, unthreatening face of Facebooks long-term plan to connect the world. It already comes pre-loaded on new feature phones in the developing world, where the smartphone market is still nascent. If Free Basics is banned in India, WhatsApp will be the gateway app bringing new internet users in the subcontinent straight to Facebook. The raging debate around WhatsApp has always been its business model. How does it earn its keep? It started off free, and then added a 99c annual subscription fee for new users. Last week, it ditched the fee again, closing down its meagre revenue channel. Founder Jan Koum reasoned that the WhatsApp target population came from countries where cash is still king many dont have credit cards or online banking, making it technically difficult for them to pay. Instead, WhatsApp says it will go the way of its sister-app Messenger, charging brands to talk to their customers instantly. The model for this app-as-platform service is Chinese messenger WeChat. It boasts 600m monthly active users who use the app as a filter for the mobile web: you can hail taxis, book doctors appointments, do your grocery shopping or pay your utility bill, all through WeChat. If WhatsApp is able to become the reigning mobile platform like WeChat in geographies as diverse as India, Brazil and South Africa, that is how it will prove its worth. By 2020, it could deliver Facebook its next billion users on a platter. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Ben Stiller attempts a world record for longest selfie stick with guests whilst attending the Zoolander 2 UK premiere, held at the Empire, Leicester Square, London Spanish actress Penelope Cruz poses as she arrives to attend a screening of the film Zoolander 2 in London on February 4, 2016. Ben Stiller says he would have loved David Bowie to appear in Zoolander No 2. Bowie had a cameo role in 2001's Zoolander as the judge of a fashion "walk off" between male models Derek Zoolander (Ben Stiller) and Hansel (Owen Wilson). Speaking at the screening of the sequel in London's Leicester Square, Stiller paid tribute to the musician, who passed away in January. "He was a huge influence on so many people... on our culture. "It would have been great to have him in the second movie. But having him in the first was a very special thing, and I will always cherish that." In the 2001 movie, Bowie lays out the rules of the competition and adjudicates, choosing Hansel as the winner when he manages to remove his underwear without taking his trousers off. Zoolander No 2 features cameos from stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, Justin Bieber, Sting, Olivia Munn and Ariana Grande. Stiller had some fun at the premiere, attempting a world record for longest selfie stick shot with cast, crew and guests. They were joined by an adjudicator from Guinness World Records who presented him with an official certificate following the shot taken with an eight-and-a-half metre long device. Former South African president Thabo Mbeki meets UCD students Craig O Morain (BA Irish, Economics and History) and Mapeele Kouame (MA International Development). Photo: Jason Clarke The inspiration drawn from Ireland's revolution by other countries under British rule is being examined in a major conference this weekend. As part of its 1916 centenary commemoration programme, UCD is examining the shared experiences of countries which followed Ireland. Among the speakers at the 'After Empire' conference yesterday was Thabo Mbeki, who succeeded Nelson Mandela as president of South Africa from 1999-2008. Also on the panel was former president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa and Salman Khurshid, who served as an Indian government minister. "We decided it was important to contextualise the Rising in light of what came next," UCD director of communications Eilis O'Brien said. "Ireland was one of the earliest to leave the British Empire but there are a number of countries which subsequently left and we all have a common legacy. "All the speakers had an expert knowledge of Ireland past and present. Because of our shared struggle for independence, they would have looked to Ireland for inspiration." Today and tomorrow, UCD will host 'Globalising the Rising: 1916 in context'. Featuring renowned national and international speakers, the conference will consider the impact and legacy of 1916 on global political systems. The 1916 Rising was itself shaped by international forces, including the end of empire, the growth of nationalism and the First World War. The Rising was also watched closely by radicals and aspirant revolutionaries as far away as India and Russia. Dr Fearghal McGarry, of Queens University Belfast, will present a keynote address entitled 'A Land Beyond the Wave: Transnational Reflections on Easter 1916'. Dr McGarry is the author of 'The Abbey Rebels of 1916: A Lost Revolution (2015)' and 'The Rising. Ireland: Easter 1916 (2016)'. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion involving three of Ireland's leading history professors Diarmaid Ferriter from UCD, Eunan O'Halpin from Trinity College Dublin and Susan Schreibman from NUI Maynooth. Tickets are free to be booked on the web at: centenaries.ucd.ie/events/globalising-the-rising-1916-in-context/ Deirdre Yates (52), of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, wife of former Fine Gael minister, Ivan Yates, at court earlier this week for the hearing Deirdre Yates (52), of Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford, with her husband, former Fine Gael minister, Ivan Yates, at court earlier this week for the hearing. A BANK is entitled to judgment of 1.6m against the wife of former government minister and Newstalk broadcaster Ivan Yates, the High Court ruled. Deirdre Yates had asked the court not to order summary judgment and allow the case to go to a full hearing. She claimed she did not realise a guarantee she signed in relation to loans for the family bookie company would give AIB the right to pursue her for her family home at Blackstoops, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan ruled she had not raised an arguable defence to AIB's case and granted judgment for 1,648,147. The case arose out of a guarantee she gave on April 13, 2010, towards 6.7m in loans for the expansion of the Celtic Bookmakers chain, which was run by her husband. In January 2011, the bank appointed a receiver over Celtic which went into liquidation. Bankruptcy proceedings were launched in May 2012 by AIB against both Mr Yates and his wife seeking 3.6m. The case against Mr Yates was dismissed in August 2012 and the summons against Ms Yates were not proceeded with. Mr Yates was declared bankrupt in the UK in August 2012, having lived for 16 months in Wales to qualify under their more relaxed bankruptcy laws. In June 2014, AIB demanded repayment of 1.6m from Ms Yates, a primary school teacher, in relation to the guarantee she provided on the loans. Mr Justice Noonan said she had, in opposing the bank's application for judgment, claimed her clear understanding was that she signed documents relating to the guarantee "for administrative purposes only". She believed the bank would not be entitled to have recourse to any assets other than those of Celtic and certain lands owned by her husband over which the bank had been granted a fixed charge. She did not believe it exposed her to personal liability or gave the bank "an entitlement to pursue our family home and I would not have signed those documents if I thought this to be the case". She also said she did not receive any legal advice before signing, nor did the bank suggest she do so despite the fact it (bank) knew she had no realisable assets and no substantive financial experience. Mr Justice Noonan said the documentation clearly stated she was "advised to obtain independent legal advice before signing the guarantee". Her claim in that regard was "patently incorrect", he said. There was also the uncontroverted evidence that Ms Yates was secretary of Celtic, regularly attended meetings with the bank and was appraised of financial affairs and dealings with the bank, he said. She held 990 of the company's 1,000 shares. The judge rejected claims on behalf of Ms Yates that the bank should first execute other security available to it in relation to the debt before it obtains judgment against her. She had no arguable defence on this ground. In relation to a claim that there was a radical or fundamental difference between the documents she signed and what she thought she was signing (the defence of non est factum), the judge rejected this. The only possible evidence that could arise on this ground was where she said she was signing "for administrative purposes only", though without explaining what that meant, he said. At no stage did she identify what she thought she was signing if it was not a guarantee, the judge said. She merely understood AIB would only be entitled to have recourse to the assets of the company and her husband. "The defendant is clearly an educated woman and does not purport to suggest she had any particular difficulty in understanding the document". Even accepting her claims at face value, without any consideration of assessment of their credibility, it was clear she could not sustain this defence. She also had no arguable defence in relation to her claim that the bank had failed to adequately explain the calculation for the 1.6m. The court heard the figure did not include interest or costs of the receiver. Mr Justice Noonan said the bank explained the figure on multiple occasions and she had not engaged with this explanation in any way or sought to say why it was wrong. Rather, she asserted that because a different amount was sought during bankruptcy proceedings in Ireland, which were aborted, that this gave rise to a defence. The judge could not see any relevance to the bankruptcy proceedings to the bank's current claim. The bank will only be able to recover what it is due and there was no question of "double recovery". Even though it may have recourse to multiple defendants to recover a debt, it cannot recover more than it is due, he said. To the judge's mind, she had not established that she has "a fair or reasonable probability of having a real or bona fide defence. "It is in my view clear she has no defence". At one level the request of Patrick Enright - to have his unborn daughter's death declared a full death for the purposes of our road traffic statistics - is both understandable and simple. At another level, it raises complex questions about personhood and the constitutional and legal rights to be afforded to the unborn. Four years ago, Mr Enright's wife Mary (28), who was 34 weeks' pregnant, died when the car she was driving was involved in a head-on collision with one driven by Robert Stoker. Both died instantly in the crash outside Bansha, Co Tipperary, and last month a jury at an inquest into their deaths found that they both had died as a result of multi-traumatic injuries. The jury also found that the Enrights' unborn daughter, named Mollie, died at University Hospital Waterford due to a lack of oxygen following her mother's death. Mollie was stillborn, having been removed from her mother's body during a post-mortem. But her family asked the coroner not to declare Mollie's death as a stillbirth pending the outcome of their constitutional challenge. Mr Enright has mounted a challenge seeking to have Mollie declared an "unborn" within the meaning of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution at the time of her death. He is also suing for damages for breach of Mollie's constitutional rights and has asked the High Court to strike down, as unconstitutional, Ireland's definition of "stillborn child" and "stillbirth". Mr Enright wants Mollie's "life, death and existence" to be recorded, registered and recognised, therefore allowing the public record to show that three, not two people died on that tragic night in Tipperary. Last year, the Enright and Walsh families met Tanaiste Joan Burton to communicate their desire to have a death certificate issued for Mollie. The matter was referred to Attorney General Maire Whelan, who advised the coroner, through the Department of Justice, that Mollie's death could lawfully be declared a stillbirth. About 500 babies in Ireland die every year around the time of birth. Previously, stillbirths were not recognised by the State: without a birth certificate, no death certificate could be issued. However, since 1995, parents have been able to register their unborn's birth in accordance with international definitions of stillbirth. Namely, if the unborn weighed at least 500 grammes or had a gestational age of at least 24 weeks. Medical experts say "absolute chaos" would ensue if we start meddling with the definition of stillborn. The chronic failure to clarify the legal status of the unborn has been a divisive issue since the introduction, in 1983, of Article 40.3.3. The provision protects the equal rights to life of mother and the unborn - but the unborn was never defined. A legal definition finally emerged after 30 years with the passing of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. The 2013 law says the "unborn" is a reference to such a life during the period of time commencing after implantation in the womb of a woman and ending on the complete emergence of the life from the body of the woman. However, the Government has steadfastly avoided the nuclear issues of viability and personhood, so we have no real clarity on when the rights of the unborn are engaged and what protection is afforded to them when they do. Mr Enright's challenge may have implications beyond the stillborn register. What if a pregnant woman is an alcoholic or a drug addict and poses harm to her unborn? If a pregnant woman is killed, is her killer guilty of feticide as well as homicide? Once again the courts are being asked to step in where legislators have refused to act. The Eighth Amendment was introduced over perceived fears that activist judges would overstep the mark. In reality, we've absolved all responsibility to the judiciary. The scene of the crash on the N24 outside bansha in Co Tipperary. Photo: Press 22 The husband of a pregnant woman who died in a road traffic accident is challenging the State for damages for breach of the constitutional rights of their unborn child. It is a landmark case that could force the State to declare when the unborn foetus attracts personhood. Patrick Enright's wife Mary Enright died in a car crash following a head-on collision with a car driven by Cork schoolboy Robert Stoker (17). Mr Enright is suing Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, Ireland and the Attorney General for breach of the constitutional rights of Mollie, the name of their unborn child. Mary Enright (28) died instantly when the car she was driving was involved in a head-on collision with a car being driven by Mr Stoker - who also died in the March 2012 road traffic accident outside Bansha, Co Tipperary. Mr Enright, who suffered personal injuries in the collision, is seeking a series of High Court declarations including a declaration that Mollie was an "unborn" within the meaning of Article 40.3.3 of the Constitution, the pro-life amendment which gives equal constitutional rights to an expectant woman and her unborn. Ms Enright's family want Mollie's death registered as a road traffic death. But it is not possible to issue a death certificate without a birth certificate in accordance with the "born alive" principle which holds that various civil and criminal laws such as succession and dangerous driving can only apply to a child that is born alive. As Mollie died in utero as the result of her mother's death, her death is considered by medical and legal experts a stillbirth. However, Mr Enright wants declarations that the definition of "stillborn child" and "stillbirth" in the 2004 act is repugnant to six separate provisions of the Constitution, including the Eighth Amendment. Since 1995, all stillborn deaths can be registered by grieving parents. The Civil Registration Act 2004 defines a stillborn child as a child who at birth weighs not less than 500 grammes or has a gestational age of not less than 24 weeks and shows no sign of life. Tragic The Irish Independent has learned that the Office of the Attorney General was consulted after Tanaiste and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton met last year with Ms Enright's family, who sought to have Mollie's death registered as a Road Traffic Accident (RTA) death. The Department of Justice, which has responsibility for the policy and governing legislation of the State's Coroner Service, subsequently wrote to the country's coroners to advise that the law requires a stillbirth certificate to be issued where a child dies in utero or is born without showing any signs of life. It also reassured the coroner dealing with Ms Enright's tragic death that he could lawfully issue a stillborn certificate in respect of her unborn child. However, Ms Enright's family asked coroner Paul Morris not to issue such a certificate pending the outcome of their constitutional challenge. The Coroners Society of Ireland, which held its annual meeting in Portlaoise last Saturday, said Mr Enright's legal challenge "raised matters to be clarified on the issues of birth, death and the unborn". However, medical experts have warned of "absolute chaos" if the internationally recognised definition of a stillborn death is meddled with. "The definitions are very clear," said Dr Peter Boylan, the former Master of the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street. "A stillborn baby is one who shows no signs of life at all. You would cause absolute chaos if you start meddling with that definition. We must have a consistent, internationally recognised definition." Dr Boylan said that any baby born dead is a stillborn as is the unborn who dies in the womb - unless it survives a post mortem caesarean section carried out on the dead woman. Last week, a jury of four men and two women returned verdicts in accordance with the recommendation of coroner Paul Morris that Mary Enright and Robert Stoker had died as a result of multi-traumatic injuries received in a road collision. They also agreed that Mollie had died at University Hospital Waterford due to a lack of oxygen following her mother's death. The jurors were told that to disregard a "clinically spurious" and "impossible" toxicology report which showed that the teenager was 40 times over the legal drink driving limit. Before witnesses started giving their evidence, the coroner told the inquest he had read a lot of material relating to the registration of the term "birth". He said the issues focus on the ability to prove that someone must have been born before a death certificate can be issued. He added that issues also arise as to how "the unborn child" is defined in a post-mortem without being separated from the mother. Mr Morris said that it was his understanding in this case the unborn child was "born" and that it would be within his jurisdiction to assign the status on her that she had therefore died. Solicitor Pat O'Connor, Coroner for Mayo East and public information officer for the Coroners Society of Ireland, said there were issues to be resolved - as the manner in which an unborn death is certified as it can affect matters including inheritance, succession and any claims brought by dependants of the [adult] deceased. "If the child is not born, the present law says the unborn death must be registered as a stillborn death," said Mr O'Connor. "However, if the unborn is born alive, even if only for a matter of minutes or even seconds, namely if there is any life at all, then a birth certificate can be issued allowing for the death to be registered". The Department of Social Protection said that other than the stillborn register which issues birth certificates for unborns, the department and the General Register Office does not register life events or issue certificates of life events. "This is the function of registrars employed by the HSE," said a spokesperson for Tanaiste and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton. "How the event is registered will depend on what type of coroner's certificate is issued to the registrar by the coroner". The minister's spokesperson said that "many of the fundamental issues" were for the Department of Justice and Equality which told the Irish Independent it "had no role here". A woman who endured a "shocking betrayal of trust" when her former boyfriend raped her multiple times while she was sleeping is suing him for damages. The Court of Appeal yesterday reserved its decision on the appeal by the DPP against the leniency of a seven-year suspended sentence imposed on Norwegian Magnus Meyer Hustveit by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13, 2015. Hustveit (25) had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against his girlfriend between 2011 and 2012. Hustveit, whose former partner waived her right to anonymity so his identity could be published, returned to his native Norway after sentencing. His victim, Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill (28), was supported by friends yesterday at the Court of Appeal. The Irish Independent has learned that papers seeking compensation arising from the assaults were lodged with the Central Office of the High Court. The papers could not be served personally on Hustveit yesterday as he did not exit the Criminal Courts of Justice via any public entrance or exit. However, his victim may seek a court order directing they be served on him in Norway. In seeking a review of his sentence on grounds it was "unduly lenient", prosecuting counsel Mary Rose Gearty SC said it wasn't easy to imagine circumstances that would justify a non-custodial sentence for rape. Ms Gearty said there were multiple rapes in this case and a "shocking betrayal of trust". It was unusual in that it combined a sleeping victim and a relationship. Counsel said the victim's trauma was increased by Hustveit's suggestions she had lied about the symptoms from which she was suffering. Ms Gearty submitted that the judge erred by not acknowledging that this range of behaviour and class of conduct merited a lengthy period of custody. Counsel for Hustveit, Caroline Biggs SC, said the exceptional circumstance in this case was "the all-important email" Hustveit had sent to his former partner in which he acknowledged what he had done. He pressed 'send' on the email because she had asked him, Ms Biggs said. The court hear heard Ms Ni Dhomhnaill needed to understand exactly what he had done so she could get closure and move on with her life. The three-judge court reserved judgment. TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has finally said he will not do a deal with Independent TD Michael Lowry - and insisted he won't use Independent TDs to help establish the next Government. Mr Kenny said he was committed to the Fine Gael and Labour coalition after five years of difficult decisions together. I will not have any other dealings with Michael Lowry, or any other independent, he told RTEs Morning Ireland. He also said that any deal his party does with other parties or groups would be published. The Tanaiste Joan Burton last week made it clear "that Michael Lowry would not be an acceptable person in relation to any government that the Labour Party would be part of." In her strongest comments since the controversy arose over Mr Lowry's potential to be a kingmaker after the election, the Labour Party leader indicated she would rather her party stayed out of government than be propped up by the Tipperary TD. Expand Close Independent TD Michael Lowry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Independent TD Michael Lowry However, until this morning, the Taoiseach had refused to give a definitive answer on whether he could do a deal with Mr Lowry. The Fine Gael leader had said he was not "contemplating" working with any Independent TDs - but then also refused to rule them out. Also last week, a High Court judge said Mr Lowry engaged in "a litany of falsification and deception" - including the falsification of a solicitor's files - in his failure to co-operate with the Moriarty Tribunal. Mr Kenny has now ruled out a deal with Mr Lowry - adding that he wouldn't deal with any other independents despite widespread prediction that the current coalition will fall well-short of a majority. My priority is the return of the Fine Gael/Labour government why wouldnt I say that? Weve had a journey of five years of very difficult decisions and the country is making real progress, the Taoiseach said. Opinion polls indicate that the combined vote for the current Coalition will be well below the level needed to be sure of securing a second term following February 26ths general election. The coalition could be up to 12 TDs short of securing a majority in the Dail. Pressed on the matter by host Gavin Jennings, Mr Kenny conceded that if the need did arise, any deal with Independents would be published fully. In that eventually, and I dont foresee that eventually, any deal done between Fine Gael and Labour, or Fine Gael and anyone else, will of course be published. This is about people, their lives, and their country, he added. Mr Kenny also said that he will serve a full-term as Taoiseach if he is re-elected to the role, and would retire as leader of the country at the end of the term of the next Government. Asked about the possibility of a referendum on abortion, the Fine Gael leader said he would allow his partys TDs a free vote on the matter during any future Dail debate. Mr Kenny went on to defend Fine Gael's record on health despite admitting the party had failed to deliver on its election promise of universal health insurance. He said much had already been done, such as dismantling the HSE, developing primary health care centres and community health services and investing in emergency departments. "We havent completed all we set out to do in health. We have a lot more to do..." Mr Kenny said it would be a "priority" to extend free GP care for all under 18 years should he be re-elected. On the economy, he also admitted that the recovery had not been felt the same as in every part of Ireland but that the country was in a much better shape than when he first took office in 2011. You should recall what I inherited here, the Taoiseach said. "If were going to have the public services we want, we need to have a thriving economy." In relation to the possibility of Britain leaving the European Union, Mr Kenny said Ireland could suffer the most. "We've a billion in trade across the Irish sea every week. This could be seen as Ireland potentially... suffering the most of any because of a British decision to leave the European Union. Pressed by host Gavin Jennings on being absent in the media at certain crucial moments, Taoiseach replied: "[That] is absolute rubbish. I am available and will participate in all the debates that you have on RTE and every other television station. "I have a list from here to Stoneybatter of all the interviews that people want me to do. I have a great story to tell." They're out of the traps and the odds are we can brace ourselves as farce and fantasy dressed as serious discourse are now the order of the day from most politicians. There isn't even the remotest prospect of decent elocution or winning humour. The canvassers knock and the first thought is: "I suppose a pearl of wisdom is out of the question?" In a country acclaimed around the world for its oratory and clever wordplay, is there anyone out there today who can string together a decent speech - never mind one that would raise the hairs on our necks? In a Dail where charisma and articulate speech have long been drowned in a vacuous sea of "dis, dat, dese and dose", the prospect of a budding JFK emerging from this morass is as about as likely as a balmy February. Sean O'Casey might well have been pondering Leinster House when he observed: "All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed." Yet while Irish politics in 2016 is mostly dominated by dull and anaemic public speakers, there are a few exceptions - most notably our President. Take a YouTube gander at his address to the European Parliament in 2013, where he elegantly eviscerated the austerity powerbrokers responsible for turning the EU into "an economic space of contestation between the strong and the weak", where citizens were reduced to "pawns in a speculative chess board of fiscal moves". Tell it like it is, Michael D. He was ably matched by another president - Mary Robinson, on that momentous day in November 1990: "I was elected by men and women of all parties and none, by many with great moral courage who stepped out from the faded flags of the Civil War and voted for a new Ireland. And above all by the women of Ireland, Mna na hEireann, who instead of rocking the cradle rocked the system." You had me at hello, Mary. Winston Churchill, a fair hand himself at rousing a crowd, said it best: "A good speech should be like a woman's skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest." Short is the key word, with brevity definitely the soul of wit. One of the most famous speeches in history - Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address - lasted for just two minutes. As opening lines go, this one had killer written all over it: "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." When it comes to creating a lasting impression, power and persuasion go hand in hand with pithy and concise. JFK inspired America with a speech that posed a singular question "Ask not what" - lasting less than 15 minutes - while Martin Luther King's vision of racial equality, "I have a dream", was only two minutes longer. Former White House speechwriter Peggy Noonan once observed: "A speech reminds us that words, like children, have the power to make dance the dullest beanbag of a heart." She could well have been talking about Jackie Healy-Rae, the Kerry politician whose soundbites enlivened many a campaign. Cunning operator that he was, the man in the flatcap knew well how to mix humour and pathos for maximum effect. On the trials of politics on the doorstep, he recalled: "I had some fierce escapes from dogs, but I nearly bled to death after this cock drove his spurs through my shoe and cut my vein. I bate the bejabers out of him." He reminded us that hard luck cases were also a permanent part of the job: "Some people coming to me were so poor that they couldn't buy a jacket for a gooseberry." And his famous threat to pull the plug and force an election was pure Myles na gCopaleen: "Them fellas inside Dail Eireann can be getting oil for the chains of their bikes." But words are only half the battle when it comes to that winning style. Researchers who studied the more popular videos on TED Talks, the online intellectual forum, found body language and a good smile make speakers appear smarter: "No matter how serious your topic, find something to smile about," they stress. Most importantly, remember that speakers have just seven seconds to make an impression - the length of time it takes an audience to decide if they're going to vote for you. And, of course, speaking from the heart never goes out of fashion - like Steve Jobs's speech to a graduating class at Stanford, where he laid it down with drama: "Keep looking, don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it." For the year that's in it, Pearse's oration at the graveside of O'Donovan Rossa surely stands out for a sentiment and delivery impossible to unearth in Irish politics nowadays: "They think that they have foreseen everything, that they have provided against everything; but the fools, the fools, the fools! They have left us our Fenian dead, and while Ireland holds these graves, Ireland unfree shall never be at peace." They just don't make 'em like that any more, and we are sadly the poorer for it. A campaign poster for Alan Kelly is erected ahead of the general election Environment Minister Alan Kelly launched a verbal attack on a radio presenter before taking part in a bizarre live interview, the Irish Independent can reveal. The Labour Party deputy leader "stormed" into Newstalk's mobile studio in Thurles yesterday demanding to know why presenter Chris Donoghue had given a "prime-time slot" to his constituency rival independent TD Michael Lowry. Witnesses have said Mr Kelly was irate and directly confronted the 'Newstalk Breakfast' host just minutes before taking part in an on-air debate with independent TD Mattie McGrath and Fianna Fail candidate Michael Smith Jnr. Earlier, the show had aired a segment where Mr Donoghue interviewed Mr Lowry during a walkabout in Tipperary. During the piece, Mr Lowry denied ever taking a corrupt payment. Read More After the three-way debate started, Mr Kelly briefly complained on air that the former Fine Gael minister had been given his own slot. There were also heated exchanges where he accused Mr McGrath of being a bully and a coward. Mr Smith, who was present in the studio before Mr Kelly arrived, told the Irish Independent: "He [Kelly] came in and started saying it wasn't a level playing field and making accusations. "The language that was used was not appropriate as public representatives who are representing the public." Similarly Mr McGrath said: "I walked into a stand-up row between him and Chris Donoghue. "Alan Kelly didn't like not being first on. He wanted to be treated like royalty." He added: "I'm a long time going in and out of studios and I've never heard the likes of the insults that were traded with the presenter." A spokesman for the minister last night described the incident as "a storm in a teacup". "I categorically refute that bad language was used. There was an issue. Alan raised it with the presenter and we were happy with how it was dealt with," he said. Mr Donoghue declined to comment on the incident. During the live interview, Mr Kelly then traded a series of verbal blows with Mr McGrath. More than once during the discussions, Mr Donoghue was forced to tell the election candidates to stop "shouting at each other, please". At one point Mr McGrath alleged the minister had to hide in his van in order to escape angry anti-water protesters in Cashel. "You weren't allowed to canvas in Cashel last Sunday ... You had to go into my van for cover" he began before being cut short by the minister. Mr McGrath later admitted to the Irish Independent that Mr Kelly was not present in his election van when a female protester started banging on the window in a bid to locate the Labour TD. "He wasn't in my van, no. But a woman approached it and started banging on the window looking for Alan Kelly," he said. "But if Alan 'Jelly' Kelly wants to ever come into my van, I'll put the refrigerator on. I've never seen a jelly bean like Alan Kelly," Mr McGrath said. A spokesman for Mr Kelly said: "That only happened in the ice-cream van that plays the music in his head. "He is making things up." Sinn Fein launches its general election campaign at the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson St in Dublin Gerry Adams has called other parties' manifestos 'a lie' but refused to rule out any coalition options. Sinn Fein launched its general election campaign at the Royal Irish Academy on Dawson St in Dublin. The party leader called the the coalitions and Fianna Fail's manifesto's 'a lie' and called on the parties to withdraw them. "[They] tried to dismiss Sinn Fein... [they] tried to buy the electorate," Mr Adams said. He accused the coalition of 'cooking the books'. The Louth TD also ruled out being a junior member of a Fianna Fail or Fine Gael led government. He added that this was the first time to elect a Sinn Fein-led government. They are running 50 candidates in this election. But Mr Adams pointedly did not rule out any coalition option provided his party were the senior government partners. He also stressed that Sinn Fein members would have to vote on any coalition option at a special Ard Fheis. The party members had already ruled out joining with Fine Gael or Fianna Fail at their Ard Fheis in Derry last year. But he did not rule out joining with Labour. Many members of Sinn Fein would be very dissatisfied with coalition with Labour. But this proposition hasnt been put before us, Mr Adams told reporters. After the launch members of the party made their way from Dawson St to Grafton St to meet with members of the electorate. The Sinn Fein leader stopped to buy flowers and have money to a homeless man sitting by St Stephens Green. The rain began to fall as the Louth TD flanked by fellow Sinn Fein candidates made their way back down Dawson St. Mr Adams will be canvassing in Dublin this afternoon. Minister for jobs Richard Bruton has doubled the target set by the Government during its last term to 200,000 extra jobs by 2020. The minister was speaking at the launch of Fine Gael's jobs plan in the CHQ Building on Friday morning. "In looking ahead for the next period, we're doubling our ambition so we're setting out a target of 200,000 jobs but we are retaining that crucial 45pc plus will remain coming from our directly exporting sectors," the minister said. As part of the new plan Fine Gael aims to have jobs for anyone who wants one by 2020 and have the unemployment rate in each region within 1pc of the national average of 6pc. Under the Fine Gael jobs plan the minister said that it would work on developing employment clusters. "Were going to focus on how we build on clusters that are self-sustaining. We have seen very significantly in the medical devices world that there are real opportunities for Ireland. We will set about driving those clusters and doing them in a much more systematic way" In the plan Fine Gael says that in order to fund an extra 4bn in capital investment over the five year period from 2017 to 2021 Fine Gael will use 1bn of available fiscal space. The minister also outlined the party's intentions to abolish USC over the next five years as well as its intentions to reduce taxes on entrepreneurs and start-ups. When asked about the Tanaiste's ambition to increase the minimum wage by 2 an hour the minister said that it would fit with the party's intentions. "My ambition would certainly be to deliver that sort of progress and I think we can see a significant increase over time. It is on the basis of growing our competitive edge. "The key is we can't let our ambitions domestically or politically run ahead of our capacity to deliver." The owners of Westport House have denied claims they waited until the announcement of the General Election date to release details of their plans to sell the 10m estate on the open market. There are fears the 183-hectare estate will end up in the hands of new owners who could decide to close it to public access. Outgoing Fine Gael TD and Junior tourism minister Michael Ring said he was 'surprised', adding: "Things are at a delicate stage and a meeting was planned for Friday involving Mayo County Council and the Western Development Commission." Some party supporters accused the Browne family of 'playing election games' by putting Westport House on the open market on the same day party leader Enda Kenny began his party's bid to return to government. The house and estate is one of the county's biggest tourist attractions, drawing in 160,000 visitors to the area in 2015. It was withdrawn from a Nama sale last year after fears it would end up in private hands which could close it to the public. The Browne family have debts totalling 9m. They have owned property on the estate since the 1630s, giving up their Catholic faith in penal times to retain it. "This decision to sell has nothing to do with the calling of the General Election or to put pressure on any government deputies," said a family spokesman. "The decision was taken by the family on the advice of the High Court administrators who would like to point out that every opportunity was afforded to help resolve this difficult situation since 2011. "There has been no approach or communication from anyone in government since initial discussions took place five years ago." Sheelyn Browne, a descendant of pirate queen Granuaile, said the family wanted "to try for one last time to see if the Government wanted to step in". An Taisce Heritage Officer Ian Lumley said: "Public access to Westport House and grounds has been available for more than 50 years and its sale threatens heritage tourism in the region." He urged the Browne Family and state agencies to meet. UNDER-fire Environment Minister Alan Kelly has denied threatening Newstalk broadcaster Chris Donoghue ahead of a live broadcast yesterday morning. Mr Kellys denial comes after the Irish Independent revealed the minister stormed into Newstalks mobile studio in Tipperary before taking part in a live studio debate to complain about the stations coverage. The minister was infuriated that Independent TD Michael Lowry had been given a separate slot before the constituency debate, which featured Mr Kelly along with Fianna Fail candidate Michael Smith Jnr and Independent TD Mattie McGrath. Mr Kelly briefly complained on air about Mr Lowry having his own segment but sources say he also confronted Mr Donoghue before going on air over the shows editorial decisions. At the launch of the Labour Partys election campaign today, he faced repeated questions from independent.ie over his confrontation with Mr Donohoe and whether he sought to influence the broadcasters editorial judgement. Mr Kelly admitted he was unhappy with the radio stations editorial choice and confirmed he did voice concerns with the host before the on air broadcast. Asked if he hoped voicing his concerns would influence future Newstalk broadcasts, he said: No, absolutely not. My only issue was editorial choice and fairness. That was the only issue and I was only raising the fact everyone was given a chance to go on the show and one person was given a choice earlier than everyone else, simple as that, he added. Asked if he verbally abused Chris Donoghue, Mr Kelly said: I dont think thats a fair question, before adding: No, obviously I didnt. Tanaiste Joan Burton weighed in behind her deputy leader and praised him for taking part in the constituency debate. I cherish a free press in this country but there is also a robust political debate, Ms Burton said. All of the journalists that we deal with during the election we deal with people fairly and openly, we allow them access to us and that will continue and thats what Minister Kelly was doing. He could have ducked maybe appearing on a show all together. We have come and we have answered your questions and we will continue to do so to the best of our ability, she added. Health dominates the online discussion when it comes to voters number one issue this general election. New data released by Facebook reveals that the topic accounted for 52 pc of the conversations that involved the upcoming vote this February 26th. Read More The data also shows that housing, education, flooding and abortion feature in the top ten election issues being talked about on the site. Unsurprisingly, Fine Gael features in more than half of all discussions on Facebook, followed by Sinn Fein (42 pc), Labour (40 pc) and Fianna Fail (36 pc). The Green Party comes in at fifth on 7 pc, followed by Renua (5 pc), Social Democrats (5 pc), People Before Profit and Anti-Austerity Alliance at a combined 8 pc Read More Sinn Feins Gerry Adams accounts for 17 pc of conversations on the social network, followed by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin (9 pc) and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (1 pc). With An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, having only just officially called the election, we would expect to see that level of conversation rise further as we approach polling day, said Elizabeth Linder, Facebooks Politics & Government Specialist for the Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) region. Facebook said there has been, in total, three million interactions about the general election, involving 600,000 Irish users, since it began monitoring parties, candidates and keywords related to election issues since November. A man who died after a boat capsized in the River Shannon had previously been jailed for a hit-and-run that claimed the life of a pedestrian. Gardai have begun an investigation into the death of Noel Quinlivan (28), who was found along with three other men suffering from serious injuries and hypothermia after a boat capsized in the river at around 4.15am. The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) also began an independent investigation. Quinlivan was previously jailed for three years for knocking down a man while high on drink and drugs. In February 2012, he admitted fatally knocking down father-of-one Thomas O'Shea after drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis. Quinlivan pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Mr O'Shea (40) on Main Street, Castleconnell, Co Limerick, in the early hours of September 6, 2009. After the collision he went to his girlfriend's house, where he continued to drink alcohol and smoke cannabis. In a victim impact statement, Mr O'Shea's widow Lisa, who was also injured in the collision, said she would never get over her loss. "The laughter is gone from our house," she told the court. Quinlivan was the last of the four men to be pulled from the water around 7am this morning. The three other men, who are also from Castleconnell, are said to be in a comfortable condition in hospital. A woman raises her arm as Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, standing on stage with former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, addresses supporters after taking part in a debate with Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Bernie Sanders in Durham, New Hampshire February 4, 2016 After what seemed like a very polite campaign so far, Democratic candidates for the US Presidential election came together in a fiery debate last night. Mrs Clinton accused Mr Sanders of subjecting her to an "artful smear" while he suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of America's political establishment. The two Democrats embraced a markedly more contentious tone than when they last debated before the year's presidential voting began in Iowa. It showed how the race for the nomination has tightened five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire next Tuesday. Read More A tragedy has unfolded in Chicago as the bodies of six people were discovered at a house in the city. The bodies, which included a woman and a child, are believed to have been part of a murder murder-suicide. Interim police Superintendent John Escalante told reporters Thursday there is "no known threat" to the neighbourhood. Authorities are still working to identify the dead. Mr Escalante said it was thought all the victims were family members. He said police entered the house in Chicago's Gage Park after receiving a call from a co-worker to check on a woman who lived there. She had missed two days of work. Read More The music world is in mourning with the news that Earth, Wind and Fire frontman Maurice White has passed away. The band sold more than 90 million albums and had hits including September, Shining Star and Boogie Wonderland, has died at his home in Los Angeles. White, who was 74, suffered from Parkinson's Disease and had retreated from the public even as the band he founded kept performing. "My brother, hero and best friend Maurice White passed away peacefully last night in his sleep," Verdine White, also a member of the band, said. "While the world has lost another great musician and legend, our family asks that our privacy is respected as we start what will be a very difficult and life changing transition in our lives. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes." Read More The Irish Independent leads with an election story. Only a couple of weeks after it announced that it would be attempting to balance the country's books by 2018 if it was re-elected, Fine Gael has rowed back on its promise. The party will instead will use a deal struck with Brussels to justify pushing out out the target to bring spending in line with tax income by at least a year. The Herald leads with the sad news that a child has died from swine flu in a Dublin hospital. The paper reveals that the death took place at Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin in the past week. The Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed that the child died after contracting the H1N1 flu virus. The Irish Times runs with an election which claims that the majority of voters are in favour of change. According to a poll conducted by the paper, 63pc of those surveyed opted for a change in government, while 30pc said they would like to see the Coalition re-elected. Interestingly, only 57pc of Labour voters wanted it to continue in Government. The Irish Daily Mail leads with a page one story on Willie O'Dea's claims that Fine Fail would only support a Fine Gael minority government in the context of keeping Sinn Fein out of power, according to the former FF minister. Michael Lowry is the lead story in the Irish Daily Mirror. The paper reveals that the Independent TD has the worst voting record of any TD in the last Dail. He was marked absent for 73pc of ballots in the lifetime of the 31st parliament. The Irish Sun bucks the trend of election stories and instead leads with an 'exclusive story' on an Irish pilot who was collared by Spanish police after getting into a bust-up with a prostitute he accused of stealing 1,000 from him. The Irish Daily Star has a story on Graham Dwyer which claims the killer has been bragging to prison inmates that he is a member of Fianna Fail. ACcording to the story, the 43-year-old calims he signed up to the party "years ago". Finally, the Minister for Agriculture's brother Patrick Coveney has publicly questioned how so many people have been "left behind" in what he described as the "unprecedented economic recovery" of recent years. Taoiseach Enda Kenny called today's horrific shooting "an extreme case" while his party colleague Richard Bruton branded it "a new low". "Clearly this is a very serious matter... one man was shot dead, the other was very seriously injured and I can't confirm whether he will be able to be kept alive or not. Read More "I spoke to the Minister for Justice. She had just spoken to the Garda Commissioner. There is a full scale murder hunt going on here, a full scale murder investigation and we hope that the Gardai... will be able to bring those [responsible] to justice." "Clearly the interpretation here is that this is the work of rival criminal gangs in the Dublin area," Mr Kenny said, adding: "obviously this is an extreme case of criminal activity." Expand Close he scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this afternoon... Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp he scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this afternoon... Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin. The Regency Hotel is on the edge of Jobs Minister Richard Bruton's constituency and he lives in the area. "I think it's very disturbing. I mean the Regency Hotel is a family-run hotel as you know - it's a place that many, many people go for a quiet evening or events. "It is really very disturbing to see that level of wanton violence, the disregard for other people who were there, innocently going about their lives. "As the Taoiseach said the Gardai will be very determined to pursue these criminals. Expand Close The scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this afternoon... Picture Colin Keegan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene of a shooting at the Regency Hotel on the Swords Road this afternoon... Picture Colin Keegan "It's a new low I think in that sort of criminal activity," he added. The PSNI have appealed for information Two young motorcyclists are in a serious condition in hospital following separate crashes in Northern Ireland. A 21-year-old male motorcyclist is in a serious condition in hospital following a crash with a car in north Belfast. His green Peugeot motorcycle was in a collision with a silver Mercedes car in Donegall Park Avenue just before 9.45pm on Thursday. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service got the call at 9.41pm and sent a rapid response paramedic and an A and E crew. An NIAS spokesman confirmed the man had suffered head injuries and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. He has been taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries which are currently described as serious. Inspector McBride said: "I would appeal to anyone who may have seen the motorbike or car in the area to contact Tennent Street Police Station on the non emergency number 101." In a separate incident, a 20-year-old woman is being treated in hospital for injuries believed to be serious following a one-vehicle crash in Omagh. Just after 1.35am this morning police came across the crash and part of the Clanabogan Road was closed. The Northern Ireland Ambulance service took the woman to the South Western Acute hospital. It has since reopened but motorists are advised to expect delays. Anyone who may have seen this motorcycle, a black Honda, in the area is asked to contact Omagh Police Station on the non emergency number 101. 'There is a need for "concrete measures" to increase the number of non-denominational or multi-denominational schools and to change the law to eliminate discrimination in school admissions, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said' Photo: PA The UN body on children's rights has called on the Government to take urgent action to end the way Irish schools can discriminate against children on religious grounds. A report on Ireland from the committee of independent international human rights experts, expresses concern that schools "continue to practise discriminatory admissions policies on the basis of the child's religion". It says that children "are not ensured the right to effectively opt out of religious classes and access appropriate alternatives to such classes". There is a need for "concrete measures" to increase the number of non-denominational or multi-denominational schools and to change the law to eliminate discrimination in school admissions, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child said. The report makes a wide range of findings in relation to how Ireland treats children and young people. It looks at areas including health, education, play, youth justice, suicide and the voting age. The last report was in 2006. Irish Human Rights and Equality Commissioner Emily Logan said the latest report showed that Ireland had come a long way in recent years in the protection and promotion of children's rights "but a great deal of work remains to be done". Children's Rights Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward said that Ireland was found most wanting in the area of support for vulnerable and marginalised children - and their rights must be a priority in the next programme for government." On the education front, the committee is also calling for reform of the Leaving Certificate "with a view to reducing the stress caused to children". The recommendations on religion will add to pressure on the next government to address the dominant influence of the Catholic Church, which runs more than nine-in-10 primary schools, in Irish education. Schools are allowed to select pupils in a way that will "protect their ethos" - most evident in Catholic primary schools in how they give priority to children who have been baptised Groups advocating change have made it an election issue and say there is no place for it in modern, multi-cultural Ireland. Education Equality chairperson April Duff said "the status quo is unsustainable. Many parents who are non-religious, or who practise minority religions, are unable to get their children into local schools". Michael Barron, of children's rights NGO Equate, said: "Once again a UN committee is recommending to the Irish Government that serious reform is needed in how our schools operate and I believe that the time has come for them to do something about it." Little Gideon Robinson (5) from San Diego summoned the courage to ask nurse Sarah Richards to marry him as he received treatment for leukaemia A video in which a little boy battling cancer got down on one knee and proposed to his favourite nurse has melted hearts around the world. Little Gideon Robinson (5) from San Diego summoned the courage to ask nurse Sarah Richards to marry him as he received treatment for leukaemia at Rady Childrens Hospital in California. The teary-eyed nurse happily accepted the homemade ring and admitted she was thrilled to be Gideons hospital husband. "Sarah is really nice and pretty and always gets me Legos because she knows I love playing with them," said Gideon speaking to TODAY.com. "I wanted to marry her to make her laugh like she makes me laugh," Gideon said. An Irish man has written a powerful letter addressing his own mental health, saying he will fight to his last before he lets it sap his confidence again. After more than a decade of struggling with depression and anxiety, Limerick native Peter Guckian (26) wrote to his own mental well-being and swore until my last gasp of air that he would never let it hold him back again. Although deep down I knew college or academia was not for me, I still, however, spent four years of my life trying to avoid that feeling as I was preoccupied with you, he writes. In fact, I didn't even know what or who you were for a very long time. I will be honest and say I was pretty intimidated by you at first and that feeling hadn't left my life for many years, but not anymore. I realise your game plan You have had a heavy influence on my life for over a decade now, but after two years I am beginning to believe that I am nearly rid of you, for good. The incredibly honest letter goes on, saying that: I count myself very lucky As I write this letter I can once again hear that ever present helicopter which appears to be permanently hovering above the strong and vicious currents River Shannon these days. Expand Close Peter Guckian / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Peter Guckian May this poor soul you have burdened with your everyday appearance within their mind, rest in peace. Speaking to Independent.ie, Mr Guckian said he wrote his letter because he wants to open up a conversation about mental health. A lot people who know me wouldnt believe that this happened to me [but] there were many days when I couldnt even leave my house. I couldnt bear my own thoughts, so the idea of other peoples were crippling. I would have been very confident as a kid and came across like that world was my oyster but I would have gone through a stage where I couldnt seen a future for myself. He continued: I think there are still many people who were like me, suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues that arent aware of what is happening to them. Im hoping this letter can help in raising awareness of mental health issues and encouraging people to speak out, particularly my generation who are not accustomed to sharing. Crediting his girlfriend Kate Corneille with helping him to open up and talk about his mental health issues, Mr Guckian says that every political party in the country should be speaking up on the issue. The restaurant manager said he had been pushed to put pen to paper following the latest helicopter sweep of the River Shannon. Living in Limerick City now, I work just beside the [River] and weve seen awful things in recent years thats what frightens me the most, is that these helicopters at night arent talked about its not an issue thats raised. Weve heard the helicopter here at least ten times in the last year, which means that someone has definitely gone in. Myself and my friends even stopped some poor girl from jumping in a few months she was willing to jump, saying she wanted to be with her mother. We held her arms and legs until the Gardai arrived." Peter Guckian's letter to his mental health: Dear Mental Health, I would like to begin this open letter by telling you how much I sincerely mean it when I say f**k you! You have had a heavy influence on my life for over a decade now, but after two years I am beginning to believe that I am nearly rid of you, for good. I was never taught about you while I was growing up, thus I never expected you. In fact, I didn't even know what or who you were for a very long time. I will be honest and say I was pretty intimidated by you at first and that feeling hadn't left my life for many years, but not anymore. When someone is backed into a corner they only have two options:, they could stand still, motionless, and have you domineering their every choice or move in life. Or the second ideal that is the road less travelled by many (unfortunately) push back as much as you could and get yourself out of that corner. You affected me to the point where you meddled with my life and my everyday choices. Although deep down I knew college or academia was not for me I still, however, spent four years of my life trying to avoid that feeling as I was preoccupied with you. Before I am forever done with you, following me around like an unwanted shadow, I just want to tell you a few reasons as to why I would never like to be within your company for the foreseeable future. Prior to your unwanted entry into my life, I had been very confident in all aspects possible of the term. Throughout my life, even when faced with the hardships of growing up and even being bullied at a young age, I still took them on and in my mind no matter what, I was victorious! But since I had no choice but to spend most of my free time with you that confidence was shattered into two with you taking a part of my confidence I never thought was even possible to be taken. It is difficult to explain. Long story short, you introduced only what I could describe as whole self doubt into MY life, without my permission. With the introduction of this unwanted trait, I was able to appear confident in myself and all my decisions without actually feeling it. If that makes sense. I had absolutely no control over a lot of things and situations faced in my life, but more importantly I wasn't able to be the old me who I fondly remembered.. I could appear completely content and happy without a worry too many, while on the inside I was very sad and worried about basically everything in the world. The complexity of the situation meant that it was very hard to share what I really thought about myself to anyone from my family, who could be nothing but caring and looking out for me, or close friends who would only be worried if they only knew. In addition to my own fears or anxiety I grew fearful of worrying anybody who was close to me and extremely anxious when it came to discussing the topic of my everyday struggle when it all came to light. I knew from day one that you wouldn't be of the end of my existence. For many, you seem to go harder on - to the point where they don't want to breathe anymore - but not me. This didn't, however, necessarily mean that dark ideas did not cross my head. It's a little tricky to explain on my lowest hour and during my ever grey and negative thoughts or doubts about myself, I would occasionally wonder was I just a nuisance to the world and those who loved me. I know and always have known that I wouldn't be able to do such a thing, not just to myself but because of all my loved ones more so. However, I am both extremely angry and worried about the people who may feel so low that they think after a long time there is no end to the dark thoughts and the problems you bring upon them and convince them to take their own lives. Lives which appeared unfixable but could very well be fixed to everyone on the outside of these thoughts. Its beginning to seem that you haven't just invaded my life as a lot of other people are beginning to speak out about all the terrible things you are capable of and rightly so. You deserve it! Your complex being has intimidated almost every person in this country to the point where it is not discussed and where ignoring it seems to be the only promoted mechanism to try to defeat it. Also, you have shattered and taken away many peoples hope, which is uncalled for. Sadly, today, we live in a world where our own politicians never think of invading and combating everything you stand for as their prime policy when preparing for an election. Funnily, if it was used it would probably be the secret ingredient to actually winning. But in fairness knowing your horrific entity, you probably have invaded and affected their lives to the point of ignoring you also that is what we are taught after all. It is a world built to have many other problems that don't concern you let alone have the time to spend worrying about you and when you may attack again. I count myself very lucky. Like myself, there are others who are able to take you on against all odds and although you currently have a great winning streak against your prey, we end up victorious. There is another reason as to why you will not affect me anymore and that is your sickening predator-like attack on those less fortunate and those who have issues burdening already on their poorly minds which they simply cannot handle. As I write this letter I can once again hear that ever present helicopter which appears to be permanently hovering above the strong and vicious currents River Shannon these days. May this poor soul you have burdened with your everyday appearance within their mind, rest in peace. I swear from this moment until I take my last gasp of air in this world I will do anything I can help tackle your presence in society and uncover what is constantly being ignored and never addressed.. That's a promise! You see there was a time where you had me thinking that I had no future that I was destined for nothing. But now, I have a great job which I succeed in daily as well as a loving family family and girlfriend who like and respect me for whom I truly am. No matter how many times you have taken away my confidence and self belief or how many times you will try, you won't be able anymore. I would like to thank you on the other hand for helping me realise who I was and how strong I really am. Here is to knowing I will never let you invade my life, to the point of thoughts of defeat, for the rest of my time on this planet. There will always be negative thoughts that try to take over you're every move in this life, that's impossible. I have realized that by hitting back with positive thoughts as hard as they may be to do, it succeeds. Thanks to you, some people find that hard to do (compute positive thoughts as quick and easy as they can negative). But I realize your game plan now. Farewell forever, Me This classic, period home in Clontarf - Winstonville House - became a TV star in its own right during the property boom years. For a time during this period, television was overrun with property TV programmes, such as Location, Location, Location, Changing Rooms, Property Ladder and Homes in the Sun. with presenters like Kirsty Allsopp and Sarah Beany becoming household names The classic cream tinted Victorian villa on the Malahide Road in Clontarf, Dublin 3, was acquired by the firm of Paul Dufficy and Co in the Celtic Tiger era which spent a fortune restoring the property along with its adjoining and identical neighbour, and kitting both out with top class materials and gizmos. And in 2002, around the time the job was being completed, both adjoining houses were among the most plush featured in Showhouse - one of the many copycat Celtic Tiger era Irish property TV vehicles hosted by our own property boom small screen superstar, the ever wholesome Neville Knott. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The drawing room with open stone fireplace. A Victorian villa, Winstonville House was refurbished during the Tiger era. A reception room with polished walnut wood floor. The rear garden with patio area. The kitchen is equipped with timber wall and floor units. Tiled floors grace the stairwell. Showhouse presenter Neville Knott and interior designer Lisa Murphy. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The drawing room with open stone fireplace. The popular series gave interiors professionals and designers an identical house each to furnish and kit out in competition with each other, with the winner judged at the end of each programme. Winstonville House was taken on by Dun Laoghaire based interiors expert Mary Ryder, who was pitted against competing designer Eunan Byrne. For her part, Ryder had worked with NBK designs, an award-winning architectural practice, and went on to design interiors for retailers, bars and nightclubs as well as private clients, before setting up her own practice. However, it's not clear today whether the most unusual aspect of this house - a hidden bathroom - was the idea of Ryder or the renovating developers who funded the projects. The 'secret bathroom' is an upstairs shower room, hidden away off the main upstairs landing, behind a floor to ceiling panel of faux bookshelves complete with fake books. The feature is completely convincing and those wishing to use said bathroom facility have to know how to find and pull open the panel to get to it. While it could conceivably be used as a panic room in the event of a break in, the vendors don't seem to remember why it was installed. We presume it could provide a decent prank opportunity at parties (albeit a risky one) directing people upstairs when they request the bathroom. All the top class bells and whistles installed back when the boom was getting boomier are still in evidence at Winstonville House, which comes with an internal vacuum system, a video intercom, electronically operated front gates and a lot of very expensive marble, stone and designer wood surfaces. The kitchen has stone work tops and the hall comes with a shining porcelain tiled floor. The result of the boom era renovation was the transformation of a period home into a comfortable, modern abode, and it could be argued that many of the renovations which took place back then would not be permitted today - for example, the installation of double glazed windows. The original shutters are still here and intact. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Showhouse presenter Neville Knott and interior designer Lisa Murphy. A Victorian villa, Winstonville House was refurbished during the Tiger era. The drawing room with open stone fireplace. A reception room with polished walnut wood floor. The rear garden with patio area. The kitchen is equipped with timber wall and floor units. Tiled floors grace the stairwell. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Showhouse presenter Neville Knott and interior designer Lisa Murphy. Accommodation includes an entrance hall leading to a drawing room with an open stone fireplace, and a similarly equipped dining room. Both have polished walnut floors and include original period ceiling coving and centre rose designs. There's a family bathroom on the return with marble tiling, a sunken bath and a heated towel rail. Upstairs is the master bed chamber with walnut flooring, and lit by two sash windows at the front of the house. This comes with its own en-suite shower room with a copper spiral towel rail. The second bedroom is also double-sized, as is the third and fourth, the latter with built-in wardrobes. The 'hidden' bathroom comes with a shower cubicle, wash hand basin and a toilet. At the other end of the house is the kitchen with a range of timber built-in wall and floor units and an island unit, marble worktops and floors, and an integrated fridge and freezer. This level also includes a dining room, a home office, a utility room and a bathroom. Clontarf DART station is a four minute walk away, and the property is also near the Casino in Marino. While little has changed with the layout and styling of this home since the Tiger years and its Neville Knott Showhouse outing, one big difference is the price. Having been offered at 2m in 2007, it is now available for 895,000 through Sherry FitzGerald's Killester branch. Winstonville House, 64 Malahide Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3 Asking price: 895,000 Agent: Sherry FitzGerald (01) 833 6555 The foster care scandal is just one more example of the failure by the State to properly protect some of the children in its care. Alan Shatter above, has compared this failure to the failure by the Catholic Church to do the same. Photo: Tom Burke It is a very sad fact that the start of the election campaign will now push the foster care scandal far down the news agenda to the point where it may never again receive the attention it deserves. If this happens, it will not only be an injustice to 'Grace', the intellectually disabled women left for many years with foster carers against whom terrible abuse allegations have been made, it will be an injustice to all other children failed by an extremely ramshackle, chaotic and unaccountable State children protection system. By one of those almost unexplainable vagaries, this scandal has received a lot of attention whereas countless other child protection failings by the State have not. Let's take one of those failures at random. In 2013, the Office of the Ombudsman for Children published the results of an investigation into why very serious allegations of sex abuse against a child were not dealt with properly by the HSE. The report says that "Between December 2006 and July 2007, an 11-year-old girl made disclosures of multiple instances of severe child abuse. The disclosures included but were not confined to reports of repeated instances of violent rape by an adult male and involved death threats and assault with a knife." The child's mother contacted both the gardai and the HSE. The gardai interviewed the child. The alleged rapist was never charged. One reason for this was a long delay by the HSE in organising a medical examination of the child. The HSE complained that it did not have appropriate medical staff in place who could do it. Contemplate that for a moment (and remember that this was taking place before all the cutbacks). The State has loudly proclaimed that it serves the best interests of children. It has said it takes child protection extremely seriously. It has rightly stood in judgement when the Church has failed to protect children, but when a child alleges serious sex abuse the child cannot be guaranteed a timely medical examination which can validate the allegation and maybe secure a conviction. The report of the Ombudsman found numerous other failings by the HSE, not least a failure to deal with either the child or the child's mother in a sensitive manner. Needless to say, no-one has ever been held properly accountable for any of this. While in opposition, Alan Shatter did an excellent job calling attention to the multiple examples of the HSE failing children. One such person was David Foley. Three years after he entered the care system, he was found dead from a drug overdose. The then Government ordered an investigation. A report into that investigation was eventually published but it spoke of 'systems failures' which allows specific individuals off the hook. In January 2002, Tracey Fay also died of a drug overdose. She had been in the care of the State for four years. Again, a report was eventually published and again no-one seems to have been held accountable. In September 2006, Melissa Mahon, aged 14, was killed by Ronnie Dunbar, a known paedophile. At the time of her death, Melissa was in the 'care' of the HSE. We are told the HSE made huge efforts to protect her. Did they do everything reasonably possible? In 2012, a report into 200 deaths of children in the care of the HSE, or who were known to the HSE care services, was published. It found that some of these deaths were avoidable. On the day of the launch one of the report's authors, Geoffrey Shannon, described the report as a "devastating indictment of the child protection system". He called for "accountability and a change to the in-camera rule" which prevents family law cases being properly reported. Gordon Jeyes, now head of Tusla, the child and family agency, was present at the launch. I asked him whether anyone had resigned as a result of any of these deaths. All he would admit was that some disciplinary measures had been taken without being any more specific. When HSE chief Tony O'Brien appeared before the Public Accounts Committee the other day, he confirmed that no-one has been sacked as a result of the failings in this latest scandal. He did say that the three HSE workers who sat on the panel that overruled a recommendation that Grace be removed from her foster home are now retired. However, he needs to be asked whether the HSE has used any of these three in any capacity since their retirement. He also said that he has sacked employees for failures less serious than those coming to light in this case. It would be good to know why those sackings took place. Was a single one because of a serious child protection failing? There are bound to be more foster care scandals waiting to come to light. A Hiqa report in 2009 revealed that of 389 children in foster care in the Dublin north-west area, 189 lacked an allocated social worker, meaning they were not being properly monitored. A Tusla report last year revealed that a further 26 children in HSE care, or known to the HSE, died in 2014. Again, some of the deaths were avoidable. Again, no-one was held accountable. A subset of these deaths was looked at in more detail and the report said there was "no evidence to suggest that any action or inactions on the part of the services" contributed to the deaths in question. This appears to be the finding of many reports into child protection failings by the HSE. How credible is this? Can it really be that no failure on the part of a social worker has ever been serious enough to warrant dismissal? In 2009, commenting on child protection failings by the Church, Alan Shatter said that, "The scandalous culture of secrecy, cover-up and absence of accountability for which the Roman Catholic Church is justifiably criticised is endemic in the State's child protection services." The HSE whistleblower who helped to expose the foster care scandal told 'Claire Byrne Live' on Monday night that there needs to be a change of culture in the HSE. She said it must be more willing to hold up its hands and to stop hiding behind unpublished reports. She said there needs to be resignations. The failure on the part of the State to properly protect some of the children in its care, and the almost total lack of accountability when there is a serious failure ought, by rights, to be an election issue. It can't all be about the economy. If it is, that is a bad reflection not just on our political parties, but on us as well. Premium John Downing Opinion Pension reforms are dicey territory but grand plan by minister Heather Humphreys just might win through Pension system changes all across the western world have a great propensity to infuriate those most feared by politicians: the grey brigade. And when the oldies take to the streets, they usually play for keeps. The election will yet again feature all of the usual factors which both intrigue and annoy in equal measure. Door-to-door canvassing, party manifestos, unrealistic party promises, policy U-turns, media campaigns and, of course, election posters. The last is a major facet of election campaigns, omnipresent and visually unavoidable due to its visceral impact, regardless of one's interest in an election. The election poster can be a divisive object from which there seems no escape, no matter where one lives in the country. Some view them as a tactical necessity, which adds both atmosphere and information in equal measure, while others view such items as a blight on our landscape. So what does the law say? The relevant legislation states that posters may be put up for only a maximum of 30 days before polling day. Therefore, given the short run-up to this election, which will be over within 30 days, it will be impossible to infringe specific time constraints this time around. However, the legislation also stipulates that all posters must be removed within seven days of the polling day. So this does give scope for possible infringement. The local authorities have responsibility for the enforcement of any breaches to the law. A common breach might involve either putting up the posters too early (something that is not likely to have been an issue in the case of this election) or taking them down too late. Another common breach is positioning posters in such a way as to cause a hazard to pedestrians or road users. An added measure in the legislation prohibits the placement of flyers under the wiper blades of vehicles and again makes such conduct an offence. What are the penalties? A 150 fine attaches to every such breach. Therefore, depending on how stringently the laws are applied in this regard, a substantial penalty could hypothetically arise for any aspiring or seasoned politician during this election, if they fall foul of these laws with a large quantity of offending posters or flyers. But many would argue that today's technological innovations, coupled with the power of social media, could provide a more environmentally sustainable, cost-effective and targeted way for election candidates to communicate directly with voters. This was evident in the success of US President Barack Obama's first and second presidential campaigns, which are viewed by many as the benchmark for such social media methods and the use of modern campaigning techniques. The recent referendum on gay marriage also demonstrated the power of such social media tactics for electioneering purposes in an Irish context for the first time. With this in mind, however, it must be noted that both election campaigns still relied on the traditional posters and campaign devotees on the ground. However, most traditionalists would argue (and some social media purists would concede) that although social media and technology strategies are a vital election tool in today's campaigns, they are still limited in their electoral reach. It should also be noted that any limit or ban on electoral posters, something which has been argued for in recent times, could do more to assist the established parties, while potentially inhibiting new parties in the creation of the desired 'recognition' of their new brand and candidates on a national scale. There have been many worldwide studies done on the whole psychological reasoning and alleged effects of political advertising. There is little dispute that a large section of Irish voters in this upcoming election, as in the past, will succumb to such primitive psychological tactics and make their choice in an irrational manner. Such subconscious choices are usually based on an image over substance approach, meaning such voters won't fundamentally care about the detail of the candidate's policies but rather make their decision based on whether that candidate fits their perception of what constitutes an ideal political persona. Therefore, the common theory behind election posters is the so called "recognition factor". The theory goes that the more frequently the voter sees the faces of prospective candidates, the more likely such voters (particularly undecided ones) will recognise the candidate at polling day and will have formed positive feelings towards them. One could argue, of course, that given our traditional party allegiances and love of parish pump politics in Ireland, coupled with the plethora of candidates and parties in any given area, this recognition factor will be diluted, as nearly all candidates will have election posters. This is true for some, and there are more tangible factors which ultimately influence voters, one being an overall integrated communication strategy. Established parties are keen to ensure that all of their communication experts get the key messages across and display carefully choreographed candidate photos that seek to exude desirable traits such as leadership, power, intelligence or friendliness, depending on the candidate's attributes - whether these are natural or contrived. Like it or not, the election poster is deeply ingrained into our political culture and psyche and, because of this, it is likely to always remain a prominent feature in polls. And so, following the announcement of polling day, the election posters will have been put up during the course of a single night by all of the various parties and their devotees. The most prominent location and the highest point at which to affix the posters will be sought by every single party candidate, so that our lampposts resemble totem poles, where positional dominance aims to feed into the voters' subconscious. So, whatever the result of this year's election, these posters will dominate our eyeline over the coming weeks as lampposts and telephone poles are covered nationwide. They will attract positive and negative debate - plus much indifference - but will still play a big part in the various candidates' objectives of persuading the electorate, and particularly the undecided voters, to cast their all-important vote for them on polling day. Jason O' Sullivan is a solicitor and Public Affairs Consultant at JOS Solicitors Leinster House: Can the natural world tell us anything about how politics works in this country? With the General Election on the way, consider the following psychological experiment. You start with a cage containing four monkeys, and inside the cage you hang a banana on a string, and then you place a set of stairs under the banana. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and climb toward the banana. You then spray all the monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt. As soon as he touches the stairs, you spray all the monkeys with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it. Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new monkey. The new monkey sees the banana and attempts to climb the stairs. To his shock, all of the other monkeys beat the hell out of him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs he will be assaulted. Next, remove another of the original four monkeys, replacing it with a new monkey. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment - with enthusiasm - because he is now part of the "team." Then, replace a third original monkey with a new monkey, followed by the fourth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Now, the monkeys that are beating him up have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs. Neither do they know why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey. Having replaced all of the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys will have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, not one of the monkeys will try to climb the stairway for the banana. Why, you ask? Because, in their minds, that is the way it has always been! This is how today's Dail seems to operate, and this is why, from time to time, all of the monkeys need to be replaced at the same time! Disclaimer: No disrespect is meant to monkeys. Joe O'Neill Naas, Co Kildare We've heard it all before We face another three weeks of listening, viewing and reading about something we've all had enough of. In fact, you could call the whole election campaign 'the blame game'. You're likely to hear comments like: 'Look at the state they left the country in. 'When we took over we were facing bankruptcy! We've created 130,000 new jobs. 'In the next five years, everyone will have their own home, and everyone will have a bed in a hospital of their choice! 'If you vote for us, the poor will become as rich as the rich!' On and on the story goes. The only certainty is that the worker will remain the worker, most likely working for the minimum wage. And that goes for whatever party or parties get together to form the next government. So, please, just for the next three weeks, give us all a bit of peace - no more political debates between candidates with that silly look on their faces, as if they knew what they are talking about. Why not just toss a coin? Fred Molloy Dublin 15 The election made simple Here's how to explain the General Election to kids. "Basically, politicians are people who promise you pink unicorns if you vote for them. When they win, they show you a picture of a three-legged donkey and say that's the best they can do, as the bad guys before them took all the pink unicorn money. "However, if you vote them in again, they will absolutely sort your pink unicorn for you. Unless you find out in the meantime that pink unicorns don't exist. "And when you ask the politicians why they made that promise, they won't remember anything." J Melia Celbridge, Co Kildare Marriage poll and funding Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that he may re-run the referendum on the powers of Oireachtas committees. Perhaps he should not stop there. There have been problems with other referendums also, and not just with their results. Take, for instance, the recent referendum on marriage. This issue was split in two. A Marriage Equality Bill was first put before the people in a referendum. The relevant bill was a short one, adding 17 words only (which related to marriage without distinction as to sex), to the Constitution. A bill setting out what was intended, however, was approved by the Cabinet (and the Oireachtas) after the referendum. There never was a referendum on the consequential effects of the adoption of the Marriage Equality Bill. This particular bill was about the rights of adults. The rights of children did not come into this bill, yet children are believed to be greatly affected by the outcome. Though perhaps legal, this arrangement had the effect of removing interpretation (and power) from the people and placing it in the hands of legislators. From a citizen's point of view, a change in the Constitution is the one real power the people have: in too many cases, candidates at election time feel free to conceal what they really intend, in order to maximise their votes. It does not seem to be generally known that donations from Atlantic Philanthropies (a US organisation) over the 10 years of the civil partnership/same-sex marriage campaign, amounted to 3.6m (3 per Yes vote) to the main Irish group involved. In addition (and apart from the participation of some members of the gardai) the Government itself and HSE donated in grants at least 2.4m to the Yes side. Applying the referendum voting percentages to this tax-funded donation, this meant that No voters contributed some 1m to the Yes campaign. This was probably greater than their contribution to their own No campaign! It is not entirely surprising which side "won". Donal O'Driscoll Blackrock, Co Dublin Sir Terry Wogan's funeral will take place next week, the BBC has announced. The veteran broadcaster, known for his velvety voice on radio and television, died of cancer on Sunday aged 77. In a statement, the BBC said: "Sir Terry Wogan's funeral will take place next week. It will be a private service, for the family. "No further details will be released, and we ask that the family's wish for privacy is respected at this time." Limerick-born Sir Terry, one of the UK and Ireland's best-known stars, was hailed as a "national treasure" by the corporation's director general Tony Hall following his death. Leading figures in showbusiness and politics paid tribute to the much-loved personality, with Prime Minister David Cameron saying he was "someone millions came to feel was their own special friend". He was last on air on BBC Radio 2 just under three months ago, on Sunday November 8, and days later was forced to pull out of presenting Children In Need at the last minute due to health issues. A family statement issued by the BBC on Sunday said: ''Sir Terry Wogan died today after a short but brave battle with cancer. He passed away surrounded by his family." Sir Terry, whose career spanned more than four decades, was known for his work on his BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, Children In Need and the Eurovision Song Contest. Rescue vehicles stand by at the scene of the Lily mine collapse near Barberton, February 5, 2016. Nearly 80 rescued miners were brought to the surface on Friday, police said, after about 115 were trapped underground following a collapse at the gold mine in northeastern South Africa earlier in the day Almost 90 miners were rescued and three were still missing after a cave-in at a gold mine in northeastern South Africa on Friday, the firm that owns the mine said. The collapse at the mine's main entrance trapped 87 workers underground, all of whom were rescued, Vantage Goldfields said in a statement. However, three others who had been working on the surface at the time of the collapse could not be accounted for. No fatalities were reported. However, there was confusion regarding the number of workers involved. "As we speak they might already all be out. Most have been evacuated," Mike McChesney, chief executive of the small gold producer said by telephone from the mine in Barbeton town in Mpumalanga province about 360 kilometers (225 miles) east of Johannesburg. McChesney and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union initially said 115 workers had been trapped. South Africa's mines are the deepest and among the most dangerous in the world. Fatalities in the industry have been falling due to both improved safety practices and a reduction in the labour force as production declines. Vantage Goldfields is an Australia-based company mining gold at Barberton, a town that traces its origin in the country's 19th century gold rush. Vantage was delisted from the Australian bourse in January 2015. The mine workers union later said 78 workers had been rescued and three workers were missing. The reason for the discrepancy between the union's figures and the company's was not immediately clear. "At this point, it's unclear what caused the disaster," Manzini Zungu, a spokesman for the union said. Last year, 77 workers were killed in mining accidents, the lowest number on record, compared with 84 in 2014. Soeren Pind said in a letter to parliament that the plane was parked at Copenhagen Airport A US government plane was parked at Copenhagen Airport in June 2013 waiting to fly former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden to the States, according to Denmark's justice minister. Soeren Pind said in a letter to parliament that the plane's presence "allegedly was to have been to be able to transport Edward Snowden to the United States in case he was extradited from Russia or another country". The NSA whistleblower, who was granted asylum in Russia, leaked millions of documents about US government surveillance in 2013. In the letter, Mr Pind regretted being unclear about the plane's presence in close US ally Denmark when quizzed by policymakers on Wednesday. No other details were available as the case is deemed confidential. The building collapsed in the town of Barberton in eastern Mpumalanga province Three people are still missing after a building collapsed above a gold mine in South Africa, trapping dozens. The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union said the collapse at the Makonjwaan Gold Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga province, had trapped some workers above ground and dozens of miners below ground. The three people who are still missing worked above ground and were trapped in the building, said Russel Meiring, spokesman for the private emergency service ER24. Paramedics estimate that 76 people were brought to the surface, Mr Meiring said. The rescued miners had no serious injuries and were taken to a local hospital for treatment, he said. The cause of the collapse is believed to be a sinkhole, Mr Meiring added. It was the second accident in a South African mine in the past two weeks, union spokesman Manzini Zungu said. The Russian airforce conducted a mock nuclear strike against Sweden during war games less than three years ago, Nato has said. The 2013 exercise, which saw a contingent of Russian aircraft approach Swedish airspace after crossing the Gulf of Finland, was one of several examples of dummy nuclear attacks against Nato and its allies in recent years, according to a new Nato report. "As part of its overall military build-up, the pace of Russia's military manoeuvres and drills have reached levels unseen since the height of the Cold War," Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of Nato, wrote in his annual report for 2015. "Over the past three years, Russia has conducted at least 18 large-scale snap exercises, some of which have involved more than 100,000 troops. "These exercises include simulated nuclear attacks on Nato Allies (eg, ZAPAD [a large-scale Russian military exercise]) and on partners (eg, March 2013 simulated attacks on Sweden)," he added. Two Tupolev Tu-22M3 strategic bombers escorted by four Sukhoi Su-27 jet fighters crossed the Gulf of Finland and came within 24 miles of Swedish territory off the island of Gotland, 100 miles from Stockholm, on March 29, 2013. They veered off after apparently completing dummy bombing runs against targets believed to include a military base in southern Sweden and the headquarters of Sweden's signals intelligence agency outside Stockholm. The incident caused controversy in Sweden at the time because the Swedish military was caught unprepared and had to rely on Danish airforce jets, operating as part of a Nato's Baltic air policing mission, to respond. Nato declined to comment further on the incident, saying it had "nothing to add" to the statement in the report. Neither President Vladimir Putin nor Russia's ministry of defence have not publicly responded to the claims, but one retired general said that the report was "nonsense designed to stir up hysteria about the Baltic states". "This statement about a supposed nuclear strike on Sweden is nothing more than a provocation," said Evgenny Buzhinsky, a former general in Moscow. Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent involvement in the war in eastern Ukraine have raised military tensions in Europe to Cold War levels. British defence officials have expressed mounting concern at an increase in the number of Russian military flights probing Nato airspace, including around the British Isles. "We haven't had to worry about this for 25 years. While I wish it were otherwise, now we do," Ash Carter, US defence secretary said. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] France avoided greater terrorist carnage in November thanks to the courage of a young woman who tipped off police that she had seen the jihadist leader Abdelhamid Abaaoud living rough on a motorway embankment, it has emerged. Now living in hiding and in fear of her life, Sonia told her extraordinary story in an interview with French radio and TV. She said that Abaaoud had boasted to her that he was one of 90 Isis members including Britons and Germans who had reached the Paris area from Syria without any travel documents. Two days after the terrorist attacks in Paris on 13 November, in which 130 people were killed, the Belgian-born Abaaoud told her he planned further assaults on a nursery school, an office block and a police station in La Defense business district west of Paris. Thanks to Sonia, the second wave of attacks never happened. I said to myself: I have to stop them, she said. She telephoned the 197 emergency tip-off line and gave police the address of the hideout in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, where her friend Abaaouds cousin had taken him. Abaaoud, the cousin and another jihadist died when police stormed the hide-out three days later. Sonia whose name was changed and face and voice disguised for the interview complained that she felt abandoned by the French authorities. I have no social life, no work, no friends, no family. Ive been cut off from the rest of the world, she said. We are doing everything we can for her, said the Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve. And the Paris prosecutors office announced that it was investigating the TV station BFMTV and the radio station RMC for placing Sonias life in danger by interviewing her. In her interview, Sonia said she had been with her friend, Abaaouds cousin Hasna Ait Boulahcen, on the Sunday after the Friday attacks when they received a phone call from a Belgian mobile number. They were told to pick up someone in Aubervilliers, in the north-eastern suburbs of Paris. When they reached a motorway embankment, they were told by the caller to shout the code 1010. Abaaoud emerged from the bushes. He had a woolly hat on, orange trainers, a bomber jacket. I thought it was a homeless person. And he was smiling. He looked nothing like a terrorist, Sonia said. She asked if he had been involved in the attacks two days before. The [cafe] terraces, that was me, Abaaoud said. You killed innocent people, Sonia protested. They werent innocent, Abaaoud replied. Look whats happening in our country, in Syria. Sonia added: He talked about the attacks just like he was talking about going shopping. He was happy. Sonias lawyer, Patrick Baudouin, said the authorities had failed in their duty to help her. She doesnt even have a new identity yet. Her details are easily accessible in her file, he said. The state has not taken all the adequate measures to help this woman who is in real psychological distress. We need to protect her and help her regain some kind of normal life. Forces loyal to Libya's Islamist-backed parliament General National Congress (GNC) preparing to launch attacks against Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of Libya's western city of Sirte in 2015. With their prime position on a busy thoroughfare, the billboards on the Zafaran roundabout in the Libyan city of Sirte used to be one of the best spots for local businesses to advertise. Today, however, the message that they carry is not one that passing motorists care to linger over. With Colonel Gaddafi's home city now firmly in the grip of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants, the billboards' rusting black gantries are now used for crucifixions of anyone accused of "spying" against the regime. The corpses of murdered suspects are strung up as a graphic warning to others, with the victims' families prevented from retrieving their bodies for burial. Grisly The crucifixions are part of a raft of grisly punishments enforced by Isil since it seized power in Sirte a year ago, pushing out Libyan security forces from neighbouring Misrata after a series of fierce battles. With the West now preparing to back Libya's government in a battle to retake the city, fighters from Misrata have begun to venture undercover into Sirte on intelligence-gathering missions. Such undercover forays help build a ground-level picture in a way that overhead drones and spy satellites never can. But as one fighter explained during my recent visit to Misrata, it carries a high risk of getting caught. "Three of our men have been already caught and killed, and two more are missing," said "Osama" (23), who took part in the uprising against Colonel Gaddafi five years ago. "We don't know what has happened to them both." Twelve hours after he spoke to me, he found out. A phone call came from an informants that one of his two missing men, 37-year-old Milad Aburgeeba, had become the latest victim on display at the roundabout. "They got your boy and crucified him," the caller said. Contrary to popular perception, crucifixion as practised by Isil does not mean nailing hands and feet into a cross and leaving the victim to die. Instead, the victim is usually killed beforehand, and then left for several days afterwards, rather like the gibbets that were used in medieval Britain. Mr Aburgeeba spent two days strung up on the gantry, his hands and feet hung up by plastic cords. In mimicry of inmates of Guantanamo Bay, he was clad in an orange jumpsuit, while a message was taped to his body with the word "spy". Judging from pictures of the incident, which Osama forwarded to me via mobile phone, but which are too graphic to publish - his face was disfigured from torture. Isil is now believed to have an army of nearly 3,000 fighters in Sirte, some of them senior figures from its core leadership in Iraq and Syria, others footsoldiers from sub-Saharan Africa lured partly by the prospect of decent pay. America and Britain are now trying to persuade Libya's new government - formed last month after more than a year of infighting - to accept help in the fight against Isil before it starts using Libya as a launch pad to attack Europe. The package on offer includes 1,000 British troops and 5,000 Italian troops as part of a training mission, along with promises of air support and logistical help. Gathering While British and American special forces are believed to be in the area gathering intelligence on the situation in Sirte, they will rely in part on local Libyan informants - something Isil's own intelligence network is all too aware of. The group has already issued at least two previous videos showing "spies" being crucified for allegedly gathering information on Isil military positions. In one video, a man was strung up in the crucifixion position alive first, and then shot dead. Other cases have featured three brothers accused of eating during fasting time in the holy month of Ramadan, and a group of men accused of encouraging an anti-Isil uprising in August. "It is a horrific thing to do," Osama added. "This is the price our fighters pay for getting intelligence to defeat Isil." ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] Syrian refugee Burooq Al Zubi, 21, carries her nine-month-old son Fares as she speaks to other women about her experience as a breast cancer patient during an awareness seminar at Al Zaatari refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria. British Prime Minister David Cameron has called on world leaders to step up aid for Syrian refugees amid fears that a fresh onslaught by President Bashar al-Assad's forces will drive a new exodus from the country. Opening international talks on the refugee crisis in London, he called for a new approach focusing on helping people displaced by the fighting to rebuild their lives in the region. The meeting came as parallel peace talks in Geneva stalled after just two days, following the launch of a new offensive by Assad's forces - backed by Russian air strikes - against rebels in northern Syria. Yesterday, countries in the region agreed to open up their economies to create jobs and the move will be backed by 30bn of loans from international financial institutions and access to European markets. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the conference that "civilians, schools and hospitals" had been hit during the "air bombardment" and the attacks on the city of Aleppo. He said that there were already 10,000 refugees on the Turkish border trying to escape the fighting, while up to 70,000 people at the refugee camps and 300,000 in Aleppo could follow. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern at the way his special envoy Staffan de Mistura had been forced to "pause" the Geneva talks so soon after they had started. "It is deeply disturbing that the initial steps of the talks have been undermined by the continuous lack of sufficient humanitarian access, and by a sudden increase of aerial bombing and military activities within Syria," Mr Ban said. Following talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and other foreign ministers ahead of the main conference, UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it was essential that talks resumed as soon as possible. "We recognise that it's difficult for the regime to be at the table talking to the opposition, it's difficult for the opposition to talk to the regime when their people at home are being killed through bombing and other forms of attack," he said. "But we have to continue with this process because it is the only way to get a solution to the disaster which is engulfing Syria." Mr Kerry said he had had a "robust" discussion with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov and called on Moscow to abide by a UN Security Council resolution requiring immediate access for humanitarian agencies and an end to attacks on civilians: "That is an obligation that is not tied to talks, it is an obligation accepted by all parties in the United Nations resolution. Russia voted for that, Russia has responsibility - as do all parties - to live up to it." The UN, which is co-hosting the talks with the UK, Germany, Norway and Kuwait, is calling for the international community to commit $7.7bn to fund its relief work for the refugees for the coming year. With an estimated 13.5 million people in need of assistance, Mr Ban said the level of contributions so far had not kept pace with the scale of the crisis: "Even if, by some miracle, the conflict ends tomorrow, the enormous humanitarian and development needs will continue for years and even decades," he said. Mr Cameron urged the 70 nations represented at the talks to make the "greatest possible pledge". "We are facing a critical shortfall in life-saving aid that is fatally holding back our humanitarian efforts," he said. "We are witnessing a desperate movement of humanity as hundreds of thousands of Syrians fear they have no alternative than to put their lives in the hands of evil people-smugglers in search of a future." He called for assistance for Syria's neighbours - Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan - to enable them to open up job opportunities for the 4.6 million refugees in their countries, helping them remain in the region. He also appealed for a commitment to ensure all refugee children in those countries had a school place by the end of 2016. Mr Ban hailed the conference as "a great success", adding: "Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis." Mr Cameron said the conference had sent out a clear message to the people of Syria: "We will stand with you and we will support you for as long as it takes to secure peace in Syria, to restore stability to the region and to give Syrian refugees a chance to go back and rebuild their homes and their country." Residents inspect damage after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held Al-Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo. Photo: Reuters Residents inspect damage near a hole in the ground after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held Al-Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria. Photo: Reuters Residents inspect damage after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held Al-Shaar neighborhood of Aleppo. Photo: Reuters A girl looks out of a broken window as she inspects damage after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held Al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo. Photo: Reuters A man carries a bird cage after air strikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel-held Al-Shaar nighbourhood of Aleppo. Photo: Reuters A boy inspects damage after airstrikes by pro-Syrian government forces in the rebel held Al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo. Photo: Reuters Syrian government forces cut rebel supply lines to Aleppo under cover of Russian air power on Wednesday - in what could be a pivotal moment in the five-year civil war. Following three days of intense fighting and aerial bombardment, regime forces, who are believed to include Iranian-backed Shia militias, broke through to the formerly besieged government enclaves of Nobul and Zahra. In so doing, they cut rebel-held eastern Aleppo off from outside help. With regime forces to the south and west and Isil to the east, the part held by non-Isil rebels is currently surrounded. By nightfall, rebel forces were mounting a final stand from a mile-long patch of territory north-east of Aleppo. But local activists said the opposition forces were on the verge of withdrawal, facing massive bombardment from Russian and Syrian government air strikes. Aleppo is Syria's largest city, and its eventual capture by the regime would almost mark a decisive fightback. Both rebels and outside analysts say that is still a long way off, but the imposition of a siege would be an important moment. Medics rushed to stockpile supplies as civilian and military casualties poured in. "We are gathering everything we have," said one doctor. "I have seen injuries like you cannot believe." Russia and the Syrian regime were bombing "everything", said Abu Alez, another doctor, speaking from a clinic that had treated more than 100 injured civilians. The United Nations said that three aid workers had been killed and hundreds of families displaced in towns around the city, following airstrikes that occurred at an "unprecedented frequency" in the past two days. Five months into Russia's military intervention in Syria, rebel forces are buckling on three fronts while the West tries to push them to the negotiating table and end the war. Rebels in the north-eastern province of Latakia - where the Syrian regime and its backers have focused most of their resources - have also been ground down and pushed out of their final strongholds. They are under intense pressure in the south between Damascus and the Jordanian border. The assault on Aleppo and several other fronts has provoked fury among opposition delegates attending peace talks in Geneva, who accused Moscow and Damascus of using force to wring concessions from them at the negotiating table. "Russia is using the political process as a cover to impose its military solution on the ground," said Salem al-Meslet, a member of High Negotiations Committee, the main opposition delegation from Syria. Yesterday, the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, announced a "temporary pause" in the process, saying the troubled talks would be postponed for three weeks. ( Daily Telegraph London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022] SHARE PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUSAN ANDERSON Joan Roberts (left) and Pat Larsen have manned their Grace Episcopal Church annual soup luncheon work stations in Anderson for more than 40 years. John Cullen is a longtime volunteer on annual soup luncheon day at Grace Episcopal Church. Mary Jeffers serves as manager of the carry-out station at the annual luncheon. By Abe Hardesty of the Independent Mail Her right arm was stretched deep into a supersized pan, scrubbing the bottom of a kettle that had been cooking five gallons of soup just a few minutes earlier, when Joan Roberts got the question. How many of those big, crusty kettles has she washed? Roberts answered with simply a hearty, spontaneous laugh a perfect fit to the mood in a chaotic, crowded kitchen on that day. Roberts and Pat Larsen once again stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the Grace Episcopal Church kitchen in Anderson, trading laughs and memories as they scrubbed kettles after the annual soup luncheon. Roberts has been in that spot every luncheon since 1971. Larsen has been there every year since 1975. "We like being in here with our group," said Larsen of the kitchen crew. "I found a job I'm good at." Roberts said, "Actually, I don't think anybody else wants our job too badly." The job security isn't because they love dishwashing, or need the experience. Having raised children, both are familiar with the scrub brush. "It's just a way of helping. Once you do it a few years, it's hard to stop," Roberts said. "And most years, I'm pretty much obligated to help with the dishes because my husband (Don) goes out and sells a bunch of tickets." The retired surgeon, no doubt hoping to give his wife some work, sold 64 last week. Even without it, they'd have been busy. The kitchen crew cooked 110 gallons of soup, which kept Roberts and Larsen busy from early in the morning until late in the afternoon. "Washing the soup bowls is easy," Roberts said. "It's the big kettles that require the hard scrubbing." The task was harder in the years before the renovation that enlarged a once-tiny kitchen and provided a larger water heater. "We have hot water this year," Roberts proclaimed. "Doing this with cold water was a lot tougher." "It's all worth it for the result," Larsen said, "because the money is going to a good charity. This isn't really about lunch here it's about helping others." The soup luncheon evolved from a similar annual November event at the church that was staged to raise money for various charities. The tradition is more than 50 years old. Larsen has been helping local charities ever since she and late husband Larry drove into Anderson more than 40 years ago. Without knowing anyone in the area, they spotted western South Carolina on map 42 years ago and figured there might be a good place to live. So they quit their jobs in Waukeegan, Illinois, and on Easter weekend in 1974, drove south to start new lives. "We had family in Illinois and Florida. We thought it might be nice to live halfway in between," Larsen explained. They arrived with two boys, aged 12 and 10, and plenty of uncertainty. A glimpse of Grace Episcopal Church helped. "We were driving around and when we saw this old stone church, I felt like I was home," Larsen said. "Anderson was just a little country town then, but we loved it from the start, and we fell in love with this church. It's like my second family." For Larsen, who landed a job at the now-closed McDuffie High School just a few blocks away, the reaction to the church on McDuffie Street was a reflection of her faith. It was something she leaned upon in 1974, and, as a volunteer, continues to exercise today. In addition to a day of dishwashing duty, she donated 11 dessert cakes and pies to the cause all baked the previous day in her home kitchen. "It's part of the church outreach," she said. "We're building community within the church. It's fun. It all goes to charity, every year." Joan and Don Roberts were also drawn to the little stone church when they came to town in 1968 a surprising development, considering that they were Baptists at the time. "I had never been to an Episcopal service, but we loved it here, and we've been here ever since," she said. She gravitated toward dishwashing duty in 1971 and hasn't changed. For both women, it has been an ideal place to put a servant's heart into action. "Those ladies are servants, and it grows out of a community sense of love," said Grace Episcopal pastor Jack Hardaway, now in his 12th year at the church. "It's a labor of love for them. It also has to do with belonging. When you want to serve others, you have a place in community. You do it as part of being in a group that serves." Roberts and Larsen are part of a kitchen crew that for many years has included Joe Maxwell. "I just stir," Maxwell said at last week's luncheon. "They do a lot of work," he added, pointing to Roberts and Larsen, "and enjoy working together." Church administrator Phyllis Dickey calls Larsen "one of a kind," because of her penchant for work. "She's our little church mouse she's quiet and does everything," Dickey said. The decision to help each year is an easy one, Larsen said . "It's fun," she said. "And it all goes to charity, every year." Follow Abe Hardesty on Twitter @abe_hardesty Sefton Ipock/Independent Mail File The county plans to raze the building that housed the Bailes Department Store near the downtown square in Anderson. SHARE By Nikie Mayo of the Independent Mail Drivers in downtown Anderson will soon see signs that the Bailes Building is about to be razed. A protective fence could go up around the South Main Street property as early as next week, and excavators will move in shortly thereafter, county officials said Thursday. Demolition is now expected to begin Feb. 22, county purchasing director Robert Carroll said after meeting with representatives of New Beach Construction Partners. The Miami company was awarded a $227,700 contract to demolish that building and the old Woolworth's connected to it. The demolition project requires permits from the city of Anderson and assistance from the South Carolina Department of Transportation. At least one lane of McDuffie Street will be blocked for three or four days during the demolition work, City Planner Jeff Guilbault said. Parts of Benson Street could also be temporarily closed, but Whitner Street is expected to remain open throughout the project. The county is required to notify neighboring property owners before the demolition begins and also must ensure that any dust and debris from the project is properly contained and handled, Guilbault said. County Administrator Rusty Burns said the demolition is expected to take 30 to 45 days. The Bailes Building had the first escalator in downtown Anderson, according to local historians. The building was once a department store owned by George H. Bailes Sr., a South Carolina native and merchant. Decades later, the building housed Anderson County offices. Officials started talking about demolishing it last February, six months after Anderson County Elections Director Katy Smith wrote a letter citing concerns about asbestos, mold and mildew in the building. Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NikieMayo By Nikie Mayo of the Independent Mail A dog found starving in Townville has been released from intensive care and is recovering from the gunshot wounds that blinded her. The boxer, named Amara, was released from Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital in Flat Rock, North Carolina, on Thursday. Heidi Wagner, founder of Boxer Butts and Other Mutts, said her nonprofit rescue organization has received dozens of calls and inquiries about Amara since the Independent Mail first reported the dog's story Tuesday night. "Amara is a strong girl," Wagner said. "Right now, she is having trust issues because she is learning to function without her sight, so unfamiliar noises frighten her. But she is already learning to rely more on her sense of smell. And if I speak to her in a high-pitched voice, she can hear me. If I tell her that she's OK, she calms right down." Amara was brought into Anderson County's animal shelter, P.A.W.S. (Pets Are Worth Saving), last week after being picked up as a stray on Mystic Cove Road. She was at least 20 pounds underweight and had unexplained swelling in her face. The shelter staff contacted Wagner's rescue, which is based in Arden, North Carolina, near Asheville. Wagner took Amara to an emergency veterinary clinic, where an X-ray revealed that she had been shot at least twice in the head. One bullet remains embedded in the right side of her face near her cheek, and she has lost some of her hearing. Wagner said Amara could have surgery later to remove the bullet or to help correct damage done to her sinus cavity. "She's nowhere near ready for an operation," Wagner said. "She has to regain strength. And regain trust. Some human left her hungry and defenseless. They left her for dead." An anonymous donor is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in Amara's case. Wagner said her rescue has received some tips, but she cannot yet make the information in those tips public. Lt. Sheila Cole of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office said Friday that her agency will follow up on any tips it receives. Anyone with information on Amara's case is asked to call Anderson Area Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-888-274-6372. Callers may remain anonymous. Follow Nikie Mayo on Twitter @NikieMayo By Mike Eads of the Independent Mail CLEMSON UNIVERSITY A university task force has recommended several changes to improve how Clemson recounts its history, but altering the name of Tillman Hall wasnt one of them. The Task Force on the History of Clemson issued its report to the university trustees Friday at the boards quarterly meeting at the Madren Conference Center. Formed last summer, the task force and several members of President Jim Clements administrative team sounded out various student, staff, alumni and faculty groups to come up with ways to tell the good, the bad and the ugly about the universitys past. We did what we could do, said David Wilkins, who led the task force. We made 11 recommendations that we believe will make a difference. Were proud of our history, and these are good ways to promote it and tell it. Recommendations in the report, which can be read at http://bit.ly/1SPUsE1, include: Reviewing and updating the biographies of noted figures from Clemsons history, including Tillman, John C. Calhoun and Thomas Green Clemson; Better signage around Gantt Circle and other historical spots around campus; More monuments and statues of notable figures from the universitys past; Social media and websites dedicated to conveying Clemsons complete history; and An elective Clemson history course. Jerry Reel, an emeritus history professor, taught such a class for decades. The task force didnt recommend any changes regarding Tillman Hall, other than putting a historical marker there. Faculty and student groups have called for the removal of the post Reconstruction era governor and senators name from the building for more than 18 months, citing his extensive public record of racism and advocacy of violence toward African-Americans. The task force cited the state law that requires a two-third vote by the House and Senate to change any historic monument or building: It is worth noting that the South Carolina Heritage Act of 2000 clearly states that the authority to change the names of historical buildings rests solely with the South Carolina General Assembly. The Board is bound to comply with existing law and therefore name changes were not considered. Keeping the names of our historical buildings intact ensures important, hard stories will continue to be told and their lessons learned. A building named Tillman Hall does not celebrate Tillmans views but serves as a reminder to all that Clemsons history is complex and of where we have come as a university and a nation. Task force member and board of trustees Chairman Smythe McKissick said all the groups consulted by the task force recommended history programs, biographies, Internet offerings and more that are fact based and tell it all. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn from the past, McKissick said. Yes, its imperfect, but we look forward to telling the whole story. Clements initiated a flurry of diversity and inclusion programming at the end of last summer, including a new speakers series and the formation of a campus diversity council. He agreed Friday with McKissick and Wilkins, saying that the task force recommendations sprang from campus discussions that involved lots of people and hundreds of ideas and will enhance the diversity efforts underway. Some faculty and students have urged Clemsons leadership to ignore the Heritage Act, or at least push to get the law changed. Clements endorsed the task forces recommendation to follow the law. Former IPTAY President and board of trustees member Jim Bostic, the first African-American to earn a doctorate from the university, was on hand Friday at the Madren Conference Center when his former board approved the task force report. He agreed with Clements and the task force members that Tillman Hall cant be renamed under current state law, but said the report offers a lot. I think its a good report and it has lots of good items for the president to start working on, said Bostic, who recently gave Clemson Professor Rhondda Thomas $50,000 to support her research about black laborers who lived on Clemson land before the universitys integration in 1963. There are lot of good recommendations that can be worked on and that what we should do. Follow Michael Eads on Twitter @MikeEads_AIM Editor's note: This column will be a regular offering of political notes, tidbits, events and a few dashes of fun. A man who owes $89,600 in state ethics fines filed this week to run against Anderson City Councilman Tony Stewart in the April 5 election. According to the State Ethics Commission, Patrick Litman has failed to pay the fines that were levied in 2009. He was fined for failing to file five campaign disclosure reports and for spending $85.16 in campaign money on an iPod for personal use. The violations occurred during his unsuccessful run against Stewart in 2008. In an interview Thursday, Litman said he has an attorney who is contesting the debt. Records show that the commission received a total of $358 from Litman in 2010 and 2011 through a state collection program. Litman isn't worried about the unpaid fines hindering his campaign. "I don't think that will be a problem with the voters," he said. According to Litman, some voters are unhappy with Stewart. "He never calls them back," Litman said. Litman, 49, is a home inspector. Stewart, who is seeking a fifth four-year term on the council, did not return a phone call Thursday. Crowder recovering from fall Anderson County Councilman Francis Crowder says he is on the mend after being sidelined by a recent fall. Crowder, 82, said he was visiting friends at AnMed Health Medical Center about two weeks ago when he fell. He suffered bruising and will be in a neck brace for the next several weeks. Crowder, chairman of the council's finance committee, said he expects to be back in action soon and able to lead the panel. "I'm feeling really good; I'm much better," Crowder said Thursday. "I'm in good spirits and I appreciate everyone's prayers." Chili and Chelsea Chili, salads and desserts will be on the menu Friday at a Hillary Clinton reception in Seneca. The event will be held at 7 p.m. at the American Legion hut at 575 N. Fairplay St. For more information, call Maxie Duke at 864-638-5200. On Saturday, Chelsea Clinton will campaign on her mother's behalf at Clemson University. Clemson College Democrats are sponsoring "A Conversation with Chelsea Clinton" in the Hendrix Student Center. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the event is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. Both events are free. Absentee voters can cast ballots Saturday The Anderson County elections office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday for in-person absentee voting in this month's presidential primaries. "We felt this would be beneficial to voters," said Katy Smith, the county's elections director. Only voters who meet certain criteria can cast absentee ballots in South Carolina. Visit www.scvotes.org for more information. Written by reporters Nikie Mayo and Kirk Brown. Follow them on Twitter @NikieMayo and @KirkBrown_AIM. Email them with tips at mayon@independentmail.com or kirk.brown@independentmail.com. Donald Trump SHARE By Kirk Brown of the Independent Mail After a convincing win Tuesday in New Hampshire, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump returns to Anderson County this evening. Trump will hold a 7 p.m. rally at Clemson University's T. Ed Garrison Livestock Arena in Pendleton, his campaign said Friday. Trump also will be in Greenville on Saturday night for the next GOP debate. His October rally at the Civic Center of Anderson attracted a crowd of about 5,400 people, shattering the facility's all-time attendance record. The Civic Center is booked on Wednesday night. The Anderson Area Touchdown Club will be using the facility for its annual awards banquet, which will offer recently hired University of South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp as the guest speaker. The Garrison arena on West Queen Street has a seating capacity of 4,500 and room for 1,500 vehicles to park, Clemson University spokesman John Gouch said Friday. The arena, which covers 2 acres, has a dirt floor that is frequently used for rodeos and other equestrian events. Anderson County Republican Party Chairman Dan Harvell said it is "very significant" that Trump is choosing to campaign in Anderson County on the day after the New Hampshire primary. Trump's campaign "knows how much we want them," Harvell said. According to polls, Trump has held a healthy lead for months in South Carolina in the GOP presidential race. The state's "First in the South" Republican presidential primary is set for Feb. 20. Trump finished second to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in last week's Iowa caucuses, which served as the official kickoff to the race for the White House. Doors at the Garrison arena will open at 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to Trump's campaign. Free tickets can be reserved online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/donald-j-trump-at-clemson-university-tickets-21362263104 Follow Kirk Brown on Twitter @KirkBrown_AIM Actress Nayanthara was detained in the Malaysian airport today and that lead to some cruel rumors intended to defame the leading actress who climbed to the top of the heroine ladder with immense hard work and cleverness in selection of scripts. Nayan had visited Malaysia for the shooting of 'Iru Mugan' directed by Anand Shankar in which she pairs up with Vikram. The film is being produced by Shibu Thameens of SKT Films banner. The makers of the film have issued a clarification statement about the entire fiasco and we bring that to you. The issue has actually happened when Nayanthara entered the Malaysian airport to catch her flight to return back to India. And this was not for the name mismatch in passport as it is being speculated since morning. "Work permit rules in Malaysia are different in the two terminals. Usually travellers to India travel through KL1 terminal. Nayanthara had to catch a flight of the new airline Malindo, which operates from KL2. The immigration officials over there required a few clarifications on work permit and visa stamping for her supporting team. Later Nayanthara herself spoke to the authorities and cleared the issue. Nayanthara and her staff traveled back to India smoothly. The production team and line producers of 'Iru Mugan' have lodged a complaint with the immigration dept for snaps of Nayanthara and her passport copy getting circulated online which lead to false speculations and rumor. They are also planning to take action against those responsible for circulation of such rumors about their film's lead actress. As we reported earlier actress Nayanthara flied to Malaysia to join the unit of 'Iru Mugan' the film in which she plays the lead heroine opposite Vikram. However unfortunately the actress was detained at the Malaysian Airport. The reason for the detainment is there is mismatch of name in the Passport of the actress. Nayanthara's original name is Diana Mariam Kurien. To prevent the spread of ill-motivated rumors. official sources in Malaysia have confirmed that the top actress has been detained only for this name mismatch and not for any other wrong reason. We hope the issues get sorted out soon and our dear lady super star gets a smooth entry into the Malaysian country. We will keep you posted about the developments in this regard. 14 February 2016 AirAsia X now connects New Delhi direct to Kuala Lumpur, with the successful take-off of its maiden flight. The airline now provides Indians with better connectivity, low-fares and high-value service into the capital city of Malaysia.The inaugural flight D7183 operated by AirAsia X Berhad on an Airbus A330 departed on-time at 11.15 pm from Indira Gandhi International Airport last night and a press conference and celebration event was held today in the city to commemorate the entry of AirAsia X into northern India.The celebration event was graced by His Excellency Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad, High Commissioner of Malaysia to India; Amaran Abdul Rahman, North India Director, Tourism Malaysia and Benyamin Ismail, CEO of AirAsia X Berhad.AirAsia X is offering promotional all-in-fares from New Delhi to Kuala Lumpur from as low as INR6790* one way for standard seats or from INR29,990* one way for the award-winning Premium Flatbed seats to celebrate the commencement of this four times weekly flight.These promotional fares are available for online booking from today until, for the travel period from now until 30 June 2016. All promotional fares can be booked online at airasia.com as well as via AirAsias all-new mobile app on iPhone and Android devices, and AirAsias mobile site at mobile.airasia.com, We are excited to be here today, to celebrate the return of AirAsia X flights to New Delhi. We now have stronger foundation to be in this market, complementing the existing route network of our affiliates AirAsia Berhad, Thai AirAsia and AirAsia India, in addition to the growing demand for connectivity between New Delhi and Kuala Lumpur. Moving forward, we plan to provide even greater connectivity to Australia and North Asia via Kuala Lumpur from this capital city.In 2015, our affiliates Malaysia AirAsia and Thai AirAsia carried over 1 million guests in and out of India, and with AirAsia Xs entry into this market, we can provide even more connectivity for our Indian guests to the rest of Asia and Australia through our extensive route network, especially through our Fly-Thru product, added Benyamin.Guests can make use of the optional Fly-Thru service to connect to flights with their baggage checked-through to the final destination without the hassle of immigration clearance at the transit hub. With this optional service, guests can now travel to most cities in Asia and Australia such as from Sydney, Bali, Phuket or Hong Kong from New Delhi via Kuala Lumpur. Guests can also connect to other cities in Malaysia or Thailand directly from Kuala Lumpur via AirAsia Berhad (flight code AK) or Thai AirAsias domestic operations (flight code FD).Kuala Lumpur has a lot to offer as a travel destination, the colourful cultures from the racial diversity and the vast variety of cuisines available continues to be a draw for people to visit Kuala Lumpur. It is home to the world-famous Twin Towers at the city-centre filled with skyscrapers which will leave you in awe; or drive up to the renowned hill resort Genting Highlands for the cooling weather which is just an hour away from the bustling city.Keep updated with AirAsias latest promotions and activities via Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia). Tata Motors has announced the #Fantastico Name Hunt, a crowd-sourcing activity for all netizens to suggest a new name for its cool hatchback, previously named ZICA (acronym derived from Zippy Car). This stylish, dynamic and cool hatchback has been showcased publicly for the first time at the Auto Expo 2016, in New Delhi (Greater Noida). While it carries the Zica label for the duration of the event, the new name will be announced after a few weeks, ensuring all necessary consumer/ branding and regulatory aspects are addressed, and the launch will take place thereafter.Through the contest #Fantastico Name Hunt, the Company will be looking forward to suggestions from its fans and audiences around the world to share what they think should be the name of the car.Over the next three days, the Company will receive all entries through its social media channels. The hunt for the new name will end at 23:59 IST, 18:29 GMT and 13:29 EST on 7th of February, 2016. The Company will further shortlist these entries for viewers to vote for their favourite name. One of the lucky contestant whose selection matches the final name, stands a chance to win the car (if within India) or win a reward of equal value, if located outside India.The contest is being conducted on social media and mobile platforms with entries being accepted via SMS and whatsapp, making it easier for customers to share their nominations. With this, Tata Motors looks forward to introducing more such innovative and engaging initiatives to ensure enhanced customer participation and engagement.The new car is backed by Tata Motors Made of Great campaign, with the motto, What drives us from within is what makes us great. Tata Motors is committed to doing what is right for its customers; the car, which has been designed for young people, has already received enthusiastic reviews from informed commentators, and the company is determined to place it in the market addressing all relevant needs of the target audience.To participate in this exciting contest, customers can use the below mentioned platforms: Facebook handle: www.facebook.com/tatamotorsmadeofgreat Twitter handle: https://twitter.com/madeofgreat Via SMS to 9227112345 Via Whatsapp to 09920425487 As we have just stepped into the month of the Budget Session 2016-17, which is to commence from 23rd February, 2016; all eyes and ears will be fixed upon our Honourable Finance Minister Mr. Arun Jaitley for what he has in store for the nations citizens. Real estate sector in particular is most eagerly waiting for the Budget announcements as it holds the key to this sectors unprecedented growth. Apart from the regular demands of Industry Status, Single window clearance, RERA, Land Acquisition and GST; this sector is relying heavily upon the announcements of Seventh Pay Commission and One Rank, One Pension, as it is sure to provide a massive push to countrys residential real estate and gradually, commercial segment as well, in the upcoming few years.Announcements for OROP and seventh pay commission will act as a fuel to propel the realty demand specially for the housing segment in India. It is to be noted that over 2 crore people account to government service and around 32 lakh people towards OROP. This segment of our population will cater to the demand for second homes, holiday homes and too some effect, affordable housing as well. This news is thus significant from the realty sectors perspective as well, as it will open the gates for the players to provide this demand with multiple options of providing homes, shares Ashok Gupta, CMD, Ajnara India Ltd.There exists a direct relation between housing demand and ones purchasing power. If the Union Budget this year announces the seventh pay commission, there will be an increment in the existing salaries along with distribution of arrears, according to the time served. Once the increased salary effect takes place, the pension, post-retirement will become higher as well. Moreover, the already retired will also receive the benefits of the seventh pay commission to some extent, and this entire scenario will push the housing demand forward. A huge chunk of the buyer group today comprises of government employees and with their pays expected to go up by as much as 23.55%, we are sure to see a spike in the people ready to invest across the sector. The need is always there because most of them have been using government accommodations as their residences throughout their period of service but once retired, they would be required to vacate the same thereby fuelling the future demand of housing in the sector, avers Mr. Rupesh Gupta, Director, JM Housing.Adding further and putting light upon how second home buying option will become prominent post this effect, Mr. Kushagr Ansal, Director, Ansal Housing states Overall, there are around 2 crore government employees who would directly be receiving the benefits of this proposed pay hike. It can well help estimate the number of families which will be ready with a bulged pocket. This coupled with the positive steps taken up by RBI last year is sure going provide much needed consumer influx for the sector, as their prime motive is end use of property which might even give them an investment option through second property buying because of increased income.It is been projected that the potential beneficiaries from OROP is about 26 lakh ex-servicemen and 6 lakh widows, which includes war widows, as well. Therefore, there is a combined total of 32 lakh, of whom about 86 percent are widows, NCOs, JCOs, and other ranks, about 14 percent are officers. Out of the estimated outlay on OROP of Rs. 8400 crore, about Rs. 6200 crore will be on account of widows, NCOs, JCOs, and other ranks, and about Rs. 2200 crore for officers. Speaking on a macro level, we are catering to another set of demand which is 32 lakh in number. In a sector where the demand for housing is taking a toll, every single potential customer is extremely important. If the upcoming budget gives a go ahead to OROP, we will have a huge pool of potential customers ready to buy or invest. There might then be a rise in demand for affordable homes and second homes or even holiday homes as post retirement or for pensioners, the time after retirement is perfect to live the desires planned during the service days, says Mr. Sushant Muttreja, CMD, Cosmic Group.Putting more weight on the same, Mr. Rajesh Goyal, Vice President CREDAI-Western U.P. & MD, RG Group explains We are looking at a segment where 32 lakh citizens deserve a wonderful life for the efforts that they had put in order to take our country to another level. Most of the retired or old aged people in India are without a roof due to unaffordability reasons. This causes them to drift towards old age homes, where still there arent enough facilities available for them. Thus, if OROP gets through this budget session, a fresh demand will be there for the realty players to cater to, that will open a wide variety of doors. Affordable housing and projects based on themes for old aged people will become available in abundance.With the seventh pay commission, purchasing power of the existing government officials will increase and at the same time, it will attract more and more youth towards the public sector. OROP will greatly strengthen the faith of the pensioners towards the government and will also allow private players to cater to a much broader but a niche audience. If the Seventh Pay Commission and OROP gets a green signal in this Budget Session, we are talking about almost 2.5 crore potential customers. It is just a matter of analysing their demands and providing the correct supply. This coupled with 2 crore housing shortage, answered through Housing For All, and with Smart India Mission already underway, housing sector in India will witness a boom in the upcoming few years, which will gradually make the commercial segment also grow. Thus, this Budget Session will be a make or break event for the real estate sector in particular, concludes Mr. Vikas Khurana, Co-Founder, HomzCart. The Petroleum Ministry on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that its empowered committee of secretaries (ECS) has decided against granting permission to Cairn India to export crude oil from its Barmer oil & gas block in Rajasthan. The ECS met on 21st January and decided that Cairn cannot be allowed to export the excess crude. He said that an affidavit to this effect will be filed before the next date of hearing on 18th February. The Petroleum Ministry had earlier rejected a proposal from Cairn India to export crude oil from the block, saying that its production sharing contract (PSC) with the Centre doesnt allow exports. Cairn had moved the Delhi high court in January, seeking directions to the Government to permit the company to export crude oil drilled from the Barmer onshore block. Exports fetch a better price against the domestic prices, where Cairn sells crude to the domestic oil refiners at a discount. The production sharing contract (PSC) for the Barmer block would expire on 14th May, 2020 and the company is seeking a 10-year extension on the same. During an interview with the Economic Times, Nakul Anand, Executive Director at ITC said that the hotel industry is set to witness growth driven by higher consumption and diminishing supply. Anand is of the view that the government is doing everything right to spur tourism in the country, which will strengthen the industry.Anand said that the sentiment around hotel industry is encouraging, both regarding leisure and business. Initiatives such as better airport facilities, e-visa and other measures by the government will leave a positive impact on the industry.The huge supply combined with a downturn in cycle dented the industry over the past few years. However, the scenario is changing, said Anand, as the supply is fading but demand will pick-up pace, which will help the industry going forward. Anand also highlighted that the government has been able to boost optimism and appreciated the active participation of the States.Anand elaborated that due to the cyclical nature of the hotel industry, profits and returns tend to come over 8-10 year horizon. This is why facility of long-term debt of over 15 years should be made available to industry. The government has given some concessions in this regard, said Anand. At the same time, he pointed at the enormous cost of land, which can be solved if the government partners through joint ventures so that the burden of capital and debt is shared.Anand agreed that reforms such as e-visa has helped them to gain traction but stressed on the need to create awareness that could directly help in bringing more tourists to India. Anand expects the government to clear Good and Services Tax (GST) for tourism. In order to appeal more to tourists, India needs to align itself with major tourist markets such as South East Asia in terms of taxes, issuance of visas and air fares.According to Anand, business tourism is on the rise while people prefer micro-tripping when it comes to leisure tourism. Still, Anand sees a growth in domestic travel. Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. 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The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. NASSCOM Foundation, hosted the Bangalore edition of its flagship event CSR Leadership Conference (CLC). In its second year, the conference sought to find solutions on how can CSR meaningfully address the India development agenda and brought together a dynamic community of over 350 CSR leaders, Tech4Good champions, NGO practitioners, and Public Policy influencers under one roof.While the world adopts the Sustainable Development Goals in 2016, to eradicate poverty, India has set its own ambitious targets, aligned to the Global Goals, in Digital India, Skills India and strong focus on Education, Health, Support for Girls: Beti Bhachao Beti Padao, Clean India: Swachh Bharat, Inclusive India, Innovation and Make in India amongst others. For CSR to meaningfully contribute to national goals and finance social development in India, companies would be required to build capacities to understand and prioritise the need areas and focus efforts to maximize long term sustainable impact. The CSR Leadership Conference, acts as a platform to inform and support CSR leaders, showcase best practices while encouraging collaborations towards solving problems in specific development areas like education, employability skills building, health and livelihood, and digital empowerment.The conference was divided into various thematic sessions, showcasing innovative, impactful initiatives and discussing on challenges and the way forward. The CSR Leadership Conference also acted as a host to USAID, to call upon corporates in addressing the challenges of one of the deadliest diseases in the world- tuberculosis. The Conference further discussed on how CSR can support to scale innovative impact models, led by various social impact vehicles, including social enterprises and Non-Government Organizations to facilitate the last mile development.Technology is being used in multitude ways- IT-BPM (Business Process Management) companies have led innovative thinking and practices in CSR, and are also increasingly finding ways to use technologies to manage, and monitor CSR initiatives- with cloud and mobile as most preferred platform.The social enterprise sector, represented by both Not-for-Profit and For-Profit business are using Information and Communication Technologies to develop solutions that can address the development needs of the underserved communities across urban and rural parts of India. With the companies across the industry looking for high impact CSR initiatives, these innovations make for a brilliant opportunity. Through this conference, NASSCOM Foundation facilitated to connect the two, towards the larger goal of addressing India development goals through CSR.Since the last eight years, NASSCOM Foundation through its program NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum, has been recognizing, mentoring and giving the Tech for Good solutions a platform to further scale and succeed and the event saw the best of these projects showcased to over 140 Industry leaders attending the event. The attendees were also given a glimpse to Vodafone Foundations Social Apps Hub A first of its kind App store being developed in collaboration with Nextgen and NASSCOM Foundation which will house social mobile apps providing solutions to the complete spectrum of the India Development agenda.Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation said, The CSR Law has provided companies with a means to do social good, fueling a great opportunity for companies to support innovative initiatives and practices where technology is helping to expand reach, scale and impact. In the current scenario, NASSCOM Foundation finds itself in a unique position, wherein it is the creator, aggregator and disseminator of the CSR knowledge and envisions itself to play a pivotal role in making Corporate NGO, Corporate Corporate, NGO NGO collaborations happen to complement the India development agenda. Sinha was delivering the Inaugural Address after inaugurating the Second Pension Conclave under the theme of Universal Pension- Coverage, Adequacy and Sustainability being organised by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) here today. In his address, Sinha further stressed upon the fact that it is the right time when the advantage of young India with its demographic dividend and the growing economy can be leveraged with skill development and mitigation of low level financial literacy and expanding the coverage of pension with the participation of private sector with a sense of urgency. He stressed the importance of enrolling people into Pension schemes as quickly as possible, to take the advantage of the large number of young people in the country who would otherwise become dependent on the State and society in the old age. The Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha, stressed upon the priority to provide the universal pension security including income security, health and life insurance to the people at large. He said that he believed in the philosophy to empower Indians with tools and knowledge to take ownership of their own retirement.Sinha was delivering the Inaugural Address after inaugurating the Second Pension Conclave under the theme of Universal Pension- Coverage, Adequacy and Sustainability being organised by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) here today. In his address, Sinha further stressed upon the fact that it is the right time when the advantage of young India with its demographic dividend and the growing economy can be leveraged with skill development and mitigation of low level financial literacy and expanding the coverage of pension with the participation of private sector with a sense of urgency. He stressed the importance of enrolling people into Pension schemes as quickly as possible, to take the advantage of the large number of young people in the country who would otherwise become dependent on the State and society in the old age. Second Pension Conclave under the theme of Universal Pension- Coverage, Adequacy and Sustainability was organised here today by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. The objective of the conclave was to provide a platform to discuss, deliberate and to debate key issues pertaining to the challenges in pension sector and the need and ways to expand the pension coverage across the country. Earlier, Shri Hemant Contractor, Chairman, PFRDA, in his Keynote Address, gave an overview of the developments in terms of NPS infrastructure and product development during the last two years He informed that PFRDA was instrumental in notifying 14 Regulations defining the role and responsibilities of all stakeholders of NPS. During the last year, PFRDA has spruced-up the pension product making it user friendly by introducing the online mode for registration and contribution upload under NPS. Currently, 16 Banks are providing this facility. Around 35 Banks are using the SBI payment gateway, which can facilitate the said service to all citizens of India. The online exit shall be mandatory from 1st April, 2016 to facilitate the exit process. He mentioned that PFRDA was constantly striving to improve the risk/ reward profile of the investment portfolio and in the process, had permitted investment in new investments such as REITS, INVITS, IDFs etc. He also added that effort was required to meet the challenges facing the unorganised sector including low awareness and low income levels to save for the future. An effective distribution channel with proper incentive structure would go a long way in expanding the reach of NPS among the masses. It was important to include as many people in the pension plans, so that they would not face deprivation in their old age. The event was graced by presentations and panel discussions by eminent domain experts from World Bank- Mr Onno Ruhl, Country Director, Mr Robert Palacios, Senior Pension Economist and Mr William Price, Sr. Financial Sector Specialist, and distinguished economists, thinkers and academicians like Prof. Mukul Asher, Prof. Charan Singh etc. The Conclave was also attended by the different stakeholders under NPS i.e. Banks, Point of Presence (PoP) and Corporates participated in the conference. The discussions covered wide ranging sub-themes viz. (i) Pension reforms as part of the financial sector and fiscal reforms, (ii) social and economic aspects of the pension reforms, (iii) adequacy and sustainability of the pension to fulfil Government of Indias policy and vision of pensioned society with universal pension for all segments of population, (iv) best global practices in the pension sector (v) pension funds as source of long term funds for the infrastructure growth and capital market deepening and (vi) ensuring a clear vision for long term outcomes from the pension systems. Awards were given to the banks for their performance in the Atal Pension Yojana (APY). State Bank of India (SBI) received the award for Highest Atal pension Yojana (APY) Accounts sourced, Andhra Bank for Best Performing Bank in the category of Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Tamilnad Mercantaile Bank for Best Performing Bank in the category of Private Banks, Madhya Bihar Gramin Bank for the best Performing Bank in the category of Regional Rural Banks(RRBs) and Kottayam District Cooperative Bank for best Performing Bank in the category of Cooperative Banks. Currently, NPS has more than 1.14 crore subscribers with total Asset Under Management (AUM) of more than Rs.1.09 Lakh crores. At 11:53 AM, the S&P BSE Sensex is trading at 24,493 up 155 points, while NSE Nifty is trading at 7,458 up 54 points.The BSE Mid-cap Index is trading up 1.08% at 10,243, whereas BSE Small-cap Index is trading up 0.66% at 10,512.Axis Bank, Tata Motors, Sun Pharmaceuticals, Hero Moto, HUL, Cipla and Lupin are among the gainers, whereas GAIL, Maruti Suzuki, Adani Ports, RIL and NTPC are losing sheen on BSE.Indian Rupee opened at 67.66/$, down by 12 paise in early trade on Friday as against the previous close of 67.54/$. Yesterday rupee rebounded strongly against US dollar, as the greenback has moved substantially lower against the basket of currencies. US dollar tumbled to 1.12 levels against the Euro, breached the 117 barrier on the yen and weakened to 1.46 against British pound.Some buying activity is seen in metal, pharma, telecom, finance, FMCG, basic material and consumer discretionary sectors.The INDIA VIX is down 0.83% at 18.0550. Out of 1,785 stocks traded on the NSE, 440 declined and 1,013 advanced today.A total of seven stocks registered a fresh 52-week high in trades today, while 41 stocks touched a new 52-week low on the NSE.Reliance Infrastructure zoomed 2% to Rs.417 on BSE. RInfra announced the signing of Share Purchase Agreement with Birla Corporation, the flagship Company of the M P Birla Group in relation to 100% sale of its subsidiary Reliance Cement Company Private.RPP Infra Projects jumped 2% after the company bagged order from Karnataka Neeravari Nigam Ltd worth Rs. 1,122 millions.OnMobile Global slumped 12% to Rs.108.50 on BSE. The company reported consolidated net loss of Rs.7.63 crore for the quarter ended Q3FY16.During the quarter under review, EBITDA margin at 19.4% compared with 19%. The company has considered and decided on Buy-Back of the Companys equity shares of Rs. 10/- each from the open market through stock exchange mechanism in accordance with the provisions of Section 68,69 and 70 of the Companies Act, 2013 read with Securities and Exchange Board of India (Buyback) Regulations, 1998 and amendments thereto at a price not exceeding Rs. 150/- per equity share payable in cash for an aggregate amount not exceeding Rs.70 Crores subject to a maximum of 56,00,000 Equity Shares.Tata Steel slipped 3.3% to Rs. 218.75 on BSE. The company reported consolidated net loss of Rs.2,127.23 crore for the quarter ended Q3FY16. The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs. 28,039.02 crore, down by 16.63% yoy.Tata Power gained 1% to Rs.59.70 ahead of ahead of Q3 FY16 results. IIFL forecasts the companys net revenue for Q3 FY16 to soar to Rs. 10,074 crore, at 14.4% yoy and 5.6% qoq. IIFL expects net profit to climb to Rs. 344 crore at 74% yoy and 39.1% qoq.Balaji Telefilms dropped 2.7% to Rs.109 on BSE. The company has considered and approved a preferential issue of 1,07,20,000 equity shares at Rs. 140 each, aggregating to Rs. 150 crore to Atyant Capital India Fund I, Vanderbilt University, GHI LTP LTD., GHI HSP LTD. and GHI ERP LTD., subject to necessary approvals. The issue price represents a 26% premium over the average of the weekly high and low of the volume weighted average share price of the Company during the past 26-week period. The proposed issue will result in a dilution of 14.1% of the equity share capital of the Company and the post-issue promoter and promoter group holding in the Company will be 40.6%.Schneider Electric Infrastructure climbed 4% to Rs.153 after the company reported a net profit of Rs 9.74 crore for the quarter ended Dec'15. The company's reported other income for the quarter was Rs. 2.04 crore.The S&P BSE Metal index was up 2.4% at 6,837. Jindal Steel galloped 10.3% to Rs.63.35. Vedanta, SAIL, Hindalco jumped over 4.5% each. NMDC rose 3.3% to Rs.83.80. The company in its latest price review has kept prices of lump ore unchanged at Rs 1,800 per tonne. The state-run iron ore miner also kept the prices of iron ore fines unchanged at Rs 1,560 per tonne.Tata Steel which slipped over 3.3% to Rs. 218.75 levels on BSE has recouped its losses and is trading up 0.6%. The company reported consolidated net loss of Rs.2,127.23 crore for the quarter ended Q3FY16. The companys consolidated revenue stood at Rs. 28,039.02 crore, down by 16.63% yoy. The BSE Metal index opened at 6,673 points against its previous close of 6,674 points. It hit a high and a low of 6,842 and 6,673 points respectively.The sectoral breadth was positive with 10 stocks advanced on BSE. On BSE, total trading turnover in the shares of Metal index stood at Rs. 150.49 crore. The headmaster of a primary school in Kanpur Dehat district on Wednesday allegedly 'purified' with water a chair used by a woman Dalit pradhan. A probe was ordered into the incident after the woman lodged a complaint with the district administration. BBC Pappi Devi, pradhan of Veersinghpur, had gone to the school in her village to register a protest following complaints about poor quality of midday meals. In her complaint to the administration, she said headmaster Santosh Sharma not only humiliated her, but also asked students and staff to clean and 'purify' the chair she had used. The administration asked the tehsildar to probe the allegations. "Sharma humiliated me for daring to sit on a chair in the school," Devi told TOI over the phone. "When I asked him why I should not sit, he again threatened me with dire consequences and demanded to know why I sat on the chair. He misbehaved and attacked me. Later, he asked students and class IV employees to wash the chair." Devi said she believed the 'cleansing' was performed since she belonged to an SC community and the act amounted to a violation of her human rights. According to the complaint, Sharma also threatened Devi's husband, Shailendra Singh, who went to the school after hearing of the episode. (pictures for representational purpose only) ndtvmovies I know, I know, the wait for Baahubali 2 is seriously unbearable! I sometimes still wake up in the middle of the night wondering why the hell Katappa actually killed Baahubali! But sadly, Baahubali 2 has just landed itself in some trouble. Apparently, the film is facing flak for allegedly illegally using an elephant for shooting without taking prior permission from the Animal Welfare Board of India. Animal rights campaigner, Heritage Animal Task Force, has even demanded action against the producer and director of the film. According to the outfit, the film crew had violated norms and used the elephant, Chirackal Kalidasan (fancy name, right!), for the shooting of the movie at Thrissur, without obtaining any pre-shoot certificate from AWBI as per the Performing Animals Registration Rule 2001. sulekha That's not all. The Thrissur-based Task Force even sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding action against the producer, director and cameraman of the film, and the owner and mahout of the elephant in this regard. As per the Task Force Secretary V K Venkatachalam, the film crew had claimed that they had used the elephant for shooting for the purpose of graphic representation only. "For the whole period of the four hours of the shooting, this elephant was forced to stand amid the high power electric light which beam high voltage light effect for maximum colour effect for film shooting," he said in the letter. He also added, "The mahout, during the shooting, had used the banned weapon ankush to compel the elephant to obey his commands and keep its forehead up for a long period of time," he said in the letter. The makers of the film are yet to respond to this. But if it's true, it's certainly very sad. pakvid Mawra Hocane had no choice but to fly back to Pakistan, just a day before her Bollywood debut film Sanam Teri Kasam released. The 23-year-old actress seems to be the latest victim of the ongoing visa war between the two nations. Mawra was forced to return to her home country after her visa expired. And all this happened just after Indian actor Anupam Kher was also denied a visa by Pakistan to attend the Karachi Literature Festival. Tit-for-tat eh! 9xmovietadka Mawra, along with her co-star Harshvardhan Rane, was to travel to Delhi for promotions, but it had to be cancelled. Harshvardhan, we hear, will now be doing events sans his leading lady. Mawra, who has organised screenings for her film in Pakistan, said she had no choice but to return. "Yes, I am leaving a day before. I will be attending some screenings of my film in Pakistan and I hope to be back soon. Right now I am only waiting for the film to release and after that I will take up other offers. Also, I feel there is a lot of work waiting for me in Pakistan so I will quickly pick up some work there. This is the first time I have been off air so many months in Pakistan." - Mawra Hocane Mawra is the latest Pakistani export to Indian films. And if you thought her film and her visa issue brought her into the limelight, let me correct you. Mawra is an established name in Pakistan. But more than that, she drew flak from senior Pakistani actor Shaan after her tweets objected to the ban of Bollywood film Phantom in the country last year. Shaan triggered a #BanMawra campaign in Pakistan. While she said her words were misinterpreted, she wrote an open letter trying to defend her decision. She earned quite the support from her colleagues for the same. Twitter Whether she will return to India anytime soon or not, only time will tell. Just to remind you, Mawra is a huge Ranbir Kapoor fan and Ranbir had showed 'willingness' to meet her through a video message last year. Jealous of Mawra already? Chill and watch the promo of her film Sanam Teri Kasam right here. MV Shabeer, 23, was a Muslim. He was also an active volunteer at the Shiva temple at Puthennada near Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district, serving on the annual festival's executive committee. Indianexpress Last Sunday, he was beaten to death, over an argument about an elephant that ran wild during the festival last year, the Indian Express reported. In mourning for his death, the temple stopped offering puja. trivandrumdistrict blog 'On Monday and Tuesday, the Shiva temple's office-bearers decided not to blow the conch or ring the bell as a mark of respect for Shabeer,' the report said. N Unni, another temple member said, "It was a friendship beyond religion, We never considered Shabeer as a Muslim in the temple committee." Shabeer had served as witness in a case of animal cruelty he'd seen four youths torture an elephant by pricking his tail, causing the elephant to nearly trample those attending the procession. This week, ten Indian army soldiers succumbed to a massive avalanche that hit their army post at an altitude of 19,600 feet in Siachen. When soldiers die at Siachen, India doesnt find even a second to speculate if theres any alternative to deploying our men to what is the coldest and deadliest battlefield on earth - with not even a single targeted shot being fired here since 2003. Temperatures touch a minimum of minus 42 degrees in the night, to a maximum of minus 25 degrees during the day. Indian soldiers control almost all the dominating heights, ranging from 16,000 to 22,000 feet, in the Siachen Glacier-Saltoro Ridge region, and around 900 Indian soldiers have been killed here. It was the 2015 death of an Indian army captain to an avalanche that brought the region back to our national conscience. Indian casualties have progressively decreased over the years and are currently in single digits - 5 soldiers lost in 2015, six in 2014 and ten in 2013. But were still not ready to give up Siachen, simply because of Pakistan. Is Pakistan ready to demilitarise Siachen? The Indo-Pak stalled composite dialogue process has India steadfastly demanding ironclad guarantees and foolproof authentication of troop positions before disengaging, and eventually demilitarising Siachen. The reason? If Pakistani troops occupy the heights vacated by it, then dislodging them from there would be virtually impossible. Indian soldiers deployed on the Saltoro Ridge effectively prevent Pakistan from the west and China from the east joining up through the Karakoram Pass to threaten Ladakh. China, as it is, is expanding its footprint in Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Its costing Pakistan more than us madrasregiment In 2012, Farrukh Saleem, Pakistani political scientist, economic theorist, and TV personality, pointed out in the The News Daily, "Accumulated tab for the coldest of all cold wars now exceeds $5 billion... equivalent of Pakistan's entire annual defense budget". The Siachen conflict, he wrote, "costs Pakistan between $200 million and $300 million a year - the equivalent of five crore Pakistani rupees per day... With no strategic, mineral or tactical value, this must be the world's most senseless, stupidest war." williamcolgan Between 2003 and 2010, Pakistans Siachen deployments have cost the nation 30 soldiers a year - despite a ceasefire agreement. This, plus 140 soldiers that they lost in a fatal avalanche in 2012. What are our options? We are making significant investments for a complete Make In India kit for our soldiers - many of our Siachen supplies are sourced from across the world including Germany (Stromeyer tents), `fibre-pile pants' (Finland), down jacket (Switzerland), Scarpa boots (Italy) and boot crampons (France) which are all part of a kit that costs over a lakh per soldier and these are just the clothes. Can we instead make longer strategic investments in all weather combat drone technology and laser guided missiles to enforce an agreement that will clearly need weapons to maintain peace? Pakistan's failures in keeping its men alive in Siachen is clearly the leverage we need for a permanent peace at this border. It's time we make hard decisions to keep men alive. Some people spend their entire lives, ruing they couldn't fulfill their dreams. Nihal, a 14-year-old kid from Mumbai, suffering from a rare genetic disease called Progeria can say otherwise. He recently met Aamir Khan, and now another dream of his has come true. Nihal has always wanted to meet Honda's robot, ASIMO, and he got to do just that. He and his family were greeted by the humanoid robot at the ongoing Auto Expo 2016. ASIMO asked him "Hi, Nihal! How are you?" asia.nikkei.com After the meeting, Nihal said I am elated to have this lifetime opportunity to meet my favourite robot." Mr. Katsushi Inoue, president and CEO, Honda Cars India, said, We are extremely delighted to fulfill Nihals wish of meeting ASIMO." ASIMO had come on stage, dancing to the song 'India waale' and has been a crowd puller everywhere it makes an appearance. ASIMO, short for Advance Step in Innovative Mobility, is 4 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 54 kg. Honda Cars India ASIMO is powered by a lithium ion battery and is one of the most advanced humanoid robot in the world. It was first unveiled in 2005 and has been a regular at auto shows across the world. This latest iteration was first showcased in 2014. Honda Cars India 31 December 2015: Under the cover of darkness, four men hijacked a Punjab Police superintendent's multi-utility vehicle, slit jeweller Rajesh Kumar's throat, and then stole Rajesh's phone. 9:20 am, 1 January 2015: The next morning, Nasir, one of the Pathankot airbase attackers, called home. From the phone call excerpts, here's a glimpse into the casual darkness of Islamic terror, where a mother takes pride in her son slitting the throat of two Indians, who they call 'kafir's (disbelievers). PTI Nasir: Shhhhh. assalaam-alaykum. Nasir here. Uncle: Wa-alaikum salam. Where are you? Are you safe? Nasir: I am in another country. Where is mother? Uncle: Talk to her quickly. Mother: My son, where have you been? I hope are you alright... Nasir: We are inside India. Your son has killed two kafirs. I slit their throats with a dagger. Now we are ready for the big final assault. The other men had got fearful of getting caught. I told them not to fear India. Mother: Tu jaanbaaz hai. You are a brave man. May Allah help you reach heaven. Nasir: I am wearing the jacket you stitched for me. Now this will be my shroud as well. PTI Mother: But how did you manage to reach inside India. Nasir: We were taken in big SUV cars. Landcruiser dropped us on the border. Mother: Have you had anything to eat? Nasir: Just dry fruits and chocolates. Nothing else. Mother: But did you kill the kafirs? Nasir: Now I don't have much time to describe. This is my last conversation. I want you to record this call for future. PTI Nasir: Babar. You all must hold a feast when my ustaad (handler) breaks the news of my martyrdom. Also read: These Are The 7 Heroes Who Gave Up Their Lives To Uphold The Nation's Pride During The Pathankot Terror Attack #Salute In her first ever statement, the Tanzanian girl who was assaulted in Bengaluru, spoke about her horrific day. Last Sunday saw an angry mob thrash a 21-year-old Tanzanian girl, simply due to racist anger over an unrelated incident after a Sudanese man ran over a woman at the same spot. "When I tried to save my friend, they pulled my shirt also and tore it into pieces and finally tore my shirt also" Visuals from last Sunday of the accident site in Bengaluru where a Tanzanian student was allegedly assaulted by mob. pic.twitter.com/UMhC4IGhJY ANI (@ANI_news) February 3, 2016 "At the end my top had been pulled off and I had nothing to cover myself. I tried my best to cover myself with my hands and finally one good Samaritan gave me some clothes to cover myself. When she tried to escape, they grabbed her. The police ignored her. While public outcry has pushed the Bangalore police into making 5 arrests, the denial that it was a racist attack, issued by Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara, and then by Police commissioner NS Megharikh, leaves us horrified. It was Sunday I was with my friends driving around Acharya College Area. We found a mob of Indians beating someone. We discovered it was African, we reduced speed and when we approached the area one of my friends was beaten up. When I tried to save my friend, they pulled my shirt also and tore it into pieces and finally tore my shirt also. At the end my top had been pulled off and I had nothing to cover myself. I tried my best to cover myself with my hands and finally one good Samaritan gave me some clothes to cover myself. Dear Bengaluru, I still remember that evening in October when I first landed here eight years ago. I had just left behind the loud, manic insanity that was Mumbai and was looking forward to a more relaxed life where I could hear myself breathe. And Bangalore, you did not disappoint. I slowly found myself falling in love with your unhurried, mildly inefficient, and relaxed attitude. Reuters I learned that sambhar could be slightly sweet, auto drivers never wanted to go where you wanted to and never ever had change, and that anything you ordered was always on the way. I began to bristle with indignation when people criticised your traffic, even going to the extent of offering the lame argument - I would rather be stuck in a jam in this weather than in the stifling heat of Mumbai and Delhi. With you, I got the feeling that I was finally home. And this was the case with almost all my friends who moved to the city. Bangalore, you embraced everyone, regardless of their backgrounds or nationality, and we all blended seamlessly into your fabric. Your people too, and I am now one of them, were willing to take most of your failings in their stride. Whether it was the potholes on your roads, the increasing piles of garbage, the fact that one of your lakes caught fire - we would raise our voices, hope that an apathetic administration would take heed, but eventually shrug in acceptance. youtube.com But, there are some things that we must not accept. We have all been outraged by the recent incident of the young Tanzanian woman who was molested by mob after a tragic hit and run in the city. Social media has gone berserk with people bad mouthing you, and us, throwing around words like 'hooligans', 'racist' and 'uncultured'. The victim herself alleges that she was racially abused. Tragically, it harked back to a time when people from the North East, who live here, were being attacked simply because they looked a certain way. blogs.reuters.com When did we, who cry foul every time an Indian is harmed on foreign soil, think it was okay to harm someone who had chosen to live among us, because we perceived ourselves as superior? Our authorities for their part are playing the blame game and arguing the semantics of the situation. The most baffling of the arguments offered was, She was not naked, only her top was ripped off. The Home Minister for his part blames the police saying that even though a mob was gathering, only one policeman was assigned to the spot, despite a patrol unit having been in the area at the time. And this is what should worry us. dawn.com Sadly, this young womans story will likely get buried in a series of bureaucratic dealings, with the Ministry of External Affairs allegedly already calling it an isolated incident. What is troubling is that she was attacked simply because of the way she looked and because the mob knew they could get away with it. Tomorrow, it could be you and me. Where will it stop? The perpetrator of the crime was driving a silver car. He was wearing jeans and had curly hair. If this trend of mob justice becomes the norm, none of us will ever be safe again. Will we also become a dusty case file in a police station simply because we were in the wrong place at the wrong time? BCCL Edward Burke famously said, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Its time we did something. Its time the perpetrators, whether it is the driver who ran over the young mother, or the mob who molested the young woman, to know that crime has its consequences. Its time we demanded that the law belongs not in the hands of vigilantes but in the hands of our elected authorities who ensure that justice is done. And most importantly, its time those in power had the conscience and commitment to ensure that anyone who leaves their home today returns unharmed. Hopefully, dear Bangalore, that day is not just on the way. Yours, with hope for change A concerned citizen. Digvijay Singh, a probationary officer in State Bank of India (SBI) in Gujarat applied for about 43,000 Rupees for a "advance festival loan", an SBI offering for people who need money to celebrate. His mistake? He asked for this loan citing "Valentine" as the festival - and the bank rejected him, the Hindustan Times reported. ht Digvijay's friends's told the newpaper that Digvijay then applied for a "Basant Panchami" loan, which was approved. A senior official of SBI in the Junagadh division, under which the branch falls, said on condition of anonymity, "I am not aware of this particular case. But as per our policy, we offer loans only for festivals, and not for days like Valentine's Day, Father's Day or Mother's Day." SBI bank officers can receive up to one month's salary for an interest free "advance festival loan". Arash Derambarsh, a French councillor, created a campaign to stamp out food waste and has called on the head of the European commission and national leaders to adopt laws forcing supermarkets to give their unsold produce to charities. On Thursday, the European parliament adopted a resolution inviting the EC to encourage the creation of agreements between supermarkets and organisations helping the poor and hungry. theplaidzebra.com The ball is now in the court of the commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and European leaders. They have a responsibility before history and before the 500 million people of Europe, Derambarsh said after the vote. I now say directly to all of them, its now up to you. Do this, and do this before the end of the year. In May, Derambarsh was successful in convincing the French government to pass a law forcing supermarkets to donate products approaching their sell-by date to charities. Bertrand Guay/AFP Some shops since then have been destroying unsold food with bleach. The new law states that supermarkets with a floor space of more than 400 sq m will face fines of up to 75,000 (approx. INR 56.79 Lakh) if they are caught disposing or destroying unsold food fit for consumption. On Thursday, MEPs (Members of European Parliament) adopted a resolution in which the food waste amendment had been tabled at the last minute. Angelique Delahaye, who introduced the amendment, said after the vote: Its the first step in the fight against food waste in Europe. smh.com.au The EU wastes 89 million tonnes of food a year, with the UK being the highest contributor, while an estimated 1.3 billion tonnes are wasted worldwide annually. A petition launched in seven European countries including Britain calling for support for legislation has more than 540,000 signatures. Derambarsh aims to have the issue tabled at the United Nations later this year. We cannot sit back and do nothing while people in Greece, Portugal, Spain, Italy and elsewhere are going hungry. We cannot continue to ignore this, he said. [With inputs from The Guardian] We recently did a story with pretty pictures on the first flower in space called 'Zinnia'. Yeah so, two weeks down, it turns out that it's fake. Zinnia might actually be a flower in space but she's surely not the first one to bloom there. Astronaut and Instagram hot shot Scott Kelly would delight us with breathtaking images from space, so it was pretty easy for us and the interweb to fall for his little lie. NASA/ Scott Kelly It was the first flower to bloom for him, but not the first in space. We have actually grown a lot of plants in space. Sure that kind of mistake is possible when you're miles away from home and excited after having given birth to life up there, but for NASA to validate his claim? Tsk Tsk. NASA A flower has bloomed in space as far back as three years ago. In 2012, an astronaut named Don Pettit, as a personal experiment, grew a space zucchini and a space sunflower! But because this was just a personal experiment, they weren't sterilised. Which is why, sadly, they didn't make it all the way back. NASA/ Don Pettit NASA/ Don Pettit NASA/ Don Pettit NASA/ Don Pettit We apologise for the error. Trust us, it was purely because we got too excited about Zinnia. The world's fattest man has died of a heart attack at the age of 38 after reportedly drinking more than six energy drinks a day. independent Andres Moreno, from Ciudad Obregon in Mexico, reached a weight of over 70 stone, or over 444 kilograms at his heaviest. His doctor reportedly said he had been drinking more than six energy drinks a day in the three days running up to his death. As he was very obese and suffering from diabetes, such stimulate drinks could have caused "an irregular heartbeat". He died on Christmas Day after a heart attack and complications from peritonitis. independent Two months ago, Mr Moreno had undergone extreme weight-loss surgery where three quarters of his stomach was removed. His remaining stomach was then reshaped into a tube to help prevent him from overeating. Mr Moreno had lost 19 stone or 120 kilos naturally to reach the weight of 317 kgs in preparation for the surgery. Dr Jorge Ojeda, who treated Mr Moreno, told MailOnline: "He drank more than six energy drinks a day according to his family and we believe it could be a lot more than six. As an obese man, although he was losing weight and was starting to move, exposing yourself to a stimulant can cause an irregular heartbeat, and that or a heart attack can lead to death." Another Mexican, Manuel Uribe, who weighed 558 kilos or 88 stone, previously held the record for the world's fattest man. Follow us on snapdeal not to renew aamir khan s contract report New Delhi: India's leading E-commerce player Snapdeal has decided against renewing contract with Bollywood star Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador,the economic times reported. " The one-year endorsement, that ends later this month, was extendable by a year deal but the company decided against it," said ET quouted one of the persons with knowledge of the development. Neither snapdeal nor Khan have reacted to the development. Snapdeal had stopped using Khan's in its ads after the controversy broke. The actor's revelation that his wife Kiran Rao had suggested moving out of the country because of the rising levels of intolerance ripped open sentiments and became the biggest talking point on social media. Khan's comment led to a storm of protest by supporters of the government and a campaign of denigration against the actor. If the Snapdeal contract isn't renewed, this will be Khan's second such recent experience. Last month the tourism ministry dropped Khan as brand ambassador of the Incredible India campaign that the actor was associated with since 2009. Latest Business News New Delhi: A 17-year-old boy released from a correction home for 'good behaviour' just two months after he had kidnapped and murdered a child last September, has now been accused of murdering an elderly woman. The accused was apprehended on Thursday for allegedly strangulating an elderly widow and robbing her of cash, jewellery and other items from her residence in south Delhi's B K Dutt colony. The juvenile, along with his girlfriend, had last year allegedly abducted and murdered a 13-year-old boy for money, which he needed for participating in a popular reality dance show, police said. After being released from a correction home recently, he targeted the 65-year-old widow, Mithilesh Jain, who lived alone in a first-floor residence in B K Dutt colony, police said. If the juvenile justice board agrees, the teen, who has allegedly killed twice in the last six months, will be the first to be tried under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection Of Children) Act of 2015. The woman was found dead on Monday by her son-in-law but the police had then claimed that it was a case of natural death. Things took a turn when Jain's relatives informed police that some jewellery, cash and expensive items, including two mobile phones, were missing from her residence. The post mortem report also suggested that she was strangulated, following which police registered a case. Police traced the boy when he switched on one of the phones, which he had allegedly robbed from Jain and apprehended him today from his residence at Faridabad. On being questioned, he told the police that he had targeted the woman as he needed money to participate in a popular reality dance show. On Sunday night, he went to Jain's house, where he allegedly strangulated her and then placed the body on the bed to make it look like a case of natural death, before he fled with cash, jewellery and other belongings, police said. Jain, who had retired from her job at Safdarjung Hospital which she got after her husband's death, is survived by her son who lives in Singapore, a daughter settled in US, and another daughter who lives with her chartered accountant husband in elsewhere in Delhi, police said. She was planning to leave for Singapore in a few days. The accused is a professional dancer and takes training in choreographer. Follow us on aligarh is brave film by brave filmmaker mahesh bhatt Mumbai: National Award-winning filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt has praised as a "brave film" Hansal Mehta's "Aligarh", which addresses homosexuality. "'Aligarh': A brave film by a brave filmmaker! An outstanding starcast," Bhatt tweeted. In an earlier tweet, Mehta had expressed joy over the number of views which the trailer of "Aligarh" had garnered online. "(So far) 2.1 million views on Eros Now, over 1.75 million views on Youtube. Nearly 4 million views and still counting. Aligarh trailer is killing it. Come out and watch," Mehta tweeted. The trailer of the Hansal Mehta-directorial was launched on January 28. The film is based on the life of Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, a professor at Aligarh Muslim University who was sacked for homosexuality. While Manoj essays the professor's role, actor Rajkummar Rao plays a journalist in the film, which is releasing on February 26. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on bajirao mastani gets five nominations at 10th asian film awards Mumbai: Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Bajirao Mastani" has landed five nominations, including in the Best Film category, at the 10th Asian Film Awards, where "The Assassin" is the front-runner with nine nominations. "Bajirao Mastani" will compete with Chinese director Jia Zhangke's "Mountains May Depart", Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien's "The Assassin", Japanese director Ryosuke Hashiguchi's "Three Stories of Love", Chinese film director Guan Hu's "Mr. Six" and South Korean director's Ryoo Seung-wan "Veteran" for the Best Film trophy. Besides getting nominated for the Best Film category, "Bajirao Mastani" has also earned nominations for Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Original Music and Best Editing. However, "Bajirao Mastani" isn't the only Indian film to be nominated at the AFA. "Masaan", "Talvar", "Bombay Velvet" and "Baahubali: The Beginning" also received nominations in different categories. "Masaan" actor Vicky Kaushal is nominated for Best Newcomer, Vishal Bhardwaj for Best Screenplay ("Talvar"), Amit Trivedi for Best Original Music ("Bombay Velvet") and Srinivas Mohan ("Baahubali: The Beginning") for Best Visual Effects. For this edition, 77 nominations have been made for 15 awards. The nominations represent 36 films from nine countries, read a statement on the Asian Film Awards' official website. Organised by the Asian Film Awards Academy, the awards gala will be held on March 17 at the Venetian Theater in Macau. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on revealed how katrina and ranbir managed to ignore each other New Delhi: Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are no longer Bollywood's most loved couple. The year 2016 started on a bad note for them as they ended their seven-year-long relationship. Since reports started doing rounds about their split, the actor duo have refrained from addressing questions about it in the media. Comparatively, it is easier for Ranbir since he has no movie promotions to attend like Katrina. It has been seen that during the promotions of Fitoor', Kat has avoided answering personal questions. As it turns out, Katrina has not only succeeded in avoiding questions on Ranbir. Yesterday, the actress managed to dodge Ranbir too. The former flames were present at the Auto Expo in Delhi at the same time. While Ranbir was there at 11:20, Katrina at 12:20, suggested media reports. Ranbir, who flew in from Barcelona to attend the event, stayed put in the motorbike section while Katrina engaged herself at the other side of the venue. Some media reports also suggest that the organisers were given strict instructions not to let them pass by each other. This action by the two somewhat contradict their previous encounters post their break-up. A few weeks ago, they resumed shooting for their upcoming movie Jagga Jasoos'. Insiders revealed that Ranbir and Katrina had gone about their work with a very professional attitude. They did not let their personal bitterness stall the filming. However, their actions at the Auto Expo reflect that it may be easy for them to shoot together. However, being seen together publically at an event is a different ball game altogether. Definitely, a bitter break-up! Latest Bollywood News Follow us on vhp activists detained for trying to obstruct shooting of shah rukh khan s raees Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Police on Friday detained 34 activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Kutch district for trying to obstruct shooting of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's film 'Raees'. Police said the VHP activists were detained under Section 68 of the Gujarat Police Act. The VHP has been targeting Shahrukh Khan for his comments on "intolerance" in the country. After they were released, the VHP activists still managed to block the Gadhsheesha-Dedia road which connects Kutch district headquarters Bhuj with Polaria where the film shooting was scheduled for the day. The shooting continued peacefully throughout the day in Polaria, which is located some 60 km from Bhuj city. The actor, who has been on a week-long visit to Kutch for the shooting of the film, has faced sporadic protests by the VHP activists since he arrived there. Earlier, the outfit had held a demonstration in front of the District Collector's office in Bhuj. A motorcycle rally was also held demanding the cancellation of the film's shooting and ban on Shahrukh Khan's entry in Kutch. Based on the life of Ahmedabad-based underworld don late Abdul Latif Shaikh, 'Raees' has been made by Rahul Dholakia who earlier made controversial film 'Perzania' based on communal riots. Pakistani actress Mahira Khan is the female lead in the film. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on what salman khan accuses sanam teri kasam team for using a song from tere naam New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is quite famous for his candid nature. The actor shares a great sense of humour and we just love it. However, his recent statement left everyone confused. We all know how Salman encourages new talent in the industry. But in his recent tweet, the Sultan' actor has accused the director of an upcoming movie Sanam Teri Kasam' for lifting a song from his movie Tere Naam'. He tweeted, Directors of my film Lucky n Sanam Teri Kasam churaud my song from Himesh. lovely song Had selected it for Tere Naam However, the actor seems to be joking around, he has also praised the track for the movie starring Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane. Well, both Tere Naam' and Sanam Teri Kasam' shares the same music director Himesh Reshammiya. So, we wonder what he has to say on this. Currently, Salman is busy shooting for his forthcoming movie Sultan' opposite Anushka Sharma, in which he'll be seen playing the role of a wrestler. Latest Bollywood News Follow us on iimc to introduce degree courses in place of diplomas New Delhi: IIMC(Indian Institute of Mass Communication) will soon introduce degrees in all the courses and do away with the diplomas. Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting, made this announcement while delivering the convocation address at IIMC today. Rathore also said that some new courses too would be started and the syllabi would have new input. Underlining the importance of freedom of press, Rathore said, Media is supposed to question as a part of strengthening the democratic process. Freedom of the Press is absolute here and nobody can change that. Rathore, however, also struck a note of caution and said, In the defence forces one is taught situation analysis. Media is also supposed to do it but often it turns out to be situated analysis you decide even before doing a story what your analysis would. That goes against the grain. He called upon the Indian media to come out of its cliched functioning and not join a battle among the different TV channels to telecast the grimmest scenarios that spread the panic. The curse of 21st century is terrorism. Terrorists want maximum publicity with the least strikes. He knows who does that. France had many terrorist attacks on its roads recently. Many people were killed. Its media never showed a bullet, a grim face, a weeping mother or a crying child. The media there did not spread the panic, Rathore pointed out. Sunil Arora, Chairman, IIMC and secretary of I&B, said that media should be sceptical. Without questioning democratic polity could not move ahead. The institutes like IIMC should strive for continuous improvement, he said. Arora also conferred Diplomas to 364 students of English Journalism, Hindi Journalism, Radio & Television Journalism, Advertising & Public Relations and Oriya Journalism. Latest India News Follow us on india can strike at pathankot masterminds at its own time New Delhi: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that India can strike back at those who masterminded the Pathankot air base attack at a time of its own choosing. "Selection of time will depend on creation of capabilities and our choice. That is very important," he said. Replying to questions from Rajat Sharma in the show Aap Ki Adalat, to be telecast on India TV this weekend, Parrikar, however, was careful to clarify that this planning was not aimed at any neighbouring country. "You have to plan, Here I have named individual and organisation, and have not named any country, because if it's against a country, then it means war. We want to teach a lesson to the individual. Where and when, that will be our choice, Parrikar said. Asked why India has not launched a counter-attack against terror camps in Pakistan after the Pathankot air base incident, Parrikar said: "How do you know where we should strike and where we should not. Such things are not disclosed in public. We must have the capability. And Pakistan...I will not name any country...They take sort of fights with us by sending terrorists. Such people need to be taught a lesson. There is no question mark in it. But when, how and at what time, should be decided based on our convenience. "I can assure you, on a different level, this has already been achieved. You see the overall scenario of terrorist incidents. Why did they come to Punjab, because in Jammu-Kashmir, there is the army, and the army has neutralized them to a large extent. The ratio of our losses compared to killing of terrorists is widening quite big now. Earlier it was 1:1, now it is 1:4, and even that should not happen. It should come lower than that. So, we have initiated many counter measures there. Pathankot was a high-publicity high-value target, and I think now that we have begun replying, they have learnt to an extent. If some groups have not learnt, I can assure you they will understand that soon, but I will not do that by disclosing it now." Asked why India was not carrying out cross-border strike against terror camps as it did against the NSCN(K) rebels inside Myanmar, Parrikar said, he would not disclose much in such matters, otherwise "the surprise element will be gone". "Once it happens, you will come to know about it. In the North-East, those who attacked our 6 Dogra (regiment)... we didn't tell them what we were going to do. "...In Myanmar, the incident that you are quoting about, when we'll do, how we'll do and where we'll do, I can't tell you the exact spot where we did it. We did not make any advance briefing to the media about it. What you are saying is post-facto. Secondly, your assumption is based on various information that it took place at a particular spot, but we don't divulge that. But we did it because we had proper intelligence, proper capability and the time was right," Parrikar said. The Defence Minister said: "I am still saying what I said earlier that those who inflict pain on us, we will definitely inflict pain back on them. Because they will not understand, unless pain is inflicted on them. ..but here I am adding a clause, I will not disclose where, when and how..it's our choice." When Rajat Sharma pointed out that the Pathankot attackers had rehearsed the attack at a Pakistani airbase, Parrikar replied: "I can tell you this much that their pushers were in Pakistan. I can't reveal the details, because as we say, no one tells the world what you do and what happens inside a bedroom. So in such operations, nothing is revealed to the world, but we will do it surely." Asked why the army was not carrying out cross-border strike as the US did to kill Osama bin Laden inside Pakistan, Parrikar said: "The US took four to five years to locate Osama bin Laden, and to clear their doubts about his location, it took another one and a half years to plan the operation. When the US planned an operation inside Iran, their helicopter crashed in the desert and they faced humiliation. "I am only saying that the operation that we plan, or whatever we are doing, I am not saying against Pakistan or any camp, there should be perfect planning, and it has to take care of everything. Your information should be perfect. Everybody has general information, and specific information plan a more important role." The Defence Minister went to the extent of saying that India "was losing much of its patience" and "we would respond to the terror attacks with vigour" (eent ka jawaab patthar se denge). Parrikar said there has been fresh information that some of the Pathankot attackers were inside the airbase even before the intelligence was received. "Some people have inferred wrongly about the gaps that I had mentioned. The airbase has a 25 kilometre periphery, and they should not have entered, but we got advance information only 10-12 hours earlier. Now more information has come saying probably they (attackers) were in before the intelligence was received by us. Anyway that will be investigated by agencies and things will be clear. That is the gap which I was saying. "But the success of operation was that we were able to corner them and kill all of them. It was not easy. Six people, who had come with very clear intentions that they will lose their lives can actually do many damaging things which we did not allow, that is the success part of it. But this will not stop here. Why should we be defensive? People who sent them here have to be taught a lesson," he said. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar in Rajat Sharma's show Aap Ki Adalat will be telecast on India TV on Saturday, February 6 at 10 pm. The repeat telecasts will be on Sunday, Feb 7 at 10 am and 10 pm. Latest India News Follow us on indian army thanks pakistan for offering help in siachen rescue New Delhi/Islamabad: The Indian Army on Thursday thanked the Pakistan Army for offer of help in rescue and recovery of their personnel buried in an avalanche on Siachen. "We thanked Pakistan Army for their gesture but since our resources are adequate and teams are well placed, we do not need any help," an Indian Army spokesperson said here. Terming the offer a routine gesture, the spokesperson added ,"It is a normal gesture when any incident takes place near the Line of Control". Earlier, Pakistan Army's Director General of Military Operations Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza called Indian DGMO Lt. General Ranbir Singh and offered assistance in the ongoing rescue operation, a military statement in Islamabad said. Ten Indian soldiers were reportedly buried in an avalanche that hit Siachen glacier in the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. The soldiers were hit while on duty at a post at an altitude of 19,000 feet. The post was being manned by a junior officer and nine soldiers when the avalanche struck, an army statement said. In 2012, at least 140 people, including Pakistan Army personnel and civilians, were killed when an avalanche struck an army camp in the strategically important Gayari sector. The Siachen glacier has been dubbed as the world's highest battlefield. Avalanches and landslides are common in the area during winter and temperatures there can drop to as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius. An estimated 8,000 troops have died on the glacier since 1984, almost all of them in avalanches and landslides or due to frostbite, altitude sickness or heart failure rather than combat. Latest India News Follow us on kerala temple cancels puja to mourn muslim man beaten to death New Delhi: In a symbolic show of communal accord, a temple in Kerala has cancelled pujas for two days in remembrance of a young Muslim man who was beaten to death in broad daylight, an incident made national headlines earlier this week. The video of four men beating him with sticks on Sunday near the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram was reported on national channels. The police described it as gang warfare at the time. Shabeer, in his early 20s, was rushed to hospital by passersby; but he succumbed to his injuries. According to police, he was beaten to death on Sunday afternoon by four men following a dispute over an elephant running amok during the festival last year. It turns out Shabeer was a regular contributor in organizing an annual prayer festival at a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. "On Monday and Tuesday, the Shiva temple's office-bearers decided not to blow the conch or ring the bell as a mark of respect for Shabeer. The temple, which holds five pujas a day, did not offer them on those two days after the morning 'darshan''', reports The Indian Express. Latest India News Follow us on police threw my friend back to the crowd tanzanian victim Bengaluru: The Tanzanian girl who became a victim of the mob fury last week,after it mistook her car being involved in a road mishap on the same night, has reportedly said that Police threw her friend back to the corwd when he went for help. According to a Hindustan Times report, the girl came under attack only after two policemen, who were guarding her, left her side. My friend, Hasheem, approached two uniformed policemen who were standing and watching (the attack). The police threw him back into the crowd, HT quoted the victim as saying in a brief conversation at the office of Bengaluru's DCP (north) TR Suresh, who quickly intervened and ushered the woman into his chamber. Meanwhile, The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that it would send a a high-level team to the Bengaluru to conduct its own inquiry into the the mob attack on the Tanzanian student, who was allegedly stripped, assaultedlast week and to reassure other frightened African student. The ministry's move comes a day after the Tanzanian envoy to India sent a note verbale and called the attack on a student in Bengaluru racist. A team comprising the Tanzanian High Commissioner, two Joint secretaries concerned, and a representative of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, who provide scholarships for the students, will travel to Bengaluru on Friday, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said at a media brifing. We will extend the cooperation of both the Central and State governments and will reach out to the students to reassure them that their security and wellbeing is our primary concern. The incident has triggered widespread revulsion with many on social media calling it racial assault" Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Thursday sparked row after he took name of the victim during a press conference. When a journalist asked him if he was right in naming her, the Home Minister defended his action saying that it is a fact and he can't hide the facts. The minister said that prima facie reports suggests that the 21 year old Tanzanian student who became a victim of mob fury on Sunday ,was not stripped and paraded naked. The alleged assault of a Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru was not a racist attack but the fallout of an earlier road accident, the Karnataka minister said on Thursday. Latest India News Follow us on julian assange detained arbitrarily should be freed rules un panel Geneva: A human rights panel of the United Nations has said that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained by U.K. and Sweden since December 2010 and he should be freed and compensated. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which falls under the offices of the U.N. human rights chief, made the call in an 18-page document made public on Friday after it had notified Assange. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said panel chairman Seong-Phil Hong in a statement. Swedish prosecutors want to question Assange over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but declined to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually sought refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. In an indirect swipe at Sweden's judicial system, the panel noted that Assange was never formally charged in Sweden only placed under preliminary investigation. Citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that has 168 state parties including both Sweden and Britain, the panel said "the adequate remedy would be to ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation." The panel's decisions are not binding on states, even if they are generally considered a good arbiter of international law. Both countries rejected the findings in the Assange case. "The statement from the Working Group has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law," said Karin Rosander, spokeswoman for the Swedish Prosecution Authority. She said the prosecutor in charge of the case was travelling and not immediately available for comment on the decision. The panel criticized a "disproportionate" reaction by Swedish prosecutors in issuing a European arrest warrant rather than seeking to question Assange using bilateral agreements with Britain, and insisted that the Swedish prosecutor "refused" to consider other ways of interviewing him compatible with his right to asylum which it said was not properly respected. Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement it would formally contest the panel's opinion. "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system." It countered that Assange was "voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." The case has also been complicated by uncertainty surrounding Assange's legal status in the United States. The U.S. government has not revealed whether he has been indicted grand jury proceedings are secret there but has indicated that sensitive investigations into Assange and WikiLeaks have been made. The working group said Assange could face "refoulement" to the United States being handed over to a country where he could face violence or prison. The U.N. upholds the principle of non-refoulement prohibiting that practice. (With AP inputs) Latest World News Follow us on will prefer principle over power mehbooba mufti on govt formation in j k New Delhi: PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti today indirectly hinted that she will not mind charting a separate course from BJP in Jammu and Kashmir if the central government fails to make commitments' that PDP is pushing for. My father spent 55 years in politics and he always believed in healthy politics. Therefore, if I have to chose between principle' and chair' (power) then I'll definitely go for principle', Mehbooba said while addressing party workers in Jammu. Giving a clear signal that PDP under her leadership may not tread the same path that was followed by late Mufi Mohammad Sayeed, Mehbooba said, PDP-BJP alliance was not popular either in Jammu or Kashmir. Mufi sahib entered into alliance with BJP only for the sake of state's development. We are not as much of a visionary as Mufti sahib was. For forming government in the state, we need some commitments from the central government. It's not about finances. We need to create right atmosphere. It will be good if that atmosphere is created otherwise things will continue as it is, Mehbooba added. Read Also: Mehbooba Mufti talks tough, wants confidence-building measures from Centre before govt formation Mehbooba's statement assumes significance as it comes just 2 days after she met J&K governor to discuss government formation in the state. This was her first address to PDP workers after her father's demise last month. Today's meeting of PDP workers was also attended by Mehbooba's brother Tassaduq Mufti who she is believed to be grooming for a bigger role in Jammu and Kashmir politics. Follow us on never deceived then prime minister on 2g spectrum issue a raja New Delhi: Former Telecom Minister A Raja today told a special court that he had never misled then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on any issues relating to procedures to be followed for allocation of 2G spectrum allocation. Opposing CBI's allegation that he had misled Singh on 2G spectrum issues, Raja said that he had delivered whatever he had conveyed to the then PM in his letters addressed to him in November 2007. "I was not misleading the then Prime Minister in my letters when I said adequate spectrum will be available to accommodate the applicants who had applied till September 25, 2007. Whatever I told the PM, I delivered that within a year. This shows I was not lying to him," Raja's counsel Manu Sharma told Special CBI Judge O P Saini. During the final arguments in the case, Sharma alleged that it was the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) which had written to the Prime Minister that there was no adequate available spectrum. "COAI goes and tells the Prime Minister that there was no adequate spectrum. This was a last ditch effort by COAI to stall entire proceedings in Department of Telecommunications (DoT) regarding allocation of spectrum," he said. Raja's counsel also dealt with CBI's allegation that the then telecom minister had unilaterally advanced the cut-off date to September 25, 2007, for receiving applications seeking 2G spectrum allocation to favour Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd (STPL) and Unitech. He said that Swan had applied for licences in February- March, 2007 and Unitech applied on September 24, 2007. "Why would Swan conspire with someone who came in September 2007 ? This would have minimised Swan's chances of getting the licences," he said during the arguments which would continue tomorrow. Raja's counsel also claimed that the CBI has deliberately not placed before the court the records of 51 new Unified Access Services Licences (UASL) which were granted between 2003 and 2007 before Raja took charge as the telecom minister. Raja had yesterday told the court that he had informed the then Prime Minister about Law Ministry's opinion to refer the matter of processing of applications seeking 2G spectrum to an empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM). Referring to the letters written by Raja to the then Prime Minister, his counsel had said he had informed Manmohan Singh about everything that was happening on the issue. Besides Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, former Telecom Secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja's erstwhile private secretary R K Chandolia, Unitech Ltd Managing Director Sanjay Chandra, STPL promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka and three top executives of Reliance ADAG - Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair - are facing trial in the case. Directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal,Kalaignar TV Director Sharad Kumar and Bollywood producer Karim Morani are also accused in the case, besides three telecom companies -- Reliance Telecom Ltd, STPL and Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd. In its charge sheet, CBI had alleged a loss of Rs 30,984 crore to the exchequer in allocation of 122 licences for 2G spectrum, which was scrapped by the Supreme Court on February 2, 2012. All these accused, who are out on bail, have denied the allegations levelled against them by CBI. Follow us on sc tells congress mp adhir ranjan chowdhury to have some dignity and vacate govt bungalow New Delhi: Supreme Court today rejected the plea of Congress lawmaker Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury against the Delhi High Court order asking him to vacate his government bungalow. The apex court told Chowdhury to ''Have Some Dignity'' and vacate the premises. Chowdhury had said he was forcibly evicted from his bungalow earlier this week. But the government justified the move saying he had overstayed. According to the Directorate of Estate, Mr Chowdhury was overstaying at the 14, New Moti Bagh residence for 19 months since the cancellation of his allotment on June 27, 2014 by the Urban Development Ministry after he had ceased to be a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers. According to the government officials, Chowdhury has been warned multiple times to vacate the house but he ignored the warnings. Earlier, Congress lawmaker sought two or three days' time to shift to the new, smaller accommodation allotted to him on Humayun Road in New Delhi after the Delhi High Court refused to stay his eviction from his ministerial bungalow at New Moti Bagh. Authorities had started the eviction process and disconnected the water and electricity connection to the New Moti Bagh bungalow. Chowdhury called the eviction a political vendetta by the BJP. Chowdhury alleged that the authorities snapped the electrical connection to his bungalow without informing him even when he was there. He claimed that the new accommodation given to him was "not in habitable condition". Mr Chowdhury, a former UPA minister, moved court against the eviction order and attempted to get it stayed by Delhi High Court which, however, did not interfere with the disconnection of utilities and ordered status quo till February 3 morning when it was going to hear the matter. "Since his petition has been dismissed, he has written to us seeking two-three days' time for shifting his belongings to his new house on Humayun Road," said a senior Urban Development Ministry official. The Lok Sabha lawmaker from Murshidabad, who is also the chief of West Bengal Congress Committee, has been allotted a type-VI bungalow at C-1/4 Humayun Road. As a Member of Lok Sabha, Mr Chowdhury is entitled to a Type- VI accommodation. He was allotted an alternative accommodation at C-1/99, Moti Bagh, by the House Committee of Lok Sabha in January, 2015. However, the new allotment was not acceptable to him. Subsequently, he was allotted an independent bungalow at C177, Moti Bagh (Type-6B) on June 1, 2015, but that too was not accepted by the lawmaker. Mr Chowdhury was again allotted a bungalow at C-1/4, Humayun Road, on November 3, 2015 and, after inspection and certification by CPWD, was requested on December 23, 2015, to vacate the Type-8 bungalow and move into the Humayun Road bungalow within 15 days to avoid accumulation of damages and contempt of court. A reminder was also issued to NDMC for disconnection of water and electricity connection to the New Moti Bagh house. Mr Chowdhury moved high court against eviction on January 29 this year and the same was dismissed by the High Court on February 1, 2016. Mr Chowdhury yesterday filed an LPA (Letter Patents Appeal) before another bench against the order of a single bench which was dismissed today. (With inputs from PTI) Follow us on smriti irani likely to get z plus security report New Delhi: The security cover of Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani is set to be upgraded following escalated protests against her in the aftermath of the suicide of the Hyderabad University Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula last month. Irani, who is already entitled to Y security category as a cabinet minister, will be guarded by 20 security men at any given point of time under the new scheme. "There have been reports that her security was found to be inadequate due to the sudden protests by students, and some miscreants may take advantage of these protests and try to harm her," The Hindu quoted a Home Ministry official as saying. With her inclusion in Z category, Irani will join the elite list of ministers like Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Ministers of State Kiren Rijiju and Jitendra Singh, who enjoy the highest security cover. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and BJP president Amit Shah are also in the list. VIP security is said to be a prestige issue for several politicians, with many visiting the office of Mr. Rajnath Singh to request for it. Two committees decide on the security level. One is the Protection Review Group and the other is the Security Categorisation Committee. Both are headed by the Home Secretary and include officials of the Intelligence Bureau. Were excited to announce that indmin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Cruz and Rubio: Heirs to Bush-Obama Militarism By Sheldon Richman February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - I see no point splitting hairs over whether Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio is the more egregious warmonger. Both love the bloody and costly U.S. empire. Both believe in American exceptionalism. (Rubio arrogantly calls for a "New American Century.") Both want to make war in the Middle East (and beyond) and "stand behind Israel," though such policies provoked the 9/11 attacks. Both want to pour money into the military, as though America were militarily threatened. (The U.S. military budget equals the budgets of the next seven highest spending nations.) Both want to prevent detente with Iran, which poses no danger. Both hype terrorism as an existential threat. Both want the government to spy on Americans, especially Muslim Americans. Both want to "control the border," code for violating the natural right of people to move freely and make better lives without government permission. On the Middle East, admittedly, we see a difference. Rubio, having learned nothing from the Iraq and Libya interventions, would overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad while also attacking the Islamic State. Cruz, to his credit, realizes that regime-change would leave Syria in the hands of bin Ladenites or worse, so he'd "carpet bomb" ISIS only. Thus Rubio toes the neoconservative line more faithfully. The neocons, who front for Israel's ruling interests, want Assad ousted because he's an ally of Iran and weakening Iran is the priority. After all, without this manufactured threat, how could Israel continue, with America's blessing, to crush the Palestinians' independence aspirations or have its way in southern Lebanon and the Golan Heights? But this difference between Rubio and Cruz should not be exaggerated. Cruz's website declares he would be all-in for Israel: "We must make clear to the world that the U.S.-Israel alliance is once again a strategic bedrock for the United States. Americas security is significantly enhanced by a strong Israel. Israel has been, is, and always will be the Middle East bulwark in defense of the West. Our American-Israeli alliance is something to celebrate." Rubio agrees. Cruz's site goes on to pledge that "a Cruz administration will continue to support Israels regional qualitative military edge and make sure that, especially in light of the worsening security climate caused by Iran and ISIS, Israel has everything it needs to defend itself." It also says Cruz "would immediately reassess US policy towards the Palestinian Authority. Not one penny of American tax dollars should go to an organization that incites hatred against Jews and seeks to partner with the terrorist group Hamas." Bill Kristol and Paul Wolfowitz could have written that. So could have Hillary Clinton. I can see Cruz being persuaded to move on regime change in Syria under the right circumstances (which perhaps could be easily arranged). His position on George W. Bush's 2003 invasion of Iraq, please note, is that it was a mistake "knowing what we know now." But these are weasel words. Lots of authoritative people knew in 2002 that Iraq had no WMD and that Bush's warmongering was based on cooked intelligence. When Cruz says, "Without [intelligence reports of WMD], it is difficult to imagine the decision would have been made to go into Iraq, and that predicate proved erroneous," he is being either naive or dishonest. The Bush foreign-policy team and the neocon brain trust outside the government wanted to overthrow Saddam Hussein before 9/11. After the attacks the administration strove to blame Saddam, to the point of trying to torture confessions from prisoners and spreading false stories about Iraqi meetings with al-Qaeda representatives. Does Cruz not know this? If you need further proof of the essential sameness of Cruz and Rubio, you need only observe their attempts to portray Barack Obama as a peacenik determined to dismantle the American empire. Considering that Obama is bombing at least seven Muslim countries; sending more troops to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria; and backing the Saudis' genocidal war in Yemen -- and that he supported Secretary of State Clinton's disastrous regime-changing intervention in Libya -- we can imagine what Cruz and Rubio think a hawkish foreign policy should be. So go ahead and argue about who would pursue the American policy of perpetual war with more gusto. I don't think that game is worth the candle. Sheldon Richman keeps the blog Free Association and is a senior fellow and chair of the trustees of the Center for a Stateless Society, and a contributing editor at Antiwar.com. Become a patron today! Europe is Disintegrating While its Citizens Watch Indifferent By Roberto Savio February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " IPS " - - We are witnessing the slow agony of the dream of European integration, disintegrating without a single demonstration occuring anywhere, among its 500 millions of citizens. It is clear that European institutions are in an existential crisis but the debate is only at intergovernmental level. This proves clearly that European citizens do not feel close to Brussels. Gone are the 1950s, when young people mobilized in the Youth Federalist Movement, with activists from the Federal Movement led by Altiero Spinelli, and the massive campaign for a Europe that would transcend national boundaries, a rallying theme of the intellectuals of the time. It has been a crescendo of crisis. First came the North-South divide, with a North that did not want to rescue the South, and made austerity a monolithic taboo, with Germany as its inflexible leader. Greece was the chosen place to clash and win, even if its budget was just 4 percent of the whole European Union. The front for fiscal discipline and austerity easily overran those pleading for development and growth as a priority and it alienated many of citizens caught in the fight. Then come the East-West divide. It become clear that the countries which were under the Soviet Union, joined the EU purely for economic reasons, and did not identify with the so called European values, the basis for the founding treaties. Solidarity was not only ignored, but actively rejected, first with Greece, and now with the refugees. There are now two countries, first Hungary and now Poland, which explicitly reject the European model and values, one to defend an autocratic model of governance, and the other Christian values, ignoring any declarations emanating from Brussels. At the same time, another ominous development emerged. British Prime Minister David Cameron used threats to get special conditions, or in order to leave the EU altogether. At Davos, he explicitly said that Britain was in the EU for the market, but rejects everything else, and especially any possible further integration. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been sending soothing signs, and all European countries are in the process of trying to recover as much sovereignty as possible. Therefore, whatever Britain may get in the end will serve as a benchmark for everyone else. It is revealing that in Britain, the pro-Europe lobby is run by the financial and economic sector, and there is no citizens movement. All this is happening within a framework of economic stagnation that even unprecedented financial injections from the European Central Bank have not been able to lift. The list of countries in trouble does not cover only countries from the South. Leaders of fiscal rectitude, like the Netherlands and Finland, are in serious difficulty. The only country which is doing relatively well, Germany, enjoys a positive trade balance with the rest of Europe, has a much lower rate of interest mainly due to its generally better performance; it has been calculated that over half of its positive budget comes from its asymmetric relations with the rest of Europe. Yet, Germany has stubbornly refused to use some of these revenues to create any pact to socialize its assets, like a European Fund to bail out countries, or anything similar. Hardly a shining example of solidarity.as its minister of finance, Wolfgang Schauble, famously said, we are not going to give the gains that we have sweated for to those who have not worked hard the way we have Finally, the refugee crisis has been the last blow to an institution which was already breathing with great effort. Last year, more than 1,3 million people escaping conflicts in Iraq, Libya and Syria, arrived in Europe. This year, according the High Commissioner for Refugees, at least another million are expected to find their way to Europe. What has been happening, shows the European reality. The Commission determined that 40.000 people, a mere drop in the ocean, should be relocated from Syria and Ethiopia. This led to a furious process of bargaining, with the Eastern European countries flatly refusing to take part and in spite of threats by the Commission. As of today, the total number of people who have relocated is a mere 201. Meanwhile Angela Merkel decided to open Germany up to one million refugees, mainly Syrians. But a smart interpretation of the Treaty on Refugees made clear that economic refugees (as well as climate) were excluded, and it was then declared that the Balkans were safe and secure, thereby excluding any Europeans coming to Germany by way of Albania, Kosovo and other countries not yet part of the EU. It is interesting that, at the same time, Montenegro was invited to join Nato, which, by coincidence also serves to increase the containment of Russia, thanks to a standing army of 3.000. But of course, the flood of people made it difficult to process the paperwork required, and so each country was forced to resort to its own way of doing things, without any relation with Brussels. Austria declared that it would admit only 37.500 asylum applications. Denmark, besides creating a campaign to announce to refugees that they were not welcome, passed a law that delays family reunification for three years, and authorises the authorities to seize asylum seekers cash and jewels exceeding US$1.400. Sweden announced that it would give shorter residence permits, and that strict controls will be imposed on trains coming from Denmark. Finland and Holland have indicated that they will immediately expel all those who do not fit under strict norms as refugees. Great Britain, which was responsible together with the United States for the Iraq invasion (from which ISIS was born) has announced that it will take 27.000 refugees. There has been a veritable flourishing of wall construction, constructed in Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Austria. Meanwhile Europe tried to buy the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, with three billion euros, as a way to stop the flow of refugees but it didnt work. Now Greece is the culprit, because it was not able to adequately process the nearly 800.000 people who transitted the country. Austria has asked to exclude Greece from the Schengen agreement, and move European borders further north . This chapter is now being concluded by the German initiative to introduce, once again national border controls, for a period of two years. Last year, there were 56 million trucks crossing between countries, and every day 1,7 million people crossed between borders. To eliminate the Schengen agreement for free movement of Europeans, would be a very powerful signal. But more critically are the imminent political changes which see anti-European and xenophobic parties all riding the wave of fear and insecurity crossing Europe. In Germany, where Angela Merkel is increasingly losing support, the Party for an Alternative, which has been relatively marginal, could achieve representation in at least three provinces. Across Europe, from France to Italy, from Great Britain to the Netherlands, right wing parties are on the rise. These parties all use some form of left wing rhetoric: Let us renationalize industries and banks, increase social safety nets, fight against neoliberal globalization Hungary has heavily taxed foreign banks to get them to leave, and Poland is using similar language. Their target is very simple: the unemployed, the under employed, retirees, all those with precarious livelihoods, those who feel that they have been left out of the political system and dream of a glorious yesterday. If it is working in the United States with the likes of DonaldTrump, it will work here. Therefore, there is no doubt that at this moment a referendum for Europe would never pass. Citizens do not feel that this is their Europe. This is a serious problem for a democratic Europe. Will the European Union survive? Probably, but it will be more a kind of common market for finance and business rather than a citizens project. It will also hasten the reduction of European power in the world, and the loss of European identity, once the most revolutionary project in modern history. Roberto Savio, IPS news agency founder and president emeritus and publisher of Other News Netanyahu Thinks Mild Ban Ki-moon Incites Terror Doesnt Netanyahu realise how enraged Europeans are at his governments treatment of the Palestinians? By Robert Fisk February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Independent " - Has Benjamin Netanyahu gone bananas? I dont mean this as an aberration, like a politician who loses his marbles during a particular crisis. No, it was when I read the Israeli Prime Ministers response to Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, that I realised he just might be a bit insane. Ban referred to the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians especially young people since an increase in attacks on Israelis began last October. What Ban was saying was the truth, that Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half-century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process. And he spoke of how oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation Now I grant that Ban, like most UN secretaries-general, has about as much political power in the world as the leadership of Fiji (and this is no disrespect to Fijians). But why on earth did the Prime Minister of Israel condemn Ban for encouraging terror? You might think he was talking about the old Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But no. Prime Minister Netanyahu ever more out of tune with the rest of the world, with the massive shift towards Iran by America, Europe and Russia had it in for the diminutive Ban. But then, of course, we have to remember that it was Netanyahu at the UN in New York who produced his ridiculous cartoon of a bomb with a large black fuse to show the world what would happen if sanctions were lifted on Tehran: we were all going to die. A number of Israeli writers thank heavens the indefatigable Uri Avnery was among them mocked this ludicrous performance. There was something cartoon-like about it all. It wasnt going to stop the Americans and the Russians and the EU, not least because if the Americans had maintained their sanctions, Europe would not have done so. But doesnt Netanyahu himself now realise how enraged Europeans have become at his governments treatment of the Palestinians? Did he not pay attention to the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, last week when he said that France would face our responsibilities by recognising the Palestinian state if the peace process failed? I dont think there ever was much of a peace process (and certainly not when Tony Blair got his claws on it) because it was always going to be the occupied versus the occupiers, where everyone had to pretend that Palestinians and Israelis were on an equal level. Which was not and is not ever going to work. A few words of history here. Israel conquered the West Bank of the Jordan in 1967. It built colonies on the land, which the West calls Israeli settlements like the Western settlements in the American Wild West, which gave them an almost European flavour and then found itself condemned by Washington and its allies for illegally building homes for foreigners (Israelis) on other peoples property. This is exactly what the Israeli government did, and what many Israelis have debated since, because it made Israel the owner of property outside its own UN-recognised borders making Israel the only country still participating in a colonial war. The Palestinians the rightful owners of the land under Ottoman (and British) rule have rightfully said that this is theft. It is. Lands owned by Palestinians have thus been taken by Israel for its own territory and its products vegetables, and so on, illegally sold as the products of Israel to the EU and when the EU has complained about this, it has iniquitously been called anti-Semitic. Thus are hatreds made. I suspect that it was Bans comment about the Jewish colonisation of Arab land that the Israeli Prime Minister didnt like. What he said was that continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community, and I rather got his point. Because we know, just as Ban said, that people who are occupied do indeed resist occupation, which becomes a potent incubator of hate and extremism. Is that not how Iraqis reacted to us? And how Afghans react? And, indeed, how Palestinian Jews decided to act when theyd had enough of Britain in Palestine? But in Palestine now (alas, the inverted commas are ever more necessary these days), there are an unfree people. And we know what happens under occupation. The people either resist, however murderously, or they leave. Netanyahu would probably be happy if they left because then he could colonise their land at an ever faster pace. But what if they decided to make the trek to Europe from the West Bank? Weve already seen how Arabs and Muslims walked all the way to Austria and Germany. What if little boats set out from the midden of Gaza to join the armadas arriving off Greece or Italy? There are dangers out in the Middle East which Europeans should be more aware of. Do they, in fact, realise the truth but just dont want to say so? And, for that matter, doesnt the Israeli Prime Minister know the truth? Or has he gone bonkers? Barnetts Five Flows of Globalisation Coercive Engineered Migration: Zionism's War on Europe By Gearoid O Colmain Part 1 - 2 - 3 of an 11 part series February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Dissident Voice " - As German independent TV station K-TV has revealed, the current refugee crisis is most likely the brain child of the afore-mentioned US military grand strategist General Thomas PM Barnett. Barnett was a strategic advisor to former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and currently works with the Israeli military consultancy firm Wikistrat. Wikistrat are close collaborators with US Africa Command (Africom). Barnetts books The Pentagons New Map and Blueprint for Action have had a major influence on US/Israeli global military geostrategies. A former student of Vice-Admiral Andrew K. Cebrowski, former director of the Office of Transformations in the US Department of Defense, Barnetts work focuses on integrating Cebrowskis concepts of Network Centred Warfare, Colonel Boyds OODA loop theory, and Linds Fourth Generation Warfare, by simultaneously seeking to relate their yin-and-yang interplay to the larger economic reality of globalizations emergence as the dominant characteristic of todays strategic environment. Barnett divides the world into functioning core, non-integrating gap countries and seam states. The first category of functioning core countries includes Europe and North America, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Brazil and Chile. These are economies which are actively integrating into the global economy. This category is subdivided into old core Europe, the USA and Japan and new core, Brazil, Russia, China and India. The second major category is the non-integrated gap. This is made up of the Caribbean Rim, Andean South America, Africa, parts of the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The third category contains some members of the first two. This category is referred to as the Seam States, countries which surround the Gap such as Indonesia, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, Greece, Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. The former Pentagon general has developed the theory of the Five Flows of Globalisation five flows which must come about if US Zionist imperialism is to dominate the world. These involve the free flow of money, security, food, energy and people. The free flows theory means breaking down nation-state structures, thus freeing up resources for pillage by US multinational corporations. The inundation of Europe with immigrants from the Southern Hemisphere is a key feature of Barnetts geo-strategic thinking. That is why it would be wrong to see the immigrant crisis from Libya and Syria as an unintended consequence of NATO policy as some form of unforeseen blowback. Europes top demographers have known for some time that the Southern Hemisphere countries are experiencing a population boom and what that means for Europes relative population decline. German sociologist and demographer Gunnar Heihsohn published a major book on this topic, Sohne und Weltmacht: Terror im Aufstieg und Fall der Nationen (Sons and World Power: The Rise of Terror and the Fall of Nations). In his book Heinsohn argues that population youth bulges were the driving factor behind European colonialism and world conquest. From 1900 to 2000 the population of the Muslim World has grown from 150 million to 1,200 million, an increase of 800 percent. He argues that large families tend to produce superfluous sons, who, unable to find work at home, emigrate. Heinsohn contends that these youth bulges can lead to extreme violence as the young men, needing to carve out a place for themselves in the world, often tend to resort to violence in order to survive. This is one of the many factors driving the Islamic State. The youth bulge means boom time for imperialisms merchants of death, who are harnessing youthful anger and hatred for the fomentation of proxy wars against geopolitical enemies. Heinsohn predicted that Europe would be overwhelmed with Southern Hemisphere youths by 2015. The German sociologist notes that Islamism is more a tool which enables disaffected superfluous sons to justify genocide, rather than an ideology which they necessarily believe in. In other words, once demographic balances have been restored, the Korans will be for sale in second-hand book shops. He gives the example of Spanish and Portuguese conquistadores in the 15th and 16th century who, needing to kill in order to carve out colonies in the New World, made convenient use of the Bible in order to absolve themselves from feelings of guilt. Heinsohn notes that Europes immigration policy contrasts markedly with that of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In Europe, there are no requirements that immigrants possess the qualifications needed by European economies, whereas in Canada and Australia those with the highest skills are given preference. The result of these policies is that 98 percent of immigrants in Canada have higher qualifications than the native population, whereas in Europe only 10 percent have higher qualifications. At the same time, the percentage of highly qualified Europeans leaving the continent for the Anglophone world is rising steadily every year. In this sense one can understand the logic behind Anglo-Saxon imperialism of flooding Europe with uneducated immigrants, while simultaneously siphoning off the continents brains and skills, thus ensuring Anglo-American/Zionist global hegemony. It is the ability to take into account these complex demographic realities which constitutes the importance of Thomas P.M. Barnetts grand strategy of US globalisation. In her book Weapons of Mass Migration: Forced Displacement, Coercion and Foreign Policy Kelly M. Greenhill argues that one of the reasons for Europes rapprochement with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was the latters offer to stem the tide of African emigration to Europe. It would be erroneous, therefore, to suggest that the chaos wrought by the Arab Spring was unintentional. While many European politicians may have wanted to prevent a chaotic overflow of immigration into Europe, the imperial agencies behind the Arab Spring wanted just that. The mass exodus of migrants/refugees is a central part of the globalisation of class war in accordance with the Pentagons long term objectives of global hegemony or Full Spectrum Dominance. What we are dealing with here is a well-planned strategy of chaos. To paraphrase Shakespeare, it is madness but there is method in it. General Barnetts Wikistrat are heavily involved in the development of crowd sourcing and crowd leveraging technologies. Investigative journalist Andrey Fomine, using the analyses of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has convincingly shown that most of the twitter entries encouraging refugees/migrants in Turkey to travel to Germany come from the UK, USA and Australia. What we are witnessing here is a covert war being waged by the Anglo-Saxon Zionist elite against the German Federal Republic. The low-intensity war is using people as weapons to create conditions of social chaos in order to prevent Berlins inevitable rapprochement with Moscow. The migrants cannot possibly integrate in German society if the German economy does inot integrate with Eurasia, as Germany will have no viable market for its exports. Barnett has predicted that Muslim immigrants in Europe will form their own Islamist political parties. In his book Blueprint for Action he quotes approvingly from Oliver Roys Globalized Islam, who claims that while in the past working class Muslims would have joined Marxist political movements: There are now in the West only two movements of radical protest that claim to be internationalist: the antiglobalization movement and radical Islam. For a rebel, to convert is to find a cause Both of these movements, that of human rights and jihad, represent petty bourgeois objections to the global order, but as they do not have a scientific analysis of the capitalist mode of production, they cannot possibly change that order. That is why they are both backed by the forces they supposedly oppose. Hence Barnett welcomes this development: By channeling their sense of economic and social disconnecteness into political action, Muslims in Europe achieve connectivitiy with governments there that allow for their integration into political life on a peaceful basis while preserving a sense of cultural identity. (p. 292) In other words, these movements will help increase and further entrench globalization, imperialism and class warfare. In Europes case, this isnt just the political release valve for both sides but an economic one as well: Europe needs workers to balance its rapidly aging population, while the Middle East needs to be able to siphon off a portion of its huge youth bulge for emigration. (p. 292) Barnett predicts that the mass migration of people from the Middle East into Europe will lead to a revival of ethnicity. He argues that their immigration into Europe will generate a paradoxical attitude that will marry Muslim identity politics at home with European human rights evangelism in their countries of origin. He writes: So when Muslims emigrate from the Middle East and immigrate into Europe, both regions respond to this transaction by becoming, respectively, more Islamic and more European in the near term, until such time passes that new rule sets emerge to define these profound forms of social(family ties), economic( remittances), and ultimately political connectivity. While the movement of Core citizens into the Gap occasionally force Core powers to defend them through military means. a far more potent form of political connectivity comes in expatriate populations living inside the Core and agitating for their adopted nations to intervene militarily or diplomatically in their countries of origin in response to instability or political repression there. A good example of this, of course, is the role of Iraqi expatriates in the US decision to lead a multinational coalition into that country in 2003 to topple Saddam Husseins regime. (p. 294) This is imperialist grand strategy accounting for demographics, economics, religion and ethnicity. But its core function is similar to the imperialist ideologies of the past: divide and conquer the workers of the world on the basis of religious and ethnic sectarianism, as well as bourgeois values such as human rights, thereby making the world safe for capitalism and global imperialist domination. A recent example of expats mobilising for imperialist intervention in their own country was provided by demonstrations by Eritreans in Germany against President Issias Afwerki in 2012, with the predictable US NGO inspired slogan Down, down dictator. Barnett predicts that Europe and Russia will disintegrate in the 21st Century, leaving only India and China to rival the United States. The US strategist clearly believes that coercive engineered mass migration into Europe, coupled with American occupation of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, will prevent Eurasian integration, whilst securing the US/Israeli control of Europe and the conquest of Africa, thereby establishing US/Israeli global supremacy in the 21st century. The choreography and mediatisation of the Refugees Welcome campaign bears a striking resemblance to Je Suis Charlie campaign launched less than 30 minutes after the first reports of the Paris terrorist attack in January 7th were broadcast. Many of the migrants are receiving welcome booklets packed with maps and information distributed by an NGO called w2eu,which stands for welcome to the EU. One is reminded of the non-violent revolution rule book by Zionist ideologue Gene Sharp which was used to train activists in the US/Israeli fomented counter-revolutions in North Africa in 2011. Gearoid O Colmain is a journalist and political analyst based in Paris. His work focuses on globalization, geopolitics and class struggle. He is a regular contributor to Dissident Voice, Global Research, Russia Today International, Press TV, Sputnik Radio France, Sputnik English, Al Etijah TV, Sahar TV, and has also appeared on Al Jazeera and Al Mayadeen. He writes in English, Gaelic, and French. U.S. Created Daesh (ISIS) By Stephen Lendman February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - America created global terrorist groups at least since the CIAs involvement against Soviet Russia in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Virtually all headline-making groups are US creations, or offshoots from them, used as imperial foot soldiers recruited from scores of countries, armed, funded, trained and directed to serve Washingtons pure evil agenda, its quest for unchallenged global dominance, its endless wars of aggressions, its ravaging and destroying one nation after another. At a Rome news conference with his Italian counterpart Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, John Kerry was interrupted by a woman, accusing America of creat(ing) Daesh, shouting a vital truth in public, reported on Italian state-owned RAI television. Many others continue to explain the same thing, this writer numerous times. Last August, former US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) head/retired Lt. General Michael Flynn cited official US documents, proving creating ISIS was a willful (Obama administration) decision. The so-called war against it and Americas war on terror are complete fabrications, proliferated by US officials and supportive media. Washington consistently violates Security Council Resolution 2178 (September 2014), calling on member states to suppress the recruiting, organizing, transporting, equipping and financing of foreign terrorist fighters (ISIS and related groups). A declassified 2012 US report said there is the possibility of establishing a declared or undeclared Salafist principality in Eastern Syria, and this is exactly what the supporting powers to the opposition want, in order to isolate the Syrian regime and replace it. Russias intervention last year appears to have foiled Washingtons best laid plans, aiming to redraw the Middle East map, destroying Syrian sovereignty key, increasingly looking like a failed objective. The region remains on the boil, a cauldron of endless violence, instability and chaos Americas pure evil agenda entirely responsible. As Yemen Bleeds, British Profits from Weapons Sales Bury Human Rights By Felicity Arbuthnot Out of the mirror they stare, Imperialisms face And the international wrong. (W.H. Auden, 1907-1973.) February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " GR " - It is more than possible to speculate why Prime Minister David Cameron has declared it his mission to scrap the Human Rights Act which is incorporated into the European Convention on Human Rights it appears he simply does not believe in human rights. For example, the fact that Saudi Arabia executed including beheadings forty seven people in one day last month, displaying their bodies from gibbets, failed to deter him from having British military experts to work with their Saudi counterparts, advising on which targets and which people, it seems to bomb in Yemen. Parliament has not been consulted, thus, without a chance to debate and vote, democracy too has been suspended. The fact that in May 2013 Saudi also beheaded five Yemenis, then used cranes to display their headless bodies against the skyline (Al-Akhbar, 21st May 2013) also did not trouble him. Neither did that by 10th November 2015, the years total of executions had already reached one hundred and fifty one, the highest for twenty years, in what Amnesty International called a bloody executions spree. But why care about human rights or outright savagery when there are arms to be sold? As written previously, in one three month period last year UK arms sales to Saudi soared by 11,000%. From a mere nine million pounds the preceding three months: The exact figure for British arms export licences from July to September 2015 was 1,066,216,510 in so-called ML4 export licences, which relate to bombs, missiles, rockets, and components of those items. Camerons government treats such barbarism with astonishing sanguinity. For instance it has come to light that in 2011 the UK drew up a list of thirty: priority countries where British diplomats would be encouraged to proactively drive forward and make progress towards abolishing the death penalty over five years. Saudi Arabia was not on the list, an omission which Amnesty Internationals Head of Policy, Alan Hogarth called astonishing. (Independent, 5th January 2016.) However, a Foreign Office spokeswoman told the Independent that: A full list of countries of concern was published in March 2015 in the (UK) Annual Human Rights Report and that includes Saudi Arabia and its use of the death penalty. Wrong. In the Report (1) under Abolition of the Death Penalty, there is much concentration on countries in the (UK) Commonwealth Caribbean and a casual, subservient nod at the US, but no mention of Saudi. Under The Death Penalty, Jordan and Pakistan, were mentioned, as was the: particular focus on two regions, Asia and the Commonwealth Caribbean. Singapore, Malaysia, China and Taiwan, Japan (the latter, three executions in 2014) Suriname and Vietnam are cited. Saudi Arabia is nowhere to be found. Under the heading Torture Prevention, there is a quote by David Cameron: Torture is always wrong, (9th December, 2014.) Paragraph one includes: The impact on victims, their families and their communities is devastating. It can never be justified in any circumstance. A number of countries are listed. No prizes for guessing, in spite of mediaeval torture practices, which is not. However, under Criminal Justice and the Rule of Law there is: The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued revised guidance on the human rights aspects of OSJA (Overseas Security and Justice Guidance) in February 2014. The guidance ensures that officials do their utmost to identify risks of UK actions causing unintended human rights consequences. What an irony as David Cameron is currently moving heaven and earth to halt legal action against British soldiers accused of acts of extreme human rights abuses in Iraq. As Lesley Docksey has written (2): The said brave servicemen are in danger of being taken to Court over their abusive treatment, and in some cases murder, of Iraqi detainees during the invasion of Iraq. Hundreds of complaints have been lodged with the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT), which was investigating between 1,300 -1,500 cases. Many are simple complaints of ill treatment during detention, but some are far more serious: * Death(s) while detained by the British Army * Deaths outside British Army base or after contact with British Army * Many deaths following shooting incidents. Worse, the British government is considering taking action against one of the law firms dealing with some of the cases, Leigh Day, with another, Public Interest Lawyers, in their sights. When it comes to hypocrisy, David Cameron is hard to beat. Worth noting is that in the UK governments own list of countries of humanitarian concern, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT), the UK has sold weapons to twenty four out of twenty seven of them, with Saudi Arabia in a deal to purchase seventy two Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft in a deal worth an eventual 4.5 Billion. (3) Aside from the purchase of the Typhoon jets, major deals between Saudi Arabia and British companies include a 1.6bn agreement for Hawk fighter jets and bulk sales of machine guns, bombs and tear gas. In fact, Saudi Arabia have access to twice as many British-made warplanes as the RAF does, while bombs originally stockpiled by Britains Armed Forces are being sent to Saudi Arabia to currently decimate Yemen. The overriding message is that human rights are playing second fiddle to company profits, said CAAT spokesperson Andrew Smith, adding: The Government and local authorities up and down the country are profiting directly from the bombing of Yemen. Challenging them to divest from Saudi Arabia is something people can do directly. In the light of a fifty one page UN Report on the bombing of Yemen obtained by various parties on 27th January, Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn called for an immediate suspension of arms sales to Saudi, pending the outcome of an independent Inquiry. David Cameron stated, farcically, that: Britain had the strictest rules governing arms sales of almost any country, anywhere in the world. However, in one of the key findings, the UN Report (4) says: The panel documented that the coalition had conducted airstrikes targeting civilians and civilian objects, in violation of international humanitarian law, including camps for internally displaced persons and refugees; civilian gatherings, including weddings; civilian vehicles, including buses; civilian residential areas; medical facilities; schools; mosques; markets, factories and food storage warehouses; and other essential civilian infrastructure, such as the airport in Sanaa, the port in Hudaydah and domestic transit routes. It adds: The panel documented 119 coalition sorties relating to violations of international humanitarian law. It also reported cases of civilians fleeing and being chased and shot at by helicopters. Moreover it stated that the humanitarian crisis was compounded by the Saudi blockade of ships carrying fuel, food and other essentials that are trying to reach Yemen. The panel said that: civilians are disproportionately affected and deplored tactics that: constitute the prohibited use of starvation as a method of warfare. (Emphasis added.) David Mepham, UK Director of Human Rights Watch commented: For almost a year, (Foreign Secretary Philip) Hammond has made the false and misleading claim that there is no evidence of laws of war violations by the UKs Saudi ally and other members of the coalition. The UK Ministry of Defence, declining to say how many UK military advisers were in Saudi Command and Control Centres, said that the UK was: offering Saudi Arabia advice and training on best practice targeting techniques to help ensure continued compliance with International Humanitarian Law. (Guardian, 27th January 2016.) Yet another quote from the You could not make this up files. It has to be wondered whether the Ministrys best practice targeting techniques includes the near one hundred attacks on medical facilities between March and October 2015, a practice which compelled the International Committee of the Red Cross, in November, to declare the organization: appalled by the continuing attacks on health care facilities in Yemen (5) They issued their statement after: Al-Thawra hospital, one of the main health care facilities in Taiz which is providing treatment for about fifty injured people every day was reportedly shelled several times ) It is not the first time health facilities have been attacked Close to a hundred similar incidents have been reported since March 2015. (Emphases added.) Deliberate attacks on health facilities represent a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law (IHL). An earlier attempt to have the UN Human rights Council to establish an Inquiry failed due to objections from Saudi Arabia, who, with help from Britain, currently Chairs an influential panel on the same Human Rights Council. Farce is alive and well in the corridors of the UN. The repeated attacks on a targeted medical facility and other IHL protected buildings and places of sanctuary is a testimony to the total disregard for International Humanitarian Law, by the British, US and their allies and those they advise, from the Balkans to Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya and now Yemen. However, in spite of the horrors under which Yemenis suffering and dying, and Saudis appalling human rights deficit, UK Foreign Office Minister Tobias Ellwood, an American-born former soldier, in a visit to Saudi Arabia last month was quoted in the countrys Al Watan newspaper as revealing: the ignorance of the British to the notable progress in Saudi Arabia in the field of human rights, confirming throughout the visit of a British FCO delegation that he had expressed his opinion regarding the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia before the British Parliament, and that the notable progress in this area has been obscured. (See 6: Saudi Arabia urged to make more of its human rights successes by Foreign Office minster Tobias Ellwood.) The Foreign Office strongly denied that Ellwood had expressed such a view. The Saudi led, British advised and US intelligence provided coalition is reported to have formed an independent team of experts to assess incidents (which should be described as outrages and war crimes) in order to reach conclusions, lessons learned etc. (7) Thus, as ever, the arsonist is to investigate the cause of the fire. Amnesty, Human rights Watch, Medecins Sans Frontieres (who have had three medical facilities bombed) and The Campaign to Stop Bombing in Yemen have all called for an independent Inquiry with the power to hold those responsible for atrocities to account. None of which, however, would bring back the dead, restore the disabled, disfigured, limbless, or beautiful, ruined, ancient Yemen another historical Paradise lost. Notes: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2014/human-rights-and-democracy-report-2014 http://www.globalresearch.ca/historic-abuse-of-iraqi-prisoners/5504852#sthash.jkA52JCt.dpuf http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-has-sold-56bn-of-military-hardware-to-saudi-arabia-under-david-cameron-research-reveals-a6797861.html http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/27/un-report-into-saudi-led-strikes-in-yemen-raises-questions-over-uk-role https://www.icrc.org/en/document/yemen-attacks-health-care-facilities-must-stop http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-should-make-more-of-its-human-rights-successes-says-foreign-office-minster-tobias-a6837866.html http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/01/saudi-inquiry-war-claims-yemen-inadequate-say-rights-groups Copyright Felicity Arbuthnot, Global Research, 2016 Freeing Julian Assange: The Last Chapter By John Pilger February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Assange is now closer to justice and vindication, and perhaps freedom, than at any time since he was arrested. One of the epic miscarriages of justice of our time is unravelling. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention - an international tribunal that adjudicates and decides whether governments comply with their human rights obligations - has ruled that Julian Assange has been detained unlawfully by Britain and Sweden. After five years of fighting to clear his name - having been smeared relentlessly yet charged with no crime - Assange is closer to justice and vindication, and perhaps freedom, than at any time since he was arrested and held in London under a European Extradition Warrant, itself now discredited by Parliament. The U.N. Working Group bases its judgements on the European Convention on Human Rights and three other treaties that are binding on all its signatories. Both Britain and Sweden participated in the 16-month long U.N. investigation and submitted evidence and defended their position before the tribunal. It would fly contemptuously in the face of international law if they did not comply with the judgement and allow Assange to leave the refuge granted him by the Ecuadorean government in its London embassy. Previous celebrated cases ruled upon by the Working Group include: Aung Sang Suu Kyi in Burma, imprisoned opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, detained Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian in Iran, for which both Britain and Sweden have given support to the tribunal. The difference now is that Assange's persecution and confinement endures in the heart of London. The Assange case has never been primarily about allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden - where the Stockholm Chief Prosecutor, Eva Finne, dismissed the case, saying, "I don't believe there is any reason to suspect that he has committed rape." Also, one of the women involved accused the police of fabricating evidence and "railroading" her, protested that she "did not want to accuse JA of anything." And a second prosecutor mysteriously re-opened the case after political intervention, then stalled it. The Assange case is rooted across the Atlantic in Pentagon-dominated Washington, obsessed with pursuing and prosecuting whistleblowers, especially Assange for having exposed, in WikiLeaks, U.S. capital crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq: the wholesale killing of civilians and a contempt for sovereignty and international law. None of this truth-telling is illegal under the U.S. Constitution. As a presidential candidate in 2008, Barack Obama, a professor of constitutional law, lauded whistleblowers as "part of a healthy democracy [and they] must be protected from reprisal." Obama, the betrayer, has since prosecuted more whistleblowers than all the US presidents combined. The courageous Chelsea Manning is serving 35 years in prison, having been tortured during her long pre-trial detention. Telling us this truth alone earns Assange his freedom, whereas justice is his right. The prospect of a similar fate has hung over Assange like a Damocles sword. According to documents released by Edward Snowden, Assange is on a "Manhunt target list." Vice President Joe Biden has called him a "cyber terrorist." In Alexandria, Virginia, a secret grand jury has attempted to concoct a crime for which Assange can be prosecuted in a court. Even though he is not an American, he is currently being fitted up with an espionage law dredged up from a century ago when it was used to silence conscientious objectors during World War I; the Espionage Act has provisions of both life imprisonment and the death penalty. Assange's ability to defend himself in this Kafkaesque world has been handicapped by the U.S. declaring his case a state secret. A federal court has blocked the release of all information about what is known as the "national security" investigation of WikiLeaks. The supporting act in this charade has been played by the second Swedish prosecutor, Marianne Ny. Until recently, Ny had refused to comply with a routine European procedure that required her to travel to London to question Assange and so advance the case that James Catlin, one of Assange's barristers, called "a laughing stock ... it's as if they make it up as they go along." Indeed, even before Assange had left Sweden for London in 2010, Ny made no attempt to question him. In the years since, she has never properly explained, even to her own judicial authorities, why she has not completed the case she so enthusiastically re-ignited - just as she has never explained why she has refused to give Assange a guarantee that he will not be extradited on to the U.S. under a secret arrangement agreed between Stockholm and Washington. In 2010, the Independent in London revealed that the two governments had discussed Assange's potential extradition. Then there is tiny, brave Ecuador. One of the reasons Ecuador granted Julian Assange political asylum was that his own government, in Australia, had offered him none of the help to which he had a legal right and so abandoned him. Australia's collusion with the United States against its own citizen is evident in leaked documents; no more faithful vassals has America than the obeisant politicians of the Antipodes. Four years ago, in Sydney, I spent several hours with the Liberal Member of the Federal Parliament, Malcolm Turnbull. We discussed the threats to Assange and their wider implications for freedom of speech and justice, and why Australia was obliged to stand by him. Turnbull is now the Prime Minister of Australia and, as I write, is attending an international conference on Syria hosted the Cameron government - about 15 minutes cab ride from the room that Assange has occupied for three and a half years in the small Ecuadorean embassy just along from Harrod's. The Syria connection is relevant if unreported; it was WikiLeaks that revealed that the United States had long planned to overthrow the Assad government in Syria. Today, as he meets and greets, Prime Minister Turnbull has an opportunity to contribute a modicum of purpose and truth to the conference by speaking up for his unjustly imprisoned compatriot, for whom he showed such concern when we met. All he need do is quote the judgement of the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Will he reclaim this shred of Australia's reputation in the decent world? You Were Not Allowed to Know That Bankers Can Be Jailed Mainstream medias well-kept secret By Joe Clifford February 04, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The 2008 financial crises and meltdown occurred because large banks were speculating in fraudulent risky loans that failed. When the meltdown occurred, banks turned to the federal government, who immediately bought into the idea that banks were too large to fail, and taxpayers subsidized banks to the tune of trillions of dollars. No one really knows how much the bailout cost, but here is partial list of banks you generously helped out: Citigroup - $2.513 trillion Morgan Stanley - $2.041 trillion Merrill Lynch - $1.949 trillion Bank of America - $1.344 trillion Barclays PLC - $868 billion Bear Sterns - $853 billion Goldman Sachs - $814 billion Royal Bank of Scotland - $541 billion JP Morgan Chase - $391 billion Deutsche Bank - $354 billion UBS - $287 billion Credit Suisse - $262 billion Lehman Brothers - $183 billion Bank of Scotland - $181 billion BNP Paribas - $175 billion Wells Fargo - $159 billion Dexia - $159 billion Wachovia - $142 billion Dresdner Bank - $135 billion Societe Generale - $124 billion "All Other Borrowers" - $2.639 trillion Taxpayers were not consulted or asked their opinion; it was an example of how fast government can respond to the moneyed class. Even though it was disclosed that banks were lying and speculating in fraudulent loans, including money laundering to drug cartels, no one was indicted or found guilty of any criminal charges, while millions of citizens were ruined. Banks, who had committed a variety of felonies, simply turned to the government and asked with their checkbook, how much do you want to keep our executives out of jail? The government responded by a fine on banks, which amounts to nothing because banks simply pass the fine on to consumers, who pay yet again. Corporate media has deliberately not informed the US public of how other countries, namely Iceland, faced their crises. If you were told, you might demand we act like Iceland, but if you dont know about Iceland, you will not demand. Iceland was one of the hardest hit by the bank collapse, but they, unlike us, handled things differently. The first major difference is that Iceland decided since banks speculated and made stupid loans, it was not the responsibility of the taxpayers to bail out irresponsible banks for their stupidity, and therefore decided to allow large banks to fail. The financial world predicted this would cause irreversible difficulty for Iceland, and financiers argued Iceland would never recover from their defiance, but citizens persisted. Despite the warnings, the Icelandic people on two occasions were allowed to vote and decide if they wanted to bail out banks or let them fail. Great pressure was put on the voters by the financial sector, but citizens held fast and democratically voted to let banks fail. We, on the other hand were not given the luxury of a democratic vote; the money was simply taken from taxpayers and handed to banks. The American public, who naively think they have democracy, were not allowed to vote on whether they wanted to bail out large banks; it was just a done deal. Meanwhile when Iceland refused to bail out banks, they failed. Iceland did have economic problems as a result, but if one compares their economy with the rest of the world, they currently have the strongest economy in Europe. During hard times Iceland shunned austerity and maintained all social programs, allowing people to spend, which of course stimulated the economy. All the doomsday prophecy failed to materialize and today Iceland is stronger than ever. Icelanders were not done however; they took an even bolder step. They decided to legally prosecute bank leaders who were responsible for the financial collapse of 2008, and so far have put 26 bankers in jail. A novel concept; bankers being held accountable as ordinary citizens. Doesnt happen here. Banks simply buy their way out of jail time, but little Iceland took a different approach, and so far has found 26 bankers guilty of fraud, and they will serve a total of 74 years in jail. Iceland is not done with their prosecutions. It would be a democratic concept for the US to hold bankers in the same legal regard as the rest of us, and it would have been very democratic to allow citizens the right to vote and decide if they wanted to pay for a bank bailout, but unfortunately, in this county bankers are our superiors and are not accountable, and we are, apparently, far less democratic than Iceland. Little Iceland is offering great lessons to big USA, but who is listening to the lessons of equality before the law, and the right of the citizens to vote? Not our federal government thats for sure. We are not even allowed to know what others like Iceland did. Boy are we saps! We Don't Need Evidence Russian Aircraft Violated Turkish Airspace -U.S. State Dept Lord Haw-Haw - John Kirby, State Department Spokesperson. U.S. Department of State - Daily Briefing: Feb.01.2016 Posted February 05, 2016 After an alleged Russian Su-34 fighter incursion into the Turkish airspace, the countrys military command has declared an 'orange alert' meaning that Turkish military pilots can open fire on airspace violators on their own discretion. The Turkish Foreign Ministry claimed that Russian Su-34 bomber, despite a multiple warnings in Turkish and Russian languages, strayed into the countrys airspace for 5 seconds on January 30. 29 January 2016 at 11.46 hours local time, a SU-34 type Russian aircraft violated Turkish airspace. Before the violation actually took place, Russian plane was warned numerous times by Turkish air radar units both in English and Russian languages, stated in a press release. "There were no violations of Turkish airspace by aircraft of the Russian air group in the Syrian Arab Republic. Turkish authorities' statements of an alleged violation of Turkish airspace by a Russian Su-34 jet are naked propaganda," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said. Meantime, the USA has urged both sides to calm. We are aware of reports and can confirm that yesterday another Russian combat aircraft violated Turkish and NATO airspace, Pentagon spokesman Mark Wright told RIA Novosti in a written statement Saturday. We call on Russia to respect Turkish airspace and cease activities that risk further heightening instability in the region, Wrights statement goes on. On November 24, after a Russian Su-24 bomber allegedly violated Turkish airspace for 17 seconds, Ankaras Air Force shut down the jet with two pilots on board. The action has led to the deterioration of countries relations and a number of sanctions, imposed by Russia on Turkey. Why The Sultan of Chaos Is Freaking Out By Pepe Escobar February 05, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " RT " - Picture sleepless nights at Sultan Erdogans palace in Ankara. Imagine him livid when he learns the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), backed by Russian air power, started a preemptive Battle of Aleppo through the Bayirbucak region - cutting off Ankaras top weaponizing corridor and Jihadi highway. Who controls this corridor will control the final outcome of the war in Syria. Meanwhile, in Geneva, the remote-controlled Syrian opposition, a.k.a. High Negotiations Committee, graphically demonstrated they never wanted to meet with the Damascus delegation in the first place proximity talks or otherwise, even after Washington and Moscow roughly agreed on a two-year transition plan leading to a theoretically secular, nonsectarian Syria. The Saudi front wanted no less than Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam and all Jabhat al-Nusra, a.k.a. al-Qaeda in Syria, collaborators at the table in Geneva. So the Geneva charade, quicker than one can say Road to Aleppo! was exposed for what it is. And forget about NATO Notorious Saudi intel mastermind Prince Turki, a former mentor of one Osama bin Laden, has been to Paris on a PR offensive; all he could muster was an avalanche of non-denial denials - and blaming the whole Syria tragedy on Bashar al-Assad. The bulk of the Syrian opposition used to be armchair warriors co-opted by the CIA for years, as well as CIA Muslim Brotherhood patsies/vassals. Many of these characters preferred the joys of Paris to a hard slog on Syrian ground. Now the opposition is basically warlords answering to the House of Saud even for bottles of water regardless of the suit-and-tie former Baath Party ministers handpicked to be the face of the opposition for the gullible Western corporate media. Meanwhile, the 4+1 Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, plus Hezbollah is now winning decisive facts on the ground. The break down; there wont be regime change in Damascus. Yet no one broke the news to the Turks and Saudis. Sultan Erdogan is wallowing in a sea of desperation. He continues to divert the gravely serious issues at stake to his own war against the PYD - the umbrella organization of the Syrian Kurds - and the YPG (People's Protection Units, their military wing). Erdogan and Prime Minister Davutoglu wanted the PYD not only banned from Geneva but they want it smashed on the ground, as they see the PYD/YPG as terrorists allied to the PKK. Yet what is Sultan Erdogan going to do? Defy the recently arrived 4G++ Sukhoi Su-35S fighters which are scaring the hell out of every NATO Dr. Strangelove? The Turkish Air Force putting its bases on orange alert may scare the odd vagrant dog at best. The same applies to NATO Secretary-General, figurehead Jens Stoltenberg, pleading to Russia to act responsibly and fully respect NATO airspace. Moscow is going after the Turkmen with a vengeance and at the same time providing air support to the PYD west of the Euphrates. That hits the Sultan in his heart of hearts; after all Erdogan has threatened multiple times that a PYD/YPG advance west of the Euphrates is the ultimate red line. An already scared NATO wont support the folly of an Erdogan war against Russia as much as US and UK neocons may crave it; as NATO decisions must be unanimous, the last thing EU powers Germany and France want is yet another Southwest Asia war. NATO may deploy the odd Patriot missiles in southern Anatolia and the odd AWACs to support the Turkish Air Force. But thats it. Pick your favorite regime change ISIS/ISIL/Daesh, meanwhile, continues to profit from its own Jihadi highway across a 98 kilometer stretch of Turkish/Syrian border, especially in Jarablus and Al Rai across from Gaziantep and Kilis in Turkey. Taking a cue from Israel, Ankara is building a wall 3.6 meters high, 2.5 meters wide - covering the stretch between Elbeyli and Kilis, essentially for propaganda purposes. Because the Jihadi Highway, for all practical purposes, remains open even as Turkish Armed Forces may apprehend the odd trespasser (always released). We're talking about a monster smuggler/soldier scam; as much as $300 change hands for each night crossing and a noncommissioned Turkish officer may earn as much as $2,500 to look the other way for a few minutes. The real question is why Gaziantep is not under a curfew imposed from Ankara, with thousands of Turkish Special Forces actually fighting a war on terra on the spot. Thats because Ankara and provincial authorities couldnt give a damn; the real priority is Erdogans war on the Kurds. This brings us to the only leverage the Sultan may enjoy at the moment. From Brussels to Berlin, sound minds are terrified that the EU is now actually hostage to Erdogans Kurd priority, while Ankara is doing next to nothing to fight massive migrant smuggling. When Davutoglu went to Berlin recently not only did he make no promises; he re-stressed Erdogans vow to "annihilate" the Syrian Kurds. And that explains German Chancellor Angela Merkels own desperation. How could the alleged most powerful politician in Europe falls for such a crude extortion racket? The Sultan wants a lot of cash, a lot of concessions, and even a further shot at entering the EU. Otherwise, he wont turn off the tap on the grim refugee flood. Syria's Enemies Seek Face Saving Escalation Measures By Moon Of Alabama February 05, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Moon Of Alabama " - Russia Accuses Turkey of Preparing to Invade Syria The Russian military said Thursday that it has "reasonable grounds" to suspect that Turkey is making intensive preparations for a military invasion of neighboring Syria. Images of a checkpoint on the border between the Turkish town of Reyhanli and the town of Sarmada in Syrian taken in late October and late January show a buildup of transportation infrastructure that could be used for moving in troops, ammunition and weapons, spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in an English-language written statement. He said these were among growing signs of "hidden preparation of the Turkish armed forces for active actions on the territory of Syria. ... A Turkish Foreign Ministry official said the ministry would have no immediate comment. The Russian high command press briefing (vid with English subtitles) includes the pictures of the border post. Turkey yesterday prohibited a Russian reconnaissance "Open Skies Treaty" flight over the Turkish-Syrian border zone. There are dozens such flights per year over Russia by NATO and over NATO countries by Russia. This is to my knowledge the first time such a flight, which had earlier been requested and accepted, is blocked by the guest country. The Russian military spokesperson snarked: It is to be reminded that the Russian Defence Ministry has intensified all kinds of intelligence in the Middle East region. Thats why, if someone in Ankara thinks that the prohibition of Russian observer flight allows to hide something, it is unprofessional. The decisive Syrian government victory yesterday cuts off the foreign supported insurgents in Aleppo and Idleb from they supply sources in Turkey and deprives them of their fuel supplies. In reaction to that victory the supporters of the insurgents and terrorist in Syria are likely to increase their efforts. The negotiations in Geneva failed over the Syrian victory and the Saudis had already promised that such a failure would lead to an increased support. The Saudi Defense Ministry declared today that Saudi ground forces could take part in action in Syria. It is doubtful that the Saudis have a real capability to do so. But the Saudis and others will now again shower the insurgents and Jihadis in Syria with money and new weapons. A Turkish invasion could add momentum to such a move. Such an invasion would be come at the Syrian and Turkish border between Azaz and Jarabulus that is currently under Islamic State control. The Syrian YPG Kurds plan to take that area with Russian help and to seal the border. Turkey does not want that to happen. Its well working lines of communication with the Islamic State must be kept open. So is a Turkish invasion of Syria in preparation? My guess is yes. But will it really happen? My guess is no. NATO will restrain Turkey from such a misguided adventure. It could mean war with Russia and no European NATO country would like that to happen. Without NATO backing the Turkish military is unlikely to follow the order for such a move. The Russia revelation of the Turkish preparations is increasing the deterrence against such a move. It also means that Russia would react harshly against a Turkish invasion and surely Russia has demonstrated by now that it has the means to do so in decisive ways. But even while Turkey is unlikely to send its army it may use a proxy force to capture more Syrian territory. The Zionist lobby in Washington DC in form of the Washington Institute is advising Turkey to invade Syria by proxy to keep the Kurds away from the border zone. The most effective way to monitor the Azaz-Jarabulus border area would be to ensure that the Syrian side is filled by forces friendly to Turkey, or at least opposed to IS. One possible such group would be the Syrian Turkmens, who are ethnically related to Turks and are being trained by Turkey as a fighting force in northwestern Syria. ... [T]he Turkish armed forces has modern artillery with an effective range of twenty to twenty-five miles, UAVs, and other means to protect its clients administering a prospective safe zone. These "Turkmen" had occupied northern Latakia where they are just being kicked out by the Syrian army and its supporters. They consist of Turkish "Grey Wolf" fascists, Turkish Islamists and Chechen and Uhigur Islamist mercenaries. They are controlled by the Turkish secret service MIT. The whole plan has a logical flaw. If, as the Washington Institute lobbyists claim, it is desirable for Turkey to monitor or seal the border from Islamic State infiltration why can't this be done on the Turkish side of the border? Why does this necessitate an illegal invasion by proxy of Syria? I find no plausible answer to that last question. The lobbyists also skip over the question of potential retaliation. If Turkish artillery fires into Syria then Syria and its supporters are legally justified to fire back by whatever means are needed. A few Russian cruise missiles could easily take care of those Turkish artillery battalions. What would then follow? Neither the Turks nor the Saudis nor the U.S. nor Israel have given up on their "regime change" war on Syria. But their proxies have taken serious losses and are likely to lose the fight. While we can expect some new attempts for escalation I expect that these will be mere face saving moves. It will take some additional time until the reality will sink in and until some other issue can be found to distract from their inevitable retreat. UN Panel Calls On UK and Sweden to end Julian Assange's 'Deprivation Of Liberty' UN working group says WikiLeaks founder should be offered compensation for being confined to Ecuadorian embassy By Owen Bowcott and David Crouch Assange Statement: Sweden, UK Cannot Appeal UN Panel Assange Press Conference In Full February 05, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " The Guardian " - The WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been arbitrarily detained by the UK and Sweden for more than five years and should be released immediately with compensation, according to a United Nations report. As anticipated, the finding by the Geneva-based UN working group on arbitrary detention criticises legal action against Assange by both European governments and blames them for preventing him from leaving the Ecuadorian embassy in Knightsbridge, central London. The panel calls on the Swedish and British authorities to end Assanges deprivation of liberty, respect his physical integrity and freedom of movement and offer him compensation. The report says: The working group considered that Mr Assange has been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth prison, which was followed by house arrest and his confinement at the Ecuadorian embassy. Having concluded that there was a continuous deprivation of liberty, the working group also found that the detention was arbitrary because he was held in isolation during the first stage of detention and because of the lack of diligence by the Swedish prosecutor in its investigations, which resulted in the lengthy detention of Mr Assange. It adds: The working group therefore requested Sweden and the United Kingdom to assess the situation of Mr Assange to ensure his safety and physical integrity, to facilitate the exercise of his right to freedom of movement in an expedient manner, and to ensure the full enjoyment of his rights guaranteed by the international norms on detention. The working group also considered that the detention should be brought to an end and that Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation. A UK government spokesperson said:This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working groups opinion. Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK. The opinion of the UN working group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy. An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European arrest warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite him to Sweden. As the UK is not a party to the Caracas convention, we do not recognise diplomatic asylum. We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue. Ecuador must engage with Sweden in good faith to bring it to an end. Americas minister Hugo Swire made this clear to the Ecuadorian ambassador in November, and we continue to raise the matter in Quito. The UN committee said one of its members, Leigh Toomey, had declined to take part in the inquiry because she, like Assange, is an Australian citizen. One of the other members, Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian lawyer, had disagreed with the finding. The statement said: Given that Mr Assange is an Australian citizen, one of the members of the working group who shares his nationality recused herself from participating in the deliberations. Another member of the working group disagreed with the position of the majority and considered that the situation of Mr Assange is not one of detention and therefore falls outside the mandate of the working group. Only three of the five-member panel therefore supported the finding against the UK and Sweden. Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said: In light of this decision, its clear that any criminal charges against Mr Assange in connection with Wikileaks publishing operations would be unprecedented and unconstitutional. Indeed, even the prolonged criminal investigation of Wikileaks itself has had a profound chilling effect. The justice department should end that investigation and make clear that no publisher will ever be prosecuted for the act of journalism. Much of the criticism in the panels full report is directed at the methods adopted by the Swedish prosecutors. The report states: There has been a substantial failure to exercise due diligence on the part of the concerned states [Sweden and the UK] with regard to the performance of the criminal administration After more than five years of time lapse, [Assange] is still left even before the stage of preliminary investigation with no predictability as to whether and when a formal process of any judicial dealing would commence. Despite that, it is left to the initial choice of the Swedish prosecution as to what mode of investigation would best suit the purpose of criminal justice. The exercise and implementation of the investigation method should be conducted in compliance with the rule of proportionality, including undertaking to explore alternative ways of administering justice. The report continues: The working group is convinced that the current situation of Mr Assange staying within the confines of the embassy of the Republic of Ecuador in London has become a state of an arbitrary deprivation of liberty. The duration of such detention is, ipso facto, incompatible with the presumption of innocence. Mr Assange has been denied the right to contest the continued necessity and proportionality of the arrest warrant in light of the length of this detention. It defeats the purpose and efficiency of justice and the interest of the concerned victims to put this matter of investigation to a state of indefinite procrastination. The report implies that insisting on Assanges extradition to Sweden before any charges have been made amounts to disproportionate pressure in a criminal investigation. Greater efforts should have been made to interview him in the UK. The panel received representations about the danger of political persecution if Assange is removed from Sweden to the US. The Swedish foreign ministry said: The [Swedish] government does not agree with the assessment made by the majority of the working group. In light of the safeguards contained in the Swedish extradition and [European arrest warrant] procedures against any potential extradition in violation of international human rights agreements, the government reiterates its position that Mr Assange does not face a risk of refoulement [removal] contrary to international human rights obligations to the United States from Sweden. In any case, no request for extradition regarding Mr Assange has been directed to Sweden. Moreover, Mr Assange has chosen, voluntarily, to stay at the Ecuadorian embassy and Swedish authorities have no control over his decision to stay there. Mr Assange is free to leave the embassy at any point. Thus, he is not being deprived of his liberty there due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities. The military task force deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta code name Operation Pulo Shield, says it has arrested suspected vandals behind the recent pipeline bombings in the region. The suspected vandals had blown up crude and gas pipelines at Escravos, Delta State, resulting in the shut-down of Warri and Port Harcourt refineries as well as cutting gas supply to some power plants recently. Another pipeline blast on Agips facility on January 28 resulted in a drop by 16,000 barrels of oil equivalent of the companys 40,000 barrels daily export from Brass Oil Export Terminal of the Bayelsa coastline. The arrest, according to a statement by the spokesman of Operation Pulo Shield, Isa Ado, came on the heels of a marching order by the commander of the joint task force, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, to apprehend those behind the criminal act. Mr. Ado, a colonel, said the suspects in custody were being interrogated to ascertain their level of complicity and to help in arresting other suspects still at large. He said surveillance patrols in the region had been intensified towards ensuring that all suspected militants behind the pipeline sabotage, were brought to book. Operation Pulo Shield remains determined to track and arrest perpetrators of the recent multiple attacks and bombing of some oil pipelines and installations across the Niger Delta region. Some suspects were arrested and currently undergoing thorough preliminary investigation to ascertain their degree of involvement before handing them over to prosecuting agencies, while effort is on to track and arrest fleeing vandals. The success of the arrest was due to highly intensified patrols and cordon and search on the waterways, creeks and communities by the task force. It is in line with the directives of the commander of Operation Pulo Shield, Major-General Alani Gafar Okunlola, to apprehend those behind the criminal act, Mr. Ado stated. The statement quoted Maj.-Gen. Okunlola as assuring the people of Niger Delta of the task forces determination to wipe out illegal activities in the region. He also called on people to give useful information that would help the task force in its operations. The commander also warned the perpetrators of the crime to desist from further destruction of oil facilities or face the wrath of the law. Two term member of the House of Representatives from Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State Hon Abubakar Momoh has said that the diversion of funds meant for arms purchase did not start under ex-president Goodluck Jonathan but had been on since the time of former president Olusegun Obasanjo. We were aware that these things happened, not just during the Jonathan administration, but right from Obasanjos time. If the probe will be taken back to that time, all former head of states should be assembled to give account of arms purchased by their administrations, Momoh told Vanguard in an interview. It did not start with Jonathans administration but it is just a system that has been established which Jonathan inherited and continued with. So, if I were the president, I will do my best to collect money from those I can and then establish a procedure that everybody will know that, once you embezzle government funds, you will be prosecuted. That is how to end corruption. But when you decided to focus on the immediate past administration then people will begin to read meaning into it and see it as witch-hunting and victimization, he pointed out. There is nothing that was done in the administration of Jonathan that was not done in the administrations of YarAdua and Obasanjo. The fact remains that a tradition had been established and because it is a system, you passed it from one administration to another, the ex-lawmaker said. He, however, thanked God that President Muhammadu Buhari has come to end corruption. He also said the best time for someone like Buhari to end corruption is now that the country is in a dire economic situation, because even if those around him wanted to steal, there is no money. if the man had come when things were buoyant, people around him would have been doing it even if he is honest, Momoh said. He expressed belief that the president is on track and trying to set a standard for all to follow. If anybody falls below that standard, he would have committed an offense. The figures being published to have been stolen, according to Momoh was small money to those who stole during the oil boom. Small boys had billions of dollars in their account throughout that period of oil boom. But what had happened this time around is when the prices of oil have crash and we are looking for money. Many people who were involved in such acts thought Jonathan will continue and nothing will happen. Speaking further, Momoh urged Nigerians to apply caution in the ongoing corruption fight, because once a persons name is mention, people see him as being corrupt but it is wrong. People mentioned Tanko Yakassai who collected money from Tony Anenih, Rasheed Ladoja and the rest only collected; what they were given was for election. Were you expecting that they should have asked where the government got the money from? It is not possible. So such people should not be asked to return their money because it was given for them to do something with. N260 million is nothing to Anenih that you can say he embezzled. Mr. President cannot give him the money for election and he will ask him where he got the money from? If government wants to curb corruption, let them go to the ministries, which is where the real corruption is taking place. They should not limit it to Dasuki alone because people will read meaning to it. People like Raymond Dokpesi should not be blamed for collecting money for advert from NSA because he cannot ask him where he got the money, Momoh said. Some unnamed Nigerian elite are mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to soft pedal on the anti-corruption campaign, his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), said yesterday. Vice President Osinbajo spoke at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja during a meeting with a delegation of the Muslim Congress of Nigeria (MCN). A statement by Osinbajos Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, quoted him as saying the government had been receiving regular messages from the elite asking it to cool down on the anti-graft war. The senders of the messages opined that corruption was not a big deal and that Buhari should merely ask the looters to return the money they allegedly stole and be allowed to walk away, the vice president said. Osinbajo, however, vowed that such pressure would not deter the government from its effort to rid Nigeria of corruption. We get regular messages from some Nigerian elite saying cool down. It is a very strange morality that some of those people have, very complicated but cutting across all tribes and religious differences, he said. Osinbajo noted that it was, however, encouraging that the Nigerian masses had a clearer understanding of right and wrong, saying the masses dont have that problem. Although some elite are saying it is not a big deal, and that government should merely ask the looters of the commonwealth of the nation to return the money and go; a new tribe of Nigerians who will not compromise their values, but will maintain a sense of right and wrong is now emerging. The man on the street is very clear. So, whatever some of these elite say, we shall keep our focus on the masses who voted for us, the vice president said. He added that due to corruption, no federal road or rail project was completed in the last 16 years; a situation he described as simply unacceptable. The cost of projects, he noted, was often inflated as people entrusted with public trust struggle to enrich themselves at the expense of the people. Prof. Osinbajo further said as a result of the inordinate desire for enrichment, funds meant for arms procurement were shared at a time when Nigerias territorial integrity was being threatened by Boko Haram insurgents. The insurgency has gone on for six years because government could not adequately equip the military, the vice president stated. Osinbajo added: Mr. President and I are extremely focussed on what we need to do. We will focus on critical things, infrastructure and social investments. Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, expressed the support of the Muslim Congress of Nigeria for the governments anti-graft war and other programmes. We are thankful that our candidates of choice in the election emerged, he said, adding that the choice of the president and the vice president was made by God during last years presidential election. A Sokoto State-based businessman, Ogochukwu Raphael, is now stranded after he came to Lagos, western Nigeria, to visit a church to seek spiritual solution over his dwindling business. According to him, apart from the fact he was defrauded to the tune of N750,000 for fake visa, the pastor allegedly collected another N800,000 for prayers for business success before he would travel out of the country with the Visa. Pastor Chike Ifeanyi of Christian City International Church has been arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrates court for his alleged involvement in the Visa fraud. The 45-year-old Ifeanyi allegedly collected N750,000 from Oguchukwu Raphael under false pretence of procuring him an Australian resident Visa for him. The incident happened at 24, Mosholape street in Itire area of Lagos where the pastor resides. But the prayer was conducted at a church at Oke Afa where Raphael was made to part with deliverance fee. The Ugbene, Awka, Anambra State-born Ifeanyi who resides at 25, Balogun street, Balogun Estate, Ajah, was arrested at Idimu after several months of hide-and-seek over the matter. After the victim paid the money, it turned out that it was a scam as Ifeanyi did not procure any visa nor return the money to Raphael. Rather, he told him that the embassy requested additional 10,000 dollars as deposit and sent him away from the church. The matter was reported to the police who trailed Ifeanyi until he was arrested and charged to court. He was charged with obtaining and stealing under the Criminal Code. He pleaded not guilty. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Joy Ugbomoiko granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition. The matter was adjourned till 2 March, 2016. Source: PM News The Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Dino Melaye, has decried the construction of illegal structures on the Maitama Hill by some prominent Nigerians. The beautiful Maitama Hill has been dissipated and shared by people who refer to themselves as powerful Nigerians, Melaye said during the budget defence of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory and ordered the stoppage of construction at the site immediately. He said the 8th Senate would not tolerate any move by any Nigerians to dissipate the FCT by changing its original plan. This is not acceptable to the 8th Senate and to this committee and this committee, in the interest of Nigerians, will not allow any construction to continue on the Maitama Hill. Apart from the fact that we have stopped work, the green there must be replanted and the trees immediately restored. We will not, out of fear, refuse to do our work. So, this morning, I will announce to Nigerians the powerful Nigerians, who shared the Maitama Hill among themselves and we will not stop at that. We are going to sit with you Mr Minister to ensure that there is immediate correction. Nigeria belongs to us, the FCT is the beauty of this country, modelled after the Capital of Brazil, he said. He urged the current FCT Minister, Malam Mohammed Bello, to ensure that the original plan for Abuja was restored. Saudi Arabia is prepared to deploy ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) if US-led coalition leaders agree to the offer. Saudis air force has targeted ISIL with air strikes since the campaign began in Syria in September 2014, but the Gulf kingdom is now ready to provide ground forces to defeat the armed group, a military spokesman said on Thursday. Today, the Saudi kingdom announced its readiness to participate with ground troops with the US-led coalition against ISIL, because we now have the experience in Yemen, Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri told Al Jazeera. We know that air strikes cannot be enough and that a ground operation is needed. We need to combine both to achieve better results on the ground. Asseri didnt elaborate on how many soldiers the kingdom could send. The Saudi offer is expected to be discussed when the United States convenes a meeting of defence ministers from coalition countries fighting ISIL in Brussels next week. Lawrence Korb, a former US assistant secretary of defence, said while Middle East countries have armed and supplied rebels during the five-year Syrian civil war, putting boots on the ground would mark major shift. He noted it may also signal to Russia whose air power has greatly aided President Bashar al-Assads recent major military gains a need to return to Geneva peace negotiations that were postponed this week. Aljazeera. The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) yesterday faulted the recent comment credited to the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola, on the recent increment of electricity tariff by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), saying his position is dictatorial. The Congress, in a statement by its President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and Secretary General, Barrister Musa Lawal, said the ministers argument that an Act of the National Assembly actually empowers the Commission to increase tariff and that the Act cannot be tampered with even by the federal parliament, is certainly very lame, too simplistic and misleading. The TUC further warned Fashola and NERC to stop the enforcement of the obnoxious Act. The new tariff known as the Multi-Year Tariff Order 2.1 took off on February 1, 2016. The TUC said: Any Act that preys on the masses that it is supposed to protect negates public policy. Any Act that compels the citizens to pay for services not delivered is not only flawed and undemocratic but ultra vires the power of the Assembly to make laws for the good of the country, and should not enjoy any applicability. Any Act that further impoverishes the downtrodden and lowly is evil and should be discountenanced. We lend our voice again to advocate the need for the minister and NERC to stop trying to enforce the obnoxious Act. It is high time the minister and proponents of the tariff increase are reminded that one of the major reasons Nigerians demanded a change of leadership in May 2015 was so they could heave a sigh of relief. A major expectation was that we would, for once, stop paying for services that are not rendered. We never anticipated that the already fraudulent billing system would be made worse. We saw no NERC/FASHOLAGATE in the horizon! The Congress, therefore, opposed the new tariff on grounds that Section 76 of the Power Sector Reform Act 2005 was violated, as there has been no significant improvement in service delivery. It also cited a subsisting court order dated 28th May, 2015 by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos which stopped the implementation of the tariff hike. The United States plans to use missile defence assets to track an expected North Korean missile launch as tensions escalate over Pyongyangs plan to fire a rocket soon. US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, however, declined to comment further on Thursday on any specific plans to position navy ships or move a large sea-based radar to the Asia Pacific region ahead of the imminent launch. Japan has said it put its military on alert to shoot down any rocket that threatens its territory. North Korea notified the United Nations this week of its plan to put an earth observation satellite into orbit sometime between February 8 and 25. Pyongyang says it has a sovereign right to pursue a space programme, although the United States and other countries allege such launches are missile tests in disguise. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Beijing sent its special envoy for the nuclear issue, Wu Dawei, to North Korea in what he described as a serious situation. We dont want to see anything happen that could cause further tensions, Wang told Hong Kongs Phoenix Television in London after Wu returned from North Korea. An ex-aide to former Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Abba Dabo, on Thursday revealed that he returned the sum of N25 million, which he received from the national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The money was payment for media related activities carried out by Mr. Dabo on behalf of the PDP. Dabo, who was Sambos Political Adviser, said this while testifying under oath at a Federal High Court, Abuja, during the resumption of Metuhs trial. Metuh and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being tried by the EFCC on a-seven count of allegedly receiving N400 million from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) on November 22, 2014, and laundering $2 million. Dabo, led in evidence by prosecution lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, said the N25 million was paid to him through an account belonging to Metuhs firm Destra Investment Limited on December 16, 2014, five days after former President Goodluck Jonathan and Sambo were nominated as the partys candidates. The witness, who said he was an editor and one-time chief press secretary to former President Shehu Shagari, said he refunded the money to the EFCC because he could not reach Metuh, who had then been arrested by the anti-graft agency. Dabo, a chieftain of the PDP said: Unfortunately, there were reports in the media, on this transaction with Chief Metuh linking it to controversial circumstances. I mean it was identified that Chief Metuh paid the N25 million into my account through his company and that the source of the money was from the arms deal that was being discussed. As a result of that publication, we thought we needed to explain, and because it was paid to my personal account, I decided to make a refund, and I paid it to EFCC, because I couldnt reach Mr. Metuh. The newspapers were awash with the story that linked the money given to me to the arms money that was said to have been diverted to other uses by the Office of the National Security Adviser. On my own, I decided that the best way out of the rigmarole was to pay back the amount. I paid it to EFCC. Dabo said he was paid the N25 million by Metuh before the 2015 presidential election, to help the party mitigate and counter negative media reports against the Jonathan-led government and the PDP. He further stated that he set up a team of facilitators and young Information Technology enthusiasts, who were active on the Internet to run a website, Whats Up Naija. From the money we received from Chief Metuh, we paid salaries and allowances of facilitators, bought equipment and computers for the young people working on Whats Up Naija. We paid that years rent for our office at 12B Deb Street, Off Danube Street in Maitama, Abuja. We also used that office to monitor the election. Zimbabwes President Robert Mugabe has declared a state of disaster in rural parts of the country hit by a drought. The country has been experiencing abnormally low rainfall since last year, with an estimated 2.5 million people in need of food aid. The decision comes days after the EU urged him to declare a state of disaster so donors can raise money quickly to provide food aid. The government says it is importing maize from neighbouring Zambia. Thousands of cattle have died as their grazing areas are parched. With rains failing almost completely this year, the situation is getting desperate, Jan Vossen, Zimbabwe director for the charity Oxfam, told the BBC. In certain parts of the country, we even see that people, farmers, are using the thatch of their roofs to feed their cattle, he said. The agricultural sector has been the worst affected, with tobacco and cotton farmers also bracing themselves for disaster, the BBCs Nomsa Maseko reports from Johannesburg. BBC. Despite its name, the EU-US Privacy Shield agreement announced this week has more to do with shielding U.S. companies from EU legal enforcement action than shielding EU users from privacy violations. And with many European privacy advocates predicting the agreement will fail to pass court scrutiny, the legal limbo over transfers of EU data to the United States could drag on. Safe Harbor, the previous data transfer agreement, was struck down last October after an EU court ruled it violated European data protection rules. Two days after the deadline for crafting a replacement had passed, American and European negotiators announced a political agreement that would allow U.S. companies to continue to legally transfer personal information and data about European users and store it on U.S. servers. [ See what hardware, software, development tools, and cloud services came out on top in the InfoWorld 2016 Technology of the Year Awards. | Cut to the key news in tech with the InfoWorld Daily newsletter, our summary of the top tech happenings. ] The text of the agreement has not been published -- European privacy agencies have demanded more detail by the end of the month -- but negotiators said it includes stronger obligations on U.S. companies that handle European data. U.S. companies wishing to import personal data from Europe will need to commit to robust obligations on how personal data is processed and individual rights are guaranteed. The Department of Commerce will monitor that companies publish their commitments, which makes them enforceable under U.S. law by the US. Federal Trade Commission. Again, details about those "robust obligations" have not been revealed. While U.S. companies -- especially tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, which rely heavily on the easy flow of data -- are primarily concerned with reestablishing a legal framework for data transfers, the real issue for Europeans is mass surveillance by government. U.S. spying has been a contentious issue for European citizens ever since Edward Snowden revealed the extent of NSA surveillance -- and tech companies' compliance. But the agreement's negotiators claim to have established safeguards and transparency over government access to data. For the first time, the US has given the EU written assurances that the access of public authorities for law enforcement and national security will be subject to clear limitations, safeguards and oversight mechanisms. These exceptions must be used only to the extent necessary and proportionate. The U.S. has ruled out indiscriminate mass surveillance on the personal data transferred to the US under the new arrangement. To regularly monitor the functioning of the arrangement there will be an annual joint review, which will also include the issue of national security access. While the new agreement pays lip service to the idea of protecting personal data from surveillance, "it's a promise without any possible weight behind it," said Steve Hunt, an industry analyst with Hunt Business Intelligence. Such an agreement "would require policy and oversight that extends far beyond traditional government reach" and would be "so costly and difficult that it would be practically impossible." The prospect of getting legal redress in the United States is also an iffy proposition. "Republican insistence on exceptions for what they see as U.S. national security interests could complicate compliance even further," the Chicago Tribune points out. "Republican senators are looking to insert a provision that would oblige the Attorney General to certify whether a country whose citizens will have redress don't have policies that endanger U.S. national security." Not to mention that "we all know how good the NSA is at hiding what it's actually doing from oversight bodies," TechDirt writes. "[By] focusing the agreement on how to allow data transfers without actually tackling how to stop mass surveillance is inevitably a fake solution." Several privacy groups have called on the United States to improve its privacy laws to match those in Europe. "The problem is that the U.S. remains unchanged," said Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. Max Schrems, whose complaints about Facebook's handling of personal data ultimately brought down Safe Harbor, was skeptical Privacy Shield would withstand legal challenge: "The [European] Court has explicitly held that any generalized access to such data violates the fundamental rights of EU citizens. [And] the Commissioner herself has said this form of surveillance continues to take place in the US." European data protection authorities also have doubts about Privacy Shield. "We have concerns, in particular with the scope of the surveillance and the remedies," said Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, France's privacy chief. Ultimately, EU-US Privacy Shield is what Computerworld calls a win-win in diplomatic terms: "The EU gets a solemn promise of privacy protections, which its voters want. And the U.S. gets no delays in data transfers, which U.S. companies want." It remains to be seen whether European privacy advocates -- and courts -- will be content with a lose-win in reality. Grain Futures Defend Technical Support Blue Line Futures - 1 hour ago Corn has bounced off of the lows of the pattern, remaining in a sideways pattern. Attention will be shifted towards South America with the US getting close to 50% harvest. What will be the costs looking... Livestock Markets Continue to Trend Higher Blue Line Futures - 1 hour ago Livestock markets have been a bright spot this week with the cattle complex and lean hogs moving to the upside. With the recent up-move, is the live cattle trade overdone? Oliver Sloup, Vice President... Crude Modestly Higher on Hopes China Will Ease Pandemic Restrictions Barchart - Thu Oct 20, 2:20PM CDT Nov WTI crude oil (CLX22 ) on Thursday closed up +0.43 (+0.50%), and Nov RBOB gasoline (RBX22 ) closed down -0.44 (-0.17%). Crude oil and gasoline prices Thursday settled mixed. A weaker dollar (DXY00... CLZ22 : 84.51s (-0.01%) RBZ22 : 2.4661s (-0.59%) DXY00 : 112.839 (-0.13%) Nat-Gas Prices Sink on a Rebuild of U.S. Inventories Barchart - Thu Oct 20, 2:18PM CDT Nov Nymex natural gas (NGX22 ) on Thursday closed down by -0.104 (-1.90%). Nov nat-gas Thursday tumbled to a 6-1/2 month nearest-futures low after weekly EIA nat-gas inventories rose more than expected,... NGX22 : 5.358s (-1.90%) Russian, Ukrainian troops gird for major battle in Kherson AP - Thu Oct 20, 2:08PM CDT KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian and Ukrainian troops appeared Thursday to be girding for a major battle over the strategic southern industrial port city of Kherson, in a region which Russian President Vladimir... $SPX : 3,665.78 (-0.80%) $DOWI : 30,333.59 (-0.30%) $IUXX : 11,046.71 (-0.51%) Sugar Prices Moderately Lower on Larger Sugar Output in India Barchart - Thu Oct 20, 1:29PM CDT March NY world sugar #11 (SBH23 ) on Thursday closed down -0.26 (-1.39%), and Dec London white sugar #5 (SWZ22 ) closed down -10.90 (-2.02%). Sugar prices Thursday extended this week's losses, with NY... SBH23 : 18.39s (-1.39%) SWZ22 : 527.90s (-2.02%) Last year, I wrote about the emerging philanthropy of billionaire Robert F. Smith, the only African-American man on the 2015 Forbes 400 list, and the richest black American not named Oprah Winfrey. Armed with a Cornell chemical engineering degree and a Columbia MBA, Smith worked at Goldman Sachs before co-founding Vista Equity Partners, a private equity fund that manages equity capital commitments of over $14 billion. I discussed some signs of Smith's emerging philanthropy through his Zolimax Foundation, an under-the-radar (and possibly now defunct) vehicle that listed several major projects it supported. One of these efforts was Lincoln Hills Experience, "a youth empowerment program" on a ranch and fly fishing preserve outside of Denver. Lincoln Hills has strong historic roots and was frequented by the likes of Duke Ellington in his day. In my previous piece, I also mentioned that music education, minority entrepreneurship, and racial equity were some of Smith's other interests and with $2.5 billion to his name as of 2015, Smith was someone to keep an eye on for greater giving down the line. Related: What Giving Lies Ahead For This African-American Private Equity Billionaire? Well, now comes news that Smith and his Fund II Foundation have given $50 million to establish an endowment for the Cornell University School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. The school will use the bulk of the funds for "scholarship and fellowship support for groups traditionally underrepresented in engineering and technology particularly African-American and female students." The school will also create a fund for diversity initiatives in engineering and establish the Robert Frederick Smith Tech Scholars Program. As a result of this philanthropy the school will be renamed the Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Cornell. There's a lot worth talking about here, including Smith's recently minted Fund II Foundation, which lists a small staff and offers a broader picture of the 53 year old's giving. But before we talk about Fund II, let's first focus on his big gift to his alma mater in Ithaca. Diversity in STEM is a big issue which we report on often. Funders on this case include big corporations like Intel and Apple, as well as large foundations and individual donors. One couple that's been working this issue from both a gender and race perspective is Mitch and Freada Kapor Klein. I've also written about wealthy women like Anne Welsh McNulty and Suzanne Nora Johnson, some of whose philanthropy involves diversifying STEM. Related: How This Bay Area Couple Works to Increase Diversity in Tech What we haven't seen as often, though, is an African-American with the combination of enormous wealth and personal experiences to put large sums of money behind this issue. Cornell is already calling Smith's gift one of the largest ever from an African-American philanthropist to an institution of higher learning. As Smith, chairman of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, puts it, "Along my career I have become increasingly concerned by the lack of diversity across the engineering and tech disciplines. My direct intention here is to work directly with Cornell Tech and Cornell Engineering, in New York City and in Ithaca, to create direct on-ramps for African-Americans and young women to enter tech so that they can help lead us into the fourth industrial revolution." Smith's Fund II Foundation has focused on five major areas including "preserving the cultural richness of the African-American experience for future generations," "conserving the environment," "affording music education," and "sustaining the American values of entrepreneurship, empowerment, innovation and security." So far, these ideas have translated into support of outfits such as Unlikely Heroes (UH), which supports safe homes and restoration to child victims of sex slavery around the globe, the Opportunity Network (OppNet), which "levels the playing field for low-income high school and college students by providing access to college and career success," and Together We Rise's Family Fellowship Program, which "supports former foster youth in their efforts to gain a university, community college or trade school education." Fund II Foundation's staff includes several directors, a program director, and several consultants. One director, Anthony Spikes, is the managing principal and CEO of Sapphire Hill Global Partners, a global-macro investment firm. This tracks with some of the global development philanthropy with which Smith has been involved. Interested grantseekers can apply for a Fund II Foundation grant by starting here. The foundation does state that it is "most effective when we are working together with potential partners to achieve the shared impact we all desire." As for Smith, it's safe to say that his philanthropy has kicked off in earnest and we'll have to see what his next philanthropic move is. South Korea, Finland and Israel are not yet among the nations that Donald Trump decries for stealing Americas jobs and future. But the Republican presidential hopeful may be missing something. All three rank higher than the U.S. on the lists compiled by three estimable organizations of the worlds most innovative countries. China, the nemesis for Trump and many other Americans, doesnt make the top 20 on any of the lists. Innovation is an economic virtue universally prized and, at least rhetorically, promoted. But rankings from the World Economic Forum, Bloomberg and the Global Innovation Index (a collaboration of Cornell University, French-founded business school INSEAD and the U.N.s World Intellectual Property Organization) show how challenging it is to quantify at a national level. They also highlight the less-than-perfect correlation between perceived innovation and economic growth. Innovation may be a good bet for investors in the long run, but defining it seems to be as much art as science. The three rankings reach consensus on a couple of important points. First, the U.S., despite gestating the worlds dominant technology companies, is not the most innovative nation: It finishes third in the WEF poll, places fifth in the GII survey and ranks sixth according to Bloomberg. Second, rich countries are more innovative than poorer ones. The dynamic giants of emerging markets, China and India, finish well behind most of low-growth Europe and Japan. Beyond that, results vary. Bloomberg weighs six straightforward measures of technical achievement, such as patents, research and development spending and higher education per capita. South Korea emerges as the world champion on this scale, followed by manufacturing powerhouses Japan and Germany. The GII looks at no fewer than 79 factors, including support elements like infrastructure and finance, and stretches the definition of innovation to include cultural as well as engineering output. Science and technology is one important factor, but quality of institutions makes the key difference, says Soumitra Dutta, dean of Cornells Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and a co-editor of the GII report. We also look at innovative creative outputs like movies in India or telenovelas produced in Mexico. By the GIIs broader-based standards, none of Bloombergs Big Three even make the top ten. The GIIs champ is Switzerland, followed by the U.K. These two countries rank 16th and tenth, respectively, under Bloombergs methodology. The World Economic Forum, which offers innovation rankings as part of its annual Global Competitiveness Report, is less specific about its formula, but the results look like something of a compromise between its two competitors. Switzerland edges Finland for first place, while Germany and Japan finish in the top ten. Given such divergent methods of assessing innovation, economists who study the process are skeptical about the rankings value. I wonder if there is any nonsilly way to assign a single measure to the level of innovation in a country, says Richard Nelson, professor emeritus of economics at Columbia University and winner of the coveted Honda Prize for his research on the subject. Innovation is going on in many different fields of economic activity, and countries have many different regions and industries that do different things. Still, as a rough guide to economic vigor around the world, the innovation rankings have a ring of truth. A few, smaller standouts Finland, Singapore and Sweden make the top ten in all three lists, whereas southern Europe and Latin America lag painfully. Spain makes the former regions best showing, at 27th in the GII rankings, while Chile leads the Latin countries at 42nd. The most valuable bit of the GII ranking for investors, Dutta suggests, may be a substratum of data that compares countries in similar wealth brackets and over a multiyear period. The finding that China is outinnovating all other middle-income nations will shock no one. But the other seven middle-income outperformers include some surprises Jordan, Kenya, Moldova and Mongolia alongside three that many investors have already embraced: India, Malaysia and Vietnam. On a regional basis, the GII lauds the innovative progress of sub-Saharan Africa, where institutions, business sophistication and creative outputs are noticeably improving across a range of unexpected stars like Burkina Faso, Mozambique and Uganda. That contrasts with stagnation in South Asia, excluding India. No responsible equities manager will shift weightings based on such shreds of information. Most European companies are too global in scope for their domestic environments to matter much, except on taxation. Emerging-markets companies are subject to any number of factors that are more important than the broad innovative background: governance, currency, politics, macroeconomic policy and so on. For direct investors with a multidecade horizon, the innovation rankings could be a relevant input, however. The main service of the rankings may be to jog public discussion and single out examples for less innovative nations to follow. The U.K. and South Korea might offer different paths to a vibrant economy, but either could serve as an inspiration. I dont think these ratings are refined enough to be very useful in investing, says David Ahlstrom, a professor of management at the Chinese University of Hong Kong who writes frequently on innovation. But they may be interesting for academics and policymakers to work with a little like the corruption and ease-of-doing-business indicators, which do spur action. If the U.S. wants to be spurred to action by its also-ran status, Duttas first suggestion is to improve basic education. Thats an achievement that really would make America greater again. Making news this week, brokers revealed the biggest challenges they will face this year, an international insurer added a new manager for its business and one industry leader suggested a key market may see firmer premiums. Brokers revealed that the continued soft market is the biggest challenge they face in 2016, and one industry expert backed their concerns.Nearly a third of those surveyed said that the soft market will be their biggest challenge over the year with other familiar foes making up the rest of the top three.Kelly Townley has joined the business in the Brisbane office following more than a decade of experience in the insurance industry.Finally, a key coverage may see firmer premiums over the coming year according to one industry expert. Kirk Cheesman, managing director if NCI , who spoke on the release of the NCI Trade Credit Index noted that high profile insolvencies, such as those at Dick Smith and Laura Ashley, may see a change in the market.The impact of large insolvencies, especially in the first week of a new calendar year, will have the trade credit insurers revisit their exposure in those sectors and possibly also tighten up on premium rates, Cheesman said. What a difference a year makes in the world of ridesharing. Just 18 months ago, only one state (Colorado) had passed comprehensive legislation legalizing and regulating the emerging market of transportation network companies like Uber and Lyft. Now were down to just a handful of states that have yet to act. Joining Florida, Pennsylvania, Missouri and New Mexico among states that are seeing renewed legislative pushes in 2016, the majority leader of West Virginias House of Delegates has introduced legislation that would authorize the state Department of Motor Vehicles to license TNC drivers and enforce minimum basic requirements for insurance criminal background checks. H.B. 4228 the bill from Del. Daryl Cowles, R-Morgan cleared the House Roads and Transportation Committee earlier this week and now will be sent on to the House Finance Committee. Like other recent bills crafted in the wake of last years major inter-industry compromise, the measure provides that insurance requirements can be satisfied either by the driver or the TNC, and sets minimum levels of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, as well as $25,000 for physical damage. The measure also would clarify that TNC drivers are considered independent contractors under state law, provided both parties agree by contract and the TNC does not prescribe the drivers hours, territory or forbid drivers from doing other work or driving for rival TNCs. As a result, the law would stipulated that TNCs are not responsible to provide workers compensation coverage to drivers. The West Virginia Legislature came within a hair of passing a similar bill, S.B. 585, during last years session. Differing versions of the measure did manage to pass both houses, but the chambers ultimately could not reach a compromise on language prohibiting drivers from discriminating against passengers on the basis of sexual orientation or gender presentation. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, a Democrat, separately introduced a bill during this session, H.B. 4305, that would require TNCs to have a nondiscrimination policy and comply with nondiscrimination laws. Similar generic anti-discrimination language also is included in the Cowles bill, which states: (a) The transportation network company shall adopt a policy of nondiscrimination with respect to riders and potential riders and notify transportation network company drivers of such policy. (b) Transportation network company drivers shall comply with all applicable laws regarding nondiscrimination against riders or potential riders. (c) Transportation network company drivers shall comply with all applicable laws relating to accommodation of service animals. (d) A transportation network company may not impose additional charges for providing services to persons with physical disabilities because of those disabilities. Topics Virginia The Metra commuter railroad will miss a 2018 deadline for installing safety technology on all of its Chicago-area routes, but said it still expects to meet its obligations under a federal law requiring the expensive and complex updates. Metra is among four commuter railroads and three major freight railroads around the country that informed the federal government last week that they wont hit the target. Instead, Metra outlined an implementation plan under which it expects to satisfy certain criteria for the government to grant it an extension through Dec. 31, 2020. The technology known as positive train control, or PTC, uses GPS, wireless radio and computers to monitor train positions and automatically slow or stop trains that are in danger of colliding, derailing due to excessive speed or approaching track where crews are working. Congress nationwide technology mandate included almost no funding for a project expected to cost billions. Metra has said the cost of its upgrade between $350 million and $400 million is one factor in its delay, especially in the face of Illinois state budget stalemate and absence of a state bond program this year. The agency normally depends on state and federal funding for the vast majority of its capital budget. This year, there is no state money going toward its $185.7 million in capital improvements. Metra has had to put $400 million worth of capital projects on hold, and to keep its PTC program on track, it had to raise fares. Once the safety system is in place, the cost of maintaining and operating it is expected to total $15 million to $20 million a year. Among other challenges for Metra, the technology has to work seamlessly among many railroads that share the same tracks, a particular challenge in Chicago, the nations busiest rail crossroads. Another reason for the delay is that the technology is new and certain components have only recently become available, Metra says. Metra expects to have some of its system operational by 2018. The 2020 alternative schedule is allowed if all PTC equipment is installed, personnel trained and several other milestones reached by the end of 2018 a mark Metra expects to hit. For the past year, Metra has been vocal about the tremendous financial, regulatory, operational and technological challenges we face in implementing PTC on our system which is the most complex of any railroad in the nation, the agency said in an email. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Tech Dr. Robert Hartwig, an economist and the president of the industrys Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) since 2007, is leaving this summer to join the faculty of the University of South Carolinas Darla Moore School of Business, the organization announced. My decision to leave the Institute was an extremely difficult one. I love this job, this industry and the daily thrill and privilege of working with amazing people both at the organization itself and throughout the I.I.I.s membership, Hartwig said. At the same time, I have throughout my 23 year career in the insurance world always maintained strong ties to the academic community. After 18 years at the Institute, now is the right time for meboth personally and professionallyto make a change. I am truly looking forward to my next important roleattracting and educating young talent to this vitally important industry. Hartwig, who received his Ph.D. and Master of Science degrees in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was the I.I.I.s chief economist before becoming its president. Prior to joining the Institute, Hartwig held key roles at Swiss Re, the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Effective August 2016, Hartwig will become a faculty member in the University of South Carolinas Finance Department, which is within the Columbia, S.C.-based institutions Darla Moore School of Business. The university has an undergraduate Risk Management and Insurance (RMI) program. According to the announcement, he will teach courses in risk management, insurance and corporate finance, including courses in the Moore Schools professional MBA program. Hartwig will also become co-director of the Moore Schools Risk and Uncertainty Management Center. Bob Hartwig has done an extraordinary job as president of the I.I.I. and finding a successor to fill his shoes will be a daunting task, said Bruce Kelley, chairman of the I.I.I.s board of directors who is president and CEO of EMC Insurance Companies in Iowa. Under Dr. Hartwigs leadership, the I.I.I. bolstered its position as a thought leader in the industry and expanded dramatically the audiences who have access to the I.I.I.s award-winning editorial content, data and subject matter expertise. More than ever before, the I.I.I. is excelling in its mission to improve the understanding of insurancewhat it does and how it works. Members of the I.I.I.s board will serve as part of a search committee to find the I.I.I.s next president, Kelley said. Hartwig said he is proud of todays I.I.I. I have been very fortunate to lead an organization with many talented individuals, allowing the Insurance Information Institute to develop a stellar reputation worldwide in the industry. I am also very proud to say I will leave the Institute with its largest membership ever, and positioned for future success, Hartwig said. He said he is looking forward to maintaining ties with the industry and I.I.I. He will retain a formal relationship with the organization, periodically writing research reports, delivering presentations, working with the media and offering testimony to public policymakers on the I.I.I.s behalf. Topics Education Universities South Carolina Insurance Technologies Corporation (ITC), a Carrollton, Texas-based provider of agency marketing, rating and management software and services, announced that a panel of online aggregators will present the keynote address at ITC Agent Conference 2016. The panelists include Google Compare, Compare.com, CoverHound and The Zebra. The panel will discuss the online marketplace and the modern, connected consumer. ITC President Laird Rixford will serve as moderator for the event, which is scheduled for Friday, April 22, 2016. ITCs third annual user group conference Agent Conference will be held April 21-22, 2016, at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Grapevine, Texas. It will include 18 breakout sessions covering the latest in insurance agency marketing and technology, including ITC software; guest speakers; and networking events. Currently, ITC serves more than 200 insurance companies and more than 6,000 agencies. Source: ITC Topics Agencies Training Development A federal jury awarded $23.1 million on Wednesday to a 22-year-old black man who was unarmed when he was shot and paralyzed by a sheriffs deputy, but Florida lawmakers will have to approve any award above $200,000. The six-woman, two-man jury ruled after 31/2 hours of deliberation that Palm Beach County Sheriffs Sgt. Adams Lin violated Dontrell Stephens civil rights when he shot him in September 2013. Lin, who had stopped Stephens for riding his bicycle into traffic, testified that he shot Stephens four times because he reached for his waistband with his left hand and then flashed a dark object that he thought was a small handgun. Stephens testified that he was raising his hands when Lin opened fire for no reason. Video from the dashboard camera in Lins patrol car showed Stephens left hand was empty and a cellphone was in his right hand. An appeal is expected and Lins attorneys could ask Magistrate Judge Barry S. Seltzer to reduce the damages. The jury apparently rejected Lins claim that he had made an objectively reasonable mistake when he shot Stephens. The jurors declined comment as they left the courthouse as did Lin and his attorneys. Lin sat stoically as the verdict was read, while Stephens wept as he was wheeled into the courtroom minutes later. He declined comment. Jack Scarola, Stephens lead attorney, said the verdict is a victory not only for his client but for law enforcement officers who have been unfairly stigmatized by unjustified violence against young black men by a small minority of their colleagues. He said the verdict will help restore faith in the justice system among the African-American community. This will help good police officers do their duty and be far more effective in their communities, Scarola said. Under Florida law, the Legislature has to approve any lawsuit payment against a government agency that exceeds $200,000. In the past, legislators have been reluctant to do that, even in non-controversial cases. For example, it took about three years for the Legislature to approve a $3.5 million settlement for a Jacksonville teenager who was paralyzed when a large branch from a city-owned tree broke off and hit him in the head, paralyzing him. The city, admitting fault, had asked for him to be paid. In another case, it took more than four years for the Legislature to approve a $10.7 million settlement for a teenager who was permanently disabled when a speeding sheriffs deputy plowed into her car. A jury had awarded her $30 million. Scarola said legislators would not be fulfilling their sworn obligation if they failed to approve Stephens payment. He said they would be overriding a jury that heard all the evidence and found that a major injustice had been done, and condemning Stephens to a life of poverty and suffering. Stephens attorneys had said from the beginning that they would seek more than $5 million to cover his medical treatment and future care, but they did not mention the amount they would seek for pain and suffering until closing arguments to the jury Wednesday. Attorney Darryl Lewis told jurors Stephens will have more than $6 million in medical and care expenses during his lifetime, and that he deserved at least $18 million for his pain and suffering. An expert testified that he could spend more than 50 years in his condition. The case was among several nationwide that have sparked debate about the deaths of unarmed black males following encounters with law enforcement officers. Seltzer had instructed jurors that they could consider only the specific circumstances of Stephens shooting and no other. Lin, an Asian-American, was cleared of criminal wrongdoing by sheriffs investigators and local prosecutors and was later promoted to sergeant. Lin, 38 and a 12-year veteran of the sheriffs office, testified that he stopped Stephens for riding his bicycle into traffic and because he didnt recognize him from the neighborhood. Stephens, who admitted smoking marijuana earlier that morning and once served 90 days in jail for a felony drug conviction, had been riding to a friends house after a trip to a convenience store. In the dashcam video, Lin speeds up his patrol car to catch Stephens as he pedals down a West Palm Beach residential street. Stephens sees Lin and turns into the parking lot of a duplex, hops off his bike and puts it down, his right hand holding his cellphone. Stephens moves behind a car and both men are now outside the cameras view. Stephens testified Lin already had his gun drawn and shot him after he raised his hands. Lin denied that, saying he only drew and fired after Stephens flashed his cellphone like it was a gun. Scarola told the jury that Lin must have already had his gun pointed at Stephens because he couldnt have seen the cellphone, perceived it as a gun, drawn his own gun and fired in the two seconds Stephens was out of view of the dashcam video. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Dallas, TX, February 4, 2016- U.S. Risk Insurance Group, Inc., the nations sixth largest Property and Casualty wholesaler announced that it has named Stacey Ziska a Senior Broker/Underwriter for the U.S. Risk San Francisco Office. In her role, Stacey will be responsible for underwriting and producing binding and brokerage business. Stacey comes to U.S. Risk San Francisco with over 20 years of underwriting knowledge and experience. Charles Espinosa, AVP and Branch Manager of the U.S. Risk San Francisco office said, We are excited to have Stacey join our team. She brings a wide range of experience and local market presence which will make her a valuable addition to our production staff. Stacey Ziska can be reached at Stacey.Ziska@usrisk.com or 415.986.0938 About U.S. Risk Insurance Group U. S. Risk Insurance Group, Inc. (www.usrisk.com) is a specialty lines underwriting manager and wholesale broker headquartered in Dallas Texas. Operating 16 domestic and international branches, it offers a broad range of products and services through its affiliate companies, which include U.S. Risk Underwriters, U.S. Risk Brokers, U.S. Risk Financial Services, Unisource Program Administrators, Advocate Reinsurance Partners, LLC, Oxford Insurance Brokers, Ltd. (UK), James Hampden International Insurance Brokers Ltd. (UK), Lime Underwriting Ltd. (UK), Antarah FZE (UAE), and Abraxas Insurance A.G. (Zurich). U.S. Risk was ranked the 6th largest wholesaler by Business Insurance for 2015. Topics USA Agencies Underwriting Arbella Insurance Group has announced the launch of its workers compensation business using StoneRiver, Inc.s processing systems for policy and billing. Arbella Insurance has always been dedicated to service and relationships, said Paul Brady, vice president and chief information officer of Arbella, in a press release. Having our workers compensation business on StoneRiver systems delivers a new level of efficiency that directly relates to improved assistance and service for agents and policyholders. The Massachusetts-based P&C insurer ultimately plans to have all its commercial lines of business on StoneRiver core systems. The upgrade in software provides Arbellas business team with all the benefits of automating routine processes and the ability to adapt to a changing business environment, according to the companies. Join ITR and TMF Groups tax experts at 2pm CET (1pm GMT) on November 15 as they discuss how finance leaders are increasingly faced with doing more with less, and how CFOs should adapt. Monica Bhatia was also in the Global Tax 50 2014, and 2013 Monica Bhatia makes the Global Tax 50 for the third time running, having now led the secretariat of OECD Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes for almost four years. The French-based tax expert has an array of skills, having been trained in psychology, economics, law and finance. She has held posts as a commissioner in the Indian Income Tax Department, and in the Indian government as the director of tax policy and legislation, director of foreign tax and tax research and as an additional director of income tax, international taxation, before moving to Paris and the OECD in 2012. "2015 has been another incredibly demanding and rewarding year at the Global Forum," says Bhatia. "Our global reach is increasing. Not only is our membership continuing to expand and more jurisdictions are joining the Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance, but the depth of our engagement with our members is enhancing." The Global Forum is used by countries both within and outside of the OECD to increase transparency, working on money laundering and offshore issues as well as tax. Indeed, Bhatia and Pascal Saint-Amans joined together to criticise the European Commission's publication of a list of 30 non-cooperative jurisdictions blacklisted by EU member states. Much of the Forum's work this year has focused on engaging more deeply with its members. This work has involved, in particular, helping countries to implement international standards, with one example of its influence and success being the spread of automatic exchange of information (AEoI). The impact of the Forum's work is becoming more and more visible as more countries commit to AEoI and implement global standards, and it has also made inroads into the developing world to expand its work with countries there. "In particular, I am extremely proud of the role of the Global Forum in the Addis Ababa Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which put tax transparency centre stage for the next decade of work on international development," says Bhatia, who also points out the Forum's work in battling to maintain a position of influence in the area of tax transparency at a time of great and rapid change. "We also saw some challenges which appeared to cast a shadow on the remarkable progress made by many of our members on the agenda of tax transparency and moved swiftly to ensure that the Global Forum's work retains its pre-eminence in the assessment of progress on international standards on transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes," she says. All of this was achieved alongside Bhatia's regular workload, which included the completion of 41 peer reviews during 2015, while a framework for a new round of reviews has also been established. Allison Christians is a new entry this year Allison Christians is the H Heward Stikeman chairwoman in the law of taxation at the McGill University faculty of law in Canada. She has a particular focus on the relationship between taxation and economic development, including the role of government and non-government institutions and actors in the creation of tax policy. As well as her academic responsibilities and an upcoming book on tax and human rights, she works with the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT) and has a blog that discusses a variety of international tax themes. She tweets using the handle @taxpolblog. Here, ITR's Amelia Schwanke speaks to Christians about changing the status quo in tax, her priorities for the year ahead, and the importance of social media. International Tax Review: Can you tell us about your work as an ICRICT expert in 2015? Allison Christians: My main recommendation [in terms of reforming international taxation] is that the OECD is not the proper place for global tax policy to be promulgated; that the OECD as a forum represents the views of its own membership and raises issues of interest out of its own membership, therefore excluding the vast majority. That's a stomach problem, though, because the OECD has the infrastructure, has the institutions and always has had, so if you say the OECD is not the right place, where is the right place? And quite obviously the UN is the right place. But that's politically unpopular for the world's richest countries; it's very unpopular for the United States for example; they do not want tax policy being discussed at the UN, they want it under their own control in the OECD. I think anyone who studies international tax and development will come to this conclusion that the OECD is very convenient for its own members. It's a very good forum for representing the interests of its own members, but its membership is small and it is limited. So the constant issues facing developing countries just don't come up. ITR: Where did your career in tax begin? AC: As a law student I was interested in how law allocates resources, rights and power. I think in tax it was the moment that I realised and found [it to be] one of the principal tools we use to allocate resources and power not just within our own society but across societies. I was really intrigued by how this field that is so technical and apparently so uninteresting was actually the key to the global allocation of resources in some fashion. It was clear to me that the social, economic and political ends that taxation can achieve coupled with the sort of puzzle of law it's a complex, interesting, difficult and challenging area of law. When you put those together it was just obvious that I would want to spend a lot of time in my career thinking about this. ITR: Looking ahead to 2016, what do you expect to see in the tax world? AC: I think what we're going to see here is the implementation of peer monitoring and peer review [mechanisms]. Again, the OECD can't force you to change your domestic law but what it can do is say 'well we are going to watch, check each other, notice each other and talk about each other' and that becomes the enforcement angle of a global tax consensus. I think 2016 will be very interesting because you'll look at the goals of the Independent Commission [ICRICT] which are thinking about how tax policy works for the rest of the world, how tax policy mediates between multinational companies that are mainly based in rich countries and the rest of the world where they mainly operate and how well the OECD's project that did the proposals, did the policies, meets those needs? And, if they did, how they will be implemented? ITR: Are there any other specific projects you are working on this year? AC: I've got a couple projects; one is a big project I'm doing on tax and human rights. I'm really interested in how the global contribution of tax, the global allocation of tax revenues, impacts human rights and how we make a connection between what the international rules are and what people actually experience in their own lives and how these big picture ideas actually play out on the ground, so I continued to be interested in tax in development and tax in human rights as a part of that picture. The other project I'm working on is a big BEPS project: I'm going to do a multi-country study on BEPS implementation. I'm working on that with Steven Shay of Harvard in connection with the International Fiscal Association. ITR: You have quite an active digital and social presence with your blog and Twitter account; what benefits do you find in discussing tax on such a comfortable platform? AC: I think blogging is a way to do a couple of things; one is to think through contemporary issues as they arise and how they may fit into the bigger picture. It's also an interesting way to have an international conversation with people you wouldn't otherwise meet. Blogging has that capacity for you to meet people who are interested in your field, talk to them, collaborate, get to know them and never [physically] meet them. I think when you deal in international tax, let's be honest, it's a very scary area to deal with because it's so big, it's so massive and complex that you're pretty much always going to be wrong about something, the way you think about something, the way you interpret something; you're pretty much always going to have room for improvement in your thinking and blogging is a way to connect with people that can say 'what about this?' or 'how about that?' In many ways you just wouldn't get that input in your own circle. Once I'm blogging, I'm having a conversation with the world and I get much more rich input from people with a different perspective that can help me see the world in a way that I can't normally see. Aumenta considerevolmente il numero dei detenuti nelle carceri italiani. Il preoccupante dato e stato evidenziato dallAssociazione Antigone e riportato alla Camera dei Deputati: sarebbero 56.817 i reclusi, quasi 3 mila in piu (2.967) rispetto allo stesso periodo dellanno 2016, con un tasso di sovraffollamento di addirittura il 113,2%. Secondo lassociazione, lattuale tasso di crescita (3 mila detenuti in piu allanno) porterebbe a una situazione di assoluta emergenza da qui al 2020, la medesima riscontrata nel 2010, al netto di un sistema carcerario in condizioni di stabilita: 50.241 posti al 30 giugno 2017 a fronte dei 49.659. Dati per regione Analizzando i dati nel dettaglio, Antigone ha specificato la provenienza geografica dei detenuti presenti nel sistema carcerario del nostro Paese e di origini italiane: 5.473 fra i detenuti italiani sono nati nelle 7 regioni del Nord, 10.029 sono di origine campana, 7.253 vengono dalla Sicilia, 4.179 dalla Puglia, 3.669 dalla Calabria, 2.644 dal Lazio, con i soli cali che riguardano i reclusi originari della Basilicata, del Friuli-Venezia Giulia e della Valle dAosta. Per quanto riguarda le detenute di sesso femminile, lassociazione ha evidenziato la presenza di 2.285, il 4,2% del totale della popolazione detenuta: 49 sono quelle madri che vivono in carcere con 58 bimbi sotto i 3 anni di eta. I figli dei detenuti che vivono fuori dal carcere sono invece 24.795, di cui 5.449 stranieri. I reati Per quanto riguarda i motivi causa della detenzione, Antigone ha rilevato che a essere commessi sono perlopiu reati contro il patrimonio (31.883 persone sono detenute anche per questo motivo, fra le quali 8.929 straniere), contro la persona (22.609, di cui 7.006 stranieri), violazione della legge sulle droghe (19.752 di cui 7.386 stranieri), di quella sulle armi (10.072), reati contro la pubblica amministrazione (7.854), associazione a delinquere di stampo mafioso (7.048, di cui 95 stranieri). Lassociazione ha fornito dati relativi anche ai detenuti in possesso di un titolo di studio universitario, i quali sarebbero circa l1% del totale. Nazionalita e processi Per quanto riguarda i detenuti stranieri presenti nelle carceri italiane, essi rappresentano il 34,1% del totale della popolazione carceraria, percentuale in leggero aumento rispetto allo scorso anno (in calo del 3,3% rispetto al 2007, quando si attestava al 37,48%). Le comunita straniere piu rappresentate sono quella marocchina (18,5% degli stranieri in carcere), romena (14,1%) e albanese (13,4%), per le quali il tasso di custodie cautelari raggiunge il 41,4% contro il 32,5% degli italiani. Nel primo semestre del 2017 sono entrati in carcere complessivamente 25.144 persone, di cui gli stranieri sono il 45,8%.Dal 1992 ad oggi 25mila casi di ingiusta detenzione sono costati 630 milioni di euro. A proposito dei processi penali, Antigone ha rilevato che, al 31 marzo scorso, quelli pendenti erano 1.547.630 (rispetto ai 1.446.448 di dieci anni prima): Piu che intervenire sullallungamento dei tempi di prescrizione spiega lassociazione bisognerebbe ridurre il numero di reati con una massiccia depenalizzazione, a partire dalla questione droghe. Cio, liberando energie e risorse umane, aiuterebbe il contrasto alla criminalita organizzata e ai crimini dei potenti. Are social media networks still worthy investments? While there might be some naysayers who believe that the hype behind tech investments in networks such as Twitter (TWTR) and Facebook (FB) is all but over, that is hardly the case. The days of being able to invest in social media leaders such as Facebook and then watching those investments climb into the stratosphere may have passed, but that does not mean that other opportunities are not lurking around the corner, and savvy investors are well aware of this. (For a background on the major past investors in social media, see article: The 5 Biggest Investors In Social Media.) New Social Media Networks Drawing Funding from Investors TechCrunch recently reported that Insightpool attracted some $4 million in Series A funding. During its seed round, the startup social media network drew half a million in funding. What is it about Insightpool that has investors willing to throw their money at it? While Insightpool takes an approach similar to other social media networks, what truly sets the site apart from its larger and more well-known competitors is its approach to filtering. The result is the delivery of an opportunely-timed message to boost the chances of conversion. Whether or not Insightpool has the staying power to become the next Facebook remains to be seen, but investors are clearly willing to bet on it. Another social media startup worth watching is Medium. Created by Biz Stone and Evan Williams of Twitter, this microblogging platform offers users the opportunity to publish ideas and stories. Users can also use the site to curate their favorite stories and make recommendations using their networks. If you think it sounds a bit like Tumblr, you could be right. While no one really thought that a site that was originally dedicated to providing a platform for teens addicted to publishing fan fiction could ever take the world by storm, that's what it is well on its way to doing. Medium is following in the footsteps of Tumblr. Last year, Medium reported that it had closed a stunning $25 million round of funding. Cutting Through the Clutter in Social Media When it comes to cutting through the clutter of the social media world, Swiss-based Boldomatic is hoping that simplicity will come out on top. Based on a concept of publishing thoughts in bold text on a colored square, Boldomatic is already drawing support. The content-creation platform recently announced that it has closed $700,000 in seed funding and has acquired a user base of some 100,000 content creators. Founded in 2012, Boldomatic gives contributors the freedom to create text-based posts for increasing visibility on other social networks, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Lessons Learned from Snapchat With an ever-increasing number of social media networks putting their own spin on social engagement, the potential opportunities provided by such companies to deliver high returns for investors cannot be denied. While social media startups might seem like a dime a dozen, investors are all too well aware that a fledgling startup today could be tomorrow's Snapchat. What began as a class project for a couple of Stanford University students with absolutely no business experience, was later introduced to the world as Snapchat in 2012. Within three years, Snapchat had become one of the most popular social media and messaging apps in the history of social media. As Snapchat grew in popularity, investors came knocking at the door with their checkbooks in hand. Despite the fact that the Venice Beach, California startup had yet to make a penny, Facebook submitted a $3 billion all-cash offer. The two 20-somethings behind Snapchat soundly rejected the offer. While the messages that users send on Snapchat might disappear, the buyout offers did not. Before long, rumors began to circulate that Google (GOOG) had entered the bidding war with a $4 billion offer. No dice. Perhaps because of the startup's decision to turn down such solid offers, Snapchat was able to rake in an impressive amount of funding. Over the course of six rounds, the social media startup raised almost $650 million in funding. According to Nasdaq, Snapchat attained a $10 billion valuation due to the latest round of funding late last year. Most recently, the firm announced yet another round of funding that could push its valuation up to $19 billion. Now, rumors are swirling once again that Snapchat could be headed toward an IPO. (To learn about another high-profile social media IPO, see article: Evaluating The Facebook IPO.) Snapchat is not the only social media startup to have investors practically lining up at the door. Within three years of its launch, Pinterest, the social networking and online scrapbooking site, was valued at $1.5 billion, despite having no revenue. InfoWorld reports that there are now more than 80 tech startups valued at more than $1 billion, known as the Unicorn Club. The number of startups with high valuations has continued to grow at such an exponential rate that those startups valued at $10 billion or more are now known as decacorns. (To read about the acquisition of Instagram, another startup with a high valuation, see article: Facebook's Most Important Acquisitions) What Is Attracting Investors to Social Media Startups? Why are investors so willing to pour money into unproven business models that are not even generating a profit? One of the biggest reasons driving investors to fund social media startups is the ability of such firms to attract an ever-increasing crowd of young users. Snapchat, which quickly became a popular hit with teens, is just one case in point. The online habits and trends among the younger crowd can evolve quickly. Investors are well aware that hedging their bets early by investing in such startups could prove to be quite lucrative later on. Pinterest is another excellent example. The San Francisco-based company attracted investments of $225 million and was recently valued at $3.8 billion, according to The New York Times. Beyond the potential for a massive increase in valuation, investors are well aware that even though a social media network may not be generating a profit today, that does not mean that the potential is not there. Take Twitter, for instance, which has proven quite successfully that it is possible for a social media network to yield a profit with a large enough audience. Furthermore, when Twitter did make an initial public offering, it managed to pull in a $25 million market cap on the first day of trading, despite the fact that it had yet to generate a profit at the time. With that kind of growth potential available, it is little wonder that investors are practically stepping over one another to invest in unproven social media startups. The Bottom Line As is the case with any investment, there are never any guarantees, but as long as social media continues to grow and evolve, and at a rapid pace, the trend among investors to inject funding into social media startups is likely to remain strong. If you want to retire in the United Kingdom as an American, you may think that the transition will be easyeverything's in English, right? The U.K. does indeed offer some advantages to retirees, but many aspects of life there can take some adjustment, from the metric system to the autosthey drive on the left side of the road, sitting at steering wheels on car's right sideto the uniquely moist chill-to-the-bones climate. Here's what you should know before you cross the pond permanently. Key Takeaways Americans retiring to the U.K. need to qualify for a visa. The U.K. is expensive, though the farther from London, the more reasonable the prices are. American ex-pats can't join the U. K.'s National Health Service. Necessary Paperwork Americans can visit the U.K. as a tourist and stay for up to six months, no visa required. To stay longer, youll need to qualify for a visa. Family ties, established business connections to the U.K., or dual citizenship with a Commonwealth country like Canada may help. Owning property, however, does not guarantee a longer visa term. People who are already in the U.K. as a "retired person of independent means" can apply to extend their stay up to a maximum period of five years or for indefinite leave to remain, according to the UK Home Office. (That categorization is defined as those having a minimum yearly disposable income of 25,000 and meeting several other requirements). As the U.K. prepares to exit the European Union, much is still unsettled. We asked Lucy Culpepper, European correspondent for ex-pat-oriented site Live and Invest Overseas, what the implications might be for Americans anticipating a retirement move to the U.K. I really dont think anyone knows yet, she responded, least of all the British government or people. I cant see that it will adversely affect American retirees wanting to come here. In fact, it may be good for retirees with an income. Location Choices The location you choose will depend on the kind of life you want to lead, which gives you several options to consider: Urban or rural A busy city like London, Birmingham, or Edinburgh A smaller city like Exeter, Cheltenham, York, or Bath A small town like St. Ives, Wotton-under-Edge, Ambleside, Tenby, Beaumaris, Much Wenlock, or Chipping Norton International Livings report on retiring in England cites the east coast county of Suffolk as an attractive choice. Within commuting distance of London, Suffolk is a treasure trove of squat-towered churches and high-hedged lanes...thatched roof cottages painted in summertime colors...medieval towns of crooked streets and half-timbered Tudor houses. Devon, another county amply equipped with hedgerows and thatched cottages, as miles of countryside walks for ramblers and splendid seascapes as well. Cost of Living According to Culpepper, the U.K. is expensive. In my experience, its more than Spain, about the same as France and far more than Latin America, she says. Of course, actual costs vary widely depending on where you choose to live. Not surprisingly, London is the U.K.s most expensive destination. In Expatistans ranking of 282 cities in the world, its the 4th most expensive; in Europe, it ranks third, and in the U.K., it takes first place. Its public transportation is the most expensive in the world and housing costs are the highest in Western Europe. Numbeo, which also compiles cost-of-living data from cities around the world, reports an average rent of $2,291 for a one-bedroom apartment in Londons city center and $1,753 outside the city center as of July 2021. The average price to buy an apartment in the center of London is around $1,438 per square footjust over 2% more than a comparable apartment in New York City. Once you leave London, things get more reasonable. Edinburghs rental housing costs are 93.93% lower than in London, local transportation is 55% less and groceries are about 7.49% cheaper. Head for Plymouth and rent is 66.31% less than London, restaurants are about 13.24% cheaper, and overall, you would need around $6,602.60 (4,800) in London to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with $4,111.98 (2,989.35) in Plymouth. Healthcare As an American retiree living in the U.K., you wont be able to take advantage of the comprehensive National Health Service, except for emergencies. You will be required to purchase private health insurance. Information on insurance and many other matters including paying taxes, buying property, and arranging your move can be found on a number of ex-pat websites such as Expatica.com and UK-Yankee.com. The Bottom Line The United Kingdom is an attractive place for Americans to retire, according to Culpepper. American ex-pats are welcome in the U.K. In the provincial towns, Americans are still viewed as unusual, and as 'cool' among the younger generation, she says (though she advises staying away from political discussions). The U.K. is a safe country. It is a fantastic place for anyone who loves history, the countryside, eating out...Anyone who loves the outdoors and hiking will revel in the freedom to walk almost anywhere unrestricted...And its small enough to be able to travel quickly from one region to another and experience a complete change in culture. Beyond that, connections to Europe are good and cheap. One note of caution: Americans who come from the warmer/blue sky states may struggle with the weather. Top News - Investor Idea Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) Continues Acquisition Path With Purchase of ELMS Assets Including Factory in Mishawaka, IN., Enabling EV Production for Retail and Commercial Vehicle Lines BREA, Calif. - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces the US Bankruptcy Court approval on Oct. 13th, 2022 of its acquisition of electric vehicle company ELMS's (Electric Last Mile Solutions) assets in an all cash purchase. Top EV Stock News - Investor Idea EV Stocks Driving Higher: (NASDAQ: $MULN) (NASDAQ: $TSLA) (NYSE: $NIO) (NYSE: $F) Vancouver, Delta, BC - October 20, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Investorideas.com, a leading investor news resource covering EV and automotive stocks releases a special report featuring Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN), covering the continued growth of the EV market as government policy and infrastructure plans sync up with consumer and investor interest in the EV space. Top AI Stock News - Investor Idea Breaking AI Stock News: FatBrain (OTCQB: LZGI) Acquires Confidential Computing Platform ZeroTrust to Protect Data Privacy and Accelerate Innovation for Millions of Growth Businesses NEW YORK, NY - October 19, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) FatBrain AI (LZG International, Inc.) (OTCQB: LZGI), the leader in powerful and easy-to-use artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for star enterprises of tomorrow, has acquired the confidential computing and privacy intellectual property (IP) plus software assets of Zero2A PTE LTD ("ZeroTrust Platform"), a software company based in Singapore. Top AI Cybersecurity Stock News - Investor Idea AI Cybersecurity Stock GBT (OTCPK: $GTCH) is Researching the Development of a Machine Learning Driven, RF Cybersecurity System and Protocol San Diego, CA - October 13, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) GBT Technologies Inc. (OTC PINK: GTCH) is researching the development of a machine learning driven radio frequency (RF) cybersecurity system and protocol. Check out our Podcasts for great investor ideas: Get new posts by email: Subscribe Powered by Investorideas.com Newswire: Subscribe to Investor Ideas Newswire In a recent interview with Bravo , Cynthia Bailey talks about this week's explosive episode of. Cynthia Bailey clears up all the BFF drama and weighs in on Kenya and Kim's argument. Check it out below!Cynthia Bailey: At the beginning of the meeting I was hopeful that the three of us could figure out a way to work together on "THE 'MERCIAL." I didnt realize how bad the tension had gotten between Kenya and Kim until I sat down with them one-on-one. As business women, both of these ladies have strengths that I admire and value. We all watched Kim grow up in the industry, and I love Kenya's creativity, which would make them (in my mind) a dynamic duo. Obviously, that vision never came to fruition. I felt like Kenya brought personal issues she was having with Kim to the meeting and was feeling "some type of way" about me not giving her another opportunity to pitch her concept. I assume this is why the conversation took a quick left. When I worked on "Life Twirls On," it was business and I was professional. I was surprised that she did not show me the same professionalism for my project. At the end of the day, whether she decided to be involved or not, I would have welcomed her support.CB: No, I was not nervous about inviting NeNe and Gregg. Although we have not been friends for a couple of years, when they came to our home for drinks, it felt just like old times. Peter and I were delighted to put the past behind us and move forward.CB: I think the BFF drama was blown way out of proportion. There are other friendships in the group besides me and Kenya or me and NeNe. However, no one seems to really focus on them or question whether or not they are besties. I love Kenya and my relationship with her, but to my knowledge I have never referred to her as my best friend. We have become very close friends over the past couple of years, and I look forward to many more.NeNe and I recently rekindled our friendship. This meant a lot to me, because when I joined the group almost six years ago, she was the first one I connected with. There was no denying our connection. Jokingly, a Friend Contract was issued and signed shortly after. The rest is history. I am grateful for the friendship I have developed with Kenya, and I am also very excited to have my good ol girlfriend NeNe back in my life. Besties, BFFs, or however you choose to label us, I feel blessed to call both of these women my friends.What do you think about Cynthias blog?airs Sunday nights at 8/7c only on Bravo. For International TV ListingsSource/Photo Credit: Bravo Phil Coulter from Derry, Northern Ireland and Andy Cooney from New York join forces for Celtic Crossings, a rare North American tour that brings these two icons of Irish music together for a limited time only. The show promises to be an evening of Celtic tranquility with some of classic songs by Phil Coulter sung by the internationally-beloved Andy Cooney. Coulter and Cooney are pleased to be sharing the spotlight with special guest Geraldine Branagan and the Irish Pops Ensemble. The concert will feature offerings from their latest releases including Coulters Echoes of Home, a collection of the most glorious Celtic melodies. Andy Cooneys newest album, which will also feature in the show, Bright Brand New Day, produced by Coulter, features many of his songs, including a highly charge ballad of love and loss Noreen. Originally composed by Coulter as a wedding gift to Liam Neeson and his bride, the late Natasha Richardson, the melody was rst named for the actress. It was years later, after Natasha lost her life during a tragic ski accident, that Phil added lyrics to the enduring melody and renamed the song Noreen. This is the beautiful music video for the song, featuring Cooney and Coulter: The Celtic Crossings tour will be traveling to the Berklee Performance Center, Boston, Massachusetts, on Saturday March 12. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at www.berklee.edu/box-ofce or by calling Bridgets - An Irish Tradition at 508-285-9700. About the artists Phil Coulter Phil Coulter is currently celebrating 50 years in the music business. Known as Irelands musical ambassador, he has captured the hearts of millions throughout the world with his evocative lyrics and melodies. His career is decorated with 23 platinum discs, 39 gold discs, 52 silver discs and two Grand Prix Eurovision awards. Coulter has enjoyed a long and varied career as a songwriter, producing hits for a range of artistes from Van Morrison to Sinead OConnor, from Elvis Presley to the Bay City Rollers. Who could forget Saturday Night? In 1984, Coulter launched himself as an artist in his own right by releasing a piano-led orchestral album called Classic Tranquility. His follow-up album, Sea of Tranquility, became the biggest selling album of all time in Ireland. The Sea of Tranquility album captured the heart of President Clinton which led to numerous invitations to perform at The White House. In 2007, Phil was the musical mastermind and original songwriter behind Celtic Thunder, an act which found huge success on PBS and has regularly topped the Billboard World Music Charts. Phil's contribution to music continues to be recognized; he was awarded the Gold Badge from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors in 2013. He was honored on both sides of the Atlantic, in 2014, with induction into the Irish Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at Boston College. Andy Cooney Andy Cooney, with his outstanding tenor voice and dynamic stage presence, has captured the hearts of Irish music lovers from coast to coast. In 1994, Andy was christened Irish Americas Favorite Son by The New York Times. Cooneys rst break came in 1986 from the well- known New York based Irish band leader, Paddy Noonan. They recorded several albums together and made famous the ever popular Irish Wedding Song. Cooney recorded his rst PBS TV special in 2006, An Evening of Irish Classics, a production that featured Cooneys Irish band along with The Nashville String Machine. It aired in 40 different markets throughout the US and Canada. In 2008, Cooney recorded his rst symphony CD with the RTE Concert Orchestra in Dublin. On this release, Cooney was joined by Grammy Winning Artists Larry Gatlin and Crystal Gayle, and Irish tenor Ronan Tynan. This collaboration led to Cooneys production show, American Voices, a three-artist show featuring Cooney, Larry Gatlin, and Crystal Gayle, which toured for a year, taking in 18 cities. Cooney took the big step to New York Citys Carnegie Hall in 2009 and 2010, headlining The Magic of Christmas, which enjoyed two decisive sell outs in that venerable venue. In 2011, Cooney formed The New York Tenors which now features the musical talents of Daniel Rodriguez and Christopher Macchio. The New York Tenors, who continuously receive high critical acclaim everywhere they perform, recently played to a packed Carnegie Hall in December 2015. Cooney has recorded 18 albums to date, with his 19th release produced by Phil Coulter, called Bright Brand New Day. Special guest Geraldine Branagan Geraldine Branagan, with her trademark owing blonde hair, has been one of the music worlds most glamorous stars since the 1980s. With hit records in Ireland and number one albums in South Africa, she was the rst to entertain the Irish troops in Lebanon, and represented Luxembourg in the Eurovision Song Contest. Some of her recent performances include The National Concert Hall in Dublin, The Cork Opera House, and Carnegie Hall. In December 2014, Andy Cooney and Phil Coulter teamed up with special guest Geraldine Branagan to create a production show: Celtic Twilight Christmas. The group enjoyed ve stellar sellout performances in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, and New York's Carnegie Hall a performance attended by President and Mrs. Bill Clinton. Where is the best Irish pub in your state? Theres no greater institution in Ireland than a trip to the pub, and our knack for creating a perfect little cozy haven where you can have a good catch-up with friends or a bit of craic with strangers has spread to fine drinking establishments all over the world. Theres something very special about an Irish bar and the very best ones make you feel right at home the second you step through the door for the first time, but there are those that manage that fine balance of good food, a good pint of Guinness, friendly service and slightly old-fashioned decor a touch better than others. The US is home to a wide variety of Irish pubs, but if youre looking for the best Irish pub experience away from home, where are the best ones to frequent? Buzzfeed had the very smart idea to ask review engine Yelp, for the inside scoop on their sites most highly rated Irish pubs in each state, resulting in a comprehensive list of the very best Irish across the US, according to the people whove been there. If your favorite place wasnt chosen, let us know what makes it so special in the comments section, below. Now, well be traveling slowly through them all just to make sure! Read more: Study reveals that living near a pub makes you happier Describing itself as a local hangout with food worthy of a road trip, the food at Luckys, including their $5 Irish nachos, has certainly earned itself some rave reviews on Yelp. Awesome burgers, beyond any burger I have had in many years. Got the Hickory 1/2 lb burger. For 6:00 on Sunday service was awesome too. Friendly atmosphere, big screens all over. Will definitely be going to see the live music very soon. [sic] Great service, neat atmosphere, but the food ... Damn it's good. Chefs were featured on local morning talk show.[sic] 2. Alaska - Lucky Lady Pub, Juneau Now owned by a 25-year patron, Mark Ericson, Lucky Lady Pub was purchased as the Pamaray Club by Mary Joyce in the 1970s and renamed because Mary considered herself a very lucky lady. A laid back dark local's bar with TV's, pool table, friendly vibe, said the reviewers. 3. Arizona - Tim Finnegans Irish Restaurant & Pub, Phoenix With some nice themed options such as the Killarney chicken and, of course, Irish favorites such as corned beef and cabbage and garlic/curry chips, the food at Tim Finnegans makes people very excited: NOT YOUR TYPICAL MEDIOCRE BAR FOOD! DELICIOUS BEYOND BELIEF! Seemed like the longest traveling day ever and we found this gem. I ordered the corned beef and cabbage and thought I died and went to heaven. Some of the greatest mashed potatoes ever. 4. Arkansas - Cregeen's Irish Pub, North Little Rock Cregeens (meaning little rock in Irish) was apparently built in Dublin and shipped to Arkansas so you know its authentic! Always my first stop when I get off the plane. Nice, chill place. Great bartenders and a nice menu. I really love this section of Little Rock. 5. California - The Shamrock Irish Pub & Eatery, Murrieta Now it feels like Independence weekend. QUEL BORDEL getting the party started! It's a kicking Friday! Posted by The Shamrock - Irish Pub & Eatery on De hAoine, 3 Iuil 2015 Opened in December 2012 by Dubliner Graham Judge and Mancunian Paul Little, The Shamrock has quickly seen off the competition with authentic Irish culture and charm, hand-painted murals, a solid oak bar and genuine memorabilia straight from Ireland. They are also involved in Get Shamrocked, the biggest 2-day Irish Music Festival in Southern California featuring 15 amazing bands. The food is great; the whiskey beer burger with beer batter bacon MUST be tried if only once (pick your own outrageous explicative ). 6. Colorado - Jack Quinn's, Colorado Springs Opened in 1998, Jack Quinn's has become a social hub in Colorado Springs, featuring music and entertainment as well as good food all days of the week, even hosting a running club on Tuesday nights. "On a night of bar-hopping through downtown Colorado Springs, we rolled into Jack Quinn's with small-stage entertainment in full-swing thanks a jovial gent leading small packs of tourists in sing-a-longs," said one reviewer. "It was fun times too after he pulled our group up and led us in belting out Irish tunes like 'I Useta Lover' and 'The Irish Rover' for a tip well-earned." 7. Connecticut - Inishmor Pub, Colchester Named after Inis Mor in Galway, the owners traveled through Ireland in their 20s and sought to bring the atmosphere they experienced back home with them. In my opinion, the best place in town for an all-around night out experience. From drinks at the bar t authentic and unique Irish food, this place accomplishes all. Great beer selection...Guinness served to perfection.... Shepherd's Pie- Should Never be Taken Off the Menu! My Go To Place, at least once per week....You Will Enjoy![sic] Claiming to be Delaware's only authentic traditional Irish restaurant and bar, Sheridans is owned by two Co. Dublin blow-ins. Every time I've gone, the service is fast and friendly, and the food is excellent. Delicious Irish Pub! Went there with a friend, excellent service and good food, including dishes we had not seen at other Irish restaurants.[sic] 9. Florida - Celtic Ray Irish Pub, Punta Gorda This is for real! Owner a hoot! Best jokes! Great food, be sure to check out the fish and chips. Great beer selection. But most of all, I forgot how beautiful Irish gals are! The best smiles in the planet.[sic] I will tell you hands down this Pub takes me back to Ireland! hands down the best atmosphere and great staff. The decor is identical to pubs in Ireland. 10. Georgia - Shenanigans, Dahlonega Outstanding service, beer, and food at very reasonable prices. The Sausage Dip appetizer is awesome. You won't be disappointed. This is a delightful traditional Irish restaurant. The food was served hot and had obviously been prepared with care. The friendly and happy servers made this a great dining experience. Originally the Royal Hawaiian Saloon, owner Don Murphy has brought a taste of the homeland to this waterfront spot. OK - great pub with very good food - why five stars - SERVICE is off the charts. Honestly the best Irish Pub food I've ever had. The ambiance of this place is enough for me to come here regularly. 12. Idaho - MickDuffs Brewing Company, Sandpoint Owned by brothers Mickey and Duffy Mahoney, the pair opened the brewing company because of their own fondness for hand-crafted beer. I kid you not, it was the best burger I've had in roughly 13 years. I told my buddies that I was in love with my burger. This place is the best. Every damn Sunday. Definitely upscale pub-style grub. Loving it. 13. Illinois - Mollies Public House, Riverside "Come in if you're good looking," the favorite phrase of the owners Grandmother Mollie (Flynn) Carroll from Westmeath. What a hidden gem!!! First and foremost, I absolutely loved this place, wow! Let me just tell you it was a great time! Food was amazing and the Bartenders did a great job making sure everyone always had a cocktail and were there if we needed anything. 14. Indiana - OBryans Nine Irish Brothers, West Lafayette Awesome atmosphere, theme, decorations and live Irish music. Lots of little areas to make it intimate. Servers were on top of their game. And the food....everything we ordered was phenomenal. Highly recommend.[sic] The tap is also top notch. Wish I'd have gotten a Guinness because it looked creamy and perfect.[sic] 15. Iowa, Dublin Bay Irish Pub & Grill, Ames Describing itself as the perfect overgrown family room where members of the neighborhood meet, Dublin Bay Irish Pub offers the perfect Irish fare. The best place in ames!!! Great service great management! ! They have the best patio in town!![sic] It's amazing that this place could be considered a "hidden gem" of Ames, but it really is easy to miss. A favorite place for many years. A neighborhood favorite. Always busy. Excellent service. Great bar to have a drink or eat at. Friendly atmosphere. God, I love y'all! Why is your service/food so damn good? A gem on Mission, I declare.... 17. Kentucky - Molly Malones Irish Pub & Restaurant, Covington Easily the best and most authentic Irish pub in the Cincinnati area. Great atmosphere, good pub grub and knowledgeable bar staff who know the proper way to draw a pint. O M G! This place is fantastic!!! If I could give it 10 stars I would! 18. Louisiana - Erin Rose, New Orleans A loveable neighborhood bar in the French Quarter. Just about the perfect place to bring your out-of-town guests. Who can resist their frozen Irish coffee?? Not me, and every person I've taken here agrees. I wish I could give this place more than 5 stars. Honestly. It's that amazing. The killer poboys served in the very back of the bar are pure evil genius.[sic]" 19. Maine - Feile Restaurant & Pub, Wells Located in the historic old structure that housed the Lindsey Tavern from 1799 until the mid-twentieth century, Feile is owned by Limerick locals Joe and Tracy Ryan, carrying on the success of their l pubs in Ireland. Love this restaurant! Cozy, and family-friendly, atmosphere. Hands down, the BEST corned beef and cabbage I have ever had. 20. Maryland - Galway Bay Irish Pub, Annapolis A go-to favorite restaurant. Whenever we have out-of-town guests who may not be as big into seafood as we are, we take them here. 21. Massachusetts - Keltic Kitchen, West Yarmouth Perfect stop for a full Irish! This place served me one of the best breakfast I've ever had. We knew it was going to be good when the line to get in was spread out into the parking lot 22. Michigan - Sullivans Public House, Oxford Chef's at it again with some amazing features for this week! Nice job brother!!!~ Soup Du Chef ~Vegetable... Posted by Sullivan's Public House on De Ceadaoin, 16 Nollaig 2015 Sullivan's is an absolute gem. They have the best salmon around. I have never had a bad meal here. The owners are great and very friendly. Made from scratch Irish fair, by some authentic Irish chef. Bangers and Mash, Shepherd's Pie, and Irish beers on tap from their authentic Irish bar. So cozy and inviting. 23. Minnesota - Pub 112, Stillwater Yes we're jamming tonight. Posted by Pub 112 on De hAoine, 9 Deireadh Fomhair 2015 Great little treasure in Stillwater. Vast beer selection.....friendly wait staff....and amazing food! Live sports on 4 screens. Live music on the weekends! 24. Mississippi - Irish Coast Pub, Gulfport Owner and his wife run the joint. Place is incredible. Great music. There's an open mic type night. Phenomenal bands. Cold ass beer. And the food... Amazing. Irish Nachos are a must.[sic] 25. Missouri - John D. McGurks Irish Pub, Saint Louis With its Irish musicians and artifacts, you could be sitting in a pub in Dublin. I've always wanted to go to Ireland, buuuuuut my bank account is currently in the red (waiting on those refunds, lol) However, walking into McGurk's, it's exactly what I'd imagine a true Irish pub to be like in Ireland -- great selection of drinks, loud music and most importantly, delicious comfort food. McGurk's has all that and more![sic] 26. Montana - Celtic Cowboy, Great Falls Eat, Drink and BE Irish! Posted by The Celtic Cowboy on De Domhnaigh, 31 Eanair 2016 Named after Welsh immigrant Robert Vaughn, the first European settler in the county, the Celtic Cowboy was one of Great Falls earliest philanthropists and most prominent citizens. Tons of beer on tap and a great food menu! Never had a bad meal. Service is amazing! Arlene is our favorite server! She memorizes our drink orders and she's super friendly and sweet![sic] 27. Nebraska - Brazen Head Irish Pub, Omaha Modeled on the Brazen Head on Bridge Street in Dublin, the Omaha version was designed in Dublin, built in Wexford and then shipped over to the US. My first time ever having corned beef and cabbage and I am definitely glad this is where I came. What an authentic-looking Irish bar. The staff was friendly and the menu had a ton of options. 28. Nevada - McMullans Irish Pub, Las Vegas The staff is very friendly and quaint. The food is perfect to cure your munchies. The drinks are perfectly poured. What more could you ask for at a place like this?! Never had a bad meal here, everything is always divinely delicious! I love the atmosphere, the best Irish pub in Vegas hands down! 29. New Hampshire - May Kellys, North Conway Even fitted out with its own post office! "Another GREAT meal, GREAT view from deck! Can't wait to come back! Again, and again...three years and counting! 30. New Jersey - Anglesea Pub, North Wildwood What a great find in a sea of wannabes !!! A perfect pint, excellent wings, cozy atmosphere, swift and friendly service - why was last night our very first visit to the Anglesea Pub? We have a new "go to." Looking forward to trying each of their nightly specials. 31. New Mexico - Two Fools Tavern, Albuquerque Fantastic Irish breakfast with a Guinness. They go hand in hand like Red and Green. In true New Mexico fashion, Two Fools Tavern is sure to surprise because it steps out of the usual pub, while still embracing its Duke City roots. 32. New York - Cronin & Phelans, Astoria, Queens In the city with an Irish pub on almost every block, its hard to pick just one but the Yelp reviewers love this Queens local. This place had some pretty darn good Shepards Pie. The owner is a nice guy. I like places like that. When you leave he comes and shakes your hand and thanks you for coming. 33. North Carolina - The Belfast Mill, Charlotte Like the other reviews, this is a wonderful classic North East style local Irish bar with no bells and whistles. This is here to serve drinks, and have typical bar conversations. I think this is the best bar in Charlotte. 34. North Dakota - Blarney Stone Pub, Bismarck Embrace the gift of the blarney with a good pint or enjoy Dinner in Dublin in this North Dakota favorite. Excellent food and beer. You WON'T be disappointed with their Blarney Dip sandwich. I just can't seem to get over how much I love this place. The atmosphere is outstanding. The place is frickin HUGE. 35. Ohio - Parnells Irish Pub, Cleveland You cannot find better people than the staff and owner at Parnell's. A must stop before or after a show on Public Square. Its also a great spot to drop in with a friend and catch up over a drink. What I thought was going to be a non-descript, forgettable, quick pick-me-up actually was a very pleasant way to spend a late afternoon. 36. Oklahoma - Kilkennys Irish Pub, Tulsa Now this is a local gem! Fantastic pub with one of the best menus I have ever seen we enjoyed appetizer or that had a potato pancake and chicken and other goodies in it it was so delicious. Never been to a bar by myself before. The people there are friendly and inviting. The bartender is HILARIOUS. 37. Oregon - Irish Table, Cannon Beach Owned by brothers Sean, Luke, Levi and Shane with Seans wife Crystal cooking up a storm, you could be sitting at an Irish kitchen table. Amazing! Cheese platter, mussels, steak and ling cod! All delish! My husband tried talking them into opening a place in Portland. The Irish Table is amazing on every level... I had the Prawns last night based on the server's recommendation and they were outstanding. The chandeliers and decor are perfect and everyone was so friendly and welcoming. I felt like part of the family!! 38. Pennsylvania - Bill Murphys Irish Saloon, Philadelphia Essentially the platonic ideal of what a neighborhood bar should be Because of the wide range of positives, it's easy to settle into Murphy's in any scenario from family dining to a casual date to watching sports on their many TVs. OMG the turf burger is LIFE!!! So glad to have this place in my neighborhood. I'm not big on bars these days, but I love pub fare. 39. Rhode Island - Dohertys East Ave Irish Pub, Pawtucket I love a beer heaven! More selection than one'll ever get to, thank you Doherty's! The servers are always lovely and the junk on the walls is worth looking at (I always find something I would steal if I were a klepto, but I'm not). Do you want real Irish food? Like, actually tastes like your Irish family made it? Doherty's has got it. 40. South Carolina - Madra Rua Irish Pub, Summerville What an absolutely gorgeous day to have lunch on our Paddy-o! We're ready for you!Lunch Specials:Jalapeno ChickenNY Steak HoagieTex Mex BurgerSoups:Lobster BisqueChicken & Pepper Posted by Madra Rua Irish Pub - Park Circle on De Mairt, 17 Samhain 2015 Yum.... Just had lunch here for the first time and seriously thinking about going out and sitting in my car until dinner! I had one of the Daily specials which was a queso burger. The fisherman's pie is delicious! Madra Rua is by far the most authentic pub in the Charleston area and very reasonably priced! 41. South Dakota - McNallys Irish Pub, Sioux Falls With family Sundays, the Jameson Jewel cocktails, and drunken mussels, McNallys came up top in South Dakota. Excellent friendly efficient staff. Dublin cheesesteak was good for the hubby who also enjoyed the champs. I had the Guinness sliders which was just perfect for my smaller appetite. Cool bar with a great atmosphere. ...and the food-my god the food is impeccably delicious. Try their special. If I knew the place a bit better I'd feel perfectly comfortable just saying, I'll take whatever the chef serves me 42. Tennessee - McNamaras, Nashville Musician Sean McNamara, his wife Paula, and friends Kirk Orndorff, and Francis "Majic" Gyelbi came together to give you what they feel the perfect Irish bar should look and feel like. They must be doing something right! Very good! The shepherd's pie was fabulous, as were the black and tan onion rings. I grew up in NY & Boston and love a good pub. McNamara's nails it. Food is excellent. Live music is great. Another pub created in Ireland and shipped to the US, named in honor of Bessie Dee Riley, an Irish immigrant who traveled to the US to escape the famine. Very good Irish pub and they have an amazing harpist Kristen Gibbs playing few days a week. We went there 3 days in a row just to listen her. BD'S holds true to every expectation of a pub. It has charm and lots of character coupled with delicious food and excellent staff. 44. Utah - Rock & Reillys Irish Pub, Park City Join Reilly for the 4th Annual Stupor Bowl! Rep your favorite team with team inspired food including Carolina style pulled pork sliders and Manning Mac & Cheese. Wash it down with Panther Punch shots or toast the Broncos with buckets of Coors Lights #superbowl #broncos #panthers A photo posted by Rock & Reilly's Irish Pub (@rockandreillys) on Feb 2, 2016 at 10:49am PST According to Good Morning America, this Irish rock bar is home to one of the top ten grilled cheese in America. Huge fan of this place. I come in whenever I'm in LA. The in house whiskey is fabulous and the staff is great. The food is good for the most part, especially the wings. No doubt my favorite sports bar in LA. I could spend every Sunday here and it never get old. Absolutely obsessed with the food - especially the nachos and boneless chicken wings. 45. Vermont - McGraths Irish Pub, Killington Great bar built right into the mountain. Rocks to sit on in the bar area and tables made of local wood. Stew was delicious. Great food!! Had the turkey melt and it was delicious! There was apple butter on the Irish soda bread, along with turkey, melted cheese, and apple slices. Lots of great flavors. 46. Virginia - The Celtic House Irish Pub & Restaurant, Arlington This is exactly what I want in an Irish Pub - fresh Guinness, Irish accidents, beer specials and attentive service. I was immediately impressed by the small but jubilant bar crowd, Irish owner who personally came to our table to check on us many times, efficient waitress, awesome happy hour specials, great beer list, and overall menu which would please even the pickiest of eaters. 47. Washington - Shawn ODonnells, Seattle Thanks to all of you that came out to our Everett pub for the St Pats festival. Good Times!The kid threw a pretty good party at our Seattle O'Donnell's.Check out this 11 sec clip. Wish I could have been at both. Posted by Shawn O'Donnell's American Grill and Irish Pub on De hAoine, 20 Marta 2015 Bread Pudding was delish!! Monte Cristo, Fish N Chips and Irish Nachos were all tasty! Will try again. This pub is the epitome of fun Irish food and drink! The soda bread is served with honey butter. The clam chowder has cabbage in it! Added to that is a fun atmosphere with Irish music and friendly service. This is the epitome of dive bars/local Irish pub, with unexpectedly excellent food. The bartenders are friendly, the food is great, the location is convenient, and the drinks are solid. I love this place. Time after time I'm welcomed by bartenders who remember my name and my drink. 49. West Virginia - Irish Pub on Washington Street, Lewisburg Sellers of the most Guinness in West Virginia! The Irish stew was fabulous as was the shepherd's pie. Really, really solid food. And it really stuck to your bones. I have also never seen such an incredible beer selection anywhere in WV. Great staff, all always ready to serve you with a smile and conversation. Authentic Irish music performed live most nights by one of the owners makes it even better! 50. Wisconsin - County Clare Irish Pub, Milwaukee A beautiful tribute to County Clare with 20 stained glass windows and a Saints Snug. County Clare claims A pint of Guinness is the freshest here outside of St. James Gate itself. If I never eat at another Irish-food restaurant aside from County Clare again, I would die happy knowing that I had tasted the best Irish Pub in Milwaukee. 51. Wyoming - Pat OHara Brewing Company, Cody And last but not least, a great Irish microbrewery in Wyoming. Love the Irish Egg Rolls! All the sandwiches are good. Service is welcoming. Good spot for football games. This place was a great find in Cody. Great beer, good food, and friendly staff. It felt like more of a local place than a tourist trap. This list was compiled by Yelp and Buzzfeed using an algorithm that looked at the number of reviews plus the star rating for every business using the tags Irish pubs and Irish restaurants. H/T: Buzzfeed * Originally published in February 2016. The Facebook page of loyalist flag protesters, who celebrated the deaths of the 14 victims of Derrys Bloody Sunday, has been taken down. Last weekend marchers gathered in the city to mark the 44th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. The group, the Loyal Peoples Protest, had posted an image of the Bloody Sunday wounded on Facebook with the caption: "Paras 14 Republicans 0. Enjoy your day, we did." The decision to remove the Facebook page was related to infighting within the Loyal Peoples Protest group and not over criticism for the Bloody Sunday post, according to the Irish News. Bloody Sunday took place on Jan 30, 1972, when British soldiers (paratroopers) shot 26 unarmed civilians during a peaceful protest against internment. Fourteen people died. In 2010, following the release of the Saville Inquiry into the incident, the British Prime Minister David Cameron apologized for the soldiers' actions. John Kelly, whose brother Michael (17) was one of the 14 killed on Bloody Sunday, told the loyalists responsible for the Facebook page in question to go and get a life. Speaking to the Irish News Kelly said, It is just typical of the thing that happens at this time of year. These were 14 innocent people who lost their lives, it doesn't matter what side of the community you come from. It certainly falls in with their sick mindset when they put up these disgusting remarks. He added, It is sadly part and parcel of what we have to face. We believe these people are sick in the head. It goes right back to 1972 when the families received anonymous letters, hate-mongering and sectarian, from the likes of the UVF and others. Last Sunday thousands gathered for the annual commemoration march, retracing the route of the original 1972 protest. The Loyal Peoples Protest is behind the 12-hour Union flag vigil being planned for Belfast City Hall, on St. Patricks Day. The group organizes regular weekly union flag protests despite dwindling numbers. The Irish News reported that there were just three members at their last vigil. Before their Facebook page was taken down the Loyal Peoples Protest group said it had no intention of calling off their March 17th protest, planning during a day when thousands will gather in the area to celebrate St. Patricks Day. Previously, the slogan "No Surrender" and "We will never back down" were posted alongside UDA feud widow's payout bid boost the advertisement for the St Patrick's Day protest. The most prominent supporter of the original Union flag protests, Ruth Patterson, the former DUP councilor, who is running for the Assembly election as an independent, and her campaign manager Jamie Bryson, a County Down loyalist, have both spoken of their opposition to the St Patrick's Day protest. Patterson asked the group to think again. She said she did not think there is a strategic or political purpose in organizing a protest on St Patrick's Day. The Loyal Peoples Protest had posted on Facebook We would urge these same people to condemn those who will flaunt the Irish tricolor on this day, as they have in previous St Patrick Day parades through our city center. They added The LPP Union Flag Vigil due to take place on the 17th of March 2016 will as planned take place . NO SURRENDER. Read more: New claims suggest IRA informer deliberately set Shankill bomb to hurt more civilians According to a New York Times interview, Jeremy Wilson is the biggest con artist since "Catch Me if You Can" with an Irish twist. Jeremy Wilson if that is his real name has impersonated war veterans, Microsoft executives and undocumented Irish immigrants with IRA connections. From his high school days until now, at age 42, he has assumed 27 identities in five different states and swindled his way into hundreds of thousands of dollars. His decades of conning came to an end possibly on New Years Eve, when he was lured into a police station in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, on the basis that his BMW car had been impounded as part of an unrelated crime. However, the man NYPD were hoping to lure was not named Jeremy Wilson. His name was Jeremiah Asimov-Beckingham, a US Army veteran of Afghanistan, and he was suspected of forging checks in Massachusetts amounting to $70,000 and the cost of the BMW. He is currently being held on $1 million bail following a hearing at Manhattan Criminal Court. But, as the New York Times reported yesterday, the mans name was not Jeremiah Asimov-Beckingham, and he was not a war vet. New York detectives and Homeland Security agents found an Indiana birth certificate in his immigration file showing his name as Jeremy Wilson, born in Indianapolis in July 1973. It was the oldest document in the file, so they charged him under that name. His mother has been named as Patricia Clark, and his father as Lonnie Wilson, from whom his mother separated before marrying a man named John Erskine. According to the New York Daily News, more than 200 forged checks, military uniforms, fake passports from Canada and the U.K., and other false official documents were recovered from the 10 Hanover Square apartment he rented. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing a Wounded Warrior hat, military-style dog tags and a Harvard Law School sweatshirt. Lifetime conman charged in multiple scams pleads not guilty: Jeremy Wilson, whose true https://t.co/Ls63ruOTWP #NYC pic.twitter.com/36Tb7e2miY NewYork (@NewYorkLoving) February 2, 2016 Now, Jeremy Wilson is claiming that his real name is Jeremy Keenan and that his real father is the famous IRA leader Brian Keenan, who implemented explosive campaigns in the UK in the 70s and later played a role in the peace process for Northern Ireland before passing away in 2008. Heres a rundown of the various cons hes pulled: Stealing his grandfathers car and credit cards Assuming the identity, social security card and drivers license of his cousin Brian Clark Attempting to re-enter the US from Canada using forged Irish and Canadian passports. Accruing $7,400 in charges at strip clubs and hotels on credit cards obtained under the false identity of a Microsoft executive. Escaping from a work release program in 2006, absconding to Canada before being jailed again trying to re-enter the US to see his dying mother. Impersonating an Eli Lilly executive Assuming an Irish accent while in prison in Indiana Stealing credit cards and the social security number of the man who put him up when he was released, and adopting the identity of an MIT graduate whose child had terminal cancer. Impersonating a discharged British soldier facing deportation from the US (and a Shakespeare buff) Stealing a new drivers license and forging a court order to switch social security numbers Attempting to obtain a military ID and body armor Posing as Scottish DJ and video producer Posing as a war veteran working for Apple Conning a dentist out of $28,000 in dental work in Los Angeles Setting up a bank account in Massachusetts with a forged drivers license, Social Security card and military discharge papers and depositing $70,000 in forged checks from a local company. As the New York Times put it, given the number of times Mr. Wilson has been caught, it is hard to call his career a success. But even now, behind bars, Wilson, who has the Irish words Mair Fior (stay true) tattooed on his fingers) continues his seemingly outlandish stories. The Lives and Lies of a Professional Impostor: Jeremy Wilson, now at Rikers Island facing https://t.co/CXfm008Itz pic.twitter.com/R5ldM8pexO vinay Thapa (@vinaylovessrhy1) February 4, 2016 As the New York Times wrote, He said his father was not Lonnie Wilson, the mens store manager his mother married, but [Brian] Keenan, the I.R.A. leader, with whom, he said, his mother had an affair in Northern Ireland in 1972. . . He first tried to argue that Mr. Keenan was his father in 2011, when he filed a lawsuit in prison asking a federal judge to declare that he was not an American citizen. At the time he was seeking to be deported. The next year, he tried to convince his sister, Mary Katharine Rybak. During prison visits, he showed her a notarized letter, supposedly written by their mother, to back up his claim of being Mr. Keenans son. She noticed their mothers signature was not right. I think he doesnt know where the lies stop and the truth starts anymore. Stephen Ure, an immigration lawyer in San Diego, said Mr. Wilson had hired him to help with his effort to be sent to Britain. In 2012, Mr. Ure said, he received DNA samples via courier that according to accompanying documents, had been taken years earlier from Mr. Keenan." A version of that dodge can be used to get rid of unwelcome political canvassers too. It is universally applicable. Ask canvassers about the Eight Amendment abortion or how we might respond to Europes growing refugee/immigrant crisis and dont be surprised if the canvassers move on quickly to try to charm less challenging voters. One of those issues the huge challenge represented by millions of destitute people continually, and for the foreseeable future, arriving in Europe was the focus of yesterdays meeting of world leaders in London, but it is unlikely to feature prominently in discussions about who might be elected to the 32nd Dail, or how they might deal with the issue if elected. But it should be, because it is one of the defining issues of our time, one that may be utterly destructive unless it is managed humanely and with generosity and grace. A man who was twice convicted of murdering his pregnant ex-partner following three trials over six years has been granted an extension of time to file an appeal against his most recent conviction for murder. Stephen Cahoon (aged 43), with a last address at Harvey Street in Derry, had admitted strangling his ex-girlfriend Jean Teresa Quigley, at Cornshell Fields in the city on July 26, 2008, but had denied it was murder. A jury of seven women and five men unanimously found him guilty of murder at the Central Criminal Court on April 30, 2012 and he was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Barry White. However, Cahoon successfully appealed his conviction on the basis that the trial judge had misdirected the jury while explaining the defence of provocation. The unemployed labourer originally from Magherafelt in Co Derry was tried a third time, was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on December 3 last. A jury had failed to reach a verdict in his first trial. During case management procedures in the Court of Appeal today, lawyers for Cahoon sought an extension of time to file an appeal against conviction. Mr Justie George Birmingham said he would extend time. He was a day out of time, the judge said. The trials made legal history. Cahoon was charged under the Criminal Law Jurisdiction Act of 1976 and opted for trial in the Republic. He became the first person to be tried for a murder in the Republic which had been committed in the North. The 1976 Act was brought in to allow for trials in the Republic for offences committed outside the jurisdiction in Northern Ireland or Great Britain. Even though it has rarely been the law for almost thirty years, up until now cases under the act have been tried before the three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court. Planes landing in the UK from areas affected by Zika are to be sprayed with insecticide as part of the UK governments response to the outbreak. Zika, which is spreading through the Americas and can cause birth defects if pregnant women become infected, was declared an international emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday. No cases of the mosquito-born virus have been reported in the UK, but two adults have been confirmed to have had it in Ireland. Both have since fully recovered. The Zika virus is also creating issues amongst Irish holidaymakers planning to travel to the Americas over the coming weeks and months. Some airlines and tour operators are refusing to refund or adjust booked holidays. The UK government has announced that, as a precautionary measure, it is asking airlines to ensure that disinfection takes place on all flights travelling to the UK from countries with confirmed transmission of Zika. This involves spraying a simple insecticide inside the aircraft to reduce the risk of passengers being bitten by any mosquitoes that could have entered the aircraft. It already occurs on the majority of flights from the region as a precaution against malaria. The move is consistent with advice from WHO Europe. Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, are extremely unlikely to be able to survive and breed in the Ireland or the UK due to its lower temperature. The UKs Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: Disinsection is a highly precautionary measure to reduce the risk to passengers during flights to the UK. I want to reassure people that the risk to the UK population is extremely low. We advise people travelling to affected areas to reduce the risk of themselves being bitten by wearing mosquito repellent, long sleeves and trousers. Pregnant women should consider avoiding travel to countries with the Zika virus or if travel is unavoidable, they ought to seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance of their trip. The UK government has also announced a further 1 million funding for research to tackle the Zika virus. Zika has been linked to thousands of babies being born with underdeveloped brains in Brazil. Colombia has also seen a rise in the number of patients diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder which can cause paralysis. WHO officials have predicted as many as four million people could be infected with the virus this year. The Irish economy is now in a strong recovery phase after an absolutely horrendous period, during which most citizens of the country endured an unacceptable level of hardship and pain. "We still have many problems to work through, however. "Sovereign debt at 97% of GDP is still too high and needs to be reduced as quickly as possible; the tax base is narrowing in an undesirable manner again as the past couple of budgets have taken too many people out of the income tax/USC net altogether; there is a massive crisis in the housing market for owner-occupiers, renters and those who need social housing; many of the countrys roads are in very poor condition after a couple of very difficult winters; many towns around the country need effective flood defences; public services such as health, education, and law and order are under immense pressure and are certainly not of the quality one would expect in a modern developed economy; the water system needs significant investment; and we have a massive demographic tsunami coming down the tracks that will have unimaginable consequences for the demand for health services and pension provision. Despite this, my party believes that reducing sovereign debt as quickly as possible has to be the top priority of the next administration. "Consequently, if elected to government, we are going to leave taxation levels unchanged; we are not going to remove any more workers from the USC net in an effort to arrest the narrowing tax base; we will keep water charges in place but will endeavour to transform the system to pay-per-use and invest all revenues raised into the water system in an effort to improve water quality and the water infrastructure and encourage conservation; and we will commit limited spending to addressing the obvious shortcoming in public services and public infrastructure. "However, we will not commit any extra money to public spending until we are confident that the systems are in place to guarantee that there will be a strong and direct correlation between government expenditure on services and the quality of those services. In other words, getting value for money will be the key priority. In order to achieve this, we will have to take on and defeat those vested interests that have prevented any meaningful reform in the public sector for decades past. "This will not be popular and will undoubtedly give rise to industrial unrest, but we believe this would be a price worth paying to guarantee that all citizens of the country get better public services. "Many of our predecessors have attained industrial peace by giving in to all of the demands of the various interest groups. "We do not believe that this is good policy making and is indicative of political cowardice. The workers of this country are paying a lot of taxes and are not getting an acceptable level of services in return. Vocal minorities and powerful vested interest groups, who do not have the common good as a priority, wield way too much power in the country. This has helped create a society of winners and losers that is becoming increasingly nasty and fragmented. We also recognise that the Irish economic recovery has been heavily driven by very favourable external developments. In the event of negative external developments, we will seek to ensure that the economy is as competitive as possible and that the public finances are in a much better structural place than they are today. With less than four weeks to go to the election, we will refuse to get involved in mud-slinging driven by political opportunism, or get involved in dangerous auction politics that has destroyed this country too many times in the past. "We will not get blinded by fiscal space and other such nebulous claptrap, but we will simply seek to instill a sense of realism in the electorate... The question is, would a party adopting such an approach get elected to government? I fear not. Hope you enjoyed the fairytale. For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE The so-called inversion deal, which the companies predicted would deliver at least $150m of tax savings each year and $500m in costs over the initial three years, drew the ire of US politicians last week and put a renewed focus on Irelands corporate tax regime. Tyco Irelands general manager Donal Sullivan predicted the move would work out favourably for its Irish operations. For us locally, it certainly looks like its going to be a huge boost to what we do so by combining Tyco with Johnson Controls and that gets formally approved in September of this year we become a $33bn revenue company with over 140,000 people in the company, globally headquartered in Cork, he said. That is a company of significant scale by global standards and to have its global headquarters here in Cork is wonderful for us and wonderful for lots of you, I hope, over time, he told the UCC business conference. Mr Sullivan added that despite some initial planning delays at One Albert Quay, which is set to become its new headquarters, Tyco would begin moving into the landmark office development on time, today. Since announcing its intention to expand its Irish workforce to 700 staff in late 2014, Mr Sullivan said the company had hired 250 of those employees with returning emigrants making up a significant proportion of the new hires. Also speaking at the UCC Commerce Society 34th annual business conference, Ryanair chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said the airline was unlikely to add additional routes at Cork Airport as part of its winter schedule later this year. Mr Jacobs commended the management of the airport for a number of major routes that have been added over the past year, including the proposed transatlantic routes operated by Norwegian Air. He added, however, that its winter schedule from Cork was likely to be broadly flat. The airline has long argued that airport charges are too high in Cork and Mr Jacobs said the economic opportunity to add extra aircraft wasnt yet persuasive enough. The load factor the proportion of seats an airline fills on a flight could be better on some of its current services from the airport too. Mr Jacobs predicted that fares would continue to fall. This year is a very good year for customers getting very, very low air fares and I think thats what youll [continue to] see. "So were guiding minus 6% [on fares] for our quarter up to the end of March and then were saying from the first half of next year while we dont have visibility yet we think that it will be competitive and that fares will be lower than they were for the first half of last year. Swiss food giant Nestle already owns 63.7% of Osem, Israels largest listed food maker. It has offered 3.3bn shekels (753m) or 82.5 shekels per share for the remainder, the companies said in a filing to the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. Thats well above Wednesdays closing price of 65.71 shekels and higher than an offer of 80 shekels it made in November. Upon completion of the deal... the company will become a private company that is fully-owned by Nestle. Osem told the TASE. The deal is subject to approval from Osems minority shareholders, and the company has scheduled a shareholders meeting for March 17. Nestle, in a statement on its website, said it planned to ...continue to partner with Osem management to develop the company. Osems shares surged on the news and were trading up 22% at 80.23 shekels in early trading. Nestle was up 0.3% to 75.40. Osem has a market value of 7.3 billion shekels and produces and sells products including pasta, salad dressings and ice cream under the Nestle and other brand names. It has nine factories across Israel and for the first nine months of 2015 it reported a net profit of 294m shekels on sales of 3.2bn. Service revenue for the three months to the end of December the companys third quarter grew by 3.4%, year-on-year, to 240.4m. Its mobile division returned to growth with new business customers helping to boost revenues by 7%. There was a near 60,000 jump in mobile customers on contract and the company added 13,000 mobile customers and 6,000 fixed broadband customers in the quarter. A huge increase in 4G customers was also noted with over 854,000 customer devices now 4G capable. Vodafone Ireland chief executive Anne OLeary said the positive third quarter showing reflects the strength of the core mobile business as well as the future growth potential across our converged service offerings. Vodafone will publish its updated tax disclosure report later this month. Recent accounts for the 12 months to the end of last March showed that Vodafone Irelands annual profits dipped by 24% to 60.35m and the company paid 12m in tax here, while it incurred an actuarial loss of nearly 75m on its defined benefit pension scheme. Meanwhile, Hong Kong telecoms operator CK Hutchison Holdings has said it will freeze mobile call and text messaging rates in the UK as it seeks to force rivals to lower prices further. The move is part of its plan to invest 5bn (6.5bn) in its businesses in Britain in the next five years following a potential merger of its local mobile business Three, with Telefonicas O2 UK. The British telecoms markets relatively low costs and margins have prompted a wave of consolidation as operators seek to meet the booming demand for superfast mobile and fixed line broadband services. David Lannon, Cope View, Deepford, Drogheda, claims somebody in the department allegedly gave the investigator unauthorised access to his private and confidential files. Mr Lannon is in dispute with the bank and a case involving both parties is pending before the Circuit Court, the High Court heard. Another case, currently before the District Court, has been brought against the investigator and currently stands adjourned, it was also stated. In his separate High Court proceedings against the department, Mr Lannon claims the alleged action of the departments employee breaches his rights under the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights. He has reported the matter to the Data Protection Commissioner and the department, he said. At the High Court yesterday, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted Mr Lannon permission, on an ex-parte basis (one side represented only), to serve short notice of injunction proceedings on the minister for social protection. The case will come back before the court next week. In a sworn statement supporting his application, Mr Lannon said, arising out of his complaint to the department made in February 2015, he is aware an employee has been suspended on full pay. An internal investigation is under way, he said. After contacting the department to check on the progress of that investigation, he was told such investigations take time and he would be informed as soon as the probe is completed, he said. He said he fears AIBs action against him will be completed before he can complete his action against the minister. Because of his unhappiness with progress in the matter, he had no option but to come to court seeking various orders, he said. In his proceedings, Mr Lannon wants orders compelling the minister to identify the person whom he alleges handed over information to the investigator. He also seeks an injunction preventing deletion of any material from the unnamed employees work and home computers or the departments main frame computer and permitting him inspect those devices and any other system the employee had access to in their daily duties. Speaking at Fier Agricola trade fair in Verona, Italy, Mr Kinsella said Ireland can significantly grow its live exports to Italy from a base of 25,000 head in 2015. In the past, Ireland exported up to 75,000 head to Italy. Adi Roche, voluntary CEO of Chernobyl Children International (CCI), confirmed the move as she accompanied the Lord Mayor of Cork, Chris OLeary, on a historic visit to the worlds most radioactive site. Standing in the shadow of Chernobyl nuclear power plants devastated reactor number four in northern Ukraine, Mr OLeary paid tribute to Irish volunteers and families who have helped Chernobyl victims since the nuclear accident in 1986. He toured the abandoned city of Pripyat, and remote contaminated rural villages which are being slowly resettled. He also urged people to continue their support for Irish humanitarian efforts in the region. Mr OLeary said he wanted to bear witness himself to the sites and people at the centre of an environmental catastrophe which triggered a tsunami of social, economic, and health disasters. I believe that most people may feel that Chernobyl is a part of history, but its actually part of reality, he said. Ms Roche plans to build a palliative care unit for babies and young children in Gomel,expand the charitys Homes of Hope foster home network, its dental and hospice community care programmes, and its independent living skills programme for young institutionalised adults. She said the historic mayoral visit will help shine a light once again on the disaster. The impact of one accident can never be undone and its left a radioactive footprint embedded in the land and people. It has cast a long dark shadow over future generations, she said. Our message is that there is always hope. We know there are huge problems in Ireland but I would ask people to reflect on the power of volunteerism, solidarity, and of intervention. This disaster is still very present, still very real. The effects of Chernobyl will always be with us. The mayors visit marks the start of a series of commemorative events being planned by CCI for the 30th anniversary in April of the worst nuclear accident in history. Magnus Meyer Hustveit, aged 25, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault against 28-year-old Niamh Ni Dhomhnaill, in 2011 and 2012. He was given a wholly suspended seven-year sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on July 13, 2015. Hustveit, whose former partner waived her right to anonymity so his identity could be published, returned to his native Norway after sentencing. In seeking a review of his sentence at the Court of Appeal yesterday on grounds it was unduly lenient, Mary Rose Gearty, prosecuting, cited a former chief justice when she said it was not easy to imagine circumstances which would justify a non-custodial sentence for rape. Ms Gearty said there were multiple rapes in this case and a shocking betrayal of trust. It was unusual in that it combined a sleeping victim and a relationship. Ms Gearty said the victims trauma was increased by Hustveits suggestions she had lied about the symptoms from which she was suffering. Hustveit had instructed his lawyers to cross-examine her in relation to her comments about the symptoms, said Ms Gearty, when the disclosure of medical documentation was not forthcoming. It made matters so much more distressing for her, said Ms Gearty, and led one to question whether Hustveit was filled with remorse and had taken responsibility for what he had done, as had been submitted on his behalf. Ms Gearty submitted that the judge erred by not acknowledging that this range of behaviour and class of conduct merited a lengthy period of custody. Caroline Biggs, defending, said the exceptional circumstance in this case was the all-important email Hustveit had sent to Ms Ni Dhomhnaill, acknowledging what he had done. He pressed send on the email because she had asked him, said Ms Biggs. She needed to understand exactly what he had done so she could get closure and move on with her life. Hustveit had put his own interests aside and acknowledged that what he was doing may well lead to a prosecution when there was not a shred of evidence against him and no prospect of a charge, said Ms Biggs. There was at its very highest the possibility of a sexual assault charge, she said. The rationale for the sentencing judge saying he had never come across such a case did not relate to the act but the way Hustveit had dealt with his culpability, said Ms Biggs, adding that the law did not mandate that suspended sentences could not be afforded for rape. Ms Biggs said the DPP was seeking to punish her client for seeking to cross-examine his former partner on her medical information. It had to be tested, she said, and the cross-examination wasnt lengthy. Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court would reserve judgment. Hustveit was present for the hearing. Ms Ni Dhomh-naill, was also present. Daniel OSullivan, aged 22, of Carrowkeel, Mallow, Co Cork, came before Cork Circuit Criminal Court with one count on the indictment against him, namely the manslaughter of Vincent Morgain, aged 37. The particulars of the charge were that he un- lawfully killed Mr Morgain on Lower Oliver Plunkett St, Cork, on September 10, 2015. He replied, guilty, when the charge was put to him yesterday. Elizabeth OConnell, defending, said: My application is for a probation report given the gravity of the offence and the fact that he is only 22 years old and for sentence in this term [February]. However, it emerged that it would not be possible to have the case ready for sentencing in that time frame. Donal OSullivan, prosecuting, said: There are certain logistical difficulties arranging the victim impact report. They [the family of the deceased] are in France and we have to [go to] them to have the report prepared. The late Mr Morgain was a native of Brittany. He died in Mercy University Hospital on September 15 following injuries sustained five days earlier in an assault on Lower Oliver Plunkett St. Judge Sean O Donnabhain said he would adjourn the case until the April sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Ms OConnell asked the judge to recommend the accused would get counselling in prison. She said he was struggling. The judge agreed to make that recommendation to the prison authorities. OSullivan was remanded in custody until April 21. They also called for the children of Catholic priests to be given the right to know who their father is and be entitled to be cared for by him, and receive necessary psychological treatment. The UN committee of international experts did not accept many of the States arguments put to them at a special day-long hearing in Geneva last month. Their 19-page report lists a range of areas where they believe Ireland is not considering the best needs of children and especially Traveller, Roma, migrant, ill, and disabled children. The committee heard many parents now feel they have to baptise their children into a religion they do not believe in just to get them into a local State-funded primary school. They called for the revision of the Equal Status Act allowing primary and post-primary schools that promote certain religious values to refuse to admit students not of that denomination. The State was also told it needs to act to significantly increase the number of non-denominational or multi- denominational schools and allow children to opt-out of religious education and be offered alternatives. The report also called for reforms in the Leaving Certificate exam to reduce the stress it causes for students, to develop a curriculum of physical activities that can be enjoyed by all students, and establish a proper complaints mechanism for students in schools. Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland, who attended the Geneva hearing, welcomed this recommendation and said that this was the ninth time an international body such as the UN or the Council of Europe has called for discrimination on religious grounds to be banned in Ireland. Michael Baron, head of the group Equate, who also attended the hearing, said: We could see the experts disbelief at the fact that religious discrimination is written into the Irish statute books and at the extraordinary dominance of religious groups in schools. The committee also dealt with the issue of letting children know who their parents are, including those born from surrogate mothers and through assisted reproduction. The State should also provide surrogate mothers and prospective parents with counselling and support. They also called for psychological support for children fathered by practicing Catholic priests and that they have a right to know and be cared for by their fathers, as appropriate. The report said the State should decriminalise abortion in all circumstances and review legislation to ensure childrens access to safe abortion and post-abortion care and services. The rights and needs of children should be main-streamed in all instances, be it in courts or in government budgets, and while the authors believe children should have their own full Cabinet minister, they also called for proper funding for the department, as well as completely independent funding for the Childrens Ombudsmans office. My cleaning lady has started talking to me. It started with a hello and how are you? and this week she said something about the weather. I think she thinks we must have something in common which is outrageous really, given that shes from Poland (or is it Latvia?) and almost certainly didnt go to Mount Mercy. How do I make it clear to her that Im not looking for a new friend? Rebecca, Model Farm Road, I feel sorry for people in Bishopstown. Did you not hear the latest trend? Youre nobody in Cork these days if you dont hire somebody to talk to your cleaner. The only time they are allowed to talk to you is when the latest delivery van from Caseys Furniture pulls up at your door. People in the Model Farm Road are calling it the greatest step forward in Cork life since they opened the tunnel. Get your butler to look it up online. Cmere, Im back from England to see my Mam and I see that theyre knocking down the Capitol Cinema. I lost my watch there ages ago watching Back to the Future III. Do you think theyd let me in to have a quick look for it? Eddie, Friars Walk, it had a stopwatch and all, it was the berries. Id say your watch wasnt the only thing lost in the Capitol Cinema. Particularly in the big seats down the back. Lets just say a lot of kids around Cork are called Jumbo. Two things Id like to say to people who arent from Cork. First of all, my commiserations. Secondly, the jumbos are what Cork people called the double seats at the back of a cinema where youd go with a fella to watch a film. Ill never forget the time I was there for Octopussy. That was my boyfriends nickname. He was all hands. Hello old stock. The old doll is insisting I take her somewhere special for Valentines. Its a bit tricky, because I have booked a surprise weekend in Paris with the lads for the rugby. (I was going to surprise her with the news as I legged it out the door.) Anyway, it looks like Im going to have to bring her. Do you know anywhere you can leave your wife in Paris for most of the day? Deccie, Lee Road, people love me after a few pints. I presume its the people need the few pints, not you. I dont think your wife will be too happy with Paris. The flight over will be full of guys shouting at each other about how difficult it was to get their sons into Pres. (We get it you can afford the fees.) Trust me on this. A planeload of rugby fans is about as romantic as a mud wrestling night in Kilfinane. Ciao. I have already started planning a Valentines treat for my girlfriend. This is tricky because I have eight of them. Make that nine, I just got a text. Do you know a place in Cork where I might bring them all, with no chance they could meet? (I will run around and give each of them 10 minutes of Mario time!) Mario, Milan and Jacobs Island, I have four combs. Your best bet might be Reardens. Its a large bar on Washington Street, popular with locals who want to watch Cork lose a hurling a match to some bogmen they would have hammered 10 years ago. Reardens is full of hotties. My sister who works in A&E says they get a batch of Italians in every Saturday with Reardens Neck. Thats the medical term for the whiplash an Italian gets when he tries to give the eye to three women at the same time. So be careful how you go. Howre oo goin on? Herself is keen for a holiday after watching Ryan Tubridys ex on that Getaways show on RTE. (Remind me to get rid of the telly.) Were not fussy about a destination. Just bear in mind that neither of us like sun, fish, wine, sex or Germans. What would you recommend? Mickey Pat Mickey, take a right outside Dunmanway and youll regret it almost straight away. Have you considered Offaly? Youll find the odd German, but they are usually driving somewhere else, very quickly. As for sex, I hear theyre sworn off it above in Offaly in case they produce another Brian Cowen. (Better safe than sorry.) My oddball cousin from Limerick decided to holiday on the bog outside Tullamore last summer. She said it made Kilmallock look like Paris. Think about it, Mickey Pat Mickey. You could be viewed as some kind of urbane intellectual. As long as you dont open your mouth. Today, nearly one third of hospitals in Ireland are voluntary hospitals, and this sector deserves to be recognised and supported as it plays an integral role in the successful delivery of quality patient care. Mercy University Hospital Cork is one such organisation featuring on the Cork landscape for nearly 160 years and is testament to the power of the voluntary sector. I have had the privilege of being CEO of this value-driven organisation for four years. Nationally, voluntary hospitals account for just less than 30% of all inpatient care. They are independently governed and owned, and provide services on a non-profit basis. A third of State funding for hospital services is granted to voluntary hospitals (approximately 1.3bn) and the sector employs a comparable number of staff (around 22,000). Voluntary hospitals have strong links with third-level education, a proven track record in health research and innovation, attract strong philanthropic support, and have professional fundraising bodies that foster close relationships with the communities they serve. Voluntary hospitals, unlike State- owned and operated hospitals, are legally required to comply with all aspects of company law and governance standards, given their legal construct as independent organisations. It is widely recognised internationally that diversity of provision in healthcare is essential, value-added, and must be promoted to ensure best outcomes. The board members of voluntary hospitals are highly talented individuals selected from a range of professional, academic, or community backgrounds and serve without pay or expenses. Mercy University Hospital is the second hospital in Cork and, in line with good corporate governance, authority for governing the hospital is devolved to a non-executive voluntary board who are appointed by the members of the company. There are currently 12 directors. The hospital is a registered charity and a not for profit limited company, and receives support from the Mercy University Hospital Foundation, a registered charity. In my opinion, the language of the health sector itself is often misunderstood because of the continued focus on the lack of resources, capacity, regulation, and competing agendas. Health care is primarily a values driven sector and this is particularly evident in voluntary hospitals due to their legacy, which today remains mission-focused and consistent with the ethos and values of their founders. What makes voluntary hospitals different? I can only truly speak for the Mercy. The hospitals day-to-day operations and structures give the best possible expression to its mission, values, and ethos, all of which are held in trust for future generations. An appreciation of the heritage and core values of the Mercy is integral to understanding the unique contribution that it brings to the delivery of healthcare in Cork and the wider region. Long-lasting voluntary organisations such as the Mercy have a very solid unique culture, embedded in a mission that never wavers and a core set of values that ground and shape decisions and behaviours. This is what makes the voluntary sector different and thats why its worth nurturing and developing. The core values of voluntary hospitals provide a strong reference point, and are an integral part of holistic patient care and in how those involved in treating a patient can provide compassionate care. It is not unusual for patients or staff to challenge actions or decisions that they feel are not aligned to the values and long may it continue to ensure best patient outcomes. New challenges are being faced in Ireland relating to increased life expectancy and the associated management of chronic disease, social inclusion, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, and mental health. At the Mercy, we are still fighting for systemic change to address these societal challenges. And it is because of our Mercy ethos that there is a constant reminder of our responsibility to have a concern for those who are vulnerable in todays society. We are very aware at the Mercy that if the values of the original custodians of Mercy are lost, if our standards of quality patient care fail, if we do not learn from our mistakes, if our codes of governance and business conduct are not adhered to, and if the trust of the people we serve is compromised, we are no longer worthy of its name. I am confident that the Mercy will continue to serve the people of Cork for many decades to come with the same values and standards of care, albeit in a changing landscape, as has been done for the past 159 years. The contribution and collective legacy of voluntary hospitals to Cork and throughout the country is enormous. The role played by the voluntary sector in healthcare provision in Ireland cannot be underestimated and is vital to the successful delivery of a sustainable health strategy. Sandra Daly is the chief executive officer of Cork Mercy University Hospital That is what has happened to Fine Gael. The irony cannot be lost on them that, five years after they won a significant general election victory as a result of Fianna Fails massive mishandling of the economy, they are beginning to sound just like the fiscally dodgy outfit. If there is such as thing as over-preparing for an election, Fine Gael is in that territory; add to that their hubris. It has not been the best of starts. They might improve their lot by sending out an edict to all ministers and party members to ban that ridiculous phrase, the fiscal space, which, if memory serves me, was first introduced to our national lexicon by Finance Minister Michael Noonan, who has, by now, become addicted to its use. At Fine Gaels first press conference of the campaign, on Wednesday, in a Dublin hotel, it was not my impression that the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, wasnt able to explain how the party had done its sums, but that he recognised (or his focus groups had told him) that people were sick of hearing a phrase that most of us think is a nonsense, and which does not explain what the speaker means. The Taoiseach then invited his finance minister to elaborate on economic prospects, and, within a mere matter of seconds, the dreaded phrase was out of his mouth. Ive got a total bee in my bonnet about it now, and think there should be an outright ban for the next three weeks. It reeks of politicians patronising us, and making like they know far better than we do what to do with our money. The fiscal space is all about how much of our money the next government may have available for tax cuts and spending increases, so its what will be in the national purse or kitty. But Fine Gael make it sound like a space where the air is rarified and only they have control of what goes on there. For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE Combine this with their pledge to ditch the universal social charge, and the recently introduced notion of a rainy day fund. This fund has definitely been subject to some climate change, and by Wednesdays first press conference Mr Noonan had said it would be used in the later years of the next government for capital investment if the economy slowed down. This is not where the Government wanted, or expected, to be at the beginning of this campaign. The Irish Times/MRBI poll, published yesterday, further freaked them out, with the party pitched at 28%, down two points. I like to think that Irish people are having a moment, that they are putting the brakes on the Government, Fine Gael in particular, and making it clear that second-rate sums and assumptions are just not going to fly in this campaign. People, I imagine, are seeing the contradiction in being told, as the Taoiseach told us, that it is no time to mess with the economy, even as there is an increasing sense that Fine Gael would abandon economic caution simply to get back into power. I am hoping that people are realising what we went through during the austerity years, and that the party that has portrayed itself as the responsible parent now needs a little bit of a reality check. The Government acknowledged all along that, when its comes to voting, they expect the citizens who give preferment to Fine Gael and Labour candidates to do so without any affection, and while holding their nose. If that is how most voters do approach it, then it does not leave much wriggle room for forgiving the Government for any campaign slip-up or apparent lack of humility. So, despite their best hopes, Fine Gael have begun this highly anticipated campaign without any sense of momentum behind them, and Labour remains in a woeful position, registering 7% in yesterdays poll. However, it is far too early to start writing anyone in or out. The campaign is finally here and always brings its own momentum. Fianna Fail must be feeling rather pleased with themselves, given their good show in yesterdays poll (21%, up two) and their solid, if unspectacular, campaign lift-off. But they could do without the ghosts of election past, such as former minister Dermot Ahern throwing in his thruppence worth on what the party should do post-election. This is not helpful. Sinn Fein (19%, down two) may be less pleased, and may as well resign themselves to the Thomas Slab Murphy issue hanging over them like a bad smell for the campaign. The party is becalmed, and while it may point to the Right2Change movement as a way of increasing its support, this idea currently seems rather fanciful. But, like the FFers, they will be smug in the knowledge that they are currently in a better place than the Government. It is worth reflecting on how much has changed since the general election of 2011. If the polls are to be believed, we are looking at a hung Dail. We need to reflect long and hard on that and what it would mean for a country that still has its economic stabilisers on, as far as the rest of the world is concerned. There is still a strong show in the polls for those who say they will be voting Independent (25%, up two), and this, the Government parties insist, is support that is as soft as putty and ripe for persuasion, not to forget the sizable number of people who say they have not yet decided how they will vote. There is a lot up for grabs. A word of caution for all of those who wish to canvas our votes over the next few weeks. As I type, we are hardly two days into the campaign and already there is a sense of weariness at the mostly male voices shouting over each other and barking insults over the airwaves. Granted, this is a far more crowded field than we have ever had before in an election, but there is no better way to turn people off than to give them a headache as they tune in to see whose argument they might find the most persuasive. For more election news, analysis and general banter join us HERE Festivities this year have been overshadowed by security concerns, prompting police to double the number of officers on patrol to more than 2,000 in an effort to reassure the public after an unprecedented series of robberies and sexual assaults mostly targeting women at New Year. Police say the attacks were mostly carried out by foreigners, fuelling debate in Germany about the countrys ability to cope with the huge number of migrants that have arrived over the past year. Special safety points where people can go if they feel threatened have been set up at major squares. Henriette Reker, Colognes mayor, has pledged to prevent a repeat of the New Years attacks. Still, some revellers said the city felt emptier than in previous years, though the wet weather could have been to blame. The New Years assaults sparked a nationwide uproar, the removal of Colognes police chief, and a heated debate about integration. Cologne prosecutors have received 1,037 criminal complaints over the New Years events. Criminal proceedings have begun against 50 individuals, of whom 11 are in custody. Several are asylum-seekers. Last week a 13-year-old Russian-German girl admitted lying about being kidnapped and raped by migrants. She had vanished on January 11 in Berlin and resurfaced 30 hours later with injuries on her face, telling her parents she had been attacked by men of Middle Eastern or north African appearance. But she later admitted she had been scared of going home after the school had contacted her parents over an incident at school. Her initial story sparked protests. The far-right National Democratic party also demonstrated in Marzahn. With Syrias five-year civil war raging, and another attempt at peace negotiations called off in Geneva after just a few days, the London conference was intended to address the needs of some six million people displaced within Syria and more than four million refugees in other countries. Underlining the desperate situation on the ground in Syria, Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the meeting that tens of thousands of Syrians were on the move toward his country to escape aerial bombardments on the city of Aleppo. Sixty to seventy thousand people in the camps in north Aleppo are moving toward Turkey. My mind is not now in London, but on our border how to relocate these new people coming from Syria? he said. Three hundred thousand people living in Aleppo are ready to move toward Turkey. Turkey already hosts more than 2.5m Syrian refugees. Jordan and Lebanon are the other countries bearing the brunt of the Syrian refugee exodus. Several speakers said that, while the situation of refugees was bad, that of Syrians trapped in the country enduring bombardments, sieges and, in some places, starvation was far worse. With people reduced to eating grass and leaves and killing stray animals in order to survive on a day-to-day basis, that is something that should tear at the conscience of all civilised people, and we all have a responsibility to respond to it, US secretary of state John Kerry told the conference. A UN envoy halted his attempts to conduct Syrian peace talks on Wednesday after the Syrian army, backed by Russian air strikes, advanced against rebel forces north of Aleppo, choking opposition supply lines from Turkey to the city. Kerry told the conference he had spoken to his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov about the situation. We have agreed that we are engaged in a discussion about how to implement the ceasefire specifically as well as some immediate, possible confidence-building steps to deliver humanitarian assistance, he said. Turkeys Davutoglu told a news conference that those supporting Syrian president Bashar al-Assads forces were committing war crimes and called on the United States to adopt a more decisive stance against Russia. International leaders pledged more than 7bn (9.1bn) to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis, David Cameron later said. 4.1bn has been pledged this year and a further 3.4bn will be handed over by 2020, he said. The conference focused particularly on the need to provide an education for displaced Syrian children and job opportunities for adults, reflecting recognition that the fallout from the Syrian war will be very long-term. Daallo Airlines chief executive Mohammed Ibrahim Yassin from the carriers corporate office in Dubai said that it is too soon to say a bomb was to blame. He said the airline has temporarily suspended its operations in the Somali capital following Tuesdays incident but hopes to restart them soon. The countrys health ministry said the woman travelled to Colombia, was presumably infected during the trip and is in her second trimester of pregnancy. She is under medical supervision in the north-eastern region of Catalonia. The ministry says the number of cases diagnosed so far are within expectations and do not pose a risk for the virus to be spread in Spain. But scientists have warned that hundreds of thousands of people in Spain could be infected if local mosquitoes begin to transmit the virus, which has been linked to severe birth defects. Frederic Bartumeus, a research professor based in Catalonia, says the threat could be much bigger if the tiger mosquito (aedes albopictus) begins to spread the disease. Currently zika is only known to be spread through the bites of the aedes aegypti mosquito which rarely travels to Europe. But Prof Bartumeus said he was certain the tiger mosquito could carry the virus. Meanwhile, Brazilian health authorities confirmed a case of transmission of zika through a transfusion of blood from a donor who had been infected with the mosquito-borne virus that is spreading rapidly through the Americas. The health department of Campinas, an industrial city near Sao Paulo, said a hospital patient with gunshot wounds became infected with zika after multiple blood transfusions in April 2015. Officials said they determined that one of the people whose donated blood was used in the transfusion had been infected with zika. The blood centre at the University of Campinas said a second person who donated blood in May developed symptoms and tested positive for zika, though the recipient of the contaminated blood has not developed symptoms of the virus. Brazils Health Ministry said the first patient died of his wounds and not from the zika infection. It said it was reinforcing instructions to blood banks that people infected with zika or dengue not be permitted to donate blood for 30 days after their full recovery from the active stage of zika infection. Transmission of zika through blood transfusions adds another dimension to the outbreak of the virus. The virus is usually transmitted by the bite of a mosquito. News of the mosquito-borne virus, thought to cause birth defects, first emerged in Brazil last year, and health authorities have warned the disease could infect up to four million people in the Americas and spread worldwide. The fever starts with a mosquito bite and normally causes little more than a fever and rash. But since October, Brazil has reported 404 confirmed cases of microcephaly where the babys head is abnormally small up from 147 in 2014 plus 3,670 suspected cases. The timing has fuelled strong suspicions that zika is causing the birth defect. The virus has also been linked to a potentially paralysing nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome in some patients. According to mosquito maps found on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control website, the Aedes aegypti mosquito which carries the virus is established in Georgia, part of Russia next to the Black Sea, and Madeira. Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, said: Every European country in which Aedes mosquitoes are present can be at risk for the spread of zika virus disease. A number of travellers infected with zika have entered Europe, but the disease has not been transmitted further, as the mosquito is still inactive. "With the onset of spring and summer, the risk that zika virus will spread increases. Now is the time for countries to prepare themselves to reduce the risk to their populations. As there is no vaccine or treatment for zika virus disease, we must protect the European Region by stopping the disease at its source. I urge European countries to act early in a co-ordinated way to: control the mosquitoes, including community engagement in eliminating mosquito breeding sites and planning for insecticide spraying and killing of larvae in case of outbreaks; inform people at risk, especially pregnant women, about preventing mosquito bites; enhance surveillance and ensure laboratory detection of zika virus disease and its neurological complications; and step up research to understand zika virus disease and develop diagnostic tests and vaccines. A United Nations working group is believed to have decided that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being unlawfully detained. Mr Assange has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than three years and has been granted political asylum by the Ecuador government. He believes he will be transported to the United States to be quizzed over the activities of WikiLeaks if he is extradited to Sweden. There is an espionage case against him in the US. He filed a complaint against Sweden and the UK in September 2014 which has been considered by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. The group of legal experts has made previous rulings on whether imprisonment or detention is lawful, which have led to people being released. The decision is due to be published today but it is understood that it has ruled in Mr Assanges favour. Both the BBC and Swedens foreign ministry said the advisory panel has concluded that Assange has been a victim of arbitrary detention. It is expected the move will lead to calls from the UN for the UK and Sweden to release him. Mr Assange said he will hand himself over to police for arrest today if the UN group rules that he has not been unlawfully detained. The Metropolitan Police have said they will make every effort to arrest the WikiLeaks founder should he leave the embassy. Mr Assange is wanted for questioning in Sweden over one allegation of sexual assault, which he has always denied, and is fighting against extradition. He was granted political asylum by Ecuador and has remained in their embassy since 2012. In a statement published by the WikiLeaks activist group, Mr Assange said he expected to walk free if British and Swedish authorities do not receive approval from the UN group. Mr Assange said: Should the UN (working party) announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden, I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal. However, should I prevail, and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. According to the website justice4assange.com, the 44-year-old Australian has so far spent 1,885 days under house arrest. The embassy building remains under covert surveillance. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: The operation to arrest Julian Assange does however continue and should he leave the embassy the MPS will make every effort to arrest him. Sources at WikiLeaks said they were waiting for a formal announcement from the UN group. A Government spokesman said: We will not pre-empt any opinions from the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorian embassy. "An allegation of rape is still outstanding and a European Arrest Warrant in place, so the UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden. Asia Missing Chinese Journalist Under Investigation in China A Chinese journalist and rights activist who disappeared in Thailand last month is now under investigation in China, his wife said on Thursday. BEIJING A Chinese journalist and rights activist who disappeared in Thailand last month is in police custody in China and is under investigation, his wife said on Thursday. Li Xin, a former writer for the Southern Metropolis Daily, a respected semi-independent newspaper, arrived in Thailand from India on Jan. 1 and boarded a train to the northeastern border town of Nong Khai where he tried to enter Laos, his wife, Shi Sanmei, said last month. Li had fled to India after state security authorities in China tried to recruit him to spy on activists, Radio Free Asia reported. Shi told Reuters her husband had told her by telephone that he was now in China. She declined to comment further citing pressure from law enforcement authorities. It is unclear where Li is being held. Police in the northern Chinese province of Henan, where Lis wife is, could not be reached for comment. Asked about the case, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said questions should be directed to the relevant authorities. The ministry has previously said it knew nothing about the case. A Thailand-based friend of the couple who asked not to be identified citing fear of official repercussions, said Li told his wife he had returned to China voluntarily to cooperate with an investigation, though its nature was not clear. Its been extremely tough for them, the friend said, adding that Lis wife was pregnant and was also caring for their 2-year-old son. Were all very worried about the situation. Lis case comes as the leadership has widened a crackdown on rights lawyers and other activists, which has triggered international condemnation. His reappearance in China from Thailand mirrors that of Swedish national and bookseller Gui Minhai, who disappeared from the Thai resort town of Pattaya in October. Gui appeared on Chinese state television last month, stating he had turned himself in to Chinese authorities over a fatal drunken driving case more than a decade ago. Chinas Foreign Ministry, asked this week if Chinese authorities had abducted Gui, said its law enforcement officials would never do anything illegal, especially not overseas. Asia Seoul, Tokyo Threaten to Intercept N. Korean Rocket Debris South Korea and Japan have vowed to shoot down any debris that falls on their territories from a long-range rocket North Korea plans to fire this month. SEOUL South Korea and Japan vowed to shoot down any debris that falls on their territories from a long-range rocket that North Korea plans to fire this month, with Seoul saying Thursday that it has detected launch preparations by Pyongyang. North Korea has informed international organizations that it will launch an observation satellite aboard a rocket between Feb. 8 and 25. South Korea, the United States and others say such a move would be a cover for a banned test of a missile that could strike the US mainland. The launch announcement follows an outpouring of global condemnation over the Norths fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. If North Koreas past patterns are any clue, angry warnings by Seoul, Washington and their allies probably wont dissuade a coming launch. South Koreas Defense Ministry said Thursday that the North is pushing ahead with the launch plans at its west coast Tongchang-ri launch site. Spokesman Moon Sang Gyun said South Korea is using Aegis-equipped destroyers, aircraft, sophisticated radars and other surveillance assets to monitor the Norths launch preparations but refused to provide further details. Recent commercial satellite images showed an increased number of vehicles at North Koreas Sohae launch station on Feb. 1, compared to a week earlier. This suggests that the North is preparing for a space launch in coming weeks, according to 38 North, a North Korea-focused website run by the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. However, the website said it was impossible to tell from the satellite imagery whether a space launch vehicle was present. South Korean and US officials said a launch would threaten regional security and violate UN Security Council resolutions that ban the North from engaging in any nuclear and ballistic activities. Diplomats at the UN Security Council have already pledged to pursue fresh sanctions on North Korea over its recent nuclear test. South Koreas president on Thursday called for strong UN sanctions that will make North Korea realize it cannot survive if it does not abandon its weapons programs. There are questions, however, over whether any sanctions will force real change in the North because China, the Norths last major ally and a veto-wielding UN Security Council member, is reluctant to join in any harsh punishment against the North. Beijing on Wednesday urged restraint over North Koreas announcement of its launch plans, and expressed skepticism over the US calls for tough new sanctions. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the North Korean announcement will further aggravate the profound concerns that the international community already has in the wake of the recent nuclear test, a spokesman said. In South Korea and Japan, there are fears about falling debris, although nothing landed in their territories during the Norths most recent launches. Seoul officials estimated the first stage of the rocket would fall off the west coast of South Korea, more debris would land near the Souths Jeju Island, and the second stage would land off the Philippines east coast. Moon, the South Korean military spokesman, said that South Korea would fire missiles to intercept the North Korean rocket or its fragments if they threaten to fall on its territories. Japans defense minister said Wednesday he issued a missile-shoot-down order and deployed Aegis destroyers and PAC-3 missile defense units to around Tokyo and Okinawa in case debris fall on the Japanese territory. Seoul and Tokyo issued similar plans before North Korean rocket launches in recent years. North Korea has spent decades trying to develop operational nuclear weapons along with missiles capable of striking the mainland United States. North Koreas last long-range rocket launch, in December 2012, was seen as having successfully put the countrys first satellite into orbit after a string of failures. Each new rocket launch improves North Koreas missile technology, which is crucial for its goal of developing a nuclear-armed missile capable of hitting the US mainland. North Korea, an autocracy run by the same family since 1948, is estimated to have a handful of crude nuclear devices and an impressive array of short- and medium-range missiles, but it closely guards details about its nuclear and missile programs. This means there is considerable debate about whether it can produce nuclear bombs small enough to place on a missile, or missiles that can reliably deliver their bombs to faraway targets. Burma ANP Lawmaker Fires Warning on Preserving Controversial Laws An Arakanese lawmaker warned the National League for Democracy Friday against amending several controversial laws that critics contend are discriminatory. RANGOON An Arakanese lawmaker warned the National League for Democracy (NLD) on Friday against pursuing amendments to several controversial laws that critics contend discriminate against religious and ethnic minorities in the country. Khin Saw Wai, a Lower House lawmaker with the Arakan National Party (ANP) embarking on her second term in Parliament, said the party would oppose any moves to amend either the 1982 citizenship law or the package of four so-called race and religion protection laws which were passed by Parliament last year. Those laws are our life, Khin Saw Wai told The Irrawaddy. We will oppose [amendments] as much as we can. Burmas widely criticized 1982 citizenship law states that only recognized ethnic nationalities and others that settled in the country before 1823 are automatically entitled to Burmese citizenship. The law effectively denies the Muslim Rohingya population that primarily resides in Arakan State from obtaining citizenship. Khin Saw Wai contended that in the northern Arakan State townships of Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the Arakanese proportion of the population was only 3 percent. The ANP lawmaker said she was worried of race annihilation in the Muslim-majority townships. The Arakan National Party was at the forefront of efforts to overturn the voting rights of temporary identification cardholders, a form of identification also knows as a white card that was held by hundreds of thousands of Rohingya. The government complied and revoked the cards last year. The Rohingya population are theoretically able to register in an ongoing but ill-defined citizenship verification scheme. The process has in the past been criticized for requiring participants to register under the governments preferred term for the group as Bengali. Khin Saw Wai said most of the Muslim population had not taken part in the process. Of course, many people entered illegally across the Bangladesh border to Burma; how can they apply for citizenship? That is the reason why they dont collaborate, she said. The ANPs vice-chairman Khin Pyi Soe said if the NLD attempted to make changes to the citizenship law, the Arakanese party would convene a central committee meeting to formulate their response. The NLD, which won almost 80 percent of contested seats in last years general election, has been reluctant to speak out on behalf of the persecuted Rohingya minority, over 100,000 of whom languish in makeshift camps after religious violence erupted in the western state in 2012. The race and religion laws, also cited as inviolable by Khin Saw Wai, were sponsored by hardline Buddhist nationalist group Ma Ba Tha and fast-tracked through Parliament last year. The package of four laws place new criminal sanctions on polygamy and adultery, add restrictions to religious conversions and interfaith marriage, and give the government new powers to implement birth control measures. Rights groups and other observers claim the laws are aimed at Burmas Muslim population, estimated to comprise about 5 percent of the countrys population. The ANP officials were more supportive of the NLDs purported push to suspend Article 59(f) of the Constitution which effectively bars the partys chairwoman, Aung San Suu Kyi, from assuming the presidency. Khin Pyi Soe and Khin Saw Wai said, personally, they both backed the move of which the NLD has publically said little. Burma Hundreds Homeless after Blaze Rips Through Namhsan Town A massive fire which broke out Thursday and burned for over 12 hours has left hundreds homeless in Northern Shan States Namhsan town. MANDALAY A massive fire lasting over 12 hours broke out in Northern Shan States Namhsan town on Thursday, leaving hundreds homeless before the blaze was finally brought under control early Friday morning. Although the cause of the fire is unknown, it reportedly began in a storage garage containing green tea leaves in Namhsans Mingalar quarter on Thursday afternoon. It proceeded to tear through Mingalar, and another quarter, Myolae, burning both completely. Over two hundred homes were burned. Its about half of the town, as Namhsan has about 400 homes, said Aung Khin, chairman of the towns National League for Democracy (NLD) office. It is not yet known if there were any fatalities. Displaced persons are currently taking shelter at a Namhsan monastery, and the towns electricity and telecommunications infrastructure is still down. The fire got under control at 1 am as it neared the town hall, Aung Khin added. Local authorities said fire engines from the neighboring townships of Namtu, Kyaukme, Hsipaw and Lashio came to help extinguish the fire, however narrow streets and difficulty accessing the towns water supply allowed the fire to spread, resulting in huge losses. Sadly, most of the homes did not have enough water as we didnt receive water distribution from the municipality on Thursday, said Maung Kyaw, a local administration officer in Namhsan, who added that fire engines could not fit down many of Namhsans roads. The blaze is the largest since the town suffered another fire in November 2011, which razed 47 homes and displaced about 100 people. Aung Khin said the towns residents are currently assisting one another with the rescue and relocation of the displaced. According to locals, the temporary shelters set up for the victims of the fire are in need of clothing, blankets, clean water and basic medicine. Burma Mon States Moulmein and Americas Fort Wayne Formalize Sister City Relationship The Mon State capital and Fort Wayne in Indiana became sister cites Thursday, with a promise of future exchanges of education, commerce and culture. RANGOON Mon States Moulmein and Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the United States became sister cities in an effort to promote friendship and positive exchange between the communities, according to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on Thursday. Municipal Minister Dr. Toe Toe Aung of Burmas Mon State and Ms. Dorothy Kittaka, chairwoman of Fort Wayne Sister Cities International, signed the MOU in Moulmein. Burma has multiple sister city relationships with other countries; most recently, Rangoon formalized its friendship with South Koreas Busan when they became sisters in 2013. Fort Wayne already has four sister cities: Takaoka, Japan; Plock, Poland; Gera, Germany; and Taizhou, China. Burma and the United States began discussions on adding a fifth sister city to Fort Wayne in 2012; the Burmese government recently approved the agreement, according to a report in the Global New Light of Myanmar which quoted Mon State Chief Minister Ohn Myint. Ohn Myint said that there will be exchange of education, business and culture between the two cities. Moulmein and Fort Wayne will host an education exchange for students in 2017 as its first joint program. The purpose of formalizing the sister city relationship is to create and strengthen partnerships between communities in different countries, and the pairing of communities is often determined by their similarities. Fort Wayne was an early destination for those leaving Burma after the countrys 1988 uprising, with Fort Waynes first wave of resettled Burmese refugees arriving in 1991. Today around 6,000 people of Burmese descent live in the northern Indiana city of over 250,000 and it is home to the United States only Burmese mosque. Burma Netizens Call Out Facebook Threats over Article 59(f) Police in South Okkalapa Township say they are investigating a Facebook user who wrote a message threatening violence if Article 59(f) was suspended. RANGOON Police in Rangoons South Okkalapa Township said they are investigating a Facebook user who allegedly wrote a message on the social media platform threatening violence if a clause of the Constitution was suspended to accommodate the presidential ambitions of Aung San Suu Kyi. If Article 59(f) is suspended, Ill just need an AWM [a sniper rifle] or an AS 50 gun and a month of training. I will surely kill. I am serious, read the post, attributed to a user named Ye Lwin Myint. Article 59(f) of Burmas military-drafted Constitution disqualifies anyone with a foreign spouse or children from becoming president, effectively barring Suu Kyi because her two children are British nationals, as was her late husband. Since December, debate has surfaced over whether the clause could be suspended, paving the way for Suu Kyi to assume the countrys highest office. The offending Facebook message, posted on Wednesday evening, drew a storm of criticism among Burmese netizens, with many calling for action to be taken against the user, whose threats were seen as directed at the National League for Democracy (NLD) chairwoman. We are searching for him, a police officer in South Okkalapa Township, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Irrawaddy. But no one has yet come to press charges here. Police colonel Win Bo of the Rangoon Division Police Force said on Thursday that action would be taken under the Telecommunications Law against those who make threats or share inappropriate content. Though we wont monitor social media users who write posts on Facebook, if those who are affected by a particular post file a complaint with us, well take action according to the law. Well take action if there are complainants, Win Bo told The Irrawaddy. Two recent prosecutions under the Telecommunications Law attracted widespread criticism, with rights groups viewing the charges as politically motivated and the punishment excessive. A Kachin aid worker, Patrick Khum Jaa Lee, was sentenced to six months in prison, minus time served, on Jan. 22 over a Facebook post deemed insulting to the military. In December, a young supporter of the NLD received a six month sentence for posting an image to Facebook which compared redesigned uniforms worn by Burmese military personnel to the apparel worn by Aung San Suu Kyi. May Sitt Paing contributed reporting. Burma Women Demand Support for Burmas Working Mothers Parliamentarians and civil society activists argue that Burma needs a more concrete social welfare policy to help mothers in the workplace. RANGOON Three days after giving birth to her child this month, Wint War Tun, a recently elected National League for Democracy (NLD) MP from Karenni State, had to attend the first day of the Lower House session. Such scenarios have led parliamentarians and civil society activists to argue that Burma needs a more concrete social welfare policy to help mothers in the workplace, through the provision of child care services and ample maternity leave. Although the number of women in the Union Parliament has doubled from 31 to 65, the facilities for working mothers and fathers, such as family care units, are nowhere to be seen. According to figures from the Union Election Commission (UEC), 149 women were elected this month among the 791 who stood for office nationwide. This includes 42 in the Union Parliaments Lower House, 23 in the Upper House and 84 in regional legislatures, putting female representation at about 13 percentalmost a threefold rise compared with the previous count of women lawmakers, which according to UEC data, numbered 53 in 2014. This Country Needs to Support Qualified Women Shwe Shwe Sein Latt, an Upper House parliamentarian and womens rights activist from the National League for Democracy (NLD), said the Parliament lacks facilities to accommodate families. There should be a separate family unit. But for that, a gendered budget is needed, she said. In the Parliament, mothers need to breastfeed children. As I have observed in other [countries] parliaments, they have breastfeeding rooms and a child care center, a place where the family can hang out freely. There should be a nursery within Burmas Parliament, she suggested, pointing out that some MPs have small children whom they have to leave behind for five years in order to complete their service in the countrys capital. I have seen an MP working in the Parliament, carrying their child, she said of European governments. Most recently, Carolina Bascansa of Spain received media attention for bringing her breastfeeding infant son to a meeting of the Spanish Parliament earlier this month. Naypyidaws municipal guesthouse for MPs lacks a kitchen or common cooking space, which Shwe Shwe Sein Latt sees as a shortcoming regarding the integration of families into government housing. It is not only the right of women to be able to access child care, but also a childs right to have the care of his or her mother, she added, advocating that child care centers need to be present in all workplaces, not only the Parliament. We should have child care centers even in villages and quarters for [small-time] vendors, or women who have to go to market, she said. Here, older children have to quit school to take care of siblings when their moms go to the market [to sell goods]. If we could place those children in a childcare center, it would be more convenient for working moms, whether they are civil servants or market vendors. Citing the rising participation of young and capable women in the Parliament, Shwe Shwe Sein Latt said there are probably more such women nationwide, who might be held back by current challenges facing working mothers. If their work, qualities and abilities were fully utilized, the country would develop faster, she said. We are not saying this for [our own] opportunities. This is for our countrys future and for our childrenthe country needs to support qualified women. A Full Six Months Leave Wong Mrat Wai works as a media and communications coordinator at a non-governmental organization in Rangoon. A working mother who gave birth to a daughter three months ago and has now returned to work part-time, she wishes she could have had longer maternity leave to fully take care of her baby. As breastfeeding is best for the child, its better for mother and child to be together for at least six months, she said. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), women in Burma are legally entitled to 12 weeks of maternity leavethe ILOs stated minimumat two-thirds pay. If she were a civil servant, Wong Mrat Wai would be entitled to more time off: maternity leave was legally increased from three to six months for government employees in 2014. According to the law, fathers can also have two weeks of fully paid leave. I wish there was a law, not only for the government sector but also for the private sector and for NGOs, that gave mothers a full six months leave, she said. Wong Mrat Wais workplace does have one rare facilitya breastfeeding room. Most women can leave their child behind with grandmothers or the babies fathers. I brought my baby [to work] as I cant leave my baby. I dont have grandmothers and fathers to [provide] care. I looked for a breastfeeding room on the first day I was back to work, Wong Mrat Wai told The Irrawaddy. But she soon discovered the breastfeeding room had been converted to a meeting room since most mothers did not utilize it. Only when she started to use it for its designated purpose was the room changed back to a facility for mothers and their babies. Personally, I want to [stay] with my child, and I want to breastfeed for at least six months. I have more stress when I get to work, thinking I need to breastfeed, she said. With full support from her husband to continue her work, she said she was managing, but she also imagines it will be tiring to balance work and childcare when she returns to work full-time. Ideally, there would be a nursery at her workplace, Wong Mrat Wai said, a comfortable place with toys for my child. Women Could WorkAssured Their Children Are in Good Care Khin Ma Ma Myo, managing director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security Studies, was recently impressed by an offer to share childcare at a professional conference she planned to attend in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I was notified in the invitation that child care facilities were available and that I could bring a child if I wanted, she said. Such arrangements, she pointed out, ensure that women can participate in conferences and do not need to cancel due to childcare responsibilities. In Burma, she suggests that the government could start supporting parents with such responsibilities by subsidizing day care centers in every town quarter. Special training in childcare would also create job opportunities, she added, envisioning programs which license small-time caregivers from their homes, dependent on if the environment met agreed-upon standards. Then, women who are working in factories, workshops, schools and offices could work without worries, assured that their children are in good care, Khin Ma Ma Myo said. She warned, however, that childcare is not simply about keeping youth confined from wandering outside, but to participate in their mental and emotional development. For that, she said, Burma would need a concrete social welfare policy and a commitment to promote womens affairs. Economy Industry Observers Call for Investment Body Shake-Up Burmas next government needs to create new policies under reshuffled leadership within the Myanmar Investment Commission, industry observers say. RANGOON Burmas next government needs to create new policies under reshuffled leadership within the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), industry observers say. Steered by Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD), the former hermit state will, on the whole, see new leadership this year. But investment experts are calling for a similar shake-up within the MIC, which plays a key role in Burmas economic development. It [the MIC] should be formed with new policymakers, ones who know about economic trends and how to balance local and foreign investment interests, said Maung Maung Lay, vice chairman of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI). Since the outgoing quasi-civilian government came to power in 2011, the MIC, which also manages the 1988 Foreign Investment Law, was changed to a 16-member committee to examine economic proposals. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it has been run largely by former military personnel. These leaders should have experience in investment and policymaking. Not being too extreme is essential. They must understand the current situation, Maung Maung Lay said. Run under the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development, the commission has also been beleaguered by disagreements within the industry over whether it should stand alone as an independent body or work together with other important ministries. The chairman should at least be at the vice president level, because if someone at the ministry level were to have the position, it wouldnt work, as they dont respect each other, Myat Thin Aung, chairman of Rangoons Hlaing Tharyar Industrial Zone, told The Irrawaddy. The commission must run quickly and smoothly for investors, which it wouldnt be able to do independently. As an independent body, itd be hard to work with other ministries. In some instances, the MIC has had long decision-making periods for approving foreign investments, and various restrictions still remain for foreign and domestic investors. If the new government is able to form a more efficient commission, well have more foreign investors come to Burma, Myat Thin Aung added. Khin Shwe, a former Upper House lawmaker and chairman of the Zay Kabar Group of Companies, said Suu Kyi informed him last year that she planned to reform the commission to include experts and businesspersons who would be able to help spur economic growth. She said that if these groups work together, well see faster development, Khin Shwe said. The commission hasnt been able to handle foreign investments like countries such as Vietnam have been able to do. We need a commission that can do better. The MIC played a major role in amending the Investment Law that was approved in January. The law combines the 2012 Foreign Investment Law and the 2013 Myanmar Citizens Investment Law, changes the mandate of the MIC and, at least in word, expands human rights protections for future foreign investment projects. According to MIC data, the top foreign investment sectors in Burma are power (33 percent), manufacturing (22 percent), oil and gas (20 percent), telecommunications (11 percent) and hotels and tourism (5 percent). U.S. businesses may take some comfort from the fact that a successor to the Safe Harbor agreement has finally been named, but at this point, they shouldn't get too comfortable. Since it was first announced on Tuesday, the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield agreement governing trans-Atlantic data transfers has elicited considerable concern, not least because it remains largely unwritten and unclear. Privacy watchdogs in Europe have cautioned that it can't be relied upon for legal protection for several months; some say it won't be enough even then. The old Safe Harbor agreement that provided cover to companies transferring data was declared invalid by an EU court last year. So what's a business to do? Julie Brill, commissioner of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, offered some insight Thursday in a webcast discussion hosted by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). First, realize that it's going to take some time for Privacy Shield to be usable, Brill warned. "The immediate next step is to write up the details so that everyone can see it," Brill said. That's going to take longer this time than it did back in 2000, when the original Safe Harbor agreement was approved, however. The European Parliament is playing an advisory role this time, with the ability to review the agreement and vote on it, she noted. EU Member States will also have to approve it. April is the soonest Europe's data-protection authorities are likely to be able to finish their legal analysis, according to the Article 29 Working Party, the EU body representing those DPAs. In the meantime, businesses hoping the original Safe Harbor agreement will protect them in the interim will continue to be held accountable by the FTC, Brill said. "If companies are continuing to make promises that they're abiding by Safe Harbor, we will enforce that," she said. Assuming Privacy Shield is ultimately approved by European authorities, companies will have to examine the tougher requirements it involves carefully to make sure they can abide by them once they agree to support it. "I want companies to be sure that when they self-certify, they know what they're getting into," Brill said. For example, what's known as "onward transfer," when data is exported from Europe to the United States and then again to a third party, will gain heightened attention under the new rules, Brill said. "Onward transfer will be more strongly protected," she said. "There will have to be more assurances that the entity receiving the data will protect it as well." Brill didn't rule out the possibility that Europe's DPAs will begin retroactively enforcing Privacy Shield once it's approved. "In this evaluation time there is uncertainty," she said. "My hope would be that they would understand that everyone is being very respectful of their evaluation and waiting to give them time." Timothy Edgar, who served under President Obama from 2009 to 2010 as the first director of privacy and civil liberties for the White House National Security Staff, had advice of his own for businesses. "Companies that were part of Safe Harbor should continue to honor the privacy commitments they made under that agreement, because the Privacy Shield, at least as it has been described so far, is very similar," said Edgar, who is now a senior fellow in international and public affairs at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. "We don't have all the details yet on the Privacy Shield, so over the next few months it would be prudent for companies to check back with their privacy lawyers to make sure they are doing everything they are required to do under this new arrangement," he added via email. Companies should consider ways to avoid unnecessary transfers of personal data, Edgar advised: "This is a good practice both for security and privacy reasons," he said. Those that transfer personal data from the EU to the U.S. would also do well to encrypt the data before it leaves the EU, he added, since EU data-protection regulations only concern transfers of data that are in personally identifiable form. Looking further ahead, though, Edgar has a big caveat: Privacy Shield may not stand up in European court. "One thing we know for certain is that it does not change U.S. surveillance law," he explained, and the Court of Justice of the European Union has already determined that that law does not adequately protect EU personal data. "EU data-protection commissioners are holding off on threats of enforcement for now, but over the next month or so they will be asking tough questions about whether the Privacy Shield is good enough," Edgar added. "The European Commission may be satisfied with the U.S. government's assurances about how EU citizens' data will be treated by American intelligence agencies, but that doesn't mean EU data-protection commissioners -- or European courts -- will agree." Samsung this week officially launched its first prototype of a semi-trailer truck with a large, high-definition display on the back so vehicles behind can see the road ahead, even at night. The technology was deployed as a way to make single-lane highways or roads safer by allowing vehicles following trucks to know when it's safe to pass. The Samsung Safety Truck uses two built-in front-facing cameras and a specially designed transportation software platform to capture and transmit a picture of the road ahead. The Samsung display combines four, 46-in., high-definition 1080p LED screens to create the video wall. Called the OverView Seamless Videowall (OSV), the rear-facing displays are dustproof and waterproof and certified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) against environmental conditions, "ensuring a clear picture regardless of the road or weather," Samsung said in a statement. The OSV displays are the same kind sold by Samsung and used for outdoor signs. "The Samsung Safety Truck project will be running for a year, but we are not planning to sell the product in the short term," a Samsung spokesman said. "Were currently in discussion with various business partners about how best to utilize this opportunity, but it is still too early to talk about any details at this point." While Samsung built the Safety Truck using a Volvo semi-tractor trailor, it could "eventually be applied to any truck," the spokesman added. Samsung The Samsung Safety Truck's displays can be seen both day and night. Samsung originally built the prototype in June 2015. It then worked with Argentina's non-government road safety organizations and the government to perform tests in order to comply with the current national protocols and obtain needed permits and approvals. Garbarino, a large Argentinian retail firm with factories throughout the country, sponsored the official launch of the Samsung Safety Truck. While the truck was developed in Argentina, Samsung said it has drawn attention from around the world. The Safety Truck was a joint idea between Samsung and the Leo Burnett Company, a Chicago-based worldwide advertising agency. "Samsung is always looking for opportunities to apply technology in innovative ways to improve people's lives," Sang Jik Lee, president of Samsung Electronics Argentina, said in a statement. "Leveraging our experience as the world leader in display technology, along with Leo Burnett, we came up with the idea of the Samsung Safety Truck, an invention that we believe will change the history of road safety." Apache Phoenix is a relatively new open source Java project that provides a JDBC driver and SQL access to Hadoop's NoSQL database: HBase. It was created as an internal project at Salesforce, open sourced on GitHub, and became a top-level Apache project in May 2014. If you have strong SQL programming skills and would like to be able to use them with a powerful NoSQL database, Phoenix could be exactly what you're looking for! This tutorial introduces Java developers to Apache Phoenix. Since Phoenix runs on top of HBase, we'll start with an overview of HBase and how it differs from relational databases. You'll learn how Phoenix bridges the gap between SQL and NoSQL, and how it's optimized to efficiently interact with HBase. With those basics out of the way, we'll spend the remainder of the article learning how to work with Phoenix. You'll set up and integrate HBase and Phoenix, create a Java application that connects to HBase through Phoenix, and you'll write your first table, insert data, and run a few queries on it. Four types of NoSQL data store It is interesting (and somewhat ironic) that NoSQL data stores are categorized by a feature that they lack, namely SQL. NoSQL data stores come in four general flavors: Key/value stores map a specific key to a value, which may be a document, an array, or a simple type. Examples of key/value stores include Memcached, Redis, and Riak. Document stores manage documents, which are usually schema-less structures, like JSON, that can be of arbitrary complexity. Most document stores provide support for primary indexes as well as secondary indexes and complex queries. Examples of document stores include MongoDB and CouchBase. Graph databases focus primarily on the relationships between objects in which data is stored in nodes and in the relationships between nodes. An example of a graph database is Neo4j. Column-oriented databases store data as sections of columns of data rather than as rows of data. HBase is a column-oriented database, and so is Cassandra. HBase: A primer Apache HBase is a NoSQL database that runs on top of Hadoop as a distributed and scalable big data store. HBase is a column-oriented database that leverages the distributed processing capabilities of the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and Hadoop's MapReduce programming paradigm. It was designed to host large tables with billions of rows and potentially millions of columns, all running across a cluster of commodity hardware. Apache HBase combines the power and scalability of Hadoop with the ability to query for individual records and execute MapReduce processes. In addition to capabilities inherited from Hadoop, HBase is a powerful database in its own right: it combines real-time queries with the speed of a key/value store, a robust table-scanning strategy for quickly locating records, and it supports batch processing using MapReduce. As such, Apache HBase combines the power and scalability of Hadoop with the ability to query for individual records and execute MapReduce processes. HBase's data model HBase organizes data differently from traditional relational databases, supporting a four-dimensional data model in which each "cell" is represented by four coordinates: Row key: Each row has a unique row key that is represented internally by a byte array, but does not have any formal data type. Column family: The data contained in a row is partitioned into column families; each row has the same set of column families, but each column family does not need to maintain the same set of column qualifiers. You can think of column families as being similar to tables in a relational database. Column qualifier: These are similar to columns in a relational database. Version: Each column can have a configurable number of versions. If you request the data contained in a column without specifying a version then you receive the latest version, but you can request older versions by specifying a version number. Figure 1 shows how these four dimensional coordinates are related. Steven Haines Figure 1. HBase data mode The model in Figure 1 shows that a row is comprised of a row key and an arbitrary number of column families. Each row key is associated to a collection of "rows in tables," each of which has its own columns. While each table must exist, the columns in tables may be different across rows. Each column family has a set of columns, and each column has a set of versions that map to the actual data in the row. If we were modeling a person, the row key might be the person's social security number (to uniquely identify them), and we might have column families like address, employment, education, and so forth. Inside the address column family we might have street, city, state, and zip code columns, and each version might correspond to where the person lived at any given time. The latest version might list the city "Los Angeles," while the previous version might list "New York." You can see this example model in Figure 2. Steven Haines Figure 2. Person model in HBase In sum, HBase is a column-oriented database that represents data in a four dimensional model. It is built on top of the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS), which partitions data across potentially thousands of commodity machines. Developers using HBase can access data directly by accessing a row key, by scanning across a range of row keys, or by using batch processing via MapReduce. Foundational research You may or may not be familiar with the famous (to geeks) Big Data White Papers. Published by Google Research between 2003 and 2006, these white papers presented the research for three pillars of the Hadoop ecosystem as we know it: Google File System (GFS): The Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) is an open source implementation of the GFS and defines how data is distributed across a cluster of commodity machines. MapReduce: A functional programming paradigm for analyzing data that is distributed across an HDFS cluster. Bigtable: A distributed storage system for managing structured data that is designed to scale to very large sizes -- petabytes of data across thousands of commodity machines. HBase is an open source implementation of Bigtable. Bridging the NoSQL gap: Apache Phoenix Apache Phoenix is a top-level Apache project that provides an SQL interface to HBase, mapping HBase models to a relational database world. Of course, HBase provides its own API and shell for performing functions like scan, get, put, list, and so forth, but more developers are familiar with SQL than NoSQL. The goal of Phoenix is to provide a commonly understood interface for HBase. In terms of features, Phoenix does the following: Provides a JDBC driver for interacting with HBase. Supports much of the ANSI SQL standard. Supports DDL operations such as CREATE TABLE, DROP TABLE, and ALTER TABLE. Supports DML operations such as UPSERT and DELETE. Compiles SQL queries into native HBase scans and then maps the response to JDBC ResultSets. Supports versioned schemas. In addition to supporting a vast set of SQL operations, Phoenix is also very high performing. It analyzes SQL queries, breaks them down into multiple HBase scans, and runs them in parallel, using the native API instead of MapReduce processes. Phoenix uses two strategies--co-processors and custom filters--to bring computations closer to the data: Co-processors perform operations on the server, which minimizes client/server data transfer. perform operations on the server, which minimizes client/server data transfer. Custom filters reduce the amount of data returned in a query response from the server, which further reduces the amount of transferred data. Custom filters are used in a few ways: When executing a query, a custom filter can be used to identify only the essential column families required to satisfy the search. A skip scan filter uses HBase's SEEK_NEXT_USING_HINT to quickly navigate from one record to the next, which speeds up point queries. A custom filter can "salt the data," meaning that it adds a hash byte at the beginning of row key so that it can quickly locate records. reduce the amount of data returned in a query response from the server, which further reduces the amount of transferred data. Custom filters are used in a few ways: In sum, Phoenix leverages direct access to HBase APIs, co-processors, and custom filters to give you millisecond-level performance for small datasets and second-level performance for humongous ones. Above all, Phoenix exposes these capabilities to developers via a familiar JDBC and SQL interface. Get started with Phoenix In order to use Phoenix, you need to download and install both HBase and Phoenix. You can find the Phoenix download page (and HBase compatibility notes) here. Download and setup At the time of this writing, the latest version of Phoenix is 4.6.0 and the download page reads that 4.x is compatible with HBase version 0.98.1+. For my example, I downloaded the latest version of Phoenix that is configured to work with HBase 1.1. You can find it in the folder: phoenix-4.6.0-HBase-1.1/ . Here's the setup: Download and decompress this archive and then use one of the recommended mirror pages here to download HBase. For instance, I selected a mirror, navigated into the 1.1.2 folder, and downloaded hbase-1.1.2-bin.tar.gz . Decompress this file and create an HBASE_HOME environment variable that points to it; for example, I added the following to my ~/.bash_profile file (on Mac): export HBASE_HOME=/Users/shaines/Downloads/hbase-1.1.2 . Integrate Phoenix with HBase The process to integrate Phoenix into HBase is simple: Copy the following file from the Phoenix root directory to the HBase lib directory: phoenix-4.6.0-HBase-1.1-server.jar . Start HBase by executing the following script from HBase's bin directory: ./start-hbase.sh . With HBase running, test that Phoenix is working by executing the SQLLine console, by executing following command from Phoenix's bin directory: ./sqlline.py localhost . The SQLLine console sqlline.py is a Python script that starts a console that connects to HBase's Zookeeper address; localhost in this case. You can walk through an example that I am going to summarize in this section here. First, let's view all of the tables in HBase by executing !table : 0: jdbc:phoenix:localhost> !tables +------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+--------------------------+ | TABLE_CAT | TABLE_SCHEM | TABLE_NAME | TABLE_TYPE | REMARKS | +------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+--------------------------+ | | SYSTEM | CATALOG | SYSTEM TABLE | | | | SYSTEM | FUNCTION | SYSTEM TABLE | | | | SYSTEM | SEQUENCE | SYSTEM TABLE | | | | SYSTEM | STATS | SYSTEM TABLE | | +------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+--------------------------+ Because this is a new instance of HBase the only tables that exist are system tables. You can create a table by executing a create table command: 0: jdbc:phoenix:localhost> create table test (mykey integer not null primary key, mycolumn varchar); No rows affected (2.448 seconds) This command creates a table named test , with an integer primary key named mykey and a varchar column named mycolumn . Now insert a couple rows by using the upsert command: 0: jdbc:phoenix:localhost> upsert into test values (1,'Hello'); 1 row affected (0.142 seconds) 0: jdbc:phoenix:localhost> upsert into test values (2,'World!'); 1 row affected (0.008 seconds) UPSERT is an SQL command for inserting a record if it does not exist or updating a record if it does. In this case, we inserted (1,'Hello') and (2,'World!'). You can find the complete Phoenix command reference here. Finally, query your table to see the values that you upserted by executing select * from test : 0: jdbc:phoenix:localhost> select * from test; +------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ | MYKEY | MYCOLUMN | +------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ | 1 | Hello | | 2 | World! | +------------------------------------------+------------------------------------------+ 2 rows selected (0.111 seconds) Air-BNB and similar sites are growing in popularity mainly because they are making travel cheaper and, in a lot of cases, more comfortable. In fact, many people are purchasing and renovating apartments simply for the purpose of renting them out to travellers. Such is also the case for the Position Collective design firm of Hungary. They have renovated a small apartment into an airy, light filled and quite functional living space. The apartment measures just 323 square feet (30 square meters) and is located in Budapest, Hungary, which is fast becoming a very popular travel destination in Europe. Despite the small size, the apartment is very functional and modern, and should appeal to a variety of travelersa tastes, from casual tourists to digital nomads. In fact, I wouldnat mind living in it full time. The apartment features a full-sized kitchen, with ample counter space, and a dining area at one end. One of the walls is covered in plywood paneling, while the rest is simply painted, white which increases the sense of spaciousness. The plywood part of the wall is a lot like a giant pegboard, and features lots of shelves, which are fully configurable and adjustable via clever inserts. The bedroom forms the centerpiece of the apartment and is comprised of an elevated platform also made of plywood. This area is accessible via stairs, and there is ample storage space built into the platforms under it. The bedroom contains what appears to be at least a queen sized bed, while there is a net curtain separating it from the kitchen. This is more for design purposes than any real privacy though. The bathroom is well sized too, and is equipped with a shower, toilet and sink. It also features a sandblasted glass window, which lets in plenty of light, but still offers privacy. There does not seem to be a lounging area in this apartment, but it does feature a balcony, which offers a great view of the city. Chief pilot 737 Program and pilot in command Captain Ed Wilson together with VP of Flight Test Craig Bomben took the Boeing 737 MAX to its maiden flight las Friday. It started with a short taxi down to Runway 34 at Renton Municipal Airport in Washington state, CNN reports. The takeoff took place at around 9:48 a.m. local time, with at least 4,000 spectators composed of Boeing employees, guests, and media members to witness the event. "It flew beautifully. We worked through checks but there were no issues," Wilson said. It has been reported that the Boeing 737 MAX flew under typical Seattle stormy, threatening skies. "Other [than] deteriorating weather at Renton, we had no butterflies or jitters in our stomachs. We did get out of Renton in the nick of time," Bomben noted. This particular Boeing 737 MAX is named Spirit of Renton. It flew the west Washington skies for about two hours and 47 minutes. For technicalities' sake, it is reported that the aircraft limited its speed to only 250 knots - never exceeded the limit - and initially climbed to 15,000 feet (4,570 meters), before flying higher than 20,000 feet (6,096 meters). It is said that this version of 737 provides efficiency, reliability, and passenger appeal. It is guaranteed to deliver 8% lower operating costs as compared to its main competitor. It also offers 99.7of % dispatch reliability. Meaning to say it will avoid delaying over 65,000 passengers. Its Boeing Sky Interior also dramatically elevates the passenger experience and provides better environmental performance. Indeed, this fourth-generation family aircraft is something that provides a lot for passengers. This will also serve as the first MAX aircraft to be used for testing and certifying the program with the Federal Aviation Administration. According to Boeing's chief project engineer Michael Teal, the aircraft's test fleet will wrap up the campaign by the end of the year. The Intercept editor-in-chief Betsy Reed apologized to its readers in a note on The Intercept's website after ex-reporter Juan Thompson was discovered to have fabricates quotes and created fake mail accounts. A tweet elicited responses from readers as a link of the apology was published on Twitter. The Intercept is an online publication that was founded by the billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. One of its writers, Glenn Greenwald, who writes mostly about national security issues, has won a Pulitzer Prize and is well known. The Intercept prides itself on bringing about transparency and accountability as it claims on its website, and on Feb. 2 it would appear that they did just that. In a piece headed 'A Note to Readers' published last Tuesday, editor in chief Betsy Reed apologized for the actions of the reporter in question, Juan Thompson. She explained in a matter of fact way how Thompson had fabricated quotes from people who claimed he never interviewed them, and how he had said to have interviewed people that could not be found. It had been discovered that Thompson had created fake email accounts, including one in Reed's name. As news of the notice went up on Twitter, most readers appreciated the grace with which The Intercept took responsibility. Some tweeted criticisms regarding ethical and journalistic practices of The Intercept, but overall the drama-free, transparent approach that the Intercept took seemed to have gone down well. To correct the mistake, The Intercept retracted one story entirely and published corrections to a few more published by Thompson. The article that was retracted was based around an interview with Scott Roof, an alleged cousin of Dylann Roof. Dylann Roof awaits trial for murdering nine people in a church in Charleston last June. Scott Roof is quoted in the article to have said that Dylann Roof's racially motivated hatred goes back to a time when he was rejected by a girl in favor of a black man. The Intercept published a retraction on top of the story that said no cousin of the name Scott Roof had been found to exist after talking with two members of Dylann Roof's family. In the note, Ms Reed said that Thompson had not cooperated during the review, accepting blame for fabricating email accounts and messages but standing by his published work. Editor in chief Reed ended the note by expressing regret over the situation, personally taking full responsibility and hoping to maintain the readers' trust by producing journalism they can be proud of. Breaking News: Mount Prospect Man Who Took Life Of Arlington Heights Resident Over Cannabis Gets 60 Years In Prison TWO FOLKS: Lowland Hum, composed of Daniel and Lauren Goans, will open for Bombadil at 9 tonight at Krankies, 211 E. Third St. The band has been touring throughout the U.S. since August in support of their sophomore album, Lowland Hum, which includes the popular singles, Odell and Olivia. In September, the band signed with San Diego indie label, Randm Records. Lowland Hum performs updated folk songs that range from the intensely personal in Odell to the globally political in War is Over, all harmony-driven and laden with guitar and keyboards. In order to accommodate the different ways people process information, the duo incorporates visual elements that frame the performance area, hand-bound lyric books and essential oil burners. Admission is $10. Doors open at 8 p.m., and Bombadil will play at 10 p.m. SHARE By of the After a flat year for home construction in the Milwaukee metro area, the market appears to be off to a fast start in 2016. January permits to build single-family homes and duplexes in the four-county metro area were up about 43% to 90 from 63 in January of 2015, according to a report by MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin Inc. The most permits were in Menomonee Falls, Hartland and Oconomowoc. In 2015, permits to construct new homes declined about 1% from 2014 in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties, to 1,225 from 1,237. That continued a slight downward trend over the past three years. David Belman, president of Belman Homes, told a group of local real estate professionals this week that he expects new home construction in 2016 to roughly mirror last year. Belman is the current president of the Metropolitan Builders Association. Builders say regulatory expenses, rising prices for materials and a shortage of skilled laborers are driving up the prices of new homes. Of the 15 permits issued in Menomonee Falls in January, the average estimated value of the homes to be constructed is almost $349,000, according to MTD. The data from MTD shows slower homebuilding starts to the new year in Dane County and the Fox Valley. In Dane County, 57 home construction permits were pulled last month, compared with 66 in January a year earlier. In the Fox Valley, 33 permits were issued in January, down from 43 in that month in 2015. In the Green Bay-Sturgeon Bay market, 22 permits were acquired in January, up from 15 in the same month last year. In the Racine-Kenosha area, 15 homebuilding permits were issued, compared with 12 in January of 2015. Jeremy Strong (from left), Rafe Spall, Hamish Linklater, Steve Carell, Jeffry Griffin and Ryan Gosling trade accusations in a scene from The Big Short. The movie has six Oscar nominations, including best picture. Credit: Jaap Buitendijk SHARE By of the Here are where (and whether) you can see the movies nominated for this year's Academy Awards. Also, a reminder: This year's Oscar-nominated live-action shorts and animated short films are still showing at the Oriental Theatre. "Amy"(1 documentary feature): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes. "Anomalisa"(1 animated feature): Showing at Oriental. "The Big Short"(5 picture, supporting actor for Christian Bale, director for Adam McKay, film editing, adapted screenplay): Showing at Fox-Bay, Hillside, Mayfair Mall, North Shore. "Boy and the World"(1 animated feature): No word on Milwaukee or video release date. "Bridge of Spies"(6 picture, supporting actor for Mark Rylance, original score, original screenplay, production design, sound mixing): Showing at Oak Creek Budget; available on DVD. "Brooklyn"(3 picture, actress for Saoirse Ronan, adapted screenplay): Showing at Downer, Hillside, North Shore, Ridge, Rivoli/Cedarburg. "Carol"(6 actress for Cate Blanchette, supporting actress for Rooney Mara, adapted screenplay, cinematography, costume design, original score): No longer in theaters. "Cartel Land"(1 documentary feature): Streaming on Netflix, iTunes. "Cinderella"(1 costume design): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes, Amazon. "Creed"(1 supporting actor for Sylvester Stallone): Due out on DVD March 1. "The Danish Girl"(4 actor for Eddie Redmayne, supporting actress for Alicia Vikander, costume design, production design): Showing at Mayfair Mall; due out on DVD March 1. "Embrace of the Serpent"(1 foreign-language film): No word on return to theaters (played at 2015 Milwaukee Film Festival). "Ex Machina"(2 original screenplay, visual effects): Available on DVD, streaming on Amazon, iTunes. "Fifty Shades of Grey"(1 original song for "Earned It"): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes. "45 Years"(1 actress for Charlotte Rampling): Showing at Downer. "The Hateful Eight"(3 supporting actress for Jennifer Jason Leigh, cinematography, original score): Showing at Mayfair Mall. "The Hunting Ground"(1 original song for "Til It Happens to You"): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes, Amazon. "Inside Out"(2 animated feature, original screenplay): Available on DVD, streaming on Amazon, iTunes. "Joy"(1 actress for Jennifer Lawrence): Showing at Ridge, Oak Creek Budget. "The Look of Silence"(1 documentary feature): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes. "Mad Max: Fury Road"(10 picture, director for George Miller, cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, production design, sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes and HBO streaming services. "The Martian"(7 picture, actor for Matt Damon, adapted screenplay, production design, sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects): Showing at Majestic, Oak Creek Budget; available on DVD, streaming on iTunes, Amazon. "Mustang"(1 foreign-language film): Showing at Times; due out on DVD April 12. "The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared"(1 makeup and hairstyling): Available on DVD, streaming on iTunes, Amazon. "Racing Extinction"(1 original song for "Manta Ray"): Due out on DVD Feb. 23. "The Revenant"(12 picture, director for Alejandro G. Inarritu, actor for Leonardo DiCaprio, supporting actor for Tom Hardy, cinematography, costume design, film editing, makeup and hairstyling, production design, sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects): Showing at Avalon, Fox-Bay, Hillside, IPic/Bayshore, Majestic, Mayfair Mall, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, South Shore. "Room"(4 picture, director for Lenny Abrahamson, actress for Brie Larson, adapted screenplay): Showing at Majestic, Oriental, Saukville, Showtime; due out on DVD March 1. "Shaun the Sheep Movie"(1 animated feature): Available on DVD; streaming on Amazon. "Sicario"(3 cinematography, original score, sound editing): Available on DVD, streaming on Amazon. "Son of Saul"(1 foreign-language film): Reportedly due in Milwaukee Feb. 19. "Spectre"(1 original song for "Writing's on the Wall"): Showing at Oak Creek Budget; streaming on Amazon; due out on DVD Tuesday. "Spotlight"(6 picture, director for Tom McCarthy, supporting actor for Mark Ruffalo, supporting actress for Rachel McAdams, original screenplay, film editing): Showing at Downer, Mayfair Mall, Menomonee Falls; due out on DVD Feb. 23. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens"(5 film editing, original score, sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects): Showing at Hillside, Majestic, Mayfair Mall, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Showtime, South Shore, Southgate. "Steve Jobs"(2 actor for Michael Fassbender, supporting actress for Kate Winslet): Due out on DVD Feb. 16. "Straight Outta Compton"(1 original screenplay): Available on DVD, streaming on Amazon, iTunes. "Theeb"(1 foreign-language film): Due in Milwaukee theaters Feb. 12; available for streaming on Amazon Feb. 19; due out on DVD May 17. "Trumbo"(1 actor for Bryan Cranston): Due out on DVD Feb. 16. "A War"(1 foreign-language film): No word on Milwaukee release date. "What Happened, Miss Simone?"(1 documentary feature): Streaming on Netflix. "When Marnie Was There"(1 animated feature): Available on DVD. "Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom"(1 documentary feature): Streaming on Netflix. "Youth"(1 original song for "Simple Song#3"): Due out on DVD March 1. Chris Foran SHARE Gilberto Hernandez-Ordunez. No credit By of the Federal prosectors argued at a hearing in November that Gilberto Hernandez-Ordunez should be locked up before trial, noting he faced decades in prison on a cocaine charge and was likely to flee to Mexico because he was in the U.S. illegally. Federal law presumes someone like Hernandez-Ordunez, who was found with 15 kilograms of cocaine brought to Milwaukee sealed in metal elevator parts, should be locked up. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Duffin saw the case differently. He released the 34-year-old on a signature bond with no electronic monitoring, noting he had no criminal history, was employed and had strong family ties to Milwaukee. Now, U.S. marshals are hunting for Hernandez-Ordunez after he failed to show for court last week and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Duffin did not return a call for comment Friday. Michael Klug, the head of federal probation services in Milwaukee, which assesses flight risk and recommended Hernandez-Ordunez be released, also did not return a call for comment. Edward Hunt, Hernandez-Ordunez's attorney, said Friday he had no comment on the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bridget Domaszek did not return a call for comment. Hernandez-Ordunez and Alfredo Romo, 47, who also has been in the U.S. illegally, were indicted in December on a charge of possession with intent to deliver five kilograms or more of cocaine. After the pair were indicted, Hernandez-Ordunez made his first appearance in court with nearly 20 family members there in support. The pair were due in court Jan. 29. Hernandez-Ordunez was a no-show. Romo, still in custody, was brought to court and indicated he was going to enter a guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman, according to court records. Hernandez-Ordunez was arrested two years ago by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was released but is required to report regularly to ICE, a spokeswoman said in December. The spokeswoman said Friday there was no new information. The federal criminal complaint says Hernandez-Ordunez and Romo were involved in a drug-dealing operation that was bringing dozens of kilograms of cocaine into Milwaukee, hidden inside elevator shaft parts and delivered by semitrailer trucks to a warehouse on the city's northwest side. Each load was 20 to 60 kilograms or 44 to 130 pounds of cocaine, sealed in the elevator parts coming from California. It took a metal-cutting torch to get the drugs out. The cocaine was stashed at businesses on the south side and sold. Agents arrested Hernandez-Ordunez and Romo after they found 15 kilograms of cocaine in the trunk of their car. At the pair's first hearing on Nov. 20, Duffin ordered both of them detained, saying it was because they were illegal immigrants. But he came to a different conclusion on Hernandez-Ordunez four days later, when a full bond study was done. The Nov. 24 detention hearing focused on Hernandez-Ordunez's status. Romo, who had a warrant for his arrest from an old case, agreed to remain behind bars. Domaszek argued Hernandez-Ordunez should be locked up because the case against him was strong and the risk of flight was high because of the prison time he faced and his ties to Mexico. Hunt countered that his client had an incentive to stay to clear his name. "I respectfully disagree with the comment that he is a serious flight risk," Hunt said in court. "He has every reason to fight these charges." Duffin agreed the government had a good case. And while it was a "close call," he said he was releasing Hernandez-Ordunez because of his work history as a painter, a clean criminal record and family ties. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gilberto Hernandez-Ordunez is asked to call the U.S. Marshals Service at 414-297-3707. Tips can be left anonymously. SHARE By of the An orchestrator of a large-scale prescription painkiller ring that paid forgers to fill nearly 200 fraudulent prescriptions around 10 counties was sentenced Thursday to six months in federal prison. Darcye Maki, 32, was one of four people identified by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration as heading a conspiracy derailed in 2014 with more than 50 arrests after a yearlong investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman granted a request from Maki's attorney, John Birdsall, that her offenses be considered part of the same single episode for which she was earlier convicted and sentenced in Michigan federal court to 41 months in prison. Birdsall called the sentence "entirely appropriate," given Maki's Michigan sentence for essentially the same conduct and because she was manipulated by co-defendants "who preyed on her opiate addiction." Maki is scheduled to be released in August, and Adelman made her new sentence concurrent, and added three years of supervised release. "That's going to be critical, whether you can get some benefit from that," Adelman told her. "I certainly hope you can pull it together. Good luck." Federal sentencing guidelines called for a sentence from just over four to nearly six years, but Maki won significant breaks for cooperating with investigators. Most of those charged were "runners," paid by forgers to fill 196 fraudulent prescriptions for oxycodone to pharmacies all over the Milwaukee area 10 counties in all and obtain 25,000 pills worth about $300,000 on the streets from 2012 to 2014. Most of the faked prescriptions were for 120 pills, usually 30 mg size, which Assistant Special Agent in Charge James F. Bohn from the Drug Enforcement Administration said is not an uncommon number for a legitimate patient. He said the pills would sell for $15 to $30 apiece on the streets. Officials said none of the two dozen doctors whose signatures were forged had ever seen the bogus patients, were unaware their names were being used, or are suspected of any wrongdoing. "Runners" were people who allowed use of their names on the faked prescriptions and got paid $100 to $300, and sometimes some of the pills, for filling them. The ring needed many names because if a single patient's name comes up as seeking the pills too often, it raises red flags among pharmacists about addicts who might be "doctor shopping," going to different physicians to get overlapping prescriptions. Others identified as leaders of the ring were Norman Brown, Manual E. Doyle and Iyonna Smith, 30. All have pleaded guilty to conspiracy. Brown and Doyle were sentenced last year to 28 months and three years in prison respectively. Smith, who had once worked as a pharmacy technician at a Milwaukee Pick 'n Save, was sentenced earlier this month to three years' probation. At the time the charges were announced in 2014, Maki was serving a four-year federal prison term after she pleaded guilty to distributing oxycodone by mail from Milwaukee to her native Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She was arrested in Milwaukee in September 2013. One of the runners in the opioid ring told investigators Maki threatened to post nude photos of her on the Internet if she didn't try to fill the fake prescriptions. As part of that plea deal, Maki agreed to fully cooperate with investigators. Doyle, 29, the father of one of Maki's three children, would have been on probation in 2012 and 2013 for a 2008 conviction for identity theft. He is currently listed as a state prison inmate. SHARE By of the Milwaukee Police Department Inspectors William R. Jessup and Carianne Yerkes were each promoted to the rank of assistant chief Thursday. The promotions were approved by the city's Fire and Police Commission after the two were nominated by Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn. Jessup has been an inspector with the department since March, 2013, assigned to the Office of the Chief and overseeing the department's Specialized Investigations Bureau. He joined the department in 1990 and was initially assigned to the 5th District station, where he worked as a patrol officer and a vice control officer. He was subsequently promoted to the ranks of detective and lieutenant and served in various assignments in all three divisions within the department's Criminal Investigation Bureau. He was then promoted to the rank of captain of police in March, 2009, assigned to the Neighborhood Policing Bureau, where he commanded the department's 7th District station. Jessup earned a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice management and a master's degree in public administration from Concordia University. Yerkes was appointed to the police department as a police aide in 1991 and has held the ranks of police officer, police sergeant, lieutenant, captain and deputy inspector. She was promoted to inspector in April, 2012, assigned as the commander of the department's Risk Management Bureau. Yerkes, who has worked in patrol, investigations and administrative functions within the department, earned an associate degree in police science, a Bachelor of science degree in business management and a master's degree in public service from Marquette University. Jessup and Yerkes will fill vacancies created by the departures of Assistant Chiefs Kurt Leibold and Edith Hudson. The commission also approved the promotions of Deputy Inspectors Stephen R. Basting, Terrence T. Gordon, Michael J. Brunson Sr., and Captains Thomas G. Stigler and Jutiki C. Jackson to the rank of inspector after they were nominated by Flynn. "You wanna make this a black thing. Well I'm not black, I'm OJ." That statement by O.J. Simpson after he was arrested in 1994 in the brutal deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her companion Ronald Goldman, says a lot, not only about the case, but about black and white perceptions in America. The "Trial of the Century" was 20 years ago, but I still remember many of the events as if it was yesterday. I remember the infamous white Bronco leading police on a low-speed chase through the Los Angeles area; I remember O.J.'s lead attorney Johnnie Cochran uttering the phrase, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit;" I remember the blank stares coming from white reporters in the newsroom when the verdict of "not guilty" was read; and I also remember how young blacks celebrated on college campuses as if they had won the lottery. For many blacks, O.J. winning his case was payback for the Rodney King verdict two years prior. It was a time of heightened racial tensions. Blacks wondered how four white police officers could beat a black man on videotape and a jury find them not guilty. FX's 10-part miniseries "The People V. O.J. Simpson," which started Tuesday, took me back to those events that divided America along color lines in a way that hadn't been seen since the height of the civil rights movement in the 1960s. More than 5.1 million viewers watched the premiere, making it the network's most watched series launch ever. The series features an all-star cast. Cuba Gooding Jr. does a great job as O.J.; John Travolta plays Robert Shapiro; Courtney Vance stars as Johnnie Cochran; and Sarah Paulson plays Marcia Clark. It was an ugly time in America. The miniseries starts with the Rodney King beating. It also shows the 1992 riots that took place after a jury acquitted the officers of any wrongdoing. Black America was incensed, and it showed in the unjust beating of white truck driver Reginald Denny. It also came out in music when rap groups and even rock bands pointed out social injustices through their music. Everyone from Aerosmith to Ice Cube had an opinion. As a casual observer of the O.J. Simpson case, I believed he committed the brutal murders or he knew who did it. I never imagined that he would walk, but when he did I didn't celebrate. I was indifferent to O.J. because he rejected his blackness. He never used his position to speak out on the issues impacting people of color like my other black heroes Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. After the 1995 verdict, I still remember how things felt more divided. Things were so bad that President Bill Clinton addressed this thorny subject during a speech at the University of Texas. While Clinton was hopeful for the future, he admitted that white Americans and black Americans see the same world in drastically different ways. He said things never will be equal because of deep-rooted racism and our inability to talk openly and honestly about race. When I reached out to Georgetown University law professor Sheryll Cashin to ask her if race relations were better today than they were 20-years ago, she admitted that it was a tough question to answer. Cashin delivered a speech at Marquette University in January on race relations. It's a subject that she has studied for decades and she admits that there are no absolutes. What she discovered is that blacks and whites view race through different lenses. Most whites look at race and they see how far blacks have come since Jim Crow and they believe things are even. Through the black lens, things still are not equal. Even a blind person can look at the gaps economically, socially and educationally in Milwaukee and see that things are nowhere near equal. We have some of the widest gaps between blacks and whites in the country. Blacks and whites can look at the same case and have completely different viewpoints. For example, when George Zimmerman confronted Trayvon Martin on that fatal night in Florida, some blacks me included saw this as a case where a young boy was racially profiled, followed, confronted and killed by an overzealous vigilante, even after he was instructed by the police not to do so. But for some whites, Zimmerman did not follow Trayvon because he was black, he followed him because he looked "suspicious." It's through this lens that some whites began to justify Zimmerman's actions by saying things such as: 'Trayvon was wearing a hoodie' or 'Trayvon ran from Zimmerman at first.' One of the better ones was 'Trayvon got kicked out of school.' Neither of these things should have resulted in his death. Why do some people do this? "Because if they didn't, they would have to look at themselves a lot more closely," Cashin said. If you are operating from a premise that you are not racist, then you believe that people who look like you are not racist, too. So you make excuses for their behavior. The problem with that is most black people will tell you that racism is just as strong today if not worse than it was 20 years ago, despite the advances African-Americans have made. The "People V. O.J. Simpson" gives us an opportunity to look back at our old wounds to see if we healed properly or not. The wound of racism never heals with a Band-Aid. It takes dealing with some hard truths and honesty. This series may open up some much needed dialogue that we need to have about race. James E. Causey is a Journal Sentinel columnist and blogger. Email james.causey@jrn.com. Facebook: fb.me/jamescausey.12 Twitter: jecausey A Mexican flag will soon fly at the Mexican consulate on N. Prospect St. Credit: Journal Sentinel files SHARE By A Mexican flag will soon fly at 1443 N. Prospect St. in Milwaukee, the future home of the 51st Mexican consulate in the United States. That Wisconsin beat out Hawaii, Tennessee and New Jersey as the new location is significant, as is the fact that there are just 90 miles of highway between Milwaukee and Chicago, already the site of one of Mexico's busiest consulates. The growing demand for these consular services in Milwaukee a city better known for bratwurst and beer than burritos reflects the remarkable growth of the city's Mexican community, an economic and demographic lifeline to the entire state and region. One-third of Wisconsin's immigrants are from Mexico. Yet immigrants are not a new phenomenon in the Midwest or in Milwaukee. In 1880, the city was known as the "German Athens," with more than a quarter of its population born in Germany. It was so common to hear German spoken in Milwaukee's streets that shops posted "English Spoken Here" signs in their windows to attract Anglophone clientele. Brookings Institution analysis reveals that between 1900 and 1930, Milwaukee was among seven cities mostly in the Midwest that were home to 20% of the nation's immigrants, drawn to work in manufacturing. But as manufacturing jobs began to leave the region, so did workers. Whereas immigrants were more likely to live in the Midwest than the rest of the country in 1900, they represented just 5% of the region's population in 2000, well below the national average. Today, a new story is emerging out of the Midwest's demographic decline, with trends clearly observed in growing consular queues and diversifying Census data. One million new immigrants moved to the region between 2000 and 2010. New arrivals are revitalizing stagnating cities such as Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Omaha and St. Paul, the sites of Mexico's other Midwestern consulates. These cities are growing because immigrants are choosing to call them home: Nearly 27% of Indianapolis' growth between 2000 and 2010 was attributable to new immigrants, as was 23% in Kansas City, 26% in Omaha and 35% in Minneapolis-St. Paul, analysis by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs shows. Milwaukee is equally reliant on its new immigrant population, responsible for 47% of the city's growth between 2000 and 2010. New immigrants not only bring demographic revitalization, but also fill critical gaps in local workforces. A full 40% of Wisconsin's dairy farm workers are foreign-born, driving the state's $43 billion dairy industry. Immigrants also are more likely than their native-born peers to hold jobs in Wisconsin's leisure, hospitality, and re-emerging manufacturing sectors. These realities aren't lost on Gov. Scott Walker, who, despite having touted a tough platform on immigration during his presidential campaign, actively petitioned the Mexican government for a consulate in his state in 2013. In fact, the consulate is the product of many years of advocacy on both sides of the border, with stateside efforts spearheaded by U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy and Sen. Ron Johnson. Wisconsin's Mexican nationals were previously served by a mobile consulate or traveled to Chicago for an appointment, which took up to eight weeks to schedule. Demand compromised access to standard passport and paperwork services, as well as critical health, education, housing and financial planning offerings all resources that foster immigrants' rapid assimilation into American culture. The consulate also promises to boost economic ties between Mexico and Wisconsin businesses: Mexico is Wisconsin's second largest export market, with revenues totaling almost $3 billion annually. Trade with Mexico creates nearly 120,000 jobs in Wisconsin. Mexico's Milwaukee outpost marks an important development in a city that is re-embracing its immigrant roots. The Mexican consulate is a lone "official" diplomatic representation among Milwaukee's handful of "honorary" consulates for countries such as Belgium, Denmark, South Africa and Sweden. If the construction of consulates is a proxy for measuring demographic change, then Mexico its government and its immigrants is paving the way for increased diversity and economic vibrancy across the region. Sara McElmurry (@s_mcelmurry) is the assistant director for immigration at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. A 12-acre floating bog has obstructed lake access at Kavanaugh Bay on the Chippewa Flowage for landowner Richard Uihlein. The wealthy donor to Gov. Scott Walker has proposed a massive effort to move the bog north and fasten it to the lake bed. His home is shown on the south end of the bay. Credit: Google Earth SHARE By of the Business executive Richard E. Uihlein has continued to press his case to move a massive floating bog away from his property on the Chippewa Flowage in a meeting involving state, federal and business officials to review the controversial proposal. At a Jan. 28 meeting in Hayward, representatives of Uihlein presented a new option designed to ease concerns about a construction-scale project that initially called for nailing the 12-acre bog to the bottom of the lake. But it remains unclear whether Uihlein, a major financial supporter of Gov. Scott Walker, will proceed with plans. Spokesman Bill Broydrick said Uihlein was traveling and unavailable. "We got together with all of the stakeholders and it looks very difficult and very expensive," Broydrick said. Utility company Xcel Energy Inc. invited Uihlein representatives, the Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and others to review options for the project. Minneapolis-based Xcel would play a role in any resolution because the company owns the lake bed. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in September that Uihlein representatives had briefed the DNR on plans for a project to anchor the floating mass of grass, shrubs and full-grown trees as a means to keep it away from the businessman's property. Buffeted by winds, the bog has moved around a bay in the sprawling lake for several years and last summer was blocking Uihlein's access to the flowage. Broydrick said that while a project to anchor the bog would be problematic, he emphasized property owners should be able to have access to waterways. Uihlein and his wife are major financial supporters of Walker and have made contributions to his gubernatorial elections and to Walker's presidential bid in 2015. In a memo to the DNR, Uihlein's representatives on Aug. 17 outlined plans involving barges, a crane and a hydraulic hammer to drive approximately 50 metal columns through the bog to the lake bed of Kavanaugh Bay. That prompted objections from some property owners on the lake and the Lac Courte Oreilles band of Lake Superior Chippewa, which signed an agreement in 2000 for joint management of the flowage with the DNR and the U.S. Forest Service. When news of the potential project became public, DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp apparently had not been briefed on the matter. "First I heard about this issue," Stepp said in a Sept. 22 email to her deputy, Kurt Thiede, and Michael Bruhn, then the No. 3 official in the agency. "I don't recall seeing a letter about this." Bruhn responded minutes later saying he also was not aware of it. The emails were made available to the Journal Sentinel as part of an open records request. At last week's meeting, Uihlein representatives met with officials from Xcel, the DNR and the Army Corps of Engineers. A representative of the Lac Courte Oreilles was not able to attend, said utility spokeswoman Chris Ouellette. All parties, save for Uihlein, have a say in whether a project could move forward, if Uihlein decides to go ahead. Xcel operates in northwest Wisconsin. The flowage was constructed in 1924 when a hydroelectric dam was constructed on the Chippewa River, flooding 15,300 acres and creating Wisconsin's third largest lake. The utility would have to apply for a permit to allow construction on the lake bed. The DNR and Army Corps of Engineers would have to approve the permit. "It was a fact-finding mission for them," Ouellette said of the meeting. "All of the stakeholders, they just realized that they all needed to meet face-to-face ... and we offered to host the meeting to talk about the property." In a statement, DNR spokesman George Althoff agreed with that characterization. "Uihlein representatives presented a new concept for a proposed bog project, one that does not call for the use of pilings," Althoff said in an email. "The concept was not presented as a formal plan but as a work in progress." He could not provide details. Althoff said he could confirm there was consensus at the meeting that the idea of anchoring the bog to the lake bed was not a preferred option. The next step is for the DNR to "determine whether the project is permitable and, if so, what permitting requirements would be necessary," Althoff said. If Uihlein goes ahead with the project, Althoff said the DNR would have a 30-day public comment period before the agency decided to issue permits. The local property owners association remains opposed to such a project. "We are not in favor of it," said Connie Peterson, chairwoman of the Chippewa Flowage Area Property Owners Association. A Wisconsin native and former judge in Colorado and now an arbitrator in Denver, Peterson spends part of the year at a home on the flowage. "It's a wilderness lake, and he wants to put these huge pylons into the lake bed with barges," she said. "What effect is that going to have on the wildlife?" Peterson questioned what effect the metal columns 4 feet in diameter, according to plans outlined last summer would have on water quality in the flowage. She, too, had contact on Wednesday with a DNR employee who told her that Uihlein was looking at new options. Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein founded Uline Corp. in 1980. The Pleasant Prairie-based company distributes shipping, packaging and industrial supplies and announced plans in 2008 that it was moving its headquarters from Waukegan, Ill., to Kenosha County. The Journal Sentinel reported on Friday that Walker's affiliated Unintimidated PAC filed documents with federal authorities saying it received $3.7 million in the last half of 2015. Of that, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein contributed $2.5 million. Campaign to replace I-794 with surface street ramps up Reddit Email 0 Shares Interfaith Peacemakers | [N.B. The interfaith I am your Protector Campaign, founded by Dani Laurence, last week commemorated in several cities the Muslims who saved Jews from the Holocaust. Laurence told Alarabiya, The way Muslims are often portrayed in the media, public discourses can lead to fear and hatred. I Am Your Protector highlights Muslim Protectors and gives a platform for people to create posters of Protectors on our website. The mirrored posting below from Interfaith Peacemaker focuses on the Albanian Muslim communitys heroic actions in this regard. J. C. ] Albanian Muslims During the Holocaust: Astounding Resistance to the Nazis For many years the heavy curtain of Communism shrouded Albania from the view of the rest of the world. When that curtain was lifted in 1991 amazing stories emerged about the role of Albanian Muslims saving Jews during the Holocaust that swept across Nazi-occupied Europe. When the German Nazi army occupied Albania it wasnt long before the Albanians were ordered to surrender their Jewish citizens . . . That prompted a massive movement among Albanians from top officials to grassroots villagers to shelter Jews. Most of those engaged in the movement were Muslims. Hospitality is a deeply held value for Albanians, so they went to great lengths and took personal risks to shield the Jews from the Nazis. Non-Jewish Albanians would steal identity cards from police stations for Jews to use. The Albanian underground threatened to execute anyone who turned a Jew in to the Nazis. Jews from Serbia, Austria and Greece found refuge in Albania. As astonishing as this may sound: Not a single Jew from Albania ended up in the concentration camps. Dr. Anna Kohen, speaking at a Holocaust remembrance in New York City talked about her family fleeing to a mountain village. They all took Muslim names. She said, Everyone in the village knew they were Jews, but not one person betrayed them. Her familys story was repeated again and again throughout Albania. Sulo Mecaj, a farmer from the village of Kruja who sheltered 10 Jews in his attic, was asked what would happen if the Nazis burned down his house with the Jews inside. My son will go into the attic with the Jews and suffer their fate. At the end of World War II there were more Jews living in Albania than at the start of the war, the only country in Europe where this happened. Faith as well as culture played a major role in this life-and-death hospitality. Shyqyri Myrto helped Josef Jakoel and his sister Eriketa evade Germans going house to house searching for them. He said, Our Muslim religion says we must help someone who is in danger in difficult times. His friend Bequi Qogja said, We all have one God, and he has commanded us to help others. Its the same thing Jesus said, that Muhammad has commanded, and actually your Moses said the same thing. Commemoration Albanian protectors of the Jews were named in the Rescuers Wall at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in 1995. Albanian Muslim names are inscribed at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem with the Righteous Among the Nations. Via Interfaith Peacemakers This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. Related video added by Juan Cole: Michel Reymond: 2016 01 27 I am your Protector Geneva Event Reddit Email 0 Shares Chuck Collins | Inequality.org | Bad tax policy ideas never die, they just get recycled. The latest retread is GOP candidate Marco Rubios proposal to entirely eliminate taxes on capital gains income. A preferential tax rate on capital gains has always been a staple of GOP tax policy. But only the brazen few have proposed completely abolishing it. When Steve Forbes ran for President in 2000, his flat tax proposal excluded income from capital. At the time, Mitt Romney complained, The Forbes tax isnt a flat tax at all its a tax cut for fat cats! As Josh Barro pointed out in The New York Times, other GOP presidential candidates have proposed reducing capital gains, but not eliminating it. He said: The mainstream Republican position on capital gains has long been that they should be taxed at a low rate, but not zero. In 1996, Mr. Romney was supporting Bob Dole, the eventual nominee, whose campaign platform called for a 14 percent tax rate on capital gains. In 2003, President George W. Bush signed a law setting the rate at 15 percent, a policy that John McCain proposed to continue if elected in 2008. (The current maximum rate on capital gains is 23.8 percent, after tax increases that took effect in 2013.) According to Citizens for Tax Justice, the Rubio tax play would give taxpayers in the richest 1 percent an average tax cut of more than $220,000. Free market anti-tax advocates consider income from investments to be more virtuous than income from work, hence the preferential tax treatment. One concern they raise is that capital gains may be a form of double taxation, as the corporate entity may have already paid taxes. But there is no fundamental principle of taxation that money should not be taxed at different junctures and transfer points. My employer is taxed, my income is taxed, and the candy bar I buy with my income is taxed. However, if I bought a share of Berkshire Hathaway stock in 1976 for $89 (if only I had!) and I sell it today at its appreciated price of $190,396, I have a substantial capital gain. There is no double taxation hereI have not paid a nickel of taxes on this gain. Another presumption is income from assets is a form of capital formation that is used for productive investments that foster economic growth. But there is no guarantee that the concentrated wealth of the 1 percent will be more productively invested than thirty working class people putting their paychecks in a community-oriented bank or credit union. For tax purposes, we should treat all income the same, whether from capital or wages and tax it through a graduated income tax system. Low-income retirees will pay low rates on their investment income. Higher income Berkshire Hathaway investors will pay a higher percent when they sell their stock. If we did this, raise capital gains taxes to be equal to income tax rates, wed see revenue jump by $600 billion over ten years. That sounds a lot better to be than digging an $11.8 trillion dollar hole, as Rubios plan is projected to do. Via Inequality.org Related video added by Juan Cole: Face the Nation on CBS from Last Year: Marco Rubio pans Obamas call for higher capital gains taxes Reddit Email 0 Shares TeleSur | The Saudi military said it is ready to contribute thousands of troops to Syria as part of the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State group coalition. Saudi Arabia, already involved in a large aerial and ground operation in Yemen, said it would be willing to send more ground troops to Syria to fight the Islamic State group Thursday. The kingdom is ready to participate in any ground operations that the coalition (against the Islamic State group) may agree to carry out in Syria, military spokesman Brigadier General Ahmed al-Asiri said during an interview with al-Arabiya TV news. Meanwhile, Saudi sources told The Guardian Thursday that thousands of special forces could be deployed, probably in coordination with Turkey. Saudi Arabia is already part of the United States-led coalition against the Islamic State group in Syria, yet Aisiri said his government believes that aerial operations are not the ideal solution and there must be a twin mix of aerial and ground operations. Both countries are committed to the removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and have grave doubts about the prospects for a political settlement of the crisis without further military pressure on Damascus. Saudi Arabia and Turkey set up a military coordination body a few weeks ago. Despite an increasingly strained relationship with the U.S.especially over the nuclear deal with Iran, the Saudis strategic rivalthe Kingdom is keen to do more to demonstrate its readiness to fight terrorism. Saudi Arabia has been repeatedly targeted by Isis in recent months and is often accused of being an incubator for violent extremism. Asiri said the progress his military made in Yemen would free up troops for deployment in Syria. The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen kicked off in March last year against the Yemeni Ansarullah rebels, also called Houthis, who took over the country and ousted the U.S. and Saudi ally President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. According to the United Nations, more than 3,500 civilians have been killed as a result of the Saudi-led war to oust the Ansarullah rebels, who took over the country and ousted U.S. and Saudi ally President Hadi back in January 2015. The Saudi comments come a day after the U.N. suspended a third attempt at Syrian peace talks between the warring sides amid the oppositions refusal to participate without a pre-talks cease-fire by Syrian and Russian forces. TeleSur - Related video added by Juan Cole: Alarabiya: Asiri: Saudi Arabia ready for ground operations in Syria Reddit Email 0 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Aided by a massive Russian bombing campaign and Hizbullah and Iranian (or likely actually Afghan) reinforcements, the Syrian Arab Army has broken out of the siege imposed on West Aleppo by rebel forces toward the north, and now seems positioned to besiege East Aleppo, which is under rebel control. The Lebanese newspaper al-Nahar reports on the situation based on a range of Arabic wire services. In early October, the shoe had been on the other foot, and rebels had cut the Damascus-Aleppo road to the south, depriving regime-held West Aleppo of food and supplies, so that it could have fallen to the Free Syrian Army. Russian aerial bombardment and government troops along with auxiliaries like Hizbullah took back control of the road and allowed deliveries to West Aleppo. But the western enclave was still besieged from the north, as were two Shiite villages, Nubl and Zahra. In the past couple of days, the army and its paramilitary allies, especially Hizbullah, relieved Nubl and Zahra. They had been under siege by al-Qaeda (the Nusra Front) since 2012 and only survived via airdrops of food. Had they fallen, hyper-Sunni al-Qaeda would likely have committed bloodthirsty reprisals against the Shiites there, who are said to have organized pro-regime local militias. Then on Thursday the Syrian Arab Army took Mayer and Kafr Naya, putting the army and its allies in a position to cut off the roads north of Aleppo to Turkey and so put east Aleppo under effective siege. Al-Nahar alleges that US military supplies have flowed to the rebels consistently during this fighting, but the small and medium weapons (including T.O.W. anti-tank weaponry) were insufficient in the face of 200 Russia air raids in a matter of hours. It also quotes a source alleging that the Jerusalem (Quds) Brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) was absolutely central to the new government advance and that its leader, Qasem Soleimani, is on the battlefield. Al-Nahar also reported that IRGC Brigadier General Mohsen Qajarian was killed north of Aleppo during the fighting. Steffan de Mistoura suspended the Geneva peace talks in the face of the Russian bombing campaign and advances on the battlefield. It is alleged that the latter were in part made possible because the Russians tricked the US into pressuring Turkey and Saudi Arabia to halt temporarily resupply of the Aleppo rebels while the talks were going on. I talked a couple years ago to a journalist who had been in Aleppo, embedded with the rebels, and he told me that the rebel forces ran low on supplies every day, but that there appeared miraculously every morning shipments of ammunition. The implication was that they were being resupplied from Turkey, and very efficiently so. That resupply is now in danger. Syrian Army captures Mayir and Kafr Naya in new northern Aleppo offensive Map updatehttps://t.co/0NLZAWwINw | Al-Masdar News David Ravicher (@Whtapl) February 4, 2016 Rebel forces in east Aleppo, mostly locals and mostly Free Syrian Army rather than Saudi-backed Salafi Jihadis, are now in danger of falling to a regime reconquest of Syrias largest city. This could be horrible in its reprisals and torture, and thousands of Syrians are already fleeing north to Turkey, but the border there is closed and they are willy nilly camped in the wilderness. At the same time, the Kurdish YPG militia has seen an opportunity to unite its Kobane enclave with Afrin to the west, north of Aleppo, and it is also moving into the area above the city, which will reinforce a blockade of rebel-held east Aleppo. The intrepid Liz Sly at WaPo, among our more experienced and insightful Middle East war correspondents, thinks that the battle of Aleppo could, if the regime wins it, be a turning point in the civil war. The regime could win it all. Syrias population was only 22 million before the war, of whom a good 4 million are now outside the country, leaving 18 million. Greater Aleppo before the war had 4 million people. It may still be about that, since people have come in from the insecure countryside. That would be 22 percent of the remaining in-country population. The regime probably has 5 million under its control in Greater Damascus, another couple million in Homs and Hama, and nearly 2 million in Latakia province (which it has completely secured in the past month). Thats 13 of the 18 million, nearly three quarters of the in-country population. It is hard to see how, thereafter, Idlib (1.5 million) and Deraa (1 million) hold out (the regime has already struck into central Deraa in the past couple weeks). The US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries appear now to have a choice of acquiescing in a Russian fait accompli in restoring Syrian regime control to much of the country, or of attempting to greatly increase rebel capabilities. The latter want anti-aircraft manpads, which the US has so far declined to supply. Liz Sly seems to think that in any case that the supply routes are being cut, and the battle will be over before such materiel can reach the FSA units, even if the US changes its mind about supplying it. These dramatic events may have impelled the Saudis to talk about sending troops to fight Daesh (ISIL, ISIS), which controls areas east and southeast of Aleppo. The presence of Saudi troops on Syrians soil might at least give Riyadh some say in the post-war settlement and prove an impediment to a mere restoration of the status quo ante. This scenario strikes me as far-fetched and desperate; the Saudi infantry is not known for boldness. On the other hand, given the massacres committed by the regime and its mass murder of POWs, and recent indiscriminate Russian air strikes on civilian areas, I just find it difficult to believe that it can be restored to power in any straightforward way. Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to have a Chechnya strategy in mind, with Bashar al-Assad playing Ramzan Kadyrov, the secular Chechen strong man ruling Chechnya as a comprador for Moscow after Putin crushed the Muslim fundamentalist second Chechen uprising in the early zeroes. But Syria is bigger and more complex than Chechnya, and aside from al-Qaeda and perhaps some Gulf donors, outsiders recognized it as Russian province. The Resistance could go underground and go on fighting, using covert tactics and terrorism, as happened in Sunni areas of Iraq during the prime ministership of Nouri al-Maliki. The Fat Lady hasnt sung yet, by a long shot. Related video AFP: Syria troops advance on Aleppo, threatening siege of rebels Reddit Email 0 Shares By Julie Poucher Harbin, editor/ Alberto Fernandez | ISLAMiCommentary | Dozens of Middle East studies scholars, students and the general public packed a public talk Beyond Hysteria and Apologia: The ISIS Challenge in Perspective given by retired US diplomat Ambassador Alberto Fernandez. ISIS is neither the coming of World War 3, nor a minor distant threat, but an important problem that needs to be treated seriously without exaggeration or hysteria; (with) common sense and judicious use of American power, said Fernandez, who before retiring in May 2015 was the State Departments Coordinator for the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications. Most of Fernandez three decades in the Foreign Service was spent in the Middle East. Currently vice president of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), he also sits on the Board of Directors for the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University. The rise of Islamic State or Daesh, has captivated the worlds attention since the dramatic events of June 2014 with the double reality of the fall of Mosul and the declaration of the Baghdadi Caliphate, said Fernandez, beginning his talk with history. The Islamic State of Iraq (precursor to ISIS) came close to establishing a caliphate in 2006, and after its near decapitation in 2010, made its comeback, he said, feeding off of the open sectarianism and incompetence of the US-supported Nouri Al-Maliki government and the horrific bloodletting carried out by the Assad regime in Syria. He continued: Although its initial effort to penetrate the Syrian revolution failed in 2011, by the summer of 2013 ISIS had taken the city of Raqqa from Nusra Front and from FSA (Free Syrian Army) elements. It was the first time in history that an al- Qaeda organization had uncontested sway over such a major urban area. The ISIS Brand When people ask me to reduce ISIS to a bumper sticker what is it, how did it come about, the way I describe it is as a mathematical system: Iraq + Syria + Social Media, he explained. The young jihadist looks, if he looks at all, to a contending, noisy and yet minority trend in Islam, one that has often existed, often raised its head, but is a minority one, said Fernandez, referring to the kind of Salafism that ISIS promotes. Islam for the ISIS propagandist is cherry picked and what is not useful is ignored. Fernandez explained that ISIS ideology strip mines selectively from the sweep of the period of formative Islam. It would be a mistake, he said, to believe that ISIS is seeking to bring back some kind of Medieval Islam, since Islam was a much more tolerant Islam than the Islamic State purports to represent today. That was a period that included, for example, the Sufi theologian of love Ibn Arabi and the 12th century Muslim philosopher of rationalism Ibn Rushd of Cordoba (known as Averroes in Europe.) And Fernandez argued that the West is mistaken in thinking that the Islamic He said that the groups vision the compelling package that ISIS is selling aims to take its adherents from sociopolitical marginalization to the sociopolitical center, from a position of insignificance to a position of importance; from exclusion to dictating the agenda; from confusion to a sense of mission; from backwardness to the state of a superior culture; from isolation and misery to greatness and glory; from loss of identity to a distinct and even superior identity; from the provincial level to the global level; from the here and now to the historical and the eternal; from fear to courage; from weakness to great power; and from perpetual defeat to constant victory. While armed with a strong ideological component, Fernandez said the Islamic States political project is presented as successful and growing even when its not. It does have this weakness, that this visionary image that exists is tethered to this battered proto-state facade that is slowly, all too slowly, caving in, he said, referring to fairly recent losses by ISIS on the battlefield. ISIS is kind of like a puffer fish. It blows itself up to look more fierce than it is. Despite its losses in Syria, ISIS continues its victory narrative, which has been largely maintained, Fernandez said, by the actions and growth of ISIS franchises in places like Libya, Sinai, Nigeria and other places, and the groups association with recent high-profile attacks in the West including Paris and San Bernardino. These mimic and in a way replace the preferred ISIS image of military victory on the ground. They would rather be marching into Bagdad or Damascus. But if they cant theyll make do with spectacular events, spectacular actions that attract our attention, he said. The greatest threat posed by ISIS may be that it can surge into areas where governance is weak as in the case of Libya and Yemen, but Fernandez believes the group, as President Obama also said, is not an existential threat to the American homeland and may never be. Yes it will continue to try and piggyback on the news cycle to achieve maximum coverage by carrying attention grabbing stunts involving mass slaughter . Yes it will use its revolutionary message to seduce and inspire the rebellious, the idealistic, the bored, the fanaticized, he said. But its principle danger lies as part of a spectrum of instability within increasingly fragile Sunni Arab Muslim States where there is deeply ingrained poor governance, poor economic prospects, injustice, relative deprivation, (and) a young and alienated population in a polarized political environment where Islamism in all its many forms has become in many ways the default political alternative. The ISIS brand and image is a huge success, Fernandez said, compared with most other terrorist groups and insurgent movements. The fact that its mobilized tens of thousands of people to flee their countries thousands of them leaving comfortable circumstances in the West is testimony to the power of its message, said Fernandez. The biggest difference between ISIS and al-Qaeda, he said is that ISIS is not selective about who joins the group and it entices people to live a good life in a state they can call home complete with law and order, medical services, and houses to live in. You cant make that argument (to followers) if you are living in a cave in Waziristan, he quipped. Unlike al-Qaeda, ISIS is not just recruiting for hitmen. Groups such as the Nusra Front, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, he said, have as a result upped their game and changed the way they were doing things to survive and adapt to the challenge of the Islamic State. Fernandez said that when he was in government, as recently as 2013 when ISIS was beginning to rise, there was hope that this struggle between ISIS and al-Qaeda would have them fighting over the same finite piece and result in discrediting both of them. This didnt happen. Instead, he said their bitter struggle continues in the context of a growing pie. (Fernandez now suggests that Nusra, whose only target has ever been power in Syria could potentially emerge as a bigger, longer-term threat in Syria than the Islamic State.) A Military Solution ? Fernandez argued that the number one priority is for ISIS to be defeated militarily, but that ideological factors also need to be discredited. It should be defeated quickly rather than slowly given the environment where it flourishes and there are many scenarios to do that, he said admitting hes not a military expert and referring to Ambassador Jim Jeffries discussion in Foreign Affairs of judicious use of some ground troops. He said that the Obama administration and others underestimated the ISIS threat and missed some of the warning signs. For example, he said a report by the National Intelligence Council in 2005 (prepared under the aegis of the Director of National Intelligence) warned of the declaration of a Caliphate by 2020; predicting that radical Islam will have a global impact rallying disparate ethnic and national groups and perhaps even creating an authority that transcends national boundaries. If we look at the administration and where its gone for the past two years on the Islamic State we see it going from minimizing the threat of the rising Islamic State as a JV team January 2014 the time of the fall of Falluja; to saying we will degrade and destroy it September 2014; to the Islamic State is contained in the Middle East November 2015; to that there are no existential threats to the US and ISIS does not form a threat to our existence January 2016, recalled Fernandez. He said that Obama has acknowledged that guns alone will not defeat the Islamic States ideology, and that better ideas are also important. But he said Obama hasnt been specific on what those better ideas are. Fernandez did however agree with Obamas decrying (during this years State of the Union address) of an alarming rise in rhetoric and acts of bigotry, hysteria and Islamophobia, and an overselling of the ISIS threat in the U.S. When asked to weigh in on how the 2016 presidential candidates understand the ISIS threat, Fernandez said theres a lot of ignorance and hot air with candidates trying to prove whos more macho, who can talk tougher about the Islamic State. Volume and Passion Volume and passion in its propaganda game, Fernandez said, are what ISIS has that the good guys lack. If you cant create it yourself, you need to buy it or rent it or do something to get itIf they have a troll army, if they have an online community of interested people that amplify their message like ISIS fanboys the knights of the uploading as they call them, we need to find our own, we meaning those that are opposed to ISIS, he said. Fernandez argued not that counter-terrorism/de-radicalization battles have been won and lost, but that theyve never really been waged. And he urged, in agreement with some in the audience, that more capital be invested on one-on-one interactions. A lot of people focus on ISIS videos, they see that and react to it, those are necessary but theyre not sufficient, he said. One of the challenges we have when we fight ISIS propaganda is that, all too often what we try to do is work like factories (ie) Heres our product, heres our super duper anti-ISIS video with all its bells on, just watch this and youll never become a terrorist. The world doesnt work that way. He did say in an interview following the talk that taking down ISIS social media accounts and web sites is having an effect, and worth the effort. And hes encouraged by voices of moderation in the region that refuge ISIS ideology. During the talk, Fernandez showed a short video montage of Arabic speaking regional voices (with English subtitles) from intolerant to reformist that MEMRI has collected. How do the voices that we heard here of people that are talking about tolerance, about humanity, about a humanistic vision of Islam, how are those people empowered? he asked the audience, noting that it wouldnt work to put a Made-in-the-USA label on their voices. Humanity needs to help them but we are not exactly well positioned to do that. This is a fight within Islam among Muslims thats very consequential to the rest of us because of this globalized situation that we live in, he said. Its both surprising and encouraging that compelling as the ISIS message may be to those most vulnerable to it according to experts the young converts, second generation immigrants, people that have committed petty crimes or been jailed for minor offenses relatively few have been radicalized to join the group. Despite the glitz and the glamour and the power and the videos and the head-cutting, this is a powerful propaganda image that has succeeded in mobilizing a tiny minority in a potential pool of more than a billion Muslims, he said. When the ISIS state building project is defeated and Fernandez does believe that the project if not ISIS itself will be defeated he said that he would hope that the U.S. government would support people and governments in the Middle East that prioritize those human and tolerant values and traditionsthat are universal and also embraced by so many in the region. He said hes never seen such a consequential dramatic and destructive period as the one that we are living in over the past few years. I would hope that weve learned something, in the end, he said. These are not broken societies, but deeply wounded ones. They fully deserve our solidarity and respect. And despite the poison of the jihadists like ISIS, the duplicity and hypocrisy of many of the regimes, the burden of history, and our own many historic mis-steps and blindness, there is still to this day a real reservoir of goodwill towards the American people And that is a sounder, longer-lasting foundation to build on going forward in the Middle East. The Fernandez talk was organized by the Duke University Center for International Studies and the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security. FranklinCenteratDuke: The ISIS Challenge in Perspective Via ISLAMICommentary MONTREAL, QUEBEC and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 5, 2016) - Osisko Gold Royalties Ltd (the "Corporation" or "Osisko") (TSX:OR) and Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. ("Barkerville") (TSX VENTURE:BGM) (collectively the "Companies") are pleased to announce that they have closed their previously announced royalty financing and private placement. Sean Roosen, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Osisko commented on the transaction: "This is an important milestone in respect to our investment in Barkerville and we look forward to working with the team in place to create additional value at the Cariboo Gold Project." Tom Obradovich, Chief Executive Officer of Barkerville commented: "We are pleased to have Osisko as a strategic investor and technical partner. With this financing now completed, we can work aggressively to resume gold production, define the Cow Mountain Resource and develop additional resources through targeted exploration." Private Placement On November 30, 2015, Osisko and Barkerville announced that they had entered into a binding letter agreement whereby Osisko agreed to purchase 32 million common shares, issued on a flow-through basis (the "Flow-Through Shares") of Barkerville (the "Private Placement"). On December 24, 2015, Osisko and Barkerville announced the completion of the first portion of the Private Placement, whereby Osisko subscribed for 18,750,000 Flow-Through Shares at a price of $0.32 per share for gross proceeds of $6,000,000. Today, the Companies announce that Osisko has purchased an additional 13,250,000 Flow-Through Shares at a price of $0.32 for total gross proceeds of $4,240,000, representing the balance of Flow-Through Shares issuable pursuant to the Private Placement. Osisko now holds 47,625,000 common shares and 4,687,500 common share purchase warrants of Barkerville. Osisko has filed an Early Warning Report in connection with the Private Placement. Royalty Financing The Companies also announce that they have closed the acquisition of a 1.5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the Cariboo Gold Project for a cash consideration of $25 million, as previously announced on November 30, 2015. In connection with the purchase of this NSR royalty, the Companies have also agreed to negotiate a gold stream agreement ("Gold Stream Agreement") following the completion of a feasibility study by Barkerville on the Cariboo Gold Project. Following a 60 day negotiation period, if the Companies have not entered into a Gold Stream Agreement, Barkerville shall either grant a right to Osisko to purchase an additional 0.75% NSR royalty for consideration of $12.5 million, or make a payment of $12.5 million to Osisko. Appointments and Technical Advisory The Companies also announce that Sean Roosen has been appointed a director and Co-Chairman of Barkerville, and Chris Lodder, currently a director of Barkerville, will serve as Osisko's second nominee to Barkerville's board of directors. Chris Lodder has been appointed as President of Barkervile, and Luc Lessard has been appointed as Barkerville's Chief Operating Officer. Tom Obradovich will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The two companies have entered into a technical advisory agreement whereby Osisko will review data and provide technical advice to Barkerville during the exploration, development and construction of the project. About Barkerville Barkerville is focused on developing its extensive land package located in the historical Cariboo Mining District of central British Columbia. BGM's mineral tenures cover 1,164 square kilometres along a strike length of 60 kilometres which includes several past producing hard rock mines of the historic Barkerville Gold Mining Camp near the town of Wells, British Columbia. The QR Project, located approximately 110 kilometres by highway and all weather road from Wells was acquired by Barkerville in 2010 and boasts a fully permitted 900 tonne/day gold milling and tailings facility. Test mining of the Bonanza Ledge open pit was completed in March 2015 with 91,489 tonnes of ore milled producing 25,464 ounces of gold. Barkerville has completed a number of drilling and exploration programs over the past 20 years and is currently compiling this data with all historical information in order develop geologic models which will assist new management and provide the framework to continue to explore the Cariboo Gold Project. An extensive drill program is currently underway with the goal of delineating additional high grade gold mineralization. About Osisko Osisko is a precious metals royalty company with two world-class gold royalty assets. These two cornerstone assets are a 5% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on the world-class Canadian Malartic gold mine, located in Malartic, Quebec, and a 2.0-3.5% NSR on the Eleonore gold mine, located in James Bay, Quebec. Osisko also holds a 2-3% NSR royalty on the Island Gold Mine, a 2% NSR royalty on the Lamaque South Project, a 3% NSR royalty on the Malartic CHL property as well as a 2% NSR royalty on the Upper Beaver, Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef gold exploration projects in Northern Ontario. The Company also owns a 9.8% equity interest in Labrador Iron Ore Royalty Corporation. Osisko's head office is located at 1100 Avenue des Canadiens-de-Montreal, Suite 300, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 2S2. Forward-looking statements Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical fact, that address events or developments that Osisko and Barkerville expect to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential", "scheduled" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur including, without limitation, the realisation for Osisko and Barkerville of the benefits deriving from the entering into the royalty financing, the private placement, the technical advisory agreement and the appointment of new director and senior executives of Barkerville. Although Osisko and Barkerville believe the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, market conditions and other factors relevant to the strategic decisions of Osisko and Barkerville, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Osisko and Barkerville caution that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors and others who base themselves on the forward-looking statements contained herein should carefully consider the above factors as well as the uncertainties they represent and the risk they entail. Osisko and Barkerville believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NEWSLETTER Sign up Tick the boxes of the newsletters you would like to receive. Just Drinks Daily News The top stories of the day delivered to you every weekday. Just Drinks Weekly News A weekly roundup of the latest news and analysis, sent every Monday. Just Drinks Magazine The industry's most comprehensive news and information delivered every quarter Orkla has extended its domestic nut snacks brand Polly into peanut butter. Polly Peanttsmr is among a clutch of new products Orkla has launched into the Norwegian market. The company has also launched a no-added-sugar version of its Nugatti chocolate spread. An Orkla spokesperson told just-food it wanted to take advantage of the brand strength of Polly and stretch the brand into other categories, noting the company already sells Polly chocolate bars. In addition, the peanut butter category has relatively few players and we want to take advantage of our strong presence in the sweet spread category with already strong brands as Nugatti, Sjokade, Banos and Sunda, the spokesperson said. Orkla, meanwhile, is looking to meet interest among parents to reduce their childrens sugar intake with the new Nuggati chocolate spread. Nugatti is the favourite chocolate spread in Norway. Children want to eat Nugatti every day, parents wants to reduce the daily intake of added sugar. And since Nugatti original contains added sugar, we as a market leader needed to launch a Nugatti without added sugar, the spokesperson said. Dallas, 02/04/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ The Texas teenager now being widely referred to in the media as the affluenza teen recently decided to drop his appeal against being deported from Mexico and return to the U.S. Source: AP Report Affluenza teen drops Mexico appeal, returns in 1 or 2 days MEXICO CITY (AP) The Mexican lawyer for a Texas teenager who used an affluenza defense in a fatal drunken-driving accident says his client has dropped an appeal against deportation and will return to Texas to face charges in the coming daysAttorney Fernando Benitez said Tuesday that Ethan Couch formally ratified his decision to drop the appeal on Monday. To read more visit http://news.yahoo.com/affluenza-teen-drops-mexico-appeal-returns-1-2-183732234.html;_ylt=AwrC0F.ri69WPC8AJy3QtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByOHZyb21tBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg. Ethan Couch and his mother had been detained in Mexico after leaving Texas in December while an investigation into whether Couch had violated his probation was ongoing. Couch received probation in a case stemming from a 2013 car crash that resulted in the deaths of four people. Couchs mother Tonya had been sent back to the U.S. quickly; however, attorneys for Couch filed an appeal against deporting him, which delayed his return. He arrived back in Texas on January 28. Ethan Couch, Affluenza teen, arrives back in Texas MEXICO CITY A commercial flight carrying affluenza teen Ethan Couch arrived Thursday morning at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, hours after uniformed Mexican immigration agents escorted the teen from a Mexico City immigration detention center. To read more visit http://www.cbsnews.com/news/affluenza-teen-ethan-couch-arrives-in-texas/. Prior to arriving back in Texas, Couch had been in immigration custody in Mexico City for 28 days. Legal Options for Defendants Facing Tough Penalties A hearing has been scheduled for February 19 to determine whether Couchs case, which is currently in juvenile court, will be transferred to the adult system. Couchs attorney stated to the media after his decision to return was announced, I gave him several options, but he decided to go to Texas to face whatever charges he faces. If his case is transferred, a probation violation could warrant punishment of up to 10 years in prison per death of each person killed in the 2013 car crash. According to Texas based criminal lawyer Mick Mickelsen, who is not affiliated with Ethan Couchs case, for defendants who are in this type of position it is important that they have a understanding of what options are available to them to help ensure they have the best outcome plausible in their case. Says Mickelsen although the media hype in this case has helped feed into a general assumption that the actions of the accused left him with no viable recourse but extensive prison time in returning to Texas, defendants facing tough penalties still have options for getting a resolution that works in their favor. Mickelsen believes that the reason Couchs attorneys advised him to fight extradition was a belief that Ethan could, in effect, run out the clock and avoid having his case transferred to the adult system and receiving a prison sentence in the U.S. if he remained in Mexico for several months. His lawyers, however, learned that Mr. Couch might be charged with a firearms charge in Mexico if he remained there so then advised Mr. Couch to waive extradition. Couchs mother may also face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the charge of hindering the apprehension of a felon. Mickelsen says that she too could receive a favorable court outcome in spite of what media reports suggest, depending on the quality of legal representation she has and the pertinent facts of the case. Social Media Tags: #Dallas #Criminal Appeals Lawyer Read more here about federal and state criminal appeals. Connect with the Texas criminal appeals attorneys of Broden Mickelsen on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn. Follow Broden, Mickelsen on social media #dallasfederalcriminaldefenselawyers source: http://www.brodenmickelsen.com/blog/affluenza-teen-drops-appeal-in-mexico-returns-to-texas-to-face-charges/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print West Palm Beach, 02/04/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ As a Palm beach criminal defense lawyer Andrew D Stine is often asked questions by his clients, about getting their time reduced if they take responsibility for their actions. The conversation many times comes up after the accused is confronted with evidence that shows they likely committed the crime but not always. Believe it or not, many times those accused of criminal offenses are sorrowful for their actions and want to make amends for their wicked ways with the coercion of inculpatory evidence. When these heart to heart conversations take place between a criminal defense attorney and the accused a path to hopefully a better life is being bridged. In Florida, the legislatures set forth Florida Statute section 921.0026 which spells out the specifics of why, when and how a court may depart from the sentencing guidelines. While Fla. Stat. sec. 921.0026 lays out the black letter law about departure sentences, the Florida Supreme Court has handed down a two prong test that the trial courts must follow: In order to determine whether a downward departure sentence is appropriate, the trial court must follow a two-step process. Banks v. State, 732 So.2d 1065, 1067 (Fla.1999); State v. Henderson, 108 So.3d 1137, 1140 (Fla. 5th DCA 2013). The first step requires the court to determine whether it can depart, i.e., whether there is a valid legal ground and adequate factual support for that ground in the case pending before it. Id. Second, where the step 1 requirements are met, the trial court further must determine whether it should depart, i.e., whether departure is indeed the best sentencing option for the defendant in the pending case. See Fla. Stat. 921.0016(2). As a practicing criminal defense lawyer, I understand that the trial court when making its departure determination, must weigh the totality of the circumstances in the case, including any aggravating and mitigating factors. Moreover, I also understand that the second aspect of the decision to provide a departure sentence is a judgment call within the sound discretion of the trial court and will be sustained on Appellate review, absent an abuse of discretion. Further, trial discretion is abused only where no reasonable person would agree with the trial courts decision. Therefore, once a trial court grants a downward sentence departure, an appellate court does not have the power under the statutory scheme to review the extent of the downward departure. The sentence will stand! So, when a criminal defendant has a frank conversation with his or her criminal defense lawyer about what will my sentence be or can I get my sentence reduced Fla. Stat. 921.0016(2) better be part of the conversation as it is in my office. Fully and intelligently advising a client, who is throwing their mercy at the will of the court cannot properly and legally be accomplished, if the criminal defense attorney does not discuss with his or her client the applicable Florida statutes, case laws and factors that go into a departure sentence. If you or a loved one has been arrested for a crime in West Palm Beach, FL it behooves you to contact criminal lawyer Andrew D. Stine at 561 880 4300. Criminal defense attorney Andrew D. Stine has been fighting for his clients at the trial court level and appellate court level since 2003. Hire Stine or Do the Time! source: http://www.andrewdstine.com/can-i-get-my-time-reduced-is-often-asked-of-criminal-defense-lawyers/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Dallas, 02/04/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ A fire truck slammed into a Dairy Queen in North Texas recently, resulting in multiple people becoming injured. News reports say the incident occurred in Farmersville at around noon as the truck was traveling on U.S. 380. Source: NBCDFW Report Fire Truck Slams Into Dairy Queen in Collin County Two people were injured Wednesday when a fire engine slammed into a North Texas Dairy Queen. City officials said Greenville Fire-Rescue Unit 4 crashed into the restaurant located on the 200 block of Highway 380 East in Farmersville at about noon. The truck was headed east on U.S. 380 when it left the road for an unknown reason. To read more visit http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Fire-Truck-Slams-Into-Dairy-Queen-in-Collin-County-365943971.html. Babbett Pattillo, who is the manager of the Dairy Queen is quoted as stating of witnessing the incident It happened right in front of me I mean, I was on the phone looking out of the highway and taking an order when it came right beside me. It just took out everything. Other reports also say that the incident injured three people including an employee of the restaurant. Source: CBSDFW Report Fire Truck Crashes Into Farmersville Dairy Queen FARMERSVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) Three people were hurt Wednesday when a fire truck crashed into the side of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Farmersville, located east of McKinney. The incident took place at around noon along East Audie Murphy Parkwaythe person driving the fire truck, the customer inside of the damaged vehicle in the parking lot, and one Dairy Queen employee. Their exact injuries are not known, but all of the victims are expected to be okay. To read more visit http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/01/20/fire-truck-crashes-into-farmersville-dairy-queen/. When Truck Crashes Cause Major Property Damage In addition to the injuries suffered by victims, a number of serious truck crashes in Texas cause extensive property damage. Says Texas truck crash lawyer Amy Witherite of Eberstein Witherite LLP, reports show that in this case, the restaurant was badly damaged and so was a vehicle that was in the parking lot. Our firm has worked with numerous cases like these where victims were not only those who sustained physical injuries, but also those who lost their livelihood due to the actions of truck drivers whose vehicles without warning left the road and ended up crashing into a building. The owner of the restaurant, Joe McKee, told news sources that the property destruction from the accident is a devastating loss stating, Ive been doing this for 30 years This is my life seven days a week, so Im pretty devastated right now. McKee further said of the fate of his employees I have 32 people that probably just lost their jobs or I dont know I just dont know about any of that. The Texas truck wreck lawyer states, many people are not aware that the law allows them to pursue property damage claims against those responsible when a vehicle has damaged their building, and just try to cover the costs of any resulting damage on their own. Witherite says that anyone who has sustained damages or injuries in a serious truck crash can pursue claims for damages from truck drivers or trucking companies responsible. The cause of the crash was still under investigation at the time of the report. Media Contact: Lucy Tiseo 1800 Truck Wreck Lawyers Phone: 866-774-5410 http://www.1800truckwreck.com/ Connect with Eberstein Witherite on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+. source: http://www.1800truckwreck.com/collin-county-truck-crash-report-fire-truck-slams-into-dairy-queen.html Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print New York City, 02/04/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ After several months of investigation, new reports say that pilot error was the cause of the crash of TransAsia Airways Flight GE222, which occurred in July of 2014. Aviation authorities in Taiwan recently said a procedural mistake that was a widespread occurrence among TransAsia pilots at the time endangered the safety of passengers and crew. Source: AFP Report Pilots blamed for 2014 TransAsia crash on Taiwan island Two TransAsia Airways pilots caused a 2014 plane crash that left 48 people dead by flying too low as they attempted to land on an island during a typhoon, Taiwans aviation authorities said FridayTaiwans aviation body said the pilots flew below the minimum altitude required in poor visibility caused by Typhoon Matmo on July 23, 2014, in its final report into the airlines second fatal accident in a year. To read more visit http://news.yahoo.com/pilots-blamed-2014-transasia-crash-taiwan-island-083835780.html;_ylt=AwrC2Q6as69WbXEA8IfQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTByOHZyb21tBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg. The Aviation Safety Council stated in their investigative report, An airworthy aircraft under the control of the flight crew was flown unintentionally into terrain with limited awareness by the crew of the aircrafts proximity to terrain. Council director Thomas Wang elaborated further when speaking to reporters saying, We found the pilots did not follow the standard operating procedure. The crash has been deemed the worst air disaster to occur near the island in a decade. Another fatal accident involving a TransAsia Airways flight occurred just seven months after the crash of Flight GE222. Flight 235 crashed into the Keelung River shortly after takeoff Taipei Songshan Airport on February 4, 2015. The crash was also linked to pilot error. Source: Jonathan C. Reiter Report 4 Headline-Making Plane Crashes Caused by Pilot Error Crash of TransAsia Flight 235 One of the aircrafts engines experienced a flameout soon after takeoff from Taipei Songshan Airport, on February 4, 2015. The pilot then mistakenly shut off the engine that was functioning correctly, leaving the plane powerless. His subsequent attempt to restart both engines was unsuccessful, resulting in the plane clipping a bridge and crashing into the Keelung River. A reported 43 of the 58 people on board were killed. To read more visit http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2015/12/03/4-headline-making-plane-crashes-caused-by-pilot-error/. Plane Crashes and Pilot Error According to New York based aviation attorney Jonathan C. Reiter of the Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC, pilot error is found to be a contributing factor to 90 percent of all general aviation accidents. The New York lawyer has previously said of related incidents Many of the most serious pilot errors in recent years have involved a failure to maintain situational awareness. This term can refer to many things, including failing to properly monitor instruments, gauges and controls on the aircraft, as well as external factors such as weather conditions and other aviation traffic. The attorney has also stated, Failure to observe the sterile cockpit rule e.g. pilots engaging in personal, non-aviation related conversation during takeoff and landing, has also been a significant factor in several aviation crashes, since this behavior undermines pilot concentration and can detract from situational awareness during the most dangerous parts of the flight. Media Contact: Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm, PLLC 646-863-8172 http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/ Connect with the Jonathan C. Reiter, PLLC law firm on Facebook, Twitter Hear the New York aviation attorneys legal perspective on recent major plane crash cases via YouTube. source: http://injuryaccidentnews.jcreiterlaw.com/2016/02/03/transasia-airways-crash-caused-pilot-error-authorities-conclude/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Houston, Tx, USA, 02/05/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ The proposed law would make those who are suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases publicly reveal personal information The FACT Act (also known as the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act), is currently being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee after it received approval in the House of Representatives. The proposed law would make those who are suffering from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases publicly reveal personal information about their work history and their health in order to seek compensation for their damages in court. Advocates from many different backgrounds are asking the Senate to reject the bill. In preparation for hearings on the bill, several groups sent letters to the Chuck Grassley, the Republican senator from Iowa who is the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair. The letters express extreme concern about the negative impact that the bill would have on veterans and others who have been harmed by being exposed to asbestos. One of the letters was sent by a collaborative group of veterans organizations, including the Air Force Sergeants Association, the National Defense Council and the Vietnam Veterans of America. Issues surrounding asbestos litigation are of particular concern to veterans because so many of them were exposed to the deadly carcinogen during their years of service. The letter from the veterans group read in part, The bill is a cynical ploy by the asbestos industry to avoid compensating its victims who are seeking justice in court many of whom are veterans who were double exposed; first while in uniform and when they went on to work for companies that knowingly exposed them to the deadly fiber. Though the bills proponents say that it is meant to create greater transparency in the legal process, that defense of it is disregarded by groups including the National Education Association, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, all of whom have members who have also been exposed to asbestos. These groups also collaborated on a letter to the congressional leaders, saying, Victims of asbestos exposure, including first responders and teachers, among many other dedicated public employees, are entitled to compensation from the companies that caused their illnesses. S. 357 (the FACT Act), however, would give companies an unfair advantage over asbestos victims seeking justice for their injuries speciously touted as a transparency bill, the measure actually is designed to help the asbestos industry avoid paying victims through delay tactics and waste of scarce trust resources set aside for victims. Similar legislation has been put through for approval in the past and has failed, and President Obama has promised to veto the measure should it reach his desk. If your interest in this piece of legislation stems from yourself being a victim of asbestos exposure, the mesothelioma attorneys at the law firm of Danziger & De Llano would like to offer you legal representation. Call us today to at 1-800-818-5043 set up a free appointment to discuss how we can be of service and help you get the compensation that you deserve. Social Media Tags: Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print West Palm Beach , 02/05/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ Arrests for drug possession, sale of drugs, manufacturing of drugs, or trafficking in illegal substances has always been at the forefront of those in the law enforcement communities throughout Palm Beach County, FL. The drug epidemic has been at the tip of the spear for local and state officials in Florida for decades. Palm Beach County, and little cities like Delray Beach, FL have become known as the drug recovery capital of America. Those same locations in Florida have always been synonymous with titles like cocaine cowboy and the pill mill capital of America. The driving factors for illegal drug use vary from economic pressures to peer pressures. But several things remain constant in Florida regarding arrest and prosecutions for illegal narcotics or substances and that is, law enforcement officers and Assistant State Attorneys prosecuting the drug cases will do whatever it takes to garner a conviction! Drug agents, drug detectives and road patrol deputy sheriffs are notorious for manufacturing bad traffic stops of those suspected of possessing illegal substances. Law enforcement officials will usually cite in their probable cause affidavit that the driver of the vehicle rolled through a stop sign or that the driver of the vehicle made an illegal lane change without using their turn signal, as the motives for the traffic stop. Many times, Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputies like to state in their probable cause affidavit that the officer witnessed a hand to hand transaction in a high crime area that gave the officer suspicion to follow the suspect, who then ran from the law enforcement official and threw something on the ground. The officer later will of course swear that what he or she discovered on the ground was field tested and tested positive for cocaine, heroin, flakka or marijuana! The prior example is the story being told by officers over and over again in the Palm Beach County courthouse, where the judges assigned to the drug cases there have gobbled up the officers stories hook, line and sinker. So, what do you need to know when facing a drug crime in Palm Beach County, FL.? First, if the drug crime for which you are charged is your first offense and is a simple possession of an illegal substance, you will likely be offered several sentencing options; if you want to resolve the matter with a negotiated plea agreement. Depending on the choice you ultimately make when hiring a drug lawyer in Palm Beach County, FL will decide the success of your outcome! There are many options afforded to first time drug offenders. Drug court can always be an option to those who want to get clean or for those who have decided that the life they are living is making them sick. Palm Beach County drug court has a very extensive program that mixes AA NA principles, in-patient treatment, peer support programs, employment programs and other social programs to help the defendant stay clean and graduate from the program. The program usually ranges in time from 9-18 months. If the drug court participant successfully completes the program, then the case is Nolle Prossed or dismissed by the prosecutor. Second, the accused may not want the rigors of drug court or may not qualify for drug court and may instead being looking to get a plea agreement of probation as opposed to going to trial. This process can be made much easier with an experienced criminal defense lawyer by your side. The time one is on probation, the requirements of probation, the amount of money one has to pay while on probation, the possible loss of a drivers license from a drug conviction and many other pitfalls can be avoided with the hiring of an experienced drug lawyer. Third, the accused may want to go to trial! This is where the rubber meets the road. This is the area of law that only the best criminal defense lawyers with experience get pumped up about. The idea of trial raises an aura of excitement in a criminal trial lawyers life. While trials cost additional money, because of the added cost associated with the time spent by the lawyer on the file, in the courtroom, in additional client conferences, in depositions and in motion practice, this is the time when the Constitution comes alive! Remember, the Constitution is in place to preserve a citizens liberties and to restrain the Government! With that restraint in mind, hiring an experienced, zealous drug defense attorney can make the difference at trial. In trial, the law enforcement officer will want to recite what is in his or her reports. This reading from their reports is done to give credibility to their story of how things went down in their attempt to persuade the jury in the States favor. But an officer may not read from their reports during their testimony. This is an error and must not be tolerated, as it is objectionable. In trial, the drug agent will want to testify about what he heard the accused and others saying about the alleged criminal activity. This too is likely not allowed in trial and should be quickly objected to and not allowed to be heard by the jury. This prejudicial presentation of evidence by the officer is always asked for by the prosecutors, in an attempt to tell the story of another person not testifying. Such testimony is an attempt to add or bootstrap evidence onto the scale in favor of the State, which must not be tolerated and kept out through objection. In trial, the prosecutor will try to elicit testimony from the arresting officer that the area in which the accused was arrested is known as a high crime area. This type of testimony by the officer, as to the high crime area is forbidden in all Florida courtrooms, and must be kept out. In trial, the prosecutors will attempt to ask the drug agent what they saw, in an attempt to get in the testimony to the jury that the cop saw a hand to hand transaction. Oh, the hand to hand passing of something, in a high crime area, late at night stirs the ire of a jury. Exactly, that is why its not allowed to be brought into evidence by the testimony of the arresting officer, in any Florida courtroom. Lastly, another area of concern is the prosecutors bad behaviors during trial. Prosecutors like to question the accused during cross examination about his or her story being believable. This type of questioning is grounds for an immediate objection and mistrial. Again, the Constitution protects the citizens right to a fair trial and one of those rights is to keep the burden of proof on the State and not the accused. Assistant State Attorneys also like to shift the Constitutional burden of proof to the accused, by asking them questions why they did not call a witness to the stand to explain their story or to corroborate their story of not being guilty. This type of behavior is also objectionable and immediate grounds for a mistrial; the Constitution protects the citizen and not the State. Another one that prosecutors like to pull off is commenting on an accuseds failure to produce evidence at his or her trial. This is objectionable and grounds for a mistrial as well. The prosecutor shall never comment on the accused right to exercise or forego exercising one of their Constitutional rights. The prior examples are just some of the many reasons why an experienced drug defense lawyer is needed to get a fair, effective and zealous criminal trial. If you or a loved one has been arrested for any illegal substance, drug or narcotics crimes in Palm Beach County, FL contact West Palm Beach Drug Possession Lawyer Andrew D. Stine at 561 880 4300. Hire Stine or Do The Time! source: http://www.andrewdstine.com/palm-beach-drug-defense-lawyer-the-state-will-do-anything-to-get-a-conviction/ Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Nashville , TN, 02/04/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/ Timothy Singlel Explains: Facebook Rights, Liberty, And Privacy For All Nashville TN Since the inception of social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, employers have been in a head to head battle between employee privacy and the need to protect the presentation of their brand. Timothy Singhel, an attorney who has counseled companies on the correct approach to the issue of social media boundaries, gives insight on some best practices to implement when developing social media policies for your organization. In the late 1980s and 1990s, following the passage of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) in 1986, companies and employees found themselves facing legal trouble as they navigated the dos and donts of appropriate email use. While the ECPA prohibited employers from intercepting electronic transmissions, the proliferation of email opened up an entirely new landscape. Two sets of issues arose the extent to which a company can regulate the appropriate use of its electronic systems by its employees and what liability a company might face if an employee abused that media in a manner that caused harm to another company or individual. Today, the proliferation of social media postings and comments presents similar problems. Social media presents a wonderful forum for people gathering in electronic communities for the purpose of commenting on shared interests, and creating and consuming content. With the average American spending six to twelve hours a month on Facebook, social media is an essential part of millions of Americans daily lives. Unfortunately, employees sometimes demonstrate poor judgment by oversharing information about their employers or workplaces on social media. Some examples include disclosing confidential or proprietary information, disclosing personally identifiable information about co-workers in violation of the law (e.g. HIPAA), and engaging in negative personal attacks about co-workers or the companys management. For their part, employers use social media in a variety of ways. Some examples include, disseminating important information about the company, screening potential employees, monitoring current employees and obtaining information about competitors or customers. Engaging in these activities absent any policy or analysis of the legality of such practices is fraught with peril. The good news is that, due to the growing popularity in using social media, human resources professionals and companies are becoming more aware of the importance of a solid social media policy that provides guidelines and structure for new and current employees. Timothy Singhel Legal Tips: The following are general guidelines to consider regarding social media use in the workplace. Do: Consult with counsel and familiarize yourself with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including those that define an employees rights to engage in concerted activity and protect a broad range of off-duty conduct, as long as that conduct does not infringe upon the employers confidential information and trade secrets. In addition to complying with traditional employment laws, it is important to become familiar with some of the laws that specifically affect social media policy. For example, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) addresses employee rights regarding a companys social media policy. Recent rulings and social media policy memoranda by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) further illustrate what a company may or may not do to regulate such activity. Timothy Singhel notes, It is becoming even more imperative now for companies to develop a social media policy that addresses all of their legal concerns and takes into account the recent guidance by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) stated in the three social media policy memoranda and related enforcement. That guidance no longer applies to just unionized companies due to the NLRBs broad application of concerted activity to all employers. In light of that, companies should consult with their legal counsel to ensure that their social media and other employee handbook policies are not considered overly broad and too restrictive of their employees right to express their opinions about their terms and conditions of employment on social media websites. Further, new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines provide regulations for the endorsement of products on social media sites. Therefore, if an employee is involved in product endorsement, his or her employers social media policy should conform to these guidelines. Employers also need to be aware of the restrictions imposed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws and regulations on using social media in order to screen potential candidates since that could be considered conducting an unauthorized background check or engaging in unlawful discrimination. Do: Protect confidential information. A companys current policies pertaining to disclosure of trade secrets and confidential information should incorporate parameters regarding acceptable social media use. The casual nature of social media engagement makes it imperative that confidentiality concerns be addressed. Do: Provide training to all employees on their rights and obligations, including the need to avoid harassment, offensive behavior, and discrimination that can lead to discipline against an employee and liability against the company. Additional training should be given to those employees charged with the enforcement of the social media policy and those charged with hiring, firing or otherwise managing the activities of other employees. Because such policies are relatively new, supervisors and human resources professionals likely need training to ensure legally appropriate compliance and execution of the social media policy in a way that advances the companys mission and does not create any liability. One of the greatest myths surrounding social media policies is that companies should create a lengthy set of draconian rules that mandates the proper procedure for employees surrounding their use of social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, as well as the thousands of other social and community sites. While it is important to set forth your employees rights and obligations, your company social media policy does not have to be a twenty-page novel to be effective. In fact, the more complicated the policy becomes, the more difficult it will be for employees to follow and for companies to effectively and legally enforce. As part of your employee handbook, all policies, including your businesses social media policy, should be written not only to inform your audience and protect the company from liability, but also as a marketing document that is short, to the point, and interesting to the audience for which it was created your employees. That handbook or set of policies may just need a fresh review for compliance in light of the dynamic legal landscape and recent guidance and decisions by courts and administrative agencies such as the NLRB. Social Media Tags:timothy singhel, timothy matthew singhel, attorney timothy singhel, can I get fired because of my facebook post, getting fired because of social media posts, Newsroom powered by Online Press Release Distribution SubmitMyPressRelease.com Like Us on Facebook It's only fair to share... Pinterest Linkedin email Print Brown Sugar Crew, Orange County. | Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. Guadalupe Rosales uses nostalgia as the creative engine driving the Instagram feed she manages, Veteranas and Rucas. It's a digital archive on Instagram that "flashbacks" to photos from the Chicano underground of the 1990s, with a reach beyond Southern California. Sacramento, San Diego and Orange County all had elements of a residential underground during this period too. "I brought handwritten letters from teenage boyfriends, a shoebox full of wallet size photos that friends and relatives had taken at the mall, and photos I had taken at backyard parties," says Rosales about the collection. The unforeseen and overwhelming popularity of Veteranas and Rucas on Instagram gave way towards a recent event at UCLA's Chicano Studies Resource Center (CSRC) featuring Rosales and other practitioners of the Southern California party crew movement. This event, "Southern California Chicano Party Crews and Rave Scenes in the 1990s," Rosales said was intended as an invitation to others involved in the party underground movement of the 1990s to think about contributing their own ephemera and objects to be archived at the CSRC. Rosales' event percolated with a feeling of familial familiarity -- a safe space -- in the packed house at Haines Hall 144. Here the assembly of UCLA students, former party crew members, current DJs and fans gathered not just to view images from Veteranas and Rucas, which shot into the zeitgeist in 2015, but to engage with the architects and relics of a recent history of residential subcultures known as the Chicano party underground of the 1990s. East L.A. Madness, c. 1993. | Image: Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. "Veteranas and Rucas serves as a digital archive where strangers, close friends and family share a virtual space that speaks a language many of us can relate to," Rosales said. "The attention that the Instagram has received has resurrected a part of history that hasn't been talked about or [is] well documented -- yet so many people were excited to see it come back. Working on Veteranas and Rucas made me realize how important this subculture is." Event moderator Sandra Ruiz later explained to me via email what cultural studies scholar Richard T. Rodriguez has called the "homeboy aesthetic." "There is a history of resistance as well as resiliency that can be traced for centuries," she wrote, "beginning with indigenous populations that revolted against the conquest and colonization of the Spaniards to the Mexifornios battling against U.S. expansionism/Manifest Destiny in the 19th century to pachuco and pachuca culture of the 1940s and 1950s, whose clothing/textile served as visual and symbolic resistance against racial segregation and discrimination. Homegirl/homeboy culture and its aesthetics does not exist in a vacuum, but rather it comes from a long historical practice of resiliency, working and negotiating within systems of oppression." In the presentation, Rosales further explored the misrepresentation of youth "homeboy" culture by showing a video compilation of footage from hyperbolic Fox News segments decrying the ills of "ditching parties," which took place during the day when youth should be in school and while parents are out at work. In the video we see an evidently-high young man named Homey, from a Lynwood area party crew, and meet Diana, from the party crew "Ladies of Sexual Desire." Alongside Rialto homeboys and girls, they grind to The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry." Rosales says she's interested in contemplating that misrepresentation and finding means to reframe the history through these types of open conversations with cultural producers and participants. The panel offered a decentralized narrative of party crews in Southern California with few panelists at the helm. Through their stories, they offered a kind of oral history of parties and raves of their youth. Michael A. Rodriguez, formerly of Maricon Collective and collector of party crew ephemera and memorabilia of Montebello and Norwalk, says he used to attend "T-parties," backyard parties for the LGBT under-21 set and spoke to the queer presence in party crew history. Rodriguez spoke of the pre-Escandalo club days with a West Hollywood party thrown called Que Pasa, Papi. He came into the party crew culture by way of his aunts who were part of a crew called the Casanova Strippers, who would bring him along to cruise Whittier Boulevard in the late 1980s. "Chicanas of the Month" featured in the August 1993 issue of Street Beat magazine. | Image: Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. Also appearing was Rachel Ortiz, who once went by the moniker Flame in the party crew "Aztek Nation." She shared a personal narrative about she and her single mother encountering another 14 year-old girl and her mother on her first and last day of an overcrowded Garfield High School, when both girls were being transferred out to a smaller school. The other girl asked innocuously if Ortiz "partied" to which Ortiz, without skipping a beat, replied "of course!" Another panelist Eileen Torres -- who wrote for the free magazine Street Beat -- also remarked on not being interested in drinking or "partying" but the dance and competition element of party crews. Aztek Nation, c. 1996-98. | Image: Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. Carlos Landeros of San Marcos spoke on the San Diego scene, and was a part of a party crew called Essence of Evil. Landeros who invoked community in this moment of his youth, also talked about parties being sites for gathering when the local established nightclubs, particularly in areas such as Anaheim, enforced dress codes as a way to keep Latino youth out of their venues. The panelists' invocations of Thomas Guides, pagers, and photography of the pre-Internet era, often elided hazy memories from this little documented moment of time. While the 2000s are overdocumented with social media oversharing, the 1990s were marked by poor representation with disposable cameras and low-rez images. Filmmaker Hito Steyerl defends the aesthetic in her work, "In Defense of the Poor Image:" "The poor image is a rag or a rip; an AVI or a JPEG, a lumpen proletariat in the class society of appearances, ranked and valued according to its resolution. The poor image has been uploaded, downloaded, shared, reformatted, and reedited. It transforms quality into accessibility, exhibition value into cult value, films into clips, contemplation into distraction. The image is liberated from the vaults of cinemas and archives and thrust into digital uncertainty, at the expense of its own substance. The poor image tends toward abstraction: it is a visual idea in its very becoming." Brown Authority SGV c. 1995-96 Rebel Bout BBQ. | Image: Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. Rosales' imperfect Instagram photos have an air of nostalgia to them. But for her, they have a deeper meaning: they were a way to resolve her own familial trauma. In 1996, Rosales, who grew up in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles, experienced the death of a male cousin. The grieving compelled her to move to New York in 2000, far from friends/families, and even farther away from the grisly details of where his body was found. These details coupled with the memories of L.A. locations, inspired Rosales' quest for healing through questions she posed about the gentrification of her old neighborhood and the ways the erasing of space ultimately put the memories connected to space at risk. These questions reside in the parade of images she has been uploading onto the feed for the past year. While the Instagram felt like a spontaneous project, it became clear how much of a necessity it has become to understand and process that period in Rosales' life, as well as a site to hold a series of different collective memories. The ephemera, collected throughout the 1990s, has allowed Rosales to materialize these certain experiences of her life in L.A. She hopes others can feel that way too. She is currently conceptualizing Veteranas and Rucas in a way that reflects the open source platform of Instagram for an upcoming 2017 show coming to Los Angeles in 2017 with PSSST Gallery in Boyle Heights. But for now, she's showcasing an often overlooked cultural history, one Instagram at a time. "The archive is not just photographs," Rosales said, "it's archiving language and the way we relate to a photograph." Street Beat magazines. | Image: Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. Top Image: Street Beat Magazines | Image: Courtesy of Guadalupe Rosales. Park Bo Gum is having his first dating scandal and he says there's absolutely no truth to it. In fact, he can't believe it is happening. Or that he is involved in a dating scandal with Jang Na Ra. The dating rumors began when a blind celebrity item claimed that a certain actress in her thirties was dating an actor in his twenties. The unsubstantiated gossip said that the actress looked very young for her age, which Jang Na Ra does. The actor in question was said to be handsome and had starred in a popular drama, which was also his breakout hit. So some people, assumed that the actress was the 34-year-old actress Jang Na Ra. And they also assumed that the younger man was 22-year-old Park Bo Gum, who had a breakout drama hit with the drama "Reply 1988." It was the first scandal for Park Bo Gum, who also appeared in the film "Coin Locker Girl." The scandal caught him by surprise. "It was amazing to see what being scandalized is like, and I have never been scandalized before," Park said in an interview with the Korean media outlet Star News. The actors may not be dating but they do know each other because they worked together on the KBS drama "Hello Monster." She played a police inspector. Park played the brother of the genius criminal profiler, played by Seo In Guk. Their characters had some scenes together in which they displayed promising chemistry. They looked comfortable together. But the working relationship may never be as comfortable again. "I already knew about the scandal, which has made me and her feel uncomfortable with each other," he said. Park was one of the three "Reply 1988" stars who recently traveled to Namibia to film "Youth Over Flowers." Jang Na Ra can currently be seen in the romantic comedy "One More Happy Ending." Leading Korean film directors Bong Joon Ho, Park Chan Wook, and Ryoo Seung Wan demonstrated their support for independence at the Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) On February 5, the domestic outlet Joy News published reported the addition of the top K-movie auteurs to the #ISUPPORTBIFF movement. The acclaimed directors, who are actively involved with BIFF and its organizing committee participated in a silent protest, where members of the creative community gathered to express their concerns regarding Busan City Council, which placed pressure on BIFF director Lee Yong Kwon, following his decision to screen "The Truth Will Not Sink With Sewol." "The Truth Will Not Sink With Sewol" is a controversial 2015 documentary that was the first film to analyze the circumstances surrounding the tragic April 2014 accident, which led to the deaths of 300 passengers. The majority of the casualties were school children and teens. "Shot in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, the documentary's suggestion that government incompetence was partly to blame for the tragedy angered local Busan officials," said a representative for Rotterdam Film Festival spokesperson, Melanie Goodfellow, in an English-language treatise written in support of BIFF. Goodfellow continued to provide an explanation regarding the circumstances which have led to severe political backlash ranging from decreased funding for the festival, which is one of the preeminent events in Asian film to alleged financial investigations surrounding Lee Yong Kwon. "Busan City Municipality demanded BIFF to pull the film from the program after it was announced it would screen in the 2015 edition," said Goodfellow. "Lee refused. Since then, he has been under constant pressure to quit as director of the festival." In addition to support from top Korean directors, Busan International Film Festival has received words of encouragement from leading members of the global cinematographic community. Bong Joon Ho continues to solidify his blockbuster Netflix-backed project, "Okja," as the esteemed director maintains the international momentum sustained by his French-Korean dystopian production, "Snowpiercer." Ryoo Seung Wan is following the meteoric run of his 2015 hit, "Veteran," with "Battleship," a monolithic war flick starring Hwang Jung Min, Song Joong Ki, and So Ji Sub. Park Chan Wook is slated to direct an adaptation of the Japanese science-fiction tome, "Genocidal Organ." Meanwhile, the 2016 Busan International Film Festival is slated for October 6 through 15. KEARNEY A man was taken into custody shortly after 5 p.m. Friday after police had to chase him to arrest him on Buffalo County warrants. At about 5:15 p.m., a Buffalo County deputy sheriff stopped a vehicle near Harmon Park in central Kearney after another officer observed the passenger who was wanted on warrants, Kearney Police Department Lt. Dennis Lewis said. The deputy and a KPD officer contacted the passenger, and the man ran. The man ran through several alleys before being apprehended while hiding in a garage in the 400 block of West 31st Street, Lewis said. The man was taken into custody without incident. No injuries were reported. The man was arrested on warrants for failing to appear in court on a charge of reckless driving and the unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, both misdemeanors, and a felony warrant of possession of a controlled substance. The man will appear before a judge Monday afternoon for an initial court appearance. Officers from the University of Nebraska at Kearney also helped at the scene. The status of the driver was unavailable late Friday. @HubChic LEXINGTON The Islamic Center of Lexington may face $500 per day in fines for violating city zoning ordinances. The city issued a cease-and-desist order addressed to former property owner Javier Quintero on Jan. 20. Cozad attorney Claude Berreckman Jr. said the mosque has rented the west half of its current facility for eight years, and it purchased the property Monday. Last year, the mosque applied for a conditional-use permit, which would allow it to expand its worship space at 401 N. Grant St. in downtown Lexington. The application was unanimously denied by the Lexington City Council in December. Lexington City Manager Joe Pepplitsch said the application was denied based on not meeting the standards by which conditional uses are approved. The city modified its zoning ordinances in February 2014 to classify religious organizations use of commercial property as conditional rather than permitted. The mosque is allowed to stay in its current location, because it was occupying the facility before the revisions, Pepplitsch said. However, it has rented the entire building since March 2015 without the proper permit. Earlier this week, Pepplitsch told the Lexington Clipper Herald if ownership has changed hands and if improper use continues, the city will likely submit a new notice. The notice states that a person convicted of violation of the zoning code could be punished by a fine up to $500 each day the violation continues. Ive spoken with the city attorney and we have a disagreement to our right to use the building as a mosque, Berreckman said. He represents the Islamic Center. Berreckman said he believes the ordinance violates the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. That law says that you cant use city ordinances to discriminate against religious organizations, he said. Pepplitsch said the ordinances were changed to help in long-term planning for community development. Pepplitsch declined to discuss the citys plans for downtown Lexington in an interview on Wednesday. He said parking was a concern when reviewing the groups conditional-use permit. Berreckman said he does not believe that parking is an issue. Most of the members, in fact, walk to the facility, he said Pepplitsch said the city has offered to help the mosque find other properties in Lexington. They have chosen to decline that offer, he said. Berreckman said the Islamic Center did consider other properties. My clients cooperated with the city, and none of them (properties) seemed appropriate for their membership, he said. Berreckman said he will continue fighting the order and will take it to court if necessary. He added that the building the center purchased, the former Longhorn Laundry, was closed and run down for years. To me, the approach theyre taking is improving that area of downtown Lexington, he said of the mosques plans. KEARNEY The film The Other Side will be the first film featured at UNK@TheWorld, a collaboration between the University of Nebraska at Kearney and The World Theatre in Kearney. The Other Side begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. The film explores children and immigration from three places Mexico, Cuba and Morocco. The film is in Spanish and Arabic with English subtitles. UNK@TheWorld now is in its third year, and about 1,500 people have attended its films. Its a unique opportunity to see foreign films and to see foreign films on the big screen, assistant professor of Spanish Michelle Warren said. When we know other peoples stories, we can understand them better. It helps break down barriers to other cultures that we dont know a lot about. International appetizers made by Michael Park, chef of The Food Truck, will be served. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The viewing of The Other Side is free for students, faculty and staff, and the community. This seasons film series features films that deal with issues of refugees, immigrants and displaced persons. All three of our films deal with people that are in transition of some sort, Warren said. We thought this would be a good topic because of the Syrian refugees and the issue of immigration in the presidential campaigns. The film series is sponsored by the Department of Modern Languages, dean of Fine Arts and Humanities, International Studies and senior vice chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs. The program is funded in part by Humanities Nebraska and Nebraska Cultural Endowment. OMAHA Two cases of Zika virus have been reported in the Omaha area, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reported Wednesday. Both cases, one in Douglas County and one in Sarpy County, are travel-related. The two patients are women in their 20s who recently traveled to Zika-affected countries, and neither one was hospitalized. Zika is primarily spread through mosquito bites and although the virus usually causes only mild illness in those it affects, there have been reports of birth defects and other severe health consequences. The World Health Organization on Monday officially called the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern. Seeing a travel-related case of Zika in Nebraska is new but not unexpected. We were aware of confirmed cases among travelers returning to America from affected areas, said Dr. Tom Safranek, state epidemiologist for DHHS. Its very possible that we could see more travel-related cases here." This is an important reminder for travelers to countries with the Zika virus, especially pregnant travelers and those of childbearing age and planning a pregnancy to take all precautions to prevent mosquito bites," said Dr. Adi Pour, Director of the Douglas County Health Department. Anyone developing symptoms within two weeks of returning to Nebraska from a Zika-affected area should notify his or her physician, said Shavonna Lausterer, director of the Sarpy/Cass Department of Health and Wellness. The Zika virus is transmitted primarily by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which has never been identified in Nebraska. Aedes albopictus might also transmit the virus. This species of mosquito is found in Nebraska but isnt one of the most prevalent. Both bite mostly in the daytime. Four out of five people infected with Zika virus will never have symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of those who do get sick, the most common symptoms are fever, rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis or red eyes. The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting up to a week. But reports of a birth defect called microcephaly in babies of mothers who were infected with the Zika virus while pregnant have raised alarm. Microcephaly is a rare condition where a babys head is smaller than expected. Health officials are still investigating the potential link. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, center, is flanked by EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, right, and Netherlands Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert as they pose for a picture at the Maritime Museum prior to an informal meeting of EU defense ministers in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) The server hosting this blog will be going offline this Friday (the 14th) at roughly 10pm. If all goes well, it will come back up on Saturday morning at 7-... 1 week ago The European investment Bank is to fund a new motorway link across South Kilkenny to the tune of 16m. The N25 New Ross bypass, a 16km new motorway link from Wexford in to Kilkenny, 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. Local historian and writer Gabriel Murray has published his own report into the Waterford/Kilkenny boundary review, in which he questions the legitimacy of any potential change, as well as the process involved. Community activist Noel G Walsh now intends to take the report to the High Court this week to challenge Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly on the basis for establishing the boundary committee and any possible change. In his report, 'Kilkenny Boundary Report 1169-2016', Mr Murray disputes the minister's interpretation of the legislation surrounding the preparing of reports on geographical and local govenment or administrative boundaries, and the making of orders regarding local electoral boundaries. This refers to sections in the Local Government Acts of 1991 and 1941 Mr Murray also suggests that any alteration made to the boundary, effectively changing the county of origin of swathes of Kilkenny people, could be a violation of their Human Rights. Article 14 of theEuropean Convention on Human Rights refers to discrimination on any ground 'such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status'. Mr Murray says the change would mean the imposition of Waterford as a new cultural identity on thousands of Kilkenny people. The local south Kilkenny population identify themselves as Kilkenny men [and women], says Mr Murray. Their 'identity' would be distorted and challenged. Noel G Walsh, an independent candidate in Carlow/Kilkenny for the forthcoming General Election, says he will bring legal proceedings this week, and request a motion for the court to have the boundary committee disbanded. Submissions It's estimated that around 20,000 submissions were made to the three-person boundary committee during the recent public consultation process. A note on the boundary review website says that these submissions would be made available on the page after the January 15 deadline. The Waterford Boundary Committee must furnish to the Minister, no later than March 31, a report of its review and recommendations, which will thenbe published. Of all the schemes introduced across Ireland and wider Europe, LEADER has been an outstanding example of the good that can be done for communities by communities, according to GAA commentator and champion for rural Ireland, Micheal O Muircheartaigh. Speaking at the launch of Kilkenny LEADER Partnerships End of Programme Report 2007-2013, he said it was a pity that Ireland had slipped from being a flagship country for community development to virtual extinction over such a short space of time. I am very closely aligned with the Irish language and there is an old saying: Is are scath a cile a mhaireann na daoine which translates that we are all very closely aligned; we all need each other. We live in the shadows of one another. Rural Ireland needs the rest of Ireland just as the rest of Ireland needs its rural parts. Ireland needs Europe and Europe needs Ireland. But this has been lost sight of. It is great to see so much interest in LEADER here in Kilkenny and I hope that it continues and expands and that Ireland will again become the flagship in Europe for things that mean so much to our people. Victim of Austerity Community development was one of the least noticed victims of austerity, Brian Harvey, independent social researcher told those assembled for the launch. When austerity came, most of the community groups that used to protect them were no longer there. 31% of workers in the voluntary and community sector are estimated to be gone. Nothing like this had happened in Europe since 1948. Although government funding fell 7% over 2008-14, funding for voluntary and community groups fell between 35% and 45%. Mr Harvey urged those still interested in community development to ensure that its approach, method and values were conserved, so that they could be applied if a political change for the better were ever to come. 300 projects supported Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Chairman, Denis Drennan, commended all involved in LEADER and said it had supported over 300 projects with over 13m in grant aid over the last 7 years. We are proud to publish our end of programme report and I commend the many voluntary groups and small businesses that had the courage and initiative to invest in these development projects. I am sure that all will agree that the standard, scale and diversity of these projects is outstanding and a credit to what rural Kilkenny can do when given the resources and the support to make the decisions needed to develop projects in this area. To continue Over the coming weeks, we will be making an application to continue as the Local Action Group or the contract holder for the new LEADER programme up to 2020. We believe we can continue to serve as an independent champion of rural Kilkenny and we look forward to working with the promoters and all the stakeholders on that ambitious project. We thank everyone who has been with us on this journey for their support, he added. A decision on who will administer the fund in Kilkenny is expected to be made in mid-March. High taxes can be a killer for people living on fixed incomes. Thats why retirees should carefully weigh a states tax picture before committing to live there. We analyzed the tax policies of all 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify the worst states for retirement when it comes to taxes. We looked at state sales taxes and income taxes, including taxes on Social Security, as well as property taxes, estate taxes and inheritance taxes. Our conclusion: The Green Mountain State will leave many retirees seeing red. Sure, its pretty, but Vermont levies a 6% sales tax, property taxes skew high, and most forms of retirement income are taxed. The top income tax rate is a steep 8.95%. Vermont even started taxing soft drinks in 2015. And when you die, your estate can face a tax bite of as much as 16%. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up Consider yourself warned. See 14 more of the worst states for taxes on retirees. How's that New Year's resolution to get back to the gym going? Yeah, thought so. But if you find the right facility, you have plenty of time to shape up in time for beach season. Do a test workout. Take advantage of the free trial at a few gyms. Be sure to go when you typically work out, try the classes and use the locker room. Youre more likely to get your money's worth at a fitness facility with great yoga classes than the one with a pool youll never swim in. Dont lock yourself in. Last year, gymgoers logged more than 5,500 complaints with the Better Business Bureau, many of them regarding contract disputes. The longer the contract period, the cheaper your monthly rate. But read the terms and make sure youre not locked in for a commitment you might not want. A month-to-month plan or a contract that lets you opt out if you give notice is best. Subscribe to Kiplingers Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Save up to 74% Sign up for Kiplingers Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplingers expert advice - straight to your e-mail. Sign up Beware the free session. The "fitness assessment" with a personal trainer sounds great, but it's often just a sales pitch for training sessions. Bring your friends. And Karen from HR. Many gyms have referral programs that reward you with perks for signing up friends. If you and a group of friends sign up together, you may even be able to negotiate a lower monthly rate for the whole group. And your business may be able to cut a deal with the gym that will score discounted membership fees for your whole office. Experts at Johnson Matthey said last month that platinum is likely to post a bigger-than-expected supply deficit for 2015. And news this week suggests that platinum production could be hit even harder than these observers are predicting. That comes from the worlds number three platinum-producing nation, Zimbabwe. Where the government is making a strong move against the worlds second-largest platinum mining firm, Impala Platinum. Local press reported Monday on statements from Impalas Zimbabwe operating subsidiary, Zimplats. Which noted that the company could be at risk of losing half of its land holdings in the country, following an edict from national authorities. Zimplats said that the firm received a letter from the government on December 28, requesting the release of 27,948 hectares within the firms mining license area amounting to almost 50% of the total ground belonging to these operations. This matter actually dates back to March 2013 when the Zimbabwe government had originally decreed that Zimplats lands should be returned to the state because they arent being fully utilized. Zimplats subsequently appealed the decision, with the issue then remaining unresolved over most of the past two years. But this latest news suggests the government has now decided to enforce the ruling putting at least some of Zimplats operations here at risk. The company said it has reiterated its objections over the land grab to the government and is seeking constructive dialogue to resolve the issue. All of which makes it appear that Zimplats production could be in jeopardy. With this move likely to deal a major blow to any remaining investment confidence Impala management holds in Zimbabwe, even if the companys mines are able continue, following the loss of the acreage. Any reduction in output could be very significant for the market, given that Zimplats accounts for over half of Zimbabwes yearly production of 400,000 ounces of platinum and 320,000 ounces of palladium. Watch for more news on the resolution of this issue over the coming weeks. Heres to a rock and a hard place, By Dave Forest Managing Geologist www.piercepoints.com (Kitco News) - The new year has been great for gold to say the least, with the metal rising over 7%, which has people questioning whether or not Chinas New Year on Monday could also bring about another rally for the yellow metal. Based on the latest sales data from the U.Ks mint, it just might. As China prepares to usher in the Year of the Monkey a holiday that tends to bring about heightened gold demand the Royal Mint announced that it has sold out of its 2016 Lunar New Year one-ounce gold and silver coins. This is the first time that the Royal Mints bullion business has sold out of coins from its Lunar Shengxiao Collection and highlights the growing ambition of the business, the mint said in a press release Friday. Since the start of the year, gold prices have managed to jump back to multi-month highs as investors looked for a safe haven from tumbling equity and oil prices, and as concerns over the Chinese economy mounted. Gold futures have risen to levels last seen in October with April Comex gold last up $1.50 for the day at $1,159 an ounce. The unexpected rally seen in gold has propelled retail demand higher, with market participants expecting the trend to continue. Celebrated annually, the Chinese New Year is traditionally a time for exchanging tokens and gifts of money in red envelopes, which is also why gold demand tends to rise during this time of year. However, Chinas affinity for gold doesnt seem like it is going to fade anytime soon, especially as investors continue to seek safe havens and as the countrys central bank looks to increase its gold reserves. Recent 2015 demand data showed that Chinese consumption rose 3.7% last year to 985.9 tonnes. U.K.-based research firm Capital Economics also noted in early February that the Peoples Bank of China added another 19 tonnes of gold to its reserves in December, mounting total purchases in the second half of 2015 to about 104 tonnes. Chinas gold imports also surged in December, the latest month for which import data has been released, Capital Economics highlighted. Likewise, Thomson Reuters GFMS said in its Gold Survey report released last week that it expects gold demand to rise by 5% this year, with Chinese consumers playing a major role. As more individuals become concerned over the falling yuan, retail investors may seek gold as a store of value, other analysts have suggested. By Sarah Benali of Kitco News; sbenali@kitco.com Follow me on Twitter @SdBenali SHARE By Kitsap Sun Staff PORT ORCHARD A suspected "john" in a prostitution sting conducted Wednesday by the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office at a Port Orchard motel tried to get away after he spotted a law enforcement officer at the motel but was arrested at a nearby gas station as he tried to help the undercover detective he thought was a prostitute get away. The sting netted three women suspected of being prostitutes, along with six men suspected of patronizing a prostitute. On Thursday in Kitsap District Court, one of the women, 25, was charged with prostitution and two men, 50 and 55, were charged with patronizing a prostitute. Another suspected prostitute, 32, found with a small amount of heroin, was charged with felony possession The charges related to prostitution are gross misdemeanors. A statement from the office said more operations similar to Wednesday's will take place. "We will continue to target prostitution and human trafficking related offenses in this county and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions and involvement," Detective Lt. Earl Smith said in a statement. The sting involved detectives responding to online advertisements from prostitutes, as well as posting advertisements of fictitious prostitutes. Port Orchard police and deputy prosecutors provided assistance, according to the statement from the office, and was held at the Days Inn, 220 Bravo Terrace, Port Orchard. In the case of the suspect who became suspicious of the sting, the detective wrote that the suspect texted that he was in the lobby. "Another detective is out in the hallway as the suspect reaches the second floor of the motel but quickly enters the room," the detective wrote. The suspect left and texted that he saw police in the building, suspected there was a sting and offered to give the detective a ride. The detective met the suspect at the gas station, where he was placed under arrest. The SMH reports: The High Court has ruled that Australias offshore detention regime at Nauru and Manus Island is lawful, dashing the hopes of asylum seekers that detention centres would be closed and they would be settled in Australia. This ruling will save lives. The hardline policy has stopped hundreds of people from drowning by trying to reach Australia. Heres the deaths by drowning by year: 2015: 0 2014: 0 2013: 236 2012: 421 2011: 235 2010: 168 2009: 132 The drop to zero for two years in a row is not a coincidence. It is a direct reflection of removing the incentive for people to pay tens of thousand of dollars to people smugglers. The full bench of the High Court on Wednesday ruled that the federal government has the power under the constitution to detain people in other countries, finding that its conduct was within the law. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been under pressure to allow child asylum seekers to stay in Australia regardless of the courts decision. The Greens said on Wednesday that forcing their return amounted to child abuse. No child abuse is when they drown at sea because they are incentivised to try and sail to Australia. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr The Herald editorial: A universal entitlement to three years free tertiary education has overwhelming public appeal. Whether it is in the public interest is another question. The policy is expensive: $1.2 billion when fully implemented. That is a considerable lump of public spending. As always when something of this magnitude is proposed, we should not look at its merits in isolation. Governments do not have infinite budgets and there is a limit to the taxation an economy can provide and remain healthy. Labour needs to be asked, is this the most worthwhile use of $1.2 billion Is it even the most worthy use of funds allocated to education? Many professionals (outside the tertiary sector at least) would say raising funding of pre-school education is more socially urgent and productive than relieving school-leavers of an obligation to contribute to the cost of their qualifications. Most of the $1.2 billion will go to wealthy families who planned to go to university anyway. University student associations have complained about course fees and loans to cover them since they were introduced. But many thousands of graduates have paid their fees and repaid their loans over the past 20 years. Tertiary education has seen spectacular growth over that period, attracting foreign fee-paying students as well as meeting New Zealanders needs. Why change the funding system now? Or to put it another way, what problem is this policy designed to fix? Labours leader presents it as an answer to the frequent and unpredictable career changes people will need in the workforce of the future. But this future has been present for many years now and there has been no sign the costs of retraining have become a problem. The student loan scheme is effectively a temporary targeted tax on those who undertake tertiary study. Once you eanr above a certain level, you pay a 12% higher tax rate until the loan is paid off. So what is fairer those who get the benefits of tertiary study paying a temporary higher tax rate, or all New Zealanders paying a permanent higher tax rate? The economy is strong in large part because public spending is under control. Expensive proposals that waste money purely for political gain could put the countrys prosperity in peril. Its the old tax and spend. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Gov. Bill Haslam addresses attendees during the Knoxville Chamber's annual Governor's Breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) SHARE Gov. Bill Haslam addresses attendees during the Knoxville Chamber's Governor's Breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Gov. Bill Haslam addresses attendees during the Knoxville Chamber's Governor's Breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Attorney Ward Phillips listens as Gov. Bill Haslam addresses attendees during the Knoxville Chamber's Governor's Breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) Attendees listen to Gov. Bill Haslam during the Knoxville Chamber's annual Governor's Breakfast at the Knoxville Convention Center on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) By Ed Marcum of the Knoxville News Sentinel Tennessee is in an enviable position among the states, with its budget surplus, Gov. Bill Haslam told members of the Knoxville Chamber this morning, but must make sure any of that revenue is spent for maximum benefit. In Knoxville for the Chamber's annual Governor's Breakfast, Haslam also said the state faces raising the gas tax at some point. The state is approaching a crossroads on infrastructure needs, Haslam said. Tennessee roads are in good shape, but major projects, such as improvements to Alcoa Highway, need to be done, he said. Tennessee drivers are using less gas than ever, meaning that the state is collecting fewer state dollars from fuel taxes at a time that road maintenance costs have tripled, he said. As for the budget surplus, Haslam said the best use of the extra money is for education. Studies show that boosting education levels tends to lower the need to spend state funds on healthcare and incarceration, Haslam said. SHARE Knoxville artist Richard Whiteheads pastel and compressed charcoal Wade into the Quiet of the Stream is among the art in the Arts and Culture Alliances National Juried Exhibition showing at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay St. Knoxville artist Clay Pardue's pastel Venus is part of the Arts and Culture Alliance's National Juried Exhibition at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay St. Knoxville artist Kate McCulloughs watercolor Tennessee Gold is one of the art works in The Arts and Culture Alliances Tenth Annual National Juried Exhibition at the Emporium Center through Feb. 26. Works were selected from 48 artists in the Southeast. Josh Wright is the first performer in this year's Evelyn Miller Young Pianist Series. Juried exhibit at Emporium Center The Arts & Culture Alliance's 10th annual National Juried Exhibition is on display through Feb. 26 at the Emporium Center, 100 S. Gay St. The Emporium also is showing photography in an inaugural exhibit of works from members of The Photography Collective. That display will also be shown through Feb. 26. The juried exhibition shows the works of 48 artists from the Southeast. Art shown includes photography, fiber, oils, stoneware, paper, pencil, acrylic and copper. Emporium hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and Sunday hours 3:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 and Feb. 21. Young Pianist Series starts in February Three concerts are planned in the 2016 season of The Evelyn Miller Young Pianist Series. Performances are 2:30 p.m. Feb. 21, March 20 and April 24 in the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall in the University of Tennessee's Natalie L. Haslam Music Center. All three of the pianists have earned prizes and awards. Josh Wright begins the series with the Feb. 21 concert. Wright has a doctorate in musical arts from the University of Michigan. His program will include selections from Chopin, Scarlatti, Barber and Ravel. Maryville resident and Japanese native Mayuki Miyashita performs March 20. Miyashita studies music at the University of Tennessee School of Music. Her concert includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Rorem and Horowitz. Jiayun Sun performs on April 24. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music from The Juilliard School where he continues to study. He will play pieces from Froberger, Schubert, Busoni and Janacek. Tickets for an individual concert are $25 for adults; season tickets are $65. Students are admitted free. Tickets are at www.youngpianistseries.com or at the door. The Young Pianists Series began in 1980 and has presented performances by more than 100 concert pianists. Werner, Eleazer pair up for jazz, more Musician and composer Wendel Werner and Maryville College music faculty member Alan Eleazer perform a "Sacred Jazz & Spiritual Songs" concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 in the Clayton Center for the Arts' Harold and Jean Lambert Recital Hall. The center is on the Maryville College campus. The recital is free and will include sacred, spiritual and secular songs in a jazz and contemporary gospel context. Eleazer and Werner have been performing as a piano/vocal duo since the early 1980s. They have made six recordings and toured throughout the eastern United States and Canada. Eleazer is a University of Tennessee graduate and is an adjunct instructor of music and voice at Maryville. He is in his eighth season as conductor of the Maryville College Community Chorus, directs The Lads, an all-men's ensemble at Maryville College, and is director of music and adult ministries at Broadway United Methodist Church. Werner is a UT graduate. He began playing piano at age 11 and is a freelance musician, composer and performer. Sammie Nicely work at Rose Center Artwork by Sammie Nicely is shown in the exhibit "Faith, Family and Friends" at the Rose Center in Morristown. The exhibit is presented by the center and the From Africa to Appalachia Foundation for Education which Nicely, a Russellville native, co-founded in 1987. The exhibit is a retrospective of Nicely's art and a tribute to the artist who died in 2015. Nicely often combined his Appalachian roots and inspiration from his African heritage in his work. Faith, Family and Friends" will be on exhibit Feb. 7-26 at the 442 W. Second North Street center in Morristown. Art, music set at Pellissippi Art and music are on schedule at Pellissippi State Community College. Painted paper baskets created by students in a noncredit Pellissippi basketmaking course are on exhibit Feb. 16-March 4 in the lobby of the Bagwell Center for Media and Art, 10915 Hardin Valley Road. Admission is free; hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays. On Feb. 18, photographer Rob Amberg will be at the college for a lecture and an exhibit of some of his work showing the Appalachian region. Amberg's free lecture is at 2 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Goins Building Auditorium on the Hardin Valley campus. His art will be shown 7 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 29 at the campus' Educational Resources Center's new first floor exhibit space. On Feb. 18 the college hosts the Knoxville Jazz Youth Orchestra for a free community concert. The concert at is 7 p.m. in the Clayton Performing Arts Center on the Hardin Valley campus. Early winter snow fell on several days while the Knoxville group was backpacking, and resulted in beautiful snow cover on many of the higher mountains. Photo by Will Skelton SHARE NEW PLAYS READ The play "Caves" by Kimball, W.Va., playwright Jean Battlo will be presented in February table readings as part of the Tennessee Stage Company's New Play Festival. "Caves" will be read at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the Knox County Public Library's Carter Branch Library, at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Farragut Branch Library, at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Fountain City Library and at noon Feb. 27 at Lawson McGhee Library. "Caves" is about a woman who tries to find a way to save her dying West Virginia coal town. Winder, Ga., writer Leslie Kimbell's "Four Old Broads" will be read in four table readings. The play is a comedy based in a retirement community. Table readings of "Four Old Broads" are 2 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Fountain City Library, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Bearden Branch Library, 1 p.m. Feb. 20 at Carter Branch Library and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at Lawson McGhee. The play "Under the Esso" by Knoxville writer Linda P. Marion also will be read in February. The play's table readings are 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at Fountain City Library, at 1 p.m. Feb. 13 at Carter Branch Library, at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Bearden Branch Library and at 2 p.m. Feb. 28 at Lawson McGhee. "Under the Esso" is about a young girl who lives in an apartment above an Esso station and whose life changes on her 13th birthday. ARCTIC ADVENTURE The Harvey Broome Group of the Sierra Club will host a presentation by Will Skelton about backpacking in the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska. It will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike. In August 2015 ten friends and Sierra Club members from Knoxville did an expedition to north Alaska. They backpacked for 10 days and hiked on tundra with difficult passages through alder and willow forests, and high water creek crossings. Weather was snow, rain, freezing temperatures, with high winds. Skelton and several of the participants will present photos/movies and discuss their adventure. This presentation is free and open to the public. Info: Mac Post, mpost3116@aol.com, 865-806-0980 AUTISM-FRIENDLY SCREENING See "Norm of the North" at Regal's sensory-friendly "My Way Matinee" at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. The lights will be dimmed just a little and the sound will also be quieter. Tickets are $6.50 including tax and the movie will be screened at the Regal Pinnacle Stadium 18 Turkey Creek. Purchase tickets on arrival or at Fandango.com (for about $1 more per ticket). Info: www.eventbrite.com/e/autism-friendly-movie-norm-of-the-north-tickets-20540065890?aff=ebapi Like us at www.facebook.com/knoxvillefamily and www.facebook.com/knoxvilledotcom SHARE Southern white rhinos Dolly, left, and Polly, in their new habitat at the Knoxville Zoo Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2016. A new Tiger Forest is planned for construction at the former rhino habitat. (AMY SMOTHERMAN BURGESS/NEWS SENTINEL) The new Southern white rhino habitat at the Knoxville Zoo Jan. 27. A new Tiger Forest is planned for construction at the former rhino habitat. Related Photos Knoxville Zoo to move tigers and rhinos By Amy McRary of the Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville Zoo Southern white rhinos Mondo, Polly and Dolly are living in a new exhibit that has given the geriatric animals lots of sights to intrigue them. The rhinos moved from their previous larger, bowl-shaped exhibit and its structurally unsound barn to a smaller, updated 13,068-square-foot exhibit with a modern, 1,408-square-foot barn. The project cost $342,675; much of the work was done in-house by the zoo exhibit design crew. The natural habitat, once home to the park's zebras, is across the public path from the park's Stokely African Elephant Preserve. The two zebras moved across the walk to live in the zoo's Grasslands Africa habitat. Moving the rhinos was necessary not only because the animals' barn required replacement or lots of renovations. Zoo officials also have plans for the land the exhibit used. The rhinos' prior home near the zoo entrance will become part of Tiger Forest, the first large natural habitat project in a new master plan to renovate parts of the park. Site preparation work on Tiger Forest began in January; the rhinos' old barn is likely to be demolished later this month. The rhino trio appear acclimated to their new habitat. Each was moved after being trained to walk into a steel crate that was large and study enough to carry them through the zoo. The 4,200- to 4,500-pound females were moved in October; Mondo didn't transition until January. When he got to his new home, it took the 5,200-pound "sensitive" male rhino about 90 minutes to back out of the crate into the barn. Their new home has given the large animals new sights and sounds. After Mondo arrived, he quickly alerted to the running red wolves whose exhibit is on a tall hill above the rhino yard. Dolly and Polly were more interested in the elephants across the path. Dolly particularly appeared fascinated with the movements of the male elephant Tonka. "It's enriching (for the animals) just to have moved them," said zookeeper Melissa McGee. And the rhinos seem to be interested in human visitors, too. Their favorite place in their outdoor habitat is a sheltered area close to a visitor viewing area and near their habitat's mud wallow. The exhibit gives visitors up-close, eye-level views of the rhinos, said Zoo President and CEO Lisa New. At the rhinos' old habitat, visitors stood above the animals and saw them from a distance. "We are hearing people say they never realized how big they are," said New. The habitat design lets visitors get "how amazing" the rhinos are, said McGee. Longtime zoo residents, Mondo, Polly and Dolly have been at the park since the 1970s. They'll live out their days in their new habitat. They're "extremely geriatric," said New. Dolly and Polly are each 48 years old while Mondo is believed to be about 45. Captive rhinos live into their 40s and 50s. While the animals are considered to be past reproductive age, they are responsible for continuing the endangered species in zoos. Twenty-eight rhinos have been born at the zoo since 1976. Polly and Dolly each gave birth to 10 babies. Mondo fathered nine offspring, including four each with Polly and Dolly. Close to the rhinos' favorite people viewing spot are a trio of child-size rhino statues. The resin sculptures were made in memory of Alex LaRue. The Fentress County child loved rhinos, particularly those at the zoo. Alex died in 2014 at age 11 from brain cancer. His family raised $5,600 to pay for the sculptures that children can sit on. The money wasn't enough for the sculptures' total cost but the California company that created the work donated the rest, New said. SHARE The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers By Susan Alexander of the Knoxville News Sentinel East Tennessee Episcopalians are celebrating their 32nd anniversary at the annual convention of The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee this weekend at the Holiday Inn World's Fair Park. The convention concludes about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 with a festive procession of all 50 participating churches from the Holiday Inn World's Fair Park to the closing service at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. The Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers, a Bearden High School graduate and former religion writer for the News Sentinel, was keynote speaker Friday for the event. Now canon to the Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for evangelism and reconciliation, she lives in New York. Spellers previously taught and directed programs in mission and reconciliation at the General Theological Seminary in New York City, and she directed new ministry initiatives for the Center for Progressive Renewal in Atlanta. She also helped launch The Crossing at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston. It is a missional worship community that embraces the gifts and voices of young adults, LGBT people, people of color, poor people and others on the margins of traditional churches (www.thecrossingboston.org). She is a popular speaker and consultant on reimagining the mainline church. Spellers answered questions via email about mission and the challenges facing traditional churches. Q: As numbers decline for most mainline denominations in the U.S., what advice would you share with churches looking to reverse the trend, or at least slow it? A: We've got to move out beyond ourselves, beyond our "usual" membership, and truly walk with the people and cultures around us. They're meeting God outside of church. We have to go walk with them. There is no other way. Back when we could assume church membership and I know Knoxville is one of the buckles of the Bible Belt, but even here it's going down you just opened the doors, did great worship and formation, and people flocked through the doors. Now, we've got to flock to where they are, be humble, listen and reimagine church in partnership with them. Q: How does a church reach out to millennials when its membership consists of people their parents' age? A: I've run "Radical Welcome" trainings with churches for a decade, and everybody wants to know how to connect with people who are different, especially with younger generations. Here's the secret: talk to them! Let them tell you what they long for in a community. Let them tell you what authentic prayer sounds like. Let them tell you what they wish church were up to. And then ask if there's anything you could do together for God. Start a partnership. Offer your wisdom and honor theirs. Be genuinely curious about what God is up to in their world and in their lives, and share what God is up to in your life. Q: What are the most compelling aspects of church that you believe millennials will respond to? A: My ministry in Boston was largely with millennials, and even though I'm in church "management" now, I listen a lot to their wisdom. There are some broad trends. Unlike Generation X (born between 1961 and 1981), Millennials crave structure and support and approval. They want community and are willing to invest time in something that's worthwhile and heals the world. That said, they're highly suspicious of institutions and orders. What does that mean for church? Generally, they don't think much of us. The latest Pew Report stats say 25 percent of millennials identify religiously. That's the smallest proportion of any generation. But just because they're not religious, don't assume they don't yearn for spiritual life. More than half of millennials said they experience a sense of spiritual peace and well-being, and more than 40 percent feel a sense of "wonder" about the universe. So what bridges the gap between these spiritually open young ones? Churches with a strong sense of community, almost like a surrogate family (remember, lots of millennials come from divorced households). They want to do something: build something, grow something, heal something. So if your church has a strong social justice and service component, that's like a gateway for welcoming younger members. But you can't treat them like "the help," patronize them, speak to them as if they know nothing, or tell them to wait their turn to lead. Find ways for them to exercise authority, in partnership with others. Over and over, I hear millennials say they dig history and traditions, so welcome them to dig into those treasures. But then make room for them to do something different with that raw material. Let the traditions come to new life in their hands. If we did that, we wouldn't just have more young people. The whole church would come to new life. What are some of the more creative ways to worship that traditional churches may be overlooking? I think reimagining worship is less about being creative and more about listening deeply. Listen to your beloved traditions: music that warms people's hearts, prayers that speak poignantly to God. But also listen to the culture around you. Where are people feeling the Spirit? Where are they making community? What's happening in those places? Could your worship learn from them, without just mimicking them? Christians believe in the incarnation, that Jesus came to be among us in flesh and blood. He graced this earth and used the stuff of ordinary life to bless and heal and teach. How can we do that with the ordinary sounds, images and words of the cultures and communities around us? Jesus wouldn't have put up a firewall around the church. He'd already be outside kicking it on the street, bringing church outside and fresh gifts inside. DJs call that kind of weaving a remix: an old-school song or lyric, mixed with a fresh beat, maybe sped up or slowed down, with a different voice singing words you recognize. A remix calls on the deep loves of multiple groups: one crew gets excited about the old-school element, another gets energized by the new material. But now they have a common song, a common story. I wish more traditional churches would explore how they could do a remix. Instead, we hang onto certain forms encase them in amber to protect them from others' hands as if Jesus gave them to us that way. But church is not a museum. It's a living organism. Worship should be the offering of all the people. Let them at it. Q: What do churches tend to do right and wrong in the area of mission? A: Clearly, I'm a huge fan of mutuality in mission. Non-churchgoers cringe if a churchy person opens her mouth and starts imparting all the answers. There is a lot we know, but a lot we don't know. We need to practice humility and genuine love of neighbor around the corner, not just across the globe. All mission should assume God has already showed up in a place, and that you're joining your neighbors in growing God's life and love in a community. True charity allows both (the giver and recipient) to get in touch with our vulnerability and need. Rich people have plenty of longing and pain. God might be waiting to bless them with the words or touch of a person who sleeps on the street or has only a 6th grade education. Do you think Jesus was a well-dressed man doling out favors to the poor? No. He was poor, scruffy, needy, bunking in the homes of disciples or extended family. And look how he blessed everyone who drew near. That couldn't happen with toxic charity. By that logic, you'd miss out on Jesus. SHARE By Tina Chambers Star Line Books, Chattanooga's only independent resource for new, general-interest titles, opened last August in a downtown business center just across Market Street from the famed Chattanooga Choo-Choo. Owner Star Lowe is an energetic blonde with a warm smile and an easy way with people. "We've been open for 20 weeks," she says. "I'm still keeping up with it like a newborn." Like all parents of newborns, this new bookseller has learned a lot in a short time. "There's so much I don't know that I don't know what I don't know," jokes the former journalist and educator originally from Middle Tennessee. Lowe began this literary journey three years ago when she moved to Chattanooga. Aware of the Buy Local movement, she went searching for an independent bookstore to patronize. Finding no such thing, she determined to remedy the situation but realized early on that "there's no room for error if you're going to try to get from red to black." Fortunately, fellow independent booksellers were there to help: "They embraced me," she says, singling out Karen Hayes of Parnassus Books in Nashville, Flossie McNabb at Union Ave. Books in Knoxville, and Janet Geddis of Avid Books in Athens, Georgia, as generous sources of information on everything from inventory tips to author-event planning. Even the store's name came from the bookstore community: noting the shop's famous neighbor, Laura Hill and Amy Jernigan, owners of Reading Rock Books in Dickson, suggested the railroad-inspired name "Star Line Books." (Lowe's husband, Shawn, took it one step further when he suggested patrons could take the Star Line to "Come and be Literated," now the store's official motto.) The response of the Chattanooga community has been heartening. "I've got a nice little customer base already," Lowe says. "I have regulars." Those regulars no doubt respond to the personal touch Lowe insists upon. She hand-selects everything in the shop from books and journals to T-shirts and tote bags but she is quick to add to her inventory with items that customers request. Legal pads and pens placed throughout the store encourage patrons to suggest titles they'd like to see on the shelves, and she constantly tweaks her stock to reflect the customer base: "Nobody can have everything, so there's that little dance, that little shelf dance, that I have to do when I'm choosing inventory." Star Line's shelves feature books by local authors as frequently as possible, and quite a few have already come by to check out the store and sign copies of their own titles. "Confederate Streets" author, Erin Tocknell, calls Star Line "a blessing." She appreciates that Lowe gives "time and attention to books that get lost in the shuffle at the larger bookstores," and she believes "the community is better for it." What Star Lowe is most passionate about is the books themselves and the way they draw people together within a shared experience. She stocks the latest hot titles, of course, but her heart is with the backlist: "There are so many beautiful things that get forgotten. I want to bring those jewels to the attention of new readers." When asked about the downside of starting an independent bookstore, Lowe admits the hours are tough. With only a handful of employees, she's onsite most days herself. The store is closed on Sunday, but she often finds herself poring over inventory lists on her day off. The biggest drawback, though, is that she struggles to find time to read: "So many people want to know what I think about these books," she laments. Despite the difficulties, Lowe has no regrets: "It's totally what I thought it would be. I did not get into this thinking it would be a cash cow; this was completely born out of a passion for books and wanting to have a place like Laura and Janet and Karen and Flossie have created a place where you can be comfortable talking books. It just seemed such a shame that there wasn't one here in Chattanooga." To read an uncut version of this article and more local book coverage please visit http://chapter16.org/, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee. Charlotte Rampling stars in 45 Years. SHARE By Steven Rea Andrew Haigh's "45 Years" begins on a misty Monday morning, with a woman walking her German shepherd across the broads of the English countryside. It's a daily routine for Kate Mercer (Charlotte Rampling), letting the dog off leash so he can forge, and forage, ahead. After a good stroll, Kate returns to the cottage she shares with her husband, Geoff (Tom Courtenay), slips off her coat and her rubber boots, and looks through the mail. On the first day of the six that are documented in this deep and devastating study of a marriage, there is a letter from the Swiss authorities, in German, about someone Geoff had known a half-century ago, his first love, before Kate. Geoff and the girl had been backpacking across Europe. There was an accident on a high pass in the Alps. The news comes as a complete surprise, a bolt, a jolt. Geoff has to rummage through the garage to find his old German-English dictionary, to be sure he reads the letter right. Kate helps. "I can hardly be cross with something that happened before we existed, can I?" she says later. But Kate is cross, and more. Like a horror movie where the seeming tranquility of a family is slowly upended by a presence in the basement, rumbling behind the walls, a ghost, a demon, in "45 Years" this unexpected missive triggers its own kind of destruction. Two well-off retirees, full of shared memories, snug in their house, comfortable in their quotidian rituals, ready to celebrate their 45th anniversary with a big bash in town, have been invaded, taken hostage. There's a stranger in the house. Adapted from the David Constantine short story "In Another Country," Haigh's "45 Years" is a study in economy, in the beautiful symmetry of word and image and music. It is also very much about trust, jealousy, forgiveness and regret. Rampling, who rightly received a best actress Academy Award nomination for her performance, evokes the battle going on inside of Kate the hurt, the doubt, the chasm that's opened before her with the smallest of gestures, a wariness in the eyes. It's a remarkably quiet and internal turn, not a false note, not a shard of excess. Courtenay plays Geoff as a fuzzy, absent-minded fellow, his everyday calm taken from him, now, as he remembers this other woman. But has he been remembering her all along?, the picture asks. And Kate, in her way, poses the same question. "45 Years" is modest in scale, a portrait of one couple about to celebrate their lives together with a jolly gathering of friends. Yet the movie, thanks to Rampling and Courtenay and Haigh, is momentous, too challenging us to consider the nature of intimacy itself. It gets right to the very heart of things, a place that Kate and Geoff, for all their time together, may never have truly explored. Courtesy of UpTV Michaella (Bates) Keilen, right, poses with her husband Brandon on their wedding day. SHARE Courtesy of UpTV From left are Brandon and Michaella Keilen and Gil and Kelly Jo Bates. Courtesy of UpTV Gil Bates officiated part of the wedding ceremony for his daughter Michaella and her husband Brandon Keilen. By Maggie Jones of the Knoxville News Sentinel Knoxville provided the venue for a very special day for East Tennessee's mega-family, the Bates, during Thursday's episode of "Bringing Up Bates" on the UP Network. Eldest Bates daughter Michaella, 25, and Brandon Keilen got married at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church on Merchants Drive with around 800 guests in attendance on Aug. 15. The episode centered around the last minute preparations for the wedding including a 30-hour countdown, where the family of father Gil, mother Kelly Jo and their 19 children rushed to get the venue and themselves ready for the big day, and the ceremony, which was partly officiated by Gil. Michaella is the fourth Bates child to get married. The entire family contributed in their own ways during the wedding. Her mother, Kelly Jo, served as matron of honor; her sister, Erin Paine, was a bridesmaid; Callie Bates was the flower girl; and Lawson Bates wrote and performed a song during the ceremony. Michaella's best friend, Jana Duggar, the oldest daughter of Arkansas-based super-size family, the Duggars, was another one of her bridesmaids. Planning a wedding with 800 guests and the Bates' large family was no easy task. Kim Nafziger, who attends church with the Bates in Rocky Top, Tenn., coordinated the wedding. She's also helped plan the other three Bates weddings. "I guess I have always had a little bit of an organized tendency to me, but learning how to organize Bates weddings has taken time and prayer," Nafziger said while laughing. Before the ceremony, Michaella and Brandon revealed they had saved their first kiss for their wedding. "Saving our first kiss was definitely not just an easy thing to do, and just looking forward to it tomorrow, and knowing it's the first for both of us, it totally makes it worth all of the difficult times that, you know, we wanted to kiss," she said. "It just seems so romantic to save that for our special day." They also faced some wedding jitters and couldn't wait to see each other. "I don't know what my initial response will be when I see her," said Keilen. "I'm hoping I stay in composure, and I don't fall over sideways or something like that, but I'm really looking forward to it." When they finally met at the front of the church's sanctuary, Michaella and Brandon exchanged vows and prayed together. "I was totally lost in the moment," said Michaella. "It was like our engagement all over again, and we were the only two people in the whole world. And just standing there holding hands and committing our lives to God and each other, it was incredible." After the wedding, Michaella left the Bates home in Rocky Top, Tenn., and moved to Chicago with Brandon. Her father Gil and sister Carlin Bates teared up in a few confessionals after the wedding, mentioning that they and the family would miss Michaella. "The shock comes when you see them packing their stuff because 'til the day of the wedding you're thinking 'well they're going to come back,' and you think 'life's going to change, but they're going to still be here,' but the finality strikes you," said Gil Bates. "It's not going to be the same," said Carlin Bates. The dynamic of our family is going to be different ... she's the big sister that everybody wants." "Bringing Up Bates" airs at 9 p.m. on Thursdays on the UP Network. SHARE By Lydia X. McCoy of the Knoxville News Sentinel Members of a Knox County joint education committee decided Thursday to ask members of their respective bodies to reach out to legislators about their collective opposition on school vouchers before the full House votes on the bill Monday. The committee made up of members from the Knox County school board and Knox County Commission was formed in 2013 to help the two groups work better together. "This is the only issue in all the years that I've been in office where commission and the board and the mayor and the education association all agree that it's not a good idea," said school board member Karen Carson, who is also the committee's co-chair. "We let our representatives in Nashville know where we stand." This is the first time in six years that a voucher bill is gaining ground in the Legislature. Gov. Bill Haslam has said he plans on signing HB1049 into law if it passes. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, would limit vouchers to students who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches and attend schools in the bottom 5 percent as determined by performance standards defined by the state Board of Education. Vouchers allow students' families to take public school funding to pay for private school tuition. If approved, the bill would limit the number of vouchers to 5,000 students in its first year of operation and shift $16.6 million from public to private schools. This year, the school board and commission approved a list of legislative priorities both bodies could advocate for or against. The list of seven priorities includes the bodies' opposition to school vouchers. "I don't have a problem emailing my representatives," said Commissioner Jeff Ownby. "I want us to support this. I'm not for vouchers. I think it's going to end up financing private industry." The joint committee also discussed the process for the upcoming budget cycle. County Commissioners on the panel said they liked the idea of continuing individual meetings with Schools Superintendent Jim McIntyre and would like to add having their respective school board member join that meeting. "She has a lot more knowledge so if something comes up, she's there," Commissioner Charles Busler said of his corresponding school board member, Patti Bounds. "Last year, I was there by myself." UT Diversity Matters students march across campus to the 5th floor of Andy Holt Tower where Chancellor Jimmy Cheek's office is located, in response to his absence at the groups meeting, scheduled to be held in Thomposn Boling Arena's dining area on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (CAITIE MCMEKIN/NEWS SENTINEL) By MJ Slaby of the Knoxville News Sentinel The words "Our university is under attack" top posters prepared for a rally today on the University of Tennessee campus. At the bottom of the posters, a shark chases a creature. The shark is labeled, "Them. Governor & Legislature." The prey: "Us. If we do nothing." Since the legislative session started, a variety of bills related to UT have been filed in Nashville, and Gov. Bill Haslam and others continue to move forward with a plan to privatize maintenance and management of state-owned buildings, including the UT campus. The rally is in protest of the outsourcing as well as proposed cuts to diversity and sustainability programs and funding at UT. "The governor and Legislature are trying to control the university in ways that they haven't before," said Jon Shefner, a United Campus Workers member and professor of sociology at UT. "This will hurt everybody." Growing concerns about UT-related bills in the General Assembly prompted the UCW, the UT chapter of the American Association of University Professors, the Faculty Senate and the UT Diversity Matters coalition to plan to send a collective message to Nashville with a rally at 4 p.m. at the Humanities Amphitheater on campus. Shefner said the message UT "is under attack" might sound extreme but it's true, he said. "This theme is not theater. It's not drama," Shefner said. Mary McAlpin, professor of French and president of the UT chapter of AAUP, said she has "a sense that the university is being used as a political pawn" by lawmakers. "This is our way to send a message from afar. A lot of us can't go to Nashville. We have to work, and the students have courses," McAlpin said. But people will see that it's more than one group caring about one issue, said George Habeib, a sophomore who is a member of the UT Diversity Matters coalition. "We are supporting each other's autonomy," he said. Habeib said he and other organizers believe decisions about the university should be left up to those on campus. Student voices matter, and so do the voices of their parents and the voices of workers, Shefner said. He said he hopes the faculty voice will continue to grow, especially with two faculty groups as rally sponsors. Although students, faculty and staff have supported each other on such issues as protesting outsourcing before, today's rally offers a way to come together when attacks on various areas of campus are coming from one place, said Tom Anderson, a purchaser in UT facilities and member of UCW. Anderson said proposed bills could effect UT's academic integrity as well as the programs that make that integrity possible. He said the rally will show lawmakers that UT faculty, staff and students aren't staying silent. "We're not going to roll over and let them attack education in Tennessee," Anderson said. SHARE By Hugh G. Willett LOUDON The question of whether Loudon County schools should implement gun safety training for students sparked a lively discussion at a school board workshop Thursday night. Loudon County Commissioner Van Shaver raised the issue in a letter to the school board last week in which he suggested firearms safety training for students in all grades, perhaps supervised by the school resource officers. Board Chairman Scott Newman, a Loudon Police Department officer, kicked off Thursday's discussion by endorsing the idea, while at the same time emphasizing that, in his opinion, such education should really begin in the home under the supervision of parents. "I don't want somebody else teaching my kids gun safety," he said. Newman said he is concerned that many children have become desensitized to the improper handling of guns through movies and video games. He said he wouldn't object to basic safety training that would inform children what do if they are at a friends' home and a gun is discovered. He said it seems more and common that the school system is forced to take on parenting duties not necessarily connected with education. He said he has spoken with the Loudon police chief about possible ways to provide voluntary instruction, perhaps through the National Rifle Association or a local gun club. David Twiggs, a former county commissioner and local leader of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, spoke before the board about a program called SMART that his organizations promotes. The SMART program is endorsed by the National Parent Teacher Association and is designed to be implemented by PTAs with strong emphasis on parent involvement. Board members Craig Simon and Leroy Tate raised the issue of liability and questioned whether gun safety training was the responsibility of schools that are already challenged to provide instruction with the limited time and resources available. Board member Jeremy Buckles agreed that gun safety should start with the parents but added that he thought it might be a good idea to offer programs after school that would focus on core principles of gun safety. Schools Director Jason Vance said he was concerned about the potential loss of instructional time. He said the school system already takes some responsibility for safety issues outside school, including urging students to wear bicycle helmets and teaching fire safety. In an interview before the school board meeting, Loudon County Sheriff Tim Guider expressed support for education as a means to reduce firearm accidents. He said he didn't think school resource officers would be the best way to provide the instruction because it might take them away from their primary duties of providing security for the schools. Board members said conversations on the issue would continue. By Tom Humphrey of the Knoxville News Sentinel NASHVILLE Two Knoxville legislators are donating campaign contributions they received from embattled state Rep. Jeremy Durham to a Knoxville charity while a former lawmaker apparently is giving money from Durham to the House Republican Caucus, campaign finance disclosures indicate. Knoxville Republican Reps. Eddie Smith and Jason Zachary said in interviews that they had decided it would be inappropriate to keep money donated to them from Durham late last year, given that he is now accused of inappropriate behavior that has led House Speaker Beth Harwell, Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey and others to call for Durham's resignation from the General Assembly. Both men said they strongly disapprove of the alleged behavior, including sexual harassment, which they knew nothing about when taking money from Durham, R-Franklin. Zachary said he believes Durham should resign. Smith said he leaves that decision to Durham, not knowing the truth of the allegations. Campaign financial disclosures filed this week covering money received and spent from July 1, 2015 through Jan. 15, 2016 show that Smith received $3,000 in October from Durham and Zachary got $1,500 the same amount Durham gave to former Rep. Leigh Wilburn, R-Somerville, who resigned effective Dec. 31. Smith's report includes reporting a $3,000 donation to the Hope Resource Center of Knoxville, a nonprofit group that bills itself as promoting alternatives to abortion for pregnant women. He noted on the disclosure that the money came "from J. Durham." Zachary reported a $1,500 to the same organization. Wilburn reported a $1,500 donation to the House Republican Caucus along with a $250 donation to Zachary in her latest campaign finance disclosure. She has repeatedly refused to talk with media since resigning and did not return a phone call Thursday. Last week, Ramsey, telling reporters the reasons he thinks Durham should leave the Legislature, said Durham had "an affair with another state rep" who then resigned, though the lieutenant governor did not name the resigning legislator. While that is an apparent reference to Wilburn, she has declined to comment and Durham in a news release denied any "physical relationship" with a resigned legislator. Two male legislators who resigned last year have adamantly rejected any inappropriate ties to Durham. There are other controversies revolving around Durham, including reports that he sent inappropriate text messages to women who remain anonymous. He has acknowledged being questioned by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation regarding prescription drug fraud a grand jury declined to indict him and sending a letter to a judge on his House stationary urging leniency in sentencing a convicted child molester. Attorney General Herbert Slatery, at Harwell's request, is investigating the "facts and circumstances" of Durham's alleged behavior. Harwell says she may seek to oust Durham from his seat, depending on outcome of that investigation. Smith said that "when all the revelations came out," his "first preference" was to simply refund the money to Durham. But officials of the state Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance told him that doing so, after the legislative session began on Jan. 8, would amount to a donation to Durham, Smith said. State law prohibits contributions to incumbent legislator campaigns while the General Assembly is in session. Instead, Smith said he decided to donate Durham's money to the Hope Resource Center, which has the goal that he shares of preventing abortions. As for Durham, Smith said resignation "is a decision he's got to make," while Smith has no knowledge of whether "the accusations are true or not." "I've just heard the rumors," Smith said. Zachary said he also decided not to keep money from Durham after learning of the allegations against the Williamson County Republican, but thought that a refund could be considered a donation to Durham. The reasonable alternative, he said, was to give Durham's money to "an organization that supports women's health and life." Durham's latest disclosure shows he received $76,550 in contributions during the last six months of 2015 and the first weeks of 2016, mostly from political action committees, and spent $24,266 including the contributions to Smith, Zachary and Wilburn. He reported a $201,182 balance in his re-election campaign fund. Durham has a separate PAC that he operates and it got only one PAC donation in the most recent report, from a check-advance business group. That $2,000 donation accounted for most of Durham PAC's $2,136 balance. Smith reported receipt of $22,955 in the last reporting period, including the Durham donation and, after expenses including the Hope Resources Center donation, a balance of $23,911. Former Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who was defeated by Smith in 2014 and who has announced she will try to unseat him in 2016, reported no donations in her last disclosure and a balance in her current account of $2,088. Zachary, who won a special election last year to replace former Rep. Ryan Haynes, who resigned in April to become state Republican Party chairman, has received donations in relatively small amounts from several other GOP legislators besides Durham's $1,500 since taking office. He reported $18,000 in donations for the period and, after expenses including the Hope Resources donation, a balance of $17,408. Zachary so far has no announced opponent to his re-election. Wilburn's final financial disclosure shows she collected $15,000 during the reporting period, including Durham's $1,500 donation, to go with almost $10,000 already held in the account. After expenditures, including $1,500 to the House Republican Caucus and a $250 donation to Zachary, Wilburn reported a remaining balance of $20,441. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk (Tennessean file photo) SHARE Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk is suing a NewsChannel 5 investigative reporter and the station's parent company for $200 million because of a story that aired Wednesday evening. Funk's attorney says in the filing that chief investigative reporter Phil Williams' story "Explosive allegations emerge from David Chase case" was false. The news station said in an email to The Tennessean that it stands behind the story. Continue reading at The Tennessean, a News Sentinel partner. Mark Harmon, Knoxville News Sentinel columnist. Our national commitment to public education is older than the U.S. Constitution. The Land Ordinance Act of 1785, crafted by a five-person committee led by Thomas Jefferson, passed when our country was still slogging away under the Articles of Confederation. The law envisioned an orderly settlement of territories based on 6-mile-square townships each with 36 equal lots. "There shall be reserved at lot No. 16, of every township, for the maintenance of public schools within the said township," the law declared. Public schooling grew to be a valuable and unifying part of our national heritage, though we sometimes need to be reminded. Mark Twain has been quoted as quipping, "When I was a boy on the Mississippi River there was a proposition in a township there to discontinue public schools because they were too expensive. An old farmer spoke up and said if they stopped building the schools they would not save anything, because every time a school was closed a jail had to be built." State Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, has fashioned a bill sharply at odds with that American tradition, and all of us need to step up as the "old farmers" who will stop his nefarious scheming. Dunn's bill recently passed out of a key committee on an 11 to 10 vote, and now teeters on the verge of passing our Legislature. These bills often go by the name of vouchers, but let's call them what they are a massive defunding of our public schools, taxpayer subsidies of private and parochial schools, further segregation of America by class, and opportunities for scam operations to tap into taxpayer education dollars. Dunn's plan supposedly is aimed at impoverished students in underperforming schools, but that is a cruel illusion. Private schools remain private schools. They can and likely will skim off only a small number of easy-to-teach students who can find a way to get there (transportation is not included in the plan). Dunn's bill also specifically exempts private schools from having to add special-needs services not currently provided. We know from experience in Ohio and Indiana that many vouchers will go unused. Dunn thus has curious provisions that anticipate both failure and expansion of the program. Vouchers initially not used may be taken by families not meeting all of the original criteria. One also must stress that these voucher schemes do not allocate additional funds to education. Instead, Dunn's plan for 20,000 vouchers when fully implemented will strip almost $70 million out of our already underfunded public schools. That cost figure does not include all the legal fees from lawsuits challenging every aspect of the law, from citizens challenging the mixing of state and religion to private schools citing religious objections to even the minimal standards that will come with the state cash. We also need to worry, based on other states' experiences and our own disaster with online provider K12 Inc., about for-profit schools that will shill hard for vouchers, but will disappoint with pathetic offerings online or in abandoned Walmarts. We have empirical evidence from Milwaukee and Louisiana that vouchers fail to deliver on promised improved student performance. Nevertheless, groups opposed to our honorable American tradition of public schools keep expanding this voucher/skimming charade. If Dunn gets his way, expect vouchers to fail miserably, yet be declared a success and be expanded dramatically. SHARE Like a bad penny, the bill to allow motorcyclists to ride without helmets keeps turning up every year in the Tennessee Legislature. The move is couched in terms of "freedom of choice," and certainly there is an attraction to the freedom of riding alone or in groups along the highways and backroads of America, undisturbed, uninhibited and seemingly without a care. The reality, however, is that such ventures are not victimless pleasures. People can die. Motorcycle accidents and crashes also have a tremendous impact on the trauma centers at the state's hospitals and in costs for medical treatments. Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, used the term "freedom of choice" in introducing the legislation last month. He said that 31 states do not require motorcycle riders to wear helmets and that Michigan witnessed an increase of 20,000 people participating in one bike rally. Reedy said repeal of the helmet requirement would bolster tourism and have a strong impact on the state's economy, especially in several Tennessee counties. The boost-in-tourism advocacy was countered by John Sheridan of the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. Sheridan said Tennessee has had more motorcycle rallies over the past three years than South Carolina or Kentucky, two states that do not require motorcyclists to wear helmets. Sheridan also is a member of the board of the Tennessee Public and Teaching Hospitals Association. He noted that the six teaching hospitals in the state, which are trauma centers, have opposed previous efforts to repeal the helmet requirement. Sheridan said UT Medical Center rents space every spring near U.S. Highway 129, which winds through the mountains near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cherokee National Forest. The 11-mile stretch of the highway known as "Tail of the Dragon" has 318 curves and can be unforgiving, even to experienced bikers. The rented space is for the helicopters that Sheridan said will make at least three or four flights each weekend during local festivities to transport accident victims to the trauma center. Others also opposed Reedy's legislation in the House finance committee meeting. Ashley Reed, representing the Bureau of Tenncare, the state's Medicaid program, said that, in the 2015 fiscal year, 345 riders over age 21 were injured in motorcycle accidents, and the injuries amounted to $2.5 million. Of those injured, 51 had traumatic brain injuries. Col. Tracy Trott, head of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, said repealing the helmet requirement goes against the state's current efforts to reduce traffic deaths and could make the problem involving fatalities even worse. Once again, lawmakers should emphasize that riding a motorcycle, like driving a car, is not a right; it is a privilege. And it is subject to regulation by the state for the well-being of the general public, similar to requiring a driver's license and seat belts and setting speed limits. Especially when state law enforcement authorities are trying to reduce fatalities, this is not the time to reverse the statute. Public safety clearly outweighs freedom of choice on this issue. Keep the helmet law. It saves lives. SHARE As a legal resident of the United States and former journalist from Iraq, I would like to address the cruel and unjustified methods of gaining control used by Iran. The American people need to understand that Iran is their enemy and, if given the opportunity, will inflict similar destruction on America. I speak from experience. On Jan. 2, Saudi Arabia executed 47 convicted criminals, including one Saudi Shia man named Nimr al-Nimr. This enraged the Iranians, who are mostly Shia, whereas Saudi Arabia is mostly Sunni. Al-Nimr was a Saudi Shia cleric who saw Iran as his ally. He was seen by the Saudi government as divisive and was blamed for inciting violence and leading demonstrations. Iran has no respect for other countries, especially if they are Sunni, and has an insatiable desire to control the world if possible. Iran's negative intervention has claimed more than 2 million martyrs from all sects, tens of thousands of people who fled and 200,000 prisoners. Many have starved to death, and 6 million have been displaced in Syria and Iraq. They are also responsible for mass destruction, looting and persecution. When Iranian-backed Shiites in Iraq heard about the execution of the criminals, including Nimr al-Nimr, sentenced to death in 2014, they killed 400 civilian Sunnis living in Alanbar for no apparent reason other than to avenge the death of one Shiite man, a convicted Saudi criminal. As hopes were rising for better relations among Middle East countries, this recent event has dashed those hopes. Knoxville, as well as many cities throughout the United States, has become home to both Shiites and Sunnis who fled for their lives. I am honored to have translated for and fought alongside American soldiers in Iraq. Moreover, I am very grateful to make a new life in Knoxville. Raheem Obaid, Knoxville Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn, right, with Edwin Feulner Jr., the former president of The Heritage Foundation, at the group headquarters in downtown Seoul, Thursday. The two discussed a wide range of issues, including Hanwha's overseas ventures and Korea-U.S. relations. / Courtesy of Hanwha Group By Lee Hyo-sik Hanwha Group Chairman Kim Seung-youn met Edwin Feulner Jr., the former president of The Heritage Foundation, Thursday, discussing an array of issues, including Hanwha's overseas ventures and Korea-U.S. relations. Kim, who has refrained from making public appearances since February 2014 when he was released on parole, decided to meet Feulner in public. This shows a strong bond between the two that has lasted decades, Hanwha officials said. Kim, who has emphasized the importance of non-governmental interchanges, expressed a willingness to support these activities, and has been maintaining strong relationships with officials of the most influential conservative research organization in the United States over the years. In 2011, to thank his efforts, the foundation named the 2nd floor conference center at the Heritage Building in Washington D.C. the Kim Seung Youn Conference Center. During Thursday's gathering, Kim and Feulner exchanged opinions over Hanwha's $8 billion construction project in Iraq, the geopolitical situation on the Korean Peninsula and Korea-U.S. relations, according to the officials. In particular, Feulner expressed keen interest in the group's ongoing project to build 100,000 houses and other elements of urban infrastructure in Bismayah, 10 kilometers southeast of Baghdad, they said. "Everything is going smoothly as scheduled in Bismayah," Kim was quoted as saying by group officials. "Besides apartment complexes, Hanwha Engineering & Construction has been building shopping centers and other elements of urban infrastructure since early 2015." Last September, Hanwha won an additional $2.12 billion project to build the infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, police stations and fire stations in Bismayah. Feulner, born in 1941 in Chicago, served as head of the conservative think tank from 1977 through 2013. Feulner began his career as an analyst for the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from Colorado's Regis University in 1963. After receiving an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business in 1964, Feulner attended Georgetown University and the London School of Economics as a fellow. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. The nation's top court has ruled that retirement grants that are inappropriately set too high compared to the company's financial status can be nullified, court records showed Friday. The Supreme Court ruled against two former executives of a local development company who filed a suit seeking some hundreds of millions of won in retirement allowances after they changed employment policy prior to retiring from the company. The plaintiffs changed the regulations in October 2010 to pay out three times more pension than what was usually given. The change was made when the company was suffering through a financial crisis as the top executive had been charged with malpractice and the right to manage the company was transferred to a corporate body in Singapore. One of the plaintiffs, surnamed Chung, received 90 million won and asked for another 566 million won to be paid out. The court dismissed the request. Handing over the pensions would be an act of inappropriately leaking the company's assets in breach of shareholders' profits, the court said. "Such unlawful regulations cannot be deemed valid even if it had passed a general meeting of shareholders," it said. (Yonhap) By Choi Sung-jin Two large Korean shipbuilders Hyundai Heavy Industries and Doosan Heavy Industry & Construction have decided to cooperate on localizing major equipment for offshore plants, company officials said Friday. Executives from the two companies met at Doosan's headquarters in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, and signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop six key materials and equipment for offshore plants, they said. They will share design and manufacturing technology and conduct joint research to produce metal casting and forging used for floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) and tension leg platforms (TLP). Hyundai aims to increase the added value of its projects through self-developed technology, while Doosan, which has focused on onshore power plants, wants to expand its business to the offshore sector, and their cooperation is the product of coinciding interests, industry sources said. "Localization of materials and equipment for offshore plants, for which we heavily depend on foreign suppliers, will be crucial for strengthening Korean offshore plants' competitiveness," said an executive at Hyundai Heavy. "We are planning to allow domestic parts suppliers to participate in the joint research and development." It was the mid-2000s that Korean shipbuilders jumped into the offshore plant business amid rising international oil prices and the faster chases of Chinese companies. They had rapidly grown to account for more than 70 percent of the global offshore plant market in the late 2000s until new orders plummeted along with sagging oil prices. Facilitating the steep fall was their failure to localize core technology during the boom, the sources said. "The nation's three largest shipyards recorded huge deficits because of low-priced bidding without considering their poor design technology, and schedule delay losses caused by failures to cope with specification changes," said a report by the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials. Equipment and materials account for up to 60 percent of the bidding price of offshore plants, the industry sources said. If shipyards cannot make key equipment and materials, they can neither expect high added value nor meet delivery schedules or cope effectively with problems occurring in installing the facilities. The domestic shipyards' localization ratio of key equipment and materials stands at only 20 percent. For instance, Korean shipbuilders rely entirely on U.S. and Norwegian suppliers for drilling towers, which cost about $150 million a unit. They also import turrets used for FPSO, priced between $100 million and $200 million each, from a Dutch company. Hyundai Heavy, which imports $1.8 billion of material and equipment for offshore plants a year, activated a task force for their localization in 2014 and has pushed to make 54 percent of them with self-developed technology, company officials said. Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering also succeeded in developing high-pressure ball valves, some 4,000 of which are installed in one offshore plant. The nation's three largest shipbuilders also are pushing to standardize materials and equipment, design and business processes for offshore plants, the sources said. By Yoon Ja-young With the official signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), there are calculations on how it will affect Korea, which missed the chance of joining. While the government says it will not have much impact in the short term, some show concern that Korean firms may lose export markets to Japanese competitors in the long run. The multilateral trade pact integrating the Asia-Pacific region has 12 member countries, which account for nearly 40 percent of the global economy. Korea, which has been signing bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), did not join the TPP. "Korea has already signed FTAs with 10 of the TPP member countries, with only Japan and Mexico left as exceptions," the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy noted in an analysis released to the media. "As the tariff has already been scrapped, Korea's advantage in the export markets of major countries will go on for a considerable time." It cited automobiles as an example. "While the United States, which is the biggest export market for Korean automakers, is scheduled to scrap tariffs for 25 years on Japanese cars, Korean passenger cars have been exported without tariff from Jan. 1 this year," it notes, citing the benefits of the Korea-United States (KORUS) FTA. However, it seems to be a different story for the long term. Japan, which has been passive in bilateral trade agreements, is expected to benefit from the TPP, which means Japanese products will have a competitive edge over their Korean rivals. In a report titled "The Economic Effects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership: New Estimates," published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics, co-authors Peter Petri and Michael Plummer analyzed the TPP's impact. "Japan benefits from improved market access throughout the TPP region, including early liberalization of auto imports in markets other than the United States, and from domestic reforms that reduce distortions in its protected service and investment sectors," they note in the report. They expect that losses will be tangible for Korea, "because the TPP will erode that country's advantage in U.S. markets under KORUS." The authors expect the TPP would lead to a 23.2 percent increase in Japanese exports by 2030, and a 2.5 percent increase in GDP. Korea's exclusion from the pact, however, will lead to a 1 percent decrease in exports and a 0.3 percent fall in GDP. A 2013 report by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy also notes that Korea's participation in the TPP would pull up its GDP by 1.7 or 1.8 percent after 10 years after the pact takes effect, while it will lose 0.12 percent in GDP by not joining the deal. Je Hyun-jung, a research fellow at the Korea International Trade Association, said Korea, which relies on exports of intermediate goods, should participate in the TPP because the trade between TPP members will increase. "They may be substituting Korean products with Japanese products, a member of the TPP, to get the benefits in tariffs using cumulative rules of origin'," she said. She said that on top of eroding the benefits from the KORUS FTA, the TPP will lead to fiercer competition with Japan in markets overseas. "Japan already has huge investments in TPP member countries," Je said. "If it enhances its production capability by strengthening its production network within the TPP region, it can weaken the competitive edge of the Korean firms in the mid to long term." Choi Hee-nam Choi Hee-nam, the former deputy finance minister of international affairs, was elected as an executive director of the World Bank Group, the Ministry of Strategy and Finance said Friday. "Working with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the G20 as well as heading the international financial policy bureau at the ministry, Choi has vast experience and knowledge in international finance," the ministry said in a media release. His predecessor Eun Sung-soo quit the post to serve as CEO of the Korea Investment Corporation, the country's sovereign wealth fund. Choi's term will end in October. "As Choi will be serving as an executive director at the World Bank Group, it is expected to help Korea play a leading role in major issues in international finance and development," the ministry announced. The World Bank Group is composed of five organizations: the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), and the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). It has 25 executive directors and one president. South Korea will provide 12 million dollars worth of aid to help resolve the humanitarian crisis in Syria, Seoul officials said Friday. The decision was made at an international donors' conference in London that Lee Suk-joon, a lead officer for government policy coordination at the prime minister's office, is to attend. He left for the meeting on Wednesday. Seoul's pledge came as Syria has been affected by a civil war for the past five years, prompting a humanitarian crisis for millions of people displaced from their homes. The South Korean government has donated a total of $23.45 million for Syria between 2012 and 2015, according to the office. Participating countries at the donor conference plan to provide an accumulative $9 billion this year. South Korea is the first country in the world that has transformed into an aid donor from a recipient nation. (Yonhap) Hanbok, the traditional Korean costume, has mostly lost its role as daily attire in modern Korea. Traditional holidays are perhaps among the few occasions when people dress in hanbok. But for young Koreans, the attire has become mostly irrelevant, even for such occasions. According to a recent survey, 84.7 percent of Koreans in their 20s and 30s do not wear hanbok during the Seollal or Chuseok holidays. Seo Kyoung-duk, Korea publicist and professor at Sungshin Women's University, surveyed 300 Koreans in this age group who live in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Respondents cited reasons as hanbok being "uncomfortable," "expensive," "difficult to take care of" and "unfashionable." By Jun Ji-hye The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday that the 1 billion yen ($8.55 million) fund, which Japan promised to pay in reparation to Korean "comfort women," will be given directly to the victims. The money will be given in the form of compensation and medical expenses, instead of being used to build a memorial hall or conduct other commemorative projects, the ministry said. "The fund provided by the Japanese government will be fully used to support the victims and heal their pain," said a ministry official on condition of anonymity. "The benefit will be given to each of the victims." Under the Dec. 28 agreement, the Japanese government agreed to fund 1 billion yen for a foundation to be established by the Korean government when Seoul and Tokyo reached the accord on "finally and irreversibly" resolving the issue of Japan's sexual enslavement of Korean women during World War II. The deal also called for an indirect apology by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Korea agreed to end the age-old dispute once and for all if Japan fully implements the deal. It was the first time since the deal was reached that the government unveiled its detailed plan for the fund. The ministry said its vice ministers have had one-on-one talks with 14 survivors living in the House of Sharing, a shelter in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, and other 21 others living on their own both in Korea and abroad. The ministry said out of the victims it consulted, 16 expressed their willingness to accept the Seoul-Tokyo deal. The advocates of the deal mostly said the government should benefit the victims directly rather than conducting unnecessary public projects, the official noted, adding that a considerable number of the former sex slaves have gone through financial difficulties. There are 46 surviving victims in Korea with their average age standing at nearly 90. Further details, including whether the government will include the former sex slaves who already passed away in the list of those who will receive the reparation payment, will be determined after the government sets up the foundation, the official said. The official added that the Korean government will also invest in establishing the foundation, saying "Detailed discussion regarding this is also under way." The ministry's plan, however, is expected to provoke controversy, given that some of the victims still accuse the government of failing to obtain Japan's acknowledgment of legal responsibility and rashly reaching the deal without consulting them. They said they do not want to receive the money from Japan unless the country acknowledges its legal responsibility. When Japan established the Asian Women's Fund in 1995 with private contributions and attempted to compensate the victims, a schism between the victims was also deepened. The Korean Council for Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan, a non-government organization for the victims, immediately criticized the ministry, saying, "It is disappointing to see the government trying to push forward with its plan by inciting conflict between the victims." Criticisms have also been raised regarding the government's plan to use its own budget in establishing the foundation, as it can be seen as the two governments taking joint responsibility for the wartime sex slavery. Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye The Driver's License Examination Office in Gangnam, southern Seoul, is crowded with driver's license applicants, Monday, before the driving test gets harder in the latter half of this year. / Yonhap By Chung Hyun-chae A growing number of people are rushing to driving schools to prepare for the driver's test before the test gets harder. The move came after the National Police Agency announced on Jan. 27 that it would toughen the requirements on the driver's license application process in the latter half of this year, the first change in five years. "I recently finished my military service and I am searching for a suitable driving school near my home so I can get a driver's license before the test gets harder," said Oh Kwan-seok, 23, a university student who suspended his education due to his military duty, Thursday. "Actually I failed the exam once but I didn't care and put off earning the license because I thought I could do it easily anytime if I really set my mind to it. But now I'm a bit in haste," he added. It was 2011 when the driving test became easier with the aim of enhancing public convenience. However, there have been concerns over the simple test that underprepared drivers cause more accidents, which also lead to increased insurance premiums. The police said the new test will include courses such as hill starts and parking and the closed course test will be lengthened from the current 50 meters to 300 meters. With people like Oh desperate to earn their licenses, the schools are enjoying a boom. "More than 80 people register per day, 20 percent up from the average, besides the flood of phone calls," said an official of a driving school located in Nowon, northern Seoul. "We expect more students within the first half of the year." But the official said the temporal increase is not entirely good news to the schools, as they expect enrollment to decrease again after the exam gets harder. "It costs about 100 million won to construct new driving courses under the revised rules," he added. Those planning to take the driving test also expressed their dissatisfaction with the plan to toughen the exam. "As a definite date for the revision has yet to be confirmed, it is difficult to set my own plans for this year," said a 20-year-old woman. Those who cannot apply soon are showing fears of the new test. "I have no time to go to a driving school, so I will ask my father to teach me how to drive," said a 21-year-old woman in Daejeon. "How difficult will the exam be? I am worried that I will never get my driver's license." By taking advantage of such worries, illegal advertisements from unlicensed driving schools have appeared, promising to help applicants earn their licenses easily at lower cost. Police asked people not to be misled by those gimmicks. By Kim Se-jeong Millions of people hit the road on Friday to spend the Lunar New Year holiday with family or take advantage of the five-day long weekend by traveling. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimated that more than 36 million will travel during the long weekend, one of the two biggest holidays in Korea. Highways across the country began to fill up around 3 p.m. Friday, reaching peak traffic at around 6 p.m. "We project that Sunday morning and Monday afternoon will be the busiest times in terms of traffic, but this can change as we monitor the situation," a ministry official said. The estimated time of travel by car from Seoul is two hours and 40 minutes to Daejeon, three hours to Gangneung, more than four hours to Gwangju, four and a half hours to Daegu and more than five hours to Busan. "As the holiday period is long, lasting to Wednesday, we expect the congestion will not be as serious as previous holidays which lasted for shorter periods," the official said. The multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) Chunmoo fires a rocket in this photo released by the Korean Army, Friday. The Army has deployed military vehicles to its frontline units since last year to better counter growing North Korean artillery threats. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye The South Korean Army said Friday that it conducted a live-fire exercise of an advanced multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) that is capable of striking a point of origin of a North Korean attack. "The training of the Chunmoo MLRS took place Wednesday," the Army said in a statement. It was the first time that the training of the MLRS was released to the media. The military vehicles have been deployed in some of the Army's frontline units in August to bolster the nation's artillery counterstrike capabilities. The rare release is apparently intended to send a warning message to the North that is preparing to launch what it claims is an Earth observation satellite between Feb. 8 and 25, widely believed to be a cover for a long-range ballistic missile that can travel more than 10,000 kilometers, just weeks after its fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. Technologies for a launch of a satellite and a ballistic missile are almost identical. The domestically developed Chunmoo has a range of up to 80 kilometers _ double the range of the "Guryong" rocket system that has been deployed since the 1980s and replaced by the Chunmoo. The Chunmoo can fire both 130 millimeter-caliber and 230 millimeter-caliber rockets. The Army plans to further deploy the advanced MLRSs at the northwestern border islands sometime this year to cope with Pyongyang's persistent artillery threats along the border. For his part, Defense Minister Han Min-koo convened an emergency meeting with key military officials at the Ministry of National Defense, also on Friday, to discuss countermeasures against the North's planned rocket launch. During the meeting, he issued an order for the South Korean military to "actively" respond to the Stalinist state's long-range rocket launch. "Now that North Korea has announced its plan to launch a long-range missile following its recent nuclear test, our military should maintain exceptional mental and physical combat readiness," the minister said. As part of efforts by allies, working-level officials of South Korea, the United States and Japan held a video conference on the same day, during which the three sides shared military intelligence regarding North Korean missiles, a ministry official said. The three countries signed a trilateral information sharing pack at the end of 2014. A day earlier, the ministry said that the military has strengthened its air defense posture to intercept the North Korean missile or its debris that could fall on the South Korean territory. Spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said the military has put its Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-2 surface-to-air missiles into combat mode. Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye Choi Ki-woong, left, and his wife, Kim Young-ja, work at their Foreign Book Store, which was recently designated as a Future Heritage by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, Monday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Se-jeong This is the first in a series of articles featuring Seoul City-designated Future Heritages, modern-time assets that have not been designated as state cultural properties but have enough value to be handed down to future generations. ED. By Kim Se-jeong "Foreign Book Store" is the name of Choi Ki-woong's 43-year-old shop selling used English books. Recently, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has chosen it as one of its "Future Heritages" in an effort to preserve valuable tangible or intangible heritages within the city. Sitting across from the U.S. Army base near Noksapyeong Station, the tiny bookstore in a two-story building has almost 200,000 books, 20,000 of which are on sale. Books vary in genre, from the Lonely Planet series to Harry Potter, National Geographic magazines and a copy of Webster's English dictionary printed in 1990. "I am excited about the Future Heritage designation as it was a surprise," Choi said. "Some people came to me asking some questions last year, but I didn't think much about it until December when a guy from the city government asked if I would like to accept the heritage title." He is now waiting for a bronze plaque to show his store is a Future Heritage. Choi, 74, opened the shop in 1973. It was a way of making money. Most of the books came from the military bases. He traveled across the country where there were U.S. bases and outside Korea looking for books. His most recent trip was to Hawaii in December. He's got a long list of regulars, some of whom are popular. Scholar Kim Yong-ok, known as Do-ol, is one. Actress Chae Si-ra also dropped by. Former Labor Minister Nam Jae-hee also came often. "He bought books for his son-in-law and daughter. When he found what he was looking for, he yelled I've got a jewel,'" Choi's wife, Kim Young-ja, 69, said. Non-Koreans were among the customers as well. Many foreigners who live in Seoul drop by the bookstore, and it has become popular among travelers after it was mentioned in Lonely Planet. The couple has a special customer services for regulars. They have a list of frequent visitors, exceeding 1,000. With their addresses and phone numbers, the couple sends out a gift from time to time. Selling books wasn't his dream job, Choi said. He did not have special interest in language, either. "I did it to make money. I had a whole family to feed from a young age." He has learned English over the years. He said his English is not fluent enough to read all the books he sells, but enough to deal with customers. Their children's English fluency is something the couple is proud of. They and their three daughters used to live on the second floor of the building. "All the girls came down here all the time," the wife said. The couple is particularly proud of the third daughter, who speaks fluent English. "She is a designer. Because of her English fluency, she took many business trips and was promoted fast. She married an American last year, and is now working in New York." The second daughter is also living in New York, and the eldest, in Seoul. The business was not lucrative but it was enough to support the family. "We managed to marry my daughter off," Choi said. The family no longer lives in the building. They live in an apartment near the bookshop and rented the space on the second floor to a tenant. Choi almost closed the business twice. He had an offer for real estate business, but he eventually didn't take it. Another was when the family was planning to immigrate to Hawaii, but they finally decided to stay. The couple said the eldest daughter is interested in succeeding her parents. "When we are out for trips, she takes care of the bookstore," he said. "Recently, she said she'd like to take it over from us." The Wall Street Journal has published an editorial supporting Korea's recent labor reforms, implemented by the Park Geun-hye administration. The subtitle for "Korea's Labor Battle," published Feb. 2, said: "Hard-working Koreans have nothing to fear about President Park Geun-hye's labor reforms." "It's progress that Seoul's Labor Ministry adopted guidelines last week making it easier for companies to fire poor performers and revise employment rules," the editorial said, citing a poor ranking Korea got for labor-market flexibility from the World Economic Forum. The editorial comes as the Korean government unilaterally implemented guidelines that allow companies to dismiss underperforming workers and arbitrarily change the rules of employment without the consent of employees. The Federation of Korean Trade Unions pulled out of three-way talks for labor market reform last month after the government refused to reassess the guidelines. Korea's two umbrella unions have filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission to review whether the guidelines violate the Labor Standards Act and the Constitution. The editorial referred to Korea's labor unions as "still loud" but that "their political clout is waning." It also said "Ms. Park's conservative Saenuri Party is expected to maintain its legislative majority in April's elections, so union influence is likely to decline further." The editorial said flexible labor policies would raise productivity and wages and make Korean goods more competitive in global markets. "It's in the best interest of workers if labor leaders return to the negotiating table with Ms. Park," it said. By Kang Seung-woo President Park Geun-hye President Park Geun-hye and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed ways Friday to address North Korea's missile and nuclear weapons programs, Cheong Wa Dae said. The presidential office said that the two heads of state held a 45-minute phone conversataion from 9 p.m. This was Park's first time speaking on the phone with Xi following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6. The phone conversation came about as the Kim Jong-un regime is preparing to launch a satellite believed to be a front for a long-range ballistic missile test sometime between Feb. 8 and 25. "Park stressed the need to deliver the international community's stern message to the North by adopting a strong and effective resolution to change the country at this time," Park's office said in a statement. American security experts held unofficial "Track II" meetings in Berlin with North Koreans earlier this week, a U.S. think tank said, amid heightened tensions over Pyongyang's planned rocket launch following a nuclear test. The meetings took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the U.S. participants included Joel Wit, editor of the North Korea-monitoring website 38 North, and Victor Cha, chief Korea analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, according to an email to reporters from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "This was a private academic exchange to discuss the state of affairs in East Asian security," it said without providing further specifics, such as the identities of the North Korean participants. Choe Son-hui, deputy director for North American affairs at Pyongyang's Foreign Ministry, could have attended the meetings. Last week, Choe was seen in Beijing in what appeared to be a transit stop on a trip to another country, according to sources. The already-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test rose even higher this week as Pyongyang unveiled its plan to carry out a long-range rocket launch between Monday and Feb. 25 in violation of U.N. resolutions. North Korea says its rocket launches are aimed at putting satellites into orbit, claiming it has the right to the peaceful use of space. But Pyongyang is banned from such launches under U.N. Security Council resolutions as it has been accused of using them as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles. (Yonhap) A U.N. panel of experts is expected to recommend fresh sanctions against North Korea to a Security Council committee next week, sources said Thursday. The recommendations will be included in the panel's annual report to the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions on Pyongyang, the sources said. The committee, in turn, is expected to propose sanctions to the council in early March, the sources said. The Security Council swiftly condemned the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test and has since been working on a new sanctions resolution. Adding to the international outrage, the North unveiled its plan this week to conduct a banned long-range rocket launch. The Radio Free Asia has reported the panel of experts plans to recommend sanctions against two main agencies responsible for the North's nuclear and missile programs -- the Munitions Industry Department of the North's ruling Workers' Party and the State Space Development Bureau. The panel is also expected to recommend sanctions against senior North Korean officials, such as Pak To-chun, a former secretary of the Munitions Industry Department; Ri Man-gon, director of the department; and Ri Pyong-chol, a deputy director of the department, the report said. So far, the Security Council has adopted six resolutions, six presidential statements and two press statements with regard to the North's nuclear and missile programs. Of the six resolutions, four included sanctions against the isolated nation. Chinese cooperation is key to putting together and implementing any meaningful sanctions resolution, as it is one of the five veto-holding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the main provider of food and fuel for the impoverished North. Beijing has condemned the North's nuclear test, but has been lukewarm about calls for stern responses. Analysts have long said Beijing fears that pushing Pyongyang too hard could lead to its collapse, instability on its border with China and the untimely emergence of a pro-U.S. nation. (Yonhap) China should exercise regional leadership and influence with North Korea to help change the behavior of the "very unpredictable young man" leading its communist neighbor, the U.S. State Department spokesman said Thursday. "We believe that as a strong leader in the Asia-Pacific region, and as a nation that borders the North, China has a unique role it has to play, has unique leadership that it can exert, and influence that it can bring to bear," spokesman John Kirby said at a Foreign Press Center briefing. "As we said before, we'd like to see them exert that leadership and to bring to bear that influence on the North to try to alter the behavior of this very unpredictable young man," he said. Kirby said the North should focus on efforts to "put food in the mouths of the North Korean people instead of spending money on dangerous military capabilities." The U.S. has worked hard to drum up Chinese support for meaningful punishment of the North for its Jan. 6 nuclear test. Chinese cooperation is key to putting together strong sanctions on Pyongyang as China is one of the five veto-holding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and the main provider of food and fuel for the North. Beijing has condemned the North's nuclear test, but has been lukewarm about calls for stern responses. Analysts have long said Beijing fears that pushing Pyongyang too hard could lead to its collapse, instability on its border with China and the untimely emergence of a pro-U.S. nation. Kirby said that sanctions are one piece of additional tough measures against the North, stressing the importance of rigorous implementation of the sanctions. In the past, he said, the enforcement of sanctions and measures "hasn't necessarily been evenly applied and that's been a challenge." Asked if the U.S. has any intention to apply the solution used in the Iranian nuclear problem to the North Korean issue, Kirby said the two cases are different, and the North's problem should be resolved through six-party talks. "We have long said, we are willing to resume this six-party process, but the onus is on the North ...They have not yet shown any inclination. As a matter of fact, they've gone quite the opposite way to show that they have no interest in returning to the six-party talks," Kirby said. The already-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the North's nuclear test rose even higher this week as Pyongyang unveiled its plan to carry out a long-range rocket launch between Monday and Feb. 25 in violation of U.N. resolutions. North Korea says its rocket launches are aimed at putting satellites into orbit, claiming it has the right to the peaceful use of space. But Pyongyang is banned from such launches under U.N. Security Council resolutions as it has been accused of using them as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles. Kirby said the North's announcement "underscores the importance for a united international consensus to deal with provocative behavior of Kim Jong Un and the North." (Yonhap) Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se held a group meeting on Friday with foreign envoys here to exchange views on North Korea. Following a brief photo session, Yun went into closed-door consultations with U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert, Japanese Amb. Koro Bessho, Australian Amb. William Paterson and Amb. Gerhard Sabathil, head of the Delegation of the European Union to Seoul. The rare session took place at Yun's office as the North is apparently gearing up to fire another long-range rocket within this month. Pyongyang carried out its fourth known nuclear test in early January, prompting South Korea and other "like-minded" countries to seek tough punishment through the U.N. Security Council. "For now, (we) are concentrating on imposing U.N. sanctions, but the meeting is also intended to discuss bilateral sanctions," a Foreign Ministry official said. "All the nations participating in today's session have actively joined the effort, and they are expected to do so down the road." Yun and the ambassadors also pooled their ideas on ways to coerce the North into averting its rocket launch plan, according to a diplomatic source. (Yonhap) The Unification Ministry said Friday it will be on high alert during the Lunar New Year's holiday to monitor a possible launch of North Korea's long-range rocket. North Korea has notified U.N. agencies that it will launch a satellite sometime between Feb. 8 and 25, widely seen as a covert test of ballistic missile technology. The first day of the North's launch window overlaps the holiday. "The government will operate an emergency work system from Monday till Wednesday," Jeong Joon-hee, a ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing. Jeong said that the ministry is keeping in close contact with a South Korean office at a joint industrial park in North Korea's border city of Kaesong and local companies running factories there. "The government will continue to take steps to ensure the safety of South Koreans at the Gaesong Industrial Complex," he added. South Korea has imposed an entry limit on its people to the factory zone in the North to secure the safety of South Koreans staying there following North Korea's nuclear test on Jan. 6. A total of 124 South Koreans are operating at the complex. Meanwhile, Jeong said a top North Korean military official, thought to be behind the North's deadly attacks on South Korea in 2010, is almost certain to have been appointed as a key party official dealing with inter-Korean affairs. Speculation is rampant that Gen. Kim Yong-chol, 70, who leads the North's reconnaissance bureau, is sure to have replaced Kim Yang-gon, who died in a car accident in December. Kim had served as the party secretary handling inter-Korean affairs, also doubling as the head of the United Front Department (UFD) at the Workers' Party of Korea. "North Korea has not officially confirmed it, but we see a high possibility of Gen. Kim's appointment," Jeong added. At a joint meeting of the WPK's key committees held earlier this week, Kim was found to be seated second from North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's left, clad in a dark Mao-style suit, not in a military uniform, according to a photo carried by the Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's main newspaper. (Yonhap) The United States and China have yet to agree on the details of U.N. sanctions to be imposed on North Korea over its fourth nuclear test, a South Korean official said Friday. The U.S. and China -- two of the five permanent veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council -- effectively hold the key to any new resolution that will punish North Korea for last month's nuclear test, which it claims was of a hydrogen bomb. "There doesn't yet seem to be a kind of key momentum in talks between the U.S. and China," a Foreign Ministry official told reporters on the condition of anonymity. Washington and Seoul have been pushing to slap the toughest sanctions yet on Pyongyang in a bid to curb the communist country's nuclear weapons program. Beijing, however, has been reluctant to push the neighbor too hard out of concerns for its own security interests. "The talks are still ongoing, and it doesn't seem like (the U.S. and China) have found any major common ground or consensus," the official said. "It will have to take some more time." With the North's stated plan to launch a satellite within the month, the Security Council may need to review the contents of the resolution and the date of its adoption, the official added. North Korea's satellite launches are widely seen as disguises to test its ballistic missile technology. The country is banned under previous U.N. resolutions from using such technology. (Yonhap) By Kim Hyo-jin Cheong Wa Dae is expected to be on high alert during the Lunar New Year long weekend in case North Korea goes through with its plan to launch a rocket. "President Park Geun-hye will be regularly briefed by the national security office over Pyongyang's move to launch a long-range rocket," an official at the presidential office said. North Korea announced its plan Tuesday to launch a satellite by rocket, which is widely expected to be a ballistic missile test, between Feb. 8 and 25. It overlaps the Lunar New Year long weekend which continues until Feb. 10. The government said that it will operate an emergency work system during the holiday to monitor the situation. High-level security officials including the head of the National Security Council Kim Kwan-jin and Kim Kyou-hyun, the senior presidential secretary for foreign affairs and security, will be on constant alert, the official said. Other presidential secretaries will be on duty in turns, he added. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, center, talks with foreign envoys of its key partner countries at the ministry's building in Seoul, Friday, to push for stronger U.N. sanctions on North Korea over its Jan. 6 nuclear test. From left are Australian Ambassador William Peterson, Japanese Ambassador Koro Bessho, Yun, U.S. Ambassador Mark Lippert and EU Ambassador Gerhard Sabathil. / Yonhap The Ministry of Unification also said that it has put more personnel in the situation room to monitor North Korea's moves, according to its spokesman Jeong Joon-hee. "We'll be keeping in close contact with a South Korean office in the Gaeseong Industrial Park and local companies there," he added. On Thursday, Park visited the national cemetery to pay respect to her father, former President Park Chung-hee and her mother Yuk Young-su, according to her office. Park has visited their gravesites every year ahead of major holidays including the fall harvest festival Chuseok since her inauguration in 2013. Park is also expected to mull over measures for the stalled economy-related bills over the holiday. The government has pushed for the passage of economic and labor reform bills in a bid to revive the sluggish economy, but parties have failed to narrow the gap in their opinion, leaving the bills pending in the National Assembly for months. By Kim Hyo-jin Despite its harsh rhetoric, the South Korean government has had difficulty finding feasible measures that could pressure North Korea to drop its plan to launch a satellite, analysts said, Friday. The Kim Jong-un regime is preparing to fire a long-range rocket, but it is widely believed to be a cover for a ballistic missile that violates U.N. resolutions. In the wake of another provocation following the Jan. 6 nuclear test, Seoul has responded sternly, saying that Pyongyang will pay a "severe price" if it goes ahead with the plan. "It is mere rhetoric," said Park Hwee-rhak, Dean of the Graduate School of Politics and Leadership at Kookmin University. "The government seems to have made it a rule to warn Pyongyang though there's no envisioned plan of action." Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, echoed that sentiment, noting that South Korea lacks options to press and punish the North singlehandedly. "What South Korea could do might be to expand loudspeaker broadcasts, which would have little impact on them," he said. "The government's strong remarks rather reflect the fact that it has no strategy whatsoever for North Korea-related policies." The Ministry of Unification suspended inter-Korean projects including humanitarian aid and civil exchanges in the wake of the Jan. 6 nuclear test. The South Korean government also resumed loudspeaker broadcasts in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), two days after the repressive state tested an alleged hydrogen bomb. [Breaking] North Korea's missile test seen as failure [Breaking] North Korea launches long-range rocket North Korea changes planned rocket launch to Feb. 7-14 Park, Xi discuss NK threats NK rocket launch imminent Some say it could further engage in psychological warfare by expanding loudspeakers or setting up electronic display boards, but questions are raised over the effectiveness of these tactics. Another option, shutting down the Gaeseong Industrial Complex in the North Korean border town of Gaeseong, is not welcomed as it could harm inter-Korean relations in the long term. "It could undermine the future momentum of bilateral relations," Park said. "In addition, the profit coming from the joint industrial park prevents the South Korean government from suspending it." The prospect for tougher sanctions against the North through the U.N. also seems unlikely due to friction between China and the United States. "The United States and China are consulting on a resolution draft, but they don't seem to be forming common ground while holding onto their own positions," said an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who wished to remain anonymous. "It will inevitably take time." The U.N. Security Council has discussed the plan to adopt tougher and more comprehensive resolutions against North Korea following its fourth nuclear test. But with Washington and Seoul claiming a "severe price" for the provocation and Beijing insisting on an "appropriate response," the talks to adjust the level of sanctions have not made progress. After North Korea announced it would launch a satellite by rocket between Feb. 8 and 25, the presidential office issued a statement and called on the international community for stronger sanctions. "North Korea's notice of the plan to launch a long-range missile, coming at a time when there is a discussion for Security Council sanctions on its fourth nuclear test, is a direct challenge to the international community," said the statement. "We strongly warn the North that it will pay a severe price if it goes ahead with its long-range missile launch plan." The multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) Chunmoo fires a rocket in this photo released by the Korean Army, Friday. The Army has deployed military vehicles to its frontline units since last year to better counter growing North Korean artillery threats. / Yonhap North reportedly starts fueling By Jun Ji-hye North Korea appears to have started fueling up a long-range rocket and is expected to finish the preparation of the launch in a few days, Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported Friday. It quoted an unidentified U.S. defense official as saying, "The preparation of the launch will be completed in a few days, at the earliest." Korea's defense ministry declined to confirm the report. The Ministry of National Defense said only that the North is believed to have made a "considerable progress" in its preparation to launch a rocket. Pyongyang on Tuesday notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of its intention to launch what it claims an Earth observation satellite called "Kwangmyongsong" between Feb. 8 and 25. Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told reporters, "As the timing of the launch notified by the North approaching, South Korea is keenly monitoring and tracing the North's movement, bearing in mind the possibility that its preparation is making considerable progress." He refused to elaborate on the details further about the movement at the North's Sohae Satellite Launching Station in Tongchang-ri, from which the communist state is believed to launch the rocket. The North is suspected of using the launch of a satellite as a cover for the test-firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile with a range of more than 10,000 kilometers, given that the technologies for both are almost identical. Defense Minister Han Min-koo convened an emergency meeting with key military officials at the Ministry of National Defense, also on Friday, to discuss countermeasures against the North's planned rocket launch. By Kang Hyun-kyung Starbucks coffee The Korean instant coffee brand Dongsuh launched the world's first three-in-one instant coffee mix in 1976. The coffee mix, made of instant coffee, white sugar and creamer, became a big hit and represented a milestone in the country's coffee industry. Coffee mix became a part of the Korean lifestyle, fascinating coffee drinkers with its sweet taste and wonderful aroma. At around 100 won (10 cents) per package, coffee mix is affordable for most Koreans, enabling them to buy in bulk for home and for the workplace to enjoy with their family or guests and colleagues and business partners. Instant coffee had been popular for over three decades until the early 2000s, when consumption shifted to espresso-based coffee, a few years after the American coffee shop chain Starbucks opened its first store in Seoul in 1999. Since the mid-2000s, espresso-based coffee has dominated the market. Experts say Koreans were drawn to instant coffee because of the "pali-pali" mentality, or the urge to hurry up to get things done, that is a key part of the country's culture. Not only did Koreans enjoy instant coffee's flavor and aroma, they also loved the simplicity of its preparation, making the product an important part of their daily routine. Making coffee was as simple as pouring a packet of instant coffee mix into a cup of hot water. Instant coffee brand Dongsuh's coffee mix launched in 1976 Coffee mix was the Koreans' way of enjoying coffee in the easiest and cheapest way. For a country that doesn't produce coffee beans, espresso coffee was considered way too expensive in the 1980s and 1990s, and the affordable coffee mix was a more realistic option. King Gojong of the Joseon Dynasty was the first Korean to taste coffee in 1896, when he and his son, the crown prince, escaped to the Russian legation for fear of a coup and getting murdered. His wife, Queen Min, had just been assassinated by the Japanese after the first Sino-Japanese war. Then Russian minister Karl Ivanovich Weber encouraged the panicked Joseon king to try a hot beverage made with ground coffee and a lump of sugar. The king seemed to have enjoyed it. In 1900, three years after he returned to his residence, the king directed his deputies to build a Romanesque building in the northeastern part of Deoksu Palace. Called Jeonggwanheon, the building served as a private coffee house for the king and his deputies and is considered the first cafe in Korea. Arabic coffee Like Korea, other countries have developed their own ways of enjoying coffee. In the Arab world, for example, where coffee culture first began in the 14th century, coffee is much more than a traditional beverage. "We Koreans follow a certain rule when we drink alcohol. Like us, people in the Arab world follow their own customs when they serve coffee to their guests," Eum Ik-ran, a professor at the Dankook University Gulf Cooperation Council Institute, said. A host pours Arabic coffee from a pot with a long spout into a petite cup for the guest. He or she keeps serving the guest coffee until the guest gestures "enough." "You need to rattle the cup and put it on the table to signal that you have had enough. Your host will take your gesture as a sign to stop serving coffee to you," Eum said. According to her, wealthy Arab families hire professional baristas to brew and serve coffee for their guests. If the guest is important, she said the host's son himself serves the coffee. "The seniority rule applies in Arab coffee culture. The guest is encouraged to pass the coffee served by the host along to the eldest guest and wait for his turn," she said. People in the Middle East enjoy coffee with spices, such as cardamom or cinnamon, and usually serve it with dates. In modern times, some people have started serving coffee with high-quality chocolate. "In the past, coffee was popular among Islamic scholars and clerics because the caffeine kept them awake until late at night so that they could read the Quran," Eum said. According to her, some Islamic countries imposed a coffee ban briefly because people gathered in coffee houses and engaged in conversations on a variety of topics, including politics. The rulers feared the possible consequences of such gatherings, such as uprisings, and declared coffee the devil's drink. However, the ban was short-lived because the upper class found the black drink irresistible. European coffee Coffee made its way to Europe in the 17th century through European merchants, travelers and missionaries who explored the Middle East. Sufi Muslims, meanwhile, took Arabic coffee culture to North Africa and Indonesia. Europe created a new coffee culture, represented by espresso. The thicker, stronger coffee served in a petite cup is said to be the brainchild of an Italian factory manager who wanted his workers to save time in order to produce more products. According to legend, the man, who oversaw factory workers, came up with the idea for a more intense, smaller coffee drink after seeing that his workers spent too much time after lunch sipping their coffee. He wanted to get his workers to go back to work as soon as possible, and the idea for espresso was born. Swiss people put ice cream in their coffee, while Russians put liquor in theirs to create their preferred flavors. Modern North American coffee culture, which has become a global trend, also has a strong European influence. Debbie Hill, executive director of the Portland-based nonprofit group Alliance for Coffee Excellence, which promotes high standards in specialty coffee, said the United States' appreciation for coffee is relatively new compared with that of Arab countries. "In the 1970s, espresso began to gain popularity, moving from New York's and San Francisco's Italian cafes and bakeries to those cities' beat poetry coffee houses and jazz clubs," she said. "Cafes became popular places where friends and family gathered to enjoy high quality coffee." Hill said American ingenuity and innovation were the key drivers behind the dominance of American-style coffee culture across the globe. "Americans are innovative and creative, and we try new things all the time," she said. Starbucks effect She also noted the role of Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz in the popularity of American coffee culture. "Moving forward to the 1980s and 1990s, Schultz became enamored with Italian espresso bars in Italy. He brought the concept back to the United States and began to open Starbucks cafes on a large scale," she said. "Of course, Italy brought the espresso culture of coffee to the United States, but Starbucks clearly established the American-style cafe coffee culture on a massive scale to the United States and the world." Starbucks has some 18,000 stores in over 62 countries worldwide. Korea has approximately 700 Starbucks coffee shops. Hill said there were individual cafes, roasters and coffee bars throughout the United States before Starbucks. "But nobody introduced it on a grand repeatable scale like Starbucks and with Starbucks marketing," she said. "Starbucks cafes became the place to be and be seen." North Korea's 33-year-old dictator Kim Jong-un is waging his war against the rest of the world by conducting what his impoverished nation claims an H-bomb test and threatening to follow it up with a rocket launch that is seen as an excuse for long-range missile test. Some must feel regret for not destroying the North's nuclear development in its early stage but others may feel it may not be too late. Still, handicapping a preemptive strike is a risk that it develops into a full-fledged conflict that entails casualties to the tune of several millions. / Yonhap By Oh Young-jin Would a preemptive strike work on North Korea? A drone could be sent to the rocket launch site in Tongchang-ri, on the North's west coast, and bomb it or drop a bunker-buster to wipe out the communist leadership hunkered down underground. So far, neither South Korea nor the United States has dared make one because of the risk of millions of people killed in the ensuing fully fledged war. But the North has now detonated what it claims is an H-bomb, although experts believe it was a boosted fission bomb, midway between an atomic bomb and a thermonuclear device. Throw in its largest-ever rocket launch, poised to happen in a matter of days, and the North could present its case as a nuclear state that is also capable of firing an inter-continental ballistic missile to the U.S. mainland. Of course, there is a large gap between the nuclear state of the North and those of the U.S. or the now defunct Soviet Union but, for the limited scale of the Korean Peninsula, the North can be as devastating as it can get. The idea of a preemptive strike has occasionally occurred to Korea and the U.S., as well as the North. For instance, the new OPLAN 5015, a joint ROK-U.S. war plan, was formulated last year to contain elements of a preemptive strike, an update from the previous OPLAN 5027, reportedly to accommodate the contingency of the North's use of nuclear weapons. The Defense Ministry did not even skip a briefing for members of the National Assembly Defense Committee. As early as 2010, then Defense Minister Kim Tae-young talked about it, referring to the North's nuclear threat. The North is rhetorically bent on first strikes for a war, not a preemptive strike that carries the connotation of limited attack for a specific target. So would the world allow the North to perfect its nuclear weapons and missiles this time or opt for an attack to halt it in its tracks? It was well known that the U.S. contemplated a strike to destroy the North's nuclear facility in 1994 but the idea was given up, one of the reasons being the number of casualties, to the tune of millions. A more dramatic twist was a call from former President Jimmy Carter in Pyongyang in 1994, telling President Bill Clinton that Kim Il-sung, the current leader Kim Jong-un's grandfather, had agreed to talk. Kim died soon after. In October the same year, the U.S. and the North signed the Geneva Agreed Framework to phase out the North's nuclear program, in return for substitute fuel supplies. The North cheated while the U.S. was distracted. William Perry, then secretary of defense under Clinton, was in the meeting where the plan was presented. More interestingly, Perry published a book in 2013 titled "Preventive Defense; A New Security Strategy for America." The co-author is Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, then the No. 2 man in the Pentagon. Perry would most likely think about what would happen if the North's nuclear facilities had been taken out 22 years ago, while Carter could ask himself about the effect of a preemptive strike in 2013 when his book was out. Both are entitled to a belated sense of regret because, if it were successful, the North would by now have undergone a regime change or its nuclear threat neutralized. Basically, the notion of a preemptive strike is about destroying the North's nuclear and missile capabilities before it is too late. Are we too late to stop the North from becoming a nuclear state? Or in two or three years, will we end up with an even a greater regret for not doing anything now? Perry was close to "go" then. What about us? Diplomacy, domestic politics are two different ballgames It goes without saying that it is the people's duty to set aside any differences and rally around the leader at a time of crisis. Offering President Park Geun-hye suggestions in her conduct of diplomacy, therefore, means that North Korea's latest provocations are a serious security risk but fall short of a crisis. Rather it is time to retrace steps she has taken since the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test and identify areas that could better have been served otherwise. After all, Pyongyang is not a problem that can be solved overnight and it behooves us to set up a strategy to deal with it as such. First, the President has publicly criticized China too often and too harshly for its refusal to cooperate for a stronger set of sanctions at the United Nations as pursued jointly with the United States and Japan. The effectiveness of this public upbraiding is doubtful. The chance is that China sees the North in the context of a hegemonic struggle with the U.S. in the region and globally. In its strategic picture, the North, however unpredictable, is in a better position than the U.S.-allied South, at least for the time being. No doubt, Beijing has in mind a scenario of the North's collapse that could put the controls for its nuclear weapons into "the wrong hands," touch off a refugee exodus across the border and result in a power vacuum that China is obviously interested in filling. So Chinese President Xi Jinping's options must be complicated, searching for the best moves that promote his country's best interest. Xi has obviously concluded that China should do the bare minimum that the international community wants from it but that won't upset the status quo. So whatever Park may say won't force China to deviate from its course, but rather deprive Korea of a chance to further strengthen its ties with China for future cooperation. So far, Park has dealt with China as if it were the National Assembly that she has repeatedly bashed for failing to do its work in the hope that it would stop partisan fighting and pass bills. As with the National Assembly, her tactics haven't and won't likely work with Beijing. As for the North, Park has proved to be rhetoric-rich but substance-poor. On a daily basis, she has piled vitriol on Pyongyang, one day promising to make the North pay dearly and the next day threatening its existence. Her strong words have not been matched with actions of the same strength, triggering the credibility crisis of our commander in chief. It is understandable that the President has tried to become conspicuous in order to bring calm to the nation that can be skittish about the North's provocations. But sometimes, if there is a time that doing less is doing more, it is now. This doesn't mean going on a vacation, but rather, use this down time to make a long-term plan to persuade the North to give up its nuclear and missile programs, or let this destitute nation run into the ground. Time is on our side in our duel with the North so President Park doesn't need to feel obligated to bring about national reunification. Third, regarding the United States, time and again, Washington proves to be the key pillar for our defense. The two nations sometimes have a conflict of priorities. For example, the North's missile launch plan has made Seoul embrace the terminal high altitude area defense or THAAD system, the U.S.-made missile interceptor but it runs the risk of getting Korea integrated into the U.S. position in its competition with China, reducing its chances of acting as an honest broker. The next week or so will be critical as the North is preparing to launch another rocket. We hope that the President will act strategically. The nation will be firmly behind her. U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter cautioned against linking the current tensions over North Korea's planned long-range rocket launch to his previous calls for a preemptive strike on the communist nation a decade ago. In 2006, Carter made the case for a preemptive strike in an article contributed to the Washington Post, just a couple of weeks before the North defied international warnings and test-fired a Taepodong-2 long-range missile on the July 4 Independence Day holiday. Carter, then a Harvard University professor, jointly wrote the article with former Defense Secretary William Perry, who was then a Stanford University professor, arguing that a preemptive strike is risky but the risk of continued inaction in the face of the North's race to threaten the U.S. would be greater. On Tuesday, Carter was asked if he still has such a view. "Well, that was a different circumstance then. It was a test launch missile, and our policy was that we were not to tolerate it. And we were trying to figure out how to not tolerate it. So that was then, and now is now," Carter said during an event at the Economic Club of Washington. Carter said that the North's nuclear and missile programs are serious concerns, as are the size of the North's force positioned along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, as well as the size of its special forces. "And I've just got to remind you, we're on the Korean peninsula. We will win, no question about it. But it is a very, very savage and intense war, and so it's not an area where you want deterrence to fail. But deterrence has to be incredibly strong there and every day we need to do it," he said. Asked about the North's claims of a successful hydrogen bomb test, Carter said he doesn't think the North was as successful as it claimed. Still, however, he said he takes no consolation from that because of what he calls a "really serious combination" of the North's nuclear and missile programs as well as its "odd demeanor." The already-high tensions on the Korean Peninsula in the wake of the North's Jan. 6 nuclear test rose even higher this week as Pyongyang unveiled its plan to carry out a banned long-range rocket launch in violation of U.N. resolutions. North Korea says its rocket launches are aimed at putting satellites into orbit, claiming it has the right to the peaceful use of space. But Pyongyang is banned from such launches under U.N. Security Council resolutions as it has been accused of using them as a cover for testing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Experts say long-range rockets and ICBMs are basically the same with differences only in payloads. South Korea urged North Korea to call off the planned launch, warning that Pyongyang will "pay a harsh price" if it goes ahead with the plan. The U.S. also denounced the North's move, saying it shows the need for "real consequences" for such provocative acts. Even China, which has provided the North with economic aid and diplomatic protection, expressed "serious concern," saying that Pyongyang's right to the peaceful use of space is now restricted by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and urged the North to exercise restraint. (Yonhap) The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary Read more Well, the OC Weekly has local ownership finally after years of membership in assorted chains. Editor Gustavo Arellano posts that it's good. "Senor McIntosh says he likes what we do and has promised to invest more money in us, but not at Aaron Kushner levels of insolvencythats a good start. And this represents the first time ever that the Weekly is owned by someone who actually lives in OC, which is pretty coolno longer will we have to explain to a superior that you never call the 57 "State Route 57." The Duncan McIntosh Company publishes Editor and Publisher (!) and boating magazines, and also runs the Newport Boat Show and Lido Yacht Expo. From Gustavo's report: Members of the House Oversight Committee were probably giving each other high-fives Thursday for making Martin Shkreli look like a smug jerk under their questioning about the high drug prices at his former company, Turing Pharmaceuticals. You know what? He was a smug jerk, smirking through his appearance before the committee as he repeatedly pleaded the 5th Amendment. But the lawmakers should stick their glee in their pockets. Not only is it no big challenge to make Shkreli look like a jerk, but the responsibility for sky-high prices charged even for old generic formulations is entirely their own. You can go down in history as the poster boy for greedy drug company executives or you can change the system. Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., to Martin Shkreli Advertisement The truth is that the possible solutions to the drug price crisis are well understood, and they all lie within congressional jurisdiction. While Shkreli smirks, Senators and members of Congress sit on their hands. Who are the bad guys here? Lets recap. Shkreli is the youthful investor whose former company, Turing, acquired the exclusive rights to Daraprim, a generic drug for the parasitic infection toxoplasmosis and raised its price from $13.50 per pill to $750, bringing the total treatment cost to $63,000. Because cancer and HIV patients bear the highest risk from toxoplasmosis, this looked like an especially crass move. It didnt help that Shkreli carries himself like a willful juvenile and is unapologetic about his strategy, asserting that its just business. No surprise that he became the face of drug profiteering and was labeled the most hated man in America, among other monikers. Shkreli is under indictment for an alleged fraud scheme unrelated to his drug marketing exploits, which naturally limits his ability to respond to questioning under oath. The members who questioned him Thursday were aware of that and made the most of it, peppering him with innocuous questions in full knowledge that he couldnt answer anything without ceding his right against self-incrimination. Some of them were smug jerks about it themselves. (Im looking at you, Reps. Jason Chaffetz [R-Utah] and Trey Gowdy [R-Va.]) Others managed to miss the point entirely: Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) accused Shkreli of running a Ponzi scheme, evidently because his plan was to use revenue from Daraprim to buy up other drugs to exploit. Whatever that is, its not a Ponzi scheme. You can go down in history as the poster boy for greedy drug company executives or you can change the system, Cummings told Shkreli. This is absurd. Its Cummings and his colleagues who can change the system. In truth, people like Shkreli arent the real cause of the high drug prices that afflict American consumers. For one thing, the market for Daraprim is small. Gilead Sciences, which markets two hepatitis C cures that cost more than $80,000 per treatment and address a market of potentially millions of patients, has a much larger impact on many more people and on public and private healthcare providers as well. The company has been criticized by Congress, too, but its executives are at least smart enough not to parade their glee at their profits in public. The reason that the U.S. leads the world in stratospheric drug prices is that government policy allows it. For example, the largest single pharmaceutical customer in the U.S., Medicare, isnt permitted by law to negotiate drug prices with manufacturers. U.S. customers are forbidden to acquire their drugs in Canada or overseas, where theyre often cheaper. Reverse those policies, and the magic of price competition would begin to bring costs down. The Food and Drug Administration already has the authority to quell drug profiteering in generics, as we documented last month. The agency could prioritize the approval process for competing generics to counter unwarranted price increases. Instead, its backlog of approvals runs to years and covers thousands of drugs. The FDAs formal approval of a new use for an old generic, even when that use has been recognized by doctors for years, can give its manufacturer the right to keep rival manufacturers out of the market for up to seven years. Thats what happened when Makena, a drug to prevent premature births, won FDA approval as an orphan drug in 2011. Its manufacturer took advantage of its exclusivity period to raise its price 100-fold, driving the cost of a full treatment to $25,000 from $250, thereby ending access to the treatment for thousands of women. These rules arent written in stone. Theyre amenable to legislative action by Congress and congressional pressure on the FDA. By the same token, a recent Senate report observed that members of Congress are forbidden by law to have access to information regarding price discounts and rebates agreed to by drug manufacturers as part of the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It added that the public may be surprised to learn this. Well, yes. But who made the law barring Congress from having this information? Congress did. Why wont Congress act? As always, it comes down to money. Pharmaceutical companies are consistently among the biggest contributors to Washington campaign chests. Most of the money goes to Republicans, but Democrats get a healthy share, too. How close is the relationship? Former Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) was head of the House committee with oversight over the drug industry when he retired from politics in 2005. Days later he surfaced as the new president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the industrys lobbying arm. (He retired from Phrma in 2010.) Congress is great at expressing dismay at high drug prices and even outlining the disconnect between research and manufacturing costs and prices at the pharmacy. Almost invariably, however, its committee reports stop short of recommending fixes. That was the case with a recent Senate Finance Committee investigation of Gilead and its hepatitis drugs. The report ran to 144 pages, but not a single page contained a recommendation for legislative action. Upbraiding Martin Shkreli for being smug is easy. Wiping the smirk off his face requires action. Thats what Congress wont do. Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see our Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com. California legislative leaders questioned Thursday a proposal to expand the electric grid to include one of the largest users of coal-fired power plants in the west. In a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker-elect Anthony Rendon said they were concerned about bringing utility company PacifiCorp into a regional energy market with the California Independent System Operator, which manages the transmission of most of the states electricity. ------------ Advertisement FOR THE RECORD Feb. 5, 10:29 a.m.: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon as the Senate president and Assembly Speaker-elect Anthony Rendon as the House speaker. 11:52 a.m.: An earlier version of this post incorrectly attributed certain statements about PacificCorp.'s and Berkshire Hathaways energy track record to the lawmakers; the statements should have been attributed to the Sierra Club. ------------ PacifiCorp operates in five western states, including Wyoming and Utah. The utility is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, billionaire Warren Buffetts utility holding company. Join the conversation on Facebook >> The lawmakers said the proposal to add PacifiCorp to Californias energy market could hurt the states efforts to address climate change and expand clean energy. In 2015, California increased its goals for generating electricity from renewable sources such as solar and wind to 50% by 2030. The proposed regionalization must not undermine state sovereignty or cede authority of our states cutting edge clean energy and climate policies to others who do not have the same strong commitment and legal framework to reduce climate pollution and promote clean energy, the letter states. De Leon and Rendon were joined on the letter by the chairmen of the state Senate and Assembly energy, utility and natural resources committees. Bob Gravely, a PacifiCorp spokesman, said the lawmakers letter raises lots of good questions and the utility believes it will have solid answers for them. Gravely said the regional approach should strengthen Californias clean energy mandates. Coal power would be disadvantaged, Gravely said. This is a way to reduce the use of coal overall and increase use of renewables. In April 2015, the California Independent System Operator and the investor-owned utility PacifiCorp announced they had entered into a memorandum of understanding to explore the feasibility, costs and benefits of PacifiCorp joining the nonprofit as a participating transmission owner From 2005 to 2010, PacifiCorp spent $1.2 billion on its coal plants, and its most recent long-range plan included more than $1 billion in additional spending on its coal plants through 2023. In Oregon, state regulators have penalized PacifiCorp $17 million as a result of its failure to reasonably examine alternative courses of action and perform adequate analysis to support its investments. The Sierra Club issued a news release about the lawmakers letter, calling PacifiCorp the largest owner of dirty, outdated coal-fired power plants in the west. California, the Sierra Club said, is a leader in government action to address climate disruption and expand clean energy at the state and local level. The proposal to develop a regional energy market with PacifiCorp could relinquish our control over state clean energy policies and undermine our leadership on climate change by giving new life to coal plants in the west. For more energy news, follow Ivan Penn on Twitter: @ivanlpenn. ALSO L.A. leaders want someone overseeing oil operations in the city full time Klamath River dams moving toward removal despite congressional barriers County supervisor wants more time for Porter Ranch residents to return home after gas leak Marinello Schools of Beauty abruptly shut down, closing all 56 of its campuses, including 39 in California, after the U.S. Department of Education said the for-profit cosmetology school was improperly allocating federal student aid money. The Department of Education said earlier this week that it would stop providing federal aid to 21 campuses in California and two in Nevada after it found that the school was knowingly requesting aid for students without a valid high school diploma, underawarding some student funds, charging fees to students who took too long to finish their programs and committing other acts of misrepresentation. Marinello failed to follow through on promised training in cosmetology and barbering, the Education Department said in a 10-page letter describing the reasons it had decided to stop providing aid. Department staffers spoke with students who supposedly graduated yet were unable to cut hair, it said. Advertisement MORE: Get our best stories in your Facebook feed >> In addition, the departments investigation found that Marinello enrolled students after steering them into a fabricated high school diploma program. The California campuses involved in the investigation were in the Los Angeles area, Moreno Valley and Sacramento. In 2014-15, Marinello received more than $87 million in Pell Grants and federal loans, according to the Department of Education. The school, which was founded in 1905, reported that it had 4,329 students enrolled as of Jan. 7, according to the department. We are taking aggressive action to protect students and taxpayers from further harm by these institutions, Undersecretary Ted Mitchell said in a statement. The department said Marinello could submit evidence to dispute the findings by Feb. 16 and potentially continue to receive federal financial aid. But Marinello said it would shut down instead, closing its California, Nevada and Utah campuses Thursday and its Connecticut and Kansas schools Friday. In a letter to students posted on the schools website, Marinello said it was in the process of arranging partnerships with other schools so students could complete their studies. The school said it will host meetings on its campuses next week to give out transcripts and discuss how students can continue their studies elsewhere. We want you to know that we did everything in our power to avoid this unfortunate conclusion and keep your school open, Marinello Chief Executive Rashed Elyas said in the letter. Unfortunately, the Department of Educations unprecedented and unfounded actions left us with no other option except to close our schools. Marinello is owned by B&H Education Inc., a Beverly Hills company. Sara Moore, 21, graduated in December from the 1,500-hour-long cosmetology program at a Marinello campus in Connecticut. She said that for months, shed heard rumors the school would shut down. It was no surprise that it was closing, she said in a direct message on Twitter. My campus had no director, financial aid representative and no admissions instructor from November on, and they were anticipated to close in April. After graduation, she said, she received letters from Marinello saying that she owed $800 without any explanation. Moore said she tried to call the corporate office to explain that her payments were taken care of through financial aid but later got another letter saying she owed $3,000. The Grove, Ohio, resident said she works as a waitress because Marinello will not release her records to allow her to get her cosmetology license until she pays the charges. Moore said she has been unable to reach anyone who can help her. Marinello and B&H did not respond to a reporters phone calls seeking comment. Marinello also did not respond via the live chat function on its website. The Obama administration has been scrutinizing for-profit colleges since 2009, amid evidence that many schools were saddling students with massive debts they couldnt repay. The industry soared during the Great Recession as schools marketed heavily to growing ranks of unemployed workers seeking new skills. But the rapid growth attracted the attention of federal and state authorities, who noted poor graduation rates and ballooning student loan defaults at many of the schools. For-profit colleges on average charge more than four times as much as community colleges, according to the College Board, and they cost significantly more than the in-state tuition at public four-year colleges. For-profit schools enroll about 11% of the nations college students, but their students are responsible for 44% of federal student loan defaults, according to federal data. Federal officials have cracked down recently. Last year, the Department of Education instituted new rules that would cut off federal funding to programs that consistently leave students with large debts compared with their income. An Education Department investigation into falsified job placement rates at Corinthian Colleges led the company into bankruptcy last year. Other major for-profit college chains, including ITT Educational Services and DeVry Education Group, face lawsuits from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission alleging the schools misled students. For more business news, follow @smasunaga on Twitter. MORE FROM BUSINESS Stocks edge lower after disappointing jobs report Chicago entrepreneur buys a large stake in L.A. Times owner A disappointing 151,000 U.S. jobs are created in January, but wages rise Dario Molinas alternative life scrolls by on both sides of Highway 101 north: acre upon acre of lettuce, spinach, heartbreak. Not me, he thinks. Not anymore. Sometimes I reminisce, Molina says. Damn, I remember working in that field. I remember that heat ... that song. Now Im just thinking, I just want to get over this. He tucks a water bottle between his back and the drivers seat of his 1996 Civic to keep his lumbar muscles from stiffening as towns drift by: Greenfield, Soledad, Gonzalez, Chualar. Each as poor as the next. He turns east on an old farm road, then north, until the fields wash up against the east side of Salinas. Advertisement There, at Hartnell Colleges Alisal campus, Molina settles behind his laptop, deft fingers furiously typing code like they were still plucking chiles, feeding bucket after bucket onto a packing machine that advances steadily on his heels. Hes there by 8:30 a.m., 15 minutes early for his first class. Hell stay until 10 p.m., later if they didnt kick him out. Weekends when he can. Holidays. Dario Molina, 22, is in a hurry to outrun his past. So, too, is Salinas. :: Salinas hopes to turn the sons and daughters of farm workers into coders for the next generation of data-driven, automated farming in a valley known as the salad bowl of the world. With one foot in its fields and another edged toward Silicon Valley, Salinas is trying to reboot itself as the agricultural technology center of California. It hopes to turn the sons and daughters of farmworkers, like Molina, into coders for the next generation of data-driven, automated farming in a valley known as the salad bowl of the world. Were not trying to reinvent ourselves, said Andrew Myrick, the citys economic development manger. Theres cities all across the country that are trying to attract Google to come and build their headquarters. Thats not who we are. Were agriculture. No public high school in the Salinas valley taught computer science and only a sliver of Salinas workforce worked in computer science for a living when the ag-tech idea took hold here about four years ago. Capital One had just bought out the citys largest private employer, HSBC, putting about 900 people out of work. Thats when we said, Well, what else do we really need to do to strengthen our economy so this doesnt happen again? City Manger Ray Corpuz said. Thats when we said we need to build around agriculture, ag-technology. See the most-read stories this hour >> Andy Matsui, a Japanese immigrant who turned 50 acres into a fortune in orchids, kicked in $2.9 million to start a three-year computer science program at Hartnell College and Cal State Monterey Bay. That program has since coalesced with others in what now is known as the Steinbeck Innovation Cluster, named for Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck, who grew up here. Matsui is not the only major grower stepping up to help. Native son Bruce Taylor, chief executive of Taylor Farms and a scion of the Church lettuce family, placed a $40-million bet on downtown last year when he opened a new corporate headquarters a quarter of a mile from skid row. In the 59 years that Ive lived here, downtown has continued to go downhill, Taylor said. We had an opportunity through the success of our business to maybe change the trajectory and to make a positive impact on the future of Salinas. The new 2,800-square-foot Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology in Old Town Salinas houses startup technology companies. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) On the bottom floor of the five-story French Colonial building is the centerpiece of Salinas ambitions: the Western Growers Association Center for Innovation and Technology, which hopes to create the first wave of ag-tech start-ups. Ten have taken up residence so far offering drone and satellite-based imaging, soil sensors, solar energy controls, app-based data management and other tools for a burgeoning precision agriculture movement. High hopes have been dashed here before. The National Steinbeck Center, across the street from Taylors headquarters, was founded amid similar optimism in 1998, but now is a dollar-a-year tenant in its own building, which the city sold for $3 million to Cal State Monterey Bay. (The university does not plan to hold any regular college courses there.) Banners across the front of the center tout Salinas ambitions to be a City of Letters, though it is the government center of a county where 28% of residents lack basic literacy skills, according to the Panetta Institute for Public Policy. NEWSLETTER: Get essential California headlines delivered daily >> Steinbeck himself was not charitable about his childhood home. The mountains on both sides of the valley were beautiful and Salinas was not, and we knew it, he wrote in 1955. For the native son who set several novels here, the town founded on a high spot amid salt flats had a blackness that seemed to rise out of the swamps. The unflattering portrait stung then and haunts the city now. Salinas just ended its most deadly year for murders 39 of them, clustered in the east side area where Molina attends computer class. Most were Latino, male and young the median age in the city is under 29, far younger than the state average. One in five of Salinas 157,000 residents lives below the poverty level, and the average per capita income was $17,810 in 2014 40% lower than the states median, according to U.S. Census data. I understand whats going on I dont have to like it, said Mayor Joe Gunter, an ex-cop who, like many here, wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to his city. Sure, weve had some issues; weve had some tough times. But what makes our community strong is the people. It has nothing to do with whos got the money. A pedestrian is reflected in a storefront window as he walks down Main Street in the Old Town section of Salinas, Calif. City officials are hoping that the recent opening of Taylor Farms $40-million headquarters will help revive downtown. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Those who have the money have largely eschewed Salinas downtown and east side. They choose north Salinas or the gated communities springing up on the highway leading toward the wealthy Monterey Peninsula. Just 1.8% of Salinas population earns more than $200,000 a year, and theyre clustered in the north and northeast side of town, according to the U.S. Census. The median household income in East Salinas and downtown, meanwhile, is under $40,000, about 35% below that of the state. The disparities raise thorny questions for a quintessential agricultural town whose wealth and poverty spring from the same root of cheap labor. Is that just a separate segment, a rented part of the community that comes in to pick our fields, and gets replaced or is expendable? Or is it our community? said Tim McManus, lead organizer of Communities Organized for Relational Power in Action, an umbrella group that is addressing Salinas endemic poverty, crime and other socioeconomic troubles. Although agriculture is the towns economic engine, almost 20% of Salinas workers are employed in the service industry, with more than half of those jobs in food preparation or grounds maintenance, according to U.S. Census figures. About 25% of Salinas workforce toils in the 369,187 acres of crops such as lettuce, strawberries, vegetables, grapes and flowers that generated about $4.5 billion in revenue in Monterey County in 2014. Those workers are finding Salinas too expensive. Nearly half of renters dedicate 35% or more of their paychecks to pay rents that are only about $57 to $116 less than rents in Los Angeles, according to U.S. Census and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development data. A three-bedroom home actually is slightly more expensive in Salinas, according to HUD. Growers throughout the valley complain of a shortage of workers that has worsened over the last several years. :: After classes, Dario Molina, 22, works on assignments during a study hall at Hartnell College Alisal Campus in Salinas, Calif. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Dario Molina cant afford Salinas. He pays $200 a month to share a home with two friends in King City, Calif. From the second grade until high school, the El Centro, Calif., native moved around with his family as they followed crops from Yuma, Ariz., to Californias Imperial Valley, to the Salinas Valley. Two days after graduating from King City High School, he faced a deadline set by his stepfather contribute to the rent or go fend for yourself. Molina left. He spent a few nights sleeping under a highway bridge and many months on the spare beds and couches of friends. He worked fields, where he injured his back, fast-food restaurants and a supermarket before enrolling at Hartnell College, where his math skills attracted the notice of the computer science program. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Now, I appreciate having food and being able to eat, he said. There were times I would just drink a lot a lot of water. A lot of water. To calm my hunger. Last year, Molina was one of 36 students awarded a Matsui Foundation scholarship to the new computer science program, which crams a four-year computer science curriculum into three years. Late last semester, he sat in the final coding class taught by Joe Welch, a 58-year-old retired Navy engineer who believes that Alisal, the original name for Salinas east side, has magic and grit. On this day, Welch focused on the grit. Employers wont care where youre from or that you got your degree in three years, Welch warned. Theyll care whether you can code. We wont coddle you, he warned. We wont give you a participation certificate. Hartnell Colleges program has an 84% transfer rate to Cal State Monterey Bay, compared with just one computer science student transfer in 2009, a year before the college began assembling the program, according to the school. Whether this years first graduating class will find jobs in Salinas is anyones guess. Just 2% of the current workforce is engaged in computer science and engineering, and most of that is on the hardware and IT support side, not software engineering. The best hope so far may be HeavyConnect, one of the first start-ups to emerge from Salinas innovation cluster. Co-founder Patrick Zelaya, a former John Deere sales executive, said he hopes to hire a handful of the programs first graduates in May for his company, which will help farmers use big data to improve their yields. We want to create jobs in Salinas that are different than the traditional jobs that weve had here, Zelaya said. But so far, the Hartnell students talents are above the level of jobs that exist here today. Molina is certain that his future lies in the valley that has nurtured and toughened him. He listens to Welchs words, hears the sound of the packing machine behind him. Then he puts his fingers to the keyboard and hunches his stiff back into the task ahead. geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com MORE FROM BUSINESS Why your Super Bowl vegetable platter might cost more this year Top state legislators raise concern about electric grid expansion Sluggish jobs report raises questions about the direction of U.S. economy The call came in to the rug store at 10:30 on Wednesday morning: After five days in U.S. customs, the first batch of carpets imported from Iran were ready for pickup. Years of waiting finally ended for Alex Helmi, owner of Damoka, a Persian rug store in Westwood. He quickly gathered his employees and told them to drive to Los Angeles International Airport to pick up the shipment: 40 handmade rugs some antique, some modern valued at about $500,000. I wanted to cry, Helmi said. Helmi has been selling Persian rugs for decades, but this marked the first time he was getting merchandise directly from Iran since the U.S. imposed an embargo on the country in 2010. Advertisement The shipment is a small piece of the landmark nuclear accord with Iran that was implemented last month. Under the deal, Iran agreed to dismantle parts of its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions that have crippled the nations economy. In Southern California, home to the largest Persian community outside of Iran, the end of the embargo is reinvigorating a commercial lifeline that had gone cold for the nearly six years that imports of famed Persian rugs had been banned. Aside from rugs, merchants hope to import other, lesser-known Iranian delights such as saffron, caviar and pistachios. Today is a very special day, Helmi said, as he fawned over additions to his collection. Grinning, he grasped one of the plastic-wrapped rugs and tore the white cover apart. Two employees stood by his side as they unrolled a golden carpet decorated with pink flowers and colorful patterns of blue and red. The rugs are being sold for between $10,000 for a smaller rug and $100,000 for a fine, large rug a premium price since the supply remains tight. Helmi marveled at the work of art beneath his feet. For hundreds of years, the rugs have been handmade by small groups of weavers and dyed with natural ingredients such as walnut skins, pomegranate and acorn cups. Some rugs take a decade or more to weave. Though many countries produce handmade rugs, those from Iran are considered among the most precious because of the time and materials used. Its a shame to not let this art come to the United States, he said. Art never has borders. For years, Helmi struggled to replenish a dwindling assortment of older rugs purchased before the embargo. Dealers resorted to selling rugs from other parts of the world. But it was an unsatisfying solution to collectors who prized the craftsmanship of Persian rugs and Iranians who sought a connection not only to their childhood but also to their cultural roots. Experts say that before the embargo, the U.S. accounted for one-fifth of Irans carpet exports. Included in Helmis new shipment were 13 large rugs, some of them more than 100 years old. Most are made of pure silk, he said, though some are a mix of silk and gold-plated thread. The rug dealer has been waiting for the shipment for nearly six months. When the deal was announced last summer, he called weavers in Iran and told them he wanted to import their carpets the moment sanctions were lifted. Not all business owners are eager for the effects of the deal to reach U.S. soil. The West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce said it refuses to participate in any business with countries on the State Departments list of sponsors of terrorism, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Irans anti-American activities including the brief detention of U.S. sailors last month make it an unfit partner in trade, said Roozbeh Farahanipour, the chambers president who was born in Iran. Any company that wants to do business with Iran is not allowed to become a member of the chamber, he said. As long as we promote business with the Islamic Republic, we grant legitimacy to the human rights violations of Iran, Farahanipour said. Its the least the Iranian people can do, to not support business with the Islamic Republic. Experts add there is always the possibility of a renewed embargo. We still have sanctions on the table due to Irans sponsorship of terrorism, said Josh Lockman, an international law professor at USCs Gould School of Law. Businesses in Iran will still benefit, but its far-fetched to say this is a wide opening. We are a long ways away from the normalization of ties, unless theres a change in the regimes behavior. But the pent-up demand for products from Iran is high. At the Jordan Market in Westwood, customers stopped asking about Iranian caviar years ago, when the embargo placed a ban on the delicacy. They scanned the aisles for other tastes of home, such as the pistachios exported from Iran and brought in through Canada. Now, owner Farid Khanlou is eagerly awaiting the day Iranian caviar hits the market whenever that may be. I have no idea how much it will be, but we will sell it, said Khanlou, 60. Caviar harvested from Iranian waters will be much more expensive than its Russian counterpart, he said at least three or four times the price. But he still expects a brisk market for the product. Persian caviar, they sell it in Europe for a few thousand dollars a can, Khanlou said. For his part, Helmi said, he hopes lifting sanctions will lead to better relations between Iranians and Americans. The people who wove these rugs 100 years ago have nothing to do with politics, he said. Helmi and his workers unfurled one new carpet on top of the next, carefully admiring each piece as they formed a pile. The store owner couldnt help but smile at the mosaic of bright colors before his eyes. The employees were excited too, eager too see a new breed of rugs. By the time their work was done, dozens of gold and ivory rugs covered the floor; others sat stacked in piles or hung on the walls. Customers have been waiting for new rugs from Iran for months, Helmi said, asking for specific colors and sizes. Many of them plan on checking out the rugs this week, he said. Helmi plans to keep the shipments coming. Finally, he said, the doors have opened up. sarah.parvini@latimes.com Twitter: @sarahparvini Lia Sagehorn couldnt tell you if the upcoming Chinese spring festival marked the Year of the Monkey or the Year of the Woolly Mammoth. What the director of production at a local clothing brand does know is that for a few weeks her factories in China will be incommunicado. That means no shipments, no calls, not even an email. The holiday, which lands on Monday this year, is the Chinese equivalent of Christmas, Thanksgiving and the Super Bowl rolled into one. Factories in the worlds biggest exporting nation close their doors and workers pile onto buses and trains to head home in the largest annual human migration on Earth. Business and trade grind to a halt. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> So while people in China are eating dumplings, shooting fireworks and doling out lucky money, Sagehorn and her team use the downtime to partake in lunar new year traditions of their own namely cleaning, organizing and holding workshops to bring everyone up to speed. They also plan field trips to local cutting houses and sample rooms. Were pretty much shut down for the next three weeks, said Sagehorn, who works for Tobi, an online-only retailer with offices in Los Angeles and South San Francisco that specializes in young womens fashion. Youve got to get everything done before Chinese New Year. When youre tethered to manufacturers in China like Sagehorn is the vast majority of Tobis merchandise is imported from China you have to observe Chinese holidays as if they were on your home turf. Tobis employees have gotten so used to the schedule that theyve already circled the date of Chinese New Year 2017 and are adjusting their plans one year in advance, Sagehorn said. The ripple effect has grown ever more pronounced since China opened up to the world more than three decades ago and transformed itself into an exporting powerhouse. In Los Angeles, countless clothing retailers, electronics distributors and toy sellers rely on China for the bulk of their goods. In 2015, imports from China through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach totaled an estimated $162.7 billion, by far the largest source of imported goods through the two ports, said Jock OConnell, an international trade economist with Beacon Economics. Also, roughly $20.3 billion in imports from China arrived at Los Angeles International Airport last year. Economists and analysts typically dismiss Chinese economic data during the spring festival months of January and February (the lunar calendar makes the holiday a moving target each year) because of the shutdown. Financial markets also see big dips in activity, contributing to distorted numbers. On average since 2010, the value of imported goods from China through the L.A. and Long Beach ports has been 17.3% below January levels before rising 3.3% from February to March, OConnell said. This years holiday officially lasts from Sunday to Feb. 13 in China. But the disruption is felt in the weeks before and after too. Big companies that have been doing business with China for years know this and come prepared. They leverage strong relationships with their contract manufacturers to ensure that they get first dibs on production capacity prior to the new year. Thats crucial because buyers clamor for extra orders to overcome the shutdown, but factories only have so much equipment and manpower. The bigger you are, the more [factories] can accommodate you, said John Cornish, western area general manager for DHL Express U.S. China is one of DHLs three biggest markets. Come Chinese New Year, that changes dramatically as much of the companys logistical equipment there idles for the holiday. SIGN UP for the free California Inc. business newsletter >> Cornish says he reminds small and medium-size companies to plan ahead. Some factories close a week or more before the official holiday begins. Others mentally check out even earlier evident in the diminished quality of some products that time of year. When the holiday is over, it can take a week or more for manufacturers to get back into the swing of things. Thats complicated by the fact that so many Chinese workers use the spring festival to look for new jobs. That means factories need to train new employees on their lines. And American buyers often find theyre dealing with new Chinese sales representatives when work resumes. I dont think people here fully appreciate how things start ramping down a couple weeks in advance of the holiday and dont ramp back up until two or three weeks after, said John Frisbie, president of the U.S.-China Business Council in Washington. Typically, theres a surge in sea cargo traffic six to eight weeks prior to Chinese New Year, better known as spring festival in China. But that traffic is down this year, OConnell said. He blamed the slowing Chinese economy and diminished demand for imports because e-commerce retailers overstocked during the American holiday season. It was a weird confluence, OConnell said. If youre wondering whether dealing with China is worth the New Years hassle, consider this: There isnt much of an alternative. The lunar calendar is at least partially observed across Asia, particularly wherever theres a Chinese diaspora. In Vietnam, an emerging manufacturing hub, theres Tet. In South Korea, they celebrate Seollal. That results in some degree of supply-chain slowdown no matter where you go. If you go to Korea and ask me what is the biggest holiday, I would say Chinese New Year, not regular [Gregorian calendar] New Year, said Sung Won Sohn, an economist at Cal State Channel Islands. Moreover, U.S. businesses know that China for all the ups and downs of its broader economy cant be beat when it comes to its export sectors logistical infrastructure and cheap cost of labor. A one-month layoff is a small price to pay. If Im making a power bank, the factories Im dealing with may do most of the assembly, but they also need to secure battery cell, screws and plastic suppliers, said Max Levy, a product manager for Hypercel Corp., a Valencia manufacturer and distributor of mobile device accessories. If that country doesnt have all that nearby, they wont offer the same pricing and tariffs. Thats Chinas competitive advantage. david.pierson@latimes.com Twitter: @dhpierson MORE ON CHINESE NEW YEAR Chinese New Year meals in L.A. arent strictly traditional Ring in the lunar new year with a barrel of monkey merchandise Chinese New Year: Las Vegas dazzling displays for Year of the Monkey The dot dot dot that Olivier Messiaen placed at the end of the title for his monument to Utahs national parks, Des Canyons aux Etoiles " (From the Canyons to the Stars ), clearly implies something beyond. Knowing the French composers consummate devoutness, that should be way beyond. His 95-minute, 12-section chamber music masterpiece from 1974 begins in the desert, dwells on Bryce Canyon and ends in Zion National Park, a stand-in for the celestial city. For Messiaen, music vibrantly, even gaudily and erotically, embraced the physical, only then to transcend it. The ellipsis in the title can also insinuate the possibilities of different environments for the music. Thirty years ago, with the composer present, Kent Nagano conducted members of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in a performance at the Ojai Music Festival in which music and nature fused. The bird calls in Messiaens score miraculously summoned so many of the real things that Libbey Bowl felt like a scene out of Alfred Hitchcocks The Birds. In 2008, Esa-Pekka Salonen led members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a Walt Disney Concert Hall performance in which the immediacy of Messiaens sound was so vivid that it became downright hallucinatory. Advertisement A compelling, beautifully phrased and elegantly proportioned multimedia performance in Disney Hall on Tuesday night by members of the St. Louis Symphony conducted by its music director, David Robertson, was more specific. The performers were guests for the Los Angeles Philharmonics Green Umbrella contemporary music series. The additional media were Deborah OGradys scenes from Utahs parks, projected on a large screen behind the players. Before the performance, Robertson spoke of this as a kind of pilgrims progress, something the Santa Monica native experienced in visits to Utah with his grandfather, a mineral geologist. Messiaens music, he said, is so uncannily descriptive that after about an hour, it can become over-satiating. A sense of place, some grounding, can help. OGradys qualifications are unique. She is a nature photographer who happens to be a trained composer, the wife of a composer (John Adams) and the mother of a composer (Samuel Adams). She knows how to merge music with moving image and how to stay out of the way of music. It may not be possible for any photographer to avoid romanticizing Bryce Canyon, and she presents it as the place of astonishing beauty that it surely is. But she is also careful to remind us that our national parks are not as they were in 1972, when Messiaen made his mystically tinged trip. The composer described a setting of blissful peace and solitude. Today, he would be surrounded by tourists and warned about threats to our natural environment. But there is also the environment of Messiaens music. Adding visuals is a complicated psychoacoustic business. The temptation is hardly new. But as media become more advanced, they can have an increasingly large, and still little understood, effect on shaping how we hear. In this case, the grand shots of famous Bryce sites, the starry sky (too washed out by the lights on the stage to be effective), the street scenes cleverly and carefully intercut with the music were not what worked best. Messiaen, with his gloriously wild orchestration wind machines, all kinds of percussion, starry-eyed solo horn was a master of stimulating the imagination. He had the gift of awe and the gift of the specific, as best demonstrated by his ability to brilliantly use a solo piano as a stand-in for wood thrush, babbler, monarch flycatcher, robin and other birds. When he described red-orange rocks in sound, I envisioned my red-orange rocks. Seeing the real thing can confuse the issue. OGradys successes were elsewhere. The ninth movement is a piano solo devoted to the mockingbird. No birds were seen. The first half was simply a lushly green tree seemingly still but with barely perceptible changes in color. (OGrady worked with a video crew.) For the second part, the camera swirled around the tree. The excellent pianist Peter Henderson did the rest. We knew the birds were there. We heard them. We sensed them. We might even have felt we understood their language as their music was made into something intelligible to humans. They were our birds, not those in pictures. Robertsons performance was so impressive that there were other times when I might have been tempted to close my eyes. He found God in the complexity of Messiaens details, and he found natural wonder in Messiaens divinity. The members of the St. Louis Symphony could have been mistaken for a world-class new music ensemble. Now these Canyons will move on in peculiar fashion. Gustavo Dudamel will conduct members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the score, with OGradys visuals, at the Barbican Centre in London next month on the orchestras European tour. Apparently, that project came about after St. Louis had already been booked for Disney. mark.swed@latimes.com An exploration of shape and form in wood. A group show that looks at race and identity. And an exhibition devoted to exploring the historical and artistic legacy of an L.A. LGBT club from the early 80s. Plus, a festival of film by a well-known documentarian and short video lessons by an L.A. performance artist. Here are five shows to check this week: Morgan MacLean, Massing the Void, at the Landing. Raised among a community of boat-builders in Massachusetts, MacLeans sculptural pieces take their cue from the fine craftsmanship of traditional wood sailing vessels. In this series, which spans seven pieces and three years, he used a crushed cardboard box as a point of inspiration to make a series of abstracted sculptures that are as much about form as they are about space. Opens Saturday at 4 p.m. and runs through March 12. 5118 W. Jefferson Blvd., West Adams, Los Angeles, thelandinggallery.com. Martine Syms, Black Box, at Human Resources Los Angeles. An exhibition of 60 new short videos by the Los Angeles artist explores ideas about the rules of personal comportment, with each set up as a 30-second lesson. Its a busy month for the artist, who recently performed at the Broad and is set to participate in the Hammer Museums 2016 Made in L.A. Biennial. Opens Saturday and runs through Feb. 27. 410 Cottage Home St., Chinatown, Los Angeles, humanresourcesla.com. Skin, at the L.A. Municipal Art Gallery. The work of three dozen contemporary artists including figures such as Kara Walker, April Bey and Ken Gonzales-Day examines issues related to race and identity in this new group show. Opens Sunday at 2 p.m. and runs through April 17. There will be a related Un-panel Conversation on the subject held on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, lamag.org. Advertisement A Weekend With Lawrence Schiller: A Retrospective of Films and Photo Show, at Cinefamily. The Fairfax theater will show a number of movies by the documentary filmmaker, journalist and photographer, including The American Dreamer, about actor Dennis Hopper, as well as The Executioners Song, his feature film based on the book by Norman Mailer. The theater will also exhibit a number of Schillers photographs. Opens today with a screening of The Man Who Skied Down Everest at 7:30 p.m. and runs through Tuesday, when the festival concludes with a screening of The American Dreamer. Schiller will be in attendance at this final screening. 611 N. Fairfax Ave., cinefamily.org. ... Loss, Desire, Pleasure, at the ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives at USC. For four years, the Los Angeles nightclub known by a word that cant be printed in this newspaper, served as rejoinder to the clean cut-world of West Hollywood gay bars a gritty setting where dance, performance and activism were blurred into a single act, and where the human body served as statement and canvas, displaying piercings, tattoos and all kinds of other bod-mods. This exhibition tracks the clubs historical legacy and connects it with contemporary artistic practices. Note: the related link contains NSFW images. Through March 19. 909 W. Adams Blvd., University Park, Los Angeles, one.usc.edu. FINAL WEEK: Kori Newkirk, at Roberts & Tilton. Known for creating sculptural pieces out of synthetic hair and pony beads, the Los Angeles-based artist is now taking on the idea of the circle in myriad ways, including a series of sculptures crafted from found bicycle wheels. Through Saturday. 5801 Washington Blvd., Culver City, robertsandtilton.com. Rafael Rozendaal, Abstract Browsing, at Steve Turner. A series of Jacquard woven tapestries explores the architecture of the Internet, a subject that has long-fascinated this Dutch-born artist. He is also presenting a series of wall works inspired by haiku. Through Saturday. 6830 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, steveturner.la. Steven Hull, Never Again Sharpen Your Teeth on the Rope That Holds You Safely to Shore, at Rosamund Felsen Gallery. The Los Angeles artist, known for the dexterous ways in which he combines painting and sculpture to create theatrical installations, has put together a show inspired partly by seaside carnival, partly by an ocean voyage. The exhibition his 11th at Rosamund Felsen includes paintings, large-scale wood sculptures and oil paint transfers. Through Saturday. 1923 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown Los Angeles, rosamundfelsen.com. Various Small Fires (Working Documents) at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. This worthwhile little show illuminates unusual bits of LACMA history, such as the plan to have a robot patrol the galleries or the time a dog worked as a security guard. Included in the mix is Ed Ruschas working sketch for his infamous mid-60s canvas The Los Angeles County Museum on Fire. If you are at the museum, do not miss. (And be sure to ask for directions. Its hard to find.) Through Sunday. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org. Minoru Ohira: Iki and Yabo, at Offramp Gallery. Iki in Japanese means chic; yabo, unrefined. In this exhibition, the Japanese sculptor examines the fine line between the two concepts in a series of largely wooden sculptures that evoke and deconstruct elements of architecture. Through Sunday. 1702 Lincoln Ave., Pasadena, offrampgallery.com. Victor Hugo Zayas, at the Museum of Latin American Art. Gritty abstractions the color of charcoal, acid and steel capture the industrial innards of Los Angeles. Zayas, a painter who maintains a studio on the banks of the L.A. River, will have a survey of more than 40 works on view at the museum works that chart the evolution of the citys industrial landscape. Through Sunday. 628 Alamitos Ave., Long Beach, molaa.org. ONGOING EXHIBITIONS Toba Khedoori, at Regen Projects. In her fourth show at the gallery, the L.A.-based artist, known for her detailed renderings of plants, architecture and other objects, takes to canvas as well. Her pieces reveal aching detail that, at moments, teeters into abstraction creating images that are more than mere representation. Through Feb. 13. 6750 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, regenprojects.com. Customizing Language, at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions. Organized by guest curators Idurre Alonso and Selene Preciado, this group show gathers artists from the Americas to look at the ways in which language often reflects political reality. Featuring the work of figures such as Marco Ramirez ERRE, Regina Jose Galindo and Mely Barragan (whom I wrote about as part of the Tijuana art series in October). Through Feb. 14. 6522 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, welcometolace.org. Stas Orlovski, Skazka, at Young Projects Gallery. The L.A.-based Orlovski is known for his haunting stop-motion animations that employ bits of vintage childrens books and Victorian drawings. This work, which features a soundtrack by experimental audio artist Steve Roden, is inspired by 19th century magic-lantern performances and includes a stage-set and larger-than-life projections onto silhouettes. Through Feb. 15. Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., Space B230, West Hollywood, youngprojectsgallery.com. Edmund de Waal, Ten Thousand Things, at Gagosian Gallery. Both an artist and an acclaimed novelist, de Waal is a figure whose passion for words feeds his art and vice versa. For his first solo exhibition in L.A., he is presenting arrangements of objects including the ceramics he makes inspired by music, poetry and the architecture of Rudolph Schindler. Through Feb. 18. 456 N. Camden Drive, Beverly Hills, gagosian.com. Sadie Barnette, Superfecta, at Charlie James Gallery. In a series of multimedia works from photography to meticulously rendered drawings the artist looks at the culture of horse racing, touching on issues of fantasy, escapism and chance. Through Feb. 20. 969 Chung King Road, Chinatown, Los Angeles, cjamesgallery.com. George Porcari, Greetings From LA: 24 Frames and 50 Years, at Haphazard. Since the 60s, artist George Porcari has been photographing Los Angeles from the street to the beach. In this exhibition, he uses those images to make large-scale photo collages set around a blank space or void that shapes the tone of the images above and below. Through Feb. 20. 1542 Sawtelle Blvd., Sawtelle, Los Angeles, haphazard.co. Marcia Hafif, Glaze Paintings and Works on Paper From the 1970s, at Marc Selwyn Fine Art. Throughout her career, Hafif has been obsessed with color: the colors of the Pacific Ocean or Roman architecture hues that she reproduces in paintings and installations that serve as meditations on the subtleties of tone. In her first solo show at Selwyn, the artist is showing some of the early works graphite drawings and glaze paintings that helped shape her practice. Through Feb. 20. 9953 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, marcselwynfineart.com. Ishiuchi Miyako: Postwar Shadows at the Getty Center. Showcasing several bodies of work by the Japanese photographer, this exhibition includes her moving images of objects and clothing that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Each image captures deeply personal details such as patches, mends and stains, all evidence of the full lives once inhabited by these garments. Also on view will be a small exhibition of contemporary Japanese photographers. Through Feb. 21. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood, getty.edu. Punk Povera, at Wuho Gallery. This group exhibition gathers painting, drawing and sculpture from L.A. and Mexico City inspired by a pair of cultural movements: Arte Povera, the Italian art movement that focused on the use of simple materials, and punk, the musical and fashion movement that favored grit over excess. Through Feb. 21. 6518 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, wuho.architecture.woodbury.edu. The Wartime Photographs of Ansel Adams, at the Skirball Cultural Center. Adams powerful black-and-white images from Manzanar during World War II protested what he described as the enforced exodus of American citizens: Japanese Americans who were forcefully detained for the course of the war. Its a stirring view of life for Japanese Americans during a dark period in American history. Through Feb. 21. 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Brentwood, skirball.org. Diana Thater, The Sympathetic Imagination, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The Los Angeles-based video artist is widely known for groundbreaking video installations that incorporate the architecture of a space while exploring a range of natural phenomena: from the underwater lives of dolphins to the ways in which bees communicate. For the show at LACMA, she is showing works shot in Claude Monets garden in Giverny, France, and at the Galtaji Temple in Jaipur, India. Through Feb. 21. 5905 Wilshire Blvd. Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org. Noah Davis: Imitation of Wealth at the Museum of Contemporary Art Grand Avenue. In 2013, Davis re-created a series of works by famous artists and put them on display at the Underground Museum, his alternative art space in Arlington Heights. The idea was to display works of high cultural value in an unlikely setting. Now, the Museum of Contemporary Art has re-created the installation a work made more poignant by the artists recent death. (The piece is viewable free of charge through the windows of a storefront space adjacent to the museum.) Through Feb. 22. 250 S. Grand Ave., downtown, moca.org. John Outterbridge, Rag Man, at Art + Practice. The renowned Los Angeles assemblage artist is showing works produced mainly over the last decade and a half from scavenged materials such as twigs, bones and hair. Works from the recent series Rag and Bone Idiom evoke talismans and healing rituals. Through Feb. 27. 4339 Leimert Blvd., Leimert Park, artandpractice.org. Marianne Vitale, at Venus. A sculptor known for her weighty pieces is having her West Coast debut show with a pair of installations that will feature 60 tons of steel railroad track and a series of nearly 100 11-foot white pine timbers. Through Feb. 27. 601 S. Anderson St., Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, venusovermanhattan.com. R. Luke DuBois: Now and Sandow Birk: American Quran, at the Orange County Museum of Art. OCMA opens a pair of new shows: one by the New York-based DuBois, an artist who often employs data to create unique visualizations, and the L.A.-based Birk, who has spent nine years transcribing and illustrating every verse of the Koran in a uniquely American way. Through Feb. 28. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, ocma.net. John K., Women, at Farago. Little is known about the North Dakota-born, L.A.-based photographer who for years took erotically-charged photos, transparencies and 8mm films of women both clothed and nude. These go well beyond the average nudie picture taken by some hobbyist. The artist (whose surname was Kayser) had an inspired eye when it came to tone and light, not to mention composition. Through March 5. 224 W. Eighth St., downtown Los Angeles, farrago.xyz. Mark Dutcher: The Time Machine at Jason Vass. This new downtown art gallery is kicking off with a show of works by the L.A. abstractionist. The exhibition will feature his Time Machine series as well a painting inspired by the poetry of American wordsmith Hart Crane. Through March 5. 1452 E. Sixth St., downtown Los Angeles, jasonvass.com. Rain Room, at the L.A. County Museum of Art. It was universally panned by the critics when it appeared at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. (New York Magazine critic Jerry Saltz described it as the worst single work of art that I saw all this year ... a high-tech amusement-park ride.) And my colleague Christopher Knight labeled it brainless amusement in his review of the experience. But who cares when you can take the worlds most awesome selfie inside it and share it with the world on Instagram? Through March 6. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org. Derek Fordjour: Eight Paintings and Yashua Klos: How to Hide in the Wind, at Papillion. A pair of new shows at Papillion explore the black figure in unique ways. In a series of new paintings, Fordjour places arrangements of figures against patterned and other carnivalesque backgrounds. Klos, in the meantime, creates elaborate collages that find ways of integrating faces and heads into architectonic elements that appear to float in space. Through March 6. 4336 Degnan Blvd., Leimert Park, Los Angeles, papillionart.com. Dansaekhwa and Minimalism, at Blum & Poe. A survey of some 35 works pairs pieces by key American minimalists (Sol LeWitt, Carl Andre, Agnes Martin) with important works from Koreas Dansaekhwa movement, whose artists (figures such as Lee Ufan and Kwon Young-woo) were renowned for creating monochrome works in imaginative and textural ways. A truly meditative show. Through March 12. 2727 S. La Cienega Blvd., Culver City, blumandpoe.com. Ron Jude: Lago, at Gallery Luisotti. In his fourth solo show at the gallery, Jude explores the landscape of the Salton Sea, the famously polluted body of water, near which the photographer spent some of the formative years of his childhood. Through March 12. Bergamot Station, 2525 S. Michigan Ave., Santa Monica, galleryluisotti.com. Disguise: Masks and Global African Art, at the Fowler Museum. This exhibition looks at the art of disguise through the work of a dozen contemporary African and African American artists touching on everything from elaborate masks to the illusionist camouflage of the digital sphere. Expect to see work by artists such as Zina Saro-Wiwa, Jacolby Satterwhite and Brendan Fernandes. Through March 13. UCLA, north campus, Westwood, fowler.ucla.edu. Siren at Five Car Garage. A group show of 10 artists who hail primarily from the Los Angeles area looks at works that employ or reference sound. This includes works of video and a pair of sound baths that provide sound healing. (The sound baths require advance RSVP and an admission of $30.) Five Car Garage is located in the garage of a private home; address and other details are provided with an RSVP. Through March 18. Santa Monica, emmagrayhq.com. Frank Gehry, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Featuring more than 200 drawings and 65 models, as well as countless photographs and video, this retrospective looks at the life and career of one of L.A.s most celebrated architects. Totally worth it just to see the original design for downtowns Disney Hall. (Glad they went for the option that was built.) Through March 20. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org. Christian Eckart, post-post, at Wilding Cran. The Canadian-born, Houston-based artists first solo show in Los Angeles features a series of new abstract paintings as well as a curious sculpture titled The Absurd Vehicle, a seemingly enticing objet whose many wheels and impractical body look as if they would simply send a rider scurrying in circles. Through March 26. 939 S. Santa Fe Ave., downtown Los Angeles, wildingcran.com. Evan Holloway at David Kordanksy Gallery. Holloway, a Los Angeles artist, is known for making curious arrangements out of seemingly simple materials: Geometric pieces of tree branches turn out to be cast bronze, while spherical shapes studded with spent batteries nod to spiky Nkondi nail fetish sculpture. Through Mar. 26. 5130 W. Edgewood Pl., Mid-City, Los Angeles, davidkordanksygallery.com. Erwin Wurm: One-Minute Sculptures at the MAK Center. The Austrian sculptor brings a wry approach to the form with pieces that can only be completed by the viewer which means standing on a pedestal with a pink plush doll on your head or sitting inside a white plinth turned on its side. Its all a tribute to the absurd nature of the monuments men make to themselves. Go with friends for maximum enjoyment. Through March 27. Schindler House, 835 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood, makcenter.org. In Focus: Daguerreotypes, at the Getty Museum. A selection of some of the museums 2,000 daguerreotypes go on view alongside daguerreotypes from the collection of singer-songwriter Graham Nash, a prominent collector of this early type of photography. Through March 30. 1200 Getty Center Drive, Brentwood, getty.edu. Robert Cremean: The Beds of Procrustes and The Seven Deadly Sins, at the Pasadena Museum of California Art. The California artist is known for cool, diagrammatic pieces that employ the human figure in ways that riff on bigger questions of art, myth, faith and sacrifice. For his show in Pasadena, one installation examines the legend of Procrustes, the Greek mythological bandit who would torture people in various ways in order to force them to fit onto an iron bed, while another uses human figures to interpret each of the deadly sins. Through April 3. 490 E. Union St., Pasadena, pmcaonline.org. Lita Albuquerque, 20/20: Accelerando, at the USC Fisher Museum of Art. In an exhibition that melds film, sound and performance, Albuquerque tells the story of a 25th century female astronaut who lands on Earth in the year 6,000 BC. The piece is drawn from a text that Albuquerque has been working on since 2003, re-imagined in the museum as an impressionistic environment that, among other things, features original music by film and theater composer Robbie C. Williamson. Through April 10. 823 W. Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park, Los Angeles, fisher.usc.edu. Rebecca Campbell and Samantha Fields: Dreams of Another Time at the University Art Museum at Cal State Long Beach. A two-person show looks at the works of two important Los Angeles-based artists: Campbell, known for her meticulous portraits composed out of broad lines, and Fields, who uses old-fashioned paint to create the sensations of digital blurring. In the permanent collection galleries, the museum will also be displaying a number of prints by renowned painter Wayne Thiebaud. Through April 10. CSULB, 1250 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, web.csulb.edu/uam. Hard Edged: Geometrical Abstraction and Beyond, at the California African American Museum. A new exhibition features the work of 46 artists from emerging figures to well-established names working in the arena of geometric abstraction. This includes works by fresh voices and standard-bearers, including well-known figures such as Rashid Johnson, Senga Nengudi, David Hammons and Tim Washington. Through April 24. 600 State Drive, Exposition Park, caamuseum.org. Alice Konitz, Los Angeles Museum of Art (LAMOA), at Occidental College. This is a work of sculpture that also serves as a micro exhibition hall. The space was established in Konitzs backyard in 2012 but will be on view at Occidental College for the course of the academic year. The inaugural exhibition features work by L.A. artist Alice Clements. Through spring 2016. In front of Weingart Hall at Occidental College, 1600 Campus Road, Eagle Rock, oxy.edu. Catherine Opie: 700 Nimes Road at MOCA Pacific Design Center. For six months in 2011, Los Angeles photographer Catherine Opie documented the Bel-Air estate of Elizabeth Taylor the clothes, the photographs, the jewelry, the little bits of personal ephemera that make a house a home. Now she is showing the series, one that chronicles a life of wealth and fame, at the Museum of Contemporary Arts West Hollywood space. Through May 8. Pacific Design Center, 8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, moca.org. Popol Vuh: Watercolors of Diego Rivera, at the Bowers Museum. The Popol Vuh is a nearly 500-year-old Mayan text, written in Quiche, that recounts that cultures creation myths. This sacred text inspired a series of watercolors by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, an artist who was preoccupied with indigenous themes. Now 17 of these paintings, on loan from a museum in Mexico, are on view at the Bowers. Through May 29. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, bowers.org. Alex Israel, at the Huntington. In 2012, the San Marino library and museum unveiled the first of its contemporary interventions with low-key works by Ricky Swallow and Lesley Vance. Now the museum is getting bolder, with a series of installations by painter Alex Israel, whose pop-inspired canvases and objects touch on topics such as celebrity, glamour and power. Through July 11. 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, huntington.org. Senses of Time: Video and Film-Based Works of Africa, at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. For one of its long-term installations, the museum has gathered works of video or film by contemporary African artists that explore the body and the looping nature of time. This includes pieces by figures such as Yinka Shonibare, Sammy Baloji, Berni Searle, Moatax Nasr and Theo Eshetu. Through Jan. 2, 2017. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org. Islamic Art Now at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Contemporary works from LACMAs permanent collection by 20 artists who live in or have roots in the Middle East look at questions of society, gender and identity. Runs indefinitely. 5905 Wilshire Blvd., Mid-Wilshire, lacma.org. Find me on Twitter @cmonstah. A group of activists has called on the major Hollywood studios to do a better job of representing Americas diversity. The Multi-Ethnic Coalition, which has previously pressured TV networks to boost their representation of minorities, on Thursday shifted its attention to the film studios. At a news conference in Pasadena, coalition members said they planned to meet with the major movie studios in an effort to boost the number of minorities working at all levels of the film business. Advertisement See more of Entertainments top stories on Facebook >> When people do not have their image in front of others, we lose our voice, said Sonny Skyhawk, founder of American Indians in Film and Television. Its one of several groups in the coalition, which also includes the National Hispanic Media Coalition. 1 / 39 Zac Barnett of American Authors is seen on set for a video shoot on Oct. 26, 2014, in Dickson, Tenn. (Rick Diamond / Getty Images) 2 / 39 Extras acting in the HBO series Game of Thrones leave the bullring on Oct. 22, 2014, as film crews began shooting part of the fifth season in the southern Spanish city of Osuna. (CRISTINA QUICLER / AFP/Getty Images) 3 / 39 Indira Varma is on the set of Game of Thrones at Real Alcazar on Oct. 19, 2014, in Seville, Spain. (Europa Press / Europa Press via Getty Images) 4 / 39 Actors film Game of Thrones at Real Alcazar on Oct. 19, 2014, in Seville, Spain. (Europa Press / Europa Press via Getty Images) 5 / 39 Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is on the set of Game of Thrones at Real Alcazar on Oct. 19 in Seville, Spain. (Europa Press / Europa Press via Getty Images) 6 / 39 Sylvester Stallone poses with his puppet as he takes part in the TV show Le Grand Journal at the Cannes Film Festival. (LOIC VENANCE / AFP/Getty Images) 7 / 39 Jamie Foxx filming The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on April 21, 2013, in New York City. (Aby Baker/Getty Images) 8 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, center left, is seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City with his stunt double William Spencer, right, and a second stunt double. (Raymond Hall/ WireImage/Getty Images) 9 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, right, rehearses a scene with his stunt double William Spencer on the The Amazing Spiderman 2" movie set in Madison Square Park in New York. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) 10 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, right, his stunt double William Spencer, center, and a second stunt double are seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/ WireImage/Getty Images) 11 / 39 Jamie Foxx filming on location for The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on April 21, 2013, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 12 / 39 Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone filming The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on location in New York City. (Aby Baker/Getty Images) 13 / 39 Jamie Foxx as Electro/Max Dillon in The Amazing Spider-Man 2" on location in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 14 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield, right, his stunt double William Spencer, center, and a second stunt double are seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/WireImage/Getty Images) 15 / 39 Actor Paul Giamatti films a scene at the The Amazing Spiderman 2" movie set in Madison Square Park on June 22, 2013, in New York City. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) 16 / 39 Actor Andrew Garfield is seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/WireImage/Getty Images) 17 / 39 Actor Paul Giamatti is seen on the set of The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Raymond Hall/WireImage/Getty Images) 18 / 39 Actor Paul Giamatti on the set of The Amazing Spiderman 2" in New York Citys Madison Square Park. (Ray Tamarra/Getty Images) 19 / 39 Jamie Foxx on location for The Amazing Spider-Man 2" in New York City. (Bobby Bank/ WireImage/Getty Images) 20 / 39 Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart play mother and daughter filming on location for Still Alice on March 21, 2014, at Lido Beach, N.Y. (Steve Sands/Getty Images) 21 / 39 Richard Gere on the set of Time Out Of Mind on March 26, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImages/Getty Images) 22 / 39 Jeremy Renner films an action scene in Aoasta, Italy, for Avengers: Age of Ultron.. (Photopix/Getty Images) 23 / 39 Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson film on location in Pont-Saint-Martin in Aosta, Italy, for Avengers: Age of Ultron. (Photopix/Getty Images) 24 / 39 Actors are suited up for special effects on the set of Avengers: Age of Ultron in Aosta, Italy. (Photopix/Getty Images) 25 / 39 Richard Gere and Ben Vereen on the set of Time Out Of Mind on March 26, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 26 / 39 Arnold Schwarzenegger performs on the set of Despierta America with Joe Manganiello at Univision Headquarters in Miami. (Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) 27 / 39 Donal Logue, left, and Ben McKenzie on the set of Gotham on March 20, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 28 / 39 Kevin McHale, left, Chord Overstreet, Chris Colfer and Darren Chris on the set of Glee at Washington Square Park on March 14, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 29 / 39 Lea Michele and Michael Lerner on the set of Glee on March 16, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 30 / 39 Louie CK on the set of Louie on Jan. 31, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 31 / 39 Wil Estes and Vanessa Ray on the set of Blue Bloods on Jan. 31, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 32 / 39 Skyler Gisondo and Ben Stiller on the set of Night at the Museum 3" on Feb. 6, 2014, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 33 / 39 George Clooney, second from left, filming Tomorrowland at Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias on Jan. 21, 2014, in Valencia, Spain. (Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images) 34 / 39 Kevin Bacon and Sprague Grayden on the set of The Following on Dec. 10, 2013, in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 35 / 39 Mark Wahlberg is seen on set filming the movie Transfomers 4: Age of Extinction on Sunday October 27,2013 in Hong Kong,China. (TPG/Getty Images) 36 / 39 Mark Wahlberg performs on the set of Transformers: Age of Extinction in Hong Kong on Oct. 26, 2013. (Aaron Tam/ AFP/Getty Images) 37 / 39 Scarlett Johansson filming a scene for her new movie, Lucy on Oct. 21, 2013, in Taipei, China. (TPG/Getty Images) 38 / 39 Director Clint Eastwood, right, and actor John Lloyd Young as Frankie Valli on the set of Jersey Boys in Kearny, N.J. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) 39 / 39 Edie Falco, left, and Julie White on the set of Nurse Jackie in New York City. (Bobby Bank/WireImage/Getty Images) Since 2000, the Multi-Ethnic Coalition has met annually with CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox in a campaign to increase the representation of minorities in front of the camera and behind the scenes of the TV business. The coalitions film initiative follows the #OscarsSoWhite uproar. The dearth of nominations for actors of color ignited debate across the industry and prompted the academy to announce sweeping changes aimed at doubling the number of women and minorities in its ranks by 2020. But coalition representatives said those steps were not sufficient to address the problem. As others have argued, they said meaningful change needs to occur within the executive suites of studios, where decisions are made on what films are greenlighted. the new global realities: America is changing. #OscarsSoWhite: Full coverage of the boycott and Hollywoods reaction Give the white audiences a little more credit, said Daniel Mayeda, co-chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition. Theyll go see movies that star people of color if the stories are compelling. Were not asking for charity. Were saying that the film studios need to catch up to The group cited whitewashing by studios, referencing instances in which minority characters were either played by white actors Emma Stone as an Asian American in Aloha, Ben Affleck as an Hispanic in Argo or ethnic roles that were rewritten to accommodate white actors. The alliance also argued that Hollywood has a tendency to limit roles for actors of color to films about historic or extraordinary figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. or Jackie Robinson, or an especially dignified slave or maid, Mayeda said. It is about how we are perceived by the American public as a whole, said Alex Nogales, president of the National Hispanic Media Coalition. If we are absent, we dont have visibility. If were [cast] in a negative way, thats how we will be treated. The coalition, however, offered few specific proposals on its upcoming meetings with studios. Among other steps, they said they will press studios to track minority employment at all levels and expand pipeline programs to develop minority writers, directors and others. We seek change, Skyhawk said. Were not only going to seek it, were going to demand it. In a surprise shake-up at one of the worlds most revered dance institutions, Benjamin Millepied said Thursday that he will resign his position as the director of dance at the Paris Opera Ballet after a little more than a year, citing personal reasons and his desire to devote himself entirely to artistic creation. Frances loss will be Los Angeles gain: The star dancer and choreographer is planning to move back to Southern California, where he had lived with his wife, actress Natalie Portman, prior to joining the Paris company in 2014. Millepied is a co-founder of L.A. Dance Project, an artist collective created four years ago that has produced modern and contemporary dance at prominent local venues including the Music Center and the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Advertisement SIGN UP for the free Classic Hollywood newsletter >> He has created new dance productions with the company and has performed with members in L.A. and on tour internationally. Millepied made his announcement in a statement posted on his official Twitter account, where he said in French that he isleaving for personal reasons only. Millepied alluded to the administrative burdens that come with leading one of the worlds oldest and most prestigious dance companies. My job as director of dance currently requires such a commitment that it largely precludes what is essential in my eyes artistic creation and expression, he said. Millepied said he wishes to devote himself 100%" to creative workbut added that he intends to stay with the company until the end of the current season, which concludes this summer. On Thursday, Millepied attendeda news conference in Paris with Stephane Lissner, director of the Paris Opera. The company said that dancer Aurelie Dupont, who recently retired from the company, would succeed Millepied starting in August. The 38-year-old Millepied hails from France but has spent much of his career in the United States. He is a former dancerwith the New York City Ballet, where he was a star and rose to the rank of principal. He was considered by many as a bold choice for the venerable Paris Opera Ballet, a 3-century-old company noted for its tradition and old-fashioned ways. In his brief time there, Millepied has sought to modernize the institution, making forays into digital platforms to reach new audiences. It marked the first time that Millepied had led a major dance company. I am sure I will discover all the complications of it once I start, he told The Times shortly after his appointment was announced in 2013. Charles Fabius, a co-founder of L.A. Dance Project, confirmed in an interview that Millepied is relocating to Los Angeles. This is a great opportunity for [us] to reconnect with the founding director on a more regular basis, Fabius said. He has taken this job in Paris extremely seriously. He was committed more than 100% on a daily basis. But he also realized after almost one and a half years, there was a price to pay for that. He had no time for his own artistic expressions as a choreographer. Thats something that is extremely important to him. L.A. Dance Project expects Millepied to work with members on growing the company upon his return, with the possibility of adding more classically trained ballet dancers to the organizations contemporary slant. In her Times review of the companys performance last Friday at the Wallis, Laura Bleiberg said the troupes dancing of Belgian choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaouis work was mesmerizing but other parts of the program could have benefited from a little more maturity. Millepied, who couldnt be reached for comment, remains a popular choreographer with companies around the world. He still plans to create works for the Paris Opera after his departure and is set to debut a new piece later this week with the company. Millepied met Portman on the movie Black Swan, where he served as choreographer. The couple has a young son and had lived in Los Feliz prior to moving to France. Millepied had succeeded Brigitte Lefevre as dance director in Paris. On Thursday, she took a swipe at Millepied, saying in an interview with Europe 1 radio that his appointment had been a risky bet. Hes an enormously charming boy who has a hypersensitive curiosity and who wants to do a lot of things, she said. But the job requires the ability and energy to manage each position, from the administration to the rehearsals. david.ng@latimes.com MORE: In New Faithful Disco, Meg Wolfe and dancers groove through a wild night out Debbie Allen tackles gun violence, race relations in Freeze Frame The new Empire: The Musical, in La Mirada, is more scaffolding than skyscraper Sure, you can take your beloved out for a romantic dinner on Valentines Day or better yet, make it yourself. But for many of us, the best thing about this time of year is neither the hyped prix-fixe dinners nor the cliched bunches of flowers, but the chocolate. Chocolate makes any day worth celebrating, and chocolatiers have some pretty spectacular stuff on hand come February. Whether your tastes run to truffles, heart-shaped boxes, whole bars, chocolate fountains or even chocolate growlers, these 13 shops will have something for you, or the person youre shopping for, or ideally both. Get extra, because Valentines Day can last longer than 24 hours if you have excellent chocolate on hand. ChocoVivo At her Culver City bean-to-bar chocolate shop, Patricia Tsai makes chocolate bars, either plain for baking or in various flavors. Theres a tasting menu for eating on-site, using stone-ground chocolate that comes from a farm in Tabasco, Mexico. The chocolate also goes into mugs of hot chocolate or sipping chocolate. Although you can add dairy to the mugs, the bars themselves have no dairy or soy and are thus great for vegans desperate for good chocolate. The shop feels like Groundwork Coffee Co., with beans and burlap and a counter to sit at and drink and sample from that chocolate tasting menu. If thats not reason enough to become a regular, you can also get the hot chocolate to go in the form of chocolate growlers. 12467 Washington Blvd., Culver City, (310) 845-6259, chocovivo.com. Compartes Walk into Compartes chocolate shop inside Alfred Coffee and Kitchen on Melrose Place, and youll be forgiven for thinking youve found the perfect hybrid of Willy Wonka, a Chanel boutique and a David Bowie music video (sigh). Owner Jonathan Grahm designed the place, which is lined with custom-made chocolate bars in many flavors and has a bathroom devoted to Marilyn Monroe. For Valentines Day this year, Grahm has black-and-gold geometric heart-shaped boxes (the most beautiful in the history of humanity, he says, modestly) filled with chocolates done in more geometrics and colors, including a swank tuxedo design. There are also bars handpainted in edible 24K gold, Kelly Wearstler-designed bars, and something called a Pink Elephants bar, which is topped with pink and white animal crackers. 8428 Melrose Place, West Hollywood, (323) 475-8986; 912 S. Barrington Ave., Brentwood, (310) 826-3380, compartes.com. Advertisement Dylans Candy Bar If you have a preteen or teenage daughter, youve probably spent a lot of time in this upscale sweets shop at the Original Farmers Market. The shop, owned by Dylan Lauren, daughter of Ralph, opened in 2012 as the L.A. outpost of her New York candy boutique. Its a brightly colored fun-house place, loaded with novelty candy, chocolate, help-yourself bins and tables filled with seasonal sweets, including quite a selection for Valentines Day. They have cake pops and an ice cream window with new flavors for the holiday if you want a cone while you shop at the nearby Grove. 6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 930-1600, dylanscandybar.com. Edelweiss Chocolates This old-school Beverly Hills chocolate shop began life in 1942 as Candy Roundup, and if you walk through the shop from the back, as do the regulars, you can see the original machines, which are all still in use. Lucille Ball did this one day when the 1940s-era chocolate enrober was malfunctioning and got the idea for her famous 1952 I Love Lucy episode, Job Switching, which is why theres a picture of Ball above the machine now. The shops second owner was Swiss, and hes the one who renamed the place and added European-style chocolate to the repertoire. Now owned by the Zahir family, Edelweiss continues to make classic chocolates using the original equipment and offers around 85 types of chocolate candies, including their popular chocolate-covered pretzels. New this year: more handmade heart boxes, and a raspberry-marshmallow heart chocolate. A second shop opened in the Brentwood Country Mart in 2005. 444 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, (310) 275-6003, edelweisschocolates.com. Jin Patisserie Since Jin Patisserie closed shop in 2013 on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, its been a bit harder to find Kristy Choos glorious French macarons and chocolates. But theyve hardly disappeared, just relocated. Now in an industrial complex in Culver City, Jin Patisserie operates a tiny retail shop at its production facility, where it does mostly wholesale business and is open six days a week to the public. There you can pick up Choos macarons, cookies and cakes, and selections of her chocolates, all made with Swiss Felchlin chocolate and in a variety of flavors and patterns. New this year: an edible chocolate box. 5741 Buckingham Parkway, Suite D, Culver City, (310) 399-8801, jinpatisserie.com. Joans on Third Joan McNamara has been operating Los Angeles version of Dean & DeLuca since 1998, providing us all with great food, catering and exquisite gifts both from her original shop on 3rd Street and her second shop in Studio City. You can find chocolate in the form of brownies, cookies, cupcakes, roulade and cake slices. And on the counters and racks and shelves, which McNamara fills with gift items, there are Valentines candies, bonbons, heart-shaped cookies and those old-fashioned little conversation hearts we all used to get as kids. 8350 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, (323) 655-2285; 12059 Ventura Place, Studio City, (818) 201-3900, joansonthird.com. John Kelly Chocolates began as a small wholesale chocolate factory in Hollywood 10 years ago; now it has two retail shops, as well as the original factory. (Amy Scattergood / Los Angeles Times) John Kelly Chocolates John Kelly Chocolates began life over decade ago as a wholesale chocolate factory in a small location in Hollywood. Now owners John Kelson and Kelly Green (the company name is a combination of their first names) have a retail shop next to that factory as well as another location in Santa Monica. Their signature Belgian chocolate is something called truffle fudge, and the pair fashion it into various exquisite iterations. They also make walnut caramel clusters, chocolate and peanut butter bars, tiny chocolate frogs and butterflies, chocolate-dipped dried apricots and figs and shortbread. You can also get gift towers, which look like the Platonic ideal of those Harry & David stacked boxes your relatives send you for Christmas. New this year: solid bars of chocolate, in both dark and milk chocolate. 1508 N. Sierra Bonita Ave., Los Angeles, (323) 851-3269; 1111 1/2 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, (310) 899-0900, johnkellychocolates.com. An assortment of chocolates from LArtisan du Chocolat. (Bryan Chan / Los Angeles Times) LArtisan du Chocolat Christian Alexandre and his wife, Whajung Park, have been making exquisite chocolates since 2001, first for Picholine (where the two met) and now at their own store, a tiny shop next to Valerie Confection on 1st Street in the Westlake neighborhood. The couple hes a former mayor from France, shes from South Korea and trained in Paris as a chocolatier make chocolate the traditional French way, with no preservatives and relatively little sugar. The chocolates come in a variety of flavors, from traditional to more unusual, including anise-honey, ginseng, hazelnut, lavender, rose, matcha, pomegranate, Earl Grey, goji berry, cucumber-vodka, speculoos and bacon all stenciled with pretty colored patterns. And for Valentines Day, there are chocolate-filled heart-shaped boxes. 3364 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, (213) 252-8721, lartisanduchocolat.net. Little Flower Candy Co. Christine Moores Pasadena shop is a neighborhood cafe with great sandwiches, salads and baked goods. But its also a fantastic gift shop, stocked with seasonal candies, chocolates and frilly things and Moores sea salt caramels and marshmallows, which engendered her shop in the first place. For Valentines Day, the place has been reconfigured with hearts and lots of pink, including old-fashioned Sweathearts candies and lots of chocolates. 1422 W. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 304-4800,littleflowercandyco.com. Lolli and Pops This shop is a hybrid of two worlds: the contemporary universe of indoor shopping that is the Glendale Galleria and the Old World charm of a shop thats decorated in wood and hand-lettered chalk signs, where the person bagging your chocolates is dressed like an early 20th century soda jerk. Lolli and Pops has (appropriately) a soda fountain, chocolates and candies sourced from around the world, and tables and shelves filled with very cute things, such as teddy bears and giant lollipops, and candy cases filled with chocolate-covered strawberries, marzipan, petits fours and more including, this year, a new selection of aphrodisiac chocolate truffles. Enough said, I guess. 1128 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, (818) 546-1813, lolliandpops.com. Mignon Mignon is a lovely old-fashioned shop, or rather two of them: the original in Glendale, which has been open for a dozen years, and a more recent outpost in Pasadena. Both shops carry a large selection of chocolates, filled and flavored (matcha, saffron marzipan, Cuban mojito, etc.) and often stenciled with pretty patterns. There are Valentines Day boxes, including one filled with red Champagne-ganache-filled chocolate lips. Or, if youre having a really big party for your loved one, you can rent a chocolate fountain, which includes not only the fountain and the chocolate but also a professional chocolate host. New this year: You can build your own 30-piece chocolate heart. 315 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale, (818) 549-9600; 6 E. Holly St., Pasadena, (626) 796-7100, mignonchocolate.com. Sweet It helps to have a kid with you when you navigate this huge candy shop in the Hollywood & Highland complex on Hollywood Boulevard, for morale, for inspiration and because it can be overwhelming if youre not 13. Theres a lot here: a giant portrait of Eminem made out of M&Ms; a portrait of Zach Galifianakis made out of gummy bears; a Chocolate Lab (yes, there are pictures of Labradors) where you can build your own chocolate bars and watch them being made; a TV that loops that I Love Lucy candy episode; and all the displays of hard candies, chocolates, and lots and lots of merchandise. They also have a new RuPaul pop-up shop and an Elvira boutique. 6801 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 201, Los Angeles, (323) 462-3111, sweetlosangeles.com. A variety of chocolates from Valerie Confections. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Valerie Confections Valerie Gordon and her partner, Stan Weightman Jr., started out with a toffee business, and they now have three shops selling chocolates, pastries, confections and lunch. The epicenter of the business is in Westlake on 1st Street, in a cute 4,000-square-foot shop, chocolate factory and bakery. There, Gordon and her staff have, among other things, five chocolate-dipping stations, where they make their chocolate candies, all blended from their unique mixture of Valrhona, Guittard and Noel chocolates. For the holiday, they make special boxes filled with various chocolates, including truffles and caramels as well as chocolates shaped like hearts and golden roses. 3360 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, (213) 739-8149, and two other locations, valerieconfections.com. Because taking pictures of food is almost as much fun as eating it, on Instagram @latimesfood. ALSO: Three great Mexican restaurants in El Sereno Survey: 70% of millennials say they would date a mixologist Is this the rarest sandwich in L.A.? You can only get it once a month Every day at 4 a.m. Blackwell, who goes by his last name only, rides his bike a mile from his home to the north end of the Belmont Shore neighborhood in Long Beach. There, at the base of the pier, is the Belmont Brewing Co., which opened in 1990 and is Southern Californias oldest brewpub. Blackwell has been the head brewer at the waterfront restaurant for 16 years, and he likes to get an early start on his days tasks of monitoring the fermentation of new batches and the washing and scrubbing that he says is the most critical aspect of running a brewery. The Belmont Brewing Co. is a throwback to the 90s heyday of the brewpub model. Were an old school brewpub with a limited number of beer lines, Blackwell says, calling the BBC a neighborhood restaurant that happens to have a brewery. This helped the BBC survive the mid-'90s contraction in the beer industry that saw so many local brewpubs shutter. For years, Blackwell says, the Belmont Shore residents who packed the restaurant nightly werent interested in experimental styles or rotating tap lists, but hes watched as Long Beach developed into a vibrant beer community. Now, he says, all the beer geeks yell at me when I dont brew an IPA. Long Beach has long been a town thirsty for beer, from the oversize schooners of icy-cold American lagers served alongside pickled eggs at the 92-year-old Joe Josts on Anaheim Street to the many decades-old dive bars offering $2 drafts along 4th Street. But it wasnt until 2010 that craft beer culture began to win over the locals. Now theres a new generation of beer lovers, says Blackwell. Advertisement Congregation Ale House founder Travis Ensling says he was struck by the lack of craft beer in L.A. Countys second largest city. When Congregation opened in 2010, Ensling says, It felt like we were the only place with the lights on [the Promenade]. He worried that craft beer would be a tough sell in Long Beach, but his anxieties were short-lived. The locals were looking for craft beer, Ensling says. Early on there was a small but vocal group of dedicated beer geeks who would frequent Congregation, and now, the clientele has so much general [beer] knowledge. Its like a whole generation skipped macro beers and went right to the good stuff. The people in Long Beach are so chill, says Danny Dib, owner of craft-beer-focused retail shop Stearns Liquor. "[Craft beer] got big because of word of mouth, he says. The people drinking it wanted to talk about it. Craft beer outsells its macro-brewed competition at Stearns. As a result, Dib recently opened a second location in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood. Opened in 2006, the original Beachwood restaurant in nearby Seal Beach, founded by Gabe Gordon, has long treated beer with an attention to detail more commonly seen in a fine dining restaurants wine program, from Gordons custom-built draft system which allows each beer to be served at the proper temperature and carbonation level to the collection of different beer glass shapes that best showcase each styles qualities. In 2011 Beachwood BBQ opened a second location in Long Beach, with a brewery, just steps from Congregation on the Promenade. Whereas Belmont Brewing Co. sticks to a handful of approachable styles, Beachwood Brewing goes for diversity. Gordon says head brewer Julian Shrago has developed some 160 beers, including many world-class IPAs, since first firing up the brewhouse. Gordon chose Long Beach for the expansion because much of his regular clientele at the Seal Beach restaurant was driving in from Long Beach anyway. Long Beach has its own vibe. Were kind of a no mans land, he says. Long Beach people like to support their local businesses, they dont like to leave Long Beach, says Brett Gallo, owner of the Stache Bar on East 4th Street. When Gallo opened the bar he was focused on craft cocktails but says, After Congregation and Beachwood opened, people were more exposed to craft beer, and they got really into it. He switched his taps over to highlight California craft beer, and it wasnt long before he added four more lines to keep up with demand. The growth shows no signs of slowing. Dog Haus a beer-and-sausage concept with locations across Los Angeles has opened just steps from Beachwood, and Koreatowns popular Beer Belly plans to expand to downtown Long Beach this summer. Gordon also opened Beachwood Blendery around the corner on Long Beach Boulevard, where he focuses on re-creating the flavors of Old World-style sour ales. With no dedicated production brewery operating in Long Beach proper, breweries in the surrounding regions have found many of their most ardent fans in Long Beach. The Timeless Pints tasting room in Lakewood is often filled with Long Beachers, and Torrances Smog City Brewing will open a satellite tasting room in the Bixby Knolls neighborhood this year. Smog City co-founder Laurie Porter spent a year looking for a location in downtown L.A. for the expansion but found the Long Beach government much easier to work with than Los Angeles. L.A. was excited for us [to open], but they expected us to jump through a lot of hoops. Long Beach has also attracted the attention of craft beers biggest names: a public notice on the old Khourys Restaurant space on the marina notes that San Diego-based craft giant Ballast Point Brewing has filed for a beer manufacturing license for the building. Long Beach is also where many of L.A.'s beer industry workers choose to live and drink, including employees of Orange Countys the Bruery and Martin Svab, the co-founder of Carsons Phantom Carriage Brewery. Beachwood especially is an industry hangout, where brewers from across Southern California often sip pints alongside award-winning home-brewers, local beer geeks and tourists who might have stopped in Long Beach to try the beer. After a long shift in the brewhouse, Blackwell bikes home and settles into a restorative pint while he watches the sun dip into the Pacific. Im not interested in growth, he says. I want to make beer for the people around me. food@latimes.com :: Where to find craft beer in Long Beach Beachwood BBQ and Brewing: 210 E. 3rd St., Long Beach, (562) 436-4020, beachwoodbbq.com Beachwood Blendery: 247 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, beachwoodbbq.com/blendery.html Belmont Brewing Co.: 25 39th Place, Long Beach, (562) 433-3891, www.belmontbrewing.com Congregation Ale House: 201 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 432-2337, congregationalehouse.com Corked: 4100 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach Public Beer & Wine Shop: 121 W. 4th St., Long Beach, (562) 499-0415, www.publicbeerwineshop.com Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery: 1 Pine Ave., Long Beach, (562) 308-2255, www.rockbottom.com Saint & Second: 4828 E. 2nd St., Long Beach, (562) 433-4828, saintandsecond.com The Stache Bar: 941 E. 4th St., Long Beach, (562) 606-2529, www.thestachebar.com Stearns Liquor: 4360 E. Stearns St., Long Beach, (562) 597-3984, www.stearnsliquor.com The Yard House: 401 Shoreline Village Drive, Long Beach, (562) 628-0455, www.yardhouse.com Rice Bar, a diminutive Filipino counter restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, is to a normal restaurant kind of like what tiny houses are to conventional houses. Seven neon yellow stools are jammed up to an L-shaped marble counter that takes up the majority of the 275-square foot space. Behind that counter, Rice Bars chef and owner Charles Olalia cooks on a jigsaw system made up of three rice cookers, two hot plates, a griddle and a warmer. Olalia, who is 32 and originally from Manila, opened this, his first restaurant, six months ago in what was previously a falafel joint. It is a lot smaller than Patina, Joachim Splichals gorgeous flagship fine dining restaurant, which is less than a mile away from Rice Bar, and where Olalia was executive chef until a year and a half ago. Inside the Frank Gehry-designed Disney Hall, Patinas soundproofed kitchen alone is twice the size of Rice Bar, has 10 cooks, two sous-chefs and three dishwashers, and has not only stoves, but an immersion circulator and a mesquite wood grill. At downtown L.A.'s seven-seat Rice Bar, chef Charles Olalia, a veteran of fine dining restaurants, can do what he loves -- make the food of his Filipino childhood. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement I have four pots now, said Olalia on a recent weekday afternoon, as he assembled bowls of fried rice and pork longaniza for the lunch crowd about eight people filling the space like college students jammed into a Volkswagen. When Rice Bar opened last summer, the chef had one pot, and was trying to figure out how to keep it that way, maybe because it was easier to wash that one pot, as Rice Bar doesnt have three dishwashers, but none at all. Olalias decision to leave the world of fine dining to open a tiny restaurant and cook the food of his childhood wasnt sudden, but rather an evolutionary process. And one, unsurprisingly, that has its roots in the house he grew up in, in which youd have found seven kids, parents who were both doctors, and a cook named Chichi who has been in Olalias family for two generations, or close to 50 years. Every one of these recipes you can trace back to Chichi. Olalia talked while he cooked, ladling ginger-infused chicken stock into a bowl, then filling it with rice, poached chicken and papaya. Chichi cooked all the food for the family, mostly in an outdoor kitchen with two stoves and no oven, making at least five dishes for every meal, every day. I never cooked, said Olalia. The house was like a buffet. Instead of cooking, Olalia grew up eating Chichis food Imagine: us kids bringing their friends home for lunch; wed call up Chichi and give him 15 minutes and got a degree in biology, and planned on going to med school like his parents. But then he had a change of heart. Maybe it was the buffets and banquets, the years in which his familys kitchen operated like a pop-up restaurant, but Olalia suddenly switched gears and went to culinary school and then relocated to San Francisco. I wanted to experience life and get away from my family I was looking for something dysfunctional. His first job out of culinary school was at the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay, where he worked in garde manger and banquets for two years. Then he worked at Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas, a two-star Michelin French restaurant at Caesars Palace, for a year and a half. And then? I decided I should go to the French Laundry. Olalia was 23. I had no clue how this industry worked, he says now, grilling house-made longaniza on the griddle at Rice Bar. The chicken tinola dish has free-range chicken simmered in aromatic ginger broth and is served with young papaya, chili leaves and rice. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Recipe: Tinola Olalia was at Thomas Kellers Yountville restaurant, long considered the best in the country, for about five months. I was like, Im ready to settle down in the wine country! Two words: culture shock, he says. You needed a lot of maturity to be in that kitchen. After months as a commis, or junior chef, at the restaurant, he began to have second thoughts, thinking that maybe he should go back and try med school. I was broke, but I wanted to learn how to be a cook and not about the white coat. So, after cooking for Guy Savoy and Thomas Keller, Olalia went to cook at a San Jose family-run bistro for two years. I was looking for perspective. It was one of the best experiences of my life. See the most-read stories in Life & Style this hour >> By then, two of Olalias sisters had moved to Los Angeles, and while visiting them, he began dating a woman the two have since married and started looking for a job in L.A. Thus Patina, the fine dining restaurant inside Disney Halls gorgeous silver jewel box, where Olalia cooked for the next four years, eventually becoming executive chef well before his 30th birthday. I trained him for two years, says Tony Esnault, who was executive chef at Patina before leaving for Church & State, a French bistro in the Arts District, at which point Olalia succeeded him at Patina. What I liked about him, Esnault says of Olalia, was hes very methodical, he has a great personality, hes always smiling. Some chefs, they cannot cook if they dont have this, they dont have that. Chef Charles Olalia scoops up garlic rice. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) The strongest form of cooking is from memory, says Olalia now, handing a takeout container filled with fried rice over the shelf of Rice Bar to a lunchtime diner. I didnt realize that until I got married I came back with a strong sense of needing to cook the food we cooked in the Philippines. After Guy Savoy and the French Laundry and those years at Patina, Olalia cooked for a time in Palos Verdes, then did a series of Filipino pop-ups. And while he tells the story, you get the sense that all those spacious kitchens and beautiful dining rooms were hallways toward his own memory palace, and that they combined with the house he grew up in, and ultimately opened the door to this tiny room on Seventh Street. Lodged between a bead shop and convenience store, its a place that Olalia has filled with counter and kitchen and customers, with bottles of sauces, six cookbooks (three by Roy Choi, Harold McGee and Paul Bertolli, and three Filipino cookbooks), and boxes of heritage rice all jammed into a 275-square-foot box of memories. Look through the windows of Rice Bar and inside youll see a wrap-around marble bar where customers can belly up to one of seven stools for a sit-down lunch. Customers can also pick up orders to go and get a can of soda from a cooler. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) I sat there there was nothing here and I thought, this could be a Filipino restaurant, he says now. I wanted to present more than lumpia and adobo. I was very conscious that the format not be a steam table, the chef says, smiling and thinking about the more typical buffet-style Filipino restaurants. People leave the Philippines for a reason but they forget the good things. Theres nothing like your own culture. amy.scattergood@latimes.com The pitch came hard and fast: The University of California is the nations finest public system of higher education. Financial aid is aplenty. The commitment to diversity is strong. The college recruiter who spoke Thursday to teachers, counselors, parents and more than 100 top students of color at Manual Arts High School should know her stuff. After all, shes president of the 10-campus, 246,000-student UC system Janet Napolitano. The presence of such a luminary on this South Los Angeles campus of low-income, minority youth thrilled and surprised many students. Advertisement She cares about underrepresented students and is really trying to help low-income students attend a UC, said senior Alexis Neri. I really didnt know that before. UC President Janet Napolitano meets with Manual Arts High School students in L.A. during a visit to the campus Thursday. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Alexis is exactly the kind of student Napolitano wants to woo. He has a 4.1 grade-point average, nine college-level Advanced Placement courses on his transcript, accolades in five varsity sports, leadership activities and Mexican immigrant parents who pushed him to succeed even though neither attended college. He has applied to four UC campuses, along with several elite private universities. Napolitanos visit was part of UCs expanded efforts to reach students who are still underrepresented in the system, particularly African Americans and Latinos. UC officials are ramping up a pilot program that helped 12,000 students last fall learn how to prepare themselves to become competitive applicants, navigate the admissions process and access financial aid. The Achieve UC program will be expanded this spring to reach 60,000 additional students at 50 events at churches, career fairs and other venues. Ultimately, officials hope to make it a year-round program. Were putting Achieve UC on steroids, Napolitano said. We want students and their families to know that a UC education is attainable and its affordable. Shortly after the 1996 passage of Proposition 209 barred the use of race and ethnicity in college admissions decisions, the proportion of black and Latino students at UC campuses took a well-publicized nose-dive. Achieve UC is the latest in a long series of outreach programs designed to increase their numbers. The UC chief said she was stepping up recruitment efforts after noting that the number of black and Latino students at UC is still disproportionately low. Although the system is designed for the top 12.5% of California students, the share of black and Latino freshmen admitted to UC for fall 2014 fell thousands short of that goal, compared to the number of potential applicants. African Americans made up 5.9% of the states high school graduates in 2014, but only 4.3% of those admitted to UCs freshman class that fall; Latinos were 47% of Californias high school graduates but only 28.9% of those admitted. In addition, while the number and proportion of Latino students have steadily increased at UC since 1997, the number of African Americans fell to 2,653 last year from 2,747 in 2013. I wasnt happy with the numbers, Napolitano added. I thought we could do more. We should be more focused. We should put some real energy into this. The biggest misperception about UC, she said, is that its unaffordable to working-class families. And so she hammered home messages about financial aid in separate meetings with teachers and counselors, students, and their mostly Spanish-speaking parents. The Blue and Gold scholarship will cover all tuition for families earning less than $80,000. The new UC Dream Loan program offers aid to undocumented students, who are ineligible for federal loans. About 45% of UC students graduate debt-free, and those who dont end up owing less than $20,000 a worthwhile investment, she said, that doesnt depreciate the way a car does. Napolitano also touted a program that helps community college students make a smooth transition to UC and told students that grades and standardized test scores are only two of 14 criteria officials consider in making their admissions decisions. As part of what they call a holistic review, admissions officers also ask whether students have special talents, contribute to their campuses or take care of their family. The students peppered Napolitano with questions. Her biggest challenge? Getting more state funding. Role models? Her parents. Thoughts on Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders call for fee-free college educations? I dont think its feasible, she said. I appreciate the sentiment ... but youve got to ask, who pays? Follow the Times education initiative to inform parents, educators and students across California >> Asked by an administrator who had applied to UC, several seniors raised their hands. It remains to be seen whether Napolitanos personal visit will prompt them to enroll if accepted. Ricardo Angulo, the schools valedictorian who boasts a 4.6 GPA and leadership positions with the swim, robotics and academic decathlon teams, applied to four UC campuses. But for now, he said, hes leaning toward USC, in part because of connections built with graduate students there who assist with robotics and other programs at Manual Arts. Alexis has his eye on Harvard. But Napolitano still has a shot: He said funding to help him study abroad in France and do research in chemical engineering could nudge him to a UC school. teresa.watanabe@latimes.com Twitter: @TeresaWatanabe ALSO Its not just Hogwarts: J.K. Rowling reveals other wizarding schools What happens to the $63 million if no one claims California lottery ticket? How a Lincoln High teacher gets all his students to pass the AP Calculus exam The flu season is ramping up in California, and public health officials say they only expect it to worsen in the coming weeks. Data released Friday morning shows that cases of the flu are as expected for this time of year. Still, the number of flu hospitalizations and deaths falls far below what California has experienced in recent years. As of the end of January, seven Californians under the age of 65 had died from the flu since the start of the season in October. At this time last year, there had been 18 flu deaths, and two years ago, there were 147 deaths. Advertisement But experts say that could be because the last two flu seasons peaked in December, while this one looks like it might peak in February. Though flu activity in the state has been mild so far, all signs point to an impending outbreak, said Dr. Jose Dryjanski, infectious disease specialist and Kaiser Permanente Southern Californias co-regional infectious disease lead. Already this week, more people have been showing up at Kaiser urgent care centers and emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms than went to the centers a few weeks ago, he said. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> And Californias flu season often lags behind the rest of the country, since the virus travels from east to west, Dryjanski said. Last year, the flu season peaked nationally in December, but peaked in California in January. I think we are going to have a peak in a week or two weeks, and were going to see much more influenza than what weve been seeing up until now, said Dryjanski. Helen Macfie, who monitors emergency room visits at Southern Californias six MemorialCare Hospitals, also said that more patients have been showing up at emergency rooms with flu-like symptoms over the last two weeks. I think its that late-arrival flu, she said. Nationally, numbers of flu cases are low in most states, but experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that they expect to see more in the coming weeks. Testing by the CDC shows the most common strains of flu going around this year are H1N1, H3N2, H1N1 and some B viruses. Researchers found that the strains circulating now match those included in the available vaccine meaning that this years flu shot is probably providing strong immunity. Interested in the stories shaping California? Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >> Public health officials recommend that everyone over 6 months old get a flu shot. It takes about two weeks for the vaccine to begin offering protection. If you havent gotten the flu vaccine, theres still time, Dryjanski said. It will still protect you. Follow @skarlamangla on Twitter for more health news. ALSO Mistakenly released murder suspect remains at large Coastal Commission chief defends his record as panel moves to fire him #101SlowJam: Garcetti tries to ease the pain of a freeway closure with a music video A judge on Friday sentenced a Rowland Heights doctor to 30 years to life in prison for the murders of three of her patients who fatally overdosed, ending a landmark case that some medical experts say could reshape how doctors nationwide handle prescriptions. The sentence came after a Los Angeles jury last year found Dr. Hsiu-Ying Lisa Tseng guilty of second-degree murder, the first time a doctor had been convicted of murder in the United States for overprescribing drugs, the district attorneys office said. Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli said before sentencing Tseng that she had attempted to blame patients, pharmacists and other doctors rather than take responsibility for her own actions. Advertisement It seems to be an attempt to put the blame on someone else, he said. Very irresponsible. Tseng, wearing blue jail scrubs, apologized to the victims families, her family and medical society. Im really terribly sorry, she said, before addressing the courtroom audience, which was crowded with victims relatives. I have been and forever will be praying for you. May God bless all of you and grant comfort to all who have been affected by my actions. April Rovero, whose son, Joey, died after mixing alcohol with Xanax and oxycodone he had obtained from Tseng, sat expressionless, listening to Tsengs first public show of remorse. It feels too late, Rovero said outside the courtroom. But it was better to hear something than nothing. Rovero, who founded the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse after her sons death, praised the judges decision. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Justice has been served, she said. Tseng, 46, who was a general practitioner, is among a small but growing number of doctors charged with murder for prescribing painkillers that killed patients. A Florida doctor was acquitted of first-degree murder in September. Some experts fear that Tsengs conviction will usher in a precarious new reality -- a scenario in which doctors fearful of prosecution are hesitant to prescribe potent painkillers to patients who need them. Attorney Peter Osinoff, who represented Tseng before the state medical board, told the judge during Fridays hearing that the doctor no longer represents a danger to society since she surrendered her medical license in 2012. The trial had already had a deterrent effect on other doctors and has captured the medical communitys attention. More primary care physicians no longer accept or treat chronic pain patients in their practice, he told the judge. Outside the courtroom, Osinoff said Tsengs prosecution has had a negative impact on physicians and patients. The doctors are scared out of their minds, he said. The pendulum has swung so far. The people who need [pain medication] cant get it now. Other medical experts have echoed his concerns since Tseng was charged in 2012. When you use the word murder, said Dr. Peter Staats, president of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, of course its going to have a chilling effect. Staats said he believes an aggressive medical board -- not prosecutors -- should go after reckless doctors. But, he added, any doctor who is prescribing pills knowing that they are being abused or diverted shouldnt be called a doctor. Thats not the practice of medicine, Staats said. Dr. Francis Riegler, a pain specialist who works in Palmdale, said he has followed Tsengs case and talked about the prosecution with fellow doctors across the country. We agree, he said, that if youre doing the right thing -- if youre one of the good guys, if you will -- you dont need to worry about being prosecuted for murder. During Tsengs trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. John Niedermann told jurors that there were red flags in her prescribing habits. More than a dozen times, the prosecutor said, a coroners or law enforcement official called with the same stark message: Your patient has died. Her prescribing habits, Niedermann said, remained unchanged. The prosecutor told jurors that Tseng wrote a mans name on prescriptions so his wife could get twice as many pills, openly referred to her patients as druggies and sometimes made up medical records. Her motivation, Niedermann said, was financial. Between 2007, when Tseng joined the Rowland Heights clinic where her husband worked, and 2010, tax returns show that their office made $5 million, he said. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey said the conviction sent an unflinching message to medical professionals. In this case, Lacey said, the doctor stole the lives of three young people in her misguided effort to get rich quick. Tseng was convicted of murder for the deaths of Vu Nguyen, 28, of Lake Forest; Steven Ogle, 25, of Palm Desert; and Joey Rovero, 21, an Arizona State University student who prosecutors say traveled more than 300 miles with friends from Tempe, Ariz., to obtain prescriptions from Tseng at her Rowland Heights clinic. The jury also found Tseng guilty on more than a dozen illegal-prescribing counts. In a four-page written statement submitted to the judge before her sentencing, Tseng discussed the accusation. I terribly regret that even after learning of the overdoses, I did not investigate my prescribing practices to see if they played a role, she said, adding that she doesnt believe she was ever properly trained in addiction medicine or pain management. I told myself that my patients conduct was beyond my control, she wrote. Most of what she learned about pain management, she said, came after DEA agents and medical board officials raided her office in 2010. In the letter, Tseng said that she now realizes that personal problems undiagnosed depression, hoarding and difficulty juggling work and her children interfered with her abilities to be a good physician. I was not the doctor I should have been for the patients who came to me, she wrote. I know that being remorseful for my failures as a doctor and as a person does not reverse time or does not help the families heal their grief.... No words can properly describe the sadness. For more news from the Los Angeles County criminal courts, follow @marisagerber on Twitter. MORE LOCAL NEWS: Time expires on claims for winning $63-million Lotto jackpot Mt. Baldy hiker plummets to his death after rescuing friend Two charged with murder in the Montecito Heights killings of two teens Two executives at a Los Angeles-based real estate development company and two of their employees have been indicted on charges they defrauded government agencies of millions of dollars in funds for housing low-income families. The 67-page federal grand jury indictment says Salim Karimi and three others at Advanced Development and Investment Inc. engaged in a conspiracy to fraudulently obtain more than $50 million in loan proceeds for affordable housing projects in Chinatown, Glendale and elsewhere. As part of the scheme, Karimi and others submitted fraudulent invoices that significantly overstated the true costs of framing, plumbing, drywall and other construction work at affordable-housing projects built with taxpayer support, according to the federal grand jury indictment, which was filed in 2014 and unsealed this week. Advertisement See the most-read stories this hour >> Karimi, ADIs onetime president and co-owner, was arrested Dec. 26 in Mumbai, India, as he was boarding a plane to Mexico, according to Indian police. He was later released on bail of 15,000 rupees, or around $225. In the U.S., he has been charged with felony counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, tax evasion and making false statements to a federal financial institution. Federal officials are seeking Karimis extradition. Atulchandra Kulkarni, chief of the Mumbai police crime branch, said police have filed an appeal to cancel Karimis bail so he can be turned over to the U.S. Also facing federal charges are Ajit Mithaiwala, ADIs founder and Karimis father-in-law; Ulhas Jain, ADIs controller; and Mekala Ganapathy, who ran the companys compliance department. Prosecutors believe they also are in India, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office in Los Angeles. We are continuing to look for the other three defendants with the intention of seeing them face the charges in Los Angeles, he said. Neither the four defendants nor their lawyers could be reached for comment by The Times. ADI built 50 affordable-housing projects across California over nearly two decades. The conspiracy spanned from 2001 to 2010, according to the federal indictment. Among the companys victims were the cities of Los Angeles and Glendale, as well as banks that provided construction loans, the document states. ADIs financial practices first became public in 2010 as part of divorce proceedings between Karimi and Jannki Mithaiwala, daughter of the companys founder. A court-appointed receiver overseeing the company informed the divorce court that he had uncovered potential fraud and criminal activity. An investigation by The Times found ADI subcontractors provided more than $400,000 in campaign contributions to politicians across the state, including at least $165,000 in Los Angeles. Four subcontractors told The Times they felt pressured to donate by ADI. In Glendales 2009 City Council election, nearly one of every four dollars received by the top four candidates more than $100,000 came from ADI subcontractors, those subcontractors employees and the employees relatives, The Times found. Glendale provided ADI more than $33 million to help build four affordable-housing projects. Officials there believe roughly half that amount was lost because of fraud. Hopefully theyll be able to bring these folks into custody and look at their assets, Glendale City Manager Scott Ochoa said. Because whatever assets theyre sitting on, at least some of that should accrue back to Glendale. In Los Angeles, officials provided $29 million in subsidies for 15 apartment projects. After the federal probe into ADI was launched, ethics investigators concluded that ADI employees had engaged in campaign money laundering reimbursing donors so that they could exceed the citys limits on campaign contributions. david.zahniser@latimes.com shashank.bengali@latimes.com ALSO Op-Ed: Does it make sense to build affordable housing in Venice? Some Newport Beach residents angry over 12-unit, affordable-housing project Opinion: L.A. housing is expensive, sure. But are you paying too much for your rental? Zika virus, a disease once only found in Africa and Southeast Asia, has spread rapidly into the Americas, bringing with it a fear of birth defects. The illness is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes, and no one in the United States has yet been infected with Zika from a bug bite. But the mosquitoes that carry the disease are found in California, and officials say we must limit their spread to make sure the infection doesnt take root here. Advertisement Are these the typical mosquitoes were used to in California? No. Californians are most familiar with Culex mosquitoes, which dont carry Zika virus. The ones that can transmit Zika are the Asian tiger mosquito and the yellow fever mosquito Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti, respectively. Theyre not native to California. How did they end up here? Experts think the infestation in L.A. County started in 2011 in El Monte. The mosquitoes are believed to have been transported from Southeast Asia in shipments of bamboo plants. How do I know if they are near me? Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 12 of Californias 58 counties, officials say. You can check this map of the state made by the California Public Health Department to see the regions where theyve been found so far. Nationwide, Aedes mosquitoes are found in the eastern half of the United States, some southeastern states and California. How are they different from Culex mosquitoes? Aedes mosquitoes are about half the size of normal mosquitoes -- just about a quarter of an inch long -- and they have black and white stripes. Theyre also known for being unusually aggressive. They cant be easily swatted away and readily follow people into buildings or cars. And while most mosquitoes bite during dawn and dusk, these mosquitoes are out during the daytime. Do all Aedes mosquitoes have Zika virus? No. The mosquitoes are not born with the virus (or any other viruses). The insect can only start carrying Zika if it bites someone whos been recently infected. The mosquito can then transmit the virus if it bites someone else. Interestingly, female mosquitoes are the only ones that bite, said Dr. Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Assn. Male mosquitoes typically feed on nectar, he said. Aedes mosquitoes can also transmit dengue and chikungunya, diseases which kill thousands of people each year in other parts of the world. Ive never seen these mosquitoes near my home. Do I need to do anything? Public health officials recommend that you wear insect repellent and clothing that covers most of your body, especially if youre in an area where theres a reported infestation. The same applies if youre traveling to a place where theres an outbreak. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is regularly updating this list of countries with Zika outbreaks. Its also a good idea to use screens on your windows, which will also help keep out Culex mosquitoes, which transmit West Nile virus. And even if youve never seen mosquitoes near your home, experts recommend that you inspect your yard for eggs. The insects eggs can last for years, waiting for the right conditions for hatching. Aedes mosquitoes tend to lay their eggs along the waterline of flower vases, buckets and other containers that hold water. When they containers are filled up, the eggs get the water they need to hatch. And hatching season is coming up, experts warn. Its a really good idea, especially going into the spring, that people do this survey now, he said. I think theres a mosquito infestation near me. What should I do? You should report black-and-white, daytime-biting mosquitoes to your local vector control agency. (Vector is a fancy word for something that transmits disease.) You can often get a free inspection and treatment when you report infestations. The Greater Los Angeles Vector Control District has a list of the cities it serves here. If youre covered by that district, you can let them know about the infestation by calling 562-944-9656 or visiting www.ReportMosquitoes.org. At the bottom of this page on the agencys website, there is also a tool where you can locate your local vector control agency by entering your zip code. Officials also recommend that you dont let water accumulate in your backyard, since mosquitoes breed in standing water. Get rid of buckets of water in your backyard, and drill holes in the bottom of pots and old tires so water doesnt accumulate. Theres probably a million places to look, Fredericks said. These mosquitoes can breed in as little as an ounce of water, or breed in a bottle cap. Follow @skarlamangla on Twitter for more health news. Another round of powerful winds will bring Santa Ana conditions to Los Angeles and Ventura counties through the weekend, and possibly into early next week. Winds could top off at 50 mph in the mountains and 45 mph in the valleys as a high pressure system builds across the area Friday afternoon through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. As strong wind gusts sweep over the area, dry and warm conditions will push temperatures into the high 80s along the coast and in the valleys. Humidity will also drop into the single digits. Thats bad news for Southern Californias fire danger. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Although higher-than-normal rainfall associated with El Nino has helped lessen the risk of wildfires in Northern California, drought-stricken Southern California hasnt been so lucky, according to the National Interagency Coordination Center. Precipitation has reached only near-normal levels in Southern California, so high winds and warm and dry conditions could be problematic for the area for the next several days, forecasters say. No rain in sight for at least the next seven days, said forecasters from the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Powerful winds topping 70 mph wreaked havoc in Southern California on Sunday and Monday, toppling trees and causing widespread power outages. In San Diego, strong winds knocked a massive tree onto a car in Pacific Beach, killing a woman inside. Similar conditions are possible over the weekend, forecasters said. Forecasters warned the high winds could create hazardous driving conditions, cause power outages and bring down tree limbs. Along the coast, high surf is expected Friday in Central California as well as Los Angeles and Ventura County beaches. Surf could reach 18 feet at beaches along the central coast. Ten-foot surf could strike near Ventura Harbor. For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA ALSO Meet the unusually aggressive mosquitoes carrying Zika Time expires on claims for winning $63-million Lotto jackpot Abcarian: Barren a year ago, a snowpack station comes up deep and dense A third student from Santa Clara University has fallen ill with a meningococcal infection and has been hospitalized in fair condition, according to the Santa Clara Public Health Department. Two other undergraduate students tested positive earlier this week for infection by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Symptoms for the first two students have been improving, university officials said. The three students were under close medical supervision. Advertisement As a student-centered institution, we place the highest priority on the care and concern for our students, Dean of Students Jeanne Rosenberger said in a statement. Our current circumstances remind us of this. Our community extends our thoughts and prayers to them for a speedy recovery. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The sudden illness prompted health and university officials to set up a temporary vaccination clinic Thursday and Friday for students. Thursdays clinic drew a large turnout and about 1,500 vaccinations were administered to students. In Alameda County, health officials said a Bay Area man, who worked at Argosy University, died of meningitis from a strain of bacteria that was not disclosed. The Health Department notified Argosy, a network of 28 for-profit colleges in the United States, on Jan. 25 of the mans death, said Sherri Willis, spokeswoman of the Alameda County Public Health Department. One of the 28 universities is in Alameda. Health officials gave preventive medicine to school staff and students who had contact with the employee. Health officials said the death appeared to be unrelated to the Santa Clara University cases. For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Is the end in sight for the Porter Ranch-area gas leak? Why did so many California kids get whooping cough despite being vaccinated? WARNING: Having your home team in the Super Bowl may be hazardous to your health Hes accused of unleashing a fusillade of deadly gunfire at a Tacoma, Wash., convenience store and then fleeing the scene on a skateboard. Now, federal authorities say Robert Deshawn Grott, 29, has escaped to Los Angeles and residents should watch out. Robert Grott should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached, the FBI said. The gun used in the homicide has not been recovered. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> Grott is accused of killing 23-year-old Julian Thomas on Monday, after firing 46 rounds into and around the victims car at an AM/PM convenience store. Thomas was struck more than 10 times, according to the Pierce County prosecuting attorneys office. Authorities believe the shooter reloaded twice before rolling away on a skateboard. Prosecutors say he was then followed by two bystanders. According to prosecutors, Grotts mother reviewed surveillance footage and confirmed that the shooter was her son. She told investigators that she and her son were involved in a dispute over a missing or stolen handgun several months ago. After searching Grotts home, police found a case for a Glock 9-millimeter pistol with casings similar to those found at the shooting, prosecutors said. Grotts mother, who lives in California, told Tacoma police she was aware that her son was wanted in connection with the slaying, prosecutors said. She reportedly told authorities that her son was likely headed to California with a younger brother who has a car. On Thursday, the suspects brother -- Rashaad Dominique Grott, 22 -- turned himself over to deputies in West Hollywood, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. He told authorities that he drove his brother from Tacoma to Los Angeles, the Sheriffs Department said. He is charged with helping his brother flee the state, prosecutors said. The FBI said Robert Grott spent the night at a hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday. He is wanted on suspicion of murder and fleeing to avoid prosecution. Anyone with details about Robert Grotts whereabouts is urged to call 911. For breaking news in California, follow VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter. ALSO Flu season is starting to pick up in California Mistakenly released murder suspect remains at large Doctor gets 30 years to life for murders in L.A. case tied to patients overdoses Another night, another quarrel. Democrats may as well get used to it, as Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders wage an increasingly pitched fight for the partys presidential nomination. Clashing one-on-one for the first time, in a Thursday night debate a day after a New Hampshire town hall, the more than two hours of jostling over healthcare, Wall Street regulation, what it means to be a true progressive came down to a fundamental question: Do Democrats want ground-shaking change after eight years in control of the White House, as Sanders promises, or mere refinement of the programs and policies that President Obama put into place, as Clinton suggests? Advertisement What we have got to do is wage a political revolution, where millions of people who have given up on the political process stand up and fight back, Sanders, Vermonts independent senator, declared. Clinton suggested that Sanders was promising far more than he could deliver. Lets go down a path where we can actually tell people what we will do, she said. A progressive is someone who makes progress. Thats what I intend to do. The debate at the University of New Hampshire in Durham fell three days after Clinton scratched out an exceedingly narrow victory over Sanders in the Iowa caucuses and five days before their next test, New Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary. The fact the session took place at all was a reflection of the changed nature of the contest. Originally, Clinton agreed to just six debates sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee, which has weathered criticism it tried to shelter the partys front-runner and stave off a serious challenge. Her willingness to join Sanders onstage and agree to later debates in Michigan and California was just one sign the race has grown much tougher than Clinton and her supporters had hoped. The debate, hosted by MSNBC, featured a longer and deeper discussion of issues, even if many of them were touched upon in earlier debates. There was also a sharper edge to many of the exchanges, especially when Clinton accused Sanders of impugning her personal integrity by citing the money the former New York senator raised in contributions and speechmaking fees from Wall Street. Accusing Sanders of wielding innuendo and insinuation, Clinton contended that she had never been bought and was as vigorous as anyone when it came to regulating the financial industry and warning against its excesses. I think its time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out, she said as a chorus of cheers and jeers rose from the partisan crowd. Sanders, eyes wide and his voice rising, countered that there was a reason that Wall Street, major pharmaceutical companies and other special interests wield enormous political power, and suggested that anyone who denied it was naive. Noting that not a single Wall Street executive was jailed for wrongdoing associated with the Great Recession, he said, That is what power is about, that is what corruption is about, and that is what has to change in the United States of America. Another back-and-forth, over healthcare, spoke to the candidates competing visions. Sanders renewed his call for a government-run system providing coverage for every American, similar to that in many countries. They are spending significantly less per capita on healthcare than we are, Sanders said. So I do not accept the belief that the United States of America cant do that. Clinton insisted that Sanders numbers just dont add up and warned that his proposal would plunge the nation into a debate that would undercut the expansion of healthcare to millions of Americans under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. I dont want to rip away the coverage that people already have, she said. Sanders bristled. The idea that I would dismantle healthcare in America while were waiting to pass a Medicare-for-all is just not accurate, he said. At another point, Clinton vociferously rejected Sanders assertion that she was not a genuine progressive or, put another way, sufficiently liberal. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street, Clinton said, adding that Vice President Joe Biden would be disqualified for supporting the Keystone XL pipeline and the late Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, a revered liberal, for opposing same-sex marriage. She then ticked off instances of Sanders opposing gun controls and immigration reforms to question the senators liberal credentials. We could go back and forth like this, Clinton concluded, but the fact is most people watching tonight want to know what weve done and what we will do. The two also differed sharply once more over Clintons vote as a senator in 2002, when Sanders was a member of the House, to support the war in Iraq. Experience is not the only point, Sanders said, going at one of the chief rationales for Clintons candidacy. Judgment is. And once again, back in 2002 when we both looked at the same evidence about the wisdom of the war in Iraq, one of us voted the right way, and one of us didnt. We did differ, Clinton responded, then spun the issue forward by referring to the terrorist group Islamic State, also known as ISIS, and questioning Sanders capabilities on foreign policy and defense issues. A vote in 2002, she said, is not a plan to defeat ISIS. The issue of Clintons private email server was raised by Chuck Todd, a co-moderator, who asked whether Clinton could reassure Democrats that a pending FBI investigation would not pose problems should she win the nomination. She cited reports Thursday that former Secretary of State Colin Powell and others in President George W. Bushs administration had received email containing classified information on their personal accounts. I never sent or received any classified material, she said. They are retroactively classifying it. I agree completely with Secretary Powell, who said today this is an absurdity. Sanders stood by his refusal to attack Clinton on the issue, as Republicans have done with gusto. I will not politicize it, he said. Absent from the stage was former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley, who quit the race after his poor performance in Iowa. While still considered the front-runner nationally, Clinton is a decided underdog in New Hampshire, trailing by double digits in recent polls. Part of that is doubtless familiarity with Sanders; New Hampshire voters have a tradition of affinity for their New England neighbors. Part of it may also be the desire for a contest the state cherishes its influence in the nomination process, and voters here are notoriously late deciders. Clinton has been in this position before. She arrived in New Hampshire in 2008 trailing in polls after finishing third in Iowa behind then-Sen. Barack Obama, who hoped to swiftly wrap up the nomination with a primary win. Instead, Clintons come-from-behind victory set off a nominating fight that stretched all the way to June. This time shes the one hoping to shut the race down quickly. But many Democrats, while hoping for a speedy, relatively amicable resolution, are bracing for a rough contest that could last a good while. mark.barabak@latimes.com Twitter: @markzbarabak evan.halper@latimes.com Twitter: @evanhalper Barabak reported from Manchester, N.H., and Halper from Durham. Times staff writers Michael Finnegan in Manchester and Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles contributed to this report. ALSO Why young feminists are choosing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton Labels, smears and other takeaways from the Democratic debate Apocalyptic campaign rhetoric amid the bucolic New Hampshire scenery With the Iowa caucuses behind us and New Hampshires primary just days away, the primary races on both sides have suddenly become much more clear. On the GOP side, the party establishment has started to consolidate around Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who is rising in several New Hampshire polls. If Rubio continues his upward trend, the three establishment-friendly governors (current and former) in the race -- Chris Christie, John Kasich and Jeb Bush -- will have little chance. Theyre fighting back hard, as my colleague Chris Megerian chronicled. On the Democratic side, the near-tie in Iowa was a big moral victory for Sen. Bernie Sanders. But moral victories dont win nominations. Sanders will almost certainly score a real victory over Hillary Clinton on Tuesday in New Hampshire. But he still faces the same problem he has had since he began -- he has to win non-white voters to prevail in a minority-heavy Democratic Party. The first real test will come in Nevada on Feb. 20, and even as they fight it out in the New England snow, both sides are pouring resources into that next battleground. Advertisement Good afternoon, Im David Lauter, Washington Bureau chief, welcome to the Friday edition of our Essential Politics newsletter, where we review the events of the past week on the campaign trail and single out for attention stories that provided particular insight and are worth a weekend read if youve missed them. Trumps loss in Iowa answered some key questions about the race, as Michael Finnegan wrote. We now know that his lack of organization on the ground and failure to invest in the infrastructure of a modern political campaign really do make a difference, even for a celebrity. Unless he changes his approach, we should expect him to continue to underperform his standing in polls. Trumps problems are good news for Senators Ted Cruz and Rubio. The Florida senator is the hot candidate this week, but as Cathy Decker and Lisa Mascaro analyzed the race, they noted that there are still some big hurdles in Rubios way. One thing he does not have to worry about is the extremely crowded nature of the GOP field -- candidates are dropping out rapidly. One who is still hanging in, but perhaps not for much longer, is Carly Fiorina. Heres Seema Mehta on Fiorinas fade. Finally, Decker analyzed two important elements of the GOP race: Even in New Hampshire, far from the Mexican border, immigration dominates the GOP debate. Thats true despite the fact that only a little more than 10% of GOP voters say the issue is their top priority. Her analysis explains why. Decker also looked at the sometimes apocalyptic pitches that GOP candidates are making to angry and aggrieved voters. Over on the Democratic side, Evan Halper examined why Clinton cant attract support from young feminists, a key problem for her as she struggles with Sanders insurgency. Decker looked at how the ideological fight raging in the Democratic Party mirrors a similar battle that has pulled the GOP to the right over the last decade. And Kate Linthicum examined new polling data that indicate a surge of Latino voting in the Iowa caucus this year. Lastly, does the campaign approach of Trump -- and Rubio, to a lesser extent -- mean the death of retail politics? A lot of New Hampshire political activists fear that could be the case, Mike Memoli found. The TV-heavy campaigns of those two GOP front-runners undermine the stock in trade that New Hampshire and Iowa can offer. That wraps up this week. My colleague, Christina Bellantoni, will be back Monday with the weekday edition of Essential Politics. Until then, keep track of all the developments in the 2016 campaign with our Trail Guide, at our politics page and on Twitter at @latimespolitics. Send your comments, suggestions and news tips to politics@latimes.com. Hillary Clinton leans on women to get out the vote. And one criticizes Donald Trumps hair Four days out from the New Hampshire primary, Hillary Clinton was intent on persuading women to close the margin by which she trails Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and also to play down the odds of actually pulling it off. Pulling it off was what Clinton did in 2008 against Barack Obama, as she reminded an audience at a YWCA in Manchester. But Sanders is a next-door resident and retains a substantial lead over Clinton in every poll taken in New Hampshire. Clinton seemed to suggest she might have had the option of skipping New Hampshire, although that was never in the cards in a state which not only resurrected her campaign but, in 1992, her husbands. People kind of opine: OK, you won Iowa, but you know youre running against a neighbor. In New Hampshire, neighbors seem to win, she said, deflating expectations for next Tuesday. And I say, look thats neighborly; I have no problem with that, but Im going to make my case with the people of New Hampshire. Clinton said her campaign would keep fighting until the last vote is counted on Tuesday, although the candidate herself is leaving briefly to visit Flint, Mich., where lead from water pipes has poisoned residents. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow was one of a group of Democratic female senators who traveled to New Hampshire to support Clinton and try to rev up supporters planning to knock doors for the candidate in the midst of a driving snowstorm. She told the audience that Clinton was the only candidate to have called her office to offer help the Flint residents a jab at Sanders. She also mocked his call for a political revolution that would elect him to the White House. This is the moment, Stabenow said. When folks talk about a revolution, the revolution is electing the first woman president. Thats the revolution. We are ready for the revolution. Other female senators also compared Sanders, their colleague, unfavorably to Clinton. Were not supporting her because shes a woman; were supporting her because shes the very best person in this race, said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Shes smart, shes tough and she doesnt need any on-the-job training. Shaheen may have unintentionally alluded to the challenge ahead for Clinton here when she asked not for a victory on Tuesday but for a strong vote in other words, a narrowing of the gap that Clinton can cast as a moral victory. Clinton used her come-from-behind win in her last campaign to encourage her supporters. I know from my last experience here, when I came in 16 points down or something like that but whos counting? she said. I wasnt running against a neighbor but an incredibly charismatic candidate, as we all remember. The only reason I was able to pull that off was because of you. Stabenow broke up the crowd with a reminiscence of something that many women have been told at some point in their political careers. And some of it touched on criticisms that have been made of Clinton herself, which the senator wanted to dispel before Tuesday. Theres always a message we get, about were too this or too that, she said. Wait your turn. You smile too much; you must not be serious. You dont smile enough; you must not be friendly. You talk too much. Youre too serious. And I wouldnt want to have a beer with you. Or, I do want to have a beer with you, but you cant run security for our country. Your hair! she continued. Donald Trumps hair what about that hair? Come on. After almost five years of civil war in Syria, a three-week postponement of United Nations negotiations to end the conflict might seem like a minor setback. Staffan de Mistura, the U.N. special envoy for Syria, said on Wednesday that what he called a temporary pause in the talks that had begun just five days earlier is not the end and it is not the failure of the talks. But the causes of the delay continued disagreement over who will represent the opposition to President Bashar Assad and a demand by rebels that Syrian government forces and Russia end attacks on their positions are not procedural quibbles. If they arent addressed quickly there could be a collapse of the diplomatic process, more bloodshed and a further exodus of refugees from a country that already seen more than 4 million people seek a haven outside its borders. To date, an estimated 250,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Advertisement Although the current diplomatic initiative was launched by a diverse group of countries, including allies of Assad and patrons of the opposition groups, its survival might well depend on whether the U.S. and Russia can reach what would essentially be a side deal. Secretary of State John F. Kerry has been in urgent contact with his Russian counterpart, but so far has failed to persuade Russia to end or ease its air assault on non-Islamic State targets. Russia seems determined to help the Syrian army recapture as much territory as possible in order to maximize Assads position at the talks but instead, the effect could be to prevent those talks from taking place at all. Russias continued airstrikes undermine its assertions that it supports the U.N. plan for a cease-fire leading to a credible, inclusive and nonsectarian transition government and elections within 18 months. After initially suggesting that Assad must step down, the U.S. has accepted that postponing his departure might be the price of an agreement that would make it easier to focus on defeating Islamic State in Syria. (There is, however, nothing in the U.N. resolution prohibiting Assad from seeking another term.) The modified U.S. position is a defensible exercise in pragmatism, but Russia must also do its part by de-escalating its military activities and pressing Assad to negotiate even with opposition figures he calls terrorists. Some of President Obamas critics including some of the Republicans who seek to succeed him have faulted the administration for an insufficiently muscular policy in Syria. Its true that the administration was caught by surprise by Russias military intervention and has been conflicted about how strongly to resist it as well as whether and how to aid opposition groups. But Obama is right to see a negotiated political solution as the best way to end the death, the deprivation, the starvation and the violence that are devastating Syria. Russia, which professes to agree, should match its actions to its words. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook MORE ON SYRIA Video of a dead city: This is what Syrias devastation looks like U.S. pledges nearly $1 billion for Syrian refugee crisis Each side in Syria peace talks blames the other for causing temporary pause As Iowa voters headed to their caucus sites Monday, 94-year-old Rosanell Eaton sat in the first row of a federal courtroom in Winston-Salem, N.C., to witness the closing arguments of a trial challenging North Carolinas new voter identification law. Eaton, who is African American and grew up in the Jim Crow South, had to recite the preamble to the Constitution from memory to register to vote. She had been participating in elections for 70 years when North Carolina passed its strict voter ID law in 2013. Lawyers for the North Carolina NAACP played a videotaped deposition during the trial of Eaton recounting how the names on her drivers license and voter registration card did not match. To get her paperwork in order, Eaton had to make 11 trips to different state agencies in 2015, totaling more than 200 miles and 20 hours. Im disgusted, Eaton told the Raleigh News & Observer as she left the courtroom. Advertisement North Carolina is one of 16 states that have new voting restrictions in place since the last presidential contest, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, accounting for 178 electoral votes, including in crucial swing states such as Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia. The voting changes include requiring government-issued photo ID to cast a ballot, cutting early voting, eliminating election-day voter registration and demanding proof of citizenship to register. For voters like Eaton, how and if theyll be able to cast a ballot will be as big of a question as who theyll vote for this year. The nationwide push to make it harder to vote began in earnest after the 2010 election, when Republicans gained control of an unprecedented number of states. Their goal was to make the electorate older, whiter and more conservative compared with the younger and more diverse electorate that turned out in record numbers for Barack Obama in 2008. Although the connection isnt obvious to everyone, these voting restrictions disproportionately affect the core of Obamas political coalition, including young people (some states exclude student IDs from the list of acceptable documents) and minority voters (who are more likely to vote early and less likely than whites to have state-issued IDs). A new study by political scientists at UC San Diego found that a strict ID law could be expected to depress Latino turnout by 9.3 points, Black turnout by 8.6 points, and Asian American turnout by 12.5 points. In 2013, voter suppression efforts got a powerful shot in the arm when the Supreme Court invalidated the centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act. Many new voting laws were blocked by the Justice Department and federal courts during the 2012 election; and Republican attempts to restrict the franchise may have led to a backlash among minority voters. In 2012, for the first time in U.S. history, black turnout rates exceeded white turnout rates. But in 2013, voter suppression efforts got a powerful shot in the arm when the Supreme Court invalidated the centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act, ruling that states with the longest histories of voting discrimination no longer had to approve their election changes with the federal government. As a result of the decision, new restrictions were allowed to take effect in states such as Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi. The 2016 election will be the first presidential contest in 50 years where voters cannot rely on the full protections of the Voting Rights Act. Of course its not just former Confederate states that have moved to gum up the democratic process. New Hampshire, which will hold its primary on Tuesday, has a new voter ID law on the books. Those without the required ID can still cast a regular ballot by signing an affidavit, but they will have to let poll workers take their pictures, which could lead to voter intimidation and longer lines at the polls. Wait times increased by 50% when the voter ID law was partially implemented, without the camera requirement, during the 2012 election. The latest struggle over voting rights is at root a battle over the countrys changing demographics and how much political power minority populations can exercise. The 2016 electorate will be the most diverse in American history, with voters of color making up 31% of eligible voters, up from 29% in 2012, according to the Pew Research Center. Given the Republican Partys reliance on white voters and unpopularity among minority voters, it should come as no surprise that the leading GOP presidential contenders have all supported tough voting restrictions. Ted Cruz was an early proponent of voter ID laws; Marco Rubio defended the cutbacks to early voting in Florida that led to six-hour lines in 2012; Jeb Bush presided over a disastrous voter purge during the 2000 election in Florida that kept thousands from voting; John Kasich signed legislation in Ohio cutting early voting and eliminating same-day voter registration; Chris Christie vetoed legislation that wouldve added early voting and online registration in New Jersey. The differences between the parties on voting rights have never been starker. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have called for restoring the Voting Rights Act and expanding reforms such as early voting and automatic voter registration. These are positive developments, but its ultimately bad for democracy when access to the ballot becomes a bitterly partisan issue. Ari Berman is a senior contributing writer for the Nation and the author of Give Us the Ballot: The Modern Struggle for Voting Rights in America. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook When I was at university in London in the early 1990s, Michael Jacksons mega-hit Black or White was forever blaring in the student bar. As we drank our flat beers, wed sing along: It dont matter if youre black or white. On American campuses, that statement might now be perceived as a so-called microaggression. Recently I visited USC and UC Irvine. The students I met saw themselves and their classmates as colors more than characters. They obsessed over the historical baggage their pigmentation allegedly brought with it. As a white man thats how one USC student started almost every sentence. As a white man he has privilege, suffers from ignorance and requires sensitivity instruction. Advertisement At Irvine, a black student told me that white students and white faculty lack knowledge of the black experience and require education to remedy that problem. I heard a white female student talk about the privilege of paleness. Discuss this story on our Facebook page >> Many shared the view that interaction between the races is all but impossible without the guiding hand of race experts. A white student at UC Irvine told me that his schools efforts to ensure a positive climate for black students isnt enough: they need seminars on racial understanding to allow white students to better understand black students and possibly vice versa, he added, cautiously. I found it all deeply dispiriting. Racial understanding sounds nice; its always good to be understanding, right? Yet the logic of it strikes me as dire. It rehabilitates, in politically correct lingo, the belief that skin color is more important than what lies beneath. Indeed, some university administrators now actively encourage their students to be color-conscious rather than colorblind. A University of California document titled Recognizing Microaggressions lists various potentially offensive phrases that students and faculty should avoid using. It includes: When I look at you, I dont see color; There is only one race: the human race; and I dont believe in race. Challenging racial thinking doesnt mean denying the reality of racism. It goes on to say that colorblindness, a refusal to acknowledge race, is about denying the individual as a racial/cultural being. I thought that was precisely the aim of the liberal project: to deny that individuals are racial beings, and in fact to fight against such a foul idea. What happened to the truism that race is a construct? Having gone through my life refusing to treat people as racial beings, must I now change tack, and think racially, if I want to be seen as good? Californias hardly alone in this. At the University of Missouri, staff have been encouraged to see colorblindness as disempowering for people whose racial identity is an important part of who they are. The new racial imagination is reaching its nadir with demands for minority-only or minority-specific spaces. At Oberlin College, students want rooms across campus designated as a safe space for Africana identifying students. Afrikan Heritage House should not be the only space allotted for the promotion and acknowledgement of our community specifics needs. At New York University, students are calling for an entire floor of the mixed use building in the Southern Supblock plan [to] be dedicated to students of color. At UCLA, the Afrikan Student Union claims that black students lack spaces where they feel safe and comfortable. The solution? An Afrikan Diaspora floor branded as a safe space for all black students. I guess if you put the word safe in front of segregation, its suddenly all right? This is what the politics of identity has wrought. As were implored to define ourselves by our race, gender, sexuality or some other given trait over which we have little control, we become separated from one another. Some will say I can afford to be colorblind because Im a white man. I dont experience racialized hardship, so its easy for me to say: Race doesnt matter. But challenging racial thinking doesnt mean denying the reality of racism. Ultimately I find these new campus movements profoundly pessimistic. Theyve accepted the reactionary view that its not only possible but desirable to categorize people by color and as a corollary that genuine integration is futile. Excuse me for wanting no part in it. Brendan ONeill is editor of the online magazine Spiked. He visited USC and UC Irvine to speak at the conference Freedom of Expression in a Changing World: What Cannot Be Said. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, FXs new miniseries about one of L.A.'s most spectacular celebrity trials, isnt perfect. It gets some details a little wrong it conflated Nicole Brown Simpsons funeral with the viewing of her body in the first episode, for instance, and exaggerated to the point of caricature the eccentricities of a couple of significant players. But when it comes to the big thing about the case, The People v. O.J. Simpson is exactly right. By 1994, when Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were slain in Brentwood, the Los Angeles Police Department had so ruptured its relationship with those it served that even the most unlikely accusations against it could be taken seriously. The miniseries opened Tuesday with a sequence that telegraphed that context. The first shot was a clip from the videotaped beating of Rodney G. King on March 3, 1991. It then segued into a series of depictions of the riots that happened the following year, after the officers responsible for Kings beating were acquitted of all but one count in state court (the jury hung on that charge). Advertisement Those images were painful to watch I covered the federal trial of those officers, as well as the riots and Simpsons murder trial but the series smartly grasped the intersection of those tortuous and sometimes terrifying events. For many, the videotape of the King beating was overdue vindication, proof at last that they had been telling the truth when they accused LAPD officers of brutality, especially in their treatment of black male suspects. Indeed, the most shocking aspect of the tape may not even have been the torrent of blows inflicted on King but rather the fact that none of the 19 LAPD officers who witnessed the incident bothered to report anything wrong until after the video surfaced. By 1994 ... the Los Angeles Police Department had so ruptured its relationship with those it served that even the most unlikely accusations against it could be taken seriously. When a Ventura County jury in 1992 refused to hold those officers criminally liable for despicable actions the whole world could see, Angelenos sense of vindication curdled into fury. Hundreds of structures were burned; dozens of people killed. Even President George H.W. Bush described the officers actions as revolting. Compounding the anger directed against the LAPD officers involved in the King beating was despair over the departments response to the unrest that followed. When the riots began, Chief Daryl F. Gates was attending a fundraiser to defeat police reform. In his absence, the department moved indecisively as crowds gathered and turned violent. At police headquarters that afternoon I watched in amazement as a mob overturned a guard shack and set it on fire. Those on duty at Parker Center stayed inside and watched. The investigations of the LAPD in those years by various commissions, the press and others offered shocking confirmation of a culture that had gone dangerously wrong. Police slang for incidents of domestic violence in African American homes was NHI. That stood for no humans involved. On the night of the King beating, one of the officers used a department mobile device (this was before cellphones) to describe to a colleague another such incident as right out of Gorillas in the Mist. Another officer gave this advice to a colleague confronting a suspect: Capture him, beat him and treat him like dirt. It was against that history that Simpsons defense team served up its critique of the case against its client: The LAPD, it argued, was so sloppy it might have mishandled important evidence, and the department was so corrupt that it was capable of framing a famous suspect, especially a black man. There were many reasons to doubt the notion of a frame-up. Chiefly: Simpson was eminently recognizable, so if police planted evidence to frame him, they would have risked later discovering that he had a solid alibi. That would have turned their plot against them. But what the defense team exploited, and what the FX series conveys, is that its almost beside the point to argue for or against the idea that Simpson was framed. By 1994 in L.A., such a thing wasnt out of the question, and a jury presented with that argument wasnt crazy to believe it. There is a profound lesson in the trial and acquittal of O.J. Simpson for the many police departments today wrestling with declining public confidence in their integrity. Just last week, a Chicago Tribune poll found that more than half of all residents of the nations third-largest city distrust their police force. It seems safe to assume thats true in places like Ferguson, Mo.; North Charleston, S.C.; and Baltimore. The Simpson case should remind those cities that the evaporation of trust not only damages public safety and puts police officers at risk, it also undermines citizens confidence in every part of the justice system and makes jurors receptive to the charge that law enforcement is irredeemable. To do their job, police need the publics trust, and once it is lost, it takes a massive effort to recover it. The People v. O.J. Simpson gets that fact. Are police executives and political leaders around the county watching? Jim Newton is editor-in-chief of Blueprint magazine. He was a reporter, editor, bureau chief and columnist for the Los Angeles Times for 25 years. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Thursday nights Democratic presidential debate included one brief exchange that showed some overlap but also a sharp philosophical difference between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on a persistently fractious issue: the death penalty. The exchange came in response to a question by co-moderator Rachel Maddow, who asked Clinton whether she still stood by an earlier statement in which she reluctantly endorsed capital punishment. Yes, I do. And you know, what I hope the Supreme Court will do is make it absolutely clear that any state that continues capital punishment either must meet the highest standards of evidentiary proof of effective assistance of counsel or they cannot continue it because that, to me, is the real dividing line. Advertisement I have much more confidence in the federal system, and I do reserve it for particularly heinous crimes in the federal system, like terrorism. I have strong feelings about that. I thought it was appropriate after a very thorough trial that Timothy McVeigh received the death penalty for blowing up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children in a day-care center. I do for very limited, particularly heinous crimes believe it is an appropriate punishment, but I deeply disagree with the way that too many states are still implementing it. If it were possible to separate the federal from the state system by the Supreme Court, that would, I think, be an appropriate outcome. Sanders staked out the opposite turf from Clinton, arguing that the death penalty is too prone to error to be trusted but also said more broadly that of course there are barbaric acts out there. But in a world of so much violence and killing, I just dont believe that government itself should be part of the killing. To her credit, Clinton has said she would breathe a sigh of relief if the Supreme Court were to ban the practice. But there are two underlying problems with her position as staked out Thursday night. First is the implication that effective counsel is all it takes to guarantee a fair trial, when many of the death penalty exonerations weve seen in recent years have hinged on prosecutorial or investigative misconduct (including hiding potentially exculpatory evidence from the defense) and lying witnesses. Even the best defense lawyers will have trouble overcoming such practices. Second is Clintons suggestion that somehow the federal system has got it right on how to get a clean conviction and a method of execution that is not unconstitutionally cruel and unusual. She cited the case of McVeigh, whose atrocious act of anti-government terrorism killed 168 people, including children at a day-care center, in the federal Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City in 1995. That was a heinous act of terrorism, and she called his execution appropriate. But its only appropriate if you view vengeance as the purview of the state. McVeigh was irredeemable and caused unimaginable pain and loss, but that doesnt mean it was just for the government to kill him in return. If killing is wrong, then its inconsistent to vest that power in the state. Thats the moral argument against the death penalty. The pragmatic one expensive, indiscriminate, prone to manipulation doesnt inherently give the federal system a pass. In an adversarial judicial system, the goal is to win as much as it is to reach truth and justice. Since McVeighs execution, the federal government has put to death two more men: Juan Raul Garza just eight days after McVeigh in 2001, and Louis Jones Jr. in 2003. Neither involved terrorism. In the first case, the government executed Garza despite international protests that the courts had allowed the prosecutor to tell the jury that Garza, a major drug-trafficker convicted of ordering the murders of two people and killing a third himself, was a suspect in more murders in Mexico crimes for which he had never been charged and for which he could not mount a defense during the sentencing hearing. Would the jury have voted for death without that information? Who knows, but insinuation should not be evidence in determining whether someone lives or dies. The execution of Jones was even more problematic. A highly decorated Gulf War vet with diagnosed psychiatric problems from his service, Jones life fell apart after the war, propelled largely by his exposure to chemical agents. He was convicted of the 1995 rape and murder of a 19-year-old female Army recruit on a military base. A horrific crime, yes, but it seems to fall outside Clintons endorsement of capital punishment for particularly heinous crimes in the federal system, like terrorism. And theres nothing to suggest that the federal system cant fall victim to the same sorts of manipulations that dog the state courts. And the federal death row includes people convicted of the same kinds of murders for which state courts invoke the death penalty. In fact, the only person on federal death row convicted of terrorism killings is Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving Boston bomber. Minorities also make up a disproportionate number of federal sentences (44% black, 39% white, 13% Latino and 2% Native American). Its hard to see much daylight between the federal and state capital punishment systems, other than a matter of scale. The 60 people currently under a federal death sentence (these are the eligible crimes) are dwarfed by the estimated 2,950 people on state death rows. The death penalty isnt likely to be a pivotal issue in the nominating contests for either major party, nor in the general election. Thats unfortunate. Its among the most pressing ethical issues of the day, and challenges to it could well bring more cases to the Supreme Court in the relatively near future. As it is, Florida and Delaware are struggling to reconfigure their systems after a recent Supreme Court decision that juries and not a judge must determine death sentences. And here in California, voters may have a choice of two death-penalty initiatives, one to ban it and the other to speed up the execution calendar. More candidates ought to be talking about it, and more voters should be bringing it up. And I hope Clinton will re-think her stance on it. Follow Scott Martelle on Twitter @smartelle. The villages and towns of New Hampshire are as scenic as ever, the people as friendly as can be. The unemployment rate is 3.1%, about a third lower than the national rate. It seems an unlikely place for the apocalypse. Yet that or something close to it -- is the threat that pours forth from Republican politicians careening across this state, and the advertisements blasting from the states televisions. There is an assault on everything we stand for, says Donald Trumps newest ad here. Advertisement TRAIL GUIDE: All the latest news on the 2016 presidential campaign >> After seven long years of this president, we feel our country slipping away, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida says in his newest ad. Economic calamity ... is befalling our nation, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas says in his ad. It is that kind of election year, here and elsewhere. There are occasional glimpses of hope, to be sure, but the election is suffused with nasty campaign ads and tough denunciations of the countrys state of being. It is not that the country is suffering -- it is suffering enormously, and everywhere. It is less the election of a new president, the candidates suggest, than a battle for the countrys soul. It is a campaign aimed at the angry and the aggrieved. The master of apocalyptic political speech is Trump, who has fanned voter concerns into a depressed froth as he campaigns across the state. Christianity is under siege, the 2nd Amendment is under siege; so many things are under siege, he declared Thursday at the Exeter Town Hall. Join the conversation on Facebook >> According to Trump, nearly everything is going wrong, all the time, due to politicians. Were in big trouble because were going in the wrong direction, Trump said. The economy is terrible; our trade with foreign countries is horrible. Theyre taking it away from us. We are being decimated on trade, were being decimated by China, Japan, every single country we do business with, and its never going to change with these politicians. For good measure, he added later that were being beaten in so many different ways all the other countries in the world are ripping us off. And by the way, ripping us off and dont respect us and mock us. That sort of approach gains steam from the broad animosity among Republicans for President Obama if he is running the country, it must be nearing collapse. But it also reflects the remnants of an economic recession that deeply shook many in New Hampshire, including the blue-collar white voters at whom many of the candidates are aiming their messages. The current low unemployment rate masks that continued concern, according to University of New Hampshire political scientist Dante Scala. Its a tale of two New Hampshires, he said. Your level of education probably has a big part to play in how well you weathered the Great Recession. Especially if youre 30-something or 40 when it hit, even if you didnt lose your job, it was the first big economic uncertainty in your adult lives. It left some scars in that regard. Trump, who leads in Republican polls here, days before the Feb. 9 primary, may be the ranking expert in playing on those fears. But other candidates are making the same arguments. In a speech in Henniker on Wednesday, Cruz asked supporters to pray daily to father God to pull us back from the abyss. We have faced the abyss before, and the American people came together and pulled this country back, he said. Cruz, who cast the coming election as an inflection point in history, was particularly scornful of Obamas handling of the economy. (The unemployment rate was 8.3% his first month in office, peaked at 10% a few months later and is 5.0% now.) It is a failed economic plan, he said. Rubio burst into the presidential campaign as the optimistic banner-carrier of a new generation. But he, too, speaks as if the country is about to fall off the cliff. The election, he said earlier this week in Exeter, is a referendum on our identity after the tenure of Obama, whom he called a terrible commander in chief. His voice rose in anger at times, matching the sentiments of some in his audience, or so he suggested midway through the speech. You have a right to be angry, he said. Twitter: @cathleendecker See the most-read stories this hour >> ALSO Why young feminists are choosing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton Labels, smears and other takeaways from the Democratic debate Presidential race plays out in Congress: Which candidates do Californias members support? With the New Hampshire primary poised to cut down the Republican field, candidates are sharpening their knives in a desperate bid for survival that on Thursday resembled a group attack on Sen. Marco Rubio, the freshman senator from Florida. Ted Cruz, the Texas senator, has been telling crowds that Rubio agrees with Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton about giving amnesty to immigrants in the country illegally. Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, gave Rubio a back-handed compliment, calling him a great speaker who appears incapable of making a tough decision. Then there is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who seemed to be competing for a prize in aggressiveness, calling Rubio the boy in the bubble who is sheltered from tough questions and portraying him as too callow to serve as president. Advertisement Rubios side took some shots of their own. In response to Cruzs charges about amnesty, the campaign said in a statement: Cruz is lying. Marco opposes amnesty. The intensity of the rhetoric is a sign of how much is riding on New Hampshire, the perception that Rubio is on the rise and the degree to which his rivals have a common interest in stopping him. A strong showing by Rubio here could make him the main rival to Cruz, who finished first in the Iowa caucuses, and cripple efforts by Bush and Christie to consolidate establishment support. By contrast, Donald Trump, still the leader in New Hampshire polls, has largely ignored Rubio. So too has Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who held his fire Thursday, even though hes staked his candidacy on New Hampshire. He demurred when given an opportunity to draw sharper contrasts with Rubio. This is the time now to be positive, he said. Rubio, who finished third in the Iowa caucuses, is pitching himself to Republican voters as the only candidate who can unify the party and deliver them a victory in Novembers general election. Clinton is scared of him, he told a Manchester crowd Thursday. I give the party the best chance to win, Rubio said, eschewing criticism of his opponents in favor of broadsides against President Obama. For his supporters, the attacks from other candidates are just proof that theyre backing the right one. Everyone else is fighting among themselves, Debora Hallahan, 60, a nurse from Manchester who went to see the senator speak Thursday. Marco Rubio goes straight to the issues. An average of New Hampshire polls by the political website Real Clear Politics shows Rubio in second place, 20 percentage points behind Trump. Nipping at Rubios heels is Cruz, followed by Kasich, Bush and Christie, in that order. Polls here can shift rapidly in the closing days of the campaign, however, particularly with multiple candidates in the field. Poor outcomes in the Iowa caucuses already have ended the bids of three GOP candidates -- former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. That still leaves nine Republican candidates, but New Hampshire probably will eliminate several of them. Bush said he was prepared to continue his campaign in South Carolina, but hes also counting on New Hampshire to reset the primary battle and resucitate his flagging candidacy. Christie is more publicly counting on New Hampshire, telling the Washington Post that he would have to reconsider his campaign if he doesnt beat his fellow governors, Kasich and Bush, in the state. Kasich has held nearly 100 town halls in New Hampshire in hopes that his moderate brand of Republican politics will connect with voters. Cruz doesnt have as much riding on the state as any of the three governors, but he has his own reasons for targeting Rubio. If he lets Marco get his legs underneath him, and becomes someone who mainstream conservatives can rally around, then this game is over financially, said Rick Wilson, a Republican strategist who has worked with a pro-Rubio super PAC. Rubios momentum is also a concern for Jeff Kuhner, a conservative talk show host from Boston who backs Cruz and introduced the Texas senator at a Nashua event Wednesday. If Cruz and Trump keep fighting each other, and the governors keep fighting over the same slice of the moderate electorate, it creates an opportunity for the Florida senator, Kuhner said. With everyone bleeding each other, he said, Rubio and the establishment come up the middle. For more on Campaign 2016, follow @ChrisMegerian Times staff writers Mark Z. Barabak and Evan Halper contributed to this report. ALSO: Democrats stage their first one-on-one debate Far from Mexican border, immigration still dominates campaign debate Why young feminists choose Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton The Democratic presidential campaign is most obviously a fight between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. It is also a contest over what kind of party Democrats want to have and what level of purity will be required to be part of it. The partys leftward swing this year, made obvious by the surge of support for democratic socialist Sanders and his call for political revolution, marks a direct reversal of the partys shift to the center in the 1990s. That lurch, engineered by Clintons husband Bill and his allies, moderated the party after its loss of 5-of-6 presidential campaigns from 1968 through 1988 and ushered in a period of top-of-the-ticket Democratic dominance and, for a time, control of Congress. Clintons response to Sanders strength has been to put forward her own brand of pragmatic liberalism and to insist that her plans are more achievable given Republican strength on Capitol Hill and a deeply-divided country. That is a less-than-satisfying response for many Democrats who want to seize on this campaign to pick a nominee who reflects the partys more-liberal present and not its moderate past. Advertisement TRAIL GUIDE: All the latest news on the 2016 presidential campaign >> Both Sanders and Clinton are riding the impact of increased partisanship and polarization in the country, the same factors that have forced Republicans through internal bloodbaths. A Gallup survey released earlier this year showed the growth of more ideological wings in both parties. Among Democrats, 45% identified themselves as liberal, up 6 points since 2011 and 16 points since 2000. The change has been driven in large part by a growing minority vote and the increasing youth of the party. Republicans growing pains were the mirror image, with self-identified conservatives growing to 68% of the party, up 6 points since 2000. The fight over what defines a Democrat will spark repercussions throughout the presidential race and into the general election, for the different answers suggest vastly different paths to the presidency. Sanders view is that by drawing enthusiastic support he can expand turnout nationally and in the states to create a mandate for his ideas. Democrats win when there is a large voter turnout, when people are excited, when working people, middle-class people and young people are prepared to engage in the political process, the Vermont senator said Thursday. Clinton portrayed herself as the natural successor to President Obama and someone whose views would find support among both Democrats, independents and moderates who might be put off by Sanders inciting call. I believethat I am the strongest candidate, she said. But what Im concerned about is the views of many Democrats who know their states, who know how hard it is to win a general election. The fight between Clinton and Sanders has become tart and antagonistic in recent days as the two have battled over whether Clinton is a progressive, the self-definition of many of the partys liberal voters. In the debate, Clinton objected that Sanders was setting himself up as the self-proclaimed gatekeeper of the progressive wing. I am a progressive who gets things done, Clinton said. Ive heard Senator Sanders comments, and its really caused me to wonder whos left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street; Vice President Biden is not progressive because he supported Keystone; Sen. [Jeanne] Shaheen [of New Hampshire] is not progressive because she supports the trade pact. Even the late, great Senator Paul Wellstone [of Minnesota] would not fit this definition. Asked if he had established a definition of progressivism that was too narrow, Sanders said that a threshold issue was campaign finance and that candidates like Clinton, who has raised vast sums from Wall Street, didnt pass muster. He also illustrated a contradiction when he said that Obama, who also has raised millions from Wall Street, was acceptably progressive. Much of the dispute has taken on a personal cast. Clinton has clearly been irritated that her status in the up-and-coming segment of the Democratic party was being questioned after she suffered decades of criticism from Republicans and their conservative allies who have accused her of being too liberal. She also noted three times in the two-hour debate that she is the target of new ads paid for by hedge fund financiersa bit of irony given Sanders criticism of her Wall Street ties. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Every step along the way, I have stood up and fought and have the scars to prove it, she said. It is her history, however, that gives some Democrats pause. Her husbands push for the North American Free Trade Agreement is still a point of dispute among opponents, particularly in organized labor, which at the time argued that American jobs would be lost. Tradeand Clintons more moderate views on the subjecthave been one of the areas cited by Sanders when he critiques her positions. Sanders reflects the liberal state in which he has spent his political career. Clinton has seen first hand the national tableau that for years has required a whiff of moderation for a Democratic candidate to succeed. Bill Clintons 1992 campaign was greatly aided by his support for welfare reform, a centrist position that set him apart from the liberal Democratic nominees who had preceded him. President Obama had an easier task given overwhelming turnout for his 2008 election, but his trade and environmental views since have led to charges that he, like Clinton, is no progressive. And across the country, nearly all Democrats who have succeeded in winning races for governor have taken more moderate stands than Sanders. Republicans are watching the Democratic battle with a sense of deja vu, for they have suffered through similar difficulties. The purity challenge bedeviling Clinton has as its GOP corollary this years evisceration of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. From the time he entered the race, he has been hit for his support for legal status for immigrants in the country illegally and for his past backing of the Common Core educational standards. Until the polarizing Donald Trump entered the race, polls showed Bush was often the GOP candidate most disdained by his partys voters. The GOP fight has broadened recently with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio trading shots on immigration, each accusing the other of being too soft on the issue. Clinton had hoped that the Democratic version of the fratricide would be dispensed with in a swift primary season that gave her plenty of time to unite her party against the common enemy: whoever emerges as the Republican nominee. But while Sanders has a rougher road ahead as the campaign moves to more diverse states where Clinton is stronger, he has aroused great enthusiasm among voters. He also has raised giant sums of money with relatively little effort, ensuring that his campaignand the fight over what a Democrat should bewill endure. cathleen.decker@latimes.com For political news and analysis, follow me on Twitter: @cathleendecker . For more on politics, go to latimes.com/decker. ALSO Why young feminists are choosing Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton Labels, smears and other takeaways from the Democratic debate Apocalyptic campaign rhetoric amid the bucolic New Hampshire scenery Clinton and Sanders vigorously spar in New Hampshire debate, a sign of things to come A state official said Thursday that under the most favorable circumstances, the damaged well that has spewed environmentally damaging natural gas from a storage facility near Porter Ranch could be capped as early as the end of next week. But the timeline, he cautioned, was fraught with variables. Wade Crowfoot, a senior advisor to Gov. Jerry Brown, told those at a public meeting at Cal State Northridge that the relief well that is still being drilled was tentatively expected to intercept the leaking well as early as Monday. After reaching the well at the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility, Southern California Gas Co.'s crews could then begin sealing the well in a process that could take certainly not less than five days, he said. Advertisement Crowfoots comments offered a more detailed timeline for stopping the leak than has the gas company, which reiterated in a statement issued Thursday night that it planned to stop the leak by the end of February, if not sooner. While we cannot confirm how long the process will take, we are working to do this as safely and expeditiously as possible, said Kristine Lloyd, a spokeswoman for the utility. The well, located in the largest underground natural gas storage facility west of the Mississippi River, has been leaking since Oct. 23 and has released about 80,000 metric tons of methane. The gas and other odorants have prompted complaints of headaches and nosebleeds, and the leak has displaced residents from about 5,000 homes in Porter Ranch and surrounding communities. Last month, Brown declared an emergency, and this week, Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey filed criminal charges against the utility, accusing it of releasing air contaminants and neglecting to report the emission of hazardous materials until three days after the leak began. At the meeting, which is held regularly by a local committee, Crowfoot said that once the crews had intercepted the damaged well, they would begin pumping fluid and mud into the well to kill it. Next, the concrete would be pumped into the well to plug it, and the concrete would have to cure and dry. Then, state regulators would have to confirm the leak has actually stopped; a spokesman for the governor said the length of that process is unknown. But the task of plugging the well about 1.6 miles below ground is mired in uncertainties: the relief well could miss its target; it could take a long time to pump in the mud and fluid; and the overall process may not stanch the leak, he said. In the event that the first relief well fails, the gas company decided to drill a second relief well. Drilling on the second well is scheduled to begin Monday. Gillian Wright, a gas company executive who also attended the meeting, told the visibly frustrated residents that Crowfoots timeline was a tentative schedule, not a definitive one. We are very close to the end of the leak; however, we are also in the most technically demanding phase of the work, Wright said. With the possible end of the leaking well in sight, the timeline for residents to return to home has emerged as another contentious issue. The gas company and the L.A. city attorneys office agreed in December that residents who relocated would return to their homes within 48 hours once authorities certify that the leak has stopped. Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, however, wants residents to have additional time, and he is expected to introduce a motion Tuesday that expands the timeline to 30 days. This will provide adequate time for displaced residents to move their families and pets back into the community, the supervisors motion said. Gas company representatives and the city attorneys office said they are already discussing an extension of the 48-hour provision. For residents who chose to temporarily relocate, the gas company offered to pay as much as $7,500 a month for rent, $500 for utilities and $500 in moving expenses. Customers who remained in their homes were provided with air filters and weather stripping for their doors. Also on Tuesday, representatives of the gas company, public health agencies, the Fire Department and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are expected to provide a status update on the gas leak to the Board of Supervisors. matt.hamilton@latimes.com Twitter: @MattHjourno Times staff writer Alice Walton contributed to this report. ALSO: Time expires on claims for winning $63-million Lotto jackpot BMX and X Games star Dave Mirra dies at 41 in apparent suicide How are Muslims around the world reacting to Obamas visit to a mosque? A reproduction of a graceful beluga whale is now on display inside the historic gas station at Adams Square Mini Park, the final piece of an art series that is coming to a close. The inflated whale floats in the air as if it were traversing the ocean deep and is illuminated by a blue light at night. NEWSLETTER: Stay up to date with whats going on in and around your neighborhood >> The installation is the fourth and final of a debut art program that was spurred by a partnership between the city and a local neighborhood group. I think people were really excited to see something happening at the gas station after all these years, said Cathy Hrenda, events chair of the Adams Hill Neighborhood Assn. Titled Belugas Journey, the piece was created by Los Angeles-based artist YaYa Chou originally from Taiwan and it has been on the move to different locations since 2008. The display serves as a reminder of the perils large aquatic animals face in captivity, Chou said in a statement. An opening reception for Belugas Journey will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the park, located at 1020 Palmer Ave. It will be on display through March 9. The gas station art series featured a handful of other three-dimensional works including a group project composed of model homes made by local residents to reimagine the Adams Hill neighborhood. The park opened in 2007 and features the 1930s-era gas station that was basically idle until the installations came about. Whats nice about having temporary art is that, if you dont like it one month, next month, there could be something you love, Hrenda said. After Belugas Journey closes, there will be a discussion about continuing the program, she said. The Glendale Arts and Culture Commission which gave the green light for the program the first time around is interested in another round of soliciting artists, said Teri Deaver, a commission member. She said she expects there will be a vote sometime in the first quarter of this year. Its definitely part of our work plan to keep it going, Deaver said. There will also be a discussion about how much funding should go into it. The first iteration of the series paid to insure the artists works while they were on display. There could be a discussion about whether to start offering a stipend to possibly widen the pool of artists, Deaver said. Reflecting on how the gas station has evolved, Deaver said it serves as not only a stage for emerging artists to showcase their installations, but also acts as a community gathering spot. It brings in a sense of vitality when people can have a reason to come out and come together and experience something together, Deaver said. In December, the Adams Mini Park Gas Station was added to the citys Register of Historic Resources. -- Arin Mikailian, arin.mikailian@latimes.com Twitter: @ArinMikailian Former Southland-trained boxer Jamie Kavanagh escaped safely Friday when gunmen fired assault weapons at a weigh-in in Dublin, Ireland, killing one person, before the lightweights planned Saturday bout. Anyone asking Im OK! was posted on Kavanaghs Twitter account. Thanks you for asking. I was lucky today is all I can say . Footage of the shooting emerged, showing an unknown boxer stepping off a scale just before gunshots erupted, with the man filming the chaotic scene rushing outside with a young girl believed to be his daughter. Advertisement See more of our top stories on Facebook >> The 25-year-old Kavanagh (20-1, 10 knockouts) has been haunted by gun violence, following the shooting death of his father in 2014 and an uncle last year. The Daily Mirror in London reported that AK-47 assault rifles were used in Fridays attack, and the reason was not immediately known. Formerly trained by Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, Kavanagh saw his contract with Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions expire last year and he told officials he sought to return home to help support his grieving mother and other family members. He fought at Southland venues including Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, StubHub Center in Carson and the Phoenix Club in Anaheim. Get the latest in sports with our free newsletter >> He was what youd expect from an Irish fighter - willing to exchange and always up for a fight, Golden Boy matchmaker Robert Diaz told The Times on Friday. We never got to find out how good he could be. Diaz said he received assurance by a text message from boxer-promoter Matthew Macklin that Kavanagh was fine. Kavanagh was to headline a bout Saturday in Dublin that has been canceled. MORE SPORTS NEWS Angels cut Taylor Featherston, add left-handed reliever Louisville basketball self-imposes postseason ban amid escort scandal World track officials investigating allegations of Chinese doping in the 1990s President Obama's first visit to an American mosque since taking office predictably drew criticism from his opponents on the campaign trail and conservative commentators. But what was the reaction from the world's 1.5 billion Muslims? For the most part, a collective shrug. The symbolism of Wednesday's visit did not go unappreciated, especially in the U.S., where Obama was lauded for taking a stand against the inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslims and exhorting Americans not to confuse millions of patriotic citizens with a "radical, tiny minority" who engage in violence. But many wondered why the president had waited until his seventh year in office. President George W. Bush visited a mosque in Washington within days of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to reassure American Muslims and appeal for tolerance. https://twitter.com/JumanaK/status/695110790165184512 The Council on American-Islamic Relations and other Muslim groups had been urging Obama to make a similar visit for years. Obama has visited mosques during official visits abroad, including in Egypt and Indonesia. But the president's aides feared such a visit in the U.S. would feed the rumors -- inaccurate but persistent-- that Obama is a Muslim. "Maybe he feels comfortable there," Republican front-runner Donald Trump said of Obama's visit on Fox News, a loaded comment from someone who has appeared to question Obama's Christian faith as well as his birthplace. Obama's visit also drew criticism from Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) who accused the president at a town hall in New Hampshire of "always pitting people against each other. Always." However, Obama was received warmly at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, where he noted that Jefferson's opponents "tried to stir things by suggesting he was a Muslim, so I was not the first. I'm in good company." Zainab Chaudry, the council's outreach manager in Maryland, said the visit was "a significant step in the right direction and will hopefully encourage our nation's political and religious leaders to join him in pushing back against rising Islamophobia." The visit also generated some self-deprecating humor, including this tweet from the author, lawyer and Harvard University scholar Qasim Rashid: https://twitter.com/MuslimIQ/status/694919468204580866 Outside the U.S., however, the speech had little impact. Many Muslims said there was a disparity between Obama's rhetoric and his administration's policies in the Middle East and South Asia, which they believe have done little to end the wars in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan. "As words, they sound beautiful but [U.S.] actions are as ugly as they have been," said Mohammad Modaser, a 29-year-old Kabul resident who works for the Afghan Education Ministry. "A lot of Muslims were hopeful when he first took office for better days in the Middle East and Islamic world," Modaser said. "But nothing actually changed. The wars in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan got worse every day. Peace in Afghanistan is still a myth. Muslims' treatment particularly in the U.S. -- like second-class citizens -- has not changed." Emran Feroz, an Afghan journalist who runs Drone Memorial, a website that tracks deaths from drone strikes, tweeted: https://twitter.com/emran_feroz/status/694959743987769348 Feroz was apparently referring to U.S. airstrikes in Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan on Monday that local officials said killed more than two dozen people and destroyed a radio station belonging to members of Islamic State, the militant organization based in Iraq and Syria. U.S. officials have confirmed launching two airstrikes but did not specify the targets. In the Middle East, media outlets devoted little, if any, coverage to Obama's speech, which took place late in the night there. "I didn't even know Obama was visiting a mosque yesterday," said Marwan Saied, 47, a grocer in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. "I personally like Obama, he continued. But I don't think he did anything dramatic that we as Muslims can see as a major change in U.S. policy toward Muslims and the Middle East. People are still suffering in Palestine, Iraq and Libya, and many people that I personally know are still partly blaming America for that." "If we're serious about freedom of religion and I'm speaking now to my fellow Christians who remain the majority in this country we have to understand an attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths. President Obama In Iran, only the hard-line Fars news agency reported on the visit. The brief article took issue with Obama for defending Jews, even while visiting a mosque at a time when Islamaphobia has reached a climax in the U.S. The news agency appeared to be referring to a section in the speech in which Obama noted that anti-Semitism in this country has a sad and long history. The president also said, if we're serious about freedom of religion -- and I'm speaking now to my fellow Christians who remain the majority in this country -- we have to understand an attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths." The response to his remarks was very different in 2009, when Obama addressed the Muslim world from Cairo University and promised a new beginning in relations with the United States. That speech was broadcast live across the region and was still being discussed weeks later. 694952957549219840 These days, people are more preoccupied with issues closer to home, said Mustafa Ellabbad, director of Al Sharq Center for Regional and Strategic Studies in Cairo. "We have the civil war in Syria and unrest in Yemen, Libya and Iraq. We have terrorists threats in almost every Middle Eastern country and Daesh in Syria and Iraq," he said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. "All of these factors are contributing to the current situation, where people are more consumed with their domestic events rather than U.S. politics." Although the U.S. is still considered a major force, it is no longer viewed as the only significant foreign player in the Middle East. Russia in particular has provided critical military backing to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the U.S. has been more preoccupied with fighting Islamic State than removing Assad from power. Obama is also nearing the end of his term, and attention is turning to who might succeed him. Many in the Middle East are concerned about Trump's call for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States, and opposition from other Republican candidates to admitting refugees from Syria's civil war out of fear that they could include people with ties to extremist groups. "Nonetheless, yesterday's speech still gives a very positive message to millions of people in the Middle East," Ellabbad said. "It tells them that the U.S. is not just Trump and right-wing Republicans. It shows people here that there are still good politicians in the U.S. who are using the language of sense and politics over the language of extremism." 695084545339600897 Qibla Ayaz, a former dean of Islamic and Oriental Studies at the University of Peshawar, in Pakistan, said Obama's visit would help dispel the impression that conflicts in Afghanistan and the Middle East are a war between Christianity and Islam. "President Obama's statement will not only give confidence to the Muslim community in America but will also promote harmony among various faiths, especially Islam, Christianity and Judaism across the world," Ayaz said. The Muslim Council of Britain used the occasion to encourage fellow Britons to visit local mosques on Sunday, which it is promoting as #VisitMyMosque Day. More than 80 British mosques are taking part in the event, which aims to provide a platform for Muslims to reach out to their neighbors and explain their faith at a time of tension between religious communities. In India, where many minority Muslims have expressed concern over policies that they say favor the Hindu majority, some commentators wondered whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi should follow Obama's lead. Kumar Shakti Shekhar, a journalist, wrote on the Daily O website that Muslims in India have felt slighted by the governing Bharatiya Janata Party's support for a ban on beef in some states, and comments by some party leaders that have been perceived to be anti-Muslim. "In such circumstances, it is well in the interest of the nation that Modi emulates Obama and visits a mosque in India," Shekhar wrote, noting that Modi, like Obama, previously visited a mosque overseas. Underscoring the political costs confronting both Modi and Obama, however, Shekhar wrote that the Indian leader should not make such a visit because it could end up alienating his conservative Hindu base. Special correspondent Hassan reported from Cairo and Times staff writers Zavis and Bengali from Los Angeles and Kolhapur, India, respectively. Special correspondents Christina Boyle in London, Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran, Zulfiqar Ali in Peshawar and Ali M. Latifi in Kabul contributed to this report. Twitter: @alexzavis and @SBengali WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said Friday he felt vindicated by the findings of a United Nations panel that ruled he should be allowed to walk free. The Australian citizen also warned there could be serious diplomatic consequences for Britain and Sweden if they continue to reject the findings of a world expert body. Assange made a 10-minute statement at a press conference held by his legal team. He appeared via video link from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been seeking political asylum. Advertisement Wearing a jacket and tie, and sitting in front of a backdrop branded with the website Justice4Assange.com, he alluded to the toll this has taken on him. Ive been detained now without charge in this country, the United Kingdom, for 5 years. Thats 5 years where Ive had great difficulty seeing my family and seeing my children, he said. He appeared later on a balcony at the embassy as a large crowd of journalists and onlookers gathered in the road below. Holding a copy of the United Nations report that said he is entitled to his freedom of movement as well as compensation, he declared: How sweet it is. In the report published Friday morning, the U.N.s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention said the Australian citizen has been arbitrarily detained in Britain since December 2010, when he was first sought for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct. See more of our top stories on Facebook >> But British officials swiftly issued a strongly worded statement Friday saying this changes nothing and it would formally contest the working groups ruling. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system, a government spokesman said. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorian Embassy. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange addresses a press conference at the Frontline Club via video link from the Ecuadorian embassy in Central London on Friday. (Will Oliver / EPA) We are deeply frustrated that this unacceptable situation is still being allowed to continue, the spokesman said. The U.N. report concluded that Assange has been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty dating to 2010 when he was held in initial detention in Wandsworth prison, which was followed by house arrest and his confinement at the Ecuadorian embassy. It also found there was a lack of diligence on the part of the Swedish Prosecutors Office in its investigations, which has resulted in Assanges lengthy loss of freedom. Assange has been holed up in the embassy since 2012, when he claimed asylum after Sweden issued a warrant for his arrest based on testimony from two women there who say he sexually assaulted them. He has not been charged and denies the claims. Sweden has since dropped much of the case but still wants to question him about an alleged rape. Assange fears that Sweden or Britain would turn him over to the U.S. for prosecution on espionage charges stemming from WikiLeaks massive release of classified documents in 2010. British police say that they will arrest Assange if he steps outside the embassy as a European Arrest Warrant remains in place and Britain has a legal obligation to extradite him. Assanges legal team said Fridays report was a damning indictment of the way his case has been handled and claimed their client was a victim of a significant miscarriage of justice due to his whistleblowing activities. They also said his indefinite detention amounted to a form of mental torture. There is light at the end of the tunnel, we just need the United Kingdom and Sweden to step up to the plate so that Julian can finally come out into the light. Melinda Taylor, lawyer There is light at the end of the tunnel, we just need the United Kingdom and Sweden to step up to the plate so that Julian can finally come out into the light, said his lawyer, Melinda Taylor. British foreign secretary Philip Hammond, however, described the U.N. panels findings as ridiculous and branded Assange a fugitive from justice. He is hiding from justice in the embassy, Hammond said. He can come out onto the pavement any time he chooses. He is not being detained by us but he will have to face justice in Sweden if he chooses to do so, and its right that he should not be able to escape justice. This is frankly a ridiculous finding by the working group and we reject it, Hammond said. Assange told the press conference that Hammonds comments were beneath the stature that a foreign secretary should express in this situation. I consider the outcome in this case to be vindication, he said. The time for appeal is over. The U.N. panels findings were widely anticipated to rule in Assanges favor and he issued a statement Thursday saying that if his case were upheld he should have his passport returned and arrest warrants dropped. But that appears highly unlikely. Swedish authorities have also issued statements saying they do not agree with the assessment of the working group. The working group is made up of five legal experts from around the world and can rule on whether imprisonment or detention is unlawful. It helps to influence and put pressure on governments but is not legally binding. Boyle is a special correspondent. ALSO U.S. pledges nearly $1 billion for Syrian refugees Mob attack on Tanzanian woman renews concerns about racism in India Vatican panel kicks off meeting on sexual abuse by watching Spotlight Despite having billions of barrels of oil, Venezuela has just bought crude from the United States. According to CNN, the Latin American country has acquired about half a million barrels of oil transported using a ship from the US. The information was provided by the research firm ClipperData, who highlighted that the imported crude oil was taken to a facility in Curacao, a Dutch Caribbean island. CNN noted that this action has made a lot of people skeptical since Venezuela is known to have 298 billion barrels of oil reserve already, based on figures from the Energy Information Administration. "That's more than Saudi Arabia, Russia or Iran, and eight times the reserves of the United States," added the same report. But it explained that the oil in the country is "heavy and hard to refine" prior to it being sold to other nations. A process of mixing this oil with other crude types is required to be able to attain a quality which will be approved by nations wanting to purchase oil. Oil market analyst Nilofar Daidi told CNN that Venezuela has gotten used to importing lighter oil types from nations like Nigeria, Russia and Angola. "It's just cheaper to bring a tanker of light crude from the U.S. Gulf than to ship it from West Africa or North Africa," Saidi added. Meanwhile, Bloomberg said the United States has started supplying oil to Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) members after it lifted restrictions on its crude last year. This oil import from the US, as per Frost & Sullivan LP head of oil and gas Carl Larry, highlights the desperation of the state-owned gas company in Venezuela. "It's well known PDVSA has had issues running their refineries in recent years. It really raises a red flag about their economic situation and where their oil company is situated," he added. Currently, the world is facing an oil glut crisis. The Wall Street Journal noted that 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 down by almost 60 percent in the last 18 months. In line with this, Reuters said that Venezuela has announced that countries producing oil, like Russia and Iran, have expressed their intention to support an emergency meeting by OPEC and non-OPEC members. This meeting has long been called for to address the sudden dip in oil prices this year. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Colombia has made its first grim announcement following the massive spread of the Zika Virus - three people who were infected with the disease have died. Reports said that the patients were also infected with a similar disease that attacks the human nervous system and would have ultimately caused the patient to be permanently paralyzed. The Zika Virus has spread across the Americas, with Brazil being said to be the most widely. In fact, President Dilma Rousseff has already urged citizens to help the government in widespread efforts to eliminate all possible breeding grounds of the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is also known to bring about dengue and yellow fever. According to a report with BBC, Colombia is said to be only second to Brazil when it comes to the number of pregnant women who have shown signs of being infected with the Zika Virus. The report said that 2,000 pregnant women were shown to have exhibited signs of the Zika Virus. The country's health minister, Alejandro Gaviria, said that two other deaths, caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome were still under investigation as to whether or not they were related to the Zika virus, a report with The Guardian said. It was earlier reported that three patients from the city of Medellin all perished from the complications of Zika. The health authorities in the city reported that the victims, a man and a woman, also exhibited signs of the Guillain-Barre syndrome. The earliest known death for the Zika Virus was reported earlier in November. The victim was a male. The Colombian health minister added that there is believed to be over 100 cases of the serious autoimmune disorder that were related to the Zika virus. There are uncontrolled fears in the country that conditions will only grow worse as many have already viewed Zika's effects in Brazil. However, Gaviria added that so far there are no reported cases of microcephaly in the country. The minister also said that should there be any cases of microcephaly in the future remains uncertain for now. Microcephaly is a strange and tragic condition in which the newborn infant's head and brain are severely deformed, leading to complications in breathing. The number of birth defects in Brazil has been alarmingly high and there are those who doubt its link with Zika. Gaviria has admitted that the medical world is still learning the mysteries of Zika, which has no cure as of the moment. Under law, Colombian women have the right to opt for abortion should the pregnancy be the result of criminal acts such as rape or sexual abuse. Women can also abort fetuses with a "severe malformation" or if the woman's life is put in danger. Even in Brazil, the topic of abortion has come into debate, especially with the cases of microcephaly in the country. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Venezuelan Oil Minister Eulogio Del Pino's meeting with his Qatari counterpart yielded good results. Del Pino is currently holding meetings with producers of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, to discuss steps to prop up oil prices. According to Del Pino, his meeting with Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed al-Sada, who is the current holder of the rotating OPEC presidency, was "good and productive," Al Arabiya reported. Qatar's Ministry also said that the two ministers "exchanged views and expectations in the short and long term," though no further details were provided, the news outlet noted. Venezuela has requested an emergency meeting with its fellow OPEC members in January through a letter, writing that the falling oil prices is causing serious repercussions on the group's most vulnerable members. The South American nation is one of OPEC's Fragile Five members, which also includes Algeria, Iraq, Libya, and Nigeria. On Wednesday, Iran's news agency Shana reported from Del Pino that six oil producing countries, including OPEC members Iran and Iraq, and non-members Russia and Oman, supported a producer meeting, Al Arabiya further reported. So far, however, none of OPEC's Gulf members, including top exporter Saudi Arabia, has publicly supported an emergency meeting, After his meeting with Qatar's Energy Minister, Del Pino met Oman's Oil Minister Mohammad bin Hamad al-Rumhy, who "reiterated his support of the actions Venezuela has taken to stabilize the market," according to The Fiscal Times. Oman is an important oil producer but it doesn't have the huge oil and financial reserves of its Gulf neighbors. Plus, the country is not an OPEC member. Del Pino is also set to visit Riyadh for further negotiations, The Fiscal Times added. He is scheduled to have a meeting with Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi there on Sunday. Saudi Arabia and Russia are uncertain when it comes to reducing oil output. One of the countries' major reasons for that is because they are concerned that United States shale producers would benefit from any increase in oil prices following a potential cut, according to analysts Robin Mills and Edward Bell, Bloomberg reported. Efforts to coordinate production cuts are also complex because of Saudi Arabia's goal of defending sales and Russia's failure to control production in winter months, when output cuts can harm fields, the news outlet noted. Brent crude fell from $115 a barrel in June 2014 to less than $30 last month, the news outlet added. Saudi Arabia, OPEC's de facto leader, supplies around 40 percent of the world's oil. OPEC's pump in January is its highest output since 1996 after it restarted Indonesia's membership. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In vitro fertilization remains unlawful in Costa Rica after the state Supreme Court struck down President Luis Guillermo Solis' decree to legalize the fertility treatment in the country. Years of expert consultations, court wrangling and legislative battles have been wasted after the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or the so-called "Sala IV" deemed Solis' presidential decree unconstitutional. According to the Tico Times, the decree in question is the one the Costa Rican president signed, which ended a 15-year ban on in vitro fertilization (IVF) in September 2015. The decree was Solis' response to a ruling from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights stating that the IVF ban "violated the rights to private and family life, to personal integrity ... to sexual health, to enjoy the benefits of scientific and technological progress, and the principle of non-discrimination," per a report from Costa Rica News. The decree was expected to provide thousands of Costa Ricans with a choice to undergo the fertilization method, even if there were people who were opposed to it and may have even doubted the soundness of the decision. This included the Costa Rican Social Security System who is in charge of managing the country's healthcare system. Some of the plaintiffs who filed a formal complaint to the human rights court in Washington also have doubts on how the Solis administration handled the matter. "I really applaud the decision to do something, but I'm really not confident that it's been worded in a way the Constitutional Chamber [of the Supreme Court] won't reject, as they have with everything else dealing with [IVF] since 2000," plaintiff Andrea Biachi told Tico Times in September 2015. In 2012, the Sala IV ruled that "the Costa Rican state has an obligation to comply with the Inter-American Court's ruling." However, the same Supreme Court deemed Solis' decree unconstitutional because it did not go through the members of the Legislative Assembly. According to Tico Times, Solis' biggest challenge in providing his people the legal support to undergo IVF is the fact that legislators are backed by religious groups who strongly oppose artificial fertilization. In an in-depth report, the Costa Rica News explained why this is the case. The report explained that 'in vitro' literally means 'outside the body,' which means the procedure involves fertilizing a woman's egg cell with a sperm before placing it into the mother's womb. However, this same fact is why religious groups are against it since they believe that life begins at the moment of conception which is the union of the egg and sperm cells. 200,000 babies have been born in the United States as a result of IVF since its introduction in 1981. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Googe has added useful hands-free features for people on the go and always busy with various tasks to its Android Wear platform. PC Mag noted that among these new introductions are wrist gestures which allow users to do tasks with a simple touch. It added that Android Watch users can "push, lift, or shake" their wrists to open applications or go to the home screen. In explaining more about these features, Android Blog revealed that a flick of a wrist can scroll one's card steam. Also, messages can be sent with voice instructions. The official blog noted that voice commands will send messages to applications such as Whats App, Google Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber and WeChat. Another new feature in the smartwatch platform is the ability to use a speaker when making a call or listening to your messages. It noted that this speaker support helps users to take their calls remotely using Bluetooth or playback audio messages in applications such as Glide. But for one to be able to maximize this feature, Android Blog said they would need a watch with a speaker like the ASUS ZenWatch 2 or the Huawei Watch. In addition, Engadget mentioned that users can also control and even search for music with just their voice. Ars Technica, on the other hand, claimed that Android Wear users can already hear an alarm in their smartwatches. It said that this could be a "notification chime" for the alarm feature. The Verge, however, noted that the gestures for the watch will need some decoding before you can discover all. It also claimed that this new update will be available for Android Wear watches in the coming weeks. Google has reportedly not introduced big changes to its smartwatch platform since introducing it almost two years ago. These changes, as per GottaBeMobile, were part of the rolling out of the Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the Android Wear. The same report highlighted that it is still not clear which watch will receive it first, but it claimed that the Moto 360 2nd Gen is the best candidate since it is the most popular one. In October last year, Android Wear allowed users to make Skype calls using their Moto 360, Huawei Watch, LG Watch Urbane, or the ASUS ZenWatch. TechTimes reported that Android Wear app users can reply to messages using their watch and even include emojis in their replies. A separate Google blog post said that users are able to reply directly to messages using the watch through "voice-to-text by speaking to your wrist." 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A romantic dinner is the common staple when celebrating Valentine's Day. Dimly lit candles with soft music playing in the background are the perfect ingredients for an intimate night out with your significant other. Of course a V-Day date wouldn't be complete without a delicious meal. Enter aphrodisiacs -- an idea that specific foods can stimulate sexual arousal. We rounded up some of the love potions or aphrodisiac cocktails just in time for the month of love. As provided by Latina.com, check out our top five picks below. Basil Caipirinha Cocktail Basil is said to be used in aromatherapy to boost blood circulation, which then increases a person's libido. "If you don't have a muddler, use a wooden spoon to crush the lime and basil together," said Chef Mariko Amekodommo, creator of the Basil Caipirinha Cocktail recipe, as quoted by the news outlet. "This process releases more aphrodisiac properties of the basil." Check out the full recipe here. Aguacate y Mezcal Cocktail The creamy avocado has other functions aside from being a key ingredient in guacamole dips. The fruit is known as the family jewels of the Aztecs, who believed that avocados boost fertility and increase stamina, Latina.com wrote. It was said that while the men harvested avocados, women were not allowed to leave their homes for a single whiff of the fruit can push them into a frenzied passion. The Aguacate y Mezcal recipe by mixologist Junior Merino is a velvety mixture of sweet agave nectar, honey, and mezcal from Mexico. The drink also features AGWA De Bolivia, which is known as the world's only liquor based on coca-leaf. Check out the full recipe here. Cupid's Kiss Cocktail Studies have found that chocolate, which was first cultivated in Central and South America, is responsible for releasing endorphins, the same feel-good chemicals in the brain associated to falling in love, according to CNN. Created by Chef Manuel Trevino, the Cupid's Kiss Cocktail features the Alchemia Wildcherry infused with vodka and the unmistakable sweetness of chocolate. Get the full recipe here. Los Amigos Margarita Cocktail Latina.com wrote that honey is a good source of boron, a mineral that the body uses to metabolize the female sex hormone, estrogen. Some also believe that boron can enhance testosterone levels in the blood, the hormone behind increased sexual drive. Los Amigos Margarita, a recipe concocted by Chef Alex Garcia, is not only made using honey, but also with cinnamon and tequila. Head here for the full recipe. Pomegranate Sangria Cocktail Pomegranates' passion power is said to come from its antioxidant nature, which allows increased blood flow that leads to genital sensitivity, Latina.com shared. A study also found that a full glass of pomegranate juice each day enhances both men and women's testosterone levels, making it both a natural aphrodisiac and superfood. The Pomegranate Sangria recipe is a mixture of fine spirits and pomegranate juice, among others. Here's how to make this love potion. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Carnival season in Brazil is here once again. Despite the threat of the Zika virus, locals and tourists can't seem to stop themselves from celebrating the biggest festival in the country. It is set to take place from Feb. 5 - 10. TravelPulse noted that the celebration is not only centered in Rio de Janeiro but is also observed in other parts of Brazil. Here are some great places you can visit. Fortaleza Carnival Bookers said the main highlight in the celebration in Fortaleza is the samba, culture and art of Brazil. Many go out on the streets for parties and samba parades. Avenida Beira-mar has a great atmosphere where everybody dances along the streets until late at night. Thousands of foreigners flock to this town to take part in the Carnival celebrations or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches. Salvador Almost 2 million individuals go to Salvador yearly for the Carnival, according to Jungle Drums Online. The same report noted that the place has been declared as the place with "the largest street party" in the entire world by the Guinness Book of Records. According to Travel Pulse, the festivities in Salvador begins with the Baile dos Mascarados, a masquerade ball. The mayor also gives out the symbolic key to the so-called "Carnival King." In addition, Salvador Carnival Info said that two grand parades are hosted in Salvador annually: the Barra/Ondina and the Campo Grande/Avenida. Manaus Travel Blog shared that the celebration in the capital state of the Amazonas is not a boring and wasteful opportunity as many others declare. It claimed that people in the locality are very friendly and the entire place seems safe. The same travel website noted the floats which circle the streets. They are "amazing" even though they cannot really be compared with those in Rio. It was also mentioned in the TravelPulse article that the Carnival celebration in Manaus traces its roots to the 20th century, which has colorful traditional costumes. Recife and Olinda Janelas Albertas discussed that these two cities are the cheapest way to enjoy the Carnival in Brazil while giving people the "most cultural and most colourful" experience. It also noted that small parties along the streets usually happen a few days before the Carnival celebration itself. Parties in these two cities are said to be free so visitors can enjoy a lot of activities without spending a lot of money. One can also see colorful bands making rounds along the streets of the cities. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The brutal death of a seven-month-old baby at the hands of armed men ignited outrage in Mexico. A photo of the dead baby lying bloodied and lifeless between his parents circulated on the Internet this week. CNN reported from the Oaxaca State Attorney's Office that the picture was taken moments after the family was fatally shot outside a convenience store in the city of Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca State. The snapshot showed the baby in a white onesie stained with blood, lying with his head down between his father's torso and left arm, the news outlet wrote. Authorities said that several armed men shot the family of three to death. Oaxaca prosecutors told CNN that the father was Juan Alberto Pano Ramos, 24, who was carrying his son, Marcos Miguel Pano Colon, when they were gunned down on Friday at 8:40 PM. The mother, 17-year-old Alba Isabel Colon, was also killed. The picture sparked outrage among Mexicans, who urged authorities to do more to address the country's prevalent drug wars, The Independent reported. Some even likened the baby's death to Aylan Kurdi's, the three-year-old Syrian boy who drowned in the Mediterranean Sea and was found lifeless in a beach in Turkey. Kurdi symbolized the threats of the ongoing refugee crisis. "Do you remember the Syrian boy? Do you remember how you came to be indignant and even put a little flag on Facebook? Well, this happened in Mexico, in Pinotepa National to be precise, where drug violence killed this family, including this 7-month-old angel," a Facebook post read. Author Octavio Martinez Michel posted a photo depicting the Mexican flag with a drawing of the dead baby in the background. The image was published on the website La Silla Rota (The Broken Chair). "Is it possible to imagine anything more unjust than the cold-blooded murder of a family carrying a baby in their arms?" Martinez wrote, as translated by CNN. Cartoonist and illustrator Rafael Pineda, or 'Rape', put the two children alongside each other in a drawing titled "Our World." Meanwhile, Twitter user Personal Jesus said that Mexicans "are more compassionate with others" than themselves, as translated by NBC News. The Oaxaca State Attorney's Office said that the killing appears to be drug-related, CNN reported. Prosecutors said that the baby's parents sold drugs and a rival drug gang from the neighboring state of Guerrero found and killed them. Authorities said that an alleged drug trafficker named Isidoro Gonzales Geronimo, a.k.a. "El Isis," was also fatally shot in Oaxaca last Friday, the news outlet added. The couple reportedly worked for Gonzales, who conducted operations in Guerrero. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Darryl Fornatora of West Palm Beach, South Florida was last seen on January 27 at the El Encuentro beach in the Dominican Republic, where he was surfing with a friend. However, despite being seen getting out of the water, local authorities are on the lookout for him as he apparently vanished from the beach and didn't get on his return flight, which was supposedly set for January 31. Yahoo! News said that an officer from the investigation named Sgt Rosario mentioned that it may be possible that Fornatora got into a water-related accident. The use of search dogs and interviews with employees from nearby bars and restaurants did not give them anything to go on. Cabarete Bay had been the location of professional kitesurfing competitions and the nearby Playa Encuentro, where Fornatora had been surfing. It is one of the most popular beaches in the Caribbean. Sgt. Rosario told Fox News, "We are doing an extensive search of the area, the beach and the surrounding hilly areas for any clues. At the moment we have not found anything." Following their suspicions of a water-related accident, a helicopter is on the lookout for 80 kilometers of the coastline around Puerto Plata, and divers were sent to search in the ocean. Crime Stoppers Dominican Republic was also reported to have been helping in the investigation. Organization member Leon Alter said that some people reported Fornatora walking along the beach in a "paranoid state." Fornatora's brother and sister-in-law, seemingly distraught, arrived on the island to help with the search. Speaking with the Palm Beach Post, the missing man's father said that he spoke with his son just a day before his disappearance. Gilbert Fornatora told the outlet, "He said that everything was fine, that he had spent plenty of time in the water that day and he was exhausted. He said to my wife, 'I love you,' and that was it." Alter remains confident, however, that Fornatora will be found. He mentioned that he had a similar case a year ago, and the man that went missing was found in the jungle six days later. Speaking about the current case, he said "We're crossing our fingers. It's important for the family to keep their hopes high. We're working very hard on this case." Until then, anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Darryl Fornatora is encouraged to call Leon Alter and the Crime Stoppers Dominican Republic or Sgt Rosario at the Cabarete Police Department. A 100,000 RD reward has been offered for his safe return. 2015 Latin One. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Apple MacBook Pro 2016, Macbook Air 2016: Newest Pro Coming With TouchScreen Feature & Skylake Chips in March [Rumors] media@latinoshealth.com By Czarmecin Feb 04, 2016 05:27 AM EST New reports suggest that MacBook Pro will be arriving with a Skylake chip and touchscreen features. There is no doubt that many are looking forward to the next MacBook Pro. However, the most powerful laptop might arrive earlier than expected. Initially, there are rumors that MacBook Pro 2016 will arrive in June, in time with Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2016. However, new reports suggest that it will be out in March. Australia Network reported that Apple would be hosting an event in San Francisco, Calif., this March. There are speculations that the MacBook Pro 2016, iPhone 5se, iPad Air 3 and Apple Watch will be among the potential items that will be unveiled during the event. If the reports are true, then MacBook Pro 2016 will available next month. Meanwhile, the rumor mills claim that the upcoming laptop will be powered with Intel's sixth-generation microarchitecture, known as the Skylake chip, Christian Post has learned. Most users are looking forward to seeing the new MacBook running the latest processor because it offers a number of advantages. Per PC Mag, Skylake improves the performance, graphics and power efficiency of the device. With Skylake, MacBook Pro 2016 is expected to come with longer battery life and faster performance than any other high-end chips. Moreover, this new processor has the ability to maintain its cool compared to other chips, so users will not need coolers and will no longer worry about overheating. Aside from the powerful chipset, there are rumors that MacBook Pro 2016 will be lighter than the MacBook Air, Christian Post reported. Thus, it will come with a thinner body. Unfortunately, many are concerned that a thinner frame will lead to the eradication of some efficient and helpful USB ports. There is also a possibility that the upcoming MacBook will include the touchscreen feature. Ryan Reith, program director with IDC, thinks that the addition of this feature is not inevitable, per Forbes . "I think [a touch Mac] is inevitable. There's nothing from the supply chain or from Apple that supports that right now- I just think it's inevitable," he said. "I don't know if that's two years out or what." If MacBook Pro 2016 will not include this feature, perhaps the next model will do. However, many are doubtful that this will happen. Inquisitr reported that Apple has expressed their lack of interest to pursue it because they believe that "their touchpad provides all the experience your fingers need," Meanwhile, there are rumors that Apple will drop the MacBook Air line, per Gospel Herald. Do you think Apple will really move away from MacBook Air? Share your thoughts below. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Zika Virus Update: El Salvador Finds Best Way to Fight Infection --- See how They Do It Here! media@latinoshealth.com By Rachel Cruz Feb 05, 2016 03:54 AM EST El Salvador is relying its fight against the Zika virus on an unexpected ally. The Salvadoran government is making use of mosquito-eating fish to reduce the population of Zika carriers. Eduardo Espinoza, El Salvador's vice minister for health, submitted an op-ed piece to The New York Times that outlines what they are doing to combat the disease. He stated that, apart from setting measures like vector control, water treatment, fogging, spraying and cleaning, the government is also putting a mosquito-eating fish species, known as the zambo fish, in its water tanks. Latin Correspondent reported that the zambo - also known as sambo - feeds on mosquito larvae. San Diego Playa, a small town in El Salvador, has already provided its residents and schools with the species and the locals have been instructed to put the zambos in water tanks, open barrels and water storage containers at homes, schools and restaurants. Espinoza is confident that this will be successful based on previous measures. Apparently, El Salvador has been using the zambo to combat dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses from 2012 to 2015, Tech Times reported. El Salvador has had zero dengue and yellow fever cases since doing this measure. So far, there are no reported cases of Zika virus infection among the locals either. "It's easier to eliminate breeding grounds of mosquitoes than to limit people's desire to be a mother or a father," said hospital worker Julio Morales, via Breitbart. "Killing the larva is fundamental. If people don't understand that, we're never going to stop this virus." Countermeasures against Zika has become a priority among Latin American countries following the surge of microcephaly cases in newborn babies. The condition has been tied to Zika virus infection and, with no vaccines and treatments in place, prevention is the only answer. The government of El Salvador is also one of the first Latin nations to ask its women to consider delaying pregnancy in the wake of the outbreak. "The recommendation is that people plan their pregnancies, that they avoid if at all possible to have babies this year," the health minister said, via Washington Post. "This is the first time that we have suffered an attack of Zika virus, and the first attack is always the worst." The government has been doing radio and television public service ads as well, putting focus on the health of women and pregnant mothers in its bid to stop the disease. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Ebola Outbreak: About 48 High Risk Contacts Missing According to WHO media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Reporter Feb 05, 2016 05:30 AM EST The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning the global public that several individuals linked to the most recent cases of Ebola in the African country of Sierra Leone are currently missing, as per The New York Times. About 18 contacts are at high risk of having Ebola. Ebola is defined as a deadly disease that commonly spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids, medical equipment that have been contaminated with Ebola, infected fruit bats or primates, and possibly from semen from a man who has recovered from the disease, as per the CDC. Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness and fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding. WHO representative Dr. Anders Nordstrom revealed that about 70 people who are under quarantine in the northern districts of Kambia, Port Loko, and Tonkolili, are soon to be released, but over 48 contacts are missing. WHO claims that they will continue to ensure that all Ebola deaths reported are swabbed and tested until June to prevent the spread of the virus. According to US News & World Report, a young woman had tested positive for Ebola following her death, but she was given a traditional burial because at the time, Ebola was not suspected. Traditional burials involve touching the dead, which puts them at very high risk for Ebola. Her 38-year-old aunt was later found to have Ebola, but is now responding to medical treatment. Four other people are currently being monitored in quarantined homes. Traditional funerals in Africa have been recognized as a major source of viral transmission during the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea. "We need to strengthen surveillance efforts to identify and investigate all patients with symptoms meeting the case definition in hospitals and communities and to investigate all deaths in the Kambia District and all districts," Nordstrom said, as per ABC News. As for those who have been released, they are happy to be among their families and loved ones at last. Business Standard reports that some even took to the streets to celebrate, blasting music and dancing in Magburaka, where 33 people were released from two isolation facilities. "It is good to breathe fresh air outside quarantine and rejoin friends and relatives to resume normal life," 68-year-old farmer Foday Kandeh, who admits he missed drinking palm wine, shared. Back in November 2015, Sierra Leone was first declared free from transmission, but almost 4,000 people had lost their lives to Ebola. About 11,300 people were killed in the West African outbreak of Ebola since 2013, which hit the Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea regions. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! After Sexual Transmission, Brazil Reports Zika Virus Infection Through Blood Transfusions media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Writer Feb 05, 2016 05:30 AM EST Two cases have been confirmed on Thursday as the blood came from donors that have been infected with the Zika virus. According to the health department of Campinas, a man who suffered from gunshot wounds received multiple blood transfusions in April 2015. Health officials say that the donated blood belonged to people who were infected with the mosquito-borne virus. Marcelo Addas Carvalho, director of the Blood Center at the Sao Paulo State University of Campinas said the patient would not have been infected via mosquito bites as the patient was in intensive care for three months, reports Reuters. The man died from his grave injuries but not from the Zika virus infection. The second person who donated blood in May last year showed symptoms and tested positive for the virus, but the recipient of the blood did not develop any symptoms. "The two cases can be considered transmission of the virus through blood transfusion, with greater certainty in the first because we did genetic sequencing comparing the virus in the donor and to the virus in the recipient," Carvalho told the outlet. While it is known that Zika is usually transmitted through mosquito bites, this new discovery adds a whole new problem to containing the outbreak. The Scientific American notes that some countries have enforced stricter policies for blood donation. People who have been infected with the virus cannot donate blood for 30 days until the 30 days have passed until they have recovered. The American Red Cross stated that the risk of getting the virus through blood donations is "low" in the United States, donors should still exercise caution. Just a few days ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared that the first known case of the virus being acquired in the country was through sexual transmission, CNN reports. The Zika virus is connected to the sharp increase of babies being born with microcephaly or small heads in Brazil as their mothers may have been bitten by the mosquito carrier while pregnant. On Feb. 1, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the even an International Public Health Emergency as it is considered a "public health threat" around the world. "A coordinated international response is needed to improve surveillance, the detection of infections, congenital malformations, and neurological complications, to intensify the control of mosquito populations, and to expedite the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines to protect people at risk, especially during pregnancy," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan declared in a release. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Pregnant Women, Rejoice! Chocolates Good for Fetal Development: Study media@latinoshealth.com By Staff Writer Feb 05, 2016 05:30 AM EST Chocolates have been found to be beneficial for babies in the womb so pregnant women may be able to indulge in the sweet treat once in a while. A study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's annual meeting in Atlanta states that eating chocolates can promote good circulatory health and fetal growth for infants. Flavanols are commonly found in dark chocolate and have been known to have a number of health benefits including improved cognitive and vascular health as well as brain blood circulation. Canadian researchers conducted the study to determine the effects of flavanols on pregnant women as it was previously believed that chocolate was shown to improve the risk of pre-eclampsia. In their findings, they found that it did decrease the risk of the condition as well as promote good placental circulation in addition to promotion of fetal development and good circulation in babies. For the study, researchers invited 129 women who were between 11 and 14 weeks pregnant and divided them into two groups. They were given 30 grams of chocolate or an equivalent of one small bar per day with either low-flavanol or high-flavanol chocolate for 12 weeks. According to Medical Daily, the researchers took note of the women's placental weight, birth weight, pre-eclampsia, and gestational hypertension evaluation. After the study period, they found that there was no significant change in the birthweight, gestational hypertension, placental weight or preeclampsia in the participants in both regards regardless of flavanol levels. A statement on the presentation posted on Science Daily did note that there was improvement in the uterine artery Doppler pulsatility index to which they defined as "a surrogate marker of blood velocity in the uterine, placental and fetal circulations" in both groups. "This study indicates that chocolate could have a positive impact on placenta and fetal growth and development and that chocolate's effects are not solely and directly due to flavanol content," said Dr. Emmanuel Bujold, one of the researchers of the study. Chocolates during pregnancy should be taken reasonably as too much can do more harm than good, said Bujold as reported by WebMD. Another health expert agreed and advised to focus on other nutrients needed for the body and baby as well. "Keep in mind the amount of chocolate was only 30 grams, or one ounce. That is just a few bites. Piling on the chocolate bars may pile on the pounds beyond what pregnant women would be advised to gain," said Lona Sandon of the University of Texas Southerwestern Medical Center. "Also, there are plenty of other nutrients that pregnant women would be better off focusing on for proper growth and development of the baby such as folate, calcium, protein and iron from quality food sources." Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! 'Peace Colombia' Promises $450 Million From US to Help End Latin America's Longest War Since 1964 media@latinoshealth.com By Ivan Menchavez Feb 05, 2016 06:00 PM EST United States President Barack Obama promises $450 million to Colombia to help for the country's rehabilitation after a long war with Marxist guerrillas. It has been dubbed as the longest war in history that started in 1964. The Colombian government, along with President Obama, is hoping that this will be the time to achieve ultimate peace. According to a report from Yahoo! News, President Obama is happy with the direction both the Colombian government and the rebels are taking. In fact, he has pledged his support no matter what the outcome is. "Just as the United States has been Colombia's partner in a time of war," President Obama said at the White House during the visit of Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. "I indicated to President Santos we would be your partner in waging peace." President Santos and the rest of the Colombian government are thankful for the help they have received not only from the Americans but also from other countries in Europe. "The government of Colombia will do everything it can, but it's clear that it doesn't have sufficient resources on its own to do the job the way it ought to be done without significant support from the United States and the European Union," said President Santos' adviser Douglass Cassel, who is also a Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame. According to a report by Wall Street Journal, the government has called the new plan as "Peace Colombia," which is their way of convincing the rebels to help them reach a final agreement that would ultimately give everyone the advantage by ending the half-century of internal conflict. Although, the rebel group seems stalled, everyone is positive that peace is just right around the corner. The ELN is the largest rebel group in Colombia with 1,400 armed soldiers. Along the years of conflict, the ELN have made their presence felt several time and they have caused damage to both the civilians and the government. The group has been involved with kidnapping, illegal drug trade and killing government soldiers. President Santos revealed that the rebels are willing to lay down their arms if they can come up with a deal. The agreement includes the rebel cutting ties with the drug trafficking business and convincing the people in the mountain to stop planting illegal Coca plants and replace it with legal crops. Those are parts of the peace agreement, the rebel group has reportedly agreed. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Female Genital Cutting, Circumcision Common in Indonesia: UNICEF media@latinoshealth.com By Ivan Menchavez Feb 05, 2016 06:00 PM EST There are several disturbing stories of traditions all around the world that have caught the attention of so many people. One of the most bizarre stories is the female genital circumcision in Indonesia. According to a report by UNFPA, female circumcision is pretty common in some regions of Indonesia because it is told that uncircumcised women are considered "dirty." A certain Rosa from Jakarta revealed that circumcision is part of their religion. "The day before I was discharged by the midwife, my daughter was circumcised. She is now three weeks old. When she becomes an adult, she will pray five times a day and read the Al Quran," she said. Reports have it that there are almost 140 million girls in the entire world who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation or FGM. Experts are saying that if the trends continue, 15 million more will be added to the total numbers by 2030. This is definitely an alarming figure that UNICEF is urging some countries that practice this type of tradition to consider stopping it. FGM is happening to some countries in Asia but, in the Middle East and Africa, there are 29 countries that practice this procedure. There are also some indigenous people in South America who have their version of female circumcision. According to Dr. Ahmed Ragaa Abdel-Hameed Ragab of the International Islamic Centre for Population Studies and Research at Egypt's Al-Azhar University, some countries are not committed enough to put a stop of this sickening practice. "Many countries have passed laws to criminalize FGM; however, legislation alone cannot solve the problem," he said. "FGM can only be abolished by a grass-roots approach that involves community education and takes into consideration all aspects of a particular culture and tries to work within that system of beliefs to eradicate this practice." Many people have already joined the petition to stop such practice but only Indonesia has officially banned FGM. Other countries have not even begun to discuss about it yet. UNICEF's goal is to completely stop the practice anywhere in the world or at least reduce it to a more controllable numbers. However, it will require a much larger effort to put a stop to female circumcision. The government from the countries where this practice is widespread should show their commitment in stopping it. Meanwhile, according to a report by the New York Times, although the Indonesian government has officially made it illegal to practice FGM, the procedure is still very common in some locations especially in the remote areas of the country. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! Zika Virus: Colombia Reports First 3 Death Cases Due to Infection media@latinoshealth.com By Czarina Malleta Feb 05, 2016 05:50 AM EST Colombia has reported three Zika-related deaths. Patients who died have contracted a related disease that causes paralysis and attacks the nervous system, The Guardian reported. Health officials from Colombia said that the Guillain-Barre syndrome has caused the death of five people, three of which were diagnosed with the Zika virus. The first death came last year on November and the two other deaths happened in the past week, Time reported in an article. Colombia has the second highest count of Zika confirmed cases with around 20,500 infected patients. Neighbouring country Brazil has the highest number of Zika, a virus that has been linked to microcephaly, a birth defect that causes abnormally small heads among babies. The Guardian also disclosed that Colombia has registered 100 cases of the Guillain-Barre syndrome. It is believed to be related to the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Health minister Alejandro Gaviria warned that cases of the Guillain-Barre syndrome have not responded positively to traditional treatments of immunoglobulin. After his meetings with health ministers from Latin American countries, Gaviria said that "mortality is high." The World Health Organization has already declared the Zika virus as an "international public health emergency." This declaration will trigger funding and further research to solve the outbreak. It will also help raise resources to prevent a pregnant woman from contacting the disease and bring massive effort for mosquito control to stop the virus from spreading. US News reported that America and Colombia has recently teamed up to speed up the research for the Zika virus. President Barack Obama announced that the United States and Colombia will have a joint research to discover a vaccine. This declaration came after Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos visited the White House. "The White House says the two countries will share epidemiological information and specimen samples in hopes of better evaluating the potential link between Zika and birth defects," the report stated. In the US, Texas has confirmed six cases of the Zika virus, all of which returned home after they travelled internationally. There has been no local transmission of the disease that has been reported. Local officials said that there's no clear vision on how the Zika virus would affect the US especially since window screens and air conditioning is more common in the country. But America remains vigilant in preventing the Zika from entering their territories. Colombia's National Institute of Health and The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will partner together in an effort to prevent and stop the spread of the Zika virus. Subscribe to the latinos health newsletter! A civil rights coalition, comprising of 200 national organizations released a letter to two senators concerning the gridlock of a Latino judicial nominee. Addressed to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights' President and CEO Wade Henderson and Executive Vice President Nancy Zirkin wrote their support for Judge Dax Eric Lopez, who was nominated by President Barack Obama on July 30, 2015, but encountered a hurdle courtesy of Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga. Lopez was nominated to serve on the U.S District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, and if he had been confirmed, he would be the first Latino to serve as a lifetime-appointed federal judge in Georgia. As Latin Post reported, Perdue said he feels "uncomfortable" supporting Lopez due to the Latino's affiliation with the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO). Perdue was able to talk to Lopez, but despite the meeting, the Georgia senator's concerns did not ease. As a result, Lopez will not have his hearing day with the Senate Judiciary Committee. Henderson and Zirkin condemned Perdue's decision, noting Lopez's legal record as judge on the State Court of DeKalb County since 2010, handling both civil and criminal matters. Lopez was appointed to the DeKalb state court by then-Republican Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. "In September, when President Obama nominated Judge Lopez to fill a federal judgeship, State Republican Party counsel Anne Lewis, former state House Majority Whip Ed Lindsey, and other prominent Republicans signed a letter of support to Senators [John] Isakson and Perdue. ... In fact, both Georgia Senators told the White House Counsel's office that they supported the nomination, which Sen. Isakson still does. Surprisingly, Sen. Purdue has reversed himself, and now opposes Lopez," wrote Henderson and Zirkin. The letter recognized GALEO as a "highly respected bipartisan organization" promoting civic engagement and leadership across Latino communities in Georgia. Henderson and Zirkin said Lopez should not be disqualified to serve as a federal judge due to his affiliation with GALEO, and called for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for the nominee to address any questions concerning his qualifications or views. "We ask you to support the historic nomination of Dax Lopez to a federal judgeship. Hiding behind immigration politics and blocking judicial nominations does serious damage to the judicial system and is an irresponsible abdication of the Senate's constitutional responsibility of advice and consent on nominees," Henderson and Zirkin added. Also awaiting progress in his judicial nomination is Armando Bonilla, who would become the first Latino to serve the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. There have been success for other Latino judicial nominees last month as the Senate confirmed Judge Luis Felipe Restrepo, on Jan. 11, to serve the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and John Michael Vazquez to serve on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. __ For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com. With the New Hampshire presidential primary set for next Tuesday, Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton participated in their first one-on-one debate on Thursday night. From the University of New Hampshire, the Democratic presidential debate focused heavily on Wall Street and both corporate and campaign finances. Realistic Education & Higher Education Proposals One of Clinton's campaign talking points is speaking on how unrealistic Sanders' proposals are, such as providing free public college and universal healthcare. Clinton said she shares some very big progressive goals such as universal healthcare but she does not want to encounter another health reform struggle in Congress. "I don't want us to start over again," said Clinton, based on The Washington Post transcript. "I think that would be a great mistake, to once again plunge our country into a contentious debate about whether we should have and what kind of system we should have for healthcare. I want to build on the progress we've made; got from 90 percent coverage to 100 percent coverage. And I don't want to rip away the security that people finally have; 18 million people now have healthcare; preexisting conditions are no longer a bar. So we have a difference." Clinton believes in affordable college but not free college. The former secretary of state cited experts' opinions that such costs would be uncontrollable. "What I want to do is make sure middle class kids, not Donald Trump's kids, get to be able to afford college," said Clinton, adding she also wants to focus on jobs, manufacturing, infrastructure, wage increases and clean energy jobs. According to Sanders, fellow developed countries such as Canada, France and the United Kingdom have managed to provide healthcare to all its residents, all while spending less per capita on health care compared to U.S. rates. He disagreed with the notion that the U.S. is unable to follow the same universal health care concept. He also disagreed with Clinton's notion that he would scrap the Affordable Care Act law while in the process of developing Medicare for all. Acknowledging that the U.S. needs a well-educated workforce, the Vermont senator said, "This is 2016. When we talk about public education, it can no longer be K through 12th grade. I do believe that public colleges and universities should be tuition free. Well, how do we pay for that? It's an expensive proposition." Sanders continued that student debt has to be lowered since it's "crushing" millions of people, yet Wall Street has been bailed out by taxpayers. Being Progressive, Tackling Wall Street Clinton, figuratively, hit Sanders for some rhetoric regarding Wall Street. She defended herself as a "progressive," and claimed Sanders' definition of the term would exclude President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, specifically noting that the president had received money from Wall Street but acted professionally. Clinton would then take the opportunity to criticize Sanders' congressional vote on gun control and the 2007 comprehensive immigration reform bill, which he voted against. Sanders clarified on his view on Obama, stating the president is a progressive although the two do have their differences on topics such as trade agreements. Sanders brought up voter turnout. He recognized that trillions of dollars have been spent from the middle class to the top one percent of income earners; he tied this fact to the campaign finance system, "which separates the American people's needs and desires from what Congress is doing." As he has said during his campaign trail, Sanders called for a political revolution, where the people stand up and fight back to demand the government to appropriately represent the population and not just certain campaign donors. Sanders said, "What we need to do is to stand up to the big money interests, and the campaign contributors. When we do that, we can, in fact, transform America." He reiterated that he's running without a Super PAC, unlike Clinton, who has had Super PAC support -- one particularly raised $15 million from Wall Street organizations and special interests. "I think it's fair to really ask what's behind that comment, " said Clinton. "... Sanders has said he wants to run a positive campaign. I've tried to keep my disagreements over issues, as it should be, but time and time again, by innuendo, by insinuation, there is this attack that he is putting forth ... anybody who ever took donations or speaking fees from any interest group has to be bought, and I just absolutely reject that, senator. And I really don't think these kinds of attacks by insinuation are worthy of you. And enough is enough. If you've got something to say, say it directly." Clinton said she has never changed a view or vote based on donations she's received. Clinton has noted she received endorsements of former and current politicians who have served in political office, ranging from governors and members of Congress. Sanders, however, was quick to identify such endorsements as being part of the establishment, while he represents ordinary Americans who oppose the establishment. Clinton said being a woman running for president is an example of not being part of the establishment. Islamic State Eventually, national security was introduced to the debate. Clinton defended Obama's decision not to send American combat troops to Iraq and Syria, but she is content with providing special forces, trainers and military personnel to eliminate the Islamic State militant group, but support has to be given to Kurdish and Sunni fighters. Sanders spoke about the current conflicts in Iraq is stemmed from the Iraq War, which Clinton voted in favor in 2002. Clinton said the 2002 vote is not a plan to defeat ISIS. Sanders agreed with Clinton on how to dismantle the Islamic State, but added that the Middle East conflict must include Muslim troops on the ground but with the support of the U.S., U.K., France, Germany and Russia. Flint's Water Crisis In regards to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, Clinton said the work being done to control the matter is not sufficient and the federal government should intervene -- and bill the state of Michigan. Sanders agreed with Clinton, but he went further to ask for the resignation of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. "One wonders if this were a white suburban community what kind of response there would have been. Flint, Michigan, is a poor community. It is disproportionately African-American and minority. And what has happened there is absolutely unacceptable," said Sanders." Immigration & Criminal Justice Reforms Immigration reform received a brief mention from the candidates. Clinton said immigration reform will be among her top items in her agenda. Sanders said he supports comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship for 11 million people. He's agenda would also include crminal justice reform, which currently affects large African American and Latino populations. VP Picks Clinton was asked if she would consider Sanders as a vice presidential candidate, as an effort to unite the Democratic Party. Clinton said that she will unite the party but does not want to get ahead of herself on selecting a vice president, but she would call Sanders to discuss items. Sanders agreed that the candidates should not get ahead of themselves. __ For the latest updates, follow Latin Post's Politics Editor Michael Oleaga on Twitter: @EditorMikeO or contact via email: m.oleaga@latinpost.com. Launching a startup business is oftentimes challenging and terrifying, especially in a tough economic environment. But experts are sharing some crisis-resistant tips for growing and scaling a startup on a foreign soil. Latin America has been dubbed as the worst-performing emerging market in 2015, as previously reported. And while 2016 was deemed as another difficult for the region, it still did not stop investors and entrepreneurs to launch their startup enterprises there. Despite the fact that it is sometimes more difficult to do business between Latin American nations compared to dealing with Europe and North America, the region is still home to some advanced economies with a conservative class, The Next Web noted. So, here are 5 crisis-resistant tips for launching startup businesses in Latin America. 1. Avoid Seeing Latin America as a Homogenous Entity Doing business in Latin America is indeed hard, but not impossible. And in order for startup businesses to flourish across the region, each nation's operation should be optimized to the local business culture. According to Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo, who's running his owned Ecuadorian-based marketing agency concentrating on assisting startups launch across the region, Latin America offers a wide range of business opportunities. "Though the landscape can be challenging, with the right partners, strategy, and mindset, the region offers a vast range of opportunity," Carpenter-Arevalo said. He also added that the region is home to 300 million consumers, who are mostly part of a new and growing middle-class "whose thirst for connection is so far unquenchable." 2. Pay Attention to Emerging Needs during a Crisis Carolina Gil of Mi Barranco in Venezuela, which provides customers direct delivery of fresh and raw products harvested from a family ranch, explained that it is significant for entrepreneurs to pay attention to emerging needs, especially during a crisis. And they should also find cost-effective ways to satisfy its demand. "The bet is that those who stay and create something during the crisis will reap the benefits when it's over," Gil explained, as per Forbes. "And we are staying." 3. Never Ignore Market Conditions or Country Customs Businessmen are typically leaders by nature. However, they sometimes tend to lead blindly from the front, which can result to dreadful outcomes particularly in a market that you don't know and understand. Moreover, it is important to consider the cultural sensitivities, language barriers, local customs, ambiguous regulations and other factors in planning to launch startup businesses abroad. "There is always a difference between markets," Habitat Travel Founder and startup specialist Matthew Reede said. "Spending time on your UX (User Experience) by testing your product in a foreign market and understanding local buying habits before you take a tech idea live is paramount to success." 4. Invest in Relationships While Latin America has some of the highest social media and mobile usage rates globally, several studies have shown that Latin Americans have stronger ties to their family networks compared to non-family networks. Thus, earning their trust is important and needs extra effort. As an entrepreneur, make sure to spend time with the clients you want to deal business with, and eventually, the investment will pay off. 5. Invest in Human Capital During a crisis, employees are at risk for layoffs and staff benefits disruption. But according to Valentina Semei of Venezuelan restaurant La Casa Bistro, it is wise to invest heavily in your employees. The approach is not only to combat turnover and absenteeism but it also allows entrepreneurs to earn dividends in staff and customer loyalty. Aside from the tips, here are 5 best Latin American cities to launch a startup, as listed by Tech Co. 1. Santiago, Chile 2. Monterrey, Mexico 3. Sao Paulo, Brazil 4. Medellin, Colombia 5. Buenos Aires, Argentina There's absolutely no justification for the tragedy. Yes, it is quite common knowledge that the Guerrero region in Mexico is rampant with gang violence. The region, after all, is home to a number of the world's most notorious gangs. Drug trafficking is pretty rampant too, with a significant number of people in their late teens to their 20s being involved in the drug trade one way or another. But none of these reasons justify the tragedy in the city of Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca state, Mexico last Friday, Jan. 29, when seven-month-old Marcos Miguel Pano Colon, together with his parents, 24-year-old Juan Alberto Pano Ramos and 17-year-old Alba Isabel Colon, were brutally gunned down as they walked in front of a convenience store. All three were killed on the spot, according to CNN. Marcos was not yet a year old before his life was unceremoniously ended by a rain of bullets. Marcos' parents were suspected of working for Isidoro Gonzales Geronimo, a known drug trafficker in the area. According to the state's attorney's office, Gonzales was also shot and killed on the same day Marcos' family was gunned down, reported The Daily Mail. A day after the killing, police apprehended four people who are suspected of being linked to the heinous act. The men are suspected of being linked to a rival gang in the nearby state of Guerrero. A gang which, prosecutors allege, might have ordered the execution of the family. The image of the slain family, which has gone viral in social media, has disgusted the world, with people all over condemning the actions. After all, how much does it take for a man to shoot a seven-month-old baby? Such an act requires a special type of gall in order to be carried out. As of writing, thousands of comments have already been said on Facebook and Twitter alone, with people blaming senseless gang violence for the death of innocent lives. Some netizens even drew comparisons between Marcos and three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who was found dead on a Turkish beach after his family attempted to flee the chaos in Syria. With Mexico's recent tragedy, it seems like it is once more the innocents who have paid the ultimate price for the folly of others, according to The New York Daily News. Gang violence has been rampant in the state of Guerrero in recent years. With 2,016 homicides reported last year, the region has earned the highest homicide rate in the country. Recently, however, the violence has spilled over the neighboring state of Oaxaca, where Marcos, together with his mother and father, met their untimely end. Puerto Rico's health officials have announced on Thursday that the first case of the Zika virus infection on a pregnant woman has just been confirmed. After being confirmed to be infected with the virus, the woman has become the 19th person in the Latin American country to be infected thus far, according to FOX News Latino. Puerto Rican Health Secretary Ana Rius has described the woman's condition, though she did not announce any further details about the patient, citing privacy concerns on the patient's part. "The woman is currently in the first trimester and has been informed about the possible risk of the virus for her pregnancy. She's been evaluated by her doctor and has asked that her privacy be respected," Ruis said. Ruis, however, stated that the pregnant woman was aged between 25 to 35, and that she was one of three Zika virus cases that were confirmed by the health department this week. The Health Secretary has warned that there might be more that are infected in the country, since the symptoms of the virus usually go unnoticed at first. Statistically, it seems like Puerto Rican women are more prone to the notorious infection, with 58 percent of the confirmed Zika virus infections being found in female patients. The Zika virus has become a worldwide problem, with the mosquito-borne infection allegedly affecting thousands of people all over the world. First Post stated that a Zika infection starts with a simple mosquito bite, which usually causes victims of the virus to develop a fever and a rash. Perhaps the most notorious aspect of the Zika virus, however, is its connection to microcephaly, a condition wherein babies are born with an underdeveloped brain. In Brazil alone, there are currently 404 cases of microcephaly that were reported since October, with most of the cases being linked to a Zika infection. During the previous year, Brazil only had 147 cases of the birth defect, leading medical experts to assume that the virus is somehow related to the condition. Apart from microcephaly, the Zika virus is also suspected to be linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, a potentially paralyzing nerve disorder that was also observed in some patients affected by the virus. The rapid spread of the virus has caused health officials in countries all over the world to remain extra vigilant in preventing the virus from further spreading. So far, it has spread to about 26 countries in South and Central America. Health authorities warn that in its current pace, the Zika virus is well on its way to infect about four million people on the continent, before spreading worldwide. Last summer, Google has stated that it would play a big part in the White House's pilot project known as ConnectHome, a program that aims to provide internet connections to about 275,000 low-income households across the country. This Wednesday, Google has followed through on its promise, announcing that the company will be providing free Fiber connections to the West Bluff Townhomes community in Kansas City, Missouri, according to The Washington Post. With Google's decision, about 1,300 households in the area would be able to avail of Google Fiber's services, whose speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps is one of the best in the country. Such as speed enables a conventional internet user to download a Full HD movie in about 7 seconds. Of course, the best part about Google's decision is the fact that the people in the community would not need to pay for the service at all, which costs about $70 monthly on its regular price. The tech giant has confirmed the news, emphasizing that the West Bluff community is just the first of many low-income areas across the United States that will receive Google Fiber for free. "We've wired all 100 homes with Fiber, and families can sign up today to access the Internet at up to 1,000Mbps. We're bringing gigabit speed Internet to residents in select public housing properties in all of our Fiber cities, for free," Google said in a statement, according to Ars Technica. The Kansan community is not the first demographic that was given free internet service by the tech giant, however. Previously, Google has given low-income residents of Austin, Texas free internet connection too. However, the speed of the internet connection given to the Austin demographic is far inferior to those given to the Kansan community. In Austin, customers do get free internet, but the speed of the connection was fairly basic. If users wanted to get faster internet service, they are required to pay an additional fee, reported NDTV News. It is estimated that the tech giant would be spending a substantial amount of funds in giving away its Fiber internet connection for free. For the Kansas residents alone, Google is projected to spend about $1 million a year to cover the internet connection's expenses and maintenance. The United States is said to be one of the countries with the most expensive internet fees in the world. Despite the relatively high price, however, Americans don't really get good internet speeds compared to countries such as South Korea, with the conventional U.S. household having an average download speed of only 12 Mbps. In the name of peace, two leaders, U.S. President Barack Obama and Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos, have agreed to draft a continued and increased financial aid to further end hostility in Colombia, BBC reports. According to the publication, the White House was filled with celebrations last Thursday as Obama and Santos came to an agreement regarding an increased financial aid to be given by the U.S. in the hopes of ending Colombia's long conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The news agency further revealed that Santos asks for $450 million and if the U.S. Congress approves, Colombia will have a brighter future after all the crimes and civil wars that the country experienced for five years against the FARC. Since next month marks the time when the Colombian government headed by Santos and the FARC will be signing their formal peace agreement, Santos revealed that the U.S. aid is significant to help them carry out the plans, post-conflict. The upcoming period "is more difficult than the process itself," Santos said as quoted by the news outlet. Furthermore, the United Nations Security Council have also reportedly stepped in to oversee the ongoing peace talks between Colombia and FARC, the publication adds. Meanwhile, on the other side of the boat, Obama was also glad to have been given the opportunity to participate in the quest of Colombia for peace, the Associated Press via Yahoo! News reports. According to the publication, Obama is very eager to assist Colombia in their new journey for peace and the further development of their nation. "We all know that it's easier to start wars than to end them," Obama said as quoted by the news agency. "But after half a century of wrenching conflict, the time has come for peace." U.S., according to the news outlet, would be helping through a new program that will soon be launched and will be named "Peace Colombia." The plan include the integration of the former rebel group, FARC into society as the nation wishes to move forward from the wounds that the rebels previously inflicted. According to BBC, FARC even agreed to end drug trafficking to make way for a new beginning, as the group will start living in peace with the community. "They recognise that they have financed themselves through drug trafficking, or taxing the drug traffickers. That's what they say," Santos told the publication. "And they will in a way help us, especially in those remote areas, to convince the peasants to switch to legal crops," he added. Steve Santiago is bringing the Cubano menu to diners in Brewer by creating a Latin Caribbean cuisine-inspired restaurant called A Taste of Sunshine in Maine. According to BDN Maine, Santiago, a native of New York, spent his time teaching students how to cook at the Hampden Academy after he retired from the law enforcement agency. A descent of Puerto Rico, it's not far that his cooking skills would lean towards authentic Latin and Caribbean gastronomy, and A Taste of Sunshine in Maine promises to deliver just that. Santiago, who admits to have tried almost every cuisine in every country his family has visited, says that he's a self-made chef and foodie. He introduces his new endeavor as a meal for the family -- not fancy but definitely appetizing. He said, "This is food your Grandma would make, this is street food, this is food that families eat. It's hearty, and it's flavorful. It's not spicy. It's flavorful... We're starting with sandwiches, to get people used to it, and then we'll introduce other dishes as we move along." In order to keep the menu interesting, A Taste of Sunshine in Maine plans to launch different daily specials such as barbecued chicken, Puerto Rican chicken fricassee, stewed beef and vegetable dish called Ropa Vieja and Mike's Plantain Balls also known as Mofongo. Santiago's business has also worked closely with its locals by partnering with nearby suppliers for his restaurant. Located at 14 North Main St. in Brewer, Santiago said, "We wanted to make sure we were a part of the community. We're definitely a family-centric business. May kids are working right alongside me." According to WCSH6, Santiago was also prompted to try the Latin Caribbean cuisine after he noticed its absence on the food scene in the area. The locally supplied ingredients for their menu include fresh breads and smoked meat. The restaurant has been about delivering what a true Caribbean-inspired family dish would look and taste like. He also suggests that their menu will be very much like what you see in the kitchens of your Latin Caribbean friends. A Taste of Sunshine in Maine will have a soft opening on Saturday, diners who wish to get a taste of the Cubano menu can come as early as 11 a.m. for the experience. Valentine's Day is the time of the year when most people are in the mood for expressing their utmost affections. For couples, it is usually a time to celebrate their blissful relationships and as for hopeless romantics, it might be a perfect time to find "The One," with cupid's luck. Singles, on the other hand, seem to dread this day because it's just a time that reminded them of being alone. That's why some of them call Valentine's Day "Single Awareness Day." Valentine's Day is celebrated in different ways. However, it resonates one common theme, which is "Love." But how to we define the word love? According to Chelsea Grasso of Bustle, love is a "multifaceted thing" that can be interpreted in many different ways. It is an intangible word, a noun and most importantly, a verb. While this February holiday means big business in the United States and around the world, Valentine's Day in Latin America serves as more of an excuse to share love and friendship than chocolates and cards. Since Valentine's Day is just around the corner, here are 5 Latin American traditions to make Valentine's Day more romantic, as listed by Pop Sugar. 1. Put a Little Spell on Him or Her Are you willing to perform a little magic just for fun? Locals in Brazil do not necessarily celebrate Valentine's Day. But they have an annual tradition called "El Dia Dos Namorados," which is celebrated on June 12, on the eve of St. Anthony's Day, the patron saint of marriage. At this event, single women normally perform superstitious rituals known as "simpatias," with the intention of finding a good boyfriend or husband. The tradition also offers a few spell options such as tying a blue ribbon to an image of the saint and leaving it there until finding soulmate. 2. Valentine's Day is all about Family and Friends. In Guatemala and Mexico, Valentine's Day is known as "El Dia del Carino" (the day of affection) and "El Dia del Amor y Amistad" (the day of love and friendship). It has been part of their traditions to exchange sentimental gifts among their friends and family members as well as co-workers, Tu Decides reported. In Puerto Rico, they traditionally celebrate "El Dia de San Valentin" (St. Valentine's Day) by holding public parties and large family gatherings. So, instead of focusing on your significant other and intimate date, why not celebrate Valentine's Day with a big get-together for family and friends? 3. V-Day Serenade To make Valentine's Day more romantic, it is a common practice for Ecuadorian men to patiently wait for nightfall to serenade their women outside of their houses. 4. Orchids are Better Than Roses? Roses appear too old-fashioned for local lovers in Peru. So, instead of giving roses to their significant others, they give orchids instead. In fact, roses are mostly given on Mother's Day. 5. Sweet Tooth means Sweet Kisses If you're spending Valentine's Day in Argentina, well then it's your luck day! The country is not only celebrating V-Day in February. In July, they celebrate the so-called "Sweet Week," where lovers traditionally exchange candy for kisses. So, if you plan to give a box of chocolate on Feb. 14, expect to receive some sweet kisses. Valentine's Day is never meant for lovers and confectionary businesses only. It is a day where we are reminded to share some love. And for singles out there, don't fret, who knows your "Valentine" might be just around the corner. Located in South America, Peru is one of the most popular tourist destinations. From the beauty of the country's ancient ruins to the sandy beaches flocked by surfers, Peru offers more than just a scenic view. One of the things that capture the hearts of the travelers are the locals, and their enthusiasm to share the beauty of the country and their local culture. They would openly invite guests and share their stories, most especially their Inca ancestors, who continually strive to preserve their Quenchua culture. Listed below are a few travel destinations from the Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor that every wandering soul should visit when in Peru: Trujillo From riding the waves to enjoying their delectable dishes, Trujillo is one of the prime spots in the country. Within just 15-20 minutes travel time from the city proper, beach bums will get to experience the Trujillo's beautiful beaches as surfers are treated with huge waves ideal for newbies and pro's alike. To those that aren't fond of water sports, tourists can visit famous restaurants within the city, most of which serve Trujillo's delicacies. One of the most famous foodie heavens is the Kusiruna, which is a chocolate and cupcake factory. Lima Known as the largest city in Peru, Lima is a home to more than 10 million people, which is a quarter of Peru's total 35 million population. Travelers can safely walk around the city's streets and experience Lima's local scene. One of the most famous attractions that the city has to offer is the Museo Larco and its infamous Erotic Gallery which contains sculptures that celebrated sexual congress in all forms. Several replicas of the sculptures can be seen all over Peru. Machu Picchu The ancient architecture is one of Peru's pride. It's been around since the Spaniards colonized the country. Located 2,100 meters just above sea level in the Andes Mountains, travelers can access the ruins by bus. But to those who longs for adventure, one can hike the Machu Picchu trail, but the trek would usually take 3-4 days. Travelers would need to secure a ticket going to the landmark days before the visit as it is always sold out. Machu Picchu is considered as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Cusco Get a glimpse of the locals' everyday activities by visiting Cusco's night markets. Take time to wander and explore the Pisaq market, which is filled with vendors selling local jewelries, handicrafts, herbs, spices and local delicacies. Dave Mirra, the 24-time X Games champion and former MTV host was found lifeless inside his truck on Thursday, Feb. 4. The initial investigation suggests that the athlete committed suicide. He was 41. On Thursday afternoon, authorities from the Greenville Police Department in North Carolina found Mirra in a pool of blood and in connection with this, the NC police department issued a press release via its Facebook page. The post detailed how the biker was discovered and where. "At approximately 4 p.m. today, Greenville Police responded to the 200 block of Pinewood Road for an apparent suicide," the police stated. "Upon arrival, officers discovered Dave Mirra, 41, of Greenville, sitting in a truck with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been visiting friends in the area a short time before the incident." The news shocked many of Mirra's colleagues. They could not fathom how he could have taken his own life when he seems to be living a good life. Hollywood Life pointed out, "He had a loving wife, children and several successful businesses yet he committed suicide in his truck after visiting friends in Greenville, NC." On top of these, he was an accomplished man in the world of sports, particularly in pro BMX biking. Mirra was an icon in the sport and, in the history of X Games, he was the most awarded athlete. Until 2013, he was the sportsman with the most number of X Games medals in the world. Since entering the pro BMX competitions in 1995, he has always brought home a medal until 2008. When he retired, he had an awesome record of 14 gold medals and 10 silvers and bronzes. Mirra also appeared as host of MTV's "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" in 2004 to 2005. After the show, he dedicated his time in businesses and building a BMX training facility in his hometown. On the Facebook post, Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas also expressed sadness on the passing of such a great man. "We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift," he said. The mayor further stated, "He called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon." MTV also sent its condolences by releasing a simple statement, "MTV sends their deepest condolences to his family and friends during this difficult time." Dave Mirra is survived by his wife Lauren Blackwell Mirra and their two daughters. There are lots of tourist spots in South America and among the most favorite destinations are the beaches. Aside from the usual swimming and diving, travelers come to the region with their surf boards because of the great surfing spots across the territory. Many surfers around the world usually flock to Central America for the big waves. But if you would like to try something new, go just a bit farther to reach the south. Pristine beaches with really fine waves will welcome you. Once you arrive in the area, of course you must know where to go. So to make it easier for you, listed below are the top 4 South American surfing sites to check out: 1. El Salvador The country offers one of the best surfing conditions in the world, according to Wave Pals. Surfers can enjoy many world class left and right point breaks here. Moreover, most of the waves in El Salvador can break 100 - 200 yards and this is what sets it apart from the usual surfing points. Some of the finest spots to go for surfing in El Salvador are: Punta Roca - it is popular for its hollow and powerful waves. It offers world class right point breaks. For novice surfers, the shallow waves during low tides are perfect for honing surfing skills. La Paz - this has been dubbed as the country's surf capital. It offers softer waves that even kids can try riding in on their surf boards. Long boarding is also best for this place's surfing environment. Surfing seasons are: March-May: very big waves June-October: big waves November-December: consistent waves January-February: small waves but surf is very inconsistent 2. Brazil The best place for surfing in Brazil is in Santa Catarina. Florianopolis is the town's capital and its beauty has always been compared to Hawaii. The shoreline usually offers 20 breaks overspreading a 225-degree swell. Expect bigger swells and varying coastal conditions when surfing here. Other places to try are the coastlines in Guarda, Parana, Garopaba, Imbitu and Rio Grande do Sul. For consistent waves, surf in the months from April to October 3. Ecuador This country has one of the most incredible surfing locations. Surfers can try out a variety of surfing types because the region is filled with shorelines offering rights to lefts breaks. There are also beaches with points, rivermouths, rock reefs and jetties that can make surfing more exciting. The best spots in Ecuador are Ruta del Sol, Mompiche, Bahia de Caraquez, Baja Manabi, Las Salinas and Montanita. According to Wave Hunters, the excellent surfing season in Ecuador is from December to April. 4. Chile Chile is South America's most developed country. The country has many spectacular views thus it is one of the most favorite destinations of tourists around the world. This is also considered a haven for surfers because aside from the nice waves, the travel expenses are cheaper. Arica is the country's best surfing destination. The winds here are typically strong so kite surfing are popular among the travelers as well. For an exciting surf adventure, visit Arica, Chile from March to May. Get ready for your South American surfing tour! Check out the clip below to learn the basics of riding the waves. The Florida House passed a sweeping immigration bill Wednesday that aims to destroy "sanctuary cities" by investigating and penalizing municipalities, counties and sheriffs that fail to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. In an 80-38 vote, state House representatives approved HB 675, which requires local governments to detain people believed to be undocumented immigrants, while granting the governor the power to remove local officials from office if they don't comply. Florida Rep. Larry Metz said he authored the bill after a woman in California was fatally shot by a Mexican immigrant last year. Although federal immigration authorities want to detain the man, he was released earlier in 2015 by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, not long before the murder. "It was a sort of a very tragic reminder of what can happen when we have sanctuary policies and we certainly don't want that to happen anywhere,'' Metz said, according to NBC South Florida. In addition to eliminating sanctuary city policies, Metz's bill allows the families of people killed by undocumented immigrants to sue the local government. Plus, under the bill, the governor could remove officials in those communities from office, if they do not make an effort to repeal those policies. "We have a problem that we have to build walls to keep people out of our country because we're the greatest country in the world," said the Republican state representative, reports The Miami Herald. "Without both border security and internal enforcement, the system breaks down, and to fix it, we have to do our part in the state of Florida." Supporters say the legislation will ensure federal laws are followed and crack down on "sanctuary cities" by punishing local officials who refuse to cooperate with federal immigration agencies. Opponents, however, argue that the bill would discourage immigrants from working with local law enforcement agencies. Democratic Rep. Joe Geller even went as far as describing the bill as "an assault on people who choose to migrate here." Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Jose Javier Rodriguez pointed out that implementing the measure comes with a hefty price that falls on local governments. For instance, Miami-Dade County would have to spend millions to detain undocumented immigrants who commit nonviolent crimes, he said. On the other hand, supporters dismiss claims that the bill targets the state's immigrant population. "This bill is not an assault on immigrants," said Republican Rep. Julio Gonzalez. "This bill is only to protect the very reasons why immigrants come to this country: to seek freedom." A new national poll reveals a major shift in both the Democratic and Republican presidential primary races as the 2016 front-runners have lost their once double-digit leads. A Quinnipiac University national poll released Friday shows Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump no longer have huge leads in their respective parties. According to the survey, Clinton and Bernie Sanders are nearly tied in the Democratic race, while Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are hot on Trump's trail in the GOP election. Back in mid-December, a Quinnipiac poll showed Clinton boosted a commanding 31-point lead over Sanders, 61 percent to 30 percent, reports Politico. Now, the former secretary of state tops the Vermont senator by just 2 points, 44 percent to 42 percent, which is within the poll's margin of error. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," said Tim Malloy, the assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, in a statement. Likewise, Trump's popularity has also taken a hit following Monday night's Iowa Caucuses. The survey finds Trump polling at 31 percent nationally, with Cruz at 22 percent and Rubio with 19 percent. Meanwhile, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson came in fourth place with 6 percent. The poll, which was conducted Feb. 2-4, also reveals one-third of Republicans said they would support Trump, while another 30 percent "would definitely not support" the businessman. Cruz ranked in second place in that category with 15 percent, while Rubio followed with 7 percent saying they would not support him. Earlier this week, the first post-Iowa national poll released by Public Policy Polling (PPP) Thursday revealed Trump's support among GOP primary voters has dropped down to 25 percent, giving him just a 4-point lead over Cruz and Rubio, who both obtained 21 percent. This means the real estate mogul has dropped 9 points from the last PPP poll released a week before Christmas, which showed him with 43 percent of support, leading Cruz by 16 points and Rubio by 21 points. Former U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia announced Wednesday that he will make his fifth run for Congress this year in an attempt to regain his old seat in the House. The Miami Democrat released a statement to the Miami Herald saying he was entering the race in order to help residents who live in the Southwestern Miami-Dade congressional district. "We did great things when we were in Congress and I want to continue work on the issues that matter to South Florida, because we deserve better," the statement read. "We deserve quality jobs that pay a living wage, lower college tuition, action on climate change, and comprehensive immigration reform." The former one-term congressman made his first run for public office in 2008, but he lost to Republican Rep. David Rivera. He lost again to Rivera in 2010, reports The Miami New Times. Garcia, the former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, finally managed to win the seat in 2012. However, around that time allegations emerged that he may have helped fund a third party ringer back in 2010. In addition, his chief-of-staff was sent to jail for orchestrating absentee ballot fraud. Later on, his former chief-of-staff pleaded guilty in a separate federal case involving the secret financing of a ringer tea-party candidate in 2010. Although Garcia was never charged or accused of wrongdoing, he lost the seat in 2014 to Republican Carlos Curbelo after serving a single term. Garcia, however, has a better shot at beating the Republican candidate for the seat this November, since more Democrats tend to come out to the polls during a presidential election year. Plus, the borders for District 26 have been redrawn to include more Democrats. Before going up against a Republican for the seat, Garcia will first have to defeat Annette Taddeo in the primary. The Democratic establishment has already rallied around his Democrat rival, who was Charlie Crist's running mate in the 2014 Florida governor's race. Taddeo has also gained notable endorsements from former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez and the Service Employees International Union. In a statement, she took thinly veiled shots at Garcia and his reputation. "It's time to turn a new page in South Florida," she said. "As a member of Congress I will fight to raise the minimum wage, bring jobs back to our communities, ensure equal pay for women and to strengthen our schools. "This is what our communities deserve, but sadly the 26th District has instead endured a series of politicians who've put self-interest first, acted unethically, and at times even acted illegally." Saturday night's Republican debate will be the last chance New Hampshire voters have to see the candidates together ahead of next week's first-in-the-nation primary. Party front-runner Donald Trump won't sit out this time around, as he did ahead of the Feb. 2 Iowa caucuses when he scheduled a rally to coincide with Fox News' debate. Despite his 11-point lead over Florida Sen. Marco Rubio in a new CNN/WMUR poll, voters were still trying to decide whether Trump is electable. Just 18 percent of undecided voters said they are leaning toward Trump, while 37 percent said they wouldn't vote for him at all. Rubio, who gained momentum with a third-place finish in Iowa, is polling second in New Hampshire, ahead of GOP caucus winner Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Who's in, Who's out Aside from extending invitations to Trump, Rubio, and Cruz, ABC News announced the following candidates would participate: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Candidates received an invitation if they either placed in the top three in Iowa, averaged among the top six in national polls, or placed in the top six in New Hampshire polls. Unlike the Jan. 28 GOP debate, this one won't have an undercard. Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina didn't make the cut, leaving them without a national audience days ahead of the pivotal primary. Fiorina and Gilmore participated in the previous undercard alongside former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who both dropped out following a poor showing in Iowa. Several prominent Republicans, including 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, lobbied for Fiorina's inclusion. Fiorina sent a letter to the Republican National Committee on Wednesday making her case, saying, "Our debate process is broken." "Networks are making up these debate rules as they go along -- not to be able to fit candidates on the stage -- but arbitrarily to decide which candidates make for the best TV in their opinion," Fiorina wrote. "It is time for the RNC to act in the best interest of the Party that it represents." Rubio Gains Steam, Trump Loses it Rubio was polling at 18 percent in New Hampshire in large part to his strong showing in the Hawkeye State, prompting Christie and Bush to spend last week discrediting Rubio's political record. Christie launched an all-out personal attack on the Florida senator, calling him "a boy in the bubble" and likening him to the king of England. Bush questioned Rubio's accomplishments while in office, going so far as to take out a full-page ad in the New Hampshire Union Leader. "While Senator Rubio is a tremendous political talent, he is not the best choice to serve as Commander-in-Chief," the message read. "Nearly every political leader in Florida of stature who knows Marco and Jeb's records have joined us in endorsing Governor Bush." Trump, for his part, said he believed skipping the debate in Iowa may have cost him votes during the primary. "That could've been with the debate," Trump told reporters in Milford, New Hampshire on Tuesday. "I think some people were disappointed that I didn't go into the debate." Trump's 66 percent favorability rating ahead of the Iowa caucus fell by five percent soon after, though he is still favored to come out the winner in the coming contest. Online Viewing ABC News is live streaming the debate beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The network will stream the event on ABCNews.go.com and through their ABC News mobile app. The British proposal to allow European Union member countries to limit the social benifits of migrant workers has caused some concern for the Polish leadership. Poland wishes to see the details of the proposal before accepting the UK-EU deal. Reuters reports that Poland wishes to view the details of an EU proposal by Britain, which contains an "emergency brake" plan that would allow countries to limit the welfare and social benefits of working migrants in EU countries. This is primarily due to the fact that Poland is the biggest supplier of migrant labor to the UK. To this effect, Poland is expressing concerns over the proposal, due to the possibility of discrimination to its citizens. Despite this, Donald Tusk, President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Poland, proposed a plan which seeks to address a British push for EU reform to stem migration and to boost British sovereignty. This was mainly due to concerns of migrants overwhelming the welfare system of Brtain, as well as other countries, and was modified from the initial proposals of Prime Minister David Cameron. Part of the "emergency brake" measures would supposedly give countries the power to limit in-work benefits of working migrants for up to four years, but only if the host country is deemed under "exceptional" strain from immigration. This is to provide the host countries measures to avoid any negative effect between the host country and the countries the migrants originated from. The Irish Times reports that the proposal was the result of several months of backroom negotiations and legal discussion. The proposal was originally prompted by Britain's decision to hold a referendum on its EU membership by the end of 2017, which would determine whether Britain would be leaving or staying in the bloc. The plan, however, is not without its critics, though not from the migrants that will be affected by it. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that critics have found the plan to be "weak" and the pledges to be "watered down". The deal was originally proposed to instate a ban on benefits received by migrants, but was changed to allow migrants "gradually increasing access" to social benefits. Public opinion on whether Britain should stay in EU or leave is similarly critical of this action, with much of the population voting to leave, Mr. Cameron's campaign to remain in the bloc. EU leaders are due to discuss the proposal at a summit on Feb. 18-19, but talks will continue in the coming days. Prime Minister Cameron will be flying Denmark and Poland to secure backing this Friday, and is expected to meet Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Feb. 12. Two big names in the Delaware bar, Joel Friedlander and Joseph R. Slights III are vying to take the place of Vice Chancellor John W. Noble in his seat in the Delaware Chancery Court after his retirement. The choice or the position is to be made by Governor Jack Markell. After 15 years at the bench, Vice Chancellor Noble is officially stepping down and a state panel has submitted Friedlander and Slight's names as the next in line.Considered as one of the most influential business courts, the Chancery Court hear cases regarding mergers, proxy fights, and corporate and commercial disputes, as reported by Wall Street Journal. Friedlander and Slights are from private practice although Slight previously worked as a judge in Delaware's Superior Court for cases in Complex Commercial Litigation Division. According to Law 360, Slights is currently a partner at Morris James LLP. Slights was also a former adjunct professor at Widener University School of Law. He also served as a liaison between the Judicial Division and Business Law Section of the American Bar Association. According to Delaware Online, Slights graduated from James Madison University and finished his law degree from Lee University School of Law. Meanwhile, Friedlander is a big name in the corporate law scene and is currently working at Friedlander & Gorris PA. He was Chancellor Andre G. Bouchard's law partner at Bourchard Margules & Friedlander for PA for 20 years. Among his latest victory is his win in the popular case of Rural/Metro Corp. merger against RBC Capital Markets for $76 million over the bank's M&A advice He graduated from Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and finished his law degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Law. Governor Markell is set to choose between the two, after which the decision will be forwarded to the Delaware Senate where its confirmation would be voted on. Vice Chancellor Noble's retirement will be effective on February 26. The United Nations-mandated Working Group on Arbitrary Detention claimed that the arrest and detention of Nestora Salgado in Mexico are illegal. The dual-citizen political community leader was arrested in 2013 and is still being detained in Mexico after leading a community police force in the country. Seattle-based Salgado returned to her native country Mexico in 2013 and set up a community police force to protect residents from corruption and organized crime, ABC News reported. She was arrested in August of that year after her police force detained suspected members of organized crime groups, who claimed that they were kidnapped. A judge cleared her of the kidnapping charges but she is still in prison for a state case, the newswire noted. "I have no regrets about what I did, and I never will have any regrets," Salgado told The Guardian in an interview in June 2015. "I am not a person who likes to confront the authorities, but in a place where dialogue is not possible, what else can you do?" The U.N. group told Salgado's lawyers on Feb. 3, Tuesday, that the arrest and detention were illegal, Fox News also reported. The group concluded that not only should Mexican authorities free Salgado, they should also pay her in lieu of human rights violation. The group reportedly examined evidence collated by the Seattle University Law School's International Human Rights Clinic and responses from the Mexican government. The International Human Rights Clinic represents Salgado, the news source said. After examining various statements and evidence, the U.N. group concluded last December that Salgado should not have been arrested and detained. They claimed that community policing, which is what Salgado's group has been practicing, is recognized and protected by Mexican law. Furthermore, she was not given proper health treatment while being detained. Her dual citizenship was also ignored by the Mexican authorities. "This is a very important channel for political pressure: We have an impartial, international panel that says she's detained illegally. I think it's kind of a breakthrough," Thomas Antkowiak, the law clinic's director, was cited as saying. "We've been in ongoing negotiations with the government in Mexico, the federal government mainly, and those have gone nowhere. We're hoping this is going to inject new life into those negotiations," he added. Algerian terrorist, Kamel Bourgass, who killed a police officer in 2003 was given 51,000 in legal aid. Shockingly, it was nearly the same amount given to the police officer's family. The news emerged this week after a freedom of information was requested. According to Express, the incident caused outrage among critics claiming it's wrong and unfair for the justice system. The family of the victim expressed their shock and disappointment over the news. The Algerian terrorist allegedly used the money to defend himself to claim that he had been isolated in the jail. The Supreme Court defended the terrorist claiming that separating him from the cell for long period of time violated jail rules. "We seem to put more focus on the rights of the criminals than we do the victims. We must be a laughing stock around the world," Conservative Philip Davies said. Bourgass, the al-Qaeda killer stabbed Det Con Stephen Oake eight times 13 years ago when the officer raided the former's home. Oake assisted in arresting the Algerian terrorist even after he had been stabbed. He died after the incident. As The Sun reported, the widow of Oake and his three kids received 13,000 each that amounts to 52,000. The aid came from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Bourgass was jailed with another Al Qaeda fanatic, liquid bomb plotter Tanvir Hussain, who also claimed that they were segregated. The two had access to books, radio and TV and were separated because they attempted to radicalize other inmates, Daily Mail reports. The Algerian terrorist was said to be sharing his extreme views and influencing other prisoners. "It is outrageous that so much money is given to people who are enemies of the country," Retired Met police chief Sidney Mackay, whose daughter WPC Nina Mackay was stabbed to death on duty in London in 1997, condemned the legal aid bill. The Algerian terrorist is serving a life sentence for murder plus an extended 17 years for planning to preach ricin in Britain. Bourgass and Hussain are still facing the case in court and they are being defended by human rights barrister Dinah Rose QC. Germany is now in high alerts after the police arrested five Algerians being linked to be Islamists targeting the city of Berlin. The police have raided the several refugee sites after they've suspected that militants may have passed through Germany. Five Algerians were arrested over the raid conducted by German police on Thursday morning and are allegedly planning a terror attack on Berlin and other places in Europe as The Local reported. The police apprehended the group's ringleader who's a 35-year old Algerian in North Rhine-Westphilia. The man is being sought also by Algerian authorities after being suspected in connection with ISIS. Moreover, the man is said to have been formally trained in military during his time in Syria. The arrest came from a tip-off from Verfassungsschutz, German Internal Intelligence and have linked the Algerian and Islamists scene in Berlin and Hanover. During the detainment of the 35-year-old man, a woman was also arrested along with her but was under different charges according to New York Times. Other men who were also arrested in at 6 a.m. after coordinated raids apprehended him. Lastly, two men being sought by the police were caught in Berlin, a 31-year old and in Hanover, a 26-year old, however, they were not taken to custody as authorities said. All four men are being linked to the Islamic State militant group and as of today, being believed to have been planning a violent attack that would massively damage the status of the state as said by Berlin police spokesman, Stefan Redlich. The German police seized the four suspects on Thursday morning with a battalion of 450 officers taking part as written in Yahoo News. According to the article, the police went to Berlin, states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Lower Saxony where they retrieved computers and mobile telephones. Germany is vigilant after terrorism alerts escalated since the November Paris attacks as "level of threat posed by Islamist militants remain high" said by Berlin's Home Affair chief Frank Henkel. Four male and one female was apprehended during the raids of German police in several places and in Berlin. This is due to a tip-off coming from the German Internal Intelligence. A 35-year old man was apprehended with a woman and the police are looking for evidences that would like the man with another the three arrested. The raid was conducted on Thursday with more than 450 police scattered around Germany. The action is to address concerns regarding the threat levels of Islamic State militants being imposed since Paris attacks last November 2015. Court of Appeals reversed the demotion order for two executives accused of questionable job scheme, but deputy secretary of the Veterans Affairs vowed to punish the pair. In a report from The Virginian Pilot, Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson demoted Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves in January after they forced two lower rank managers to quit their current positions so they can step in on the vacant jobs themselves and keep their senior level salary while reducing their job responsibilities. In short, the two executives manipulated the company's hiring system for selfish intentions. However, federal judges reversed the demotion orders on the grounds that higher-ranking officials knew about the job scheme and did nothing to stop them and that penalizing both executives would reveal inconsistency with the Veterans Affairs' failure to discipline higher-ranking officials. In a published statement from Military Times, Gibson said, "We have charges that have been sustained, but with no punishment. I don't believe that reflects the intent of Congress in passing (new accountability) laws." That's why the deputy secretary is set to investigate further regarding other violations that needed punishment. There are high ranking officials who are under fire for a series of judgement errors that cost $400,000 in relocation expenses for a revolving door of leadership moves. CBS Local Minnesota reports that the deputy secretary will not remove Rubens and Graves from the government's Senior Executive Service as he did when he demoted them. Now he seeks to investigate two other executives whose names were dragged during the judicial rulings. These executives were Danny Pummill and Beth McCoy. Pummill was aware of the actions done by Rubens and Graves but made no action on it. McCoy, on the other hand, pressured a regional manager to leave his position. She didn't face any ramifications and was even promoted after that. Gibson sets to interview both Pummill and McCoy regarding their actions and saidf there is evidence of misconduct not available previously, he will take actions. On Wednesday, the parliament of Romania lifted the immunity of an ex-minister so he can be investigated on suspicion which cites that he abused his authority. The former minister allegedly used an official motorcade five times a day which the government says he is not entitled to. ABC News reported that Romanian senators voted 102-30 to lift the immunity of Sen. Gabriel Oprea. Senator Oprea was a former interior minister and his immunity was lifted because the parliament wanted to inquire about a criminal activity. Prosecutors who handle the anti-corruption departed said that Sen. Oprea used a motorcade 1,607 times from Jan 2 up to Oct. 21, 2015. This is three times as often as Romania's president used the privilege. It is stated in the Romania's law that only the president, Romania's two Parliament speakers, and the prime minister benefits from the use of motorcade in which police-escorts follow. Although there are some instances that some senior officials are allowed to use motorcades. Senator Oprea had called on colleagues to vote in favor of the request by anti-corruption prosecutors. Gulf News Europe said the Oprea requested to allow him to prove his innocence before the law. In November, Oprea was a deputy premier under Social Democrat leader Victor Ponta, who was forced to exit from the office of prime minister following huge streets demonstrations that sparked by a nightclub fire which killed 63 people. According to Balkan Insight, Romania is still considered as one of the most corrupt states in the European Union. Romania made only a few development when it comes to fighting organized crimes and corruption. Many citizens from Romania complained that senior officials abuse their authorities, this includes overusing of motorcades which often leads to heavy traffic. Since January 2014, seven former ministers, a former deputy prime minister, four lawmakers, one European Parliament lawmaker, a former minister, and many other Romanian officials have been sentenced to prison for corruption. A 21-year-old woman from Pennsylvania has been charged with concealing the death of a child after she hid the dead body of her newborn baby. She told police officials that she was unaware of her pregnancy before she gave birth at home and that her baby was unresponsive. In a report by ABC News, the woman has been identified as Kelsey Martin of Springettsbury Township. After placing the dead newborn inside a shoebox, she stored it in an upstairs closet. She was charged just this January 28, eight months after the incident took place. Officials said that Martin went to a hospital last April with abdominal pains. It was where she was told she had a urinary tract infection and had to take antibiotics. Later that day, at around 10 P.M., Martin bled heavily and was taken to a hospital via an ambulance. An examination showed that she gave birth but denied it as per police officials' statements, FOX 43 reported. Eventually, the woman told officials that earlier in the day, she thought that she had to go to the bathroom but gave birth instead. The baby was not breathing and she said she shook the baby in hopes of hearing a response. After her attempts, she hid the baby in the shoebox. Officials and family members found two boxes inside the closet. One was with bloodied clothing and the other was with the newborn's body. The officials and family members tried to perform CPR on the baby but was later pronounced dead. An autopsy was not able to determine if the child was born alive, ABC 27 reported. The woman who was living with her grandparents lied about the blood on the floor saying she hit her nose on a dresser. The lawyer of Martin, Christopher Ferro, said in a statement that the incident is horrible but explainable, noting that the public should not judge his client. He added, "This is a highly emotional case and I would only ask that the public withhold final judgement and respect Kelsey's family and her presumption of innocence." A preliminary hearing for the case is scheduled for March 31. It remains unclear why the woman was charged only eight months after. Nordbay, a 62,000-ton oil tanker, hit two facilities along the bank of Mississippi river on Feb. 2, Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The empty oil tanker crashed into two Jefferson Parish water department facilities, causing minor damage to the ship but did not spill any pollution. The Coast Guard is still examining the incident Wednesday, The Times-Picayune New Orleans reported. The tanker did not cause any oil spill, but the ship's damage included a small hole in the hull, which leaked ballast water, according to Coast Guard spokeswoman Petty Officer Laura Ratliff. The water facilities did not obtain any visible damage as of inspection on Tuesday night, according to Jefferson Councilman Chris Roberts. Official reports also said the incident caused no pollution since ballast water can be either fresh or salt water. Ballast water is used by ships to stabilize the vessel. Nordbay, a Cyprus-flagged ship, measures 249 meters long and has a deadweight of 116,000 tons, the gCaptain reported. The tanker is under the Reederei Nord Group. The ship hit the water intakes at mile marker 104, then hit the Gov. Nicholls Street Wharf while being directed down the river, ABC News also reported. It was supposed to head to the New Orleans General Anchorage. Reports said the tanker blew its horns for danger warning when it headed to the Piety Street Wharf. More than three tugboats responded to the call. The Coast Guard said that the tanker was finally corralled and anchored at mile marker 97.2, upriver from the Crescent City Connection. In January, the wharf has been hit by a towboat and a barge. The park, currently closed to visitors, is in the process of being repaired. Meanwhile, Harbor Police were set to examine the Jefferson Parish water facilities in the next few days. Although no damage was reported initially, they will thoroughly check if any damages were sustained, according to Matt Gresham, spokesman for the Port of New Orleans. Swedish authorities revealed on Thursday that a United Nations panel has determined that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's detention in the Ecuador Embassy is London is arbitrary, violating the most fundamental human right - the right to personal liberty. The announcement was made ahead of the release of the U.N. panel's official statement. Julian Assange has been seeking refuge at the Ecuador Embassy for a good three and a half years starting in 2012. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the notorious activist has been holed up in the embassy out of fear that once he steps out he will be arrested, transported to Sweden and after which will be extradited to the United States to face espionage charges similarly with fellow WikiLeaks contributor Chelsea Manning. There's also a possibility that the WikiLeaks founder may be avoiding questioning for a rape allegations in Sweden in 2010, although he was never formally charged. Assange has repeatedly denied such accusations. As noted by the Wall Street Journal, Xabier Celaya, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the United Nations panel invoked the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights in arriving at its decision. The said convention was ratified by the U.N. General Assembly in 1996 and provides that "no-one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention." The United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia, of which Julian Assange is a citizen, are all signatories to the convention. Reports also reveal that some of the key factors that led to the panel's decision is the fact that there were no formal charges against Assange to warrant an arrest and that the United Kingdom made amendments to its laws and procedures ever since the Assange took refuge at the Ecuador Embassy. Although decision is not legally binding with respect to U.K. and Sweden, it will still hold a lot of weight. However, Christian Cubitt, spokesperson for Downing Street, is adamant that they have a valid warrant of arrest against Julian Assange. "We appreciate the U.N. panel would not be legally binding, but clearly there's a European arrest warrant in place," Cubitt said. "Should Mr. Assange leave the embassy, then we would put that into effect." The United Nations panel will announce their final decision on Friday noon. "Julian and his lawyers will be present to discuss the decision and what its ramifications are for WikiLeaks, Sweden and the U.K.," said Carey Shenkman, Assange's U.S. attorney. Julian Assange, nonetheless, is resolved that he will abide by whatever decision that United Nations come up with. "Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal," Assange said, according to BBC. "However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me." Assange was first arrested in London in 2010 after Sweden issued a European Arrest Warrant against him for rape and sexual abuse allegations. When he applied for bail in 2012, Assange sought asylum inside the Ecuador Embassy after the United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled that the extradition proceedings against him could proceed. A 30-year old man from Austin, Texas was recently arrested in the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba after authorities received a complaint against him. According to police officers, the man identified as Patrick Maxwell was alleged to have beat, run over, and threatened to rape a 70-year-old woman who worked as a taxi driver in the island. Maxwell is currently facing aggravated assault and attempted rape charges. A Public Prosecution spokeswoman has confirmed that the American will be held for another week without bond until he faces the court for his first hearing scheduled on Feb. 9. Maxwell is reported to be visiting the island with his colleagues from a real estate company where he works in. They flew in to Aruba to celebrate their team's achievements in sales. According to ABCNews, the group went to a night club on the last night of their trip. Late Saturday, Maxwell boarded a taxi to head back to his hotel in Oranjestad. The taxi was being driven by the victim, Grace Angela. Police reports that Maxwell had asked the driver to stop at a pharmacy but later refused to alight from the vehicle. He then started to shout and hit the driver in the face before threatening to rape her. This prompted the driver to get out of the cab. Maxwell, however, followed her and kept on hitting her before riding the taxi and escaping. In the process, he ran over the torso and leg of Angela. The incident has left Angela in the hospital as she is being treated for seven broken ribs, wounds on her legs, and a broken nose. Speaking in behalf of Maxwell is defense attorney Chris Lejeuz who said that his client does not "remember much" about the incident. Lejeuz confirms that Maxwell had consumed alcohol prior to the incident but it does not explain what could have "triggered his actions." Last March, Maxwell was profiled as a former US marine who had served in Iraq in 2006 before he was honorably discharged in 2011. He then voluntarily returned to join Kurdish security forces in Iraq in late 2014. 2017 Aston Martin DB11 leaked again Feb 5, 2016, 4:05am ET The DB11 will greet the public for the first time next month at the Geneva Auto Show. A second leaked image has given us an early look at the upcoming Aston Martin DB11. Published by Dutch car-spotting website Autojunk, the picture suggests the DB11 wears an evolutionary design. It looks much sharper and more aggressive than the aging DB9 it's replacing thanks in part to striking styling cues such as C-shaped tail lamps and vents cut into the front wheel arches, but it's still instantly recognizable as a member of the Aston lineup. The DB11 will launch with a brand new, twin-turbocharged 5.2-liter V12 engine that's expected to make a little over 600 horsepower in its initial state of tune. Buyers who don't need twelve cylinders will be able to order the DB11 with an Aston-specific version of the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine that powers Mercedes-AMG's GT and C63. Most models will come with an automatic transmission, but Aston Martin remains committed to offering a manual transmission in the foreseeable future. Stay tuned, Aston Martin will introduce the DB11 at this year's Geneva Auto Show. We'll be on location to bring you live images of it as soon as the veil is lifted. An Allentown man accused of stabbing a man outside a city club, allegedly over being bullied, reached a plea deal on Friday. An Allentown man pleaded guilty in the stabbing of a man outside an Allentown club. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo) David McFadden, 24, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in the stabbing of Devon Coleman outside Catch 22 on April 25. In exchange, prosecutors dropped attempted homicide and a second aggravated assault charge. McFadden is scheduled to be sentenced in March. Coleman's spine was hit in the attack, and he underwent emergency surgery, police said. After the attack, McFadden reportedly told police there was an "ongoing issue" between him, Coleman and some other people, and that McFadden was being bullied, "picked on, and he was tired of it." A club security guard, John Badillo, previously testified McFadden and a woman he was with had been kicked out of the club at Hamilton Street and American Parkway earlier that night. At about 2:45 a.m., Badillo said he heard a commotion on Race Street near the club, and saw a woman swinging at a man surrounded by three other people. During the fight, Badillo said McFadden came up behind Coleman and stabbed him three times in the torso with what looked like a serrated kitchen knife. McFadden scuffle with the security guard before fleeing; McFadden was eventually caught, then arrested by Allentown officers. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Bethlehem Steelworkers Veterans Memorial Bethlehem's Steelworkers Veterans Memorial is seen Feb.2, 2016, at East Third and Polk streets on South Side. The city received a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to help pay to relocate the memorial to a new plaza at East Third Street and Founders Way. (Kurt Bresswein | Lehighvalleylive.com contributor) Bethlehem has received a $400,000 boost for three park projects in the city. The money comes from $28 million in grants announced Jan. 28 by Gov. Tom Wolf from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, for improving recreation and community revitalization. Other projects in Lehigh and Northampton counties received $626,200 from the grants, for a total state investment across the Lehigh Valley of more than $1 million. "Well-maintained and accessible parks, recreation areas and community facilities are attractions that bolster business activity and enhance the quality of life throughout our region," state Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Lehigh/Northampton, said in a statement about the grants. Bethlehem's grants break down into $200,000 for two projects along the South Bethlehem Greenway and another $200,000 for improvements to Johnston Park, along the Monocacy Creek in Center City. On South Side, the money will go toward relocation of the Steelworkers Veterans Memorial at East Third and Polk streets to a plaza a few blocks east at East Third Street and Founders Way, across from the entrance to the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. The memorial move is tied to construction of an estimated $13 million, 600-spot parking garage atop the surface lot at Polk Street, said Darlene Heller, the city's planning and zoning director. Construction and the memorial work aren't expected to begin until at least 2017, she said. "It's all going to be done as one unit, the memorial plaza and the garage," Heller said. The new plaza is slated to include construction of a promenade and pedestrian walkways, a parking area and picnic green; access for people with disabilities, landscaping and related improvements. The second project along the greenway is installation of play equipment with safety surface and fencing between Webster and Adams streets, along the block of the foot path running behind Holy Infancy School and the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem, Heller said. City staff worked with Lehigh University to design the active-play area, and Lehigh has agreed to match the state grant, she said. The play area is designed, but until the DCNR grant is under contract and the job is bid, that project wouldn't begin before the second half of this year, Heller said. Bethlehem's Johnston Park, seen Jan. 29, 2016, is slated for improvements, funded in part by a $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The work is planned to include replacement of a pedestrian bridge, ADA access and landscaping. (Kurt Bresswein | Lehighvalleylive.com contributor) At Johnston Park, the city plans to replace the pedestrian bridge over the Monocacy, improve access for people with disabilities, add landscaping and make related improvements. The city already received a $210,000 grant from Northampton County for the bridge project, making it about 70 percent funded, said Ralph Carp, city director of parks and public property. The timetable for the work is not set. "We're not that far down the road as far as design, and we have to do a lot of civil engineering work in anticipation because we're working in the stream there," Carp said, "but I think we're creeping along." Here is a look at the other local projects to receive the state grants: Lehigh County $15,000 to the county for purchase of a utility task vehicle for construction and maintenance of 20 miles of trails within the Trexler Nature Preserve in Lowhill and North Whitehall townships. $242,000 to Salisbury Township for rehabilitation of Lindberg Park, including construction of a pavilion and comfort station, installation of play equipment, access for people with disabilities, landscaping and related site improvements. Northampton County $13,000 to Natural Lands Trust Inc. for a conservation and management plan at the 44-acre Archibald Johnston Preserve on the Bethlehem-Bethlehem Township border. $195,000 to North Catasauqua for further development of the D&L Trail in North Catasauqua and Northampton, including construction of about 1.3 miles of trail from Canal Park in Northampton to the Lehigh County border in North Catasauqua, pedestrian bridge and culvert; access for people with disabilities; landscaping; signage and related improvements. $26,000 to Pen Argyl for development of a master-side plan for the 33-acre Weona Park. $135,000 to Upper Mount Bethel Township for further development of the township's Community Park, including construction of a pedestrian walkway, improved access for people with disabilities, landscaping and related improvements. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The crows come home to roost in Bethlehem. Literally. A few thousand of them. Each night as the sun sets over Main Street, the sky fills with the squawking black birds. The cacophony fills the air as they swoop into the downtown from every direction, covering the ground and cars with their excrement. Swarms of them fly at the trees where they'll perch in the bare branches for the night. Moravian College's Priscilla Payne Hurd campus is so infested the college now shoots off a sound cannon, like the ones wineries use, and shines lights into the trees in hopes of scaring them off. But thus far, those measures have only succeeded at scattering the birds momentarily. "This has been a bit of a nightmare with the birds," college spokesman Michael Wilson confessed. "Everything we've tried; they just keep coming back. There's only so much we can do to scare them away." Crows have long come to roost in Bethlehem -- an official count in 2011 put their number at 15,000 -- but many folks report they're more pervasive and aggressive this year. "We have been trying to harass the crows for weeks now," said Ralph Carp, city public parks, recreation and public properties director. "They seem to be particularly heavy this year. It causes a problem for us, that's for sure." Squawking for help It's so bad, Carp has reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services bureau for help. The agency, which is meant to provide expertise in solving wildlife conflicts, last aided the city in 2011. USDA wildlife biologist Carey Furlo has not visited the Bethlehem roost recently. But anecdotally he's hearing it's grown exponentially from the 15,000 birds counted in 2011. The crows are drawn to the Lehigh River, which elevates the air temperature, and the plentiful, predator-free habitat the city offers, Furlo said. In winter, crows tend to roost in large flocks for the night, explained Peter G. Saenger, president of the Lehigh Valley Audubon Society and an ornithologist at Muhlenberg College's Acopian Center for Ornithology. They disperse in the morning to find food and return at dusk. "Their usual habitat would be forest plots and hedgerows in the country, but these areas are being regularly destroyed by development and the birds need to find new places to roost," Saenger said. Bethlehem is an attractive home base for the birds. "The city is in very close proximity to a fairly large amount of agriculture," Furlo said. "They have relatively short flights to go out and feed. Certainly, for this area, it seems to be where most crows in the tri-county come back to roost." While the large winter congregation draws attention, Furlo notes the real issue isn't their numbers. It's the damage they cause with their droppings and the noise they make. Coordinated approach required Once crows set up shop, it's tough to get them to leave. And they're a federally protected species, so it is against the law to harm them in any way without proper federal permits, Saenger said. Furlo plans to visit Bethlehem next week to check out the problem and is happy to assist any property owners who need help. But the city may want to consider a coordinated approach, he said. Localized efforts will only push the birds somewhere else in the city. "If this is truly a citywide issue and a bulk of the city is concerned about it," Furlo said, "it should be looked at as a community effort citywide." The epicenter of the roost is around Sand Island and the Hill-to-Hill bridge. But it extends past Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, out to Route 22 and as far west as the Lehigh County Jail in Allentown, Furlo said. The infestation is quite heavy around Freedom High School, too, Carp said. "It may be best if all the interested parties sit down and ask: Do we want to try to move this roost forever or do we want to try to decrease it to decrease the damages?" Furlo said. No one knows why the roost has now grown so large but Furlo floated a few anecdotal theories. A comfortable place to roost The winter roosts usually begin in October. In recent years, early winter weather and cold temperatures may have driven birds South. And Hurricane Sandy three years ago destroyed and disrupted some major roosting areas as well, Furlo said. "Couple all that with this year we had no snowfall until two weeks ago," he said. "These birds had everything they need to survive, which is food and cover." Driving a flock from its roost is an ongoing and dedicated effort that requires making things so uncomfortable they don't want to return, Furlo said. The first step is making a lot of noise and having activity just as they come in for the night. "(It) will need to be repeated for as many evenings as it may take to get them to decide to go elsewhere and till after full dark to keep them from coming back later the same evening," Saenger said. "... It can take a lot of effort and time to get this done." Options include lights, bangs and a fogger with a chemical extract made of Concord grapes that serves as a nasal irritant for the birds, Furlo said. The city has been shooting a specialized flare gun, which makes a bang noise, into the trees to try to scatter them but it is clearly not driving them away, Carp said. "I don't think the city is doing anything to cause this problem," Furlo said. Bethlehem just happens to be very attractive to the crows. "They breed every spring and come back with their young," he said. "And the roost continues to grow." HOW TO GET HELP Anyone needing USDA Wildlife Services help with crows can call Carey Furlo at 610-231-3134. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Rajab Gomez arrest Rajab Gomez (Courtesy photo) A New Jersey man admitted he robbed a patron at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem after he was shown surveillance camera footage of the incident. Rajab Gomez, 32, of Rahway, had a chance to see the video for himself in Northampton County Court on Friday and it convinced him to plead guilty, according to defense attorney Joseph Yannuzzi. Gomez pleaded guilty to robbery, simple assault and receiving stolen property. Northampton County Judge Michael Koury sentenced him to two to four years in state prison followed by two additional years of probation. Gomez watched a patron leave the casino at 2:38 a.m. on Aug. 13 with $1,700 in $100 bills and attacked him in the parking garage near the elevator. He hid the cash in his underwear and fled. Police were able to track him every step of the way thanks to Sands' system of about 7,400 surveillance cameras. Police traced Gomez back to a gambling area where he was seen swiping his player's card, which provided officers with his New Jersey driver's license and a description of the Nissan Murano SUV Gomez was driving. Officer Joshua W. Mallabar-Hobson, saw the SUV and pulled over Gomez after he saw the Nissan make a sudden left turn and duck into an unlit parking lot. Gomez gave soft-spoken "yes" and "no" answers when Koury asked whether he understood the rights he was giving up and whether he wanted to follow through with the plea. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. WASHINGTON -- The two remaining Democratic presidential candidates, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) met Thursday in the first of four debates added to the schedule. Clinton, who barely beat Sanders in the first caucus state of Iowa, is trailing by double digits in the first primary state of New Hampshire, according to polls released Thursday. Sanders represents neighboring Vermont. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist College survey put Sanders ahead, 58 percent to 38 percent, while a CNN/WMUR survey gave Sanders a lead of 61 percent to 30 percent, both among likely Democratic primary voters. Here are five takeaways from the debate. 1. There isn't much that separates the candidates. "Senator Sanders and I share some very big progressive goals," Clinton began, ticking off such issues as expanding health coverage to the uninsured and raising the minimum wage. Where they differ is over how far to go. Sanders would like to have a single-payer health system rather than rely on private insurers and free public college. Clinton said she wanted to expand the Affordable Care Act and hold down college costs. "The numbers just don't add up from what Senator Sanders has been proposing," Clinton said. Sanders said other countries have provided health care to everyone while holding down costs. As for free college, he said it would be funded by a tax on Wall Street transactions. 2. The Iraq War vote remains a blot on Clinton's record Barack Obama used it against her in 2008 and Sanders has resurrected it in 2016 as the candidates discussed how to fight the Islamic State, the terrorist organization also known as ISIS. "Where we have a different background on this issue is we differ on the war in Iraq, which created barbaric organizations like ISIS," Sanders said. "It gives me no pleasure to tell you that much of what I feared would happen the day after Saddam Hussein was overthrown, in fact, did happen." Clinton was ready with a retort: "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS." 3. What did they did fight about is who was the real progressive. Sanders said he was the candidate calling for a political revolution. "What we have got to do is wage a political revolution where millions of people have given up on the political process, stand up and fight back, demand the government that represents us and not just a handful of campaign contributors," he said. Clinton decried what she said was Sanders' "self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism." "It's really caused me to wonder who's left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party," Clinton said. "A progressive is someone who makes progress. That's what I intend to do." 4. Sanders still doesn't care about Clinton's damn emails. The issue of Clinton using a private server won't go away, and the State Department recently said 22 emails were top secret. Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and aides to his successor, Condoleeza Rice, also received such emails on their private accounts when they worked for Republican President George W. Bush. At issue is whether the emails were classified when they were sent, and Clinton said she was "100 percent confident" that the ongoing probe would find no wrongdoing on her part. "We've got this absurd situation of retroactive classifications," she said. Sanders, who famously told Clinton that "the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn e-mails" at the first Democratic debate in October, said he hasn't changed his mind. 5. Money makes the world go round. From his opening remarks to his closing statement, Sanders railed against big corporate donors, including Wall Street, drug companies and the oil industry. He called Clinton "part of the establishment" for the support her campaigns have received from employees for such special interests. "If we do not get a handle on money in politics and the degree to which big money controls the political process in this country, nobody is going to bring about the changes that is needed in this country for the middle class and working families," Sanders said. Clinton, who has raised $2.9 million from employees in the securities and investment industry, more than any other candidate according to the Center for Responsive Politics, said the donations didn't dim her desire to regulate Wall Street, and objected to Sanders insinuating that she was influenced by the donations and the speaking fees she received from financial institutions. "If you've got something to say, say it directly," she said. "But you will not find that I ever changed a view or a vote because of any donation that I ever received." Sanders announced a litmus test for his Supreme Court nominees: An agreement to overturn the Citizens United decision, which overturned a century of law and court decisions and removed limits on corporate and union campaign spending. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook A Lower Saucon Township man accused of driving drunk and causing a deadly three-vehicle crash on Route 22 wants to plead guilty in the case. In court Friday, Robert Kritzar, of the 2300 block of Silver Creek Road, said he wants to plead guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI related to the May 28, 2014, crash that killed Nathan Warke, of Allentown. Warke's parents were in the courtroom and asked the plea hearing be set for Monday so the rest of Warke's family can attend. The 43-year-old Kritzar remains in Lehigh County Jail without bail. If Kritzar pleads guilty, it would be an open plea, meaning there would be no sentencing agreement and the judge would decide how long he would spend in prison. Chief Deputy District Attorney Paul Bernardino III said the homicide by vehicle charge carries a mandatory minimum of three years in state prison, but he was not sure the maximum sentence Kritzar would face. Bernardino told the judge if Kritzar pleads guilty, the sentencing would probably be scheduled for a later date. Attorney James Heidecker, who represents Warke's family in a civil suit, said the family is pleased with being spared of "sitting through a trial and and reliving the entire horrific experience." Kritzar had a preliminary hearing in which witnesses testified that the day of the crash, Kritzar and his partner were running late from moving a woman from Brooklyn, New York, to Whitehall Township. Around the time of the crash, witnesses said there was heavy stop-and-go traffic on Route 22 West near Fullerton Avenue. Data from the box truck showed that right before the crash, Kritzar was driving 66 mph and that the truck's throttle was at 100 percent, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Brianne Glad previously said. The data showed Kritzar then applied the brakes and was traveling 40 miles per hour when it struck a Jeep Wrangler in front of him operated by Warke, Glad said. The box truck struck the Jeep, then pushed the Jeep into a tractor-trailer stopped in front of it, prosecutors said. The 8:26 p.m. crash left Warke trapped inside his vehicle. A Lehigh County deputy coroner pronounced him dead about 45 minutes later. A trooper found Kritzar sitting in a fetal position, rocking back and forth near the concrete center median, and testified Kritzar repeatedly said, "I killed the guy, I killed the guy." Kritzar consented to a blood test at the hospital and prosecutors say his blood-alcohol content was 0.22, nearly three times the legal limit of 0.08. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A former Bethlehem man on probation for shooting a man in the city is now accused of tying his father up in attempt to extort $4,000. Pennsylvania State Police said a man on probation for a Bethlehem shooting tied his father up with zip ties in an attempt to extort $4,000. (lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Brandon Matlack, of the 1600 block of Woodlawn Street in South Whitehall Township, is charged with robbery, attempted robbery and simple assault. Bail was set at 10 percent of $7,000 in the case, but the 25-year-old Matlack is being held in Lehigh County Jail on a probation detainer related to the 2012 shooting case. Pennsylvania State Police said they were called Jan. 15 after neighbors heard Matlack's father screaming for help in the street of his Lower Milford neighborhood, and found him with zip ties around his wrists. James Matlack's wrist looked purple from a lack of blood flow, and as neighbors worked to cut the zip ties, they saw a black BMW 3 speeding away, state police said. The elder Matlack told troopers he was home alone that evening when he saw a car pull into the driveway and thought it was his wife and daughter coming home, state police said. Instead, Brandon Matlack came into the house through the garage, confronted his dad and said he needed $4,000 transferred to his account, police said. The younger Matlack had not lived at the house for the past two months, police said. When James Matlack said he could not get the money at the moment, Brandon Matlack went out to the garage, came back inside and said they "could do this the easy way or the hard way," state police said. The father and son began arguing, then Brandon Matlack became physical, troopers said. James Matlack tried fighting off his son, but Brandon Matlack was able to get three zip ties around his father's wrists, police said. Brandon Matlack asked for his father's phone, and the elder Matlack threw it toward the living room, trooper said. When Brandon Matlack went to get it, his father ran outside and began screaming for help, police said. After being helped by his neighbors, James Matlack put buckets behind his son's car to keep him from getting away, but Brandon Matlack ran them over and fled, police said. That night, Brandon Matlack went to Bethlehem police to give a statement about the incident. He was subsequently arrested and charged. Matlack was sentenced to three years of probation in 2013 for the November 2012 shooting in West Bethlehem Police said Matlack shot Frank Danyi after the victim came to Matlack's then-home on Third Avenue in search of computers taken from his mother. Matlack shot Danyi twice during a doorway struggle, court papers said. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. 'Hateful Eight' scene destroys real 1870s Martin guitar, reports say Actors Kurt Russell, left, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, center, and director Quentin Tarantino arrive for the German premier of the film 'The Hateful Eight' in Berlin, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016. Reports say Russell goofed in a scene in which he smashed an 1870s C.F. Martin & Co. Inc. guitar that Leigh had been strumming, instead of a double made for the shot. (AP Photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) C.F. Martin & Co. Inc. is reportedly out of the business of loaning its collection of priceless guitars for cameos in movies. That's after one of its original six-string instruments made in the 1870s was smashed by Kurt Russell on the set of Quentin Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight," according to a report on reverb.com. The guitar was on loan for the film from the legendary guitar-maker's museum in Upper Nazareth Township, and six doubles were made for the scene, ssninsider.com reports. The guitar is seen briefly about 45 seconds into this video about Russell's character: As Jennifer Jason Leigh's character strums the artifact, Russell was to smash it -- but only after one of the doubles was swapped in, the reports say. "Well, somehow that didn't get communicated to Kurt, so when you see that happen on the frame, Jennifer's reaction is genuine," ssninsider.com quotes the film's sound mixer, Mark Ulano, as saying in December. "Kurt shattered the antique guitar and everyone was pretty freaked out," Ulano continues in the report. "Tarantino was in a corner of the room with a funny curl on his lips, because he got something out of it with the performance." C.F. Martin & Co. Director of Museum & Archives Dick Boak is seen in August 2014 at the museum in Upper Nazareth Township with a book he wrote about the world-renowned company. Also seen is a 1930 OM-45 Deluxe, known as the "Holy Grail" of guitars as only 11 of them were made, one belonging to Roy Rodgers. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo) Martin Guitar's museum and archives director, Dick Boak, told lehighvalleylive.com on Friday he's been asked by a higher-up not to comment further on the incident. But in the reverb.com report, Boak says: "As a result of the incident, the company will no longer loan guitars to movies under any circumstances." During the 2015 filming, Boak told reverb.com, Martin Guitar was told of an accident on the set. The truth didn't come out until later. "We assumed that a scaffolding or something fell on it," Boak says in the report published Thursday. "We understand that things happen, but at the same time we can't take this lightly. "All this about the guitar being smashed being written into the script and that somebody just didn't tell the actor, this is all new information to us. We didn't know anything about the script or Kurt Russell not being told that it was a priceless, irreplaceable artifact from the Martin Museum." The guitar was insured for its purchase price, well short of its value, reverb.com reports. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Lisa M. Rigby Lisa M. Rigby, 37, of Bethlehem, was sentenced to two to 10 years in prison for driving drunk and causing a crash that left a man seriously injured. (Courtesy photo) Going to jail for the second time was the greatest moment of Lisa Rigby's life, in her opinion. It finally forced her to come to grips with her alcohol addiction, a problem that nearly cost the life of a motorist that got in her way. The 37-year-old Bethlehem woman was sentenced Friday to two to four years in state prison for causing a crash that seriously injured Jack Remaley in Lehigh Township on Nov. 26, 2014. Northampton County Judge Emil Giordano tacked on six years of probation after her parole runs out. Remaley needed reconstructive surgery on his face, according to Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Lupackino. He suffered a broken jaw and broken arm and needed major dental work. "You're lucky he's not dead," Giordano told Rigby. Remaley was in a pickup truck while Rigby was driving a compact car. "That's probably why he's still alive," the judge said. Rigby drank half a bottle of Southern Comfort before hitting the road. She drank on the same day she met with her probation officer on the last day of supervision for her first DUI. Probation officer Jennifer Dodwell said she was shocked when she learned about Rigby's crash. "She was hopeful that she was going to have a job still intact," she said. "She was going to get her life in order." Instead she drank and drove south at 4:48 p.m. Nov. 26, 2014, in the 1100 block of Riverview Drive and slid on wet snow into the oncoming lane. Remaley's truck ended up on its side. Her blood-alcohol content was 0.24, three times the legal limit. Rigby's mother, Iris Rigby, said her daughter drank that day because her landlord told her she needed to pay her rent immediately, but she didn't make it to the bank before it closed. So she was drinking because she was upset, her mother said. Rigby's parents agreed alcohol abuse has been a lifelong problem for their daughter. The judge said she dropped out of the University of Pittsburgh due to drinking. But now Rigby actually wants help, according to her father, George Rigby. She has agreed to move to Colorado to be near her parents and live in a halfway house when she's paroled. "She finally has realized she needs to get her act together," her father said. "She has a disease that's bigger than her." "Lisa's suffering with this horrendous, wicked, nasty disease," her mother said. Lisa Rigby said people describe a moment of clarity after a life-changing event like this. She was hospitalized after the crash, but she still didn't see it then. It took her until she was to report to prison and she had separated herself from her drinking friends that she found herself ready to commit to an alcohol-free life. "It was the greatest moment ever, going to jail," she said. "I know that sounds crazy, but it felt good." She apologized to Remaley, who is hospitalized for a condition not related to his crash-related injuries. "I hurt this man so much," she said. "I hurt his livelihood. I'll never be able to make that up to him." The judge said drunken drivers are arguably more dangerous than drug dealers because they're more likely to put average citizens like Remaley in jeopardy when they get behind the wheel. Defense attorney Jenna Marie Fliszar asked for a county prison sentence, but Giordano sent Rigby to state prison. While he thinks her remorse is sincere, "to give her a county sentence would be an insult to the victim," the judge said. "Clearly you have some deep-seated problems," Giordano said. He ordered her to surrender her driver's license for 10 years. "I don't believe I can allow you to put the public at risk," he said. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Bangor Area High School was locked down Friday morning as the district completed an investigation after discussion on social media about a possible fight, district officials said. The lock down began at the start of the school day and ended at 8 a.m. at the Upper Mount Bethel Township school after "securing the potential risk to students and staff," according to an announcement sent to parents by Superintendent Frank DeFelice. "In order to maintain our normal school environment, school officials met with the individuals who participated in the social medial discussion," DeFelice said later by email when asked to explain what "securing the potential risk" meant. No weapons were "discovered in our schools," he added. The administration continues to with with district police "in order to provide a safe environment for our students and staff." When asked if a specific social media site carried the information of the potential fight, DeFelice didn't respond. But he had a general warning about students and social media in his initial alert to parents. "Students using social media inappropriately by sending threatening messages continues to cause concerns and problems for our schools," DeFelice wrote. "We strongly encourage parents to monitor their child's social media accounts and speak to them about Internet safety." The district consulted with its police and local police while investigating the report, DeFelice said. Pennsylvania State Police at Belfast, who patrol the township, were not involved in the response, a trooper said. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Last week's announcement of a new community hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon has been warmly but also cautiously welcomed by locals. Last Tuesday, January 26 Minister of State, Kathleen Lynch announced a new community hospital would be built in the county town as part of a Public Private Partnership by 2021 at a cost of 15.75m. She also announced 300,000 in funding to bring the existing hospital up to current HIQA standards. The much-awaited news on funding was welcomed firstly by Liam Scollan of Friends of St Patrick's and Labour Senator Susan O'Keeffe before local General Election candidates and councillors issued statements. When the Leitrim Observer put the breaking news online it was met by positive but cautious comments. For many it was great news ... but while a few called it an election stunt one even commented #buyingvotes. The hesitation by the electorate to celebrate the news comes from the most recent delays with the public private partnership scheme and Ballinamore Community Hospital. The building encountered many delays and is still waiting for the nursing unit to be filled. The unsure feeling has not been helped by local quips from election candidates Cllr Martin Kenny SF and Gerry Reynolds FG. Cllr Kenny described the announcement as nothing more than an election stunt four weeks out from a general election. However, Fine Gael candidate Gerry Reynolds said the Future of St Patricks Hospital is secure. He told the paper, I listened with dismay today to the comments by Cllr Martin Kenny, Sinn Fein, who suggested that this announcement was no more than an election stunt. It would suit Cllr Kennys political agenda if there was no announcement of funding where he would continue to make a political issue around the provision of the new 90 bed facility. Responding, Cllr Kenny told the paper We have seen promises from this government in the past in relation to health services in this region. Before the last election we had our local Fine Gael TDs promise that cancer services would be restored to Sligo General Hospital and that A&E service would be retained in Roscommon hospital. As we found out these were nothing but empty promises. He welcomed a new hospital but is very sceptical about the timing of this announcement. He also said the day care issues should be restored now, it wouldnt cost anything near 16m, in fact it could be provided now, through hiring a few additional nurses and front line staff. If this were done as a first step, the promise of a new hospital would become more believable. Mr Reynolds, who is a businessman in Carrick-on-Shannon, said This is the announcement that myself, Government representatives and the action committee had lobbied for since the HIQA report last year and I can assure Martin Kenny that this announcement is happening because my party in Government in partnership with the people has steered us away from the economic catastrophe to growth of over 7% ensuring funding can be provided for much-needed capital announcements. Reynolds also encouraged the HSE to explore every opportunity to develop the return of a 5 day nurse led day care centre which has provided an invaluable service to our local elderly population in South Leitrim. The Friends of St Patricks thanked the community for their support and the HSE that made the submission for the new facility. This is an example of positive dialogue at community level achieving progress in a key area of health policy, they stated. They said We are still committed to achieving a return to 5-day nurse-led care i.e. having nursing staff constantly present during the opening hours of the Day Care hospital. We are currently in dialogue with the HSE on this matter. The HSE Chief Officer for the North West Area, John Hayes said in the meantime upgrading and refurbishment of facilities will continue at St Patrick's to address the care needs of residents." The HSE are still recruiting staff for the nursing unit in Ballinamore and hope to transfer 20 patients from St Patrick's Hospital to Ballinamore shortly. Rossinver Community Centre will raise the roof this Saturday February 6 with stomping' Irish-Americana & Alt-Country Folk Band, Rackhouse Pilfer. The Sligo based band is one of the most popular bands on the current music scene and they are definitely on the way up! Straight from working with Tom Jones and Imelda May in London last Oct and the RTE Ray Darcy Show and TG4 in January, the group will be appearing in Rossinver. It promises to be a great night for all ages whether you want to rock or just sit and listen to the very best and liveliest Cajun/Country/Irish music and some terrific singing and harmonies! The rise of Rackhouse Pilfer has been unstoppable. Formed by a fireside session McGarrigles in Sligo, the 6-piece band have developed their own energetic live sound and have received rave reviews for their original songs and music. An Irish Times review says the 6-piece Pilfers arent short of energy, they can play up a storm! The band line up includes Leon Mooney, acoustic guitar, harmonica and vocals; Willie Kelly (son of Sandy) acoustic guitar, drums and vocals; Fiachra Cunningham, fiddle, dobro, and vocals; Mark McGovern, tenor banjo, 5 string banjo and vocals; Leslie Jones, mandolin and vocals, Hugh Feely, double bass and vocals. In 2014 they were awarded "Live Band of the Year and Best Trad/Folk Band", Hotpress Magazine (Readers Choice Award) beating out some of Ireland's heavy-weights. They have headlined some of Ireland's, UK's and Europe's biggest music festivals including La Roche France, Omagh Bluegrass, Body & Soul, Sea Sessions, Great British Folk Festival & many more... voted Festival Favourites, and acclaimed by the audience for their not to be missed performance La Roche Bluegrass Festival France . Taking about their amazing success so far the lads say, What a mad year 2015 was, the highlight for us being recording with Tom Jones and Imelda May in the awesome Church Studios in London. So treat yourself to a night at Rossinvers new Community Centre with full bar this Saturday, February 6 from 10pm sharp. Guaranteed, youll love it! One must go back to the end of the 18th century to trace the history of lobbying and understand the origin of its influence. On 22nd November 1787, James Madison - one of the Founding Fathers and 4th President of the United States to-be - published an essay called Federalist No 10 . This text is part of a series of writings arguing for the ratification of the future Constitution and refers to the management of factions, i.e. groups of individuals who share a common purpose in various interests: social, economic or intellectual. Im sitting in the lounge of the Holiday Inn in Cardiff with all a blogger really needs, wifi, coffee and Macbook. I arrived in Cardiff early this morning on a flight which contained a very joyful stag party. Im sure their mothers would be very worried to see them consuming quite so much vodka at barely past the crack of dawn. This is only the second time Ive been to Wales. The first visit was for a Doctor Who convention in 2012 and this one is to cover the Welsh Liberal Democrats vital pre-election Spring Conference, so its a place very associated with the things that I love. Last time I saw very little other than the hotel and the Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay. This time, Ive already had a wander through the beautiful centre of Cardiff and at the moment am looking out on the castle. When Ive finished writing, Im off to the Doctor Who Experience for my fix of everyones favourite Time Lord. I saw the exhibition in Newcastle and London before it found its permanent home, just across fron the BBC studios where the programme is filmed. So, why have I come 400 miles from home for this? Firstly because its important. Kirsty Williams leads a group of five Welsh Liberal Democrat AMs. In the last five years, they have been as highly effective an opposition to Labour as Willie and his team have been to the SNP in Holyrood. Kirsty persuaded Labour to introduce the Pupil Premium so that Liberal Democrat idea is already helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds in Welsh schools. Kirstys bill to ensure safe nursing levels in Welsh hospital faces its final parliamentary hurdle next week. However, like the rest of us, the results for the Welsh Liberal Democrats last May were devastating, losing talented former minister Jenny Willott and Roger Williams. Mark Williams retained his Ceredigion seat and it is to be hoped that Elizabeth Evans will gain it at Assembly level. Its a challenging time and, as the party sets out its stall, we wanted to bring you a flavour of whats going on here, what the key issues are, how the party is shaping up for another tough electoral test. Im not going to lie I also want to motivate those of you who are nearer Wales than London or Scotland to plan to spend some time here in the next few months. Daisy Benson recently headed to Kirstys Brecon seat for a lively action day. Everyone had a brilliant time and it would be great to see much more of that sort of co-operation in the weeks ahead. Another thing I want to do this weekend is to promote Liberal Democrat Voice and encourage people to write for us and to sign up to the Members Forum. If youre here in Cardiff, please come and say hello. The festivities kick off tonight with a rally at 6 and then dinner with Lynne Featherstone. She may even have some copies of her wonderful new book. I have never heard her do an after-dinner speech before and Im really looking forward to it. You shall hear all about it much later but for the moment, I have a TARDIS to catch * Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings I couldnt believe the UKIP Party Political Broadcast (PPB) earlier this week. It really is a new low for a PPB to comprehensively denigrate an entire country and its people. Turkey first applied to join the EU 29 years ago. They are going through a process, which is subject to ebb and flow, to become an EU member country. Of 35 chapters which are needed to be prepared for entry to the EU, Turkey are currently red on four and amber on a large number. There are concerns over Cyprus and human rights, particularly in relation to the Kurds. Surely, this long deliberative process is a good sign that the EU has robust procedures for entry? That the process itself is encouraging and has encouraged welcome change in Turkey? Turkey is not about to imminently join the EU, as suggested by the UKIP PPB. It could be decades before they join. Several of the elements highlighted by the PPB are part of the improvement programme needed for the country to move closer to EU membership. Some of Turkeys foreign policy and elements of its domestic policy should rightly be criticized. But could the PPB not at least mention that Turkey has been a loyal and crucial member of NATO since 1952? Perhaps mention that the Turks are warm and generous hosts to millions of UK tourists who enjoy holidays there? That they are already members of a series of organisations and initiatives with EU countries? That if Turkey can achieve reforms to attain EU membership it would be a fantastic bridge between Europe and Asia? Between the different cultures of west and east? A chance for reconciliation and stretching out, further, the hand of friendship and mutual co-operation? No all that gets ignore in a grubby exercise to get people up in arms about another bogeycountry. * Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is currently taking a break from his role as one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings. So much for my early night tonight. I have to get up before the Cool Kids have gone to bed to get a flight to Cardiff to go to Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference. I cant miss Sal Brinton on Question Time (BBC1, 10:45pm), though. Especially as there may be a bit of an awkward moment for Nigel Farage. Hes on the programme yet again on the day that Tim Farron and Meral Ece have complained to the BBC and Ofcom about UKIPs Party Political Broadcast last night. They say that it incited religious and racial hatred. I dont normally go out of my way to watch UKIP broadcasts. Life is just too short. However, I steeled myself to look at this one and, sure enough, my skin was soon crawling. It was basically a brash and ugly attempt to create division and distrust and gives a very false impression of Turkey and its people. It made me feel very uncomfortable. The premise was that Turkey was just about to join the European Union and this was a bad thing. Its not as if thats likely to happen any time soon, but they made it sound like it was going to take place next week. UKIP are using exactly the same tactics as they did in 2013 over Romanians and Bulgarians. Its truly horrible. I remember people in Eastleigh telling me on the phone that 40 million Romanians and Bulgarians were going to come to Britain a massive proportion of the populations of those two countries because UKIP leaflets were full of it. In fact, this time last year, there were 172,000. Those figures estimated that there were 1.9 people here from other European countries. There are 2 million British people elsewhere in the EU. Freedom of movement works both ways. Tim explained why they had reported the ad to OFCOM: This Donald Trump style scaremongering has no place in British politics. Wherever you stand on the European campaign, inciting hatred, by getting down in the gutter in a desperate grab for votes debases politics. The politics of division is something millions of liberally minded people despise and I will keep doing all I can to make a case for inclusion and tolerance. This broadcast was not just incredulous, its dangerous. Meral, who is of Turkish descent herself, added: This is stomach turning, dog-whistle politics demonising an entire country and all its people. The large Turkish community in the UK has made an enormous economic and social contribution over many decades. They play a vital and vibrant role in our society and shouldnt be subject to Nigel Farages nasty politics. If you agree, you can sign a petition backing their complaint. The full text of the letter is below, so you can see how UKIP distorted the truth in order to try to make people feel suspicious of Turkey and its people. One thing Id say, though, is that its all very well writing a letter, but what can we actually do to actively bring people together? We need to do something to kick the barriers Farage is building down before the foundations set. Maybe this is something for the Festival of Ideas Tim was talking about during the leadership election. A REVIEW into allegations of irregular financial practices at the University of Limerick and the treatment of several employees who raised concerns will be published next week. The review, which has been conducted by independent consultants Mazars, was completed on Friday last and passed to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for review. Since then, the HEA has returned to Mazars for clarification on a number of matters, as they wish to pass on a clear and comprehensive document to those who assisted with the review, and the university itself. The HEA anticipates that the report will be released to be public early next week, and it is also likely to make a statement on the review, which is expected to include a number of recommendations. Fianna Fail deputy Willie ODea, who raised the employees concerns in the Dail alongside his party colleague Niall Collins, is among those eagerly awaiting the report in full. He has been approached by a number of employees and former employees of UL in the past year regarding employment issues across a number of departments. Deputy ODea told the Limerick Leader that until this report is published the lives and livelihoods of the complainants are on the line. He said he hopes the report will be published warts and all. Deputy Collins also urged that the report be published as soon as possible in the public interest. The completion date for the report had been delayed twice due to the volume of submissions. The original completion date was set for November 30, after the review began in October. The review arises after an article was published in the Limerick Leader in September last, which detailed the claims of two UL employees in relation to alleged inappropriate payment of expenses and invoices, and their treatment by UL as a result of raising concerns. As a consequence, UL has sued the Leader and its editor, Alan English. Two staff members who spoke to this newspaper in September last remain suspended by the university. A third employee, who has since left the university, also aired her grievances with The Sunday Times. She was replaced in her department by one of the women currently suspended. ALMOST 300 lecturers and academic staff at the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) took strike action this Wednesday in protest at the underfunding of their sector. A picket was set up at the gates of the Moylish campus from 7.30 on Wednesday morning, with groups of around 40 workers ensuring a continuous presence up to 7.30 in the evening. There was a smaller protest at LITs campus in Clare Street in the city - the Limerick School of Art and Design. The action which is supported by 92% of affected members of the Teachers Union of Ireland saw classes cancelled. The facilities remained open as normal, according to a college spokesperson. Tony Mahon, the TUI branch chair, said that students have been broadly supportive of the industrial action. Also, Limerick staff who are being joined at Institutes of Technology staff across Ireland were also backed by members of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union of Ireland. Mr Mahon confirmed there had been no talks with management at LIT this Wednesday. The TUI has said the strike action is necessary due to chronic underfunding and precarious contracts in the third level sector. Meanwhile the first steps towards LIT opening its new campus at Coonagh Cross on the edge of the city have been taken, with the site opened and made ready for fit out. Education Minister Jan O'Sullivan paid a visit to the building where the campus will be located, beside Tesco Coonagh. She hailed its development as a "change moment for Limerick" which will foster increased innovation and job creation. Some 134 jobs in construction and 100 new permanent roles will be created after LIT was given the all-clear by the Higher Education Authority to purchase the site once earmarked for a cinema for 3.5m. Engineering and manufacturing students are expected to move on site next year. LIMERICK has a golden opportunity to become Irelands second major city but to achieve this, a dramatic change is needed in how people see their way of living. Thats according to the former secretary general of the Department of Finance, the respected John Moran, who also warned that a failure to seize this opportunity could see Limerick fade away as a rural regional town. Mr Moran, who sits on the Limerick Economic Forum, was the introductory speaker at the Chambers first ever Business Strategy Conference held in Thomond Park. The Mungret native believes that in order to attract the best of the best, Limericks surrounding area needs to possibly risk losing out on rural subsidies in order to become more urbanised. He said: Todays millennials are turning their back on the suburbs and on the countryside, and want to live like Sex and the City, in urban spaces, where everything is walking distance away. The question I want to pose is: are we going to be brave enough in the Mid-West to meet their demands, even if it means restricted subsidies for what I call rural Ireland? Is the Mid-West ready to embrace all that might mean? Do we want to expand as an urban engine of growth, or fade away as a rural regional town? He warned that as a nation, Ireland needs to give up facilitating and encouraging a rural living pattern and concentrate on one, or two big cities to become global centres of economic growth. Other speakers at the conference including Virgin Media CEO Tony Hanway have said Limerick is well positioned to become a counterpoint to Dublin. We have to decide where we are going, and whether Limerick wants to be one of these, Mr Moran said. If we do not strive and succeed to be known globally as one of the best spaces in the world where talented entrepreneurs can live and flourish, they will locate elsewhere. "Are we going to be left completely out of touch with other local authorities to be the back offices of those entrepreneurs or the places they go on holidays?" THE University Hospital Limerick emergency department has been compounded with patients as a direct result of the under-sixes free GP care scheme, according to the newly-appointed president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP). Monaleen GP Dr Emmet Kerin said that since the scheme began in July, there has been a concern over the availability to give care when people need it. He added that there has also been a 42% increase in under-sixes availing of Shannondoc out-of-hours services in the city, as a result of the new scheme. That has resulted in the patients that need to be seen arent getting their appointments, and that will have a knock-on effect with the emergency department. Thats a direct relation with the under-sixes, so the under-sixes [scheme] have actually compounded the ED situation, and it has made it much worse, Dr Kerin, who practises on the Ennis Road, said. Dr Kerin, who is also an adjunct senior clinical lecturer at ULs graduate entry medical school, said that people can now be waiting for up to three days to see their local doctor. When you have your waiting room full of under-sixes, and you have got your elderly patient or someone who needs to be seen more acutely, they cant be seen, and the only option is that, when your morning surgery is filled up, you have to refer them to the emergency department. He added that GPs can no longer afford to spend more than 10 to 15 minutes with a patient, due to the overload. And that is putting you under huge pressure. You have to question how much can you cover in that timeframe. Overall, you will see a decrease in the quality that people have much-enjoyed, as a result of over-straining it. In past statements, the UL Hospitals Group has said that amongst the many measures taken by management to tackle A&E overcrowding, correspondence has been made with GPs to ensure patients are referred to ED only where appropriate. However, Dr Kerin said: Its hugely frustrating for the likes of me that, with the level of training that we have, that you know what needs to be done, and if I need an ultrasound done, some way semi-urgently, I have to send the person into the emergency department, which is now blocking a bed. Dr Kerin commended a new model at a Carlow-Kilkenny hospital, which has a dedicated unit for general practitioners. The person could go in, get their x-ray, get their bloods, get their ultrasound, and never go near the hospital consultant. Get everything that needs to be done and be discharged back out. The Limerick native said that he and the association are working with the HSE and the Department of Health to form new contract negotiations that shift primary care practice in the place that it needs to be in. You have to have a functioning general practice if you want a functioning primary care, so we are looking into investment into primary care with all partners, but particularly to get general practice functional. Lots of evidence shows that a functioning primary care system would have huge cost-savings on healthcare. He said he was quite happy to be elected president last weekend, in Dublin. He said that he will represent the NAGP at conferences, internationally, nationally, and make presentations to the Department of Health and to the HSE, on behalf of general practitioners. He said that the NAGP is unique because it represents general practitioners solely. THE BBC has confirmed that, as expected, the funeral service for broadcaster Sir Terry Wogan will be a private, family affair. The BBC press office released a short statement this Friday confirming that the Limerick mans funeral will take place next week. It will be a private service, for the family. No further details will be released, and we ask that the familys wish for privacy is respected at this time, it added. The Limerickmans long-time friend, Fr Brian D'Arcy, had previously indicated also that the icon would be laid to rest in England, where he lived for most of his adult life. How can you have a public funeral for Terry Wogan? Where would you put it? Wembley wouldnt be big enough for it, so there will probably be just family and friends at a private funeral, Fr D'Arcy told Mr Wogans BBC colleague Chris Evans. I suspect it will be probably early next week. It is in the UK. The BBC usually holds a quite public memorial service later on, he added. Mayor of Limerick City and County, Cllr Liam Galvin, had indicated that he hoped to travel to any potential service. He said the people of Limerick need to be represented at that funeral, both by management and myself. I am not sure of the arrangements yet, but I intend to go to it, if circumstances allow me, he said last Monday as a book of condolences was opened for Mr Wogan in City Hall. Mr Wogan died on Sunday after a short but brave battle with cancer and had passed away surrounded by his family, they said in a statement. He was 77. Fr DArcy said that Mr Wogan had only discovered his cancer was terminal three weeks before he passed away. I think alarms bells began to ring about three weeks ago. He had been in some pain before that, and he had got through Christmas, he said. The priest visited his friend of 40 years at his Buckinghamshire home just days before he died and said his goodbyes, leading to the saddest day and the most rewarding day of my life. Labour councillor Joe Leddin, who was Mayor of Limerick when Sir Terry was conferred with the freedom of the city in 2007, has said he would like to see an ecumenical service as the people of Limerick would like an opportunity to come in and pay homage to the man that was Terry Wogan. There have also been calls for some sort of permanent tribute to the broadcaster in his native Limerick, a matter which the council was due to discuss this Friday morning. A STELLAR line-up of authors, journalists, poets and travel writers will take part in the upcoming Limerick Literary Weekend, which is held annually in honour of one of Limericks most famous writers, Kate OBrien. Running for two and a half days at the end of February, among those confirmed to take part include the novelist Louis de Bernieres, journalist Kevin Myers, novelist Sara Baume, novelist Donal Ryan, poet and travel writer Theo Dorgan, historian Tim Pat Coogan, poet Thomas Lynch, amongst many others. The theme of the literary weekend will be rebellion, in honour of the centenary celebrations, and not by design, it will be held during the same weekend as the general election, which was just announced this Wednesday. Launched in OMahonys bookstore in the city this Monday night, the all-woman committee who have promoted the weekend in OBriens name since 1984, said this event continues to celebrate the life and work of the Limerick author, while attracting prominent participants from all over the world. Speaking at the event, committee member Marie Hackett said it is disappointing that the event has received no funding from the Arts Council for a second year running, though it is partly supported by Limerick City and County Council. She said their wish is to discourage the view that literary festivals are high-brow and elitist and they also want to attract a younger audience. We would also like to get more businesses and events involved, because this is a great attraction not just for Limerick, but the Mid-West and Munster, she said. Sheila Deegan, of the councils arts office and a committee member for some 26 years, said this is a weekend created by readers for readers. Editor of the Limerick Leader, Alan English, who launched the event, delighted in producing a newspaper cutting featuring an article he wrote for this newspaper in 1989 and said that weekend still lives on in his memory. Kate OBrien was arguably the finest fiction writer ever produced by Limerick, but that status is now being challenged by a legion of emerging writers. The weekend has gone from strength to strength. Limerick can be very proud of this festival, and long may it flourish, said Mr English. The precursor to the festival will be a Kaleidoscope concert on Thursday, February 25 at 8pm in the Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street. This salon concert series has been described by The Irish Times as a genre-blind mini festival, capturing audiences imaginations for the last seven years with carefully curated programmes of classical, contemporary and non-classical music. The festival will be officially opened on Friday, February 26 at 6pm in City Gallery, Pery Square, by journalist Kevin Myers. It will be followed by a music and splendour recital, which this year will feature internationally-renowned soprano Claudia Boyle, accompanied by pianist Mairead Hurley. Saturdays line-up includes Thomas Lynch; acclaimed short story writer Claire Keegan; Tim Pat Coogan; Louis de Bernieres; Theo Dorgan; and debut novelist Caitriona Lally. First up on Sunday morning in the Lime Tree theatre will be journalist and novelist Tom Clonan. This will be followed by a special event entitled Desert Island Books, where the multi award-winning author Donal Ryan, of The Spinning Heart and The Thing about December, and accomplished new Irish writer Sara Baume, of Spill Simmer Falter Wither, will reveal their choice of books for a desert island, under the banner The book I would never lend. And for the finale, the illustrious Pauline Bewick will be in conversation with the popular critic and editor Niall MacMonagle. The Granary library will welcome novelist Judi Curtin and short story writer Mike Mac Domhnaill on Friday. For full details see their newly updated website www.limerickliteraryfestival.com. A weekend pass for the festival is 125, with many of the individual events priced from 12-15 See Leader2 page 8 for more pictures from the launch We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page. What to buy this year If you are looking to purchase some timepieces this year, what must you look forward to? /news/talking-point/what-to-buy-this-year-111651824179798.html 111651824179798 story So the first major event in the annual watchmaking calendar is behind us. The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (Sihh) fair in Geneva is by no means representative of the length and breadth of the world wristwatch industry. But it still gives this writer enough pointers to start planning for the year ahead. Broad design and product trends are already emerging. So if you are looking to purchase some timepieces this year, what must you look forward to? First of all, this is already looking like a good year to buy new interpretations of classic models. Jaeger-LeCoultres new Reverso pieces are excellent. There are many options for both genders across a variety of price points. Indeed, this looks like a year when many brands are looking to bring out faithful reissues of heritage classics. IWCs new pilot watches are a case in point. Gone are the modern, military flourishes of the previous pilots models. Instead, we have models that descend directly from older IWC pieces. Very, very good. Secondly, this is a fantastic year to finally buy your first big, classic brand. Just look at the new Drive de Cartier collection. The watches themselves are delicious, with their cushion-shaped cases (and I love the version with the grey dial). Or if you are looking to upgrade into a new price bracket, there are options there as well, with A.Lange & Sohnes new Saxonia Thin and some delicious new Parmigiani Fleurier models. Overall, it looks like 2016 will be an uncommonly good year for aspiring connoisseurs looking to get their first serious mechanical watch. Prices are being held low, brands are unleashing really good entry- level models, and the designs are austere. The third big trend could be affordable complications. Time and time again brands at Sihh spoke of how their tourbillon or chronograph or annual calendar offered great value. Also keep your eye open for complications or novelties that are innovative but not necessarily super expensive. The skeletonized Cle de Cartier models come to mind. So do a handful of excellent pieces from Montblanc, especially the 4810 family. Finally, once again, this looks like it is going to be a fantastic year for womens watches. Not just because there are many good jewellery and ladies" models, but also because so many models fall safely within the unisex" category: plain, slim, two- or three-hand models, 38-40mm in diameter (this could well be the workhorse category for the next two or three years in watchmaking). Readers will note that the key trend overall is value. Prices are low and will probably keep falling through the year. The industry is going through a tough period, largely thanks to a collapse in Chinese demand. No reason why the rest of us shouldnt capitalize on that. I also suspect that brands will keep launching models throughout the year to respond to market trends. So we should all look beyond the big watch fairs. Overall, it is a great time for people with a keen eyethose looking to buy into a good brand, or upgrade to bigger brands and complications. Prices dont often stay as low as they are right now. The smart buyer this year is someone who is patient and prudent. Whose art is it? A single piece of public art elicits different responses from a cross-section of people and stirs up issues beyond art itself /how-to-lounge/art-culture/whose-art-is-it-111651823830351.html 111651823830351 story Public art, so common in world cities, has been slowly finding its space in Delhi, a huge metropolis that swallows up all puny efforts. Nonetheless, any art touches the lives of those who look upon it, stirring something inside them, and here its no different. This also happens to be the art season in the Capital. The 2016 edition of the India Art Fair ended on Sunday. The city has also been hosting a two-month-long street art festival that ends mid-February. The St+art Delhi festival, say its organizers, aims to change the citys landscape with art in public spaces through mediums such as murals, installations, performances, workshops, talks, screenings". As part of this festival, Australian artist Reko Rennie created a mural in about 10 days with help from acclaimed sign-painter Kafeel and his team. The canvas is a wall in one of the residential blocks of central Delhis Lodhi Colony, home to government employees. More than one wall here has been subjected to the creative fancies of street artists from across the world. The wall chosen by Rennie enjoys a privileged location. Right opposite it is the posh Mehar Chand Marketthough behind the market is the Harijan Colony slum. On a recent afternoon, we sought reviews from a cross-section of people spotted around the artwork. They ranged from students of the exclusive Sanskriti School enjoying iced tea at Elmas Brasserie to a pavement barber who has been working at this location since 1995. Prem Sagar, a chhola bhatura vendor whose cart is stationed just in front of the wall I think this wall painting was finished last week. I myself arrived only 10 days earlier. I have been seeing a large number of white people coming in their cars almost daily to take photos of the wall. Sometimes, Indians also come with their cameras. A few of these people walk over to my thela (cart) for a plate of chhole bhature. I think every house should have this kind of design. Wamika Sachdev, a Sanskriti School student seated at a table by the window in Elmas Brasserie That wall is the first thing you notice upon entering Mehar Chand Market. It stands out so individually, and it demands attention so aggressively, that you feel as if its giving competition to the market itself. However, Im not sure if the residents of the block would be happy about it. The strong jazzy design looks as if its intruding on to their private space. I think such an artwork should have been made on the side of the market. Punita, who gave only her first name and describes herself as a housewife, lives in Lodhi Colonythe wall covers a part of her ground-floor flat Its eye-catching, very colourful. Previously, the wall was light pink, like all the other walls and houses here. I speak for all the colony residents when I say that we all would also want our house walls to be similarly painted. Another reason Im very happy about this painting is that people have stopped dumping their garbage against that wall. Maybe they think somebody will scold them if it looks ugly. Punya Sinha, a Sanskriti School student seated in Elmas Brasserie Hot pink. Turquoise. Black. So super bright. Really attractive. So attractive that it looks for you even if you are not looking for it. Yet the design itself is quite simple. Just concentric squares. But if you look at it as a whole, it presents a kind of illusionthe same pattern repeats itself again and again across this canvas of a wall. The feel is matte, not glossy. I like that. Vijay Kumar Jha, who works for the RMX Joss garment shop in Mehar Chand Market Now when I look carefully at it, I think I particularly like the use of black and red colours. But I confess I cant understand the meaning of the design. Im sure the artist wanted to say something to the viewer. Im sure that very well-educated people would understand something by looking at it. I would sometimes watch from inside the showroomjust where Im standing nowwhen they started working on it. Initially, I thought that maybe they would paint the wall in some shining colour. But it became clear in a few days that they were working on a special scheme.... I hail from Bhagalpur (in Bihar); here I live with my wife and two children in a building in Sangam Vihar where four of us share one small room. Recently, I told my wife that if we ever get our own house in Delhi, we will paint the walls in one of the new designs that have come up in Lodhi Colony. Not exactly the same design, but something similar. Parveen Anand, owner of the Brijlal & Sons grocery store in Mehar Chand Market I know the history of this area. You see my shop? It was started in 1947 by my grandfather, the late Shri Brijlal, who came as a (Partition) refugee from Pakistan. I tell you that these (pointing to the residential blocks of Lodhi Colony) were built by the angrez (British). The buildings were mostly white. Then, some years ago, they were painted a light pink. But look at this wall! There is a different mazaa (pleasure) to bright colours. Imagine what our lives would be like without them. Another beautiful thing has emerged from this designnow people dont urinate on the wall; earlier, somebody or the other was always doing that. That pavement used to stink. Also, we have finally got rid of all the nonsensical posters that would be stuck daily on the wall. It was a very ugly sight. One morning, you would see a poster of a garlanded man congratulating himself on becoming the secretary of some neighbourhood association; the next morning, another poster would come up celebrating some local politician. Now those people are so scared by the new design that they dont put up their posters, at least on that wall. I think even they do not want to destroy the new-found beauty of the wall. But dont ask me to analyse the wall painting. I dont work in the newspapers. Let me see. I never saw such a design before. ...Its so beautiful that you cant describe it in words. Shrinivas Sharma, a security guard/doorman at the Diva Spiced restaurant in Mehar Chand Market Yes, I have seen this wall. Earlier, too, it almost looked the same. Baleshwar Kumar Thakur, a pavement barber who sets up shop just beside the wall The work is very clean. It reminds me of Modijis (Prime Minister Narendra Modis) Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission). In fact, the design looks swachh. If I were the painter of this wall, I would also have painted Modijis face. After all, the idea of cleaning the country came from him. Have you seen the painting in (nearby) Khanna Market? Somebody has calligraphed Ek Kadam Swachhata Ki Ore" on one of the walls there. It has been done so beautifully that I keep staring at it each time I pass by it. That sign always cheers me up. I salute the artist who drew it. But this is also beautiful. I liked the painters who painted it. They were very hard-working. They would come in the morning and leave only at night. I wondered just when they took some rest. They would always greet me. Sometimes they would sit and even talk to me bhaichaare ke naate (for brotherhoods sake). Mohammed Akhtar, a carpenter who lives in the Harijan Camp slum behind Mehar Chand Market Theres no big deal about this artwork. Its so-solooks like a carpet. People arent excited about it. Neither are they disgusted. If I were the artist, I would have first met the people who live here and asked their opinions on just what I should paint on the wall I would have actually liked to paint Gautam Buddha. He would be seated on the ground and around him would have been trees and birds. But the artist did not ask me for an opinion. Resurrecting recipes: Fowl play at Akbars court How chicken found flavour and favour with a reluctant patron /news/talking-point/resurrecting-recipes-fowl-play-at-akbar-s-court-111651824143671.html 111651824143671 story Im a queen in Akbars harem. One of 307. With a handsome stipend, and thousands waiting hand and foot on me. Just a shade over 30 and only slightly tubbier than the emperors pet parrot or 9,000 cheetahs, my tomb must wait for me. And even if that all-knowing historian Abul-Fazl or those nosy foreign chroniclers (yes, they, who always overstay their welcome) have the temerity to suggest Ill live out the rest of my life in a cloud of opium and gloom, drinking straight from the surahi, and snapping my fingers day and night for more haleem khasa, Ill still look gorgeousTechnicolor gorgeousin a K. Asif film someday. After all, someones got to eat the haleem khasa, I say, and the musamman too, which plebeians will know as murgh musallam one day. Or the zard birinj, that beautiful mound of sweet, bejewelled rice, studded with dry fruits from Kashmir to Kandahar. Why else would we pay the khansamas (chefs) a kings ransom every year? Even a kitchen boy earns up to 400 dams or copper coins a month. Akbar (if only he knew I call him by his name) is anyway becoming something of a killjoy these days. Except the affairs of state, his appetite for everythingand I mean everything (nothings a secret in a 5,000-strong zenana, or womens quarters)has dulled like a copper vessel someone forgot to tin. Look how lean hes become. Fasting and not eating meat for months like hes paying taxes for the excesses of his youth. Like he would die of dysentery or something otherwise. Imagine what a scandal it would be when, centuries later, they discover that the emperor of emperors, conqueror of conquerors, was a closet vegetarian. Tauba! Wont history judge him for eating just once a day? Or for starting a meal with curd and rice (curd and rice!) when the imperial kitchen is battle-ready to produce a hundred dishes at a twitch? Well, I suppose thats not my problem, but Abul-Fazls who, for all his hero worship, apparently eats 30 pounds of food every day; I bet he wont mention that in his magnum opus Ain-i-Akbari. But my girls confirm that he has included, quite wisely, I might add, at least 30 great recipes from what will later be knownno thanks to a few ignorant, thick-tongued Englishmenas our Mughal kitchen. *** Cut to 2016. Writing on Mughlai food (a misnomer) is shorthand for trouble. What can one say that hasnt been said already by historian-scholars like Salma Husain or chef Imtiaz Qureshi? Yet skipping this part of Indias culinary history is as much a travesty as not eating out in Old Delhi or Chowk in Lucknow because youve been there done that". For, theres always a spot of marrow to extract from a tricky corner, leftover phirni in empty" kulhars to clean. If only youd soil your fingers. I attempt to recreate, therefore, the dish of musammanno direct relation to the Thai massaman curry, although they both appear to have Persian rootsfrom Ain-i-Akbari. From what I could tell, the challenge doesnt lie in sourcing the original recipe or ingredients, adapting it, or roasting a whole chicken (been there, done that"). It lies, at least partly, in the first line of what is a lean recipe for a flamboyant dish of chicken and eggs: They take all the bones out of a fowl through the neck, the fowl remaining whole; .5 s. minced meat; .5 s. ghi; 5 eggs; .25 s. onions; 10 m. coriander; 10 m. fresh ginger; 5 m. salt; 3 m. round pepper; .5 m. saffron, it is prepared as the preceding (kababs)," reads Ain-i-Akbari by Abul-Fazl Allami, translated by H. Blochmann and printed for The Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1873. One s (ser) is roughly 900g and 1 m (misqal) is 6g. While only two major restaurants at Matia Mahal in Delhis Jama Masjid area still have murgh musallam on the menu (they need a few hours notice though), most others spoke of it with a wistfulness usually reserved for unrequited love or the late Madhubala. The word mewa, usually a reference to the extended family of nuts, dry fruits and khoya, came up frequently in conversations on the subject. Minced meat, or keema, not so much. Abu Bakr, purveyor of Lucknows best biryanisold from the open, sooty secret that is Idris, near the Patanala Police Chowkiclaimed that the Awadhi version relies almost entirely on mewa and hard-boiled eggs for stuffing. Nuts are great," he said, speaking over the din of a busy afternoon, as is the paste of khus khus. And remember to grind the khoya into a fine paste on a sil-batta (grinding stone)." Delicious as his counsel was, I eschewed the mewa route, sticking to the keema in the original recipe, and introducing yogurt and garlic. I also wondered if Abul-Fazl had, in fact, omitted to mention a few ingredients. For what royal recipe could skip spices, if not nuts and raisins, easily available at the time? Most other recipes in Ain-i-Akbaridivided into three categories of sufiyana or meat-free dishes, meat-and-rice dishes, and meats cooked with spicesdemand cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, almonds and pistachios like Akbars bored begums demanded food. Since Abul Fazl was unavailable for comment, in went garam masala into a tinned copper pot. I also reduced the quantum of saffron, ghee, eggs and keema to keep things real and relevant. Where I failed spectacularly, though, was at removing all the bones through the neck, the fowl remaining whole". But even the taste of initial failure and much clucking over a new chicken couldnt mar this most excellent musamman. Paired with a peasant dish of rice (to correct the class balance) and some K. Asif, the rest, as they say, was all Kubla Khan and Samuel Coleridge. Dried stalks of harsingar or night-flowering jasmine. Musamman Serves 4 Ingredients 1 whole chicken (mine weighed about a kilo), skinned and cleaned 250g mutton keema 2 tbsp curd 1-inch cinnamon 4-5 cloves, powdered 2-3 green cardamoms, powdered 2 hard-boiled eggs 5 medium onions, sliced A small bunch of fresh coriander (about 30g), chopped fine 2-inch piece of ginger, minced 10-12 cloves of garlic, minced 2 tbsp whole pepper, freshly ground A pinch of saffron Salt 5 tbsp ghee Method Mix the curd with of the ginger and garlic, some salt, pepper and saffron. Prick and marinate the chicken with the curd for a couple of hours. Heat the ghee. Brown the sliced onions in it; drain and set aside. In the same pan, add cinnamon, powdered cloves and cardamoms, ginger and garlic to fry for a couple of minutes. Tip in the keema and salt, and cook covered until done, adding a little water if needed. Stir in pepper and coriander. Let it cool. With as little water as possible, make a smooth paste in a mixie. Chop an egg. Mix the chopped egg and browned onions with the keema paste. Stuff the chicken with the keema. Insert the remaining boiled egg in the belly. Place it in a baking dish or tin and cover with foil. Cook for about an hour in a preheated oven (200 degrees Celsius), or until the juices run clear (prick the thigh to check). Let it rest for 15 minutes. Serve with a simple pulao made with ghee, ginger, fresh pepper and salt. If you can find it at a spice shop, add dried stalks of night-flowering jasmine or harsingar (1 tsp for 500g) tied in muslin to give the rice a lovely yellow tint. The modernist sprawl NN Rimzon's new body of work bridges the gap between real and surreal, mortal and divine, Western minimalism and local traditions /news/talking-point/the-modernist-sprawl-111651823903540.html 111651823903540 story Like many artists, N.N. Rimzon is hesitant about holding forth on his work. So when I ask him to walk me through his latest show, he seems reluctantand, as it soon becomes clear, perhaps for a good reason. As one enters his ongoing exhibition, Forest Of The Living Divine, at Talwar Gallery in New Delhi, one is struck by the spectacular appeal of his paintings and sculptures. Warm colours dazzle the eye, towering statues seem to grow upward, and tiny figurines sprout like saplings from the floor. His styleethereal as well as earthy, and often electrifyingblends the sublime with the sensual. The white cube of the gallery loses its impersonality and begins to resemble a vibrant rural scene, like a courtyard in some cottage in the Indian hinterland. One is content to move from work to work, seduced by the riot of colours and textures, all senses alert, and not too worried about finding meaning in the method. It has been 23 years since Rimzon has had a solo show in the Capital, though he has been part of several group exhibitions in between, all over the world. The new body of work around us is spare but potent. On the four levels of the building that houses the gallery, paintings and sculptures have been positioned strategically from the basement to the terrace, without overcrowding them, and by keeping a certain synergy in mind. One needs to pause on each floor, soak in the energies that emanate from the various art forms, in order to be able to hear the wordless conversations they are engaged in. I want my sculptures to radiate an energy from the inside," says Rimzon, standing in front of a female figure, poised upon a rotund base, on the ground floor. Made of fibreglass, resin and granite dust, the sculpture is called Forest At Night, a name that conjures up multiple resonances. When I ask him about the provenance of such mysterious figures, or the seemingly realist settings of some of his paintings, Rimzon is evasive. All of my visual references emerge from our collective memories," he says, before admitting to allusions to paganism and fertility rituals in some of the work. For those of us who have admired Ramkinkar Baijs sculptures in Santiniketan, in the Birbhum district of West Bengalsome of which were quite obviously influenced by the local Santhal tribesRimzons creations will ring an art-historical bell. His paintings are strikingly simplealmost innocently figurative in their composition and draughtsmanship, until you begin to look closely at the colour palette. It is a rare gift to be able to evoke a mood of dread simply by the use of colour and Rimzon achieves this remarkably well in all his paintings. With a patina of darkened sepia on most of them, these acrylics look as though they have been imagined through a dusky filter. As a result, the serenely rustic scenes they depicta cottage under a starlit sky, a pond beside a hut, a dog by a shrinereach us infused with the power of the uncanny. This continuity between the real and the surreal, mortal and divine, earth and sky, is at the heart of Rimzons artistic enterprise. Although much of my work is ostensibly figurative, my continual interest is in elevating it to another level of representation," he says, as we look together at Temple Under The Night Sky, another acrylic on canvas. With the temple at the centre, the imagery draws the eye to the brick-red sky, dotted with stars that look like fat, white droplets. The circular whorls on which the temple stands like a phallus, the stretch of inky-blue water that lies in front of it, and the trees in the background, like naked torsos, come together to evoke a primordial atmosphere, leaving behind the suggestion of something perverse hanging in the air. The Dancer With Four Arms The most arresting sculptures refer to the figure of the mother. Mother At The Forest, installed in the basement, is a large disk made of fibreglass that is made to look like the distended belly of a pregnant woman, with trees growing along the edges. Big Maa, installed on the rooftop, is an appositely oversized object, once again made of fibreglass, with an erect and elongated head. While being unquestionably phallic, Big Maa is also able to retain its matronly aura with the series of breast-like lumps growing out of its slender neck. Bringing to mind some of the sculptures by the French-American artist Louise Bourgeois (especially Destruction Of The Father, which has similar bumps and knobs all over), Rimzons work is a classic example of a modernist sensibility interacting with several histories of thought and emotions. Stately to behold, its imagery mysterious and absorbing, art of this kind does make one wonder about the creative process, especially about the moment when the artist is able to tell that his work is done. The drawings I make in my notebooks, the objects I collect along the way, all come together in a thought process that is continuous with my paintings and sculptures," says Rimzon. As for the moment when a piece is finishedwell, at some point, I get the intimation of a certain truth, and then I know my work is done." Forest Of The Living Divine is on till 28 May, 11am-7pm (closed on Sundays and holidays), at Talwar Gallery, C-84, Neeti Bagh, New Delhi (46050307). Somak Ghoshal is a New Delhi-based editor and writer. Wild leopard cats may have been domesticated by farmers in China more than 5,000 years ago, according to a new study of feline fossils. These cats were of a different species than the ancestors of today's house cats, which suggests that at least in the early history of pets, humans may have had two different kinds of kitties keeping them company. Today's pet cats (Felis catus) descend from the wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica) native to the Middle East and Southwest Asia. It's typically thought that humans and cats first got cozy in the Near East some 10,000 years ago, after the birth of agriculture. A cat was found buried in the same grave as a human at a 9,500-year-old Neolithic settlement in Cyprus. Cat burials nearly 8,000 years old have also been found at an elite cemetery in Hierakonpolis, in Egypt. [Here, Kitty, Kitty: 10 Facts for Cat Lovers] But recent discoveries of cat fossils in China have muddled that narrative. Cat bones have been unearthed at Neolithic sites; one such site was a village called Quanhucun. Some researchers have claimed these remains are evidence that cat domestication also occurred in northwest China independently, but it was not clear which species these cats belonged to. A group of researchers, led by Jean-Denis Vigne of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, took a close look at five cat jawbones found at archaeological sites in China's Shaanxi and Henan provinces, dating from 3500 to 2900 B.C. They found that all five jawbones most closely resembled those of the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a species that still lives in the region today. The analysis was published Jan. 22 in the journal PLOS ONE. The researchers suspect Asian leopard cats were probably domesticated by the same processes as wildcats in the Near East; the felines likely followed the rats that were drawn to the grain stores in early Chinese settlements. "That the cats turned out to be Asian leopard cats is not really a surprise," said Carlos Driscoll, a geneticist at the National Cancer Institute, who has studied cat genetics but was not involved in the new study. "Had the cats actually been F. silvestris the story would have been much more complicated, interesting and important. As it is, the paper is still important, but we know the end of the story even if we don't know the middle." The end of that story is that none of the cats that populate our homes and Internet videos today are the descendants of ancient Asian leopard cats. At some point, F. silvestris replaced the leopard cat as the pet of choice in China, but more research is needed to fill that gap in cat history. The earliest record of F. catus in China dates to the Tang dynasty (A.D. 618 to 907), the researchers said. But when did it arrive? Did the species, as a statement from CNRS suggests, head east along the Silk Road with traders traveling between the Roman and Han empires? Driscoll also raised the possibility that these cat fossils from China could have been a fluke, representing a group of wild animals that were tamed after a hunting expedition. "It could be that the cat with a broken femur was caught in a snare, broke it's leg, but was kept alive as a curiosity or a pet," Driscoll told Live Science. "This type of one-off taming is known to occur widely in early agricultural communities the world over. People just like interesting animals." Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. After a person in Dallas was confirmed to have contracted the Zika virus through sex, U.S. health officials are warning men who travel to countries where Zika is spreading to take steps to prevent spreading the virus through sex. If a man has a pregnant partner, and has traveled to any of the more than 20 countries where Zika virus is spreading, he should either abstain from sex, or use condoms, until the end of his partner's pregnancy, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today (Feb. 5). The warning comes because health officials are concerned about a strong link between Zika virus infection during pregnancy and a birth defect called microcephaly, in which babies are born with abnormally small heads and face lifelong cognitive impairments. "We know that this is anxiety-provoking for women who are pregnant and [for] their families," Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, said in a news conference today (Feb. 5). But there are things that people can do to lower their risk of contracting the virus, including rigorously protecting against mosquito bites, which are the usual mode of Zika transmission, and following the new guidelines to prevent sexual transmission, Frieden said. [Zika Virus FAQs: Top Questions Answered] Although the Zika virus stays in a person's blood for only up to a week after the individual is infected, it's unknown how long the virus could stay in a man's semen. That's why the new recommendation for precautions during sex is for a woman's entire pregnancy. In one study, researchers found that the virus may have been present in a man's semen for up to 10 weeks after he got sick. "We are quite literally discovering more about Zika each and every day," Frieden said. The CDC also said that women who aren't pregnant, but who are concerned about contracting the virus through sex could consider using condoms during sex or abstaining if their partner has traveled to an area with Zika cases. The agency noted that Zika infection is usually mild, and about 80 percent of people who are infected with the virus have no symptoms at all. In the Dallas case, a person contracted Zika virus after having sex with a man who had recently returned from Venezuela, and had symptoms of the infection. Still, sexual transmission of Zika virus is thought to be rare; there are just three known reported cases of the virus spreading through sex. Frieden emphasized that the primary way Zika spreads is by mosquito bites. It's not known whether Zika virus is also present in a person's saliva when the individual is infected, but the CDC is not currently issuing any recommendations about avoiding kissing, Frieden said. It's also not known if a woman who is infected with Zika can spread the disease to a man through sex, the agency said. The CDC recommended that all pregnant U.S. women consider postponing travel to the areas where the Zika virus is spreading, including 24 countries in Central and South America. So far, there have been 51 cases of Zika virus in the United States (not including cases in the territories such as Puerto Rico or American Samoa), and of these, 50 concerned people who caught the disease while traveling. Pregnant women who travel to areas where Zika is spreading should be tested for the virus within two to 12 weeks after they return, even if they don't have symptoms, the CDC said. Follow Rachael Rettner @RachaelRettner. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. There's a new conspiracy theory out there, but instead of invoking big government or aliens, it questions whether there's a laptop carved into an ancient Greek statue. That's right there's a theory out there saying that a funerary statue of a woman, dated to about 100 B.C., shows her looking at a modern laptop or a handheld digital device. The theory, proposed by the anonymous YouTube user StillSpeakingOut, ventures that the ancient Oracle of Delphi may have foreseen the invention of laptops, and told people about it. "Just so we are clear, I'm not saying that this relief was depicting an ancient laptop computer," StillSpeakingOut said in the 100-second-long video. [Supernatural Powers? Tales of 10 Historical Predictions] But "Greek tales about the Oracle of Delphi, which was supposed to allow the priests to quote-unquote connect with the gods and retrieve advanced information of various aspects," made him wonder whether the statue represented a prediction, StillSpeakingOut said. In fact, the object depicted on the statue does look something like a laptop, said Jeffrey Spier, the senior curator of antiquities at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Malibu, California, which owns the statue. But, of course, it's not, Spier said. Instead, the object may be a jewelry box, a shallow chest or possibly a hinged mirror, as "we have hinged mirrors from this time period," Spier said. Perhaps it's a box containing incense, although there's no incense burner in the scene, so that may be a stretch, he added. Another historian debunked StillSpeakingOut's idea that the so-called laptop has USB ports in its side. "The 'USB ports' are drill holes for the attachment of a bronze object, or perhaps a separate piece of marble," said Jeff Hurwit, a professor of art history and classics at the University of Oregon. Grave artwork The statue, officially called "Grave Naiskos of an Enthroned Woman with an Attendant," depicts a well-dressed woman lounging on a cushioned armchair and reaching out "to touch the lid of a shallow chest held by a servant girl," according to the J. Paul Getty Museum. Funerary reliefs, fashioned out of marble like this one, were common in ancient Greece, going in and out of style over the years, Spier told Live Science. Such reliefs start occurring in the archaeological record in the sixth century B.C. and continue until about the first century B.C. These funerary statues would have sat above graves of the deceased, and are called naiskos, which are small temples dedicated to the deceased, Spier said. This one would have likely had a triangular top, and probably had the departed woman's name painted on top, he said. "We have a number [of naiskos] in the museum," Spier said. "They show young girls with their toys or with pets. They are very nostalgic and sympathetic." However, guests won't see the "enthroned woman" naiskos anytime soon at the Getty. The museum lent the statue to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where it will go on display April 18 for an exhibit called, "Pergamon and the Hellenistic Kingdoms of the Ancient World." Guests visiting the Met can decide for themselves whether they think the statue shows a laptop, but the experts have already made up their minds. "Seriously?" Hurwit said. "The 'laptop' is in fact a shallow box or lidded tray from which the woman is about to select a piece of jewelry, as is commonly shown in grave reliefs like this one." However, this isn't the only conspiracy about modern technology showing up in yesteryear. In 2010, a similar flurry arose concerning a woman in a 1928 Charlie Chaplin film holding an object that looked like a cellphone. But that mystery object was likely an ear trumpet, used to help the woman hear, experts said. Follow Laura Geggel on Twitter @LauraGeggel. Follow Live Science @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science. Do you spend hours and hours in the mall, looking for a gift to someone you love? I think doing an early Christmas shopping can save you mor... As part of its effort to extend its international reach into Eastern Europe and along the Baltic-Adriatic-North Sea railway corridor, Polands PKP Cargo has secured funding to complete the acquisition of Advanced World Transport. The deal, originally signed in May last year, has now been under-written by a 100m long-term, multi-currency loan to PKP from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. PKP, Europes second-largest railway freight transport operator and majority privately owned following privatisation in 2013, is attempting to expand its international freight operations to reduce its reliance on domestic services. Along with the EBRD loan, the acquisition of AWT, a transport and logistics operator based in the Czech Republic that boasts operations throughout central Europe, will allow PKP Cargo to provide seamless border crossings to and from the Czech Republic and beyond as well as enable more infrastructure investment, the company claims. This is a very important step for PKP Cargo as the firm starts implementing its ambitious plans for the future, said EBRD transport director Sue Barrett. Strengthening rail transport not only makes business sense but is also good for the environment as it will reduce carbon emissions." The company has strong potential and the EBRD is proud to support the growth of PKP Cargo as it becomes a major pan-European firm. Strengthening rail transport not only makes business sense but is also good for the environment as it will reduce carbon emissions. The Laredo Energy Arena has announced the winners of the Taste of Laredo, held on Thursday night. Judges Best Tasting Cuisine 1st Place - Sushi Madre 2nd Place - Dominos 3rd Place - La Posada Hotel Judges Best Tasting Delicacies 1st Place - Chocolateka 2nd Place - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts 3rd Place - Ts Soda Pop Candy Shop Peoples Choice Best Tasting Cuisine 1st Place - Fonda Don Martin 2nd Place - The Rib Cage Smokehouse 3rd Place - Sushi Madre Peoples Choice Best Tasting Delicacies 1st Place - Chocolateka 2nd Place - Krispy Kreme Doughnuts 3rd Place - La Posada Hotel Peoples Choice Best Decorating 1st Place - Great American Cookies 2nd Place - Chocolateka 3rd Place - Ts Soda Pop Candy Shop Blazing Wing Eating Competition sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings Ryan Bailey of KGNS Pro8 News Pizza Eating Competition sponsored by Peter Piper Pizza Raulito of Z93 The event was an amazing turnout and everyone enjoyed the food and culture the Taste of Laredo offered tonight, said Xavier Villalon, general manager of the SMG-managed Laredo Energy Arena. We would like to thank everyone who attended and especially the restaurants for sampling their food, dessert and beverage creations to the community. Participating restaurants for the Taste of Laredo were: International Office Sports Bar & Grill Tacolare Red Lobster The Rib Cage Smokehouse Enchiladas Vista Hermosa Ts Soda Pop Candy Shoppe Fonda Don Martin Johnny Rockets MARKET BARBEQUE Thirty - Thirty Sushi Madre Buffalo Wild Wings Chocolateka La Posada Hotel Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Dominos Great American Cookies L&F Distributors Coca-Cola Savor Laredo Energy Arena Spectators voted for their favorite cuisine, delicacies and best decorated booth, while restaurants competed for the Judges Choice of Best Tasting Cuisine and Best Tasting Delicacies. Texan Native Derek Spence paid tribute to Country icon George Strait, as special guest Chris Brade opened the event. Every year, approximately 2,500 Laredoans and tourists enjoy sampling delicious food from both sides of the border. The Taste of Laredo is part of the Washingtons Birthday Celebration. If you do not have a current print subscription to the Lodi News-Sentinel, but want to view unlimited articles for the month, please choose this option. Nature & Weather, Local News, Seasonal & Current Events By Christian Abbatecola Published: February 04 2016 Two weeks after a massive blizzard struck the region, another winter storm is expected to drop more snow on Long Island overnight. February 4, 2016 The NWS is forecasting another snowstorm for Long Island to impact the region overnight. Fortunately, the storm will not be as intense as the blizzard which dropped two feet in some areas two weeks ago, but up to six inches of accumulation could be possible in parts of Long Island. Rain is expected to fall overnight before shifting into snow, likely around 3 AM. Suffolk County could receive between three and six inches with similar totals in eastern Nassau, and one to three inches in western Nassau if the storm holds to its current track.The exact timing of the shifts to and from freezing temperatures will also play a pivotal role in determining exactly how much snow actually falls. The storm will likely impact the morning commute; however, if precipitation persists it will turn back into rain between the late morning and early afternoon. Temperatures between the upper 30s and low 40s will help melt away the mornings snowfall, hopefully making the evening commute easier. As of Thursday evening the NWS has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook and Winter Weather Advisory to be in effect from 1 AM to 10 AM Friday morning. Visibility during the storm could be reduced to as little as one quarter mile at times. Please visit our Long Island School Closures Page for regular updates of school closings in your district. For the most up to date weather information, head over to the LongIsland.com Weather Center, where you can find the latest weather forecasts, advisories and more. To get the latest traffic & road conditions before traveling this weekend, visit the LongIsland.com Traffic Center, and be sure to check out the live traffic feeds on our Traffic Cam Page. [Source: NWS] Nature & Weather, Local News, Press Releases By Long Island News & PR Published: February 05 2016 A collaborative study between the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) and researchers at Stony Brook and Cornell Universities has identified the multiple causes of three separate fish ... Albany, NY - February 5, 2016 - A collaborative study between the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS) and researchers at Stony Brook and Cornell Universities has identified the multiple causes of three separate fish kills in the Peconic River in summer 2015, the DEC and SCDHS announced today. The study (PDF, 3.7 MB) found that rising water temperatures and a spike in algal blooms fueled by increased levels of nitrogen caused low levels of dissolved oxygen in the river, which is ultimately believed to have caused mass asphyxiation among the menhaden population. Several additional factors also contributed to the kills, including a large population of predatory fish blocking the mouth of the river, essentially trapping the menhaden, and the presence of a virus among the fish. "Collaboration between all levels of government and academic institutions is critical to identifying the true causes of unfortunate incidents like this," said Acting DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "DEC will continue to work with all partners to identify additional strategies to improve water quality in the Peconic River and restore the health of this ecosystem for the fish and other wildlife that depend on it. We will be on the lookout this coming summer for a similar confluence of factors." "These results of algal blooms and mass asphyxiation truly indicate that excess nitrogen is indeed polluting our water, and we need to continue to upgrade our wastewater treatment infrastructure," said Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone. "I applaud all the government agencies, including the DEC, for being proactive in this effort to address mass fish kills. Suffolk County will continue to work with all of our leaders at every level of government to help combat this problem that affects our water quality, environment, economic development and overall quality of life." The fish kills occurred at three different locations along the two-mile tidal portion of the river between May and June of 2015 and resulted in the death of roughly 300,000 adult Atlantic Menhaden. The highest concentration of dead fish was reported near the mouth of the river off Indian Island County Park and in the waters between County Route 105 Bridge and the Riverhead Yacht Club. The Peconic River, Long Island's longest river, originates in bogs and wetlands in central Long Island and empties into Flanders Bay at Riverhead. It has a long history of degraded water quality and several documented fish kills over the years, including in September of 1999 (estimated at 1-3 million fish), August of 2000 (750,000), May of 2008 (100,000) and May of 2009 (100,000). The multi-agency effort employed extensive monitoring at nearly a dozen sites along the river to document existing physical, chemical and biological conditions that may have been associated with the events. Data on historical water quality conditions as well as past fish kills was also examined to provide possible clues to the occurrences. Menhaden specimens were also sent to the Aquatic Animal Health Program at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine for a pathology examination. SCDHS discounted the possibility that illegal discharges, spills and/or the presence of toxic substances were contributing factors. Researchers from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (SoMAS) at Stony Brook University also analyzed water samples to characterize the phytoplankton (micro-algae) community in the river and determined that harmful algal blooms (HABs) were impacting the fish. Although the Peconic River has had fish kills before, the 2015 event was unique in the timing and intensity of the algal blooms. The spring 2015 algal blooms were more intense and the oxygen decline occurred much earlier than usual. Combined with rising water temperatures and an unusually large biomass of adult menhaden confined in the river, these factors resulted in prolonged periods of extremely low dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, ultimately leading to mass asphyxiation among the fish population. Two other secondary factors may have contributed to the fish kills. Exposure to the harmful algal blooms caused damage to the menhaden's gills and may have exposed them to a virus. The presence of a large population of aggressive carnivorous blue fish at the mouth of the river blocked an escape route from the oxygen depleted waters. Experts believe that discharges of nitrogen into the Peconic River have increased algal blooms over the years. State and local agencies involved in the study are working aggressively to advance nitrogen reduction efforts throughout Suffolk County. Actions taken to Reduce Nitrogen Loadings The 2015 Suffolk County Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan ("Comp Plan") was released in May of 2015 and helped identify nitrogen, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pesticides and fertilizers as the three principle contributors impacting Suffolk County's water quality. It established the first strategic framework for addressing wastewater management. Suffolk County recently signed an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Riverhead to begin a pilot program to test facilities with sanitized wastewater discharges. The County also awarded the town $8 million and the state provided more than $18 million in financing to upgrade its Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility, including the construction of a new sewage treatment plant to meet increased standards of nitrogen removal. The state has also secured grants from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to reduce wastewater nitrogen pollution in the economically important Peconic Estuary watershed, including $580,000 to the town of Riverhead to connect cesspools to a public wastewater treatment facility and $1 million to Suffolk County to construct a decentralized wastewater treatment facility to treat waste from five mobile home parks that are currently using cesspools. DEC will also provide $1 million to develop a nitrogen reduction action plan for the Peconic Estuary, building on the $5 million provided in Governor Andrew Cuomo's Executive State budget to fund the Water Quality Improvement Project programs to develop a nitrogen action plan for Long Island. Officials on Watch for Repeat Conditions in Summer 2016 All partners involved in the study will continue to monitor the river for repeat events in Summer 2016 and beyond. Residents are encouraged to immediately report any observations of large fish kills to: DEC Marine Resources 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 Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula confirmed that Jalal Balaidi, a prominent AQAP field commander also known as Hamza al Zinjibari, was killed by the US in an airstrike in Abyan province on Feb. 3. AQAP released a statement today confirming his death. A portion of the statement, which was translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, is excerpted below: We extend condolences to our Muslim Ummah and specifically our people in Yemen of faith and wisdom, and on top of them, the honorable tribes of al-Maraqisha, for the killing of the heroic commander Jalal Balidi al-Marqishi, may Allah have mercy on him, who was killed in a Crusader strike that targeted him while he was amongst the sons of his tribe in Abyan province. Balaidi was one of AQAPs top leaders. In 2014, the US Rewards for Justice program offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to the locations of him and seven other senior leaders, including AQAP founder and then-emir Nasir al Quhayshi; Qasim a Raymi, then-AQAP military commander and now emir; and Ibrahim al Asiri, the master bombmaker. Balaidi has been featured in AQAPs propaganda. As recently as December 2015, he was videotaped in Jaar after the group seized control of the southern Yemeni town. For more information on Balaidi, see LWJs Feb. 3 report, Senior AQAP commander reportedly killed in US drone strike in Yemen. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Israeli security forces announced last week their dismantling of a five-man terror cell from the West Bank city of Tulkarem, jihadists who were recruited by Hezbollahs secretive Unit 133. The men were instructed to gather intelligence information on Israel Defense Forces (IDF) training facilities for attacks and prepare a bomb for use in a suicide operation against civilians. The foiled plot was Hezbollahs latest attempt to stir up Israeli-Palestinian violence, exploiting the conflict to improve its tarnished image while bogging down Israeli forces in a battlefield far from its home base. Hezbollah established Unit 133 in the early 2000s, to focus its operations on Israeli targets both domestically and across the Middle East and Europe. Unit 133 relies primarily on human intelligence activity, luring recruits with money. Due to the nature and purpose of the Units activities, it does not exclusively draw on Shia Muslims for recruitment. Recruits are given broad security and military training, charged with recruiting new assets as well as intelligence collection, target acquisition, surveillance, reconnaissance, managing sources and establishing cover stories. For its operations within Israel, the unit was tasked with recruiting intelligence assets and terror operatives from among Palestinians in the West Bank and Israels Arab citizens. To accomplish that, it turned to Lebanese drug dealers who work with Israeli-Arab smugglers. Unit 133 has been linked to previous attempts, some unsuccessful, to carry out attacks within Israel. In April 2012, for example, it tried to smuggle 24 C-4 explosive devices, M-16 rifles and other weapons past Israels border with Lebanon through Israeli-Arab smugglers. The goal was to have one of the Units cells within Israel use the materials to carry out a mass-casualty attack, but the attempt was foiled by Israels Shin Bet security services before they reached their intended recipients. Last summer, Israeli security forces arrested Hezbollah operative Hassan Khalil Hizran, a dual Lebanese-Swedish citizen, at Ben-Gurion Airport. Hizran was to report on the airports security procedures, recruit Israeli Arabs with ties to Israeli civilians or military personnel, and gather intelligence on military targets. This newest cell, taken down last week, was put together and funded by Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallahs son, Jawad. He instructed the men to recruit more Palestinians and Israeli Arabs, providing them with $5,000 to acquire the necessary weapons and materials for the intended attacks. Israeli security officials said the cell hoped to reignite the months-long wave of Palestinian violence that has waned in recent weeks. Hezbollah likely hoped the attacks would be the catalyst for turning the violence into a real Intifada, or uprising, on par with the bloody Al-Aqsa Intifada of the early 2000s. Beyond simply killing Israelis, Hezbollah has much to gain from such a heightened level of violence. For one, full-blown violence would refocus the ire of Sunni Arabs (particularly the wealthy Gulf states) on what they insist is the central cause of the Arabs Palestine and away from Hezbollah and its Iranian masters. Sparking another Intifada would also improve Hezbollahs image on the Arab street, allaying some of the anger directed at it over its involvement in the Syrian civil war. It would allow Hezbollah to portray itself as primarily fighting Israel, while unlike during the 2006 war keeping the fight away from Lebanese soil. Finally, if Israel were once again plagued with frequent Palestinian suicide bombings and large-scale attacks as in the early 2000s, the IDF would become bogged down again in counter-terror operations in the West Bank, severely reducing its ability to act against Hezbollah either in Lebanon or Syria. David Daoud is an Arabic-Language Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. 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. Shabaab fighters raise the groups flag in Marka. Shabaab, al Qaedas official branch in East Africa, has retaken control several towns in southern Somalia after the withdrawal of African Union and government forces. Shabaab fighters reoccupied Marka, located just 45 miles south of the Somali capital of Mogadishu, today after African Union and Somali troops abandoned the town. AMISOM (African Union Mission in Somia) forces moved out at midday and the local administration and all other Somali security forces left a few minutes later and then heavily armed al-Shabab militants entered the town, a local resident told The Associated Press. They have been addressing residents at the district headquarters. Shabaab raised its flag at the town center, addressed a crowd, and began patrols, according to photographs obtained from Shahada News Agency, a jihadist propaganda outfit. According to the AP, Shabaab has occupied the police station and government buildings. Shabaab lost control of Marka in August 2012 after the Kenyan military invaded southern Somalia in response to Shabaab raids in northern Kenya. While Shabaab lost control of the major population centers in southern Somalia during the Kenyan and African Union offensive, the group maintained its military strength and retreated to rural areas of the country. They have retaken control over the last month with a vengeance. Todays African Union withdrawal from Marka is likely a response to Shabaabs mid-January assault on an ANISOM base in the town of El Ade. Shabaab fighters from the Saleh al Nabhani Battalion killed scores of Kenyan troops and seized a large quantity of weapons, munitions, and vehicles during the rout. Shabaab claimed it killed more than 100 troops during the El Ade raid and the Kenyan military has been silent on its losses. Attacks of that magnitude have a demoralizing effect on African Union troops, and the militaries are unable to sustain such losses over time. Marka is the third large town in southern Somalia to fall to Shabaab in the past two weeks after African Union troops pulled out without warning. On January 26, Shabaab marched into the towns of El Ade and Badhadhe after Kenyan forces withdrew, leaving a security vacuum. Shabaab has been able to mount attacks in the region despite the presence of a large African Union mission in Somalia. The jihadist group has also launched numerous suicide assaults on heavily guarded hotels in Mogadishu this year. It has continuously targeted African Union troops in southern Somalia and has taken back some territory in the process. Shabaab has mounted operations in the central part of Somalia and into neighboring Kenya, as well. In late November, Shabaab said its forces temporarily took control over a Kenyan town bordering Somalia. Photographs of Shabaab fighters in Marka Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal. 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. The UNs forces in Mali, MINUSMA, and the Malian military have recaptured a UN police base in the ancient city of Timbuktu after suspected jihadists overran it earlier today. The fighting was believed to be fierce, but a Malian commander is reportedly the only fatality in the operation. According to Reuters, approximately 6 militants drove up to the base at dawn and detonated a vehicle-born improvised explosive device (VBIED), before breaching the perimeter and taking control of the base. However, the UN said that the base, which is used by a Nigerian contingent of the UNs forces in Mali, was nearly empty at the time of the attack. A UN policeman was slightly injured as a result of the explosion, according to a statement released by the UN, and was able to flee before being taken captive. The UN then launched a joint raid with the Malian military to retake the base. Three attackers were killed in the operation, while a fourth detonated himself during the clashes. One Malian commander was killed during the operation, while three other soldiers were wounded, according to the UN statement. No jihadist group has yet taken responsibility for the attack, but it is likely militants from al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) are behind the assault. AQIM, which is al Qaedas official branch in North Africa and in the Sahel, has been behind a plethora of attacks in and around Timbuktu since being ousted from the city in 2013. Earlier last month, AQIM captured Beatrice Stockly, a Swiss missionary who was previously held hostage by al Qaeda in 2012. AQIM claimed responsibility for her kidnapping in a video released last week, in which the jihadist group said they would release her in exchange for their fighters being released from prison. One fighter specifically requested was Ahmed Ould al Faqi, who also goes by Abu Turab. Al Faqi, who was a commander in AQIMs Tuareg front group Ansar Dine, is being held in the Netherlands and has been charged by the International Criminal Court for conducting war crimes in Timbuktu. Last year, AQIM conducted at least 11 attacks in and near Timbuktu. That includes wounding three UN peacekeepers when their vehicle hit an IED nearby Bourem on May 28. Additionally, six Burkinabe peacekeepers were killed when AQIM ambushed their convoy by Goundam, another neighboring town, on July 2. Two days after AQIMs video was released last week, a Malian soldier was killed in an ambush at a checkpoint near Timbuktu. (See map of al Qaeda-linked attacks in Mali by The Long War Journal above, for more information.) 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. Luton is a large town, borough and unitary authority area of Bedfordshire. Luton and its near neighbours, Dunstable and Houghton Regis, form the Luton/Dunstable Urban Area with a population of about 258,000. Luton is home to Championship team Luton Town Football Club, London Luton Airport and The University of Bedfordshire. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter. For all the latest news from Luton sign up to our newsletter here. Experience The Luxurious Side of Utah Park City: The ultimate Utah hot spot for luxury, Park City is home to a number of extravagant hotels, restaurants and activities. Travelers can book a stay at the boutique Washington School House Hotel or Stein Eriksen Lodge, which recently added a new Gold & Diamond facial to their spa menu. For dinner, make reservations at Riverhorse on Main, one of the most elite and distinguished restaurants in Park City. Then, visitors can stay warm and fit with Park City Yoga Adventures' geothermal standup paddle board yoga in the mineral-rich, 90 degree water of the 10,000-year-old Homestead crater. The ultimate Utah hot spot for luxury, Park City is home to a number of extravagant hotels, restaurants and activities. Travelers can book a stay at the boutique Washington School House Hotel or Stein Eriksen Lodge, which recently added a new Gold & Diamond facial to their spa menu. For dinner, make reservations at Riverhorse on Main, one of the most elite and distinguished restaurants in Park City. Then, visitors can stay warm and fit with Park City Yoga Adventures' geothermal standup paddle board yoga in the mineral-rich, 90 degree water of the 10,000-year-old Homestead crater. Utah Luxury Tours: Visitors looking to experience a tailor-made journey with unforgettable adventure should look no further than Utah Luxury Tours. Professionally trained tour guides will customize a luxury tour in any part of the state for any amount of time. Some of Utah Luxury Tours' most popular tours include the Mighty Five Utah National Parks Tour, Moab Express Tour and Two Day Zion & Bryce Canyon Tour. Visitors looking to experience a tailor-made journey with unforgettable adventure should look no further than Utah Luxury Tours. Professionally trained tour guides will customize a luxury tour in any part of the state for any amount of time. Some of Utah Luxury Tours' most popular tours include the Mighty Five Utah National Parks Tour, Moab Express Tour and Two Day Zion & Bryce Canyon Tour. Amangiri (Canyon Point): A remote hideaway tucked within the luminous red rock canyons, Amangiri offers both adrenaline-fuelled adventure and a peaceful, luxurious retreat. Each suite is designed to reflect the unique qualities of the surrounding desert and features an outdoor lounge and fireplace with expansive desert views, while some feature a private pool or roof terrace. A remote hideaway tucked within the luminous red rock canyons, Amangiri offers both adrenaline-fuelled adventure and a peaceful, luxurious retreat. Each suite is designed to reflect the unique qualities of the surrounding desert and features an outdoor lounge and fireplace with expansive desert views, while some feature a private pool or roof terrace. Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa (Moab): Nestled on the secluded banks of the Colorado River, Sorrel River Ranch carefully blends the personal touch and hospitality of a traditional ranch with the service and amenities of a fine resort. Spread across 160 acres of ranch land, visitors can enjoy luxury suites with a view of the mountains or river, tranquil spa treatments, farm-to-table cuisine, and a number of activities including horseback riding, off-roading, hot-air balloon excursions and art classes. Nestled on the secluded banks of the Colorado River, Sorrel River Ranch carefully blends the personal touch and hospitality of a traditional ranch with the service and amenities of a fine resort. Spread across 160 acres of ranch land, visitors can enjoy luxury suites with a view of the mountains or river, tranquil spa treatments, farm-to-table cuisine, and a number of activities including horseback riding, off-roading, hot-air balloon excursions and art classes. The Grand America Hotel (Salt Lake City) : Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, The Grand America Hotel offers 775 spacious luxury rooms and suites with stunning views of the mountains and skyline. Each room is individually decorated with hand-crafted Richelieu furniture, English wool carpets, Carrera Italian marble and the finest fabrics. The hotel also features a world-class spa with seven massage rooms, steam rooms, saunas, an indoor pool and salon services. : Located in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City, The Grand America Hotel offers 775 spacious luxury rooms and suites with stunning views of the mountains and skyline. Each room is individually decorated with hand-crafted Richelieu furniture, English wool carpets, Carrera Italian marble and the finest fabrics. The hotel also features a world-class spa with seven massage rooms, steam rooms, saunas, an indoor pool and salon services. Desert Rose Inn (Bluff): A rustic-chic lodge with private luxury cabins and suites, Desert Rose Inn offers surreal 360-degree views of Utah's amazing, iconic red rock cliffs. Additionally, the hotel is located just down the road from Valley of the Gods, Monument Valley Tribal Park, Gooseneck State Park and Canyon de Chelly, scenic backcountry areas offering isolated buttes, towering pinnacles and wide open spaces that seem to go on forever. A rustic-chic lodge with private luxury cabins and suites, Desert Rose Inn offers surreal 360-degree views of Utah's amazing, iconic red rock cliffs. Additionally, the hotel is located just down the road from Valley of the Gods, Monument Valley Tribal Park, Gooseneck State Park and Canyon de Chelly, scenic backcountry areas offering isolated buttes, towering pinnacles and wide open spaces that seem to go on forever. Red Mountain Resort(Ivins): Blended naturally into a landscape of vivid red rock cliffs and canyons of southern Utah, Red Mountain Resort has everything visitors need to relax, renew and rediscover a passion for adventure. Each suite features earth tones and eco-friendly materials that complement the red rock mountains surrounding the resort. Additionally, Red Mountain Resort's ideal location allows for convenient planning of a customized adventure to Zion or Bryce Canyon National Parks, while Snow Canyon State park is also nearby. With an increase in luxury travel expected in 2016 from Millennials 49 percent said luxury travel is a deserved reward for hard work Utah is an ideal destination for them to splurge while also getting instagram-worthy photos and unparalleled adventure.And, there's no end. Below are just a few of the top luxury resorts, destinations and tour operators that infuse outdoor adventure with luxury for the ultimate Millennial vacation in Utah:Photo: Waldorf Astoria Park City BUCKNACKT'S SORDID TAWDRY BLOG We should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive & well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate, bier or wein in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WHOO-HOO, WHAT A RIDE!!!!!!" 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 India must put quality control at the centre of its policies on IP filing if it doesnt want to deal with a mess of its own making later Entertainment / Arts by ZimPAS With no formal training school in the field; arts managers say it has been a struggle to lure Zimbabwean audiences to their various art forms. Impressed by the reported successes of religious leaders locally and their counterparts in the West and other parts of Africa such as Nigeria and South Africa, budding arts managers shared their thoughts on what is the beginning of a journey towards formalizing the field of art management at a Food For Thought discussion session held at the United States Embassy's Eastgate offices on Tuesday.The discussion, facilitated by Plot Mhako of Jibilika Arts Trust and Mandela Washington Fellowship program alumnus, was moderated by social entrepreneur and 263AfricaTV founder, Nico Abote.Abote, who has overseen the successful hosting of the Zimbabwe Music Awards (ZIMA) and the Anne Kansiime Stand Up show in the past two years used the success of local religious leaders like Emmanuel Makandiwa of United Family International Church and Walter Magaya of Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries in luring huge audiences to their sermons."Locally, audiences do not appreciate our products that much," noted Abote. "We seem to struggle to get to platforms other artists from other countries are getting into.""This argument is a bit misplaced," responded Marcus Gora, manager for award-winning band Mokoomba from Victoria Falls and co-founder and director of First Floor Gallery Harare, a space that supports emerging and established international visual artists. "The story of Mokoomba is that they have based their art form on traditional songs; people say we are known more outside than inside---that's the reality, Zimbabwe is known more by outsiders than locals." Gora, who is currently working on projects and products aimed at discovering, developing, and delivering-to-market the best local emerging talent in arts, culture, and design said the Zimbabwean market is small. He added: "As artists we shouldn't be worried about that as a limitation. Arts management is only popping up now and exposure is the education."Among the panel was mbira maestro Hope Masike, recently nominated for a KORA award. She says Zimbabwe does not consume different types of music per given time. "The audience does not appreciate music that they have not heard on radio. It's all of us are to blame for that ---the audience and the artists. We need to get variety."She chronicled her challenges trying to get Zimbabweans to support her after her KORA award nomination. "Nigeria dominates Kora because they are big," she said. She hailed local newspapers for their support noting the daily posters in the local H Metro newspaper in the past week. "But it could be more national," she said. "It takes much effort for Zimbabwe to be well known. I have been following other nominees' campaign. We are a bit slow here, but when we catch up it becomes like fire."Another budding arts manager, Phineas Mushayi, who has been working to promote dancehall music, said currently "the music genre comes from the street and has neither structure nor strategy." "Management does not exist," noted the organized of the Zim dancehall awards. He said through his work they have forged a partnership with the artists for progressive social messages, a big shift from the previous lurid musical style when most dancehall artists started. "There was so much chaos and hence the need to bring in sanity," remarked Mushayi.He drew laughter from the audience when he said Zim dancehall artists are making more money than other professionals. "Look, it's just the artist and the deejay; they perform in halls on a frequent basis and they gross more money than a teacher by the end of the week." He said, "Each market has its context and we can't compare ourselves with foreign artists who drive luxury vehicles."The discussants noted that there was little time devoted to the art product development. "We have become a microwave society, we want things so quickly. We don't mind about quality. And we have created a gullible audiences," said Mhako. "In the end we hero worship ourselves, we celebrate mediocrity, and we are too comfortable. 35 years without alternative television stations has seen us dedicate so much time on foreign content."The panelists said local industry was not investing in the development of upcoming artists, which is exacerbated by representatives of corporations who have no clue about what role they can play in the development and promotion of art. Gora noted, "I have knocked on so many doors and the person you meet in companies has no clue. The marketing manager does not know anything about art apart from road shows." He called on corporates to engage as partners rather than using artists to push a brand. "There has to be balance between the authenticity of the artist and the product," said GoraThe discussion is the first in a series of discussion sessions to assist budding artists and arts managers understand various processes of marketing, said Mhako. A journalism graduate, Mhako admitted that much of the success of Jibilika was a result of exchange and residency programs in the United States and other countries. ZimPAS February 3, 3016 UTD Podcast: Matchday | Tottenham (H) podcast The Reds showed passion, grit and energy to overcome Spurs 2-0 at a rocking Old Trafford, with post-match interviews from centre-back duo Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez, and manager Erik ten Hag featuring in this episode. Against the backdrop of our deafening home support, former Reds Gary Pallister, Fraizer Campbell, Danny Simpson and Ben Thornley offer their insight and analysis, while co-hosts Helen Evans, Stewart Gardner and Zarah Connolly take us behind the scenes on a memorable night at the Theatre of Dreams. Marie Claire newsletter Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Thank you for signing up to . You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over. Jennifer Lawrence may soon be working alongside the hilarious Rebel Wilson on Hunger Games Jennifer Lawrence certainly has a sense of humour, after all she brushed off her Oscar stumble by laughing which is good news as she may soon be working very closely with Australian comedic actress Rebel Wilson on the final installment of The Hunger Games trilogy. JENNIFER LAWRENCE IS ILL PREPARED AS SHE BEGINS WORK ON NEXT FILM While filming for The Hunger Games:Catching Fire wraps the Bridesmaids star has revealed she may soon join Jennifer Lawrence and the rest of the cast. Speaking to Buzzfeed Rebel revealed: I have had a meeting about being in The Hunger Games. It was one of the people in the capitol. That's all I'll say... But contrary to what the actress said, she didnt stop there adding how much shes keen to be part of the franchise, adding: There aren't a lot of roles open, because they've all already been cast, but that would be awesome. I'd love to be in The Hunger Games. JENNIFER LAWRENCE REAPS PRAISE FROM LIAM HEMSWORTH And she shared the same enthusiasm for Jennifer Lawrence as she did for the films, I met her at a party and she [Jennifer] was super-duper nice, Rebel said. She's really quite tall. I don't know if you get that impression when you see her in movies, but she's quite tall. Tall, talented and lovely to look at, is Jennifer Lawrence even human? WATCH! Jennifer Lawrence best fashion moments JENNIFER LAWRENCE OPENS UP ABOUT HER SECRET ADDICTION JENNIFER LAWRENCE STYLE HIGHS AND LOWS JENNIFER LAWRENCE MARIE CLAIRE PHOTO SHOOT Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (opens in new tab) (just search the store for 'Marie Claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus (opens in new tab). Marie Claire newsletter Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Thank you for signing up to . You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over. Robert Pattinson receives high praise from Guy Pearce who he stars opposite in The Rover Robert Pattinsons admirers are usually of the young and female variety but hes also earning plenty of respect from veteran actor Guy Pearce who was all praise when asked about his co-star in The Rover. KRISTEN STEWART INSISTS ROBERT PATTINSON SEES HIS FRIENDS ALONE Following the end of filming for the upcoming gritty drama that banished Robert Pattinson to the Australian outback for over two months, Guy Pearce, has now spoken his colleagues on-screen talents. Guy told Australian newspaper, the Herald Sun: The best thing about Rob is that he is a really great actor. Watching the rushes back, you go: Ok, he is just going to be fantastic. ROBERT PATTINSON AND KRISTEN STEWART FAIL TO GO INCOGNITO ON LUNCH DATE But its not just the British stars acting ability that won Guy over, he went onto emphasise what we all knew already, that hes heartbreakingly hot. Hes got this beautiful face, Guy added. So you are completely entranced by that face no matter how ugly he makes himself [for the character] or how wounded he is, or how manky his haircut. The Rover is a far cry from the brooding drama of the Twilight franchise, it is set in a post- apocalyptic world where society has completely broken down. Speaking of Roberts character, Guy said: He [Robert] is slightly backward, emotionally useless and really vulnerable. We imagine nothing like the man himself! WATCH! Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart best moments ROBERT PATTINSON AND KRISTEN STEWART ARE STRONGEST THEYVE EVER BEEN ROBERT PATTINSON STYLE HIGHS AND LOWS ROBERT PATTINSONS BEST QUOTES ABOUT TWILIGHT Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad (opens in new tab), Kindle (opens in new tab) (just search the store for 'Marie Claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus (opens in new tab). Entertainment / Music by Stephen Jakes The Bulawayo Music Awards has appealed for support from the local and international funders in an effort to promote its programmes that are meant to uplift local artists.The appeal was made by the company's Cheif Executive Officer and founder Nyasha William Gwazemba."I would love to deeply and humbly like to ask the Bulawayo business community to please come and support and help the Bulawayo Music Awards and we are looking for sponsorship in any form of help be it in kind or cash," he said. "We have worked hard since last year planing the event and we are kindly asking the Bulawayo community to please help us. Your help will be greatly appreciated. Bulawayo Halala Bulawayo halala."Gwazemba can be contacted on +263776975226 or email healtheworldzimbabwe@gmail.com Marie Claire newsletter Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Thank you for signing up to . You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over. The Duchess of Cambridge is credited with raising the profits of Prince Charles's company Kate Middleton has been credited with helping to raise the profits of many businesses, mainly owing to her influence over our fashion tastes and our insatiable appetite for anything Kate-related Zara, Seraphine, Reiss have all been boosted by Kate wearing their clothes and now it appears that the so called 'Kate effect' has reached her father-in-law's, Prince Charles's company, too. What's more, it doesn't sell dresses, meaning Kate's influence has stretched even further than we thought. The Prince of Wales's company has seen its turnover increase by almost 1 million in the past year, reports The Telegraph, thanks to a growing interest in the Royal family after the birth of Prince George and the Royal wedding. It seems we just can't get enough of the Kate, Prince William and their baby son. Prince Charles's company has made the most of his daughter-in-law's popularity, by creating a range of commemorative gifts and souvenirs, as well as organic baby products and home ware, that are sold in his Highgrove stores and website. Kate MIddleton L (Image credit: Rex) The Telegraph reports that the company made a whopping 652,000 in profits in the year until the end of last March, compared with 608,000 in the previous 12 months. Of course, all the profits from Prince Charles's business is put back into his charities. This meant the Prince of Wales's Charitable Foundation received a massive 689,000. It appears Kate Middleton has more power than we ever realised... Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus. Marie Claire newsletter Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Thank you for signing up to . You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions (opens in new tab) and Privacy Policy (opens in new tab) and are aged 16 or over. The designer is teaming up with Skype to share the intimate details of her fashion brand. We. Can't. Wait. Victoria Beckham and Skype are the latest unlikely partnership between the tech and fashion worlds. The designer has signed a deal with the online video chat service allowing them to make a fly-on-the-wall-style documentary, offering fans intimate access and an insight into the international fashion brand over five years. Victoria Beckham and David Beckham at the British Fashion Council party (Image credit: Rex) As of yet, we only know tiny details of Victoria Beckham's life apart from the adorable paparazzi shots of her with David and the kids though she recently admitted to using Skype to contact her studio when shes abroad. Though details of the project are yet to be confirmed, a spokesperson for Skype says: 'In just five short years, Victoria Beckham and her team have built a hugely successful international fashion brand. A journey which Skype is proud to have played a part in enabling. 'Skype will bring the story of a driven designer and businesswoman to life in a groundbreaking storytelling format, as well as offer inspiration to fashion enthusiasts, aspiring creatives and entrepreneurs. 'We're thrilled to be a part of the Victoria Beckham story, and look forward to sharing it with you soon.' Will gorgeous Harper feature? Will we get to see VB with rollers in her hair? So. Many. Questions. Watch this space... Victoria Beckham tops the poll of most inspirational working parent (opens in new tab) The Beckhams do date night at British Council Fashion Party (opens in new tab) Victoria shares silly snaps from New York Fashion Week (opens in new tab) Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad (opens in new tab), Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook (opens in new tab) or Google Nexus (opens in new tab). On 20 January 2016, Corima, part of the Italy-based Gesmar Group, held an official handover ceremony for a Damen ASD 2810 tug. The festivities were attended by invited guests that included representatives from Anconas port and city authorities. The family-owned Gesmar Group is the largest towage operator in the Adriatic Sea. The Groups scope of activities reach to providing harbour assistance duties at eight Italian ports in addition to towing, escorting and offshore towage, safety and FiFi duties at a several offshore oil terminals. Following the on-time and on-budget delivery in November 2015, Corima has mobilised the new 28.67-metre tug, called Musone, in the Port of Ancona, where it provides support services for two oil terminals and one SPM (Safe Point Mooring buoy) for large tankers, operated by API Refinery. The Musone represents an important investment for the area and will contribute to the local economy of the Ancona. In addition to its role in the oil industry, the Port of Ancona also handles significant numbers of containers and dry bulk cargo. It is also an important location for the ferry and cruise industries. Corimas acquisition of the new tug was necessary due to infrastructure developments at the Port of Ancona. This fleet renewal was required because the new port entrance makes it more difficult to manoeuvre there, informs Riccardo Vitiello, Corima President and Managing Director Gesmar Group. Musone will replace one of our twin screw tugs, giving the fleet more flexibility and power. Damens ASD 2810 is a versatile design: one that is suited to harbour-based duties as well as operations in open water. The vessels twin Caterpillar engines deliver 1,865 kW resulting in a 60-tonne bollard pull. Corimas tug captains will put that power to optimum effect in what Mr Vitiello describes as the ideal towing arrangement, combining Tractor tug with ASD tug. I think that the best towing configuration is to have a Tractor tug at the bow of the vessel and an ASD at the stern of the vessel. This way both tugs work heading forward. Since delivery, Musone has been operational at both the Port of Ancona and the oil terminal, Mr Vitiello goes on to say. The feedback I have received from our tug masters has been very positive. They have many years experience on a Damen 3110 so they have good criteria when comparing these tugs. They have found the Musone much faster and more responsive during manoeuvring. I would like to thank our client for their cooperation throughout this project, states Damen Regional Sales Manager Andrea Trevisan. The feeling of respect and esteem that Damen and Corima has for each other is reciprocal. This delivery will build on the foundations of our firm business relationship. Crowley christens second of four newly built, LNG-ready product tankers for use in U.S. coastwise trade Crowley Maritime Corp. has christened the second of four new Jones Act product tankers yesterday at the South Florida Petroleum Terminal (The Public Dock) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The 50,000 dead-weight-ton (dwt), 330,000-barrel-capacity Texas joins sister ship Ohio, which was christened by Crowley in November, as the first ever tankers to receive the American Bureau of Shippings (ABS) LNG-Ready Level 1 approval, meaning Crowley has the option to convert the tanker to liquefied natural gas (LNG) for propulsion in the future. A small group including representatives from SeaRiver Maritime, the vessels charterer, gathered to watch as Doris Evans, wife of Eric Evans, vice president, planning for Crowleys petroleum services group, performed the time-honored tradition of christening the vessel by breaking a ceremonial bottle of champagne across the hull. Texas was constructed by PSINC (formerly known as Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, Inc.), with construction management services provided by Crowleys Seattle-based, naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary Jensen Maritime. Two additional product tankers are being built by PSINC for Crowley and have planned deliveries later this year. The new tankers are based on a design from Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) which incorporates numerous fuel efficiency features, flexible cargo capability and the latest regulatory requirements. Texas is 600 feet long and is capable of carrying crude oil or refined petroleum products. Anglo-Swiss commodity trader Glencore has chartered a ship to load Iranian fuel oil at the Iranian port of Bandar Mahshahr in a move that signals the return of legitimate Iranian crude and oil products to international markets. The Greek-owned vessel, Green Warrior, arrived at the Iranian port of Bandar Mahshahr on February 3, on a fully fixed charter by Glencore and is set to load 80,000 tonnes of high-sulphur fuel oil bound for Singapore, according to Thomson Reuters ship tracking data as well as traders and shipbrokers with knowledge of the matter. A Glencore spokesman declined to comment. Despite the lifting of sanctions in mid-January, most international insurers are no closer to resolving concerns over remaining U.S. sanctions, limiting oil companies' ability to steal a jump on rivals in the race to benefit from Iran's return to oil markets. "Most P&I Clubs are not yet ready to offer protection for Iran for various reasons. Re-insurance in the US being one of them," said one European-based shipbroker. P&I clubs provide third-party liability insurance and pollution cover for vessels, consisting of marine insurers owned by shipping clients and reinsured internationally. While the most popular P&I Clubs are not yet providing insurance coverage to vessels loading in Iran, "there are P&I Clubs out there that are more risk hungry and that's why we're starting to see the beginning of it," said a Singapore-based shipbroker. By Roslan Khasawneh Hanjin Shipping India Pvt Ltd, the South Korean shipping conglomerate, made its maiden call at KPCT on 1st February, 2016. Vessel MV Hanjin Florida had exchanged 553 TEU out of which 109 TEU are imports and 444 TEU are exports. Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal, whose volume during Apr15 - Jan16 has already surpassed FY 2014-15 container volume, offers immense opportunities for new service calls to tap its huge hinterland. The Port Rotation for this service is: KRISHNAPATNAM TANJUNG PELEPAS - SINGAPORE QINGDAO XINGANG BUSAN SHANGHAI NANSHA. This service will cater to all import/export businesses ex INKRI (Port Code of Krishnapatnam Port) to Far East, USEC, USWC, Latin America, Europe and Inter Asia. The KPCT team conducted a formal inaugural ceremony of this maiden call with Mr Hoon Park, Managing Director of M/s Hanjin Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd launching the service from KPCT. Mr Jithendra, Chief Operating Officer of Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal welcomed the vessel by presenting the memento to the captain of the vessel, Capt Tuvindra Chaterjee. Mr V K Sasidharan, Regional General Manager of Hanjin Shipping and his team along with KPCT team were part of this memorable inaugural event. This direct container shipping service will open several trade opportunities for exporters and importers between these countries and is expected to give a filling to the trade on the East Coast particularly for exports of granites, tobacco, shrimps, cotton yarn, linters, along with imports of automotive parts, furniture, tiles, news print, coffee powder, fruit juices, etc. This new service reflects Krishnapatnam Ports commitment in providing varied options to the growing EXIM trade in its hinterland of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Northern Tamil Nadu. Krishnapatnam Port will continue to explore and tap new opportunities for the benefit of Lines and the EXIM trade by providing superior services and facilities. Honda Marine, a division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and marketer of a complete range of outboard marine 4-stroke engines, announced today a new OEM agreement with BRIG USA. BRIG Boats (www.brig-ribs.com) is a manufacturer of foldable and rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) for every budget and application, including recreational and professional use. Based in Kharkov, Ukraine, the 25-year-old company recently announced its launch into the U.S. market with two dealers located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Annapolis, Maryland. For more than 50 years, Honda Marine has set new benchmarks for fuel efficiency, quiet operation, and low emissions with its comprehensive line of 4-stroke outboard engines that share the same unparalleled durability, quality, and reliability of its legendary automobiles. BRIG boats are designed and built to exacting standards set by a team of former military aeronautical engineers. Stable, lightweight and low-maintenance, BRIG RIBS incorporate cutting edge designs that provide smooth, dry, fast rides. The two companies will showcase their powerful new alliancea partnership forged in innovation and advanced technologyat a special event on February 11 from 4 p.m. 6 p.m. at the BRIG USA Booth, #C202 in Virginia Key, at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show (www.miamiboatshow.com). According to the terms of the new agreement, Honda Marine will supply BRIG Boats with its full lineup of outboard engine models, ranging from the Portable Series (BF2.3, BF5, BF8.8, BF9, BF15 and BF20), Mid-Range Series (BF25, BF30, BF40, BF50, BF60, BF75, BF90 and BF100) through the High Power Series (BF115, BF135, BF150, BF200, BF225, and BF250) as original equipment for models marketed by BRIG USA. BRIG inflatable boats offers styles and sizes ranging from the little Dingo with an inflatable keel and air floor that rolls up and fits into the trunk of a car, to the 26 foot luxury RIB Eagle E780. BRIG boats was founded to challenge conventional design by applying aero and hydrodynamic theory to traditional ideas, producing RIBs that provide for an exceptional experience on the water, said Mark DiPietro, senior manager, Honda Marine. This new partnership aligns with the Honda vision to produce marine engines with class-leading performance by coupling advanced, innovative technologies and outstanding fuel efficiency and reliability. BRIG boats are hand built in the Ukraine and finished to exacting standards. On every boat, each stage of production is recorded and checked for complete quality control. The boats meet or exceed ISO and European Economic Community Standards; the SOLAS rescue boats are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. A global network of respected, experienced distributors handle after sales care, delivering total peace of mind for BRIG owners, whether they are using their RIBs for work or rescue, short trips from yacht to port, day-long cruising or water sports. BRIG RIBs outsell every other runaround or tender in Europe and Australia, and our goal is to become market leaders in the U.S. as well, said Neil Webster, Chief Executive Officer of BRIG USA. The product quality, brand reputation, integrity and support of Honda Marine provide a premium platform for BRIG to develop a network of dealerships across the country and introduce our products to a significant new market. With models ranging from 2.3 to 250 horsepower, the Honda Marine full line of current production models meets rigorous California Air Resources Board (CARB) 3-Star standards, ensuring their availability and regulatory compliance in all 50 states. Marines with 2nd Transportation Support Battalion participated in the tactical operations package from Battle Skills Training School, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, from Jan. 5 through Feb. 5, 2016. The course is conducted to refresh Marines from military occupational specialties on infantry-related skills and tactics in a five-week span. These Marines are primarily conducting maintenance rotations and field rotations, so they dont get to practice their basic Marine Corps skills often, said Staff Sgt. Joel R. Scott, the officer in charge of the training with BSTS. We have had the chance to refresh them on machine guns, patrolling, mounted patrols, counter-improvised explosive devices and security operations. In case they deploy to a forward area, theyll be more prepared to do [infantry-based skills]. The exercise develops the Marines skills by putting them into realistic combat scenarios, with a few instructors acting as an opposing force. There are hostile enemies in the area so we have to keep track of personnel going in and out, patrols going out every five hours, and random counter-IED operations and a quick reaction force in the forward operating base in case the FOB takes contact, said Cpl. Devin K. Maddox-White, a fire team leader and motor vehicle operator with 2nd TSB. With approximately 50 Marines who do not practice these skills on a daily basis, it requires a lot of focus and cooperation from the students. Every Marine is taught these skills in the School of Infantry but if you dont do it often they are perishable, said Maddox-White. I feel like this is a great refresher for not only me but all of the Marines in this unit. You can see the improvement in our skills. The skills reinforced in this exercise will allow Marines to go forward with external units and do their part to support the needs of 2nd MLG. I believe this training helps the mission of 2nd MLG because a lot of these Marines, working in motor transportation, dont refresh on this often and it is important because even though this unit does not deploy as a whole we get augmented to units at a moments notice and we need to be ready to help complete that units mission, said Maddox-White. The unit is preparing to take part in an Integrated Training Exercise at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, later this year. News / Africa by Staff Reporter A picture of a Reverend from Middelburg, Eastern Cape kissing another pastor's wife has gone viral amid concerns the church leader has violated one of the 10 commandments in the Bible wghich reads, "THOU shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife."Daily Sun reported that a photo of the Reverend passionately kissing another church leader's wife went viral on Facebook!The photo of the kiss has so angered members of the church that they have now called for their national president to be disciplined.But the reverend would have none of it, telling the church members to mind their own business.He insisted the picture of him kissing the wife of another Reverend, which was posted on Facebook, was his personal life.A church member said the issue came to a head on Saturday during the church's circuit meeting in Soweto, Gauteng.The meeting was attended by the national executive committee."After the meeting he addressed us. He said someone put the talked-about picture in his toilet last December, and that it had been seen by the general secretary of the church. He said his house was being troubled and asked that we pray for him," the church member said, adding that delegates were too shocked to react.Daily Sun claimed to be in possession of a letter written by the angry Reverend in which he wrote that he started suspecting something was going on between his wife and the Reverend in January last year."There was a wedding celebration of a family member from my wife's side. The Reverend was driving my wife's car and they were enjoying themselves. I detected that something was going on between the two. A few days later someone from my wife's family called and told me about the photo showing the Reverend and my wife kissing. This situation has caused tension in my wife's family because she and the Reverend's wife are related they are cousins. This photo saga is the talk of the town in our community. Even at the Reverend's church, people are talking about it."Asked about the incident, the Reverend said: "The person who said I kissed his wife must go to court and lay charges against me."I have no further comment."The angry Reverend told the People's Paper that he and his wife separated before the picture was taken. Excitement is brewing up at Cash Flow Depot as the company prepares for its 2016 real estate investor training retreat in Panama. The 2016 Cash Flow Depot convention will take place at the beautiful Bijao Resort in Santa Clara, Panama from April 8 to 10. Participants will be treated to an inclusive, luxurious hotel on the Pacific Ocean and quality real estate investor training. Cash Flow Depots general manager and veteran real estate entrepreneur, Jackie Lange, says that the convention will focus on 2016 real estate trends and investment strategies that have the least amount of risk. There are many ways that we can be able to accomplish these goals, so all of these strategies will be discussed in detail during the retreat. Cash Flow Depot has invited speakers who have a successful track record in real estate investing. The convention will focus on wholesale flips, virtual real estate investing, options, master leasing, a buyer with seller financing, and getting paid for dead leads among others. The retreat will also discuss the different ways to catch highest bidder sale opportunities and profit from these deals. Why is the 2016 Cash Flow Depot retreat to be held in Panama? According to Jackie, the company is having the event in Panama due to popular demand. We had our convention a couple of years back in Panama and the members loved it so much that they begged me to have it in Panama this year. We will have classes in the mornings from 9 to 11 am. This frees up the afternoons for lots of fun activities. Cash Flow Depot has prepared special activities for participants to experience after their morning real estate classes. Guests and their families can go hiking in a rain forest, go fishing, take zip line rides, see pre-Columbian treasures, or simply relax on the beach. A blend of fun and learning awaits every participant who joins the 2016 Cash Flow Depot retreat. Brian Mann of New Jersey, USA, talks about his experience during a past Cash Flow Depot convention. Jackie is on the cutting edge of the next trends in real estate. I have 40 years as a full-time real estate investor with the best of creative real estate education and this event was TOP DRAWER! Just one technique I learned will increase the profit on a deal this month alone by at least $75,000! The cost of the retreat is $595 for one person or $1,000 for 2 people. Those who sign up before March 1, 2016, will get a discount of 10%. The 2016 Cash Flow Depot retreat gives participants the chance to meet and network with other real estate entrepreneurs. It also provides the opportunity to learn from the pros in real estate investing while enjoying the luxuries of staying in an inclusive resort in Panama. Interested parties may visit the Cash Flow Depot website or email info@cashflowdepot.com for details. About CashFlowDepot.com CashFlowDepot.com is a real estate investor training website offering a vast library of real estate courses, online seminars, books, manuals, and many more. With the tagline, Where you dont have to spend a fortune to learn how to make one, CashFlowDepot.com offers affordable training courses packed with quality, reliable information. The main focus of the company is teaching about risk-free investments even with no cash, credit or experience. This, along with a qualified team of instructors and successful graduates, is what sets CashFlowDepot.com apart from other real estate investor training companies worldwide. For more information: http://www.cashflowdepot.com/store/events/convention.aspx The refrigerator is something we take for granted today, but it really revolutionized party food. After coming into the use in the 1920s, and because of it, the refrigerator gave birth to a variety of chilled foods, and may even have contributed to the rise of cocktail parties, said Elizabeth Riddle DeVault and Mary Compson. They are planning the SPCAs Fur Ball, which will be held Saturday at Chatmoss Country Club. The event, titled "The Great Catsby", will feature a Roaring 20s theme. Another popular party food that was invented in the 1920s was the potato chip, they said and there will be plenty of bowls of those out for the Fur Ball. Other popular 20s finger foods that will be offered at the Fur Ball included deviled eggs, chicken salad, shrimp and cocktail sauce and oysters with Remoulade sauce. The increased ease of transportation also brought new foods to 1920s homes, they said. Refrigerated trucks could bring seafood inland, where it had not been easily available before. "Shrimp cocktail was a big deal" then, DeVault said. Because of these advances, "the 1920s was the age of the cocktail party," DeVault said. Made of gin and club soda with a lime half and served in a highball glass, the Gin Rickey was a popular drink of the day that will be served at the ball. DeVault was a natural choice to coordinate the ball and its menu. She has a culinary degree from Johnson and Wales University, and has worked in restaurants and catering. "I enjoy the art of it, the hands-on (combined with) the creativity" of cooking, she said. Researching and creating a menu from the 1920s has been loads of fun, she added. She has worked at several different restaurants dating from the time she was in school. During an internship at Kiawah Island resort in South Carolina, she prepared everything from a fancy dinner for two to a luau for 500. After college, she was an assistant manager at a restaurant in Greensboro, N.C., and then was the interim manager for Chatmoss Country Club. In Martinsville, she ran the catering company Ratatouille for a few years before her 4-year-old son Gates was born. Gates "loves to be in the kitchen with me," she said, and added laughing, "His interpretation of cooking is somewhat different." Her husband is Andy DeVault, a sales representative for a medical device company. The family lives off of Mulberry Road. They have an 18-year-old cat, Patch, and two SPCA dogs, Gus, an 11-year-old Schnauzer, and Remi, a boxer the family adopted three weeks ago. DeVault is the executive vice president of the SPCA board of directors. The charitys main fundraiser for several years was Struts for Muts, but four years ago, DeVault suggested trying something different, something "gala-like." She wasnt offering to be put in charge of it, but thats what happened, she laughed. Running from 6:30-11:59 p.m., the event will include dinner, cocktails and hors doeurves. The band, Spare Change, has played at each years Fur Ball. "They play everything, from the Black-Eyed Peas to George Straight," she said. "Theyre really fun, very into the crowd." The Fur Ball will have both silent and live auctions. DeVault will make and serve one of the auction items: a catered dinner for 12 people. Last year, that brought in between $800 and $900 for the SPCA, she said. Other auction items will include a diamond and gold cuff bracelet, a week in Myrtle Beach, an original painting, two cottages for a weekend at Peace & Plenty Farm and furniture. The ball will have a raffle for a 1.74 carat weight diamond pendant and necklace, a weekend at Wintergreen, a trip to Cancun and a basket of goods and services. DeVault said she is looking forward to dressing for the event in a gown and robe set she is renting from a costume shop. However its easy to put together an outfit, she said. Women should wear anything sparkly or black, with a straight, not hourglass, shape. Accessories can include long gloves, a headband with a feather and long strings of pearls. Men can wear silk jackets, short ties, suspenders and fedoras. In Defence of Marxism is committed to safeguarding your privacy. At all times we aim to respect any personal data you share with us, or that we receive from other organisations, and keep it safe. This Privacy Policy (Policy) sets out our data collection and processing practices and your options regarding the ways in which your personal information is used. 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Please let us know if you have any queries or concerns whatsoever about the way in which your data is being processed by emailing the Data Protection Manager at webmaster@marxist.com News / Africa by Staff Reporter Police in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni have reportedly arrested a couple they found indulging in sex in a car.Daily Sun reported that this is according to the police in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni who are strongly urging people not to have sex in public spaces.On Sunday night, the cops arrested two couples after they found them bonking in a car at the park in Spruitview.The couples were charged with public indecency. Captain Mega Ndobe said: "The arrested couples will appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court soon."This happened a day after a man was hacked to death on Saturday night. He was busy poking when he was attacked in Eden Park, behind the stadium. The man (52) couldn't stand the brutal attack and was forced to flee undressed, leaving his car and his nyatsi behind before he collapsed and died.His girlfriend was raped. Ndobe said they are investigating cases of murder and rape. Even before they started, the so-called peace talks about the future of Syria have collapsed. UN special envoy to Syria, Steffan de Mistura, has called for a pause in the talks and a resumption on 25 February. Meanwhile the Syrian Arab Army and its allies have dealt a crushing blow to western-supported Jihadists in northern Aleppo. As the balance of forces shifts in the war, none of the parties on the ground have any reason to take serious steps in the talks. While the US and European Union would like to see a speedy resolution to the conflict which is having a destabilising effect on both, the warring parties on the ground have no interests in leaving the battlefield as it is. Russia, Assad and their allies are making steady progress and the so-called moderate rebels, supported by Turkey and Saudi Arabia, are losing ground. These traditional allies of the US now want the superpower to step in and save the forces they have been backing, but for the US these allies are becoming more of a liability than the supposed enemy. US imperialism is in its deepest crisis ever and has completely lost control of the situation in the Middle East. Having missed the opportunity to overthrow Assad its only hope of evading a new Iraq or Afghanistan is to save the regime in the medium term and to fight the reactionary trends it itself has unleashed. Vladimir Putin and Ayatollah Khamenei have suddenly become the go to guys in Syria, and the Americans must dance to their music. Meanwhile resentment has been building up in the US camp as Erdogan and King Salman sink deeper into their existential struggle. Regime advancing The entrance of Russia into the war completely changed the balance of forces on the ground. The Assad regime, which only a few months ago seemed to be on the verge of collapse, has been reinvigorated by Russian support. Yesterday the army, supported by Iranian controlled militias, reached the Shia enclaves of Nubl and Zahraa, which had been isolated and partially besieged for three years. The regime had been attempting to achieve this for the last three years, but without any success. With Russian air support, it has now been achieved in just two days. This was a major PR victory and a boost for the morale of the regimes supporters who had been demoralised by the lack of effective government support for the numerous besieged enclaves of anti-islamist communities. The biggest gain, however, has been the cutting off of the Azaz corridor, which was the most important and second to last remaining logistical route linking the Jihadis to their masters in Turkey. Today the advancing forces have continued north in tandem with Kurdish-controlled Syrian Democratic Forces, who have been moving east from the neighbouring canton of Afrin. There are reports that the SDF had already reached the outskirts of Azaz. With the simultaneous onslaught of ISIS forces from the East, it seems the defence lines of the Islamist rebels in the corridor could collapse. Further south, yesterdays advance also opens up the possibility of besieging and taking those parts of the city of Aleppo where the rebels have been holding onto large areas for three years. A defeat for the rebels here would be significant if not decisive for the outcome of the war. This significant victory comes as the latest of a series of advances by regime forces. Besides Northern Aleppo, loyalist groups have been advancing against the Islamists on the fronts in in western Aleppo countryside where they have managed to cut the main supply lines into Aleppo city as well as in the southern Aleppo countryside where they have gradually been gaining for three months. In Latakia the regime has managed, over the past few weeks, to take the towns of Rabia and the strategically important town of Salma, leaving Kinsabba as the only major town left to be taken in the whole governorate. If Kinsabba falls, the road will be cleared to the two key towns of the Idlib governorate of Jisr al-Shughur and further on to Idlib city itself. By launching offensives on rapidly switching fronts in Idlib, Aleppo and Latakia, the rebels logistic and communications lines have been stretched to the extreme having to move reinforcements around constantly. Meanwhile the southern rebels, who are supported by Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the CIA have also seen a string of setbacks. After a series of highly publicised but abysmally failed offensives last year, they are showing significant signs of weakness in the face of slowly advancing regime forces. Beside several defeats in Daraa city they lost the strategically important city of Sheikh Miskeen about a week ago. The fall of Sheikh Miskeen, frees up forces to begin an offensive towards the town of Nawa. A step in that direction was the fall of Atman today. A defeat in Nawa would cut across rebel logistics and communications throughout the region and clear the path for taking the rest of Daraa city as well as the border crossing with Jordan. It is also becoming clear that the southern rebels have lost the support of the Jordanian regime. Besides the lack of trust in the competency of the rebels, Jordan is in serious danger of destabilising under the weight of the 600,000 Syrian refugees. This could even lead to a deal with Assad to send some of the refugees back in return for an end of support for proxy groups. The Syrian regime has also made some gains against ISIS, in particular in the Eastern Aleppo countryside. Although in the city of Deir Ezzor, it has been somewhat on the backfoot against the organisation for the past month. The Russian intervention has in general managed to turn the situation around. The regime has strengthened its supply routes and consolidated its hold on strategic areas. This in turn has allowed it to gradually advance on the various fronts. Meanwhile all attempts at counter-attacks by western-backed Islamist groups have been repelled with relative ease. Only one year ago the situation was completely different. After the sectarian decay of the initial revolutionary movement, Syrian public opinion swung behind the Assad regime which was seen by many Syrians as preferable to the barbaric alternative offered by the Islamists. In 2014 in the elections we saw an increased mass participation, notwithstanding their rigged nature. In spite of the support for the anti-islamist campaign, however, the army was not gaining significant ground. The situation accelerated around one year ago when the army was routed from the whole governorate of Idlib, leaving behind a huge amount of arms, artillery and armoured vehicles. Shortly afterwards it lost the small town of Palmyra to advancing ISIS forces. The humiliating defeats, clearly the result of incompetency of the officer corps, accelerated the collapse of morale in the army and amongst regime supporters. In spite of having full domination of the skies, one of the world's largest tank fleets and a technically far superior army, the regime had not been able to push back the lightly armed Islamists. Years of corruption, nepotism and the arrogance of a dictatorship has corroded the Syrian armed forces , particularly at the top. The incompetence of the officer staff, whose appointments were based more on kinship and connections than any kind of merit, meant that easy victories were lost and basic retreats turned into routs. On top of meagre wages and bad treatment, defections became endemic and draft dodging accelerated. The desperate attempts at hunting draft dodgers and punishing them only made matters worse. Iranian and Hezbollah officers embedded in the army didn't help either as these come from mainly defensive armies with little combat experience in a setting such as the one in Syria. The Russian intervention, placing Russian tacticians at key positions in the chain of command, has transformed the army. Headless offensives with high levels of casualties have been replaced by patient and intelligent advances, and aimless barrel bombing of urban neighbourhoods has been replaced by close support on the ground and targeted bombings of key logistic routes and hubs. Morale has undoubtedly also been raised as a consequence Albeit much more slowly than the Russians had probably expected, the regime has gradually regained most major strategical positions and is now beginning to seriously squeeze the rebels. Finally, Russian high-tech military equipment has also barred any other power from intervening on a major scale without Russian permission. By moving a series of new jamming and radar systems as well as aerial defence systems - including the s-400 which is the most advanced system in the world - as well as a growing number of s-35 jets - which are unrivalled multipurpose jets - the Russians have de facto secured air supremacy over Syria something even the US military cant change. Thus, any talk of US ground intervention and the creation of no-fly zones have had to be shelved. Of course, this is still the same old Syrian army. Without a huge amount of airstrikes and the support of thousands of Iranian backed militiamen it would have a very hard time advancing against the rebels. In the north Aleppo offensive yesterday there were 200 airstrikes to secure the offensive in a very small area. Nevertheless, Russia has managed to fundamentally change the balance of forces. From the perspective of Russia, Assad and the Iranians there is no need to negotiate at this stage as they still have lots of momentum in order to squeeze the rebels. Any major ceasefire at this stage would only give more breathing space to the rebels and allow them to fortify new defensive positions and prepare a counteroffensive. The moderates and the crisis of US imperialism Meanwhile, the Russian intervention has dealt a severe blow for the the always elusive moderate rebels and their main backers in the west, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. On every single front they are now under pressure and have not been able to gain any ground since October. At the same time a series of assassinations of their leaders have left them in disarray and infighting. The cutting off of the Azaz corridor also closes an important trade route the rebels had set up with ISIS, supplying them with much needed cheap fuel for power generators which they are heavily reliant on. The price of food and fuel is now likely to spike throughout Idlib and Aleppo, leaving the rebels in a tight position. There are almost 1500 militias within the non-ISIS opposition. However, in the past 2 years the two largest (Al Qaeda linked) groups, Jabhat al Nusra and Ahrar al Sham have been elbowing out the largest of these to become the central groups in a series of unified fronts supported by the CIA, Turkish intelligence agencies and Saudi Arabia. The most successful of these projects was the Army of Conquest in northwestern Syria. This formation which was coordinated and organised by Turkish intelligence and funded by Saudi Arabia launched a hugely successful offensive in Idlib last spring . This has, however, revealed the utter failure of US strategy in Syria. None of the groups supported by the US have any interest in seriously fighting ISIS with whom many of them are sympathetic. The main goal of the increasingly radicalised islamists is to overthrow the Assad regime. This is a perspective the US is increasingly at odds with because the removal of Assad, who is the key person holding the state apparatus together, would mean the collapse of the whole state and the overrunning of Syria by Islamic fanatics. Every attempt of the US to create its own proxies to fight against ISIS has been combatted by the moderate allies as well as Turkey and Saudi Arabia. With the entrance of Russia onto the battlefield, the process of disintegration of the imperialist forces behind the insurgency accelerated. On the one hand, Russia has effectively ruled out any chance of direct US attacks on Assad as well as the setting up of a no-fly zone to give Islamist rebels a safe haven in northern Syria. On the other hand, it has forced the US to step up its campaign against ISIS - a campaign which had been running at very low intensity since its inception - in order to secure the best possible negotiating position in relation to Russia and Assad who were advancing. In effect Russia has provided the US with a chance of getting out of Syria - albeit on Russias terms. All of this, however, has only added to the crisis of US Middle East policy, as we have previously explained, itself a consequence of the overall crisis of US capitalism. While it has had to accept its weakness on the ground and lean increasingly on Iran to stabilise the region, its traditional allies - Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Israel, all faced with their own internal deep crises - have increasingly become the sources of this instability. In Syria this has been most pronounced in the reluctance of the US to wholeheartedly back the Islamist rebels whom they fear they cannot control. Instead, it has been trying to drag the Gulf States and Turkey into the campaign against ISIS, something they refuse to do as it would only lead to a stronger Iran and also bolster the Assad regime. In fact for the past six months these regimes have hardly participated in the coalition bombings of ISIS. For Turkey and Saudi Arabia in particular the outcome of the Syrian civil war will have a deep impact on the future of their regimes. Erdogan, who is staggering from one crisis to another, has made a major bet on establishing Turkish domination over Syria. However, not only is he up against mounting public opinion against the campaign, but significant sections of the army officer caste, who are already frustrated by his recklessness, have been opposing his expansionist ambitions. An out and out defeat in Syria could escalate the disintegration of his regime. In Saudi Arabia also, the regime is in deep crisis. Under pressure from the rising power of Iran, the regime is also facing a deep internal crisis. The crisis of capitalism, and the slowdown in China bringing the oil prices to record lows, is putting a heavy strain on the regime and its network of patronage which keeps it in place. This is widening the already deep divisions within the ruling elite. At the same time, the regime is being stretched between mounting opposition from the youth, the poor and the oppressed Shia minority on the one side and the Wahhabi zealots on the other. The new king Salman and his son Mohammed bin Salman - who seems to be the de facto ruler at the moment - are desperately lashing out in Syria and Yemen in order to try to stop this downward spiral. They thought they could bog down Russia like they did with the USSR in Afghanistan, but now they are the ones who are getting bogged down, and with little room for manoeuvre. Any admittance of defeat, which seems inevitable, could accelerate the crisis. However, holding on is just making things worse. The war in Syria, like in Yemen, could be the beginning of the end for the kingdom and the House of Saud. Thus, while the US cannot afford to back its allies in Syria, they in turn cannot afford to give up on their investments in the Jihadist camp. The downing of the Russian jet by Turkey was a desperate attempt to force the hand of the US and stop its detente with Russia and Iran. The result, however, was only to bring the divisions out into public display and accelerate the process. Thus, US backing of moderate rebels has been scaled down to the detriment of the troubled US allies. The fact that rebels disrupted the talks at the UN is a reflection of these deep divisions. Having been cornered internally as well as on the battlefield, they have few bargaining chips left for negotiation. This could lead to a desperate escalation of the situation at a certain stage. The Syrian Democratic Forces In the meantime the strongest army in Syria was not even invited to the talks. The Syrian Democratic Forces, comprising up to 80,000 fighters, has been set up by the YPG, a Kurdish leftist militia and a sister organisation of the PKK. It is an irony of history and a testament to the crisis of US imperialism that its main de facto allies in the region are a leftist Kurdish militia whose sister organisation is on the US terror list, Hizbollah and the Iranian mullah regime. In the early days of the revolutionary movement the regime had to withdraw from the Kurdish areas, thus leaving a power vacuum which was filled by the PYD - the political wing of the movement - and YPG which were the traditional organisations of the Kurds in Syria. Since then the YPG has grown to be one of the most powerful forces in the country. This is mainly due to it being a popular militia based on a democratic and non-sectarian programme. With up to 80,000 troops it is only surpassed by the Assad army which is inferior to it in training, morale and motivation. With the setting up of the Democratic Syrian Congress it has de facto become a Kurdish statelet. The PYD/YPG is undoubtedly the most progressive movement in the Middle East at the present time. However, it is being used by the US for wholly reactionary reasons. Seeing its options whittled away in Syria, US imperialism has found a useful model in the Kurdish autonomous government, allowing it to break up Syria into small statelets run by different militias and warlords which they can play off against each other to maintain control. This would be a situation like the one in Lebanon after the civil war. For the imperialists the slogan of self-determination for small nations is always a reactionary deception and a trap. For the present, they are obliged to make use of the Kurds to fight on their behalf. However, at a certain stage the imperialists will inevitably attempt to use this divide and rule tactic against the Kurds themselves. At the moment, however, the Kurds are the only forces willing to fight ISIS and therefore the imperialists are leaning on them. Since the summer the result of this has been enormous gains in the Hassakah governorate where the Kurds have pushed ISIS out of all major towns and cut off their main supply lines into northern Iraq where Mosul lies. Furthermore they have moved south from the Kobani canton and taken the Tishrin dam some 30 miles from the city of Raqqa. This was the first step in the preparations to take the area between the Euphrates river and the Kurdish Afrin canton in the west. Today a conference in Afrin prepared for the setting up of a new canton in the Shaba area between the Euphrates and Afrin. This would mean a Kurdish statelet covering the vast majority of the Turkish border with Syria. This idea would probably appeal to Assad and Russia as it would give them a buffer on the border with Turkey and thus hinder it from intervening in Syria. For Turkey this is seen as a major threat, in particular in the effect it could have on Kurdish regions in Turkey itself. Here the rising class struggle has been closely connected to the Kurdish movement which in turn has also been greatly strengthened by the advances of the Kurds in Syria. Thus for Erdogans increasingly Bonapartist government the Kurds pose a major threat. The shift in US policy towards the Kurds has deepened the divisions between Washington and Ankara. This has led to the ironic situation of a low-intensity war brewing between the US-supported SDF and the Saudi and Turkish supported Islamist proxies. With the cutting off of the Azaz corridor, these tensions seem to be moving towards a full blown war between the proxies of these two NATO allies. Already there are reports of Kurdish forces moving west from Afrin under Russian air support and possibly even taking Azaz already today. This is preparing a complete collapse of rebel forces who are being squeezed from three sides. This would be a major blow to Turkeys president Erdogan who is seeing all his intrigues in Syria fall apart. This could lead to Turkey and Saudi Arabia escalating the situation and entering Syria - a move, however, which would most probably lead to another defeat and an unravelling of the pent up tensions inside these two countries. Final stage The Syrian civil war is moving into its final stages. The opposing camps are consolidating and the contradictions on every side are being brought to the fore. The Assad regime could not have survived without the support of Russia and Iran, but their common front is now advancing as the rebels are increasingly isolated. Whether Assad will stay in power or not is not the key question. Putin is not particularly attached to Assad the individual. he needs him for now to hold together the Syrian state apparatus. Putin is more interested in reestablishing Russias sphere of influence in Syria and its position on an international scale. At this stage, he realises that getting rid of Assad would lead to chaos in Syria. Thus, with no other alternative, Assad will remain in place - at least for now. Meanwhile, the so-called moderates do not have anything to bargain with and thus there is no need for them to participate in any talks until they attain a better position. Finally, there are the Kurds who have the second strongest force on the ground, but who have not even been invited to the talks. Without counting them in, there can not be any peace negotiations at this stage. As opposed what is often taken for granted, bourgeois diplomacy, in the final analysis, is the concrete expression of the balance of forces on the ground. While at times it can play an independent role, it is always limited by the boundaries set by the economic and military situation. Here it is the continuation of war by other means. However, as the war has not yet played itself out fully, there can be no meaningful talks. Thus the war will drag on a while yet before some kind of peace deal is reached. This, however, will be a far different kind of equilibrium that Syria knew before the war. The Jihadist insurgency, even if it loses all its territory, will continue for years as regional powers will continue to use them to intervene inside Syria. The newly empowered warlords and tribal leaders, in particular in northern and central Syria, will play a similar role, while the Assad regime will crack internally. Years of instability, as experienced by Lebanon, will haunt the Syrian people. The mass movement has been pushed very far back by these events. A whole generation is shell-shocked and there is no perspective of a new movement in the short term. The only salvation for Syria would be another revolutionary wave developing across the whole region. Instability What started out as a democratic revolutionary movement was hijacked by imperialist forces and their Islamist lackeys. The Syrian revolutionaries thought that they could merely repeat the Egyptian and Tunisian experiences, come out to the squares and wait for the regime to fall. When that failed they looked to the experience of the fall of Gaddafi in Libya and thus called for imperialist intervention to overthrow Assad. Moving in this direction, however, only cut them off from the urban working class. There were still had some gains from the past remaining in terms of in living standards. And with what they had seen in Iraq and the rest of the region, they were not attracted by vague appeals for democracy and foreign intervention. They saw that the only ones who would benefit from the fall of Assad in the given conditions were the most barbaric Islamic fundamentalist outfits. For them the liberal programme of the so-called Syrian National Council and other groups - i.e. widespread privatisation and destruction of what still remained of the social gains of the past - merely represented an acceleration of the reactionary drift of the Assad regime. Having stalled on the political front, the movement turned in the direction of the armed struggle, but in a revolution if this is not linked to the organised working class it can turn out to be fatal. In a solely military confrontation, without the full backing of the urban working class, the revolution will always be the weaker party. Having gone down this road, the movement became vulnerable and drifted into the control of foreign imperialist powers who could fund and organise the uprising. The CIA alone pumped $1 billion a year into the war and the Gulf States and Turkey followed through with much more . The reactionary drift, in turn, strengthened Assad, as many swung behind him to fight against ISIS, Jabhat al Nusra and the other monstrous creations of western imperialism and its allies. For them the intervention had a two-fold purpose: to cut through the Arab revolution at its weakest link and to dominate Syria in order to push back rising Iranian influence. While the local regional powers thought they could finish the job quickly, they set off uncontrollable forces which only led to the exposure of their own internal weaknesses. For Turkey and Saudi Arabia the war is having profound internal consequences. The European Union who, led by France and the UK who have been pushing for increased intervention, has had to stick its tails between its legs as the disastrous refugee crisis threatens to undermine the foundations of the EU itself. One by one the European states are now falling in line and accepting that Assad must stay in power. For US imperialism, the war has had disastrous consequences. The superpower has been left with very little room for manoeuvre. Stuck between its own crisis and those of its allies its limits have been publicly exposed. In Syria the Americans are forced to accept the status quo as they do not want to create another Iraq, Afghanistan or Libya. Thus they are forced to retreat. In order to save themselves, they are increasingly having to confront their allies to haul them back. But nations have no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests. All the calls for US intervention will not change the fundamental fact that it is not in the interest of the US ruling class to do so. The US wants to end the Syrian disaster as soon as possible. But the Russians are in no rush as they are slowly advancing every day. The US has been completely outmanoeuvred by the sanctions-ridden and primitive Iranian army, not to speak of the so-called rust bucket army of Russia, which the arrogant US generals did not take into consideration as a serious force. Instead, it is forced to rely on Russias mercy in Syria and Putin will exploit this to get the most out of the situation. On a world scale the evident decline of US imperialism will open a period of instability as more and more regimes, allies or not, attempt to play a more independent role. Impressed by Russian firepower in Syria the west is scrambling to shore it up in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. China is also on the sidelines, waiting to enter at a certain stage. All of this will undoubtedly lead to greater tensions and conflicts between nations, but also revolutions and counter-revolutions just as the decline of British imperialism served to embolden revolutionary mass-movements throughout the world. The crisis of capitalism asserts itself at all levels, economic, social and political, but also on the military and diplomatic levels which in turn feed back into the general situation. The Syrian civil war embodies this crisis at all levels. The contradictions of world capitalism are all concentrated within Syrias borders. The Syrian situation poses very sharply the choice before humanity: Socialism or Barbarism. However, although reaction is in the saddle in Syria at this moment in time, revolutionary undercurrents are being prepared throughout the whole region and beyond. The answer to the mess created in the Middle East by imperialist interventions lies in the hands of the workers of the region, in particular the powerful Egyptian, Turkish and Iranian working classes. A powerful movement by these workers would change the whole set up, and we had a taste of what could be back in 2011 in the movement that overthrew Mubarak, the 2009 movement in Iran and the huge protests in Turkey around the Gezi Park event. Such movements will inevitably be repeated in the future. The key is to build the forces to lead these to their logical conclusion, the overthrow of this sick system and all the barbarism it entails. 4 February 2016 News / Africa by Staff Reporter A NEWBORN baby has died after being stuck in a pit toilet for three hours.The incident happened on Tuesday after a woman who was nine months pregnant went to the toilet to relieve herself and ended up giving birth.Mikateko Rihlapfu (23) from Maphophe Village, in Limpopo, told Daily Sun about her ordeal."At about 11pm, I felt the urge to go to the loo. When I started relieving myself, the baby came out and fell into the toilet. I didn't feel any labour pains," Mikateko said.She said that when she realised that she had just given birth, she went back to the house to wake her mother up."When my mother and I rushed back to the toilet, we could hear the baby crying helplessly. I was hysterical and couldn't believe that my baby had fallen inside the toilet," she said.The baby's corpse was taken out of the toilet the next morning after the cops and a risk management team had tried to rescue it.Warrant Officer Sam Matsimbi said: "We received a call from the mother of the victim informing us that a baby had accidentally been delivered in a toilet. Unfortunately, the baby died while we were trying to break the toilet slab. Investigations are underway to determine the cause of death." News / Education by Nqobile Tshili THE government has said in the next five years no school should be operating from pole and mud structures as this compromises the quality of education.The Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Professor Paul Mavhima said this on Tuesday during the commissioning of four classroom blocks at Tshayile Primary School in Bubi District.The classroom blocks were commissioned by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko who was represented by the Minister of State in his office, Tabitha Malinga-Kanengoni. The government in partnership with the Japanese Embassy constructed the four classroom blocks at a cost of $102,000.Tshayile Primary School did not have any meaningful infrastructure with pupils learning from classrooms made from pole and mud.It also did not have furniture.Prof Mavhima said the government embarked on Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) after realising that schools with no requisite infrastructure cannot produce quality education.He said through PPPs, the government was hoping to address infrastructural problems in schools."We want joint ventures like this to continue so that we can improve the quality of our education."In the next five years we don't want our children in schools to learn in similar conditions where kids are housed in pole and mud buildings. We can't achieve quality education under such circumstances," he said.Prof Mavhima said through PPPs, the government was looking for partners who will not dictate terms but share its educational vision.He hailed the Japanese for being the country's true friends through unconditional partnership."That's who we're looking for. We want friends who'll understand that we need partners especially in areas where the local community can't construct schools on their own," said Prof Mavhima.Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Yoshi Hiraishi, said communities should be responsible enough to ensure that school infrastructure serves future generations."I would like to underline one aspect of our assistance. If I say it using one word, that word will be sustainability."The most important thing is constant maintenance of these facilities. It is the responsibility of the school and the community to take good care of them (classrooms) for years to come," said Hiraishi.Bubi MP, Clifford Sibanda, who is also the Minister of State in the Office of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, said the partnership was in fulfilment of the government's thrust of enhancing quality education.He said Tshayile Primary School was one success story but more needs to be done to improve education in the constituency."It's a great opportunity and we're grateful to our partners for what has happened to this community.We've 53 more satellite schools that need to be improved. And we'll be subtracting them one by one," he said. News / Local by Stephen Jakes The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has been accused of failing to restore electricity at the Prospects Flats in Waterfalls Harare for the past one week.Harare Residents Trust indicated that the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC) has failed to restore electricity supplies to residents of Prospect Flats in Waterfalls, one week after the area was plunged into darkness by an electricity fault."Zesa officials contacted have been shifting responsibility from one department to the other, and claiming to be doing something, yet residents have not witnessed any ZETDC workers in the area," said the trust. "Surprising, on Monday 1 February 2016, residents at the block of flats were advised through some residents that some ZESA officials had asked each resident to make financial contributions in order to replace the oil which was allegedly stolen from the ZESA substation."The trust said only ZESA employees understand how this works, and it is suspected that some ZESA employees actually disconnected the area to facilitate the theft of the electricity oil at the substation."How else would residents explain the fact that there is electricity supply on the other side of Jan Smuts Road which is on the same grid as the block of the flats. the HRT spoke to ZESA officials since the alleged fault and they are all claiming ignorance of when the situation will be resolved, yet their officials are busy on the ground soliciting for bribe money in order to do their work. There are surely thieves benefiting from the electricity faults. The HRT continues to investigate how ZESA is conducting its business," said the trust. News / Local by Stephen Jakes Harare City council is reportedly continuing to clear residents crops in areas where it wants to erect roads amid outcry by residents.Harare Residents Trust reported that Harare City council is in action as it is continuing to clear the land which they have identified for development of residential stands."It has raised the concerns of the HRT that St Martins is along the Airport road where the council identified for stands and it is near the once demolished Alington Estate. Is it fair for Alighton residents?" said the trust. " In addition the residents are cultivating on that same open spaces and are about to harvest yet the council is the process of clearing those few crops which residents have. Zimbabwe has recieved very little rains that only a small margin of residents are fortunate enough to have such crops. The question now is why not the council stop until the residents harvest then they continue wth this development. From the light of this argument its clear that the council is becoming enemy of the residents and it does not have the residents at heart." Under new rules proposed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), companies with 100 employees or more would be required to report payroll data on all workers to the federal government along with the demographic data that they now must submit. The proposed rule also would apply to federal contractors with 100 employees or more. Currently, federal contractors with 50 or more employees have been required to produce compensation data to the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs ("OFCCP") during audits by that agency. The proposed rule would apply the payroll data requirement to contractors with 100 or more employees, even when those contractors are not being audited. The agencies goal is to identify and address instances in which men and women and persons of different races and ethnicities earn different wages for the same work. The proposal would be implemented through a revised Employer Information Report ("EEO-1") Form, which now requires employers to disclose to the EEOC data regarding employees gender, race, and ethnicity by job category. Full Story: https://clients.dorsey.com/rs/vm.ashx?ct=24F76F1DD5E243A9CCDD88A5DB2A961BDFF055B2DF8E0BD15EE5636069FFCB1CDB7A3A9C5 "Seventy-eight thousand Idahoans live in the gap and there is no dignity here," said Michelle Gluch, owner of Kid Co. and a masters degree student at Boise State University. "My story is not unique. Most of my friends fall into this gap. We are waitresses, construction workers and adjunct professors." The most rousing testimony came from physician Kenneth Krell, director of critical care at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, who said that legislative inaction was responsible for the deaths of 1,000 Idahoans. That led the chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, to threaten the removal of the next person to "charge the Senate unfavorably." "I see those patients on a near-daily basis," Krell said of uninsured Idahoans who cant afford preventative care. "Dying often, because the disease processes are now at an end state and have resulted in organ failure." Read more: http://idahobusinessreview.com/2016/02/03/idaho-doctor-legislative-inaction-has-killed-1000-idahoans/#ixzz3zIW9wjVK By: Benton Alexander Smith Read more: http://idahobusinessreview.com/2016/02/03/idaho-doctor-legislative-inaction-has-killed-1000-idahoans/#ixzz3zIVmIMQx Les membres du gouvernement ont pris note des retombes de la visite de la delegation mauricienne au Chagos dans le cadre dun releve scientifique a Blenheim Reef, de la mise en place dun curruculum dedie pour les enfants nes du 01 Janvier 2015 au 31 Mai 2015, de la permission dimporter du des Syechelles pour la consommation locale, du chnagement de la circulation dans les region de Saint Jean Road/ Sodnac et Belle Rose avec la mise en service prochain du metro entre Quatre Bornes et Phoenix entre autres 1. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the visit undertaken by the Mauritius delegation led by Ambassador J. D. Koonjul, GCSK, the Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the UN in New York, to the Chagos Archipelago from 08 to 22 February 2022. On 11 February 2022, the vessel entered the Mauritius Exclusive Economic Zone. The first stop of the delegation in the Chagos Archipelago was Peros Banhos, more specifically Ile du Coin. The Chagossians who were part of the Mauritius delegation set foot on Ile du Coin with great joy and emotion. They cleaned the church on that island which was now in ruins as well as the cemetery where their ancestors were buried. On 12 February 2022, the Mauritius delegation started the survey of Blenheim Reef which lasted for three days. The visit to the Chagos Archipelago has been highly successful as it has: (a) allowed Mauritius to collect crucial data for the maritime delimitation case which it has brought against Maldives under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; (b) allowed Mauritius to assert its sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, particularly after the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice of 25 February 2019 which made it clear that the Chagos Archipelago is and has always been an integral part of the territory of Mauritius; (c) enabled representatives of the Chagossian community to return to their place of birth without any foreign escort or restrictions; and (d) received a significant coverage in the international media. 2. Cabinet has taken note of measures adopted to further streamline the procedures regarding applications made for Occupation Permits and Young Professional Occupation Permits in line with the business facilitation strategy as follows: (a) henceforth, Occupation Permits, which were so far, only granted to applicants arriving in Mauritius on Business visa, would also be extended to foreigners on tourist visa; (b) a Young Professional Occupation Permit holder would be allowed to switch to the Occupation Permit category with another company, only after termination of his current contract of employment and not during his running contract; (c) a Young Professional Occupation Permit would be allowed to switch to the Occupation Permit category within the same company during the validity of his contract of employment; and (d) applications for Occupation Permit from students would only be considered after completion of their studies. However, employment should be related to their field of studies. 3. Cabinet has agreed, inter alia, to the following proposals subsequent to the recent decisions taken to extend the school calendar 2021-2022 to November 2022 and to re-schedule the local and international assessments: (a) the implementation of a dedicated curriculum for Grade 1 pupils born between 01 January 2015 and 31 May 2015 that would allow them to move to Grade 2; (b) allowing pupils having completed Grade 5 to sit for the PSAC Assessment, upon request from Responsible Parties, at the end of the year; and (c) students of Grades 10 and 12 to be allowed to sit for the Cambridge School Certificate/GCE O Level and Cambridge Higher School Certificate/GCE A Level respectively, upon request from Responsible Parties. 4. Cabinet has agreed to the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Toxic Fish) Regulations being amended to provide for the importation of Bourgeois fish (Lutjanus Sebae) from the Seychelles for sale to both members of the public and hotels. Bourgeois fish is a highly valued fish and has great demand on the domestic market. The Ministry of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping would impose additional conditions for the importation of the fish. That Ministry would carry out strict monitoring to ensure that the imported Bourgeois fish complies with the requirements of the Regulations and the special conditions to import Bourgeois fish from Seychelles. It would also monitor the landing of local fishing boats/vessel to ensure that no Bourgeois fish are being landed from the Mauritian banks or tampered with. 5. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development would promulgate the Business Registration (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2022 to allow for the charging of a fee of Rs100 by the Corporate and Business Registration Department for issue of fresh business registration cards. 6. Cabinet has taken note that the Excise (Amendment of Schedule) Regulations 2022 would be promulgated to provide for the implementation of a new option for public sector officers to benefit from excise duty exemption on the purchase of a motor car once in a lifetime. An officer would be eligible, once in a lifetime, to excise duty exemption of up to Rs150,000 on a motor car of up to 1,400 cc provided the officer: (a) draws a monthly basic salary of Rs31,000 or more; and (b) has at least five years service. 7. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Wellness would make Regulations under the Dental Council Act for the recognition and listing of a dental institution, namely the Manipal University College, Malaysia, as recommended by the Dental Council of Mauritius. 8. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Blue Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries and Shipping would promulgate the Fisheries and Marine Resources (Fishing Nets) Regulations 2022 with a view to enabling the prosecution of persons caught fishing with or having in their possession at sea, in any river, lake or dam, or on his premises, in his dwelling or house, a fishing net, other than a bait gear, canard net, gill net, large net, pocket net or shrimp net, unless he holds a licence under section 29 of the Fisheries and Marine Resources Act. The Regulations would come into force on 01 March 2022. The Regulations would not apply to the Island of Rodrigues as the Rodrigues Regional Assembly has its own regulations pertaining to net fishing. 9. Cabinet has taken note that the Minister of Health and Wellness has made the Consolidated COVID-19 (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 2022 which provide that the self-isolation period for COVID-19 positive patients would be seven days instead of 10 days. The Regulations came into force on 19 February 2022. Direct contacts or contacts living in the same households as COVID-19 positive patients would no longer have to observe a period of self-confinement. 10. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the National Risk Assessment Exercise carried out to identify and assess the money laundering and terrorist financing risks that may arise in relation to Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers, and of the publication and dissemination of the abridged version of the Risk Assessment Report by end of February 2022. According to the requirements of Recommendation 15 of the Financial Action Task Force, which concerns New Technologies, countries are required to, inter alia, identify, assess and understand the money laundering and terrorism financing risks arising from the business of Virtual Assets and Virtual Asset Service Providers. The deadline for the submission of the application for re-rating of Recommendation 15 to the ESAAMLG is 28 February 2022. 11. Cabinet has taken note that on 21 February 2022, the European Commissions Delegation Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the European Union, providing for the removal of Mauritius from the EU List of High-Risk Third Countries. This Delegated Regulation would come into force 20 days following its publication in the Official Journal. The European Commission has concluded that Mauritius has strengthened the effectiveness of its AML/CFT framework and no longer presents strategic deficiencies as had initially been identified by the Financial Action Task Force in February 2020. 12. Cabinet has taken note that following the passage of cyclone Batsirai in Mauritius, a loss assessment exercise was carried out to determine the extent of damage/loss caused to plantations. The Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security would be compensating planters to help them resume their agricultural activities. The Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI) conducted a preliminary assessment to determine the extent of loss incurred in different regions and it was observed that significant loss was caused to plantations. A loss assessment exercise was also carried out by the Small Farmers Welfare Fund (SFWF) and the Extension Services of FAREI. In order to allow planters to restart their cultivation rapidly, arrangements have been made to distribute 300 kg of mixed vegetables seeds from the Horticulture Division of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security and 625 kg beans seeds from the Agricultural Marketing Board to planters since 09 February 2022, on a first come first serve basis. Some 3,304 planters have, so far, benefitted from this facility. Cabinet has also taken note that following the passage of cyclone Emnati on 19 and 20 February 2022, a loss assessment exercise was underway. Planters would be compensated only once for the loss incurred this year. Cabinet has further taken note that the modalities to be applied to support the planters financially would be as follows: (i) Rs6,000 per arpent for open field and Rs6,000 per 500 m2 for sheltered farms; (ii) a maximum of Rs6,000 per arpent to be paid for a maximum threshold of five arpents for open field plantations and 2,500 m2 for sheltered farming; and (iii) assistance would be provided only to planters who have been registered with the SFWF prior to 31 January 2022. 13. Cabinet has taken note that the Road Traffic Regulations 1954 were amended to provide that holders of provisional driving licences to renew such licence until 01 March 2022 for their provisional driving licence to be valid until March 2026. In view of the excessive queuing at the three Driving Test Centres at Line Barracks, Flacq and Curepipe, the deadline of 01 March 2022 would be extended up to 31 March 2022 to enable the remaining 52,000 holders of provisional driving licences to renew the said licence. 14. Cabinet has taken note that a reconfiguration of traffic would be made as from Saturday 26 February 2022 along Saint Jean Road and in the region of Sodnac and Belle Rose at Quatre Bornes to allow for trial run of the Light Rail Vehicles (Metro). The following traffic schemes would come into effect: (a) Osman Avenue would be converted into a one-way road from its junction with Tagore Avenue up to Saint Jean Road in the direction of Saint Jean Road; (b) DEpinay Avenue would be converted into a one-way road from its junction with Saint Jean Road up to C. Hall Avenue in the direction of C. Hall Avenue; and (c) the direction of the existing one-way Scheme on Tagore Avenue would be reversed such that Tagore Avenue would be a one-way road from its junction with DEpinay Avenue up to Osman Avenue in the direction of Osman Avenue. No vehicle would be allowed to right turn across the tracks on Saint Jean Road. Alternative routes have been designated for road users to cross/right turn across the tracks at signalized street junctions from side road. The necessary traffic signs would be set up to inform and guide road users and an information campaign would be ongoing as from 25 February 2022. 15. Cabinet has taken note that both qualifying matches between Mauritius and Sao Tome and Principe for the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 (Ivory Coast) would be played at the Cote dOr National Sports Complex on 24 March and 27 March 2022. The match between Seychelles and Lesotho would also be played in Mauritius on 23 March 2022 at the same venue. The matches would be played behind closed doors in accordance with sanitary protocols. 16. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change in the Ministerial Segment of the ninth Special Session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) held virtually. The objectives of the ninth Special Session of AMCEN were to, inter alia, consider matters relating to the Resumed fifth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) scheduled from 28 February to 02 March 2022, in Kenya and agree on Africas common position for engagement at the Assembly, adopt Africas resolutions on green recovery, circular economy, biodiversity and health and plastic pollution, nominate a Member State as incoming President for UNEA-6 as well as for the Bureau of the Assembly. The Minister of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change underlined the commitment of Mauritius to aligning to the common African position towards circular economy, green recovery, biodiversity and plastic management in the context of a sustainable transition. The need for support from international partners, scaling up resource mobilisation, capacity building and technology development was also underscored. 17. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the National Crisis Committee meeting held on 18 February 2022 at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre in connection with the intense tropical cyclone Emnati. The meeting, which was attended by the representatives from key Ministries/Departments and Business Mauritius, decided on the preparedness and priority measures to be put in place by key agencies in the light of forecasts from the Mauritius Meteorological Services. 18. Cabinet has taken note that following the passage of tropical cyclone Emnati, officers of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change effected surveys across the island to: (a) carry out preliminary assessments of the impacts of the cyclone on public beaches, in particular on those sites which had already been affected during the passage of tropical cyclone Batsirai; and (b) monitor environmental issues including the overflow of effluents in some industrial and commercial sites. With respect to industrial and commercial sites, overflow of effluents had not been observed, except for one site whereby the sewer network was blocked. With the assistance of the Wastewater Management Authority, the blockage had been cleared. As at date, cases of beach erosion from coastal resorts had not been reported to the Ministry following the passage of cyclone Emnati. 19. Cabinet has taken note of the situation in Ukraine. Mauritius would be guided by its long-standing stance of non-intervention in matters of other States and would align with the position of the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. Mauritius calls for a peaceful resolution of the conflict given its adverse impact on global stability. Mauritius would also join calls for the resumption of dialogue between the concerned parties. The Mauritius Embassy in Moscow has been requested to monitor the situation of Mauritian nationals and particularly students in Ukraine and in that connection, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade has already issued appropriate Communiques. Mauritius continues to follow closely developments on this issue. 20. Cabinet has taken note that a national event would be organised at Sir Harilal Vaghjee Memorial Hall, Port Louis by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare to mark the International Womens Day 2022 on Tuesday 08 March 2022, in accordance with the prevailing sanitary protocols. Women would be gathering in the Municipal and District Councils to follow the event on MBCTV. The theme retained by the United Nations for this year is Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare has retained the slogan: Shifting Gender Equality from the Margins to the Centre. 21. Cabinet has taken note of the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world. Some 430.4 million cases have been reported globally, of which 359.06 million persons have been successfully treated. With regard to Mauritius, as at 23 February 2022, there were 2,564 active cases of COVID-19, out of which 12 were admitted at the New ENT Hospital. Over the period 17 to 23 February 2022, 27 deaths were attributed to COVID-19. Cabinet has also taken note of progress in the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, including the administration of the booster dose in the Republic of Mauritius. As at 24 February 2022, 997,949 persons had received a first dose of vaccine (representing 78.8 percent of the population). 959,481 persons were fully vaccinated (representing 75.8 percent of the population). 491,390 persons had received a booster dose (representing 38.8 percent of the population). 75.2 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years had received a first dose of vaccine and 64.4 percent had received a second dose. 22. Cabinet has taken note of the COVID-19 situation prevailing in Rodrigues. As at 23 February 2022, there were 2,257 active cases. 15 persons were admitted at Mont Lubin Treatment Centre. 10 Oxygen concentrators and three ventilators have been sent to Rodrigues as well as medical gas cylinders, medicines and medical disposables. 23. Cabinet has taken note of the situation following the grounding of three Fishing Vessels, namely Vessel FV Wen Hung Dar 168, FV Maan Yu Feng 1 and FV Maan Yu Feng 168 on 23 February 2022. FV Wen Hung Dar 168 ran aground off the coast of Pointe aux Sables and FV Maan Yu Feng 1 and FV Maan Yu Feng 168 ran aground on the sand bank in the bay of Grand River North West. The Mauritius Ports Authority mobilised its tugs to reach the casualty sites. The Crisis Committee met on 23 February 2022 to assess the situation on the grounding of the vessels. The Crisis Committee took the following decisions: (a) priority would be given to ensure the safety of the crews of the grounded vessels and all 53 crew members from the three vessels were rescued by the Helicopter Squadron/National Coast Guard of the Mauritius Police Force in accordance with all sanitary protocols; (b) the representatives of PolyGreen and the shipping agents, Jo & Jo Shipping Ltd and Chang Fong Marine Ltd, signed the Lloyds Standard Form of Salvage Agreement appointing PolyGreen for the pumping out of all the oil onboard the respective vessels and thereafter for their salvage; (c) in view of the risk of oil spill from these vessels, the Mauritius Ports Authority has already activated the Port Harbour Oil Spill Response Plan; and (d) the National Coast Guard in collaboration with the Mauritius Ports Authority deployed 290 metres of fence boom to protect the lagoon in addition to PolyGreen, who deployed about 500 metres. The Salvage Master and his team had been able to board the vessel and started pumping operation on the vessel FV Wen Hung Dar 168. PolyGreen divers undertook assessments to verify the status of hull of the three grounded vessels. As at 18 00 hours on 24 February 2022, no oil spill had been observed on the casualty sites. Three Preliminary Inquiries, in line with requirements of section 10(1) of Merchant Shipping Act have been initiated, to be led by Capt. A. Coopen, Deputy Director of Shipping assisted by Capt. Hubert Noel, Principal Nautical Surveyor. 24. Cabinet has taken note of the setting up of a temporary committee to manage the affairs of the Association Mauricienne de Boxe until the election of a new Managing Committee. The temporary committee would be chaired by Mr Noor S. Hussenee, Barrister. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires News / Local by Stephen Jakes Bulawayo Councillors have expressed concerns over the poor packaging by some restaurants in the city.According to council latest minutes Councillor Gideon Mangena was concerned about food packaging from Restaurants and Take Away out lets."Food was packaged in kalite containers which caused street littering in the C.B.D. Restaurant should be encouraged to serve their food in plates and consumed within the premises. The area around the City Hall was dirtyand more refuse bins should be provided at strategic places and relevant by-laws enforced street littering offenders should be dealt with accordingly," reads the minutes. "Councillors E. Rafomoyo observed that the CBD was very dirty Anti-littering by-laws should be enforced. Vendors in the CBD should assist in the cleaning of their areas. A report on the CBD street sweepers staffing should be submitted accordingly. Introducing of shift work for street sweeping should also be considered."The minutes states that Councillor Mlalazi said the area around City Hall was very dirty during weekends."In her Ward (18) an organization called MACALT had communicated with residents to dump all scrap metals at illegal dump sites. Council was facing transport challenges in clearing these dump sites," reads the minutes. "Councillor M. Lubimbi concurred. She also said that dumping of scrap metal from Ward 18 had extended to her Ward (29). Vendors should clean their vending sites at the end of the day. Councillor N. Hlabani felt that Council should ensure that the CBD was clean at all times. Economic hardships faced by the country had brought in many negative changes. Some restaurants were now selling take-away foods. It would be prudent for Council to deal with this issue-littering. By-law enforcement should be effective. The Deputy Chairperson (Councillor L. Siziba) felt that anti-littering campaigns should be carried out. Flyers with anti-littering messages should be distributed."The minutes states that the Chairperson (Councillor Ngwenya) said that on her Ward (6) cleaning was carried out by a group of 6 street sweepers who performed their duties properly."There was lack of supervision in the cleaning of the C B D, hence the need to introduce community sweepers in this area. In response to various questions, the Acting Director of Health Services explained that littering was now a habit among some residents. There was need for an educational campaign so that the city was kept clean at all times," states the minutes. "He advised that the CBD was a busy area and this contributed to street littering. There were also staffing challenges regarding street sweeping. Council made an effort to deploy morestreet sweepers in busy areas. There was less littering in residential areas because residents policed one another." News / Local by Tendai Gukutikwa A DANGAMVURA man who masqueraded as a Vehicle Inspection Department instructor and duped a resident of $235 on the pretext that he was organising a driver's licence for him has been dragged to court.Morgan Mugove Samukange (33) denied the charges of fraud when he appeared before senior Mutare magistrate, Sekai Chiundura.He was granted $100 bail and was remanded out of custody to February 16 for trial.Prosecutor Fletcher Karombe, said on May 3, 2015, Samukange allegedly told Shepherd Matowe that he was an instructor at the VID Department.Samukange asked Matowe to pay $235 to cover all lessons in order for him to acquire a driver's licence. Matowe gave Samukange $235 and he was promised that the driving lessons would start in due course. However, after a few days, Samukange could not be located and efforts to contact him were in vain.Matowe realised that he had been conned and reported the matter to the police leading to Samukange's arrest.Samukange, however, told the court that he was surprised when the police came to arrest him."Your Worship, of course Matowe gave me his $235, but not that I had represented myself as a VID instructor. He gave me the money to go and give it to someone else in Harare. He had told me earlier that the person in Harare had promised to secure a driver's licence for him if he paid $235. Surprisingly, when that person failed to secure the licence, Matowe started calling me and demanding his money back," said Samukange. 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. The White HouseOffice of the Press Secretary Watch LIVE here on February 29, 2016 For Immediate Release (time to be announced)February 02, 2016President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor WASHINGTON, DC On February 29, 2016, President Barack Obama will present the Medal of Honor to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers, U.S. Navy. Senior Chief Byers will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as part of a team that rescued an American civilian being held hostage in Afghanistan on December 8-9, 2012. Senior Chief Byers will be the eleventh living service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan. He and his family will join the President at the White House to commemorate his example of selfless service. PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Senior Chief Byers was born in Toledo, Ohio on August 4, 1979. He graduated from Otesgo High School in Tontogany, Ohio in June 1997. Senior Chief Byers currently holds a National Paramedics License, and will graduate from Norwich University with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis in early 2016. Senior Chief Byers entered the Navy in September 1998, attending boot camp and Hospital Corpsman School at Great Lakes, Illinois. He served at Great Lakes Naval Hospital, and then with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In 2002, he attended the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course, graduating from Class 242, and completed the Special Operations Combat Medic course in 2003. Senior Chief Byers has been assigned to various east coast SEAL teams, and completed eight overseas deployments with seven combat tours. Senior Chief Byers awards and decorations include five awards of the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V device, two awards of the Purple Heart, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor device, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat V device, two additional awards of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, two awards of the Combat Action Ribbon, three Presidential Unit Citations, two Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, two Navy Unit Commendations, and five Good Conduct Medals. News / National by Stephen Jakes Political analyst Makhelithi Ndiweni has said Zimbabwe is doomed because of the academics like President Robert Mugabe who only has the flair ability to speak the Queen's language English without technical expertise.This come after Mugabe influentially addressed the United Nations summit inn Addis Ababa where he venture4d into torrid attack on the whites for stifling Africa's progress."I feel sorry for Mugabe,yes I feel sorry, if the Queen's language was an Economic policy surely Zimbabwe was going to be the richest country in the world! We are a doomed nation, due to these academics with no technical expertise, they just go around spewing their poisonous venom to everyone, scarring away investors and blaming the West for their chain of Madness," said Ndiweni. "Blair keep your England and let me keep my Zimbabwe! He was literally meaning Zimbabwe is now one of the many Gushungo Properties! If talk shows were a system of Governance surely Zim could had been the most advanced economy but alas all those so called Indabas are a mere way of milking the already paralysed fiscus."He said Zimbabwe with Mugabe,MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai or former Vice President Joice Mujuru is doomed."We need a new generation of young innovative leaders,who understands that the world is globalizing and the competition for everything had gone past regional levels its now Globally! Wake up Zimbabwe!" he said. Telemundo network, which has leased a Hialeah facility for over two decades, will soon have a brand new home. When a report surfaced in late December that Telemundo was planning on building new studios based on the filing of a development application, a company spokesperson called the South Florida Business Journal story completely speculative and refused to confirm it. But now, the company has announced that next Tuesday, February 9, NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises will break ground on what will be their new global headquarters in Miami. The new facility will house the companys Hispanic franchises and all of its Hispanic content efforts across all of NBC Universals networks and platforms. That includes the Telemundo Network, Telemundo Studios, NBC UNIVERSO, Telemundo International, and its Digital Media operations. Currently, some of those properties operate out of different locations. Florida Governor Rick Scott is scheduled to deliver a special address at the event, which will be attended by Cesar Conde, Chairman of NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises and David L. Cohen, Senior EVP of Comcast Corporation and Chief Diversity Officer, who will address Comcasts investment in Florida. Update 2/5/15: A source with knowledge of the deal told the Business Journal that the long-term lease was valued at over $400 million. by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, February 4, 2016 Images draw in consumers and entice them to click on an advertisement. Marketers began experiencing this about a year after the ad units launched. Much has been reported on Google product listing ad performance in 2015, but what about in 2016? PLAs are off to a strong start this year as well, according to data released Thursday. Traffic from the image-based ads rose 25% in the first month of the new year compared with the year-ago period, according to Adlucent. The data was run from Dec. 28, 2015 through Jan. 27, 2016, and was compared against the same time period last year. Among Adlucent clients, orders and revenue rose 28% and 19% respectively, while search fell across the board. Search traffic fell 4% and revenue by less than a percentage point. A spike during the New Year's Eve weekend gave way to a decline each week in January advertisement advertisement PLA click share continued to outpace search in January 2016, accounting for 52% of total clicks versus search at 48%. This time last year the tables were turned, with PLA click share at 45% of total Google search share among Adlucent clients. The second week of the New Year was especially strong for PLAs. Traffic rose 40% and there were 66% more impressions serving up, compared with the same year ago time period. Consumers were spending, as orders and revenue rose 41% and 33%, respectively. In comparison, search traffic fell 2% and impressions by nearly 20%. Meanwhile, during the first month in 2016, WordStream noticed Google running three tests for PLAs in image search results. The first dubbed a PLA carousel that showcases products in Googles image search results. Directly below the line the image grouping that allow searchers to narrow down their search. by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, February 4, 2016 This week brought an unexpected twist in the already fraught saga of Tribune Publishing: Michael Ferro, the majority owner of the Chicago Sun-Times, purchased a 17% stake in the publisher of the Chicago Tribune, its arch-rival in the Windy City. The $44.4 million purchase of 5.2 million shares of new common stock makes him the largest individual shareholder in Tribune, earning him a position as non-executive chairman on the Tribune board. This somewhat odd turn of events has media watchers wondering what, exactly, is going on. It's sort of like Wall Street Journal owner Rupert Murdoch buying a stake in The New York Times. Is this a move toward merger? Probably not, as the terms of the deal state Ferro cant acquire a more than 25% of the outstanding shares in Tribune, making a takeover impossible. But by the same token, that doesnt preclude Tribune from buying the Sun-Times. (In 2014, it bought 38 suburban newspapers from Sun-Times owner Wrapports.) Conversely, is Ferro preparing to dump the Sun-Times in favor of Tribune? Who knows -- although hes giving up any operational involvement with the Sun-Times and stepping down as chairman of Wrapports as part of the transaction. A few things are clear: Ferros investment bolsters Tribunes war chest significantly as it considers a number of acquisitions, including the possible purchase of the Orange County Register from bankrupt Freedom Communications. Tribune previously gave Freedom a cash infusion and made a stalking horse bid for the OC Register. Tribune boss Jack Griffin also said the company is examining other potential buys. Ferro boasts a formidable record in technology that may be useful to Tribune. He previously purchased a medical software provider for $20 million and sold it last year for $1 billion, after expanding the business substantially. On that note, Ferro stated: I see tremendous upside to create value and put Tribune Publishing at the forefront of technology and content to benefit journalists and shareholders. But its worth noting that Ferros tech expertise has not involved much in the way of consumer-facing media. Over the last few years, Sun-Times has struggled just as much as the Tribune. That includes layoffs, a failed business magazine, the sale of the suburban papers mentioned above, and the much-reported firing of all the newspapers photographers at one point, before some were re-hired. by Fred Joseph , Op-Ed Contributor, February 5, 2016 Its a multiscreen world out there. When it comes to politics, the mobile screen is often where voters will be accessing information about politicians. Many believe that digital marketing during the 2012 election led to Obamas upper hand and just about everything digital helped him to win the race. Given this, its clear that leveraging mobile media will help the next president to pave the way to the White House. Mobile screens will be one of the most important marketing elements in the 2016 presidential race. To help political marketers capitalize on this medium, below are five mobile advertising tips that will help candidates connect and engage with voters. 1) Focus on hyperlocal to penetrate grassroots campaigns The U.S. is large, even neighboring towns may have wildly different perspectives on big issues. When visiting voters on their home turfs, presidential candidates should be using the power of mobile to communicate with constituents about the issues that are specific to them. Those messages should be reiterated in the ads that are delivered in those areas. Mobile can also draw voters to specific events by informing them of upcoming rallies. During events, political mobile marketers should use geofencing technology to capture unique device IDs to later retarget those who attended the events with relevant messages. 2) Use mobile data to develop winning audience clusters First-party data gathered from unique device IDs in campaign apps and premium inventory sources like multicultural groups provides a wealth of data that goes beyond the traditional audience clusters. By integrating various clusters, marketers can combine and hyper-target specific interests like pro-choice voters, fiscal conservatives and same-sex marriage supporters. These clusters can also be refined throughout the campaign so that winning messages continue to resonate. 3) Maximize micro-donations through mobile channels Mobile has allowed marketers to capitalize on the impulse buy, presenting a huge opportunity for political mobile marketers. Through Apple Pay and other m-commerce services, such as Stripe, it has never been easier to donate to politicians on mobile devices. Inserting calls-to-action in mobile ads that drive voters to support a candidate by donating is a must. Especially for ads that inspire and elicit strong emotion, mobile marketers should aim to make donating an easy, seamless experience for voters. 4) Convince and engage with content The mobile medium allows for unique ad experiences. Specific mobile marketing scenarios can be produced through native mobile ad formats. Political marketers should be paying attention to all mobile ad capabilities and tailor their ads to the right format. For example, swiping functionality allows for multiple messages to be presented in a single ad. Interactive ads, like 3D cubes, allow for engagement and a great visual way of presenting six sides of an issue or six viewpoints. 5) Get creative and make politics fun! Its important to remember to engage with voters by getting creative and having a little fun. For example, a negative campaign ad can be made into an entertaining game where users can chase an opponent around a maze. by Ari Rosenberg , Op-Ed Contributor, February 4, 2016 Hello, its me the opening line from Adeles monster hit receives a lot of attention, but it is the start of the third verse when the song arrives. The lyric Hello from the other side" flies into your ears and crashes into your soul, reminding you that Adele has no contemporaries. In the world of media, television is our Adele. Print, radio, out-of-home and the Internet collectively dont come close to the emotional awakenings television ads can stir up. If you have any doubts about the emotional impact a well-made television ad can create, then watch the commercial for Johnny Walker produced on spec by a college student, no less. The ability to deliver sight, sound and motion is the first reason why TV rules the media stage. The enormous advantage of having less supply for greater demand is the second reason. The third reason is content. Consumers dont binge on Web sites, radio or magazines. Only television content can cause that. advertisement advertisement To their credit, television broadcasters are looking at ways to get even better at selling ads, and programmatic technology has caught their interest. Here is some advice on how to strategically embrace programmatic without adopting the mistakes that can come with it. First, remain calm. The technology is innovative; the premise is not. Strip away how it all works, and what you have is targeting. Programmatic allows for data to create specific target audience segments for sale. Carving up your premium inventory (aka prime time) that has a high sell-through rate into audience segments for sale is a bad idea. It would work if an advertiser buys the whole spot and copy splits creative based on these segments, but no advertiser is putting forth that effort. So keep selling your prime content as a take-it-all-or-leave-it option and offer programmatic targeting to help increase the value of the inventory in less desirable time slots and content. Second, charge more, not less. This is the biggest mistake most digital properties have been forced to make. Because there is a lack of prime content to lean on, targeting has become Internet advertisings lead value proposition. Too much supply and so much data has created the unusual scenario where advertisers pay less for targeted impressions online, then they pay for impressions sold directly that are contextually targeted. Charging less for greater targeting will never make sense, but I sense broadcasters wont be backed into that mistake. The pressure from buyers and the tech stack driving programmatic will try to convince you otherwise -- but stand your ground the way Hulus Peter Naylor has, and charge a premium for programmatic inventory, not a discount. Third, dont let anyone else sell your shit. Whenever your ad sales business touches the digital tech stack, you run the risk of your inventory getting bought around you. Ad networks were the first to knife the value of Internet advertising in this way, and its happening again in more covert forms with programmatic. Whether its your data or your ad spots, don't engage in any partnership that could result in anyone else selling your product. Be leery of private marketplaces that do not return the inventory you send their way for an advertiser to sift through and cherry-pick. Whatever is left in the basket has to come back to you versus pushing out to an open exchange, or you will suffer price erosion. Thats because buyers will always buy your ads without you, when these ads are cheaper from someone else -- and thats what always happens when other people sell your shit. Programmatic is great technology -- but if tied to bad business practices, it will leave you singing the ad-sales blues. by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, February 4, 2016 Thin-skinned business owners in Maryland could find it harder to squelch bad reviews, if a bill introduced this week is enacted. The proposed H.B. 131, modeled on a similar law in California, outlaws non-disparagement clauses -- contractual terms that restrict consumers' right to comment on the business. The measure comes as Congress is considering whether to prohibit those kinds of clauses nationwide. In the last several years, several companies have sparked national headlines by taking aim at customers who wrote unflattering reviews. One of the most famous examples occurred in late 2013, when married couple John Palmer and Jennifer Kulas said the online retailer KlearGear tried to charge them $3,500 for posting a bad review. KlearGear reportedly said that the couple violated a non-disparagement clause in its terms of service by criticizing the company on RipoffReport.com. (That clause apparently was added to the KlearGear's terms of service after the couple tried to place an order.) advertisement advertisement When Palmer and Kulas refused to pay KlearGear, the company allegedly wrecked their credit. Palmer and Kulas subsequently sued KlearGear for violating federal fair credit laws. A federal judge awarded the couple $306,750 in July of 2014. Bethesda Magazinereports that there are no known examples of Maryland businesses trying to use a similar tactic to squelch consumer reviews. But that doesn't mean it hasn't happened. The digital rights group Electronic Frontier Foundation -- which supports the bill but wants to see it strengthened -- makes that point in its comments. "For every high-profile story of a customer fighting back against this unfair business practice, there are many more stories well never hear: stories of customers who simply gave up under a companys pressure to pay a fine or delete a review," the group says in written testimony submitted to Maryland lawmakers. "Because legal gray areas are fertile ground for legal bullying, the law should make it clear that customers have every right to speak their mind, even if a companys form contract says otherwise." The EFF also is pressing lawmakers to prohibit companies from claiming a copyright interest in reviews. That strategy was pioneered by the organization Medical Justice, which advised health care professionals to require prospective patients to sign away a copyright interest in any online review. Then, if a patient criticized a doctor on a review site, the doctor could threaten to sue the site for copyright infringement. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Crotty in Manhattan recently condemned that tactic, but it's not clear whether other judges will follow suit in similar situations. Crotty's decision stemmed from a dispute between dentist Stacy Makhnevich and one of her former patients, Robert Lee. The dentist allegedly charged Lee more than $4,000 for a tooth filling, and then failed to turn over the records that would enable him to file an insurance claim. Lee wrote about his experience on Yelp and DoctorBases. The move allegedly prompted Makhnevich and her dental practice to claim that they owned the copyright to his reviews. Makhnevich not only demanded that the Web sites take down the posts, but also sent Lee invoices of $100 per day for the posts. The advocacy group Public Citizen then represented Lee in a lawsuit against Makhnevich, who defaulted in the matter. Last year U.S. District Court Judge Paul Crotty in Manhattan ruled that Makhnevich's copyright agreement with Lee was invalid for a host of reasons, including that it's unethical. Crotty also said that even if Makhnevich owned a copyright in the reviews, Lee would have a fair use right to post them on sites like Yelp. PubWorx will be led by Al Perruzza, most recently executive vice president, business operations at Readers Digest. Perruzza has been appointed president and CEO of PubWorx and will report to a board comprised of executives from Conde Nast and Hearst Magazines. He stated the goal is to build tailored, impactful programs that position their organizations for increased efficiency and growth. advertisement advertisement Ownership of PubWorx will be split 50/50 between the two founders. PubWorx will incorporate staff and back-office functions from Conde Nast and Hearst Magazines. As an independent company, it will also offer its slate of services to other publishers, including procurement, production, and full-service, end-to-end circulation management operations. Pubworx will also provide important, turn-key infrastructure for the industry, "allowing publishers to access the scale of our two companies for production and circulation functions, freeing them to concentrate on innovation, content creation and advertising revenue, stated David Carey, president of Hearst Magazines. What Hearst and Conde Nast havent discussed is what will happen to the staff at both companies that currently handle production, procurement and circulation. (They include titles such as Vogue, Vanity Fair and Wired at Conde Nast and Cosmopolitan, Elle and Esquire at Hearst). Reports suggest there will be big layoffs; that's likely, considering the new unit will have a staff of just under 150 employees. Initiatives like these to streamline back-office operations, aiming to achieve economic efficiencies and cost savings. The primary focus is not outright job reduction, but to bring the scale of the two companies together to benefit ourselves and other publishers, Carey told The Wall Street Journal. PubWorx isnt the first time Hearst and Conde Nast have partnered. The two publishers formed Comag, a marketing and retail distribution company, nearly 40 years ago. Comag U.S. was sold in 2012; Hearst and Conde Nast continue to own and operate the business together in the U.K. Hearst Newspapers and Advance Publications, parent company of Conde Nast, have also worked together on procurement for many years. News / National by Thobekile Zhou MDC-T legislator Eddie Cross has predicted mass migration of rural people to urban areas due to critical water shortages in the countryside.Cross said the migration will put a strain on the already burdened water supply situations in urban areas. Most major cities are struggling to provide adequate water.He said about 3 000 000 people are going to be affected by water shortages.Last week, Harare went dry for almost four days.This week, Gweru City Council warned that it might introduce water rationing soon, as water levels at its main water supplier, Gwenoro Dam, had dropped to 46% of its holding capacity, while its supplementary dam, Amapongokwe was at 60%.Said Cross in parliament on Thursday "The situation is that Gweru has four months water left in its dams. Let me just reiterate that Gweru, the third largest city in the country, has four months water in its dams."In Bulawayo we have already decommissioned one dam. We are preparing to decommission a second. So, out of the six dams in Bulawayo a third will be decommissioned before May."The problem in Bulawayo is that, as you decommission dams, you lose the capacity to deliver water because each dam has its own pipeline."If you are left, as we are, with just Insiza dam with a single pipeline supplying Bulawayo, we can only supply Bulawayo with 20% or 30% of its total demands."The Bulawayo City Council has already imposed restrictions at 60% of free demand. Bulawayo has a good track record in terms of managing its water supplies, but Mr. Speaker, I want to tell you that if we do not do anything about infrastructure in Bulawayo, the very real danger is that Bulawayo could run out of water with dire consequences."Now, Mr. Speaker Sir, this points to a national emergency. It is my view that more than 3 000 000 people are going to be affected by water shortages this winter and for many of those families they are going to have to move to town to relatives to survive. They are not going to be able to find water for their domestic purposes in the rural areas. Our city situation is by no means good". by Sara Guaglione , February 5, 2016 On Wednesday, Time Inc. launched Motto, a new Web site aimed at Millennial women looking for advice about work, life and play. It will include interactive features created with Time Labs and video programming. Motto will be promoted across all of Times social platforms. Readers can also navigate to Motto from the menu navigation in the upper left corner of Time.com. The site will be mobile-first and driven by social media, the company stated. The site will be mobile-first and driven by social media, the company stated. Mottos contributors include President Barack Obama, Lena Dunham, Shonda Rhimes, Jenna Lyons, Jorge Ramos, Ivanka Trump, Marie Kondo and Ina Garten. To help contain costs, Time Inc.s Real Simple, Southern Living and Health, Fortune and Money will also provide articles. advertisement advertisement Stories on the new site include The World I Want My Daughters to Grow Up In, by President Obama, and Ivanka Trumps 9 Rules for How to Negotiate and Win. There are also videos on topics like 6 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out. Millennials make up nearly half of Times digital audience, according to comScore, and the brand reports success with self-improvement and productivity content. Time Inc.s editorial director of audience strategy Callie Schweitzer will serve as the editorial director of Motto, which has two full-time staffers. Geico is Mottos launch sponsor, with ads appearing on the sites video. Meredith Long, publisher of Time magazine and its related digital properties, told The Wall Street Journal that Mottos audience will appeal to marketers ranging from technology to automotive to finance, plus beauty and CPG companies. Motto is the latest in a series of mobile- and social-first launches and investments by Time Inc. to millennial women. In October, the company acquired HelloGiggles.com, a pop culture, beauty and lifestyle Web site. Later that month, Time Inc. purchased xoJane.com and xoVain.com, which are sites aimed at younger women. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, February 5, 2016 A California resident has sued Victoria's Secret for allegedly sending him almost 100 unwanted text message ads in a single day last November. "Victoria's Secret undertook a misguided effort to increase sales by causing the mass transmission of spam text message advertisements in the form of mobile alerts," Michael Hannegan alleges in a potential class-action lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Hannegan accuses Victoria's Secret of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits companies from using automated dialers to send SMS ads to people without their consent. That law provides for damages of up to $1,500 per message. Hannegan alleges that he agreed to receive messages from Victoria's Secret in May, but that the company said it would send six messages per month. "Any additional messages beyond the first six ... were unauthorized and sent without plaintiff's consent," he says in his complaint. advertisement advertisement He says that at first, he received monthly texts of "generic advertisements for various products and sales." But on Nov. 4, he allegedly received 97 text messages in a single day. It's not clear from the lawsuit whether the messages were identical; the complaint alleges that the messages all contained "a generic non-personalized advertisement." He is seeking class-action status on behalf of all cell phone users who received more than six messages per month from Victoria's Secret. A Victoria's Secret spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on pending litigation. The likelihood of dying from a firearm is 10 times higher in the US than in other high-income countries, according to a new study published in The American Journal of Medicine. Share on Pinterest Compared with populations from other high-income nations, Americans are at much greater risk of gun death, new research finds. Additionally, the study reveals that Americans are significantly more likely to be accidentally or violently killed by a gun and are more likely to commit suicide using a gun, compared with individuals in other developed countries. Study coauthors Erin Grinshteyn, PhD, of the University of Nevada-Reno, and David Hemenway, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, MA, say their findings support the hypothesis that our firearms are killing us rather than protecting us. There were more than 33,000 gun deaths in the US in 2014, including more than 21,000 gun-related suicides. Such figures have fueled proposals to update gun laws in the US; early last month, President Barack Obama vowed to step up gun control in the US, proposing stricter and more efficient background checks for the purchase of firearms, with the aim of keeping guns out of the wrong hands. While many people are in support of stricter gun control a recent survey found that 50% of Americans support President Obamas proposals others have been more skeptical, with some individuals claiming that stricter gun control would reduce the countrys ability to protect itself against possible terrorist threats. Lethal crimes in US driven by gun-related homicide For their study, Grinshteyn and Hemenway aimed to help put Americas relationship with guns into perspective by gaining a better understanding of how much violence in the country is related to firearms, compared with other high-income countries. Fast facts about guns in the US Around 270-310 million guns are held by US civilians In 2014, there were around 10 gun-related deaths for every 100,000 Americans There were 586 unintentional gun deaths in the US in 2014. The researchers analyzed 2010 mortality data from the World Health Organization (WHO), looking at death rates per 100,000 people and the causes of death across 23 developed countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Spain, Switzerland and Finland. The team found that while the US has a similar rate of non-lethal crimes as other high-income countries, the rate of lethal crimes is significantly higher, which the researchers say is primarily driven by higher levels of gun-related homicide. The study results revealed that Americans are seven times more likely to be violently killed overall and 25 times more likely to be violently killed with a gun, compared with individuals in other developed countries. Among Americans aged 15-24, homicide is the second leading cause of death. This group, the researchers found, is 49 times more likely to die from gun-related homicide than their counterparts in other developed countries. What is more, Americans aged 25-34 for whom homicide is the third leading cause of death are 32 times more likely to die from gun-related homicide than their counterparts from other high-income nations. More than two thirds of the homicides in the US are firearm homicides and studies have suggested that the non-gun homicide rate in the US may be high because the gun homicide rate is high, notes Grinshteyn, For example, offenders take into account the threat posed by their adversaries. Individuals are more likely to have lethal intent if they anticipate that their adversaries will be armed. Using mice, researchers have shown that clearing out senescent cells cells whose ability to divide is permanently switched off and that accumulate with age can increase lifespan without negative side effects. Share on Pinterest The researchers suggest that if the findings work in humans, then removing senescent cells may be a way not only for people to live longer but to be healthier for longer. In a Nature paper, the team from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, MN describes how senescent cells harm health and shorten lifespan by as much as 35% in normal mice. They report how eliminating senescent cells delays tumor formation, preserves tissue and organ function and extends lifespan with no apparent adverse effects. Senior author Jan van Deursen, a professor of pediatrics with a chair in biochemistry and molecular biology, explains: Cellular senescence is a biological mechanism that functions as an emergency brake used by damaged cells to stop dividing. Senescence can be triggered by stress that can cause cells to malfunction so by halting cell division, it stops them growing abnormally and forming tumors. Senescent cells may no longer replicate, but they are not dead or dormant and they secrete compounds such as growth factors and enzymes that affect other cells around them. The authors note that some of the secreted compounds can damage neighboring cells and cause chronic inflammation, which is linked to age-related diseases. The immune system routinely clears out senescent cells, but over time, this process becomes less effective, so senescent cells accumulate with age. Over the past few months, the spread of Zika virus has dominated headlines around the world. The strongly suspected link between the virus and microcephaly has led the World Health Organization to declare that the outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Share on Pinterest Mosquitos are responsible for over 1 million deaths each year due to the diseases they transmit. A major problem with the current Zika outbreak is that there is, at present, no vaccine for the virus. Researchers worldwide are stepping up efforts toward a vaccine, but such research invariably requires a lot of time and money. For now then, the focus on tackling the disease turns elsewhere. Following an Emergency Committee meeting, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan stated that the most important protective measures to be taken were the control of mosquito populations and the prevention of mosquito bites in at-risk individuals, especially pregnant women. The mosquitos that are behind the transmission of the Zika virus are those belonging to the Aedes species, namely Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitos spread the virus by feeding on people already infected with Zika, becoming infected themselves and then passing the virus on when feeding on another human. In this spotlight, we take a look at why mosquito-borne diseases such as those spread by the Aedes species have risen to prominence, as well as examine methods that are being suggested for halting the spread of these worrying viruses. Mosquito-borne diseases have spread over past 20 years Last week, Dr. Tony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that we need to look at Zika virus in its context as the latest in a series of mosquito-borne diseases that expanded their reach in the past 20 years or so. These include, as you heard, dengue, West Nile virus just last year. There will be others. In a world full of dangerous creatures such as venomous snakes and powerful crocodiles, it is the mosquito that is deadliest to humans, with over 1 million people dying as a result of mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria each year. Another prominent mosquito-borne virus is dengue fever, a severe condition that has increased in incidence by 30 times over the past 50 years. WHO estimate up to 50-100 million infections occur each year, with a case fatality rate that can be as high as 10%. Medical News Today spoke to Devika Sirohi, a graduate research assistant in molecular virology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN, about mosquitos and their role in the spread of disease. She offered a number of possible explanations that may be behind the growing prevalence of mosquito-borne disease. Theres just so many factors, she explained, like climate change, increased travel and increased urbanization. Climate change : A lot of these mosquitos prefer warmer climate, so as the climate becomes warmer, they will become prevalent so to speak, said Sirohi. Richard Duhrkopf, an expert on mosquitos and associate professor of biology at Baylor University in Waco, TX, believes that as the weather warms up and there is a greater flow of the virus into the [US], I am confident we will see transmission this summer. : A lot of these mosquitos prefer warmer climate, so as the climate becomes warmer, they will become prevalent so to speak, said Sirohi. Richard Duhrkopf, an expert on mosquitos and associate professor of biology at Baylor University in Waco, TX, believes that as the weather warms up and there is a greater flow of the virus into the [US], I am confident we will see transmission this summer. Increased travel : According to WHO, Aedes aegypti mosquitos will spend their lifetime in and around the area that they emerge as adults, with studies indicating that they usually fly an average of 400 meters in their lifetimes. As a result, it is the movement of humans rather than mosquitos that is behind the spread of the virus. As people travel, these mosquito-borne viruses travel with them, explained Sirohi, and upon returning home mosquitos endemic to their region can pick up with viruses and begin transmitting them. : According to WHO, Aedes aegypti mosquitos will spend their lifetime in and around the area that they emerge as adults, with studies indicating that they usually fly an average of 400 meters in their lifetimes. As a result, it is the movement of humans rather than mosquitos that is behind the spread of the virus. As people travel, these mosquito-borne viruses travel with them, explained Sirohi, and upon returning home mosquitos endemic to their region can pick up with viruses and begin transmitting them. Increased urbanization: Densely populated cities, such as those in Brazil where the Zika virus has spread, provide ideal conditions for virus transmission. If people are very close together as they are in metropolitan areas, they are more likely to encounter an infected mosquito, Sirohi said. Buildings also protect mosquitos from the weather, increasing their longevity. It is this latter point that has Dr. Anne Schuchat, the principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), confident that the US will not experience a Zika outbreak on quite the same scale as elsewhere in the Americas, despite being home to Aedes mosquitos: We do think the living conditions in general in the United States, the lack of urban density in those areas where the mosquitos are circulating and the air-conditions and screens will hopefully keep us in better shape compared with whats beginning on in some of the hot spots in South America or the Caribbean. What is being done about Zika in Brazil? As mentioned before, there is no vaccine available for Zika at present. Another complicating factor is that the majority of people, around 75-80%, who become infected with the virus are asymptomatic. This fact presents difficulties for health authorities wishing to keep track of the virus spread. Share on Pinterest Densely populated urban environments like these slums in Rio de Janeiro enable the rapid transmission of mosquito-borne viruses such as Zika. Mosquitos are the most visible target, and the Brazilian government has made eradicating the threat that the Aedes mosquitos pose a priority. Brazilian health authorities have estimated that up to 1.5 million people have been infected with Zika virus in the country. In response, a national mobilization day will be held on Saturday, with soldiers and state employees being sent out into homes and workplaces searching for potential breeding grounds for mosquitos. I will insist, since science has not yet developed a vaccine against the Zika virus, that the only efficient method we have to prevent this illness is the vigorous battle against the mosquito, stated President Dilma Rousseff in a recently televised address to the nation. An emergency decree signed by President Rousseff has also made it compulsory for health workers to be granted access to homes and properties in order to inspect for still water deposits. Could DDT be used to fight Zika? The mosquito problem has led to renewed calls for the use of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane). DDT is a pesticide that was first introduced in the 1940s to protect populations from insect-borne diseases such as malaria and typhus but has since been banned in many countries due its effects on the environment and its toxic properties. Share on Pinterest DDT was originally used to prevent insect-borne disease but has since been banned in many countries. The chemical is currently classified as a probable human carcinogen by many international authorities, but the gravity of the Zika situation is causing some experts to raise DDT as an option. That concern about DDT has to be reconsidered in the public health context, Dr. Lyle R. Petersen, director of the Division of Vector-Borne Diseases at the CDC, told The New York Times. Dr. Petersens argument is that previous concerns with DDT arose through using the pesticide widely outdoors within agricultural practice, whereas small-scale focused use of DDT inside homes to kill mosquitos would not prove to be anywhere near as problematic. This tactic is used in Africa in areas where disease-carrying mosquitos feed on people while they are asleep at nighttime. Conversely, the Aedes mosquitos typically feed during the daytime. According to Lynn Goldman, dean of the George Washington University School of Public Health, more research is needed to indicate whether DDT would be an effective solution. You have to be using the right weapons for the right mosquito, Goldman told TIME. Firing at any mosquito we see is not going to be useful. Are mosquitos both the problem and the solution to the Zika outbreak? An alternative strategy that Dr. Schuchat of the CDC described as intriguing and a really exciting idea involves utilizing mosquitos themselves to put an end to transmission. The mosquitos in question are being developed by a company called Oxitec, and their research involves genetically engineering male mosquitos so that their offspring will die before reaching sexual maturity. Share on Pinterest Scientists have genetically engineered a strain of Aedes mosquito that dies before reaching sexual maturity. The company states that this method has an advantage over the use of conventional pesticides in that it only targets a specific species, increasing its efficacy while reducing the potential for harming the environment. Oxitec have conducted field trials of their genetically modified Aedes mosquitos in Brazil to reduce the spread of dengue fever. In 2013, the company reported that a trial funded by Brazilian government had achieved a 96% reduction of the wild mosquito population in Mandacaru, a village near the city of Juazeiro, after 6 months. The researchers estimate that around 3,000 people were protected from the dengue mosquito during this time. There is also another technique involving mosquitos that is in development. Devika Sirohi, who along with her colleagues is researching how antibodies bind to Zika virus using structural approaches, explained to MNT how a bacteria called Wolbachia could be used like a parasite for mosquitos. Wolbachia is naturally present in many insect species but not the Aedes mosquitos. Research suggests that the presence of this bacteria in Aedes mosquitos can stop them from transmitting the dengue virus, although at present researchers are unsure precisely what causes this to happen. A drawback with using Wolbachia, however, is the possibility exists that mosquitos may develop resistance to this bacteria and that in time it may not be able to block viral transmission. It is likely that we will hear more of the GM mosquito strategy in the coming months; Oxitec announced last month that they would be setting up a new mosquito production facility in Piracicaba, Brazil, declaring that it would have capacity to protect over 300,000 people. Similar to stem cells differentiating to make your body's tissues, the immune system's macrophages pick a life path, differentiating into macrophages that recruit resources for wound repair or macrophages that recruit resources for wound sterilization. An article in the journal Cancer Research describes the relevance of macrophages to cancer: Cancers encourage macrophages to pick the path of wound-repair, making what are called "M2" or "repair-type" macrophages. Cancers use these M2 macrophages to promote their own growth. However, researchers can now successfully flip M2 macrophages into their wound-sterilizing cousins, called "M1" or "kill-type" macrophages, which, contrary to promoting the growth of new tissue, may aid the immune system in clearing the body of cancer. The article in this careful scientific journal calls this a "breakthrough". "The basic message we're trying to convey is that turning those M2 macrophages into a more M1 phenotype has beneficial effects in promoting anti-tumor immunity," says Laurel Lenz, PhD, investigator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the CU School of Medicine, and one of the paper's authors. Previous work has shown that people with a naturally high ratio of M1 to M2 macrophages are less prone to develop cancer. And in mouse models of the disease, encouraging a high M1-to-M2 ratio can "slow or stop cancer growth," the paper writes. In fact, there are two schools of thought describing how, exactly, to change a population of M2 macrophages into a population of M1 macrophages. In the first school of thought, M2 macrophages can reverse their differentiation to become briefly more "stem-like" before being encouraged to use their second chance to pick the more beneficial M1/kill-type phenotype. In the second school of thought, as macrophages naturally die out, they could be replaced by a new population dominated by M1 macrophages. The paper describes a way to accomplish the second: In the presence of the cytokine interferon gamma, macrophages take on the M1 phenotype. "Interferon gamma has been explored as a possible therapeutic agent, but there are problems with it," Lenz says. "Interferon gamma mediates hundreds of effects and some of them aren't very comfortable." Instead, one idea is to improve the sensitivity of cells to the interferon gamma that already exists in the body. "In the right context, macrophages lose their sensitivity to interferon gamma and we want to prevent that," Lenz says. Another approach seeks to augment interferon gamma only in tumor tissue, keeping its effects localized. "The immune system's killer cells produce interferon gamma and one promising strategy is to get them to the tumor and activated in the right way," Lenz says. In fact, existing immunotherapies seek to recruit the body's killer cells, especially cytotoxic T cells, to recognize and attack tumor tissue. A byproduct of this activation is the production of interferon gamma at the tumor site, which causes macrophages to take the M1 and not M2 phenotype. "Cytotoxic T cells can directly kill tumor cells. But they also produce interferon gamma. Both are likely contributing to the anti-tumor effect," Lenz says. "By devising approaches to tune macrophages in the right way, we hope to further improve immunotherapies." On November 11, 1954, Syuiti Mori turned out the lights on a small group of fruit flies. More than sixty years later, the descendents of those flies have adapted to life without light. These flies--a variety now known as "Dark-fly"--outcompete their light-loving cousins when they live together in constant darkness, according to research reported in the February issue of G3: Genes|Genomes|Genetics. This competitive difference allowed the researchers to re-play the evolution of Dark-fly and identify the genomic regions that contribute to its success in the dark. "We hope understanding the genetics behind Dark-fly's adaptations will shed light on how genes are selected during rapid evolution," says study leader Naoyuki Fuse of Kyoto University. The Dark-fly project is the longest-running example of an experimental evolution study where scientists follow a population over many generations. It is also the first to analyze genome evolution in a multicellular organism adapted to a defined condition in the lab. The project was initiated by Mori as part of a series of experiments investigating how the traits of fruit flies are altered in response to changes in their environment. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a heavily studied model organism often used to examine genetic changes during evolution. To keep the flies away from light, they are reared in vials kept in a large pot painted black on the inside and covered with a blackout cloth. When the vials and food need to be changed, the researchers tend to the flies in the pitch dark, then use a feeble red light to check on their work. Fruit flies can't see this light because the species lacks those light receptor proteins that absorb red wavelengths. When Mori retired, he passed on the precious fly stocks to his colleagues at Kyoto University, who have maintained them continuously to this day. The stock of flies has now spent more than 1,500 generations without light. In human terms, that would be like sequestering generations of our ancestors in the dark for 30,000 years. Today, Dark-fly looks almost identical to normal (wild-type) D. melanogaster, but the variety is also subtly different. For example, Dark-fly individuals move around more in response to sudden light exposure, even after spending a generation in normal day/night cycles. They are also more sensitive to certain smells and have longer head bristles, which are sensory organs that serve as the fruit fly version of a cat's whiskers. Dark-fly also produces more offspring when kept in constant darkness than in alternating light and dark. But although Dark-fly does better in the dark than the light, is it more highly adapted than the wild-type to its dim environment? The team tested this hypothesis by housing the two types of fruit flies together, allowing them to mate at random, and then assessing the parentage of the flies that made up the next generations. The results showed that Dark-fly has a competitive advantage in reproduction over the wild-type when bred in the dark. Fuse suggests this might be due to differences in pheromone signaling when the flies select their mates, or to altered circadian rhythms of mating or sleep behaviors. Which genes are responsible for the adaptation to dark conditions? Previously, the team sequenced the Dark-fly genome, identifying mutations that distinguish it from wild-type. But not many of those genetic variants are likely to be responsible for the adaptations that help Dark-fly thrive without light; many of the variants may have no effect, or may affect unrelated traits. To hone in on the dark-adaptation genes, the team performed another kind of experimental evolution study. They first reared Dark-flies and normal flies in mixed colonies, allowing the two types to interbreed freely for 49 generations. These colonies were maintained in constant dark and compared to control colonies with normal 24-hour light/dark cycles. With each generation, those flies that produced the most offspring contributed more of their genes to the colony as a whole. As the genomes of the two types of fly mixed, those genes responsible for Dark-fly's unique adaptations should become more common in the colony kept in the dark. To find those genes, the team sequenced the genomes of flies at the beginning and end of the experiment and looked for genetic variants originating in Dark-fly that became more common only under the dark conditions. Such variants were located in 28 regions of the Dark-fly genome. From these regions, the researchers narrowed down the candidates to 84 genes. Among these candidates are likely the genes associated with dark-adaptive traits. These include genes that encode chemical receptors, and genes involved in pheromone synthesis, the formation of smell memories, and circadian rhythms. In future work, the team will examine the activity and functions of these candidates to link them to specific Dark-fly adaptations. "We will soon have the ability to try my dream experiment: using genome-editing technology to introduce defined mutations into the wild-type to try to reproduce the Dark-fly's traits. This would give us a precise molecular profile of this remarkable example of evolution in the lab," says Fuse. An international team of scientists - among them Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., dean of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy - this week published a study1 in the journal Nature, which shows findings that suggest a pathway to a possible cure for HIV-1 infection. The work builds upon a 2014 publication2 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, of which Dr. Fletcher was first author, which investigated the question of why, despite being driven to undetectable levels in blood by powerful antiretroviral drugs, HIV is never fully wiped out in patients with the disease. In that study, Dr. Fletcher and colleagues found that a much lower concentration of the drugs made it to lymph node and lymphoid tissues, allowing viral replication - and persistence - of reservoirs of HIV in those tissues. Finding out why low levels of HIV were hanging on, "for the first time allowed us to have a scientific-based conversation about a cure - is it possible?" Dr. Fletcher said. This latest study takes it a step further - and finds that while the levels of drug concentration that make it to those tissues are too low to wipe out HIV, the virus also has not developed a resistance to those drugs, as might usually be expected. In the current paper, the authors suggested this is likely because the levels of the drugs are so low, there was no reason for the virus to develop resistance. "In simple terms, we think there is no evolutionary advantage to have developed a resistance," Dr. Fletcher said. And if it has no drug resistance, the scientists may have found a pathway to a possible cure. "Can we deliver more drug to these tissues and see if we can shut down replication?" Dr. Fletcher said. That's the next problem to solve. "Will this cure HIV? No one knows," Dr. Fletcher said. "But it is a very rational, evidence-based approach. "This is a problem that we are extremely well positioned here at Nebraska to address. We think this problem of ongoing viral replication in lymphoid tissues may be solved by enhanced drug delivery, and that's something that we here at UNMC are really good at." Already, Dr. Fletcher has a significant grant application in with the National Institutes of Health, and he is optimistic that UNMC will be tasked with finding a way to deliver enough drugs to the hard-to-reach places where the last remaining bits of HIV hide out. "We believe we are one of the few places in the country - with some help from experts in virology around the country," he emphasized - "to do this work." An international collaboration Dr. Fletcher stressed that it took an international collaboration of top-notch academic medical centers, each bringing its own world-class expertise, to take on a project like this. For example: Investigators at the University of Minnesota, with which Dr. Fletcher has long collaborated, recruited the patients into the original study, obtained the plasma and tissue samples, and measured the amount of virus in the tissues; Northwestern University researchers explored the evolution of the HIV virus; University of Oxford scientists took the lead on the mathematical side; and Researchers at the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, brought to life the story of how the virus changes its genetic makeup. Investigators at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, in Seattle, the University of Porto, in Portugal, the University of California, San Diego, Korea National Institutes of Health, and King's College London also made crucial contributions. Health leaders in southeast Asia confirmed the high transmission of mosquito-borne dengue virus anticipated by a University of Pittsburgh-led analysis and found challenges with data-sharing to be a major bottleneck for regional epidemic forecasting. The findings come out of an unprecedented international gathering of public health scientists and officials in Kuala Lumpur recently organized by Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health and the University of Malaya. With funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the meeting was convened to explore how the results of Pitt Public Health's recent study on dengue and climate can be applied to improve epidemic forecasting. The study, published last October in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), found that the intense El Nino emerging in the Pacific may be a harbinger of a spike in cases of the dangerous hemorrhagic fever throughout southeast Asia this year. "This was an exceptional gathering to discuss potentially life-saving public health interventions to address a possible dengue epidemic this year," said Willem G. van Panhuis, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology at Pitt Public Health and lead author of the PNAS paper. "It also was an opportunity to freely exchange data and preliminary epidemic forecast results, which could improve future disease forecasting at a larger scale." Several dozen participants representing ministries of health, universities in Asia and the U.S., and U.S. government agencies gathered Jan. 26 from 10 countries to discuss the risk of dengue and mitigation strategies for 2016. The participants shared their best predictions and updates on the dengue situation in their respective countries. Some of the countries reported high dengue transmission at the closing of 2015 and elevated temperatures in the last few weeks, with the potential of a large 2016 outbreak. Interventions, such as mosquito abatement, are being implemented country-by-country. While each country does some type of epidemic-risk forecasting, ranging from qualitative to highly quantitative modeling, many countries could benefit from improved quantitative models, like that done in Pitt Public Health's Public Health Dynamics Laboratory. While a lack of country-to-country data-sharing limits regional forecasting, the countries are willing to share data for the good of all. However, political and technical issues are preventing this. Pitt Public Health plans to play a significant role in improving the data-sharing framework in southeast Asia. "The dialogue that began at this conference will continue with the intent of lessening the public health burden from dengue that we expect over the next year," said Lam Sai Kit, Ph.D., professor at the University of Malaya and co-author of the PNAS paper. "We represent one of the first examples of countries coming together to counter an epidemic before it happens." Many of the participants were co-authors on the PNAS paper, funded by the National Institutes of Health, which analyzed 18 years of monthly dengue surveillance reports on 3.5 million reported cases in 273 provinces in eight countries in southeast Asia. The analysis revealed patterns - or synchronicity - in dengue transmission across the entire region. The high temperatures associated with a strong El Nino allow mosquitoes to reproduce faster and spread dengue more efficiently. One of the largest El Nino episodes in recent memory occurred in the past several months, and temperatures are rising throughout southeast Asia. Pitt Public Health plans to continue working with all the country partners, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the U.S. government to establish an infrastructure for continuous forecasting of the risk for major threats to public health using historical biomedical and climate data. The aim of this initiative is to enable governments to protect their populations by mitigating these risks. "Disease forecasting can help public health officials prioritize limited resources on prevention and control efforts in the times and places where they may have the greatest effect," said Michael Johansson, Ph.D., a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention biologist who specializes in disease forecasting. "Our hope is to not only assess the current dengue situation in southeast Asia, but build upon the efforts discussed in the meeting to improve disease forecasting in the future." The conference was supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant OPP1091931. As a precaution airlines are asked to use insecticide on all flights returning to the UK from countries with confirmed transmission of Zika. All aircraft returning to the UK from countries currently affected by active Zika virus transmission will be sprayed with insecticide as part of a comprehensive government response to the disease. On Monday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the issue of microcephaly - which may be linked to Zika - a public health emergency of international concern. As a precautionary measure, the government is asking airlines to ensure that disinsection (spraying with insecticide) takes place on all flights to the UK from countries with confirmed transmission of Zika. Disinsection involves spraying a simple insecticide inside the aircraft to reduce the risk of passengers being bitten by any mosquitoes that could have entered the aircraft. It already occurs on the majority of flights from the region as a precaution against malaria. The move is consistent with advice from WHO Europe. The type of mosquito that transmits the virus is extremely unlikely to survive and breed here given the lower temperatures in the UK. Public Health Minister Jane Ellison said: Spraying insecticide is a highly precautionary measure to reduce the risk to passengers during flights to the UK. I want to reassure people that the risk to the UK population is extremely low. We advise people travelling to affected areas to reduce the risk of themselves being bitten by wearing mosquito repellent, long sleeves and trousers. Pregnant women should consider avoiding travel to countries with the Zika virus - or if travel is unavoidable, they ought to seek travel health advice from their GP or a travel clinic well in advance of their trip. More funding for research The government has also announced a further 1 million funding for research to tackle the Zika virus. The money from the Global Challenges Research Fund will provide grants for researchers investigating the nature of the virus, including how it is passed on and the potential links to conditions including microcephaly, where an unborn baby's brain and head stop developing in the womb. The funding will be made available through the Medical Research Council. This is in addition to the government's 1 billion Ross Fund, which includes over 188 million for the development of vaccines and diagnostic tests for diseases caused by viruses such as Zika. Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally C Davies said: We need to build the scientific evidence around the Zika virus, especially on the potential link to microcephaly. We are determined to support international efforts to understand how to diagnose the disease and control its spread. The UK is a world leader in medical research and I look forward to the progress this funding will undoubtedly bring. The risk to the UK from Zika virus is extremely low. Further funding for research into Zika virus has been provided through the UK's Newton Fund to a joint research project between the University of Glasgow and Fiocruz, a leading biomedical centre in Brazil. The UK Vaccine Network will shortly launch a funding call to support the development of vaccines for some of the world's deadliest diseases, including Zika. News / National by Staff Reporter Zanu PF Chegutu West MP Dexter Nduna has said the Rhodesian government used to feed primary school pupils but the Zanu PF regime is struggling.He said a lot of pupils are dropping out of school due to hunger.Nduna told parliament on Thursday that pupils should be fed."I will now touch on issues to do with school, primary education in particular."We are losing a lot of our future because firstly, we are not feeding our children at school. A lot of our African kids are not going to school because they are hungry."We are losing our engineers of the future today because we are not feeding our kids."The distance between home and school is 15 to 20 km and our kids are not going to school. As they also get there, they are not being fed, so they are not going there. There was feeding during the Rhodesian era but there is no feeding now in Zimbabwe. It is time we make sure that we start feeding our children at school".Meanwhile, the Southern Eye reported that Government has expressed concern at the increasing number of hunger-induced school dropouts, and has promised to mobilise resources to urgently roll out a feeding programme in the worst affected parts of the country.Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Paul Mavhima said the first phase of the programme would target early childhood development (ECD) pupils, before spreading to senior classes."We are receiving several reports that students are no longer going to school because of the hunger situation. This is a national issue."There are ministries that are responsible for that [food aid], but what you need to know is that, from our Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, we are coming up with a programme for schools feeding," he said.Education officials late last year admitted thousands of students, mostly in Matabeleland North, were already skipping lessons due to food shortages.As a stop gap measure, government allowed schools in Matabeleland North to introduce short working hours to enable the pupils to go home early. A recent study shows that encouraging nurses to work towards a collective goal within a supportive milieu - a style of management called transformational leadership - can have positive effects on the quality of the care given to patients. It was also a predictor of nurses' intentions to stay on at their current healthcare facilities. Conversely, abusive leadership practices potentially lead to poorer quality of care and to a strong intention to quit. The findings come from a sample of 541 registered nurses in Quebec with less than five years of nursing experience who completed an anonymous online survey and self-reported on the effect of different management styles. "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," said Dr. Melanie Lavoie-Tremblay, lead author of the Journal of Advanced Nursing study. "Managers should use the results to provide training for nurse managers focusing on transformational leadership practices and the dangers of abusive leadership." A family physician reports the case of a transgender woman whose testosterone levels rose unexpectedly while on feminizing hormones, leading eventually to a diagnosis of a rare, virilizing form of testicular cancer. The complex medical and psychosocial factors related to the care of transgender patients that contributed to the delay in diagnosis are examined in the study published in LGBT Health, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is part of a new Special Issue on LGBT Populations and Cancer and is available free to download on the LGBT Health website. In "A Transgender Woman with Testicular Cancer: A New Twist on an Old Problem," Carolyn Wolf-Gould, MD and Christopher Wolf-Gould, MD, A.O. Fox Memorial Hospital, Oneonta, NY, provide a detailed account of the 28-year-old transgender woman's care, beginning when she requested feminizing hormone therapy from a family physician who was relatively new to the care of transgender patients. Despite initiation of appropriate testosterone-blocking and feminizing hormone therapy, and no evidence of a testicular mass at the initiation of treatment and 13-month follow-up, the patient's testosterone levels began to rise and continued to do so. She denied the presence of a testicular mass; however, a cancerous mass was discovered on examination at her 24-month visit. Drs. Wolf-Gould detail the factors that contributed to the delay in detection of the cancer. These included a failed attempt to access insurance coverage for vaginoplasty and the patient's emotional response to this setback, transportation and distance challenges that caused her to miss appointments, and anatomical dysphoria-- the patient's reluctance to examine her testes despite awareness of change within her scrotum. This case underscores the need to remove barriers to care for transgender patients, develop better evidence-based treatment guidelines, and create venues for medical providers to learn appropriate biopsychosocial care for this underserved population. The authors discuss screening recommendations for patients whose anatomy does not match their gender identity. "This case illustrates the complexity of attending to the biopsychosocial needs of transgender patients due to numerous barriers to care including the scarcity of resources for case consultations and provider education," says LGBT Health Editor-in-Chief William Byne, MD, PhD, James J Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY, and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. The British Dental Health Foundation have launched their new school tooth brushing programme 'Brush Time' at the Nursery World Show 2016, today in London. The leading independent oral health charity have developed Brush Time to help nursery and school staff teach children how to brush their teeth correctly; it provides all the information and tools they need to develop engaging, interactive and informative lessons for their pupils. Brush Time is also a great resource for dental professionals who currently, or are looking to, visit schools to help deliver important oral health messages to children. The charity developed the programme, which is free to download, in response to a recently published review by a Cochrane Oral Health Group which found that regular brushing with a fluoridated toothpaste results in 24 per cent fewer cavities than brushing with non-fluoridated toothpaste. Amanda Oakey, Director of Educational Resources at the British Dental Health Foundation, highlights the important role educators can play in helping children to develop good tooth brushing habits from an early age. Ms Oakey says: "Over the last twenty years children's oral health has generally improved, but the levels of dental decay in the first and second teeth it is still a major problem. "A recent study of twelve year olds in England and Wales found that on average 38 per cent of 12 year olds had dental decay; this is a huge amount and is something which can quite easily be prevented with a comprehensive tooth brushing programme taught throughout schools and nurseries. "Educators play a key role in all areas of children's development as they are a trusted and familiar figure for them to learn and develop important behaviour from. They therefore can make a real difference when it comes to nurturing children's tooth brushing habits and improving their dental lifelong health. "Brush Time is suitable for children of all ages in part-time, full-time education and care and we hope educators will use this free resource to help bring important oral health messages directly to children into the classroom." Brush Time provides educators a huge range of information; including important guidance on the type of toothpaste which should be used for children of certain ages, how to properly brush teeth, how to store toothbrushes between use to avoid infection as well as frequently asked questions about children's dental hygiene. The programme has been developed with the help of oral health and education experts to meet the unique needs of children in an educational environment and hopes to play a significant role in how dental health is taught in the UK. "Educators will be excited to find a number of activities, songs and resources which they can use to make the children's education fun as well as sample permission forms to get them involved in the programme," adds Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation. "Regular brushing twice a day with an appropriate fluoride toothpaste is highly effective in preventing dental decay, by establishing good oral hygiene practice at an early phase in a child's life helps it become an integral part of normal daily hygiene later in life. "We believe there is a real need for Brush Time, this really is a fantastic opportunity for educators to help young children understand the importance of good oral health and can really help reinforce the message of good tooth brushing behaviour." For those who wish to get involved and contribute to students dental health the programme can be downloaded in full for free from the Dental Buddy website www.dentalbuddy.org/brushtime. Canadian Partnership Against Cancer joins global initiative to mark World Cancer Day TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, in events taking place around the world, cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, advocates, clinicians and others are celebrating World Cancer Day alongside the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer and the Union for International Cancer Control by exploring ways "we can" improve the cancer journey. Shelly Jamieson Canada's Canada Cary Adams Toronto February 4, 2016 Canada's Canada February 4 "The Canadian cancer control community is working toward three ambitious goals: a future in which fewer Canadians develop cancer, fewer die from it, and those affected by the disease have a better quality of life," said Partnership CEO. "Today is the chance to celebrate our shared progress."The Partnership will mark World Cancer Day with an event at the Bram and Bluma Appel Salon, looking at improving patient engagement within the cancer control community, featuring a panel that includes clinicians and patients.Shared progress toward the Canadian Strategy on Cancer Control includes country-wide implementation of colorectal cancer screening programs to help identify polyps before they become cancer; the launch of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow,largest population-health database, which can accelerate lifesaving research; and the first phase of a cross-patient reported outcomes initiative, which helps cancer patients better manage their symptoms and feel more connected to their care.Cancer represents one of humanity's most pressing human and financial concerns. Around the world, more than eight million people are likely to succumb to cancer in 2016.Under the campaign themeWorld Cancer Day represents a unique opportunity to draw attention to what can be done to reverse the impact of cancer and save lives. The "We" refers to what government, charities and business can do, while the "I" recognizes individual efforts such as eating less red and preserved meat, exercising regularly and cutting tobacco and alcohol use that can help prevent cancer."Preventing millions of unnecessary deaths from cancer is not outside of the world's scientific or financial capabilities. It will however, require collaborative action at both individual and collective levels spearheaded by key social players," said Dr., Chief Executive Officer of the UICC, which helps the global health community accelerate the fight against cancer.Today, on World Cancer Day 2016, orange and blue spotlights will light up landmarks around the globe, including the Empire State building. The CN Tower inwill be lit in blue and orange onto recognize World Cancer Day.We encourage people to join the global conversation online by writing a personal health pledge on their hand and posting a photo on social media usingVisit www.worldcancerday.org for more information on how the day is being marked in more than 117 countries.The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer works withcancer community to reduce the burden of cancer on Canadians. Grounded in and informed by the experiences of those affected by cancer, the organization works with partners to support multi-jurisdictional uptake of evidence that will help to optimize cancer control planning and drive improvements in quality of practice across. Through sustained effort and a focus on the cancer continuum, the organization supports the work of the collective cancer community in achieving long-term population outcomes: reduced incidence of cancer, less likelihood of Canadians dying from cancer, and an enhanced quality of life of those affected by cancer.UICC unites the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden, to promote greater equity, and to integrate cancer control into the world health and development agenda. UICC is the largest cancer-fighting organization of its kind, with more than 900 member organizations across 155 countries representing the world's major cancer societies, ministries of health, research institutes, treatment centres and patient groups.World Cancer Day takes place every. Coordinated by UICC, World Cancer Day is this year taking place under the tagline '.' and explores how everyone as a collective or as individuals can do their part to reduce the global burden of cancer. Just as cancer affects everyone in different ways, everyone has the power to take action to reduce the impact that cancer has. World Cancer Day is a chance to reflect on what you can do, make a pledge and take action.For more information on how to get involved, please visit: www.worldcancerday.orgSOURCE Canadian Partnership Against Cancer Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends. Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice. Advertisement Lauckner surveyed 191 people whose loved ones were diagnosed with cancer in the past year or who were currently acting as caregivers to someone with cancer.More than three-quarters of participants searched online for information on a loved one's disease.Most looked for treatment options, prevention strategies and risk factors and prognosis information.Respondents were less inclined to view blogs or go online to hear about others' cancer experiences as these websites were linked to negative emotions for participants such as fear, sadness and anger."A lot of people, especially in the cancer realm, they will use blogs or discussion posts to vent and to talk about the harsh realities of living with an illness," the author said."While I think that is beneficial for both the person who is writing it and potentially for some people who want an idea of what to expect, when someone is dealing with the prospect of their loved one having to go through that experience, it can be extremely distressing," she noted.The most commonly visited websites were those of charitable organizations like the American Cancer Society, which were associated with positive emotions.Lauckner said, "This information is encouraging because it shows that the participants were consulting reliable sources of information and not being swayed by personal accounts as much."Source: IANS Advertisement "Of the patients surveyed, 36% had consumed at least one energy drink in the 24 hours before presenting at the hospital, and 70% had consumed some energy drink in their lifetime," said Dr Willoughby."Eight of these patients had consumed a large quantity (more than five drinks), with one patient having consumed 12 energy drinks with alcohol.""Those patients who were heavy consumers of energy drinks were found to have a significantly higher frequency of heart palpitations than those who consumed less than one per day. And, importantly, fast heartbeat and heart palpitations were seen in energy drink consumers who were healthy and had no risk factors for heart disease," he added.Dr Ian Musgrave, from the University of Adelaide's Discipline of Pharmacology, said, "There has been increasing concern that the consumption of energy drinks may lead to harm. Energy drinks have become enormously popular in the past decade and a half are consumed extensively by people who wish to reduce fatigue, increase wakefulness, and improve concentration and performance."Consumption of energy drinks has been increasing concern among health care practitioners and researchers. Caffeine is the major stimulant used in energy drinks, which are safe when consumed at the recommended levels. However, the combination of ingredients in the energy drinks may pose a threat to those who consume large quantities.Energy drinks are combined with high levels of caffeine and large quantities of sugars, vitamins and herbal extracts. When vitamins and minerals are combined, they create a toxic combination. Energy drinks are even more harmful when consumed with alcohol."Anyone feeling unwell after consuming energy drinks should seek medical advice," said Musgrave.Researchers concluded that they are not clear of what ingredients in energy drinks lead to adverse heart reactions and more research into this is urgently needed.The study is published inSource: Medindia Advertisement The app sporadically asked users questions such as how they are feeling, where they are and what they are doing.Mappiness users received a 'ding' on their smartphone at random times of the day, prompting them to complete a short survey, during which they ranked their well being using a sliding scale.The researchers found that British people experience a 7-8 percent drop in happiness while at work, compared to doing activities outside of work."Mappiness is interesting because it quizzes people in the moment, before they get a chance to reach for their rose-tinted glasses," said economist George MacKerron from University of Sussex who created the app.For example, it is common to hear people say that they enjoy their work, but the Mappiness data show that people are happier doing almost anything other than working.Although we may be positive about our jobs when reflecting on the meaning and purpose they give us, and the money they provide, actually engaging in paid work comes at a significant psychological cost."It appears that work is highly negatively associated with momentary wellbeing: work really is disutility, as economists have traditionally assumed. At any given moment, we would rather be doing almost anything else," MacKerron noted in a paper appeared in the Economic Journal.Many people have been using the app since 2010 helping to map happiness across Britain.Source: Medindia News / National by Staff Reporter A rejuvenated campaign to fight corruption starting in the justice administration sector has been launched in Harare.Guest of honour at the launch Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is also Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, said as the country strives to attract investments, all stakeholders should fight corruption which destroys many people, moral values as well as the economy."There is need for a radical turnaround to build a strong justice system following numerous complaints lodged at my office regarding corruption at the lower courts, sheriff and messengers of court."It is regrettable to note that lawyers who are supposed to combat corruption are also implicated. This shows some have no respect for their calling, said Cde Mnangagwa.The campaign to stamp out corruption in all sectors is expected to help attract investment flows into Zimbabwe.The Against Corruption Together Campaign launch started with a march from the Constitutional Court to the Harare Magistrates Court.Along the way many people joined the march.The media has also been urged to play a key role in fighting corruption.Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku says all organisations should declare war on corruption, urgings the police to improve their methods of detecting the vice.Stakeholders at the launch concurred that corruption must be seen as a public enemy that destroys the economy, making it a crime against humanity. In light of the Iranian regime's increasing political repression in advance of the elections for the Majlis and Assembly of Experts that are set for February 26, 2016, and in light of the mass disqualification of thousands of candidates from the pragmatic and reformist streams,[1] Expediency Council head and pragmatic camp leader Hashemi Rafsanjani harshly criticized the regime, saying that it is trying to force its own candidates on the people instead of allowing truly free, democratic elections. In an address to activists from parties banned by the regime, filmed sometime in November or December 2015 and posted in late January 2016 on his website (see MEMRI TV Clip No. 5298, Rafsanjani Protests against the Regime's Oppression of Its Citizens), Rafsanjani included a warning about the regime's ideological circles' intention to force their candidates on the public. He protested against the suppression of freedom of expression among university students and against the outlawing of political parties, and warned the ruling establishment that its actions were distancing the people from their loyalty to the Islamic Revolution. Responding to Rafsanjani's harsh criticism and his warnings, on February 2, 2016, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, at a meeting with Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, instructed the council and the other regime apparatuses to oppose Rafsanjani's pragmatic stream: "Since the victory of the [Islamic] Revolution, some have not agreed with the revolutionary thought, and others, even though they were within the regime [hinting at Rafsanjani and his supporters] did not believe in fighting the arrogance [i.e. the U.S.] This stream must be opposed."[2] The next day, Rafsanjani released his "recommendations for media personnel," at a meeting with members of the media, demanding that they act professionally and reflect reality in their work and to stand fast, in the Internet era, with the politically and civilly oppressed in Iranian society, in the spirit of moral values and justice. At the meeting, he discussed important political crossroads in Iran's revolutionary history, when he stood side by side with the Revolution's founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He said that it was he who had offered to take responsibility for the way in which the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war was ended, and to even stand trial for it. He complained about ideological stream's political harassment and character assassination against him ever since, hinting at Khamenei himself and other regime figures, during the 2009 Green Movement protests, and, especially, at this time. He explained that since the moment he realized that some of his partners in the Islamic Revolution - hinting again at Khamenei - had deviated from the revolutionary path and become "heretics," he had withdrawn his spiritual support of them. Prior to Rafsanjani's February 4 address to media personnel, and in response to his public criticism of the regime, particularly his criticism of the disqualification of thousands of candidates from the pragmatic and reformist streams,[3] rage at Rafsanjani in the ideological camp is growing. On February 1, 2016, Majlis member Hamid Resaei said that he was "deviating from the path" of the Islamic Revolution, "corrupt," and "spreading rumors and lies."[4] The next day, Abdallah Haji Sadeghi, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's deputy representative in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said that Rafsanjani's "behavior is like that of the enemies."[5] On February 4, Assembly of Experts member Hassan Mamdouhi said that he hoped that Rafsanjani's statements would not create "a new fitna," i.e. civil unrest, and warned him that the people would stand fast against any fitna;[6] Mojtaba Zolnour, advisor to Khamenei's representative in the IRGC, said that not even the enemies of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ever made statements like Rafsanjani's and noted that it was time for him to join his son in prison.[7] The following are highlights of Rafsanjani's statements to political activists on January 23, and statements from his meeting with members of the media on February 4: Rafsanjani's January 23, 2016 Statements: The Islamic Regime Should Give The People Freedom - Not Force Them, Threaten Them, Or Restrict Them. At the meeting with the activists from banned political parties, Rafsanjani warned that political indifference could develop among the public, leading to a boycott of the elections, and hinted that such a situation would generate civil unrest. He praised the people's democratic vote in the 2013 elections that brought President Hassan Rohani to power, praised also Iran's nuclear achievements vis-a-vis the U.S., and called for the regime to allow the people to freely elect its representatives this time as well. The following are highlights of Rafsanjani's statements, from the video released on his website on January 23, 2016: "We expect a significant presence of our university [students] in politics, in the elections, in [state] administration, and in social progress. However, [the students] are oppressed [by the regime], and this is very bad. Young Muslims are studying, and most of them acquire an education at their own expense. At the very least, they should be allowed the freedom to express their opinions. Are they inferior to those in the religious movements who express their opinion? These people too are good - I am not condemning them. [The students] also mourn the death of Hussein, and adhere to Ahl Al-Bayt...[8] But why aren't the students [entitled to freedom of expression as well]? They are educated young people, and they actually know more [than the students of religion]. This is an inexcusable move. "The security of our Iran emanates from the people. The people are still loyal to the Revolution, but we must understand - that is, the decision-makers who are making the wrong decisions must understand - that if the people, especially the young and the educated, become apathetic and indifferent, the security [of our society] will not remain as it is today... The indifference of the people is a grave danger. "How do people become apathetic? One [reason] is the elections. If they realize that a choice is being imposed on them in the elections, then they obviously will not [turn out to vote]. Ever since our first elections, all our referenda over the years have been free, and the vast majority of the people participated in them, with a turnout of 99%, [declining] to 60%-70%. We always had [a high turnout], but [political parties] that were recently formed in the country have been denied permission to be active in the elections. They can only vote. Over time this can generate indifference in the country. Who gave us the authority to interfere with the destiny of the people? We were all born free, and nobody can tell us what to think. They can only guide us. Did the Prophet [Muhammad] force anyone [to do anything]? The Koran explicitly states, 'Let there be no compulsion in religion [2:256]'... "We have come this far because of our unity - how will we go on if we are divided?! The ugliest deeds that I see are the fashion [among] 'the concerned' [referring to the ideological stream] who stand against the tremendous work carried out humbly and modestly by the [Rohani] government [referring to the JCPOA], under pressure and denigration. This was no small feat - facing down the world's great superpowers. Six powerful countries that enjoy extensive intelligence and diplomatic support sat [at the negotiating table] across from our foreign minister [Zarif] and his team. [But] we managed to advance our path. [All the while,] they [the ideological camp] said, constantly and every day, that it would not succeed. The next day they said [again] that it would not succeed. You see for yourselves what the newspapers of the 'concerned' are doing - [they] are still writing that it will not succeed. In any case, this was not a task that could possibly be carried out by a government under pressure. Indeed, this government entered the arena intensively, showed patience, and toiled devotedly. [This government] gave its all, despite [its critics'] mockery and ridicule - and it finished the job. "Where did this government come from? From the people's votes and elections. Had [the people] followed the usual path [of the ideological conservatives] in the 2013 elections, things would not have happened like this. But ultimately, the people arrived [on the scene, that is, they turned out to vote]. "[In the 2013 presidential elections,] all I did was register [as a presidential candidate]; I didn't campaign or anything. When I went to register, they asked me, What is your platform? I responded: I will publish my platform later... If I am [a candidate] - I will publish it. I have always said: Let this path go forward, so that I can publish [my platform]. I said nothing, and did not campaign at all. "But then came a tsunami [from the public], and everyone realized that the people wanted something different. This [pragmatic] stream was unacceptable to [the ideological conservatives]; they thought that they resolved this matter [by disqualifying me], but things did not work out [for them]. The people stood fast, and elected Dr. Rohani... All this belongs to the people [that said]: Most of us are coming [to vote]; we are saying, We are here. It is the people that decides. "Look, for example, I am talking about the media. In that [2013] election [campaign], the leader [Khamenei] said that the votes of the people are a right that cannot be taken from them. [But] how many [television] programs on this right of the people did the [state] broadcasting authority [air] - and how many did you see? What about televised [candidate] debates and interviews? "On the other hand, when the leader [Khamenei] uttered a single word - 'infiltration' [of U.S. influence into Iran] - they [the ideological media outlets] filled the entire world with articles and talk, and even threats, intimidation, and accusations. That does not fool the people - they [i.e. the ideological stream] fool only themselves... But the people understand. "The people are educated. They analyze [the situation]... I think that the Islamic regime should give the people freedom - not force them, threaten them, or restrict them. I will read to you some of the dictates of the Imam [Khomeini], so that you can see his explanation about how the people should be allowed to handle their own affairs. [He said] that there should be no eavesdropping and no false slander. [He said:] Do not humiliate the people, do not take their honor lightly, and respect the rights of the people. The Imam [Khomeini] always said these things, extensively. So I think that the elections that we are facing are very important."[9] Rafsanjani's February 4, 2016 Statements To Media Members: Give The People An Accurate Report On Reality And Oppression At his February 4 meeting with members of the media, Rafsanjani said: "Conveying information increases personal and collective knowledge in society. Online activists... must pay attention to the truth of the information conveyed and must publish actual information, because their news circulates rapidly in society... You should proceed with [reporting] reality according to the Islamic religion, human morality, and the Iranian character." Explaining the political attacks on him, he said: "When we noticed that some of the young people [hinting at Khamenei] who were our partners in the revolutionary struggle became heretic... we withdrew our spiritual and financial support of them, and that is the point where the political destruction and inhuman insults against me began, which continue to this day. Of course, this takes different shapes and forms; the intensity and weakness and also the nature of those who are trying to destroy me changes according to the sense of threat that they sense [from me] in society... "I am still bound to the same [revolutionary] beliefs, and my political opponents are making efforts in their own path [to ruin me]. It is my reliance on God and my hope for a good outcome that give me patience..." Speaking about his experiences in prison prior to the Islamic Revolution, he noted that his faith in the Koran had sustained him. He stressed that the Koran had given him patience as he faced political attacks and character assassination, saying: "I learned from gentle Koran to greet the public despite insults and destruction, and I learned from the dear Imam [Khomeini], who experienced such insults and destruction also. I learned that we must be patient in the path to defend Islam and to adhere to path we believe in." Referring to Iran's acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 598 that ended the Iran-Iraq war, he said: "When we saw Saddam's crimes in Halabja in Iraq, and in Piranshahr and Sardasht in Iran, we were concerned lest this criminal repeat these crimes with the missiles that he obtained, [by attacking] one of Iran's cities such as Tehran. For this reason, after a full-scale examination of the conditions in one of the meetings with Imam [Khomeini], at which the heads of the regime were also present, it was decided to end the war. Imam [Khomeini] talked about his own previous statements, i.e. 'war till we capture Qods [i.e. Jerusalem], 'war until our last breath,' 'war till the last drop of blood.' I told him, With your permission, as your successor in the armed forces and the war commander, I will announce the acceptance of Resolution [598], and when that is done you can prosecute me, so that more Iranians and Iraqis will not be killed... "After I said that, [Khomeini] was quiet for few minutes, and then he said, This is not good either [i.e. that you shoulder the blame]... He wrote the famous letter [accepting the resolution] and from that day on the issue of ending the war was added to the issues cited by those who seek to destroy me... After the war, and at the start of the reconstruction era [I was president and worked to eliminate the black market], some other groups of those who seek to destroy me joined the aforementioned group [who blamed him for Resolution 598], and when the political issues of [the student protests in Tehran in] 1999, 2006, and [the civil unrest following the presidential elections in] 2009 took place, my critics and opponents said, and did, whatever they wanted with all their might, and you also see now that defending Khomeini's followers became a pretext for those who zealously claim to be followers of the Imam's path. Over 60 years of [my] political activity, we have seen these types of issues and statements many times and we will see them again..." Noting that the elections honor Islam and the Islamic Revolution, he said: "You, who are involved in the media and Internet, have, due to the increase in technology, better access to [technological] information sources and the knowhow to use them, and you must pay attention to support the people in any situation... God has given humans the wisdom and intelligence to make decisions and to accomplish tasks based on these, and it is apparent that wisdom is incompatible with extremism and profligacy. That is why the moderates are considered to be the wise men of society..." He concluded by turning to the young activists in the media and online, saying: "Be sincere with the people and pledge to God that you will tell society what you understand. Be careful not to violate anyone's rights and do not be cruel to others. God commands you to fear the complaint of the defenseless oppressed who have no supporter but God. The greatest weapon of the oppressed is their complaint." Noting the eternal presence of memory, of the Imam Hossein, and of the Ashura martyrs against the tyrants, he said: "The events of the Ashura took place in a remote desert before any media even existed. But people still greet the Imam Hossein and distance themselves from Yazid and the Yazidis, who are a symbol of cruelty and tyranny."[10] Endnotes: The following are some of this week's reports from the MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM) Project, which translates and analyzes content from sources monitored around the clock, among them the most important jihadi websites and blogs. (To view these reports in full, you must be a paying member of the JTTM; for membership information, send an email to [email protected] with "Membership" in the subject line.) Note to media and government: For a full copy of these reports, send an email with the title of the report in the subject line to [email protected]. Please include your name, title, and organization in your email. EXCLUSIVE: Slain AQAP Leader Revealed Untold Stories About 9/11 On January 31, 2016, Al-Masraa, a jihadi newspaper affiliated with Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), published an article attributed to the group's late leader, Nasser Al-Wuhaishi, titled "The Untold Stories about 9/11 - Part One." EXCLUSIVE: In ISIS Recruitment Video, Belgian Fighter Threatens The West: 'Today We Fight Your Slaves... Tomorrow... We Will Be Inside Your Home' On February 2, 2016, the Aleppo province of the Islamic State (ISIS) released a video featuring Belgian fighter Abu Shaheed Al-Baljiki. Primarily aiming to recruit new foreign fighters for ISIS, the video focuses on the good and relaxing life that awaits those who immigrate to the Islamic State. Al-Baljiki, who is seen enjoying various leisurely activities, notes the support and equal treatment that foreign fighters receive from the locals. He also calls upon all Muslims to immigrate to the Islamic State. The video also shows the other aspect awaiting those newcomers - that of jihad. Al-Baljiki is seen using various weapons and threatening the West. He especially addresses the U.S., France, and Russia, telling them to stop bombing Muslims or face the consequences. The video was published in Dutch with Arabic subtitles through ISIS distribution channels on the Shoumukh Al-Islam forum, Telegram and Twitter, and hosted on Archive.org, Sendvid and Youtube. EXCLUSIVE: French-Speaking ISIS Fighter Warns West To Expect Attacks 'That Will Make You Forget September 11 And Paris Attacks' On January 30, 2016, the media company of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq's Ninawa Province released an 8-minute video showing the confessions and executions of five Muslims whom ISIS convicted of conspiring and acting against the Islamic State. EXCLUSIVE: Netherlands Involvement In Syria - Discussed By Jihadis On Twitter Recently, both Islamic State (ISIS) and Jabhat Al-Nusra (JN) supporters have been discussing the Netherlands' imminent involvement in Syria and its upcoming decision to start bombing ISIS territory. The news was reported by numerous Twitter accounts, and there was general agreement on jihadi Twitter accounts that this country is now a legitimate target for reprisal attacks. EXCLUSIVE: Twitter's 'Periscope' Video-Streaming App - The Latest App To Be Embraced By Jihadi Fighters And Supporters Periscope, the Twitter-owned live-video streaming app for smartphones, appears to have gained some traction among jihadi fighters in Syria, as well as among jihadi supporters in the West - further demonstrating the adaptability of tech-savvy Islamic State (ISIS) supporters, as social media applications and platforms that they use increasingly suspend jihadi acccounts. While most of the jihadis using Periscope do not say where they are from or where they are located, several fighters, among them the American ISIS fighter and a Dutch Free Syrian Army fighter featured in this report do provide details about themselves. The San Francisco-based Periscope app was founded by Kayvon Beykpour and Joe Bernstein in early 2014; Twitter acquired it in 2015. On February 2, 2016 an ISIS supporter called Umm Laith Al-Dhahriyia posted on Facebook, "The Periscope app is very cool. I wonder when IS Dawlah will start using it." Another ISIS supporter called UmHamza on Twitter has advertised the fact that she uses Periscope. On Facebook, UK ISIS Supporter Says His Brother, Best Friend Are In Islamic State A Facebook user calling himself Abu Ali Mujahid often writes posts in support of the Islamic State. He appears to be suspended repeatedly by Facebook but returns under new accounts. In one post, Abu Ali Mujahid claims that his brother and his best friend from childhood had emigrated to Syria, to Mosul and to Raqqa, respectively. In addition to pro-ISIS rhetoric, Abu Ali Mujahid has also posted threats to and denigration of Shi'ites. ISIS Video Criticizes Islamist Union In Aleppo, Features Young Boy Beheading A Union Member, Threatening U.S. That ISIS Will Destroy Rebels It Supports On February 4, 2016, the Islamic State in Aleppo province released a video directed against Jabha Al-Shamiya - a union of five large Islamic organizations established on December 24, 2014, and operating in the same province. Al-Sahab Releases Part Five Of Al-Zawahiri's Reminiscences About Bin Laden On February 2, 2015, Al-Qaeda's media wing, Al-Sahab, released part five of the "Days with the Imam" video series, in which the organization's leader, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, reminisces about Osama bin Laden. The links to the video were posted on the Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadi forum Al-Fida'. For an unspecified reason, this part was skipped after the release of part four, which was followed by parts six and seven, and has only been released now. Al-Zawahiri starts off by reiterating that he would only talk about those who are dead and would not mention those who are alive so as to not compromise their safety. ISIS Claims It Downed American Drone In a January 30, 2016 communique issued by the media company of ISIS's "Faluja Province" in Iraq, the organization takes credit for downing an American drone in the Al-Karmah region. The communiqu, posted on the jihadi forum Shumoukh Al-Islam and elsewhere, stated that "one of the [ISIS] air-defense units in the Al-Karmah region succeeded in downing an American drone using surface-to-air missiles." A forum member commented that the craft was a RQ-7 Shadow drone, which costs $750,000. ISIS Claims Damascus Bombing, Threatens Further Attacks On Shi'ites In a statement issued January 31, 2016 by its "Damascus Province," the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the double suicide bombing in Damascus' Sayyidah Zaynab suburb. The statement, posted on an ISIS-affiliated Twitter account, read: "Two soldiers of the Caliphate carried out martyrdom-seeking operations in the polytheist Rafida [Shi'ite] den in Damascus' Sayyida Zaynab area, harvesting around fifty dead and nearly 120 wounded from the polytheist [Shi'ites]. Let the [Shi'ites] know that, just as they kill they shall be killed, and just as they bomb they will be bombed. With Allah's permission, they will enjoy no security from the mujahideen's attacks." ISIS Claims It Intercepted French Missile On February 1, 2016, the media office of ISIS's "Aleppo Province" released photos of what it claims to be "the remains of a winged French missile" that it brought down over Manbij, northeast of Aleppo, using anti-aircraft weapons. ISIS's Al-A'maq news agency released a video of the debris, titled "Debris of the French Remote-Controlled Combat Aircraft Brought Down by ISIS Fighters West of Manbij in the Aleppo Region."[The photos and video suggest that the object is an unexploded SCALP EG / Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missile. ISIS Launches Android App For Its Radio Broadcasts The Islamic State (ISIS) has released an app providing streaming broadcasts by its official radio station, Al-Bayan. The app, which is also named Al-Bayan, is designed for Android devices. Filipina ISIS Member Blogs, Tweets About Life As A Wife In The Islamic State A Filipina ISIS member calling herself Lady Ghuraba ("stranger") and Umm Asma offers tips and advice via her Wordpress blog and Twitter account. While she does not reveal a great deal of personal information, she mentions that she is married to a Somali fighter, and she claims to reside in the Islamic State. The titles of some of her blog posts include "Being a Wife of Mujahid," and "Obeying Husband (A Key to Paradise)." She also discusses polygamy in great detail. The following report will feature selected blog posts and tweets from her accounts. Report: Pakistani Military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Recruiting Militants For ISIS In India Following are excerpts from an Indian media report revealing that 14 youths recently arrested by Indian security agencies have revealed that the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is helping recruit militants for the Islamic State (ISIS) in India. Indian Media Report: 'Over 30,000 People In India Are In Contact With ISIS' An Indian media report warns that thousands of Indian nationals are in contact with the Islamic State (ISIS). The report noted that "over 30,000 people in India are in contact with ISIS. Also, these 30,000 are ready to work for ISIS to wage war against their own country i.e. India." On January 25-27, 2016, several hundred Muslim religious leaders from throughout the world and fifty non-Muslim observers met in the beautiful city of Marrakesh under the patronage of the King of Morocco to discuss and promote the "Marrakesh Declaration" on "the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Countries." Marrakesh is a popular place for declarations and agreements and has been the site for other declarations on topics such as preventing corruption and stopping illicit wildlife trafficking. It was even the site of another international conference promoting religious tolerance in the Middle East, in November 2011.[1] Although held under the auspices of the Moroccans, the January 2016 meeting was organized through the Abu Dhabi-based Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies. The Forum is one of several projects led by Mauritanian-born Sheikh 'Abdallah Bin Bayyah.[2] The Forum's laudable purpose is "a long term vision in eradicating the extremist narrative through the use of a Primary Narrative that seeks to establish itself through via the sources of Islam, one that is based on the promotion of peace, and human compassion."[3] Although very much part of the mainstream Islamic establishment in the Middle East, Bin Bayyah is a somewhat controversial figure in the United States, especially because of his long-standing ties with organizations and Islamist causes championed by Sheikh Yousuf al-Qaradhawi.[4] Al-Qaradhawi's strident support for the Muslim Brotherhood, especially in the past few years, included openly espoused anti-Semitism,[5] a charge the Qatar-supported cleric denied.[6] Bin Bayyah broke with Al-Qaradhawi's International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS) in 2013 and was cited by President Obama during a 2014 UN speech as a role model against extremism.[7] His fatwa against ISIS was also cited as material to be propagated by a U.S.-UAE counter-terrorism media center established in July 2015.[8] In full disclosure, I once met Sheikh Bin Bayyah in Washington, D.C. while working for the Department of State. He was a courtly gentleman very much in line with senior Muslim clerics one often meets in the Arab world. On that occasion, he was bemused that in the many meetings he had that evening, among many visiting American Muslim figures of South Asian origin, the only two visitors who could speak to him in conversational Arabic were two non-Muslims, myself and an Arab-American Christian who was also a government employee. The elderly cleric also played a key role in the 2010 New Mardin Declaration which sought to address one of the basic pillars of the takfiri Salafi Jihadist movement, some 14th century fatwas of Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328). A fierce Hanbali cleric, Ibn Taymiyya's condemnation of the semi-Islamized Mongol Il-Khans as no better than infidels (Kufar) set the stage for the much later takfiri extremists of the 20th century and beyond to declare any Muslim they disagreed with as infidels deserving death. Ibn Taymiyya was also an early intellectual fount of anti-Shi'a vitriol which was also adopted by the modern devotees of what would become ISIS.[9] The New Mardin Declaration conference has been criticized as poorly organized and academically dubious but there is no doubt that its revisionism towards Ibn Taymiyya's writings provoked a bitter response in Arabic by influential pro-Al-Qaeda clerics such as Akram Hijazi and Hamid Al-Ali.[10] While it seems to have had very little effect in the continued rise of Salafi Jihadist terror, the conference did generate a slew of positive media coverage in the West, often promoted by Bin Bayyah's mediagenic student, the American convert Hamza Yusuf Hanson.[11] In many ways, Marrakesh is a larger and broader repeat of Mardin, seeking "to use age-old Muslim texts to refute current-day religious arguments by Islamist groups."[12] In the case of Marrakesh 2016, the document in question is the so-called Charter of Medina, supposedly drafted by the Prophet Muhammad for the Muslim and Jewish inhabitants of that city.[13] The conference's organizers frankly admitted that they aim to "begin the historic revival of the objectives and aims of the Charter of Medina, taking into account global and international treaties and utilizing enlightening, innovative case studies that are good examples of working towards pluralism."[14] Certainly, the topic of protecting the rights of religious minorities in Muslim majority countries could not come at a better time. The rise of the Islamic State since 2014, and especially its treatment of Yazidi and Christian minorities in Iraq and Syria, and by the ISIS branch in Libya, has shined a bright global light on the issue.[15] Such actions by the Islamic State have directly contributed to anger directed against the Muslim diaspora in the West. But ISIS builds on a much larger Islamist discourse, grounded on selective readings of the sacred texts of Islam, calling for violence against religious minorities, most prominently Christians, which goes back decades.[16] Such a backdrop is very much on the minds of the Marrakesh Declaration's drafters who noted (without mentioning ISIS, Al-Qaeda or Salafism) that the situation in the Middle East "enabled criminal groups to issue edicts attributed to Islam, but which, in fact, alarmingly distort its fundamental principles and goals in ways that have seriously harmed the population as a whole."[17] While Bin Bayyah has been active on this front for years, the conference can also broadly be seen as part of a range of UAE-supported or funded initiatives against Islamist extremism. This includes the Sawab Center and Hedayah CVE Center of Excellence, action against the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters, and laws against hate crimes and discrimination.[18] Marrakesh 2016 also clearly builds on the 2007 "A Common Word" Muslim outreach to Christians, also signed by Bin Bayyah.[19] And while the United Arab Emirates has been in the forefront of fighting Islamist extremism, the Kingdom of Morocco has not been far behind and also attracted the ire of the Islamic State. A January 2016 ISIS video campaign against North African governments included a lengthy bitter attack against traditionally tolerant Moroccan Islam, singling out the "100,000 shrines of polytheism" ISIS would like to destroy. Targeting Moroccan Sufis seemed almost as important as targeting the Moroccan Government.[20] The Declaration clearly affirms that "it is unconscionable to employ religion for the purpose of aggressing upon the rights of religious minorities in Muslim countries." One of its weaknesses, however, is that it is lacking in real concrete (and especially, immediate) steps to be taken. There is a potentially significant call for Muslim scholars to come up with a new jurisprudence that incorporates a diverse and tolerant concept of citizenship. There is a request for a review of educational curricula in order to eliminate material that promotes extremism. There are the usual calls for political and "educated, artistic and creative" leaders to strengthen religious understanding and respect for minority rights. An interesting, if loaded and unrealistic, paragraph seems to blame the victim or call for a return to an idealized and complex past long gone asking "various religious groups bound by the same national fabric to address their mutual state of selective amnesia that blocks memories of centuries of joint and shared living on the same land; we call upon them to rebuild the past by reviving this tradition of conviviality." One wonders which part of those shared centuries of "traditional conviviality" are to be recalled and applied? The history of religious minorities under Islamic rule is an incredibly complex and varied one. But while it can - at some specific times and places - compare favorably with Western Christian rule over religious minorities, it also includes more than its fair share of ugly massacres and brutality. Minorities could be favored as a group, or singled out for savage oppression (much in the same way Jews were treated by Western Christian rulers for centuries) based on the passing whim or renewed zeal of whatever Caliph or Sultan happened to rule.[21] There is at least a whiff of happy Ahl al-Dhimmah talk, of nostalgia for religious minorities content under their Muslim masters, in this section.[22] The actual Marrakesh 2016 Declaration text, appearing in English on January 27 (as of January 30 there seemed to be no Arabic version and videos of the plenary were not available to the general public) was quickly lauded by Texas mega-church pastor Bob Roberts who called it a "huge first step," and enthusiastically, if inaccurately, noted that "there has not been a statement like this since the Medina Charter from the prophet Mohammed, that's why this is so big."[23] Retired Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, former Archbishop of Washington, D.C. spoke for all the interfaith observers present: "I was privileged to have listened to the declaration of our final gathering. It is truly a great document, one that will influence our times and our history. It is a document that our world has been waiting for and a tribute to the Muslim scholars who prepared it. As one of the People of the Book, I thank you for this document and I thank the Lord God who has provided his followers the courage to prepare this document. I will be honored as an observer to support it."[24] Those closer to the action in the Middle East were more sanguine. Although he was not able to attend in person, the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Baghdad Louis Sako, provided a more practical, immediate and ground zero-based view of life in government-controlled parts of Iraq, in a statement circulated at the conference, citing (without including the better known depredations of ISIS): "Muslim contractors refusing to build homes, monasteries, etc., for Christians, whom they identify as infidels; the display of posters, even in public offices, asking Christian girls to wear a veil, following the example of Mary; a judge in Baghdad who dismissed a Christian from court, claiming that Christians are not accepted as witnesses in Iraqi courts; and militias in Baghdad who confiscated homes, lands and other properties of Christians."[25] Other observers noted the hopeful presence of Syrian and Iraqi Christians, a Yazidi and a Druze, but also the "difficult to support" hardcore assertions by Saudi and Pakistani representatives denying any religious discrimination in their countries.[26] Also attending was prominent Orthodox Rabbi David Rosen, board member of the King Abdullah International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID).[27] Still another Catholic expert on the Middle East, Fr. Jean Druel, while praising the effort to reinterpret the Medina Charter within a contemporary context and noting that this attempt would not please the Salafists, wondered "what happens when you violate this charter?"[28] And that is one key flaw of this Declaration. How does a document better known for its existence on paper rather than as a practical model serve as a modern counterweight to extremism? The Salafi Jihadists also make the same appeal to the foundational documents of formative Islam and find ample justifications for their extremism and violence there ready to be cherry-picked and applied to the contemporary world. 14th century depiction of the surrender of the Jewish Banu Nadir tribe ISIS self-consciously treats minorities in ways that mimic early Islam, drawing from the much more historically consequential "Pact of Umar" made with conquered Christian populations.[29] Some scholars have even doubted the authenticity of the Medina Charter, suggested it may be a compilation of two documents and questioned especially the portions mentioning the treatment of the Jews of Medina, the very part of the Charter that gives it that timely inter-religious dimension. They note that the Jews of Medina were not treated as individual tribes but as bound associates of Arab tribes. In fact, the three Jewish tribes are not even mentioned by name.[30] Given that the Medina Charter is dated traditionally from 622 A.D., it would be worthwhile noting how religious minorities were actually treated in the supposed time of its viability under Muhammad's rule. The historic record, such as it is, is not a heartening one. The fate of the Jewish tribes of Medina is a well told tale still found in many Arab textbooks. The Banu Nadir and Banu Qaynuqa were expelled en masse for violating the terms of their "contract" two years after the Medina Charter. Not surprisingly, one of the elements of the Charter and of the treatment of the Banu Qaynuqa and Banu Nadir is the concept of collective responsibility/punishment documented frequently in ordinary Islamist discourse to this day.[31] The liquidation of the third Jewish tribe, the Banu Qurayza, is another well-known story, even included in fifth grade ISIS textbooks.[32] This tribe was accused of rebellion after the Battle of the Trench (627 A.D. - five years after the Medina Charter) and was allowed to choose a mediator from an Arab Muslim tribe traditionally allied with the Banu Qurayza. That mediator, Saad Ibn Muadh, a man much beloved by the Prophet Muhammad, decreed that all the men of this Jewish tribe were to be beheaded and the women and children sold into slavery. The extermination of this tribe was actually cited by ISIS as a model for the mass murder of a rebellious Syrian Sunni Arab Muslim tribe in 2014.[33] And showing how compelling is the memory of those events, Saad Ibn Muadh's ruling on the Banu Qurayza 14 centuries ago was cited as recently as a few months ago in Gaza as a model for finishing with the Jews during the "Stabbing Intifada."[34] American Salafi preacher Yasir Qadhi also used Ibn Muadh's death sentence in 2013 as a positive teaching moment on principled leadership.[35] It is easy to find similar ugliness in the past of many faith traditions and we are talking here not so much about the historical record but of widely held perceptions about history. But can a narrative base itself on the alleged tolerant nature of the Medina Charter while divorcing itself from the alleged punitive treatment of the Jews of Medina? Can resurrected visions of "traditional conviviality" be so promoted given the way that Jihadists use both Islamic proof texts and selective readings of historical events to justify their violence? Given the growth of Islamist-fueled intolerance in many Muslim majority countries, any call for tolerance and better treatment of religious minorities is to be unambiguously welcomed. Despite the lack of the words "equality" and "individual" rights in the Marrakesh 2016 Declaration, it is a step in the right direction. It is hard to believe, however, absent any acceptance by many Muslim states (including some, like some unnamed representatives from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, already on record at the conference that they don't discriminate) that these fine words will have much immediate effect. While reforming the educational curriculum and reformulation of fiqh are laudable goals, they pale into insignificance with the present emergency that is a battered and dispossessed Yazidi community, a Mosul Christian community robbed of all they possessed at gunpoint and ancient communities region-wide emptying from a Middle East where they see no future, no economic stability or personal security.[36] After the textbooks are eventually purged and the jurisprudence is spruced up, what will remain of actual, living communities? Furthermore, how do such conferences and declarations, replete with compromised figures drawn from often discredited regime elites, move the needle in the discourse of the common people, especially the already alienated young? The statements of established Islamic clergy and governments over the past decades have already failed to prevent the rise of Al-Qaeda and ISIS and a seemingly inexorable move towards various types of Islamism. Isn't the obvious solution the promotion of civil codes and secular states?[37] While using the Medina Charter as a tool to fight the Islamists on their own territory is an interesting, even bold, concept, it would seem to fall short. In the end, drawing from an idealized version of Islamic history is no substitute for individual rights and the enforcing of a rule of law that fully protects those rights. If a 1400-year-old "constitution" that never seems to have actually been used helps to secure those modern rights and that rule of law, then that is great. If not, the 2016 Marrakesh Declaration will join many other well-intentioned but empty expressions of good will that generated some nice, fleeting headlines among the enthusiastic and uninformed but little more. One can only wish the organizers and those frontline states supporting them the very best and encourage that gestures can be rapidly transformed into public policy in a region that seems emptying of rights for all of its people, but especially its minorities. *Alberto M. Fernandez is Vice-President of MEMRI. Endnotes: While global attention is focused on the Pakistan-Afghanistan region as the breeding ground of South Asian jihad, it is actually New Delhi's Abul Fazl Enclave area that has emerged as the global clearinghouse of jihadi literature in Arabic, Urdu, English and Hindi. Since 9/11, governments across the world have acted against the publication of jihadi books, magazines, and digital literature, but at the same time, a number of Islamist and jihadi publication houses have emerged in Abul Fazl Enclave, surviving right under the nose of the Indian security establishment. It may be that the jihadi literature published from Abul Fazl Enclave goes undetected because the Indian intelligence agencies have no Urdu-language expertise, or because the Urdu-language staff hired by them turn a blind eye to such literature. It appears that Islamist books written by radical Indian writers such as Rashid Shaz are also being published in Arabic from London. Abul Fazl Enclave is part of Jamia Nagar, a predominantly Muslim region of New Delhi that is the seat of the Jamia Millia Islamia - a government-funded university attended predominantly by Muslims. In this region, Abul Fazl Enclave is the headquarters of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (or Jamaat-e-Islami India). This is South Asia's largest Islamist organization, founded by Maulana Abul A'la Maududi (1903-1979). Maududi was a jihadi ideologue for South Asia, much like Hassan Al-Banna and Syed Qutub were jihadi ideologues for the Middle East and elsewhere. Due to the partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947 and the creation of Bangladesh in 1971, this religious network has the following organizationally unconnected branches: Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir. The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind - with its headquarters based in Abul Fazl Enclave - distinguishes itself organizationally from Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir, though all the branches of this religious organization founded by Maududi have the same ideological affiliation. In Pakistan, Bangladesh, or the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, the Jamaat-e-Islami branches have sheltered jihadis over the past two decades and more. In India's Jammu & Kashmir, Jamaat-e-Islami units even today continue to shelter jihadis infiltrating in from Pakistan. It is not surprising then that it is in Abul Fazl Enclave that a number of Islamist publication houses are regularly translating and publishing jihadi books in Urdu, as discussed below. These pro-jihad books are being supplied to Urdu-speaking audiences very cheaply, certainly below printing costs. Books published from Abul Fazl Enclave are openly sold in many parts of India, including in Jammu & Kashmir state, where India has faced a serious jihadi threat sponsored from Pakistan. Shops in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir state, openly displayed such books. There is a global ideological pattern in the literature published from the printing presses based in Abul Fazl Enclave. These are outright translations into Urdu of Arabic-language jihadi books authored by Syed Qutb, Hasan Al-Banna, Abul A'la Maududi and others like them, or are written by Indian Muslim writers with the aim of cultivating Islamist viewpoints among Urdu-speaking audiences in India, and therefore also include books that foment hatred of Jews and Israel in furtherance of jihadi ideology among Indian Muslims, whose population is forecast to be larger than any Muslim country by 2050. These books published from Abul Fazl Enclave do not distinguish between criticizing Israel and hatred of Jews. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is in possession of some of these books published by different printing presses based in Abul Fazl Enclave and other parts of Delhi. Given below are some examples of these books in MEMRI's possession, insofar as they shed some light on Abul Fazl Enclave's emergence as India's lead publishing center for jihadi books. Left: Cover of book by Hassan Al-Banna, translated into Urdu as Mujahid ki Azaan - The Call of the Mujahid" Right: Book's title page. The website of Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers, mmipublishers.net, shows that it publishes mainly religious books in Urdu, English and Hindi. A book written by Hassan Al-Banna (the founder of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood), translated into Urdu as Mujahid ki Azaan - "The Call of the Mujahid" - by Muhammad Inayatullah Subhani (see top left image above), is published by Markazi Maktaba Islami Publishers, whose address is: "D-207 Dawat Nagar, Abul Fazl Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi - 110025." The book is 376 pages. Its opening page starts with a quote from Hassan Al-Banna: "That Ummah which pledges to live, where is the question of its death? Even the death runs away from it." The book itself is a total radical blueprint for day-to-day living for ordinary Muslims, and covers all issues, social, religious, and political. Although the book is hardbound, it appears to be deliberately priced below the average cost of printing books in Delhi, at Rs 175. The book's title page (see top right image above) shows that that this book is one of the publications of a fine-sounding nongovernmental organization called Human Welfare Trust. A search of the Markazi Maktaba Islami Publisher website, mmipublishers.net, shows that it publishes mainly religious books in Urdu, English and Hindi. An image grab of its website (see image above) shows that books published by it include books that promote hatred against Ahmadi Muslims such as those with the titles Khatme Nabuwat ("End of the Prophethood") or those that spread awareness about about invaders of India such as Mahmud Ghaznavi, or an encyclopedia on the caliphate with titles like "Khilafat Quiz," and more. Left: Cover page of book titled Islami Nizam - Ek Fareeza, Ek Zaroorat ("Islamic System - A Duty, A Need") Right: Book's title page. As seen on the left above, a book titled Islami Nizam - Ek Fareeza, Ek Zaroorat ("Islamic System - A Duty, A Need") is authored by the internationally known Sunni cleric Sheikh Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, who heads the International Union of Muslim Scholars. The translator's name is given as Muhammad Tufail Ansari. The book is published by Manshurat Publishers and Distributors. The image on the right above shows that Manshurat Publishers and Distributors is based in Abul Fazl Enclave, with the address D-301 Dawat Nagar, Abul Fazl Enclave, New Delhi - 110025. A note on this page indicates that the book in Urdu was originally published by Lahore-based publisher: Al-Badr Publishers. The word "Al-Badr" refers to the first Islamic war fought by the Prophet Muhammad. The book itself inculcates a radical view of Islam, addressing religious, political and social issues for Muslims. The publisher has a website: Manshurat.in. On its "About Us" page, the publisher declares: "Inspired by our Islamic faith, Manshurat is committed to serving Muslim communities worldwide by publishing innovative, relevant and authentic books. In today's ever changing world, Manshurat seeks to enable Muslim spiritual, cultural, intellectual and creative expression in ways that are engaged and exciting, traditional and modern." January 10, 2016 post on Manshurat Publishers Facebook page This publisher imports a huge number of books from Pakistan, as attested to by a series of posts on its Facebook page. On January 10, 2016, a Facebook post on its page urged its followers to visit its stall at the Delhi Book Fair for books "imported from Pakistan" (see image above). It is interesting that India-Pakistan relations are conflicted but Indian Islamic publishers are able to import radical and fundamentalist literature from Pakistan. Its website, Manshurat.in, shows a number of titles that are conducive to attracting young Indian Muslims to the cause of global jihad. Some titles available on its website (see below) are: Guantanamo Mein Paanch Saal - "Five years in Guantanamo"; Hassan Al-Banna Shaheed - "Hassan Al-Banna Martyr"; Asr-e-Haazir ki Mujahid Khwateen - "Mujahid Women of Modern Times"; and others. The website sells books like Islam Ki Awaaz - Syed Qutb Shaheed - "Islam's Voice - Syed Qutb Martyr." The Egyptian jihad theoretician Syed Qutb is lauded by jihadists as the fountainhead of global jihad in modern times. Titles available at Manshurat.in It appears that the publishing houses based in Abul Fazl Enclave, like Islamic organizations worldwide, both peaceful and non-peaceful, engage in fomenting hatred of Jews and Israel, without distinguishing between them. A book (on left below) by Victor E. Marsden on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, translated by Muhamad Yahya Khan into Urdu as Yehudi Protocols - Greater Israel Ke Aalami Saihooni Mansoobey Ki Khufiya Dastatwezaat Ka Pehla Angreezi, Urdu Tarjuma ("The Jewish Protocols - The First English-Urdu Translation of the Secret Documents of the International Zionist Plan for Greater Israel"), is published by the Abul Fazl Enclave-based Milli Publications. The title page (on right below) shows its address as Milli Publications, Milli Times Building, Abul Fazl Enclave, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi - 110025. The entire book is devoted to sowing the hatred of Jews among Indian Muslims. This is a bilingual book, printed in both English and Urdu. Almost all the books published from Abul Fazl Enclave appear to heavily discounted. A number of Islamist organizations are based in this locality, Jamia Nagar, and are known to get money from Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East. Although this book is hardbound and runs over 300 pages, it is priced at a paltry sum of 200 rupees, which appears to be very far below the actual cost of printing. Yehudi Protocols - Greater Israel Ke Aalami Saihooni Mansoobey Ki Khufiya Dastatwezaat Ka Pehla Angreezi, Urdu Tarjuma ("The Jewish Protocols - The First English-Urdu Translation of the Secret Documents of the International Zionist Plan for Greater Israel"), is published by the Abul Fazl Enclave-based Milli Publications. Milli Publications has also brought out an Urdu translation of They Dare to Speak Out by Paul Findley (left, below). The Urdu version is titled Shikanja-e-Yehud - "The Sinews of the Jews." The book is hardbound and runs over 450 pages, but is priced at only 250 rupees. Milli Publications has also published another book by Paul Findley into Urdu (right, below) titled Israel ki Deeda Danista Farebkariyan - "Israel's Deliberate Deceptions." It appears that the Milli Publications is the leading publisher of radical Islamic literature not only in Urdu but also in Arabic and English, including for books by Rashid Shaz, who is known for cultivating the jihadi mindset among Indian Muslims. Some books by Rashid Shaz are also published in Arabic by London-based Darul Hikmah Publications. Books by Paul Findley, published by Milli Publications * Tufail Ahmad is Director of the MEMRI South Asia Studies Project. Julian Assange, founder and editor-in-chief of Wikileaks, has always been one to court controversy. But what makes him one of the most wanted men to walk 21st-centurian Earth? Why has he always been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons? Heres what you need to know about the man who is currently being sheltered at the Embassy of Ecuador, in London, as a refugee from the UK and Sweden governments, who want him on charges of sexual assault, molestation, unlawful coercion and rape. Who Is Julian Assange? Reuters Julian Paul Assange is an Australian computer programmer, publisher and journalist who, in 2006, founded Wikileaksa whistle-blower organization aimed at spilling sensitive government secrets and classified information out to the world at the expense of, well, nations and political parties crumbling. In 2010, the organization and Assange came under fire for having leaked documents supplied by Chelsea Manning, a US Army soldier, which included sensitive visuals of the 2007 Baghdad Airstrikes (video titled Collateral Murder, where several civilians were killed), the Afghanistan and Iraq War logs and the Guantanamo files, among others. Assange was, thereafter, accused of using illegal means to satisfy his needs and of being a terrorist; many others wanted his execution, if not assassination! The Turn Of Events In the months and years that followed, Assange was bestowed with awards, titles, a book deal and a film on himself, with Benedict Cumberbatch playing his namesake. Reuters 11 August, 2010 Assange visited Stockholm for a seminar by the Social Democrats' Brotherhood Movement on "War and the role of media, where he was the key speaker. During this visit, he met a certain Miss A who had offered Assange her place during his trip. The two of them are said to have had sex on 14 August 2010, after the seminar. 17 August, 2010 Assange is said to have indulged himself with another someone called, Miss W, which also resulted in the same outcome. However, what started out as consensual sex, is said to have turned sour when it became non-consensual for the women involveda story which supposedly came to light somewhere between 17 and 20 August, 2010, during which the two women met. 20 August, 2010 The Swedish prosecutors office issued a warrant against Assange on the charges of rape and molestation. Assange refuted the allegations, calling them without basis on Wikileaks. The allegations were withdrawn the next day because there wasnt enough reason to suspect Assange, according to one of the chief prosecutors, Eva Finne. 31 August, 2010 Assange is subjected to a round of questioning by the Stockholm police and formally advised on the allegations against him. Once again, he denied these. 1 September, 2010 The case was reopened by Marianne Nye, Swedish Director of Prosecution. In her words, "Considering information available at present, my judgment is that the classification of the crime is rape." 18 October, 2010 Assange is denied residency in Sweden on account that "he did not fulfill the requirements". 18 November, 2010 Assange was detained for questioning by the Stockholm District Court, on suspicion of rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion. The Wikileaks founder was already in London during the time of the verdict and was insisted upon by Ms Nye to return to Sweden. Flickr 20 November, 2010 An international arrest warrant for Assange was issued by the Swedish police via Interpol. 8 December, 2010 Assange surrendered himself to the British police and was taken to an extradition hearing. 16 December, 2010 The High Court granted Assange bail and he was, thereafter, freed by his supporters who paid 240,000 in cash and sureties. 24 February, 2011 The British government ruled that Assange be extradited to Sweden following which his lawyers appealed against the rule on 3 March, 2010. However, the decision was upheld by the court on 2 November 2011. 3 March 2011-30 May 2012 There was an ensuing battle going back and forth between the court and the Wikileaks founder over extradition which finally resulted in the Supreme Court ruling for the extradition of Assange to Sweden. 19 June 2012 Ecuadors foreign minister announced that Assange had applied for political asylum at the embassy in London, further claiming that UK had issued a threat to enter the embassy premises and arrest Assange. 16 August 2012 Assange was granted political asylum fearing the violation of human rights, much to the disappointment of the UK government. 8 October 2012 The people who had put up the bail amount initially for Assange were ordered to pay thousand pounds each due to the latters failure to appear in court. The ambassador of Ecuador, of course, later announced that Assange had come down with a chronic lung condition that could worsen any minute. 18 August 2014 Assange announced that he would be leaving the Ecuadorian embassy soon, without actually mentioning a concrete date. 13 August 2015 The Swedish prosecutors divided their investigation into one on accusation on sexual molestation and another based on unlawful coercion. 12 October 2015 Scotland Yard announced they would no longer be stationing offers outside the embassy owing to an estimated cost of more than 12 million. Twitter 5 February 2016 A UN Panel passed a rule stating that Assange was arbitrarily detained by the UK and Swedish authorities since 2010, thereby, violating his human rights and he should be allowed to walk free and, in turn, be compensated for his deprivation of liberty. The UK and Swedish authorities arent too happy with the decision which was passed earlier today and have decided to contest the motion. What remains to be seen is what becomes of the fate of the man-cum-menace that is the one and only Julian Assange! Were biting our nails here News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF youths are allegedly demanding $1 each from Masvingo villagers as the party struggles to raise $800 000 for President Robert Mugabe's 92nd birthday bash in the province, with the party only able to raise less than $150 000 in cash and pledges so far.Human rights advocacy group, Community Tolerance, Reconciliation and Development (Cotrad), yesterday claimed villagers and civil servants in the host province were being coerced into making cash contributions towards the celebrations, a charge Zanu-PF has denied.Meanwhile, preparations for the 21st February Movement to celebrate President Mugabe's birthday have moved a gear up with the Zanu-PF Youth League yesterday revealing this year's theme: Youth Celebrating An African Icon Through Enhanced Productivity.President Mugabe turns 92 on February 21.The Zanu-PF Youth League secretary Pupurai Togarepi said this year's theme was motivated by President Mugabe's continued fight for freedom and economic emancipation for Africans.Pupurai Togarepi said this year's celebrations will be held on February 27 at Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo. News / Press Release by Phil Noble Hon Builders in the UKHon War VetsHon NguniI would like to be very thankful of the honour that you the people of Zimbabwe have bestowed upon me to lead this great movement of the People First Project in the role of Interim Convener. I want to thank the Zimbabwean leadership for accepting the decision made in Birmingham by fellow builders to ensure our unity of purpose in building this great people's project. I was also overwhelmed by the support that came from builders in other camps and this gave me the reassurance that this project is worth pursing and is bigger than any one individual. It is my humble submission therefore that I have taken it upon myself to ensure that in my tenure unity must underpin my leadership. I therefore, urge every builder to come together and turn our swords into trowels and start building rather than engaging in perpetual fighting that does not get us anywhere. I formally request unification with all builders who were part of the previous interim structure led by Hon Josh Chigwagwa and other initiatives that fell under the guidance of Hon war veteran Musavengana and others. Unification of all People First initiatives are important for the building of one big movement which can be a true reflection of what it means to be putting people first. Our party is passionately called PEOPLE FIRST but I take full responsibility as one of the leaders that we have allowed our egos to go before the people, something that goes against the latter and spirit of People First.Passing on accurate information is also going to be my undertaking as the UK Coodinator and I want it to be known that at the present moment there is no executive that is leading UK People First initiatives. What exist is the position of a UK Interim Chief Coordinator, Hon Philani Noble, who is leading and providing the communication link between fellow Coordinators in the UK and Harare. The afro-mentioned Birmingham meeting did not elect an executive committee or an interim committee but, by consensus, agreed to choose me to be the person who will lead the coordination efforts being done in the UK in the meantime towards a substantive structure after official Party launch.I and the fellow builders in the UK appreciate the sacrifices of service from our war veterans. They are the fruit of our country, fought for our freedom, risked their lives to give us freedom and it is only such people that are unselfish with big hearts, who can risk their lives in the manner they did fighting to free Zimbabwe. Therefore People First can never be People First if this important group of citizens is not incorporated into the movement. We are forever grateful and we will forever value them and accord them the appreciation they deserve. Contrary to recent report in newspapers (Zimeye), war veterans have not been ditched and they are a big part of us. Dr Mujuru is a war veteran with undisputed credentials and in no way can she be accused of ditching the very same group of people she belongs to and she fought the war alongside. Let me reassure you that our party is a welcoming party and welcomes anyone regardless of their status and from all walks of life, the young and the old, war veterans and non-veterans, students, married families and single families.The task ahead is huge and requires coordinated efforts of everyone willing to be part of People First and it is our wish for people to join us in good numbers to make sure that we complete the task of building Zimbabwe. Work has already began and we have identified and set up 15 regions covering the whole of the UK including the Republic of Ireland and our recruitment efforts are intensifying in these areas. Furthermore, the social media platforms are playing a huge part in our recruitment efforts and we will continue to use these platforms to meet our objectives. However as some of these platforms are not secure enough, we will migrate all WhatsApp platforms to regional Telegram platforms which are more secure and once this is done, no People First business will be conducted via WhatsApp platforms here in Europe. This will help to distinguish us from other groups purporting to be representing People First in the UK and Europe. In addition to this, we are also consolidating all Facebook pages opened for UK and Europe into one platform to be called People First UK and Europe.Last but not least, I want to assure you that People First is offering a different kind of political movement whose main objective is to re-BUILD the country and people in Zimbabwe and around the world are warming up to our agenda. People First strive to bring people's needs and desires for a better Zimbabwe right on top of its agenda. So please, I am appealing to all Zimbabweans in the UK and in Europe to join us and help BUILD a better Zimbabwe for us and the future generations. We owe it to the future generations of Zimbabwe and we can only do right by them if we start to BUILD NOW.Zimbabwe needs you and People First needs you. Opinion / Columnist The recent claim by MDC-T Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa that funds meant for by-elections should be channeled towards paying civil servants' bonuses should not be tolerated but dismissed with due contempt as they are just mere utterances coming from a politician who is seeking relevance.Chamisa's MDC-T is on the record for firing most of it's its legislators. In 2015, his own beleaguered MDC-T party fired four Senators and 17 Parliamentarians. Such a move led to holding of by-elections in 21 Constituencies. So in other words, Chamisa is mocking his own boss, Morgan Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai expelled these MPs after they crossed the floor to the Tendai Biti-led MDC Renewal Team now People's Democratic Party which broke away from Tsvangirai's-led MDC-T following serious internal fights.Carrying out by-elections arising from either expulsion of a MP from a certain party or death of a legislator is above board. It's actually surprising how a learned lawyer like Chamisa ignores the Constitution.Chamisa went on to claim that avoiding by-elections was important in the context of public interest. According to his argument, conducting elections is costly hence it will be a waste of funds. In his view, Chamisa thought that it was necessary to channel such funds towards paying civil servants' bonuses.Now that the Government has unveiled pay dates of civil servants' bonuses; maybe Chamisa's argument could be valid, if he had suggested that by-elections funds should be channeled either towards mobilizing food to improve the local food security or directed towards the healthy sector.As a legislator, the Kuwadzana East MP should be encouraged to stop cheap politics and concentrate on nation building. In fact, Chamisa idea depicts that the MP is seeking sympathy of civil servants.Also, Chamisa's idea raises a lot of questions. Why is the legislator proffering such suggestions now? Where was he when his opposition party expelled 21 MPs? Was his decision not necessary during that time?The Kuwadzana legislator should be well advised to take heed of Matthew 7 verse 5 which states, "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.How can a whole MP condemn the idea by-elections? Elections are necessary in any democratic nation. Failing to hold those elections again, the opposition will be on the fore-front criticizing the Government that there is no democracy. It is the right of Zimbabwean citizens to vote, hence, they should put it into practice.Additionally, MDC-T should be urged to remain silent on the issue of by-elections. In previous years, Tsvangirai arrogantly declared that his party would not participate in any elections. Hence, Chamisa should not comment on issues to do with elections. Georgia Receives Increased Gas Supply from Shah Deniz in Winter By Messenger Staff The Azerbaijani state energy company, SOCAR, said on January 29 that it has negotiated with South Caucasus Pipeline Company to increase gas supplies to Georgia during the winter period by 50 million cubic meters.The Georgian Energy Ministry said that gas supplies have increased from 3 million to 3.2 million cubic meters per day, but it is still not enough to fully fill the deficit country suffers from during the in winter.Georgia receives gas from two sources in Azerbaijan one directly from SOCAR and another one from the BP-operated South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), which transports gas from Shah Deniz offshore field in the Caspian Sea to Turkey via Georgia. Gas supplies from these sources accounted for 88.5% of Georgias total gas needs in 2015.The President of SOCAR, RovnagAbdullayev, visited Tbilisi and discussed the possible increase of gas supplies from Azerbaijan on January 13. The chief executive of SOCARs Georgian subsidiary said at the time the company would try to increase supplies through its operated pipeline, which requires upgrade, and on the other hand through SCP.At the request of Georgian side, SOCAR negotiated the optimization of the gas supply to Georgia and reached an agreement with the parties to Shah Deniz and South Caucasus Pipeline consortium on revision of seasonal limitation determined by the contracts on gas supply to Georgia, SOCAR said in a statement on January 29.Support for the Georgias request is the sign of good neighborly relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia and creates a basis for the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the future, the Azerbaijani state energy company said.South Caucasus Pipeline Company shareholders are BP (28.8%), AzSCP (10%), TPAO (19%), Petronas (15.5%), Lukoil (10%), NICO (10%) and SGC Midstream (6.7%)Georgia is holding parallel negotiations with Gazprom, the terms of which include an additional supply of Russian gas to Georgia.Georgia received 200 million cubic meters from Russias Gazprom as a fee for transiting Russian gas to Armenia; Georgia also imported 75 million cubic meters of gas from Russia in 2015.Gazprom wants to monetize the transit fee and pay cash instead of giving Georgia 10% of gas transported to Armenia. If monetized, Georgia may not receive enough cash to buy the same amount of gas it is now receiving as a transit fee. Negotiations on transit terms are still ongoing.Today [when gas consumption is at its peak during winter] our daily gas consumption is more than 11 million cubic meters, Mariam Valishvili, the Georgian Deputy Energy Minister, said.The gas supply from the South Caucasus Pipeline has increased from 3 million to 3.2 million cubic meters per day gas supplies directly from SOCAR are about 6.5 million cubic meters per day. Regrettably we still have a gap, which is being filled by around 2 million cubic meters of Russian gas per day that we take from the pipeline [which transports Russian gas to Armenia], she added. The News in Brief So-called thief-in-law Mindia Goradze arrested at Tbilisi airport A so-called thief-in-law, Mindia Goradze, was arrested at Tbilisi International Airport after being deported from the Republic of Moldova. As the Ministry of Internal Affairs told InterpressNews, Mindia Goradze was deported from Moldova on January 30. Our investigation has revealed that Mindia G. (who also used the alias Lavas Oghli) was recognized as a thief-in-law by the criminal world in 2013. He was behind various criminal cases. An investigation is in progress on the charges of thievery and distortion, says the Ministry of Internal Affairs. (ipn.ge) 5 dead, 6 injured in car crash Five people died and six were seriously injured in a car crash in northwestern Georgia on Friday. Two cars, a Ford and an Opel, crashed between the villages of Lia and Jvari near Tsalenjikha in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. The accident happened late in the evening. Four people died instantly, while one passed away some time later. The six who survived with injuries were brought to hospitals in Zugdidi, Kutaisi and the capital. They are between 20 and 30 years of age. Roland Akhalaia, head doctor at Zugdidi Republican Hospital, says that the three men who were most seriously injured in the accident have had surgery and their condition is now satisfactory. The reason for the accident is unknown. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), an investigation has been launched based on article 276 of the Criminal Code about violation of traffic rules resulting in the death of one or more persons. The MIAs webpage offers statistics from six months of 2015 which shows that from January to June, 284 people died in car accidents, while 4,130 people were injured. Most of the accidents happened in Tbilisi. According to Deputy Interior Minister Shalva Khutsishvili, the number of car accidents annually is increasing. President of the Automobile Federation and member of Tbilisi Council, Shalva Ogbaidze said Georgia is one the countries in the world with most traffic accidents. There are 16-17 cases in Georgia per 100,000 people, while in European states there are only 3-5 cases, he said. (dfwatch.net) Georgians may no longer be given shelter in Germany The government of Bavaria has submitted an application to Bundestag, calling on them to put Georgia on the list of safe countries. As Deutsche Welle reports, the corresponding announcement was made by the Bavarian Prime Minister in Berlin. The initiative means that Georgians will no longer be given refuge in Germany, since Georgia will be recognized as a safe country. Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova and several other countries will be added to the list. (ipn.ge) Berlinale Film Festival Georgian author seeks funding for film adaptation of popular book Germany-based Georgian author Nino Kharatishvili will seek to have her popular novel transformed into a film at next months 66th Berlinale Film Festival. Kharatishvili's novel The Eighth Life (for Brilka) will feature in the European Film Market and Co-Production Market section at the famous European festival. This section allowed creators and producers to come together to discuss new film projects. Festival organisers said the chosen novels included "exciting new releases, bestsellers and award winners, all with great potential for cinema adaptation". Kharatishvilis novel, about a multi-generational family saga that is set in several countries, will be one of 11 to feature in the co-production category. The shortlisted pieces, from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and more, were selected from about 130 submissions from more than 25 countries. Kharatishvili's novel received critical acclaim in Germany following its publication in 2015. The Georgian writer won the 2015 Anna Seghers Prize, after jurors said she was "among the most powerful and least egocentric young authors". The 66th Berlinale Film Festival will run from February 11-21. (agenda.ge) Were excited to announce that metalbulletin.com is now part of fastmarkets.com. A new look and an improved experience means you can still stay ahead of this fast-moving metals market with price data, news and market intelligence right here on Fastmarkets. Discover more than 2000 prices, news and analysis in primary and secondary metals markets. We cover base metals, industrial minerals, ores and alloys, steel, scrap and steel raw materials. If you already have a Fastmarkets account, youll still have uninterrupted access to your markets by logging in with your current details. Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Mardas met at the Foreign Ministry today with the Polish Ambassador to Athens, Anna Barbarzak. During the meeting, which took place in an excellent atmosphere, the collocutors reaffirmed the excellent level of political, economic and trade relations between the two countries, as well as the mutual interest in further deepening these relations. Particular emphasis was put on the increasing presence of Greek exports in Poland, the high level of bilateral trade, strengthening tourist flows to our country, and the strong interest of Greek foundations, agencies and enterprises in strengthening cooperation with their Polish counterparts. Special reference was made to the upcoming conclusion of a Cooperation Protocol between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries, within the framework of economic diplomacy. The head of New Democracys overseas Greeks department, Anastasios Dimoschakis, paid a visit to Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Amanatidis today. During the meeting, which took place in a very good atmosphere, Mr. Amanatidis briefed Mr. Dimoschakis on the Foreign Ministrys current actions regarding Greeks of the Diaspora, as well as on the governments planning for coming actions bearing on the Deputy Ministers portfolio. Both collocutors came out in favor of staying in contact, not only to remain apprised of actions, but also to carry out a substantial dialogue. JOURNALIST: Mr. Minister, where do Greek-Turkish relations stand following the recent meeting you had with Mr. Cavusoglu, your Turkish counterpart, in Istanbul? N. KOTZIAS: I think that Greek-Turkish relations are relations that have a number of problems that must be solved, and the solution will be based on international law as well as on trust between the two peoples and the corresponding competent services and, above all, between the prime ministers of Turkey and Greece, and between the Turkish foreign minister and myself. We are carrying out open, honest discussions, and I think that the state of trust is better than it was a year ago. JOURNALIST: Ankaras stance on the refugee problem and the consequences of that stance are well known. Can you discern any positive development? N. KOTZIAS: I think that the most positive development would be for the war in Syria to end. It is incredible that there are some who started and are carrying on the war in Syria who are faulting us for not managing the results of these bombardments in the right manner. Turkey is a country being crossed by hundreds of thousands of refugees, and the international community should contribute, first, so that there is financial support for Jordan and Lebanon so that the refugees do not move out of the camps, remaining close to their homes and, second, to the implementation of the agreements that exist between the European Union and Turkey, as well as the international readmission agreements, for example, between Greece and Turkey, between Turkey and Pakistan. JOURNALIST: I would say that the war in Syria has brought Russia and Turkey into conflict. How is Greece intervening to de-escalate this crisis? N. KOTZIAS: The war in Syria has brought many, many countries into conflict. First of all, it has brought into conflict the two major currents of Islam, the Sunnis and the Shiites. They are expressed through their state organizations. As a result, there are conflicts beyond that between Russia and Turkey, like that between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the conflict between a number of movements in the Middle East itself. Regarding the recent Turkish-Russian incidents, you know that our country always wants to function in such a way as to calm sides down in a proper and just manner, and to see the principles of international law implemented. From this point of view we are always open to contributing to the discussion between the most disparate views in this region. JOURNALIST: Mr. Minister, one last question. The issue of doing away with the system of guarantees in Cyprus you tabled it first has risen very high on the agenda of the talks on the Cyprus issue. N. KOTZIAS: I said that the guarantees have to be done away with, but I also said that Greece has no desire to remain within and it will leave such a system, which is completely new. I think it is of interest, first, that the Americans are discussing it. Second, that Britain is saying that, provided the two countries (Greece and Turkey) agree, it will not pursue the status of guarantor power. China has said that the guarantees are an anachronistic system. In his speech the day before yesterday, the Russian representative to the UN while we were talking about the Cyprus issue said that the status of guarantees is something left over from colonialism and must be abolished. I think that an idea from Greek diplomacy, for the first time, is making headway in the best possible manner, and we are in close cooperation and communication with the Cypriot government. Opinion / Columnist We are not lost to the immense contributions being made by Non-Governmental Organizations in Zimbabwe. Since independence, NGOs have incredibly assisted in the humanitarian field and the socio-economic development.However, the later day NGOs that proliferated in the early 2000s, have diverted from their core mandate in pursuit of a political agenda. This is the context in which President Mugabe fired a warning shot at the rabid NGOs which caused the outcry in the newspapers. NGOs are not political parties and if they wish to be, it's better for them to renounce their humanitarian status and become full-fledged political entities.If NGOs continue to dip into the political pool, they must not cry foul when they are confronted with a matching political force. The argument that the NGOs are helping in the democratization process of this country is mistaken. No NGO is qualified to teach Zanu PF government on democracy. It is the party, along with Zapu, which fought for the democracy the NGOs are enjoying and abusing today.President Robert Mugabe spent his eleven precious years in the white man's jail for the crime of fighting for democracy. It's an insult to President Mugabe for those with milk on their noses like Jestina Mukoko, Phillan Zamchiya and Okay Machisa, among others, to shamelessly attempt to lecture him on democracy. It is unfortunate that these little fellas never experienced the inhuman treatment Africans were subjected to, prior to 1980.Zamchiya's noise in the media about President Mugabe's statement exposes his duplicity. When he took over the reins of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, he promised that his organisation would desist from the demonic regime change agenda of the West."We are not the demonic regime change agenda by the West, but rather we are here to initiate working solutions that will also boost the country's economy," said Zamchiya in his inaugural speech last year. Why all of a sudden is he fighting in corner of the demonic regime change agencies? Is it that he is too weak to resist the US dollar.The NGOs must complement government efforts in the national development agenda. Most of the NGOs in Zimbabwe take the armchair approach where they just bark criticism without proffering alternative solutions.It's well documented that some of the NGOs operating in this country have been roped into the regime change project. History teaches us that the MDC, a party fronted by the West in the regime change project, was formed with the assistance of certain NGOs such as Amani Trust. The British Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) which is an extension of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, expended $30m to fund the formation of the MDC. They went on to fund various projects of the party.Some NGOs are penetrating the rural areas with food aid in the right hand and the opposition ideology in the left hand. NGOs have become deep covers for the hostile forces in Zimbabwe. We have seen some of the officers working for these NGOs exhibiting political colours that look like those of known hostile forces.So President Mugabe knows what he is saying and he is warning these NGOs from a well informed position. We cannot allow ourselves as a country to compromise because of the food handouts that we receive from the NGOs. No sane man would allow a benefactor of whatever magnitude and importance, to sleep with his wife. This is exactly what these people are forcing us to do.The NGOs played a great role in pushing the country into this quagmire. They helped in the propagation of adverse and false information that damaged the image of the country. The West imposed illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe basing on the false information they were fed with by the NGOs. Just last week, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) led by Jestina Mukoko, manufactured a report in which it lied through the teeth.In that report, Zanu PF was said to be the most violent party in the country. They also alleged that PF supporters were holding their rallies during the night for fear of being attacked by Zanu PF. Such reports are damaging and they scare away investors which subsequently lead to poverty and unemployment. In this regard, such an NGO becomes a liability to the citizens and it poses more danger than the perceived danger posed by Zanu PF.These are the typical NGOs that President Mugabe was referring to. We know of genuine NGOs that are doing sterling job in Zimbabwe. To them, we say keep it up. It is also the duty of these bonafide NGOs to guard their field so that it is not soiled by bad apples amongst them. They must assist the authority in flushing out the rogue elements in their midst. NGO peer review mechanism is now needed. Opinion / Columnist Vince Musewe is an economist, author and Secretary for Finance and Economic Affairs for People's Democratic Party of Zimbabwe. The views expressed in this article are his own personal views. Africa can never rise economically or otherwise until we address our political systems some of which remain exclusive and despotic and are therefore contrary to the systems which have resulted in the economic, social development and political dominance of the West at institutions such as the United Nations.I am sure that by now most of us have listened to President Mugabe's recent AU speech. I received numerous tweets from the rest of Africa on the issue applauding President Mugabe for providing leadership to Africa and telling it like it is. I choose to reserve my judgement on these assertions.However, I think it was a relevant speech in that Africa must realise that its fate cannot continue to lie in the hands of others. For far too long we in Africa have been masterminded by the West whose agenda may not necessarily coincide with our national interests, there is no doubt about that. Africans must take their place in the community of nations and shape their future unhindered by international geopolitical interests which seek to keep the advantages of the past. However they are conditions.Let us be very clear, the interests of the West are to preserve their advantage that is natural. However, let us not be naive and then to conclude that the East is any different.China's agenda in Africa is about creating jobs in China where there is serious poverty and lack. China's priorities are to feed Chinese families and create jobs at home. Their ancillary motive is to also increase international influence as they seek compete with the West on the international geopolitical front and at the UN in particular. Their influence over Africans, and its leaders in particular, is therefore an imperative as long as they achieve their goals. For them, Africa is a mere means to an end and not an end in itself just as colonialism was. The sooner we all wake up to that reality, the better.This means that Africa is on its own.We Africans must acknowledge that we are responsible for creating their own future and we must therefore assert ourselves on the international front.However in order to do so, Africa must create societies of Africans who are not only self-reliant but driven by national interests. More important, we must create societies which enjoy the same freedoms as in the West so that we can compete and develop our continent by maximising the potential of our people. Therein lies our challenge.The questions we therefore need to ask ourselves are why the West has developed so fast and continues to dominate us on the international geopolitical agenda and why the East is fast rising in dominance on the economic front and is demanding and rightly entitled to the same poloitical rights as the West.Our solution lies in honestly answering these questions.First, we must stop being a consumption society and move towards being a productive society. Second, we must stop being a continual recipient of international tied aid and developmental loans and create our own capital base while creating environments in Africa, which offer real investment value and then some to the international free market capital sector, as articulated by my brother Hanning Mubaiwa, a Zimbabwean thought leader based in the USA, who has some exciting ideas on recreating Africa and Zimbabwe in particular. But I digress.Here I want to talk about our current situation in Zimbabwe.There is no doubt in my mind that we in Zimbabwe have huge potential going forward. We have learnt a lot from the West throughout the years and yet we are failing to apply and package the knowledge which we have gained to reinvent ourselves so that we can go onto a different developmental trajectory.The root cause of this is that we are failing to create free societies led by ethical governments. We are failing to create inclusive political and economic institutions to maximise our own potentialAs long as we fail to renew ourselves both at political and economic levels, we will continue to be dominated by the rest of the World. That is the lesson that President Mugabe must accept despite his rather passionate economic empowerment agenda for Africans which cannot be disputed but unfortunately, remains a goal yet to be achieved.Zimbabwe cannot even feed itself as we speak despite having one of the best agricultural resources and knowledge in the world. Zimbabwe cannot fund its own development despite having prodigious mining resources which can enable it to do so. Zimbabwe has even failed to take advantage of its education dividend and its skills base. That is a travesty and that is the crux of the matter.You see these facts pain some of us in that, despite having the resources, we remain dominated and abused by others and even rely on them to feed our people. We remain victims of our own dependency thinking. It is indeed time we rise up and claim our destiny as Zimbabweans and as Africans. That destiny can only come to pass when we claim it.What is the solution?The solution lies in us creating a free society with a new value system and ethics and the relevant institutions. The solution lies in us respecting the sacrosanct right to life, total freedom including the right for our people to pursue their ambition without hindrance. That is the Zimbabwe we want.This can only happen when citizens are politically free and have the right to choose those that lead them and those who cannot because leadership defines who we can become not only as a country, but as a continent.We must creative a new narrative that says that Africa, and Zimbabwe in particular, can indeed rise but, as with any successful country, they are conditions precedent to that rise.The West and the East are successful because they have realised the secret that it is human capital that makes nations win. They have created systems that allow the combination of capital and human endeavour to maximise their potential and to win on the international front. Their development is not an accident, but is deliberate and informed. We can do the same.Our calls for political reforms in Zimbabwe, which will no doubt translate into economic transformation, are therefore not misplaced and merely seek to achieve that which has escaped Africa for 60 years. Our political and economic systems are mere remnants of exclusive colonial systems created in the past to advantage minorities and to create economic advantage for the West because we have failed to transform them.Our political independent icons such as President Mugabe, despite talking the talk, have therefore failed in their mandate to shape truly independent and free African societies.That is the mandate we the younger generation of Africans must now take over and claim if Africa and Zimbabwe in particular are to rise as desired by our President in his AU speech. Opinion / Columnist If anyone thought kicking out of Mai Mujuru and her supporters on the new and spurious charge of "factionalism" in 2014 would end the infighting in the party events on the ground have proved them wrong. A new faction, G40 was created to replace Mujuru's faction and the infighting took off with renewed vigour and urgency.Zanu PF is imploding the whole nation is now waiting to see what President Mugabe going to say and do to stop warring factions at next week's politburo meeting.It was none other than President Mugabe himself who created the G40 faction; after destroying the Mujuru faction, he needed a faction to counter balance the only remaining faction - the Mnangagwa faction. His wife Grace was to lead the G40 faction. But for all her huffing and puffing, Grace has failed to turn G40 into a powerful faction. She has made a complete fool of herself; a fool with truckloads of presidential ambition but, sadly, an empty head and a big mouth. Many people have often said Grace and Joice Mujuru have one thing in common an empty head. For all her 34 years in office no one can ever remember anything of substance Mujuru has said or done, the same is true for the period since her sacking from Zanu PF, and yet many would consider her a better presidential candidate than Grace. Both are empty heads but by saying very little Mai Mujuru has force people to give her the benefit of the doubt that she is not as dumb whereas by opening her mouth Grace has removed all doubt that she is dumb!The G40 faction's curse of having a hopeless leader has been compounded by the faction's failed to attract any notable followers. Since Zanu PF has been unelectable for decades, the notable have all to be from within the party. Before the ouster of Mai Mujuru all the bigwigs in the party had nailed their colours with either Mai Mujuru or Mnangagwa; and most of Mujuru's followers were sack with her. Many Mnangagwa supporters, like Oppah Muchinguri, have not had the nerve to jump ship and join G40.Only former Mnangagwa loyalist to jump ship is Zimbabwe's flip-flop king, Professor Jonathan Moyo. Given that Moyo was Mnangagwa's co-conspirator in the 2004 Tsholotsho coup plot to ouster President Mugabe, he was the last person one expected to desert and join G40. With Professor Moyo, he could well be a double double-agent!None of the former Mujuru supporters who were spare the sack, like Sydney Sekeramai and Simon Khaya-Moyo, have not embraced the G40 faction with enthusiasm, if at all. Sydney has attended one or two of Grace's star-rallies and even joined in the rendition of Atlantic Star's "Secret Lovers!" to the Zanu PF beat and lyrics but failed impressed the audience. The crowd was there for the freebees and clearly felt that attending the rally was payment enough, they did not have to listen too let alone cheer!VP Mphoko was roped in to join the G40 faction; he has had the singular honour of introducing the star attraction Grace - at these Meet the People rallies. Many have questioned the protocol of the VP introducing Grace as if she was his senior. Grace had it known that the two VPs were her juniors and even took instructions from her. VP Mphoko has since public admitted to being Grace's junior which has only served to undermine his standing in the public eye.President Mugabe knows that if he was to kicked the proverbial bucket today; let's face it at 92 years of age every day is now a Christmas bonus (he is getting his bonus pay unlike some poor sods who will lucky to get theirs to mark Jesus' death instead of his birth); G40 faction will be dead and interned with his bones. The G40 faction is a President Mugabe child and is still totally dependent on him. There is no doubt having created and nurtured G40 faction President Mugabe would have wanted to see the faction standing on its own feed, a real challenge to the Mnangagwa faction by now. Reports of his stumbling and falling in public, in spite his determined effort to show the world he is still a spring chicken, confirms his worst fears that there are not many Christmas bonus days still left for him. The tank is empty and the engine is running on fumes; he is clearly running out of time on his G40 project.My guess is, President Mugabe will speak very passionately and eloquently, at the next Zanu PF politburo meeting, for an end to Zanu PF's factional fighting. Mugabe will be hoping that Mnangagwa, who has been shaken and stirred in equal measure by ferocity of the infighting of the last year, will welcome the seize fire offer, drop his guard to receive the olive branch and quick as a lightening President Mugabe will deliver his coup de grace! Northern Ireland is selling its Cold War-era nuclear bunker, an underground installation with room for 235 beds that sellers imagine could be transformed into a tourist attraction or blast-proof storage facility. Journalists took a tour Thursday of one of Northern Ireland's strangest real estate offerings. For 575,000 pounds ($850,000), the successful buyer could acquire a 46,363-square-foot (4,300-square-meter) grass-topped building discretely situated on 3.74 acres (1.51 hectares) of rolling fields northwest of Belfast. Northern Ireland's leaders have decided they can survive without the bunker, which was built in the 1980s to protect key government and legal figures from a Russian nuclear strike. The facility includes a conference room and broadcasting suite. Its existence was a state secret until 2007. The proposed plate would portray the Orofino "Maniac," a caricature mental health groups call offensive. Republican Rep. Paul Shepherd of Riggins attempted to get approval for the license plate last year, but legislation failed to move out of committee. However, this year, the Idaho Transportation and Defense Committee voted to send the bill to the House floor, but with the recommendation that the word "maniac" be removed from the proposed statute. Orofino Councilwoman Jill Woolsey told the panel Thursday that the term maniac would not be on the plate and defended the mascot, calling it positive representation of the community. "In 2016 our mascot, the maniac, continues to be a symbol of unbridled enthusiasm and a symbol of overcoming odds," Woolsey said. "It's about a positive image to win and keep fighting." She explained the funds raised from the sale of the specialty license plate are needed for advanced programs in the underfunded high school, including advanced science and math classes. Opponents testified for over an hour against the measure, saying the mascot's portrayal only further ostracizes mentally ill people, particularly because Orofino is also the home of a state-run mental health hospital. Kathie Garrett of Idaho's chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness said she had a different, less positive interpretation of the word maniac. A Google search revealed a maniac meant a raving or violent person, she said. "By allowing that to be put in our code, it will signal that Idaho sanctions the use of the word and stigmatizes those that are living with mental illness," Garrett said. If the bill passes through the House, it must still get the Senate's and Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter's approval to become law. Air Force Gets Its Own Combat Dive Badge After Using the Navy's for Years Air Force officials said there is a notable distinction between Navy divers and their divers, which was a key reason for... U.S. Navy leaders told Congress the service is struggling to identify a phantom-like problem that's caused F/A-18 Hornet pilots to experience flight dizziness since 2009. These "physiological episodes occur when a pilot experiences a loss in performance related to insufficient oxygen," Rep. Michael Turner, a Republican from Ohio and chairman of the House Armed Services' Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, said at a Thursday hearing. The condition creeps up on the pilot, rendering him dizzy and feeling confused, Navy officials said. Service leaders sought to assure lawmakers that the service has developed emergency procedures to deal with the problem as an interim fix until a team of experts can find the cause of the problem. "If we had a confidence problem in the airplane, we would ground the fleet," Rear Admiral Michael Manazir, director of Navy's Air Warfare Division, said. "We don't have that problem; that's why you don't see the commander of NavAir going to that extreme. But the problem has been difficult to identify, Manazir said. "We haven't been able to figure that out; we have been chasing ghosts," Manazir said. "You can't figure it out because the monitoring devices that do this are not on the airplane and can't figure out where there was a small oxygen content more than we needed or less than we needed or a carbon monoxide event or poison in the gas." The problem isn't new to the U.S. military. Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in 2012 restricted flights of the F-22 after two Air National Guard pilots appeared on the CBS news program, "60 Minutes," to say didn't feel safe flying the plane. They complained of dizziness, disorientation, even something called "The Raptor Cough," after the aircraft's name. The Air Force temporarily grounded the planes in 2011 after more than a dozen pilots reported similar symptoms of oxygen deprivation, a condition known as hypoxia. It did the same in 2010 after pilot Jeff Haney died in a crash in the Alaskan wilderness. Manazir told lawmakers that he has been flying fighters since 1982 on oxygen and has never experienced a hypoxia event. The Navy prepares pilots to deal with the problem by exposing them to similar conditions in simulated training. "What we do with the trainer now is, you get into a simulated cockpit on the ground, you put an oxygen mask on and they gradually reduce your oxygen content and they train us to recognize the symptoms," Manazir said. "It is not an instant, you're gone. It's a confusion factor, so when a pilot feels that, he deploys his emergency oxygen, which is 100-percent oxygen bottle like we used to do and he reaches down underneath his left thigh and pulls a handle and goes onto emergency oxygen. "That backup system immediately gives him emergency oxygen and the symptoms subside enough for him to land the airplane that system has worked 100 percent every time and I am confident it still will." The Navy has replaced the filtration system and has fielded in about 219 jets so far, according to Rear Admiral Michael Moran, who runs the Navy's Program Executive Officer Tactical Aircraft. "That really has done a great job of getting rid of the carbon monoxide and improving the breathing of gas for the pilots," he said, explaining that there is still no way to measure it yet. "We are looking at a couple of things that we are testing that we can put into their emergency gear than can measure the gas." There is also a new oxygen-monitoring system that will be funded in 2017 once tests are complete, Moran said. "It is I think an issue that despite all your efforts, assessments and policy and training and everything else, the numbers still don't go down," said Rep. Niki Tsongas, a Democrat Massachusetts, describing how the range of events has been 20 to 30 events per 100,000 flight hours. "So even as you have made these investments, we are not seeing a lot of progress. What would be a normal or accepted rate of such events for the fleet? What would you look to see is there such a rate?" The Navy has not developed a rate for 100,000 flying hours because even one event can result in the loss of an aircraft, Manazir said. "The rates started to climb in 2010, that's the year where we told everybody, OK we think there is a problem here,'" he said. "So instead of everybody coming back and saying Yeah, I was kind of dizzy, but it's fine. It passed.' I want you to report every single event, so I think the phenomenon you are seeing between 2010 and now is an increase in reporting." Tsongas also asked Navy officials have they looked at installing an automatic oxygen back-up system. "We do have the automatic oxygen system as a backup; we are looking increasing the amount of oxygen," Moran said. "Right now, depending on the altitude and really the condition of the pilot, that can last anywhere from 20 minutes and maybe down to five minutes. The plan is to see of the system can be improved to extend that time "by two to four fold to give that pilot a real back up system," Moran said. This was not good enough for Tsongas. "I think we all would be concerned that you are asking a potentially incapacitated pilot to sort of help himself out of this, and it is my understanding that that would only give him 10 minutes were he able to exercise it appropriate," she said. "You have no idea how far away he might be from the carrier or where he needs to get back to, so as you are looking at creating a budget" an automatic backup might be considered. Pilots that experience these physiological events are interviewed immediately after the flight but the flight surgeon "to get as much fact as we can to then guide us in a scientific manner toward the cause," Manazir said. "I'm comfortable that we will get there, but we are not going to stop," he said. "We will look turn over every technical rock that we can to make sure we go after every causal factor." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related Video: Two House Republicans -- both opponents of opening up combat roles to women -- introduced a bill Thursday called "Draft America's Daughters Act of 2016," which would require women to register for the draft. The bill was offered by Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Republican from California and former Marine, and co-sponsored by Rep. Ryan Zinke, a Republican from Montana and former Navy SEAL. It would "amend the Military Selective Service Act to extend the registration and conscription requirements of the Selective Service System, currently applicable only to men between the ages of 18 and 26, to women between those ages to reflect the opening of combat arms Military Occupational Specialties to women," according to copy of the text. Hunter, a Major in the Marine reserves and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and Zinke, a retired Navy SEAL Commander who served in Iraq, were both likely to vote against their own bill but argued that a debate in Congress was necessary on lifting the combat exclusion rule for women. They both stated that the bill was a response to the action taken in December by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter in ordering that all billets in the military, including infantry and armor, be opened to women who qualify. The service branches currently are working through methods of implementing Carter's order. In a statement, Hunter said, "It's unfortunate that a bill like this even needs to be introduced. And it's legislation that I might very well vote against should it be considered during the annual defense authorization process." However, he added, "If this administration wants to send 18-20 year old women into combat, to serve and fight on the front lines, then the American people deserve to have this discussion through their elected representatives." Both Hunter and Zinke argued that Carter ignored the complaints of the Marine Corps and Special Operations troops in taking gender out of the equation in qualifying for a combat MOS. "I know women play an invaluable role in war. My daughter was a damn good Navy Diver," Zinke said in a statement. "Many times women can gain access to strategic sites that men never could. However, this Administration's plan to force all front-line combat positions and Special Forces to integrate women into their units is reckless and dangerous." Zinke added, "The natural conclusion of that policy is that this opens young women up to the draft. This is a very important issue that touches the heart of American family, and I believe we need to have an open and honest discussion about it." Carter and the service secretaries have made clear that requiring women to register for the draft was up to Congress and they have yet to voice any opposition to such a move. Last fall at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, retired Adm. Eric Olson, a former Navy SEAL commander of Special Operations Command and a legendary figure in the Special Ops community, offered up the same complaints about women in combat made by Hunter and Zinke when he asked, "Are we willing to cause every 18-year-old girl to sign up for Selective Service?" At a separate panel, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James shrugged off Olson's remarks and said, "I see no reason why not to have that requirement (registration) for men and women." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Funding for the Marine Corps' new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the F/A-18 Hornet will get a boost next year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter told troops this week. During a visit on Wednesday to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, coming a week before the release of the Pentagon's proposed fiscal 2017 budget, Carter told Marines that maintaining readiness in aviation for the Corps was a top priority. "You are kind of the beating heart of readiness for the Marine Corps and so you see everything that is involved in keeping high readiness, crew proficiency, airframe availability," he said. "And in that connection, airframe availability and just generally maintenance and readiness overall, particularly in Marine aviation, that's an area where we're making investments in this year's budget." Those investments include an acceleration in the pace at which the Navy and Marine Corps purchase their variants of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Carter said. The Marines' variant of the aircraft, the F-35B, became the first to reach initial operational capability last July. "That's a spectacular aircraft and an enormous amount of work went into making that aircraft successful," Carter said. "And there were times when, you know, it took really a great deal of work on the part of everyone, but there it is and there it is at IOC." Separately, Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller on Thursday reaffirmed plans to deploy a first squadron of the fighters to Iwakuni, Japan, next January. Carter did not specify how much the F-35 buy is expected to grow for the Marine Corps and Navy. His remarks, however, signaled continued faith in the program despite the recent release of a Pentagon report that found the aircraft continues to battle technical glitches and mechanical deficiencies. Carter also said the new budget request would include money for depot maintenance for the Hornet, a fighter jet that has been flying for the Marine Corps since 1984. He acknowledged there was a maintenance backlog that needed to be addressed with the airframe. In September 2015, the Marines' deputy commandant for aviation, Marine Lt. Gen. Jon Davis was even more direct, saying years of funding shortfalls had left the Marine Corps at 19 percent below a minimum acceptable number of operational F/A-18s. "Some of you know who work with F-18s, the -- particularly for the older models that we've worked extremely hard, they're more challenged in the maintenance sense than we had anticipated," Carter said. "We're going to fund that [maintenance]." Finally, the secretary said, the budget request would provide funding to tailor the Marines' combined arms training at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms -- the backbone of its training workup -- to a greater number of global missions in the post-Afghanistan era. The Marines' Integrated Training Exercise, or ITX, at 29 Palms has been a pre-deployment mainstay since 2012, when it replaced the Combined Arms Exercise, also known as CAX or Mojave Viper. Marine Corps brass have talked about building a more tailored pre-deployment training package but have yet to debut a formal new program. Carter called a renewed emphasis on combined arms training important in the same ways that equipment maintenance was for the Marine Corps. "It's important to get back to that because we spent many years of necessity training specifically mostly for [counterinsurgency], right, and because of Iraq and Afghanistan," Carter said. "Now we're making the transition to a wider spectrum of needs, and so we need you and the Marine Corps, generally, to be trained to that wider spectrum and that requires combined arms training." The full budget request is expected to be released at the Pentagon on Tuesday. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@monster.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Related Video: About Me Alan Ross Radio program Caffe Latte began on JOY 94.9 FM (in Melbourne, Australia) in Sept. 1997 through to July 2012. Caffe Latte is now back on JOY Sundays 11 am - 1 pm (Aust. Eastern Time) & can be heard online all over the world and as a podcast on various media platforms. Check back here for my Top 10 current tracks of the week; the latest countdowns; this month's new addition to the Gay & Lesbian Icons & Anthems Gallery; the earlier versions of hit songs, retro in the Time Capsule posts and more. Check out the Caffe` Latte` playlists available on spotify. Become a follower. All images used on this website are the copyright of the respective copyright holder and are used on this site for educational or informative purposes only. View my complete profile Blog Archive I hate to say, "I told you so" but ... Did you happen to catch Defense Secretary Ashton Carter's speech last week? Probably not. Most of you probably had better things to do than watch the oh-so-riveting wall-to-wall coverage of mind-numbing bureaucracy on C-SPAN. Here's the text of his speech and the Military.com article detailing what he said. It couldn't have come at a better time for me. This, you see, is a Very Special Edition of Must-Have Parent. This is the 100th Must-Have Parent column -- that means I've written 100 columns of (hopefully) wise reflection on what it means to be in a family where the parenting load can't be shared equally despite having two hard-working, smart, well-meaning, fully committed adults. So, to have the actual secretary of defense give a speech on what the Department of Defense can do to make life better for the Must-Do and Must-Have Parents in the military community -- well, that's my kind of vindication right there. And what did he say, you ask? Because maybe you also have better things to do than to read that speech? He announced the following DoD-wide initiatives that he says will strengthen support for and improve the quality of life of military families: 12 weeks of fully paid maternity leave for active-duty new mothers. (It was previously 6 weeks.) 14 days of fully paid paternity leave for active-duty new fathers. (It was previously 10 days.) On-base Child Development Centers (CDCs, which are basically daycare centers) will be open for 14 hours each day, to better accommodate active-duty parents' work schedules. Requiring that a "Mother's Room" be made available in every facility where more than 50 women work so that breastfeeding mothers will have a place to pump. More "reasonable accommodations" for service members "who face difficult family geographic situations while ... preserving our force's effectiveness." (I have no idea what this will mean in practice -- but it does sound nice. I assume he means allowing some service members the option of not moving.) Starting a pilot program to cover the cost of freezing sperm and eggs and IVF treatments for active-duty service members. Also, bonus points to Secretary Carter for giving a shout-out to Sheryl Sandberg in his speech. I truly love that Carter is taking action on these issues. He is the leader of the same fighting force that -- in some mean, dark corners -- still likes to insist, "If the Army (Navy, etc.) wanted you to have a family, it would have issued you one." And I adore that Carter recognizes what many of us have been yelling for years, that helping military families function is not just the right thing to do, it's necessary to keep the best and the brightest people in uniform. But ... it's still the Army. (And the Navy. And the Air Force. And the Marine Corps.) So I can't help but wonder how this will all play out. Work-life balance in the military will never -- and can never -- look the same as it does in the civilian world. Twelve weeks of maternity leave is wonderful, but what if using all 12 weeks makes that new mom appear less committed in a work force where women are already at a disadvantage? Same for fourteen days of paternity leave -- will those days even get used if service members are penalized in real and perceived ways for asking for them? Will some service members not be able to enjoy these more generous benefits at all? And will allowing some to take more generous leave without losing their position mean that their co-workers will have to pull double-duty until they return? And what will that do to the work/life balance for everyone else? Allowing service members to delay parenthood by funding fertility treatments is a generous gesture, but is it one that could mislead them into thinking that parenthood can be put off without risk to their and their future children's health, and to their own likelihood of fertility? And will tacit encouragement of delayed parenthood hurt the careers of those who choose NOT to delay parenthood? And what about same-sex couples and families that choose to adopt? Who gets to take leave then? And will there be any funding for the considerable costs associated with adopting? So many questions. Carter is on the right track with these initiatives. But DoD isn't Google or Facebook. It isn't even like other government jobs. DoD will always have Must-Do Parents because theirs are jobs that simply must be done, and can't be done from home. If in chasing the best practices in corporate America, DoD loses sight of what needs to be done to prop up the very different, very real needs of military families, I might once again be finding myself saying, "I told you so" -- and I'd really hate to do that. Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox. BAY CITY, MI -- Keep the nominations coming in! On Day 1 of our search for Michigan's Best Dessert., we received more than 30 nominations from all over the state -- from Port Austin in Michigan's Thumb to Lansing, Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids and many places in between. We still need more. So far I have not seen many nominations from Traverse City, Jackson or the Upper Peninsula. Please spread the word on Facebook and your social networks. We want to be sure we get a great list of nominations so when we build our polls that we have a good representation from all over Michigan. REMINDER: We are looking for Michigan-based restaurants that offer a decadent, creative and memorable dessert. As with all of our Michigan's Best searches, you can make nominations in the comments section below. Or via email: gonzo@mlive.com. Once we have the nominations, we will ask for a public vote. And once we have a list of poll winners, we'll add other finalists and hit the road. HOW TO NOMINATE: * Use the comments section on MLive (below) to tell us where to find the Best Dessert. * If you are viewing this entry on a mobile app, click this link to see the full discussion and make a comment. * Make sure to be detailed in your nomination. * Describe your Dessert and tell us what makes it so good. Give us the full name of the restaurant, address and city. * Feel free to send me photos of your favorites. Send to gonzo@mlive.com and make sure to put "Michigan's Best Dessert" in the subject field. * The nomination deadline is 6 p.m. Feb. 8. WHAT IS MICHIGAN'S BEST In case you have never heard of Michigan's Best, it's a fun little series that allows readers to nominate their favorite restaurants, and then vote to help us determine a list of finalists. Once we have our finalists, I travel the state to come up with a list of winners. RELATED: Michigan's Best Restaurant Guide: Results for all 16 searches John Gonzalez is a statewide entertainment writer for MLive. He covers food, beer, travel, events and coordinates Michigan's Best. Email him at gonzo@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter, Facebook or Google+. Complete Michigan travel, destination and event information available via Michigan.org. Michigan Department of Environmental Quality officials say they're going to closely monitor a slowly expanding dioxane plume in Ann Arbor as it gets closer to the Huron River in the years ahead. But as it stands now, they're limited by Michigan law and court orders on what they can do from an enforcement standpoint. Though some pump-and-treat remediation efforts remain ongoing to reduce the amount of dioxane in the groundwater, the pollution is still spreading, and the DEQ can't require Pall Corp. to do a full-scale cleanup. At this point, the DEQ, following state law and court orders, is essentially trying to minimize the risk of human exposure to dioxane as the plume continues to spread, inching closer to the Huron River, Ann Arbor's primary drinking water source. Local officials are primarily interested in making sure dioxane never reaches Barton Pond, the city's municipal water intake location, at unsafe levels. But there remains some uncertainty about where and how the plume might spread, and there are serious concerns about dioxane reaching residential drinking water wells outside of a court-ordered groundwater use prohibition zone. At this week's meeting of the local Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane, DEQ officials discussed the situation with local officials and residents, including concerns about whether the state is being protective of public health. "Part of the long-term monitoring plan to track the plume within this prohibition zone includes identifying where it's going," said Mitch Adelman, district supervisor for the DEQ's Remediation and Redevelopment Division. "And as it approaches the river, we will be focused on does it vent to the river, and, if so, at what concentrations? Or does it underflow the river? Or does it flow along the axis of the river in a downstream direction? So, we can identify if it's venting, where it's venting, and at what concentrations, to evaluate that protectiveness." If the DEQ has any reason to believe it's not protective of public health and the environment, the department will be "prepared to engage," Adelman said. However, many local officials and residents want to see more proactive and aggressive cleanup measures starting now to mitigate the risks before it gets to that point, rather than play a game of wait and see. A map produced by MLive showing Ann Arbor's underground dioxane plume, based on the county's interpretation of monitoring well data in 2013, and more recently based on newer data from the third quarter of 2015 as mapped by Roger Rayle, co-founder and chairman of Scio Residents for Safe Water. Officials monitoring the plume say it's still spreading. DEQ and local officials aren't able to say with any certainty what might happen once the plume reaches the Allen Creek area. There used to be an open creek running along the west side of downtown Ann Arbor, but it's now enclosed in underground pipes that flush to the Huron River near Argo Dam. For all anyone knows, the plume, which isn't far from that area now, could follow the alignment of the Allen Creek to the river, though that would be downstream from the city's drinking water intake. Local officials who want to see more done to minimize the plume's spread have been calling on the state for years to update Michigan's cleanup standards to reflect federal data showing dioxane poses greater cancer risks than previously believed. If the state follows through, the permissible dioxane concentration of 85 parts per billion in groundwater could be adjusted downward to the single digits. And if the state then goes back to Washtenaw County Circuit Court to get the consent judgment revised to reflect the stricter state standard, Pall Corp. could be required to do more to track and attack the plume. Now more than 30 years after the plume was discovered, there still were monitoring well readings showing dioxane concentrations as high as 11,000 ppb last year. "After 30 years, one would hope we'd be in a better situation," said Dan Bicknell, president of Global Environment Alliance LLC. "We don't have a standard that's protective, and we have a remedy that's not protective." Bicknell is one of the citizens closely following the issue and is credited with first discovering the dioxane in Third Sister Lake in the University of Michigan's Saginaw Forest while doing research as a public health graduate student in 1984. The lake and forest are right behind where Gelman Sciences, later acquired by Pall Corp., dumped large amounts of dioxane into the environment from 1966 to 1986. Bicknell hopes the state can make progress on the issue this year, as it's a matter of protecting public health and natural resources. "Right now you have a remedy that's not protecting the natural resources of the state," he said. "It's allowing the plume just to walk off in all the areas that go toward residential wells, which is not really protective. So, it's a complicated problem, which we've all been working on for 30 years. I'm not sure it's getting any simpler." Going back to court There was discussion at this week's CARD meeting about whether the DEQ, if it goes back to court to get the consent judgment changed, would try to get the judge to make Pall Corp. cover the DEQ's ongoing costs related to monitoring and oversight of the plume and the cleanup that Pall is doing. Some believe the fact that the state's costs aren't covered creates a financial disincentive for the DEQ to be more aggressive. Through a court settlement in 2014, Pall agreed to pay the DEQ a sum of $500,000 for past costs for monitoring and oversight, but the DEQ gave away its ability to ask Pall to cover future costs for residential well monitoring, Adelman said this week. Though, Adelman noted, other provisions of the consent judgment could be reopened potentially. Bob Wagner, the DEQ's Remediation and Redevelopment Division chief, said the outcome of the settlement two years ago wasn't ideal, but it was the best deal the DEQ felt it could get at the time. The case was before Judge Donald Shelton, whose rulings over the years weren't particularly favorable to the DEQ. Some are hoping the state will have better luck with Judge Timothy Connors now that Shelton is retired and no longer overseeing the case. Wagner said the DEQ is hoping to get a new assistant state attorney general who is an experienced environmental lawyer up to speed on the case so he can represent the DEQ in court and in any negotiations regarding the plume cleanup. "You should strongly recommend that he be 'on duty.' Use those words," Roger Rayle, co-founder and chairman of Scio Residents for Safe Water, told Wagner half-jokingly, referencing Attorney General Bill Schuette's campaign slogan. With the possibility of a change in cleanup standards, the city of Ann Arbor is having discussions about whether the city might have a new opportunity to assert standing and become more engaged in the litigation regarding the plume cleanup as it goes back to court, said Matt Naud, the city's environmental coordinator. The city already has had some initial discussions with Pall regarding the potential change in cleanup standards. Naud is somewhat hopeful Pall might be cooperative since the company already is thinking about what type of wells would be needed to bring dioxane concentrations in the ground down to meet a new standard. Naud suggests there's also a need for more monitoring wells to provide additional assurances about where the plume is spreading. Adelman said previous discussions led to Pall's installation of new monitoring wells in 2014, along with the state providing funding to the county to monitor some additional residential drinking water wells west of Wagner Road and north of Jackson Road. "We do agree that if the criterion goes down to, just for sake of discussion, say, 7 ppb, additional delineation would be required to determine whether additional remediation is necessary," Adelman said. Adelman said the DEQ has started initial discussions with Pall about that, and the DEQ's staff is looking at where there are data gaps. "We're open to people's ideas," Adelman said. Adelman said the DEQ also has had discussions with the attorney general's office about the possibility of trying to get a voluntary agreement with Pall to follow new standards and do the necessary remediation and risk management. "To the extent we could get a mutually agreeable outcome, it may be in our benefit to negotiate that as opposed to going to court," he said, referencing the fact that going to court didn't always work out so well for the DEQ in the past. 'Once upon a time' The plume, which originated from the former Gelman Sciences site on Wagner Road, now covers an area that's more than three miles long and more than a mile wide. Though discovered in 1984, its origins trace back to the 1960s. Pall Corp. acquired Gelman Sciences in 1997 and eventually shut down operations on the site in 2013, though cleanup of the plume remains ongoing. Last year, Pall was acquired by Danaher Corp. Gelman Sciences, Pall Corp., and Danaher Corp. all exist as separate legal entities, and Gelman Sciences is still technically the corporate entity ultimately responsible for implementing the cleanup required by the consent judgment with the state. Neither Pall's acquisition of Gelman nor Danaher's acquisition of Pall transferred Gelman's responsibility to any other party, said Farsad Fotouhi, Pall Corp.'s vice president of global health, safety and environmental engineering. "As required by the consent judgment, Gelman Sciences has provided the state with a letter of credit in an amount sufficient to give the state enough money to complete the cleanup if Gelman were financially unable to finish the job," Fotouhi said on Thursday, rejecting the notion that the company could ever abandon its responsibility to follow through on doing the required remediation work. Fotouhi didn't respond to a request for comment on whether Pall would voluntarily follow a stricter cleanup standard if one is adopted by the state. Mike Gebhard, a professional geologist and application specialist for Washtenaw County, said Pall has fought for its position in the past, but the company also has shown some signs of being more cooperative lately. Rayle said at Tuesday's CARD meeting he's concerned Pall isn't more aggressively attacking the highest concentrations of dioxane at the core of the plume. He notes there was at least one reading above 100,000 ppb back in 2012. "We don't know how much dioxane is left. You guys don't seem to care how much mass is left. It's never been a mass calculation," Rayle told DEQ officials. "Let's tighten up the cleanup. Let's make some good sound decisions on where is the dioxane, how much is left, which way is it going." Rayle expressed hopes that Pall might someday be required to estimate annually the amount of dioxane left in the ground. DEQ officials said they share some of the same frustrations that local officials and residents have about the situation. Adelman recalled some of the history and sources of frustration for those who would prefer a larger-scale cleanup. "Once upon a time, when we first got the court to make a ruling on this, the company was ordered to clean up the contaminated groundwater to the then risk-based criterion of 3 ppb," Adelman said. So, at one point in time, there was essentially an aquifer restoration goal that was legally enforceable, Adelman argued. But over time, with the easing of regulations in the state's environmental cleanup laws in 1995, and Shelton's court orders from 2004 to draw up a groundwater use prohibition zone to manage the plume by minimizing human exposure, rather than doing a full-scale cleanup, the situation is where it is now. The plume, under state law and court orders, is allowed to continue to spread and contaminate more groundwater and eventually reach the Huron River, and it already has contaminated more residential drinking water wells outside the city. "If CARD is asking us to go back and seek to go to a cleanup in the context of the original 1993 consent judgment when there was an aquifer restoration objective, I guess we can talk about that a little bit more," Adelman said on Tuesday. Rayle said there should be a goal of no more drinking water supplies contaminated by the plume, with any detectable levels of dioxane considered unacceptable. "We already have, within the last few years, a new homeowner well that doesn't have access to city water that has been contaminated," Rayle said, going on to ask the DEQ: "So, when does this become a crisis?" 'The longer this goes on' Adelman noted the 2004 court order establishing a prohibition zone set a dualistic remediation objective that allows the dioxane to migrate and eventually reach the Huron River at concentrations up to 2,800 ppb, along with a groundwater aquifer restoration objective using the state's 85 ppb standard. But because of geological complexities, Adelman said, the DEQ realized it was "virtually impossible or highly resource intensive" to determine which concentrations were in the Unit E aquifer or the adjacent Evergreen system. "I don't know if we ever could have gotten to the realistic answers about is it Evergreen that requires 85 ppb or is it a 2,800 ppb objective," he said. "And that's what led to the notion of, 'Well, we could spend a lot of time fighting over this and see what the judge ultimately decides, or we can expand the prohibition zone.' So, therein lies some of the downstream consequences of these changes. And again, we argued against establishment of the prohibition zone. We were unsuccessful." If the DEQ is going to work toward a goal of having no additional water supply wells contaminated, that's another conversation, Adelman said. Gebhard, who has been working on the issue since he started working for the county in 2001, said there already are some homes on the edge of where the plume has expanded to Elizabeth Road, off Wagner Road near Dexter-Ann Arbor Road, where low levels of dioxane have been detected in residential drinking water wells. Those homes aren't connected to the city's drinking water system, so they're stuck with dioxane-contaminated wells for now. Gebhard said some of the wells have shown readings around 1 ppb. Federal data suggests 3 ppb poses a 1 in 100,000 cancer risk. The state's standard remains at 85 ppb for now. Because the well readings along Elizabeth Road fall below the cleanup standard, Gebhard said, those homeowners don't have a legal remedy to argue the situation is unacceptable or to ask the state to order Pall to replace their water supply. Gebhard said the county doesn't take the situation lightly. He said the state has been paying the county to take water samples from the wells on a regular basis, and those samples are then analyzed by the state, with results reported to the homeowners. There's a belief among local officials and residents that more monitoring needs to be done to ensure other nearby homes on well water aren't tapping into dioxane-laced groundwater as the footprint of the plume continues to expand. "We still have residential wells to the north and northwest that could potentially get impacted," Gebhard said. He said there also are residential wells to the south, but there's believed to be a natural groundwater divide in the Liberty Road area that could keep the plume from heading that way, though that's not guaranteed. There also are concerns about dioxane already flowing into Honey Creek, a tributary of the Huron River, which leads to Barton Pond, where the city gets its water. The concentrations at this point are low enough and become diluted enough after entering Honey Creek that officials say there's no need to worry about the safety of the city's drinking water coming from Barton Pond. But the city has shut down a water supply well on the city's west side because of dioxane. Gebhard said even with a stricter cleanup standard, potentially going from 85 ppb to somewhere in the single digits, it's still likely going to take decades to achieve the cleanup objectives, and he thinks it's unrealistic at this point to assume the contaminated aquifers could be restored to non-detectable levels. "This dioxane is going to remain in the system for a very long time and persist," Gebhard said. "There's still enough in that core area that it has to be managed to maintain protection, so it is a multi-decade problem." But he thinks the establishment of a stricter cleanup standard could lead to the setting of new triggers, or lower thresholds, for when additional investigation and monitoring is necessary to track the spreading of the plume to make sure it's not reaching additional residential wells in concentrations that exceed the standard, or moving toward Barton Pond in high concentrations. Even back before 1995 when the dioxane groundwater standard was 3 ppb, Gebhard notes that still meant up to 3 ppb was considered "clean enough," so the concept of restoring aquifers to non-detectable levels was never really on the table. Gebhard said it was former Gov. John Engler who signed the changes into law that essentially went from a 1 in 1 million cancer risk to 1 in 100,000. He said other states still use the 1 in 1 million standard as the acceptable risk level. The more the plume is allowed to spread, Gebhard said, the more difficult it becomes to track the different pathways and where its edges are moving. "The longer this goes on, the more difficult the remediation becomes," he said. "The problem will get larger, not smaller." Asked whether he'd want to see a time-certain deadline imposed on Pall to clean up the plume to a certain standard, Gebhard said it was unrealistic when Judge Shelton set a five-year deadline back in 2000, and it remains unrealistic today. Though, he would like to see dioxane removed from the groundwater at a faster rate. While there has been talk of other remediation techniques, Gebhard believes Pall's current pump-and-treat solution -- whereby water is extracted from the ground, treated, and discharged back into the environment with dioxane at lower levels -- is the most effective solution until something else can be developed. Though, right now that dioxane-laced water is being discharged into Honey Creek, and he notes the city more than a decade ago proposed installing a pipeline to have the discharge water enter the Huron River downstream of Barton Pond. He said such a pipeline would help minimize the risk to Ann Arbor's water supply. Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. Eastern Michigan University's Board of Regents is expected to vote Friday afternoon on whether to continue the university's involvement with Gov. Rick Snyder's controversial Education Achievement Authority. Ahead of the meeting, at which EMU regents will decide the fate of the legal agreement between EMU and Detroit Public Schools, EAA Chancellor Veronica Conforme is speaking in support of ending the strained relationship. Veronica Conforme was named interim chancellor of the Education Achievement Authority June 17, 2014. "I encourage the board members to vote to end the interlocal agreement," Conforme said in a statement. "This saga has gone on for far too long and has made our teachers, students and parents feel like political pawns. I recognize the interlocal agreement has negatively impacted both our students and the university in many ways and has not allowed for our long-term success. The founding governance structure of the EAA lacks stability and is an unsustainable model." The Board of Regents meets at 1:30 p.m. The meeting comes only days after a vote of no confidence in the regents by the EMU faculty senate, alleging the regents violated the school's code of ethics by continuing a partnership with the EAA. The EAA is a partnership between the state, Detroit Public Schools and EMU to administer a number of schools that were taken by the state, removed from DPS, and put into the EAA, which is overseen by the state, with a majority of the board members appointed by the governor. The EAA, created by the governor as a reform district in 2011, oversees 15 schools -- nine charter elementary/middle schools, and six high schools. "It's time to start putting our students first by exploring every option and settle on a permanent solution that provides stability to our schools and provides our students with the high-quality education they deserve," Conforme said. "The support of the board has produced tremendous innovations for Detroit, and for that, I am greatly appreciative. Going forward, I intend to see those innovations take root and become a lasting part of this city's plan for education." EMU regents said in 2014 they would withdraw from the EAA partnership if a faculty review found it had not improved, but when that review was finished in December the regents chose to postpone voting on the issue. Regardless of the decision EMU makes on Friday, it looks as if the EAA might be coming to an end anyway. Senate Majority Leader Arlen Meekoff told The Detroit News on Wednesday the EAA would not be part of a $715 million plan to rescue the Detroit Public Schools. "It's gone. We're not going to do the EAA again," Meekhof told The Detroit News, calling the move away from the EAA one of several accommodations Republicans will make to get Democrats on board with the larger plan. Snyder has said in the past he was open to disbanding the EAA as part of a deal with the Legislature on Detroit schools. A spokesperson for Snyder couldn't be reached for comment on Friday. There has been much controversy surrounding the EAA, which is criticized for poor academic performance and declining enrollment. There also has been an FBI investigation into the EAA for alleged kickback schemes involving vendors. Also hurting EMU is the fact that some local school districts have refused to accept student teachers from EMU because of the university's affiliation with the EAA. Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. EMU_020516_RJS_05.jpg The EMU regents meeting room in Welch Hall was packed to its 135-person capacity for Friday's meeting. (Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News) EMU president on cutting ties with EAA: 'This chapter is essentially now closed' Eastern Michigan University's Board of Regents has decided to withdraw from the agreement with Detroit Public Schools that led to the creation of Gov. Rick Snyder's controversial Education Achievement Authority. The regents voted unanimously on Friday, with Chairman Mike Morris absent, to give notice of the university's intent to withdraw under terms of the agreement first approved in 2011, and to terminate EMU's involvement in the EAA. Under terms of the agreement, EMU can withdraw on June 30 of any given year but must give 180 days notice, so the decision won't be effective until June 30, 2017. But given legislative efforts under way in Lansing, EMU officials expect the EAA to cease to exist well before that time. "From the beginning, Eastern's objective in this effort has been focused on helping the students of Detroit and trying to improve educational outcomes," Morris said in a statement released by EMU following the decision. Audience members listen during the EMU Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 5, 2016. "We are taking this action today because it is the right thing to do for our university. It is increasingly clear that the anticipated legislation in Lansing to formally address this matter and end the EAA is now moving forward." Senate Majority Leader Arlen Meekoff told The Detroit News on Wednesday the EAA would not be part of a $715 million plan to rescue the Detroit Public Schools. "It's gone. We're not going to do the EAA again," Meekhof told The Detroit News, calling the move away from the EAA one of several accommodations Republicans will make to get Democrats on board with the larger plan. The EMU regents meeting room in Welch Hall was packed to its 135-person capacity for Friday's meeting. Those who couldn't get seats were directed to a spillover room across the hall with a live video feed of the meeting. Friday's meeting came only days after a vote of no confidence in the regents by the EMU Faculty Senate, alleging the regents violated the school's code of ethics by continuing a partnership with the EAA. Friday's decision to end the partnership was welcomed by faculty and others in attendance, though that didn't spare regents from hearing some criticisms over the situation. The EAA is a partnership between the state, Detroit Public Schools and EMU to administer a number of schools that were taken by the state, removed from DPS, and put into the EAA, which is overseen by the state, with a majority of the board members appointed by the governor. The EAA oversees 15 schools -- nine charter elementary/middle schools, and six high schools. There has been much controversy surrounding the EAA, which has been criticized for poor academic performance and declining enrollment. There also has been an FBI investigation into the EAA for alleged kickback schemes involving vendors. Also hurting EMU is the fact that some local school districts have refused to accept student teachers from EMU because of the university's affiliation with the EAA. EMU Student Body President Steven Cole expressed hopes on Friday that student teachers will be able to go back to placements in local school districts. "It's encouraging to see that they voted to withdraw from the agreement. It's been overdue, a vote we've been asking for," he said. "And the community has been urging for two years now to get out." Judith Kullberg, president of the EMU Faculty Senate, said withdrawing from the EAA allows the entire EMU community to move forward, redoubling its commitment as an institution of opportunity where students learn in and beyond the classroom to benefit the global and local communities. "We need to focus on how we can realize our shared vision of EMU as a premier public university, recognized for student-centered learning, high-quality academic programs and community impact," she told regents at Friday's meeting. "As the president of Faculty Senate, I can assure you the entire faculty is committed to this vision, and we look forward to working with you to achieve it." Snyder has said in the past he was open to disbanding the EAA as part of a deal with the Legislature on Detroit schools. Dave Murray, a spokesperson for Snyder, offered a statement on behalf of the governor's office on Friday. "The Education Achievement Authority has embraced innovation and pioneered a holistic approach to helping children and their families work toward a brighter future," he said. "We appreciate the important and hard work of Chancellor Veronica Conforme, her faculty and staff and the investment they have made in Detroit's children. We intend to see that work continue." He added, "While we understand that EMU has chosen to end its partnership with this endeavor, we are hopeful that the Legislature will consider new ways to improve academics in all Detroit schools so that all students have the opportunity to be successful." EMU regents said in 2014 they would withdraw from the EAA partnership if a faculty review found it had not improved, but when that review was finished in December the regents chose to postpone voting on the issue. EAA Chancellor Veronica Conforme urged regents not to renew the agreement with Detroit Public Schools ahead of Friday's meeting. "I encourage the board members to vote to end the interlocal agreement," Conforme said in a statement. "This saga has gone on for far too long and has made our teachers, students and parents feel like political pawns. I recognize the interlocal agreement has negatively impacted both our students and the university in many ways and has not allowed for our long-term success. The founding governance structure of the EAA lacks stability and is an unsustainable model. "It's time to start putting our students first by exploring every option and settle on a permanent solution that provides stability to our schools and provides our students with the high-quality education they deserve," Conforme added. "The support of the board has produced tremendous innovations for Detroit, and for that, I am greatly appreciative. Going forward, I intend to see those innovations take root and become a lasting part of this city's plan for education." Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. EMU_020516_RJS_04.jpg EMU Interim President Don Loppnow at the EMU Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 5, 2016. (Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News) Related: EMU terminates involvement with EAA, ends agreement with Detroit schools Shortly after Eastern Michigan University's Board of Regents voted Friday to end its involvement in Gov. Rick Snyder's controversial Education Achievement Authority, the university's interim president shared his thoughts. "This chapter is essentially now closed in terms of the interlocal agreement that the institution was a part of (with Detroit Public Schools) and we will continue to do what we can to help the Detroit area and the students there through the work of our faculty and graduates," said EMU Interim President Don Loppnow. EMU is withdrawing from the agreement with Detroit Public Schools that led to the creation of the EAA. The EAA formed in 2011 and took control of 15 low-performing Detroit public schools, removing them from DPS and placing them under state oversight, with a majority of the EAA board appointed by the governor. The EMU Board of Regents on Feb. 5, 2016. The EAA's days appear to be numbered now. Friday's decision by the EMU regents technically won't be effective until June 30, 2017, following terms of the agreement with DPS. But given legislative efforts underway in Lansing, EMU officials expect the EAA will cease to exist well before that time. "The contract would indicate that June 30, 2017, is the conclusion of the relationship," Loppnow said. "It's hard to know what the timeline would be for the current legislation being considered in Lansing, but there is some probability that legislation would occur significantly before June of 2017, which would essentially redefine and perhaps conclude the EAA as we know it." Loppnow extended his gratitude to EMU's faculty members, saying their expert and systematic evaluation of the EAA helped lead to Friday's outcome. He also gave credit to student leaders who spoke passionately on the issue. Asked whether he thinks there might be any lasting harm to EMU's reputation after the EAA, Loppnow said he doesn't think so. "I believe the historic emphasis that our university has had on education, and the outstanding work of the faculty, and the positive impact our alumni have had throughout the state and nation, would far outweigh this particular point in our history," he said. "And so I believe the quality of what the institution does ... would be our image and reputation for decades and centuries to come." There has been much controversy surrounding the EAA, which has been criticized for poor academic performance and declining enrollment. Teachers unions in the state also have shunned EMU because of its involvement with the EAA, reportedly making it harder for EMU students to find student teaching positions. Loppnow is optimistic about the situation now. "I think the faculty have all had very positive working relationships with school systems throughout southeastern Michigan," he said. "I think those relationships will continue to be strong and solid going forward. In terms of next steps where our students will continue to study and graduate and pursue jobs in the education field, I think it's pretty straightforward at this point." Loppnow said EMU remains committed to Detroit and to urban education. He noted EMU hosted an Urban Education Summit back in November that brought urban leaders and teachers from around the state to EMU to talk about solutions for building strong urban schools, what's going right, and what can be done. "Our institution has always had a strong commitment to urban education, and the recent symposium that took place this past fall is just one indicator of that. I don't believe this chapter in our history will alter the emphasis and the priority that the faculty give, so we'll continue to do the good work we've been doing," he said. And what about EMU's relationship with Detroit schools? "Our commitment to the Detroit area and to urban education -- not only in this state, but nationally -- is as profound and a part of the fabric of our institution as it has ever been," Loppnow said. "And frankly, the relationships that our faculty and that our alumni have and contribute to education systems all over southeastern Michigan, including Detroit, I don't see that changing. I think we would continue to build and rebuild, and continue to extend our relationships there." Loppnow was upbeat as he spoke at Friday's meeting. "Many positive accomplishments are happening across the campus as we move into the new semester and new year," he said. "Our focus on students and their success inside and outside the classroom -- leading to graduation and rewarding careers -- remains a consistent and overarching priority." Ryan Stanton covers the city beat for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (pictured left with Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and right with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal) now finds his affection and emotional support for the Palestinian cause unrequited. "The most oppressed people of the 20th and 21st centuries is the Palestinian people ... Our support will continue until Jerusalem becomes the capital of independent Palestine ... No one should doubt our devotion to the Palestinian cause ... We won't forget Palestine, Gaza, Jerusalem, not even in our dreams ... We do politics for this holy way." "We were in the front rows when three months ago the Palestinian flag was hoisted at the United Nations. In November 2012, I was the only representative, as [then] foreign minister, from the Islamic world when Palestine was given non-member status at the United Nations general assembly. I sat with [Palestinian leader] Mahmoud Abbas when the Palestinian flag was hoisted recently and we hugged ... That's why I felt honored on behalf of my nation to witness the hoisting of the Palestinian flag at the United Nations. Inshallah [God willing] that flag will one day be waved in Jerusalem ... Whatever is wrong for Palestine is wrong for us too." "We, Palestinians, have gone through similar experiences as the Armenians; both of us have been repressed, terrorized and banished. As the Armenian people emigrated from their country to ours and then to another place, we too are experiencing the same struggle; we emigrated in 1948 and the refugees in Syria are migrating to the sea, into exile and to places only God knows about." Burak Bekdil, based in Ankara, is a Turkish columnist for the Hurriyet Daily and a Fellow at the Middle East Forum. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh. blogspot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work as well as a big vote to follow our good friend Kay Wilson on Twitter. . ..Gatestone Institute..04 February '16..Although it came as no surprise, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in his weekly parliamentary group speech last December, spoke like a Palestinian politician, not a Turkish one:He then narrated an anecdote:What generous Turkish affection for the Palestinian flag and leader! But both history and present times would forcefully remind one that the Turks' love affair for the Arabs in general, and the Palestinians in particular, is quite unrequited.First, the flag. The colors of the Palestinian flag (red, white, green and black) are pan-Arab colors. The Palestinian flag is almost identical to that of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party. It is also very similar to the flags of Jordan and Western Sahara. Before being the Palestinian flag, it was the flag of the short-lived Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan. All of these flags draw their inspiration from the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkey (1916-1918).In short, the flag the Turkish prime minister proudly witnessed while being hoisted at the UN is an inspiration of the flag used by the Arab Palestinian nationalists in the first half of the 20th century, which was the flag of the 1916 Arab Revolt against Davutoglu's beloved Ottoman Empire. The Arabs, including Palestinians, joined the Allies to fight the Turks during the war.Similarly, Davutoglu's emotional encounters with Mahmoud Abbas do not sound as if they are being shared by the Palestinian leadership. Abbas's Christmas message , which went unnoticed in Turkey, contained references to the Armenian genocide (still largely a taboo topic in Turkey) that would have caused a small political earthquake in Turkey, along with fits of anger and threats, had they been spoken by an Israeli or European politician. Displaying the usual hypocrisy, Turkish leaders preferred not to hear what the Abbas said:In his speech, Abbas did not forget to "convey our best wishes to our beloved Armenian brothers in Palestine, in Armenia and in the entire world," and invited Armenian President Serzh Sarghsyan "to visit Palestine and we hope he will accept the invitation."That was "From Palestine with Love" -- to Turkey. Without caring much about whether the Palestinians love the Turks, the Turks keep on loving to love the Palestinians. Political Islam has its many prerequisites. If one of them is unconditionally to hate Israel and the Jews; the other is an unconditional devotion to the "Palestinian cause." Turkey's leaders successfully fulfill both prerequisites. Break-in.JPG Photos taken from a surveillance camera show a break-in 3 a.m. Jan. 30 in the 900 block of North Main Street in Ann Arbor. (Courtesy of AAPD) A 23-year-old Ann Arbor man suspected of first-degree home invasion in Ann Arbor has turned himself in. Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Robert Pfannes thanked MLive readers for their tips after the Saturday break-in. The man forced his way into a home about 3 a.m. Jan. 30 in the 900 block of North Main Street, police said. A resident heard the suspect force his way in and called out, police said. The suspect then fled. The investigation is ongoing and charges are not expected until later next week at the earliest, Pfannes said. Those with further information on this incident are asked to contact the Ann Arbor police Detective Dan Iverson at 734-794-6930 ext. 49321 or email TIPS@a2gov.org. Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran. By Steve Anderson, Contributing Writer Share Some had believed, not so long ago, that the expansion of the American call center seen in 2015 wouldn't last into 2016, at least not at the same rate. This was a rational argumentno expansion can last foreverbut one that seems to be just a bit deflated, as evidenced by a new report from The State that shows TD Bank adding 300 jobs to Greenville over the course of 2016. The new 300 jobs will put TD Bank within striking distance of an earlier-announced plan to bring 1,400 jobs to a regional service center. The company was already fairly close at 1,000 hires so far, so this extra 300 will be most of the commitment met. With 500 seats full at the company's call center, and around 200 employed in various branches and the regional headquarters downtown, TD Bank's hirings were mixed but welcome all the same. There was no word on just what the new 300 jobs would entail, but president and CEO Mike Pedersen noted that the company had a ...plan to grow. Additionally, Pedersen noted that the company liked the environment, which suggested a long-term plan to stay in place. Pedersen further noted that the local market was proving to be an excellent source of new hires, but that some managers were getting employees to move to South Carolina specifically to work for TD Bank. Recent stock market issues didn't faze Pedersen, who noted that Q4 was a little soft, but we think that'll bounce back in Q1. Pedersen mentioned some bright points in the overall outlook, including consumers clearly spending, wage growth faring pretty good, and a general improvement in housing matters, a particularly important note for a bank. What's particularly noteworthy here is that, even if none of those 300 new jobs end up in the call center, the call center still accounts for a healthy portion of total hires in the region. With 500 call centers jobs involved out of a current total of 1,000, soon to be 1,300, it's clear that the call center is a good chunk of business. That's not surprising; while the omnichannel push has left businesses considering every potential source of customer contact, the phone is still the go-to source for many customers seeking help from a business. Callers aren't always happy to use it, but it's still a very present help in time of trouble. Thus we see that the call center is a major part of not only TD Bank's operations, but also the operations of a host of other businesses. The American call center's revival seems to be continuing apace, and even if it doesn't match last year's gains, it's likely to carry on being vital for some time to come. [February 04, 2016] AHF: Husted Transmits Ohio Drug Pricing Initiative to General Assembly; Had No Legal Standing for One Month Delay Advocates from AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and members of Ohioans for Fair Drug Prices today welcomed news that Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted finally forwarded ballot initiative language for The Ohio Drug Price Relief Act to Ohio's General Assembly for its consideration. Husted was legally required under the Ohio Constitution to transmit the proposed law to the legislature on January 4th, but he instead defied his statutory obligation regarding certification of voter signatures and the transmission of the initiative language and instead returned the signatures to local election boards for recertification. The ballot initiative will amend Ohio law to require state programs to pay the same or less for prescription medication as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs1. Backers plan to have the initiative appear on Ohio's November 2016 presidential election ballot. "We are gratified that Secretary Husted finally transmitted the drug pricing ballot initiative to Ohio's General Assembly; however, he had absolutely no legal standing under Ohio law to invalidate our signatures once they had been validated and revalidated by local election boards-nor to disqualify signatures in Cuyahoga County," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Jon Husted-at pharma's bidding-robbed us of critical time needed to ensure this drug pricing initiative gets on the November ballot. We will continue to pursue legal actions that we have pending in the Supreme Court of Ohio as well as in federal court in order to get the time we need to get this important measure before Ohio voters in November." MEDIA AVAILABILITY-All Day Thursday, February 4th CONTACT: AHF's Ged Kenslea, 323.791.5526 mobile [email protected] AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 588,000 individuals in 35 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter (News - Alert): @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare 1 V.A. pricing is generally believed to be 20% to 24% lower than for almost any other government program. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160204006560/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] I am concerned about our future ability to provide protection for historic properties in Detroits local historic districts. This means such great places to live as the Villages, Sherwood Forest, Lafayette Park, and Boston-Edison. This means great buildings that have benefitted from investment such as the Grand Army of the Republic, Broderick Tower, David Whitney, and First National buildings. This also means established centers of business such as Midtown, Corktown, and Southwest Detroit. These and many others around Detroit are the historic places that, if lost, would strike an economic blow to Detroit and make it less distinctive.My concern stems from House Bill 5232 and the identical Senate Bill 720 introduced Jan. 26 by Rep. Chris Afendoulis (R-East Grand Rapids) and Sen. Peter MacGregor (R-Rockford) respectively.The proposed legislation is the most serious threat to historic preservation in Michigan since PA 169 of 1970 The Local Historic Districts Act was enacted. The way in which the current bills are written, as introduced, would effectively eliminate historic districts in 78 communities across the state including Detroit. New stipulations would undermine residents and empower larger property owners (perhaps even out-of-town speculators) to determine the fate of a local historic district with yet unsubstantiated boundaries by requiring a two-thirds property owner majority to even begin studying it. A majority vote of the city-wide electorate would then be needed for approval. The appeals process would be politicized by moving it from a non-partisan state board of experts to local elected officials. The bills would allow the use of ambiguous design standards instead of the nationally-recognized U.S. Secretary of the Interiors " Standards for Rehabilitation ." Elimination of a district would not have to follow the same careful process as that used to establish it. And current and future historic districts would be dissolved after 10 years unless a popular vote approved renewal, an exorbitant cost and administrative nightmare for a city like Detroit with over 130 local historic districts.My own opinion is that there is nothing like this level of uncertainty and ambiguity to make it impossible for people to invest in Detroit.I have been working in the city for over 30 years, confident that preservation is a long-term commitment here. I started Turner Restoration in 2001 because owners of historic buildings needed trained people to do their restoration projects. With four or five employees working with me, the company has completed over 200 projects, 65 percent in Detroit and southeast Michigan and many in local historic districts. The beauty of preservation is that the economic growth it spurs does not have to be large-scale. I commonly am working with an individual property owner undertaking a single project. They have found their craftspeople and materials locally, keeping our dollars within the community.Detroit is also where I live. I moved into the Arden Park-East Boston Historic District in 1988 after purchasing my house, the former residence of James Alvan Macauley, one-time president of Packard Motor Company. The home was built in 1911 and I see myself preparing it for its next 100 years. I did not buy this house solely as an investment but because I appreciated this historic district and the quality of all Detroits historic neighborhoods. We are a locally protected district and a visually distinctive neighborhood with committed residents. Yes, it takes education to keep us all on the same page, but when we go before the Historic District Commission, our plans are approved.Historic preservation has been a crucial economic driver in Detroits continued revitalization. Since 1996, over $350 million has been invested in the city through the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. Of the 89 buildings involved, over half have been rehabilitated within the past six years. Our historic districts have been helping lead the rebound as well, attracting investment and tax-paying residents. Tellingly, almost 75 percent of neighborhoods that have now seen their property values exceed pre-recession values were located near or within historic districts.The need for skilled tradespeople is a common challenge and invites us to see sustained preservation activity as a lucrative part of the construction industry in which young people, the underemployed, and simply those with an interest could benefit from training programs and apprenticeships. The Detroit City Council certainly sees preservations bottom line, unanimously passing on Feb. 2 a resolution in opposition to the recent bills Gutting the Local Historic Districts Act extinguishes the long-term horizon of stability I need to continue investing in my home and my business. Sustaining the Acts existing provisions, on the other hand, is the most potent means by which I and others can spur growth in Detroit with our historic assets. Lets not fix something that isnt broken.James A. Turner is the president and owner of Turner Restoration in Detroit. He is an advisor of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a former board member of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) and Preservation Wayne (Preservation Detroit today), and a popular instructor in the preservation trades around the U.S. 05.02.2016 LISTEN Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in Ghana, Nana Oye Lithur, celebrated her 50th birthday with a party. At the party, she sang and performed Shatta Wale's Kakai to the admiration of guests. Shatta Wale who was happy about the minister's gesture took to his Facebook page to commend the latter for her love. In his post he spoke about his love for the minister and also apologised for not showing up at the ceremony, adding that he was absent because he was not aware of her birthday bash. GOD BLESS HON NANA OYE LITHUR (MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION) I LOVE YOU SOO MUCH AND I REALLY ENJOYED YOUR PERFORMANCE. MADAM KAKAI, I REALLY APOLOGISE FOR NOT BEING THERE CUZ NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT YOUR BIRTHDAY BUT I STILL SUPPORT YOU AND LOVE YOU MUMMY was what Shatta wrote on his wall on Sunday. CREDIT:kasapaonline Abrantie Amakye Dede 05.02.2016 LISTEN Reports that Ghana's National Security has invited highlife legend Daniel Abrantie Amakye Dede for questioning over the recent Agogo-Fulani violent uprising have been denied by the very person supposedly arrested. No one has arrested me and no one has invited me to any National Security or any police station this year over comments I had made on the Agogo crisis. I do not know where the reports are coming from. It is not true, Amakye Dede told NEWS-ONE in a telephone interview on Thursday. He continued: The only time I was asked to help the security people with information was some two years ago. Many of us were invited to explain what exactly our grievances were and I was one of them. But if the Fulanis have started disturbing the people of Agogo again, why should the media throw out stories that I have been arrested by National Security. It is misleading because no one has invited me over this new crisis in recent times. Meanwhile news reports on several credible online news sites quoted Amakye Dede to have confirmed the supposed recent invitation by National Security during an interview he granted Adom FM's Evening News on Wednesday. Amakye was quoted to have said: I was invited by National Security and questioned on that My crime was that I made an appeal that people with guns, bullets, etc should supply us some so we would fight our battle and that led to my invitation by the National Security. I blame no one but the Police Commander who rather protects the Fulani herdsmen more than the indigenesIf care is not taken, we would at a point in time take matters into our own hands and fight our battle The people of Asante Akyem are peace-loving people but our leniency must not be taken to mean a weakness. we have men in Asante Akyem Agogo, if anyone cares to know, he reportedly warned. An Accra Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of hiplife musician Wisa who is standing trial for gross indecent exposure after showing his manhood during a performance. The musician failed to show up in court Friday when the case was called forcing the judge, Abena Agyin Doku to issue the bench warrant for his arrest. Wisas lawyer, Jerry Avenorgbor, who was absent during the last hearing on January 25, was in court without his client. A source told Myjoyonline.com that after the bench warrant was issued, Wisa later showed up at the court premises after his lawyer tried frantically to reach him. Jerry Avenorgbor, together with Wisa, went to see the judge but failed to convince her to withdraw the bench warrant. The musician, using his counsels coat as a disguise, quickly left the court premises. During the last hearing, the court had given state prosecutors February 5 to provide evidence that Wisa exposed his manhood on stage. The court gave the order after Detective Edward Agyei Odame of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) failed to present any evidence in court Monday when the case was called. Detective Odame told the court that he failed to present the evidence, which was a video of the incident, because the lady in charge of the evidence room where they keep the exhibits was unavailable. The rapper, born Eugene Ashie, allegedly showed his manhood whilst performing at this years Decemba 2 Rememba concert organised by Accra-based Citi FM on December 24, 2015. Midway through his performance on stage, the musician while wiggling his waist behind a voluptuous lady drew down his white boxer shorts which was already showing in his saggy jeans and pulled out his manhood, rubbing it behind the lady. The state was ready to provide evidence for the case when the artiste failed to show up in court. The case has been adjourned to February 12 and the police is expected to arrest the musician and make sure he appears in court on the adjourned date. Follow me Twitter: @delaXdela and Instagram: citizendela Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Ernest Dela Aglanu (Twitter: @delaXdela / Instagram: citizendela) 05.02.2016 LISTEN Juvenile Actor Rahim Banda has won many of the Kumawood fans after displaying his versatility in an upcoming Kumawood Movie titled ALI. The Director of the Movie , Francis Dzogbetsi much known by his alias as Nebu Ur Majesty has heaped praises on the juvenile actor Abdul Rahim Banda saying he will be one of Ghanas most successful actors. Francis Dzogbetsi said: ''Rahim Band is one of his favorite actors, and his incredible talent, sensitivity, and deep intelligence will bring an improvement in the film industry.'' After five and a half months of intensive review of the much awaited movie, the production house and crew members have deemed it the accurate time for the revelation of ALI, a movie that features versatile actors like thrilling Ntul Andrew much known on screen as Scorpion, Bill Asamoah, Dabor, Company and more significantly Rahim Banda. A story that emphasizes on two brothers coming across a missing money bag and couldnt tally their understanding on what to do with the wealth and hunted each other based on misallocation of the stock waging war among the two final and promiscuous characters and their entities. He is a guy too thoughtful and very absorbing at work. Working with him was a real privilege and I am happy to have his signature on my trade. I recommended him to the executive producer as the good fit for the role and I am glad he gave a go ahead-budget for his appearance in this movie the director told SeanCitygh.com. He has difficulties with the Akan dialogues and so we had to blend his style with the local diction in view of the fact that his character will make the story good and my vision as a director fulfilling. After a couple of scenes, I was satisfied with the approach and I found it a real delight Francis Dzogbetsi also known as Nebu Ur Majesty outlined. The movie is yet to be unveiled on Market by Pokandys Empires introductory scheme. However, the fan base of Rahim Banda are anxiously waiting to see their darling boys in Kumawoods maiden production. Yvonne Okoro 05.02.2016 LISTEN After a successful premiere in Accra, Yvonne Okoro's latest, Ghana Must Go, is set to open for new audience in Kumasi. The movie will this Saturday, February 6, premiere at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, where a large number of students and Kumasi movie enthusiasts are expected to troop. Ghana Must Go's premiere in Accra on January 2 registered a very huge audience attendance and it is expected to repeat the same feat in Kumasi as Yvonne Okoro and her team are billed to make appearances. It is co-produced by Roseline Okoro. Yvonne waited three (3) years to return to the production bench after her first produced movie, The Contract. Directed by Frank Rajah Arase, it stars Yvonne Okoro, Kofi Adjorlolo, Luckie Lawson, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Nkem Owoh and a host of others. The movie tells the story of Ama who arrives in Accra with her fiance Chuks. She is met at the airport by her brother Kwabena, who is stunned to realise that Chuks is a Nigerian- a significant detail Ama had failed to disclose to her family for a good reason. . On reaching the Kanga family house in Accra, it suddenly dawns on Chuks that Ama is from a rather affluent family. Her mother Dolores is an Accra high society lady and her father Alex is a retired senior army officer and a wealthy industrialist. They have all been under the impression that Chuks is an American, Australian or Namibian, not a Nigerian. When the secret is discovered, it creates havoc in the household. The rest of the story is what movie fans will see for themselves at the premiere. By Francis Addo (Twitter: @fdee50 Email: [email protected]) 04.02.2016 LISTEN Billions of dollars have been pledged to help ease the plight of Syrians affected by the five-year conflict. At a donors conference in London, dozens of countries committed to help reach the target of $9bn (6.2bn). The EU pledged $3.3bn (3bn; 2.3bn). UK Prime Minister David Cameron told the conference: There is a critical shortfall in life-saving aid. The gathering has been overshadowed by the suspension of peace talks in Geneva and intense fighting on the ground. A Syrian government offensive, backed by Russian air strikes, is continuing north of Aleppo. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said an estimated 70,000 Syrians fleeing the bombing were moving towards Turkey. Sixty countries are represented at the conference , including 30 world leaders. They are aiming to help the 4.6 million refugees and 13.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria. Both David Cameron and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke of the need to get all Syrian refugee children into education within months. The pledges included $2.6bn from Germany, $1.7bn from the UK, $1bn from France and $925m from the US. Australia, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Japan, the UAE, Austria, Switzerland, Estonia, Denmark and Finland also committed funds. European Council President Donald Tusk said the EU would commit 3bn this year and intended to maintain this level of financing for 2017 and beyond. He said the European Investment Bank would also play its part, offering to lend as much as 23bn for the whole of the Middle East and North Africa. . The $9bn being sought on Thursday is made up of a UN appeal for $7.7bn and about $1.3bn requested by regional host governments. Part of the reason for the record request is the underfunding of previous appeals. Only 43% of the $2.9bn pledged to the UNs 2015 appeal has so far been funded. Delegates from Turkey which hosts the largest number of refugees, 2.5 million Jordan and Lebanon said their societies would need long-term support in order to adapt to the influx from Syria. A coalition of more than 90 humanitarian and human rights groups meeting in London on Wednesday also called for better access to education and jobs for refugees in Syria and neighbouring states. Hours before the conference began, peace talks between the Syrian regime and opposition were suspended , amid rebel anger over the continuing Russian bombing around Aleppo. The UN-brokered talks, which opened just two days ago, are expected to resume on 25 February. Staffan de Mistura, the UNs special envoy at the talks, admitted there had been a lack of progress but said that the negotiations had not failed. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the talks were undermined by the continuous lack of sufficient humanitarian access, and by a sudden increase of aerial bombings and military activities within Syria. He urged the warring sides to get back to the table, not to secure more gains on the battlefields. Blame game over collapse of Syria talks Middle East newspapers apportion blame to a variety of sources for the suspension of the third round of peace talks in Geneva. Ali Ibrahim Mattar in Irans Arabic-language newspaper al-Vefagh takes aims at Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia wants to make political solutions fail and sabotages any talks, in addition to its support for terrorist groups to destabilise Syria. In Syrias state-run al-Thawrah daily, Ahmad Hamadah says: The US Secretary of State [John Kerry] and his aides flock to the Swiss capital and behind closed doors impede all options for a solution. Qatars pro-government al-Rayah newspaper says: Damascus, Moscow and pro-Syrian President Bashar al-Assads sectarian militias made the Geneva talks fail from day one. These talks were stillborn. Nasri al-Sayigh in the pan-Arab leftist Al-Safir daily bemoans the absence of the Syrians themselves the refugees, displaced and missing whilst the Saudi pro-government paper al-Watan says Russian air strikes suspend Geneva 3 until 25 February. -bbc 04.02.2016 LISTEN A UN panel has ruled in favour of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange after he complained he was arbitrarily detained, the BBC understands. Mr Assange claimed asylum in Londons Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sex assault claims, which he denies. The Met Police says Mr Assange would be arrested if he does leave the embassy. He earlier said his passport should be returned and his arrest warrant dropped if the UN panel ruled in his favour. In 2014, Mr Assange complained to the UN that he was being arbitrarily detained as he could not leave the embassy without being arrested. The application claimed Mr Assange had been deprived of his liberty in an arbitrary manner for an unacceptable length of time. The UNs Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is due to announce the findings of its investigation on Friday. While the BBC understands the panel will find in Mr Assanges favour, Wikileaks tweeted it was waiting for official confirmation. Downing Street said the panels ruling would not be legally binding in the UK. A government spokesman said Mr Assange still faced one allegation of rape, while a European Arrest Warrant remained in place. We have been consistently clear that Mr Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK but is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy, he added. The UK continues to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange to Sweden. Clive Coleman, BBC legal affairs correspondent, said Mr Assange will argue the decision is significant and adds considerable legal and moral force to the argument he is being arbitrarily detained. . But our correspondent added the UK government is likely to argue that Mr Assanges detention follows an entirely lawful process. Per Samuelsson, Mr Assanges lawyer, said Swedish authorities would be morally wrong to continue the investigation if the UN panel found in his favour. The ball is in Swedens yard, in the prosecutors yard. She is not formally bound by the decision by the UN, but morally it is very difficult to go against it. The journalist John Pilger, who is a friend of Mr Assange, said the ball is now at the feet of the British government, whose international legal obligations were represented by the UN panel. They did something in terms of supporting the tribunal in all the other celebrated cases, and Assange now joins them because the UN jurists have clearly found this is a case of arbitrary detention, he said. Australian Mr Assange was originally arrested in London in 2010 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden. He claimed asylum inside the Ecuadorean embassy in Knightsbridge after the UK Supreme Court ruled the extradition against him could go ahead. Swedish prosecutors dropped two sex assault claims against Mr Assange last year. However, he still faces the more serious accusation of rape. His Wikileaks organisation posted secret American government documents on the internet, and Mr Assange says he believes Washington will seek his transfer to the US if he is sent to Sweden. In the statement, published earlier by Wikileaks on Twitter, Mr Assange said: Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal. However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me. Last October, Scotland Yard said it would no longer station officers outside the Ecuador embassy following an operation which it said had cost 12.6m. But it said a number of overt and covert tactics to arrest him would still be deployed. -bbc The John Mahama led NDC government should start preparing to hand over power to the NPP after the November 7th elections. Victory for the NPP will lead to the total transformation of Ghana and the suffering people's fortunes can be turned around. I wonder what informed the NDC to use the slogan " Changing Lives and Transforming Ghana " What lives have the NDC changed apart from the few creating , looting, and sharing the national cake. The John Mahama administration is delivering nothing but poverty to the people of Ghana. We have in Ghana a government whose policy now, only delivers poverty. Where on this planet do you get a government that is waging such war on its own people ? Every policy that President Mahama and the NDC government introduces delivers poverty. The nation is grappling with low standard of living coupled with high cost of living, hence many people cannot make ends meet. Since 2013 , electricity tariffs have gone up by182.75 ppercent, and water has seen a 144.84 percent jump within the same period. The government is insensitive to the needs of the youth by its withdrawal of nursing and teacher-training allowances. The NDC didn't inherit Dumsor , but for 4yrs. we lost our businesses, others lost their jobs, others have died. It is a big disservice to Ghanaians that at this particular time when the people are suffering, the government will be increasing utility prices and above all increase petroleum price. Unprecedented unemployment, deteriorating social and educational infrastructure, the decline in the agriculture sector, poor health care delivery, etc. Despite having over spent GHc 8.7 billion deficit in the election year 2012 , Mahama and the NDC government in its desperation to win the 2016 election, is set to defy IMF directives and overspend his way in the coming elections. Some Africa countries have gone better in terms of infrastructure, but you never heard them boasting. But this time around it won't wash. Last year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry confiscated some pirated textiles from traders in various markets in the country. After being hoarded in Customs Bonded Warehouses , the pirated textiles have been rebranded with " John Mahama for 2016 " pictures. Not forgetting the GHc 3.6 million oil revenue, released for the rebranding of buses with the pictures of John Mahama. If you see the pictures of Mahama on the buses and the textiles, and you are starving, having lost your jobs, you are in darkness, Dumsor destroying your business, your parents can't afford your school fees , you can't pay your water and electricity bills , NHIS can't help you , you are an unemployed graduate , then prepare your thumb against John Mahama and the NDC in the 2016 elections. The achievements of President Mahama are never comparable to that of President Kuffour.Looking at the number of loans passed by the NDC government and work done by the administration, Ghanaians must know , we are not getting value for money. The incompetent and corrupt Mahama and the NDC government must be voted out in the 2016 election, to bring back the country on the good track President Kuffour started. The inspiring leader that Ghanaians believe has the courage and vim to drive the nation into a new era where the development in freedom that has been achieved in the first eight years of the NPP will be transformed into prosperity for all. Ghana would have been better off if it was being run under the leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo with the numerous resources and huge funds available to the present NDC administration. The NPP is ready to lead Ghanaians for the needed change. Alex Tuffour Communication Director NPP Germany. Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development on Wednesday inspected the construction works of the Accra Compost Waste Treatment Plant and the Mundor Fecal Treatment Plant. The plants which are constructed under a Public Partnership Programme by Government and the Juspong Group of Companies Zoomliom is at a cost of $ 9 million. The plants would be used to treat liquid waste, which is disposed into the sea. Alhaji Dauda said the two plants would create employment for about 600 people both professional and non-professionals to reduce the employment deficit in the informal and formal sectors. He said the project would be replicated in other regions. Dr Richard Amponsah, Managing Director of the Accra Plant said the facility would be ready by the end of February. He said the capacity of the plant is 1000 cubic and Management is collaborating with the Association of Liquid Waste Collectors to feed plant. GNA Homowo - Accra The Homowo festival is celebrated by the Gas between August and September each year..These unique set of Ghanaians have a history of frequent migration around Africa.However they are thought to have originated from from some parts of Nigeria.The Gas are located on the southern coast near the Atlantic Ocean.The main festival of the Gas is the Homowo festival. Some people believe that the festival was adopted from the Jewish Passover.However the generally accepted origin of this festival is a celebration of plentiful harvest after a very severe famine many centuries ago.The word HOMOWO itself is a Ga word which explicitly means Shame to hunger.The Homowo festival is therefore a massive celebration of the victory over the hunger they faced. A special meal made of unfermented corn powder called Kpokpoi and palmnut soup of fish is the traditional meal for the festival.During the festival,the Gas hoot at hunger as they eat the kpokpoi with the palm nut soup prepared from fish. Libation is poured and a symbolic meal offering is made to the gods for helping them come out of a severe period of famine and hunger. Homowo is celebrated every year between the August and September to commemorate that day when hunger was hooted at and ridiculed. The main objective of this festival therefore is to celebrate the success story of the Gas in fighting famine. Fetu-Afahye - Cape Coast Cape Coast is the capital of the Central Region of Ghana.This coastal city used to be the capital of the Gold Coast before independence.The annual festival of the people here is the Fetu Afahye festival which is usually celebrated on the first Saturday of September each year.It is believed that, many years ago, there was a plague in Cape Coast. This was very pertinent and as such demanded that the people call on their gods for an intervention. It is believed that,with the help of the gods,the inhabitants of Cape Coast and its environs were able to eradicate this plague, hence, the name Fetu originally known as Efin Tu- which means doing away with dirt.The festival is also used to celebrate a bumper harvest from the sea. Rituals are performed to thank the seventy seven (77) gods of the Oguaa Traditional Area for their protection and blessing throughout the year. As per most Ghanaian festivals, the Fetu Afahye is very colourful with drumming and dancing amidst singing of local songs and chants. The sights and sounds from a typical Afahye is mind blowing and memorable. You simply cannot miss this. Hogbetsotso - Anloga The Hogbetsotso Festival is one of the biggest festivals in Ghana and is celebrated by the people of Anlo in the Volta Region of Ghana. The main theme behind this festival is a remembrance of their journey from their former home, to their present settlement in Ghana. According to history, it is believed that before coming to their present settlement,the people of Anlo lived under a cruel and wicked ruler, King Agorkoli of Notsie, somewhere south of present day Sudan. The people devised a way to escape from the town. They were led by a brave warrior known as the Red Hunter. The town was fenced with a mud wall, so in order to soften the wall and create an escape route,the women were told to pour water on one side of the wall anytime they had to dispose off any water. They "walked backwards" in order to confuse their pursuers and avoid being caught.Even legend has it that their leader,The Red Hunter turned himself into a rat and walk over all their footprints to make them look very old. When they finally arrived at their present home, they celebrated the festival Hogbetsotso (Festival of Exodus) to mark this event. The festival is a great time for the local people because it symbolizes a great time in their rich history. The festival is also a period used to settle disputes and get to know each other better.The highlight of the Hogbetsotso Festival celebration is a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of the town. There is intense drumming and dancing and merry making. The dancing is the most fun part, with the very popular BORBORBOR dance on display. Aboakyir - WInneba Aboakyir (which basically means the catch of an animal) is the festival of the Effutus in Winneba . Winneba is a city in the Central region and is just 35 miles west of Accra, the Capital of Ghana. The festival is a celebration to mark the migration of the local people from the ancient Western Sudan Empire where they were led by 2 brothers and a god called Otu.The main theme of the Festival is the capturing of a live deer and showcasing it on a float around the town before presenting it at a durbar. Today, the Aboakyir festival is celebrated in May each year and is a major event in Ghana .Many tourists and people from all over the country travel there to catch a glimpse of the extraordinary ceremony amidst drumming,dancing and chanting of war songs. Kundum - Axim/Takoradi Kundum Festival is celebrated by the Coastal tribes of the Western Region of Ghana . This festival is celebrated over a four month period at weekly intervals from town to town between August and November every year. The main highlights of the festival are the stool cleansing, the ancestral prayers and the drumming and dancing that accompanies most Ghanaian festivals. Kundum is an ancient festival with a modern day blend of style. The last Sunday is the grand durbar, when the final feast is prepared. The local people distribute food with very loud drumming and dancing. It is a period of togetherness and unity as everyone comes together to make merry. The main moral behind this celebration is to foster unity and togetherness among everybody in the city. Many visitors and tourists troop into the region to participate in the fun and enjoyment that accompanies the festival. If you are in Ghana around that time,you cannot afford to miss the Kundum Festival. Credit : Jovago.com Three embattled High Court judges have brought yet another writ to the Supreme Court challenging processes to remove them. Justices Mustapha Habib Logoh, Paul Uuter Dery and Gilbert Ayisi Addo are challenging the capacity of journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas Tiger Eye PI to petition the President for their removal from the Bench. The three are fighting attempts to remove them after they and others were accused of trading justice for monetary and other material benefits. Tiger Eye PI compiled audio-visual recordings of alleged activities of the judges which formed the basis for their petition to the president. But in a writ filed at the Supreme Court Thursday, the three are seeking A Declaration that the Petitions that the 1st Defendant (Tiger Eye PI) filed with the President of Ghana for the removal of the Plaintiffs as Justices of the Superior Court are inconsistent with and in contravention of Article 146(3) of the 1992 Constitution as the 1st Defendant lacked legal capacity to file the said petitions. The provision states that If the President receives a petition for the removal of Justice of a Superior Court other than the Chief Justice or for the removal of the Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, he shall refer the petition to the Chief Justice, who shall determine whether there is a prima facie case. The justices are insisting that the Presidents referral of Tiger Eye PIs petitions to the Chief Justice to determine whether there was a prima facie case against them was inconsistent with and in contravention of Article 146(3) of the 1992 Constitution as the 1st Defendant lacked the legal capacity to file the said petitions. They say Chief Justice Georgina Woods invitations to the judges to respond to the petitions also violated the constitution. They want a declaration by the Supreme Court that the determination by Chief Justice that there is a prima facie case for Justice Ayisi Addo to answer is inconsistent with and in contravention of Article 146(3) of the 1992 Constitution Tiger Eye PI lacked the legal capacity to file the said petition. As evidence of their claim that Tiger Eye PI lacked capacity to bring the petition, the three justices produced a number of letters. One of the letters is from the Interior Ministry states that, Records available in this ministry indicates that the Tiger Eye PI Media Limited was licensed as a private security company by this ministry in 2010 but later the name was changed to Stallion Tiger Limited in 2012. The letter added that its records showed that Tiger Eye PI is the same as Tiger Eye PI Media Limited. The justices want An order nullifying the petitions filed by [Tiger Eye PI] with the President of Ghana against [them] as it had no legal capacity to file the said petitions. Justice Dery has been filing cases upon cases against his removal. He brought a case at the Supreme Court arguing that Anas and Tiger Eye PI breached the constitution by publishing the contents of the audio-visual recordings which formed the basis for the petition against him. He further stated that the Chief Justice also breached Article 146 of the constitution by writing and making public letters relating to the proceedings. 04.02.2016 LISTEN Embattled High Court judge Justice Paul Dery has filed a fresh suit at the Supreme Court seeking to nullify a petition by Tiger Eye PI to President John Mahama. Tiger Eye PI led by undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas has petitioned the President through the Chief Justice to impeach 32 lower and high court judges over allegations of bribe taking. So far, 20 of the Magistrate and Circuit Court judges implicated in the scandal have been sacked from office. Meanwhile, two High Court judges John Ajet-Nasam and Ernest Obimpeh have also been dismissed from the judicial service following their involvement in the judicial scandal. According to Dery's new suit, Tiger Eye PI has no locus to file that petition hence it must be declared unconstitutional. Meanwhile, a five-member Supreme Court Panel chaired by Justice Julius Ansah has by a unanimous decision dismissed Justice Derys suit which sought to declare as null and void proceedings instituted by the Chief Justice to remove him and several other judges who are alleged to have taken bribes. The Supreme Court held that even though Tiger Eye PI did violate article 146 clause 8 of the 1992 constitution, it does not mean that the constitutional process to inquire into the petition should be declared null and void. In its ruling, the Supreme Court granted him three of his reliefs which were: 1) A declaration that the 1st Defendant's publication of its Petition to the President in the media contravened Article 146 (8) of the 1992 Constitution and therefore unconstitutional. 2) A declaration that the conduct of the 1st Defendant acting through its Chief Executive Officer and Acting Editor of the Crusading Guide Newspaper, Anas Aremeyaw Anas in releasing the contents of the Petition, through publications in the Crusading Guide Newspaper, his personal Facebook page, public screening of the audio visual recordings in support of the Petition at the Accra International Conference Centre on the 22nd of September, 2015, containing the evidence in support of the Petition, is in violation of Article 146(8) of the 1992 Constitution and therefore unconstitutional. 3) A declaration that the 2nd Defendant acting through the Judicial Secretary's Press Release dated 11th September, 2015, naming the Plaintiff as one of the twelve (12) High Court Judges involved in the Bribery Scandal is in contravention of Article 146 (8) of the 1992 Constitution and therefore unconstitutional. The embattled High court judge and several other judges were captured in a video allegedly taking monies to decide on cases before them by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye firm. -starrfmonline Facebook hosted a roundtable with small and medium sized enterprises from Ghana and Nigeria on Tuesday this week as part of its effort to support entrepreneurship in West Africa. The session focused on how Facebook can help small businesses reach exactly the right customers for less money and with greater returns. More than 50 million small businesses around the world actively use Facebook Pages because theyre free, easy to use, and they work well on mobile. More than 2.5 million SMEs worldwide actively invest their hard-earned dollars with Facebook every month, a number thats doubled in the past two years. A growing number of them are in Africa 54% of people on Facebook in Nigeria are connected to a small or medium business. But for Facebook, this is only the start of Facebooks potential to help small and medium sized enterprises in West Africa to thrive. Nunu Ntshingila, Head of Africa for Facebook, said Africa is home to some of the worlds most vibrant and exciting small businesses, and these enterprises are the backbone of the economy. These smaller businesses drive economic growth and create jobs that lift people to prosperity. The number one reason they succeed or fail is their ability to attract customers. As more and more people turn to smartphones and the web to discover and connect with businesses, Facebook is the best platform for African SMEs to promote their brands. Nicola Mendelsohn, EMEA vice-president at Facebook Mendelsohn, said, Technology is driving real progress. When I visit Africa, this comes to life in every conversation and with every story I hear about entrepreneurs creating jobs and solving problems with technologys help. Were invigorated by how Ghanaian and Nigerian SMEs are using Facebook to grow brand awareness and boost engagement with their customers. We look forward to doing more to support entrepreneurs as they build their businesses. West African businesses are advertising on Facebook because it drives business objectives and sales. Its measurable, affordable, mobile and easy to do. If an SME has a Facebook Page, it is a mobile marketer, able to post once and reach clients on desktop, mobile, any device, anywhere in the world. Most small businesses can easily get going for a few dollars a month with lightweight solutions that they do with one click from their page for example, boosted posts, promoted page likes and promoted links. Some examples of small West African companies that use Facebook to tell their stores include: Jayosbie in Nigeria is an online brand and retailer for fashion-forward men. Facebook is significantly cheaper than other channels. Actually, it's not even comparable, says Dejuwon Isola-Osobu, founder and CEO. One recent campaign delivered 14,000 clicks for just 260$. Fabulosity Hair and Fabulosity Cosmetics deliver affordable and natural hair extensions and cosmetics for women who want to look fabulous. They attribute their growth to the flexibility of Facebook advertising. Chinenye Umeh, the founder, says she loves the flexibility and affordability of Facebook, especially the fact that she can easily turn spending up and down on a month to month basis. Skin Gourmet Limited in Ghana is a female-led producer of organic, natural and chemical free skin care products. It reports a significant return on investment in the form of more engagement and brand awareness after posting and boosting posts on Facebook. Accra Good Markets in Ghana is a pop-up event for vendors to sell their products. Facebook is its only marketing channel for reaching vendors and shoppers alike and it sees tremendous results through its posting and highly targeted advertising activity on Facebook. Akataasia Clothing in Ghana depends on WhatsApp to connect with the customer base. In 2015, Facebook held 225 events across 19 countries, reaching over 200,000 small business owners with training on how to use its platform effectively to drive sales and marketing goals. Africa will be a focus region for such events for the rest of this year. Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited has called on the Akropong Traditional Council to express their sympathies to the chiefs and people of the Akuapem Traditional Area on the passing of Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, Okuapemhene. David Duker, GGBL Divisional Sales Manager Middle Belt East, expressing the companys sympathies said GGBL has enjoyed a good working relationship with Oseadeeyo and the entire Akuapem traditional area over the years. This gesture is our way of sympathizing with the good people of Akropong as we mourn a great Chief. Ghana has indeed lost an icon. Mr. Duker presented assorted premium products of GGBL on behalf of the company to support the funeral activities. Receiving the products on behalf of the traditional council, the Omanhene of Amanokrong, Nana Osim Kwatia II, together with the Akropong Hemea and other Kingmakers of Okuapeman, thanked Guinness Ghana for their support. MENINGITIS DEATH TOLL NOW 85; PULL-OUT ON OKUAPEHENES BURIAL ACTIVITIES TOMORROW The strain of pneumococcal meningitis has so far claimed 85 lives out of the 456 cases recorded in the country. POLICE IMPOUND MOTORBIKES IN ACCRA One hundred and twenty-two motocycle riders were yesterday arrested and their motorbikes impounded for allegedly jumping the red light at two traffic intersections in the Accra metropolis. ABUDUS STAGE DEMO DEMANDING RIGHT TO HOLD FUNERAL Hundreds of youth from the Abudu Gate of Dagbon, yesterday staged a peaceful demonstration through the principal streets of the Yendi Minicipality in protest over governments unwillingness to allow them access the Gbewaa Palace to perform the funeral of the late Ya-Na Mahammadu Abdulai. MENINGITIS CLAIMS 85 LIVES The deadly meningitis disease has claimed the lives of 531 people in the last six years, with this year alone (as at February 3) recording 85 deaths. 2 CHINESE CAUGHT SELLING FAKE DETERGENT Two Chinese businessmen have been arrested by the police for dealing in fake So Klin detergents POLICE SWOOP ON MOTOR RIDERS The Ghana Police Service yesterday impounded over 100 motorbikes and arrested their riders for committing traffic offences, including those which ignored red lights at various intersections in the Accra metrolis. TOMATO SELLERS THREATEN SUICIDE Over 50 tomato farmers in the Upper East Region, have threatened to commit suicide if government fails to intervene immediately to mitigate the effect of the glut of their produce on them. YOU WILL GET CASH IN POCKET 2017 MAHAMA After almost eight years since is promise of putting money in the pockets of Ghanaians has not materialized, President John Dramani Mahama, leader of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) , has again said that when given another four-year term he would make good his promise. ANAS JUDGE THROWN OUT The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by embattled high court judge, Justice Paul Utter Dery, seeking to stop the investigative committee set up by the Chief Justice, Georgina Wood, to probe the judicial bribery and corruption scandal. TRADERS, SHIPPERS UP AGAINST COMMON TARIFF REGIME; BUT ECONOMIST SAYS ITS NECESSARY EVIL The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and other stakeholders in the shipping community, notably the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF) and the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana have kicked against implementation of the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) regime in the country. MOUNTING DEBT KILLING GHANA GAS The web of debt that entangles power utilities is threatening the survival of the youngest among them Ghana Gas, and it is very crucial that we deal with this issue Petroleum Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah told members of the companys new board. AGOGO CLASHES REVIVE RANCHING LAW The renewed clashes between indigenes and foreign cattle-herdsmen in the Agogo area of the Ashanti Region has ignited calls for the passage of the ranching law which has been in the work since 2012. NO MORE FREE RIDE; PRIVATE CAR OWNERS CHARGE FARES TO SUPPLEMENT FUEL COST If you are a regular beneficiary of the benevolence of private car owners who offer to pick up people by the roadside going their way, you might just want to brace yourself up to start paying for the ride the era of the free ride is over. SOUTH KOREA PLEDGES SUPPORT FOR TIJANIYYA COUNCIL The Tiyaniyya Muslim Council of Ghana, under the able leadership of Shiekh Abul-Faidi Abdulai Maikano has called on the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, Lyeo Woon Ki as part of the councils efforts at seeking collaborations in empowering the youth through skills training and entrepreneurship training. S UPREME COURT THROWS OUT JUSTICE DERYS SUIT A five-member Supreme Court panel chaired by Justice Julius Ansah has by a unanimous decision dismissed Justice Paul Derys suit which sought to declare as null and void proceedings instituted by the Chief Justice to remove him and several other judges who are alleged to have taken bribes. SEARCH PARTY GRABS LUNATIC WHO BUTCHERED 14-YEAR OLD GIRL Police have arrested Yaw Akoto, a 35-year-old mentally deranged man who butchered to death a 14-year-old girl at Akyem Asafo in the East Akyem municipality of the Eastern Region. NPP NOT A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE TO NDC GOVT KOKU ANYIDOHO A Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho has ruled out the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as an alternative to the NDC administration. 05.02.2016 LISTEN It's 11 past 8 in the evening, and I'm looking out my window from my desk in downtown Dallas. It is way past rush hour, the time where most workers drive back home. If you've lived in Texas, you know that owning a car is a must. I've paid close attention to the kind of cars people drive in the city. Of course, Texans love their big Chevy trucks with monstrous tires and grating exhausts. However, Maseratis and Teslas are very popular vehicles to spot in traffic. Just today, I've seen more than five Tesla Model S sedans from my office window. What excites me the most about the Tesla fleet is the recently released autopilot and summon features that allow Tesla vehicles to cruise on their own with little to no assistance from the driver. The 'coolest' part of Tesla's technology is the ability of individual cars to 'learn' the nature of the road and send that information to the Tesla cloud. This data is then fed to other vehicles in the fleet. For example, if my Tesla fails to take a sharp curve correctly, it will transmit information about that portion of the road to Tesla's cloud. This data will be passed on to other Tesla vehicles so that the next car will do a better job of taking the same curve. As more Teslas clock more miles, the fleet and the autopilot feature is only going to get better. According to Tesla, the data they receive increases by 1.5 million miles per day. That is almost 60 times more than the circumference of the earth. You might be wondering what this has to do with healthcare. Well, we need Tesla-like technology in healthcare, especially in developing countries. Healthcare technology in emerging markets should be built for the future and powered by contributions from various sources. Often, medical interventions designed for developing countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa, tends to be decades behind what is available in more advanced countries. They are usually intended to manage the problem rather than solve it. Take as an example the fight against malaria. Mosquito nets have been distributed extensively across Africa. Yet, the continent continues to record the highest rates of malaria-related deaths. Sadly, these solutions are still being introduced in the fight against infant and maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, and other important public health issues. Earlier last year, I was privileged to join the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance, a group of young African entrepreneurs from elite schools in the United States, Europe, and Asia. During one of the Harambe sessions at Harvard Law School, I listened to a visiting professor insist that mobile solutions for Africa should be designed to work with feature phones since that is the most common mobile device. This line of thinking is widespread. A lot of initiatives targeted at building 'apps' for the Nokia 3310 are funded by top academic institutions and organizations. You wouldn't expect any serious developer to spend time building an app for a pager or Motorola's DynaTAC. Well, this is happening. We're developing technology for yesterday. One might argue that Africa and the rest of the developing world for that matter lack the right infrastructure to support these so-called bold and modern initiatives. Ghana, for example, is experiencing a crippling power crisis. Images have emerged of doctors and nurses delivering a baby with flashlights from their phones. Despite all these challenges, I firmly believe that innovation is our ability to build compelling technology notwithstanding the lack of good infrastructure. Also, just as most countries leapfrogged landlines to adopt mobile technology, I expect developing countries to skip laying fiber optic cables. Instead, projects like Facebook's internet.org and Google's Project Loon, which aims to fly WiFi connected drones and balloons over developing countries will be the source of connectivity for most people in rural areas. At Peach Health, we're investing in building technology for the future. We believe that computers will play the biggest role in the diagnosis, treatment and detection of disease. There is no better place to utilize such a solution like emerging markets. We're starting by: + Making all health records electronic. + Enabling physicians to prescribe electronically. + Facilitating easy to provider-to-provider communication and sharing of information. + Equipping patients to communicate with their healthcare providers through mobile and other connected devices. + Finally, using data accumulated from the above goals and other sources to diagnose diseases and predict outbreaks. Building a robust medical records system is even a challenge for companies operating in the advanced countries. However, with the right ideas, the needed skills and a good understanding of the target market, a viable, highly useful and robust solution can be developed. At Peach we believe that for electronic medical records to work in developing countries, it must be strictly mobile, be able to function without a data or power connection, be easy to use, cloud-based and highly interoperable. All these features are in our mobile EMR. The ability for doctors to electronically send prescriptions, communicate with other providers and receive laboratory results in one app delivers on the promise of care continuity and allied health. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. We're excited and interested in what we can do with all the data from anonymized medical records, prescriptions, diagnosis and lab investigations. Throw in socio-economic data, demographics, and information about previous disease outbreaks and we will have a war chest of actionable information. With this information, our Peach platform will be able to diagnose skin conditions using a camera lens, detect other illnesses by entering vitals and symptoms, and even offer prescriptions. Lower level providers can deliver a higher standard of care by using our platform. You can have a community health officer diagnosing and treating skin conditions with the accuracy and reliability of a renowned dermatologist. We're convinced that this approach will lead to sharp increase in access to quality healthcare. Many disagree with this approach and are quick to point out the limitations of artificial intelligence in treating patients. Conventional wisdom suggests that training more health care workers and building brick and mortar hospitals is how quality care will reach the masses. We disagree. In 2010, Ghana had a doctor to patient ratio of 10,483:1. In 2011, it marginally improved to 10,0321:1. The World Health Organization recommends one doctor to a 1000 people. Ghana and Africa for that matter cannot meet this target even in the next three decades. It takes about seven years to train a doctor and another two to five years of residency. Also, the continent continues to hemorrhage it's top healthcare professionals to more advanced economies like the United States and England. Bridging the gap will take a very long time. Instead of focusing ALL our resources on training more doctors and nurses, which is noble, Perhaps, we can make investments in computer-assisted diagnosis to supplement the efforts of the existing healthcare workforce. In case you are concerned about computers taking the jobs of healthcare workers, don't be worried. It is true that computers will replace a lot of jobs, and that is totally fine, but does is several years away in health care. Think about this, in Ghana, there are only 25 known dermatologists in a country of over 25 million people. These dermatologists are far from losing their clients even with the Peach platform. But we don't want to leave it at just diagnosis and prescriptions. We're designing our platform to be capable of predicting disease outbreaks, spotting areas likely to have high maternal mortality rates and epidemics long before they occur. Imagine being able to predict the likelihood of an Ebola or meningitis outbreak with a degree of certainty. And just like the fleet of Tesla vehicles, we will only get better at these things with the more data we receive and process. Well, enough of the machine learning & artificial intelligence kool aid. Very soon, you will be taking your hospital appointment with our peach A.I rather than Dr. Adjei. Cobby Amoah about.me/cobby 05.02.2016 LISTEN I have a very simple question for everyone. How would you feel, if you live as a Land Lord in your house and you are constantly attacked by a tenant who is perching in your house? Well, I find it prudent to equate the above situation to the presence of Fulani herdsmen in Asante Akyem Agogo District of the Ashanti region. I have been observing with keen interest for some time now how these nomads comfortably move about and do what pleases them especially in Agogo Traditional areas as if they were rather the indigenes of the land. For about close to three years now, there have been altercations and clashes between the residents of Agogo and Fulani Herdsmen. Clashes between natives and the settler Fulani population have often led to bloodshed, death, rape and destruction of crops and property on either side. Although a Kumasi High Court in 2012 ordered the Ashanti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to flash out all cattle in the Agogo Tradional area with the exception of cattle that have been properly confined in a permitted area, the Fulani herdsmen continue to live there. I can decide to turn a blind eye to the situation since I do not live there nor hail from there, but it is impossible for me to pretend everything is okay. The clash between the Indigenes and nomads is a major threat to our National Security as a country. The clash has gradually generated tension between the youth of Agogo who on Tuesday 2nd, February released a statement accusing the Traditional Council of Agogo and the Omanhenene of failing to protect the interest of indigenes, as residents suffer constant attacks from the Fulani herdsmen. This mistrust if not checked can further degenerate into something worse coupled with the already tension or beef they have with Fulani herdsmen. Just this morning, I heard on the news that, there were sporadic shootings from the camp of the nomads, a situation which I find very alarming. I am therefore appealing to the law enforcement agencies to act fast to guarantee the safety of Ghanaians because whatever happens to any resident of Agogo automatically affects the peace of every Ghanaian, hence the need to give it the necessary attention. Some of these nomads have been living in Ghana for long, married to some of our women and men, even have children and so by extension, they feel they are equally Ghanaians and therefore have the same liberties like any other Ghanaian to do whatever they want in the country. This quickly brings to mind the eminent call by the Nduom-led Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) to resource and fortify the enterprise of the National Identification Authority. We all know that a proper National Identification System will allow government authorities to appropriately monitor the movements and transactions of every registered citizen. Implementation of a well engineered National Identification System could help avert some of these things and other related societal crimes through proper screening of aliens who enter the country through unapproved means and tracking capabilities of its citizens. Furthermore, it will clearly let everybody know their place, privileges and boundaries in the country. I however have a question on what is happening to the court ruling which ordered the eviction of the Fulani Herdsmen from the Agogo-Afram Plains? How did the Fulani men have guns in their possession? Are the guns needed to protect the cattle? The security agencies must equally see to it that the court ruling is carried out effectively considering the repercussions it could have with only a few more months to our general elections. Also at ensuring that the remaining legitimate cattle do not infringe on the farms of the Indigenes to ensure peace, there should be proper animal husbandry policies that will regulate the movement of the cattle so that residents of Agogo can live comfortably on their lands without any fear of being attacked. I believe we can do better than this as a people. Ah! Ah! Ah! Long live Mother Ghana! Ruth Appiah Osei University of Nordland, Norway Email: [email protected] Date: 5th February 2016 The strain of pneumococcal meningitis has so far claimed 85 lives out of the 456 cases recorded in the country. The Minister of Health, Mr Alex Segbefia, who gave the statistics in a statement on the floor of Parliament Thursday, said the Brong Ahafo Region had recorded the highest number of deaths of 45 out of 288 cases reported. The Northern Region, which had 58 cases, had recorded the second highest number of deaths of 19. Forty-three cases had been reported in the Upper West Region, with eight deaths, while the Ashanti Region had 17 cases, with six deaths. The Greater Accra Region had recorded four cases, with two deaths; Eastern, two cases, with two deaths; Upper East, 35 cases, with one death; Volta, seven cases, with one death, and Western, two cases, with one death. There has been no reported case of the deadly disease in the Central Region. Last week Thursday, Mr Segbefia was reported to have told the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health that 50 people had died as a result of the disease across the country. He said there had been 246 reported cases as of that time. Interventions Mr Segbefia told the House that health professionals, supported by officials from district assemblies and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), were on the ground to contain the disease. Besides, he said, health professionals had been re-oriented to the management of meningitis, while the government had provided funds and 7,500 vials of antibiotics for health workers. The minister said he had directed that MoH mobile health vans be redirected to the affected communities to support interventions. Additionally, the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) was leading efforts to determine the exact serotype of bacteria causing the disease. It is being supported by the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research and the Medical Research Council of The Gambia. Concerns The causative agent for pneumococcal meningitis is streptococcus pnuemoniae. otherwise known as pneumococcus. The Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions and their neighbouring districts in the Brong Ahafo and the Volta regions lie in the meningitis belt of Africa where the condition is endemic. The belt spans Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east. Countries in the belt experience a number of meningitis cases annually, with periodic spikes during the harmattan. As a deviation, the cases of meningitis this year were first reported in the Brong Ahafo Region, where it has assumed the dimension of an outbreak. Therefore, the Minister of Health said, the ministry was most concerned because the outbreak 'started in areas that are not commonly affected and the causative agent is observed behaving quite differently'. He said although there had been previous reports indicating outbreaks of pneumococcus, they were rare occurrences which required many more in-depth laboratory studies on the type the country was dealing with. No meningitis epidemic Mr Segbefia said currently 216 districts across the nine regions had not experienced an epidemic of meningitis and indicated that 'we can define what is happening now as an outbreak, which is an occurrence of a disease in excess of the normal'. He said epidemiologically, an epidemic of meningitis was said to occur under two scenarios based on the number of cases reported in a week for a specified population. 'A number of activities in the areas of surveillance, case management, laboratory testing, coordination, advocacy and social mobilisation are ongoing across the country and these are beginning to yield fruits,' he said. MPs Contributing to the statement, the Majority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, urged health professionals to be extra vigilant in the diagnosis and treatment of meningitis. He asked the MoH to assist health centres to acquire test kits which could diagnose meningitis within 30 minutes to ensure swift detection and treatment. The MP for Wa West, Mr Joseph Yileh Kyireh, urged the government to support the establishment of laboratories in districts to facilitate laboratory tests for meningitis and other diseases. The MP for Offinso North, Mr Augustine Collins Ntim, said the increasing death rate from meningitis was worrying and called for extra effort to arrest the situation. 05.02.2016 LISTEN Undoubtedly, most people will opt for childhood moment rather than adulthood time when they get to judge which stage in life is more exciting. Childhood time is a very interesting one because you get to be naive and act crazily and still live happily since you care less where and how the next meal would come from. In as much as this time is a fun period for learning, it is also a very important stage in life for a person to create and define who he or she is and who he or she will be. In short, childhood period is a moment for molding ones identity. Growing up as a child in a place with people from different ethnic backgrounds, I had the chance to hear and taste different languages. My mum spoke Dagaare and Ga with me whilst my Dad communicated with me in English and Dagaare. My Siblings and I responded to my mum in Ga and to my dad in both Ga and English. Conversation among friends and neighbors were in Twi (the dominant language around) and Ga. Once in a while, I tried my luck on some Ewe from some lessons I received from some Voltarian friends. At this stage of my life, I became the typical African who is naturally multilingual. Despite my multilingual achievement, did I really get the identity I wanted? I doubt I did. The answer to the question above sounded irrelevant in my ears till I travelled to the Northern part of Ghana for the first time in my life. It all happened when I completed my Junior Secondary School and my parents finally decided to send me to Nandom in the Upper West Region. Nandom Kokoligu is the place of my ancestors and that is my fathers village and my village as well whether I like it or not. I was born and bred in Accra and for reasons best known to my parents, they decided to wait that long before taking us to their hometown. I believe there are numerous stories like mine and in some worse cases, the children became adults and never had the chance in life to know where they came from. Well, the long and short of my story was that I was sent to my village for the first time at age 14. Although I was happy to have been there, I felt extremely sad because communication between me and the people who were supposed to be my blood was difficult. In my own village, I was seen as different instead of being seen as one of them. Ironically, I was proudly labeled a Northerner back in the South. This was the point I began asking myself, who am I? Today I also ask you, who are you? Are you also like me or your children are like me? Back in the village am seen as different and back in the south am seen a northerner. Years have moved on and I have tried in my own way to get the identity I wanted but funny enough, my life as a teacher has exposed me to many cases of Ghanaian children with confused identity just like me. Mine was better; at least I understood and spoke a little of my language. The situation now is worse. I have seen numerous students born and bred in Ghana with names like Nhyira, Adofo, Quartei, and Osei who do not understand any local language except the Queens language (English). Whenever the local language is spoken to them, all they do is to stare at you like you were the one who betrayed Jesus Christ. Monolingualism is a part of us now and the greatest sufferer is our local languages. Surprisingly, most parents usually from well to do homes have endorsed this phenomenon of language and so speaking the local language to their children at home is a No No. I wonder what such parents intend to achieve with this. What kind of identity do they want to curve for their children? I vowed not to mention our system of education as a factor for this trend but I will take back my words and address it as such. Personally, I think our system of education has over the years succeeded in convincing and persuading students to Love their mothers and Hate their tongue. In most private schools, information that first greets you is Do not speak Vernacular. Vernacular here is the local language and a violation of this attracts serious punishment. Lets take a look at another scenario. A student goes for his WAEC results and sees English 1 and Ga/Twi 5. He becomes excited and not bordered. The same student gets English 5, and Ga/Twi 1, all hell breaks loose because he has FAILED. Well, that is the reality of the situation; our very system of education fights against what gives us identity when its supposed to be incorporated in the system like its policy states. If there is anything I will forget from my lesson in JSS, it will not be the definition of MATTER and CULTURE. Culture is the way of life our people live. So today, what can we say is our culture? Hmmm, the answer is simple. Culture now is the way our children do not understand the language of their mothers and proudly speak English because is the mark of a good student. Culture has become staying with your nuclear family and forgetting about where you come from. Culture is painting everything from our village demonic and satanic. Very Funny! Our culture is ours and our language is culture. Eric Ziem Bibiebome [email protected] 05.02.2016 LISTEN The Supreme Court has dismissed a suit filed by embattled high court judge, Justice Paul Utter Dery, seeking to stop the investigative committee set up by the Chief Justice, Mrs Georgina T. Wood, to probe the judicial bribery and corruption scandal. The five-member panel, chaired by Justice Julius Ansah, in a unanimous decision, stated that despite the breach of the provision of the confidentiality clause by the petitioner, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and Tiger Eye PI for the removal of the justices, there was no provision for annulment of the process. The Constitution, according to the justices, does not provide any remedies for the violation of Article 146. They held that there may be other common law remedies available for that violation, such as contempt, damages and actions in torts, but it does not include annulment of the petition or inquiry proceedings, else any person who favours a judge may leak the proceedings and thereby truncate it. The invitation to nullify is absurd and subversive of constitutional order, they submitted. The Justices also indicated that the action of the Chief Justice could not be said to be unconstitutional as she had given the applicant an opportunity to prove his innocence before the committee set up to investigate the issue. In the ruling read by Justice P. Benin, the court held that the public viewing of the video and the publication of the names of the affected judges were illegal. The Justices however indicated that the publication would not in any way affect the hearing unless it was shown that it (publication) influenced the committee, adding that judges were not influenced by what they might have read in the media. Justice Benin in that regard noted that the plaintiff's right to a fair hearing could not be said to have been violated. The Supreme Court judges affirmed the continuous validity of the petition by the petitioner against the plaintiff. An injunction, they claimed, would amount to judicial censorship. Justice Dery had wanted the Supreme Court to determine whether or not the petition presented by investigative reporter and acting editor of the New Crusading Guide, Anas and Tiger Eye PI, a private investigative company, to President Mahama contravened Section 146 of the 1992 Constitution. . The high court judge wanted the court to declare that the CJ, acting through the judicial secretary's press release dated September 11, 2015 in which he (Dery) and 11 other judges were said to be involved in the bribery scandal, was in contravention of the Constitution. Justice Dery had dragged the CJ, Anas, Tiger Eye PI and the Attorney-General to court after the release of an audiovisual material by Anas in which the judge and 11 other high court justices allegedly took bribes to pervert justice. The judge, who said he took the action in his capacity as a citizen of Ghana and justice of the Superior Court, was also seeking the original jurisdiction of the court and wanted a declaration that the committee set up by the CJ to investigate the corruption scandal in the judiciary was null and void. This was after Justice Gertrude Torkonoo, the trial judge, who dismissed the contempt application, had vacated her order after Justice Dery had moved to the Supreme Court to stop her from hearing any matter concerning his case. Mrs Torkonoo vacated her order for the dismissal of the contempt and for the matter to be restored at the high court. Counsel for Justice Dery could not cite an instance where the trial judge said something indicating bias or the likelihood of it, so she consequently withdrew the application seeking to stop Justice Torkonoo to recuse herself from hearing any matter involving the embattled judge. Justice Dery had also wanted a perpetual injunction against anybody set up to deal with the matter from determining any issues arising out of the contents of the said petition. Furthermore, he wanted an injunction restraining Tiger Eye PI, its agents, assigns and servants, among others, from further publicising, distributing or disseminating any proceedings against him. By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson [email protected] Robert Le Hunte cuts the sod to open the new branch 05.02.2016 LISTEN HFC Bank has relocated its Tudu branch to a new and improved setting at Dakmak House, Kojo Thompson Road since 1st February, 2016. This new branch depicts the new look and feel of HFC Bank banking halls which will characterise its entire branch network across the country. The move is also aimed at giving its cherished customers an enhanced banking experience. Speaking at the brief opening ceremony, Robert Le Hunte, Managing Director of HFC Bank Ghana Ltd, thanked customers for their loyalty and continuous custom. He used the opportunity to invite the general public to come and experience the bank's suite of deposit products including the seven exciting products that were recently launched. He also admonished staff to give off their best and go the extra mile to meet the needs of their customers. . The Branch Manager of Tudu Branch expressed excitement about the new branch location and the new direction that the bank is taking and pledged the Tudu team's commitment to working diligently towards achieving their set targets. The ceremony was attended by selected customers and the management of the bank. A business desk report 05.02.2016 LISTEN Drivers in the Volta regional capital of Ho, particularly the commercial ones, have expressed concern about the increases in fuel prices. Drivers in the Volta region have for some time been silent about the development. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the Volta Region, Lawrence Attitoe said the increment in fuel prices had affected the cost of spare parts and other items. Ghanaians are paying more for fuel at a time when there has been a consistent drastic drop in the price of crude on the international market. Fuel prices at the pumps have gone up by between 18% and 27% following the passage of the Energy Sector Levy (ESL) by Parliament in December 2015. The increment took effect from Monday, January 4, 2016, and some fuel stations in the country are selling a gallon of petrol for between GH15.00 and GH16.00 with diesel selling between GH14.20p and GH16.00. The price of LPG has also gone up by about 18 percent price per kilogram. But for the introduction of the levy, the price of diesel should have been reduced by 10%. Petrol, on the other hand, should have been reduced by some 5.5 percent per liter at the pumps but the levy has led to an increase of at least 27 percent. Many Ghanaians have questioned the rationale behind the move since there has been a drastic drop in the price of crude oil on the international market. It emerged that although the Bulk Oil Companies (BDCs) have reduced their prices to comply with the international market, a litany of taxes imposed by government had increased the prices of fuel. . An analysis of the prices by Civil Society Groups, including the Africa Center for Energy Policy, (ACEP) shows that the tax component of the current fuel prices is more that 60%. Speaking to DAILY GUIDE in Ho, a taxi driver Bright Semebia, said that the fuel price increase has affected their profits and by extension their expenses in maintaining their vehicles. He added that utility tariffs had worsened the situation. The GPRTU leaders earlier this week announced a 15% increment in transport fares, but that directive is yet to be implemented in the Volta region. Lawrence Attitoe, who speaks for the union in the Volta Region, said they are yet to receive an official directive from their leaders at the headquarters. He also backed calls by the leaders that the recent increment in roadworthy and insurance subscriptions be reversed. Attitoe, who is popularly known as 'Awilo,' assured residents that drivers in the region would comply with official directives. From Fred Duodu, Ho ([email protected]) George Ofori (2nd left) speaking at the recent press confab 05.02.2016 LISTEN Traders have kicked against the implementation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Common External Tariffs (CET) at Ghanas ports. According to them, government has already overburdened Ghanaian traders with numerous taxes and therefore they would not accept the new ECOWAS tariff. The External Tariff, which took off on Monday, February 1, 2016 at all ports across the sub-region, will ensure that importers who clear goods at the ports of Ghana pay tariffs similar to other ECOWAS members. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is implementing the CET after the passage of the Customs Amendment Act, 2015 (Act 905). The implementation of the ECOWAS tariff will lead to an increase in the prices of some consumer goods at the market. George Ofori, President of GUTA, who was addressing a press conference in Accra recently, said government will render traders bankrupt with the implementation of the CET. We are already paying a lot of high taxes at the portsthe question is; do we deserve an additional tax in the name of harmonization absolutely not! he said. Mr. Ofori appealed to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to suspend it to allow for proper consultation with relevant stakeholders to build consensus for a smooth take off. Any attempt to impose it on us without proper consultation will be met with stiff resistance, as we are already oversaturated with numerous high taxes and levies that are making us intolerant to impositions, he stated. Advice ECOWAS Mr. Ofori said since ECOWAS has not been fully integrated into a single state with one law, care must be taken in order not to jeopardize the good intention of the sub-regional leaders. Therefore, the existing sovereign laws of all member states regarding investment should be allowed to operate for now until we reach a stage where all our sovereign laws are harmonized or until the sub-region is fully integrated as an Economic Community of West African People. So instead of the short cut approach that is being sought, which will not help anybody, we are humbly appealing to our sub-regional leaders to rather expedite action on the integration programme so as to put rest the hullabaloo about the sovereignty of member states. . CET Wont Be Suspended Meanwhile, a source at the Ghana Revenue Authority-Customs Divisions, said the CET will not be suspended in spite of agitations by the traders. According to the authority, CET has been authorized by parliament and therefore its implementation cannot be suspended. However, the authority revealed that plans were underway to meet members of GUTA to address their grievances. [email protected] By Cephas Larbi Rosy Fynn, Marketing Director at Airtel Ghana. 05.02.2016 LISTEN Airtel Ghana has announced plans to celebrate and reward its cherished customers in February, the 'love month' through a Valentine Day promotion dubbed, 'In the Name of Love.' The promotion, which seeks to raise excitement among Airtel customers about Valentine, will offer them the opportunity to win and redeem lifestyle gifts such as 'Love Reborn' and Val's Day dinners for couples, spa vouchers, movie tickets, etc. from Airtel Premier and Airtel Rewardz's benefits partners across the country during the period. In the Name of Love' promotion is part of the Smartphone Network's nationwide Valentine campaign to reward existing and new Airtel Premier customers across the 10 regions of Ghana. The highest Airtel Premier Pack purchasers for February will be rewarded with dinner, spa voucher or cinema tickets for two from 12th February. Also, as part of the campaign, customers stand the chance of getting Valentine gifts from some selected Airtel shops when they visit such shops on selected days in the month of February. Rosy Fynn, Marketing Director at Airtel Ghana said, Airtel is reputed for celebrating and rewarding our customers all year round. . Throughout February, we are taking this a notch higher by delighting our customers and treating them to exciting gifts and offers. We are not leaving out any customer. Throughout the month, all Airtel customers can redeem gifts from our benefit partners with their loyalty points. February promises to be truly exceptional in the lives of our customers, she added. The first of its kind in the industry, Airtel Premier offers exclusive suite of telecom and lifestyle products and services aimed at recognizing, engaging and serving high value customers with tailor-made solutions, discounted services from partners and automatic enrolment onto Airtel Rewardz. Premier customers also stand the chance of enjoying complimentary gifts and invitations to Airtel sponsored events all year round. The Airtel Premier Service is in tune with the company's commitment to delivering nothing short of world-class telecommunication services to customers while meeting their lifestyle needs. By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri 05.02.2016 LISTEN Flag bearer of the Peoples' National Convention (PNC), Dr. Edward Mahama has blamed corruption for the numerous conflicts across the country. Speaking at the palace of the paramount chief of the Chianna traditional area on Saturday, Dr. Mahama who sounded angry said, the numerous conflicts in Bunkpurugu and other parts of the country is as a result of poverty perpetuated by corruption. This he blamed on the calibre of leaders in the country whom he said are only interested in enriching their families. In this regard Dr. Mahama said a PNC government led by him will ensure that poverty is tackled through pragmatic measures. Such measures he said will include focusing on agriculture and also improving efficiency in public service. According to him if the youth are encouraged to go into agriculture by ensuring that inputs are made cheaper for them, it would go a long way to improve food security and also discourage the importation of food such as rice into the country. Dr. Edward Mahama who is in the upper East region for a three day tour also pledged to restructure the school feeding programme to encourage even adults to go to school. NAIROBI, Kenya, February 5, 2016 - Global telecommunications company Bharti Airtel Africa has been recognized by the African Union for its efforts in fighting the Ebola epidemic that hit West Africa in 2014. Speaking during the 26th Ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) - at an appreciation ceremony for stakeholders who supported the AUs intervention in the Ebola epidemic - Chairperson of the Commission (AUC) H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, recognized and acknowledged Bharti Airtel Africa, alongside other corporations as a hero in the fight against Ebola. I pay tribute to those who were at the frontline; those who paid the ultimate price with their lives, the private sector who initiated the cell phone SMS campaign that enabled citizens to contribute financially, said Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Airtel Africa, alongside the AU and other telecommunication companies, initiated Africa Against Ebola" SMS resource mobilization campaign to raise funds for the fight against Ebola. This was the first time, mobile network operators across Africa partnered the AU Commission. The initiative, which operated under the hashtag, #AfricaAgainstEbola, used an SMS platform to raise funds for the deployment of African health workers to affected countries. Through the campaign, Africa Against Ebola organization raised a total of $37,000,000 being contributions from some countries, NGOs, corporations and international institutions. Airtel Africa Vice President for Corporate Communications Mr. Michael Okwiri, who represented the organization at the 26th Ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union remarked: We are humbled by this recognition. Airtels participation in the AUs Ebola mitigation efforts was informed by the organizations concern around the epidemic. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) broke out early 2014 in what was termed as the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976.The disease claimed over 11,000 lives in the most severely affected countries - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This sporadic spread was largely blamed on weak health systems, lack human and infrastructural resources as they had only recently emerged from long periods of conflict and instability Airtel Africas employees came together as an entire organization to leverage its technology and know-how to support the initiative, especially the team in Sierra Leone Mr. Okwiri explained. On August 8, 2014 the WHO Director-General declared the West Africa outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern under the International Health Regulations (2005). As of January 2016, the countries have since been declared safe. 05.02.2016 LISTEN Ghana yesterday joined the global awareness campaign on cancer, with the message for every person to make a difference in the fight against cancer. February 4 has been set as the World Cancer Day in response to the chapter of Paris adopted at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in 2000. First Lady Lordina Mahama, in a statement to mark the day, entreated women to pay more attention to their health by visiting the hospital for regular check-up and get a smear test to reduce the risk of developing hard-to-spot cervical cancer. Early detection leads to early treatment, she pointed out. According to her, cancer is a leading cause of death, but when detected early it is managed and prevented from getting to the advanced stage media to fight cancer. The First Lady also advised men to be interested in the health of their wives by helping them to examine their breasts. . The African Cancer Organisation (ACO) in commemorating the World Cancer Day dubbed: 'We Can, I Can', has also held a cancer prevention sensitisation programme to educate the Ghanaian public on the disease. Executive Director of ACO, Paul Opoku-Agyeman, said the goal of the programme was to sensitise Ghanaians about cancer prevention, pledge leaders to promote cancer prevention especially at their respective workplaces and also act as change agents in the society. We believe when leadership has a grasp of the message, it is easier for our folks down there to receive it and change their perception towards cancer and then lead a lifestyle that prevents cancer, he said. He added that although much remains to be learned about cancer, enough is now known about the causes of cancer and means of control for suitable intervention to have a significant impact. The knowledge, the tools and the technologies required to fight and defeat cancer are all available. What is needed now is the system to effectively and efficiently translate the present knowledge into action -and that is what ACO is doing, Mr Opoku-Agyeman stated. By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri 05.02.2016 LISTEN THE KWAHU Traditional Council in the Eastern Region has expressed anger at the activities of Fulani herdsmen in the region, expressing their desire to drive them out of Kwahuland. According to the chiefs, hordes of Fulani herdsmen from Asante Akyem Agogo are trooping to the Kwahu lands, precisely in the Afram Plains and other areas such as; the Fanteakwa District through unapproved routes. The chiefs in an emergency meeting on Monday, have taken decision to flush out all the Fulani's herdsmen's with their cattle before Easter since they had not given the Fulani herdsmen any land to settle on. Nana Abankwa Ansong II, the Nkoguasoafo of the Pepease Kwahu Traditional Stool, who confirmed the meeting to DAILY GUIDE asserts, Our outfit has gathered that, the Fulanis were seen trooping into our lands with large herds of cattle but we wouldn't allow them to settle here, and those here too are going''. According to Nana, the nomads who are moving with their cattle are already jostling for settlement in the traditional farming communities, resulting in the residents raising concerns over the development. The Stool Chief of Pepease noted that, the police had previously launched ' Operation Cow Leg' but no results came out of it, adding that, the presence of the Fulani herdsmen had led to an upsurge in armed robbery, destruction of crops, environmental degradation, rape and many other atrocities which are disturbing their peace. The chief stressed that the Fulanis often carry offensive weapons to market places and drinking bars where they terrorise indigenes. He disclosed that the Fulanis had over the years killed over 18 Kwahu indigenes, attacked several others and stolen from their hosts at gunpoint. The Kwahu Afram Plains North District Assembly last year formed a task force to register all Fulani cattle owners and their cattle to enable the Assembly collect taxes from them and also monitor their movements. It is estimated that about 300 Fulani herdsmen brought over 2000 cattle from Nigeria, Niger, Togo and Mali to settle on Kwahu lands. [email protected] FROM Daniel Bampoe, Pepease Kwahu Ivor Greenstreet 05.02.2016 LISTEN Days after his shocking landslide victory in the Convention Peoples Party's (CPP) presidential primary, Ivor Greenstreet has revealed in a rather cynical fashion, that he would consider running with the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP), Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, in the next election as her running mate. During a friendly banter on Metro TV's 'Good Evening Ghana,' the show's host, Paul Adom-Otchere tried to push Mr Greenstreet to reveal his choice of running mate. Mr Greenstreet indicated, having Mr Adom Okyere himself as a running mate wouldn't be a bad idea but went further to playfully suggest that he would consider merging his party with the NDP just to run as Nana Konadu's running mate in the November polls. Nana Konadu perhaps I want to be her running mate. She'll be the candidate and I'll be the running mate, Mr Greenstreet declared jokingly. Mr. Greenstreet's light-hearted comment perhaps only suggests his admiration for the tough politician and her principles. . Nana Konadu, as Flagbearer of the NDP, was left disappointed as she could not contest the 2012 elections because the processing of her presidential forms had not been fully completed. However, the National Youth Leader of the NDP, Mr Charles Opoku, earlier this month confirmed that the former First Lady, will contest the 2016 presidential polls. Barring any shocking merger between the CPP and the NDP, Mr Greenstreet will also be contesting the November polls as the presidential candidate of the CPP. Mr Greenstreet polled 1,288 votes to beat the daughter of CPP Founder and Ghana's First President, Samia Nkrumah who had 579 votes in the Saturday primary held at the Accra International Trade Fair Centre. 05.02.2016 LISTEN The town of Agogo in the Asante-Akim Municipality of the Ashanti Region of Ghana has been battling with Fulanis spanning over a decade. Confronting the notorious Fulani herdsmen in Agogo seems to be a Herculean task to these Ashantis in their own land. No wonder the residents of Agogo have glossed over the destructive lifestyles of the Fula people in recent years. And they have almost relinquished their peace and safety to these nomads. However, Agogo; where farming is the main economic activity, contributing about 70% of the town's economic output - Wikipedia revealed; has now mustered up the courage to combat the criminal behaviour of the Fulanis. Amakye Dede, a rare illustrious son of Agogo, urged his people to fight their own battle in order to safeguard their security. Unfortunately, he was invited by the National Security Council for inciting the people of Agogo to violence against the Fulanis, because he alluded to the old dictum "if persuasion fails, force must be applied." He said, "I was invited by the National Security and questioned on that...my crime was that I made an appeal that people with guns, bullets etc. should supply us some so we would fight our battle and that led to my invitation by the National Security." Gosh, what do you expect Amakye Dede to angrily propose when our Police are reluctant to flush out these Fulanis while they destroy farms, rape women, kill residents and steal properties? For Christ's sake, these nomads are terrorising citizens of Ghana in their inalienable territory - this is absurdity of epic proportions. Again, "The chiefs of the town estimate that close to 40 innocent persons from Agogo have lost their lives as a result of this battle which commenced in 2001," GhanaWeb reported. Meanwhile, the Ashanti Regional Security Council has apparently paid lip service to the fight against the nefarious acts of the Fulani herdsmen. They claim that they will eject the Fulanis from the land of Agogo yet its posture bound by double standards leaves the Agogo folks in a state of bewilderment. Let's face facts, the Police are probably sitting on a fence regarding this crucial issue due to its enormous dimensions. That is why operational force appears to be the last option as a tough measure to drive the recalcitrant Fulanis away with immediate effect. But is it really a concrete solution to the problematic matter in hand? Moreover, Richard Amoako Ansong, my writing mentor, recently wrote that, "The Agogo Youth Association, led by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asante-Akim North, Honourable Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, last week issued a stern warning and a 24-hour ultimatum to the herdsmen to leave Agogo and its environs or risk dire consequences." Also, they promulgated a communal policy that no member of the Agogo township is allowed to conduct business with the Fula people. For these are all evident of the gross failure of the state to protect the Ghanaian populace. Oh are we foreigners in our own country? This nonsense must be halted at all costs, President Mahama! Yes, the laws of Ghana must ruthlessly deal with those nation wreckers in Agogo fair and square, and without fear or favour. Source: sirarticle.blogspot.com Representatives from more than thirty UK institutions will arrive in Ghana in February 2016 to partake in the annual Education UK exhibition in Accra and Kumasi. The UK institutions will meet and interact with students, graduates and professionals who have an interest in obtaining a UK education, and will provide expert answers to questions on admissions, scholarships, visas, and financial support. Apart from interacting with prospective students, the institutions will also meet school counselors, teachers, and parents, decision makers from key ministries and agencies, and Human Resource and training managers, seeking suitable training providers for their staff. Over several years, the United Kingdom has established itself as the educational destination of choice for people all over the world. UK institutions have a strong reputation for research, innovation and creativity, and UK institutions and colleges attract some of the leading academics and industry professionals from all over the world. Education UK is organized by the British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. The 2016 edition of the Education UK Exhibition takes place on Tuesday 23 February, at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Kumasi, and on Friday 26 February and Saturday 27 February, at the Accra World Trade Centre, on the Independence avenue in Accra. The programme starts at 10am and ends at 4pm each day. Attendance is free of charge. For more information, kindly call 050 4684 685. Below are the participating institutions: 05.02.2016 LISTEN As the world celebrate World Cancer Day on February 4 on the theme We Can. I can; the World Child Cancer Twinning Programme, aimed at developing a network of childhood cancer units across Ghana focused on Remembering Children in the Fight against Cancer. It is good Ghana has made marginal progress in the management of some adult cancers, but we are losing the fight against childhood cancer. While survival rate for reported cases in developed countries is around 80 percent, back home we are struggling to save 20 percent of the children who report with cancer. Late presentation, limited number of equipment and infrastructure, difficulty in accessing specialist care, inability of the nation to fund childhood cancer treatment are some of the important barriers. If Ghana has only two centres that manage childhood cancer nationwide, then the nation is not ready to care for children with cancer. Technically, survival rate for childhood cancer in Ghana is just around 5 percent. If 1000 children are estimated to develop cancer andannual reported cases were 250 between 2010 and 2014; and only 20 percent (50 out of the 250 patients) are surviving, then it is 50 out of 1000 that are surviving in Ghana. This is 5 percent of the annual expected cases. We have the opportunity to do things right only if we prioritize childhood cancer treatment. As a matter of urgency, we need to train more healthcare professional (doctors, nurses, and pharmacist) in paediatric oncology, expand treatment access to at least three others centres (Tamale, Cape Coast and Volta regions); and equip these facilities with good Labourites to be able to detect both solid and blood cancers. This will ensure equitable access to care across the country. Without good pathological services to detect the type of cancer, you cannot begin treatment. Aside from these, all health care professional especially public health nurses and all those who go on outreaches and growth monitoring will require training on the early warning signs of childhood cancer. As we are remembering children with cancer on this special day, we are calling for inclusion of childhood cancer medication on the national Health Insurance drug list. This is the first pragmatic step toward showing genuine commitment to the fight against childhood cancer. To cover the cost of medication for managing cervical and breast cancers under the health insurance but ignoring children cancers isunjust and abuse of fundamental human rights of Ghanaian children right to access to healthcare. If Ghana is able to do these within the shortest possible time, then we will be ready to stand against childhood cancer. There is hope for children with cancer as 75 percent of childhood cancer cases are curable if detected early. Together, we can win the fight against childhood cancer! 05.02.2016 LISTEN One of the most important aspects of every travel is to have adequate funds for a comfortable stay and not get stranded. Every tourist/traveler before embarking on a journey into Africa definately has to think about how expensive or affordable things are. Basic things such as food and transportation are often regarded as cheap. But do you know exactly what $1 can get you in Africa? Africas #1 online hotel booking portal,Jovago gives a brief overview on what you can buy for a dollar across Africa. Although you might get similar things across Africa,it must be noted that items vary from country to country. Take transportation for instance,in Ghana ,a taxi ride from the main international airport to the Accra mall goes for just about $1. When travelers get into any country for the first time,they seek to change money at a forex bureau,buy food,access the internet or simply wait in a lounge or restaurant while their host or tourist guide picks them up. One such place to get all of these is the Accra Mall. All you need is a dollar,and the ride there is sorted. Elsewhere in Africa, 2 tickets for the underground metro in Algeria or 2 litres of fuel in Nigeria both cost $1. The same amount of money will enable you to get a short boda-boda ride in Nairobi and while visiting Cameroon , it is possible to get a short taxi ride. Food is one very basic component of our daily lives. Wherever we go,we must eat to survive. Availability is always important but getting good food for the right price is great. In Uganda , you can buy a plate of Katogo whereas in Ethiopia , for the same price, you are able to get 6 injeras.On the other hand you can get a plate of Ndole in Cameroon and a plate of beans with fried plantain in Ghana for the same $1. In Nigeria , $1 can get you a meat pie and in Kenya you are able to get a serving of kachumbari. A plate of Attieke in the Ivory Coast,a pack of clackos in Algeria and 4 roadside sambosas in Ethiopia all go for $1 each. In Senegal,a kilo of potatoes goes for a dollar and do not leave without having a bottle of baobab juice all for the same amount. Clothing or grooming cannot be left out. A beautiful culture bracelet in Tanzania and second hand blouse from the flea market in Uganda are priced at $1 each.Get a nice haircut in the Ivory Coast and look handsome all for just a dollar. A dollar can do lots of wonders on your travel.Explore,experience and have fun on your travels knowing exactly what a dollar can do for you across the African continent. Jovago.com is a part of Africa Internet Group , supported by MTN and TIGO 05.02.2016 LISTEN Islamist militant group al-Shabab has taken control of the port city Merca, residents say. Merca, some 70km (45 miles) south-west of Mogadishu, is now the biggest town under al-Shabab control. African Union forces who had held the port city for three-and-a-half years withdrew earlier on Friday morning. The loss is a major setback for the African Union force (Amisom) in its decade-long battle against al-Shabab, the BBCs Tomi Oladipo says. The governor of Somalias Lower Shabelle region Ibrahim Adam told the AFP news agency that al-Shabab secured control without fighting. Amisom forces moved out at midday and the local administration and all other Somali security forces left a few minutes later and then heavily armed al-Shabab militants entered the town, local resident Ibrahim Mumin told AFP. . They have been addressing residents at the district headquarters, he added. Another resident, Mohamed Sabriye, told AP news agency that al-Shabab fighters had hoisted their flag over the citys police station and administrative headquarters. The withdrawal from Merca comes three weeks after al-Shabab overran an African Union military base outside the southern Somali town of el-Ade, saying they had killed about 100 Kenyans soldiers. Kenya has not said how many of its troops died. Al-Shabab was ousted from the capital, Mogadishu, in August 2011, but still has a presence in large areas of southern Somalia and often stages attacks across the country. -bbc Mr Assange read a statement to the media via a video link 05.02.2016 LISTEN The foreign secretary has branded as ridiculous a UN panels ruling that Julian Assange be allowed to go free, as the Wikileaks founder demanded the decision be respected. Mr Assange who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies claimed asylum in Londons Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. The panel said he had been arbitrarily detained and should get compensation. Philip Hammond rejected the decision, accusing Mr Assange of evading justice. Mr Assange hailed it a significant victory and called the decision binding, but the UK government dismissed this. The 44-year-old Australian was originally arrested in London in 2010 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Sweden over rape and sexual assault allegations. Two years later, while on bail, he claimed asylum inside the Ecuadorean embassy in Knightsbridge. Swedish prosecutors dropped an investigation into two sex assault claims against Mr Assange last year after running out of time to question him. However, he still faces the more serious accusation of rape. Brought a smile Reading a statement via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was vindication, adding: The lawfulness of my detention is now a matter of settled law. Mr Assange said it was a really significant victory that has brought a smile to my face. However, Mr Hammond said Mr Assange was a fugitive from justice, adding that he can come out any time he chooses but will still have to face justice in Sweden. Mr Assange said the comments by Mr Hammond were beneath the ministers stature and insulting to the UN, while Ecuadors foreign minister criticised the UK for rejecting the panels decision. . Ricardo Patino said the UK had violated important articles of the Universal Human Rights Convention and of the International Treaty on Political and Civil rights. The UK Foreign Office said the report changes nothing and it will formally contest the working groups opinion. The government said while a European Arrest Warrant remained in place the UK continued to have a legal obligation to extradite Mr Assange. In September 2014, Mr Assange complained to the UN that he was being arbitrarily detained as he could not leave without being arrested. The complaint against the UK and Sweden claimed Mr Assange had been deprived of his liberty for an unacceptable length of time. The UNs Working Group on Arbitrary Detention insisted Mr Assanges detention should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected. The Wikileaks founder had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty it said, initially while he was held in isolation at Londons Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010. The deprivation had been continuous since he was initially arrested in the UK on 7 December 2010. Mr Assange should be afforded the right to compensation, it added. Three members of the five-person panel found in Mr Assanges favour, while one rejected his claim and another did not take part in the investigation. The UKs permanent representative to the UN Julian Braithwaite has written to the panel expressing the governments surprise and disappointment with the outcome. In a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday , Mr Assange said his passport should be returned and his arrest warrant dropped if the UN panel ruled in his favour. -bbc 05.02.2016 LISTEN Pope Francis will hold a historic first meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russian Orthodox Church, in Cuba next week. The Russian Orthodox Church said the persecution of Christians would be the central theme of the meeting. Pope Francis will stop over in Cuba on his way to Mexico. It is the first papal meeting with a Russian Church head since the Western and Eastern branches of Christianity split in the 11th Century. The meeting is due to take place at Havana airport, where the two leaders will sign a joint declaration. Patriarch Kirill is due in Cuba for an official visit at the same time as Pope Francis stopover in Havana. Patriarch Kirill has been the head of the Russian Orthodox Church since February 2009 In a joint statement, the two churches said the meeting would mark an important stage in relations between the two churches. They invited all Christians to pray fervently for God to bless this meeting, that it may bear good fruits. Since becoming Pope in 2013, Pope Francis has called for better relations between the different branches of Christianity. The foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Illarion, told reporters that there were still differences between the two churches, but that international events had pushed the leaders to meet. He said: The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in other regions where extremists are perpetrating a genocide of Christians, requires immediate action and an even closer cooperation between Christian churches. In this tragic situation, we need to put aside internal disagreements and pool efforts to save Christianity in the regions where it is subject to most severe persecution. Patriarch Kirill has been the head of the Russian Orthodox Church since February 2009, while Pope Francis took up his role in March 2013. The Roman Catholic Church has more than a billion members worldwide, while the Russian Orthodox Church numbers about 165 million. The Orthodox Church is made up of more than 10 separate churches. The Vatican has existing ties with the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, but this will be the first meeting between the Pope and the patriarch of the Russian Church, which is the largest and most powerful Church in Orthodoxy. -bbc 05.02.2016 LISTEN Bolgatanga, Feb 4, GNA - The Upper East Regional branch of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health is to partner with the Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to embark upon public education on pneumococcal meningitis. So far no case of the disease has been recorded in the Region and the sensitization is meant to create awareness about the signs and symptoms, mode of transmission and ways of preventing its spread. According to the Regional Health Directorate, 16 suspected cases were reported but after intense investigation, it turned out that they were cerebrospinal meningitis (W135), the strain of meningitis that is recurrent in the area. The decision was taken when the regional members of the Coalition met the new Regional Director of the GHS, Dr Kofi Issah , to interact with him to see how the two bodies could work together to address the health needs of the Region particularly with the outbreak of the disease in some parts of the country. He said the Regional Health Directorate was on alert and was working assiduously to ensure that the Region did not record any incidence of the disease. 'Even though the geographic position of the Region is very small as compared to other regions, the issues of health needs of the people are very complicated and we need a very key strategic partner like yours, which is regional and nationalistic in character to compliment the efforts of the directorate in tackling the health needs of the people,' Dr Issah stressed. The Regional Director stated that as part of measures to strengthen the partnership and to enhance information sharing, the Regional Health Directorate was in the process of opening a library where the public, including civil society organizations could easily access information on health whenever they needed it. Dr Joseph Opare, Deputy Regional Director of Public Health, said as part of the public education, the regional health directorate would empower the coalition to embark upon public health education in the area of early case detection and seeking early health care at the appropriate health facilities. He gave the assurance that the coalition would also be supplied with public educational materials and urged the members to work very hard in the various communities which they operate. Mr Alagskomah Asekeya Noble, Regional Chairman of the Coalition, stated that the Coalition which has 24 health organisations registered across all the thirteen districts of the Region has among its mandate to partner with the GHS to improve the health status of the people in the Region. He indicated that since its inception in 2004, it had embarked upon public education and advocacy to ensure that health policies, structures and systems are maintained. GNA 05.02.2016 LISTEN Dormaa - Ahenkro (B/A), Feb. 4, GNA - The Dormaa Central Constituency executives of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) have been urged to bury their differences and unite ahead of this year's presidential and parliamentary elections. A meeting has scheduled to be convened between the Council of Elders of the Party and Mr Kwaku Agyemang Manu, the incumbent Member of Parliament; and Dr Yao Yeboah, an aspirant who contested the MP in the party's parliamentary primaries; to help reconcile the two and their supporters. Mr Samuel Yeboah, the former Constituency Chairman of the Party, said this at a meeting between the Council of Elders, constituency executives and some supporters of the Party, held in the Presbyterian Church in Dormaa Ahenkro. The meeting was aimed at bringing the leaders and supporters to discuss recent happenings within the NPP in the constituencies and find ways of strengthening the party for the general elections in November. Mr Henry Oppong, the Second Constituency Vice Chairman of the Party, said President Mahama's administration has borrowed more money than any other government, but has done little with the resources. He accused the National Democratic Congress government for bad governance and mismanagement of the economy citing the recent happenings within the microfinance sector, increases in petroleum and utility prices without commensurate increase in salaries of workers and the soaring unemployment levels as some of the factors leading to his pronouncements. The Nasara Wing of the Party was inaugurated with Kwaku Mohammed as its Chairman. GNA Accra, Feb 4, GNA - The executives of Ghana News Agency (GNA) Division of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have been inducted into office to steer the affairs of the local Union for the next four years. The seven-member executives are: Mr Henry Adomako Oduro, Chairman, Patrick Dela Cofie, Vice Chairman, Mrs Beatrice Asamani Savage, Second Vice Chairman, Mr Felix Attukwei Quaye, Secretary, Mrs Dzifa Azumah, Deputy Secretary, Mr William Ezah, Treasurer/First Trustee and Nana Kodjo Jehu-Appiah, Second Trustee. Mr Oduro, in his inaugural address, pledged that the team would work with every one of goodwill and responsibility to ensure that the Agency took its rightful place in the media world. 'The financial situation we find ourselves in today require tremendous efforts by all stakeholders of the GNA to improve our well-being, work environment, and productivity,' he stated. Mr Rex Annan, the Director of Administration of the GNA, who chaired the function pledged the Management's cooperation with the Union towards the common good of the Agency. Mr Victor Mario Coleman, the National Chairman of CWU, said labour unions existed as social partners to assist managements to run their organisations to ensure productivity and the wellbeing of staff. He urged the GNA Management to use dialogue to address issues of contention between them and the Union, saying the mother union would always assist to create to ensure peace and unity should that become necessary. Mr Henry Dela Ayivor, the General Secretary of CWU, urged the newly-inducted executives to create a cordial atmosphere between them and the management. He explained that labour unions existed to protect and promote the rights of workers; saying, research shows that in organisations where there is a congenial atmosphere between the management and workers, there is high productivity. The executives were inducted into office by Mr Enoch M. Antwi, the first National Vice Chairman of the CWU. GNA Bongo (UE), Feb 4, GNA - The Bongo Senior High in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region has marked its silver jubilee with a call on duty bearers, non-governmental organizations and corporate bodies to help the school with infrastructure. The Headmaster of the School, Mr. Azitariga Gaaga, who made the call, stated that the School which has a boarding population of 1,474, lacked furniture, teachers' accommodation, fenced wall and a bus. That, he said, was negatively affecting teaching and learning as most of the teachers had to commute long distances to the school. Whilst acknowledging the contributions of some organizations and individuals such as the Campaign For Female Education, the World Bank, World Vision Ghana, the Parent Teacher Association, the Students Representative Council, Professor Thomas Akabzaa, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Petroleum among others, the Headmaster appealed to other stakeholders of education to contribute to the reduction in the plight of the School. , Professor Agnes Apusiga Atiah, entreated all the major stakeholders of education to actively play their roles to ensure quality education, and impressed upon the students to make their studies a priority. The Senior Boys Prefect of the School, Master Azaare Tahiru Ayuba, appealed for the stocking of the computer laboratory and the school's library with the appropriate books. The Board Chairman, Mr Robert Ajene, noted that no community could develop without education and called on the District Assembly, the old students, and citizens of the area to join hands in addressing the needs of the school. 'Achieving quality education and academic excellence can come about when good infrastructure and qualified teachers are in place. 'Bongo Senior High School can boast of quality teachers but the major problem is where to house them. If my observation is right, I understand about 60 per cent of them stay off campus and commute to school. Some stay as far as Bolgatanga and commute daily and what even worsen the situation is that there is no efficient and reliable public transport,' the Board Chairman said. GNA Ezinlibo(WR), Feb. 5, GNA - The Parents-Teacher Association (PTA) of the Annor Adjaye Senior High School SHS (ANNASS) has appealed to the Ministry of Education to ensure that the contractor working on a classroom block be made to return to site. Mr Edward Ackah, the PTA Chairman, who made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Ezinlibo, said the contractor, Stephen Kwagyah Construction Limited left the project site in 2013. He said the contractor completed about 90 percent of the two-storey "Emergency Project' and has since not returned to the site. He said the contractor abandoned the project unceremoniously without informing the school authorities and his whereabouts are not known. Mr Ackah said the project was started in 2010 to accommodate the increasing student population of the school. He said due to accommodation difficulties facing the school, the authorities have been compelled by circumstances to start using the uncompleted building. Mr Ackah said the twelve-unit classroom block currently has no blackboards, adding that the 10 water closet toilet facilities have not been completed and two Poly-tanks to store water at the facility have not been installed. The PTA chairman said the project was part of an "Emergency Projects" initiative, made by Government in secondary schools across the country. GNA 05.02.2016 LISTEN Dormaa - Ahenkro (B/A), Feb. 4, GNA - Mr Aziizu Issifu, the Executive Director of Social Development and Improvement Agency (SODIA), has called for a law to integrate the functions of traditional rulers into the local governance structure. He said although traditional rulers still wielded power, they were however, challenged in their role as chiefs, to be assertive as most of them don't understand the processes and functions of the MMDAs. Mr Issifu said this to the Ghana News Agency after a day's workshop organized by SODIA, a non-governmental organisation based in Bechem in Brong - Ahafo Region. The workshop was organized for various groups and associations drawn from Dormaa - Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality under the Social Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability Project (SPEFA). Groups which attended the workshop included queen mothers, representatives of disabled associations, transport organisations, opinion leaders and selected staff of the Dormaa Municipal Assembly. It was aimed at assessing the flow of information between the MMDAs and the various groups and associations as well as equipping them with the right information and knowledge to enhance their understanding of public expenditure management and the local government process. Mr Issifu said many chiefs are unaware of the process by which they can claim their rights from MMDAs, and as a result they ended up 'seeing themselves as servants of the MMDAs'. The Executive Director said personnel of MMDAs who were duty - bound to explain policies and programmes from the MMDAs to the people failed to perform their duties and this created an information gap between duty - bearers and claim - holders. 'People don't have information to be empowered to ask the critical questions to elicit responses from duty - bearers as there are perceptions that the MMDAs activities are not transparent and accountable', he said. He said the SPEFA project would work to bring 120 people from various groups in Dormaa Ahenkro to learn a model through forums on local government, MMDAs and how their funds are disbursed to enhance transparency and accountability in the local government system. The Executive Director said the project, which would run for three years, would be reviewed annually. GNA Accra, Feb 4, GNA - A Magistrate's Court in Accra has fixed February 18 to begin committal proceedings on Gregory Afoko, who allegedly poured acid on Adams Mahama, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, and thus terminated his life. The committal proceeding would pave away for Afoko to stand trial at the High Court over the charge on murder. At the Magistrate court today, Mr Mathew Amponsah, the Chief State Attorney, said all was set for the committal proceedings to begin at the next adjourned date. Mr Amponsah said the state had filed the bill of indictment and summary of evidence. 'We are here before you for direction that is a date for committal,' Mr Amponsah explained. Mr Israel Ackah, who represented Afoko, said they were happy that all was set for the committal process to begin. Mr Ackah said they had also been served with the bill of indictment but did not have the medical report of the deceased, for which they had written to the Attorney General Mr Amponsah admitted that they omitted the medical report and that it would be provided to the defense. The court, presided over by Mr Worlanyo Kotoku, said there was proof of service on the court records and a certificate of service was dated on February 3, this year. It, therefore, adjourned the matter to February 18. Afoko on a number of occasions sought bail at the Magistrate's Court but the Court turned it down. His lawyers had argued that he had been incarcerated for more than eight months and his personal liberty was at stake, hence he should be admitted to bail. Afoko has been charged for murder, while his alleged accomplice, Musah Issah, is being held for abetment of crime. Their pleas have not been taken. On July 10, the Magistrate's Court presided over by Mr Worlanyo Kotoku, admitted Issah to bail in the sum of GH 20,000.00 with four sureties. He is to report to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service before noon from Monday to Thursday, until the case is disposed off. In the case of Afoko, an Accra High Court refused him bail, saying there had not been any unreasonable delay in the matter. The Court, presided over by Mr Justice K. A. Okwabi, noted then that the facts and charges were properly laid and they connected Gregory to the crime. In May last year, while he was on the way home, Mahama was attacked with acid, and he later died of his injuries at the hospital. He reportedly named some of the persons who attacked him. According to the Police, Afoko after his arrest, was asked to lead the Police to the house of his accomplice, Asabke Alangdi, but 'he rather took them to his father's house.' The Police said they later located the house of the second person, but when the suspect got wind of their presence he absconded with his wife, leaving behind their baby. A gallon, which allegedly contained some of the substance and a plastic cup, were retrieved from the scene for forensic examination, the Police said. The Police said: a 'post mortem examination was conducted on the body of Adam and the pathologist gave the cause of the death as shocked lungs and extensive acid burns.' Issah was arrested for allegedly buying the acid used for the attack. GNA 05.02.2016 LISTEN Accra, Feb. 4, GNA - The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has engaged the Ghana Association of Cattle Farmers in a dialogue to find lasting solutions to the haphazard movement of animals in the farms. Mr Abdul-Rahman Mohammed, National President of PFAG, speaking during the meeting said the dialogue would come out with a road map to commence a peace process among the two parties. He said the Association had also been advocating the passage of the cattle ranching law to regulate the movement of animals in the country. Mr Mohammed said currently the draft bill was before the Attorney General's Department and soon would be forwarded to Parliament for consideration and possible passage. He therefore, called for peace in all affected farming communities, especially Agogo, since the leadership of the Association were engaging with the Cattle farmers for possible solutions. Mr Imam Hanasi Sonde, National Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers, commended the leadership of the peasant farmers for the initiative to organize the dialogue to ensure peace in the country. He said their outfit was prepared to support in any direction to ensure that the law was passed and ensure peace and security. Enforcement of laws and regulations in the country was a great challenge and authorities needed to make sure it was done, Mr Sonde said. He said the country, however, needed some bye laws while waiting for the final passage of the law to be in full force to ensure sanity in the system since peace has no alternative He said their Association would collaborate with the leadership of Peasant farmers to sensitise their members to be tolerant with each other when problems arise. He therefore called on members to be extra patient and wait on their leaderships. GNA 05.02.2016 LISTEN Accra, Feb 5, GNA - The First Lady, Mrs Lordina Mahama, has urged the World Health Organisation and the International Community to speedily deal with the Zika Virus outbreak in the Americas to prevent its spread to other parts of the world. Mrs Mahama, who is also the President of the Organisation of African First Lady Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), said in a statement to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, that already the virus had infected thousands of pregnant women and their newborns in North and South America and continued to spread on a daily basis. The statement said Mrs Mahama, who was addressing the closing session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of OAFLA, in Addis Ababa, in Ethiopia, made a passionate appeal to world powers to help the women and their unborn babies now and avoid another Ebola-like virus attack, which was still fresh in the minds of the people. The meeting, which brought together more than 12 first ladies and representatives, partners, donors, and technical advisors, was on the theme: 'Advancing Sustainable Partnerships to End Paediatric AIDS & Improve Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights.' Held twice a year, in January and June, on the sidelines of the African Union Summit, the meeting enables the first ladies to come together to take stock, refocus their commitment and collectively seek ways to overcome the challenges, and identify sustainable and scalable action areas, the statement said. The statement said the First Lady expressed her appreciation to the other first ladies for their support throughout the meetings. 'I am confident that together, we can make monumental strides during my tenure of Office.' She said in furtherance of OAFLA's pledge in South Africa for an AIDS-free generation, members should embark on a year-long intensive intervention in their respective countries in collaboration with the National AIDS Councils and Commissions, Ministries of Health and UNAIDS of their respective countries. Mrs Mahama proposed that the focus should be specifically on the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2017, through raising awareness among populations for systematic HIV testing of all pregnant women, their partners, and babies born to HIV positive women. She also called for advocacy and action for an effective integration of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) into maternal newborn and child health for efficiency, rapid scale-up and sustainability. She said there was the need to succeed in extending efforts and commitment beyond EMRICH to end Paediatric AIDS by 2020 towards an AIDS-Free generation in Africa. She proposed that the first ladies should join efforts to organise a high-level advocacy meeting on Paediatric AIDS within the next few months with their ministers of health, gender and education, parliamentarians and other partners involved in HIV issues for a stronger political and donor engagement. She also asked them to mobilise resources within their countries, specifically from the private sector, to scale up treatment of children, according to the statement. She said only 75 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral for PMTCT in 2014 and only 30 per cent of HIV positive children received treatment while the mother-to-child transmission was no longer an issue in developed countries. The President of OAFLA said Cuba had already eliminated it and other African countries were on a precipice, therefore, she believed that all OAFLA member countries could and should eliminate mother-to-child transmission by the end of 2017. Sharing the progress, successes and challenges of her country, the First Lady of Kenya, Mrs Margaret Kenyatta, said the journey had not been easy. Although Kenya had both the evidence and knowledge of the high returns on investment in health, and the positive impact on poverty reduction and stimulus to economic growth, there had not been tremendous progress in the prevention of new infections, among children in the country, she stated. The 16th Ordinary General Assembly of OAFLA offered the opportunity for the first ladies to galvanise political leadership to pay more attention to the unacceptable loss of lives of women and children on the continent. GNA As part of its branch expansion strategy to bring its services closer to customers, Access Bank has opened an ultra-modern branch in the business district of Bolgatanga. The Bolga branch brings the banks business locations to a total of 45 across the country and is part of the Banks financial inclusion strategy to reach the under-served and unbanked segments of the market in the ten regions. Serving the financial needs of surrounding communities within the municipality, the branch will offer the Banks full range of business and retail banking products including flexible savings and current account options. Other services available to customers are bills payment, e-banking and card services as well as domestic and international money transfer through Western Union, RIA, Moneygram and Access Banks Cross bordermoney transfer. Speaking on the newly opened branch, the Group Head of Personal Banking at Access Bank Ghana, Mr. Stephen Abban, stated that Access Banks aim is to bring banking services closer to its customers, whether it is through digital channels or brick and mortar. Our branch in Tamale has been serving the northern sector for some time now and as a result of the feedback we have received from our customers, there was the need to branch out further. The Bolga branch we believe will make it easier for our customers and the public to transact business with the Bank without having to travel long distances. Mr. Abban added that the Bank continuously empowers its customers to cultivate the habit of saving towards their future. The call to save towards unforeseen future eventualities is a permanent feature in the Banks customer loyalty programmes including the ongoing Change Your Level promotion. Launched in September last year, the Change Your Levelpromo gives customers an opportunity to save and stand a chance to win amazing prizes including an ultramodern 3 bedroom house. Both existing and new customers stand a chance to win these amazing prizes by depositing GHS200 and maintain multiples of GHS500 to qualify for two mini draws and the grand draw. Since launching its banking operations in Ghana in 2009, Access Bank has increased its presence to cater for its growing market share, especially in retail banking, to give the unbanked and underserved segments of the market access to its services. As the world gears up to mark the International Day for Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on 6th February, troubling statistics from UNICEF reveal that we have been underreporting the huge numbers of victims worldwide who are cut daily under the barbaric ritual practice of FGM. UNICEF reports that the 2014 statistics did not include some 70 million girls and women. It is estimated that at least 200 million girls and women today have undergone some form of FGM, with half of them living in three countries: Egypt, Indonesia and Ethiopia. So far, out of 10 countries who record the highest percentage of FGM cases between girls and women aged 15-49 years old, Somalia has the highest number at 98%, Guinea 97% and Burkina Faso and Gambia come in third and fourth with 76% and 75% respectively. Under the theme, "Achieving the new Global Goals through the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation by 2030, this years FGM observation draws inspiration from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to galvanise some campaign energy to increase and sustain the global fight against the practice. In Ghana, FGM is mostly practiced in the Upper East region, parts of Upper West, and among the Kotokoli people of the Volta region. However, migration within Ghana makes FGM a national crisis. ActionAid Ghana and its local partner, Belim Wusa Development Agency (BEWDA) have been advocating and campaigning against the practice in affected communities in the Upper East region. In 2012, the two organisations conducted research to ascertain the prevalence level of FGM in some communities. The study revealed that the practice was more prevalent in communities closer to the borders of Burkina Faso and Togo, with parents usually crossing borders to cut their girls for fear of prosecution. This is due to an amendment in Ghanas Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29) in 1994 (FGM Act 494) which outlawed the practice. However, the practice still persists in some communities. ActionAid and BEWDA have undertaken several advocacy and public education programmes in some of the affected communities. Some of the activities include: Public awareness creation through community durbars/forums: Drama and other cultural displays were used to portray the negative implications of the practice. Radio discussions using health personnel and security agencies to highlight the dangers and legal consequences of the practice. Formation and training of COMBAT (Community Based Anti-Violence Teams) in the communities, particularly those along the borders of Burkina Faso and Togo, to monitor and report perpetrators. Engagement sessions between traditional leaders, local government authorities and security agencies to support the elimination of FGM. Supporting the Paramount Queen Mother and 26 Divisional Queen Mothers of the Bawku Traditional Area with funds to conduct quarterly outreach programmes to increase awareness of the dangers of FGM in their communities. While the practice still persists, these interventions have reduced the incidence of FGM in some communities. Education and advocacy have also been intensified to protect and promote the rights of vulnerable girls and women in affected communities. To fight the cross-border cutting, ActionAid Ghana and BEWDA are working with a consortium of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana, to coordinate organisational efforts to eliminate FGM. However, there are challenges in tracking cross-border perpetrators and it may also be difficult to invoke the FGM Act to prosecute Ghanaian perpetrators who are caught in Burkina Faso and Togo. ActionAid Ghana is intensifying education and developing new advocacy strategies to fight the practice. Traditional leaders, FGM survivors and victims, and community role models have become effective tools for successful advocacy. Lets all join the fight. 05.02.2016 LISTEN Two soldiers who were part of Bole District Security Council team en route to a glamsey site have been gunned down by yet-to-be identified armed men in the Northern Regional town. The unidentified soldiers were said to be among a team which consisted of the District Chief Executive (DCE), Police Commander, and the Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS). Local Journalist, Rebecca Natognma reported on Adom FM's Midday News Friday that the soldiers died during a cross-fire with the armed men at Dollar Power, a community notorious for galamsey activities. A victim being operated upon at the theatre According to her, five persons including the Fire Service Commander were hit by the bullets fired by the armed robbers. The injured and the dead, she said have been rushed to the Bole hospital. None of the robbers have so far been arrested. adomonline 05.02.2016 LISTEN In a swift move, the Family Chapel international (FCI), a charismatic church in Kumasi has contracted a private company to drive away some strange mosquitoes that had invaded the Susanso River. The mosquitoes, having been a nuisance to the churches congregation, had also bitten some residents with many still on admission at various clinics in the Susanso community. But, in a remarkable move laced with compassion, the church had contracted Zector Control Consult Limited to fumigate the entire river body. Readers may recall that the Ghanaian Observer about two weeks ago reported the appearance of some strange mosquitoes in the Susanso community. However, during a visit to the site last weekend, the church had acquired the services of Mr. Joseph Stiles-Ocran, CEO of the private spraying and fumigating company to help deal with the scourge of the insects. The team diligently had succeeded in fumigating the entire water body with the mosquitoes dying with ease. . The marauding mosquitoes which hitherto had parried of every insecticide applied for its control had surprisingly died in the water with their stools being moved away by the water. Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer later, Rev. Dr. Victor Osei, General Overseer of Family Chapel International (FCI), expressed happiness at the rate of work the team had done. He noted the exercise had suddenly kept the flies at bay, adding the mosquitoes were present even during the day. The church leader said the church had decided to take charge of the health of their congregation and hence this action to fumigate the entire water body. According to him, the Church decided to engage the service of the fumigation Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) had refused to heed their cry for help. He encouraged residents of Susanso to take charge of their health by also contributing their quota to help to desilt the water-body periodically since the mosquitoes had shown they come at the early parts of December and January. -The Ghanaian Observer Accra, Feb 4, GNA - The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama, has called on the international community, donors, and partners to assist Africa to close the immunisation gap among children. Mrs Mahama who is also the President of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), said regardless of where children were born, who they were or where they lived, they had the right to survive. She, therefore, urged the First Ladies of Africa and OAFLA members to strengthen ties with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, an international organisation, in the respective countries to protect the African child. Mrs Mahama made the call when she addressed a high-level working lunch organised by OAFLA, in collaboration with the GAVI, according to a statement from her Office in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency. The programme, which was on the theme, 'Unfinished business with child health in Africa', was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of OAFLA. 'We have been blessed with sustained support from our development partners and faith-based organisations and as members of OAFLA, we have to lobby our governments, benevolent organisations, international non-governmental organisations, as well as corporate Africa, to ensure that we finish the business of child health,' Mrs Mahama said in the statement. She said Ghana was on record to have eliminated maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT) since 2011, while cases and deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea in children had drastically reduced since the introduction of effective vaccines. According to her, the overall successful programme in immunisation had contributed to a reduction in deaths in children from 111 in 2003 to 60 per 1,000 live births in 2014, according to the statement. Mrs Mahama said about two to three decades ago, measles was a major cause of admissions and death of children under five in Ghana, but told the gathering that for the past 13 years no child in Ghana had died from measles. She said the last time Ghana recorded a polio case was in 2008, adding that it was poised to make history with the rest of the world in the fight against the disease. The First Lady noted that Ghana had prioritised the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) which resulted in about 95 per cent of infants receiving a third dose of DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) used for primary immunisation. 'Ghana has, indeed, come a long way in improving the health of mothers and children,' she said. The President of OAFLA said in the early 1980s, only 25 per cent of infants in Ghana had access to life-saving vaccines but currently parents and caregivers recognised the importance of protecting their children through vaccination. 'In rural Africa, where access to health care can be difficult, immunisation presents the best chance of survival against life-threatening childhood diseases,' she stressed. Partnership, she noted, was paramount to the work of OAFLA and was extremely pleased with the collaboration between OAFLA and the GAVI Alliance, as both teams shared experiences in improving immunisation for children on the continent. 'The vision of OAFLA is to see an Africa free from HIV and AIDS and maternal and child mortality; where women and children are empowered to enjoy equal opportunities. 'I am, therefore, honoured to share my country's efforts to improve immunisation coverage as one of the strategies for a reduction in child and maternal mortality,' she said. The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GAVI, Ms Anuradha Gupta, said the 2010-2016 strategic framework for GAVI would guide its mission to save children's lives and protect people's health by increasing equitable use of vaccines in low-income countries for the next five years. She said the framework included operating principles, strategic goals and progress indicators which align with and contributed to the global vaccine plan and the post-2015 sustainability agenda. She said GAVI would continue to support developing countries to introduce and increase access to vaccines, so that they would be able to protect every child with a full package of WHO-recommended life-saving vaccines. GNA IVA Struggling with debt? Compare your debt options and write off up to 80% of your unsecured debts from 80 per month Get Started for free What is an IVA? With an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) you can make affordable monthly payments towards a percentage of your debt for 5 years. At the end of the 5 year plan, your remaining debt will be completely written off. Benefits of an IVA Here is a list of the cost common advantages of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): Affordability You will only be asked to pay back what you can afford, with allowances taken into account for food, bills, entertainment, travel, childcare and others. You may be sacrificing certain essential costs at the moment. With an IVA they are budgeted for so they will no longer be neglected No upfront costs When you set up an IVA, there are no upfront costs whatsoever. This means that you can put a debt solution in place today without spending a penny You have a finishing line Do you feel like there will be no end to your debt problems? With high interest costs and charges, the balances of your credit accounts may not reduce as you need them to. With an IVA you will become totally debt free at the completion of the IVA (usually 5 years). You can use this as an opportunity to change your financial life, for good Confidential Your IVA is not advertised in the London Gazette or local newspaper. It is your decision whether you would like to disclose it to other people or not No more contact from creditors When you are in an IVA, your creditors will no longer have the right to contact you or refer the debt on to debt collectors/bailiffs. This is a great benefit for most people as it will take away the stress caused by constant calls/texts/emails and home visits Stay in your house Unlike some debt solutions, an IVA will allow you to stay in your current home. This is even the case if the property has a mortgage or is owned outright Your pension An IVA does not have an impact on your pension. You will not have to surrender your pension or withdraw money from it to pay into your IVA Risks of an IVA Here is a list of the cost common disadvantages of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA): Equity Release If you own your property and it has value, you may be asked to release the equity in the property Credit Rating If you have a perfect credit rating, this will be damaged and you will not be allowed to take out more debt whilst in an arrangement You must keep up with repayments If you do not keep up with your monthly repayments, there is a risk you will be made bankrupt Who qualifies for an IVA? There is no office guidelines to who qualifies for an IVA. It is a legally binding, Government legislation designed to help all people. Generally speaking, insolvency practitioners (IP) will look at your situation if they think the IVA proposal they submit is beneficial to both yourself (the debtor) and your creditors. This often restricts people to a certain criteria which you will have to meet: Over 5000 worth of unsecured debt You must have 2 or more creditors of 2 or more lines of credit Must live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland Must be insolvent Must be willing to pay at least 70 per month into their IVA Must have some type or types of regular income What debts can I include in an IVA? You can include a wide range of unsecured debts within your IVA. These include: Credit card debt/credit cards Loans/loan debt Payday loans Council tax arrears HMRC debt Overpaid benefits Catalogues Gas and electricity arrears Overdrafts/overdraft debt Water arrears Income tax arrears Debts to friends and family Other unsecured debts Note: If you are a resident of Scotland, you will need to apply for a Scottish Trust Deed (legally binding). Speak to our advisors for Scottish Debt Advice. What debts cant be included in an IVA? Secured loans Your mortgage (if you still live in the house) Car finance (if you still have the car) Rent arrears for your current property Court fines/Police fines Hire purchase arrears (if you still have the product) Log book loans (if you still have the vehicle that the debts are secured on) Student loans Other secured debts What does I.V.A stand for? IVA stands for Individual Voluntary Arrangement. It is a formal way to consolidate your debts into one affordable monthly repayment, resulting in the debtor becoming debt free at the end of their payments. Can I apply for an IVA online? Use the IVA Calculator to check your eligibility Prepare your IVA proposal and apply for your IVA. When your IVA is accepted, your creditors can no longer contact you. Pay 60 low monthly payments. After 5 years, you are out of your IVA and completely debt free. Will an IVA affect my employment? In most occupations, your credit rating or credit scoring is not a factor and it may never have been checked in the past, it may also be likely that it is not checked in the future either. There is no law to tell you that you must advise your employer that you have entered an IVA or that you owe money. They will not be notified by your insolvency practitioner. If you wanted to keep it a private matter, in most cases this would be absolutely fine. With some roles such as financial advisors, solicitors or bank workers it may make up part of your contract to advise them of changes like this. In these situations we would advise to inform your employers of your intentions before you enter into any arrangements. This way there will be no nasty surprises for you later down the line. More often than not, we find that your employer would not be concerned by your IVA and that it would not affect your employment status. An IVA is a formal solution and could affect some employments, such as if you were a solicitor or accountant for example. We would always recommend that you receive approval from your employers that your job isnt affected before you sign up for anything. Will an IVA impact my partner? There are certain situations where you may not want to involve your partner at all in your IVA proposal due to personal reasons. Insolvency Practitioners are very aware of these circumstances and can operate solely via telephone and email and at your convenience, so rest assured that your matters can be kept completely private. If the debts which you are looking to place into your IVA are in joint names, then this would be different. Your IP would look to place all of your debts into an IVA, including joint debts therefore you would have to inform your partner of your plans. If your debts are solely yours, then there would be no negative impact on your partner, their credit score would remain unaffected and they would not be entered onto any registers or be tainted in any way. Will an IVA affect my credit score/credit file? Whilst you are in your arrangement, you will not be able to get any credit. An IVA will stay on your credit file for 6 years, so 12 months after a typical IVA. When this time has passed and your monthly payments have ended, you will be able to rebuild your credit rating. What proof will I need to apply for an IVA? Proof of ID Passport/driving license/birth certificate/utility bills/national insurance identification/credit agreement Bank statements 3 months bank statements with all transactions displayed Proof of income 3 months payslips/P60/proof of benefits How long does it take to set up an IVA? Your initial call will only last around 5-10 minutes. The IVA process will be explained to you and you will be told what further information you will need to provide to proceed with your IVA proposal. Once you have returned the required information, an IVA will usually take between 7-14 days to get into place. You will be protected from creditors within this time, your advisor will provide you with documentation via email. How long does an IVA last? Most IVAs will last for a length of five years. The i v a will remain on your credit file for a period of six years and is placed on the Insolvency Register for that period. You can work out what date it will be removed from your credit file, it will be six years from the start date of the IVA term. So if the IVA started on 1 January 2000, it should be removed from your credit file six years from that date, which would be 1 January 2006. When you apply for an individual voluntary arrangement your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) will tell you if you qualify for an IVA, how long it lasts, how much it costs and provide you with any other debt advice which you may need. How much will debt advice cost for an Individual Voluntary Arrangement? The advice cost for individual voluntary arrangements is free of charge. Your I.V.A company will tell you if you qualify for an IVA. They will talk to you about your different debts, provide you with free debt advice and check if your creditors are likely to approve your proposal for your IVA for debt. How does an IVA affect your life? By taking out an IVA you may affect your overall financial position. You will not be allowed to take out credit for 6 years. You will struggle to get a mortgage or remortgage your existing property. It also may affect any future increase in earnings or windfalls you may receive, as these will need to be paid to your insolvency practitioner. Your insolvency practitioner will take control of your debts for this period, they will deal with all of your creditors and this is legally binding. That means you will not be allowed to take out any more debts whilst in the IVA. Once the plan is completed, any debts which you accrue will be managed by yourself. Your ability to take out further debts in the future will not be impacted once the IVA has completed. What is the IVA protocol? The I.V.A protocol is a voluntary set of guidelines which your Insolvency Practitioner (IP) can sign up for which improves the efficiency of Individual Voluntary Arrangements. When you apply for debt advice, it is important that you understand the steps of the debt solution, so you can decide whether or not the solution is the best one for your circumstances. How do I know if creditors will accept my IVA? Generally speaking, most creditors will approve voluntary arrangements for unsecured debt. But some debts can not be included within one formal debt solution. Your Insolvency Practitioner will tell you how likely it is that your creditors will be willing to accept your proposal, based on the voting creditors. Can I pay in one lump sum? There are occasions when you may be eligible for a debt solution which is payable in a one off lump sum as a final settlement to your creditors. This is usually when the money is being gifted from some one else, or you have received inheritance or a windfall for example. With a one-off lump sum payment, the advice is usually the same as when you normally apply for an IVA. You wouldnt have to make regular payments into the solution, your IP can provide you with more advice on one off lump sum solutions for your debts. Your IP will provide you with more advice on the debt IVA and explain what is IVA to you. Who regulates the debt industry? At present the debt industry is not regulated. Some Insolvency Practitioners offices choose to sign up to the Insolvency Practitioners Association (IPA) or register with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). You can contact the IPA using the contact details or email address on their website. Your creditors do not regulate the debt industry and your creditors will not be able to impact any decisions which the IPA or FCA make. In our experience, the regulators will take assertive action on any advisers or businesses which do not comply with their strict codes of practice. To check if a person is regulated by the FCA, enter their name into the search box in the FCA website. Should I use a debt charity? There are thousands of companies which provide debt help in the UK. You may be looking for an alternative to a private company. You should know that charities usually pass their fee charging products to sister companies which charge fees and disbursements, just like private companies. So what you initially thought was a good option, on further analysis could be different to what you originally thought. Charities do have their part to play though. They can help you if you have a problem with your bank accounts, maintenance arrears, living costs, credit reference agencies, child support arrears, bankruptcy, assets, accountancy issues, mortgages, creditor issues, insurance providers, mobiles, your bank account, rates arrears, PAYE contributions or if you want to work out your expenditure. They can make sure that you speak to an adviser or supervisor and look at proposals to offer your lender. A petition has started with the possibility of a debate in parliament about how charities represent themselves and their services. Which charities help with debt? You can contact Money Advice Service, National Debtline, Step Change, Shelter or a combination of the three. Charities are particular useful for a low debt level under 1,000. If the debt is high (such as a debt value of 10,000 or more) you would usually seek an assessment from a professional adviser. If you do decide to use a charity to guide you, make sure you check their charity number and the registration number on their website to make sure you are content that their team can answer your questions in the right ways. A lot of clients of charities have a minimum debt level which does not meet the basis for an IVA, so you could always chat to a charity that is happy to act on your behalf for low debt levels. Although an I.V.A could be the answer to your debt problem, its important to understand the monthly payment so call us on our free phone number. Anyone customers can receive expert feedback on their rights from debt charities, if they cant help they will usually point you in the director of firms which help with IVAs. We are homeowners, will lenders see my proposal differently? In some cases yes. In the majority of cases, if you are a homeowner you will not need to remortgage or take out any additional finances that will effect your property. You will need to sign a additional restrictions which remove your ability to take out additional credit tied to your property, which is something that is restricted once you are in an i.v.a. There are exceptions to this, such as when you have a lot of equity in your property/properties. If you own half of a property and another party owns the other half, only your equity will be affected. If you are landlord and you are in a position of equity, your IP may review your trading position or business to make sure the figures in question are in order. This is usually the case if you have two or more properties, as sometimes the equity can be used to form a repayment to your creditors. But this usually depends on the amount of value built up in your properties. Banks and building societies will not change the terms of your mortgage as long as a contribution is still being made for the duration of your arrangement. Your mortgage payments will be added to your expenses and accounted for within your budget, as long as you can provide evidence that you can afford to continue to make payments into your mortgage for duration of the plan. LOOKING FOR HELP? 100% Confidential. Thousands Helped. No upfront fees you are here: Bega has the fundamental force of China behind it. Its one of the agriculture and food stocks that China trusts. The new commodity boom Bega Cheese Ltd [ASX:BGA] is one of those brands that investors come in contact with constantly. Cheese is a regular necessity for many Aussie households and Bega is one of the most trusted brands. The stock has seen some pretty explosive growths in the past two years. More importantly Bega has the fundamental force of China behind it. Its one of the agriculture and food stocks that China trusts. If the Old Australia was all about mining, then it is already deadBut the New Australia will continue to capitalise on the worlds largest population for another dramatic boom. If you havent realised, the New Australia will again rise from the commodities sector. This time, it wont be hard commodities; it will be soft Australian agricultural products. But we are here to ask one important question why do Chinese consumers want to buy Australian agricultural products? To answer this question, we need to pay attention to the socio-economic dynamics of China. There are two dominant issues for Chinese agricultural products at this point. One is that China is a country with food scarcity; therefore it is a net food importer. Secondly, Chinas own sources of supply often have quality issues which put consumers health at risk. This has prompted the increasing demand for safer overseas food products. The number one issue with food is food security. That is what keeps Xi Jinping awake at night. It doesnt matter how many factories China creates, it needs to be able to feed its own people. China has an apparent food supply constraint. As it urbanises, its arable land decreases. It also has water scarcity, particularly for farming. So what does the State Council call for? Investment in farming, zero tax for agricultural businesses in China, subsidies and more. In addition, China needs to import more agricultural products. China became a top food importer in 201314. Apart from food scarcity and growing demand, another big reason for wanting to buy overseas food products is brand value, safety value and the superior product value of imported products, especially products from Australia and New Zealand. Chinas own food products have had countless scandals over the years. I am not going to dig too much into how unsafe the Chinese food products are, but you can comfortably take my word for it. The new middle class in China wants nothing less than Australian products. Simply put, that quality seal from Australia is worth a lot of money! Ken Wangdong+ Emerging Market Analyst, New Frontier Investor It will be the most expensive foreign takeover in Chinese history. The dynamics under this massive deal trend could run for years. Yesterday I told you about Westfields $5 billion investment plan for the United States. Thats serious money. But suddenly $5 billion looks like chicken feed. Now comes the news that the state-owned China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) has done a deal to buy farm chemical and seed giant Syngenta. Thats the worlds largest agrichemical company. The price tag is $US43 billion. It will be the most expensive foreign takeover in Chinese history. The dynamics under this massive deal trend could run for years. Todays Money Morning explains why Chinas minimum $1 trillion spend If the polluted air doesnt get you, the poisoned food just might. So opened an article on China from Post Magazine this month. China has a major problem. Its called pollution. The environment is so toxic after years of industrialisation and lax environmental standards that its literally killing the population. Youve probably heard some wild stories about China before. The baby formula laced with poison. The rivers that catch on fire or change colour. The dead animals that show up on riverbanks. Air pollution so bad that the rate of lung cancer in China is skyrocketing. A Financial Times report last September suggested China needs US$1.1 trillion dollars to clean up its soil pollution alone. Nearly one-fifth of its arable land is contaminated. Chinas food supply is unsafe and the country knows it. Thats a problem when you have 1.4 billion people to feed. The race for the last wilderness on earth Thats why its leading the race for natural resource assets all over the world. China is building up a strategic presence in and around Antarctica. Antarctica is the last great untapped resources of protein in the world. Its quiet, but its happening. Thats why in 2014 Chinese Premier Xi Jinping visited Hobart in Tasmania. He signed a five year accord for Chinese vessels and aircraft to resupply before they head further south. China is already constructing five bases in Antarctica. The New York Times reported in December on Antarctica, China and South Korea, both of which operate state-of-the-art bases here, are ramping up their fishing of krill, the shrimplike crustaceans found in abundance in the Southern Ocean, while Russia recently thwarted efforts to create one of the worlds largest ocean sanctuaries here Chinese officials say the expansion in Antarctica prioritizes scientific research, but they also acknowledge that concerns about resource security influence their moves. Food security is playing out in Aussie stocks How does the world feed China? All this is with rising protein consumption of a richer Chinese middle class too, dont forget. The Financial Times cites a report from Boston Consulting Group suggesting that upper middle class households in China will double in four years. This sector of the population is forecast to account for 81% of Chinese consumption growth. According to the Australian Financial Review this morning, currently 30 million Chinese are eating Western style foods. Its possible this could go up 10 times as high in three years. Thats 300 million people. As the FT says: Now that ever more shoppers have the money to avoid the negative effect of all that pollution on their food, they are increasingly willing to drop a dime on doing so. According to the UN data, China currently produces one third less corn, wheat and other grains than the US. That means the pollution problem is on top of the fact that a lot of China has a shortage of water and arable land anyway. Put them together and you can see why China is going around the world looking for sources of safe, reliable food imports. We can expect more deals like the Syngenta one. We can also expect this trend to keep playing out in the Aussie share market. After all, this is the dominant trend behind the prodigious rise in 2015 behind vitamin group Blackmores [ASX:BKL] and baby formula company Bellamys [ASX: BAL]. And dont forget agribusiness company Elders [ASX: ELD] doubling last year. The biggest issue for the Chinese is trust. Thats a trend in Australias favour. Because the Chinese perceive our producers to have high quality supply chain management. That means they will pay more for these products. Its also driving huge investments in beef producing ranches and land across Australia. Every investor should be watching this sector. It will run for years. Were tracking trend over at Cycles, Trends and Forecasts. To keep following it, go here. Best wishes, Callum Newman Almost everyone saves through their work superannuation (or super) scheme. The purpose of such an arrangement is to transform the balance into retirement income. The challenging part isnt saving as it is compulsory but efficiently converting the balance into income. The biggest benefit to a super is the lower tax burden. Those who invest outside of the system face greater levies. Is a Super the Best Option? The superannuation scheme assumes that working-age individuals are too myopic to appropriately save for old age. But for the older pension-age persons, a free-market approach is desirable. The focus of supers is to increase retirement savings, not necessarily net wealth which is why its not always in your best interest. The North Carolina Community College System has presented an item of business that will allow member schools to apply a surcharge to tuition. Community colleges are expected to be able to use the extra money for various state-approved purposes and capital improvement projects. Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton will not be considering the surcharge, at least according to current plans. The colleges Vice President of Student Development, Atticus Simpson said in an email that the community college board will likely not take action soon. It is our understanding that the state board is not taking immediate action on this item, which was presented as an information only item at the state board meeting the week of Jan. 11, said Simpson. Regardless of the discussion or any future action on this item, at this time WPCC has no plans to consider or impose a surcharge. If eventually imposed, the surcharge would mean extra cost for students, but would provide extra monies for the college, which recently received a mechatronics grant. Justin Epley can be reached at jepley@morganton.com or 828-432-8943. Emma Wall: Hello and welcome to the Morningstar Series 'Why Should I Invest With You?'. I'm Emma Wall and I'm joined today by Mike Dellavedova, manager of the T. Rowe Price European High Yield Bond Fund. Hi, Mike. Mike Dellavedova: Hi, Emma. How are you? Wall: Good thank you. Thought we'd start with oil prices. They are affecting everything and everyone at the moment, but in particular there are concerns about high yield, because it makes up a large part of the sort of global high yield universe, energy bonds, dont they? Dellavedova: Exactly, especially in the U.S. market. The U.S. high yield market really was a key funding source for a lot of the U.S. oil companies who were focused on fracking and horizontal drilling and that was a real game changer that we saw in the market. If you go back a couple of years, no one would have thought oil would have broken south of $30 a barrel as it has done recently. It really does change the profitability and the cash flow and the cost dynamics that a lot of those U.S. high yield issuers are now facing. Wall: I suppose leading on to that a lot of people are saying there are indicators in the high yield markets which suggest that we're in, we're about to experience global recession, what do you say to those scaremongers. Dellavedova: I think there is a valid point there. But I think people have to be very careful on where they are looking and what part of the market. The U.S. corporate market has seen probably indications more of a profit type recession as opposed to a general economic demise. A big part of that has been what people are looking for on the outlook for example of default rates. A big portion of that are likely to come from some of the energy, some of the oil companies in the high yield world in the U.S. that issued bonds in the past three to four years. Expectations are default rates or forced exchange rates could run as high or higher than 50% of that segment of the market. Wall: Of course that is affecting the U.S. and this is European fund. I suppose the question is do you have contagion risk in market like this. Dellavedova: I think a lot of where the markets trade on contagion risk actually represents an opportunity. At the end of the day I think something gets lost in the mix, lost in scaremongering of the negative headlines is high yield is fundamentally a credit market. And to the mid-long-term credit fundamentals will dominate. So potentially especially in European market, investors are concerned. There is a read across. A big part of that is just the flow of capital. We're seeing the U.S. market has seen outflows almost of last year. So people do get nervous. But if people then dig a bit deeper and think what's really going to drive it. Why this company is different? What are the key drivers of their P&L, their cash flow generation. In a number of chances and it's an opportunity, things do standout as mispriced and it does represent a decent time for investors to take advantage of some of those opportunities. Wall: Another thing thats going to affect the European high yield market is the possibility that ECB will lower rates. We had Japan lowering rates into negative territory last week which sort of opens the door of the ECB to do the same and more. How will that affect high yield investors. Dellavedova: I actually think it more than opens the door. Wall: Pushes them through. Dellavedova: Precisely they are leaping through both feet potentially. We do expect in March there will be further support from announcement of the ECB. Big part of that is tied in with investor and consumer concern. Decent part of the growth relatively small growth is being witnessed in Europe is driven by the consumer and consumer confidence as opposed to industrial spend. I think once that starts, you get rattled. Once consumer start to keep a closer hold of their wallets and purses and then potentially it does put a lot of pressure on the ECB to act and to show even more support and more quantitative easing. Wall: I suppose bearing in mind everything we've just said this plays into the hands of sort of active bond pickers. This is a time for you to sort the wheat from chaff and work out what's going to be negatively affected by contagion and what is actually junks junk. Dellavedova: I completely agree. It really is, its a time to really understand, appreciate and be able to price the risks that you are willing to take for investors. Look if you dont right now you are actually doing them big service. But there is also the other side of that coin which means exactly that. If you are willing to do that opportunities do stand out and they can stand out for mid-to-long term really good value appreciation for investors right now. Wall: Mike thank you very much. Dellavedova: You are more than welcome. Wall: This is Emma Wall from Morningstar. Thank you for watching. For many, finding time during the week to attend church can be quite a challenge. But what if church came to you? On Ash Wednesday, February 10, Ginghamsburg Church will be offering Ashes to Go, a new approach to a centuries-old Christian tradition, at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton from 11am-1:30pm. Ginghamsburg Church is part of a nationwide movement that has clergy and lay people visiting transit stops, street corners, coffee shops and college campuses to mark the foreheads of interested passers-by with ashes and invite them to repent of past wrongdoing and seek forgiveness and renewal. In the Christian tradition, Ash Wednesday marks the start of the holy season of Lent, a time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. For centuries, Christians have received a cross of ashes from palm leaves on the face at the beginning of the Lenten season as a reminder of mortal failings and an invitation to receive Gods forgiveness. Ashes are applied to the forehead, often with the words Repent, and believe in the Gospel. Ashes to Go provides the opportunity to participate in that tradition for people who have lost their connection to a church, or have never participated before. Ashes to Go is about bringing spirit, belief and belonging out from behind church doors, and into the places where we go every day. Its a simple event with deep meaning, drawing on centuries of tradition and worship to provide a contemporary moment of grace, says Pastor Rosario Picardo, Executive Pastor at Ginghamsburg Church. As people get busier and busier, we need the church in new and non-traditional ways. We especially need reminders of forgiveness in the tough places of our working lives. The people who accept ashes on the street are often people longing to make a connection between their faith and the forces of daily life, and Ashes to Go helps them feel that connection, Picardo continues. In addition to offering ashes and prayers, the church is offering free food from PAs Pork, which will be on location at Courthouse Square in downtown Dayton from 11am-1:30pm. They will have pork as well as a vegetarian option and a gluten-free option while supplies last. Contact Pastor Rosario Picardo, Executive Pastor of New Church Development and Senior Pastor at The Point Campus of Ginghamsburg Church, rpicardo@ginghamsburg.org or 937-667-1069 for more information about Ashes to Go in downtown Dayton, Ash Wednesday, February 10 from 11am-1:30pm. For more information about Ginghamsburg Church, visit their websiteginghamsburg.org. Ginghamsburg Church is committed to changing the world, serving over 60,000 people annually in Miami and Montgomery Counties through its outreach services. Since 2005, the congregation has invested $7 million into sustainable humanitarian projects in the Sudan and South Sudan. A member of the West Ohio Conference of United Methodist Churches, the church has campuses located at Tipp City 6759 S County Rd 25A, Tipp City, OH 45371; Fort McKinley 3721 W. Siebenthaler Avenue, Dayton, OH 45406 and The Point, 506 E. Main Street, Trotwood, OH 45426. Moorpark College eyes constructing 4,000-seat amphitheater A 4,000-seat amphitheater at Moorpark College could be Southern California's newest entertainment spotbut such a development would be a long way off. The school is taking the first steps toward... CSUCI professors working on ion project Cal State Channel Islands faculty members Scott Feister, Ph.D., assistant professor of computer science, and Alona Kryshchenko, Ph.D., assistant professor of mathematics, recently received $112,480 from the National Science Foundation... Keynote speaker to discuss undocumented college students Award-winning author Javier Zamora will discuss his new memoir, Solito, from noon to 1 p.m. Wed., Oct. 19 on Zoom. The talk is free to students and the community. The... Cal Lutheran awards scholarships for low- and middle-income students Cal Lutheran University recently received $2.5 million to provide scholarships to accomplished students from low- and middle-income families. The donation from the Camarillo-based TOLD Foundation is the largest that CLU... WASHINGTON (AP) Twitter is now using spam-fighting technology to seek out accounts that might be promoting terrorist activity and is examining other accounts related to those flagged for possible removal, the company announced Friday. The effort signaled efforts by Twitter to automatically identify tweets supporting terrorism, reflecting increased pressure placed by the U.S. government for social media companies to respond to abuse more proactively. Child pornography has previously been the only abuse that was automatically flagged for human review on social media using a different kind of technology. Twitter also said Friday it has suspended more than 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts mainly related to Islamic State militants in the last eight months. Social media has increasingly become a tool for recruitment and radicalization that's used by the Islamic State group and its supporters, who by some accounts have sent tens of thousands of tweets per day. Tech companies are dedicating increasingly more resources to tracking reports of violent threats. Twitter said Friday that it has increased the size of its team reviewing reports to reduce their response time "significantly." The San Francisco-based company also changed its policy in April, adding language to make clear that "threatening or promoting terrorism" specifically counted as abusive behavior and violated its terms of use. In January, the White House made good on President Barack Obama's promise to reach out to Silicon Valley to tackle the use of social media by violent extremist groups. Those particularly include the Islamic State group, which inspired attackers who killed 14 in San Bernardino, California, last December. A post on one of the killers' Facebook pages that appeared around the time of the attack included a pledge of allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group. Facebook found the post which was under an alias the day after the attack. The company removed the profile from public view and informed law enforcement. But such a proactive effort is fairly uncommon. The Obama administration sent several top officials to San Jose, California, including FBI Director James Comey, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers. Among issues discussed was how to use technology to help speed the identification of terrorist content, according to a copy of the White House briefing memo obtained by The Associated Press. "We recognize that identifying terrorist content that violates terms of service is far more difficult than identifying images of child pornography, but is there a way to use technology to quickly identify terrorist content? For example, are there technologies used for the prevention of spam that could be useful?" the memo stated. Since late 2015, Twitter began using "proprietary spam-fighting tools" to find accounts that might be violating their terms of service by promoting terrorism, sending them to be reviewed by a team at Twitter. That group also now looks into other accounts similar to those reported to them by other users. "Like most people around the world, we are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups. We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism," Twitter said in a statement released Friday. It said it already had seen results, "including an increase in account suspensions and this type of activity shifting off of Twitter." Permian Basin oil and gas operators closed the books on a year that saw a painful contraction grow even more painful. The Texas Permian Basin Petroleum Index ended 2015 35.8 percent below its November 2014 peak, according to Karr Ingham, the Amarillo economist who prepares the index. Our projections in early 2015 with regard to the levels of activity decline have proven accurate, unfortunately, and may ultimately be worse. Our expectation was for a 40 percent decline in the value of the Texas Permian Basin Petroleum Index, and that is certainly going to be exceeded, Ingham said. He said steep declines were seen in every component of the index except the one component that needs to decline: Oil and natural gas production. In a year when the market is clamoring for reductions in crude oil production and natural gas, for that matter crude oil production in the Texas Permian Basin in 2015 exceeded the 2014 total by a whopping 16.4 percent, Ingham said. Production peaked earlier in the year, but continued to post year-over-year increases throughout 2015 and has come down only very slowly, he said. Texas production has done the same, peaking in March 2015 but still out-producing 2014 by about 10, percent, he said. Natural gas volumes followed a similar trend, ending 2015 17.1 percent above 2014 levels. Ingham, along with local producers, said the sharp decline in the regions rig count eventually will lead to a decline in production. Ingham said the rig count decline is following his expectations. We projected a decline of two-thirds in the rig count; as of last Friday, the regional rig count was down by 66 percent compared to its November 2014 weekly peak, he said. The December rig count average of 175 rigs was 61.3 percent below the average 452 rigs of last December. For the year, the average of 227 rigs is 49.3 percent below the 2014 average of 446 rigs. Funding for oil field activity has fallen sharply as oil and natural gas prices decline. Oil prices averaged $45.35 in 2015, down 49.3 percent from $89.49 in 2014. Natural gas prices also are down sharply, averaging $2.52 in 2015, down 41.8 percent from $4.32 in 2014. Market conditions have only worsened moving into 2016. Since the end of the year, crude oil prices have lost another $7 to $10 per barrel, with the posted price for West Texas Intermediate crude falling as low as $23.25 on Jan. 20, Ingham said. He cautioned that the coming few months suggest a dreary price environment for both crude oil and natural gas, driving activity levels yet further downward. The regional oil and gas industry as measured by the Texas Permian Basin Petroleum Index is very likely to continue its decline for at least the first half of the year, and perhaps most of the year depending on price movements, Ingham said. That indication is supported by a plunge in drilling permits issued by the Railroad Commission. The commission issued 4,999 permits in 2015, down 57.9 percent from the 11,888 permits issued in 2014. Producers reported 10,367 oil well completions to the Railroad Commission in 2015, down 42.7 percent from the 18,107 reported in 2014. Producers completed 247 natural gas wells, a gain of 31.4 percent from the 188 completed in 2014. And unfortunately, industry job loss in Midland-Odessa and across the region is set to continue for the foreseeable future, Ingham said. His preliminary calculations from quarterly employment and wage data indicate that in 2015, Midland and Odessa will see a loss of nearly 9,000 jobs, a decline of 24.6 percent compared to 2014, when employment peaked as oil prices began to fall. Ingham offered a glimmer of hope for the industry. Global crude oil supply is likely to continue to outpace demand and the unfortunate result is generally low prices for most if not all of the year, he said. That does not mean prices cannot be higher than they are now, however, and some measure any measure of price increase will help to stop the bleeding. Even as Texas oil and natural gas producers endured a painful crash in crude prices, they still managed to help fill the states coffers. In fiscal year 2015, the states oil and gas industry paid $13.8 billion in state and local taxes and state royalties. Thats the second highest amount collected from the industry in the states history, according to the Texas Oil & Gas Association. In a conference call with media discussing the industrys economic outlook, association President Todd Staples stated, In spite of global economic challenges, all Texans continue to benefit from tax and royalty revenue paid by the oil and natural gas industry. State and local revenue from the oil and natural gas industry directly funds our schools, roads, first responders and essential public services. On a per-job basis, the states oil and gas industry paid seven times more in terms of taxes and royalties than the rest of the private sector, he said. Even so, the decline in oil prices and resulting drop in activity and employment reminds us that this state and local revenue isnt guaranteed. In such challenging times, Texas needs to stay the regulatory course, he said. Texas has fostered a robust oil and natural gas industry by embracing sensible and predictable regulations that are protecting the environment and encouraging investment in our state. Staying the course with sound, science-based policy will ensure investment dollars and jobs continue to come to Texas. Asked about the emphasis on sensible and predictable regulations, he said that our goal is to have in place science-based regulations that protect the environment and support economic growth. If you have regulatory certainty, Texas will be the first place oil dollars go back to work, Staples said. He expressed concern that if low prices continue into next year and state revenues continue to decline, the Texas Legislature will make cuts across the board, impacting the Railroad Commission, which oversees the industry. Staples said he doesnt want legislators to be overzealous in wielding the budget ax. Regulatory agencies need capacity in good times and in bad in order to respond to consumers, he said. Efficiency is the goal, and we want agencies to have the right amount of funding to do their job, he said. While the states upstream sector is suffering, overall the Texas energy industry is doing well, from refineries to petrochemicals, Staples said. He said that Texas is home to the nations largest pipeline infrastructure and 29 percent of the nations refining capacity. Liquefied natural gas and even crude oil are being shipped from the states ports at Houston and Corpus Christi. Even in these challenging times, all 10 sectors of the states energy industry are contributing to our economy and the nations energy security, he said. All Texans benefit from oil and natural gas tax revenue, whether they live in an energy-producing area or not, said Staples, citing examples such as the states recent multi-billion dollar investments in water and transportation infrastructure projects, funded with oil and natural gas tax revenue. Staples also cited the more-than $500 million the industry contributes to the states Permanent School Fund, which supports K-12 public schools and, at $34.5 billion, is the second largest education endowment in the United States. And, the states rainy day fund is funded almost exclusively by oil and natural gas severance taxes, he said. Texas independent school districts received $1.9 billion in oil and natural gas mineral property tax revenue in fiscal year 2015. Midland and Ector County ISDs were both in the top 10 in amount of revenues received. Counties received $632 million in oil and natural gas mineral property tax revenue. Ector County received $14.3 million, 32.7 percent of its tax base; Martin County received $13 million, 88 percent of its tax base, and Midland County received $7 million, 25.7 percent of its tax base. In his comments, Staples acknowledged the oil industry has had a rough start to 2016. He was asked about that rough start and if he was concerned there could be a return of the 1980s when oil prices fell to single digits. He pointed out that the Texas rig count in January 2015 was 695 rigs; in January 2016 it was 281 rigs, down 60 percent. Whether we go back to previous eras, I think it would be difficult to say. Look at various nations around the world whose budgets are wrapped around their oil industries, he said. The national oil companies in those countries may be operating below cost and wont have the capital to invest in new capacity, he said. If those countries cant reinvest in new capacity because of other requirements, the U.S. is in a better position. Right now, supplies are greater than world demand can absorb. Technology has been beneficial to all consumers and thats why prices are low. Technology identified the shales, and because of technology like horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing we were able to recover reserves we thought were unreachable and thats why the U.S. is the worlds No. 1 producer of oil and natural gas, Staples said. Ending the 40-year-old ban on exporting U.S.-produced crude is a significant change in policy that puts our producers on a level playing field, Staples said. Exporting crude will give U.S. producers the opportunity to ensure resource development without artificial barriers that keep U.S. companies from competing around the globe. Staples also called for sensible development of renewable energy, explaining that association members have an all of the above mentality. But that development should be done without artificial demand or government mandates in which the government picks energy winners and losers, which only adds to consumer costs, he said. Renewables will play a role in meeting energy demand, and technological advances will continue in the field, Staples said. For the short term, oil and gas will, without question, be the reason we have energy security and economic growth. TAXES AND ROYALTIES PAID BY OIL AND NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY (FY 2015) Amount in Millions Property * $ 4,826 Sales, state and local * 2,499 State franchise tax * 413 Production of oil ** 2,879 Production of natural gas ** 1,280 Oil and gas well servicing ** 128 Other taxes * 337 Total Taxes * $ 12,363 Royalties to State Funds** 1,480 Total Paid $ 13,842 * Estimated, Tax & Fiscal Consulting, Austin ** Source: Texas Comptroller's Office Top 10 ISDs (Oil and Natural Gas Mineral Property Tax Levy, FY 2015) 1. Karnes City ISD - $66.5 million - Eagle Ford (88 percent of tax base) 2. Andrews ISD - $62.6 million (tied for 2nd) - Permian (79.3 percent of tax base) 2. United ISD - $ 62.6 million (tied for 2nd) - Eagle Ford (34.6 percent of tax base) 3. Cotulla CISD - $61.7 million - Eagle Ford (76.6 percent of tax base) 4. Carrizo Springs ISD - $60.3 million - Eagle Ford (79.2 percent of tax base) 5. Ector County ISD - $56 million - Permian (33.6 percent of tax base) 6. Midland ISD $55.9 million - Permian (25.6 percent of tax base) 7. Seminole ISD - $44.1 million - Permian (77.6 percent of tax base) 8. Rankin ISD - $35.8 million - Permian (89.8 percent of tax base) 9. Glasscock County ISD - $33.3 million - Permian (79.4 percent of tax base) 10. McMullen County ISD - $32.8 million - Eagle Ford (79.5 percent of tax base) Source of data is self-report information from school districts provided to Texas Comptrollers Office. Top 10 Counties (Oil and Natural Gas Mineral Property Tax Levy, FY 2015) 1. DeWitt County - $26.8 million - Eagle Ford (79.4 percent of tax base) 2. LaSalle County - $24.5 million - Eagle Ford (78.9 percent of tax base) 3. Webb County - $23.7 million - Eagle Ford (30.9 percent of tax base) 4. Ward County - $20.8 million - Permian (76.5 percent of tax base) 5. Karnes County - $20.7 million - Eagle Ford (83 percent of tax base) 6. Andrews County - $19.8 million - Permian (80.1 percent of tax base) 7. Gaines County - $17.6 million - Permian (76.5 percent of tax base) 8. Pecos County - $16.8 million - Permian (69.3 percent of tax base) 9. McMullen County - $16.6 million - Eagle Ford (79.4 percent of tax base) 10. Yoakum County - $15.7 million - Eagle Ford (83 percent of tax base) Source of data is self-report information from counties provided to Texas Comptrollers Office. Mayor Jerry Morales indicated Thursday afternoon that the transportation-network company Uber has contacted the city about their recent departure on Feb. 1, potentially opening the door for Uber to return to Midland. We were caught off guard, and we never closed the door, and I told them that their business is welcome to Midland, Morales said about the phone call. We plan to have a meeting in the very near future to discuss some of their issues. Morales said that Uber phoned to apologize for leaving the city of Midland so abruptly after reading social media comments and news articles about the public reaction. In a press release on Feb. 1, Uber said it was ceasing business in Midland because of an ordinance going into effect that day. The Midland City Council passed an ordinance last December that included regulations for TNCs, namely that they provide a monthly list of driver and vehicles information to the Midland Police Department. The initial ordinance proposed in the fall would require Uber drivers to undergo a secondary background check at the MPD (Uber already requires its drivers to pass one to drive for them) and to be fingerprinted. City officials dropped those two requirements at Ubers request. Uber also requested to streamline the process for drivers becoming licensed, proposing the monthly report on drivers and vehicles information as an alternative to fingerprinting and background check that the city agreed to, according to city spokeswoman Sara Bustilloz. Bustilloz said the monthly report would allow police to cross-check in the event of an accident or crime committed concerning an Uber driver. No crimes have been linked to Uber since its arrival in August; however, the city did not have access to Ubers list of Midland drivers to cross-check, Bustilloz said. (City officials) understand that Uber provides a good service to residents, but at the same time, the spirit behind the ordinance was to provide some kind of basic protection for citizens, Bustilloz said. We tried to find something that was a good middle ground that we thought Uber agreed with, and it turned out later that wasnt the case. Bustilloz said that Uber operates in cities without regulations and those that have passed ordinances, like Houston and Dallas. Uber currently is in contention with the city of Austin about potentially requiring Uber drivers to be fingerprinted in order to pick up clients at locations otherwise off-limits, according to the Texas Tribune and other news outlets. The response from the community about Ubers decision includes an online petition calling for the Midland City Council to Bring Uber back to Midland. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 1,400 supporters signed the petition. Also a councilman told the Reporter-Telegram this week that hes received more emails about Ubers decision to leave than he had about any other issue. Currently, stories about Ubers decision to leave Midland are among the top read stories currently at mrt.com. Dr. Rosaly Lopes remembers the exact moment her desire to work for NASA was born. On July 20, 1969, the then 12-year old sat in front of her television in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and witnessed astronauts walk the surface of the moon. She wanted to be an astronaut but Lopes has a change of plans. She studied astronomy at the University of London, bucking her original plan to earn a Ph.D. in astrophysics. She received her Doctorate in planetary science with a focus on volcanoes - and not just the ones on earth. After countless studies and research, she has discovered 71 active volcanoes on the Jupiter moon Io alone. Lopes currently works at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. When shes not observing terrestrial geology or exploring volcanoes on her home planet, shes fond of promoting the subject of science to teach and inspire. On Friday, Lopes visits Midland as the featured speaker in the Museum of the Southwests Relativity Lecture Series to deliver the presentation Fire and Ice: Exploring Volcanoes on Earth and Beyond. MRT: Do you still want to be an astronaut? Lopes: I havent completely given up hope, but most of my career I havent been eligible because of the requirements on eye sight. At least they removed the age limit, which makes it interesting. Thats why I instead decided to focus on astronomy, I though space exploration was the most exciting thing in the world. MRT: You almost became an astrophysicist, what would you have focused on? Lopes: I was working on the emission of x-rays from space, essentially black holes, so I may have gone in that direction. I liked solar astronomy. I just really wanted to work for NASA which was always my goal. Its just the exploration aspect and really seeing worlds that havent been seen before, and making discoveries on those planets, even if Im not going there personally. Im going via spacecraft and looking at them in ways that people havent seen before. I think other people are really interested. Look at the Pluto flyby - people were really excited. MRT: How did you settle on volcanology? Lopes: I started studying volcanoes because my doctoral advisor was a volcanologist, and he wanted me to study them on Mars, and so I had to understand how they work on Earth. Although my work at the beginning didnt involve field work, he invited me on trips occasionally. On my first trip to Mt. Etna in Sicily, Italy, it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. There was a small eruption, and it was basically like fireworks with blowing bits of lava leaping toward the sky. Just to be looking down on this crater that was erupting was spectacular. MRT: How many volcanoes have you visited? Lopes: I have visited more than 50 volcanoes around the world, Ive seen quite a few erupt. A couple of volcanoes in the South Pacific and in Stromboli in Italy. Its hard to think of all the erupting volcanoes Ive seen, because they might have been just throwing out gasses and small things like that. Ive visited a volcano on every continent except Antarctica, and one of the most spectacular was in Ethiopia. I've been to a lot of out of the way places. Its often an exciting life. MRT: What are some misconceptions about volcanoes? Lopes: That they are all dangerous and cause a lot of death and destruction. Some of them such as Kilauea in Hawaii for example have gentle eruptions. You can walk over the moving lava flow. You can get away from a lot of lava flows, because they dont often move that fast. Volcanoes are responsible for a number of different land formations on Earth. Volcanoes formed those islands In Hawaii so they are not all bad. MRT: Do you watch volcano movies? Lopes: I watch them even if I know theyre going to be bad. Some of them try to get it as right as they can. I understand that its supposed to entertain, its not a documentary. I like science fiction, Im a huge Star Wars fan. The Martian was good and very realistic and the landscape was done really well. MRT: If you were stranded on Mars, what would you do? Lopes: It depends on if I have a rover, or how much mobility. My first project was on the largest volcano in the solar system, which is Olympus Mons. I proposed that the large aureole deposits were large landslides. Its still one of the predominantly accepted hypotheses, so thats where I would go to see if I was right. MRT: If Planet X is discovered, would you be the one to observe it for volcanoes? Lopes: Well, not really because there are people who study planets like that. There wouldnt be observations yet. What they would do is try to study the atmosphere, but its a great distance away. Assuming we could get some data on the planet from a telescope, we would try to figure out the composition from the atmosphere to see if there was volcanic activity or not. The people who work on extra planets would be those that NASA would call, but I would love to chat in general if there were a possibility of volcanoes. MRT: Recently, rapper, B.O.B. proposed evidence of flat earth theory and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson responded by saying the rapper was misusing his prominence to spread misinformation. It resulted in a weird back and forth between the two. What do you think of people of prominence promoting unscientific ideas? Lopes: I think if they draw attention to something like this, it makes more of an issue than warranted. The majority of people looking at the image and listening to a song know the Earth isnt flat. Now if he really thinks the Earth is flat, I can see Neils point, because it could be dangerous if has a following, but Im not worried. People know the Earth isnt flat. We knew that in the 1500s. I think that Neil and Bill Nye have taken that role as the scientists who counter those public figures. Its great that they go to those debates and try to correct misinformation. The main thing is that its a little discouraging to see that people go to school and still come out thinking the world is flat. Youre always going to have a few fringe people, though. If the Earth is flat, Id like to know where it ends. Ive traveled around the world, is the end of Earth an airport? Relativity Lecture Series: Fire and Ice: Exploring Volcanoes on Earth and Beyond by Dr. Rosaly M.C. Lopes, 6 p.m. Today at Museum of the Southwests Blakemore Planetarium, 1705 W. Missouri Ave. museumsw.org. HOGP FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) The Texas teenager who used an "affluenza" defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck was transferred to an adult jail on Friday. Records from the Tarrant County jail show that 18-year-old Ethan Couch was moved to the facility from a juvenile detention center in Fort Worth where he had been held since he was deported from Mexico last month. Authorities believe he and his mother fled in December, as Texas prosecutors investigated whether he had violated terms his probation in the 2013 wreck. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A change in Texas prison system policy means transgender inmates can start hormone therapy while behind bars after a confirmed diagnosis. The Houston Chronicle (http://bit.ly/1PoNGk7 ) reported Thursday that previous Texas Department of Criminal Justice policy said only transgender inmates who entered the system already taking hormones could continue to do so. TDCJ spokesman Jason Clark says offenders are prescribed hormone therapy only after a rigorous assessment. That includes reviews by a gender dysphoria specialist, an endocrinologist and having an affirmative diagnosis. The policy change took effect last August. Attorney Demoya Gordon with Lambda Legal specializing in lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender issues welcomed the policy shift. Gordon also raised concerns about respecting the constitutional rights of transgender people. The Texas prison system does not offer sex reassignment surgery. ___ Information from: Houston Chronicle, http://www.houstonchronicle.com The Iron Stepping Stones To Better Wearable Tech Without Semiconductors Iron-dotted boron nitride nanotubes, made in Yoke Khin Yaps' lab at Michigan Tech, could make for better wearable tech because of their flexibility and electronic behaviors. The road to more versatile wearable technology is dotted with iron. Specifically, quantum dots of iron arranged on boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). The new material is the subject of a study published in Scientific Reports in February, led by Yoke Khin Yap, a professor of physics at Michigan Technological University. Yap says the iron-studded BNNTs are pushing the boundaries of electronics hardware. The transistors modulating electron flow need an upgrade. Look beyond semiconductors, he says, explaining that materials like silicon semiconductors tend to overheat, can only get so small and leak electric current. The key to revamping the fundamental base of transistors is creating a series of stepping-stones. Watch Transistors Without Semiconductors video Watch Transistors Without Semiconductors Expand Quantum Dots The nanotubes are the mainframe of this new material. BNNTs are great insulators and terrible at conducting electricity. While at first that seems like an odd choice for electronics, the insulating effect of BNNTs is crucial to prevent current leakage and overheating. Additionally, electron flow will only occur across the metal dots on the BNNTs. In past research, Yap and his team used gold for quantum dots, placed along a BNNT in a tidy line. With enough energy potential, the electrons are repelled by the insulating BNNT and hopscotch from gold dot to gold dot. This electron movement is called quantum tunneling. Imagine this as a river, and theres no bridge; its too big to hop over, Yap says. Now, picture having stepping stones across the riveryou can cross over, but only when you have enough energy to do so. Nanotech for Wearable Electronics Unlike with semiconductors, there is no classical resistance with quantum tunneling. No resistance means no heat. Plus, these materials are very small; the nanomaterials enable the transistors to shrink as well. An added bonus is that BNNTs are also quite flexible, a boon for wearable electronics. Heres where the challenge comes in, Yap says, holding up a pen to demonstrate. He gestures along the length of the pen, which mimics a straight BNNT, tapping out a line of quantum dots. We have an array here to do quantum tunneling, but what if we want to bend the array to be flexible like a piece of wearable electronics? Yap sets down the pen and curls up his index finger: And if I bend the dots, the distance between them changesin doing so, we change the electronic behavior. Changing the behavior means that the quantum tunneling may not work. The solution is to get out of line: Yap and his team arranged a grid of quantum dots around the outside of the BNNT. This time we used iron instead of gold, Yap adds, explaining that golds melting temperature was low for the process his team used. And when we tested the material, the electrons distributed uniformly across the whole surface of the nanotubes. That means that instead of having a line of stepping stones, there are many different paths across the river, and an electron will jump to the nearest one. For future use in wearable electronics, the multiplicity of paths ensures electricity is moving from one riverbank to the next, one way or another. Using scanning tunneling microscopy inside a transmission electron microscope (STM-TEM), the team successfully bent the iron dot-coated BNNT while monitoring the electron flows. The electronic behaviors remain the same even when the BNNT was bent all the way up to 75 degrees. Next Steps Yap says that this experiment is a proof of concept. While the iron BNNT material shows promise, its not a full transistor yet, capable of modulating electron movement. Right now, its called a flexible tunneling channel. Next, well put the BNNT and iron onto a bendable plastic substrate, Yap says. Then well bend this substrate and watch where the electrons go. This experimental work is complemented by computer simulations by John Jaszczak, professor of physics, and Paul Bergstrom, professor of electrical and computer engineering. Which route the electricity takes is hard to track, which will be the main challenge for the next experiment. But one direction is certain, Yaps research is headed down a path to change the basic level of electronics and make wearable tech more adaptable. Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigans flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. Fedde le Grand is in a happy place right now. Gearing up to release his second artist album, Something Real, the veteran Dutch DJ and producer has at last found the time to finish the project, which has been in the works for nearly five years. At the age of 38, he has been DJing longer than some of his colleagues have been alive - a sign of the current American-led millennial EDM boom, becoming a de facto resident at Ultra Music Festival and Sensation and playing some of the biggest festivals around the world. He has acted as a mentor for some of the younger talent that has bubbled up in Holland. The small northern European country has seen DJs become one of its greatest musical and cultural exports over the past three decades and Fedde's impact is not to be understated. He counts Hardwell as an early understudy, recalling a young Robbert van de Corput coming by his house every day to hang out and make music. Things weren't always this way for the Dutchman who got his start the way most Dutch DJs did in his era - playing for kids at school. He started doing a mobile disco with a few friends, throwing parties for fellow kids at school. After doing this for a few years, he got his first official booking at a club in the south of Holland, which Fedde describes as "horrible." He played a bachelor party where somebody dressed up as a carrot, but "I was over the moon," remembers Le Grand, because it was his first paid booking. Fortunately for the Dutchman, things have only gotten better. There may be people dressed as carrots at his gigs today and for similar reasons, but now the crowds are much larger and his fees are much higher. He got his first really big break with the hit single "Put Your Hands Up For Detroit" in 2006. It would go to No. 1 in four European countries including the UK, and hit top 10 in four other nations globally. Having a big hit early on in your career can be a blessing and a curse, though. It opens up doors that, as an artist, you never would have dreamed of with labels, brand opportunities, bookings and more. However, the downfall of this comes a newfound pressure to deliver another hit of that magnitude. This can be crushing to so many artists who don't have a level head and a bad team around them. Fedde acknowledges that the couple of years following the release of "Detroit" had their ups and downs. He was able to follow up the single with two more UK hits in two years, however those tracks created a commercial image he was looking to avoid. "The gigs I was getting were actually horrible. I didn't want to do the super commercial clubs that expect you to play your 3 hits and hip hop in between it." The fame also came with plenty of hate, since he was the upstart, fresh-faced, new guy on the block out there making songs that were getting played on the radio. This drew the ire of dance music purists who weren't too happy with his newfound status as a star in Holland. "If it were now it would be a different story because back then the whole scene was really against me even though I had three really big hits. But they were like 'man who's this guy and why is he so young and he doesn't know what this scene is about and he looks like a Backstreet Boy.' So I got all those comments instead of 'great, he's got a new fresh face and he's doing amazing.' So it was a different time altogether." As a result, Le Grand went a different direction with his music, putting out club records like "3 Minutes To Explain" with fellow Dutchman Funkerman and the glitchy "F1." "I deliberately made a choice to make more underground stuff or more club stuff and that actually got me the gigs I actually wanted instead of the VIP clubs," Fedde explains. The pull to earn big dollars with more pop songs was there, but Fedde stuck to his guns and avoided them. Before his first album Output was released in September 2009, he had the chance to work with will.I.am on "basically a 'Detroit' rip-off," but Fedde had no interest on doing such a track. They did eventually collaborate on "Feel Alive" that made it onto Output, but it had a very different feel from the scrapped song. Fortunately for Fedde, his bookings quickly turned around from those bougie, sterile VIP clubs to more lucrative and exciting clubs and festivals around the world. He has become de facto residents at two of the best and biggest festival brands in the world -- Sensation and Ultra Music Festival. His first experience performing at Ultra was as a changeover act between The Cure and Tiesto in 2007. Organizers liked his performance so much they brought him back the next year for a proper set in the Carl Cox tent and since then he has played festivals all over the world including Miami, South Korea, Croatia, Japan and Peru. A similar type of relationship has developed with another unassailable dance music brand, ID&T's Sensation. The one-night affair got its start in 2005 in Amsterdam, so the event and Fedde's career both grew upward at similar trajectories. He notes that it just made sense for them to team up. "I just think my music interest just translates well in their concepts because I'm a little bit old school in those ways." I'm always aware of where in the lineup I am and I don't necessarily just always need to bang it out to the maximum so there's still air left for people," Fedde notes of his chameleon DJing ability. "I didn't want to be the one responsible for destroying the whole night." Much like a rocket ship's ascent into space, the beginning of his career was the most tumultuous, but since then it has been relatively smooth sailing. He has navigated the trends and developed "super dedicated" fans that have been there from the get go. "I've never had any trouble with new hypes coming up and it's always been like super stable for me to be honest," remarks the Dutchman. He doesn't bother with those who are locked in their ways and cling to a dated, nostalgic image of an artist's productions. "I don't believe in that because, the funny thing is, even if you do and people don't even recognize it as such because it's such a different time." With his upcoming album he has positioned himself nicely as someone who can seamlessly crossover from the main stage to the underground - just like his DJ sets. Electronic music is starting to move away from the brief excesses of the American-led, EDM explosion and back to the classic club sound where the scene got its start. "The scene is kind of coming full circle," Fedde proposes. "I think a lot of the stuff being made right now is the same stuff that I started out making, but an updated version. I think the stuff coming off my album will remind them of what I made in the beginning." Something Real fits right in that narrative, drawing on the influences of Fedde's whole career. It reflects where he is right now -- a mainstream dance act with underground appeal. A lot of the singles that have emerged thus far like "Cinematic" and "Give Me Some" are more geared for his current live sets, more specifically those during the summer festival season. However there are those that take a step back for the longer, club sets or even draw upon dancehall, "Sorry"-like pop on "Immortal" and trap influences present on "Beauty From The Ashes". Fedde likes the idea less as a way to cement one's legacy or leave a lasting impact on music itself, but rather a way to experiment as an artist that the single format doesn't allow you to. "It's about being creative and just trying out weird stuff." A full vocal album, this is the grandest undertaking he has ever done, collaborating with the likes of Jonathan Mendelsohn, Merk & Kremont, Erene, Holl & Rush and Denny White. There aren't any will.i.am's in this crop of collaborators, though he does mention there was a collaboration with a female British vocalist that never worked out because he felt the lyrics were too poppy. Some DJs will sell out for potential chart-topping pop song, but even nearly a decade later, Fedde sticks to his underground roots. Fedde has "always been fairly happy" and who can blame him. He has a family, plenty of work and a successful career. Like many of his colleagues, he is quite the nerd. "I might be nerdier than people think. I'm really into computers and computer games," he admits shyly. Bubbling with positivity, Fedde leaves us with one final thought about his career. "It's just been great so far. It's been a great journey." Something Real will be released on Feb. 26. Pre-order it here. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. If theres one thing that you should never joke about onstage, its Nazis and White Power. Unfortunately for former Pantera member Phil Anselmo, he did both at a performance at Dimebash 2016 last month. Anselmo came under fire for what he claimed was a joke after a fan video surfaced online of Anselmo performing a Nazi salute and shouting White Power. In the wake of the scandal, he has gone as far as offering to quit his band Down. Anselmo posted an open letter to his website which in part reads, Never in my lifetime would I drag my bandmates down with me, and Ive privately suggested to them that they move on without me. Im repulsed by my own actions, and the self-loathing Im going through right now is justified by the hurt Ive caused. I realize we live in a society where apologies are NOT accepted easily, yet long for a day when they can be, but I also understand if Im shunned till I hit the dirt. Anselmo had originally claimed that the White Power reference was a joke about the white wine that the band was drinking backstage. Anselmo formally apologized for the Nazi salute at Dimebash 2016, which is a festival held annually in Hollywood in honor of the deceased Dimebag Darrell. Machine Head frontman also came out to call Anselmo a bully. Following his actions, Anselmo was accused of being an extreme racist as well as a white power supporter. In a comment on the original fan video posted Anselmo owned up to his actions but also said that there would be no apologies made for what happened. But in a formal apology video that he uploaded to his Youtube on Jan. 30, Anselmo said that I dont want to be part of any group. Im an individual and I am a thousand percent apologetic to anyone who took offense to what I said. And I am so sorry. I hope you give me another chance I love all of you. Anyone who knows me knows I love all of you. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to Alice Cooper, his new super-group band, The Hollywood Vampires, consisting of Johnny Deep, Joe Perry, and Duff McKagan, was formed "as a means to toast our 'dead drunk friends' at the Rainbow, all the ghosts in the bar." With that in mind, it's only fitting that Cooper and company premiere their brand new song, "As Bad As I Am," at the 2016 Grammy Awards as a tribute to the recently deceased Lemmy Kilmister and his band, Motorhead. You can check out more buzzing news coverage from Music Times right here! Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine, Cooper revealed that "As Bad As I Am" is a fitting tribute to the late rocker, but the band doesn't know what other songs they plan on playing. Though Cooper is hoping to sing "Ace of Spades" to the Grammys crowd this month (via UPROXX). Cooper considers Lemmy a friend, so he shared a great story about the Motorhead bassist and frontman. "Lemmy was one of those salt-of-the-earth guys," Cooper told the magazine. "Find me somebody who didn't love Lemmy. He's just one of those guys that's impossible not to like. He was always funny. I'm a 'healed' alcoholic and I haven't had anything to drink in 35 years. A lot of people that drink always feel a little bit like they owe an explanation to me. A couple weeks before his death, Lemmy came up to me and said, 'Alice, I've quit drinking.' And he's got a glass in his hand. And I go, 'Really?' And he says, 'Yeah, I don't drink whiskey anymore. I drink vodka.' And I went, 'Lemmy, do you think your liver has any idea what color the alcohol is?' He said, 'well it's a step down from whiskey.' And I went, 'OK. Any step's a good step.'" You'll be able to check out this performance Monday, Feb. 15 on CBS. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Rolling Stones, The Who and Paul McCartney all have massive discographies to draw from on their respective tours, but even they can only memorize so many songs, usually around 25 or 30 tunes, max. But for the cult-classic band Ween, that's mere child's play as the reuniting band is promising a weekend of at least 94 songs with no repeats - and that's not including fan suggestions. The group, fronted by Aaron "Gene Ween" Freeman and Mickey "Dean Ween" Melchiondo Jr., is kicking of its return from a four year hiatus with a three-night residency at Broomfield, Colorado's 1stBank Center, playing the groups unrivaled brand of comedic alternative rock. According to Echobase, Melchiondo made the announcement on the Ween Appreciation Society Facebook page saying "I count 94 songs with no repeats taken into consideration ... and we're off." Over three nights, that means fans can expect a minimum of 31 songs a night, plus request songs. But fans on the page seemed a little confused for some reason, so Melchiondo clarified by posting "We always take requests! My point was that with the requests we will easily best 100 tunes." So the uber Ween fan out there who is seeing all three nights Feb. 12 to 14 is in for quite the joyous weekend. But, it remains to see if the group can execute that promise. That kind of set requires a ton of rehearsal and quite the delv into the band's back catalog, unless they are including a ton of covers (which presents its own host of problems). But Ween has had four years to practice so surely it'll be flawless. The band is performing another three-night residency from April 14 to 16 at New York's Terminal 5, so hopefully east coast fans can join in on the fun. Ween also recently announced appearances at Austin's Levitation Festival and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Rising Swedish pop star Ellinor Olovsdotter, known by her stage name Elliphant, has unveiled the complete tracklist for her new album Living Life Golden. The 12-track LP will feature music heavyweights from across various genres including Major Lazer, Twin Shadow, Skrillex, M and Azaelia Banks. In addition to the album announcement, Olovsdotter has also shared the music video to the first track on the album "Step Down." "Step Down" was the first official single to emerge from Living Life Golden and the video shares the LP title's exuberant message. As the problem child in a stuck up family, much like pop music, she comes in to break everything up with a special dose of her own magic, sending everybody into a tail spin of drugged and alcohol-induced mayhem. She also revealed the single with Twin Shadow "Where Is Home" back in December. Her brand of pop music where she occasionally mixes in rapping has earned her a strong legion of fans and praise across the internet. The big name collaborations are not a surprise for those who have followed her career. She was featured on Major Lazer's "Too Original" from the trio's album Peace Is The Mission and worked with Skrillex on her track "Only Getting Younger." Watch the raunchy video for "Step Down" below and pre-order your copy of Living Life Golden through Ten/Kemosabe/Sony Records on iTunes before it is released on March 25. Living Life Golden Tracklist: 1. Step Down 2. Everybody feat. Azealia Banks 3. Love Me Badder 4. Not Ready 5. Love Me Long feat. Major Lazer & Gyptian 6. Hit And Run 7. Thing Called Life 8. Where Is Home feat. Twin Shadow 9. One More feat. M 10. Player Run 11. Spoon Me feat. Skrillex 12. Living Life Golden 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Eric Prydz has at last released his new artist album Opus. Coming in 19-tracks, the LP is packed to the gills with some of his fans most requested IDs that have appeared in his live sets over the past few years, as well as some of previously released of his like "Every Day" and "Liberate." Opus captures the magic that Swedish dance music tries to bring to the table, with strong and hypnotic melodies that aren't as over exuberant as some of his peers, but can capture the attention of his audience with just four bars. This is the first proper album from Eric Prydz. He released an artist album under his moniker Pryda in 2012 that also included two retrospective LPs. In theory he likes to keep all of his monikers separated with Pryda making more progressive tracks, Cirez D there to rinse out some techno and Eric Prydz similar to Pryda but with bigger and bolder melodies. However this can difficult to manage with all of the music that he makes and in practice on Opus those lines are blurred. Opus plays like a DJ set, dipping down into some more Pryda-esque tracks like "Trubble" and "Sunset At Cafe Mambo" before returning to the festival stage with possibly the biggest track he has released to date "Breathe" alongside Rob Swire that hints at something suited for a stadium setting. To support the album, Prydz is kicking off his EPIC 4.0 tour next weekend with three nights at Terminal 5 in New York City, before heading to his new home of Los Angeles for another two nights at the Palladium and then capping things off the following weekend with two nights at the Armory in San Francisco. Get details on the tour here. He is doing a Reddit AMA today at 1 p.m. PST. Stream the album below and pick up a copy on either iTunes, Amazon or Beatport. Opus Tracklist: 1. Liam 2. Black Dyce 3. Collider 4. Som Sas 5. Last Dragon 6. Moody Mondays feat. The Cut 7. Floj 8. Trubble 9. Klepht 10. Eclipse 11. Sunset At Cafe Mambo 12. Breathe feat. Rob Swire 13. Generate 14. Oddity 15. Mija 16. Every Day 17. Liberate 18. The Matrix 19. Opus 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon has debuted yet another one of his brand new solo tracks, a pleasantly raspy singalong ballad titled "Smoke," which will appear on his upcoming release, Painkillers. The Gaslight Anthem entered an indefinite hiatus immediately following the release of their celebrated 2014 album Get Hurt, after which Fallon began working on his solo material. "Smoke" is now the third solo single released by the artist, the first of which was a song titled "A Wonderful Life," followed closely by "Nobody Wins." Like Fallon's first two singles, "Smoke" has a clear Country base but will captivate any listener with its catchy chorus and energetic hooks, more so than your typical acoustic track. Fallon's raspy voice seems to be a perfect match for the song's cheerful vibe, which as an electric version, could have easily fit within a Gaslight Anthem record. Regarding the band's hiatus, a statement was issued by the New Jersey pop rock outfit saying "We'd like to recharge and take a step back until we have something we feel excited about rather than going right back to making a record just for the sake of making the next record... We all feel this is the best decision we can make and it feels like the right one for us." Painkillers, which was produced by Butch Walker (who has previously worked with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban), is due out March 11 via Island Records. It is currently available for pre-order via iTunes, where you will obtain the first three singles instantly. Fallon will recruit Gaslight Anthem guitarist Alex Rosamilia, The Horrible Crowes' Ian Perkins, as well as Molly & The Zombies bassist Catherine Popper for his upcoming Painkillers Tour in the U.S. this March. The tour will launch on March 8th at Philadelphia's Electric Factory and will finish up on March 26th at San Diego's House of Blues. Pre-sale tickets are currently available. 2015 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sarkodie should have been bigger than ... Edgar Mitchell, one of the few men to ever walk on the moon, passed away Thursday in South Florida. Mitchell's daughter, Kimberly Mitchell, says he died Thursday night at a West Palm Beach hospice after a short illness. Mitchell, a Navy pilot and engineer, started his NASA career in 1966. He was a backup pilot for the Lunar Module for Apollo 10 and served as the Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 14. Mitchell landed on the moon on Feb. 5, 1971, and spent two days collecting samples and deploying science experiments with Alan Shepard. Coverage from the Space Coast: Headlines, Launch Schedule, Resources Mitchell retired from NASA in 1972 and had been living in South Florida since the 70s. He later devoted his life to exploring the mind, physics and unexplained phenomena such as psychics and aliens. Mitchell was 85. Astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell, Apollo 14 lunar module pilot stands by the deployed U.S. flag on the lunar surface during the early moments of the mission's first spacewalk. He was photographed by astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr., mission commander. (NASA) NASA administrator Charles Bolden released this statement Friday: "On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my condolences to the family and friends of NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell. As a member of the Apollo 14 crew, Edgar is one of only 12 men to walk on the moon and he helped to change how we view our place in the universe. Edgar spoke poetically about seeing our home planet from the moon saying: Suddenly, from behind the rim of the moon, in long, slow-motion moments of immense majesty, there emerges a sparkling blue and white jewel, a light, delicate sky-blue sphere laced with slowly swirling veils of white, rising gradually like a small pearl in a thick sea of black mystery. It takes more than a moment to fully realize this is Earth home. He believed in exploration, having been drawn to NASA by President Kennedys call to send humans to the moon. He is one of the pioneers in space exploration on whose shoulders we now stand." Information the Associated Press was used in this report. Central Florida got its first confirmed case of the Zika virus as state health officials reported a case in Osceola County on Friday. THE LATEST 14 Zika virus cases in Florida, all travel-related Health officials urge all Floridians to drain standing water Zika cases in 12 U.S. states and two territories Zika found in more than 30 countries Researchers looking at possible link between virus and birth defects There have not been any locally-acquired cases of the Zika virus in Florida, they said, and none of the state cases involve pregnant women. However, health experts are now trying to protect blood banks and sperm banks from getting the Zika virus through an infected person. Donation centers are warning donors that if you have traveled to a Zika-infected area of the world, you should not donate any bodily fluids for a month. At Cryos International in Orlando, sperm donors help make pregnancy possible. But with the outbreak of the Zika virus in 30 countries, a new travel warning is putting a pause on some donations. Theres not a lot of testing that can be done before, so the only thing that we can do at this time is say, 'If youre been there and theres a possibility that youve had it, we cant use you for that, said Corey Burke, the tissue bank director at Cryos. The Zika virus has been linked to serious birth defects, such as microcephaly, in which babies are born with small heads and brains. We need to protect our clients who are going to use the sperm we serve, Burke said. We dont want anyone to have affected children. So it is a big concern for us. The donation recommendation is to wait 30 days after returning from travel to those affected areas. After 30 days, they should be clear of the virus and should not be a problem for the donated materials, Burke said. Local blood banks such as OneBlood are taking similar precautions. Officials are asking donors to wait 28 days before donating blood. The safety of our blood supply is paramount to everything we do, said Dr. Rita Reik, the chief medical officer for OneBlood. While these are all precautionary measures, the real fear is what will become of the donation process if and when the Zika virus is spread to our local mosquito population. That is the million-dollar question, Burke said. If it becomes endemic in the U.S. or Florida in particular, what will we do with our sperm donors? Burke said that if the Zika virus were to start spreading throughout our mosquito population tomorrow, donation centers may have to shut their doors. He said donation centers quickly need an FDA-approved screening procedure that can be used for all kinds of bodily fluids. Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the first confirmed case of the Zika virus acquired in the U.S. was sexually transmitted. According to the CDC, fever caused by the Zika virus is generally mild. Other symptoms include a rash and joint pain. Right now, researchers are looking at a possible link between the virus and babies exposed during pregnancy. As young children tend to do, Palm Bay third-grader Landen Slater tried to pay attention to Friday's presentation at school. There was the occasional yawn. He stretched you know, because it's early. And he even smiled as he chatted to friends seated next to him. Representatives from the world's most famous Internet search engine were talking to Westside Elementary students, firing them up, giving them facts, figures and more about their company. And the bright young kids pretty much already knew the things they were talking about. But Landen didn't know he was about to become the focus of the entire gathering. The kids were assembled to listen to Google and the school talk about the "Doodle 4 Google" national art competition, which has children design Google logos marking special days, events or people. When they announced the winner from the state of Florida, Landen's smile turned to elation. Then, it was time for the big reveal: his winning doodle. His artwork includes saws, tape measure, hammer and nails drawn into the Google logo. Landen was influenced by his grandfather, with whom he works in his "Pa's" carpentry business. "I try to help him out the best I can, teach him what I know. He was just thinking about what he loves to do and put it on paper," said Jeff Knowles, Landen's grandfather. Landen also got a tablet, and Google donated art supplies to the school in his honor. "I am very proud of him," said his mother, Jennifer Knowles. As for our winner, he's a guy of few words, and lets his art do the talking. "Excited. Because I won," he said with a smile. Landen has a chance to win on the national stage. For information on how you can vote for him, go to http://www.google.com/doodle4google/vote.html Google 4 Doodle timeline Feb. 5, 2016: Google announces the 53 state and territory winners and travels to their schools to unveil their artwork at an assembly. Feb. 5-22: The public can vote online for their favorite doodle by visiting the Doodle 4 Google website. March 21: The national winner is announced, and their doodle goes live on Google.com. The winner and the four national finalists will visit Mountain View, Calif., to meet the Google Doodle team. March 21: The winning doodle will be featured on our Google.com homepage. Palm Bay 3rd-grader Landen Slater shows off his winning Google 4 Doodle entry Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. His doodle will represent Florida in a national competition, whose winner will be displayed on the Google home page in March. (Greg Pallone, staff) Community leaders will host a town hall meeting in Orlando this weekend to try and stop the spread of HIV infections in Florida, which currently leads the country in new infections. The town hall meeting, which is in conjunction with Sunday's National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, is open to the public. In 2015, there were 105,885 people living with HIV/AIDS across the state. The community leaders hosting the town hall meeting pointed out that 46 percent (48,700) of the people living with HIV/AIDS in Florida are black. In Orange County, 41 percent of the 4,624 people living with HIV/AIDS are black. Dr. John Robertson, with the Multicultural Addictions Networks Inc., said it's important to take the time to reach out to the community that only makes up about 15 percent of Florida's population, but represents 44 percent of those infected. "You need to get tested," Robertson said. "Because if you know your status, then you have an opportunity to then do something about the disease." The town hall meeting takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Frontline Outreach Center, 3000 C.R. Smith St., in Orlando. There will also be free, anonymous HIV testing from 4 to 8 p.m. The Palm Bay City Council on Thursday rejected a proposal that would have created an ordinance that supporters said would protect gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people from discrimination. PREVIOUS STORY : Palm Bay to debate LGBT human rights ordinance More than 500 Palm Bay residents attended the council meeting to voice their opinion. The meeting lasted more than six hours and ended into the early morning hours on Friday. Officials say the ordinance was meant to protect the LGBT community at work, in housing and in the public. Opponents of the proposed Human Rights Ordinance had concerns about men being allowed to use women's restrooms without restriction. Councilman Harry Santiago said he was greatly concerned for the safety and welfare of women and especially children. In the end, the council voted to reject the ordinance with council member Michelle Paccione, who brought the measure to the table, casting the lone vote in favor of it. No Brevard County municipalities have adopted such an ordinance. Similar ordinances have passed in other Central Florida communities. If all goes well and applications are approved, Plainview's historic Hilton hotel may see a rebirth. A development company has expressed their intention to turn the 87-year-old building into affordable rental housing. Next Tuesday, Plainview's City Council will vote to pass a resolution to support MRE, Capital LLC's application for Housing Tax Credit Financing to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The development company is attempting to apply for tax credits for a proposed affordable residential development project at the Hilton Hotel, located at 191 W. Sixth St. The multifamily adaptive re-use project will be known as Conrad Lofts and will offer affordable rental housing for low income households. MRE says they are expecting to invest $7.7 million into the project that will touch every floor of the building. Conrad Lofts will have approximately 27 units ranging from one to three bedrooms. Loft space will range from 410 to 1,181 square feet. Rent will be based on a $25,000-$35,000 income limit based on family size. During Thursday's city council work session, city manager Jeffery Snyder said MRE currently is applying for other federal and state historical tax credits. It is understood that the future of the project relies solely on the approval of the tax credits. MRE has renovated similar historic buildings in Oklahoma and Kansas. According to Snyder, MRE Capital has spent a lot of time visiting and analyzing the Plainview building. Plainview Hale County Economic Development Corporation Director Mike Fox said he was approached by MRE at a conference. "A fellow economic developer referred the representatives of MRE, Capital LLC to me," Fox said. "They were restoring an historical structure in her town and they knew of the Plainview Hilton. They made a site visit last summer to tour the hotel. I introduced them to Assistant City Manager Andrew Freeman and Main Street Coordinator Melinda Brown. They have been working with the developers since that time to get this project to the stage it is now in. Jeffrey Snyder has also been deeply involved in the process. Rehabbing the Hilton will be great for our community. It's the first thing visitors see and it does not project a positive image in its current condition." Council members will vote on the resolution to support the Conrad Lofts project Tuesday at their regular session. The project also is expected to get support from Texas House Representative Ken King. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A former Judson ISD employee is facing charges for allegedly tying up an underage, homeless prostitute before simulating a sex act. He is the second former employee of the district to be accused of a sex crime against a child within the last two weeks. Matthew John Turner, 34, was arrested Thursday by Texas Department of Public Safety authorities and faces charges of trafficking of a person less than 18 years of age and sexual performance by a child, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. He was still being booked into the Central Magistrates Office on Thursday evening. RELATED: Two sexual assaults reported at Texas State University A 15-year-old homeless girl told investigators she met Turner while she was being pimped out by another girl trying to help her make money, according to an affidavit. After multiple meetings with him during which she was handcuffed and choked, the girl told investigators that Turner asked for someone younger than her. Turner, whom she called Cuffs, offered $200 after the teen suggested she could have a 9-year-old girl meet with him, the affidavit said. The teen said she was so disgusted that Turner would even ask and pay for a girl that young that she and two other men robbed and beat him up when he arrived to meet the girl, which she lied about, the affidavit. Judson ISD spokesman Steve Linscomb said Turner had been a theater arts teacher at Judson High School since August 2012. Turner resigned Jan. 4 when Judson officials began investigating him after complaints were lodged by parents. According to the affidavit for Turners arrest, he was sending inappropriate text messages to a 16-year-old girl, offering to pay money so he could take photos with her stomach showing. Turner is the second former Judson teacher arrested within two weeks. Reginald Ardale Johnson, 43, who was a social studies teacher at Judson High School, is accused of having sexual contact with at least two minors on multiple occasions. RELATED: Police: Former Judson High School teacher sexually assaulted 2 minors The incidents occurred at apartments Johnson rented in both San Antonio and Converse, and at the home of one of the victims, according to a warrant. The affidavit does not say whether any of the alleged victims were students of Johnson's. Linscomb said Johnson, who was arrested on Jan. 26, resigned in December when the accusations emerged. jbeltran@express-news.net Twitter: @JBfromSA This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Texas Education Agency has appointed a conservator to oversee financial management and governance of the troubled South San Antonio Independent School District. Judy Castleberry, former executive director of the Region 20 Education Service Center, based in San Antonio, will serve as the conservator, TEA announced late Friday. In a Friday letter to Board President Connie Prado and Superintendent Abelardo Saavedra, TEA Commissioner Mike Morath accused South San of failing to comply with a corrective action plan issued by the TEA and said the board continues to demonstrate an inability to work collaboratively with its executive administration. Saavedra had urged TEA to investigate the district for what he called serious board governance issues. He said Connie Prado, board president, had interfered with his job, had threatened the districts election manager and violated his contract. He said the board majority violated operating policies and possibly violated the Texas Constitution when it approved stipends for certain teachers. The four trustees in the majority and Saavedra have been visibly at odds since October, when Saavedra said board members publicly tarnished his reputation. In November, Saavedra asked for a partial buyout, but more recently has said he hopes to stay until his contract is up in 2019, but wants the TEAs help in overseeing board governance. Go to express-news.net for more details as this story develops. gkaul@express-news.net A Salvadoran woman who suffered seizures in a South Texas immigration detention center after her arrest in highly publicized raids was released Friday. Susana Arevalo, 27, and her two children were taken to the San Antonio Greyhound Bus station Friday by immigration officials. Federal agents arrested five current and former Crystal City officials and an eight-liner operator Thursday on bribery and kickback charges after a long-running public corruption probe. Federal officials said they arrested Crystal City City Manager / Attorney James Jonas, who also is a San Antonio lawyer, Mayor Ricardo Lopez and city councilmen Roel Mata, Rogelio Mata and Gilbert Urrabazo, the former councilman. Businessman Ngoc Tri Nguyen of Keller was also arrested. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The longest-running conflict in the Western Hemisphere may be quietly inching to a close as Colombia's government and leftist Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia rebels push to meet a self-imposed deadline for peace. The rebel group has been in the country for over 50 years. UN Security Council set up a United Nations political mission in Colombia, approving a team of international observers to monitor disarmament should the Colombian Government and the FARC stick to their March 23 target date. But what is catching the attention of many isn't the deal itself, but the women behind the rebel group. The female warriors of the FARC have played a key role in the rebel group. Their roles switch between aiding soldiers, gathering intelligence and serving as informants. Some fight right alongside the men in combat against government troops. They are taught to fire AK-47 assault rifles and are trained to assemble and plant homemade landmines. On the other hand, woman soldiers act like any other young woman. They paint their nails, listen to Katy Perry, help each other do their hair and have affectionate 'companions.' However, they are many restriction that comes along with being a woman soldier. Women in the rebel group aren't allowed to be married, nor are they allowed to get pregnant. Colombia has been investigating more than 150 forced abortions within the rebel group, according to BBC. The rebel leaders believe pregnancy hinders a woman's strength and fighting ability. Some women have left FARC, after the group reportedly took away their babies when they choose not to abort. "We have evidence to prove that forced abortion was a policy of the FARC that was based on forcing a female fighter to abort so as not to lose her as an instrument of war," Colombia's attorney general Eduardo Montealegre said. Although women in combat are rare in other countries is it very common in Colombia. According to an unidentified special forces officer who spoke with The Washington Post, the female guerrillas are the most savage and brutal interrogators. His name was withheld because he works under cover. "The women are the worst; if you get captured, you pray it's by the male rebels," he said. "They're more ideological than the men. They're merciless." There are an estimated 8000 rebel fighters, around a third of whom are women, whose aim is to install a Marxist regime. One of the FARC's most renowned female commanders was Nelly Avila Moreno, known as Karina. During the 1990s, she was in charge of hundreds of rebel fighters in Colombia's northwestern province of Antioquia. The FARC have been at war with the government since fighting broke out in 1964, killing around 200,000 people, according to the BBC. Take a look at the gallery to find out more about the FARC's woman warriors and history over the years. Something unusual happened recently in Washington a bipartisan bill was introduced and then passed out of committee that had support of congressional leadership, the U.S. science and technology community, including academia, industry, national laboratories and even the venture capital community. Largely unnoticed by the media but applauded by the nuclear community, the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act (H.R. 4084) will bring support to federal research and development, and stimulate private investment in advanced nuclear reactor technologies. Nearly a year in the making, this bill was offered by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Leading this effort was Energy Subcommittee Chairman Randy Weber, R-Pearland, along with strong support of full committee ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, and Chairman Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio. Texans should applaud the bipartisan efforts of our delegation to address an important national issue. Its election season, so lets talk about mailers! The glossies flood our mailboxes with either unflattering photos of dumpy politicians looking crooked, or flattering photos of politicians with their kids and sometimes a tractor or a dog. It can be hard to break the sound barrier with so much white noise its all so formulaic, so lacking in original thought, so heavily edited but now and then, a mailer catches my attention, usually, for all the wrong reasons. Cue, Empower Texans Straus Facts #2 mailer, which comes with this headline: Joe Straus Kills Ethics Plan, Attacks 1st Amendment. The mailer asserts that Straus, speaker of the Texas House, and his allies hijacked a Texas Senate ethics proposal and killed it. They stripped out the proposals aimed at lawmakers and replaced them with laws aimed at citizens. The House plan would have regulated citizens, civic groups, and churches, limiting their rights to free speech, it says. And later: The House also included a provision that would have prohibited Texans from filming or recording lawmakers without their permission. Where to begin? Well, for starters, I would probably agree with Empower Texans and its influential frontman, Michael Quinn Sullivan, that the ethics bill was hijacked. But only if by hijacked, they meant bolstered. Because thats what House lawmakers did in 2015 when members added a provision to the ethics bill that would have required politically active nonprofits to disclose their big money donors. The House bill would have required such groups usually 501 (c)(4)s spending at least $25,000 on politics to disclose the names of donors who gave at least $2,000. Groups like ... Empower Texans. But that didnt make the Empower Texans mailer for some reason, which is a shame because it would have been so easy to include that little detail. For example, they could have written something like this: The House plan would have made us, the group sending you this sleazy mailer, disclose our donors. Done. The argument, of course, is that disclosure would limit free speech, and thats why Straus has supposedly attacked the First Amendment. But if money is speech, or at least amplified speech, disclosure doesnt stop anyone from speaking up, much less speaking loudly. It does, though, let us know who is doing the talking or to whom lawmakers might be beholden. Thats open government. Believe it or not, funny things do happen when we know who is behind the curtain. And that brings us back to that House provision in the ethics bill prohibiting the secret filming or video recording of lawmakers in the Capitol that Empower Texans found so reprehensible in its Straus Facts #2 mailer. Thats a reference to the Austin-based nonprofit American Phoenix Foundation, which secretly (theres that word again) filmed lawmakers and lobbyists last session, amassing more than 800 hours of covert footage. Freaky. American Phoenix Foundation, a 501(C)(3), didnt have to release its donors. But when it was revealed that billionaire oilman Jeff Sandefer had given $200,000 to a bunch of creeps with hidden cameras, Sandefer distanced himself. He said he had asked for his money back, twice, and that he was under the impression the group was training journalists. Empower Texans, with its conservative purity tests, wraps itself in the cloak of freedom and liberty. But its a tainted brand. One that uses secrecy in the pursuit of intimidation, and invokes liberty in a way that invites potential corruption. For perspective, heres what the House Committee on State Affairs said about dark money early last year in its ethics recommendations: The ability to give and spend anonymously through highly sophisticated means, often by obtaining 501(c)(4) status, corrupts the free democratic process for everyone, the report said. It is fundamentally vital that the legislature increase the transparency of our campaign finance system and protect the integrity of our elections. Boy, thats the kind of open government that would empower Texans. jbrodesky@express-news.net It is hard to imagine that Democratic voters even those who would like to see Sen. Carlos Uresti replaced in District 19 would think it wise to send a faction leader from the dysfunctional South San Antonio Independent School board to Austin. But that is the choice District 19 voters face in the March 1 Democratic primary. South San school board member Helen Madla, widow of the late Sen. Frank Madla, is seeking to unseat Uresti. Uresti, a former U.S. Marine who has been a lawmaker since voters sent him to the Texas House in a 1997 special election, was first elected to the Senate in 2006. The incumbent is best known for his work championing improvements in the states beleaguered system for handling abused and neglected children. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick appointed Uresti to the powerful Legislative Budget Board earlier this year. Madla was elected to the South San school board in 2010 and has been a vigorous participant in the childish board antics that have made the district an embarrassment. Madla, a former board president whose faction is now in the minority, once described South San as the Lindsay Lohan of school boards. In a recent meeting with the Express-News Editorial Board, Madla demonstrated that she is a long way from mastering the key issues facing the state. Democratic voters should cast their ballots to send Uresti back to the Texas Senate for another term. His experience and knowledge of the Legislature make him a better choice than the challenger, who faces a steep learning curve. Early voting begins Feb. 16 and will continue through Feb. 26. Democrats in Texas Senate District 26 face a familiar but difficult decision in the March 1 primary. Sen. Jose Menendez and Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer once again are competing for the Bexar County legislative post vacated midterm by former Sen. Leticia Van de Putte last year. When the pair clashed in a race for the job in a 2015 special election, we recommended that voters choose Martinez Fischer. But Menendez won last years showdown and now has a legislative session in the Senate under his belt. That session was successful, and Menendez proved that he was up to the job. We see no reason to make a change, and recommend that voters give Menendez a full term in the Senate. Republicans did not field a candidate for the post. An examination of the two longtime lawmakers records shows only a little daylight between them on the key issues facing the state. The difference is a matter of style, and that difference is significant. Both were elected to the Texas House in 2001. Menendez was a steady journeyman legislator in the House. Martinez Fischer has been a confrontational lightning rod who left his fingerprints on the big issues of the day. For Democratic voters, the question is, which style will work better in the more decorous upper body of the Legislature? Menendez last year demonstrated a calm approach that is focused on securing a seat at the table and working in a collegial manner with the Senates Republican majority to represent his district and ideals. Among other accomplishments, Menendez successfully ushered $31.5 million for Alamo upgrades through the Senate, and was the co-author of legislation that added $20 million for a veterans mental health program. Menendez said Martinez Fischers tactics will leave the challenger ostracized and ineffective in the Senate. Martinez Fischer argues that the incumbent should have fought harder against the conservative 2015 budget bill approved by the Senate and says he will use his deep knowledge of parliamentary procedure to advance the Democratic agenda. In a meeting with the Express-News Editorial Board, Martinez-Fischer revealed that if he is elected, he intends to use the rules governing the Senates power to confirm gubernatorial nominees as a lever to thwart the will of Senate leadership on other matters. To a point, Martinez Fishers fighting spirit is admirable. But announcing in the Senate campaign that he intends to take the nominations process hostage strikes us as brash. And it is not the most productive way to enter the Texas Senate. Bexar Democrats are blessed with two strong candidates in District 26, but they will be best served by sending Menendez to the Senate for a full term. God must be a Democrat. How else to explain the creation of such a legion of losers as the Republican candidates for president? One is a loudmouthed, rabble-rousing egomaniac. Earth to Donald Trump America IS great! Another is a seemingly history-challenged physician last seen courting evangelicals in Iowa. Dr. Carson, Ive been to the great pyramids in Egypt, and theyre not biblical grain elevators. Still another is a churlish, mean-spirited senator who has alienated the majority of his own colleagues. Yes, Ted Cruz. But then, amid all the boorish posturing and venomous rhetoric of the front-runners comes a toxic blast of comic relief in the form of the erstwhile vice president wannabe, Sarah Palin. Unhinged from reality and apparently unable to speak in complete, coherent sentences, Palin reappears like a shiny ghost of elections past, sputtering a parody of an endorsement speech for The Donald. Abe Lincoln, Dwight Eisenhower and Ronald Reagan must be turning in their graves. Jeff Devens Poor, poor Donald Megyn Kelly committed the unpardonable sin of asking Donald Trump to explain his own words used at various times against various women, calling them fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals. At the time, his response was to make a joke about it, then to say that he cannot, will not, bow to political correctness. His supporters loved it, but the larger question of Trumps attitude toward women, obvious as it is, remained unanswered. Then he refused to participate in any debate in which Kelly was the moderator. Apparently he is afraid she will reintroduce a subject for which he has no defense and for which his usual glib answers are unacceptable. Poor guy. One wonders how he would handle the inevitable scrutiny, not to mention the unfairness, that go with being president. Poor guy. Julie Love, Rio Medina Work left undone Please! Somebody on Julian Castros staff, tell him that lets roll up our sleeves and work look on the campaign trail is old and tired. Maybe he should have rolled up his sleeves when he was mayor. He left plenty of work to be done when he quit his job here. Pete Ortiz Speech protected Im about to take an unpopular view. Children have always had fewer civil rights than adults, a view that I agree is best for society as a whole. The parents, school and community need to step up to stop unstable, unpopular or socially stigmatized teens from being harassed. There is such a thing as blocking, both on phones and the Internet. It is possible to just turn it off. For anyone to subject themselves to cyberbullying is a choice. Both children and their parents need to learn that it is not the opinions of others that matter. However, when it comes to adults, if Texas starts limiting the First Amendment, you are going to end up in court and lose, placing advocates in peril. Sorry, the First Amendment does protect hate speech. J. Kristi Hood Book of the Month 3.9 overall rating 40 Ratings | 16 Reviews The February selections for Book of the Month have been released! Subscribers can now pick out their book for February until the 6th: Here is a summary of each book: The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom - Retail Value $26 (On Amazon for $12.99) Book Summary from Amazon: Mitch Albom creates his most unforgettable fictional characterFrankie Presto, the greatest guitarist to ever walk the earthin this magical novel about the bands we join in life and the power of talent to change our lives. In his most stunning novel yet, the voice of Music narrates the tale of its most beloved disciple, young Frankie Presto, a war orphan raised by a blind music teacher in a small Spanish town. At nine years old, Frankie is sent to America in the bottom of a boat. His only possession is an old guitar and six precious strings. But Frankies talent is touched by the gods, and his amazing journey weaves him through the musical landscape of the 20th century, from classical to jazz to rock and roll, with his stunning talent affecting numerous stars along the way, including Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Carole King, Wynton Marsalis and even KISS. Frankie becomes a pop star himself. He makes records. He is adored. But his gift is also his burden, as he realizes, through his music, he can actually affect peoples futureswith one string turning blue whenever a life is altered. At the height of his popularity, Frankie Presto vanishes. His legend grows. Only decades later, does he reappearjust before his spectacular deathto change one last life. With its Forest Gump-like romp through the music world, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto is a classic in the making. A lifelong musician himself, Mitch Albom delivers a remarkable novel, infused with the message that everyone joins a band in this life and those connections change us all. The Night Charter by Sam Hawken - Retail Value $26 (On Amazon for $20.46) Book Summary from Amazon: Exactly one year ago, Camaro Espinoza killed five bad men in New York City and fled town. Now she's keeping a low profile in Miami, running night charter catch-and-release fishing trips off the coast. It's a simple life for a former combat medic. But it wasn't easy to come by. Camaro plans to do everything she can to hold onto it. Trouble comes knocking in the form of Parker Story, a man in over his head with all the wrong people. Parker wants to book Camaro's boat to run a small errand off the coast of Cuba. Camaro knows she shouldn't get involved. But Parker's got a teenaged daughter named Lauren, and Parker's associates have threatened to harm her if the mission doesn't go off without a hitch. Camaro has never met the girl. Barely seen her picture. But that doesn't mean she can ignore her plight. Camaro's used to being wanted--by men good and bad, by soldiers wounded on the field of battle, by the long arm of the law. But she's never been needed before. Not the way Lauren needs her. Joining forces with Parker, Camaro soon finds herself in the midst of double crosses, international intrigue, broken promises and scattered bullets. Even a skilled warrior like herself may not be able to escape unscathed. Only Love Can Break Your Heart by Ed Tarkington - Retail Value $25.95 (On Amazon for $17.74) Book Summary from Amazon: Welcome to Spencerville, Virginia, 1977. Eight-year-old Rocky worships his older brother, Paul. Sixteen and full of rebel cool, Paul spends his days cruising in his Chevy Nova blasting Neil Young, cigarette dangling from his lips, arm slung around his beautiful, troubled girlfriend. Paul is happy to have his younger brother as his sidekick. Then one day, in an act of vengeance against their father, Paul picks up Rocky from school and nearly abandons him in the woods. Afterward, Paul disappears. Seven years later, Rocky is a teenager himself. He hasnt forgotten being abandoned by his boyhood hero, but hes getting over it, with the help of the wealthy neighbors daughter, ten years his senior, who has taken him as her lover. Unbeknownst to both of them, their affair will set in motion a course of events that rains catastrophe on both their families. After a mysterious double murder brings terror and suspicion to their small town, Rocky and his family must reckon with the past and find out how much forgiveness their hearts can hold. The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck - Retail Value $28 (On Amazon for $21.94) Book Summary from Amazon: An epic account of traveling the length of the Oregon Trail the old-fashioned wayin a covered wagon with a team of mules, an audacious journey that hasnt been attempted in a centurywhich also chronicles the rich history of the trail, the people who made the migration, and its significance to the country. Spanning two thousand miles and traversing six states from Missouri to the Pacific coast, the Oregon Trail is the route that made America. In the fifteen years before the Civil War, when 400,000 pioneers used the trail to emigrate Westscholars still regard this as the largest land migration in historyit united the coasts, doubled the size of the country, and laid the groundwork for the railroads. Today, amazingly, the trail is all but forgotten. Rinker Buck is no stranger to grand adventures. His first travel narrative, Flight of Passage, was hailed by The New Yorker as a funny, cocky gem of a book, and withThe Oregon Trail he brings the most important route in American history back to glorious and vibrant life. Traveling from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Baker City, Oregon, over the course of four months, Buck is accompanied by three cantankerous mules, his boisterous brother, Nick, and an incurably filthy Jack Russell terrier named Olive Oyl. Along the way, they dodge thunderstorms in Nebraska, chase runaway mules across the Wyoming plains, scout more than five hundred miles of nearly vanished trail on foot, cross the Rockies, and make desperate fifty-mile forced marches for water. The Buck brothers repair so many broken wheels and axels that they nearly reinvent the art of wagon travel itself. They also must reckon with the ghost of their father, an eccentric yet loveable dreamer whose memory inspired their journey across the plains and whose premature death, many years earlier, has haunted them both ever since. But The Oregon Trail is much more than an epic adventure. It is also a lively and essential work of history that shatters the comforting myths about the trail years passed down by generations of Americans. Buck introduces readers to the largely forgotten roles played by trailblazing evangelists, friendly Indian tribes, female pioneers, bumbling U.S. Army cavalrymen, and the scam artists who flocked to the frontier to fleece the overland emigrants. Generous portions of the book are devoted to the history of old and appealing things like the mule and the wagon. We also learn how the trail accelerated American economic development. Most arresting, perhaps, are the stories of the pioneers themselvesordinary families whose extraordinary courage and sacrifice made this country what it became. At once a majestic journey across the West, a significant work of history, and a moving personal saga, The Oregon Trail draws readers into the journey of a lifetime. It is a wildly ambitious work of nonfiction from a true American original. It is a book with a heart as big as the country it crosses. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi - Retail Value $25 (On Amazon for $15.62) Book Summary from Amazon: At the age of thirty-six, on the verge of completing a decades worth of training as a neurosurgeon, Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer. One day he was a doctor treating the dying, and the next he was a patient struggling to live. And just like that, the future he and his wife had imagined evaporated. When Breath Becomes Airchronicles Kalanithis transformation from a naive medical student possessed, as he wrote, by the question of what, given that all organisms die, makes a virtuous and meaningful life into a neurosurgeon at Stanford working in the brain, the most critical place for human identity, and finally into a patient and new father confronting his own mortality. What makes life worth living in the face of death? What do you do when the future, no longer a ladder toward your goals in life, flattens out into a perpetual present? What does it mean to have a child, to nurture a new life as another fades away? These are some of the questions Kalanithi wrestles with in this profoundly moving, exquisitely observed memoir. Paul Kalanithi died in March 2015, while working on this book, yet his words live on as a guide and a gift to us all. I began to realize that coming face to face with my own mortality, in a sense, had changed nothing and everything, he wrote. Seven words from Samuel Beckett began to repeat in my head: I cant go on. Ill go on. When Breath Becomes Air is an unforgettable, life-affirming reflection on the challenge of facing death and on the relationship between doctor and patient, from a brilliant writer who became both. Which book are you picking this month? I wanted to read When Breath Becomes Air, so I'm definitely getting that one, and I think I may be getting an add-on or two this month! (You can add any additional books to your box for $9.99 each - still cheaper than Amazon!) If you havent signed up for Book of the Month yet, use invite code BOOK10 to save $10 off a 3-month subscription - bringing the cost down to $11.65 a month. You have until the 6th to sign up and start with the February box. From a January 21 interview on Doug Henwoods Behind the News. Please find audio here. The transcript (edited mildly for clarity) comes courtesy John Halles Outrages and Interludes Doug Henwood: Weve got Ta-Nehisi Coates citing the call for reparations and finding Sanders guilty of hostility towards reparations. What do you think of his critique? Adolph Reed: I read the thing in The Atlantic and its so utterly empty and beside the point, I cant even characterize it. You can go down Sanderss platform issue by issue and ask, so how is this not a black issue? How is a $15 minimum wage not a black issue. How is massive public works employment not a black issue. How is free public college higher education not a black issue. The criminal justice stuff and all the rest of it. So one head scratching aspect of this is what do people like Coates imagine is to be gained by calling the redistribution program racial and calling it reparations? The charitable or benign interpretation of what he and others imagine the power of this rhetoric to be, is that there is something cathartic about it like Black Power. Im thinking for instance of say Black Lives Matter or say Sandra Blands name. Its like the demand to call it reparations which doesnt seem to make any sense whatsoever. It doesnt add anything to calls for redistribution if anything, it could undercut them. Since theres nothing (less) solidaristic than demanding a designer type program that will redistribute only to ones own group and claim that that group (especially when times are getting tougher and economic insecurity is deepening for everybody) it seems like its guaranteed not to get off the ground and seems almost like a police action. Henwood: Im not Ta-Nehisi Coates but I imagine he and others favoring reparations would respond by saying that its meant to address wounds that were specifically racial in their origin. Reed: The logic fails on its own terms. If you grant for the sake of argument that the injuries were highly and explicitly racialized, it does not follow from that that the remedy needs to be of the same coin. And I have not seen Coates or others who make that assertion actually argue for it-i.e. give a concrete and pragmatic explanation of how (the remedy is supposed to) work. That is to say, what the response, or atonement, I suppose, for past harms would look like and what they imagine the response would actually be. Coates makes this stuff up as he goes along: by his own account, he read Baldwin and wanted to write like Baldwin and his editor would check him and say Look, youre writing these passages which dont mean anything whatsoever since he was so focussed on wanting to write like Baldwin absent having anything in particular to say. So the first question for me has always been how can you imagine putting together a political alliance that would be capable of prevailing on this issue. And what you get in response is a lot of What black people deserve because of the harms that have been done to them. I just think its fundamentally unserious politically. But Ill say this and Ill say this as a Sanders supporter-Ill come clean on that. The idea that Bernie Sanders becomes the target of race-line activists now, and not Hillary Clinton, is just beyond me and it smells. It smells to high heaven. You might say, well, shes not the one who pushed through NAFTA or signed the omnibus crime bill, or ended the federal governments commitment to direct provision of income support or housing that her husband did. But she supported all that stuff then. My mind is blown by the understanding of politics that undergirds this perspective that people like Coates and proud TFA alum Deray McKesson and holy roller Marissa Johnson and all those others embrace. Its fundamentally anti-left. The only thing you can say is that this is a class program. That this is a program that expresses and connects with the interests, or the world view, if not interests-although they do come together-of an aspiring or upwardly mobile stratum of the black and other colored PMC (professional managerial class) that scoffs and sneers at programs of material redistribution. When I was working in the GI movement, when people like that would come into the meeting, Id just ask them So which branch of military intelligence are you assigned to? Henwood: This sort of stuff plays very well to guilty white liberals doesnt it. Reed: Yeah, well, a friend, whom I wont out, observed to me a while ago that one of the things that really irks him (and hes a professor) about Coates is the way that white liberals gush over him and my informant said that it reminds him of the way that upper middle class liberals fawn over the maids son who has gone to college and made something of himself. Henwood: Thats pretty harsh. Reed: Yeah, but theres a lot to it because, it comes back to this question: why should anyone pay any attention to anything this guy says? Henwood: Well he has a literary writing style that appeals to certain populations. Reed: Right. I understand that and that its absolutely divorced from content except for this funny sort of fake Candide like thing of Im just astounded that white people read me. It just all feels tawdry and evasive and cheap. Ive heard some people argue that it strengthens the case for affirmative action but I think it does the opposite, since reparations is really affirmative action on steroids. I can imagine going to talk to a long displaced steel worker in Western Pennsylvania whose fretting now about further increase in economic insecurity around the fracking stuff. And youre going to explain to him or her that because of slavery theyve got to be on the giving end of some transfer payments that will go to recompense blacks for harms done in the past. Again, some of this stuff really feels like a moral panic and the moral panic aspect of it, it seems to me, converges on the class perspective. And the career aspirations. Dont forget that. And that leads us where we are. Henwood: Coates and lots of his supporters would say that what you are arguing is for a class based politics thats blind to the injuries of race and the enduring damage of racism. What do you say to that? Reed: I say that their race first politics is a class politics. Its not an alternative to class politics its a politics of a different class. Its not a working class politics, its an aspiring PMC politics thats hinged in material terms ultimately on race relations administration as a career path. Theres a multi-billion dollar diversity industry now-it might be interesting to have Ken Warren on and talk about that since he did a three year tour as a Deputy Provost for Diversity at the University of Chicago and made deep penetrations behind the lines of the corporate diversity industry. Henwood: One of the points you made in your Progressive piece back in 2002 was that whenever universal class based politics rears its head, the reparations call pops up. One doesnt want to get too conspiratorial about this but what were you thinking of? Reed: I was out of the country for a while back then and hadnt paid much attention and the reparations thing had blown way up while I was away-there were conferences all over C-Span-Ron Karenga, Kimberly Crenshaw and Charles Ogletree. Because its the kind of thing that lawyers dine on. I was bemused-I couldnt figure out what was going on. When (James) Foreman and the Black Manifesto group raised the reparations issue back in the 60s, it was connected with something like the freedom budget and what Whitney Young had described as a Marshall Plan for the ghetto, so in that sense reparations were a hook which expressed Formans cleverness and engagement with the soap box nationalists up in Harlem who had been talking about that stuff for a long time. It seemed to me that clearly was a response or an alternative to the possibility that a more universally, class based redistributive agenda would gain currency. Part of the problem, and I think this is a big chunk of the appeal of reparations since 1965 and into the 1970s, is that it appeals to people whose political commitments is to maintain the centrality of a racial interpretation of every form of inequality or injustice that affects black people. So the commitment is to a race politics. And so the race politics could be challenged by what they imagine to be post-racial politics (which nobody other than them has ever talked about, anyway) and by a class politics. What the race discourse does is it forces a racial interpretation onto any manifestation of inequality or injustice to be associated with black people on the receiving end. So in that sense, the demands arent even that important. The discussion of the program isnt even that important. The real objective is to maintain the dominance of the racialist interpretive frame of reference and that goes back to my contention that this is a class program because part of the material foundation of the class has been, since the class began to take shape at the end of the 19th century, a claim to be representatives of the aspirations of and of the voice of black people writ large. Henwood: And not to get too conspiratorial about this, but it seems like people like Fred Hampton and Martin Luther King, people who talk about non racial analyses of capitalism and cross racial alliances against it end up dead. And people like Karenga and Assante end up doing pretty well for themselves. Is that just an accident or should I be concerned about this? Reed: Well, Im not sure about Assante but we know that Karenga knew his way to the offices of the authorities and their phone numbers. And its easy to throw around charges of his being an agent because he acts like an agent-and we all know where that leads. But having said all that, that strain of nationalist-I sometimes think of it as a Duvalierist politics-has always been capable of making alliances with the most dangerous and reprehensible elements of the opposition: Garvey and the Klan, Elijah Muhammed and the Klan, Floyd McKissick and Roy Innis and other Black Power nationalists who created Black Americans for a Responsible Two Party system, or as the rest of us called it Negros for Nixon. And they all gave the same line: all white people are racist. Its foolish to try to make distinctions among them based on principle and on politics, we have to be pragmatic and align ourselves with whichever ones of them are going to do something for black people and that formulation of course is an instantiation of the famous slippage between first person singular and plural thats a characteristic of nationalist ideologies no matter where you find them. Henwood: I remember an old slogan Black and White Unite and Fight: a pretty good guideline to political action? Reed: Look, it doesnt need to be Kumbaya. Its practical-if you assume that the interests and the structures which generate inequality, dispossession and misery are not amenable to the petitions to the enlightened ruling class from one section of the oppressed, then the only way were going to be able to make anyones life better is to change the terms of political debate. And we can only do that on the basis of common experience and the most broadly shared experience is that of those who work for a living or are expected to work for a living. And I dont see how we can get to any sort of a better world going through any other route. And we certainly cant do it by hanging out, like McKesson and John Legend (in his own mind) with the Broad Foundation and Bruce Rauner and TFA and people like that. Theres a sense in which these people are the black shock troops for neoliberalism. As well unpack below, CalPERS has engaged in one of the most bone-headed moves I can recall reading about, the financial equivalent of trying to pick up pennies before a steamroller. The giant California pension fund has signed up to take on systemic risk at a bargain basement price, by providing liquidity support to one of the central counterparties for over-the-counter derivatives, the Options Clearing Corporation. This is a flagrant violation of any sensible notion of risk management. As derivatives expert Satyajit Das, who has written extensively about central counterparties, said via e-mail: Why would you want to take the risk of having to finance or recapitalise an entity at precisely the moment when they are in trouble, especially when the compensation is inadequate? Yet this is precisely what CalPERS has agreed to do. From Pensions & Investments: CalPERS this month renewed its agreement to participate in a fully committed repurchase facility with derivatives clearinghouse Options Clearing Corp. and securities lending agent eSecLending. The $278.4 billion California Public Employees Retirement System, Sacramento, will provide contingency liquidity in the event of a counterparty default, under terms of the repurchase facility to which it originally agreed last year. eSecLending serves as the agent for CalPERS. The renewal is staggered, said Angela Kotso, spokeswoman at Chicago-based OCC, with a $500 million tranche for six months effective through June 30. Then, Ms. Kotso said, the tranche will become a one-year facility. The other $500 million tranche is for one year ending in January 2017, Ms. Kotso said. Overall, OCC requires $3 billion in liquidity needed to cover all its counterparty defaults; the CalPERS facility covers $1 billion, with the remaining $2 billion covered by banks, said John Fennell, executive vice president of financial risk management at OCC. Yves here. I have not been able to confirm it, but given the concentration among derivative dealers and the widespread description of how counterparty clearing houses work, it seems likely that most if not all of the banks providing liquidity backstops are clearing customers/counterparties to the central counterparty. And having them backstop the central counterparty was part of the design: One of the ways central counterparties were supposed to reduce risk was by syndicating the risk of the failure of a particular counterparty among the owner/sponsors of the central counterparty, who would have arranged to provide it with supportup to a point. So most if not all of the banks that are part of providing liquidity support probably would have had at least some of their part of that $2 billion exposure regardless. And that is where the concern comes in. Everyone who has looked at central counterparties in a serious way observes that they concentrate risk, and create too big to fail entities when the support buffers are breached. The tacit and sometimes explicit assumption of all commentators, despite the officialdoms desire to pretend otherwise, is that the government would be required to prevent a central counterparty failure. As Das observed: Anyone who thinks that a CCP cannot fails is living in la-la land. The consequences of such a collapse would be worse than Lehman. Its thus insane for CalPERS to sign up to be the first line of defense for this type of risk, particularly, as we wrote earlier this week, the Office for Financial Research has put central counterparty failure as one of the three biggest current systemic risks, and John Dizard of the Financial Times separately reported that large banks have been pressing financial regulators to force the central counterparties to hold more capital, meaning they believe that they are undercapitalized, yet the authorities have said they are doing nothing till after the 2016 elections. So this risk is not theoretical. CalPERS is standing ready to take a bullet when this type of entity* is being widely depicted as an unsound risk. CalPERS is already long systemic risk by being an investor which is taking on a lot of beta (market risk) by having both a high level of equity risk in its portfolio (51% target) and a goal of roughly 10% to levered equities, in the form of private equity. So it has already put itself in the position of being whacked hard in the event of a financial crisis, in which risky assets all move together, as in down (in risk-manager speak, all correlations move to one). CalPERS found itself over-exposed in the last crisis. It was hit by capital calls by private equity fund managers even though it had begged them not to make them (Ive spoken to private equity firm staffers who recall getting the CalPERS missives asking them not to make capitals calls and ignored them, since the general partners had a clear contractual right to demand funds). CalPERS was liquidity-constrained when those capital calls came in and had to dump stocks. And to make a bad picture worse, it had lent out stocks under its securites lending program and could not get enough of them back, and those were generally big cap, liquid issues. As a result, it wound up selling less liquid stocks, making the losses it suffered even worse than they would have been otherwise. CalPERS would contend that is has wised up, as evidenced by the fact that its current securities lending program is considerably smaller than its pre-crisis one. But it has taken on other go long systemic risk bets like its credit line to the Options Clearing Corporation. And as well discuss in a future post, not only does it remain exposed to private equity capital calls at adverse times, but private equity firms have been asking funds like CalPERS to provide credit lines at the fund level (borrowing has historically taken place at the investee company level, so investors like CalPERS historically had no exposure beyond their commitment amount). These credit lines, like the Options Clearing Corporation credit line, are most likely to be used in a big way at the worst moment, when other sources of funds have dried up. This is the sort of risk management move that Nassim Nicholas Taleb would inveigh against. Mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot, who is one of Talebs touchstones, found that standard finance theories underestimate market risk on several important dimensions, the biggest resulting from the fact that models that fit the actual risk of markets are not mathematically tractable. Their randomness is too wild, so risk metrics have substituted a safer world to look at than the one that really exists. As we and others discussed at length before, during, and after the crisis, the prevailing models (and even most of the improved versions) do a good job of with day to day risk, but greatly underestimate tail risk, that of extreme events. Just look at oil prices as an example. No one would have guessed when the Saudis refused to cut production to maintain oil prices that they would drop to below $30 a barrel and remain depressed as long as they have. Lets turn to the specifics. Readers may recall that at the beginning of the week, we discussed the risk posed by central counterparties, also called central clearinghouses, which are now the venue for clearing a large majority of over-the-counter derivatives. The idea behind the central counterparties was to reduce market risk by reducing the number of bi-lateral exposures and by making risk management more transparent. However, as much as this change was beneficial, a big problem is that the move to central counterparties was intended to reduce systemic risk. In fact, if you subscribe to the observations of Richard Bookstaber, the author of the book A Demon of Our Design, about risk management, the most important risk reduction move in any tightly-coupled system (one that is overly prone to spin out of control because it is overly interconnected) is to reduce the tight coupling, as in reduce the overconnectedness. Weve long argued that the first step needs to be a deliberate effort to cut down on the amount of over-the-counter derivatives. That is one of the major, and arguably the biggest, vector of tight coupling. Bookstaber warns that in a tightly coupled system, efforts to reduce risk typically wind up increasing it. Another issue with the central counterparties is that their bigger function, sadly, is to create the impression that theyve eliminated a big chunk of too big to fail risk. In other words, their political importance in terms of perceived (or pretended) risk reduction is almost certainly greater than the actual risk reduction that could have taken place. And mind you, could have taken place assumes perfect implementation. This idea has not been perfectly implemented. Contracts have not been standardized, multiple counterparties compete with each other, creating race to the bottom incentives, and the counterparties are profit-making entites, which creates conflicts with their owner/sponsors (banks and big customers), when the theory was that their risks were supposed to be aligned. Izabella Kaminska of FT Alphaville this week flagged yet another not-widely-recognized risk of central counterparties: that real-time gross settlement systems, which are billed as reducing risk, when in fact they merely reduce risk to banks and increase them overall, ane worse, drive them into the shadow banking system, where it is harder for central banks to pump in emergency money when a crisis hits. I find that her article is unnecessarily convoluted in trying to split hairs between liquidity risk and credit risk. Thats a meaningful distinction when you are talking about longer-term exposures when the lender with a dud credit can make it look viable by various forms of accounting fakery (as in missed or late payments dont create any meaningful liquidity pressures). By contrast, with settlements happening in mere days, a credit problem pretty immediately becomes a liquidity problem. The bigger implication of her piece is thus: real time gross settlement effectively compresses settlement times. Thats what real time means. Accelerated settlement times place more stringent demands on everyone. That makes the process fault intolerant and thus increases the risk of counterparty failure, contrary to pretenses or intentions otherwise. Taleb recommends the exact opposite strategy to the one CalPERS is taking: take out cheap (as in out of the money) wagers on extreme bad stuff happening. You lose most of the time, but you lose small amounts, and you get the occasional very large payoff. CalPERS is too large and inherently net long to do that on any scale, but it should be trying to implement a Taleb-like strategy, even an a small way, to offset its native exposure to Really Bad Things Happening, rather than doubling down on that type of risk. ___ * There is no reason to think that Options Clearing Corporation is any better than any other central counterparty, and no reason to think that CalPERS would have the ability to pick a counterparty that was less risky than others. By C.P. Chandrasekhar, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics and Chairperson at the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Cross posted from Business Line Everyone knows that 2015 was a terrible year for emerging markets but exactly how bad it was has become clear only recently. Not only was it an annus horribilis in terms of net exports of goods and services, which declined sharply and even turned negative for some previously buoyant exporters, but it was also a time when capital flows reversed course. The downturns in both indicators have been much more widespread and substantial than they were initially expected to be, and even greater than mid-year assessments suggested. In a previous edition of MacroScan, we used IMF data to show how net capital flows into developing Asia had declined significantly in 2014. This marked a break from the previous boom period when emerging markets and especially those in developing Asia could do no wrong in the eyes of global investors. But 2015 turns out to have been much more devastating for emerging markets across the world, including those in Asia. A new report from the Institute of International Finance (Capital Flows to Emerging Markets, IIF Washington D.C., 19 January 2016) indicates just how serious the swings in capital flows have been. A significant feature of the IIF estimates is that they capture unrecorded capital flight that is typically expressed in the form of Errors and Omissions in the balance of payments data. Using the total of net inflows from non-residents into emerging markets across all regions minus the total of net capital outflows made by residents, and adding the effect of errors and omissions, the reports comes up with the surprisingly large figure of $735 billion net capital outflow in 2015, compared to a net outflow of $111 billion in 2014. Much of this was driven by China: the IIF estimates that net capital outflow from China in 2015 amounted to $676 billion, including $216 billion in unrecorded net outflows. However, even excluding China, emerging markets as a group experienced negative capital flows in both 2014 and 2015, with the amounts significantly larger in 2015 especially once unrecorded flows are taken into account. It is noteworthy that this was only partially because of foreign residents pulling their capital out of these countries. This certainly happened to some extent, but net capital inflows from non-residents to all emerging markets remained positive in 2015 at an estimated $293 billion. Rather, the more significant factor was that residents of emerging markets took their money elsewhere: net private capital outflows by residents amounted to as much as $824 billion, and the trend was evident in terms of both foreign equity investment and lending patterns. Unrecorded flows in the form of errors and omissions contributed to the bleeding, amounting to as much as $206 billion. This pattern is particularly evident for developing Asia. The IIF study is based on data from seven countries (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea and Thailand) that account for the vast bulk of cross-border capital flows in the region. Charts 1 and 2 show some important information that emerges from these data. In Chart 1, the data on non-resident inflows includes both private and official flows (such as flows from official bilateral and multilateral sources, which are however very small). The resident outflows refer only to private flows, since the official outflows occur in the form of change in foreign exchange reserves. Chart 1 indicates the dramatic swings in the direction of net capital flows that have occurred in just three years. Net non-resident capital inflows into these seven Asian countries declined from nearly $700 billion in 2013 to an estimated negative figure of around $18 billion in 2015. The IIF in fact projects further decline in 2016. Since private net capital flows remained large over all three years, and so the declining net inflows meant overall declining capital account balances. But the more significant swing has been in terms of unrecorded capital flows as suggested by the Errors and Omissions category: from a net inflow of $98 billion in 2013 to a net outflow of as much as $216 billion estimated for 2015. Once again this is hugely driven by what is happening in China in terms of unrecorded capital flight the IIF estimates Errors and Omissions in the Chinese balance of payments to be greater than $200 billion in 2015. 3 But there is evidence of negative trends in other Asian countries as well, albeit to a lesser extent in terms of sheer volume. What is surprising is how this cannot be explained in terms of current account balances at all. In fact, current account balances for these seven countries taken together have been increasing all through and also increased in 2015, as Chart 2 shows. The estimated current account surplus in China for 2015 is $270 billion, but in fact of these Asian countries, only India and Indonesia showed deterioration of their current account balances (which were already in deficit) between 2014 and 2015. The other countries experienced slight improvements in current account balances but this did not prevent the substantial capital outflow. Such substantial swings in capital movements would have had even larger effects on exchange rates were it not for the use of foreign exchange reserves by central banks of some of these countries to intervene in currency markets. For these countries as a group, foreign exchange reserves declined by nearly $400 billion, but not all countries showed the same tendency for declining reserves. In China alone the foreign exchange reserves are estimated to have declined by $405 billion over the period, which is still not such a large drop considering that at the start of the year the country held more than $4 trillion of such reserves. In other Asian countries, however, governments have chosen to allow their currencies to depreciate rather than use up reserves to prop up their exchange rates. This may reflect the urge to remain competitive in exporting in an increasingly difficult global environment. It could also result from the perception that even small declines in reserves in some countries can have disproportionate impact on investor expectations given the brittle and volatile behaviour of financial markets in the recent past. All this bodes ill for the coming year. The IIF projections are similar to other gloomy prognostications about the global economy in 2016. But its assessment of the likely worsening of trends in capital flows may even be more worrying because it suggests that the behaviour of global capital markets will reinforce the downward pressures emanating from the slowdown in world trade, and may lead to further destabilisation of some important developing countries. Monocle-Wearing Oil Barons Cigarette Holder Splinters In Clenched Teeth After Hearing Bernie Sanders Environmental Platform Onion (David L) Number of Female Genital Mutilation victims found to be 70 million higher than thought Guardian (Dr. Kevin) Morocco Unveils A Massive Solar Power Plant In The Sahara NPR China? IMFs Christine Lagarde: China can avoid hard landing but spillovers seen Sydney Morning Herald. EM: Its always sunny if youre the head of the IMF. Grexit? Refugee Crisis Big Brother is Watching You Watch 2016 Hillary, the Banksters Committed Fraud not Shenanigans Bill Black, Huffington Post. Hillary doubles down on her tough on Wall Street lie. I wish hed called out what she said in her Dec. 2007 speech, in which she bent over backwards to say nice things and waived the wet noodle of that she consider proposing legislation if they didnt do more to help deserving borrower. It was all Gee, Wall Street is SO IMPORTANT to the economy, and it would be nice if you were nicer and nothing stronger than that. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Brawl Over His Insinuation That Shes Corrupt Intercept (resilc). This is not hard to understand unless you pretend not to understand it: Wall Street would not be giving to the Clintons so consistently over time if they did not think they were getting value for their money. Hillary Clinton (D-Wall Street) American Conservative (resilc) Hillary Clinton Wants You to Believe Shes Tough on Wall Street. Shes Not. New Republic (resilc) Clintons Wall Street Hypocrisy Bloomberg. Wow, an editorial, and a tart one at that. Clinton and Sanders clash one-on-one BBC Is the CEO of Goldman Sachs Really Afraid of Bernie Sanders? Charles Pierce, Esquire After Iowa Can Bernie Win a Strip & Flip Selection? Reader Supported News Marco Rubio Remains the Foremost Neoconservative Warmonger in the Field Charles Pierce, Esquire Jeb Bush begs town hall attendees to please clap Yahoo (furzy) Carly Fiorina misses debate stage The Hill (furzy) Why Primary Polling Isnt Predictive Atlantic (furzy) For the First Time, Red States Outnumber Blue Wonk Wire By Laura Layden of the Naples Daily News A new chapter begins for The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce. The local chamber on Friday announced the name of its new president and CEO. Michael Dalby, with more than 20 years of chamber experience, will step into the leading role on March 1. He's anxious to get to work. "I'm thrilled and honored with the opportunity and just can't wait to get there and get going," said Dalby, 57, who will relocate from Columbus, Ohio. He will replace John Cox, who was fired by the chamber and left the job in September. After reviewing more than 195 resumes, the CEO search committee identified the best possible candidates, who were then interviewed for the job. Dalby rose to the top of the heap, with his proven success leading chambers in New Mexico, Texas, Indiana and most recently Ohio. "Michael demonstrated strong skills in every critical area we identified for the role of our business community's top advocate. With his extensive experience and impressive success in team building and community improvement initiatives, we are confident in his ability to lead the chamber to new levels of success," said Dan Lavender, the CEO of Moorings Park Institute Inc. who headed up the chamber's executive search committee, in a statement. Dalby will be in charge of the largest nonprofit advocate for the business community in Collier County. The chamber has about 1,800 members and the salary for its top executive has been in the six figures. In addition to his 21 years of chamber work, Dalby served in the Air Force for 12 years, reaching the rank of major. He worked as an intelligence officer and taught at the Air Force Academy. Initially, he took a job at a chamber as a way to transition from his military job to a private one. "I assumed I would get a job at a company in the private sector at some point, but I really found I loved chamber work. I loved working with businesses. I loved working with government and doing it at a level where you could see the impact you were having on the community," he said. As a chamber leader in other states, Dalby has led marketing efforts in tourism communities, directed efforts to expand and keep businesses, and worked to increase regional education and workforce development programs. At his first chamber job in Heber City, Utah, he served as a director of tourism and economic development, charged with growing the number of jobs and tourists. His first chamber executive job was in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Though every chamber is different, Dalby said there has been a common pattern of working closely with government to find opportunities to help businesses grow and to create jobs. Especially in Indiana and Texas, he looked for projects with a "triple bottom line," meaning they were good for the economy, good for the environment and good from a social equity standpoint, spreading opportunities across the community. A certified chamber executive, Dalby earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy, and a master's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The local chamber began its search for a new leader in November of last year, with the help of Corporate Dimensions Inc., a Naples-based recruiter. Cox's three-year contract with the Naples chamber wouldn't have ended until August of this year. After he was terminated without cause, he returned to North Carolina, where he had headed up the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce for more than a decade. Some criticized Cox's management style, with such a high employee turnover rate at his offices, but a few weeks before his departure he told a Daily News reporter he thought he was checking off all the boxes when it came to doing his job right as the chief executive of the Naples chamber. The search committee's goals were to identify the top applicants by early January based on resumes and candidate summaries, to conduct interviews in February and to choose the finalists by March, with a second round of interviews to follow. The process went faster than expected. Most recently, Dalby has headed up The Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce in Ohio. He's been there since 2011 and in December he announced he would resign after the organization's annual meeting on Thursday. He decided to the leave the post because he wanted to get back to a more traditional chamber job, where he could be involved in economic development, community policy engagement, marketing and government relations. Those duties are split up at his current job. Dalby said the opportunity to come to Naples really stood out for him. "Obviously, the quality of life is just unparalleled there. It's not that it was just a great place and a great location, but it was also the quality of the leadership. The chamber leadership, the board, the volunteer leadership seemed to be very focused and committed to the chamber," he said. Dalby and his wife, Georgia, have five grown children, who live in Indiana, New York City, Texas and Ohio. His wife, he said, is just as eager to get here. "She is thrilled with the opportunity to come down and to be in a place like Naples and to be able to serve," he said. Gary Lefebvre of Naples submitted this photo entitled "Budding." SHARE Cathy Kunkle of Naples submitted this photo. Len Rothman writes: Corkscrew swamp is an international attraction, known most notably for its 120 foot tall bald cypress trees, wood storks and ghost orchids.Bird watchers, and careful observers of all ages are aware that also hidden in this unique environment are beautiful birds that fly to Southern Florida for a new beginning. After losing a large percentage of their weight escaping the now barren woods of the North, these birds are happy to find a lush environment with lots of food at Corkscrew Swamp. As a volunteer naturalist at this Audubon Sanctuary, I was fortunate enough to photograph this ~ 4.5 inch beauty. This bird is a male black-throated green warbler, and hes proudly displaying the luncheon item he just found. The caterpillar he is holding, a variety of inch worm, is a cypress looper, another little known inhabitant of the swamp that makes it possible for these snowbirds to have a new beginning. Christina Mona submitted this photo of a monarch about to leave it's chrysalis. Bob Wardall submitted this photo entitled More, please! Point and Shoot is a monthly photo challenge where you the readers show off your photography skills. January's submissions fall under the theme of "New Beginnings." For January, the top shots are from Gary Lefebvre of Naples, Cathy Kunkle and Len Rothman. As you can see, we had a lot of great submissions. Honorable mentions also go out to Christina Mona, Bob Wardall and Roland Meyer. Congratulations to everyone who was published this month. And thank you to everyone who participated. Ready to submit your photo for the next challenge? The theme for February is "Green With Envy." But you don't have to be literal. We encourage you to think outside the box. Photos are due the last Monday of the month, Feb. 29, and will be printed in the first weekend edition of the month of March. Send your submissions to news@naplesnews.com. Children reach out to touch the gas during a liquid nitrogen experiment at the second annual Science Saturday event at Seacrest Country Day School in March, 2014. Jessica Castleberry/Special to the Citizen SHARE By Melhor Leonor of the Naples Daily News On Saturday, science will run rampant at Seacrest Country Day School. The Naples private school will host it's third annual Science Saturday event a congregation of local and regional organizations with a focus on science and technology meant to get children and young adults excited about science. Close to a dozen organizations will set up displays and lead experiments relating to their missions. The Naples Zoo and the Shy Wolf Sanctuary will talk about animal conservancy. Local manufacturer Arthrex will introduce families to biomedical engineering and its work with joints and prosthetics. The Everglades Astronomical Society will be teaching children and young adults how to operate telescopes; biologists working with the city of Naples will talk about the systems of artificial reefs off the Naples coast. "There will be every type of activity for every age group and all kinds of science," said Caron Staples, an environmental science teacher at Seacrest Country Day School. "Amazing people have offered to give their time to help motivate kids and get them excited about science." Activities and displays will cover the school's east Naples campus. Inside the art room, a local physical therapist and his co-workers will use lights and costumes to teach families about space through the Star Wars plot line. Science Saturday started out as a small event to display the work of Seacrest Country Day students. A few organizations and some displays were enough to get other students and local professionals excited about future iterations of the event. "It started as a real grass roots science department thing," Staples said. "We gathered our kids and said, 'We'll invite whoever we can reach,'" Staples said. "It was a small event with six organizations and a bunch of our kids putting on little demonstrations and activities." Seacrest Country Day students will still lead some of the day's activities. One student-led club will be cooking snacks using solar-powered cookers. Others will be teaching visitors how to build rockets with plastic bottles. "The robotics team is going to have their robots there to demonstrate the challenges they have to run through with their robots in competition," Staples said. Science Saturday is free and open to families with children ages 3 to 18, regardless of the school where they attend. The event will take place at Seacrest, 7100 Davis Blvd., from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." - George Washington SHARE Children's author Drew Daywalt snaps a selfie with Tommie Barfield Elementary School third-grader Margaret Poling, a winner of a student essay contest, at the 16th Annual Florida Celebration of Reading kickoff breakfast on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. Winners of an annual essay contest were honored at the breakfast out of nearly 1,000 submissions from students in Lee and Collier counties. (David Albers/Staff) Timothy Jackson, a kindergartner at Calusa Park Elementary School, waits to have his photo taken as a winner of a student essay contest at the 16th Annual Florida Celebration of Reading kickoff breakfast on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. Winners of an annual essay contest were honored at the breakfast out of nearly 1,000 submissions from students in Lee and Collier counties. (David Albers/Staff) Florida Board of Education member Tom Grady, left, and Florida First Lady Ann Scott present award certificates to winners of an essay contest at the 16th Annual Florida Celebration of Reading kickoff breakfast on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. Winners of an annual essay contest were honored at the breakfast out of nearly 1,000 submissions from students in Lee and Collier counties. (David Albers/Staff) Naples resident Saskia McPhail sits with her daughter, 7-year-old Julia McPhail, as they listen to children's author Drew Daywalt speak at the 16th Annual Florida Celebration of Reading kickoff breakfast on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. Winners of an annual essay contest were honored at the breakfast out of nearly 1,000 submissions from students in Lee and Collier counties. (David Albers/Staff) Related Photos 16th Annual Florida Celebration of Reading By Melhor Leonor of the Naples Daily News At a roundtable over breakfast, local elementary students giggled and gushed over a celebrity. Drew Daywalt, they said, wrote a children's book that captivated their attention, got them excited to read, and produced dozens of laughs. "The Day the Crayons Quit" also inspired them to put their own thoughts and sense of humor on paper. Daywalt and more than a dozen Southwest Florida students gathered Friday to participate in the 16th annual Florida Celebration of Reading kickoff breakfast, which celebrated the importance of encouraging children to read. The celebration is sponsored by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and was hosted at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The event centered around 12 students from Collier and Lee counties, winners of the student writing and art contest sponsored by the foundation, which received over 1,000 entries. Finley Mitchell, a third grader at Heights Elementary, said the contest asked students to take after the theme of Daywalt's book and write letters to the crayons personified in the book. In "The Day the Crayons Quit," a boy named Duncan opens his box of crayons only to find letters from the crayons themselves, communicating they had quit. One crayon, the blue one, wrote he was tired of being used too much. Finley's essay is a comical letter to the blue crayon, coaxing him to return. "He stood out to me because he was mostly happy, just sad about being short from being used so much," Finley said. In her essay, she wrote about providing Popsicle stick stilts for the blue crayon. Finley said she really enjoyed Daywalt's book, and encouraged other students to read more. "It's entertaining and better than sitting on your couch playing video games," she said, adding that when children are faced with the daunting task of picking a book to read, they should just "think about the experiences you've had with other books." Florida's First Lady Ann Scott, who spoke at the event, said she hopes to get across to the students "just how important reading is, and how crucial it is to their success." At Friday evening's fundraising event, Daywalt said that it touched him how empathetic the students were with his characters the crayons and how in their essays they tried to solve all their problems. "It warmed my heart," he said. Authors Carol Higgins Clark and Dana Perino also participated in the event. Julia Roblero, who at 43 is learning in English through a program funded by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, also attended the fundraising dinner. Roblero, who came to the U.S. from Guatemala 28 years ago and lives in Golden Gate City, said she planned to talk about how she wanted to learn English to be able to study cosmetology. She said that before starting the classes, she couldn't even name the days of the week in English. Now, she said, she still has a lot to learn, but she can write sentences in English, make appointments with her children's dentist and speak with their pediatrician. "I feel happy and thankful," she said. "I feel blessed." Jeb Bush wasn't at this year's event. He sent a brief video recorded inside his campaign bus, from New Hampshire, where he is campaigning ahead of the primary elections next week. In the video, he highlighted the work done by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy and the organizations it supports. "Without reading, people can't live lives of purpose and meaning," he said. Daily News staff writer Maria Perez contributed to this report FILE - Damarion Salters, 7, of Naples plays under a burned out street light in the River Park neighborhood on Sunday Sept. 30, 2012. William DeShazer/Staff By Joseph Cranney of the Naples Daily News About three dozen residents filled the room at the River Park Community Center on Thursday to participate in something that hasn't happened in Naples in a long time a citizen-led conversation on the problems associated with the city's poor, majority black neighborhood. The city held the meeting to get the community's input on how Naples should spend an estimated $100,000 in federal urban renewal money this year. The city receives the grant money annually and is required to spend it in the census tract that includes River Park, but it hasn't asked the community for project ideas in nearly a decade. In November, the Naples Daily News reported that the city hasn't held a community meeting to get ideas for projects since 2007. Community leaders, including the head of the local NAACP chapter, say the grant applications haven't received the appropriate amount of public vetting. During Wednesday's 50-minute meeting, residents voiced concerns about the neighborhood's infrastructure and safety. Near Anthony Park, there are sidewalks only on the south end of Fifth Avenue North, one resident said. Another resident brought up insufficient city signage that allows cars to speed through the neighborhood. The largest outcry came about the intersection of Fifth Avenue North and Goodlette-Frank Road. Residents agreed that the intersection, and a nearby school zone, are too dangerous. "When some kid gets hit, and it's eventually going to happen, they're going to say that's a shame," said Willie Anthony, a longtime River Park resident. "It's a bad intersection. It's a problem and it needs to be fixed. It's the responsibility of the city. To neglect us is to not serve us well." The city passed out a survey asking residents to prioritize the community's needs regarding public facilities and resources. The survey results will inform the city's application to receive Community Development Block Grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said Greg Givens, the city's grant coordinator. Anthony, who has served on multiple city boards, said this was the first CDBG-related meeting he could recall in which the city asked for the community's ideas ahead of time. "It used to be that they already picked out something," Anthony said. "We didn't really have any input." Givens began Wednesday's meeting with a presentation on previous CDBG projects to explain how the grant money can be used. The Naples City Council votes on the grant applications, but they're almost always placed on consent agendas and receive unanimous votes. In the past 10 years of regular meetings, CDBG applications have been discussed by the council, on average, for less than two minutes per meeting. According to the census, 89 percent of black residents in Naples live in River Park. And according to the most recent estimates from the American Community Survey, River Park households have a median annual income of about $22,600. By comparison, the city's overall median income is roughly $78,600. During the past decade, the city has used CDBG money to fund projects that have enhanced the area's parking and landscaping, among other improvements. The Daily News reported in December that many of those projects have cost tens and thousands of dollars less than the city's annual grant award. Since the city entered into its annual grant agreement with Collier County in 2001, almost $275,000 in federal dollars earmarked for the River Park area has been spent by the county for other projects. About $165,000 went to facility improvements for the Naples Equestrian Challenge, a nonprofit. In Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015, the city combined its CDBG money to fund improvements to Goodlette-Frank Road's intersections at Central Avenue and Fifth Avenue North. But residents on Wednesday said the area's traffic safety problems haven't been fully resolved. Mary Linda Sanders, who said she was raised in River Park, said the neighborhood needs a community liaison who can keep city leaders informed about the problems. She suggested the liaison should be someone from the neighborhood who has graduated from college. "This is so piecemeal," Sanders said about the meeting. "Everything is so piecemeal." Another suggestion offered was for the neighborhood to start a homeowner's association that could more easily work with the city. Mayor John Sorey, City Manager Bill Moss and City Council members Teresa Heitmann and Linda Penniman attended. For some of the residents' concerns, like overgrown trees and clogs in runoff drainage, Sorey said the city could deal with them immediately, separate from the grant application. FILE -- Aerial photo of the Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track on Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. (David Albers/Staff) By Kristine Gill of the Naples Daily News The Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track in Bonita Springs has severed ties with a local adoption agency following allegations of poor care for dogs. A spokesman for the track, who works out of Miami, said they stopped working with greyhound rescue 45 MPH Couch Potato two weeks ago after officials from Collier County Domestic Animal Services paid a visit. "I don't really know all the specifics," spokesman Izzy Havenick said. "I just know that if the county had questions, we don't want to do business." Havenick said a difference in opinions led to the track's separation from the adoption agency, which they worked with for two years. The owner of the adoption group, Darlene Izzo, has come under fire this week as volunteers come forward to say the animals were not treated well in her care. Officials with DAS visited the adoption facility in January after a complaint came in about dogs with broken legs and diarrhea. DAS officials gave Izzo 24 hours to get medical attention for five of the dogs. They also said no dog could stay at the facility until it was permitted by the county and brought up to standards. Izzo was licensed to care for dogs out of her home in Golden Gate Estates but not at the new shelter facility she opened in North Naples. Izzo told her volunteers to take the dogs out of the new facility and place them with local foster homes until she could repair the new facility, she told the Daily News. Volunteers placed some of the dogs with a rescue group out of Miami, which Izzo said she did not approve of. When DAS officials returned the next day for a follow-up visit there were no dogs at the new facility. DAS Spokesman Daniel Christenbury said the agency checked on the dogs through each of their new shelters to assure they were in good hands. Citations are still pending for Izzo through DAS. In the meantime, the local greyhound track has contracted with a new adoption agency, Havenick said. "We needed to get someone in there quickly because under state law we're required to have an agency," he said. Havenick said the state provides a list of approved adoption agencies for tracks to work with. The race tracks only have to provide an on-site adoption agency so that owners of individual dogs have a place to surrender the dogs once they've retired from racing. Dog owners don't have to use the track's adoption agency, and the track doesn't oversee care of the animals at the track or after retirement, Havenick said. "We just provide the venue for them to race at," Havenick said. Izzo received $1,700 a month from the racetrack to care for the dogs she took from the track. Dawn Brown, a volunteer with Izzo's adoption agency, said Friday that she and other volunteers worked to get the dogs in better hands following the DAS visit and that conditions at Izzo's facility were deplorable. "She's only upset this was going to become public," Brown said. By Jacob Carpenter of the Naples Daily News Whether in the courtroom or in front of a crowd, a guitar in his hands, Michael McDonnell was at home on center stage. As a trial lawyer, McDonnell could boldly enrapture a jury while making quietly incisive legal arguments. As a singer and showman, he could capture a room with his soulful voice and pluck of the strings. "Mike was born for the spotlight, and he knew how to perform in front of it," said Jerry Berry, one of McDonnell's former law partners. "I've never seen anybody better." McDonnell, who spent four decades in Southwest Florida, building one of the region's most respected law firms and mentoring many of its top legal minds, died unexpectedly Thursday at the age of 75. His wife, Nina, said McDonnell suffered a massive stroke in the morning and died peacefully later that night, surrounded by about 20 family and friends. In his 46 years of legal work, McDonnell combined fearlessness, intellect and warmth, endearing him to countless clients and establishing him as an elder statesman among his fellow lawyers. McDonnell started his own legal practice in 1970, represented pipe bomb killer Steven Benson in Collier County's most famous murder trial and maintained his firm until the day of his death. "Mike's the model we all striven to emulate," said Gary Green, a former law partner who tabbed McDonnell to be his daughter's godfather. "There's a lot of lawyers these days that have tons of brilliance but not a smidgen of compassion. Mike had both." Though he had northern roots, McDonnell was a classic Southern gentleman: handsome, affable, always fashionably dressed. He relished putting on a show, whether in front of fellow cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, in Tallahassee with his Good Time Boogie Band in the late 1970s, or at his Army class reunions late in life. "These guys got up and sang at our reunion a couple years back, then Mike got up and sang with them, and it was like were back in the weapons room in 1960. He was the same-old rock star," said Larry Amon, a member of McDonnell's West Point class. McDonnell was born in New Jersey, raised in the suburbs of Detroit and graduated from West Point as part of the "Can Do Class of '62." He served two tours in Vietnam during the war there, attaining the rank of captain. Following his graduation from Stetson University's law school in 1970, McDonnell arrived in Southwest Florida and set up his own firm. At that time, a lawyer couldn't survive in Naples without taking on all types of cases, so McDonnell became well-versed in criminal, civil and family law. "He was a go-to guy when there were fewer firms here," said Dudley Goodlette, a longtime Southwest Florida civic leader and friend of McDonnell's. "Mike stood out. And even when there were more firms, he still stood out." As a defense lawyer, he's best known for representing Benson, who was convicted in the mid-1980s of setting off pipe bombs that killed his mother, a tobacco company heiress, and her adopted son. The murders were part of Benson's plot to gain control of his mother's $10 million fortune, and they brought a national spotlight to Naples at a time when the city remained a sleepy outpost. "The cameras were with Mike from the time he got out of his car to the time he got back in it," said Berry, a co-counsel with McDonnell on the case. "We had to deal with people and reporters trying to get information from trash cans and things like that. Something you never had to deal with in every other case." Though McDonnell gained some notoriety for flamboyance out-of-town media reported during the Benson trial that he wore expensive suits and drove a Jaguar, a sharp contrast to his more subdued counterparts for the state Berry said McDonnell could match wits with anybody. He recalled one medical malpractice case in which McDonnell, representing an OB-GYN, needed just a couple days and a few books to become as knowledgeable about delivering babies as the doctors. "When you have such an outgoing, very social person like Mike, I think it overshadowed how smart he was," Berry said. "He was off-the-charts brilliant." In his spare time, McDonnell did pro bono work for veterans seeking legal counsel, and he was instrumental in the Naples chapter of the Fillabelly Food Foundation, organizing fundraisers for the nonprofit. "He found the venues, he played the music. He was the show," Goodlette said. McDonnell continued to work until his death, most recently taking on two high-profile clients. He represented John Orr, a Naples man convicted of stabbing a neighbor 75 times in the Lake Park neighborhood in 2011, and former Naples police Sgt. Amy Young, who was investigated but not charged in the 2014 suicide of her live-in boyfriend. "Retirement wasn't in his vernacular," Goodlette said. "He was such a natural in every respect, personally and professionally, and he liked helping people. He didn't want to slow down." Funeral arrangements and a listing of surviving relatives weren't immediately available Friday morning. SHARE Steve Riggs, Naples Fracking silence I have been watching with increased incredulity the lack of public involvement in the fracking debate and with amazement at the House neutralizing local government's ability to control fracking in their jurisdiction. Fracking is destructive in so many ways, which is well-documented. It is inconceivable that municipalities would allow any threat to their precious and irreplaceable water supplies. I see outrageous lobbying by industry to promote fracking and declare it safe. Don't believe the lobbyist, their consultants, or the fracked gas industrialist for a second. They don't care and they will deceive to meet their economic goals. New York state banned it. This only happened due to a concerted effort by tens of thousands of residents who understood the dangers of fracking. New Hampshire is in rebellion to stop a 30-inch fracked gas pipeline from passing through. Last year, after years of denials there were health concerns caused by a gas compressor station in Minisink, N.Y., there were reports of sickness caused by the station. Think Love Canal. Think Thalidomide babies. Think Flint, Michigan. In all cases, deception by authorities, consultants and businessmen. You cannot trust them. Your welfare is not in their best interest. Don't believe me? Watch on YouTube "Gasland" and then "Gaslands2." Do it for your children. Do it for clean water. Do it for the environment. Do it for the Everglades. Tickets are now on sale for the Grande Dames Tea presented by the PACE Center for Girls of Lee County. The Grande Dames Tea honoring Betty Anderson of Fort Myers, Rusty Brown of Fort Myers, and Dr. Geraldine Burchard Nobles of LaBelle will be Tuesday, March 22, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Broadway Palm at 1380 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers. Michael Jung, The News-Press Media Group President and Publisher, will serve as master of ceremonies. Seats for the tea are $60 per person and may be reserved either online at www.pacecenter.org/lee or by phoning 239-425-2366, ext. 2315. Table sponsorships are also available. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite tea party hat. Major sponsors are Edison National Bank, Broadway Palm, Caloosa Tent & Rental, Noela Chocolate, Ruth Messmer Florist, SS Hookers and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media. Media sponsors are Grandeur Magazine and The News-Press Media Group. Other sponsors include R.S. Walsh Landscaping, Henderson Franklin Attorneys at Law, and Noreen Raney. Chair of the Grande Dames Tea is Deanna Hansen with Mary Fischer serving as co-chair. Both women also are members of the PACE Lee Board of Directors. These three outstanding women come from varied backgrounds and are sure to have some insightful advice for the audience and the PACE girls, said Hansen. Our theme of The Wisdom of Age Honoring the Female Spirit is so appropriate because each of these women has much to share from her own lifes journey, Fischer said. This is the eighth year of the historic Grande Dames Tea. Previous honorees have included Berne Davis, Eleanore Kleist and the late Barbara B. Mann in 2009; Jeanne Bochette, Helen Hendry and the late Veronica Shoemaker in 2010; Myra Daniels, Kathleen Nealon and the late Mimi Straub in 2011; Michel Doherty, Mavis Miller and Anna Boots Tolles in 2012; Thelma Hodges, the late Helen ORourke McClary and Ettie Francis Walsh in 2013; Barbara Norris Brown, the late Sarah Sciple and Margaret Sirianni in 2014; and Sharlene Hamel Dozier, M. Jacqueline McCurdy and Melvin Morgan in 2015. The Grande Dames Tea was originated by PACE Center for Girls of Lee County to honor women who have played major roles in Southwest Florida history through decades of service, philanthropy and helping others. The agenda for the tea will include interaction between the PACE girls and the three Grande Dames, in a question and answer format that Hansen and Fischer said is sure to be thought-provoking and poignant. PACE Center for Girls, Inc., is a non-residential delinquency prevention program targeting the unique needs of girls, ages 11 to 18 years old, facing challenges such as physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, foster care, neglect, death of a parent, family history of incarceration and declining grades. PACE is a Florida-based, not for profit organization, and the only statewide prevention program for adolescent at-risk girls in the nation. In the past year, the Lee County program provided 106 girls with education, counseling, training and advocacy resulting in 96 percent having no involvement with juvenile justice within one year of leaving PACE, 93 percent improving their academic performance and 76 percent remaining in school or obtaining employment three years after leaving PACE. As a result, PACE reduces the significant long term costs associated with teen pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment and long term economic dependency. PACE accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children & Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals. For information about the Grande Dames Tea or to become a sponsor, please contact PACE Development Manager Sara Garner at (239) 425-2366, ext. 2312, or visit http://pacecenter.org/lee Joshua Rudnick, Esq., a partner in the Naples-based law firm of Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, P.L. will speak Thursday, February 11 at IMAGINE Childrens Health Center leadership class located at the Greater Naples YMCA. Mr. Rudnick is currently the President of the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association of Southwest Florida, a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Developmentally Disabled, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army. He served as chair of the Real Estate Section of the Collier County Bar Association in 2010-2011. His practice is concentrated on commercial and residential real property transactions, construction, plus corporate and commercial lending. Mr. Rudnick will speak about rules and how young leaders should incorporate rules and regulations as part of their leadership skills. Leadership training, confidence building and stress coping skills are being taught by facilitators Molly Barrow PhD and Lourdes Araujo, Hodges CMHC Intern. Brain-healthy food tasting, music and art elements are a part of the curriculum. Family involvement is encouraged with homework and film assignments. The IMAGINE Leadership Class is an extracurricular class preferred by many college entrance boards. The class will continue for the next four Thursday afternoons. Students who missed the first two classes are welcome to join the upcoming classes. Donations are being made by Food & Thought, Trader Joes, Wynns Market, and the space is provided through the generosity of the YMCA. All classes will be held at the Greater Naples YMCA at 5450 YMCA Road, on Pine Ridge Rd. just east of Airport Rd. Classes will run for four more consecutive Thursdays. The next class is February 11. Classes for Middle School students are from 4:30 5:30pm and High School students are from 5:30 6:30pm. Cost is $40 total for all four remaining classes. A limited number of scholarships are available. YMCA bus transportation will be provided from Pine Ridge Middle School and Mason Classical Academy. For Information and Admission Forms please contact: Laraujo@mail.hodges.edu or call 239-641-9007. To donate to the scholarship fund to help underprivileged students attend the Leadership class and other IMAGINE Childrens Health Center projects, please visit www.imaginechc.com. IMAGINE is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) scholarship fund to provide psychology counseling and education, medical treatment, and nutritional education to children in need. IMAGINE is dedicated to the mental and physical health of Collier County children. Dr. Molly Barrow, Executive Director says, Our goal is to improve a childs mental and physical health, to improve choices, self-esteem, and social interaction with family and friends. Children deserve to feel happy, to learn, be loved, and want to give back to others. A well-known and popular political pundit from Clonmel has been appointed as the new deputy editor of the Sunday Business Post. A well-known and popular political pundit from Clonmel has been appointed as the new deputy editor of the Sunday Business Post. 40 year-old Pat Leahy graduated from Rockwell College in 1990. He holds a degree in law from University College Dublin and was a Reuters fellow at Oxford University. He joined The Sunday Business Post in 1999 and has worked on the papers political staff since 2002. His first book, Showtime: the Inside Story of Fianna Fail in Power, was published by Penguin in 2009 and became a best seller. In 2011 he made a two-part television documentary on the fall of the Fianna Fail-Greens coalition, Crisis: Inside the Cowen Government, which was broadcast by RTE One. He will retain his responsibilities as political editor for the Sunday Business Post. When Pat was in UCD he founded the weekly newspaper, The University Observer with comedian Dara OBriain. A member of the famous Leahy family from Tubberadora near Boherlahan his father, renowned historian and writer, Seamus Leahy taught in Rockwell College in Cashel from the early 1960s until his retirement in 2000. Seamus and his wife Kay live in Cherrymount, Clonmel. Wells Fargo has reached a $16.2 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit regarding an alleged kickback scheme involving the shuttered Owings Mill, Md.-based Genuine Title. Smith, Gildea & Schmidt LLC and Joseph, Greenwald & Laake PA filed a motion to approve the settlement in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland on behalf of more than 9,000 consumers allegedly affected by the scheme, according to a press release Thursday. A spokesman for Wells Fargo confirmed the amount of the settlement. The lawsuit claimed that Genuine Title provided kickbacks to Wells Fargo mortgage brokers in return for borrower referrals for title insurance and settlement services. The arrangement reportedly lasted from 2009 to early 2014. Altogether, the settlement applies to roughly 9,500 loans that Wells Fargo originated. "Clients at the settlement table had no way of knowing about these kickbacks," Timothy Maloney of Joseph, Greenwald & Laake said in the release. "We are happy this lawsuit brought these practices to light and that we have been able to obtain a significant recovery for consumers of title services." The lawsuit against Wells Fargo is the first involving Genuine Title to have reached a settlement; the plaintiffs have cases against nine banks and mortgage companies in addition to Genuine Title and three marketing companies it runs. If the settlement is approved, Wells Fargo will be responsible for paying out the funds, which must be rewarded within 90 days after the settlement is finalized. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Maryland attorney general filed a complaint against Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase in January 2015, saying the two banks received "valuable services" after referring business to Genuine Title. A federal judge ordered Wells to pay $24 million in civil penalties and $10.8 million in redress and for Chase to pay $600,000 in civil penalties and $300,000 in redress. That complaint also cites former Wells employee, Todd Cohen, and his wife, Elaine Cohen, demanding they pay a $30,000 penalty for their involvement. Wells has said that all employees implicated in the case were terminated. Computershare has agreed to acquire Capital Markets Cooperative for $71.2 million. The purchase price includes $44 million for the CMC business and $27.2 million for its mortgage servicing rights portfolio. The deal is expected to close within three months. CMC, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., will be managed as a separate, autonomous entity. It will be added to Computershare's U.S. mortgage footprint, including the mortgage servicer Specialized Loan Servicing and the fulfillment provider Altavera Mortgage Services, which Computershare has also agreed to acquire. CMC is a network of banks, credit unions and nonbank mortgage lenders that negotiate with investors and service partners. CMC has more than 200 originator clients with total annual loan originations of more than $100 billion. From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination . I try to block those ads.Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms , - not Catholic teaching. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is meeting with EU Defence Ministers on Friday (5 February 2016) to discuss shared security challenges and stronger cooperation between the European Union and NATO. He stressed the importance of working more closely to address hybrid threats and violent instability in the South. Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed the United States plans for an increased military presence in Europe, calling it an important sign, and part of the adaptation of the Alliance to a more demanding security environment. He also welcomed the commitment of European Allies to step up defence spending, noting that last year the cuts in defence spending in Europe practically stopped. He added, the picture is still mixed, but we are moving now in the right direction. The Secretary General also highlighted NATOs support for all efforts to find a peaceful, political solution to the conflict in Syria. What we have seen is that the intense Russian airstrikes, mainly targeting opposition troops in Syria, is undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict, said Mr. Stoltenberg. He noted that Russian military presence in Syria is also causing increased tensions and violations of Turkish airspace, and called for calm and de-escalation. Did life's building blocks form in space? Have we already colonized other worlds? (NaturalNews) According to news reports, researchers from the University of Hawaii have discovered traces of complex plant compounds on a meteorite discovered in the Nevada desert in 2010.It is not the first time that a finding of this nature has shaken up ideas about how firm the divide between earth and outer space actually is. In this case, it is unclear whether the chemicals in question originated on Earth and were later launched into space, or whether they formed in space itself.The researchers further claim that the chemical found was identical to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one of the primary substances thought to be responsible for the "high" from marijuana "If chemical substances, that change brain functions and result in alterations in perception, mood, or consciousness in humans, find their origin in outer space, what role then has cometary impacts played on the human species?" asked researcher James Hun. "Or on life on the planet as whole?"The idea of "Panspermia" suggests that life has been distributed throughout the universe in the form of microorganisms hitching rides on celestial objects such as asteroids, meteors and comets, thereby "seeding" various planets. While ancient in origin, the idea got a major boost in the 1960s when scientists first discovered amino acids in several meteorites, including one that fell outside of Murchison, Australia, in 1969. This led to a new hypothesis, known as "soft panspermia ," that perhaps the building blocks of life actually originated in outer space, then combined on earth to give rise to life as we know it.In 2009, a study ingave new support to this idea. The study reported on the analysis of samples collected by the Stardust satellite in 2004 from the tail of the comet Wild 2. The researchers found that glycine, a tiny amino acid, was found in the dense cloud of dust and gas around the comet's tail."Glycine is an amino acid used by living organisms to make proteins, and this is the first time an amino acid has been found in a comet," said NASA researcher Jamie Elsila."Our discovery supports the theory that some of life's ingredients formed in space and were delivered to Earth long ago by meteorite and comet impacts.""Based on the foil and aerogel results it is highly probable that the entire comet-exposed side of the Stardust sample collection grid is coated with glycine that formed in space," said NASA researcher Daniel Glavin.The Stardust findings also suggest that life may be more widespread throughout the universe than previously assumed."The discovery of glycine in a comet supports the idea that the fundamental building blocks of life are prevalent in space , and strengthens the argument that life in the universe may be common rather than rare," said Carl Pilcher, director of the NASA Astrobiology Institute.Scientists are also exploring the converse idea: that asteroid impact onto earth could have launched life from our plant into outer space, and potentially allowed it to colonize other parts of our solar system. A 2011 computer simulation conducted by researchers from the National Autonomous University of Mexico suggested that normal asteroid impacts could launch earth life not just to Mars, but as far as Jupiter and its moons.Of course, only incredibly hardy life forms could survive the trip through space. But research into so-called "extremophiles" is increasingly showing that earth is actually filled with microorganisms that are tough enough to pull it off."There are viable bacterial spores that have been found that are 40 million years old on Earth - and we know they're very hardened to radiation," said Steinn Sigurdsson, an astrophysicist from Pennsylvania State University. Mandatory vaccine interventions violate the AMA Code of Ethics (NaturalNews) During the holocaust, the Jews underwent forced medical experimentation because they were stripped of all human rights, and Hitler was functioning with no morals, ethics or code of conduct whatsoever. There was no regulatory government agencies to oversee humane treatment, medical freedom or to even verify that any medical procedures used had any beneficial use. Adults and children alike were tortured without anesthetics and for no good reason. This was an era before vaccines were even invented and in a time and place where doctors and scientists did what they were told, or they too were executed by the Nazi regime.Welcome to California, a U.S. state that will now be experimenting on children withwithout anyone's consent, including the parents of those children. These vaccines contain known carcinogens, deadly neurotoxins, aborted human fetal samples, genetically modified bacteria, monosodium glutamate, mercury, aluminum and even embalming fluid, better known as formaldehyde. No vaccine has ever been proven effective, safe or beneficial in the six decades they have been administered, and now they will be, without the consent of the patient or the patient's parents, or they will not be allowed to attend any school, whether public or private. All of this will be performed against the American Medical Association's (AMA) own "Code of Medical Ethics" which is posted on the AMA website and states the following:Consider this: If the U.S. government or any state government declared tomorrow that all guns were illegal, there was no freedom of speech anymore, no freedom of press, no freedom of religion, and all children were possessions of the state, would you bow down to the flag and kiss the ring of the "King?" If all medical doctors simply said that they were doing what they were told by capturing your children and performing lobotomies in the name of science, would you agree that it's the right thing to do, because the governor or some congress person said it was?Who has ever read the vaccine insert to begin with? The flu vaccine insert tells you that you should never get more than one flu shot in a lifetime. The ingredients include neurotoxins that cause central nervous system disorders, including autism spectrum disorder and severe allergies, including severe peanut and dairy allergies. Yet the AMA Code of Ethics clearly states that "Physicians should sensitively and respectfully disclose all relevant medical information to patients."Informed consent means the patient's right of self-decision can be effectively exercised when the patient possesses enough information to make an informed choice, and that the patient should make his or her own determination about treatment. But now, with SB 277 in effect by 2016, no person shall have any choice in the matter whatsoever, and the government can declare any vaccine mandatory at any time, as often as they like, and as many as close together as they deem necessary.California governor Jerry Brown signed SB 277 in law, eliminating all personal and religious exemptions for vaccines for California's schoolchildren. Although the doctor's ability to allow exemptions is still in place, one can be sure that the AMA is not going to allow anyone that exemption, and if parents argue too heavily, they will receive a visit fromand possibly have their children taken away from them forever, simply for bucking the status quo. This defies common sense, safety and all medical ethics, but TOO BAD, because the California governor thinks vaccines are great, especially after receiving campaign funds from vaccine manufacturers!Ever since the initial proposal of the bill by Democratic senator and vaccine industry shill Richard Pan, protests and petitions against it have been rampant. Many families are considering fleeing the state before the Nazi-style forced vaccination program begins. Have no doubts folks,. Will autism rates skyrocket from one in 68 to one in 10? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure - when infectious disease outbreaks occur in all the vaccinated children of California , it will be blatantly obvious for the first time in the United States that vaccines don't work, and they never really have. Check the facts. Infectious diseases were already nearing non-existence when vaccines were invented. Look into natural immunity builders and if you live in California now, remember, you don't need a passport or permission from an MD to move out! Fake "Wuchang rice" Dangerous of consuming plastic (NaturalNews) China is mass producing plastic rice and it causes some very serious health problems. China's Wuchang rice is extremely popular and well-known due to its fragrant smell and distinct taste costing almost double the price of normal rice.With the demand for Wuchang rice so high, companies have start to exploit the opportunity and create fake rice which they sell for the same high price.It is thought that China has been producing this fake "Wuchang rice" for at least four years, recreating the popular product using potatoes, sweet potatoes and some poisonous plastic for good measure. It looks just the same as the real deal in terms of shape and size; however, the plastic remains hard after cooking and is seriously bad for your health.An undercover journalist found out that, when producing the fake rice, Chinese companies are mixing a small amount of real Wuchang rice with plastic rice, which they then spray with a fragrance to replicate the original and package in the same way.It is thought that whilst 800,000 tons of actual Wuchang rice is produced every year, a terrifying 10 million tons of "Wuchang" is sold annually meaning that over 9 million tons of the "Wuchang rice" bought every single year is fake.According to, distributors have stated that selling artificial rice is extremely profitable, particularly in the enormous quantities that are currently in demand. Companies have managed to get away with selling this synthetic product for over four years until they recently started to distribute it outside of China to countries such as India, Vietnam and Singapore.The National Food Authority of the Republic of the Philippines is now in the process of investigating reports of plastic rice and is utilizing a spectroscopy device to detect whether or not the rice in question is legitimate. A warning has also been issued.Eating just three bowls of this fake "Wuchang rice" is thought to be the same as consuming an entire plastic bag, causing serious and even fatal digestive issues, especially if consumed daily as is often the case.In fact, most people in China consume over half a pound of rice every single day, and recent health controversies have brought into light the question of whether or not it is safe to use plastic packaging in the food industry let alone eat plastic rice!Research has found potentially serious health risks associated with bisphenol A and a class of chemicals called phthalates, commonly found in plastics. Bisphenol A has the ability to disrupt the functions of our hormones, particularly estrogen. It has been linked to effects on reproductive development in several animal studies.Meanwhile, phthalates are a group of "plasticizers" that are found in various products, despite having been banned in the EU since 2005. Phthalates can also disrupt hormones; however, unlike bisphenol A it is testosterone that is affected.Each of us likely has a detectable amount of both phthalates and bisphenol A in our bodies due to the contamination of food products that are stored in plastic containers. However, if consumed, the plastic rice in China will likely cause a massive increase in the levels of these dangerous chemicals.So far, there have been no reports of plastic rice in the U.S.; however, the fact that the rice was being exported and consumed outside of China draws into question whether or not countries are asking enough questions about their food sources before importing goods. What is the plague? Bubonic Plague Fever and chills Headache Muscle pain General weakness Seizures Swollen lymph glands Pneumonic plague Trouble breathing Chest pain Cough Fever Headache Overall weakness Bloody sputum Septicemic Plague Abdominal pain Diarrhea Nausea and vomiting Fever and chills Extreme weakness Bleeding Shock Skin turning black The case in Yosemite (NaturalNews) The California Department of Public Health is looking into claims that a child who was camping in Yosemite National Park has contracted the plague. Other members of the camping party are being monitored for symptoms.This news comes just after the recent death of an adult in Colorado who also contracted the incredibly rare disease, the same disease that killed millions across Europe in the 1300s and devastated populations.The plague has become incredibly rare since the development of modern medicine, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) most of the cases today are in Africa although some still occur in the U.S.The plague is a serious bacterial infection that can be deadly, and is caused by a strain of bacteria called Yersinia pestis. This bacteria is found on various animals throughout the world, and is usually transmitted by fleas rather than through human-to-human contact.The risk of catching the plague is at its highest in areas that have poor sanitation , overcrowding and a large population of rodents. It progresses rapidly, and can lead to death it left untreated, with a case-fatality ratio of between 30 and 60%. There are three different types of the plague, and each has slightly different symptoms.This is the most common form and is usually contracted when an infected rodent or flea bites you. In extremely rare cases, you can get the bacteria from touching material that has come into contact with an infected person. It mostly infects your lymphatic symptom.When the bacteria spreads to the lungs, you have pneumonic plague which is the most lethal form of the disease. When someone with the disease coughs, the bacteria from their lungs are expelled into the air, and can become contracted by other people who breathe that air.It is highly contagious and can lead to an epidemic this is the only form of plague that can be transmitted from person to person.When the bacteria enter the bloodstream directly and multiply, it becomes septicemic plague. Symptoms normally start within two to seven days after exposure, and if left untreated, bubonic and pneumonic plague will become septicemic.If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of the plague, and has been to an area where the disease occurs, call a doctor right away. The plague is treatable with antibiotics , as long as it is caught and treated soon after infection.California health officials announced last week that the child is currently recovering, and that no one else who was camping has reported symptoms. There have been 42 human cases of plague since 1970 in California, of which nine were fatal the last reported was in 2006.Plague-infected animals in California are mostly found in the foothills and mountains; health officials monitor these areas by regularly testing animals and flies for infection. They're currently working with Yosemite National Park and the U.S. Forest Service to find the source of the infection, and are looking into the patient's travel history during the incubation period.Although the disease is rare, people are advised to protect themselves by avoiding contact with wild rodents: Don't feed squirrels, chipmunks or other rodents in picnic or campground areas and never touch sick or dead rodents. Be sure to protect your pets from contact with contagious fleas by keeping them away from wild animals. Another American Airlines flight made emergency landing, just days prior, for similar reasons Crew union demands answers, calls to update 1950s air circulation technology (NaturalNews) American Airlines flight 904, bound for Miami, Florida, from Rio de Janerio, Brazil, made an emergency landing recently, when passengers and staff began passing out mid-flight. The ill feelings kicked in at over 30,000 feet, causing the pilot to cut the flight short and instead land in Brasilia, Brazil, just 580 miles from where it had departed.A spokesman for American Airlines said that, "Flight 904 diverted to Brasilia after one passenger and three flight attendants complained of lightheadedness. The aircraft landed safely at Brasilia ... and was met by paramedics who evaluated the passenger and crew members. None requested further medical attention." The spokesman continued, "Our maintenance team is currently inspecting the aircraft and performing a thorough maintenance check. Out of an abundance of caution, the flight was canceled ... and our passengers have been reaccommodated on other flights."Concerns about everything from contaminated on-board air, to a bad oven cleaner reaction ensued, after people on the Boeing 777 became ill. But one thing was clear: Most were in agreement that the medical emergency closely mimicked another recent American Airlines emergency that occurred just days before.Indeed, all within the same week, another American Airlines plane was forced to make an emergency medical landing after passengers and crew started falling ill. In that instance, flight AA109, which happened to be carrying Britain's Got Talent's boy band,, landed just hours into a flight that was going from the U.K. to Los Angeles, California.Band member Kris Evans recalls how "a lady from the cabin crew was walking down the aisle and she just stumbled and fainted right by us. I've never seen anything like that before on a plane. Then a couple of rows in front an older man started feeling sick. It was weird, like a nightmare."The plane returned to the U.K. where it landed safely, at which point passengers were told to remain on board while air tests were conducted. Paramedics and maintenance teams were also at the airport, checking out the passengers and the aircraft.In addition to what might be causing people to feel faint on these flights (as of this writing, it's still unknown), there was also concern expressed as to why flight AA109 went all the way back to the U.K. to land instead of at a closer airport. On Twitter, @rosableik wrote, "Funny I watched AA109 turn back, why not KEF Iceland instead of LHR again. Still wondering." Another tweet coming from @Avuxeni_ asked, "[W]hy did #aa109 not divert to Iceland or Edinburgh or Glasgow if it had a medical emergency on board? [W]hy go to London that is further away?"In response to these events, a union called Unite, which represents cabin crews, is demanding a public inquiry regarding the " aerotoxic syndrome " that results in contaminated air. Their stance is that leaks in aircraft engines can enter a plane's cabin, causing crew to become sick.According to Howard Beckett, Unite's executive legal director, "The case for a full scale public inquiry into aerotoxic syndrome builds daily. This is the second such incident in recent days - the aviation industry simply cannot continue to ignore the clamour for action."Beckett insists that manufacturers take action immediately, adding that, "The technology behind the circulation of air within aircraft has not moved on much at all since the 1950s meaning that fume events are happening with regularity. It is worth noting that organic phosphates are found in engine oils, these are live threatening poisons that are used in chemical warfare ."(1) Mirror.co.uk (2) Mirror.co.uk (3) Mirror.co.uk Tumor-destroying technique uses currently available technology May hold the key to organ regeneration (NaturalNews) A new ultrasound technique is being developed that may allow cancerous tumors to be liquefied without the use of chemotherapy or electromagnetic radiation. Astonishingly, recent research into this technique conducted by scientists from the University of Washington suggests that it may also eventually allow full regeneration of damaged tissue or organs.The findings were presented at the 168th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) in Indianapolis in October.The technique in question, known as histotripsy, uses ultrasound to mechanically destroy cancerous or other targeted tissues. This is a departure from traditional ultrasound therapy, which destroys tissues using heat.In histotripsy, ultrasound-induced vibration leads to the production of bubbles formed from dissolved gases. If the vibration continues at high enough intensities, the bubbles eventually collapse, release a shock wave that can completely liquefy cells. A series of these collapses (known as inertial cavitation) can destroy a vast section of tissue, such as a tumor. Scientists can accelerate the process by injecting microbubbles into the tissue before the procedure.Studies have shown that histotripsy can totally liquefy tumors, and can do so with remarkable precision and minimal impact on healthy surrounding tissue.To date, three forms of histotripsy have been developed. The original method, shock scattering histotripsy , uses high intensity pulses ranging in length from 2 to 20 microseconds. More recently, researchers have developed an even more high intensity form, intrinsic threshold histotripsy, which uses pulses only 0.1 to 2 microseconds long.The University of Washington researchers were experimenting with the third form, known as boiling histotripsy, which combines vibration and heat to produce the same effect as more conventional histotripsy. The main advantage of this technique is that it requires much less energy, and can be more easily produced by adapting existing technology.In using boiling histotripsy to eliminate cancerous tumors , the researchers expected that once the tumor was liquefied, the body would clear away all traces of it as cellular waste. To their surprise, however, they found that while the tumors in their experiments were indeed utterly destroyed, in some cases the underlying extracellular structure remained."In some of our experiments, we discovered that some of the stromal tissue and vasculature was being left behind," researcher Yak-Nam Wang said. "So we had the idea about using this to decellularize tissues for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine."The surviving structure, known as the extracellular matrix, is the fibrous network that cells use to guide their growth. An intact extracellular matrix could hypothetically be seeded with stem cells, allowing the regrowth of new, healthy tissue.For that reason, scientists have searched for decades for a way to remove tissue without destroying the extracellular matrix. Yet nearly all methods currently used to destroy cells also damage the surrounding tissues and fibers. They also take much longer than histotripsy."In tissue engineering, one of the holy grails is to develop biomimetic structures so that you can replace tissues with native tissue," Wang said.Wang suggested that the new technique could even be used to create extracellular matrices to implant in other parts of the body that suffered damage long ago."The other thought is that maybe you could just implant the extracellular matrix and then the body itself would self-seed the tissues, if it's just a small patch of tissue that you're replacing," Wang said. "You won't have any immune issues, and because you have this biomimetic scaffold that's closer to the native tissue, healing would be better, and the body would recognize it as normal tissue."Wang is now researching decellularization of kidney and liver tissue in large animals. He then hopes to move on to assessing the regenerative ability of large decellularized tissue. Why delaying births is a big deal What until recently was a seemingly routine public health problem for countries that are home to a certain type of mosquito has morphed into a potentially culture-shaping phenomenon in which the populations of several nations have been asked to delay procreation. The World Health Organization says at least 20 countries or territories in the region, including Barbados and Bolivia, Guadeloupe and Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Panama, have registered transmission of the virus. Extreme measures Zika virus is spread to people through mosquito bites. The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). The illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting from several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon. (NaturalNews) The next pandemic is upon us, and it has taken the form of another (likely) mosquito-borne virus known as Zika, which may end up being indirectly responsible for depopulating the world, much to the delight of the Agenda 21 crowd.As reported by, the rapid appearance and spread of Zika which has been around since the 1940s but which some think is now spreading rapidly due to Brazil's release of genetically modified mosquitoes in 2012 has led governments in Latin America to urge women to avoid becoming pregnant for as many as two years, in what is seen as an extraordinary response aimed at curtailing a rash of new birth defects that are being linked to the virus.Thefurther reported:This is a big deal because, as noted byin December, birth rates in Central and Latin America have plummeted in recent years as more women become educated, enter the workforce and share control over family finances. Indeed, in Brazil, the believed epicenter for the new Zika outbreak, birthrates have fallen to 1.7 children per mother, on average, less than the (low) U.S birthrate and far lower than the 6.3-children average in 1960.In Brazil, some 1 million people have contracted the virus ; in the past four months, however, health officials have received reports that in some 4,000 cases the virus has been linked to microcephaly in newborns in which babies are born with unusually small heads and major brain damage.Neighboring Colombia is also dealing with its own Zika outbreak. Sharing an Amazonian border with Brazil, health officials in Colombia have documented more than 13,000 cases of the disease. Authorities there are also urging women to forego pregnancy for at least several more months. Other nations in the region such as Honduras and Jamaica have also asked women to delay getting pregnant.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides some details about the Zika virus on its website "In May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued an alert regarding the first confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil," the CDC said. "The outbreak in Brazil led to reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome and pregnant women giving birth to babies with birth defects and poor pregnancy outcomes."Following the documentation of more than 5,000 Zika cases last year and through the first few weeks of this year, health officials in El Salvador have adopted the most extreme countermeasures to date: Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Espinoza has asked women to delay getting pregnant until 2018. The impoverished Central American nation saw its first documented Zika cases in November, sending samples to the U.S. to be tested, the minister said in an interview with the"The recommendation is that people plan their pregnancies, that they avoid if at all possible to have babies this year," Espinoza told the paper. "This is the first time that we have suffered an attack of Zika virus, and the first attack is always the worst." In 2015 the Gold King Mine spill was a wake-up call to address dangers of abandoned mines, but there are currently more than 15,000 toxic uranium mines that remain abandoned throughout the US. For more than 50 years, many of these hazardous sites have been contaminating the land, air, water, and national monuments such as Mt. Rushmore and the Grand Canyon. Each one of these thousands of abandoned uranium mines is a potential Gold King mine disaster with the greater added threat of radioactive pollution. For the sake of our health, air, land, and water, we can't let that happen. These uranium mines cause radioactive contamination, and as a result all the residents in their vicinity are becoming nuclear radiation victims. New Mexico and the federal government have provided little funding for widespread clean up and only occasionally are old mines remediated. The governments of New Mexico and the United States have a duty to clean up these radioactive mines and mills and, furthermore, to perform health studies to determine the effects of radioactive poisoning. The MASE and LACSE organizations oppose new uranium mining and demand legacy uranium mines to be cleaned up. (NaturalNews) Andrew Jackson (the US President on the $20 bill) signed the "Indian Removal Act" into law in 1830. Consequentially, over 125,000 Native Americans were forced off their properties in the East and relocated to "Indian territories" across the Mississippi River to the West. The federal government was making way for white people to inherit the native land so they could expand their cotton farming operations. As the Native Americans were forced to travel west, several thousand passed away on what became known as the Trail of Tears.To this day, the federal government still treats Native Americans as a lesser race, expendable and at the mercy of the industries that exploit and pollute their land and water.In Flint, Michigan, polluted drinking water has become a big deal, and thankfully attention is being drawn to the nightmare of lead poisoning that is causing permanent brain damage in children throughout the city.However, Native American communities throughout the Western USThe Navajo communities in particular are constantly being poisoned through the water supply as the byproducts of old uranium mines leech into their water sources. Reporter Brenda Norrell testifies that the situation in the Navajo nation is "more horrific than in Flint, Michigan," and has been going on for far too long.The nuclear industry took off in the 1950s after the creation of the atomic bomb. Uranium mining boomed in the '50s, leaving behind 15,000 abandoned uranium mines today. Countless abandoned mines, for uranium, gold and other minerals, now dot the Navajo Nation, and they continue to contaminate the water supply. When the EPA addressed one of the mines in 2015 the Gold King Mine they recklessly unleashed tons of toxic sludge into the Animas and San Juan rivers Charmaine White Face, representing South Dakota-based organization Defenders of the Black Hills, said:When the uranium mining operations are complete, and after resources are exploited, corporations can just walk away, leaving a toxic waste site in their wake. To the demise of the Native Americans, 75 percent of these now abandoned uranium mines sit on tribal lands. Arizona Senator John McCain pushed a resolution through a recent US defense bill, stripping the Apache of their land and giving it to a company called Resolution Copper. The new copper mining operations would not only desecrate ceremonial grounds at Oak Flat but also poison the Apache water supply with byproducts from the mine.Leona Morgan of Dine NO NUKES says, "A mostly-Navajo community in Sanders, Arizona has been exposed to twice the legal limit allowable for uranium through their tap."Dine NO NUKES sends their protests all the way to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to contamination of water supplies in the West, but the group gets no mainstream media attention Petuuche Gilbert of the Laguna Acoma Coalition for a Safe Environment, the Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment and Indigenous World Association, says: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Thursday announced completing new standards to reduce Campylobacter and Salmonella in ground chicken and turkey products, raw chicken breasts, legs and wings. Implementation of the standards will prevent 50,000 illnesses annually, according to an estimate from USDAs Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). For chicken parts, ground chicken and ground turkey, FSIS is completing a performance standard that is intended to achieve a 30-percent reduction in Salmonella-related illnesses. Salmonella is linked to an estimated 1.2 million foodborne illnesses each year, and approximately 360,000 illnesses are attributed to products regulated by FSIS, according to the agencys press release announcing the new standards. A separate performance standard for chicken parts and ground chicken is designed to yield a 32-percent reduction in illnesses from Campylobacter, which causes symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Once facilities have completed testing under the new standards, FSIS plans to post information online about facilities that meet or fail the standards. Over the past seven years, USDA has put in place tighter and more strategic food-safety measures than ever before for meat and poultry products," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack declared in a statement accompanying the press release. We have made strides in modernizing every aspect of food safety inspection, from company record keeping, to labeling requirements, to the way we perform testing in our labs." Food-safety advocates still maintain USDA hasnt done enough. David Plunkett, senior food-safety attorney with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), welcomed FSISs new standards with a caveat. But the standards only move the ball modestly, reducing contamination rates from 25 percent of product to 15 percent; they dont get us over the food safety goal line," Plunkett said in a statement. The National Chicken Council (NCC), the Washington-based trade association, said it has been exploring all options to reduce contamination in chicken parts. Such options include strengthened sanitation programs, temperature controls and various interventions in both first and second processing," said Ashley Peterson, Ph.D., NCCs senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, in a statement. NCCs members will continue to rely upon the best science, microbiology and technology available to reduce food borne pathogens in order to meet and exceed standards set forth by the federal government," Peterson said. We look forward to reviewing the final rule in its entirety." Commenting on the new standards, the turkey industry cited companies continual efforts to fight bacteria during the preparation and packaging of meat. We are using each proven advancement in science to counter the formation of pathogens," said Lisa Wallenda Picard, vice president of science and regulatory affairs with the National Turkey Federation, in a statement. We are engaged in an ambitious, ongoing effort to lower the count of these microbes to the lowest point possible for raw meat and poultry products." It's those beads again. That is, small plastic particles, or microplastics, found in many toothpastes and cosmetics are endangering Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and their reproduction, according to a new study from France's national marine research agency. While scientists have known for some time that microplastics greatly impact marine life, what's surprising about the recent study is how those tiny grains can impact future generations. Oysters rely on a filter-feeding system, so they are prone to ingesting tiny plastic particles along with many other things in the water. In the latest study, researchers tested Pacific oysters in tanks and found that oysters exposed to microplastics produced smaller eggs and less mobile sperm compared to a control group of oysters in a tank that did not contain microplastics. In fact, after two months of consuming plastics, oysters produced 41 percent fewer offspring, which grew more slowly than normal. Millions of tons of plastics wind up in the world's oceans every year, and it is estimated that by around 2050 there will be more plastic than fish, by weight. But researchers are increasingly concerned about microplastics -- the bits that are smaller than five millimeters -- because common products like face wash and toothpaste go straight down the drain instead of being discarded properly, according to BeatTheMicrobead.org, an anti-microplastics campaign. (Scroll to read more...) While birds and sea turtles have been seen chocking on plastic debris in the ocean, researchers are not entirely sure how these tiny plastics are impacting oysters. It may be that they are interfering with oysters' hormones, blocking their digestive systems and making it harder for them to eat food and get energy. Furthermore, researchers say the oysters may be mistaking microplastic particles for phytoplankton, as they are about the same size. The study findings, recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlight the devastating impact microplastics can have on marine environments and reinforce the need to act on the problem. "Anthropogenic litter is something we can do something about quite quickly if we want to," Tamara Galloway, an ecotoxicologist at the University of Exeter, said in a statement. So, while the U.S. government is making strides to reduce plastic consumption -- including recently passed legislation banning microbeads -- one simple way consumers can help is by using less plastic and being more careful about waste disposal. Related Articles Ocean Pollution: 8 Trillion Microbeads a Day from US Marine Waste: Cleanser Can Release 100,000 Micro-Beads Sea Turtles Threatened By Plastic Pollution, Researchers Say For more great nature science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN). -Follow Samantha on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13 Fossils of a newly discovered insect, Oregramma illecebrosa, that closely resemble modern day butterflies were recently discovered in China and eastern Kazakhstan, according to a new study from Indiana University. Surprisingly, however, researchers found the winged Jurassic age insect predates the earliest known butterflies by about 40 million years. This butterfly-like species is a member of an extinct group of lacewings called kalligrammatids that boasts large wings that feature "eye spots," a defense mechanism used by a variety of modern species, such as owl or Satyr butterflies. Lacewings also possessed a long tongue for use in retrieving nectar from flowers, according to a news release. Researchers discovered the well-preserved Oregramma illecebrosa specimens in ancient lake deposits. Among those fossils were a number of other extinct "lacewing" insects of the genus kalligrammatid, or Jurassic "butterflies." It is believed that these prehistoric butterflies would have pollinated ancient relatives of pine trees and cycads trees. "Poor preservation of lacewing fossils had always stymied attempts to conduct a detailed morphological and ecological examination of the kalligrammatid," paleobotanist David Dilcher, one of the study's co-authors, said in the release. "Upon examining these new fossils, however, we've unraveled a surprisingly wide array of physical and ecological similarities between the fossil species and modern butterflies, which shared a common ancestor 320 million years ago." Eventually, lacewings evolved into a type of insect distinct from the modern butterfly and the newly discovered species acts as an example of convergent evolution, whereby two distantly related animals independently adapt or develop similar anatomical features and behaviors. Evolution is a great innovator, Dilcher said in the university's release, noting, "but at the same time: "if it worked once, why not try it again." The findings were recently published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Related Articles Wing Pattern Sheds Light On Birthplace Of Migrating Monarch Butterflies For more great nature science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN). -Follow Samantha on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13 While a certain number of whales have been spotted in unexpected places lately, it's fairly surprising that a humpback whale showed up in Boston Harbor this week. The juvenile whale was swimming near Castle Island (a former fort and now the location of an urban park) in the harbor when a whale watch captain spotted it. Captain Adam Murphy, that person, was piloting a commuter boat for Boston Harbor Cruises from Boston to Hingham and heard about the whale from another boat. The whale was passing the Hyatt Regency hotel, in the proximity of Logan International Airport. Murphy said he identified the whale as a humpback by its dorsal fin and a "short, bushy blow" of air, according to an article in the Boston Globe. A spokesman for the New England Aquarium, Tony LaCasse, said that this is the third time since 2013 that a juvenile humpback was sighted swimming in the harbor, as the article confirmed. Before that, LaCasse said that in his 12 years at the Aquarium, one other young whale ventured that near to Boston. In particular, one famously spent three days swimming between Seaport District and Hull Bay, back and forth. This is the length of the harbor. Considering that Boston is experiencing winter and many whales have already headed farther south, seeing the humpback this week was "somewhat" unusual, said LaCasse in the article, but Aquarium officials were happy to note that because boating season is over, being near shore is relatively safe for the cetacean. For more great nature science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN). -Follow Catherine on Twitter @TreesWhales Gray treefrogs may provide new clues about climate change. A recent study from the University of Missouri suggests that increasing temperatures and climate variability might have an effect on the sounds produced by gray treefrogs, ultimately impacting breeding. "In a way, the decline of the polar bear has become the face of climate change; yet, gray tree frogs located in our own backyards might give us better clues about changes in the environment," Sarah C. Humfeld, a postdoctoral fellow of biological sciences, said in a news release. "Our team wanted to take a look at how rising temperatures might affect how female gray tree frogs interpret the signals given off by males and whether or not that might interrupt their breeding habits." Gray treefrogs (Hyla versicolor) are a common species found in North America and throughout the eastern two-thirds of the country, including Missouri. They are characterized by sticky toe pads that help them cling to windows and by the male mating calls, or trills. A chorus of males may seem like nothing out of the ordinary on warm summer evenings, but during breeding season females rely on these calls to locate a high-quality male of the correct species. However, the pitch and rate of mating calls can be temperature-dependent, often corresponding to rising or falling temperatures experienced by these cold-blooded animals. "We already know that there's an optimal range for male mating calls," Humfeld explained in the university's release. "When temperatures rise, the pitch and trill rate of the calls can increase. What we didn't know was whether or not females' interpretation of those calls were dependent on temperature as well. We were interested in studying whether or not the responses of the female's auditory system shifted in tandem with the male's calls at different temperatures." In their experiment, researchers elevated temperatures slightly to simulate a warmer climate and played back various types of recorded calls to see how the females would respond. "We found that temperature didn't have a great effect on females and their interpretation of the mating call; however, these are still important findings," Humfeld added. "Amphibians are the veritable 'canary in the coal' mine, an indicator species that can send signals to scientists who study the effects of rising global temperatures. "Knowing more about how their mating habits are affected by climate change can help us study the ways rising temperatures are affecting biodiversity. Findings from our study help add to the knowledge base needed to study thermal tolerance levels for various species and the steps conservation managers can take to maintain various ecological systems." Their study was recently published in the journal Herptological Conservation and Biology. Related Articles Poisonous Asian Toads: Madagascar Must Eradicate Them [VIDEO] For more great nature science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN). -Follow Samantha on Twitter @Sam_Ashley13 It doesnt take much to keep a classroom safe in the event of an earthquake. School architect Mark Quattrocchi points to a wall-mounted cabinet and says, There are bolts - two in the bottom of each cabinet and then you can see them here, two in the top of each one. And these are attached directly into framing in the wall or blocking. This is precisely what we want to see. What Mark Quattrocchi doesnt want to see is what he found inside Napa schools after a 6.0 earthquake struck in the middle of the night in August 2014: Book shelves blocked exits. A file cabinet toppled onto a desk. A drill press fell to the floor. And then also things that you really wouldnt expect - light fixtures, Quattrocchi says. A number of schools they had light fixtures fail, and some fall. NBC Bay Area first showed you the chaos inside Napa classrooms in September 2014. Structural engineer Maryann Phipps saw our story. Had it been another time of day it would have been a completely different story, she told us last year. And we would have been mourning the loss of students. A report Phipps co-wrote for FEMA doesnt mince words, noting At least three public schools experienced potentially life threatening damage to classroom furnishings. Prompted by the destruction in Napa, NBC Bay Area reviewed more than five decades of seismic damage inside schools across California. We found a pattern of failures: Equipment on the floor in a shop class. More blocked exits. More fallen lights. In fact, lights fell in a Calexico earthquake in 2010, Northridge in 1994, Coalinga in 1983 and even Kern County back in 1952. Each time, the earthquakes struck outside school hours when classrooms were empty. Just like in Napa. We just should thank our lucky stars that it was during the middle of the night, says Assemblymember Bill Dodd. Dodd represents the 4th Assembly District, including parts of Napa. He is proposing new seismic legislation in Sacramento, prompted by our reporting. That frankly was the impetus for our bill idea because we were, you know, I don't think the word is outraged, but we were very concerned, he says. Dodds bill, Assembly Bill 1783, would for the first time require school districts to inspect the contents of classrooms and school equipment, and fix seismic hazards. Once this inspection is done then they will be required to report it, Dodd says. The law will make sure that they're done in compliance with the laws. And now no longer guidelines, but requirements. Every school in the state would be required to comply, and district superintendents would be charged with certifying school contents are safe. Darren Drake is the fire marshal in Napa and one of the first people we talked to after the Napa quake. He backs the legislation. Obviously it comes with a price tag, he says. School districts all have to look at that and base the degree of corrections on their capability, and triaging those schools that need most work, or are in dire need, sooner than later. More than a year after the earth rumbled in Napa, dangers persist in other districts around the state. Just last week we found an unsecured television sitting on an upper shelf in a classroom in the South Bay. Who in the world wouldn't support this? You know, who wouldn't see this is as a good thing, asks school architect Quattrocchi. Theres a great probability of saving injury or worse yet death in a school the next time a major earthquake comes. Who wouldnt support that? As Sacramento begins to debate the proposed legislation, one things for sure. Another earthquake will happen. Its only a matter of time. A Saudi military spokesman said Thursday the kingdom is ready to send ground troops to Syria to fight ISIS an offer welcomed by Defense Secretary Ash Carter. Saudi Brig. Gen. Ahmed Asiri on Thursday told The Associated Press that Saudi Arabia has taken part in coalition airstrikes against ISIS since the U.S.-led campaign began in September 2014, but could now provide ground troops. The U.S. is scheduled to convene a meeting of defense ministers from countries fighting ISIS in Brussels next week month. "We are determined to fight and defeat Daesh," Asiri said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. He didn't say how many troops the kingdom would send. Saudi Arabia is deeply involved in Yemen's civil war, where it is fighting Iranian-backed Shiite rebels. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have long viewed Iran as a regional menace, and Riyadh and Tehran back opposite sides in the wars in Syria and Yemen. Gov. Bruce Rauner established the Illinois Business and Economic Development Corporation Wednesday, a privately run and funded corporation dedicated to bringing new business to the state. Rauner used an executive order to direct the state's economic development agency to work with the newly formed not-for-profit corporation. Oversight of the newly minted corporation will be handled by the states commerce agency who will be responsible for approving any incentives offered by the ILBEDC. "The Executive Order directs the Department of Commerce to work collaboratively with the ILBEDC," Kyle Ann Sebastian of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity told Ward Room. "The business community, economic development stakeholders and Department of Commerce leaders incorporated the ILBEDC." Rauner previously negotiated a deal with House Speaker Michael Madigan last year to create a private-public partnership within the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity focused on creating economic development. Over a dozen states have similar private-public partnerships. The deal fizzled due to Rauners concerns over a sunset provision that would have required a private contract review in three years. This couldve been a law that couldve been on the books for nearly a year, Madigans spokesman Steve Brown told Ward Room. Nonetheless, Rauners democratic counterparts remain skeptically optimistic about the governors executive order. Well look carefully at all this, Brown said. No one is against bringing businesses to Illinois. Illinois is following the successful corporation models of states like Ohio, Texas and Michigan. Wisconsins corporation model, on the other hand, has been riddled with problems since its establishment in 2001. The state has doled out $126 million without a formal review and have had a hard time recovering loans from struggling companies. Rauner claims that transparency will not be an issue with the new corporation due to the public disclosure of donors and a conflict-of-interest policy for board members. In addition to these policies, Rauner promises public board meetings and corporate records that will be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. The Chicago Teachers Union received three times more support from Chicagoans than Mayor Rahm Emanuel on how to improve the citys ailing public school system, according to a Chicago Tribune report released Thursday. According to the poll, 60 percent of Chicagoans side with the teachers union on how to improve schools. Only 20 percent of Chicagoans side with Emanuel while 12 percent backed neither side and 7 percent had no opinion. The relationship between CPS and the teachers union has grown increasingly tenuous, as CTUs 40-member Big Bargaining Team unanimously rejected an offer from Chicago Public Schools Monday. District CEO Forrest Claypool then announced cuts of $100 million to school budgets Tuesday. CTU President Karen Lewis referred to the cuts as an act of war." CPS officials also took out a high interest loan of $725 million Wednesday to help prop up the already cash strapped school system. CPS is facing a $480 million budget deficit for this school year and the district projects a $1.1 billion deficit for next year. Last December, 88 percent of CTU members voted to strike if a new contact agreement wasnt reached. State law requires 75 percent support for a strike. The unions last strike was in September of 2012 and lasted nine days. CTU held a rally downtown Thursday to protest the districts recent decisions. The Tribune poll also found that Emanuels approval rating on education has fallen to an all-time low. This comes on the heels of Mondays Tribune poll which found that only 27 percent of Chicagoans approve of Emanuels leadership and job performance while 63 percent disapprove. Emanuel has come under fire in the wake of the Oct. 2014 fatal police shooting of Chicago teen Laquan McDonald. Nonetheless, Emanuel was confident about CPS contract offer when he spoke to "Chicago Tonight" last Thursday. "I think it's better for me to characterize it as very good discussions, with a lot of respect on both sides for the challenges they're facing, but to try to create a win-win situation for both teachers, taxpayers and our students," Emanuel said. Gov. Bruce Rauner moved forward this week with his plan for a state takeover of Chicago Public Schools and is currently looking for an interim superintendent for the district. If legislation introduced to the state senate and house is passed, control of CPS would be given to the Illinois State Board of Education. Gov. Rauners threat of a takeover of CPS represents an educational abomination, CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said during a press conference Wednesday. This is a guy who knows nothing about real education. The Emanuel administration did not respond to Ward Rooms request for comment. The mother of a teenager shot by Chicago Police is asking the United States Justice Department to investigate her sons case. Patricia Greens 17-year-old son Christian was shot and killed July 4, 2013, in a vacant lot on the South Side. Police initially said Green pointed a gun at them and that he had been shot in the chest. But an autopsy revealed that the youth was actually hit in the back, by an officer who fired eleven times. I just want justice, Green said. I want to know the truthwhat really happened to my son. Greens son was standing with a group of other young people near the Carter School, in the 5700 block of South Michigan Avenue, but fled the area as police approached. Pursuing officers chased him several blocks, and said they saw him attempt to drop a gun near the corner of 57th and State. The officers said he picked it up again and continued running. Officer Robert Gonzalez told investigators that Green turned and pointed the weapon at him, prompting him to fire. Whether Laquan McDonald, or my son, or any other teenager that was shot in the back, we as citizens of Chicago, we deserve to know the truth, Greens mother said. My son had his whole life ahead of him. I have taken the deposition of the lead detective, said attorney Victor Henderson, who represents the family. I asked him point blank, once you learned that Christian was shot in the back, what did you do versus the early report that he was shot in the chest? He said, nothing. The Independent Police Review Authority ruled that the shooting had been justified. In a letter to Mayor Rahm Emanuel and States Attorney Anita Alvarez, Henderson asks that the two officials request a Justice Department open a criminal investigation, because the family perceives a cover-up relating to the Green case. IPRA (Independent Police Review Authority) investigators conspired with the four policemen about what to say during interviews in order to further the cover-up, the letter states. Moreover, two eyewitnesses have stepped forward to say that Christian was no threat to Officer Gonzalez, and that he did not have a gun in his hand when he was shot. Transcripts and audio tapes of the IPRA interviews with the four officers, obtained by NBC5 Investigates, showed that during those interviews, the IPRA investigator stopped the tape at least a dozen times. Henderson alleged those pauses in the recording were intentional, to allow the officers to formulate a cohesive version of events. This is a test case, and the first test since Laquan McDonald, Henderson said. Lets just get the truth. Thats what we wantno more, no less. The deaths of six family members whose bodies were found inside a Southwest Side Chicago home Thursday have been declared homicides, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. The medical examiner's office has not officially released the identities of the bodies, but autopsy results showed the cause of death for the victims, all of which have been ruled a homicide. According to the autopsy report, the victims died of multiple sharp and blunt force injuries due to assault, except for a middle-aged female, who died of multiple gunshot wounds. Family members said the people who lived in the home were a couple, their son, their daughter, and their daughter's two children. They identified the deceased as Rosa Hernandez, Noe Martinez, Noe Martinez Jr., Herminia Martinez and her two children, Alexis and Leonardo. Crosses bearing each name were placed outside the home as a memorial Friday. The two children were 10 and 13 years old, police said. "They were a normal family. Everything was fine," Noemi Martinez, 29, said from Dallas during a phone interview in Spanish. She said her husband was a nephew and cousin of the home's residents. Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy said Friday that all of the victims suffered blunt trauma. Investigators Friday would not say whether the crime was targeted, but did say the community was not facing an active threat. "I would understand that people would have a heightened sense of concern but really there is nothing at this point that leads us to believe that this was a random act that this was somebody that broke into the house," Interim Chicago Police Superintendent John Escalante said. Officers conducting a welfare check discovered the bodies of two women, two men and two children around 1:30 p.m. Thursday on the 5700 block of South California. A concerned co-worker called police after one of the men found in the home had not showed up to work for two days. Investigators were working Friday to piece together what exactly happened inside the small brick home tucked away in a typically quiet neighborhood near 57th Street and California Avenue. Asked whether it could have been a murder-suicide, Escalante told reporters it was "a possibility." Police said in a Friday morning news conference there had been no sign of forced entry and all the doors had been locked when officers arrived. "It's a rather complex scene," Roy said. Police have revealed few details on a potential motive in the case, but said there is no threat to the community. Friends told NBC5 the victims were a "good family" from Mexico with no known problems. Martinez said the father worked at a factory in Chicago and the mother was a housewife. They were originally from the Mexican state of Guanajuato and had lived in Chicago for about a decade, Martinez said. "Right now, we just want to know who did this," she said. "They didn't deserve this. We don't understand what happened." Azcucena Martinez, who goes by Susy and is the niece of the couple, created a GoFundMe page to help the family send the bodies back to Mexico. As of Friday, the page had received more than $17,000. "There was never any problems so we couldn't even think something happened to them," said neighbor Mayra Diego. "They were very nice quiet people." Investigators found no signs of forced entry inside a Gage Park house where six family members were found slain in the Southwest Side neighborhood, Chicago police announced Friday. Chicago Police Chief of Detective Eugene Roy said Friday that all of the victims suffered blunt trauma. Officers conducting a welfare check discovered the bodies of two women, two men and two children aged 10 and 13 around 1:30 p.m. Thursday on the 5700 block of South California. A concerned co-worker called police after after one of the men found in the home had not showed up to work for two days. Investigators were working to piece together what exactly happened inside the small brick home tucked away in a typically quiet neighborhood near 57th Street and California Avenue. Asked whether it could have been a murder-suicide, Interim Chicago Police Superintendent John Escalante told reporters Friday it was "a possibility." Police said in a Friday morning news conference there had been no sign of forced entry and all the doors had been locked when officers arrived. Friends told NBC 5 the victims were a good family from Mexico with no known problems. Police have revealed few details on a potential motive in the case, but said there is no threat to the community. The victims' identities will be released after the Cook County medical examiner has performed autopsies Friday morning, Roy said. He said it appeared the victims were members of the same family. Six people lived in the home a couple, their son, their daughter and the daughter's two children a relative said. "They were a normal family. Everything was fine," Noemi Martinez, 29, said from Dallas during a phone interview in Spanish. She said her husband was a nephew and cousin of the home's residents. Martinez said the father worked at a factory in Chicago and the mother was a housewife. They were originally from the Mexican state of Guanajuato and had lived in Chicago for about a decade, Martinez said. "Right now, we just want to know who did this. They didn't deserve this. We don't understand what happened," she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Archbishop Blase Cupich is embarking on a major reorganization in the Archdiocese of Chicago. In what's being called a sweeping change of landscape, priests have been told that in the next 14 years 80 to 100 Chicago-area parishes could be forced to merge or close, sources told NBC Chicago. Though the Archdiocese would not confirm the number of reported closures, at least one priest who has been briefed on the plan says it is driven partially by finances, "but mostly it's the number of priests available 14 years from now." The Archdiocese projects by 2030 there will only be 240 priests to serve the city's 351 parishes. Currently, those parishes are served by 772 priests. Priests who have attended the recent meetings with Cupich, and prefer not to be named, say in the next two years 17 parishes are expected to close as the reorganization plan begins. It's not clear which parishes will be included in those closures, however. The priest shortage means it is very likely that two parishes may share one pastor, a number of priests told NBC5. In a letter sent first to priests and later posted on the Archdiocese website, Cupich does not qualify the exact number of parishes that will close but says, the Archdiocese has changed in a significant way over the past several decades." "Demographics have shifted dramatically," he wrote. "Some of our parish buildings are in disrepair. We have fewer priests to pastor or faith communities. The result is that we end up spreading our resources too thinly. We should not be afraid to face these realities, but rather see this moment as a graced opportunity to chart new way to live out our mission more fully. At least one priest told NBC Chicago we cant sustain it the way it is." Meetings with lay leaders in parishes throughout the entire Archdiocese are expected to begin next week. Illinois State Rep. Andre Thapedi introduced a new bill this week that could make President Barack Obamas birthday a state holiday. The proposed legislation, House Bill 4654, would close schools and state offices on Aug. 4, Obamas birthday. If the date falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be observed instead. The bill is co-sponsored by representatives Thaddeus Jones, Rita Mayfield and Arthur Turner. "As President Obama serves his final year in office, the timing to make his birthday a state holiday is critical to recognizing his accomplishment and the legacy that he will leave behind for future presidents, Illinois officials and young people who aspire to serve their community," Jones said in a statement. Before becoming a U.S. Senator and subsequently the countrys Commander-In-Chief, Obama served as an Illinois senator from 1997-2004. The president will address the states General Assembly next week in Springfield amid the states historic budget impasse and pension crisis. Obama became the first black president in the nations history when he was sworn into office in January of 2009. A Virginia mother of three has been diagnosed with the first known case of the Zika virus in the state after traveling to Guatemala on a mission trip. Longtime missionary Heather Baker, who lives in Harrisonburg, Virginia, was confirmed last week to have contracted the virus. She told News4 she knew something was wrong starting in late November, when she returned from a trip to Guatemala, her fourth such trip in the past year and a half. "It began with just a swollen lymph node, which definitely tipped me off that something was coming, and then progressed to some body aches and a really weird rash and joint pain," Baker said. She initially was tested for another illness, but those results came back negative. After talking with friends in Guatemala, she decided to get tested for Zika. State Department of Health officials told her last week she has the virus. [NATL] Global Health Officials Scramble to Fight Zika Virus Zika is transmitted from infected mosquitoes to people, from infected pregnant mothers to babies and possibly through sexual activity, according to ongoing research. Babies born to mothers with the virus can have microcephaly, a condition associated with small, undeveloped brains. Although Zika is not airborne or easily spread, Baker said she's being extra cautious. She said she stopped sharing drinks or food with her children, and canceled a massage and nail salon appointments. "We're just being very careful because there are so many unknowns," she said. Baker advised women who are pregnant or hope to get pregnant to avoid travel to affected regions, echoing experts' advice. "If you have a trip planned to one of these area, just postpone it," she said. "Find something to do local." The Centers for Disease Control plans to release guidance soon on how to prevent sexual transmission of Zika. "We have to have a healthy respect for this virus, but I don't think we have to be unduly alarmed just yet," Georgetown University infectious disease expert Paul Rope said. Baker likely contracted Zika in Central America, but she said when she is fully recovered, she plans to return there to continue her missionary work. WASHINGTON Police arrested and charged two Fort Washington, Maryland, residents in a human trafficking case involving a 15-year-old girl. Related Stories Police rescue 2 teen girls from Md. human trafficking ring Howard County, MD News Virginia AG, feds teaming up to fight human trafficking Virginia Authorities arrest 9 in prostitution, human trafficking bust Maryland News Dierra Victoria Lee Thomas,... "Kill her," he said. Those were the words that Noela Rukundo heard come through the speakerphone. The voice on the other end of the line was her de facto husband, the BBC reported. Rukundo's partner, Balenga Kalala, had allegedly paid a group of professionals to kill Rukundo after she attended the funeral of her stepmother in her native Burundi, according to the Australian Broadcasting Company. Kalala was back at their home in Melbourne, Australia. But the would be killers, some of whom knew Rukundo's brother, didn't do their job. She was released 7,500 miles from her home. "We give you 80 hours to leave this country," Rukundo recalled the gang told her, according to the BBC. She did. Getting assistance from both the Belgian and Kenyan embassies as well as a local pastor in Melbourne, Rukundo was able to get back just in time to surprise Kalala at her own funeral. Is it my eyes? she recalled him saying after he had just finished speaking. Is it a ghost? Surprise! Im still alive! she replied, the BBC reported. During the interview with the BBC, Rukundo said that Kalala actually reached out to touch her shoulder for confirmation. "I'm sorry for everything," he cried. That wasn't quite enough for Rukundo. She called the police, and Kalala will now serve nine years in prison for incitement to murder, according to the Australian Broadcasting Company. The saga started almost a year ago, when Rukundo had flown from Melbourne to Burundi to attend her stepmother's funeral. Shortly after, she was blindfolded, shoved into a car, and eventually tied to a chair in a building near Bujumbura, according to the BBC. After her release, she made her way back to Melbourne, and her husband. Kalala told the community in Melbourne that Rukundo was killed in a tragic accident, the BBC reported. Her funeral was well attended, including, of course, one very special guest. For more details on Rukundo's journey, click here. Proactively From the Sea; an agent of change leveraging the littoral best practices for a paradigm breaking six-sigma best business case to synergize a consistent design in the global commons, rightsizing the core values supporting our mission statement via the 5-vector model through cultural diversity. The Maryland man charged with murdering his 2-year-old daughter and her mother will remain behind bars. A judge ordered on Thursday that Daron Boswell-Johnson, 25, be held without bond. Boswell-Johnson confessed to waiting for NeShante Davis, 26, and their daughter, Chloe Davis-Green, outside their home early Tuesday and then shooting them each multiple times, court documents show. He was angry over being ordered to pay $600 per month in child support, sources told News4. The mother and daughter were shot outside their townhouse about 7 a.m. Tuesday in Fort Washington, Maryland. While Boswell-Johnson was in court Thursday, one of his brothers expressed disappointment in him and empathy for the victims' loved ones. "I knew Shante. She was a nice woman. Their relationship was cordial even though they weren't together," he said. "I feel sorry for the family and I hope they could forgive us as a whole family. You messed up, bruh!" Outrage over the killings boiled Thursday inside and outside the courtroom. A young woman screamed at one of Boswell-Johnson's brothers outside the building. "Your brother's a f***ing monster, that's what he is," she yelled as a man held her back. Anger also played out on Facebook, where comments on the suspect's page were so explosive, Facebook removed the page. On that same page, Boswell-Johnson shared numerous photos of his son and daughter from another relationship, describing himself as a proud father, but did not mention little Chloe. County offices have been flooded with phone calls about the killings and arrest, Prince George's County State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks said. "Our switchboard has received more calls than we have ever received on any case, saying to us how enraged they are and concerned they are," she said. Boswell-Johnson, of Forestville, Maryland, was confirmed to be Chloe's father in December through a DNA test conducted as part of a paternity suit, sources said. Boswell-Johnson faces two counts of both first- and second-degree murder. Information on an attorney for Boswell-Johnson was not immediately available. According to the preliminary investigation, Boswell-Johnson went to Davis' and their daughter's home early Tuesday to confront Davis about the child support, officials said Wednesday evening at a news conference. Boswell-Johnson was arrested Tuesday in Montgomery County, Prince George's County Interim Police Chief Hank Stawinski said. Boswell-Johnson waived his Miranda rights and provided a statement to Prince George's County police on Tuesday in which he confessed to the crime, according to court documents. He told police he drove to Davis' home, parked down the street and waited for her to exit. Boswell-Johnson told police he then approached Davis at gunpoint and demanded she drop the petition he pay her $600 per month in child support. He then shot her and the toddler multiple times, he told police, court documents say. Witness statements and surveillance video corroborate the confession, police said in court documents. Chloe is the second child to lose her life to domestic violence so far this year in the county, Alsobrooks said. "Forty percent of our cases so far this year have been domestic in nature," she said. "Weve had 10 homicides, and four of them have been domestic." Boswell-Johnson is due in court in March. While you might be thinking of ways to spend your tax refund, you should first decide how youre going to get your money back. Pre-paid debit cards can be a quick and easy option, but you have to know the pitfalls. We got complaints from several people about the Nexis pre-paid debit card issued to customers at a Jackson Hewitt franchise on Farmington Avenue in Hartford. Jacqueline Ayuso, manager of the Jackson Hewitt franchise, admits the Nexis pre-paid debit card they put tax refunds on last season was a bad deal for customers. They were getting ripped off by this card. There was money being held and money that wasnt accounted for, Ayuso said. I had to call the Nexis card myself for some of my clients to see what is going on. So some of them were reimbursed and some of them just lost money with this card. Monique Douglas and Jeanine Thornton said the Jackson Hewitt franchise offered the Nexis card as a fast alternative to waiting for a check. The card was handed out on the spot by the check cashing place that used to be right at the office. However, they said they werent told about all of the fees. I was completely blindsided because I wasnt expecting so many fees, Douglas said. Every time I used this card I got charged, Thornton said. If I went to the store and purchased something with the card, I got charged. If I went to the ATM, I got charged. If you need to check your balance, well charge you for that. The card also charged fees like $5 to activate the card, $10 to get a statement mailed, and if you need to speak with customer service, thats $2. Douglas said she was slammed with the biggest fee before she even used the card. A hundred and something dollar one-time processing fee that was taken for them putting the money on the card, Douglas said. If she had known about the processing fee for direct deposit, she would not have gotten the card, she said. The manager, Jacqueline Ayuso, disagreed and said they told every customer about the fee that took 2 percent of the total tax return off the top, and customers signed to authorize it. However, she adds they didnt tell customers about all of fees. We didnt know once they left what was going to happen with all these fees and stuff, Ayuso said. A former Jackson Hewitt employee told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters they knew about all of the fees, but pushed the card on customers anyway so they could win a bonus. Ayuso agrees there was an incentive to sell the Nexis card. Because everybody in other stores were trying to see how many cards they could sell because there was a bonus given if we sold an amount of cards, Ayuso saud. The manager added that they have gotten rid of the Nexis card after last years tax season because they had so many complaints about it. Theyre now using the American Express Serve card that corporate Jackson Hewitt locations tell Troubleshooters they are using this year. It doesnt have nearly as many fees and it lists them right on the card. Most transactions are free of charge. Some people did complain about it and I did bring it to my bosses attention and that is why he chose to say you know what, I am not liking this card, Ayuso said. You know we thought it was going to be a good card. H&R Block, Turbo Tax, Walmart, and other companies also offer cards with fewer fees than the Nexis card. However, we still found they all have some sort of fees. Thornton said she wont use a pre-paid debit card to get her tax refund again. This year, she said she will get her tax refund by direct deposit. Ayuso suggests people think about their options carefully before they decide on how to get their tax refund. I would tell customers always read up on your cards, Ayuso said. If you choose to get your tax refund by check or direct deposit into your bank account, there should be no fee to do it. We reached out to Metabank, which issues the Nexis card, and they said they are going to work with Monique about the fees she has been charged. An NBC 5 Investigation caught drivers leaving cars abandoned in front of airport terminals at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, and police didn't seem to do anything to stop them. Signs outside the terminals clearly say you cant leave your car at the curb, but an NBC 5 investigation found drivers still do it even after the airport had a major security scare involving a man who ditched his car at the curb in front of a terminal. In the months after that incident, NBC 5 Investigates discovered police dont seem to respond to some abandoned cars right in front of the nations fourth busiest airport. Undercover video shot by NBC 5 Investigates shows cars sitting empty, again and again, at the curb in front of airport terminals, with no airport police in sight. That may indicate that no ones watching the shop, said Jeff Price, aviation security expert and author of Practical Aviation Security, a leading textbook on airport security. Price said an empty car in front of a terminal for more than a few minutes should be treated as a potential threat and checked by police. You never want to assume that its just a normal situation, so you kind of go into a little bit of condition yellow at this point and start taking a look to see what it could be, said Price. An NBC 5 viewer sent photos in from D/FW Airport showing what appear to be unattended cars which sparked NBC 5 Investigates to take a closer look. During six different days since September, NBC 5 Investigates visited the airport and recorded cellphone video of at least six abandoned vehicles. In one instance, video captured a grey Honda abandoned at Terminal C, sitting empty for at least 15 minutes right under signs warning its a Tow Away Zone. Another video shot from the curb, inside the terminal, and even across the street, showed an abandoned car. After 10 minutes the driver returns but then walks back into the building, leaving the car unattended for another five minutes. NBC 5 Investigates spotted a giant delivery truck, empty and sitting double parked, in front of a terminal and a white car left empty for about 20 minutes at Terminal C. Over at Terminal B the driver of an abandoned car finally showed up and acknowledged it was a mistake. You want to make sure that you follow the law but sometimes you get caught up in things, I guess, said driver, Robin Ogutu. Only once during the six visits did NBC 5 Investigates see a parking ticket on the windshield of an unattended car. Most of the time when NBC 5 Investigates saw empty cars, there was no sign of police or airport parking checkers. Airport spokesman, David Magana, said they do investigate abandoned cars. In fact, he said D/FW Airport police towed 500 cars from the curb last year and ticketed 2,000 more. So there is a lot of work done in that area. Are we getting to every car? No, said Magana. Just six months ago, the airport had an embarrassing scare involving a car left at the curb. Airport police arrested a man for sneaking past a security checkpoint and boarding a plane without a ticket. A police report said officers asked the man how he got to the airport. He told them he drove and "his car was outside on the curb." The report also said officers then went outside to locate his vehicle and found it right in front of Terminal D. Magana said he's unsure if having more staff to investigate abandoned or parked vehicles would give them a better chance to head-off an incident like the one in July, and that airport police use other methods to identify abandoned cars and determine whether they are a threat besides putting officers on the curb. Just because NBC 5 did not see officers or parking checkers on scene, "That doesn't necessarily mean that assessment wasn't done," Magana said. Citing security reasons, he declined to elaborate on what those other methods of assessment may be. D/FW Airport security officials insist the fact that officers were often not visible at the curb is not a staffing issue and said they have enough police to provide adequate security. But D/FW police have a lot to cover, a average of a million passengers a week, 60,000 employees, five terminals, cargo facilities, three hotels on the property, a gas station, restaurants, a freeway running through the airport and a land area the size of Manhattan. At some airports, security officers are much more visible outside. In Los Angeles they greet drivers as they pull in, directing traffic and watching for trouble. LAX was the target of a failed car bomb plot in 1999. In snowy Chicago they're outside at O'Hare preventing drivers from lingering at the curb. Even at Dallas Love Field, it's a different story. NBC 5 Investigates went to Love Field and immediately spotted Dallas police officers patrolling the airport. Shortly after NBC 5 Investigates stopped at the curb, an officer approached the vehicle and asked if we were waiting for a flight to come in. We notified him we were a TV crew and he said we still had to keep moving. But back at D/FW Airport, video captures a black car driven by NBC 5 Investigates pulling up to the curb. The NBC 5 driver stays in the car the whole time so it's never unattended, but the driver was able to idle at the curb for an hour and 10 minutes. At one point a parking checker notices NBC 5s photographer filming the car from on top of the parking garage, across the street from the car, but never asked for the car to be moved. Magana said right now idling at the curb for more than an hour is within the rules and allowable at D/FW. When pressed why things were different at other airports, Magana responded that it wasn't fair to be compared to other airports. He said intelligence gathered by D/FW Airport police shows there are more pressing security threats than unattended or idling cars, but they won't say what they are. When asked if the airport will do anything to re-evaluate security at the curb, Magana said, We're constantly re-evaluating every piece of our security plan every day. Price believes cars left in front of airports may deserve more attention from police. He worries this potential threat has not gotten much attention in recent years since there has not been a recent bomb attack on a U.S. Airport. I think it's fallen off the radar for a couple of reasons -- one is it hasn't successfully happened yet, said Price. We're starting to lose focus again we're starting to take our eye off the ball." A Brazilian health official warned pregnant women to think twice before giving a kiss as global measures mounted Friday against the Zika virus suspected of a link to birth defects. The U.N. human rights agency called for some nations to loosen strict laws against abortion and U.S. health authorities recommended men who have visited areas with the Zika virus use condoms if they have sex with pregnant women. Paulo Gadelha, president of the Fiocruz research institute, said at a news conference that scientists have found live samples of the virus in saliva and urine samples, and the possibility it could be spread by the two body fluids requires further study. He said that calls for special precaution to be taken with pregnant women, and suggested they avoid kissing people other than a regular partner or sharing cutlery, glasses and plates with people who have symptoms of the virus. "This is not a generalized public health measure, for the love of God," he added. Brazil plunged into Carnival season on Friday a time when people commonly kiss strangers they meet at massive street parties. Scientists at the Fiocruz institute say they're trying to determine if the body fluids can spread Zika to new patients. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention Director Tom Frieden, responding to questions about Brazil's reaction to Friday's announcement, said it is the job of health officials to "provide people with all of the information and allow them to make their own choices." "Because this is so knew, we are learning more about Zika daily," Frieden said during a teleconference Friday, noting that "we can't make assumptions about how Zika spreads from one individual case." Meanwhile, U.S. health officials on Friday said men who have been to a Zika outbreak region should use condoms if they have sex with a pregnant woman for the entire duration of the pregnancy. The guidance, issued by the CDC, also said the men might consider abstaining or using condoms even during sex with a woman who isn't pregnant. The CDC stressed that the Zika virus is still mainly spread by mosquitoes. In most people, it causes mild or no symptoms. But it has become a concern because of a possible link with a birth defect in Brazil. The CDC has recommended that pregnant women postpone trips to countries with Zika outbreaks, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean, though Frieden any country where reports of the virus are confirmed will be added to the list of affected areas. All travellers are advised to use insect repellent and take other steps to avoid mosquito bites. The health agency also on Friday updated its guidelines for testing and monitoring pregnant women who have travelled to Zika areas. In the U.S., there have been about 50 cases of travellers diagnosed with the virus, including three pregnant women.To date, the mosquito-borne virus has spread to more than 20 countries in the Americas, including some where sexual violence is rampant. "Zika reminds us that nature is a formidable enemy," Frieden said. In Geneva, spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly said the OHCHR was asking governments in Zika-affected countries in Latin and South America to repeal any policies that break with international standards and restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services, including abortion. "We are asking those governments to go back and change those laws," she said. "Because how can they ask those women not to become pregnant but also not offer them first information that is available, but the possibility to stop their pregnancies if they wish?" Pouilly said that about a quarter of women had experienced physical or sexual violence in El Salvador in the past year. "So that also shows that many of these pregnancies are out of their control and countries obviously have to take that into account," she said. Pouilly said that safe abortion services should be provided to the full extent of the law. "The key point is that women should have the choice and (make) informed decisions," she said. "Women should be able to have an abortion if they want." NBC's Danielle Abreu contributed to this report. A Texas-based company has been awarded a five-year nuclear cleanup contract for a U.S. Department of Energy site in the Idaho desert. The agency announced Thursday that the $1.4 billion contract will go to a contractor team led by Fluor Corp., reported the Post Register (http://bit.ly/1PnNVvN ). Fluor beat out another Fortune 500 company, AECOM, for the Idaho Cleanup Project Core. Fluor opened an office in Idaho Falls in 2014. The company has managed DOE operations at other sites. Fluor will be responsible for cleaning toxic and radioactive contamination, watching over spent nuclear fuel and other duties at the site west of Idaho Falls. It will take over two existing cleanup contracts that are currently held by Idaho Treatment Group and CH2M-WG Idaho, also called CWI. Much of the transuranic waste was buried under dirt decades ago. DOE officials said they expect all of it to be fully cleaned up and shipped outside the state by the end of the five-year contract. There are several work milestones in the contract in order to "align contractor and taxpayer interests," according to a DOE news release. It also requires Fluor to "in good faith" offer positions to existing and qualified Idaho Treatment Group and CWI employees, but not managerial or supervisor positions, said DOE spokeswoman Danielle Miller. There will be a 90-day transition period while operations move from the current contractors to the Fluor-managed team, said Miller in an email. As many as four contractor teams were interested in the ICP Core contract in 2014, but interest dwindled. Some dropped out because of what they saw as overly strict teams and conditions with insufficient awards. It led to some concern about a lack of competition for the new contract. A Fluor spokeswoman declined to comment, saying she doesn't have enough information. Three people were killed and an infant was injured in a crash Thursday on the President George Bush Turnpike in Grand Prairie. Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Lonny Haschel said an armored vehicle was disabled, sitting in the painted split area between the ramps to eastbound and westbound Interstate 20 from southbound PGBT. For an unknown reason, a Honda Accord crossed into the painted area from the right lane and struck the rear of the armored vehicle at about 4:25 p.m., Haschel said. Three occupants in the Accord died at the scene, authorities said. They have been identifed as Carolyn Lewis, 68, Thomas Lewis, 69, and Carolyn Adkison, 35. An infant who was also in the Accord was transported to Children's Medical Center of Dallas with serious injuries. Two occupants in the armored vehicle had minor injuries and were not transported to the hospital. The investigation continues into the cause of the crash. Norm Mineta San Jose International Airport, and the other Bay Area airports, are all gussied up in the black-and gold-of Super Bowl 50. On Thursday, three days before Sundays Super Bowl, San Jose got a crush of travelers, including a Denver Broncos fan who said he spent $21,000 on a four-ticket "Broncos Tailgate Package" with his buddies to the Big Game. "Don't tell my wife," Justin Carrigan said of the exorbitant price tag. "I gotta follow my team" And airport executives believe there will be another, bigger crush on Monday after the Big Game, held nearby at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara. At Oakland International Airport, Southwest Airlines alone is expecting a 20 percent jump, according to the Mercury News. San Francisco International Airport expects 1.3 million passengers through Super Bowl weekend, the newspaper reported. In particular, SFO is bracing for a 50 percent spike in travelers on Monday, the day after either the Carolina Panthers or the Denver Broncos take home the Lombardi Trophy. Smaller airports are also bracing for the influx of private jets arriving in town. The Hayward Executive Airport has never been busier, with VIPs, executives and celebrities flying in record numbers. In Oakland, Kaiser Air expects a thousand planes to come in this weekend. The airport has closed a runway just to park all the jets. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, more than a thousand private jets will also travel through the regions airports large and small. In San Francisco, airport spokesman Doug Yael said about 75 private airplanes touched down Thursday and about the same number will land there on Friday - about 25 more than a typical day. In San Jose, airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes said about 90 private planes landed on Thursday. Airport leaders are advising that anyone traveling this weekend show up at the airport at least three hours early. "Don't tell my wife," says the #Bronco fan who is dropping $30k for #SuperBowl50 weekend with his three friends. pic.twitter.com/PGOQOnb7hM Bob Redell (@BobNBC) February 5, 2016 EDITOR'S NOTE: NBC Bay Area misspelled the name of Justin Carrigan in earlier reports. Two men and a teenager accused in the fatal shooting of a police officer in a botched robbery appeared Friday in court, where a judge ruled that television cameras will be allowed at their trials. They are accused in the shooting death of Downey Officer Ricky Galvez, gunned down Nov. 18 as he sat in his car in the police department parking lot. The five-year officer and Marine, who served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, had just returned from a training program and was not wearing his uniform when he was targeted in what authorities described as a botched robbery. Steven Knott, 18, and Jeremy Anthony Alvarez, 21, are charged with capital murder and attempted second-degree robbery in connection with Galvez's death. A 17-year-old suspect, Abel Diaz, will be tried as an adult, but he will not be eligible for the death penalty due to his age, unlike his co-defendants. Defense attorneys argued Friday that allowing television cameras in the courtroom would be prejudicial to potential witnesses. They also said the defendants should be allowed to wear something other than their orange prison jumpsuits if cameras were allowed. "The defense pitched the idea that if you let the public see these guys in their orange jumpsuits, that someone going to deprive them of a fair trial," said NBC4 legal analyst Royal Oakes. "The judge wasn't buying it. The fact is everybody knows they're in orange jumpsuits because they've been arrested. It doesn't mean you can't get a fair trial." The three suspects are scheduled to return to court next month to set a date for a preliminary hearing. All pleaded not guilty. The criminal complaint also includes gang and gun allegations against all three suspects. Alvarez, the alleged getaway driver, was taken into custody following a police pursuit that ended in the 1000 block of Carob Way in Montebello soon after the shooting. The other two suspects were seen fleeing into a nearby home and taken into custody by members of a sheriff's special weapons team after warrants were obtained, officials said. Diaz's sister, Maricela Alvarado, earlier told NBC4 her brother told her he did not shoot Galvez. Outside a courthouse in November, she showed reporters a text message Diaz sent her about 20 minutes after the shooting. "Mari I love all y'all,'' the message read. "My homie (expletive) up n did something.'' Investigators said they believe the suspects were out to rob someone and were unaware that Galvez was a police officer or that they were in a rear parking lot of the police station. Galvez is survived by his mother, a brother and two sisters. He joined the department in 2006 as a police aide. A former Rowland Heights doctor convicted last fall of second-degree murder for the drug overdose deaths of three of her patients was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in California prison. Prosecutors asked Los Angeles Superior Court Judge George G. Lomeli to hand down that sentence to Hsui-Ying "Lisa" Tseng for the deaths of Vu Nguyen, 28, of Lake Forest; Steven Ogle, 24, of Palm Desert; and Joseph Rovero III, a 21-year-old Arizona State University student from San Ramon, between March and December 2009. Tseng's attorney, Tracy Green, asked the judge to sentence her 46-year-old client to the minimum 15-year-to-life term. Tseng was convicted Oct. 30 of three counts of second-degree murder, 19 counts of unlawful controlled substance prescription and one count of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. It marked the first time in California that a doctor was charged with murder for the deaths of patients given prescriptions for drugs. In their sentencing papers, deputy district attorneys John Niedermann and Grace Rai wrote that, "While amassing a fortune of millions of dollars, and despite repeated warnings pertaining to the danger to her patients, the defendant's prescribing practices never changed and in some patients actually increased ... The defendant's concern was not for the well-being of her patients but rather the monetary benefits they provided her." The prosecutors wrote that it was even more compelling that Tseng knew that three of her other patients had overdosed before Nguyen, Ogle and Rovero died and that she continued to prescribe controlled substances "in a reckless manner knowing the possible consequences of her actions." Tseng's attorney said Thursday that her client had no prior criminal record and surrendered her license to practice osteopathic medicine before she was arrested. "It's never going to happen again," Tseng's lawyer said. At a hearing last December, Rovero's mother, April, said, "All of these tragedies were avoidable." "I hope in time she will feel the remorse she should," she said. Ogle's mother, Desiree Ogle-Spillman, spoke directly to Tseng. "You froze time for all of us and the lives you so carelessly took," she said. During Tseng's trial, prosecutor John Niedermann told jurors that she faked medical records to cover up her misdeeds. "She is warned again and again and again. They're dying, they're dying, they're dying," Niedermann told the jury. "She understands what she's doing, the harm of it, and she does it anyway." Tseng had received calls from coroner's officials about deaths of some of the patients she had seen, along with fielding calls from family members who had told her not to prescribe to or see their loved ones, he said. Tseng's attorney accused investigators of a "rush to judgment" and of singling Tseng out while failing to interview other doctors who may have treated the patients, who she said took "far in excess" of the dosages prescribed by Tseng. The defense attorney contended that there was "no evidence" that her client was simply handing prescriptions to patients who asked for them, and that the doctor was trying to taper down the medication of some patients. Tseng agreed in February 2012 to surrender her license to practice, just before being taken into custody in connection with the criminal charges. She has been behind bars in lieu of $3 million bail since her March 1, 2012, arrest. It was a hot, windy and crowded afternoon when an inferno erupted on the 15 Freeway through the Cajon Pass on July 17, 2015. Frantic 911 calls recorded the voices of terrified drivers, running from the string of burning cars that had unbelievably caught fire that started in the adjacent brush. "I'm scared." "We don't know what to do." "It's getting closer." "Oh my God." Thousands of similar calls revealed the magnitude of the chaos and confusion. "Should I turn around?" Drivers had no idea what to do. "They are going to move us? What's going to happen?" And dispatchers were unsure of what to tell them. "If you feel like you need to run away from your vehicle, then do that. I can't tell you what to do because I can't see you!" Veteran first responders said they were shocked by how fast the fire spread. "That day, personally I felt fear for the people who were there on the scene," said Officer Steve Carapia, a spokesman for California Highway Patrol's Inland Division. "It just caught us off guard. It caught everyone off guard." Flames jumped the freeway, surrounding drivers. The danger escalated to a potential mass casualty incident. "The confusion, it was amazing. We had people at that point fearful of their lives," said San Bernardino County Fire Department division Chief Dan Munsey. Some drivers tried to escape by going the wrong way on the shoulder, blocking already limited space for fire crews. Victoria Beglari was in her black Mercedes just feet from the flames shooting out from a big rig. "It was very confusing, a lot of people didn't know what to do," she said. Caught in the middle of the mayhem, she grabbed her daughters and her dog and ran. "I was terrified," she said. Beglari said she is grateful to have survived. But others are critical of fire responders on the ground who they say gave confusing instructions, or no direction at all. Munsey said it's impossible to have a set game plan, and split-second decisions are made and changed based on what's happening right in front of them. "We might tell you to stay in your car, maybe there's a helicopter above you about to drop water -- then ten seconds later we may be telling you to exit your vehicle and run," he said. But most people who abandoned their cars took their keys, creating a new and major obstacle for firefighters. Adding to the danger were drones flying in restricted airspace, delaying airdrops when every second counted. "It's amazing that there were no fatalities or major injuries," CHP Officer Carapia said. "With any fire, there's always lessons you can learn," Munsey said. We live in freeway country -- 150,000 drivers use the Cajon Pass alone every single day. It is not a matter of if, but when, disaster happens, and whether it's a fire, earthquake or mudslide chances are many of us will be in our cars when disaster strikes. And first responders said the agencies involved in the Cajon Pass fire learned valuable lessons that will help them in the future. "We learned to use our aircraft better, we learned to communicate to our citizens," Munsey said. They also said the first message is for the people they are protecting. The lesson? Despite human instinct, try not to panic. CHP said drivers can help them when a crisis unfolds. "If something were to happen at any given moment, are you prepared to call 911?" Carapia said. "Ask yourself when you are driving, 'Where am I'?" For Beglari, the stranded driver, it is now something she thinks about every day. "I do worry about it when I go through that ramp again," she said. "It was just really scary." The search for a Missouri couple suspected in a series of robberies and abductions in Alabama and Georgia ended in the Florida Panhandle early Friday with authorities there saying the man is dead and the woman taken into custody. Blake Fitzgerald died and Brittany Nicole Harper was wounded and taken to a local hospital, according to a statement from the Escambia County Sheriff's Office. According to NBC affiliate WPMI, Fitzgerald and Harper were shot after a police chase. Dozens of police and sheriff's deputies blocked a rural road leading to the site where the couple was found Friday morning. Authorities have linked Fitzgerald and Harper to a series of crimes in Alabama and Georgia, saying the offenses fit a similar pattern: People are robbed, kidnapped and let go unharmed, usually after a vehicle is stolen. Before that, police in Joplin, Missouri, had wanted to interview the two about a Jan. 22 break-in there in which guns were stolen from a home. The couple is also suspected in two Florida robberies in Walnut Hills and Destin on Wednesday, U.S. Marshals spokesman Martin Keely said. Calling them a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, the U.S. Marshals announced Thursday that they were offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to their arrest. Fitzgerald and Harper have been charged with robbing and abducting a hotel clerk in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and taking his car to the Birmingham area. The clerk was let go in the upscale suburb of Vestavia Hills, where a woman was briefly abducted by two people who stole her family's Ford Edge SUV. On Monday night, a gunman held up a young clerk at a Murphy Express station along Interstate 75 in south Georgia, taking money from the safe and cigarettes before forcing the clerk into an SUV where his female accomplice waited, authorities said. The couple drove about 15 miles before releasing the clerk unharmed, Perry police Lt. Ken Ezell said. The hotel clerk who was abducted in Alabama, Kyle Dease, told Al.com that he spoke with his captors during the nearly two hours he was held on the drive from Tuscaloosa to metro Birmingham. Dease said they told him they hoped to make it to Florida to get married and start a new life together. The man also told Dease he did not plan on going back to prison. A man on death row since 2000 for a Broward County triple murder will get a new trial after the Supreme Court ruled that his defense attorney made serious mistakes and there was a lack of evidence to convict in a case that drew protests from Spanish officials who oppose the death penalty. The 4-3 ruling means Pablo Ibar, 43, will get a third trial for the 1994 murders of nightclub owner Casimir Sucharski, Sharon Anderson and Marie Rogers in Miramar. His case was built around a grainy security video that captured the murders and the Supreme Court faulted his attorney, Kayo Morgan, for not calling an expert facial recognition witness to challenge whether the assailant was actually Ibar. "There was simply no excuse for the numerous deficiencies and failures of Ibar's defense attorney. None of the failures can be attributed to strategic moves nor could remotely constitute acceptable conduct for an attorney defending a first-degree murder charge with the death penalty being sought,'' the court wrote in the opinion. It also cited personal issues Ibar's attorney was dealing with during the trial, including impregnating a drug addict and charges that he battered her. The court said Morgan acknowledged he found it difficult to concentrate, conducted poor cross-examinations and took short cuts. The court also noted that there was no physical evidence that linked Ibar to the crime. Ibar was originally tried with co-defendant Seth Penalver in a trial that ended with a hung jury. The men were then tried separately and both convicted and sentenced to death. The Supreme Court granted Penalver a new trial in 2006 and he was acquitted. Ibar was born in Florida to a Spanish national and only took Spanish citizenship after his conviction in 2000. As he appealed the case, several Spanish officials attended Supreme Court arguments in 2003 and Spanish citizens raised $150,000 to help with his defense. The Spanish officials said use of the death penalty was unjustifiable. Miami Police were called to the scene where a 15-year-old was shot while riding a bike Thursday. It happened around 6:45 p.m. in the 6400 block of Northwest 6th Avenue near Northwest 64th Street. Police said the teen was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital in stable condition. They said they don't have a description of the shooter. Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho took to Twitter after the shooting: "Tragedy strikes again with a 15-year old child shot while riding a bike. Sadly, cowardly gun violence continues in the streets of Miami." An attorney for actress Kate del Castillo said Thursday she is willing to talk to Mexican authorities about her encounters with Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and felt "betrayed" by actor Sean Penn, who wrote a lengthy article about his meeting with the drug kingpin after the actress introduced the two men. The comments by Harland Braun, del Castillo's U.S. lawyer, came after prosecutors in her native country issued an order for her to be located and brought in for questioning as part of a probe of possible money-laundering involving Guzman and the actress' tequila business. She is officially considered a witness and has not been accused of any crime. The clandestine meeting took place last October as del Castillo explored the possibility of developing a movie about the capo, and Penn's Rolling Stone interview was published Jan. 9, a day after Guzman was recaptured in a raid in the city of Los Mochis. "She didn't know Penn was going to write for Rolling Stone. Would you meet with 'El Chapo' and approve to have the interview for publication?" Braun said. "After the interview she had no choice about it. Once Penn and Guzman agreed on the article, what was she going to do? She signed off after they had done so." "That's what made her feel really betrayed by these people," he said, referring to Penn and two people who accompanied him. While Mexican officials have not sought to question Penn, Braun assured that his client is willing to talk. "In the course of the investigation they are going to talk to her, right?" Braun said. "If we receive proper information and credentials, she'll talk to them. She's not hiding anything." Earlier Thursday, two Mexican security officials said federal prosecutors had issued the search order because the movie and telenovela star did not voluntarily appear before authorities to give a statement as requested. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. The officials said the order applies only to Mexican territory and added that if del Castillo were found to be in the country, she would be detained to make a statement as a witness and then released after doing so. Braun said del Castillo, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was currently in Los Angeles, where she has lived for years and feeling "a bit disappointed." He declined to comment on her legal situation in Mexico or whether he had been contacted by U.S. authorities. "All she wanted to do is a movie, and people are making a big deal about it," Braun said. Del Castillo recently sought a court injunction that would bar Mexican authorities from detaining her, although the judge asked her lawyers for more specifics before proceeding with the case. In mid-January she tweeted that many people were making up "items they think will make good stories and that aren't truthful," and that she looked forward to telling her side of the story. Mexican authorities say the October meeting between Guzman, del Castillo and Penn in the mountains of northwestern Mexico helped them locate the cartel leader, though he escaped arrest on that occasion. The Mexican newspaper Milenio recently published a series of text messages between del Castillo and "El Chapo" in which the drug lord showed more interest in the actress than in Penn. The two had planned to meet again. A federal official confirmed the messages were authentic. Del Castillo has appeared in movies and TV shows produced in the United States, Mexico and elsewhere including "Weeds" and "La Reina del Sur," in which she portrayed a powerful cartel boss. Last year she had a part in the feature film "The 33," a fictional account of the 2010 Chilean mine collapse that trapped 33 miners underground for months. Two people in southeastern Brazil contracted the Zika virus through blood transfusions, a municipal health official said Thursday, presenting a fresh challenge to efforts to contain the virus on top of the disclosure of a case of sexual transmission in the United States. The two unrelated cases in Brazil may be the first of people contracting Zika via blood transfusions in the current outbreak, though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with other health bodies, have said that Zika could be spread via blood transfusions. That concern led the U.S. Red Cross to announce it is asking travelers to Zika outbreak countries to wait at least 28 days before donating blood. Canadian officials said that people who have traveled outside of Canada, the continental United States and Europe won't be able to give blood for 21 days after their return. Brigina Kemp, a top health official in the Brazilian city of Campinas, told The Associated Press that a gunshot victim and a transplant patient each tested positive for Zika after receiving blood transfusions from different donors. Kemp said staff at the University of Campinas' hospital first noticed something was wrong in the middle of last year, when Brazil's first cases of Zika were beginning to be reported. Generally so mild that it only causes symptoms in about one out of five cases, Zika began to raise alarm bells after doctors here started to notice a possible link between the virus spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and the terrible birth defect microcephaly. The hospital staff noticed abnormal blood work on a young gunshot wound victim who spent months at the facility. The patient received dozens of blood transfusions from 18 donors between February and May 2015, when he died. Because the region was in the throes of a dengue outbreak at the time, the staff suspected that disease, which is closely related to Zika, and tested him for it, Kemp said. But the tests came back negative and the blood sample was shelved. But when an organ transplant patient tested positive for Zika after developing a fever, the hospital's blood bank staff started looking for other possible Zika cases and tests on the gunshot victim's blood samples came back positive. Transfusions in the two cases were traced to separate donors who had Zika, both of whom reported having suffered symptoms days after they gave blood. The blood bank then informed Sao Paulo's Adolfo Lutz Institute, which also tested the samples and informed Campinas' health department of the results last month. The Health Ministry said in an email to The Associated Press, that while the case of the gunshot victim was not yet part of a scientific study, "the case is among multiple investigations under way into the behavior of the virus." Dante Langhi, president of the Brazilian Association of Hematology and Hemotherapy, told the AP that an academic paper about the transplant case was slated to be published shortly in a specialized medical journal. Langhi said he had been told that researchers investigating the transplant case had determined that the patient contracted Zika through the transfusion, and not through a bite by the Aedes mosquito that is the virus' main vector. "The situation must be evaluated and discussed by technical and government authorities," Langhi said. Meanwhile, a Brazilian health workers union called off a strike set to start Thursday because it could affect the country's battle against Zika. The union's members include workers who go door-to-door in Rio de Janeiro trying to eradicate the mosquito. The union had threatened to strike if the national health ministry failed to meet demands for better work conditions by Thursday. A Montgomery County school board addressed "FightWeek" posts on social media and a series of brawls among students that put a high school on edge last week. Videos of the fights this week at Abington Senior High School surfaced on social media, and school administrators sent a letter to parents on Thursday. During a meeting Tuesday night, board members said several students are being disciplined and could face expulsion. The members also said security patrols will continue to increase across the Abington School District. The school, according to the letter sent to parents by Superintendent Amy F. Sichel, has seen five fights in the last few days. In her letter, Sichel said she was writing to set the record straight after posts on social media, some tagged "#AbingtonFightWeek" spread misinformation. "In one case, a young man was out of control and punched our School Resource Officer," Sichel wrote. "At no time were any of the students who participated in the fights injured, and no other student or staff member was injured. There have been no weapons involved." Sichel went on to say that all of the situations leading to the fights "began outside of school" and that administrators are continuing to investigate. She reassured parents and students that they are safe at school and said school administrators are working closely with the Abington Police Department to keep the school safe. She blamed social media for blowing the fights out of proportion. One video of a fight that allegedly happened at the school sent to NBC10 by a viewer shows two boys fighting in a bathroom, punching each other and pushing each other into walls, stall doors and urinals. At one point, one boy puts the other in a headlock. In another video of a different fight sent by a viewer, two boys are brawling in a stairwell, and one kicks the other in the head before a woman -- it's unclear if she's a school employee or a female student -- and a school officer intervene. In a third video, two girls fight before two officers break them up. It's unclear where the hashtag "#AbingtonFightWeek" originated or exactly when the fights began. Sichel warned that the school and police will be taking action against any students involved in fights. "I ask that you monitor the social media activity of your children, as the genesis of several altercations involved conflicts relating to social media postings," the superintendent wrote. "Also, please share that both school consequences and charges from the Abington Police are forthcoming." Abington Senior High School is ranked 49th among high schools across Pennsylvania by U.S. News and World Report, and 1,661st in the U.S. Its college-readiness, math and literature scores are above average in Pennsylvania, according to U.S. News rankings. A march through the neighborhood of Hunting Park marks a decade since 5-year old Iriana DeJesus was raped and murdered. Her killer remains a free man. "Its sad, its sad thats shes gone," the girl's mother Lizasuain DeJesus said -- speaking through tears. She says her heart breaks every time she thinks about what happened to her daughter on this day 10-years ago. "She was an innocent kid," the mother said. "Why would someone want to murder her? She didnt do nothing to nobody. Its a shame it had to be my daughter." Police and the FBI are searching for the little girls accused killer Alexis Flores. Hes believed to be in hiding in his native Honduras and sources say recent information reveals hes getting plenty of help from his family. Flores was linked to Irianas murder after he was arrested in Phoenix on forgery charges in 2004. A DNA match to Irianas murder came several years late and by that time Flores had already been deported. "Now we have a DNA match. Now we have a name, now we have a face. You can run but you can never hide," Lizasuain said. Irianas body was discovered inside a building at 6th and Pike Streets only a couple blocks from where she lived. Just two weeks ago, a childcare center opened-up in its place giving new life to what had become a painful reminder of Irianas murder. The daycare is now named after the little girl. "I knew that there was no way I could open up something like a childcare center or a preschool and not give back to Iriana," daycare owner Domonique Prince said. "What happed was just tragic." Lizasuain says shes glad to see her neighborhood moving forward and standing behind her -- never giving up hope that one day her daughters killer will be caught. "People say let it go, let it rest. I just cant rest until I know hes been caught. I have a problem with that," Lizasuain said. "I want my justice and I believe that I deserve that." Alexis Flores is on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Police said GPS in stolen cellphones helped them track an armed robbery suspect 26 miles from the location of the crime. It all started at the Verizon store on Columbus Boulevard around 8 Thursday evening when witnesses said a man with a gun burst in, tied up employees and customers, then took off with the stolen phones. Police said they were able to pinpoint the getaway Jeep with GPS in the stolen phones and chased the suspect as he sped up to 100 miles per hour first on 76 then i-95 into Delaware. "I saw a car speed past.. and then I saw a police car right on him.. and I was like Oh My God, what happened?," Iman Dawson told NBC10's George Spencer.[[367771221, C]] The chase ended as the Jeep sped onto a quiet cul-de-sac in New Castle. With nowhere to go, the suspect crashed the Jeep into a drainage ditch. Skyforce 10 hovered overhead as police surrounded the Jeep with guns drawn then were able to take the driver out.[[367759381, C]] He was then loaded into an ambulance and taken to a hospital for treatment. There was no word about the extent of the injuries he sustained. Police could be seen searching the Jeep after the ambulance drove off. On Friday, Police identified the suspect as Henry Davis, III. Police said he remained under guard at Christiana hospital where he was being treated for a broken arm. Police from Philadelphia to Wilmington were involved in the incident. Davis faces multiple charges in the incident. Pope Francis and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in a historic step to heal the 1,000-year-old schism that divided Christianity between East and West, both churches announced Friday. The meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be the first ever between the leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. Francis is due to travel to Mexico Feb. 12-18. He will stop in Cuba on the way and meet with Kirill on Feb. 12 at the Havana airport, where they will sign a joint declaration, a joint statement said. The two churches split during the Great Schism of 1054 and have remained estranged over a host of issues, including the primacy of the pope and Russian Orthodox accusations that the Catholic Church is poaching converts in Russia. Those tensions have prevented previous popes from ever meeting with the Russian patriarch, even though the Vatican has long insisted that it was merely ministering to the tiny Catholic community in largely Orthodox lands. The persecution of Christians Catholic and Orthodox in the Middle East and Africa, however, has had the effect of bringing the two churches closer together. In November 2014, Francis had said he had told Kirill. "I'll go wherever you want. You call me and I'll go." Kirill will be in Cuba on an official visit. The meeting, which was announced jointly at the Vatican and in Moscow, marks a major development in the Vatican's long effort to bridge the divisions in Christianity. In the joint statement, the two churches said the meeting "will mark an important stage in relations between the two churches. The Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate hope that it will also be a sign of hope for all people of good will. They invite all Christians to pray fervently for God to bless this meeting, that it may bear good fruits." Metropolitan Illarion, foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, told reporters on Friday that there are still core disagreements between the Holy See and the Russian Church, in particular on various Orthodox churches in western Ukraine. "Despite the existing ecclesiastical obstacles, a decision has been taken to hold a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis," he said. "The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in other regions where extremists are perpetrating a genocide of Christians requires immediate action and an even closer cooperation between Christian churches," Illarion said. "In this tragic situation, we need to put aside internal disagreements and pool efforts to save Christianity in the regions where it is subject to most severe persecution." The Vatican has long nurtured ties with the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, who is considered "first among equals" within the Orthodox Church. Starting with Pope Paul VI, various popes have called upon the Ecumenical Patriarch in hopes of bridging closer ties with the Orthodox faithful. But the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the largest church in Orthodoxy and the most powerful, has always kept its distance from Rome. Joint theological commissions have met over the years and the Russian church's foreign minister has made periodic visits to Rome, but a pope-patriarch meeting has never been possible until now. About two-thirds of the world's Orthodox Christians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said. About 75 percent of Russia's 144 million population call themselves Russian Orthodox, according to the latest polls, although only a fraction of them say they are observant. The Catholic Church claims about 1.2 billion faithful. Under Francis, the Vatican has encouraged continuing ecumenical ties with the Orthodox as well as other Christian denominations. And it has gone out of its way to be solicitous to Russia, especially in shying away from directly criticizing Moscow over its role in the Ukraine conflict. Ever since Kirill took the helm of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009, the church has enjoyed increasingly close ties with the Kremlin that critics have dismissed as the de-facto merging of the state and the church. A 13-year-old Virginia girl who apparently climbed out her bedroom window was fatally stabbed the same day she left home, investigators said Tuesday, as officials looked into her social media activity. Nicole Madison Lovell, who had battled health issues during her short life, was found dead Saturday. Her mother said Tuesday that Nicole was once, as a small child, so ill that doctors said she had just a 1 percent chance of survival. But Nicole, who also had a liver transplant as a baby, "once again beat the odds," said her mother, Tammy Weeks. Now a Virginia Tech student, David Eisenhauer, is accused of kidnapping and murdering the girl. "I believe the truth will set me free," he said, according to a police document resulting from his arrest Saturday. That was also the day that Nicole's body was found hidden off a North Carolina road, two hours south of the Virginia Tech campus. A preliminary report found that her cause of death was stabbing, Commonwealth's Attorney Mary Pettitt said at the press conference Tuesday afternoon. Pettitt said Nicole died Jan. 27, the same day she went missing. But the truth of what happened to her has been closely guarded by investigators, and officials said little else at the news conference. Another promising engineering major at Virginia Tech also is behind bars. Natalie Keepers will be charged Tuesday with being an accessory before the fact to the first-degree murder, Pettitt said. That's in addition to earlier charges that accuse her of helping to dispose of the girl's body. The new charge carries a term of up to life in prison, Pettitt said. Pettitt said she would not take questions about the investigation. She said her responsibility is "to maintain the integrity of investigation and seek justice inside the courtroom." Police Investigate Nicole Lovell's Social Media Activity Police are investigating the role social media may have played in Lovell's abduction and death. A neighbor of Nicole's said the seventh-grader told her children she had snuck out to meet her "boyfriend" David, an 18-year-old she met online through the Kik messaging app. Neighbor Stacy Snider said her 8-year-old twins played with Nicole before she vanished. She said they told her Nicole showed them a thread of texts. "She was talking about this boyfriend she had that was 18 and went to college, and his name was David. And showed some text messages off of a Kik and pictures. And that's what the girls told the police officers when they asked," she said. Snider said she learned all this from her girls only after Nicole vanished. "I would have told her mother. But we didn't know nothing about it until she came up missing, unfortunately," she said. Kik Interactive, based in Ontario, Canada, was "active in helping the FBI carry out their investigation," spokesman Rod McLeod said. Also, at Kik's request, Apple stopped advertising Kik Messenger as appropriate for kids 9 and older on its iTunes store on Monday. "Yes, we did recently ask Apple to change our rating to 12+. This more closely matches the age (13) in our TOS (terms of service),"McLeod told the AP. Kik, along with Instagram and Snapchat, are particularly popular with younger teens, and it's impossible to keep underage users from signing up. Even kids whose parents closely monitor their activity on sites such as Facebook often use smartphones with other social media where predators lurk, said Adam Lee, special agent in charge of the FBI in Richmond. "Kids are crafty," Lee said. "They will have one account parents have access to, and half a dozen they shield from their parents' view." David Finkelhor, director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire, agreed that parental oversight is a good thing, but cautioned against placing too much blame on technology. "Although there has been an increase in crimes that have some social media-related nexus to them, the overall level of crime victimization -- including sexual assaults and kidnapping and even peer bullying -- has declined," Finkelhor said. "So it's a complicated picture." Teens who are vulnerable online would be vulnerable in other situations as well, Finkelhor added, especially those who are "socially isolated or dealing with some emotional problem, not well supervised, suffering rejection by families or peers. They are looking for support, someone who can give them affirmation." Nicole Lovell Was a Survivor, Her Mother Says Tammy Weeks, Nicole's mother, described the health problems her daughter battled and the joys in her short life. Doctors discovered a rare tumor in Nicole's liver when she was a baby, and at 10 months old, she received a liver transplant. But at age 4, she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. "She fought once again but after that, it wasn't enough," Weeks said, after her daughter developed an acute respiratory condition and fell into a coma for six months. During that time, she contracted MRSA, a drug-resistant bacterial infection. Doctors said she had just a 1 percent chance of survival but after eight months in the hospital, Nicole went home. Nicole loved pandas, music and dancing, and dreamed of being on "American Idol" someday, said Weeks, who clutched a stuffed panda during the press conference. "Her favorite color was blue. Nicole was a very lovable person," her mother said as she cried and shook. "Nicole touched many people throughout her short life." Weeks was unable to continue reading her statement, and an official ushered her away. Nicole bore emotional and physical wounds as a young teen, suffering from bullying at school and online over her weight and a tracheotomy scar, her mother has said. She needed daily medication after her liver transplant. "God got her through all that, and she fought through all that, and he took her life," Weeks told The Washington Post. Nicole didn't like going to school because girls called her fat and talked about her transplant scars. "It got so bad I wouldn't send her," Weeks said, but the bullying continued on social media. Weeks shared with The Associated Press two photos of her daughter: one at about 10, sticking out her tongue and wearing a shirt showing an actor from the "Twilight" movies; the other in a Mountain Dew hat and Dr. Pepper shirt last summer. "She loved Mountain Dew and Dr. Pepper," Weeks said. Shock Over Arrests at Virginia Tech Eisenhauer, 18, is charged with kidnapping and murdering Nicole; Keepers, 19, is charged with improper disposal of a body and accessory after the fact in the commission of a felony. They said little at court appearances Monday, and their lawyers have declined to comment. Blacksburg police said they have evidence showing Eisenhauer knew the girl before she disappeared Jan. 27. "Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her. Keepers helped Eisenhauer dispose of Nicole's body," a police statement said. On the Virginia Tech campus, state police divers continued to search a pond, and wouldn't say what they hoped to find. The arrests of Eisenhauer and Keepers, two ambitious and focused students, shocked people who knew them in Maryland, where they attended nearby high schools. Neither had prior criminal records, police said. "We had no reason to think he would be unsuccessful in his goals because he was very focused," said Principal James LeMon at Wilde Lake High School, where Eisenhauer graduated last year. Eisenhauer, named Boys Indoor Track Performer of the Year by The Baltimore Sun last March, chose Virginia Tech to pursue engineering while competing with the Hokies' top college runners, LeMon said. Keepers interned at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, led science experiments at her church's Bible school and hoped to build a future in aerospace or ocean engineering, her online resume said. "It's just very, very surprising," said her principal, Marcia Leonard at Hammond High School. Eisenhauer lived in Ambler Johnston Hall, the same co-ed residence hall where the first two people were killed in the 2007 campus massacre that left 32 dead. "From what we've heard, he really stayed in his room a lot," said Abbey Workmeister, another freshman who lives in the same dormitory. Logan Fry, a sophomore who lives on the same floor and also ran track in high school, said Nicole's death and the arrest of her dorm neighbor was frightening. "Like, it definitely could have been me," she said. Associated Press writers Juliet Linderman in Maryland, and Larry O'Dell and Alanna Durkin Richer in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report. As city crews race the El Nino clock, clearing the storm channels is an even bigger challenge now that the ground is saturated from prior rains. In the Smythe Channel, a machine got stuck briefly in the mud Thursday. As far as the storm channel clearing goes, residents told NBC 7 its about time. Finally, said San Ysidro resident Dawn Rodriguez. After more than 10 years. It looks a lot better. Rodriguez said her parents and other neighbors have been asking the city to clear it out for a decade. Its all for the betterment of the neighborhood and avoiding floods, said Jorge Negrete, a San Ysidro homeowner. The Smythe Channel near the U.S. Mexico border is one of 13 channels the city identified as high-priority in November. It took emergency permits to allow crews to work here. In late November, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a warning to the State Water Resources Control Board, which is involved in the lengthy and complicated permit process. The letter said: Failure to prepare immediately, in light of improved predictions and damage caused by the prior strong El Ninos, would be unacceptable. The citys Transportation and Storm Water Department has a $130 million annual budget, with approximately $45 million of that allocated to the storm water division. According to a January city memo, the department estimates it will be about $8.4 million over budget because of the necessary El Nino response. When asked why the work isnt done on a more routine basis, a spokesman explained a single permit during a non-emergency can take up to 18 months for permission to clear one storm channel. Homeowners say the growth in the canal is a nuisance. There were stoves and refrigerators and stuff in there. When it rains, its got a terrible smell, Rodriguez said. After being woken up by the sound of chainsaws earlier in the week, Negrete said he wishes the city had issued some type of notification to residents that the work would begin. Overall, its good that theyre clearing it out. I think its going to be better now, he said. It's about three little boys, who were daddy's boys, who loved me as much as any children can love a parent, John Smith said. Smith, a Carlsbad resident, last heard his sons call him "dad" 11 years ago. Keoni was 3 years old. The twins, Lance and Mason, were 2 years old. In November 2004, Smith and the boys' mother, Francina Fernandez, were in the middle of a heated custody battle, both fighting for more one-on-one time with their boys. Smith said there were signs Fernandez wanted to leave the country. He shared this with a judge, who ordered Fernandez to surrender the boys' passports within 24 hours. That same day, Smith said, she flew to the Philippines with his sons. It just seemed like such a daunting task of looking at the globe, looking at the atlas, how are we going to find my sons? he asked. You're looking at 6,000 islands. I've traveled to the Philippines five times. I've spent 477 days in the country. I've had meetings with the U.S. Embassy many, too many times to count. The FBI issued an international arrest warrant for Fernandez. At this time she is facing federal charges, FBI Special Agent Darrell Foxworth said. If she was brought back here or she was found in a country which would extradite her back here, she could be subjected to criminal prosecution here in the United States. Foxworth said the FBI knows where in the Philippines the boys are, but there isn't anything they can do. He said Fernandez can't be forced back to the U.S. because kidnapping your own child is not considered a crime in the Philippines. We don't have investigative authority to go over there to that country and assert U.S. law in those situations and demand the Philippines return those children to the United States, he said. John Smith talks about his battle to reunite with his sons, who were taken to the Philippines by their mother. According to the FBI, any American that willingly helped Fernandez flee the U.S. could face charges. Smith said Fernandezs parents have traveled to the Philippines, presumably to visit their fugitive daughter. According to the FBI, there is not enough evidence to charge them for a crime. NBC 7 Investigates has called and emailed her parents multiple times, but could not reach them. John Smith talks about his battle to reunite with his sons, who were taken to the Philippines by their mother. Smith, who never married or had other kids, said he hopes he'll see his three sons again. I wish I could tell them, I love you guys so much, he told NBC 7 Investigates. ohn Smith talks about his battle to reunite with his sons, who were taken to the Philippines by their mother. There are hundreds of kids and adults missing from San Diego County right now. Some have been abducted; some are runaways. "Searching for San Diegans," an NBC 7 Investigates project, profiles people reported missing in the County with the hope it can help bring loved ones home. You can search our database of the missing people here. The Padres traded right handed-pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne to the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday for 19-year old pitcher Jean Cosme. San Diego also officially signed reliever Fernando Rodney to a 1-year deal. Cosme, 19, went 3-5 with a 4.74 ERA (30 ER, 57.0 IP) and 53 strikeouts against 18 walks over 12 starts for Single-A Aberdeen in 2015. The right-hander signed with the Orioles as a 17th-round selection in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Puerto Rico and made his professional debut with the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League Orioles that year. Over his two professional seasons (2014-15) he has gone 5-5 with a 4.73 ERA (38 ER, 72.1 IP) and 70 strikeouts against 26 walks over 21 games, 13 starts. Despaigne, 28, went 5-9 with a 5.80 ERA (81 ER, 125.2 IP) and 69 strikeouts against 32 walks over 34 games, 18 starts, for San Diego in 2015. The right-hander signed with the Padres in May 2014 as a minor league free agent and made his Major League debut later that year for San Diego. A native of Havana, Cuba, he has gone 9-16 with a 4.74 ERA (117 ER, 222.0 IP) and 134 strikeouts against 64 walks in 50 games, 34 starts, over parts of two Major League seasons (2014-15) for the Padres. With todays transactions the Padres currently have a full 40-man roster. But dont be surprised if general manager AJ Preller keeps tinkering this month with spring training on the horizon. Three men broke into a Rancho Bernardo home and held a couple at gunpoint early Friday, and San Diego Police are looking into whether this crime is related to an earlier incident in Scripps Ranch. The break-in occurred just before 4 a.m. on Aliento Court, a cul-de-sac located west of West Bernardo Drive and north of Bernardo Center Drive. Its pretty scary, neighbor Rick Ellis said. We havent been back to sleep since that happened. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} The suspects entered the home through a side garage with their faces covered and lights on their heads, according to SDPD Lt. Kevin Mayer. At least one suspect was carrying a gun, police said. It doesnt look to me like they were picked out for any reason except that their gate was unlocked," Ellis added. Two adults in the home at the time were tied up with shoestrings. Once the couple was able to break free they ran to a neighbor's home and called police. Shaken up, as anybody would be, somebody enters your home while youre sleeping, Mayer said. I hate to think whats going through their minds, and how long its going to take them to get over that," Ellis said. "But I suspect quite a long time if ever." No one was injured. A similar incident happened several weeks ago with the same number of suspects. Mayer said investigators would be looking into any similarities between the two crimes. San Diego Police say the crime may be connected to another residential robbery that occurred Sunday, Jan. 31 on Passerine Way in Sorrento Valley. The victim in that incident told NBC 7 said the men came up the stairs and woke up his wife. Armed with a handgun, they demanded she show them where they kept jewelry, cash and electronics. The entire ordeal, he said, lasted a half hour with his young children nearby. "We probably won't sleep for a while, but everyone will be vigilant and pull together here," the victim said. Each robbery involved three suspects who initiated a theft by entering a side door, police said. If you have video surveillance and you live in those areas, please check it for us. You never know what your video may have captured, said Robbery Lt. Todd Griffin. Anyone with information can call the San Diego Police Department Robbery Unit at (619) 531-2299 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. "We make war that we may live in peace." --Aristotle "I exhort you never to debase the moral currency or to lower the standard of rectitude, but to try others by the final maxim that governs your own lives, and to suffer no man and no cause to escape the undying penalty which history has the power to inflict on wrong." --Lord Acton "Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end...liberty is the only object which benefits all alike, and provokes no sincere opposition...The danger is not that a particular class is unfit to govern. Every class is unfit to govern... Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." --Lord Acton "It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace--but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" --Patrick Henry "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." --Thomas Paine "The way to secure liberty is to place it in the people's hands, that is, to give them the power at all times to defend it in the legislature and in the courts of justice" --John Adams "Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual." --Thomas Jefferson "No man has a natural right to commit aggression on the equal rights of another, and this is all from which the laws ought to restrain hima?the idea is quite unfounded that on entering into society we give up any natural rights." --Thomas Jefferson "An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens." --Thomas Jefferson "The protection of our citizens, the spirit and honor of our country, require that force should be interposed to a certain degree." --Thomas Jefferson "To draw around the whole nation the strength of the General Government as a barrier against foreign foes... is [one of the] functions of the General Government on which [our citizens] have a right to call." --Thomas Jefferson "It is our duty still to endeavor to avoid war; but if it shall actually take place, no matter by whom brought on, we must defend ourselves. If our house be on fire, without inquiring whether it was fired from within or without, we must try to extinguish it." --Thomas Jefferson "I am ever unwilling that [peace] should be disturbed as long as the rights and interests of the nations can be preserved. But whensoever hostile aggressions on these require a resort to war, we must meet our duty and convince the world that we are just friends and brave enemies." --Thomas Jefferson "By nature's law, man is at peace with man till some aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to destroy another as his enemy." --Thomas Jefferson "I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson "Our duty to ourselves, to posterity, and to mankind, call on us by every motive which is sacred or honorable, to watch over the safety of our beloved country during the troubles which agitate and convulse the residue of the world, and to sacrifice to that all personal and local considerations." --Thomas Jefferson "It is an essential attribute of the jurisdiction of every country to preserve peace, to punish acts in breach of it, and to restore property taken by force within its limits." --Thomas Jefferson "By nature's law, man is at peace with man till some aggression is committed, which, by the same law, authorizes one to destroy another as his enemy." --Thomas Jefferson "Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it. But the temper and folly of our enemies may not leave this in our choice." --Thomas Jefferson "We must indeed all hang together, or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately." --Benjamin Franklin "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." --James Madison "Public sentiment is everything. With public sentiment, nothing can fail; without it nothing can succeed." --Abraham Lincoln "At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide." --Abraham Lincoln "The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me." --Abraham Lincoln "Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built." --Abraham Lincoln "We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others, the same word many mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name - liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names - liberty and tyranny." --Abraham Lincoln "If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union this voyage nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage." --Abraham Lincoln "It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt "Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat." --Theodore Roosevelt "The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it comes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group." --Franklin D. Roosevelt "War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way, and at an hour, of our choosing." --George W. Bush "When the conduct of men is designed to be influenced, persuasion, kind unassuming persuasion, should ever be adopted. It is an old and true maxim that 'a drop of honey catches more flies than a gallon of gall.' So with men. If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Therein is a drop of honey that catches his heart, which, say what he will, is the great highroad to his reason, and which, once gained, you will find but little trouble in convincing him of the justice of your cause, if indeed that cause is really a good one." --Abraham Lincoln "To arrive at a just estimate of a renowned man's character one must judge it by the standards of his time, not ours." --Mark Twain "It is with trifles and when he is off guard that a man best reveals his character." --Arthur Schopenhauer "When men speak ill of thee, live so as nobody may believe them." --Plato "He that has light within his own clear breast may sit in the center, and enjoy bright day: But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the mid-day sun." --John Milton "Character consists of what you do on the third and fourth tries." --James A. Michener "We should be too big to take offense and too noble to give it." --Abraham Lincoln "I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." --Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "A man's character is his guardian divinity." --Heraclitus "Character develops itself in the stream of life." --Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe "Do what you know and perception is converted into character." --Ralph Waldo Emerson "Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character." --Henry Clay In response to the fast-spreading Zika virus now declared a global emergency, the San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) announced Friday that those who have recently traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central or South America should not donate blood at least for a while. The SDBB the primary supplier of blood to the majority of hospitals in San Diego County is encouraging blood donors who have traveled to the aforementioned countries to wait 28 days after returning to the United States to donate blood. Zika, a mosquito-borne virus, usually causes mild illness but is now suspected in an unusual birth defect, and possibly other health issues. The disease has been predominantly linked to Latin American countries and the Caribbean. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared Zika an international emergency as the disease spreads. Robert Baracz, vice president of marketing for the SDBB, said the blood bank is curbing donations from travelers simply as a safety precaution, even though, as always, the organization needs blood. Zika virus can be present in the blood of an infected person who has no symptoms of illness, the blood bank says. At this point, there have been no Zika cases reported in San Diego County. Last week, officials with the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) said the insect tied to the virus the Aedes aegypti mosquito has been detected in San Diego, in small numbers, over the past 18 months. The mosquito, which experts believe transfers the Zika virus, has also been detected in Los Angeles County. Health officials said the Department of Environmental Health is tracking the mosquito locally. So far, health officials have not found any of the mosquitos detected in San Diego County to be carrying the Zika virus. Health officials said Aedes aegypti mosquitos are not native to California and do not travel far. For more information on Zika, click here. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has information on the virus here. Newly released court documents allege former San Diego Unified School Board Trustee Marne Foster wanted the district to pay for her sons college education and tried to pressure the districts superintendent to make that happen. A 231-page search warrant released Thursday gives insight into the San Diego County District Attorneys office investigation into Foster, who resigned from her position Tuesday after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of accepting gifts in excess of the legal limit. One of the issues taken up by the DAs office was Fosters problem with administrators at her sons school, the School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA). Foster became angry when she obtained a copy of her sons college evaluation, prepared by counselor Kim Abagat, and discovered the review was negative. Foster called SDUSD Superintendent Cindy Marten to complain about the evaluation. In an interview with a DA investigator, Marten recounted a telephone conversation she had with Foster. Foster, who at the time was the president of the SDUSD board, said the inaccurate evaluation had prevented her son from being accepted into a number of colleges. When Marten asked Foster how she knew what the evaluation contained, as reviews are typically confidential, Foster declined to tell her how she obtained it, the warrant states. Marten surmised that someone had leaked the information, the court document says. Foster was ranting that Abagat should not have completed the form as he was not [her sons] counselor. Marten said she interrupted Foster, asking if she was calling as a parent or a board trustee. When Foster said she was calling as a parent, Marten told her she needed to talk to the districts chief student services officer. Claim Filed Against the SDUSD During a later phone conversation between the two women, Foster told Marten that she believed her son had suffered damages and that the school district was liable, the warrant says. According to Marten, Foster threatened to file a claim against the school district because her son deserved compensation. Marten said she felt Foster was trying to convince her to approve the claim. Foster told Marten to do the right thing, you can make this happen, the court document states. Marten said the way Foster spoke she thought Marten had the authority or was involved in the decision making regarding the approval or denial of the claim. Foster wanted the school district to pay for her sons college education. Marten said she did not give the trustee any advice on how to file a claim. Later in the year, a $250,000 claim was filed against the SDUSD on behalf of Fosters son, but it was not signed by his mother. Instead, the claim bore the name of John Marsh, the teens father who had been living with Foster and her children. However, Marsh told the DA investigator that he did not write up the claim. According to the warrant, he remembered Foster coming up to him and demanding that he sign a blank complaint form. He said he did not know what he was signing, but recalled Foster mentioning something about wanting to sue the school district. Marsh said at the time he needed a place to stay and Marne Foster was very forceful. She made it clear by the way she said it that if he didnt sign it she would put him out on the street, the warrant states. He was at her mercy and he didnt want to be kicked out or arrested. The $250,000 complaint was later denied by the school district. Foster has told other media outlets that she had nothing to do with the claim. Problematic Fundraiser Held Community activity Sally Smith brought another potential issue to the attention of the DA's office: a fundraiser Foster threw to raise money for both of her sons' tuition. Smith told the DAs office that a link on Fosters official school district website directed users to Fosters personal Facebook page, on which she posted a flier for A Benefit Concert/Fundraiser to send two brothers back to College. The event was held last July at the Neighborhood House Association (NHA). Foster had previously voted on a head start agreement between the NHA and the SDUSD. Smith attended the fundraiser, paid a $25 entrance fee and was told the event would be tax deductible. When she asked for a receipt, she was told one would be emailed to her. At the fundraiser were guests who conducted business with the school district and employees who may seek favors in return. Because of the potential conflicts of interest, Foster later admitted that the fundraiser was a mistake and vowed to return the donations. A Guilty Plea Ultimately, Fosters guilty plea stemmed from a donation her son received. In 2014, the teen was given a scholarship and roundtrip airfare to Bayfest, a theater camp in Seattle, according to the warrant. The donation was provided by Jan and Dick Hunter, who are Bayfest board members. Dick is also a board member for the Jackie Robinson YMCA, an organization linked to Foster. She had voted to approve a contract between the SDUSD and YMCA for the use of the YMCA branchs pool. Emails revealed the Hunters had also paid for roundtrip tickets so Fosters son could travel from San Diego to New York, where he is attending college. The couple also covered a night of lodging for Foster. In total, the family received more than $3,000 in donations from the Hunters. However, Foster did not claim the gifts on her statement of economic interests, filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission. The form is filed under penalty of perjury, the DAs office said, and on Dec. 2, Foster filed an amendment to her 2014 form. It showed the gifts exceeded the legal allowable limits. Cardboard casings, plastic containers, charred fuses and other pyrotechnic junk littered San Franciscos Aquatic Park beach following a Super Bowl 50 fireworks show, and federal workers filled four 50-gallon trash cans while cleaning it. National Park Service Lynn Cullivan said "quite a bit of debris" washed up on the beach Sunday morning, and staff spent several hours removing it from the along the pristine bay. The San Francisco Chronicle was the first to report the story. "We don't know where it came from," Cullivan said, "but there was a lot of it so one presumes it was generated by a large fireworks show." National Park Service There was indeed a large fireworks show on Saturday night, put on by Macys, an official Super Bowl 50 Host Committee partner. The fireworks are set off on barges under the Bay Bridge, about three miles away from the beach park in the Marina District. Macys spokesman Orlando Veras on Thursday emailed NBC Bay Area a statement that read, in part, "Macy's along with Pyro Spectaculars, our pyrotechnic partner, are investigating the conditions that caused debris to appear. It is likely this occurrence is the result of an unusual combination of wind, tide and currents, and we are working to implement further safeguards to minimize any impact on the bay and shoreline for the upcoming display." National Park Service Veras also touted his California-based fireworks team as some of the most "trusted and responsible experts in the field with a long history of producing local displays and many of San Francisco's annual celebrations" including the Fourth of July show. He said Macy's would address "all concerns to ensure another great celebration of the big game." The next Macy's Fireworks show is Friday at 10 p.m. in San Francisco. The Super Bowl will be held Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. San Francisco, a city 45 miles away, has been hosting many of the pre-party activities. A Bay Area university professor has died from meningitis, health officials announced Thursday, the same day a third student at a different area university was diagnosed with meningococcal disease. A professor at Argosy University in Alameda died from meningitis recently, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department. However, spokeswoman Sherri Willis said there's no indication that the professor's death is linked to a recent cluster of three Santa Clara University students who have been diagnosed with meningococcal infections. A third Santa Clara student was diagnosed with meningococcal disease, a serious and sometimes deadly infection, the Santa Clara County Health Department announced Thursday. All three students have been infected with the serogroup B strain of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, according to health department spokeswoman Allison Thrash. Willis said the health department notified Argosy on Jan. 25 that the professor had died from meningitis. She said the situation at Argosy is different than the situation at Santa Clara University, where the school has offered antibiotics and vaccines for the rest of the campus community. Willis said Argosy only has "a tiny campus," no other cases have been linked to the professor who died and only a small number of students and staff had contact with the professor. Those people were identified and given medication as a precautionary measure but there isn't a need to offer antibiotics and vaccines to everyone at the campus, she said. The strain of meningitis that the professor had is "completely different" than the strain of meningitis that the Santa Clara University students have, Willis said. Argosy University officials didn't release any information about the professor. The two Santa Clara University students remained hospitalized Thursday morning and are listed in fair condition, officials said. A third student was discharged in good condition. All three students fell ill Jan. 31, but only two cases were reported Wednesday. Health officials said one of the students suffered meningococcal meningitis, an infection of the brain and spine, while the other had developed meningococcemia, an infection of the bloodstream. Information about the third student wasn't immediately available. Because serogroup B vaccines were only approved by the FDA in 2014 and 2015, most people are not vaccinated against this particular strain, authorities said Wednesday. Santa Clara University has set up free vaccination clinics for students. Over 200 students had received preventative antiobiotics as of Thursday morning, according to Thrash, who is urging the rest of the campus community to follow suit. More students lined up Thursday afternoon for a vaccination clinic event at Santa Clara University. Another is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday on the Concourse Level of Leavey Center. Meningococcal meningitis, a bacteria most common in Africa, is carried in the throat and back of the nose. It's transmitted by saliva and mucus during "prolonged close contact," often by kissing, sneezing, coughing and sharing eating utensils, according to the World Health Organization. Even when meningococcal meningitis is diagnosed and treated early, 5 to 10 percent of patients die, typically within one to two days after the onset of symptoms, according to the WHO. Left untreated, about half of patients die. Symptoms include fever, headache and a stiff neck. Patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, confusion and sensitivity to light, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms typically develop within three to seven days of infection. According to the National Meningitis Association, serogroup B accounts for about a third of U.S. cases of meningococcal disease. Four college campuses have suffered outbreaks between March 2013 and June 2015, including the University of Oregon, Providence College, Princeton University and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Two of the outbreaks were fatal, and one resulted in a student having both feet amputated, according to the NMA. Other infected students suffered neurological problems. The health department will be issuing daily updates online. Ari Mason and Bay City News contributed to this report. A pregnant woman is one of the three confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the District of Columbia, according to the Department of Health. Each individual who contracted the virus traveled outside the United States, officials said. One patient who caught the virus in 2015 had visited South America. In the two cases stemming from 2016, including the pregnant woman, one traveled to South America and another traveled to Central America, according to health officials. The DC Department of Health (DOH) is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor and track Zika virus infections in DC residents," a statement from DOH read. "It is important for residents to remember that there is no immediate threat to their health and well-being if they have not traveled to the known affected areas. However, we must all stay well informed and be cautious when traveling internationally. DOH has created a webpage that will be regularly updated, with a fact sheet on the Zika Virus and other key information to ensure that all DC residents are engaged and informed. Zika is transmitted from infected mosquitoes to people and from pregnant mothers to babies. The virus usually causes a mild illness, but babies born to mothers with the virus can have microcephaly, a condition associated with small, undeveloped brains. While the virus is not spread by casual human contact, health officials now say it could be sexually transmitted. Officials in Texas believe Zika may have been transmitted from a patient who contracted the virus abroad to a sexual partner. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now cautioning women to abstain from sex or use condoms if their male sexual partner has visited the affected countries. A Charles County sheriff's deputy shot a man who looked "suspicious" and was spotted with a gun, authorities said. A K-9 officer shot the man twice Thursday afternoon, wounding him, a Charles County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman said. The incident began when a deputy patrolling the area of Post Office Road and St. Charles Parkway about 2:05 p.m. saw a man standing next to the driver's window of an SUV stopped at a red light, police said. The man and the driver appeared to be arguing, and the man tried to open the driver's side door. The officer pulled over to check the driver's safety, and the man ran, police said. The officer ordered him to stop and show his hands, but he refused. The officer again ordered the man to stop, but he instead reached for his waistband while turning to the officer, according to the sheriff's office said. Fearing for his safety, the officer shot the man, striking him twice, the sheriff's office said. An off-duty Secret Service agent assisted in the arrest of the man. Schools in the area sheltered in place as a precaution. The driver of the SUV told investigators he didn't know the man and thought it was an attempted carjacking, according to the sheriff's office. The man, 23-year-old Anthony Darrell Taylor, suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Officers found a gun in his waistband, according to the sheriff's office. The gun was reported stolen during a burglary in Pennsylvania. Taylor is charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and possession of a handgun. Detectives assigned to the criminal investigations division are investigating. The officer was placed on administrative leave pending the completion of the investigation, in accordance with policy. Anyone with information for police is asked to call 301-609-6481. A reward of as much as $1,000 is offered. Police say a missing Fairfax, Virginia, woman has been found safe. Sarah Waye, 22, was last seen in the 9500 block of Canonbury Square in Fairfax Wednesday afternoon. Police said Waye was located Saturday. She has been reunited with her family. The Montgomery County Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of their pick for the new public schools superintendent Thursday evening. Dr. Jack Smith currently serves as Maryland state interim superintendent. He previously was the superintendent for Calvert County. The appointment starts in July, and Smith said he will spend the next five months learning. "I will come here to join meetings, to listen, to the members of the staff and the community and the board, and just get to know everything I can possibly get to know about Montgomery County Public Schools," he said. Smith will inherit a school system with a growing population and a growing achievement gap between rich and poor. One of his first short-term goals will be improving graduation rates. "That's something you can act on pretty quickly in terms of identifying students who are at risk of not graduating and then going out and finding them and bringing them back to you and making sure they get all the support they need to graduate," Smith said. Montgomery County Council member Nancy Floreen had breakfast with Smith. Hes currently acting secretary of education for the state, and thats pretty significant, Floreen said. Understanding how Maryland works is very important in understanding how we can move ourselves forward. However, a Change.org petition titled urged Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan not to name Smith the permanent state superintendent. After Smith left Calvert County Public Schools, the Calvert Recorder conducted a three-month investigation into the compensation package for Smith and his executive staff. "Like extra leave and increasing salaries regardless of the fact the school system was in a downward spiral as far as salaries and pay raises and step increases and stuff like that," reporter Sara Newman said. Former Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joshua Starr resigned a year ago. In May, Dr. Andrew Houlihan of Houston turned the job down. A naked man allegedly knocked down and grabbed a 16-year-old girl Wednesday in Woodbridge, Virginia, police said. The girl was walking to a bus stop about 6:15 a.m. when Musab Mohamed El-Sheikh approached her while naked and chased and tackled her after she tried to run away from him, authorities said. A neighbor said she heard a woman screaming and called 911. Tom Wardwell, who was walking his dog, also was knocked to the ground, Prince William County Police said. "I heard the kid screaming, 'Help me, help me,' and I though maybe she was yelling at friends coming up the street," Wardwell said. "I turned around and got plowed in to. Both of us got knocked over by some crazy naked man, and I tried pushing him off and tried to get him to go away." At least two other men rushed outside to help, but El-Sheikh kept hold of the girl until police arrived, Northern Virginia Bureau Chief Julie Carey reported. Officers took El-Sheikh, 37, to a hospital for a 72-hour mental health evaluation. Then he will be booked into an adult detention center, and a judge will rule on whether he should be held longer or given bond. No one was injured in the altercation. A man who confirmed he is El-Sheikh's declined to answer questions. The victim's parents said she is doing as well as can be expected. They said they always told her to run, fight, bite and scream if she was attacked, and that worked Wednesday. El-Sheikh is facing charges of abduction, indecent exposure, and assault and battery, police said. The incident happened in the 4700 block of Charter Court, about a block from El-Sheikh's home. He had recently moved into the neighborhood. The victim is a student at a local high school. Her school district sent a letter home to parents of students in all grades. APT8: The 8th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art "Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT) is the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art's flagship exhibition focussed on the work of Asia, the Pacific and Australia. This eighth edition emphasises the role of performance in recent art, with live actions, video, kinetic art, figurative painting and sculpture exploring the use of the human form to express cultural, social and political ideas, and the central role of artists in articulating experiences specific to their localities. APT8 includes more than 80 artists and groups, an ongoing program of artist performances and projects; a conference as part of the opening program; extensive cinema programs; publications; and activities for kids and families." Haegue Yang's Sol LeWitt Upside Down - Open Modular Cubes (Small), Expanded 958 Times 2015 APT8: Hague Yang (Born 1971, Seoul, South Korea) transforms spaces through light, colour, objects and movement so that they are constantly shifting and directing our experience. Sol LeWitt Upside Down Open Modular Cubes (Small), Expanded 958 Times 2015, uses everyday domestic materials in this case over 1000 Venetian blinds to create a formal, immersive structure. For Yang, abstraction is highly metaphorical, alluding to multiple narratives. Her blinds partially block sight, but they also delineate and draw attention to a space, providing boundaries and articulations, and implicating viewers through their transparency and domesticity. Located at the Queensland Art Gallery Watermall Choi Jeong Hwa's The Mandala of Flowers 2015 APT8: Choi Jeong Hwa (Born 1961, Seoul, South Korea) is known for his inflatable sculptures and large-scale, riotously coloured installations of everyday objects. For APT8, the beaded strands of his Cosmos 2015 are suspended above his mandala project created for QAGOMA's Children's Art Centre. The Mandala of Flowers 2015 involves a high level of audience participation and interaction, inviting children to create their own mandalas from colourful plastic bottle lids. The form of the work contradicts the content, since plastic is often regarded as a waste-product, inorganic, non bio-degradable, cheaply made and mass-produced unlike the mandalas which are highly labour-intensive, transient, sacred and return immediately to the earth. Asim Waqif's All we leave behind are the memories 2015 APT8: Asim Waqif creates large-scale installations built from detritus and found objects, which are informed by principles of architecture, urban planning and interactivity. For APT8, Waqif has created a site-specific work entitled All we leave behind are the memories 2015 in GOMA that expands through gallery spaces and limits. In the lead-up to the exhibition, Waqif visited Brisbane to explore the history of building and demolition in the city. His installation is constructed from the worn and aged timbers typical of vernacular south-east Queensland architecture. Embedded with lights and sound sensors to be triggered by the viewer, this precarious seeming structure is designed to be entered and explored. Waqif's production technique is intentionally unplanned and labour-intensive. APT8: Yumi Danis (We Dance) is co-curated with Ni-Vanuatu songwriter, musician and author (Mars Melto), and brings together dancers and musicians from Papua, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. It is staged as an immersive multimedia installation, animated by contemporary dance and consciously addresses the issues involved in translating and contextualising performance from these regions for a broader audience. The installation They look at you 2015 is by Kanak artist in response to discussions with Meltherorong and 15 dancers from across the region who attended a workshop in Vanuatu in 2014. Visitors enter through the tangled roots of a banyan tree, into a cleared open space found in many of the region's villages. The surrounds are animated with Mole's immersive animated video projections of a forest inhabited by various beings. A large dwelling holds 11 videos, presenting the diversity of performance found throughout Melanesia. APT8 Kids: Play with Your Birds , by Rosanna Raymond, invites young visitors to explore the tiputa, a type of garment originally created in Tahiti and widely used throughout the Pacific. Children can make their own Tiputa using specially design templates that can be embellished with rubbings of patterns carved into various surfaces of the space. Spent close to 1 hour for some quiet contemplating time. Calmed myself a little with the emotions all around from the previous art pieces. Photographed by one of the wardens. A coffee run resulted in a heartbreaking loss for a family in Arlington, Virginia, when a mother left her purse behind in a Dunkin' Donuts -- inside, it had $10,000 cash meant to pay her daughter's college tuition. Maria Esteves, her husband and their18-year-old daughter, Lili, were headed to Pennsylvania State University Jan. 10 when they stopped for breakfast at the Dunkin' Donuts on Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church, Virginia. They ate and left, and moments later, Esteves realized she had left behind her bag. The family returned moments later, but the purse was gone -- complete with an envelope marked "Lili's tuition" with $10,000 inside. "I was in shock. I could not believe what happened," Esteves said. "We were crying." The devastated mother, who cleans houses, and her husband, a painter, worked years for the money to send their daughter to Penn State, they said. Surveillance video from the Dunkin' Donuts shows a woman lifting the purse off the back of a chair. She picks up the purse, looks around and then tucks it into her own purse. Fairfax County police said they hope the clear images of the woman inside and in the parking lot will lead to her arrest. The suspect has long, dark hair and stands about 5-foot-7. She was driving a dark-colored SUV, believed to be a 2009 or 2011 Mitsubishi Endeavor. Lili Ferrufino said she hopes the suspect turns herself in. "I'd like her to know that she took it from a family, from a mom and dad, who did hard labor," she said. "I just hope that I get to see her and get to ask her why." Ferrufino's parents dipped deeper into their savings to send her to her second semester at Penn State. Esteves said she hasn't given up on the possibility they will get the money back. "In my heart, I have hope," she said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solves by phone at 1-866-411-TIPS/8477, email or text "TIP187" plus the tip message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131. Septime Webre, the artistic director at the Washington Ballet, will step down after 17 years, the ballet company announced Friday. Webre will leave the role in June when his current contract ends, according to a press release. "I am extraordinarily proud of our collective accomplishments and the spectacular growth of The Washington Ballet, and it is now time to focus my efforts on new creative endeavors," Webre said. "I'm looking forward to creating new ballets and to staging on other companies the many original works I have created for The Washington Ballet." Webre brought great change to the Washington Ballet during his time there. Since his arrival in 1999, the company has grown both as a performing arts organization and as a major contributor to D.C. cultural life. Enrollment at the Washington School of Ballet has grown from 325 to more than 1400 students, and its budget grew from $2.8 million a year to its current $12 million a year. Additionally, Webre played a major role in bringing dance programs to D.C. public schools through the Washington Ballet's "DanceDC" program. Board Chair Sylvia de Leon commended Septime's contributions. "Each of us on our Board has deeply admired his boundless energy, creativity and infectious joy of the art of ballet," she said. "We will be forever grateful for his years of tireless work and dedication." The Washington Ballet is collaborating with Webre to ensure that his works created for the company are made available for performance by companies around the world. The company will continue to perform Webre's famous production of The Nutcracker in December, according to the release. The ballet's board of directors is now searching for a new artistic director. The pedestrian hit and killed by a car Wednesday night in Clinton, Maryland, has been identified, officials say. Abulhasan Ansari, 71, died after a minivan crashed into him about 8:45 p.m. on the 9100 block of Piscataway Road, Prince George's County Police said. The driver was headed westbound when the crash occurred. Ansari, of Potomac, Maryland, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the minivan remained at the crash scene and is cooperating with investigators, police said. He was not hurt. At the time of the crash, Ansari is believed to have not been in the crosswalk. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call police at 301-731-4422. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call 1-866-411-TIPS, send a text message to CRIMES with PGPD plus your message, or visit www.pgcrimessolvers.com. Virginia will begin testing more than 2,000 backlogged sexual assault evidence kits, some dating back decades, Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced Thursday. Testing will take place at a lab facility in Northern Virginia in the next few weeks, Herring's office said. The commonwealth finalized a contract with Bode Cellmark Forensics to conduct the tests. "Testing these kits is so important to help identify predators and to make connections between unsolved crimes, but it's also really important to show survivors that the commonwealth stands with them and will help them pursue justice as part of their healing process," Herring said in a statement. Local law enforcement agencies will begin sending their untested kits to the lab in the next few weeks. Results for each test take about six to eight weeks and will be logged into a national DNA database. Local authorities will be notified of any matches. The first kits up for testing are from Virginia Beach and Fairfax County. According to last years Department of Forensic Science report, Virginia Beach reported 455 untested kits, while Fairfax County had 347. Some of these kits were used in 1988. The testing is possible due to a $1.4 million grant given last year through the Manhattan district attorney's office as part of a $38 million national initiative to reduce the number of untested kits. Kits tested through this grant will cost less than $675 each to analyze, compared to the estimated national average of $1,000 to $1,500 per kit. The two-year program will help analyze more than 50,000 untested kits in 20 states, including West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In Detroit alone, more than 11,000 untested kits were discovered in a police storage facility in 2009. There could be as many as 100,000 to 400,000 backlogged kits nationally, authorities say. "Tackling the national rape kit backlog means addressing a women's and human rights issue that has been ignored for far too long," Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. said in a statement last year after awarding the grants. In order for medical professionals to gather evidence of sexual assault, the victim must undergo a long and often invasive examination at a hospital or rape crisis center. According to the DFS report, most of the kits came from physical evidence recovery kits obtained from a living victim at a hospital. A small percentage came from kits collected from deceased victims as part of a death investigation. The biggest reason kits were not submitted for analysis, according to the report, was because they were "not relevant for evidentiary purposes or not necessary for prosecution." For example, when a suspect acknowledges a sexual act has occurred or a suspect has already confessed. Other reasons included attorneys declining prosecution and the victim choosing not to further pursue the case. A little-known United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be allowed to walk free from his embassy hideaway and compensated for the years he has lost. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which falls under the offices of the U.N. human rights chief, said Assange has been "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden since December 2010, when he was first sought for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct. The panel's recommendation was immediately rejected by Swedish and British officials who said Assange's legal situation is unchanged. He remains in the Embassy of Ecuador in London, where he has been holed up for more than three and a half years. No charges have been filed against Assange in Sweden, but Swedish prosecutors want to question him over allegations of rape stemming from a working visit he made to the country in 2010 when WikiLeaks was attracting international attention for its secret-spilling. He is also sought by Britain for jumping bail. Assange has consistently denied the allegations but has refused to return to Sweden to meet with prosecutors and eventually took the decision to seek refuge in the Ecuadorean embassy in London, where he has lived since June 2012. Addressing supporters from the embassy balcony, Assange called the finding "a historic victory." Speaking earlier by video link from the embassy, he told a news conference the finding that he has been unlawfully detained is a significant victory that completely vindicates him. "The lawfulness of my detention or otherwise is now a matter of settled law," Assange said. But the lawyer for the Swedish woman who has accused Assange of rape said the group's finding was "insulting and offensive" toward her client and the rights of all crime victims. In a statement, Elisabeth Massi Fritz said Assange should "pack his bags, leave the embassy and start cooperating with the police and the prosecutor." She said it was "important to remember that Assange had violated the law and is willfully defying the courts' decisions." British and Swedish officials maintain the panel's finding has no legal force, but it represents a public relations victory for Assange, who argues that the allegations against him are part of a plot to send him to the United States to face more possible charges related to WikiLeaks' release of classified documents. It is not clear if U.S. judicial officials are seeking Assange's arrest on U.S. charges. However, Sweden has not received any extradition request from American authorities, said Anders Ronquist, legal chief at Sweden's foreign ministry. Ronquist said Assange voluntarily entered the embassy, and "is not being deprived of his liberty there due to any decision or action taken by the Swedish authorities." Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement it would formally contest the panel's opinion. "This changes nothing. We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention," the Foreign Office said in a statement. "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the U.K. The opinion of the U.N. Working Group ignores the facts and the well-recognized protections of the British legal system." It countered that Assange was "voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy." Karin Rosander, spokeswoman for the Swedish Prosecution Authority, said that under Swedish law the panel's conclusion will have no "formal impact." The decision of the five-person panel was not unanimous: Vladimir Tochilovsky, a Ukrainian member, disagreed, saying he did not believe Assange had been detained. The fifth member of the panel recused herself because she is Australian, as is Assange. The panel criticized a "disproportionate" reaction by Swedish prosecutors in issuing a European arrest warrant rather than seeking to question Assange using bilateral agreements with Britain, and insisted that the Swedish prosecutor refused to consider other ways of interviewing him compatible with his right to asylum which it said was not properly respected. It noted that Assange was never formally charged in Sweden only placed under preliminary investigation. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said panel chairman Seong-Phil Hong in a statement. Citing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that has 168 state parties including both Sweden and Britain, the panel said "the adequate remedy would be to ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation." The 44-year-old computer hacker's lawyers said he must be allowed to walk free immediately and given protection from possible extradition to the United States. Lawyer Melinda Taylor said the finding shows that Assange has been subjected to mental torture throughout his long ordeal and now faces round-the-clock overt and covert surveillance while seeking safety at the embassy. The case has been complicated by uncertainty surrounding Assange's legal status in the United States. The U.S. government has not revealed whether he has been indicted grand jury proceedings are secret there but has indicated that sensitive investigations into Assange and WikiLeaks have been made. The working group said Assange could face "refoulement" to the United States being handed over to a country where he could face violence or prison. The U.N. upholds the principle of non-refoulement prohibiting that practice. Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino renewed his calls for Britain and Sweden to free the WikiLeaks founder. He said the panel's decision "shows clearly that we are talking about political persecution." Keaten reported from Geneva. Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark and Jill Lawless in London contributed. Police in Stoughton, Massachusetts, have seized more than 110 guns from what authorities are calling a "house of squalor." The weapons were lawfully possessed by a man who lives in the Page St. home, but he was in the hospital at the time for a medical condition. The homeowner had requested that his cats be fed. Members from The Stoughton Council on Aging were doing so, and reported the guns to authorities. While in the process of removing the weapons, police came across ammunition, as well as gun powder and some fireworks. Due to the fact that there was squalor, officials deemed this a major public safety issue. The house has been condemned. There are no charges against the homeowner at this point, but the incident remains under investigation. Ted Cruz crisscrossed New Hampshire Thursday, the stump speech throughout the day pretty familiar, hitting on core issues as he tries to rise up in the polls before the primary. At his fourth campaign stop of the day, Cruz met with voters in Laconia Thursday night, still riding high from Iowa. "We saw that old Reagan coalition coming together," he said. "We saw conservatives, and evangelicals, and libertarians, and Reagan Democrats, all coming and standing together." Cruz hit on hot-button issues, telling the crowd that as president, he'd abolish Obamacare. He said he'd push for a simple flat tax and abolish the IRS. He also took a swipe at his Democratic rivals. "What are Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton proposing? Yet more of the same, more regulations, more taxes, more debt," he said. Earlier in the day, at a town hall in Portsmouth, the Texas senator said he'd protect gun rights. "I got to say on this point, New Hampshire and Texas, we see eye to eye," Cruz said. "Both our states, we define gun control as hitting what you aim at." The candidate's campaign team says it's because hes been staying late at these events to try to greet as many voters as possible. A favorite go-to spot for Flash and me is Mojo Burrito in Red Bank. Its the perfect late night dinner hangout, with its funky local art, hip overhead music, and fresh Tex-Mex concoctions. When I go, I usually stick with the signature Mojo Burrito. St. Elmos Fire chicken, Spanish rice, black beans, Monterey Jack cheese, sour cream, and red onion, please. Thats how I order it. But you could order yours however you like. Have it with steak or ground chuck. Have it with guacamole, green onion, and warm queso. Whatever you choose, I doubt youll be disappointed. But tonight I felt like branching out. Flash did too. When we got to the buffet-style counter to order, the server with black hair and dark eyeliner, wearing a rock band tee and a welcoming smile, said right now she was all about the Enchiladito ($9.50). With fire Chicken, black beans, Monterey Jack, pico de gallo, jalapenos (pickled or fresh) in a jalapeno-cheddar tortilla thats grilled or fried. Man, you cant go wrong, she said. Did I mention it comes served on a bed of rice and drizzled with queso and zesty red sauce? Flash ordered the Enchiladito - fried - without a second thought. Excellent choice, the waitress said, putting her thumbs up. I really expanded my horizons and went with the Chili Cheese Burrito ($8.50), which comes with Papa Bears vegetarian chili, ground chuck or fire chicken, Spanish rice, Monterey Jack, red onion, green onion, jalapeno, sour cream, tomatillo salsa and guacamole, wrapped in a chipotle tortilla and grilled. We filed down the line to the cash register, a field of burrito and nacho toppings cleanly displayed behind the counter. We paid our bill ($18 before tax/tip) then went to the back room (what I call the hip-groovers hangout), chose a booth against the lime green wall, and chilled. Mojo Burrito is unique with its neon signs and stain-glass light fixtures. Its like a museum of the funky-fresh. I was looking at the painting next to our table of Greek gods cheersing PBRs, when the black-haired server brought out our food. I instantly knew I should have ordered the mini version of mine it was so monstrous. (Many of Mojos dishes come in miniature sizes at a lower cost.) But Flash couldnt have been happier over his hardy Enchiladito. His dish was cheesy and fried to that perfect golden crisp. He let me try a bite, and the spicy flavors of the chicken and jalapenos melted in my mouth with the warm cheese and crispy tortilla. Delicious, I said then let him try mine. The Chili Cheese Burrito felt like the weight of a newborn. Flash had several bites, and I had to take it back from him before he ate it all along with his meal. I really enjoyed how the vegetarian chili mixed with the ground chuck and melted cheese. It was too big for me to finish, but something I would definitely order again. We hung out at Mojo a little while longer after we finished eating because its just that kind of place. Its easy and fun at Mojo, and the food is always good. Its our definite go-to restaurant. And I dont see that changing. Location: 1800 Dayton Blvd Hours: Mon. - Sun. 11am - 10pm As authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a 3-year-old boy in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, a vigil was held in his honor. Outside the child's home, you can see a makeshift memorial has been set up to honor the short life of Kenai Whyte. He died after being rushed to the hospital, suffering from what is being described as traumatic injuries. Family and friends came together Thursday night to mourn the loss. "Father, we need you right now to dry every tear that falls from your eyes in God's name," said Pastor James Harrison of the Southern Baptist Church. Ashley Young, the boy's mother, says Kenai was with his father over the weekend in the Roxbury home. She says she doesn't know how he was injured. "Someone needs to find out who did this to my son," she cried. "And they need to find out now." Family members said they will be there to support Young, but also to keep Kenai's memory alive. The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families was involved with this family. They did a well-being check just two days before the child's death and found that the child was being cared for. However, they are working with authorities to find out what happened. A Vermont lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to charges he drove under the influence on his way to Barre last month. The Burlington Free Press reports Rep. Stephen Carr entered the plea Thursday to two charges of first-offense driving under the influence of alcohol. The 66-year-old Brandon Democrat was released on conditions. Carr was stopped Jan. 14 after police say he was going 15 mph above the speed limit. Police say Carr took a breath test that recorded 0.149 percent nearly an hour after the stop. The legal limit for adult drivers in the state is 0.08 percent. Police say Carr told them he was driving to Barre from Montpelier after eating dinner and having several drinks. Carr declined to comment after the hearing. Just days before New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary, Vermonters are traveling to their neighboring state in an attempt to win over supporters for their preferred presidential candidates. Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, and Madeleine Kunin, a former governor of Vermont, traveled to Keene, New Hampshire, Thursday to thank the team of volunteers working in and around Keene with an aim of helping Hillary Clinton win the Democrats' nomination. "She is, probably, the smartest woman I have ever met," Kunin told a room of Clinton supporters, adding she believes a female president would excel at listening to diverse points of view and at prioritizing issues such as education, childcare, and the environment. They may be from Bernie Sanders' backyard, but the Vermonters told the neighborhood canvassers they believe Clinton is more ready for the responsibilities of the White House. Shumlin said in addition to Clinton's foreign policy experience, he was drawn to her candidacy because she impressed him as a good listener who wanted to learn from Vermont's experience combatting heroin and prescription pill addiction as she formulated her national plan to tackle drug addiction by emphasizing medical treatment. "I love Bernie, I'll never say a negative word about Bernie," Shumlin told necn. "But I tell you - president of the United States is the toughest job in the world, and you'd better hire someone who's really ready, able and capable of doing that job. I think we've never had a candidate more qualified than Hillary." Several polls have shown Sanders with a commanding lead over Clinton in the New Hampshire primary. Shumlin and Kunin acknowledged that lead in the Granite State, attributing it at least partially to the appeal of a candidate from next door. But they said they believe the Clinton volunteers can help narrow the gap over the next few days. Vermont volunteers have been crossing the Connecticut River into New Hampshire for months, hoping to win over more supporters for their chosen candidates. Liz Blum of Norwich, Vermont. was in Hanover, New Hampshire Thursday, urging Dartmouth College students to back her senator, Bernie Sanders, in his run for the White House. "Bernie is the people's candidate," Blum told necn. "With many of the people I meet, they're very impressed with the fact Bernie is such a grassroots candidate, and they feel they are part of the campaign, and ask what they can do to help." Blum said she is active with the grassroots group Rights and Democracy, which has endorsed Bernie Sanders. Rights and Democracy works to foster healthy and just communities, according to its mission statement. Blum said Sanders' push for Medicare for all and his vocal advocacy on environmental issues are two of the prime reasons she has been a supporter of his since the 1980s. "He is working for working people," Blum said of Sanders. "He always has." "I'm sure their efforts are welcome by the campaigns," said Linda Fowler, a Dartmouth political science professor, describing Vermonters who volunteer in New Hampshire on behalf of candidates. Fowler said she believes face-to-face encounters like the ones Shumlin, Kunin, and Blum were having Thursday can have a modest impact when it comes to building buzz and encouraging voter turnout, which is always critical in the New Hampshire primary. "If Vermont had a primary that was as prominent nationally as New Hampshire's, there would be a lot of New Hampshire folks over working in Vermont, I'm sure," Fowler said. After the event in Keene, Shumlin and Kunin headed to Claremont and Lebanon, New Hampshire for more meet and greets with Clinton campaign volunteers, to encourage them to keep at their door knocks and other get-out-the-vote efforts through the primary on Tuesday, February 9. Blum said she and Sanders' other grassroots supporters will also continue to fan out across the state on behalf of their candidate, including holding a health care rally Saturday at 11 a.m. in Salem, New Hampshire, outside the Sanders field office there. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito have endorsed New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in his presidential campaign, according to a press release from Christie's campaign. According to the release, Baker will attend a rally with Christie in New Hampshire Saturday. Baker said in the release, "Right now, our country is in dire need of Governor Christies tested, and strong leadership." After a dismal showing in Monday's Iowa caucus, the Republican is counting on the Granite State to keep his hopes alive. Christie has already been endorsed by a Republican governor of a neighboring state of New Hampshire - Maine Gov. Paul LePage, a friend of Christie's, threw his support behind the candidate over the summer. The snowstorm that hit New England harder than almost anyone had anticipated on Friday even caught some presidential candidates off guard. Donald Trump, who is leading the Republican field in New Hampshire, held several events in New Hampshire on Thursday. But he apparently left the state on Thursday night and was unable to make it back for a scheduled Town Hall on Friday morning at the Londonderry Lions Club. "Due to weather and the airports being closed Mr. Trump is unable to attend today's Town Hall at the Londonderry Lions Club," read an email from his campaign. "This event will be rescheduled and additional details will follow." Jeb Bush, one of Trump's Republcian opponents, couldn't let the moment pass without getting a jab in at the frontrunner. He replied to Trump's tweet about the postponement by noting that his 90-year-old mother, former First Lady Barbara Bush, was able to make it to New Hampshire to campaign with him despite the snow. .@realDonaldTrump My 90 year old mother made it out to campaign. She met Destiny, age 5. pic.twitter.com/Xue8HwpTS3 Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 5, 2016 Trump is scheduled to be back in New Hampshire on Saturday, and also has events scheduled on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, which is New Hampshire primary day. Another candidate whose schedule was impacted by the storm was Democrat Bernie Sanders, the leading Democratic candidate in New Hampshire polls. Sanders held events in Manchester and Exeter on Friday, and is scheduled to attend the New Hampshire Democratic Party's McIntyre Shaheen 100 Club Celebration on Friday night in New Hampshire. But he was also scheduled to hold a 2:45 p.m. press conference in Exeter to annnounce a new endorsement from "a prominent civil rights leader." But due to the weather, the featured guest was delayed. Instead, the press conference was changed to a press call at 4 p.m. At least one candidate seemed to be enjoying the snow. Republican John Kasich engaged in a snowball fight Friday with members of the press, caught on video by CNN's Teddy Schleifer. Kasich also tackled a supporter in the snow after the impromptu snowball fight. Good People Brewing Company in Alabama, announced it will begin selling its selection of beers in central Tennessee. Partnering with Hand Family Companies, the Birmingham-based brewery will expand into Chattanooga, Clarksville and Cookeville. Weve got a lot of love for Tennessee at Good People, said Michael Sellers, who cofounded Good People in 2008 with his friend Jason Malone. When youre hiking the Cumberland Trail, having a pint at a downtown brewpub or tucking into some ribs at a barbecue shack off a county road, youre always reminded of the best things the South has to offer. Its a thrill for Good People to become a part of peoples lives here. This is Good Peoples third out-of-state expansion, coming just a week after an expansion into the Florida Panhandle market. Three years ago, in Feb. 2013, Good People expanded first into Nashville. Building on this successful first step into an out-of-state market, the brewery is prepared to meet the demand of devoted customers in new markets such as central Tennessee. Good People has great liquid that has been sold in Nashville for a while now with great success, and after visiting their facility, I saw firsthand the commitment to continuing that quality for years to come, said Austin Sawyer, sales director of Craft and Import Brands for Hand Family Companies. Many people from our Tennessee markets have either visited Nashville or Birmingham and always ask about Good People beers, so we felt confident that the demand is there to justify bringing them to our other Tennessee markets. Then there is the fact that they are seriously good peopletheir team is passionate in what they do and they have a lot of fun while doing it each and every day. "Good People offers a variety of well-balanced beers that will soon be available in the area, both on draft and in cans. In 2015 alone," officials said. Paste magazine dubbed Good Peoples IPA one of the 25 best in the country and the special reserve El Gordo Imperial Stout one of the 12 best beers of the year, while Food Republic declared Good People Alabamas craft beer king. BeerAdvocate currently lists Snake Handler Double IPA, El Gordo and Hitchhiker IPA among the 10 best Southern beers, with Coffee Oatmeal Stout and Fatso Imperial Stout joining them in the top 20. Customers can check in with their favorite supermarket, bar or restaurant to see when Good Peoples brews will be available. In the meantime, Good People will put on promotions and samplings throughout central Tennessee in the weeks to come. For up-to-date information about these events, like Good People Brewing Co. on Facebook or follow on Twitter or Instagram at @GPBrewing. Joesie Hembree, 31, of Lang Street, has been charged with felony evading, reckless endangerment, driving on a revoked license, reckless driving, and four counts of running a stop sign. Alisha F. Greene Donohue, 30, of County Road 611 in Athens has been charged with accessory after the fact. Sheriff Eric Watson reports deputies from Polk and Bradley counties took part in efforts Wednesday to apprehend two people who tried to avoid arrest in a BMW reported stolen in Murray County Georgia. Beginning in Polk County where the vehicle was first observed, it crossed over into Bradley County where deputies took up the pursuit. The chase continued through several east Cleveland neighborhoods. As they slowed for the intersection of Bates Pike and Johnson Boulevard, the female passenger Ms. Donohue jumped from the vehicle and was taken into custody by deputies without incident. Hembree, the driver sped off and continued efforts to elude apprehension, eventually crashing at Lowery Street and Waterlevel Highway. Sheriff Watson praised the deputies of Lt. Tom Wassons B shift for their efforts to safely end the situation. Im proud of the fine deputies that handled what was a serious situation and Im glad those involved are where they need to be, in jail. Hembree ran from the vehicle, but was taken into custody. Five members of Lee Universitys faculty will perform a concert on Monday at 7:30 p.m. in Squires Recital Hall, located in Lees Humanities Center. Members of the wind quintet are Eric Anderson, bassoon; Robert Burks, oboe; Peter Cain, clarinet; Kristin Holritz, flute; and Gordon James, horn. The concert will include Samuel Barbers Summer Music, Kenji Bunchs Changes of Phase, and August Klughardts Quintet. Mr. Anderson has been principal bassoonist of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera Orchestra and bassoonist of the CSO Wind Quintet since 1996. He attended the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he received a bachelor of music degree and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University for post graduate work where he studied with Benjamin Kamins. He has performed with the Florida Orchestra, the Virginia Symphony, the Bergen (Norway) Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Hampshire Music Festival.Mr. Burks joined the CSO as principal oboe in 1981. He studied at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music before performing with the Columbus Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony. He has performed numerous times with the Atlanta Symphony, at numerous music festivals, and has toured Europe twice. Mr. Burks has taught oboe for Cadek Conservatory at UTC, University of the South, Lee University, Bryan College, Covenant College, and Southern Adventist University. In addition to oboe, he also plays ukulele, piano, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, and violin.Mr. Cain is the 3rd bass clarinet for the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also the clarinet professor at Lee and was previously acting principal clarinet of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Cain has attended Vanderbilt University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he received his doctor of musical arts degree. He has appeared as a soloist with the Knoxville Symphony, performed with the Paloma Wind Quintet at the 2010 International Double Reed Society conference, and was a soloist with the CCM Chamber Players at the 2009 Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Ms. Holritz, principal flute of the CSO, made her solo debut with the United States Air Force Band in 2005 as winner of the Colonel George S. Howard Young Artist Competition. She has also appeared with the University of North Carolina School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra and the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra. She is a winner of the Atlanta Flute Club Young Artist Competition and a third prize recipient in the MidSouth Flute Festival Young Artist Competition. Mr. James, principal horn of the CSO, has been playing and teaching horn for over 30 years. A member of the CSO since 1987. Mr. James is also the principal horn of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. Prior to that, he played 4th horn in the Fort Worth Symphony. He has performed with the Alabama Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony. James is currently an adjunct horn instructor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Lee University, Southern Adventist University, and Covenant College. This event is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. For more information, call the School of Music at 423-614-8240. Billy Parker said he quit going to board meetings of the Chattanooga History Center after it was decided to hire a New York firm to design a planned history museum by the Aquarium at a world class price. Mr. Parker said, "I thought it was too much money so I did not go to any more meetings." He said it appeared to him that the executive director at the time, Daryl Black, was the main one pushing for the contract with the Appelbaum firm. Over $10 million was raised for the planned history museum near the riverfront - mainly from Chattanoogans - but it was still not enough and the project has folded. Mr. Parker said he got a call later from Marlene Payne of the History Center telling him he should resign from the board due to non-attendance. He said afterward he noticed that his name was not on a list of board members. However, he said on the History Center website he is still shown as being a board member. He said, "It also shows Mai Bell Hurley on the board, and she died." Mr. Parker said he had planned to work hard to help raise money for the museum, but he said he never heard from executive director Black so he did not make the effort.. He said, "I am on boards of the Hunter Museum and the Forest Hills Cemetery Association, and I work hard for them." He said while he was on the History Center board he did not receive much information about the operation of the center and the status of the fund drive. Mr. Parker, who long headed the Mountain Mirror monthly news magazine, said he was asked to donate $5,000 to the museum drive and he did. He said he was asked for another $5,000 recently, and he declined. Here is the Fort Oglethorpe arrest report for Jan. 22-28: Marlon Lavaughn Williams, 21, of 727 West Highway 136, Chickamauga was arrested January 22 on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and loitering/prowling. Ricky Leon Collins, 52, of 198 Polk Way, Dalton was arrested January 22 on charges of criminal trespass, obstruction of officers, possession of schedule II, possession of tools for the commission of a crime, theft by shoplifting 2nd offense and theft by shoplifting. Michael Seth Armstrong, 23, of 8118 Blue Spruce Drive, Hixson was arrested January 22 for driving under the influence of alcohol. Robert Eugene Cokinos, 38, of 729 Tyler Street, Dalton was arrested January 23 on charges of fleeing/attempting to elude officers, obstruction of officers and tail light requirement. Mark Edward Smith, 51, of Pine Grove Access Road, Fort Oglethorpe was arrested January 24 on charges of affixing license plate with intent to misrepresent and driving while license suspended/revoked. Paula Marie Jackson, 28, of 57 Hickory Lane, Ringgold was arrested January 24 on charges of defective tail lights, manufacturing/selling schedule I and II drugs X 2, driving under the influence of drugs and failure to maintain lane. Julie Randall Grisham, 36, of 233 Pierce Drive, Ringgold was arrested January 24 on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to maintain lane and impeding traffic flow. Dexter Allen Bruce, 37, of 6725 Hickory Trace Circle, Chattanooga was arrested January 24 on charges of driving while license suspended/revoked, possession of marijuana, open container and window tint violation. Mitchell Lee Smith, 29, of 2606 East 46th Street, Chattanooga was arrested January 24 on charges of driving while license suspended/revoked and cracked windshield/window. Michael Dwight Mencer, 41, of 34 Stanley Parkway, Ringgold was arrested January 25 on charges of driving while license revoked, possession of marijuana and speeding. Brittany Alexis Shelley, 23, of 1044 Meadow Road, Greenback, TN was arrested January 25 for theft by shoplifting. Kelley Elizabeth Conner, 53, of 4865 Hillsdale Circle, Chattanooga was arrested January 25 on charges of driving while license suspended, expired tag and outstanding warrant. Jonatan Buezo, 24, of 6 Fairlane Drive, Rossville was arrested January 25 on charges of driving while unlicensed and headlight requirement. Christopher Wayne Ellis, 23, of 6018 Graston Avenue Apt. B, East Ridge was arrested January 26 on charges of driving while license suspended and failure to obey traffic control device.Lamont Arthaniel Johnson, 24, of 3918 Camellia Drive, Chattanooga was arrested January 26 on charges of driving while license revoked and improperly displayed tag.Isaac Lopez Hernandez, 36, of 810 Shorttail Springs Road, Ooltewah was arrested January 26 on charges of speeding and driving while unlicensed.Ronald Wayne Campbell, 56, of 182 Battle Bluff Drive, Rossville was arrested January 26 for simple battery.Heather Nichole Campbell, 30, of 182 Battle Bluff Drive, Rossville was arrested January 26 for simple battery.Zachary Dan Willard, 22, of 686 Mack Smith Road, Fort Oglethorpe was arrested January 26 for theft by shoplifting.Alisa Deumic, 23, of 1830 Fant Drive, Apt. N79, Fort Oglethorpe was arrested January 27 for violation of Georgias controlled substance act.Deirdre Renee Hutcherson, 47, of 2157 Burnt Mill Road, Flintstone was arrested January 27 on charges of theft by shoplifting and violation of Georgias controlled substance act.Jeanna Danielle Stubblefield, 28, of 35 Brutis Drive, Rock Spring was arrested January 28 for theft by shoplifting.Jeremy Ray Conley, 37, of 584 Pine Grove Access Road, Apt. 230, Fort Oglethorpe was arrested January 23 on charges of driving while license suspended/revoked, tag light violation and operating a vehicle without a valid tag.Speeding10License required.2Certificate of registration required.1Entering or crossing roadway.1Driving while license suspended or revoked.8Driving on roadways laned for traffic.2Suspended registration..3Vehicles approaching or entering intersection.1Failure to exercise due care.1Removing or affixing license plate with intent to misrepresent1Tag light requirements.1Headlight requirements..2Tail light requirements.2Impeding traffic flow.1Window tint violation..5Brakes required..1License to be carried and exhibited on demand..1Required position & methods of turning at intersections..1Proof of insurance required.4Possession of open container.1Obstructing intersection1Safety belt violations3Failure to obey traffic control device.2Possession of marijuana..2Failure to obey stop signs and yield signs2Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.3Operation of vehicle without current plate.6 The main concern of the Chattanooga Beer Board is to keep people safe. The holder of a beer license is given a permit that has the potential of doing a lot of damage, said Vice Chairman of the Beer Board Christopher Keene. It is the responsibility of the recipient of that license to protect the people of Chattanooga against those that are a threat to themselves and others from drunk driving. In his admonition to applicants at the Thursday morning meeting of the Chattanooga Beer Board, he told business owners that their employees need to be well trained and be tough enough to refuse service to an impaired or underage customer. He said if they are unable to do that, they should be replaced. Two beer permits were issued Thursday, one a consumer license and the other, carry-out. Teresa Johnson and Ashley Krey have owned Sluggoss North Vegetarian Cafe for many years at 501 Cherokee Blvd. The restaurant is moving next door to 505 Cherokee Blvd., into a remodeled space in a newer building. Because of the change of address, the permit holders were required to get a new beer license. Ms. Johnson said that over the years the restaurant has been building a regular clientele. All dishes on the menu are vegan, qualifying it to be the only 100 percent vegetarian restaurant in Chattanooga, she said. A limited selection of craft beers as well as major brand crowd pleaser canned beers, are sold. The board voted unanimously, to give the restaurant the license to sell beer. The owner of Shiva Food Mart, 303 Browns Ferry Road was also granted a carry-out beer permit for the gas station / convenience store. Darshit K. Shah has recently bought the business, and he and his father are the only employees. He told the board that they would ask to see an ID before each sale of beer, and that there is also a scanner to confirm age from a drivers license. The board approved the application for this license, knowing that Mr. Shah has a vested interest in making the business succeed. The next meeting of the Chattanooga Beer / Wrecker Board is scheduled for Feb. 18, at 9 a.m. Kind Recaredus speaks to the bishops at the Third Council of Toledo Remains of a basilica at Recopolis Remains of a palace After seeing a recent post by Matthew Alderman entitled A Visigothic Hermitage in the Province of Burgos , reader Mervyn Samuel was kind enough to send in the following photographs and some information about them. Mr Samuel is a member of a cultural association in Spain called Urbs Regia, which seeks to promote great knowledge and appreciation of the Visigothic culture and its role in the formation of Spain. Their website is currently being redone; we will post notice when it comes back online. Of course, we have written here from time to time about one of the most important survivals of Visigothic Spain, the Mozarabic Liturgy I was pleased to see your recent mention of the Visigoths in Spain in relation to the little church of Nuestra Senora de las Vinas. They were so important in Spanish and European history yet are little remembered nowadays. Precisely for this reason an association,, has been established in the Visigothic capital, Toledo, to examine what remains of their culture in Spain and other countries (a previous capital was Bordeaux).We have recently visited the ruins of the palatine city of Recopolis (in the modern province of Guadalajara), and the Visigothic section of the National Archaeological Museum here in Madrid. A few photos are attached.Above all, I would suggest that the Visigoths were in no real sense barbarians when they came into Hispania as allies of Rome to try to prop up Roman civilisation in this peninsula. Originally Arian heretics, they accepted full Christianity in its Catholic form as a result of the conversion of King Recaredus I, formalised at the 3rd Council of Toledo in 589. They included such glorious figures of European culture as Saint Isidore, Archbishop of Seville. They united Hispania for the first time by overcoming the Suevians in the north-west, and expelling the Byzantine or Eastern Roman forces from the south-east. Always a small proportion of the total population, they allowed the long-established Hispano-Roman cities to continue under Roman Law, while their own affairs were governed by Germanic Common or Customary Law.The two remaining arms of a processional cross () are of such high quality that they were probably saved from Toledo Cathedral during the Islamic invasion of 711 and hidden with the remainder of the Guarrazar Hoard. The fourth photo shows votive crowns from the same hoard, probably also from the Cathedral; the fifth shows the votive crown of King Recesvintus. How this East Bay organization can help as electric, heat costs rise One program designed to keep people afloat in the face of rising heat and electricity costs is East Bay Community Action Program's LIHEAP. I would like to begin by introducing myself. I grew up in Chattanooga and I love this city. As a child, the space program and lunar landings were in full swing. I dreamed of a progressive city. I grew up reading books about space, travel, and superheroes at the Bicentennial Library. I am the only son of a local pastor and businessman. When I graduated from East Ridge High School, I went to UTC, studied criminal justice and went into the Army as a military police officer. I loved the Army and I wanted a chance to impact people at a deeper level. I went back to school at Lee College and the Seminary. I received my master of divinity degree and went back in the Army as a chaplain. I served in the United States and Asia. I lived in Japan in a Northern Wintery city. My wife and I learned to speak Japanese and we began playing Contemporary Christian music, singing, and bringing over artists. Creative skills that I learned in our beautiful scenic city. This inspired our entire city as we did concerts and recorded with the Yamaha Gospel Choir. The city leaders commended us for our impact upon the life of our Japanese city. I later served in the First Cavalry Division and retired. When I returned to my hometown, I was happy to see progress downtown, and at the Hamilton Place area, but I was discouraged about the crime, poverty, and drug use. I used my G.I. Bill to go back to the seminary in Cleveland and get my master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and my Doctorate. I did my dissertation in Psychoeducation and Neuromorphology. At night, I worked as a bail bondsmen, doing my homework next the Hamilton County Jail and fighting crime by catching fugitives. I now teach Psychology at a local college. My goal is transform the way people think. I am now very concerned about the violence my city. The violence is a two pronged problem with the same progenesis. First, there is the demand for drugs that keep gangs and violence funded. Without this demand, there would be no business for this criminal activity. Secondly, family dysfunction and poverty are concordant. Individuals who grow up in poverty with unstructured families experience chaos, confusion, and a lack of understanding of self. This leads to an inability to express oneself in a healthy manner and furthering extreme emotional pain and the inability to regulate one's emotions. This environment has a causation in brain development. The brain develops dopageneric neural pathways that inflame the amygdala (the flight or fight mechanism) and lesson the ability to control one's emotions and impulses due to the lack of proper setrogeneric developed pathways (the executive and personal control mechanisms.) This phenomenon produces a neurochemical flora that is prone to violence and the need to self medicate with illegal drugs. Further, this situation can eventually lead to psychosis. This leads us to gang leadership. Once leaders resort to senseless violence and terror, they have crossed the line into being psychotic. This is the same behavioral presentation of Adolf Hitler. He grew up in a violent home, his wounded ego turned to the abuse of amphetamines. This degrades the setrogeneric functioning and causes the brain to rely upon the dopamine and limbic functions which leads to psychosis. Adolf Hitler was a violent psychotic leader. This is also the behavioral presentation of Terrorist and in the extreme case, serial killers. Further, this is why the psychopharmaceutical intervention for psychosis is to reduce dopamine through neuroleptics, and increase the executive function of setrogeneric pathways through selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. As a result then, the violence of our city cannot be corrected until psychoeducation and mental health care can be instituted in our community and become a natural companion of law enforcement and local initiatives. It is not within the parameters of my character to describe a problem without offering a solution. I am more than willing to go to work and design programs that will make our law enforcement, mental health, and community initiatives more effective, innovate, and vibrant. We can break down these concepts where the rubber meets the road, and get out city back on track to a positive and progressive future. We can transform neighborhoods into safe places that capitalizes upon human potential instead of the waste of human life. We can create paradigm shifts that transform the wolves of our community into shepherd leaders. Further, we can also more effectively litigate the pathological crime with a clearer understanding of possible remedies. Dr. Edward L. Butch Varner 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). NOTICE: This Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) is intended for persons living in Australia. Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) summary The full CMI on the next page has more details. If you are worried about using this medicine, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. Why am I using BRIDION? BRIDION contains the active ingredient sugammadex sodium. BRIDION is used to speed up recovery of your muscles after an operation. For more information, see Section 1. Why am I using BRIDION? in the full CMI. What should I know before I use BRIDION? Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to BRIDION or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI. Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use BRIDION? in the full CMI. What if I am taking other medicines? Some medicines may interfere with BRIDION and affect how it works. A list of these medicines is in Section 3. What if I am taking other medicines? in the full CMI. How do I use BRIDION? BRIDION is given as a single injection through an intravenous line. The doctor will work out the dose of BRIDION you need based on your weight and how much muscle relaxant is still affecting you. More instructions can be found in Section 4. How do I use BRIDION? in the full CMI. What should I know after being given BRIDION? Driving or using machines Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to drive and operate potentially dangerous machinery. For more information, see Section 5. What should I know after being given BRIDION? in the full CMI. Are there any side effects? Like all medicines, BRIDION can cause side effects, but not everyone gets them. If these side effects occur while you are under anaesthetic, they will be seen and treated by your anaesthetist. For more information, including what to do if you have any side effects, see Section 6. Are there any side effects? in the full CMI. Why am I using BRIDION? BRIDION contains the active ingredient sugammadex sodium. BRIDION is one of a group of medicines called Selective Relaxant Binding Agents. BRIDION is used to speed up recovery of your muscles after an operation. During some operations, your muscles must be completely relaxed. This makes it easier for the surgeon to perform the operation. To make your muscles relax, the general anaesthetic includes muscle relaxants such as rocuronium or vecuronium. Because the muscles needed for breathing also become relaxed, you will need help with your breathing (artificial ventilation) during and after your operation until you can breathe on your own again. BRIDION is used to stop the muscle relaxants working. It does this by combining with rocuronium or vecuronium in your body. BRIDION is given to speed up your recovery from the muscle relaxant - for example, at the end of an operation to allow you to breathe normally earlier. You may already have been given BRIDION Injection. Your doctor will have considered the situation carefully and decided to use it. Your doctor will have explained why you are being treated with BRIDION. Ask your doctor if you want any more information about this medicine. BRIDION is not addictive. What should I know before I use BRIDION? Warnings Do not use BRIDION if: you are allergic to sugammadex sodium, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet. Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine. shortness of breath wheezing or difficulty breathing swelling of the tongue and/or throat rash or red skin Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: Check with your doctor if you: have kidney disease or have had it in the past. This is important because BRIDION is removed from your body by the kidneys. have any diseases known to give an increased risk of bleeding (disturbance of blood clotting). have liver disease or have had it in the past. have fluid retention (oedema). take any medicines for any other condition have allergies to any other medicines. During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of using BRIDION if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. Children BRIDION is not recommended for infants less than 2 years of age. Laboratory tests In general, BRIDION does not have an effect on laboratory tests. However it may affect the results of a blood test for a hormone called progesterone. What if I am taking other medicines? Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines may interfere with BRIDION and affect how it works. Medicines that may reduce the effect of BRIDION include: toremifene (used to treat breast cancer) fusidic acid (an antibiotic) flucloxacillin (an antibiotic) BRIDION may reduce the effect of hormonal contraceptives Tell your doctor if you are using a hormonal contraceptive such as the "PILL", vaginal ring, implants or hormonal Intrauterine System (IUS). BRIDION can make hormonal contraceptives less effective because it reduces how much you get of the hormone progestogen. The amount of progestogen lost by using BRIDION is about the same as missing one oral contraceptive Pill. If you are taking the PILL the same day as BRIDION is given to you, follow the instructions for a missed dose in the Pill's package insert. If you are using OTHER hormonal contraceptives (such as a vaginal ring, implant or IUS), you should use an additional non-hormonal contraceptive method (such as a condom) for the next 7 days. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect BRIDION. How do I use BRIDION? How much to use your weight how much muscle relaxant is still affecting you BRIDION is given as a single injection through an intravenous line. The doctor will work out the dose of BRIDION you need based on: The usual dose is 2 - 4 mg per kg body weight for patients 2 years of age and older. A dose of 16 mg per kg can be used only in adults if urgent recovery from muscle relaxation is needed. If you are given too much BRIDION As your doctor will be monitoring your condition carefully, it is unlikely that you will be given too much BRIDION. Even if this happens, it is unlikely to cause any problems. What should I know after being given BRIDION? Driving or using machines Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how BRIDION affects you. Your doctor will tell you when it is safe to drive and operate potentially dangerous machinery. As far as it is known, BRIDION has no effect on alertness or concentration. Looking after your medicine BRIDION is stored in the hospital according to the storage conditions on the pack. Are there any side effects? All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention. See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects. Serious side effects Serious side effects What to do Signs and symptoms of lung problems: Cough. Airway difficulties that may include coughing or moving as if you are waking or taking a breath. Shortness of breath due to muscle cramps of the airways (bronchospasm) occurred in patients with a history of lung problems. Signs and symptoms of heart problems: Decreased blood pressure due to the procedure. Severe slowing of the heart and slowing of the heart up to cardiac arrest may occur when BRIDION is administered. Signs and symptoms of allergic reactions: Allergic reactions such as a rash or red skin, swelling of the tongue and/or throat, shortness of breath, changes in blood pressure or heart rate, sometimes resulting in a serious decrease in blood pressure. Severe allergic or allergic-like reactions can be life threatening. Allergic reactions were reported more commonly in healthy, conscious volunteers. Signs and symptoms of muscle problems: Return of muscle relaxation after the operation. Signs and symptoms problems in other organs: Light anaesthesia - you may start to come out of deep sleep and need more anaesthetic. This might cause you to move or cough at the end of the operation. Complications during your procedure such as changes in heart rate, coughing or moving. If these side effects occur while you are under anaesthetic, they will be seen and treated by your anaesthetist. If after your operation, you notice any side effects tell your doctor. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people. Reporting side effects After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems . By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines. Product details This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription. What BRIDION contains Active ingredient (main ingredient) sugammadex sodium Other ingredients (inactive ingredients) hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment water for Injections Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients. What BRIDION looks like BRIDION is a colourless to slightly yellow solution for injection. BRIDION is available as 200 mg/2 mL pack of 10 vials (AUST R 147716) 500 mg/5 mL pack of 10 vials (AUST R 148263) Dr. Michael Rudnicki THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES ...insight from the worlds leading experts Up until now, what was the muscle weakness observed in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy thought to be caused by? For twenty years, it has been understood that dystrophin is expressed in differentiated muscle fibers where it is part of a protein complex that crosses the membrane and connects the extracellular matrix to the actin network inside the cell to provide structural integrity. In the absence of dystrophin, that complex is lost and movement tears the muscle membrane, leading to muscle fiber damage and repetitive cycles of repair. This understanding is still correct and this is the driver of the muscle damage in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Our discovery is really a paradigm shift into our understanding of why the disease is so progressive and thats because we've discovered a new function for dystrophin in stem cells. (Left to right): Will Wang, Dr. Caroline Brun, Dr. Michael Rudnicki and Dr. Nicolas Dumont What did your recent study, published in Nature Medicine, suggest about the role of muscle stem cells? We discovered that dystrophin plays an entirely different role in muscle stem cells. When muscle stem cells are activated, they enter the cell cycle and begin to undergo the cellular process leading to their cell division. Stem cells can divide in two ways. They can undergo what's called a symmetric division, which results in two stem cells, or they can undergo an asymmetric cell division whereby one of the resulting daughter cells becomes a progenitor cell or what is also called a myoblast. The progenitor cell will divide several times before differentiating to repair the tissue. The other cell, of course, is the stem cell. That's why it's called an asymmetric division. Those asymmetric cell divisions occur in a different orientation than the symmetric cell divisions. A symmetric cell division occurs parallel to the basal lamina. The basal lamina, if you can imagine, is the flooring; its what the cells are standing on and the two cells beside one another are both sitting on the basal lamina. The cell division plane is parallel to the basal lamina. An asymmetric cell division occurs at a right angle to the basal lamina, so that the committed cell is on top of the stem cell. It's being pushed away from the basal lamina and towards the muscle fiber. That control of division orientation also controls whether or not the stem cell undergoes a symmetric or an asymmetric cell division. Dystrophin is required for the cells to understand which way is up and which way is down. Dystrophin localizes to the surface of the cell that is on the basal lamina. It tells the cell where its boots are. In the absence of dystrophin, the stem cell doesn't know which way is up and is very inefficient in performing an asymmetric cell division. Not only that, but many of the stem cells undergo centrosome amplification because they're having difficulty understanding which way is up and which way is down. This leads to what's called mitotic catastrophe and, we believe, loss of the viability of the cells. As far as we can tell, about 40% of the cells are dying via this mechanism. Overall, the reduction of an asymmetric cell division, preferential stem cell self-renewal and loss of high numbers of stem cells leads to a reduced efficiency of stem cell function. They can still muddle through and repair the muscle, but the kinetics of repair are very slow. Out discovery indicates that this delay and impaired regeneration process, together with repetitive injury in the muscle fibers produces the full impact of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. A normal mouse muscle fiber (top left) is contrasted with a muscle fiber from a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (bottom right). In normal mice, stem cells (pink) express dystrophin (green) and are able to easily generate new muscle fibers, but in the disease model, there is no dystrophin and the stem cells lose their sense of direction and have trouble generating new muscle fibers. Reproduced with permission of Will Wang. How does this finding change our understanding of Duchenne muscular dystrophy? I think it's really a paradigm shift in our understanding. It indicates that Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a stem cell disease, as well as a muscle fiber disease. Also, I think in a very interesting way, it explains other aspects of the disease such as the neurodevelopmental delays that occur. Dystrophin is also involved in the heart and in the brain and so on. It's speculative right now, but conceivable, that these polarity deficits in other tissues are contributing to the full picture of the disease phenotype. Your research was conducted in mouse cells, do you think the findings will hold in humans? We performed very deep mechanistic studies to understand the working of dystrophin and the other polarity genes. I have a high degree of confidence that this will be found in humans because the exact same types of genes and mechanisms are present in humans. Right now, we're working with human biopsies from donors to attempt to validate those findings. I don't see any reason why they would be different. Is this research likely to lead to more effective treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy? Knowledge is power and these are all drugable pathways. I cant see any reason why, in the future, we could not identify novel drugs or even repurpose existing drugs to restore the function of these cells. Certainly, we've already identified a protein biologic called Wnt7a that restores the function of these cells by enforcing an alternate polarity. Ideally, we want one small drug that does the same thing and that is the direction that our lab is moving in. Because we know about it, we can attempt to address it. I do think it also means that for the gene replacement strategies that are being explored in trials such as exon-skipping and therapy with AAV vectors, that thought has to be given to either targeting the stem cell itself with an appropriate form of dystrophin that has its polarity function restored (these mini dystrophins that are typically being used do not have that function) or combining it with therapies that address the stem cell deficiency, together with restoring the genetic loss in myofibers. Do you think it will be possible to ever cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy? This is a very difficult disease and it's a hard nut to crack. I think that, further down the road, we will have therapies that will make this into a chronic disease rather than a lethal disease. I don't know when that will occur, but I think that by combining multiple approaches to simultaneously address the genetic loss, the stem cell dysfunction, the fibrosis, and the inflammatory aspects, we will have a much better way of handling this than we do now. What are the next steps in your research on muscle stem cells? We are very interested in identifying drugs that ameliorate the stem cell function. We're continuing with our preclinical development of a protein biologic to do the same thing. We've made some really good progress in the lab. I'm quite excited about the future and our ability to address this stem cell deficiency. I think this is a wonderful example of how curiosity driven research into fundamental mechanisms controlling what cells do can lead to really important insights that are going to have important clinical impact further down the road. So often nowadays, we hear politicians and others saying that we shouldn't be funding these crazy scientists who do whatever they want; we need to have applied research. Many years ago, the director of NIH said that if we only funded applied research, we would have a very high tech iron lung for polio victims, but we would never have invented the Salk vaccine. I think this is really underscores the importance of basic research. Where can readers find more information? Our paper can be found in Nature Medicine About Dr Michael Rudnicki Dr. Michael Rudnicki is a Senior Scientist and the Director of the Regenerative Medicine Program and the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. He is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Rudnicki is the Scientific Director of the Canadian Stem Cell Network. Dr. Rudnicki received his Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa in 1988 with Dr. Michael McBurney where he examined the control of gene expression during embryonal carcinoma cell differentiation. Dr. Rudnicki trained at the post-doctoral level at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Whitehead Institute with Dr. Rudolf Jaenisch. His post-doctoral studies involved the genetic dissection of the function of the MyoD-family of transcription factors by gene targeting. Dr. Rudnicki was appointed Assistant Professor at McMaster University in 1992. He moved to Ottawa In 2000 to join the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and was appointed Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Ottawa.. Dr. Rudnicki is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and he holds the Canada Research Chair in Molecular Genetics. He is an Associate Editor of Cell Stem Cell and the Journal of Cell Biology, and is Co-Editor in Chief of Skeletal Muscle. He has organized international research conferences as one of the founding directors of the Society for Muscle Biology. Dr. Rudnicki's laboratory works to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate the determination, proliferation, and differentiation of stem cells during embryonic development and during tissue regeneration. The lab has conducted leading studies into both embryonic myogenesis and the function of muscle stem cells (satellite cells) in adult regenerative myogenesis. In particular, they have worked extensively to understand the molecular mechanisms that regulate the function of satellite cells in skeletal muscle. Towards this end, the lab employs molecular genetic and genomic approaches to determine the function and roles played by regulatory factors. They identified Pax7 as a transcription factor required for the specification of satellite cells, and identified Wnt7a signaling as playing an important role in muscle stem cell function. Research has led to the publication of over 200 peer reviewed articles in scientific journals that include Cell, Nature, Nature Medicine, Nature Cell Biology, Cell Stem Cell and Genes & Development. Using nanoparticles to engineer a special drug, a team of researchers from McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) has demonstrated in pre-clinical trials a new way to both reduce preterm birth and avoid the risks of medication in pregnancy to unborn babies. Jerrie S. Refuerzo, M.D., associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at McGovern Medical School, will present the findings today during the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM) 36th Annual Meeting - The Pregnancy Meeting in Atlanta. Refuerzo is also chair of Quality for Obstetrics and Gynecology/Women's Services at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Existing tocolytic (anti-contraction or labor-repressant) medications, such as indomethacin, that are used to treat preterm labor can cross the placental barrier and cause heart defects or other problems in the fetus. Refuerzo collaborated with Monica Longo, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at McGovern Medical School, and Biana Godin, Ph.D., M.Sc.Pharm., assistant professor at Houston Methodist Research Institute. The team bioengineered an innovative microscopic nanoparticle of indomethacin aimed at reaching the pregnant uterus but not crossing the placenta to the fetus. This targeted liposomal indomethacin, called LIPINDORA, was coated with an oxytocin receptor antagonist to make it bind to uterine tissue. Refuerzo and her team, which also includes McGovern Medical School's research assistant Alejandra Elder Ontiveros and laboratory manager Nataliya Buleyeva, as well as Methodist's Fransisca Leonard, are being honored by the March of Dimes during the conference. Joe Leigh Simpson, M.D., senior vice president for research and global programs, will present Refuerzo with the March of Dimes award for Best Abstract in Prematurity at the meeting. This marks the 13th year that the March of Dimes award has been presented. LIPINDORA was given to near-term pregnant mice and the researchers found that the treated mice were significantly less likely than controls to have preterm uterine contractions or to deliver prematurely. Lab Diagnostics & Automation eBook Compilation of the top interviews, articles, and news in the last year. Download a copy today Preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks of pregnancy) is the No. 1 killer of babies in the United States. About 380,000 babies are born too soon each year in this country, and those who survive an early birth often face an increased risk of a lifetime of health challenges such as breathing problems, cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities. Even babies born just a few weeks early have higher rates of hospitalization and illness than full-term infants. Refuerzo said the team currently is conducting tests of LIPINDORA's effectiveness in human uterine tissue donated from C-sections. They're looking for biomarkers to indicate that the tissue has an anti-contraction response to the drug. If successful, they hope to begin a Phase I human clinical trial of the drug within the next few years. Two other McGovern Medical School faculty at the conference are presenting research findings, including a regenerative patch that can be used for in utero surgery and rates of patient satisfaction among postpartum women. Saul Snowise, M.D., a UTHealth fetal interventional fellow at The Fetal Center at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, compared a patch made from human umbilical cord to one made from biocellulose film in an animal model for in utero repair of spina bifida. The umbilical cord patch showed promising results in cell development and decreased inflammation. Snowise will present the findings on Friday. Robyn P. Roberts, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine fellow instructor at McGovern Medical School, studied patient satisfaction in postpartum women. She found that postpartum women who received delayed physician rounding (after 8 a.m.) were more satisfied with physician communication and overall hospital experience without prolonging their hospital stay for time of discharge. She will present her research on Saturday. The Cleveland School Board on Friday fired Dr. Martin Ringstaff, director of schools, for sending sexually explicit messages to an anonymous woman a year ago. His termination is effective immediately and does not include severance pay. The school board called an emergency meeting after Dr. Ringstaff, who is married, admitted to sending explicit messages to another woman. Though Dr. Ringstaff sent the messages a year ago, the recent creation of two Twitter accounts impersonating the director of schools exposed them to the public. On Monday Cleveland police started an investigation of the fake and scandalous accounts that many students saw. But their momentum froze when Dr. Ringstaff told police Monday night he was the one who sent the messages.According to Detective Daniel Gibbs, who filed the incident report, Dr. Ringstaff asked police to drop the investigation. For the sake of his wife he wishes not to pursue with the criminal investigation at this time, because the messages were from him but sent a year ago, the report stated.Dr. Ringstaff denied making the Twitter accounts, but his confession called for a special school board meeting.He was not present at the administrative office on Mouse Creek Road as board members and Chuck Cagle, school board attorney, discussed proper protocol in light of the recent revelations.Parents, school faculty, and the press packed into the board room. An ominous quiet fell over the room as Vice Chairperson Murl Dirksen said the board members faced the death of character.The board discussed Dr. Ringstaffs contract. If they terminated him, per his contract, he had the right to appeal, attorney Cagle said. But if Dr. Ringstaff resigned, then he lost that right.The attorney stated that on Thursday afternoon each of the seven board members received a letter from Dr. Ringstaffs attorney. The letter outlined Dr. Ringstaffs conditions if he were to resign.Board member Charlie Cogdill said there were quite a few demands in the letter. One included for Dr. Ringstaff to receive 18 months compensation upon his resignation.Regarding these demands, Chairperson Dawn Robinson said she cared deeply for Dr. Ringstaff and his family. But her tipping point came when she discovered he had not been truthful, yet still demanded pay as a requirement for resignation.Because the situation marred Dr. Ringstaffs ability to be a good school leader, board member Tom Cloud said he could not support any monetary exchange for Dr. Ringstaff other than his accrued vacation, which amounted to 17.5 days. Mr. Cogdill and board member George Meacham agreed they did not endorse spending taxpayers dollars on Dr. Ringstaffs severance package.We were paying him while this was going on. I in no way want to pay him another dime, board member Steve Morgan said in congruence.Ms. Robinson suggested firing Dr. Ringstaff, asking if power and ego turned him into someone he is not.Rather than firing him, Mr. Dirksen motioned for Dr. Ringstaff to vacate the office immediately and submit a letter of resignation by 5 p.m. on Friday. This motion allowed Dr. Ringstaff to receive pay for his 17.5 accrued vacation days, but nothing beyond that.If he did not resign by 5 p.m., he would be terminated automatically, the motion stated.To counter this, Mr. Morgan motioned to terminate Dr. Ringstaff immediately without compensation on the grounds of breech of contract, unbecoming conduct, and insubordination. He stressed he did not want Dr. Ringstaff to receive a dime, not even vacation pay, especially since he entered into a new contract one week ago under false conduct.He stated the school system paid for Dr. Ringstaffs computer, phone, and ipad which the director of schools allegedly used to send the sexual messages.Mr. Dirksens main reasoning for letting Dr. Ringstaff resign was to not drag things out, because if he resigned he lost his right to appeal.Im only concerned with the appeals process, Mr. Dirksen said.Nevertheless, the board voted 5-2 to terminate Dr. Ringstaff, with Mr. Dirksen and Peggy Pesterfield opposed.Ms. Pesterfield, who read a statement at the beginning of the meeting supporting Dr. Ringstaffs resignation, said she was concerned for his family. In her statement she said she would miss his enthusiasm, forward thinking, and love of education.But a business has to go on, Ms. Robinson said after the vote to fire Dr. Ringstaff passed.She scheduled a special board meeting for next Monday at 7:30 a.m. to decide on an interim director of schools. Two of Central Virginias three locally based banks First National Bank and Select Bank recently announced their intentions to expand into new markets in the region. Altavista-based First National Bank is looking to begin its last phase of expansion into Lynchburg. The bank announced in late 2014 it would add space and relocate its branches on Timberlake Road and Old Forest Road, respectively. Those changes are expected to be complete in late spring. Meanwhile, the company plans to begin building a three-story bank branch on Odd Fellows Road. First National Bank CEO Todd Hall said he is betting on the construction connecting U.S. 460 West to Odd Fellows Road, future development by Liberty University and the confluence of traffic and business in the area to leave the branch well-positioned. The more we looked at it, the more we investigated the area, it was obvious that it was a central point and allowed us to serve a lot of different segments for the Lynchburg community from that one spot, Hall said. Construction for the U.S. 460 ramp began this year with an early completion date of December 2017, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. In addition to being a traditional branch, the building will hold administrative offices and training and meeting space. The building will be the banks headquarters for Lynchburg, but its main headquarters will remain in Altavista. Meanwhile, Select Bank of Bedford County said it recently purchased bank property owned by the Bank of Fincastle at 1387 American Way Court in the town of Bedford. Its a growth opportunity for us, said CEO Mike Thomas. Thomas said he believes the deposit market in Bedford County has more than $1 billion. The new location will be a full-service branch and is expected to open in the second quarter of this year. First National Bank also released its annual and fourth-quarter results for 2015, reporting a 116 percent increase in fourth-quarter net income over the same time period to $1 million. Net income for last year was $2.7 million, an increase of 27.5 percent over the year before. Nonperforming assets declined 0.84 percentage point to $3.1 million year-over-year in 2015 for First National Bank. Law enforcement agencies across the Cumberland Plateau Region and Eastern Tennessee, including the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, will be conducting saturation patrols on Saturday and Sunday. The saturations will take place from 3 p.m. on Saturday until 11 p.m. on Sunday. Patrols will take place where alcohol-related crashes and DUI arrests have occurred in the past. Officers will concentrate their enforcement efforts on removing impaired drivers from the roadways. There were 6,648 known alcohol-related crashes in Tennessee in 2014. Individuals that make the irresponsible and dangerous choice to drink and drive are risking their license, their freedom, their life and the lives of others. Your local law enforcement agencies are committed to keeping travelers safe and helping them arrive safely at their destinations. Officer overtime for these checkpoints is funded through a grant with the Tennessee Governor's Highway Safety Office. The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, in conjunction with the Tennessee Governors Highway Safety Office, wishes to encourage those in the community who will be attending Super Bowl parties and events to please drink responsibly. For those who will be traveling home after their festivities, please know your limits and keep the number of a local cab company for easy access or make sure to have a designated driver. GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Heres why you can trust us. SEX PREDATOR Yesterday, Inspector Don Gajadhar of the San Fernando CID told Newsday that he is working closely with officers of the Rio Claro Police Station to have the suspect arrested. The Inspector said that the last known address of the man was passed on to detectives and officers went to that house but he was not there and the occupants could shed no light as to his whereabouts. Officers were told that the suspect had been living at this location with a woman but moved out. He is then believed to have struck up a relationship with the mother of the five-year-old child who lives in Rio Claro. Both the childs mother and the suspect are security guards and they began an intimate relationship after meeting while on duty at the same location. Police believe that he may be somewhere in the Southern Division and have advised women to be on the lookout as he appears to target women especially single mothers with young girl children. Police sources added that the man is a suspect in a number of rapes, all committed while he was out on bail. Officers have described the man as a sex predator. News of his sexual assault on the five-year-old girl, shocked and sickened the nation when Newsday reported earlier this week, how the victims mother discovered a video file on the mans cellular phone showing him receiving oral sex from the child. When confronted by the hysterical woman, last Sunday at her home, the man ran out of the house and escaped. A report was made to the Rio Claro police station and officers contacted officials of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) and the Police Services Cyber Crimes Unit. A check of the phones sim card and storage showed photographic and video images of the man sexually assaulting the girl, who affectionately referred to him as uncle. Images showed him attempting to sexually penetrate her, having her pose in the nude and performing oral sex. When asked to tell officers what uncle was doing with her, the child Newsday was told became frightened saying he had told her she would get into big trouble if she told anyone. She later told police that the man would reward her with snacks for sexual services. Both mother and child continue to receive counselling from the Police Services Victims Support Unit as wellas officials from the CPU. Kleen Rite, Sherwin Williams up in flames This incident occurred a day before the one year anniversary of a gas explosion at El Pecos Restaurant at Royal Palm Plaza, Maraval, which killed one man and injured ten people. According to reports, at about 1.15 pm, LPG workers were refuelling a tank behind the dry cleaning business on the Foreshore when they noticed that a pump was on fire. One of the workers ran in the building and alerted everyone inside who ran out. A few minutes later, there was a giant explosion scattering glass from the business, as well as the gas station next door, and those who were driving along the street at the time. Three employees were taken to the St James Medical Facility as they suffered cuts about their body from the shattered glass. These include Sabina Ali, who is the wife of the owner of Kleen Rite, Ann Marie Corbin, Nirmala Jagdeo and Shinelle Noel. Jagdeo, Corbin and Noel were treated and discharged while Ali was taken to the St Clair Medical Facility as she received deep cuts on her face. One woman who lives along Mucarapo Road, said before the explosion she and others in her home got a whiff of a really stink gas smell. After that smell, there was the explosion and I fell onto my friend because it was so powerful, I have never heard an explosion like that, she said. That explosion shattered the chandelier in her living room. Wayne Yearwood, an employee at Petro Mart, the gas station next to Kleen Rite said when they saw the fire at the back of the building, the employees quickly ran to their muster point. He noted that something has to be done to ensure fires like these do not occur again. This is the second fire like this in almost a year, they should have more inspections with storage tanks to prevent these things from happening, he said. Fire officers worked feverishly for several hours to contain the fire to Kleen Rite but were unable to stop it from spreading to the neighbouring business, Sherwin Williams Paints which was later destroyed. When the fire spread onto the roof of Sherwin Williams Paints, police officers told those who stood nearby to move further away from the area in the event another explosion occurred. Chief Fire Officer, Kenny Gopaul admitted that the fire officers had challenges with their water supply. We tried to prevent the spread but the output was much more than the input so we needed additional resources, he said. He said they experience this challenge from time to time and it needed to be addressed. Health workers union slam cutbacks The warning was issued by National Health Workers Union (NHWU) general secretary Dave Smith who in an emailed statement, revealed that the union had accessed a memo sent to Divisional heads of Departments who are being advised by the CEOs of respective Regional Health Authorities to implement sweeping cuts in healthcare throughout the country. The impetus for this latest move comes from the Ministry of Health to review overall expenditure and implement a seven percent cost-cutting measure (inclusive of Salaries and Goods & services), Smith stated as he noted the mandate originated from the Office of the Prime Minister. He stated that the memo listed several measures which could be implemented including a, comprehensive assessment of the institutions establishment to determine if spare capacity exists; whether all temporary officers are against a vacant post; the management of overtime and whether the RHAs are maximizing the use of consumables such as stationery, hardware, medical supplies, linens, laboratory supplies and radiology supplies. However, South West RHA chief executive officer Anil Gosine, said the memo had advised the RHAs to reduce expenditure by increasing efficiency throughout the various departments with departmental managers being asked to provide suggestions on how they could reduce costs. Meanwhile, Smith pointed out that the cost cutting measures were taking place against the Zika outbreak throughout the Americas. All of this is taking place against a worldwide health alert on the Zika virus, and the constant public relations posturing and distractions from the real issues in healthcare by the current Minister of Health. It is quite clear that his constant media rants are smokescreens to divert attention away from the impending horrors to be inflicted upon health care workers, and the working people and the poor, who make use of our public health institutions, Smith noted. He pointed out that the instruction to review expenditure on salaries, goods and services represents a clear and present assault on all workers employed by the RHAs, and to the public at large and noted that with the exception of doctors employed at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), the threat to the salaries of monthly- paid health workers is ominous as none of the monthly rated staff is protected by a collective agreement. With retrenchment of staff a definite possibility, he pointed out that there were approximately 650 vacancies at the North Central Regional Health Authority, while there was some 3413 vacancies at the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), including 992 nursing vacancies. The NHWU condemns the vicious attack being orchestrated in the health sector that will have devastating effects on the population, particularly the poor and working class, and the workers employed in the sector, he concluded. Meanwhile, addressing yesterday post Cabinet media briefing, Communications Minister Maxie Cuffie, said he was unaware of the issue although he noted that Health Minister, Terrance Deyalsingh may address the matter at his weekly press briefing. What's the job market like for chemists? Dude -- it's always bad.* How bad is it? How the heck should I know? Quantifying the chemistry job market is what this blog is about. That, and helping chemists find jobs. E-mail chemjobber with helpful tips, career questions or angry comments at chemjobber -at- gmail dotcom. All correspondence is kept confidential. (Didn't get an e-mail back? It's okay to try again.) Voicemail/SMS: (302) 313-6257 Twitter: @chemjobber RSS feed here (The Blogger spam filter gets hungry sometimes, and likes to eat comments. You can e-mail me, and sometimes I can get it to cough up your comment. I am always happy to try.) (*For the literal-minded, this is a joke. Mostly.) Believe It or Not, Some World Leaders Lasted Just Minutes (Newser) First mosquitoes; then sex; now blood transfusions. On Thursday, officials in Brazil announced two cases of patients receiving the rapidly spreading Zika virus through donated blood, Reuters reports. According to the Wall Street Journal, the first case was in March after a patient received a blood transfusion during a liver transplant. The second case was in April after the patient was shot and needed multiple transfusions. The capacity of Zika to spread through blood transfusions needs to be evaluated, as well as the blood protection measures that should be adopted based on the new findings, Brazil's Health Ministry says. A Brazilian infectious disease specialist tells the Journal "there is no reason for panic." A number of countries are issuing stricter rules for blood donations in the face of the Zika outbreak. The Health Ministry is reiterating that blood banks shouldn't accept any donations from people who've had Zika until 30 days after they've fully recovered. And the American Red Cross says people who've been to Central or South America, Mexico, or the Caribbean should wait 28 days before donating blood. Still, the Red Cross states the risk for Americans receiving blood transfusions is "extremely low." Zika first appeared in Brazil last year. Since then, it's infected an estimated 500,000 to 1.5 million Brazilians and popped up in 30 countries. The virus only rarely causes serious symptoms in those who contract it, but it has been linked to thousands of cases of microcephaly in Brazilian babies. (Read more Zika virus stories.) (Newser) Employees at a California Burger King responded less than ideally to a prank call Saturday night, causing $35,000 in damage to the restaurant, KSBY reports. According to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, someone called the Burger King in Morro Bay pretending to be with the fire department. They told employees there was a gas leak and they needed to break out the restaurant's windows immediately for ventilation. The employees apparently did as they were told, with the shift manager going so far as to ram a car into the restaurant. The manager has been suspended, and police are continuing to investigate the incident. Officials remind residents that the fire department will rarely call you directly about an emergency. (Read more weird crimes stories.) (Newser) Maurice White, the founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, has died. White died at home in Los Angeles on Wednesday, said his brother, Verdine White. He was 74. A former session drummer, White founded Earth, Wind & Fire in the late 1960s. The group sold more than 90 million albums worldwide, displaying a flashy and eclectic musical style that incorporated White's influences from growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, and spending time at the influential Chicago music labels Chess and Okeh. The band's many hits included September, Shining Star, a cover of the Beatles' Got to Get You into My Life, and Boogie Wonderland. Earth, Wind & Fire won six Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. (Read more Earth, Wind & Fire stories.) (Newser) Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders hit upon a familiar theme of late early in their debate Thursday night: Who is the true progressive on the stage? Clinton for her part quickly busted out what is becoming a common line: "I am a progressive who gets things done," she said, before adding, "The root of that word, progressive, is progress." She criticized Sanders for deeming himself the "self-proclaimed gatekeeper" of who gets the title and said that by his definition, almost nobody in Washington would qualify, including President Obama. Then came a tougher shot: "If we're going to get into labels, I don't think it was particularly progressive to vote against the Brady Bill five times." Sanders, though, said his definition of a progressive isn't "radical," though he added that a progressive must be willing to "wage a political revolution," reports the Atlantic. "What we need to do is to stand up to the big money interest and the campaign contributors," he said, in what the New York Times live blog considers a "tacit shot at Clinton and her donors." And as for President Obama: "Do I think President Obama is a progressive? Yes, I do." (Read more Hillary Clinton 2016 stories.) (Newser) President Obama, apparently embracing his position as a Democratic president with no elections left to fight, is proposing a hefty new tax on oil to fund cleaner energy and transportation. The White House says Obama's budget request to Congress will include a $10-per-barrel tax on oil companies, which would raise up to $32 billion a year, some of which would be spent on mass transit and on replacing the country's aging infrastructure, the New York Times reports. The tax will affect foreign and domestic oil companies alike, and the White Housewhich will include relief for families affected by higher energy bills in the planadmits that oil firms will probably pass the cost of the tax on to consumers, USA Today reports. Of course, even with today's relatively low oil prices, the GOP-controlled Congress is no more likely to adopt a new oil tax in an election year than it is to propose adding Obama's face to Mount Rushmore. Administration aides admit that the main goal is to introduce "a new vision" for transportation and change the debate, Politico reports. House Speaker Paul Ryan denounced the plan as an "election-year distraction" that "this lame-duck president" knows will be "dead on arrival in Congress." Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, tells Politico that it will certainly be "tough sledding"but he gives the administration credit for offering a long-term transportation blueprint instead of a short-term fix, and for "having the guts to say how they would pay for it all." (Read more oil production stories.) (Newser) In Mexico, they're comparing it to the heartbreaking photo of 3-year-old Syrian refugee Alan Kurdi lying dead on a beach. An image of a slain 7-month-old baby lying between his dead parents on a sidewalk has gone viral and caused outrage across the country, according to a New York Daily News report that includes the graphic photo. Officials say the boy, identified as Marcos Miguel Pano Colon, was being carried by his father, 24-year-old Juan Alberto Pano Ramos, in the city of Pinotepa in Oaxaca state when suspected drug traffickers opened fire, killing the boy, his father, and his 17-year-old mother, Alba Isabel Colon. Investigators say the murdered couple had links to a suspected drug trafficker who was gunned down the same day, CNN reports. Four people have been arrested in the case. The photo led to renewed calls for the government to stamp out drug violence. "Do you remember the Syrian boy? Do you remember how you became indignant and put a flag on Facebook?" asked the Solo Acapulco Facebook account, which uploaded the photo. "This is what happens in Mexico, to be precise in Pinotepa Oaxaca, where drug violence killed this family, including this little 7-month-old angel." (Read more Mexico stories.) (Newser) Chicago police on Thursday found the bodies of four men, one woman, and a child inside a home on the city's South Side in what police say is being investigated as an apparent multiple homicide. Interim Chicago Police Superintendent John Escalante said it appeared to be an isolated incident and there was no wider threat to the community, but police added extra patrols in the neighborhood as a precaution. Asked whether it could have been a murder-suicide, he said it was "a possibility." A police spokesman said later Thursday that police were "not yet" searching for suspects. The bodies had signs of trauma, but authorities have not determined the cause of death. Escalante told reporters that police checked the house Thursday afternoon after receiving a call from a co-worker worried about someone who lived there. The person had missed two days of work, which was "highly unusual and very suspicious," Escalante said. Authorities were still working to identify the dead. Escalante said the child was thought to be 10 to 12 years old. A relative of the family who lived in the home said Thursday evening that the family seemed happy. She said living in the home were a couple originally from Mexico, their son, their daughter, and the daughter's two children. "They were a normal family. Everything was fine," she tells the AP. "Right now we just want to know who did this. They didn't deserve this. We don't understand what happened." (Read more Chicago stories.) (Newser) Aging media mogul Sumner Redstone stepped down as executive chairman of Viacom on Thursday and was replaced by CEO Philippe Dauman, a move that immediately disappointed investors. Although the decision mimicked a similar move at sister company CBS, Thursday's action has the potential to set off a future board fight. Redstone's daughter Shari said Wednesday she was against Dauman's promotion to the role because of his deep involvement in Redstone family affairs. Redstone is embroiled in a legal battle involving his ex-girlfriend and former caregiver Manuela Herzer over his health and mental capacity. Mario Gabelli, whose Gabelli Asset Management Inc. owns 10% of Viacom's voting shares, told CNBC on Thursday that Dauman has "bought himself six more months or nine more months to indicate how he plays his cards." The comments reflect investor dissatisfaction with Viacom, whose shares have fallen by almost half since July 2014. Gabelli suggested putting the company or its movie studio, Paramount Pictures, up for sale. "What exactly is he doing in the mobile world and what is he doing to get into the hit business and what is he doing to get into the TV series, which are the hot areas?" Gabelli told CNBC. "Maybe now we'll get a different form of focus on what they're not doing." (Read more Viacom stories.) (Newser) A Missouri couple accused in a string of violent crimes across four states is on the run no more, reports WBRC. Police caught up with them in Florida early Friday morning, with the resulting shootout leaving Blake Fitzgerald, 30, dead and Brittany Harper, also 30, wounded in the leg or legs. The shootout near Pensacola came after a car chase, a foot chase, and then, somehow, another car chase, reports Al.com. Their crime spree allegedly began with a series of home break-ins in Missouri on Jan. 22, followed by several armed robberies, carjackings, and kidnappings in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The spree earned them the nickname "Bonnie and Clyde" in headlines. "It's unfortunate it ended this way, but that was their decision instead of surrendering," says a police official in Alabama. A motel clerk in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who police say was kidnapped by the pair told authorities that they planned to make it to Panama City to begin new lives. Fitzgerald has a long criminal history in Missouri, along with three children there, including an infant. (Read more fugitives stories.) (Newser) An Italian actor has been declared dead after a hanging scene apparently went horribly wrong. Raphael Schumacher, 27, was taking part in a live theater performance of "Mirages" at the Teatro Lux in Pisa, Italy, last Saturday when a spectator found him unconscious. The Washington Post reports the play was viewed in sections in different parts of the theater with audience members moving between scenes. A single spectator watched in a courtyard as Schumacher recited a monologue about the angst of a 15-year-old boy, stepped on a cube, and placed his head in a noose hanging from a fig tree, reports Il Tirreno. A medical school graduateit isn't clear if she was the original spectatorthen saw Schumacher's body twitching and rushed to help, reports ANSA News. Schumacherwho never regained consciousness and was declared brain-dead at a local hospital on Thursday, per the BBCchanged the original ending of the scene, which was supposed to involve a gun, says a Teatro Lux manager. "Raphael changed it without telling us." But a prosecutor says the scene "was performed successfully earlier on Saturday evening, when he ended the scene laying his head in the noose." Schumacher's family members don't believe it was suicide. "His father died recently and he had just broken up with someone, but he had soon regained inner peace," his mom says. Two directors and two stage technicians are now under investigation for manslaughter. Schumacher's organs will be donated per his family's wishes. (Other celebrities have died while performing.) (Newser) One person is dead and two others seriously injured after a construction crane collapsed in Manhattan Friday morning, reports WABC-TV. The crane crashed onto parked cars in the TriBeCa neighborhood about 8:30am, and the person who was killed was inside one of those vehicles. "I could see it slowly coming down," says one witness. "It lasted about five or six seconds. I didn't know what was happening it was happening so fast. DNAinfo rounds up some images beginning to circulate on social media. (Read more Manhattan stories.) Nearly a year since the dormant Solstice on the Park project first showed a faint pulse, it appears that the Hyde Park proposal is no longer mostly dead but very much alive and well. Replacing a parking lot at 5540 S. Cornell Ave on the northern edge of Jackson Park, the 299-foot residential tower designed by Studio Gang was first proposed way back in 2006 as a 113-unit condo building. After numerous delays and false starts, Solstice on the Park sat in a state of stasis until news of its potential revival surfaced again in early 2015. The project's programming has since shifted from the original condo concept to 250 rental units or 200 apartments plus a 160-key hotel component, should the developers decide to pursue that option. According to its designer Jeanne Gang, Solstice on the Park will achieve a high level of energy efficiency thanks to its high-performance glass facade which alternates at 71 degree angles to take advantage of the low sun in the winter as well as create its own shade in the summer. The specific angle was inspired by the position of the sun during the summer solstice, which also provides the building with its namesake. The pattern simplifies into larger blocks as the tower climbs and individual units become larger. While residents with north-facing views will be able to enjoy downtown's skyline, the building's southern elevation will provide excellent overhead views of Jackson Park and Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. The concrete eastern and western walls include an irregular pattern of punch-outs reminiscent of sunlight passing through the branches of a tree. To help unburden the areas limited supply of parking, the new tower will include at least 316 spaces in a garage to be shared with the neighboring 53-unit building at 5528 S. Cornell Ave. and the 220-unit Windermere House just east at 1642 E 56th St. The Solstice plan also provides upgrades to nearby Bret Harte Elementary School located immediately to the west. According to the Hyde Park Herald, the developers have already provided Bret Harte with a new playground, parking lot, and drive aisle for student pickup and dropoff. Solstice on the Park's previous Planned Development (PD) application was approved in 2008 but will be replaced by a fresh 2015 plan should it gain the approval of the Chicago Plan Commission. If re-approved by the city, Solstice on the Park will join Studio Gang's nearby City Hyde Park project under construction just five block north. The public hearing is scheduled for 10 AM on February 18th on the second floor of City Hall. Solstice on the Park zoning meeting [Hyde Park Herald] Solstice on the Park archives [Curbed Chicago] Hyde Park archives [Curbed Chicago] (Newser) Pope Francis and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in a historic step to heal the 1,000-year-old schism that divided Christianity between East and West, both churches announced Friday. The Feb. 12 meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be the first ever between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the largest in Orthodoxy. Francis is due to travel to Mexico Feb. 12-18. He will stop in Cuba on the way and meet with Kirill at the Havana airport, where they will speak privately for about two hours and then sign a joint declaration, the Vatican said. "This event has extraordinary importance in the path of ecumenical relations and dialogue among Christian confessions," said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi. The two churches split during the Great Schism of 1054 and have remained estranged over a host of issues, including the primacy of the pope and Russian Orthodox accusations that the Catholic Church is poaching converts in former Soviet lands. Those tensions have prevented previous popes from ever meeting with the Russian patriarch, even though the Vatican has long insisted that it was merely ministering to tiny Catholic communities in largely Orthodox lands. The persecution of ChristiansCatholic and Orthodoxin the Middle East and Africa, however, has had the effect of bringing the two churches closer together. Both the Vatican and the Orthodox Church have been outspoken in denouncing attacks on Christians and the destruction of Christian monuments, particularly in Syria. (Read more Vatican stories.) (Newser) Police received 22 sexual assault complaints Thursday during the first night of Carnival in Cologne, Germany, the BBC reports. According to the AP, that's twice what was reported on the first day of last year's celebration and comes only a month after 1,000 or so "drunk and aggressive" men sexually assaulted more than 100 of the city's female revelers on New Year's Eve. The sexual assault complaints from Thursday include one rape and an instance of a TV reporter's breast being grabbed live on air, the Telegraph reports. Nearly 200 people were arrested Thursday, and the Telegraph described the police presence at Carnival as "overwhelming." There are between 2,000 and 2,500 officers on duty for the weeklong celebration that usually draws 1.5 million people. Our parents didnt really want us to come and they warned us to be very careful, but we decided that were not going to be afraid, were going to party, a 20-year-old woman at Carnival tells the Telegraph. Migrants and refugees were heavily blamed for the New Year's Eve attacks, and more than half of the identified suspects were found to be asylum seekers. Police distributed flyers explaining "social etiquette" at Carnival and that "no means no." There's been no indication that any of the sexual assaults reported Thursday were carried out by migrants. Despite the attacks, it's difficult to find young people in Cologne critical of Germany's plan to welcome asylum seekers. "When Jews fled this country because of Hitler and war, other countries took them in, one 20-year-old tells the Telegraph. Now Germany must do the same; we have a responsibility even if it is hard. (Read more Cologne stories.) (Newser) On Friday, Hsiu-Ying "Lisa" Tseng, convicted of murdering three of her patients by drug overdose, was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison, making her the only US doctor ever convicted of murder for recklessly prescribing meds, the lead prosecutor said. Although her defense team portrayed the Southern California doctor as a helpful physician sucked in by "manipulative" patients, per CNN, she was accused of writing out Rxs for patient who paid in cash, not offering thorough medical exams, and ignoring family members who begged her to stop writing prescriptions. "It seems to be an attempt to put the blame on someone else," LA Superior Court Judge George Lomeli chastised the 46-year-old during her sentencing, per the Los Angeles Times. "Very irresponsible." And the charges against Tseng for the deaths of 21-year-old Joey Rovero, 25-year-old Steven Ogle, and 28-year-old Vu Nguyen weren't the first red flags: Three other young men had ODed in 2007 and 2008 after she supplied them with prescriptions from her strip-mall clinic, the prosecution notedand they drove a long way to get to her, with one of the victims making a two-hour round trip. Meanwhile, an attorney who had represented Tseng in front of the state medical board says that her prosecution (and now sentencing) has had a frightening effect on doctors who just want the best for their patients. "The doctors are scared out of their minds," he tells the Times. "The pendulum has swung so far. The people who need [pain medication] can't get it now." (Read more California stories.) (Newser) Twitter announced Friday that it has booted more than 125,000 terror-related accounts from its social-media platform since the middle of last year, CNBC reports. The accounts were suspended for supporting terrorist attacks or for threatening to carry out attacks. "Like most people around the world, we are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups," Twitter says in a statement. "We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism." This is the first time Twitter has ever acknowledged the amount of terror-related activity on its platform. According to CBS News, the announcement comes a month after the White House sent officials to Silicon Valley to ask the tech industry to help in the fight against terrorism. Twitter claims it is devoting more resources to investigating terrorist activity and is using "spam-fighting algorithms" to suss out terror-related accounts. "We have already seen results, including an increase in account suspensions and this type of activity shifting off of Twitter," the company says. But a report from the Brookings Institute issued last year states terrorists moving off Twitter and onto a "less transparent platform," as CBS puts it, could have troubling consequences. ISIS has used Twitter in the past to recruit members from English-speaking nations and spread its message. The majority of terror-related accounts suspended by Twitter in recent months were shut down for supporting ISIS. (Read more Twitter stories.) Taylor Swift may have just ended her 1989 tour but it does not mean that she will be gone for a long time. This week, it was announced that the multi-awardee will partner with Glu Mobile, the maker of the smash hit Kim Kardashian: Hollywood mobile app, in coming up with her own mobile game. In a report from Forbes, Glu Mobile is aiming to create a game that will bear Tay's unique cartoon style. Not only that, it needs tours, promotions from the star's social media to pitch in 'real-world' money from fans who are not only interested in gaming but are up to buy clothes and other merchandise. "We realize that Taylor and her global fan base expect a new and highly differentiated mobile gaming experience. Glu is equally committed to designing never before seen gameplay elements that utilize Taylor's unique creativity. Accordingly, we will spend the required development time to ensure this innovation is achieved," Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi said. Aimed to be at par with Kim Kardashian's massive gaming revenue of $146 million, the songstress' gaming app is expected to be a 'one-of-a-kind digital gaming experience, according to Venture Beat. Aside from Swift, the gaming company has already signed deals with other big names in Hollywood: Taylor Swift's close competitor Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and Nicky Minaj. Meanwhile, during its promotion, de Masi divulged that Katy Perry's app that has been released earlier this year did not get as much revenue as the KK: Hollywood did. "In Katy Perry Pop, poor technical decisions coupled with the newly hired team led to all key metrics being below thresholds required for an ROI [return on investment] positive title. Additional development time was not provided due to contractual restrictions as well as the team's mediocre trajectory," he said as mentioned in The Guardian. Taylor Swift's gaming app is set to be launched in December this year for tablets and smartphones. Wealthy countries throughout the world have pledged billions to help ease the Syrian migrant crisis after British Prime Minister David Cameron urged nations on Thursday at the international donors' conference in London to step up. "If ever there was a moment to take a new approach to the humanitarian crisis in Syria surely it is now," Cameron said reported by ABC News. "After years of conflict we are witnessing a desperate movement of humanity as hundreds of thousands of Syrians fear they have no alternative than to put their lives in the hands of evil people-smugglers in search of a future." U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the U.S. will be increasing its aid by around $600 million. The total amount of money that the U.S. has donated to help Syrians over the past four years has reached $5.1 billion, which is the highest amount that has been pledged for this clause by a single donor. "After almost five years of fighting, it's pretty incredible that as we come here in London in 2016 the situation on the ground is actually worse," Kerry said. "We are compelled to respond to the immediate needs on the ground, and we're doing so today." The U.S. will also be donating $290 million in aid to increase access to education for people in Lebanon and Jordan. The UK pledged 1.2 billion pounds, which is about $1.75 billion, in aid for the time span of 2016 to 2020. Germany pledged 2.3 billion euros ($2.5 billion) from now through to 2018. Germany took in the largest number of refugees out of all European countries in 2015. Overall, countries pledged more than $10 billion. The meeting was held with the purpose of increasing donations and settling plans on several programs aimed to help neighboring countries. Roughly 4.6 million Syrian refugees live in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. The King of Jordan, Abdullah, expressed his concerns over sustaining the nearly 1.3 million Syrians who have settled into the country. "We are doing our best against very difficult odds," the king said. "Our country will continue to do what we can do to help those in need, but it cannot be at the expense of our own people's welfare." According to the United Nations and the countries affected by the Syrian Civil War, a total of $9 billion in aid will be needed for 2016. Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on Thursday that Russia has "reasonable grounds" to believe that Turkey has plans to invade Syria. Turkey has not commented on the latest allegations. "The Russian Defense Ministry registers a growing number of signs of hidden preparation of the Turkish armed forces for active actions on the territory of Syria," Konashenkov said in a statement reported by Reuters. In a written statement, reported by the Washington Post, Konashenkov pointed to pictures taken last year and late January that showed something resembling a transportation infrastructure being built at a checkpoint between Reyhanli in Turkey and Sarmada is Syria. Konashenkov stated that Turkey could use the infrastructure to move troops, ammunition and weapons into Syria. "Maybe, in peacetime, these facts would indicate the expectation of trade turnover growth between the neighboring countries," Konashenkov said. "However, during wartime, in such a way the transport infrastructure is preparing on the eve of military intervention." The ministry also stated that Turkey did not provide a "specific explanation" as to why the country continues to refuse to let Russia observation areas where Turkey and Syria come together. "The Russian Defense Ministry regards these actions of the Turkish party as a dangerous precedent and an attempt to hide the illegal military activity near the Syrian border," Konashenkov added. The Turkish foreign ministry said that they could not arrive at an agreement after Russia requested for an observation flight under the Treaty on Open Skies, which allows unarmed planes to fly over the territories belonging to the 34 participants. Ties between Turkey and Russia have been rocky especially after Turkey shot down a Russian plane that was on its way to Syria back in November. Black Lives Matter activist, DeRay Mckesson, announced that he will be joining the 2016 mayoral race in Baltimore, Maryland. Mckesson, 30, officially filed the paperwork to enter the Democratic primary on Wednesday. Mckesson's campaign has just 83 days to convince the city to vote for him. Since Baltimore is a predominately Democratic city, the winner of the Democratic primary is expected to be the next mayor after incumbent Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced that she will not be seeking reelection. "Baltimore is at a moment," Mckesson said in a phone interview on Wednesday night to the Washington Post. "I'm running to usher Baltimore into a new era where our government is accountable to its people and aggressively innovative in how it identifies and solves problems." He added, in his statement reported by the New York Times, "We cannot rely on traditional pathways to politics and the traditional politicians who walk that path. We have to challenge the practices that have not and will not lead to transformation." Mckesson is the first activist associated with the movement to run for political office. He participated in the protests that were held in response to the death of a teenager who was shot down by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo. Mckesson also protested in Baltimore against police brutality. He will be facing more than 10 other highly qualified candidates, who include former mayor Sheila Dixon, Maryland Senator Catherine E. Pugh, and city councilmen Carl Stokes and Nick Mosby. Dixon is currently leading in the polls. "It's never happened before, someone coming in this late in a race that's this developed," Patrick Gonzales, who conducted the January poll, said when asked about a situation similar to Mckesson's. "I can't imagine that person being successful." The primary elections are being held on April 26. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, should be freed and compensated for all of the time lost while being "arbitrarily detained" by Britain and Sweden, a United Nations human rights panel concluded. The Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said, "It's time that they free Julian Assange." "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said panel chairman Seong-Phil Hong in a statement reported by TIME. The panel continued, "The adequate remedy would be to ensure the right of free movement of Mr. Assange and accord him an enforceable right to compensation." The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention noted that even after five years of issuing an arrest warrant, Sweden has yet to press any charges against Assange, who has been holed up at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012 after he was accused of rape in 2010. The panel added that Swedish prosecutors have also failed to show Assange the evidence that has been built against him and have not given Assange the opportunity to respond to the allegations. Sweden and Britain have rejected the panel's findings and stated that if Assange left the Ecuadorean Embassy, they would "make every effort to arrest him." The spokeswoman for the Swedish Prosecution Authority, Karin Rosander, said that the panel's findings will have no "formal impact." Philip Hammond, Britain's Foreign Secretary, said the panel's conclusions were "frankly ridiculous." Sweden is still looking to question Assange over the alleged rape, which Assange has repeatedly denied being responsible for. Despite claiming his innocence, Assange has refused to return to Sweden out of fear that he will be extradited to the United States. Assange's lawyers are pressing for his immediate release. They added that Assange should be protected from possible extradition to the U.S. It is currently unclear whether or not U.S. prosecutors are looking to arrest Assange. To read the Working Group report, click here. The United States announced that it will be deploying missile defense systems aimed to track North Korea's satellite. The U.S. will monitor the activity of that rocket with the help of its allies, South Korea and Japan. "We will, as we always do, watch carefully if there's a launch, track the launch, (and) have our missile defense assets positioned and ready," U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on Thursday reported by Reuters. "We plan a lot about it. We and our close allies - the Japanese and the South Koreans - are ready for it." Japan has reportedly launched PAC-3 missile batteries that will shoot down any debris from the North Korean rocket launch. South Korea has reportedly deployed two Aegis-equipped destroyers. North Korea's only major ally, China, has asked all parties to remain calm. North Korea informed the International Maritime Organization and the International Telecommunication Union at the beginning of February that it has plans to launch an observational satellite for scientific research. The rocket, called "Kwangmyongsong," will reportedly be launched anytime from Feb. 8 to Feb. 25 between 7 a.m. and noon local time. Since the announcement, governments have been suspicious that the launch will actually be a test for a long-range ballistic missile that could potentially be used against the United States. North Korea is not allowed to use ballistic missile technology under the United Nations Security Council resolutions. Japan and South Korea are also concerned that the rocket could be fitted with nuclear warheads that can strike them at any time. There is no evidence, so far, that North Korea is testing ballistic missiles. "What is needed now is a sober, serious, and reasonable public assessment of the threat from North Korea," said Ted Postol, a professor of science, technology and national security policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, reported by FOX News. FOX News detailed the differences: "The distinction between a rocket used to lift a satellite into space and a long-range ballistic missile is highly technical but of crucial importance to understanding North Korea's motives and capabilities and in forming a realistic and effective strategy to deal with them. It is also crucial to understand the limitations of what space rocket launches contribute to the North's ability to develop military-use missiles." The recent actions carried out by North Korea, who conducted an unsanctioned nuclear test on Jan. 6, have forced countries to pressure China to use its influence to contain the issue before it gets worse. The Chinese Foreign Minster Wang Yi said that North Korea does not want to increase tensions. "The peninsula cannot be nuclearized, and cannot have war or chaos," Chinese President Xi Jinping said reported by Reuters. Xi stressed the importance of handling the situation calmly. County Official Calls For State Of Emergency To Be Declared In Chicago Over Violence By Sam Stecklow in News on Feb 5, 2016 10:03PM Brandon In a letter to Gov. Bruce Rauner, Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin asked the embattled head of the state to declare a state of emergency in Chicago, which he says will "open up" federal resources that the city and county need to combat gun violence51 people were killed and 292 were shot in Chicago last month. Specifically, Boykin requested that the federal government put together Tactical Neighborhood Stabilization teams, made up of members of various government agencies; federal law enforcement support to help the Chicago Police Department close some of its many open homicide cases; and an economic stimulus package to help attract businesses and jobs to violence-plagued neighborhoods on the South and West Sides. In a statement, a spokesperson for Rauner said, "Governor Rauner is troubled by gun violence in Chicago, and he believes increasing education and job opportunities is central to reducing violence in Chicago and the rest of the state. Unfortunately, there is no federal assistance available if the Governor proclaimed a state of emergency in this situation." When I brought up Rauner's point that federal funding is not a guaranteed component of declaring a state of emergency, which is generally done by governors in response to environmental crises, Boykin told Chicagoist, "You have to be creative. If you don't ask, you don't get." He places much of the blame for the uptick in gun violenceJanuary had the most killings in Chicago since 2000on the budget impasse between Rauner and democrats in the General Assembly. "The state is paralyzed because we dont have a budget, so we're not funding violence prevention programs. If the state is impotent, whos gonna protect the people?" Boykin said. In 2014, the Chicago Police Department only closed 28.7 percent of the murders that occurred during that yearabout 34 percentage points lower than the average for American police departments. "What you have is people committing crimes who aren't being caught," Boykin, who represents parts of the West Side and some western suburbs, said. When asked if he was concerned with an increased police presence, in the form of federal law enforcement officers, in neighborhoods where much of police misconduct in the city is reported, he said that he expected "everybody to police in a respectful and responsible manner. People deserve to be protected in our neighborhoods." Last month, the Sun-Times reported that some police officers are blaming the uptick in violence to something called the "ACLU effect," brought on by an agreement between the CPD and the ACLU of Illinois that the officers said made it more difficult to conduct street stops, which are more colloquially known as "stop-and-frisk." As reported by South Side Weekly, Chicago's use of the controversial "stop-and-frisk" program, though it is not called that here, dwarfs New York City's at that program's absolute height. Boykin called the cops' claims "laughable," but noted that it underscored his point that further federal intervention is needed. A poll released one day after the Democratic debate shows that Bernie Sanders is gaining ground on Hillary Clinton. According to the national Quinnipiac Poll, which was conducted after the Iowa Caucuses, Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, received 44 percent support while Sanders got 42 percent of the support, which is his highest in a national poll so far. Clinton barely won the Iowa Caucus. The new poll numbers reveal a huge change in support for the Democratic presidential candidates. In December, the Quinnipiac poll, which was released on the 21st, had Clinton leading the Vermont senator by a huge margin of 31 points. Her lead has now dwindled to two points. "Democrats nationwide are feeling the Bern as Sen. Bernie Sanders closes a 31-point gap to tie Secretary Hillary Clinton," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll reported by the news release. "And despite the Iowa setback, Donald Trump is way ahead of his GOP opponents." On the Republican side, the poll found that Donald Trump is still leading nationally with 31 percent despite losing the Iowa Caucus to Ted Cruz. Cruz received 22 percent support while Marco Rubio and Ben Carson trailed behind with 19 percent and six percent, respectively. In terms of Democratic and Republican matchups, the poll found that Sanders and Rubio were the strongest candidates. The numbers had Sanders beating Trump by 49 to 39 percent. If the election was between Sanders and Rubio, the poll had them tied at 43 percent each Clinton would beat Trump by 46 to 41 percent but lose to Rubio by 48 to 41 percent. "While Trump, Clinton and Cruz wallow in a negative favorability swamp, by comparison, Rubio and Sanders are rock stars," Malloy said. The poll reached 1,125 registered voters - 507 Republicans and 484 Democrats - from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Overcast. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 29F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. About one inch of snow expected. Allahabad: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to break silence over the Ayodhya issue, and give a clear message that his government was committed to the construction of temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi. At a meeting of the VHPs Kendriya Margadarshak Mandal close to the holy Sangam here, the Sangh Parivar outfit asked the Prime Minister to pay a visit to Ayodhya and click a selfie at the Ram Janmabhoomi to underscore the commitment of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre towards construction of temple at the dispute. At the meeting, which was attended by a number of VHP office-bearers and Hindu religious leaders, concerns were also raised over increasing incidence of cow slaughter and demands made for setting up a national Gau Seva Aayog on the pattern of similar bodies that have come up in BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Haryana. Talking to reporters after the meeting, senior VHP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti said it is necessary for Narendra Modi, who enjoys the blessings of the Hindu community, to break his silence over the Ayodhya issue. He has visited a number of shrines in various countries many of them belonging to other religions - and clicked selfies to demonstrate his regard for different sects. Now he must visit Ayodhya and do the same there. Vedanti, who is also a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and a former BJP MP, added it has been said many times that matters of faith can not be decided by a court of law and that an Act of Parliament should pave way for the construction of a Ram temple at Ayodhya. If the ruling BJP is wary of raising this issue in the Parliament on account of its lack of majority in the Rajya Sabha, it must consider the option of convening a special joint session of both houses, he said. If Modi and the BJP succeed in getting such an Act passed in the Parliament, Hindus will bless them with an unprecedented victory in the 2019 elections. Failure to do anything in this regard may earn them the wrath of the sant samaj, whose blessings were unequivocally with the party and its leader in the last general elections, Vedanti added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Municipal Corporation of Delhi workers strike has entered its tenth day as people of Delhi are bound to walk through garbage mountains on roads. The mayors of three BJP-ruled MCDs discussed the "crisis" caused by the municipal workers' strike with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and claimed the Delhi government is likely to give Rs 307 crore more to pay their salaries. "Sisodia admitted the crisis is real and there should be no delay in payment of salaries to the striking employees. He also admitted North and East municipal corporations needed more money. "Sisodia said he will talk to the Lt Governor and (Chief Minister) Arvind Kejriwal for the release of additional Rs 307 crore to North and East municipal corporations," North Delhi Mayor Ravinder Gupta said after the meeting at the Secretariat. The mayors told Sisodia releasing some money is not a permanent solution to the financial crisis faced by them. "We asked him for a permanent solution and told him the loans(extended) by Delhi government will put pressure on the MCDs which are not in a position to pay interest," said East Delhi Mayor Harshdeep Malhotra. "We told him we will accept the loan of Rs 551 crore as an installment of Rs 3,000 crore yet to be paid by the government to the MCDs," said South Delhi mayor Subhash Arya. The mayors said they have appealed to the government and the striking employees to help them restore essential services of sanitation, health and education provided by the municipal corporations. "We have appealed to the municipal corporation employees to call off their strike considering the hardships faced by people of Delhi and urged the Kejriwal government to help us restore sanitation, health and education services," Gupta said. (with PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : In the wee hours today Kanniyakumari - Bangalore Express derailed in Tamil Nadu where around 10 passengers have been injured. The Express which left on Thursday, derailed between Somanayakanpatti and Patchur around 4:15 am where the injured were rushed to the Tirupatur government hospital. No casualties have been reported so far. Railway officials have reached the accident site and rescue operations are in full swing. Railway has issued emergency numbers for the families of the passengers: Bangalore City - 080 22156553, 080 22156554, 080 22873103, Bangalore Cantt - 080 23339162, Railway- 58885. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kolkata: Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan demanded that the Centre come up with a law which entitle reservation for the backward classes in the private sector jobs as it would help in the development of backward classes, SC and STs in the country. "We demand that there should be a law which enables there should be reservation for backward classes, SCs and STs in the private sector jobs too. We see that even after so many years of independence the condition of Dalits in the country is still very bad," Paswan told reporters on the sidelines of a party programme here last night. Paswan, the Union Minister of Food and Public Distribution, said as the private companies are availing benefits from the government they should also provide reservation to the dalits. Paswan further demanded that Centre should come up with residential schools in blocks of country where there will be 75 percent reservation for the dalits. While talking about future plans of LJP in West Bengal, Paswan said party has plans to contest elections in the state. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hyderabad: Former minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham today began an indefinite fast along with his wife in Andhra Pradeshs East Godavari district demanding inclusion of Kapu community in Backward Classes category. Padmanabham whose agitation in support of the demand had turned violent a few days back, began the fast at his native Kirlampudi village in East Godavari. He demanded that the Kapu reservation issue be resolved in about three months and that Rs 1,000 crores be given annually for the benefit of the community. He also sought that false cases should not be filed against the community members in connection with the violent incidents that took place when Kapu Garjana (roar of Kapus) public meeting was conducted on Sunday last. An inquiry by CBI may also be ordered into the violence in which a train, a police station and government and private vehicles were set on fire, he said. Elaborate security arrangements have been made at Kirlampudi and other villages in East Godavari district in view of the fast by Padmanabham. Two ruling TDP MLAs Thota Thrimurthulu and Bonda Umamaheswara Rao, who belong to Kapu community, held talks with Padmanabham last night as part of efforts to end the row. They, however, said they met Padmanabham in their individual capacity as concerned Kapu legislators and not as government representatives. The two MLAs told me to be flexible in dealing with the government, Padmanabham said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu yesterday asked Justice (retired) Manjunatha, chairman of the government appointed commission to look into the issues of backward classes and submit the report at the earliest. The commission was supposed to submit report in about nine months. Violence had erupted in East Godavari district last Sunday during Kapu Aikya Garjana, a meeting by Kapu community members, who sought reservation under BC category. The agitators, who had gathered in the districts Tuni town to attend the public meeting addressed by Padmanabham, pelted the engine of Ratnachal Express train with stones and also attacked police personnel before ransacking the railway station. Four bogies of the train were also set ablaze. As many as 63 cases have been registered in this connection by police for rioting, arson, criminal conspiracy, holding meeting without permission, violating preventive orders and causing damage to public property, attacking the policemen on duty without provocation, damaging railway property besides torching private and police vehicles. Before going on fast, Padmanabham told mediapersons that he had waited for some positive response from government till the last minute but decided to continue his stir, unmindful of the consequences till his demand was considered. My life is dedicated to my Kapu community welfare and nothing would deter me from my determination, he said. The Kapu leader also appealed people not to come to Kirlampudi, but to take up the fast staying in their houses by skipping their lunch and hitting the plates with spoons, so that its echo reaches the ears of the chief minister. Meanwhile, police have cordoned off all the passages to Padmanabhams house and restricted the entry of outsiders. Superintendent of Police, East Godavari, Ravi Prakash was supervising the security at Kirlampudi, where Padmanabhams house has been kept under strict surveillance. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has offered Rs. 300 crore loan to the North and East Delhi municipal corporations from DDA to end the deadlock created after indifinte strike by MCD workers. Yesterday, a delegation of agitating sanitation workers met Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and said the fund offered by the AAP government for paying their salaries were insufficient. While the MCD workers refused to call off their strike, they claimed that the LG has assured them of looking into their demands. Municipal Corporation of Delhi workers strike has entered its tenth day as people of Delhi are bound to walk through garbage mountains on roads. The mayors of three BJP-ruled MCDs discussed the "crisis" caused by the municipal workers' strike with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and claimed the Delhi government is likely to give Rs 307 crore more to pay their salaries. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Ankara next week for talks with Turkeys prime minister, her spokesman said today, as she seeks to cut the flow of refugees into the EU. Merkel will meet with Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday to discuss the further implementation of the EU-Turkey action plan agreed in November to reduce the number of asylum seekers arriving in the bloc. They will discuss aspects of the plan that have not yet been implemented and how we can make progress on reducing illegal migration and replacing it with legal migration, spokesman Steffen Seibert said. He said Berlin was still particularly concerned about the rampant people smuggling off the Turkish coast where dozens of refugees have drowned in recent weeks. It will be the second bilateral meeting between Merkel and Davutoglu in a month, after talks in Berlin on January 22 where the two leaders signed an agreement to do everything to reduce the number of refugees crossing into the EU. Under the November deal, Ankara had agreed to lower the number of migrants coming through, but between 2,000 and 3,000 people are still arriving daily in Greece from Turkey. The EU on Wednesday finally reached agreement on how to finance a three-billion-euro (USD 3.3-billion) deal to aid Syrian refugees in Turkey, in exchange for Ankaras help stemming the flow of migrants. Germany is making the biggest contribution with 427 million euros, followed by Britain with 327 million and France with 309 million, EU sources said. Merkel has come under massive political pressure to set a refugee quota, but has so far resisted despite the arrival of nearly 1.1 million asylum seekers arrived in Germany in 2015. She has instead promised a tangible reduction in new arrivals, and is counting on international efforts to deliver. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New York: One person died and two others were seriously injured when a crane collapsed today in Lower Manhattan, smashing the roofs of parked cars, authorities said. The crane landed across an intersection and stretched much of a block in the Tribeca neighborhood, about 10 blocks north of the World Trade Center. There was damage to the roof of a nearby building, and debris littered the street. It was right outside my window, said Robert Harold, who works at the Legal Aid Society. It was a crashing sound. You could feel the vibration in the building. Harold said at least one person was trapped in a car, and he saw onlookers trying to get the person out. Harold said he also saw a person lying motionless on the street. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the person killed was sitting in a parked car. The mayor said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. Nearby buildings were evacuated. Officers told people arriving for work that they should go home. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Senator Mark Kirk Tries To Reignite Anti-Refugee Hysteria By aaroncynic in News on Feb 5, 2016 10:00PM Illinois Senator Mark Kirk and other Senate Republicans are reviving Novembers scaremongering over allowing Syrian refugees into the United States over fears terrorists can use fake passports to enter the United States. In a letter obtained by the Hill, Kirk and 7seven other senators said that Syrian refugee acceptance should be paused until the Obama administration has a plan to identify fake passports, and that anything else is "an unacceptable risk to the safety of our country. "The threat to the United States posed by ISIS-created Syrian passports is now imminent. That danger will continue to grow so long as our enemies are able to perfect these passports and exploit loopholes in refugee programs. Last month, Senate Democrats blocked a bill that wouldve prevented Syrian refugees from coming into the country until several officials at law enforcement agencies could personally vouch for every refugee. In November, despite the fact he had no legal or moral authority to do so, Governor Rauner made a declaration that Illinois would refuse Syrian refugees in the wake of the horrific attacks in Paris. Despite the possibility of the use of fake passports by terrorists due to an alleged growing industry by ISIS, posing as a refugee is still one of the worst and most inconvenient ways to attempt to enter the U.S. illegally. According to the Washington Post, not only do refugees have to wait years for approval and go through several layers of background checks and interviews, but those attempting to apply for refugee status via the United Nations arent even guaranteed theyll end up in the United States. Kirks interest in trying to whip up some anti-refugee fervor might be purely political, reports the Chicago Tribune. In September, his opponent Tammy Duckworth signed a letter to President Obama urging him to take on more refugees, including 100,000 Syrians. Kirk turned that into a campaign issue, releasing an ad attacking her for it in December. Kathmandu: For the first time in over four months, trucks from India entered Nepal through a key border trade point today as local traders from both sides burned down tents set up by Madhesi protesters who had imposed a blockade that led to severe shortages of fuel in the landlocked nation. Trucks entered Nepal through the Birgunj-Raxual border crossing in Bihar. A huge convoy of freight containers entered Nepal after local entrepreneurs from Nepal and India set ablaze the tents set by Sayukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) protesters at Dasgajas Miteri Bridge in Birgunj, 90 kilometres south of Kathmandu. There was no official announcement of lifting of the blockade by India, though with no protesters obstructing the border point, few vehicles have entered into Nepal from Raxaul, said Yadav Koirala, Nepal home ministry spokesperson. There is no blockade at the checkpoint right now, and over 150 trucks have passed through since afternoon, a senior police official said. Locals chased away Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party leader Jitendra Sonal who reached the scene claiming the border blockade had not been officially ended. The Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding the new Constitution be amended to include their concerns. There is a strong presence of police and locals in the bridge. Meanwhile, small vehicles and rickshaws are plying in and across the bridge. A group of Indian traders came to the border and set ablaze the tents while some Nepalese locals also extended support to their action by chasing away few protesters sitting near the border area. After the removal of the tent and vacating the protesters from the border area few dozens of vehicles including some containers entered Nepal, according to officials. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Is The Sun-Times In Trouble? Board Member Tells Staff Not To Worry By Sam Stecklow in News on Feb 5, 2016 7:36PM via Mary Warren So what happens to the Sun-Times now that Michael Ferro has left its barely-breathing body to go peck away at the bigger paper across town? According to Bruce Sagan, a board member of Sun-Times owner Wrapports, longtime publisher of the Hyde Park Herald, and new chairman of the board of Sun-Times Holdings, it's in good shape. Sagan told the staff that he believes this, at a meeting reported by Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg, because Tribune Publishing is $400 million in debt, and Wrapports doesnt have any. But one key piece of context is the reason why Wrapports is debt-free. Soon after Ferro took over in 2011, he began dismantling the network of suburban newspapers owned by the Sun-Times, which were regarded as being the main money-makers in the company. First, he closed all of the suburban offices, forcing most of the suburban papers employees to work from home or move into Wrapports office space at 350 N. Orleans St., which was full to begin with. Then, in October 2014, he sold all of the suburban papers to Tribune Publishing for $23.5 million. Some $20 million of that went to cover Wrapports standing debtsmuch of which was to Tribune Publishing due to some missed bills when Ferro and his team took over and declined to pay printing and distribution costs. So yes, Wrapports is debt-freebut since it was bought out of bankruptcy by the previous owner, James Tyree, who, through cuts and other measures, pushed the newspaper into the blackits previous debt was Michael Ferro's responsibility. And, as has been noted, Ferro is remarkably bad at spending money, burning through millions on failed projects including iPad apps, numerous website redesigns, a glossy business magazine, and a political hub. (Notably, the Sun Times Network, which has been described by former Sun-Times managing editor Craig Newman as a "garbage" "money drain," is still standing.) So itll be interesting to see what's in store for Tribune Publishing. Sagan, who told the staff "If I have my way you'll be here forever," according to Steinberg, had some choice words about Ferro and the Tribune: "You made a mistake," Sagan said. "You educated him. He came here a rich guy who didn't know anything about journalism. The rich dabbler got the message from you ... If you are going to bet on something, better bet on us. They're in disarray. He left us a growing institution. ... We now have a focus. The other guy's still the enemy." Sagan also tried to assuage worries that Ferro's latest move might spell the end of Chicago's time as a two-newspaper town. "The people involved in the last Sun-Times purchase believe in two newspapers," Sagan said. "There it is, a second voice." (Disclosure: For four months last year, I was an intern at the Sun Times Network.) There are many questions about Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh left unanswered: Was he really mad? What was he thinking when he was painting? What did he think of his madness? Why did he kill himself? Cover of Van Gogh's Letters: The Mind of the Artist in Paintings, Drawings, and Words, 1875-1890. [Photo provided to China Daily] Many movies, documentaries and books have been devoted to interpret his short but great life. The year 2015 was the 125th anniversary of the death of the artist. Many Chinese publishers released books in memory of him, and Van Gogh's Letters: The Mind of the Artist in Paintings, Drawings, and Words, 1875-1890 by Beijing United Publishing is one of them. The book includes a selection of Van Gogh's letters from 1875 when he was 22 until 1890, just before he died. Sitting at a small meeting room at Yanjiyou bookstore in Zhongguancun, Beijing, three of the four translators talk about the book. All of them are lovers of Van Gogh and his paintings. Most of Van Gogh's 903 letters were written to his younger brother Theo, and this book contains more than 150 carefully chosen letters. All the letters had been edited, says Yuan Yuan, one of the translators. "When we were translating the book, we checked the original versions of these letters which are usually longer. The parts about asking his brother Theo for money are deleted, and in almost every letter, he asked for money," says Wang Ying, another translator. Along with the letters, the book also contains more than 250 copies of the artist's manuscripts and drafts. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Sueli Maria (obscured) holds her daughter Milena, who has microcephaly, (born seven days ago), at a hospital in Recife, Brazil, January 28, 2016. Milena was born with microcephaly, a neurological disorder that damaged her brain and also affected her vision, a condition associated with an outbreak of Zika virus in Brazil. [Photo/Xinhua] Last year, it was the Ebola virus that threatened world health; this year, the buzz word is 'Zika'. It shows that microbes are getting really viral despite immense progress in health sciences to eliminate them, so that, in future, they might become true 'weapons of mass destruction' threatening global survival. The Zika infection is linked to the cases of microcephaly, a rare neurological condition in which an infant's head is significantly smaller than that of others of the same age. The brains of infected babies remain underdeveloped and it becomes a lifelong condition for them, hugely affecting their lives as well as of those closely associated to them, especially the parents and other siblings. It can also shorten lives. The spread of the virus has become quite alarming in the Americas, where several countries have reportedly been exposed. In Brazil alone, there have been about 4,000 reported cases of microcephaly since last October. Already, more than 20 countries have reported incidences of the disease, raising fears it could become a global problem. The threat is being taken very seriously and the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared global public health emergency to deal with it. The WHO response was rather quick, after it faced heavy criticism for its delay in declaring a health emergency after Ebola outbreak. The WHO has placed Zika in the same high level category of concern as was eventually adopted over Ebola. It means that global efforts are now underway to try and deal with the problem before it is too late. If Zika goes global it could become unmanageable, because there is currently no vaccine or effective medicine to combat it. Imagine then, the rampaging effect the disease could have in the absence of a proper remedy. The current emphasis is mostly on precautions to avoid catching up the disease. The basic one is to avoid contact with the Aedes mosquito that carries the virus and whose bite can transmit it to healthy people. Travelers are also being advised to delay or cancel trips to the countries where the disease is already prevalent. Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation. Christian Abraham / Christian Abraham FAIRFIELD Nearly 500 students attending six Marinello Schools of Beauty around the state will be out of a school as of Friday, Feb. 5. The state Office of Higher of Education sent out a notice Thursday, saying the schools are closing all six campuses. One of them is located in Fairfield. Others are in Hamden, Meriden, East Hartford, Niantic, Torrinton and Willimantic. The tradition of a "temple fair" (Miao Hui) began as groups of vendors who did business near Buddhist and Taoist temples when many pilgrims came to pay tribute to the gods during traditional festivals. The practice grew, gradually turning into a regular event. Now temple fairs are an important and joyful destination for Chinese people during festivals, most especially the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year. Temple fairs in Beijing have a very long history, dating back to around 1000 AD, when they were called "Spring Outings," and saw a boom especially during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) as well as the Republic of China (1912-1949). Major temples all have their own festivals, some of which are held regularly. During the Spring Festival, the temple fair is one of the most important activities, and a traditional cultural event that features all kinds of Chinese folk art. So far, there have been more than 10 major temple fairs held each year in Beijing. In traditional temple fairs around Beijing, there are performances and booths demonstrating and selling traditional arts and crafts. The fairs have lots of games to play, food to eat, and performances to see, which attract lots of people. In the temple fairs you can taste numerous kinds of local snacks, court foods, and other dishes. Most temple fairs feature dragon and lion dances, waist drum dancing, lotus blossom fairy dances, ground and clam dancing, as well as other folk performances, and some even stage traditional wedding ceremonies. For foreigners, a temple fair is definitely a cultural experience, because it airs Chinese cultures from a very detailed perspective. While enjoying the samplings of Chinese delicacies, you can appreciate craftsmanship and artworks displayed by local artisans. Nowadays, going to temple fairs has become a Spring Festival routine for residents in Beijing. HARTFORD While proposing a half-billion-dollar cut in spending, the governors budget adjustments acknowledge not only the fiscal reality of stagnant tax revenue, but also the political landscape of a legislative election year. In fact, Gov. Dannel P. Malloys plan to create a tighter cap on annual spending hikes essentially takes away a potential marquee Republican campaign issue. And while the Democratic-dominated General Assembly will likely ignore the governors proposal to shift some budgetary power to the executive branch, other parts of his plan would give them political cover as they set out to defend their 87-64 majority in the House and a 21-15 Senate edge. This is going to be a tough year nationally and statewide, and he wants to be able to help out, said House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, assessing the political aspects of Malloys budget speech. She recalled that the states 1992 constitutional cap on spending increases as part of the personal income tax was never binding. To put a hard cap in a statute would require a three-fifths vote in the House and Senate. We just need to define it and vote on it, Klarides said, calling the cap a priority for the session that runs through May 4. I want to know if Dannel Malloy is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, or better yet, is he going to switch parties and run for vice president? quipped second-term Rep. Dan Carter, R-Bethel. He was sounding like a Republican and we gave him two standing ovations, said Rep. Terrie Wood, R-Darien. I am glad he has come to the right side, said Rep. Laura Hoydick, R-Stratford. He did sound like a Republican. So the same principles weve been talking about live within your means, dont buy more than you can pay for. Im encouraged. This all started compiling over 40 years of legislative management on how we run the state and now we have to work together to fix it. I think the budget really comes down to our long-term sustainability, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. Weve been cutting the budget since 2009, we have a smaller state workforce since 2009. ... This is really about, how do we think about the long game? How do we continue to build on the progress that weve made in the private sector and also some of the difficult decisions weve made in the state budget since 2009. Democrats and Republicans alike oppose giving Malloy and his department heads more budgetary muscle. At the end of the day, the reality is that the General Assembly will not give up much of the budget-writing power, said Sen. L. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich, ranking member of the Finance Committee. They dont like it, conceptually. So given that, I dont think there will be the ability for the governor to make his projected savings. Based on last years budget, people are angry and theyre very anxious about their own tax situations and about the state of the Connecticuts economy. I think theres a grave concern, said Senate President Martin M. Looney, D-New Haven, of the proposal to give the executive branch more budget clout. I think the governor has shown real leadership in being willing to take on a lot of this and lead in terms of making tough decisions, but I think we also have a responsibility that has to be maintained, too, in terms of the institutional balance between executive and legislative authority. Malloy, during his budget address on Wednesday, also asked for a new spirit of bipartisan cooperation between Democrats and Republicans, especially during eventual votes on the budget. kdixon@ctpost.com; Twitter: @KenDixonCT [February 05, 2016] ICIS Launches Data Express, Introducing Two New Data Delivery Options LONDON, February 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ICIS, a trusted source of market intelligence for global chemical, energy and fertilizer markets, has enhanced its market intelligence delivery platforms with a new service, Data Express, which offers two options to make downloading and organising data easier for customers. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150511/743802 ) Subscribers to ICIS can now choose to access their data via an application programming interface (API) streamed directly into their proprietary systems or via a Microsoft Excel plug-in, depending on which service best suits their business needs. These enhancements are designed to increase productivity and enable faster decision making in the commodities markets, as well as to reduce risk by minimising manual processes to eliminate errors. "The Excel Plug-In was developed in response to the needs of those regularly downloading multiple data series in one go. ICIS recognised the inefficiencies of copying and pasting such data, and manually integrating it into existing calculations and models. Our subscribers can now instantly download as many as 250 data series directly to their worksheets, streamlining this process and making it more time-efficient", said Simon Platt, Product Director at ICIS. Data updates are highlighted automatically and price history updates are sorted in the same column, making it easy to benchmark prices, identify opportunities, and manage risks. This facilitates smoother decision-making, and increased competitiveness for ICIS customers. Alternatively, if customers need data delivered directly into their proprietary systems, the API can provide instant access to te latest prices as they are published, or insights into market fundamentals for one-off projects, saving time and effort when updating internal databases. "By making it easy to identify new or shifting data, ICIS' Data Express is designed to make data handling and analysis simple," said Simon Platt. To find out more go to http://www.icis.com/dataexpress About ICIS ICIS is the world's largest petrochemical market information provider and has fast-growing energy and fertilizer divisions. Our aim is to give companies in global commodities markets a competitive advantage by delivering trusted pricing data, high-value news, analysis and independent consulting, enabling our customers to make better-informed trading and planning decisions. We have more than 30 years' experience in providing pricing information, news, analysis and consulting to buyers, sellers and analysts. With a global staff of more than 800, ICIS has employees based in Houston, Washington, New York, London, Montpellier, Dusseldorf, Karlsruhe, Milan, Mumbai, Singapore, Guangzhou, Beijing, Shanghai, Yantai, Tokyo and Perth. Some 350 of ICIS's staff are journalists engaged in reporting market prices and news, and ICIS is fully committed to upholding the highest journalistic principles of verification, corroboration and authentication. ICIS has a compliance framework that along with its methodologies and business processes adheres to the requirements of the IOSCO PRA Principles. ICIS is a division of Reed Business Information, part of RELX Group. About Reed Business Information Reed Business Information provides information and online data services to business professionals worldwide. Customers have access to our high-value industry data, analytics, information and tools. Our strong global products and services hold market-leading positions across a wide range of industry sectors including banking, petrochemicals and aviation where we help customers make key strategic decisions every day. RBI is part of RELX Group plc, a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. http://www.reedbusiness.com About RELX Group RELX Group plc is a world-leading provider of information solutions for professional customers across industries. We help scientists make new discoveries, lawyers win cases, doctors save lives, and executives forge commercial relationships with their clients. We help insurance groups offer customers lower prices by assessing risk better, and save taxpayers and consumers money by enabling governments and financial groups to detect fraud. For media enquiries, contact: Arina Popa Marketing Executive ICIS T: +44-207-911-1473 [email protected] SOURCE ICIS [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 05, 2016] Qstride Becomes Latest Technology Company to Move Headquarters to Downtown Detroit's Burgeoning High-Tech Corridor Along Woodward Avenue DETROIT, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- QStride, a leading technology solutions provider specializing in business intelligence, analytics and information technology (IT) consulting services, today announced the company has relocated its headquarters from Troy, Michigan to One Woodward Avenue in the heart of downtown Detroit's rapidly growing high-tech district. QStride's new offices are located on the 16th floor of the Minoru Yamasaki-designed skyscraper with panoramic views of the Detroit River and the Central Business and Technology District. The building is owned and managed by Bedrock Real Estate Services. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160204/329926 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160204/329925LOGO QStride is actively hiring to fill approximately 30 new technology jobs. For a complete listing of job titles, descriptions and qualifications, click here. "Downtown Detroit's technology-focused culture makes the urban core the perfect place for QStride's new headquarters," said Shane Gianino, CEO of QStride. "We are thrilled to be able to create, innovate and grow in such an upbeat, high-energy environment as we attract IT professionals from across the country to fill a variety of roles internally for QStride and externally for our customers." Founded in 2012, QStride helps mid-market and Fortune 500 companies boost performance through innovative business intelligence and analytics software and specialized IT consulting services. The company uses a set of techniques and tools to transform raw data into meaningful information for businesses to help increase performance and profitability. QStride will continue to enhance this process at its new downtown Detroit "We are thrilled to welcome QStride to downtown Detroit. Their new location is next door to Amazon's new regional downtown Detroit office, just a few blocks from Lear's new innovation and design center, the headquarters of online financial news startup Benzinga, and numerous others. QStride will have access to high-speed internet provider Rocket Fiber and the new M-1 RAIL which is expected to be fully operational next year. It is clear that Woodward has quickly become one of the nation's most innovative technology districts," said Dan Mullen, Executive Vice President of Bedrock Real Estate Services. "Downtown Detroit is the place to be for technology companies across the board and an ideal environment for QStride to attract top talent and continue to grow for years to come." Built in 1962, the 29-story One Woodward Building was the first skyscraper designed by Yamasaki, best known as the architect of the World Trade Center in New York City. The Mid-Century Modern style building is located at the gateway to Woodward Avenue at Jefferson Avenue, across from Hart Plaza, Detroit's riverfront park. One Woodward is now 100% occupied. QStride's new headquarters, designed by Detroit-based interior design firm dPOP!, are within walking distance to numerous restaurants and retailers including: Townhouse, Roasting Plant, Central Kitchen + Bar, Moosejaw, John Varvatos, House of Pure Vin and many more. In addition, international retailers Nike and Kit + Ace are expected to open a few blocks away on Woodward Avenue during 2016, along with Avalon International Breads. About QStride QStride is a leading technology solutions provider serving mid-market and Fortune 500 companies with highly specialized information technology consulting and business intelligence solutions. Founded in 2012, QStride helps customers better leverage data to increase company metrics and overall business performance, resulting in better business analysis, profit margins, and a sustainable competitive advantage. For more information about QStride, visit www.qstride.com or engage with us on Twitter @QStride and Facebook. Contact: Christina Barr (313) 442-9912 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qstride-becomes-latest-technology-company-to-move-headquarters-to-downtown-detroits-burgeoning-high-tech-corridor-along-woodward-avenue-300215809.html SOURCE QStride, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 05, 2016] United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches GPS IIF-12 Satellite for U.S. Air Force CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched its first mission of the year with an Atlas V rocket carrying the Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-12 satellite for the U.S. Air Force. The rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex-41 on Feb. 5 at 8:38 a.m. EST. GPS IIF-12 is the final satellite in the IIF-block of satellites, which are the next-generation GPS satellites that incorporate numerous improvements to provide greater accuracy, increased signals and enhanced performance for users. This mission was ULA's 104th successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006. "Congratulations to the ULA, Boeing and Air Force teams on the successful launch of GPS IIF-12. We began launching the IIF satellites in May 2010 and have appreciated the outstanding teamwork of everyone involved as we have worked together to deliver all 12 IIF satellites. This system provides incredible capabilities to our women and men in uniform while enabling so many technologies that impact all of our daily lives. We are proud to be GPS's ride to space," said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president, Custom Services. The mission was launched aboard an Atla V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 401 configuration vehicle, which includes a 4-meter diameter payload fairing. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C-1 engine. Today's flight utilizes a newly designed suite of avionics, flight software and ground systems. This upgraded command and control system was designed to reduce cost and improve reliability. ULA's next launch is the Delta IV NROL-45 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, scheduled for Feb. 10 from Space Launch Complex-6 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The EELV program was established by the U.S. Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the heritage launch systems. With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 100 satellites to orbit that provide critical capabilities for troops in the field, aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, enable personal device-based GPS navigation and unlock the mysteries of our solar system. For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch. To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-launch-alliance-successfully-launches-gps-iif-12-satellite-for-us-air-force-300216051.html SOURCE United Launch Alliance [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 05, 2016] 5 B2E Best Practices for Small Businesses NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The business-to-employee (B2E) marketing approach is arguably one of the easiest ways for small businesses to authentically build long-lasting brand advocacy. Connecting your employees with the brand is not only good for the company, but good for the employees as well. PR Toolkit contributing author, Claire Holland explores this unique marketing approach in her latest article, "Internal Communication Tips for Small Businesses" and offers the following best practices: The 3 C's of Communication: Ensure you are communicating c learly, consistently and at a cadence that your employees will benefit from. Hollands recommends utilizing such tactics as internal newsletters, a regularly scheduled all-company meeting or email announcements as ways to build your brand ambassadors starting from the inside out. Ensure you are communicating c and at a that your employees will benefit from. Hollands recommends utilizing such tactics as internal newsletters, a regularly scheduled all-company meeting or email announcements as ways to build your brand ambassadors starting from the inside out. "What does this mean for ME? ": When building out your internal communications program, you'll need to understand what your audience cares about and tailor the messages accordingly. ": When building out your internal communications program, you'll need to understand what your audience cares about and tailor the messages accordingly. Multiple channels: Just as you would for your external marketing efforts, leverage multiple channels to communicate your key messaging. Holland suggests intranets, webinars and printed collateral as ways to keep your employees engaged. For further discussion on the two remaining internal communication tips, read Holland's complete article here. PR Newswire's Small Business PR Toolkit is a comprehensive resource that provides small businesses and entrepreneurs the tools to develop an affordable public relations and marketing plan that helps generate interest from potential customers, engage with key audiences and grow their businesses. The toolkit features relevant content such as informative white papers, interactive webinars and how-to articles and premium access to educational resources, as well as the opportunity to take advantage of special offers designed specifically for small businesses. To request information on how PR Newswire can help your small business, click here. You can receive updates on new Small Business PR Toolkit content by following @prnsmallbiz on Twitter. About PR Newswire PR Newswire (www.prnewswire.com) is the premier global provider of multimedia platforms that enable marketers, corporate communicators, sustainability officers, public affairs and investor relations officers to leverage content to engage with all their key audiences. Having pioneered the commercial news distribution industry over 60 years ago, PR Newswire today provides end-to-end solutions to produce, optimize and target content -- from rich media to online video to multimedia -- and then distribute content and measure results across traditional, digital, mobile and social channels. Combining the world's largest multi-channel, multi-cultural content distribution and optimization network with comprehensive workflow tools and platforms, PR Newswire enables the world's enterprises to engage opportunity everywhere it exists. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, and is a UBM plc company. Contact: Amanda Eldridge Director, Strategic Channels 201-360-6906 [email protected] Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110831/NY59180LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/5-b2e-best-practices-for-small-businesses-300216067.html SOURCE PR Newswire Association LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Flash South Africa is considering pulling out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) which unfairly targets the African continent, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mait Nkoana-Mashabane said on Thursday. But this would be done in a responsible and cautious manner, the minister said at a press briefing in Pretoria on the outcome of the just-concluded summit of the African Union (AU) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the weekend. South Africa, she said, is still consulting with the ICC on the possible pullout. "We will make sure that we consult with the important agencies and make a conclusion at the end,"the minister said. She was echoing the views of President Jacob Zuma who said during the AU summit that South Africa considers it impossible, under the circumstances,to continue its participation in the ICC, also known as the Rome Statute. "South Africa is seriously reviewing its participation in the Rome Statute and will announce its decision in due course,"Zuma said. The unfairness of the ICC was one of the topics discussed at the AU summit which raised Africa's growing concerns with the manner in which the ICC has conducted itself in relation to African countries, according to Nkoana-Mashabane. This was not a South African issue alone but was also noted by other African Union member states, the minister said. "Africa feels very disappointed with the way business is conducted in the ICC. With 34 of the 54 of our (AU) member states being members of the Rome Statute, we thought that was to show that Africans do not want and do not believe in impunity. However, what we are observing is more and more of what is called an 'African criminal court'," the minister said. South Africa has been at logger heads with the ICC over a warrant by the organization to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bahir during an AU summit in Johannesburg in June last year. The ICC accuses al-Bahir of committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. As a signatory to the Rome Statute, South Africa was expected to arrest him during his visit to South Africa, but Pretoria didn't take any action despite a ruling by the Gauteng High Court of South Africa that he not leave the country. South Africa let go of al-Bashir, saying that under the AU rules, no organization can arrest any sitting head of state in African countries. South Africa was the first African country to sign up to the ICC and adopted the court's founding Rome Statute into domestic law. The ruling African National Congress has urged the government to "contemplate" to pull out or review its membership with the ICC because the organization is "dangerous" and "arrogant", treating the African continent unequally. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said President Muhammadu Buhari is currently under intense pressure to stop his administrations ongoin... Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said President Muhammadu Buhari is currently under intense pressure to stop his administrations ongoing anti-corruption war.Although he said the pressure was being mounted by the Nigerian elite, he did not name those behind the campaign.According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, on Thursday, the Vice-President spoke while granting audience to a delegation from the Muslim Congress of Nigeria at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.Osinbajo added that those mounting pressure on Buhari to slow down the anti-corruption fight cut across tribal and religious lines.He stated, We get regular messages from some Nigerian elite saying cool down.It is a very strange morality that some of those people have, (which is) very complicated, and cutting across all tribes and religious differences.Osinbajo said the position of those putting pressure on the government was that it (corruption) is not a big deal.He disclosed that those in that category had been advising the government that it should merely ask the looters of public treasury to return the money and go free.He, however, assured his guests and Nigerians that despite the pressure, the present administration would not relent in the anti-corruption fight.The vice-president expressed delight that contrary to the argument of the elite, a new set of Nigerians, who would not compromise their values but would maintain a sense of right and wrong, was emerging.The man on the street is very clear; so whatever some of these elite say, we shall keep our focus on the masses who voted for us, the vice-president declared.Osinbajo said it was unacceptable that in the last 16 years, there was not a single Federal Government completed road or rail project.He attributed the situation to corruption, saying costs of projects were often inflated as people, entrusted with public trust, struggled to enrich themselves at the expense of the people.The vice-president believed that it was the same inordinate desire for personal enrichment that explained why money meant to procure arms was distributed among persons at a time when the territorial integrity of the nation was being attacked.The insurgency has gone on for six years because government could not adequately equip the military, he stated.Osinbajo assured Nigerians that the present administration had no other agenda but the progress of the country.Mr. President and I are extremely focussed on what we need to do. We will focus on critical things, infrastructure and social investments, he said.The leader of the delegation, Imam Abdulahi Shuaib, expressed the groups support for the government in its programmes; including anti-corruption, expressing the readiness of the group to offer assistance.The vice-president also received delegations from the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Facility for Oil Sector Transparency Reform.During the visit of a delegation of FOSTER, a group consisting of NGOs involved in different issues in the Niger Delta area, Osinbajo restated governments commitment to the development of the oil producing region.He also commended the group for coming together to develop a common framework to support the process of development in the area. Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday, had his appeal seeking to stop his trial over alleged false assets declaration, at the Code of... Senate President Bukola Saraki on Friday, had his appeal seeking to stop his trial over alleged false assets declaration, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), dismissed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.In the lead judgment taken by Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, the court held that the CCT was properly constituted to exercise jurisdiction over Sarakis trial.It also resolved the issue of whether the tribunal had jurisdiction to try criminal matters and issue bench warrants against Saraki. The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to quickly conduct a... The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra,MASSOB, yesterday, asked the Federal Government to quickly conduct a referendum in the south-east geopolitical zone as a precursor to secession or face the total shutdown of socio-economic activities in the region and beyond.The pro-Biafra group vowed to unleash its potent force towards making Nigeria ungovernable if its stance was not heeded by the Federal Government.MASSOB Director of Information, Samuel Edeson in a statement to newsmen in Enugu yesterday, said: We shall use everything at our disposal to fight Nigeria government especially through civil disobedience. We are going to call for sit at home in all Biafra land and Lagos. MASSOB will drag former President Olusegun Obasanjo to the International Crime Court, ICC, for all the atrocities he committed against Biafra since 1970.We are asking for justice for the massacre of Odi people, the Tiv, Jukum and the massacre of MASSOB members in Aba, Okigwe and Onitsha including the killing of six Igbo traders in Apo, Abuja. MASSOB will be taking her campaign to United States of America, United Kingdom, France and China embassies in Abuja. MASSOB therefore calls on all people of old eastern region, Delta, parts of Kogi and parts of Benue State to support the referendum that would soon take place in Biafraland. Our freedom is non negotiable Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has urged potential investors in Nigerian to take advantage of th... Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has urged potential investors in Nigerian to take advantage of the Change agenda of the present administration to tap from the huge benefits inherent in the economy, describing Nigeria as a safe haven for foreign investors.The Minister made the call on Thursday when a delegation of Foreign Investors led by Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, a former National Planning Minister visited her Ministry.The delegation of the Foreign Investors came from United States, United Kingdom, Middle East, China, France, South Africa etc under the auspices of Renaissance Capital Investments.The Minister who described Nigeria business climate as favourable, said Our N6,08 trillion budget is designed to stimulate and reflect our economy, we are making conscious efforts at reducing barriers of doing business in Nigeria. Our government is heavily fighting corruption and insecurity challenges is almost successfully tackledShe also stated that the 2016 budget which is zero based is designed to reflect the economy for the creation of jobs and boost the productive sectors of the economy, adding that the budget will be monitored closely through the robust Monitoring & Evaluation mechanism put in place by her ministry to ensure funds are released based on result performanceAccordingly, she further disclosed that the Federal Government is building an economy that will not suffer oil prices shocks as well as disclosed that efforts are put in place to prevent leakages in the system which is targeted at boosting investors confidence.Responding to the observation raised on the unrealistic non-oil revenue projections in the 2016 budget since Nigerians do not like paying taxes, the Minister stated that; since the bulk of revenue we require to run the budget will be from non- oil sector. We have gaps in the area of tax collection, but our revenue collecting agencies have a revenue target. There are efforts to register large number of Nigerians especially the informal businesses not registered in to our tax base. Efforts will also be put to prevent leakages.Speaking on behalf of the group, the former Planning Minister, praised the Ministrys effort to update the vision 20:2020 as well as reactivating of the based management performance. The government of Switzerland has denied granting financial support to the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, in the fight against Bo... The government of Switzerland has denied granting financial support to the Multi-National Joint Task Force, MNJTF, in the fight against Boko Haram.This came as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir David Lawal, said the war against Boko Haram had assumed a dangerous trend that required collective efforts and vigilance.Switzerland was listed among the countries that pledged about $250 million to fund the 8,700-strong regional task force.A statement by Switzerlands Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, FDFA, said the country maintained neutrality in conflicts.The Swiss government stated as a neutral actor in conflict situations, Switzerland has never given financial support to military interventions and will abstain from doing so in the future.Empasising its commitment in brokering peace, the country said it had spent about $12 million in assisting those affected by Boko Haram crisis.It said: Switzerlands historic commitment to humanitarian aid, the protection of individuals and the promotion of peace is known throughout the world.To date, Switzerland allocated close to $12 million to mitigate the affected populations suffering from the Boko Haram crisis in the region. Most resources have been granted to protection and food security/nutrition-related programmes in neighbouring countries (Niger, Cameroon) to multilateral partners (WFP, UNHCR, ICRC) and NGOs (International Rescue Committee, COOPI, Croix-Rouge francaise). The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that Nigeria will do all it takes to ensure the continued surviv... The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has assured that Nigeria will do all it takes to ensure the continued survival and repositioning of the Pan African News Agency (PANA) to enable it fulfil its mandate.The Minister gave the assurance in Lagos on Wednesday when he received a delegation of the continental news agency, comprising the Interim Chairman of the Board, Dr. Ibrahim Daggash, and the Managing Director, Mr. Babacar Fall.He said Africa needs PANA now more than ever to tell the continents stories from the African perspective, rather than the perspective of others.If African stories cannot be told from the African perspectives by Africans, events on the continent will always be viewed from the prisms of the Western and other media and such prisms are often distorted.With PANA unable to fully fulfil its mandate, Africa has continued to be portrayed as a continent of wars, diseases, deaths, famine, poverty and bad governance, among others. The spread of democracy, economic growth that for decades remained among the strongest in the world, and the end of most of the wars that bedevilled Africa for years are some of the good news coming out of Africa. But these are rarely reported.What we see in the media are mostly negative news that portrayed the continent as a land of plagues, poverty and hopelessness. This has fed into the desperation of many of our youths to escape from the continent at all cost, even at the gravest risks to their lives, the Alhaji Mohammed said.He said a vibrant PANA could have helped in changing the narrative, but noted that the news agency is chronically hobbled today as it struggles for survival.The Minister said whereas the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), established PANA to help Africa to find its voice in the global information order, the agency itself seems to have lost its own voice.He assured that the kind of PANA that Africa will be proud of could emerge from a concerted effort by all concerned, saying the management of the news agency must be creative in working out the strategies that will turn around the fortunes of the agency, which is based in Dakar, Senegal.With the dwindling resources of many African nations, it may not be feasible to revert to assessed contributions to run the agency. Therefore, the management must be willing to think out of the box and come up with innovative ideas for the funding of the agency. I am aware that several funding initiatives have been mooted in the past, but none seems to have seen the light of day, Alhaji Mohammed said.He said African Information Ministers, who played a major role in the emergence of the continental news agency, must take the lead in the efforts to reposition the agency to fully fulfill its mandate, adding: Anything short of such a high-level attention to PANA will amount to a mere tokenism that will not take the agency anywhere.Speaking earlier, the Director-General of PANA, Mr. Fall, said the agency had been feeling like an orphan since Nigeria stopped playing its leadership role on issues concerning it (PANA).It is not just PANA but all regional institutions that have been suffering the absence of Nigeria politically, diplomatically and financially. Nigeria is the pioneer of African unity and PANA itself is a baby of Nigeria, Mr. Fall said.He expressed the confidence that the tenure of the Minister would see Nigeria regaining its prominent position in the information architecture of the continent. GLOUCESTER TWP. -- Authorities are investigating a hit and run accident after a vehicle crashed into a building in South Jersey. Police are seeking any information connected to the accident, which occurred Jan. 24 after the weekend storm, at the Original Italian Village, located off the South Black Horse Pike. Gloucester Township Police responded to the site, just across from the Gloucester Premium Outlets, after an unknown vehicle smashed into the front of the building between 2 and 3 p.m. The crash resulted in significant damage to the building, authorities said, and the driver fled the scene. Gloucester Township Police Crime Stoppers- Hit and Run Motor Vehicle Collision Vs Building- Original Italian Village,... Posted by Gloucester Township Police on Thursday, February 4, 2016 Police have been unable to find physical evidence on the scene and there were no witnesses or cameras in the area at the time of the crash. Authorities are asking anyone who knows someone operating a car or truck with recent heavy damage to contact the Gloucester Township Police Traffic Safety Unit at 856-228-4500 or use the anonymous tip line at 856-842-5560. Tips can also be sent via text message using the keyword TIP GLOTWPPD to 888777. Brittany Wehner may be reached at bwehner@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittanymwehner. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. TRENTON -- A Cherry Hill Woman was sentenced to 21 years in New Jersey State Prison after she was convicted on charges related to distributing drugs for an international drug ring, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Marsha G. Bernard, 34, of Cherry Hill, was sentenced to 21 years in state prison for distributing drugs for an international drug ring, according to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. (Photo provided by the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General) Marsha G. Bernard, 34, was convicted of first-degree distribution of cocaine, second-degree money laundering and second-degree conspiracy on Dec. 17, after a trial. Authorities said Bernard received large shipments of cocaine in New Jersey and distributed them to other drug traffickers. Bernard reportedly operated under the direction of Andrew K. Davis, 37, of Kingston, Jamaica, who was found guilty of the same charges. He will return to court in May to be tried again on the charge first-degree leading a narcotics trafficking network after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict on that charge, according to the Attorney General. The charges came from a multi-agency investigation known as "Operation Next Day Air," which involved the New Jersey State Police, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Division of Criminal Justice. Detectives reportedly recovered more than 26 kilograms of cocaine, two handguns and more than $500,000 during the investigation, according to the attorney general's office. "This case sends a powerful message to drug traffickers who sell addiction, misery and death into our communities," Acting New Jersey Attorney General John Hoffman said. "No matter where you live, we're going to investigate you, track you down, and bring you to justice." Bernard will have to serve six years in prison before she is eligible for parole. Alex Young may be reached at ayoung@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @AlexYoungSJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. South Jersey law enforcement worked together to break up a drug trafficking ring in Cumberland County -- arresting 16 people and seizing $242,000 in drugs. The arrests took place on Feb. 5. Authorities seized one-and-a-half kilograms of heroin, 27 ounces of cocaine, an ounce of crack cocaine and a kilogram of marijuana. Authorities also seized numerous firearms, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, including a shotgun, rifles and handguns. The following people were charged and held in the Cumberland County Jail: - Jason Sanchez, 22, of Doris Drive, in Commercial Township, was charged with leading a narcotics trafficking network, conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $225,000 bail. - Nicole Castro, 25, of Oak Street, in Bridgeton, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance and maintaining or operating a controlled dangerous substance production facility. She was held in lieu of $250,000 bail. - William Jackson, 35, of Edgewood Avenue, in Millville, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of an assault firearm, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, possession of a weapon while committing a controlled dangerous substance offence and possession of a weapon by a certain person. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail. - Thomas Jackson, 29, of South Burlington Road, in Fairfield Township, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail. - Carlos Thomas, 33, of South 7th Street in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail. - Lexus Sanchez, 23, of West Elmer Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. She was held in lieu of $100,000 bail. - David Lewis, 54, of Dandelion Road, in Commercial Township, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $75,000 bail. - Jessica Gonzalez, 25, of Oak Street, in Bridgeton, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. She was held in lieu of $75,000 bail. - Lewis Brailsford, 32, of Leesburg, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail. - Jonathan Gonzalez, 22, of West Elmer Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $125,000 bail. - Kyle Blackwell, 30, of East Pear Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail. - Rasheem Roberts, 31, of West Almond Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $150,000 bail. - Rasheem Cradle, 33, of Nottingham Drive, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $75,000 bail. - Christian Maldonado, 34, of Axtell Avenue, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $15,000 bail. - Anthony Figueroa, 25, of Wood Street, in Vineland, was charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He was held in lieu of $125,000 bail. - Larry Bell Jr., 34, of Chestnut Avenue, in Vineland, was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school zone. He was held in lieu of $250,000 bail. The investigation was conducted by the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office, federal Drug Enforcement Administration, Cumberland County Sheriff's Department, Bridgeton Police Department, Vineland Police Department, Millville Police Department, Cape May County Prosecutor's Office, Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, Salem County Prosecutor's Office, Division of Criminal Justice, New Jersey State Parole and New Jersey State Police. Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Flash China's first overseas naval logistics support outpostexpected to be built in Djiboutiis needed to handle difficulties encountered by Chinese peacekeeping fleets, the Foreign Ministry told China Daily on Thursday. Chinese Navy soldiers observe from China's amphibious landing ship Changbaishan during an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden, Aug 26, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua] The ministry's remarks came after senior Djibouti officials and Chinese experts said some media reports about the outpost had been unnecessarily hostile. Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh was quoted by Reuters on Wednesday as saying that China was expected to start work on the facility soon. The Foreign Ministry said China had sent escort fleets to the Gulf of Aden and Somalia in recent years, and these fleets had experienced difficulties that affected the "rest and reorganization of servicemen and the supply of oil". "It (the outpost) is essential to implement highly efficient logistical support," the ministry said. In December, the Ministry of National Defense confirmed that China and Djibouti had reached agreement on the outpost. Military bases and support facilities for countries including the United States and France have long been based in Djibouti. Djibouti's Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf told Reuters, "We understand that some Western countries have worries about China's willingness to have military outposts outside of China." He said that Western countries should not be concerned. Djibouti is a pivotal country in the Horn of Africa standing between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is a key transfer stop for international humanitarian missions, including those of the United Nations. Yin Zhuo, director of the People's Liberation Army Navy's Expert Consultation Committee, estimated that a Chinese fleet patrolling waters in the region has to feed about 800 staff members every day. A single mission, which lasts on average for 120 days, places a huge demand on food and water supplies. Zhang Junshe, a senior researcher at the PLA Naval Military Studies Research Institute, said Djibouti is one of the closest major ports to Somalia. Its peaceful environment makes it an ideal place to host China's support facility. Zhang said the outpost that China is expected to build there is designed to provide food, water and oil. It would be totally different from US military bases, which supply weaponry, Zhang added. Djibouti's strategic importance and logistical convenience were highlighted last year when Chinese citizens evacuated from Yemen transited there. While meeting with Djibouti's President Guelleh in Johannesburg in December, President Xi Jinping said China appreciated Djibouti's help in supporting Chinese peacekeeping fleets and in evacuating Chinese citizens from Yemen. MONTCLAIR -- New Jersey now has four public doctoral research universities. Montclair State University has been designated a "research doctoral university," thanks to a decision announced Monday by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. The designation, school officials said, reflects the growing amount of doctoral-level work happening at the college. Montclair State joins three other public universities in New Jersey that were previously pegged as doctoral research institutions - Rutgers-New Brunswick, Rutgers-Newark, and NJIT. Five private universities -- Princeton, Seton Hall, Stevens Institute, Fairleigh Dickinson and Drew -- also have the distinction. "For much of the late 20th century, Montclair State was constrained in its development," MSU president Susan Cole said in a statement about the designation. "But, in the past 15 years, the university has worked strategically and aggressively to grow enrollment, faculty and facilities, and that growth has enabled the University to expand its educational programs and research initiatives in service to the state and the nation." According to a spokesman for the school, MSU currently has 254 doctoral students in six programs ranging from environmental management to mathematics education. The school also has plans to add more doctoral programs, he said. The Carnegie Classification, which releases a new list of designations every five years, cites 335 doctoral universities across the country. Doctoral universities are ranked at three levels, based on the amount of research they conduct. Montclair State is ranked a level three, with moderate research. Rutgers-New-Brunswick is level one, the highest, and Rutgers-Newark and NJIT are level two, school officials said. MSU was previously classified as a Masters 1 University. Cole said the designation points out important research that is being conducted at the New Jersey school. "This new designation reflects the efforts of the University's distinguished faculty and the programs they have created that both challenge students and address the issues facing society," she said. Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook. ESSEX -- Authorities are investigating an overnight fatal shooting that left one male victim dead, authorities confirmed Friday. The shooting occurred near the intersection of South 10th Street and Brenner Street, said Thomas Fennelly, Chief Assistant Prosecutor at the Essex County Prosecutor's Office. The victim's name has not yet been released. No arrests have been made in connection to the shooting, Fennelly said. An investigation by the prosecutor's office Homicide Task Force is underway. The killing brings the city's 2016 homicide total to 15. Vernal Coleman can be reached at vcoleman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @vernalcoleman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. 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. A Council Bluffs man faces a combined 20 counts of burglary, identity theft and unauthorized use of a debt card. Tyler McCreary, 31, was arrested on Wednesday and officially charged Thursday with nine counts of misdemeanor identity theft, nine counts of felony unauthorized use of a credit card, third-degree burglary of a motor vehicle and one count of ongoing criminal conduct. If convicted, McCreary could face up to 25 years in prison. According to the arrest affidavit, on Sept. 21, McCreary reportedly broke into a 2011 Ford Taurus and took a purse, 2 iPhones, checkbooks, a Wells Fargo credit card and the female victims drivers license. McCreary allegedly used the debit card at Buckys on 16th Street on Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. He also allegedly used the card at the Filling Station on Second Avenue, Westlake Hardware on West Broadway, Papa Johns on South Eighth Street and Walmart on 16th Street. According to investigators, video surveillance at Buckys, Westlake Hardware and Walmart showed the same suspect using the card. Council Bluffs Police posted screen shots of the suspect using the card on social media and received three tips that the suspect was McCreary. McCreary remains in custody in Pottawattamie County Jail. Originally, his bond was set at $65,000, but Fourth Judicial District Associate Judge Charles Fagan reduced the bond to $25,000 during McCrearys initial appearance on Thursday. McCreary has requested a public defender. His next court date will be a preliminary hearing on Friday, Feb. 12. SHENANDOAH Eaton will be eliminating roughly 250 positions from its Shenandoah facility, beginning in a few weeks and running through September. Jim Michels, global business communications for Eaton Vehicle Group, explained the positions will be eliminated from transmission assembly and gear and shaft machine operations. I cant emphasize enough that this was a difficult decision. It is not a reflection of the people at the facility. These are really, really quality employees, said Michels. We understand the impact this is going to have. We will treat every single employee with the respect and dignity they deserve. Eaton is a diversified industrial products manufacturer in the fluid power, industrial and commercial controls, automotive, and truck industries, according to its website. There are two main reasons behind the reduction at the Shenandoah facility, Michels said. The first, he explained, is that there has been a shift in the market place to automated transmissions. However, manual transmissions are manufactured in Shenandoah. The shift in the market has occurred at a much more rapid rate than anyone anticipated, Michels said. Secondly, there is a significant reduction being forecast in 2016 in the Class 8 commercial vehicle market dropping by roughly 23 percent. With such a decline, Michels said the organization cannot operate with current capacity at our facilities given the changes in the market place. Operations currently being done in Shenandoah will be moved to either Kings Mountain, North Carolina, or San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Michels said. Employees will receive 60 days notice about when positions will be eliminated. They will receive full severance packages, outplacement services and Michels said displaced employees are encouraged to seek out other positions within Eaton. Those being displaced include hourly and salaried employees, he added. These are hardworking, honest, committed people and its a tough day for all of us, Michels said. The Shenandoah facility will continue to make shift bar housing, shift plates and rear plates components needed for final assembly leading to 85 positions being retained to support the ongoing operations. The news comes on the heels of the layoff of an additional 71 employees in early December when Eaton eliminated its third shift manufacturing line. The Republican winner of the 2012 Iowa caucuses dropped out of the 2016 campaign Wednesday and endorsed one of his rivals who outperformed him in Iowa this go-around. Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, declared he would support Marco Rubio, a U.S. senator from Florida, in Rubios bid for the White House. Santorum announced on Fox News Channel that he had decided not to continue his campaign. He said Rubio shares his values and is in a better position to do well in this race. He described Rubio as a born leader and praised his optimistic message. The crowded Republican field denied Santorum a chance to participate on the main stage of the presidential debates this election season. Santorum finished second in the nomination race in 2012 behind former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Also on Wednesday, Rand Paul dropped his struggling bid for the presidency and focused his effort on running for re-election to the U.S. Senate representing Kentucky. Asked whether he intends to endorse another candidate for president, Paul replied: No. He was elected in the tea party-driven wave of 2010 and has tangled often with GOP leaders. Paul qualified for five prime-time debates but was dropped from the sixth contest. He was invited back for the seventh and final prime-time debate before the Iowa caucuses. Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, also dropped out of the GOP nomination contest after the Iowa caucuses. Remaining in the Republican field are Jeb Bush, former Florida governor; Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon; Chris Christie, New Jersey governor; Ted Cruz, U.S. senator from Texas; Carly Fiorina, former Hewlett-Packard CEO; Jim Gilmore, former Virginia governor; John Kasich, Ohio governor; Marco Rubio, U.S. senator from Florida; and Donald Trump, real estate business magnate. On the Democratic side, former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley dropped out following the Iowa caucuses leaving Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and former U.S. senator from New York, facing Bernie Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont. Neither OMalley nor Huckabee have made endorsements. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Democratic candidate will meet with the public in Onawa at the public library, 707 Iowa Ave. from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a similar function at the American Legion Post in Harlan, 702 Chatburn Ave., from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Hogg, 49, is serving his third term in the Iowa Senate after two terms in the Iowa House. He announced his candidacy to unseat Charles Grassley last September in Callender, where his grandmother was born in 1902. Danny Spracklin could find himself staying a lot longer in prison. Spracklin, already serving 25 years in prison on theft and drug charges, is back in Pottawattamie County Jail after he has allegedly been tied to another vehicle theft and police chase. While serving time at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in Coralville, the State of Iowa charged Spracklin with stealing a 2008 red Ford F-350 in November 2014. Additionally, Spracklin reportedly eluded Council Bluffs police by driving the truck from the 23,000 block of Highway 6 onto Interstate 80 and then into Nebraska. An arrest warrant was approved in June, while Spracklin was in custody in Coralville. He was brought to Pottawattamie County to face these felony charges on Tuesday. Spracklin remains in Pottawattamie County Jail. His next court date on the new charges is a preliminary hearing on Friday, Feb. 12. If convicted on both charges, Spracklin could face up to 15 additional years in prison. According to prison records, currently, the earliest he could be released in 2026 after his guilty plea last April. Nine months ago, Spracklin pleaded guilty to second-degree theft, two counts of possession of a methamphetamine, trafficking in stolen weapons, first-degree theft and one count of escape from custody. The combined sentences led to Fourth Judicial Court Judge James Heckerman sentencing Spracklin to up to 25 years in prison. While serving time in Iowa, Spracklin is also concurrently serving a Nebraska sentence. In September 2015, Spracklin was sentenced was sentenced to up to seven years in prison for theft by receiving after pleading no contest and being found guilty. Four years ago, David Kelly 's beloved dog, Kyla, passed away. It was a rough time for Kelly and his wife, Hilary. She was very important to both me and my wife, he said. Losing her was very hard on both of us. Four years ago, David Kelly 's beloved dog, Kyla, passed away. It was a rough time for Kelly and his wife, Hilary.She was very important to both me and my wife, he said. Losing her was very hard on both of us.For the past 20 years, Kelly an IT professional by trade who moved to Sudbury from Yorkshire, England a decade ago has been dabbling in writing short science-fiction stories.Inspired by Kyla, Kelly decided to write a story about an ailing elderly man who takes in a young stray dog.True to Kelly's sci-fi roots, something strange happens the dog in the story begins rapidly aging, while the protagonist seems to have found the fountain of youth.It's a story that came to me based on my experiences with my own dogs I've owned through the years, said Kelly.I just kind of got this strange idea of this dog that was magic, helping this guy come to terms with his aging and so on.The story, entitled How Much Is That Doggy?, was included in Kelly's 2015 self-published book of 10 short science fiction tales, Dead Reckoning and Other Stories.It also appears in a recently published collection of short stories about animals called Paws For a Tale. The book, in support of the SPCA, was put out by Sudden Insight , an American publishing company based out of California.I thought I'll send it along and see if they're interested, Kelly said. Quite often you send things off and it doesn't get taken up because there's a lot of competition. But in this case, I was successful.A little more than a year ago, Kelly got a bad infection in his foot, and ended up with a partial infection. While the experience has been difficult, he said his convalescence has allowed him to focus more on writing.Both Dead Reckoning and Other Stories and Paws for a Tale are available for purchase online on Amazon.Dead Reckoning and Other Stories retails for $4.89 as an eBook and $13.18 for a paperback . Paws for a Tale is currently only available in eBook format although physical copies are coming soon and costs $4.22 From now until Feb. 14, you (and your stomach) can help Boston Pizza support a handful of Canadian charities, including its own Boston Pizza Foundation. On Feb. From now until Feb. 14, you (and your stomach) can help Boston Pizza support a handful of Canadian charities, including its own Boston Pizza Foundation.On Feb. 14, $1 from every heart-shaped pizza sold in Canada will go to a Boston Pizza-supported charity like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kids Help Phone, LiveDifferent or the Rick Hansen Foundation. Proceeds from pull-and-peel hearts sold Feb. 14 will also go to charity.And during the campaign period, Boston Pizza will donate a portion of its sales to a local charity. Last year, almost $5,000 was raised for the House of Kin.For more information on Boston Pizza and its charitable efforts, visit the website High-tech walk-in docs take the distance out of medicine Two new walk-in clinics in Greater Sudbury are taking a high-tech approach to providing patient care. The first Good Doctors clinic opened on Nov. 16, 2015, at 1984 Regent St., and a second followed Jan. 18 at 2956 Highway 69 N, in Val Caron. Jessica Wiebe, a registered practical nurse with the Good Doctors clinic, located at 1984 Regent Street, shows Ontario Telemedicine Network system the clinic uses to connect patients with doctors in other parts of Ontario. Photo by Jonathan Migneault. Two new walk-in clinics in Greater Sudbury are taking a high-tech approach to providing patient care. The first Good Doctors clinic opened on Nov. 16, 2015, at 1984 Regent St., and a second followed Jan. 18 at 2956 Highway 69 N, in Val Caron. What sets the Good Doctors clinics apart from other walk-in clinics in the region is their reliance on the Ontario Telemedicine Network, a video chat network similar to Skype. There are six physicians affiliated with the clinics, but five are based in the Greater Toronto Area, and the sixth is from Windsor. The physicians are never physically in Sudbury, but patients can connect with them through a secure video chat that adheres to the Ontarios Personal Health Information Act and Canadas Person Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, to protect their privacy. The clinics employ three registered practical nurses, and one international medical graduate a foreign-trained doctor working to complete her local certification who tend to the patients and do basic check-ups before they connect with the physicians. Exam rooms are fitted with computers and webcams that can detect patients' faces, or be remotely controlled by the nurses or doctors. When examining patients, the nurses can use digital instruments including stethoscopes and otoscopes that directly relay the sound of a patient's heartbeat, for example, to the doctor located hundreds of kilometres away. Good Doctors director Leo Liao said patient feedback has been positive so far. There's always a dedicated doctor and a back-up doctor, he said. While Good Doctors' six physicians have their own practices in their hometowns, they take turns setting time aside to meet with patients in Sudbury through the Ontario Telemedicine Network. One advantage with the system, said Liao, is that when there's a surge in patients, it's relatively easy for another doctor to see patients in between their own scheduled appointments in the GTA or Windsor. Liao said the system also helps address Sudbury's doctor shortage. Liao said the long-term plan is to eventually offer short-term clinics in smaller communities that have fewer doctors. A nurse, for example, could set up the Ontario Telemedicine Network system in a First Nations community for a couple days a week. If there's enough demand, Liao said Good Doctors could open more clinics in other parts of Greater Sudbury. The high-profile trial of former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi has spurred a public conversation around the issue of sexual violence and victimization. The high-profile trial of former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi has spurred a public conversation around the issue of sexual violence and victimization. Ghomeshi faces four charges of sexual assault, and one count of overcoming resistance by choking, in relation to three complainants. He has pleaded not guilty. He was also charged with three additional counts related to three more women on Jan. 8, 2015, but will face those charges at a later date. A Sudbury criminal defence attorney said, from a legal standpoint, it gives the public a window into how such cases are prosecuted. People come into these things with their own preconceptions and their own biases, and that often is the basis for their opinion, said veteran lawyer Berk Keaney. Ghomeshi's trial began Feb. 1, 2016, and has drawn considerable media attention due to his position as a public figure and high-profile radio personality. If the presumption of innocence means something in this country, if it really means something, people should be sitting back and doing what the judge is doing; reflecting dispassionately on the evidence, Keaney said. Apart from the high-profile nature of the case, Keaney said Ghomeshi's trial is fairly straightforward. These aren't the most gross allegations, he said. Hundreds of these cases are happening across our country today and every week. While the allegations against Ghomeshi are serious, Keaney said there have been no allegations of serious injuries, or hospitalizations, from the alleged sexual assaults. Ghomeshi's lawyer, Marie Henein, has questioned two complainants to date, and established both continued to be in contact with Ghomeshi after the alleged sexual assault would have occurred. What a good cross-examiner is trying to do in cases of this nature, is look for inconsistencies in the witness' accounts, said Keaney. She's doing what every good criminal lawyer would do in any case. The defence's job, he said, is to point out any inconsistencies or improbabilities in the complainants' accounts. Similarly, if Ghomeshi takes the stand, it would be the Crown's job to highlight any inconsistencies or improbabilities in his own account. The Ghomeshi trial has also opened a larger conversation around sexual violence and victimization. Sadly victim blaming and sexual violence often go hand in hand, said Jessica Gattoni, program administrator of the Sudbury Women's Centre, a non-profit organization that provides support services for women impacted by violence or difficult life circumstances. Gattoni said she could not comment on the Ghomeshi trial in particular, but said false allegations are very rare in sexual assault cases. She added sexual violence affects one in three women in Canada, and one in six men. @jmigneault Sudbury MP to sit on two Parliamentary committees Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre has been named to the House of Commons standing committees of Public Accounts and Official Languages. Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre has been named to the House of Commons standing committees of Public Accounts and Official Languages. File photo. Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre has been named to the House of Commons standing committees of Public Accounts and Official Languages. As a successful business owner and tax lawyer, and a proud Franco-Ontarian, I am ideally positioned to contribute to these committees, Lefebvre said in a news release Friday. Im proud to have been appointed to these two committees, as they are both important to me and will allow me to fulfill the promises made to Sudbury voters. The Public Accounts committee reviews and reports on the public accounts of Canada and all reports of the Auditor General of Canada. It serves as Parliaments standing audit committee and reviews the federal governments consolidated financial statements and examines financial and/or accounting shortcomings, raised by the Auditor General. The Committee also holds the government to account for effective public administration and due regard for public funds, the release said. The Official Languages committee reviews and reports on official languages policies and programs, including Reports of the Commissioner of Official Languages. The committee is responsible for reviewing the administration, regulations and directives pertaining to the Official Languages Act. The Liberal government has set out an ambitious agenda, and committee work is an important part of how we will deliver real change for Canadians, Lefebvre said. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of House to reach solutions that are beneficial to all Canadians. Off-contract Eels playmaker Corey Norman has evolved into a genuine leader at his club, as evidenced by his captaincy debut late last year being consolidated by being named captain of Parramatta's Downer NRL Auckland Nines squad to kick off season 2016. The former Bronco has made massive strides in his two years in blue and gold and on the eve of the 2016 Auckland Nines told NRL.com he was hoping to extend his stay. "Yeah this is my last year, I'm sure my manager and the club are talking, I've just got to worry about myself and play some good footy," Norman said. "I definitely would [love to stay]. I love Parramatta, I've been here for two years and I don't see myself going anywhere else." An extra carrot in front of Norman now is the chance to pair up with one of the best halves in the NRL in new Eels recruit and former Sea Eagle Kieran Foran. Norman said he and the Kiwi Test pivot had been combining well so far at training but was tight-lipped about whether he was expecting to marshal a dominant Eels left edge boasting blockbusting winger Semi Radradra and incoming Test centre Michael Jennings, or move to the right of the field to accommodate traditional left-side half Foran. "It's been good. The times we've trained together we've been good which is the most pleasing thing but it's only training and we've got a couple of trials to work on our combinations to get things going," Norman said. "We've been training both sides so we'll have to wait and see [who plays where] I guess. That's what [the trials] are there for, to fine-tune the things we need to work on before Round 1." Norman was fairly confident though that Jennings would slot into his usual left-centre role, meaning a shift to the right for Brad Takairangi. "He's been training there, I think he's played left centre pretty much his whole career," Norman said of Jennings. "He's a world class centre so it doesn't take much for him to slot in. He's come in, he's obviously learned our structures and what we're going to do and he's fit in well. It's a great little asset to our team." When the Nines kicks off, Norman is hoping the strong squad the Eels have named will allow them to improve on last year's showing, when they were one of the best sides through the group stages and won their quarter final before a limp semi-final effort saw them bundled out by the Rabbitohs. "We had a good run, it was disappointing in the semis to go out like that but obviously we want to beat the semis this year," Norman said. "It's a strong pool, I think all the pools are strong and all the teams have sent some good teams over. There should be some good footy this weekend and I'm looking forward to it." Looking at the squad in which 16 of the 18 named players have played NRL, with the other two being bright prospects in fullback Bevan French and back-rower Matt Woods Norman said he was excited to see what it could produce, especially 2015 Nines sensation Semi Radradra. "It is a great all round squad, like you said Bevy and Woodsy haven't played NRL yet but they're good young players and especially looking forward to Bevan French out there. "We all know what we're going to get out of Semi, he's a crowd favourite and he loves it too so hopefully he can put on a show this weekend!" SCHERERVILLE Police were questioning one adult Thursday afternoon and searching for another in connection with an arson last month at Stan's Auto Salvage, an official said. The Schererville Fire Department determined the fire at Stan's, 7967 Wicker Ave., was arson in the days after the blaze, police Cmdr. Brian Neyhart said. "We figured it had been intentionally set at the time," Neyhart said. "We did come up with a suspect, and we're working on finding another at this time." Police know the identity of the second suspect, he said. Firefighters were called to the auto yard about 7:20 p.m. Jan. 19 and discovered a large fire involving numerous smashed vehicles, officials said. Stan's co-owner Chip Lukasik, whose father started the business in 1961, said the day after the fire that it was initially called in by a passer-by on Alexander Street, which runs behind the business to the east. Lukasik said at that time he suspected the fire was arson, but declined to discuss specifics because of the ongoing investigation. Fire crews spent more than eight hours battling the blaze, relaying tanker trucks from hydrants in the area onto the property. Officials said air pockets between the smashed cars created flares, and witnesses reported hearing booms and seeing sparks. The flames and large plume of smoke drew a crowd of onlookers, who parked in several of the lots on the west side of U.S. 41 to watch the spectacle. Fire crews from St. John, Lake Hills, Highland, Munster, Crown Point, Lake Ridge, Merrillville, Cedar Lake, Lowell and Crete Township assisted, officials said. Firefighters didn't leave the property until about 4 a.m., and were called back later when a few vehicles flared up again. GARY Police said Thursday that two men shot in the face Monday in Gary's Midtown section were expected to survive. The men were shot about 5:30 p.m. near 12th Avenue and Washington Street, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. Police initially responded to the 1100 block of Washington Street for a report of shots fired and a home hit by gunfire, she said. A short time later, police were dispatched to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus for a gunshot victim. An officer arrived and learned two people were being treated for gunshot wounds to the face, police said. Investigators later determined one man shot near 12th and Washington fled to the area of Sixth Avenue and Van Buren Street before getting a ride to the hospital, Westerfield said. The second man fled from the shooting scene to the 1100 block of Pyramid Street and also got a ride to the hospital, she said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Sgt. Williams Fazekas at (219) 881-1210. To remain anonymous, call (866) CRIME-GP. MICHIGAN CITY The man charged with injuring a dog found by neighbors on Christmas Day will be returned to LaPorte County after his arrest in Texas. Richard Cope, 50, waived extradition Monday, but when he is returned to LaPorte County depends on the schedule of a private company that transports prisoners from state to state. LaPorte County police Capt. Mike Kellems said the cost of transporting Cope from the El Paso County Jail is just over $1,100. In comparison, sending two deputies to get him when factoring in the cost of travel and overtime would be much more costly. We use it as a cost saving measure for us, Kellems said. A request has been made for the fee to be included with any restitution Cope has to pay if convicted, he said. Police in Texas forced their way into a home Sunday to arrest Cope, who was charged three weeks ago with torturing or mutilating a vertebrate animal, a level 6 felony, and three other misdemeanor counts. Its alleged the Michigan City man broke the hips on a pit bull puppy and caused other injuries to the dog found Christmas Day after limping over to a neighbors house with its mouth taped shut. Authorities said Cope has a violent criminal history. He received a one-year jail sentence and two years probation in 1993 on two counts of battery and insurance fraud in DeKalb County, Indiana, according to court records. One of the battery counts involved a child less than 13-years of age, according to court records. In 1997, he was given a 12-year prison sentence in Louisiana for an armed robbery in the Baton Rouge area, said Pam Laborde, a spokeswoman with the Louisiana Department of Correction. People need to understand just how dangerous a person this guy is. Obviously, he has a propensity to violence, Kellems said. U.S Prisoner Transport will return Cope on a fully secure bus staffed with armed guards, Kellems said. Kellems said the bus will make stops to and from Texas picking up other offenders who, during the trip, remain shackled. Where Cope was previously convicted might explain his direction of travel while running from the authorities. According to police, he went to DeKalb County before going to Ohio and back through Louisiana, perhaps, on his way to Texas. The dog, named Chance Christmas by its rescuers, is recovering. Kellems said the puppy was with more than a dozen people, including police officers and caretakers, involved in the case who gathered for picture taking Thursday at the Michigan City Police Station. SPRINGFIELD Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has announced another round of public hearings on the states education funding formula, which critics say currently leaves districts with higher poverty rates and lower property values at a disadvantage. A bipartisan education funding task force, which began meeting last year, will hold its first hearing of the spring legislative session Feb. 16 in Springfield, the Chicago Democrat announced Thursday. Overhauling the way the state funds public schools has been a priority of Senate Democrats, led by Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner gave a nod to the idea last week in his State of the State address. Madigans announcement also comes at a time when the financial troubles of Chicago Public Schools have created another point of tension between Rauner and Democrats amid the states budget impasse. Senate President Cullerton has shown strong leadership on the issue of fair and equitable education funding, which is so important to every community across our state, Madigan said in a prepared statement. The Presidents commitment to fairly funding our schools and helping all students meet their full potential is one that I share, and I plan to work with him to achieve this goal while making sure that voices from across our state are heard and that all schools and programs are protected throughout this process. A series of hearings will be held throughout the spring to develop a legislative plan, the speaker said. House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, a fellow Chicago Democrat, is leading the task force. Sen. Andy Manar, of Bunker Hill, the Senate Democrats point man on education funding, has been working for the past three years on an overhaul of the school aid formula. He introduced a bill last year that would funnel more money to poorer districts and seeks to address some concerns with an earlier version. Madigan spokesman Steve Brown said the speaker hasnt taken a position on Manars proposal. Part of the purpose of this task force is to develop that position for House members, Brown said. The panel also will examine a proposal from the Illinois State Board of Education to shift $300 million in special education funds into general state aid for schools, he said. Rep. John Bradley, a Marion Democrat whos on the task force, said the deliberate, thoughtful approach the House is taking is appropriate given the gravity of the issue. Bradley said he wants kids across Illinois, including two of his own children in the Marion School District, to have similar opportunities. The children in my area are worth as much as the children throughout the rest of the state, he said. But Rep. Robert Pritchard, of Hinckley, the Republican spokesman on the task force, said there have been enough hearings already. Its time to sit down and start analyzing what the recommendations are and determining what we can make movement with, Pritchard said. Any move to give more money to poorer districts shouldnt come at the expense of others, he said. Youve got to put new money into it so that you don't have losers and focus that new money on those students that arent being served, Pritchard said. INDIANAPOLIS Gov. Edgar Whitcomb, who lived the longest and perhaps most interesting life of Indianas 50 governors, died Thursday in his log cabin near Rome, Ind. The states 43rd governor was 98 years old. He had been out of office 43 years. Gov. Mike Pence said in announcing his predecessors death that Whitcomb had a zest for life that was defined by courage, service and adventure. Gov. Whitcomb was a treasure to our state and I mark his passing with a sense of personal loss, as will thousands of Hoosiers whose lives were touched by this remarkable leader, Pence said. Indiana will never forget or fail to be inspired by (his) life and example. Whitcomb was born Nov. 6, 1917, in the southeast Indiana town of Hayden. He initially became known for his escape from a Japanese prison camp during World War II. According to Whitcombs autobiography, Escape from Corregidor, he swam 8 miles through shark-infested waters from the south Pacific island to the Philippines mainland, eventually fighting his way to China and back to the United States. A lawyer by trade, Whitcomb won election in 1950 to the Indiana Senate and later served as secretary of state from 1966 to 1968. Whitcomb was elected governor in 1968 on a pledge never to raise taxes. During his tenure, he computerized Bureau of Motor Vehicles records, established the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and cracked down on no-show state employees. He was the last governor constitutionally prohibited from serving consecutive terms, and lost the 1976 Republican U.S. Senate primary to Dick Lugar. In 1987, Whitcomb quit his job at a Christian radio network and took up sailing. He sailed across the Mediterranean Sea and in 1990, at age 72, sailed solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Six years later Whitcomb attempted to sail solo around the world, but his ship sank after striking a coral reef in the Gulf of Suez. He then decided to return to Indiana and live out his days on the banks of the Ohio River. Former University of Wisconsin star running back Montee Ball was arrested by Madison police early Friday after he allegedly pushed his girlfriend into a table at a Downtown hotel. Ball, 25, was taken to the Dane County Jail on a tentative charge of substantial battery. Police were called at about 3:40 a.m. Friday to the Hampton Hotel and Suites, 440 W. Johnson St. The woman told police she had a dispute with her boyfriend, said police spokesman Joel DeSpain. She said he put his hands on her, picked her up and threw her. She told police she hit a table, resulting in a cut to her leg, which needed stitches. Police found Ball outside the hotel and he was very cooperative, DeSpain said. Ball was scheduled for a bail hearing on Monday, so he will remain in jail over the weekend. On Sunday, his former NFL team, the Denver Broncos, will play in the Super Bowl. After being drafted by Denver in the second round in 2013 and rushing for 731 yards and no touchdowns in two seasons, Ball was cut before this season. He signed to New Englands practice squad in December but didnt make the active roster. His time as a pro followed a standout career with the Badgers in which he rushed for more than 5,000 yards and 77 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American in 2011 and 2012 and is the programs No. 2 all-time leading rusher and set an NCAA record for touchdowns. INDIANAPOLIS The Indiana House's top Democrat said Thursday that the gay rights debate in the Legislature isn't over, even though the Republican-dominated Senate abandoned an anti-discrimination measure this week. House Minority Leader Scott Pelath said he and other Democratic lawmakers will use committee meetings and floor debates to force discussion about expanding protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. "The businesses and the people of Indiana have demanded action with regard to civil rights," he said. Democrats are a minority in both legislative chambers and have little power. But Pelath said his caucus will push the issue because the idea of adding LGBT rights to state law has broad public support and Republicans shouldn't be let "off the hook." GOP Senate leaders killed a bill Wednesday that would have extended discrimination protections to lesbians, gays and bisexuals, but not transgender people. That effectively ended the possibility of a law passing this year because it happened on the last day on which bills could move from one chamber to the other. The measure would have offered discrimination protections to anyone who was fired or denied housing or service as a result of their sexual orientation. It also featured numerous exemptions for small businesses, clergy and religious organizations, including those that provide social services or contract with the state. But those efforts to find a balance between the civil rights of the LGBT community and religious liberty satisfied no one, said Sen. David Long, leader of majority Republicans. He said efforts to pass a gay rights bill were dead for this legislative year and did not call the bill up for floor action despite an earlier promise to vote on the measure even if there wasn't enough support for it to pass. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has warned that the failure to act leaves businesses in the state at a disadvantage when competing for talented employees. The backlash last year over the passage of a religious objections law may have contributed to the loss of a dozen conventions that cost Indiana some $60 million, the tourism group Visit Indy said in a report last month. Still, any attempt by Democrats to amend a bill will not likely fare well in the House. Republican Speaker Brian Bosma said "it's really not appropriate" to make major changes to state law "on the fly in a second." Pelath attributed more cynical motives to the GOP's decision not to move forward on the bill. "They wanted to look like they were trying to do something. And then sort of meekly throw up their hands and say, 'Oh look, we can't make anybody happy. We're going to stop working on it,'" Pelath said. LANSING Police are warning residents of a frequently-reported telephone scam hitting yet again. The caller claims to be from the Internal Revenue Service and tells the victim they are behind on their taxes or that they owe additional funds due to improperly filed returns. Police said the caller tells the victim they can make an immediate payment or face criminal action. When the victim agrees to the payment, they are told to make several bank withdrawals, purchase prepaid debit or credit cards and provide the account and pin numbers. Residents are encouraged to ask for a name, badge number and call back number then to verify any outstanding tax payments by calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040. A group of students, faculty and staff from Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central met with Purdue Director of Government Relations Susan Brock Williams, Purdue Director of State Relations and Policy Analysis Tony Hahn and Director of Purdues Northwest Indiana Engagement Office Tim Sanders Jan. 26 at the state house in Indianapolis. The delegation also met with legislators, including House Minority Leader Scott Pelath and Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann. The students had an opportunity to observe the Indiana House in session and communicate with their local elected officials about the emerging unification of their two campuses into Purdue University Northwest, pending Higher Learning Commission approval. HOBART The City Council has approved a resolution opposing the proposed NIPSCO rate hike that would increase a typical residential customer's electric bill by 11.5 percent. The proposal NIPSCO filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission includes a request to increase its fixed customer charge on electric bills from $11 to $20. Councilman David Vinzant said the fixed charge increase could be problematic for seniors or those trying to conserve electricity. I thought it was pretty straight forward that probably most people would feel this isn't necessarily in Hobart's best interest, Vinzant said of the proposed rate increase. Twenty-two members of the USS Chicago Base stopped by to dine at Veteran's Cafe & Grill to support the work the Merrillville veterans do for veterans needing a helping hand. The cafe at 7805 Taft St. is owned and operated by veterans and profits are used to assist homeless veterans. Most employees are veterans. Some were homeless and now have employment. Profits support a transitional housing center located in what previously was a church rectory.The Base is involved in community service, like the Grill, with leanings toward veteran activities.They visit veterans at local Veteran's Homes and volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.They also assist with tours of the German submarine, U-505 at the Museum of Science and Industry.The group has an active social program. Anyone who is qualified in submarines or just has an avid interest in submarines is invited to join this group. There is a free lunch for first time submariner guests. The crew of USS Chicago Base are members of the Navy's Submarine Service and meet at 1 p.m. every first Saturday of the month at the VFW on Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park, IL. Call Don at (708) 479-5150 or email DJSCHLEGS@aol.com PORTAGE A 19-year-old Valparaiso man was arrested Thursday morning at New Vistas High School and charged with drug possession. Police were called to the school at 5391 Central Ave. just before 9 a.m. A school administrator told police a student, Kalon Collier, tried to sell prescription medication to students. Police found a prescription bottle containing Alprazolam, a schedule 4 controlled substance used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. Collier allegedly told police he wanted to sell the pills to pay off debt, but had not sold any. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and transported to Porter County Jail. VALPARAISO Anyone interested in criminal or civil cases in Lake, Porter or LaPorte counties can track the action online. The growing access is generating concern over the balance between litigant's privacy and public convenience. Indiana Chief Supreme Court Justice Loretta Rush has stepped up in hopes of getting out ahead of this concern before problems arise. She announced this week the creation of an 18-member task force charged with promoting accessibility of court records, while safeguarding the role of the courts, the accountability of government and public safety. The group, which is made up of Rush, attorneys and various special interest groups, will host its first public session Feb. 26 at a yet-to-be-determined site in Indianapolis, said Kathryn Dolan, chief public information officer with the Indiana Supreme Court. The task force is to come up with a written report by Sept. 1. The state Supreme Court announced in May 2014 that Indiana courts will move to electronic filing, Rush said in a written statement. That process is already taking shape in a couple counties around the state. While the public can now access non-confidential court records in person, placing documents online raises more concerns about privacy that need to be addressed, she said. PDF versions of Indiana appellate court orders and opinions are available online, Dolan said. Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties allow online visitors to see only a summary of case activity. Trips to the county courthouse are still required to take a peek at case documents. Porter and LaPorte are among the 54 counties statewide that are part of the Odyssey Case Management System. Lake County, which currently operates its own court management system, is slated to join Odyssey in 2018, Dolan said. Porter County employees have internal access to court documents online as the result of a scanning effort started in late December, according to County Clerk Karen Martin. The public will not be granted the same level of access until approval is granted by the state, she said. Limitations on confidential materials will remain in place. "I think the more availability of documents to the public the better," Martin said. There are those who wreak havoc on our communities through violence and loss of life related to drug trafficking and drug dealing. Under current Indiana law, a convicted heroin dealer could get as little as a one-year sentence, and all of that time could be spent on probation and not in a prison. When drug dealers know drug penalties will likely result in only a "slap on the wrist," they are emboldened to continue peddling their poison in our cities and towns and continue to do so after being caught and serving a minimal sentence. The Indiana Legislature is in session now, and prosecutors like me are asking legislators to give us tools to better protect the public from drug trafficking. We have asked that legislators increase penalties for repeat dealers and for dealers who sell drugs to or in the presence of children, while in possession of a handgun or when drug dealing results in the death of another person. We prosecutors believe Indianas drug-dealing penalties for the worst offenders are too low to protect citizens. Current laws do not give prosecutors the teeth to put drug dealers in jail for a long period of time. Simply put, the punishment doesnt fit the crime. Drug abuse is driving crime in Indiana, and the ones hurt most are children. Just as frightening, Indiana is number one in the nation in pharmacy robberies. The ripple effect of violent drug dealing is virtually endless. We are asking the Indiana Legislature to give prosecutors the legal tools to protect victims and families from the scourge of drug dealing. If you agree, please ask your legislators to stand with your prosecutor on this important issue. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Despite a stagnant national economy, local economic development officials said the region has had several good years and continues to move forward. But these local gains have not come without an effort. "We're not sitting back waiting for the phone to ring," said Donald Koliboski, director of economic development at the Northwest Indiana Forum. The forum is a private, nonprofit organization focused on economic development and in giving a voice to business leaders in a seven-county area that includes Porter, Lake and LaPorte counties. Karen Lauerman, Forum marketing and communications director, said the organization took part in more than 20 trade shows and conferences last year, and it hosted nine events in the Chicago area. The group also answered more than 2,000 requests for information and had 175 inquiries about specific sites around the region. "So we're really getting word out about the diversity of our economy," she said. Examples of growth around the region last year include Tec Air closing on a $12 million deal in Munster that will result in 258 new jobs, Koliboski said. Pratt Industries consolidated its operations in Valparaiso, which will bring 137 new jobs, he said. Another big win for the area was the retention of Urschel Laboratories Inc., which will be relocating from Valparaiso to Chesterton rather than leaving the area, Koliboski said. Urschel was to begin construction on the $104 million, 350,000-square-foot corporate headquarters and manufacturing plant east of Ind. 49 and north of the Indiana Toll Road. The company's more than 300 employees are expected to start at the new site in the spring of 2015. The 2012 opening of the Porter Regional Hospital at Ind. 49 and U.S.6 continues to fuel growth of health care-related businesses in the Chesterton area. "We're staying above water," Koliboski said. Lauerman said manufacturing firms topped the list of those inquiring about specific sites last year. This was followed by transportation and distribution, food and agriculture, life sciences and health care, energy, and information technologies. Various government officials are also working to bring new businesses and jobs to the region. Porter County officials formed a jobs creation committee in 2011, which produced a 10-page report. At the heart of that document is the $159 million in proceeds from the 2007 sale of the county hospital. The report calls on county officials to consider investing part of the hospital sale proceeds in "two to three large, extraordinary major capital projects, public or private, to provide game-changing impacts to the county." The committee also suggests the county treasurer lend up to half of the hospital sale proceeds to towns, cities and school corporations "to provide low-interest financing for capital improvement projects" and/or contribute some of the funding toward a pool of money for mortgages to attract employees of relocating businesses. The region faces some obstacles in efforts to attract growth, Koliboski said. These include a lack of land and buildings in urban corridors. Alternatives are available in south Lake County, and in Newton and Porter counties. University of Wisconsin-Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank said she spent $8 million in six months protecting top faculty from poaching by other universities. And that tab is bound to rise as outstanding offers are resolved while the recruiting season continues, Blank told the UW System Board of Regents Thursday. I cant afford to not do this. This is the reputation of UW-Madison, she said. Blank was summing up her campus budget position and the challenges of maintaining its standards while absorbing an $86 million budget shortfall from state funding cuts in the first year of Scott Walkers 2016-2017 budget. Changes to the UW Systems tenure policy, also required under Walkers budget bill, are helping fuel efforts by other universities to recruit UW-Madison faculty, Blank said. The controversy over tenure changes has generated national and international publicity, creating concern on campus, shaking morale and making UW a target for other colleges looking to lure away faculty, she said. With sharp funding cuts, changes to tenure and other controversial legislation a bill to ban use of fetal tissue from abortion in research is before the legislation some faculty members are wondering whether Wisconsin is still the place to be, she said. People are asking very directly, Will UW remain a top university, or will I have to go elsewhere? Blank said. Recruitment of UW-Madison faculty started last summer, as media coverage of the Walker budget blared, months earlier than usual. Top institutions as varied as the University of Michigan and Harvard, and as far away as Oxford, have made offers in recent months to UW-Madisons most productive and accomplished faculty, Blank told regents. In the last six months of 2015, the College of Letters and Science and School of Education has doubled the number of retention cases where faculty report a job offer than they usually handle in a full year, she said. The median outside salary offer was 30 percent higher than current salary. Through salary increases and other compensation, 85 percent of faculty members offered other jobs decided to stay in Madison, Blank reported. Thats a wonderful retention rate. Its above our average retention rate," she said. "I think it reflects the efforts made and that people want to stay. Restoring the campus reputation has involved a media campaign, she said. Weve been pushing out as many great stories about Wisconsin as we can, and I think our communication people have been quite successful, Blank told regents. In addition, an advertising campaign focuses on the campus economic development impact. BREMEN | Hundreds gathered along the streets of downtown Bremen Friday to bid farewell to their beloved Doc. Dr. Otis R. Bowen, a former Indiana governor and later a secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services along with being a northern Indiana physician, was laid to rest in Bremen Cemetery on Friday. Rick Bowen, the two-term governors eldest son, eulogized his father at the service. Never did he expect, and I think hed actually be a little embarrassed, at the outpouring of support, Rick Bowen said, gesturing to the full sanctuary. Though formally Otis Ray Bowen, Doc was how he was known to all of Bremen, his son said. And, after his second term as governor, he was Doc Bowen to almost all of Indiana, Rick Bowen remembered. He told several stories about his father, including one that happened just a couple of years ago. His father, who suffered from Parkinsons disease and dementia, had a moment of clarity after one particularly difficult evening, Rick Bowen said. In this moment of clarity, Doc asked to speak about his funeral and what he wanted to happen, Rick said. Doc asked for four things: a cherry casket, his grandsons to serve as pallbearers, a military honor guard and, as Doc put it, more singing and less preaching. Doc got his wish at Fridays funeral. From the full military honor guard and several hymns to the cherry casket carried by his grandsons, Doc had it his way, Rick said. Both the Rev. David Kahlenberg, of the Indianapolis area, and St. Pauls Pastor Roger Rohde also spoke at the funeral. Kahlenberg took time during his eulogy to mark Bowens greatness, as he called it. There wasnt a human being he didnt respect, said Kahlenberg, who became acquainted with Bowen during his time as governor. He called Bowen a champion of family, humanitarianism, statesmanship and faithfulness. Rohde said the kind of man Bowen was reflected in a story from his own congregation. Bowen was a member of the congregation for years, Rohde said, along with a man from out of state who had moved to Bremen well after Docs political days were concluded. This man knew nothing of Bowens political career, nothing of his time as a state representative, speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, governor, or serving under President Ronald Reagan as the first physician to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. He eventually learned about Bowens history as a popular governor, but not from Doc himself. That was the kind of man Doc was, Rohde said. He had no need to boast of his achievements, he said. He was an ordinary man who sought no honor or recognition, Rohde said. He saw that God blessed him, and he sought to use the talents that God had blessed him with to the fullest. However, those in attendance at Bowens funeral certainly gave evidence of his extraordinary past. Among those in attendance were Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and his wife Karen; former governors Joe Kernan and Mitch Daniels; both current U.S. senators from Indiana, Joe Donnelly and Dan Coats; U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski; Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller; Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann; and many other local and state politicians and other staff members. Beyond the famous faces, many everyday residents appeared along the procession route to wish Bowen farewell. His casket, horse-drawn in a caisson down Center Street, was seen by many, some of whom waved American flags in his memory. This town and these people were his base, Rick Bowen said during his eulogy. He never missed a Bremen High School commencement that was his time to brag. After the ceremony, we would leave and he would turn to us and say how many (newborns) he delivered out of the graduating class. The audience chuckled. Rick said his father estimated delivering more than 3,000 babies in his 26 years as a doctor in Bremen. This was a life very well lived, Rick concluded. It was measured by doing the right thing. February is Black History Month, and several activities throughout the region offer the opportunity to celebrate and learn about African-American heritage. Indiana University Northwests Department of Minority Studies invites the community to take a theatrical look at the Black American experience through the production, Jitney, a play by August Wilson. Heading the play is Mark Spencer, an IU Northwest alumnus and visiting faculty member who is known for his directorial work at Garys West Side Theatre Guild. The free play will take place at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 20 at Theatre Northwest, 3660 Grant St. For tickets, call (219) 980-6596 or email jacksoti@iun.edu. The school also will host several other free events in February, including a Black History Month Film Series, beginning with the showing of Slavery By Another Name on Wednesday. The film focuses on how forced labor kept thousands of African-Americans in bondage even after slavery ended in the south after the Civil War. Its based on the 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same title. IU Northwest will show the film - and all of its film series - at noon at Savannah Center 205/206. Freedom Riders, a film about the Freedom Rides of 1961, will be shown Feb. 17. Other films includes The Abolitionists, Slavery by Another Name, and Cracking the Codes. For more information, go to iun.edu. On Thursday, the universitys Department of Minority Studies, in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Multicultural Affairs, invites the community to a presentation by Dhoruba Bin-Wahad, an American activist and writer who is also a former prisoner, Black Panther party leader and co-founder of the Black Liberation Army. The event will take place at 6 p.m. at the Bruce W. Bergland Auditorium in the Savannah Center. Chicagos Museum of Science and Industry also will host programs highlighting technology and arts. The Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition will feature more than 100 works from both professional and amateur African-American artists, including a dozen youth artists between ages 14 and 17. Through the end of February, the Black Creativity Innovation Studio allows visitors to experiment and explore new ideas through making, while learning about the the contributions of African-American innovators to science, technology, engineering and medicine. Just a few blocks away, the DuSable Museum of African American History offers several exhibits, including The Du Sable Masterworks Collection Series I: Paintings, which opens Feb. 9 and runs through the year. This exhibit is the first in a series that will allow visitors to engage with the DuSable Museum of African American Historys Fine Arts collection. One thing kids can count on each February is a day off to celebrate those who have led our nation. Both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln have birthdays in February and that means students usually have a school holiday in honor of Presidents Day. To recognize the 43 men who have been sworn into office, the Chicago History Museum has special events aimed at educating families about their contributions in a fun way on Presidents Day. The day of programming (which is free for Illinois residents) includes storytelling, face painting, music, re-enactors and more. In addition to the days special activities, visitors can learn more presidential history in two permanent exhibits, Abraham Lincoln and Lincolns Chicago. An exhibit titled The Secret Lives of Objects also includes the table from Appomattox Court House in Virginia on which General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War. I think one of the really special things is the Lincoln re-enactor, said Ani Schmidt, public programs coordinator in the education department at the Chicago History Museum. People like to be able to take a photo with him or be in a gallery space together. Two musical performances will take place on Presidents Day. One is a performance by the Chicago Brass Band, which Schmidt describes as a specially crafted Civil War era program focused on Lincoln, done by a vintage brass ensemble. Set in the Chicago Room, she said it was more formal, with an epic feel to it. The other program, Songs of Freedom, scheduled as two 30-minute sets is more casual. The folk music presentation will include some patriotic pieces and is performed by two musicians; one on acoustic guitar and one on drums. The day caps off with the program called Meeting the Lincolns, said Schmidt. Costumed interpreters play the parts of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln. Theyll learn about the life and political legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Schmidt said craft projects are designed for different ages. Its important to give families tools to learn together, she said. Its not just about learning facts, but about relating to figures in history and experiencing the presidents as people. For more information, visit chicagohistory.org. The Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library in Springfield has been an extremely popular attraction since opening nearly eleven years ago. Most years attendance has exceeded that of the countrys other presidential museums and libraries. At the Abraham Lincoln Museum, you can be photographed with Lincoln every day as well as his wife and sons in front of a facade of the White House in the plaza. The story of Lincolns life is presented through a variety of exhibits and state-of-the-art movies within the facilities theaters. The most important thing I think people should be aware of is that the stories are told in a lot of different ways to reach different audiences, said museum spokesperson Chris Wills. The shows with special effects draw the attention of the more casual visitors. There are documents and artifacts more for the hard core history buffs. The museum is divided into two journey exhibits. The first covers his childhood up to the presidential campaign in 1860. The second is about his years in the White House and his death. Theyre visually appealing and you walk through scenes of his life. You see him debating Stephen Douglas and attending a play at Fords Theatre, said Wills. At the museum, virtually every visitor who comes tells us how interesting they find it. The exhibits grab your attention. Special temporary exhibits bring forth fresh material, so even if youve visited once there are always new things to see. While the separate library building is used primarily for research, the Art in the Atrium display features artwork by Illinois artists. The museum is offering free admission on Lincolns birthday on Friday, February 12. For more information, visit alplm.org. Some other presidents spots to visit: Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site 1230 North Delaware St. Indianapolis (317) 631-1888 (You can also visit Harrisons gravesite in Indianapolis at Crown Hill Cemetery.) Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial 3027 E. South Street Lincoln City, Ind. (812) 937-4541 Lincoln Heritage Museum Located in Lincoln Center on the north side of the Lincoln College campus 300 Keokuk St. Lincoln, Ill. (800) 569-0556 For more information visit the website at museum.lincolncollege.edu. Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home and Visitors Center 816 S. Hennepin Ave. Dixon, Ill. (815) 288-5176 Ulysses S. Grant Home 500 Bouthillier St. Galena, Ill. (815) 777-3310 Two city police officers are recovering after they were shot Thursday night at the Melrose Houses in the Bronx. Authorities say 29-year-old Patrick Espeut and 24-year-old Diara Cruz are in stable condition. Police say the man who shot them later killed himself. The NYPD says the officers were patrolling a building on East 156th Street around 8 p.m. when they came across two men in the stairwell. They asked one of the men for ID. The man said he was going to go upstairs and get ID, turned around, and then fired on the officers, according to police. The gun is seen to the left of 23-year-old Malik Chavis's photo in this story. Police sources identify Chavis as the shooter. Officer Espeut was shot in the face and Officer Cruz was shot in the stomach. "This shows the danger. You never know what you're going to encounter on those stairwells," said Pat Lynch, the president of the NYC Patrolmen's Benevolent Association. The officers were transported to Lincoln Hospital. Officer Espeut was released Friday afternoon. He was initially brought out in a wheelchair, but he then stood up, waived to applause, and told everyone that he was doing OK. The officer was quite fortunate, as the bullet went through his nose and then through his cheek. He had only a very small bandage on his nose Friday. A third officer who was with Espeut and Cruz on patrol was not hurt. They were all assigned to the PSA7 housing division. Investigators say Chavis then ran into an apartment, where police eventually found him dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The person who was with Chavis was taken into custody, and several others were taken in for questioning. "We did recover a 32 caliber gun inside the apartment while rendering aid to the perpetrator. We also recovered a shotgun in that apartment as well," said NYPD Chief Robert Boyce. The shotgun that police say was found in the apartment is seen below the photo of the gun in this story. "It's another example of what our officers confront every single day, keeping us safe not only on the streets of New York City but in the stairwells and in the hallways of our public housing developments," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. Both of the wounded officers have been on the force for two years. The shooting comes as there is a major trial going on in Brooklyn, the manslaughter trial of housing officer Peter Liang. During testimony Friday, the prosecution and defense argued over whether they could bring up the Bronx shooting. The judge said they could not bring it up. That case will resume on Monday. Officer Liang is expected to testify about the shooting of Akai Gurley. Alice Denham, a writer and former Playboy centerfold who left a vivid chronicle of her literary and sexual adventures in her 2006 memoir, Sleeping With Bad Boys: A Juicy Tell-All of Literary New York in the Fifties and Sixties, died on Jan. 27 at her home in Manhattan. She was 89. The cause was complications of ovarian cancer, her husband, John Mueller, said. Ms. Denham came to New York in the early 1950s, fresh from the University of Rochester, with two things on her mind: literary fame and romance. The city held forth the promise of both, in abundance. New York in the fifties was like Paris in the twenties, she wrote in her memoir. A stunning beauty with a talent for repartee, she made her way easily into Manhattans literary salons, and her presence did not pass unnoticed by a long list of editors, publishers, film producers, actors and writers most of whom made a play for her, quite a few successfully. Manhattan was a river of men flowing past my door, and when I was thirsty, I drank, she wrote. Her conquests, she said, included the actor James Dean, a close friend until he fell hard for the Italian actress Pier Angeli; the authors James Jones, William Gaddis, Evan S. Connell and Philip Roth; and Hugh Hefner, whom she had persuaded, in a clever gambit, to feature her as a centerfold and reprint, as part of the package, her first published short story. In his classic tome Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture, the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga declared that genuine, pure play is one of the main bases of civilization. If thats true, then the art-making team of Fischli and Weiss Peter Fischli (born in 1952) and David Weiss (19462012) have been among the contemporary worlds eminently civilizing influences. Few other artists have been more infectiously playful than this Swiss duo, as visitors to the Guggenheim Museum will be delighted to find in Peter Fischli David Weiss: How to Work Better. Organized by Nancy Spector, the museums chief curator, and Nat Trotman, its curator of performance and media, in collaboration with Mr. Fischli, the show presents more than 300 sculptures, photographs, slide projections and videos. This marvelously entertaining exhibition demonstrates the power of creative fooling around to invigorate and free hearts and minds. Fischli and Weisss ludic spirit emerged fully formed with their first collaboration, in Zurich in 1979, in a series of photographs of doll-scale tableaus a car accident, a fashion show, a rug store made mostly from bologna, knackwurst, salami and other processed meats. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Joe Donald's campaign is doubling down on its claim that state Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley's campaign is coordinating with outside groups by trolling Bradley with her own footage. It all started late last month when Bradley uploaded three minutes and 34 seconds of b-roll footage documenting "A Day in the Life" of the newly-appointed justice. On Tuesday, a few of those scenes reappeared in an ad set to air on TV statewide in the weeks leading up to the Feb. 16 primary election. The ad is part of a more than $400,000 buy from the conservative Wisconsin Alliance for Reform, according to numbers from the liberal group One Wisconsin Now. Donald responded to the ad initially by decrying Bradley's "hyper-partisan campaign tactics," and a spokeswoman for Appeals Court Judge JoAnne Kloppenburg said the ad "looks like coordination." The three candidates will face off in the Feb. 16 primary, with the two highest vote-getters moving on to the April general election. While coordination is legal, Bradley said this fall she won't coordinate with outside groups on her campaign. However, she also said she wouldn't ask them to stay out of the race. A spokesman for the Wisconsin Alliance for Reform said the group's ad didn't demonstrate coordination. "The footage featured in our ad is publicly available and enabled us to highlight Justice Rebecca Bradley's successful record of bringing people together to take on our state's most pressing challenges," spokesman Chris Martin said in an email. Donald's campaign didn't buy that answer, and went after Bradley with a digital ad released Wednesday. The video displays a minute-and-a-half of Bradley's b-roll footage, with subtitles added to convey the Donald campaign's message. It accuses Wisconsin Alliance for Reform of spending $450,000 to "help buy" the election for Bradley. "Both the Bradley campaign and the conservative special interest group deny any coordination ;)" the ad reads. "We don't have unlimited special interest money. So we thought we would use the same footage to make our own ad." The ad paints Bradley as an inexperienced partisan appointee while portraying Donald as an independent, experienced candidate. "My campaign doesnt have the help of unlimited, special interest money because Im not interested in pursuing their partisan agenda. My opponents may embrace this kind of politics, but I do not, and if voters are looking for a true change on the Supreme Court, then I believe I am the right candidate to deliver that change this election," Donald said in a statement. A spokeswoman for Bradley's campaign said they are "saddened" by Donald's approach. "We are saddened that Justice Rebecca Bradley's two-time endorser, Joe Donald, has desperately decided to try to promote himself by attacking Justice Bradley. The race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court should be held to a higher standard. Justice Rebecca Bradley is committed to continuing her positive campaign based on her judicial philosophy and service to the people of Wisconsin," said Bradley spokeswoman Madison Wiberg. Wisconsin Alliance for Reform spokesman Martin offered this after watching the ad: "I'm pleased to see Judge Donald's campaign was able to utilize easily located public footage in the production of this ad, but I must admit my personal preference for our finished product." Maurice White, the founder and leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, whose genre-defying music made it one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, has died at his home in Los Angeles. He was 74. The bands publicist, Mark Young, said Mr. White died late Wednesday or early Thursday. He did not specify the cause, but Mr. White had announced in 2000 that he had Parkinsons disease. Earth, Wind & Fire whose many hits included Shining Star, September, Thats the Way of the World and a cover of the Beatles Got to Get You Into My Life had a sound that was rooted in rhythm and blues but crossed musical boundaries, attracting an audience that was as diverse racially as the music was stylistically. The horn arrangements were punchy, the bass lines funky and the rhythms infectious, but there was also room for adventurous improvisation, mellow vocal harmonies and pure pop melodicism. JAWS (1975) 10:15 p.m. on Encore. Steven Spielberg directed this summer blockbuster classic. Amity Island, a beach town, is on alert after a shark attack, but officials want to avert economic disaster at the height of the tourist season. Roy Scheider, as the new police chief, teams up with an oceanographer (Richard Dreyfuss) and a grizzled fisherman (Robert Shaw) to hunt the shark. It may not look like much, but it puts good actors to the test, Vincent Canby wrote in The Times. They have to work very hard just to appear alive, and Mr. Scheider, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Dreyfuss come across with wit and easy self-assurance. (Image: From left, Mr. Scheider, Mr. Shaw and Mr. Dreyfuss) VICE 11 p.m. on HBO. The fourth season premiere features a new correspondent, Kaj Larsen, a former member of the Navy SEALs, who travels to Nigeria to report on Boko Harams effect on the region. In the second part, Isobel Yeung reports from Brazil, Scotland, China and the United States on the gene-editing technology Crispr and its implications. ANIMALS 11:30 on HBO. This series, about the lives of animals in New York City, has its premiere with an episode titled Rats. The actors voicing the animated characters include ASAP Rocky, Eric Andre, Kurt Vile, Ellie Kemper, Jessica Chastain and Cobie Smulders. (Image: a scene) Two leading Senate Democrats introduced a bill Thursday that would strictly limit the use of arbitration, a process used to resolve legal disputes that is often stacked against consumers. The bill, introduced by Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, and co-sponsored by Senator Al Franken, Democrat of Minnesota, would prevent civil rights cases, employment disputes and other crucial lawsuits from being forced into arbitration, where judges and juries have been replaced by arbitrators who commonly consider the companies their clients. Legal fine print tips the scales against us, Mr. Leahy said. It is forcing consumers into private arbitration, denying us of our constitutional right to protect ourselves in court. Regulators and lawmakers have been pushing to prevent companies, large and small, from inserting arbitration clauses in contracts. It is virtually impossible to rent a car, open a bank account, get a job or enroll an elderly parent in a nursing home without signing away the right to take a case to court. Embedded in tens of millions of contracts, the clauses prevent Americans from joining in class-action lawsuits, the only realistic way that an individual can do battle with a wealthy corporation. Morgan Stanley is offering $475 million of new preferred stock in Uber to its clients, the people said, through a special fund that holds only those shares. These clients must have a net worth of at least $10 million and a minimum investment of $250,000. They are not allowed to invest more than 5 percent of their net worth. Bank of America Merrill Lynch is also pitching Uber to its clients through a similar fund. The brokerage firm, however, requires an investment of at least $1 million and a net worth of $100 million, and its clients must have had $5 million in Merrill Lynch accounts for six months, people briefed on the Bank of America terms said. This may explain why Bank of America is expected to sell just $25 million worth of the deal, they said. Representatives from Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Uber declined to comment for this article. Previously, institutional investors and others have plowed about $1.5 billion into the round, for a total deal of $2 billion or more, people briefed on the transaction said in December. The size of the round, and the allocation to individual investors, could still change based on demand, a person briefed on the transaction said. People with deep pockets are often tempted to make risky bets, investing in hedge funds, private equity vehicles and, of course, in young private companies like Facebook, before it went public. And making such investments can often mean doing so without disclosures and certain protections. But in some ways the Uber deal is asking even more of investors. The company has already raised $10 billion as a private company and has yet to give any indication of when it might go public. And despite raising large sums of cash, Uber has spent much of that expanding around the world and is still losing money. The wealthy investors buying into the deal most likely know of at least some of the risks and can afford to lose money. Still, the lack of financial data on Uber in the deal documents could become a disadvantage for them. Without details on revenue, costs and other data, it is hard for the investors to assess over time whether the company is performing well and whether the more than $60 billion valuation was expensive or cheap. Lawyers struggle with substance abuse, particularly drinking, and with depression and anxiety more commonly than some other professionals, according to a new study conducted by the American Bar Association together with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. One in three practicing lawyers are problem drinkers, based on the volume and frequency of alcohol consumed, 28 percent suffer from depression, and 19 percent show symptoms of anxiety, according to the study, which involved 12,825 licensed, employed lawyers in 19 states around the country. The studys conclusions were based on the lawyers anonymous responses to a questionnaire, in which they were asked to characterize their alcohol use and mental health. Problem drinking was defined as hazardous, harmful and potentially alcohol-dependent drinking. The lawyers represented a small sampling of the more than one million lawyers estimated to be practicing in the United States. Whether it is the billionaire Steven A. Cohens family office or a global bank, federal and state regulators are increasingly insisting on a monitor as part of the settlement of legal charges with firms. And now, two former federal prosecutors who trained under Mary Jo White, the former United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, are setting up their own firm to tap into the growing demand for such supervisors. The women behind the new firm, the Pallas Global Group, know a lot about this growing corner of the regulatory world. Bonnie Jonas was the deputy chief of the criminal division in the Southern District of New York, and Tiffany Moller was the assistant deputy commissioner and chief of compliance and oversight of the New York Police Department. For more than a year, Ms. Moller was charged with overseeing investigations into the use by the New York Police Department of tactics like the chokehold. The maneuver was banned by the department 20 years ago but has resurfaced as an issue once again after the death of Eric Garner on Staten Island. Ms. Moller also oversaw the adoption of new protocols and pilot programs for the department, like the wearing of video cameras by police officers. From Juliet to Alice Kramden, women have communed from their upper-story windows, but few ever reached a wider audience with as mundane a message as Mary Fiumara. In an indelible long-running television commercial first broadcast in 1969, Mrs. Fiumara, playing a devoted, robust and aproned mother, convincingly hollers Anthony! Anthony! from a second-floor tenement window in the Italian North End of Boston to summon home her 12-year-old son from blocks away for a hearty serving of Prince spaghetti. To get there, Anthony, in short pants and sneakers, wends his way through a crowded street market, races up the stairs and arrives out of breath but, like his welcoming mother, smiling. Other brands have been testing the idea with small capsule collections: Moschino also offers select pieces to buy straight from the runway, as does Versace. This season, Rebecca Minkoff is showing her spring line on the New York catwalk, as opposed to fall, which goes into stores in July and August, and which she will reveal by appointment only separately. But Burberrys global presence and reach its more than 200 fully owned retail stores and similar number of department store concessions, its 5.9 million Instagram followers and over 17 million Facebook likes, its position as the only high-fashion member of Londons FTSE 100 have the power to transform consumer expectations, creating a knock-on imperative for other brands. According to Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, which instituted a consumer-facing London Fashion Weekend of shows after the regular round of shows: The B.F.C. board has been talking for some time about fashion shows better connecting to consumers and being a direct driver for sales. Burberry are true innovators, and this strategic move shows brilliant leadership from Christopher Bailey and his team in driving this agenda forward. Indeed, hours after Burberrys announcement, Tom Ford, who had been planning to hold a series of small presentations during New York Fashion Week, said all appointments were cancelled, and he would now show both his mens and womens Fall collections together next September, at the same time as the clothes were available to buy. One month, four countries, two continents and a ton of shows later, the fall 2016 mens wear season had finally come to a close. But first, a drink. That was the gist at the after-party for the designer Todd Snyder, whose collection closed out New York Fashion Week: Mens on Thursday night, capping four packed days of runway shows, presentations and celebrations. It was a statement, Mr. Snyder said before entering the fray at Gilded Lily on West 15th Street, wearing a leather jacket and glasses and looking like someone who would be cast as a handsome Brooklyn dad in a commercial. We wanted to put a stake in the ground and say, Were here. Female genital cutting has always been seen as an ancient ritual practiced in Africa and to a lesser extent in the Middle East, but a new global assessment documents for the first time that it is widespread in one of the most populous countries in Asia: Indonesia, where almost half the women are estimated to have undergone it. There has long been anecdotal evidence of the practice there, but the United Nations Childrens Fund estimated Thursday that 60 million women and girls there have been cut based on national survey data collected by the Indonesian government. The addition of Indonesia is largely responsible for raising the global tally of women and girls who have undergone the practice to 200 million from 130 million, and the number of countries where it is concentrated to 30 from 29. We knew the practice existed but we didnt have a sense of the scope, said Claudia Cappa, a statistics specialist for Unicef, which released the report. She said the new data from Indonesia showed that cutting was not just an African problem. Experts in Indonesia said the practice there had largely involved a less drastic version of cutting, usually a surface scratch or nick, as compared with more severe disfiguring. The Indonesian governments survey asked parents if their young daughters had undergone circumcision. Ms. Cappa said it was possible that there were some more severe cases in Indonesia, but she said the official Indonesian government definition of female circumcision was an act of scratching the skin that covers the front of clitoris without injuring the clitoris. Pregnant women whose male sexual partners have spent time in a country with confirmed transmissions of the Zika virus should either abstain from sex or use condoms during intercourse for the duration of their pregnancy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced. The recommendation on Wednesday came a day after public health officials in Dallas reported the first case in the United States of the Zika virus being transmitted by sex. The disease, which is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes, has been recorded in more than 24 countries, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean. Global health officials are investigating a potential link between pregnant women infected with the virus and the development of birth defects, including brain and cranial abnormalities, in their newborns. Welcome to Social Capital, a series devoted to analyzing the social-media presences of celebrities. You may have heard the news about Kanye West. He absolutely, positively does not want um, how can I say this? This is awkward in a family newspaper that my mom reads. But I have to say it sorry, Mom because its momentous and so revealing of where we are as a zeitgeist. Its essentially the modern-day version of Frank Sinatra has a cold, for it, too, is a deceptively simple declarative sentence about one of the biggest cultural forces of our era. Here it is: Kanye West does not want his salad tossed. Once upon a time, Gay Talese wrote about The Chairman of the Board being such a big deal that a minor ailment impacted the lives of several people. Now, we have West petulantly ensuring that everyone knows hes a real man because of what he wont do. We know this because, recently, West tweeted that he stays away from that area all together. He was responding to his ex-girlfriend Amber Roses assertion that she did, indeed, go back there when they were dating. Roses comments came in the midst of a Twitter battle between West, Rose and her ex-husband, the rapper Wiz Khalifa, the silliest and most sordid celebrity scandal in recent memory. But all of that has propelled the Internet to buzz loudly about Wests Twitter feed, because it feels as though the old Kanye, the Kanye whod say any crazy old thing at any time, might be back. See, Wests Twitter feed has two fairly distinct eras, demarcated by a mass tweet deletion in 2012. Lets call these two eras Before Deletion, or B.D., and A.K., After Kim. Id thought that West, once the enfant terrible of pop culture but now a married father of two, had finally become mature. But now Im not so sure. Tom McCarthys Spotlight, deservedly nominated for a bunch of Oscars, examines evil from the outside, shining a beam of journalistic illumination at the abuse and corruption that festered within the Roman Catholic hierarchy for decades. The Club, the latest feature from the Chilean writer-director Pablo Larrain, looks at the same issue from the inside out, bringing the viewer into an uncomfortable state of intimacy with the perpetrators of hideous crimes. Not that the four men and one woman at the center of this clammy, unsettling film regard themselves that way, or look that way to their neighbors. The five of them live in a neat, yellow-painted house in a small coastal town, where they share meals and strolls along the beach and devote themselves to training their beloved racing dog. His winnings pad the household budget, and while their lives are hardly opulent, the members of this group of outcasts seem to enjoy a measure of peace. That changes when a new priest joins the club. Almost as soon as he arrives, a disturbed, raggedly dressed man who calls himself Sandokan (Roberto Farias) shows up outside the house and relates, at the top of his lungs and in pornographic detail, a story of sexual abuse. Violence ensues, and in its aftermath an official from the Vatican a Jesuit named Father Garcia (Marcelo Alonso) hangs around to investigate and to bring his disgraced colleagues into line. Two New York City police officers patrolling a public housing complex in the Bronx were shot Thursday night by a gunman who fled into an apartment and killed himself, the police said. The officers were in stable condition and alert late Thursday. About 8 p.m., a group of officers was in a stairwell in a building at the Melrose Houses, a public housing complex in the South Bronx, where they encountered the suspected gunman and another man drinking beer, law enforcement officials said. The officers asked the men for identification, and the gunman said he did not have his ID; he led two of them to an apartment and opened fire on the officers in the hallway, a senior law enforcement official said. Investigators believe the officers shot back, with one of them firing twice and another once, officials said. Officer Patrick Espeut, 29, was hit by gunfire in the cheek, and Officer Diara E. Cruz, 24, was hit in the side of the abdomen under her ballistic vest, a senior law enforcement official said. Both officers had been with the New York Police Department for two years, starting on the same day in January 2014. Bill de Blasio has promised to undo one of historys great blunders. And, by the way, it is not one that the mayor made himself. Mr. de Blasio said on Thursday that he planned to build a new streetcar line along the waterfront from Brooklyn to Queens, a stretch of real estate that now commands stupefying prices but offers almost no public transit options. Not everybody rides bicycles, observed Richard Ravitch, the former lieutenant governor. Of course, streetcars would aid and abet the rampage of gentrification. But they would also provide a chance at decent transit for more than 40,000 people who live in New York City housing projects that were built along the waterfront in the 1940s and 50s, when the area was an industrial zone that was about to die. There were many streetcar lines around there that got torn up around the time to be replaced by buses, said Harris Schechtman, who for many years was the general manager of the city bus system. A New Jersey man who accidentally flew a drone into the Empire State Building was arrested on Thursday after he asked security guards there for help retrieving it from a ledge on the famed skyscrapers 36th floor, the police said. Sean Riddle, 27, of Jersey City, was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. on Thursday on charges of reckless endangerment and avigation in and over New York City, a charge the police apply in cases related to the navigation of an aircraft. The police said that Mr. Riddle was flying his drone in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday when it crashed into the buildings 40th floor. The device fell from the sky after striking the building, landing on a ledge four floors down. Mr. Riddle then entered the building to ask security guards for help. Public housing agencies are asking for more time and resources to put in effect a proposed federal ban on smoking that would affect nearly one million households nationwide. Officials with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development said they had heard from the agencies, public health organizations and residents in more than 1,000 comments received over 60 days on a proposed federal rule to ban smoking inside public housing units. The officials, who announced the proposal in November, are now reviewing those comments before finalizing the rule. The New York City Housing Authority, the largest in the country with 178,000 apartments spread among 328 sites, is asking for three years, rather than the proposed 18 months, to put the ban in place. The first two years would be for an education campaign, with the enactment of the ban to follow in the third year. In her comments, Shola Olatoye, chairwoman of the authority, said that residents had shown support for a ban in surveys but that the prohibition must be phased in gradually and with widespread resident embrace. At the National Prayer Breakfast, President Obama told the story of a group of Americans who were captured by the Nazis during World War II. The head of the German prison camp gave an order that the Jewish soldiers step forward. An American master sergeant, Roddie Edmonds, ordered all of his men to step forward. The Nazi held a gun to the sergeants head and said, These cant all be Jewish. The sergeant replied, We are all Jews. Rather than execute all of the men, the Nazi backed down. That kind of moral heroism took place in extraordinary circumstances. But even today there are moral heroes making sacrifices similar, if less celebrated, to the one that those soldiers were ready to make. Larissa MacFarquhars recent book, Strangers Drowning, is about such people. She writes about radical do-gooders. One of her subjects started a leper colony in India. One couple had two biological children and then adopted 20 more kids who needed a home. A women risked rape to serve as a nurse in war-torn Nicaragua. One couple lived on $12,000 a year so they could donate the additional money they earned annually, about $50,000, to charity. These people were often driven by moral rage and a need to be of pure service to the world. They tend to despise comfort and require a life that is difficult, ascetic and self-sacrificial. They yearn for the feeling that they are doing their utmost to relieve suffering. One abandoned a marriage to serve the poor. During the 2012 presidential race, Erika Andiola, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, chased Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee, across the country, challenging his suggestion that America should become so inhospitable to people like her that she would self-deport. She was taunted, booed, assaulted and escorted out of campaign rallies. But she kept coming back. When I was a bit younger, the passion got to me and I did a lot of things without thinking, Ms. Andiola said. Little by little, we became more strategic. Four years later, she and other young Latino activists known as Dreamers are on the front lines of presidential politics, having become campaign strategists and volunteers in the unexpectedly competitive Democratic race. Ms. Andiola, 28, was hired last year to oversee Senator Bernie Sanderss Latino outreach strategy. She is up against Lorella Praeli, 27, who has the same job in the Hillary Clinton campaign. The two gained national prominence as leaders of the Dreamer movement, which seeks to grant legal status to undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children. Britain benefits enormously from membership in the unions common market and, as a member, it is also able to influence European policies. It would lose on both counts if it were to withdraw, and that would affect Britains ties to NATO and to the United States. The Tusk proposal gives Britain leeway to distance itself from policies it finds onerous. As Mr. Cameron accurately argues, Britain would then have the best of both worlds. Now he must make that case to Britains skeptics, which will not be easy in a nation worried about the sanctity and safety of its borders. The tide of refugees from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa willing to brave the weather, stormy seas and closed borders grows larger by the day. More than 67,000 refugees have arrived in Europe by sea since the start of this year. The newcomers join more than one million people who sought refuge in Europe last year, adding new strains to already depressed economies. This has been of serious concern in Britain. But if it pulls out of the union, it will have no more say on European migration policies and no right to help in policing the tunnel entrance in Calais, France, where thousands of migrants trying to reach its shores have massed. Mr. Tusks job now is to persuade the other 27 members of the union to accept the concessions to Britain; his proposal is being debated in the European Parliament ahead of the European Summit meeting in Brussels on Feb. 18 and 19. One controversial point is the provision allowing Britain to curb social benefits for European workers in Britain. But not to compromise, Mr. Tusk warns, would be compromising our common future. And that would be a tragedy for Britain, other European nations, and for a world that needs a united and prosperous Europe. NATIONAL An article on Thursday about reactions to the Zika virus by blood banks in the United States, using information from the American Red Cross, misstated the agencys approach to potential blood donors who have traveled to regions affected by the virus. The American Red Cross is providing an information sheet about a 28-day waiting period for such travelers as recommended by the AABB, the group that represents most blood donation groups in the United States. The Red Cross is not quizzing prospective donors about recent travel. Because of the error, the headline overstated the blood banks new approach in saying they scrutinize travelers. Because of an editing error, an article on Wednesday about Darnell Earley, the former emergency manager of Flint, Mich., misidentified the individual who had declined to testify about Flints problems before a House committee. It was Mr. Earley not his lawyer, A. Scott Bolden who did not appear. An article on Thursday about a judges decision to allow a sexual assault case against Bill Cosby to proceed misstated the year when Andrea Constand, the woman he is charged with assaulting, and her mother contacted Mr. Cosby about the 2004 incident at his home. Ms. Constands lawyers have said the contact was in 2005, not in 2015. BUSINESS DAY An article on Thursday about the first issue of the redesigned Playboy magazine misstated when full-frontal nudity made its first appearance in Playboy. The first instance was in 1972; it was not part of the brands identity since its beginning in 1953. Hello, does anyone work here? The weeks designer departures came from the mens wear world, with Stefano Pilati stepping down as head of design for Ermenegildo Zegna Couture to make room for Alessandro Sartori, who bid adieu to Berluti, and Brendan Mullane vacating his creative director post at Brioni. On Thursday, the Fashion Law speculated that Phoebe Philo would be leaving Celine following her fall/winter show to possibly helm Alaia, a rumor that the French fashion house flat-out denied. Heres Vanessa Friedmans valiant attempt to parse the rest of the chatter. Burberrys standard time The brand will adopt a see-now/buy-now collection model, showing womens and mens wear together and in-season. From a statement released by Christopher Bailey, Burberrys chief executive and chief creative officer: The changes we are making will allow us to build a closer connection between the experience that we create with our runway shows and the moment when people can physically explore the collections for themselves. Tom Ford and Vetements have similar strategies. Oh, Cindy C., whats it gonna be? Cindy Crawford intimated to Rhapsody magazine that she might be retiring from modeling, then explained on Instagram that saying so is a running joke in our family. And yet every year, opportunities pop up that really excite me. While its true that Im eager to shift my focus a bit to concentrate on my businesses, friends and family Im not making any final statements. Related: Cindys daughter, Kaia Gerber, is featured in the jewelry brand Chrome Hearts spring campaign. Church clothes The Cloisters of Westminster Abbey will host Gucci Cruise on June 2, the first time a fashion house of any nationality has been permitted to show there, per the Telegraph. A spokesman for the governor said Thursday that he had not been briefed by his aides on the issue until January, shortly before he made his public statements on it. He took action promptly and released the information publicly, the spokesman, Dave Murray, said. Concerns about Flints water have largely focused on the presence of lead. Since Flint, a shrinking city of fewer than 100,000, switched its source in April 2014 to save money, the water has had rising, dangerous lead levels as well as unsafe levels of fecal coliform bacteria. After extra chlorine was added to treat that bacteria, levels of a contaminant from extra chlorine also increased. But at the same time, the emails suggest, county health officials were noting another problem: a wave of Legionnaires disease cases. In Genesee County, which includes Flint, state officials say there have been 87 cases of Legionnaires disease since June 2014, and nine associated deaths. But state officials and some experts say they are unsure whether the rise in cases is tied to the citys water. People contract the disease by breathing in mist or vapor that has Legionella bacteria, which is often found in warm water. According to federal estimates, American hospitals treat 8,000 to 18,000 people with the disease each year. We cannot conclude that the increase is related to the water switch in Flint, nor can we rule out a possible association, Angela Minicuci, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said Thursday. About 35 percent of the people who became sick received City of Flint water in their homes, Ms. Minicuci said, but about 30 percent did not, and had no known exposure to the citys water system in the two weeks before they became ill. I will look into it, she said. I dont know the status, but I will certainly look into it. From its opening moments, the debate devolved into a series of searing exchanges over one overarching theme: which of the two Democrats was the most progressive, an issue that they have been fighting over in recent days as they compete in New Hampshire. On one level, the debate was over semantics: The candidates share a similar worldview about aggressive government support for universal health care, public education and aid to the poor, and both of them used the word rigged to describe the American economy. But they kept putting their own personal spin on the word progressive, with Mrs. Clinton deriding Mr. Sanders as the self-proclaimed gatekeeper for progressivism and accusing him of judging her unfairly. Rebutting Mr. Sanderss claim that she is a political moderate, Mrs. Clinton sought to align herself with some of the most popular names in Democratic politics to suggest that Mr. Sanders was impugning them, not just her, with what she described as a purity test. The root of that word, progressive, is progress, but Ive heard Senator Sanderss comments and its really caused me to wonder whos left in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, Mrs. Clinton said. Under his definition, President Obama is not progressive because he took donations from Wall Street. Mr. Sanders, asked if President Obama was a progressive, at first did not answer the question, instead bringing up a comment by Mrs. Clinton when she called herself a moderate. But he ultimately took on the question. Do I think President Obama is a progressive? Yeah, I do, Mr. Sanders said. I disagree with him on a number of issues, including the trade agreement, but, yes, I think he has done an excellent job. Mrs. Clinton, who is leading in national polls and narrowly won the Iowa caucuses on Monday, departed from the approach she used at Democratic forums late last year when she largely ignored Mr. Sanders and focused her fire on Republicans. On Thursday, though, there was only a fleeting mention of Donald J. Trump as she went after Mr. Sanders with an intensity that reflected a nomination fight worthy of the name. She portrayed herself as a veteran of the countrys political wars who is better equipped to enact a progressive agenda than her more uncompromising rival. It was not a message likely to resonate among Mr. Sanderss idealistic young legions in New Hampshire, but it presaged the one she is likely to carry when the primary moves to Nevada and South Carolina, more moderate states, later this month. Until this week, Mr. Trumps campaign projected enormous confidence in its get-out-the-vote abilities, predicting it would pull out a victory in Iowa and then blow away the competition in New Hampshire. But his aides shrouded their efforts in mystery, vaguely predicting an impressive result. His not-so-narrow loss to Senator Ted Cruz of Texas in Mondays caucuses, however, immediately raised the stakes in New Hampshire and has aimed a spotlight on Mr. Trumps efforts to identify, organize and turn out supporters in the primary on Tuesday. In revealing remarks, Mr. Trump publicly questioned his campaigns efforts in Iowa, where he was out-hustled by the data-driven Cruz campaign. He blamed his team for not spending more money, and even said that he had not known what a ground game was before Iowa. Now, Mr. Trump, who has boasted about spending so little on his campaign, must harness his supporters enthusiasm in New Hampshire, a state where, in such a crowded race against organized opponents, a good field organization might be crucial. The question is how much better the turnout operation will be in New Hampshire. Three people briefed on internal discussions in the campaign said that repeated requests from employees in early nominating states for a greater focus on analyzing data had gone unanswered. And though the campaign started to put together a data operation last fall, it has had no direct mail effort a fixture of Republican primary campaigns in New Hampshire. You may not get around hey, I got paid $225,000, but I think people will nod their heads on the idea that anybody who makes $225,000 should be paying a lot more in taxes, Mr. Trippi said. Then youre in the debate about something people will agree with her on, rather than a debate about whether people think you should have given a series of speeches to Goldman Sachs. Steve McMahon, a Democratic political consultant from Purple Strategies, acknowledged that Mrs. Clintons speech fees put her in a bind. But, he suggests, there are some potential ways to spin Mr. Sanderss attacks. The facts are challenging and difficult to explain, but her answer was probably as candid and honest as it could be, Mr. McMahon said. One way to improve on the response when the subject arises again, Mr. McMahon said, could be for Mrs. Clinton to note that she worked with an agency that contracted her speaking engagements and that she accepted steep payments from places such as Goldman Sachs, which can afford to pay, so she could give free speeches for groups that did not have the resources of a bank. Some political strategists struggled to come up with a winning approach to handling the question of Mrs. Clintons speech fees, noting that it would have been better if she thought about the ramifications before taking the money rather than having to address it on a debate stage. Dean Crutchfield, a branding consultant in New York, said Mrs. Clinton was struggling to correctly frame her answer to the question. He suggested that she needed to be more direct in explaining what value she brought to companies such as Goldman Sachs and to show how her paid speeches were an opportunity to explain the values of Democrats to Wall Street. Youve got to hide nothing and tell all, Mr. Crutchfield said. Shes lacking a clear statement of purpose. 1. U.S. President Barack Obama and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos in oval office 2. Obama and Santos arrive for speech 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, U.S. President: In the United States, we are big fans of Colombia. We love its culture, we love its contributions, we love Shakira. 4. Obama and Santos 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, U.S. President: We all remember a time not long ago when Colombia was torn apart by terrible violence plagued by insurgency and civil war. Many of you who are here lived through those times. Some of you lost loved ones, friends, colleagues. And thats why the United States and Colombia forged what became Plan Colombia. Starting with President Pastrana and transcending administrations in both of our countries. We were proud to support Colombia and its people as you strengthened your security forces, as you reformed land laws and bolstered democratic institutions. 6. Obama and Santos 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, U.S. President: The tide has turned. As President Santos would be first to tell you, obviously serious challenges remain. But from Cartagena to Camo, theres no denying Colombias remarkable transformation. Todays Colombia is a country of artists and entrepeneurs and dynamic cities. 8. Wide of Obama and Santos 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, U.S. President: And just as the United States has been Colombias partner in a time of war, I indicated to President Santos, we will be your partner in waging peace. So today, Im proud to announce a new framework for the next chapter of our partnership and were going to call it Peace Colombia, Paz Colombia. 10. Obama and Santos 11. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, U.S. President: As Colombia transitions to peace, the United States will work with you hand in hand. Im proposing more than $450 million will be devoted to helping to re-enforce security gains. Reintegrate former combatants into society, and extend opportunity and the rule of law into areas that were denied that for decades. We will continue to stand for human rights and justice for victims, and we will keep working to protect our people, as well as the Colombian people from the ravages of illegal drugs and the violence of drug traffickers. 12. Obama, Santos shake hands Heres how we analyzed the fifth Democratic debate in real time, and our live fact checks. _____ With four days until the New Hampshire primary, Senator Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, faced off in their first one-on-one debate of the Democratic primary cycle. These were the highlights: Hillary Clinton used her opening statement to agree with Bernie Sanders about the rigged economy and a corrupt campaign finance system, but she also focused on racism and sexism by saying, how we treat people as opposed to how we want to be treated. She closed with a line that her campaign has been using to try to paint Mr. Sanders as simply an idealist: Im not making promises that I cannot keep, Mrs. Clinton said. The first substantive disagreement between the two candidates was about health care. Mrs. Clinton said Mr. Sanders wanted to scrap the Affordable Care Act and start all over again. Mr. Sanders was quick to respond, saying the idea that he would dismantle the health care law is just not accurate. He said in the future he hoped to rally the American people to achieve health care for all. The two candidates spent a long time debating their progressive credentials. Mrs. Clinton listed positions by Mr. Sanders she didnt think were progressive, like voting against the Brady bill of gun control and accused Mr. Sanders of cherry-picking a quote here or there to describe her as a moderate. The crew of an oil tanker hijacked in Nigerian waters is from Russia, Georgia and the Philippines and is probably being held hostage for ransom, a shipping security expert said Thursday. Claims that the Greek-owned ship was boarded last week by separatists espousing an independent state of Biafra in southeast Nigeria are probably a cover to lend legitimacy to a kidnapping for ransom, said Dirk Steffen, the maritime security director of Denmark-based Risk Intelligence. The hijackers abandoned the ship Sunday and took five hostages with them, he said. A man who identified himself by the nom-de-guerre General Ben similar to titles used by Niger Delta militants had threatened to blow up the ship with its crew if the authorities did not release Nnamdi Kanu, the director of the banned Radio Biafra, detained since Oct. 17 and accused of terrorism. The two main separatist groups have denied involvement in the hijacking. The government on Thursday opened a new investigation into the 2010 plane crash in Russia that killed President Lech Kaczynski, with the defense minister saying that evidence pointing to Russian involvement was covered up in an earlier inquiry. The new investigation could exacerbate Polands already strained relations with Russia. Mr. Kaczynski was the twin brother of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the leader of the current governing party, Law and Justice. Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz said an earlier Polish investigation that declared the crash an accident resulting from pilot error and bad weather covered up evidence pointing to Russian responsibility on the course of events. While the United States, Saudi Arabia and other nations support the rebels, Iran has sent military personnel to help the government, and Russia is bombing opposition forces. And all oppose the Islamic State, which has seized territory spanning the Syrian-Iraqi border. If the government were to gain control of Aleppo, Syrias largest commercial center before the war, the loss would represent a major blow for the rebels after being pushed out of other major towns and cities by both the government and the Islamic State. The governments recent advance makes it clear that Russias intervention has not simply stabilized the governments position, but enabled it to advance, diminishing pressure on Mr. Assad to compromise in negotiations. The new government advances between the city of Aleppo and the Turkish border were facilitated by heavy Russian and Syrian airstrikes that increased while representatives of the warring parties were in Geneva for peace talks, opposition activists said. Aleppo has been divided between government- and rebel-controlled zones since 2012. While government forces coming from the east and west had yet to meet and successfully block rebel supply lines on Thursday, fighting and airstrikes in the area had cut off the main route used to deliver humanitarian aid, according to Mercy Corps, an aid group. We are cut off from Aleppo city, David Evans, the groups regional program director for the Middle East, said in a statement. It feels like a siege of Aleppo is about to begin. If some Americans had not registered just how brutal the Islamic State was before August 2014, the groups videotaped beheading of James Foley that month certainly drove the point home. Mr. Foley, 40, a freelance American journalist, became a symbol of sorts, evidence that the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, was an unscrupulous enemy that could not be ignored. Jim: The James Foley Story, a documentary airing Saturday night on HBO, seeks to reclaim the person at the center of this awful story, with friends, family members and fellow journalists speaking admiringly of Mr. Foley and leaving even those who never knew him with a sense of loss. The film is by Brian Oakes, a longtime friend of Mr. Foleys, so theres never much doubt about its intent, and it certainly paints Mr. Foley as a likable, intrepid fellow. But the film isnt interested in going much further, into lingering questions about the United States governments handling of hostage situations or the wisdom of the type of journalism Mr. Foley practiced. Mr. Foley was unusual in that he was taken prisoner once before, in Libya in 2011, and after his release soon went back into harms way. He was kidnapped in Syria in November 2012 and ended up being held with a number of other prisoners, some of whom are interviewed in this film. Their descriptions of how they helped one another endure the long months of imprisonment a game they made up, conversations they had are the films most compelling moments. We invented a life during these months in captivity, says Nicolas Henin, a French journalist who was held for 10 months. And when you invent a life, you have to invent also a family. WASHINGTON Puerto Rico and its top advisers made their case in Washington on Friday for a law that would allow broad restructuring of the islands multibillion-dollar debt, saying that if Congress did not act soon, major defaults were likely this spring. The officials also said they knew that any legislative help would come at a stiff price: Puerto Rico would have to submit to a federal control board, something viewed by some on the island as colonialist-style interference. I think everybody has acknowledged that a control board is an essential feature, Jim Millstein, a financial adviser to the Puerto Rican government, said in a briefing for staff members of the House of Representatives, which is considering some form of legal help. For the last week, Puerto Rico has been meeting with creditor groups over the governments proposal to restructure about $49 billion of its $72 billion total debt. Time is short, officials said, because Puerto Rico cannot pay the big principal and interest payments that are due in May and June. The plaintiffs lawyers suing General Motors over its faulty ignition switch have been fighting to hold the carmaker accountable for the defect. But those lawyers are now fighting among themselves, threatening to throw the litigation against G.M. into disarray. First, the lawyer who exposed the deadly defect urged a judge to remove the three plaintiffs lawyers leading the litigation, accusing them of conflicts of interest and bungling a key trial against G.M. The three lawyers have fired back, claiming that the charges are false and that their accuser has ignored the case. The plaintiffs lawyers suffered an embarrassing setback last month in the first federal case brought against G.M., a trial meant to determine the strength of their claims and G.M.s potential financial liability. The plaintiff in the case agreed to dismiss his lawsuit midtrial after lawyers for the carmaker showed that he might have given misleading testimony. Last week, Lance Cooper, a plaintiffs lawyer in Marietta, Ga., who helped uncover the switch problem, filed a motion that sharply criticized the three lawyers appointed to lead the multidistrict litigation against G.M., a collection of hundreds of cases consolidated in Federal District Court in Manhattan. The Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly has signed a book deal with HarperCollins Publishers. Ms. Kelly has been in the spotlight recently after coming under attack from Donald Trump. HarperCollins, a subsidiary of News Corporation, announced the deal on Thursday night. Ms. Kellys book will be edited by Matt Harper, the HarperCollins executive editor, and released in the fall. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it was rumored to be a multimillion-dollar deal. Megyn Kelly is among the most interesting and influential people in America today and we are thrilled to be publishing her first book, said Lisa Sharkey, HarperCollinss senior vice president for creative development, in a statement. This book is coming out at the perfect time and is bound to be one of the most read and talked about books of the fall. Ms. Kelly, who hosts The Kelly File on Fox News, was a moderator at the first Republican presidential debate last summer, in which she questioned Mr. Trump about his disparaging remarks about women. Mr. Trump accused her of unfairly attacking him, and he has ranted against her in interviews and on social media. Here are five notable quotes from Mayor Bill de Blasios State of the City address on Thursday, with explanations of their significance. Today we take the next great step in connecting New Yorkers to the heart of our new economy for New York. The speech was filled with proposals large and small, with little in common other than that the city could undertake them largely on its own, without input or assistance from Albany. The city, for example, would pay the $2.5 billion cost of a proposed streetcar system that would join Brooklyn and Queens along the East River waterfront. The city, rather than the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is state-run, would also operate the line. Likewise, a proposed development that would make Governors Island a year-round hub for attracting new businesses would focus on the 150 acres that are under city control. To the Editor: The Times editorial board is right that the Zika virus creates anxiety for women in Latin American countries (Fighting the Zika Virus on Multiple Fronts, Feb. 3). But womens reproductive health care in Latin America isnt a crisis today just because of the virus; it has been an ongoing crisis. Lawmakers who have bent their knees to evangelicals and Catholic bishops lobbying to make abortion laws more restrictive have shown disgraceful hypocrisy. Women in Latin America with healthy pocketbooks can circumvent any restriction on abortion or contraception. Its only the poor and marginalized, and those who live in rural areas, who suffer. Reports that lawmakers may be re-examining their conscience and the law indicate that there might be hope (Zika Reignites Battle in Brazil Over Abortion, front page, Feb. 4). When the pope visits Mexico in the coming weeks, we pray that he will speak to the real change that women in Latin America desperately need. And that politicians will do the right thing. Instead of beheading Ashraf Fayadh, a poet convicted of apostasy, a court in Saudi Arabia has reduced his sentence to eight years in prison, 800 lashes and a public declaration of repentance. So is this enough to absolve Saudi Arabia of comparisons with the lslamic State, which is known for its extreme religious ideology and cruel summary judgments? No. Mr. Fayadhs crime, in essence, was committing poetry and art. The new sentence, made public on Tuesday, reversed the one handed down in November when Mr. Fayadh was convicted of blasphemy and illicit relationships with women. The charges were based on photographs and a book of his poetry that was published abroad years before. Mr. Fayadh, 35, was born in Saudi Arabia to a stateless family of Palestinian origin and was not known as a dissident, according to Ben Hubbard of The Times. He was active in Saudi Arabias small art scene, curating shows at home and abroad. To the Editor: Re Democrats Clash on Moneys Role in Bitter Debate (front page, Feb. 5): It may be true that some or even all of Senator Bernie Sanderss proposals will not pass any time soon. But if Democrats dont stand for such things as single-payer health care and a $15-an-hour minimum wage, who will? Hillary Clinton seems to want to compromise with the Republicans before the debate even begins. Her refrain seems to be No, we cant, a sad twist on President Obamas slogan of 2008. TOM SOUTHWICK Princeville, Hawaii To the Editor: Senator Bernie Sanders is a man who should be greatly admired for his eloquence and intelligence. However, what is at stake in the race for the presidency is the future of our world, and what is needed is a Democratic candidate who is electable against what will be a formidable Republican ticket. Hillary Clinton is far more electable than a man who carries the baggage of being a socialist; too many moderate swing voters would probably object to this. And in what will no doubt be a very close election, every vote is needed. In a blog post on Friday, Twitter said violent threats and the promotion of terrorism had long been against its terms of service. For almost three years, Twitter has worked closely with groups that are trying to counter extremist recruitment tactics through positive messaging, the company said. Twitter said it decided to intensify its push against extremist posts on its own. The move drew a supportive response from American officials. Brett H. McGurk, who is President Obamas special envoy to the global coalition fighting the Islamic State, tweeted that he welcomed Twitters action. Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and a member of the Houses Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, said the companys announcement was a very positive development given that ISIS has eclipsed Al Qaeda as the foremost terror threat we face. A senior Obama administration official said Friday that the White House supported Twitters efforts against extremism. The administration is committed to taking every action possible to confront and interdict terrorist activities wherever they may occur, including in cyberspace, and we welcome constructive steps from our private sector partners, the official said. Still, some lawmakers and technologists have perceived some of Twitters efforts to clamp down on terrorist-related posts as toothless. In December, The New York Times wrote about the 335th Twitter account of a pro-Islamic State group that calls itself Asawitri Media, which Twitter repeatedly tried to shut down but that popped back up, often with a similar account name. Twitter has ramped up its response significantly since June 2014, and again since the Paris attacks, but ISIS has still maintained a notable presence on the platform, said J. M. Berger, a fellow with George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism and author of books on extremist issues. He added that Facebook, the biggest social network, has also been very aggressive on this issue, about as much as anyone could reasonably expect, but we still see some ISIS activity. Twitters disclosure of the number of terrorist account suspensions sets it apart from its social media peers. Facebook regularly discloses the number of government requests it has received for content takedowns on its service, but the company does not break out the removal of terror-related content. YouTube has given more than 200 outside organizations the ability to flag potentially harmful content, which YouTube can then review and remove from the service if it deems the content inappropriate. Because Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have enormous amounts of user-generated content flowing through their platforms on a minute-by-minute basis, the companies rely primarily on users to report objectionable material. On Twitter, people can flag and report posts to Twitter staff members around the world, who review the material and determine whether or not it should remain on the site. It is not a coincidence that Iowa and Nevada stand alone with so many very conservative voters and so few moderates. Theyre both low-turnout caucuses, which tend to attract the most committed Republican and conservative activists. The Iowa electorate might look a lot more like the one in neighboring Wisconsin if it adopted a primary system. As it is, very conservative voters outnumbered the combined total of self-described moderate and liberal voters by a 32-point margin in Iowa in 2012 but by no more than 15 points in any primary state (Louisiana). Even in primary states with well-justified conservative reputations, like Texas or Alabama, very conservative voters outnumbered the total of self-described moderates and liberals only by a four-point margin. In the north, moderate and liberal usually outnumber very conservative voters, and often by a wide margin. Thats why Mr. Cruz has so little traction in New Hampshire. He would be expected to win only about 15 to 17 percent of the vote given the ideological composition of the New Hampshire electorate, supposing he fared about as well among each demographic group as in Iowa. Current polls show Mr. Cruz earning nearly this exact amount. The Cruz campaign, of course, knows it has to broaden his appeal, and it has tried to add evangelical voters to his base of conservatives. Edgar D. Whitcomb, a former governor of Indiana who escaped from a Japanese prisoner camp in World War II and who made an around-the-world solo sailing trip while in his 70s, died on Thursday at his home near Rome, Ind. He was 98. His daughter Patricia Whitcomb confirmed his death. Mr. Whitcomb, a Republican and a former small-town lawyer, served from 1969 to 1973, a time of continuing disputes over spending and taxes. He took a strict stance against any tax increases and was quick to veto legislation, even though the legislature was controlled by his fellow Republicans. Among the scores of bills he vetoed was a plan, in 1971, backed by the House speaker, Otis R. Bowen, to cut property taxes by increasing the state sales tax. Mr. Whitcomb had won the Republican nomination for governor in 1968 over Mr. Bowen. Mr. Bowen went on to win election as governor in 1972 and push a similar property tax plan through the legislature the next year. A police hunt for a Missouri couple wanted for a series of abductions and robberies across the South ended early Friday on the Florida Panhandle in a barrage of gunfire that left one of the suspects dead. Law officials had tracked Blake Fitzgerald and Brittany Harper, both 30, in the Pensacola area for several tense hours after an armed robbery there late Thursday. The couple managed to elude capture in a stolen vehicle, then on foot, and finally in another stolen vehicle. The two were cornered overnight Friday in Milton, outside Pensacola. In an armed standoff, Mr. Fitzgerald was killed, Sheriff David Morgan of Escambia County said. Ms. Harper was wounded and taken to a hospital to treat injuries to her leg and ankle. Like most shooting incidents, what was a matter of seconds seemed like a matter of minutes, Sheriff Morgan said during a news conference on Friday. It occurred very, very quickly. JERUSALEM Senator Bernie Sanders volunteered on an Israeli kibbutz in the 1960s, but he has always been vague about the specific location. Now, the mystery about the Democratic presidential candidates past appears to have been solved, in the archives of the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. Yossi Melman, a longtime Haaretz writer, remembers an interview he did with Mr. Sanders in 1990, the year he was elected to represent Vermont in the House. Haaretz dug up that clip, in which Mr. Sanders said he had spent several months in 1963 working on Kibbutz Shaar Haamakim, near Haifa in northern Israel, as a guest of the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement. The movement, whose Hebrew name translates to The Young Guard, was a socialist, Zionist secular Jewish youth group founded in 1913 in Galicia, Austria-Hungary, and shared the name of a workers party in pre-1948 Palestine. The original 1990 article was titled The First Socialist and said that after spending time on the kibbutz with his wife at that time, Mr. Sanders seems to have lost his connection to Israel, Zionism and Judaism, Haaretz reported this week. Mr. Sanders has long described himself as a democratic socialist. Kibbutz members interviewed this week by Israeli and American Jewish news organizations said they did not remember Mr. Sanders specifically. WASHINGTON In a corridor just a few feet from the floor of the United States Senate hangs a 19th-century oil painting of Henry Clay, the dexterous and venerated Kentucky lawmaker. He is portrayed with his hands folded and his lips pursed with slight impatience, as if, like his greatest admirer, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, he longs to escape formality and get back to the business of legislating. The portrait, purchased by the United States government in 1881 for $4,000 along with nearby paintings depicting Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun, is among scores of oil portraits that decorate the United States Capitol. Today, were Mr. Clay to be memorialized in the traditional fashion the trio of images would have cost $99,104.67 in todays dollars someone would have to shake a tin cup at donors. Or maybe start a super PAC. Taxpayer-funded oil paintings of members of Congress as well as of the president, the vice president and cabinet members have been officially banned, thanks to an amendment to the latest federal budget conceived by Senator Bill Cassidy, Republican of Louisiana, who was offended by the practice. Political pundits and Republican leaders like to say that nobody could have foreseen the extraordinary rise of Donald J. Trumps presidential candidacy. But there were early signs that the electorate was ready for an insurgency like the one Mr. Trump has inspired this election. And some of the most powerful of those indicators came from New Hampshire. In 2014, Scott Brown, a Republican and former Massachusetts senator who was running for a Senate seat in New Hampshire, aired an ad that seemed a curious fit for the state: As ominous music played in the background, and scenes of southern border crossings flashed on the screen, Mr. Brown described an immigration crisis sweeping the country. Americans go through security before they get on a plane, enter a government building or attend a ballgame, Mr. Brown said. But folks who come here illegally? They just walk across the border. Thats wrong. HAVERHILL, N.H. In a kitchen where tin pails and rustic kitchen tools hung from the ceiling beams, Glen Putnam pointed to the old box television atop a refrigerator that throughout his life has brought him the latest about Bernie Sanders. I knew about him before from news and stuff like that, the 6 oclock and the 11 oclock news, said Mr. Putnam, 31, the owner of Winsome Farm Organics, a dairy and meat farm that looks out onto the icy Connecticut River and neighboring Vermont. He was the mayor when I was a kid. Mr. Sanders was mayor of Burlington, 75 miles away in another state. But when he began his presidential campaign, he needed no introduction in the idyllic towns just across the New Hampshire border. For decades, a shared media market has brought Mr. Sanderss Democratic socialism, semi-combed hair and Brooklyn accent into towns like Haverhill, Orford and Piermont, where people have had opinions about him for years. MANCHESTER, N.H. A cardboard cutout of the candidate stood against the wall, below a not-yet-erased whiteboard showing his schedule. Leftover campaign signs littered the floor. A paperback of a strategists memoir of Gary Harts 1984 presidential campaign lay on a desk. This is what defeat looks like in New Hampshire. I had entered Martin OMalleys former campaign headquarters with some hesitation, cracking the glass door of the strip-mall storefront and calling out to ask if anyone was inside. A lone campaign staff member emerged, greeting me politely but declining to speak on the record. Mr. OMalley, the former Democratic governor of Maryland, had intended to compete vigorously for New Hampshires votes this week. A long shot in the Democratic race, he had visited the state frequently, hired campaign staff members here and built a steering committee of local notables. But Mr. OMalley withdrew from the presidential race on Monday night after failing to win any delegates in Iowa. Three days later, his office here was almost empty. WASHINGTON The Pentagon on Friday released 198 photographs from detainee abuse investigations in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The pictures, taken more than a decade ago during the Bush administration, consist largely of close-up views of scrapes and bruises on detainees bodies. However, the military is continuing to block the disclosure of about 1,800 other photos from the same criminal investigations, saying that their release would endanger American service members serving abroad. The photographs are a focus of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed in 2004 by the American Civil Liberties Union in the wake of the Abu Ghraib prison torture scandal. That case has resulted in the release of many documents and memos about abusive interrogation practices, but it ran into turbulence in 2009 over the photos. After making public Bush-era memos about torture in response to the same lawsuit, the Obama administration was initially going to comply with an order to release the first group of pictures from the detainee abuse investigations as well. Over dinner one night in Harlem, the Rev. Nicholas Richards delivered the news to his father. The younger Mr. Richards was the assistant pastor at Abyssinian Baptist, one of the most storied African-American churches in the country. In his early 30s, he was a princeling awaiting the call to his own pulpit. But that evening last summer, Mr. Richards looked at his father and told him that he was leaving his prestigious position to found an online start-up. His father, Bernard Richards, could only ask: How are you going to make money on this? How are you going to take care of yourself? For all its financial uncertainty, though, the start-up promised to deepen Mr. Richardss religious life. He was leaving Abyssinian to create a website called Roho the Swahili word for spirit that would both archive and disseminate videos of the sermons of black ministers. The site would also, in this era of analytics, compile data on how, when and why users viewed the sermons. Now, a year later, Roho has 15,000 hours of sermons from several hundred ministers and draws 50,000 visitors a month. And, going to Bernard Richardss fatherly worries, his son has raised $500,000 in venture capital from a cadre of African-American investors. The Constitution can only be amended with the consent of the military. Relations between Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, a former political prisoner, and the military are seen as crucial to the success of her government. In addition to the lock on the Constitution, the military retains control of a quarter of the seats in Parliament and several key ministries. Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi has long desired the presidency and has campaigned to amend the Constitution to allow it. During the election campaign she said she planned to have her party elect a proxy who would answer to her, putting her above the president. But now members of her party say they are hopeful that she can assume the post herself. The party has a solid majority in the new Parliament, which convened for the first time this week. The negotiations have been largely held in the shadows of the weeks parliamentary session. BEIJING Phillip Yin, a Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of Washington State, has an M.B.A. from Georgetown, a long list of policy ideas and a catchy campaign slogan (Yin It to Win It). But it is four letters on Mr. Yins resume that have people talking. Mr. Yin, 41, was until last year a news anchor for CCTV America, an affiliate of the Chinese state television broadcaster CCTV. Two weeks into his campaign, some online commenters have suggested that he is a mouthpiece for the Chinese government, while the news media in mainland China has cheered him on. Mr. Yin, the son of immigrants from Hong Kong, said he saw his experience at CCTV America, where he was an anchor based in Washington, D.C., as a strength that would allow him to build ties with leaders in Chinese business and government. You want somebody whos going to understand which buttons to push, Mr. Yin said in a telephone interview on Friday. BEIJING The blasts that killed 165 people at one of Chinas busiest seaports last year were a result of a culture of mismanagement at a chemical warehouse and lax oversight by regulators, according to a government investigation whose results were released Friday. In the report, officials with the State Council, Chinas cabinet, described the explosions in Tianjin six months ago as a man-made disaster that had caused $1.1 billion in damage, destroying more than 300 buildings and injuring nearly 800 people, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. Officials vowed to punish 123 government workers in connection with the blasts, citing dereliction of duty. Another 49 people have already been placed under investigation, many of them employees of Rui Hai International Logistics, which operated the warehouse at the center of the blasts. The explosions, one of the worst industrial disasters in Chinese history, prompted unusually impassioned calls for action from the Communist Party. Many people pointed to the disaster as a watershed moment, saying it had exposed the high cost for Chinese society of rapid industrialization. SYDNEY, Australia Julie Bishop, Australias foreign minister, has sought legal advice on the implications of a United Nations decision on Friday that the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, an Australian, has been unlawfully held by Sweden and Britain for more than five years. Ms. Bishop met with Mr. Assanges lawyers in London on Thursday, before the report was made public. I have now read the report and I am seeking legal advice on its implications for Mr. Assange, as an Australian citizen, she said in a brief statement issued from London. Ms. Bishop said Australia had offered Mr. Assange consular assistance, should he need it. Mr. Assange, 44, sought refuge in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced an allegation of rape. He believes that if he travels to Sweden he could be extradited to the United States to face charges and possibly a lengthy jail term for publishing thousands of classified government cables that embarrassed both the Australian and the United States governments. RIO DE JANEIRO Brazilian scientists said Friday that they had detected the presence of the Zika virus in samples of human saliva and urine, a first for Brazil. The Brazilian researchers warned that the virus might have the potential to spread through kissing or urine, but they were quick to point out that this still remains to be proved. Nonetheless, the announcement amplified concern in Brazil with many people pointing out the possible impact to the annual Carnival celebration, which began on Friday. It is something we have to further investigate, said Dr. Myrna Bonaldo, the head of the Flavivirus Molecular Biology Laboratory at Fiocruz, a prominent research institute here. We are not yet sure if Zika can be transmitted to others through saliva or urine, she said. PARIS The Belgian government announced police and intelligence changes on Friday intended to address criticism of its failure to properly monitor or arrest the Islamic State-inspired extremists who used the country to plot the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris. Three of the Paris attackers, including the suspected ringleader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, were residents of the immigrant district of Molenbeek in the capital, Brussels. At least one of the attackers, Salah Abdeslam, remains at large, having eluded Belgian authorities after re-entering the country, which remains on high alert. The evident failures of Belgiums police and intelligence service set off intense soul-searching about how to overcome the linguistic and political barriers to more coherent and effective policing in the country, famously divided among French, Dutch and German speakers. Flemish politicians in the north of the country have been most vocal in blaming divisions and bad cooperation among the policing zones for the lack of law and order in Brussels poorer neighborhoods. LONDON In France, the land of Moliere, questions of language are so sacred that every Thursday the immortals, the guardians of the French language at the Academie Francaise, meet to discuss among other things proposed changes to the institutions vaunted dictionary. The last complete edition of the dictionary was published in 1935, according to the academy, and changes evolve over centuries. The newest complete edition is not finished the authors have reached the letter R. So it was perhaps not surprising that tempers flared this week after a news report from the broadcaster TF1 that changes were afoot to cut back the circumflex accent, known as the hat, from French-language textbooks. Adding to the horror, the report said that as of September, when the new school year began, teachers would also have to make changes affecting about 2,400 French words, including spelling oignon or onion as ognon. BERLIN An Algerian couple, suspected of planning a terrorist attack in Berlin and arrested on suspicion of belonging to the Islamic State, entered Germany late last year and applied for asylum as Syrian refugees part of a pattern of terrorism suspects entering Europe under the guise of fleeing war, the German authorities said Friday. The police in Berlin published a photo they said was of the husband, showing a bearded man with his face blacked out, pointing a pistol at the camera, with two Kalashnikov rifles propped up beside him on a sofa strewn with other weapons. The photo was believed to have been taken in Syria, where German media reports said the man had received terrorist training with the Islamic State. The man, not named by the police but identified by the media as Farid A., 34, and his wife, 27, had been sought on an international warrant initiated by the Algerian authorities. They were under surveillance at their refugee shelter in the town of Attendorn, about an hours drive northeast of Cologne, and were arrested in coordinated raids in three states on Thursday. They were suspected of plotting an attack in Berlin, the police said Friday in a statement. As many as one million asylum seekers entered Germany last year. An initial warm welcome, particularly for Syrians, soured after the terrorist attacks in and around Paris in November, which killed 130 people, and the police found documents suggesting that some assailants had entered Europe posing as refugees. PRAGUE Five Czechs who had been missing in Lebanon since July and were presumed kidnapped have arrived home, but the joyful response has been tempered by revelations that Prague had released two terrorism suspects, apparently as part of a deal to secure their release. On Thursday, Czech officials freed from detention two men who are wanted by the United States: Ali Taan Fayad, a citizen of Lebanon who is also known as Ali Amin, and Khaled el-Merebi, a citizen of Ivory Coast. The five Czech citizens were freed the same day. Mr. Fayad and Mr. Merebi and a second Ivorian, who was not released were arrested in Prague in 2014 and were accused of terrorism and drug trafficking. American officials said they had tried to sell weapons to undercover American law enforcement agents who had posed as Colombian terrorists. Mr. Fayad left the Czech Republic on Thursday. VATICAN CITY Pope Francis will travel to Cuba on Feb. 12 for a historic meeting with the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the first meeting between a pope and the Russian patriarch, the Vatican announced on Friday. For Francis, the meeting is the result of delicate and sustained diplomacy, some of which began decades ago under Pope John Paul II, and it is another milestone in his efforts to reconcile the Roman Catholic Church with Eastern Orthodox churches. The Western and Eastern branches of Christianity split nearly 1,000 years ago. The breakthrough also highlights Franciss ties to Cuba, as President Raul Castro was involved in organizing the meeting, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said at a news conference. BEIRUT, Lebanon Syrian government and allied forces pressed their most significant advance in months on Friday, sending insurgents scrambling and tens of thousands of civilians fleeing toward the border with Turkey. The advance has accelerated in recent days, with new momentum from heavy Russian airstrikes in the northern province of Aleppo, according to Syrian state news media, residents and antigovernment activists. The governments gains have given a morale boost to loyalists and prompted opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, to calculate their next moves. The governments gains in Aleppo Province, building on earlier ones in Daraa in the south and Latakia in the north, also scuttled United Nations-mediated peace talks this week in Geneva. Neither side saw much to discuss there: The government believed it was achieving its goals on the battlefield, while the opposition accused the Assad administration and Russia of using negotiations as a cover for indiscriminate attacks. Russias four months of escalating military intervention have strengthened the government, allowing Mr. Assads forces to go on the offensive in several provinces at once for the first time in years. It remains to be seen whether the most recent advances will hold. But they have dealt major blows to the armed opposition and made crucial military gains around the divided city of Aleppo, the provincial capital that was once Syrias largest city and industrial hub. Still, at least one other similar company, BillCutterz, engages in three-way calls with its customers and their service providers. BillCutterz will also sometimes become an authorized user on customers accounts, according to its founder, Barry Gross, or it uses other measures that do not involve impersonation. Can it still make money? Absolutely, Mr. Gross said. Ive had friends get a lot richer than me by walking the gray line or into the dark, and thats not my style. Whatever your feelings about BillFixers ethics, let me be clear about my own thoughts about the company, which I first read about on the website of the tech and consumer journalist Bob Sullivan. I do not endorse the way the company conducts itself when initiating calls. Its negotiating tactics, however, are clever. Heres what I picked up by listening in: Start with the Cancel My Service option on your service providers phone tree. The representatives themselves echo this, saying things like If you have trouble, just come to retention, and Seriously, call us back before your 12-month discount is up! Its a game, and they want you to come out and play. But play nice. The main thing is to be superfriendly, Ben Kurland said. The reps get yelled at all day, every day, and they hold a lot of power. Also, his brother, Julian, noted that if you arent courteous, you never know when, say, your DVR might accidentally disappear from your service. Come to the call prepared, since the representatives may want to know what prices you are seeing elsewhere. If youre getting solicitations from competitors, keep them. If not, look up offers online. If you have a television subscription of some sort, the companies will often offer HBO or other premium channels free for some period of time. Dont like television? Ask for something else instead. When customers are thinking about canceling, companies are often willing to offer faster Internet speeds or other upgrades. Ask for a new-customer discount if all else fails. Time Warner Cable gave one to a long-tenured customer on one call I listened to. Mr. Amirshahi, the company spokesman, said that calling an old customer new is not a lie since the service packages change constantly. Samantha Bee fumed for a few minutes in September, when Vanity Fair published an article on late-night television and placed a portrait of 10 hosts all men, including Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Conan OBrien and Trevor Noah on its cover. Then she asked a co-worker to insert an image of her as a tattooed centaur shooting laser beams from her eyes into the portrait. She tweeted it with a single word: BETTER. No one tells Ms. Bee she cant play with the boys. When Full Frontal With Samantha Bee has its premiere on Monday night on TBS, shell become the only woman currently hosting a late-night satire program. But dont expect Ms. Bee, a former correspondent for The Daily Show, to tread more delicately when it comes to topics like how Veterans Affairs hospitals treat female patients or the Syrian refugee crisis and the rise of Islamophobia. Or her passion for womens issues. As Jo Miller, an executive producer of the show, said last month at the Television Critics Association, Shes not going to be a lady behind a desk. The White Elephant, the capacious first story in Amy Parkers engaging linked collection, Beasts and Children, tracks the disintegration of 10-year-old Cissy Bowmans family. The dusty mounted heads bison, caribou, moose in her fathers trophy room haunt the story with their unsettling eyes. Most stories bear as little relation to reality as Daddys trophies do to the warm and living animal, Cissys mother warns her daughters and the reader. An animal looks back at you, but a trophys gaze never offers anything but a distorted and diminished reflection of your face. Parkers prose is precise and vital, at points breathtaking. She has a marvelous knack for swift characterization: Cissys alarming and provocative aunt, for example, stands lashing her tail like a cat, letting off a sweet sick smell of nerves. Set in Texas and Thailand, California and Iowa, the stories are all concerned with the terrain of childhood. The beasts and children of the title become casualties to destructive adult passions; the children are betrayed by parents who die or bolt or simply ignore them. Even in the stories told from adult perspectives, childhood exerts a dangerously irresistible pull. One character is so traumatized and enchanted by his childhood that he surrounds himself with the nostalgic accessories of that wrecked time, clinging even to an ancient tube of toothpaste. Rainy Season, one of the collections strongest stories, introduces another pair of sisters, Jill and Maizie, aged 13 and 11, who sneak off their American compound in Chiang Mai in the middle of the night to join three drunk Korean businessmen who mistake them for prostitutes. After picking up a real prostitute (and her pet gibbon) they stop at a karaoke bar, where, instead of Thai iced tea, theyre served the Long Island variety, and the night spins nightmarishly out of control. The sisters find deliverance in the figure of a dying, skeletal addict wearing a Ramones T-shirt who must swallow a dozen balloons of heroin before his morning flight and who, the story suggests, possesses the grotesque grace of the starving Buddha. Parker captures Jills enraged powerlessness, her itchy need to assert herself in a menacing world, and the ruinous loyalty between siblings. Avoiding arid timelines, MacMillan, an Oxford professor, instead provides intimate human encounters. She seems to love sifting through the revealing details. I want to gossip, she confesses and so do we. Living among indigenous peoples in the early 17th century, Champlain noted that many of the women and girls are attractive and have good figures. Gertrude Bell, the British intelligence officer who played a major role in the creation of modern Iraq, insisted on the latest fashions from London. No feminist, she opposed suffrage and despised most women she knew. The Mughal emperor Babur hosted debauched drinking parties that went on for days, until he renounced liquor. We must always locate people in their times, MacMillan cautions, but we should never forget that the people of the past were as human as we are. CHILDREN OF MONSTERS An Inquiry Into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators By Jay Nordlinger 266 pp. Encounter Books, $25.99. In seeking to understand how political dictators influence their progeny, Nordlinger draws up a debatable list of 20 strongmen. He concedes that some who made the cut were angels compared with others. Their children cover the spectrum, too, from decent citizens of the world to murderous little monsters. Saddam Husseins son Uday was an insatiable torturer who took special pleasure in mutilation. After he kidnapped and raped a newlywed on her honeymoon, she threw herself off a balcony, in shame. A Cold War ally turned kleptocrat (and father of at least 17), Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled Zaire from 1965 to 1997, may have been a doting parent in his way. He hired a plane for $75,000 to transport a cake from Paris for a daughters wedding. By contrast, Mao Zedong didnt attend his daughter Li Nas wedding (but did send a gift: the collected writings of Marx and Engels). Bokassa I, who ran the Central African Republic from 1966 to 1979, was prone to throwing his own children in jail. He had 50 or more of them by 17 or 18 wives. Nordlinger calls him the type to feed his victims to lions and crocodiles. In the mid-1980s, a few years after Iran became the worlds first modern revolutionary theocracy, two charismatic intellectuals and their followers conducted a long-running feud over metaphysics in the countrys newspapers and lecture halls. One of the intellectuals, Laura Secor writes in Children of Paradise, an engrossing but narrowly focused history of the Iranian reform movement, was Abdolkarim Soroush, a champion of the Austrian-British philosopher of science and open-society advocate Karl Popper. Farsi translations of Poppers works were flying off the shelves. But they were being savaged in the press by devotees of Soroushs rival, Ahmad Fardid, who espoused the views of Martin Heidegger. Many hard-liners in the Islamic Republic were attracted to Heidegger, the midcentury German thinker tainted by his ties to Nazism, as a counter to Western scientific rationalisms claims to universalism. Because both philosophers were associated with the ruling regime, their debates were fully aired before the public, Secor says. Iranian intellectuals, perhaps thrilling to the aura of purpose, often describe the battle as a war by proxy between Heidegger and Popper. Secor, an American journalist who has spent a decade covering Iran for The New Yorker and other publications, uses this vignette to demonstrate the richness of political discourse in the Islamic Republic. She tells us that she was drawn to Iran because it was a country where ideas mattered. Soon after seizing power, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sought to purge Iranian society of all foreign ideologies that might conflict with his vision of velayat-e faqih, the guardianship of clerics. But rather than achieving a utopian End of History, he merely steered political debate in new directions. Even members of the clerical establishment were constantly assessing what Islamic government meant and, indeed, if it was desirable at all. A constant theme of Secors work is how the clerical regime gave birth to its own opposition, how one generations radical revolutionaries became the next generations moderate reformists. Their struggle to remake the Islamic Republic would play out over the next three decades in the universities, in government and, finally, in the streets. Much has been written by and about the secular leftists and liberals opposed to the shah who, before the 1979 revolution, naively projected their hopes and dreams onto Khomeini, only to see them dashed. Secors subjects tended to travel the opposite direction. Many were attracted to clerical government because, unlike Marxism or liberalism, it was explicitly rooted in Irans heritage. Soroush was initially an admirer of Khomeini, and used Popper to rebut Marxisms broad and unprovable claims. He briefly served on a commission intended to purge universities of foreign influences. But Poppers insistence that scientific theories must be falsifiable led Soroush ultimately to reject Khomeinis doctrines. He drew a line between unfalsifiable faith and imperfect politics religious texts could be sacred, but interpretations, and government based on those texts, were not. Secor describes the political faction that was known in the first years of the revolution as the Islamic Left anti-American, eager to use the Islamic Revolution to throw off foreign influence, but skeptical of the conservative clerical establishment. These people included many of the students who seized the American Embassy in 1979. But over time they grew disillusioned with both the clerical leaderships brutality and, after the Ayatollah Khomeinis death, the drift toward free-market pragmatism. Purged from power, they found refuge in the political wilderness of journals, universities and newspapers. Rather than attempt to overthrow the new system as they had the shahs, they tried to reform it. Though initially protected by their revolutionary credentials, they soon ran up against hard-liners who controlled the judiciary and other key institutions, and who had the ear of Khomeinis successor, Ali Khamenei. The conservatives saw reform as inimical to the revolution: Anything Western was intrinsically evil and could only corrupt, not improve. To the Editor: In his review of Jane Mayers Dark Money (Jan. 24), Alan Ehrenhalt may have correctly identified the serious distortions of how American democracy functions because of the increasingly gross financial inequalities that dominate the electoral speech marketplace. But he misidentifies the sources of the problem and therefore its remedies. Using the Koch brothers as the model, Ehrenhalt attributes their ability to spend nearly a billion dollars on electoral advocacy, and for recipient organizations to keep the sources of their contributions secret, to the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United and also to the benefit of federal laws that establish legal standards for giving tax-exempt contributions under the Internal Revenue Code. These attributions hardly tell the whole story. First, most if not all of the money spent or contributed by the Koch brothers, and by people both on the right (like Sheldon Adelson) and on the left (like George Soros), has been spent by those people as individuals. They had that right long before Citizens United. The decision involved only the legal question of whether corporations and labor unions should have the same right as individuals to spend money on electoral speech or on speech involving issues at play during elections. Among the corporations whose speech was restricted by the law that Citizens United struck down were the American Civil Liberties Union, which never in its nearly 100 years endorsed or opposed a candidate for elective office, and Planned Parenthood, the N.A.A.C.P., gay rights and environmental groups, as well as similar organizations on the right, like anti-abortion groups. Second, the review also suggests that the secrecy of such contributions unlimited amounts of money, the review puts it, with virtually no disclosure of its source is due to Citizens United. But the decision explicitly reaffirmed the constitutionality of disclosure laws. If disclosure has been blocked, the culprits are the Internal Revenue Service and Congress, not the Supreme Court and not Citizens United. Heres why: Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code was established many years ago to exempt electoral advocacy organizations from federal income tax on their contribution revenue. But large gifts to such 527 groups had to be disclosed. Paperback books of particular interest. EMBATTLED REBEL: Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Civil War, by James M. McPherson. (Penguin, $17.) Putting aside his own professed sympathies with the Union side, the author examines the Confederate leader, who is often portrayed as the static foil to Abraham Lincoln. In McPhersons telling, Davis emerges as a leader deeply involved in the Confederate military strategy and fiercely committed to the secessionist cause. THE EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY OF THE FAKIR WHO GOT TRAPPED IN AN IKEA WARDROBE, by Romain Puertolas. Translated by Sam Taylor. (Vintage, $17.) An Indian con man arrives in Paris with a fake 100-euro note and one goal: to purchase Ikeas newest bed of nails. Puertolass wry novel, a postcolonial sendup of immigration and commerce, follows the fakir on his journey across Europe and from sly trickster to compassionate global citizen. A LIFE OF BARBARA STANWYCK: Steel-True 1907-1940, by Victoria Wilson. (Simon & Schuster, $22.) Long admired for her profound emotional expression and comfort across a range of genres, Stanwyck is a star who has defied easy categorization. This is the first volume in Wilsons sensitive exploration of the actresss life, spanning her childhood and early forays as a performer. As our reviewer, Molly Haskell, said, its the book to bring her to center stage. Erika Christakis used to teach a course at Yale titled The Concept of the Problem Child, a discussion of child development and socialization in a historical and modern context. The course was a seminar of 20 participants, and it was popular; she had planned extra sessions this semester to accommodate the hundreds of interested students. Then came the notorious email subject: Dressing Yourselves that she sent to students in the residence hall where she and her husband serve as masters. In it, she criticized a detailed memo from administrators advising sensitivity in choice of Halloween costumes and activities. The essential point in the email: The universitys memo infantilized the students. The term, in developmental psychology, refers to a parenting approach that uses a level of assistance and control more appropriate for much younger children; ultimately, such behavior can hinder capacities to develop independence and resilience. Despite Ms. Christakiss nuanced argument, an open letter denounced her views as degrading to marginalized people and garnered nearly a thousand signatures, and a video of students confronting and verbally assaulting her husband went viral. We helped organize an open letter of our own, defending Ms. Christakiss contribution to campus discourse; it was signed by 88 current or retired Yale faculty members. But as a result of the harsh reaction she experienced, she announced in December that she would no longer teach at Yale, eliminating an important educational option for undergraduates. Last March, after dropping out of a doctoral program in Japan, I flew back to Kazakhstan, landing in the desolate airport of my hometown, Karaganda, a city of half a million. I would have to live with my parents again, and I was desperate for a job. On a positive note, my return coincided with a major initiative in my country to reform the civil-service sector through merit-based hiring. The effort to cleanse the swamp of public administration with an influx of young, talented people provided an opportunity for me, a 24-year-old with a masters degree in international relations and no connections with the countrys elites. Eager to try my luck, I stormed through a pile of Kazakh law and passed the first-round test with high marks. Certificate in hand, I scrolled through a long list of vacancies and spotted the one: Expert, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Culture and Sport. I gathered all necessary papers, filed the application and waited. Days later, I danced in triumph after a call from the ministry confirmed that I was invited for an interview in Astana, the booming capital. After packing a laptop and a suit, I headed off to the city bus station, where hordes of drivers filled empty minivan seats by shouting: Aaastanaaa! I paid my fare and stared out the window, witnessing a gradual change of landscape from the citys sleeping quarters to an endless Eurasian steppe. Its only 130 miles to the capital from Karaganda, but a construction project to turn the old road into a four-lane highway to increase economic development had transformed a two-hour jaunt into a five-hour torture session. RE: FIRST WORDS Charles Homans discussed perfect storm, a phrase that has become a go-to excuse in public life for a seemingly inexplicable chain of human error. While reading Charles Homanss perfect storm article, I kept thinking about a flaming rat. A 1940s tort case known as the flaming-rat case is beloved among first-year law students for its peculiar facts: A worker was cleaning a coin-operated machine with gasoline near a heater with an open flame when a rat, unintentionally doused in gasoline, caught fire and caused the machine to explode, killing the worker. Although the flaming-rat case involved a perfect storm of hazardous conditions, the overseeing trial court rightfully found someone liable (the employer). To Homanss point, what troubles me about perfect-storm rhetoric is that when each person involved in a tragic causal chain is only considered negligibly liable, then no one is liable, even if there is a knowable culprit. Unlike in a courtroom, there isnt always someone in a position to counterargue against a perfect storm characterization of a serious legal issue. But there are journalists, and Homanss article will forever keep me on guard against any perfect-storm explanations that blow across media channels. Renee Simpson, Queens, N.Y. The comic-book artist Rob Liefeld often compares himself to famous people. At conventions, when he meets fans dressed as one of his characters, Mr. Liefeld says he feels like Gianni Versace. He likens his relationship with the contemporaries Todd McFarlane and Jim Lee to the intra-band conflicts of the Eagles. To illustrate the criticism he encountered after his meteoric rise in comics in the 1990s, he cites LeBron James and Britney Spears. Give me a celebrity, Ill give you your haters, Mr. Liefeld said in a recent telephone interview from his home studio in Yorba Linda, Calif. Some people shine, and some people dont like when they shine. Ask Barack Obama, hell tell you. Hes been panned for his drawing skill articles titled The 40 Worst Rob Liefeld Drawings, A Gallery of Rob Liefelds Anatomical Abominations and Worst Rob Liefeld Covers are among his top Google mentions and is known for contentious exits from Marvel and DC Comics. He even left amid infighting at Image Comics, the independent publisher that he helped found in 1992 with several high-profile illustrators. In short, Mr. Liefeld has been among the most controversial figures in the comics industry. He is also one of most recognized and best-selling artists. And with the release on Friday, Feb. 12, of the movie adaptation of Deadpool, starring Ryan Reynolds as the sarcastic mutant mercenary title character, Mr. Liefeld may soon find an even wider audience. The matchmaker in the fur-flecked T-shirt got down to business. What about a white rabbit with pink eyes named Tonya? Shes been on a couple of dates and she did well, the matchmaker told the young couple. But its been always the bridesmaid, never the bride. The pair exchanged a quick glance. Im O.K. with it, said the woman, Ashley Chui. The matchmaker, Amy Odum, disappeared down a hallway, returned with Tonya and set her on the artificial turf to explore the room. Then she took the couples rabbit, Moo, a male colored like a Holstein cow, and put him down nearby. Moo hopped tentatively toward Tonya, and another Sunday session of speed dating for rabbits was underway at the city animal shelter in East Harlem. Health officials in several countries stricken by the Zika virus have given their female citizens an unprecedented warning: Dont get pregnant. This startling advice has been greeted in many quarters with a mix of shock and derision. Medical historians said they had never heard the like. Advocates for women mocked it as unrealistic, disconnected from the difficult lives of women in a part of the world where contraception can be hard to obtain and abortion is often illegal. Yet a growing number of infectious disease experts say that delaying pregnancy could work and may be the most effective way to break the back of this global epidemic. Such a strategy would not stop the spread of mild illness that Zika causes in adults, or the surge in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome paralysis linked to those. Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, has long been targeted by the United States for his role in releasing secret government documents. Now he is just one flight away from being in American custody after years of seclusion in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. A newly unsealed indictment showed that American prosecutors charged him with conspiring to hack a government computer. Some quick background: Mr. Assange shot to international prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks published secret material about American military activity in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as confidential cables sent among diplomats. In 2012, he took refuge at the embassy to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faced questions about sexual assault allegations. More recently, Mr. Assange has been under attack for his organization's release during the 2016 presidential campaign of thousands of emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee, leading to revelations that embarrassed the party and Hillary Clinton's campaign. American investigators have linked those disclosures to efforts by Donald Trump's campaign to damage Ms. Clinton, but Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russian election meddling, did not file any charges against Mr. Assange. Here's a fuller timeline of how Mr. Assange and WikiLeaks got to this point. LONDON With no end to Syrias five-year-old civil war in sight, rich nations pledged more than $10 billion in aid Thursday to help address the needs of the millions of people displaced by the conflict and prepare for new waves of refugees expected this year. The total slightly exceeded the public goals set for the donors conference, which was held in London just one day after the temporary but abrupt suspension in Geneva of United Nations-led talks the first since early 2014 aimed at a cease-fire. But it was unclear whether the new pledges made on Thursday would be sufficient to meet the need, which seems likely to grow substantially in coming months as more Syrians flee to neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan, and as warmer weather leads to a resurgence in those seeking asylum in Europe. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called the meeting a great success, saying, Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis. The money includes almost $6 billion pledged for this year, with an additional $5 billion committed for use by 2020. The United States, represented by Secretary of State John Kerry, pledged about $600 million in new aid, bringing its total aid pledge over the past four years to $5.1 billion, the most of any nation. The suffering of Syrians should tear at the conscience of all civilized people, and we all have a responsibility to respond to it, Kerry said. LOS ANGELES Californias attorney general is asking a federal appeals court to reverse a ruling allowing a priceless 19th century painting to remain in a Spanish museum rather than going to the heirs of a Jewish woman forced to hand it over to the Nazis during the Holocaust. Attorney General Kamala Harris said Friday she recently filed a friend of the court brief with San Franciscos 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of Lilly Cassirers family. Cassirer was forced to give Camille Pissarros Rue Saint-Honore, Apres-midi, Effet de Pluie to the Nazi government in 1939 for $360 and a visa allowing her to leave the country. The painting exchanged hands several times until 1993, when Spain paid $338 million for it and numerous other works acquired by prominent art collector Baron Hans-Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza. The stunning Parisian streetscape, painted in 1897, was placed in Madrids Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. It is insured for more than $10 million, according to the website Artnet, which tracks paintings and other works. U.S. District Judge John Walter ruled last June that under Spanish law the museum is its rightful owner. At the same time, he urged the institution to consider some sort of resolution, adding Spain has said it supports international agreements committed to achieving just and fair solutions for victims of Nazi persecution. Harris seized upon those words in her friend of the court brief. The cruel atrocities and genocide perpetrated by the Nazi regime against Jewish families during World War II can never be fully redressed, she said in a statement. But the Cassirer case provides a rare opportunity for one family to seek justice. Cassirer spent years trying to find the painting before accepting $13,000 in restitution from West Germany in 1958 under a deal allowing her to retain ownership rights. By then the painting had already been sold to a U.S. collector, who sold it to the baron in 1976. A friend of Cassirers grandson Claude Cassirer saw it in the museum in 2000 and the family sued to get it back. A museum lawyer said last year Spain acquired the work in good faith and never tried to hide it. The painting has been in the public domain for over 40 years, attorney Thaddeus Stauber said at the time. Scores of Orange County residents say they were caught off guard by higher-than-usual January bills from Southern California Gas Co., and have begun demanding answers from the company. Tom and Jennie Tighe of Rossmoor are among the irate customers: They saw their gas costs jump from $81 on their December bill to $379 on Januarys. When I saw the bill, I thought, Oh, my God, this is much more than any gas bill Ive ever received, she said. Yes, we have a big house. But we keep our thermostat at 68 degrees, and now that its just my husband and me, we shut the vents to all the rooms we dont use. Some residents surmise that the soaring tabs were caused by the big ongoing gas leak at Porter Ranch, issues with new advanced meters or inflated estimates on the gas companys part. But utility officials say the explanation is simpler than that: a colder-than-normal winter. People are in denial about how much theyre using their heaters, said Anne Silva, a spokeswoman for SoCalGas, which services all of Orange County. Consumers angry over higher bills also may have failed to calculate a recent rate hike, according to gas company officials. But many remain skeptical. Those factors, they say, arent enough to explain how their most recent statements covering the last week of December and most of January shot up so high. Many have taken to social media to compare notes and the consumption of thermal units a measurement better known as therms. One therm is 100 cubic feet of gas consumed. Helen Deavila, a single mom in Los Alamitos, says she doesnt run her heat because shes on a budget. Yet her bill showed she used 195 therms in January, nearly triple the amount from a year ago. My January bill skyrocketed to $214 for a three-bedroom apartment, Deavila said. Deavila recently acquired what the company calls an advanced meter from SoCalGas, which has been installing the digital meters in stages throughout the county. Those meters transmit data directly to the gas company for billing, reducing the need for meter readers. Other increases were not as dramatic but still were confusing to some. Costa Mesa resident Bryce Myrtles bill doubled to $80 from December to January. Seal Beach resident Ernesto Albas January bill was $98, a threefold increase. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration registered the average temperature for January of 2016 in Santa Ana at 58.6, the coldest January since 2013. December came in at 57.5, the coldest since 2012. Both months averaged about 4 degrees colder than their previous years means. Something else that kicked in during the last billing cycle: an 8 percent rate increase approved by the CPUC in October to cover the delivery of gas to clients. In January, that rate hike added only about 3 percent to the per-therm cost on residential bills because of a coinciding decrease in natural gas prices, said Javier Mendoza, a SoCalGas spokesman. But some residents fault potentially questionable estimates for the higher bills adding that SoCalGas reps provided baffling explanations for those estimates. Stacey Butler of Rossmoor was among them. Her estimated bill for January was $295, a fivefold jump from December. That ticked me off, Butler said. My husband said to send them a check for $60 and say were estimating our payment. Silva, with SoCalGas, said estimates are rare and done only when meter readers dont have access to the remaining older meters or dont feel comfortable entering a yard because of dogs. However, Rossmoor resident Lance Schumacher, who said he was told that inaccessibility to his meter necessitated an estimate, argues that the meter is not behind a gate. Its the same place its been for 10 years, he said. Customer service representatives told other residents that SoCalGas had experienced a shortage of meter readers in recent months. A dozen Orange County cities are still receiving the new meters. They told me theyd estimated my usage because they didnt have enough meter readers, said Costa Mesa resident Jessika Fairbarn, whose January bill came in at $135, compared with $18 in December. An estimate based on what? That bill was seven times what Im used to paying. Bryce Myrtle of Costa Mesa received similar information that the company didnt have enough meter readers available October, November and December. SoCalGas spokesman Mendoza said that if the company experienced a shortage of meter readers, the deficit was not because of job reassignments or layoffs. Like any workplace, there are times when employees are not available and when people get sick, he said. When estimates are off, the gas company will make adjustments in a future bill, Mendoza said: We will print estimated bill on the bill, and we will make any necessary corrections upward or downward when a reading is obtained. Customers who suspect their bill is wrong can order a high bill investigation visit. In the meantime, the company advises customers to turn down their thermostats. Im guilty, too, of cranking up the heat right now, Silva said. We all need to put on our sweaters. Contact the writer: sgoulding@ocregister.com and lleung@ocregister.com A recent legal opinion by state Attorney General Kamala Harris offers some welcome direction with regard to apparent pay-to-play practices in school bond financing and campaigns. A practice has developed within the municipal financing industry whereby investment bankers, financial consultants and bond attorneys offer to contract with a school district to provide the pre-election services that the district seeks, the ruling explains. Under such an arrangement, the firm agrees to provide the pre-election services at no, or reduced, charge to the district in exchange for the districts promise to select the firm as its contractor to provide post-election bond services, if the bonds are approved by the voters. School and community college districts break the law, the opinion concludes, if they hire a firm to provide services deemed to be campaigning for the bond measure, or if they induce a firm to contribute to the bond election campaign in order to secure additional business after the measure is passed. Practices intended to get around these rules, such as by inflating the fee for post-election services in order to recoup the cost of pre-election services, are also prohibited. Under state law, local officials may provide basic information about a proposed bond issue, but they cannot spend public funds to advocate for its passage. The ruling was requested by Treasurer John Chiang, and had also been sought by his predecessor, Bill Lockyer. Such attorneys general opinions are advisory and so are not legally binding, but courts typically give them significant weight and consideration. Four years ago, a Bond Buyer investigation into such practices found a nearly perfect correlation between broker-dealer contributions to California school bond efforts in 2010 and their underwriting subsequent bond sales. The review found only one instance when a broker-dealer didnt handle the bond sale after making a contribution to a political action committee advocating a successful school bond measure. In that case, the business went to a firm that gave more, the publication concluded. It is clear that school districts and the municipal finance industry have created a conflict of interest issue where bond campaigns are concerned. We applaud the attorney generals opinion for attempting to clarify and resolve these conflicts. The Spring Festival commonly known in much of the West as Chinese New Year is fast approaching. As a result, the infrastructure in China normally dedicated to the logistical and transportation needs of Chinese men and women has been subjected to enormous stress in recent days. This week, reports circulated of tens of thousands of would-be commuters stranded in a train station in Guangzhou due to delays involving more than 20 trains, which resulted in 6,000 police officers being called to maintain order and prevent rioting. To celebrate the Year of the Monkey, many Chinese travel back to see their families in the villages and townships that they come from, leading to gridlock and capacity strain across much of the countrys transit networks. Bad weather this week resulted in widespread delays and thousands of stranded travelers. Eventually, additional trains and buses transiting people to another station within the city were able to clear out many people from the crowded station. Despite the widespread media coverage of the chaos in Guangzhou, the incident paled in comparison with the crowds that accumulated in 2008, when 100,000 travelers were stranded at this train station. Fortunately, although quite bad, this years problems were only a small fraction of what occurred eight years ago. The difficulties this week highlights the continued dependence of the Chinese economy on migrants workers who must relocate from the countrys impoverished interior in order to take jobs in the more affluent and successful coastal cities. With hundreds of thousands of passengers expected to travel through the Guangzhou station, even relatively small bouts of inclement weather can lead to significant delays and resulting chaos. Some observers have labeled the annual Spring Festival travel period the largest annual human migration on the planet. Despite the stringent controls put in place by the Chinese Communist Party on overt dissent in the country, many travelers waylaid in the Guangzhou station took to Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, to voice their anger and frustration. The continued legitimacy of the government in Beijing depends in large part on the ability of the current generation of Chinese leaders to deliver on the explicit and implicit promises of economic growth and stability that they have made in recent years. Failure to do so puts their continued hold on power at great risk. With the stunning collapse in recent months of the top-down infrastructure and manufacturing-driven economy that has sustained China over the past 35 years, there is great uncertainty over how Beijing will be able to cope as growth rates drop below the double digits numbers. Previously the envy of much of the rest of the world, China must now face growth rates in the relatively mere mortal levels of 6 percent to 7 percent, despite the significant impact that the relative recession will have on hundreds of millions of laborers and consumers in the country. Of course, there was a time when petty inconveniences and personal difficulties were not the concern of the powers-that-be in Beijing. During the years in which Chairman Mao Zedong had his hands on the levers of power, he was able to launch both the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution without much time spent considering its ramifications for the hundreds of millions of Chinese who saw their lives uprooted. Even four decades after his death, Mao remains a figure of respect and veneration to many Chinese. As one small example of the devotion he still invokes today, villagers in Tongxu, located in Henan province, have spent approximately $500,000 to construct a 100-foot-tall, gold-painted statue of their former leader. Although still one of the poorest parts of the country, there clearly remains in Henan enough patriotism and enthusiasm to support a construction project of this scope and expense! Thanks to social media, it did not take long after photos of the gigantic statue were featured on a news website this week for individuals on Weibo to voice their displeasure and scorn and the money wasted on the statute. Despite those historians and observers who offer steady streams of criticism of the former Chinese leader, in addition to the Henan statue, Maos portrait stile takes pride-of-place in Tiananmen Square and, closer to home for most Chinese, the actual paper currency that they must use to go about their day-to-day lives. China is in the midst of a difficult transition now between the high-growth economy that moved hundreds of millions out of poverty and the relative economic inertia that may soon lead many middle-class Chinese to question the direction in which their country is heading. A snow storm causing train delays is a common inconvenience for many travelers in more developed countries, but in China it may eventually become the small annoyance that unleashes widespread discontent and anger directed against the leaders in Beijing. Orange County writer and attorney Timothy Spangler hosts The Bigger Picture with Timothy Spangler, Sundays, 10 p.m.-midnight on KRLA 870 AM. Twitter: @timothyspangler VATICAN CITY In an historic step to heal the 1,000-year schism that split Christianity, Pope Francis and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in an attempt to begin bridging the churchs East-West divide. The Feb. 12 meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill was announced Friday by both churches. It will be the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the largest in Orthodoxy. Francis is due to travel to Mexico Feb. 12-18. He will stop in Cuba on the way and meet with Kirill at the Havana airport, where they will speak privately for about two hours and then sign a joint declaration, the Vatican said. This event has extraordinary importance in the path of ecumenical relations and dialogue among Christian confessions, said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi. The two churches split during the Great Schism of 1054 and have remained estranged over a host of issues, including the primacy of the pope and Russian Orthodox accusations that the Catholic Church is poaching converts in former Soviet lands. Those tensions have prevented previous popes from ever meeting with the Russian patriarch, even though the Vatican has long insisted that it was merely ministering to tiny Catholic communities in the overwhelmingly Orthodox region. Violence that threatens to extinguish the presence of Christians Catholic and Orthodox in the Middle East and Africa, however, has brought the churches closer together. Both the Vatican and the Orthodox Church have been outspoken in denouncing Islamic extremist attacks on Christians and the destruction of Christian monuments, particularly in Syria, where Russia has engaged in a bombing campaign in support of the Damascus government. The meeting was years in the works and marks a major development in the Vaticans long effort to bridge the divisions in Christianity. For Kirill, it is perhaps trickier. Conservative forces within Moscow have said we dont like this reunification with the west (it) weakens us, noted Chad Pecknold, a theologian at Catholic University of America and author of Christianity and Politics: A Brief Guide to the History. He suggested the choice of Cuba, with its Soviet and communist ties, was significant particularly for Kirill, who will be in Cuba on an official visit at the time, his first to Latin America as patriarch. In November 2014, Francis said he had told Kirill: Ill go wherever you want. You call me and Ill go. In the joint statement, the churches said the meeting will mark an important stage in relations between the two churches. Metropolitan Illarion, foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, told reporters Friday that there are still core disagreements between the Holy See and the Russian Church, in particular over various Orthodox churches in western Ukraine. The conflict centers on the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the countrys second-largest, which follows eastern church rites but answers to the Holy See. The Russian Orthodox Church has considered western Ukraine its traditional territory and has resented papal influence there. Still, Illarion said, the threats to Christian communities in the Middle East and northern and Central Africa requires immediate action. In this tragic situation, we need to put aside internal disagreements and pool efforts to save Christianity in the regions where it is subject to most severe persecution, he said. About two-thirds of the worlds Orthodox Christians, or about 200 million, belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, the largest and most powerful church in Orthodoxy. The Catholic Church claims about 1.2 billion faithful. The Vatican has long nurtured ties with the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, who is considered first among equals within the Orthodox Church. But the Russian Orthodox Church has always kept its distance from Rome. Joint theological commissions have met over the years and the Russian churchs foreign minister has made periodic visits to Rome, but a pope-patriarch meeting has never been possible until now. Christopher Bellitto, church history specialist at Kean University in New Jersey, said the meeting was a model for reconciliation. The two men are trying to heal a millennium of wounds in the Year of Mercy, he said, referring to Francis jubilee year. Even if they are not agreeing on everything, they are engaging in respectful dialogue which is in short supply in our world. The location of the meeting is significant. It has long been assumed that a neutral third country would be selected for any pope-patriarch encounter, but Europe had always been considered the natural location. Cuba, though, presents a perhaps ideal location: physically removed from European territorial disputes between the churches, officially communist, yet known to both because of its colonial and more recent past. In addition, Francis played a crucial role in ending the half-century Cold War estrangement between the United States and Cuba. That the one-time Soviet outpost in the Caribbean will now play a role in helping heal the 1,000-year schism between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches is a remarkable feat of geopolitical and ecumenical choreography that may have the added effect of thrusting President Raoul Castro into the spotlight. Castro will greet the pope upon his arrival and preside over the signing of the joint declaration. The Vatican spokesman, Lombardi, declined to speculate about a possible papal trip to Russia, or to offer hints about what the joint declaration might say. Pecknold, the Catholic University theologian, noted that a common date for Easter has been a long-sought goal in ecumenical circles. Under Francis, the Vatican has encouraged continuing ecumenical ties with the Orthodox as well as other Christian denominations. And it has gone out of its way to be solicitous to Russia, especially in shying away from directly criticizing Moscow over its role in the Ukraine conflict. Kirill was the churchs foreign policy chief before he became patriarch in 2009 and is well-known in Vatican circles. In a 2012 interview with a Siberian Catholic newspaper, Kirill dwelt on the dispute around the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church but said the issue of Catholic snatching of churches and flock in Russia is not as pressing as it was a decade ago. Compared to his predecessor Alexei II, Kirill cuts a more militant figure, seeking a greater role for the church in Russias domestic affairs. His support for President Vladimir Putin and the government is also more pronounced than his predecessor who tried to keep a distance with the Kremlin. A doctor convicted of murder in the overdose deaths of a Lake Forest resident and two other California men was sentenced Friday to 30 years to life in prison. For prescribing massive quantities of prescription drugs, Hsiu-Ying Lisa Tseng was convicted in October in Los Angeles Superior Court of three counts of second-degree murder a rare conviction for a doctor in a country where 44 people die each day from prescription drug overdoses. Among the victims was Vu Nguyen, a 28-year-old from Lake Forest, who worked as an assistant in clinical trials and who first saw Tseng in August 2008. Nguyen overdosed seven months later on the painkiller oxymorphone and the anti-anxiety drug Xanax. Vus sister, Samantha Nguyen, told the court that her brothers death left a deep gaping hole that never heals, according to Larry Eisenberg, the familys Irvine-based attorney. Tseng was a licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine from 1997 until 2012. The state stripped her of her license following a two-year undercover sting, in which investigators from the Drug Enforcement Administration and California Medical Board determined she was prescribing controlled substances to patients for no legitimate medical purpose. In total, 12 of Tsengs patients died. Prosecutors only brought three murder charges because of other factors involved in some of those deaths, such as drugs prescribed by other doctors and a possible suicide. Tseng had a reputation for prescribing narcotics and opiates without discretion, knowing theyd be used recreationally, according to civil lawsuits filed against her on behalf of families of eight Orange County patients represented by Eisenberg. Before the trial, Tseng agreed to pay $225,000 for the death of Nicholas Mata, 22, of Huntington Beach. Among the families who filed suit was that of one-time Aliso Niguel High School varsity football player and struggling addict Riley Russo. At age 20, Russo fatally overdosed Dec. 2, 2010, after three months of sobriety. That night, his mother Leslie Vaughan said, he took the same drugs he had gotten hooked on as a patient of Tsengs, though on this occasion they werent prescribed by Tseng. The only thing that would make me rest more peacefully tonight would be if she had gotten the death penalty, Vaughan of Laguna Niguel said Friday. Tsengs lawyer, Tracy Green, has said her 46-year-old client had been naive to prescribe so many medications and didnt think her patients would abuse them. Patients traveled from Orange County and from across the state to Tsengs Rowland Heights office. Tseng also was convicted of murder in the overdose deaths of 24-year-old Steven Ogle of Palm Desert and 21-year-old Arizona State University student Joseph Rovero of San Ramon. Nine of her patients died in less than three years. In that time, Tseng wrote 27,000 prescriptions, and her clinic took in $5 million, according to the DEA. Vaughan said Tseng played God, liberally writing prescriptions for hundreds of pills each month for her son when he made up an excuse as to why he needed them, telling her he had back pain from playing football. It was easier to get them from her than it was on the streets, Vaughan said. In addition to the three named in the second-degree murder charge, prosecutors identified three other men who they said died under Tsengs care: Matthew Stavron, 24; Naythan Kenney, 34; and Ryan Latham, 21. Drug overdoses now kill more Americans than auto accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And Orange County is not immune to the epidemic. Since 2011, more than 1,170 residents here have died after overdosing on opiates, according to coroner data. Opiates are a group of drugs that includes heroin and some prescription medicines, including morphine, Vicodin and OxyContin. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact the writer: jchandler@ocregister.com Youve probably heard that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The same can be said of the road that has led California to become one of the worst places in the country to do business. One bill working its way through the Legislature was drafted, I am sure, with the best of intentions, but its consequences for California businesses and the jobs with which a great number of our residents rely upon could be severe. Assembly Bill 67, drafted by San Diego Democrat and former labor leader Lorena Gonzalez, would require retail and grocery stores with more than 500 employees to pay employees double on Thanksgiving Day. This bill would effectively mandate a holiday on private employers and hurt the hardworking Californians it aims to protect. This bill would almost certainly result in retailers and grocery stores closing on Thanksgiving. Some employees ask to work during a holiday because they know they can get extra money by working extra hours. If a store closes on Thanksgiving because the owner cannot afford to pay employees what the government mandates, employees will have to miss out on a day of pay. Many employees look forward to the holiday season as a way to pick up extra hours and make some more money. Others rely on these jobs just to make ends meet. Supporters of AB67 claim that forcing double pay is only going to be a small percentage of employers total labor costs. But that does not change the fact that this is the latest in a long list of burdens that California puts on job-creators. Studies have shown that California businesses on average have 19 percent higher operating costs per job than businesses in the rest of the country. The main reason for this is increased labor costs, which include wages, taxes, unemployment insurance and litigation costs. Employers are required to pay hefty taxes on the wages their employees earn. They have to pay 6.2 percent of wages for Social Security, 1.5 to 6.2 percent of wages for California Unemployment, and 2.35 percent of wages above $200,000 for Medicare for every employee. This makes it incredibly expensive to hire employees in California. These taxes are all strong incentives to not grow and offer jobs to more people. Requiring businesses that employ at least 500 people to increase their payroll costs even further ultimately hurts employees. When businesses get to the point where they cant afford to hire more employees, or keep existing employees, they will be forced to look for other solutions. Large cities in California are already seeing an increase in automated service. Human workers are essentially being replaced with machines and robots. Other businesses will be forced to shut down completely. This is the result of job-killing mandates like AB67. Policy should be based on the facts, not on feel-good ideas. Rather than continue to pass well-intended bills that end up advancing Californias demise, the Legislature should focus on encouraging employers to grow so that more Californians can have financial success. Matthew Harper, R-Costa Mesa, represents the 74th Assembly District. BEIRUT The Syrian army entered two pro-government Shiite towns outside of Aleppo and advanced against rebel forces in the northern province Thursday, threatening to entirely encircle the opposition-held parts of the key city. Government forces and their allies now have cut off the main supply route from Aleppo city to Turkey, a key backer of Syrias opposition. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 40,000 people were already on the move in Aleppo province and that many could seek refuge in neighboring Turkey owing to clashes between government forces and rebels. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has warned tens of thousands of refugees would try to enter his country, which already hosts the largest number of Syrians who fled their homeland. Speaking in London as world leaders launched a donors conference asking for billions of dollars in aid for Syria, Davutoglu also had warned that tens of thousands of Syrians are fleeing the fighting in Aleppo and would seek shelter in neighboring Turkey. He blamed the mass movement on Russian airstrikes and the Syrian governments forces and called for more U.S. leadership. Syrian state-run television ran bulletins saying the government planned to soon seize total control over Aleppo, which was the countrys second-largest city and economic capital. The state broadcaster earlier showed footage of Syrian soldiers and paramilitaries celebrating with the residents of Nubul and Zahraa, towns that had been under siege for more than three years. I thank the Syrian army, Iran, Hezbollah and all those who worked on liberating us from the siege the terrorists had imposed on us since 2012, a resident told the broadcaster as he waved the Syrian flag. Taking control of the territory on Wednesday marked a significant victory for government forces, who have been trying for more than two years to encircle Aleppo, the last major urban center in rebel hands. Russian airstrikes backing the government are believed to have played a key role. The government also retook the town of Maer, located to the east, from rebels, the Britain-based watchdog said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said late Thursday that the department has initiated a formal probe into the Jan. 22 escape of three inmates from the Central Mens Jail in Santa Ana. Many questions remain unanswered about how Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong obtained the tools to saw their way out of the jail that morning and the 16-hour gap between their escape and the launch of a search for them when it was discovered they were missing. The three inmates are now back in custody. The union for the jailers the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs has criticized jail leaders, alleging that they hadnt listened to the rank-and-files earlier concerns about how inmate counts were carried out behind bars. I have been very clear from the onset of the jail escape investigation that I am deeply concerned about the length of time it took to recognize that three maximum security inmates were unaccounted for, Hutchens said in a statement. I have initiated an internal administrative investigation to determine the facts of what occurred, contributing factors to the escape and inmate count procedures. Until the investigation is complete, I am unable to discuss it further. Please know that we have taken immediate action to ensure that this situation will not happen again. There have been no personnel changes as of this time. Irvine firm Duncan McIntosh Co. added OC Weekly to its list of publications, the first time the alternative newspaper will have a local owner in its 20-year history, the paper announced Friday. Details of the purchase were not released. Duncan McIntosh also owns boating and nautical publications Sea Magazine, BoatingWorld and the Log Newspaper and journalism magazine Editor & Publisher. The company also produces the Newport Boat Show and the Lido Yacht Expo. Duncan McIntosh bought the weekly from Voice Media Group, which has sold several of its publications in an effort to focus on its core products. Last year Voice Media Group sold the Village Voice of New York City and City Pages of Minneapolis, two of its most widely known publications. OC Weekly editor Gustavo Arellano said McIntosh would invest more money in the Costa Mesa-based newspaper. On our end, us Weeklings welcome anyone wholl let us continue our mission of DESMADRE, Arellano wrote in his announcement of the sale using the word for lack of moderation in Spanish. And if we can get an office on a speedboat just outside international waters, Duncan, wed appreciate itjust sayin! The free publication started in 1995 and has a circulation of 45,000. Contact the writer: lwilliams@ocregister.com, 714-796-2286 SEOUL, South Korea North Korea likes to call South Korea a land of political filth and its leaders, including President Park Geun-hye, human trash. Now, apparently to highlight its contempt, it has begun sending balloons into the South loaded with an unusual payload, the police here said Thursday: cigarette butts. North and South Korea have escalated their propaganda war across their heavily armed border since Jan. 6, when the North conducted its fourth nuclear test. The South turned on high-powered loudspeakers to blare pop songs and harsh criticism of the Norths leader, Kim Jong Un, across the border. The North began sending balloons into the South loaded with leaflets. The balloons were timed to detonate their payloads, scattering thousands of messages that, among other things, called Park a filthy president. Some of the timers failed to function, however, and the airborne cargo crashed onto rooftops and cars in South Korean villages near the border. Inspecting the debris, military and police personnel discovered that the balloons payloads included things they had not seen before. We can confirm that they included cigarette butts, Kim Hak-young, a chief superintendent of the police, said Thursday, although he declined to provide any details. The police and the Defense Ministry until Thursday had refused to confirm a news report earlier in the week that some North Korean balloons were carrying trash, including used toilet paper. The Korea JoongAng Daily newspaper reported Tuesday that that discovery had alarmed South Korean officials and led to fears that the North might have sent hazardous biochemical agents. But an investigation showed that the trash was just trash. Loudspeakers and propaganda balloons were favorite weapons of psychological warfare used by the two Koreas during the Cold War. Both sides decommissioned them after a landmark summit meeting in 2000 at which they agreed to promote reconciliation. But anti-North Korean activists in the South began sending propaganda balloons into the North in recent years as inter-Korean relations soured, especially over the Norths nuclear weapons program. The balloons carried dollar bills, transistor radios, CDs containing Western movies and leaflets that called Kim a pig. North Korea had repeatedly threatened to retaliate. From the moment our car climbed over the rust-colored mountains and descended into boulder-studded valleys, a sense of peaceful solitude was the tone for our weekend in Death Valley National Park. Only five hours from the coast, the barren landscape and dearth of cars outside our caravan of three added to the feeling that we were a world apart from bustling Southern California, away from civilization altogether, pioneers exploring virgin land. It felt as though we ventured out onto the surface of Mars, or at least, thats where my imagination took me. Of course, were not the first people to set foot in Death Valley far from it but the vast expanses of open space, absence of structures and preternatural silences can inspire such musings. It is astonishing that the land in Death Valley remains as pristine as it is, with its history of mining. In 1994, Congress expanded the areas protection beyond its status as a national monument to that of a national park. While its land is characterized by sparse vegetation, the rocky terrain is amazingly varied, from salt flats and sand dunes to snowcapped mountains and trickling springs. We entered the park through the desolate mining town of Trona. Had we driven an extra 100 miles or so, we could have stopped to visit Manzanar, an internment camp where Japanese Americans were confined during World War II. But on this trip, we concentrated on the areas ancient history. Driving into the park from the west meant we could stop by the Trona Pinnacles, jagged peaks formed underwater up to 100,000 years ago in the now dry Searles Lake, according to the Bureau of Land Management. There are more than 500 of these unusual tufa spires in the dry lake basin, their pores and jagged edges reminiscent of corral. Our group of six left our respective homes at 6:30 a.m. on a Friday, wading through a little Southern California traffic before arriving at our rendezvous point, the Outpost Cafe in Hesperia. From there we would caravan into the park. After our Trona Pinnacles pit stop, we arrived at our campsite in Furnace Creek by early afternoon with plenty of daylight left to pitch our tents, despite the shortened winter days. Of the nine campgrounds in the 3 million acre park, Furnace Creek is perhaps the most plush, with sinks to wash dishes, RV hookups, fire pits, picnic tables and flushing toilets. Its also the most expensive, at $18 each night during peak season. (During the parks sweltering offseason, the price dips to $12 nightly.) Its also convenient, given the campgrounds proximity to Furnace Creek Ranch, which includes a motel and a well-appointed convenience store with craft beer, firewood and decent snacks. Fifty miles from the Furnace Creek campsite sits the incredible Ubehebe Crater, which was formed as recently as 300 years ago, according to the National Park Service. Visitors park near the craters precipice and can hike 600 feet into its core, or climb up and around its rim. We opted for the latter, walking up the pebbly path made up of tiny black volcanic rocks, where we glimpsed neighboring Little Hebe crater in the distance. Closer to camp lie the rolling Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes that seem to stretch on for miles. Some mounds reach 100 feet in height. Climbing to the top of a few of the taller sandy hills is a must, if only for the view. The fine sand has an almost silky quality, although the tiny particles invariably find their way between your toes and coat your skin, detracting somewhat from the landmarks appeal. Salt and other minerals coating the landscape give Death Valley a perennial winter wonderland quality. Despite its barren landscape, Death Valley isnt devoid of life. The Devils Cornfield, a field of low-lying green brush, is between Ubehebe Crater and Mesquite Flat. A wooden boardwalk at the Salt Creek Trail follows a trickling stream in which pupfish perform a quirky mating ritual in the springtime. Croaking ravens patrol the campgrounds on the hunt for food. Other desert dwellers, such as the hairy scorpion, kit fox, pallid bat and chuckwalla, are also Death Valley inhabitants, although we didnt encounter them. The night before we left, a full moon cast a luminous blue light over the campsite, eliminating the need for flashlights, and dry lightning over the distant mountains further lit up the night sky. Yipping coyotes, audible both from the north and south, intensified the eeriness. On our last morning, we awoke before dawn to watch the sunrise at Zabriskie Point. The slowly unfurling light painted the distant mountains and marbled rock formations in incredible purple, pink, orange and yellow hues. Contact the writer: lwilliams@ocregister.com, 714-796-2286 SANTA ANA A Buena Park man who gunned down an acquaintance following a heated argument was sentenced Friday to a long term in prison. Shortly before Orange County Superior Court Judge Steven D. Bromberg sentenced him to 50 years to life, Jonathan Peterson apologized to the family of Antwann Jones, 25, who Peterson shot and killed in 2014. Im very, very sorry for what happened that night, Peterson told the family members, sitting in the courtroom audience and wiping away tears. It was stupid. But I know there are two sides to the story. You may not believe me, but I was defending myself. Jones mother and sister told the judge that the pain of their loss has not diminished. There is just no healing for us, said Mary Jones, the mother. It really hurts, and it dont get better. Peterson, 35, and another friend picked Jones up after a night out drinking. Jones accused Peterson of being involved with his girlfriend. Jones apparently believed, incorrectly, that Peterson and the friend had been at a strip club that night where Jones girlfriend worked. After the two arriving at Petersons apartment complex, on California Street near 9th Street in Buena Park, the argument escalated into gunfire. Peterson then fled, leaving Jones to stagger along the street and collapse into a nearby yard. This crime included great violence and a high degree of cruelty, Judge Bromberg said. Yes, it happened quickly. Notwithstanding that, Mr. Peterson had time to withdraw his actions. Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy alleged that Peterson went into his apartment, grabbed a gun, came back outside and shot Jones as he sat in a car. Petersons attorney, Matthew Darling, countered that Peterson already had a gun on him, and that he shot Jones in self-defense after being knocked down and beaten. At least one witness and the coroners report backed up the prosecutions version. In November, a jury found Peterson guilty of first-degree murder. The use of a firearm added an automatic 25 years to his sentence. Contact the writer: semery@ocregister.com Marinello Schools of Beauty, which operates three campuses in Orange County, will close all of its 53 schools Thursday and Friday, officials announced Thursday. Schools in California, Nevada and Utah will be shuttered Thursday. Those in Kansas and Connecticut will close Friday. In Orange County, Marinello has schools in Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Lake Forest. The company blamed the closure on the fact that the Department of Education has withheld federal financial aid money from 23 of its schools for the past two months. A release from the departments Washington, D.C. office said Marinello knowingly requested federal aid for students based on invalid high school diplomas, charged students for excessive overtime and engaged in other acts of misrepresentation. Company officials have denied those allegations, but said they could not continue to operate the schools without funding. Students at Marinellos San Bernardino campus expressed surprise Thursday about the closure. Breana Nielsen, 21, of Highland was one in a periodic stream of students stopping in to pick up their belongings and their paperwork. She was with her sister and a friend, both of whom were also students. Nielsen said they started in the schools cosmetology program last September. It was a shock to everybody, Nielsen said. There are a lot of people who were close to graduation, who are having to figure out where to go from here. Nielsen said the first she heard about the schools problems was in an email the company sent out Tuesday. The email, she said, told students that the company was busy submitting documents to federal authorities to clear up the problems. There were subsequent emails with updates, she said. But on Thursday morning, she received one that outlined the closure. We thought everything was fine, she said. We had no idea what was going on. This story is developing. Check back for updates. SANTA ANA Trial began in Orange County Superior Court on Thursday for a 37-year-old former Lake Forest church assistant accused of molesting two girls. Branden Edward Shumate, 37, was extradited from Koloa, Hawaii, to face three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, according to the Orange County District Attorneys Office. If convicted, he faces 45 years to life in prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Shumate has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Between 1997 and 1998, prosecutors said Shumate, who was then 18, worked as an assistant in a church where his father was a pastor in Lake Forest. During that time, prosecutors said Shumate molested a 6-year-old girl after she feel asleep in a car while waiting for other church members to arrive for a trip to a water park in Irvine. Prosecutors said Shumate remained in contact with the girls family over the years and molested the girl again when she was 12 years old. The girl told a family member about the incidents after Shumate tried to contact her in 2006, prosecutors said. Shumate later moved to Hawaii with his family. Between 2010 and 2011, Shumate is accused of sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl after her family moved into his familys home. Prosecutors said Shumate assaulted the girl as she was drying off after a shower. The girls family later moved to Alaska, where the girl told her mother about the incident, prosecutors said. Shumate was arrested by the Honolulu Police Department in 2011. Contact the writer: kpuente@ocregister.com IRVINE Sensors engineered by Meggitt Sensing Systems employees help get humans safely to space, and one of those people came by Thursday to say thanks. NASA astronaut Ricky Arnold spent the morning at the Irvine office, part of a division of British aerospace and defense engineering company Meggitt PLC, posing for photos and answering questions about his 2009 flight to the International Space Station in the space shuttle Discovery. Wearing a blue flight suit, the Houston resident talked about the mission, which took him to space for nearly 13 days, and his desire to return to space. He fielded questions from employees and their children about how he and his fellow astronauts showered (baby wipes, washcloths), used the toilet (very carefully) and how long it took to get acclimated to the absence of gravity (about three days). Eight-year-old Isaac Stark, who lives in Irvine, asked the astronaut about his time living underwater at the Aquarius Reef Base, the worlds only undersea laboratory, in Key Largo, Florida. The facility is used by NASA astronauts to simulate extreme space environments. Two things most kids are excited about are space and dinosaurs, Arnold said. I cant bring the dinosaurs, but I can bring space to them. Meggitt Sensing Systems specializes in monitoring and measuring extreme environments. In addition to space vehicles, the divisions sensors are used in commercial aircraft, energy installations and test laboratories. Its so nice for the employees to see how their work is valued by people like Ricky, said Stuart Parker, president of Meggitt Orange County. NASAs newest rocket, the Space Launch System, is scheduled for its first test flight in 2018. The rocket, the most powerful and largest ever built, is intended to launch people to Mars on Orion spacecraft. Jennifer MacDonell, senior product manager, called Arnolds visit an honor. Working on the project, you feel lucky that you get to be a little, tiny piece of that history, but getting to meet someone who is such a bigger picture of that history is really, really cool, MacDonell said. Arnolds appearance in Irvine was coordinated by NASA and Boeing, which is building the rocket, as a thank-you to employees who have supplied mission-critical technologies. To build something that big, it requires a supply network that goes all around the world, Arnold said. We like to make sure that everyone understands that every little job and the details of every job they do impacts the people who are going to be riding those rockets. Meggitt, founded in 1947, has a long history of contributing to space exploration, Parker said. We were involved in Saturn V, putting a man on the moon, and hopefully, through this program, we might be putting a person on Mars at some point maybe one of the children who was in the audience today, he said. Contact the writer: sdecrescenzo@ocregister.com California lawmakers expressed concerns in a letter Thursday that allowing a utility of Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc. to join the states power grid may undermine the states clean energy goals by connecting it to coal plants. Adding Berkshire Hathaway Energys PacifiCorp utility to the grid run by California Independent System Operator Corp. would bring with it states heavily invested in coal and other high greenhouse gas emitting resources, according to the letter to California Governor Jerry Brown. It was signed by six state lawmakers including Democratic State Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin De Leon and Speaker-Elect of the State Assembly Anthony Rendon. The concerns threaten to set back efforts by California to form a regional grid, a move seen as needed in part to help the state achieve a higher share of intermittent solar and wind power. Legislation passed last year requires the state to get half of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to move toward creating a western U.S. power system. The proposed regionalization must not undermine state sovereignty or cede authority of our states cutting edge clean energy and climate policies to others who do not have the same strong commitment and legal framework to reduce climate pollution and promote clean energy, the lawmakers said in their letter. PacifiCorp and California Independent System Operator said last year that they were studying the integration of their power transmission networks. The tie-up could produce between $3.4 billion and $9.1 billion in cost reductions through the first 20 years according to a study, PacifiCorp said in October. The letter raises points that Californias grid operator is required to study and report on to the Legislature under a state law passed last year, said Steven Greenlee, a spokesman for the California Independent System Operator. We think that going toward regional markets would result in less coal being used overall and it would increase the use of renewables, said Bob Gravely, a spokesman for PacifiCorp. There is nothing about this integration proposal that could in any way weaken existing California law. PacifiCorp operates in six states including California, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Idaho. Coal makes up about 60 percent of its generation capacity, Gravely said. The gap between men and womens wages in California is stuck at roughly 11 percent, according to data from the Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2014, California women working full-time had median weekly earnings $785, about 89 percent of the $879 a week earned by men. Those weekly earnings for women in 2014 ranked 10th nationwide, while California earnings for men ranked 22nd. Nationwide women only made $719 a week, about 83 percent of the $871 weekly median income earned by men, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional BLS Commissioner Richard J. Holden noted the womens to mens earnings ratio in California in 2014 was similar to the ratio in the previous year. The ratio of womens to mens earnings in the state has ranged from a low of 82.9 percent in 2001 to a high of 90.2 percent in 2005. The Fair Pay law, which took effect Jan. 1, is aimed at closing Californias pay gap. The law stops workers from retaliating against employees for talking about their salaries with co-workers and covers all of a companys branches and locations. Contact the writer: hmadans@ocregister.com or Twitter: @HannahMadans WASHINGTON As the U.S. military prepares to open all jobs to women beginning this year, a rift has emerged: Key decision-makers in the Defense Department and Congress seem to agree that the U.S. government needs to review its law outlining any future military draft, but differ on how any policy change should be made. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter was among the latest to weigh in on the debate, telling a group of Marines in San Diego this week that he expects Congress to take up the issue. Women are not currently subject to a military draft as part of the Selective Service System, a variation of which has existed since 1917, as the United States prepared to enter World War I. The current version of the Military Selective Service Act requires that virtually all men in the United States between the ages of 18 and 26 register, most within 30 days of turning 18, but exempts women entirely. To me, it stands to reason that itll be taken up by the Congress, this law, because of the decisions that weve made here in the department, which Im sure are right, Carter said, speaking at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar on Wednesday. The issue is largely academic at this point, but nonetheless emotionally charged. The U.S. government has not held a military draft since the Vietnam War, but Carters decision in December to open up all jobs to women in the military has led to questions about the constitutionality of the existing Selective Service law. The rule has been challenged in court before, with the Supreme Court reversing the ruling of a lower court in 1981 in Rostker v. Goldberg and saying that the law could stand as it was because women were not allowed to join combat units. That, of course, is no longer the case. Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee in January 2015 in a confirmation hearing that he thought a review of the Selective Service Act was prudent, but noted that the issue was not solely an issue for the Defense Department. Rather, he said, it was part of a much broader national discussion. But Sen. Joni Ernst, R.-Iowa, an Army veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Thursday that she thinks the Obama administration needs to take ownership of this secondary conversation involving Selective Service that stems from Carters decision on women in combat units. I think the administration needs to make their recommendation, Ernst said in an interview with reporters in her office. I think it needs to be soon. I mean, they wanted these plans fully implemented by the first of April. Well, I would say that . . . in my mind, there was a hurry to get this done without thinking through some of the repercussions. On Tuesday, the top officers in the Army and Marine Corps, Gens. Mark Milley and Robert Neller, both agreed that they think the Selective Service System should be opened to women while testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, although the hearing did not get into exactly how the system should be changed. One proposal to alter the law has been proposed this week. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R.-Calif., a Marine Corps veteran, and Rep. Ryan Zinke, R.-Mont., a former Navy SEAL, introduced the Draft Americas Daughters Act of 2016. They signaled that they were likely to vote against their own bill , but argued that a debate on the issue in Congress is necessary. Asked about the bill, Ernst said Thursday that she disagrees that Congress needs to engage on the issue until the administration addresses it. Hunters chief of staff, Joe Kasper, said Friday that the congressman greatly respects Ernst, but theres a fundamental disagreement on the idea that this should be left to the administration. Kasper said that its Congresss duty to address eligibility for Selective Service, and that the Obama administration has made it clear to this point that Congress should determine if change is warranted. A draft should it be needed is intended to fill combat specialties because men are dying on the front lines in such high numbers. Simple as that, Kasper said. Theres definitely awareness that the idea of sending 18 and 20 year old women into combat and what were talking about here, is the infantry, where the objective is to find and kill the enemy is very uncomfortable to discuss and not something anyone should be excited about. The administration, Kasper said, created the dilemma when it decided to open all combat jobs to women. Every member of Congress should have to go on the record on whether or not he or she supports sending Americas daughters and sisters into harms way, he added. To date, at least 146 female service members have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some 800 more have been wounded, according to Defense Department statistics. Global hospitality chain Best Western Hotels & Resorts has booked J Public Relations for North American PR, following a re-branding in October. Senior VP and chief marketing officer Dorothy Dowling said BW is poised for its biggest year ever for "awareness and reputation movement." She liked J PR's fresh perspective and "impressive relationships." Allison+Partners was the longtime incumbent. J PR's mandate includes consumer-facing PR efforts, including the re-branding, executive positioning, its 70th anniversary, and support of its seven brands. Jamie Lynn Sigler and Sarah Evans head the New York and San Diego-based firm. Government relations firm Heather Podesta + Partners, LLC in February registered its representation of satellite TV and Internet provider DISH Network. The lobbying pact focuses on telecommunications issues relating to satellite broadband, wireless competition and spectrum management, as well as spectrum auctions, retransmission consent reform, and video marketplace competition and merger and acquisition activity in the pay-TV industry. As of last year, Denver, CO-headquartered Dish Network provided service to nearly 14 million TV and 600,000 broadband subscribers. Founder Charlie Ergen, who in 2011 handed over the title of President and CEO to Joseph Clayton, last year resumed that top role upon Claytons retirement. The account will be managed by founder and prominent Democratic lobbyist Heather Podesta, who previously worked for representatives Earl Pomeroy (D, ND), Robert Matsui (D, CA) and Bill Bradley (D, MO), along with Jonathan Becker, former chief of staff to Senator Amy Klobuchar (D, MN); Robert Hoffman, former speechwriter for California Governor Pete Wilson and legislative director for senator Mike DeWine (R, OH); and Amy Swonger, former legislative assistant to Senator Trent Lott (R, MS) and deputy assistant to former Vice President Dick Cheney. Midlands Airport Developments Ltd is calling for a community approach to be taken in the new civil aviation policy. Midlands Airport Developments Ltd is calling for a community approach to be taken in the new civil aviation policy. The Department of Transport are preparing a new civil aviation policy and the Midlands Airport company see a community approach as offering the greatest potential to secure efficient and competitive air access for the people of Ireland. The proposers of the Midlands airport state that a community approach will benefit all existing airports as well the proposed Midlands airport. The community approach develops an integrated network effect, increasing traffic in all Irish airports. The proposal provides for airports to collaborate together by dividing labour and allow for specialisation around geographic strengths. This division of labour and specialisation will spread traffic growth and ensure the sustainable growth of Irish airports. The plan states that low cost carriers have become too concentrated on Dublin airport which has drastically reduced air freight capacity which is much needed for just-in-time exports. With new destinations developing from emerging global economies it is vital that Ireland has adequate capacity to develop new routes and markets. Airports should also be encouraged to collaborate on linked services and co marketing. Early discussions between Galway airport and Midlands airport have been facilitated by Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames. These discussions are proving beneficial with potential for future collaboration being discussed between the two developments. The management of Galway airport are taking an innovative approach to developing business at the airport. This new approach focuses on specialist services and skills that can develop new businesses to support the aviation industry. John Madden CEO of Galway airport commented that, we welcome the community approach being proposed by the Midlands airport company. It is a great idea and must form part of the national civil aviation policy. The interaction between Galway Airport and the Midlands Airport company is already showing evidence of how this approach can benefit in practice. He added that he would like to thank the Midlands Airport company for taking this initiative. The team approach of the proposal will develop cohesion between the different elements of Irish aviation infrastructure Mr Madden also wanted to thank Senator Fidelma Healy Eames for starting this initiative which will help in the future development of Galway airport. Senator Healy Eames should be commended for her vision and leadership around this initiative. Ireland Inc. needs more politicians to follow her example and we look forward to her continued support. He concludes that Ireland needs to get creative with its air infrastructure to attract new business and visitors. This will enable Ireland to position itself as a global player in the aviation sector. Galway airport offers great opportunities to develop innovative services to the aviation market and we look forward to being part of the team along with the Midlands Airport in delivering this community approach. We would like to see all Irish airports participating in this initiative Patrick Little, CEO of Midlands Airport Development Ltd echoes the comments of the Galway CEO stating that, Senator Healy Eames has been instrumental in developing this initiative. We are very grateful for her involvement in initiating this community idea. Mr. Little that we need to compete internationally not nationally. Our civil aviation policy should be focused on driving up tourism to Ireland as well as ensuring sustainable air access for the people and businesses of Ireland. The Midlands airport with its proposed 3.5km long runway will be the largest runway in the country. The Midlands has the single largest population catchment in the country with 2.4m people within 100km. It will specialise in providing air freight capacity connecting to long haul destinations as well as relieving pressure on the greater Dublin area. Relieving pressure on Dublin airport will effectively expand Dublins capacity to develop new routes in emerging markets like China and India. Little notes that the Midlands airport could be used as a nursery to grow new routes which in turn are passed on to other Irish airport when the routes reach adequate capacity. Little adds that I see our competition as being the UK and EU airports. Currently we truck our products to the UK for them to be flown from there. I want Ireland to compete for that business and provide capacity to air freight UK products from Ireland to the new emerging markets. The Midlands airport represents an opportunity to create 5200 direct and indirect jobs in the region that has been worst hit by unemployment in the whole country. Little adds that we need to develop a team Ireland approach. This team is a lot like a rugby team. We have our main strength in Dublin airport like the forward pack the major business winner for Ireland and all the specialists backline around the coast which are agile and effective service providers with specialist functions. But we are missing a scrum half in centre pulling the team together. That is the role of the Midlands and it should not be underestimated. Ireland already dominates the Global market for aircraft leasing with over 50% of the market. It is ranked 3rd in the EU in a recent World Bank report for the number of passengers carried on Irish registered aircraft. As one of the most globalised economies in the worlds Ireland is well placed to grow its aviation industry. Our ability to connect to new destination is vital. China will be home to 7 of the top 25 cities in the world by 2025. Already countries similar in size to Ireland such as Denmark and Finland have between 7 -18 direct flights per week to mainland China. Ireland currently has none. This new approach to civil aviation will facilitate new connections and become a major factor in the Irish economic recovery. It develops a much needed team approach to Irish aviation. The closing date for submissions to the Department of Transport is the 30th June. Both the Galway and Midlands Airport companies are hoping that there will be widespread political support for their initiative as ask for political representatives to make submissions to the Department of Transport policy review supporting their community approach. Loading... OilVoice will be with you shortly... LINCOLN Nebraska employers concerned about the state of legislative affairs and workforce development have plenty to keep them up at night, said panelists speaking to a gathering of business leaders in Lincoln on Thursday. Proposed federal rules mean their managerial employees could soon qualify for overtime; their energy costs could spike; and it could get far easier for unions to organize, or picket. Meanwhile, some of the four-year college graduates entering the Nebraska workforce have never held a job before, four-year degree holders are fleeing the state and most of the jobs here require no more than an associate degree, attendees said. Pro-business speakers aired these and other concerns to attendees at the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce & Industrys annual meeting at the Cornhusker Hotel. If left unaddressed, these issues could have far-reaching effects on local enterprises and communities, speakers warned. We had an employee about six months ago that had never worked before, and hes no longer working with us today because of a lack of skills that had nothing to do with his ability to do his job, said Cory Epler, curriculum and instruction administrator for the Nebraska Department of Education. Epler, himself a former teacher, held up that example as testimony that Nebraska communities, industry and education institutions need to collaborate more closely to fill the talent pipeline. Thats often a buzz phrase, but I ask our educators to think about the fact that the talent pipeline starts in our elementary classrooms, Epler said. Though easier said than done, fostering and maintaining a connection between a communitys economic needs and how its local school districts engage those needs is critical to building local industries across the state, Epler said. Part of that means facing the fact that we have some work to do in the higher education world, said former State Sen. Greg Adams, who was also a teacher in York. As president and executive director of Accelerate Nebraska, a statewide organization aiming to connect communities, local industries and educators, Adams hopes the 1-year-old effort can provide high school and college graduates with the skills Nebraska employers need. A mobile welding laboratory that visited Omaha last April is one example of the outreach that business and education advocates said is crucial to showing students what such in-demand jobs are really like. While that effort and others like it have a reasonably clear vision for the future, less certain is the outlook for employers after President Barack Obamas administration. A contentious ruling from the National Labor Relations Board in August muddied the definition of an employer and held one company responsible for labor violations committed by a subcontractor. Potentially troubling outcomes could enable unions to organize the franchise employees of a national brand like McDonalds, said John Kirchner, director of congressional and public affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerces Midwest region. A separate overtime regulation proposed by the U.S. Department of Labor could send employers scrambling to understand which managerial employees might qualify for significantly higher earnings, Kirchner said. Those employees have traditionally been exempt from federal overtime guidelines, and the proposed rule does not take into consideration regional wage disparities. Employers in Nebraska are paying their employees differently than those in California or New York or in any other regional hub, Kirchner said. This is another big concern for businesses in the Midwest region. China National Chemical agreed to buy Swiss pesticide and seed maker Syngenta for more than $43 billion in cash, extending its shopping spree with what is to be the biggest acquisition by a Chinese firm. ChemChina, as the closely held, state-backed company is known, offered $465 a share in cash. The offer, endorsed by Syngentas board, is about 20 percent higher than the stocks last close. Syngenta shares rose 3.8 percent in Zurich, remaining below the offer price amid concern the takeover could be delayed by U.S. regulators worried about competitiveness. Political headwinds, in particular from the U.S., could make the takeover process more lengthy than initially expected, wrote Ute Haibach, an analyst at J. Safra Sarasin. The Committee for Foreign Investment in the U.S. will likely watch the transaction closely, as Chinas domestic seed market is broadly closed to U.S. companies. Syngenta operates a hybrid seed corn production plant in Phillips, Nebraska, near Grand Island. It employed about 375 as of late 2014. And it employs about 50 at a chemical formulating and packaging facility in Omaha. If completed, the deal would help chairman Ren Jianxin transform ChemChina into the worlds biggest supplier of pesticides and agrochemicals while snapping up an asset that St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. covets. The shake-up of the agricultural and chemical industry worldwide is being fed in part by tumbling commodity prices, which are forcing farmers to spend less on seeds, pesticides and equipment. Syngenta reported Wednesday that net income for 2015 fell 17 percent, to $1.3 billion, as it struggled with low crop prices, instability in emerging markets and currency fluctuations. ChemChina is to keep Syngenta management in place following the deal, expected to be completed by the end of the year. There wasnt a moment Thursday when New Cassel Retirement Center resident Joe Nigro, 87, wasnt grinning as he told stories of his service in the Korean War. In 1953, Nigro was a member of the Army Ordnance that supplied ammunition and maintenance operations to troops in Korea. Anna Nigro, a junior at Omaha Skutt Catholic High School, sat next to Joe when she saw his familiar last name. The two had never met, and they discovered that they are descendants of the same Italian-American family. For each question Anna asked about his service, Joe had a dozen stories and a handful of photos to illustrate them. I enjoy talking about it all, Joe said. Not too many people ask. The two were part of an event that paired 29 Skutt students with 20 veterans who had war stories to tell. At New Cassel, 900 N. 90th St., it was a much-anticipated day. At 8:30 a.m., residents were carefully placing framed photos younger versions of themselves, in uniform in the pouches of their walkers. Some carried file folders of documents, kept for years and filled with faded military identification cards and letters from home they received while serving abroad. They journeyed from their rooms to the centers auditorium and spread their keepsakes out on red, white and blue tablecloths. Several residents wore shirts printed with American flags, and one woman had painted her fingernails blue. For an hour they excitedly awaited the students arrival. The Skutt group included 10 seniors taking AP U.S. history, three seniors who are potential military academy nominees and 16 juniors from the honors American studies class. The idea for the event began when New Cassel Foundation President Cindy Petrich spoke with John McMahon, the president of Skutt, about the 50 veterans who live at New Cassel. McMahon wanted to have students engage in conversations with these veterans about their experiences and worked with Petrich to plan a day when a group of students could visit New Cassel. Being able to get those stories out before theyre lost forever is very cool, Petrich said. They barely talk about it and they never brag about it, so its only in a setting like this that they would actually speak. Theyre sharing their stories the sacrifices that they made and what they went through so that we could have the freedoms that we have. At one table, Skutt seniors Katherine Lanzante and Jarrett Damewood leaned in close to resident Gordon Brooks as he spoke about his service in the Air Force during World War II. Damewood asked Brooks what his parents thought of him joining the Air Force. They were nervous but proud, Brooks said. Damewood hopes to attend the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and Lanzante has her sights set on the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It makes it real, Lanzante said about hearing the veterans stories. People are forgetting about these wars, and here are these people telling us that they were there. Lanzante said she spoke to a female resident who served as a nurse in the Navy. The woman said she wished she could have been on a Navy destroyer like the men were at the time. Lanzante got to tell the veteran that her dream was to do just that. She was shocked but proud, Lanzante said. I value what these veterans have done for us and I want to reverse that and give back to the community. Contact the writer: 402-444-1304, news@owh.com The federal governments largest conservation program by acres affected plans to add an estimated 10 million more acres to the rolls through September. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Thursday that $150 million in funding for the additional acres is available for agricultural producers through the Conservation Stewardship Program. The popular program helps producers who sign five-year contracts to improve the health and productivity of agricultural lands by boosting soil and air quality, conserving clean water and enhancing wildlife habitat. Participants are paid for conservation performance. The higher the operational performance, the higher their payment. There currently are 2,541 Conservation Stewardship Program contracts in Nebraska covering more than 4.9 million acres. In Iowa, there are 1,008 contracts covering 578,411 acres. The USDA has provided more than $4 billion in assistance to the nations farmers, ranchers and forest managers to enhance conservation on more than 70 million acres under the program since 2009. A record 400 million acres across the nation are enrolled in all of the agencys conservation programs. Enrollment in federal conservation programs climbs and falls as farmers respond to commodity prices, climatalogical factors and other influences. Some programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program shrink as others expand. Vilsack told The World-Herald that acres enrolled in the Conservation Stewardship Program dont necessarily replace acres lost in other initiatives when farmers expand crop production. Nationally, the Conservation Reserve Program which pays farmers to take marginal and highly erodible land out of production and return it to grassland or other cover crops has shrunk to nearly 24 million acres from 32 million acres in recent years. Nebraska has nearly 800,000 acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program, down from a peak of more than 1.34 million in 2007. Vilsack said that although the Conservation Reserve Programs acreage has dwindled, the land currently enrolled may be the most important acres protected because of the nature of the land. The Conservation Stewardship Programs goal is to protect soil and water quality in slightly different ways, Vilsack said. Funding is available for more than 100 kinds of enhancements nationwide to help participants: improve soil quality through use of cover crops, conservation crop rotations and other activities that increase soil productivity. use water wisely and improve water quality through enhancements such as more efficient irrigation systems and weather monitoring. restore habitat for wildlife and pollinators such as the greater sage-grouse, lesser prairie-chicken and monarch butterfly through the use of better grazing systems and improved plant management. The USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service accepts applications for the program throughout the year, but producers should submit applications by March 31 to a USDA service center to ensure that they are considered for enrollment this year. Contact the writer: 402-444-1127, david.hendee@owh.com DURHAM, N.H. (AP) Fireworks flying in their first one-on-one debate, Hillary Clinton accused Bernie Sanders Thursday night of subjecting her to an "artful smear" while Sanders suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of America's political establishment. The two Democrats embraced a markedly more contentious tone than when they last debated before the year's presidential voting began in Iowa, and it signaled how the race for the nomination has tightened five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire next Tuesday. The two argued over ideas, over tactics and over who has the liberal credentials to deliver on an agenda of better access to health care, more affordable college, fighting income inequality and more. It was Clinton who was the main aggressor, saying Sanders could never achieve his ambitious and costly proposals. Then she took after the Vermont senator for his efforts to cast her as beholden to Wall Street interests because of the campaign donations and speaking fees she's accepted from the financial sector. "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out," she said. Sanders, for his part, suggested Clinton's loyalties were colored by a reliance on big corporate donors. "Secretary Clinton does represent the establishment," he said. "I represent I hope ordinary Americans." Clinton may say the right things, he suggested, but "one of the things we should do is not only talk the talk but walk the walk." "I am very proud to be the only candidate up here who does not have super PAC, who's not raising huge sums from Wall Street and special interests," he said. Where Clinton aimed considerable criticism at Sanders, the Vermont senator focused much of his fire on what he says is a political system rigged against ordinary Americans. He said that when a "kid gets caught with marijuana, that kid has a police record." But when "a Wall Street executive destroys the economy" and pays a $5 billion settlement, he has no criminal record. "That is what power is about, that is what corruption is about," he said. Clinton, unwilling to cede the issue to Sanders, insisted her regulatory policies would be tougher on Wall Street than his. "I've got their number," she said, "the Wall Street guys." Asked if she would release transcripts of her paid speeches to Wall Street interests and others, Clinton was noncommittal, saying "I'll look into it." She had struggled a day earlier to explain why she accepted $675,000 for three speeches from Goldman Sachs. Clinton called Sanders' sweeping proposals on health care and education "just not achievable," while Sanders countered that Clinton was willing to settle for less than Americans deserve. The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, intensified this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary season schedule, including Thursday's faceoff in Durham. In fresh evidence of the tightening race, Clinton reported that her campaign had raised $15 million in January $5 million less than Sanders and the first time she's been outraised by her opponent. Her finance director called the numbers "a very loud wake-up call." Sanders has a big lead in New Hampshire polls, but he was eager to lower expectations for his finish there, casting himself as an underdog. Clinton, for her part, signaled her determination to at least narrow the gap before Tuesday's vote. Her prospects are much stronger in primaries and caucuses after New Hampshire, as the race moves on to states with more diverse electorates that are to her advantage. The two renewed their running debate over who is the real progressive, with Clinton accusing Sanders of quoting her selectively to diminish her credentials. On foreign policy, Sanders renewed his criticism of Clinton for her vote as a senator to authorize the war in Iraq, a vote she later said was a mistake. Clinton retorted: "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS. We have to look at the threats that we face right now." Sanders allowed that while Clinton had been secretary of state, "experience is not the only point. Judgment is." On a nagging issue, Clinton was asked if she was sure nothing problematic would come of the ongoing investigation into her use of a private email account and server to handle official messages when she was secretary of state, some of them later classified as top secret. "I am 100 percent confident," she said. When the fireworks had died out at the end of two hours, the two candidates had some conciliatory words for one another, with Sanders declaring, "on our worst days, I think it is fair to say, we are 100 percent better than any Republican candidate" The Durham debate was the first faceoff for Clinton and Sanders since former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. The close result in Iowa was the latest twist in an election campaign that, until recently, had been dominated by the crowded and cacophonous field of Republicans, who spread out across New Hampshire this week. Donald Trump, who finished second in Iowa, stepped up the pace of his campaign and acknowledged he should have had a stronger ground operation in Iowa. Jeb Bush, his campaign lagging, brought in his mom, former first lady Barbara Bush, who praised him as "decent and honest and everything we need in a president." From Lindsay & Jamies wedding planner, Sarah Day: Lindsay and Jamie got me involved after they had stared the planning process on their own and quickly became overwhelmed with not only the details but with the challenges of planning a same-sex wedding. They were, unfortunately, disappointed to discover that many vendors in the area were not very accepting of their marriage. So we tackled one vendor at a time, looking for vendors who not only captured the look and feel of what the brides wanted, but who also were open to and excited about working on a same-sex wedding. I was truly honored by the group of event professionals that we ultimately assembled to bring to life the vision that Lindsay had for her southern wedding. We had our final walk-through at the venue the same week the Supreme Court ruled to legalize same-sex weddings and we were all in tears as we walked through the property and knew that all our hard work was now not just producing a beautiful wedding but a wedding that would be recognized in all 50 states! Weather can always a be tricky thing to deal with when planning an outdoor wedding. Georgia was under a particularly challenging deluge of rain this fall, but we were not going to let it slow us down. That morning I ran out and scoured the countryside (literally) for matching rain boots for the bridesmaids and as many umbrellas as I could find. We didnt want to miss any photo opportunities as we were tromping through the mud! Thankfully we also had an incredible photography team that was in the trenches with us and didnt miss a beat. From Lindsay: My family is from up north (Pennsylvania, mostly), so we really wanted to throw them a southern affair when they visited Georgia. Our welcome bags at the hotel were filled with items from Georgia-based companies, and the favors incorporated Georgia (and my home state of Virginia). The food and decor was also very southern. So we had LEGAL lesbian wedding in small town Georgia. Pretty damn cool if you ask me! Lindsay & Jamies wedding won two Belief IWP Awards in the categories of Wedding Concept and Special Photo! Photos courtesy of Six Hearts Photography. How racial attacks on foreigners and migrants destroying Brand Bengalurus image Feature oi-Oneindia By Maitreyee Boruah Bengaluru, Feb 5: The news of the racist-misogynist attack on a Tanzanian woman in Bengaluru has come at a time when the city is hosting foreign delegates at the high profile global business meet, Invest Karnataka-2016. Both the episodes are of contrasting nature. First is a horrific incident where a 21-year-old Tanzanian student was allegedly beaten up and stripped by a vigilante mob in presence of the police on Sunday (January 31). Just a few days after the tragic attack, Karnataka state government gave a red-carpet welcome to business honchos from across the globe. Government's Double standard The question that immediately comes to mind is why such double standard by the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's government? The Congress government in the state has not only failed to stop the shocking incident, but has mishandled it after it came to light on Wednesday (February 3). According to the Bangalore police, the complaint by the Tanzanian girl was filed only on Wednesday, even though the incident happened on Sunday. However, Bosco Kaweesi, legal adviser of the All African Students' Union told reporters that police refused to register an FIR on the night of the attack. Prejudice towards black skin The victim went through all the pain, horror and humiliation meted out by an unruly mob because she happened to pass by an accident spot involving another African person (a Sudanese man) in which a local woman resident was killed. Apart from the police failure, the case once again showcases how our politicians try to misrepresent the reality. On Thursday (February 4) at a press conference, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the Tanzanian woman was not stripped or paraded naked. The minister claim was in total contrast to the victim's statement to the police. "She was stripped by a section of the mob and pushed out of a slow-moving bus that was passing by as she tried to board it to escape," said Kaweesi. Tazanian attacked: Locals say we share your pain, but respect us too Apartheid in Bengaluru? Moreover, the minister also claimed that it was not a racist attack. "This is not a racist attack. This is just a response to an accident. Bengaluru doesn't have such kind of attitude," said Parameshwara. However, the racial angle could not be missed in this incident. The victim bore the wrath of the mob as she is also an African, like the Sudanese driver accused of killing a woman. "Everybody is entitled to their own assessment, but there is an element of mob justice and racism. That's my assessment. She was attacked because she was black like the guy who caused the accident," said John WH Kijazi, Tanzania ambassador to India. No respect for victim's privacy Giving no thought about maintaining the privacy of the victim, the Home Minister revealed the name of the Tanzanian woman in front of journalists. When a journalist asked him if he was right in naming her, the Congress leader defended his utter callousness. "It is her name. How can I hide the facts? All these things are in her complaint." The minister's conduct was a clear violation of the Supreme Court guidelines which state that the identity of a sexual assault victim should not be revealed. On top of that, the minister defended Bengaluru police, saying police personnel acted fast in the case. Really? Racial attacks on Africans not new in Bengaluru Media reports often highlight how African youngsters, mostly students, face racial discrimination in the city. Last year in July, six Nigerian female students were taken into police custody when they approached a police station to register a complaint against a bus conductor, who misbehaved with them. Instead of investigating the matter, police jumped to the conclusion that the Nigerian students were guilty. The city police in its defence say that often they act tough with the Africans as several of them are engaged in drug peddling and other anti-social activities. Such sweeping remarks against a community are nothing, but racial prejudice. Northeast community is also not safe from racial attacks In April 2012, the death of a 19-year-old Manipuri boy Richard Loitam under suspicious circumstances in his college hostel in Bengaluru sparked protests demanding justice for the student. Just a few months later in August 2012, Bengaluru witnessed large-scale exodus of northeast people from the city after rumours flew thick and fast that there was a threat to their lives. These are some of the incidents when people from the northeast came under attack in the city. Activists and people from the region termed most of these attacks as "racial" in nature as they struggle to tackle the chronic alienation they feel outside northeast. If Bengaluru wants to thrive as India's tech or start-up hub, it has to be tolerant towards all its residents, not just the locals. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2016, 9:46 [IST] Of Hafiz Saeed's rants and India's customary statements Feature oi-Vicky By Vicky A couple of days back, the chief of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba appeared on television in Pakistan and praised the Pathankot attack. There was some amount of furore as to why a terrorist was being allowed to air his views. This was followed by a customary or rather should we say mandatory statement from India to Pakistan urging them to reign in on Saeed. Let us set the record straight and that is Pakistan is not going to reign in on Saeed ever. The Pakistanis get away by assuring the United States of America about acting against Saeed and never doing anything about it. It was only in the month of October 2015 that Nawaz Sharrif the Prime Minister of Pakistan assured the United States of America that he would act against Saeed. Barely three months later, Saeed was on television airing his views. How does India tackle Saeed? As long as Saeed is in Pakistan he is ensured of guaranteed protection. India will ask Pakistan to act, but that is not going to happen. However the better way for India to deal with Saeed is to break his network in India especially at Kashmir. The first lesson that we had to learn from a Pathankot attack is to secure ourselves within and then hope that Pakistan would act against the masterminds. In the case of Saeed there are various factors that would prevent Pakistan from acting. He is a strategic asset for them who raises the Kashmir bogey for Pakistan every now and then. For starters one needs to understand that Pakistan does not accept Saeed to be the chief of the Lashkar. He is always referred to as the head of the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and any reference to him and the Lashkar are strongly denied in Pakistan. Both Pakistan and the Lashkar have also denied that the outfit has anything to do with the JuD. The manner in which the trial against him in the 26/11 attack case was handled is testimony of the fact that Pakistan is not one bit serious about acting against him. In addition to this the name of Lakhvi who holds the title, "Imam of Jihad," is sufficient to send shivers down the spines of people. This fear has resulted in judges opting out of hearing cases against him which has ensured that the trial has hit a road block. JuD is safe in Pakistan The Lashkar survives on the JuD for its finances. The JuD has been called a charitable organization and any charge of linking it to terror financing have been denied outright by Pakistan. To substantiate this, we need to look at the recent events in which it became amply clear that the ban on the JuD was nothing more than just a hogwash. Pakistan has made it clear that there is no question of a ban on the JuD. It would only watch the organization for suspicious behaviour. The JuD always work along with the Pakistan army and this acts as a great cover for them. Following the 26/11 attack, investigators in India found the funding of the attack had been carried out by the JuD. There was international pressure and this forced a ban on the JuD. In fact the then interior minister, Rehman Malik had informed that the JuD had been banned with immediate effect. Although the statement sounded strong, Pakistan was not going to take any chances and directly confront the JuD. It did not impose the ban directly but asked various authorities such as the UN to impose sanctions on the JuD. Paksitan's eye wash was evident in the year 2008. It sealed 100 offices of the JuD and even Saeed was placed under house arrest only to be released later. Pakistan then that there was no need to issue any notification banning the JuD when the UN has already added it to the list of banned outfits. No messing with JuD When the JuD is in legal trouble, it is the top bureaucrats who draft a petition on its behalf. The Pakistan government has even appointed an administrator to oversee the affairs of the JuD. The JuD has a sprawling campus at Murdike spread over 200 acres of land. It has teaching facilities catering to 3000 students and also residential complexes. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2016, 10:15 [IST] Socialist Sanders has a lot of similarities with anarchist Kejriwal Feature oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer This presidential election year, the politics and politicians in the United States share a lot of similarities with the scenario which has unfolded in India over the last few years. Particularly, the growing significance of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination makes a strong statement about the changing currents in America's politics. Sanders often speak about the "political revolution" during his campaign, something which the Aam Aadmi Party leader, Arvind Kejriwal, also does so often in India. USA's populist brand of politics Is the American politics undergoing a change which people like Sanders symbolise? Even in the Republican camp, there is a new political style which is challenging the traditional form in which politics is played. This new style is a populist one, which has been given birth by the common people's dissatisfaction with the liberal and elite brand of politics which has put it beyond the reach of the members of the free society. The influence of big businesses and corporates on politics and the results that have cost the common US citizens dearly in the recent past has encouraged the rise of a fresh populist brand, both right and Left, and this may usher in an entirely new dynamics in the world's most powerful state. Kejriwal's rise in India was a similar phenomenon Kejriwal's rise in India, too, has been a similar story. Just like the ordinary Americans were left helpless by the reckless establishment which went on with military adventures abroad, leaving Americans dead and the lives of more vulnerable just like the nation's economy, India, too, was left angry with the hopeless situation caused by the inertia created by the country's ruling elite of the day. Yes, it was Narendra Modi who finally benefited at the expense of the hapless Manmohan Singh's government, but the growth of Anna Hazare's crusade against corruption which was followed later by Kejriwal's electoral debut and forming the government was a phenomenon in itself. The rise of the apolitical in the arena of politics. Sanders, like Kejriwal, has added a third dimension to regular bi-party fight Sanders, on the other hand, is not apolitical but despite being a Democrat, he has added a third dimension to the usual Republican vs Democratic contest in the US presidential polls (just like Kejriwal brought in an element beyond the routine Congress vs BJP fight). Since individualism has a significance in American politics, hence Sanders could prevail despite being a member of an established party. In India, parties overshadow individuals and hence Kejriwal had to float a new outfit to make himself heard. Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump, too, is one who has attacked the establishment though from the right, but while he has opted for a negative way of capitalising on the people's anxieties, Sanders is trying to revive people's hope on a fair and just society. This is again where the leftist Sanders resembles Kejriwal more than Trump, who is acting more like Modi to defeat the establishment, though in a far less sophisticated way. Both Sanders and Kejriwal practise simplistic politics for people's easy consumption Sanders's style is also simplistic, much like Kejriwal. He promises free healthcare, free higher education and decent minimum wage for all. The latter also responds to such simplistic political impulse, caring little for the complicated establishment rules, so much so that he even begins protest as a chief minister against his government after finding it difficult to get control of the Delhi Police or passing the Jan Lokpal Bill. Sanders targets the rich & influential, just like Kejriwal took to expose them There are other socialist-minded politicians in India who are masters in populism but Kejriwal resembles Sanders the most because like the former, he too doesn't hesitate in launching a Robin Hood-like attack on the rich and influential to score high in the voters' notebook. Both Sanders ad Kejriwal, thanks to their simplistic populism, have a major following among the urban, educated middle-class, including the youth. Their styles of funding through donations to keep things transparent are also similar. Both offer fresh alternative to dynastic politics The American voters, too, have an experience which their Indian counterparts face now and that is the fatigue with political dynasties. Just like almost all political parties in India today have imitated the Gandhis in conducting politics as a family business, the Americans too have grown a repulsion towards the repetitive faces and politics of the Clinton and Bush families. This is a potential advantage for Sanders in his fight against a tough opponent like Hillary Clinton, just like Kejriwal and Modi had against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. But the simple' is also a limitation for both But Sanders, just like Kejriwal, also has limitations that can seriously derail the chances of a new global order being initiated by the US under the socialist leadership of Sanders. He perhaps harbours too idealistic principles while trying to stress on humanitarian values. Sanders, like Kejriwal, is perhaps naive on foreign policy issues His take on foreign policy might just be too naive to be easily defeated by a seasoned politician like Hillary Clinton who also faces uneasy questions over her support to former president Bush's unnecessary war on Iraq. In the AAP, too, such lack of experience on sensitive strategic/diplomatic issues became obvious when one of its leader suggested to hold a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to much uproar. Over-simplistic takes may find it difficult to defeat seasoned politicians like Hillary Sanders's take on the Wall Street who he has attacked fiercely while criticising the influence of money on the US politics can also find itself turned ineffective by a shrewd Hillary's Obama card which she has been found using to appeal to the Democrats' sentiments to divert attention from more serious issues like corruption and money power. This is a shortcoming that Kejriwal also faces in India. He tries to oversimplify problems and their solutions to remain populist while the more serious issues that he had vowed to fight against remain unaddressed. Our relationship has changed but we're still together: Aamir Khan on divorce with Kiran Rao After Incredible India, now Snapdeal ends contract with Aamir Khan India oi-Reetu New Delhi, Feb 5: After Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's exit as the brand ambassador of the Incredible India campaign, now it seems that online retail major Snapdeal is also planning not to renew its contract with the actor. According to a ET report, "Snapdeal has decided not to renew Bollywood star Aamir Khan's contract as brand ambassador of the ecommerce company, two persons with knowledge of the development said. The one-year endorsement deal ends later this month." "It was extendable by a year but the company decided against it," a source was quoted as saying in the daily. If reports are to be believed then he has been facing axe over his statement on growing intolerance in the country. Aamir Khan damaged India's identity? DIPP secretary defends Khan's exit as Brand ambassador Before this, Aamir was removed from Incredible India campaign. According to ET report, "Advertising and marketing executives said the move was linked to Khan's comments in November about intolerance in the country that led to a storm of protest by supporters of the government and a campaign of denigration against the actor. Snapdeal had stopped using Khan in its ads after the controversy broke." Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) secretary Amitabh Kant had said, "A brand ambassador promotes a brand. People will come to India and tourist flow will increase only if the brand ambassador of 'Incredible India' promotes India as incredible India. But if the brand ambassador of India says India is intolerant, he is surely not working as a brand ambassador of India." Aamir Khan and Incredible India Controversy: Which side are you on? "He is damaging the brand identity of the country. People will not come to India after hearing him. An ambassador has to promote the brand, not destroy the brand. The brand ambassador must be the best brand ambassador for promoting India, he cannot be the destroyer of the brand," Kant further added. After Aamir said that his wife Kiran Rao had asked if they should move out of the country, as she feared for the safety of their children in a climate of insecurity, a major controversy broke out and he was criticised for his comments. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2016, 13:35 [IST] After Tanzanian is attacked panic message does the rounds India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Feb 5: As the investigations into the incident involving an assault on a Tanzanian national gets underway, there is already a panic SMS doing the rounds. Thanks to this message that is being circulated among the African students, most of them are skipping college today. The message warns that they need to be on guard till Saturday as the locals are planning to attack them. Tazanian attacked: Locals say we share your pain, but respect us too The police have said that this is just an attempt to cause panic and there is nothing to worry about. For the colleges and especially the administration at the Acharya College where the Tanzanian victim is a student this is a new headache to deal with. The students have requested the college authorities to postpone the internal examination. The college authorities have however decided to go ahead with the internal tests. However the college also adds that the internal tests for the African students will be conducted separately. They will today visit the homes of the students to assure them that there is nothing to worry about. The police too said that they are taking all measures to ensure that no untoward incident is reported. A team from the Ministry for External Affairs and a Tanzanian envoy too would visit Bengaluru today to speak with the students. This is a confidence building exercise to assure the students that they are safe in the city. The Central government has also urged the Karnataka government to conduct a thorough probe and also ensure that no such incident takes place in future. OneIndia News International news brief: Confident of Pak's commitment, ability to secure its nuclear assets, says US & more Antique dealer Kapoor produced in Kumbakonam court India oi-PTI Kumbakonam (TN), Feb 5: US-based international antique dealer Subhash Chandra Kapoor, arrested in connection with theft of idols from two ancient temples in Tamil Nadu, was today produced before a special court here which remanded him to judicial custody and is set to try the cases against him. Judge S Baskaran of the Additional chief Judicial Magistrate Court, which is the special court for idol theft cases, remanded Kapoor to judicial remand till February 19 and posted the matter for hearing on that day. A person of Indian origin, Kapoor, who owns Nimubs Imports and Exports company based in New York, has been charged with smuggling antique idols belonging to Varadaraja Perumal Temple at Suthamalli village and Arulmigu Pragadeeswarar Temple at Stipurndan village Ariyalur district. After his extradition with the help of Interpol police, Kapoor was arrested by the state police in 2012 in connection with theft of idols from two ancient temples in the state and lodged in the Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai. Two idol theft cases were pending against him and others in the Judicial Magistrate Court in Jayamkondam in Ariyalur district. The cases were transferred to the Special court here for trial in September, 2015 by the Madras High Court, allowing a plea by the state government. The High Court had then ordered that Kapoor need not be produced before the special court for every hearing and his appearance may be recorded through video conference facility. When the matter came up for hearing today for the first time after the transfer, Kapoor was brought from Chennai amid tight security by CID and produced before Judge Baskaran. Adjourning the matter to February 19, the Judge said Kapoor would be examined through video conference and if necessary the court will have his personal appearance. Later, Kapoor was taken back to Chennai. PTI Tanzanian attacked in Bengaluru: 9 arrested, 3 cops suspended India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Feb 5: The Bengaluru police have arrested in total of 9 persons and is looking for 6 more persons in connection with the attack on a Tanzanian student. Yesterday the police had arrested 5 persons while today 4 more were picked up based on investigations. In addition to this two constables and a sub-inspector of police have been suspended The police are relying on the statements given by the victims who said that there were 15 persons who assaulted her. Further the victim also claimed that the police at the spot did not help much. It was found that the two constables did not enough to protect the girl while the inspector did not act enough to control the mob. Meanwhile, a delegation from Delhi comprising Indian and Tanzanian officials are scheduled to visit Bengaluru today. The team will meet with African students at the Kumara Krupa guest house at 5 PM. The team is scheduled to land at 4.15 PM today. OneIndia News TS EAMCET 2022 Seat Allotment Result 2022 for round 2 on Oct 16: How to check and more Counting of votes begins in Hyderabad civic polls India oi-IANS By Ians English Hyderabad, Feb 5: Counting of votes polled in Tuesday's elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) began on Friday afternoon even as repolling continued in one division amid tight security. Counting of votes polled in 149 divisions began at 24 places in the twin-cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad at 3 pm. An official said postal ballots were being counted first. This will be followed by opening of the sealed Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Since re-polling was underway in Puranapul division, the results will be announced only after 5 p.m. The state election commission has imposed restrictions on media in covering the counting trends. Polling held in all 150 divisions on Tuesday recorded 45.27 percent turnout. According to GHMC commissioner and special officer Janardhan Reddy, 33,60,543 voters out of 74,23,980 eligible electors cast their votes. The re-poll in Puranapull division in the old city was ordered following complaints of rigging and incidents of violence. The polling, which began at 7 a.m., will continue till 5 p.m. The re-polling resulted in the delay in taking up of counting of votes, which was originally scheduled from 7 a.m. All results are expected to be declared by 8 p.m. The voters have decided political fortunes of 1,333 candidates. This was the first GHMC election after the formation of the separate Telangana state. The ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) is expected to emerge as the largest party in the 150-member body. The exit polls conducted by various Telugu television channels have given 70-80 seats to the TRS, which had no representation in the previous body. The ruling party is likely to have post-poll alliance with the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) to have their candidates as mayor and deputy mayor. The exit polls predicted that MIM may get 35-40 seats. The TDP-BJP alliance is expected to get 25-30 seats, while the Congress is likely to win only 10-12 seats. In the previous body, the Congress shared power with MIM. IANS Delhi: 17-year-old held for elderly widow's murder India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 5: A 17-year-old boy was apprehended on Friday for allegedly strangulating an elderly widow and robbing her of cash, jewellery and other items from her residence in south Delhi's B K Dutt colony. The juvenile, along with his girlfriend, had last year allegedly abducted and murdered a 13-year-old boy for money which he needed for participating in a popular reality dance show, police said. After being released from a correction home recently, he targeted the 65-year-old widow, Mithilesh Jain, who lived alone in a first-floor residence in B K Dutt colony, police said. The woman was found dead on Monday by her son-in-law but the police had then claimed that it was a case of natural death. Things took a turn when Jain's relatives informed police that some jewellery, cash and expensive items, including two mobile phones, were missing from her residence. The post mortem report also suggested that she was strangulated, following which police registered a case. Police traced the boy when he switched on one of the phones which he had allegedly robbed from Jain and apprehended him today from his residence at Faridabad. On being questioned, he told the police that he had targeted the woman as he needed money to participate in a popular reality dance show. On Sunday night, he went to Jain's house, where he allegedly strangulated her and then placed the body on the bed to make it look like a case of natural death, before he fled with cash, jewellery and other belongings, police said. Jain, who had retired from her job at Safdarjung Hospital which she got after her husband's death, is survived by her son who lives in Singapore, a daughter settled in US, and another daughter who lives with her chartered accountant husband in elsewhere in Delhi, police said. She was planning to leave for Singapore in a few days. The accused is a professional dancer and takes training in choreographer. PTI DefExpo2022: Invest for Defence to be held on October 20 Indias first underwater restaurant in Ahmedabad shut down India oi-Jagriti Ahmedabad, Feb 5: India's first underwater restaurant in Gujarat's Ahmedabad has been sealed by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). The AMC sealed the restaurant The Real Poseidon' on Thursday for not having Building Use (BU) permission. The underwater restaurant, located in Ahmedabad's Bopal area was inaugurated on February 1. "We have sealed the restaurant as it had not taken necessary development permission. It had also failed to take permission from the health department. "The seal will remain in place until it seeks the necessary approvals needed under town planning rules. We will not allow it to operate otherwise," Ahmedabad Mirror quoted DyMC (New West Zone) Devang Desai as saying. Pics: India's first underwater restaurant inaugurated in Ahmedabad At least 1,60,000 liter water is stored to create aquarium housing 4,000 fishes in the restaurant constructed at 20 ft underground. It has 32 seat capacity. Average lunch or dinner prize per person cost around Rs 1,000 in The Real Poseidon'. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2016, 8:48 [IST] In the name of charity, Rs 50 lakh transferred to personal A/C: ED in chargesheet against Rana Ayyub Rana Ayyub used money collected for charity for her own use J Dey murder case: CBI seeks order for Rajan's voice samples India oi-PTI Mumbai, Feb 5: CBI on Friday, 5 urged a special MCOCA court here to issue a direction to deported gangster Chhota Rajan to give his voice samples for probe in connection with 2011 J Dey murder case. "First he (Rajan) gave his consent (for the voice test) but later he refused to undergo the same," CBI prosecutor Bharat Badami told the court after the fugitive was produced before it via video-link from Tihar jail. On the CBI plea, Special Judge S S Adkar asked Rajan's advocate Anshuman Sinha to file a reply. The matter is likely to come up for hearing on February 11. CBI told the court that an audio CD containing telephonic conversation between Rajan and a person has been deposited in the court by Mumbai Police and they want to compare the voice in the CD with that of Rajan. Badami also sought more time for investigation into the murder, saying that they need to take help of some external agencies like Interpol to probe the case against Rajan as he was out of country for long following which its prayer was granted. CBI also said that the mobile of Dey, the murdered journalist, has not been sent yet for any forensic test and pleaded to the court to handover the mobile to the agency for its examination at CFSL in New Delhi. The central agency also requested the court that two laptops and one computer hard disk of Dey may also be handed over to CBI for further forensic examination for retrieval of deleted data. On January 19, the court had allowed CBI's plea seeking a nod to question the 54-year-old crime boss for 10 days starting January 27 before adjourning the case till today. Rajan, a former key aide and lieutenant-turned-bete noire of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25 after he arrived from Australia, and was later deported to India. He is facing around 70 cases in Maharashtra, including the J Dey murder case. The Maharashtra government has handed over all the cases against him to CBI. Dey, a veteran crime reporter, was shot dead in suburban Powai by motorcycle-borne shooters on June 11, 2011 allegedly at the behest of Rajan. Four persons on two motorbikes fired at least four to five rounds at Dey, who was also riding a bike, from behind near Spectra Building at D Mart in Hiranandani area of Powai. PTI Assam Direct Recruitment: SLRC Grade 3 and Grade 4 results out; How to check 4 held in Assam for suspected links with Bangladesh's terror outfit Assam hikes DA of home guards from Rs 300 to Rs 767 Assam govt to award meritorious students with over 35,000 scooters News flash: Earthquake in Nepal, strong tremors of 5.2 magnitude felt in Kathmand. India oi-Oneindia By Oneindia Staff Writer Bengaluru, Feb 5: Earthquake in Nepal, strong tremors of 5.2 magnitude felt in Kathmand. Get all the latest news updates of the day: 1.35 am: Apple for the first time is accepting banged up iPhones as a trade-in from people wanting to upgrade. 1.23 am: UN stamps launches the world's 1st stamps promoting LGBT equality. 11.33 pm: Bengaluru: Tomorrow's African students protest cancelled after Tanzanian high commissioner refused permission. 10.34 pm: Tremors felt in parts of Bihar including Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Bettiah, Darbhanga, Raxaul. 10.30 pm: Earthquake in Nepal, strong tremors of 5.2 magnitude felt in Kathmand. 10.28 pm: We have submitted the SDM report to the Govt, says Sanjay Kumar, DM, New Delhi on Ryan International school death case. 10.27 pm: MCD Doctors' Association including medical & paramedical staffs call off their strike,subject to ratification by General body meet tomorrow. 9.36 pm: This is one of the brutal attack and killing which we can't accept- Kerala HM R. Chennithala on a man allegedly beaten to death in Kerala. 9.35 pm: As of now, 36 deaths have been confirmed, 25 are admitted and are undergoing treatment- Remya Mohan, District Collector on Navsari incident. 9.34 pm: Maximum possible efforts are being taken by respective Departments- Remya Mohan, Dist. Collector on Navsari incident. 9.12 pm: LJP leader Brijnathi Singh killed in firing by unidentified gunmen in Patna. AK-47 shells recovered. 8.56 pm: Our health ministry is in constant touch with the hospitals, we are taking all necessary measures, says Vijay Rupani. 8.55 pm: 25 dead bodies recovered, others have suffered serious injuries, death toll is likely to increase, says Vijay Rupani Gujarat Transport Minister. 8.05 pm: Proper procedures,as per law, were followed during land allotment. There was no pressure from anyone, added IK Jadeja, BJP 8.04 pm: Allegations against Anandiben Patel ji are baseless, says I K Jadeja, BJP on alleged land allotment to firm's connected with Gujarat CM's daughter. 7.51 pm: Karnataka police interact with foreign students in Bengaluru after Tanzanian student assault incident. 7:14 pm: Concrete measures have already been taken. What is more important is that we should look into the future, says Tanzanian Ambassador John WH Kijazi 7:00 pm: We are very much impressed by the action taken by Govt (India), says Tanzanian Ambassador John WH Kijazi. 6:50 pm: 2 MoU's signed, one for renovation of 27 schools in Northern Province, says MEA on 9th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission meeting. 6:45 pm: Kila Raipur Sports festival popularly known as 'Rural Olympics' begins in Ludhiana district (Punjab) 6:30 pm: This sports meet is perfect blend of 3-Teamwork, togetherness and talent, says PM Modi after inaugurating South Asian Games in Guwahati (Assam). 6:15 pm: dead and 30 injured after Gujarat SRTC bus, going from Ukai to Navsari (Gujarat), falls into Ambika river near Supa village. 6:00 pm: Pune Edu Dept issues guidelines to Govt and pvt schools and colleges to avoid areas of high life risk fr student picnics,post Murud beach incident. 5:45 pm: LJP leader Brijnathi Singh killed in firing by unidentified gunmen in Kachi Dargah area in Patna (Bihar). Gunmen were armed with AK-47. 5:30 pm: Julian Assange says Sweden, Britain cannot appeal UN panel finding that his detention is arbitrary, says AP. 5:15 pm: DGCA cites following violations- 5.Passengers could've been hurt in case of clear weather turbulence 6. Crew wasn't aware of cabin activity in Sonu Nigam-Jet Airways issue. 5:00 pm: DGCA cites following violations- 1. PA system was used for song which is violation of procedures in Sonu Nigam-Jet Airways issue 4:45 pm: Tanzanian delegation scheduled to meet K'taka HM G Parameshwara and senior Police officials at HM's office at 6 pm Tanzanian Girl in Bengaluru. 4:30 pm: Sonu Nigam-Jet airways issue: Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) summons Jet Airways officials. Jet Airways officials to appear before DGCA on 10th February (Wednesday). 4:25 pm: LG has also appealed to the MCD Employee Unions to call off their strike and resume work in the interest of the city and the people of Delhi. MCD workers strike issue: LG assures,he'll speak to Delhi Govt on implementation of 4th Finance Commission Report to find long term solution. 4:20 pm: MCD workers strike issue: LG Najeeb Jung makes a unilateral offer of Rs. 300 crores loan to the North and East Corporations from the DDA. 4:15 pm: Unit 1 of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant was closed down last night at 10:35pm following a steam leak. 4:10 pm: 87 people trapped after a building collapse above a mine in South Africa: AP 4:05 pm: EAM Sushma Swaraj meets Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo. 4:00 pm: Sakurajima volcano erupts explosively in southern Japan; lava flowing down slope: AP 3:55 pm: Whatever protocols have been laid must be followed,mike system is to be used by the authorised person only. There has been violation of specific protocols. Norms should've been maintained: Mahesh Sharma (Mos, Civil Aviation) on Sonu Nigam,Jet airways issue. 3:50 pm: Sensex ends at 24,616.97, up by 278 points, Nifty at 7489.10. 3:40 pm: Delhi HC stays December 18, 2015 order by Directorate of Education on Nursery admission upper age limit. Parents can apply for nursery admission of children above 4 years by February 9 (Tuesday). 3:35 pm: 43 Naxals surrender before police in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. 3:30 pm: According to me, there is no safety violation in this. Crew should've taken permission from management but such impromptu activities take place worldwide: Harshvardhan, Aviation expert on Sonu Nigam. 3:25 pm:Is it not the responsibility to find out those people and intimate the Centre or MEA to send them out of the country?: Sadananda Gowda. 3:20 pm: It is learnt that state govt itself said that more than 1000 foreign students whose visa has expired are still in Bengaluru: Sadananda Gowda. 3:10 pm: Court issues notice to Unions of MCD workers, Doctors and nurses on strike, asks them to file reply on Monday. 3:00 pm: We won't let the BJP Govt to run a Govt that acts only in interest of 3-4 of their capitalist friends- Rahul Gandhi. 2:55 pm: PCC Presidents informed me of how BJP disturbs policies which Cong started for the poor; we will give them befitting response: Rahul Gandhi. 2:50 pm:For some time we have been talking about how BJP Govt does not work for the poor, workers, the farmers: Rahul Gandhi. 2:45 pm: Jalandhar: Woman thrashes Indane gas agency worker who eve-teased her on call when she called to book gas cylinder. 2:40 pm: Any time we play an Asia Cup, especially when we play Pakistan, Bangladesh its pretty heated-R Ashwin. 2:30 pm: Delhi: KYS protest against HRD Minister Smriti Irani. 2:20 pm: Maharashtra Govt cancels Government Resolution (GR) of 1983 by which many personalities were allotted cheap lands including Hema Malini. 2:16 pm: 5 airhostesses of Jet Airways suspended for allowing playback singer Sonu Nigam to sing from plane's address system. 2:00 pm: We're continuously working towards coastal security. Have also sanctioned 114 new posts of coastal police: Rajnath Singh, HM in Daman & Diu. 1:50 pm: Tanzanian woman assault: Four more people arrested. 1:40 pm: Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja engaged to Reeva Solanki in Rajkot. 1.27 pm: Four more persons arrested. Total 9 arrests made so far in the case on TanzanianGirl Assault Case. 1.15 pm: PM Narendra Modi speaking at a rally in Moran (Dibrugarh, Assam) 1.00 pm: SC will continue hearing on appeal of Maharashtra Govt on 12th Feb in Salman Khan hit and run case. 12.35 pm: Around 40 VHP workers detained by Police while protesting and disrupting shoot of Shahrukh Khan's film Raees in Mandvi (Kutch, Gujarat). 12.30 pm: EAM Sushma Swaraj arrives in Colombo (Sri Lanka). 12.16 pm: A suspected sympathiser of the ISIS has been detained in Delhi. He is alleged to have helped four youth try and join the ISIS. 11.55 am: Delhi HC rebukes MCD on their strike, asks MCD Counsels to appear before the bench within 15 mins. 11.04 am: SC dismisses plea of Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury against Delhi HC order asking him to vacate a govt bungalow in Delhi. 10.50 am: Woman's safety helpline service #181 in Delhi on the verge of collapse, employees not paid for 3 months, cab services unpaid for 8 months. 10.04 am: MCD strike enters day 10: Workers protest in Delhi's Bhajanpura area over non-payment of salary dues. 9.18 am: Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition walk out from Kerala assembly over Solar scam issue Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition walk out from Kerala assembly over #solarscam issue. pic.twitter.com/kLDhG8ihDZ ANI (@ANI_news) February 5, 2016 8.28 am: DGCA action: 5 air hostesses of Jet Airways grounded for allowing Sonu Nigam to sing from the plane's address system. 8.08 am: Tamil Nadu: Kanyakumari-Bangalore Express derails near Tiruppattur, no casualties reported. 8.00 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate the 12th South Asian Games in Guwahati in which 8 countries are participating. OneIndia News Odisha seeks sizable amount in railway budget 2016-17 India oi-IANS By Ians English Bhubaneswar, Feb 5: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday urged Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu to allocate a sizable amount of Railway Budget 2016-17 for strengthening and expanding rail infrastructure in the state. In a letter to Prabhu, Patnaik said the railway route length and rail density in Odisha is very much below than national average as also substantially lower than that in neighboring states. "In contrast, gross earnings from various stations in the state of Odisha is estimated to be in excess of Rs.14,000 crore during the year 2014-15," he said. Noting Odisha continues to be one of the most preferred destinations for investment especially in metal, mining and power sectors, he said the nature of industrial activities in the state requires a robust and well planned railway infrastructure for its sustainability. He said his government would extend all help for implementation of railway projects in the state, adding the state has already signed the state specific umbrella MoU with the railway ministry for setting up a JV company for taking up new rail projects in the state with cost sharing of 51 percent by the state government and 49 percent by Indian Railways. Though the MoU has been signed over 3 months back, the formation of company is awaiting cabinet clearance, he said, requesting this be expedited so that the new projects in the state then can be taken up through the defined route envisaged in the MoU. He said the other MoU that was signed between Coal India, Indian Railway and Odisha government for creating rail infrastructure to evacuate coal deposits of the state has been operationalised by forming a SPV company. Informing that the state has attracted Rs.8,85,000 crores in diverse sectors and a comprehensive plan has been prepared for developing deep water sea ports along its coast, he urged to extend the eastern dedicated freight corridor from Dankuni to Berhampur to ensure seamless movement of freight between the upcoming ports including the major port at Paradip. He also requested to introduce some express trains and set up new divisional headquarters at Rayagada, Jajpur-Keonjhar road and Rourkela by extending the jurisdiction of East Coast Railway. IANS PDP says it is awaiting Delhi's response over its CBM demands India oi-PTI Jammu, Feb 5: The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday said it is awaiting New Delhi's reponse over its demand for CBMs (Confidence Building Measures) to be taken by the BJP government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for paving way for early government formation. "We are clear on our side. They (Centre) have to do it. We have nothing to do", PDP Spokesman Naeem Akhtar told PTI tonight. Asked whether there was response from New Delhi, he said "no". Meanwhile, Mehbooba today visited Jammu region's party headquarters at Gandhi Nagar for the second consecutive day and met party leaders, activists and people. "She visited the Party office today met people there. She would also visit party office tomorrow and meet people", Akhtar said. Mehbooba visited the party headquarters here for the first time yesterday since Sayeed's death on January 7. She kept away from speaking to media. Yesterday, the party's MLC and spokesman Firdos Tak said BJP will need to respond to issues raised by Mehbooba before any steps could be taken for coalition government formation. "She (Mehbooba Ji) has categorically stated that some CBMs need to taken by the Centre. BJP has sought time. It is they who will have to explain," he said. "Both coalition partners have to sit and decide," he said. On BJP leader Ram Madav's statement there will be no condition for the formation of the government, Tak said, "there are no fresh conditions from PDP side. We want the implementation of the 'Agenda of Alliance' formed by both the coalition partners." With regard to time-line for formation of the government, he said, "Until the CMBs are not initiated (by New Delhi), there can be no government formation. Mehbooba had asserted after meeting Governor N N Vohra yesterday that PDP "cannot move forward" in forming government with BJP unless the Centre takes "tangible" CBMs to address the causes of alienation and works towards a lasting solution to the state's problems. BJP had asked the Governor for 10 days' time to "resolve whatever is outstanding" with PDP. PTI Rahul assures strict action in Tanzanian student assault case India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 5: Under attack by BJP for being "silent", Rahul Gandhi today said strict action will be taken in the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student in Bangalore that has triggered a nationwide outrage. Gandhi said he told the Chief Minister that "strict action is to be taken and it will be taken". "I condemn 100 per cent this type of action," the Congress Vice President told reporters, adding that he spoke to the party General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka to look into the matter and speak to the Chief Minister. Nine persons have been arrested so far since the incident happened on Sunday night when the 21-year-old Tanzanian student went through the ordeal in vigilante justice by an angry mob in a case of "mistaken identity" after a woman was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese here. The Tanzanian woman was reportedly dragged out of the car in which she was seated along with her three friends when she reached the accident spot with the miscreants mistaking them to have caused the fatal accident though a Sudanese was involved in it, police said. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has denied that the Tanzanian woman was stripped and paraded naked, claiming that it was not a racial attack. PTI TS EAMCET 2022 Seat Allotment Result 2022 for round 2 on Oct 16: How to check and more Repolling under way in one division of Greater Hyderabad India oi-IANS By Ians English Hyderabad, Feb 5: Repolling is under way in one division of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Friday amid tight security, officials said. The polling in 36 booths in Puranapul division in the old city began at 7 a.m. State election commission officials said 15 percent voters cast their votes in the first two hours. The polling will continue till 5 p.m. More than 34,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The election commission ordered the repoll in view of the complaints of rigging and violence during the elections held on Tuesday. Forces including paramilitary personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls. Joint commissioner of police Shivaprasad said they were taking all measures to prevent violence. Outsiders are not being allowed in the division. The police officer appealed to leaders of all parties to exercise restraint. The division had witnessed a clash between leaders of Congress and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Tuesday. MIM activists in the presence of their party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had attacked Congress party's Telangana unit chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Mirchowk police station when the latter had come there to demand release of their party candidate Mohammed Ghouse. During the polling held in all 150 divisions, 45.27 percent voters turned out to exercise their franchise. Due to the repolling in Puranapul, counting of votes has been delayed. The process, which was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday, will now be taken up from 3 p.m. GHMC commissioner and special Janardhan Reddy said the results will be announced after 5 p.m. IANS Netaji files: Nehru rewarded man who stole Subhas Chandra Bose's INA treasure? India oi-Mukul New Delhi, Feb 5: Shocking revelations have come to light which will surely leave Congress red-faced once again. Reportedly, recently released declassified files on Subhash Chandra Bose have confirmed that Netaji's Indian National Army treasure was looted. Gandhi, Nehru saw Netaji as threat to their positions: Subramanian Swamy Embarrassing fact for Congress is that the first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru was aware of the development but he maintained silence over it. Not only that, Nehru reportedly rewarded one of the aides for the same. As per media reports, correspondence between Japan and India during that time (1951 to 1955) shows that Nehru knew about the theft. In declassified files, it has been said that two ex-aides of Netaji - Munga Ramamurti, SA Ayer were involved in the misappropriation of INA funds which was approximately worth $700,000. Reports say that both the aides SA Ayer and Munga Ramamurti were rewarded with plum offers in government department. Nehru government made Ayer publicity adviser of flagship Five Year Plans while Ramamurti was also helped to flourish in Japan. In 2012, author Anuj Dhar also wrote a book with title "India's biggest cover-up" where he wrote about the scam extensively. A TOI report says that on May 21, 1951, Tokyo Mission head K K Chettur had also raised suspicions about two aides of Netaji who were sent on a James Bond-esque mission to establish Netaji's death. Chettur had written a letter to commonwealth relations secretary B N Chakravarty and expressed his annoyance over the same. "As you are no doubt aware, there have been serious allegations against Ramamurti with regard to the misappropriation of the funds of the late Indian Independence League, as also the personal property of the late Subhas Chandra Bose, consisting of considerable quantities of diamonds, jewellery, gold and other valuable articles. Rightly or wrongly, Ayer's name has also been associated with these charges...'', Chettur wrote. The letter further said, "there is a party here who has seen the (treasure) boxes in Ayer's rooms and who was also to buy off the contents of these few boxes. What happened to these boxes subsequently is a mystery as all that we have got from Ayer is 300 gms of gold and about 260 rupees worth of cash.'' OneIndia News Delhi air quality projected to cross 301 by Sat; GRAP stage II comes into effect ahead of Diwali IRCTC update: 140 trains cancelled on October 20; here is the complete list Partial solar eclipse on Diwali: Can you perform Lakshmi Puja on Oct 25? Sushma Swaraj leaves for Sri Lanka India oi-IANS By Ians English New Delhi, Feb 5: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left here on Friday on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka during which she will attend a meeting of the joint commission of the two South Asian neighbours. "Leaving for Sri Lanka! EAM @SushmaSwaraj departs for the 9th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting in Colombo," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The joint commission is co-chaired by Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation. Ahead of Swaraj's visit, Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday's joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries. Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. During the course of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. On Saturday, the Indian minister will inaugurate a "Rise of Digital India" exhibition as part of "Sangam - Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16". The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India. The re-framing of the Sri Lankan constitution and the issue of Indian fishermen might also come up during the course of the discussions between the two sides. IANS Who in India can see partial solar eclipse 2022 on Oct 25 Delhi air quality projected to cross 301 by Sat; GRAP stage II comes into effect ahead of Diwali Suspected operative having ISIS link sent to police custody India oi-PTI New Delhi, Feb 5: A suspected terror operative, who is alleged to have links with dreaded outfit ISIS, was today remanded to police custody till February 10 by a Delhi court. 28-year-old Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed, who was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police yesterday, was produced before Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh and the probe agency sought his custodial interrogation in connection with busting of the alleged ISIS module. The police told the court that Sayyed was required to be quizzed to unearth the entire module and to ascertain the identities of other persons associated with it. Advocate Akram Khan, who appeared for Sayyed, opposed the plea saying his client has been falsely implicated. The police had last month arrested four persons with suspected ISIS links from Manglour in Uttarakhand and claimed to have unearthed a terror plot to target the Ardh Kumbh Mela at Haridwar, especially the trains headed there, along with some strategic locations in the national capital. The suspects were identified as Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Mohammed Osama, Mohammed Azim Shah and Mehroz. According to police, Sayyed, who is believed to be self- radicalised, was acting as a financier and had given Rs 50,000 to the four persons who were arrested earlier. All of them were found to have links with a former Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorist who later went to fight for ISIS, the police said. "The arrested persons were allegedly in contact with a former IM operative, who later went for training in Syria and is presently believed to be a key member of Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT) which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)," the police said. PTI Tanzanian attacked: Central team, Bengaluru police to undertake confidence building exercise India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Feb 5: A central team will visit Bengaluru on Friday to speak with the African students in the aftermath of a Tanzanian girl being attacked. The team of the Ministry for External Affairs will be accompanied by members of the Tanzanian high commission as well. The Tanzanian High Commissioner, John Kijazi will also be part of the delegation that would visit Bengaluru today. The move is more of a confidence building exercise by the Ministry for External Affairs. The MEA wants to reassure the students that they are safe here and all necessary measures would be taken to prevent any such incidents in the future. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Vikas Swarup had termed the incident as an isolated one. It was a chain reaction after the accident which led to this shameful incident, he had said. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru the police are urging the students to actively participate in the coordination committee that had been set up. Last year a committee with a nodal officer had been set up to address the grievances of foreign students. The nodal officer would address issues pertaining to racial discrimination, visa problems among other issues. Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) P Harishekharan who was instrumental in setting up this committee said that the police had coordinated with students in the past as well and addressed problems. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2016, 10:37 [IST] Tanzanian attacked: Everyone seems to be contradicting India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Feb 5: There are contradictions galore involving the incident in which a Tanzanian national was assaulted by an irate mob at Bengaluru on Sunday. The official version of the incident narrated by home minister of Karnataka, G Parameshwara is that the girl was assaulted by a mob which went on a rampage following an accident. Following the incident there have been several African students who have been speaking with the media. A couple of them that OneIndia spoke with say this was a racial attack. However on the other hand they also say that it is not rampant in Bengaluru, but there is a cause for concern as people tend to differentiate us due to our skin colour. The contradiction is relating to the actual incident and the follow up action. Students have been alleging that the police are pressurising the victim not to speak with the media, but the girl herself denies that as she has been regularly speaking with the press. Contradictions and police action: While on one hand there are contradictory statements that are being issued there is also a key question relating to the action taken by the police on the night of the incident. First and foremost the police were unable to get the mob under control when they went on a rampage following the accident in which an Indian lady had died. When the mob approached the car in which the Tanzanian student was present, there is a big question mark on whether the police handled that situation well. The night patrol vehicle of the police arrived at the spot. The police took the driver of the car to the hospital. The question is why did they leave the girl behind there with not much protection especially when the mob fury was still high. This is something that the police will have to probe into to find out if the handling of the situation was right in the first place. The probe has been handed over to the City Crime Branch. It has in its custody five persons- Lokesh Bangari, Venkatesh Ramaiah, Saleem Pasha, Banu Prakash and Rehmatullah. The police say that they were part of the mob which assaulted the girl. Further the police say that there was no molestation and neither was the girl paraded naked as it had been alleged. Such contradictory statements especially made to the media is only adding fuel to the fire, a police officer says. It hurts the probe and those making such statements without ascertaining facts must understand that it will not only hurt the probe but also cause panic among the other students. OneIndia News For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, February 5, 2016, 10:32 [IST] Tanzanian attacked: Locals say we share your pain, but respect us too India oi-Vicky Bengaluru, Feb 5: The issue relating to the assault on a Tanzanian woman at Bengaluru is turning out to be a full blown diplomatic issue. A team of the Ministry of External Affairs along with a Tanzanian envoy will visit Bengaluru on Friday to meet with students and assure them of their safety. Bosco Kaweesi, the legal adviser of the All African Student's Association says that the students are worried, but will not leave the city. They are here to complete their education and will do so. If Dadri was worse, assaulting Africans is worst: But where are the 'pained' liberals now? In Bengaluru city the issue is being viewed in two different ways. While the residents of Kamanahalli where the African student population is the highest have deplored the incident in which a woman was attacked on the other hand they have also been complaining about the behaviour of some of the students for long. Respect locals On Thursday the Home Minister of Karnataka, Dr G Parameshwar while addressing a packed presser said that they are doing everything to ensure the safety of the students from foreign countries. The probe into this deplorable incident has been handed over to the specialised City Crime Branch and already five persons have been arrested he said. The minister also issued a subtle warning to those students who have been overstaying and said their embassies would be informed. He further requested them to also respect the locals. The locals have frequently complained to the police about loud music, prostitution rackets, drug peddling and road rage. There have been a series of incidents involving Nigerians which have not gone down too well with the locals. In May 2012 a Nigerian was arrested for allegedly raping a Manipuri girl at a nursing college in Bengaluru. Tanzanian woman incident: NCW sends notice to Karnataka govt In June 2015 six Nigerians were arrested for online fraud in the city. On July 6 2015, six Nigerian girls were arrested by the police after they assaulted a bus conductor. Two months back a couple of African students entered into a scuffle with the police at Kamanahalli when they tried to stop a party. The residents had complained that the music was too loud and they were partying late into the night. Six years back one African student was arrested after he assaulted four cops near the M S Ramaiah college when he was stopped for rash driving. We spoke to some of the locals about this issue. Speaking of the incident involving the Tanzanian girl, Vasudha a resident of Kamanahalli says that she shares her pain. It is not about an assault on a Tanzanian national. We would have been pained if it had been anyone. Vasudha also adds that there have been complaints made by the residents about the activities of some African students. We hope that their envoy will also advise them to respect locals and the police here, she adds. Cops are helpless at times The latest incident is a classic example of how issues involving foreign nationals and students in particular can blow into a full fledged diplomatic issue. The African students are large in number and most of them are students. Educational institutions gain a lot from them. The police however add that they are ready to provide all protection to them, but they too must learn to respect the locals and the law. The local laws apply to them, but each time we attempt to arrest anyone, they tell us that they want to talk with their embassy. In most of the cases low ranking police officials let them go because they do not want to be answering New Delhi when the embassies of these students rake up the issue. This case on hand is a classic example. The Tanzanian envoy has said in New Delhi that she was attacked because she was a black. The police has been trying to say that this was not a racial attack. The Karnataka Home Minister too said yesterday that the incident was not racist in nature. OneIndia News J&K: Two LeT terrorists shot dead in encounter, Policy say one of them killed Rajasthan bank manager 11-year-old shot in the head by Taliban militants International oi-Sandra Kabul, Feb 5: An 11-year-old- Afghan boy, who was known for leading security forces into battle against Taliban, was killed by militants last week, authorities have said. The boy, Wasil Ahmad, was known to have lead a police unit against the Taliban in a deadly 71-day siege last year. According to reports, gunmen on bikes shot the boy in the head at a market. He was immediately taken to a local hospital from where he was shifted to a well-equipped hospital in Kandahar where he died of his injuries. Taliban later on claimed responsibility for the killing. Ahmad took to the battlefield after his father died fighting with the Taliban. It was his uncle who taught him how to use machine guns. Inspite of laws prohibiting the use of children in warfare, Ahmad was known to have played an active part in battles with Taliban. Ahmad's uncle was a former Taliban fighter but later switched sides and fought for the Afghan government. Ahmad's work was appreciated by local authorities. Ahmad had recently enrolled in a school but the school shut for winter holidays following which he was shot in the head. OneIndia News Even if not contesting 2020 polls, Hillary Clinton will not be entirely out of scene Hillary Clinton says Julian Assange must 'answer for what he has done' Clinton, Sanders spar over progressive label, Wall Street, foreign policy International oi-IANS By Ians English Washington, Feb 5: With the battle for the Democratic presidential nomination reduced to a direct contest between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, the two clashed over foreign policy to Wall Street, but most of all over who was a true progressive. In the first one-on-one Democratic debate in Durham, New Hampshire Thursday ahead of next Tuesday's primary battle, an angry Clinton accused Sanders of delivering an "artful smear" by suggesting her political favour could be bought by rich donors. "If you have something to say, say it," Clinton said reacting to Sanders' suggestion that the former secretary of state was a progressive on "some days" and that she could not be a moderate and a progressive at the same time. Defending herself as a progressive who gets results and has spent decades working on children's rights and health care, she said: "I am not making promises that I can't keep." Clinton said that by Sanders' definition of progressive politics, there would be nobody left in the movement, including President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. Sanders hit back by pointing out that Clinton had referred to herself as a moderate at an event in Ohio last year. And he said that Obama and Biden had done a "fantastic job" pulling America back from the Great Recession. "Do I think President Obama is a progressive? Yes, I do," Sanders said, though he added that he disagreed with the President on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact. Sanders billed himself as the true outsider candidate in the race, while suggesting that Clinton was the candidate of the establishment. He argued that she would never be able to get money out of politics because she has a multimillion-dollar super PAC. Super PACs are supposedly independent political committees that support a candidate with unlimited, often anonymous, donations from companies, unions, or individuals. On foreign policy, Clinton sought to deflect criticism over her 2002 vote to authorise the war in Iraq by saying, "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS." She argued that it is now more important to defeat the terror group that has taken over vast areas of Iraq and Syria than continue to argue about the roots of the Iraq War. Sanders countered that the decision on whether to wage war on Iraq was a question of judgment and recalled that he cast an opposite vote to Clinton's while he was a member of the House. On the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server for official work, Clinton said she was "100 percent confident" that it would not become a problem that derailed her campaign. "I never sent or received any classified material. They are retroactively classifying it," she said referring to recent disclosures that some of the emails on her server would not be released because they contain information classified "top secret." "I think the American people will know that it's an absurdity. I have absolutely no concerns about it whatsoever." Sanders said that he had declined chances to attack Clinton on the issue as "There's a process underway. I will not politicize it." According to the latest polls Sanders has a two to one lead (61 percent-to-30 percent) over Clinton in New Hampshire, but she leads him 51.8 percent to 36.3 percent nationally IANS Hafiz Saeed leads anti-India rally on 'Kashmir Day' in Pak International oi-PTI Lahore, Feb 5: JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed today led a march in Islamabad and his outfit across several cities, ranting on the Kashmir issue, showing defiance in the face of India asking Pakistan to "rein in" the terror group. A day after Saeed warned of more Pathankot-style attacks, the Jamaat Ud-Dawah men took out rallies in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad to mark 'Kashmir Solidarity Day'. The JuD chief led the rally in Islamabad while his relative Hafiz Abdur Rehman Maki addressed a big gathering in Lahore. The ruling PML-N, Jamaat-i-Islami and other political and religious parties also held rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris. The JuD also held several camps in Lahore which showed videos about "atrocities" in Kashmir on big screens. Addressing a 'Solidarity Kashmir Conference' in Mirpur yesterday, Saeed said "Pakistan should be thankful" to Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council that had claimed responsibility for the Pathankot terror attack. "Syed Salahuddin is a great well-wisher of Pakistan. He has taken Pakistan out of trouble by accepting the responsibility of Pathankot airbase attack. Pakistan should be thankful to him," said the founder leader of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. Saeed warned India that if "war" in Kashmir further prolonged it would have to pay a heavy price for it. India yesterday asked Pakistan to "rein in" the JuD chief, voicing grave concern over his activities after the Mumbai terror attack mastermind warned of more Pathankot-style attacks. The JuD chief said, "On the occasion of Kashmir Day I want more intensity in the freedom struggle. Every child in Pakistan is ready to sacrifice his life for Kashmirs freedom." "Our Constitution also demands us to support Kashmiris in their freedom struggle," he added. Saeed asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to sever relations with India and said that there should be no relations with it "till Kashmir is freed". The UN declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. The US has already put a USD 10 million bounty on his head. Saeed, who orchestrated the November, 2008, Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan despite being a designated terrorist and has made many anti-India remarks and speeches. PTI Spain reports first known case of Zika-infected pregnant woman International oi-PTI Madrid, Feb 5: Spain said on Friday that a pregnant woman who had returned from Colombia had been diagnosed with the Zika virus, in the first such known European case. "One of the patients diagnosed in (the northeastern region of) Catalonia is a pregnant woman, who showed symptoms after having travelled to Colombia," the health ministry announced, adding she is one of seven cases in Spain and all are in good condition. List of countries which are affected by Zika Virus The mosquito-borne virus -- thought to cause birth defects -- has seen an outbreak in the Americas and health authorities have warned it could infect up to four million people on the continent and spread worldwide. The disease starts with a mosquito bite and normally causes little more than a fever and rash. But since October, Brazil has reported 404 confirmed cases of microcephaly where the baby's head is abnormally small -- up from 147 in 2014 -- plus 3,670 suspected cases. The timing has fuelled strong suspicions that Zika is causing the birth defect. The virus has also been linked to a potentially paralysing nerve disorder called Guillain-Barre syndrome in some patients. Spain's health ministry nevertheless sought to ease concerns, pointing out that all seven patients had caught the disease abroad. Canada moves to protect blood supply from Zika virus "Up to now, the diagnosed cases of Zika virus in Spain don't risk spreading the virus in our country as they are imported cases," it said. So far in Europe, all those diagnosed with the disease caught it while travelling abroad, and none of them were pregnant -- until now. The news comes a day after South American health ministers held an emergency meeting in Uruguay on the disease. The meeting focused on ways to control the mosquito population spreading the virus, though reports of a US patient catching the disease by having sex fuelled fears that it will not be easy to contain. Indian drugs company Bharat Biotech, for instance, said it was developing the world's first Zika vaccine and was ready to test it on animals. Brazil said it was sending more than 500,000 personnel out to clean up mosquito breeding grounds and advise people about the disease. PTI Sushma Swaraj arrives in Lanka on 2-day visit International oi-PTI Colombo, Feb 5: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrived here on Friday, Feb 5 on a two-day visit to hold talks with the top Sri Lankan leadership during which the issues of fishermen and Tamils' rights are likely to figure prominently. Swaraj, who is visiting Colombo for the second time within a year, was received by her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera at the airport lounge. The two leaders will co-chair the 9th Joint Commission meeting to discuss key bilateral and regional issues today. The talks will cover the entire gamut of relationship pertaining to economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to- people contact. The joint commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January 2013. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said yesterday that the fishermen issue is expected to figure during Swaraj's meeting with the Lankan leaders. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Though the fishermen's associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem, Swarup had said, adding that India wants a long-term solution. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. The issue of rights of minority Tamil community is also expected to come up for discussions during Swaraj's meetings. Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had last month said his government was ready to devolve power to minority Tamils under a new Constitution, aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict and achieving reconciliation with Tamils. Swaraj will also call on President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga besides meeting other top leaders. She will inaugurate a 'Rise of Digital India' exhibition tomorrow as part of 'Sangam' festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-2016. The exhibition will showcase the phenomenal rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India which is positively impacting the everyday lives of people. India-Sri Lanka relations had seen lows during last few years of the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was voted out of power, even as China had expanded its footprint in the country by building ports, highways and participating in other infrastructure projects. The ties gained momentum after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi here in March last year, the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in over 25 years. PTI Trump forgets Iowa; Bush, Christie gang up on Rubio International oi-IANS By Ians English Washington, Feb 5: A day after accusing rival Ted Cruz of stealing the first Republican nomination contest in Iowa by fraud and asking for a rematch in the state, Donald Trump is now focused on the next battle in New Hampshire. "I'm so much into this, into New Hampshire, that I just - I don't care about that anymore," he told CNN Thursday in Manchester, New Hampshire, five days before the Feb 9 primary contest there. "This is the place I'm focused on now." The billionaire Republican frontrunner had let loose a tirade of angry tweets accusing the Texas senator of committing "fraud" in Iowa over Cruz campaign's controversial actions over a CNN report about retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson going home for a "change of clothes" after the Iowa caucuses. Some Cruz allies shared that news widely on the night of the caucuses, including to Carson supporters, but did not include the part about Carson remaining in the race. Cruz has since apologized to Carson. Trump told CNN Thursday that some "strange things" appeared to have happened in Iowa, and that the Cruz campaign's actions likely hurt him more than Carson. "I like Ben Carson very much and he got pretty roughed up, frankly," Trump said. "Although it affected me maybe more than Ben." But Trump added: "Who cares?" He also laughed off Cruz's comment that Trump had thrown a "Trumper-tantrum" after Iowa. "I actually like that phrase," he said. "That's good, I better trademark it." Meanwhile, after their poor showing in Iowa, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Florida governor Jeb Bush have joined forces to discredit Senator Marco Rubio, who finished a strong third in Iowa, according to the New York Times. Over the last two days Christie has mocked Rubio "as a cosseted 'boy in the bubble,' derided him as 'constantly scripted,' likened him to 'the king of England,' and, perhaps most creatively, compared his Senate career to that of a helpless fourth grader who is told which chair to sit in at school," the Times said. Christie and Bush's shared concern over the rise of Rubio "has even prompted the opening of a back channel: Members of the Bush and Christie campaigns have communicated about their mutual desire to halt Rubio's rise in the polls," the influential daily said citing Republican operatives familiar with the conversations. IANS WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should walk free, rules UN panel International oi-PTI Geneva/London, Feb 5: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be freed, a UN panel ruled on Friday, Feb 5, as it called on the UK and Sweden to compensate the whistleblower for his "arbitrary detention" of over five years. "The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention considers that the various forms of deprivation of liberty to which Julian Assange has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention," said Seong-Phil Hong, who currently heads the expert panel of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. "The Working Group maintains that the arbitrary detention of Mr Assange should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected, and that he should be entitled to an enforceable right to compensation," Hong added. However, both Sweden and the UK rejected the ruling - which is non-binding - saying it "changes nothing". The 44-year-old Australian, who founded the WikiLeaks in 2006 that released 500,000 secret US military files on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and 250,000 diplomatic cables enraging Washington, has been holed up in the Ecuadorean embassy in central London to avoid extradition to Sweden to face a rape investigation. Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador, which has housed him since 2012 at its embassy where he lives in a small room and has likened his confinement to living in a space station. In 2014, the computer hacker had complained to the UN against the UK and Sweden that he was being "arbitrarily detained" in the Ecuadorean embassy as he could not leave its premises without being arrested. Two women have accused him of sexual assault - a charge he has denied. Last year, Swedish prosecutors dropped two cases of sexual assault against him and has not been formally charged by them. Assange fears he will be extradited to the US from Sweden where he faces espionage charges on account of leaking secret American documents which among other issues also reveal the US and UK's grim conduct in Iraq of war crimes, torture and summary executions. In its official opinion, the Working Group considered that Assange had been subjected to different forms of deprivation of liberty: initial detention in Wandsworth Prison in London, followed by house arrest and then confinement at the Ecuadorean Embassy since his arrest in London on December 7, 2010. Following the ruling of the UN panel, the British government said: "We completely reject any claim that Julian Assange is a victim of arbitrary detention. The UK has already made clear to the UN that we will formally contest the working group's opinion." "The opinion of the UN working group ignores the facts and the well-recognised protections of the British legal system. He is, in fact, voluntarily avoiding lawful arrest by choosing to remain in the Ecuadorean embassy," it said. Swedish Prosecution Authority said the call from the UN working group "has no formal impact on the ongoing investigation, according to Swedish law". In a statement published by the WikiLeaks on Twitter yesterday, Assange said: "Should the UN announce tomorrow that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal." "However, should I prevail and the state parties be found to have acted unlawfully, I expect the immediate return of my passport and the termination of further attempts to arrest me." The UK has stationed Met Police for round-the-clock guard outside the Ecuadorean embassy to arrest Assange if he leaves the premises of the embassy. In view of Assange's deteriorating health, his US lawyer Carey Shenkman had said last year that "by claiming that Mr. Assange must give up his asylum in order to receive medical treatment, the UK government is forcing him to choose between the human right to asylum and the human right to medical treatment. No one should ever have to face that choice." The Australian was arrested in 2010 under a European arrest warrant issued by Sweden but claimed asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy while on bail. Any decision by the group would not be legally binding, but other people have reportedly been released in the past on the basis of its rulings. 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Learn more PNG Women in Business Founder and strong women advocator, Mrs. Janet Sape has been invited by the Indian High Commission to represent PNG in a very important trip to India.The Indian High Commissioner to PNG his Excellency Mr. Shri Nagendre Kumar Saxena told the media that this trip is important because of what PNG can learn from India from its industries, its economy, but importantly how the people in SMEs are supported by the government.The High Commissioner said, Janet will be visit to see how the Indian economy has evolved into the 3rd largest economy in the world.The trip will also involve meetings with government officials and Mrs. Sape is looking forward to learning and sharing ideas with the Indian dignitaries.PNG has a lot to learn from India given that India over the years has developed into an economic superpower, plus how the country supports local farmers and business operators in developing the economy and together changing the face of the country is something to learn from.At the same time, India also would like to strengthen more its bilateral relationship with PNG and this trip is one way to build a stronger bond between the two countries.India also is a big contributor in beefing up services and developments in the country through its continuous support in all the sectors.Mrs. Sape leaves for the 10 days trip to India tomorrow and will be accompanied by Sir Nagora Bogan. They will both be joined also by representatives of other pacific island nations who will be going on the same trip. Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: The creation of Cayman Enterprise City is what separates the Cayman Islands away from the "competition," stated Peter Huber, the Global Head of Fiduciary Services at Maples Fund Services and a member of the Executive Management team during the Opalesque Cayman Roundtable. He explained that the Enterprise City allows a number of investment managers and ancillary service providers, primarily in the technology space, are able to utilize to fast-track incorporations, work permits and the like, and also gives them the opportunity to operate and maintain a physical presence in the Cayman Islands with a very simple and cost-effective structure and framework. "This is just one example of many of how we have been able to differentiate ourselves as a jurisdiction in a competitive global marketplace," Huber added. According to Huber, business in Cayman is mostly fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit in the U.S. and elsewhere. As the fund management industry in the U.S. and across the globe builds, so does the business in the Cayman Islands as most of these funds set up business on the island. He continued, "There are a number of reasons why that is and many of them have been mentioned, such as Caymans strong legal framework and our stable economy. We have been generally correct with our cost structure to ser...................... To view our full article Click here The New York State Common Retirement Fund is hiring Semper Capital to manage a $250 million opportunistic mortgage-backed securities mandate. The NYSCRF currently has over $180 billion of state employee pension assets. The New York State Common Retirement Fund is committed to opening its doors to up-and-coming managers such as Semper Capital Management, said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. We look forward to working with the Semper team to expand investment opportunities for the more than million members of the states Retirement System who depend on it. Were extremely excited to begin working with the NYSCRF, said Semper Capital CEO Greg Parsons. We are proud of our strong experience and expertise in managing MBS portfolios, and believe that a targeted boutique manager can offer tremendous value within a sector traditionally monopolized by a small number of very large firms. Semper Capital Management is minority owned and operated, and has been an SEC-registered investment advisor since 1992. Semper Capital specializes in mortgage-backed securities investment management, and currently manages over $1 billion in institutional separate accounts, private funds, and mutual funds. Strategies include absolute return, total return, and short duration strategies. The firms clients include public and corporate pension funds, banks, fund of funds, RIAs, and wealth management investors. Reprinted from Consortium News After nearly 15 years of Mideast war -- with those conflicts growing ever grimmer -- you might expect that peace would be a major topic of the 2016 presidential race. Instead, there has been a mix of warmongering bluster from most candidates and some confused mutterings against endless war from a few. No one, it seems, wants to risk offending Official Washington's neocon-dominated foreign policy establishment that is ready to castigate any candidate who suggests that there are other strategies -- besides more and more "regime changes" -- that might extricate the United States from the Middle East quicksand. Late in Thursday's Democratic debate -- when the topic of war finally came up -- former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continued toeing the neocon line, calling Iran the chief sponsor of terrorism in the world, when that title might objectively go to U.S. "allies," such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey, all of whom have been aiding Sunni jihadists fighting to overthrow Syria's secular regime. Israel also has provided help to Al Qaeda's Nusra Front, which has been battling Syrian troops and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters near the Golan Heights -- and Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians has played a key role in stirring up hatred and violence in the Middle East. But Clinton has fully bought into the neocon narrative, not especially a surprise since she voted for the Iraq War, pushed the disastrous Libyan "regime change" and has sought a limited U.S. military invasion of Syria (to prevent the Syrian army from securing its border with Turkey and reclaiming territory from jihadists and other rebels). Blasting Iran In Thursday's debate -- coming off her razor-thin victory in the Iowa caucuses -- Clinton painted Iran as the big regional threat, putting herself fully in line with the neocon position. "We have to figure out how to deal with Iran as the principal state sponsor of terrorism in the world," Clinton said. "They are destabilizing governments in the region. They continue to support Hezbollah and Hamas in Lebanon against Israel. ... "If we were to normalize relations right now [with Iran], we would remove one of the biggest pieces of leverage we have to try to influence and change Iranian behavior. ... I believe we have to take this step by step to try to rein in Iranian aggression, their support for terrorism and the other bad behavior that can come back and haunt us." Iran, of course, has been a longtime neocon target for "regime change" along with Syria (and before that Iraq). Many neocons were disappointed when President Barack Obama negotiated an agreement to ensure that Iran's nuclear program remained peaceful (an accord reached after John Kerry replaced Clinton as Secretary of State). The neocons had been hoping that the U.S. military would join Israel in an air war to "bomb-bomb-bomb Iran" -- as Sen. John McCain once famously declared. Yet, there were other distortions in Clinton's statement. While it's true that Iran has aided Hezbollah and Hamas in their resistance to Israel, Clinton ignored other factors, such as Israeli acts of aggression against both Lebanon, where Hezbollah emerged as resistance to an Israeli invasion and occupation in the 1980s, and the Palestinians who have faced Israeli oppression for generations. Silence on the "Allies" In the debate, Clinton also avoided criticism of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for their military and financial assistance to radical jihadists, including Al Qaeda's Nusra Front and Al Qaeda's spinoff, the Islamic State. At the urging of Clinton, the Obama administration also approved military shipments to Syrian rebels who then either turned over or sold U.S. weapons to the extremists. Iran's role in Syria has been to help support the internationally recognized government of Bashar al-Assad, whose military remains the principal bulwark protecting Syria's Christian, Alawite, Shiite and other minorities from possible genocide if Al Qaeda-connected jihadists prevailed. Clinton also ignored her own role in creating a haven for these terror groups across the Middle East because of her support for the Iraq War and her instigation of the 2011 "regime change" in Libya which created another failed state where Islamic State and various extremists have found a home and started chopping of the heads of "infidels." It's Super Bowl week on the Left Coast but the number one topic of conversation is not the Broncos or the Panthers, it's Hillary versus Bernie. That's a big change from three months ago, when we talked about the Warriors and the awfulness of Donald Trump. But now we have a real contest for the Democratic nomination. The Hillary versus Bernie controversy divides Berkeley households. While there are many females who argue that Clinton deserves a shot because "It's time the US elected a woman President," there are others plenty of others who support Sanders. Many Berkeley residents knew Hillary, in 1971, when she did a legal internship at the liberal Oakland law firm of Truehaft, Walker, and Burnstein. From that and other contacts, Berkeleyites like Clinton but many believe she is not as liberal as she once was. In contrast, Bernie Sanders never lived here but some activists knew him when he was involved in organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and Students for a Democratic Society. Almost without exception, Berkeleyites accept Bernie as a liberal. There are two lines of argument: whether major social change can happen suddenly or must occur incrementally. The other is whether Clinton or Sanders has the best chance of beating the Republican nominee. Many Berkeley Democrats ask, "How is Bernie going to accomplish his agenda?" They accept the legitimacy of leveling the playing field and getting big money out of politics, but doubt that Bernie can accomplish this. Clinton leads with voters who value her experience. At the January 17th Democratic debate, when asked what she would do in her first 100 days in office, Clinton replied, "I would work quickly to present to the Congress my plans for creating more good jobs in manufacturing, infrastructure, clean and renewable energy, raising the minimum wage, and guaranteeing, finally, equal pay for women's work" I would also be presenting my plans to build on the Affordable Care Act." In contrast, Sanders said, "So, what my first days are about is bringing America together, to end the decline of the middle class, to tell the wealthiest people in this country that yes, they are going to start paying their fair share of taxes, and that we are going to have a government that works for all of us, and not just big campaign contributors." University of California Economics Professor Robert Reich observed the two candidates have contrasting views about how Presidents make decisions. He described Clinton's perspective as the president as "deal-maker-in-chief"by which presidents buy off or threaten powerful opponents." Reich described Sanders' perspective as a kind of "agitator-in-chief, " where the president mobilizes "the public to demand [big things] and penalize(s) politicians who don't heed those demands." Clinton is running as an extension of President Obama. At the January 17th debate she said, "I want to be a president who takes care of the big problems and the problems that are affecting the people of our country everyday." At the same debate Sanders said, "Very little is going to be done to transform our economy and to create the kind of middle class we need unless we end a corrupt campaign finance system which is undermining American democracy".And what we have got to do is create a political revolution which revitalizes American democracy, which brings millions of young people and working people into the political process.' While some liberals question Sanders' "political revolution" notion, other remember that in the hardest slogging of the civil-rights era, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., called for "a revolution of values": "We must rapidly begin " the shift from a thing-oriented society to a person-oriented society. When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights, are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, extreme materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered." This inevitably leads to the concern about electability: Who has the best chance of defeating the republican nominee? Many Berkeley residents feel that Hillary has the best shot at beating Trump or Rubio or whomever. But in the latest Huffington Post ratings, Sanders beats Trump by 5.5 percent while Clinton beats Trump by 6.4 percent; Sanders beats Rubio by 4.5 percent, Clinton beats Rubio by .9 percent. The "elephant in the room" is Hillary's unfavorability ratings. In a recent Gallup article, pollster Frank Newport observed that Donald Trump has a 60 percent unfavorable rating, "He has a higher unfavorable rating than any nominated candidate from either of the two major parties going back to the 1992 election." Newport noted that Hillary Clinton has a 52 percent unfavorability rating compared to Bernie Sanders 31 percent. (Among Democrats Sanders "net favorable rating" is 4 points higher than Clintons. 53 percent to 49 percent.) The good news is that we have a real contest for the Democratic nomination and we will have lots of opportunity to talk about this between now and the July Democratic convention. Reprinted from The Guardian Although Paul was celebrated for his views on civil liberties and foreign policy, the Republican race found him pandering to the base in disappointing ways Senator Rand Paul dropped out of the Republican race on Wednesday, months after selling out his once-original candidacy to the whims and irrational fears of mainstream Republicans. Before presidential aspirations forced him to pander to the right, he was a promising candidate for those who care about privacy, constitutional rights and a foreign policy that does not cause destruction. Now his campaign will just be remembered as a disappointing lost opportunity. Rand Paul deserves credit for once having been a unique leader when it came to criminal justice reform. Long before it became a mainstream bipartisan cause -- before even many Democrats were vocal about the issue -- Paul regularly drew attention to the disparate impact harsh mandatory sentencing has on African Americans. He attacked the ridiculous, harmful nature of our marijuana laws when it was a virtually nonexistent subject on cable news. He was a champion of privacy rights, lambasting the NSA after the Snowden revelations and repeatedly giving powerful speeches defending Americans' right to keep their communications private unless the government has a warrant -- and he was quick to spar with the rest of his Republican comrades who didn't agree with him. (He also went overboard at times: he almost tanked the NSA reform bill known as the USA Freedom Act when he filibustered it for being too weak in 2015, and narrowly missed intelligence leaders watering it down even more after he delayed its passage.) He ridiculed members of his own party as neocon warmongers, and warned that the Isis war is illegal because Congress didn't authorize it -- an uncontroversial view among constitutional scholars, but something almost never uttered by politicians. He also almost single-handedly made the CIA drone program and drone strikes on Americans overseas a mainstream issue when he spent nearly 13 hours on the Senate floor talking about the issue to a rapt cable audience. But then, just as the presidential campaign was getting started, in his transparent attempt to pander to the wider Republican party, he started to backtrack on everything that made him so original. Shortly after his drones filibuster, he claimed that drone strikes on Americans actually are sometimes OK. He also started abandoning his foreign policy stances that so challenged conventional wisdom. He was once a proud defender of diplomacy over bombing but then, when the Iran deal seemed imminent, he suddenly changed his position to align with the rest of his party. Click Here to Read Whole Article Reprinted from Smirking Chimp Forty-eight years ago, a serious insurrection jeopardized the power structure of the national Democratic Party for the first time in memory. Propelled by the movement against the Vietnam War, that grassroots uprising cast a big electoral shadow soon after Sen. Eugene McCarthy dared to challenge the incumbent for the Democratic presidential nomination. When 1968 got underway, the news media were scoffing at McCarthy's antiwar campaign as quixotic and doomed. But in the nation's leadoff New Hampshire primary, McCarthy received 42 percent of the vote while President Lyndon B. Johnson couldn't quite get to 50 percent -- results that were shattering for LBJ. Suddenly emboldened, Sen. Robert Kennedy quickly entered the race. Two weeks later, Johnson announced that he wouldn't seek re-election. Although the nomination eventually went to Johnson's vice president Hubert Humphrey -- a supporter of the war who was the choice of Democratic power brokers -- the unmasking of the party's undemocratic process led to internal reforms that aided the Democratic Party's second modern insurrection. It came four years later, when Sen. George McGovern won the presidential nomination, thanks to grassroots movements involving young people and activists of color. But any sense of triumph disappeared in the wake of President Nixon's landslide re-election in November 1972. The third major insurrection came in 1988, when Jesse Jackson led a dynamic, multiracial "rainbow" campaign for president that had major impacts on the national stage. (His previous campaign, in '84, had been relatively weak.) The 1988 primaries and caucuses were hard-fought, state by state, with rainbow activists working shoulder-to-shoulder, whether focused on issues of class, race or gender. (Back then, Jackson was a gutsy voice for social justice, for human rights and against war -- much more willing to confront the Democratic Party establishment than he is now.) At the contentious Democratic National Convention that summer in Atlanta, where Jackson delegates were highly visible as 30 percent of the total, the old guard closed ranks behind nominee Michael Dukakis. Now, as the delegate selection process for 2016 gets underway, we're in the midst of the first major insurrection against the Democratic Party power structure in 28 years. The millions of us who support the Bernie Sanders campaign -- whatever our important criticisms -- should aim to fully grasp the huge opportunities and obstacles that await us. Of the three previous insurrections, only one gained the nomination, and none won the presidency. Corporate capitalism -- wielding its muscular appendage, mass media -- can be depended upon to take off the gloves and pummel the insurrection's candidate to the extent that the campaign has gained momentum. That happened to McCarthy, McGovern and Jackson. It's now happening to Sanders. The last days of January brought one big-daily newspaper editorial after another after another attacking Bernie with vehemence and vitriol. The less unlikely his winning of the nomination gets, the more that mega-media assaults promoting absurdities will intensify. Meanwhile -- at least as long as her nomination is threatened from the left -- Hillary Clinton will benefit from corporate biases that wallpaper the mass-media echo chambers. The Sunday New York Times editorial endorsing Clinton could hardly be more fanciful and hagiographic if written by her campaign. Many of the same media outlets and overall corporate forces that denounced Eugene McCarthy in 1968, George McGovern in 1972 and Jesse Jackson in 1988 are gunning for Bernie Sanders in 2016. We shouldn't be surprised. But we should be ready, willing and able to do our own messaging -- widely and intensely -- in communities across the country. At the same time, we should not confuse electoral campaigns with long-term political organizing. Campaigns for office are quite different matters than the more transformative task of building progressive infrastructure -- and vibrant coalitions -- that can endure and grow, year after year. Genuinely progressive candidates can inspire and galvanize -- and sometimes they can even win. But election campaigns, especially national ones, are almost always boom/bust. Sometimes they can help to fuel movement momentum, but they aren't the engine. Election campaigns are distinct from movements even if they converge for a while, no matter what pundits and campaign spinners say. Candidates often want to harness social movements for their campaigns. But our best approach is to view electoral campaigns as -- at best -- subsets of movements, not the other way around. The Bernie campaign could be a watershed for progressive organizing through the rest of this decade and beyond. That will largely depend on what activists do -- in the next weeks, months and years. What happens in Texas may not stay in Texas -- a good reason for women across the United States to be concerned. The Supreme Court has been asked to review a June 2015 ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which upheld a law that would bolt the doors to 3/4 of the abortion clinics in Texas. This would leave the state's women, in an area of 268,820 square miles, without ready access to abortion that was "safe and legal." In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Roe v. Wade that women have the "constitutional" right, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, to determine the course of a pregnancy. In a move to "supposedly" insure the highest possible health standards for women, Texas passed House Bill 2 (HB2) that requires doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital within 30 miles from the facility where they are performing abortions. In addition, the law outlined protocols that would require clinic standards to be commensurate with that of an "ambulatory surgical center." The Court will be hearing oral arguments for the case, Whole Women's Health v. Cole, in March. The Center for Reproductive Rights will be representing Whole Women's Health. Amicus curiae briefs have been filed to embody a continuum of voices -- from the Republican Majority for Choice (12/31/15) to the Institute for Women's Policy Research (1/4/16). The 45 amicus briefs encompass those from the fields of medicine, law, religion, the military, and economics. Government is represented by 39 Senators and 124 Representatives. The goal is to bring the personal stories of women to the fore (one in three women has had an abortion), and contextualize how this law is placing an "undue burden" on women. If the HB2 ruling stands, only 10 clinics in the state of Texas will be operative. (There were 42 in 2013; currently 19 remain open.) What will that means for the 5.4 million women in Texas of reproductive age who need an abortion? Presently, average wait times have grown from five days (pre-HB2) to as long as 20 days. This leads to a potential increase in second trimester abortions. Who are the women who will be the most severely affected? Those who are poor, from underserved communities, and women of color. The Texas Policy Evaluation Project has presented concerning findings in a November 2015 study they conducted. They learned that "between 100,000 and 240,000 women age 18-49 in Texas have ever tried to end a pregnancy on their own without medical assistance." The stated objectives of ensuring high health standards, as put forth by Texas lawmakers, has been challenged by The American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (both filed amicus briefs). They maintain the law makes access to abortion less safe and accessible. Are these laws based on medical necessities or are they politically motivated versions of other anti-choice initiatives, like the over 250 new laws in 38 states that have been instituted since 2011? The intent of the law can be surmised from a quote delivered by Republican State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, who spearheaded the legislation. "I am so proud that Texas always takes the lead in trying to turn back what started with Roe v. Wade," she stated. Editorial boards from USA Today to the New York Times have pointed to the motivations underlying the escalation of stringent restrictions. The Times referenced the Texas law as "an insulting ruse." The ruling of the Supreme Court will be closely watched by other states, particularly those that are waiting for a signal that it's acceptable to move forward with restricting abortion access, despite what those in the medical field have termed "flawed pseudo-science." Economist Heidi Hartmann, president of the Institute for Women's Policy Research, commented via email, "The status of women's health in each state does not exist in a vacuum. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty and race, and policies that exacerbate inequalities in health care access and economic opportunity, all contribute to lower health status. Texas has consistently shown up on the bottom of state rankings for women's status and HB2, if upheld, would be sure to keep them there." On January 5, the Center for Reproductive Rights hosted a press call drilling down on "stakeholders" who had signed amicus briefs. Wendy Davis, former Texas State Senator, Jessica Gonza'lez-Rojas, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, and Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood were featured speakers. Davis qualified HB2 as a "sham law" designed to "sneak around the Constitution." She pointed to the amicus briefs as helping to inform the justices of "the very real human stories, not abstract legalities." Gonza'lez-Rojas described HB2 as a "perfect storm of barriers to prevent a woman from getting an abortion she may need," comparing the process to "navigating a state-created obstacle course." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). If you came away from last night's debate not sure what the differences were between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, then there is no hope for you. If you want real change in the system, then Bernie Sanders is your man. If you want to try to improve things within the current system, then Hillary Clinton is the candidate for you. I have always said that any candidate the Democrats had running is better than any Republican, and I will vote for Hillary if she is the nominee. I have regularly commented that the whole pledge to write in Bernie if he is not the nominee is a counterproductive effort that Bernie will not support. However, one thing we have to face is that Bernie Sanders has brought people back into the Democratic Party process who would either be voting Green or another alternative party ... or not voting at all. You cannot expect those people to vote for Hillary in November if they wouldn't have voted Democrat before Bernie energized them. I do think they should vote for the Democratic nominee while the alternative parties build themselves up in local elections. I think Hillary Clinton had strong moments in this debate, and as Bernie said, she would be a million times better than any of the candidates in the GOP clown car. I agree with her on gun control, and I think she scored points in the "progressive" debate -- even though I agree with Bernie, you can't vote for the Iraq War and be progressive. While the poli-sci major in me thinks her performance was good, the activist in me saw just that, a performance. She lost the debate in my opinion on a few issues. I find her attack on Bernie Sanders' healthcare plan disingenuous. She knows that Bernie Sanders wouldn't rip up Obamacare without first passing a bill that brings us closer to Universal Health Care. I also wonder why she keeps saying she doesn't want another national debate on healthcare. Should we not debate a way to lower prescription drug costs? Should we not debate a way to lower premiums, deductibles and co-pays? Does she think her proposals will not generate a national debate? As I have said before, I believe we should start the healthcare debate asking for what we really want, and if we don't get it, then we should start negotiating. That is what Bernie did with veteran's healthcare. Click Here to Read Whole Article The Toronto Raptors defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 110-103 Thursday night at the Moda Center. Kyle Lowry finished with 30 points, eight assists and six rebounds and DeMar DeRozan added 29 points and five rebounds for the Raptors, who won for the 13th time in the last 14 games. Damian Lillard recorded 27 points and 11 assists for the Blazers, but it wasn't enough to stop the end of their five-game winning streak. Check out the comments section below to offer your thoughts on the Blazers and tonight's game. Afterward, visit OregonLive.com/blazers for a recap and more coverage. --Joe Freeman | jfreeman@oregonian.com | 503-294-5183 | @BlazerFreeman shepherd's.JPG A bill in the Legislature would require Oregon's big electric utilities to meet 50 percent of their retail demand with renewable energy by 2040. This 2013 file photo shows the Shepherd's Flat wind farm near Arlington, the largest wind farm in the state. (File Photo) Lawmakers held their second, crowded public hearing Thursday to consider a complex bill that would restructure Oregon's electricity supply in pursuit of significant reductions in the state's greenhouse gas emissions. A slew of advocacy groups testified for and against House Bill 4036, which aims to rid the state of electricity from coal fired plants by 2030 and require utilities to meet half their customers demand with renewable power by 2040. The legislation is ambitious, and advocates argue, could be a historic step that signals the state is finally serious about taking on climate change. Yet the prospect of passing such a far-reaching policy in 35 days, with limited analysis and information, has opponents and state regulators alike pulling out their hair. So what's all the fuss about? Here's a short primer. Why is this bill running now? Environmental groups' "Coal to Clean" bill died in the Legislature last year. In response, they started gathering signatures for a suite of anti-coal/pro-renewable-energy ballot measures proposed for November. Utilities negotiated a compromise plan with the groups in the fall that they say contains many of the same provisions, but offers flexibility, too. The groups have agreed to drop the ballot measures if the bill passes. Why should I pay attention? You'll likely be picking up the tab if this legislation passes. It could be a significant bill. And it will go on for years. If you think Oregon ought to be doing something about climate change, and polls show that most Oregonians fall into that category, this is the main show in the Legislature this year. How much renewable energy are we talking about? A lot. The mandate is 50 percent of retail demand by 2040 for the state's two biggest electric utilities, which serve 70 percent of the state. The bill permits utilities to fudge things for a while, using credits they've already accumulated to offset the new requirements. Regardless, the utilities will eventually need to build or buy enough renewable power to meet the actual targets. For PGE, that means another 1,100 megawatts of renewable resources. PacifiCorp would eventually need another 1,300 megawatts, regulators say. That's the equivalent output of a couple of large coal-fired power plants for each utility. But renewables don't work the same way. Because the output of wind and solar farms is variable, utilities need to overbuild by a factor of 2.5 to three times to get the output they need. If the utilities met the standard by using exclusively wind, together they'd need to build about 6,000 to 8,000 megawatts of new capacity. The entire wind fleet in Oregon today amounts to only about 3,000 megawatts. Sounds expensive? It could be. If they built all those windfarms today, it might cost between $9 billion and $13 billion. That doesn't count transmission upgrades, back-up resources or any energy-storage facilities. that those costs are substantial for "high renewable" systems. At the same time, the price of wind and solar energy has declined rapidly in recent years, a trend utilities expect to continue. Prices years from now are anyone's guess. The federal government just extended the production tax credit for renewable projects that begin construction in the next five years. So utilities are telling lawmakers it makes sense to start building now and lock in the 30 percent discount the federal subsidies provide (as well as bankable renewable credits they can use for compliance in future years). So what's the estimated impact on my monthly electricity bill? The utilities contend it will be nominal. average annual rate increases of 1.5 percent for the next 25 years due to the bill's passage, while it will be less than 1 percent annually between 2017 and 2030. Renewables advocates think there could actually be a net benefit to customers relative to current policy as gas prices and carbon costs rise. The Citizen's Utility Board, an advocacy group representing residential ratepayers, told lawmakers Thursday the bill was good public policy. Others are less sanguine. The utilities' cost estimates are executive summaries of very complex legislation, thin on details. State regulators say they don't have enough data to evaluate the costs, despite requests for information. Tyler Pepple, a lawyer and analysts for Industrial Customers of Northwest Utilities told lawmakers Thursday that the important thing to know about the numbers the utilities did provide "is that every one of them is so speculative and contingent that they are essentially meaningless. There is no way to know what the costs of these provisions are going to be." Won't this provide a lot of jobs and property taxes in Oregon? Utilities and renewables advocates are promoting the local economic development angle. PacifiCorp says it will start off by purchasing 450 megawatts of wind in Oregon and Washington, and another 150 megawatts of solar. Those are big projects. Yet there is a practical limit to the buildout in Oregon. The wind here doesn't match Montana and Wyoming, and the windiest sites with nearby transmission on the Columbia Plateau are already taken. To maintain reliability, utilities will also avoid clustering all their wind turbines in one area. Solar is a different, smaller story. But all that means a lot of ratepayer dollars will likely flow out of state. It makes sense to build where the wind is steadier, though that involves transmission upgrades between here and there. Is this going to affect electric reliability? Potentially. While utilities insist this it's technically feasible to reliably meet half their customers demand with variable resources, it wouldn't work today. Jason Eisdorfer, a program manager at the Oregon Public Utility commissioners, told lawmakers Thursday that "There's a lot of futurism in the bill." A 2014 study by the E3 consulting firm looked at California's effort to implement a 50 percent renewable standard. It concluded that there would be potentially significant periods when California utilities were generating more power than they could use or export. The cost of solving that problem, either by shutting off solar and wind farms, building energy storage, or using tools to limit demand, could significantly escalate costs. E3 also looked at the Northwest. With renewables penetration of just 30 percent, it found similar problems, with periods of over-generation in the spring and at night, when demand is low and wind generation is high. A 50 percent standard would only make those issues more pronounced. The Bonneville Power Administration, which sells the output of the region's federal hydro system, says it is running out of reserve power to balance the intermittent output of wind farms in the Columbia Gorge. And the region has been slow to embrace solutions to its balkanized transmission system that could help utilities more economically share resources rather than building redundant plants. HB 4036 does allow state regulators to suspend the renewables mandates if reliability is threatened, which utilities agree is an important safety valve in the bill. How much would this bill reduce Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions? Debatable. Oregon can't legislate the closure of coal plants in other states, even if ratepayers are no longer paying for them. Some of those plants would continue to run, selling their power elsewhere. Utilities and renewables advocates maintain that the state's rules, coupled with similar mandates in Washington and California and federal emissions rules, would ultimately lead to the closure of those plants. In the meantime, they say Oregon's rules would force them to change the way they operate existing plants, reducing their output and their emissions. Bottom line, utilities say the bill would put them on track to meet the state's greenhouse gas reduction target of 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. What else is in this bill? A bunch of stuff: - A community solar program in the bill would allow utility customers to buy into and enjoy the benefits of cooperative solar projects. - Provisions that make it more difficult and costly for voters to form new public utilities by annexing the service territory or customers of investor owned utilities. - A provision that gives utilities the chance to install electric vehicle charging stations and build those costs into rates. - Changes to rules around the banking of renewable energy credits that incentivize utilities to build renewable generation before they need it to comply with the renewable standard. - Complex language around accounting for federal tax credits and decommissioning costs for coal plants that some believe will increase ratepayers' costs. - Ted Sickinger 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Bailey informal.jpg Westview High senior Bailey Volchok stands in front of a framed version of her "Google Doodle," which was declared the best in Oregon at a surprise assembly at the school Friday morning. Her artwork is one of 53 chosen to vie for national glory: being displayed on the Google homepage for a day in March. (courtesy of Google) Westview High student Bailey Volchok's technology-laden image of herself as a digital artist is in the running to receive national glory on the Google homepage. Her blue-hued drawing was declared the best by an Oregon student this year and is now in the running for one of five national prizes. One of those five drawings, all of which incorporate the search engine's name, will grace the world's most-visited web site for one day in March. The artist who created the winning entry will win a $30,000 scholarship plus $50,000 for their school. The contest asked students from kindergarten through high school to draw an image that illustrates "what makes me me" and also cleverly incorporates Google's familiar logo. Volchok knew instantly she would portray herself with the digital tools -- computer, keyboard, laptop, sound system, power cords -- that allow her to create artwork that is easy to create and share. Her biggest challenge: What from that milieu would form the capital G? She sketched and sketched her way to the answer: Herself, bent over a laptop, music pouring into her ears and art flowing out her fingertips. Bailey Volcheck's entry in a national Google contest portrays her as a digital artist and shows the tools that help her create and share her illustrations. She drew the image free-hand in Photoshop. She chose blue tones to evoke glowing digital screens. "I am really passionate about art, and the main way I am able to make and share it is through technology," the 17-year-old said. Computer users nationwide will largely determine which five students' artwork will win, by voting for their favorites at google.com/doodle4google. Only one student in grades 10 through 12 will make the cut. A panel of judges will determine the top national winner on March 21 and that student's art will grace the Google homepage that day. Volchok is clearly in the contest because she is all about art, not about cutthroat competition for cash or glory. She said Friday she was unsure how winners would be chosen, forcing contest organizers to chime in. They talked up the contest url and exhorted the Westview community and the wider public to vote for Volchok by Feb. 22. Volchok is a huge fan of Westview High. The mammoth Beaverton school has a wide range of arts and technology classes, and she has taken lots of them: Advanced Placement studio art, two courses on game design, photography and computer-aided design. "I love those classes," she said. She is headed to college in the fall, probably at the University of Oregon, and plans to study digital arts and business to prepare for a career as an illustrator or animator. The oldest of three children, she is the daughter of Pauline and Bryan Volchok and lives in Bethany. As her name suggests, she has Russian ancestry -- along with a host of other cultures of origin, including being part Hawaiian. -- Betsy Hammond Retirees received some extra care and attention in the form of benefit education and health screening from Team Osan during the Retiree Appreciation Day held at the Exchange here Feb. 3, 2016. Retirees living and working near Osan Air Base showed up to enjoy and learn about the free benefits available to retirees and veterans. The retired population around Osan is small, but they support big when it comes to helping the local community with projects, said Candace Ford, lead coordinator for the event. After four years of being at Osan, Ive seen that retirees have the strongest presence and the biggest hearts--so we wanted to give back. Ford added that it isnt uncommon to see large donations from veteran and retiree-centric clubs, like the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Were here to help, said retired Tech. Sgt. Ron Davis, VFW senior vice commander for Korea. Some retirees may not know how to get involved or that the VFW is here, so were here to show them. A total of 12 agencies came to the Exchange to support the retirees and inform them of what benefits are available to them; including The Department of Veteran Affairs. Additionally, one doctor and a team of nurses from Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital, were on hand to give a free health screening, something not always available to the retirees. I have a strong service history with my family and Ive been on two deployments to Bosnia and Kuwait, so I have a strong affiliation to those who serve, have served and retired from service, said Ford. I really just want [retirees] to remember that they are not forgotten, we still care for them and we really appreciate the time they put into the service to help us be where we are today. Hateful Things, a 39-piece traveling exhibit from the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University, serves as a reminder of Americas racist past. The exhibit will open at the Castle Museum of Saginaw County History Tuesday, Feb. 9. This exhibit, a sampling from the museums 10,000 pieces, represents nearly 150 years of violence against African Americans through objects and images that embody the terrible effects of the Jim Crow legacy. Examples vary from racist memorabilia to caricatured images of Blacks on postcards, games, ashtrays and drinking glasses. WTA Architects, a Saginaw-based architectural, preservation and sustainable design firm, has added five staff members to its team. Jason Goff, Dan Bublitz, Jie Liu, Scott Csutora and Dennis Knoff have joined the firm in various capacities. The addition of these team members allows the firm to enhance its ability to service its expanding spectrum of commercial, education, governmental and healthcare clients. With over 16 years in the field of architecture, Goff joined the firm as a project architect. Goff has been involved in a variety of projects focusing on upgrading existing facilities for the firms commercial, education and healthcare clients. A Lapeer resident and graduate of Lawrence Technological University, Goffs prior experience includes project management and design for contemporary worship, education and banquet facilities. A Midland resident, Bublitz has joined the firm as financial manager. Bublitz received a bachelors degree in business administration in accounting from Saginaw Valley State University and a masters in business administration in accounting from Baker College. With five years of accounting experience in property management for a Midland Realtor and as controller for Midland Resort and Convention Center, Bublitz is focused on measures to effectively service the firms client base. Liu is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan-Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning. With a masters degree in architecture, Liu is an intern architect providing team support in digital modeling and project design. Originally from Handan, Hebei Province, China, Liu attended Hebei University of Engineering prior to locating in the United States. A Saginaw Township resident, she has been involved in projects for K-12, university and religious clients. A native of Saginaw Township, Csutora recently returned to the Saginaw area. He brings more than 10 years of architectural experience in design development, construction documentation and administration. Previously working for HGF Architects in Cleveland, Ohio, Csutora brings experience in historic preservation and managing federally funded projects. He will serve as a project manager for the firm working with a variety of commercial, governmental and university clients. Knoff, a graduate of the University of Michigan-Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, has returned to WTA after two years with the Peace Corps in the northern region of Malawi, Africa. Knoff will provide technical back-up in the evaluation of facilities and development of construction documents. He is currently working with the firms design teams in the development of construction documents for its commercial and healthcare clients. WTA Architects is located at 100 S. Jefferson Ave., Suite 601, in Saginaw. Delta College has placed third in its private fundraising efforts among all community colleges participating in a national survey. And, it placed first among those community colleges in Michigan that participated. Charitable contributions to colleges and universities in the United States increased 7.6 percent in 2015, reaching $40.3 billion, according to results of the annual Voluntary Support of Education survey conducted by the Council for Aid to Education. This total is the highest recorded since the inception of the survey in 1957. Disney On Ice will present Dare to Dream on Feb. 21-28 at The Dow Event Center in the arena. Feld Entertainments newest Disney On Ice production features Tangled, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Princess and the Frog and Cinderella. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald and Goofy are also involved as they follow four of Disneys princesses on their adventures to fulfill their dreams. The show combines the contemporary stories of two modern-day princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana, with the classic elegance of Cinderella and Snow White. Audiences begin their voyage in New Orleans celebrating the story of The Princess and the Frog with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen, and then escape into the enchanted forest with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The trip continues to Cinderellas kingdom in her search for true love and follows Rapunzel as she discovers the world beyond her tower on her quest to see the floating lanterns. The Disney Princesses then come together for the first time on ice during the finale, to welcome Rapunzel into their royal court in the ultimate princess experience. Theres something within each of the stories of Tangled, The Princess and the Frog, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs that speaks to women and girls and families around the world, said Producer Nicole Feld. Each of these princesses is searching for what truly makes them happy. And I think thats very reflective of what audiences are like today. This show is different from anything weve ever done, and were excited about all the exhilarating aspects weve included in this production, added Producer Juliette Feld. This is the first time Rapunzel is featured on the ice with her tremendous amount of hair. And new this year, the princess who started it all, Snow White, will be joining the show with the Seven Dwarfs, bringing more magic than ever before. An original myth written by a Jefferson Middle School student was chosen as the best of about 10,000 entries in a national contest. On Thursday, Andrea Vargas got her prize a virtual visit from one of her favorite authors, best-selling writer Rick Riordan. Riordan, whose books have sold more than 45 million copies, is perhaps best-known for his Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. In a half-hour Skype conversation with students at the Jefferson media center Thursday, Riordan praised Vargas winning entry, The Legend of the Lily Pad: An Eternal Flower. You did a great, great myth. I loved the lily story, he said, offering kudos for the dialogue and characters. That was awesome ... Keep at it. About 30 students, as well as English teacher Mary Zeitler and a few other adults, gathered to interact with Riordan, who was at his office in Boston. The contest was sponsored by publisher Scholastic, and Scholastic representative Betsy Howie brought beards and horns for students for a Norse costume party and copies of Riordans latest book, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer, the first in a series based on Norse mythology. Vargas said that when she learned she had won the contest, she was on a rollercoaster, since she has enjoyed Riordans books so much. Im a really big fan of his ... Ive read all his books twice, she said. Regarding her story, she said she paid careful attention to the details of a lily pad in crafting her story of a darling girl named Lily at a time when the coasts of China were clear of mechanics and chemicals, a time when the rocky mountains that were colored dark green hugged the coast. Zeitler said she was very proud of Vargas. Shes a fantastic writer ... Ive never had a student win a contest of this magnitude. Howie, of the Scholastic Reading Clubs, said the achievement was impressive not only because of the large number of entries but also because of the quality of the writing of so many submissions. She said Scholastic runs at least a dozen contests a year for students in various grade levels. During the Skype chat, students asked Riordan incisive questions about his writing process, his characters and his advice for writers. He told them to read a lot, keep writing and dont give up. It took me 27 years until I finally got published, he said. A former middle school teacher, Riordan published The Lightning Thief, the first novel in the Percy Jackson series, in 2005. Jackson is a 12-year-old who discovers he is a modern-day son of Poseidon. In addition to the five books in the Jackson series, Riordan has written other series including The Kane Chronicles and The Heroes of Olympus. Two movies have been made from Percy Jackson novels, but Riordan said he hasnt seen either one. It would make me too uncomfortable, he said. Hollywood thats completely beyond my control. Riordan, who said he is writing his 25th novel, said it usually takes about six months to write a book, and told students the first draft is usually absolutely terrible. Theres no way to get it right the first time, he said. Several times Riordan referred to his own days as a middle school student as a key time in developing his writing skills. He told Vargas that a criticism that influenced him as a 7th grader was when a beloved teacher gave him a C on an essay because he hadnt given examples to back up his points. I learned that I always have to prove things, he said. When the conversation was done, students gathered around the screen on which Riordans image was projected so that photos could be taken. Vargas myth can be read online at https://clubs2.scholastic.com/reading-club/contests/images/mythology/entries/MythContest_GP_Andrea_MI.pdf. Students interested in entering other Scholastic contests can find more information at www.scholastic.com/clubcontests. The Michigan Senate on Thursday approved Sen. Jim Stamas legislation that would pave the way for a partnership of Alpena Regional Medical Center and MidMichigan Health. This measure is about helping the ARMC enter a partnership that will enable it to remain focused on providing the best care possible to its patients, said Stamas, R-Midland. By teaming up together, ARMC and MidMichigan Health would be able to keep care local, improve the long-term future of the hospital and offer an opportunity for more comprehensive services that are not currently available in the area. The following list includes reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Thursday, Feb. 4 12:45 a.m. Police were called to a domestic assault at a Universal Drive address. Wednesday, Feb. 3 8 a.m. Property was stolen from the 1300 block of Washington Street. 11:04 a.m. A Jerome Township man, 80, reported giving a caller who claimed to be from the Social Security Administration his personal information. The man was concerned about identity theft, and tips were given to avoid fraud in the future. 11:25 a.m. A 79-year-old man reported his grandson, age 21, stole $320 cash from his wallet in Mills Township. The report is being sent to the prosecutor. 12:28 p.m. A deputy was sent to a Sanford business for a report of a sleeping infant left alone in a vehicle. The childs guardian was advised of a law prohibiting leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, and warned for the incident. 12:38 p.m. A deputy was sent to a Lee Township business for a report of an illegal burn, and found building materials on fire. The fire was extinguished and a verbal warning was issued. 2:10 p.m. A Larkin Township woman, 47, reported someone made three unauthorized charges in Indiana on her debit card totalling $70. 2:53 p.m. Deputies were called to a domestic assault in Lee Township. A 26-year-old man was arrested for domestic assault and two warrants. 3:50 p.m. Police investigated a case of retail fraud in the 900 block of Joe Mann Boulevard. 3:51 p.m. Police assisted probate court staff in the 600 block of Gerald Court. 10:51 p.m. A deputy was sent to a Greendale Township gas station for a report of an intoxicated man who was trying to fuel his vehicle. The man was sober, but taking new medications. A taxi was called. Tuesday, Jan. 2 9:45 p.m. A motorist was arrested for drunken driving after a traffic crash at West Wackerly Street and Millbrook Drive. Switch to the dark mode that's kinder on your eyes at night time. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. NORMAL Identity Optical Lab sees big things in its future. The Normal-based lens manufacturer plans to add 20 jobs through a $2 million, 6,000-square-foot expansion this year and wants to grow even more, said Chief Legal Officer Nicholas Williams. "We're hoping to double our manufacturing output in the next 24 months," he said Friday. The company employs 55 people who alter and distribute lenses for eyeglasses and contact lens kits at a 14,000-square-foot facility at 2221 W. College Ave. that was toured on Friday by GOP congressman Rodney Davis. That location is in an enterprise zone, which Williams said helped the company decide to expand in Normal. He declined to estimate how much the company will receive in incentives but said "it's an appreciable savings." Officials expect the expansion to be finished this spring. Williams said the space will house one of the most advanced lens-coating labs in the nation. In addition to the lab, the company operates 21 retail locations, with two more coming soon, Williams said. Once those are finished, the company will have 18 All About Eyes stores in Illinois, five All About Eyes in Iowa and Hometown Optical a new brand that caters to smaller communities in Pekin. PEORIA A Chatsworth man has been sentenced to eight years in prison for distributing child pornography. Daniel Craver, 56, also was ordered on Thursday to remain on supervised release for 10 years following his release from prison; he will be required to register as a sex offender at that time. Craver pleaded guilty on Oct. 14 in U.S. District Court in Peoria. According to court documents, he was identified after the FBI learned a computer located at his residence was used to download and share files containing child pornography. The FBI executed a search warrant in April, when Craver admitted he accessed child pornography with the computer in his living room and traded and distributed the images and videos using a peer-to-peer file sharing program, according to a news release Friday from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of Illinois. A forensic examination of the seized items revealed the presence of 665 images and 103 videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, said the office. Craver has remained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest a year ago. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald L. Hanna prosecuted the case; the East Peoria Police Department also was involved in the investigation. When the state budget stalemate is finally resolved, we must unite behind one message: Never again can we let students become collateral damage in political fights. It may sound like a cliche to say children are our future. But in the case of higher education, it is quite literally true. If we do not tend to the education of the next generation, we have no future. The blunt economic facts of higher education bear that out. A federal National Center for Education Statistics study found the median earnings for young adults aged 25 to 34 with a bachelors degree is $48,500 $18,000 more than those with a high school diploma, and more than double the earnings of those who do not graduate from high school. Students need the opportunity of our campuses. We need their tax dollars. They fuel our economic centers, providing and supporting jobs and creating opportunities for all Illinoisans. The higher education funding stalemate is much more costly than lost opportunities. Data shows high school graduates under age 25 are three times more likely to be unemployed than their college-educated peers a trend that follows them throughout their lives. Colleges have had to adapt to the reality that graduation is a tenuous proposition. Completion rates are declining. Any interruption of the college education can doom the completion chances, particularly for lower-income, working students supported by the states Monetary Award Program grant funding. For more than 150 years, Lincoln College has focused on these students. The institution was founded to provide a college education to Central Illinois students whose parents could not send them across the country to East Coast schools. Today, we continue serving those students and others seeking an affordable opportunity to go to college. A sustainable MAP program is vital to Lincoln Colleges success, as we move to becoming a university with exciting four-year and advanced degree programs and offer a more complete educational experience. About 80 percent of our full-time students, and two-thirds of all our students, qualify for MAP grants. The MAP crisis is hitting our campus this semester, as we've made the painful decision to cut the MAP funding we have by 40 percent. We will restore the MAP grants to full funding as soon as there is a budget resolution, because we know the difficult situation this will create for many of our students and their families. We cannot minimize the impact on older students, a key part of the educational mission at Lincoln College through the successful and growing Accelerated Bridge to Education (ABE) program. These older students that ABE is designed for students taking classes while in the workforce to advance their careers are the ones hit hardest, as the largest decline in student enrollment in a college completion survey last fall was among students age 25 and older. We do all we can to help these adult students, but juggling family, career and an uncertain future at school can simply be too much. Illinois cannot succeed without a well-educated, talented, motivated and successful influx of college graduates every year. Most students only get one chance to go to college. Anyone who has reached adulthood knows how fleeting time and opportunity can be. Forcing students to put their education on hold while politicians do battle in Springfield isnt an opportunity delayed, it can be an opportunity denied with costly consequences for everyone in Illinois. BLOOMINGTON Five candidates are up for an 11-month appointment to the McLean County Board. Diane Benjamin of Ellsworth, Scott Murphy of Downs, Garth Nicholas of Heyworth, Steven Simms of Saybrook and Mike Sumner of Downs have applied to succeed Matt Sorensen as a District 2 Republican member through Dec. 31. None has previously served on the board. The board's executive committee will interview applicants at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Government Center. The board will make an appointment during its next full meeting, starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 16. Sorensen, then the board's chairman, resigned Jan. 12, a week after the release of a federal indictment accusing him of defrauding State Farm of more than $400,000 in unearned consulting fees. John McIntyre quickly succeeded him as board chairman. Sorensen will be the only candidate on the March 15 primary ballot for the seat, but Benjamin, Murphy, Nicholas and Sumner have filed as write-in candidates. Sorensen has not said if he'll resume serving on the board if elected to a new four-year term. Benjamin said in her application that her experience as a certified public accountant and small business owner will help her serve on the board. She earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Illinois State University in 1984. Murphy, 57, said he is a lifelong McLean County resident and owner of Scott Murphy and Associates, a Lexington seed equipment company. He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1980. Nicholas said he's lived in McLean County since attending Illinois State University, starting in 1985. He received a master of business administration degree and owns Nicholas Consulting. Simms said he has been promotion and graphic arts director for the Illinois Farm Bureau since 1990. He earned a bachelor's degree in mass communication from ISU in 1979 and served as a Bloomington alderman from 1981 to 1989. Sumner said he's worked at State Farm since 1995. He has served four years as a public safety trustee in Downs and as an election judge. 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, N.J., just seven miles from his Fifth Avenue penthouse. Cheers ... to Heartland Community College, and a sincere thanks to Raymond and Beulah Thompson, for their gift of $1.5 million to HCC to be used for student scholarships. The couple had no children but "were very interested in education," said family member Brenda Thompson. Cheers ... and farewell to the Franciscan priests who for many years have led and cheered the families and students of St. Mary's Church and school on Bloomington's west side. Father Ric Schneider, Father Neri Greskoviak and Brother Kevin Duckson will retire in June, returning to Cincinnati, where their province is based. All three are not only leaders of their church and school community, but of the broader Bloomington-Normal community. As with the departure of any family member, the trio will be missed and we wish them well. Cheers ... to Illinois State University, for further restricting use of hoverboards on campus property. The two-wheeled, battery-charged devices look fun to ride, but many seem to be prone to unexpected fires. Safety is key wherever there is a large number of young people congregated. Banning the boards may seem harsh, but will pay off in the long run. Cheers ... to Tom Mercier of BOPI, Ecology Action Center, Westminster Village Inc., Pridestaff, Fort Jesse Imaging Center & Gale Keeran Center for Women and Busey Bank for receiving awards of excellence from the McLean County Chamber of Commerce during its annual gala. Bloomington-Normal is lucky to have such great businesses and business leaders in the community. Cheers ... to the government bodies in Pontiac who worked together to offer enticements to Caterpillar Inc. as a way to keep jobs at the city's plant. When Cat announced last week a number of plant closings and layoffs, Pontiac was not on the list. Instead, it was on a much shorter list of areas that would gain jobs, 160 in this case, as a result of restructuring. Pontiac has had enough closures and threatened closures over the years that leaders take seriously the idea that cooperation is a better route than protest. We congratulate Pontiac leaders on a job well done. Condolences ... to the family and friends of former McLean County Recorder of Deeds Lee Newcom, who died last week of cancer. Lee served three terms as recorder and previously was a member of the McLean County Board. Dedicated public servants are hard to come by but Newcom understood his calling was to help the public through government service. He will be missed. Repeating a message she delivered earlier this week in Chicago, the Republican told reporters Thursday at the Capitol that the state is on pace to dig itself $6.2 billion deeper into debt by the time the fiscal year ends June 30. Thats the result of $5 billion in lost revenue due to the partial rollback of a 2011 state income tax increase and $1.2 billion of additional spending in the Department of Human Services and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services because of court orders and consent decrees. By spending more as we bring in billions less, we are making it even more difficult to create a pathway for fiscal sanity, which will allow the state to regain its financial footing and keep our promises over the long term to fund education, social services, public safety and infrastructure, Munger said. So what is the answer? Clearly, Illinois must pass a budget, a balanced budget, and regain controls over our spending and revenue. Illinois has been operating without a budget since the current fiscal year began July 1. As a result, major cuts have been announced in recent weeks at Lutheran Social Services, Eastern Illinois University and elsewhere. Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed all but the elementary and secondary education portion of the budget the Legislature approved, saying it was about $4 billion out of balance. Rauner has insisted on winning legislative support for elements of his pro-business, anti-union turnaround agenda before he will agree to tax increases Democrats are seeking to plug the budget hole. Democrats, who have said spending cuts also are needed to balance the budget, say the first-term governor is responsible for the deadlock because he has tied the budget to unrelated issues, such as term limits for lawmakers and changes to collective bargaining rights for local government workers. Munger said its time for the two sides to stop pointing fingers and find common ground. Trying to close the hole with income taxes alone would require an increase from the current 3.75 percent personal rate to 7 percent or 8 percent, Munger said. Carbon monoxide poisoning happens when carbon monoxide accumulates in your blood stream. According to MayoClinic, when there is too much carbon monoxide in a person's red blood cells, it can result to tissue damage or death. A 15-month-old girl in Kamloops, British Columbia saved her family from Carbon Monoxide poisoning by crying loudly in the middle of the night. Kyle and Monique Ruppel from British Columbia recalled that scary night when they almost lost their lives. Parents.com reported that Monique woke up from her daughter's, Celia, crying in her room. She immediately got up to check what was wrong with her. On her way to her daughter's room, Monique suddenly felt dizzy and her eyes were burning. Her husband, Kyle suddenly woke up and they both realized that something was wrong. They then started to pack their things, and then woke Celia up. When they picked her from her crib, she started to vomit. Fortunately, Kyle's parents arrived to help them before he collapsed. He was immediately taken to the hospital where they were airlifted to Vancouver. The three of them stayed in a Hyperbaric Chamber to restore the oxygen levels in the body as quickly as possible. In an interview with National Post, Kyle said that their house didn't have a carbon monoxide detector. Apparently, they didn't really think about getting one because according to him, "it was just one of those things that didn't really crossed his mind." However, after the incident, he surely did change his mind. He now urges everyone to make sure that gas detectors are installed and is properly working. Monique on the other hand couldn't help but be thankful that their daughter cried so much that night. She even said, "I don't care if she never sleeps through the night ever again, because her waking up is the only thing that saved us." The Ruppels, including their 4 cats and 2 dogs are feeling very well now and are expected to make a full recovery. Video Credit: youtube.com/sherylwajid A baby born with Down syndrome, who was abandoned by his Australian biological father and left with his gestational surrogate in Thailand, was only one of the few cases an expert told the parliamentary inquiry about. It was also one of the widely publicized cases of surrogate children being deserted by their biological parents due to defects. The baby being discussed is baby Gammy, whose high-profile case urged the Thailand government to stop surrogacy in 2014. And now, an Australian parliamentary committee has initiated a review of Australia's laws which prohibit commercial traditional or gestational surrogacy. 21-year old food vendor, Pattaramon Chanbua, who also has two kids of her own, was chosen by David and Wendy Farnell to be their gestational carrier. In December of 2013, she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, however, the couple only brought the healthy baby girl named Pipah back to Australia. Chanbua, who was only supposed to serve as a surrogate mother, was left to tend to the baby boy born with Down Syndrome and accused the Farnells of abandoning their baby because of his defect. However, the Farnells contradicted the young woman's claims of abandonment and said that Chanbua was the one who demanded to keep Gammy. According to Yahoo, an expert on surrogacy and head of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Chief Judge John Pascoe, informed the committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs, of Gammy not being a stand-alone case. He said that they "believe that baby Gammy was certainly not an isolated incidence" and later revealed to The Associated Press that there is anecdotal evidence which proves how parents would often refuse to accept infants born with complications, "defects and problems." Gammy is still being raised by his surrogate mother and resides in Sri Racha, a town located on the east side of Thailand. Hands Across the Water, an Australian charity has raised about $180,000 for Gammy and Chanbua. Peter Baines, the charity founder also described the baby boy as "happy, healthy and very much loved" and shared that he now has dual citizenship. Another case involving a baby left in India was also presented by Pascoe. In this case, although the gestational carrier gave birth to healthy twins, their biological parents only chose to bring the baby girl since they already have a son. The Embassy of Australia in India informed the parents that the baby boy may be left stateless because India did not acknowledge surrogate children as citizens. Now that Thailand and India have put a stop to commercial surrogacy, parents or soon-to-be parents went looking for gestational surrogates in Nepal, and after the country banned commercial surrogacy, Cambodia. Pascoe will be Australia's representative at The Hague to negotiate an international convention on surrogacy. The Zika virus outbreak, which is commonly spread through mosquito bites, continues to cause more problems and poses an area of concern in Latin America as new modes of virus transmission are surfacing. Cases of Zika infection through blood transfusion were recently reported by health officials in Brazil. According to Reuters, two cases of Zika transmission from the donated blood of people who have been bitten by the Zika-carrying Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes have been confirmed. One case was confirmed by the Blood Center at the Sao Paulo state University of Campinas and the other was confirmed by the health department of Campinas. "The two cases can be considered transmission of the virus through blood transfusion, with greater certainty in the first because we did genetic sequencing comparing the virus in the donor and to the virus in the recipient," Blood Center director Marcelo Addas Carvalho told Reuters. These recent reports of Zika infection through blood transfusion have forced some countries into implementing stricter guidelines and procedures for blood donations to avoid the further spread of the Zika virus. Another possible mode of transmission for the virus aside from Aedes Aegypti mosquito bites and blood transfusion from infected donors is through sexual contact, as reported by health officials in Texas. Some countries such as Brazil, Colombia and El Salvador have even advised their citizens to avoid pregnancy for the next few months in order to prevent the virus' complications. According to Independent, there is great evidence of a link between Zika virus infection in pregnant woman and birth defects in their baby such as microcephaly, a condition that involves deformities in the brain of the baby. "Until more is known, women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should take extra care to protect themselves from mosquito bites," advised the World Health Organization. While studying the formation of the Moon, astronomers found evidence that was the result around 4.5 billion years ago of the collision of a small planet with Earth. This collision was so violent that Theia, the planet that hit us, ended up fusing with both the Moon and Earth as a result. The idea that the Moon was formed as result of a planetary crash is not new. However, until now, scientists have thought that Theia has blasted the Moon into orbit after side-swiped Earth and then continued off into space. A research team at the University of California, Los Angeles, suggests now in a press release that Theia actually has fused with Earth and Moon as a result of a head-on collision. According to Science Alert, the research team studied six volcanic rocks from Earth's mantle and seven lunar rocks brought back to Earth by the Apollo missions. The scientists analyzed which oxygen isotopes the rocks contained by counting the number of protons and neutrons in oxygen atoms. The rocks on each planetary body has a unique 'fingerprint' ratio of oxygen isotopes and that can allow scientists to locate where they came from. Earth and Moon rocks would have different oxygen isotope ratios and the Moon would be made up mainly of Theia if the planet simply side-swiped Earth and produced the Moon. However, the scientists found that this hypothesis is not verifying. According to the lead researcher Edward Young, the research team could not find any difference between Earth's and the Moon's oxygen isotopes. Another hypothesis was proposed back in the year 2012, stating that, rather than a side-swipe, Earth and Theia were involved in a head-on collision and ended up fusing together as a result. The findings of the new study back up that previous hypothesis. Young declared that the research team did not find a different signature of Theia in the Moon versus Earth. This means that "Theia was thoroughly mixed into both the Earth and the moon, and evenly dispersed between them." Scott and Jessica Walker of Wichita, Kansas want to warn other parents about the dangerous hair tourniquet. Hence, they posted on Facebook their greatest ordeal to remind other parents to be extra careful with their kids. Scott Walker said their 19-week-old daughter, Molly was crying one day. They don't know what's upsetting her and why she's screaming. Luckily, his wife, Jessica decided to remove their baby's sock to cool her down. However, they were shocked after they found out that there was a strand of hair around the baby's toe. And apparently, the condition is called hair tourniquet. The father admitted that he never heard about it before. And during the incident, that's when he only found out about hair tourniquet and how it can cut through the baby's skin. Likewise, can potentially cut off blood circulation. Luckily, Molly's mom managed to remove the hair with the help of a tweezers and a magnifying glass. But the hair cut through the baby's skin. Hence, the doctor told the parents that it could have been worse if the hair was left around the baby's toe longer. "The hair tourniquet syndrome wasn't anything I ever heard about," Scott admitted to Today. "When we found it was pretty stressful because any time your kid is hurt it's stressful; you feel helpless." Amy Seery, a pediatrician for the University of Kansas School of Medicine, said that hair tourniquet is most common with penises, toes and fingers. Babies tend to grab on adult's hair and some of the hair strands can end up in places like socks and diapers. Scott's post was actually shared 16,000 times and garnered more than 27,000 likes. And the father is hoping that their story will provide awareness to all parents. "It was a pretty scary situation," Scott wrote about it. "It ended very well, but it was scary enough where I wouldn't want anyone else to deal with something like that." New meningitis and HPV vaccines are now available for children and adults based on the updates announced by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) earlier this month. These diseases are known to be dangerous and fatal, which is why it is advised to get the necessary shots for prevention. The US alone has about one-third cases of meningitis according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDCP) website. It occurs when bacteria or any form of infection reaches the sterile fluid part of the brain and the spinal cord. It is life threatening and it could even result to the loss of hearing and even amputation. CNN reported that ACIP's update on the matter includes MenB vaccines, which is the first time that they are making it available. It is a vaccine made for those who are not prone to acquiring this disease. Young people ranging from the ages of 16 and 23 are advised to take this shot, especially if they are planning to move to a military barracks or school dormitory. The dangers of these diseases are no laughing matter. Dr. Sandra Fryhoher of the ACIP and American College of Physicians said, "Parents need to know about it. ... It strikes quickly, it's unforgiving and it's often deadly." She also advised both parents and young adults to consult their doctor regarding these vaccines if there is a need for them to take it. Meanwhile, NPR reported that HPV vaccines were also updated that they are now recommended for kids from ages 11 to 12. The vaccine is called HPV-9 and it would help in the prevention of cancers that affect the cervix, mouth and the throat. According to Jama Network, although HPV is commonly acquired through sexual contact, there is also a chance that one could get it even in the absence of coitus. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Everything changed for Karen Hoskin while she was traveling in India. Not because she fell under the spell of a yogi or went on a month-long pilgrimage to the countrys holy sites. It was a far simpler activity that proved to be just as transcendent. She ordered a glass of Old Monk rum in the beach town of Goa and tasting real rum for the first time. The spirit, a vestige of the countrys British era, has been made in India since 1954, blended and aged for at least eight years to imbue the dark spirit with a complex, deep flavor that was a far cry from the sugary-sweet rums Karen had encountered elsewhere. She could drink it straightno need for the excess calories and saccharin tastes of a mixerand the next day she wasnt the least bit hung over. I was just the unofficial rum ambassador for years, she says after that first encounter. But it wasnt until she went to Guatemala years later that her love of the spirit evolved from adoration to a life-changing love affair. There she visited the home of Ron Zacapa Centenario, one of the Caribbeans premium rums. Like many other distilleries in the region, they followed the practice of high-elevation rum distilling, storing the barrels at 7,500 feet above sea level on the upper slopes of Guatemalas volcanic mountains to take advantage of the variable temperature and climate conditions at higher elevations. Another misperception, that rum is an island spirit, was shattered. And Karen, who worked as a graphic designer in Silverton, Colorado, at the time, knew where she could easily access some serious high-alpine terrain. Shed visited Guatemala in the spring of 2008. By November shed let all her clients go and, with the help of her husband Brice, opened the Montanya Rum Distillery. The timing proved serendipitous. The country was already riding a wave of affection for craft beer, with Colorado leading the pack of informed, inspired consumers interested not only in the taste of something new, but also in the pioneer DIY spirit behind these smaller-scale artisans. Craft spirits naturally got swept up in that groundswell. By August 2011, their operation had outgrown their 800-square-foot facility in Silverton, so they moved deeper into Colorados iconic mountains, settling in the snow globe-perfect ski town of Crested Butte. Today their operations stretch across two facilities, covering 5,200 square feet, including the central distillery and tasting room as well as a warehouse that serves ground zero for their distribution operation, which covers 42 states and seven countries. Yet even with this meteoric rise, the central focus on quality remains. Of the distilleries in the United States, were one of the most hand-crafted, says Karen. Montanyas rums are distilled in manually-operated alembic copper pot stills from Portugal, which glow a tantalizing bronze color and are shaped like Aladdins lamp, topped with a graceful swan neck. They look like something youd find in the laboratory from Fantasia. What you wont find are computers or control panels. Every single thing we do is done by hand, she explainsand that includes the bottling the smallest sizes, assembled in 5,000-unit increments. Computers have a tendency to take a conservative approach at the transitions, Karen explains. And thats where the flavors come from. By overseeing each stage, they can taste, and respond, to the rum as it matures through every stage in the process. They use pure mountain spring water in the distillation processsourced locally from an aquifer 350 feet below the town. Their rum is aged in American oak barrels from Denvers Stranahans Whiskey, and Karen insists that the fluctuating temperatures that are common at 9,000 feet help imbue the rum with a level of complexity that simply wouldnt occur at lower elevations. Crested Buttes elevation also allows for a lower boiling time, further reducing Montanyas carbon footprint. But its more than merely making their Crested Butte facilities environmentally aware. Theyre 100% wind-powered, sure. But Karen and her team of 18 employees also focus on all elements of sustainable spirit creation, which is how they ended up sourcing their sugar cane from a family-owned mill located in Louisiana. They had been getting their sugar cane from Hawaii, using a processing facility in California. But news broke that the California operation was supplementing their supply with Mexican sugar cane whenever the Hawaiian supplies diminished. Mexican sugar cane (like other sugar cane farms that fuel the rum industry) didnt adhere to Montanyas strict environmental, harvest, and growing practicesnor was it non-GMO or American-grown. Around that time, a couple vacationing in Crested Butte visited the distillery andas fate would have itworked in a sugar cane facility in the Pelican State. Montanya started sourcing all their sugar cane exclusively from them in 2012. Such attention to locally sourced materials and socially aware practices dont come cheap, but its worth the price. Besides, in reality theres no cheap rum, Karen says, explaining the hidden costs to bottles of cheap mega rum, from low worker wages to land devastation from poor agricultural practices. Aligning themselves with that part of the rum industry would be antithetical to Montanyas holistic approach toward making some of Americas most thoughtful rum. But none of that would matter if the rum wasnt top notch. Like the rum Karen first tasted in Goa, Montanyas rums reject all associations with cloying sweetness. The focus is on complex, deep, revelatory flavors; the kind of spirit that you could sip on its own, or that could stand proudly as the centerpiece of a cocktail. Bartenders are responding to this new wave of high-quality craft rum, building new cocktails and resurrecting old classics that were once lost in the tidal wave of lesser versions of the spirit. Tiki bars are flourishing in San Francisco and New York. And consumers are getting in on the secret as well. Montanya currently makes three rums: The Platino is aged for one year in barrels that housed both Colorado whiskey and Montanya Oro rum, before being run through a coconut husk charcoal filter to remove the color from the barrels. But, unlike lots of other white rums on the market, it retains its flavor, enhanced by a small touch of Colorado Rocky Mountain honey when bottled. Its won nine gold medals and two best-in-class designations in a variety of spirits competitions. The Oro, meanwhile, is aged for two to five years in whiskey barrels to produce a deeper, full-bodied flavor that brings more of the American white oak to play. And last October, they also unveiled the Montanya Exclusiva, a limited release that ages in whiskey barrels for two years, and then gets another six months in French oak barrels that once housed cab sav and Port from Sutcliffe Vineyards to add a dry, tannic finish atypical to most rums. This last one is, tragically, only available in Montanyas home state. How to Try It The Hemingway Obviously, the ideal way to experience Montanyas rum is in their Crested Butte tasting room. The heat produced in the rum-making process creates the perfectly cozy apres-ski atmosphere to wander in from the cold and have a sample or a cocktail. If you make it to the distillery, grab a bottle of Exclusiva to take home and try Karens favorite cocktail. The Ti Punch, which is said to be the worlds original rum punch, pre-dating the daiquiri. Just take some dark rum, like Exclusiva, and mix with lime and a bit of simple syrup. For the rest of us who wont be in Colorado soon enough to sample the Excluvia, go for a Hemingway Daiquiri, a drink thats a far cry from the cruise ship nightmare you may envision when you hear its name. Ingredients squeezed lime oz Luxardo or Leopold Brothers Maraschino Liqueur oz Grapefruit oz Simple syrup 1.75 oz Montanya Platino Rum Directions: Add all ingredients in a shaker on ice, then strain and garnish with lime wheel and serve in a coupe. Ah, February. Youd think with the month that brings Valentines Day that wed be slammed with contemporary romance books. Actually, thats right. This month is set to deliver a bundle of saccharine novels along with some high fantasy, bold sci-fi and one seriously haunting thriller. Any of these reads would make the perfect Valentines Day gift, so go ahead and consider this list as a gift guide, too. Release Date: February 2nd from Balzer + Bray Why Youll Love It: Revenge and the Wild is a western that blends in magic, like True Grit mashed with your favorite fantasy novel. In fact, if the makers of Final Fantasy set one of their games in the Wild West, it would feel a lot like this. A teenager thats lost her family, a gadget that harvests magic, monsters threatening to attack without magical barriers: basically, this book is everything you could want. ? Description: The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But its perfect for 17-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler. Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. Shes determined to make the killers pay for their crimesand theres nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways. But Westies search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigels latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from goldwhich Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. Theres only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westies kin. With the help of Nigels handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if shes not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now. Release Date: February 9th from Simon Pulse? Why Youll Love It: There are two pirate books I want you to read this month. Theres The Girl From Everywhere, which well talk about later, and Nicole Castromans Blackhearts. Everyone knows the story of the terrible pirate Blackbeard, but what was he like as a teenager? Maybe not so awful? Maybe he was a young man full of hope, promise and love? Blackhearts is high stakes on the high seas, full of thrills and romance. Pair this one up with Heiligs debut, and treat yourself to a perfect weekend of reading. Description: Edward Teach Drummond, son of one of Bristols richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesnt love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean hed begun to call home. Theres just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back. Following her parents deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though shes barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curacaowhere her mother was bornwhen shes stuck in England? From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, theyre trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay. Release Date: February 9th from HarperTeen? Why Youll Love It: This really is the month of awesome new series and fairytale retellings, one of the first being Sophie Jordans latest, Reign of Shadows. The book offers up a new spin on Rapunzel within a lush fantasy world and a story packed with swoons. In Reign of Shadows, we meet the heir to a kingdom, Luna, who was raised in countryside seclusion. When Luna wants more than the walls around her, her journey proves just how terrifying the outside world can be. ? Description: Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhoks lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Lunas survival depends on the world believing she is dead. But that doesnt stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized. Release Date: February 9th from HarperTeen Why Youll Love It: Glass Sword is the sequel to the New York Times bestseller The Red Queen, and it picks up where all the intense action of the first book left off. If you havent read Aveyards first book in the series (or last months corresponding short novellas), I highly recommend you doand then dive into this new book right away. This series is set in a world where society is separated by blood and superpowers. Common folks with red blood are plain mortals, while the silver blooded are wealthy and gifted with magical abilities. But Aveyards series focuses on a teen girl who shatters those rules, balancing powerful abilities with veins full of red blood. Description: Mare Barrows blood is redthe color of common folkbut her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control. The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the princethe friendwho betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind. Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors. But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat. Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever? Release Date: February 9th from Del Rey? Why Youll Love It: Is it really time for the final book in Browns Red Rising trilogy? If so, Im not sure Im readybut here we are. If you havent read the previous installments in this epic sci-fi adventure, youll be a little lost if you just read the third book. I highly recommend picking up Red Rising and Golden Son, snuggling up with the one you love and ignoring them as you read all three of these books over a single weekend. In Browns novels, were introduced to a world where people are separated by a color-caste system. Colors across the spectrum leave people in places of power like the almighty Golds, or practical slaves like the Reds. Darrow is a Red, hellbent on revenge for whats happened to his people and the love of his life. When the characters remade into a Gold to take them down from inside, the result is brutal, bloody and gripping. ? Description: Born a lowly Red in the mines of Mars, Darrow lost his beloved wife to the treacherous Gold overlords. Vowing to fight for the future that his wife believed in, Darrow joins a secret revolutionary group and is remade into a Gold so that he can infiltrate the ruling class and bring them down from the inside. Now, after years of hiding amongst the Golds, Darrow is finally ready to declare open revolution and throw off the chains of oppression. Nothing in Darrows world has been easily won, and this final fight will be the most harrowing of all. Release Date: February 12th from Balzer + Bray? Why Youll Love It: Yes! A new series from C.J. Redwine, who a lot of you YA readers probably know for her fantastic wrapped Defiance trilogy. Although this Ravenspire series will include standalone books that retell fairy tales in adjoining kingdoms, Redwine fans should get excited. In the first book, she gives the tale of Snow White a wickedly dark twist: shes a fugitive on a mission to take out the evil queen whos taken her kingdom. And the Huntsman? A prince-turned-king who needs to take out our heroine. Description: Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in commonmagic. Shell have to be stronger, faster and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen. In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kols father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magicand the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsmanand bring her Lorelais heart. But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expectedbeautiful, fierce and unstoppableand despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsmanwho she likes far more than she shouldLorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isnt going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose. Release Date: February 16th from Greenwillow Books? Why Youll Love It: There is so much going on in this wonderful, wonderful book that I expect you to hang on every single page. I mean, weve got time travel on a pirate ship packed with characters from across time and loaded with incredible treasure. And on that ship rides Nix Song and her father, who is on a quest to save her mother. Seems noble enough, right? But if he succeeds with his quest, it might result in Nix no long existing. There are so many twists and turns in this lovely, utterly magical book. The sequel needs to exist now. ? Description: It was the kind of August day that hinted at monsoons, and the year was 1774, though not for very much longer. Sixteen-year-old Nix Song is a time-traveller. She, her father and their crew of time refugees travel the world aboard The Temptation, a glorious pirate ship stuffed with treasures both typical and mythical. Old maps allow Nix and her father to navigate not just to distant lands, but distant timesalthough a map will only take you somewhere once. And Nixs father is only interested in one time, and one place: Honolulu 1868. A time before Nix was born, and her mother was alive. Something that puts Nixs existence rather dangerously in question. ? Nix has grown used to her fathers obsession, but only because shes convinced it cant work. But then a map falls into her fathers lap that changes everything. And when Nix refuses to help, her father threatens to maroon Kashmir, her only friend (and perhaps, only love) in a time where Nix will never be able to find him. And if Nix has learned one thing, its that losing the person you love is a torment that no one can withstand. Nix must work out what she wants, who she is, and where she really belongs before time runs out on her forever. Release Date: February 16th from Tor Teen? Why Youll Love It: If youre a YA reader, you know Veronica Rossi. Her bestselling smash trilogy Under the Never Sky is a staple in my books-to-recommend library, as it should be in yours. Riders was one of our most anticipated YA books of 2016, and let me tell you, Im so happy it is finally here. Its an exciting, fast-paced story about the four horsemen of the apocalypse and a teen who finds himself suddenly in the place of one of them. With memorable characters and a world on the brink of destruction, Riders is as thrilling as it is imaginative. Description: For 18-year-old Gideon Blake, nothing but death can keep him from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does. Recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he cant remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse. Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemenConquest, Famine and Deathare brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence. They fail. Nowbound, bloodied and druggedGideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl hes fallen fornot to mention all of humankindhe needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger. But will anyone believe him? Release Date: February 23rd from Point? Why Youll Love It: A friend of mine sent me an early copy of this book, and it is one hilarious romp through the world of music and fandom. What happens when a couple of superfans kidnap a member of their favorite boy band? The result is absolutely hilarious and thrilling, and it marks a debut author to watch. ? Description: Okay, so just know from the start that it wasnt supposed to go like this. All we wanted was to get near The Ruperts, our favorite boy band. We didnt mean to kidnap one of the guys. It kind of, sort of happened that way. But now hes tied up in our hotel room. And the worst part of all, its Rupert P. All four members of The Ruperts might have the same first name, but they couldnt be more different. And Rupert P. is the biggest flop out of the whole group. We didnt mean to hold hostage a member of The Ruperts, I swear. At least, I didnt. We are fans. Okay, superfans who spend all of our free time tweeting about the boys and updating our fan tumblrs. But so what, thats what you do when you love a group so much it hurts. How did it get this far? Who knows. I mean midterms are coming up. I really do not have time to go to hell. Release Date: February 23rd from Farrar, Straus and Giroux? Why Youll Love It: This months must-read YA mystery thriller is After the Woods by Kim Savage, an intense, dark, staggering debut. Full of lovely writing that casts a serious contrast against the dark plot, this thriller will absolutely keep you guessing until the very end.? Description: Would you risk your life to save your best friend? Julia did. When a paroled predator attacked Liv in the woods, Julia fought back and got caught. Liv ran, leaving Julia in the woods for a terrifying 48 hours that she remembers only in flashbacks. One year later, Liv seems bent on self-destruction, starving herself, doing drugs and hooking up with a violent new boyfriend. A dead girl turns up in those same woods, and Julias memories resurface alongside clues unearthed by an ambitious reporter that link the girl to Julias abductor. As the devastating truth becomes clear, Julia realizes that after the woods was just the beginning. By the time that Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens takes place, Princess Leia has become General Organa, her son has turned against the Jedi and sought to embrace the Dark Side of the Force, and she has resumed her battle against galactic oppressionthis time in the guise of the First Order. Hopefully, some of the details as to how this happened will be filled in by Claudia Grays canonical novel, Star Wars: Bloodline. In an interview and excerpt shared with USA Today, Gray discussed Leias role in the New Republic as a senator 24 years after the events of Return of the Jedi. According to the author, a new generation doesnt remember the lessons of the Rebellion or recognize the wrongs of the Empire, and Leia begins to see the cracks in the foundation that could lead to a dangerous future for the galaxy. Among the young guns featured will be a senator named Ransolm Casterfo who is Leias political opposite in virtually every way, per Gray. He even collects artifacts from the Empire, like pro-Palpatine banners, pieces of armor, and so on. It seems unlikely that well get to read about Ben Solos transformation into Kylo Ren, as thats far too juicy a story not to somehow be worked into the films. But perhaps well get a glimpse of the Vader in him. Bloodline, out May 3, is the second canonical novel to focus on galactic events following the fall of the Empire; the first was Chuck Wendigs Aftermath, released last September and describing the chaos that ensued after the second Death Stars destruction. What with the delay of Episode VIII, its nice to at least have the novels to fill in the gaps in the story. Mardi Gras literally translates to Fat Tuesday, indicating a period of feasting before fasting. The signature treat of that Carnival feast is, without a doubt, the King Cake. Between bites, one might wonder how this o shaped, sugar coated, baby-packing sweet came into existence. The history of the cake is braided with Carnivals history, and for that, its necessary to look back to ancient times. The Lupercalian Festival in Rome (ca. 1580-1610), by Circle of Adam Elsheimer Like many contemporary western holidays, Carnival is believed to have its roots in ancient pagan festivals. (Halloween from Samhain, Christmas from Yule). Carnival had two influences, Lupercalia and Saturnalia. Set in mid-February, Lupercalia celebrated rushing in the fertility spring, both for the coming harvest and humans. Saturnalia, celebrated in December included the ritual of temporarily switching the hierarchical roles through a bean hidden inside a cake. The French Galette des Rois The bean hidden inside the Saturnalia cake was the fava bean, and he or she who found it would be temporarily crowned ruler for the day. This ancient legume was considered magical in pagan times, blessed in monotheistic times. As ancient civilization gave way to medieval civilization and Christianity became the predominant religion in Western Europe, people still clung to their traditional celebrations, but the significance shifted. Larousse Gastronomique notes that During the Saturnalia the king of the day was chosen by lot, using a bean concealed in a galette. It was only in the Middle Ages that this cake ceremony began to be associated with the festival of Epiphany. January 6th became the day of the Epiphany. The holiday commemorates the twelfth day after Christmas, when the wise men followed the star of Bethlehem to the nativity and bring baby Jesus gifts of frankincense, gold, and myrrh. The Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, marks the beginning of King Cake season in New Orleans. Three Kings day was celebrated in various Medieval European countries. Francophone countries had the Galette des Rois. Spain had the Rosca de Reyes, Portugal the Bolo Rei. The French cake galette is a flaky, golden, puff pastry with frangipane inside. Food historian, Pierre Leclercq, believes that this cake is very similar to the Saturnalia cake, given its hue and shape that reflect the sun. The fava bean next to the St. Joseph figurine In France, the cake continued to be baked with the object inside, but to distance itself from its pagan roots, the custom became to put a small, ceramic crown instead. During the French revolution, a time when kings were being beheaded, playing king for the day was a politically volatile act. In 1794, Paris revolutionary mayor is quoted as having incited his people to, discover and arrest the criminal patissiers and their filthy orgies which dare to honor the shades of the tyrants! Soon after, the French custom became to have a variety of ceramic charms, though they still bear the name of the original fava bean: la feve. Louisianas celebration of Mardi Gras is as old as its founding. In 1699, French-Canadian explorer, Pierre Le Moyne dIberville, landed on the soil 60 miles south of what is today New Orleans. Coincidentally, the day he landed was the eve of Mardi Gras. He named the land, Point du Mardi Gras, and celebrated Fat Tuesday that very week. New Orleans was established in 1718 by Ibervilles younger brother, Bienville. As the area grew, so did its carnival celebration, with Louisianas governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, introducing society balls in the 1740s. Rex Krewe was founded in 1872, and their colors purple, green, and gold became adopted as the official Mardi Gras colors. The Spanish and Latin American Rosca de Reyes Still, the New Orleans king cake is very different from the French one, both in taste, and in trinket. The NOLA cake, in fact, is more similar in form to the Spanish Rosca de Reyes, as they are both tortells with colorful decorations on top, and sometimes with filling in the middle. In an interview with NOLA.com, president of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum in New Orleans, Liz Williams, highlights the southern French immigrants that had a cake more similar to the Rosca de Reyes. An alternative theory points to the Spanish influence in late 18th century New Orleans. Classic New Orleans King Cake, courtesy of Caludas King Cakes Tourists on a French Quarter tour will learn that the architecture of the quarter is actually more Spanish than French, given that the original Vieux Carre buildings burnt down. The Spanish governed New Orleans from 1762 to 1802, and rebuilt the quarter with their style of architecture. Perhaps the New Orleans King Cake similarly drew from the Spanish influence. Haydels Frozen Charlotte Commemorative Charm The plastic baby is emblematic of the Gulf Coast King Cake. Two schools of thought exist: one side insists that the baby is supposed to be the baby Jesus, while the other side vehemently disagrees. Up till the late 1800s, the fava bean was still used in this King Cake. In the Victorian Era, it became commonplace to bake a Frozen Charlotte into cakes. The Frozen Charlotte is a creepy, naked, ceramic statuette of a little girl. The figurine is based off Seba Smiths 1843 ballad, which tells of young Charlotte freezing to death because vanity kept her from bundling up when going on a sleigh ride. Oral tradition tells that, in the late 1800s, Frozen Charlotte began appearing in New Orleans King Cakes. In 1990, Haydels Bakery made a commemorative, limited time, Frozen Charlotte charm for their cakes. The signature plastic baby, photo courtesy of Robert Giglio As for the plastic baby, the famed commercial bakery, McKenzies, was the first to insert them. In a 1990, Donald Entringer Sr., the late owner of McKenzies gave an interview to The Times-Picayune, in which he said that in the mid-1900s, We were the first to use the babies. A salesman came in one day and said, Look at this cute little thing. It wont get lost like a pecan or a bean. He discounted the belief that the baby is Jesus. Ive heard people say its supposed to represent the Christ Child, but thats not true, Entringer said. Why we picked this, I dont know. It was cute. It was just a trinket that happened to be a baby. In many Latin American countries, where the Spanish colonialists brought the tradition of the Rosca de Reyes, the tradition is to put a baby in the cake, and indisputably that baby is meant to represent Jesus. Perhaps the baby in the New Orleans King Cake was originally not meant to have any religious symbol, but given the religious nature of the cake and the religious holiday it celebrates, it is easy to see how it has come to mean that. Considering the favas original symbol of fertility, the baby can also be viewed more broadly as a less subtle symbol of renewal of life. The plastic baby served outside of the cake, photo courtesy of Sam Hanna of Sucre Another point of contention is that, in the recent years, the baby is appearing outside of the cake rather than in it, as bakeries wish to avoid the liability of causing a choking hazard. But theres one Mardi Gras rule everyone can agree on: whoever finds the baby is responsible for providing the next King Cake. No one said being king was easy. Madina Papadopoulos is a New York-based freelance writer, author and regular contributor to Paste. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter. Now that you can carry visible guns in Texas, thanks to a loosening of regulations that took effect at the start of 2016, one bookstore in Austin is trying to take advantage of this hot new demographic. Brave New Books announced on its Facebook page in January that anyone carrying a visible gun to their store will not only be welcomed with open arms (sorry), but will be eligible for a 10 percent discount. Seems kind of like an odd move for a bookstore in a liberal city, right? Not quiteaccording to The Guardian, Brave New Books identifies as an anti-war, anti-state and pro-market store, which is a longer way of saying Libertarian. They carry books about conspiracies and survivalism, and sustainability. Heres what store reps had to say on Facebook after a freedom symposium this past week (everything sic): Well here from owner of Central Texas Gun Works, Michael Cargill. Well take part in a firearms safety course from our good friend Stephen Sheftall. And we will hear from a panel of gun rights activists about the latest in the fight for firearms freedom in Texas. And for a limited time only if you come in to Brave New Books safely open carrying a firearm, you can get 10% off anything in the store! Thats right. We want to celebrate your decision to take security in to your own hands by giving you 10% off any product in the store for safely open carrying your firearm. John Bush, store owner and former tea party activist, told a local TV station that, we appreciate it when people take security and defence into their own hands. In a world where mass shootings are happening more and more, when seconds count, its up to we the people to protect our community. At least two other bookstores in Austin have said they wont allow open-carrying customers in their stores. Which, Id have to guess, wont put a significant dent in business. Whether youre getting frisky with someone else, or Netflix and chilling by yourself this Valentines Day, you deserve some adult lingerie. Were not talking about the neon boy shorts with words written across the bath. (Though theyre quite comfy.) Invest in some nice underwear. Youll be glad you did. And maybe the people in your buildings laundry room will be, too. Photo via Only Hearts This New York City-based line is based on creating "Inner Outerwear." But creator Helena Stuart has been designing with that aesthetic in mind since 1978. If your thing is sheer-but-sweet, youll dig the offerings. A-listers and folks who get a lot of cash for Instagram-ing stuff for a living don the pretty pieces. (Think the likes of Kate Moss, Dakota Johnson and Kim and Khloe Kardashian.) Photo via KISSKILL Less is more for this Aussie line. Sheer prints and zip-up bras make a few appearances, but cup-less bralettes, ass-less panties and a variety of harnesses are the obvious standouts. If youre feeling demure, there are some kill sheer-and-lace robes for covering up a wee bit. Photo via Fortnight Lingerie The designers behind this Canadian brand choose their fabrics for performance, durability, yet delicacy. Pieces like flowing rompers with fitted waists and body-con slips with lace insets are pretty without a lot of embellishments. These pieces are perf for wearing under your go-to day ensembles. Photo via For Love & Lemons This purveyor of chic maxi dresses that belong in Palm Springs also produces some seriously envy-inducing lingerie. Expertly-placed lace and embroidery cover up and emphasize the essential parts in the best fashion-girl way possible. Photo via Journelle Structure reigns supreme for this brand thats full of structure. But, that doesnt mean molded cups and uncomfortable underwires. Seaming keeps bras feeling like a second skin and ample lace keeps the overall look romantic. For fans of sours, farmhouse ales and other funky styles, Jester King is a name that probably comes up often. The Austin, Texas-based outfit is known for its spontaneously fermented beers, earning a GABF bronze for its Atrial Rubicite raspberry sour in 2013. That beer was Jester Kings first barrel-aged sour to include fruit, following tasty non-fruited sours like Funk Metal, RU-55 and Boxers Revenge. Since its first experiment with raspberries, the brewery went on to make beers with cherries, blackberries, grapes and more. Jester Kings Aurelian Lure follows suit, only this barrel-aged sour was refermented with apricots. Atrial Rubicite was the first fruited sour I tasted from Jester King not long after the beer made its debut. Ive had it once more since then, and I fondly recall the punch of raspberry flavor in a beer that was plenty sour and dry, yet very pleasant to drink. Sometimes sour beers are a bit one dimensional in their sourness. Even some that include fruit lack flavor and complexity due to being overly tart and acidic. That wasnt the case with Atrial Rubicite, and I didnt expect things to change with Aurelian Lure. Aurelian Lure pours a golden orange with a snow white head that retreats quickly to just around the rim of the glass. Its exactly what you would expect a beer refermented with apricots to look like, with a hue that mimics the fruit itself. Based on the pour, I can tell the carbonation is on point as well. The nose is almost entirely a glass full of ripe apricots. I get some subtle funk, but for the most part, getting my nose close to this is like putting my face in a bowl of fresh-cut fruit. The first sip is a near-perfect blend of fruit flavor and tartness, with the two balancing each other nicely before fading to a dry finish. This beer is plenty sour, but not unpleasantly so, which makes it a really drinkable brew. Ive had sours before that are so intense that you immediately feel it in your jaw, making it a chore to get through a full glass. Aurelian Lure is every bit a sour beer, but its fruitiness offers a sweet complement that makes drinking it a joy. As it warms, I get a little more acidity in the nose as I can start to smell more of the sourness and funk that gives this beer its backbone. I also get slightly less fruit drinking it at a warmer temperature. Its still there, but the scale tips more to the tart side of things than it did with my initial sips. If fruited sours are your thing, Aurelian Lure is worth seeking out. Unless you can make it to Austin for a release, you might have to enlist some help. However, its definitely worth the trouble. This beer has made a few appearances, though, as the bottle Im drinking is from Augusts Batch 3 release. For me, the thing that makes Aurelian Lure a great beer is its balance. Its a stellar mix of fruit, sour and funk. Jester King says its goal for refermenting with fruit is to transform the ingredients into something new rather than simply flavoring a mature beer. To me, that process melds the two together almost seamlessly, creating a flavor profile some fruited sours fail to achieve. Brewery: Jester King Brewery City: Austin, Texas Style: American Wild Ale ABV: 5.3% Availability: Limited, Brewery-only release Billy is the host of The Brewcast, a beer podcast that never records on a regular schedule. You can follow his drinking habit @beardbrews on Twitter. Snowden star Joseph Gordon-Levitt has found his newest gig. The actor, who is also the founder of the online collaborative production company hitRECord, will be partnering with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on a project examining the intersection between democracy and technology. In what you might call a pitch video, Gordon-Levitt raises questions about technologys impact on democracy and how people feel living in a culture where the lines between them are often obscuredintentionally or not. The hitRECord founder is calling on the public to participate by submitting their positions on whether todays technology is good or bad for democracy, according to Gordon-Levitt. They can even ask questions of their own. Some people believe that the right to privacy is a cornerstone of democracy, and [that] without privacy, we dont really live in a free country, Gordon-Levitt explains in the video. Other people, and especially perhaps people who are so open about their lives online anyway, dont seem to mind being watched. Gordon-Levitt will use the money he earned for his role in Snowden to help fund the program, compensating participants whose project submissions are selected for the final video. The remainder of the funds will go directly to the ACLU. USAToday reported today that Texas Republican Representative Lamar Smith, chairman of the House Science Space and Technology Committee, called NASAs Asteroid Retrieval Mission, uninspiring unjustified and just a time-wasting distraction. NASAs Asteroid Retrieval Mission is a stepping stone to NASAs plan for human exploration. The organization plans to use the mission to advance technology and spaceflight experience needed for a human mission to Mars in the 2030s. The purpose of the mission is to collect a boulder from a large multi-ton asteroid near Earth and redirect it into a stable orbit around the moon. NASA will then explore the orbiting asteroid, and return to Earth with samples in the 2020s. Congressional Republicans believe that NASA should focus on the moon as a stepping stone to Mars exploration rather than the asteroid. Senior Scientist Paul Spudis from the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston is also critical of NASAs Asteroid Retrieval Mission. He told the House committee, The (Asteroid Retrieval Mission) offers no unique benefits beyond providing a place for Orion to visit. He also criticized the missions usefulness, In terms of scientific and operational importance, it is barren of real accomplishment and irrelevant to future human deep space missions. NASA maintains that the mission will be useful by allowing the agency to test their current technology, and improve their space travel technology while providing scientists insight on how to deflect asteroids that may head toward Earth. NASAs Asteroid Retrieval Mission will cost an estimated $1.25 billion. Whereas, establishing a lunar base would cost significantly more. Given the Republican houses recent budget cuts on space exploration, NASAs decision for the Asteroid Retrieval Mission is most likely calculated to take into account future budget cuts that may come with a change in presidential administration as Obama leaves office in 2016. Your enjoyment of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies will hinge on whether you find the joke it and the novel from which Burr Steers adapted it funny. If yes, this movie is your jam. If no, it is your neurotoxin. Some movies are critic-proof for sheer incomprehensibility. But saying much more about it beyond that, and articulating what makes it such a bad beat for anyone who doesnt chuckle at the idea of Regency-era England overrun by zombies, feels close to pointless. Patrons of the original novel, written by idiot genius Seth Grahame-Smith, will flock to the theaters and most likely find themselves satisfied with the results. But describing Grahame-Smiths book as original is a sick farce, and sticklers for accuracy to source material will wind up descending a sharply inclined staircase to Hell over Steers textual meddling. Its not enough that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a ploddingly dumb rewrite of a Jane Austen classic. Steers had to go and try to one-up Grahame-Smith by putting his own twist on Grahame-Smiths own twist, which is an incalculably awful twist to begin with. That just raises questions of for whom, exactly, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is intended. The basics of Grahame-Smiths recalibrations are here: The film, like the novel, unfolds within the sheltered confines of the English gentry in 19th century England, as characters strive to maintain their posh and refined way of life against the backdrop of a zombie invasion. Its Grahame-Smiths idea of spicing up the literary crowds cup of tea with a couple spoonfuls of genre. Steers mostly sticks to that blueprint, too, and introduces Austens protagonists as they might appear in a world where zombies roam the countryside: the sisters BennetElizabeth (Lily James), Jane (Bella Heathcote), Catherine (Suki Waterhouse), Lydia (Ellie Bamber) and Mary (Millie Brady)along with their mum (Sally Phillips) and dad (Charles Dance), as well as Mr. Darcy (Sam Riley), Mr. Bingley (Douglas Booth) and Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Lena Headey). (Matt Smith also puts in work as Mr. Collins, but like the film itself, you will either be on board with his simpering play-acting or youll find it nauseating.) When they arent engaged in games of whist or matrimonial repartee, theyre honing their martial arts skills and beheading zombies. Should you find yourself capable of picturing shambling corpses in Pride and Prejudice, you can hazard a guess as to what to expect from Steers film. Partial credit where due: He does add a couple of his own flourishes to Grahame-Smiths writing, such as it is and such as they are, and in doing so he cribs from zombie cinema as much as Grahame-Smith does from Austen herself. Theres a zombies are people, too! plot thread in here thats taken right from the frames of Return of the Living Dead, Land of the Dead, Fido, Shaun of the Dead, Warm Bodies and a handful of other zombie flicks that are each better than Steers. Its a neat if shamelessly borrowed idea, and it might have broken up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies overwhelming monotony if Steers bothered to take it anywhere. That he doesnt would be too bad if the rest of the film was good on any quantifiable scale. And it isnt. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is such a gallimaufry of ideas and styles and classifications that the film stands no chance of converting skeptics into believers, particularly when those skeptics are either fluent in Romero, or Austen, or both. The real hell of it is that cultural gatekeeping is totally irrelevant to personal amusement. You can spend as much time as you like railing about the creative bankruptcy of the concept, but your righteous censures will fall on adders ears, and besideswhat does Grahame-Smith care? Hes laughing at his detractors as he Scrooge McDucks through a swimming pool filled with money. There are, in fairness, a few delights to be found here. For gorehounds, theres a handsome amount of impressive if repetitive grossness to distract and tickle. For Lily James aficionados, theres plenty of her to go around, which is great since she understands what the movie demands of her and so balances silliness and camp in her alt-version portrayal of Elizabeth. (It may go without saying that Headey and Dance are both reliably great, too, though they unsurprisingly have little meaningful influence over the story.) But James and her co-stars are outsized talents caught in a horribly made movie whose level of craft lies far beneath their efforts. Fruitlessly argue about the merits of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as an enterprise in imagination all you liketo each truly their own. But once you get past the basic conceit, youre just left with a handful of decent-to-fine performances in a badly choreographed action flick with pedestrian staging and an ambivalence toward focus. And theres nothing critic-proof about that. Director: Burr Steers Writer: Burr Steers, Seth Grahame-Smith Starring: Lily James, Sam Riley, Bella Heathcote, Suki Waterhouse, Ellie Bamber, Millie Brady, Charles Dance, Douglas Booth, Lena Headey, Jack Huston, Matt Smith, Sally Phillips Release Date: February 5, 2016 Boston-based critic Andy Crump has been writing online about film since 2009, and has contributed to Paste Magazine since 2013. He also writes for Screen Rant, Movie Mezzanine and Birth.Movies.Death. You can follow him on Twitter. He is composed of roughly 65% craft beer. Early last month, Calvin Reid at Publishers Weekly reported that VIZ Media, publisher of breakout manga hits One-Punch Man and Assassination Classroom, would be making a major push into two of the biggest retail chains in the country: Wal-Mart and Best Buy. The news was underreported, but its important; those chains represent major inroads into making comic books more accessible to more people, and many who did comment on it saw the distribution deal as a return to the days of convenience store spinner racks. The importance of diversified distribution was made even clearer just a few weeks later when Publishers Weekly, in an interview with Kuo-Yu Liang, Vice President of major comic trafficker Diamond Book Distributors, reported that similar moves were being made from other publishers: The U.S. market showed growth in bookstores, on Amazon, and libraries, Liang said. He took note of the recent expansion of Viz manga titles to more than 2,000 Wal-Mart stores, and said that there are ongoing discussions with the retailer to set up dedicated graphic novel sections. Liang called the deal, a great example of a lot of comics people working behind the scenes toward a much bigger project at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart wants to be a part of this. Manga is first but other graphic novels are coming. A few days after that interview, comics industry news site Newsarama reported that Wal-Mart would begin testing a dedicated graphic novel section in 50 stores. While there was some chatter on Twitter about the development, the usual circle of comic news sites remained relatively sedate (Comic Book Resources and Comics Alliance mentioned Vizs deal, but as of this writing, only The Beat has touched on Diamonds larger deal). While a 50-store test run isnt such a big deal in and of itself, it may mean big things down the road, though its unclear if those things are all good. Assuming Wal-Mart proceeds with a dedicated comics section past its 50-store test, this situation offers obvious pros to the comic industry. A recent count has Wal-Mart with 4,655 locations in the United States and more than 11,000 around the world (though, it can be assumed that a Diamond-brokered deal would probably only include territories where Diamond does business, primarily, the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.). Thats an incredible number of stores, dwarfing the 640ish Barnes & Noble locations in the United States. It would substantively widen the accessibility of print comics, and it would make casual comic buying more convenient for innumerable peoplereaders who may not have a speciality comic shop or bookstore near them. It would represent a dramatic step in the normalization of comics, and would go a long way towards making the consumption of comics as commonplace as prose purchasing habits. But which publishers stand to benefit from the deals? Wal-Mart is a massive retailer that buys in bulk. That would make the chain accessible only to the publishers already big enough to meet that production demand: Marvel and DC, but also comics arms of major book publishers like First Second (distributed by Macmillan) and Pantheon (an imprint of Random House). Like traditional book publishing deals with non-bookstore retailers, it could deter smaller publishers from participating. And while some publishers would be shut out completely, the benefits for participants may come at the risk of substantial drawbacks. This move would require an incredible investment of capital from publishers notorious for running razor-thin marginsand for canceling niche books long before they can build a sustainable audience. That kind of rash cancellation occurs in the direct market of comic book and speciality stores, where, unlike traditional book outlets, stock is unreturnable and publishers consider a unit sold when retailers buy it. At stores like Wal-Mart and Barnes & Noble, the retailer can return unsold comics and collections to the publishers. How is that history of risk aversion going to reflect on this impending relationship? Well, the discount store behemoth has always had a reputation for demanding lower prices from vendors,. If this new comics section saw similar discounts, who would be eating that price differential? Wal-Mart would presumably be another Diamond client, ordering books every month. But if Wal-Mart made its standard demands of Diamond, whose margins would suffer? Would it be Wal-Mart, buying the books wholesale and then taking a loss like Amazon has been known to? Seems unlikely. Maybe it would be Diamond to take the brunt of the cost. After all, this might very well be a distribution investment that Diamond expects to take a short-term loss on for a long-term gain. Or maybe the net loss will be suffered by Marvel, DC and the other comic publishers, selling the books to Wal-Mart-via-Diamond in larger numbers for a smaller profit-per-unit, and hoping for such an uptick in units sold that theyd see an overall gain. Wal-Mart has instigated an increase in its much-critiqued employees wages, and its currently trying to shift that cost burden onto already-squeezed supplies; how would that shift affect the accounting on this deal? And how beneficial would this relationship be for the actual creators? How would a deal with even thinner margins play into royalites? Assuming royalties are determined by wholesale units sold, minimizing the publisher-to-distributor margins could have drastic effects. These are questions that we dont have the information to answer, but they are questions that need to be asked, and they are questions especially pertinent to publishers who leave nearly all the profits in the hands of the creators, like Image. Skullkickers writer Jim Zub described how approximately 25% of revenue from his comic Wayward went to the creative team after printing and administration costs. How might a shift in wholesale pricing impact those numbers? Similarly, how would this affect what publishers are willing to take a chance on? If Wal-Mart were to become a sizable chunk of their business, the superstore may become a determining factor of what does or does not get published. Would that be good for recent pushes for more inclusion at Marvel and DC? Wal-Mart shoppers represent a solid cross-section of middle-class and working-class Americans. Would this audience embrace a wider range of diverse titles, or could they drive publishers to focus even more narrowly on known quantities like Batman and The Avengers? And how would all of this affect specialty shops, which are already facing competition from digital comics, Amazon and Barnes & Noble? At this juncture, too little information is available to form a concrete opinion. Do publishers without the corporate support of Disney or Warner Bros.publishers like Archie Comics, which recently made bold moves to stay relevant through a well-received relaunch with high-profile creatorshave the capital reserves to withstand something of this size going bad? While theres a chance the deal could maintain the status quo, a partnership between the largest distributor of comics and the worlds largest retail chain holds the potential to either boost or cripple an industry desperately in need of a larger audience. Today I am again honored to share another wonderful guest post in our ongoing series of expanding perspectives on race and diversity in American Buddhism. Recent posts include yesterdays Crossing the Great Divides in U.S. Buddhism by Mushim (Patricia) Ikeda, Wednesdays (forthcoming) book excerpt from Lama Choyin Rangdrol, African American Buddhism an interview discussing emerging voices in the Western Buddhist world, the Tibetan Feminist Collective, and two excellent academic pieces that started things off: Race Matters and The Dukkha of Racism. With one more post on hand, set for publication tomorrow, this has been an overwhelmingly positive and educational experience for me and, I hope, for readers. It is still, of course, just a drop in the bucket of awareness and understanding, but I hope that it is a drop (to mix metaphors) that ripples far through the consciousnesses of readers who carefully reflect upon the experiences of separateness and inclusion as Secundra does so eloquently below, or through the vocabularies, experiences, and suggestions found in earlier posts. It is 4 oclock in the morning on a Saturday. Service starts at 8:30 a.m. I need to be at the Zendo by 8 a.m. for set up. From my residence, I walk down a steep hill, to reach a bus stop. The bus will take me to a terminal where I catch a transit train that crosses from the East to the West section of Cleveland. From there, it is approximately a 20 minute walk from the train stop to the Zendo door. I picked this Zendo from a list of Buddhist practice places xeroxed for me by a Zen Mountain Monastery resident as I neared the end of my month long residency. I have been attending off and on since 2007. Through health issues, death of a parent, a period of couch surfing and a move, I continued to practice and attend when I could because after I attended my first service, my mouth moved faster than my brain, seeking not to attend but to serve as well. I am still grateful for that moment. When I started, there was semi regular and regular attendance by African Americans at various services. It was wonderful to talk to them, between services, to chat with them. I felt less alone, free to talk about the choice we made. Unexpectedly, one by one the attendees fell away. I became the last regular African American attendee. To buffer myself, I focused on the service, the who, what, why things occurred. I would not interview with the Abbott because I didnt think he could relate to my circumstances based on culture, race and residence. I also became a listener more than a talker because I did not have the voice, the confidence to speak on Buddhism or other items of interest to the sangha members. Away from the Zendo, I read some Buddhist publications. Even though nothing truly brings Buddhism home like on-site participation, it was reassuring to read in the text: I was not alone. While I was flailing away, a new group of African Americans came to attend the Saturday morning qi gong classes. I was thrilled by their attendance. The Abbott encouraged them to come to other services but qi gong was the only time they could attend. Their attendance also put me in a quandary. While I was happy that they were attending and wanted to connect with them, I also did not want to be the person to speak to them if a Zendo rule was broken. I also did not want to lobby for them to attend other services. I also liked my lone black status. I relished attending intensives and retreats, knowing my attendance was probably the first. Yet after awhile, it became old, redundant and at times sad. In the end, life circumstances caused the group to stop attending. My issues started to dissipate. First going to an interview with the Abbott broke down the communication stereotype. Everyone has universal experiences and it took one to bring me into the interview room. The interview helped to clear the air with my problem and break the ice with those around me. Another improvement resulted from the article Buddhist People of Color Sangha Diversity Efforts Address Conflicts About Race Among Meditators in the Huffington Post. The Abbott read it and one day when I and another African American sangha member were at the Zendo, he asked us to stay after service to talk about it. At the table sat the senior monks, a senior student, the Abbott and us, speaking honestly on how we view and experience the Zendo, the sangha and vice versa. The Abbott mentioned that if we ever had an issue or concern about how we were or were not being treated, he wanted to be informed immediately. To say I was reassured was an understatement. I was happy and vowed to myself to keep that door open. Since the deaths of Tanisha Anderson and Tamir Rice, our Zendo has had conversations on how this affects us and the Zendo. I have spoken about it, but others, long time sangha members and senior monastics have spoken up. Current dharma talks convey how we can use our practice to address the personal and interpersonal issues of the day. In the winter, the Zendo started programs covering topics not just concerning African Americans but other communities as well, such as LGBTQ. I am no longer worried if a spike of African American attendance will shift the tone of the Zendo. Or if I have done too much or too little for them to return. All I know for sure is its Sunday 4 oclock in the morning, and I need to be at the Zendo by 8:00 a.m. Today I am again very honored to share a guest post in our ongoing series of expanding perspectives on race and diversity in American Buddhism. Recent posts include yesterdays (forthcoming) book excerpt from Lama Choyin Rangdrol, African American Buddhism an interview discussing an emerging and wonderful voice -several voices, in fact- in the Western Buddhist world, the Tibetan Feminist Collective, and two excellent academic pieces that started things off: Race Matters and The Dukkha of Racism. Todays article comes with a home-work assignment of sorts for me and for interested readers: to get a hold of Diana Ecks book A New Religious America... mentioned below and read the chapter on Buddhism and come back here in about 10 or so days to discuss that chapter (Ill provide a summarizing blog post to start things off). Along with that, check out Ecks Harvard-based Pluralism Project: http://pluralism.org/. As Mushim mentions Rick Fields, Ill also note another pioneer in the study of American Buddhism who has been a great influence on me:Charles Prebish, whose 30+ year career (1979, American Buddhism 2011, Looking West) studying American Buddhism includes texts co-edited by greats like Martin Baumann and Kenneth Tanaka. More on him and Fields and other figures perhaps in the upcoming post on Ecks work; for now, please enjoy todays excellent work by Mushim (Patricia) Ikeda. The recent cover image of the first issue of Lions Roar magazine, showing 14 U.S. Buddhist teachers who are beautifully diverse in some ways, provocatively and boldly titled The New Face of Buddhism, has excited both praise as well as substantial deconstructive critique. Lions Roar is a rebranding of the former Shambhala Sun, and not a new publication. The praise comes from people, myself included, who appreciate the inclusion of people of different races and ethnicities, ages, gender identities, and body shapes and sizes among the teachers chosen to be photographed, many of whom I know well and love, or know slightly and respect. I also sympathize with the thoughtful critiques, such as those published recently by five Buddhist Peace Fellowship authors, which once again shine light on the stunningly great divides among U.S. Buddhist communities and individuals. These persist despite information being readily available for Buddhists in the U.S. to educate ourselves on The Old Face of Buddhism in this country, to the extent that a newish sort of religion can have an old face. But you get my drift Buddhism has been in the U.S. and in North America for awhile, certainly over a hundred years, and books like Rick Fieldss classic How the Swans Came to the Lake: A Narrative History of Buddhism in America have been out since 1981, joined by newer and excellent accounts such as the long and research-based chapter on U.S. Buddhism in Dr. Diana Ecks A New Religious America: How a Christian Country Has Become the Worlds Most Religiously Diverse Nation. It has been said that there is no American Buddhism, only American Buddhisms, and this is a useful truth to keep in mind, I think. It was only a few years ago that I was seated at dinner with a diversity and inclusion professional, who appeared to be a white person, a person who was new to me. They asked about the work I had done in the D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) field. I replied that I am Buddhist and most of my diversity work has been done in Buddhist communities in the U.S., particularly focusing on racism. They seemed very interested, smiled, and said, I practice meditation with a Buddhist group! Then they furrowed their brow slightly and said, in a thoughtful voice, But there arent many people of color who are Buddhists. This was one of those moments of truth where one can choose to be mindful or not. I took a deep breath, then said as warmly and kindly as I could, I disagree. Buddhism comes from Asia, and most Buddhists, globally speaking, are people of color. The person thought about this, then said, I guess I mean Black people. I replied, Actually, there are large Buddhist groups such as SGI-USA who have significant membership of people of color who are not Asian-descended, including large numbers of African Americans. I could tell that all of this was new and confusing information to this person, who seemed like a well-educated white professional. And they are not alone. If you go into a sampling of U.S. Buddhist groups that are predominantly white converts and ask, If I ask you to think of three to five images of a typical American Buddhist, who do you see in your mind? the answer is likely to be almost completely different than if you go into a sampling of U.S. Buddhist groups that were founded by Asian Buddhist immigrants, anywhere from over 100 years ago up to fairly recently, and ask the same question. Both broad categories are likely to contain a large number of people who self-identify as Americans, meaning U.S. citizens, but between these groups is what seems to me like an almost impenetrable wall, often, or an abyss in which phone and Internet signals mysteriously disappear. The reasons for this divide, it has been noted, include, although they are not solely reduced to, racism. And, because issues of socioeconomic class usually co-arise with issues of race and ethnicity, there is classism as well. Asian American Buddhists, like Asian Americans in general, commonly encounter racism in the forms of being regarded as perpetual foreigners, sometimes exoticized, sometimes feared, and most often completely ignored or what is called invisibilized in addition to what is sometimes called Otherized these days. Last year, for instance, I was talking to a white American woman in a Buddhist center in Berkeley and we had been chatting for quite awhile. English is my first and primary language, except for a little French, and I speak with a flat Midwestern accent, having grown up near Akron, Ohio; I am a sansei, or third generation Japanese American who has never been to Japan. After wed been talking pleasantly for at least fifteen minutes, the woman said, Are you from Hong Kong? I replied that I am originally from Ohio and asked why she thought I was from Hong Kong. She said, There were some other people from Hong Kong here earlier today. I hope it is obvious that it is exactly this sort of conflation of identity and nationality, based on physical appearance, that was at the root of the reason that American citizens of Japanese descent were placed in concentration camps in World War II. That these implicit associations and biases exist so strongly today among people of undoubted good will is something to be strongly taken into account when white convert Buddhist groups consider or are challenged to consider diversity and inclusion initiatives. Meanwhile, the so-called Asian American and the Asian immigrant U.S. Buddhist organizations and groups are doing what theyve done, in some cases for over a century in this country: serving their communities. I always knew better than to try to reach my late friend, Ven. Thich An Duc, an African American senior Buddhist monk who resided in Chua Dieu Phap, a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in San Gabriel, California anytime around Buddhas birthday or other major Buddhist holidays. The venerable, who also went by the name Bhante Suhita Dharma, told me that Chua Dieu Phap would easily draw 2,000 people for Buddhas birthday, and that the temple had a system in place so that services were held, everyone got fed, bathroom facilities were provided, and people of all ages, from babies in arms up to elderly folks in wheelchairs, were well cared for. Similar thriving, multigenerational scenes that fluidly include laypersons, monastics, married clergy, and visiting Buddhist dignitaries, albeit perhaps with smaller numbers, can be found should one have the consciousness to look at hundreds and probably thousands of Asian-descended American Buddhist centers and communities that have impressive infrastructure, including Dharma schools for young children and teenagers, in the U.S. Although its a bit of a collectors item, Taking Refuge in L.A.: Life in a Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, a book of lyrical photos by Don Farber and text by Rick Fields, can still be found, and, were I calling the shots, would be viewed avidly by every person in a predominantly white, U.S. convert Buddhist community as a foundation of their Dharma study. In my experience, U.S. people of color who are converts to Buddhism usually have a fairly strong awareness that Dharma in the U.S. includes both Buddhists of Asian as well as non-Asian descent, and includes African Americans, Latin@s and Hispanics, U.S. indigenous peoples, and people of mixed heritage as well as people from other countries, including often invisibilized Canadians. Minority awareness seems to fairly easily translate to an openness to consider that American Buddhists might be diverse also, regarding sexual orientation, gender-identity, ability and disability, and other dimensions of diversity. How to cross this great divide? Its probably evident that some additional factors that keep it so firmly in place are cultural differences and needs, as well as negative perceptions and judgments on both sides. There are people who freely cross the divides in U.S. Buddhism, feeling welcomed and at home everywhere they go; these folks, however, arent usually the voices that are heard in convert U.S. Buddhist media. We can become these folks if we make the effort. Start small and identify a Buddhist group thats quite unlike your own; ask if you can visit and go with a friend. Take a donation of food or flowers or money. Ask lots of questions and make it clear youre interested in their culture and what theyve achieved in building their temple, undoubtedly persevering through many difficulties. Then, although of course nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, be prepared to be the recipient of warm hospitality, and gain transformative insights into new worlds, and to make new spiritual friends. It probably wont feel 100% comfortable to you to be there, but learning new things doesnt mean you have to agree with them. Speaking from the hospital in Rochester, Minnesota where he is undergoing precautionary prostate treatment, His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered a brief message on the occasion of the upcoming Tibetan New Year (Losar, beginning Feb. 9 and lasting 15 days). There, he reassured friends and supporters that he is in good health and is being well looked after by hospital staff. His message focused on expressing his appreciation to those who have sent prayers and well-wishes for his health and recovery, reassuring them: And I want to tell you that I am doing very well. The treatment only takes a few minutes every day, but it will take time to complete the treatment. Its nothing complicated, its not serious, theres nothing to worry about. He continued that its almost as if Im taking a rest. Im doing my daily recitations morning and evening and when theres time Im reading other scriptures I want to tell you not to worry at all. He then went on to encourage us not to simply take the Tibetan New Year as an opportunity to offer che-ma, drink chang, and gamble. The meaning of Tashi -as in the Tibetan greeting tashi delek- is: If you create the causes of happiness, if you lead your life in benefiting others and not harming them, thats a meaningful life, a life that has tashi. On that basis saying Tashi Delek means May you be happy in the here and now and, as we Buddhists say, may you finally achieve definite goodness. With that, the Dalai Lama wished all a Losar Tashi Delek and requested that all please try to live up to what it means. *correction, an earlier version of this article had Feb 8 as the start of Losar. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. "We're not used to seeing growth in our check business," said Deluxe's Tracey Engelhardt, who reports a 6% to 7% increase in revenue for check orders from businesses and consumers in each of the last three quarters, driven by various factors originating from the pandemic. U.S. Presidential Hopefuls Clinton, Sanders Spar Over Iran, Russia 02/05/16 Source: RFE/RL The two U.S. Democratic candidates for president sparred over foreign policy during a debate February 4, and showed particularly sharp differences over Iran. Hillary Clinton claims Bernie Sanders is naive about Iran. Is he really? https://t.co/ZLpZk9ix92 #FeelTheBern Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) January 29, 2016 Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took issue with socialist Senator Bernie Sanders on restoring diplomatic relations with Tehran now that many economic sanctions have been lifted. Clinton said Sanders is wrong to support normalizing relations with what she called a state sponsor of terrorism that is "destabilizing the region." Normalizing relations immediately would remove one of the biggest levers the United States has to pry concessions from Iran in the future, she said. "You have to get action for action." Sanders said he wouldn't restore relations "tomorrow" but would move toward them. #DemDebate No one has better foreign policy than @BernieSanders because he cares about American's lives & interests! pic.twitter.com/qE5Bf2I5Ax Bernie / Warren 2016 (@WorldForBernie) February 5, 2016 On Russia, Sanders dismissed assessments by the Obama administration that Moscow now poses a graver threat to U.S. security than any other nation. Though he said he dislikes Russia's "military adventurism," he said North Korea poses a bigger threat, calling Korea "an isolated, paranoid country with atomic bombs" that makes it more dangerous than Russia or China. Clinton said "NATO must do more for the common defense" against Russia. The candidates agreed they do not want to see American ground troops deployed to fight in Iraq or Syria. Based on reporting by AP and USA Today 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 U.S. Republican Lawmakers Seek To Make 'Inspection' Trip To Iran 02/05/16 Source: RFE/RL Three U.S. Republican lawmakers who are highly critical of Iran applied for visas to visit Tehran and observe this month's elections, inspect nuclear sites, and meet with the Revolutionary Guards. Republican Representatives Mike Pompeo, Lee Zeldin and Frank LoBiondo filed visa applications to visit Iran on February 4. (source: Republican Representatives Mike Pompeo, Lee Zeldin and Frank LoBiondo filed visa applications to visit Iran on February 4.(source: Islamic Republic News Agency U.S. House members Mike Pompeo, Lee Zeldin and Frank LoBiondo, even as they called Tehran a "fanatical"and "depraved" regime, hand-delivered their applications to the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, and wrote to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Ali Jafari, seeking their assistance. "We look forward to seeing Iranian democracy in action" during the February 26 parliamentary elections, they said. Tensions have risen over the elections, with President Hassan Rouhani criticizing moves by hard-liners to exclude thousands of reformist candidates. The U.S. lawmakers said they are seeking to "inspect" sensitive nuclear sites at Parchin, Fordow, and Arak, and requested a briefing by the Revolutionary Guards over the January detention of 10 U.S. Navy sailors. The lawmakers also sought "unmonitored" meetings with Americans still jailed in Iran, and a briefing on recent ballistic missile tests which have prompted U.S. sanctions. No sitting member of Congress is believed to have travelled to Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Based on reporting by AFP and Centre Daily Times 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 Arrest of Iranian-British Dual National in Tehran May Be Hardliners' Ploy to Foil Iran-UK Relations 02/05/16 Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran New details about the case of Iranian-British translator Bahman Daroshafaei, who was arrested this week at his Tehran home during a historic visit by Irans foreign minister to the UK, suggest his detainment may be a politically motivated move by hardliners to thwart better relations with the UK. Iranian-British translator Bahman Daroshafaei Upon returning to Iran in 2014, Daroshafaei, a former BBC Persian reporter, had been repeatedly interrogated by Irans Intelligence Ministry, a source close to the case told the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. The interrogations, which occurred dozens of times over the first few months after Daroshafaei returned to Iran, never led to his arrest. But Daroshafaeis arrest on February 3, 2016, which came on the heels of the Iranian foreign ministers trip to London-the first high-level visit in 12 years-has led to speculation that the hardline Intelligence Organization of Irans Revolutionary Guard, which has been deeply opposed to the moderate government of Hassan Rouhani, may have detained Daroshafaei in protest against what they perceive as warming relations between Iran and the UK. When asked about the arrest of the journalist, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is currently in London to attend a conference on the Syrian conflict, claimed he had not been informed about the case. I read about this journalist as I arrived in the UK, so I dont know about him, or what happened, Zarif said at an event held at the British Parliament. You know we have independent judiciary, which insists on its independence, he added. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking at (source: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif speaking at Chatham House , the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in Londin(source: Islamic Republic News Agency The source told the Campaign that Zarifs apparent lack of knowledge of the case suggests that the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Intelligence Organization, which operates parallel to the Intelligence Ministry but does not report to President Rouhani, is responsible for Daroshafaeis arrest. Bahman was repeatedly told during interrogations that if the Intelligence Ministry [which is under the authority of President Rouhani], did not interrogate him, the IRGC would come after him, said the source. Daroshafaei was arrested under a warrant issued by Branch 2 of the Evin Prison Courts, which is known for imprisoning political prisoners. The arresting agents did not say which security organization they represented and did not specify where they would be taking him, according to the Campaigns source. Daroshafaei Stayed in Iran Despite Interrogations After several years residence in London, Daroshafaei returned to Iran in 2014 to be near his family. Upon his return, agents from the Intelligence Ministry interrogated him dozens of times. Because Daroshafaei had worked for the British Broadcasting Corporations (BBC) Persian Service (banned in Iran) during his residency in the UK, most of his interrogations were focused on who worked for the network and how it was managed. The Intelligence Ministrys interrogators were specifically interested in learning about the media organizations operations and management style, as well as seeking the names of its most influential staff. Despite continued interrogations by the Intelligence Ministry, Darolshafaei chose to stay in Iran even though that meant effectively giving up his journalism career as his repeated interrogations and history working for BBC Persian meant he was effectively unemployable as a journalist in Iran. Since relocating to Tehran, Daroshafaei only traveled abroad once to visit with friends in Canada and the US, returning home in less than a month. Daroshafaeis email and Facebook accounts were hacked on January 2, 2016, and the hacker(s) demanded money to keep his private information secret, but he ignored the threats, a source told the Campaign on February 3, 2016. Over the past five years, there have been frequent reports about the harassment of the BBC Persian Services employees and their family members by the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization. Daroshafaei, a respected former reporter, is the latest victim of routine harassment and restrictions imposed by Iranian security organizations against domestic and foreign media workers. He has never reported on his interrogations or the harassment. In addition to previously working for the BBC Persian Service and reformist media outlets in Iran, including Chelcheragh magazine and the Shargh and Etemad Melli newspapers, Daroshafaei has translated and published several books. First Europe bank to open Iran office 02/05/16 Source: Press TV Austrias Raiffeisen Bank International (RBI) says it wants to open a branch in Tehran as quickly as possible, becoming the first foreign lender to set up shop in Iran after the lifting of sanctions. RBI is in intensive talks with Iranian banks as Tehran is rejoining the international banking system, its board member Peter Lennkh said in an interview with Austrian newspaper Wirtschaftsblatt. "We are already working on the preparations and want to offer our customers everything the sanctions relief allows," he said. Lennkh said RBI had a very good deal of business in Iran before sanctions were imposed on the country in 2012 and would like to be again the leading bank in the Iran business." International lenders are linking up, though slowly, with their Iranian counterparts using global transaction network SWIFT. As of this week, Iran is able to use the worldwide transaction network which handles cash transfers and letters of credit between financial institutions. Central bank officials have said banks from European countries including Germany, France, Britain and Italy, have been in talks to open branches after the lifting of sanctions. Commerzbank has said it is reviewing its policy of not doing business in Iran. 'US weapon' Other major banks are cautious, however, seeking all the assurances they need to return to Iran. They are deterred by Washingtons heavy fining of some lenders in the past for doing business with Iran. Thierry Coville, of the French Research Centre for International and Strategic Studies (Iris), said Washington is happy to let uncertainty persist. "It could be a US policy to say, 'careful, it's complicated', so people don't understand what's going on and think they (the sanctions) remain in place," the AFP news agency quoted him as saying. In 2014, the US imposed a record $8.9 billion fine on Frances BNP Paribas while German giant Deutsche Bank took a $258 million fine for doing business with Iran. Coville lamented a "strategic mistake which is today being paid for" to allow the US to place "direct pressure on the European banks" when it comes to a return to Iran. "Politically, this is lamentable on the part of the Europeans. This is now a financial and geopolitical weapon that the United States won't shirk from using again in other circumstances." European assurance However, Europes rush for resurrecting trade with the global energy superpower sitting on the worlds biggest oil and gas reserves combined as well as massive mineral deposits is set to trump existing reservations. Italy and France signed initial deals worth more than $40 billion in a variety of fields -- from oil and gas to car manufacturing, construction, health and agriculture and clean energy development -- last month during President Hassan Rouhanis visit to Europe. Major groups would need financial support to seal contracts and leading banks would inevitably move in to reopen their offices in Iran. Seeking to reassure, Paris last Tuesday unveiled an accord offering state guarantees to back French investments in Iran through credit management firm Coface in order to cover onsite non-payment risks. German MKM To Invest 1 Billion Euros in Iran's Copper Industry 02/05/16 Source: Islamic Republic News Agency TEHRAN - Germany's copper producing company Mansfelder Kupfer und Messing GmbH (MKM) signed a memorandum of understanding, worth 1 billion Euros, to invest in a number of mineral projects including the ones in downstream copper industries in Iran. The MOU was signed on Tuesday with the National Iranian Copper Industries Company (NICICO), according to Mohammad Esfandiar, the member of NICICO's board of directors, the Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday. According to the MOU, MKM would help Iran develop its downstream industries to obtain copper from copper cathodes. Furthermore, MKM offered to purchase an annual amount of 70,000 tons of produced copper cathodes from NICICO. The German copper company suggested starting its purchase with procuring 10,000 tons of copper cathodes. In October 2015, Iranian Deputy Industry, Mining, and Trade Minister Mehdi Karbasian said there is a high demand for foreign investment in Iran's mining projects, so that many multinational companies have put in their investment requests. Iran is believed to hold more than 7 percent of the world's total mineral reserves. It ranks at the 10th place in terms of the variety of mineral resources. Key large deposits that still remain underdeveloped are zinc, copper, iron, uranium, and lead. Lawmakers Urge for Visa Waivers for Dual Nationals, Iran Visitors 02/05/16 Press Release by NIAC Action Washington, DC - NIAC Action applauds Jared Huffman (D-CA) and all twenty-six Members of Congress who today called on the Obama Administration to protect dual nationals and people who have visited Iran from discriminatory new visa restrictions. Lawmakers are sending a clear message that we should not be discriminating against people because of where they were born or who their parents are, said NIAC Action Executive Director Jamal Abdi. The U.S. has legitimate concerns about some of the activities of Irans government, but punishing people who travel to Iran or who are of Iranian heritage does nothing to enhance U.S. security and is an insult to American values. In the December omnibus government spending bill passed by Congress, provisions were included from a bill passed by the House of Representatives (H.R. 158) to bar dual nationals of Iraq, Syria, Iran and Sudan as well as foreigners who have traveled to those countries since March 2011 from eligibility in the visa waiver program. Most people of Iranian descent, including Iranian Americans, are considered Iranian dual nationals because Iranian citizenship is passed down automatically from the father. Because the visa waiver program operates on reciprocity, the new restrictions invite similar restrictions that could render Iranian Americans ineligible for the visa waiver program, effectively creating a second tier of American citizens traveling abroad. It is estimated that there are 900,000 Iranian passports held by Americans and polling indicates that over 60% of Iranian Americans travel to Iran. This law would not have even applied to the San Bernardino shooters or the 9/11 hijackers, but it is already punishing ordinary people in Europe and threatens to punish Iranian Americans, said Abdi. Waiving the restrictions on dual nationals and people who have traveled to Iran to visit family, for tourism, or for academic purposes will protect American values and ensure we are not inviting similar restrictions that turn Iranian Americans into second class citizens. Thousands of Europeans who are Iranian dual nationals or who have visited Iran have already been expelled from the visa waiver program, including prominent journalists likeBBCs Rana Rahimpour and New York Times Tehran Correspondent Thomas Erdbrink. NIAC Action 1411 K St NW, Ste 250 Washington, DC 20005 USA Helping to advance peace and the Iranian-American community. Just in case you missed the memo: Mozilla's Firefox OS is officially dead. In a Thursday announcement(Opens in a new window), head of Core Contributors George Roter said the company is turning its attention to the Internet of Things. The move is "an intent to pivot from 'Firefox OS' to 'Connected Devices(Opens in a new window)' and to a focus on exploring new product innovations in the IoT space," a company email said. Mozilla is ending development on Firefox OS for smartphones after version 2.6 is released in May. The team will be shuffled to "other product initiatives across Connected Devices and other Mozilla teams," a spokesman told PCMag. The Connected Devices team, meanwhile, has been testing a new product innovation process: Three products have already passed the first "gate," and "many more" are in the pipeline, the company said. "Having multiple different product innovations in development will be the approach moving forward." "The main reason [these decisions] are being made is to ensure we are focusing our energies and resources on bringing the power of the Web to IoT," Mozilla said. In a separate blog post(Opens in a new window), Ari Jaaksi, senior vice president of Connected Devices at the Mozilla Foundation, lamented the end of Firefox OS for smartphones. "Our team and community made an awesome push and created an impressive platform, but the circumstances were not there for Mozilla to win in the commercial smartphone game," he wrote. All hope is not lost, though: The existing OS stack will be used for smart TVs and potentially other devices in the future. "Our platform is open, as always, to volunteers, contributors, and enthusiasts to improve on and submit patches for further advancement of the OS stack," Jaaksi said. Firefox OS emerged from Mozilla's Boot to Gecko project in July 2011. A year later, Mozilla revealed the Firefox OS moniker and TCL Communication Technology and ZTE as its first manufacturing partners. We got a look at the phones at Mobile World Congress 2013; the first arrived in Spain later that year, and in the U.S. shortly thereafter. In an attempt at differentiation, Firefox OS was a Web-based operating system, providing Internet apps instead of native options. The idea was novel and, according to Mozilla, scalableallowing it to run on a wide range of devices. The goal was to break the grip that Android and iOS have on the mobile market; Mozilla played up its open-source component, which would rely on the community to help improve the operating system. Ultimately, however, Firefox OS proved to be far less popular among consumers than the company expected. Mozilla attempted to update the operating system with more features and functionality as time went on, but it never truly got off the ground. Nintendo has pressed snooze on its "quality of life" sleep-tracking initiative. During a Wednesday investors briefing, company president Tatsumi Kimishima (pictured) said(Opens in a new window) the "QOL" technology has been put on hold. "In regards to the Quality of Life [device] we do not have the conviction that the sleep-and-fatigue-themed [device] can enter the phase of actually becoming a product," Kimishima said in remarks translated by Wired(Opens in a new window). At least not yet: Plans to release the portable machine by the end of March have been scrapped. But Nintendo still believes there is more work to be done in the Quality of Life category. "We will continue to study the possibility of expanding into this field," Kimishima said. Under the leadership of the late Satoru Iwata, Nintendo in October 2014 revealed early blueprints for a bedside device that measures fatigue and maps sleep. A patent for Nintendo's sleep-tracking device surfaced last summer, providing an early peek at the unnamed gadget, which looks more like an alarm clock than the sleek image the company shared before. The portable machine, initially expected in the spring, was meant to use a microphone, camera, and other inputs to collect user details like physical (pulse rate, temperature) and psychological (emotions) information, to generate an overall "quality of life" score. For now, though, folks will have to rely on their health and fitness wearables that track sleep. Meanwhile, Nintendo is busy preparing for its first mobile game, set for a North American launch next month. Those interested in Miitomo can pre-register starting Feb. 17 to be notified when it is officially released. Slated to launch alongside Miitomo is a new program called My Nintendo, which "rewards users for interacting with Nintendo products and services in a variety of ways." Apple in 2015 slowly started embracing Android, bringing a few of its apps to Google's rival mobile platform for the first time, and it looks like that trend will continue. According to 9to5Mac(Opens in a new window), which cited unnamed sources at Apple, CEO Tim Cook recently held a Town Hall meeting for employees, during which he hinted at plans to bring more apps and services to Android. Cook also reportedly discussed new retail stores in China, Apple's upcoming "spaceship" campus, and more. On the topic of Android, Cook "noted his excitement over future products coming out of the software, services, and hardware divisions, while teasing some 'far-off' hardware announcements coming beyond this year," 9to5Mac reported. "Cook said that Apple is using Apple Music on Android as a way of testing the waters for growing its services division through other platforms, opening up the door for more porting in the future." Apple in September released its first-ever Android app, called Move to iOS, to help switchers transfer their music, photos, email accounts, and messages over to its mobile platform. The company followed that up bringing two more apps to Google's rival platform: Beats Pill+ and Apple Music. Meanwhile, Cook at the meeting also reportedly updated employees on the company's Campus 2 project, and said employees should be able to start moving in by the end of January 2017. Across the globe, Apple is planning to open its 40th store in China by the end of the summer, Cook said, according to the report. The town hall comes as Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch a new iPhone and iPad in mid-March. And so begins the final phase of the Google Doodle popularity contest, otherwise known as "Doogle 4 Google." The search giant is now inviting the public to weigh in on which Google doodlescreated by kids in grades K-12will have a shot at actually gracing Google's homepage. There are 53 entrants in all, one for each state (as well as Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam), separated by age group so youngsters aren't competing against the artistic talents of high schoolers. "Last October, we kicked off our annual Doodle 4 Google art competition, asking students to create a doodle to tell the world 'What makes meme.' This time around, we added a little twist: for the first time in eight years of Doodle 4 Google, there were no restrictions on the medium or materials kids could use to create a doodle. Kids took us up on the challenge. A quarter of all finalists used some non-traditional mediafrom clay and wood to origami, photographs and sheets of musicin their submission," reads a blog post(Opens in a new window) from Google. "Today, Googlers are hosting surprise assemblies at schools from Waterville, Maine to Waipahu, Hawaii to celebrate the winners of each state and thank the teachers and parents who have encouraged them along the way." Google is only going to feature one doodle on its site, and the company will announce that lucky artist, as well as the four runners-up, on March 21. Voting starts today(Opens in a new window) and continues through Feb. 22, so you have a bit of time to look through all the contenders and pick your favorite. Or, if you're one of the lucky artists who has already won one a spot among the finalists, you have a few weeks to convince every single person you know (if not your entire hometown) to vote for you. Of course, temporary artistic fame isn't the only prize these amateur doodlers receive. The winner of the entire competition gets a pretty great prize pack: A $30,000 college scholarship, a trip to Google's California headquarters (and the ability to pick a favorite teacher to come along, too), a new Chromebook, an Android tablet, and a customized T-shirt with the winner's doodle on it. The winner's school will also receive a $50,000 Google for Education grant. All 53 different finalists get an Android tablet and the customized T-shirtnot a bad deal for a doodle. CORRECTION: Daniel Nguyen was from Garden Grove. Because of incorrect information provided to The Press-Enterprise, his city of residence was wrong in a previous version of this story. After a 23-year-old Garden Grove man fell to his death Tuesday, Feb, 2, hiking Mount Baldy, experts and authorities say proper equipment and hiking skills are key to traversing the trail. Though Daniel Nguyens family and friends said he was an avid hiker, Tuesdays conditions on the trail may have been more treacherous than usual. A storm hit the mountain days prior to Nguyens ascent and may have made the traverse icy and slippery, said Cpl. Robert Whiteside, who is the search-and-rescue coordinator with the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. And Casey Schreiner, editor of Southern California hiking blog Modern Hiker, said gusty winds usually follow storms in the mountains. UPDATE: 10 rescued Saturday; stay away, fire captain advises The 10,064-foot peak, officially named Mount San Antonio, can be tricky for even the most experienced hikers, said Schreiner. Its most daunting point, Schreiner said, is a stretch called Devils Backbone, where the trail is 8 to 12 feet wide and completely exposed. The Devils Backbone is sort of a notorious stretch of trail, Schreiner said. People tend to get a little worried when they approach it. Its very narrow and has very steep drop-offs. Thats the portion of the mountain Nguyen was hiking when he fell about 1,500 feet down the mountainside after he reached out his hand to save a friend who had slipped. One of the two people who were hiking with Nguyen called authorities about 7:40 a.m. reporting the fall. First responders determined that he had likely died, and executed a mission to retrieve his body that lasted nearly three hours in ice, snow and wind, search-and-rescue coordinator Whiteside said. They reached him just after dark Tuesday. Search-and-rescue teams are used to responding to Mount Baldy; in 2015, they were called to more than 50 rescues, Whiteside said. But that doesnt stop people from braving the mountain in the dead of winter. Its a very popular mountain, in both summer and winter, Whiteside said. Whiteside recommends hikers check the weather before hiking Mount Baldy and gauge whether they are skilled enough for the conditions. He recommended hikers pack food, water, layers of clothing, crampons devices affixed to a hikers boot to walk on ice and ice axes. Before heading up the mountain, Schreiner said that its important to take a class on how to use crampons and ice axes. Classes are available through various organizations in Southern California. Though classes and equipment can better equip a hiker to climb mountains like Mount Baldy, theres still no telling what can happen, Schreiner said. This just goes to show, even if youre experienced, youre still at risk of nature, he said, and nature is indifferent to your training ability and how many times youve done the hike. Eastern Municipal Water Districts annual outreach to schoolchildren includes a poster contest. This years finalists were narrowed to 18 students by a panel of judges that included two-time poster contest winner Cassi Tichy of Hemet. We partner with Rancho California Water District for this contest, said Malea Ortloff, education specialist for the water district. This year, between our two agencies, we provided over 22,000 sheets of paper to students and received approximately 650 posters for judging. While a fourth grader at Valle Vista Elementary in Hemet, Cassi advanced to and was a winner in the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Water is Life contest. The following year she was asked to illustrate a story written by middle school student Chloe Hernandez: Otis the Turtle Gets Water Wise. The character became easily recognized by children and still is being used by Eastern Municipal Water District for educational purposes. Although she is a junior at Hemet High School, Cassi is taking classes at home while she is undergoing treatment for Ewings sarcoma, a cancer she was diagnosed with in September. The second-most common teenage cancer, but rare in females, it attacks the soft tissue and bone. She took the news with a maturity I did not expect, said her mom, Ellen Tichy, who is a guest teacher for Hemet Unified School District. I dont hold on to things; I just go with the flow, said Cassi, 16. I have the mindset that it will always get better. I have something to look forward to after the whole chemo thing is over: advancing in my artwork and traveling places. Cassi continues to smile and draw despite her pain and many hospitalizations. She has almost 400 followers of her artwork on Instagram. When I was younger, I was heavily influenced by anime, but when I got into middle school I tried to create my own cartoon style and be more realistic, Cassi said. I now have a distinguishable style and do fan art for books and movies I like. Tichy said her daughters cancer journey has been a humbling experience for the family but that their bond has been a key element to her healing. We are learning to accept situations beyond our control and adapt with a positive and grateful attitude, she said. Cassi gets this; she is a genuine and kind individual and truly appreciates the expressions of care and affection from everyone. I am very pleased with, and proud of, her developing personal growth. Through this whole process, I havent always been positive, Cassi admits. At first, Id get sad when I had a lot of pain from treatments. But I think theres a purpose for how and why I got this and maybe its just to make me more confident and stronger. Winners of the Get Savvy About Water Conservation poster contest are on Eastern Municipals website and viewers can vote for their favorites. The top five will move on to Metropolitans Water is Life contest. The announcement will be made at a recognition event for all finalists April 28. Information: emwd.org/education. Contact the writer: dianerhodes.writer@gmail.com When Candi Martinez moved from Riverside to San Bernardino, she looked for a new school for her 11-year-old daughter. She and her husband didnt like the public middle school near their new home and decided to explore the possibility of Catholic school. At church, they learned about Holy Rosary Academy and Our Lady of the Assumption School. The sister schools in San Bernardino suited their academic and religious needs perfectly. Delila Vasquez, president of the two schools, offered a substantial scholarship to help pay the $4,000 annual tuition. The couple are still pondering which campus their daughter, Angelica, will attend next school year. I couldnt afford it without this discount, said Martinez, a 30-year-old stay-at-home mom. Its the greatest opportunity she could have. As they celebrate Catholic Schools Week running through Saturday, Feb. 6, leaders of the Diocese of San Bernardino are trying to bolster enrollment by courting parents dissatisfied by the public school system. Financial aid, small class sizes, a faith-based curriculum and a safe environment are some of the enticements theyre dangling to boost attendance. In the Inland area and statewide, nine of 10 Catholic children go to public schools. The Diocese, which serves about 1.6 million Catholics across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, has 7,548 students in its three high schools, 24 elementary schools and three preschools. Total enrollment has fallen more than 14 percent since 2003-2004. Bishop Gerald Barnes, head of the San Bernardino Diocese, and other Catholic bishops in California are urging several actions to reverse the slide. We must acknowledge that the landscape of Catholic education has changed greatly from the days when our schools existed and prospered largely through the dedicated ministry of religious women, Barnes wrote in a letter read at Masses Sunday, Jan. 31. Catholic school is not the preferred option for most Catholic families as it once was. WECLOME MAT NEEDED A report from the bishops released this week, Our Catholic Schools in California: A Stellar Past, A Robust Future, recommends making Catholic schools more desirable, accessible and affordable for Latino families, who comprise almost three-fourths of the Diocese. Despite their numbers, many Latinos dont enroll their kids in Catholic school because they view it as cost prohibitive, elitist and unwelcoming, the report states. If they are new or relatively new to the country, their experience has been its only for the rich or elite and it doesnt cross their mind this is something they can avail themselves of, said Patricia Vesely, the dioceses superintendent of schools. They dont think theyre worthy and they dont think its within their realm of possibility. The diocese hired Vasquez in July 2014 to build enrollment by reaching out to Spanish-speaking families who attend church throughout San Bernardino but dont know the area has Catholic schools. She visits Our Lady of Guadalupe in San Bernardino and other churches with large Latino flocks and holds monthly meetings in English and Spanish to extol the virtues of a Catholic education to prospective parents. Vasquez created a community room at Holy Rosary thats decorated with fuchsia pink and brown walls, thick wood furniture and pictures of Our Lady of Guadalupe to appear more inviting to Latino families. Its more reflective of our culture, she said. If everything is white and pale, it may look too formal and they may not want to go. Catholic schools are also a business. We need to be inclusive and not leave anybody out. FINANCES, FAITH She meets individually with interested parents to work out a tuition plan they can afford based on their income and expenses. Nearly half of Holy Rosary students get scholarships from $400 to $1,000 through the Catholic Education Foundation. The diocese gives out about $3.3 million a year in financial aid including scholarships, tuition discounts and deferred tuition payments in case of a job loss or other emergency. The foundation received more than 300 applications and awarded about 190 scholarships last year, Vesely said. Families that get tuition breaks agree to do service hours pulling weeds, helping with Bingo games, volunteering in their childs classroom and performing other duties. Veseley said theres room to add 2,500 students throughout the school system. The diocese plans to hire an executive director for the foundation in coming months to promote Catholic education and bring in more money. Church officials also have enlisted a consulting firm to set up connections with wealthy donors in Orange and Los Angeles counties, she said. The foundation raised nearly $300,000 in donations in 2015, far short of the $3 million goal established for the first year when it was formed in fall 2014. Its very difficult to raise money in the Inland Empire, Vesely said. Theres a lot of competition for the same dollar. This isnt Orange County, where theres probably a bigger cadre of benefactors. CULTURE ON CAMPUS While they work to boost revenue, Catholic leaders are encouraging schools to create more culturally relevant programs such as the Ballet Folklorico Group at St. Hyacinth Academy in San Jacinto. The dance group performs at church activities, convalescent homes, the Hemet Christmas Parade, the Ramona pageant and other community events. The biggest thing it does it helps with exposure, Principal Tami Jimenez said. People have come to the school and have chosen to donate because they have seen the kids dancing. At Holy Rosary in San Bernardino, Perla Rodriguez was having lunch with her husband, Andres, and 9-year-old daughter, Valerie on a recent weekday. The couple was disappointed when they looked at two public elementary schools when Valerie was in preschool. The campuses were open and didnt seem safe. They were hooked after visiting Holy Rosary and seeing that visitors had to ring a doorbell to enter the building, along with a more organized atmosphere. They also appreciated the small class sizes and focus on teaching respect and other values. When Andres Rodriguez lost his job at a oil refinery last year, his daughter threw a fit when her parents told her she might have to go to public school. Vasquez helped the family get a large scholarship that allowed her to stay. Their 4-year-old daughter, Genesis, attends Holy Rosarys preschool. While tuition and other costs make attendance a financial struggle for the Rodriguez family, they say the Catholic education will pay off in the long run. Its worth it to make a little sacrifice now for their future well-being, Perla Rodriguez said in Spanish. Contact the writer: 951-368-9292 or swall@pressenterprise.com The city of Murrieta is using $90,500 in state grant funding to help pay for an inclusive playground at Vintage Reserve Park on Kingwood Road. It will be the citys first inclusive playground, a catch-all term that means the equipment can be used by children of differing physical and mental abilities. Cicero Engineering submitted the lowest bid for installation of the equipment, $104,070, and they were awarded the job at this weeks council meeting. UPDATE: Vintage Reserve Park reopens with inclusive playground Lea Kolek, parks and recreation manager, said Thursday that the city is hoping the new equipment, which incorporates a bug theme and a metal slide, will be installed by March 1. The metal slide is an example of an inclusive element, she said, because plastic slides create static electricity that can shock children with cochlear implants. The city purchased the equipment from Alabama-based GameTime, which features a dedicated line of inclusive equipment. Contact the writer: 951-368-9698 or aclaverie@pressenterprise.com Founded in 1973, Samaritan Counseling Center in Upland is a faith-based counseling service for people who have depression, anxiety and relationship or marital issues. Its largest program is Behavior Education and Management Services, which helps families in Riverside and San Bernardino counties that have children with developmental disabilities, including autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. BEAMS serves about 165 families per year, its executive director, Doug McKown, said. Families approach BEAMS directly or through referrals from the Inland Regional Center. Staff will complete an assessment with the family in their home and create an individualized behavior plan. The Inland Regional Center will sign off on a certain number of treatment hours to enact that behavior plan. When we get up in the morning we know that we are making a difference in families lives, McKown said. It can be hard and is labor intensive, but we know that those families are being transformed. The goal, McKown said, is to keep families together and avoid the need for the child to be institutionalized. McKown described situations where families are at their wits end. Often these families have other children who need their attention and lack the resources to handle the situation. They love their child, but the behavior is so out of control that they just feel like giving up and dont know what to do, McKown said. Our BEAMS behavioral specialists bring back hope that life can be different. The developmental disability isnt going to go away, but now they have resources to help cope and that is transformative, both for the child and the family as a whole. McKown said in many cases, parents are having such extensive behavioral challenges with their child that they fear leaving the house. The possibility that the child may run away or have a violent tantrum that causes bystanders to pass judgment can be daunting. McKown said if behavioral issues arent addressed, a child may be severely restricted in their opportunities as adults. BEAMS is primarily funded through the Inland Regional Center and, in the past, has received funding from the Community Impact Fund at the Community Foundation. Funding the full cost of such a labor intensive program is challenging, McKown said. For more information about BEAMS and Samaritan Counseling Center, call 909-985-0513 or visit samaritancounseling upland.org. The Community Foundations mission is to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy. Contact the writer: community@pressenterprise.com Maybe theyre looking for leprechauns. More U.S. corporations are moving their headquarters overseas, in particular, to Ireland. The latest to depart is car parts supplier Johnson Controls, a global company whose air-conditioning subsidiary has offices in the cities of Riverside and San Bernardino. Reported the New York Times, Johnson Controls said 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. Thats just the latest effort by corporate America to flee the United States. In the last year, Pfizer said it was leaving for Ireland, as did Medtronic, the medical device maker. The moves are called inversion in corporate lingo and are made to avoid Americas 35 percent tax on corporate profits. On top of that, California imposes another 8.84 percent. Other countries rates include: China, 25 percent; Japan, 24 percent; South Korea, 22 percent; Russia, 20 percent; Hong Kong, 17 percent; Germany, 15 percent; Canada, 15 percent; and Ireland, 12.5 percent. So a move to the Emerald Isle means a corporate tax cut of nearly two-thirds. Among Democrats, not only self-proclaimed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders has attacked the corporate exodus. On Monday, Hillary Clinton blasted Johnson specifically for working to game the tax code and shelter money overseas to avoid paying their fair share. She promised to block deals like Johnson Controls and Tyco, and place an exit tax on corporations that leave the country to lower their tax bill. That reminds us of the diploma tax the Soviet Union levied in the 1970s on educated people who wanted to emigrate. The Republican presidential candidates all have called for addressing corporate flight by cutting the corporate tax rate. For example, Sen. Marco Rubio wants 25 percent, Sen. Ted Cruz proposes 16 percent and Donald Trump, 15 percent. Their approach encouraging corporations to stay and use their profits to create more jobs just makes more sense. The new owners of the long-delayed Palen solar energy project sought for public land in eastern Riverside County want to change the plants technology again this time to photovoltaic panels. Maverick Solar, a subsidiary of San Diego-based EDF Renewable Energy, also wants until the end of next year before it has to break ground. The California Energy Commission will consider the companys requests Wednesday. The proposed changes open another chapter in an odyssey of switching owners and evolving plans for Palen. When the project was approved by the Energy Commission in 2010, plans called for the use of curved mirrors to capture the suns heat to make steam to turn turbines. Had those plans gone forward, Palen would have been the same size as the worlds largest solar plant using concentrated heat that was unveiled Thursday in the Sahara Desert by Moroccos King Mohammed VI. Maverick, which acquired the Palen project in December, is the projects fourth owner. Palen, which would occupy 8 square miles of public land off I-10 in eastern Riverside County near Desert Center, still hasnt broken ground. Past plans have included the use of the curved mirrors or solar towers, both with and without molten salt-energy storage systems that keep electricity production going after the sun sets. The projects original deadline to break ground was Dec. 15. But in September, the commission gave the projects then-owner, the Spain-based Abengoa Solar, an additional year, with the requirement it provide new plans by Dec. 22 showing how molten salt-energy storage could be included with a curved mirror, or solar trough, system. Abengoa instead sold the project to Maverick. Officials with Marvericks parent company could not be reached. But opponents say the Palen projects original approval should no longer be valid. This project should start over with fresh environmental reviews, said Ileene Anderson, a wildlife biologist with the Tuscon-based Center for Biological Diversity. Since 2010, more has been learned about a wind-blown, sand dune habitat in the project area as well as plant life watered by summertime monsoonal rains. These plants are home to insects that are food sources for migratory birds Attorneys representing the Colorado River Indian Tribes also say the 2010 approval should no longer apply, saying in written comments to the commission that the only thing that hasnt changed about the project is its location. Construction of the nearby Genesis solar plant in 2012 destroyed an ancient, lakeside village archeological site, sacred to the tribes. Riverside County also opposes Mavericks petition, arguing that plans to use photovoltaic panels means the project now falls under county jurisdiction and should thus go through the countys land-use approval process. Contact the writer: 951-368-9471 or ddanelski@pressenterprise.com Fundraiser to include concert by Smokey Robinson TEMECULA Rancho Damacitas Children & Family Services has planned a fundraiser that will feature a progressive dinner at two Temecula wineries, a performance by Smokey Robinson at Pechanga Resort & Casino and VIP transportation to the venues. The March 18 benefit for Rancho Damacitas, which works with foster youth, is limited to 50 couples or 100 individuals. Tickets to An Intimate Evening are $250 per person or $500 a couple. Information: Contact Nancy Harvey at 951-302-2317, ext. 239 or nancy@4kidsfirst.org; 4kidsfirst.org. Staff report TEMECULA The next monthly meeting of the Temecula Valley Motor Enthusiasts is 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 in the Promenade Mall parking lot across from P.F. Changs and Lazy Dog. All motor vehicles are welcome. Information: temeculavalleymotoringenthusiasts.com Staff report BANNING The Banning Womans Club will hold its February meeting at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Banning Womans Clubhouse at 175 West Hays St. A luncheon will be served and the guest speaker is Michael Rock, Bannings new city manager. Monthly meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month and visitors are welcome. Staff report RIVERSIDE Seven individuals and a business will be honored at the Riverside Community College Districts Annual Recognition Awards and Arts Gala on April 26. The honorees are: 60th Alumnus of the Year: Virginia Blumenthal Distinguished Public Service: Assemblyman Jose Medina, D-Riverside Chancellors Award for Excellence: Gary and Sheila Locke Moreno Valley College Young Alumnus: Tamara Thacker Norco College Young Alumnus: Ryan Cortez Riverside City College Young Alumnus: Renzo Corzano Outstanding Partner: Riverside County The evening supports the districts performing arts and will feature live student performances. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities: 951-222-8626. Scholarships awarded to Air Force ROTC cadets REGION The local chapter of a fraternity of military pilots recently awarded scholarships to six Air Force ROTC cadets. The scholarship recipients are Michael Kampbell, CSUSB; Joshua Arnold, CSUSB; Daniel Benson, California Baptist University; Kerry Cole, UC Riverside; William Lewis, CSUSB; and Aden Vaugh, Chapman University. Thirtieth Flight, also known as the Hap Arnold Flight, is a local chapter of the National Order of Daedalians. Staff report RIVERSIDE The Riverside City College Cyber-Ops Club team has qualified for the Western Regional Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition finals March 17-20 at Cal Poly Pomona. A news release says the competition tests students understanding and competency in protecting a corporate network infrastructure and business information system. Staff report PERRIS Students from Val Verde and Perris High received hands-on work experience at the citys inaugural Job Shadow Day on Feb. 2. Local businesses and agences that opened their doors to students included the Riverside County Sheriffs Department, Lowes, Sizzler, Westech College, Stretch Forming Corp., CR&R Recycling & Refuse Services, Bank of America, Hanes Brand Inc., Inland Boat Center, Marinello School of Beauty and ResCare Workforce Services. The event was spearheaded by Perris Councilwoman Tonya Burke, according to a news release from the Val Verde Unified School District. The day ended with a small career expo that included booths manned by the U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps. Staff report Send items for possible inclusion in Community Notes to community@pressenterprise.com. lecture on Chinese propaganda set SAN BERNARDINO The Cal State San Bernardino Gamma Lamdba Chapter of Phi Beta Delta will host a dinner and lecture analyzing the messages of Chinese propaganda posters. The event is Thursday at the Obershaw Dining Room in the CSUSB Commons. Keynote speaker Paul Pickowicz, a history and Chinese studies professor at UC San Diego, will begin his lecture, Chinese Cultural Revolution Propaganda Posters: Intended and Unintended Messages, at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free for students. General admission and admission for CSUSB faculty, staff and administration is $25. Reservations are required and must be made by Monday to Eduardo Garcia Lima at egarcial@csusb.edu. Anne Marie Walker REGION Beautiful Professional Retired Ladies hosted a fashion show and dinner buffet with bowling Jan. 16 at the Royal Cut restaurant in Ontario. Volunteers, including 91-year-old Rita Whalen, modeled their own clothes to music provided by a DJ. The group has lunch the first Tuesday of each month at various restaurants. Information: 909-239-7409. Staff report RIVERSIDE Nancy Melendez from the Spanish Town Heritage Foundation was awarded the Dr. Carlos Cortes Award for Championing Diversity and Inclusivity at the 2016 State of the City address. A news release from the city says the award recognizes a volunteer who has given meaningful time and service in the past year to helping the city build a more inclusive community. Melendez is founding president of the foundation, which aims to preserve and restore Riversides historic Trujillo Adobe. The awards namesake is a history professor at UC Riverside. Staff report RIVERSIDE Riverside Community Hospitals annual Red Dress Fashion Show benefiting the American Heart Association is set for Feb. 20 at the Riverside Convention Center. The day begins with a heart health expo, workshops and free screenings from 10 to 11 a.m. Lunch and the program will follow at 11:30 a.m. The fashion show will feature downtown Riverside retailers and the Riverside City College Cosmetology School. General admission is $35 and VIP tickets are $65, which includes a private reception with celebrity makeup artist Edgar Santos. RSVP: 951-788-3463 or RCHRedDressFashion Show.com. Casino night to benefit charity SAN JACINTO Assistance League of Hemacinto will host its annual casino night, Big ALs Wild West Saloon & Casino, at 6:30 p.m. March 5 at the Golden Era Club House. Tickets are $35. There will be gaming, dancing, a buffet and raffle for four Disneyland Park Hopper tickets. Winners of the raffle drawing do not need to be present. Raffle tickets are $5 and are available by calling Toni Martes at 951-751-3174 and at Hemet Farmers Market on Saturdays. Event tickets are available from Jane Durnwirth at 951-658-7931. Staff report Send items for possible inclusion in Community Notes to community@pressenterprise.com. A Menifee middle school student wearing an Elsa costume to a school spirit day was ordered to remove his gown and wig by school officials who said it was causing a disruption. The incident occurred before school Thursday in one of the schools quad areas and involved a large number of students, many snapping pictures, on a day they were encouraged to dress up as Disney characters, according to Romoland School District Superintendent Julie Vitale. The Ethan A. Chase Middle School student identified as Austin Lacey, 13, in a KTLA report and his mother said they were surprised by the reaction of school officials. I wore it for fun because Im just one of those people, Austin told KTLA. I like to go all out. In a statement issued on Friday, Vitale said: At no time was there an indication that the student was expressing any particular message by his actions and the (principals) action was based upon the need to stop a general disruption. Vitale said the student does not face any discipline for the incident and completed the school day. After school Friday, several students said the incident was not a big deal. It wasnt a disruption, said Kassandra Melara, 14. Everybody was taking pictures with him. Nobody had a problem with it. Another eighth-grader, Natalia Alvarez, said she knew Austin and supported his campaign for ASB president. Hes a really good kid, she said. Hes helpful. Hes a straight-A student. He gets along with everybody. Contact the writer: 951-368-9682 or tsheridan@pressenterprise.com A new Redlands Starbucks with an unusual retro look occupies a site notable in the citys fast food history. The drive-through, at 625 E. Redlands Blvd., opened today, Feb. 4, after a grand opening party Wednesday night. It was originally a 1960 Bakers Burgers, and its exterior resembles walk-up burger stands of that era. The building became a Mexican food drive-through called La Rosita, which closed in 2014. The Starbucks project was approved by the city in June, according to a news release. Most of the existing building was torn down and rebuilt on the original footprint. It has a slanted roof and tile under the picture windows that used to be walk-up windows for ordering food and now reveal the dining room inside. A large green sign with white neon towers over the building, designed to resemble Bakers and La Rositas signage. Photos of Bakers and La Rosita are displayed inside with the words Proud to be a part of your history. VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church will meet in Cuba next week in a historic step to heal the 1,000-year-old schism that divided Christianity between East and West, both churches announced Friday. The Feb. 12 meeting between Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be the first ever between the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Churches, which is the largest in Orthodoxy. Francis is due to travel to Mexico Feb. 12-18. He will stop in Cuba on the way and meet with Kirill on Feb. 12 at the Havana airport, where they will speak privately for about two hours and then sign a joint declaration, the Vatican said. This event has extraordinary importance in the path of ecumenical relations and dialogue among Christian confessions, said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi. The two churches split during the Great Schism of 1054 and have remained estranged over a host of issues, including the primacy of the pope and Russian Orthodox accusations that the Catholic Church is poaching converts in former Soviet lands. Those tensions have prevented previous popes from ever meeting with the Russian patriarch, even though the Vatican has long insisted that it was merely ministering to tiny Catholic communities in largely Orthodox lands. The persecution of Christians Catholic and Orthodox in the Middle East and Africa, however, has had the effect of bringing the two churches closer together. Both the Vatican and the Orthodox Church have been outspoken in denouncing attacks on Christians and the destruction of Christian monuments, particularly in Syria. In November 2014, Francis had said he had told Kirill: Ill go wherever you want. You call me and Ill go. Kirill will be in Cuba on an official visit, his first to Latin America as patriarch. The meeting, which was announced jointly at the Vatican and in Moscow, marks a major development in the Vaticans long effort to bridge the divisions in Christianity. In the joint statement, the two churches said the meeting will mark an important stage in relations between the two churches. The Holy See and the Moscow Patriarchate hope that it will also be a sign of hope for all people of good will. They invite all Christians to pray fervently for God to bless this meeting, that it may bear good fruits. Metropolitan Illarion, foreign policy chief of the Russian Orthodox Church, told reporters on Friday that there are still core disagreements between the Holy See and the Russian Church, in particular on various Orthodox churches in western Ukraine. The conflict centers on the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the countrys second-largest church, which follows eastern church rites but answers to the Holy See. The Russian Orthodox Church has considered western Ukraine its traditional territory and has resented papal influence there. Despite the existing ecclesiastical obstacles, a decision has been taken to hold a meeting between Patriarch Kirill and Pope Francis, he said. The situation in the Middle East, in northern and central Africa and in other regions where extremists are perpetrating a genocide of Christians requires immediate action and an even closer cooperation between Christian churches, Illarion said. In this tragic situation, we need to put aside internal disagreements and pool efforts to save Christianity in the regions where it is subject to most severe persecution. The Vatican has long nurtured ties with the Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch, Bartholomew I, who is considered first among equals within the Orthodox Church. Starting with Pope Paul VI, various popes have called upon the Ecumenical Patriarch in hopes of bridging closer ties with the Orthodox faithful. But the Russian Orthodox Church, which is the largest church in Orthodoxy and the most powerful, has always kept its distance from Rome. Joint theological commissions have met over the years and the Russian churchs foreign minister has made periodic visits to Rome, but a pope-patriarch meeting has never been possible until now. The location of the meeting is significant. It has long been assumed that a neutral third country would be selected for any pope-patriarch encounter, but it had always been assumed that it would be somewhere in Europe. Francis, however, played a crucial role in ending the half-century Cold War estrangement between the United States and Cuba. That the onetime Soviet outpost in the Caribbean will now play a role in helping heal the 1,000-year schism between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches is a remarkable feat of geopolitical and ecumenical choreography that may have the dual effect of thrusting President Raoul Castro into the spotlight, given that he will greet the pope upon his arrival and preside over the signing of the joint declaration. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, noted that Cuba is both well-known to the Russian Church as well as the Catholic Church, given that three different popes have traveled to the island in the span of 20 years. Its a place that positioned itself well for the circumstances, Lombardi said. About two-thirds of the worlds Orthodox Christians belong to the Russian Orthodox Church, or about 200 million, Lombardi said. The Catholic Church claims about 1.2 billion faithful. About 75 percent of Russias 144 million people call themselves Russian Orthodox, according to the latest polls, although only a fraction of them say they are observant. Under Francis, the Vatican has encouraged continuing ecumenical ties with the Orthodox as well as other Christian denominations. And it has gone out of its way to be solicitous to Russia, especially in shying away from directly criticizing Moscow over its role in the Ukraine conflict. Ever since Kirill took the helm of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009, the church has enjoyed increasingly close ties with the Kremlin that critics have dismissed as the de-facto merging of the state and the church. Nataliya Vasilyeva contributed from Moscow. A woman and man were arrested Wednesday, Feb. 3, after police say they tricked a 91-year-old woman into letting them withdraw $1,000 from her bank account about two months ago. About noon on Dec. 2, the pair knocked on the womans door and told her they were house cleaners, offering to clean her home for $200, San Bernardino County sheriffs officials said in a news release. The victim agreed and the two spent a short time cleaning the womans home. Then, they drove her to a bank where she gave them her ATM card and PIN number so they could take out $200. But the suspects took an extra $800. Authorities created a flyer with photos of the suspect, which helped authorities from the Hemet Police Department identified one of them of 27-year-old Angelo Marks. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Police officers found Marks driving around with 18-year-old Angelina Stevens. Both are from Hemet. Detectives from the countys Yucaipa station took custody of them. The two were arrested at a KFC in Hemet, jail records show, and taken to the West Valley Detention Center. Neither were still housed there Friday. Anyone with information about that incident or about a similar crime involving the pair is asked to call the Yucaipa station at 909-918-2305. Chances are, youve probably been witness to some seriously lengthy complaints on Facebook about how the lockout laws have personally affected every damn person you know who resides in Sydney. A hot take you likely saw heavily shared was Freelancer founder Matt Barries looooong/thorough article, which basically explained every shithouse aspect of the laws down to the last minute detail. One of the worst things about the situation is the feeling of helplessness. Its beyond obvious that these laws are causing a once-great, once-vigorous, once-interesting city to die, as per the last City of Sydney report showed, but we cant do anything about it. The big bad government told us, no, you cant be trusted! then they shut the doors of the clubs, pubs and bars we once adored, and thats all there is to it. Their fingers are planted firmly in their ears, singing LA LA LA CANT HEAR YOU while workers and business owners lose their livelihoods, entire suburbs lose their vibrance and identities, and the public lose confidence in the city theyve chosen to live in. All we can do is whinge on Facebook, and sit at home with our cask of crappy goon that we had to purchase before 10pm. However, the independent review of the lockout laws is about to begin, conducted by former-High Court judge Ian Callinan QC. Your personal comments and experiences are being requested by the NSW Government, and your input will be a key part of this review. So, according to the Liquor Reviews website, all you have to do is email your comments in writing to liquorlawreview@justice.nsw.gov.au to make your voice heard. Its easy to shrug it off and say eh, enough people will do it, I cant be bothered. But, change was never achieved by people who couldnt be bothered. Plus, if youve got the time to write a lengthy whinge on Facebook, then youve got time to copy and paste that rant into an email. You could hopefully assist future generations of Sydney-dwellers with enjoying the monumentally-fantastic city you once did. Not to mention you yourself could get back sorely-missed late nights, while simultaneously receive the privilege of not being treated like a petulant toddler. Details are here: justice.nsw.gov.au/liquorlawreview Attend some events to show your support: Keep Sydney Open is holding a fundraising event at Fredas on 3rd of March, with DJs, artists, a fashion/art auction: facebook.com/events/868633146582785/ Reclaim The Streets is holding a mad dance party/rally at the venue well soon have left: the street. Its on the 19th of March its a great time, and you get to see people power out in force: facebook.com/events/237327156602371/ Write to Premier Mike Baird! Someone will more than likely respond for him, and say your comment has been passed on to Deputy Premier Troy Grant (its in his portfolio apparently), but regardless youve made your words count. And dont forget to sign this petition its been around for a while, and it already up to 42k people, but needs your signature for maximum impact nonetheless: communityrun.org/petitions/fight-barry-o-farrell-s-cbd-legislation Strength in numbers yall now get writing/rallying/donating. Source: NSW Liquor Law Review. Photo: Ian Waldie / Getty. The following list includes business bankruptcies that were filed in United States Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) from January 1, 2016 - January 31, 2016. CHAPTER 11 Provides businesses or large investors with protection from creditors while they continue operating and develop a repayment plan. Both creditors and owners must agree on a reorganization plan, which ultimately must be approved by a federal bankruptcy judge. Glenns Inc. doing business as Glenn's Towing, 354 Awol Road, Union Twp. Docket No. 16-0302 CHAPTER 13 Provides protection from creditors to individuals, including those who are sole proprietors of a business, while they repay their debts from current assets and income, usually over three to five years. George Detric Kinderman doing business as George Kinderman Automotive, formerly doing business as Lincoln Automotive, 300 Fox St., Susquehanna Twp. Docket No. 16-0201. Joshua D. Anderson temporarily doing business as Installers Unlimited, 13 Chelsea Lane, Lower Paxton Twp. Docket No. 16-0198. Arthur R. Alterio Jr. also known as Ron Alterio, formerly doing business as Basic Elements Nutrition, doing business as ALT Consulting and Cristina S. Alterio, 116 Peregrine Lane, South Hanover Twp. Docket No. 16-0169. Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com 7 reasons to visit Clearfield County When planning travels around Pennsylvania, it's easy to stick to the well-known destinations while skipping over some of the many lesser-known regions of the state. However, having traveled to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, I can tell you that there are amazing things to do everywhere. A few months ago, I made my third visit to Clearfield County. Located along I-80, just west of State College, Clearfield County offers enough hidden treasures to keep anyone busy for at least a few days. Here are seven of my favorite things to do. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Bilger's Rocks I've visited many great rock formations in Pennsylvania, but few can compare to Bilger's Rocks. In addition to its large size, what makes this area so special are the numerous cracks in the rocks that create many narrow passageways and holes that are perfect for exploration. Even cooler, trees have grown up from the rocks, their roots clinging to the stone. There are also many carvings here that date back to the early 20th century. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Denny's Beer Barrel Pub If you love hamburgers, you won't want to miss Denny's Beer Barrel Pub. Home to the largest hamburgers in the world, up to 123 pounds, Denny's is sure to bust your gut. If you're feeling especially hungry, you can take one of their many burger challenges. Ranging from two pounds to twenty five, the burger challenges are not for the weak of heart. However, don't think you have to be big to finish them. The first person to complete the six-pound challenge was a 115-pound female college student. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com McGee's Mill Covered Bridge Built in 1873 over the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, McGee's Mill Covered Bridge is the only covered bridge remaining in Clearfield County, and the only existing covered bridge to cross the Susquehanna River. Located in a small park along Route 219, this bridge is a site not to be missed by those who love covered bridges. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Pennsylvania's elk While Elk County might be more synonymous with Pennsylvania's elk herd, visitors also flock just south of the border to Clearfield County. The largest elk herd east of the Rockies can be found in several public areas of the county, including Moshannon State Forest and the Quehanna Wild Area. There are even suggestions of places where you are most likely to see these beautiful animals roaming in the wild. Don't Edit Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Great wineries Pennsylvania wines have come a long way over the last few years, and some of the best can be found in Clearfield County. Part of the Groundhog Wine Trail, the wineries of Clearfield County produce a wide variety of styles, including some rarely produced in America. While I haven't had a chance to try all of the wineries in Clearfield County, my favorites so far include Starr Hill Winery and Bee Kind Winery. These two wineries are located close together, but produce very different styles of wine. I challenge you to visit them and not find something you like. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Winkler Gallery of Fine Art Part art gallery, part sales room, and part educational center, the Winkler Gallery of Fine Art in downtown DuBois is a fantastic stop for those looking for quality art in Clearfield County. Run by Perry Winkler, a well-known painter from the region, the gallery offers a relaxed space for people to view or purchase artwork. What's so great about the gallery is that because it's a coop, there is almost always at least one artist working in the gallery during operating hours. Visitors are invited to browse the artwork as they would a museum, and to see the gallery's great collection of carousel horses. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Hegarty Mansion Hegarty Mansion might be located far away from any towns, but this Victorian home is one of the most beautifully restored buildings in the area. Built in 1860 by Samuel Hegarty, a local coal and lumber magnate, this home fell into disrepair until it was loving restored by the current owner. Today, Hegarty Mansion is open as a haunted house during the Halloween season, as a haunted Victorian mansion during the holiday season, and at various other times throughout the year. Don't Edit Jim Cheney | Special to PennLive.com Want more cool places in Pennsylvania? Jim Cheney is the writer behind UncoveringPA, Pennsylvania's most read travel blog. He has traveled and written about every county in Pennsylvania, as well as to many countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. He lives in Harrisburg, Pa. wells fargo bank robbery suspect.jpg The suspect struck just after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Bank on the 900 block of Manor Street in Lancaster. (Lancaster police) Police have identified a 28-year-old from New Providence as the man wanted for robbing a Lancaster City bank early Wednesday. City police identified Cory M. Giberson of the First Block of Ashton Drive in New Providence as the man who entered a Wells Fargo Bank on Manor Street in Lancaster at just after 10 a.m. Wednesday, where he displayed a note demanding cash. Officials said there were numerous customers and employees inside the bank when the robbery occurred, and that a teller surrendered an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect who then exited the bank and may have driven away in a silver vehicle. Investigators processed the scene, interviewed witnesses and have reviewed surveillance footage, police report, adding that there was no one injured during or as a result of Wednesday's robbery. Lieutenant Todd Umstead said his department received numerous tips from the public identifying Giberson as the suspect after releasing bank surveillance images to the media on Wednesday. Giberson has yet to be arrested and police are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them by calling 717-735-3300 or 1-800-322-1913, or by submitting a tip on the Lancaster police website or texting LANCS plus your message to 847411. UPDATE: This article has been updated to include comment from city police who said they received numerous tips identifying Giberson as the man in bank surveillance video taken during the robbery. Two Dauphin County commissioners plan to give 300 tickets for the Great American Outdoor Show to Harrisburg police officers who were forbidden to work at this year's show. Commissioners Jeff Haste and Mike Pries plan to present the tickets Friday night to the police union president at a reception at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel. They used campaign contributions to pay half of the cost of the tickets, according to Jack Sherzer, county spokesman. The National Rifle Association, which is sponsoring the outdoor show, covered the other half of the $10 group tickets, Sherzer said. Jason Brinker, president of the police union, said officers view the free tickets as a nice gesture for many years of working at the outdoor show. But some city officials view it as another thumb in the eye of Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, a frequent critic of the NRA and county commissioners. The city gets 10 percent of each ticket sold for the show as part of the city's amusement tax, so the purchase of the tickets will generate money for the city's coffers. "We'll use the amusement tax from those tickets and all tickets sold at the show for our legal defense against the gun suits," Papenfuse said, referring to lawsuits filed by two gun rights groups against the city's gun ordinances. The NRA lobbied for the Pennsylvania law that opened the door for the lawsuits, the mayor said. A court later ruled the law unconstitutional, but the lawsuits remain active against the city. The fight between the mayor and the NRA spread to the Great American Outdoor Show late last year during negotiations over security work. City police officers have been working off-duty at the show for at least 25 years. The NRA took over the show in 2014. As part of the NRA's bid, the gun group pledged to keep a portion of its fundraising proceeds in the region. Papenfuse and Police Chief Thomas Carter interpreted that pledge to mean the proceeds would benefit the host municipality: Harrisburg. And last year, the NRA Foundation gave the city a fully outfitted police car worth $50,000. But the NRA Foundation this year gave its annual $50,000 donation to three shooting sport groups and the National Civil War Museum, which has been embroiled in a longstanding dispute with the mayor over rent and hotel taxes. The mayor and police chief said the NRA didn't hold up their end of the bargain, but NRA officials said they never made a commitment to use the annual donation strictly for Harrisburg. Papenfuse also said the show represented a drain on manpower. City officials then pulled their support for the show by forbidding officers from working security duties there. The decision left many officers disappointed. "The issue between the Mayor and the NRA is their issue," said Brinker, the police union president. "Unfortunately the officers got put in the middle and lost the opportunity to work the show." The race is on for delegates but, when it comes to campaign contributions, it's not much of a fight in Pennsylvania. Hillary Clinton has received more money from Pennsylvania voters than any other candidate vying for the presidency, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission filings by PennLive. The $2.3 million she raised last year is more than the top three Republican fundraisers combined, and it's $1.8 million more than Sen. Bernie Sanders raised. More than half of that money is coming from southeastern Pennsylvania, and nobody should be surprised, according to numerous political analysts. That's where the money is, and it's also home to former Gov. Ed Rendell. "A phone call from Ed Rendell, and Democrats respond," said Jeffrey Lord, a Camp Hill politico and CNN contributor who worked in the Reagan White House. Rendell, a former Democratic Party chairman, is still well connected, he said. "When someone like Ed Rendell is involved in a campaign, money pours in from the southeast," Lord said. "A dollar from Philadelphia or Montgomery County is just as important as a dollar from central Pa., but there are more of them there." The Rendell factor It's a relationship that began when former President Bill Clinton was running for office in 1992. Rendell, then the mayor of Philadelphia, announced his support. "The people who supported me supported him. We had a fundraiser and raised $1 million in one night," Rendell said. But it wasn't just about the former president. "We got to know Hillary through Bill, and that's how a 23-year relationship started," Rendell said. Some of Hillary Clinton's current donations include $10 from self-employed artists to thousands from Philadelphia lawyers, consultants, accountants, physicians and at least one priest. These are some of the same people who "supported her in 2008 fairly dramatically," Rendell said. "It's based on the relationship and the fact we think she'd be a great president." A narrow, but important, win in Iowa put her on a path toward victory, even though she will likely lose Tuesday in the New Hampshire primary near Sanders' home state of Vermont, he said. "But I don't think she will lose New Hampshire by as much as people think," Rendell said. Can she win Pennsylvania? "Oh, yeah, easily," he said. The Pennsylvania primary is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26. On the Republican side, the candidate to watch for a Pennsylvania surge is Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Rendell said. Republican coffers Rubio has also been raising a lot of money in the southeast corner of Pennsylvania. With $671,882 from donors statewide, he's a close second to neurosurgeon Ben Carson, who has raised $673,792 in Pennsylvania. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz follows with $560,320, then Jeb Bush with $438,316, Carly Fiorina with $311,524, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie with $287,250, Ohio Gov. John Kasich with $123,324 and Donald Trump with $39,810. But the Republicans raising the most money here are not the ones most favored by Pennsylvania voters, according to a recent poll by Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster. Trump led Republicans with 24 percent of the vote, followed by Cruz with 14 percent and Rubio with 11 percent. The same poll does show Hillary Clinton with a 17-point lead over Sanders among registered Democrats in Pennsylvania. Numbers on the Republican side will likely shift as candidates continue to drop out of the race after unsuccessful primaries, according to Terry Madonna, veteran political analyst at Franklin & Marshall. Carson's slight lead in fundraising here is probably attributed to his fall surge when his name was one of the top Google searches in the state, Madonna said. But that funding is drying up, and he responded Thursday by slashing staff salaries and cutting more than 50 positions. The money he has raised in Pennsylvania is not surprising, Madonna said. "There's a heavy cast of conservatives and evangelicals in Pennsylvania," he said. And Rubio's rise? "I always thought that Rubio would be a very strong candidate here," Madonna said. Southeastern power More than 60 percent of Rubio's Pennsylvania donations come from the southeastern corner of the state. That's also true for Carson, Cruz, Sanders, Bush and Christie. Kasich has raised more in the Pittsburgh area, and Trump and Fiorina pulled pretty evenly from southcentral and southeastern Pennsylvania. The bulk of Fiorina's Pennsylvania money came from two fundraisers in Lancaster and Philadelphia. "They were in areas where a large portion of the state's wealth lives. Her ability to raise money is a key indicator of her level of support," said Charlie Gerow, a Republican strategist from Harrisburg who is national co-chair of Fiorina's campaign. That southeastern Pennsylvania money helped all the candidates, accounting for about 60 percent of the $6.4 million raised by Dec. 31 in this presidential election cycle. The area is also home to a majority of donors giving to the U.S. Senate race. As of Dec. 31, Sen. Pat Toomey has raised more than $8 million, Katie McGinty has raised almost $2 million, and Joe Sestak is close behind with $1.6 million. Other Senate candidates have less than $500,000. "The southeastern region is the epicenter of finance. It's home to the wealthiest households in the state. The wealth in suburban Philadelphia dwarfs anything you will find in Allegheny County and the Lehigh Valley," said Chris Borick, associate professor of political science and director of the Institute of Public Opinion at Muhlenberg College in Allentown. What about Pittsburgh? Even if it's not the fundraising powerhouse like Philadelphia, there's still a lot of money in Pittsburgh. More importantly, there are a lot of votes there - especially Democratic votes. "There's a reason President Obama has visited western Pa. several times since moving into the White House. There's a very comfortable Democratic stronghold here," said Kiron Skinner, director of the Institute for Politics and Strategy at Carnegie Mellon University and research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. But the rural base surrounding Pittsburgh waters down the fundraising activity, she said. It still has a huge voter base and is an important area where a lot of money gets raised, and that's been especially true for the Clintons in the past, Rendell said. Women donors Something the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia statistics have in common is a growing number of women donating to campaigns. More than half of Hillary Clinton's donations are from women, and Sanders and Fiorina also had a lot of contributions from women. Other Republican candidates have also been attracting donations from women. It's true across the country and in Pennsylvania. This is a major contrast from other years because women are typically more likely to give to philanthropic causes than political campaigns, according to leaders of the Pennsylvania Center for Women and Politics at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. In many campaigns, women are still giving as they would to nonprofits - in small, steady amounts, said Dana Brown, the center's executive director. For example, FEC data shows the same campaign donors are giving Sanders $4 to $10 each week. "Donors can be sustaining members and really feel like they are a part of the campaign by giving small amounts per month," Brown said. Fiorina also received a lot of support from Pennsylvania women. "Pennsylvania has a very strong contingent of Republican women who are hungry for more women in higher levels of office. She was an opportunity to embrace a woman candidate who shared their values," said Jennie Sweet-Cushman, assistant director of the center. The outcome There's still more than two months until the Pennsylvania primary, which is a lifetime in politics, analysts said. Additional money will be raised and more candidates will drop out by April 26, casting a new look on the ever-changing political landscape. The money certainly helps in keeping a campaign going, but it's not the only thing that matters. "You still need to be a good candidate. You still need a lot of support within your political party, and you need name recognition," said John Hanley, assistant professor of political science at Duquesne University. Trump, for example, has benefited from a lot of free media and his personal resources to be competitive in this election. It was a very effective strategy, he said. Other candidates have needed PAC money to achieve the same outcome. So how important is the money? "Raising large amounts of money is not going to win anyone an election," Hanley said. "It's hard without money, but if it was possible to buy a presidency, more people would be trying to do it." pa-lottery-3jpg-a5e9e7c234ac446d.jpg Imagine winning the lottery but never finding out. That's what happens every year in Pennsylvania when millions of dollars in prizes are unclaimed. (File) Imagine winning the lottery but never finding out. That's what happens every year in Pennsylvania when millions of dollars in prizes are unclaimed. In the last year, $17 million in prize money went unclaimed from terminal-based games in Pennsylvania. That means, there are possibly dozens of people around the state that never knew they won the lottery. "The point of playing the lottery is to win a prize," said Pa. Lottery Spokesman Gary Miller. "We remind our players to check every ticket, every time because you never know when you have a winner." Miller said the total amount of unclaimed prizes has gone down over the years. Just five years ago, unclaimed prizes totaled $20.9 million -- nearly $4 million more than last year's unclaimed prizes. "[The drop] is a good thing," Miller said. "That means more people are being diligent about claiming their prizes." Unclaimed prizes have positive and negative aspects. The negative is that people who won are not claiming the prizes. But the positive is that every cent that is not claimed goes to benefit state and local senior programs. In 2015, lottery sales generated $1 billion for senior programs and services -- including the $17 million from unclaimed prizes. Lottery sales support pharmacy benefits, home care services, property tax and rent rebates, free and reduced fare for transportation services, home delivered meals and senior center services. Lottery prizes expire one year from the winning date, Miller said. Whenever there is a prize that's going to expire, a news release is sent out in hopes of reaching the winner of the ticket to cash their prize. Most recently, a news release was sent out in January to try to find the person who won a $225,000 jackpot from a Cash 5 ticket sold in Schuylkill County. The winning ticket was sold by McMullen's Market in New Philadelphia for the February 15, 2015 drawing. In California, no one has submitted a verified claim for a $63 million jackpot. If a winner is not found, the money will go to the state's school system. Miller said Pennsylvania has never had an unclaimed jackpot as high as the one in California. But, he said, there have been $1 million jackpots that have expired in Pennsylvania. "We can't say it often enough; check every ticket, every time," he said. "It breaks my heart whenever a prize goes unclaimed because that's money that belonged to the winner." UPDATE: The state Supreme Court denied Attorney General Kathleen Kane's petition to reinstate her law license, which the court suspended last fall. Friday's decision could lead to Kane's removal via the Senate direct address process. A Senate panel tasked with determining whether Kane could continue with a suspended license had recommended delaying a possible Senate removal vote until the court had weighed in. Kane had filed the Supreme Court petition on the eve of a hearing by that Senate committee. Her attorneys argued that the court's original suspension vote was undermined by the participation of Justice J. Michael Eakin, who has since himself been suspended due to his involvement in the exchange of vulgar and offensive emails. On Friday, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Kane's objection to Eakin's involvement had been waived because she "did not seek recusal at the earliest time possible." It follows a similar recommendation by the chief counsel of the state Disciplinary Board. "The attorney general is disappointed but not surprised by the court's decision," Kane spokesman Chuck Ardo said Friday. When asked about what recourse Kane may have to the Senate's possible removal process, he said: "I'm not willing to speculate on what she and her lawyers may decide to do." James Mundy, Kane's attorney, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Supreme Court's order is included in its entirety below. Thomas - Lancaster Mennonite High School Outgoing superintendent of the Lancaster Mennonite School, J. Richard Thomas, is pictured. (Lancaster Mennonite School) The longtime superintendent of the Lancaster Mennonite School, J. Richard Thomas, will retire in December after 33 years of service, the school reported Friday. Thomas has served as the school's seventh superintendent. A search for his replacement is now being finalized with candidates sought who will "continue Thomas' commitment to providing education that aspires to be rigorous, supportive, Christ-centered, interactive, student-centered, relationship-based and global," a written statement from the school reads. During his tenure, Lancaster Mennonite High School on Lincoln Highway was transformed into Lancaster Mennonite School (LMS), embracing five campuses that serve 1,500 students from prekindergarten through grade 12. Students from all church backgrounds now come to LMS from five states and more than 20 countries, the school says. "I was privileged to build on our founders' vision that Lancaster Mennonite would be a school of educational excellence centered in Jesus Christ," Thomas, a former school teacher, said in a written statement. "I am grateful for a board, staff and other stakeholders that trusted me, empowered me, forgave my mistakes and held me accountable to our vision to serve students." Thomas has also served as moderator of Atlantic Coast Conference of Mennonite Church USA and as moderator of Mennonite Church USA from 2011-2013. He chaired the National Advisory Council for Mennonite World Conference Assembly at Harrisburg this past summer and also served as a member of the Mennonite World Conference General Council, the statement reads. In addition to his church involvement, Thomas currently serves on the board of United Way of Lancaster County. Andrew Dula, a member of the LMS board of directors, will chair the search committee for Thomas' replacement. Other members will include members of the Executive and Quarterly Boards, representatives of area church conferences and constituents who support the mission of Lancaster Mennonite School. WILLIAM SPORT -- A male prison guard has admitted having sexual contact with a female inmate at the state prison at Muncy. Jeffrey Lynn Geyer, 44, of Jersey Shore, Friday pleaded guilty in Lycoming County court to charges of institutional sexual assault and official oppression. He told Judge Dudley N. Anderson he was on duty in the education building on Sept. 9, 2014, when the inmate came for supplies for the library. He claimed the woman came on to him, they kissed and he touched her genital area but he said they did not have intercourse. She then asked him to bring drugs into the prison for her but he said he refused. Geyer told the judge he does not agree with the arrest affidavit that states during an interview with state police he admitted he kissed the inmate, exposed his penis, fondled her, removed her pants and sexually assaulted her. He remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail pending sentencing May 16. Anderson told him he could be subject to Megan's Law registration and an assessment will be conducted to determine if he is a violent sexual predator. Geyer remains suspended, a spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections said. Zika virus mosquitoes Aedes aegypti mosquitoes sit in a petri dish at the Fiocruz institute in Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The mosquito is a vector for the proliferation of the Zika virus spreading throughout Latin America. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) The Pennsylvania Department of Health on Friday warned men who travel to locations of Zika outbreaks and who have pregnant sexual partners to use condoms or abstain for sex for the duration of the pregnancy. The warning follows the first known case of sexually-transmitted Zika in the United States. Zika is usually transmitted by mosquitos, but there have been a few cases of men transmitting it to women during sex. Zika usually causes flu-like symptoms. But it is also associated with a birth-defect that causes babies to have small heads and under-developed brains. The Pennsylvania warnings mirror those issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika outbreaks are occurring in about two dozen South American and Caribbean counties. The CDC has warned woman who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant to consider avoiding those areas, or take steps to protect against mosquito bites. The outbreak has spread into Mexico and to the United States' south border. Species of mosquitoes that carry Zika are present in the United States, including Pennsylvania. It's expected to spread in the United States once the weather warms. Pennsylvania health officials on Friday said the state is increasing efforts to monitor for Zika. MONTOURSVILLE -- Treatment for a suspected spider bite may determine if the blood found on the abandoned car of a missing Lycoming Count woman is hers. State police say they have obtained a vial of the blood drawn from Michelle Lynn Inch at Muncy Valley Hospital when she went to the emergency room Jan. 22 for treatment of a suspected spider bite. Test results comparing her blood with that on the car have not been received, police said. Inch, who turns 32 Monday, was last seen about 5 p.m. Jan. 26 in Canton when her boyfriend, Michael James Houseweart, got into her car with a shotgun and told two other people they were going target shooting. The last activity on Inch's cell phone was at approximately 11 p.m. that day and it was powered off at 12:27 the following morning, investigators said. Although he would not elaborate, Lycoming County District Attorney Eric Linhardt said Thursday investigators are making progress in finding the missing woman. Because of the blood found on the car, police said they suspect Inch was a victim of foul play. Houseweart and Brian Matthew Vroman, both 27 of Canton, are in the Lycoming County Prison without bail on charges stemming from the armed home invasion at home of Inch's parents east of Montoursville about 3 p.m. on Jan. 27. Houseweart, who had lived with Inch at her parents' home for several weeks after Christmas, is not cooperating in the search efforts, police said. Surveillance video from the Wal-Mart store in Montoursville shows the two driving Inch's car about 80 minutes before the home invasion. Houseweart is alleged to have told investigators he returned the car to Inch a Police are concerned about the whereabout of Michelle Inch, whose parents were the victims of a home invasion robbery. fter robbing her parents and setting their bi-level on fire. The car was discovered about 8 a.m. last Thursday in a rural area outside Canton. Another search warrant affidavit states a hooded sweatshirt containing suspected blood that Vroman was wearing when interviewed after his arrest has been seized for DNA and other testing. Houseweart admitted Vroman and he committed the home invasion, the affidavit to support charges of attempted homicide, robbery, aggravated assault and arson states. The physical traces of January's winter storm are fading quick after a week of rain and warmer temperatures across the region. But for many midstate communities, the financial consequences are just beginning. With more than 3 feet of snow in places, the storm upended business as usual for almost all boroughs and municipalities, taxing, even exhausting, the ability of local governments to clean up after the storm -- and pay for it. Newberry Township manager Don Keener, like many others in his position, is still waiting for all the storm related bills to arrive, but said he's confident that the township will have far exceeded a normal snow-cleanup effort by thousands of dollars. Due to the volume of snow and the speed with which it fell, Newberry Township, like so many other municipalities, had to bring in outside contractors to help remove it. "Normally, you have a foot of snow and we don't have to do that. You can just plow it and you are good," Keener said. "But it was such a massive amount of snow that for some of our smaller trucks the amount of snow was too much to handle." The cost of paying for outside contractors and overtime -- both for them and public works staff -- is proving to be a major chunk of the expense for municipalities. Harrisburg, for example, paid more than $750,000 to private contractors to remove snow after the blizzard, city officials reported this week. It was a similar story in Lancaster County, where the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is collecting municipal clean-up costs in hopes of securing $1.8 million in reimbursements from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Philip Colvin, Deputy Director of Lancaster County's EMA, said "We will need to exceed that number to be eligible. If we do not exceed that threshold, we will not be eligible unless a contiguous county has exceeded theirs." It remains to be seen whether that's the case, with the county and those around it still in the "very early stages of gathering information," as Colvin described it. Perhaps more central to the discussion, is what types of expenses the federal reimbursements will cover. In East Lampeter Township, Lancaster County, public works director Charlie Thomas said the federal funds would not apply to all storm related clean-up costs, but could help with road salt and equipment costs incurred at the height of the storm. That may be problematic, with the lion's share of the tab for area municipalities involving payroll, overtime and hired hands. Chambersburg, with a snow removal budget of $196,000, is reporting $346,201 in unanticipated cleanup costs from the storm. In Carlisle, borough manager Matt Candland is guessing that the borough's final bill will exceed $100,000 -- much of it due to contractors, overtime and salt. He said space -- or the lack thereof in the borough -- made it necessary to contract out not only for removal, but also for hauling. Carlisle is, in fact, still removing and hauling snow. And while the borough doesn't budget for a storm of this magnitude, Candland said, it does have at its disposal reserves to help cover the expense of cleanup without necessitating any changes to the tax rate. For municipalities in similar positions but without the luxury of reserves, Candland said the fallout from the storm could include "financial stress" or even higher taxes. In nearby Dillsburg, borough manager Karen Deibler said there is no cushion for a snowstorm of this size and that the borough will likely end up paying 20 times more for cleanup than it would normally. "This is something you don't count on," Deibler said, "Where is the money coming from?" She added that the borough has some funds for different projects that might be moved around but said "that's something that will have to be decided by council." Mechanicsburg borough manager Patrick Dennis said that while the $20,000 overtime budget there was likely exceeded during the recent storm, the real sting came from the cost of salt -- which comes out of the liquid fuels line item, right along with things needed for road paving and repair. "It has a pretty large impact," Dennis said. "Overtime and plowing are not as detrimental as salt, which is a commodity." In Newberry Township, Keener is hoping Washington, D.C. will provide some help by way of federal emergency disaster money. For now, the ongoing cleanup is coming out of the township's general fund which, fortunately, had some reserves carried over from last year. "I would rather put the money into black top and road repair than plowing snow but we don't have the choice," Keener said. "If we use the money for snow removal, it takes it out of the pot for repairs in the summer." Back in Lancaster County, Millersville Borough's streets department superintendent, Andy Boxleitner, is similarly hopeful that federal officials will help with the bill. Boxleitner said in the busiest 48 hours during the storm an estimated $23,000 was spent on clean-up there. He expects that number to grow as costs continue to be tallied, but not by much. "You're never really prepared for what we got," Boxleitner added. "But I still think we're within budget." Statewide, PennDOT spokesperson Greg Penny said clean-up costs are also being tallied, with most resulting from overtime and fuel usage. "This was primarily a plowing storm, so salt usage won't be as heavy as when we deal with ice storms," Penny said. "Our salt usage to date is 13,588 tons in our 8-county engineering district. This is mainly for Winter Storm Jonas and its aftermath, plus one or two fast moving clippers prior to Jonas." Staff writer Ivey DeJesus contributed reporting to this article. SHALE WELL ART.jpg (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, 2012) By Stephen Herzenberg Nobody likes a bully. Stephen Herzenberg (PennLive file) People also understand that a decent society - for children in school but also among grown-ups - requires standing up to bullies. If you don't, bullies become emboldened and poison our culture further. Sadly, in politics, it seems that bullying is becoming more common. Bullying is a favorite tactic of the natural gas industry. In addition to well-documented political contributions, the natural gas industry and its allies aggressively jump on anyone who challenges the industry narrative that, when it comes to jobs, shale is the goose that laid the golden egg. At the Keystone Research Center, we experienced this five years ago after a headline writer misinterpreted an obscure piece of data and claimed that "Marcellus Shale Drilling Creates 48,000 Jobs." The 48,000 figure, lifted from a Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry report, wasn't new jobs but "new hires." New hires measure churn in the labor market, not job creation, because most new hires replace people who quit or get fired. In the 18-month period over which the industry had 48,000 new hires, it created fewer than 10,000 new jobs The 48,000 figure took on a life of its own. It led to a Marcellus Shale Coalition release "By the Numbers: The Mighty Marcellus Continues to Fuel Job Creation," a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review story, "Drilling generates 48,000 jobs," and a Patriot News op-ed saying "...nearly 48,000 jobs related to Marcellus Shale activity have been created in Pennsylvania during the last year." So we issued a brief to correct the record. The brief acknowledged that the number of shale jobs was still meaningful. We also outlined how to grow the actual - not imaginary - number and increase the share of jobs going to Pennsylvanians. The same day, the Marcellus Shale Coalition issued a release that ignored our analytical point but instead attacked our organization. The state Republican Party released a similar attack the next morning. What brings these old events to mind is a fresh debate on the number of shale jobs, triggered by a decision of the Wolf Administration to start counting the number of shale jobs accurately. Wolf's new methodology puts the current number of Shale jobs at about 22,000 in the industry itself and 58,000 counting supply chain jobs and jobs in consumer industries that cater to Pennsylvanians who receive wages, profits, or royalties because of the shale industry. We think that Wolf's ratio of supply chain plus consumer jobs to direct industry jobs is a bit high, and so the 58,000 is also a bit high. But it's closer than the 243,000 claimed by the Shale industry for 2014 based on another misleading Labor and Industry statistic published during the Corbett administration. The response to the Wolf Administration's boring decision to count shale job numbers in a credible way shows that the MO of the Shale industry has not changed. Along with its allies, and without any analysis of competing methodologies, the industry has aggressively suggested that the Wolf administration is playing politics with the job numbers. Former Corbett speechwriter and PennLive Opinion columnist Dennis Roddy, for example, recently penned a Dennis in Wonderland fantasy about the purity of the shale number crunching in the Corbett administration. Roddy also presents a tortured explanation of why shale's total jobs impact includes jobs in suppliers and in consumer industries as well as direct jobs. Roddy seems unaware that the Wolf Administration includes all three categories in its new shale jobs methodology, and that he is defending the Wolf Administration. Roddy implies that the Labor and Industry calculation that produced the 243,000 figure was a legitimate attempt to get at the total shale jobs footprint. But it wasn't. That "method" (see here, pp. 27-30) counted every single job in industries such as trucking, engineering services, and bridge construction as resulting from shale - which is absurd. Despite the aggressiveness of the gas industry, some academics and media have gained an accurate fix on both the job numbers and who twists them. In fracking regions and the legislature, however, standing up to the industry - not being intimidated by baseless claims that good policies will destroy a jobs miracle - requires more courage. That's why, if we're going to get a severance tax, effective regulation, and diligent monitoring of shale's public health and environmental impacts, it's going to take a gut check from some folks. For the sake of all of us, more legislative leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers are going to have to stand up to the bullies. Stephen Herzenberg is an economist and the executive director of the Keystone Research Center, a left-leaning research group in Harrisburg. FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2015 file photo, actor James Franco attends the LA Premiere of "The Night Before" held at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. The Zola twitter story about a wild road trip to Florida that went viral late last year is in development to be turned into a feature film that Franco is to direct. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) In this Jan. 27, 2016 photo, a zoo attendant feeds Hanako the elephant at Inokashira Park Zoo on the outskirts of Tokyo. A Vancouver woman's impassioned blog post about an elderly elephant living in a Japanese zoo's "concrete prison" has inspired nearly 380,000 people to sign a petition urging better care for the creature. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko FILE - In this April 15, 2015, file photo, Alicia Keys speaks after being awarding the Recording Academy's Recording Artists' Coalition Award at the Grammys On The Hill Awards in Washington. Keys has a flirty message for House Speaker Paul Ryan: He can be her Valentine if the House acts on criminal justice reform. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File) Ben Tenney, a Kanab, Utah, resident, gives his condolences to the daughter of Arizona rancher Robert "LaVoy" Finicum outside the church where services were being held in Kanab Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Tenney is related to Finicum's daughter by marriage. Hundreds of people packed a Mormon church in rural Utah for the viewing ceremony for the fallen spokesman of the Oregon armed standoff. Police shot and killed Finicum during a Jan. 26 traffic stop after they say he reached for a gun. His supporters called it an ambush.(AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Former CIA employee, Edward Snowden has said that he has evidence showing that Osama bin Laden, who was supposedly killed in Pakistan in 2011 by U.S. special forces, is still alive and well. In an interview with the Moscow Tribune, Snowden saidOsama was living in the Bahamas, on the payroll of the CIA. He told the newspaper, I have documents showing that Bin Laden is still on the CIAs payroll. He is still receiving more than $100,000 a month, which is being transferred through some front businesses and organizations, directly to his Nassau bank account. I am not certain where he is now, but in 2013, he was living quietly in his villa with five of his wives and many children. Snowden, who now lives as a fugitive in Russia, fled the U.S. after leaking documents about the NSAs mass surveillance programs to the media in 2013. The report also said that Snowden previously too made some unreported allegations about Osama bin Laden. Snowden goes on to say that the CIA orchestrated the fake death of the former leader of Al-Qaeda. He claims that Osama was transported with his family to an undisclosed location in the Bahamas. The report further quotes him as follows Osama bin Laden was one of the CIAs most efficient operatives for a long time. What kind of message would it send their other operatives if they were to let the SEALs kill him? They organized his fake death with the collaboration of the Pakistani Secret Services, and he simply abandoned his cover. Since everyone believes he is dead, nobodys looking for him, so it was pretty easy to disappear. Without the beard and the military jacket, nobody recognizes him. Not only this, Snowden categorically states that he will talk about the documents which prove Bin Laden is alive in his soon-to-be-released book. However, Snowdens claims have not been substantiated or confirmed by any other source. The US government has filed espionage charges against Snowden for revealing classified NSA documents to journalists. source www.conspiracyclub.co 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. Moscow's call for OPEC talks went nowhere, but oil prices jumped A Saudi-Russian oil d etente? not likely LONDON Petroleumworld.com 02 05 2016 Most oil analysts and traders were intrigued when Russia's energy minister signaled on Jan. 28 that the Kremlin wanted to discuss oil production cuts with OPEC. After all, limiting supply may help bolster the collapsing price of crude, which is hurting all major petroleum powers. Yet no one was surprised when the Saudis didn't jump at the chance to meet with the Russians. The Saudis have insisted that OPEC won't cut output unless other major exporters like Russia, the world's top producer, reduce output as well. Russia has zero credibility with OPEC and with Saudi Arabia in particular, after promising cuts during previous crises and then failing to deliver, says Citigroup analyst Seth Kleinman. Russia pledged to curb output when oil crashed in 2001 but instead increased its crude exports while Saudi Arabia cut back. The Russians did the same in 2008, leaving OPEC to shoulder the burden of output reductions. A Saudi-Russian agreement also would require more than economic calculation. President Vladimir Putin supports Syrian ruler Bashar Al-Assad, while the House of Saud backs rebels seeking his overthrow. And if the Saudis cut their production, they'd be providing an opening for Iran, an Assad ally. Iran has been ramping up crude exports after sanctions were lifted last month. It raises the question of whether this is just being done in a desperate attempt to prop up the oil price. Citigroup analyst Seth Kleinman A deal is not only highly unlikely, in the estimation of Goldman Sachs, but self-defeating for the Saudis. By cutting production now and boosting prices, Saudi Arabia would effectively bail out U.S. shale producers just as the Saudi strategy of keeping prices low to squeeze them out of the market is beginning to work, Goldman's Jeff Currie argues. Shale will buckle if the Saudis stay the course: The International Energy Agency predicts that non-OPEC production will slump this year by the most since 1992. Citigroup's Kleinman suggests that setting up an actual conference may no longer be the point. Russia has always said it can't easily cut production for technical reasonsrestarting oil wells is a lot harder in frozen Siberia than in the Arabian desert. Russian oil companies prefer to keep pumping at full throttle. The country's publicly listed companies are less willing to curb supply than the state-owned champions of the Persian Gulf. Leaving the heavy lifting to OPEC has usually paid off for the Kremlin, Kleinman says. So why even float the idea of rapprochement? The Russian announcement, plus rumors among traders of what Kleinman calls a mythical agreement between Russia and Saudia Arabia, pushed oil prices up 20 percent from their late January lows. Planting the possibility of an end to the oil war in traders' minds could be an end in itself. It raises the question of whether this is just being done in a desperate attempt to prop up the oil price, Kleinman says. It also raises the question of how long that strategy is going to work. Talk is cheap. Financially strapped Venezuela, an OPEC member, continues to push for production cuts. A Venezuelan report on Feb. 3 said six OPEC members, including Iran, and two non-OPEC countries, including Russia had agreed to meet later this month. Without Saudi support, they're unlikely to agree to anything meaningful. The bottom line: A possible pact to cut output by Russia and Saudi Arabia collapsed even before talks were set. Statoil interested in Uruguay's oil, acquires 15% of offshore block Block 14 is located in the Pelotas basin, South Atlantic, approximately 200 kms off the coast of Uruguay. It covers 6,690 sq. kms in water depths of 1,850 to 3,500 ms MONTEVIDEO Petroleumworld.com 02 05 2016 Norway's Statoil giant announced on Tuesday an agreement with French Total to acquire a 15% working interest in an offshore exploration block in Uruguay's continental shelf. The announcement comes only weeks before Total is preparing to drill its first exploratory well in Uruguayan waters. According to the release from Statoil Uruguay B.V., the company has agreed with Total E&P Uruguay B.V. to acquire 15% working interest in offshore exploration block 14 in Uruguay. This represents a new impact opportunity for Statoil and a new country entry, pointed out the release. Block 14 is located in the Pelotas basin of the South Atlantic Ocean, approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Uruguay. It covers an area of 6,690 square kilometres in water depths of 1,850 to 3,500 metres. Statoil has acquired 15% working interest from operator Total. This transaction is pending governmental approval. Total retains a 50% working interest. The partnership also includes ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Uruguay B.V. with 35% working interest. With this transaction, we are positioning ourselves in yet another underexplored basin with upside potential. This is in line with our exploration strategy of early access at scale, and strengthens Statoil's long-term international portfolio, says Nicholas Alan Maden, senior vice president for exploration in Statoil. Total has completed an extensive data collection programme, including acquiring new 3D seismic data covering the block. The partnership is now preparing to drill the Raya prospect during the first half of 2016. It is exciting that we are able to test this opportunity so quickly, to explore a new geological concept in this frontier deep-water area, says Maden. Block 14 was awarded to Total in 2012. Based on the results of the Raya well, the partnership will decide further steps. The well scheduled to be drilled to a depth of 3.400 meters is expected to demand an investment of 200 million dollars, according to Total. Statoil's entry into Uruguay further expands its extensive position in Latin-America. In neighbouring Brazil, Statoil operates the Peregrino field, the Pao de Acucar discovery and holds a large portfolio of exploration acreage. Statoil is also present in Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela and Suriname. UK regulators are granting some lung cancer patients access to Bristol Myers Squibbs immunotherapy Opdivo ahead of a European licensing decision. Opdivo (nivolumab) has been added to the countrys Early Access to Medicines Scheme, giving patients with non-squamous forms of non-small lung cancer, whose tumours express programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), the opportunity for treatment with the drug before it is officially approved. The drugs innovative mode of action works by harnessing the ability of the immune system to find and fight cancer. Thanks to our Early Access to Medicines Scheme, NHS patients with this devastating form of lung cancer will be amongst the first in Europe to have access to this life_enhancing medicine, noted Life Sciences Minister, George Freeman MP. This scheme, launched in 2014, is making a real difference in speeding up access to innovative medicines, but we want to go further, which is why the independent Accelerated Access Review will recommend how we can get new treatments to patients even faster. Last year, Opdivo picked up European approval for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic squamous NSCLC following chemotherapy, after clinical trials showed that 42% of patients taking the drug were still alive at one year versus 24% of those treated with docetaxel. However, cost regulators have barred patients with squamous NSCLC from access to Opdivo, on grounds that it is too expensive. MEDIA QUESTIONNAIRE Name of Publication Established (Give exact date) ADDRESS TELEPHONE FAX NO NAME OF EDITOR Name of Printer Language Frequency Please attach a copy of declaration certificate Off Days Please specify whether morning, evening or state the date of issue Date on which the first issue was brought out Any special edition Price per copy Annual subscription Editorial Objectives and policy Appeal to any special community, class or section News services subscribed to Special regular features (i.e Womens or Children page etc) & when appearing Specialized's World Cup Downhill Prospects Pure Agency joins forces with Specialized Aaron Gwin's departure from the Specialized Factory Racing team was as much of a surprise as the announcement a month later that Pure Agency's Gravity Republic team ditched Lapierre and headed to California to sign with Specialized. Pure Agency will technically run the show, now called the "Specialized Gravity Team," which brings a heap of young talent to Morgan Hill: 2015 World Champion Loic Bruni; Junior Loris Vergier, the 2014 Junior World Champion; and first year junior Finn Iles. The marriage to Pure Agency brings Specialized a full program instead of the one-man show they were left with after contract discussions failed with Gwin. If Loris and Finn continue their rapid ascents toward the podium, and if Bruni carries the momentum of his victory in Andorra, downhill could be business as usual for the big S. Loic Bruni's last ride with Lapierre will surely be his most memorable - World Champion and his first win as a World Cup Pro. Michal Cerveny photo Fat Bikes The inevitable occurs in Crested Butte and good news from Duluth Devon Balet photo Fat bikes are normally not allowed on the Nordic tracks at Crested Butte, but at least one ski area in the USA has proclaimed itself fat bike friendly. In Duluth, Minnesota, Spirit Mountain The Pro women's division was owned by Amy Beisel, with Alexis Skarda nabbing the silver and Judy Freeman, the bronze. Like Beisel, Pro Men gold medalist Robbie Squire rode away from the field mid-way in the race, leaving the silver to Taylor Shelden and the bronze to mountain bike hard man Travis Brown.Fat bikes are normally not allowed on the Nordic tracks at Crested Butte, but at least one ski area in the USA has proclaimed itself fat bike friendly. In Duluth, Minnesota, Spirit Mountain announced that it was the first official lift-access fat bikepark in the US. Skiers and snowboarders will share both the trails and the mountain with fat bikes, and if it goes well, we can expect many more resorts to follow suit. Fat bikes will join skiers and boarders at Spirit Mountain Resort. Old School Snow Shredding Two videos that may prevent you from buying a fat bike this winter German Direct-Sales Bike Brands Rose, Canyon, Cube, and YT Canyon's testing laboratory is second to none, with stations to replicate all industry standards, and in some cases, exceed them. Rose's assembly facility is a busy place. Bicycles are quality checked at each station and then personally signed before they are boxed. Cube puts blue pins on the countries where they are currently selling bikes. Amber pins are markets they plan to enter soon. YT's 2016 Capra CF Pro was released January 11 and reportedly, the first production is already sold out until March. High-End Suspension Brands in the US BOS names Quality Bicycle Products as North American Partner means that Quality Bicycle Products (a make-it-happen company) will handle rebuilds, warranty, tuning, spares, and sales to dealers and customers throughout North America - a huge incentive for many riders who would have considered BOS suspension, but were wary of potential turn-around issues for tuning or regular service intervals. A base in North America also makes BOS a viable alternative to upper-end offerings from the likes of Fox, RockShox, Cane Creek, and DVO in the aftermarket and elite OEM sales. BOS suspension is oft heralded as the best-performing fork and shock that money can buy - and reviews from nearly every media outlet have supported those claims. The downside of BOS, however, has been its centralized support ethos, which means that customers who can't take a train to its headquarters in Toulouse, France, and wait for service or tuning, may be without a ride for a month or more while their suspension returns by post. The deal means that Quality Bicycle Products (a make-it-happen company) will handle rebuilds, warranty, tuning, spares, and sales to dealers and customers throughout North America - a huge incentive for many riders who would have considered BOS suspension, but were wary of potential turn-around issues for tuning or regular service intervals. A base in North America also makes BOS a viable alternative to upper-end offerings from the likes of Fox, RockShox, Cane Creek, and DVO in the aftermarket and elite OEM sales. Freeriders Kelly McGarry is gone Kelly McGarry (1982-2016) It wasn't so long ago that PB was joking about the possibility of a Fat Bike World Championship. Well, here it is: Crested Butte, the sleepy ski town that became one of the birthplaces of the mountain bike, staged the inagural Fat Bike Worlds on a packed snow XC course that incorporated some of the area's Nordic tracks.Two edits posted in January demonstrated that, providing you have skills, you don't need five-inch tires to shred snow. Vincent "Vinny T" Tupin shows how it's done in Chatel, France, in this must-watch POV edit, "Snowy Laps and No Handers." Vinny machs his way down a slushy track for a while, but the fun begins a third of the way through when the Scott Voltage rider is making first tracks on new snow, pinning it off wooden features and then finishes off the edit with a mega steep fall-line run. Watch and learn.One of the most popular videos in January was "Ice Heist," which has Casey Brown and Cam McCaul stealing their way into the Manning Park Resort in BC, Canada, and armed with big bikes and heavily spiked tires, they rip up the area's ski runs at impressive speeds. If you are considering a fat bike this winter, you might invest in a couple of boxes of self-tapping sheet metal roofing screws and some polyethylene anti-flat liners instead. Apparently, the 20-dollar snow-bike conversion worked fine for Casey and Cam:Matt Wragg's trio of factory visits gave us an insider's look at Cube Rose , and Canyon and they epitomize what modern bicycle brands should be: contemporary, well run businesses with relevant products, connected to their customers, and staffed with supercharged, up-to-the minute designers and engineers. Germany's fourth direct-sales brand, YT , announced their impressive 2016 range in the same month.Perhaps it is because they are German brands, or perhaps it reflects a wholesale shift in the awareness of the enthusiast bike buyer, but the commonality of the four bike makers is that they concentrate on selling great bikes at reasonable prices, not conjuring up BS about how cool they are - and their direct-sales model has gained enough momentum to suggest that the established brands had better come up with a better plan than heaving insults if they intend to remain in the driver's seat.January was the last month that friend and freerider Kelly McGarry was among us. If there is any truth that only the good die young, he is certainly proof. If anyone characterized everything good about freeride, it was the tall, ever-smiling New Zealander with the wild hair who seemed to have spent every waking moment of his short life making the world around him a better place. RIP McGazza. VIDEO: Judge Tosses Accused Cop Killer's Lawsuit That Named Fallen Officer as Defendant A lawsuit filed by a man accused of killing an Indianapolis Metro Police Department officer has been thrown out by a federal judge. Major Davis II was seeking millions of dollars, claiming officers used excessive force during his 2014 arrest. Federal Judge Tanya Pratt says Davis failed to identify a viable defendant, therefore she dismissed his $2.3 million lawsuit that was filed last month. The lawsuit was against Mayor Joe Hogsett, IMPD, former police chief Rick Hite and Officer Perry Renn, whom Davis is accused of killing back in July 2014. A second officer was also included in the suit, WISH TV reports. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Here are the winners and losers from the MSNBC Democratic presidential debate. Winners and Losers: Winners: 1). Bernie Sanders Sanders has a big lead in New Hampshire, so this debate felt like a home game for him and he delivered. Sanders gave the audience a rundown of his basic campaign platforms, but there were heated exchanges based on the record of the candidates, and Sen. Sanders took Clinton on. There was an edge to Sanders that had been missing in some of the earlier debates. If the polls are anywhere near correct, Sanders is going to win comfortably, and he did nothing here to hurt his chances. If there is one area of concern for Sanders, it is that his message is getting a bit repetitive. The campaign might look at broadening their main points to show another side of the candidate. Overall, his performance was excellent, and Sanders was a clear winner in New Hampshire. 2). Hillary Clinton Clinton is a winner in this debate because she was able to expand her message. Several times during the debate, former Sec. Clinton hammered away at the idea that Democrats needed to broaden the discussion in the primary. Clinton wasnt only trying to broaden the discussion. She was broadening the electorate. Clinton used the New Hampshire debate to speak to voters in Nevada, South Carolina, and on Super Tuesday. Clinton had a strong moment during the foreign policy discussion about a plan to defeat ISIS when Sanders brought up Clintons Iraq war vote, and she responded a vote on Iraq in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS. 3). Rachel Maddow and Chuck Todd Maddow and Todd asked good questions. Todds question to Sanders about why he supports campaign finance reform but he declined to participate in public funding for the primary was very interesting. It also allowed Sanders and Clinton to talk about an antiquated system that does not get nearly enough attention. Maddow was her usual solid self. She asked a fantastic question of Sanders about whether or not he can work with big business if elected. Todd asked Clinton if she would make the transcripts of her paid speeches public. The MSNBC moderators asked questions that the candidates were not expecting, which made the MSNBC debate much more interesting. Losers: 1). Republicans Who Are Hoping For Democratic Division Clinton and Sanders had their moments of dispute, and things did get a little testy at times, but Democrats are much more unified than Republicans. The Republican Party is desperately hoping that Bernie Sanders will do their dirty work for them. Sanders didnt go after Clinton in a way that could damage a general election campaign. If Republicans are hoping for Bernie Sanders to bring Hillary Clinton down, or for the Democratic Party to meltdown into the kind of ideological chaos that is fracturing the GOP, they were sorely disappointed by this debate. 2). Gov. Rick Snyder Both Clinton and Sanders unloaded on Rick Snyder and Republicans for not doing enough for the people of Flint. The point was made that not a single new piece of pipe has been laid. Clinton and Sanders called out Snyder for foot-dragging and not giving the people of Flint the help that they need. Both Democratic candidates reminded the country that children are being poisoned in Flint and brought the crisis back to national prominence. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print A contrast in strategies and some great questions from the moderators are among the 5 reasons to be that you watched the MSNBC Democratic debate. 1). Hillary Clinton Immediately Tried To Broaden The Discussion Hillary Clinton successfully anticipated Bernie Sanders opening statement. Sanders went with a version of his main campaign economic talking points, but Clinton responded by agreeing to Sanders main point, and stating that the conversation needed to be expanded to include topics like racism. Instead of staying expanded, the debate quickly covered the same old ground about whether or not President Obama and Hillary Clinton are progressives. Sanders said that Obama and Vice President Biden were progressives. He challenged Hillary Clintons progressivism. Clinton defended her record and said that we need to be talking about what we do as president. Sanders agreed and said that the two campaigns need to stop talking about definitions. An expanded conversation helps the Democratic Party, and when this debate moved to the issues, it got really good. Clintons strategy is clear. Sanders has the economic populism message locked up, but 2). Bernie Sanders Wants To See Major Changes In The Democratic Party In response to a question about how he can lead the Democratic Party when he has only recently become a Democrat, Bernie Sanders admitted that he wants to see major changes in the Democratic Party. Sanders said that he wants to see a big influx of young people into the party and that the party needs to adopt a 50 state strategy. Sanders said that the Democratic Party cant be the party of 25 states. The idea that Sanders is calling for changes in the Democratic Party is often an overlooked part of his appeal. Many Democrats, especially those who arent in blue states, feel ignored by the party. Sanders isnt just calling for a political revolution in the country. He is also calling for a revolution, and some would argue a modernization of the Democratic Party. 3). Hillary Clinton Was Non-Committal About Releasing Transcripts Of Her Paid Speeches The debate featured some outstanding questions. Chuck Todd asked Bernie Sanders why he wasnt participating in the public financing system. Clinton was asked if she would make transcripts of her Goldman Sachs speeches public. Todd expanded the question to ask if she would make transcripts of all of her paid speeches public. Clinton responded by saying that she will look into it. It was an unanticipated question, but Clintons lack of a clear answer makes it certain the question will come up again and again. One suspects that the transcripts of Clintons paid speeches will eventually end up being released. 4). Clinton and Sanders Rip Republicans For Trying To Privatize The VA Hillary Clinton called out the Koch brothers for forming an organization to convince Americans that we no longer need public healthcare for the VA. Clinton promised that she will never privatize the VA. Sanders said that Republicans give a lot of speeches about how much they love veterans, but only two Republicans voted for his legislation to expand benefits for veterans. Sanders said Republicans talk a good game about caring veterans, but they werent there when it was time to put money on the line. Sanders also hammered the Koch brothers for their front group that is pushing privatizing the VA. Sanders said that we must strengthen the VA. We do not privatize the VA. 5). Clinton Calls Out Republicans For Bogus Scandals Chuck Todd asked Hillary Clinton to reassure Democratic voters about the email scandal. Clinton said that her emails were the same thing as what Republicans did to her on Benghazi. She called the email scandal an absurdity and pointed to the reclassification of Colin Powell and Condi Rices emails. Clinton said that if there is going to be a security review of her, there is going to be a security review of Republican officials. Bernie Sanders said that he felt the same way that he did at the first debate. He said that he is asked to attack her on that issue every day, and he has refrained from doing that and will refrain from doing that. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print The Republican Party and its voter drones are always advocating for corporations, as though corporatism is the answer to federalism, as though corporations run by people we dont get to vote for is a healthier choice for Americans than a government we do. To understand how very wrong this is, you need only to look at the ExxonMobil climate scandal. Like the tobacco companies of a generation ago, ExxonMobil knew all about the dangers of fossil fuels and sold them anyway. Now the oil giant is being investigated by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has followed suit. Others may join them. And the fossil fuel industry is outraged. Corporate America is outraged. How dare anyone call their practices into question! Because profits. Theyre just trying to make a buck. Cut them some slack already. If anyone does not see the danger in government for profit, its because they dont want to. Think about it for a minute: a corporation cares only about profits. Not about people. A corporation will sell you something that will kill you something they know will kill you because by their reckoning, they will save money by letting you die. In the corporate world of risk assessment, it is considered suboptimum to spend more money to fix something than they stand to lose. That means the person from whom all political power is supposed to derive (whether it does in practice) is, in the business world, often the sum of the equation to determine what is suboptimum. Thats right. Its more cost-effective to let you die, and to settle up afterward, than it is to go back to the drawing board and redesign the product. In defense of ExxonMobil, Bloomberg mounted an unconscionable defense of profits over people: failing to be a good corporate citizen isnt lying, and isnt a crime. People talk about an uncaring federal government. Nothing we see come out of the government is as cold and heartless as this simple statement. The Bloomberg editorial board would have you believe, Unless the company deliberately misled its investors, its hard to see why its scientific and public-relations efforts should be any concern of New Yorks attorney general. So the only possible crime here is misleading investors. Not killing millions of people. Thats just business. What kind of warped morality is that? It is ethically indefensible. You see the problem, of course. Corporations only have to be good corporate citizens, not good citizens of the world. The common weal means nothing when weighed against profits, and seeking profits can never be a crime. This ranks right up there with the old Christian adage that There is no crime for those who have Christ. Now we have, There is no crime for those who seek profits. Bloomberg concludes: [E]ngaging in scientific research and public advocacy shouldnt be crimes in a free country. Using the criminal law to shame and encumber companies that do so is a dangerous arrogation of power. The thing is, it wasnt scientific research ExxonMobil was engaging in, but promotion of junk science (i.e. disinformation) to prove that their business practices werent harming the environment and its customers. To claim there is nothing wrong with that is beyond absurd. Its obscene. ExxonMobil told The Guardian this summer that ExxonMobil does not fund climate denial, despite giving millions to Republican climate change denialists in Congress. We dont get to vote for corporate boards of directors or CEOs. If they kill us for profits, we have no recourse. We can replace governments. We get a vote. You can respond that politics are corrupt and that the system is fixed, but then you must explain how the corporate system is not fixed. Republicans claim the whole economy will go down the tank if we dont let corporations kill us with impunity. If you really think youll get a better deal from people who are willing to kill you to make a buck, youre in denial too. Photo: John W. Poole/NRP Portfolio English Edition's premium content is available only for subscribers Learn about the hottest news of the day, along with immediate follow-up analyses and 1000's of exclusive articles with full access to the premium content. Register and apply for a 14 days free trial period. PRESTON In his five months as national commander of the American Legion, Dale Barnett has met with a three-star general in South Korea to discuss security, had a half-hour, one-on-one conservation with the president of Taiwan about weapon sales and has testified before Congress about veterans affairs. But he's also learned you can walk on water when he went ice fishing on a Twin Cities lake Monday (he caught nothing), was given a must-read copy of the book "How to Speak Minnesotan" and met with members of the Fillmore County Legion posts on Thursday. All are part of his job, said the former Army lieutenant colonel from Fayetteville, Ga. "It's amazing the spectrum of activities you do as the national commander," he said. Yes, he needs to work on national, and international issues, he said. But he also said part of his mission and mission of the Legion reaches to small posts, to the Boys and Girls Clubs to teach leadership and patriotism and to help children and youth. Much of its 2.3 million members live in suburbs or small towns, he said. Big cities just don't seem to attract the same sense of community as smaller places, he said. ADVERTISEMENT "In rural American, the American Legion has such a presence," Barnett said. (It has) people who want to be members." When he began his talk, however, he didn't try to rally about 50 people there on national issues or decry the state of the Veterans Administration. Instead, "I think it's important to talk about what you see as a guest," Barnett said. Behind him was a display case behind him of pictures of local people now serving. On one wall was the list of winners of local scholarships. He complimented the Fillmore County Journal for its two-year project to publish the stories of local veterans in the book "Boots & Badges" that debuted today. In the back was a young man, Tom Trehus, who had gone to Boys State and was inspired to run for the Minnesota Legislature. "He must have learned some good lessons from some mighty good teachers," the commander said. Barnett loved all that, that's what the Legion needs to do, get out that message, he said. "We teach character, we teach service and we teach dedication," Barnett said. "Our country needs us; it needs us to unite as one." ADVERTISEMENT He also applauded what he saw in the new State Veterans Cemetery on the outskirts of Preston that is now open but will have its formal dedication in spring. "What I saw was so great," he said. Yes, as commander, he also runs into entrenched bureaucracy, problems with getting veterans benefits. "It would be easy to be frustrated, but I'm not," he said. Legion membership is rising, and part of his job is to be a motivator, Barnett said. His message "is a message of service, that they have values, that they can still serve America," he said. Service can be of veterans, it can be for veterans, it can be non-veterans serving the community. "We are not a closed society," he said. One person pleased that Barnett was there was Ron Scheevel, assistant chaplain for the Preston Legion. "It was just an honor with opening our cemetery in spring," he said, referring to the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery. "It all energizes our membership." Yes, at the GEC voting center at the Westin. Yes, at one of the satellite voting centers open on Saturdays. No; I'm voting on Nov. 8. No; I'm not voting in the general election. Vote View Results The Bush administration drew endless flak from the left for treating Islamic terrorists as enemy combatants. Liberals prefer the law enforcement model, where terrorists and would-be terrorists are prosecuted for crimes, or else left alone. That is what has happened here in Minnesota, where a number of Somalis have either left the country to fight with al Shabaab, ISIS, or other terrorists groups, or have been apprehended while attempting to do so. Five Somalis are now being prosecuted in federal court in Minneapolis for trying to go to Syria to join ISIS. Their defense? They arent criminals, they are enemy combatants! The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports: Five Twin Cities men accused of plotting to go to fight alongside ISIL in Syria are asking a federal judge to drop murder conspiracy charges on grounds [sic] that they have combatant immunity under both common and international law. They say combatants are immune from criminal prosecutions for acts of war, including murder, against military targets. Its almost enough to make you think the Bush administration was right all along. Marco Rubio has been criticized, perhaps with some justification, for acting on Monday night almost as if he won the Iowa caucuses, rather than finishing third. But polling in New Hampshire (and at least one national poll) suggests that Rubio is getting the biggest bounce of any GOP candidate out of Iowa. The New Hampshire polls tell conflicting stories, however, on the crucial question of how close Rubio (and Ted Cruz) are to Donald Trump less than a week before the New Hampshire vote. A CNN/WMUR poll contains the best news for Rubio. It has Trump at 29 percent and Rubio at 18 (Cruz is in third place with 13 percent, one point ahead of John Kasich). In late January, Rubio was in third place in this poll with 11 percent, compared to Trumps 30 percent. Cruz was in second place with 12 percent. The 11 point gap in the latest CNN/WMUR poll seems surmountable (though tough to surmount) with another strong debate performance. (However, Rubio will probably be under constant attack from all sides). But a UMass Lowell/7News tracking poll has Rubio 21 points behind Trump. Its results nearly mirror the pre-Iowa results of CNN/WWMUR. Trump is at 36 percent; Rubio at 15 percent; and Cruz at 14 percent. Rubios position reflects improvement over the last purely pre-Iowa UMass Lowell/7News tracking poll (which had Trump at 38 percent; Cruz at 14; and Rubio at 10). So it confirms that Rubio has surged. But the Florida Senator cant expect to make up a 21 point deficit (if thats what it really is) between now and next Tuesday. Two other New Hampshire polls one by ARG and the other by Harper align with the UMass Lowell poll. Trump is ahead of Rubio by 20 points and 17 points, respectively. But these polls were taken a little earlier than the other two, and so presumably do not capture the full extent of a Rubio surge. All of the polls contain bad news for the chasing field. Jeb Bush, John Kasich, and Chris Christie have all desperately been seeking at least a third place finish in the Granite State. At times each has been in or around the top three in polls. After Iowa, however, the chasing field seems to have lost ground. This appears must starkly in the UMass Lowell survey, in which Bush, Kasich, and Christie are at 8, 7, and 4, respectively. CNN/WMUR, by contrast, has Kasich just one point behind Cruz, with Bush not far back. But that still represents a decline for Kasich, who had been in second in several pre-Iowa polls. New Hampshire voters often reject what Iowa caucus-goers do. Thus, we might well see a reversion to pre-Iowa levels for some of the candidates, especially if the chasing pack is able to make its attacks on Rubio resonate. Moreover, another debate will occur before the New Hampshire voting. And a large percentage of New Hampshire voters (like the caucus-goers in Iowa) probably wont make their final decision until Election Day. Thus, the latest polls shouldnt be taken as gospel. The situation probably remains fluid. But if, as the polls indicate, New Hampshire produces the same top three as Iowa (in whatever order), then at least two of three main chasers Bush, Kasich, and Christie will probably quit the race. The long-anticipated great winnowing probably will soon occur. UPDATE: Polling during the next few days may have a significance I didnt discuss above. Mitt Romney is reportedly thinking about making an endorsement just before the New Hampshire primary. If he endorses anyone, it is likely to be Rubio. According to CNN, those trying to persuade Romney to endorse Rubio think they need to show him data to support the view that Rubio has a decent shot at defeating Trump in New Hampshire. Romney is always said to want data. The polls discussed above, even the one from CNN/WMUR, might not show enough of a Rubio surge to persuade Romney. But another day or two of improving Rubio numbers might do the trick. Assuming that the CNN report is accurate. MORE POLLS: Two new polls are out and they provide conflicting pictures. WBUR finds no Rubio surge. It has Trump up by 17 points over Rubio and Cruz (both at 12 percent). But the Boston Globe/Suffolk finds only a 10 point spread (29-19) between Trump and Rubio. Cruz is in fifth place with only 7 percent. The Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement was signed yesterday in Auckland, New Zealand. The administration claims it will boost Americas economy, but many are skeptical. Senator Jeff Sessions released a statement that said, in part: 7,000 miles away, the Presidents trade representative just quietly signed a massive, 5,544 page trade deal, with little fanfare from its supporters. Only months ago Congress voted to fast-track this deal, despite not knowing its contents. Even today, questions to the Administration about what the deal would mean for our trade deficits, jobs, and wages, are met with silence. The Administration continues to leave the American people in the dark. Early analyses suggest the TPP would cause real economic harm to America. A Tufts University Study found that it would cost nearly 450,000 American jobs by 2025. Even the pro-trade Peterson Institute says that by 2030, the TPP would cut American manufacturing growth by 20 percent, resulting in 121,000 fewer jobs. The deal further fails to meaningfully address harmful foreign currency manipulation that has been hammering critically needed American manufacturing and closing mills and factories all around the country. Alarmingly, the TPP also has a living agreement provision, guaranteeing that once implemented, Congress will have ceded its Constitutional authority to negotiate trade deals, permitting the negotiated TPP to be changed by a new international commission in which the United States vote counts no more than the Sultan of Bruneis. This commission could change the agreement with respect to areas such as membership, immigration, and environmental policy For example, as Secretary of State Kerry has acknowledged, China could be added as a member, and Congress would be powerless to stop it. A living agreement is thus no agreement at all. While Ive always supported trade, trade is not a religion. In many ways, trade has not been serving Americans well lately, and its time to be honest about that. Sessions is right about the Tufts study. You can read the study in its entirety here, and a summary by the authors here: Proponents of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), the trade and investment treaty recently agreed by the United States and eleven Pacific Rim nations, emphasize the prospective economic benefits, with economic growth increasing due to rising trade and investment. Widely cited projections suggest GDP gains for all countries after ten years, varying from less than half a percentage point in the United States to 13 percent in Vietnam. In this GDAE Working Paper, the authors employ a more realistic model that incorporates effects on employment excluded from prior TPP modeling. The Tufts study uses the United Nations Global Policy Model. The model used by proponents of TPP assumes that the agreement will have zero effect on employment or income distribution: [T]he CGE model used excludes, by assumption, TPP effects on employment and income distribution, thereby ruling out the major risks of trade liberalization. The Tufts study, using the U.N. Global Policy Model, concludes that TPP would have seriously adverse effects on several economies, including that of the United States: * TPP would generate net losses of GDP in the United States and Japan. For the United States, they project that GDP would be 0.54 percent lower than it would be without TPP, 10 years after the treaty enters into force. Japans GDP is projected to decrease 0.12 percent. * TPP would lead to employment losses in all countries, with a total of 771,000 lost jobs. The United States would be the hardest hit, with a loss of 448,000 jobs. * TPP would lead to higher inequality, as measured by changes in the labor share of national income. Congress has already voted to fast track TPP, but the agreement itself has yet to be voted on. At a bare minimum, it should be subjected to intense scrutiny and debate. Greg Jaffe of the Washington Post provides a near-worshipful account of President Obamas Wednesday visit to a Baltimore mosque. Jaffes third paragraph is representative: The president often sounded like a concerned parent, worried for the country he leads as it prepares to replace him in a presidential election marked by inflammatory and anti-Islamic rhetoric. Jaffe describes the Islamic Society of Baltimore mosque as a simple house of worship. Post readers are never informed that things at the mosque arent quite that simple. As Scott has pointed out, just a few years ago the FBI was monitoring this mosque as a breeding ground for terrorists, after arresting a member for plotting to blow up a federal building. Agents secretly recorded a number of conversations with a 25-year-old Muslim convert Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain and other Muslims who worshiped there. According to the criminal complaint, Martinez said he knew brothers who could supply him weapons and propane tanks. Does Martinezs militancy represent the mosques official outlook? Not necessarily. However, the Islamic Society of Baltimore is affiliated with the Islamic Society of North America, which federal prosecutors in 2007 named a radical Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas front and an unindicted terrorist co-conspirator in a scheme to funnel more than $12 million to Hamas suicide bombers. Moreover, according to Investors Business Daily, the mosque was led for 15 years by a radical cleric Imam Mohamad Adam el-Sheikh who once represented a federally designated al-Qaida front group. El-Sheikh also has argued for the legitimacy of suicide bombings. And ISB board member and vice president Muhammad Jameel has blamed American foreign policy namely, U.S. support for Israel for terrorism and the rise of Osama bin Laden. I appreciate the sentiment that made President Obama want to visit a mosque. But by failing properly to vet the venue, and indeed reportedly letting the Council on American-Islamic Relations choose the site even though the FBI has banned this outfit from outreach because of known ties to the Hamas terrorist group, its questionable that Obama did the the cause of interfaith understanding any good. Sure, the mainstream media will attempt to cover up the real story of the mosque Obama selected. But as word leaks out, many Americans will realize (or see confirmation) that Obama is peddling a dangerous fantasy. Jaffe says that Obamas remarks were addressed in part to a growing number of Americans who seemed unnerved by the Islamic faith. How much more unnerved will Americans be if they learn that the very mosque selected by Team Obama for the presidents visit has ties to terrorists and their supporters? The cause of interfaith understanding would be better served by acknowledging the extent to which the battle for control of the message of Islam is being waged in the U.S. Then, Obama could weigh in on behalf of anti-jihadist, pro-western voices, rather than on behalf of CAIR and its militant-supporting, blame-America-first allies. Africa Magic turned a new chapter in Nigerian filmmaking partnering with Adonis Productions and Princewills Trust to produce 76, a tale of love, trust, faith and family set against the backdrop of war and nation building. Set six years after the Nigerian civil war, 76 tells the story of a young military officer from Nigerias Middle Belt region who gets entangled in a romantic relationship and eventually marries a beautiful student from the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Their budding romance is threatened by endless military postings, and they face the ultimate test when news of the soldiers involvement in a botched coup attempt hits the headlines. Speaking on the movie, the director, M-Net West Africa, Wangi Mba-Uzoukwu, said 76 was an adventurous foray into filmmaking in Nigeria. Its an exciting, compelling storyline that many Nigerians and indeed Africans will relate with, said Ms. Mba-Uzoukwu. The directing and production quality are top notch, and the themes celebrate values including courage, loyalty, patience, trust and sacrifice. 76 takes filmmaking up another level in Nigeria and we at Africa Magic are indeed excited to partner with Adonis Productions and Princewills trust in bringing this movie to viewers across Africa. Directed by award winning director, Izu Ojukwu, 76 is inspired by events which led up to and followed the botched 1976 coup detat, and features real life, archived, actual footage that contributes to the movies overall authenticity. The execution of the movie was also done with approval and support from the Nigerian Army. The director of the movie, Izu Ojukwu, described it as a tale of love in the time of war. The movie deals with a range of issues including the plight of the African woman, and the usually invisible pain of a soldiers wife, he said. 76 highlights the enduring Nigerian cultural values of courage, resilience, patience, loyalty, faith and family and the nations ability to surmount all challenges. The release of 76 comes four decades after the actual events, and follows four years of work by the director and the production duo of Adonis Productions and Princewills Trust. 76 stars renowned Nollywood names including Rita Dominic, Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Ibinabo Fiberesinma, Ada Ofoegbu, Daniel K. Daniel and a host of others. On his part, the Executive Producer and a patron of the Nigerian Association of Movie Producers, Prince Tonye T.J.T Princewill, said: 76 is a deeply emotional movie, and it resonated deeply with me as I am sure it will do for viewers not just in Nigeria, but around the world. The movies thematic preoccupation presents a number of questions including the countrys mis-direction amongst many other issues. 76 is the first movie to be shot on film and was thus a very expensive project. We are however very satisfied with the finished work and we know viewers will thoroughly enjoy the movie. Thanking the Nigerian Army, M-Net and other sponsors for their support, Mr. Princewill added: None of all this would be possible without the support we have received and continue to receive. The cast and crew have been phenomenal, and they gave their all to make this movie the success that it is. Id also like to thank my partners Adonis Production led by Mr. Adonijah for showing me one of the most powerful ways to touch lives by making movies. 76 premieres mid-2016 and thereafter comes to screens across the continent courtesy of Africa Magic. Speaking on the Nigerian Armys involvement in the movie, the Head Civil-Military Affairs Army Head Quarters, Nicholas Rogers, said the military today had moved to a different place from where it was in 1976. As the world has evolved, so have we, said Mr. Rogers, a Major-General. The relationship between the army and the people is even more critical. Our true strength comes from our collaboration, and nowhere is it better illustrated than in partnerships such as these. Mr. Rogers also reiterated the commitment of the Nigerian Army Leadership to anything positive that tells the true story. Speaking further, Ms. Mba-Uzoukwu added that 76 was yet another example of the ongoing partnerships between Africa Magic and the leading movie Nigerian production houses. Our resolve to continuously improve the Nigerian film industry remains a key part of our investment strategy, she said. Through our ongoing partnerships with Nollywood industry stakeholders, we continue to positively impact Nollywood, a factor that steadily ensures continuous development in the industry even as it also gives us the opportunity to add to the exciting content on our channels. The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, said this at a reception to mark 45 years of diplomatic relations between both countries in Abuja on Thursday night. Mr. Xiaojie explained that both countries had strengthened bilateral relations since 1971. China and Nigeria have enjoyed longstanding friendly exchanges 45 years ago on February 10, 1971 since the two countries established diplomatic relations. In 1971, the bilateral trade volume was only $10 million, nowadays the bilateral trade volume is hundred times that of 1971. Nigeria is Chinas largest engineering contracted projects market in Africa; Nigeria is the second largest export market of China in Africa and Nigeria is also the third biggest trading partner and major investment destination in Africa. By the end of 2015, Chinas cumulated, non-financial direct investment is more than $13 billion. Cooperative projects such as the launch of satellite, construction of railroad and the fast development of Lekki and Ogun free trade zones are the true story of China- Nigeria pragmatic cooperation, he said. The envoy expressed confidence in the continued relations between both countries, adding that political and mutual trust, and coordination in international affairs formed part of what had sustained the friendship. As good brothers, both countries pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, respect each others choice of development path and promote south-south cooperation to safeguard common interests of developing countries. We also show mutual understanding and support to each other on issues involving core interests and major concerns of each side. A good partners, the two countries always adhere to win-win cooperation and common development, thus bringing its benefits to our peoples; thus making stronger the social and civil foundation for bilateral relations. He reiterated the commitment of the Chinese Government to promote bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective. The ambassador also recalled that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in Johannesburg in December 2015 improved partnership between the both sides. He assured of Chinas commitment to the provision of 60 billion dollars over the next three years to support the 10 key cooperation areas identified, which include industrialisation and agricultural modernisation. Others are infrastructure, finance, green development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction and peoples welfare, public health, people-to-people exchanges and pace and security. He urged that both countries to take advantage of the FOCAC platform to deepen cooperation and jointly safeguard the common interests of both parties and developing countries. In his address, Bulus Lolo, Permanent Secretary, Nigerias Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed satisfaction with the bilateral relations China shared with Nigeria and Africa. Mr. Lolo commended the growth of the Chinese economy and described relations with China as significant, adding that that China was a major part of the Federal Governments development plan. He recalled the meetings between both presidents, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari had accepted an invitation to visit China on a later date to be announced. An occasion like this speaks to the quality of relationship between Nigeria and China. Equally significant, if Africa has ever needed a friend, Africa has found that friend in China because you have come to Africa, you have shown your hand of friendship, you have stood with the people of Africa in the areas that really matter. Our infrastructure will not be the same without the establishment and involvement of different ventures by China. As we look in to what the government is trying to do, we cannot look elsewhere but to look towards China to be part of our development in this country. The railways that you are helping us to develop, other projects that you are involved in will impact on the lives of the ordinary Nigerians. Indeed, government is determined that the mantra of change that they have preached will not be a campaign slogan but a reality on ground and China will be partner of this journey. He assured of continuous relations with China, adding that it was a country standing in partnership, friendship, solidarity and cooperation with Nigeria. The event also marked the celebration of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marked by the lunisolar Chinese calendar of which the date changes from year to year. The date for the 2016 Spring Festival would be Feb. 8. The festivities usually start the day before the New Year and continue until the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the New Year. Each Chinese New Year is characterised by one of 12 animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac and according to the zodiac, this is the Year of the Monkey, the ninth animal in the cycle. The Chinese zodiac is divided into 12 blocks (or houses) and each house has a time-length of one year instead of one month. (NAN) The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the decision by the Democratic Republic of Congos government to close two privately owned news channels, and urges officials to allow the channels to resume broadcasting immediately. Lambert Mende, the Congolese minister of communication and media, released a statement on January 20 saying that Nyota TV, and Radio TV Mapendo, both part of a news group based in Lubumbashi, Haut-Katanga province, had been ordered off air effective January 28, for allegedly failing to pay taxes and licensing fees, according to reports. Though the transmissions were cut, the TV Nyota website has continued to operate. Olivier Tuta, the director general of both stations, said the outstanding payments of USD$40,000 had been made on January 25 and 26, according to the press freedom group Journaliste en Danger and a statement from the local press freedom group OLPA. Both stations are owned by Moise Katumbi, a businessman and politician who left the ruling party in September 2015 and later joined an opposition party, according to reports and the statement by Journaliste en Danger . Mr. Katumbi, who was formerly the governor of Haut-Katanga province, has been rumoured in reports as a potential opposition candidate ahead of the presidential elections due to take place later this year. The Congolese authorities should allow Nyota TV and Radio TV Mapendo to resume broadcasting immediately, said CPJ Deputy Executive Director Robert Mahoney. Broadcasting is a public service and governments cannot use the pretext of non-payment of licensing fees to hastily shutter those stations whose views they may not like. CPJ attempted to reach the Minister of Information and Communication for comment but its calls went unanswered. It is not clear when the stations will be allowed to reopen. Over the past 12 months CPJ has documented several attacks on the press in the Democratic Republic of Congo, from blocking Internet and cell phone access and banning the screening of a critical documentary, to arbitrary arrests and physical attacks on journalists. SOURCE: Committee to Protect Journalists A UN independent expert in Sudan has warned that in the last two weeks, a new escalation of violence has forced tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes in the Jebel Marra area of Darfur. NAN reports that independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the UN Security Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. In a statement on Friday in New York, Aristide Nononsi, called for an immediate end to hostilities that have triggered new protection and humanitarian concerns in the long-restive region of Sudan. He said violence was not the way to resolve the current difficulties Sudan is facing, and must stop. Mr. Nononsi urged all parties to the conflict to respect international human rights and humanitarian law, to ensure humanitarian access to people in need at all times, and protect unarmed civilians. The Sudanese government, he said, had a duty to facilitate free, full and unhindered access to all conflict-affected areas to the AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), UN agencies and other humanitarian organisations. The UN had said the ongoing hostilities between government forces and the Sudan Liberation Army/Abdul Wahid have reportedly resulted in human rights violations and abuses. The UN also said the hostilities have resulted in violations of international humanitarian law, including destruction of civilian property and objects as well as considerable displacement of civilians, in addition to unspecified number of civilian casualties. According to UNAMID, up to 21,338 civilians, mainly women and children, have fled into North Darfur state and have sought refuge around their camp as of February 1. The mission also said no fewer than 15,000 others have fled into Central Darfur state, according to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan. The world body said the number of internally displaced persons, following the attacks on Mouli and surrounding villages in west Darfur, is estimated at 5,000 civilians. The civilians, it said, had mostly fled to El Geneina, while the number of civilians who sought refuge in Chad remains unknown. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari has begun a short vacation, his office announced Friday. The president will be on break from his official functions February 5 to February 10, 2016. During his absence, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will perform the functions of the president, a statement signed by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said. In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the statement said. President Buhari is taking his first vacation only eight months since coming to office. Olanrewaju Oyedeji Despite efforts and assurances by the Federal Government that it would rescue the abducted Chobok girls alive, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has raised doubts on their possible return. Mr Obasanjo, who spoke at an event organized by the Staff Club of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Friday, said anyone saying the girls would return was simply telling lies. The programme which was held at the open arena of the staff club, was themed, An Evening with Obasanjo. Mr. Obasanjo blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for trivializing the distress call to rescue the girls on the day they were captured. The former president heard about the kidnap 8am in the morning of the abduction but failed to act until 72 hours later and by then it was too late, Mr. Obasanjo stated. Anyone saying they(Chibok girls) will return is telling lies, maybe some of them will return to tell their story. According to him, the failure of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last presidential election is a blessing to Nigeria. We tried, but with Jonathan, it was best that PDP should fail to save Nigeria, Mr. Obasanjo said. He pointed out that one of the low points of the Jonathan administration was his treatment of issues of importance as politics, particularly that of Boko Haram. On power generation, Mr Obasajo said there had been no meaningful improvements since he left office. Power is still the same way I left it in 2007, railway is same way and other sectors, it was best that PDP stopped ruling us, he said. It was a thing of joy to me that the earlier declaration of 50 years governance for PDP did not come to pass. Mr Obasanjo, who was in company with the Vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Fadipe and other notable personalities, also took out time to take a swipe at Professor Wole Soyinka whom he described as an amateur politician. Wole Soyinka is a patriotic Nigerian, he is a great man but his opinion regarding politics, he always misses it, I have nothing against him, he said. Mr. Obasanjo also justified some of the decisions he took on education, saying he would take the same decisions if he had another chance. I have no regrets regarding the decisions I took in terms of education including removing free food in our institutions. We had 53 institutions when I came in 1999 but as at the time I left we had 150 institutions, Mr Obasanjo explained. I prefer to have all persons in schools than to have some few persons simply enjoying free food. He also stated that he never had a godfather when he contested for president, admonishing young politicians to shun godfatherism and be ready to face hard times in politics. The embattled former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who is currently serving a jail term in a UK prison, is neither released nor rearrested, a statement by the former governors media aide, Tony Eluemunor, said. There were reports Wednesday that Mr. Ibori was released from prison and rearrested immediately. The statement said, The Chief James Onanefe Ibori Media Office hereby informs Iboris teaming supporters that the news about the release of their champion and political leader from prison is not true. This news had set off a frenzy of activities in the entire South-South geo-political zone, as many people took off from their respective towns and villages to storm Iboris home town of Oghara. Many kept vigil at his gate; but the vigil was in vain as Ibori has not finished serving his term. Perhaps as the magnitude of the lie The News on-line publication told to itself and the nation (in a story it had termed an exclusive) dawned on it, its sister publication, PM News kicked in with another lie; that Ibori had been re-arrested. This caused a sleepless night to another set of Iboris supporters as they stayed up all night working the phone to find out the true situation. The truth is that the exclusive stories published by The News and PM news were exclusive lies. Over 24 hours after the publications, no British authority has confirmed either the news of the release or of the purported re-arrest. Many people have asked me how such a malicious story could have been cocked up. My only reply is that Iboris political and legal persecutors tried to counter the favourable wind that arose from Iboris corner when the case turned against the London Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecutors by late January 2016, when even they agreed that they were corrupt in the way they investigated Ibori and his associates. That forced them to withdraw the obstructing the cause of justice charges they had brought against one of Iboris lawyers, Mr. Bradesh Gohil. Most importantly, the judge that day ruled that all the documents that had been withheld from Ibori and all his associates should be turned over to them and that they were free to go on appeal to challenge even their earlier convictions. It was this ray of hope that even Iboris conviction may be struck down that the media manipulators attempted to extinguish in the hearts and minds of Iboris supporters when they concocted their lies and passed same off as news. To prove that the case has turned and the hunters may be feeling the heat, respected British news media such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), The Times of London and the Guardian of London, last week announced that calls have arisen that Iboris and his associates accusations of corruption against the prosecution be investigated. The New Indian Express of Monday 25 January 2016 reported that In representations to the judge, Stephen Kamlish, Gohils defence team accused the Crown Prosecution Service of positively misleading the court and the parties as part of their deliberate cover-up of discloseable material. In response, the Judge Tester said, The crown has offered no evidence for one or both of the following reasons. One, that the allegations of corruption made by Mr Gohil are true, and not false. The second is that the crown has suppressed material both in this court and in other proceedings, including the trial of Ibori. The crown offering no evidence can only mean the crown is not prepared themselves to explain their decision, either for the abuse of the court in bad faith or for the police corruption. In those circumstance, it is our duty to our client to raise these matters and this brings into question the safety of these convictions. The Indian Express continued: A Met police intelligence report seen by this paper (The Indian Express) suggests an RISC employee telephoned a police officer working on the Ibori investigation in 2007 and allegedly told him his inquiries were on the right track. Separate documents shown to Gohils defence team are said to reveal the existence of 19 cash deposits into the same officers bank account. The CPS had allegedly denied the existence of the documents. It is an incontrovertible fact that the confiscation hearing has not started at all, and remains months away into the future. Even today, that remains the case as nothing has changed. The confiscation hearing has not started and nobody, whether Ibori or another person, has been arrested as there is really no need to arrest anyone because of a confiscation hearing. The senate president, Bukola Saraki, has expressed disappointment with Fridays Supreme Court judgment, which ruled that he should face corruption trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal. The Federal Government accuses Mr. Saraki of false asset declaration, and had slammed a 13-count charge on him. Mr. Saraki says the charges are politically motivated. On Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed his objections to the trial, ending the senate presidents legal contest. In his reaction, Mr. Saraki said he was disappointed with the ruling. He said the matter before the court was not the substantial case of corruption allegation against him, but some preliminary matters. Mr. Saraki however said he would have his day at the tribunal to prove his innocence. Read the full statement signed by Mr. Sarakis media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu. After listening to the ruling of the Supreme Court in the appeal he filed to challenge the process of arraigning him before the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki hereby states as follows: He expresses disappointment over the Judgment of the apex court in the country on the six grounds of his appeal. He however will like to put it on record that the facts of the substantial matter are not before the Supreme Court since the apex court was only invited to rule on some preliminary issues in the process of commencing the trial. The Senate President believes he will have his day in the court to prove his innocence of the charges preferred against him during the trial proper. Dr. Saraki will like to thank everyone who has expressed support for him from the beginning of the case. He assures everyone that at the end of the day truth will prevail and justice will be served. The African Independent Television has apologized to Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, for a documentary it aired before last years general election. In a letter of apology tendered before a Lagos High Court on Friday, Daar Communications, the owners of the TV station, said they hold Mr. Tinubu in high esteem. Daar Communications Plc acknowledges that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an outstanding political leader of unblemished character and integrity, as well as a leading public figure and opinion-moulder, who has made and continues to make immense contributions to the progress and development of the nation in general and Lagos State in particular, read the letter. Daar Communications Plc admits that in airing the said documentary, it had no intention, whatsoever, to embarrass or diminish the high reputation of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu which it respects and attests to. The apology came amid an ongoing Economic and Financial Crimes Commission investigation of alleged illegal receipt of N2.1 billion by Raymond Dokpesi, the owner of AIT. The TV station had begun airing a documentary on March 1st last year titled, Unmasking the Real Tinubu: The Lion of Bourdillon, showcasing various properties and companies across Lagos purportedly owned by Mr. Tinubu, described as Nigerias biggest landlord. The documentary also claimed that Mr. Tinubu was charged with narcotics in 1993 in the United States. Hours after it debuted on AIT, Mr. Tinubu wrote to Daar Communications, the owners of the TV station, threatening to sue if they did not stop the documentary which he deemed defamatory in all respects. Mr. Tinubu also gave the companys management 24 hours to apologize and retract the publication and demanded N20 billion as damages. AIT ignored the former governor and continued to broadcast the documentary, and issued a statement describing his threats as laughable. On March 5, Mr. Tinubu, through his lawyers, Wole Olanipekun and Tunji Abayomi, instituted a N150 billion suit against the station alleging that the documentary was libellous and aimed at tarnishing his image. Eleven days later, Justice Iyabo Akinkugbe issued a restraining order barring AIT from further airing the documentary. But on Friday, Mike Ozekhome, the TV stations lawyer, and Wole Olanipekun, Mr. Tinubus lawyer, told the judge they had reached an out-of-court settlement. We have come here today that every war that is fought is finally resolved at the round table, said Mr. Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Parties have decided to settle amicably to enable both parties to continue with the good relationship that they have always had before the devil struck. Mr. Olanipekun supported Mr. Ozekhomes position, noting that it was time to sheathe their swords. While adopting the terms of the settlement, dated January 29th, 2016, the judge ordered Daar Communications Plc to publicly and unequivocally retract the documentary thrice daily. She also ordered the TV station to apologize to Mr. Tinubu. She asked the defendant to tender an unreserved apology to Tinubu, three times, once daily. The Nigerian military has rejected an account of a meeting between the Senate leadership and military chiefs, as provided by the senate presidents office. The service chiefs led by Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin, had on Wednesday met with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and other leaders of the legislative body behind closed doors. After the meeting, Mr. Sarakis spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, issued a press statement, saying that the service chiefs briefed the Senators on various challenges faced by the military, particularly the state of their equipment which they said required serious upgrading and restocking. He added that the officers also complained that their vote in the 2015 supplementary budget had not been released, thereby hampering their ability to fund their operations. Other issues that came up for discussion was the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance posed by the procurement process which they said is very slow, Mr. Olaniyonu said. However, in a statement signed by the acting Director, Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, on Friday, the military denied providing such details to the lawmakers. As far as the military is concerned Boko Haram insurgency is within the ambit of what the Nigerian Armed Forces can handle, Mr. Abubakar, a Brigadier General, said. The statement read, The story which claimed that Service Chiefs decried inadequate equipment and non-release of 2015 military votes as the reason of continued insurgency is equally scurrilous and calculated to diminish the armed forces. The story is false and far from what happened when the service chiefs visited the leadership of the senate. But for avoidance of doubt, the visit of the military leadership to the senate president was purely a closed-door meeting aimed at intimating the senate about the level of successes recorded in the onslaught against Boko Haram and to assure the National Assembly and all Nigerians that the military is winning and will soon see the end of this menace called Boko Haram. The statement added that newspaper captions, following Mr. Olaniyonus account, are inappropriate and misleading designed to further confuse the general public about the situation in the North East. The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has cautioned against the planned arrest of the former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Tope Aluko, warning that his arrest could degenerate into a breakdown of law and order. A magistrate ordered Mr. Alukos arrest after he publicly admitted lying under oath. Mr. Aluko had claimed on television that the election of Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, was rigged, months after he testified in court that the same poll was free and fair. The APCs publicity secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, said in a statement on Thursday that Mr. Fayose, had assumed the role of a judge in his own case. He said it was regrettable that the court was so much in a hurry to grant a warrant of arrest requested by Mr. Fayose who once stormed the court with thugs to assault a presiding judge sitting over his own alleged perjury case. The impression being created by the court that Governor Fayose is a law unto himself or that he has the court in his pocket, is worrisome against the backdrop of the prostrate attitude of the court when the same man that is slamming a perjury case against an official of his own party stormed the court with thugs to sack the court sitting over his own perjury case, Mr. Olatunbosun said. In that instance, Fayose led thugs to sack the court and beat up a judge, tearing his coat before heading to the Chief Judges office to tear into shreds court records in his office and then beat up the Chief Judges secretary. We are worried that the court that went to sleep during that national embarrassment suddenly became alive to deliver a ruling on a warrant of arrest request against the governors opponent within minutes, even though the same court was handicapped when the temple of justice was sacked by the same man now in need of courts protection from investigation into the treasonable offence that brought him to power. Mr. Olatunbosun noted that the haste with which the court came to the aid of the governor was provocative, saying the impression was that Mr. Fayoses bid to block transparency and truth in the investigation of the election fraud in the state was being backed by the judiciarys assistance to hound Aluko into jail to prevent him from further expose on the election fraud. We would have expected the court to ask for the evidence of perjury in what Aluko said on Channels television because to our knowledge, he did not speak on oath on the television programme, he argued. Conversely, if it is on the basis of Alukos testimony at the tribunal where he swore on oath that he is being hounded for arrest, we can then assume that his testimony at the tribunal is not true and so he must face a perjury case. Even though we know that the problem between Fayose and Aluko is purely an internal problem of PDP, it is nevertheless an attempt to cover the truth in the investigation of the election crime that deprived our candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, a victory in the June 21, 2014 governorship election. He noted that APC would resist any attempt to block transparent investigation of the election fraud, contending that if Aluko must be investigated for perjury, then other PDP members that testified at the tribunal, including the governor, must submit themselves to the charge of perjury since they presented the same evidence at the tribunal. Attempt to arrest Aluko while leaving out other people that presented same evidence at the tribunal appearances will be considered as a witch hunt being encouraged by the court to hound Aluko into jail to block transparency in the investigation of Ekiti poll fraud that brought Fayose to power. We hereby sound a note of warning that never shall we allow Fayose a free reign as he did when he was using thugs to commit illegality, including hounding 19 APC lawmakers out of Ekiti State for six months and the judiciary closed the courtrooms for months to deny APC that had several cases in courts justice. Our party will respond with equal measure if any attempt is being promoted to block transparency in the investigation of the crime that denied our candidate a deserved victory while the man at the centre of criminally using the military and illegal printing of INEC materials to win election is being unduly protected by the same court that could not defend itself when Fayose spat at the wigs and gowns and desecrated the entire temple of justice. ATLANTIC CITY The local Municipal Utilities Authority has a situation that is new to it but not unique in the city. A peregrine falcon has made a nest on top of one of the water tanks atop the MUA building, according to Executive Director Bruce Ward. The authority has a scheduled disinfection of the tank planned, so it needs to have the nest moved to proceed. The authority, at 401 N. Virginia Ave., does not typically deal with falcons, so people there were unaware what to do about the nest without disrupting the birds natural habitat. Ward said they reached out to the state Department of Environmental Protection to ask what they should do. Caryn Shinske, a spokeswoman for the department, said they and the MUA had an open discussion and formulated a plan that would best serve both parties. The DEP insisted that workers from the authority build another nest but include a portion of the empty old nest for the falcons to live in when they return in the spring. Ward said the authority has done that. The new nest is about 40 yards from the old location. The hope is that the birds can use the scent from the old nest to find the new one. Peregrine falcons on Atlantic City rooftops are not unusual. According to Shinske, the bird loves high altitudes that are near water, so the buildings in Atlantic City make perfect homes for them. Falcons have been recorded having a home on top of the building most recently known as the Atlantic Club since at least 1988. Workers at the now-closed casino would monitor the birds when they arrived in the spring and the mother would lay eggs. A new bird arrived in 2001 and stayed until at least 2014. Ward believes the falcon on top of the MUA building has been there for quite a while, and they are taking steps to ensure that it can call the MUA its home for the foreseeable future. Contact: 609-272-7275 Fireworks flying in their first one-on-one debate, Hillary Clinton accused Bernie Sanders Thursday night of subjecting her to an artful smear while Sanders suggested the former secretary of state was a captive of the political establishment. The two Democrats kept up a markedly more contentious tone than when they last debated before the presidential voting in Iowa, and it signaled how the race for the nomination has tightened five days ahead of the first-in-the-nation primary in New Hampshire next Tuesday. The two argued over ideas, over tactics and over who has the liberal credentials to deliver on an agenda of better access to health care, more affordable college, dealing with income inequality and more. It was Clinton who was the main aggressor, saying Sanders could never achieve his ambitious and costly proposals. Then she went after the Vermont senator for his efforts to cast her as beholden to Wall Street interests because of the campaign donations and speaking fees shes accepted from the financial sector. Its time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out, she said. Sanders, for his part, suggested her loyalties were colored by a reliance on big corporate donors. Secretary Clinton does represent the establishment, he said. I represent I hope ordinary Americans. Clinton may say the right things, he suggested, but one of the things we should do is not only talk the talk but walk the walk. Where Clinton aimed considerable criticism at Sanders, the Vermont senator focused much of his fire on what he says is a political system rigged against ordinary Americans. He said that when a kid gets caught with marijuana, that kid has a police record. But when a Wall Street executive destroys the economy and pays a $5 billion settlement, he has no criminal record. That is what power is about, that is what corruption is about. And that is what has to change in the United States of America, he said. Clinton, unwilling to cede the issue to Sanders, insisted her regulatory policies would be tougher on Wall Street than his. Ive got their number, she said, the Wall Street guys. Clinton called Sanders sweeping proposals on health care and education just not achievable, while Sanders countered that Clinton was willing to settle for less than Americans deserve. I do not accept the belief that the United States of America cant do that, Sanders said of his plan for universal health care and of his efforts to take on the rip-offs of the pharmaceutical industry. The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, intensified this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowas leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary season schedule, including Thursdays faceoff in Durham. In fresh evidence of the tightening race, Clinton reported that her campaign had raised $15 million in January $5 million less than Sanders and the first time shes been outraised by her opponent. Her finance director called the numbers a very loud wake-up call in a fundraising email to supporters. Sanders has a big lead in New Hampshire polls, but he was eager to lower expectations for his finish there, casting himself as an underdog. Clinton, for her part, signaled her determination to at least narrow the gap before Tuesdays vote in the state where she defeated Barack Obama in 2008 before ultimately losing the nomination to him. Her prospects are much stronger in primaries and caucuses after New Hampshire, as the race moves on to states with more diverse electorates that are to her advantage. The two renewed their running debate over who is the real progressive, with Sanders repeating his call for a political revolution in which political contributions have less influence over policy decisions. Clinton, in turn, accused her rival of quoting her selectively to diminish her progressive credentials. Lets not be, in an unfair way, making an accusation or making an attack about where I stand and where Ive always stood, she declared. Clintons campaign also criticized Sanders camp for what it said were misleading ads that suggest he received the endorsement of two newspapers that have not backed his bid for the White House. Sanders countered that the ads didnt say hed been endorsed but merely passed along nice words the newspapers had written about him. The Durham debate was the first faceoff for Clinton and Sanders since former Maryland Gov. Martin OMalley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. Clintons razor-thin win in Iowa was the latest twist in an election campaign that, until recently, had been dominated by the crowded and cacophonous field of Republicans, who spread out across New Hampshire this week. Donald Trump, who finished second in Iowa, stepped up the pace of his campaign and acknowledged he should have had a stronger ground operation in Iowa. Jeb Bush, his campaign lagging, brought in his mom, former first lady Barbara Bush, who praised him as decent and honest and everything we need in a president. 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. NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) announced today it has commenced the voluntary public takeover offer for all no-par value bearer shares of Wincor Nixdorf Aktiengesellschaft (FWB: WIN, ISIN: DE000A0CAYB2) ("Wincor-Shares"). The German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, "BaFin") approved the publication of the German offer document. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080725/DIEBOLDLOGO The publication of the offer document marks the beginning of the acceptance period of the takeover offer, which ends on March 22, 2016, 24.00 hours (Central European Time), unless the takeover offer is extended in accordance with applicable law. Tenders of Wincor-Shares must be made prior to the expiration of the takeover offer, in each case in accordance with the procedures described in the offer document. European shareholders may contact Georgeson, Inc. with any questions regarding the takeover offer at 00 800 3816 3816 while banks and brokers should call +44 (0) 207 019 7003. Diebold is offering 38.98 in cash and 0.434 common shares of Diebold (ISIN US2536511031) in exchange for each Wincor-Share. Complete terms and conditions of the takeover offer can be found in the German offer document and other related materials that have been or will be filed by Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and BaFin. The takeover offer is subject to certain closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and a minimum acceptance threshold of approximately 67.6 percent of all existing Wincor-Shares (including treasury shares held by Wincor Nixdorf which will not be tendered). If the closing conditions (other than the regulatory condition) are satisfied prior to expiration of the acceptance period on March 22, 2016, 24.00 hours (Central European Time), an additional acceptance period pursuant to section 16 para. 2 sentence 1 of the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) will begin on March 30, 2016 and expire on April 12, 2016, 24.00 hours (Central European Summer Time). The takeover offer is being made pursuant to the business combination agreement, dated November 23, 2015, for the proposed business combination of Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf that was approved by the board of directors of Diebold and the management board and the supervisory board of Wincor Nixdorf. Diebold views the proposed business combination positively and believes it is in the best interest of both companies. In accordance with German law, the supervisory board and management board of Wincor Nixdorf are required to publish a reasoned statement evaluating the takeover offer for Wincor Nixdorf shareholders. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS In connection with the proposed business combination transaction, Diebold has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-4 with the SEC that includes a prospectus of Diebold to be used in connection with the offer by Diebold to acquire all outstanding Wincor Nixdorf shares. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE PROSPECTUS AND THE OFFER DOCUMENT, AS WELL AS OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC OR BAFIN OR PUBLISHED AT DIEBOLD'S WEBSITE AT WWW.DIEBOLD.COM UNDER THE INVESTOR RELATIONS SECTION, REGARDING THE PROPOSED BUSINESS COMBINATION TRANSACTION AND THE OFFER BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You may obtain a free copy of the prospectus, an English translation of the offer document, and other related documents filed by Diebold with the SEC on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The prospectus and other documents relating thereto may also be obtained for free by accessing Diebold's website at www.diebold.com under the Investor Relations section. You may obtain a free copy of the offer document on BaFin's website at www.bafin.de, and, along with an English translation thereof, at Diebold's website at www.diebold.com under the Investor Relations section. Further you may obtain a copy of the offer document free of charge from Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, by writing to Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Taunusanlage 12, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany, by e-mail to dct.tenderoffers@db.com or by telefax to +49 69 910 38794. This document is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Wincor Nixdorf or Diebold. Final terms and further provisions regarding the public offer are disclosed in the offer document and in documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC. Investors and holders of Wincor Nixdorf shares, or of such instruments conferring a right to directly or indirectly acquire Wincor Nixdorf shares, are strongly encouraged to read the offer document and all documents in connection with the public offer as soon as they are published because these documents contain or will contain important information. No offering of securities will be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable European regulations, including the German Securities Acquisition and Takeover Act (Wertpapiererwerbs- und Ubernahmegesetz) and the German Securities Prospectus Act (Wertpapierprospektgesetz). Subject to certain exceptions to be approved by the relevant regulators or certain facts to be ascertained, the public offer would not be made directly or indirectly, in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of such jurisdiction, or by use of the mails or by any means or instrumentality (including without limitation, facsimile transmission, telephone and the internet) of interstate or foreign commerce, or any facility of a national securities exchange, of any such jurisdiction. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ABOUT FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this communication regarding matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These include statements regarding management's intentions, plans, beliefs, expectations or forecasts for the future including, without limitation, the proposed business combination with Wincor Nixdorf and the offer. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations of Diebold and involve risks and uncertainties; consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Such forward-looking statements may include statements about the business combination and the offer, the likelihood that such transaction is consummated and the effects of any transaction on the businesses and financial conditions of Diebold or Wincor Nixdorf, including synergies, pro forma revenue, targeted operating margin, net debt to EBITDA ratios, accretion to earnings and other financial or operating measures. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this document. In addition, risks and uncertainties related to the contemplated business combination between Diebold and Wincor Nixdorf include, but are not limited to, the expected timing and likelihood of the completion of the contemplated business combination, including the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental and regulatory approvals of the contemplated business combination that could reduce anticipated benefits or cause the parties not to consummate, or to abandon the transaction, the ability to successfully integrate the businesses, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement or the contemplated offer, the risk that the parties may not be willing or able to satisfy the conditions to the contemplated business combination or the contemplated offer in a timely manner or at all, risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the contemplated business combination, the risk that any announcements relating to the contemplated business combination could have adverse effects on the market price of Diebold's common shares, and the risk that the contemplated transaction or the potential announcement of such transaction could have an adverse effect on the ability of Diebold to retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with its suppliers, and on its operating results and businesses generally. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the contemplated business combination, are more fully discussed in the prospectus that is attached as Annex 4 to the German offer document and will be filed with the SEC. Additional risks and uncertainties are identified and discussed in Diebold's reports filed with the SEC and available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Any forwardlooking statements speak only as at the date of this document. Except as required by applicable law, neither Diebold nor Wincor Nixdorf undertakes any obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Georgeson, Inc. European Shareholder Helpline for Diebold/Wincor Nixdorf Takeover Offer 00 800 3816 3816 Georgeson, Inc. Helpline for Banks and Brokers +44 (0) 207 019 7003 About Wincor Nixdorf Wincor Nixdorf is one of the world's leading providers of IT solutions and services to retail banks and the retail industry. The main focus of the group's comprehensive portfolio lies on business process optimization, especially in the branch operations of both sectors. Wincor Nixdorf has established a presence in around 130 countries around the globe, giving it an outstanding profile when it comes to customer proximity. The parent company has subsidiaries in 42 countries. The company also places great importance on building close relationships with sales partners that have an excellent knowledge of the local requirements and conditions on the customer side. Wincor Nixdorf has a total workforce of around 9,000 people. Over half of those are based outside Germany. About Diebold Diebold, Incorporated (NYSE: DBD) provides the technology, software and services that connect people around the world with their money - bridging the physical and digital worlds of cash conveniently, securely and efficiently. Since its founding in 1859, Diebold has evolved to become a leading provider of exceptional self-service innovation, security and services to financial, commercial, retail and other markets. Diebold has approximately 15,000 employees worldwide and is headquartered near Canton, Ohio, USA. Visit Diebold at www.diebold.com or on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DieboldInc. Related Links http://www.diebold.com SOURCE Diebold, Incorporated RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Crop Science, a division of Bayer, announced today it has refused a request by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to voluntarily cancel the uses of flubendiamide in the United States and instead will seek a review of the product's registration in an administrative law hearing. The company believes the methods used by the EPA exaggerate environmental risk and would deny farmers access to a critical pest management tool. Sold in the U.S. by Bayer under the trade name Belt, flubendiamide is approved for use on more than 200 crops because of its strong pest performance, favorable environmental and toxicological profile, and excellent fit in integrated pest management (IPM) programs. The EPA claims uses of flubendiamide may harm benthic organisms that live in the sediment of waters near agricultural fields, without any evidence of harm in more than seven years of commercial use. Bayer strongly disagrees with the EPA's methodology, which is based on theoretical models and assumptions that exaggerate risk. Years of water monitoring studies have shown residues of flubendiamide and its metabolite are well within safe levels established for aquatic invertebrates. "We are disappointed the EPA places so much trust on computer modeling and predictive capabilities when real-world monitoring shows no evidence of concern after seven years of safe use," said Dr. Peter Coody, Bayer Vice President of Environmental Safety. "This would be a significant loss for growers of pistachios," said Richard Matoian, executive director of American Pistachio Growers. "The loss of this chemistry would make it more difficult than ever to control pests like the navel orange worm and the peach twig borer which are now significantly impacting pistachio production in California. What's ironic and unfortunate is this would force tree nut growers to resort to older, less effective, but more potentially disruptive chemistries to manage these same pests. Growers need more innovative tools to help them manage destructive pests to produce healthy and abundant crops, not less." Bayer rejected the EPA's request to voluntarily cancel the flubendiamide registration and anticipates a hearing in front of EPA's independent Office of Administrative Law Judges for a review. "Denying a product's registration and ignoring its safe use history based on unrealistic theoretical calculations calls into question the EPA's commitment to innovation and sustainable agriculture," said Dana Sargent, Bayer Vice President of Regulatory Affairs. While under review, farmers and retailers can continue to buy, sell and use the product in their operations. Bayer is committed to bringing new technology and solutions for agriculture and non-agricultural uses. For questions concerning the availability and use of products, contact a local Bayer representative, or visit Crop Science, a division of Bayer, online at www.cropscience.bayer.us. Visit the Bayer Connect - Social Hub for social media, recent news, blog posts, videos and more from Crop Science, a division of Bayer. Bayer: Science For A Better Life Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2014, the Group employed around 119,000 people and had sales of EUR 42.2 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.5 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 3.6 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.com. Find more information at www.cropscience.bayer.us. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. 2016 Bayer CropScience LP, 2 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Always read and follow label instructions. Bayer, the Bayer Cross and Belt are registered trademarks of Bayer. Not all products are registered for use in all states. For additional product information, call toll-free 1-866-99-BAYER (1-866-992-2937) or visit our website at CropScience.Bayer.us SOURCE Bayer Related Links http://www.bayer.com PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CaregiverRelief.com, an advocacy site operated by nationally known caregiving expert Diane Carbo RN, is asking presidential candidates to develop and declare plans for helping the nation's embattled caregivers. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160204/329949 So far, only Secretary Hillary Clinton has proposed a plan. CaregiverRelief is a non-partisan site and does not support any candidate at this time. You can read CaregiverRelief's report on Secretary Clinton's plan here. CaregiverRelief hopes the site will give journalists an overview of America's elder care crisis and also offer them story ideas for their own communities. For more on this please visit: http://caregiverrelief.com/presidential-campaign-issues-family-caregivers-support-caregiver-relief-act/ Here are some questions family caregivers would like to ask: What is your plan to allow family caregivers to be able to pay their own bills while saving the federal government hundreds of thousands of dollars by leaving their loved ones out of $8,000-per-month nursing homes that nobody wants to go into the first place? Why can't the government pay caregivers a small living wage, or at least foot the bill for respite care so they can get a part-time job elsewhere? We invite all of the presidential candidates to "Be a Caregiver for a Day." And we even will provide an hour-by-hour itinerary of what to expect. SOURCE CaregiverRelief.com Related Links http://CaregiverRelief.com ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Bloomberg BNA today released its 2016 outlook on labor and employment law, which was published in the company's Daily Labor Report. Dozens of senior government officials, including Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez and EEOC Chair Jenny Yang, along with industry observers and insiders, weigh in on the key issues in Congress, the courts and federal agencies in this 60-page report. A complimentary copy is available here. "The final year of the Obama administration will see a rush of activity among the federal agencies that regulate labor and employment issues, most notably the Labor Department and the EEOC," said Karen Ertel, News Director, Labor, Employment, Benefits & Human Resources at Bloomberg BNA. "In Congress, on the other hand, we don't anticipate much movement as members will be engaged in election year politicking, leaving little room for bipartisanship." Highlights include: The Labor Department will be rushing to finalize a number of key regulations in the last year of the Obama administration, including a controversial final rule to dramatically increase workers' access to overtime pay. Labor Secretary Perez told Bloomberg BNA that the agency will bolster ongoing support of worker-friendly state and local laws and voluntary employer initiatives, including those that raise the minimum wage and provide paid leave and flexible scheduling. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission will continue to seek solutions to persistent forms of discrimination while addressing new challenges emerging from the changing workplace. Two issues to watch are employers' use of online screening tools in hiring and the increased use of temporary workers, which is growing at seven times the rate of the permanent workforce owing in part to the shared economy. The National Labor Relations Board will be busy defending 2015's regulatory action and decisions in a number of high-profile cases. This year, key questions are how successfully the board can defend its sometimes controversial positions and how it will interpret the rights of employees, unions and employees under the National Labor Relations Act. Congress is caught up in an election year, which leaves little opportunity for bipartisan lawmaking. Industry insiders are watching Republican efforts to slow down and stop some high-priority Obama administration labor initiatives, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the move to expand overtime pay and broaden disclosure requirements for union opposition activities. The U.S. Supreme Court's current term includes 10 pending labor and employment cases, including a First Amendment challenge to public employee agency fee arrangements that is drawing the most attention. In Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, unions could potentially lose their ability to effectively represent certain groups of public employees. Federal employees may get a reprieve from congressional attacks on their pay and benefits as lawmakers prepare for an election year. At the same time, the Obama administration may seek changes to federal operations and workforce management as it sets the stage for the next president and the new Congress. Bloomberg BNA's Daily Labor Report provides reliable, analytical coverage of top labor and employment developments and is read and relied upon by the nation's foremost labor and employment professionals. For a complimentary copy of the Outlook, visit here. About Bloomberg BNA Bloomberg BNA, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bloomberg, is a leading source of legal, regulatory, and business information for professionals. Its network of more than 2,500 reporters, correspondents, and leading practitioners delivers expert analysis, news, practice tools, and guidance the information that matters most to professionals. Bloomberg BNA's authoritative coverage spans a full range of legal practice areas, including tax & accounting, labor & employment, intellectual property, banking & securities, employee benefits, health care, privacy & data security, human resources, and environment, health & safety. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120110/DC33627LOGO SOURCE Bloomberg BNA Related Links http://www.bna.com ATLANTA, Ga., Feb. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- On The Morning Of January 24, Over 500 People Are Lined Up Outside Arrivals At Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport In Atlanta, GA. This Group Is Stranded At The Airport Due To Snowzilla, One Of The Biggest Snowstorms The East Coast Has Witnessed. Their Destination Is Charlotte, NC For The NFC Championship Game. Some Passengers Are Executives Of The NFL And Others For FOX Networks. All Flights Are Cancelled And Without These Key Members The Game Won't Be Televised. Suddenly, 8 Bright Green And Orange Buses Pull Up And The Passengers Begin To Board And On Their Way To Charlotte. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160204/329983 Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160204/329984LOGO Shofur is a new on-demand bus service that has over 500 bus companies signed up on their platform. Their operations team is working overtime to ensure that customers get to their destinations safely. Shofur is the only company in existence with the ability to meet the sudden surge of bus demand, due to one of the most advanced tech teams capable of tracking availability in real time. Shofur has been quietly disrupting the bus industry with their services since their launch. The company is gaining momentum and in 2016 plans to triple their work force and wrap thousands of buses with the Shofur branding by the end of 2017. Back in their office in Atlanta they have Duke Power and Georgia Power on their lines, two of the largest energy company in North America. Shofur was the only service capable of arranging transportation for their work force in order to restore power to the Carolinas and Georgia. Some of the biggest Airlines in the world are on the other lines booking buses for their stranded passengers and staff. "Technology and big data make us stand apart in the bus industry," says Armir Harris, president and CEO of Shofur. "Our platform enables us to predict demand and access over a thousand buses in most regions. Conventional bus companies don't take a technology-first approach. Our philosophy is to focus on improving our technology in order to provide better service to our clients. That's why the majority of our employees are developers. Shofur plans on tripling their engineering staff by the end of the year." Shofur now aims to tackle inter-city bus services via the new Shofur app launched last week. It will enable customers to purchase tickets on Shofur bus lines anywhere in the United States. The app will enable you to track where your bus is in real-time and even chat with others traveling with you. For more information download the Shofur App for iPhone or the Shofur Android app. Contact: Tony 404-804-4286 SOURCE Shofur United Nations, Jan 31 : When serious negotiations on Security Council reforms finally begin this week based on a framework document, they will be a legacy of Asoke Kumar Mukerji who worked incessantly during his tenure as India's top diplomat at the UN to move the long-stalled process ahead. His peers at the UN acknowledge the leadership of Mukerji in mobilising support for the text-based negotiations to break decades of deadlock and standing up to last minute machinations against it during his tenure as India's Permanent Representative that ended in December. "Ambassador Mukerji is a formidable, professional diplomat, highly competent, highly respected by his peers," said Antonio Patriota, a former foreign minister of Brazil. "He played a specially significant role in coordinating the L-69, which is a coalition of developing countries, large an small, from Africa, Latin America, Middle East and Asia" that works for Council reform. Brazil and India constitute along with Japan and Germany a group known as G-4, which works together for the expansion of the Council and mutually support each other for permanent seats on it. "Brazil and India coordinated vigorously on this issue," said Patriota, now his country's UN Permanent Representative. Mukerji was a "very articulate spokesman for India, for its democratic and legitimate Security Council representation." The reform movement in the UN had been stifled for years mainly by China and a group of 13 countries known as Uniting for Consensus (UfC), which is led by Italy and includes Pakistan. They created a Catch 22 situation by blocking the adoption of a negotiating text, saying it couldn't be done unless there was a consensus, while a consensus couldn't be reached without a text on which to base the negotiations. Sam Kutesa, the president of last General Assembly session, took the decisive step last year to create a negotiating text based on a survey of opinions of member nations on Council reform. Over 120 countries took part in the survey carried out by the Jamaican Permanent Representative, Courtenay Rattray, the former head of the reform process known as the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN). On the final day of the last session of the General Assembly, Kutesa, who is also the foreign minister of Uganda, had the negotiating text adopted. China and Pakistan and other members of the UfC as well as Russia were overcome by the breadth of the support for the negotiating text that they ended their opposition and it was adopted unanimously by the Assembly. But there was a last minute attempt using some UN staffers to sabotage it. Under pressure from China and some other countries, they tried to change the wording of Kutesa's agreed communication with the negotiating text drafted in July before sending it out. Mukerji, who has the look of a gentle, grey-haired academic, went on the offensive and, backed by British, French and other diplomats, threatened a walkout from their meeting. The staffers backed down and the agreed text was sent out and eventually adopted. Mukerji developed ties to key groups of nations, large and small, backed by initiatives in New Delhi like outreach to Pacific island nations, the India-Africa summit and development assistance to various nations. Patriota noted that beyond his role in the L-69, Mukerji "also established a network of relationships with our colleagues, others the permanent representatives". And he, along with the IGN, was able to call on this network to support the text-based negotiations. Mukerji ascribed the success in this and other issues to India interacting in a more inclusive and open manner with other countries. "Inclusiveness gives India the strength," he said. "That is why we get cooperation from other countries." Sylvie Lucas, the Luxembourg Permanent Representative who succeeded Rattray as the head of the IGN, is to convene this week the first meeting that will be based on the negotiating text. India's chances of getting a permanent seat on the Council hinge on the outcome of the negotiations. In a twist to the often-quoted diplomatic dictum that nations have no permanent friends but only permanent interests, despite the unfriendly bout with Beijing on Council reforms, Mukerji turned first to China for getting the UN to declare the International Yoga Day. Mukerji explained to IANS that getting China to endorse the proposal would be seen as a sign of the idea's universality and get other countries to line up behind it. Even as some in India expressed misgivings about it, 177 nations cosponsored the Yoga Day resolution and Islamic nations supported its unanimous passage at the UN. To get the Chinese interested, Mukerji told them about the joint yoga programME that schools in New Delhi and Shanghai held during China's First Lady Peng Liyuan's visit to a south Delhi school. During Mukerji's UN tenure that started in April 2013, India won several elections to UN bodies, including a re-election to the UN Human Rights Council, and elections to the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and the Executive Board of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). "The yardstick of a nation's strength is in elections," he said. And this can be measured by the fact that India has won every election it contested during his tenure. Another high point of Mukerji's term was India's role in helping develop UN's ambitious development goals for the next 15 years known as Agenda 2030. The earlier such agenda were top-down affairs, but this time the developing nations that are most directly involved were actively involved in setting the goals. "Eradication of poverty is the objective of Agenda 2030, and India spearheaded this issue in the negotiations," Mukerji said. "The major takeaways for India are the inclusion of Economic Goals such as infrastructure, employment, Smart Cities, etc. for the first time as Development Goals, and also the identification of energy as a goal." On the last day of 2015, the Council conceded a key demand by India in the area of peacekeeping operations. Mukerji had campaigned persistently for the troop contributing countries to be consulted on peacekeeping mandates and operations. US Permanent Representative Samantha Power, who presided over the Council in December, admitted the consultation process had been flawed and said on behalf of the Council that there should be be full participation by the troop contributing countries and that these should extend to other important areas beyond mandates. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in) Beijing, Feb 2 : China is set to release another captive-bred giant panda into the wild this year, the media reported on Tuesday. Hua Yan, a two-year-old female, will be the sixth giant panda bred in captivity to be released into the wild after completing a two-year wilderness training programme, said Huang Yan, chief engineer of the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP). "This will be the first time we have released a giant panda in spring. This is part of a wider programme to introduce more captivity-bred pandas into the wild to diversify the gene pool," said Huang. Previously, pandas were released in late autumn or early winter, the time when wild young pandas usually leave their mother to live independently. Hua Yan lives in the wilderness training reserve at Tiantai mountain in Sichuan, along with another three pandas who are also being trained. China began releasing captive-bred pandas into the wild in 2006 when Xiang Xiang, a five-year-old male, was released in the Wolong National Nature Reserve. However, Xiang Xiang died roughly a year later after fighting with other pandas. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, Tao Tao (male), Zhang Xiang (female) and Xue Xue (female) were released in Liziping reserve. The latest release was Hua Jiao, a two-year-old female, in November 2015. Giant pandas are one of the world's most endangered species. Fewer than 2,000 pandas live in the wild, mostly in the provinces of Sichuan and Shaanxi. There were 375 giant pandas in captivity at the end of 2013, about 200 of them at the CCRCGP. Tokyo, Feb 2 : The Japanese government on Tuesday announced that it has readied itself for a possible test-firing of a ballistic missile by North Korea by deploying both ground and sea-based anti-missile interceptors. Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani said his ministry was fully poised for any rocket or missile tests by North Korea, stating that Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, surface-to-air missile systems have been deployed at 34 locations, Xinhua news agency reported. The locations comprise the ministry's facilities in Ichigaya in Tokyo, as well as in Asaka and Narashino, which is close to the capital. Nakatani said a launch could occur without prior notice and as such Japan had to ready itself for a number of potential scenarios. He said past launches have come without any warning, and, as such, the potential for rocket or missile-related objects falling into waters around Japan existed. The minister added that the Maritime Self-Defence Force's Aegis destroyers, equipped with the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptor systems have also been deployed in the Sea of Japan and surrounding waters. In 1998, North Korea's Taepodong-1, medium-range ballistic missile and successor to its Nodong class of missiles, was launched and flew over Japan and landed in the Pacific Ocean. The defence ministry said at the time that the missile landed in the middle of the Sea of Japan, south of the Russian city of Vladivostok and hit the water some 386 km from the Noto Peninsula, the nearest coast of Japan, which lies 690 km northwest of Tokyo. Washington, Feb 3 : Ahead of the next presidential battle in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both saw victory in their razor thin contest in Iowa, while Donald Trump, though much mellowed, insisted his brand is doing great. In the Democratic race, edging out Sanders by the narrowest margin of just four votes (701-697) for the top spot in Monday night's Iowa caucuses, Clinton downplayed her rival's strong performance with young voters as her campaign spun it as a historic win. Clinton said she would win over the young with her plans for college affordability and student debt relief. But she also sought to lower expectations in next Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, where polls have showed the neighbouring Vermont senator holding a lead. "I know that they tend to favour their neighbors. That's the pattern," Clinton told CNN. "Senator Sanders is a neighbour, but I think we will have a good contest." "I am so thrilled," said Clinton whose disastrous third place finish in 2008 in Iowa unravelled her first presidential bid. "My luck was not that good last time around, and it was wonderful to win the caucus, to have that experience." However, the Sanders campaign painted it as a fight against the establishment and the powerful Clinton Machine. "We went toe-to-toe with the establishment," Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver told CNN on Tuesday. "We're going to fight really hard in New Hampshire and then we're going to Nevada, to South Carolina, we're doing well around the country," Sanders himself said shortly landing in New Hampshire. Sanders, who trailed Clinton in Iowa by 30 points three months ago, told a raucous crowd chanting "Bernie, Bernie" that his campaign made stunning progress. "Nine months ago, we came to this beautiful state, we had no political organization, we had no money, we had no name recognition and we were taking on the most powerful political organization in the United States of America," he said. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, Trump acknowledged his decision to skip the last Republican debate before the Iowa caucuses may have led to his finishing second to Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Still, Trump said he would make the same decision again, pointing to the $6 million he raised for veterans' charities. But the real estate mogul refused to concede any mistakes his campaign may have made in Iowa and said he was not concerned about how his runner-up finish in Iowa could affect the brand he has promoted throughout his career and campaign: that of a winner. "I think my brand is doing great," Trump told reporters. In the latest CNN Poll of Polls, Trump led Cruz 31 percent to 13 percent with third finisher Florida senator Marco Rubio at 11 percent. But given his clear victory over Trump in Iowa, Cruz campaign is expecting a significant uptick in polling and fundraising in the coming days. Taking a victory lap in New Hampshire, Cruz attributed his caucus win to a "grassroots army." Rubio too faces a key test with keeping the momentum alive after his third place finish in Iowa. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee has already called it quits. Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has gone home to Florida "for a change of clothes" after his fourth place finish in Iowa. Meanwhile, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, Ohio governor John Kasich and New Jersey governor Chris Christie, are said to be trying to rally establishment-minded Republicans to their side in New Hampshire. (Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the government and others regarding an indefinite strike by municipal doctors and nurses since January 29. A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath also sought responses from the north and east municipal corporations by February 10 on a public interest litigation that called the strike as "arbitrary and illegal". Those issued notice regarding the strike by doctors and nurses of hospitals and dispensaries run by the north and east municipal corporations are the municipal corporation doctors association, resident doctors association and nurses association. The PIL by Youth Bar Association of India through advocate Sanpreet Singh Ajmani said the doctors were on strike for the last more than 72 hours and the patients were "victimised" as a result. After municipal corporation sanitation workers went on a strike over the non-payment of salaries, doctors and nurses too called for an indefinite strike on January 29. The plea sought direction to the striking doctors and nurses to call off their strike and demanded stern action against them. It said that as per a high court order, the strike by doctors was illegal and infringed on the fundamental rights of patients. "By holding continuous strike for more than 70 hours, the doctors and nurses are causing constant harassment, acute mental and physical agony to the poor and innocent patients and their families," said the plea. The lawyer said media reports put the number of strikers at around 5,000 resident doctors, 2,000 senior doctors and 8,000 nurses. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation has six major hospitals - Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, Kasturba Hospital, Giridhar Lal Maternity Hospital, Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital, Balak Ram Hospital and Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis. The NDMC also has 15 polyclinics, eight obstetrics units, 33 dispensaries, 79 maternity and child welfare units, seven chest clinics, 11 mobile clinics, six school healthcare clinics and three post-mortem examination centres, said the plea. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation has a major hospital, Swami Dayanand Hospital, in Shahdara, apart from one respiratory diseases hospital, eight maternity homes, 22 maternity and child welfare units, one polyclinic, one leprosy clinic, seven dispensaries, two chest clinics, eight mobile dispensaries, two school healthcare clinics and eight mobile medical units. Los Angeles, Feb 3 : Chloe Goins, the former model who accused Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a Playboy Mansion party in 2008, has abandoned her civil lawsuit against the comedian. About a month ago, the Los Angeles county district attorney's office declined to file criminal charges in the case. Federal court records in California show the attorney for Goins, 25, filed a voluntary dismissal of her lawsuit on Tuesday, as Cosby entered court in Pennsylvania to face an unrelated charge of aggravated indecent assault on another woman in 2004, reports people.com. Meanwhile, in a separate case tied to an alleged encounter at the Playboy Mansion, Cosby on Tuesday was ordered to give a second deposition in a civil lawsuit filed by Judy Huth, who said she was 15 in 1974 when she claims Cosby sexually assaulted her at the mansion. Huth's attorney, Gloria Allred, first deposed Cosby in October 2015. Cosby and his representatives have consistently denied all allegations of sexual assault or misconduct made against him by more than 50 women. Sydney, Feb 3 : A Canadian national who allegedly fought against the Islamic State (IS) terror group alongside Kurdish forces has reportedly been detained while trying to enter Australia on Wednesday and will be deported, the media reported. Robert Somerville, a Canadian veteran who previously fought in Afghanistan, was detained at Brisbane Airport on Tuesday after he told immigration officials that he had fought alongside the Syrian-Kurdish militant group YPG for several months in 2015, Xinhua reported on Wednesday. Australian authorities believe that Somerville is a friend of Australian anti-IS fighter Ashley Dyball who was arrested and extradited from Germany last year, but was subsequently released after being questioned by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). "They were very curious about what he did in Syria and how he was, his character, and I answered truthfully that he was a good guy and he was doing good work," Somerville said. It's believed Summerville's visa had been cancelled because he failed to disclose the Kurdish nickname he was given by fellow YPG fighters despite there being "no legal document with a different name for me". Australian immigration officials did not immediately comment. Sommerville's Australian lawyer Jessie Smith believes that his pending deportation may be contestable as the exact basis of the visa cancellation "at this stage is unclear". Damascus, Feb 4 : Rebel rocket fire killed at least 11 people and wounded others in Syria's southern city of Daraa on Wednesday. The rockets were launched by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and slammed into government-controlled districts of Daraa, Xinhua cited SANA news agency as saying. The attack came a week after the Syrian army, backed by allied fighters of the Lebanese Hezbollah, captured the key town of Sheikh Miskeen in the countryside of Daraa. The contested city, which has seen previous battles between the rebels and the Syrian army, constitutes a supply line for the rebels who are operating in Daraa, the birthplace of Syria's nearly five years of conflict. Bangkok, Feb 4 : A stronger partnership between the Asean countries and India will boost Asia's voice in global governance, Vice President Hamid Ansari said on Thursday. "It is evident that a stronger Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-India partnership would give us a stronger voice on global governance issues," Ansari said while delivering a lecture on "India, Thailand and Asean: Contours of a Rejuvenated Relationship" at Chulalongkorn University here. "The time is ripe for our common engagement for bringing greater equity into the international order," he said. "Asean members and India have similar aspirations to have an open trading system through global organisations like the WTO. We have also shown a strong commitment, based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, as we take up our own role to address issues related to climate change." Ansari arrived in Bangkok on Wednesday on a three-day visit to Thailand at the official invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The second and last leg of his visit to southeast Asia which earlier took him to Brunei, Ansari's is the first visit by an Indian vice president to Thailand in 50 years. Stating that his visit underscored the importance India attached to Thailand as part of New Delhi's increasing engagement with the region, he said that despite the large size and rapid growth of economies of the two countries, trade and investment between the two remained modest. "There is a need to synergise our efforts in the areas of economy and business to enhance and diversify our trade. We need to encourage our private sectors to make investments in infrastructure and manufacturing sectors in the each others' country and for this the two governments are willing to provide a predictable and comprehensive legal and taxation frame-work," the vice president said. He also stressed on enhancing bilateral defence ties. "Thailand has played host to ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard on several occasions in recent years. We hope to continue this cooperation through technical, human resource development, capacity building and contributing to the development of Thai capacities, both physical and human," he said. The countries of the Asean bloc form the core of India's Act East policy, Ansari said. "India places Asean at the core of the Act East policy and at the centre of our dream of an Asian century," he said "There is a special emphasis on India-Asean cooperation in our domestic agenda on infrastructure, manufacturing, trade, skills, urban renewal, smart cities and Make in India programmes," he stated. "Connectivity projects, cooperation in science and technology development and people-to-people exchanges are to be the springboard for regional integration and co-prosperity." The vice president said the three Cs of commerce, culture and connectivity defined the future focus areas of cooperation between Asean member states and India. Allow me to dwell on some aspects of it. "The spread of Buddhism from India is attributed to Emperor Ashoka, who sent Buddhist emissaries to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodiaand Vietnam. Indian mythology and folklore finds reflection here. The Thai epic, Ramakien, is based on the Ramayana. The Ahoms, the Khamtis and the Khasis of India have links with Thai people," he said. As for commerce, he said in the year 2014-15, Asean-India trade stood at $76.58 billion, growing at an average annual growth rate of 12 percent, up from $44 billion during the year 2009-10. "In terms of two-way FDI (foreign direct investment) flows, the India-Asean region has significantly outpaced many other regions of the world," he stated. "With mutual trade and investment opportunities arising from the realisation of the Asean Economic Community and India's emphasis on 'Make in India', 'Digital India', 'Skill India' and 'Smart Cities' initiatives, we are confident that India-Asean commercial partnership will flourish." Ansari said India was open to offering Asean its indigenously developed GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) services, which provide advanced navigation and location assistance and information facilities. Regarding connectivity, the vice president said special efforts were being made to develop a coherent strategy, particularly for linking Asean with northeast India. "This is reflected in the finalisation of negotiations on the India-Myanmar-Thailand Motor Vehicles Agreement and Asean-India Maritime Transport Cooperation Agreement. Asean-India Civil Aviation Task Force is expected to oversee optimisation of air connectivity. Other major projects on connectivity include the Kaladan multi-modal transit transport project and Rhi-Tiddim road," he said. New Delhi, Feb 4 : The budget session of parliament will begin on February 23 with President Pranab Mukherjee addressing a joint sitting of the two houses -- the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, it was announced on Thursday. The rail budget will be presented on February 25 and the economic survey report released the next day. The general budget will be presented on February 29, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. The budget session is held in two parts and the first phase will continue till March 16 before going into recess for 39 days, Naidu said in a tweet. The session will resume on April 25 and finally conclude on May 13, he added. The central government also held a meeting with political leaders of poll-bound West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry to discuss if the dates of the budget session were clashing with any election activity in these states. Bengaluru, Feb 4 : Five people suspected of assaulting a Tanzanian woman here were arrested early on Thursday, Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik said. "We have arrested the five accused after interrogating them on Wednesday night under detention in the criminal case registered on the victim's statement in a road rage incident in the city's northern suburb," Megharik told IANS here. The arrested are Lokesh, Banagiri, Ramaiah, Banu Prakash and Rahamatullah. In a case of mistaken identity, an angry mob assaulted Lina Martin, 21, suspecting her to be a friend of a Sudanese student whose car ran over a woman pedestrian on Sunday night. Mohammad Ahad Ismail, 20, in a case of drunken driving fatally ran his car Shabana Taz, 35, and injured her husband K. Sanaullah. "Arrests were made on the basis of eye witnesses accounts and video footage from closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in the area," Megharik said. Later, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters that more arrests are likely as the case of sexual assault was also registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and transferred to the city police crime branch for investigation by city's Additional Police Commissioner (law and order) Charan Reddy. "It is not a racial attack but a road rage by a frenzied mob on the spur of the moment over the death of a woman in the car mishap when she was crossing the road with her husband (K. Sanaullah) on the Hessaraghatta road," Parameshwara pointed out. "Bangaloreans don't have such a mindset to attack anyone on racial grounds," the minister asserted. Sudanese national Mohammad Ahad Ismail, 20, an MBA student, who caused the mishap, was arrested for drunken driving and causing Shabana's death. The mob attacked him before police came and rescued him on Sunday night. "Attack on Ismail and assault on the Tanzanian woman (Lina) are not connected as both incidents occurred one km apart and after a 30-minute gap," Parameshwar clarified to the media. Angry at Shabana's death in the mishap caused by a Sudanese, another violent mob mistakenly targetted Lina and burnt her WagonR car in which she was with three male friends and passing through the area, assuming her to be Ismail's friend. In her statement, Lina denied being stripped or paraded naked but said she was assaulted and molested by the mob when her T-shirt got torn off in the melee. When Lina's Tanzanian friend Junail Ibrahim, who was at the wheel, tried to stop the angry mob from assaulting her, he too was thrashed. They are undergraduate students of business management in a private college. An Iranian student, who was present at the spot, came to their rescue and took them to a nearby hospital for treatment. About 12,000 students of various countries are studying in colleges across the city. "We will take steps to ensure safety and security of all foreign students but will deal with them sternly if they violate the law and indulge in anti-national activities," Parameshwara said. Canberra, Feb 5 : Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has fired back at aid agencies after they criticised Australia's $18 million contribution to help the war-torn regions in Syria and Iraq. The Australian government has been lambasted by leading international aid agency Oxfam, as well as Care Australia, for its comparatively low, on a world-scale, foreign aid pledge, Xinhua reported on Friday. Australia's figure was dwarfed by the aid contributions from Germany ($2.59 billion by 2018), Britain ($1.66 billion) and the US ($940 million). The announcement from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, nominated for a Nobel peace prize last year for her humanitarian work in resettling Syrian displaced refugees, meant that Germany's donation was 150 times larger than Australia's, despite the European powerhouse only having four times Australia's population. Even Scandinavian minnow, Finland, with less than half Australia's population, pledged twice as much. But Bishop, who was attending the Syrian donors' conference in London, rejected the criticism on Friday, saying the extra funds would take Australia's total contribution past $170 million. "Overall, our contribution to this crisis in terms of humanitarian, military and resettlement offers is a significant contribution by any measure," Bishop said. Bishop said Australia had contributed its fair share, in line with its domestic-budget requirements, and had to dip into an "emergency fund", usually reserved for Pacific nations, to make the extra $18 million available. New Delhi, Feb 5 : External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj left here on Friday on a two-day visit to Sri Lanka during which she will attend a meeting of the joint commission of the two South Asian neighbours. "Leaving for Sri Lanka! EAM @SushmaSwaraj departs for the 9th India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission Meeting in Colombo," external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted. The joint commission is co-chaired by Sushma Swaraj and her Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera. The India-Sri Lanka Joint Commission was established in 1992 as an effective mechanism to address matters pertaining to bilateral cooperation. Ahead of Swaraj's visit, Swarup said on Thursday that the discussions in Friday's joint commission meeting would cover the entire gamut of the relationship between the two countries. Included in these would be economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contacts. During the course of her visit, Sushma Swaraj will also call on Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe, and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. On Saturday, the Indian minister will inaugurate a "Rise of Digital India" exhibition as part of "Sangam - Festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-16". The exhibition will showcase the rise of the computing sector and digital technologies in India. The re-framing of the Sri Lankan constitution and the issue of Indian fishermen might also come up during the course of the discussions between the two sides. Hyderabad, Feb 5 : Repolling is under way in one division of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on Friday amid tight security, officials said. The polling in 36 booths in Puranapul division in the old city began at 7 a.m. State election commission officials said 15 percent voters cast their votes in the first two hours. The polling will continue till 5 p.m. More than 34,000 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. The election commission ordered the repoll in view of the complaints of rigging and violence during the elections held on Tuesday. Forces including paramilitary personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls. Joint commissioner of police Shivaprasad said they were taking all measures to prevent violence. Outsiders are not being allowed in the division. The police officer appealed to leaders of all parties to exercise restraint. The division had witnessed a clash between leaders of Congress and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) on Tuesday. MIM activists in the presence of their party president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had attacked Congress party's Telangana unit chief Uttam Kumar Reddy and senior leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Mirchowk police station when the latter had come there to demand release of their party candidate Mohammed Ghouse. During the polling held in all 150 divisions, 45.27 percent voters turned out to exercise their franchise. Due to the repolling in Puranapul, counting of votes has been delayed. The process, which was scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Friday, will now be taken up from 3 p.m. GHMC commissioner and special Janardhan Reddy said the results will be announced after 5 p.m. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Indian Army chief, General Dalbir Singh, on Friday expressed grief at the death of 10 soldiers who were trapped in an avalanche at the Siachen glacier in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region. "The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has ordered deployment of additional resources including radars to reinforce rescue efforts," a spokesperson said. "This massive rescue operation will continue at heights of approximately 20,000 feet." Ten soldiers, including a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), went missing on Wednesday after an avalanche hit their post located 19,000 feet above the sea level in southern side of the glacier. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday condoled the death of soldiers. "Demise of soldiers in Siachen is very tragic. I salute the brave soldiers who gave their lives to the nation. Condolences to their families," Modi said in a tweet. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The Maharashtra governent on Friday told the Supreme Court that the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting Bollywood star Salman Khan in the 2002 accident case was "wishy-washy" and sought its reversal. As Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi took an apex court bench of Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan through the details of the case and the proceedings before the trial court, the apex court said that since it was a matter of acquittal they will examine the evidence before deciding to issue notice to Salman Khan. Assailing the high court verdict, Rohatgi told the apex court that its finding that Salman was not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident is suspicious. He also assailed the surfacing of Salman's driver in the case after a gap of 13 years. Asking Rohatgi to the apprise the court on the material in support of their plea for reversal of acquittal order, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing to February 12. Salman Khan's counsel Kapil Sibal told the court to direct the summoning of the translated version of the trial court record in the case to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court admitted in January Salman Khan's caveat, urging it to grant him a hearing before passing any order on the Maharashtra government's appeal in the 2002 accident case, in which one person was killed and four others were injured. Salman Khan was found guilty by a sessions court on May 6, 2015 and convicted for, among others, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and sentenced to five years in jail for the accident, in which one person was killed and four others injured. However, on December 10, 2015, the Bombay High Court acquitted him of all charges and quashed the lower court verdict. Yangon, Feb 5 : India's last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar died in this former capital of Myanmar 154 years ago. But his exile still continues. He is resting, but not in peace, believe his admirers. They say his wish to be buried in his homeland remains almost a dead issue despite assurances of action by the who's who of the Indian leadership. "We are praying that his mortal remains be buried as per his wish," Bahadur Shah's mausoleum caretaker Hafiz Kamaluddin told this visiting IANS correspondent here. The 19th century mausoleum gets visitors even from India to offer prayers to the emperor, with whose reign ended the Mughal empire in India. Kamaluddin said Bahadur Shah's wish was to be buried in the dargah of Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki in Mehrauli in the national capital of India. 'Kitna hai badnaseeb Zafar, dafan key liye, do guzz zameen bhi mil na saki, kuye yaar main' ('How unlucky is Zafar who could not get even two yards of land for burial in the land of his beloved'). These couplets written by Bahadur Shah, the commander of the first war of Independence and a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity, in his last days were recited by the caretaker. He breathed his last in a British army officer's garage, which later turned into a Sufi shrine that lies closer to one of Buddhism's most sacred sites Shwedagon Pagoda, in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) on November 7, 1862, at the age of 87. After the 1857 uprising, the British sent him to exile here where he spent the twilight of his life. Buried alongside Bahadur Shah's grave, which was chanced upon during digging in 1991 while laying the foundations of a memorial hall, are his wife Begum Zeenat Mahal and granddaughter Raunaq Zamani Begum. "Who would pray on my behalf? Or bring me a bunch of flowers? Who would light a candle for me? I am nothing but a gloomy tomb," say Bahadur Shah's couplets, a noted poet. In 2006, then Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam visited the mausoleum, known as Bahadur Shah Zafar Dargah that attracts a large number of Muslims, Hindus and Christians. It's managed by a government appointed committee set up in 1935. "You wrote who will come to my grave. Today on behalf of my nation I have come, prayed and lit candles, offered chador and recited the fatiha. May your soul rest in peace," Kalam wrote in the visitor's book. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had also visited the mausoleum in May 2012, besides Pakistan Presidents Pervez Musharraf in 2001 and President Asif Ali Zardari in 2012. In 2013, writer and former diplomat Kuldip Nayar, journalist-writer Saeed Naqvi and former Judge Rajinder Sachar started a campaign to bring back the remains of Bahadur Shah to the place where he wished to be buried in Delhi. They even petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking help to bring back his mortal remains as Bahadur Shah, who is seen as a symbol of communal harmony, had chosen his own resting place in Delhi. At that time, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, now External Affairs Minister, had welcomed the move. "I welcome and support the demand to bring back the mortal remains of Bahadur Shah Zafar for burial in Delhi," Sushma Swaraj had said on Twitter. Perhaps it's time the Indian government should talk to the newly-elected democratic government in Myanmar to facilitate bringing back the last Mughal emperor to his beloved country. (Vishal Gulati was in Myanmar at the invitation of Indian Buddhist spritual leader Gyalwang Drukpa's global charity 'Live To Love'. He can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) London, Feb 5 : Internationally acclaimed sitarist Anoushka Shankar, who has been nominated for the fifth time at this year's 58th Annual Grammy Awards for her album "Home", is also "thrilled and "proud" to be the "first ever Indian musician" to present at the ceremony. "I am thrilled and proud not only to be nominated for a fifth Grammy award for my classical album 'Home', but also to be the first ever Indian musician to present at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony," Anoushka wrote on her official Facebook page. Anoushka is currently preparing for a world tour to support her new album "Land of Gold", expected to release globally by the end of March. "I am excited to be presenting at the Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony and releasing my next album just a few weeks later. I'm especially happy as it's always been my goal to balance a career between classical and experimental work, and that is exactly where I'm at with a classical album nominated and a non-classical album about to come out," Anoushka said in a statement. The awards gala will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 15. "I feel grateful to be enjoying this creative period in my career and hope I can continue to grow as an artist into the future," she added. Later this year, Anoushka will also perform with the New York Philharmonic. The sitarist will perform "Raga-Mala Sitar Concerto No. 2" composed by her father Pandit Ravi Shankar, who premiered the work with the same orchestra. The Philharmonic's former music director Zubin Mehta, the Indian-born maestro who had commissioned the work, will return to conduct. Visakhapatnam, Feb 5 : The International Fleet Review (IFR) can change the dynamics in the Indian Ocean, Indian Navy chief Admiral R.K. Dhowan said on Friday, stressing on the need for global naval collaboration to safeguard international waters. "The dynamics will change (in the Indian Ocean)... a large number of navies participating, there will be interactions, it will enhance coordination," Admiral Dhowan told IANS here after a press conference that was also attended by chiefs and officers from several navies, including the US, Japan and China. The naval chief said the IFR theme of 'United through Oceans' signifies that the global navies need to come together to guard international waters. "Security and safety of global commons is the collective responsibility of navies around the world. No single navy is robust enough to provide security and safety to the global commons on its own," Admiral Dhowan said. "Maritime medium lends itself to cooperation; that is where it is the responsibility of men in white uniform, the navies, and coast guards to come up with cooperative mechanisms so that we can provide that safety and security," he said. Around 50 navies from across the world are participating in the IFR, the second of its kind and the largest military exercise by India. "As we sail out, we will have the opportunity for exercises where crew of various ships will have opportunities to display their skills and this will increase our aspects of mutual cooperation and inter-operability," the navy chief said at the press conference earlier. "The seas around us are gaining more importance with each day passing by due to their linkagaes with the blue economy. Global maritime partnership and networking among navies is therefore emerging as the new order," he said. "The challenges in the maritime domain are wide and various, but we are confident to deal with them in collaboration with fellow maritime nations. International Fleet Reviews are maritime culture to build co-operation and relations between the navies of the world over," he said. Admiral Dhowan also stressed on indigenisation. "Blueprint of future navy is anchored in indigenisation," the navy chief said, adding that 46 ships are currently under construction in different yards. The IFR is set to see the participation of 90 ships, including 24 warships and over 70 aircraft. In addition, ships of the Indian Coast Guard and mercantile marine would also participate. The event that will take place here on Saturday will see columns of ships lined up in the review anchorage, and President Pranab Mukherjee will review the fleet. "We look forward to showcase some aspects of our maritime capabilities," he said. Along with the fleet review, also showcased will be a flypast, a parade of sails with Yatches, two sail training ships of the Indian Navy, sailing vessel INS Mhadei with all women crew, marine commandos (MARCOS), the special force of Indian Navy, mobile columns of ships and submarine, 'green force' the fast interceptor crafts run on solar power, along with several other attractions. London, Feb 5 : Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free and be compensated for his "deprivation of liberty", a UN legal panel announced on Friday. Assange, 44 - who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies - claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012, BBC reported. The UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention insisted Assange's detention "should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected". "Assange should be afforded the right to compensation," it added. The Wikileaks founder has been subjected to "different forms of deprivation of liberty" initially while he was held in isolation at London's Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010, the panel said. The deprivation had been "continuous" since he was first arrested in Britain on December 7, 2010. The panel said he had then been under "house arrest and then confinement" while inside the Ecuadorian embassy. It also found a "lack of diligence" by the Swedish Prosecutor's Office in its investigations, which resulted in his lengthy loss of liberty. However, a British Foreign Office spokesman said: "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK." In September 2014, Assange - who has been living in the Ecuadorean embassy for more than three years - complained to the UN that he was being "arbitrarily detained" as he could not leave without being arrested. The complaint against Britain and Sweden claimed Assange has been deprived of his liberty for an "unacceptable length of time". In a statement posted on Twitter on Thursday, Assange said his passport should be returned and his arrest warrant dropped if the UN panel ruled in his favour. "Should the UN announce tomorrow (Friday) that I have lost my case against the United Kingdom and Sweden I shall exit the embassy at noon on Friday to accept arrest by British police as there is no meaningful prospect of further appeal," the statement added. New Delhi, Feb 5 : Leading Chinese language internet search provider Baidu Inc. has announced that its popular battery saver app for Android phones - DU Battery Saver - has surpassed 400 million downloads worldwide. To commemorate this achievement, Baidu has released version 4.0 of the app, which is "extremely popular" in India, the US, Brazil, Indonesia and Mexico, a company statement said on Thursday. "The US in particular was the source of a lot of growth in 2015, which indicates that smartphone battery life is a shared pain point between users in emerging and developed markets," it said. The Baidu Mobile Apps team also published a white paper on global smartphone trends on the occasion. The paper incorporates user behavioural data from both DU Battery Saver and DU Speed Booster covering over 200 countries. The latest version of DU Battery Saver comes with a completely redesigned interface, lighter build and improved battery accuracy. New Delhi, Feb 5 : A man suspected of links with the Islamic State (IS) terror outfit has been arrested here, Delhi Police said on Friday. Mohsin Abraham Sayeed (26), a resident of Malad in Mumbai, was arrested from Old Delhi's Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal on late Thursday night by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. "We arrested IS suspect Mohsin Abraham on a tip-off and recovered Rs.85,000 from his possession," Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Arvind Deep told IANS. He said Sayeed was in touch with four IS suspects arrested on January 19 in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district. Sayeed's arrest takes the number of IS suspects arrested by Delhi Police to five. The arrest of other four suspects -- Akhlaq-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Osama alias Adil, Mohammad Azimu Shaan and Mehraj -- was based on specific information by central intelligence agencies. They allegedly planned to carry out bombings during the ongoing Ardh Kumbh pilgrimage in Haridwar, in Roorkee-Haridwar trains, in Delhi and some parts of the National Capital Region. The Ardh Kumbh pilgrimage that commenced on January 1 would last till April 30. During the four-month religious congregation, over five crore pilgrims are expected to visit Haridwar for a holy dip in the Ganges. The officer said Sayeed had arranged for finances for the four other arrested suspects and handed over Rs.50,000 to Akhlaq-ur-Rehman. He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Police sources said Sayeed had come to Delhi to meet one of his associates, whose name is withheld due to investigation, and wanted to visit Rohtak in Haryana where he wanted to stay for some period before going to Syria. The officer said Sayeed had given Rs.50,000 to Akhlaq-ur-Rehman to arrange for his passport, visa and tickets to go to Syria to joint IS camps for fighting alongside the Islamist terror militia. The officer said Sayeed was radicalised by the Islamic literature which he read on the Internet and then contacted some people through social networking sites. "Sayeed was made to go through some texts and speeches after which he owed allegiance to IS," the officer added. Another officer, privy to the investigations, told IANS that all the arrested IS suspects were in touch with former Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Safi Armar who, intelligence agencies say, is the main recruiter of Indian men lured by the IS ideology. Armar, intelligence sources said, is now believed to be in Syria and is a key member of Ansar-ul-Tawhid, a recruiting wing that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. This is the 23rd arrest in nationwide raids carried out by intelligence agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, Special Cell of Delhi Police and other state police teams. Istanbul, Feb 5 : Former European Union chief Jose Manuel Barroso has cautioned against once again building walls within the 28-nation grouping in an attempt to handle the migrant crisis as well as fight terrorism, saying the Schengen agreement that allows for visa-free travel on the continent should be continued and not suspended as has been suggested by some leaders. Addressing the inaugural session of the World Tourism Forum here, Barroso said that bringing back strict border controls within the EU was just not the right response to the current panic about migrants and terror, which has dominated the EU's political discourse for the entire year gone by. "You counter terror through much better intelligence sharing and coordination between the law enforcement forces of the different countries. You can not curb terror by simply building a wall on your borders. Look at the San Bernadino attack in the United States. It did not happen because the US was lax about its border controls," Barosso told a near house-full gathering at the Istanbul Convention Centre, located on a hill in the chic Harbiye quarter, overlooking the Bosphorous Straits. Barroso reminded the EU leadership that the EU was the largest tourism destination in the world, accounting for nearly half the total tourist arrivals of over one billion who travelled in a foreign country in 2014. "Tourism is a vital part of the European economy, ranking first in the total employment and bringing nearly 545 billion euros in income. So, it is not a sector that you can ignore or take steps that could hurt it, especially at a time when the EU economy is barely beginning to recover from the very long crisis that it has undergone since 2008," he told the audience, which included tourism ministers from nearly a dozen nations and over 2,500 tourism professionals from various parts of the world. Earlier, inaugurating the third edition of the Forum, Turkish Tourism Minister Mahir Unal underlined the ever-growing need for tourism in today's world where people are becoming increasingly suspicious and ignorant of all foreigners or people belonging to different faiths and cultures. "Travelling brings you face to face with people and nations that have very different cultures and histories and we need to understand each other better. Hence, it is vital that in today's troubled world, tourism does not become a victim or hostage to such suspicions and short-sighted decisions by national governments which create hurdles in tourism," Unal told the gathering. He also urged Turkey's tourism professionals to continue to develop new markets, especially China and India, as well as Africa, to recover from the sharp losses that have resulted from the travel ban imposed by Russia on its citizens travelling to Turkey. Russia was the largest source market for Turkey and tourism from the neighbouring EU nations has also been hurt due to the war in Syria and terror attacks in Istanbul and Ankara. The point was also highlighted by Bulut Bagci, the president of the World Tourism Forum, who hoped that the meeting would lead to better business connect between Turkish tourism professionals and their counterparts from various parts of the world. He also said that the Forum is organising regional events in Shanghai, Abu Dhabi and Antalya this year to focus on new markets. The World Tourism Forum was established to deliver value to the tourism industry by presenting a platform to discuss socio-economic, cultural and technological aspects of the industry. A global meeting is held once a year. (Ranvir Nayar is a Paris-based senior Indian journalist. He can be contacted at r.nayar@mediaindia.eu) Hong Kong, Feb 5 : Three Hong Kong booksellers who were reported missing since October 2015, part of a group of five who disappeared under mysterious circumstances, are being held in China, accused of "illegal activities". The Public security Department of Guangdong province in southern China, bordering Hong Kong, confirmed this in a letter on Thursday, EFE news reported on Friday. The letter explains that the three booksellers -- Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping, and Lam Ala Kee -- were suspects in a case relating to a person surnamed Gui, and that the police have decided to take measures against them while investigation is underway. Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee are employees and editors of the Hong Kong-based bookstore, Causeway Bay Books, and publishing house, Mighty Current, which sells and publishes books critical of the Chinese communist regime. The notification sent by China also includes a letter by Lee Bo, another bookseller who also surfaced in mainland China under unknown circumstances. Hong Kong authorities were investigating how Lee Bo reached the Chinese mainland without a corresponding entry of his cross-border passage in official immigration records, when his wife had reported him missing on January 2. After the Chinese police confirmed the whereabouts of the missing booksellers, Hong Kong police had asked to participate in follow-up investigations involving Lui Por, Cheung Chi Ping and Lam Wing Kee, and insisted on meeting Lee Bo as soon as possible. The current confirmation raises suspicions that all the five editors were being held prisoner or taken to China against their will. Meanwhile, Gui Minhai, a Hong Kong resident, who holds a Swedish passport and the first of the five booksellers who disappeared in October, appeared on Chinese state television on January 17 confessing he had voluntarily handed himself over to Beijing last year for a crime committed in 2003. A day after this televised statement, Chinese authorities confirmed Lee Bo, the fifth bookseller missing from Hong Kong since December 30, 2015, was being held in China. Tokyo, Feb 5 : An American dolphin activist, who was denied entry into Japan by the country's authorities, was deported on Friday after being detained for 19 days. Ric O'Barry trained the dolphins on the popular TV series "Flipper" (1964-67) before becoming an activist to protect the cetaceans and was also the star of the Oscar-winning 2009 documentary "The Cove" which narrates the annual dolphin hunt in the town of Taiji, in the Wakayama prefecture. Immigration authorities claimed that 76-year-old O'Barry was deported as he failed to inform them of his travel plan during his last visit to Japan in August 2015, when he went to Taiji to protest against the dolphin hunt, a family member told EFE news. "It is ironic they are deporting me to keep me quiet, when they themselves have brought more attention to the dolphin slaughter than 'The Cove' movie. It breaks my heart to be deported from a country I have grown to love," O'Barry said in a statement. His lawyer Takashi Takano condemned the activist's detention and deportation, calling the explanation "very obscure", and defended his client for having tried to enter the country on a tourist visa as tourism "also includes activities such as visits to places of disasters or holocaust." He added O'Barry's reports on dolphin hunting must be considered a legitimate tourist activity, adding the activist had lost 10 kg and suffered a minor chest problem during the detention. Kolkata, Feb 5 : The central government would soon float an expression of interest for setting up a mega food park in West Bengal, state Industry Minister Amit Mitra said on Friday. "The centre will issue an EoI very soon for setting up the mega food park. We are in touch with the centre and have requested it to float it at the earliest," Mitra said on the sidelines of a event organised by industry chamber CII. A minimum 50 acres of contiguous land would be required for the food park but Mitra said this would be no problem. "There is no land issue, we have enough land in industrial park," the minister pointed out. He informed that one of the major players, which is likely to bid for the project after the issuance of expression of interest, has already visited a site that had 62 acres of contiguous land in the state. Mitra also said the country's largest dairy firm Amul was going to invest about Rs.200 crore in a food park at East Midnapore district's Kharagpur. Hailing the huge potential of the food processing industry in Bengal, the minister said the sector was likely to be a bridge between agriculture and industry. The state grows 22 percent of the country's total potato production, and provides 20 percent of the nation's brinjal, cauliflower and cabbage output. West Bengal is aiming to increase the state's share of pineapple production to 25 percent as against the 13 percent it grows now, said Mitra, promising to make Bengal the country's pineapple processing hub. A report on "Developing the food processing industry in West Bengal", jointly prepared by CII and KPMG, stated that the sector could generate employment of around over 2 lakhs between 2017-2022. The minister claimed that an additional revenue of about Rs.31,000 crore could be generated from the food processing sector over the next 3-5 years. New Delhi, Feb 5 : The random test drive for call drops by the Indian telecom regulator shows that most of the telecom service providers (TSP) are not meeting the prescribed benchmark. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has laid down the quality of services benchmarks for call drop rate to be less than 2 percent. Most telecom operators missed this benchmark. The regulator conducted drive tests during December-January period. Tests were conducted on both 2G and 3G networks of service providers, including state-run MTNL and BSNL. During December 2015-January 2016 drive tests were repeated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Surat and Bhubaneswar and in addition drive tests were also carried out in Indore. "In all the cities drive tests were carried out earlier, the same route was followed during the latest drive (around 300 km). For Delhi and Mumbai, the route length was increased to 600 Km after taking inputs from the TSPs about the additional route. In other cities also, the route has been increased wherever possible," the report said. In Pune, the regulator said, none of the operators has shown improvements. The highest rate of call drops was shown by Tata 3G at 42.93 percent, followed by Idea 3G 20.96 percent, BSNL 3G 11.64 percent and Airtel 3G 7.91 percent. In Bhubaneswar, all the operators have failed to meet the benchmark. In Delhi, the regulator said some of the operators had shown improvements. The operators who complied with the benchmark are - Airtel 2G, 3G, Idea 2G, 3G and Vodafone 3G. In Kolkata, CDMA network of MTS, Tata Teleservices and Reliance Communications were compliant to call drop benchmark. In Mumbai, the regulator said results for most of the operators were found to be satisfactory. In Surat, TRAI said none of the operators were meeting the prescribed benchmark, though there was a marginal improvement in voice quality for some operators. Regarding Indore, the regulator said some of the operators were meeting the prescribed benchmark. Patna, Feb 5 : A politician was shot dead and his wife and another woman seriously injured by some people here on Friday, the police said. Brijnathi Singh was shot dead near Kachchi Dargah in older part of the city by unidentified criminals, a district police official said. Singh's wife was seriously injured along with another woman. Both were admitted to a hospital in a critical condition. Known for his strong-arm tactics in politics, Brijnathi Singh had contested, unsuccessfully, against Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad's wife and former chief minister Rabri Devi from Raghopur constituency in the Bihar assembly elections in 2010. London, Feb 5 : A legal UN panel announced on Friday that controversy-ridden Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be allowed to walk free and be compensated for his "deprivation of liberty". Assange -- who faces extradition to Sweden over a rape claim, which he denies -- claimed asylum in London's Ecuadorean embassy in 2012. Speaking at a news conference via a video link from the embassy, he said the opinion of the panel was "vindication". "Today (Friday) that detention without charge has been found to be unlawful. I consider the outcome a vindication," he said. Assange claimed there was no appeal against the panel's decision; it was a matter of "settled law", The Guardian reported. He insisted the panel's findings were legally binding. The panel was a higher body than national law. Assange said that if Britain and Sweden continued to undermine the panel's finding they would be hit diplomatically. "We have now a victory, and decided law on this case," he said. Earlier in the day, the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention insisted Assange's detention "should be brought to an end, that his physical integrity and freedom of movement be respected". "Assange should be afforded the right to compensation," it added. The 44-year-old Wikileaks founder has been subjected to "different forms of deprivation of liberty" initially while he was held in isolation at London's Wandsworth Prison for 10 days in 2010, the panel said. However, a British Foreign Office spokesman said: "Julian Assange has never been arbitrarily detained by the UK." The office said the report "changes nothing" and it will "formally contest the working group's opinion". Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Assange was a "fugitive from justice", adding that he can come out "any time he chooses" but will still have to face justice in Sweden. The Met Police said it will make "every effort" to arrest Assange should he leave the embassy. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5 : In a new twist to the Kerala bar scam, the UDF government on Friday ordered a probe against the vigilance officer who had investigated the scam after the ruling front sought the conspiracy angle in the recent allegations be checked. A crime branch probe was ordered against Superintendent of Police, Vigilance, R.Sukesan after Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala gave his nod on basis of a report to this effect submitted by vigilance director N.Shankar Reddy. Sukesan who was the probe officer in the bar scam which saw the resignation of state Finance Minister K.M.Mani last year and also led to the stepping down of Excise Minister K.Babu, whose resignation was however not accepted, following a relief from the Kerala High Court. Based on the recommendation of the leaders of the ruling United Democratic Front, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after the weekly cabinet meeting on Wednesday, had told reporters that they will go forward to unravel the conspiracy behind the solar and bar scam. The fresh probe that has been announced against Sukesan will look into his links with the whistleblower bar owner Biju Ramesh, who was the first person to level bribery allegations first against Mani in 2014 and against Babu in 2015. Speaking to reporters, Ramesh said that he was expecting this vindictive action directed against him ever since he made the revelation. "I knew this was round the corner as the government will move against me to see that I am put behind bars," said Ramesh, who following the new liquor policy of closing more than 700 bars in the state had to close down nine of his bars in the state capital. Babu, soon after announcing his decision to resign last month, had alleged that the entire bar scam was a conspiracy hatched by the Communist Party of India-Marxist. Reacting to the move, CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan said it is done to target police officials who refuse to toe the line of the Chandy government and meant to threaten them. Gurgaon, Feb 5 : Haryana Agriculture Minister Om Prakash Dhankar on Friday said the state government will release Rs.500 crore to cotton farmers who lost their crops to whitefly. Dhankar said in the absence of experts and consultants the government ended up paying huge money to farmers as compensation for crop damaged by insects or natural calamities. "The government has its limitations; it cannot hire consultants and experts and pay huge salaries. Had there been a consultant, the state government would not have to pay Rs.600 crore to sugar cane farmers," he said. The minister was speaking after inaugurating a seminar on 'Agriculture in Haryana: Converting challenges into opportunities', organised by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India in Delhi. He also asked the sugar mills to take up the responsibility of cane farmers' welfare. "Similarly, basmati rice exporters should ensure paddy growers get the best price for their produce; this is required to take the agricultural sector forward," Dhankar said. Highlighting the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in the country, particularly Haryana, the minister said, "Land ownership is one of the biggest challenges faced by the agricultural sector as tenant farmers do not get any compensation in case of any eventuality." Sharing concerns over the loss of soil fertility due to excessive use of pesticides and also due to burning of agricultural waste, Dhankar said, "Hardly 20 percent organic material is left in our soil; we are reaching an optimum level." He said Haryana needed to promote water conservation in a mission mode. "Water recycling and recharging needs to be promoted even in urban areas as per capita water consumption is about 150 litres in urban centres compared with 50 litres in rural areas," he added. Dhankar hailed the Centre's new crop insurance scheme and said it will prove highly beneficial for farmers across the country. New Delhi, Feb 5 : A court here has issued summons to three retired officials of the passport department in a fake passport case against underworld don Rajendra Sadashiv Nikhalje alias Chhota Rajan, sources said on Friday. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Special Judge Vinod Kumar on Wednesday issued summons to three retired passport officers and asked them to appear before it on March 14. The court has also directed the CBI to supply documents to Chhota Rajan, who was presented before it via video conferencing. According to the CBI, Rajan had got his first fake passport issued from Bengaluru on January 1, 1998 allegedly in connivance with the then passport officers -- Jay Shree Rahate, Deepak Natvarlal Shah and Lalitha Laxamanan -- in the name of a fictitious person Mohan Kumar. The central probe agency has booked Rajan and unidentified public servants in a fake passport case on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, cheating by impersonation and forgery of documents under the Indian Penal Code. Rajan is wanted in over 85 cases, ranging from murder to extortion, smuggling and drug trafficking. He has cases pending against him in Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and with the CBI. The don, held by Indonesian Police on October 25, was deported to India on November 6. Kolkata, Feb 5 : A man was apprehended and a gold bar worth nearly Rs.10 lakh seized from him from near the Bangladesh border in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, a BSF officer said on Friday. The seizure was made by the troopers of Border Security Force's 144 battalion, under the Ghojadanga border outpost area on Thursday. "The accused coming from the Bangladesh side of the border was intercepted by a BSF team and a gold bar worth Rs.9.53 lakh seized from him. He along with the seized metal has been handed over to the customs officials," said a BSF spokesperson. The BSF so far in the year has seized gold worth over Rs. 58 lakh and apprehended three smugglers from across the South Bengal frontier. Bengaluru, Feb 5 : Four more people were arrested and two policemen suspended in connection with the assault and molestation of a Tanzanian woman in the city on January 31, a top police official said on Friday. "We have arrested four more people in the assault case of the Tanzanian woman, in addition to five who were taken into custody on Thursday for interrogation," city Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik told reporters here. In her statement, the victim Tanzanian woman has denied being stripped or paraded naked but admitted that she was assaulted and molested by the mob when her top (T-shirt) got torn off in the scuffle. When the victim's Tanzanian friend (Junail Ibrahim, who was at the wheel) tried to stop the angry mob from assaulting her, he was also thrashed. Inspector Pravin Babu and constable Manjunath of the jurisdictional police station in the city's northern suburb were suspended for failing to help the victim and take her complaint as they were on duty on that (Sunday) night. "Babu and Manjunath were suspended after preliminary investigation and on the basis of the victim's statement to us that they did not save her from the mob attack and not register her complaint," Megharik said. All the accused have been booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for assault, unlawful assembly, arson, rioting and outraging a woman's modesty. "We may arrest a few more on the basis of the investigation underway by the city crime branch and interrogation of the accused," Megharik pointed out. Parents and relatives of the accused, however, told union Minister for Law and Justice D.V. Sadananda Gowda that police had arrested "innocent" people in the assault case without evidence under pressure from the state government. Gowda, a former state chief minister during the Bharatiya Janata Party rule in 2011-12, is a lawmaker from the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency, in which the locality (Soladevanahalli) where the incident took place falls. In a case of mistaken identity, an angry mob assaulted the 21-year-old victim, suspecting her to be a friend of a Sudanese student, Mohammad Ahad Ismail, 20, whose car ran over a woman pedestrian (Shabana Taz,35) fatally while driving drunk on the same (Sunday) night and injuring her husband K. Sanaullah. "Arrests were made on the basis of eye witnesses' account and video footage from closed circuit television cameras (CCTV) in the area," Megharik added. The Sudanese national, an MBA student, who caused the accident, was arrested for Shabana's death and drunken driving after the mob attacked him before police came and rescued him on the same night. Outraged by Shabana's death in the accident by a Sudanese, another violent mob mistakenly targetted the victim and burnt the car (Wagon R) in which she was with three male friends and passing through the area, assuming her to be Ismail's friend. About 12,000 foreign students from various countries are studying in colleges across the city. Ahmedabad, Feb 5 : The Gujarat Police on Friday detained 34 activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in Kutch district for trying to obstruct shooting of Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan's film 'Raees'. Police said the VHP activists were detained under Section 68 of the Gujarat Police Act. The VHP has been targeting Shahrukh Khan for his comments on "intolerance" in the country. After they were released, the VHP activists still managed to block the Gadhsheesha-Dedia road which connects Kutch district headquarters Bhuj with Polaria where the film shooting was scheduled for the day. The shooting continued peacefully throughout the day in Polaria, which is located some 60 km from Bhuj city. The actor, who has been on a week-long visit to Kutch for the shooting of the film, has faced sporadic protests by the VHP activists since he arrived there. Earlier, the outfit had held a demonstration in front of the District Collector's office in Bhuj. A motorcycle rally was also held demanding the cancellation of the film's shooting and ban on Shahrukh Khan's entry in Kutch. Based on the life of Ahmedabad-based underworld don late Abdul Latif Shaikh, 'Raees' has been made by Rahul Dholakia who earlier made controversial film 'Perzania' based on communal riots. Pakistani actress Mahira Khan is the female lead in the film. Chennai, Feb 5 : Securitisation of loan accounts is one way of improving liquidity of banks' assets but the development of securitisation market depends on improving the quality of loan origination, said a senior official of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) here on Friday. "For the securitisation markets to develop, we need to improve the quality of loan origination, which solely depends upon 'ownership of decisions' relating to loan origination," said deputy governor R.Gandhi. He was speaking at the 'Union Bank Conference on Financial Stability, Credit distress and Economic Growth: The way forward' at the Great Lakes Institute of Management near here. Simply put, securitisation is the sale of loan accounts to another player for a sum. The loan accounts thus transferred will not figure in the books of the seller. According to Gandhi, directed lending in whatever form and outsourcing the loan appraisal function dilutes the concept of owning up this crucial decision of loan origination and contended that those who outsource the loan origination process have no commitment to the loan quality. He also said central government - the owner of public sector banks - will be more than compensated by increased revenues and better valuations if the costs of social banking is provided through budgetary support after costing them on commercial principles. Noting people perceive the public sector banks are relatively immune to destabilising impacts owing to government's support, he said that the same sense of safety evades the government-owned banks when it comes to their valuations which in turn has an efficiency imperative - when judged by their returns on asset or capital employed. Ahmedabad, Feb 5 : At least 20 people were killed and as many injured when a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus fell from a river bridge in Navsari district in South Gujarat on Friday evening. Navsari Superintendent of Police M.S. Barada said the bus carrying around 60 passengers was on its way to Unai from Navsari city when the accident occurred in the evening. Barada told media persons the rescue operation is on in full swing. "We have recovered 20 bodies so far." It occurred on a bridge over Purna river near Supa village on Bardoli road under Navsari rural police station area, he said. Several injured people were rushed to hospital, the official said, the number was yet to be collated. The number of casualties may rise. Though exact cause of the accident was yet to be ascertained but it seemed prima facie that the driver lost control over the speeding vehicle, which skidded off the bridge to plung into the river. New Delhi, Feb 5 : A special court, hearing coal block allocation case, here has issued summons to a company Himachal EMTA Power Ltd. (HEPL), its two directors and a senior official, sources said on Friday. Special Judge Bharat Parashar on Thursday issued summons to HEPL, its two directors Ujjal Kumar Upadhaya and Bikash Mukherjee, and its senior official N.C. Chakraborty, directing them to appear before court on February 29. The court issued order following the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case and after observing that sufficient evidence exists against the accused for the offence of cheating and criminal conspiracy. The CBI in its charge sheet said that accused directors Upadhaya and Mukherjee had submitted false information to the Ministry of Coal (MoC) to secure allocation of Gourangdih ABC coal block in West Bengal in the favour of their company. The CBI has not charge sheeted Chakraborty but the court issued summons to him too. Kuala Lumpur, Feb 5 : Leading smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer Samsung Electronics on Thursday launched the new versions of its popular Galaxy A-series smartphones in an all "glass and metal" design and with improved selfie features. The new versions of the dual-SIM A-7 and A-5 phones have been launched with slight improvements in certain features than the previous versions. The new devices boast of 25 percent more battery power and advanced features for a perfect selfie. "The new Galaxy A7 and the Galaxy A5 come with a stunning glass-and-metal design and new features such as enhanced camera, long lasting battery space with fast charging capability and a powerful octa-core processor that can tackle heavy usage,"said Manu Sharma, director, mobiles business, Samsung India Electronics. "Clicking the perfect selfie has also been made easy. The front camera incorporates features such as 'palm gesture selfie', 'wide angle selfie' and beautifying effects to help people take great looking selfies or groupfies," he added. Both Galaxy A7 and A5 are equipped with a 13MP rear and 5MP front camera (both cameras with f1.9 aperture) that allows users to capture bright and clear photos even in low light conditions. The camera also comes with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to ensure blur free photographs. "The design of these smartphones is a perfect fusion of glass and metal, which renders a stylish look and feel to the devices that adds to the consumer's style quotient. The smartphones provide an immersive viewing experience with a large full HD sAMOLED screen while the narrow 2.7mm bezel ensures the overall size of the phone is very comfortable to hold," Sharma added. The new A7 now boasts of a powerful 3,300mAh battery, while the new A5 has 2,900mAh power storage. In addition to the increased battery capacity, the new versions also have a fast-charging feature. The enhanced LTE Cat6 network capability can make downlink (with speed upto 300 Mbps) and uplink (upto 50 Mbps) quite fast. In addition, the phones also have fingerprint sensor technology for secure access. However, good things come at a price, and the A7 and A5 are no exception. While the new Galaxy A7 is priced at Rs.33,400, the A5 model flaunts a Rs.29,400 price tag. The phones are available both online and offline, Sharma informed. (Mohd Asim Khan is visiting Kuala Lumpur at the invitation of Samsung. He can be contacted at mohd.a@ians.in) New Delhi, Feb 5 : The ninth India-Nepal combined battalion-level military training exercise `Surya Kiran' will be conducted at Pithoragarh from February 8 to 21 under the aegis of Panchshul brigade of central command, an official statement said. During the exercise, an infantry battalion each from the Indian Army and the Nepalese Army would train together and share their experiences of counter-terrorism operations and jungle warfare in mountainous terrain. Surya Kiran series of exercises is a bi-annual event conducted alternatively in India and Nepal. "The aim of this combined training exercise is to enhance inter-operability between the Indian and the Nepalese army units in jungle warfare and counter terrorism operations in mountainous terrain," the statement added. It said the training will also focus on humanitarian aid and disaster relief including medical and aviation support. The release said combined training, mutual interaction and sharing of experiences shall further strengthen historical military and strategic ties and give further fillip to the bilateral relations. Ahmedabad, Feb 5 : At least 20 people were killed and as many injured when a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus fell off from a river bridge in South Gujarat's Navsari district on Friday evening. The bus was carrying 60 people, and the chances of survival of those still trapped in the bus wreckage are slim, a police official said. Navsari Superintendent of Police M.S. Barada said the bus was on its way to Unai town from Navsari city when the accident occurred in the evening. The bus was packed to capacity when it started around 6 p.m. Barada told media persons that rescue operations were on in full swing. "We have recovered 20 bodies so far. At least 15 people, including the driver and the conductor of the bus, were trapped inside the overturned bus when last reports trickled in." The officer said looking at the damaged bus, the chances of survival of those still inside the wreckage are dim. The accident occurred on a bridge over Purna river near Supa village on Bardoli road under Navsari rural police station area, he said. Many of the injured, who were rushed to government hospitals in Navsari, Gandevi and other towns were reported to be in critical condition. Police said the number of casualties were yet to be collated and may rise. Though the exact cause of the accident has yet to be ascertained, prima facie it appeared that the driver lost control over the speeding vehicle, which skidded off the bridge to plunge into the river. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 5 : The Left opposition was in protest mode demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy but Kerala Governor P.Sathasivam on Friday in his address to the assembly cited Albert Einstein to give full credit to his five-year tenure. "Einstein once said that all that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded to an individual. "Going by that saying, I am proud to say that the last five years of my government has been a golden age of opportunities - an age where dreams came true, an age that propelled Kerala towards a fast trajectory of growth and development, an age which has opened several doors that is going to bring in more and more opportunities for a holistic development of the people of Kerala," he said. "This in fact has been the vision of the government from day one, when we declared that 'Development with care', will be the government's motto, which has been guiding us to achieve so many feats during our tenure," he added. Sathasivam also spoke tough when the Left opposition was up in arms demanding the resignation of Chandy over the various scams that has surfaced and he asked them either to sit quiet or leave the house as he has a constitutional job to do. At this, the entire Left opposition boycotted his address and sat in protest outside the assembly campus. Sathasivam said the Chandy government's tenure saw successful realisation of some of the major infrastructure projects like the Kochi Metro, the green signal given to the Light Metro projects in Kozhikode and here, the steady progress of the Kannur airport, the Kochi Smart City and also the commencement of the Vizhinjam Port. He also lauded the government's efforts to the declaration of the first ever start-up policy in the country. Sathasivam said that the government has done exemplary work in sectors like agriculture, environment, e-governance, education, housing, rural development sector and health. Elaborating on the various steps taken to help Non-Resident Keralites, who contribute to the state's economic development by very large extent he said that the the NRI (Keralites) Commission Act, 2015 is a major step to protect their properties and interests. He noted 3,835 people who were stranded in strife-torn countries like Iraq, Libya and Yemen were brought back home safely. Sathasivam also complimented the new liquor policy of the government "The vision of my government is to build a liquor-free society and eradication of drug abuse. True to this vision my government took the bold step of closing down 730 bars in Kerala as part of the government's policy to achieve complete ban on liquor over a period of ten years. Already 78 retail outlets have been closed by Kerala State Beverages Corporation." But CPI-M politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan, who is on a state-wide yathra, told reporters in Idukki that not much importance need to be given to the governor's address because he just reads out what the government gives him. "The people of the state had a tough time during the five years of this government and it was the corrupt government of Chandy that had a golden period," he said. Kolkata, Feb 5 : Continuing its attack on the Mamata Banerjee government over crime against women, the BJP on Friday claimed the situation in the Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal was "sad and frightening". Targeting the Banerjee government ahead of the assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party's women wing is undertaking a 10 day march highlighting the rising crime against women in the state. The march from Kamduni in North 24 Parganas district began on Wednesday and will culminate in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas. "The manner in which women here in Bengal are violated and that too scheduled caste and scheduled tribe women in particular are very very sad and frightening," BJP Lok Sabha member Savitri Thakur said addressing the march here. Asserting that condition of women was far superior in the party-ruled Madhya Pradesh, she called upon people to bring her party to power in the state. "I think it is high time that Bengal too should have a BJP government, which is a development and justice oriented government," said Thakur who represents Dhar constituency in Madhya Pradesh. Participating in the march on Thursday, BJP MP and national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said she would soon write to the union home ministry about the "rising violence" against women in the state. Bengaluru, Feb 5 : The Karnataka government on Friday assured Africans, especially students, living in the city of their safety following a brutal assault on a Tanzanian woman by a mob in the suburbs last week. "We assure all Africans living here of their safety. We will not allow repeat of such an unfortunate incident again," Home Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters after briefing visiting Tanzanian High Commissioner John W.H. Kijazi on action taken against the culprits who assaulted and molested the 21-year-old victim on Sunday night in a case of mistaken identity. The minister and senior police officers also made the assurance to Kijazi and the ministry of external affairs (MEA) team who flew into the city for taking stock of the situation arising out of the shocking incident. "We have also submitted an inquiry report to Kijazi and the MEA team detailing the sequence of events leading to the assault, arrest of nine accused and suspension of three policemen for failing to handle the situation and help the victim," said Parameshwara. Appreciating the action of the central and state governments in bringing the situation under control and ensuring the safety of Africans in the city, Kijazi advised African students not to misbehave with the local citizens and abide by the law of the land. "Our students, those who have been victimised have met the highest level of leadership in this state and made their position clear for protection. We are convinced that they will get back their protection with the support of the government of Karnataka," Kijazi told reporters after an hour-long meeting. Four more accused were taken into custody on Thursday night, 12 hours after five suspects were arrested early Thursday for being part of the mob and allegedly assaulting the victim and her Tanzanian male friend. "An inspector (Praveen Babu) and two constables (Manjunath and Rajshekar) have been suspended for dereliction of duty - Babu for not following up the case a day after the incident and the constables for not protecting the victim from the mob attack despite being present at the spot," city Police Commissioner N.S. Megharikh told reporters earlier in the day. An angry mob had assaulted the 21-year-old victim, suspecting her to be a friend of a drunk Sudanese student, Mohammad Ahad Ismail, 20, whose car ran over woman pedestrian Shabana Taz, 35 fatally on Sunday night and injuring her husband K. Sanaullah. The Sudanese national, a MBA college student, was arrested for Shabana's death and drunken driving after police came and rescued him from a mob. Outraged by Shabana's death in the mishap by a Sudanese, another violent mob mistakenly targetted the victim and burnt the car in which she was with three male friends, assuming her to be Ismail's friend. In her statement, the victim denied being stripped or paraded naked but admitted that she was assaulted and molested by the mob when her top (T-shirt) got torn off in the scuffle. When the victim's Tanzanian friend (Junail Ibrahim who was at the wheel) tried to stop the angry mob from assaulting her, he was also thrashed. About 12,000 foreign students from various countries are studying in colleges across the city. Ahmedabad, Feb 5 : Thirty-seven people were killed and over 20 injured when a Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) bus fell off a river bridge in South Gujarat's Navsari district on Friday evening, police said. Expressing her condolences over the death of 37 people in the accident, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced compensation of Rs.4 lakh each to the families of those killed. According to an official communique, the chief minister has said the state government would bear the complete expenditure for the medical treatment of the injured people. Navsari Superintendent of Police M.S. Barada said the bus carrying around 60 passengers was on its way to Unai town from Navsari city when the accident occurred in the evening. The bus was packed to capacity when it started around 6 p.m. Barada earlier told media persons that rescue operations were on in full swing. "We have recovered 20 bodies so far. At least 15 people, including the driver and the conductor of the bus, were trapped inside the overturned bus when last reports trickled in." The officer said looking at the damaged bus, the chances of survival of those still inside the wreckage were dim. The accident occurred on a bridge over Purna river near Supa village on Bardoli road under Navsari rural police station area, he said. Many of the injured, who were rushed to government hospitals in Navsari, Gandevi and other towns were reported to be in critical condition. Police said the number of casualties were being collated and may rise. The exact cause for the accident was unclear so far but eye-witness told police that the driver took a left swerve to avoid a vehicle coming from the opposite direction, but lost control over the wheel, crashing into the side wall of the bridge and fell into the river some 40 feet below. The police, fire brigade and ambulances rushed to the spot and with the help of the local people launched a massive rescue operation which, however, was slowed by darkness. Arrangements for lights were made on emergency basis to continue the rescue operations at night as some portions of the bus remained trapped in mud and shallow water, police said. Mumbai, Feb 5 : Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who will feature in the short film, "Taandav", says that he went to numerous producers for a film on the subject but was spurned by all, and is now stern that the film will be made. "My honesty with regards to the project (film) is such that we are pursuing it since two years. And all the producers that I have gone to, would run away after the narration. They would call me and say that if there was anything else, they would be keen but not this one because they could face issues," Bajpayee said at the launch of the film directed by Devashish Makhija. "There is a fear which is completely understandable, since a person who is ready to put in money, does not want to take risks. And I am completely sure that this film will be made definitely and I am very stern about it," the actor stressed. Filmmakers Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sudhir Mishra and Anurag Kashyap were present at the launch. Considering the fact that all three are producers, Manoj was asked if he wants them to produce the feature. "Even if these three do not produce, get someone from outside, we will make it. We are already ready to shoot it, everything is ready, just give us the opportunity to shoot and Devashish will do the recce in four days," he said. Anurag said that he had read the first draft five years ago and told Devashish, "If this short film is what you are planning to make as a film, it is a great thing and if you are searching for a producer, we can talk about it." Bajpayee also quipped that this short film was the first look of that feature film. Manoj plays a Maharashtrian constable in the short film, after previously playing a Maharashtrian character in "Satya" while his character in "Aligarh" also teaches Marathi, both of which have been dubbed as one of his best works. Will this Marathi constable in the feature film live up to that level, Manoj replied, "I do not know because we have not worked on it till now. But because I know about the research work we have done on it, and the numerous times we had conducted reading of it, an initial preparation to it has already been done, And at that time whether the 'sur' would fit in properly or it would falter, or everything would be perfect, we really do not know." Manoj had also featured in another short film, "Jai Hind" with Raveena Tandon last year. Mumbai, Feb 6 : Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario, Canada, attended the high profile Bollywood style event in Mumbai where two new agreements were announced that will benefit India's film industry. Bollywood star Ranveer Singh attended the signing ceremony in Mumbai. The Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation and the City of Toronto signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on common interest in the creative screen industries, including studio production, visual effects and interactive/digital media. The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) and the Toronto International film Festival (TIFF) highlighted their collaboration on a boot camp to help Indian filmmakers bring their work to International film festivals. "The Toronto International Film Festival is one of the worlds most dynamic and prestigious film festivals. I had the good fortune to have my film Dhobi Ghat premiere there and it was a wonderful experience for me. TIFF has always been very generous to MAMI and we are very happy to be growing our association with them. We hope to bring some of the expertise and excellence of TIFF to the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival with Star," Kiran Rao, chairperson, Mumbai Academy of Moving Image, said. These new partnerships will enhance the relationship between India and Ontario's film industries and pave the way for more collaboration between producers, directors, artists from both regions. The Premier also met leaders from India's film industry at the event to promote Ontario as an ideal location for future productions. Ontario is a leading North American film and TV production centre that offers decades of experience, high quality infrastructure and generous tax credits. "Ontario is one of the best locations in the world for film and TV production and today's event has reinforces our provinces reputation as a leader in the creative screen arts," Wynne said. "With almost 700,000 people of Indian descent living in our province, and world class production facilities, the partnership between India and Ontario's film industries is a natural one. The agreements signed at today's event will help bring Ontario and India closer - both on the screen and off," she added. "Toronto is respected as one of the world's premier filming locations due to the depth of production talent we have built over many years of success. We are delighted to share our best practices and experiences and to learn more from the achievements of India's creative screen industries," John Tory, Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, said. Los Angeles, Feb 6 : Paris Jackson, daughter of the late popstar Michael Jackson, has hit out at fans on Instagram for expecting too much out of her. The backlash came after Paris -- who is believed to have split from her ex-boyfriend Chester Castellaw -- defended herself after she was criticised for smoking a cigarette while still a year off the legal age in some American states. Paris hit out at the "ridiculous" expectations people had for her father, and insisted she is under similar pressure, reports mirror.co.uk. Commenting on an Instagram photograph, the 17-year-old ranted: "This if f***ing ridiculous. I am expected to literally sit on my a** all day replying to comments people leave me (positive and negative)?"I have a meeting to go to. Family obligations. Personal obligations. It's so f***ing selfish that I am literally attacked on every f***ing thing I post just because people that I don't even known aren't getting what they want. (sic)" she wrote. The teenager -- who has a separate Instagram account for her artwork under the name 's***tyextratrerrestrial' -- insisted she will not allow herself to be "ripped to shreds". She continued: "I don't know any of you. I appreciate the love and support, but the expectations are f***ing ridiculous. "The expectations for my DAD were f***ing ridiculous. He didn't owe you anything, yet he was ripped to shreds daily. I will not let that happen to me." The average first-time buyer in 91% of local authorities across England will now pay no stamp duty on the purchase of their first property, according to the latest research by Revolution Brokers. With stamp duty now only payable on a first home purchase above 425,000, first-time buyers across England are set to save up to 8,750 when climbing the property ladder, with many paying no SDLT whatsoever. Revolution Brokers analysed current first-time buyer house prices across England to see just how much of the market is now stamp duty exempt for first-time buyers, due to the average price paid for a first home sitting at or below the new 425,000 price threshold. The research shows that just six areas of the property market will see first-time buyers ineligible for any stamp duty relief under the new structure, due to the fact the average first home is worth over 625k. While this accounts for just 2% of the total market, these areas are predictably all located within London Kensington and Chelsea, the Cities of Westminster and London, Camden, Hammersmith and Fulham and Islington. A further 7% of local authorities across England will see the average first-time buyer pay a reduced 5% rate of stamp duty due to the average price of a first home falling between the 425,001 to 625,000 price threshold. Again, these 21 local authorities are largely located within London, although they also include Elmsbridge, Three Rivers, St Albans, Cambridge, Hertsmere, Windsor and Maidenhead and Oxford. However, as a result of the latest stamp duty cut, the remaining 91% of local authorities across England will now see the average first-time buyer pay no stamp duty on their purchase at all, with the average price paid for first home coming in at or below the 425,000 threshold. Founding Director of Revolution Brokers, Almas Uddin, commented: The nations first-time buyers have benefited to a much greater extent from the latest cut to stamp duty and quite rightly so, as they have a far harder task to overcome in securing that first foot on the ladder compared to those making that second or third step. While it certainly wont help them save that all important mortgage deposit, or with the escalating cost of their monthly mortgage repayment, a vast number will, at least, be able to buy without the additional hurdle of a stamp duty bill. Indian, British and Pakistani buyers topped the list of non Gulf area overseas real estate investment in Dubai in 2015, according to official figures. Indians accounted for AED20 billion ($5 billion) of transactions last year, followed by British buyers with AED10 billion and Pakistanis with AED8 billion, according to the latest data from the Dubai Land Department (DLD). However, buyers from the Gulf Co-operation Council states accounted for almost a third of sales, investing AED44 billion and Emiratis accounted for half of that at AED26.08 billion. Overall, the data shows that 55,928 investors from 150 nationalities invested a total of AED135 billion or $26 billion in Dubai real estate during 2015. Buyers from Saudi Arabia invested AED9 billion in property and those Kuwait accounted for AED3 billion of investment, followed by investors from Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The data also show that Arabs from outside the GCC invested a total of AED16 billion in the Dubai real estate market, with Jordanians ranking the highest value investors with AED3.5 billion. Egyptians invested AED2.55 billion and Lebanese nationals invested AED2.53 billion. Significant investments were also made by nationals from Iraqi, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, Libya, and Algeria. According to Sultan Butti Bin Merjen, director-general of the DLD the sheer diversity of investors in Dubais real estate market is an overwhelming endorsement of the emirates international appeal to property investors. Dubai enjoys an extremely high degree of acceptance from international investors because of its attributes and return on investment, he said. We are reassured with the size of investments from UAE citizens, in addition to the enormous demand from the GCC which provides the market with a strong shield from seasonal fluctuations, he added. As part of the citys drought response plan, residents are required to conserve 10 gallons of water per day in order to lower the water use by 12-percent, compared to 2013. San Luis Obispo landscape supply company,Central Coast Landscape Products, Inc., just released a report on San Luis Obispo's new watering laws. With the unprecedented drought that California is facing, the government is requiring citizens to meet increased water conservation targets. As of May 2015, city officials have threatened to put water rationing in place if the businesses and residents dont cut their water use significantly. As part of the citys drought response plan, residents are required to conserve 10 gallons of water per day in order to lower the water use by 12-percent, compared to 2013. Landscape Watering Suggestions: In order to educate the community about ways to conserve water while preserving their landscaping, the landscape supply San Luis Obispo company released a report on tips to comply with the new water laws: Water between 2 and 9 a.m., when the temperatures are cooler and the winds are less prevalent, which is a good combination for less water evaporation. Various times of the year require different schedules as to how many times per week lawn and other greenery should be watered: summer requires three to four times a week; fall requires two to three times per week; winter allows for very occasional watering, and none at all during the rainy season; and spring requires two to three times per week. Most residents dont know how long to water their landscape, causing overwatering issues and run off water. San Luis Obispo Countys soil types in beach communities are typically made up from sandy or clayey soils, which require no more than five minutes of watering time; sandy soils may tolerate longer times. To view the complete report, visit their blog. About Central Coast Landscape Products Central Coast Landscape Products, Inc. is a professional landscape supply San Luis Obispo company. They specialize in stocking a wide variety of natural landscape products, such as mulch, rock and organic soil amendments for pick up or delivery. Their commitment to exceptional customer service, competitive pricing, and superior quality products set them apart from other suppliers. Check out the company's great reviews on Yelp. For a free consultation contact Central Coast Landscape Products at (805) 595-3478. Central Coast Landscape Products, Inc 445 Prado Road San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 595-3478 More than 50 years after passage of the Civil Rights Act and nearly eight years after President Barack Obamas election, achieving economic empowerment for African-Americans still remains an elusive goal, according to the National Urban Leagues 2015 State of Black America. Thats why artist photographer and entrepreneur Georgio Sabino III will follow in the footsteps literally and figuratively of long-time mentor, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Dr. George C. Fraser, to capture the key moments and messages that will inspire others. GS3 Inc. is the official photographer for the 2016 FraserNet Power Networking Conference, from May 26-28, 2016, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The theme of this 15th anniversary event is Accelerate: A New Model for Change. If you have any doubt in your mind whatsoever whether Black Lives Matter, then networking in our own community among Black Americas most powerful leaders will reaffirm the ability to create, connect, collaborate, communicate and change, states Sabino. We absolutely want to leave a legacy of empowerment, inspiration and wealth to our next generations. Nowadays if you want to get noticed, you also have to be digitally visible or youll be left behind, Sabino continued. More than three billion people use the Internet, according to the United Nations agency that monitors international communications. In the U.S., a study by the Pew Research Center indicates at least 74% of online adults use social media for networking. But word of mouth and one-on-one personal relationships through networking still remain the best marketing tools to promote your goods or services. Facial recognition with your associated image helps to reinforce your mission and message, whether its for printed business cards or social media, says Sabino. The GS3 Inc. team will provide daily photographic and video coverage of the event, as well as private corporate or individual photography sessions by advance reservation. Sabino notes, however, that the team schedule already is filling fast with graduation, engagement and wedding date reservations. For more information, go to http://www.news.gs3.us or call (216) 256-7018. Contact: Christopher Yoshito Phone: (678) 592-8213 #GS3Photography, #GS3WeddingPhotography, #GS3Photographer, #GeorgioSabino, #GS3, #NeedPhotographer; #GettingMarried; #Bride; #Brides; #Engagements; @GS3Models, @GS3photography, #PremierClevelandWeddingPhotographer, #ColumbusOhio, #ClevelandOhio, #CincinnatiOhio, President of Avitus Group Inc., Don Reile and President of Avitus Payroll Services and Avitus Business Services, Ken Balster cut ribbon at official ribbon cutting event Today marks an important day in company history as we officially cut the ribbon on our new corporate headquarters. We're excited to add so many new jobs the local and state economy. Avitus Group, a company that helps simplify, strengthen and grow other businesses by taking responsibility for necessary, yet burdensome administrative tasks, like payroll, accounting and taxes, marked the opening of its new Aurora Corporate Headquarters with an official ribbon cutting and champagne toast ceremony February 4, 2016. Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan led the toast and Aurora Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Kevin Hougen led the ribbon cutting. The event was packed with more than 100 attendees from the business community, including multiple local and state dignitaries. "Today marks an important day in our company history as we open our corporate headquarters in Aurora," says Avitus Group CEO and Chairman of the Board, Willie Chrans. "Avitus Group exists to help businesses simplify, strengthen and grow. Today, our business is growing. We are one of the top co-employers in our industry nationwide, and our growth projections have us hiring an estimated 500 internal staff members in this corporate office in the next decade to keep up with our growth." Avitus Group has 10 regional offices located throughout the United States, serving clients nationwide and worldwide. Company officials say growth plans, in addition to hiring efforts at the new corporate headquarters in Aurora, include maximizing hiring efforts in regional offices as well, particularly the company's Billings, Montana Operations Center, which currently employs 158. "We are investing in our future, and that means investing in all of the local communities we call home. Each city is critically important to our overall growth plans and ability to serve our clients. In Billings for example, we've recently added more square footage to accommodate plans to hire an additional 80 staff in the near future. In Aurora, the hiring is already underway, and we're excited to add so many new jobs to the local economies across the United States," says Avitus Group Public Relations Manager, Dianne Parker. Internally, Avitus Group has 262 employees across the U.S. Currently, 32 of those are located in the Colorado market, with 10 new hires set to join the team by the end of February. Chrans addressed Colorado staff members at the ribbon cutting event, announcing they will be joined by an additional 40-50 employees by this time next year and some 40-50 more each year after that for the foreseeable future. "This means opportunities for advancement within the company for you, as well as good-paying jobs for those who are out there looking for employment," commented Chrans. Avitus Group's Corporate Headquarters is located in one of Aurora's most prominent and visible buildings along the I-225 corridor, Cherry Creek Place. February 1st, following a custom build out of the office space, employees moved into 3131 S. Vaughn Way, Suite 400. The prime office space boasts 11,000+ square feet with room to nearly double the square footage by 2018. Members of the business community toured the new space during the ribbon cutting event, and speakers included: Avitus Group CEO & Chairman of the Board, Willie Chrans; President Avitus Payroll Services, Inc. & President Avitus Business Services, Inc., Ken Balster; President Avitus, Inc, Don Reile; Aurora Mayor, Steve Hogan; Director of Business Development for the Aurora Economic Development Council, Yuriy Gorlov; Chief of Staff for Colorado Congressman Mike Coffman, Ben Stein; Regional Director for U.S. Senator Cory Gardner, Annie Larson; Aurora Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Kevin Hougen and Business Liaison for U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Derek Dash. "It is exciting to see the support pour out from the Colorado business community. From several high-ranking local and state officials, to our outstanding clients and association partners. Colorado is committed to us, and we want Colorado to know we're committed to helping businesses simplify, strengthen and grow, which in turn will help grow the local and state economy," says Avitus Group, Inc. President, Don Reile. "We're excited about what's ahead in Colorado, and at all of our regional offices across the U.S. as our company grows and expands." Avitus Group wrapped up the official ribbon cutting ceremony with a check presentation to the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight organization. President of Avitus Payroll Services & Avitus Business Services, Ken Balster, who is a Navy veteran, announced the company's support for veterans. Balster kicked off the company's Colorado 2016 giving campaign by sending 3 WWII veterans on the next (May, 2016) honor flight to D.C. to see their memorial. He also announced the company's involvement with the Warrior to Work Program, as well as additional veteran hiring efforts in Colorado. "Thank you to the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight for all the exceptional work you do to make the state of Colorado a better place to live for our veterans. You give so much, and the recipients of your program have given so much. This is the least we can do to support the communities that support our business," commented Balster. Avitus Group is a worldwide company that simplifies, strengthens and grows businesses by providing 'back office' support (Payroll, accounting, taxes, recruiting, information technology, etc.). When a business uses Avitus Group, all of the necessary yet burdensome functions of the business become Avitus Group's responsibility, so the business can focus on what it does best. Avitus Group serves clients nationwide through regional office locations from coast to coast. The company also serves international clients through partner locations in Europe, Canada, China, England, India, Japan and Singapore. Profit is not our primary motivation were here to provide exceptional real estate services and to help people create a new life for themselves here, and that starts with finding the right home. The Allman Company, East Texas leading waterfront real estate firm, has just launched its new website, TheAllmanTeam.com. Comprehensive area guides about East Texas lakefront communities, the latest property listings, and a regularly updated blog are just some of the offerings of the companys revamped website. We envisioned our real estate website to reflect the high quality of services we offer professional, personalized, yet very client friendly, says Shane Allman, who obtained his real estate license in 2004 and established the company with wife and fellow Realtor Christy Allman. We also wanted our website to echo the rusticity and the overall ambiance of Lake Sam Rayburn and the surrounding areas, thus the warm earth tones, adds Christy Allman. Its like an early welcome to those who are interested in purchasing lakefront or inland properties in East Texas. TheAllmanTeam.com provides home buyers and sellers comprehensive information about East Texas real estate, particularly in the communities of San Augustine, Sam Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Jasper, Pineland, and Hemphill. Buyers can easily search for the latest property listings using the websites customizable search tool. The website also features a financing guide to help homebuyers finance the purchase of their dream East Texas home. Weve always been proud of the fact that at the Allman Company, were in this business because its our passion to help other people find not just the perfect home, but the right lifestyle, shares Christy. Profit is not our primary motivation were here to provide exceptional real estate services and to help people create a new life for themselves here, and that starts with finding the right home. The Allman Company has been helping clients achieve their real estate dreams since the real estate group was formed in 2008. For more information about the services they offer, log on to http://www.theallmanteam.com/ It's a welcomed message from the heart that needs to be heard, and executed so beautifully at the hands of Thrower, his team, and cast." - Movie Pilot "Pretty Boy", of Square Color Films, has won the prestigious Humanitarian Award from The Global Film Awards. The award was given for the exciting and groundbreaking message that "Pretty Boy" delivers, which the filmmakers hope will find its way to people that are struggling with the truth of who they are. The film features an exceptional and dynamic cast and crew. The films writer and director; Cameron Thrower, put together a stellar cast. Nick Eversman (The Duff, Wild) leads the cast as struggling teen, Sean, who is simply trying to survive through a life that is beating him down. The films co producer, Rebekah Tripp, also took on the role of Katie, playing a prostitute who makes a human connection with Sean and encourages him to stand up for himself. Rounding out the cast is Jon Briddell (Castle, Army Wives) who plays Seans father; who, through his inability to connect, encourages Sean to fix himself; normalize to fit in. The other side of the camera features a tremendous crew. Jesse Aragon, Director of Photography, shot the film beautifully. Gustavo Ramos, Costume Designer, styled the film and gave it a gritty, real feel. The music that takes you through this world was created specifically for the film by Lillard Anthony. It's not often that we are given the chance to watch a fight with the terrible beast that can live within ourselves, and those wonderful moments of self-discovery and realization of our own self worth. I think far too often we forget to look within and listen to our own hearts, and for me, that's what Pretty Boy is all about -Nick Eversman (Sean) To be a part of a film that is recognized specifically for its message and the awareness that it brings to those who watch it, is truly an honor. I thank Global Film Awards for seeing the beauty that I saw in this project. -Rebekah Tripp (Producer and Katie) "Pretty Boy has the opportunity to have a profound effect. Audiences everywhere are thirsty for fresh and live stories waiting to be told. These are the ones Hollywood should be telling. It's a welcomed message from the heart that needs to be heard, and executed so beautifully at the hands of Thrower, his team, and cast." - Movie Pilot The nominees are hand picked by the judges and staff from hundreds of entries throughout the year across three international competitions The Accolade Global Film Competition, The IndieFEST Film Awards and the Best Shorts Competition the films are brought together under the Global Film Awards umbrella and the winners are chosen from this wide pool of entries. Information about the Global Film Awards and a list of recent winners can be found at http://www.GlobalFilmAwards.com In winning a Humanitarian award from Global Film Awards, "Pretty Boy" joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this important award such as Oscar nominee Liam Neesom for narration of "Love Thy Nature", multiple Emmy winner Alfre Woodard for "Soft Vengence", Oscar winner (student) Emily Kassie for the powerful "I Married My Familys Killer" and many more. Rick Prickett, who chairs the competitions under the Global Film Awards umbrella, had this to say about the Humanitarian winners, It takes great talent to tackle the worlds most pressing issues with film and do a great job. It takes an even greater heart. Global Film Awards helps set the standard for Humanitarian filmmaking worldwide. The goal of Global Film Awards is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve for the incredible job that they do. "Pretty Boy" will be screening at the world famous TCL Chinese Theatres in the heart of Hollywood, CA 2/25/16 at 10:30PM part of the Hollyshorts Film Festival. The film is also available to rent or buy on Vimeo on Demand at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/prettyboy OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.prettyboymovie.com SOICAL MEDIA: https://www.facebook.com/prettyboythemovie https://twitter.com/PrettyBoy_Movie https://www.instagram.com/prettyboymovie/ Exceptional Care. Unexpected Luxury. Passionate Service The 5-Star Rating for The Villa at South Holland reflects Villas Values The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in Washington, has awarded a 5-Star Rating to The Villa at South Holland, a Villa Healthcare nursing facility located at 16300 Wausau Ave, South Holland, IL 60473. This prestigious designation is awarded to only the finest facilities demonstration extraordinary clinical and regulatory excellence. Fewer than 10% of all facilities nationwide achieve this honor, The Villa at South Holland is one of few skilled nursing facilities with this prestigious status in the area. David Mills, COO of Villa said, Results like these would not be achieved without the hard work and dedication of the staff at The Villa at South Holland. It is because of them that we received this exceptional rating! The 5-Star Rating for The Villa at South Holland reflects Villas Values, said Mills. Our clinical staff and our concierge teams ensure that a guests stay is an overwhelmingly positive experience that enables each individual to recover in beautiful surroundings, while introducing services and amenities of a fine hotel. Our goal has always been to return our guests back to the community with an improved level of functioning in the most expeditious way possible. Now that it has maintained this top-tier status, The Villa at South Holland intends to keep striving. About Villa Healthcare Formed in 2010, Villa Healthcare began operation by assuming control of several under performing or marginal skilled nursing facilities. Drawing on decades of experience in nursing facility ownership and management, the Villa Healthcare team began with a clear set of core beliefs and a visionary business and financial model honed over many years of successful operation. At present, Villa Healthcare consists of 25 facilities throughout the Midwest, including their latest acquisition of the Bortz Healthcare facilities throughout Michigan. The organization has gained a reputation for its medical expertise, compassionate and attentive patient care, and innovative treatment and programs. Their community involvement and support are cornerstones of Villa Healthcares operating philosophy. About the 5-Star Rating System The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. One of its charges is to monitor and rate nursing facilities nationwide. CMS created the Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families, and caregivers compare nursing homes more easily and to help identify areas about which you may want to ask questions. The Nursing Home Compare website features a quality rating system that gives each nursing home a rating of between 1 and 5 stars. Nursing homes with 5 stars are considered to have top-tier quality, and nursing homes with 1 star are considered to have quality much below average. There is one overall 5-Star rating for each nursing home. Learn more and compare nursing home ratings at: http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/ Contact To learn more about The Villa at South Holland, the 5-Star Rating and Villa Healthcare, contact: Whitney Arado, SVP of Business Development Villa Healthcare 3755 Chase Ave Skokie, IL 60076 C: 847-826-1111 Warado(at)Villahc(dot)com Since its founding, Olin College has made a commitment to ensuring an Olin education is financially within reach for all students. We are all too aware that for many students, the college they want to attend may not be the one they can afford to attend. Olin College is one of the nations best colleges for students seeking a great education at an affordable price, according to The Princeton Review. The education services company profiles Olin College in its just-published book, Colleges That Pay You Back: The 200 Schools That Give You the Best Bang for Your Tuition Buck, and on its website. Olin also made the list of schools with top internship opportunities, coming in at #7. The Princeton Review chose Olin as one of its schools based on the return on investment (ROI) ratings it tallied for hundreds of schools last year. The ratings weighed 40 data points that covered everything from academics, cost, and financial aid to graduation rates, student debt, and alumni salaries and job satisfaction. The Princeton Review editors culled data from the companys surveys of administrators and students in 2014-2015 and from PayScale.coms surveys of school alumni conducted through April 2015. In its profile of Olin, the books editors at The Princeton Review wrote, All enrolled students receive a 50 percent scholarship, and Olin works to meet 100 percent of demonstrated need beyond that. This makes the school quite the bargain, especially considering its reputation among employers. The senior-year capstone project is quite a foot in the door for young engineers entering the workforce. The Olin students surveyed for this profile remarked, Professors are one of the bestif not the bestpart of Olin and are . . . always available, always knowledgeable, [and] always approachable. Olin College President Richard K. Miller says,Since its founding, Olin College has made a commitment to ensuring an Olin education is financially within reach for all students. We are all too aware that for many students, the college they want to attend may not be the one they can afford to attend. We continue to provide generous need-based aid, need-blind admission decisions, and also half-tuition scholarships, so that an excellent engineering education can be available for families regardless of means. Robert Franek, Princeton Reviews Senior VP/Publisher, says, We highly recommend Olin College, and all of our Colleges That Pay You Back schools. They stand out not only for their outstanding academics but also for their affordability via comparatively low sticker prices and/or generous financial aid to students with needor both. Plymouth Technology, the industrial wastewater chemical experts based out of Rochester Hills, MI, has announced that Vice-President Steven Buday will be speaking at the ECOAT16 show on February 17th at 2:30 PM. Mr. Buday will be introducing Alternative Methods of Treatment and Disposal of Electrocoat Paint, focusing on reducing labor requirements, minimizing capital equipment and associated costs through the use of Plymouth Technologys superabsorbent polymers. A chief bottleneck in the wastewater management process is dewatering the detackified paint solids, said Mr. Buday, This translates into added labor to unclog, clean, or even replace filter press plate ports. If an undersized press is being operated, multiple press cycles will be required per detakification treatment as well. The new process is dramatically simpler and significantly lowers the total cost of operations. Plymouth Technologys latest superabsorbent polymers have been shown to absorb up to five-hundred times their weight, reducing costs associated with the dewatering and detakification process and helping customers meet even the most stringent federal, state, and local water discharge limits. Director of Sales Tim OMara will also be in attendance to support the event hosted by the Electrocoat Association and Products Finishing Magazine. For more information regarding ECOAT16, The Electrocoat Association, and Products Finishing Magazine, head to http://www.ecoatconference.com. About Plymouth Technology: Founded in 1991, Plymouth Technology, Inc. of Rochester Hills, MI., is a leading provider of industrial water and wastewater treatment chemicals, equipment and consulting services. The company specializes in delivering customized solutions with on-site service for water, energy and waste minimization, water reuse and environmental compliance. Introduced in 2004, Metals Removal Systems are in use throughout the United States enabling industrial manufacturers to reuse process wastewater and reduce operating costs. Plymouth Technology is a nationally certified Womens Business Enterprise. For more information, visit http://www.plymouthtechnology.com. A robot built by Euclid High School students battles it out in last year's AWT RoboBots competition at Lakeland Community College. This year, the number of students interested in robotics has gone through the roof. HGR Industrial Surplus will be among more than two dozen sponsors for this years Alliance for Working Together RoboBots competition that will see robots built by 25 Northeast Ohio high schools battle at Lakeland Community College this spring. Each team of students will design and build a battle robot, submit a portfolio and participate in a group interview before placing their robot in the battle cage on April 30, the day of the local competition. The robots will then battle it out, weapon-to-weapon, to see whose robot is the last one rolling. HGR and SC Industries are co-sponsoring the Euclid High School team, which tied for ninth place in a field of 35 competitors last year. The team and its success sparked increased student interest in robotics that resulted in the school establishing a Robotics Club that meets weekly and plans to add a robotics course to its STEM curriculum next year. Last years team had 10 honors physics students as members. This year, the number of students interested in robotics has gone through the roof, according to Bob Torrelli, physics teacher and department chair who heads the effort. He said he has 50 students participating in the group, which meets after school and on weekends. To include everyone, Torrelli has 40 of the students working on four Lego robotics kit valued at several thousand dollars each that were donated by HGR. Meanwhile the 10 team members, including five who are returning from last years group, work on the competition battle robot. When choosing team members, Torrelli considered attendance, how well students work with others and how well they follow instructions, along with their design and programming skills. Team members are on track with the design, manufacturer and assembly process, according to Torrelli. They have put the design into CAD and have had the rails manufactured by Fredon Corp. of Mentor. Assembly of the robot, which must weigh less than three pounds and be constructed from a kit, is underway. Some design changes to last years battle bot were considered, including moving the wheels inside the body to protect them, modifying the weapons and using a stronger metal housing, Torrelli said. The team will be able to see how their RoboBot performs during open cage time scheduled Jan. 2 through April 25. The Euclid team has already experienced success. Some of its members attended the Nov. 7 Young Astronaut Day at NASAs Glenn Research Center and placed in the top three in two competitions. The AWT RoboBots competition is designed to teach students about STEM careers and help develop the next generation of our skilled workforce and includes events designed to help stimulate an interest in aeronautics, space science and engineering. Any participating team can go on to the National Robotics League contest scheduled for May 20-21. Northeast Ohio schools participating in the AWT RoboBots competition include the following: Andrews Osborne Academy, A-Tech, Auburn Career Center, Beaumont High School, Cleveland Heights High School, Cornerstone Christian Academy, East Community Learning Center of Akron Public Schools, Euclid High School, Four Cities Educational Compact, Harvey High School, iSTEM ECHS, Kirtland High School, Lake Catholic Lake Shore Compact, Madison High School, Maplewood Career Center, Max Hayes, Mentor High School, North High School, Perry High School, Polaris Career Center, Rittman High School, Riverside High School, VASJ High School, West Geauga High School and Wickliffe High School. Corporate sponsorships of the teams, which involve donations of expertise, space, services, supplies and money, include the following: Short Run Machine Products, Fargo Machine, USM Precision Products, Christopher Tool, Nottingham Spirk, Talan Products, Ohio Ordnance Works, HGR Industrial Surplus, SC Industries, Sattler Company, Flohr Machine Co., Avery Dennison, U.S. Endoscopy, Heisler Tool/Precision Machining Institute, Suburban Manufacturing, Torque Transmission, South Shore Controls, Allen Aircraft, Libra Industries, Spence Technologies, Jergens Inc., Criterion Tool & Die, Fredon Corp., Heisler Tool, Precision Machining Institute, Burton Industries and Universal Metal Products. Mount Pleasant staff celebrate 4th Perfect Survey "One successful survey is an accomplishment, but four years in a row are amazing!" said Stan Kappers, Mount Pleasant executive director. Mount Pleasant Retirement Village received their fourth consecutive deficiency-free state survey in their skilled nursing and assisted living areas in January. The Ohio Department of Healths Division of Quality Assurance regulates health care facilities through both state licensure and federal certification rules. The Bureau of Long Term Care Quality conducts annual on-site inspections/surveys for compliance with state and federal rules and regulations in nursing homes/facilities. The inspections ensure the quality of care and quality of life for residents of nursing homes and residential care facilities, also known as assisted living facilities. "One successful survey is an accomplishment, but four years in a row are amazing!" said Stan Kappers, Mount Pleasant executive director. "I am very proud of my entire team and how they continuously demonstrate our Mission in their tremendous care of our residents." Josie Browning-Haney, administrator of Mount Pleasant, said, "All of us at Mount Pleasant are extremely proud to announce the results of another perfect survey. Because of the dedication, talent, and compassion of our staff, we continue to take pride in both our survey history and five star rating. A Grand Slam week of celebration among staff and residents has been planned to recognize this outstanding achievement. For more information on Mount Pleasant Retirement Village and their retirement living options, call 513.539.7391 or go to http://www.mountpleasantohio.org/. Mount Pleasant Retirement Village Mount Pleasant Retirement Village is a full continuum of care campus offering Independent Living , Assisted Living, Alzheimers Care, Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation. Mount Pleasant is one of 12 retirement communities owned and operated by OPRS Communities, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services (OPRS), headquartered in Columbus Ohio. Since 1922, OPRS has defined the highest standards of quality of life for older adults. Each year, OPRS serves more than 73,000 annually through its wholly owned subsidiaries OPRS Communities and Senior Independence. Senior Independence provides home and community based services, operates adult day centers and manages two senior centers, in partnership with local governments. In addition, Senior Independence services are extended nationwide through its iPartners. Another wholly owned subsidiary, the OPRS Foundation raises several million dollars annually to support charity care, special programs, capital expansion and endowment. L-R Patrick McDermott, Vincent N. Gattullo, Fred Greene and Leslie A. Chambers We are privileged to have Pat at the helm to drive APDA's strategic direction At its annual meeting held last week, the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) announced the election of Patrick McDermott as Chairman of the National Board of Directors. Mr. McDermott succeeds former APDA Chairman, Fred Greene. "We are pleased to welcome Pat as Chairman of the Board, stated Leslie A. Chambers, APDA President and CEO. Pat has tirelessly served APDA since 2001 when he was first elected to the Board of Directors. His leadership and commitment to APDA was exemplified in 2015 as he led our Strategic Planning process. The 2015-2018 Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Board last year, is a roadmap to future growth and we are privileged to have Pat at the helm to drive our strategic direction and support APDAs dual mission to Ease the Burden Find the Cure for Parkinsons disease. Patrick McDermott, a Staten Island resident, is a founding partner of McDermott & Thomas Associates, LLC, an employee benefits and retirement planning advisory firm. He received a Bachelor of Science in Management from St. Johns University, as well as the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation and the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation from The American College of Financial Services. He has worked with hundreds of corporate clients in developing their employee benefit and retirement plan strategies. Deeply committed to the advancement of his community, Mr. McDermott also serves in a volunteer capacity as a past Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Staten Island University Hospital and is a Trustee and Executive Committee Member of Northwell Health (North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.) APDA extends its deep thanks to Fred Greene as the immediate past Chairman of the Board. Mr. Greene began his association with APDA in 1992, after his first wife, Idalee passed away from the effects of Parkinsons disease. After founding APDAs North Texas Chapter, Fred was elected to the National Board of Directors and five years later to the Executive Committee. Fred became 1st Vice-Chairman in 2010, and in 2013 became the ninth chairman of the APDA Board to complete the term of Joel A. Meile Sr., who died in May of that year. Mr. Greene, a native of New Rochelle, NY, earned a Bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and served in the US Army from 1943 to 1946. Professionally, he held various positions including Vice President of Public Relations for Zales Corp, founder of the communication firm Green-Webb Associates, and spent 25 years in journalism as Southwest Editor for McGraw-Hill Publications, and Editor and Writer for Harte-Hanks Newspapers in Texas. The APDA Board was pleased to name Vincent N. Gattullo Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr. Gattullo has served APDA since 1986, first as a member of the Board of Directors and then as President and CEO and Chairman of the Board from 2001-2008. In 2008 Mr. Gattullo became a member of the Executive Committee. APDA owes a great deal to Vinny, said Fred Greene, immediate past Chairman. Throughout his tenure as an APDA volunteer, Vinny had tremendous impact from spearheading the construction of the national headquarters office in 2005, to redefining APDAs identity as a national grassroots organization in the late 1990s. His legacy will have a lasting impression. Our deep thanks and appreciation to Vinney for all he has done to serve APDA and the Parkinsons community. In other APDA national Board election results, John Z. Marangos, Esq. was elected to 1st Vice Chairman, Elliot J. Shapiro to 2nd Vice Chairman and Thomas K. Pennett, Esq. as 3rd Vice Chairman. While all three are existing APDA Board members, they were newly elected to these Officer positions. Additional members of the Board and Executive Committee were re-elected to their roles for two- and three-year terms. To see a full listing of the APDA National Board of Directors, please visit our website. George Moua, Owner, OpenBoard, crafts customized longboards and benefited from Startup Hustle mentors' advice to gather customer feedback. Experiences like Hacker Labs Startup Hustle, where Sierra College students can work alongside entrepreneurs, enable them to apply what they are learning in the classroom. Sierra College announces that Hacker Labs Startup Hustle, an eight-week boot camp kicking off February 24, 2016, is designed to help budding entrepreneurs refine their startup concepts and prepare to launch their products and services. Through innovation curriculum, mentors and other startup resources, Hacker Lab, Sierra College and other community members will get these small businesses to the next level with proven tools and strategies. The Startup Hustle application deadline is February 18. Applicants must submit one minute videos about the problems they are investigating and the potential customers for their solutions in addition to their backgrounds and reasons for wanting to participate in the program. A landing page may also be part of the submittal. Application is free for Hacker Lab members and Sierra College students; the fee is $149 for other participants. Participating in Hacker Labs Start-up Hustle in fall 2015 helped Jim Hsu of Elk Grove make progress on Eye2Mobile, a docking system designed to hold cell phones and work with eye care optical devices, such as slit lamps, retinal cameras and surgical lasers. As a result of participating, he expects to be producing the EyePhoneDock for sale in spring 2016. Hsu felt that Startup Hustle gave resources to entrepreneurs that they probably couldnt access on their own. The mentors direction on where to go to get more information was tremendous, said Hsu. This programs support gives the little guy some of the resources available to large companies. It turns innovators into entrepreneurs. According to Eric Ullrich, Co-founder, Hacker Lab, Startup Hustle was inspired by the Lean Startup method, Adobes Kickbox and Business Composer Innovation Strategy. Startup Hustle approaches creating a new business using the scientific method, said Ullrich. Participants will identify a problem, gather information about it, create a hypothesis and test that hypothesis. After connecting with customers and getting feedback, they will be able to conclude whether or not the problem exists, and how badly customers want a solution. George Moua, owner of OpenBoard, crafts beautiful longboards that can be customized with the clients artwork. He explained that Startup Hustle encouraged him to get an early market response. The mentors encouraged us to quickly get our products in front of customers, said Moua. I became more comfortable presenting my business. If you have a small idea, this program can take it to a new level. Guided by mentors and industry leaders, participants will meet weekly, access online resources, collaborate with fellow entrepreneurs and work many hours on their projects. Exercises will help them determine the value proposition their product offers, research the potential market, identify competitors and craft their pitch to investors. Ullrich explained that by week eight, a participant will be ready to confidently explain the business model, target customers and market potential to investors. The top ten pitches will be made to friendly sharks, said Ullrich. The industry representatives will ask questions, make constructive comments and assess the business models viability. Sierra College is one of the first community colleges in the United States to establish a public-private partnership with a community maker space. Willy Duncan, Superintendent/President, Sierra College Joint Community College District, explained that Sierra College partnered with Hacker Lab to establish the Hacker Lab maker and co-working space in Rocklin, CA near the Sierra College campus in February 2015. Sierra College students can join Hacker Lab for only $12.50 per month and they can participate in Startup Hustle for free, said Duncan. Experiences like Startup Hustle, where our students can work alongside entrepreneurs, enable them to apply what they are learning in the classroom, said Duncan. The end result is that students can explore careers and the college environment inspires innovation. Our community college supports economic development by preparing students with an entrepreneurial mind-set to work at local businesses and offering support to those innovators who are starting new companies. Sponsors of Startup Hustle include Sierra College, The Shop VSP Global, Business Composer, City of Rocklin, SMUD, California Community Colleges Workforce and Economic Development Division, City of Sacramento, Sierra College CACT, Golden Sierra and Bosley Till Neue & Talerico LLP. For more information about participating or becoming a sponsor/mentor, please go to the Startup Hustle website or email: startuphustle(at)hackerlab.org and read stories about fall 2015 Startup Hustle participants . About Sierra College CACT The Sierra College Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) is focused on Advanced Manufacturing training and development, and is funded through the Workforce and Economic Development program of the California Community College Chancellors Office. Since 1992, the Sierra College CACT has provided customized training for organizations, manufacturers and technology companies throughout Northern California. Additional information is available at http://www.sierracollegetraining.com or contact Carol Pepper-Kittredge at 916-660-7801 or cpepper-kittredge (at)sierracollege(dot)edu. About Hacker Lab Established in 2012 in Sacramento, Hacker Lab aims to educate folks and spark innovation with community driven resources. Offering co-working, maker space, courses, meet-ups and events, Hacker Lab believes that technology can change the world and the starting point is education. In 2014, Hacker Lab had over 200 members; 120 completed a survey and 33 provided company data that showed: $3.7 million in revenue was generated and 75 jobs were created, and 20 start-up ventures were launched. Hacker Lab has locations in Sacramento and Rocklin. About Sierra College Sierra College District is celebrating its 80th Anniversary in 2016, and the Nevada County Campus in Grass Valley is celebrating 20 years. Sierra College serves 3200 square miles of Northern CA with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four year Universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. Kicking off with an exciting program, the Arizona SciTech Festival begins its fifth year amid record growth. The Arizona SciTech Festival ranks as the third largest science and technology festival in the nation, trailing only Washington D.C. and New York City. Over 50 Arizona communities including newcomers Fountain Hills, El Mirage and Surprise and 800 organizations have partnered to conduct over 1,000 events in 2016, showcasing science, technology and innovation in Arizona. Learn more about the Arizona SciTech Festival by watching a video at http://azscitech.com/who-we-are/. The growth of the Arizona SciTech Festival demonstrates the value communities all around the state of Arizona place on STEM education, said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. In todays knowledge-based economy, encouraging the next generation of science and technology leaders is critical to meeting the needs of Arizonas workforce and advancing our states competitiveness in the global economy. Held primarily in February and March to inform Arizonans of all ages about how science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEM) affects their everyday lives, the Arizona SciTech Festival is anchored at the Arizona Commerce Authority, in collaboration with additional foundational partners including the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, Arizona Science Center, Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). Signature events include Arizona State Universitys popular Night of the Open Door that now reaches five of the campuses with more than 300 activities that run throughout February expected to attract more than 15,000 attendees. Now in its fifth year, Chandlers Science Spectacular: Night of Art & Science, will take place on February 19 on Arizona Avenue, south of Chandler Blvd. in downtown Chandler, where it will showcase innovation from companies such as Intel, Orbital ATK and Garmin. New this year, the Arizona Science Center is partnering with TGen to host a full-day of family-friendly, hands on bioscience activities on March 5. The 2016 full listing of events can be found at http://azscitech.com/events/. Its gratifying to see the excitement that has built up around the statewide celebration and the increasing number of public and community partners that have engaged to help make it such a success, said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. The fact that weve built the third largest science and technology festival in the nation is a testimonial to the strength Arizonas technology sector and the ability of our public and community partners to collaborate. Sponsors The 2016 SciTech Festival could not be possible without its numerous sponsors who are dedicated to the celebration of STEM. As a founding sponsor, weve always believed in the promise of exposing students to STEM learning found at the Arizona SciTech Festival, and are proud that we continue to support it, said RJ Muller, manager of Community Relations, Cox Communications. We are committed to elevating the educational experience in the communities in which we serve and see no better way than to build an inclusive celebration whose mission is to focus on how technology is impacting peoples lives. In partnership with the Arizona SciTech Festival, Cox Communications is also a sponsor of the annual COX CONNECT2STEM Awards. For the second year, COX Communications, in partnership with the AZ SciTech Festival, honors STEM connectors in five areas: business, non-profit, education, conservation and after school programs. This prestigious award highlights and recognizes the STEM leaders in our community and those who impact our future. Nominations open in February and can be submitted online at http://www.cox7.com/connect2stem/connect2stem-information-awards-page/. 2016 Arizona SciTech Festival Sponsors: PRESENTING: Cox Communications PLATINUM: Arizona Commerce Authority GOLD: State Farm Insurance, Honeywell SILVER: Arizona PBS, Arizona Renaissance Festival, Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Google, Intel, KJZZ, Maricopa Community Colleges, Nextiva, OnTop Technology Corp., SRP, Thomas R. Brown Foundations. BRONZE: APS, Arizona Central Credit Union, Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Parenting, AZ TECH BEAT, Grand Canyon University, KTAR Arizona Sports, K12.COM/Arizona Virtual Academy, Orbital ATK, PADT, University of Advancing Technology, Yelp. COPPER: Arizona State University, Axosoft, Bear Essential News, Green Living, Event Interface, Phoenix Business Journal KRYPTON: AT&T, Biz in a Boxx, Emerald Computers, Midwestern University, PLTW About the Arizona SciTech Festival The Arizona SciTech Festival is a statewide celebration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) held annually in February and March. Through a series of expos, workshops, conversations, exhibitions and tours held in diverse neighborhoods throughout the state, the Festival excites and informs Arizonans age 3 to 103 how STEM will drive our state through a grassroots collaboration of more than 800 organizations in industry, academia, arts, civic, community and K-12 education. The Festival is anchored at the Arizona Commerce Authority, in collaboration with additional foundational partners including the Arizona Technology Council Foundation, Arizona Science Center, Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). Visit azscitech.com for more information. About the Arizona Commerce Authority The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the states leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizonas economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries. Visit azcommerce.com for more. # # # Dragon Products, LTD will be amid 4,200 companies attending and displaying products and technology at the annual Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show from Feb. 17-20 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Among Dragons planned exhibition will be the debut of the Mini Frac, a smooth-wall lined liquid storage unit smaller in size compared to the full-sized roll-off containers. Optimal for liquid waste or liquid storage, the capacity of the Mini Frac is 8,500 gallons and includes three access points 4 drainage lines in both the front and rear of the tank and a fill point at the top. The unit, manufactured at both Dragons La Porte, Texas and Akron, Indiana facilities, is severe-duty engineered to perform in applications such as liquid waste, environmental and storage and fueling. A newer product, Dragon officials answered the call to build a smaller frac tank based on customer requests. We built our first smooth-wall units in Akron to accommodate customer demand, said Gerry Spape, Dragons Northeast Region Sales Representative. According to Spape, the units smaller footprint allows for ease of transport, saves physical space and comes with a price thats attractive to potential clients. Dragon officials will be available to answer any questions about the Mini Frac tank as well as other Dragon roll-off equipment and pumping solutions on display at their WWETT Show Booth 2334. About Dragon Products, LTD Dragon Products, LTD is a U.S. owned and operated company that offers a wide range of quality, durable products for storage, hauling and more. Their equipment and inventory includes mobile workover and well service rigs, tanks, trailers, and surface production equipment. To learn more about Dragon Products, LTD, visit http://www.dragonproductsltd.com. KinetX Aerospace, today announced that U.S. Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema (D-9), toured the Tempe-based company as part of her Kyrsten Means Business program. KinetX Aerospace is an innovative engineering, technology, software development and business consulting firm providing complete system solutions. They were the first commercial company to navigate any spacecraft to distant planetary bodies including NASAs MESSENGER spacecraft to Mercury and the HORIZONS spacecraft to Pluto. The focal point of Congresswoman Sinemas visit was an interactive discussion on the increasing commercialization of space, and strategies to ensure innovative small companies can participate to grow the economy, create high-tech jobs, and excite future generations about science and space. "Its critical to Arizonas economic future to foster policies that will encourage the technological advancement of the commercial space industry, said Kjell Stakkestad, president & CEO, KinetX Aerospace. KinetX Aerospace is committed to advancing U.S. leadership in the generation of new markets and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. We appreciate Congresswoman Sinemas strong pro-business policies and her ability to help solve problems. Since 2013, Congresswoman Sinema has met with more than 70 large and small business owners and employees in the community through her Kyrsten Means Business program to hear directly from employees and owners about the challenges and opportunities they face. High-tech companies like KinetX Aerospace are the backbone of Arizonas economy, said Congresswoman Sinema. They drive job creation, economic growth, and innovation, enabling Arizona to compete globally. Ill continue working to ensure Arizonas innovative small businesses have the chance to thrive. About KinetX Aerospace KinetX Aerospace is a privately held company formed in 1992, headquartered in Tempe, Ariz., with additional offices in Simi Valley, Calif., and other employees located in Colorado, Maryland, and Virginia. The company specializes in the design, development, and operation of large-scale space systems, in addition to its work on deep space missions. For more information, please visit http://www.kinetx.com/. I am honored to be able to represent my community as I assume the position of ASCRS President. It will allow me to become a national voice for patients of Charleston and South Carolina." Charlestons own Kerry D. Solomon, MD has been elected to the prestigious position of the President of the American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) for 2016. Elected by the societys Executive Committee, Dr. Solomon is an internationally recognized leader in cataract and laser vision correction surgery. ASCRS is an international educational society with more than 9,000 members. Its mission is to advance the art and science of ophthalmic surgery by working with patients, government and the medical community to promote the delivery and advancement of high-quality eye care. This position will bring a positive impact to Charleston by having a local ophthalmologist with a national role. I am honored to be able to represent my community as I assume the position of ASCRS President. It will allow me to become a national voice for patients of Charleston and South Carolina as well as gain first hand knowledge of advancements on the horizon for technology and the latest in custom vision care, states Kerry Solomon, MD. About Kerry Solomon, MD Dr. Solomon is a partner at Carolina Eyecare Physicians and Director of the Carolina Eyecare Research Institute, which tests and improves technologies and procedures for various eye care conditions. He was one of the first in the country to perform laser-assisted cataract surgery, implant multifocal and astigmatic correcting lenses, and to perform topography-guided LASIK. Dr. Solomon is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including being named one of the "Top 50 Opinion Leaders in the Fields of Cataract and Refractive Surgery" and one of the "Best Doctors in America" every year since 2002. In addition, he was listed as one of Premier Surgeon magazines Top 250 Surgeons and was named Top Doctor, by U.S. News & World Report (honoring the top 1 percent of physiciansthe highest rating an ophthalmologist can attain). For more information on Dr. Kerry Solomon, located in Mt Pleasant, SC, please call 843-881-3937, or visit http://www.drkerrysolomon.com. Comedian W. Kamau Bell is back to being his Totally Biased self in Kamau Right Now!, the radical new public radio talk show broadcast live on KALW (91.7FM). Kamau creates a "three ring circus of relevance" as he, his guests, and a raucous live audience try to figure out what is going on right now. The New York Times calls W. Kamau Bell the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years. With his new CNN series, The United Shades of America, premiering in April, Kamau is ready to redefine public radio with his incredible ability to pull provocative conversations, respectful debates, and lots of laughter from his guests -- and the audience, too. How right now is Kamau Right Now? On Januarys show, Creed Director Ryan Coogler broke his silence on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. If you missed it, the podcast is priceless. The next two shows will feature guests with more than a few opinions, and the ability to make news . . . Thursday, February 18th at The Swedish American Hall in San Francisco. Feminist culture critic, internet troll-slayer and author of the forthcoming memoir, Shrill - Lindy West Top Bay Area comic, Kaseem Bentley Travel Writer, poet and former San Francisco mayoral candidate - Stuart Schuffman Thursday, March 17th at Impact Hub in Oakland. Visionary civil rights advocate and MacArthur genius fellow Lateefah Simon Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf Tune in to KALW to hear the live show, or see what the fuss is all about in person! Either way, use #KamauNow for all your favorite social media to join the conversation! Tickets are available at http://kalw.org About W. Kamau Bell (http://www.wkamaubell.com) Kamau is the host of a new CNN series debuting on April 24th called The United Shades of America, and is best known for his critically acclaimed, but criminally short-lived FX comedy series, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. His Morgan Spurlock-directed comedy special will air on Showtime later this year. Hes also proud to be the ACLUs Ambassador of Racial Justice, although hes pretty upset they didnt give him a badge along with the title. Kamau has been a guest on WTF with Marc Maron, The Rachel Maddow Show, Real Time with Bill Maher, The View, and Fresh Air. And you may have heard him on This American Life last year, telling the story of his experience of racism at the Elmwood Cafe in his new hometown of Berkeley. KALW (91.7 FM and kalw.org) is a pioneer public radio station celebrating 75 years on the air, making it the oldest FM signal west of the Mississippi. The station is a proud NPR affiliate and incubator of innovative original programs such as the award-winning local newsmagazine Crosscurrents, the design podcast 99% Invisible, and the Spanish-language narrative journalism program Radio Ambulante. GreenCoinX Inc, a subsidiary of GreenBank Capital Inc a Canadian public company (CSE:GBC and OTCMKTS:GRNBF) ("GreenCoinX") announces its upgraded crypto currency identification to full Know Your Client (KYC) standards. GreenCoinX is the worlds first and only crypto currency that requires users to be identified before usage. All GreenCoinX users will now meet the same identification standards as the banking community. The promise of crypto currency was always the fast and inexpensive transfer of funds worldwide, while bypassing the banking system. Until now this has been impeded by identity concerns. Now GreenCoinX has made this promise a reality by its KYC capability said Danny Wettreich, CEO. In sharp contrast to bitcoin and all other crypto currencies, the new KYC standard of GreenCoinX alleviates the concerns of both governments and users that crooks and terrorists can use crypto currency to hide their activities. All GreenCoinX users have to be fully identified before usage, so bad actors will not use GreenCoinX Danny Wettreich continued. GreenCoinX will shortly be launching its ecosystem which encompasses an identifiable crypto currency, a free online wallet, and a free online crypto currency exchange. GreenCoinX has also addressed currency stability via a treasury function, and blockchain longevity by way of the non-profit Digital Foundation which ensures miner rewards over the next 145 years. The first government in the world to welcome GreenCoinX is the Isle of Man, whose Minister for Economic Development said GreenCoinX has the potential to make a significant difference in the digital currency arena. In order to use GreenCoinX an online wallet has to be opened at http://www.xgcwallet.org. When initially opening a GreenCoinX wallet, users complete an online KYC verification process which only takes a few minutes. KYC verification is processed by http://www.KYCGlobal.net which is the exclusive KYC portal for GreenCoinX. Users upload copies of a passport and other identification documents and, when approved, receive a unique KYC identification number which is used to complete the wallet opening procedure. The same KYC verification process is completed with the GreenCoinX mobile wallet for Android devices, and the GreenCoinX technical wallet which is used by miners and retailers. About GreenCoinX GreenCoinX Inc is a subsidiary of GreenBank Capital Inc a Canadian public company (CSE:GBC and OTCMKTS:GRNBF) and is the developer of GreenCoinX (crypto currency symbol XGC) the worlds first crypto currency that requires users to be identified. GreenCoinX meets the same identification standards as the banking community, and makes the promise of crypto currency a reality by alleviating concerns that crooks and terrorists can use crypto currency to hide their activities. For more information please see http://www.GreenCoinX.com or contact Danny Wettreich, CEO, at dw(at)greenbankcapitalinc(dot)com or (647) 931 9768. Meet Dave Audia, G.L. Huyetts new Corporate Business Development Director G.L. Huyett proudly announces the addition of Dave Audia as Corporate Business Development Director in the Northeast. Audia previously served as a Vice President of Sales & Business Development for Advance Components, and Commercial Manager for A Raymond Tinnerman. Audia will join Dan Harriger, G.L. Huyetts Vice President of Sales, and a seasoned team of professionals, to offer fastener distributors and industrial distribution channels an unprecedented value proposition and product selection. In addition to managing and strengthening existing partnerships, Audia will work to identify and build new customer relationships while providing knowledgeable sales support. With the addition of Dave Audia, our Sales Team possesses over 50 years experience in Tinnerman products and engineered fasteners, and compliments G.L. Huyetts existing engineering experience as an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer, master distributor, and importer of non-threaded fasteners and grease fittings, said Harriger. We are excited to have him on our team. G.L. Huyetts CEO, Tim OKeeffe adds, We have worked hard to create an organizational culture aligned to excellence and professional development. I am pleased to see our hard work validated through recent additions to our Sales Team. To contact Dave Audia, call 330-715-7826, e-mail daudia(at)huyett(dot)com, or visit http://www.huyett.com. About G.L. Huyett Established in 1906 by Guy Huyett in the other Minneapolis, the company is one of the oldest continuously operating businesses in Kansas. Founded on the production and distribution of machinery bushings, in the 1990s, entrepreneurial owners Tim and Carol OKeeffe recognized huge potential in offering low order minimums, fast shipping, and expanding product offerings to a complete inventory of pins, retaining rings, grease fittings and accessories, bushings, washers, shims, shaft collars, engineered fasteners, assortments, and tools. Simparel, Inc. (http://www.simparel.com), the innovator in next-generation information technology for the fashion and other consumer goods industries, has promoted its former COO Roberto Mangual to the position of President. He immediately assumes responsibility for the companys research and development, sales and marketing, customer service and business processes. In addition to heading up operations for the solutions provider over the past 4 years, Mangual brings more than 16 years of executive-level apparel manufacturing and information management experience to his new role. I am honored and privileged to have the opportunity to serve as President at such an exciting time for Simparel, said Mangual. The primary reason I originally joined Simparel was the technology platform that is unrivaled in the ERP space. After working with the dynamic and experienced team behind our solution these past 4 years, Im convinced that our combination of people and technology sit atop the apparel and fashion ERP space. We will build upon the excellence of our platform and our team, to deliver the best, most innovative solutions and services available in the industry for our current and future client-partners. Mangual joined Simparel in 2012 as Director of Services and was named Vice President of Operations later in the same year. In 2013, he was promoted to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Simparel, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Chief Information Officer for leading intimate apparel manufacturer Richard Leeds International. Roberto assumes the leadership of Simparel as former CEO, Steve G. Vogel, transitions to Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel. I am extremely confident in Robertos ability to lead Simparel, noted Vice Chairman Vogel. He has given Simparel a customer focus that has brought us to the forefront of customer satisfaction, doing so with a view to creating technology that gives true value. As Simparel commits to leading technology, I know we have the right leader in Roberto Mangual to continue our revenue growth. Roberto in turn is surrounded by a strong executive team and supported by highly effective project managers and talented developers. About Simparel Designed for the apparel, footwear, accessories, home furnishings and other soft goods industries, Simparel empowers brands, manufacturers and vertical retailers to reach their full potential by accelerating and improving performance across the entire business and global supply chain. The Simparel Enterprise Solution provides global process visibility, control and collaboration by combining traditionally independent Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Sourcing & Supply Chain Management (SCM), Materials Requirements and Manufacturing Planning (MRP), Shop Floor Control (SFC), Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Warehouse Management (WMS), and other productivity tools into a single, fashion-focused business system. The fully integrated end-to-end functionality of Simparel keeps teams and vendors working on the same page. Real-time visibility into product development, orders, inventories, production and supply chain processes enables users to make more informed decisions - faster - across the entire business. The next-generation Simparel software architecture is simpler to deploy and offers greater scalability, performance and total cost of ownership than traditional enterprise solutions. Clients routinely report cost reductions and increased agility and responsiveness across their product development, sourcing, manufacturing, distribution and other business processes with Simparel. For more information, visit http://www.simparel.com. # # # Simparel is a registered trademark of Simparel, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners. I am exceptionally pleased and honoured that B60 has been recognised by these two prestigious technology awards. Its a testament to the excellent skills and commitment of the entire B60 team. B60, one of the UKs leading Mobile Application Development Companies, has been shortlisted in the Mobile Development House category of The Techies 2016 and Best Digital and Technology Blog at The 2016 UK Blog Awards this week. Chris Williams, CEO of B60, who will be attending both award ceremonies, said: I am exceptionally pleased and honoured that B60 has been recognised by these two prestigious technology awards. Its a testament to the excellent skills and commitment of the entire B60 team. Celebrating the best of UK technology innovation and digital disruption, The Techies highlight the industrys most exciting businesses, individuals and startups. And B60 will compete to become 2016s Best Mobile Development House in London later this month. The award, judged by TechWorlds team of respected experts, will go to the company that is helping brands to build the best mobile apps and mobile software in the UK today. Its one of the UKs most eagerly anticipated events and B60 has been recognised as a standout in the app development arena for its highly acclaimed work with the likes of Santander, Vodafone and Brother. It was also announced this week that the B60 Blog will go toe to toe with some of the best digital and technology blogs in Britain at the UK Blog Awards, held in April. Sponsored by Odeon, they are the only Blog Awards recognising a multitude of industry professional talent across the UK. And the Redditch-based business is vying to be crowned the technology bloggers of the year when they take on nine other companies in London. The nominations come amid a sensational past few months for B60 and follows up on last years success, having being voted Best App Developer at the 2015 Appsters Awards. B60 will be hoping to take home both awards and celebrate its fourth birthday in style. To learn more about B60 and the services we offer, please visit http://www.b60apps.co.uk Pivot Point Consulting ranked #3 in the 2015 Best in KLAS: Software & Services for HIT Implementation Support & Staffing report.. Pivot Point Consulting provides high-quality resources to meet project needs. I would highly recommend Pivot Point Consulting to anyone looking for consulting resources related to IT implementations." Pivot Point Consulting, a leading national Healthcare IT consulting firm, ranked #3 in the 2015 Best in KLAS: Software & Services for HIT Implementation Support & Staffing report with an outstanding score of 94.8. The annual Best in KLAS report independently ranks vendor performance by healthcare executives, managers and clinicians representing over 4,500 hospitals and 2,500 clinics. The HIT Implementation Support and Staffing category includes projects where healthcare IT systems are implemented and application experts, analyst/builders, trainer resources or project leadership are provided (either overall or at project management level), but less than eight consultants are part of the engagement. Firms must have at least three unique core clinical implementation engagements that participate with KLAS in order to appear in this segment without a component designation. According to the KLAS website, one healthcare provider states, Pivot Point Consulting provides high-quality resources to meet project needs. They perform a thorough screening of potential consulting candidates so that people know they are getting experienced resources. The consultants become integrated members of the provider's team, as though they are the provider's employees. I would highly recommend Pivot Point Consulting to anyone looking for consulting resources related to IT implementations. Most hospitals and health systems rapidly implemented EHRs over the past five years and are now facing the next phase of technology adoptionfinancial and clinical optimization; they are looking for the best and brightest consultants to integrate their health IT systems and prepare for value-based payment, mentions Rachel Marano, Pivot Point Consultings Partner and Co-Founder. Were pleased to hear customers are confident in our ability to help with healthcare IT strategy, implementation, support and staffing. Pivot Point Consulting was recently named a Top 10 Fastest Growing Firm by ALMs Consulting magazine. The award brings fast-growth consultancies to the forefront, recognizing the industrys top movers in terms of revenue growth over a three-year period. The firm also boasts an industry-leading employee retention rate of 97%, and their dedication is evident in Pivot Points KLAS ranking. Our customers and employees are some of the most satisfied in the healthcare industry, and we are thankful for their ongoing support, says David Scott, Partner and Co-Founder. Our KLAS ranking in HIT implementation support and staffing underscores our customers ongoing confidence in us. About Pivot Point Consulting Pivot Point Consulting, a leading national Healthcare IT consulting firm, provides implementation, staff augmentation and advisory services. Our practices include: electronic health record (EHR) consulting services, strategy and advisory, project management, PMO, legacy and go-live support. Our experienced consultants are highly qualified and knowledgeable in all aspects of healthcare technology and average more than 10 years of healthcare IT experience with multiple certifications. Pivot Point employs over 95 employees in 30 states, and has provided consulting services to over 40 healthcare organizations. Clients range from large multi-hospital networks to academic institutions, pediatric hospitals, and local community clinics. Established in 2008, the firm has earned a number of industry and workplace quality awards including: Ranked #3 in the 2015 Best in KLAS: Software & Services for HIT Implementation Support & Staffing report, Modern Healthcares Best Places to Work, #4 Fastest Growing Firm by Consulting Magazine in 2015, Crains 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in 2014 & 2015, Consulting Magazines Seven Small Jewels Award, Puget Sound Business Journals #1 Fastest Growing Eastside Seattle Firm, Puget Sound Business Journals #3 Fastest Growing Firm in Washington, and Rising Star of the Profession by Consulting Magazine. For more information about Pivot Point Consulting, visit us at http://www.pivotpointconsulting.com or call 800.381.9681. About KLAS KLAS is a research and insights firm on a global mission to improve healthcare delivery by amplifying the provider's voice. Working with thousands of healthcare professionals and clinicians, KLAS gathers data and insights on software, services, and medical equipment to deliver timely reports, trends and statistical overviews. The research directly represents the provider voice and acts as a catalyst for improving vendor performance. Follow KLAS on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/KLASresearch. Company Contact Rachel Marano, Partner & Co-Founder Pivot Point Consulting F350 Super Duty Heavy Lift We are entrepreneurial auto experts! At first glance, 2016 looks to be an exciting year for Niyato Industries Inc. The leader in alternative fuel technology has purchased a new developmental 2016 Ford F 350 6.2 liter in order to perfect its own CARB and EPA certifications. The 2016 CERT will cover all Ford motor 6.2 liter families from 2012 forward, including the F 250 and F 350. Niyato will be providing systems with the capability to operate on propane and natural gas, as bi-fuel and dual-fuel and dedicated platforms. All while meeting the current emissions standards and regulations. Long standing expert Keith Thompson will head Niyato Industries calibration and system design team for Niyatos future developmental depart, Keith is credited for all calibration work for EPA certification for Bachman NVG and BAF technologies and did all development work on kits sold, he was also with Westport Wing heading up the trouble shooting division through December of 2015. Keith has been retrofitting Alternative Fuel Vehicles since 1981. Bottom line: Thanks to Niyatos latest developments and state-of-the-art technology in the field of automotive, fleets will never be left without an option to fuel. Broader transportation fuel choices are the future of the automotive Industry. And Niyato is setting it all in motion. Quite literally. Niyato expects the certification to be complete at the end of March 2016 and is taking orders for the 2012-2016 alternative systems now. The company will also be certifying the F 150 5.0 liter later this year, as well as other GM products capable of being re-powered to operate on alternative fuel sources beyond gasoline or diesel. Lofty goals? Not at all. This is all part of "The Stencil Plan", a.k.a. Niyato CEO Leslie Stencils vision that he and his team of entrepreneurial auto experts are steadily bringing to fruition. Niyato aims to provide the ultimate in customer satisfaction, the same experience that the customer has grown to love and trust with Ford and GM. A peace of mind nationwide thanks to Niyato and its unstoppable supply chain network. For example, service related issues that used to take other providers weeks to resolve can now be rectified in days just by changing to Niyato. Stencil comments, Finally a company that fleet operators can trust. Believe me when I say, we have heard the complaints from the current so-called KIT providers, and the stories are terrible. It seems that the current company that provides them has only made their pockets fatter with no money left over to take care of the people that got them there or the loyal customers who pay for the systems and the service. Stencil refers to it as a too many chiefs and not enough Indians scenario. He goes on to add, That will not happen when you switch to a system provider that has the same automotive experience as a traditional Ford or GM dealership. One you and your fleet have grown to know and count on. One where all its senior level management actually grew up in the automotive business. My Vice Chairman Kathi Hanly is credited with commissioning the first Toyota American Automotive plant (as well as many others), and I, myself, had my first propane vehicle way back in 1985. You might say I was one of the early adopters of alternative fuel. My truck ran great and was cheaper to drive. We are going to make alternative fuel great in America. Stencil is a self-proclaimed motor head, something he says is a whole other story. But hes proud of this lifelong passion as it most certainly has contributed to his desire and thirst for knowledge as to how to make it even better for his fellow Americans. Additional Niyato gears in motion: The company is still on the path to list on the Over The Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) stock exchange in the coming months as well. After a year on the OTCBB, Niyato plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange at some point thereafter. About Niyato Industries Inc. The company was founded by Mr. Leslie Stencil through his relentless pursuit to change the way Americans think about their fuel and to give the American people a transportation fuel alternative (Natural Gas and propane). Safe Harbor Statement This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approvals for anticipated actions. Such statements are based on managements current expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to or implied by such statements. In addition, actual or future results may differ materially from those anticipated depending on a variety of factors, including continued maintenance of favorable license arrangements, success of market research identifying new product opportunities, successful introduction of new products, continued product innovation, sales and earnings growth, ability to attract and retain key personnel, and general economic conditions affecting consumer spending. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. For more information please visit Niyato Industries at http://www.niyato.com. SOURCE: Niyato Industries Market Services James Gaiser, CMO US Toll Free: 800- 230-7270 International: +704-791-7303 On June 9-10, Las Vegas will host RD1: Optimizing Primary Care for Patients with Rare Diseases, a continuing medical education (CME) event presented by the Association for Comprehensive Care in Rare Diseases (ACCORD). This conference is the first of its kindand a first for ACCORD, whose mission is to provide education, tools, and resources to primary care clinicians that will help them provide comprehensive care to patients with rare diseases. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans, or 30 million people, live with a rare diseaseand two-thirds of these patients are children. However, having a rare disease doesnt make the person rare, and people with rare diseases have common medical needs, too. In fact, rare diseases are often discovered in the primary care setting, where patients continue to be seen for routine medical care throughout their lives. Despite primary care clinicians assuming responsibility for the management and care of these patients common needs, the majority of primary care clinicians do not receive any special training on how to administer or adjust routine care for their patients with rare diseases. ACCORD hopes RD1 will bring these issues to light, as well as raise the bar for the quality of primary care provided to this population. Conference Chairperson, Dr Robert Saul of Greenville, South Carolina, notes: Although each of these diseases is rare on its own, together they affect the lives of 30 million Americans. Clearly, primary care providers must be better prepared to help identify and care for these patients. A survey conducted by ACCORD confirms that many health care professionals (HCPs) are less than confident providing routine care for patients with rare diseases. To address this gap, the RD1 conference will endeavor to help clinicians: Understand why primary care is critical to the overall management of rare diseases Identify clinical clues that expedite diagnosis of rare diseases in different clinical settings Develop successful referral networks Locate resources for clinical practice Utilize tools and resources to manage the whole patient Optimize care for special populations (eg, pediatric and female patients) Continuing medical education credits will be available to HCPs through the University of Cincinnati, Health and Wellness Education Partners, and the Global Academy for Medical Education. More information about the RD1 conference and ACCORD can be found at http://www.ACCORDweb.org. HCPs who treat people with rare diseases can register for the conference at http://www.ACCORDCME.org. About ACCORD The Association for Comprehensive Care in Rare Diseasesor ACCORDis a new ally in the rare disease community that focuses specifically on improving the quality of primary care for people living with rare diseases, by championing clinical and administrative best practices for managing these conditions, facilitating dialogue between primary care and specialty care providers, and equipping providers with tools and resources to address patients unmet needs. ACCORD is committed to enhancing primary care for patients with rare diseases. For more information on ACCORD, please visit http://www.ACCORDweb.org or email contact(at)ACCORDweb.org. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the University of Cincinnati, Health and Wellness Education Partners, and the Global Academy for Medical Education. The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Physicians | The University of Cincinnati designates this live activity for a maximum of 12 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Nurses | An application has been submitted for continuing education contact hours for nurses. Please contact meeting(at)ACCORDweb.org to obtain information regarding approval status. Contact: Jani Hegarty, President Health and Wellness Education Partners Ramsey, NJ (201) 661-5552 Follow us on Twitter @ACCORDCME Stuart H. Bentkover, MD, FACS Stuart Bentkover, MD, FACS is thrilled to announce the arrival of the latest in tattoo technology, the PicoSure. Designed to provide the most effective tattoo removal today, Dr. Bentkover is the only doctor in Central Massachusetts to offer patients this cutting-edge option with unmatched results. Developed by Cynosure, the PicoSure has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe and efficient method for tattoo removal. A picosecond aesthetic laser, the PicoSure can remove all colors of tattoo ink, in substantially fewer treatments than with a traditional laser. The PicoSure can also provide skin rejuvenation, eliminating benign pigmented skin lesions, acne scars, and wrinkles. Traditional tattoo removal methods are painful, and even after the recommended number of treatments, provide inconsistent results. The Q-Switched laser, once considered best tattoo removal laser available, cannot provide the exceptional results seen with the PicoSure technology. PicoSure utilizes ultra short pulses of laser light, focused on target tissues, which then shatters the pigmented tattoo ink. The PicoSures laser energy creates an intense pressure on these pockets of ink, breaking them apart upon impact. As the body naturally eliminates the particles of ink broken by the PicoSure, the targeted area will fade until the tattoo is no longer visible. The ink particles are safely metabolized and eliminated by the body. Compared to the traditional forms of tattoo removal, PicoSure requires fewer treatments and provides better overall results. The number of laser tattoo removal patients has more than doubled in the last decade. Body ink is extremely common, although one in every five people will experience tattoo-remorse. Dr. Bentkover explains this situation. I regularly gets calls from people who wake up horrified to find themselves tattooed after a night out, Bentkover explains. Additionally, we also see many patients who regret their tattoos years later and just want them gone, such as professional women who dont want their tattoos on display at work. The addition of the PicoSure to his New England tattoo removal practice will expedite help for these individuals. Each PicoSure treatment will be individually designed, depending on a variety of factors including the size of the tattoo, color of ink involved, and the level of correction. Normally, between three and six treatments are required. Most PicoSure appointment will take approximately a half hour. Dr. Bentkover also works with area tattoo artists to modify or remove parts of tattoos that patients want touched up or done over. Those interested in finding out more about the PicoSure laser are encouraged should contact Bentkover Facial Plastic Surgery and Laser Center at 508.363.6500 or go to http://www.tattooremovalboston.com. Consultations are seen at both his Worcester and Stoneham offices. Founder of Bentkover Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Bentkover is double Board Certified by the American Board for Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. He received his bachelor degree from Princeton, his MD from New York Citys Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and completed his residency through Harvard Medical School. Dr. Bentkover is a dedicated speaker and educator; aside from his private practice, he is part of the clinical faculty at UMass and Harvard Medical Schools. Dr. Michael Cravens, director of FHU's DBH program, works with Phillip Nicholas, a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling. Given the complexity of care, growth of information and technology, an increasingly diverse population and the disparities in care, the need for such a program is both timely and necessary. Freed-Hardeman University will offer a Doctorate of Behavioral Health beginning Fall 2016, according to an announcement made by FHU President Joe Wiley. The FHU Board of Trustees has approved offering the Doctor of Behavioral Health degree, pending final approval of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. I am gratified that the SACSCOC commissioners at their meeting in December approved FHU's request to move to a Level V institution, which allows us to offer up to three doctoral degrees. This means that FHU may now offer up to two more doctoral programs, Wiley said. The university currently offers a Doctor of Education and will be seeking final approval specifically to offer the Doctorate of Behavioral Health. The D.B.H. will be one of Tennessees first professional doctorates in behavioral health, as well as the one of the first offered by universities associated with churches of Christ. It is a professional doctoral degree that will prepare post-masters, licensed, clinicians to provide advanced-integrated care in a variety of behavioral health settings. The new D.B.H. is designed to meet the needs of working clinicians who may enroll in the program as full-time or part-time students. The 60-hour program will be delivered face-to-face and online. The curriculum includes traditional courses, virtual sessions, clinical rotations, video consultations with practitioners in the field and a capstone research project focused on students professional career interests, according to Dr. Michael Cravens, director of FHUs clinical mental health counseling program and professor of counseling and of family science. It is geared toward students who prefer an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs. The unique curriculum is designed to meet the triple aim of improved patient care, better clinical outcomes and reduction of the per capita cost of healthcare. The curriculum also focuses on developing advanced clinical skills to meet the needs of the new Accountable Care Organization model. Its executive leadership component will enable students to maximize earning potential by filling organizational and market demands. Given the complexity of care, growth of information and technology, an increasingly diverse population and the disparities in care, the need for such a program is both timely and necessary, Cravens said. The D.B.H. differs from a Ph.D. in both objectives and curriculum, according to Cravens. The program is similar to clinical-practice doctorates in other health disciplines such as pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, nursing and audiology. It focuses on advanced clinical (practice) skills, applied research and executive leadership. The D.B.H. covers a wider range of topics than those in a typical Ph.D. counselor education and supervision program. Reflecting current thought and practice in behavioral health, the program is geared to a changing market place, academic arena and health-related fields, Cravens said. Additional information regarding the program is available at fhu.edu/dbh. The new mid-size mobile kitchen model is designed specifically to be customizable to the needs of every customer. California Mobile Kitchens, a company that designs and manufactures practical mobile kitchens, recently announced the debut of their latest mobile kitchen model, featuring customizable stainless steel interiors and a new, 26-foot unit. California Mobile Kitchens provides organizations with modern, high-volume commercial kitchens for use anywhere in the U.S. Many of their units can be seen at sporting events, video production sets, or military bases throughout California and across the country. Backed by more than 25 years of experience in the industry, this local California company specializes in both short and long-term mobile kitchen leasing. Leasing mobile kitchens is a cost-effective and efficient way to accommodate the catering needs of any group, small or large. The company is contracted with the U.S. Government and has been their primary source for mobile kitchen services for many years. With the addition of the new mid-size units, announced earlier this year, California Mobile Kitchens has introduced and made this catering solution available to many more local organizations. The new mid-size mobile kitchen model is designed specifically to be customizable to the needs of every customer. Many useful features have been added to the new units, including the addition of a stainless-steel 6-burner range system, hand sink, 7K Onan generator, and double basket deep fryer. Aesthetic and practical modifications have also been made to the service window, work counters, and customizable menu board. Dedication to excellent service is also a cornerstone of their business model. California Mobile Kitchens offers 24-hour customer service with all leasing agreements, ensuring any maintenance or repair problems are resolved quickly and any questions pertaining to the equipment can be answered instantly. The company also offers additional back-up generators, refrigeration trailers, and other necessary equipment for lease. California Mobile Kitchens can assist nearly any business or organization in need of temporary mobile kitchen solutions. Companies can lease portable office trailers for special events or extended off-site projects, as well as portable showers, restroom facilities, and emergency response units. For more information on California Mobile Kitchens, please visit http://www.californiamobilekitchens.com or call toll-free at (877) 862-6189. California Mobile Kitchens 953 Peterson Ranch Templeton, CA 93456 (805) 434-6172 Press release by Access Publishing, 806 9th Street, #2D, Paso Robles, CA 93446 (805) 226-9890. Liberty University's DeMoss Hall. Liberty University has moved up to the Doctoral Universities level in a recent listing from the Carnegie Foundation, placing it among only 335 universities in the country to receive the designation and further recognizing Libertys commitment to academic excellence. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education serves as a national framework for classifying colleges and universities, primarily for educational and research purposes. The listings shape how more than 4,660 post-secondary institutions across the country are viewed by independent analysts, government officials, and academic groups. U.S. News & World Report relies on the classifications for its annual Best Colleges ranking; it is expected that U.S. News will now list Liberty as a national university rather than a regional university. Carnegie classifies doctoral universities as institutions that award a minimum of 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees, not including medical or law degrees. In 2013-2014 (the year used in the latest report), Liberty awarded nearly 800 doctoral degrees. (Read more about college classifications and Libertys move in the Washington Post.) President Jerry Falwell Jr. said the classification better reflects Libertys academic reputation. Liberty University is very pleased with the change in its classification by Carnegie from the masters to the doctoral level. Libertys academic leadership has steadily increased doctoral level programs as Liberty has become more of a national research-based institution of higher learning in recent years. The Provost and the faculty deserve the highest commendation. Carnegie has classified Liberty as an R3 Doctoral University, described as having moderate research activity. As a fully accredited liberal arts university with an evangelical foundation, Liberty offers more than 500 programs of study, including 24 doctoral degree programs. Students can study on Libertys residential campus, overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, or enjoy the flexibility and convenience of an online education program. With enrollment exceeding 100,000 students 14,500 residential and over 95,000 online Liberty remains the largest private, nonprofit four-year college in the country, the nations fifth largest university, and the largest college in Virginia. About Liberty University Liberty University, founded in 1971, is the largest private, nonprofit university in the nation, the largest university in Virginia, and the largest Christian university in the world. Located near the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 acres in Lynchburg, Va., Liberty offers more than 500 unique programs of study from the certificate to the doctoral level. More than 200 programs are offered online. Libertys mission is to train Champions for Christ with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrows world. USDA is gathering new data on certified organic agriculture production across the United States. As farm sales from organic agriculture products increase, demand for accurate statistics about organic farming grows as well. This survey will be another step forward by USDA in its commitment to helping organic agriculture thrive. The U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has begun conducting the 2015 Certified Organic Survey to gather up-to-date data on certified organic crops and livestock in the United States. This special survey effort is critical to help determine the economic impact of certified organic agriculture production in the United States. NASS is mailing the survey to all known organic farms in the United States. The form asks farmers to provide information on acreage, production, and sales for a variety of certified organic crop and livestock commodities. In addition, NASS is gathering information about organic farmers production and marketing practices. The agency urges all participants to respond by February 19. After this date, NASS will follow up by mail, phone and personal interviews with those who have not responded. Producers can return their forms by mail or complete the survey online at http://www.agcounts.usda.gov. In recent years, U.S. farms have experienced tremendous growth in organic agriculture sales. Last year, NASS reported that U.S. certified and exempt organic farms sold a total of $5.5 billion in organic products in 2014, up 72 percent since 2008, said Adam Cline, NASS Census Section Head and member of the USDA Organic Working Group. As farm sales from organic agriculture products increase, demand for accurate statistics about organic farming grows as well. This survey will be another step forward by USDA in its commitment to helping organic agriculture thrive and will ensure that future decisions impacting the industry stem from factual information. Agriculture statistics are frequently used by business and policy decision makers, and in this case farmers themselves stand to reap the most benefits. The 2015 Certified Organic Survey will provide data for USDAs Risk Management Agency to evaluate crop insurance coverage to help provide adequate pricing for organic producers. The report, to be released September 2016, will also assist farmers, suppliers and others in the private sector in planning the production and marketing of new products to help sustain industry growth. NASS has a long-standing reputation for providing objective, accurate data about all aspects of U.S. agriculture, but the only way for us to provide accurate reports is with farmers input, added Cline. This is a voluntary survey and I hope that all organic farmers who receive it will recognize it as a way to benefit their industry and take the time to respond. As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents, ensuring that no individual operation or producer can be identified, as required by federal law. For more information about the 2015 Certified Organic Survey visit http://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Organic_Production/index.php. ### NASS is the federal statistical agency responsible for producing official data about U.S. agriculture and is committed to providing timely, accurate and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. We invite you to provide occasional feedback on our products and services. Sign up at http://bit.ly/NASS_Subscriptions and look for the NASS Data User Community. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD)or (866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). Matt Hall travels along 2nd Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska during the 2014 Yukon Quest. High winds and whiteout conditions, rough gravel, hard packed snow, frigid open water, mountainous terrain and river flats can speed up the race or slow it to a crawl The 33rd Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race begins February 6, 2016 at 11am in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska, and finishes in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada. Due to jumble ice on the Chena River, the 1,000 mile race will see a shift in the start line location in 2016 to ensure the safety of the dogs, mushers and public. The start line will be located on the river side of the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center at 101 Dunkel Street in Fairbanks and will continue on to the Chena River. Dog mushing is the Official Alaska State Sport, with the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod being Alaskas premier long distance mushing events. The Yukon Quest trail follows historical gold rush and mail delivery dog sled routes. Once the transportation highways of the northern frontier, the Yukon Quest trail now comes alive each February with the frosty breath and haunting howls of dog teams consisting of one human musher and 14 canine athletes. Race participants follow a 1,000-mile trail that traverses some of the most sparsely populated, remote and pristine country on the North American continent, where temperatures can vary dramatically from 80F to 30F. High winds and whiteout conditions, rough gravel, hard packed snow, frigid open water, mountainous terrain and river flats can speed up the race or slow it to a crawl. Mushers driving sleds loaded with 250-300 pounds of gear are challenged by elevation changes as they climb windy and drifted mountain summits, and the sheer distances between checkpoints, some over 100 miles. Twenty-three mushers are scheduled to take off from the start line in Fairbanks. This years participants include three past champions, all Alaskan residents. Allen Moore won back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014; Hugh Neff took the crown in 2012 and Brett Sass, who is the reigning champion. The 2016 Yukon Quest should take 9 to 14 days to run the 1,000 miles through nine communities en route to Whitehorse. For the latest news and information, visit yukonquest.com. ## About Explore Fairbanks Explore Fairbanks is a non-profit marketing and management organization whose mission is to be an economic driver in the Fairbanks region by marketing to potential visitors and optimizing the visitor experience. Explore Fairbanks markets Fairbanks as a year-round destination by promoting local events, attractions and activities to independent travelers, group tour operators, travel agents, meeting planners and the media as well as by developing public policy and infrastructure to achieve marketing objectives. Find out more at explorefairbanks.com. People work where they want to livenot the other way around. We are witnessing a resurgence of the economically sustainable community and American dream. As part of the Angel Capital Group network of micro venture capital funds, the Tri State Angel Investment Group, joined in a deal worth nearly $1 million to fund Portsmouth, Ohio, virtual reality tech company, Yost Labs (http://www.yostlabs.com). Other participating investors included the East Central Ohio Tech Angels Fund (ECOTAF http://www.ecotaf.net) and the TechGROWTH Ohio (http://www.techgrowthohio.com), with support from Ohios Third Frontier program. "Our investment in Yost Labs confirms Tri States belief that there are great companies in our area that can prosper with the support of angel funding and assistance, said Don Perry, Chairman of the Tri State Angel Investment Group (TSAIG). According to Perry, TSAIG was responsible for bringing the deal to the attention of their financial partners in the Angel Capital Group network, drawing in investors from across the South and Midwest. Yost has great leadership, a great market, and groundbreaking, patented technology. We are thrilled to add them to our portfolio, declared Perry, noting that this is the second of such investments between the groups with many more expected in the future. According to Dr. Eric Dobson, Chief Executive Officer of the Angel Capital Group (http://www.theangelcapitalgroup.com): Helping a local company like Yost Labs meet its growth aspirations is the reason Angel Capital Group exists. Innovation has moved off the coasts to the heartland. People work where they want to livenot the other way around. We are witnessing a resurgence of the economically sustainable community and American dream. Yost Labs invented the worlds fastest inertial motion sensors. Customers include Apple, Google, Amazon, NASA and the US Navy. With this investment, Yost plans to add employees to meet the demands of the exploding virtual reality, drone and sensor markets. Industry analysts have named Yost Labs a technology leader in the emerging virtual reality market a market estimated to be worth over $150 billion by 2020. The companys PrioVR full-body immersive motion capture system will start shipping in March, and has already pre-sold thousands of units. Greg Merril, CEO in Yost Labs is confident: By the end of this year we are on track to have the largest user and developer community of any full-body inertial sensor interface device in the world. Currently, the Company has ten employees and is projected to reach 300 employees by 2020. Said Merril: A motivating factor in our success is that 100 years ago southern Ohio and the surrounding Appalachian area was a national leader in manufacturing. With the depression, floods and other factors, this became an economically challenged region. Today, with the help of this investment, we are in the process of making the Ohio Valley into the next Silicon Valley. ABOUT TRI STATE ANGEL INVESTMENT GROUP: The Tri State Angel Investment Group (TSAIG) was formed to pool the capital resources and the business connections of accredited investors in and around the tri state region. TSAIG will make investments in private companies that demonstrate the potential for sustainable, profitable, growth capable of providing a suitable return to the investors. The Tri State Angel Investment Group, LLC, attempts to focus the majority of its investments and help create jobs within the Tri State Region of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. For more information, please contact Mick Fosson, mick.fosson(at)kctcs(dot)edu, (606) 922-2678. ABOUT ANGEL CAPITAL GROUP: The Angel Capital Group network brings Angel investors and entrepreneurs together in an environment that celebrates innovation, rewards strategic risk-taking, and promotes performance. Through membership in Angel Capital Group, once-solitary Angel investors, or even a single Angel Group, have access to the best deals (regardless of location or industry) without facing the pressure to fund an entire deal on their own. A national brand presence allows ACG to source hundreds of quality investment opportunities, supported by a suite of investor services, to incentivize for true portfolio diversification. For more information, visit http://www.theangelcapitalgroup.com, info(dot)angelcapitalgroup(dot)com, or 1-844-949-2622 x2012. Dr. Amanda Cheng Dr. Ben Amini, a San Francisco dentist and founder of CitiDent, announces that it is now welcoming orthodontist, Dr. Amanda Cheng, to the practice. With the addition of services provided by Dr. Cheng, CitiDent offers a complete range of oral health care, including general dentistry, cosmetic treatments, periodontics, implant dentistry, endodontics, orthodontics and more. A graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Cheng specializes in orthodontics and craniofacial orthopedics with training at the University of Minnesota and the Mayo Clinic. The set of skills that Dr. Cheng brings will further enhance the convenience patients enjoy when they visit the dental practice founded by Dr. Ben Amini. About Dr. Amanda Cheng, Orthodontist San Francisco Dr. Cheng is an expert in the latest orthodontic technologies and techniques. Trained by world-renowned experts in the orthodontic field, Dr. Cheng is also a talented fine artist who has an eye for aesthetic results in her orthodontic work. Patients who visit Dr. Cheng will appreciate the option to receive innovative treatments like, shape-memory, customized arch wires, and minimal friction brackets which look great and work quickly, and Acceledent, which accelerates orthodontic results. Outside of the office, Dr. Cheng, San Francisco Invisalign provider, donates her time and skills to underserved people around the world through several charities. Dr. Cheng is fluent in Mandarin as well as English. The full array of treatments performed at CitiDent includes virtually every type of oral care patients may need. Restorations, such as fillings, inlays, onlays and crowns, are offered for repair of damaged teeth due to fracture or cavities. Cosmetic treatments at CitiDent include teeth whitening, veneers and bonding. Orthodontics now include not only Invisalign but also other more efficient braces options. Periodontics, for treatment of gum disease, and Endodontics, for treatment of infected teeth, are also offered. Finally, TMJ problems, snoring, and sleep apnea treatment are available at CitiDent. About Dr. Ben Amini Dr. Ben Amini completed his Doctor of Dental Surgery, at the University of California, San Francisco, UCSF School of Dentistry. He is a member of several local, national and international dental organizations. Dr. Amini also contributes to dental research and is an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCSF School of Dentistry. With ongoing participation in continuing education courses, Dr. Amini stays up to date on the latest dental treatments, offering the latest technology in a state-of-the-art dental practice. Muscle Gloss offer a complete line of easy-to-use and application-specific 100% solids epoxy coatings and patches We are convinced that this acquisition will further develop our customer relationships and help the installers we partner with grow their business. MuscleGloss, one of the premier wholesale suppliers to epoxy flooring contractors in the U.S., has been purchased by Superior Manufacturing. Superior Manufacturing, a leader in the formulation and manufacture of Epoxy, Urethane coatings and Patches, has formulated MuscleGlosss proprietary line of 100% solids epoxy coatings and patches since the companys inception. As such, customers will experience no change in any of the product formulations or performance. Superior Manufacturings acquisition of MuscleGloss represents an opportunity for competitive market pricing and gives customers access to over 450 proprietary facility maintenance products. MuscleGloss's epoxy flooring services and products currently distributes to flooring installation applicators in 11 countries and all 50 states. As a result of the acquisition, MuscleGloss will be better equipped to meet supply, pricing and delivery needs. We are convinced that this acquisition will further develop our customer relationships and help the installers we partner with grow their business, said Josh Mertens, Senior Business Development Manager. Our partners can expect to receive the same level of high-touch customer service and support they are used to. In addition to MuscleGlosss proprietary line of 100% solids epoxy coatings and patches, the company will soon be carrying products in a number of verticals, including, but not limited to: Floor Finishes and Sealers, Concrete Coating, Patching and Maintenance, Concrete Prepping and Polishing Equipment, Roofing and Parking Lot Repair, Matting, Janitorial Products, and Cleaners and Degreasers. About Muscle Gloss: Muscle Gloss is committed to building partnerships by offering quality professional solutions and products to grow your business. We offer a complete line of easy-to-use and application-specific 100% solids epoxy coatings and patches. Our dealer program provides a range of support to dealers and installers as well as dealer referrals to consumers. Muscle Gloss is committed to helping our distributors and dealers sell our products. We offer array of sales and marketing tools designed to increase dealer sales. Learn more about our products and services at musclegloss.com. About Superior Manufacturing: Superior Manufacturing has become a trusted leader in the manufacturing and private branding of flooring products, epoxies, floor coatings & sealers, floor patch, green products, buildings & grounds maintenance, industrial cleaners & degreasers, coolants & lubricants and specialty products. Learn more about our products and services at ordersuperior.com. Circle of Vision Awards It was an honor to recognize each award recipient at our sixth annual Circle of Vision Luncheon for their continuing support and leadership among our many generous donors. - University President Kevin Alexander, OD, PhD. At a luncheon to celebrate and recognize major donors and create excitement centered on Ketchum Universitys ACHIEVING 20|20: The Campaign for MBKU, the university honored the Knott family, Mr. Robert & Mrs. Lois Moore and the Phelps family. The Circle of Vision Award honors corporate, volunteer and philanthropic achievement. This years award recipients were recognized for their generosity in shaping Marshall B. Ketchum University. Jerome Hunter, EdD, chair of Marshall B. Ketchum Universitys board of trustees presented three Circle of Vision Awards for Distinguished Philanthropy on Friday, January 29. This years award recipients have demonstrated records of exceptional generosity, who have significantly improved the quality of life in our institution and our community, and whose generosity motivates others to provide philanthropic support, said Dr. Hunter. The first award honored the Knott Family. Mr. Steve Knott attended Fridays luncheon and accepted the award on behalf of his family. Steve actively participated as co-chair of the Centennial Gala in 2004 and on the Annual Gala and V-Awards committee from 20112013. Together, Mrs. Mildred Knott, Steves mother, and Steve have contributed philanthropic dollars to support: the Centennial Gala, Annual Gala & V-Awards, building and capital improvements, the ACHIEVING 20|20 Campaign, educational programs and the Sharing Visions Art Exhibit. Mr. Robert & Mrs. Lois Moore, MBKUs second award recipient, generously named the universitys Lecture Hall 3 in memory of Roberts beloved brother, Captain Harry Cecil Moore. Lecture Hall 3 is located on the ground floor of the Richard L. Hopping Academic Center at MBKU. The lecture hall has state-of-the-art presentation equipment including full HD projection systems, interactive digital white boards and digital audio equipment. All of these systems work together delivering content to the universitys Lecture Management System, allowing Ketchum students online access to review lectures captured by this system. The third Circle of Vision Award for Distinguished Philanthropy honored the Phelps family. The Phelps family foundation, The Wilson W. Phelps Foundation has supported the universitys eye care initiatives for several years. Their contributions have funded reconstruction of the Ocular Neurology Center in the University Eye Center, pediatric vision care and glasses for low-income children, eye exams and glasses for underserved adults, low vision patient assistance and care, M&S Technology Visual Acuity Software System and Spanish-language marketing materials for the clinic. It was an honor to recognize each award recipient at our sixth annual Circle of Vision Luncheon for their continuing support and leadership among our many generous donors, said University President Kevin Alexander, OD, PhD. As we look to open the doors to our newest facility, Ketchum Health, this spring, our needs will grow. Events like our Circle of Vision luncheon give us an opportunity to pause, reflect and honor those who have helped make our achievements possible. Momentum in the university's first-ever comprehensive fundraising campaign continues to build. Support from donors like Steve and Milly, Bob and Lois, and the Phelps family will help us successfully reach the $20 million goal of our ACHIEVING 20|20: The Campaign for MBKU, Dr. Alexander concluded. For more information about MBKUs ACHIEVING 20|20: The Campaign for MBKU, contact Vice President for University Advancement Paul Stover, M.Ed., at 714.449.7461 or pstover(at)ketchum(dot)edu. About Marshall B. Ketchum University Located in Fullerton, CA, Marshall B. Ketchum University is an independent, private, non-profit, accredited educational institution. MBKU is now home to the Southern California College of Optometry, the School of Physician Assistant Studies and planned College of Pharmacy. Named after the founder of the optometric institution in 1904, the change to a university structure addresses the growing demand for highly skilled health care professionals. The university confers a four-year, professional degree, Doctor of Optometry (OD) and a Master of Science in Vision Science (MS) degree. MBKUs School of Physician Assistant Studies under the College of Health Sciences awards a Master of Medical Sciences (MMS) degree. MBKU has recently announced plans to establish a College of Pharmacy and plans to welcome its first class in the fall of 2016. MBKU owns and operates two premier eye and vision care centers University Eye Center at Fullerton and University Eye Center at Los Angeles. Marshall B. Ketchum University closed on a deal in January, 2015 to purchase a building in Anaheim, CA. The building will be the new home of Ketchum Health, currently the University Eye Center housed at MBKUs main campus in Fullerton. In addition, the new space will allow for expansion of additional primary health care services, as well as a pharmacy. ### If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Though Kate Beasleys debut middle grade novel Gerties Leap to Greatness (FSG) doesnt publish until October, between its multi-house auction, six-figure deal, and illustrations by Caldecott Honoree Jillian Tamaki, the authors career is poised for its own leap to greatness. Editor Grace Kendall was new to FSG when she met Beasleys agent Emily Van Beek of Folio Jr. at a cocktail party around the time of this years BEA. Van Beek talked up Gertie, and the story excited Kendall. So when Kendall received the official pitch in her email that Monday morning, she started reading the book immediately. I read the first line, I dont know why I did that, I dont always do that, and it sent a shiver down my spine. I knew I was in the hands of a really great writer. That first line, The bullfrog was only half dead, which was just perfect, hooked Kendall, just as she hopes it will hook readers. The thing that struck me about this manuscript, she said, is that anyone can have a great first line, or chapter, or first paragraph, and our job as editors is to spruce up the space in between. But Kate writes a whole book. She strings one sentence to another, to a plot arc, to the next. And there are lines in the book that are just so resonant. The quality of the prose is what sealed Kendalls determination to acquire the book. Gertie fits into the list at FSG of timeless classics that kids are going to keep reaching for. After securing the book in a six-house auction in summer 2014, Kendall set about securing a spot illustrator for the book. There were just moments and scenes begging to be seen, Kendall said, and [the book] begged, from the point of acquisition, to get illustrated. I went a bit Beautiful Mind on the project, you could see all these [artist] samples tacked up on the walls of my office. Around the same time, Kendall read This One Summer and felt that Tamakis style would be pitch perfect for Gertie. Theres a scene [in This One Summer] where the younger girl is dancing around the table. The scene made Kendall want to see Gertie through Tamakis eyes, because for Kendall both Beasleys prose and Tamakis illustrations had the same elegant, muscular, and thoughtful tone. Tamaki agreed to illustrate, and started by selecting her own 20 scenes to draw, from which Kendall chose a final 1315 images for inclusion. Not long after Tamaki signed on to the project, This One Summer received the Caldecott Honor and Printz Honor. An Author to Watch Author Beasley said she started out as a voracious reader as a kid, devouring everything by Beverly Cleary. I ready many of her books many, many times, she said, citing Louis Sachars Holes as another favorite. It wasnt until she took a creative writing class on a whim at college, while trying to decide which major to declare, that it even occurred to her to be a writer. Before that, I didnt realize it was a career, Beasley said, I just saw the books on the shelves and didnt think about how they got there. After college, she went to the Vermont College of Fine Arts to study writing for children. She had drafted a list of her favorite books and realized they were all childrens books, and mostly middle grade. Thats where I feel most comfortable, she said of the genre. Those are the books I love the most. Gertie began in graduate school, and she has worked on the manuscript since 2011, including two passes with mentors when the book was her thesis project. She finds that the first draft is the hardest, though in a rare admission from any writer, Beasley said she loves revisions. I get to make [the book] better. I really love that part, she said. Kate Beasleys sister, Cassie Beasley, released her own debut novel Circus Mirandus last fall, after she sold it to Dial the same week as Kate sold her book. It was kind of exciting to watch her go through it, Beasley said of her sisters debut release, which preceded her own. I had a better idea of what was going to happen. The pair also help each other with edits. It probably does help that I have a sister who can read my stuff immediately, Beasley said, and its great if you have somebody you can trust that you respect as a writer, Kate said of her sister. Soon Beasley will get to experience her own book release, and the attendant promotional flurry. And all the while shes working on her second book for Kendall, though shes still in her least favorite first draft phase, and the content of that book is still in flux. But with Gerties release on the horizon, Kendall is confident that Beasley is a new author to watch. It is shocking, Kendall said. There are people who have done this their whole lives, and theres so much you can learn about craft, and there are some things that are innate. [Beasley]s a young master. What it is, in my opinion, is an ability to craft a sentence that is chock full of voice, emotion, and plot, and its just this characters journey. Thats why I think the cover is so perfect its just this girl midstride in everything. Archipelago Books, a not-for-profit press devoted to publishing English-language translations of classic and contemporary literature from around the world, will launch a childrens imprint in spring 2017. Since opening its doors in 2003, the independent, Brooklyn-based house has released more than 100 adult books, translated from more than 30 languages. We feel this is a very natural extension of our larger mission, said Kendall Storey, Archipelagos associate editor and publicist, of the companys expansion into the childrens arena. In America, the same problem exists in both childrens and adult publishing: literature in translation is under-represented. We believe that artistic exchange between cultures is a crucial aspect of global understanding, and our goal is to introduce young readers to voices and art from around the world. Archipelago founder and publisher Jill Schoolman also views expansion into the childrens market as a logical next step, adding another component to her initial vision for the company. I was hoping that we would eventually create something of an archipelago, she said, where novels and poetry from different languages, countries, and cultures like islands of an archipelago could at once be distinct and connected to something larger and harmonious. The yet-to-be named childrens imprint from Archipelago (whose books are distributed by Penguin Random House) will focus solely on picture books for the foreseeable future. The three debut titles reflect the scope and cultural diversity of the list, which Storey anticipates will feature at least three new titles annually. Due in March 2017 is My Valley by Claude Ponti, translated from the French by Alyson Waters. The author-illustrator, who was awarded Frances Prix Sorcieres Special in 2006 for lifetime achievement, sets his story in an enchanted world inhabited by monkey-like creatures and sad giants. Scheduled for April 2017 release is Roger Mellos You Cant Be Too Careful!, translated from the Portuguese by Daniel Hahn. The story, which introduces a colorful cast of characters whose fates are connected in different ways, explores the importance of kindness and the dangers of greed. This marks the first time that a work by this Brazilian author, who won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006, has been translated into English. In the final launch title, Questions Asked by Jostein Gaarder, a boy on a journey asks questions about loss, language, magic, and what it means to be a human being. Due in May 2017, the book is illustrated by Akin Duzakin and translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett. Gaarder is the author of the 1991 adult novel, Sophies World, which was translated into 60 languages and has some 40 million copies in print worldwide. We are excited to build a list that shows faith in children as enthusiastic, curious, and sensitive readers, Schoolman explained. Some of the most successful characters and titles in the genre have been works in translation, and we believe in the power and relevance of international books to appeal to American children. We are eager to find out if young book lovers will respond to the humor and landscapes and imagined worlds from different corners of the world and if our picture books will travel well. Kids are honest. We are counting on them to guide us! Two major players in the world of young adult publishing have teamed up to launch a book imprint: Seventeen Fiction from Harlequin Teen, which will debut September 27 with Something in Between, a novel by another familiar name in YA: Melissa de la Cruz. The story centers on the daughter of Filipino immigrants, who is living the American dream until she learns that her family is in the U.S. illegally and may be deported. De la Cruzs novel represents the crux of the new imprint, which will focus on empowered female characters and explore topics and situations that highlight the challenges and joys of being a teenager today. That editorial mission, in turn, reflects those of both Harlequin Teen and Seventeen. The former, founded in 2009, is dedicated to publishing compelling, girl-centered commercial fiction across a variety of genres. And teen media brand Seventeen, which reaches more than 15 million readers in print and online each month, has for almost 70 years aimed to help girls navigate adolescence. Though Seventeen also produces lifestyle guides, advice books, and nonfiction e-books, Seventeen Fiction from Harlequin Teen marks the brands inaugural foray into fiction books. Distributed by HarperCollins (which acquired Harlequin in 2014), the new imprint will release four works of realistic fiction annually, in hardcover and e-book. The next additions to the list are Rebels Like Us by Liz Reinhardt, centering on a Brooklyn girl transplanted to the rural South, due in March 2017; and Jennifer Yus Four Weeks, Five People, a May 2017 title about five troubled teens who undergo personal transformations while attending a summer program. Natashya Wilson, Harlequin Teens executive editor, noted that the similarities in editorial goals led to the joint venture. This imprint was inspired by Seventeen and Harlequin Teens mutual love for a terrific story that can entertain and inspire readers, she said. With Seventeen, we found a partner who shared our enthusiasm for championing compelling fiction featuring diverse characters, relevant themes, and realistic storylines that both our readers are interested in. The new publishing venture involves a true hands-on collaboration between the partners. Harlequin Teen and Seventeen staffers consider submissions together to acquire projects. Both teams then contribute notes and work with the authors to deliver the strongest possible editorial, Wilson explained. Harlequin is providing the book publishing and production expertise, and Seventeen will include excerpts of the novels in the magazine and highlight them on their many wonderful platforms to reach the widest possible readership. First Out of the Gate Featuring real-life themes and characters, de la Cruzs Something in Between is, in Wilsons view, the perfect title to launch Seventeen Fiction from Harlequin Teen. It is a timely story about identity, family, friendship, and figuring out who you are and where you belong, she added. For de la Cruz, whose bestselling YA series include the Descendants, Au Pairs, and Blue Bloods, the novel is a story very close to my heart, as it was inspired by her own experiences as a Filipino-American who, like her heroine, became entangled in immigration issues as a young woman. We moved to the United States when I was 12, but when my parents got their green cards, my sister and I were over 21, so we werent considered legal, she explained. For a long time we were in limbo, caught in a loophole the government has since closed. We were told that if we left the country, there was no guarantee wed be able to return, which was upsetting and embarrassing. Though her new novel does not tell her familys exact story, the life of her heroine, Jasmine de los Santos, is likewise turned upside-down when she discovers that her immigration status renders her ineligible to receive a prestigious scholarship award. There are similarities in our lives, but Jasmines story is more high-stakes than mine for dramatic purposes, said de la Cruz, who finally became a U.S. citizen several years ago, at the age of 40. In part, that event paved the way for Something in Between. The author (whom Wilson also signed to write two additional novels for the Harlequin Teen imprint) explained, If I hadnt received my citizenship, I wouldnt have felt confident writing this story. It was a difficult but very meaningful novel to write, and I do think this is the best book Ive ever written. Im honored that it is the launch novel for Seventeen Fiction from Harlequin Teen. We now need diverse books more than ever, and I feel very lucky to be able to write this one. Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz. Seventeen Fiction from Harlequin Teen, $18.99 Sept. ISBN 978-0-373-21238-5 Coming out from Yale this month is Tarek Osman's Islamism. PW's review calls the book a "deliberate and lucid" account of the rise of Islamism as a political movement beginning in the 1920s. Osman (Egypt on the Brink), a political economist and contributor to Foreign Affairs and the BBC, focuses primarily on North African and eastern Mediterranean Arab nations as he explains the rise of Islamism, spending a lot of time on Nasserism, the rise and fall of pan-Arabism, and finally attempting to uncoil the different strands of Islamism that lead to and transformed during the 2011 "Arab Spring" that began in Tunisia. Islamism follows a growing trend of academic publishers taking on books that explaining Islam to a Western audience--What is Islam? (Princeton); Islam and Democracy After the Arab Spring (Oxford); Islam and the Future of Tolerance (Harvard). Osman's book, not as in-depth as some of the others, is a fine primer on the rise of Islamism as a political movement. In the end, Osman poses as many questions as he asks. With the rise of ISIS, continued settlement disputes within Israel, a worsening civil war in Syria, and a deepening cold war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, I expect Osman will be back soon with an update. This week's positive third quarter results from Indigo Books & Music did not come without casualties. In spite of the strong numbers, which tracked the company's performance through December 26, 2015, it still opted to downsize in January. PW has learned that the Canadian retailer laid off roughly 20 staffers last month, including a number of veteran book buyers. Although Indigo would not confirm details about the downsizing, a former employee estimated that 20 people were cut. The former employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said this week's headline about Indigo's strong third quarter performance "stung for a lot of people. The layoffs came, the source said, after Indigo brought in an outside consulting company. The consultants, who interviewed employees over the past year, ultimately recommended ways the company could consolidate its staff. A Canadian publisher, who also wished to remain anonymous, expressed concern that the book and gift retailer's remaining book buyers will now have too many accounts to cover. It seems like theres going to be fewer people doing a whole lot more work," the publisher said. This is all a bit disheartening, because we work hard to build relationships with these people. One publishing insider, though, felt there could be positive things that come from the downsizing. This source noted that Indigo is merging its online and retail buying departments, so the company may actually be improving its long-term commitment to books with this move. There are some key people gone, and people get upset whenever there are layoffs," the source explained. But I have spoken to some publishers who are cautiously optimistic about the changes. Janet Eger, Indigos v-p of public affairs, said that while some employees were indeed let go this month as part of an organizational reshaping, the layoffs were not focused on any one department. We want to reinforce that we have a serious and fulsome commitment to books, writers, and readingit is the very core and most significant part of our company, Eger said. In fact, we are about to announce some exciting new initiatives related to this and have actually added new people to this team. QC Capture allows you to upload your favorite photos directly onto our website, QCOnline.com. Several of these photos will be featured in print editions of the newspapers. To share your photos, visit QCOnline.com and click on the QC Capture link. Then you can upload your photos into several categories. We recently reduced the number of categories to make the system even easier to use. If you'd like to see your photos in print, make sure your caption includes the names and hometowns of the people in the photo. winner 267422 This photo was submitted with the title Aledo Winner of H&R Blocks 1,000 Win $1,000 Sweepstakes Celebrates at Tax Office and the caption H&R Block is putting the fun back in refund season. Janice Terrill, a Seaton, IL, winner of the H&R Block 1,000 Win $1,000 Daily Sweepstakes, celebrates at the H&R Block office at 700 SE 3rd Street, Aledo, and is presented with a giant check by her tax professional Vaughn Carver at the Jan. 23 festivities. milanrotary 267435 This photo was submitted with the caption "Milan Rotary Club donates money to the Milan food pantry recently. Pictured are Milan Rotary President Jeff Keller and Milan food pantry board members Al Nordstrom, Pam Versluys and JoAnn Watson." milanstudent 267438 This photo was submitted by Toni Glasper with the caption "Milan Rotary Club president Jeff Keller presents Lilly Ryner, the Sherrard Student of the Month for January." EAST MOLINE -- A kitchen fire that broke out at a 4th Street home this week is being considered an accident, fire officials say. Although an official cause is under investigation still, East Moline Fire Chief Robert DeFrance said Thursday the blaze at 3569 4th St. "appears accidental." The fire was reported just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, shortly after the occupants left home. Chief DeFrance said a passerby noticed the fire and called the family, who alerted the fire department. He said a neighbor also called 911. A preliminary investigation determined the fire started near the stove and was contained to the kitchen area, Chief DeFrance said. "The crews were able to put it out very quickly," he added. The fire caused an estimated $30,000 in damages caused by fire and heat in the kitchen, as well as smoke damage on the upper level of the home, Chief DeFrance said. He said the city had the house temporarily boarded up while the property owner consulted with their insurance company about necessary renovations to the kitchen area. The family had been moving out before the fire and since have found new accommodations, Chief DeFrance said. The split-level house was built in 1964 and has an estimated value of about $99,000, according to Rock Island County assessment records. A forfeiture case was filed in Henry County Circuit Court this week seeking $142,800 fround in a car during a Jan. 29 traffic stop on I-80. According to the complaint for forfeiture, state police made the seizure from Joshua McGinnis, alleging the money was subject to forfeiture under the Money Laundering Act, the Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act or the Illinois Drug Asset Forfeiture Proceeding Act. Probable cause to proceed with the forfeiture case has been found. Mr. McGinnis has not been charged in Henry County Circuit Court. In other recent forfeiture cases, additional details are available from two out of three large cases filed in Henry County on Nov. 24. The three cases comprised nearly two-thirds of all cash seized in the county in 2015. In a case filed Nov. 24 involving $79,980, State Police Sgt. Clint Thulen stopped Peter Dauphinee of Blue Lake, Calif., westbound on Nov. 15 for speeding 73 in a 70-mile per hour zone. A K-9 deployed by Trooper Sean Veryzer alerted to the odor of narcotics in the mini-van and a search yielded $79,980 in bundles in a cloth shopping bag in the stow and go compartment. According to the file, Mr. Dauphinee told officers that the money came from a silent investor out of North Carolina and that hed started a company called Hits Club. He refused to provide the name of the silent investor and failed to disclose a prior conviction for possession of five pounds of cannabis, police said. Mr. Dauphinee has not been charged with any offense in Henry County. In a second case from Nov. 24 seeking $222,750, State Trooper Beau Marlow stopped a passenger car for speeding 74 in a 70-mile per hour zone westbound on I-80 Nov. 20 and identified the driver as Rony Romelus by his Massachusetts drivers license. The trooper said he detected the odor of burnt and raw cannabis from the car, and a search turned up a non-factory full-size tire in the trunk with 15 vacuum-sealed bundles of currency totaling $218,750. An additional $4,000 was found in the purse of the passenger, Anna Morency, also of Massachusetts. According to the file, when interviewed by Trooper Walt Willis and Sgt. Mark Thatcher, Mr. Romelus said hed saved the money over a three-year period from work as a trucker and selling items on eBay. He said he was going to Salt City, Utah for a wedding and was interested in buying a vehicle from Ritchie Brothers Auction there and that he carried cash because there were no Bank of America branches in Salt Lake City. Authorities did find Bank of America locations there, however, and found no online wedding registry or announcement for the couple whose names Mr. Romelus provided, and noted he had no hotel reservations, no church clothes and no wedding invitation. They also found no Ritchie Brothers auctions scheduled for the site during what was to have been Mr. Romelus stay in Salt Lake City. Mr. Romelus has not been charged with any crime in Henry County. There has been no further action on the third forfeiture case filed Nov. 24, involving $327,910 since a Dec. 1 finding of probable cause. ROCK ISLAND -- The Rock Island County Board is likely to vote later this month on a sweeping reform package that would reduce the size of the board from 25 to 15 members, cut the number of board committees and end pension and health benefits for members. The plan also would require the county board to use five-year budgets and capital improvement plans to improve long-term planning as part of an attempt to stabilize the county's finances. The proposals come from a governance task force established by the county board last year that was asked to study and prepare a report on reform ideas, like downsizing the board, that have been debated for years. A series of four focus group meetings held in November, each attended by about 10 members of the public selected by county board members, was used to "road test" support for reform ideas. County administrator Dave Ross backed the formation of the task force, which initially was chaired by Nick Camlin, D-Rock Island. Mr. Camlin subsequently resigned from the task force for personal reasons and Kai Swanson, D-Rock Island, took over. Mr. Swanson on Thursday released a draft of the two-page resolution the full county board is likely to vote on later this month. Before the full board meeting on Feb. 16, the governance task force will meet next Wednesday to discuss the draft resolution, which has yet to meet any serious opposition. The resolution, if approved, would commit the board to reducing its size from 25 to 15 members after the 2020 census, when redistricting usually takes place. To cut the size of the board before the census would require the board to go to multi-member districts or have the board made up of at-large members. Mr. Swanson, speaking during a meeting of the governance task force Thursday, noted that the public voted by a 65 percent majority to keep single-member districts during an advisory referendum in 2013. There's support from Democrats and Republicans on the board for a reduction in the size of the board. But the idea has also met with opposition from some in both parties who are concerned that the change would weaken representation for rural areas and for minority communities. The resolution also would commit the board to eliminating pensions and health care benefits available to board members from March 1 and April 30 of this year respectively. Twelve of the board's 25 members currently participate in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension program while seven use the county's health insurance, according to the county's human resources director Jerry Clyde. By getting rid of the benefits, the board would "demonstrate clearly its willingness to share in the sacrifices that will be required to rectify the fiscal crisis facing Rock Island County," the resolution states. Mr. Ross is working on creating a five-year budget and capital improvement plan for the board to improve long-term financial planning, the lack of which board members have blamed for problems such as the deterioration of the county courthouse. The draft resolution would direct the county administrator to maintain the five-year budget and develop a strategy to build up the county's cash reserves to between 20 and 25 percent of general fund spending. Finally, the resolution would cut the number of the board's standing committees from eight to four. Much of the detailed debate on proposed resolutions happens at the committee level, where proposals are either recommended to the board or sometimes quashed. The next meeting of the governance task force is 6 p.m. Wednesday in the County Board Chambers on the third floor of the County Building, 1504 3rd Ave., Rock Island. Today is Friday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2016. There are 330 days left in the year. 1866 -- 150 years ago: The Old Settlers Association of the county is planning a grand festival at Babcocks Hall to be held Feb. 22. 1891 -- 125 years ago: The Tri City clerks assembly has received the formal endorsement of Twin city Typographical union of its early closing movement. 1916 -- 100 years ago: Fifty-two cases of contagious disease were investigated by city authorities during January. Scarlet fever heads the list with 17 cases. 1941 -- 75 years ago: Completion of the Denkmann School began this morning.Ten new classrooms will be added. 1966 -- 50 years ago: A public hearing is scheduled at 10 Tuesday morning in the Rock Island city Council chambers on a proposal to repair the equivalent of nearly three block of downtown sidewalks. The proposed program, which includes curb replacement and repair, is estimated to cost $18,000. 1991 -- 25 years ago: Frances Laktas customers paid for their meals Monday, but the money is not going into the East Moline restaurant owners pocket. The $714 that passed through the cash register at the Maid Rite at 1620 7th St. Monday will be sent to the United Service Organizations, the volunteers who provide a touch of home for military personnel stationed overseas. Giulio Regeni, a 28-year-old Cambridge University PhD candidate who had been researching labor rights in Egypt, went missing on Jan. 25, the fifth anniversary of the popular uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak. His body was found Wednesday. News of the slaying and evidence of torture spurred diplomatic tensions. An Italian government delegation cut short a visit to Cairo and Italy summoned the Egyptian ambassador in Rome, calling for a full investigation with participation by Italian experts. Regeni's disappearance came at a time when Egyptian officials and media have often depicted foreigners as plotting against Egypt and particularly as seeking to foment unrest surrounding the Jan. 25 anniversary. In the days leading up to the anniversary, police were on high alert, conducting sweeps aimed at preventing any possible protest. Pro-democracy activists were arrested and some foreigners whose visas had expired were deported. Egypt is also battling an insurgency by militants who have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group. The militants are mainly active in the Sinai Peninsula but have also carried out attacks in Cairo and elsewhere, including kidnapping and beheading a Croatian oil worker last year and setting off a bomb outside the Italian consulate in Cairo. On Thursday, Egyptian media accused "evil hands" of orchestrating Regeni's killing to damage Egyptian-Italian relations. The term is usually used to refer to Islamists, who have been targeted by a ferocious crackdown since the 2013 military ouster of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. Authorities justify the campaign by pointing to the fight against the militants, who have killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers over the past four years. The Italian media pointed fingers at the Egyptian security forces. A business daily, Il Sole 24 Ore, said "the strong suspicion" was that Regeni was "killed by Egypt ... by the system, by the security apparatus." Regeni had been in Egypt since September conducting research on workers and labor rights a sensitive topic, since disgruntled workers were among the forces in the 2011 anti-Mubarak uprising and authorities still worry about worker discontent. The left-wing Italian newspaper il Manifesto said Regeni had been writing for it about labor issues, signing his articles under a pseudonym. "I imagine it was for security because the articles were about workers and unions," said foreign desk editor Simone Pieranni. "It's clear that when you speak about social rights and workers' rights in Egypt you are implicitly denouncing the lack of freedom." Pieranni said the newspaper would publish a final piece critical of the lack of press and other freedoms in Egypt under Regeni's own name on Friday. Regeni was last seen on Jan. 25 heading from his apartment to meet a friend in downtown Cairo. He entered the subway, which was packed with security personnel scanning bags and checking commuter's IDs. In the days following his disappearance, friends and colleagues launched a search, circulating Regeni's picture widely on social media. His body was found Wednesday in an empty lot along a highway in the 6th of October suburb on Cairo's western outskirts. He was identified by his Egyptian roommate, said prosecutor Ahmed Nagi, who heads the investigation team in the case. "All of his body, including his face" had bruises, cuts from stabbings and burns from cigarettes, Nagi said, adding Regeni appeared to have suffered a "slow death." Later Thursday, Nagi said an autopsy showed the cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. Asked about possible police involvement, he said: "We don't rule out any possibility." Earlier, the deputy head of criminal investigations in Cairo's twin province of Giza, Alaa Azmi, had cited initial findings he said indicated Regeni was killed in a car accident. For years, rights groups have accused Egyptian police of regularly torturing detainees. Over the past year, they have also accused them of using "forced disappearances" detaining suspected activists or Islamists in secret without reporting their arrest. The Egyptian Association for Rights and Freedoms documented 314 cases of forced disappearances in 2015, said lawyer Halem Henish. Most later turned up in prison, but at least five were found at the morgue, including one with signs of torture like burns and electric shocks. He said the group has documented 35 disappearances so far in 2016, including at least two of whom died. Meanwhile, in Regeni's hometown of Fiumicello in northeastern Italy, townspeople were "destroyed" by the news of his death, said Mayor Ennio Scridel. The town of 5,000 declared Sunday a day of mourning. "If you go into a bar, you see dark faces, silences, looks that let escape all the sadness of a small community like ours," Scridel told Sky Tg24. He described Regeni as "an extraordinary person, who comes from a good family." News of Regeni's death prompted Italy's economic development minister, Federica Guidi, to cut short a visit to Cairo and head home. Guidi had been heading a delegation of 60 business people to help companies set up business in Egypt. Italian Premier Matteo Renzi spoke with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi by telephone and pledged to coordinate efforts with Italian authorities to "unravel the mystery" surrounding Regini's death, el-Sissi's office said. The Italian news agency ANSA said a seven-person team of Italian and Interpol investigators was heading to Cairo on Friday to participate in the inquiry. Egyptian authorities have come under criticism for lack of transparency in several investigations, particularly the Oct. 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula and the September killing of eight Mexican tourists and four Egyptian guides by a security forces helicopter that opened fire on their desert safari. In both cases, authorities banned media reports on the investigations. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK The U.S. Secretary of Defense's decision in December 2015 to open all military occupations to women including serving in direct combat roles was informed by research undertaken by the RAND Corporation. Much of this work also provides background and policy guidance for the Department of Defense's future efforts to implement the Secretary's decision. Researchers at RAND, a nonprofit research organization, addressed topics such as whether members of U.S. special forces are ready to integrate women into their ranks and what lessons may be learned from other militaries that already have integrated women into combat positions. One RAND report, Implications of Integrating Women into the Marine Corps Infantry, takes an in-depth look at the issues that may arise if women are integrated into the Marine Corps infantry. It describes efforts that have been successful in addressing similar issues in the past, and estimates the potential costs associated with integration. Researchers looked at the literature on the integration of women in ground combat and other physically demanding occupations and analyzed the experiences of foreign militaries and civilian fire and police departments. Overall, they found that gender integration has not been primarily detrimental to unit cohesion. The study also found that the number of women entering the infantry will likely be modest, the increase in representation will likely be slow, and there will most likely be both one-time and recurring costs to integration. In another recently released study, Considerations for Integrating Women into Closed Occupations in the U.S. Special Operations Forces, RAND surveyed special operations forces personnel and found strong, deep-seated, and intensely felt opposition to opening currently closed special operations forces roles to women; 85 percent of survey participants opposed letting women into their specialties. They pointed to concerns about potential effects on standards, unit cohesion, and leadership. Despite these concerns, some participants in that study highlighted the potential benefits of gender integration. For example, four in 10 survey respondents agreed that women might be helpful in conducting sensitive operations and communicating with local populations. Beyond these final research reports, the Department of Defense has released a number of draft RAND research products on gender integration in combat roles. These preliminary works present the initial results from further work RAND is conducting for the department on gender integration in combat roles. RAND expects to release final versions of these reports in the near future. For one of these preliminary works, RAND researchers conducted a review of physical fitness standards for physically demanding jobs (PDF), which outlines best-practice standards for implementing gender-neutral occupational standards across the services. A companion report (PDF) describes how the various services are approaching the task of reviewing closed occupations and developing gender-neutral standards. In another ongoing study on physical fitness standards (PDF), RAND researchers are examining the validity of the Strength Aptitude Test, a physical strength aptitude test used at Military Entrance Processing Stations to classify recruits into Air Force specialties. This study conducted by RAND, Human Resources Research Organization, and the Air Force has found strong evidence for the validity of the test and also identified several other tests that could be used in combination to further improve physical strength aptitude testing. Lisa Sodders Tunisia's transition from the authoritarian era looks increasingly unstable. Just last month, thousands gathered from major cities to small towns to protest worsening economic conditions. Demonstrations reportedly turned violent. The swift imposition of an indefinite nationwide curfew points not only to the state of Tunisia's still fragile transition, but also to how officials of the country's two leading ruling parties respond to dissent. The United States should take stock of the situation and recognize that the shift to democratic governance is hardly certain as parties and alliances continue to splinter in myriad directions. Healthy disagreement can foster and, indeed, has fostered some real change since the 2011 uprisings and throughout the course of the transition, but the persistent power-sharing dynamics in play aren't advancing democracy for Tunisia. The country's Constituent National Assembly is led by a coalition of parties, with Islamist party Ennahda and secular party Nidaa Tounes at the helm. The players within Nidaa Tounes originally coalesced around the primary goal of curbing what was perceived as the negative impact of Ennahda's Islamist influence. The latter peacefully ceded its majority in 2014 Constituent Assembly elections to the former. Both parties agreed to power-sharing in February 2015, acts that global observers heralded as proof of Tunisia's steady progress toward democratic governance. The pact lasted less than a year as a bloc led by Mohsen Marzouk, the former Nidaa Tounes Secretary-General, broke to form its own front. This Nidaa Tounes breakaway accuses its former party of nepotism and of returning to old guard politics. Marzouk considers his new bloc to be the real opposition to Islamists. Meanwhile, Nidaa Tounes and Ennahda remain locked into their governing coalition, now more committed to one another than before. These two leading parties have more to gain politically from biding their time until more favorable circumstances arise. Until new elections are held municipal in fall 2016 and parliamentary in 2019 the party landscape will remain for the most part the same. For now, conciliation makes the most sense for their long-term survival in an uncertain political environment, although they may not reflect the true intentions of party members or the constituents they represent. The paradoxical Ennahda-Nidaa Tounes phenomenon in the near-term may be more about concentrating elite power than genuine consensus to further democracy. Ideologically, they have little in common. If they combat each other, the still transitioning state could destabilize and neither party wins. While Nidaa Tounes members were engaged in political infighting, Ennahda was biding its time, expecting the former to either fold or fail. The Assembly has passed economic and security legislation this year, albeit controversial among the Tunisian public and civil society groups. In the post-revolution phase following 2011 uprisings, Ennahda co-founder Rached Ghannouchi persuaded Ennahda members to ally with prominent non-Islamists and secularists, an apparent bid to ensure the party's continued presence as a viable player in a country with a strong secular tradition. Moreover, Ennahda's approach to Nidaa Tounes situated it to dominate throughout the transition despite its promotion of Islam. It is the only party from Tunisia's Troika government that remains a key player today. The long-term prospects of staying in power beyond its initial survival may prove challenging, however, if the interests of conservative members stay buried. From the start of the 2011 revolution, Ennahda has struggled to form a consistent external message on the religious questions that unnerve the opposition, particularly staunch secularists. The mixed messaging is due to Ennahda's diverse membership base, which ranges from extreme conservatives to progressives. Many among Tunisia's opposition fear a similar scenario as Ennahda makes deep, but perhaps only temporary, political compromises. For example, Ennahda eventually dissociated from violent Salafist groups, but only after bowing to domestic political pressure. Secularists, meanwhile, have sought to portray Ennahda's dominance in a language that stokes fear of Islamic governance. This anxiety resonates with western governments, a fact Ennahda seems willing to accept even as it seeks to sustain legitimacy as a moderate Islamist party on the international stage. Constant compromise comes at a dear cost to the conservative base within the party. Ennahda is indeed larger and more unified in purpose than its opposition is. But power-sharing arrangements may prove fruitless in the long-term as it did for the factions within Nidaa Tounes. The party's grassroots constituencies are not likely to abandon their religious-centric aims, which could create more pressure within the party to either push for more conservative legislation, or perhaps force it to splinter at some point down the road. For now, Ennahda cannot govern alone; the alliance with what remains of Nidaa Tounes still totals well over the 109 seats required of the lawmaking body to secure a confidence vote. Ennahda now has a plurality of seats 69 in a 217-seat Assembly but will continue to require internal legislative diplomacy to form a majority coalition capable of passing legislation. By the same token, Nidaa Tounes cannot survive and pursue its goals without at least some cooperation from its Islamist counterparts. The recent split of Nidaa Tounes prompted no major political upheaval, but the short period of parliamentary dominance within the non-Islamist opposition bloc has ended and is unlikely to return. Conversely, the loss of Islamists in the 2014 Assembly election appears to have been only a momentary setback as they are now again the single most important player and likely to remain so for now. But, it must stay allied with Nidaa Toune to stay alive and relevant. This may be the safest bet to ensure each party's survival as political players, but the arrangement is hardly the clearest path toward improved, representative and democratic governance. Amanda Kadlec is a project associate at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Policy Concepts on February 5, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. In a late January meeting with his French counterpart, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Marine General Joseph Dunford, called for decisive action against a growing Islamic State (ISIS) menace in Libya. His call comes on the heels of weeks of backroom discussions about how to handle ISIS's grip on a large area of Libya's Mediterranean coast and rumours that Western military intervention is pending. Libya collapsed into civil war five years ago, in the early months of the Arab uprisings. NATO soon intervened, backing a congeries of rebel groups that overthrew Muammar Qaddafi. In the aftermath of this success, however, security in Libya faltered and crucial steps towards stabilising the fledgling state were fumbled. Libya slid into civil war, opening the door to ISIS and other jihadist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Ansar al-Sharia, the group responsible for the attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi in September 2012. ISIS has been entrenched in Libya for more than a year. Unlike its other affiliates outside Iraq and Syria, ISIS in Libya numbers in the thousands and maintains clear links to the group's leadership in Syria. Most likely that leadership sees Libya as a valuable second front in its global campaign. The anarchy in Libya contributes enormously to Europe's refugee crisis and threatens the stability of the region notably Tunisia, the epicentre of the Arab spring uprisings. Just as the world was slow to see the danger of ISIS's grip on parts of Iraq and Syria, appreciation of the threat posed by ISIS in Libya is belated. It holds a bridgehead several hundred kilometres long centred on Sirte, Qaddafi's hometown. It also has elements in other parts of the country. During a visit to Tunisia in October, I heard rumours that ISIS had set up munitions factories outside Tripoli to stock up on tank-busting weaponry for a coming struggle against outside intervention. ISIS's expansion in Libya is a threat to the security of Libyans, to the region and to Europe. It is not surprising, therefore, that those European allies most directly threatened by ISIS's deepening roots in Libya Italy and France have been in the lead in discussing military options for intervention. But if the threat is serious, the current military options are hardly promising. As US and European policymakers grapple with the problem at least three big questions loom: First, who will lead the operation and provide the bulk of the forces? With new operations in Syria, Iraq and Eastern Europe, on top of operations elsewhere in the world, NATO is stretched thin. Italy has been the most vociferous in drawing attention to Libya's ISIS threat and has limited its participation in other operations to focus on Libya. But Italy alone cannot provide sufficient forces for an operation of the magnitude the situation in Libya now requires. France is more capable, but with crucial counterterrorism operations already stretching thousands of kilometres across the Sahel and a troop-intensive domestic counterterrorism operation, it will also be hard pressed to make a major contribution. The United Kingdom might contribute, especially with special forces, but its means and will are also limited. Meanwhile, the interest of the US public for another intervention is not strong at all. Second, will the focus be on defeating ISIS or supporting a unity government in Tripoli? Because the forces for intervention will be limited, hard choices will be needed. Foremost among these is whether an intervention should focus on protecting Libya's shaky unity government or just go after ISIS. Targeting the terror group would offer some quick gratification, yet do little to help restore a functioning state to Libya, the absence of which opened the door to ISIS in the first place. Third, how will this operation relate to broader US and allied strategy against ISIS? ISIS's objectives are clearly not limited to Iraq and Syria. Ultimately, Libya is one instance in a large global counter-ISIS campaign, however prominent within that campaign it may be. To take the fight beyond Iraq and Syria, globally, the United States and its allies will need a clear strategy and resources. Lacking this, defeating ISIS in Libya could just displace the group elsewhere in the region or the world. US and European cooperation to counter ISIS in Libya is essential and Libya is unlikely to ever be peaceful without outside military support. But checking ISIS's growth in Libya will not be easy. Leaders should prepare for the inevitable costs and tough choices ahead. Christopher S. Chivvis is the author of The French War on Al Qa'ida in Africa and associate director of the International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corporation, a non-profit, non-partisan think-tank. This commentary originally appeared on The Arab Weekly on February 5, 2016. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Ever since the integration of ONO's fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) operation, Spain's Vodafone TV has experienced growth through convergence. According to the telco's yearly report, 2015 closed with 1.91 million fibre subscriptions, 1.14 million convergent packages and over a million pay-TV subscriptions.Although income is 3.1% lower than in December 2014, Vodafone has managed to recover a declining business thanks, mostly, to an improved TV service. After adding nearly 100,000 subs during the last quarter of 2015, Vodafone TV exceeded the one million barrier During Q4, the company invoiced 1.26 billion and reached 1.12 billion in income for telecoms services.At the end of the year, Vodafone also claims to have covered 89.7% of Spain's population with LTE, up 5.7% compared to Q2 2015.In addition, it has implemented 4G+ (LTE-A) networks in 280 cities, enabling downloading speeds of up to 260Mbps. Televisa's multi-platform series El Hotel de los Secretos has reached three million viewers on Univision during prime time, ahead of its premiere in Mexico, scheduled for Q1 2016. Through El Hotel de los Secretos, Televisa sets the pace and becomes a reference for the industry, bringing cine-like productions into television, said the Mexican production house.The soap opera has been airing Monday to Friday since it premiered on 25 January.Univision has also delivered the first three episodes on-demand through its Uvideos website with VOD highlights available immediately after each broadcast.Univision and Televisa's relationship has enabled the US Hispanic media company to retain an important source of content, while Grupo Televisa has a stable broadcast partner in one of the largest Spanish-speaking markets. Highlights for Children and the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network (HITN) are launching a multi-platform partnership designed to cross language barriers and connect with families. Increasing numbers of Hispanic families are ensuring that their children learn both Spanish and English. Furthermore, bilingualism is an early learning advantage research continues to show that dual language learners who become fluent in two languages do better in school.Working together to distribute educational dual language content, Highlights for Children and HITN will support Hispanic parents desire to strengthen and maintain their childs first language as they learn English.In autumn 2014, Highlights launched High Five Bilingue, a magazine developed specifically for early learners (ages two to six) to encourage Spanish bilingual language development. As part of the new partnership with HITN, co-branded High Five Bilingue magazines will be distributed to and by partners that share Highlights and HITNs passion for enabling dual language early childhood learning. Partners include the Abriendo Puertas, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Programs for Parents and the National Migrant & Seasonal Head Start Association.When we discovered Highlights High Five Bilingue magazine, we were so impressed by the quality of the content and its potential for supporting the needs of dual language learners, said Ed Greene, vice president, partnerships and community development, HITN . Highlights clearly shares our mission, and by combining their content with our resources and knowledge, we can support families in ways that neither one of us can do alone.Additionally, the partnership will provide multimedia content for kids, parents and care-givers featuring educational bilingual content provided by Highlights and produced for broadcast by HITN-TV. Highlights and HITN will also co-produce training materials to help parents, educators and caregivers to enhance their interactions with dual language learners.Highlights is committed to helping dual-language children develop their native Spanish language while learning English, said Beth Allen, vice president, partnerships and business development, Highlights for Children. HITN shares our passion, and by partnering, well be able to make an even greater impact and further help families who wish to raise children in a dual-language household. "There's never been a line of commercial insurance that has more data at its fingertips than cyber insurers do today," says Methven. "But it's how they find that needle in the haystack." realclearworld Newsletters: Mideast Memo With the 2016 Iowa caucuses now behind us, and the New Hampshire primary election set for next week, we at the Mideast Memo are reminded of another U.S. presidential election 60 years ago. Incumbent President Dwight D. Eisenhower, hobbled by a severe heart attack just months prior, was slow in the early winter weeks of 1956 to declare his intentions to run for re-election. A popular president presiding over a strong economy and a post-Korean War peace, the World War II hero had the luxury of waiting. When he did finally enter the fray, Ike had little trouble dispatching his party rivals in New Hampshire later that year, winning more than 94 percent of the vote. Elections would be the least of Eisenhower's troubles in 1956, however. Amid an ever-evolving Cold War against the communist Soviet Union, the United States found itself increasingly at odds with various nationalist movements that had developed in the post-colonial Arab world. That May, the Egyptian government, led by firebrand premier Gamal Abdel Nasser, would be the first Arab country to recognize communist China. Eisenhower's Democratic critics -- among them former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt -- pounced on these developments, and chastised the president for insufficiently supporting the young state of Israel, which found itself surrounded by hostile and increasingly unstable Arab regimes. Eisenhower, however, saw the region through a different lens. A devout anti-communist, the 34th president worried that an uneven hand in the Middle East would tarnish the United States' relatively objective image among Arab countries, as compared to colonial powers France and Great Britain. Ike, according to historian David A. Nichols, viewed friendship with the Arabs as vital, and feared that overt favoritism for Israel might push the "uncommitted and underdeveloped nations" of the region toward the Kremlin's open arms. This delicate balancing act appeared ready to teeter over in July, when Colonel Nasser, now Egypt's president, seized and nationalized the vital Suez Canal shipping route. The move outraged Britain and France, both of which had a vital interest in the waterway and in the company that had administered it. Israel's decision to invade Egypt with British and French support -- just a week before that fall's U.S. presidential election -- left Ike dumbfounded. Eisenhower -- whose administration had been working behind the scenes to reach a settlement to the Suez dispute -- censured the U.S. allies, and threatened sanctions against Israel, a move some argue the president would come to regret later in life. Regardless, the tactic worked, and Eisenhower was able to pressure the British and French into accepting a U.N.-sponsored cease-fire on Nov. 6 -- the same day the president was overwhelmingly re-elected by the American people. Eisenhower's actions came with a price, however. His efforts to prevent Britain and France from bullying a rising Arab power exposed the limitations of the region's onetime colonial masters, and, by default, made quite clear that the United States was now the region's decisive external power. In a speech delivered the following January before a joint session of Congress, the president argued that it was in the United States' interest to arm and support the newly independent nations of the Middle East; countries recently freed from the yoke of colonialism, but not advanced or developed enough to fend off by themselves the perceived advances of international communism. Now referred to as the Eisenhower Doctrine, the policies proposed by the president that day would lay the foundation for decades of U.S. foreign policy. "In the Eisenhower Doctrine, the president committed the United States to replacing Britain as the guarantor of stability and security in the Middle East. That obligation remains the cornerstone of American policy," argues Nichols, whose 2012 book "Eisenhower 1956" takes a comprehensive look at the effect the Suez crisis had on U.S. policy in the region. Future administrations would put their own spin on this doctrine, but whether the threat was Soviet communism or weaponized oil, the end result was roughly the same: The United States would continue to arm and prop up predominantly undemocratic Mideast governments in return for stability and security cooperation. That the United States has more or less preserved this outmoded approach toward the region might strike more than a few curious observers as odd, since the Cold War ended decades ago, and the Soviet Union is long gone. The reality, of course, is that the status quo can be difficult to upend, and the United States has, over the years, developed genuine and often useful relationships with authoritarian governments such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan, to name only a few. "There is no great-power rival to organize U.S. strategy. Containing Soviet influence was the overriding goal during the Cold War, and the clarity of that objective made it easier to set priorities and sustain consistent policies," writes political scientist Stephen Walt. "Today, by contrast, there is no single overarching threat to the region and thus no clear organizing principle to guide U.S. policymakers." Although his own view of the Middle East was, at times, far too myopic -- Eisenhower apparently referred to Iran's Zagros Mountains as the "first line of defense" against the Russians -- it is worth remember what was truly admirable about Ike's thinking on Arab sovereignty and security. Though his administration often failed to match deeds with words, and its efforts, both successful and unsuccessful, to oust undesirable rulers from capitals across the region would carry negative consequences for years to come, Eisenhower began a conversation about independence and plurality in the Middle East that we have yet to finish all these years later. Eisenhower: "If the Middle East is to continue its geographic role of uniting rather than separating East and West; if its vast economic resources are to serve the well-being of the peoples there, as well as that of others; and if its cultures and religions and their shrines are to be preserved for the uplifting of the spirits of the peoples, then the United States must make more evident its willingness to support the independence of the freedom-loving nations of the area." President Eisenhower was widely popular, and Americans had little reason in those early days of the Vietnam War to question the general's motives and judgement on foreign affairs. But as the bloody civil war in Syria enters its sixth year, and sectarian strife rages across much of the region, it is time for the United States to reassess a policy that has long outlived its usefulness. "Above all, Eisenhower embraced the tides of history. He pressed America's allies to bury the corpse of colonialism in the Middle East," writes Nichols. "Today, we need the equivalent -- a rigorously defined, clear-headed commitment to democratic movements." More on this: Eisenhower 1956: The President's Year of Crisis On Foreign Policy, Why Barack Is Like Ike -- Time Is Obama Really Like Eisenhower? -- Brookings Institution Suez and the Lessons of History -- The National Interest Feedback Questions, comments, or complaints? Feel free to send us an email, or reach out on Twitter @kevinbsullivan. And be sure to check for all of the latest news and analysis on the Middle East at RealClearWorld.com. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available The government has asked the public to pitch in new funding strategies ideas to increase the inventory of affordable rental housing in Australia. According to Domain, the Turnbull government says that affordable housing is a very big problem with it needs help from the public in terms of finding "financing models" to increase supply of low-cost rental homes for low-income households. It issued a publication that details the issues and four possible financing models that private investors might find interesting. These models are all aimed at the social housing sector and private rental market that will cater to low-income families. The published paper reportedly includes the following suggestions: 1. Housing bonds-to encourage debt financing of low-cost housing 2. Housing trust-aimed at large scale investors 3. Housing co-operative-a housing model that aims to provide housing assistance for its members 4. Social impact bonds-designed for investors who are seeking social and financial returns. According to Domain, the Bureau of Statistics in 2013-14, 26.8 percent of the 3.6 million low-income household in Australia face Rental or mortgage stress, which is a result of having to pay more than 30 percent of your income on housing. The same data shows that 657,000 low-income households are in rental stress, around 318,000 low-income households are in mortgage stress and 187,500 households across Australia are on the waiting list for public and community housing. According to Realestate.com.au, under the Turnbull government, Scott Morrison is Treasurer. Housing Industry Association Chief Executive of Industry Policy and Media Graham Wolfe said that Morrison has a solid understanding of the property affordability issues. Overall, the publication suggests that Morrison want to address affordability by increasing supply. Now the Turnbull government want to put to work policies that can help increase supply and is seeking help from the public for ideas. The public submission will continue until March 11, 2016. Discussions with industry and academic experts will held in during submission process. The working group then is expected to deliver the final report, which will include its recommended steps, to the Heads of Treasuries by June 30, 2016. Wisconsin governor and former presidential candidate Scott Walker has just listed his Wauwatosa home for sale - with an asking price of $338,000, it's just $28,000 more than what the Walker family paid for in 2007. The two-story home - which encompasses three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms throughout the 2,152 square foot space - has undergone several major upgrades, including modernized bathrooms and new appliances for the kitchen. In addition, the Walkers also rebuilt the chimney, and repainted the colonial home's exterior, as per the listing. Bigger updates include a second-floor family room built above the garage, which is "anchored by a bay window with a seating area," reports Realtor.com. In spite of all the new and modern upgrades, however, the Wauwatosa residence still keeps its vintage charm: dark wood French doors, wainscoting in the bathroom, and textured ceilings. As it turns out, many have been speculating about the fate of Walkers' family home. Neighbors believed that Walker may have been trying to sell the property, part of a greater effort to pay for campaign debts. In fact, Walker even tweeted that he was thinking about downsizing after his two sons went to college. Fox6 reports: "Walker said that he and wife Tonette Walker want to downsize because their two sons are away at college. Monday, the governor said he didn't plan to use money from selling his home in order to retire campaign debt left over from Walker's failed presidential bid. The debt is estimated at up to $1 million." A spokeswoman for the governor, Laurel Patrick, said that Scott and wife Tonette Walker have been residing at the Executive Residence in the suburb of Madison since his children left for college. Walker first announced his plans to take over the White House in July 2015, but resigned his candidacy just two months after. He is currently on his second term as governor of Wisconsin. Leonardo DiCaprio is set to open an island resort which is called "Blackadore Caye, a Restorative Island" on 2018. The romantic beach resort is an eco-friendly resort in the 100-plus-acre island off the Belizean coast which DiCaprio calls as "heaven on earth." The luxury resort will focus on the restoration of the area which is already overfished and deforested. "Belize is truly unique. It has the second largest coral reef system in the world, and it has some of the most biodiverse marine life, like the manatee population and almost every species of fish you can imagine. Then there are the Mayan temples and the culture," DiCaprio said, according to The New York Times. "I couldn't have gone to Belize and built on an island and done something like this, if it weren't for the idea that it could be groundbreaking in the environmental movement." For DiCaprio, the opening of the resort is his one way to help change the world. The Environment Impact Assessment evaluated the project and reported that it will result into increased employment. It may also have an indirect economic impact, increasing the sale of services and products. Because of that, it is being supported by the Government of Belize according to Tourism Minister, Manuel Heredia Jr, Love FM reported. The resort will feature both private homes and traditional resort villas. There will also be artificial reefs that will provide shelter to sea life as well as a sea grass nursery that will help nourish local manatees. Delos was selected by DiCaprio to head the project while Deepak Chopra will design the wellness program for the guests of the resort. It is the goal of the actor and environmentalist to "create something not just environmental, but restorative," and it with the looks of it, it appears that he will definitely succeed. Even prior to its development, the Blackadore Caye and its surrounding areas already look fantastic. There will be luxe villas in the area where guests can look over the clear Belizean water. It is expected that the resort will be something vacationers will look forward to with its appealing view, Pop Sugar reported. Starwood Hotels & Resorts and the Rajawali Property Group have reached a management agreement for the development of The St. Regis Jakarta and The Residences at The St. Regis Jakarta, located at Jalan H.R. Rasuna Said, Kuninganin in South Jakarta, and is scheduled to be operational in 2019. "Jakarta currently features some upscale residences that are located above or next to hotels, but few offer the heights of refinement tied to the St. Regis name," said Shirley Tan, CEO of the Rajawali Property Group. "Today's signing with Starwood is part of Rajawali's greater residential strategy to develop a collection of truly branded residences with unique ownership privileges in Southeast Asia, including The Residences at The St. Regis Langkawi in 2016, and The Residences at The St. Regis Jakarta in 2019." According to the press release of Starwood in Business Wire, The St. Regis Jakarta and The Residences at The St. Regis Jakarta are part of the new mix-used development that will also feature a commercial office tower, which will serve as the headquarters of the Rajawali Property Group. At present, the Rajawali Property Group owns eight Starwood properties, with a total of more than 1,500 rooms throughout Malaysia and Indonesia. "The St. Regis Jakarta and The Residences at The St. Regis Jakarta are a great testament to the growing wealth and appetite for luxury in Indonesia's capital," said Stephen Ho, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "We are delighted to foster our relationship with the Rajawali Property Group by bringing the St. Regis brand's bespoke service, contemporary design, and refined elegance to the ever-bustling city of Jakarta." The St. Regis Jakarta will offer 280 luxuriously-appointed guestrooms and suites, while The Residences at The St. Regis Jakarta will feature three types of apartments: a three-bedroom Sky Residence occupying 355 to 373 square meters; the Sky Villa, a 750-square-meter, four-bedroom unit; and the Sky Palace, featuring over 1,250 square meters. "Starwood is pleased to expand its portfolio of St. Regis Residences in the Asia Pacific, as we see strong continued growth opportunities in this area," said Rajit Sukumaran, Senior Vice President, Acquisition & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific. "The Residences at The St. Regis Jakarta will cater to the lifestyle needs of the increasingly affluent, and appeal to luxury property investors, while remaining deeply rooted in St. Regis' distinctive legacy of uncompromising elegance and the ability to provide the finest experiences imaginable." More than 100 bank-owned properties, which include single-family and multi-family homes, are scheduled to be auctioned online through Auction.com, starting February 21st until the 24th. "This special event is another example of the global nature of real estate, and how our online platform can bring exciting opportunities to investors around the world," said Auction.com General Manager, Jason Allnutt. "These properties are priced to sell, presenting a great opportunity for both investors looking for rental homes in Puerto Rico and to first-time homebuyers in the region who are able to secure financing. We're pleased to bring such a large selection of these properties to auction in a single event, and plan to develop a more expansive program in the near future." According to the press release of Auction.com in PR NewsWire, majority of the bank-owned properties to be auctioned are vacant and will be available for viewing during the Saturday open houses to be held on February 13th and 20th. All properties will be individually sold and in their "as is" condition. All properties will include title insurance, as well. A three percent broker co-op to all properties to be auctioned is being offered by Auction.com. Closings are expected to be within 45-60 days. Auction.com has also announced that they will be offering a free educational seminar to help interested buyers prepare for the upcoming online auction event. The online auction process as well as how to leverage the auction format to successfully make real estate investment, will all be discussed in the seminar. The one-day seminar will be held at the Orlando World Center Marriott, located at 8701 World Center Drive in Orlando, Florida, on February 13th. Auction.com, a Ten-X company, is the nation's leading online real estate marketplace that provides the most trusted online real estate marketplace, making transactions easier and more transparent. The company is focused on the sale of bank-owned and foreclosure properties to real estate investors. Man kidnapped after Tinder hookup On Saturday night, Feb. 13, a man met up with a woman he met on Tinder at the Travel Inn on West Broad street. After having sex with the girl, two black men came out of the bathroom and assaulted him, according to Athens-Clarke County police. Editor's note: This is the second in a two-part series on historic places in Redding. This partial list represents an adventure that began in 2009 with my friend Marilyn Rountree to locate, photograph and write brief histories on all the historic places in the central Redding area. As you can see, our little adventure turned into a big adventure. All of the places are listed in alphabetical order. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did putting it all together. HOLT HOUSE Built in 1895 at 1440 West St., Holt House is possibly the second oldest brick building remaining in Redding. Mr. Holt founded Holt and Gregg Co. Brick Manufacturing Plant in 1887. When the house was built, the property boasted a now-gone brick doghouse in the backyard. IOOF HALL Built in 1888 at 1445 Butte St., the IOOF Hall is possibly the oldest remaining brick building in Redding International Order of Odd Fellows, a fraternal order established to help far-from-home brethren provide support for widows of past members, educate the orphans, visit the sick, relieve the distressed, and bury the dead. Meetings were popular and well attended. The building has been covered with stucco. JACK'S GRILL Jack's Grill was originally built in 1935 as a second-hand store. In l938, World War I ace pilot Jack Young established Jack's Bar & Grill. The business catered mostly to the hardworking men who were building Shasta Dam. The second floor was used as a house of prostitution briefly in the 1940s. The decor hasn't changed and still contains the same paintings on the walls. Jack's Grill is the only remaining bar of that era still in business today. It has become a local landmark. LADY OF JUSTICE The Lady of Justice originally adorned the top of the dome of the Shasta County Courthouse soon after it was constructed in 1889. It was moved to the lawn in front of the current courthouse in 1956. Since then, it has been vandalized several times. To keep it out of harm's way, it was taken to the old Shasta County Jail for safekeeping. A fundraiser was held to pay for her restoration in 2009, and on March 23, 2010, it was officially returned to the courthouse in a public ceremony. It now resides safely in the Jury Assembly Room inside the courthouse. LAKE REDDING SWIMMING HOLE REMAINS Lake Redding swimming hole was once located in Caldwell Park on the north side of the Sacramento River. This was the location of Redding's annual Water Carnival. When Shasta Dam was built, it caused the water temperature to change from tolerable to intolerable, causing the water carnivals to cease. Today all that remains is the concrete seating area along the north bank of the river just downstream from the Diestelhorst Bridge. LORENZ HOTEL Construction of the Lorenz Hotel began in 1901 and opening day was Oct. 18, 1902. Gold from a family-owned Trinity County gold mine enabled recently widowed Susan Lorenz to purchase a block of swampland next to the railroad tracks in Redding and build the hotel, and operate it as a family enterprise for several generations. When completed, the early Beaux Arts Classical/ Renaissance Revival hotel was considered one of Redding's most prestigious. It was the first building in Shasta County to boast an elevator and was the second four-story commercial building built in town. Today the hotel is the fourth oldest brick building remaining in Redding. The hotel contained 44 rooms on each floor totaling 132 rooms. In later years, each room contained a bath that reduced the number of rooms per floor to 26, totaling 78 rooms. The hotel was acquired by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1991. A total of $5 million in repair work was made and the building was sold to the Shasta Housing Development Corp. on Sept. 18, 1995, for $1 to provide subsidized housing for low-income seniors, the homeless and disabled people. Private commercial businesses exist in the ground level portion of the hotel. MARY LAKE Mary Lake was created in 1861 as a reservoir for the 40-mile-long-plus Clear Creek Ditch. It was first known as Falkes Lake and named for goldminer August Falkes, who operated a store in the area. The lake was sold to St. Joseph Catholic Church in 1930 and renamed for the Virgin Mary. In 1982, it was given to the city of Redding by developers. JAMES McCORMICK HOUSE Built in 1879 at 1452 Oregon St., James McCormick House is possibly the third oldest building in Redding. When built, it was the only Redding house to contain servant's quarters. Mr. McCormick was co-owner of the largest mercantile store in Redding, the McCormick-Saeltzer Co., also known as "The Big Store." MONOLITH BUILDING This was the starting point anchor building of the 9.6-mile-long, 35-inch wide conveyor belt that carried aggregate, sand and gravel to the Coram stockpiles that was used to make the cement that built Shasta Dam. The belt carried 12,200,000 tons from the area near this building during its lifetime. It was constructed in 1938. PILGRIM CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH We are lucky to have Pilgrim Congregational Church in our community because it was the last church designed by world-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. An unusual feature is his use of triangles, which symbolizes the Trinity, in the structure of the church. It's located at 2850 Foothill Blvd. and was completed in 1963. PINE STREET SCHOOL This Pine Street School building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located at 1135 Pine St. The current school is the third school at the site. The first was built in 1881 of brick and the second was built of wood next to the brick school in 1895. Both buildings were demolished in 1921 and replaced with the Redding Grammar School, the third and current Pine Street School. This third school was used as an elementary school from 1923 until 1967, when it was abandoned by the school district. In 1967, it was privately purchased, extensively remodeled, and enlarged into office suites and two restaurants. RAILROAD DEPOT AND PASSENGER STATION The railroad depot and passenger station was built in 1923 at 1620 Yuba St. by Southern Pacific Railroad Co. The current depot is the second. The first was built in 1872 and was located on the east side of the railroad tracks. When the railroad came to the area in 1872, it laid out the town and named its new town Redding to honor their first railroad land agent Benjamin B. Redding, much to the chagrin of Shasta County residents who thought it should have been named for Shasta County pioneer Pierson B. Reading. RAILROAD TRESTLE When construction started on Shasta Lake in 1938, construction also began on a new main line for the railroad to bypass the area of the old main line that would be beneath the waters of lake when it filled with water. This trestle was the start of the new main line. REDDING CITY HALL Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Redding City Hall is affectionately known by locals as Old City Hall. Built in 1907 at 1313 Market St. of native clay brick, the building style is Simplified Romanesque Revival. In 1908, the Women's Improvement Club planted seven palm trees on the north and west sides and landscaped the remaining open space. The palm trees became turn-of-the-century tourist attractions for Redding. Travelers would stop and photograph them because they were an unusual species to see in Northern California. Some of the trees are still alive. The building housed city offices from 1907 to 1979, and then was used as an art gallery in 1984 and 1985. Restorations were made in 1987 and it's currently used as an art gallery and theater. REDDING HOTEL Redding Hotel was built in 1927 at 1748 Market St. on the same spot where the first Redding house was previously built by Chauncey Bush in 1872. When completed, the hotel featured a rooftop swimming pool, a first for Redding. It's a three-story concrete terra cotta Mission Revival building. REDDING POST OFFICE The post office was built in 1936 at 1647 Yuba St. It's still in operation today. SACRAMENTO RIVER The Sacramento River was first called the Jesus Maria. It was also known as the River of Destruction, River of Gold, Kelley's River, Buena Ventura River, Bona-Ventura, El Rio del Santisimo Sacramento (the river of the Most Blessed Sacrament), Spanish River, and River of the North. Discovered in 1808 by Spanish explorers who named it Jesus Maria, it changed to Sacramento (El Rio del Sacramento) by a party of later explorers who saw it for the first time on the day of the Holy Sacrament. The river's origin is a source of debate because it rises in more than one place near Mt. Shasta. It flows south to Sacramento, where it bends southwest and forms a delta with the San Joaquin River before emptying into San Francisco Bay. It's almost 400 miles long. The section of river between Dunsmuir and Redding has the greatest drop in elevation of any stretch of river of comparable length in the United States. It has served as the lifeblood of the region throughout prehistory and history. In 1861, the California Steam Navigation Co. began work to make the river navigable for steamboats as far north as Clear Creek, but this proved to be a failure, even though some did make it here. The first water rights to the river were filed by the Central Irrigation District, now Glenn/Colusa Irrigation District, in 1883. In 1885, the city of Redding was second in filing. It was dammed in 1938. We are very lucky to have it flow right through our downtown area. SAELTZER MANSION The house is located at 2028 West St. and was built in the 1880s, possibly in 1892 for Rudolph M. F. Saeltzer, one of the three founding partners of the McCormick-Saeltzer Store, a store that grew so large it took up a whole city block in downtown Redding between Yuba and Placer streets on Market Street. The store was affectionately known as "The Big Store." The house was extensively redecorated in 1905. When Saeltzer died in 1927, the ownership of the house began changing. From 1938 to 1942, when Shasta Dam was being constructed, the mansion was used as a boarding house for dam workers. In later years, it became a boarding house for Shasta College students. Supposedly as many as 32 people have lived together in the house at one time. In 1994, Richard and Linda Hinrichs purchased the house and began extensive renovation work. SHASTA COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND THE ROCK WALL The current courthouse was completed in 1956, making it historic. What is also historic is the rock in the low wall next to the sidewalk around the courthouse grounds. The rock came from the Texas Springs Quarry, which became active in 1894. The rock from that quarry was used locally for railroad culverts, tombstones, trimmings on buildings, and in the courthouse wall. SHASTA COUNTY HOSPITAL The first county hospital was built in 1855 and located about one mile northwest of Shasta, near the current intersection of Highway 299 West and Rock Creek Road. It closed in 1900 and moved into a new wooden one-story, 51-room 108-foot-by-140-foot county hospital in south Redding built by Frank Scammon for $9,400. It served as a hospital until 1934, then as an almshouse until 1957. It is now the location of the county welfare offices. SHASTA COUNTY JAIL Construction on this jail was completed in 1939. It was built during the time when construction was in full swing on Shasta Dam 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Many of the workers came to the businesses on nearby California Street to recreate during their time off. The jail is located behind the courthouse and backs up to West Street. The photo was taken looking down the last remaining cell block in the jail. SHASTA UNION HIGH SCHOOL Shasta Union High School was built in 1927 at 2200 Eureka Way as a four-year high school. It's still in use. VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL The Veterans Memorial Hall was built in 1939 at 1605 Yuba St., next to the Redding Post Office. It's owned by Shasta County. WESTERN HOTEL The current two-story Western Hotel building, on the southwest corner of Yuba and Oregon streets, was originally a three-story hotel at about the turn of the century. However, a fire occurred on the third floor and what didn't burn was removed, making it into the current two-story building. Small apartments exist on the second floor and the first floor contains a private business. YEAGER HOUSE Yeager House, a Queen Anne Cottage-styled house, was built in about 1895 at 1261 East St. It suffered extensive damages when a car crashed into it in 2010, but has since been renovated. ZEIS HOUSE The Zeis House house was built in about 1903 at 1804 Chestnut St. for Edward Zeis and his family. Zeis was a well-known local businessman and politician. Dottie Smith is the former instructor of Shasta County History at Shasta College and former curator of the Shasta College Museum. Contact her at historydottie@gmail.com. Emergency crews investigate where a Cottonwood firefighter died early Wednesday and a California Highway Patrol officer and another person were injured after being hit by a pickup SHARE Cottonwood captain was helping others By David Benda of the Redding Record Searchlight The town of Cottonwood is grieving after one of its own was killed Wednesday morning. Capt. Mark Ratledge, 35, of the Cottonwood Fire Protection District, died, and a California Highway Patrol officer and another person were injured after being hit by a pickup that slid off a hail-covered Interstate 5. Shasta County Supervisor Les Baugh, who represents the south county, said the tight-knit community is reeling at news of the death. "It's a small community," Baugh said. "We're just devastated. ... The folks I've talked to say the family is simply heartbroken here. This is a small, rural volunteer fire department. These are the same folks who show up to help with fundraisers and wield the batter for the pancake breakfasts to raise money." The Shasta County Coroner's Office confirmed Ratledge's identity about five hours after the deadly wreck. Ratledge is the first Cottonwood firefighter to be killed in the line of duty, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Linda Galvan said. The wreck closed southbound I-5 for several hours. One lane of southbound traffic was reopened by 10:45 a.m., a CHP dispatcher said. CHP spokesman Mel Hutsell said Ratledge and a CHP officer were at the site of two earlier spinouts off an embankment south of Anderson. No one was injured in those accidents. Hutsell said Jered Shumaker, 31, of Redding, was heading south at 6:15 a.m. when his black Chevy S-10 pickup slid off the road between a parked CHP cruiser and Ratledge's truck. Shumaker told investigators he was traveling 50 to 55 mph when a vehicle alongside him started to spin. In an attempt to avoid the vehicle, Shumaker changed lanes, but his truck started skidding. The pickup spun down the embankment and hit the officer, Ratledge and one of those involved in the earlier wrecks, Hutsell said. Ratledge died at about 7:30 a.m. at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, Hutsell said. The CHP officer who was hit is Jason Dotzenrod, 41. Luis Ramon Cordova II, 32, was the third person injured. Dotzenrod and Cordova suffered minor injuries. Shumaker wasn't cited or arrested and was allowed to go home. But the investigation continues. "Until we determine the extent of what happened, we can't know whether this rises to the level of criminal negligence," Hutsell said. Hutsell explained the freeway was closed and being treated as a crime scene during the investigation. "We haven't determined the details of the accident," Hutsell said. "We don't want to spoil any evidence that could be here." Ratledge was a nine-year veteran of the Cottonwood Fire Department who started as a volunteer in 2003 and was promoted to captain in 2008. He also served as the training officer for the department. Ratledge lived in Cottonwood with his fiancA, Jennifer Hobbs, 38; daughter Sophia, 1; stepdaughter Hannah Jasperse, 17; and stepson Conner Hobbs, 10. He also is survived by a sister, Susana Ratledge, of Stockton; and parents Jack Ratledge and Maria Closa, both of Redding. Before joining the Cottonwood Fire Protection District, Ratledge worked for the Redding Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service, Galvan said. Calvin Ciapponi, chief of the Cottonwood Fire Protection District, referred questions to Cal Fire. In a statement released late Wednesday afternoon, the department said it's "overwhelmed" and is "appreciative of the support coming in from all over the state." Gov. Brown also issued a statement: "Anne and I were saddened to learn of the death of Capt. Mark Ratledge. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow firefighters." In honor of Ratledge, Capitol flags in Sacramento will be flown at half-staff for three days, Brown said. News of the death quickly resonated through Shasta County. By midmorning, flags at all fire stations in the county had been lowered to half-staff. About six Cal Fire engines gathered at the Cottonwood fire station on Brush Street just north of the intersection of Front and Brush streets. Galvan, the Cal Fire spokeswoman, visited the station just after noon. "It's still very, very fresh," Galvan said as she left a while later. "They're dealing with what they have to deal with right now. There's a lot of very upset people in there now." Nanette Pate, who operates the Cottonwood Eatery next door to the station, delivered a platter of corned beef, turkey and ham sandwiches to the firefighters. "It's just awful," Pate said. "I've lost people before, and it's just nice to do something. ... It's so sad it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it." Anderson City Councilman John Day ? a retired registered nurse, ambulance medic and volunteer firefighter ? offered his condolences as well. "These are dedicated men and women who get up in the middle of a storm like that last night for four or five dollars a call," Day said. "I'm pretty sad today. I don't know who it was. I know I lost a brother." Debbie Earhart, the owner of Sierra Printing in Cottonwood, said she has no doubt the town, even in its grief, would respond to help the department and the firefighter's family. "I know Cottonwood," she said. "They are going to come together." Reporter Ryan Sabalow contributed to this story. SHARE By Jenny Espino of the Redding Record Searchlight The owner of a north Redding property that has long been eyed for a new Costco is pushing a plan the city says would require millions of dollars in new taxpayer commitments to help him profitably develop an entire shopping center around it. The proposal again throws into question the future of the on-again, off-again project. City Manager Kurt Starman said he is unwilling to take up Don Levenson of LD&C on his proposal for a development agreement. The issue is what is being requested, which is a significant amount of subsidy from taxpayers, said Starman, speaking Thursday from a city managers meeting sponsored by the League of California Cities in Indian Wells. To reinforce his point, Starman offered up a Dec. 10 three-page letter he wrote to Levenson and agreed to make public the development agreement when he returns from his conference. Its unusual for the city to offer up such documents in the midst of negotiations. In the letter, Starman flatly rejects the proposal, saying it would be almost impossible to draw up and enter into a development agreement before a February deadline Costco gave to LD&C to sell its land. The provisions, he says, are unrealistic and would leave the city on the hook for $32 million to make the shopping center happen. Starman tells Levenson to focus instead on completing the real estate transaction with Costco Wholesale Corp. before the company terminates its contract. Levenson, he says, is using Costco as leverage for the rest of his shopping center. Starman notes, however, that the project is important to the city and to everyone involved. A Los Angeles-area attorney who represents Levenson expressed disappointment in Starmans decision to make the document public. Susan Balistocky said the letter neither reflects the proposal her client submitted to the city nor the verbal reaction she heard during a Dec. 2 meeting with Starman and Assistant City Manager Barry Tippin. Tippin, who was director of the now defunct redevelopment agency, has been the citys point of contact for the project. Contrary to the letter, Balistocky said Starman and Tippin were open and even liked some of the ideas and had no objections to some of the suggestions that she and Levenson made. They had a second meeting before Christmas, and City Councilman Gary Cadd participated. That was followed up with a letter from Tippin right before New Years. That letter was more reflective of what happened at the meeting, she said. But she said she was puzzled that his letter included feedback on the original version of the development agreement and not the updated version she submitted in December. Starman acknowledged the idea of a development agreement was floated in the mid-2000s, but the concept was not part of what Levenson, Costco and the city agreed to in 2013, when two agreements were created one between Levenson and Costco to sell the land and one between the city and Costco to finance the infrastructure. Levensons revised development agreement submitted Dec. 2 was the first he had ever heard, Starman said. It had a lot of items that would cost a great deal of money and would benefit Mr. Levenson, Starman said, later maintaining, There is nothing on the citys end that is holding up the contract with Costco. According to Starmans letter, the city would need to pursue a municipal bond issue to generate $8 million and come up with an additional $24 million, half from traffic impact fees, to pay for infrastructure in the Oasis Road area. Balistocky, however, said the big-ticket items Starman highlighted were part of a much longer list of ways his client suggested to pay for the improvements. She said Levenson is not asking for anything more from the city but equal treatment. Like politics, they have a public posture and a private posture, Balistocky said of city officials. Im disappointed they are not supportive of the developer. She conceded she did not respond to Tippins letter or have much communication with the city in January and pointed to other projects that have needed her attention. But she did speak to a Costco representative on the deal as late as last week, she said. Locally, Levenson also is represented by attorney Walt McNeill. But he has not been part of the ongoing talks between the city and Levenson. McNeill also sometimes represents the Record Searchlight. Costcos Feb. 1 deadline with LD&C to enter into an agreement to sell the land came and passed, Starman confirmed. Still, Balistocky and McNeill spoke with confidence that no one has walked away from negotiations. Similarly, Starman also was upbeat. The date is flexible. They applied for a building permit. Why wouldnt it be? said Balistocky, noting that the wholesaler has told other people familiar with the project that the deadline is March 1. Though vague in his comments, Starman said Costco would stay in Redding. My expectation is that the project will happen. If it happens at Mr. Levensons property, that would be fantastic, he said and cited the entitlement work, environmental clearance and money Costco has spent on relocation from Dana Drive. But that depends on Levenson, and that is beyond the citys control. The proposed Oasis Towne Center is east of Interstate 5 just north of the Oasis offramp. Costco plans a 148,000-square-foot store with four-island gas stations with 16 nozzles. It is part of the first phase of the shopping center, which eventually is envisioned to have more than 300,000 square feet of retail space. Last November, Costco applied for a building permit. At the time, the planning department said it would go over the plans to see whether they conformed to what the company has been discussing with the city for the past few years. Planning Manager Kent Manuel said the city reviewed the building plans and sent them back to Costco with correction notices Dec. 22. He said he had not heard back from Costco. So the time frame is entirely up to them, Manuel said. To put Costcos proposed footprint into perspective, Balistocky said the development would take up about 20 percent of the shopping center while 80 percent would still need to be improved. McNeill said he has received inquiries about available space from numerous retailers. They have been forwarded to Levenson and Balistocky, who declined to disclose names. Some of those businesses are interested in building south of Costcos proposed location. This is not a Costco-only project, Balistocky said. This is a shopping center project, a gathering place that is spectacular for people to go and do things. It will be inviting and attractive for all ages. She cited a study done by Levensons economic consultant that indicated the shopping center would provide 1,000 construction jobs and employ 6,000 workers when built. The city has made no mention of doing its own economic study, but Balistocky said she was told by city officials, who were preparing an application for a federal transportation grant, that their study showed 7,500 jobs. Privately we have had different conversations and we still feel that they are working with us, she said. The city stopped working on the off-site road improvements, which include realigning Twin View Boulevard, after a tentative real estate agreement between Levenson and Costco expired more than a year ago. Work will not resume until there is a new deal. The Oasis-Interstate 5 interchange received a $3.6 million makeover in 2011, but it did not include widening the overpass to four lanes. That wont happen until Oasis Towne Center projects next phase. In November 2014, the citys Board of Administration Review approved a conservation easement for the long-term protection of Salt Creek required to lessen the impact of the shopping center. Plans call for Twin View to be moved to the east near Salt Creek and when that is done, the existing portion of Twin View north of Oasis will be abandoned so Costco can be built. McNeill said development agreements, though not a practice Redding has ever engaged in, became a standard practice for major commercial projects decades ago throughout most of California. Starman disputes that assessment. The city has entered development agreements in projects such as subdivisions, he said. Its time the city get into the 21st century, McNeill said. It is a way of doing business that has to evolve for us to compete with Encinitas, Sacramento or San Jose for development, he said. Click here to read the letter that Kurt Starman wrote to Don Levenson. Melvin Baldwin-Green, left, and Tanishia Williams listen to closing arguments Thursday in Shasta County Superior Court. SHARE Jim Schultz/Record Searchlight Shasta County Deputy Public Defender Jeremy West addresses the jury Thursday in the sex-trafficking trial of Melvin Baldwin-Green and Tanishia Williams. By Jim Schultz of the Redding Record Searchlight A Shasta County jury is expected to begin deliberations Friday in a sex-trafficking case that alleges a Redding man and a woman pimped underage girls and young women throughout the region. Jurors are to get the case Friday morning after closing arguments wrapped up late Thursday afternoon in Shasta County Superior Court. Shasta County Deputy Public Defender Jeremy West, who represents defendant Melvin Baldwin-Green, attempted to impeach and undermine testimony that some of the girls and women were kidnapped from the Sacramento area, held against their will in Redding and forced to prostitute themselves. West showed photographs to jurors, as well as messages, posted on Facebook from at least one of the alleged victims, who smiled happily and appeared to be out in the public. "She wasn't kidnapped, held against her will or forced to be a prostitute," he said. He also said she lied during portions of her testimony, which the prosecutor has conceded as being true. "She (the teen) was able to contact the outside world and lied about it," West said. During his closing arguments, West also noted that the first thing the girl did after escaping from her alleged captors was to find someone to buy a marijuana joint. "That's not consistent with someone who had been kidnapped," he said. Baldwin-Green, 27, and Tanishia Savannah Williams, 23, were arrested in March 2014 for allegedly abducting the 16-year-old Sacramento girl and pimping her in the North State. That girl reported to officers that she had been kidnapped and held for weeks in Redding by the pair, who allegedly pimped her in Shasta and Tehama counties before she was able to escape. Since Baldwin-Green and Williams were arrested, their case has grown to include dozens of felonies involving six other alleged victims, including one who reportedly told detectives she was threatened with torture and death before being dumped naked in a remote area near Red Bluff in February 2013. Redding defense attorney Rob Hammonds, who represents Williams, argued that his client was a victim of Baldwin-Green, saying she was controlled by him and did what he told her to do. Although some of the girls believed Williams was Baldwin-Green's cousin, they are not related. With several cases consolidated into one, the charges against Baldwin-Green and Williams include human trafficking of minors, pimping, robbery, kidnapping and kidnapping for ransom, child abuse and false imprisonment. Baldwin-Green is also charged with rape by force or fear and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. Baldwin-Green remains in Shasta County Jail with his bail set at $1.04 million, while bail for Williams is $1 million. SHARE Mercy Medical Center Redding granted five North State nonprofit organizations with $175,000, through their Community Grants Program where they partner with community organizations that work toward improving health and quality of life in communities that Mercy serves. According to a press release by Mercy, the five recipients are the Child Abuse Prevention Council, Empire Recovery Center, Friends of Whiskeytown, Northern California Center for Family Awareness and United Way. At Mercy, it is our mission to provide compassionate care to our community, and to work collaboratively with other organizations to help ensure that we address the needs of those who may not be able to advocate for themselves, Mark Korth, president and chief executive officer of Mercy Medical Center Redding, said. The Child Abuse Prevention Council will use the funds for their Baby Love Parent Partner Program to provide case management services for expectant mothers and lower their use of prenatal drugs and alcohol. Empire Recovery Center will use the money toward their Detox Program and toward food, shelter, clothing and counseling to help individuals with their recovery efforts. Friends of Whiskeytown received funds for their Learn SUPN, also known as stand up paddle boarding program, to encourage children and their families to participate in the outdoor activity. Funds will also be used to provide scholarships for low income children to attend the Whiskeytown Environmental School for an overnight four night program. Northern California Center for Family Awareness received funds for their Kids Turn Workshop series, which help improve interpersonal, family communication and conflict resolution skills for families that are separated or divorced. The workshops focus on teaching children how to understand the changes in their family, processing their grief and sense of loss, and finding positive methods to cope with parental conflict, the press release stated. United Way will use funds for the 2-1-1 referral program. This program provides referral services 24 hours a day, all year, in more than 200 languages, to residents of Shasta County that may be economically disadvantaged and need assistance with housing, shelter, utility assistance, medical care, substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, clothing or food. SHARE Shasta County has appointed Tommy Key as the new veterans service officer for the county a position that was abruptly left vacant in December. Key is a retired senior master sergeant from the U.S. Air Force, where he served from 1983 to 2008. Key takes the position left vacant by former Shasta County Veterans Service Officer John McCraw, who abruptly left in December for unknown reasons only after five months at the job. Interim Veterans Service Officer Dave Lanford held the post while the county searched for candidates to fill the position. Shasta County CEO Larry Lees said there already was a candidates list in place, as McCraw did not hold the position for long. Before McCraw, the position was held by L. Duke Medeiros, who was fired over allegations of inappropriate comments and regular use of profanity, according to a report filed by a private investigator hired by the county. Lees said he is not concerned that the position has such high turnover, remarking Key comes highly recommended for the position. Key is a resident of Redding and a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, and he attended the University of Southern Illinois, graduating with a degree in workforce education and organizational development. Key received several awards during his time in the Air Force, including Wing Airman of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year. According to a statement from county officials, Key continued his career in the field of management and human resources after his retirement from the Air Force. SHARE Daniel Wayne Tucker An escapee wanted by the state of Washington prison system was arrested in Redding on Tuesday evening after the man tried to flee from police. Daniel W. Tucker, 49, of Port Orchard, Wash., was arrested by Redding police on suspicion of felony evasion, resisting arrest, prowling and providing a false name, Sgt. Mike Thomas said. Witnesses said Tucker tried to get away from police after officer Duane Morrison saw him driving a black Pontiac Firebird on Parkview Avenue just after 5 p.m. Morrison recognized the car as one that went through a recent DUI checkpoint in Anderson without stopping. The driver sped away after Morrison tried to make a traffic stop, Thomas said. The pursuit ? which last about five minutes ? began in the area of South Market and California streets and went onto Elmwood Street, where Tucker abandoned the car at a dead end. Tucker ran along the railroad tracks with officers in pursuit and a California Highway Patrol helicopter following from the air, Thomas said. The CHP air crew spotted Tucker around Grandview Avenue and West Street where Tucker was seen trying to enter a residence to hide, Thomas said. Officers arrested Tucker outside the house, whose residents said they had no idea who Tucker was. Tucker reportedly gave a false name to police, but witnesses identified him as the driver who fled and he had a car key in his pocket for the Firebird, Thomas said. The man was being held in Shasta County jail in lieu of $25,000 bail. SHARE When there's the political will, there tends to be a political way to accomplish the impossible. It appears this finally may be the case with the nation's long-ignored epidemic of heroin and prescription opioid addiction. On Tuesday, the Obama administration unveiled a plan to ramp up spending on drug treatment and prevention, which is woefully inadequate in most states, and to expand patient access to the overdose-reversal drug, naloxone, and to other drugs proven to curb addiction. Nationwide, about 2.2 million people need treatment for opioid abuse, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, but about only 1 million manage to get it. To change this, the president intends to ask Congress for a fiscal year investment of $1.1 billion over two years a budget request that, in normal times, would be an exercise in futility. But this is a politically charged election year that's anything but normal. The New Hampshire primary is coming up, and New Hampshire is a state that has been particularly ravaged by drugs. It has one of the highest rates of fatal opioid overdoses in the country. That means a whole lot of voters in New Hampshire want to talk about drug addiction. They want to know what the men and women running for president can do to help. They want to know what those in Congress can do about it, too and for good reason. More Americans die from drug overdoses now than from car crashes. In 2014, that was about 47,000 people. Most took opioid painkillers prescribed by a doctor; many others died from heroin, the cheaper alternative. New Hampshire may have the dubious distinction of being the poster child for this epidemic, but the same drugs have taken hold of communities across the country. For this reason, because of the pressure from voters and the timing of the election, the Obama administration could get a lot of what it wants from Congress to combat opioid addiction. If not, lawmakers may go to one of the other bipartisan solutions on the table. Among them is a bill from Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, called the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. One could lament that the Obama administration and Congress are acting now more because it's politically expedient than because it's the right thing to do for millions of Americans. While that's obviously true and while it's a shame, in the end, we don't really care. More than the politics of why, what matters is that we're facing an emergency with this seemingly unstoppable epidemic of lethal drug addiction. What matters is that something gets done. This editorial first appeared in The Sacramento Bee. Dr. Candy Stockton, medical director of Shingletown Medical Center, talks about chronic pain management Thursday night. SHARE By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight In an effort to educate health care professionals about safe opioid prescriptions, public health officials, pharmacists, doctors and law enforcement officers have teamed up to increase patient safety by trying to curb over-prescription in Shasta County. Members of the local coalition, titled NoRxAbuse, held its first public meeting at Shasta Community Health Center on Thursday night. Ivan Petrzelka, president of NoRxAbuse and a former pharmacist, said the purpose of the coalition is to "prevent misuse of prescription drugs" without denying care to anybody. "Drug overdose deaths have tripled since 1990 and are the most abused, fastest-growing cause of death in the U.S.," he said. And because these drugs come with a doctor's prescription, they're often perceived to be "safe," he said. The coalition is funded by a $60,000 grant from California Health Care Foundation. Dr. Andrew Deckert, health officer at the Shasta County Department of Public Health, said the coalition will work to provide education one-on-one to medical professionals about lethal drug combinations between muscle relaxers, opiates and anti-anxiety medications. "You put those together, you have a higher risk of overdose than those taken alone," he said. Deckert also added the majority of opioid prescriptions are written for people age 55 and up, and the primary payment sources for these medications are with private insurance. "Today, it could be your mechanic, attorney, even your doctor," Deckert said about the demographics of people with opioid addiction. Dr. Candy Stockton, medical director of Shingletown Medical Center, discussed pain management in family practice. She shared her story about prescribing opioids to a patient of hers who was healing from a back injury, but ended up needing additional medication for anxiety treatment. "Like most doctors, I didn't have a lot of training in the safety of pain meds," she said. Her patient was able to eventually come off the medications, but it required a lot of work on Stockton's part. "The patients didn't get into this on their own," she said. "They didn't do it to themselves and they won't get out of this on their own." The coalition will also launch a pilot project with the Shasta County District Attorney's Office to compare opioid-related charges to criminal charges, Deckert said. By July 1, pharmacists and physicians who prescribe controlled substances will have to register to use a federal prescription drug-monitoring program. The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System is a patient and medication database that shows which patients have double prescriptions or are "doctor shopping," Deckert said. According to data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, in Shasta County, the number of opioid-related visits to the emergency room in 2013 was 474, and increased in 2014 to 854. "Why here? Because we're prescribing a lot higher than the rest of the state," Deckert said. Shasta County Undersheriff Eric Magrini said with the rising rate of opioid hospital visits, as first responders, they will soon train to carry the medication known as naloxone, known by its trade name of Narcan, which helps reverse opioid overdoses. On Jan. 27, the California Board of Pharmacy approved pharmacies to dispense the medication without a prescription. "It's important people's pain is well-managed. But can you treat people's pain without opiates? The answer is, yes," Deckert said. He added that the longer a patient uses prescription pain medications, the more likely they were to have other health risks such as mood changes, disturbed sleep, fatigue, impaired breathing and hormone problems. "We did this," Petrzelka said. "Every single pill that's on the street, somehow had to be prescribed." The Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency encourages the public to safely dispose their medication and have hosted two "Drug Take Back" events every year since 2011, collecting 4,500 pounds of medication. They have four medication-disposal kiosks in various parts of the county at the Redding Police Department, the Anderson Police Department, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office in Burney and the city of Shasta Lake sheriff's substation. Pyongyang wants the world to recognise its nuclear capability, says Srikanth Kondapalli. IMAGE: Kim Jong-un guides a multiple-rocket launch drill. Photograph: Reuters Two major events in North Korea have heightened tensions in the region. On January 6, North Korea claimed it had tested a miniaturised hydrogen bomb and in sequence to its three fission tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. This follows its submarine launched ballistic missile test in December. Further, North Korea alerted the United Nations on February 2 that it would launch an 'earth observation satellite' between February 8 and 25. The United States, Japan, and South Korea believe this could be a missile test and hence are making diplomatic and military counter-preparations such as ballistic missile defence surveillance, alert and preparations. In December 2012, North Korea launched what it described as a communication satellite indicating mastery over dual use technologies. The nuclear tests and other related events suggests that the young North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been consolidating his power by executing his uncle Jang Song-taek in 2013, defence minister Hyon Yong-chol in 2015, and replacing nearly half of top-level civilian and military officials. He cancelled visits to Moscow and Beijing possibly to further consolidate his position before the May 2016 ruling party congress. At a minimum Pyongyang wants the international community to recognise its nuclear capability and diplomatic recognition from the United States. While the economy had shown some signs of improvement recently, it is likely that North Korea will trade its nuclear and ballistic missile technology expertise with other countries in the future to earn hard currency, with implications to the stability issues. As the pattern in the recent times indicated on 'countries of concern,' sanctions will follow but with the blessings of Beijing and Washington, Pyongyang is likely to be bailed out in the medium term. The uninterrupted North Korean nuclear programme ones again brought China's role into focus. Beijing had shielded Pyongyang for decades despite differences. China followed an ambiguous policy on the North Korea nuclear issue, although when it came to Indian nuclear tests, Beijing has exhibited a vitriolic position till now. Even as it condemned Pyongyang's nuclear tests and supported the United Nations Security Council sanctions, it had also brought Pyongyang to the negotiating table at the six rounds of the six-party talks in 2003-2008. However, no concrete road map on denuclearisation has taken place so far. It is interesting that while Beijing distanced from Pyongyang, it had not abrogated the military alliance of 1963 with North Korea. China also has good relations with Pyongyang as seen in trade, aid, high level visits of ranking Politburo members Liu Yunshan and Zhang Dejiang, who is a product of Kim Il-Sung University. Bilateral trade increased from $1.7 billion in 2006 to $6.54 billion in 2013 and $6.87 in 2014 but declined to $4.9 billion in 2015. IMAGE: A rocket fired by the North Korean army in November 2015. Photograph: KCNA/Reuters In late 2015, after hyping up the cultural show of the all-female popular Moranbong band to Beijing, the concert was abruptly cancelled. If China intends to put pressure on North Korea, it could provide refuge to the North Korean people (estimated 2 to 3 million refugee flow), cut off trade and aid (Sino-North Korean trade accounts for 70 to 80 per cent of the latter's trade volume), stop the much needed energy flows to Pyongyang, persuade Pyongyang to return to the six-party talks and strike at the North Korean nuclear and ballistic missile sites (as Israel contemplated to do to Iran and Iraq). Except for rhetorical statements by China, none of these are likely to happen. It suits China to keep the current status quo in the region. China, of course, is concerned that Japan and South Korea have reached an understanding on their historical differences in late 2015 and are poised to expand defence ties with the US further. South Korea has huge stakes on the nuclear issue. South Korean President Park Geun-hye met President Xi Jinping six times already and attended the September 3, 2015 Beijing military parade in addition to joining the Beijing-sponsored Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. However, Seoul is concerned about lack of any progress in Beijing's approach towards Pyongyang. China has become South Korea's largest trading partner with over $300 billion in 2015 from $6 billion in 1992 after the resumption of diplomatic ties. South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se termed the 4th nuclear test by Pyongyang as a 'game changer.' Hwang Joon-kook, the South Korean chief negotiator for the six-party talks, met with Chinese counterpart Wu Dawei on June 10, 2014 for resuming the talks, but in vain. The 2010 Cheonan-corvette shrinking and the Yeongpyeong firing incidents rattled the South Koreans. South Korea is likely to pressurise Beijing to take a more pro-active position in curbing North Korean nuclear ambitions. There is an increasing feeling in Seoul that China is just 'milking' Seoul and Washington on the North Koran issue without any concrete progress. It had also resumed anti-North Korean broadcasts. Seoul is also likely to strengthen the Terminal High Altitude Air Defence System from the US -- a bone of contention with China. The United States followed a zig-zag policy on the North Korea nuclear issue from actively exploring military options for regime change to that of six-party talks and aid and energy supplies to sanctions and to the recent 'strategic patience' plan. Four days after the January 6 test, the US flew a B-52 bomber across the Korean peninsula. US Secretary of State John Kerry told China to avoid a 'business as usual' attitude and take concrete steps for denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. The US will again be disappointed, and after years of talks could follow the same policy with North Korea as on Iran. Srikanth Kondapalli is a professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University. 'Muslims and Dalits must erase the way they remember their past, or carry out their performances in private,' says Jyoti Punwani, as Maharashtra's Censor Board denies permission to a play Jai Bhim, Jai Bharat. The past is never dead. It is not even past. -William Faulkner No one knows this more than the RSS and its affiliates. The BJP revived itself from annihilation after 1984 by invoking a past everyone but they had forgotten about. The Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was an unknown monument; Ayodhya was a temple town associated with Ram. It took seven years of intense planning for the RSS to make the centuries-old Babri Masjid a symbol of Muslim domination over Hindus which had to be brought down, and to reduce the much loved god Ram to one spot in Ayodhya. Aurangzeb Road in Delhi had been there since Independence, just another road recalling the city's royal history. It took a BJP government to replace its name, invoking the misdeeds of an emperor who had ruled almost 400 years ago. So why can't others invoke the past too? In Mumbai, a Censor Board for theatre, appointed by Maharashtra's BJP-Shiv Sena government, has just ordered Dalit playwright Janardhan Jadhav to change the names of places where attacks have taken place against Dalits, lest the mention of these during the play's performance revives unpleasant memories among viewers. Jadhav's latest play, Jai Bhim Jai Bharat, submitted to the Censor Board in November, has been denied permission to be staged until 10 cuts are carried out. A hall has been booked for Sunday, February 7, but it is not sure whether the play will be performed with or without the cuts. The 10 cuts include deleting the name Khairlanji (the Maharashtra village where three members of the Dalit Bhootmange family were mutilated and killed in 2006), and Ramabai Nagar (the Mumbai colony where 10 Dalits were shot dead by the police while protesting the desecration of Dr Ambedkar's statue in 1997). These must be replaced by Wairlanji and Mira Bai Nagar respectively. So must the names of Ramabai Nagar's victims and Manohar Kadam, the policeman who was convicted by a sessions court for the firing. "Who knows, someone in the audience may be so disturbed when the Ramabai Nagar incident is brought up, that he may throw a stone," explains Censor Board member Ashok Samel. "It doesn't take long for one stone to change into a hundred. Will Jadhav give a deposit of Rs 1 crore (Rs 10 million) in case the theatre is destroyed, leave aside the lives that may be lost?" So should Ramabai Nagar and Khairlanji never be written about? "The Ramabai Nagar firing was the murder of humanity. I witnessed it myself. Now Janardhan Jadhav wants to murder humanity again. Intellectuals must not be negative, they should spread positivity," says Samel. Back in 1985, the RSS knew when it started the campaign to demolish the Babri Masjid, that people would be provoked to more than just throwing stones. In fact, L K Advani's rath yatra started with him being anointed with a tilak in blood at the Somnath Temple in Gujarat. Speeches recalling the 'invader Babar', references to 'Babar ki aulad', slogans about 'bheeshan sangharsh (fearsome struggle)' and 'talwar nikli myan se (the sword has been unsheathed)', made during the yatra, were so provocative that the yatra left 564 dead in 116 places (Source: People's Union for Democratic Rights report), some of which had never seen rioting. So, uncaring for the consequences, Hindutvawadis, led by their senior-most leaders, can hit the streets at will, and recount their version of the distant past with violent imagery. It is worth noting that neither the RSS nor the BJP, nor Advani, has ever said the rath yatra was wrong. Indeed, it occupies pride of place in Advani's autobiography, as well as on the BJP Web site. But Dalits must not even mention the names of places where they were killed in recent times in public performances? How do they recount their stories of oppression, then? Should they just forget them, or keep quiet if they are not able to forget? Let bygones be bygones? This phrase was heard repeatedly when the Justice B N Srikrishna Commission of Inquiry submitted its report on Mumbai's 1992-93 riots to the Maharashtra government in 1998. The riots had broken out soon after the Babri Masjid was demolished. The Shiv Sena, its chief Bal Thackeray, and Advani's rath yatra were among those blamed by Justice Srikrishna. Loath to table the report, let alone act on it, the Shiv Sena, which was then in power in the state, kept saying it was best to let bygones be bygones, instead of raking up old wounds. Even the Bombay high court used this argument while exonerating Bal Thackeray as editor of Saamna from the charge of promoting communal enmity through his writings in the newspaper through the riots. But the logic of 'let bygones be bygones' was not applied by the same state Censor Board (albeit with different members), back in 1997, when it passed without any cuts, Pradeep Dalvi's Mee Nathruram Godse Boltoy (I am Nathuram Godse Speaking). The play, written about 40 years after Gandhi's assassination, had its main character Nathuram Godse, the assassin, justifying his act, invoking old resentments against Gandhi. The Board stuck to its stand even after the Maharashtra government asked it to review the play in 1998, when the Mumbai police did not give permission to stage the play, anticipating law and order problems. The Bombay high court later struck down the government notification ordering the forfeiture of all copies of the play's script. The possibility of tension being created because of the main character's critical references to Muslims didn't worry the Censor Board then. But the potential of creating casteist tension by reopening old wounds is not the only reason being given to impose cuts on Janardhan Jadhav's play. The play shows a resurrected Dr Ambedkar talking to a resurrected Gandhi. Some of Dr Ambedkar's dialogues have been asked to be cut, including those which refer to 'Hindutvawadis.' IMAGE: Playwright Janardhan Jadhav. Photograph: Jyoti Punwani Explaining his objections, Samel said Dr Ambedkar would never have used abusive terms towards Hindus or Hinduism. This was a distortion of Dr Ambedkar's character. He should know, he said; he had made a documentary on Dr Ambedkar in collaboration with Dalit writer Baburao Bagul. The question arises: Doesn't the playwright have the poetic licence to make his characters, even if they are based on real-life icons, say whatever he wants? Interestingly, Mee Nathuram Godse Boltoy was critiqued by the well-known scholar Y D Phadke, who pointed out that Gandhi had been distorted by the playwright. The entire Ayodhya movement, incidentally, distorted Ram's persona from a Maryada Purshottam, a model of good conduct, and a gentle god, to an aggressive warrior god. It could be argued that Ram would never have abused other communities and destroyed another's place of worship. Then as now, the kind of Hinduism being projected by the RSS distorts the way Hindu religion has been practised. But real life theatre can only be censored by the State and society; and for much of the last 30 years, the State has been controlled by those who distort. If Dalit memory is being told to tone down now, the recalling of bloody events wherein Muslims have been primary victims have also often been blocked by Censor Boards. In 2014, the Film Censor Board denied documentary maker Shubhradeep Chakravorty a certificate for his documentary En Dino Muzaffarnagar, on the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots. The documentary could provoke communal disturbances, said the Board. Asked by the Delhi high court to justify its opinion, the Board revised it. Yet, it still hasn't issued a censor certificate to the film, despite the film's co-director carrying out the three cuts demanded by the Board. Sometimes, such films have been okayed by the censors, only to be blocked by the police or Hindutva mobs. Last year, a screening of Nakul Singh Sawhney's film Muzaffarnagar Baaki Hai was disrupted by the BJP's student wing, the ABVP, in Delhi's Kirori Mal College, on the pretext that it hurt Hindu and Jat feelings and was one-sided. Soon after, the police stopped its screening in Shantiniketan, saying they apprehended trouble. The 2007 movie Parzania was never allowed to be screened in Gujarat. The recollection of the 2002 violence against Muslims could not be tolerated by those who has perpetrated it. Babu Bajrangi, who boasted on camera about the way he had dismembered Congressman Ehsan Jafri (he has since been convicted), made sure such a negative portrayal could never be shown in the state. So who gets to remember old wounds? Again, it seems, the majority is free to recall history the way it wants -- Shivaji is, after all, portrayed, even in Maharashtra's text-books, as an anti-Muslim Hindu monarch by the Shiv Sena, and any other version of him is banned. Muslims and Dalits, meanwhile, must erase the way they remember their past, or carry out their performances in private. Modis non-reference could also imply that the BJP may be keeping its alliance options open vis-a-vis the AIADMK. It could also imply that the BJPs national leadership had not given up on the DMK returning to power in the state post-poll, and the Centre having to do business with a new government in Fort St George, says N Sathiya Moorthy. Tamil Nadus Bharatiya Janata Party leaders had projected it as their campaign launch for the state assembly elections due in May. But Prime Minister Narendra Modis public rally in communally-sensitive Coimbatore ended up as Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. Throughout his speech, much of it in Hindi and translated into Tamil, Modi did not target the Dravidian parties that have dominated the states politico-electoral scene for decades. Its the 50th year of unbroken Dravidian rule, interrupted only by two stints of Presidents rule. State BJP leaders were thus hoping for a strong message from the prime minister on ending their stranglehold in this election. It was not to be. They are disappointed that Modi once again dug deep into the Congress and other Opposition rivals at the national-level (an euphemism for the Communists), instead. As they readily concede, the Congress and the communists are nearly non-existent as an electoral force in Tamil Nadu. If anything, the parliamentary polls of 2014, and those in 1998 and 1999 earlier, put the Modi-Vajpayee vote-share much higher. It does not mean that party prime ministers had transferrable votes for the BJP in the state, particularly in assembly polls. There, the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the rival DMK parent continue to be the main contenders. Modis speech almost entirely focussed on the Rohith Vemula campus death in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, and Dalit politics. Lately, the BJP has been seeking to consolidate Dalit and select backward castes in Tamil Nadu. Its based on the belief that these communities are disenchanted with their existing political leaderships. Yet, for the prime minister to swear by Ambedkar and reassure Dalits that constitutionally-mandated reservations would continue only recalled his partys role elsewhere in whipping up recent doubts and suspicions on that score. If he had reason to end the discourse, kicked off by some Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders, then he had to talk to them -- not about the Opposition. So was Modis self-sympathetic mention that the Opposition was unable to accept the son of a chai-wallah from Gujarat becoming the prime minister. They are stalling our pro-people initiatives in Parliament, he said. The line that was imaginative ahead of the parliamentary polls did not sell in the more recent assembly polls in Bihar -- or, so would it seem. The greater irony for the state BJP was Modis Coimbatore reference to corruption of the Congress variety under UPA-2. He also thundered about the clean image of his government over the past one-and-a-half years, in comparison. In Tamil Nadu, talking about corruption but not about the two Dravidian majors, could prove counter-productive in more ways than one. Modi sympathisers apart, every voter in the state has full knowledge of the Bangalore case against Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, now pending final disposal before the Supreme Court, later this month. A section of the DMK leadership is convinced, in turn, about the damage wrought by the 2-G scam on the partys electoral chances in 2011 and 2014. In terms of prospective electoral allies, parties like the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the DMDK are confused after Modi speaking about corruption and not about the AIADMK in particular -- and the DMK, otherwise. The two, as also the anti-BJP, non-Congress, four-party alliance with Marumalarchi DMKs Vaiko as coordinator, have targeted the DMK and the AIADMK on corruption and mal-governance of the past decades. To them, Modis non-reference would also imply that the BJP may be keeping its alliance options open vis-a-vis the AIADMK in particular. It could also imply that the BJP national leadership had not given up on the DMK returning to power in the state post-poll, and the Centre having to do business with a new government in Fort St George. All of it has left state BJP leaders confused. They are often embarrassed in public to continue talking about corruption and mal-administration of the DMK-AIADMK kind. Its even more embarrassing for them, to face party cadres who want clear-cut answers. The TN BJPs confusion starts with the continuance of TN unit president should there be an electoral tie-up with the AIADMK in particular. Among a few others in the state BJP, Tamizhisai Soundararajan had gone hammer and tongs at the state administration, through much of 2015. Though she may have slowed down in recent weeks, the BJPs electoral adversaries in the state could still quote her from the past -- and embarrass the AIADMK alliance as a whole during poll-time if the two parties were to tie up. Ahead of Modis Coimbatore visit, however, Muralidhar Rao, BJP in-charge for Tamil Nadu, declared that Tamizhisai would continue as state unit chief for another term. Willy-nilly it implied that the BJP would not have an electoral alliance with the AIADMK. Modis Coimbatore non-reference to the AIADMK has thus confused BJP cadres and second-line leaders in the state even more. This time round, however, Jayalalithaa continues to wear the cap in electoral alliance(s). At the AIADMK general council meeting in December, she declared that she would decide on poll alliance(s) at the opportune time. Jaya explained that each election demanded separate strategies in terms of alliance formation. This did cool the hearts of pro-Jaya elements in the Tamil Nadu BJP. But even they would readily agree that even if the BJP were to be admitted into the AIADMK alliance, Jaya would call all the shots and more -- and on poll campaigns, Modi would have to play second fiddle to Amma. A lot would, however, depend on the Supreme Court proceedings in the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa on the one hand, and the trial court judgment in the 2-G case involving DMK functionaries, on the other. Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing a public meeting in Coimbatore on Tuesday, along with national and state-level BJP leaders. Photograph: PTI Photo N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is director, Chennai chapter of the Observer Research Foundation. IMAGE: Ambassador T P Sreenivasan after being assaulted by Students Federation of India 'activists'. 'I am doing all this for the students of Kerala, and when they come and hit me, it is very frustrating.' 'My regret is that something that could set off for the future has been thwarted.' 'We have not changed the syllabus for decades, we have not accepted norms in education and technology is hardly used. Today's students are studying what I studied decades ago.' T P Sreenivasan, a former ambassador to Austria and Slovenia, and Rediff.com columnist, served in the Indian Foreign Service for 37 years. He was also a governor for India at the International Atomic Energy Agency. After retirement, the diplomat settled in Thiruvananthapuram and is currently the vice-chairman and executive head of the Kerala State Higher Education Council with the rank of vice-chancellor. In that capacity, he organised a Global Education Meet in the state capital last week, with the support of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Over a hundred academicians, academic administrators and education providers from around the world attended the meet. That was when agitating Students Federation of India 'activists' attacked him. The SFI is the Communist Party of India-Marxist's 'students' wing. Ambassador Sreenivasan spoke to Shobha Warrier/Rediff.com about the incident, the global meet and the education scene. The Left parties allege that higher education in Kerala was going to be sold to private players at the meet. The whole accusation was because of a misunderstanding. We had explained to them that there were three purposes behind the meet. One was to increase international cooperation and contacts with foreign universities, but within the existing laws of the state as well as the central government. As per existing state law, you cannot have private universities. But there are certain things we can do within the guidelines of the University Grants Commission, and without having private universities and foreign universities having campuses here. You can have twinning, you can have dual degrees, you can have exchange of students, you can have one semester here and another there. Most of the universities here are not even aware of the possibilities. So, we thought we could make them familiar with these. We had 160 participants -- including 23 from ten countries -- at the meet. So the Left's accusation is baseless? We are nobody to bring private universities here; we cannot as per existing laws. This misunderstanding is because my council has recommended a few months ago that private universities should be allowed in Kerala, but it is still under the consideration of the government. Don't you think the Left has a phobia against anything that is private? It is ideological. Earlier, the Left opposed the introduction of computers fearing that there would be loss of jobs and there were many strikes. Then they opposed self-financing colleges, but today, the CPI-M runs self-financing colleges. So, you can say they have an initial phobia against any private participation especially in education. But eventually they themselves join in. So, we thought there would be resistance initially. As the vice-chairman of the Higher Education Council in Kerala, how do you describe the higher education scene in Kerala and the quality of students? We have identified three areas as important in higher education. First is access, which means there must be enough colleges and universities. Then, there should be equity in education. In both access and equity, Kerala has done well. Enrolment in Kerala at 27 per cent is higher than the national average of 20 per cent. Third is excellence in which we have not focussed at all. We have not changed the syllabus for decades, we have not accepted norms in education and technology is hardly used. Today's students are studying what I studied decades ago. I have identified infrastructure, teachers' training, technology, research, autonomy and internationalisation, as areas to reform. The present council has only two more months to go, but we have given a report. We were doing the internationalisation aspect to modernise education through the meet that day. It was a mere theoretical study. Because I have come from abroad, I was labelled as the agent of the Americans. I feel what they are doing is poisoning the people. The other day when I interviewed a person who has been associated with the start up scene in India from the 1980s, he was saying that unless we revolutionise the education system in India, India will not have great entrepreneurs. This is what I have also been saying. You cannot have the fourth industrial revolution the world is promising, without an up-to-date higher education. To make it up to date, you need international contacts. You must know what they are doing and must try to emulate them to an extent possible. All these ideas are anathema to the Left and they are expecting to come back to power. Recently a report said that 80 per cent of India's students are unemployable... Unless there is private capital, you can't improve the scene. The Narayana Murthy committee report says at least 50 per cent of the outlay in higher education must come from the private sector. The whole world is moving towards privatisation, but in Kerala, there is a resistance to that. They need not have expressed that resistance in this way. Do you feel the attack on you may have spoiled the mood of those who had come from different countries? No, they couldn't care less. I explained the incident as militant democracy. They then said that they didn't approve of this kind of democracy. Other than what we at the council had suggested, there were two more suggestions by the minister. He had seen the Academic City in Dubai and got dazzled by it. He came back and said let's have an Academic City in Kerala. I explained to him that an Academic City without private universities couldn't be an Academic City. Dubai allows both private and foreign universities. Then, we devised an Academic City without private universities, but universities with foreign linkages. It is only in theory. For example, Oxford University will not come here to affiliate with Kerala University and give a Kerala University degree. It is not practical, but still, the government wanted to explore the possibility of an Academic City. The third idea was to have international higher academic zones. Anybody who has 20 acres of land can set up any institution with foreign linkages while the government will give them infrastructure. The idea is to bring in entrepreneurs in the self-financing mode, and not the university mode. In other words, nothing was supposed to change by the outcome of this conference. But nine former vice-chancellors of Leftist orientation started saying what was happening was commoditisation, commercialisation and sales of education to the rest of the world. The CPI-M embraced the idea that the meet was against the interest of the state. Do you think the attack on you was because of this propaganda? The atmosphere in the state was also very tense with the writ petition against the chief minister and the news about the solar scam and all that. That morning, they were ready to demonstrate outside the meet and all these people had assembled outside Hotel Leela (the venue of the meet) the previous night. In the morning, both the chief minister and education minister did not come for the meet, but nobody had warned me against going there. I went to the conference and found these boys shouting. I asked the police what to do. They said the car could not go, but I could walk through. That was why I went. Otherwise, why would I go where some angry mob was shouting? I almost crossed the crowd when somebody shouted, 'This is the vice-chairman.' They were actually looking for me as they admitted later that their plan was to block three people -- the CM, the education minister and the vice-chairman, which is me, so that the conference didn't take place. When somebody identified me, they started beating me up. It must have been a huge shock for you. Yes, it was a terrible shock. Though they hit me from behind, it was not in a very hurtful manner, but in an insulting manner. I quietly walked towards where the policemen were standing. That was when this guy came very slowly as if to protect me, but then he slapped me very hard on my right cheek and I fell down. Because you are an international figure, what happened to you got international attention. Don't you think it will affect the image of Kerala? Yes, it was international news. And what happened to me will definitely affect the image of Kerala. Whenever they think of Kerala, this is the image they will have. They will say a man who tried to reform education was battered on the streets. Won't they feel uncomfortable investing here? That is the tragedy of it. This incident has become a big problem for the Left. Earlier, they didn't condemn the incident, but they condemned it on the second day. CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan said you may be a well-known diplomat, but your contribution to education was nothing. Yes, he said he appreciated my work as an ambassador, but I was not an educationist. What does that mean? If you are not an educationist, you should be beaten up or what? The next day, after seeing the strong reaction from all the people, he condemned it. My regret is that something that could set off for the future has been thwarted. Do you feel sad for the students of Kerala? I am doing all this for them, and when they come and hit me, it is very frustrating. 'We were at war with the BJP in the 1990s. We were burning down each other's offices then. I don't want that to happen again.' In the late 1980s, when the Congress-led Maharashtra government published Riddles of Hinduism, a book written by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, there was a hue and cry over it, led primarily by supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party who wanted the book to be banned. The BJP said Riddles of Hinduism was hurting Hindu sentiments. In 2016, when the BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis approached Dr Ambedkar's grandson, Prakash Ambedkar requesting permission to republish Ambedkar's work on his birth anniversary on April 14, he was taken aback. "We were literally at war with the BJP in the 1990s. We were burning down each other's offices then. That was the situation. I don't want that to happen again," Prakash Ambedkar told Rediff.com. Prakash Ambedkar, below, left, spoke to Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com Why have you refused to share the copyright of B R Ambedkar's books with the BJP government? I have not refused the copyright. There was a controversy on some of his works which the Shiv Sena and BJP had opposed earlier. So you are not refusing permission, then? I am not refusing permission. I want a guarantee that his works will be published. For the Congress it did not matter because they said they will print (Dr Ambedkar's work) as it is. Now that the copyright has expired (after 25 years with the Maharashtra government) and it is back with me, the BJP wants it, but I am asking them for a guarantee that it will be published. That';s all. Did you have a bad experience with the BJP regarding Dr Ambedkar's works? They had opposed some of his publications. What was the objection? They had said earlier that it should be banned and stated it should not be published by the state government. Why do you think there has been a change in heart? That is what they have to speak up on. I am not their spokesperson. If they have a change of heart over Ambedkar, then they must speak about it. What is your opinion about how the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh)-BJP regard Dr Ambedkar? I have no opinion about anybody. I go by experience. What is it about Dr Ambedkar's books that they are so popular even today? They are very relevant. His thoughts have not become outdated. Is that the reason that you did not share the copyright? I had given to the copyright to the government of Maharashtra. They had published it for the last 25 years. What was the objection by the BJP to Dr Ambedkar's books? There was literally a war with them. (We were) burning down each other's offices then. I don't want that to happen again. People will criticise me because I had led the agitation at that time. You are referring to Riddles of Hinduism? Yes. Has the BJP government agreed to publish the book? They have not agreed yet. They want the publishing rights. I am ready to give it, but they must give me a guarantee that his works will be published. The Maharashtra government may want some selected works to be published. Let me tell you, I am blank. Nobody has come and spoken to me. It was only the education secretary of Maharashtra who spoke to me and I put across the same thing. Thawar Chand Gehlot, (the Union minister for social justice and empowerment), spoke to me regarding one of the issues and I told him the same thing. Did you ask Mr Gehlot which books they want to publish? No. I told him this is my basic concern. You address the basic concern and I am with you. He said he will get back to me. What about the BJP's change of heart about the Dalit community? Has the BJP become a pro-Dalit party? The reasons why they have changed have not come out. Nobody has been able to judge that. They have not spoken out. Do you think it is because of the Dalit votebank? We are still guessing what made (the BJP) change their hearts for the Dalits. We are not yet able to grasp what exactly they want to do. After Rohith Vemula's suicide, some people accused the Modi government of being an anti-Dalit government. I will not say it is an anti-Dalit government. There was certain sensitivity needed. Modi had tears in his eyes at the Lucknow programme (where he broke his silence on the Vemula suicide). There should have been some action on his behalf. At least inviting the mother and brother for a discussion to New Delhi, taking into consideration their side of the story and asking what they feel and what needs to be done. By spending 10 minutes with them, the issue would have got resolved instead of becoming so big. He failed to do so. Now he is doing it, but it has no meaning. You think the prime minister did not act swiftly after Rohith's death? He did not act fast and there is no action now. What they are asking is very simple. They are asking that the vice-chancellor who acted against Vemula must be suspended. What circumstances led to the suicide should be investigated. If you cannot meet these demands you cannot claim that you are sensitive to the common man's (cause). MAIN iMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the memorial in London dedicated to Dr B R Ambedkar. Also seen are Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athavale. Photographs: Press Information Bureau The Tanzanian high commissioner to India on Friday backed the steps taken by the government in connection with the alleged assault and stripping of a Tanzanian student in Bengaluru even as four more persons were arrested and two police officials suspended. Flying in from Delhi, a team from comprising Tanzanian envoy John W H Kijazi, also the dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, and External Affairs Ministry officials on Friday met state officials to get their account and African students in a confidence building measure. Emerging after meeting state Home Minister G Parameshwara and home department officials, Kijazi said, We are very much impressed with the action already taken. We must focus on the future. We believe that the local communities and the African community can live in harmony, he said. To a question if he was ruling out racism, the envoy said, We have not come here to discuss the issues of racism. I am looking at the current situation and the future. Nine persons, including four last night, have so far been arrested ever since the Sunday night incident in which the 21-year old Tanzanian student faced mob fury in vigilante justice after a Sudanese driving a car in an alleged drunken state struck a couple, killing a woman on the spot. Inspector Pravin Babu had been suspended for dereliction of duty and Constable Manjunath for not taking action even though he was present at the spot, Bengaluru Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said, as police faced intense heat amidst accusations that they did not act promptly and swiftly. The four accused were arrested last night and booked for assault, unlawful assembly, arson, rioting and outraging a womans modesty, Megharikh said. Police said they were interrogating the suspects and some more people might be arrested. Asked whether one of the arrested was a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Megharikh said, He is a panchayat member. We went into the facts of the situation, and we are very clear that we are very much impressed by the action of the government. Some confidence (building) measures have already been taken so that such incidents do not happen. Some of the officials have been suspended and action initiated against some others, Kijazi said. Asked about his message to the students of his country, he said, Follow the laws of the country. Live in harmony with local people. Respect the leadership of the state. Respect the leadership of local communities. But we have a message for local community as well. Upset over the incident, Tanzania had sent a note verbale to India. Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (States) Partha Sathpathy said the MEA had mandated the team to come here primarily to assist the Tanzanian high commissioner in his interactions with state government. He said, We have two basic objectives one is to interact with the state government and find out and try to impress upon them the necessity to take action against the people who were responsible for this horrendous event. The second objective was to make sure that the government in collaboration with community and the students take the necessary steps so that such incident does not repeat ever again, he said. Stating that they were here with a larger picture in mind, the MEA official said, We wanted to convey this image, this impression to the foreign student community here, especially our African friends, that we are concerned about their safety and security. They are always welcome here, he added. He also thanked Karnataka government and its authorities for the cooperation extended in giving a clearer picture. He said, There is no conflict at all, this is a process in which we are collaborating and working cooperatively so that this event doesnt ever happen again. The team also included director Eastern and Southern Africa in the MEA and the regional director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Parameshwara said the entire incident and the action taken by the state government were explained to the Tanzanian envoy and the MEA officials. We have also explained the long-term action plan to them considering the foreign students, particularly the African students, about their safety, peaceful co-existence along with the community and they are convinced about it, he said. Asked about overstaying foreign students, he said he had asked officials to make verifications in that regard. We will keep in touch with the MEA and respective consulates and institutions and inform them and take necessary steps, he said. Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda asked the Karnataka government to form a special squad to keep a watch on foreign students, in the wake of the Sunday incident. Attacking the Congress-led state government for not acting on locals complaint regarding the wrong behaviour of certain foreign students, he sought the central governments intervention to find the truth about the assault. He also said that innocent people should not be arrested as was being alleged by the locals. Speaking to reporters after visiting the family of a woman who was mowed down by a car driven by a Sudanese, which led to the Tanzanian student being attacked, he said, I have come to know that more than thousands of students are staying here and functioning even after their visa having expired. Facing attack by the BJP for being silent, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said strict action would be taken in the incident and he had told the chief minister that strict action is to be taken and it will be taken. I condemn 100 per cent this type of action, Rahul told reporters in New Delhi, adding he spoke to the party general secretary in-charge of Karnataka to look into the matter and speak to the Chief Minister. Image: Tanzania's High Commissioner to India John Kijazi, right, with Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara, during a visit to Bengaluru on Friday. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/ PTI Photo Till December 2015, the prime minister has flown abroad 19 times, but the bills have been processed only for 2014 till now, reports Nivedita Mookerji The frequent and frequently discussed foreign trips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have chalked up a bill of Rs 77 crore for chartered flights in the first six months of his tenure, according to data from his office. Modi took charge as prime minister on May 26, 2014. According to data from the Prime Ministers Office, this is the amount spent on five international trips between June 15 and November 20 (see chart). He also went twice to Nepal, but flew in Indian Air Force aircraft. The expenditure for these trips has not been revealed. Till December 2015, Modi has flown abroad 19 times, but the bills have been processed only for 2014 till now. Compared with his predecessor, Manmohan Singh, Modis most expensive trip -- to Myanmar, Australia and Fiji in November 2014 -- was comparatively less costly at Rs 22.5 crore. Singhs trip to Brazil and Mexico in June 2012 for eight days had chalked up a flight bill of Rs 26.94 crore. Also, the current PMs chartered flight for a seven-day trip to the US in September 2014, where he had wooed the crowds at Madison Square in New York, had cost Rs 19 crore -- less than Singhs trip for as many days to the US in September 2013, the bill for which was Rs 23.37 crore. However, when the figures are compared for expenses on flights abroad, Modi comes out on the top. In his first six months, Singh flew out four times but spent only Rs 30.45 crore. One must, of course, consider the fact that expenses between 2004 (when Singh took office) and 2014 are not comparable. Cost Of Flying Out The bill for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chatered flights in the first six months* (May to November, 2014): BHUTAN: (June 15-16) Rs. 2.45cr BRAZIL: (July 13-17) Rs. 20.35cr JAPAN: (August 30-September 3) Rs. 13.47cr US: (September 25-October 1) Rs. 19cr MYANMAR, AUSTRALIA and FIJI: (November 11-20) Rs. 22.5cr Other PMS, Other Trips Years In Office Trips Abroad Total cost Manmohan Singh 10 73 794.84 Most expensive: Mexico and Brazil, June 16-23, 2012 (Rs. 26.94cr) Atal Bihari Vajpayee 5 19 144.34 Most expensive: Turkey and US, September 16-28, 2003 (Rs. 15.84cr) Over his 10-year tenure, Singh travelled to foreign countries 73 times, incurring an expenditure of Rs 794.84 crore on chartered flights -- about Rs 79.4 crore a year. Modis predecessor from his own Bharatiya Janata Party, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, travelled abroad only 19 times during his five years in office (January 1999 to May 2004). The current PM has already had as many trips in less than two years. Image: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi disembarks a plane upon his arrival in Russia. Photograph: Reuters Ahead of the International Fleet Review, Naval chief Admiral R K Dhowan spoke of the changing perception of the navy and the many challenges it faces on the global map. Rediff.coms Vipin Vijayan listens in. The Indian Navy shows off its might prior to the beginning of the International Fleet Review. Photograph: ifr16.indiannavy.gov.in Its curtains up for the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam. The four-day event will see more than 90 ships -- aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, and 70 aircraft from more than 52 countries -- participating in what is being called Indias biggest military exercise till date Addressing delegates on the eve of the second edition of the International Fleet Review, Admiral R K Dhowan said: No single navy is robust enough to provide safety and stability on its own. This is the responsibility of the men in white -- the navies and the coast guard -- to come up with cooperative mechanisms. That is why there is focus on networking between navies; that is why global maritime partnerships are emerging. And that is the theme of the fleet review -- that we are united by the oceans, to make the global commons safe and secure. The presence of nearly 50 countries here is an indicator that navies cooperate with each other. The maritime median lends itself into cooperation. Thats the message that every country will carry back home from here. When asked why the fleet review was moved to the eastern seaboard (the last time it was held in Mumbai), the naval chief explained, The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world and our neighbours -- Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia -- surround the Bay of Bengal. It was our endeavour to see that we hold the fleet review in proximity of our littoral neighbours so that it is easier for them to participate. Hence, Vizag is the city of destiny; the waters of the east coast provide us the adequate depths to hold such an event. Also, this is in tune with the aspects of the Look East and Act East policy of our government. All these aspects were taken into consideration. Naval Chief Admiral RK Dhowan at a conference ahead of the International Fleet Review. Photograph: PRO Navy On the partnerships that India seeks to build through the fleet review, Dhowan said: The Indian Navy has displayed its operational footprints as far east as the western Pacific, as far west as the north Atlantic, to the east coast of Africa, off the islands of the Indian Ocean region and as far as down under as Australia -- in the last one year. The chief further added that the Indian Navy has also held various naval exercises with other countries, such as Malabar exercise with the US, Exercise Varuna with France, Exercise Simbex with Singapore, Exercise Slinex with the Sri Lankan navy, bilateral exercises with Australia and the bilateral conference with the United Kingdom to name a few. We also just completed exercises with the Omani Navy off Goa and the Brazilian and South African navies will sail out of Vizag after the fleet review for Exercise INSOBAR off Goa, he said, adding, All these are opportunities for us to operate in various leagues of the world, enhance our interactions and also to see that the global commons are safe and secure. In this regard, the naval chief also pointed out that there has been a marked change in the perception of India as a maritime nation. We have a maritime tradition that goes back to 3300 BC. Through the Indus Valley civilization on the west coast of India, we had flourishing trade links with Mesopotamia and east coast of Africa and Egypt. On the east coast, the Kalingas, the Cholas and the Pandyas sailed to distant lands in South East Asia and established trade links. We also have a glorious ship-building tradition. The oldest warship in the world, HMS Trincomalee -- which is now restored as a museum in United Kingdom -- was built at the Bombay docks. In the last 15-20 years, there has been a revival of the importance of our maritime interests. We have 12 major ports and 200 micro and intermediate ports and a large number of private ports which have come up; our island territories, trade, fishing and offshore oil -- all these are aspects of our maritime interests which have seen considerable attention by the government and are flourishing. The security umbrella of the Navy has also grown simultaneously. We have to be a multi-dimensional force. Our shipyards have risen to the occasion. Our assets today are all made in India. Today, we have a capable navy; a navy, which can take care of our maritime interest; a navy which can shape a favourable environment in the Indian Ocean region to further our maritime interests. Talking about the threats todays navies have to deal with, Admiral Dhowan said that the challenges in the maritime domain are as wide and varied as they come. In the 21st century, navies have been grappling with pirates. The navies of the world have united against the threat and managed to control piracy. Other threats that are looming large are asymmetric warfare and terrorism. The seas are no longer the benign medium and any innocuous fishing boat can also pose a threat. So to organise the security of our ships, submarines, coast guard vessels and ships of our friends from around the world is a huge challenge. We have surveillance from the air. We have various tiers of security within and around the harbor. As we speak, all those firewalls and security tiers are in place to ensure smooth sailing. An engineer-turned-businessman from Visakhapatnam has sent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Rs 364 to buy a pair of formal shoes. Reason -- The businessman Sumit Agrawal says he was deeply aggrieved to find Kejriwal wearing sandals during a state banquet hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan against the prescribed dress code. The Delhi chief minister was seen wearing sandals during the banquet hosted in honour of French President Francois Hollande on January 26. Agrawal sent a demand draft of Rs 364 to Kejriwal on Monday by speed post and said he took to the streets to collect money by following the footsteps of the Aam Aadmi Party leader. It broke my heart to see you like this. Im deeply aggrieved, Agarwal said in an open letter to Kejriwal, adding certain protocols have dictated the democratic set up and international relations and everyone must respect them. Severely critical of Kejriwal, the young businessman said the Delhi CM was representing the country that day at Rashtrapati Bhavan and not staging a dharna at an Aam Aadmi Partyrally at Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar. Youre a grown man. Please act according to the situation and and to the occasion, he said. Kejriwals office refused to comment on the issue. The businessman also explained how he collected the money. I initially had plans to contribute some money from my own pocket. However, since Im against donations to any political party, I decided against it and followed your footsteps instead. I took to the streets to gather money to fund a pair of footwear for you. Sir, I know that this is a very small amount, but it is the result of the effort of an entire Sunday afternoon of hard work. I had initiated the collection with an initial contribution of Rs 49, he wrote. He futher said Though such a modest amount is not enough for a CM, I believe any amount is good enough for the someone who claims that he has no shoes despite having a monthly salary of only Rs 2,10,000. Image: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal wearing sandals at the banquet held by President Pranab Mukherjee in honour of the French President Francois Hollande. Photograph: PTI External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo on Friday. Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/ Reuters India and Sri Lanka on Friday agreed to find an innovative and lasting solution to the fishermen issue, a major irritant in the bilateral ties, as the foreign ministers of the two countries reviewed the progress made in various sectors like defence, aviation and trade. The two countries also signed memoranda of understanding in education and health sectors after visiting External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera co-chaired the 9th Indo-Lanka Joint Commission meeting in Colombo. The two sides also agreed that Sri Lankan fisheries minister Mahinda Amaraweera would travel to India to hold talks to resolve the fishermen issue. There was an agreement that we need to find an innovative and lasting solution to this issue, said External Affairs Ministry Joint Secretary Renu Pall. The fishermen issue was discussed by the two ministers. They talked about the intricacies involved, she said. India has invited Sri Lankan fisheries minister to visit the country and Colombo has accepted the invitation, officials said. The fishermen issue continues to be a major irritant in the Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka accuses Indian fishermen of straying into its territorial waters, while the latter maintain they are only fishing in their traditional areas, especially around Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Colombo in 1974. Though the fishermens associations of the two sides are in regular touch with each other, they have not been able to reach a mutually-acceptable solution to end this problem. India maintains that the fishermen issue has a socio-economic dimensions, livelihood and humanitarian dimension and wants a long term solution to the problem. The Joint Commission meeting which lasted for more than two hours discussed issues such as economic cooperation, trade, power and energy, technical and maritime cooperation, social, cultural and educational matters, science and technology, defence cooperation, health, civil aviation, tourism and people-to-people contact. Under the MoUs that were signed on Friday, India would help Sri Lanka in renovating 27 schools in the Northern Province. The second MoU is on building a surgical ward and supplying medical equipment to the Batticaloa Teaching Hospital in the East. Sri Lanka also proposed partnership in setting up Special Economic Zone in Trincomalee and increase cooperation in the aviation sector. Swaraj and Samaraweera also agreed to take forward the revised bilateral air services agreement. The two sides also discussed plans to enhance cooperation in aeronautical research and use of Indian satellite system Gagan by Sri Lanka, officials said. The joint commission has acknowledged the depth and intensity and uniqueness of this relationship, they said. The two ministers took stock of preparation underway on agreement in economy and technology cooperation. The preliminary exchanges in this regard were held in December when the commerce secretary of two countries met in New Delhi. India will organise a workshop here later this month on this subject. The two ministers also took recognisance of the reconstitution of the chief executive officers forum which is currently underway in both the nations. They spoke about various projects which have been under discussion for sometime, including the upgradation of Palalli airport and about infrastructure development at Kankesanthuri port where four phases have been completed. Rail India Technical and Economic Service will send a delegation soon to take it further, they said. The officials also informed that Sampur power plant has got environment clearance. The project to construct two power plants with 250 mw capacity was long overdue. On tourism, the officials said the second meeting of joint working group on tourism will be held in mid 2016 to take forward the collaboration on development of Ramayana circuit in Lanka and extension of Buddhist circuit in India. Sri Lanka also proposed on cooperation on oil tanks farm in Trincomalee. The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and the ministry of oil and petroleum will send a delegation in Colombo in this regard. The two sides also discussed cooperation in energy, railways, education, agriculture, defence, counter terrorism, health care and traditional marketing medicines. On housing project, the officials said 44,000 houses in North have been completed and work on 4,000 will start soon. Noting that Lanka has sought more seats for its medical students in Indian universities, they said the joint commission also discussed the potential of private universities opening their campus in Lanka. The Joint Commission was set up in 1992 as a mechanism to address issues of bilateral cooperation. The last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in January, 2013. Swaraj, who is here on a two-day visit, was earlier received by Samaraweera at the airport. She will call on President Maithripala Sirisena on Saturday and former president Chandrika Kumaratunga besides meeting other top leaders. India-Sri Lanka relations had seen lows during last few years of the tenure of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was voted out of power, even as China had expanded its footprint in the country by building ports, highways and participating in other infrastructure projects. The ties gained momentum after the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka in March last year, the first bilateral tour by an Indian premier in over 25 years. Swaraj had visited Sri Lanka in March 2015. Swaraj and Sirisena also launched a 30-minute documentary based on Indian-origin Tamils in Sri Lanka. An emotional connect. EAM & Prez @MaithripalaS launch 'Echoing Hills', a film on Indian origin Tamils in Sri Lanka, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted. The documentary, Echoing Hills is on the history of the Indian-origin plantation Tamils. The documentary film depicts the story of the indentured labour brought to Sri Lanka by the British in the 1800s and their current status. It was only in 2001, all those Indian Tamils resident in Sri Lanka were granted full citizenship, The Island newspaper reported. Swaraj will inaugurate a Rise of Digital India exhibition tomorrow as part of Sangam festival of India in Sri Lanka 2015-2016. The United Kingdom counter terrorism police have arrested the parents of a 20-year-old white British Muslim convert dubbed Jihadi Jack, for sending money to their son, who has reportedly joined the Islamic State in war-ravaged Syria. South East Counter Terrorism Command said in a statement that it was aware of recent reports in the media regarding a 20-year-old man from Oxford travelling to Syria and can confirm we are investigating. We can confirm a 55-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman, from Oxford, were arrested on suspicion of sending money to Syria which could be used for terrorism purposes and were bailed until February 17, the statement said without identifying them. Jack Letts, also known as Jihadi Jack, is accused of being the first white Briton to join the dreaded terror group IS in Syria. Meanwhile, the parents of Jack, John and Sally Letts, in their first TV interview since news of their son being in IS-controlled territory in Syria broke, denied allegations that their son had joined IS and said the money was for their son to buy a new pair of glasses. Even if you know hes in danger or cant see straight, what parent is not going to try get their child a pair of glasses if he cant see straight, John Letts told Channel 4 News in an interview. The Oxford-based organic farmer added: I am furious really. I am very upset. I think its crazy that we cant send a penny to our ill son to help him get out or to help him in anyway because well be seen as supporting terrorism. Your child is about to fall off a cliff and they (the police) are holding you back even though hes crawling forward to the edge and they wont let you help him. The couple said there was no evidence their son had become an IS fighter and claimed the police have put two and two together and made 10. He has the freedom to practice whatever he wants, thats British values. Its so unfair, but if there is any evidence that hes done anything violent, if you can show me any of that Ill be the first to believe it and Ill be the first to report it, Jacks mother Sally said. Because I dont want a son who would do that type of thing... That is not the kid that I recognise, she added. For the first time, the couple revealed during the television that Jack suffered a serious mental health disorder called Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and they have been trying to convince him to come back home to Britain. Hes sending desperate messages to us saying its cold or he doesnt have food or he cant see. We know that legally were not allowed to help him. I just dont understand that, his mother said. Jack Letts, who attended CherwellSchool in Oxford, converted to Islam as a teenager and now goes by the name Ibrahim. He left his home for Syria over a year ago. Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed on Friday led a march in Islamabad and his outfit across several cities, ranting on the Kashmir issue, showing defiance in the face of India asking Pakistan to rein in the terror group. A day after Saeed warned of more Pathankot-style attacks, the Jamaat Ud-Dawah men took out rallies in cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Muzaffarabad to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. The JuD chief led the rally in Islamabad while his relative Hafiz Abdur Rehman Maki addressed a big gathering in Lahore. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Jamaat-i-Islami and other political and religious parties also held rallies to express solidarity with Kashmiris. The JuD also held several camps in Lahore which showed videos about atrocities in Kashmir on big screens. Addressing a Solidarity Kashmir Conference in Mirpur on Thursday, Saeed said Pakistan should be thankful to Kashmiri militant leader Syed Salahuddin, who heads the United Jihad Council that had claimed responsibility for the Pathankot terror attack. Syed Salahuddin is a great well-wisher of Pakistan. He has taken Pakistan out of trouble by accepting the responsibility of Pathankot airbase attack. Pakistan should be thankful to him, said the founder leader of banned Lashkar-e-Tayiba. Saeed warned India that if war in Kashmir further prolonged it would have to pay a heavy price for it. India on Thursday asked Pakistan to rein in the JuD chief, voicing grave concern over his activities after the Mumbai terror attack mastermind warned of more Pathankot-style attacks. The JuD chief said, On the occasion of Kashmir Day, I want more intensity in the freedom struggle. Every child in Pakistan is ready to sacrifice his life for Kashmirs freedom. Our Constitution also demands us to support Kashmiris in their freedom struggle, he added. Saeed asked Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to sever relations with India and said that there should be no relations with it till Kashmir is freed. The UN declared JuD a terror organisation and also individually designated Saeed as a terrorist in December 2008. The US has already put a $10 million (Rs 67.6 crore) bounty on his head. Saeed, who orchestrated the November, 2008, Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed, roams around freely in Pakistan despite being a designated terrorist and has made many anti-India remarks and speeches. Saeed said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should not sacrifice Kashmir for the sake of trade with India. The rulers have no right to put the Kashmir issue on back-burner and hold talks with India on other issues like trade, he said. I give guarantee that Kashmir will be freed the day the prime minister, army chief, all political parties and Kashmiri organisations are on same page on the issue, he said. Earlier, addressing a rally, Saeed had said, 800,000 Indian troops are committing genocide on Kashmiris. Dont they have a right to carry out Pathankot-style attacks for their defence?...You have only seen one attack on Pathankot. Matters could easily escalate. Every year February 5 is observed as Kashmir Solidarity Day in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir to pledge support for the people of Kashmir. Democratic US presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (L) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discuss an issue during the Democratic presidential candidates debate sponsored by MSNBC at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. Photograph: Mike Segar/ Reuters Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders tangled in their first one-on-one debate over how to achieve liberal goals such as health care for all and a better education system. Clinton last night dismissed Sanders' proposals as "just not achievable," while Sanders countered that Clinton was willing to settle for less than Americans deserve. "I do not accept the belief that the United States of America can't do that," Sanders said of his plan for universal health care and of his efforts to take on "the rip-offs of the pharmaceutical industry." Clinton insisted they both want the same thing, "the disagreement is where do we start from and where do we end up." The race for the Democratic nomination, once seen as a sure thing for Clinton, intensified this week after Sanders held the former secretary of state to a whisper-thin margin of victory in Iowa's leadoff caucuses. The tone of their back-and-forth has become increasingly sharp, and the candidates agreed to add four more debates to the primary season schedule. The debate is the last before Tuesday's first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary, and Sanders holds a big lead in polls in the state. In fresh evidence of the tightening race, Clinton reported that her campaign had raised USD 15 million in January -- USD 5 million less than Sanders and the first time she's been outraised by her opponent. Her finance director called the numbers "a very loud wake-up call" in a fundraising email to supporters. Heading into the debate, Sanders was eager to lower expectations for his finish in New Hampshire, casting himself as an underdog against "the most powerful political organisation in the country." Clinton, for her part, signalled her determination to at least narrow the gap before Tuesday's vote in the state where she defeated Barack Obama in 2008 before ultimately losing the nomination to him. Her prospects are much stronger in primaries and caucuses after New Hampshire, as the race moves on to states with more diverse electorates that are to her advantage. The Durham debate is the first face off for Clinton and Sanders since former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley dropped out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. The Supreme Court on Friday questioned Arunachal Pradesh Governor J P Rajkhowas decision to advance the assembly session to December last year from this January, asking what difference would it have made if the sitting was held as originally scheduled. What would be the change or the difference if the assembly proceedings would have taken place on pre-scheduled January 14 instead of December 16, a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Justice J S Khehar, said. The poser came when senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for some rebel Congress MLAs, said there were serious corruption charges against then Speaker Nabam Rebia and the governor was empowered under the Constitution to advance the assembly session and instruct that the issue of removal of the Speaker be taken up as first item of business. There has to be some object to be achieved by the governor by wanting to advance the date, the bench, which also comprised Justices Dipak Misra, M B Lokur, P C Ghose and N V Ramana, said. Responding on a lighter vein to the assertion that the governor can summon and advance the assembly session, the bench asked, Does it mean that whenever he feels bored, he can call the assembly to feel the excitement? The senior lawyer said the speaker, who is under clout, cannot and should not be allowed to preside over the house and added that there was a very limited scope of judicial review in matters where the Governor exercises his powers under the Constitution. The bench, however, agreed with the contention of Dwivedi that on some occasions, the governor is not bound to act as per the aid and advice of the chief minister and his council of ministers. The governor is neither an agent nor an employee and is entitled to act on his own also, the lawyer said. On Thursday, the court, which is examining the powers of governors, had taken strong note of a submission that all decisions of the governor are not open to judicial review. If democracy is slaughtered, how can the court remain silent, it had said when a counsel for a Bharatiya Janata Party member of legislative assembly of crisis-hit Arunachal Pradesh referred to the powers of the governors to drive home of the point that courts cannot review all the decisions of the governor. Earlier, the bench had also summoned dispatch records, having details of correspondences of Arunachal Pradesh assembly from October to till date, on February 8 as it was not satisfied with documents produced by an official of the assembly. The bench wanted to ascertain certain communications between the office of the then speaker Nabam Rebia and the governor on issues like convening or advancing assembly session and disqualification of rebel Congress MLAs. The court would resume hearing on Monday on a batch of pleas filed by Rebia and other Congress leaders against the Gauhati high court order in the case. Earlier, the bench had said that Governors are political appointees and their actions are open to judicial review as nowadays even judges are considered for such an assignment. BJP MLA Tage Taki had also questioned the delay on part of the Congress in moving the Gauhati high court against the governors decision to advance the assembly session. The Nabam Tuki government, which had initial support of 47 MLAs in 60 member house, allegedly lost the confidence motion by 33 votes in the assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar. The bench is also examining the authority of the governor as to whether he can advance the assembly session without the aid and advice of the chief minister and his council of ministers. The Congress party, which has 47 MLAs seats in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled. Eleven BJP MLAs backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified. The governor then called the assembly session, scheduled on January 14, on December 16 in which deputy speaker revoked the disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs and removed Rebia from the post of speaker. This sitting was held in a community hall. The court is also considering fresh pleas against imposition of President's Rule in the state and would hear them on February 8. Meanwhile, dissident Congress MLAs from Arunachal Pradesh met party vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday in an apparent reconciliation bid but they stood firm on the demand for removal of deposed Chief Minister Nabam Tuki from the Congress Legislature Party leadership to ensure that the future of the party is safe. Making it clear that they continue to be devoted Congress workers, 21 MLAs, led by Kalikho Pul, met Rahul and complained against the autocratic manner adopted by Tuki in crushing inner party democracy and mis-governance. This was the first meeting of the rebels with the top leadership ever since they revolted against Tuki four months ago. One of the major complaints of the group was that the party leadership never listened to their grievances. The delegation also complained against V Narayanasami, All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh, and demanded his removal too. Eleven suspected ISIS operatives, who were arrested from across the country for allegedly recruiting and financing people to join the Middle-East terror group, were on Thursday remanded in seven days NIA custody by a Delhi court. The accused, who had their faces muffled, were produced before District Judge Amar Nath amidst tight security and, according to lawyers who attended the in-camera proceedings, NIA had sought extension of their custodial interrogation by 10 more days. NIA said in its remand application that the accused have disclosed during their interrogation "their involvement in this case about recruiting and financing persons willing to join the Caliphate of ISIS at Syria". "They were also found to be in communication with some active members through chatting applications 'Signal', 'Trillion' and 'Skype' in order to motivate them to join ISIS in furtherance of activities of its ideologies, thereby luring youths to join this proscribed terrorist organisation. "The identity and role of such associates is being ascertained," NIA said. Advocate M S Khan, who appeared for nine out of these 11 accused, opposed NIA's plea contending that their remand application does not disclose as to whom they were in touch with in Syria. Khan also argued that his clients have been in NIA's custody for the past 10 days and there was no need to extend police custody as NIA has already quizzed them in connection with the case. The 11 accused who were remanded in seven days NIA custody are Mohd Aleem, Mohd Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohd Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohd Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid and Mohd Hussain Khan. Besides these 11 accused, four other co-accused -- Mohd Afzal, Imran, Abu Anas and Nasser Packeer -- were also produced before the court which remanded them in judicial custody. Except Nasser, who was in judicial custody, all the other 14 accused were produced before the court after expiry of their NIA custody. NIA, while seeking extension of custodial interrogation of the 11 accused, told the court that "they were involved in the conspiracy and planning with other associates and handlers of ISIS in order to motivate Indian youths" to join the terror outfit in furtherance of their activities. The agency said that laptops, external hard disks, mobile phones and SIM cards which were recovered from the possession of these accused have been sent for forensic examination and the result is awaited. "NIA has recovered voluminous incriminating electronic records from the systems of the accused persons. It is essential to cross check the version of the accused. During the interrogation, all accused persons have disclosed many facts about their involvement in this case and about recruiting and financing persons. "The accused are required to be taken for pointing and identification of scene of crime, meeting points which are far away from Delhi," the agency said, adding that these accused were in touch with some active members of ISIS through chatting applications. 'Pakistan has to take responsibility and start cracking down on terrorists.' "India can only exhibit restraint for only so long after these repeated terrorist attacks emanating from Pakistan," United States Congressman Dr Amerish 'Ami' Bera told Rediff.com in an exclusive interview. Dr Bera, a member of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, led a Congressional delegation -- CODEL -- to India last month that met with senior Indian government officials, including Defense Minister Manohar Parikkar, and business leaders. "Pakistan -- its government -- has to take responsibility and ownership that they have all these home-grown terrorist groups that in some ways they can't distinguish from good terrorists versus bad terrorists," Dr Bera, the only Indian-American Congressman in the US Congress, asserted. "They have to take responsibility and start cracking down on those terrorists," he added. Dr Bera, who is co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said the thrust of the CODEL's discussions in New Delhi centered around US-India security and counter-terrorism. US lawmakers and the US Congress, he said, were in total sync with the Government of India's contention on this issue and that the restraint India has shown through the years, from 26/11 to the Pathankot attack, can only last so long. The CODEL's discussions, which took place a few days after the Pathankot attack, also centered "a little bit about the prime minister's surprise visit to Pakistan on Christmas Day, and again, we'd like to see decreased tensions between India and Pakistan." "We applaud the prime minister's initiative," Dr Bera (below, left, at an India Abroad Person of the Year event) said, showering kudos on India for the "restraint India has demonstrated post the air force base attack." The US lawmakers who accompanied Bera were Representatives Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, Derek Kilmer of Washington state, Juan Vargas of California -- all Democrats -- and Billy Long, Missouri Republican. "We were guests of the Indian government. They originally reached out to me and Congressman (George) Holding (North Carolina Republican and co-chair of the India Caucus) to try to put together a group of Democrats and Republicans focusing particularly on members who had never been to India," Dr Bera said. Holding, he said, "had to cancel at the last moment. So the four members who went, it was their first trip (to India) and the focus was on national security and counter-terrorism." "Both Congressmen Kilmar and Vargas have large naval presences and we talked a lot about joint naval exercises," Dr Bera explained, "and, of course, obviously there was a lot of discussion about Pakistan as well." "And, of course, economic cooperation also figured a lot in our discussions," he added, particularly during the CODEL's visits to Bangalore and Mumbai. "We had a lot of business meetings with US companies as well as Indian companies, and as I always say, really emphasising the business opportunities in the United States and for our companies, the opportunities in India." What "came up a lot on the Indian side was that the prime minister is really focused on making India an easier place to do business and improving the ease of doing business in India, and that came up a number of times in our conversations and just checking with our companies, it does seem like things are getting a little bit easier in India," Dr Bera noted. For the members of the CODEL who had never visited India before, Dr Bera acknowledged it was clearly a learning and educational experience and "part of the goal was for them to get to know India a bit better -- the opportunities for partnership, both economically and strategically." The CODEL's takeaways, he said, were that "they overwhelmingly had a great trip and for each of them it was a good initial exposure to India and the fact that we were in Delhi, they got to meet some members of Parliament, they got to meet some of the ministers and secretaries and some of the business community." "And," he added, "in going to Bangalore, they got a sense of the Silicon Valley of India from the technology companies, and then in Mumbai, a sense of the financial services sector and the big multinational corporations." Asked if he and Holding selected the members for the visit or if it was done by the Government of India, Dr Bera said, "It was largely the Indian government -- we were guests of the government, but we made some suggestions on the types of members." "We suggested that given the real growing strategic relationship between our navy and India's navy, it would be interesting maybe to reach out to some members that had in their district, large naval presences and bases, just so that those members would get a sense of how much we were doing with India." "(But) It was the Indian government's decision -- they wanted to focus on members who also had never been to India, and again, unanimously, the members really enjoyed their experience." In Delhi the CODEL was hosted by US Ambassador to India Richard Rahul Verma who accompanied them to all the meetings but also provided them with extensive updates and briefings on the status of the US-India strategic partnership, particularly following the high-level meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Barack Obama and other senior American and Indian officials. "Rich is doing a great job," Dr Bera said. Asked about the status of the US-India civilian nuclear deal, which has been in limbo for seven years in terms of implementation, and Verma's prediction that it would be done this year, the Congressman was optimistic. "At this juncture it seems like Westinghouse is exploring and moving forward, but GE, I think, is sitting back a little bit." "In the context of the liability issue" -- which approved by the Indian Parliament which had put the brakes on the commercialization of the deal and given US companies not just to pause but have much concern -- "there's now a framework by which some of our companies may be satisfied with." "The progress is slow," Dr Bera acknowledged, "but I believe it's in the right direction." He was hopeful that as Ambassador Verma had predicted, the implementation of the deal could become a reality by the year's end. MAIN IMAGE: Security personnel outside the Pathankot airbase. Malawi: Ritual murders of people with albinism must end Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 3 February 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Malawi: Ritual murders of people with albinism must end, 3 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b44d4e4.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 killing of a woman with albinism in Malawi highlights the government's shocking failure to protect the right to life and personal security of this vulnerable minority, said Amnesty International. The mutilated body of Eunice Phiri, a 53-year-old woman with albinism, was found on 28 January in the Kasungu National Park. Her arms had been cut off - a practice common with ritual murders where people with albinism are killed for their body parts which are sold for use in witchcraft. "It is deeply worrying that there's poor security for people with albinism in Malawi despite an increasing number of attacks against them," said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's Director for Southern Africa. "The government's human rights obligations require them to protect everyone's right to life. They must ensure that the police have the resources to protect those at risk of attacks." These crimes must be investigated and those suspected of responsibility brought to justice without recourse to the death penalty. In 2015 alone, 45 incidents including killings and attempted killings, and abductions and attempted abductions, as well as opening of the graves of people with albinism were reported by activists in Malawi. Some of those who were abducted have never been seen again. Attacks against people with albinism by individuals and gangs increased sharply in 2015. Children were withdrawn from schools by their families fearing attacks. In November 2015, Amnesty International researchers met people with albinism and their families who described how they live in constant fear of attacks and abuses. Some had to move from rural to urban areas for their own safety. "The government must take urgent action to protect people with albinism and to address the root cause of the violence and discrimination they suffer," said Deprose Muchena. "They must also take steps to ensure that superstitions and harmful cultural beliefs which fuel the attacks are tackled." Background According to police information, Eunice Phiri was tricked by three men, including her brother, into accompanying them on a trip to Zambia through the Kasungu National Park where she was killed and her body dismembered on 23 January 2016. Erroneous beliefs and superstition have put the safety and lives of people with albinism at risk, including from killings, abductions, and mutilations. On 19 March 2015, Malawian President Peter Mutharika issued a statement condemning attacks on people with albinism, and called on police to arrest perpetrators and provide protection to people at risk of attack. Although some arrests were made, concerns remain about the inadequacy of police investigations and some perpetrators getting sentences which were not in line with the gravity of the crime. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International 'Now turn pledges into action' - NGO verdict on Supporting Syria donors' conference Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 4 February 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, 'Now turn pledges into action' - NGO verdict on Supporting Syria donors' conference, 4 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b44fd64.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. An international coalition of over 30 non-governmental organisations today welcomed the ambition demonstrated at the 'Supporting Syria And the Region' donor conference in London to increase the scale and scope of the humanitarian response to the Syria crisis, but said that overall pledges for 2016 fell more than $3 billion short of what was urgently needed. The NGOs, including Amnesty International, Oxfam, Sawa Aid and Development, and Islamic Relief, applauded the generosity of some donors while encouraging others also to pledge their fair share. They also warned that many Syrians would continue to suffer unless more was done to ensure their protection inside and outside the country, and an end to the violence in Syria. "Of course we welcome the funds pledged today, but all the money in the world won't protect children in their beds from barrel bombs. We need action to stop the indiscriminate bombardment of Syrians, to protect those under siege and facing starvation, and those barred by violence or bureaucracy from safely accessing food, water and shelter. We urge all those with influence to exert concerted diplomatic pressure on all parties to comply with international humanitarian law and with the UN Security Council's binding resolutions," said Raed al-Saleh, head of the Syria Civil Defence, aka the White Helmets. The groups acknowledged conference participants' condemnation of the widespread violations of international humanitarian law by all warring parties but warned that condemnation alone was scant consolation to Syrian civilians suffering extreme fear and deprivation on a daily basis inside Syria. They said that increased assistance must be accompanied by efforts to promote a comprehensive solution to the root causes of the conflict, and provide safe and legal routes for refugees to resettle beyond the region. "The money pledged today will go some way towards alleviating the suffering of the millions of conflict-affected Syrians inside and outside of the country, but more needs to be done to end the sieges and ensure humanitarian access to all areas. Furthermore, the overall amount pledged falls short of what is urgently needed," said Salma Kahale, Executive Director of Dawlaty. The three main refugee-hosting countries, Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon, agreed to take steps to open up their labour markets to refugees and to improve regulation and the investment climate. "A million new jobs could help give hope to Syrian refugees and host countries; work permits must be accessible and affordable. This is a long-term crisis, which is why we must ensure jobs and decent, non-exploitative work not just emergency cash. Because we know without income, refugee families are at high risk of child marriage, sexual exploitation and child labour,"said Laurie Lee, CEO of Care International UK. The NGOs welcomed governments' commitment to ensure that all Syrian refugees and children in host countries have access to a safe and quality education by the 2016/2017 school year. "The significant new funding spread over several years announced today represents a major step forward in getting millions of children back to school, although we need detail on the policies to make this happen. Syrian children have been denied their right to education for too long, so we look forward to seeing them all back in the classroom. But the international community still needs to do more to support education inside Syria, where 2.1 million children are currently out of school and schools are being destroyed, damaged and occupied on a regular basis," said ToveWang, CEO of Save the Children Norway. The NGOs called for robust and transparent monitoring of pledges and implementation after the conference to ensure that commitments made in London are translated into concrete, coordinated action. Copyright notice: Copyright Amnesty International Russia: Government against Rights Groups Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 1 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Russia: Government against Rights Groups, 1 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b453ce4.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. Since June 5, 2014, the Ministry of Justice has designated 115 groups as "foreign agents". By February 1, 2016, at least 14 groups have shut down. Also, the Ministry has removed its "foreign agent" tag from 7 groups, acknowledging that they had stopped accepting foreign funding. Accordingly, on February 1, 2016, the official list of active "foreign agents" comprised 94 groups. (Moscow) - In 2012 Russia's parliament adopted a law that required nongovernmental organizations (NGO)s to register as "foreign agents" with the Ministry of Justice if they engage in "political activity" and receive foreign funding. The definition of "political activity" under the law is so broad and vague that it can extend to all aspects of advocacy and human rights work. Initially, the law required all respective NGOs to request the Ministry to have them registered and implied legal consequences for failure to do so. Because in Russia "foreign agent" can be interpreted only as "spy" or "traitor," there is little doubt that the law aims to demonize and marginalize independent advocacy groups. Russia's vibrant human rights groups resolutely boycotted the law, calling it "unjust" and "slanderous." In early March 2013 the Russian government launched a nationwide campaign of intrusive inspections of hundreds of NGOs to identify advocacy groups the government deems "foreign agents" and force them to register as such. Since the law entered into force, numerous rights groups challenged the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Justice in courts; most lost their cases. As a result, by February 2015 at least 13 groups chose to shut down rather than wear the shameful "foreign agent" label, including Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos", JURIX (Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms), the Moscow School of Civic Education (Moscow), Kostroma Center for Civic Initiatives Support, Anti-Discrimination Center (ADC) Memorial, Side by Side LGBT Film Festival, Coming Out, "Freedom of Information" Foundation, the League of Women Voters and Human Rights Resource Center (Saint-Petersburg), Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies and Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov), Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture" (Nizhniy Novgorod). In August 2013, Russia's then-federal ombudsman Vladimir Lukin, acting on behalf of four organizations and their leaders who were affected by the law, challenged the law in Russia's Constitutional Court. On April 8, 2014 Russia's Constitutional Court upheld the law, ruling that there were no legal or constitutional grounds for contending that the term "foreign agent" had negative connotations from the Soviet era and that, therefore, its use was "not intended to persecute or discredit" NGOs. The Constitutional Court also found that the "foreign agent" designation was in line with the public interest and the interest of state sovereignty. On May 23, 2014 parliament amended the "foreign agents" law, this time authorizing the Ministry of Justice to register independent groups as "foreign agents" without their consent, if the ministry regards the organizations as engaged in "political activity" and if the organization is receiving foreign funding. On June 4, 2014 the amendments were signed into law. On June 5, 2014 the Ministry of Justice promptly registered five groups as "foreign agents," and since then has registered a total of 115, including prominent civil society groups that vigorously protested this action. I. By February 1, 2016 the registry of "foreign agents" maintained by the Ministry of Justice included the following groups: Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow) - June 5, 2014 Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow) - June 5, 2014 Center for Social Policy and Gender Studies (Saratov) - June 5, 2014 (the organization was shut down - May 22, 2015) Women of Don (Rostov region) - June 5, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - June 19, 2015) Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma) - June 5, 2014 Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" (Kazan) - July 21, 2014 Regional public organization "Ecozaschita! - Womens' Council" (Kaliningrad) - July 21, 2014 Public Verdict Foundation (Moscow) - July 21, 2014 Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Moscow) - July 21, 2014 Lawyers for Constitutional Rights and Freedoms / JURIX (Moscow) - July 21, 2014 (the organization was shut down - May 26, 2015) Soldiers' Mothers (Saint Petersburg) - August 28, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - October 23, 2015) Freedom of Information Foundation / Institute for Information Freedom Development - August 28, 2014 PIR Center - September 3, 2014 Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov) - October 2, 2014 (the organization was shut down - November 6, 2015) "News Agency MEMO.RU" (Moscow) - November 20, 2014 Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg) - November 20, 2014 Moscow School of Civic Education - December 9, 2014 Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization - December 15, 2014 All-Russian movement "For Human Rights" - December 22, 2014 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - December 30, 2015) Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad) - December 25, 2014 Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni - December 25, 2014 Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation" - December 25, 2014 Resource Human Rights Center (St. Petersburg) - December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down - November 3, 2015) Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El) - December 30, 2014 Center for Social Development "Vozrozhdeniye" (Pskov) - December 30, 2014 Public Human Rights Organization "Civil Control" (St. Petersburg) - December 30, 2014 The League of Women Voters (St. Petersburg) - December 30, 2014 (the organization was shut down - May 22, 2015) Free Press Support Foundation - December 30, 2014 Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "The Committee Against Torture" - January 16, 2015 Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region) - January 16, 2015 Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training" - January 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - July 22, 2015) "Information Bureau of the Nordic Council of Ministers in St. Petersburg" - January 20, 2015 Jewish regional branch of the Russian public organization "Municipal Academy"- January 26, 2015 (the organization was shut down - May 22, 2015) The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia" - January 30, 2015 Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk) - February 4, 2015 (the organization was shut down - October 28, 2015) Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara) - February 6, 2015 Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk) - February 12, 2015 Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm) - February 13, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - June 19, 2015) Municipal public organization "Samara Center for Gender Studies" (Samara) - February 16, 2015 Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" (Voronezh) - February 26, 2015 Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) - March 6, 2015 Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) - March 6, 2015 Humanist Youth Movement (Murmansk) - March 13, 2015 (the organization was shut down - August 25, 2015) Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan" - March 13, 2015 Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk" - March 19, 2015 (the organization was shut down - October 16, 2015) "Educational Center for Environment and Security" (Samara) - March 20, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - October 8, 2015) Foundation "Migration XXI Century" - March 27, 2015 Eco-logika (Rostov) - April 3, 2015 Transparency International Russia - April 7, 2015 Social Environmental Organization "Planeta Nadezhd" - April 15, 2015 Foundation for Consumers' Rights Defense (Novosibirsk) - April 17, 2015 Civil Assistance Committee - April 20, 2015 Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism - April 24, 2015 Commemorative Centre of History of Political Repressions "Perm - 36" - April 29, 2015 Women's League (Kaliningrad ) - April 29, 2015 (the organization was shut down - December 16, 2015) Legal Expert Partnership "Soyuz " - May 7, 2015 (the organization was shut down - 25 August 2015) Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations - May 13, 2015 Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations - May 13, 2015 Informational Bureau of the Council of Ministers of Northern Countries (Kaliningrad) - May 13, 2015 Sutyajnik (Yekaterinburg) - May 15, 2015 Human Rights Academy (Yekaterinburg) - May 15, 2015 Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod) - May 22, 2015 The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research - May 25, 2015 ("foreign agent" status was suspended - September 11, 2015) The non-profit Dynasty Foundation - May 25, 2015 Union of Employers (Tula region) - May 28, 2015 Youth organization "Nuori Karjala/Young Karelia" - June 19, 2015 Siberian Center for Support of Social Initiatives - June 19, 2015 Interregional Social Foundation for Peace in the South and in the Northern Caucasus - June 19, 2015 Informational Center "Free Inform" - June 22, 2015 Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg) - June 22, 2015 Regional Organization for Population and Development - June 23, 2015 Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul) - June 23, 2015 Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg) - July 3, 2015 Interregional Non-governmental Organization "Northern Environmental Coalition" (Petrozavodsk) - July 8, 2015 (the organization was shut down - December 1, 2015) Komi Human Rights Commission "Memorial" (Syktyvkar) - July 21, 2015 Altai Regional Public Fund for 21st Century Altai (Barnaul) - July 22, 2015 Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region) - July 22, 2015 SREDA Foundation - July 28, 2015 Non-governmental environmental organization "Green World" (Nizhny Novgorod) - July 29, 2015 Civic Action Foundation (Perm) - August 5, 2015 Alliance of Funds of Local Communities of the Perm territory - August 11, 2015 Kabardino-Balkaria Human Rights Center - regional branch of the "For Human Rights" All-Russian movement (Nalchik) - August 18, 2015 (the organization was shut down - November 6, 2015) The Human Rights Center of the Chechen Republic (Grozny) - August 21, 2015 Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk) - August 26, 2015 Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm) - September 3, 2015 Siberia's lifeline (Novosibirsk) - September 3, 2015 Golos Foundation in Support of Democracy - September 4, 2015 Jewish Cultural Center "Hesed-Teshuva" (Ryazan) - September 4, 2015 Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) - September 18, 2015 Yasavey Manzara Information and Research Center (Naryan-Mar) - September 23, 2015 Consumer Rights and Environment Protection Association "Princip" (Moscow region) - October 5, 2015 Far East Center for the Development of Civil Initiatives and Social Partnership (Vladivostok)- October 13, 2015 Russian Research Center for Human Rights - October 20, 2015 Women of the Don (Rostov region) - October 27, 2015 Friends of the Siberian Forests (Krasnoyarsk) - October 28, 2015 Photography Club "Sobytiye" (Omsk) - October 28, 2015 (the organization was shut down - December 16, 2015) Research and Information Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg) - November 6, 2015 Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk) - November 10, 2015 Glasnost Defense Foundation - November 19, 2015 Human Rights Institute - November 20, 2015 Center for Support of Indigenous Peoples of the North - November 27, 2015 Green World (Leningrad region) - December 2, 2015 Mashr (Republic of Ingushetia) - December 8, 2015 Woman's World (Kaliningrad) - December 11, 2015 Panorama Information and Research Center (Moscow) - December 18, 2015 Dauria Ecological Center (Chita) - December 30, 2015 Yekaterinburg Memorial Society (Yekaterinburg) - December 30, 2015 Bureau of Public Investigations (Nizhny Novgorod) - January 14, 2016 Committee for the Prevention of Torture (Orenburg) - January 14, 2016 Institute of Forecasting and Resolving of Political Conflicts (Nizhny Novgorod) - January 22, 2016 Ryazan Historical, Educational and Human Rights Center "Memorial" (Ryazan) - February 1, 2016 And the four NGOs which registered voluntarily: Non-commercial Partnership "Supporting Competition in the CIS Countries" - June 27, 2013 "The Union of Young Political Scientists", Karachay-Cherkess Republican Youth Social Organization - December 15, 2014 Regional Social Movement "Novgorod Women's Parliament" (Veliky Novgorod) - March 6, 2015 Center of Independent Researchers of the Altai Republic - June 10, 2015 II. Administrative Court Cases - at least 58 NGOs Groups that a court has found responsible for failing to register as a "foreign agent" may be fined up to 500,000 rubles (over US$16,000), and their leaders personally - up to 300,000 rubles (approximately $10,000). They are: Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow) - NGO lost the suit Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma) - NGO lost the suit Anti-Discrimination Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg) - NGO won two administrative cases, but later lost a similar civil suit to the prosecutor's office and chose to shut down Coming Out (St. Petersburg) - NGO won the administrative case but later lost a similar civil suit to the prosecutor's office Side by Side LGBT Film Festival (St. Petersburg) - NGO won the suit Regional Public Association in Defense of Democratic Rights and Freedoms "Golos" (Moscow) - NGO lost the suit Center for Civic Analysis and Independent Research / GRANI (Perm) - NGO won the suit Perm Civic Chamber (Perm) - NGO won the suit Perm Regional Human Rights Center (Perm) - NGO won the suit Women of Don (Rostov region) - NGO lost the suit Ecozachita! - Zhensovet (Kaliningrad) - NGO lost the suit Association "Partnership for Development" (Saratov) - NGO lost the suit News Agency "MEMO.RU" (Moscow) - NGO lost the suit Regional Press Institute (St. Petersburg) - NGO lost the suit Moscow School of Civic Education - NGO lost the suit All-Russian movement "For Human Rights" - NGO lost the suit Regional Public Organization "Man and the Law" (Republic of Mari El) - NGO lost the suit Human Rights Center (Kaliningrad) - NGO won the suit Krasnodar Regional Social Organization of University Alumni - the proceedings was discontinued Regional social organization "Public Commission for Academic Sakharov's Heritage Preservation" - NGO lost the suit Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training" (Volgograd) - NGO lost the suit Rakurs, Arkhangelsk regional non-governmental LGBT organization - NGO lost the suit Center for social, psychological and legal help to victims of discrimination and homophobia "Maximum" (Murmansk) - NGO lost the suit Educational Center "Memorial" (Sverdlov region) - NGO lost the suit, court of appeal decreased the amount of fine Interregional public fund for civil society development "Golos-Povolzhye" (Samara) - NGO lost the suit Citizens' Watch (St. Petersburg) - NGO lost the suit The noncommercial partnership "Press Development Institute - Siberia" - NGO won the suit Regional Fund "Center for Defense of Mass Media Rights" - NGO lost the suit Regional Social Organization for Contribution to Harmonization of Interethnic Relations "Azerbaijan" - NGO lost the suit Regional Charitable Social Foundation "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) - NGO lost the suit Regional Ecological Social Movement "For nature" (Chelyabinsk) - NGO won the suit Eco-logika (Rostov) - NGO lost the suit Regional Social Environmental Organization "Bellona-Murmansk" - NGO lost the suit Foundation "Migration XXI Century" - NGO lost the suit Interregional charity organization "Siberian Environmental Center" (Novosibirsk) - NGO lost the suit, court of appeal decreased the amount of fine The non-profit organization "Liberal Mission" Scientific Foundation of Theoretical and Applied Research - NGO lost the suit Center for Development of Non-Commerical Organizations - NGO lost the suit The non-profit Dynasty Foundation - NGO lost the suit Foundation 19/29 - Foundation for Support of Investigative Journalism - NGO lost the suit Association "Legal Basis" (Yekaterinburg) - NGO lost the suit Ecological Center "Dront" (Nizhny Novgorod) - NGO lost the suit Regional Organization for Population and Development - NGO lost the suit Center for Independent Sociological Studies (St. Petersburg) - NGO lost the suit Human Rights Center "Memorial" - NGO lost the suit Transparency International Russia - NGO lost the suit Interregional Non-Governmental Organization "Committee Against Torture" - NGO lost the suit Geblerov Ecological Societ (Barnaul) - NGO won the suit Civic Action Foundation (Perm) - NGO lost the suit Interregional Social Ecological Foundation "ISAR-Siberia" (Novosibirsk) - NGO lost the suit Sakhalin Environment Watch (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk) - NGO lost the suit and is appealing the ruling Club of Accountants and Auditors of Non-Commercial Organizations - NGO lost the suit Women's League (Kaliningrad) - NGO won the suit Russian Research Center for Human Rights - NGO lost the suit Interregional Public Foundation for Civil Society Development "GOLOS-Ural" (Chelyabinsk region) - NGO lost the suit Human Rights Institute - NGO lost the suit Interregional Human Rights Association "Agora" - NGO lost the suit Glasnost Defense Foundation - suit pending Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk) - suit pending III. The leaders of at least 8 NGOs faced administrative charges personally: Anti-Discrimination Center "Memorial" (St. Petersburg) - NGO won the suit but the organization chose two shut down when it lost a "foreign agent" civil suit to the prosecutor's office Side by Side LGBT Film Festival (St. Petersburg) - NGO won the suit Coming Out (St. Petersburg) - NGO won the suit Association "Partnership for Development" - NGO lost the suit Kostroma Center for Support of Public Initiatives (Kostroma) - NGO lost the suit Association of NGOs in Defense of Voters' Rights "Golos" (Moscow) - NGO won the suit Autonomous non-profit human rights organization "Youth Center for Consulting and Training" (Volgograd) - NGO lost the suit Baikal Environmental Wave (Irkutsk) - suit pending Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch India: Supreme Court Revisits "Sodomy" Law Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 2 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, India: Supreme Court Revisits "Sodomy" Law, 2 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b454b14.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. India's Supreme Court agreed on February 2, 2016, to hear an appeal of its 2013 decision that upheld a discriminatory law criminalizing same-sex relations, Human Rights Watch said today. The Indian government should file an affidavit with the court to set aside the country's "sodomy" law and uphold the fundamental rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. "The Supreme Court has provided real hope to LGBT people in India by agreeing to review its 2013 ruling that favored discrimination over equal rights for all," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The Indian government should seize the opportunity and weigh in to make clear that discrimination, harassment, and other abuses of LGBT people have no place in contemporary society." The law, section 377 of the Indian penal code, punishes "carnal intercourse against the order of nature" with up to life in prison. The law had been struck down in 2009 by the Delhi High Court, which said the law was a violation of fundamental rights to equality, nondiscrimination, life, and personal liberty guaranteed by the Indian constitution. The court had noted how criminalization of same-sex relations had a negative impact on the lives of LGBT people. The 2009 ruling said: "Even when the penal provisions are not enforced, they reduce gay men or women to what one author has referred to as 'unapprehended felons,' thus entrenching stigma and encouraging discrimination in different spheres of life. Apart from misery and fear, a few of the more obvious consequences are harassment, blackmail, extortion and discrimination." The Indian government chose not to challenge the High Court judgment. But following appeals against the verdict by some individuals and religious groups, a two-judge panel of the Supreme Court overturned that decision in 2013, ruling that amending the law was the responsibility of the legislature. Human rights activists, lawyers, and medical professionals filed curative petitions to revise the previous ruling, saying that section 377 denies privacy and dignity, and that upholding it results in a miscarriage of justice. On February 2, 2016, the Supreme Court admitted the curative petitions that challenge its 2013 decision, reviving the legal battle for the repeal of the law. Chief Justice T.S. Thakur said that the petitions pose questions with "constitutional dimensions of importance," and referred the petitions to a five-judge Constitution Bench for detailed hearing. Since the 2013 ruling, the legislature has not acted on the law and LGBT people in India continue to suffer widespread discrimination. On December 18, 2015, the lower house of parliament refused to allow a member to even introduce a bill proposing to review section 377. In January, a 15-year-old boy set himself on fire after neighbors teased and harassed him for being seen with a male partner. Section 377 contributes to a social environment in which such tragic incidents occur, Human Rights Watch said. "So long as it's on the books, section 377 will reinforce the idea that discrimination and other mistreatment of LGBT people is acceptable in Indian society," Ganguly said. "Human rights and the dignity of LGBT people need to prevail over this terrible colonial legacy." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Norway/Russia: Don't Jeopardize Asylum Seekers Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 3 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Norway/Russia: Don't Jeopardize Asylum Seekers, 3 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b455294.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. Norway should stop using fast-track procedures to return asylum seekers to Russia based on the presumption that it is a safe country of asylum for them, Human Rights Watch said today. Russian and Norwegian authorities plan to meet on February 3, 2016, to come to an agreement about which migrants and asylum seekers, if any, may be immediately returned to Russia. Norway has returned 13 asylum seekers to Russia since 2016 began, in addition to several hundred either returned to Russia or denied entry to Norway during the fall of 2015. It has slated dozens more to follow, despite the lack of assurance from the Russian authorities that they will provide those sent back with any hearing of their asylum claims, much less a fair consideration of their applications. "The United Nations refugee agency and Norway's own country of origin office have noted deficiencies in Russia's asylum system that may prevent the fair and effective assessment of people's refugee claims," said Tanya Lokshina, Russia program director at Human Rights Watch. "Norway should not return asylum seekers to Russia without examining their claims individually." In fall 2015, more than 5,500 migrants and asylum seekers crossed the Arctic border between Russia and Norway by bicycle, taking advantage of a border regulation that restricts pedestrians but not cyclists from crossing. These cyclists included asylum seekers from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, and other war-torn and refugee-producing nations. Some - including two Yemeni nationals Human Rights Watch interviewed who were sent back on January 19, 2016 - had spent as little as a week or two in Russia on temporary visas before moving on to Norway to apply for asylum. In the wake of the new arrivals, Norway adopted restrictive amendments to its Immigration Act that entered force on November 20, 2015. While the previous version of the law only allowed Norway to refuse examination of an asylum application if the applicant had "stayed in a state or an areawhere the foreign national's application for protection [would] be examined," the new version has deleted that requirement. This change allows Norway to return asylum seekers to Russia regardless of whether Russia will consider their asylum claims. According to a report published by Norway's country of origin information center, Landinfo, the Russian asylum procedure is riddled with protection gaps and abuses. UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency, has further expressed its concern regarding this procedure, saying that "Norway is wrong to regard Russia as a safe country for people who need protection." In October, the European Court of Human Rights found that Russia had violated the European Convention on Human Rights by ordering three Syrian men to be deported to Syria, detaining them indefinitely, and preventing them from exercising their right of individual petition. The two Yemeni nationals told Human Rights Watch that they were returned to Russia just hours before their Russian visas expired, on the evening of January 19, 2016, despite Norway's assurances that only those with "valid visa and residency in Russia" will be returned there without examination of their asylum claims. Any agreement between Norway and Russia reached after the February 3 meeting should take into consideration both countries' obligations to ensure that asylum seekers' rights are protected, Human Rights Watch said. Under international refugee norms, an asylum seeker should only be returned to a third country if that country is able and willing to provide the asylum seeker with effective protection. That means the country must respect the principle of nonrefoulement, which prohibits the return of individuals to a country where they face serious threat of persecution or harm, must guarantee decent reception conditions and access to fair asylum procedures, and must respect key refugee rights under the 1951 Refugee Convention, such as access to education for children. To honor its obligations under this principle, Norway should reverse its November amendment to the 2008 Immigration Act, as well as ensure that the asylum claims of an asylum seeker will be examined - and examined fairly - before returning anyone to Russia. Russian authorities should also provide assurances that they will fully and fairly examine the claims for protection of any person subjected to such returns, including providing decent conditions while claims are pending and full respect for the rights under the Refugee Convention, and that Russia will be transparent in complying with these assurances. "Both Russia and Norway need to step up their asylum procedures to ensure that people seeking protection from persecution and harm are offered a meaningful opportunity to get that protection," Lokshina said. "Otherwise both countries will be directly violating their obligations under international law." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Syria: New Agenda on Refugee Aid Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 4 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Syria: New Agenda on Refugee Aid, 4 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b456284.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. A Russian court on January 18, 2016, found a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) rights activist guilty of violating the country's notorious "gay propaganda" law and issued a stiff fine. Russian prosecutors should support an appeal, which the activist, Sergei Alekseenko, plans to file in the coming days. Alekseenko was the director of Maximum, a Murmansk LGBT rights group that provided legal and psychosocial support. The Leninsky District Court in Murmansk, in northwestern Russia, found certain items posted on the Maximum's website violated the law banning the dissemination of positive information about LGBT relationships to children and, as the director, Alekseenko was found responsible and fined 100,000 rubles (about US$1,300) for the alleged "propaganda." "Russian authorities use the 'gay propaganda' law to harass and intimidate LGBT activists into silence," said Tanya Cooper, Europe and Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Sergei Alekseenko will be appealing the district court's verdict and the prosecutors should not oppose Alekseenko's appeal." The verdict, which Human Rights Watch reviewed, stated that Alekseenko was responsible for information about "non-traditional sexual relations" posted on the group's web page on the Russian social network VK (formerly VKontakte) and fully aware that children might have access to it. The group ceased to operate in October 2015, after the authorities forcibly registered it as a "foreign agent." Alekseenko told Human Rights Watch that on December 12, local police summoned him to sign a statement alleging that he had committed an administrative violation. The statement, which Human Rights Watch reviewed, said that on January 20, 2015, the police had received a petition from unidentified individuals about "illegal activities" on Maximum's VK account. It also said that a psycho-linguistic evaluation, which investigators ordered in May, had found that several posts on the account contained "linguistic and psychological elements of propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations." Alekseenko said that one of the posts deemed "propaganda" was reposted from another user's account, which stated: "Children! To be gay means to be a person who is brave, strong, confident, persistent, who has a sense of dignity and self-respect." It was a slightly paraphrased statement from a complaint that Russia's media oversight agency, Roskomnadzor, filed against Deti 404 (Children 404), an online group providing psychosocial support and anti-suicide counseling to LGBT children. In August, Deti 404 was blocked on VK. Another post was a poem by the 19th century Russian writer Mikhail Lermontov, describing a sexual scene between two young men. Alekseenko is the fifth LGBT activist Russian courts have held liable for "gay propaganda" since the law entered into force in June 2013. Alekseenko said that police told him they had received 28 complaints from various Russian regions. Although police told him that they were unable to identify and question any of the petitioners, the investigation went ahead. Alekseenko also said that he first heard about the case in December 2015, when the police summoned him to sign the statement, though they told him then that the case had been opened in January. As a party to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Russia is obliged to guarantee the right to freedom of expression and to ensure the enjoyment of this right without discrimination. Any restrictions on the right to freedom of expression must be provided for precisely in law, proportionate, necessary, and non-discriminatory. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found that legislation that bans "propaganda" about LGBT relationships violates the right to freedom of expression and non-discrimination. Under freedom of expression standards, Russia is required to guarantee freedom to express ideas or thoughts that might offend, shock, or disturb some section of the population. "Russian authorities should immediately stop penalizing LGBT people for discussing their identities," Cooper said. "Russia's federal law banning "gay propaganda" should be immediately repealed." Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch UAE: Libyans Facing Unfair Trial Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 4 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, UAE: Libyans Facing Unfair Trial, 4 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b457984.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. Multiple serious due process violations in pretrial detention make it highly unlikely that four Libyans charged with links to armed and political groups in Libya can receive a fair trial in the United Arab Emirates, Human Rights Watch said today. No fair trial will be possible when defendants do not have full access to their lawyers or to the evidence against them, or if evidence obtained by torture is used to convict them. The men, at least three of whom authorities forcibly disappeared for three months after their arrests in August 2014, were held in incommunicado detention for four months at a state security facility where previous detainees - including four other men detained during that period - have alleged that interrogators tortured them into confessing to links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Family members and family-appointed lawyers said the Libyans had no access to legal assistance for at least 16 months. All of the defendants deny the charges. "Yet again, a high-profile trial in the UAE is mired in allegations of forced disappearance and torture," said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. "The UAE should take immediate steps to reverse its dismal handing of this case, including an immediate investigation into the torture claims." Lawyers appointed by the defendants' families to represent them told Human Rights Watch that they could not find out what the charges their clients were facing until the first trial session on January 18, 2016, and that prosecutors have not provided case files outlining the evidence against their clients. The decision to prosecute the case before the Federal Supreme Court under state security procedures deprives the defendants of the right to appeal. Paul Champ, a Canadian lawyer representing one of the defendants, Salim Alaradi, told Human Rights Watch that the prosecution charged the men with providing material support to, and cooperating with, Libya Dawn and the 17 February Brigade in Libya, which the prosecution and local media characterized as terrorist groups. Authorities refused to allow Champ to enter the state security chamber at the Federal Supreme Court in Abu Dhabi to monitor the trial, but the Canadian ambassador and the United States vice-consul were able to attend the 20-minute opening session. The other defendants are Kamal and Mohamed Eldarat, a father and son who hold joint Libyan and American citizenship, and Isa al-Manna, a Libyan citizen. Champ said that people who attended the hearing told him that Alaradi attempted to show the judge marks on his arms that he claimed were the result of torture and that all of the men told the judge that they had been tortured in pretrial detention. The judge apparently told the men that they could raise these allegations during future trial sessions. The next session is scheduled for February 15, 2016. The four other detainees who spoke to Human Rights Watch had been detained in August 2015, and subsequently released. They said that the UAE authorities subjected them to systematic torture at a state security facility near Abu Dhabi, where the four men on trial were also held, to elicit what they said were false confessions. The men said their interrogators asked them about their supposed links to the Muslim Brotherhood - which the UAE has designated a terrorist organization - and described a range of abuses, including beatings, forced standing, and threats to rape, electrocute, and kill them. Greg Craig, a US-based lawyer representing the Eldarats, told Human Rights Watch that he spoke to Mohamed Eldarat by telephone on January 20, 2016, and that he said he had suffered interrogation techniques that left him deaf in his left ear. Alaradi's family spoke to him by telephone on January 19. They told Human Rights Watch that he had yet to be allowed to speak to the Emirati lawyer who is representing him at trial. Craig said that his clients were only able to see their Emirati trial lawyer on January 24. Both Craig and Champ said that the authorities have not provided the Emirati lawyer representing their clients at the trial with case files detailing the evidence against them. UAE authorities should undertake independent and timely criminal investigations into these credible allegations of torture and enforced disappearance, leading to the identification and prosecution of those responsible, Human Rights Watch said. All of those who have alleged abuse should receive independent forensic medical exams. Any evidence obtained by torture should be excluded from any trial, which can only be fair if defense lawyers have full access to their clients and case files, and sufficient time to prepare their clients' defense. In 2013, 94 Emiratis were convicted of plotting to overthrow the government. The only evidence prosecutors offered came from the confession of one of the defendants, Ahmed al-Suweidi, whom authorities had forcibly disappeared for five months after his arrest on March 26, 2012. In court al-Suweidi denied all the charges, but the court convicted him and 68 others after a demonstrably unfair trial. UAE authorities have curtailed the access of international rights groups to the country and imprisoned people who have provided information to nongovernmental organizations, making it difficult to determine the full extent to which the UAE is engaging in enforced disappearances and incommunicado detentions. The UAE's 2014 counterterrorism law provides for the death penalty for people whose activities are found to "undermine national unity or social peace." The whereabouts of Libyan nationals Mohammed al-Fighi, al-Sadiq al-Kikli, and Mahmoud bin Gharbiya, whom authorities detained at the same time as the defendants, are unknown. The whereabouts of an Emirati academic, Nasser bin Ghaith, whom authorities forcibly disappeared on August 18, 2015, also remain unknown, as do the whereabouts of four members of the Alabdouli family: sisters Amina and Moza, and their brothers, Mosab and Walid. Local sources told Human Rights Watch that men believed to be state security officers arrested Amina, Moza, and Mosab at their home in the emirate of Fujeirah on November 19. Officials detained Walid Alabdouli on November 29. Human Rights Watch has been unable to speak to any family members of bin Ghaith or the Alabdoulis. An enforced disappearance occurs when someone is deprived of their liberty by agents of the state or those acting with its acquiescence, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or by concealment of the fate or whereabouts of the disappeared person. The nexus between torture and enforced disappearance is well-established in international law. "The UAE claims to see terrorists everywhere and seems to have given its brutal state security apparatus free rein to abuse those accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood," Stork said. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Tunisia: Landmark Step for Detainee Rights Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 4 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Tunisia: Landmark Step for Detainee Rights, 4 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b458a54.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. Tunisia's parliament made a significant breakthrough for human rights by approving proposed changes in detainee rights, Human Rights Watch said today. Provisions to grant suspects the right to a lawyer from the onset of detention, and to shorten the maximum pre-charge detention are included in a revision of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP) adopted by the parliament on February 2. Legislators should adopt implementing legislation that reinforces those guarantees by narrowing the broad discretion given to the police for placing a person under arrest, and strengthening the right of a detainee to request a medical examination, as a safeguard against ill-treatment. They should ensure that all persons detained will be brought before a judge promptly - in principle within 48 hours - and that they have speedy access to a lawyer. No one should be denied access to a lawyer on the basis of the category of the alleged offense for which they are being investigated. "The new law has the potential to close loopholes that led to widespread abuses during the presidency of Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali," said Amna Guellali, Tunisia director. "Given that history, and the persistence of abuses in the five years since Ben Ali's ouster, Tunisia needs stronger safeguards to guarantee that arrests are not arbitrary and that police mistreatment is detected and punished." The law shortens the maximum time of pre-charge detention for crimes to 48 hours, renewable once by a prosecutor's order, for a maximum of four days. For minor offenses, the time limit is 24 hours, renewable once. While this would reduce the current three-day limit, renewable once for both minor and serious offenses, it is still longer than the emerging international standards, which mandate that judicial review should happen within 48 hours of detention. Under current Tunisian law, persons who are arrested have no right to see a lawyer until their first appearance before an investigative judge, which by law takes place no later than six days after they are taken into custody. In practice, by that time, many suspects have signed, without a lawyer present, a police statement that could be used against them during trial. The new law includes a breakthrough provision giving the detainee or a family member the right to request the assistance of a lawyer during pre-charge detention. When the police receive the request, they would be required to inform the lawyer of the accusations against the client and when they would question the person. The police would have to notify the lawyer about all interrogations and all confrontations between the accused and witnesses or victims of the alleged offense and allow the lawyer to be present, unless the accused "explicitly" waives the right to a lawyer or the lawyer does not arrive on time. When the detainee does not have a lawyer of his own, the law provides that the police shall inform the National Bar Association, which would assign a lawyer from a pro bono list. The detainee would be able to meet in private with a lawyer whenever requested for up to 30 minutes. The draft would give the prosecutor more oversight over police detention decisions, requiring the judicial police to get his prior approval for an arrest. Under the current CCP, the police are required only to notify the prosecutor of a decision to make the arrest. The new law requires the judicial police or the prosecutors to call a doctor without delay when the detainee, or his lawyer, his family, or anyone of his choosing, makes a request. The current law says the police must inform the detainee of his right to see a doctor without compelling them to follow through on a request. The new law provides for the invalidation of the proceedings in court if the judicial police breached the procedural requirements of the CCP. The new law transfers oversight of the judicial police from the Interior Ministry to the Justice Ministry, through the office of the prosecutor. However, it does not guarantee the independence of the office of the prosecutor or protect individual prosecutors from interference in their cases from the justice minister or other members of the executive. The new law has several shortcomings. Tunisian authorities should adopt implementing legislation that could close the remaining loopholes. The implementing legislation should clarify that detention begins at the moment of arrest, to preempt alternative interpretations that would delay a detainee's access to a lawyer and presentation to a judge. The new legislation should further strengthen the right to a medical examination by requiring that it be conducted by a doctor trained in forensic medicine out of earshot of police or prison authorities. The legislation should require that the examination result in a written report by the doctor on a standard form that records the time, place, and nature of the exam, and the description of any injuries, consistent with international norms for such reports, such as those found in the Manual on the Effective Investigation and Documentation of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment ("the Istanbul Protocol"), and that is made available to the detainee. The detainee or his lawyer should be able to request a second examination by a doctor of the detainee's choice. The implementing legislation should also establish a level of suspicion required to place a person under arrest that is consistent with international norms. The current CCP does not mandate a specific threshold of suspicion of commission of a crime for the police to lawfully search and make an arrest. Human Rights Watch has documented how Tunisian police frequently arrest people without a reasonable suspicion of criminal wrongdoing. The implementing legislation should also make clear that detainees should be brought before a judge to review the legality of their detention within 48 hours of the start of their detention, in line with international standards. In addition, last-minute legislative amendments to the law gave the investigative judge and the prosecutor the authority to delay access to a lawyer for 48 hours after the beginning of detention in cases where the detainee is accused of crimes of terrorism. While in exceptional cases, there may be legitimate grounds to delay for a certain period a detained person's access to a particular lawyer, authorities should not be granted discretion to deny a detainee any access to legal counsel on the basis of the alleged offense. As mentioned by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture, the "question whether restrictions on the right of access to a lawyer are justified should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, not determined by the category of offense involved." In addition, the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, stated in his 2008 report that "any delay or exclusion of legal representation on security grounds must not be permanent, must not prejudice the ability of the person to answer the case, and, in the case of a person held in custody, must not create a situation where the detained person is effectively held incommunicado." The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Tunisia is a party, in article 9, requires judicial review of detention to be "prompt." Similarly, the Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa state that anyone detained has the right to prompt judicial review of their detention. The United Nations Human Rights Committee, which interprets the international covenant, has held that "48 hours is ordinarily sufficient to transport the individual and to prepare for the judicial hearing; any delay longer than 48 hours should be justified by exceptional circumstances." The committee has more recently held that pre-charge custody without judicial review should not exceed 48 hours, nonrenewable, and stated that any delay longer than 48 hours must remain absolutely exceptional and be justified under the circumstances. The Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1988, states that a proper medical examination shall be offered to a detained or imprisoned person as promptly as possible after admission to the place of detention or imprisonment, and thereafter medical care and treatment shall be provided whenever necessary. In addition, it states that a detained or imprisoned person or his counsel shall, subject only to reasonable conditions to ensure security and good order in the place of detention or imprisonment, have the right to request or petition a judicial or other authority for a second medical examination or opinion. The UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment recommends that "every routine medical examinations [be] carried out using a standard form that includes (a) a medical history (b) an account by the person examined of any violence (c) the result of the thorough physical examination, including a description of any injuries .... The medical record should, upon request from the detainee, be made available to him/her or to his/her lawyer." The ICCPR prohibits arbitrary arrest or detention. The Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a Fair Trial and Legal Assistance in Africa also mandate that states must ensure that no one shall be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention, and that "arrest, detention or imprisonment shall only be carried out pursuant to a warrant, on reasonable suspicion or for probable cause," as provided for in the Principles and Guidelines on the right to fair trial and legal assistance in Africa. The African Principles state that any person arrested or detained shall have prompt access to a lawyer and, unless the person has waived this right in writing, shall not be obliged to answer any questions or participate in any interrogation without his or her lawyer being present. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Central African Republic: Rape by Peacekeepers Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 4 February 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, Central African Republic: Rape by Peacekeepers, 4 February 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b459b64.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. United Nations peacekeepers in the Central African Republic raped or sexually exploited at least eight women and girls between October and December 2015. Among the survivors are a 14-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman who said peacekeepers gang-raped them near Bambari airport in the center of the country. "In a country where armed groups routinely prey on civilians, peacekeepers should be protectors, not predators," said Hillary Margolis, women's rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Sending peacekeepers back home is not enough. The UN needs to insist that troops' home countries bring rapist and other abusers to justice, and that survivors get the support they need." Human Rights Watch documented the eight cases of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers, known as MINUSCA, during research in Bambari between January 16 and 30, 2016. Only one of the survivors had received any medical or psychosocial care, available at the Bambari hospital and through non-governmental organizations, before speaking to Human Rights Watch. All eight said that they believed the peacekeepers responsible were from the Republic of Congo or the Democratic Republic of Congo. A battalion of approximately 800 soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo is deployed to Bambari and other towns in Ouaka province. Between mid-September and mid-December, a small contingent of peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo were also temporarily deployed to protect Bambari's airport. The deployment of Republic of Congo peacekeepers corresponds with the sexual exploitation and abuse allegations Human Rights Watch documented, most of which occurred at or near the airport. An 18-year-old woman said that when she visited the Republic of Congo troop base near the airport in late 2015 seeking food or money, armed peacekeepers forced her into the bush and gang-raped her. "I didn't want to have sex with them, but when I went to visit their base they took me into the bush," she said. "There were three of them on me. They were armed. They said if I resisted they would kill me. They took me one by one." A 14-year-old girl said that in November, two peacekeepers attacked her as she walked by the MINUSCA base at the airport. "The men were dressed in their military uniforms and had their guns," she said. "I walked by and suddenly one of them grabbed me by my arms and the other one ripped off my clothes. They pulled me into the tall grass and one held my arms while the other one pinned down my legs and raped me. The soldier holding my arms tried to hold my mouth, but I was still able to scream. Because of that they had to run away before the second soldier could rape me." In all of the sexual exploitation and abuse cases Human Rights Watch documented, the survivors were living at camps for internally displaced people in Bambari when the abuses took place. Several told Human Rights Watch they had sex with peacekeepers in exchange for food or money as ongoing conflict had left them desperate. UN policy on peacekeepers' conduct prohibits engaging in any sexual relations with members of the local community. Human Rights Watch reported the cases to UN officials in Bambari and Bangui within days of receiving the information. The MINUSCA leadership, which has made a commitment to actively prevent and address sexual exploitation and abuse, took immediate measures to respond to the allegations and senior UN officials opened investigations. Human Rights Watch later learned that one case had previously been reported to the UN and an investigation opened. Under the agreement signed between the UN and countries that contribute troops to UN peacekeeping missions, the relevant troop-contributing country is responsible for carrying out judicial proceedings against soldiers who commit sexual exploitation and abuse. The UN can send troops home and prohibit them from participating in future UN missions, but has no independent capacity to prosecute them. A 2015 report by the UN's Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) evaluating the UN's enforcement of its sexual exploitation and abuse policy noted a lack of information from troop-contributing countries about disciplinary proceedings carried out in troops' home countries. It also said there was a failure by the UN and troop-contributing countries to hold commanders responsible for sexual exploitation and abuse by their troops. A subsequent independent review of sexual exploitation and abuse by international peacekeepers in the Central African Republic, released in December 2015, recommended negotiating new agreements with troop-contributing countries to ensure prosecutions, transparency, and cooperation in accountability processes. The UN should ensure that peacekeepers are vetted prior to deployment and trained on the UN's zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse. UN member states should also ensure that MINUSCA's Conduct and Discipline and OIOS teams, which are under-staffed, receive the necessary resources to respond to sexual exploitation and abuse cases and other crimes by UN personnel. Human Rights Watch urged MINUSCA to ensure that its response to sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers prioritizes the security and well-being of survivors. That should include maintaining confidentiality to reduce risk of stigmatization, minimizing repeated trauma due to multiple interviews, and ensuring rapid access to medical and psychosocial care. In June 2014, Human Rights Watch published information on the enforced disappearances of between 11 and 18 people by peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo in Boali and the death by torture of two others in Bossangoa. At the time, the Congolese peacekeepers were under the command of the African Union (AU) mission in the Central African Republic, known as MISCA. The troops involved were eventually withdrawn, but Human Rights Watch is not aware of any investigation or prosecution by judicial officials from the Republic of Congo into these serious crimes. The UN and troop-contributing countries should take urgent steps to end ongoing sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic and put into operation effective measures to investigate these crimes, bring those responsible to justice, and provide services and support to victims. "Peacekeepers who rape, exploit, or kill should not simply be sent home with no commitment to justice," said Lewis Mudge, Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The UN should use its full leverage with troop-contributing countries to ensure that those who abuse victims and tarnish the UN and its mission face justice befitting their crimes." For detailed accounts of the abuse cases Human Rights Watch documented, please see below. Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by Peacekeepers in Bambari Human Rights Watch documented the following cases of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers in late 2015. They include two cases of gang-rape, one of them a child; four cases of rape, including two of children; and four cases of sex in exchange for food or money, one of which involved a child. Two of the rape survivors said they had also engaged in transactional sex, fitting the UN definition of sexual exploitation. Case 1: A 14-year-old girl said that two peacekeepers attacked her in November as she was returning home from the MINUSCA base at the airport. They are presumed to be from the Republic of Congo contingent who were guarding the airport. She told Human Rights Watch: The men were dressed in their military uniforms and had their guns. I walked by and suddenly one of them grabbed me by my arms and the other one ripped off my clothes. They pulled me into the tall grass and one held my arms while the other one pinned down my legs and raped me. The soldier holding my arms tried to hold my mouth, but I was still able to scream. Because of that they had to run away before the second soldier could rape me. Case 2: A 30-year-old woman said that a peacekeeper raped her in Bambari in November while she was cutting wood in the bush near the airport: I raised my head and saw a person. He was in his uniform with a gun. He took me by force and said, 'We are going to have sex like a man and wife.' I was afraid and I tried to resist and he punched me in the face. I fell on the ground behind me. He took my clothes and had forced sex with me Since then I am afraid to go to this part of the [displacement] camp... Emotionally, I think about it a lot. We fled to come here [to the displacement camp]. We lost everything. Case 3: An 18-year-old woman said that armed peacekeepers forced her into the bush and gang-raped her when she visited the base of Republic of Congo troops near the airport in late 2015 seeking food or money. She said: "When someone refuses [to have sex with] the soldiers, they say their chief is going to come. They sometimes come in groups and rape her." In the months before she was raped, this woman also engaged in sex with peacekeepers based at the airport in exchange for food. She said: Before, when we would go there, we had to have sex before they gave us thingsThey would ask us to go in the bush and there they would ask us to have sex with them. It was always after sex that they gave us things. Case 4: A 14-year-old girl said she was walking by the MINUSCA base at an old cotton factory in late December when a peacekeeper from the Democratic Republic of Congo attacked her: I was on a path in the bush and had walked by the MINUSCA guards when a soldier jumped out at me. He was in a uniform like the other soldiers from the [Democratic Republic of the] Congo. He had his gun with him. He slapped me in the face and made me continue to walk on the path We walked for a while, then he ripped off my clothes and used them to tie my hands behind my back. He threw me on the ground, placed his gun to the side and got on top of me to rape me. When he was done he just left. I had to put my clothes on and I went home. There should be some justice done to this man. Case 5: A 29-year-old woman said that a soldier from the Democratic Republic of Congo raped her in October 2015: It was at night and I was washing myself in my hut. I heard a knock on the door and I said I was busy. But a man said, "No, open the door. I have come to see you." I ignored it and thought a few minutes later that he had left. But as I finished washing he just came in. It was a MINUSCA soldier in a blue hat. I said, "What are you doing here?" and I told him to leave. But he forced himself on me and as he was stronger I had no choice. The woman also engaged in sexual relationships with MINUSCA peacekeepers in exchange for food and money earlier in 2015. She said: The conditions of life at the [displacement] camp were precarious. I did not know what to do so I started having sex with the international forces. For this they gave me fish, chicken, jam and bread. Sometimes they give me between 1,000 and 2,000 CFA (approximately $1.60 to $3.30 USD). Before [the conflict], things were not like this. I had to make decisions because life was so difficult so I chose to enter into these relations for survival. Case 6: A 16-year-old girl said that a peacekeeper from the Republic of Congo who was based at the airport gave her food and money in exchange for sex from October to December. She said that soldiers instigated sexual relationships with her when she and a friend went to the base to sell alcohol: "I met him when he was on guard duty at the airport. We had sex there. After that he would come to my hut." She said that the peacekeeper would give her food or 1,000 CFA (approximately $1.60 USD). The girl said that when the conflict started in Bambari she had no choice but to move near the airport for her safety and that of a family member with a disability. Once there, she said she had no means to provide for herself and her relative and felt she had no option but to exchange sex for food and money. Case 7: An 18-year-old woman said that in November she exchanged sex for food and money with soldiers presumed to be from the Republic of Congo, who were based at the airport. Her friends, who were already trading sex for basic supplies, and a family member encouraged her to approach the contingent because her family had "problems of food and money." She said that her friends told her, "Instead of staying in your situation you should go with the Congolese so they will give you money to feed your family." She said: "I got it in my head to go there. I already knew they were asking for sex. I said to my friends, 'Ok, my father is dead, my mother is dead. I can't just die.' I followed my girlfriends, and the things they did, I did." Case 8: Human Rights Watch received credible information from multiple sources, including a parent of the survivor, about the rape of a 13-year-old girl in mid-November by two MINUSCA peacekeepers near the Bambari airport. The girl had sex with one peacekeeper in exchange for food. Then two other peacekeepers appeared and raped her. UN Measures to Combat Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) Rape, sex in exchange for money, goods or services, and sex with anyone under 18 by UN military, police, or civilians qualify as sexual exploitation and abuse, and are prohibited by the UN. The UN professes a zero tolerance policy with respect to sexual exploitation and abuse. In 2005 the UN established a Conduct and Discipline Unit to provide oversight on such issues in peacekeeping missions. OIOS investigates, submits reports and recommends action on alleged abuses by UN peacekeepers. But there is only one temporary OIOS officer in the Central African Republic to investigate a multitude of allegations. Countries that contribute troops to UN peacekeeping missions sign a memorandum of understanding with the UN that outlines their obligations with regard to the conduct and discipline of their peacekeepers. Sexual exploitation and abuse training is mandatory for all UN personnel upon arrival at a mission. Countries are also asked to conduct pre-deployment training on sexual exploitation and abuse based on UN guidelines. If a peacekeeper is accused of sexual exploitation or abuse, the soldier's home country has the primary responsibility to investigate. When agreed upon, the UN and the troop-contributing country can conduct joint investigations. Failing a response from the troop-contributing country within 10 days of receiving information about an allegation, the UN can begin an investigation on its own. If an allegation is substantiated, disciplinary measures-including prosecutions-are determined by the soldier's home country. Direct action by the UN is limited to repatriating the accused peacekeepers and barring them from any further peacekeeping missions. Troop-contributing countries are required to report back to the UN the outcome of investigations and any disciplinary measures taken or sentences imposed. If this requirement is not fulfilled, the UN is to follow up with further requests for information at regular intervals. The UN recently announced a six-month deadline for troop-contributing countries to conclude investigations or proceed with prosecutions. Other Sexual Exploitation, Abuse by Peacekeepers in the Central African Republic In May 2015 a UN report from 2014 was leaked detailing sexual abuse of boys as young as 9 by French soldiers. In August 2015, Amnesty International alleged that a MINUSCA peacekeeper raped a 12-year-old girl in Bangui. Following repeated allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon demanded the resignation of Babacar Gaye, then-head of MINUSCA, and reiterated the UN's zero tolerance policy. Later in August, MINUSCA publicized allegations that peacekeepers raped three women in Bambari, where troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo were based. All MINUSCA peacekeepers from the Democratic Republic of Congo are scheduled to be repatriated in February 2016 after they failed an internal UN assessment evaluating equipment quality, vetting procedures for soldiers and preparedness. In early January 2016, MINUSCA announced that it was investigating newly discovered cases of sexual exploitation and abuse in the M'poko displacement camp in the capital, Bangui. The abuses, allegedly by peacekeepers, include attacks against children. On January 29, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights confirmed that additional cases of sexual exploitation and abuse against children had been discovered. The attacks, which occurred primarily in 2014, were allegedly by French Sangaris and Georgian EUFOR forces. At a news conference on January 29, Assistant Secretary-General Anthony Banbury stated that there were 22 confirmed sexual exploitation and abuse allegations against UN peacekeepers in Central African Republic in 2015, out of 69 confirmed cases across all UN missions. Banbury said that in 2016 the secretary-general will issue a report detailing such allegations. The report will name the countries of origin of accused troops, detail the status of investigations, and include regular updates. Other Abuses by Republic of Congo Peacekeepers Human Rights Watch has reported on other serious crimes by peacekeepers from the Republic of Congo when they were under the authority of the African Union force, MISCA. These include the enforced disappearance of between 11 and 18 people in Boali on March 24, 2014, and the deaths from torture of two anti-balaka prisoners in Bossangoa on December 22, 2013. On December 22, 2014, the International Commission of Inquiry on the Central African Republic published its report detailing its own investigation into the disappearance of the people in Boali detained by the MISCA troops from the Republic of Congo and concluded that it believed the case fell within the definition of enforced disappearances. The commission also found that the two men from the anti-balaka, local militia formed to fight the mostly Muslim Seleka, detained in Bossangoa in December 2013 had died under suspicious circumstances. On June 5, 2015, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights published a report in which it found that MISCA troops from the Republic of Congo had committed acts of enforced disappearances, torture, and extrajudicial killings at Boali. In another incident, first reported by the UN on June 10, 2015, after troops from the Republic of Congo had been transferred from the AU into the UN mission, at least one person was killed outside of Berberati in the southwestern part of the country following the excessive use of force by Republic of Congo troops. While a group of soldiers from the Republic of Congo was sent home after this event, the UN has not confirmed the progress or conclusion of national investigations into this incident. Copyright notice: Copyright, Human Rights Watch Georgia: Can Civil Society Flourish Without Secure Property Rights? Publisher EurasiaNet Author Maia Edilashvili Publication Date 15 January 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Georgia: Can Civil Society Flourish Without Secure Property Rights?, 15 January 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b45dc74.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. A shake-up at the top of Kazakhstan's intelligence agency has watchers of the country's opaque elite speculating about preparations for political life after President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The replacement in late December of 68-year-old National Security Committee chairman Nurtay Abykayev is not expected to usher in a significant change of Kazakhstan's political course. All signs point to the Nazarbayev family firming its grip over the key levers of power and a continuing reliance on repressive tactics as a way of keeping government critics in check. Abykayev is being substituted at the top of the intelligence agency, which is widely known by its Russian acronym KNB, by Vladimir Zhumakanov, a career intelligence officer with over three decades of service. Also on December 25, Samat Abish, Nazarbayev's 37-year-old nephew and the son of the president's businessman brother, Bolat Nazarbayev, was promoted to first deputy KNB chief, filling the spot formerly occupied by Zhumakanov. Abish's career trajectory has been vertiginous. He graduated from Kazakhstan's KNB Academy and then the Russian Federation Academy of Foreign Intelligence, an institution in the Moscow region that counts Russian President Vladimir Putin among its graduates. After holding several high-ranking positions in the Justice Ministry, he joined the KNB in December 2009. He has acted as deputy KNB chairman from March 2013. His family ties make it clear where one of his main responsibilities will lie. "Abish is currently too young to take the helm of the country's most powerful institution, but as a trustworthy member of the [Nazarbayev] family, he is expected to play a prominent role in any post-Nazarbayev scenario," Kate Mallinson, a Central Asia expert at the London-based consultancy GPW, told EurasiaNet.org. Almaty-based analyst Dosym Satpayev suggested that this latest promotion puts Abish in an unrivaled position to assume the KNB chairmanship once that role becomes important to a political succession. "It can be assumed that he is going to play an important role during Kazakhstan's transition of power," Satpayev, director of the Kazakhstan Risks Assessment Group think tank, told EurasiaNet.org. Nazarbayev is no stranger to placing members of his inner family circle in top security posts. His late former son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev briefly served as deputy KNB chairman in the early 2000s, although he later fell from favor over what is generally assumed to have been his attempt to usurp authority from Nazarbayev. The official reason given for Abykayev's removal is that at 68, he is past retirement age. While not implausible, the explanation is less than fully convincing considering several members of Nazarbayev's team, including the septuagenarian president himself, are past pension age. Rumors have abounded for several years that Abykayev is suffering from cancer, leading analysts to conjecture that his state of health is probably a factor in the move. A member of an influential faction dubbed the Old Guard - a coterie of political hawks that have served Nazarbayev loyally since he began forging his political career back in the Soviet era - Abykayev was not dispatched into the political wilderness. Instead, he was given a seat in the Senate, the upper house of parliament. Satpayev said that was indicative of Nazarbayev's desire to keep an experienced, wily and trusted ally in the political loop. "Nurtay Abykayev has been beside the president for too long to be sent too far away," Satpayev said. "He may, therefore, retain his status as one of the influential shadow players, especially since he has access to secret information, and also to the files of virtually every other member of Kazakhstan's political and business elite." The appointment also keeps Abykayev - who is nicknamed the gray cardinal in recognition of his behind-the-scenes political influence - ready in reserve to run for the Senate chairmanship, should the president wish him to do so. The chairmanship, which is currently held by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, another trusted political heavyweight, is an important role constitutionally. It is the upper house speaker who temporarily assumes the reins of power should the president become incapacitated, or die in office. At 75, Nazarbayev shows no sign of preparing to relinquish power in Kazakhstan, which he has ruled since the late 1980s, before the country gained independence. Under legislation passed in 2010, Nazarbayev - who won re-election last year with 98 percent of the vote - is exempt from the usual constitutional term limits and can stand in elections for the rest of his life. He has, observers say, maintained his hold on his country of 17.6 million people with the help of the KNB, which has been at the forefront of efforts to thwart political dissidence. Over the years, the security service has been turned into a "major machine of suppression and coercion" whose objective is to establish "total control" over all aspects of society, Almaty-based civil society campaigner Galym Ageleuov said. "By virtue of the fact that civil society has been suppressed under the pretext of maintaining security, the KNB's functions and scale have grown exponentially," Ageleuov told EurasiaNet.org. According to multiple sources, it is 60-year-old Zhumakanov who has been running the show at the KNB in recent years with Abykayev ailing. "Zhumakanov is [Nazarbayev's] right-hand man, which he wields to fight the opposition, jail the obstinate and reduce the rights and liberties of Kazakhstanis to zero," the opposition-minded Respublika-kz.info website remarked caustically in a report published in 2012. On the political front, it will be business as usual with Zhumakanov at the helm of the security service, analysts say. "The change in leadership is unlikely to affect the agency, whose main remit is political repression," Mallinson told EurasiaNet.org. "Over the last few years, Kazakhstan has witnessed a strengthening of the coercive organs of government and the agency will continue to be the main instrument in eliminating opposition and critics of the president." Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Kyrgyzstan: Foreigner's Faux Pas Exposes Cultural Rift Publisher EurasiaNet Author Bektour Iskender Publication Date 7 January 2016 Other Languages / Attachments Russian Cite as EurasiaNet, Kyrgyzstan: Foreigner's Faux Pas Exposes Cultural Rift, 7 January 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b45fc84.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 row about the British miner expelled from Kyrgyzstan after likening a traditional local dish, chuchuk, to a horse's penis has begun to subside. As the founder of news website Kloop.kg Bektour Iskender explains, however, the furor has exposed some rarely discussed tensions within Kyrgyz society. The controversy this time around has been fiercer than anything seen before and the exchange of insults more intense, sometimes descending to outright threats. But why has this subject proven so explosive in Kyrgyz society? At the root of the story is a profound problem, and that is the fundamental lack of mutual understanding between Kyrgyz- and Russian-speaking sections of the population. As it happens, the original Facebook posting itself quickly ceased to be the center of attention among Kyrgyz people. Discussion turned from the ill-judged remarks by Centerra employee Michael Mcfeat into a heated debate about Kyrgyz identity and the extent to which it is permissible to mock that identity. As polar and stark positions have hardened, I find myself somewhere in the middle, perhaps in part because of my background. I am a Russian-speaking resident of Kyrgyzstan with a Kyrgyz name and numerous ancestors identifying themselves as Kyrgyz. That might put me in a good position to understand both sides of the argument. This is hardly the first time that parts of the Kyrgyz-speaking population have reacted so intemperately to a joke about themselves or their identity. An analogous incident occurred in the spring of 2013, when the Norwegian band Ylvis used Kyrgyz swearwords in a television performance as a sly dig at their producers. The adoption of those linguistic crudities enraged Kyrgyz speakers. It is worth pointing out here that these waves of indignation over these kinds of pranks are not engineered from above, but are perfectly spontaneous and organic. Russian speakers often fail to get what the fuss is all about. One of my friends wrote in a comment on my Facebook page that if jokes are made at the expense of the Kyrgyz inside Kyrgyzstan, it can hardly be considered racist, since the Kyrgyz constitute a majority in their own country. But that is missing the point. The fact is that to this day, many Kyrgyz have retained a lingering sense of inferiority that became ingrained in them during Soviet rule and, even earlier, under the Russian Empire. Many ethnic Kyrgyz, despite their numerical superiority, sincerely believe that jokes about their culture constitute racism. And that is even though it may be mockery directed by a minority toward a majority - a curious post-colonial phenomenon. Critics of this attitude might remark that Kyrgyzstan was blessed in Soviet times by the flourishing of industry, art, transportation infrastructure and so on. And they would be right in their own way. But at the same time, during the Soviet era, little care was taken to broaden the appeal of the Kyrgyz language. From 1954 onward, Russians were not even required to study Kyrgyz at school, which means few in the Slavic population have anything more than a basic feel for the language. The practice of "indigenization" - that is, the promotion of the local ethnic population to official posts - began to decline early on during the rule of Josef Stalin. For these and other reasons, Kyrgyz was spoken predominantly only by ethnic Kyrgyz, and maybe also ethnic Uzbeks living in the Kyrgyz SSR, for whom learning a close Turkic language came easier. The number of people in Bishkek, the capital, that spoke Kyrgyz, regardless of their ethnic background, was negligible. Kyrgyz culture, for all the talk of friendship among nations in the Soviet Union, made few inroads into the lives of other ethnic groups in the Kyrgyz SSR or the Soviet Union as a whole. Sure, there have been some rare cases of Kyrgyz traditions being adopted by urbanites. One instance was the drink Maksym. (For the uninitiated, Maksym is popular grain-based beverage typically sold on street corners). And Maksym only became popular at the start of the 1990s, before which the drink was predominantly the preserve of rural Kyrgyz families. Now, I do not want to pass judgment on whether the policies of the Soviet Union toward the Kyrgyz and their culture were right or wrong - that is a subject for weighty research. I simply want to lay out the facts and draw some conclusions. The point is that many ethnic Kyrgyz felt, if you will, colonized. It is beside the point whether this feeling was justified. And this sense of grievance remains especially strong among Kyrgyz speakers, particularly those living outside Bishkek. The following scenario is commonplace, even now: Just imagine a Kyrgyz speaker growing up in a Kyrgyz-speaking setting in a country called Kyrgyzstan who speaks Russian poorly. You come to Bishkek - the capital of your own country - only to find that you can barely get by without Russian, and that if you try to speak in Kyrgyz, many will simply not understand you. That is not even the problem. We are not, after all, the only multilingual country in the world. This person will in all probability experience disdain at his/her failure to speak Russian, or at the fact he/she speaks Russian with a marked accent. All this can hardly fail to nourish ultranationalist ideas of the "Kyrgyzstan for the Kyrgyz" variety or an insistence that "in Kyrgyzstan everybody should speak Kyrgyz." The resentment felt at the dismissive attitudes reserved for Kyrgyz culture are deep and festering. This kind of thing has, in turn, led to ugly manifestations of Kyrgyz nationalism toward the Russian language. What has resulted is a situation where Russian speakers feel like a misunderstood minority in the whole country, while the Kyrgyz speakers feel like a misunderstood minority in the capital. But we are afraid to admit that this problem exists. We, Kyrgyz and Russian speakers of Kyrgyzstan, prefer to remain silent and close ourselves off into our cultural ghettoes. And we are reminded of all this only in the event of - and I am not afraid to use the term - clashes of civilization. I never tire of repeating: this situation only occurs in those countries where there are two or more dominant languages and where nobody does anything to ensure cultures learn to understand one another. What has all this got to do with chuchuk you may ask? The fact is that this episode has become a litmus test for the very situation I am describing. Many Russian speakers living in Kyrgyzstan, as well as foreigners, fail to understand the degree to which the Kyrgyz-speaking population is offended by jokes directed at their culture and traditions. Many Russian speakers fail to understand that even after a quarter of a century since the fall of the Soviet Union, Kyrgyz speakers feel their language and culture are not being accorded proper respect, especially in the capital city. By the same token, many Kyrgyz speakers fail to understand that what so irritated and exasperated Russian speakers and foreigners was the fact that the police felt the need to get involved over an ignorant throwaway remark about food. And that the dubious methods of the police - including the "sudden discovery" that this British citizen's papers were not in order, just so they could deport him - foster cynicism and mistrust. Many Kyrgyz speakers do not understand that what worries Russian speakers is the arbitrary and selective decisions of the authorities, who are willing to react to insults addressed at Kyrgyz culture, while at the same time ignoring intolerance toward others. Many Kyrgyz speakers do not understand that Russian speakers also often feel they are being disrespected. The entire situation is quite perverse. As long as we leave this abyss unaddressed, every recurring incident, as petty as it might be, will continue to broaden the rift. So is it not time that the two communities begin listening to one another? Copyright notice: All EurasiaNet material Open Society Institute Can Tunisia's Jihadists Capitalize on Country's Economic Crisis? Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author James Brandon Publication Date 4 February 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Can Tunisia's Jihadists Capitalize on Country's Economic Crisis?, 4 February 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b469bb4.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 Two militants were killed and at least one member of the Tunisian security forces was injured on February 1 during clashes in Gabes province (al-Bawaba, February 2; al-Arabiya, February 2). The clashes began after three militants armed with assault rifles accosted local shepherds and in an attempt to steal their food. The shepherds then alerted the military who pursued the militants. The incident indicated that the militants were not from the area and were not able to rely on local contacts for support. Unlike many other recent incidents, the latest clashes did not take place in mountainous areas near the Libyan border, but rather in sparsely-populated desert-like areas, located closer to the Libyan border. Previously, in January, the Tunisian authorities said they had arrested nine extremists in Bizerte in northern Tunisia who were recruiting fighters to travel to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Al-Arabiya, January 27). The incidents show that Islamist militants in the country remain active, both seeking to operate domestically in guerrilla fashion in rural areas, and also working to provide manpower to Islamic State abroad. These events occurred against a backdrop of social unrest elsewhere in the country, primarily over poor economic conditions and the country's chronic lack of jobs and opportunities for young people. Protests resulting from the unrest were concentrated in the country's poorer inland areas and were often led by unemployed graduates focused on provincial cities, and saw protesters seizing some local government buildings and blockading highways. In addition, on January 25, thousands of Tunisian police joined the protests, largely to ask for higher pay, a request partly motivated by the realization that they are now priority targets for Islamist militants (Al-Arabiya, January 25). Although this led to the country declaring an overnight curfew, casualties among both protesters and the security forces were light, primarily resulting from the Tunisian authorities opting to avoid the use of force against protesters out of the fear of escalating the situation and to steer clear of comparisons to to Ben Ali, the country's former strongman who was forced out by protests in 2011. However, while the protests do not constitute a mortal threat to the government and are largely directed against the economic situation than against the country's democratic system of government, they underline that the country's poor economic situation may be exacerbating youth susceptibility to Islamist radicalization. Tunisia Prime Minister Habib Essid, gave a revealing interview in September 2015 for the Council on Foreign Relations in which he said that the country's radicals were generally motivated by either ideology or by money. He said: "Some of them, they think that through jihad they can go to paradise and things like that. [] but the most important part of them, they're there for economic reasons. They didn't have jobs" and "they couldn't have a normal life"; as a result have turned to jihadist groups who can offer to pay them a regular salary. [1] Given the high levels of unemployment in Tunisia - the World Bank estimates youth unemployment at 37.6 percent and graduate unemployment at 62.3 - much will depend on whether the government is able to take steps to effectively address these problems, and secondly whether the Islamic State and other militant groups will be able to find a way to capitalize on this discontent (The National, January 27). So far, youth dissatisfaction in Tunisia has been mainly directed against politicians and political parties, rather than against the country's new democratic system itself. However, this could change if the Islamic State is able to convince Tunisia's youth that democracy has failed them and that terrorist group's promised theocracy holds the solution to Tunisia's problems. Notes: [1] "Assessing Tunisia's Opportunities and Challenges: A Conversation with Habib Essid", Council on Foreign Relations. September 30, 2015. http://www.cfr.org/tunisia/assessing-tunisias-opportunities-challenges/p37055 Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation Islamic State Arrests Worldwide Illustrate Global Threat Publisher Jamestown Foundation Author James Brandon Publication Date 4 February 2016 Citation / Document Symbol Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Cite as Jamestown Foundation, Islamic State Arrests Worldwide Illustrate Global Threat, 4 February 2016, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 14 Issue: 3, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/56b46a424.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 A fresh wave of arrests of suspected Islamic State militants around the world, as well as the reported disruption of a range of intended plots, indicates the growing global reach of the group. In one of the most significant incidents, six individuals were arrested in the French city of Lyon. French media reported that some of them were believed to be planning attacks against targets in France, although no weapons were found, suggesting that the attack may not have been imminent (RFI, February 2). This followed growing evidence of links between French Islamist radicals and the Islamic State, most notably through the group's online release of a video showing some of the perpetrators of the November 2015 Paris attacks with other Islamic State members in either Iraq or Syria prior to the attacks (France24, February 25). Some of the footage reportedly showed the attackers beheading and shooting prisoners. Further underlining the links between domestic militancy in France and groups abroad, a leading French member of Islamic State, Salim Benghalem, was sentenced in absentia by a French court to 15 years in prison (France24, January 7). Benghalem, who is believed to be in Syria, is thought to be a key link between various French radicals, and has been linked to Said and Cherif Kouachi, the brothers who carried out the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris in January 2015, and to Mehdi Nemmouche, who attacked a Jewish Museum in Brussels in May 2014 (Ibid.). In other countries, migrant workers have also been arrested, illustrating another (so far) overlooked aspect to the Islamic State threat. In Singapore in January, 27 migrant construction workers from Bangladesh were deported for having links to Islamic State and al-Qaeda (Straits Times, January 20). Upon their return to their home country, 14 of the men were charged by Bangladeshi police for their with links to Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), a local militant group that has carried out a range of low-level attacks over the last year (Channel News Asia, January 21). Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs had said that they were not planning attacks overseas but in Singapore, raising the possibility that they were planning attacks on their eventual return to Bangladesh. Similarly, on January 28, the United Arab Emirates deported three Indian migrant workers who were believed to have been radicalizing others and planning attacks in India, while working in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi (New India Express, January 30). Separately, a UAE national on trial in Abu Dhabi recently confessed to fighting for Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria, although he denied planning to expand terrorist attacks into the UAE and to declare a branch of the caliphate there (Gulf News, January 31). Meanwhile, through Western countries, arrests of Islamic State supporters and activists have continued. In Germany, a Syrian citizen who was pursuing his PhD was arrested by the police for allegedly putting a video online in which he explained his support for Islamic State and in which he described the United States as "the figurehead of heresy" and of the country's Arab allies as "worse than pigs" (DW, February 3). The preceding week, in an unrelated development, police in southern Italy arrested a 25-year-old Moroccan man on suspicion of previously attempting to travel to Syria to join Islamic State; he had previously been deported from Turkey (DPA, January 25). In the U.S., police in North Carolina charged a 19-year-old teenager with allegedly attempting to provide material support to Islamic state (UPI, February 2). Further afield, in Rwanda, the police arrested an imam in the capital of Kigali on the suspicion of recruiting for the terrorist group (Reuters, January 30). He was later shot dead "while trying to escape," meaning that the extent of his activities may not be fully known. These - along with a slew of other arrests - strongly illustrate both the growing spread of Islamic State influence and the extensive international cooperation that will be needed to effectively disrupt its activities. Copyright notice: 2010 The Jamestown Foundation